Bananas on the Counter and Apples in the Fridge

The spotted brown bananas on the counter, and the last of my neighbor's apples in the fridge could be ignored no longer.  Yesterday I tried out two new recipes I found on other blogs, and came up with a pretty yummy invention of my own.

Four small loaves of Zucchini Banana Bread and one large loaf of Apple-Zucchini Bread.

In addition to the bananas and apples, I had some shredded zucchini in the freezer . A search of my Pinterest boards turned up some quick-bread recipes with which I could use all three.

Both quick-bread recipes I tried turned out wonderfully well. The tutorials by the bloggers who supplied the recipes were excellent, and I followed them exactly. I'm sharing the links to the recipes for both of them - and some photos of the baking that I did.

The first recipe I tried was Apple-Zucchini Bread from the blog {Nancy C} 

Apple-Zucchini Bread - unbelievably good served warm!

Then I made four small loaves of Zucchini Banana Bread from Averie Cooks: Recipes for Sweet Teeth.        

It should be noted that I baked my small loaves a lot less time than she baked her one large one. In my oven, it took about 40 minutes - just until a toothpick inserted in the center came out clean.  The recipe also includes instructions for Browned Butter Cream Cheese Frosting, but I did not make it. This recipe is delicious enough without it!

Zucchini-Banana Bread is as pretty as it is tasty.

Remember when I said at the beginning of this post I came up with a recipe of my own invention?  I plan to publish that in tomorrow's post, but here is a hint as to what I made:

My inspiration came from:

• a cake mix about to expire (how did that happen?!)
• the very last of the neighbor's apples
• a bag of caramels left over from another recipe.

I added just a couple of other ingredients to these items I wanted to use up, and make something quite delicious.  It's going to be a gift for someone, so I'm not going to tell you what it is quite yet.  ...

Cake mix, eggs, oil, cinnamon, apples and caramel ... put them all together and the results are scrumptious!

Any guesses what I made? I will publish my recipe tomorrow!

(Just a reminder, if you ever want a recipe you've seen previously on this blog,you can always check the recipe index at the top!)

This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!

Brittany Maynard's Advice Was About Living

On November 1st, a 29-year old terminal cancer victim ended her own life. You probably have already heard about her.  Brittany Maynard's decision to die on her own terms was documented in videos that been viewed millions of times on the Internet.

This blog is all about making the most of all of our moments.  I have thought a lot about Brittany's death from this angle.  Many people fully support Brittany's decision to end her own life before the quality and dignity of her moments deteriorated. Other people are critical of her for deciding not to live out every moment of the life she had been given.  It is a complicated debate.

The videos of Brittany show a beautiful young woman, with a sweet voice.  She seems kind, loving and intelligent. Her decisions are clearly outlined, and it is obvious she has thought a lot about her plans. Brittany clearly had a zest for life, and knew how to live it fully.  In the weeks prior to her death, she added to her adventures by doing the things on her “bucket list.”  It appears she was well loved, and supported fully by her family (and the law of the state where she lived) in her course of action.  She clearly would have preferred to live, had circumstances been different. They were not. Her terminal illness progressed and she chose the point when she would die.

Brittany shared her decisions publicly because she wanted to use her own situation to advocate for patient rights and options. She certainly sparked a lot of conversation and attention focused on this issue. She brought a lot of consideration to a cause in which she strongly believed. The impact of her convictions continues even now, in moments when she is no longer living.

If you have not seen the videos Brittany made, you can view them,by clicking here. Towards the end of the first video, she reminded us all:

“... make every day worthwhile. I hope to enjoy however many days I have left. ..  Make sure you are not missing out. Seize the day. What's important to you? What do you care about? What matters?"

In other words - her advice was that we should strive to make the most of all of our moments.

My opinion, as to whether Brittany's purposeful death was right or wrong is irrelevant. The real tragedy is not that Brittany took her own life; but that she had a ruthless and incurable cancer which would lead to a difficult death. A young woman who loved life and lived it fully was robbed of her future, by a horrible disease. Her legacy, in addition to how she has influenced the end-of-life choice movement, is that she reminded us all to live our lives well.

While Brittany was alive, she clearly knew how to make the most of all her moments.

I just wish she had had more of them.

I did not know Brittany personally, but I feel like our world has lost a special person. My sympathies are with her family.

This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!

How to Love Being a Stay-at-Home Mom (or Dad!)

