Handy Hints

A friend of mine forwarded me an email with some amazingly handy hints. I haven't yet tried them, but thought I'd share them with you on my blog. If you do try any of the hints, please let me know!

Hull strawberries easily with a straw:

Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes:

Remove crayon masterpieces from your TV or computer screen with WD40:

(personal note - another great item for getting crayon marks out is baby wipes - they seem to work on all surfaces! Also, I highly recommend Crayola products as they are made for easy removal - even paint out of clothes!)


Stop cut apples browning in your child's lunchbox by securing with a rubber band:

Overhaul your linen cupboard, store bed linen sets inside one of their own pillowcases and there will no more hunting through piles for a match:

Pump up the volume by placing your iPod or iPhone in a bowl. The concave shape amplifies the music:

Re-use a wet-wipes container to store plastic bags:

Baby powder gets sand off your skin easily - who knew!?:

Add a velcro strip to the wall to store soft toys:
(personal note - I'm not too sure about this one. I like the idea, kind of, but I'd be a bit worried that the velcro would damage the 'hair' on the toy when pulling it off the wall.)


Use wire to make a space to store gift wrap rolls against the ceiling, rather than cluttering up the floor:

Find tiny, lost items, like earrings, by putting a stocking over the vacuum hose:

Make an instance cup cake carrier by cutting crosses into a box lid:

How to perfectly fold a fitted sheet:

Use magnetic strips to store bobby pins, tweezers and clippers, behind a vanity door:

Store shoes inside a shower cap to stop dirty soles rubbing on your clothes. And you can find them in just about every hotel:

A muffin pan becomes a crafty caddy. Magnets hold the plastic cups down to make them tip resistant:

Bread tags make the perfect cord labels:

Bake cup cakes directly in ice cream cones:

Microwave your own popcorn in a plain brown paper bag.

Instal a tension rod to hang your spray bottles:

Turn your muffin pan upside down, bake cookie dough over the top and you have cookie bowls for fruit or ice cream:

Freeze aloe vera in ice cubes for soothing sunburn relief:

Create a window-box veggie patch by using guttering:

Use egg cartons to separate and store your Christmas decorations:

(image credits - unfortunately I don't have image credits for any of these photos as they were forwarded to me via email. I apologise for any copyright issues!)

Life in Alphabet - Q

is for Qualified. Qualified, even though I'm unqualified.

Have you heard the saying "God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called"? If you haven't, read that line again;

"God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called".

Think about what that means. Do you ever feel inadequate, like you're letting God down, like you're not the best person for the job? Take heart. You are right where God wants you and He is always working through and with you, even when you muck up! Romans 8:28 says

"and we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." (NIV)

Still not sure? Look at Ephesians 3:20, 21:

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (NIV)

Are you getting the picture? God is using you... stay obedient to Him and His Will will be done, despite us mere humans! Remember that God is bigger, more powerful than us.

I don't remember where I got this list from, as I've had it in my resources for a long time, but I think it fits perfectly with the saying "God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called". Have a chuckle as you read it and be reassured that you are qualified.

The next time you feel like GOD can't use you, just remember...

Noah was a drunk
Abraham was too old
Isaac was a daydreamer
Jacob was a liar
Leah was ugly
Joseph was abused
Moses had a stuttering problem
Gideon was afraid
Samson had long hair and was a womanizer
Rahab was a prostitute
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
David had an affair and was a murderer
Elijah was suicidal
Isaiah preached naked
Jonah ran from God
Naomi was a widow
Job went bankrupt
John the Baptist ate bugs
Peter denied Christ
The Disciples fell asleep while praying
Martha worried about everything
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once
Zaccheus was too small
Paul was too religious
Timothy had an ulcer
and Lazarus was dead!

If you still aren't convinced by what I've written, have a read of some other posts I stumbled across one day: Rabbi Max or Internet Monk. (Disclaimer: I've only read these particular articles by the bloggers and haven't read other posts of theirs - I just wanted to share these posts without necessarily recommending their full blog - they may be okay, but I don't know so wanted to put in this disclaimer, just in case!)

