The Rambling Amateur

Window Bag DIY

2017-08-31T21:46:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone! How's it going? Life is still pretty crazy around here (see my last post) but I really wanted to get this tutorial on here. If you follow my Facebook page, you know I have been working on it for a couple of weeks now, and you might be wondering exactly what I did with that lovely pile of supplies I shared!

If you are in direct sales, you may have already heard of this really cool company that makes bags with clear pockets on the outside so you can advertise your business wherever you go. The bags are totally cute, and I can attest to the fact that they WORK. People see your products and do ask about them! It's awesome! What isn't so awesome, especially if you are on a very tight marketing budget like myself, is the $70 price tag. Worth every penny...but you have to have the pennies! So I decided to make my own! You can call it a knock of Luci bag, a window bag, or whatever you like. :D

First up, the supplies list:

You will need a bag. I had this cute "Shop Small" bag from my sister :D I recommend a simple canvas tote, or a similar bag with no liner or pockets.
You will need two zippers the width of your pockets, or however you decide to make your pockets.
You will need some clear vinyl. I got 80 weight. You'll find it in rolls by the upholstery at your local fabric store. The roll is long, so you will probably have extra for other fun projects. I got 1/3 yard and probably could have gone with 8" or less if I had done my math first, lol.
You will need some cute sturdy ribbon or bias tape, enough to go around all of your pockets.
And matching thread

I'm not sure if you know this, but I love sewing. However, I'm often a "sew by the seat of my pants" kinda girl. I will use patterns, but I also love just throwing things together, not worrying too much about the details. So "these be more like guidelines." (My family will tell you that's kinda how I cook, too....)

First step - figure out your pocket pattern. I decided to go with a pocket on one side for my catalog, without a zipper. I added about a half inch on all sides so I can fit more than one catalog or I can slide my receipt book in behind it.

For the other side, I made two long pockets with zippers, each divided into three sections.

Cut your vinyl the size you want your pockets, no seam allowances needed.

Next, your zippers will have long tails on them. Go ahead and tack them back so the zipper is about 1/4' longer on each end then your vinyl. Sew one side of the zipper to your vinyl.

Take your ribbon or bias tape and sew it to the outside edge of your pocket, leaving a tail to fold over the ends of your zipper. When you sew, you want to have the vinyl over half of the ribbon or bias tape, so that when you sew the pocket to the bag, you are only sewing through the ribbon. If you are not putting a zipper on the pocket, sew ribbon along the top edge, too.

Corners are tricky. I think I got this one right.

Pin your pocket to your bag, starting with the bottom pocket. We won't be turning the pocket, so pin it right side of bag to wrong side of pocket. Take those long ribbon ends and fold them over the zipper to hide the end. Then trace around the outer edge - we will be doing a lot of maneuvering and scrunching, so this will help you keep everything lined up, hopefully! Don't pin on your next pocket until the last is sewn, or you will get pricked by the pins and have more stuff in the way than needed.

Now for the fun part! Sew around the pocket, going slowly to keep everything lined up. The hardest part will be the bottom corners. Just take it one stitch at a time, and it will work! When you sew across the top, be sure to sew the OTHER side (edge) of the zipper, NOT the side your vinyl is sewn to! You will find it helpful when sewing near the zipper pull to unzip the zipper to get that out of the way.

Repeat with remaining pockets.

If you want your pockets divided, sew lines from the zipper to the bottom.

Pull your threads to the back and tie off.

Fill your pockets with products and a fun "ask me" card :D Or anything else you want to show off!

You could also add elastic loops to hold your product before sewing the pocket onto the bag.

My total cost in materials for this project was less than $9, thanks to JoAnn coupons, and because I already had the bag. And it has already paid for itself :D Actually, I could have bought the real thing off the sales it's generated just today, but I think I'll stick to this one for awhile :D.

I'd love to see your finished and filled bags! Head over to my Facebook page and leave a comment!

A Gift for Our Lady

2017-08-18T15:51:00.000-05:00

One of the many beautiful statues at the office

It's volunteer season here in Kansas! Lol. My husband works for the Organization "America Needs Fatima," and a large part of his job is working with the approximately 150 volunteers who travel to Kansas from all over the country (and sometimes internationally!) to make phone calls for Our Lady. It is a CRAZY time for us, but a really fun and rewarding time, as well. I'm blessed to be able to work in the kitchen serving meals, and getting to visit with everyone.

The volunteers come, as I said from everywhere and from all walks of life. Right now there is a young man heading back to college when he leaves us, and another couple is celebrating their 61st wedding anniversary today! Some are able to trace their family back to the American Revolution, while others are new to our country. The one thing they all have in common is that they love Our Lady. A love that is so strong that they are willing to give up two weeks every year to come make phone calls for her. They often find themselves leaving message after message without talking to someone. Or they get hung up on before being heard. Some have even been sworn at! Yet they keep calling, working for Our Lady, and asking for prayers for our country.

So why are they here? They are making calls asking people to be captains for the 2017 Public Square Rosary Campaign. The Public Square Rosary Campaign was started in 2007. They had 2,100 rallies across the nation, and 30 volunteers manning the phones. Last year there were 16,323 rallies. This year, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the apparitions in Fatima, the goal is 20,000!

Now, I know you would love to do something for Our Lady, especially on this major anniversary. You don't have to come to Kansas (although I'd love to see you!) It won't cost you a dime (unless you still pay by the minute on your phone plan, I suppose.) Here are the super simple steps to being part of this great gift to Our Lady.

First: Open up your Calendar to October 14th. It's the Saturday after the 100th anniversary. If there is already someplace you are supposed to be at 12 noon, see if you can reschedule. Otherwise, put down "Public Square Rosary Rally" from 12-1 pm.

Second: Pick your rally location. The only requirement is that it is outside so it can be seen by the general public. For some people, this is in front of their homes or at a local park. Others pick a busier street or intersection. Some choose to do their rally in front of the local capital or even an abortion clinic. The important thing is that you are visible. Some locations may have ordinances about where you can be, so look into that - but don't worry about it too much. Most places there either aren't any rules, or it is as simple as filling out a form.

Third: This step is pretty important. Register as a Rosary Rally Captain. You can either call us here in Kansas at 866-584-6012 and make a volunteer very happy OR go to America Needs Fatima's website https://www.americaneedsfatima.org/rrtoolsinfo.html. They will send you a banner and a manual with the prayers of the rosary, some helpful suggestions, and things like that. It's all free, so you can't argue it isn't in your budget, lol. They will want to know at least the city where you will hold the rally, and you will have the option of posting your information on the America Needs Fatima website so others can join you, but neither thing is required.

Finally, tell your friends and members of your parish! You can have a rally with just one person, but the more the merrier. And also encourage others to sign up as captains! Yes, a large crowd will be noticeable, and wonderful, but many smaller groups spread across town will have an even bigger impact and more people will see them. So spread the word!!! Not sure why we need these public square rosaries? Go to https://americaneedsfatima.org/Rally-News/why-public-square-rosary-rallies.html for ten great reasons!

A couple of our local Rosary Rallies!

Where will you be holding a rally? Anything else you are doing to celebrate the Centennial?

Happy August!

2017-08-02T16:14:00.000-05:00

I think this is going to be one of those "snapshot" posts. I always like those on the blogs I follow - just a quick glimpse at some of the things going on. Which for me right now is plenty! One of my goals is to each day create something, learn something, and enjoy something beautiful. And then to share those things.

Creativity

I found a box of embroidery thread, needles, and an embroidery hoop at the local thrift store a few months ago, and remembered how much I enjoy embroidery! I made these towels for my sister-in-law's wedding shower. I'm working on another embroidery project now, but since it is a gift, I think I'd better keep those pictures to myself for now.

There are a few reasons why I try to work on creating something every day. The first is because it helps me to unwind. Second, because I think it is important to give something of ourselves to improve the world, no matter how small that improvement is. When we create something, we give something of ourselves. Right now those creations can beautify our homes or the homes of our friends. Eventually, hopefully, they will be sweet memories when we are gone. Is it often easier or cheaper to just go buy something? Sure. But which would you rather have? Something someone bought for you, or made for you? "But I'm not creative!!" you say. Sure you are, you just haven't found your talent yet. Maybe it's needlework or knitting. Maybe it's cooking. Maybe it's music. Maybe what you are best at is creating a good atmosphere or a story or a friendship.

