here’s what you missed this week

Sunday I remembered back to the time when my kids were just babies and I wasn’t quite myself.

Truth be told, I may not have been fun or likable, but I was something good.

I was a new mom.

Maybe you can relate.

Tuesday was all about A Mother’s Day Gift from My Grandma.

My daughter gifted me one of my grandma’s old costume jewelry bracelets.

She signed a card from herself and “great-grandma”.

I had quite the surprise, because my grandma has been in heaven for quite a few years.

It’s funny how kid’s minds work, especially my daughters.

Wednesday I took A Walk on The Wild Side and showed of my printed pants.

The big question is Printed Pants?

Yes or No

I also fell off a curb.  My body ended up in the middle of the road, but I rather not revisit that event.

Then we talked food.  Everyone likes to talk food.

I shared my lack of meal planning skills and shared a few new recipes.

Then you guys took me by surprised in the comments.

Thank you so much for sharing your favorite, tried and true recipes.

I can’t wait to try them!

Now It’s Your Time to Shine

• Link your Star Post from the current week
• Link to a specific post and not to your general blog URL (if you don’t understand, contact me)
• Visit at least two other Star Bloggers, read their post, and leave them a comment

That’s it my friends!

I always visit everyone’s blog links at some point throughout the week; however, I cannot always comment.  For some unknown reason, Blogger does not recognize my URL and refuses to allow me the privilege of commenting on their blogs.  So, even if I am silent, I am reading.

Thanks so much for linking up!  I appreciate every one of you.

The post Saturday Night Stars #11 – The Wild Side appeared first on the domestic fringe.

Planning is not my specialty.

Meal Planning is a foreign concept.

Eating at my house is like playing Russian roulette with slightly less risk.  I haven’t killed anyone with my meatloaf.  Yet.

I lack of organization and planning.  Being a positive person, I say I am spontaneous.  Spontaneity doesn’t work in the kitchen unless your kitchen happens to be right smack in the center of a grocery store.

I often find myself scrounging through my kitchen cabinets around five o’clock in the afternoon wondering what in the world I’m going to create for dinner.  By that time, my kids are feigning starvation and grumbling so loudly I pray the Lord sends manna from heaven and rescues me from this endless kitchen battle called cooking.

What does a person make with 3 cans of varied beans, pasta with no sauce, and salad dressing?

Nothing good.  That’s what!

About a month ago, I decided to reform my spontaneous ways and do a little meal planning.  So I wrote down every meal I know how to cook.  I was hoping for thirty, but I made it to around twenty-eight dishes.

That included a frozen pizza.

Cardboard pizza confession aside, I still surprised myself.  Not that many years ago, my list would have consisted of about three meals, frozen pizza included.  I’ve come a long way and I have multiple burn marks from my oven to prove it.

Unfortunately I haven’t looked at that list since the day I wrote it.

Scratch the list.  I needed new recipes anyway.  So my daughter and I sat down with Pinterest and planned out a few meals.  I even made a grocery list.

I should probably admit that I don’t cook every single night of the week.  I mean, we eat a lot of leftovers.   Almost ever meal creates leftovers and I would hate to waste them (or cook again, depending on my honesty level).  Some nights we also eat a can of soup and a sandwich.  I guess it’s debatable whether that falls into the “cooking” category or not.  My point is that I cook a few full meals a week and then we eat off the scraps on the other nights.  It works for us, and for our budget too.

Meal Plan

(Obviously I’ll cook more than is on this list.  Namely vegetables!)

Fiesta Time Chicken Flautas

Source & Recipe

Bacon Wrapped Chicken

Source & Recipe

We’ve made these before and they are SO delicious.  It’s a favorite meal and almost a meal by itself.

I’ll only make a vegetable as a side.

We’ll want to eat way too much of this chicken to ever miss a starch.

Crockpot Beef and Broccoli

Source & Recipe

Easy Ravioli

Source & Recipe

I’ve made this meal before too and it’s so stinkin’ easy, perfect for the night I don’t want to cook.

As a bonus, I happen to have a frozen jar of leftover homemade spaghetti sauce in my freezer.

I’ll use that!

Butter & Brown Sugar Sweet Potatoes

Source & Recipe

Parmesan Chicken Strips

Source & recipe

Easy Meatloaf

Source & Recipe

I make this meatloaf all the time and we all love it.

I do not, however, use the red sauce, but sometimes I’ll open a jar of brown gravy.

