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Today, for the first time in awhile, I’m feeling okay. Just content and at peace. It’s a lovely feeling. I don’t know where all of the chaos of my feelings from yesterday came from, I only know they came crashing on me at the wrong time, in the wrong moment, and I couldn’t support them all anymore. I just let them fall. And, maybe that’s the secret to my peacefulness today. Letting go of all of the stuff that no longer matters and stop trying to make sense of things that have no explanation. Whatever the reason, I’m thankful. The kids and I had one of the best mornings here. We watched Finding Nemo and just enjoyed this rainy Friday morning. Now they’re all crashed out on nap mats (well, most of them are anyway) and I am stealing a few moments to blog when I should be catching up on paperwork. It is Friday after all.

Tonight we’re taking the boy and his friend who is a girl but kinda is dating out to dinner. Whew. That’s a mouthful. I guess we can shorten it to girlfriend but don’t tell him you heard that from me. I am trying to be decidedly hands off on any comments or conversation about her. They went to her prom and her parents seem very nice and they have known each other awhile because they work together. It seems good. So, nothing from mom to jinx things. We’re going to Texas Roadhouse so it’s salad and sweet potato for this girl. Oh, and a yeast roll. Or two. Those things are seriously addictive.

So, weekend plans? I have none. Except to finish the deck staining and wrap up menu and food buying for the boy’s graduation party next weekend. It feels good to be facing a 3 day weekend of no real plans. I am hoping for some good running! Cooler temps and 3 days with the hubby sounds perfect. What about you? Any plans.

I’m working on some themed post ideas. I know I am deviating a bit from homemade when I venture into budgeting, home management and other things like that but I think it can be helpful. And really, a homemade life focuses on being self-sufficient, right? So, that’s what I’m working on here…that and checking out race calendars to find a way to spend some $. I’m thinking it might be time to pick a race. A whole year with no races seems so long…

Sheri

Back in the Groove – some DIY around the house.

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Okay, even though I haven’t been posting any new blog posts, I have been busy around the house, in the kitchen and, most importantly, while wearing running shoes.

My newest running streak is alive and well! I completed day 17 yesterday and maybe today might even get a long run in. I can hope! So, what’s been keeping my mileage down? The house. We have been so busy with little house projects here and there that I feel like there’s little time (and sometimes energy) left over for any running adventures. But I love, love, love working on my house and adding little touches here and there so it’s all good. Keeping fit and healthy is more important to me than racking up the miles anyway. I’m happy and that’s the important thing.

So, what have we done around the house lately? Well, we added a new storm door. And by we, I mean my father in law and my husband. The day before my daughter’s wedding. The. Day. Before. So, no painting or finishing of any kind could be done by me and there was a ton of building out that had to be done to attach it. Why do builders not allow for a space of any kind to add a door? Anyway, so finally that job was done and all of the trim was repainted around the front door to match it all up. Looks nice but geesh. So, then, after the new door was put on and the painting was done, I noticed our light fixtures had turned from black to some sort of grayish blah. I decided to buy new. Well, I thought I had decided that. After going to Lowe’s and realizing we needed FIVE outdoor lights….I decided painting was the way to go. Hubby took one down and I spray painted it copper (trying to be all trendy and all) and HATED it! So we tried several different versions of metallic paints and settled on flat black. LOL! All the lights were redone and they look like new for the cost of a small can of rustoleum paint, $5. And the cost of a few other non-winning metallic paints. But all in all, cheaper than new lights.

And, I was really, really set on a rocker or some type of seat on the front porch. I just couldn’t bring myself to pay $100 for something that would never see use. So, I decided to wait, figuring the right thing would come along. And it did. I was heading to the grocery store and noticed two wicker rockers along the road. Hmmm. I thought to myself I should stop and pick them up, but decided to wait and go to the grocery store first. The hubby HATES when I pick up things like that, lol, and I wanted to be really, really sure I wanted them. So, I went to the store and they were still there on my way home. I stopped, turned on the flashers and managed to fit them both in. I was rewarded with a splinter for trouble. I only needed one but when I put something out at the curb and someone doesn’t take it all that frustrates me. So, I dropped one off to my sister. And then I casually mentioned I found a rocker to my hubby when I got home. I got a head shake and a whatever, but I wasn’t listening because I was already digging through my paint cans to paint it brown to match the front porch scheme. Win for me! And when a daycare family who was leaving my care brought me some beautiful flowers, it completed the look on the porch. We did add a new doorbell that I love (who gets excited over a doorbell???? I guess me.) and the hubby tolerated me enough to put in.

