A New Recipe

So I ran out of onion soup mix the other day and I wanted some for a recipe that I was using...don't you just hate it when you are in the middle of cooking and find out you dont have all the ingredients, or you check before hand and just dont want to go out for an extra shopping trip. Well I decided to go on the internet to see if I could find something to substitute...and I DID!!!!

Here is a recipe for making a subsitute for dry onion soup mix...I tried it and it is actually pretty good so I wanted to share it!

1/4 cup dry onion flakes
2 tbsp beef boullion granuales
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp parsley
1/8 tsp celery seed
1/8 tsp paprika
1/8 tsp pepper

Mix together and use!

Let me know what you think...also, what are your tips for substitute items?

I WON!!!

So last week I entered a blog giveaway at Barefoot Mommy for Dapple Dish Soap and Toy Cleaner Spray and I WON!

I can't wait to try it out and will blog all about it when I receive it and try it!

I will keep you posted but in the meantime, check out Dapple and its products here

Tips for Living Green

So on Jolly Mom and Go Graham Go this morning they want to know what readers are doing to be "green" and so here are my tips:

1. Use energy efficient light bulbs - if I change my bulbs yearly I would be surprised...I can believe how long these things last!

2. Use the cold water cycle for doing laundry - on all loads

3. Use reusable fabric bags for shopping

4. Use both sides of paper when printing off the computer...and if I screw up, I give the paper to Makayla to color on, then recycle

5. We recycle

6. When I de-clutter, I try to sell, give away, or recycle stuff instead of taking it all to the dump

7. Make my own foods instead of buying prepacked, therefore much less packing stuff to through away; currently making my own baby food, spaghetti sauce, etc, etc.

8. Use plastic containers for other storage...really good for my scrapbooking supplies, especially the small yogurt containers with lids

9. Make my own house cleaning solutions

So that is just some of the things I do to be "green". Actually it is more than I realized....what do you do?

Top 40 Challenge

Saw this on a blog I follow:

Your mission for this week, should you choose to accept it, is simple. Read this post, and then comment and tell me what you learned about me through taking a peek at my playlist. Then do the same thing - for yourself - on your blog or Facebook page. (Or just share your answers here so that I can be amused by them :)

TOP 40

Turn on your iPod (or whatever you have) and hit shuffle. Write down the first 40 songs that come up, and then answer 10 questions about them.

1. Alan Jackson - Where I come From
2. Alan Jackson - 5 O'Clock Somewhere
3. Alan Jackson - Chattahoce
4. Alan Jackson - Pop A Top
5. George Strait - I Saw God Today
6. Paul Brandt - Come On & Get Some
7. Paul Brandt - Didn't Even See the Dust
8. Rascal Flatts - The Broken Road
9. Sugarland - Baby Girl
10. Sugarland - Settlin
11. Sugarland - Something More
12. Sugarland - Stay
13. - Most Beautiful Girl
14. - Looking for Love
15. Martina McBride - I Never Promised You A Rose Garden
16. - Harper Valley PTA
17. Aaron Tippin - Kiss This
18. Aaron Tippin - People Like Us
19. Randy Travis - Forever & Ever Amen
20. Clay Walker - Watch This
21. Doc Walker - Rocket Girl
22. Emerson Drive - Moments
23. Emerson Drive - Should Be Sleeping
24. Garth Brooks - The Change
25. Garth Brooks - Beaches of Cheyenne
26. Garth Brooks - Its Midnight Cinderella
27. Garth Brooks - If Tomorrow Never Comes
28. Garth Brooks - Alabama Clay
29. Garth Brooks - Much Too Young to Feel this Damn Old
30. Garch Brooks - The Dance
31. Garth Brooks - Standing Outside the Fire
32. Garth Brooks - The THunder Rolls
33. Garth Brooks - Friends in Low Places
34. Garth Brooks - Unanswered Prayers
35. Garth Brooks - Rodeo
36. Garth Brooks - What She's Doing Now
37. Garth Brooks - Shameless
38. Garth Brooks - Lonesome Dove
39. Garth Brooks - The River
40. Garth Brooks - That Summer

Which song on this list...

