Reclaiming My Past

Recently my grandmother came over and brought me three boxes filled with a part of my past I'd never known. I was literally speechless when I opened the boxes and saw hand-sewn quilt tops and pieces staring back at me created by my great, and great great grandmothers. It was as if generations of memories, of a love for fabric, thriftiness, creation, and family came rushing out at me. I could feel it at my core.

According to her, I am the only person she could think of who would care about family treasures like these quilts the same way she does. The only one who would see the history, the value, and the potential inherent in their every stitch.

I often wonder if these women watched their children (my grandmother and her sisters) play while stitching up these quilts. What went through their minds as they sewed? Did they quilt because they loved it, or because it was expected? Was it social for them, or a hobby of their own? Was it just something necessary?

Every single piece was lovingly hand-stitched, often from scraps that were saved from sewing clothes for my grandmother and her sisters in, and before the depression. Some, like the butterfly appliqued quilt pieces below, were made by my daughter's great great great grandmother in 1931 for my daughter's great grandmother when she was the same age as my daughter is today. If that isn't an amazing tie into family I don't know what is.

I don't imagine these women would have wanted their hard work to go for nothing, and that they would want it to be treasured, completed, used, and displayed. I fully plan on completing each of these quilts, hand-quilting each one in turn. It may take me a lifetime, but imagine the joy of presenting a quilt of generations to my grandchildren, that began with their great, great, great, great grandmother... this is what its all about.

Working Around Dress Code

My youngest, Anna, just started school last week for the very first time. We prepared by doing all of the typical things like talking about how to behave in the classroom, and the fact that she would be there without Mommy and Daddy all day long. Of course, the most exciting part of preparation for me, both growing up and as a parent, was the back to school shopping, and all of the cute new outfits!

Let me preface by saying I am not exactly a fashionista. I love my kids, and want them both to feel like they can express themselves. Abbi is very much like me. Comfort is key. Anna however, is all about style! The girl could spend an entire day just dressing and re-dressing, having fashion shows and pretending.

I knew when we started school that she would need collared shirts without any offensive images and capris or pants. I knew she would need to tuck the shirt in and wear a belt. Short of that, I thought it was pretty open. Wrong! Half of the clothes I bought for her are things that she can't wear to school because they have things like tiny hearts, or an embroidered butterfly. Apparently only polos that are solids and stripes are ok for school. Clearly polka dots are too threatening and distracting for children to get a proper education! (insert eye-roll here).

Because our budget required that we get all of their school clothes from the local thrift store, I couldn't return them to get something within school requirements, so I am having to be creative. I have 4 shirts she can wear right now, and plan to get more soon.

Being that I know Anna would never be happy being unable to express her individuality, I have been working hard trying to figure out how to work around the dress code to give her some outfits that are special and reflect her personality.

Sparkly shoes, boutique style bows to add to a cute hairstyle, adding a bow to the polo, and making our own belt out of a piece of stripped fabric all made this outfit cute and full of Anna-esque personality.

I am thinking of doing things like adding unique shoelaces and accessorizing with cute jewelry like some old fashioned friendship bracelets. I also double checked the dress code and while it specifies the color and style the pants have to be, it doesn't say that they must be plain. I might be able to embroider or add a little glitz to some of her pants as well.

I would more than welcome any and all ideas on how to let her spunky personality shine through, even with the dress code. Any other suggestions?? :)

Happy Easter!

I hope your Easter is filled with love and family and fun!! :)

Walk for Autism

On April 24th I will be walking with a team of other supporters for the national Walk for Autism event.

As most of you know, Autism is a huge part of our lives here in the Rose household. My beautiful Abbi girl shows us a little more every day what it is like to live inside her world.

I will be walking in support of this amazing little girl.

Walk for Autism has a mission of raising funds to help support special education opportunities and early intervention for kids with Autism. As a parent I can tell you just how needed these services are. Abbi wasn't recognized as Autistic until she was nearly 7 years old. In a country where we have amazing medical care and good schools that can help catch and label these things, that is unacceptable. Other children, like Abbi, deserve the chance to start fighting their battles earlier.

I walk for the years Abbi lost, and for the years other children can gain through programs like this. I walk for our future as a family, and as a country. I walk out of love for my daughter.