Other than those biggie things, I’ve just been cleaning, organizing and otherwise DIYing all types of things. Sanding and staining where the puppy chewed the steps. Staining where the dogs have scratched the wooden floors. Making plans for the hubby to build me some deck furniture since I can’t find what I’m looking for it seems…but this plan here looks promising. We’ll see. The son’s graduation party is in a few weeks and he’ll probably want to build these with his dad that morning or something. I’m kidding of course. It will probably be the night before. Our new sliding patio door arrives tomorrow and that will be his first project. We practically stole that from Lowe’s with the price we were given since it was a discontinued model. I will be thrilled to have the awful atrium door gone!

And, this morning, I created something wonderful. Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes. I found a recipe for Cinnamon Roll cake here…and tweaked away. I cut it in half, omitted the eggs and did it in cupcake liners instead of a pan, and I didn’t add the glaze. I even cut the butter for the cinnamon crumb in half again and it was still a bit over the top I thought. But they were delicious!

And, now, I’m off to take a shower and get this day started. Time to rip off trim to get ready for the new door being delivered and do some cleaning since the rain is keeping me from finishing my deck staining duties. Darn rain! But I’m not complaining too loudly, because that rain keeps me from having to water all the new plants and my garden.

Hope you enjoyed all my adventures!

Sheri

Now What…?

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So, I think by now you all know that my beautiful daughter got married last weekend…and I finally am sharing a pic with all of you! This was snapped by her maid of honor, Mandy, as I was fidgeting with her veil. Isn’t she lovely?

My friend, Kelley, did the wedding shots and he was amazing…his first wedding shoot and he totally rocked it. I was impressed. I could just share photo after photo with all of you. Okay, I guess, we should have a few more…

This is her and her hubby to be in a before the wedding, but not seeing each other pose. It came out perfectly!

And this is one of my favorites. Cake everywhere was pretty much the theme. But don’t they just look so content and happy? What mother doesn’t want to see that look on her child?

I really, really can’t believe I have no food pics. I mean, I know I’ve been a little absent from the blog while planning the wedding but to have no food pics is just shameful!

So, now it’s time to plan the boy’s graduation party and then figure out what I’m going to do after that. I have to admit, it’s been a rough year for me so far. I just can’t seem to get into a good rhythm with running, blogging, anything. Maybe just too much going on to have a chance to settle in? I am starting P90X again and am excited for that, and am also thinking of doing my running streak again. I mean, committing to one mile a day minimum shouldn’t be that hard. I need to get the last 7 months of this year off to a better start! So, all you running, biking and fitness friends of mine…start kicking my butt into gear! Keep me moving until I find my groove again, cause I need to find it again!

Okay, so after that little rant…I hope you enjoyed the pics.

Sheri

Wedding Food Prepping

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In less than a week, my daughter will be getting married. I can hardly believe her wedding day is just about here already. It has been two months of days filled with planning, tears born of all kinds of emotions, and thoughts imagining this day.

I hope that my daughter’s day is one to remember; full of memories that she will cherish. I’ve tried hard to give her the wedding I never had and I hope that I’ve succeeded. I wouldn’t trade a moment of the work I’ve done if it brings her and her new husband happiness. I have two rooms in our house full of wedding decorations, catering supplies, etc. And, now, after today’s shopping trip, the basement pantry and freezer is full of extra food that I’ll be turning into an appetizer buffet. I will be making one more big shopping trip Friday morning because everything else I’m using will need to be fresh. What’s on the menu?