January 2012 Date Night

As you may recall, I gave Big Spring a Christmas gift with a twist. We had our first Date Night from the January envelope last night. And here are the results:

The Date Envelope:

Contents:
2 gift certificates for Sizzlers
Brochure for the "Xtreme Illusions" magic show
Book of magic tricks (just for fun!)

The Plan:
Little Spring was dropped off at the babysitters and Big Spring and I head to Sizzlers for pre-show dinner. We then headed into the city, to The Reef Hotel Casino for a magic show. It was initially meant to be "Xtreme Illusions", but there is a Limited Season show called "Mystique" which we saw instead. After the show, we headed down to the Esplande and had coffee/iced chocolate and cake before heading back to pick up Little Spring.

The Memory:
I plan to scrapbook the evening, but haven't gotten a chance to do that, so you'll have to settle for a very dark picture instead! Unfortunately (as with most shows) we weren't able to take pictures, so I couldn't take any of the show, and I didn't want to turn the flash on my phone on, so I thought that a dark, grainy picture was better than nothing!

(I haven't had much luck with the pictures in this post! I have no idea why our picture is upside down... and the sideways picture at the top seems to be a standard for many of my pictures... sorry!)

Life in Alphabet - P

is for Parents. To be more specific, my parents! Who I love to bits! We don't live close to them, but they are an important part of our lives and have been there for the hard times in my life... always a phone call away, no matter how far away we are.

They raised me in a Christian home, which I'll be eternally grateful and thankful for. They continue to be a wonderful role model in their strong faith. They love their granddaughter with as much love as they can give and Little Spring loves them just as much... just secretly though (so don't tell anyone!), she has a very soft spot for "Poppa". Of course, she loves Nana just as much, but there's something very special about Poppa and Little Spring's relationship. I love seeing the two of them together, and how Little Spring's eyes light up whenever she sees a picture of her poppa, points and calls his name. Or, when she pretends to talk to him on the phone.

Mum and Dad just celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary earlier this month. Congratulations! I pray they have many more years ahead of them.

The veil that Mum is wearing in this picture, is the same veil that I wore for my wedding, just with a different headpiece, to match my dress. Just before this picture was taken, when Dad was picking Mum up, he knocked her head on the wishing well in the background. It hurt, but thankfully there was no blood! The dress Mum is wearing was crocheted by a friend in a different state and Mum didn't get to try it on until the week of her wedding!

Life in Alphabet - O

is for organisation. Or organised. Or organiser. You get the picture! I have a teenie, tiny reputation for it! And for good reason - I LOVE it! I love taking chaos and making order. I love excel spreadsheets (our budget is on a spreadsheet and allocated to the last cent!). I love planning events. I have lists for packing, when we're going on a trip, to ensure I don't forget anything (makes it so much easier when I don't have to think about what I need to pack, I just check the list and know that everything I need is listed on there). I've just done a list for what to pack when when going somewhere with a pool, or the beach. I meal plan each week (really helps with the shopping list, and how much I spend!).

I'm organised to a fault. Sometimes I try to be too organised and end up complicating things more than I need to, going overboard with detail that's really not necessary and confuse people with all the information (I've done that with my Avon clients, thinking I was doing a good thing by laying out a heap of information, but it was more confusing than helpful!). I'm learning!

With how much I organise, don't get me wrong - I do love last minute things. I like the two extremes - either an organised outing/event that is kept to the plan/schedule or a completely last minute let's catch up or do dinner or go somewhere etc. I think the reason I'm so comfortable with the latter is because it wasn't pre-planned, so there's no stress about it going wrong because there was no plan that could go wrong/off schedule.

Am I a control freak much? Maybe a little... okay, maybe a lot!

Organisation? It's my passion... when so many people would run for the hills at the mention of the "O" word! What about you?

Life in Alphabet - N

is for Nails. The nails that saved my life. The nails that were used to hold Jesus' hands and feet on the cross. The nails of forgiveness, that lead to my eternal life. The nails that I pounded through His flesh on the day of His crucifixion. The nails that I caused because of my human nature. The nails that I take for granted regularly. The nails that give me hope amidst all the hopelessness in the world. The nails that should have been mine - that were meant for me. The nails that Jesus willingly took for me because He loves me. The nails of love.

