tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79390829441780792162012-02-16T20:19:13.369ZJia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.comBlogger1321100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-1257799182656488462012-02-08T14:35:00.005Z2012-02-08T22:48:52.832Z

I know. I haven't blogged in a while, and I probably won't again after this post. We'll see. But, I wanted to get this video to my family in the easiest way, so I thought I would include it in a post about scripture memorization.Let's start with a confession. I'm not very good at memorizing scripture. Oh, I've tried. Before my son was born, I got through the first chapter of Colossians.

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-5859240235136932492011-06-17T07:38:00.004+01:002011-06-17T07:38:00.333+01:00

Dear Mei Li,As I sit here anticipating the arrival of your little brother any day now, I often think back to when you were born, right here, on this very bed. You have grasped our hearts with your little hand from day one. I'm thankful that you are my second child. I have felt much more prepared to work with your determination having had practice on your brother. You sure have given us a

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-79792955966187807862011-06-15T08:36:00.001+01:002011-06-15T08:36:00.380+01:00

Dear De Sheng,I'm writing this a letter early this year because your little brother is going to join us any day now. I didn't want to forget to tell you how special this year has been for me as I watched my 3-year old grow. You have grown physically. You are much taller, stronger, faster than before. You have mastered the tricycle and almost all the play equipment at the playground. It is fun

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-66196403862576938572011-06-07T13:55:00.009+01:002011-06-12T20:29:29.613+01:00

Every birth experience, like every child is so different and unique.Here is my daughter's birth story from two years ago.I love being able to read back on my previous birthing experience and remember God's goodness. I forget so many little details, so it is wonderful to have it recorded down. Here I am, holding my third child, with a third, unique story to tell.Unlike my first two which were

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-57413863380007821392011-01-14T20:09:00.003Z2011-01-14T20:25:00.155Z

Of all the bedtime rituals out there, the most helpful to me has been the bedtime song. When my children are little more than newborns I start singing the same song to them every time I put them to bed. For both of them it has been "God is so Good." This simple song quickly becomes the signal that it is time to sleep. We can skip baths, read three book or no book, be in a plane, car, someone

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-3922133639187479932010-11-30T07:14:00.004Z2010-11-30T08:00:05.374Z

Blogging is not at the forefront of life at the moment. These things are:AND....I'm blessed and busy.

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-66015703204709929332010-09-11T22:29:00.006+01:002010-09-11T23:10:09.731+01:00

I had been hankering to do some more "discovering" of Britain when a friend gave us a timely tip. It was English Heritage Open Day, and stately homes that would normally cost us £20+ ($30+) to get into were FREE this weekend. With one eye on the weather, we headed an hour's drive away to Belton House - a 17th century country home, made more familiar by BBC's filming of Pride and Prejudice.

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-15893764581756957342010-09-11T10:05:00.000+01:002010-09-11T10:05:00.743+01:00

Here's a good trick I learned from another mom. She wanted her daughter to stay in her bed until 7:00 AM before she asked to get up. Since her daughter knew her numbers, but was too young to tell time, she gave her an analog alarm clock with the last two digits covered in black paper. The little girl only had one number to look at to know when she was allowed to call for mom.

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-15159135619494219112010-09-09T20:25:00.002+01:002010-09-09T22:04:28.982+01:00

Since he's started eating, I've had trouble serving tacos to my son because they were always coming unrolled for one reason or another. Every time he went to get a drink of water, his taco would need to be pieced back together. Today, however, I got inspired. After preparing his taco, I slipped on a rubber band to keep it together. It worked! Just keep moving the rubber band down as needed

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-42972828651124008142010-08-29T13:59:00.005+01:002010-08-29T14:16:51.630+01:00

I've been on a bit of a sewing kick this summer. Thankfully, I'm getting over the bug in time for "normal" life and routine to start up. Here's what I've been doing:I made a "moby" wrap (baby carrier) for my sister from this fabric.And, because I'm super-excited about becoming an aunt, I made a quilt for my future nephew, too. I refer to this as my first "grown up" quilt. The tutorial can be

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-81843394222663746552010-08-21T21:33:00.004+01:002010-08-21T21:43:26.923+01:00

A Christian HomeO give us home built firm upon the SaviorWhere Christ is Head and Counselor and GuideWhere every child is taught his love and favorAnd gives his heart to Christ, the crucified:How sweet to know that tho his footsteps waverHis faithful Lord is walking by his side!O give us homes with Godly fathers, mothers,Who always place their hope and trust in Him:Whose tender patience turmoils

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-82979553789749315602010-07-26T22:28:00.005+01:002010-07-26T22:36:47.965+01:00

We are back in England after a great trip to the states to see family. I'll post pictures.... eventually. Right before we left for the states, we had a Greek-themed birthday party for a friend. He posted some pictures of our fabulous party costumes and excellent food here.