Knowledge

It's so easy to stop learning, isn't it? Especially I think for those of us not "in the workforce." We get into our routines (hopefully!) of dishes and cleaning and cooking, and there just doesn't seem to be the time or energy to study. Now if you have kids, I'm sure you are doing LOTS of studying to keep up with them, but what about what you want to learn? Isn't that what we really want to instill in our children, that desire to keep learning? But we need to make the habit for ourselves!
My studying today? Youneedabudget.com. Now, I am a long way from making sense of all of this financial stuff. I'm good at math, but I just haven't had the resources to learn the finer details of things like budgeting, finances, etc. Until, I think, now. A friend of mine introduced me to You Need a Budget a couple of months ago, right when I was looking for how to budget (I had actually just checked books out from the library!) The software is easy to use, and they offer a free trial, so you can see if it works for you before you commit. Now, so far it hasn't saved us money, what with hospital bills and the like. But it has definitely saved me stress. And, as a bonus, they have tons of free videos and articles on budgeting (of course,) investing, and other very useful money related information. They also have live online workshops, so you can ask questions and get answers real time. https://www.youneedabudget.com/classes/
One more note. Sometimes what I learn is practical, like budgeting. Often it is creative, like a new stitch or technique in one of my hobbies. And sometimes it is more intellectual, like the life of a saint, something historical, or even classic literature. The important thing is to keep learning, right?

Beauty

It was actually this goal, of enjoying something beautiful every day, that inspired me to this whole idea of daily creativity, knowledge, and beauty. Last summer my father-in-law gave a talk to a group of volunteers (more on our lovely volunteers in another post) on how our ability to appreciate and enjoy beauty really has to be cultivated, and how it really brings us closer to appreciating and recognizing goodness and, ultimately, God. And as much as people say "beauty is in the eye of the beholder," it doesn't mean that beauty has no standards. In fact, if you look at one considers beautiful, doesn't it really show something of the state of their soul? Beauty, true beauty, needs order and form. It needs truth. It needs that something that makes it more than ordinary.

I think classical music is really a good example of that need to cultivate an appreciation. I grew up with country music mainly, along with some old favorites like Bing Crosby and Dean Martin. Oh, and lots of Irish. And I still love that music. A lot of it is beautiful, especially the more traditional irish tunes. But it is simple music. It is easily accessible, because your brain can tune into the story in the lyrics. A few years ago, we were introduced to the Piano Guys. I love the Piano Guys, because they are really a terrific introduction to classical music, music that doesn't rely on words. Now a lot of their arrangements are of contemporary pieces, but they do both. Now I'm gradually listening to more and more classical music, and recognizing the true beauty in so much of it. 10 or 15 years ago not only would I have not turned on that type of music - I wouldn't have really been able to appreciate it. It was beyond me. One other thing that I think makes a huge difference in the appreciation of classical music is whether or not you are watching it. Especially when starting out, watching the performance I think really helps to keep you focused and enjoying it. Which is why I love the YouTube videos of the orchestra Flash Mobs. This is one of my favorites: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gww9_S4PNV0

Thank you for reading! Please comment below with your own creativity, knowledge, or beauty! And let me know what you think. Do you have similar daily goals?

A quick update

2017-07-24T11:19:00.001-05:00

I just wanted to post a quick update and thank you all for your prayers. Hopefully I will be able to post more soon.

Although we received confirmation through low hCG levels on July 7th that our baby had died, due to the levels still rising (very slowly) and the ultrasound showing a growing cyst in my left ovary, I had surgery on July 8th. The cyst turned out to be just a cyst that resolved itself, and they found the baby in my right tube. We named her Priscilla Marie. Recovery is slower than I'd like, but going well all the same. Thank you again for your prayers.

Prayers please - and an important message

2017-06-30T20:49:00.004-05:00

Dear friends and family, and readers
We are in need of your urgent prayers. A few weeks ago, we were overjoyed to discover that we are expecting our first child. However, an early ultrasound is suggesting the possibility of a tubal/ectopic pregnancy. While we are waiting for further test results to confirm this, we ask that you pray for God's mercy and if necessary a miracle. We are especially asking the intercession of St. Anthony Galvão, who is a very powerful intercessor for mothers who's babies are at risk.
We were initially planning on keeping the news of the pregnancy within the family, knowing that Rachel has a higher risk of miscarriage from her PCOS, but as we said, we urgently need your prayers. So far, while her pregnancy symptoms have been fairly mild, she has not had any definite signs of miscarriage, so we have hope.

There is another reason, however, that I wanted to share this. Before this diagnosis, we had only a vague idea of what an ectopic pregnancy actually meant. We knew that it meant the baby wasn't where it was supposed to be, and that most of the time it would have implanted in the mother's Fallopian tube, before it got to where it belonged in the uterus. We knew that if the baby grew too big and ruptured the tube, the hemorrhaging put the mother's life at great risk. We knew, vaguely, that because of this risk surgery removing the tube was morally permissible, even though it meant that the baby would die as a result; so long as the purpose of the operation is to remove the "diseased" tube and not the baby.
What we didn't know is that there have been successful cases published as far back as 1915 of doctors who, generally chancing upon the ectopic pregnancy during another surgery, were able to move the baby from the tube to the uterus. We also didn't know that these babies have, in rare cases where they have survived a rupture probably unnoticed, have been able to reattach themselves to another part of the abdominal cavity. The possibility is there for a procedure to be developed for the baby to be moved from tube to uterus. The number of advances in medicine in the last 100 years is astounding, yet so far as we can tell the research isn't being done for a heartbreaking pregnancy complication that is right now fatal for almost every baby, and dangerous to the mothers. Ectopic pregnancy occurs in about 1-2% of all pregnancies. Only about 50% end in natural miscarriage. While morally we are forced to allow the unintended death of these babies without an alternative, we need to be advocating for a better option. Even if the chance of a transfer from the tube to the uterus being successful is low, don't we have a moral obligation to give it that chance? And didn't every complicated medical procedure that is now even routine once start as one with a very low chance of success?
I admit, I am not a doctor, or even a nurse. I don't know all of the complications in a surgery, I don't know the difficulties of research, and honestly I don't know much at this point of the research done outside of a couple of published (medical journal) articles. But I do know that we live in a culture where a baby can be killed for any reason, so long as it hasn't left the womb. A baby's life isn't considered valuable until it is born or someone wants it, so I can see why there would be little call to research this.
We hope and pray that our baby is safe and healthy where it belongs - and beg you to pray for us for the same. If you or someone you know is a surgeon who would be willing to attempt the experimental transfer, should it come down to that, please contact us. Also, if you are aware of any more information on this, please contact us. Finally, now that this issue has come to our attention, we feel we need to raise awareness of both the situation and the importance of finding a better medical solution. Please share this. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Bernard and Rachel Slobodnik
6/30/2017
Updates will be posted to my blog www.theramblingamateur.blogspot.com.
Please join our prayers asking for the intercession of St. Anthony Galvão http://www.tfp.org/he-always-held-his-soul-in-his-hands-the-story-of-saint-anthony-of-saint-anne-galvao/
One of the sites that presented the possibility of the transfer from tube to uterus: http://www.personhoodinitiative.com/ectopic-personhood.html

The journal letter detailing the process used: http://www.ajog.org/article/0002-9378%2890%2990794-8/pdf

Another case: http://books.google.com/books?id=5aUCAAAAYAAJ&lpg=PA579&ots=Q6ngGXyT-a&dq=transplant%20ectopic%20pregnancy%20to%20uterus&pg=PA578#v=onepage&q=%22transplantations%20of%20ectopic%20pregnancy%20from%20fallopian%22%20%22tube%20to%20cavity%20of%20uterus%22&f=false

The Budding of a New Hobby - How I became an Amateur Florist

2017-06-10T12:42:00.000-05:00

I have always liked flowers, I suppose. Who doesn't? All the same, my experience in arranging them consisted of choosing a vase, cutting a stem, and hoping they survived a few days. Not all did, by the way. Tiger Lilies, it would seem, are better enjoyed outdoors.