Makes you think of a friend?
"The Dance" cause all the things I have gone through with friends is what made me who I am today...like the song says "I would have rather done without the pain, but then I would have missed the dance"

Makes you think of more than a friend?
"Watch This" was the song Art and I walked out the sanctuary after our wedding

Makes you dance?
Alan Jackson - Chattahochee

Makes you sing in the car?
All of them, but especially, Alan Jackson 5 o clock somewhere...

Makes you remember something great?
Garth Brooks - from the concert!

Makes you laugh?
Pop A Top - remembering our foster kids singing it in the back seat of the mini van on a road trip!

Surprised you?
I Saw God Today because it talks about the birth of a little girl!

Embarrassed you?
Rose Garden - cause I have something so old on my mp3!

Any overall observations?
Apparently, I like Country Musice

Anything you want to say in your defense?
If you dont like country music, you wont want my mp3 player;)

Check out this contest!!!

CHECK THIS OUT!!!!

Go to the I Never Grew Up blog and check out this great, super, fantastic giveaway...especially if you have more than one little person in your life! Good luck!

Out of the Mouth of Kids!

So here is a few things I have heard Makayla say over the last few weeks and it just amazes me. Hard to believe sometimes she is only just over 2 years old!

1. About a week or two ago, we picked up a second hand Fisher Price Little People Farm Set and I went to put the chicken in the barn where the hay was, and she said, "Mommy,no, thats where Baby Jesus is supposed to go"

2. We are successfully potty training and the other day Makayla had just gone to the washroom. Well not even 2 minutes later (I hadn't even had a chance to go and empty her potty yet - that's how fast this happened) I saw her doing "the dance" - all you parents you know what "the dance" is:) Anyway, I said, "go sit before you pee on Dora" (she wears Dora panties and that is how we got her trained - don't get Dora wet). Well she wiggled more and said, "mommy Shirley (she calls me that all the time) I can't there is still pee in the pot, you got to throw it away first!" and wiggled and HELD IT until I did...was so proud of her!

3. A couple weeks ago we were walking down the stairs together and I slipped (hurt my shoulder/back for a bit & Makayla was fine) and Makayla looks at me and says, "Mommy, why did you do that for?" All with a very ticked off look on her face:)

So what funny parent/child moments have you had lately? I would love to hear them!

Book Review - Love You Forever

“I’ll love you forever,
I’ll like you for always,
As long as I’m living,
My baby you’ll be”.

These four lines are the basis of the classic picture book by Robert Munsch, Love You Forever. It was illustrated by Sheila McGraw. It was first published in 1987 by Firefly Books and has since sold over 15 million copies in paperback and hardcover editions, with additional copies in Spanish and French.

This is a MUST HAVE for any child’s home library. It’s a story that relays the unconditional love that a parent has for their child, regardless of their age. I first heard this story about 20 years ago and have loved it ever since. It is cute and whimsical, without being overtly irritating. Children will find the silly actions of the little boy funny, while parents will relate to all the situations portrayed.

Robert Munsch wrote this book as a tribute to his TWO still-born children and that makes this story even more moving especially if you've lost a child or had a miscarriage. The story is an expression of imagining his kids and what they would have been like and how much he would have loved them their whole lives. I found this to be a very emotional and touching story.

The illustrations are so detailed, and I know my oldest daughter loves pointing out different things from each page (like the watch, hat, etc). This is one book that my two year old always wants me to read to her. She even likes to rock back and forth as I sing the song to her, as we read. Robert Munsch once stated, regarding singing the famous four lines, “The way I sing it in the story is just MY version. You are supposed to make up your own" It is worth quoting Munsch from his website to show the enduring charm and power of this testament to a mother's (or parent's) love

I highly recommend this book to parents, children, aunties, uncles, grandparents - really, to anyone who has a child or has been with a child. It is moving, touching and beautifully written and illustrated.

