A Waste of Time

Time is our most valuable asset, yet we tend to waste it and spend it rather than invest it.~ Jim Rohn

That quote is so true. How often do we have time and we waste it by doing absolutely nothing. I am a good one for wasting time and one of my new year's resolutions was to use time wisely, since its our one resource we use that we can never get back. So I began my list of all the things that can be done in 5 minutes; because lets face it, that's the time we waste the most....the 5 minutes before we have to leave the house, the 5 minutes before we go to bed, before we eat dinner. It may only be 5 minutes, but it's 5 minutes to get some of the little things done...and maybe a few of the important ones done as well.

25 Things To Do In 5 Minutes
1. Clean out the silverware drawer
2. Wash the mirrors
3. Prepare the coffee pot for the next day
4. Clean out purse, briefcase, diaper bag, etc.
5. Take out garbage
6. Water plants
7. Clean out the lint trap in the dryer
8. Pay bills
9. Sweep the kitchen floor
10. Sanitize phone, door knobs, keyboards, etc. (especially if you had kids)
11. Get snacks ready for the next day...lunches, etc.
12. Go through the mail, getting rid of any junk mail, organize bills, etc.
13. Put away clean dishes/empty dish washer
14. Make out the grocery list
15. Brush/floss your teeth
16. Check smoke alarms and change batteries if needed
17. Clean out the car
18. Read the Bible
19. Play with the kids
20. Do some stretches or meditate
21. Make to-do list for the next day
22. Wipe down counters
23. Make your phone calls...just remember to keep it within the 5 minutes
24. Hug/kiss your child, mate, etc.
25. Pray

World's Most Dangerous Chocolate Cake

Most dangerous because you're never more than 5 minutes away from a chocolate cake. This cake is heavenly and can be made in just a few minutes in the microwave. For Christmas I put the dry ingredients into a treat bag and put the bag into a coffee cup for a gift and added a pretty gift tag with instructions. It was a hit.

4 tbs flour
4 tbs sugar
2 tbs baking cocoa
1 egg
3 tbs milk
3 tbs oil
3 tbs chocolate chips
Splash vanilla
Whipped topping (optional)

Put dry ingredients into a large mug and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil; mix well. Add the chocolate chips and vanilla; and mix again. Microwave for 3 minutes. Allow to cool slightly. Top with a little whipped topping and a dusting of cocoa, if desired. Enjoy!

Ice Cube Candles

I had to come up with a craft for our teen moms and knew they wanted to make candles. This was easy and fun to make.

You will need:
* Dye Chips (crayons)
* Candle Wax With Low Melting Point
* Tapered Candles
* Coffee Cans
* Ice Cubes
* Wax-covered Milk Cartons
* Saucepans

Instructions:

1. Wash and dry the inside of a wax-covered paper milk carton. This will be your mold.

2. Use or make a taper candle for the center to avoid having holes around the wick.

3. Break wax into chunks and estimate how much you'll need to fill half of the carton. Too much is always better than not enough.

4. Make a double boiler by putting about an inch of water in a saucepan. Set a clean coffee can upright in the water.

5. Set the heat to low and melt the wax in the coffee can.

6. Add dye chips if you want colors.

7. Fill the carton with ice cubes.

8. Pour the melted wax on top of the ice.

9. Let it cool.

10. Pour out the water.

11. Tear away the carton.

12. Wait at least 2 days before burning the candle - it needs time to dry. For best results freeze it for a day.

Cinnamon Butter

I have been asked for this recipe, so here it is...

2 sticks butter or margarine, softened
4 Tbs brown sugar, packed
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg

Put everything in a bowl and mix well.
Chill.
Spread over your favorite bread.

** Instead of butter mix 1 c cream cheese with the remaining ingredients for a great dip for apples, etc.

Kettle Corn

Ever been to Buckley in August for their steam engine shows? Michigan's Adventure? Some other carnival that sells it? If so, then you know what I'm talking about. You can smell it before you even get to the booth. Then you pay $2-$3 for a small box of the sweet-salty popcorn and it is so good. Well here is my recipe, hope you enjoy it.

1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup popcorn kernels

Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add one corn kernel to let you know when the oil is ready. Once hot, stir in the sugar and popcorn. Cover the pan, and shake it constantly to prevent the sugar from burning. Once the popping has slowed, remove the pan from the heat and continue to shake for a few minutes until the popping had stopped. Salt to taste.

