The Importance of Routines

Routines are often talked about when we are referring to children. Structure and discipline seem to benefit them  tremendously. Ironically no one discusses these matters when referring to adults. Well if they do I haven't seen it. The closest I have come is FlyLady.net, with her routines are necessary, as they are with me.

As a child my mother always had routines for us, reminders each and everyday. While I loathed them, as most children do, I look back now and see how I thrived; how productive and creative my life was. When I was unleashed unto the world, my independent self, thinking I no longer needed my mother or her structure.  Hard headed to say the least, I was failing. I failed at house work, organization, and even socially at times. Forgetting appointments, homemaking tasks well they seemed unachievable, and finding something well forget it. It took me a while to realize that this was not the result of the many excuses I gave, from being to busy to it will just be messed up again in a few minutes or days. It was hard to admit that my mother was right, routine and structure are the only way to keep things in your life straight.

While I am not my mother with her born organizational skills. I can achieve my own routine and structure with a little help. Flylady.net that I mention before has been a large help. My ADHD, which I did not feel affected my life at all until I started paying attention, does not allow me to focus as long as I would like. Her idea of creating a routine, and working on items for just 15 minutes at a time was a revelation to me. At first I scoffed, "yeah right" I thought there is no way. Then day by day little by little my house started becoming my home, I could find things my patient and loving husband started coming home from work saying wow the house looks great. I was making my appointments and social engagements and keeping them. WOW

Routines are simply the way our minds works, from those who need the strictest never varying to those who need a basic do it in this order. While I may not always stick my my routines they are familiar and comfortable enough that I can now pick them up and start again with ease. My life has become easier, my role as a homemaker feels more complete. I am proud to have you come over for a cup of coffee, because well my house may not be up to my mothers standards but I am proud of the way my house looks today. :)

Me on a normal routine day lol

Your Tastefully Simple Consultant
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Nikki

Nikki was my best friends daughter. She was my step-daughter's half sister. Nikki or Sara to some was an amazing person. Her kindness unsurpassed by anyone I know. As it has been said before she had a kind word for everyone even if they didn't have one for her. I met Nikki just a few short years before she died. A true kind spirit she always greeted me with a smile. She loved my more eclectic clothing, in fact some of my favorite photographs of Nik are in some of her clothing. She was a smoker as was I back then, I have a picture of her smoking and while some may view it as taboo it is the only one I can say I Love, because I feel that it is a true memory for me. I can still see her sitting on that front step, smoking her cigarettes, I can see her on the computer typing away to her friends, I remember her random IM messages and her ever changing screen names that always had me freaked out at first wondering who this person was that knew so much about me lol, it was like jumping out to scare someone but on the computer. :)

I remember the night we found out that she was no longer with us, though she had been gone for twenty four hours or so at that point. We had just arrived at the hotel after the Dayton 500. We were exiting the car, we paid some random person to drive us back because our cab driver was no where to be found. Andy answered the phone, the tone in his voice told me something was wrong. I ran to the hotel room, threw our sandwiches on the bed and open the laptop I kept refreshing myspace hoping and praying it would say she was online, I kept waiting for her to be there online for it not to be true, I tried to get my husband to let me drive back that night, I didn't know what to do, My heart broke for not only myself, but for my child and her mother. How could this have happen? This can't be real. I alternated between disbelief and shock and hysteria. How Why and How could you God? were all going through my mind, I never ate the sandwich. My husbands coworker drove my car back and the company allowed me to ride in the plane back to GA. I will never forget that plane ride, the fake smiles the forced conversation and attempts to get each others mind off the thoughts that wouldn't stop coming. Thank goodness for the rough air at least giving us some nausea to think about. It seemed like the flight took forever. The only flight I think I have not enjoyed with my husband. I just wanted to be there. Not that there was a thing I could do All the good intentions in the world couldn't bring her back to us. I still feel guilty to this day for having fun that evening when she was no longer here to do so.


Notes:
Nikki's mother published a journal from the year after Nikki's death, the book is titled Mom is 23 old? by L.S. Rockel.