This book is suitable for all ages, though little ones would need it read to them, and older children would prefer it read to them, I would think, given the subject matter. In fact, one of the joys of this book is that you are likely to be reading it to your children long after they can read for themselves. It is truly a shared and sharing story.

Love You Forever by Robert Munsch is available at Amazon for as little as .01 and for that price, why wouldn’t you pick it up for a baby shower or birthday gift today!

To Take Time for myself...

This was the question posted on http://www.gograhamgo.com for the mom time in 09 party:

check out Jolly Mom too!!!!!

How do you take time for yourself?

Ways I take time for myself:

- bubble bath
-reading
-scrapbooking
-going for walks

these are just some of the things are do.

What about you?

This Week Coming...

So we just went through another busy weekend and I am pumped for this week....I am watching a friends little girl this morning and her and Makayla are only 7 months apart so I think they are going to have a lot of fun together. Actually every Monday she will be coming over, so it will be nice for my little one to have a friend to play with.

Starting in February, I am delving into the home child care experience and going to be watching 2 sisters as well...both of whom are very close to Makayla's age, so that will be nice...not only for me to help contribute to the family income without having to leave home, but to help Makayla socialize more. I will update you on how that goes from time to time on here:)

My menu planning is going great...yesterday we decided to go grocery shopping at a different store than normal and WOW is all I have to say....I think we may have found a new place to grocery shop! We ended up spending about $75 LESS at this place, then our "normal" store. It felt really good to be able to spend so much less. I made my menus up for the next two weeks and even bought a few things not on the list and still spent less, so pretty pumped about that.

Makayla started gymnastics on Saturday. This is going to be a weekly thing from now until April. And she is going with her dad, as their "weekly date" - going for breakfast then to gymnastics. Art said she was a little apprehensive at first but then got right into it - except for rolling - apparently she would not, which is weird because she does it all the time at home! I will post pics next weekend as I am going to go watch I think.

Here is a problem we are having with Makayla and I am hoping that a reader out there can help me out or give me some advice! Makayla will not stay in Sunday School. At our church, S.S. starts at the age of 2, no worries about that. And she is usually okay going in, but as soon as story time starts she gets really anxious and cries and then our number gets flashed in the service and we have to go and get her. Apparently when this all started happening the teacher told us the stories they were listening to had some loud sound effects and she thought that was the problem but those stories are done now, and the issue is still there....we have tried sitting through Sunday School with her but she won't go....but here's the funny thing....once church service is over, she ALWAYS wants to go to her Sunday School room and check it out! Any suggestions?

So here is my planned menu for the week:

I am a cereal/oatmeal kinda girl for breakfast, and usually leftovers, or sandwiches for lunches with fruit and yogurt for lunches so don't plan those typically, so here is our dinner meal plans for the next couple weeks:

- Slow Cooker Beef Stew
-Chicken Cacciatore with Spaghetti
-Chicken, Potato, & Veggie Bake
-Teriyaki Veggies & Rice (homemade teriyaki sauce)
-Zesty Spaghetti Frittata
-Crustless Broccoli Quiche
-Stuffed Peppers
-Zesty Chicken and Rice Skillet
-Pasta with homemade Spaghetti sauce and Mashed Potato
-Meatloaf with ground Lamb
-Mushroom Pork chops and Baked Potato
-One Dish Fish Dinner (with Cod fillets)
-Shepards pie with ground turkey
-Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Anyway, have a great God filled week and I will post again soon!

Check out my 101 list for updates!

100 + Books in 2009 Challenge!

So while checking out this blog:

http://literarymenagerie.blogspot.com/search/label/Challenge

I decided to check out the challenge at:

http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/2008/11/2009-100-reading-challenge.html

This helps me with my 101 list of reading 100 + books!