Tip:  Make meatloaf in a muffin tin for easy portion control.  Besides, it’s just plain fun to have individual round meatloaves.  And they are crispy!

For the life of me, I cannot fathom how I cooked without the internet, and I’m afraid to ask FringeMan to comment.

So, this is my Meal Planning, Pinterest Style.  We’ll be trying a few new dishes and repeating some well-loved recipes.

I’d love for you follow me on Pinterest!

Now tell me, have you tried any new recipes lately?

The post Meal Planning, Pinterest Style – Recipes Included appeared first on the domestic fringe.

This is an exceptionally weird What I Wore Wednesday.  It’s not so much the clothes, but the actual photos that make these pictures freaky.

I wish they were outtakes, but they are not.  I have one shot of each outfit and I’m talking in most of the photographs, with my hands.  Let’s just agree that I’m odd.

Shirt:  Ross (Georgia),  Jeans:  Kohl’s,  Shoes:  K-Mart

I’m joining The Pleated Poppy in What I Wore Wednesday, a blog phenomenon that was designed to inspire women to get dressed.

Shirt:  GAP,  Jeans:  Kohl’s (same as above)

Ya, sorry.  That’s my robotic side you’re seeing.

Shirt:  Hand-me-Down,  Pants:  Kohl’s,  Shoes:  Target,  Necklace:  Kohl’s

So what do you think about printed pants?

Obviously, I am a fan, but I understand not everyone wants to wear an old tablecloth on their bottom.

Printed Pants?

Yes or No

I love these wedges.  I bought them at the end of last summer in Target.  They were on clearance and I could only find them in a 1/2 size too big.  I bought them anyway.

I’m a little dangerous in a heel, wedge or not, so things can go from stable to shaky without a moment’s notice.

I may have fallen off a curb, my flower clad body flung into the middle of the road, while I was wearing these shoes.  Or maybe that was all just a bad dream.  I’m sure it must have been a dream.

Pants:  Same as above (Kohl’s),  Shirt:  Hand-me-Down,  Flip-flops:  Wally World

I feel like this was a week for jeans.  I’m not sure why.

Jeans aren’t my favorite thing to wear.  I always need a belt to keep them up and I hate extra buckles and things.  I do like my comfort.

These jeans really don’t have any stretch in them.  I’m trying to decide whether I like that or not.  In some ways, I think it’s good, because the knees and bottom don’t get stretched out three times too big, but some days, stretch is pretty dang comfortable, saggy knees or not.

Dress:  Old Navy,  Leggings:  Kohl’s,  Sandals:  Famous Footware (I think) in Georgia

I wore this dress on Mother’s Day.  It was freezing.  I wore a gold sweater with it, but I should have also added socks and boots.

I wore gray legging, because I’m down to only a gray pair now and I popped a hole in my navy tights, so it was an easy decision.  I’m not sure if it looked good or not, but warmth trumps fashion in my life.  Always.

Dress:  GAP,  Boots: Dr. Martens

I’m trying to get better about taking pictures every day, no matter how completely dorky they happen to be.  Have you noticed?

This day, I opted to show off my ghost white legs.  I should have worn tights, because it was cold again, but I guess at some point, I’ll need to let my legs see a little sunshine.

And that is What I Wore this week.

I’m thinking I should rename this series Dorky Fashion on The Cheap.  What do you think?

Thanks for sticking with me during these “fashion” posts.

The post Printed Pants – Take a Walk on The Wild Side appeared first on the domestic fringe.

My  grandmother (who passed away several years ago) gave me a bracelet for Mother’s Day.  This year!

I was as surprised as you, but on Saturday night, I found a white box with a paper lid and it said, “To mom.  From FringeKid (only she used her real name) and great-grandma.”

Inside was a bright gold, costume jewelry bracelet, taken right out of my grandmother’s jewelry box.

I wore it all day.

I’m so very glad my children had the chance to know my grandparents.  My kids loved them, and they love their memories with them, even if my grandmother was a little crazy and didn’t know who they were.  They still influence little lives from the grave, and I know that’s the real gift to me.

I’m just glad I found the box on Saturday night, because it took me by surprise and overwhelming fits of laughter.

I also found a bag of sweet & salty M&M mix.

I sat popping pieces of pretzel, peanut, and candy-coated chocolate pieces in my mouth when my son came and sat on the arm of the couch, right next to me.

He leaned in, “You know, we got you a different kind of M&M’s too.”

