Happy Birthday, America!

How and Why to clean your dryer vent

We moved into our brand new home in November, 2002. We have cleaned the dryer vent exactly once. Yesterday. I'm not sure why, but a couple weeks ago I started obsessing about cleaning the dryer vent. My husband, a fairly handy guy, agreed to get it done soon. 

Yesterday, in fact! He crawled under our house to see what the project entailed, thinking he'd replace the existing vent tubing with something new. Guess what? We have a hard aluminum vent pipe system (which is probably good). Instead of replacing it, he decided to clean it and headed to the store for supplies, a dryer vent cleaning system.

He got back home, crawled under the house -- again -- and got to work. I chose not to follow him. He described the situation as serious, our 4-inch diameter pipe had filled with lint so the opening was only about 2-inches in diameter (a 75% reduction in air flow). No wonder our jeans and towels took two hours or more to dry!

I did head into the laundry room to see how the pipe opening looked (not nearly as bad as the horizontal pipe under the house!)

Here's the before:

Here's the after:

I did a little digging and discovered that more than 50% of all appliance started home fires begin with the dryer. Situations like ours, with clogged venting trigger dryers to overheat. That overheating leads to sparks and fire. Most of them are contained to damage only the dryer and its contents, but hundreds of people are injured every year. About 15 people each year die from preventable dryer and dryer vent fires.

It took my husband about an hour to clean our dryer vent once he got started. He plans to make this an annual spring cleaning job and estimates it will only take 15-20 minutes. That time translates to peace of mind and energy savings! (We dried a load of jeans last night in only 50 minutes once he was done!)

This isn't my usual post, I know, but I hope you find the information useful.

Blessings!

The things I think

As I watched my daughter swing higher and higher, the strangest thought popped in my head. "Why don't we have monkeys in the United States?"

Seriously! Wouldn't it be cool to swing while the monkeys romped in the trees?

Okapi, at Marwell Wildlife, England

Or to squeal with delight and listen as they reply?

But we don't have monkeys. Or elephants. Or zebras. 

And then I wondered why God made okapis. Did He ask Jesus one day, "What if I mix a giraffe and zebra? What do you think? Funny?" My kids come up with those kinds of things, "What if Dad had Superman's powers?" (I better be his Lois Lane!) 

The Congo gets the okapi. We get moles. Just doesn't seem fair.

Garage sale... what was I thinking?

At the time, it seemed like a brilliant idea. I whipped off a text to a dear friend in my neighborhood, "Let's have a garage sale on the same day and share advertising. More people will come if there are multiple houses participating."

She must be a bit crazy, like me, because she said yes!

Today, I am knee-deep in outgrown summer clothes, old homeschool curriculum, out-grown toys (even wii games and a playstation 2). I've dug up old purses, shoes, and even the long-forgotten karate gi's. I made it to red belt before our instructor moved on. I really wanted to become a black-belt, but that's a story for another day.

We're combing through CD's, DVD's, and even the outdoor stuff.

Why did I think this was a good idea?

I'm tired. My house is a W-R-E-C-K!!! And so is the dog for that matter! Hmmm... Ellie too.

If you ask me, I think she's afraid I'll sell her Barbie dolls and zoobles. (For the right price, I might. But don't tell her that!!!)

Back to why???

Actually, this time, it's for a good cause.

HIM:

Samford University freshman to be

And he's worth it. Stop by tomorrow. AND SHOP!!! Thanks :)

Blessings,

making mistakes

We all make mistakes.

Some... we learn from.

Some... we don't.

Mistakes we learn from are mistakes worth making.

baggage limits!

Years ago, when our sweet, college bound son was just learning how to stand "literally" on his own two feet, we ventured off on our first, real family vacation. My husband and I had never flown before, much less with a little guy.

Over-packed luggage! NO!

Packing for vacation, I included everything I though we might possibly need, enough stuff to fill six suitcases and two carry-ons, plus my son's car seat and stroller!

