Daily Posting In December

In Repsonse, Random, WWW 4 Responses »
Nov 302011

 

For years I’ve participated in Holidailies, where you vow to blog daily from the first day of December (or whenever they start it) to the last day. Over the years they moved to a new format, and last year I simply couldn’t keep up with they way they had the group set up. No knock to Holidailies, I’m just not that hip. But I enjoy my daily December posts. So… I just made up my own little logo and my own little group (through Google, ’cause Facebook gets all the love).

If you want to blog along, go ahead. I’ll be starting tomorrow.

Posted by Groovy Mom at 9:21 am Tagged with:

Crunchy Betty Honey Face Challenge

Body Beauty, In Repsonse 3 Responses »
Jul 202011

I don’t know why I’m doing this. But I am.

Crunchy Betty's Honey Challenge

I started on Tuesday… no, Monday. Started on Monday? I don’t know. I think I started yesterday. At any rate, I’m in. Just for the fun of it, why not? Generally I wash my face with plain old water. Some days I wash with honey, some I use an olive oil/salt scrub to exfoliate. But usually, just water.

I’ve used honey in my conditioner, on my hair as well. Honey is a fun thing. I like it on my face better than I like it in my tea.

One thing I would add to the directions of the honey challenge is to use a little water. If you just rub honey on your face you’re going to be pulling and stretching your delicate skin, daring it to start sagging on you prematurely (or more than it already is). So, put about 1-2tsp. of honey on your hand, turn the water on and add splash to your hands, THEN rub your hands together; massage onto face. Rinse. Pat dry. The water thins the honey making it slip. Better on the face, in my opinion. If this weren’t a honey-only challenge, you might want to get all fancy and thin your honey with some milk.

Milk and honey. Mmm. Doesn’t that sound good? Or even some cream? Divine.

 


		

	

	

	
	Posted by Groovy Mom at 12:31 pm
			Tagged with: 

	

	

	

		

			

							
Feed The Pig

				

					Debt, In Repsonse, Pinching Pennies, WWW
			2 Responses »
				

			

			
May 162011

		

	

		


Today I was listening to the radio in the car. A commercial comes on, starts talking about saving money. Sounded interesting. Feed The Pig, the website was called. I thought of texting it to myself, but figured I should be able to remember a site name like that. I did. I checked it out.


I honestly don’t care how good the site might be. Thirty seconds of that pig with the slotted head, talking in his pink leisure suit gives me the heebie jeebies. I’ll pass.

		

	

	

	
	Posted by Groovy Mom at 10:33 pm
			
	

	

	

		

			

							
Self-inflicted Hiatus?

				

					Homemade, Homemade Laundry Challenge, In Repsonse, Laundry, Recipes
			6 Responses »
				

			

			
Apr 112011

		

	

		


It’s been a while. I know. I keep thinking of things I want to write, investigate, get feedback on… and then life takes a bite, and swallows me whole and it is sink or swim. Facebook posts are quick, not posting anything is quicker yet.


But, as life busies, I feel my brain turning to mush, wondering how I ever was able to function in college, writing, studying, thinking? My goodness, I’m only 38 years old, I shouldn’t be feeling the decline of an aging mind. What I’m feeling is the stifling of a creative soul. The yearning for something different. For being busy with creativity, wellness, inspiration. Rather than the drone of a hamster-wheel, day blending into day, excitement extracted only from a crisis, a blip on the chaotic norm.


Nevermind that, we’re going on a roadtrip. Out east, as far as our over-sized van can take us. Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York… off we go. Me saving money, me mapping the finances, me planning the trip, me reserving hotels (and contemplating a night’s sleep in the van)… it is working my brains and my nerves. And we leave soon. How soon I shall not say, as I’d rather not have my home burglarized (mwahahaha). Advice would be happily taken. Free, frugal stops – adored.


UPDATES ON PAST CONVERSATIONS:


Homemade Deodorant? Still using it!!! Haven’t looked back. Pits are healthy are less smelly than when I wore regular deodorant. Yay. Mine’s a version of the common one thrown out there (cornstarch, coconut oil, baking soda). Less of the baking soda, some essential oils, and voila. Good stuff.


Homemade Laundry Detergent Challenge? Verdict still out. Two batches and numerous loads later, I was not entirely unconvinced. However, once our water softener broke down, it was impossible to use. We have really (REALLY) hard water. It is a shame.


