Fondue Night

Last year I was reading a book about the lives of these three sisters.  Whenever any of the sisters were having a hard time with life they would call a scrapbook night.  No matter what the other sisters were doing, they would drop it to go to the scrapbook night (usually planned a day or two in advance).  During the scrapbook night they would contemplate life, talk about what they were going through and give each other advice.  

I was sharing this idea with a friend who does not like to scrapbook. We loved the idea of being able to call a night when we were in need of some girlfriend time but, we didn't want it to be scrapbooking. So, we decided to do a fondue night.  

A couple of days ago, I received an email from one of my friends. She wrote, "I'm calling a fondue night!"  So, that is what I'm doing tonight. It's always so much fun.  It's probably more fun for those who didn't call the fondue night since they aren't the ones in need of help. But, we always end up being real and laughing a lot.    

In the spirit of fondue night, I want to share a chocolate fondue recipe with you that I got from cooks.com (warning: this is not a healthy recipe but it sure is yummy!):

2/3 c. Karo light or dark corn syrup
1/2 c. heavy cream
8 sq. (1 oz. each) semi-sweet chocolate
Assorted fresh fruit

Directions: In a medium saucepan combine corn syrup and cream. Bring to boil over medium heat. Remove from heat. Add chocolate. Stir until completely melted. Serve warm as a dip for fruit. 
Yields: 1 1/2 cups.

We dip: strawberries, pineapple, bananas, pound cake, pretzels, and potato chips.  You can dip pretty much anything.  Some of the girls have dipped their fingers, but we're not going to talk about that.  

Another recipe that I found but have not tried yet is: 

4 blocks (4 oz.) unsweetened baking chocolate
1 c. light cream
1 c. sugar
1/4 c. creamy peanut butter
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Directions: Combine chocolate and cream in medium saucepan or double boiler. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Add sugar and peanut butter; continue cooking until slightly thickened. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Pour into fondue pot or chafing dish; serve warm with Fondue Dippers. Yields: 2 cups.

Do you have a special "code" that you call with your girlfriends when you need a break? It could be Margarita Night! or Spa Day! or Starbucks! 

Thanks for stopping by,

Accountable Kids

Moms, do you sometimes feel like you are constantly on top of your kids, reminding them to pick up this or clean up that?  It seems like that is my life.  I clean one room only to have it messed up again five minutes later.  I find shoes, trash, books, toys, silly bands, you name it, I find it making a path on my floor.  All of that can make for one frustrated Mama.  And you know that terrible saying, "If Mama's not happy, ain't nobody happy."  Well, sometimes that can be a sad truth in my house.  I get burned out.  I get tired of picking up after everyone.  Sometimes, Mama's not happy.    

SOOO, Hubby and I have been trying to figure out a way to teach our children how to be responsible without nagging them to get things done.  A few years ago at a home school conference, I came across this program called Accountable Kids.  

The basic concept of the AK program, as stated on the back of their book is, "a unique parenting program designed to teach accountability and responsibility in the home.  It is a back-to-basics system which includes essential parenting principles and concrete stepping stones that strengthen relationships and build a foundation for success. Children learn to balance choices and consequences in a fun, productive manner.  They experience the joy of being a vital, contributing member of the family and develop condfidence and self-worth.  The AK book and kit provide everything parents need to maximize efforts and bring structure and harmony into the home."  

 

It comes with all of the things you see in this picture.   

I like this method because our kids know exactly what's expected of them.  If they don't follow through with their chores and earn their ticket, they can't watch tv, play video games, or play with friends.  They are learning the difference between necessity and privilege.  Playing video games is a privilege that is earned.  My motto is, "If your work isn't done, you can't have fun."  When they don't take care of their responsibilities, their options are very limited for what they can do. They also enjoy earning their stars that lead up to a special date of their choice.  The rewards are earned at a good pace where the kids don't get discouraged because it's taking a month to earn something.  But, it's enough time that they are developing good behaviors and patterns.   