^"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross." Colossians 2:13-14 (NIV)

When thinking of "nails" as my word for the letter 'n', I immediately thought of Michael Card's song, "Why." All the lyrics are good, but I especially love two lines (whenever I hear those words, I just want to cry!):

"Why" by Michael Card

Why did it have to be a friend
Who chose to betray the Lord
Why did he use a kiss to show them
That's not what a kiss is for
Only a friend can betray a friend
A stranger has nothing to gain
And only a friend comes close enough
To ever cause so much pain

And why did there have to be thorny
Crown pressed upon His head
It should have been the royal one
Made of jewels and gold instead
It had to be a crown of thorns
Because in this life that we live
For all who seek to love
A thorn is all the world has to give

And why did it have to be
A heavy cross He was made to bare
And why did they nail His feet and hands
His love would have held Him there
It was a cross for on a cross
A thief was supposed to pay
And Jesus had come into the world
To steal every heart away
Yes, Jesus had come into the world
To steal every heart away

Dish 49 - Granola

Granola

Prep Time: 10min; Cooking Time: 1hr15min; Serves: 6

Ingredients:
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup slivered almonds
1 cup cashews
3/4 cup shredded sweet coconut
1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp dark brown sugar
1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp maple syrup
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 tsp salt
1 cup raisins

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 250oF.
   
2. In a large bowl, combine the oats, nuts, coconut and brown sugar.
   
3. In a separate bowl, combine maple syrup, oil and salt. Combine both mixtures and pour onto 2 sheet pans. Cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to achieve an even colour.
   
4. Remove from oven and transfer into a large bowl. Add raisins and mix until evenly distributed.
   

Recipe Source: Sent to me by my cousin (link forwarded)

Notes: Was very delicious, but really, really sweet. Would highly recommend cutting down the sugar and syrup if you make it.

Life in Alphabet - M

is for married. Because I am... coming up to 10 years this May! Wow! Our 10 year anniversary. That seemed like years away when we first got married, but now, here we are about to celebrate it!

When Big Spring and I first found out that we were being sent to Cairns for his first parish, we were quite excited to think that for our anniversary each year, we could just drive up to the hotel where we stayed for our honeymoon, in Port Douglas. Alas, that wasn't to happen last year as it clashed with Pastors' Conference, which was held down in Brisbane. I then resolved myself to the fact that that would be the case every year because it's held around the same time. Good news, though! Pastors' Conference isn't until June this year, which means we can go to Port Douglas for our 10 year anniversary. AND we have a friend willing to baby sit Little Spring over night... how exciting!

In my previous post, I mentioned being upset because of my singleness. I knew that God 'kept' me single for a reason, which I couldn't work out at the time (He does work in mysterious ways, after all!). It wasn't until I finally met and married Big Spring to understand why. Big Spring is the man I am suppose to be with, and love dearly and am so thankful to God for bringing Him into my life. However, if He'd brought Big Spring into my life any earlier than when He did, then, although I may have been ready, Big Spring wasn't.

Big Spring was going through a rebellious stage, leaving the church at a young age and not returning until many years later. If I had met him during that time, firstly, I wouldn't have liked the scene he was involved in and secondly, he wasn't a Christian at the time and being a committed Christian myself, don't know how I would have coped dating a non-Christian refusing to go to church and teasing me about going (as he did with his family).

Anyway, Big Spring and I met on a dating website... he wrote to me on the Friday before he was being baptised. That's pretty good timing to me! He was giving his life to Christ the same weekend God was opening the door for us to meet!

Unintended, we married exactly a year later from the day Big Spring first contacted me... and we haven't looked back since (except to marvel at God's Work!).

So, 10 years on and we are happily married, with a beautiful little girl, living a life we never would have thought even close to what we would have dreamed at our wedding... considering Big Spring wasn't comfortable with the Lutheran church in our early years of dating/marriage, it's a little ironic that he's now a pastor in that same denomination! Not to mention, living in Cairns in Far North Queensland.

