May
2015

Simple Banana Pudding!

categories: Celebrate, Simple Recipes

Whenever my mom’s family got together as I was growing up, there was always a banana pudding on the dessert table.

Thinking of those days, as I often do, I decided I would make one for my family on this holiday weekend, no company, just the three of us!

Instead of a bowl, I used small glasses.  Mason jars would also work and be kinda festive!

I used the mini vanilla wafers, which better fit my small glasses.  Some folks use banana pudding instead of vanilla, or even half vanilla and half banana.

There are many variations of banana pudding out there, but for those who have never made one, this is the really simple recipe that I use.

Ingredients:

2 packages of instant vanilla pudding (3.4 oz size)

4 cups of milk

4 small bananas, sliced

1 box Mini vanilla wafers

Cool Whip for the top! (thawed)

Instructions:

Mix the pudding with the milk as instructed on the pudding package.  Refrigerate for an hour or so.  When ready, start layering the wafers, sliced bananas, and then the pudding.  Repeat layers until you get to the top, leaving a little room for the Cool Whip before serving,

Refrigerate any extras.

That’s it!

Hope you all make a yummy treat this holiday weekend!

Let all of us remember our troops and all those who have lost their lives protecting and serving this country we love so much.

Blessings and love!

 

 

 

 


May
2015

My Cha Cha!

categories: Random Thoughts

Found this cute pillow on one of my trips to Hobby Lobby.  It was very inexpensive at 50% off, so for $6.99 I could not resist.

IMG_0453[1]The pillow is so bright, and the word stenciled on the front made me realize that lately I have been forgetting to laugh, and to smile, and to be grateful, and so many others emotions.

For a week or two I have had such a dark cloud just hanging over this life of mine.

When I was a child, I remember my mom on the phone with one of her sisters responding, I am assuming to the question, “how are you”, saying “I just have “the blues” today”.

Maybe that is how to best describe my unhappy time…I just had “the blues”.

I overwhelmingly felt alone, unloved, and a terrible sadness in my heart with worry for my son and where he is in his life.

These feelings that took me to this dark place made me see that I needed more work on my faith and trust in God.

The fact is, I am loved, first and always by my Lord, and also by my family, all of them.

I may feel lonely, but I am never really alone, all I need to do is to whisper His name.

Finally, my son, he is grown now and I can no longer control his life.  Life has thrown all of us bad situations and he must live through his.  God is with him and I know in my heart has a plan for this decent, good, kind, and generous person.

As I have mentioned before, when I started on this journey of loving my life, I knew I would have setbacks.  I am just human and I will not beat myself up, just pick myself up!

Optimist:  Someone who figures that taking a step backward after taking a step forward is not a disaster, it’s a cha cha.   –   Robert Brault

So for now “the blues” are gone, and my $6.99 pillow on the back porch is a reminder of the two dark weeks of my life with no laughter, no joy, and the lack of trust in my Lord.

Please don’t forget to “laugh” today, to love today, and always remember you are never alone.

Blessings, and joyful thoughts to all of you!

 

 


May
2015

Mom and Me!

categories: Mother's Day, Random Thoughts

When cleaning out one of my many closets that need attention, I ran across this photo of me and my dear, loving mom.

Me with DollI love this photo for so many reasons.

It was taken on my grandma’s porch, and I also know that the doll belonged to her.  She would keep the doll on a bed in one of her bedrooms.  The doll’s name was Nancy.

Wish I could ask the person who took the photo if they meant to include my mom, since she appears so far off to the side. I am so happy, one way or another, that they did, she looks so beautiful, and she is smiling, probably trying to get me to look at the camera.  Love her flowered dress, the type I remember her wearing so often, such a sweet print, wish I could remember the color.

Love the old mail box by the door, the flower pots and plants, watered and cared for by my grandma, I’m sure.  Do you all remember those metal porch chairs?

Oh my gosh, I love my little shoes, tied with perfect bows by my mom, and the little sundress I am wearing.

And on this Mother’s Day I wish I could be that little girl for just 5 minutes to tell my momma, “love you”, and to hold and hug her as tight as I could.

Thank God for all the photos I have, and love so much, of all those I love who are with me and those in heaven.

Blessings and love on this Mother’s Day.


May
2015

So sweet, so easy!

categories: Mother's Day, Random Thoughts

Today I would like to share a really sweet, and oh so easy Mother’s Day gift idea.

Photo charms for bracelets or necklaces.

PHOTO CHARMSI made these for myself!  A photo of me and my husband smooching on our wedding day, over 45 years ago, and my dear son when he was so small.  Our favorite photo ever of him.

This one is of my dear mother, now in heaven.  Miss her so very much.  It was a photo taken on her last birthday.  She is blowing out the candles on her birthday cake!

Mom with charmsThere are so many charms that can also be added for a bit of extra sweetness.

Kid’s artwork, a meaningful quote or saying reduced to size, would also work great.

The next photo is one of a piece of old lace placed in a locket.  The lace was on my First Communion veil when I was a child.  My mom made the veil and at the time I was sad that I did not have a really fancy store bought one like so many of the other little girls.