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-58529024205274770072010-06-18T13:51:00.000+01:002010-06-18T22:07:02.723+01:00

Dear Mei Li,Can my baby really be a year old already? It's gone by far too fast. This year you've grown from a helpless, dependent infant to a little girl who is pushing older kids around to get up the slide. It is amazing what changes can take place in a year's time. I always refer to you as my perfect baby. It's possible that there are easier babies out there, but I fell in love with you

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-91690699486098640742010-06-15T10:37:00.004+01:002010-06-15T13:50:26.066+01:00

Dear De Sheng,Today you turn 3 years old. What an incredible privilege it has been to be your mother for these past three years. Both of us have done a considerable amount of growing, side by side. It's not easy to be a first child with Daddy and Mommy trying figure out parenting on you, but you have been forgiving despite our many mistakes.It hardly seems a year ago that you were blowing out 2

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-47130100178453158692010-05-30T13:08:00.000+01:002010-05-30T17:32:28.341+01:00

Did you know that honey is a natural preservative? The composition of honey allows it to bind to water molecules. This means that bread made with honey will not get stale as quickly as bread made with sugar. You can get more technical information here. Because honey is a natural sweetener, it contains trace minerals and vitamins that refined sugar does not have as well as antioxidant

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-90613387040113550272010-05-16T20:49:00.010+01:002010-05-17T14:35:00.241+01:00

Ah... the words that put life back in perspective. I remember after my son was born wondering how long it would be before I would hear that "I love you, Mama" come spontaneously from my child. It was wonderful the first time, and it has been wonderful every time since.What a privilege it is to get those hugs from grubby hands and kisses from sticky lips. What a treasure to be able to pause and

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-24945265090865131872010-05-10T13:45:00.005+01:002010-05-10T14:26:20.254+01:00

Motherhood is hard. Yes, yes... there are great rewards in motherhood - intrinsic and extrinsic - that cause us to choose this path again and again, but there days when just getting out of bed one more time seems impossible. Some days when I'm up to my elbows in poop, snot, tears and tantrums, it is easy to wish it away... or at least wish it fast-forwarded. I was reminded about this post a

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-70909160614187018582010-04-30T09:59:00.007+01:002010-04-30T10:49:26.816+01:00

We've been getting our hands dirty.We've been soaking up sunshine.We've been enjoying friendships.We've been focused on playing.We've been chasing a walker.In all, we've been enjoying the gift of life.

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-27071069814011254342010-04-02T14:40:00.004+01:002010-04-02T20:36:55.048+01:00

I really enjoyed our Passover this year. It was especially nice to be able to celebrate it with friends. My husband divided it into three parts. We started with the first Passover (Ex. 12 & 13) and the command, "Now this day will be a memorial to you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as a permanent ordinance." Then we moved

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-80321379353219356342010-03-28T07:40:00.007+01:002010-03-28T14:43:25.716+01:00

The Mole had been working very hard all the morning, spring-cleaning his little home. First with brooms, then with dusters...till he had dust in this throat and eyes..and an aching back and weary arms. Spring was moving in the air above and in the earth below and around him. It was small wonder, then, that he suddenly flung down is brush on the floor, said 'Bother!' and 'O blow!' and also 'Hang

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-39840242716553596062010-03-24T06:47:00.005Z2010-03-24T13:23:30.532Z

I thought I would make a list of ways 2-3 year olds can genuinely help around the house. I'll probably forget someday what my little ones could do at what ages, so this will be fun to look back on. Some of the jobs might need parental involvement and some of them might lean more towards age 3 since that's where my son is leaning. They might not all make the house neater, cleaner or more

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-28248089019677526852010-03-19T13:54:00.005Z2010-03-19T15:42:01.214Z

It's hard to believe Little Miss Mei Li is really 9 months old already.* She loves being chased and tickled.* She hates having her diaper changed (because she wants to crawl away and get chased and tickled)* She loves the plants in the living room.* She hates it when her brother gets in her space or makes her feel unstable.* She is 22 pounds.* She loves broccoli and most of her vegetables.* She's

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-62817593278445454942010-03-18T13:10:00.005Z2010-03-18T14:04:25.977Z

The Passover is a couple weeks away and it is time to get planning. My husband and I decided a to make this observance a yearly tradition for our family, but we keep it very simple. Why? A couple of years ago, Zhong Sheng preached a sermon about the feasts/festivals that God commanded the Israelites to observe in the Old Testament. If I remember correctly there were seven of them.... none of

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-59089427988329912922010-03-10T12:40:00.005Z2010-03-10T13:48:50.529Z

I've been going through a tough time lately involving a screaming baby at night and a screaming, constipated toddler during the day (not ALL night or ALL day, but enough to be wearisome). My spring cleaning goals are a bit out the window now as other things take precedent, and that's ok. We'll do what we can, when we can. Meanwhile this post I read on a friend's blog was some encouragement I

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-64230569459248801692010-03-07T15:04:00.008Z2010-03-07T15:28:16.846Z

This next week will hopefully be a low-key cleaning week for me, so it is time to hit the 5-a-Day fruit and vegetable challenge. Here's my menu plan for the week.Monday - B - Banana Bread, grapes (1) L - Sandwiches, carrot sticks (1) Snack - Apple (1) S - Roasted Cauliflower Barley Risotto with Buttered Peas (2-3)Tuesday - B - Toast with honey/jam, fruit (1) L - Sandwiches, cucumber

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-49602793461686743162010-02-27T12:34:00.004Z2010-03-02T13:24:56.557Z

Memory Verse for the week (Feb 28 - Mar 6):But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."I Peter 4:7-8 Spring Cleaning, Week 2 - The Kitchen:I'm dreading this week. The fact that it took till Friday to get the little bathroom done does not bode well for the