“The raspberry ones – I tried those already.”

“You know, you’re not very good at this.”  My son told me.

“Well, she already rearranged the flowers and put them in a different vase.”  My husband nodded to a vase of brightly colored wild flowers on the end table.  “She’s always  been like this!”

I admit, I’m not great with gifts, or maybe it’s just the waiting part that throws me off.

My husband did some laundry for me this weekend.  That’s all I ever really wanted for Mother’s Day.  The flowers, cards, M&M’s and bracelet from my grandma were nice touches though.

The snow, not so much.

It’s even too late for April showers, so the ice pellets tinkling against my window were a little surprising Sunday night.  Then in a fluffy white flurry, it changed over to snow for a few minutes.  People just north of us had accumulation.  My son’s teacher drove to school on Monday with a white car.

I’m glad we enjoyed the nice weather when it was here, but you don’t visit The Domestic Fringe to hear about the weather.  That would be ten kinds of lame.

So instead, I’ll tell you how thankful I am for my little family, for children who make my days special and grandparents who keep loving me, even from the grave.

How was your weekend?

The post A Mother’s Day Gift from My Grandma appeared first on the domestic fringe.

“You’re just not yourself.  You haven’t been yourself in years.”

I remember someone saying that to me during my early years of mommy-hood.

I didn’t really understand what they were trying to say to me back then.  I knew I was still me inside, but I was also overwhelmed, crazily hormonal, and tired, really, really tired.

The other night, my daughter asked to look at some old pictures.  We went through the scrapbooks first and then I pulled down the box.  You know the one.  I’m sure you probably have a “box” sitting on your closet shelf too.  It’s the place you keep all the random photos, some so old they are yellowed.  My box also has several used rolls of 35mm film.

I tried to explain film to my daughter, but she didn’t understand.

That moment made me feel older than all the gray hairs sprouting from the top of my head.

In those photos, those snapshots of special times, I saw a woman who wore clothes that didn’t fit.  Each picture seemed to show an ever changing plump body.  I remember the jeans I had for three years, just one pair snagged from a thrift store rack.  I bought them right after I had my son and I was so proud when four weeks after I waddled into a delivery room and birthed my nine and a half pound daughter, those jeans fit again.

They were mom jeans meet wide-leg bell bottoms.  The only thing they had going for them was that they buttoned at the waist.

In those pictures, I saw a woman who was dealing with a lot of changes, big changes, without any break in between life events.  A pregnancy, a move, and a new job all within a few months.  A baby boy who would not sleep, ever.  Then another pregnancy.  Six months after my daughter was born, my husband changed careers or callings, whichever term you prefer.

We sold the home we poured our lives into, the home I brought my babies home to, the home where I was going to grow old and die.  Then we moved from Maine to Florida and celebrated my daughter’s first birthday in Georgia.  We were a brand new homeless family.

I wasn’t myself in those years.  Not at all.

I looked terrible.  I rarely slept.  I never cut my hair.  My jeans didn’t fit, and I was emotionally worn out.

And although I may not have been myself, I was a lot of good things.

I was a supporter of life.  I was a diaper changer.  I was book reader.  I made meals that fed little bellies.  I rocked and rocked and rocked until sleepy eyes fell closed.

I was a worker in church.  I hosted big summer-time barbeques at my house.  I cooked meals for traveling missionaries.  I made silky scarves and peddled my wares to little boutique shops.

I wasn’t myself.  I was a new kind of woman, a mom trying to find some balance between the old me and this new person I barely recognized.

Much of the time, I didn’t know if I liked me or not.

I missed my old self, but couldn’t seem to keep hold on her.

Those days that worked into years were not easy.  Looking back through those photos, I remembered.

I was not myself.  Truth be told, I may not have been fun or likable, but I was something good.

I was a new mom.

You may not recognize the woman who you see in the mirror, but she’s still there.  What you are seeing today is a new, stronger, much more selfless version of the woman you are.  These years are long and short at the same time.  Some days they feel like they will never end, like you may drown in the sameness of sweeping Cheerios off the floor, but then one day you wake up and realize your little one can pick up his own Cheerios.

You’ll soon catch glimpses of the woman you were, but I’m not sure you’ll ever be the quite the same.

Those children who call you mom will leave a permanent mark, making you look different to those around you.  It’s a good kind of different.

One day you’ll reconnect with who you are inside and you’ll invite that girl back into your new life.

