Notes to My Loves

     I am a self-admitted pen junkie! I could browse for hours in aisles of Office Max ogling and  trying out the newest, sleekest, and most colorful  pens on the market. Honestly, it really is part of my job criteria. As a teacher I try to avoid any 'red' colored pens to grade with, therefore, I MUST stay on top of the state of the art in all things pen! During this time of year, I have no lack of pen paraphernalia in any store I chose to venture. It is of course "Back to School" shopping time.      Before I was a mom, I saw the carts filled with crayons, glue sticks, and new lunch boxes. Usually there was a little love bug who was bouncing from one side of the aisle to the next asking "Do I need this? How about this?" I couldn't help but smile and anticipate when my lovies would be that excited about school. Then it happened, and although part of me was excited when 9 started school, part of me grieved too.      I am sure this is normal and not anyth

  Who doesn't love chocolate chip cookies?  I know 962 do! So in an attempt to give my family healthy recipes that will taste good and be good for them too, I attempted a new recipe to add to our family's "wheat free" arsenal. I found this recipe on Pinterest from , Bethenny Frankel's website. However I made a few changes for our family. Here is the run down. First preheat the oven to 350, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent the cookies from sticking, and making less clean up mess for you in the end. Then, start with mixing together the following ingredients in a large bowl: -1/4 cup(s) of    butter, softened -1 1/2 cup(s) of   raw sugar -1/3 cup(s) of   mashed  banana -2 tsp. of   vanilla extract  -2 tsp. coconut oil -2 tsp. coconut oil   Then mix the the dry ingredients together in a separate bowl. -2 cup(s) of   oat bran flour -1/2 cup(s) rolled oats -2/3 cup(s) of   cocoa powder -3/4 tsp. of   baking soda -1

   This morning I was able to actually take a walk by myself. At first I was going to just put on my iPod and get moving. But something inside of me said no, just listen and think. So this is what I did. I thought about my day and what I wanted to get accomplished. The 'To-do' list quickly took shape. I thought about school being right around the corner and how it is such a bittersweet time for me as a 'stay at home summer mom'.    As I continued on my normal route, the birds were chirping, there was a slight breeze, although the temperature was starting to climb to its 104 goal.  Then it happened. My senses were alerted to something I surely would have missed had I been stepping along to the Black Eyed Peas . Actually I easily could have been the death of this small creature. There it was, hopping next to my right foot. It was a baby bird. However, this was no ordinary baby bird who was learning to fly for the first time. It was blind.    I stopped and observed this

     I have felt the need lately to purge.  I don't mean the spring cleaning type of purging that happens when the weather is nice and the windows are open. I mean the start in the basement and go through the boxes of wedding bows that have lived there for 12 years in August purge. The kind of cleaning that makes our basement look like we are ready to move, purge. Why is this? What is this phenomenon in me that makes me feel like I need cleanliness?       I feel that for me cleanliness equals clarity. For a mom of three, this is not always an easy task.  And I get that things need to be out. Although quite frankly, I hate having the toaster on the counter. I get that the kids have Matchbox cars, stuffed animals, and "Goo" from a recent birthday party, and they are playing and will clean up when they are done. I don't have a problem with that kind of mess.        But it just seems that more and more, we are bombarded with so much 'stuff' everywhere we go. Lif