Everyone has a story

Recently I read an article in Costco Connection about genealogy, family stories and recording family histories. It talked about the importance of recording your story for future generations. Genealogy has been a hobby of mine for many, many years so I understood the importance of recording my mothers story and my grandparents story but I had never really given "my story" much thought. This article got me thinking. I am a mother with 4 children, someday, God willing, I'll be a Grandmother myself. I suddenly realized recording "my story" is just as important as those of my mother and grandparents.
It just so happened that I have been in the process of making a gift for my mother to help her record her story. It is a journaling jar and a journal. I had typed up a list of over 200 questions for her to pull out of the jar at random and simply answer the question in her journal. I said to myself "I can use those journaling starters to write My Story!"
Over the last couple of weeks I have been periodically pulling out a question for myself. I have had so much pleasure going down memory lane and have decided to start sharing "My Stories" here. Come back tomorrow to read the first "My Story."
I encourage each of you to write your stories, feel free to use my starter questions as a jumping off point. And remember EVERYONE has a story!!

Oven Fried Chicken

This is a recipe I got off the back of a Bisquick box many years ago. It is great for picnics and taste excellent served cold (which is how I prefer it!) I've made this dish 100's of times and truth be told I rarly make it the same way twice.....it's that flexable!!

Here is the original recipe:
1Tblsp butter
2/3C original Bisquick Mix
2tsp paprika
1tsp salt
1tsp pepper
About 3lbs skin on chicken pieces thighs or legs are best)
Heat oven to 425. Melt butter in 13x9 baking dish. In a ziplock bag mix together Bisquick, paprika, salt & pepper. Drop chicken pieces into bag one at a time and coat completly with bisquick mixture. Remove dish from oven and coat entire bottom of dish with melted butter. Place chicken pieces skin-side down in dish. Bake for 35 minutes. Turn chicken over. Bake an additional 15 minutes.

Now alternative ways I've made it.
Double paprika for extra spice.
Add 1-2tsp of garlic powder.
Use Kosher salt instead of table salt.
Add 1tsp ground rosemary or other seasoning.
Add a Mrs.Dash seasoning for Chicken.

Like I said I prefer this recipe cold, but my kids and The King love it hot or cold.

Friend Makin Monday

Another fun Monday of Friend Makin Monday. Todays question:
What is your favorite candle scent?

My number one favorite is

Pumpkin Spice

Next Best is

Cinnamon-Apple

Next favorite is

Vanilla

My least favorite is

Anything floral scented. Gives me a headache like you wouldn't believe!!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Here is a conversation between my 5yr old sometimes sweet, sometimes sour daughter.

After crawling into my lap and looking sweetly into my eyes she said "Your my best Mom ever!.....Maybe."

"Oh?" I replied, "Just maybe?"

"Yes. You are my best Mom ever!.......today." Still smiling sweetly.

"only today?" I asked.

"Yes." Smile still big as can be.

"What about yesterday?" I asked her.

Her smile was suddenly replaced by a very curious, possibly perplexed look as she replied "When was yesterday?"

I love that girl!!!

Managing Laundry

In a household with six people laundry has been a thorn in my side for as long as I can remember. I always felt like I was drowning in laundry....piles to wash, piles to fold, stacks to put away..it never ends!!!
Recently I came up with a system and amazingly I rarely think about laundry anymore. Here is what I do now:
WASHING/DRYING
I always start a load in the washer before I take the kids to school. By the time I return the first load is ready for the dryer and I can put a second load in the washer. I have both loads completely done by 10am, then I don't think about it the rest of the day.
Monday: 2 loads from master bedroom, 1 dark, 1 light
Tuesday: 2 loads from my two older daughters room; 1 dark, 1 light
Wednesday: 2 loads, one from my sons room, one from my youngest daughters room; 1 dark, 1 light
Thursday: 2 loads; 1 towels, 1 linens
Friday: 1 load; All whites
Saturday/Sunday: NO laundry!!
FOLDING/PUT AWAY
I fold all laundry in the bedroom it came from and place it on the bed. My kids are responsible for putting all their own laundry away when they get home from school.

The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon

Not your average time travel series!
I fell in love with this series during book two...."Dragonfly in Amber"
Diana Gabaldon, who I had the pleasure of meeting during her last book tour for "An Echo in the Bone" (book 7 in the series), has a talent for writing not seen very often. In the course of one paragraph she can make you laugh, cry and laugh again! Her characters are so true to life..and their time, that you become Claire.
I will be honest, these books tend to be heavy in detail, which if your like me I skip over the every detail of a wildflower in bloom, but everything else is SUPERB!!! This series is a must for any reader on your holiday shopping list, man or women!!
The series order:
Book 1 "Outlander"
Book 2 "Dragonfly in Amber"
Book 3 "Voyager"
Book 4 "Drums of Autumn"
Book 5 "The Fiery Cross"
Book 6 "A Breath of Snow and Ashes"
Book 7 "An Echo in the Bone"

Friend Makin Monday

I'm participating in a fun activity called Friend Makin Mondays. Hope you join the fun too. Here's my post for today......

What is your favorite Candy?

Reeses Peanut Butter Cups! I can't have them in the house because I can't NOT eat them!!!


Mounds is a VERY close second!!! Lov'em!!