Well Mr. Grumpy left early this morning to attend the wedding of the son of a long-time friend.  While the son is my age (ok he’s a couple of years younger) this is his first marriage and boy-oh-boy is it going to be an affair to remember.  There are activities planned over the course of a couple of days and my father is not due to return until Monday or Tuesday.

We are starting out the weekend by having a friend of mine from work M2. over for dinner and general “hang out”.  Nothing major just BBQ kinda stuff and then watching a DVD with the family.  But it will be nice to just relax.

As you read this I will have already left work at 1:00 and picked up a few last things at Sam’s Club.  I will have made a pasta salad and a tomato salad.  And, I hope, I will have tidied our living room as “M2″ may be crashing on our couch as she has to be at work at 8:30 AM.  And as she lives 45 minutes away and work is 8 minutes from my front door it will just make for a much more relaxing (and for her restful) evening.

Normally I sleep in when I have no work but I will probably wake up with her if for no other reason than to see her off with a cup of coffee.

Sometime over the course of Saturday and Sunday (prob Sat night) I plan to put some of my witchy CDs on the stereo and spurge and cense the entire house …. top to bottom … doing a general house blessing and setting up some wards.  I am also considering moving a couple of my larger crystal pieces downstairs just to improve the general vibration of the place. 

Of course this will have to be combined with a general tidy and even a disruption of some clutter.

The hope is to generally give the house a happy warm and fuzzy feeling that will help us start off the new school year on a positive slant. 

I plan to follow this up on Mabon with the planting of some bulbs, each planted with a prayer and a wish and an offering at the bottom of the hole (cornmeal most likely).

I am very very excited (and have been for a while) about having the house to ourselves for a couple of days.

Have a lovely holiday weekend

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama Kelly

This entry in the Thursday Thirteen meme was inspired by Hecate and a video she recently featured on her blog about the plight of our planet.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbOXUza9ZeE]

9:15

What is a Carbon Imprint?  It is the approximation of the mark that you leave on the earth every year.  It is measured by the total CO2 that you contribute to the planet both directly and indirectly.

You can approximate yours at sites such as this one or this one.

How can you offset your imprint?

1. Plant trees
2. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs
3. Only run a FULL dishwasher/washing machine
4. Take shorter showers
5. Wash clothes in cold water
6. Recycle
7. Buy less
8. Turn down the thermostat
9. Buy local produce
10. Don’t use TV for background noise
11. Turn off lights in empty rooms
12. Eat less meat
13. Unplug electronics chargers when not in use

Blessings

Mama Kelly

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Written by Mama Kelly

This past weekend was spent mostly hanging out with Mama Kelly  - she spent Saturday cooking up a storm while we chatted about life, blogging, and everything else under the sun as only two long term heart-sisters and best friends can.   She had all burners going, chopping and mixing and kept the kitchen clean at the same time – she is truly a kitchen witch.

Our brainstorming led to some very cool and creative ideas for our blogging in the future.  I was thrilled to have gotten some ideas for the Diet Pulpit sorted out and a bit more concrete.   Having it’s own domain and original theme is coming closer so it’s important I get some final decisions made as to how I’m going to organize it and develop it, so that it doesn’t end up just being a hodge podge of bits and pieces.

I always leave wishing I lived closer and could see Mama Kelly and my goddess-daughters more often.  But at least we have some fun times planned for the future.  Early Nov. our families are going to get together for a day at Howell Living History Farms, for a seasonal outing, enjoying nature and crafts on a real working historical farm.  It’s not far from us and best of all admission is free.

I am hoping they can join us for an overnight after Thanksgiving.  Teacherman (my hubby) wants to rent a huge house down the shore and have Thanksgiving down there with our family.  If we do it, we figured we would take a four mini-vacation and invite Mama Kelly and her family down for an overnight the next day.  But that is tentative, however, I’m keeping my fingers crossed we can work it out. 

We both have off the week between Christmas and New Year’s so hopefully we can get a day together then too.

Several boxes of Quilling supplies and books that I had ordered arrived.  Sunday afternoon Angelgirl and I had fun going through them and looking at pictures, picking out the projects we want to try first.   I want to practice with free shredded paper first, but I can’t find any!  No one  shreds paper into strips any more – it’s all outsourced to companies that pick it up and then minced it in huge trucks.  Personal shredders for home also mince, unless I spent over $150 for an old-fashion one to get strips  - but that is way to much money, since I was hoping to just get a bunch of scrap strips for free.    I finally gave up and decided to order an inexpensive Japanese shredder from ebay for under $10.  It’s plastic, with a hand crank, but the blades are steel, and it seems this is what most crafters are using.   If it works, it will also let us have more flexiblity with what papers we use down the road since we can then find sheets of paper in all kinds of colors, even adding pastel or other tinting to it for more unusual affects then just using store bought ready-made strips.