God is Good!

Have You Ever Been Jealous of Sinners?

Wow! I read this question on "Heartprints of God's" blog. As soon as I read it, my head exploded with a resounding yes. Right or wrong, I associated "sinner" with non Christian, which is very inaccurate, because I'm the first to admit I'm a big, whopping sinner!

Anyway, the reason for my jealousy of "sinners" is so clear. I remember like it was yesterday when I was struggling with singleness wondering why and actually thinking, it would be so much easier if I wasn't a Christian because then I could stop struggling with fighting the things of the world and find a relationship without worrying about 'God approving of this situation'. Of course, those relationships I could have chosen wouldn't have been healthy ones, but at the time it would have provided some sort of companionship that I craved.

On the flip side, I remember thinking I was so glad I was a Christian, because I had a loving God who was watching over me, ensuring I didn't make any relationship mistakes that I would regret in the future. Even if I didn't understand why I was forever single, I knew that God had a reason (I'm not saying it wasn't frustrating and that I never pleaded in tears to God, asking for Him to bring me a special guy into my life).

Aside from my days of singleness, I don't remember other times for being jealous of "sinners". For this I am grateful... I'm not saying my life is perfect, but I'm so content in my life, having God play such an important in it, that I can't recall looking at a non Christian with any sort of jealousy. If anything, I look at them with sadness, longing for them to have the reassurance that I have in Jesus Christ, my LORD and Saviour.

I thank God for my faith and for Him being such a big part of my life.

Life in Alphabet - L

is for Love.

Dish 48 - Ham & Pasta Salad

Ham & Pasta Salad

Prep Time: 15min; Cooking Time: 15min; Serves: 6

Ingredients:
350gm Penne (I used spiral pasta as that's what I had on hand)
250gm green beans (original recipe suggested broccoli)
100gm thickly sliced boneless leg ham, cut into strips
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 cup who egg mayonnaise
salt & freshly ground pepper
1 stalk spring onion (original recipe suggested 2 Tbsp snipped chives)

Method:

1. Cook the pasta in large pan of boiling salted water according to packet directions until al dente, adding beans towards the end of cooking time to boil for a few minutes until tender.
   
2. Drain together and refresh under cold running water.
3. Combine the ham, pasta and beans in a dish.
4. Mix the mustard and mayonnaise in a small bowl and season to taste. Fold the mayonnaise through the salad and scatter with the spring onion.

Recipe Source: Woolworths local supermarket catalogue

Notes: Can be served as individual salad dishes, or as an accompaniment to a main meat dish.

Dish 47 - Meat & Potato Skillet

Meat & Potato Skillet

Prep Time: 10min; Total Time: 30min; Serves: 4

Ingredients:
1 pound beef boneless sirloin
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp garlic pepper
1 pound frozen mixed vegetables (suggested combination of potatoes, carrots, celery & onions)
12 oz beef gravy

Method:

1. Cut beef into thin strips. Heat oil and garlic pepper in skillet over medium-high heat. Cook beef in oil, stirring occasionally, until brown.
   
2. Stir in vegetables and gravy; reduce heat to medium. Cover and simmer 7 to 9 minutes, stirring occasionally until vegetables are tender.
   

Recipe Source: Betty Crocker

Over-Commitment

Unfortunately I learn from experience, that sometimes I tend to over commit! I get a lot of ideas, but get myself too busy to actually put in the effort that's actually required. As I mentioned in my post from this morning, today feels like a fresh start. As part of that fresh start, I've decided to combine my 3 blogs into 1. Don't worry, this main blog page will be staying, but I'm going to start posting recipes and book reviews to this page instead of an individual blog. Mentally, it will feel like less pressure as I haven't posted on either of the others for quite a while!

An update on the challenge I gave myself... I'm only up to dish 46. Unfortunately life has gotten in the way of my challenge and convenience overtook attempting a new dish so I could add it to my blog! I don't feel guilty that I haven't been trying new recipes, but I do feel guilty that my poor food blog has become a little lonesome without any new posts recently! So, I thought it wouldn't feel so lonesome if it joined my Forever Springtime Blog... I have a couple of dishes that have been patiently waiting for posting, but certainly not enough to get me up to speed with my challenge! Disappointing for me? Not really! It's part of my fresh new start for my new year!

