Journals. Part 1

 JOURNALS.
PART 1: Background Information

Michael and I maintain journals,though neither one of us is really consistent at it.  Michael told me, he dreads it because he feels like he has so much "catching up" to do.  I'm better, but I feel like I'm missing a lot.  See, I have a stack of about 4 journals -- one for my goals, one fore scripture reading, one as personal journal and one as a family journal. Our family blog helps because many times it acts like a family journal and I try to post 1-2 times a week.  But it's overwelming to try and keep 4 journals!  I honestly keep them in 3 different books, but I've thought about going to a "all-in-one" method but I wonder if that would be too messy for me.

As much as I love to take pen to paper and just write, I don't find myself doing it like I should to keep all those journals the way I should.  But each type of journal is important to me.  So, here's an overview of the types of journals I have been keeping and I think I will continue in these areas.

Personal HistoryWe decided we really wanted to work on our personal histories.  During a sunday school lesson, one man shared how he does his personal history.  He started by brainstorming a timeline of his life.. just major events that had happened. This started out as sort of a Table of Contents. Then, each Sunday he would take one of those events and write about it.  If he remembered any other events, he would keep adding to that timeline and keep writing about them.  He said it took awhile, but soon he felt like he had a good personal history,but he continues to add to it.  Our goal is start on our personal histories, and start a family history this way.  Wouldn't that be neat to have on your parents? or grandparents?  I want this for my prosperity to know who I am, the world I live in, and to learn from me and my experience.  I also want to start/continue this for my children.  My mom made me a baby book, and it is one of the best resources to find out about me as a baby.  I'd love this for my children and maybe something a little more.  

Scripture Study or Tender Mercies Journal
I saw this article on sugardoodle.net, and absolutely loved her journals. It made me feel guilty, and yet gave me like a glimpse of what could be, yet I know I will never be that neat and clean and cute and organized. My brain jumps all over the place and my handwriting is sloppy trying to catch up. (randomly did you know I can type one thing and be talking about another?) I started a scripture study journal when I was in seminary, it was helpful to me mostly just because my mind goes a mile and minute and I had a hard time concentrating on my scripture study, but having to journal about it- even just summarize it- engaged my mind.  I just think that if I could engage my mind like and come out with something like her journals.  I would be way more spirtualized.    I also mesh my 'tender mercies' or just a record of the way I have found the Lord blessing my life and my family and the way the Holy Ghost promopts, comforts and guides me with my scripture journal.  I find this extremely important to building my testimony because it helps me remember those moments.

Goals
I also keep a journal about my goals.  Really.  I'm not always as self-motivated as I seem. One day, I decided what I really motivates me is accountability. So, to make many of my personal goals more accountable, I started to write them down, track my progress and accomplishment.  Some of these goals are very easy; like lose 5 lbs, keep the house cleaner.  Some are not so easy; like be more compassionate, be a better mother or wife. Either way it helps me break them down and be accountable daily for my goals. Maybe one day I will get to be the person I want to be...    


Dear Readers,
What journals do you keep? Why?
Anymore you would suggest? Any I can do without?
Do you keep yours in seperate books or are you all-in-one?

Yummy Dip!

I could tell you how funny it was that there was a whole block of frozen-thawed spinach in my fridge, but after typing the story, it wasn't that funny. 

So, in need of not wasting the $1 thawed spinach, I bought artichokes, alfredo sauce and cheese to make:

Creamy Spinach Artichoke Dip

1 package of frozen spinach, thawed and drained
1 can (14oz) of artichoke hearts, drained
1 can of Alfredo sauce (I used the Classico brand)
1 cup of Italian cheese blend (mozzerella & parmesan)

Chop the spinach and artichoke heart up.  Mix everything together in a casserole dish and bake for about 20 minutes at 325 until it's bubbly and browning.

Serve with some crackers or chips! We love it with pita chips or Costco's multigrain tortilla chips!

Toddler Purse

I made this purse for my niece for her birthday.  She's really into girly things, like princesses, right now.  Landen loves to carry around things in my purse, so I thought she would really love this.