We also went to the craft store where Angelgirl spent her gift cards she had left over from her birthday in May.  She picked out a lovely “spa” soap making kit and two scrapbooks (on sale for 2 for $8).   The store had nothing on faux stained glass or quilling (two things I was interested in), so I didn’t get much (which is a good thing cause I really didn’t need to spend any more money).  I did indulge in a 12×12 pad of awesome paper with a “fairytale magical theme” – it’s too pretty to cut, but since there are two sheets of each design, I’m sure I can bring myself to use at least some of it for scrapbooking.  It was $20 for paper – but I couldn’t resist, and it is a rather large pad.   At least I didn’t get both styles that I liked.

This week I plan on working mostly on getting the plans worked out for the domain and blog and then by the end of the week I will sign up for a hosting service and down to serious business.  I also want to work out a plan to get the house organized – I know this has been in the works for awhile, but I need to actually do it, even if it’s just one small area at a time.  I need to sit my hubby and daughter down and make them swear to not re-clutter a spot once I’m done.    That is what really gets me discouraged – I have worked my tail off to get a room or a shelf or cabinets all done and withing a week or less it’s shattered again, so I give up and don’t do anything for months.  Teacherman means well – he cleans ups an area by shoving the stuff into an area I just clear out (because now there is room) – so he thinks he’s helping but really he’s just driving me insane.  So the only way I am going to make any real progress and actually get organized is to label everything once I’m done – and ONLY allow items that belong in the organized area to be put there.

Bright Blessings, Lady Rose

Written by Lady RoseTags:family, life

It has been a busy weekend. We took the girls out to see The Simpsons Movie on Friday night.  Overall we all enjoyed ourselves.  But, I was glad that I had won free passes as I didn’t consider it worth full price.  It was typical Simspsons humor, but definately taken up a notch.  I for one could have gone to my grave (or urn) without ever seeing an animated depiction of Bart Simpson’s penis.  The best part of the whole experience was that even including us there were only a total of maybe 10 people in the whole theater.

Saturday found me hanging out with Lady Rose.  We talked about blogging for the most part and my upcoming college semester.  Additionally we talked about some plans we have over the course of the next 9 months or so in terms of get-togethers, outings, and whatnot.  I also spent a good deal of time cooking.  I wound up making batches of “hot dog onions” and sauteed mushrooms as I had picked up steaks on sale at the supermarket.  I made a crock of chili, a pot of cream of tomato soup, and a batch of stuffed peppers.

Miss Artistic’s best friend “J” came over mid-afternoon for a sleep over, somewhat misnamed as the girls stayed up till past 1AM gabbing and talking.  Princess Nibbles bunked with Lady Rose to allow the older girls a bit of privacy, but not until after we watched a couple of competition-style cooking shows I had saved on the DVR. 

In between all of this we had the wonderful suprise of TeacherMan and AngelGirl stopping up for a brief visit with dessert.  2 lovely and delicious cakes!!!!  Needless to say they were gobbled up quickly and I was thrilled to be able to see my favorite goddess-child and to send a good friend home with some freshly made chili.

This afternoon Miss Artistic went out with “J” and her mom to see The Nanny Diaries and came home sick.  She’s has a cough for a few days … more annoying than anything and I had attributed it to her allergies …. and had started sneezing earlier today.  She came home groaning apparently in the throes of a summer cold as opposed to allergies I suspected and so I gave her some cough suppressant and decongestant medicine and rubbed her down with Vicks Vapo-Rub.  She is presently huddled on the couch clammy and miserable and I can only hope that she feels better in the morning.

Hope you all had a nice weekend.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama Kelly

Spells on Saturday – Prosperity Spell – Candle Magic

My training was to use spells “to help and heal in times of need” or to better oneself and to always remember to “harm none”.

Spells included in this feature will adhere to these guidelines.

A Prosperity Spell by Rowan Moonstone – plan to use this on Samhain!!!

For those who are curious, the intent of the spell is to attract money. More specifics are available on the spell author’s page by following the link.

notes:

• the author suggests the spell be cast quarterly
• it calls for 16 candles (gold, green, and white), pine oil, and salt
• the spell gives very specific timing guidelines – “The spell is to begin at one minute past midnight (during daylight savings time that means 1AM) on the night of April 30 (May 1), July 31 (Aug 1), Oct 31 (Nov. 1) and Jan 31 (Feb 1)
  In other words, on the first minute of the cross quarter day. “

Related Post: Money Spell.