Recipes

I will be posting recipes that I have made and have been a success in my house. Most I have created myself. A few I have received from friends and have made changes to make them mine. I hope you like them. Please feel free to comment and let me know what you think. If you enjoy my recipes, check out my others at http://www.recipezaar.com/member/723255. There is everything from appetizers to desserts and most are extremely simple.

The Correct Mom

In the book "Life Interrupted", there's a quote called "Hear Me Out" by a young mom. She says: "Is there a magical age that makes mothering okay? Can I hold my head high at twenty? Twenty-five? Thirty? What makes a good mom? A nice paycheck? A house in the suburbs? Will people respect me if I enrolled my child in a private preschool? Or dressed him in designer clothes? Or is it enough just to love him? To read stories at bedtime? To kiss baby toes and tickle baby bellies? It may not be enough for society. But it will be enough for me. For my child."


So, what is the correct age to become a mom? Should society have a say in what age is correct? I use the word 'correct' because if we speak our mind to say someone is too old or too young, then we have our opinion of the 'correct' age. But is it our right to say if someone is the correct age? Some women have babies into their 40's and even 50's. Are they correct? Is a teen mom correct? Or is someone correct when they chose not to have children? A dozen children? To adopt?


For me? I was 29 when I became a mom. And, to me my age was correct. I was not ready at 20 or 25. And, the age of 35 is not correct for me. For my husband and I, three was the correct number of children to have.


Maybe instead of asking if someone is correct, we look at ourselves. Do I believe I am the correct age to become a mom? Is the number of babies I chose to have correct for me? If the answer is yes, then you know the answer to your question. You can hold your head high because you are correct.

The Invisible

I'm sure I did at one time. I'm sure I overlooked them, ignored them, was too busy talking to someone or on my cel talking to notice....or worse yet pretended to be busy so I didn't have to notice.

I am talking about the handicapped; whether they are using a walker, walking with a noticeable limp, or in a wheelchair. It's been three years since I began taking care of mom full time and seven years since she became mostly wheelchair bound, dependent on someone else pushing her around in one. When we became full-time caregivers, my youngest was a little over two years old. Hardly able to push open doors and requiring help himself to cross a parking lot and be taught to watch for cars, people carts, etc. I taught him very quickly to hold grandma's hand while I pushed her. The longer I continue to care for her, the more frustrated I become. Now before you become shocked at that, let me say that the source of my frustration does not come from her. It comes from the people I come in contact with and the lack of kindness given.

Who would have guessed that my major source of frustration would come from something as simple as a door. But let's face it, when you are pushing a wheelchair and then have to open the door, hold it open, and push the wheelchair through without pinching your fingers or running over your toes, it is no small task. The most frustrating are the people who watch me struggle with the door without bothering to help. I've had people stand behind me and watch me struggle with the door and are mad because they have to wait for me. I've had employees stand on the inside smiling at me as I struggle to get in. I've had businessmen rush through the door in front of us as I am holding the door and pushing mom in.

Now, not everyone is like this. I've had many who have walked out of their way to help me out. I had an African-American man push my full shopping cart to the car for me while I pushed mom. I had a fireman walk away from a conversation in the parking lot to hold the door for me. But it doesn't happen very often. The worst of the bunch are middle-aged businessmen and young women.

I am convinced this was my lesson to be learned for the times I may have done it to someone else. Everyone should spend a day in a wheelchair, see what it's like to be invisible.

About Me

Hello! My name is Kelli. I have been married for almost 13 years to Rod. We have 3 beautiful children ages 9, 7 and 5. I worked for 10 years at a large furniture company before the economy caused me to lose my job. I now am a stay-at-home mom.

My youngest is in development kindergarden. My hope was that when he started full-time school, I could find a part-time job to supplement my husband's income. However, turn of events changed that. Almost 3 years ago, my beloved father passed away. Mom is confined to a walker around the house and outside the house she needs to be in her wheelchair. She has a stroke 7 years ago which left her left side with only partial use. So, between my siblings, husband and I it was agreed that we would sell our house and move in with her. So along with being a stay-at-home mom I am a caregiver to my handicapped mom.

We live in a rural area and have about 2 -1/2 acres. I enjoy my garden and it seems to get larger every year. Along with gardening I enjoy cooking, reading, crafts, spending time with family and traveling. I also lead a teen moms ministry.

Most of my blogs will include items about teen moms, the handicapped, cooking, crafts and the trials and tribulations of being a mom. I hope you come to enjoy my blogs and will feel free to comment on anything you find of interest.