How to make Ice Cubes

Our ice cube maker on our refrigerator broke.  I brought out the ice cube trays and started making ice cubes the old fashioned way.

Over time, I have noticed that only RT and I are the ones that know how to work the ice cube trays (i.e. emptying them into the ice cube bin in the freezer, filling the empty trays and putting them back into the freezer).  I realize it's a very difficult process and takes some in depth, hands-on training, but, after a few months, you would think that the kids would catch on.

This ice cube recipe is handed down from my grandmother, Yiayia.  She brought the recipe, along with some ice cubes, when she travelled by boat from Greece to America.  So, the recipe is very, very dear to me.

Step 1:  Fill ice cube trays with water.

Step 2:  Place filled trays into freezer.

Step 3:  Wait until ice cubes harden.

Step 4:  Once cubes are hard, empty tray into a bowl.  Use a few cubes when needed.  Store the rest in the freezer.

Step 5:  Go to Step 1 and start over.

Know that once you accomplish your first successful ice cube harvest, everyone will be proud of you and your achievement.

Including Yiayia.

Hula Hooping for Six Hours

Well, she did it again!

Yesterday at school, Bella, along with 20 other kids, hula hooped for six hours. Bella was one of the 9 kids that made it the entire six hours. 

You might remember this post on how she made it last year.

 The principal will announce the winners today during the announcements.  Let's hope they pronounce her name correctly this year.  

She is a little sore, but she is looking forward to next years competition. 

100 Things that I am Thankful For

I posted my list of 100 things that I am thankful for a couple of years ago.  It's been awhile and I thought it was time to write another list.  I think it's great to look around and realize all that you have been blessed with.

I think this is a great activity for everyone to do.  You are never too old (or young) to sit back and reflect on all of the things and people in your life and give thanks for them.

OK, enough procrastinating, let's get started.

I'm thankful for

1.  God
2.  my husband (RT puts up with a lot)
3.  my children
4.  my parents
5.  my brothers (and other family members)
6.  my dog (as crazy and strange as he is)
7.  my house
8.  my car
9.  my job (and RT's job)
10.  my garden
11.  rain 
12.  bees
13.  music
14.   clothes to wear
15.  shoes
16.  hair ties, pony tails
17.  books to read
18.  my friend, Patti
19.  sudoku puzzles (I'm addicted)
20.  a shower
21.  that I know how to cook and bake
22.  being a Girl Scout leader
23.  Swedish fish
24.  bulls eye candy or cow tails (another addiction)
25.  anything peppermint
26.  cinnamon tea
27.  pens and paper
28.  popcorn (another addiction)
29.  working in a toy store
30.  little scraps of paper (that's what I wrote some of the list on)
31.  handwritten letters
32.  childhood memories
33.  walking every morning
34.  homemade lotion
35.  Dr. Bronner's soaps (so many uses.  love them!)
36.  a bed to sleep in every night
37.  my sense of humor
38.  my ability to talk to anyone about anything
39.  stroopwafels (they taste good and are fun to say)
40.  icy cold glasses of water
41.  snow 
42.  the beach
43.  hiking with the family
44.  trees
45.  the sun
46.  my vitamix
47.  flowers
48.  toilet paper (no explanation needed)
49.  my sense of humor
50.  my two devoted blog readers (you know who you are!)
51.  deodorant (I have a tendency to forget at times, but, I'm thankful that it's there)
52.  perfume
53.  mints (for those around me that need one...)
54.  a good laugh
55.  hanging with my kids
56.  Kleenex 
57.  the Tooth Fairy
58.  my new phone
59.  clean water to drink
60.  my blog, so I can bore everyone with my stories
61.  a good TV show to watch
62.  when lilacs are in bloom
63.  a good conversation
64.  a Mariano's opening up by us
65.  discounts at stores where the boys are working
66.  a good presidential candidate (I'll let you know when I find one)
67.  homemade chipotle hummus
68.  I only have to make 2 more lunches this week
69.  activities with the family
70.  someone else cooking and cleaning 
71.  a clean counter with no dirty dishes
72.  a lazy day
73.  sleeping with the windows open
74.  laundry after its been hanging outside
75.  making a meal that my child requested
76.  when my kids all get along
77.  that I'm almost done with this list
78.  making a meal or salsa with fresh grown produce from my garden
79.  my health
80.  watching my kids in sports or other activities
81.  vacations
82.  good neighbors
83.  a good loud sneeze
84.  learning from my mistakes (sometimes)
85.  love
86.  art
87.  that I woke up today
88.  my senses
89.  my imagination
90.  sharing with others what I have learned
91.  the internet and a decent internet connection
92.  my mind
93.  teachers
94.  color (makes the world pretty to look at)
95.  the kindness of strangers
96.  words
97.  glass jars
98.  caller ID
99.  good salsa
100.  that I made it to 100 on this list

What are you thankful for?

Random Acts of Kindness

Today we helped our neighbor by trimming his bushes in the front and back yards.  We cleaned up the trimmings and bagged them for pickup.

What Random Act of Kindness will you do today?

Girl Scout Junior Drawing Badge Ideas

This is for the Drawing Badge.

Steps:
1.  Experiment with different materials.
2.  Learn how to add shading.
3.  Get some perspective.
4.  Use your imagination.
5.  Make your masterpiece - show it off!


We split this badge up into two meetings.  Our meeting is one hour long (no snack).

We opened the meeting as usual (pledge, promise, law and attendance) and then jumped right in and started.