However, when it came time to plan my wedding, the price of a florist wasn't high on my priority list of things to budget. So I started investigating doing my own. I had friends who had done it, so why couldn't I? I decided that as long as I would be content carrying a single flower down the isle if anything went wrong, I would be good. And of course my dearest fiancé was as laid back and unconcerned as I was, so we took the chance. Now, if you are here because you want to do your own wedding flowers, please heed this one piece of advice. Have a backup plan. Know which stores near you sell flowers, or which friends' gardens have flowers. Or be willing to do without. Because things can and will go wrong, as I will share in a bit.

So my first stop in my florist crash course was, of course, Pinterest. Because you can find everything on Pinterest, right? I think I already had my flower board full of ideas of what I wanted, so my next step was to see what was possible. I decided on a bouquet of blue hydrangeas, white roses, and greenery to frame it. My first concern was how well hydrangeas would hold up. Thanks to this website, I not only learned some tricks for keeping my flowers fresh and ready to go. I learned that by cutting them under water, splitting the hydrangea stems, then dipping in boiling water, it would prevent the sap from blocking the stem, enabling my flowers to keep drinking. Cool, right? I found tutorials on how to wrap bouquets, too. With some bouquets, you start in the center and work your way out, but with hydrangeas, you want to start with the hydrangeas, about three heads, and then thread in your other flowers where you want them.

Then next thing I did was start pricing flowers. Flowers are not cheap. I compared Hy-Vee, where I could order bulk flowers, and Sam's Club. Even though I had to order more flowers overall from Sam's, it was still much less expensive than ordering just what I needed. Plus, I knew I would have extra for mistakes. I also considered doing artificial flowers, but realized quickly that they would be even more expensive. I did get artificial boutonnieres, though. I knew they would take more skill, and would have to be made the day before the wedding. I planned on doing my bouquets two days before, then just keeping them in the refrigerator at the church. The boutonnieres I found at Hobby lobby looked so real that I had one person confess that they didn't realize they were artificial when they hadn't wilted days later!

I saved empty water jugs and the boxes they came in to hold my flowers before they were turned into bouquets, and enlisted a friend's help. I had to flowers come a day before I wanted to arrange them, so they would have time to hydrate. I figured out what supplies I would need, like clippers, scissors, floral pins, ribbon, and floral tape. I think I had floral wire, too, although I probably didn't use it. In fact, I couldn't figure out how to get the floral tape to hold, so I ended up using foam bandage tame instead! It worked, but now I know to wrap the tape around each flower a couple of times as you add it. Since then I've also added plumbers pvc tape for boutonnieres and a hot glue gun for ribbons to my supply kit. I learned about the plumber's tape from a library book I picked up when I did the flowers - including boutonnieres - for my sister-in-law's wedding. By wrapping it around the stem, covering the cut part all the way to where the wires are threaded through at the top, you seal in the moisture to help them to stay fresh longer.

Making the bouquets went well, as I said, despite my unorthodox tape choice. I made my bouquet, a toss bouquet, five bridesmaid's bouquets. and vases for Our Lady and St. Joseph. After that the rest of the flowers went into vases for the alter and to have by the guest book and probably a few other places. I don't remember, I'm just glad we had the flowers because.....

Disaster struck. Yup, something went wrong. I made the bouquets Thursday, and took them to the church when we went for the rehearsal Thursday night, so they could stay safe and happy in the fridge until Saturday. Only I didn't take into account that they refrigerators had only just been plugged in. So, when we got to the hall Friday to decorate, and my mom went to start loading the beverages for the reception into the fridge she found them. Frozen.

This is why you have a backup plan. Fortunately, I'm not the type to panic. Fortunately, there were lots of extra flowers. Fortunately I think I even had my clippers and pins with, and a local friend had some floral tape. I was able to rearrange everything into a bouquet for me, my 5 bridesmaids, my vases for Mary and St. Joseph, and even a (slightly more pathetic) toss bouquet. Or maybe I used someone else's bouquet for that. Oh, and (fortunately) the church had it's own store of alter flowers, including hydrangeas in just the right shade of blue. All in all, I think my second bouquet turned out even nicer than the first.

My sisters-in-law said when they saw how I handled my flower fiasco, they felt confident enough to let me do their flowers, too, lol. So that's how I ended up with a new hobby. I've done three more weddings since mine, and I learn a little more each time. It isn't a hobby I pick up regularly, but it is definitely one I hope to continue for many years to come.

Some Useful Links:
My Flower Pinterest Board
Some terrific tutorials
Where I learned about hydrangeas
The starting point for my bouquet
Guidelines for how many flowers you need

You Don't Have a Time Management Problem - Part 3

2017-06-06T11:42:00.002-05:00

If you've read Part 1 and Part 2, you know that this post is my take on how to deal with an Energy Shortage. No, I don't mean running out of oil. I'm talking about your body. What can you do if your "battery" runs down quickly, and takes forever to recharge?

My stress list. I didn't think of spaces, lol.

Everyone deals with this problem at some point or another in their lives. Whether it is a cold or a chronic illness, our bodies aren't going to run at 100% all of the time. Of course if it is a short term problem, like a cold, you probably don't think much about it. But I think there is a very large percentage of the population who are perpetually running on low battery, and many of them don't even realize it. They just think they have too much to do, and not enough time.
You probably have an energy shortage if:

You are dealing with chronic pain or illness
You are pregnant or nursing
You have children, especially under the age of 8 or so
You are sick
You are caring for someone who is sick
You have suffered a loss recently
You have had surgery in the last few months
You are under a lot of stress

I couldn't figure out why I couldn't get my work done. I'm home all day. I don't have any children to make messes. My home should be clean. My dishes should be done. I was really getting frustrated with myself. Then I discovered I have PCOS. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome isn't a reproductive disorder - it is an endocrine disorder. Why means the hormones it affect aren't just the ones that determine if I will have a baby or not. They also determine if my skin will be clear, and my metabolism, and stress levels, and sleep, and ultimately my energy. It's something that can be managed, but it isn't going to go away and stay away on it's own.
I think I knew that time wasn't my problem. And I knew I wasn't (always) being lazy, yet I also knew that somehow I needed to do better. When Paula pointed out that time wasn't the issue, rather that energy was, I realized that while everyone has the same amount of time, and it is out of our control, my energy was something that I could actually work with. In fact, it's something everyone can work with to a certain extent. Now I know I have it pretty easy - It's just my husband and I, and I don't work outside the home. Kids, as much as I can't wait to have them, do have a lot of demands, as do jobs.

With our low batteries, we need to go a little more in depth than what I talked about in the last post. Knowing what gives us energy and what takes extra amounts of energy is really important. It's also important to know what causes stress in our lives, since stress really drains our batteries quickly. Chances are, we won't be able to get it all done. And that's ok. It is more important to give our bodies the chance to heal, and that means getting plenty of rest and not overdoing it. Ever notice how if you let your cell phone battery run down, it takes for ever to come back on again? I don't know about you, but my body is the same way. I'm learning (slowly!) that is is much better to accept my limitations and do what I can, rather than plowing through and crashing. It's a terrific lesson in humility.

Let's start with food. Of course healthy food is better than junk food, as tempting as it is to just pop in a frozen pizza. But more than that, make sure you don't have any food allergies or sensitivities you are accidentally aggravating. What is good for you may not good for me, and vice versa. Right now I am avoiding all grains, because I notices that even rice makes me feel more hungry after eating than I was before. Because of my insulin resistance, it made sense for me to cut carbs, and it seems to be working. Food sensitivities and allergies may not look the way you expect them too. My brother is allergic too milk, but instead of digestive upset, his sinuses go crazy and he ends up sneezing all night. Instead of getting migraines from MSG like most people with that sensitivity, I get heartburn. So figure out what food is good for you, and do your best to avoid foods that aren't good for you. Sometimes these changes are only short term, while your body heals.
Also make sure you are eating often enough. If your body thinks it is starving, for whatever reason, it will try to store everything you put into it. So not only will you have lower energy, you will also find yourself gaining weight. If I don't eat every 2-3 hours, I get tired a lot faster, plus find myself more likely to get angry or cry over silly things.

The only thing I have to add on the subject of sleep is that after I got my appendix out, my surgeon told me that 45 minutes is the ideal length for naps, because you get enough rest to make a difference, but you don't fall into that deep sleep that will make you groggy if interrupted. Which is great if you fall asleep quickly. If anyone has any tips on that, they would be greatly appreciated.