So here is a list of books I am reading or planning to read in 2009:

Those in italics are in progress, and in bold are completed.

I will update the list as I go!!!

1. I Am Hutterite January 10th, 2009

2. For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn

3. The Bible

4. A Thousand Splendid Suns

5. Lord of the Rings Trilogy

6. Little Women

7. Anne of Green Gables Set

8. Grace Based Parenting

9. Get Out of the Pit - Beth Moore

10. Jesus - One and Only - Beth Moore

11. What's So Amazing About Grace - Phillip Yancey

12. Redeeming Love - Francine Rivers - Jan 4/09

13. Chronicle of Narnia Series

14. Captivating - Sherri Eldridge

15. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life Barbara Kingsolver

16. The Secret Garden

17. The Secret Life of Bees

18. Charlotte's Web

19. The Purpose Driven Life - Rick Warren

20.

Growing Up So Fast!

Thought I would post a couple pics of the girls from the past week....I can't believe my baby is 6 months old already...wow has time gone fast!!!

Avaliable in Lethbridge!!!!

So I found another great giveaway on the internet at http://momfuse.com

Here is the link for the giveaway:

http://momfuse.com/2009/01/kaboost-portable-chair-booster-giveaway/comment-page-2/#comment-5000

Often when I find these giveaways, the items are not always avaliable to purchase anywhere near Lethbridge, but THIS ONE IS!!! That's right....you can purchase the KABOOST Portable Chair Booster at Anna Banana in Lethbridge. So excited about that....thinking I may have to invest in one of these even if I don't win it!

Check it our here with a demo of the product:

http://www.kaboost.com/index.html

Here is another link for a contest on one of the blogs I follow:

http://everythingupclose.blogspot.com/2009/01/natural-beauty-jewelry-review-giveaway.html#comment-form

Natural Beauty Jewellery has some beautiful pieces....I so hope to win something!

"Green" Shopping with Pretty Green Bag

So in the last few months I have been using less plastic bags when I shop.....I have now completely converted to cloth bags and love it! Over the last while I have been seeing more and more companies on the web selling reusable bags in all kinds of shapes and sizes....here is one company that has some super cute ones!

http://www.prettygreenbag.com/

And you can win one of the Classic II bags in your choice of color: aubergine, bark, pumpkin or rain cloud at http://mommainflipflops2.blogspot.com/2009/01/pretty-green-bag-review-giveaway.html Check out the colors here:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qhBDjhBnX1w/SWEVtwkA2QI/AAAAAAAABSU/vwAKXYm1eOM/s1600-h/prettygreenbag.gif

Andrea has new giveaways almost daily! Wonderful site!

Join The Qlubb

So I came across this site today and just had to share with those who read my blog....

Qlubb is a website where you can do all the following:

- allows multiple members of a group to share information,
-connect with each other;
-get tasks accomplished all in one place.

When you create a group with Qlubb you can share links, email, and photos. It has event calendars, bulletin boards and discussion groups.

Qlubb is ideal for classrooms, family reunions, groups like Bible Studies, events like Bridal and Baby Showers!

No user registration is required, try Qlubb and see what it can do for you! With just 2 clicks you can create your own Qlubb and with one click you can join an existing Qlubb.....check it out today and see what Qlubb can do for you!

Pay It Forward

I recently found a new blogging friend, and I have joined in a very fun giveaway! This is what was posted on Stacey's and Lindsey's blog.

The Rules are quite simple:

1. Be one of the first three bloggers to leave a comment on this post, where the first word in the comment is "Yes". By saying "Yes" as the first word, you signify you want to participate in this give away. Being one of the first three to say "Yes" will then entitle you to a handmade item from me. This means that I will make you a set of 10 greeting cards - a general thinking of you card which is blank inside for you to personalize!

2. Winners must post this challenge on their blog, meaning that they then must Pay It Forward, creating a handmade gift for the first three bloggers who say "Yes" in a comment on THEIR post.

