Life is sooo good!

This is what we had for dinner last night.  We call it a German pancake, but I don't think it is acually German (kind of like French fries).
I wanted to post it because it is easy and very inexpensive to make, and feeds 5-7 people (plus kids love it, my youngest daughter wanted this for her birthday dinner).

In a mixing bowl whisk up 9-12 eggs (depending on size), add 2 c flour and 2 c milk and 1 tsp vanilla and whisk some more.
In a 9"x13" pan (in the photo, I used a 10"x15" pan), butter generously (use a couple of tablespoons of butter or margarine.  Pour egg mixture into pan and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
Serve with pancake syrup and jam.  YUM! 

This is the project I have been working on lately.  It's called Swedish weave and this will someday be a cute blanket/throw.  For now its a "work in progress".

I am reading a great book called The Dynamics Laws of Prosperity, by Catherine Ponder.  I want to share tidbits of the book in my posts (especially for my wealth building buddies!).  Here goes:
"I learned about the power of thought as an instrument for success or failure.  I came to realize that failure is basically the result of failure thinking.  I learned that the right use of my mind could become the key to healthy, happy, prosperous, successful living. . . . The word 'prosper' means 'to flourish, succeed, thrive, to experience favorable results.'  You are prosperous to the degree that you are experiencing peace, health, and plenty in your world."

So, let's change any failure thinking to prosperous thinking, starting right now!  We can do it!

Miscellaneous stuff

Life is constantly changing, but amid the changes and "busy" ness -- not to be confused with business, I did get the pink trim on one slipper done. I started in the back or the heel area and single crocheted all the way around until I was where I had started. Then I tied a knot with the beginning end and the ending end of yarn.

I haven't sewn on a button yet. I bought some pink buttons, but I think I'm going to get some different -- more colorful -- buttons to use.  Now I just need to make the other slipper to go with this one!!!!

On to a different subject --

Here are pictures of cookies we made (they were time consuming, but fun):

 We made little tiny tea party cookies . . .

 and some little leaf and apple cookies . . .

 and some flower cookies!

Here is something for the Wealth Building Buddies of WUN:

This quote is from Brandon B.

"I've used several different tracking systems over the past decade. I'm 1 out of 100 that went in every day and put in the information about my day's expenses.Since I started using currentsee™ to track my finances, I have cut my expenses down by over $400.00 per month. This is the ONLY system in the world that automates everything for you. I spend with my currentsee™ Mastercard™ all day, then login to my currentsee™ Dashboard the next morning to see that all of the expenses have automaticallly been categorized, my pie graphs and charts have automatically been updated and I know at a glance how much is left in each of my budget categories. I just spent the money. It categorized everything for me. Amazing!

On top of that, using the currentsee™ Rewards for just my grocery coupons, I am saving over $120.00 per month buying things I already buy and things I already love. I'm a single dad with two kids that don't even live with me all of the time and STILL I save $120.00!

That's $520.00 net gain to my bottom line on just two aspects of wakeupnow™.

Is the $87.13 per month really worth it? Ha!"

Have a super duper weekend.  For me and my family it is General Conference weekend.  We have been looking forward to this weekend for a long time.

More Crocheted Slipper

Let's see picking up from last week's crochet instructions . . .
Now you work 24 double crochets in the next 6-9 rows depending on the size/length of your foot.

Then choose which side you want for the inside of the slipper, and which side you want for the outside.  Turn inside out and fold the heel of the slipper in half and slip stitch the back together. Tie a good knot at the bottom and crochet yarn ends into the slipper.

Next, single crochet around the top edges and strap of the slipper to tidy up the edges. 

 I started this single crochet at the back of the slipper, then I went all around and tied it off in a tight knot.  Weave in the yarn ends.

Voila, almost done.  Maybe I'll get it finished tomorrow!

True Confessions . . .

It’s Monday, the beginning of the work week.
Have you ever desired to have a job that you loved so much that taking a break for lunch was an irritation because you didn’t want to stop working? Okay, I love food, I can’t imagine it being an irritation, so let’s just say you were anxious to get back to your work after lunch, because you really enjoyed your work.


I love making crafty things and I like drawing and painting. I would love to do crafts as a full time job and get wealthy doing it. I have tried many different things to make it work and I have made money at most of them. But, when adding up the cost of materials and time invested in the crafts, I actually made very little money.


I just want to be wealthy, doing what I love, while being a stay at home mom. Is that too much to ask???


