We think this post from a few years back is worth a Second Glance, especially since it’s spring break and we’re off frolicking with our kids. Enjoy!

Ahhhhh…spring break is finally here. Seems like we’ve been waiting for it since the day after school began last year.  A break from the routine of alarm clocks, bed times, endless homework, car pools, nagging.   I am as excited as the kids are.  It’s hard work to parent school children.  A lot of stress.   A lot of responsibility.  A lot of effort trying to  keep up with the  perfect parents who are probably busy trying to keep up with a whole other set of perfect parents.  It’s a vicious cycle…one from which I am ready for a break.  I went to bed last night with “visions” of  relaxation, going to the park, eating sand coated sandwiches  at the reservoir,  soaking up the first glorious rays of the summer soon to come.

It seems that my ‘visions” were slightly off, as I am now, on the first afternoon of spring break, staring forlornly out my window at snowflakes. Three inches of snowflakes to be  exact, and I fear there is more to come.  How could this happen?  How could Mother Nature be so cruel as to  single-handedly destroy MY spring break?  MY time to sit outside and read a frivolous paperback while the kids frolic. There will be no frolicking this week, only whining bored kids and a frustrated mom.  Snow has long ago worn out its welcome.  That happens at about the same time as the after Christmas sales wind down.  I have lost  count of how many times I have already heard today, “Mom, what can I do?”  It’s the same phrase I’ve been hearing for the past 3 months.  I want to say, “Go outside and frolic in the sun!”  Oh, wait a minute…there is no sun!

Thankfully, there is a little angel in the form of a 9 year old girl, who lives down the street.  She came over minutes ago to rescue my son from the gloom and doom pervading  my home.  They are now outside in full winter gear: snow pants, puffy coats, snow boots, hats and gloves.  I’m not joking! If I didn’t know better, I would think it was the middle of winter, not the first day of spring break.   I can see them playing outside in the snow.  Their cheeks are rosy.  They are laughing, throwing snowballs and generally having a great time.  Dare I say they might be frolicking?

Maybe I should take a lesson from the kids.  Maybe it’s time to roll with the punches, even if the punch means one more blast of winter.  If a couple of 9- year-olds can do it, so can I.

I say if  Mother Nature can break the unspoken spring break rule  of warmth, sunshine, and frolicking, well then it’s high time I break some rules as well.  Drastic measures are now called for.  I am now putting on a Michael Buble Christmas cd  in an attempt to lift my spirits.  This will mean breaking my set-in-stone Christmas music rule.   (I made a rule years ago that Christmas music could only be played from Thanksgiving Day until New Years Eve in an attempt the keep the music “special”. ) Strains of  “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” are now flowing through my house. Liz suggested presents and Santa cookies might be in order.  I say “Let’s not go nuts, here.”  Perhaps Liz does not realize what making sugar cookies entails. I mean it is Liz we’re talking about.  She’s probably on a first name basis with the employees at the local bakery, so how could she know!

I think chocolate chip cookies are a suitable substitute, and perhaps I can find some hidden for a rainy (snowy)  day dollar store treasures in a closet somewhere.  Maybe we’ll even blow up a beach ball and toss it around in the snow.   It’s spring break, after all…might as well have some fun frolicking!

-Kate

And considering the fact that we’ve had snow and ice on the roads more days than not over the past month or so – and considering that today is the second snow day this week – I figure we could use all the help we can get when it comes to getting around in this stuff.

To that end, I thought I’d share some tips for walking in the snow and ice – without breaking a leg!

• Toss your purse, laptop or other personal belongings into a backpack. Carrying things in your arms or slinging a purse on your shoulder will throw off your balance.
• If there is a mixture of snow and ice on the ground, try to walk in the snow as much as possible.
• Take baby steps.
• Look ahead – watch for shiny or dark spots on sidewalks and roads, which are likely nice little sheets of ice.
• Pretend like you’re a skater.  Ted (Operation Athlete) taught me this one while escorting us to our cars. Too bad the advice came about 2 hours after I blew out my knee… Think about it. You’re expecting to slip and slide, anyway. So just glide your way across the ice. Trust me on this one.
• Wear shoes with a textured sole – better yet, invest in a pair of golf shoes or YakTrax
• Shovel porches and walkways before the snow turns to ice. Get rid of any ice with an ice melter or kitty litter.
• And my favorite piece of advice: Stay inside by a nice fire, with a mug of hot chocolate and your favorite Snuggy!