Spiced Old Bay shrimp with Cocktail sauce (Old Bay is a requirement in our family.)
Finger Sandwich platters
Mini Quiche
Mini baked Wonton wrappers filled with crab dip
BBQ Meatballs
Fruit Skewers
Caprese salad bites
Chocolate Mousse Cups
Brownie Platter
Cookie Platter
And, of course, cake with two different kinds of accompanying cupcakes

I’m also creating a brunch for the morning of the wedding for people who are coming in and out of the house, as well as those helping us set up the venue where the wedding will be. I’m thinking bagels, muffins, maybe donuts as well as fruit salad and juice, coffee and tea.

And if all that is NOT enough…my daughter and her new husband will be hosting an after party at their house for all of their friends. I’m making the food for that as well….Pork BBQ, Potato salad, Broccoli salad, Mac & Cheese and a Cookie Platter.

I love to cook and share the food I make but I think I might need a recovery day after all of this. Did I mention I made 240 cutout sugar cookies last week that are in the freezer, waiting to be iced? Those will go to the favor bags we’ll assemble on Friday. Whew! That was A LOT of cookies.

Here’s hoping it all goes smoothly and everyone enjoys the food and the day. I can’t wait to share pictures with all of you!!

Sheri

I am a Runner

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Today has been one of those days. All morning, as soon as preschool time was done, I had the Boston Marathon streaming on my laptop and would watch, checking in on the elites and cheering for the start of the rest of the field. I marveled at the sheer amount of people and the runner in me wished so badly that I was there. Just to feel that rush, the adrenaline, even for a moment that the runners on the screen had. I guess my excitement must have been contagious, because I was quickly joined by 6 little faces, all craning for a better look. They asked questions about the wheelchair finish, and cheered as runners overtook other runners and asked me if these were my friends. I guess they know I’m a runner, and figured I must run with people like Kara Goucher on a regular basis. I love kids. I tried to explain, but in the end, I think they thought I would be hanging up there in the front, ready to win, and there wasn’t much I could do to dissuade that line of thought. So, we sat, watching and enjoying it until it was time for lunch, and then naps and they forgot all about the people running for the moment.

I got a few glances in from time to time but had to take my hubby to the sports doctor mid afternoon for a running injury. Ironic, huh? So, while my daughter watched the kids, I was sitting in a doctor’s office and not knowing that a whole different kind of excitement had overtaken Boston. I wasn’t getting feed updates on my phone any longer and I just assumed it was overloaded. Until I got home and my daughter asked if I’d heard about the explosions. My hubby instantly went to the tv away from the daycare kids to see what was going on and I checked my facebook feed, my heart growing heavier and heavier with each post. I was angry, confused and scared for every person that was there, whether I knew them or not. I was able to sit down and watch the coverage after the last child left and just couldn’t believe what I saw. I didn’t even want to see it. We turned it off, watched Food Network and I made dinner. I won’t say I didn’t revisit Facebook throughout the evening, but somehow that made me feel better. The news coverage just felt so impersonal, but reading the updates from other blogs, from friends and even shared updates from people I don’t know, reminded me that I am part of one of the most awesome communities ever. Runners are just amazing people. They’re welcoming, helpful, do anything for others type of people, and I think that was represented today. We’re mad as hell that anyone would do this to what is supposed to be a joyous celebration of a runner’s hard work and dedication, but we will stand strong and together to show this won’t stop us either. I am prouder than ever to be a runner, to be part of that community, and show my support any way I can.

Tomorrow I will be wearing a race shirt, something to show my support for every runner who was on the course yesterday, whether they finished or not, and to celebrate all of the volunteers, the emergency workers, the family and friends cheering the runners on and to Boston and the BAA for everything they stand for to the running community. You are all awesome. Thank you.

One month to go for the wedding – and it’s time for the Bridal Shower!