Well, back in May, my oldest daughter suggested I start a blog. I guess Oprah had a guest that made big money with her blog. So here is first of my true confessions: I started this blog for the sole intention of reaching my dream of making money while staying at home. As you can guess, I haven’t made any money on this blog and I keep on doing it because it’s addicting, I suppose.

There are many things I can do to earn a minimal income and subsist. But, I do not want to just subsist, I want to achieve my dreams.


Then a few months ago I heard little snippets (from a friend of mine) about making money using this special debit card and I wanted to be a part of it. Then I watched a couple of videos about it with my husband ( http://wakeupcall.wakeupnow.com/ ). He joined immediately. That was 2 ½ months ago.


I am so anxious to join too, now that life is more settled and the kids are back in school. I get more excited about it as I learn more about the company.


The company is pictured on the left side of the blog. It is called “Wake Up Now”.  I’ve finally found an opportunity that has the potential to get me where I want to be financially, and helps me in many other ways too.

Who wants the best for their family, such as good health, wholesome food, learning, and recreation?

Who wants more freedom from government controls and bureaucracy?

Who wants to help others, spread goodness, and down home values?


I do, I do, I do!


Next confession:

I’m going to publically express my desires and use “the law of attraction” and see what happens.


My Desires:


I want seven to 21 people to join up with me and we can achieve our hopes and dreams and share our joys among us all. Have you heard of Napolean Hill’s, Mastermind group? We could have our own mastermind group. We can radiate positive, powerful, goodness to the world (that’d be extremely amazing)!


I’d want this wonderful group to grow in wealth and friendship (kindred spirits as Anne Shirley would say from Anne of Green Gables).


Interested? Use my personal e-mail address to contact me:
alyssarup@yahoo.com


We can all be wealth building buddies!!!

This, surrounded by an acre or two for veggie and flower gardens and an orchard would be nice, yes?

Cookies and Crocheting!

I baked cookies this morning.  For those that know me well, you know that I hate anything to be wasted.  Well, I had a couple of old chocolate candy bars in my cupboard and instead of throwing them away, I chopped them up along with some old white chocolate and made chocolate chip cookies with it.

According to my 4th oldest daughter, (who is the only one that knows about them so far), they are delicious!!!

I also have a hard time following a recipe and following exact measurements.  So, I'll just list what I put in them:

• butter (1 cube)
• peanut butter (about 1/4 cup)
• 1 1/4 c. brown sugar
• 1-2 tbsp honey
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• some spoonfuls of applesauce
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3+ cups flour (white and wheat mixed)
• chips

Bake 350 for 10 minutes.

Now that the cookies are done, here is the latest on the slipper project . . .

Picking up from the last post:

Row 4, 5, 6, and 7 continue with 30 double crochets in the round. I have a size 10 1/2 shoe, so if you have smaller feet, you will probably only want to do row 4, 5, and 6, or for small feet do only row 4 and 5.

Row 8:  Just work 23 double crochets.

Row 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 had 22 double crochets.  At the end of row 13, then chain stitch 18 (for the strap).

Row 14: Skip a chain stitch then work single crochets across the rest of the row.

Row 15: Chain 2 and single crochet across until you are 6 stitches from the end of the strap.  Then chain stitch 3, skip 3 stitches, and single crochet in last three stitches. 

Row 16.  Chain 2, single crochet 3, then single crochet 3 more in the buttonhole loop.  Finish single crocheting across the rest of the row.

Okey, dokey, that is as far as I've crocheted so good luck and have a great weekend.

I'll hopefully finish all the instructions next week!

Another Crochet Project -- Slippers! Mary Jane Style!

Maybe, I'll get back into the swing of blogging more regularly again now that all the back to school routines have set in.
I wish there were more time to do the blog the way I want to, but after listening to a talk by Julie Beck at conference last Sunday, I've decided to put a limit on the hours I will spend at the computer.  This will be good, I will get to know my children again.
So with more balance in my life, this slipper project may take up several blog posts, but hey, at least we will get it started today.


Here are some of my experimental slippers:

These are going to be Christmas presents to all my daughters this year (if I get them started and done!)

I still have some refining to do.  I will sew a big, cute, button on the side -- my finger is poking out of the buttonhole.

Here is a youtube video showing how to start the slipper with a magic ring.  I like using the magic ring to start rounds that you don't want  a hole in.  Since I don't want a hole in the top of my slippers the magic ring is best (instead of chaining a ring). 
I didn't do this video and it doesn't have any sound.  But I like it because she crochets very slowly, so it is easier to follow.  For child size slippers I start with single crochets in the ring and for adult sized slippers I do double crochets in the ring like the last half of the video shows.

