Saying Good-bye to 2012

As 2012 comes to a close, I find myself as most of us do reflecting on the year.  It was a year of firsts and discoveries and “Am I the only one who thinks this way?”

As you look back do you ever wonder did I do enough? What would I do different? Maybe, next time, and Thank Goodness.

I discovered Downton Abbey thanks to my daughter Courtney.  I discovered a love for  working out and playing the harp.  I rediscovered a favorite pastime of reading.  I experienced a first of taking swim lessons with my daughter Sarah and enjoying doing laps.  I discovered Red Beet Eggs while in Pennsylvania (these are the best).  I discovered Naked Basics Palette by Urban Decay. I found an acupuncturist who has saved my life (thank you Heather for recommending her).  I discovered KC Donuts (absolutely the best donuts ever).  And that I LOVE paper straws. 

 

I discovered the charm and peace of the Amish country and fell in love with the covered bridges, the stay at an old farmhouse and the best cinnamon rolls made by Florence,  sitting on a front porch at night only hearing the crickets chirp, and sleeping on sheets that have been hung out to dry on a clothesline (so nice). 

 

 I discovered that a dream of wanting nothing more than to be a stay home mom has it challenges just like working full time.  Some days I wondered what I did all day - That timing is everything and sometimes schedules are not necessary. 

I discovered a lot about myself and my family.  I discovered that I am braver than I thought and weaker than I imagined.  That being in the moment is more important than getting to the end.  That spending time appreciating the little things matters because these happen all the time.  That knowing deep within for the first time I feel as if I have come home.  That mending bridges and reconnecting and putting pride aside do more for your well-being than vitamins.  I have discovered that slowing down is best for your mental and physical health. 

 

 

I have discovered that there are many things I want to do, can do, and will do if I allow my heart to guide me.  That some things are best let go of……

I have discovered that life is full of challenges such as broken cars and appliances, disappointments, heartaches, and feeling of doubt.

Through 2012 the ups and downs I have made some wonderful friends and cherish the old friendships and found there is something good and charming in each person.  I have watched and observed and marveled in the strength and courage of the woman around me.

Though life is never easy and definitely full of trying times which only make us stronger I look forward to 2013 with the wonders and discoveries that have yet to be experienced, to those whose path will cross mine and the things I will learn, the blessings, the trials and the ability to meet it with a courageous heart.   

In those quiet moments between the movement from one experience to the next I cherish the love that has been shown unto me and the loving God who opens my eyes and brings into my life not just what I want but exactly what I need (even though I may not know it). 

 Happy New Year to you all

Baptism - It's Great to be Eight

Between birthdays, Christmas, and trips we also scheduled into the busy month of December a Baptism.  This was such a special day with family and friends -- special talks  by her Primary Teacher and her big Sister.  Music by Cindy on the harp, played Sarah's favorite primary songs.  The best part- a room full of support for this sweet little girl.  Later that evening ---  Sarah memory for the day:----   "David (her brother-in-law) asked me earlier if I felt different and I said, No.  But, mamma, afterwards I felt  really clean." 



Program from  CardsEtcetera Etsy Shop
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CardsEtcetera



Programs from MeckMom etsy shop

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MeckMom

 



Cupcakes and Truffles from Dough Girl Bakery
https://www.facebook.com/DoughGirlBakery



She loves Grandpa

 

Big Sister and husband David were in town for Christmas and more importantly the Baptism 

 

Five DIY easy/simple Christmas Crafts and December $25 Giveaway

Sarah and I spent a week visiting Courtney in Idaho and those college girls are intense and amazing crafters.  We had a craft night and the next day Sarah said, "Can we NOT craft today?"  Me - "Why?"  -- Sarah - "Because no pays attention to me when you craft."    There is a craft store in Rexburg called "Porters."  They display a completed craft and then on the shelf below are all the supplies to make the craft.  I could spend hours in there.  Their website has many projects with instructions.  Check them out at: http://portersonline.com/

Here are my five inspired DIY very easy/simple Christmas Crafts

Christmas Give-away -

$25.00 Michaels Giftcard to hold your own craft day

What do you want for Christmas? 