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I can’t believe that in less than one month my daughter will be getting married. It just seems unreal sometimes. But me and my trusty wedding planning binder are hard at work, getting the details just so and making sure that whatever my daughter and her fiancee want gets accomplished. I am outsourcing very little of the day, trusting friends to handle the important jobs of the day and I was jokingly telling a friend that “this is the wedding that friends made happen.” Because it is. I have learned through this process that I am blessed with some of the most spectacular friends ever and they rock. I know that my daughter’s big day is in some capable hands!

But for now, we celebrate the bridal shower…

What a fantastic evening watching my daughter laugh, open gifts and remind me once again of how much I love her and what a lovely woman she has become. I am blessed. And I’m enjoying every extra second I get with her now. He’s a lucky guy.

The shower menu:

Strawberries with sweetened cream cheese piped in the center
Chicken salad croissant sandwiches
Pasta Salad
Veggie tray and dip
The Cake. Yes, it is supposed to be a hydrangea and I’m kinda loving how it looked. And it was a 4 layer, vanilla bean cake with buttercream and raspberry filling. It took 3 days.

I am so lucky to have some help decorating the house too…my daughter’s maid of honor made this cute banner with her wedding colors in it to decorate….

I’m searching for a way to work it into the wedding decorations because it is so awesome looking!

So, it’s a short post, but it’s a post, and I promised. Enjoy the cuteness!

Sheri

Remember me?

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No? Well, my name is Sheri and I blog here on Homemade Served Here. Except you wouldn’t likely know that since I’ve been neglecting the actual writing of blog posts lately. See, I’m in full wedding planning mode here and although I love, no, adore, all things planning related, something has to give. There are only so many hours in the day, try as I may to fit more and more in, and I think most days I have reached my limit. But today I decided I was writing a blog post no matter what happened. And here I am. Writing. But feeling a bit distracted. Bear with me, I’m trying here.

So, in the weeks since my last post I have wedding planning central.

I sampled wedding cakes, decided to make the wedding cake myself, and subjected my friends and family to unsolicitated cake donations. I mean seriously…$4.50 a person for a plain wedding cake? No decorations. I can do an all organic cake for way, way less than that and feel good about what I’m serving. I even know how to do cake decorating. So there, overpriced crazy baker lady. I mean seriously, you put the word wedding into anything and it doubles, even triples in price.

I saw these hydrangeas while shopping at Wegman’s and was encouraged that we could get some beautiful hydrangeas for the wedding for a good price…well, until I talked to their floral manager. What a jerk. And I’ll leave it at that. I sent Corporate a letter and have heard nothing. I guess as much as I like Wegman’s, I may have to find somewhere else to shop.

I know that we will make it all work, on time and on budget, for my daughter’s wedding and my planner pages are full of lots of plans, ideas and to do lists. I mean, we’ve got the place, the official, and the two people in love who want to get married. Everything else is icing on the cake. Yeah. I did that. Sorry.

I also have been trying my hand at decorating. Here’s my first hydrangea attempt at a cupcake. Not bad with the tip I had on hand and making my own icing. I’m off to the craft store this week to see what I can learn about making sugar flowers. I think that plus some fancy piping might suit our theme better. But this is definitely on tap for the shower cake!

In the midst of all of this, I’ve been working at hard at limiting our take out even when it’s tempting and I’m tired from working, wedding planning and still fitting my running in. We’re doing really well in that area! I’ve made some tasty stuff lately. And I’m still making time to hang out with my friends…tonight is a “Girls Night In” and I made a few things to share. Crab dip (one of my specialties even though I don’t eat crab anymore), a quinoa salad I found on a new blog I discovered, Pumps & Iron, and a Gluten Free Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips. Yummy!!

So, please, please, don’t hate me for being so busy that I’ve neglected the blog. I’m here and I’m trying.

Sheri

Forty-one Years

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So, it’s just a few days away from my 41st year. I know, forty is the big 4-0 but I keep thinking, well, I am now IN my forties. That just seems different – not at all in a bad way though because I am not one of those people to get caught up on age and aging and all that stuff. I just try to keep moving forward and embrace whatever lies ahead.