I started with a pattern for a scripture case, but of course I didn't follow it. This tutorial from Make It and Love It, is a great idea for a basic bag.  Seriously, it's like cut 4 rectangles (I think mine were 12x9). Sew the bottom and sides, make the corner and add the strap.  I didn't add any pocket, just a magnetic clasp- which I think the hardest part was thinking through which directions the magnets went so they didn't repell each other!  I don't think it took more than and hour or two!

And from what I hear, she loves to play with it!  Can you think of a little girl that would love this for Christmas?  I can think of another niece that might!

Burp Cloths

So, the other day the DH had a little talk with me about FINISHING my projects instead of getting involved in too many more new ones. I guess I just see things, get ideas and then get excited to start them without finishing the one I'm working on. On my list was to make some "good" burp rags. With Landen I had a few cute ones that were totally impractical at catching his spit-up and then I had cloth diapers. I really wanted something in between for Baby Girl.

I found a few tutorials online and they all seemed pretty basic. I basically followed this one. I did make one that was shaped more traditional, but decided it was easier to just use the rotary cutter instead of cute out all the layers with a pattern.

So, here's a run-down of what I did. I bought 1/2 yard of pink chenille. So the tutorial called for pieces that were 10x16, but I figured that if I did mine 9x15 I could actually get 8 instead of 6. I cut my fabric the same size, and then decided I wanted to round the corners because I hate trying to get good squares.

Then I sewed it together leaving a gap. Turned it, pressed it and top stitched it. After I was done, I realized I wanted just a little more padding, and decided to put a piece of batting between the layers. I had some warm-n-natural laying around, so I just used that because it was nice and thin, but absorbant. So, the other 6 had some padding. I also ran a seam down the middle just to keep it from twisting in the wash, because it will probably be washed plenty!

And there they are! Hopefully they are as useful as they are cute!

Ahhh...

There is just something about getting a quilt put together. You work on all the squares individually and that's nice, but there is something about having the whole thing done (or almost done). A sense of accomplishment and excitement to get it finished!

Isn't it cute? I just couldn't resist the puffy quilt. I think I'm going to find a bright pink or purple minky fabric for the back and to give it a nice thick binding and then tie it with some ribbon?

At first, I was thinking that these squares were a pain, but I think they are totally worth it now. I wouldn't take on a full sized quilt, but a baby quilt was quite practical. Want to make your own? I used the tutorial at honeybearlane.

Monkey Bread

It's funny... When I think of monkey bread, it brings me back to high school with friends at Wendy's and yet it also brings me back to my Grandma's kitchen.

Today, I'm sharing my Grandma's recipe. It's more of a dinner roll recipe and less of a dessert. I was thinking about making her rolls for dinner but didn't want all the work and the great big batch, so I was thinking about another roll recipe that was a little easier. Thumbing through her cookbook I found the recipe for Monkey Bread and knew this was the perfect compliment to our dinner.

Monkey Bread (click here for print-friendly version)
2 cups warm water
1/2 cup sugar
1 TBSP salt
1TBSP yeast
2 eggs slightly beaten
2TBSP oil
1 cube margarine (1/2 cup)
About 5-6 cups flour

Add sugar, salt and yeast to warm water. Let sit about 10 minutes or until nice and bubbly. Stir, add oil, beaten eggs, and 3 cups of flour and mix well. Let sit about 10 minutes. Add rest of flour mixing with spoon, kneading until satiny. Cover and let rise. (about 1 hour)

Roll out dough about 1/4-1/2 inch thick. Cut in 3” circles. Melt margarine and add half to bundt pan. Stand circles in bundt pan like a pinwheel. Pour rest of margarine on top of circle. Let rise to top of pan. ( about 20-30 minutes, I turn the oven on to preheat and set the pan on top of the stove so it's nice and warm and rises faster!)

Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes

Happy Baking!

I'm not so Very Talented..

I used some scraps from my guitar strap to make Landen a new t-shirt. And, I messed them up a little. They aren't sraight and in the wrong order! I was trying to put the odd one in the middle.



Oh well!


He still looks cute!