Well I have been telling everyone I see that I made homemade marshmallows over the snow days because they are THAT GOOD! I found the recipe from OwlHaven and I will definitely be making them again as soon as I get to the store. I just happened to have all the ingredients on hand when I saw the recipe and decided it was worth the try...why not? I was trapped in our house with hubby and two wild children...sugar always make that better :)
So, without further adieu, here is the recipe:
Homemade Marshmallows
Makes: 40-50 (although mine made 60)
3 packets (about 3 tablespoons) unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup cold water
1 -1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup water
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
powdered sugar, for dusting
Directions:Combine gelatin and 1/2 cup cold water in a medium sized heat-proof bowl. Let it sit for 20 minutes. Combine granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 1/3 cup of water in a small heavy saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar has dissolved. Turn stove to high and heat until mixture comes to a very brisk boil, stirring occasionally. Let boil for about 2 minutes. If you have a candy thermometer, the temperature should reach about 240 degrees.
Take pan off heat and very carefully pour contents into the bowl containing gelatin. Add vanilla extract. Set timer for 10 minutes. Using an electric mixer, beat mixture on high speed for at least 10 minutes. When the mixture becomes very thick and white and has at least doubled in size, it is done.
Using a rubber spatula, scoop mixture into a 9×12 casserole dish that has been generously dusted with powdered sugar. Let marshmallows sit at room temperature, uncovered, for at least 4 hours, or overnight. Don’t panic if they look incredibly sticky at first. They will thicken up as they cool. Cut into squares. They’ll still feel quite sticky as you cut them, but cut them as cleanly as possible with a wet knife. Then dust cut edges with additional powdered sugar, and they will feel like ‘real’ marshmallows.
Note: For marshmallows with different colors and flavors, add a small amount of unsweetened kool-aid powder to the mixture on the stove as you are heating it. OR, I just put food coloring in as it was boiling and it worked...however when you mix it the color becomes very faded (light) because the mixture is turning SNOW WHITE, so my bright blue marshmallows turned very pale blue *but still fun!
I would show you a picture but I, um...ate them all! :) before I got the camera to them. I love them love them love them! It was way worth the 5 hour wait to eat them. Jackson LOVES them about as much as I do and Creighton doesn't care for them (she and Jeff don't particularly like marshmallows to begin with)...they seriously don't know what they are missing!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Too Cold
I am such a wimp. This cold stuff is just...brrrr. I am too cold. I about cracked my tail bone at least 10 times today on the sidewalks and parking lots. Then it took me 3 full minutes to get my car in the garage because it wouldn't keep from sliding right back down the driveway. The kids' school closed early, and I was already stressing about getting everything done in the amount of time they were occupied today...so, yeah, I am no where near completing my things to do today...and I am cold. :(
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Report Card time...
I can't believe it's been almost two weeks since I last posted. I knew I'd be busy, but really?! What on earth? I haven't been on the computer NEARLY as much I used to be. Life is just a little wild right now, but it's good.
We are in the constant 'train[ing] up' of our children and at this specific moment in time, I am at a love/hate relationship with the process. Jackson has been wildly out of control...I so wish I could have written 'mildly' but that isn't the case. So, life has been hard on him. He has this point. It seems he gets there SO incredibly fast too. And once he gets there, it's just a nightmare. I hate every minute of it. And, truth be told, I have NO CLUE what on earth I am suppose to do. There seems to be nothing. NOTHING effects his behavior once he gets past that point. He's done with. I am done with him. And yet, because I love him, I can't quit on him, although EVERYTHING within me wants to. It's hard people. He is the sweetest thing on earth, and then the very thing I want to hurl across the room. His tiny little 39 pound body contains them both! How, I do not know.
I went back and checked my January 1st post because I knew I had written my goals down for the year. I am so glad that I did write them down...because a few of them I had already forgotten about and here it is STILL JANUARY. My brain is in malfunction mode.
Anyway, I am excited to say that I have been a little better about spending more intentional time with both my children and my husband, but not nearly as I had planned. I just get lazy and very selfish and choose other things besides them sometimes. So, I would give myself a C+ on the kids and a C- with my hubby (so backwards I know).
With my spending time in the word (and liking it) I, by the grace of God alone, would have to say that it's been done. I am LOVING the One Year Bible Blog and I HIGHLY recommend you at least trying it out, even if you just start from today, if you don't have another thing that is working for you! I am craving Genesis right now! I love it I love it I love it! A
My discipleship time with Bethani is going very well. I was quite worried about how it would all pan out because honestly, who the heck am I? I don't know the first thing about it because no one ever did it for me...but I am going forward with it and loving my time with her and learning a lot myself. We've met twice now and have 4 more weeks planned out. We are going through 1 John together and wow, I recommend some steel-toed shoes and some gloves, you're gonna get dirty! A
My small group is one of my priorities for the next 4 months (they are seniors). It, finally, seems to be going well. We are doing the truth project along with a new journal method Jeff gave me and they and I both love it! So exciting. So challenging. So amazing. LOVE IT. B+
My eating? Well that would be one I had forgotten that I actually put on there :) And, well...I would probably give myself a D on that one. I am such a stress eater. Bad thing. Bad thing. Especially while parenting two toddler/preschoolers who might very well make James Dobson cry. *My mom claims the same was true for me when I was little :) Grrrrreat!
