Beginning the journey to find balance

I’ve been feeling kind of lost. Not knowing what direction to take this blog. I know it’s just a blog, something I started because I thought it would help me be a better mom, person, keeper of the house…like if I was putting it out there for the world to see, it would somehow inspire me to “do more.”

The problem is that it did inspire me to do more. I tried cute crafts, tons of baking, and various ideas and it was nice and it looks like I do a lot. I worked hard with this blog. People tell me they like reading my posts.

I suppose I’ve sharpened my writing skills a bit, and I learned how to do things on the computer, and I’ve certainly toughened up my skin by just putting it all out there and not caring what people think, BUT as of today, I am still suffering with …

I’m not quite sure how to put it – just a feeling that I’m not living peacefully, not balanced, and doing what really matters.

Today, I decide to find more peace and put my needs and my family’s needs above all else.

I thought I was just baking too much but I think it’s way deeper than that. I feel as if I’ve been busying myself with “lots of stuff,” joining Pinterest, participating in many kid’s activities, doing the theme stuff, etc…but it seems like it’s just been stuff…fluff.

I plan on exercising for me, baking quality over quantity, doing less activities, slowing down, saying no, not planning as much, and the MOST IMPORTANT THING, tuning out the world and playing with my girls. We will still do crafts, I have girls – they love crafts – but they won’t be just for a cute post.

I will be having a new blogger soon to join this blog and she strives for balance every day. I can’t wait for her to begin.

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let’s get real

THEMES ARE OVER!!! I’m exhausted, spending too much money, time, with baking and crafts!

I don’t know how moms do it but no more ! This ain’t my thing.

People say I’m creative- but this isn’t for me!

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Stressed and tired!

I know what ya’ all are thinking – “But they’re so cute!”

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I mean, even I want to backslide on my no more baking/cute themes but
I am seriously done!

I have gotten more site traffic from crafts but OH WELL.

I know for those of you not in the blogging world, you’re like who the hell cares.

Yes, I am a good baker and yes, I am creative BUT at what cost?

The girls want more mommy. They want me to cuddle, read, play…and they probably won’t miss the creative treats and crafts – maybe my readers will – maybe the girls will – but I don’t care anymore!

I finally have the courage to say – this sucks!

I just want to enjoy the rest of this summer! Hell, I want to enjoy the rest of my life home with the girls who won’t be little for long! And I probably won’t be home forever so…..good bye Susie homemaker!

Being this blogger, baker, crafter, and especially this summer, has made me feel like I have four jobs.

Taking care of the kids, being a pre school teacher, running a bakery, and a cleaning woman ( yes, I know that is already part of my job but all of the glitter, spilled beads and gems, glue, flour, frosting, batter, crumbs, etc….has multiplied my every day chores times ten!)

I quit. Good bye themes.

BUT Let me show you the pics from fancy week, they’re quite fancy.

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Fancy cookies

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Decorating everything…

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And this….

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Don’t even ask!!!!

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Water theme

Just a quick post to show my pictures from my water theme week. This is late since I was away all weekend.

Four weeks of crafts and baking has taken every ounce of creativity out of me…I am currently feeling blank and sans inspiration. I took a craft/ baking break today and it was just what I needed…

I was way more productive today, cleaned the atrociously congested playroom- it had gotten awful! Looked like a scene from hoarders, I took the kids to the lake, and it was just nice not to have any self induced pressure to construct something or run to the grocery store for decorating items.

Gia and I decided we are going to do a decorate everything party – basically a leftovers kind of a last summer theme…and then I will get back to just writing…I never started this blog to be arts and crafts, but it has sort of taken a trip down the glue stick and chocolate chip aisle.

But, here’s the water theme…
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Nothing like a refreshing glass of water or make that blue Rice Krispie treats poured by Barbie herself!

Next we experimented with making colored ice.

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We took paper Dixie cups, filled them with water, used food coloring to make different colors, froze them, then cut the paper off…

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Filled a vase with these frozen, water colorful ice pucks.
The kids were over the moon with this creation. oohing and aahing over the colors- it was so cute!

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Then I filled the vase with the water, and the water turned blue.

The girls were screaming with delight! I tell ya – I have said this before but it really doesn’t take much!

It’s raining cookie drops and “water” melon

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I made home made sugar cookies from scratch. I used the following recipe…

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. I chilled the dough in the fridge for at least a half an hour. I have left over night before.

Then I sprinkled my work surface with flour, rolled out the dough until it was flat. I couldn’t find a circle cookie cutter that was small enough for my purposes so I used the tops of vitamin or pain reliever bottles. Worked like a charm!
Then I pinched the cookie to make it into a water drop.

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We baked those for 8 to 10 minutes in the oven, let them cool, and then worked on the icing.

1 cup confectioners’ sugar
2 teaspoons milk
2 teaspoons light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
assorted food coloring

In a small bowl, stir together confectioners’ sugar and milk until smooth. Beat in corn syrup and almond extract until icing is smooth and glossy. If icing is too thick, add more corn syrup.
Divide into separate bowls, and add food colorings to each to desired intensity. Dip cookies, or paint them with a brush.

Please click on the banner – every click ( which just takes you to the top mommy blog site) counts as a vote for me! You can vote once a day! Thank you so much, I truly appreciate you taking the second to click for me!

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