What chore/responsibility charts have been working for you?  How do you do incentives or rewards?  

Thanks for stopping by,

    

Back-to-School!

Well, it's official.  The kids are back in school and my life is slowly becoming my own again... at least until June of 2011.  Don't get me wrong, I am in LOVE with my children, I just can't seem to juggle children, laundry, meals, cleaning, and breathing all at the same time.  I am not the parent who stands at the bus stop on the first day of school, waving goodbye to the kids while holding back tears.  I am the parent who stands at the bus stop, smiling and waving, trying to hold back my screams of joy.  When the bus pulls away I run into the house, close the door, and I dance!  I reflect on all of the possibilities this year will hold.  Does that make me a bad Mama?  I don't know.  Everyone has their own way of coping, I guess.   

It's been a while since I've posted.  This summer has been insanely busy and went by in the blink of an eye.  Is it possible for children to grow up so much over night?  It seems like we are constantly buying new clothes because they've outgrown the ones they have.  Their feet are like weeds! We can barely keep them covered.  Flip flops are our saving grace during the summer.  They can slightly outgrow them, their feet hanging over the backs a little, but they can still wear them.  I wonder if they'd mind if I sent them to school this winter in flip flops.  Hmm.

It's not only their physical bodies that are growing but their minds are growing as well.  There are these things coming out of their mouths that amaze me....some good, some not so good.  I am daily reminded of the enormous responsibility I have as a parent to teach them how to live.  It would be nice if they came with an owners manual or pre-programmed to act and think the right way.  But they don't.  So, it is up to me to mold and shape their young minds...yikes!

There are three things that help me do this: 1. God.  He created their inmost beings.  I constantly look to Him for help.  2. Friends and Family.  I couldn't do this without their support.  3. Books!  I am a book junkie.  I actually think it's an obsession.  Half of the books I own I haven't read but somehow it makes me feel better just having them there.

I am currently reading a book that I want to share with you.  I'm not done with it yet but it's been great so far.  It's called "Say Goodbye to Whining and Complaining, and Bad Attitudes...in you and your kids!"  How's that for a title?  In a nutshell, this book is about teaching your children honor and getting to the heart of their bad behavior. Often times parents (and I've been guilty of this) look for their children to obey what they tell them to do and that's good enough.  However, there is usually a deeper heart issue attached to their behavior that often gets overlooked.  This book teaches you how to discover those heart issues and how to deal with them.  

In the back of the book there are 8 weeks of interactive family times with discussion, science-type experiments, and visual aids to help teach your kids about honor.  We've been doing this with our family and our girls love it!  I do too!  Not only do we get good family time, but we are all learning about honor.

What parenting books have you been reading that have really helped you in your journey?  Do you have a book list that you hope to get to sometime in the near future?  

Thanks for stopping by, 

This Summer

Hi.  Remember me?  My name is Heather.  I'm the one who created this blog and hasn't blogged since June 1st.  I used to talk about gardens and homemade products.  Once in a while I'd put something random about my kids in there.  Is it coming back to you yet?  Yes?!  That's me!  Good.  You remember.  

I think I've committed one of the most carnal sins a blogger can make....I haven't blogged in 25 days!  Isn't that blog death or something?  Although, I do use the term "blogger" loosely when it comes to me.  

If you haven't guessed already, I'm a starter.  I like to start things, get the ball rolling and then... watch that ball roll right down the hill.  Do I run after it?  No.  That's what a maintainer is for.  The maintainer runs after the ball to keep it in the court.  I haven't quite figured out how to be a maintainer.  Hence the name of my blog, Diary of a "disciplined" Mom.  I'm working on it though.

I'm writing to say that I won't be blogging much this summer.  Summer is a busy time for our family.  What am I saying?  Life is a busy for my family, but now that my girls are on summer break I'm struggling to maintain everything all at once.  I know, poor me.  "Boo hoo, your kids are home for the summer."  I realize many families homeschool and have their kiddos home year 'round.  I'm not complaining about them being home, I'm simply stating the facts.  I am working on sorting through my priorities for the summer.  The time we have as our kids are growing goes so fast, I don't want to waste a minute!  