 (I want a camera and lessons on how to use it)
Drawing held on December 31st



Epsom Salt, cranberries, limes, oranges, garland

String of lights and tie two pieces of red tule into a middle knot

Santa Block

pom pom garland

Yarn and Twine - made in Rexburg at our Craft Night

Ikea lantern, christmas balls, ribbon

 

Try a GLOSSYBOX

 

Received my GLOSSYBOX in the mail today.  Each month you receive 5 travel size beauty products and a small magazine.  These are products that you may not normally purchase.  Gives you a way to try out the product for a minimal cost.  So far -- I like it......you can subscribe to as little as three months.  Check it out at glossybox.com



This month: Hand cream, toning face cream, hair repair, solid perfume and pencil eyeliner

Little bits of this and that

Today is about a little of this and some of that

Can you believe.....

1.  We stopped at Bucees twice in one day and purchased gas for $2.99 a gallon.

2.  On Black Friday at Target not only did we get a free treat bag full of goodies but on the way out we got a personal size pizza from a new restaurant down the road and it was actually good.

3.  Two days before Black Friday I purchased a sweater and boots and those two items went on sale and both stores did a price adjustment and gave me the sale price - a savings of $40.

4.   Somehow I forgot to make rolls for our family Thanksgiving.

5.  After working out for 45 minutes I stopped and ordered the cupcakes for my daughters birthday and ate a mini peppermint chocolate cupcake - what was I thinking!!

6.  At the City-Wide Garage Sale I found a gorgeous red 1960 vintage purse (will share that later this week) and a lucite purse which I should have bought but did not.

What are you little bits of this and that?

Winner of November Giveaway

Congratulations to Heather -- she won the $25 Amazon Gift Card for the November Giveaway.  Happy Shopping.

Moments That Matter Most

Every man gives his life for what he believes.
Every woman gives her life for what she believes.
Sometimes people believe in little or nothing
yet they give their lives to that little or nothing.
One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. Then it is gone.
But to surrender what you are and live without belief, that's more terrible than dying. Even more terrible than dying young.
                                                              Joan of Arc



Love your children......
Love your life.......
Love your family.......
Love Yourself........

I am thankful for all my family and friends. Thank you for---- always being there --- remembering, --- encouraging words,  your support --- being so incredible and awesome  --- being gracious and kind --- being such an inspiration --- being the best you can be --- your love --- just being YOU! 

 Happy Thanksgiving

Acorn Treats

Saw this on Pinterest and had to try it.   But - there were no instructions and I am a person that needs instructions.  Here is my attempt to copy this.  It was actually pretty easy but time consuming. 

What you need:

• Peanut Butter or Nutella or Frosting
• Hershey Kisses
• Nutter Butter Bites
• Semi-sweet chips (I used peanut butter and chocolate chips)  

What do do:

• Unwrap Hershey Kisse
• Spread Peanut Butter, Nutella or Frosting on the Hershey Kiss
• Attach one Nutter Butter Bite
• Spread Peanut Butter, Nutella, or Frosting on the Semi-Sweet Chip
• Enjoy

Made some using Peanut Butter and some using Wilton Cookie Frosting that hardens in about an hour.  The Peanut Butter was very messy and the acorn treats made with peanut butter do not transport well.  The Wilton Fosting worked like a charm except that white frosting on acorn treats does not look realistic.  My friend Heather suggested using Nutella.  Tomorrow I am making these for a Brownie Troop meeting and will use Nutella.  Thanks Heather for the suggestion.

These treats are very sweet -- I wonder if there is a diet version?

A Longing for Fall and The November $25 Giveaway

It was November – the months of crimson sunsets, parting birds, deep, sad hymns of the sea,  passionate wind-songs in the pines.    L.M. Montgomery

It is November 8^th and while many are bundled in front of fires and listening to the hush of the fallen snow--- here it is 74 degrees and my flower garden is alive with the flutter of butterflies.  The wind is blowing, the chimes sing softly, the leaves rustle and a few trees burst with red and orange ---but it does not feel like fall --- for it is too warm for sweaters and the air conditioner blows a steady breeze in the house.  The sprinklers water the grass in need of a long rain and summer flowers are still in bloom.   But fall and Thanksgiving are upon us none the less.  Today a fresh baked pumpkin cake fills the house with the aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg, a candle of apple/cinnamon burns softly and decorations added to the fireplace, mantel and table add a touch of fall to at least the inside. 

Table Decorations

 

 

 

A touch of Fall on the Mantel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scarecrow Buddies

 

 

November Giveaway – Indulge yourself with a $25 gift card from Amazon and add a touch of fall to your home.      To Enter – What do you like the most about Fall?

