I've been thinking.

You know when you have too much time on your hands and you just get to thinking? Well, spare me while I tell you my thoughts.

So Adam has gone back to school and is gone a lot! Then when he is home, he is studying. Although both of us knew that this was the way it was going to be, and we both knew it would be hard ... it kinda hit me over the head one night this week. I didn't have a whole lot of motivation to do much, so I thought I would look at blogs. Now just FYI, I don't follow a lot of blogs. I don't really have a whole lot of extra time between my little ones and work, so on occasion while watching a movie I will "catch up" if you will.

I got to reading all of these amazing blogs about these super women, and I started to get down, thinking ... MAN I am nothing like them. I am not very creative. My kid's PB&J sandwich isn't in the shape of a star, nor have I had even a moment to do either boy's scrapbook. I think I forgot to put deodorant on today. I would love all the funds in the world to re-decorate my room, finish a few projects (like pillows for my couch), or machine quilt the quilt that I finished piecing 2 years ago, not to mention visit every grocery store in the county to get the best deals.

I had one of those girl moments ... you know ... where you cry yourself to sleep, thinking man ... life really could be better, and I could be better. But then it occurred to me ... the readers of my blog probably think that I am a super woman. I usually only post the projects I finish, and the things that "CHANGE MY LIFE". Very seldom do I put things that I did wrong, or screwed up, or even cried about. So for just a minute, I want to explain that I am just as normal as you!

1. I had acne in high school and took acutane. And was wondering today why it is at 29 years old I am getting acne like a teenager again!
2. My office desk is ALWAYS a disaster. I always have an unfinished project and my desk gets so stacked up that it takes me days to clean it off!
3. I hit my head at least once a day because I forget that I am blind in one eye. And then I cry because I am reminded that I have a handicap!
4. I do get extremely impatient with my kids and often times find myself in the laundry room when they are whining themselves to sleep at nap time, because I can't hear them in there.
5. I really just don't feel like cooking all the time. In fact, Pizza is my escape at least once a week.
6. I have an addiction to snow cones ... Pina Colada with cream on it, and found my self getting one almost every day this summer. (hummm maybe that is why I have gained a few pounds?)
7. I HATE TO READ! I really do! Unless it is a good magazine about cooking, or scrapbooking, or an occasional Real Simple magazine, I can't stand it. I fall asleep every time I try to read for longer than 15 minutes.
8. I have a led foot. That is right folks ... I have lost track of how many times I have been to traffic school.
9. I sometimes get tired of creating ... and sometimes comes more often than you think.
10. I constantly feel my love handles and shake my head, pop my zits, think my cloths are out of style, and wish I magically won an extreme makeover contest where they fly me to NYC and visit one of those day spa's like on the movie "One Fine Day".

Those are just 10 of many. See! I am just like you. But I realized today that I am good at a lot of things AND SO ARE YOU!!! Maybe different things than I am good at! I like to try and uplift and inspire women ... not to make them feel like they are worthless if they don't feel crafty all the time. Craftiness is in my blood. I was born with it. As my sister's who all used to call me Martha Stewart as a little girl. But that is one talent that the Lord has given me, and he has given all of you great talents too. So lets INSPIRE each other ... not put guilt trips on one another. Please email me if you have some wonderful ideas too! I would love to invite guests to my blog to write about something that has CHANGED YOUR LIFE!
GREAT BIG Hugs from me!
M

Cooking!

SO I have this friend. Her name is Camille Funk. We have been friends for OH about 8 years and I have to say ... SHE AMAZES me! Get ready, I am about ready to brag about you Camille!

She graduated from Columbia University in NY with a Masters degree in International Education. She has written two books and currently works at BYU in their independent study department. Not only that, but this girl has PERSONALITY, loves hip hop, and the outdoors. The other night I decided I was missing my dear friend, and Adam was gone to school for the evening ... so I had her over for dinner. What a joy she is and I sure miss her so much! It was a great reunion. I thought I would give a little shout out to you all by telling you about her cooking blog ... (click here) ... and show you her new book ... A COOK BOOK! Camille is Miss perfect, (and I really mean it! I have yet to find fault in this girl) yet Mr. perfect hasn't found her yet, so she did this cookbook all about cooking for one person. Isn't that amazing!
So you can order it on Amazon, get it at Borders or Barnes and Noble ... and I suggest you do! It is FANTASTICO!

Also, thought I would share a recipe that I got from a friend in NY. This is what I made for Camille and I for dinner. (Adam won't touch squash so I had to make it for someone, right?) I promise you won't be dissapointed, and with fall coming quickly, it is the perfect meal to usher in the season! ENJOY!

Butternut Squash Soup

6 cups (peeled & cubed) butternut squash (1 medium squash)
5 cups of water or chicken broth
2 TBSP olive oil
2 cups chopped onion
1 tsp dried leaf thyme
4 TBS butter
1/3 cup flour
3/4 cup heavy cream (I can imagine milk would work just fine)
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp salt
1 TBSP Soy Sauce (I know, seems weird, but trust me ... it makes it AMAZING)
optional: 1/2 cup roasted almonds for garnish

Combine squash and water or stock in 4 quart pot. Bring to a boil then lower heat. Cover and cook until tender. (25 minutes). Meanwhile, heat oil in frying pan and saute the onions and thyme until tender and lightly browned. Add to squash. Puree the squash and onions in blender until almost smooth (leave a few chucks). NOTE: MAY WANT TO DO A FEW BATCHES IN THE BLENDER TO PREVENT EXPLOSION. TRUST ME ... MINE EXPLODED OUT OF MY BLENDER AND MADE A HUGE MESS!)
Next melt butter in same frying pan over low heat, add flower, and stir 1 - 2 minutes until well mixed and lightly browned. Add cream and mix with a whisk until blended. Add to the soup, then return the soup to a simmer. Add ginger, salt, soy sauce, and pepper. Simmer 15 minutes uncovered and serve.

Goes AWESOME with a nice salad and homemade croutons! DELISH!