I wanted to frame the lace to remind myself of how horrible I was not to realize I had the best veil, one made with my mother’s love in every tiny stitch.

LACEAll you need to make any of these is one quick trip to Michael’s.

They have a nice selection of charms and lockets that are so inexpensive. There are many bracelets and chains to choose from as well.

Charm AssortmentJust select your photos, reduce on your computer, and print.

Trace the photos to the size of your locket or charm and assemble.

That is it!

Help your kids make some for mom or grandma, they will love these as if they were made of real gold or silver.  Place them in a box with a ribbon and a handmade card or drawing.

Hope you all are working on your special mom’s gift for Sunday.

Happy Friday!

XO

 

 


May
2015

Welcome May!

categories: Random Thoughts, Spring

Welcome MayMay is one of my favorite months.  The weather is nearly perfect!

So many simple joyful things to do,

  • May 5th was “Cinco de Mayo”, I had lunch with a friend at a small Mexican restaurant in my neighborhood.  We ate outside. So much fun!  I made corn salsa to go along with the chicken quesadillas I made for my family for dinner.  Yummy!
  • “Mother’s Day” this year is May, 10th. We cannot forget our mothers, or those mothers in our lives who have difficult jobs raising children alone.  Celebrate all those mothers who have given you love and understanding. Moms love homemade gifts, help your kids make special gifts for grandma!
  • Go to garage sales, the weather is perfect and you might find a special item to recycle.
  • Visit your local nursery, the flowers are amazing.  An awesome place for photos.
  • Go to the park often, pack a lunch, or just take a book and enjoy!
  • Plan a trip to the zoo.  It is really a better trip when the weather is not so hot.  I still remember trips to the zoo when I was a child.  It was on one of these trips that I experienced my first “Oreo” cookie.  We would pack lunch and my aunt brought a bag.
  • Open your windows!  Let May inside!
  • Rearrange your furniture so your desk or favorite chair is by a window, one you can open!
  • Make a cup of coffee and go outside early in the morning, when everything is quiet.
  • Take a morning walk, not the fast paced exercise kind, but a slow enjoyable one.
  • Get out your sandals, or maybe go buy a new pair.
  • Dust off your grill, make potato salad, hot dogs, and burgers.
  • Plan for a “Memorial Day” gathering.
  • Clean off your outside furniture, get your porch or your peaceful spot outside ready for this wonderful weather month.
  • Treat yourself to a yummy shake or malt.  If you have a “Steak and Shake” near your home, shakes are 1/2 price from 2 to 5, they call it “Happy Hour”.

Just get outside when you can, play, be happy, laugh, be grateful!

I love this photo of my niece playing with her dog “Denali”, blowing bubbles for him to catch.

None of us are too old to “play”.

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Enjoy the “happies” in life!

Enjoy the month of May!

XO

 

 

 

 


May
2015

My Little Part of the Earth!

categories: Random Thoughts, Spring

One day last week was recognized everywhere as “Earth Day”.

Of course, most of the talk was related to global warming, but we all need to do our part, whatever that may be, to keep this earth clean and safe.

I walked around “my little part of the earth” with joy and peace on this glorious day God has given me.

What a beautiful day!

Blue skies, flowering trees, warm temperatures!

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Have you ever just looked up, smelled the air, felt the sun, and whispered, oh wow?

“Kitty” was right with me this day.  She is so cute about following me around my yard, almost as if she thinks she is my protector, so sweet.

IMG_0391[1]Much clean up needed to get ready for the warm weather just ahead.

Weeding, raking old leaves that have accumulated under shrubs, planting, and cleaning up my little flower bed.  All I do gladly to keep “my little part of the earth” clean and beautiful.

IMG_0418[1]Oh my gosh, dandelions!

IMG_0420[1]In my old life of trying to keep up with everyone, before I realized the really important things in life, I thought folks who had dandelions were lazy, terrible people. I am so ashamed of how I would judge people on what they had, or did not have, or what they did, or did not do!

Having a home and a yard calls for time, work, and money.  Money some folks just do not have.  Now that I am not working, we struggle with home improvements due to lack of money. A gallon of paint can cost over $40, fertilizer and weed killer for a yard can be over $40, and even buying flowers for a few pots can be very expensive.  A lot of rearranging is done to our budget this time of the year.

It would be nice if some paint manufacturers started a program of giving back, donating paint, or offering discounts to poor folks, or senior citizens on fixed incomes.  Maybe they do!

It is so uplifting to see groups volunteer to paint, and fix up homes of the elderly.  Most want to stay in their homes, but are not able to do the work or afford the supplies needed.

We all see the quick signs of deterioration when repairs and maintenance is not kept up.  It must be heart breaking for the elderly to see this happen to their homes.

I know you all are doing what you can do to keep this creation of God the way it should be, it brings us all so much pleasure.

Thank Him for this gift when you say your prayers this night.

Blessings to all of you with love!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Apr
2015

Pinch me! Is it really spring?

categories: Spring

Although the mornings are chilly I see signs of spring.

Days are getting longer, there are buds on the trees, the birds are getting loud, and the grass is getting green.