3. The gift that you send to your three friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And, remember: It’s the spirit and the thought that count!

4. When you receive your gift, please feel free to blog about it, sharing appropriate LinkyLove!

5. If you are not one of the top three commenters on today’s post, you can still continue paying it forward. Start your own Pay It Forward Chain, and encourage your bloggy friends to do the same!

Makayla "reading" to her sister...so cute

Always a smile on her face!

Makayla's fave activity as of late!

Bella trying to play golf on the PS2 with daddy!

Just some fun pictures of the girls from the last couple months....we are so blessed! I can't wait to see all the fun photo opps that will occur during 2009!

My 101 List

Check out http://shirleys101list.blogspot.com for an update on my 101 list

Simple Living

So one of my "resolutions" or goals for 2009 is to live more simply and "greener" hopefully in the process. I have been searching the internet for ideas on how to do this and I have a good number of ideas....here are just a few:

1. Menu Plan - to make life simpler in the kitchen I am planning to continue to menu plan for our dinner meals. So far I have been doing this for the last couple months and its made a huge difference to the stress level of what to make each day as well as making a difference in our grocery budget

2. De-clutter - I am going to purge, purge, and purge again....regularly I will look at what we have around the house and think to myself, "Do we really need this, or have we use this recently?" If not, its getting purged....

3. Use less electricity - shut lights off when not in the room, take shorter showers, use natural cleaning solutions (vinegar and water and baking soda have been my choices recently) and use reusable bags for shopping (have a whole set of bags now so makes it so much better)

4. Buy less - of everything....I am looking around me and see we have everything we need....sure there are things I want...but I am delaying buying things unless we really need them. This will help in my decluttering progress as well as on the budget.

So what things can you do to live a more simple life? Would love to hear some of your ideas.

101 thing in 1001 days

101 things in 1001 days

So I found this really neat blog about 101 things in 1001 days project at http://triplux.com/dayzero/ and thought I could so do this...however, I am going to modify it a bit and still make it 1001 days but see how many I could do this year....

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Some common goal setting tips:
1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.

2. Stay Focussed. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.

3. Welcome Failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.

4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.

5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.

And here's my list!! I'll keep you updated for sure!
Normal type - not completed
Italics - in progress
Bold - Completed tasks!

The Rempel 2008 Year in Review!

January - Had our first ultrasound with new baby and given the due date of August 4th...but does not my my dates so we will see what happens

February - had a surprise visit from Shirley's Dad and sister Kat from Winnipeg....was great to see them again....even if it was only a short visit

March - Celebrated a ton of birthdays and the pregnancy continued on a normal path, hoping to find out what we are having in April or May

April - Went to the Evangelical Free Church of Alberta annual ladies retreat! Was a great time of refreshment, spending time with my sister in law, and mother in law....then a week later ended up in the hospital with terrible stomach pain which we never did find out why initally. However, we found out I had very high blood sugar levels and was admitted with gestational diabetes and put on insulin 4x a day....ugh! But baby was fine....

May - celebrated my 35th birthday, and ended up being put on medical leave for the remainder of my pregnancy due to the diabetes and precaution due to complications in the first pregnancy. Found out we were having another little girl...:)

June - had been experiencing wierd pain which i thought were braxton-hicks but in the end were actually gallstones! Wow the pain was intense and we ended up in the hospital ER almost daily the month of June for pain control.....decided to do a c-section for babies upcoming birth with the date being July 18th (I would be 37 weeks)

July - continued with biweekly ultrasounds and biophysical profiles on baby - all was well but still continued having pretty major gallbladder attacks! Then on July 14th I ended up having contractions all day (thought they were gallbladder attacks - LOL), and went to the hospital at 5pm where I was told I was 2cm and contracting regularly. Baby Isabella Grace was delivered at 10:50pm by c-section and we are so happy she is here. Shirley's mom came from Winnipeg to help out for about a week and it was great to have her here!

