52 weeks of happiness

Some of the blogs that I read like little tin bird and bunny mummy are posting something called 52 weeks of happiness.  At the end of each week they are finding four pictures of things that made them happy during the week and telling us about them.  I think it's a great idea since it goes along with my idea of being kind to myself and finding the little moments to enjoy.  So here goes my first four:

My sweet kitty Zelda looking at me with her adorable kitten face!

My good ole Charlie dog hanging out on the coach with one of my boys.  He's such a good and faithful dog.

The sight of my christmas tree still makes me happy when it's all lit up at night.  I suppose I should take it down........but maybe I'll keep it up just one more day!

The first big snowfall of the year.  I'm not really a fan of snow but I have to admit it is beautiful!

I really like the idea of 52 weeks of happiness I think you should give it a try.  Also check out the other blogs that are doing it.  There's some really beautiful pictures.  Enjoy!

AWWWWWW!!!!!

My day started with this adorable sight ...........

This is my sweet kitty Zelda all snuggled in her new bed that she got from Santa.  She spends about 95% of her day in it.  Oh to be a cat!  Usually I would see a scene like this and go oh cute and hurry about my morning.  But today I took time to really appreciate the moment it made me happy!  Try and find little moments in your day to go awwwwwwww!

Being kind to myself

Today I am taking care of myself by going to bed when I feel tired even if it is only 9:30.  How were you kind to yourself today?

NEW YEAR

A new year is usually when people make resolutions.  Things they are going to do to better their life.  Perhaps to be more healthy or find a new job.  I have made these type of resolutions in the past and have usually broken them in a few weeks or even days.  This year I'm only going to make one resolution, to be more kind to myself.  I usually say I want to find a better job instead of saying I'm proud of myself for keeping the same job for ten years that has supported myself and my three children all on my own.
I'm also going to allow myself time to escape into my craft world without feeling guilty that I should be using that time to accomplish housework,(those dirty dishes can wait.)
I think alot of people especially women could benefit from a resolution like this.
I can't believe I have now lived a whole year without my mom.  I somehow made it through without her to talk to when I was dealing with illnesses, work problems, and children issues.  I can't begin to tell you how many times I went to the phone to talk to her about a problem or a joy before it hit me that I will never be able to do that again.  A whole year I can't believe it.  I miss her every day.  Sometimes so much my heart aches.  I have had a rough few years so that's why I decided on this resolution.  I really feel a need for some tender loving care.  I feel if I take better care of myself the rest will fall into place.  I need to find some peace and joy in the new year.  I plan to blog each day to keep myself on track.
I wish everyone a happy and blessed new year.

YUMMY COOKIES!

When my middle son was recovering from his battle from cancer (which he won!) he started to research the effects of diet on the bodies well being.  He spent many hours on line reading articles and watching documentaries about food and nutrition.  An amazing undertaking for anyone going through chemo treatments never mind a 16 year old boy.  I've said it before and I will say it again he is my hero!  Well after all his research he decided he was going to live a Vegan lifestyle.  I had heard of this before but I certainly didn't know enough about it to start making meals for him.  So I did a lot of research also.  I read the articles my son found and and watched the documentaries he discovered.  I found out that vegans eat no meat, fish, dairy,eggs,white sugar,honey, and marshmallow.  Phew!  This wasn't going to be easy.  But the more I read the more I was determined to go this route.  So my son and I became vegan.  My other two boys haven't but  because I no longer cook meat (except on special birthday requests or bar-b-ques for their friends) they eat a lot healthier also.  It's still difficult to come up with meal ideas but thanks to the ever growing popularity of eating healthy there are many websites with wonderful vegan recipes on them.  So whenever I discover one of them I thought I would share it with you.  As a matter of fact I'm going to make every Sunday vegan recipe share day!  If you have any great vegan recipes that you would like to share please do!  Todays' recipe is for Oatmeal Raisin Cookies.  It's very simple and takes only 6 ingredients!

Yup only 6 oatmeal, cinnamon, salt, bananas,applesauce,and raisins.  Most people always have these ingredients in their kitchen.  In a medium bowl combine 11/2 cup oatmeal,2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. salt.  In a separate bowl mash 2 bananas and stir in 1/2 cup applesauce.  Put the wet ingredients into dry ingredients.  Add 1/2 cup raisins and mix.  Drop by big spoonfuls on parchment lined cookie sheets.