Happy snow travels! (Or something like that…)

-Liz

how to ice proof your car windows. Expecting frost overnight? Just fill a spray bottle with three parts vinegar to one part water and spray on your car windows at night. In the morning, they should be clear of the icy mess.  How does it work? Vinegar contains acetic acid, which raises the melting point of water – preventing water from freezing. What to do if you wake up to an already frozen car? Just spray the mixture on your window and watch it melt.

Betcha didn’t know…

how to prevent your car doors from freezing shut using cooking spray.  Spray cooking spray on the rubber seals around car doors and rub it in with a paper towel, “Doors freeze when snow melts into the seals during the day, and then freezes at night,” says Robert Sinclair Jr. of AAA, The oils in the cooking spray prevent water from melting into the rubber in the first place.

Betcha didn’t know…

this trick for de-icing your frozen car door lock. Just put some hand sanitizer gel on the key and the lock to solve the problem.  Why does this work?  Because hand sanitizers contain alcohol, the main ingredient in most commercial de-icers.  Just make sure to use a hand sanitizer that’s 60% alcohol.  Sanitizers with less alcohol than that won’t work. (And guess what…with less than 60% alcohol they won’t sanitize your hands, either!)

Related articles

• Prevent Car Doors From Freezing Shut with Cooking Spray [Clever Uses] (lifehacker.com)
• Are Hand Sanitizers Better Than Washing Your Hands? (self.com)
• You: Use Hand Sanitizer as Emergency Deodorant [Clever Uses] (lifehacker.com)
• Useful Object of the Day: Hand Sanitizer (benjisimon.blogspot.com)

Stop for a moment and try to imagine what the holidays would be like without Christmas music. So many of our traditions and memories are tied to the music of the season.

With that in mind, we’ll be featuring a few of our all-time favorites, in no particular order, today through Christmas. And we are probably gonna think of another 3,000 favorites as soon as we post these. Nevertheless, here are a few of our “never get tired of” tunes that seem to get us through the season.

Meanwhile on to the music:

“Baby It’s Cold Outside” by Zooey Deschanel and Leon RedBone

“Oh Holy Night” by Celine Dion

” Celebrate Me Home” by Kenny Loggins

“God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” by Mannheim Steamrollers

“Song for a Winter’s Night” by Sarah Mclachlan

So there are a few to get you started. Be sure to drop us a line and let us know some of your favorites, too! And tune in again tomorrow for more of our favorite Christmas music!

This week, we’re featuring five crafts or edible ideas so let’s get to it!

• Susan’s Chicken Tacos
• Holiday Wassail
• Candy Crackers
• Pine Crafts
• Bowls made from vinyl records

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My cousin Susan has been quite an asset to our craftdown. This week, she sent in a recipe that sounds great for those busy holiday nights. It’s perfect for the family, or a dinner party:

Susan’s Chicken Tacos

1 cup frozen corn

15-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained

16-ounce jar mild salsa

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or 1 1/2 pounds)

Place first 3 ingredients in a slow cooker and stir to combine.  Arrange chicken on top.  Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.  Remove chicken from slow cooker and shred with a fork.  Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir to combine.

Serve over rice, in warm tortillas, or with tortilla chips with some of the following garnishes:

• Sour cream
• Shredded cheddar or Monterey jack cheese
• Salsa
• Chopped green onions
• Chopped red, yellow, and green peppers
• Sliced avocados or prepared guacamole
• Shredded lettuce
• Chopped tomatoes
• Sliced black olives
• Sliced jalapenos
• Hot sauce

Set up buffet-style and let everyone create his or her own meal.

Leftovers freeze well. Serves 8-10.