But no matter who you become, you’ll always be mom.

Happy Mother’s Day

The post To the Mom who Doesn’t Recognize The Woman in The Mirror appeared first on the domestic fringe.

I’d like for you to be honest with me.

Should I continue to host Saturday Night Stars?

I thought it was a good idea, but we generally only have about eleven or twelve entries.  Is that enough?  Are those of you who are playing along seeing traffic from this linkup??

Here’s the deal. This link party is a time to celebrate you, your blog, and your words. I’m not even asking you to link back to my blog.

My desire is to create a resource for all of us, a place to find the best posts in blogland.

You just show up to the party and link your favorite post from this last week. Then take a moment to read through a few other star posts.

Here’s What You Missed on The Domestic Fringe

This week began with a trip to a new coffee shop in town.  FringeBoy wanted to take me there for quite some time, so we woke up early on Saturday and set out to drink some good coffee, because life is too short to drink bad coffee.

Then I got all serious and talked about living with hands open wide, ready to give and receive.  I realized my grip on the things and people I love is too tight.

In the comments, someone referred to this post as poetry.  I got a kick out of that, because I am many things, but poet is not one of them.  So, dear reader, thank you for that lovely compliment.  I will treasure it, because I am certain, I’ll never put my poet hat on again.

Wednesdays are a humbling experience here on the Fringe.  I participate in What I Wore Wednesday.  That’s where I get my family to snap a photo of my daily outfit.  These photos highlight my dorkiness, but they also keep me accountable.  After all, I can’t show you five photos of me in yoga pants.  Not all in the same week anyway!

Many of you liked my chevron striped maxi skirt and I am happy to report it came from Walmart.  Every once in a while they have something cute.

And I finished out the week with a compilation of my favorite “mommy” posts.  I began with 3 lessons my own mother taught me.  I’ll never forget them!

Now It’s Your Time to Shine

• Link your Star Post from the current week
• Link to a specific post and not to your general blog URL (if you don’t understand, contact me)
• Visit at least two other Star Bloggers, read their post, and leave them a comment

That’s it my friends!

Saturday Night Stars is intended to be a social activity, so please socialize.

The post Saturday Night Stars – It’s Your Time To Shine appeared first on the domestic fringe.

I present to you the best of mothering on Fringe.

Click at your own risk.

The post In Honor of Mother’s Day – Click at Your Own Risk appeared first on the domestic fringe.

I participate, along with hundreds of other women, in this weird phenomenon called WIWW. We don’t take photos to be self-absorbed or because we think we look great. We do it for motivation, so we’ll be aware of how we’re dressing every day.

In other words, we looked like bums and needed some sprucing up. Taking photos keeps us accountable. Sure it’s crazy, but it works. Except on the days it doesn’t.

I hate to say this, but I wore this t-shirt twice this week.  That happens.  I’m a big clothing repeater.  If I wore it on Monday and loved it, there’s a good chance you’ll see it again before Saturday.

 (According to this picture, I am SO gonna need a facelift and maybe a chin vacuuming. Not excited.)

Everyone who does WIWW lists where they purchased their clothes.  Some people do this so others can run out and buy their outfits.  I know you’re not going to want to do that with my clothes, but I still try and list the stores, so you’ll have an idea of where I shop, etc.

Almost everything I buy is off a clearance rack, so if by chance you actually like something enough to buy it, you’re probably out of luck.

Sorry.

Purple T-Shirt:  GAP, Jeans:  Target, White shirt:  Target, Flip-Flops:  They’re so ugly…Do you really want to know?  Wally-World.

Yes, I’ve taken to posing in weird places.

Shirt:  Old Navy,  Skirt:  Thrifted (Old Navy)

Here’s the t-shirt again.

I wore yoga pants all day.  It was Saturday.  These photos aren’t in order by day.  Please don’t make me be that exact.

T-shirt:  GAP,  Yoga Pants:  Hand-me-Down

This is just a really bad picture.  I think there was too much sun.

The shirt is polka-dot and I actually like it quite a bit in real life.  The outfit needs a brightly colored belt, but I don’t have one.  I guess that will be something to look for, maybe at yard sales.

Shirt:  Kohl’s,  Jeans:  Same as above.

Pants:  Kohl’s,   Shirt:  Old Navy,  Necklace:  Francesca’s,  Shoes:  K-Mart

Ok, I really like this skirt and top.  It’s super comfortable.