Written by Mama KellyTags:money spell, spell

If you play, please link back to me and leave me a comment letting me know you played, so I can come visit!

1. I see myself in my girls so much.  The good and the bad.  As Miss Artistic approaches her teens I can only hope that she has an easier time of it than I did.

2. I hear music in my dreams lately.  Songs from movies, the radio, etc. and while I have always dreamed vividly, in color, etc. this is new to me.

3. I touch my hair a lot …. my hair is longer than it has been in a long time and I enjoy the sensation of running it through my fingers.

4. I taste, almost, all the food I plan to cook this weekend.  I am making several of my all time favorite foods and I can’t wait to have my house filled with the smells of all of them.

5. I smell Suave Green Apple shampoo as my hair is still slightly damp on the ends ($1 a bottle and works awesome on everyone’s hair from fine to thick, from wavy to straight).  I also smell the lingering scents of the incense we burn nightly.

6. I sense that things in my life are going to get more difficult before they get easier.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to vegging in front of the TV once we are home from the movies (we’re going to see The Simpsons Movie), tomorrow my plans include hanging out with Lady Rose and cooking enough to fill my freezer and Sunday, I want to do nothing but sleep but I will probably have more cooking to do.

Found over at Fond of Snape.

Have a great weekend!!

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:friday fill-in

thank you to Retta for the above graphic

So what’s been going on in Mama Kelly’s Universe recently?

1. I have been having another peak in depression.  I was given a script for Paxil and took it for a week and stopped due to some severe tummy trouble.
2. The tummy trouble was triggered (I think) by an anti-inflamatory medication I was given at the same time and resulted in a flare-up of my chronic abdominal pain.  The most likely suspect for my pain is the presence of many many adhesions on and around my bowels, however as I also suffer from Neurofibromatosis there is the possibility of tumors in my abdominal cavity mimicing the surface bumps and nubbies on my skin.  It is only now resolving after 3 weeks of misery.
3. I plan to try to get back on the Paxil starting tonight for the main purpose of improved sleep quality and a reduction in my anxiety issues.  I rested mommy is a happier mommy and a happier mommy is much more able to juggle work, college, kids’ homework, household duties, a husband on disability and a grumpy grouchy father.
4. School looms on the horizon …. the girls’ and mine.  Since going back to college on a whim back in January with the goal of a teaching degree I have taken 4 classes and have a 4.0 GPA.  I am once again taking 3 classes this semester and will also have to do 60 hours of classroom observation in addition to my full-time job.
5. Miss Artistic has given me trouble with regards to school and homework since probably 3rd grade.  We have tried bribes and punishment, lectures and tears to no avail.  I am hoping that this year will mark the beginning of a turn-around even though I am not sure how much time I will have to devote to acting as her walking talking homework agenda.
6. In an effort to combat my overall funk and to deal with a major case of root growth (and because after getting Miss Artistic a head full of highlights last week I can’t afford to take myself to the salon) I dyed my hair this evening.  It was SUPPOSED to be reddish blonde and is as of this moment more of an amber shade.  Its nice … especially not having 4″ of roots …. but lacks the wow factor I was hoping for.
7. My friend, and co-blogger, Lady Rose is coming over on Saturday into Sunday (AngelGirl may have to stay home and practice for her black-belt examination).  The plan is to brain storm for the eventual growth of 2 Witches and for me to spend some time cooking and stocking my freezer.
8. I hope to make a pot of chili, a pot of pasta sauce with meatballs, a meatloaf, and a pot of cream of tomato soup.  I also hope to brown some ground beef and freeze it in baggies for quick meal additions (like to jarred sauce or macaroni and cheese).
9. I am determined to get my house in order literally and figuratively.  Part of that is curbing our spending and pinching pennies whereever possible.  I plan to resume cutting coupons and paying much more attention to sale circulars.  Part of that is attacking the clutter even if it means an added expense of a storage unit.  Though I am hoping to drop some things off at a local “Sell it on Ebay” store and kill 2 birds with one stone.
10. I have also resumed entering online sweepstakes (referral: mamakelly) and last night won 2 “free movie tickets”.  I had to buy them via Fandango but it allowed me to buy tickets for my family of 4 to go and see The Simpsons Movie this Friday evening for only $15.
11. I am noticing that, as before when my depression peaks, that I am not able to lose myself in a good book and that I take no pleasure in reading.  I have a good dozen books in my “to be read” pile and cannot muster up any interest or desire.
12. I am gradually adding blogs that I read to my folder over at Bloglines.  I am trying to comment more, especially on blogs that are new to me.  I am also curbing my participation in most memes and tags mainly because I can barely keep up as it is.
13. The key to my sanity is going to be setting a life budget.  Budgeting my money, my time, and my tasks.  It eill most likely translate into less TV time and less sleep and more frantic pulling out of hair but I am determined to be able to stay on top of everything that I need to.  This will be incredibly important as both girls are requesting extra-curriculars this year …. dance class, piano lessons, art school, etc.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun!

Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! 

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Written by Mama Kelly

This recipe is In honor of my new diet plan (Medifast Diet) that I started last Monday - it calls for a lean and green meal for dinner.   This is one I came up with for this week for the crock pot. I call it Lean Mean Green Chick – lean because it only has 3 grams of fat per serving, mean because it has a ton of garlic and a dash (or more if you like) of red pepper flakes, green because of the blend of kale and spinach and chick because the protein is chicken. This is going to be one of my favorites, I really loved it. And it’s easy too.

Enjoy, Lady Rose

Makes 7 servings, each 232 calories, 12 carbs, 36 grams of protein, 3 g fat. (determined from information on packaging).

Ingredients:
7 Perdue Perfect Portion chicken breasts (140 calories each)
1 can 98% fat free cream of chicken soup
4 celery stalks and 1 medium onion (chopped roughly)
1 20 oz bag of frozen spinach
2 10 oz boxes of frozen kale
Seasonings: Mrs Dash Original, red pepper flakes, 20 cloves of garlic chopped or smashed (approx. one head of garlic), fresh or dried basil and parsley.

Put soup on the bottom of the crock pot, top with chicken breasts, add celery and onion, sprinkle with seasonings and most of the garlic. Top with spinach – spinkle with seasonings and a little garlic, top with kale – sprinkle with seasonings and a last of the garlic. Cook on low for about 6 hours.

When finished, serve or place in freezer containers approximately two large spoonfuls of the veggies to the plate or container topped by a chicken breast. When done, add a spoonful or two of the broth on top.

This is a very filling dish and the added kick of the garlic and the mild heat of the red pepper help to curb the appetite too.

Bright blessings, Lady Rose

P.S. Star Trek fans might recognize the “green chick” in the photo.

cross posted on Diet Pulpit

Written by Lady RoseTags:recipe

 

1 vidalia onion, chopped

.5 to 1 lb of ground beef

olive oil

2 cans Progresso Lentil Soup

1 can Tomato Puree

1 can beef broth

1 lb bag frozen mixed vegetables

Saute onion in olive oil until soft and translucent

Add chopmeat and cook until brown

Add canned ingredients

Mix well

Add frozen vegetables

Season to taste with salt and black pepper

Simmer on stove for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld and meat to be thoroughly cooked.

Serve over pre-cooked macaroni of choice

Top with grated cheese if you desire.

Written by Mama Kelly

“To put the world right in order we must first put the nation in order
to put the nation in order we must first put the family in order
to put the family in order we must first cultivate our personal life
we must first set our hearts right”
- Confucius

Well we did the whole family party thing on Saturday evening and as I feared (and hoped I would be wrong) I had an altogether lousy time. The best part of the evening was time spent talking to Miss Artistic and a pseudo-step-cousin who was in attendance. Miss Artistic and this girl are about a year apart and it was fun to listen to them talk about boys and music and celebrities and all kinds of teen-type-stuff.

My girls looked lovely and received many compliments. Also, I am proud to say that they carried themselves as the bright, articulate and affectionate children they are. And that they, unlike other children in attendance, rarely get into any trouble when we are out. One thing that struck me is that my girls are perfectly happy to stay in our general area at parties and to include us in conversations they are having with their peers. They do not look to run off and avoid us and that touched me more than I can say.

The negative highlights of the evening included Princess Nibbles breaking her shoes when a cousin stepped on her heels, getting punched in the chest by one cousin (younger) and shoved into a table by another cousin (older). Additionally, as usual, most of the family ignores us, choosing instead to let us take on the role of watching the children. In addition Gamer Dude and I had a little tiff, probably due to the tension created by some of the aforementioned circumstances. By the time the dinner buffet was “served” I was so wound up that I couldn’t eat and counted the minutes until we could get into our car and drive off into the distance.

In other news …

Today dawned overcast and dreary so we did not do any kind of outing. Instead I watched Mary Poppins with Princess Nibbles and re-organized my pantry. I put up a pot of “semi-homemade” tomato lentil soup on the stove to simmer for dinner and plan to only buy food at the store this week that supplements what I already have in my cabinets.

Additionally I hope to spend at least 1 hour a day cleaning/organizing. Even if I tackle 1 drawer or put away one pile of clean laundry I will still be making gradual progress.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama Kelly