Can you picture it? Mama, Daddy and sweet little boy park their car in the remote lot at the airport. We juggle way too much stuff to the shuttle pick-up at the end of the lot. The shuttle arrives and my over-worked, significantly over-stressed, hubby loads the bags onto the shuttle. We feel a sense of urgency, not wanting to hold up all the other travelers (no doubt laughing at our National Lampoon-like display). Of course, all this was back in the day before baggage limits!

A couple days into our trip, we needed to purchase something. I don't remember what -- what could we have left behind?! I searched bags frantically and could not find the checkbook. Panic set in! Then my husband and I fought, a real screaming match, rare for us! Finally, we realized we had lost a bag along the way! We called the airline. They didn't have it. We called the bank to put a hold on our account -- hard to do when you don't have the account number with you!

That whole vacation was covered by a cloud of fear. Would we have any money in the bank account when we returned home? Who had our checkbook? What else was in that bag? We really couldn't remember!

Luggage tag, smart travel essential

Vacation over, we had some great memories, and a few not-so-great, to take home. At our local airport, we reported our lost luggage. The clerk asked us to describe the bag. We did. She smiled, turned around and pulled our bag from a locker behind her. Handing it over to us, she said, "It's important to include contact information where you will be. We did try to call you to let you know we have your bag." Stunned, we asked what had happened. She explained that we left it at the airport shuttle pick-up and someone on a later shuttle turned it in. Relief!

Needless to say, we've come a long way since then, traveling the world without incident... well, not too much anyway! We have learned how to pack, how to experience dream vacations on a budget and what to do when the weather doesn't cooperate. And a whole lot more. I've started a new blog, traveling family to help others plan dream vacations -- without losing their luggage! Stop by for a visit and tell us where it is you want to go!

Blessings,

Stop the Madness!

March Madness!!! Not spring pollen, rain showers, or snowstorms in weird places (Arizona? Really???).

Photo credit

Basketball. Brackets. Balls. Squeaky shoes. Sweat. Upsets. Cinderella stories.

I used to hate it. I did. Really. The squeaky shoes on the court especially. But, I have discovered how to beat the insanity. Join it!

Yes, friends. Jump in. Have fun. Embrace the madness. Create a bracket!

Maybe I should have shared this secret with you a couple weeks ago, but it's not too late. Make a sweet sixteen bracket for each member of your family and have them fill it out. Know nothing about basketball, then you can pick by mascot, by team ranking, or by how much you like the name. It doesn't really matter if you pick winners, just pick somebody!

Hang each bracket where everyone in the family can check on it, even little kids can create a bracket and participate. Just ask them to pick one name or the other.

Each win the first round (sweet sixteen) is worth one point.
Each win the second round (elite eight) is worth two points.
Each win the third round (final four) is worth four points.
Selecting the overall champion is worth eight points.

Photo credit

Tally the points and you will have a winner. Concerned about a tie? Everyone can also guess the point spread (or total points of both teams) for the final game. Whoever comes closest wins!

Then, sit back with a bowl of popcorn. Cheer for the teams in your bracket. When you win, gloat! Okay, not really.

I have to say, with two teen boys, our family bracket is loads of fun. I lost big-time last year. This year, I'm leading the way! Odds are I will win -- and have bragging rights for a WHOLE YEAR!

I hope this helps! And for now, I have to say, "Go Sparty!" (I've picked Michigan State to win it all!) Though, if the Buckeyes win, I won't complain.

Some days...

I wish I was my dog!

My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet.  ~Edith Wharton

My husband's complaint

Happy Monday everyone!

I went shopping last week and my husband complained. Sounds familiar, right? We shop and spend. They get the bills. Groan!

Except he complained that I found a bargain... well, lots of bargains. I paid $12 for blouses that were originally $70. I bought cute -- super, super, super cute -- shoes on clearance, of course. And he complained! That I find bargains!

What????

So I wonder what to do... shop full price? Or keep shopping for bargains? Hmmm....

What do you think?