When Susan sent this recipe, she also asked for a long-time favorite drink recipe. No dinner would be complete without a beverage, so here’s a little holiday cheer:

Holiday Wassail

1 c. fresh lemon juice

2 c. fresh, frozen concentrate, or packaged orange juice

2 c. unsweet pineapple juice

½ gallon apple cider

1 t. whole cloves

1 stick cinnamon

¼ c. sugar

Pour all juices into large pot or crockpot. Place cloves and cinnamon in cotton or cheesecloth bag and add to juices.

Bring to a simmering boil over medium heat. Cover and simmer one hour. Dissolve sugar in hot wassail before removing from heat. For an extra kick, add one pint of Apple Jack or hard cider. (Don’t boil after liquor is added) Makes about 4 quarts. Reheats nicely, assuming it lasts…

Let’s finish off the meal with a treat for your sweet tooth, Candy Crackers submitted by reader, Karen Smith-Morganti.

CANDY CRACKERS

2-3 sleeves of Club Crackers (regular or whole wheat, your choice)

1 ½ cup granulated sugar

2 sticks butter

3 tbsp. white corn syrup

2 tsp good vanilla

1 large package fresh Pecans – (chopped or pieces, your choice)

Line jelly roll pan with non-stick foil.  Spray foil with non-stick spray (just in case).   Spread out your crackers evenly, covering the bottom of the jelly roll pan (you may have to break a few crackers here and there).

Combine first 3 ingredients (sugar, butter and corn syrup) in sauce pan and bring to a boil.

Pull from heat and add vanilla.  Stir.

Pour over crackers and spread as evenly as possible.  Quickly sprinkle on pecans.

Bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees.  Let cool and break apart.  Store tightly covered.

No need to calorie count or watch fat.  They’re too good for anyone to care!

I don’t know what’s overcome me, but I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time creating over the past week. Saturday, I decided I needed a wreath for the front door, but didn’t want to pay for one. So I dusted off one of those wreaths made of twigs and set out in search of decorations.

Pine Crafts

After a good deal of time searching in vain for something to put on it, I happened to glance out the window. To the pine trees. Eureka!

Pruners in hand, I scalped several branches and turned to come back inside – until I noticed a bush underneath my daughter’s bedroom window, loaded with clusters of red berries. Enter the pruning shears – again.

I don’t own a glue gun, so I decided to just weave the pine branches and berries into the twig wreath and hope for the best. So far, so good. I’d gone a little crazy with my pruning, so I started looking around for other uses for the leftover berries and branches. Next thing I knew, I’d created four more Christmas decorations – and it didn’t cost me a penny. Hooray for me.

And now for the grand finale…so easy you won’t believe it!

Vinyl Record Album Bowl

I ran across this nifty retro idea that looks like the perfect thing to make for one of my brothers. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Vinyl record album (available at most thrift stores)
• Oven
• Bowl

Heat the oven to 200 to 250 degrees. Invert an oven-proof bowl of choice and place on a cookie sheet. Place album on top of bowl and bake for 5-8 minutes. The album will begin to warp over the bowl, making it pliable for shaping.  Once it gets good and warpy, remove from oven and work quickly to shape it to the bowl. The album will be warm, but  you’ll be able to use your bare hands on it.

There are two ways to do this. If you shape the album around the outside of the bowl, you’ll get a larger interior.

You can also flip the bowl upright, push the album into the bowl, and shape that way. Albums are so cheap that you can try several of them. I couldn’t really find a way to screw this one up, so I think however you do it will be fine.

That’s it! Can you say simple? The bowl is perfect for fruit, candy, whatever your heart desires.

And I think it’ll be the perfect fit for Vespa Lexington’s show room.

Old albums can also be made into wall clocks, by simply adding a clock kit (you really only need the hands, but could likely come up with cool ways to add the numbers around the perimeter). I may try a clock, too. I think the kits are less than five bucks.

Okay kids, that’s it for week five. Hope you enjoy the delicious recipes from today’s craftdown.

~Liz & Kate

Enjoy your Coffee Break

Obviously this wouldn’t be a problem in the middle of summer. Even if the A/C had gone out, I’d have been just as content to roll down the windows and let the fresh air in – not a practice I’m willing to implement in 20-degree weather.

You’d think the fact that it was miserably cold – especially when Colton and I headed out the door for school in the mornings – would have been enough. Worse though, was this little teaser game the fan played. It would run for about 20 seconds, slow down, speed up again and quit.

