Goals for week beginning 11/11/2013

Monday got by me again!  It was a crazy, busy weekend, but here we are (more or less) at the start of another week, with fresh goals to be set.  Here are my tentative goals for the week:
*  Spend time in 2 Samuel Bible study
* Finish Sunday School lesson 12
 *  Make 1 or 2 pages for "What Do I Know About My God"?  notebook
*  Memorize Hebrews 13:15
*  Read 1 or 2 chapters in  Following God With All Your Heart
*  Exercise or go for walks as often as time allows
*  Keep up with crafting goals for Christmas
 *  Keep up a good water intake
*  Get to bed by 9:30 or 10 pm each night
*  Post at least four times in my regular blog, and in my Christmas blog as time allows
*  Zero in on homemaking tasks in Zone 3, the bathroom
*  Spend at least 15 minutes a day reorganizing the many piles, stacks, notebooks and containers full of recipes I've collected over time
*  Make a daily time schedule for the things I need to do
*  Take my dad to an appointment
* Find or make a better weekly to-do list
*  Write several encouraging notes to friends and family
*  Design and begin a back-on-track challenge in the area of homemaking
* Post some TripAdvisor reviews
* Begin making plans for Thanksgiving

And here is how last week went:
 *  Spend time in 2 Samuel Bible study -- not done
* Work on Sunday School lesson 12 -- DONE!
 *  Make 1 or 2 pages for "What Do I Know About My God"?  notebook -- DONE!
*  Memorize 1 Thessalonians 5:18 -- DONE!
*  Read 1 or 2 chapters in  Following God With All Your Heart -- DONE!
*  Exercise or go for walks as often as time allows -- not as much as I'd hoped
*  Keep up with crafting goals for Christmas -- DONE!
 *  Keep up a good water intake -- DONE!
*  Get to bed by 9:30 or 10 pm each night -- not done consistently
*  Post at least four times in my regular blog, and in my Christmas blog as time allows -- DONE!
*  Zero in on homemaking tasks in Zone 2, the kitchen -- not done
*  Spend at least 15 minutes a day reorganizing the many piles, stacks, notebooks and containers full of recipes I've collected over time -- not done
*  Make a daily time schedule for the things I need to do -- -- DONE! (but not on the weekend)
* Cut out and sew some fall curtains -- DONE!
* Find or make a better weekly to-do list -- not done
*  Write several encouraging notes to friends and family -- DONE!
*  Design and begin a back-on-track challenge in the area of homemaking -- not done
* Post some TripAdvisor reviews -- not done
* Begin making plans for Thanksgiving -- not done

I am thankful for all that did get done last week, but am certainly hoping to be more productive this week.  It's off to a very busy start with not a lot of time in the house, so we will see.

Gluten free pumpkin scones

Photo by The Baking Beauties

Can you stand one more pumpkin recipe?  I don't promise it will be the last!  I have been looking for a good gluten free pumpkin scone recipe,  and this one -- Gluten Free Pumpkin Scones from The Baking Beauties (now called Faithfully Gluten Free) --  is a real keeper.  I tried it out this morning and the scones are absolutely delicious.  Not overly sweet, but just right.

I actually doubled the recipe to suit the amount of pumpkin I had left over from another recipe.  It came out perfectly.  I did not double the glaze recipe, and there was just enough glaze for the 16 scones.  These will be a wonderful fall treat with coffee or tea!

Pumpkin Swirl Brownies

Photo from Betty Crocker.com

This past weekend I tried a new recipe: Pumpkin Swirl Brownies</>.  I had been wanting to try this for some time but needed to make it gluten-free.  Of course the obvious and most simple way would be to use a gluten free brownie mix, since the recipe calls for a mix.  I have tried the Bob's Red Mill gluten-free brownie mix in the past and it is good, but I didn't have one on hand.

So I went to my favorite gluten free baking site, The Baking Beauties , and Jeanine had several brownie recipes to choose from.  I picked this one: Gluten-free Brownies</> and it worked out great.  Very easy.  I substituted almond flour for the ground almonds, reasoning that it is essentially the same thing.  This recipe was truly every bit as easy as using a mix, and much tastier.


The brownies went over well at the church potluck on Sunday.  I had cut them smaller than specified to get more servings, and so we did have some left to bring home.  A yummy fall treat!