(Rob, I love you! I'll keep maximizing your paycheck by shopping wisely -- unless you send me out with strict orders otherwise!!! tee hee)

Popcorn Cake!!!

Special thanks goes to my dear friend, Danielle, for introducing me to this incredible recipe! And a thanks to Shelly at Cookies & Cups for inspiring my version of this cake. If you'd like amazing pictures and the "original" version of this yummy "cake," check her blog!

My version of popcorn cake:

1 bag microwave popcorn, popped (I used Pop Secret Homestyle)
2 cups pretzel pieces ( I used pretzel rods that my daughter enjoyed snapping into smaller pieces)
2 cups plain m&ms
1 cup toasted almond pieces (almonds make this "healthy")
3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1 bag mini marshmallows

Pop the corn according to package directions, then spread the popcorn out on a cookie sheet and place in a 200-degree oven for 45 minutes to make it super crispy. Cool to room temperature.

Mix pretzels, m&ms, and almond pieces in a bowl. Add the popcorn.

Melt the butter in a pot. Add marshmallows and stir till melted.

Pour marshmallow goo over the popcorn mixture. Stir till well combined. Put the mixture into a well-sprayed bundt pan. Pack it in tight!

Allow to set about one hour, then turn out onto a plate. Enjoy!

Makes "12" servings... Or one really big serving! :)

Super Bowl 2012!

Here it comes, the big game: New England Patriots and the New York Giants. It's an east coast battle for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. No matter where you live, odds are, you know about this game. You'll probably watch it, if only for the commercials. Seriously, 111 million people tuned in for Super Bowl 2011, the most watched show ever!

And the food.... Will you be noshing on nachos? Pigging out on pizza? Or gobbling gourmet? This is THE weekend for food, friends and flat screen TVs! Everybody's talkin' about it... or Madonna and the halftime show.

I love the excitement of Super Bowl weekend! GO GIANTS! But a piece of my heart breaks... We're all so willing to talk football, food and commercials. Why aren't we that willing to talk Jesus?

Something to think about.
Love,

Fabulous Friday!

Here it is... my last day home alone. I admit, I've loved it for the most part. Ben begged Wednesday night, Thursday morning, Thursday night and this morning for a reprieve today, "Just a day early, Mom." He pointed out that Rob only works half a day today, so it's only "a half day early.... PLEASE!" Nope. Not giving in.

Why? 

Two reasons. One, I've given in previously. This time, I am not backing down. He was warned that negative behavior would result in a long, boring week at Dad's office (hats off to Dad for allowing the inconvenience and maintaining that boring environment). Even though Ben longs to wrestle with the dog, shoot baskets and run on the elliptical, he will have to wait until 1:30.

The other reason is selfish. I have plans this morning.... and they don't include him. Is that wrong? As a mom who understands how precious and few our time with kids really is, should I welcome him home early? Or is it okay to be selfish?

So here I am... my last day home alone. I've been productive, but not as productive as I would have liked. Monday, the week loomed ahead, large, empty and promising. I was going to clean the office, wash the kitchen cupboards, wrap ALL the Christmas gifts, clean my bedroom for real, rearrange the furniture, and make a run to Goodwill. None of those got done! Today? Maybe. Probably not.

I guess there will be time for all that stuff once the kids all move out. For now, I'll keep savoring quiet moments in between the hugs, jokes and jabber that let me know we are a happy family.

Have a fabulous Friday, friends!

The Mailman

Have you ever had one of those oh-no-I-forgot-to-get-this-in-the-mail mad dashes to the mailbox hoping against hope that you beat the mailman to your box?

That happened to me Saturday. As I ran out the front door, I saw the mail truck just three houses away. Happy dance! I beat the mailman (ours is actually a mail lady). YAY!!!

I waited for her at the end of the driveway. When she got to me, I said, "I thought I had missed you." She chuckled and said, "Christmas season mail always slows me down." Then she handed me three catalogs and the rest of our mail.