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-62216388176417085232010-02-20T12:57:00.001Z2010-02-20T12:57:00.386Z

I wanted to share two children's books that we have come to love recently. There are not too many books that I enjoy reading over and over (and over) again to my children, but these have been around for a while and are definitely in the category of excellent books for children. Wild About Books by Judy Sierra is about a librarian who accidently drives her Book Mobile into the zoo. "In a flash,

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-7908750034158050012010-02-19T07:06:00.002Z2010-02-19T07:06:00.179Z

Memory Verse for the week (Feb 21-27):Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.1 Samuel 12:24Spring Cleaning, Week 1 - The Bathroom (and Hallway Closet)Do to the quirky British custom of having a toilet in one room and a sink and bathtub in another, my bathroom cleaning plan might sound a little funny at times. Without

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-327719755581473222010-02-17T13:24:00.004Z2010-02-17T14:05:26.166Z

Photo CreditI thought my husband and I came up with the word "Zenify" to refer to our de-cluttering phases that we go through, but lo and behold, it is already listed in the Urban Dictionary with exactly the same meaning:Zenify - v. The process by which one makes one's life less cluttered (ie more zen)Oh, well. I guess it wasn't all that clever, really. Even prior to making the final decision

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-44490401656538549062010-02-09T13:10:00.009Z2010-02-09T13:45:30.922Z

I've been following Simple Mom's blog for around a year or so now, and I am continually inspired by her encouragement to de-clutter our lives, externally and internally. Just recently Simple Mom has revealed a new project called Simple Living Media. This website will combine the efforts of Simple Mom and Simple Kids and add three more: Simple Bites, Simple Homeschooling and Simple Organic. As

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-67451702905736621222010-02-08T21:09:00.005Z2010-02-09T07:38:35.391Z

Lent is just about a week away and it is time for me to start getting ready. I wrote about Lent last year explaining my position and practice and then later reflected on what I learned about myself. This year I plan to observe this time period again, but with a few additions.My focus will be Spring Cleaning... physically, spiritually and household-ly, or to nicely alliterate: Health, Heart and

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-71832124956206370132010-02-04T13:30:00.008Z2010-02-08T22:41:05.723Z

I grew up being taught that there was two ways to thicken up sauces, soups, gravies... 1) Flour and 2) Cornstarch.My mom always said Flour = Cold; Cornstarch = Hot. That means, you use flour at the beginning of the recipe in melted butter or sprinkled on potatoes, apples, etc. As it gets hot, it then starts to thicken the liquids. Cornstarch, on the other hand, was mixed into cold water and

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-84453067938083803902010-01-25T08:20:00.000Z2010-01-25T13:33:21.289Z

It is high time I post an update of what we are all up to. I'll start with the head of our household.Niu Zhong ShengMy hubby is hard at work on his PhD. He has started getting some things down in writing, but it is in the roughest of forms. The amount of information that he has to research can be daunting at times, but he thrives in this environment. As I'm writing this, he is in Israel

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-6956848398985445762010-01-08T13:42:00.002Z2010-01-08T14:11:29.019Z

Somewhere out in the blogosphere I saw this book, "Last Child In The Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder" by Richard Louv and I knew that I would have to read it. I waited nearly 3 months in a list of people trying to get a hold of the only copy in our library system. Now I have it and only for 2 more weeks before I have to turn it in for the next person to enjoy. I am

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-82955887138654403432009-12-11T14:53:00.003Z2009-12-11T14:58:17.015Z

Last year's Advent Conspiracy video was shared all over the web. If you didn't see it, click here. This year they have a new one. Enjoy.

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-79559619443461775942009-12-08T12:47:00.007Z2009-12-09T14:39:31.408Z

When we first moved in, there was nothing in the living room until we dragged down a pink sofa that was hiding upstairs in a bedroom. For a few months, our living room stayed that way - toys in the corner and a big, pink sofa. Then my mom came to visit and my aunt donated fabric and the big, pink sofa turned into a child-friendly, eye-friendly brown.Finally, as we approach our one year

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-38910582279449180212009-12-05T08:12:00.004Z2009-12-05T20:30:50.991Z

Remember this room.It has changed.My very make-shift desk....... has become a wonderful workspace.After nearly a year of living here, our house is finally starting to feel "put together." Thanks to IKEA, Ebay, Freecycle and friends for making our house feel homey. Hopefully I can post pictures of our living room in the not-too-distant future.

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-87981707704633870332009-11-23T21:12:00.005Z2009-11-23T22:25:14.462Z

Last week was a hard week for me. Both my kids were sick. A simple sentence which doesn't convey the loss of sleep, the hours of comforting, the struggles to not worry, the cabin fever, the repeated wiping of snotty noses and laying awake in bed listening to rasping coughs. I really struggled with wanting to wish it all away; wanting to return to my "comfortable" life. Obviously, for my

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-70317288596090467882009-11-17T08:57:00.001Z2009-11-17T11:00:19.607Z

Lindsay Edmonds over at Passionate Homemaking is hosting a Crockpot Carnival. Her goal is to share nourishing crockpot meals to help out women in the busy seasons of life. I thought I would post one of my favorite soups that can easily be turned into crockpot fare. It is loaded with spices and nutrients. Spicy Chicken and Sweet Potato Soup (this recipe is taken from allrecipes.com)1 tsp.