Have you written down your daily grind yet? Include everything you need to do - even brushing your teeth. Figure out a raking system for each item. You want to note how much energy the task takes, how stressful it is, and whether you get a "boost" from doing it. I ranked everything from 1 to 5 in each category. Also make a list of weekly, and even monthly tasks. You could also add a list of things like "Visiting my family," "Having Company over," "Visiting husband's family," etc. The idea is to have a good picture so you can easily see that, for example, you might want to eat leftovers the day you go grocery shopping so you don't have to cook. Now is a good time to ask yourself why some of these tasks require more energy or are more stressful than others, and if there is any way to make them easier. For example, even though it's just my husband and I, I've switched back to using paper plates for now, since we don't have a dishwasher.
Next write out a list of Relaxing and Energizing activities - and give them all a score on both categories.
Finally, write down everything that causes stress, leaving enough space between to come up with ways to reduce or avoid that stress.

Finally, it is time to prioritize. Figure out what absolutely has to get done everyday for survival. (Hint: Food, sleep, and clean clothes should probably be at the top of the list.) After that, look at you stress list. What causes the most stress? Is there anything you can do to prevent or reduce that stress? Those are going to be your next priorities. The more you reduce the stress in your life, the more energy you will have for other things. Do you have the energy for that much? If not, that's alright. That just means you need to find more help, and maybe different ways to do things.

I know that for a lot of people, asking for help is hard, especially when it is for help with things you used to be able to do. It's easy to mistake your limitations for laziness. But if we are trying to do better, and are doing what we can, you aren't lazy. We can't do it all, no matter what "all" entails. And while my husband probably doesn't love doing dishes, he does love me, and I shouldn't feel guilty if he's doing something for me. This goes for other family members and friends, too. Don't waste energy by feeling guilty when someone is helping you. Be grateful. And remember to lift up others in need, even if all you can manage right now are kind words and prayers.

What do you think stresses you out the most? What solutions did you come up with to reduce or eliminate that stress?

You Probably Don't Have a Time Management problem Part 2

2017-06-03T16:40:00.000-05:00

Ok, so we realize we have an energy management problem, but how do you maximize our energy?!?! Because really that's what we all want to do, right? Just like wish time management, it can be helpful to sit down, analyze, and make a plan. We'll just be looking at things a little differently.

The first thing I think we need to do is figure out which task are energy draining, and which are recharging. And I don't just mean food and sleep charge, everything else drains. There is a lot more to it than that! So grab a notepad, pen, and a delicious beverage, and let's get started.

Yes, food is our source of energy, but not all food is going to make us feel good. How often is also really important. When I don't eat properly, I crash big time, and it tends to be a crash that lasts much longer than the few minutes I thought I was saving by skipping a meal or a snack.

Consider how much sleep YOU need. Do you need 8 hours a night? 10? Or are you better off with 6? If you don't get enough sleep, your body doesn't have the chance to do a lot of important repairs. If your sleep is frequently interrupted, it's going to take more time in bed to get the sleep you need.

What about hobbies? Knitting and other crafts help me unwind and relax. Writing recharges me, too, as does working my Lilla Rose business. Rest is good. By taking the time for yourself by doing the things you love, you can prevent burnout. Don't forget - you have to take care of yourself before you can take care of anyone else. If you don't "keep Sunday" already, start*. I have a post on that here, but this one from Like Mother, Like Daughter is MUCH better, plus it has the voice of years of experience behind it. (By the way, I will probably be sharing a LOT from LMLD. I can't think of a better blog for a new bride - or any wife, really.)

Are you an introvert or an extrovert? Introverts are going to recharge best alone, or maybe with a small group. Extroverts recharge best with people! So an introvert who works with people all day are going to need some quiet time in the evening, and an extrovert will probably want to spent time with friends or family, especially if their job isn't very social.

Next lets look at the daily grind. We all have tasks that we have to do. Some we enjoy, some we hate, and some are just there. Figure out what falls into each category. Usually it's best to get the hardest tasks out of the way first, then you don't have to spend the day dreading them. Also, it doesn't hurt to take a look at why each task is in a category. If you hate to put laundry away because you hate drawers (yup, that's me) then pick up some hangers for your clothes instead. Move things around. Find new ways to do things. I'm not a big fan of washing dishes, but I'm always surprised how quickly they get done when I'm listening to a good audiobook. I love my Norwex clothes for cleaning windows and dusting - I don't get a headache from fumes, and it kinda feels like magic how well they clean. Find out how your family feels about their chores, too. Someone else in your household might not mind that task you dread. Go ahead and delegate it out. (And for all things housekeeping, I refer you again to LMLD.)

Finally you want to look at your normal energy cycle and your schedule. When you want to schedule things may depend on whether you are a morning person or a night owl. You might find it easier to do mental work after physical, or the other way around. Ladies, like Paula said you may even want to take a closer look at your whole month to see when the best time to do some things. And if you know that the end of the month tends to be stressful because of deadlines at work, then you might not want to invite company over that weekend. Unless of course you are an extrovert.

Even if you aren't one to stick to a schedule, I think this can help create some habits that will enable you to get more done in a day. I think there is a lot of sense in doing your hardest, most distasteful job first thing, so you aren't dreading it all day. You can also try switching things up - hardest tasks followed by easiest to give yourself a chance to "recharge." Breaking mental work with physical work is also helpful. "A change is as good as a rest."

Please comment with your thoughts on all of this! I'd love to hear your ideas. Can you think of any ways you could do better in your energy management? Any tips? In my next post I will be sharing some ideas for those who feel like they fall into that "Low Energy" category.

* A note on the importance of daily prayer. It isn't always going to be energizing or restful - especially if you have small children to pray with. But it is always going to be important. We can't always feel the effects of prayer on our soul, but they are always there. Often times it is when we find prayer the most difficult that we are gaining the most graces from it.

Why you probably don't have a time management problem...

2017-06-02T14:27:00.004-05:00

First off, I'd like to thank Paula from over at Coastal Conservatory for bringing this to my attention. Head over to her video on Facebook to hear her very wise words on the subject.

I have to agree with her. I really think most of us do not have a time management problem. Now I'm not saying that most of us are organized, or that we get everything done on our to-do lists, or that we don't all wish for a few more hours in the day. But ask yourself - what would you do with those hours? Would you wash more dishes? Work more hours? Or would you really just want a little more rest? Given the choice I think most would say more rest, right? No, my friends, we do not have a time management problem.

I'll tell you what we do have, though (as Paula pointed out.) We have an energy management problem. Isn't it just so true? I can get a lot done in 20 minutes when I have the motivation. I only have an hour to get my house clean for company? No problem! But without that motivation...ugh. I know its not the right way to look at it, but it is so true.

Now, I think there are three different kinds of "energy mismanagement." And each has it's own set of solutions. The first is just plain having too much to do. Now I don't just mean the feeling of having too much to do, I mean actually overbooking yourself. If you are so busy that you have to time everything perfectly so as to not be late for your next activity, and no time to sleep it might be time to cut something out. Do you (or your darling offspring) really need to take that painting class this month? Or can it wait until tap is over? Is there someone else who can manage the church bake sale? After all, you are all ready in charge of the spring social AND you are teaching 3rd grade religious ed. No dear, it really isn't as easy baking 12 dozen cookies as it is baking 2. Slow down! Delegate! Learn to say no! Once that is done, make sure you don't fall into category two or three.

The second kind of energy mismanagement isn't really mismanagement at all. It is an energy shortage. Maybe you are getting over the flu, or a surgery. Maybe you just had a baby - or are working on it! Maybe you've suffered a loss, or are going through some other stressful situation. Or maybe you have a chronic illness that your body is constantly battling. It's no wonder we don't have energy for everything outside - our bodies are too busy healing what's inside. Whatever the reason, your "battery" doesn't charge like most peoples. This is where I am right now, so I think that's why Paula's words hit me so hard. It was that spark that made me realize that maybe there is something I can do to make my household run more smoothly, and to actually accomplish things during the day, despite my low energy. While my general tips (in my next post) will apply, I know it is going to take a lot more "working smarter not harder" to get to were I want to be. That will be a post of it's own.