Walking toward the house, I flipped through the non-catalog mail. Nathan got a big envelope from Belmont University (big envelopes from colleges are good). I ran.

Sadistically torturing me, Nathan painstakingly opened the envelope. He read the cover letter. Carefully. Slowly. I am certain he's never read a textbook that thoroughly, not even a page of a textbook! Next, he flipped open the folder that came with the letter and vigilantly explored that material. True torture.

Watching and waiting, not so patiently, I realized something profound: every aspect of our lives is shared with the mailman. Or mail lady.

It probably starts with the wedding, mailing our invitations to friends, family, and the people we don't know but mom insists on adding to the list. The mailbox fills with responses: yes, no, maybe. There's no mistaking those small response envelopes, though.

A few years later, birth announcements come and go. The box fills with diaper coupons and children's life insurance offers. Toy catalogs arrive. Christmas card deliveries, with pictures of our growing children tucked proudly inside, swell during the early child rearing years.

And now... college mail. Inquiries from schools across the country started appearing early in Nathan's sophomore year and the volume has grown exponentially with each passing semester. Now, updates from the schools he actually applied to arrive and of course, the big envelopes. 

Next will be high school graduation announcements and then, soon after, care packages, lovingly packed, will be sent from our box to his.

Through it all, the mailman is there... a quiet, essential part of our lives.

Pizza Soup

It's fall. It's football season. It's time for...

Soup!

Of course!

One of our family favorites is Pizza Soup. Quick to make. Quickly eaten!

Ingredients:

1 lb. of sausage
Optional: Pepperoni, diced. 1/2 lb. of ground beef.

1 garlic clove, minced.
1 onion, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 ribs of celery, diced

1 large can of diced tomatoes
1 jar or can of prepared pizza sauce

1pint of chicken broth

Shredded mozzarella cheese

Prepare:

1. Brown the sausage in a large pot. (Brown other meats at the same time if adding them).

2. Add the garlic, onion, carrots and celery. Cook for a couple minutes, just till the onions start to clear.

3. Pour in the tomatoes, pizza sauce and 1 cup of chicken broth (Add more broth if needed as soup simmers)

4. Bring to boiling, then reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes (Can simmer for longer -- add broth if needed)

Serve:

Ladle into bowls and top with shredded cheese!

Enjoy!

Time keeps on tickin' tickin' tickin'

Time is free,

but it is priceless.

You can't own it,

but you can use it.

You can't keep it,

but you can spend it.

Once you've lost it,

you can never get it back.

Harvey MacKay

No school today.

I'll be spending it with them.

Enjoy your special blessings today!

Hurricane Survival Guide

Hurricane Irene packed a powerful punch all along the eastern seaboard. As winds swirled in our area, we decided to document the day to provide a hurricane survival guide for our friends north and south. (If you need a "real" hurricane survival guide, check out this link!)

Rule 1: Choose to embrace the interrupted day! Driving a car in gale force winds on water covered roads is quite dangerous. Stay home and embrace the "unscheduled holiday." We knew the storm was coming -- so we prepared a scrumptious breakfast casserole. (YAY! Power went out during the night AND about 10 minutes after the french toast finished baking... so we actually got to enjoy it!)

Rule 2: Plan appropriately for power outages. Our son practiced piano when the power went out, providing music for our day! (If you don't have a gifted piano player in your family, maybe you can play the kazoo!) No blow dryer? No problem. Let your daughter do your hair! And when you run out of other things to do, dust the house! Especially the ceiling fans -- seriously, we had no idea how dusty ours was since it runs non-stop when the power is on!

Nathan's hands blessed our day!

Ellie did a fabulous job with my hair.
Daisy did not like the howling wind and rattling windows!

Ben dusted carefully, every nick nack too!

Thanks, Rob!

Rule 3: Document any damage as soon as possible. Eagle-eye Nathan discovered the watermark on our kitchen ceiling. We seriously can't find where it came from -- the roof and flashing look good. Time to call in the pros. Bummer!