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-66673726547573698702009-11-15T13:49:00.004Z2009-11-15T14:03:48.575Z

I'm learning more and more about the seasons of life - a natural occurrence of aging, I'm sure. Apparently this is not the season for regular blogging as my poor, neglected website shows. I've probably started about five different posts, but I have run into one problem or another, and they've sat there, unpublished.So, what's keeping me away? 1. I've cut back on the amount of time the computer

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-58122806887802972832009-10-27T15:08:00.007Z2009-10-27T15:20:43.357Z

Again, I thank my husband for discovering cool things for me on the internet. This time it is an extensive book search engine. Typically I assume the best prices are to be found on Amazon, but this search engine has proved me (sometimes) wrong. It claims to search 130 bookstores and 80,000 booksellers then gives you a breakdown of prices with postage included. It is especially helpful for my

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-86610145926533654692009-10-22T06:29:00.002+01:002011-01-14T19:56:17.747Z

A few tips I've learned from a wise woman to run a harmonious household1. Make the bed. A messy room will look neater with a straightened bed while a perfectly clean room looks a mess if the bed is left unmade.2. Set the table. Even if you are running extremely late on dinner, the sight of a ready table will give your family hope and patience that the meal is coming.3. Serve meals that "Daddy"

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-4907476170613091322009-10-20T07:42:00.001+01:002009-10-20T14:03:21.355+01:00

I first saw this video a couple of years ago. It is a good reminder that we should not seek the deceptive beauty of this world, but rather the beauty that comes from inside: a gentle and quiet spirit. "Gentle" and "Quiet".... hmm... not really attributes admired in this day and age of progressive women. It seems weak. Yet, there are times when it takes great inner strength to remain gentle

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-41841903692905866772009-10-10T07:30:00.001+01:002009-10-10T07:30:00.152+01:00

While preparing dinner a couple of days ago, my son came in and started knocking all his A-B-C magnets off the fridge and onto the floor. I told him he would have to pick them up again and in due time he got to work putting them back. It didn't take too long before he tried to coerce some help:"Mama! Help!!!" Patting stomach. "Do by myself, tummy owie-owie!!"Now what mother can resist that kind

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-36132851248683588102009-10-08T06:29:00.001+01:002009-10-08T08:09:47.023+01:00

One thing I've been realizing more and more lately is how often we divorce the Bible from its historical context - and what richness of meaning and significance is lost when that happens. I'm so blessed to have a husband who has not only spent years reading and studying these things, but also having been to many of the places mentioned in the Bible, he is able to read the accounts with a deeper

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-43930567521228926722009-10-06T08:07:00.006+01:002009-10-06T12:32:05.665+01:00

I had way too much fun browsing the web for creative projects last night. I don't know if I will get around to doing any of them. Most of them probably take more time and ability than I have, but it's fun to see how creative people can be. As much as we might be denying it... Christmas IS coming and these might be some good gift ideas.Patchwork Cards by CraftappleReversible Swaddling Blankets

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-84188341928432479982009-09-22T14:17:00.005+01:002009-09-22T15:24:09.069+01:00

I had mentioned a while back how much I enjoyed using Blurb for my digital scrap-booking. It is a free download, easy to use and probably cheaper than all the costs that go into paper scrap-booking. On top of that, I don't have the hassle of getting pictures developed and I can print as many copies of my books as I want for grandparents, friends, siblings, etc...Again, thanks to marrying an

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-9219210731449065372009-09-16T14:30:00.004+01:002009-09-16T14:56:04.136+01:00

Having put the kids down for naps, all I want to do is sit down and "play" on the computer. It is finally "Mommy Time"... then I look at the chaos around me - the nuclear fall-out of breakfast, lunch, company for supper last night, international phone calls, getting in and out the door for Bible study, a bowel movement that didn't quite make it to the potty chair, laundry that's been begging to

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-17889647767660530942009-09-09T07:30:00.000+01:002009-09-09T07:30:00.249+01:00

With few nice, warm-ish Saturdays left before the cold comes, we decided to head out to Sherwood Forest and see what we could see. We saw trees...Lots of trees... including this famous tree right in the middle of the forest.It really was QUITE large - and old.More trees.Hey, look who decided to wake up and join us!So, while it wasn't all that exciting, it was a nice morning out in nature with

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-6307235234559115292009-09-07T20:32:00.004+01:002009-09-07T20:39:10.332+01:00

I've been finding it hard to be motivated to blog at the moment. It's not exactly that I don't have time or ideas... in fact, I have many ideas running through my head throughout the day. However, when I finally sit down at the computer, all my energy saps away and I have no desire to write anything. School has started up again here in the UK and with that comes routine (hurray!!) and busier

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-27662493528258055682009-08-28T09:33:00.004+01:002009-08-28T09:42:11.743+01:00

Ah... the satisfaction of going into my garden, picking some vegetables and serving them for dinner. We are going to have to grow a whole lot more next year, I think. There just wasn't enough for me this time around. We'll know better what we are doing next time, too, since we more or less just threw some seeds out to grow and hoped for the best. Hurray for gardening space!!!