Sometimes going over a bump would jolt it into action, but I figured it probably wasn’t in the best interest of me or the car to play “hit the pot hole.” The best I could do was pray for sunny days and hope that Mr. Sun would provide enough heat in the enclosed space to at least take the chill out of the air.

Thankfully, my brother’s mechanic (Jason) at Vespa Lexington agreed to look at the car last weekend. He unplugged plugs and did whatever it is that mechanically gifted people do. After reconnecting, the fan appeared to be working once more.

For all of about 15 minutes.

Once again, the bloom was off of the rose, if you will. Actually the bloom was likely freezing. I know I was.

Luckily, Jason was a good sport about it all, told me what part to get, and agreed to make the repairs a couple of days ago. About three hours later, all appeared to be in tip-top shape.

But I’ll have to wait for another day to be sure it is fixed. Today was 60 and sunny. At least for today, heater fan working or not, I finally had some semblance of heat.

-Liz

What is this thing that is so dreaded that I am putting so much energy into NOT doing it? This chore that I’m working so hard at forgetting?

I’m talking about taking down the Christmas decorations, of course. Sure, they are all fun and exciting and sparkly in November, when I just can’t wait to crack open the red and green storage tubs to see my holiday treasures that have been hidden away for almost a year. But by the time the first week of January hits, those very same precious  snowmen, Santas and ornaments have become dusty, commonplace and overlooked. Suddenly they have evolved into one of my least favorite household duties.

Every day for  the past week and a half, I have successfully distracted myself with other projects, pastimes, and activities. But today I could no longer put it off. I was expecting some neighbors over at three and I had to get those decorations put away and the house back into pre-holiday order. I felt sure I was the only slacker who had not un-decorated. No problem I thought. Plenty of time.

It was at this point that I posted this confession as my Facebook status,

“Kate is done procrastinating about taking down the Christmas decorations. Company coming in 3 hours. (I know…it’s well beyond the socially acceptable time to still have Christmas decorations up. Perhaps I LIKE being socially unacceptable. Ever think of that??)”

(Note the tone of defiance at the end of the confession, practically daring anyone judge me on my holiday clean-up dawdling.)

I left FB up and went to work. I started off with the fragile nativity sets, carefully wrapping each piece in newspaper. Not so bad. Then I moved on to clear off the fireplace mantel, the shelves and the top of the piano. Still making good time.

Checked in with FB. Four comments: three also confessing to having their decorations up, one saying her tree had been taken down “forever ago”.  Moved on to unwrap the pictures on the walls that I had so excitedly wrapped 4 weeks ago. Next project – to put away the unwrapped presents that were still under the tree that had yet to find proper homes in the house.

Back to check into FB. Three more comments all admitting to having their Christmas decorations still up. I was NOT alone. There were others out there like me. I was feeling pretty good. That is until I noticed what time it was. My neighbors were due over in less than an hour, and I still had my tree to take down and my regular decorations to put back up.

I rushed into supermom mode, quickly getting all the ornaments off the tree (only breaking one!), and untangling  the lights and garland which had been woven so lovingly through the tree branches.. Then the big debate in my mind…how to best get the tree out of the house all by myself. Preferably without sloshing water on the floor, and with as little needle loss as possible. I decided to slowly drag the tree, still in the tree stand, across the living room floor, through the entryway, out the front door and down the outside steps. Let me tell you that this was probably NOT the wisest method of tree removal. I DID slosh water all over the floor, and I did get pine needles EVERYWHERE.

And now I only had 20 minutes until the arrival of the expected company. Twenty minutes…and a wet floor, fallen needles in every nook and cranny, boxes of decorations filling the entryway and of course, no make-up on and unfixed hair. (Who had time to get ready with all that un-decorating to accomplish?)

So I did the only thing I could do…I called the expected guests and told them we would have to reschedule our visit.  That I had an unexpected “appointment” and wouldn’t be available…Well, I did! It was unexpected and it was an “appointment”. I just didn’t tell them it was an appointment with cleaning up the disaster I created. (Come on. Don’t judge me. It’s merely semantics.)