My working out? Hmmm...well. My desire is there. I even get out of the house to do it. Then I get the Y, drop the kids at the childcare and all I want to do is relax with some peace and quiet. So I have been reading :) But I have worked out 3-5 times...that is so lame. C
And last but not least...the grand goal of seeing the positive. Well, lets see. I forgot I put that there till I reread it yesterday...and then again today, just now, I had to go back to see which one I was missing. That is certainly not my strongest character quality, or one at all. It certainly doesn't come naturally to me. I think it is so funny that I wrote that. It must have been either a really good day or a really really bad one. Either way, I need to remember that. I need to see the positive in things...I think sometimes that might require me closing my eyes. :) Is that fair? haha. Rating: F
I hate failing. If this were my report card in school I'd be grounded (my own doing) for a long long time. So glad God grades with grace. I need a whole lot of that in my life right now.
Glad to be back...I've missed you guys.
We are in the constant 'train[ing] up' of our children and at this specific moment in time, I am at a love/hate relationship with the process. Jackson has been wildly out of control...I so wish I could have written 'mildly' but that isn't the case. So, life has been hard on him. He has this point. It seems he gets there SO incredibly fast too. And once he gets there, it's just a nightmare. I hate every minute of it. And, truth be told, I have NO CLUE what on earth I am suppose to do. There seems to be nothing. NOTHING effects his behavior once he gets past that point. He's done with. I am done with him. And yet, because I love him, I can't quit on him, although EVERYTHING within me wants to. It's hard people. He is the sweetest thing on earth, and then the very thing I want to hurl across the room. His tiny little 39 pound body contains them both! How, I do not know.
I went back and checked my January 1st post because I knew I had written my goals down for the year. I am so glad that I did write them down...because a few of them I had already forgotten about and here it is STILL JANUARY. My brain is in malfunction mode.
Anyway, I am excited to say that I have been a little better about spending more intentional time with both my children and my husband, but not nearly as I had planned. I just get lazy and very selfish and choose other things besides them sometimes. So, I would give myself a C+ on the kids and a C- with my hubby (so backwards I know).
With my spending time in the word (and liking it) I, by the grace of God alone, would have to say that it's been done. I am LOVING the One Year Bible Blog and I HIGHLY recommend you at least trying it out, even if you just start from today, if you don't have another thing that is working for you! I am craving Genesis right now! I love it I love it I love it! A
My discipleship time with Bethani is going very well. I was quite worried about how it would all pan out because honestly, who the heck am I? I don't know the first thing about it because no one ever did it for me...but I am going forward with it and loving my time with her and learning a lot myself. We've met twice now and have 4 more weeks planned out. We are going through 1 John together and wow, I recommend some steel-toed shoes and some gloves, you're gonna get dirty! A
My small group is one of my priorities for the next 4 months (they are seniors). It, finally, seems to be going well. We are doing the truth project along with a new journal method Jeff gave me and they and I both love it! So exciting. So challenging. So amazing. LOVE IT. B+
My eating? Well that would be one I had forgotten that I actually put on there :) And, well...I would probably give myself a D on that one. I am such a stress eater. Bad thing. Bad thing. Especially while parenting two toddler/preschoolers who might very well make James Dobson cry. *My mom claims the same was true for me when I was little :) Grrrrreat!
My working out? Hmmm...well. My desire is there. I even get out of the house to do it. Then I get the Y, drop the kids at the childcare and all I want to do is relax with some peace and quiet. So I have been reading :) But I have worked out 3-5 times...that is so lame. C
And last but not least...the grand goal of seeing the positive. Well, lets see. I forgot I put that there till I reread it yesterday...and then again today, just now, I had to go back to see which one I was missing. That is certainly not my strongest character quality, or one at all. It certainly doesn't come naturally to me. I think it is so funny that I wrote that. It must have been either a really good day or a really really bad one. Either way, I need to remember that. I need to see the positive in things...I think sometimes that might require me closing my eyes. :) Is that fair? haha. Rating: F
I hate failing. If this were my report card in school I'd be grounded (my own doing) for a long long time. So glad God grades with grace. I need a whole lot of that in my life right now.
Glad to be back...I've missed you guys.
Monday, January 12, 2009
If Mama Ain't Happy...