"That's fine and good," you say, "but I know I'm not overbooked, and I'm not sick - I just can't get everything done!" This is probably where most people fall. You know you should be able to get it all done, but how? You look back on your day and wonder what you really did - and why it made you so exhausted. Stay tuned for Part 2, where I hope you will find some good suggestions!

I'd love to hear what you think of this idea! Which category do you fall into?

I love this journal...

My Lilla Rose Journey

2017-05-31T16:18:00.000-05:00

My Lilla Rose journey started long before I ever heard of Lilla Rose. It started when I was 8 and chose Kirsten when I bought my very own American girl doll 'because I could do the most things with her hair." It started when I was 12 and started selling baked goods to my dad's coworkers. But mostly it started that summer, when Pinterest began to inspire me to try to do more with my hair.

I love my hair, honestly, but like sisters, we don't always get along. My hair isn't straight or curly, it's more messy wavy. It's thick and heavy, but fine and slippery. Finding hair accessories that would hold my hair was pretty close to impossible, and I think that's why, even though I loved styling my dolls' hair, I never did much with my own. My styles were basically ponytail or half up, with an occasional braid thrown in. Oh, and hairspray makes me sneeze. But that summer I was trying a little harder, and discovered the gibson tuck - finally an up-do that would hold my hair that I could do myself! I remember going to a jewelry party and looking for hair clips or even a brooch that I could use in this new style. I ended up with a pair of earrings, more to be polite to the hostess than because I loved them. But I'm glad I went to that party, because it was one of the things that really made me look seriously at Lilla Rose.

My very first attempt with my very first flexi!

It was a blog post that introduced me to the company - a review and giveaway on one of my favorite blogs. To enter I had to comment with the flexi I would choose if I won. How to choose! They were all gorgeous! I was still skeptical that they would work in my hair, but it was a giveaway, after all. I think if you ask my sisters they will tell you I was kind of obsessing over them. I REALLY wanted one, and all the reviews I found said they would work, even with difficult hair! But I couldn't buy one at the moment. I was living off of savings, so hair clips weren't exactly in the budget. I didn't win the giveaway, but I didn't give up. The stylist would post on her Facebook page when she was doing a giveaway with a blogger, and I would go enter it. And finally, on I think my fourth try, I WON!!! I was very excited. I think by that time I had already made up my mind - if the clip worked the way they said it did, I was going to sign up as a consultant.

At first I didn't plan on being very active. I figured I'd sign up for the amazing stylist discount, and sell to a few friends. It was October, so I could take advantage of Christmas shoppers. But there are so many reasons it turned into much more than that. I think the first was the stylist manual. Not only did it have a lot of wonderful business advice, much of which I had learned in my Small Business classes, but the tone was unlike anything I had seen in a direct sales manual. The focus was on my success - whatever I wanted that to be. And the Facebook groups and trainings were the same way. Everyone wanted to help me reach my goals, whether my goal was to make back my original investment, or to create a full time income. Of course the fact that my grand opening party and my first few months with the company far exceeded my expectations definitely helped, too.

Of course I wore Lilla Rose at my wedding!

I love this company. I love the products and the people. I love training people to help them reach their goals. I really love making money in my pjs. Over the last 3+ years, I have done parties and shows and Facebook parties. Some have flopped, but most have done pretty well. I love having a business that I can work as little or as much as I want. But mostly, I love having hair clips that not only hold my hair, but are comfortable AND beautiful.

Please visit my website at www.lillarose.biz/hairroses

What is an Amateur?

2017-05-30T15:07:00.000-05:00

What is an amateur? Is it someone new at an activity? Someone inept and inexperienced? Can an amateur be an expert at their activity?

I have always been a huge fan of the Nancy Drew books. When I was younger, it was for the adventure and the mystery. Now that I'm older, I still enjoy them as a good way to just relax, plus I find it fascinating how they were created, and how they have changed over the years. Nancy Drew is the classic amateur detective. But after solving 56 mysteries in the original series alone, one can hardly call her inept or inexperienced. No, her "amateur" standing comes from the fact that she doesn't solve mysteries because she is paid to do it, or because she has been professionally trained - she does it because she loves to do it.

G. K. Chesterton once wrote: "The word amateur has come by the thousand oddities of language to convey an idea of tepidity; whereas the word itself has the meaning of passion. Now is this peculiarity confined to the mere form of the word; the actual characteristic of these nameless dilettanti is a genuine fire and reality. A man must love a thing very much if he not only practices it without any hope of fame or money, but even practices it without any hope of doing it well. Such a man must love the toils of the work more than any other man can love the rewards of it." The word amateur is from the french, meaning "one who loves." An amateur may indeed be quite good her craft, but she needn't be. She need only love it.

I am an amateur. I do many many things, simply because I love to do them, or occasionally because I love the one I do them for. I say I am the rambling amateur both because I have a tendency to be long winded when I write, and also because I have so many different hobbies that I rarely stay with just one for long. And I'm always eager to learn something new, whether it is in one of my current interests or in the pursuit of a new one. If I am an expert in anything, it is in being an amateur.

It has been a long time since I have posted on this blog, and many things have changed in the last four years. But now I return, as I so often return to my hobbies. I come back with new knowledge and new ideas, and I am eager to learn more. I have more focus now, on what this blog is. It is the blog of a Rambling Amateur, to share what I learn and discover, and how I discovered it.

Feast of the Dedication of St. Michael

2013-09-29T22:34:00.002-05:00

Just a quick note before bed. Today was the Feast of St. Michael and the angels. Here are a few of my previous posts on the subject :)

God Bless,
Rae

http://theramblingamateur.blogspot.com/2011/03/st-michael-and-marine.html

http://theramblingamateur.blogspot.com/2011/03/st-michael-protector.html

http://somecatholicinklings.blogspot.com/2013/09/st-michael-in-time-of-peace-gilbert-k.html

When Your Kiss is Met with a Cold Shoulder- A must read from Moxie Wife

2013-09-23T10:12:00.001-05:00

Yes, I follow Moxie Wife. I love Moxie Wife. No, I'm not married. I started following her back when she was Betty Beguiles because of her great style advice and all. And I am after all studying for my MRS. degree, so it doesn't hurt to be getting these great little marriage tips now, right?

Hallie really writes some amazing blog posts. And now and then, like today, there is just so much wisdom in them I just thank God that she blogs, so I can hear it. Todays post is about marriage, I know, but really it is about all relationships. Not just romantic relationships, either. Family relationships. Friendships. Even coworkers could take some notes.

How often do we loose our tempers and our joy and proceed to drag everybody else down with us? Too often. And how often to we find ourselves in the presence of a grump and let them take us with them? Far too often. It's the easy way. It's the instinctive way. But maybe it isn't the only way.

Today I encourage EVERYONE to read this. Spouses I think do have a special duty to take it to heart, but we can all learn something.
When Your Kiss is Met with a Cold Shoulder

God Bless!

P.S.
I haven't been around here much, but I've been pretty busy over at my new blog, Catholic Inklings. Check it out!

Brain Dead?

2013-08-01T23:25:00.000-05:00

I would like to encourage you all to read the Summer 2010 newsletter of Life Decisions International. I feel it explains thoroughly the Catholic Church’s teaching on organ donation, and the very serious problems with organ harvesting as it is practiced in the medical field today. This is an area of the culture of death that I do not see addressed very often, and I think there is a lot of confusion on the issue. I myself was not aware of the problems with organ donation until relatively recently.
What is most concerning is the fact that it is impossible for certain organs, including the heart, to be harvested if the patient is already dead. This means that it is the doctor killing these people, not their injuries. The term “brain dead” was created to make these harvests possible, but brain death, no matter what the doctors may say, is not truly death. You can’t be dead if your heart is still beating, and your heart can’t be donated once it stops beating. I should note that this is often why the EMTs will continue CPR, even when there is little chance of recovery for someone - to keep the heart "beating" until the organs can be harvested. We hear a lot about Abortion and Euthanasia when we talk about Pro-Life issues. It’s easy to see why they are wrong. It’s harder to realize and explain why we can’t support organ donation for organs such as the heart. It’s hard to even to explain to ourselves when looking at those waiting for a donation WHY it is unethical for them to ever receive that donation. But we must look at this situation, and the truth of what really goes on. And we must continue to pray and work for the respect for life from conception through natural death. I could keep going here, but I know the newsletter is a much better authority than I am.