How to Enter

1.     Send me an email at Alittlehelpnowandthenblog@gmail.com

2.    Leave your answer on facebook

3.    Leave a comment on the blog (if you select anonymous leave your initials)

Random Drawing and winner announced the day after Thanksgiving

All we need is a little Red Dress

Red Hair and a Red Dress - yes it can be worn especially if the red has blue undertones.   At the mall a year ago there was this beautiful Calvin Klein red dress on display and I wanted it.  This was definitely an impulsive, spontaneous and silly purchase.  A red dress is not necessarily sensible or practical but every once in a while it is okay to be daring and indulge.  Rightly so, I believe every woman should own a red dress and look breathtaking and feel beautiful while wearing it. 

You know how you buy a dress and it fits and you tell yourself “all I have to do it loose a few pounds and it will fit perfect.”  Well, that is where I am with this dress.  So, my challenge is that in 60 days I want to be 15 pounds lighter to fit perfectly into my little red dress for a wedding in January.  The theme is "Western."  So, I was thinking the red dress with cowboy boots?  What do you think?  Oh, and any advice/tips/words of wisdom you have to drop 15 pounds would be lovely. 

Do you own a little red dress? 

 

The ones I took of the dress did not do it justice so here is the picture from Macy's -kind of fuzzy

 

Happy Halloween



Happy and Safe Halloween to all.  Our yard is full of Halloween decorations as David goes all out.  A few pictures of our front yard and some cute Trick or Treaters. 

 


Double, double toil and trouble;
fire burn and caldron bubble



Hold on, man. We don't go anywhere with "scary," "spooky," "haunted," or "forbidden" in the title. ~From Scooby-Doo



When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam,
May luck be yours on Halloween.
~Author Unknown

Ready for Trunk or Treat



Crazy Hat day

There is a child in every one of us who is still a trick-or-treater looking for a brightly-lit front porch. ~Robert Brault

 

 

Conclusion of Melanoma and Floppy Hats. Small talk with Sarah

On October 2nd I wrote a post on Melanoma and Floppy Hats.  Yesterday the stiches were removed  from the more extensive procedure of taking a 0.5 cm margin of normal skin surrounding the lesion.  The pathology report came back and all looks wonderful.  Thank you to everyone who sent me emails and words of support.    Apparently, this is more common than I had thought.  So many of you shared similar experiences and I found comfort in knowing that I was not alone. That which we are in need of and seeking will find a way to us.  Thank you for finding me. 

 On a lighter note --- Small talk with Sarah……..

Sarah:  Do you like ice-skating?

Me:  Oh yes, I loved to ice-skate. We would ice-skate every day after school as often as we could. 

Sarah:  Do you like roller-skating?

Me:  Not as much.  I would like to do some of those things with you

Sarah:  you are special, mama

Me:  looking at her inquisitively

Long Pause

Sarah:  You are unique

Me:  Yes, Sarah, I am



"What shape would the world be in today if everyone settled for being average?" --Lucy van Pelt



 

Soup's On - Green Beans and Ham

This is a childhood favorite and so easy to make

Recipe
1 1/2 - 2 pounds fresh green beans
2 - 2 1/2 pounds ham
6 medium potatoes
7 cups water
Better than Bouillon - Ham Base

Place ham (and I also use one ham hock to add flavor) and 7 cups of water in pan, cover and cook one hour.  Remove ham from bone (I use ham slices) and add greenbeans and "Better than Bouillon Ham Base" and cook five minutes.  Cut potatoes into pieces and add.  Cook 20-25 minutes until potatoes are done. 

This freezes really well.  The "Better than Bouillon" adds such a great flavor to this soup.  Add to taste.    

Make some homemade bread and you have a meal. 

So easy - (ham hock in bowl) 

 

 

They also have an Organic Gluten-Free Bouillon

smells great when cooking

 

Halloween Treat Bags

 

 

 

Easy treats to share when using Martha Stewart Crafts

 

(especially when you buy them at 50% off) 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 Add the poem below to make a special Visiting Teaching Treat -- Printed these on 5x7 at Walgreens

free printable from http://libertyslayouts.blogspot.com/2011/10/october-vt.html

 

Be the HERO of your own story

A small authentic moment was shared today with a friend who sold clothing items to a thrift store and books to a second hand store.  The total financial gain was $10.10.  To most of us this would seem inconsequential and not enough to even buy a tank of gas.  For this individual today was as though they climbed a mountain top.  My friend suffers from a social anxiety disorder and the smallest of encounters with the human race can literally stop them in their tracks.  As we drove to the first place I waited in the car as they went in and conducted the transaction without incident except for the intense beating of the heart and sweaty palms.  When it was time to go back into the store they needed a few minutes to gain the courage, strength and composure to accept the offer.  With momentum the next stop was completed with ease.    This person took a risk today no matter how small it was and confidence was gained.  It is with small things that greatness is obtained. 

