Katharine Trauger: Seven Steps to Stop the Sneezing
Itchy eyes, ears, nose, throat; runny eyes, nose; stuffy nose; and cough are just a few of the delights that visit us each year, if we are among the pollen afflicted.
It’s Fall Fever. This is a made-up name for the Fall malady that corresponds to Spring Fever which happens in Spring.
And it makes us feel like yuck.
Outside of chemicalizing oneself half to death, what can a person do?
I have found several ways to beat autumn’s ragweed, and I’d love to share them with you.
A few years ago I learned the power of a tea party after a very busy season. I had a lot on my plate and was absent a lot from what was going on here at the home and with my kids. I was gone a lot and even when I was “here,” I really wasn’t really “here,”if you know what I mean. My to-do list, work list, and other commitments had me swamped to the point I was feeling the “Mom Guilt” pretty good. READ MORE…
Hey, Y’all, I’m Keri, a food blogger over at My Table of Three, and believe it or not, I am your Mrs. October!
When I opened the email invitation for blogger of the month, I thought “Oh my word, what were they thinking; don’t they know I’m a hot mess over here?” Seriously, have you guys seen the talent around this site? These women are an inspiration and I wasn’t sure I could hold up to the wonderful bar they have set! But, after a couple of pep talks to myself, the honor of being able to share with all of you sank in and I convinced myself that you guys could handle a small peek into this wacky brain of mine.
First things first! I am a native Arkansan and though I have lived in a few other states for work, I have always known this beautiful state would be my home and where I would raise my family. I grew up in Camden, a small town in South Arkansas, where on a quick trip to WalMart, you were sure to see everyone you knew. Oh, and like other small towns, their parking lot was the popular hangout throughout my teenage years. You know, we were so cool back then!
I was born to two amazing parents who taught me so much about living an honest and good life. The love and support they offered me growing up spurred me through my college years at Southwestern AG University in Waxahachie, TX and well into my years of building my career, working for a company that I had gotten very familiar with over the years, WalMart!
I enjoyed a 16-year career with them, before meeting and falling in love with the most wonderful man. We married and were blessed with a handsome son who has changed our life for the better. Soon after he was born I traded my high heels and busy work schedule for a chance to stay at home with my sweet boy. Over the last few years, my weeks consist of days where homeschooling, household chores, and blogging come crashing head first into my days working part-time as a real estate assistant. This world of mine is often a place where a well-planned day is only a small hiccup away from many hours of mom chaos.
Some days I can just go with the flow and come out smiling and other days I need to drink coffee by the gallon to keep my head above water. You know that saying, “fake it till you make it”, right? Well, that’s my motto on those days. Who am I kidding, it’s my motto for most days! But no matter how hectic my schedule is or how dirty my apron gets while cleaning up all the messes, I wouldn’t trade this life for any other (she says as she pours yet another cup of coffee).
I began blogging two years ago as a way to keep track of the healthier recipes I was creating for my family. You see, I have struggled with my weight all my life, and I decided that if I was going to have a long and happy life with my husband and son, I had to make some changes. So the blog was a great way for me to share my story, hold myself accountable, and reach out to other women walking the same path.
At the time, when I started, I never dreamed blogging would take me where it has. In all honesty, I wasn’t even sure I how long I would be able to keep it up with it with all I had going on. But, fast forward two years and here I am still blogging and working on getting healthier by the day. I have met some amazing people and been blessed by them all.
I am so glad I took that leap and decided to start blogging that day because the friendships that I have made and the wonderful lessons I have learned along the way are priceless. Oh, and look at me now, a calendar girl, Mrs. October! Who would have ever thought I would say that? Certainly now, this girl. I am grateful for this chance to share more with you all as the month goes along.