Advice from a chocolate wrapper...

2013-04-21T19:16:00.000-05:00

There are so many things I could write about. Lucky for you, I am stuck writing on my iPod, which makes a long post impractical. My computer and Internet have had yet another fight, it would seem, and they refuse to speak to each other. But I said I'd write a blog post this weekend, so write I shall!

Advice from a chocolate wrapper: "Smile before you go to bed. You'll sleep better." Sounds reasonable. Too often I go to bed with nothing but the worries of the world and my day on my mind. Even my evening prayers seem to be an endless litany of petitions regarding the countless concerns in my life and those of my friends, family, and the world in general. Not exactly the way to pray. Or to ensure a restful night.
About here is where I generally strike upon some profound solution to this problem. Oh, I know the general formula. Let God take care of it, smile, and have peace. So simple, yet oh so difficult to do. And oh so easy to forget.

It's so easy to imagine that the early Christians - and anyone not living in today's world - had it easier. And I'm sure there were times when it was easier. But in truth, the early Christians were living in a world just as bad as ours today - if not worse. There wasn't even a faint memory of Christendom for them to turn to. Granted, there also wasn't a deep seated hatred for it, either, as we sometimes find now. But they were dealing with people who either already had their own gods, or who had pretty much no use for any gods. And they were dealing with people whose vices were at times considered virtues in their pagan religion. Not so different from now, eh? How did they do it?

I'm guessing they started with themselves. And their lives were such a contrast to the darkness around them, their message was easier to believe. And the light spread.

We live in a time when darkness seems to be spreading rapidly. Everywhere we look, it seems to have touched something. I find it overwhelming, especially at night, when I find so many petitions in my prayers. It feels as though nothing I can do could ever be enough. But, in the heart of my heart, I know there must be hope. I know that the darkness cannot overcome the light. I know the darker it is, the brighter the light will be. And I know that if I count me blessings, thank and trust God, and smile, I will rest well.

Sursum Corda: Registration is Open!

2013-04-13T12:05:00.000-05:00

Yay! They have opened up registration for Sursum Corda! My sister and I are signed up, so now I can safely spread the word far and near ;) Register and then tell your friends!
http://www.institute-christ-king.org/go/sursum-corda/

So, at a glance, here is the info:
What: Sursum Corda, a social and spiritual weekend for young adults. And if previous years are any indication, an amazing weekend.

Who: You (if you are older than 18 and still consider yourself a young adult,) me, a bunch of other really cool people, and The Institute of Christ the King.

When: Friday, June 21, 2013, 3:00 PM through Monday, June 24, 2013, 12:00 PM.

Where: Beautiful Mundelein Seminary, about 40 minutes from O'Hare airport in Chicago.

Hope to see you there!

Lenten Resources

2013-03-23T22:54:00.000-05:00

I should have made this list in the beginning of Lent. But here it is, at least ready for Holy Week, and maybe for next year, right? One advantage of doing this now is that I’ve had all of Lent to remember and discover and use these, so they are fresh in my mind.

MYSTERIUM FIDEI - This source has been a soul saver for me this year. As you may or may not know, I came down with whooping cough a couple of weeks before Lent. Tomorrow will be my first Sunday Mass in about two months (I was able to get to Mass and Confession this morning, too. Yay!) One of the things I tried to do every Sunday to keep it holy was to listen to Msgr. Cook’s homily from the corresponding Sunday from last year and the year before. I would also get this year’s homily usually later in the week when it was posted. There are many, many excellent sermons on here - I haven’t listened to any without feeling I learned something. (A note: I usually attend the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, and I know many of my readers do the same, so I want to point out that these are from Msgr. Cook’s Ordinary Form Sunday Masses and the corresponding readings. Sadly, he doesn’t do a homily at his beautiful Extraordinary Form Saturday morning Masses.) THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS BY ST. ALPHONSUS LIGUORI

There are many meditations on the Stations of the Cross, but my favorite are the ones written by St. Alphonsus Liguori. There is such beautiful prose and repetition in it. If you haven’t had the opportunity to use these meditations, I encourage you to do so. Especially an older translation with the “Thee”s intact. Did you know that Thees and Thous were terms for loved ones, not formal? There is also a recording of these meditations produced by David Phillips, featuring Robert Kochis and Seraphim. The music added is so lovely - I only wish it was possibly to listen to the hymns without the meditations.
BENJAMIN’S BOX:
I love this book. Yes, it is a children’s book, and yes, there is one page that needs to be edited a bit (on page eleven, when telling about the last supper it says the wine was “like” His blood, and the bread “like” His body. A bit of marker fixes that easily.) I think this copy has a little "parents guide" that is geared toward the "saved" thinking, too. But what better way to bring children closer to the story of Christ’s Death and Resurrection than through the eyes of a child? If you have children, I recommend reading this book with them during Holy Week. You can buy the eggs that go with it, but my brothers enjoyed putting together their own boxes and improvising.

That's all for now, folks! Oh, and you can check out my YouTube Playlist for Lent. It's a little short, but maybe I'll add a few more songs.

May God Bless and Keep You this Holy Week!

Sursum Corda 2013

2013-03-10T14:29:00.000-05:00

I am so excited!!! They announced the dates for the 2013 Sursum Corda!!! And it will be in Chicago!!!!
If you have been reading my blog for awhile, you may have realized that Sursum Corda is one of the highlights of my year. If you haven't been reading my blog, I refer you to the following posts:
Sursum Corda Camp 2011
Sursum Corda 2012
And another note

If you are a Catholic Young Adult between the ages of 18 and 35 (or so,) especially one with a love for Tradition, please come and join us! This year it will be held June 21-24, at Mundelein Seminary. Cost has not yet been announced, but it will probably be between $200 and $250. Stay tuned for more details!

My 100th Post... On Perfectionism, Procrastination, and Perseverance

2013-03-07T14:18:00.001-06:00

"The world must keep one great amateur, lest we all become artists and perish."

When I started this blog, three years ago three days ago, I chose the above quote by G.K. Chesterton as my tagline because I knew that my work here would not be perfection. A month ago, it was pointed out to me that I had “parish” instead of “perish” up there. Good thing I’m not a perfectionist. Except maybe I am.

You see, it took me almost a month to write this post. Assuming, of course, that I actually finish this post. I’ve started it so many times in my head, and even on paper, so perhaps I shouldn’t assume anything! But, being my hundredth published post, I wanted it to be something special. Alas, my perfection led to procrastination.

Isn’t that the way it goes, though? We are afraid to do things, because we are afraid we can’t do them well. Sometimes, it is because of fear of ridicule from others. Other times, we don’t want to “waste our time.” Or perhaps it is the money we don’t want to waste. And there are times when we are right to hesitate. For example, sewing your own wedding dress when you have never sewn a stitch is a very, very, very bad idea. And I suppose there are those who would argue that those who have no literary degree should not be writing. Or those who have not been trained to sing, should not sing.

Well, if you are one of those miserable naysayers, I suggest you go find something else to do, and leave me to my fun. Because that’s all this blog is - a bit of fun. Hopefully now and then I hit on something truly edifying, but that isn’t really why I started it. I started it, if I recall correctly, because I felt that sharing recipes and patterns and ideas was a very good idea. This was before pinterest, mind you. I had lots of ideas on what I could share. And really, it’s just because I like to do lots and lots of different things. I do them because I enjoy them. Not always because I’m especially good at them (playing the piano comes to mind. And the guitar. And the violin. And the recorder.)

What WOULD happen if there were no amateurs, only artists? Well, I think we would lose many special things. Like creativity and innovation. But not just that. We would also lose mothers singing lullabies, and fathers building doll houses. We would lose grandma’s crocheted scarves (a little too long) and grandpa’s paper airplanes (a little too heavy.) Would Joe dare to write a letter? Would Judy dare to bake a pie?

Another favorite quote from Mr. Chesterton: “If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly.” Perhaps our defense is not eloquent enough (or graceful enough,) but still the defense must be made. Or the profession of faith. Or of love! Attempting something new can be challenging. For example starting a blog. It looks easy at the outset, and is great fun. But pretty soon it is a week, or two weeks, or three months between posts. Why bother? It’s not like I have many readers, anyhow. If I had any sense at all, I’d just give up.