Last week was nuts. I was so sick Tuesday and Wednesday and then kinda okay Thursday and then sick again Friday and Saturday and Sunday I was okay. Thankfully today I am doing alright, but I don't know what was wrong with me. I hate being sick. It's awful for everyone!
I guess that saying "if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy" rings all too true with me :( I don't think that is a good thing.
I have so many things I wanted to post about and right now I can't think of a gosh darn one! But didn't want you to think I fell off the face of the earth, although last week, there were points were I wish I could have done just that.
My small group (almost everyone) went to eat at Shogun's last night! It was fun. Not my best Shogun experience, but I am sure I've never had a bad one. Maybe it was the "cure" for me :) Doubtful, but maybe excited my girls had a "bonding" time...maybe that did the trick.
Excited about this week with lots going on. 3 Private lessons. Bible study is starting up tomorrow. Finished with my work for the entire month of January already. Starting my discipleship meetings this week! My friend Erin is coming in town this weekend, and my friend Tammy is having a baby shower! I have a LONG awaited for date with my husband...it's just all around good! :) Mama's happy people!
I guess that saying "if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy" rings all too true with me :( I don't think that is a good thing.
I have so many things I wanted to post about and right now I can't think of a gosh darn one! But didn't want you to think I fell off the face of the earth, although last week, there were points were I wish I could have done just that.
My small group (almost everyone) went to eat at Shogun's last night! It was fun. Not my best Shogun experience, but I am sure I've never had a bad one. Maybe it was the "cure" for me :) Doubtful, but maybe excited my girls had a "bonding" time...maybe that did the trick.
Excited about this week with lots going on. 3 Private lessons. Bible study is starting up tomorrow. Finished with my work for the entire month of January already. Starting my discipleship meetings this week! My friend Erin is coming in town this weekend, and my friend Tammy is having a baby shower! I have a LONG awaited for date with my husband...it's just all around good! :) Mama's happy people!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
One Year Bible--I love it~
I don't know why I haven't posted on it before now, but I am LOVING (at least so far) doing my daily readings with the oneyearbibleblog.com. It has been such a great way to get into the word (in all segments) each day. It's manageable, and then there is LOTS of extra if you want/can/have the time. I just really like it a lot.
Each day there is an Old Testament reading (the longest part), a New Testament reading, a Psalm and a Proverb reading (really short, typically). It doesn't take long and they have been leaving you at "cliff hangers" each day in the stories in OT and NT so it's exciting. I love it when the Bible is new and fresh to me and right now it just is!
On the blog, besides giving you a nifty link to click with all the daily scriptures together on one nice neat page, it has commentary for each section, comments sections, a daily bible verse to memorize (from what you just read), a worship section (365 worship videos :)) and it's all packaged up nice and neat. I like it that way. It even has art work and history and maps and stuff to go along if you like that stuff (which I do sometimes).
So, go visit at least. Maybe try committing to it if you want. I have tried SO many times to read through in a year and haven't ever once come close to making it! I hope that I can do it this year. There are some almost 9 thousand others doing it with me. That helps.
Check it out. www.oneyearbibleblog.com
Each day there is an Old Testament reading (the longest part), a New Testament reading, a Psalm and a Proverb reading (really short, typically). It doesn't take long and they have been leaving you at "cliff hangers" each day in the stories in OT and NT so it's exciting. I love it when the Bible is new and fresh to me and right now it just is!
On the blog, besides giving you a nifty link to click with all the daily scriptures together on one nice neat page, it has commentary for each section, comments sections, a daily bible verse to memorize (from what you just read), a worship section (365 worship videos :)) and it's all packaged up nice and neat. I like it that way. It even has art work and history and maps and stuff to go along if you like that stuff (which I do sometimes).
So, go visit at least. Maybe try committing to it if you want. I have tried SO many times to read through in a year and haven't ever once come close to making it! I hope that I can do it this year. There are some almost 9 thousand others doing it with me. That helps.
Check it out. www.oneyearbibleblog.com
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Feeling better
Slowly but surely I am regaining strength and eating a little bit more. I even went to Nikao tonight although I really didn't want to. But I am glad I did because 6 of my girls were there and excited to be there. I am excited because they want to do a Shogun date this weekend and pretty much that is THE BEST place on earth to eat! And I love it so much. I think it helps make me feel better just thinking of it :)
I slept yesterday from 2:30p until 8:15 this morning (with waking up a few times but all less than an hour at a time). I think the last time I was up was 7 something and so I got a solid 12 hours + I think my body needed rest. Whadda ya think?
I have somewhat kept my chicken noodle soup in me. And then I just ate a peanut butter and honey sandwich, which is not settling quite as well. But oh well.
Off to bed.