I wrote this article a while back, and it might be helpful to some parents, so I'm sharing it here today.

Good thing I usually publish my photos instead of my drawings, right?!

Five Tips on How to Succeed when Your Job is to Be at Home

Being a stay-at-home mom has truly been the hardest but the most satisfying job that I have ever had. There are lots of decisions that go into whether or not a parent should give up an income, to be home to raise their kids. For me and my family, it was really the right choice. To be happy in this role, however, my advice to other stay-at home parents is to remember these five valuable tips.

# 1: Remember you have a job, and the benefits are priceless.

Think about what it would cost to pay someone to do all that you do. I posted a hotel laundry price guide near my washing machine to remind me of the value of my efforts! Salary.com annually calculates a hypothetical salary for stay-at-home moms. The 2013 US National Median average amount they calculated is $113,568! On Salary.com, you can even calculate your own “mom salary”. I didn't - my family wouldn't be able to afford me!

# 2: Remember who you were before you became "Mommy or Daddy."

I learned that I could be a better mother if I had a small amount of time each week to be just "Susan" instead of "Mommy." Horseback riding was my outlet - find whatever works best for you, leave your children with someone you trust, and schedule some time just for yourself each week.

# 3: Remember your reasons for becoming a stay-at-home parent.

Some people assume that stay-at-home parents should volunteer for everything. Learn to say "no" when you feel these efforts might interfere with your reasons for staying home. When my children were small, an employed acquaintance hinted that I should watch her children every day. I had trouble declining, until my husband reminded me that the reason we gave up my income was so I could focus on our own children.

#4: Remember - Just because you stay home, your house won't always be perfect!

A stay-at-home parent doesn't always have more time for housework than an employed parent. Children in the house all day can mean the only cleaning you get done is picking up toys! I have often said, "I'm a stay-at-home mom who is never home," due to many, many hours spent volunteering and transporting kids. Expectations of domestic perfection are unrealistic!

#5: Remember- This time will go by quickly!

At some point it may no longer feel right for you to stay home. Remaining current in your previous career or learning new skills can make transitioning back to employment less stressful. The decision of whether or not to be a stay-at home parent - and for how long - must simply be based on what works best for you and your family.

Following these tips will make you a happier stay-at-home parent.

My husband brought our kids to a horse show I rode in. It was good for them to see me in a different role than Mommy!

What Other Tips Would You Add Here?

This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!

Today is November 4th - Such a Special Day!

November 4, 2014.  An important day!

November 4th, 2014 is circled on my calendar for two very different reasons:

Reason #1.  Today is my "SITS Day"!
I am the featured blogger on The SITS Girls website today.  I have been looking forward to seeing my blog spotlighted there!

http://www.thesitsgirls.com/blog/

For those of you who are wondering what “The SITS Girls” even is:  

The SITS Girls was founded in 2008 and is now an on-line blogging community for bloggers, with 75,000 members. It is an incredible resource of information, opportunities, and support for bloggers.

Joining SITS was one of the best things I have done for myself as a blogger. It's pretty exciting that they are highlighting my blog there today! 

Thanks for making this an even bigger celebration for me today!
Whether you followed the link from The SITS Girls, or found this blog by some other way - welcome! I hope you will take a look around now that you are here. I'd be thrilled if you would follow this blog, and connect with me on any (or all) of my social media sites. Many thanks to everyone who already does.

(Just click on any of these buttons in the sidebar of my blog to connect with me!)

I really hope you say hello - both in the comments here, and/or on my feature post at The SITS Girls today. I will reply to everyone who does. If you have a blog, I will be sure to visit!

*********************

I mentioned there were two reasons why today is such an important day . . . 

*********************

Reason #2.  Today is Election Day in the United States.

Today I am sharing with you a “guest post” by a very special writer - my daughter.  

If you need any convincing of why everyone should have and exercise their right to vote, the powerful message of this essay she wrote may persuade you. (It also may surprise you!)

Being born later than her due date turned out to be a
bigger disappointment than we ever anticipated!

Born Too Late.  By E. F. 

I was born a few days too late.
     
Literally just a few days. I was due the 6^th of November, yet born several days later. This seems inconsequential; lots of babies are born a little late right? However, as I discovered in 8^th grade, I really was born too late.