Goals for week beginning 11/4/2013

Not only is it a new week, it's a new month.  And I'm a day late posting these goals.  It's looking like somewhat of a disjointed week with work being done on our roof.  Not that I mind; it has needed doing for some time.  But we are replacing 3 dormer windows at the same time (again, something that has badly needed doing) and so this evening, Mr. T will need to pull off the inside window trim.  Needless to say, I am NOT looking forward to this.  My crafting desk is in front of one of those windows, and I have totes full of fabric tucked in the dormer nook of another.  So things are going to be a bit discombobulated as I get these things temporarily moved while still needing to keep them very accessible for Christmas gift crafting.  In addition, I'm concerned that the window trim may remain off for some time; he wants to sand and refinish it before replacing it,  and I'm all for that, but it takes time.  And his window trim track record is somewhat spotty ...

All that to say that one of my main goals this week is going to be trying to maintain a good attitude and a somewhat neat house in the midst of all this, and remaining very, very thankful that we have a home (when so many are homeless) and that we can afford to have this old roof and inefficient windows replaced.  My other tentative goals for this week include:
*  Spend time in 2 Samuel Bible study
* Work on Sunday School lesson 12
 *  Make 1 or 2 pages for "What Do I Know About My God"?  notebook
*  Memorize 1 Thessalonians 5:18
*  Read 1 or 2 chapters in  Following God With All Your Heart
*  Exercise or go for walks as often as time allows
*  Keep up with crafting goals for Christmas
 *  Keep up a good water intake
*  Get to bed by 9:30 or 10 pm each night
*  Post at least four times in my regular blog, and in my Christmas blog as time allows
*  Zero in on homemaking tasks in Zone 2, the kitchen
*  Spend at least 15 minutes a day reorganizing the many piles, stacks, notebooks and containers full of recipes I've collected over time
*  Make a daily time schedule for the things I need to do
* Cut out and sew some fall curtains
* Find or make a better weekly to-do list
*  Write several encouraging notes to friends and family
*  Design and begin a back-on-track challenge in the area of homemaking
* Post some TripAdvisor reviews
* Begin making plans for Thanksgiving

And here is how last week went:
*  Spend time in 2 Samuel Bible study -- DONE!
* Finish Sunday School lesson 11 -- DONE!
 *  Make 1 or 2 pages for "What Do I Know About My God"?  notebook -- DONE!
*  Memorize Psalm 145:1-5.  Not done.  I am going to zero in on thankfulness verses this month.
*  Read 1 or 2 chapters in  Following God With All Your Heart -- DONE!
*  Exercise or go for walks as often as time allows -- DONE!
*  Keep up with crafting goals for birthdays, Christmas, and finishing UFOs -- DONE!
*  Keep up a good water intake -- DONE!
*  Get to bed by 9:30 or 10 pm each night -- not done
*  Post at least four times in my regular blog, and in my Christmas blog as time allows -- DONE!
*  Get a lot of basic homemaking tasks done in various zones of the house, especially zones 4-5 -- I wouldn't say I got "a lot" done; I was out of the house a lot, but did accomplish some things.
*  Spend at least 15 minutes a day reorganizing the many piles, stacks, notebooks and containers full of recipes I've collected over time -- not done
*  Make a daily time schedule for the things I need to do-- DONE!
* Cut out and sew some fall curtains -- not done
* Find or make a better weekly to-do list -- not done
*  Write several encouraging notes to friends and family -- DONE!
*  Finish up a back-on-track challenge in the area of health and energy -- DONE!
* Post some TripAdvisor reviews -- not done
* Do assorted errands -- DONE!
* Send a birthday package off to a birthday boy in Nevada who is turning 4 -- DONE!
There you have it!

Sew Classic Clothes for Girls book release & giveaway

Image from The Graphics Fairy

 How I loved sewing for my daughters while they were growing up!  I didn't get the best start with sewing; I had tried learning to sew in 7th grade home ec, but just couldn't master it.  Many years later, after I was married and had kids, my mother-in-law encouraged me to start sewing for my girls while they were small.  She knew that when they got older, sewing was going to be a good way to provide some of the nice clothes they would need at more reasonable prices, and that I wouldn't always be able to find what we wanted in stores.

So I took up her challenge and took the girls to a local department store that sold fabric and patterns.  I think they were around 3 and 4 at the time.  I found an easy summer dress pattern (with NO zipper --  very important!) that they both liked, and then had them each pick out their own fabric.  Then I sewed the dresses at my mother's on her [non-portable] sewing machine,  just so I could see if I was going to be able to do this before I invested in a machine of my own.