 I made them big so they would be like a breakfast cookie,  You could make them smaller for a snack size.  Then put them in a 350 oven for 25 minutes.  When they come out you have a delicious healthy breakfast cookie.  Everyone loved them including the non-vegans!

  You could substitute the raisins for any dried fruit.  Cranberries would be delicious!  I got this easy recipe here www.glowkitchen.com.  There are a lot of great recipes here.  So take a look and see if you find something for your family.  Enjoy!!

Missing

I'm feeling a little blue today.  I always miss my mom but sometimes it hits me like a brick wall and stops me in my tracks.  It happened to me today at work.  A friend of mine (a dear woman who is about the age of my mom) was telling me about her sister who is sick in the hospital.  She has been very ill for over a year and last week she fell and broke her hip.  It's all very sad.  She was telling me how her sister said she was tired and felt like it was time for her to go.  My friend said she loves her sister very much but she doesn't want her to suffer anymore and if she was ready to go she wanted her to go in peace.  I sat there and cried for what she was going through and for how it made me remember the last days of my mom.  My mom made the same statement to me just days before she passed.  She said honey I can't do this anymore I just want to die.  I will never ever forget my mom saying that to me.  It was the saddest hardest day of my life.  About an hour ago I started looking at pictures of happy times to try to cheer up.  I wanted to remember good things.  Then I thought I would share them with you.

  My sweet dog Charlie.  He always makes me happy.

 I love it when he smiles at me.

My sweet kitty Zelda.

Most importantly my wonderful boys and my amazing dad (my oldest son wasn't with us at the time but he is equally wonderful).  Look at these guys I am truly blessed.  I know your watching over us mom I love you.

Another First

Yesterday I experienced another first without my mom event.  It was my birthday and for the first time in 49 years she wasn't here to wish me happy birthday.  She always called me or came over at 11:31 am. the time I was born.  When I lived far away from her she would send me my card and presents and we would talk on the phone for over an hour.  She always made it feel like she was right there.  Later when I moved back near home to live we always spent my birthdays together.  Her and my dad would come over to my house with my card and presents.  Usually they would take me and my boys out to eat "where ever you want to go." they would say.  Then we would come home and have cake.  There was always a cake that my mom would either bake or by  in the store.  There was always pink flowers on it or a cute picture.  One year when I was about 14 or 15 my mom had the bakery decorate it with a picture of a girl with blond hair wearing a pink bikini.  "It's you!", my mom beamed when I saw it, "because your my little pink girl!"  She always made sure it had pink decorations on it.  While my dad was always there and smiling and wishing me a happy birthday too, it was my mom who pulled the whole event together.  This year as my birthday approached I knew it was going to be different and very difficult.  I wasn't going to make a big deal about it.  But about a week before my birthday my dad asked me what I would like to do on my birthday.  I thought for a minute then he suggested we all go up to Lake George, a place we all love.  I thought that would be a great idea.  I realized then that my dad needed something fun to look forward to as much as I did.  He is after all missing his wife of 54 years.  So yesterday my dad came over to pick me and the boys up( my oldest who has his own apartment came home to spend a long weekend with us, best birthday present ever!)  My  dad had a card for me in a bright pink envelope!  Inside was the cutest card, it had strawberry shortcake on the outside and when you open the card it says in a girls voice have a berry wonderful birthday from your friend strawberry shortcake.  I absolutely loved strawberry shortcake when I was little I had sheets and a bedspread with her on it.  I even had a lunchbox with her on it.  I was telling my dad this and he said "oh really?, well when I opened it I thought the voice sounded just like you and I just had to get it."  How cute is he?!  I love my card.  He also gave me some nice gift certificates to a few restaurants that I like.  So then we were off to Lake George.  The day was absolutely beautiful and sunny.  When we got there we walked around a litttle bit then got our tickets and got on the boat for a 2 and a half hour island cruise.

We saw some beautiful islands and summer homes on the cruise.

We really had a wonderful time!  After the cruise we strolled around a little more and found a nice place to eat outside.  After that it was time to head home.  I really had a beautiful day with my three boys and my dad.  The one thing I didn't have though was a cake.  The boys wanted to make me one but I said no guys I think I'll skip the cake this year.  They didn't push they understood.  My mom always got me my cake and I just couldn't bear to have one this year. Although I did feel her with us several times yesterday.   I know she was looking down saying "Happy Birthday my little pink girl!"  Between my boys and my wonderful dad and the watchful eye of my mom I felt truly blessed and loved yesterday.  You can't ask for a better birthday than  that.