With that being said, here is the beginning of our Summer Break To-Do List:

• Go camping
• Spend a day at the library
• Bake
• Go swimming
• Catch lightening bugs
• Go to Cosi
• Go to the Zoo
• Roast marshmallows over a camp fire
• Make homemade ice cream 
• Play mini golf
• Paint pottery

Here's what I will be doing: 

• Making sure that none of these events listed above end up in a hospital visit
• Finding creative ways to use these outings as opportunities for building character
• Gardening (my humble little garden is doing GREAT!  I'll share pics later in the summer)
• Working at my church - which I love!  
• Praying about the "discipline" part of my life
• Coming up with blog ideas for the Fall.  I want to start a new series, just not sure what it is yet.
• Reading
• Celebrating birthdays and anniversaries!
• Spending time with my family

So this is why I won't be blogging much this summer.  I hope you hang in there and keep checking back.  

What are your plans for the summer?  If you have a family, what are some creative ways you build character in them?  

Thanks for stopping by,

 

The Dishwasher Dilemma

I've posted several recipes for making your own household and beauty products. One of the products that has been giving me a bit of trouble is the dishwashing detergent. I've tried a few different things but still had that white film all over my dishes. Well, I found a solution: Kool-Aid. Let me explain. 

I've been doing some research into rinsing agents, what works and what doesn't. A really good rinsing agent is citric acid. Citric acid is useful in sprouting, canning, drying or freezing. It can be used to preserve Vitamin C content, retard spoilage by bacterial growth and prevent discoloration.  You can buy citric acid in powder form or you can get citric acid from Lemonade Kool-Aid.  I chose to go with the Dollar General generic (Clover Valley) at 10 packs for $1.00. I figured it's $1.00 (I already had the other ingredients), why not give it a try?  

I reluctantly put the ingredients in the dishwasher, shut the door and waited for the end of the cycle.  When I came back, with Hubby by my side, we opened the door and guess what we saw?  Sparkling clean dishes!  Finally!  This is the one area that Hubby was having a hard time with.  He'd OFTEN say, "If you want to switch back to store bought dishwasher detergent, I wouldn't mind." Poor Love.  He's been so patient and supportive.  

Here's the recipe, in case you want to wow your husband (or wife.  or cat. whatever.)  with your dishwasher detergent skills: 

1/2 c borax

1/2 c washing soda (not baking soda)

15 packs of lemonade Kool-Aid (or generic kool-aid like stuff) 

1/4 c salt 

Mix all of the ingredients together in a container.  Give it a good shake.  Use 1 tbsp per load.   

A few notes about the recipe:

• Just use the packets of kool-aid.  Don't make the drink with the water and the sugar and then add it.

• The next day, you may find your mixture has hardened.  That's the citric acid. Just give it a good scrape with a spoon to loosen it up before scooping it into the dishwasher.

• If you want, you can add white vinegar to the rinse compartment.  I didn't do this, but you can if you want to. I didn't actually have a need to.  But if it makes you feel better or you find that you can't live without white vinegar, go for it.

• Don't use colorful drink mix, it will stain your dishes and the inside of your dishwasher.  Stick with the light colored ones.  

• For added scent put 15-20 drops of your favorite essential oil into the detergent container.  Mix well.  If you don't want to commit to the whole container, just add a couple drops into your detergent compartment after you put 1 tbsp of detergent.  

One of the best things about this recipe is that you can buy all of these things at the grocery store.  You may spend a few more dollars to start, but these ingredients last forever!  You'll definitely get a return on your investment.  

Enjoy your clean dishes!  I'll hopefully be posting my deodorant recipe soon. I'm so close to perfecting it!  

Thanks for stopping by,