It is easy to judge or jump to conclusions when we come across something foreign or strange to what we have experienced.  By taking the time to know each other, stand in each other’s space or shoes as you would say, and listen to a view that differs from our own, we begin to open our eyes, and learn new and wonderful things not only about ourselves but others

I asked them, “How does it feel.”  They replied, “I feel great.”   Our fears are not a divine gift but hold us hostage and prevent us from fulfilling our dreams. Banish the doubts and reach beyond the fear.  Within each of us there is a dream waiting to be discovered and waiting to be fulfilled. 

Sometimes we need friends to carry us, guide us and stand beside us.  But in that final moment we stand alone and only we can take that leap as we look within and know the choice belongs to us.  Our hero lies in the depths of our soul and pushes us each day to do the things we feel we cannot.  A simple gift of courage and strength allows us a glimpse of what can be if we open our hearts to see.  At the end of day when we look in the mirror we are and we must be our own Hero.

 What a blessing is was for me to today to witness and be a part of this small miracle.  The moment for this individual is here and gone but leaves a lasting mark and a memory that will change them forever. How can it be described?  It cannot.  Do we find the people we need when we need them?   Do we attract our future and are drawn to that by a similar means?  This person was turning a corner and knew change was inevitable.

http://bitsofwisdom.org/2011/03/03/be-your-own-hero/

 

Happy Girls are the Prettiest

Backward, turn Backward, O Time,

in your flight, make me a child

again just for tonight

                      Elizabeth Allen

Setting:  Bathroom getting ready for Young Women's Meeting and Sarah is looking into the mirror

Me:  Sarah, what are you doing?

Sarah:  Looking at myself

Me:  You sure are beautiful

Sarah:  I know

Me:  How do you know?

Sarah:  Hands held out  "The Mirror"

 

I looked at her with awe and amazement.  Was there a way to capture this moment of how she felt right now --  self-esteem and being strong – knowing who she is – looking in the mirror and loving her image?   Was there a way to protect her from what the world would soon deliver to her in a few years of airbrushed glossy magazine covers and the onslaught of commercials that would make her question her own beauty? 

I stood at the mirror with her and glimpsed into the past --A gangling teenager, crooked teeth, glasses, red hair, freckles and blushing all the time.    Many times I wanted to just hug the wall and disappear.  There were hundreds of awkward moments and feelings of inadequacy. Basically, I was uncomfortable being me and why not as the world around me validated my thinking and feelings.  Scripts were written and played every day that were imbedded into my very being.    

Fast forward many years --- my husband came in the room and said, “when you walked in the door tonight you looked really sexy.”  At first I looked around the room to see who he was talking to because it certainly could not be me.  Once I figured out it was me (since I was the only one in the room) I said, “Really?” 

It takes effort to rewrite a script that you have lived with for so long.  It is like a comfortable sweater that once you put on you do not want to part with it.  This place is easy and soon becomes your comfort zone.  It has taken years to look in the mirror and smile back at my reflection and to honestly say, “I love you and you are beautiful.”  Slowly the script is rewritten and the old sweater is no longer needed or necessary.   There are hints of those old scripts that catch me by surprise but then I remember I am the only one who can change it --I am a Daughter of God. 

To all the beautiful women I know and who read this today.  Cherish yourself, honor yourself, and know that you are beautiful.

 “The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides."  Audrey Hepburn

www.itlooksgoodtome.com

Sweetest Day October 20th Halloween Style

 

 

"Sweetest Day" this year is October 20th.  An original American Holiday founded around 1921 which falls on the 3rd Saturday in October.  A day to celebrate all the wonderful people who make your life special. 

Who makes your life special?

 

 Sweetest Day Celebrated Halloween Style---

 

 

printable from www.kikicomin.com

 

 

 



You've been BOO-ed!

The doorbell rang last night and we opened the door to find a surprise. 

 We had been BOO-ed!  The phantom ghost left a pumpkin filled with goodies.  The note instructed us to share this Halloween Greeting with two other families. 

 

What fun ---- we filled two plastic pumpkins with goodies --left at dark to be sure no one saw us -- rang their doorbells and scurried away.  Now two more families have received a Halloween Surprise of  being  BOO-ed!

 

Have you been BOO-ed this Halloween Season?

 

 two halloween buckets of goodies to share

 

 

here is the link for the handout http://www.beenbooed.com/ive-beenbooed-bw.pdf