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I am so thankful for these signs and that feeling of a new beginning spring brings.

IMG_0342[1]I searched my garage for my forsythia wreath and cleaned off the winter dirt and dust that had accumulated on my front door.  Much better!

Today was 68 so for the first time this season I opened a window or two!  The air was so fresh and the sun shining in was so warm.

IMG_0337[1]“Kitten” loved the sun and spent most of her day just sitting on the bedroom window seat enjoying the beginnings of spring.

Spring is a time to freshen things up!  I remember my mom always doing what she called “spring cleaning”.  She would scrub and clean everything even the walls.  My mom loved a clean home.  We did not have money for much growing up, and mom could not afford new furniture and such, but she always took care of what we had.

I still remember how wonderful it felt to come home from school to a clean house and to my mom who was always there waiting for us.

Throw open the windows, air everything out, it’s spring!

Hope you all enjoy this “new beginning” season.

Blessings.

 


Apr
2015

Day 31 – Finally!

categories: 31 Days

Well, this is my last post on the 31 days of writing about “Loving My New Simple Life”.

Sorry it has taken so much time for me to complete, it has really been a difficult winter for me and my family.

I have tried in my crazy, silly, not perfect writings to be honest with all of you, and also with myself, as to why most of my life I was not loving the life that God gave to me.

Hope you could relate to some of the posts and maybe learn from my mess of a past life and want to change yours.

Over the past five years I have come a long way in realizing what real joy is all about.

Facing the horrible mistakes I made in my life, and why, was critical to becoming the person I wanted to be for the rest of my life.

I wanted to touch on as many areas that affected my life as possible.

  • Insecurity
  • Self worth
  • Pride
  • Lack of encouragement, as a child and as an adult
  • Trust
  • Importance of family
  • Recognizing real joys, the simple ones
  • Taking life for granted
  • Being grateful
  • Love of God and the importance of faith
  • Facing loss and heartbreak
  • Forgiveness
  • Letting go

Oh my, life is so good.  Please love yours, find real love and joy in what you have, and be grateful every single precious day.

Thank God.

Love to all of you.

 

 

 


Feb
2015

Day 30 – Losing “Blackie”

categories: 31 Days

She appeared one morning at my back door, abandoned by those she thought cared for her!

I will never understand caring for such a beautiful, sweet cat and then all of a sudden rejecting her, turning her away.  That’s what happen to “Blackie”.

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At first she was a bit fearful, keeping a safe distance, but as the days passed she started to trust me allowing me to love her.  I gave her a blanket to sleep on, and fresh water and food twice a day.

From that first morning, and as the days passed, she became my constant companion when I was working in my yard or sitting on my back porch reading and enjoying the day.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAIMG_0039[1]She did a cute thing of jumping up and down on my back door the moment she realized I was in the kitchen, letting me know she was hungry.

When I took her food out to her she would always wait before eating until I would pet her.  It was so cute and touching.  Her way of letting me know she trusted me and was grateful for the love I was giving her.

One morning several weeks ago, when I was in the kitchen making my coffee, I realized she was not at the door and not in her bed. I called for her but she did not come to me as she always would do.

After an hour or so I went out to look for her, and with tears and a very sad heart, I found her in our yard very close to our back porch, her home.

I don’t know what happened to her, but I do know that I miss her so very much, and oh how I miss the joy of just caring for her.

Caring for “Blackie” was a simple joy, one that life gives us, one we often take for granted until lost.

Have a blessed day.

Today, recognize and enjoy the simple, loving joys in your life.

 


Feb
2015

Day 29 – Take Lots of Photos

categories: 31 Days

I recently heard a commercial, right now I can’t recall the product, but in the spot the words, “take lots of photos, in 15 years you will be glad you did” were used.  How true!

Photos are really so much more important to me at my age and in my life right now, I love to frame and give them as gifts, old ones or new.  A framed photo, given with love as a gift, is really special.

Most of us have boxes or albums full of old photos, and I am no exception.  Pulling them out from time to time brings tears, laughter, and memories.  Recently I ran across a group of photos of a Halloween party we had with a group of old neighbors some years back.

Let me share some of those with all of you now.

Ellen an RichMarijettaJean and FrankShiela and BillWhat fun we all had that night, each photo was taken as we opened our front door, being surprised at each of the couple’s costumes.

In the first photo our old friend, the wacky guy with the beer, silly nose and glasses, is now in a nursing home suffering from very early Alzheimer’s disease.  He has not known his wife, or children for years.

The friar and the smiling angel…..our sweet angel passed away of a rare disease five or six years ago.

The Statue of Liberty and the baseball fan, were our very closest friends at the time, so many laughs and vacations together.  They moved away, divorced, and our dear Frank died of a heart attack in his late 40’s.

In the last photo, our loving priest, who lived in the next house down, was shoveling snow about 6 years ago and collapsed.  A horrible night for us, my son working to revive him while we all waited for the medics to arrive. So proud of my son that night.  Our dear priest could not be saved, he passed away before getting to the hospital.

Take lots of photos, you will be glad you did!

Miss all of them, and the memories we all created together.