Some Pictures

The Big 3-0!

It's my birthday! It's my birthday! Woo hoo!

I've been asked a few times if I feel 30 or is it hard to be turning 30 but really it's not been a big deal for me. I did have a little bit of an issue, a 1/4 life crisis I suppose, when I turned 25 but this year just isn't setting anything off. I feel like I just don't have anything to prove right now. I feel comfortable with myself and where I'm at in my life. Life changes and I just don't mind that, I've always been kind of a go with the flow person and it's just being enhanced the older I get. Oh, don't get me wrong, there are still things that bother me or that I let get me down more than necessary but that's a part of life too. I just don't seem to hang on to them as much and have been figuring out how to not sweat the small stuff.
So, thank you to everyone that has wished me well! And if you've got a moment tell me at what age, if any, you stressed out about the number and if you've gotten beyond that share a pearl of wisdom, or 2 or 3, that you've learned.

Business Plan

Well, I've decided to write up a business plan for the hardware even though it's not likely to happen. Just so that I can say I've done it and tryed something new.

If anyone's got any tips on writing a business plan I'm open to reading them.

Pipe Dream

I've got a pipe dream...I'd like to buy the hardware store in my "hometown" and move back up there to run it. I have a sister that would be able to help me out on the business end and a friend that would be able to help out with knowledge of a hardware so that'd be all set. What makes it a pipe dream? I'd never be able to afford it unless I won the lottery or some ailing relative decided to will me their large estate...lol I have always thought it would be neat to own some kind of store and in a small town like that it could be quite interesting too. I would condense the store down to be more like what it used to be and use the extra space for a community kitchen where people could come in and do their canning or cook/bake something they'd sell at a store or farmers market. It would be so fun and I love the idea of being able to help the people in the community like that. So if anyone finds it within themselves to fund my pipe dream just email me ;)

What's your pipe dream? You know, that thing that you'd love to do but unless a miracle happened or you all of a sudden came into a massive amount of money it isn't likely to happen.

Changes...

Well, the weather is one very noticeable change! Went from quite a chilly spring to a hot and humid one. There've been some thunder storms blowing through and the sky has got that haze that just screams moisture in the air. I do enjoy it being warm because it's nicer to swim then and I love to swim!

I'm a little slow on updating with what's been happening but a big update is my new niece is here! Her name is Clarissa and she's a darling, aren't most babies ;)


Here's me with the little cutie!

Arlexis is quite taken with her, especially since she's a girl, and that's fun to watch. Clarissa hasn't spit up on her yet though so we'll see what happens then because it's bound to happen one of these days. She's just over two weeks old and it's quite amazing how much she's changed already!

No big plans for the summer. I've got the last two weeks of this month off because th nanny family are going on vacation and I'm hoping to fill in some of that time by going up north and some with babysitting to earn some extra money.

I have been looking into going to massage school. There is a very good one down here and I think having something like that would really help to solidify where I'm headed with life. I think after I got through with that I might be able to move back north and get training to be a doula which would add another dimension to my skills. We'll see...

Blessings!

Muffins

I've decided I'd like to do more cooking/baking so I can work on getting more of the whole grains and other goodness I need to be more healthy. This weekend I made up these very tasty muffins and figured I'd share the recipe so that you all could enjoy the healthy, yummy goodness for yourselves. I made these with spelt flour, both the regular and whole grain, and I made two batches using the buttermilk for one and the yougurt (fat free vanilla) for the other-I think the buttermilk is a little more smooth but really they both taste great. I think that this could easily be adapted using another kind of fruit instead of apples so you can use whatever you've got fresh at the time. Enjoy!

whole wheat apple muffins
(adapted from king arthur flour)
1 cup (4 ounces) whole wheat flour
1 cup (4 1/4 ounces) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 cup (1 stick, 4 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup (3 1/2 ounces) granulated sugar
1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 cup (8 ounces) buttermilk or yogurt
2 large apples, peeled, cored, and coarsely chopped
Preheat the oven to 450°F. Grease and flour an 18 cup muffin tin and set aside.
Mix together the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon, and set aside. In a separate bowl, cream the butter and add the granulated sugar and 1/4 cup of the brown sugar. Beat until fluffy. Add the egg and mix well; stop once to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl. Mix in the buttermilk gently (If you over-mix, the buttermilk will cause the mixture to curdle.) Stir in the dry ingredients and fold in the apple chunks.
Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups, sprinkling the remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar on top. Bake for 10 minutes, turn the heat down to 400°F, and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Cool the muffins for 5 minutes in the tin, then turn them out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Auntie

Well, I'm going to be an auntie again before too long here. Will and Renee, who were married last July, will be having their baby soon. The due date is May 13, at her appointment last week the doctor told her she was looking good and could go at anytime.

Arlexis had some misgivings about welcoming her new cousin when she first found out that they were having a baby but I think she has settled in and will do just fine with him/her. I can see how she would struggle a little with having a new baby around since she is an only child and has been the only niece/grandchild on our side of the family for almost 13 years. I think it helps that I live down here near her, though with grandma and grandpa living so much closer to the baby she might still feel a bit bummed about sharing them.

Will and Renee decided not to find out what they were having so there have been all sorts of predictions. Renee thinks she's having a girl but my mom and I think she's having a boy...Arlexis was hoping for a girl but I think she doesn't care so much anymore. Based on the Chinese Zodiac she is having a boy and they tried the pin on the string thing a couple of weeks ago and once it was a girl and once it was a boy. So we're all still waiting to find out what it'll be...lol

Some Pictures...

I've been uploading a back log of pictures and wanted to share some of them...

Arlexis after she had her hair chopped off

Renee, Will and their first baby Dixie

Arlexis with her cousin Dixie

Me and Mom working on the farm

On our road trip in Kentucky

Dirty Little Secret...

Okay, so it's not so much dirty but it is my little secret, I suppose not anymore after I post it here...lol

I signed up for Eharmony. Yeah, laugh all you want but they were having some three month deal and after the blind date I decided I might as well jump in and take a shot. I'm giving it three months and if nothing comes of it so be it. In the past month I've "connected" with any guy that was matched with me that was geographically desireable and seemed remotely interesting, that's well over 100 men and only 1 has written me back. Now I know many people sign up and don't become paid members but you can't tell me that only 1 on my list is. Whatever...lol

So there you go, that's my dirty little secret...

Singing...

(At rehearsal for Will and Renee's wedding...

not the most attractive picture but it'll do.)

I'm singing at my cousin Amy's wedding on Saturday. Lucky for me she chose the same song that I sang at Will and Renee's wedding last summer so that makes it a bit easier on me. Which turns out to be a great thing because last Saturday night I lost my voice. It's been doing a little back and forth getting better, today is the best day so far and I'm praying it just keeps getting better. I think if I were to have to do it today it would sound just fine. I haven't practiced the song all week because I've been attempting to rest my voice, along with drinking crazy amounts of hot water with honey and lemon.

I feel really nice getting to be a part of this day with Amy because of the situation that comes with it. Her dad, my uncle, was killed several years ago and she's the first daughter to get married. I don't know what it is about daughters who have lost their dads and them getting married but I think it's going to be an emotional wedding. She's got an older brother that's married and I just can't remember how it was for his wedding, in fact I can't even remember if I was there. I assume I was but I just don't remember. Her two brothers are walking her down the aisle and the younger of the two, Glen, is giving her away. So at that point losing my voice won't be the issue, the crying will.

I wish many blessings to Amy and Ryan and the new life they'll be beginning together!