Pasta Making-Another homemaking skill checked off the list.

Tonight I took a class on pasta making at the Kitchen Studio in Frederick, Maryland. It was so much fun. My friend and I went together. Our menu was a shrimp filled ravioli with Butter herb sauce, and a Braised Pork Ragu with fettuccine. So Yummy and easy!!! The pasta dough is simple to make and if you over flour it you can still recover it. (yes of course I added too much flour lol) I have to say the experience of watching this lump of dough go from frumpy to silky and "supply" to quote Rochelle, was awe inspiring. We went from nervous to excited in a matter of seconds, especially with the second half of the dough so neat! As a homemaker this is one thing I have never attempted. Now I can check is off the list of items i can make at home for less. Fresh Pasta is so much better than store bought and is totally worth the time it takes to make it!

The ravioli  filling recipe was so simple and delicious, but that ragu; it is something else. I will be making it over and over and over again. Here is the recipe for the ragu:

Pork Pasta Sauce
Adapted from Epicurious by Rochelle Myers

2 TBL olive oil
4 oz. thinly sliced pancetta or bacon, chopped
2 lbs. Boston Butt (pork shoulder) cut into 1 1/4 inch cubes
1 lb Italian Sausage, casings removed
2 cups chopped onions
3/4 cup chopped carrots
3/4 cup chopped celery
6 large fresh thyme springs
6 large garlic cloves chopped
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
2 cups dry red wine
1 28 oz can plum tomatoes in juice tomatoes chopped, juice reserved

In a heavy pot over medium heat, saute` the bacon and olive oil until the bacon is crisp. Remove bacon to a dish , leave the drippings in the pan. Working in small batches, brown the pork in the fat. Reserve pork and saute` sausage in the dripppings in the pan. Add onions, carrots, celery, thyme, garlic, bay leaves, and red pepper saute` until vegetables are tender. Add wine and bring to a boil. Return the meats to the pan and boil 2 mins. Add tomatoes. Cover and Simmer gently over low heat until pork is tender, about 2 hours.


Until next time!

Mrs. W.

Covergirl Lip Perfection! EXCITEMENT

ok, so I don't know if you have seen the advertisements for this product yet. I saw one early today, hmmmm I said that sounds pretty cool I might have to try that as my lips have been chapped lately, and I can't seem to get them unchapped. LOL So then I see an email on my crackberry and it is an invitation to a new Bzz Campaign! Would you believe it was for Covergirl Lip Perfection! How Freaking Awesome is that?!? So I of course immediately signed up I can't wait to try this stuff out I asked for the hypnotic color, (I hope it looks ok on me! I am so bad with colors).It will be here within three weeks! Super Excited! I will take before and After pics as the campaign suggests, but I wont take or post those till my product comes in.
Until it comes in!

Mrs. W.

P.S. I am a Buzz agent see my very first post to see what this means! 

My Contribution to the Recovery of our Economy

Staying home! Yup! That's right I view my job as a homemaker and wife. As perserving our economy. I could be out working, at that high powered law firm. Bringing home that income, letting us take our vacations to where ever, whenever. I could be, but I am not. Instead I skimp and save each day, so that I can stay home. Letting someone else, take that position. Letting someone else feed their family. I know it may seem small to alot of people, they think they can't live without two incomes, but if it wasn't for the extras we all crave. I think alot of us can live on one income. Once we've paid off our debts, we will have money for those vacations, and do what we want when we want to; and we will do it on one income. Maybe just maybe if more families would go to one income families, then maybe there would be more jobs for those who are wondering how they will pay for food for their families, how they will get through the day. :) 

Bad Business Practices

Why are people so unprofessional. If you are going to own a business you should at  least have an idea of what business ethics are. Sneaking around to try and out do others, or try and schedule events last minute because you are apparently afraid of losing customers is going to lose you customers. I personally will move on to another business, if I feel you are being underhanded and petty. I prefer to work with those who choose the right way over the wrong way. In my mind honesty and integrity will bring you more business at least of my business than any trick you can come up with.

I miss the old days!