If you are interested in joining Walk for Autism, you can sign up here.

I am accepting donations toward my walk as well, if anyone feels so led. Every little bit helps. Even $5, $50... whatever you can do to help kids like my Abbi girl. Every donation is appreciated, and my heartfelt thanks go to each of you!!

For those of you who support this walk, and for those of you who have supported and continue to support us personally, I thank you more than words can say. It takes a community to make things work. Thank you!!

Mini Pizzas The Easy Way

Last night we were running around like crazy trying to get everything done before we headed out to an Autism photo shoot I was doing for hubby's unit at work. Because Abbi was in it, we were all going, and as luck would have it, we thought we had an hour longer than we really did to get ready and go. When I realized we had to leave in 30 minutes, I made a very quick on-the-go dinner that we all enjoyed, and thought I'd share it with you!

INGREDIENTS:

1 can of refrigerated biscuits
Pasta sauce
Cheese
Italian Seasoning (optional)
Additional toppings of your choice

DIRECTIONS:

* Preheat oven to 350*
* On a baking sheet: Flatten biscuits with palm of hand until they are about the size of your palm
* Spread sauce on top of biscuits
* Add any toppings you like
* Sprinkle cheese heavily on top of sauce/toppings
* Sprinkle with Italian seasoning
* Bake 15-20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and edges are golden

SparkPeople

Yes, I'm one of "those" people now. Its not my fault, I promise. ;)

When one of my wonderful members over at the RTH message board (*cough*kellymcdonald*cough*) posted that she'd started a Reclaiming the Home group over at SparkPeople, I had to join right? I mean its my group, and I should be involved with it in all its capacities... right?

So its not really that all the sudden I'm all gung-ho about dieting (eeek! The "D" word!), or exercising (AHH! The E word!), or even that I feel ready to make a big commitment.

Its really just that I need a change, and I know I need to get healthy. Why not now? I didn't have a good answer, and this little nudge seemed to be a good one, so I went with it.

I was talking to my mom last night about something completely unrelated and she said something pretty wise. She said that with most things in life it can be simply dumbed down to one of two answers. It either IS or it ISN'T.

So... when I saw this come up today, I said to myself, "Self, is what you're doing working for you, or is it not?" Not.

And there you have it. The very brilliant, deep discussion that led me to this life changing point. Sometimes simple is good.

If you want to see what I'm up to and follow along in my progress (or beat me with a wet noodle when I don't update SP for a week and eat candy), then check out my SparkPage here. I'd love it if you would join up too, so we can mourn the loss of everything wonderful and lazy and delicious together.

If you do join, the RTH group can be found here.

In the mean time, I have written a haiku to mourn my beloved Coca Cola, which shall be the first change that I make, kicking and screaming, in this horrid journey toward better health. Er... I mean, yay healthy!

Sugar and caffeine

Red with bubbles and syrup

You are mine no more

*Angst.*

The "Infamous" Cheese Balls

I made these cheese balls for a party recently and got such rave reviews (read: demands for more, and threats against my life if I didn't produce them in a timely manner) that i felt I should share the recipe for any of you who wanted to risk such a thing yourselves!

These were such a happy accident. I was in a hurry and had forgotten a few things at the store for the original recipe from Recipe Zaar. I had to make do with what I had, and create something all my own. This is how it went:

INGREDIENTS:

~ 2 pkgs cream cheese
~ 2 Tbs. minced garlic
~ 3 oz beef jerky (I just used "original" flavor)
~ 1 to 1-1/2 cups honey mustard and onion pretzels (I used Snyder's of Hannover)

DIRECTIONS:

~ Mix together cream cheese and garlic by mashing well with a fork.
~ Refrigerate 30 min if the cheese has gotten too soft to work with.
~ Roll into 1" balls, and refrigerate until topping is finished.
~ While the balls are refrigerating, place beef jerky and pretzels into food processor and process until it resembles fine crumbs.
~ Pour jerky/pretzel mixture onto a plate or flat surface.
~ Get balls out of the fridge, and start rolling them in the jerky/pretzel mixture.
~ Refrigerate until ready to serve.
~ Easiest to serve with tooth picks poked in or at the ready for guests to use.

* These are so simple, but I just love them, and already have "orders" for more. Have fun and enjoy them!