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-2703197471318969182009-08-25T07:08:00.000+01:002009-08-25T14:36:00.952+01:00

I've recently finished reading That's My Son: How Moms Can Influence Boys to Become Men of Character. The author particularly targets single moms who are trying to raise boys, but the information is good for all of us who have sons... or brothers... or husbands... or do any kind of interacting with the opposite gender. I know it helped me see ways of encouraging my husband to be a man of God as

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-37268088561772913692009-08-10T13:16:00.007+01:002009-08-10T14:03:23.370+01:00

Breakfasts/Lunches:Same old; same oldDinners:Monday - Crustless Spinach QuicheTuesday - Spanish Rice Bake with BroccoliWednesday - Angel Chicken Pasta with Veg.Thursday - Ham and Cheese Scalloped PotatoesFriday - Homemade PizzaSaturday - Spicy Chicken and Sweet Potato StewSunday - Omelets with some kind of homemade quick bread.

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-77707435495578049862009-08-08T09:03:00.012+01:002009-08-08T17:55:55.539+01:00

We did it... we bought a car! And our first exciting "Discover Britain" trip was to a place not far from home called The Heights of Abraham. Our adventures are documented in photographs below:My son - always thrilled to go "bye-bye" and even more so in a car.Our 7-week old - looking grumpy, but really just about ready to pass out.Riding in the cable car up the mountain.The viewAt the top (

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-91924854979713618052009-08-06T06:04:00.005+01:002009-08-06T08:14:05.718+01:00

Or, for those who like play-on-words: "Eggs"periment, perhaps.To this point, we have been buying regular, "barn" eggs that cost ₤1.86 for 18. This is by far the best deal and frankly, we haven't had the money to choose otherwise. Now, with my husband finally getting paid for his work, we have the ability to make a choice. But what to choose??Organic, Free-Range, Local, Barn, Sustainable,

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-78039730951991064802009-08-04T13:19:00.005+01:002009-08-05T07:37:35.663+01:00

Today is my birthday, and I feel like writing down some things I love - in no particular order:- Rain, hot chocolate and a good book- Delicate, little flowers- My children's laughs- Listening to my husband explain concepts or stories in the Bible- The smell of rice cooking- Family adventures exploring nature or new cities- Chocolate mint bars- Seeing my baby wake up with a milk moustache after

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-21147010896154580542009-07-27T08:21:00.000+01:002009-07-27T13:21:45.386+01:00

I've become a big fan of casseroles. While they aren't considered to be very sophisticated cooking, they certainly meet my needs at this stage in life. Here's why:1. They are easily made ahead and can be thrown in the fridge to cook later (or sometimes the freezer for another day). In my case this often means during nap time.2. I can get the kitchen cleaned and dishes washed up while they are

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-78472234575996354512009-07-25T07:23:00.003+01:002009-07-25T07:57:06.430+01:00

When we moved into our semi-furnished house, we were happy to discover that the couch hiding up in the bedroom was also a pull-out bed. The only problem was its intense pink color. Nonetheless my husband struggled it down the stairs so that we would have SOMETHING in the living room. Our hope was to get it covered eventually.Well, thanks to fabric donated by my lovely aunt, great sewing done

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-17163587754237856452009-07-23T08:18:00.000+01:002009-07-23T14:03:30.155+01:00

Having lived for a few years in "Land of the Chopsticks", I've found out they are very useful little tools. It is pretty impressive watching the Chinese eat spaghetti or hamburgers with them. We used to have challenges to see who could pick up the most peanuts in one pinch. But besides eating, these little sticks can have other interesting uses:1. Stirring - Two chopsticks make a great whisk (

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-28849943157331424662009-07-15T07:41:00.000+01:002009-07-15T07:59:02.697+01:00

Being a parent of two for a grand total of four weeks now, I decided to write down my impressions as we welcomed a new little one into our home. These were some of my first, and often repeated, thoughts in the past month:1. In comparison I can't believe how big my firstborn is and how far he's developed physically and mentally in two years.2. I love having a baby in the house again! - especially

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-21378334624060699562009-07-07T07:42:00.000+01:002009-07-09T06:29:46.361+01:00

With a new baby in the house, it was time to put my Tummy Tub to the test. Mei Li's first bath was in the sink and she cried the whole time (probably because there wasn't enough water to keep her warm). Here is a video of her enjoying either her first or second time in the Tummy Tub (I can't remember which). After several more bathes under our belts, we are learning how to make it work.

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-74472363779902066832009-07-05T06:23:00.002+01:002009-07-05T14:22:36.808+01:00

I haven't been in this blog world too long, and recently I've started to question my motives and purposes in blogging. I think that some of my reasons that I stated at the beginning are valid, but I see there also a pitfall - which I will elaborate on in a minute.In the past month, a couple things have come up (I'm not referring to a baby.. =). First, there was a good sermon series done at our

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-77238565727790039052009-07-04T09:38:00.002+01:002009-07-04T09:40:50.840+01:00

"Oh that God would give every mother a vision of the glory and splendor of the work that is given to her when a babe is place in her bosom to be nursed and trained! Could she have but one glimpse in to the future of that life as it reaches on into eternity; could she look into it's soul to see its possibilities; could she be made to understand her own personal responsibility for the training of

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-86918286869461623632009-07-01T06:04:00.006+01:002009-07-01T06:04:01.179+01:00

This is day five of our "Simple Ways to Support Missionaries" series. To catch up please click on the following links: Praying, Communicating, Volunteering, Care Packages.Day five is about welcoming missionaries back to their home countries. Different organizations have different policies regarding "home assignment", but typically missionaries have spent 2-4 years out of their home countries

