BUY USA FOR CHRISTMAS!

Let's give America an amazing Christmas gift!! I have thought about this a while, and I think it is actually a GREAT idea! I want to start a revolution actually ;) Re-post it if you like the sentiment. If we all bought only items "Made in the USA" (some of you remember this slogan from the 80's) Imagine the positive impact it would have on American jobs and our economy! Its the same idea of parents who put their children first and then they are too stressed to be as productive or live up to their own potential.... This year, lets put America first! No matter what your religion, we are all Americans, so let's support Americans by buying our gifts for whatever religious holiday you celebrate only "MADE IN THE USA" this year. I think it would help our country and we could better help others if we can help ourselves!! What do you think? I understand "some" things may be impossible as our children have their own ideas, but if we all TRY our best to saturate our gifts with made in the USA only, and limit those that are impossible to find other wise, I think it would be an amazing gift to the country and our fellow Americans who are so deserving this year! Please please please pass this or the sentiment along and let's start a great holiday season for us all to be proud of!

Here are some online links to made in the USA only products:
http://www.madeinusa.org/
http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/
http://www.americansworking.com/
http://www.madeinusa.com/
http://madeinusaforever.com/
http://www.toysmadeinamerica.com/



I also thought this was funny.

Great Pumpkin (basic puree to use in all your recipies)

GREAT PUMPKIN PUREE*

1. Find your great pumpkin Charlie Brown ;)

2. Wash your great pumpkin in warm soapy water, rinse, and dry well.

3. Cut the Pumpkin on a cutting board into wedges

4. Scoop out the stringy pulp and seeds with a metal spoon, leaving the firm flesh and skin.

5. Place a steamer insert in a Double Boiler or a steam pot and fill the pot with a few inches of water. When the water boils, place the pumpkin pieces inside, packing them in tightly so that they will all fit. Cover and steam for about 30 minutes, until the flesh is quite soft and easily punctured with a fork.

**you can also use a baking sheet, place small amount of water in bottom of pan, place pumpkin wedges cut side down and bake them at 400 degrees for the same amount of time, 20-30 minutes.

6. Process to a smooth puree in a puree machine or a blender. Simple season now as you like, light salt and extra light pepper. This will insure you can use this puree with all your recipes that call for pumpkin, deserts or savory meals.

7. Transfer the puree to a sieve (you can line it with several layers of paper towels or cheese cloth) and allow to cool and drain for about 30 minutes.

8. Place the puree in freezer bags or plastic containers, and either freeze or refrigerate until ready to use.

Say WHAT?! (repost from DCP)

See my sweet little 3 year old? Isnt she cute?

Even with her furrowed brow, still cute right?
And throwing a little sass being silly wild and trying to be funny, aww cute still!
And when her sister makes her mad, dropping the "F-BOMB" Umm, yeah that happened.... Guess I should stop thinking it's so cute before that becomes a daily word for my cute little girl!

boys will be boys

A dear friend of mine had a recent break up... All I can say is he lost his mind. But I did find some really funny sympathy cards, check out the link, too funny, I sent this one to her, I love it!
http://www.foxyblunt.com/product/with_deepest_sympathy.aspx

Also today is her birthday, Happy Birthday and a toast to you and that this year will be the best yet! xo

New Socks

I love new socks.... The problem with socks though is that as they are washed and shrink in sizes, the sizes are not that far apart. I have three little girls and they get mixed up, oldest with middle and middle with youngest even though we buy different style socks for each kiddo, SO, our solution has been for many years to label them... We have done this since we were in Germany and my amazing friend's husband had a theory to label socks and number them. It is GREAT and I LOVE organization... So, I have done this over the years, great system, HOWEVER< I watched the Jerry Seinfeld show "The Marriage Ref" and they had a guy on there who numbered and did Left and Right, and they totally laughed about it... I think it's funny too, but the fact is, it works and I wont stop! BUT, it did make me go less neurotic, so now it is just the girls FIRST initial on their lot of socks and no more numbers R-1 R-1, R-2 R-2, R-3 R-3.... Now were down to just "R" I could certainly go oerboard with organization if I could, BUT it is supposed to help add time to my life and the numbers added a short time to the sorting by trying to find the number match... It works for me, and I had to share my little sock trick ;)
1- bag of new socks (ahh, nothing better ;)
2- sharpie
3- label on bottom under toe so nothing shows when they are walking in them or in a show.
4- wah- lah, enjoy the extra time you wont spend laying out a million little white socks doing the size up game ;)

It's a small small Military world out there!

SOOO, today was a military COC (Change of Comand) I attended. I wanted to meet some military friends and support the new commander coming in, also my stud military man was a part of the ceremony.... Lets not mention I was late because it was so dripping hot out, I knew my middle lady would litterally have a melt down, so we waited and attended the.... well, lets just call it the "after party", yeah that's how we roll, lol. I mingled and chatted and met some ladies, got all signed up for some contacts, some hopefull friends in sight I think and low and behold, one of my close friends who lives far away, HER FRIEND, who I have seen for YEARS in scrape books, so I flet I knew her, was there, and NOW I am officially in the cool girls club! lol, yep, I made some friend contacts people!!! And I already know they are solid, so look what a little complaining and patience gets me! Look out world, I may find a mommy friend play date soon!!! WOOO HOOOO!!!!!

Speaking of new cothes

I had to post this picture because in my last post I wrote about my relatives being of dairy farming roots (this is not my relative) But take a long look at this picture... It annoys me. She has dishes piled next to the sink, she does not look like she is perfectly put together, she looks like she has been working, like a normal woman would look, I am annoyed because why is it we feel pressured to look good while we do the same jobs as our ancestors did? It is hard work to raise a family, we work our butts off and it is crazy to put more stress on ourselves. I mean if you google the 1950's, 40's, 30's house wife, you will see perfect woman in the kitchen in aprons, but the truth is those images are the only ones that made it in magazines, advertising or posing for a rare picture, not everyone had a camera in those days... But in reality, they had on their Sunday best and lip stick, it is not reality, in reality they dressed to work their butts off on a daily basis, and the house was not always perfect. Woman went throught heir husbands working long hours or being gone for war, they went through financial turmoil, are there parallels there, absolutely... I'm sure there was a little preassure to look good, but they only worried about that on Sunday... I made a post of this, and I truley dont wear makeup, I dont "do" my hair and I dont get dressed up on a regular basis, what you see is what you get, I will throw on a jacket, sunglasses, lip gloss and that is me getting ready.... I just hope my 3 girls are not sucked into this false vicious quest for perfection... It's BS, just like a clean house. I admit, my house is ubber organized, I love that, but it is clean when I clean it, and dirty the second my children walk in the door with their muddy feet and terrorizing ways. Then the cycle begins again... I dont want my girls to have a horrible house, of course not, but I also want them to be ok with a dish in the sink or a shirt in the laundry... Maybe the problem is I bought into it, and that is really what annoys me, I see it's not rational to be in a race witht hings that pile up, maybe if I can come to gripes with this, it will teach the girls much better than anyhting I could say, leading by example...