But you know what? I don’t want to. I like blogging. I like having somewhere to share my ideas and my perfect Strawberry Rhubarb Pie. I don’t care if it’s not perfect. Well, I do, but I know that if I allow my perfectionism to kick in, it will drag along procrastination, and do it’s best to bump off perseverance. So begone, perfectionist! You don’t belong HERE. This is a blog strictly for amateurs. And if it takes me another three years to make it to 200 posts, so be it. I’m going to hang on and enjoy the ride...and the scenery.

Be my Valentine?

2013-02-14T13:14:00.002-06:00

Happy St. Valentine’s Day!

Now, as a secular holiday, this one can get pretty depressing. I mean, all over the place we see ads for chocolate, and here it is the beginning of Lent. Talk about bad timing. Not that it works out that way every year, but hey, it happens. Oh, not to mention the high expectations getting dashed and the longing that gets multiplied in every lonely single heart out there. We shall conveniently ignore the immorality that abounds out there. Wait! Don’t go! I do have something good to say!!! Sorry for the sad start, but hey, it’s out there. Hopefully you’ve never experienced it, but I’ve read enough blogs and forum posts to know that lots of people do find this a horrible tradition, best to be defended against either with no expectations or with “making their own fun” so they don’t feel so left out. All because of this false, worldly idea of “love.” But what, pray tell, is love? And what does a priest martyred for his faith eons ago have to do with romance?

Don’t get me wrong here. I don’t think there is anything wrong with “romantic” love. Actually, I think it’s awesome, and great fun. Flowers, love letters, chocolates....Mmmm, chocolate...What’s not to love? It’s all wonderful. I mean, I’m a hopeless romantic, probably too much of one. But don’t tell anyone. Yet I can’t help but feel that romance is the wrong focus for this feast. True, St. Valentine is the patron of married and engaged couples, but I mean, think about it. When I ask someone to “be my Valentine,” am I really asking them to “be my sweetheart”? Shouldn’t it be “be my holy friend, who will instruct me in the truth and bring me closer to Christ, regardless of the cost”? Which, if you think about it is absolutely, totally, brilliantly, awesome. And it’s what friendship is all about. Not to mention true love.
May your St. Valentine's Day be full of many true Valentines. And chocolate, even if you have to save it for Sunday. Because both good friends and chocolate are further proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.Love and God Bless,Rae

Farewell to Pope Benedict?

2013-02-11T21:49:00.001-06:00

I woke up to some bigger-than-usual news on my Facebook this morning. I’m sure you all know by know that Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation. So, unless something changes in the next couple of weeks, we will have a new pope. Extra prayers for the college of Cardinals certainly are in order.

Now, popes don’t usually resign, although it has a happened a few times. Just not in the last oh, six hundred years or so. Longer, if we are talking voluntary resignation. But with life expectancies being longer now and people living though things they used to die from, and living in a weaker body than they used to...well, I suppose it is reasonable for a Pope to resign if he feels he can no longer do his duty. Of course, now every one is talking about prophesies and anti-popes. Well, not EVERYONE, but the chatter is out there. Nothing new. If I were to take a minute to ride that bandwagon, I would call a Pope’s resignation the perfect and logical way for an anti-pope to take the Chair of Peter. I mean, that’s usually how it goes in the books...although generally there is an assassination attempt involved and everyone THINKS the real pope is dead, only he isn’t. Goodness! This could be the end of the world! It could be the start of the great tribulations! Aggghhhhaaaa!!!!!!!
Of course, it could be that life will continue as usual. Always hard to tell with these things.

Does it really matter? Seriously?

Yes and No.

First the no. No, it doesn’t matter if it is the end of the world, because we need to be prepared for Judgement anyhow. For you or I, the end could come in two minutes and twelve seconds. Or not for another sixty years. Our souls should be in the state of grace regardless. I mean, we’re talking about a healthy relationship with God. Is there really a good reason to ever put that in jeopardy?
And another thing. Truth doesn’t change. It doesn’t matter if it is good times or bad, Truth is True. Whether anyone believes it or not, it is still true. Practice may look easier or harder depending on the times, but Christ is ever faithful, and nothing can change that truth. So really, if we have our trust in God, it doesn’t matter if the times are good or bad.

Now for the Yes. Yes, it does matter. Because if we are living in times of tribulation, or even the times at the end of the world, we are going to be challenged more. There will be more confusion. If we are looking at the end of the world, things are going to get really bad, because our purgatory will be on earth. The stakes are higher and the time shorter. Where we expect to find truth, we will find lies. That is the danger of the anti-pope, as it is of the anti-christ. Lies coming out of not only the mouths of high ranking Church officials (and dishonest media reports,) but out of the mouth of the man himself. So our main concern is to know the truth, or how can we can recognize the lies? Again, this ought to be a standard, regardless of whether we have a new pope or not. The truth does not and cannot change. That’s the really nice thing about truth. But if you don’t know the truth, it really doesn’t do you much good, does it. This is probably why Pope Benedict gave us this “Year of Faith.” We need to really wake up and work on strengthening our faith and our knowledge of the truth.

I am very grateful for all Pope Benedict has done during his papacy, most especially for giving us back the Tridentine Mass. He will be missed. I am not going to assume that the next pope is the anti-pope. Nor am I going to panic that this is The End Of The World As We Know It - although I have had my suspicions since November.

What I am going to do is pray. I pray for Pope Benedict. I pray for our Cardinals and for our next pope. I pray for Catholics everywhere, especially those facing persecution, not only for what they believe, but also just for believing that there is an absolute truth. I pray for those Catholics who DON’T believe, whether from choice or from poor instruction. You know, there is no such thing as “Catholic in name only.” Even an apostate is still Catholic, whether they like it or not. Not even excommunication can change that status. I pray for our political leaders, and I pray for those who persecute us. And for those searching for the truth.

God Bless,
Rae

This is the photo on my iPieta app. Get it, it's awesome.

Insert Catchy Title

2013-02-10T10:41:00.002-06:00

G’day to you! Me again, popping in to say hello. See, I knew it was no good saying when I’d be back. I’ve had a terrible streak of writers block. For that matter, I’ve had a terrible streak of thinkers block. Ever have that problem? No? Oh. Well, in that case, I can only tell you that it is quite uncomfortable. The brain gets annoyingly mushy feeling. Unfortunately, if there is a cure, a person with thinkers block will never find it. They can’t think well enough to find it. But anyhow, I digress. I think. Hmmm...

So, I follow this lovely little blog called “Experimental Wifery.” Love it. All sorts of good thoughts and advice, even if you aren’t married. And really, I feel that one should gather as much information on marriage and raising children as one can before the fact, because afterwords there will likely be no time for such things. Hmmm, perhaps I should say, when people ask me what I do, that I am a private chef while studying for my MRS degree. Teehee. Yup, I did just change that on my blogger profile.

Ah yes. I was talking about Experimental Wifery. Great blog. And she is doing this thing called “12 Months to a Better Woman.” Each month focuses on something different. Last month was self care. That was lots of fun, especially when I got my new eyeshadow. I am probably the only girl on the planet who ordered eyeshadow to get the trial-size mascara that came with it. But what can I say? It’s just that good. This month, the topic is “self-reflection.” Now THAT is a challenge. But a good one. I know I for one don’t make self reflection a habit. Self-DEflection, maybe. I spend lots of time AVOIDING myself. So here I am, reflecting upon myself. do-di-do-da-do. Hmmm. I think I need a mirror....never mind. I look terrible. I’ve been sick for over a week, I have an excuse to look terrible. But really, a mirror probably won’t show me much. A mirror can only show what the world sees, not who I really am. But it is important that we are “ourselves” sometimes. And even more important that we take are really good look, inside and out, at who we are, and who we are becoming.

Enter Lent. I love lent. It’s my training camp. It’s my yearly opportunity to push myself a little harder, with that feeling of (stronger) outside accountability. It’s climbing the mountain. It’s diving into the deep end. It’s....well, you get the idea. Lent is the PERFECT time for self-reflection. It’s a great time to look at our weaknesses and work on them, and pray for help overcoming them. So I am really glad that these two challenges overlap each other this year. And now I’d like to challenge you. When finalizing your lenten sacrifices this year, take a moment for self-reflection. Are the things you are doing and giving up chosen because they address something you are struggling with? Or are you just doing them because that’s what you’ve always done?