Meeting #1:

We chose to combine (experiment with different materials) and (Use your imagination).  Since we had the girls draw and paint a still life for their Brownies Painting badge last year, we decided to let them choose what they wanted to draw.  We explained that they had to draw the picture twice.  Once in pencil and the second time in color (colored pencils or crayons).  I got a book out from the library showing some of Andy Warhol's artwork.  If you aren't familiar, he took a black and white photo of Marilyn Monroe (I showed them the picture) and then he added color to the picture (another picture). This gave the girls a little background in pop art and what we were asking them to do.

An idea of what was drawn:
a pencil
a girl
flowers in a vase
fruit in a bowl
a pumpkin patch (this meeting was right before Halloween)
a ghost trick or treating
a happy face
a duck

Make sure to have the girls sign their work.  An artist always signs her drawings or paintings.

Once the girls finished their pictures, they were instructed to draw a picture of their favorite CD (album cover) or favorite book.  (we even suggested favorite song)

We saved their pictures for our next meeting.

Meeting #2:

We asked one of our parents to come in (he's an artist) to help with this meeting.  Unfortunately, he was unable to make any of our dates.  We decided to spend some money and had Young Rembrandt's come and teach the girls shading and perspective.  We also had them teach the use of pastels.  The girls drew two pictures.  The art instructor broke down each step and made drawing the picture much, much easier.

If you don't have a parent to help, and you can't afford to hire someone, this meeting shouldn't be too hard...search how to add shading and give pictures perspective...there should be plenty of ideas on the internet or in the library.  The picture that the girls drew was three boats on the water.  In this picture they were taught how to draw the reflection of the boats in the water.  If you aren't feeling too artsy, you might want to ask the school's art teacher if she would be able to stop by and talk to the girls.


Our last meeting for the year:

We set up a little art show for the parents to view the girls work.  Each girl had their own section on the wall where we put up their artwork.  We also had them write their name on an index card (that was pinned to the wall).  We asked the girls to bring along 3 extra pieces of artwork from home to exhibit.  The girls were very proud of their work.  Oh, and just like an art show, we did have some juice and cookies.  :)

No Solicitors

When we came home from Spring Break, there was a post-it note taped to the front door that read, "No solicitors of any kind."

I laughed.  Nick doesn't like answering the door and being polite to solicitors.  Especially if he has to run downstairs to answer the door.

Yesterday I came home from work and found this note:

Obviously the note is bigger.  I'm assuming he had to answer the door today and it was another solicitor.  I'm afraid the next sign will be the size of our house.

I like my job

Today there was a little boy (about 2 years old) running around the store.  His dad was chasing him.  I commented how his son could be a personal trainer.  Maybe put a pedometer on the kid?   I said "Hi" to the little boy every time I passed him.  At one point, he runs over to me and gives me a big hug. Times like this make working in a toy store fun.

Things that make me go hmmm...

Customer:  I don't understand this craze.  And, look at the price!

All the while the customer is holding and drinking his Starbucks coffee.

Top 10 Legitimate Excuses for Being Late to Work

I thought it would be a good time to share this list.  Some of these might have happened to me....

Here are the:

Top 10 Legitimate Excuses for Being Late to Work



10.  Had to wait in line at the post office to (April: Mail Taxes, December:  Buy Stamps)

9.  Forgot to close the garage door (well, you think you forgot....)

8.  Couldn't decide what to wear today

7.  Had a song stuck in your head so you had to listen to it

6.  Couldn't find anything good to bring for lunch.

5.  Had to throw in a load of laundry so everyone will have clean clothes to wear tomorrow (great excuse for retail during Christmas time)

4.  Had to clean up the mountain of dishes by the sink that grew overnight in order to prepare for the mountain that will be there waiting for you after work (Thanks, kids!)

3.  Had to shave my legs (scary!)

2.  Couldn't get the dog in the house / in his cage

And the number one Legitimate Excuse for being late to work:

Forgot to put on deodorant

Mr. Last Minute

Or, maybe this should be titled, "I didn't forget."

Or

"I've put in a lot of thought and time."

I think I mentioned several posts back about RT and his last minute-ness (I'm sure that's a word).  You know, buying gifts and cards the day of the event.

I guess I should have figured this out when we were dating.  We attended a wedding and at the church, RT was telling people that he was going to buy the card on the way to the reception.  I laughed along with his friends and family, thinking he was joking.  In reality, we finished up at the church and then, on the way to the reception, we stopped at a drugstore and purchased a card.

I believe this was just the beginning.

I found out (over the years) that RT likes to shop on Christmas Eve.  He is always willing to run out and get any last minute gifts.  Of course, we wouldn't have this need if we planned our shopping and purchased gifts weeks earlier when there is more of a selection.

My birthday and Mother's Day are always interesting.  RT asks me tons of questions in the morning and then he "suddenly" has to take the kids out to the store.  I'm left at home while they go out and shop for a gift and a card.

I have started letting little hints slip out.  I say things like, "Hey, only one month until my birthday."  or  "Did you know that Mother's Day is this weekend?"

I think my hints have helped a little.  RT is now finishing up his shopping the day before the event.

Anyone else out there a last minute shopper?

Mother's Day

Hope that your Mother's Day was spent with the one(s) you love.

I'm still basking in all of the love that I received on Mother's Day.  Lots of hugs, cards and flowers.  And lots of help weeding and planting my garden (that was Pippen and RT).

Kalo Pascha

We are celebrating Greek Orthodox Easter at our house.


Xristos anesti

ek nekron,

thanato thanaton patisas,

ke tis en tis mnimasin zoin xarisamenos

Christ is risen

from the dead,

having beaten Death by [his own] death

and having given the gift of life to those in the graves.

Christos Anesti.  (Christ has Risen)

Alithos Anesti. (He has risen indeed)

Kalo Pascha!