Since I'm working on adult size slippers right now, that's the instructions I'll list.
1st row: ten double crochets in the ring, slip stitch in 1st dc.
2nd row: two double crochets in the space inbetween each dc in row one, for a total of 20 double crochets, slip stitch in first dc.
3rd row: alternate 2 dcs (in space inbetween each dc of row 2) and 1 dc in space, slip stitch. for a total of 30 dcs in row 3.

Okay, that is it for today, I will continue these instructions as I get them written down after crocheting another slipper!

Compassion vs Tyranny

The following is a piece written by Jared Law.  I agree with most of it.  The part I don't agree with is I think that most people on unemployment are working hard to find work.  I wish there were some honest statistics on how many people are on unemployment or welfare or any government program that are really just slothful.  I hope and assume most of the people are desiring and looking diligently for work.  I know for myself in this recession finding work is very difficult.
Okay enough from me, here is the article from Jared Law:

"I have always thought it was disingenuous at best that people call government programs "compassion" or characterize them as "compassionate," for they are anything but. What is compassionate about stealing from your neighbor to pay you what you didn't earn? What is compassionate about forcing your neighbors to pay for your living expenses? Especially when you're unwilling to work to support yourself? How is that compassionate? It seems to me that such behavior only enables sloth, selfishness, and resentment.


As the Apostle Paul says, in the tenth verse of THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

This is Christian Doctrine, and it is part of our shared American heritage. It is a small slice of what made America great. This is how our Founding Fathers lived, it's what they believed, and they would be horrified to see how dependent Americans are on their massive, oppressive government.

The truth is that government programs are NOT compassionate. Quite the opposite...government programs are, in fact, tyrannical. When a government takes from you (by force) and "redistributes" your hard-earned money to those who refuse to work for their own support, that is pure tyranny, and such is immoral, even evil.
On the other hand, it IS compassionate for YOU, by your own FREE WILL & CHOICE, to willingly give support: directly, or through your church/charity, to those who actually NEED it. Whether it's a family going through rough times, or a true disability, when donations are VOLUNTARY, and without COMPULSION, that's COMPASSIONATE. Compassion REQUIRES FREE AGENCY. Without that freedom to choose, so-called "compassion" is merely a euphemism for tyranny, and a tool of the adversary, the enemy of that is good and fair. When we are FORCED, whether it's at the point of a thug's gun on the street, or through a punitive tax code, backed up by local law enforcement (if you stop paying taxes, eventually men with guns will oblige you to leave your home so they can sell it to pay what the law, however immoral, insists that you owe), it's just plain tyranny, and that's just plain wrong.

In fact, In My Humble Opinion (IMHO), FEDERAL Taxes of any kind should only be used for those things which are authorized by Article One, Section Eight, of the Constitution of the United States of America, including national defense. NOTHING ELSE. It's up to the STATES to do anything else. Personally, I would prefer it if we ONLY paid taxes to our respective states, and let the states pay for the Federal Government's needs...imagine keeping control of the flow of taxpayer dollars local, where you can actually affect it...and imagine no more Tax Day, no more EPA, HHS, IRS, HUD, ED, ATF, SSA, TVA, etc.

So in closing, we need to make sure we clarify that it is NOT compassionate for the GOVERNMENT to render regular, scheduled aid to anybody. That's the domain of private churches & charities. While [Christians, Jews, and adherents to most major world religions] have a MORAL obligation to VOLUNTARILY donate to such causes, there is, and never should be, any LEGAL OBLIGATION in our Constitutional Republic. To require such is unconstitutional at best! Our current tax & spend government and COMPULSORY taxpayer funding of "programs" which redistribute the incomes of working Americans is IMMORAL, IMHO. And it began to be wildly tyrannical/immoral in the early 20th Century, thanks to so-called "Progressives" such as Woodrow Wilson & Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR), the two worst American Tyrants of the 20th Century."

So now you know what Jared Law thinks and you know what I think . . . what do you think?

Mosque at Ground Zero

This is an interesting clip I watched this morning.  I must qualify it by saying I agree with a lot of it, some I don't agree with, and some I just don't know enough about to have an opinion one way or another.

So have fun watching it and post a comment on how you feel about it (if you want to).

Back to School

Okay, I would like to apologize.  I have not been a very good blogger this week.  It may stay that way for the next few days -- I don't know yet, how long it will take to get back into the routine of things. 
As you know it is back to school time.  For me this time of year is additionally complex, as some of you can relate to, because my two youngest daughters are coming home from spending the whole freaking summer with their dad.  I picked them up at the airport yesterday (late afternoon, got home by evening).  School also started yesterday for my high schooler so she missed the first day.  I actually also let her stay home today too.  Heck, the girl needs more than a couple of hours to re- adjust and unpack, etc.  I better stop now before I start a venting rampage. 
Needless to say, I'm sooooooo happy to have them home, but the blog posts will be short for a few more days until we get settled and back to some semblance of normalcy (school starts for my youngest this coming Monday).