     
I was always one of those kids that get involved with politics way too early. Arguing with adults at the dinner table about social issues, trying to engage in political discussions on the playground, way too informed for my own good. Some people found it endearing, others tried to avoid arguing with me. When I was ten years old, and the Bush-Kerry election was the hot topic, I spent lunch going from table to table trying to convince kids who to vote for. I knew, of course, that my fellow fourth-graders wouldn’t actually be able to vote, but I hoped that they would go home and convince their parents. 

     
So in my eighth grade class on American History and Government, I was in my element. With a great teacher who allowed us to engage in some amazing discussions, I finally had an outlet for my political frustrations. It was pure bliss. Until one day I discovered the horror of my birthday.

     
As immersed as I was politically, my greatest wish was to vote. I was fascinated with it, and I loved the idea of my voice having an effect on the leader of our country. While others dreamed of their eighteenth birthday with the idea of lottery-tickets and finally reaching adulthood, I simply couldn’t wait to put a mark on the ballot. As a fourteen year old the year of the Obama-McCain election, I couldn’t wait for the next election cycle to make my voice heard.

     
That is, until the day my history class looked up the date of the 2012 election. Immediately my teacher knew something was wrong. “E., when’s your birthday again?” she questioned. I answered proudly, confident in making the cut. Instead I was met with silence, and then my teacher very gently had to break it to me that I would not be eighteen until a few days after the election.

     
I was crushed. How could this have happened? All I wanted was to be able to put a check on a ballot, and instead, due to my delayed arrival to the world, I would have to wait another four years to help decide our national leader.

     
Since that day, I have discovered ways to make my mark on the world other than casting a ballot. From volunteering for a local political party to writing opinion articles for our school newspaper, I have found other ways to get involved. The inability to vote may have actually aided me, forcing me to find other ways to make a difference. 
     
Either way, one thing is for certain. In 2016, I will be waiting outside a voting booth, thrilled with the opportunity to cast my vote in the presidential election.

Voting is both a duty and a privilege - Don't forget to VOTE!

This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!

Sometimes, Good Things in Life ARE Free!

It just amazes me what is available for free on the Internet!  Why some companies offer their services without any charge is really beyond my comprehension. But, I am certainly glad that they do!

Here are just a few examples:

Free Media:

It has always surprised me that you can read a magazine or a newspaper on-line without a paid subscription. This does seem to be changing however.  Our local paper now offers a free trial period, after which you must have a paid subscription to be able to view their news.

Many people now read newspapers on-line instead of the paper version.

Free Calendars:

Before my daughter got a driver's license, some of the moms of her swim club teammates and I decided to form a carpool. We would take turns transporting the kids to school from the pool in the mornings, and back to the pool from school in the afternoons. I was in charge of creating the carpool schedule, based on each mom's availability.  Needing a blank calendar to work from, I found out there are a variety of sites, such as Printable 2015 Calendars, where you can download calendar pages for any year.  Once I completed the calendar for the month, copies could be provided to all of the moms. Using this system kept my personal calendar from becoming cluttered with the switches and changes that were made.  

Now there are actually free apps available to create and share carpool schedules on-line, which would make this scheduling task really easy.  But these blank calendars can still be useful in many ways!  

Being able to print out a calendar page when you need to is a very handy tool!

Free Maps:

The coolest thing I have recently found is World Map Maker. This site lets you plot the places you have visited on a map - and even color code them.  Instead of making lists to keep track of places I have been, I can now edit and update my own map. This is so fun, I just might add it to the "About Me" page on this blog! (The html code is provided, so you can reproduce it other places.)  It is a great, free way to track the places you have been!

Here's my current map:

This map shows in gray how many 

countries I have yet to visit!

Map Legend: 14%, 38 of 263 Territories

 Yellow - Countries where I have lived. 

 Maroon - Countries I have visited 

© worldmapmaker.com | Travel Insurance

Free Blogs:

Before I became a blogger, I didn't really understand that when I searched the Internet for a recipe, craft, or an answer to a question, a lot of the time my answer was being supplied by a blogger.  If you land on a blog site, clicking on the home page often leads to a whole blog of wonderful things. These are usually terrific resources - offered to you, for free! Often times, the only thing the blogger hopes to receive back from you is that you will follow their site, and return to visit often - and hopefully leave a comment when you do!

http://www.ofeverymoment.com

Pretty amazing, don't you think?

I have mentioned only a few of the many free resources available on the Internet. Which are your favorites?

All of the opinions expressed here are entirely my own and I received no compensation (other than the free services provided) for any of the content provided in this post.

This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!