God Bless!

P.S.

There is a lot of wisdom in fasting. It can generally strengthen any virtue, and weaken the hold of many a sin. Nothing like telling the flesh who’s boss, dontcha know.

TwoGirlsandaPuppy and 20 Hours...

2013-01-16T14:30:00.003-06:00

For those who missed this little flash facebook news story, allow me to recap. Yesterday (about 20 hours ago according to the page I am looking at right now,) two little girls created a facebook page and put a picture of themselves and their three little brothers on it, holding a sign. The sign read “Hi world. We want a puppy! Our dad said we could get one if we get 1 million likes! So LIKE this! He doesn’t think we can do it!” As of right now, 20 hours later, this photo has 1,249,589 likes. In 20 hours. That’s a lot of people. In not a lot of time. That, my friends, is social media.

Personally, I think the family should look for a GoldenNewf to rescue, don't you?

Now why was this so popular? Probably because it contained cute kids, no political statements, and the fact that this family had a dog who died of cancer not too long ago. The fact that there was no foul language in sight helped too, I’d say. People liked it, and they shared it. I liked it and shared it - and I rarely do that. So now five little kids are getting a puppy. Yay for them! I think it’s great. It makes me smile.

Lets look at this. Not only did over one million people all over the world see this picture, they also acted. Granted, it was a small act, but it was an act. How many more ignored it? It doesn’t matter, because over one million people DID act.

I would like to ask you to do something very small. It costs no money. It only takes 5 minutes. You don’t even need an internet connection. You can do it where you are sitting, or while you are driving, or while you are sitting on hold. You can do it while you wait for your latte. You have five minutes, I know you do. What is it I want you to do? Pray one decade of the rosary. Just one. Who doesn’t have five minutes to do that? Pray one decade of the rosary a day, for the conversion of hearts to Christ the King.

If you do that, and you get four other people to do it, that’s five decades of the rosary that weren’t being prayed before. And if this goes viral...who knows?

We can’t change the world through legislation. We can only change it by changing hearts and minds. Yes, it is helpful when the state agrees when something is right or wrong, but in the end it is only by the people believing it that there is any effect.

One depressing thing about social media is that you see first hand that the saying “for those who believe, no proof is necessary and for those who do not, none is sufficient.” People hear and see and believe what they want to. Yes, we must put the truth out there, but it is only by God’s grace that people will listen. It is only by His grace that we listen. So, we must pray for that grace, not only for ourselves, but for our family, neighbors, friends, coworkers, and that nut on youtube who seems to have no idea what logic really is. Because calling names does nothing, and arguing does little. Without grace, it's just water off a rock.

I will encourage you to pray a full five decades of the rosary a day, with your families. But maybe you aren’t ready for that - just as I’m not ready to pray a full 15 decades, even though I know that doesn’t take much longer. So lets start with one decade, every day. And let’s see how many decades we can add up together. God Bless,Rae

P.S.
I won't even bother predicting when I'll post again. I give up.

Pretty, Pretty Christmas Cookies

2012-12-11T11:04:00.000-06:00

Aren't they lovely?

'Tis the season for baking. Especially Christmas baking. Especially Christmas cookies. And I made the most BEAUTIFUL Christmas cookies yesterday. I can't help it. I love the way these look. And taste, of course.

They are very simple, as simple as peanut blossoms. Actually, they were inspired by peanut blossoms, but instead of chocolate kisses, they are made with peppermint kisses. And since peanut butter and mint are just weird together, I had to use a different cookie. We used snickerdoodles last year, and they were very good. But this year I was flipping through my Taste of Home cookbooks and came across the recipe for Chocolate Crackle cookies. Perfect! They are nice and chocolatey, and easy to make. Excellent compliment to the peppermint kisses. And this combination is not only great for eating, it is also very pleasing to the eye. At least, I think they are. So without further ado, I give you my Pretty Peppermint Kiss Cookies.

Pretty Peppermint Kiss Cookies
Ingredients:

1 cup granulated sugar6 Tablespoons oil (I used coconut)2 eggs6 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder1 teaspoon vanilla extract1 cup all-purpose flour1 teaspoon baking powder1/4 teaspoon saltpowdered sugar36 Peppermint kisses

In a large bowl, beat sugar, cocoa, and oil until blended. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to sugar mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate until chilled - at least 2 hours or overnight. I didn't take it out until right before scooping and I didn't have any trouble.

Shape dough into 1-in. balls - I used my small cookie scoop, so about 1 Tablespoon size. Roll in powdered sugar. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until set. Remove to wire racks. Immediately press one peppermint kiss in each cookie. They do tend to puddle a little, but if you don't jostle them and have the kitchen cool enough, they should hold their shape. Makes about 3 dozen.

Here's the original Chocolate Crackle Cookie recipe: http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Old-Fashioned-Crackle-Cookies

The Immaculate Conception - Novenas

2012-11-29T19:34:00.002-06:00

This WILL be the year that I will get all of my advent post done! Ok, so it probably won't be. As usual, I will get one or two done, and the rest will slip through the cracks. But hey! On the bright side, those posts are adding up!

Again, I'm running late, so hopefully I will get another post done soon on this topic, but for now here are a few novenas for this year. First, you can refer back to last year's post on the Immaculate Conception. It has one novena option that is very beautiful.

During the whole pre-election prayer season, I somehow connected to a website that sends the novena prayers to your email every day, praymorenovenas.com. Brilliant! No more forgetting! It's also nice for those novenas where every day's prayers are a little different. I only wish you could personalize the novenas a bit. Here is the text for today:

Day 1 - Immaculate Conception Novena Prayers

O most pure Virgin Mary conceived without sin, from the very first instant, you were entirely immaculate. O glorious Mary full of grace, you are the mother of my God - the Queen of Angels and of men. I humbly venerate you as the chosen mother of my Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Prince of Peace and the Lord of Lords chose you for the singular grace and honor of being his beloved mother. By the power of his Cross, he preserved you from all sin. Therefore, by His power and love, I have hope and bold confidence in your prayers for my holiness and salvation.

I pray first of all that you would make me worthy to call you my mother and your Son, Jesus, my Lord.

I pray that your prayers will bring me to imitate your holiness and submission to Jesus and the Divine Will.

Hail Mary...

Now, Queen of Heaven, I beg you to beg my Savior to grant me these requests...

(Mention your intentions)

My holy Mother, I know that you were obedient to the will of God. In making this petition, I know that God's will is more perfect than mine. So, grant that I may receive God's grace with humility like you.

As my final request, I ask that you pray for me to increase in faith in our risen Lord; I ask that you pray for me to increase in hope in our risen Lord; I ask that you pray for me to increase in love for the risen Jesus!

Hail Mary...

Amen.

One more novena, this one sent from a friend for the intention of a friend. I don't want to post too many details until I have their okay, but I do think the more people praying for this little girl can't hurt anything. Of course this novena you can also change for your own intentions.

Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes

Prayer
Be blessed, O most pure Virgin, for having vouchsafed to manifest your shining with life, sweetness and beauty, in the Grotto of Lourdes, saying to the child, St. Bernadette: "I am the Immaculate Conception." A thousand times we congratulate you upon your Immaculate Conception. And now, O ever Immaculate Virgin, Mother of mercy, Health of the sick, Refuge of sinners, Comforter of the afflicted, you know our wants, our troubles, our sufferings deign to cast upon us a look of mercy.

By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary, whence you dispense your favors, and already many have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and physical. We come, therefore, with the most unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession. Obtain for us, O loving Mother, the granting of our request.

(state your request) *THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF MONICA'S BODY AS MUCH AS OUR HEAVENLY FATHER DEEMS IS GOOD FOR HER SOUL*

Through gratitude for your favors, we will endeavor to imitate your virtues, that we may one day share your glory.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your divine son while upon earth. You have the same influence now in Heaven. Pray for us; obtain for us from your Divine Son our special requests if it be the Divine Will. Amen.

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.

Saint Bernadette, pray for us.

Now don't forget to start the St. Andrew Novena tomorrow!God Bless!