Thank you, dear viewers for your patience, love, and understanding!

I will give you some hints of what may appear in the future though . . .

Really, I had decided to stop crocheting for a loooonnng while, but that is just not happening.  I am making the cutest pair of slippers I've ever seen (sorry for the lack of humility) and will post them soon (hopefully).

I also want to conjure up a crocheted ear-warmer headband for the upcoming cold months and to start getting some Christmas present projects done.

I also want to share my very most favoritest cheesecake recipe.

If I get really ambitious I'll be sewing up some cute skirts for my girls for school too (I'll have to be pretty darn ambitious though for this one!).

James Madison

If President Madison came through a time machine and saw what has happened to our country now, I wonder what his reaction would be . . .

"But ambitious encroachments of the federal government, on the authority of the State governments, would not excite the opposition of a single State, or of a few States only. They would be signals of general alarm... But what degree of madness could ever drive the federal government to such an extremity."

                     --James Madison, Federalist No. 46

Hot August Cooler

It's hard for me to get very motivated to cook when it's so hot.  In the heat my mind and body want something fruity, refreshing, and cool.
Well, I made my 2nd ever batch of yogurt on Tuesday and decided today to make a smoothie with it.
I also had another motivation to make smoothies.  I had too soft to eat apricots on my counter, a few scraggly strawberries in the frig and a couple of un-crisp (not mushy, just not crisp and juicy) apples.
Smoothies are perfect for fruit that has not gone bad yet, but no one wants to eat it because it isn't exactly good and fresh either.

One more thing I did that I've never done before is I froze over ripe bananas. I got a whole bag of them for free from the store (they were just giving them away, instead of throwing them away) and the lady said you could freeze them. So, I took them home, peeled them, cut off any bad parts, put them in a big ziplock bag, and stuck them in the freezer. I hadn't used any of them yet, so I put a couple of them in my smoothie too.

Whatever old fruit you have (still good but no one will eat it fruit), just wash it and cut off any bad parts and toss it in your blender.

I used bananas, apricots, strawberries, and apple.  Use whatever you have sitting around: oranges, any berries, pineapple, mango, peaches, pears, plums, etc.  Oh, btw, the apple peels didn't puree completely so if you use apples and you want your smoothie completely smooth you might want to peel the apples.

Then I added a 1/2 c. milk and 1 c. of my yogurt.

If you want the smoothie super cold add ice.  It is creamier without the ice though.

Blend it to your own smoothness preferences and then enjoy your summertime cooler!

And if you want your summertime cooler even colder, the smoothie mix makes superb creamsicles. . .

YUMMY!!!

Finished Apron

I did it! I finished the apron!  I'm so glad this project is done (well, almost, I still have to hem the dress).  I've been thinking about doing the tea party dress and apron for years and now it's about done -- yippee!!!

I ironed the edges of the pockets in about a 1/2"(excluding the top of the pocket), then I pinned them on the apron.

Then the pockets got sewn in place.

The apron is now done!

I tried to take pictures with the camera timer and none of them turned out.  They were either totally washed out or very blurry.  I need some daughters home to help model for me!

Here is the finished (un-hemmed) tea party dress with the puff sleeves finally sewed on!

Apron Pockets

Remember the apron I made last week?  Well, I decided it would be nice to give it some pockets.
Then, I decided I should spruce up the pockets and embroider on them a little bit (this is how my little projects get turned into BIG time consuming projects, but I'll keep telling myself it will be worth it!).

Here's what I did today:

First I thought it would be cute with a little gather on the top middle of the pocket, so I hemmed the top of some of the left over sheet that I made the apron out of, then did a large straight stitch about 1 1/2" down from the top and gathered it.  Then I sewed over the gathers with a small straight stitch to hold it in place.  I actually cut the pockets out AFTER I did the gathers, because I knew the gathers would pull in the sides of the pockets a little bit, then the pocket wouldn't be square anymore (it'd be off).

I used a brick red floss (4 strands) and did a chain stitch to make flower petals.

I just put the little red flowers wherever I wanted and this is where they ended up.

Then using an outline stitch I sewed on some flower stems (with 4 strands green floss).

Then using a chain stitch again (same as the flower petals), I sewed on leaves.

This is where the stems and leaves ended up.