16 inches long. Sigh.... It grew from there. :(

Rule 4: Enjoy what you can! Ellie painted this beautiful rainbow -- a great reminder that even Hurricane Irene has to end sometime. The boys played wii, once the power came on and stayed on.

Our budding artist

"Whee" -- power's back!

Rule 5: Celebrate when it's over! Once we knew it was over, we got busy cooking. Crackers, cheese and fruit did not really qualify as lunch. Rob made pretzel chicken in mustard cheese sauce. I baked a triple berry pie. We all ate and enjoyed! Then we played Spades -- Nathan and Ben destroyed us!

Pretzel chicken in mustard cheese sauce
Thanks, Rachael Ray!

Triple berry pie
I did not add the tapioca. Great recipe!

Really, dude. You're killing us.
No need to think that hard!

Of course, had we been in the line of the storm, we wouldn't have been able to relax quite so much. We know that. We continue to pray for everyone affected by this storm, especially for those families who lost a loved one.

Love,

Overnight Blueberry French Toast

We knew Hurricane Irene was coming and we planned ahead... sort of. Only we didn't count on losing power at all. Really! We're two hours inland. Who knew this storm would be heavier to the west? The leading edge, N-NE, should be the worst. Oh well....

The good news is the power came on just long enough to cook this amazing breakfast and brew a pot of coffee.

I hope you aren't "hunkering down" against a hurricane. Find another fabulous reason to devour this scrumptious breakfast!

http://chef-n-training.blogspot.com/2011/05/overnight-blueberry-french-toast.html

NOTES:
1. I do not know this blogger, but I love her recipes!
2. We substituted 12-grain bread, still delicious. And healthier :D
3. We substituted neufchatel cheese, lower fat. Still amazing.
4. We licked our plates clean -- well, not quite. That wouldn't be very civilized.

Enjoy!

I'll post the rest of our "fun-filled" hurricane day on Monday.

The Bus Driver

The phone rang early this morning -- any time before 9:00 and the second cup of coffee is early. I looked at the number, didn't recognize it and thought about letting it go to voicemail. Then I answered.

It was my kids' bus driver! Truly, I never would have expected a call from the bus driver. School hasn't started yet, so I know my kids can't have done anything wrong. Yet. (Hopefully never.)

She called because bus routes changed this year (a cost cutting effort by our school system which I applaud). My son, a rising senior, would have had a new bus stop. He's driving this year so it doesn't affect him... She laughed when I told her and said, "Ahhh, the senior freedom bug." And she wished him a wonderful senior year.

She happens to drive for my daughter, a first grader, too. She commented that she loves seeing me wave from the window every morning. (That's my compromise -- letting my daughter have some freedom while I still watch over her.) Her route doesn't change. YAY! We can keep waving through the window.

A short call, but so sweet.

Nobody ever hears about the good bus drivers, just those who text and drive or fall asleep or forget a kid... Today, I salute all the wonderful bus drivers out there -- the unsung heroes who drive safely day in and day out, care about their kids and actually get to know them. Thank you for all you do!

It's a Contest

Hey all,

My sweet friend, Leigh, posted an entry about life's detours at her blog today. Thought you might enjoy it. Please stop by -- http://leighfrance.com/blog/?p=235

And, if you stop by today, she's having a contest. Check it out! Great prize! :)

Love,

Happy Fourth of July!!!

This holiday weekend, we celebrate our 235th birthday as a nation. WOW!!! That's a lot of candles!

We'll celebrate with parades.

photo © 2008 Michael Witzel | more info (via: Wylio)

Cookouts.

photo © 2007 Michael Lehet | more info (via: Wylio)

Fireworks.

photo © 2008 Jeff Golden | more info (via: Wylio)

How about we take some time this year and spend it thanking God?

For freedom. For those who protect our freedom.
For those who have sacrificed it all...

For freedom.

photo © 2011 DVIDSHUB | more info (via: Wylio)

God bless the USA!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q65KZIqay4E