I have to say, being the caregiver to a child with two major chronic illnesses is the biggest job I have ever had to do. It is non stop monitoring all day, everyday, 24/7. Trying to maintain a balance not only for my child with medical issues but also for the rest of my family and myself, it is like walking a tight rope all day long. I am slowly realizing that God chose me to do this job. I admit I never asked or wanted this part of the job, but we (the whole family included) are all learning how to become professionals at dealing with diabetes. READ MORE
October was a Ca-RAZY month for me. Work had me like, woah! I did manage to do a lot of fun Halloween stuff over on the Desperately Seeking Gina Facebook page. I made some cute paper pumpkin candy holders on a Friday Five Live episode but never got around to sharing them here. I loved them so much I thought I’d re-imagine them into DIY Pumpkin Place Cards. It seems I’m big on making place cards for Thom and myself. READ MORE…
What are you thankful for this Thursday? Stop by the Spotted Cow Review to learn what Susan is thankful and to find out more about the life as a dairy farmer. READ MORE…
What’s the craziest thing a 35+ week pregnant woman could do? Sort through years worth of junk to hold a Saturday Yard Sale!?
Who is crazy enough to hold said Yard Sale? This chick! Yep, you can just pick me up and cart me to the nut house!
Aside from how crazy I felt pudging around trying to sell all my junk, we had a great day and sold quite a bit of stuff. And boy did we need it. Just as I was counting up our profit from the day, our oven decided to go out. So new stove it is.
I wanted to share a few tips on how we had the best yard sale ever, whether you’re pregnant or not. READ MORE…
When you pick a peck of peppers, what do you next? One of my favorite solutions is to make pepper jelly. And if you have a variety of colors in your pepper peck, it makes for a fun and tasty condiment that hopefully (fingers crossed) lasts you till the next growing season. The bright colors of the different peppers give the jelly a confetti look just the right touch for a party. READ MORE…
Mexican-style Brown Rice: Jamie Smith
Does your family adore Mexican-style rice but you’d rather it have just a bit better nutrition? My Mexican-style rice uses reduced-sodium ingredients, making this recipe much less salty than what you would find from a flavor packet. Also, I use Riceland brown rice, which is usually considered better nutritionally than most white rices. This delicious, incredibly easy recipe is great as a side item or as a filler for burritos and other Tex-Mex dishes. READ MORE…
Polly’s Apple Pie: Katharine Trauger
Our gal, Katharine Trauger of Home’s Cool, shares the pie that made her learn to love apple pie. Since it’s apple season in Arkansas, we thought this was one you’d want to put on your baking menu now. Do you make apple pies ahead of time and freeze them? They’re one of the easiest to freeze and enjoy later.
Polly was the mother of one of our dearest friends. She lived a life punctuated with fabulous sugary creations. We have found we need to eliminate lots of purely sugary downloads, but I make exceptions for Thanksgiving or very special company.
This pie is one of the exceptions. The secrets to it are: real butter, too much sugar, and the baking time and temp. The bottom crust will be a bit difficult to manage, but you will NOT care. Read More
Easy Glazed 4 Ingredient Pumpkin Cookies: Lacie Ring
In the honor of the season of giving thanks and my girlfriend who loves pumpkin, I give you this super easy Glazed 4 Ingredient Pumpkin Cookies recipe made from a box of cake mix with glaze made from store bought frosting recipe. Read More
If you want a cookie to impress, you have come to the right place with these white chocolate chip and almond oatmeal cookies. Several months ago, the Hubs picked up some delicious oatmeal cookies from a special bakery he visited during a work trip. The man knows when he leaves me with these children for a week, he better show back up with something g-o-o-o-d!
As I ate my delicious round of sugary goodness, I considered the flavors. I decided this was a cookie I must try to recreate on my own. And that was when the recipe for these white chocolate chip and almond oatmeal cookies was born. I used my basic oatmeal cookie recipe as the base and just guessed my way through the ratios for the white chocolate and the almonds. READ MORE…
Like most first time homeowners, our décor budget is somewhat slim. I love seeing the years trends in glossy magazines, like the fabric wrapped pumpkins and fall leaves abound a beautiful mantle or tablescape. I could seriously let my mind take me away, my pocket book, on the other hand screams in opposition. Don’t worry, there are still ways to create some beautiful fall vignettes around your own home even on a Dollar Tree budget. READ MORE…
I was born to two amazing parents who taught me so much about living an honest and good life. The love and support they offered me growing up spurred me through my college years at Southwestern AG University in Waxahachie, TX and well into my years of building my career, working for a company that I had gotten very familiar with over the years, WalMart!