Well, the dresses came out cute, they fit, the girls loved them, and the whole process was a lot more fun than I expected.  So I bought a sewing machine (I'm on my second one now!) and never looked back.  I continued sewing for the girls right up into their college years.  They both learned to sew as well and became proficient seamstresses.

Now I have grandchildren to sew for and, although I usually just make fun projects like felt food and superhero capes, I have also done some sewing of clothes for my granddaughters.  And that brings me to the point of this post -- a gorgeous new book called Sew Classic Clothes for Girls, by Lindsay Wilkes of  The Cottage Mama.  If you have little girls to sew for, then I think you would love this book.  There are 17 garment patterns and 3 accessory patterns, plus ideas for putting outfits together, for size 12 months right up through size 10.  A special feature of this book is that all of the patterns and all sizes are contained in a disk at the back of the book.  You can just put the disk in your computer, select the pattern and size you need, and print!  You will need to tape the pattern together in places, but they are well marked and taping is an easy process compared to tracing, enlarging, and so on.  

I would love to own a copy of this book -- how about you?  You can find it on Amazon, Walmart.com or at  The Cottage Mama.  It will soon be available at craft stores as well.  The best part is that Lindsay is giving away two copies of this fabulous book!  Head on over to Sew Classic Clothes for Girls book release and giveaway and check it out.  She shares many photos and much more info about the book than I can share here.  I hope one of us wins!

Gluten-free Buttermilk Corn Muffins

Photo by The Baking Beauties

A month or so after I stopped eating wheat, someone gave me a used gluten-free cookbook.  Most of the recipes were pretty good, and for a long time it was my go-to source for gluten free recipes.  One of them was a cornbread recipe which I baked often.

After finding The Baking Beauties , I entered a whole new world of gluten-free baking.  As I've said before, Jeanine just seems to have a gift for developing recipes that are gluten free but don't taste like it.  One day I wanted to make cornbread but just didn't want to take the time, so I took a moment to do a search and see if Jeanine had a corn muffin recipe.  She did, and this is it: Buttermilk Corn Muffins
.
I tried the recipe and found that these muffins are simply delicious; I have served them to company who never knew they were gluten free. I do change a couple of things which makes them a wee bit healthier and does not affect the taste. Instead of 1/2 cup butter, I use 1/3 cup canola oil. And I use only 1/3 cup sugar rather than 2/3. I keep these in a plastic bag or container in the freezer. When I need a quick muffin to accompany soup, I just heat one in the microwave for 25 seconds and it tastes fresh baked!

And I should add that I have also poured this batter into a pan and made it into cornbread when I am in a hurry.  It has to bake for longer than the muffins, but is quicker to make with no muffin tins to fill.

Days 23-25 ~ back-on-track health & energy challenge

 So here is how the challenge finished up:

Day 23 (Tuesday)
* Drinking enough water -- done!
* Getting to bed at a reasonable hour -- not done
* Eating more fruits and vegetables -- done!
* Getting more exercise -- done!
* Eating less sugar -- done!
* Keeping track of the above each day - done!
* Doing something creative every day (mental health!) -- done!  Finished up felt food for a birthday gift.
 * Drinking some green tea daily --done!
Day 24 (Wednesday)
* Drinking enough water -- done!
* Getting to bed at a reasonable hour -- not done
* Eating more fruits and vegetables -- done!
* Getting more exercise -- done!
* Eating less sugar -- done!
* Keeping track of the above each day - done!
* Doing something creative every day (mental health!) -- done!  Worked on a crocheted scarf and some felt food.
 * Drinking some green tea daily --done! 
Day 25 (Thursday)
* Drinking enough water -- done!
* Getting to bed at a reasonable hour -- not done
* Eating more fruits and vegetables -- done!
* Getting more exercise -- done!
* Eating less sugar -- done!
* Keeping track of the above each day - done!
* Doing something creative every day (mental health!) -- done!  Worked on some felt food.
 * Drinking some green tea daily --done! 

All in all, I'm pleased with how well this challenge went.  I'm hoping now that I can more or less keep up the good work in the health and energy department (though this has been seriously threatened by Mr. T spending $$ on half-price Halloween candy)!

With a new month, I plan to begin a new back-on- track challenge, this one in the area of homemaking.  I thought it would be a good way to get things all spiffed up and ready for the holidays.  One little complication: we're having our roof re-done beginning Monday and replacing three windows in the same time frame.  Think there'll be a bit of construction/demolition debris to cope with?