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-20293009457886611592009-06-29T06:06:00.006+01:002009-06-29T06:06:01.741+01:00

This is day four of our "Simple Ways to Support Missionaries" series. To catch up please click on the following links: Praying, Communicating, Volunteering.Today our means of support requires a little more work and money, but it is such an encouragement to people. We all love getting personal letters in the mail - how much more so, packages! I remember how exciting it was to get a box from the

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-54532247494247993392009-06-27T06:15:00.005+01:002009-06-27T06:15:00.233+01:00

This is day three of our "Simple Ways to Support Missionaries" series. To catch up please click on the following links: Praying, Communicating.Sometimes one of the more difficult and awkward things about living overseas is finding someone back in the home country to handle those unavoidable details of life that can't be done from far away. Most missionaries I know have family members who do

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-23607067125189937882009-06-25T06:08:00.000+01:002009-06-25T07:22:00.182+01:00

This is day two of our "Simple Ways to Support Missionaries" series. To catch up please click on the following link: Praying.A very simple, inexpensive way to encourage missionaries is to stay in communication with them. Simple - but requiring discipline. I know that after years of sending out update letters to friends and family, I've always appreciated it when people respond. Most often it

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-49546709137734831542009-06-23T06:35:00.003+01:002009-06-23T06:35:01.443+01:00

This is day one of our "Simple Ways to Support Missionaries" series. One of the biggest ways most missionaries would request your involvement is through prayer. When dealing with difficulties, discouragement or opposition, knowing that there are people praying is a huge source of comfort and encouragement. A danger we often have is promising to pray for people, but quickly forgetting or just

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-408338520844780782009-06-21T06:07:00.002+01:002009-06-21T14:27:18.800+01:00

I was challenged a while ago by a guest speaker at our church who was a finance advisor to missionaries. He made a point to encourage the congregation that supporting missionaries is more than just writing a check each month or setting up direct debit. As their brothers and sisters who have sent them out, we need to be there to support their emotional and relational needs as well as financial.

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-20563031172527631412009-06-20T19:04:00.001+01:002009-06-20T20:05:05.814+01:00

Many people have expressed interest in hearing the birth story of our little Miriam. I will post it here:First, some background... When my son was born, my water broke in the middle of the night, we went to the hospital and then my contractions starting coming. They gradually built up until I couldn't help but start pushing. They must have judged pretty quickly that my son's head was quite

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-62389369375624680912009-06-14T06:21:00.002+01:002009-06-15T20:11:21.008+01:00

This next week is going to be a fun one:On Monday we celebrate my son's second birthday (we'll wait for his grandparents for a proper party, but we'll do something small on the actual day). Where did the year go? Here are a few pictures from his last birthday: Wednesday is the day that I am due, but of course that is never a given.Me, at 39 weeks with an awful cold:Lastly, Friday

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-52429077536757618742009-06-11T20:22:00.003+01:002009-06-11T20:43:45.656+01:00

I'm afraid I find myself slowing down in the blogging endeavors as I get closer and closer to my due date. The reasons are two-fold:1. I've had a terrible cold - it's just draining me, and I'm praying it will be gone before I give birth.2. After listening to a good sermon at church that convicted me about time spent on the computer, I am trying to be more scheduled and disciplined about my

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-24247941781667502592009-06-08T20:17:00.002+01:002009-06-08T22:01:20.889+01:00

I originally found this recipe on Allrecipes, but what I will post below is my rendition of it. They are fairly healthy for a snack, extremely fast to make and wonderfully versatile. (Enjoying my excessively used adverbs?)Playgroup Granola Bars2 cups rolled oats1/4 cup packed brown sugar1/2 cup wheat germ (or whole wheat flour)3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup all-purpose flour 3/4 cup raisins

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-6053438177989121142009-06-05T11:16:00.005+01:002009-06-05T14:01:06.235+01:00

I love the philosophy of "Simple Mom".  She has many great tips for simplifying life, saving money, managing time, etc...   It totally appeals to my minimalistic self. This week she is focusing on cloth diapers. Part of the week is a cloth diaper give-away.  In unashamedly trying to boost my chances for a win, I am sharing the news here so that you can track back to her website. =)  I've

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-23507824447916534612009-06-02T17:50:00.008+01:002009-06-02T20:48:09.029+01:00

I am a hand-washing fanatic.  I couldn't tell you how many times I wash my hands throughout the day.  I also don't like using gloves to wash dishes because I'm semi-obsessed about being able to feel whether all the food bits have come off.  On top of this, I have used a variety of lotions with very little success because I have small pores and the lotion doesn't soak in.  A couple of hours after

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-85330737325783479492009-06-01T09:32:00.001+01:002009-06-01T14:35:28.986+01:00

When we lived in China, we rarely ate sandwiches. Good bread was hard to find (I made my own most of the time, so it was a little more rationed), deli meats were untrustworthy, cheese was expensive, etc... We ended up having two hot meals a day - one being left-overs or quick (cheap) Chinese take-out.Now that we are living in the western world, sandwiches have become our lunch-time fare with

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-6904958363468210622009-05-28T07:24:00.000+01:002009-05-28T20:46:42.109+01:00