I have enjoyed pushing my body to run, bike, hike and enjoy just being fit over the past 12 months. I am celebrating the fact that in my forties I am the fittest I have ever been, except maybe as a young child. Certainly since middle school on. I enjoy being active and being outdoors and it is amazing to me that just six years ago that wasn’t the case. I was eating junk, feeding junk to my family and my daycare kids, not exercising other than the occasional walk and was always unhappy, feeling overwhelmed and anxious and just blah. I don’t even recognize that life or that person any more. People sometimes ask what got me started on my journey and I don’t really know. I know that I was unhappy. I know that I wanted a change but I’d tried so many diets, fads and thought that how I was was who I was destined to be. Now I know that was an excuse I was giving myself. I was destined to be whatever I was because of my own choices.

So, I started making better choices, little by little and then about a year or so ago, my choices got bigger and bigger to make me who I am today. I can’t even stomach processed food – my body literally rejects it and I know that the food choices I make affect more than me, more than my family even. I choose to vote on what is important by giving my food dollars to companies that support what I believe in. Yes, it means things may cost more sometimes, but that is a choice I am making and I will continue to make.

So, it was in my thirties that I started making these changes but I will be living them through my forties, fifties, and on and on as long as God has it planned for me to be on this Earth. I am welcoming my first grandchild this year (I know you will all be SICK of hearing about that!) and I want to be an active grandma; one who can keep up with him or her and enjoy and embrace every second. I want to be the mom to my kids that helps through these adult years of change. I am ready for that next phase. And I am excited to be a wife to a husband who shares my love of being outdoors. I am ready for us to be empty-nesters, running all over the place, finding new trails and new adventures all the way together.

Being 41 to me means having more wisdom, more understanding and more of the ability to stand up for what I believe in, because I know who I am better than ever before. This year has been one with some changes and obstacles I didn’t expect but I know that all things happen for a reason and God is directing my path. I trust where I’m headed and I know that, 41, although just a number, will still be a glorious year!

Sheri

Dessert is My Favorite Meal

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So, I know, dessert is not *really* a meal. But I love it as if it was. I made some mini cheesecakes the other night and they were one of my most, most favorite things of all that I’ve created in awhile. I think I say that a lot but I mean each and every time. I promise I do.

Doesn’t it look delicious?? And it was super easy.

Mini Apple Spice Cheesecake (makes 4 souffle cup sized)

First, be sure to soften your cream cheese. I use the organic variety but you can use any kind you prefer.

Preheat the oven to 350

Ingredients for crust and topping:

1 cup ap flour
1/2 c sugar
3/4 tsp five spice powder
1/2 c quick oats
1/4 c butter

Ingredients for filling:

1 apple; cored, peeled and diced (microwave once diced for a minute to soften)
8 oz softened cream cheese
1/2 c sugar
1 egg
1/2 t vanilla

Directions

Mix all dry ingredients for filling/crust and cut butter into mixture either with a pastry blender or with food processor
Press half into 4 cups and set aside
Mix sugar and cream cheese until fluffy.
Add egg and vanilla and mix well.
Divide filling between the 4 cups and top with cooked apples.
Divide remaining crust mixture on top of the apples and filling and gently press down.
Bake at 350 for about 18-20 minutes

These really did hit the spot on a very chilly evening. I am enjoying finding all kinds of new small serving dessert recipes since it’s usually me and the hubby at home in the evening. If I make a whole cake, I’ll eat a whole cake within a few days. Not a good move.

The day I made these cheesecakes, I also got some exciting news. I am going to be a grandmother for the first time. My daughter and her fiancee are expecting a little one this fall. I am over the moon with excitement. I was already scoping out Grandma & Grandpa themed gifts…this is going to be one SPOILED grandbaby! I’m secretly hoping for a girl, but I will love him or her no matter what. I still can’t believe that my baby girl is having a baby. So, forgive me in advance if I just go on and on about baby stuff. It’s a little on the brain.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. It’s calling for some not so nice weather (glad I’m not doing my 50K) and the hubby and are trying to figure out what we’re going to do all weekend. I’m sure we’ll find somewhere to run or hike…

Have a great day!