So, stay tuned for some recipes to start making an appearance on this blog page!

(and perhaps even some book reviews, if I ever get around to writing some on the books that are sitting on my desk, waiting to be reviewed!)

Happy New Year

Yes, I realise that I'm 23 days late, but today feels like my 'new year'. Big Spring has been on holidays for 2.5 weeks or so, which means I have as well (so much as a mum can actually be on holidays!). We didn't go anywhere; we just spent the time at home, doing heaps of work around the house (inside and out) and entertaining some dear friends who were visiting.

But getting back to my 'new year'... Big Spring went back to work today, and Mainly Music (a music activity I take Little Spring to) has started again this morning. We'll be getting back into routine, which I'm actually craving! I made sure I got all my washing finished and house cleaned yesterday (I made a resolution a number of years back not to do any housework on a Sunday, unless I really had to and it's the first resolution - ever - that I've actually kept!). Anyway, with that out of the way (it had piled up a bit, while slacking off on 'holidays'!), I felt I could start this morning with a fresh start.

You know how you wake up on New Year's Day, thinking it's a new year and new start and a chance to make new, good, habits that you promise yourself you'll stick to? That's how I feel today! I'm feeling positive based on how this morning is going (it's only early, but it's going well all the same!).

Did you make any new year's resolutions? If so, how are you going with them?

Life in Alphabet - K

is for King (of Majesty). These words capture what Jesus in my life means. Thank you Hillsong for this wonderful song!

"King of Majesty" by Hillsong United

You know that,
I love you,

You know that,
I want to know you so much more,
More than I have before

These words are,
From my heart,
These words are,
Not made up,
I will live for you,
I am devoted to you,

Pre-Chorus:
King of Majesty
I have one desire
Just to be with you my Lord,
Just to be with you my Lord,

Chorus:
Jesus you are the Saviour of my soul
And forever and ever I'll give my praises to you,
Jesus you are the Saviour of my soul
And forever and ever I'll give my praises to you,

Bridge:
Jesus you are the Saviour of my soul(echo)
And forever and ever I'll give my praises to you(echo)

Life in Alphabet - J

is for Janelle. Seems kind of obvious, huh? Well, that is my name after all, so how could I leave it out of my Life in Alphabet?!

So, what does my name mean? Well, after doing some research, have discovered that it's only been around since the 20th century (but I wasn't surprised to read that). It comes from the name "Jane", which comes from the name "John", which means "God is Gracious". As someone who is less than perfect, a sinner, even (!), it's certainly reassuring to know that God is gracious. If He wasn't, I'd be in a whole lot of trouble! And it's nice to know that my name means exactly what I need - a gracious God!

Okay, we've covered what my name means, but how did I end up with that name? Well, apparently, this is how the story goes (according to my mum [I hope I've got it right!]):

Mum and Dad were going to call me "Ellen Doreen" after my two grandmothers. They didn't really like Doreen as the middle name and my dad liked the name Janelle, so it became "Ellen Janelle". They then decided that Janelle was too nice a name to have a middle name, so it became "Janelle Ellen". Then they decided that there were too many "l's" in the name, so they changed my middle name, but Janelle as a first name stuck! (I've intentionally not included my middle name because, although I love it, especially with the unique spelling of it, I want to protect some of my privacy - in case you were wondering!)

As I was growing up, my name was quite uncommon, so I didn't like it. I wanted to be called Rachel (which happened to be the popular girl's name in my class!). However, I started to love my name as I got older because of it's uniqueness. It's not quite so unique anymore as I've come across more and more women with the same name, but I still love it all the same!

Do you know the origins of your name?

On a side note, the name of Miss Universe in the year I was born, was called "Janelle!". She was only crowned in July, which is a couple months after my birthday, so I don't know if it was a coincidence or not! I'll have to ask Dad about that one when I see him in February!

Janelle Commissiong - Miss Universe
(image credit)