I slept yesterday from 2:30p until 8:15 this morning (with waking up a few times but all less than an hour at a time). I think the last time I was up was 7 something and so I got a solid 12 hours + I think my body needed rest. Whadda ya think?
I have somewhat kept my chicken noodle soup in me. And then I just ate a peanut butter and honey sandwich, which is not settling quite as well. But oh well.
Off to bed.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Other exiting strategies
I am sick and it's awful. I feel like I have the flu minus vomit but with other exiting strategies and severe abdominal pain. I am miserable and so thankful for my sweet hubby. My head and my back are also in insurmountable amounts of pain. Maybe I am being a baby but I hate being sick. I really hope I get better tomorrow or tonight would not be too soon
Sunday, January 4, 2009
What is required of me?
Micah 6:8
"God has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8
"God has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Sunshine!
Ironic that I posted a snow day picture yesterday and it is like SUMMER (and loving it) outside today. Yeah for sand boxes, trampolines, play houses and all sorts of fun things outdoors...
Mr. Sun you are welcome at my home every day!
Mr. Sun you are welcome at my home every day!
Friday, January 2, 2009
Snow Day!
So I am behind, but I am checking off my list slowly but surely!
The first big snow day started like this:
And I quickly got the kids ready to play outside. We "sled" around the yard with me being the workhorse of course!
Jackson ate lots of snow. When Jeff asked him if it tasted good he said no, but promptly put his face back in the snow :) weird, I know.
I hope they had more fun than this picture reflects:)
There, much better! She LOVED it. EVERY bit of it.
Then, she HAD to swing. Why not?! It is her most favorite thing in the whole world...she was quite happy for some time!
Still eating snow. I guess I need to tell him to be careful what he sticks that to. Thankfully we didn't have any emergency tongue-stuck incidences yet
WE made snow angels. Mine is the biggest in the middle and they are on either side of me (Creighton to the right, Jackson to the left) but theirs didn't show up as well as mine, and I think they thought I was crazy. Not sure they understood at all!
Sweet little man posing for one
And I LOVE this one.
At the end we helped Daddy move some wood from the pile behind the shed to the box on the deck. And I have pics of that too, it was quite cute and took 3 times as long as it would have, but it was awesome and they love to help, but I can't find them right now. I put them on my facebook though.
The first big snow day started like this:
And I quickly got the kids ready to play outside. We "sled" around the yard with me being the workhorse of course!
Jackson ate lots of snow. When Jeff asked him if it tasted good he said no, but promptly put his face back in the snow :) weird, I know.
I hope they had more fun than this picture reflects:)
There, much better! She LOVED it. EVERY bit of it.
Then, she HAD to swing. Why not?! It is her most favorite thing in the whole world...she was quite happy for some time!
Still eating snow. I guess I need to tell him to be careful what he sticks that to. Thankfully we didn't have any emergency tongue-stuck incidences 
WE made snow angels. Mine is the biggest in the middle and they are on either side of me (Creighton to the right, Jackson to the left) but theirs didn't show up as well as mine, and I think they thought I was crazy. Not sure they understood at all!
Sweet little man posing for one
And I LOVE this one.
At the end we helped Daddy move some wood from the pile behind the shed to the box on the deck. And I have pics of that too, it was quite cute and took 3 times as long as it would have, but it was awesome and they love to help, but I can't find them right now. I put them on my facebook though.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
What's important
Happy New Year!
I can't believe another year has passed actually. We made it! Yea!
When I was writing our Christmas card for this year, I realized that all-in-all we had a pretty fantastic year and that we are more incredibly blessed than I ever realized! That is awesome.
My goals for this year, which I began today and what a difference it made, are:
1. to spend more quality and intentional time with both Jackson and Creighton daily
2. to spend more quality and intentional time with Jeff daily
3. to invest in one of my small group girls in a true discipleship relationship
4. to see the positive
5. self control in eating
6. discipline in working out
7. spending time in the Word, and liking it
Goals are good. I'm stopping there because I don't want to overwhelm myself :) There is much to be done, and it looks like this year I am going to be spending quite a bit of time being busy with what matters, what's important--loving people with time.
What are your goals?
I can't believe another year has passed actually. We made it! Yea!
When I was writing our Christmas card for this year, I realized that all-in-all we had a pretty fantastic year and that we are more incredibly blessed than I ever realized! That is awesome.
My goals for this year, which I began today and what a difference it made, are:
1. to spend more quality and intentional time with both Jackson and Creighton daily
2. to spend more quality and intentional time with Jeff daily
3. to invest in one of my small group girls in a true discipleship relationship
4. to see the positive
5. self control in eating
6. discipline in working out
7. spending time in the Word, and liking it
Goals are good. I'm stopping there because I don't want to overwhelm myself :) There is much to be done, and it looks like this year I am going to be spending quite a bit of time being busy with what matters, what's important--loving people with time.
What are your goals?
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