One of the biggest charity sale events here happens twice a year - May and November.  The Kwon sale has been going on for about 30 years now and sends money  to help a hospital in Uganda.  A lady at my church is one of the leaders, so we were given the option of going to help at the sale.  The bonus:  we got to shop a day early after we set up everything.  The second bonus: hanging out with a

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-57813240921992969622009-05-26T07:02:00.001+01:002009-05-26T20:45:22.934+01:00

I feel a bit bad posting so many baby-related topics here lately, but I know of at least three people who read them that are currently pregnant, and several of the others have either just been there or hope to be there soon. It's where my life is at right now, so here we go:Red Raspberry Leaf Tea - the "Pregnancy Tea"Here are its claims:Rich in ironTones the uterusIncreases milk

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-16600370125641533812009-05-24T21:03:00.001+01:002009-05-24T07:34:36.085+01:00

Here are some links that I enjoyed reading. Maybe there are things that will benefit you as well.5 Secrets Most Conventional Cleaning Product Makers Don't Want You To KnowThere is no society as cleanliness-focused as the US. (I state it as a fact. That is my opinion, but I do know that it is a common impression of Americans.) Don't get me wrong... other countries are very clean as well, but

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-7099522989349402782009-05-22T21:05:00.000+01:002009-05-22T21:05:00.407+01:00

This is a tentative meal plan for the 5 weeks that my family will be here after the baby is born.  It won't be followed (for one, I believe my church will provide about a week's worth of meals at some point), but it helps to have something in place so that I don't have to scramble at the last minute.  It will also help as I prepare my grocery list.  I especially like being able to link to the

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-77606157741425995812009-05-20T20:46:00.005+01:002009-06-05T15:44:19.391+01:00

Only four more weeks to go!  I'm trying not to hit panic mode as we are in the final count-down now.  Things have definitely been progressing on my checklist, but unfortunately, every time I check one thing off, I feel like I have to add two more.  Oh, well.  Some things are priorities and others are not.  This is where we are at:Pre-Baby "To Do" ListSort through baby clothes for things a girl

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-45659431696498219752009-05-18T20:59:00.000+01:002009-05-18T21:23:41.244+01:00

I hope to have company over for pizza this week. I'm not sure which day will work for them, so the plan might get switched around accordingly.Breakfasts/Lunches:Same old; same oldDinners:Monday - Lemon Chicken with Peppers Stir-fry over CouscousTuesday - Heavenly Potatoes and Ham with VegetablesWednesday - Crockpot 20 - 40 Clove Garlic Chicken over Rice with Veg. (We love garlic!)Thursday - Ham

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-32261930254143404122009-05-17T17:31:00.009+01:002009-05-17T20:55:36.986+01:00

I can tell that I have been smaller this pregnancy than my first one.  I have no problem with this since my son was pushing 9 pounds - half of it in his head, I think. =)  For both pregnancies, I've taken belly pictures every two weeks to document the growth.  It was time for a comparison:Weeks 33                                  2007

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-81883517494029375532009-05-14T13:43:00.004+01:002009-05-14T14:15:25.168+01:00

I've been reading The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson.  It has been so timely for me as I had been struggling with some of the requirements of motherhood.  I am someone who is task-orientated.  I love schedules, checklists, order and cleanliness - I'm pretty sure each of those is an antonym to "toddler".  (Not that toddlers don't need these things too.  I have seen the importance of each

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-91673844813578068252009-05-13T14:42:00.003+01:002009-05-13T14:53:40.452+01:00

Is it Wednesday already!??  Because I've been writing and saving blog drafts for the future, I feel like I have posted more often than I have.  Sorry.  This is another Wednesday that might not get much done.  On Wednesdays I have a ladies' Bible study at church in the morning and today I had to make a cake to take for an activity that is happening there tonight (I'm not going, they just needed

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-37690350734158760312009-05-11T06:00:00.001+01:002009-05-11T06:00:01.015+01:00

My husband is coming back on Tuesday. Whoo-hoo! Back to proper meals and more dishes. =) Breakfasts/Lunches:Same old; same old - maybe trying to incorporate some of the many mangos I bought for $1.5o at the market. Dinners:Monday - Egg Fried RiceTuesday - Slow Cooker Chicken with Mushroom Wine Sauce over Pasta with Broccoli and Lemon-Poppy Seed Bread for dessert - just because I love that

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-65859015075096152352009-05-08T21:49:00.001+01:002009-05-21T15:50:45.620+01:00

One of my friends introduced me to this bathing concept that has been around Europe for a while, but is just reaching America. According to the Tummy Tub web site:The Tummy Tub is designed to replicate the comfort of the mother’s womb and once in the Tummy Tub, babies naturally adopt the foetal position and instantly feel reassured and relaxed.It is supposed to be much more economical with

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-71463866376737785252009-05-06T13:55:00.002+01:002009-05-06T20:13:20.658+01:00

I'm not sure how well I will participate in the "No Procrastination Wednesday" today. We will be taking my husband to the airport (on the bus), so most of our morning will be out of the house. This week (and the ones to come) I will be focusing on my Pre-Baby "To Do" List, and already things are getting done. Unfortunately, I've thought of more things to add to the list than I have checked off

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-70543838316589030072009-05-05T07:26:00.001+01:002009-05-10T22:16:32.720+01:00