August - we had a great mini family reunion of sorts with Art's family, celebrating the summer, Isabella's birth and his brother's wedding! Continued getting used to having a new baby in the house....Makayla moved to a big girl bed and we have started the ever popular potty training!

September - found out that I will in fact be getting my gall bladder out just waiting on a surgery date (ended up being Oct 14)....Isabella is a beautiful baby and life continued to adjust. Had some acting out episodes with Makayla but eventually she adjusted well and is a great help to us with the baby

October - had gall bladder surgery, recovered great from it and do not want any more major surgeries this year thank you very much! Celebrated Makayla's 2nd birthday! Shirley's dad and 3 nieces came out to visit from Manitoba and we celebrated Makayla's birthday in Calgary with other family from Winnipeg, along with her cousin who was born 2 weeks after Makayla. We hosted Thanksgiving that weekend too and had Isabella's Baby Dedication that weekend too! What a busy month October turned out to be! Celebrated Halloween by hanging out with good friends....Bella was a butterfly and Makayla was a dragonfly!

November - Was a relatively quiet month amazingly....work continued to do well for Art....and Shirley decided that being home and being a mommie and wife is what life is all about, so wont be going back to work after maternity leave is done!

December - busy with Christmas preperations....spend time doing scrapbooking and other crafts...which I have not been able to do for a while. Went to Winnipeg for Christmas and despite air travel delays the visit was fantastic and it was great to see immediate and extended family member, some of which I had not seen since September of 2007....we celebrated New Years in grand style with a 5 course meal, Moulin Rouge style with the Ron Paley Band at Winnipeg's Convention Center! It was fantastic! The girls continue to grow and develop and change daily. Bella is now 5.5 months and sitting, eating cereals, and holding her bottle...lots of babbling too....Makayla is 27 months and talking like crazy, loves books and giving hugs and piggy back rides.
We look forward to all the great times that the Lord will provide in 2009 and are glad that He was with us every step of the way for 2008!

Christmas and New Years Goals!

Well Christmas was a wonderful time of visiting with family and friends in Winnipeg, MB....we saw many family members and it was fun introducing our newest member of the family to everyone. We travelled by air on Christmas Eve, and despite many delays and waiting over 6 hours in the Calgary Airport, the girls were soooo good!

This is a short blog post as I have a lot to do today as we returned yesterday...now I have laundry, laundry and more laundry, and other organizing to do.

I love the idea, in theory, of New Year's Resolutions, but I often find that is difficult to stick to them, so this year I am going to give myself goals versus resolutions....so here are my "goals" for the year:

1. I want to lose about 40lb....my goal is to do this through portion control, exercise and lowering my intake of sugars and high fat foods (good for my lack of gall bladder too!)

2. Would like to read at least one non-fiction and fiction book each month - currently I am reading Francine River's "Redeeming Love"....I have read it before, but it is such a great book I brought it with me for reading on the plane or during down time while visiting family at Christmas. Not sure of which non-fiction I will read this month, but will write that down soon!
I hope to read books which also include Bible Study or discussion questions so that I can do some studying at the same time....

3. Read through the Bible at least once....I plan to do this by reading from the Psalms, Proverbs and a passage from each the Old and New Testaments on a daily basis.

4. Start my new home business - a private dayhome program - hopefully by July/August

5. Move into our first house - hopefully to be completed by July or August

6. Get my Learners Driver's License - I would love to say my full license but in Alberta, we have the graduated driving program and you need to have your learners for one full year before you can do the road test....:)

7. Get ideas for Christmas gifts for next Christmas...my goal is to make gifts for everyone on my list, so I am starting early!

8. Get the girls' scrapbooks up to date...last pages for Makayla are her coming home from the hospital and havent started with Bella, so I have my work cut out for me!

9. Go on a family vacation or mini vacation - not sure where or when, will keep you posted

10. Reduce debt almost completely... have made the plans on paper, now we need to put it in action....

These are just a few of the goals I have for this year! As more come to me I will blog about them!