The entire outfit came from….wait for it….Walmart and cost right around $20.  That doesn’t count the white tank top I’m wearing underneath, but I already had that (it’s from Kohl’s).

Although I bought this a few months ago, I think Walmart probably still has it.

Ok, so I thought this outfit needed a necklace.  I only had one gold necklace that I though could work, but my family vetoed it, saying it made the outfit too crazy.

I really liked it and I don’t know why I asked their opinion.  I should have just worn it.

What do you think?

It’s all coming down to your vote.

Let me know in the comments.

Now, tell me, what did you wear this week?

I’m also linking over here…come on over for more fashion inspired posts.

The post My New Favorite Outfit – Chevron Striped Maxi Skirt appeared first on the domestic fringe.

This world – these words and family and fun times – I’ve been hanging on too tight.

I say “We only have this one chance, this one life.”

I don’t want to waste it, to do too little, experience less than I could, but really, it’s only a drop in the bucket, as they say.  I never understood that before, and I’m not sure I fully do now, but I see it a little more clearly.

This life, it’s not going to be around for long.

I look at the things I love, the people, my children’s faces, and I want to hang on forever and not let go.  I can’t let go.   But, they are not really mine after all.  They are a gift, to be enjoyed and set free.

I can’t hold tight forever, because time ticks on.

Although this life is short, I was wrong.   It’s not my only chance.

There are good things ahead, heaven really does wait for me.

It’s not just an imagination or a wonderland, it’s a real place made for me by the One who hangs on and never lets go.

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. ~ John 10:28

I can’t number my days.  I don’t know when I’ve been enough.  When my journey will call me on, no bags required.

I do know today though.  I know I need to love fiercely, but loosely.  I can’t hang on too tight.

This isn’t my final destination.  I’ll get another shot, new life in the very presence of the One who breathed life into me.

Not very long ago, that thought made me want to stop the clock, freeze time and hang on tight, but heaven is becoming real.  I’m understanding more and more just how far God’s love reaches.

I don’t want these gifts I’ve been given to be pried from my tight fingers. I want to live with open hands, ready to receive and give back.

I’ve been hanging on too tight.

The post Living with Open Hands appeared first on the domestic fringe.

I’m joining Lisa Leonard in Saying Hello to Monday and Hello to our downtown Cafe.

I’m a fan of coffee shops.

I almost like the idea of sitting around a coffee shop with friends more than I like the idea of drinking coffee.  Does that make any sense?

Little hole in the wall places are usually the best, and this coffee shop on Main Street is definitely a tiny place with a lot of personality.

My son has been wanting to take me to this coffee shop for a long time.  He loves their cinnamon rolls, so early Saturday morning, we decided to go visit.

I had a cup of decaf and my kids had a cinnamon roll and a drink.  My son chose a fruity blend of hot tea.

We talked about musicians and composers and Shakespeare.

Our conversation may have been influenced by our surroundings; I’m not sure, but my children were into having an intellectual conversation.

If I had known, I wouldn’t have ordered decaf.

You never realize how much liquid a coffee mug holds until you spill it.

These orange mugs hold an awful lot of liquid.

My son accidentally toppled his mug and hot tea went everywhere.  Poor kid felt so bad, but we cleaned it up.  As they say, accidents happen.

“Honey, spilling a mug of tea is nothing.”  I assured.  “Once, I set a table on fire.”

My kids couldn’t believe it, but I told them to call my uncle.  He loves telling the story.

All I know is that restaurants with candles are dangerous.  When I uncovered the bread basket, I never even saw the napkin go right into the flame.  My family was all jabbering away, waiting for dinner to come, when the bread basket suddenly went up in flames.  Thinking fast, my uncle took a tall glass of ice water and doused the fire.

“Now, that was bad.”  I said.

If you remember, our other coffee shop in town has a completely different personality.  I like both shops for different reasons

The other shop is much more casual and artistic.   I mean, they even had a boat hanging from the ceiling.  It’s the type of place where you engage in ridiculous conversations with complete strangers.

This shop is a little more serious.  It invites intellectual discussions.

We don’t have any Starbucks or $5 dollar fancy coffees, but we have two wildly diverse cafes, and I think that may be even better than Starbucks.

What about you?

Do you like to hang out in coffee shops?

Are you a Starbucks fan or do you prefer little cafes with lots of personality?

The post Life is too Short to Drink Bad Coffee appeared first on the domestic fringe.