With June only a month away and approaching my 34th week of pregnancy, it is time to start checking things off the list. I was just updating it this morning and starting feeling over-whelmed at everything that needs to get done. With my husband gone for a week, I'll make it my goal to get what I can checked off the list. Unfortunately, quite a few items are contingent on people and

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-66046644194554257812009-05-04T08:53:00.006+01:002009-05-04T09:04:05.849+01:00

My husband is leaving on Wednesday for a week, so I will be super-flexible this week with meals.Breakfasts/Lunches:Same old; same old Dinners:Monday - Scalloped Potatoes and Ham with BroccoliTuesday - Easy Garlic Broiled Chicken with Twice-baked Potatoes and Brussels SproutsI know.. potatoes twice... Oh, well.For the rest of the week, my son and I will "wing it" with these options:* Left-overs*

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-31956427375201364042009-05-01T14:29:00.008+01:002009-05-01T14:51:26.396+01:00

I have had a couple people ask me about my yogurt, so I thought I should post about it.  When I responded to someone's offer of a crockpot on Freecycle, I also got a yogurt-maker in the bargain.  Whoo-hoo!  I've actually only made yogurt twice because I found it to be barely cheaper than the plain yogurt I can purchase here and I don't have a candy thermometer (yet!), so I always feel nervous

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-45598459282298779042009-04-30T14:19:00.000+01:002009-04-30T11:51:02.025+01:00

When I saw this adorable little dress at the thrift store with tags attached and selling for only 50 pence (75 cents), I couldn't resist.  It will probably be seasonally off and totally impractical (with buttons up the back), but oh, so cute!I'm thinking... white, long-sleeved onesie with a little cardigan and leggings should give it more range seasonally.  If all else fails, I can always send it

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-26595258125696476492009-04-29T14:30:00.007+01:002009-04-29T19:31:51.482+01:00

It is that day of the week again - Wednesday.  Today I have tackled getting my nooks and crannies cleaned out and organized.  I am sharing my Before and After pictures and trying not to be too embarrassed about the "Befores" and hoping my "Afters" won't revert back too soon.                This is not the final look that I am going for.  Someday when my poor husband actually gets paid for all the

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-9198563020902194662009-04-27T17:57:00.005+01:002009-04-27T21:43:37.426+01:00

This week there are a lot of web links for my meals because I am trying to use what is in my pantry.  I love that you can search by ingredients on www.allrecipes.com.Breakfasts/Lunches:Same old; same old (though I'm not always boring - I DID make date-filled cinnamon rolls and homemade vanilla yogurt with fresh raspberries last week - but only because I am, very often, quite boring.) Dinners:

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-87270878734761137842009-04-26T13:31:00.001+01:002009-04-26T20:43:31.981+01:00

I'm sorry it has taken me a while to get to the end of this book and write about it. It seems like every time I tried to read more I kept falling asleep - not because it was boring, I'm just pregnant. But, I am happy to say that I did complete the book and hopefully I can summarize the last 140+ pages in one posting. If you have missed the previous posts, you can catch up here: Introduction;

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-17488379969898396872009-04-24T18:49:00.001+01:002009-04-24T19:42:02.516+01:00

To see other "Cool Internet Freebies" please see my previous post.SpotifySpotify is basically a combination of iTunes and radio.  You can look up an album, song or artist and then listen to the entire playlist that pulls up.  It is legal and so far FREE (though my husband says that it is still in beta form, and the "free" might change after they see how well it markets.)  For the time being

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-42642467148546101102009-04-23T13:11:00.001+01:002009-04-23T13:11:00.695+01:00

Here are a few photos to show the progress of our plants.  Parsley on the left and tomatoes on the right.Ooh.. I just love watching plants sprout and grow.Cheering them on.We've actually transplanted some out into our backyard to see how they do.  Apparently it snowed here last year at this time, but we've been having wonderful, warm days for a while now, so I hope all chances of frost are

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-33097838990058997922009-04-22T19:39:00.006+01:002009-04-22T20:36:48.065+01:00

Over at my cousin's blog, she's put out an invitation to join her in trying to use Wednesdays to tackle those projects that are so easy to procrastinate on.  Since procrastination is a definite weakness of mine, I've found this to be very helpful and I wanted to pass the invitation on.Since I'm posting at the end of the day, it will give you a week to think about it and work on a To-Do list.  

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-91490094824986147762009-04-20T13:20:00.012+01:002009-05-01T14:52:06.500+01:00

I have run into this fantastic bread recipe on several blogs.  It has become popular with the release of Artisan Bread in Five Minutes A Day.  The authors have their own website where they post all sorts of delicious looking breads using this very basic method.Here is the base recipe: Artisan Bread3 cups luke-warm water1 1/2 Tbsp yeast1 1/2 Tbsp salt6 1/2 cups white flourMix the first three

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939082944178079216.post-51149229349595779772009-04-19T14:32:00.007+01:002009-04-19T15:04:27.462+01:00

I didn't post a menu plan last week because the week before had enough unexpected dinner changes that I was able to carry most of my plans on to this past week.  But, now my pantry is running low and it is time to plan again so that I can be ready for shopping tomorrow.Breakfasts/Lunches:Same old; same old  (Except now we have instituted my husband's childhood tradition of having Nutella for

Jia Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06869123478915896332noreply@blogger.com4