Pumpkin Bread and Pumpkin Puree? Fabulous. Just fabulous. And you can freeze those loaves for future snacking. They freeze just dandy. I wrapped in foil, then put in a freezer bag, brought it out a month (or two) later and the kids were all, Yay, pumpkin bread — when did you make this? and I’m all – Twahahahha, you know your momma takes care of you, hel-lo? and not feeling too guilty about defrosting pumpkin bread. I mean, I did make it. Just not recently.


I found another bread recipe that I love-love-love-love and will share that puppy soon.

		

	

	

	
	Posted by Groovy Mom at 9:13 pm
			
	

	

	

		

			

							
Pumpkin Dump Cake

				

					Cheap & Simple, Holidays, In Repsonse, Recipes
			7 Responses »
				

			

			
Nov 112010

		

	

		


Because, if I’m going to gain weight over the holidays, I’m taking you all down with me. Only addicts drink eat alone, so they say.


Pumpkin Dump Cake




Ingredients:


    

  • 1- 15 ounce can pumpkin
    • 

  • 1- 12 ounce can evaporated milk (I did not have, so I subbed powdered buttermilk and 10oz. water — worked fine)
    • 

  • 3 eggs
    • 

  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg*
    • 

  • 1/2 teaspoon ginger*
    • 

  • 1/2 teaspoon cloves*
    • 

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 

  • 3/4 cup sugar
    • 

  • —-
    • 

  • 1- 18.25 ounce yellow cake mix
    • 

  • 1 cup walnuts or pecans (didn’t use)
    • 

  • 3/4 cup or 1-1/2 sticks butter, melted (you KNOW I used this – heck yeah)
    • 



Preparation:


Preheat  oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease 9×13 pan. Completely combine 1st  set of ingredients. Pour into prepared pan. Sprinkle with cake mix.  Gently pat down with spoon. Sprinkle with nuts. Drizzle with melted butter.  Bake for 50 minutes. Cool and cut in squares.

* Or use 4 teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice or Mixed Spice




I’m sharing the fact that I made this, but it is not my recipe. It is all over the internet, though and I don’t know how we’ve never met, Dump Cake and I.


I’m also sharing the fact that you can’t judge a recipe properly if you’re a pig that dives into it very quickly after removing it from the oven (my kids and I did this, yes we did). Right away I was not terribly impressed. Too sweet, pumpkiny and just not very good. I chalked it up to it being an easy recipe.




And then I tried it again the next day. Can you say entirely different opinion? Momma’s taking this badboy to Thanksgiving. If I had to tweak it at all, I’d say don’t be afraid to pack in the cake mix nice and firm. But that’s about it. OK, not really. I had another thought – chocolate cake mix. That sounds super-dee-duper good, but who knows it might just be one of those things that sounds better on paper. If you try it, lemme know. That is, if I don’t try it first. Just remember, this is a good make-ahead cake.




Doesn’t look to special out of the oven, does it? More like a potato casserole or something. Hey kids, want some potato casserole? (Snicker)



		

	

	

	
	Posted by Groovy Mom at 7:28 pm
			
	

	

	

		

			

							
Trader Joe's Pecan Pralines are Like Crack

				

					Random
			11 Responses »
				

			

			
Feb 262010

		

	

		


A few weeks ago, a church member passed through my office. As she set her tote down, readying herself to dig in to some volunteer work, she grabbed a container of pecan pralines and placed them on my desk. I think I heard her mutter something about them being really good, or addictive, or something like that. Not sure, as it is all a blur now. But I do remember looking into the container, fishing out a fat-looking nut, and popping it into my mouth.


Butter+sugar+nuts+salt=instant addiction for me.


“Did you… did you make these?” I asked. She smiled and said they were from Trader Joe’s. Mental note to myself — never ever shop there again. Trader Joe’s was now a dealer to me. I had to avoid it at all costs.


She wandered off somewhere in the building, leaving the container with me. It was a staredown. Only shame kept me from flying under my desk, container in hand, devouring each and every salty, buttery, sugary, nutty little glob. I picked out four more nuts, closed the container and swiftly took it over to her tote. Set it down. Patted it. Walked back, sat down and enjoyed my pecans.


It took me 2, maybe 3 weeks before I made my visit to Trader Joe’s. Really I was looking for their pie crust dough. Really!!! But while I was there… I mean, a little container of pecan pralines wouldn’t hurt, right? Besides, the kids would help eat them.


