grandma

November 16, 2015 By Debbie

Last week I got to do something very special, something I know a lot of you would love to be able to do. Believe me – I don’t take this for granted because each year it becomes more and more precious. You see I spent several hours with my mom celebrating her birthday. Isn’t she beautiful?

Let me tell you a little about my mom – She is a woman who cares deeply for others and that inner beauty radiates. This year she decided to make some big changes to her nutrition and which increased her energy and memory. She is an amazing example of how important sound nutrition is to our health and she will tell you it’s never too late to make changes. In June, she and my dad began to follow the 21-Day-Fix Nutrition Program as well as a daily dose of nutrient-dense Shakeology. That increased energy allowed her to go for walks and exercise in her pool this summer. These changes helped her drop some weight, lose some inches and build muscle. Within weeks we began to notice a positive change. I get a bit choked up because this was an area that I worried about – my mom has struggled with her health and there have been times when she has been unwell and been unable for us to have a day like we did today. But this year, we had a blast.

I decided to document our special day together and hopefully let my mom know how much I love and appreciate her. When I was a child, she lovingly sewed clothes for me, refinished furniture for a bedroom makeover, dried my tears, stroked my forehead when I was feverish, and laughed with me. As a teenager she bought me my first Seventeen Magazine and told me about Bonnie Bell, took me for my first appointment with a hair stylist and told me I was pretty when everything in the mirror told me I was awkward. She encouraged me by buying me two high-end dresses when I was hired for my first big-time job, took care of me when I brought my babies home (always magically refilling my glass with Cran-Raspberry juice), and consistently used her talent to create one-of-a kind Halloween costumes for my children each year) and oh so much more.

So back to our day – First we made cookies – not any ordinary cookie but one that has been in our family for generations – a persimmon spice cookie. Now you need to understand that my mom has embraced eating healthier (except for today at lunch because we believe in celebrating) and knew that several ingredients in the cookie recipe could be improved on so my work began to give my mom a new cookie recipe for her birthday. Persimmons are only available for a short range of time in the fall – ask my mom and dad and they can tell you where and who has the best price. The cookies can also be made with canned pumpkin. Learn more about persimmons – HERE

My mom arrived at 10:00 a.m. with her defrosted prepped persimmons and we were ready to get started. Now I had tried the recipe with pumpkin as my dry run but now was the true test – would it work with the persimmons? We got our ingredients out and started measuring…

Then there was a knock on the door with a special delivery for Nana.

After hugs and kisses we got back to the recipe at hand. I learned from my mom about what the consistency of the dough should look like. Mom learned about precut parchment paper and a cookie scooper.

Then we took a break to capture a birthday photo with 3 of her favorite people. My grandson was trying to hold the mirror so I could be in the picture also.

We were pretty happy being in the kitchen together baking those cookies.

Then it was off to lunch for some crepes.

Oh and the cookies – here is the recipe in case you want to give them a go using pumpkin or persimmons. They turned out great. We added chopped hazelnuts in this batch. Click HERE

It is a gift to share our love for candy and instead turn to recreating the recipes of the past making them healthier for the generations to come. PS – Now my mom enjoys organic fruit-sweetened lollipops.

I’m not telling my mom’s age but I’m 57 and I hope I have this joy for life when I’m her age, don’t you?

When I asked my mom what was one of the sweetest changes from applying a healthy lifestyle, she said she had thought that she was too old to make changes and now knew that wasn’t true and also that my dad called her cute. Can you blame him?

Grandma’s Hospital Bag

May 27, 2014 By Debbie

We are excited because our granddaughter is due any day now. Since our grandson arrived a few weeks before his due date we thought the same might hold true of his sister. But this little one is perfectly content safe and snug in mommy which we all know is for the best and that she’ll come when it’s time.

So we have the plan laid out – who will be doing what and when. My job is to get to the hospital as soon as I get the call. We all hear about what the expectant mama is packing for the hospital but I decided I needed my own bag so if I was at work and wearing a skirt I’d be prepared. As I was packing my bag I thought maybe there are others that would be interested in this information as well. Step 1 – You need a bag…

I chose this tote from Thirty-One. This company has so many cute and useful items in their product line. I’m all for Cute but let’s face it the Functionality needs to be there or you’re just throwing money away. Of course I needed something with pink to help mark the occasion. This bag is so well organized with compartments that are pockets, zippers and even has a place on the side for a water bottle. It also fits comfortably on the shoulder. I also bought the key holder – so cute with all those polka dots.

Step 2 – You need to pack. This is what is in my bag:

Columbia Hiking Pants – These pants have some stretch in them and absorb sweat. When you are helping someone with back labor it’s important to be comfy and able to move.

Black short sleeve t-shirt

A lightweight long sleeve jacket – probably won’t need but sometimes hospitals can be cold.

A sports bra

Balega Cushioned Sports Sock – This socks are comfy. Love – love these.

Comfy Shoes

Hair Ties and Crystal Nail File – a rough nail is not appreciated by a woman in labor that needs her back massaged and my hair needs to be out of my eyes.

Medicine – I want to take care of myself and have what I might need. This is no time for a headache, etc.

Washcloth – A soft washcloth is nice to use in an ice bath to cool off mommy’s skin.

Snacks – Raw nuts, Zing Bars and Bottled Water – to keep me nourished

Camera – make sure you have one even if it’s on your phone.

Wallet, Keys, Cell Phone, Charger and Directions to the Hospital. – will be switched from purse to bag.

I am now ready.

I mentioned to my daughter this weekend that I think the baby will be here soon because I’ve been nesting. That made her laugh but seriously I was able to create some order with children’s toys in our living room. I’m still waiting on a few pieces of the storage solution but will try to remember to share sometime in the future. I also decided to clean closets in two rooms on Sunday. I questioned my sanity but you know how it is – you start with an idea and then one thing turns into another. Soon I had two rooms in total disarray. I was very motivated to keep plugging along since a call for the baby could come at anytime. But all is well and it feels good to finish a project that has been on the list for years – an official workout/writing/craft and sewing room. Once I had things organized I discovered several items I could use to decorate ( a quilt sampler my mom had given me, the thrift store vase from my aunt’s 80th birthday party and a lamp that had old potpourri in its base (I replaced with some cranberry wooden beads and used a hand painted mason jar that was also used for my aunt’s party which gave the lamp a new look). I am happy to say I didn’t buy one thing. I am very thankful to my daughter for not going into labor which she assures me she had no control over and if she had we’d have a baby now.

Well my instincts were right on – the baby was born shortly after this post was published. Here is our sweetie pie..

A Mom Shout Out

Grandma’s Hospital Bag

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