Then I added some yellow french knots just because . . . I don't know why, maybe I felt like the pockets needed a third color?  I don't know.

This is where the french knots ended up.

Well, there you have it.  I didn't have enough day to sew the pockets onto the apron, we will see what tomorrow brings. 

Needful Changes

As I mentioned on yesterday's post, we need to make some changes to keep our country free and constitutionally sound.  The changes I found are from the 9.12 Project website.  The 9 is for the following nine principles:

1. America is good.
2. I believe in God and He is the center of my life.
3. I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.
4. The family is sacred.  My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government.
5. If you break the law you pay the penalty.  Justice is blind and no one is above it.
6. I have a right to life, libert, and the pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results.
7. I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to.  Government cannot force me to be charitable.
8. It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion.
9. The government works for me.  I do not answer to them, they answer to me.

And the 12 is for the following twelve values:

1. Honesty
2. Reverence
3. Hope
4. Thrift
5. Humility
6. Charity
7. Sincerity
8. Moderation
9. Hard work
10. Courage
11. Personal responsibility
12. Gratitude

I think this is a good starting point for all people, but I would probably change a few here and there. 
For me personally and for our country as a whole, I need to be more faithful and I don't think it would hurt if America in general had an increase in positive, light giving faith.

Another item that me and my hubby are currently working on that I feel is sooooo important for everyone is to work on getting out of debt and staying out of debt.  The whole world economy is going downhill fast and we can help save ourselves by getting out of debt.


My hubby and I have chosen "Wake Up Now" to help us accomplish our financial goals.  Whether you become financial self sufficient through "Wake Up Now" or through other means -- just do it.  Get started on climbing out of the debt hole and start climbing a hill of financial security.

Philosophical points of government

I was listening to a guy named David Barton (Wallbuilders Founder) the other day.
He talked about the five philosophical points of government brought out in the Declaration of Independence.

The 5 Points of Government are:

• There is a Creator
• He (God) gives unalienable rights
• He (God) has a moral law which governs men
• Government exists to protect the rights He (God) gives
• Below God given rights, you rule by consent of the governed

I've been studying up on the beliefs of the Founding Fathers and have found that in later history books the Founders have been labeled as "Deists". After reading several quotes directly from the Founding Fathers, I have found this to be untrue. Most of the Founding Fathers were Christians.


Here is a quote from Congress, U.S. House Judiciary Committee, 1854:


"Had the people, during the Revolution, had a suspicion of any attempt to war against Christianity, that Revolution would have been strangled in its cradle . . . In this age, there can be no substitute for Christianity . . . That was the religion of the founders of the republic and they expected it to remain the religion of their descendants."

And another quote from John Adams,
"It is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand." --John Adams 1776


I'm worried for our country. I'm concerned when I hear about banning prayer, taking God out of schools, off of our currency, out of the Pledge of Allegiance, etc.

"Despotism may govern without faith, but liberty cannot. Religion is much more necessary in the republic which they set forth in glowing colors than in the monarchy which they attack; . . . How is it possible that society should escape destruction if the moral tie be not strengthened in proportion as the political tie is relaxed? and what can be done with a people which is its own master, if it be not submissive to the Divinity?" -- Alexis de Tocqueville


To read some of the Founders quotes concerning religion and Christianity click HERE

To watch the video of David Barton on a Glenn Beck video clip, click HERE  (after you have viewed the video, if you want to come back to Mom of 5 Daughters, click the back arrow button several times)

Let's get off the fast track to destruction and make some needful changes. I'll go into some of those changes tomorrow . . .

Jambalaya -- Mexicali Mix Up

In thinking about what to fix for dinner tonight, anything with spicy sausage sounded good, so I came up with a toss between a jambalaya recipe and taco salad.
This un-named dish is the result, and boy it is good!

First of all jambalaya has rice.  I just had rice the other night so I used pearl barley instead, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

The first thing I did was chop up some celery and onion, then I half cooked and drained the sausage, then I combined the celery, onion, and sausage and cooked it until the celery was tender and the sausage was fully cooked.  I added some salt, pepper, and garlic too.

Then I cooked the barley (al dente, because it will cook some more with the meat).  I used 2 c water, 1 c barley and a chicken bouillon cube.

Then I put the barley in with the meat mixture and added a can of stewed diced tomatoes, a can of corn, a half pkg of taco seasonings, and some brown sugar.  Let it simmer together for a few minutes.

It can be served by itself, or with corn chips.  It can be topped with sour cream if you want and I know my hubby will also top it with cheese (I personally don't want the extra calories . . .).

Enjoy!!!