I popped a few on the way home, “accidentally” left them in the car after unloading the groceries, a few more on the way to Walgreens, a couple on the way to pick up the kids from the library… a vow not to at another one until home. The ability to keep that vow until I was in the house for 3 minutes, popped a few more, peddled them to the kids (who pretty much all said “eww”) and the fear that I will devour the entire contents very soon.


By the way, they are just delicious with a glass of red wine.

		

	

	

	
	Posted by Groovy Mom at 9:41 pm
			Tagged with: 

	

	

	

		

			

							
We Came, We Lost, We Left

				

					Random
			3 Responses »
				

			

			
Dec 182009

		

	

		


We Came to wrestle  another high-school in our conference.


We Lost the tournament.


We Left and picked up the younger boys some McDonalds on the way home. I took lots of pictures, but really need to take a photography class so I can utilize all the bells and whistles on my new camera.

		

	

	

	
	Posted by Groovy Mom at 12:02 am
			
	

	

	

		

			

							
Tiger Woods

				

					In Repsonse, News Snippets
			No Responses »
				

			

			
Dec 122009

		

	

		


My thoughts on Tiger are limited, because I don’t give him much thought in the first place. But since I can’t make it through an hour-long news show without hearing about his situation, so I let my fingers crawl the keyboard, danging on the idea of it all.


I don’t like to hear of infidelities. I don’t think it is “no big deal” or a “big whoop” or anything other minor, skimable matter. It is a sad reminder of our slowly degrading society, a bar that is constantly being lowered for us grown women, and our daughters. Cheating is normal? I think not. I’m no fool, I know that people have been cheating for years. Doesn’t make it right or more appealing simply because it is becoming more standard.


Why it is such big news, I don’t know. But then when you consider that, in our country, people can make a living and be on the level of a societal diety for doing something that many people do in their leisure time… you kind of put yourself out there for critisism. Much like a senator, mayor, congressman. We pay your salary, we want to know what’s going on behind closed doors. Apparently, mean. I don’t speak on this from my own emotional base necessarily.


But sometimes when I think, like really ponder the craziness that is our world, it makes my head hurt. Tiger gets paid to play golf, and gets paid well. It’s a game. It’s sport – fun. Fun stuff. You don’t have people performing heart surgeries for “fun” or social work for “leisure play.” But you do find people playing golf/football/tennis, etc. for fun.


Play a sport for fun, become popular, make bank. Practice medicine on the side, read to kids, mission work… we call that volunteer work and what a nice person you are for doing it.

		

	

	

	
	Posted by Groovy Mom at 12:17 am
			
	

	

	

		

			

							
Taking Up Space In Your World

				

					Local Life - Madison WI, Random
			No Responses »
				

			

			
Dec 072009

		

	

		


Target. Afternoon. Hopes of a quiet store, reality; chaos.


In our town we have a “West” side and an “East” side. Traditionally the West was the home of the upper class, while the East was more working class. It is a bit more blended now, but if you visit the East side Walmart, you will notice obvious differences in the patrons in comparison to the West one. Just… trust me.


Target, being an even “classier” department store Walmart, is often sardined with clickity-clack, spike-heeled cougars, mothers-with-money and plastic people. One the West side. Today was no exception.


As I stood in the isle happily alone, contemplating the iPods and accessories, clickity-clack rounded the corner talking in her Outdoor Voice, tailed by an overly excited Target employee acting as her personal concierge to the store. Her loud voice shattered my concentration and I did as I customarily do, politely excusing myself, smiling and moving my cart (yes, I do do this). Undeserving of eye contact, being a mere casualty of a populated planet, clickity-clack did not condescend to look me in the eye, turn her head in my direction or pardon herself, but continued to yak as she passed by, stopping to view the items on the shelf, carrying on with her Outdoor Voice as I drew blood from biting my lip.


“Don’t mind me, I’m just taking up space in your world honey.”

		

	

	

	
	Posted by Groovy Mom at 11:35 pm
			
	

	

	

		

			

							
Holidailies 2010

				

					Random
			No Responses »
				

			

			
Dec 062009

		

	

		


I’m participating in Holidailies again. And I’m really gonna try and update daily. Really.


Holidailies 2009


Look at that, though. I titled this post “Holidailies 2010.” Already. Funny how seasons are pushed (Christmas fare up during Halloween) and the year is pushed as well, as we schedule appointments and project the workload into the upcoming year. 2010 seems to fit better than 2009. That ain’t right.

		

	

	

	
	Posted by Groovy Mom at 11:37 pm
			
	

	

		

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