I now have 14 comments on that FB status. Overwhelming support for my procrastination. Thanks for the validation, friends. (FB is great therapy.) Here’s a few excerpts:

• “You know, when my tree is up this long its as if my tree is a little person talking to me everyday saying things like “take me down, think how long its going to take to put away these ornaments, don’t you want to have this over and done with?” Very similar to how I used to feel having an English paper hanging over my head.”
• “One year I left my decorations up until March, just because I could.”
• “I haven’t even toyed with the idea of taking my tree down. I enjoy it more after the holidays than during them…less pressure.”
• “You mean you’re not supposed to just leave them up all year? Sure saves a lot of time….”

~Kate

You wake up in the morning and see that  snow has been falling all night, covering the roads and blowing into snowdrifts keeping you from your job/school/regular life.  How do you choose to spend this unexpected day of freedom?  How you choose to spend a snow day shows the activities you are longing to participate in, but rarely have the time for. See if you can find your favorite snowy day diversion and find out what that says about you…

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If a snowy day means…

Baking up a storm –

You’re a serenity seeker!

According to psychologist Kathleen Nickerson, Ph.D. (FeelBetterNetwork.com), “Bakers often tell me what a release it is to create something out of flour, sugar and butter.” Nickerson says that following a recipe’s instructions zaps stress by turning off the analytical part of your brain. Whether you spend your unexpected free time whipping up something sweet or savory, it suggests you crave an escape from your high-octane routine. After all, you know an enforced day off provides the perfect opportunity to recharge your batteries so you can hit the ground running tomorrow.

Sledding –

You’re humble with a heart of gold!

Ironically, the more action-packed your snow day, the more likely you are to be reserved. “Introverts lean toward physical activities because they prefer to show what they’re interested in, rather than talk about their hobbies,” says Nickerson. plus, sledding is more likely something your kids enjoy more than you – and since you’re the epitome of generosity, you’re happy to slip and slide if it makes them smile.

Playing board games –

You’re a wit-matching people person!

“You enjoy seeing how people think and get a charge from matching your wits with others,” says Nickerson. So it makes sense that snow days often find you gathering the gang for a board game. For you playing Trouble, Battleship or life represents more than an opportunity to strategize – it opens the door to conversation, something that’s full of the fun, and even some of the risks that come with the best of games.

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Cracking open a good book

You’re a balanced brainiac!

Reading is akin to a workout for your brain, so it’s likely yours is a lean, mean intellectual machine. “Reading activates the language part of your brain, and the part for visualization, bringing together both halves,” explains Nickerson. By culling creativity from your right brain and logic from your left, you put the Technicolor in a gray day!

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Curling up with a movie –

You’re a creative problem solver!

Watching movies is a surprisingly active pursuit “It compels you to imagine what you would do if you were in a similar situation,” notes Nickerson. And this ability to empathize coupled with your active imagination makes you a born problem solver. Artistic yet analytical, you’re able to make every snow day a little more interesting.

So I would say that on a snow day I would definitely go for reading a good book, over the other options.  Calling  myself a balanced brainiac, however, is pushing it!

Which type are you? Leave me a comment and tell me which type of snow day person you are!

~Kate

Enjoy your Coffee Break!

(Info provided by Woman’s World Magazine – Dec. 14. 2009 issue)

*Leave a comment on this, or any, post and be automatically entered in this week’s giveaway.

how to prevent your car doors from freezing shut using cooking spray.  Spray cooking spray on the rubber seals around car doors and rub i in with a paper towel, “Doors freeze when snow melts into the seals during the day, and then freezes at night,” says Robert Sinclair Jr. of AAA, The oils in the cooking spray prevents water from melting into the rubber in the first place.

* Add your comment to this, or any post, and be automatically entered in this week’s giveaway.

this trick for de-icing your car door lock.  Just put some hand sanitizer gel on the key and the lock to solve the problem.  Why does this work?  Because hand sanitizers contain alcohol, the main ingredient in most commercial de-icers.  Just make sure to use a hand sanitizer that’s 60% alcohol.  Sanitizers with less alcohol than that won’t work (and guess what:They won’t sanitize you hand, either!)