Tag Archives: mom

that’s my mama

mother quoteIf I had a nickel for every time my mom said; “Oh my – You are just. like. your. father!”  Now, mind you, this is usually stated in a rather loud voice, and is not to be mistaken as a compliment. At least not at the time that she is broadcasting this fact.

Eiffel tower & underwear

Research states that we have a tendency towards either left-brained or right-brained thinking.  I “think” that I am, however, the exception to the rule. (And I think that I think this from my left-sided thinker.  Ha!  Kinda “Dr. Seuss-ish”!).  I really do believe that I am pretty close to a 50/50 split.  50% left brained, like my dad.  Logical, analytical, mathematical, thrifty, conservative and stubborn (Mama no like that last one…!).  But…  I am ALSO a right-brained thinker, like my mom.  We are creative, intuitive, spiritual; possibility thinkers (dreamers) with a hint of mischief. OK.  On occasion, slightly more than a hint… (Did I tell you the story about when my mom was a little girl at (Catholic) “summer camp”…?  Snuck into the nuns tent when they were sleeping and hung their “double D’s” out on the clothesline for all to enjoy…)

Growing up as the oldest of seven, I was “Mama’s little helper” from day one.  My “maternal instincts” developed at a very early age.  Some of my brothers have been known to throw the word “bossy” around (what the heck??) when we are reminiscing about days gone by… their rough life growing up with two older sisters. Ya… whatever.  Let me just say, in my own defense, that – to this day – I would do anything in my power to protect my sister or any of my brothers from anyone or anything.  Family, ALL FAMILY, is my beginning and my end.  Period.

children cartoon

My mom taught me SO much about life, love, happiness…  Those lessons and experiences helped shape me into the woman, wife and mom that I am today.  Looking back, there were so many things that I did not understand, so many unanswered questions… all crystal clear once I became a mom myself.  I have to laugh now, thinking back on the days when she would declare that “for the rest of the day“, we were not allowed to use the word “Mom”.  Or “Mommy”. Or anything even remotely close.  Pam.  We had to call her Pam. Alrighty then.  Pam it is. That’s my mama.

mothers day quote

As far back as I can remember, my mom always encouraged me to be me.  I’m a little (Ha!) “out of the box” at times, but she has always supported and embraced that part of my soul, allowing me to grow into my authentic self.  Truth be told, I am still growing into that “authentic self”, and she is still there supporting and encouraging me every step of the way.  Yep. That’s my mama.  My mom makes me laugh.  A lot.  Belly laughs that make you cry. My mom is funny, and I love that about her.  Sometimes when you’re down and out,  you just need someone to tell you to “put your big girl panties on and deal with it“.  Well, friends… that’s NOT my mama.  Sometimes, however, you need someone to rub your back (even if it’s long distance), tell you that it’s OK to cry and reassure you that everything is going to be OK.  Even when it’s not.  That’s my mama. 

So today I say, thank you mom… for everything that you are; I am; we are.  From now until forever, I will always be proud to say…

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Yep.  That’s my mama…xo

Oh… and P.S. – You still make the best “homemade, from scratch” cinnamon rolls on. the. planet.  Enough said.

sugar cookies

So today is “National Sugar Cookie Day”… and for me, that brings back a flood of “warm, fuzzy” memories!  With my mom, with my grandma, with my kids.  Easter, Halloween, Christmas, just because. Sugar cookies on a stick for every “half birthday party” at school.  Ahhh… It’s like a little trip down memory lane; and I am suddenly missing those “”above mentioned people” very much… Tuck these recipes away for a rainy day, and create a future memory with someone that you love.  Enjoy!

Sweetopia’s Sugar Cookie Recipe

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups butter (at room temperature)
2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
Seeds from 1 vanilla bean (or 3 tsp vanilla)
5 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
Instructions:
1.  Cream the butter and sugar together in the bowl of an electric mixer on low tomedium speed. (Use the paddle attachment). Mix until thoroughly incorporated – forabout one minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a plastic spatula and mixagain for a few seconds more.Over mixing the butter and sugar in this step will cause too much air to be incorporatedinto the dough. If you’d like a light and fluffy cookie, that’s ideal, however the dough will spread more during baking;
not ideal if you’d like the cookie to hold its shape.
2.  Add eggs slowly and mix. Scrape down the bowl with your spatula at least once andmix again.
3.  Cut open your vanilla bean and scrape the seeds out. Add to mixing bowl. Alternatively, add liquid vanilla extract. Stir briefly.
4.  Sift your dry ingredients together. (Flour, baking powder and salt).
5.  Add all of the flour mixture to the bowl. Place a large tea towel or two small teatowels between the edge of the bowl and the electric mixer so that the flour won’tescape. Mix on low speed for 3o seconds. Remove the tea towels and observe the doughmixing; when it clumps around the paddle attachment it’s ready. It’s also important atthis stage not to over mix the dough (the glutens in the flour develop and the dough can become tough).
6.  Roll the dough out between 2 large pieces of parchment paper. Place on a bakingsheet and into the fridge for a minimum of 1 hour.
7.  Roll out the dough further if you need to, and cut out cookie shapes. Place onparchment paper-lined baking sheet. Re-roll scraps and repeat.
8.  Put cookie dough shapes back into the fridge for 10 minutes to 1 hour to chill again.They will then hold their shape better when baked.
9.  Preheat your oven to 350°F or 176°C.
10.  Bake cookies for 8-12 minutes or until the edges become golden brown. The bakingtime will depend on the size of your cookie.
11.  Let cookies cool to room temperature and decorate!
 A few notes about the recipe:

*Butter – The butter needs to be soft, or room temperature. I leave mine out the night before I do my baking. If you forget, you can grate the butter on the largest hole of your box grater, so that the sugar and butter will mix together better.
*Baking powder – I hardly use any baking powder in my recipe because the dough willspread and rise more during baking, thereby making the shape of the cookie less crisp.