Just an Update…

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What a week. I can’t believe it’s almost time to start another one already!

I’ve gotten all of the boy’s college paperwork done and it just seems so final. He’s going to go away in a few months. The time just goes so quickly. He turns 18 next month and I don’t think it seems possible that he was just my little boy, coming to cuddle up on my lap dressed like Steve from Blue’s Clues, or a Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtle, or whatever was his favorite that week. All those years can’t possibly have flown by already. But, indeed, they have. Now I have a boy that towers about 6 inches above me and I barely know when he’ll be here next between work and basketball. In spite of my fears of how much I’ll miss him, I am excited for him and all of the changes that lie ahead in his life. So much excitement and he’s so much better prepared for it all. I hope that he knows so much more than I did when I left my parent’s house!

Last week, I made a big decision not to run the Hashawa Hills 50k. It was the right choice. I felt a bit like I was wimping out but at the same time, I am trying to listen to my body more and to know what it needs above all else. And I needed some rest. My knees just healed up from all of my falls leading up to and during the Squirrely Tail Twail Half Marathon. Add that to the cold forecast for next weekend and I just had to rethink it. And, by withdrawing early, I gave someone a shot at moving up from the waiting list, so the decision had to be made. It’s funny that as I get older I become so sure of myself in some areas of my life, but in others I am just the same me I’ve always been…second guessing, wondering if this was the right choice, etc, etc and I have to admit that I feel pressure looking at the people around me and what I feel like their expectations of me are. But, I am trying to keep in tune with the changes I wanted to keep in 2013. Being more concerned about enjoying each run, and living through the life I want to be living are more important than what anyone else may think of me dropping out of the ultra, or even if I decide not to run one. Ever. I love running, I love working out and I love my life as is. So I’m going to go with that for awhile and let everything else sort itself out. Other people come and go, but I’m stuck with me.

I did however sign up to do a color run with my friend, Michele, in May. This is an untimed 5k run that seems to revolve around getting as covered in colored powder as possible. Not my usual type of event but I’m in. I am looking forward to it a lot! I am so thankful for all of my wonderful running friends. They have been the most awesome listeners, cheerleaders, therapists and coaches I could ever, ever ask for. Running with my friends makes everything better!! I do more than I think I can do, push my pace harder than I do alone and just all around am better at being me when I have time with them. So thank you to all of you. Big hugs.

Next week I am doing something extra super special and I cannot wait at all!! It’s my 41st birthday and I am going to Hershey Spa with my friends Lisa and Jess. It has been years since I’ve been there and I am so excited that I’ve been counting the days since we made the appointments in January. Being pampered and spending time with them will be an amazing way to spend a day. Then I’m off for a long weekend with the hubby and we aren’t sure what we’re doing yet, but it will be nice to have a long weekend with him.

Today we spent a few chilly hours out hiking with the dogs. It was so cold my water bottle froze up! But it was still a fun way to spend a few hours and it gave his knee a bit of a rest. He’s been on a running hiatus since Thursday and I don’t know how much longer I can hold him off. I took this weekend off of running and instead have been enjoying some yoga and some nice relaxation. Yesterday was spent fighting a migraine most of the evening so rest was necessary.

And I’ve been cooking, cooking and even more cooking. But I’ve not been taking pictures. Hmm. I’m sorry. I do try and snap a shot with my phone and send to the facebook page as much as I can. We had bananas foster type french toast this morning, followed by a pretzel stromboli for lunch/dinner. I have to admit that’s one of my new favorite meals. I think this week is going to warm meals and soups because it has been so cold! I can’t wait for spring and all of the spring thaw and lettuces and early veggies that will soon be here. I’m not sure how much planting I’ll do beyond that since we won’t be home so much of July. I know that we’d lose a lot of things to weeds and dry conditions if we weren’t here to manage them. But we’ll see. I just hope we can get blueberries still.

So, what does your week look like…any new updates with any of you? I’m off to make a chocolate cupcake with peanut butter filling for the hubby while he’s napping before work. Just for him. Not me. At all. If you believe that…

Sheri