Simply Carolina Dreamz » Creative Domestication
Dear Friend
My dearest friend, Please note that treating your “old” friends bad, to impress your girlfriend only makes you look like an ass. Rest assured, however, when she is gone, we will still be here! Love to you, Heidi … Read entire article »
Filed under: Creative Domestication
broken.. just broken
When the world seems to be crashing down on you and you feel broken, the last thing you really want to do is admit it or tell the public. Its something you hide from everyone and then everyone calls you a hermit and thinks you’ve fallen off the deep end of the earth. Well, I’m broken. Seriously. My fibromyalgia pain is worse than my back pain and covers many parts of the body leaving me, on many days just a blob of existence, in pain. This is where I’ve been. This is why I haven’t been writing. At first, I thought I lost my voice. I thought I lost my ability to write.. but honestly, I’ve lost my group. I had a group of very … Read entire article »
Filed under: Creative Domestication
A Mixture of Emotional Breakdown Feelings – The latest appointment
I saw Dr. Nate Averill this week. He told me that my pain is in my head. He told me I had to get out of bed and set some goals for myself. I explained that I can’t even go to the grocery store without being in so much pain I can barely make it back to my vehicle. He said that I’m depressed and that makes my pain worse, which makes my depression worse and that I can get out of bed and do whatever I want. I’m back to not leaving my house alone, without another driver, in case I get stuck and can’t get home. I told him that its easy for him to say this, he won’t be the one there, when I fall to pick me up again and … Read entire article »
Filed under: Creative Domestication
A Mixture of Emotional Breakdown Feelings – a Passed Thyroid Test.
In the last six month, I have gained 60 pounds. 60 pounds! There is no way I’ve eaten myself 60 more pounds so rapidly. I’m in extreme pain again. The back spasms are back and well I’m living in bed again. My Thyroid blood test is normal, as I expected. I know two other cases where a bad thyroid tested normal. The tests are simply not enough. But they are enough for my primary physician.. Dr. Nathan Averill, Berkeley Family Practice. Dr. Averill referred me to a pain doctor, Dr. Tavell. Dr. Tavell is doing a series of back injections that are killing me but are part of a series that hopefully will get me out of pain. He also referred me to his chiropractor, Dr. Stephen Khouri. Dr. Khouri took a keen … Read entire article »
Filed under: Creative Domestication
A Mixture of Emotional Breakdown Feelings – the Gall Bladder hell
I’ve held off writing this post because frankly, I’m not sure where to begin and I don’t want to give you an encyclopedia version. This is my attempt to give you a dictionary version. Six years ago, I was very sick. I was passing out in public. I would wake up on floors, at 4am, in fabric departments, with suits around me, asking me if I was diabetic. I wasn’t allowed to go anywhere alone, after that, because someone had to have a knee under my butt when I started to fall to the ground. Which happened way more often than it should have. At the time, I had the best doctor in the world. Dr. P H Gordon Thompson at Palmetto Primary Care. It took me a very long time to … Read entire article »
Filed under: Creative Domestication
Motherhood: My Highest Calling
As Mother’s Day approaches, I’ve been considering the calling that is Motherhood. When I was a little girl, I only knew, for sure, that I wanted to be a mommy. I never knew, then, that I would consider it a personal calling to any little person in need. Many exchange students, from Japan, Thailand, and Brazil, have called me “mom,” before. I’ve assisted helpless little children in public places.. in many capacities from handing them things to helping them open doors. Many things gross me out, but your child using my pant leg to wipe their face or nose would not offend me. Clothes wash. Hands wash. Even when overwhelmed, I can, usually, handle a child’s dilemma. I know that children have smaller environments and their major crisis may be their … Read entire article »
Filed under: Creative Domestication, Stand For Something
Sangaree BiLo Gets a FaceLift
We’ve often referred to “my BiLo” in a semi-negative way. Its just wasn’t up to the fashions of Moncks Corner or Hanahan and it was depressing. This is the only neighborhood grocery store that survived when our Wally World went Super. I’m proud to announce (and they aren’t giving me a thing to say this) that they are having a Grand Opening on May 4, 2011. The store is beautiful. New floors, new produce department, new machines. I’m so very impressed. Oh and they got a facelift on the outside, too. Now “My BiLo” isn’t a dreadful thing to say. (I hope complaining to corporate last year didn’t get anyone fired. shshshs we’ll just be quiet about this, ok?) The only downer, the booklet they sent has a … Read entire article »
Filed under: Creative Domestication, Foodie Frenzy, Unexpectations
Welcome Spring!
Spring has brought us the nice yellow cars. Pine pollen is just so out of control. Even my oregano is spotted yellow. Please bring the rain. The garden boxes are almost ready to plant. You’ll see the progress at Field of Dreamz From the Cheap Seatz. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Blog Fun, Creative Domestication, Gardening
Do you Struggle to Organize your Blog Strategies like I do?
I found this fantastic calendar and its free to print. It prints a week in landscape and gives you sections in the left column: Post/Guest Post Emails/LIst Promos/Comments Ideas Its exact what I need to plan ahead fo weekly things that I do and idea brainstorm blog posts now and ahead of time. Get yours free today. You don’t have to sign up for anything. I signed up for tips in email after I printed it and put holes in it and stuffed it into a red binder. I’m so excited I had to share. Print Your Planning Calendar Today. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Blog Admin, Blog Fun, Creative Domestication
Slight interruption of this blog..
Working Margie’s 40 things in 4 weeks and this blog has some issues. We will either be able to figure out how to dump the original feed options at the top of this page or we’ll find a new theme. Back to regular scheduled programming soon. Thanks, ~Heidi … Read entire article »
Filed under: Creative Domestication
We were Featured in the #HomeChat Daily
// Two WoodenSpoonz recipes, associated with With a Z Media, were featured in the #HomeChat Daily. This week’s #HomeChat featured Seasonal Eating – Winter Vegetables. We shared Butter Basil Green Beans and Delicata Squash with a twist of Lime. Join in the fun, with #HomeChat, on Twitter, every Tuesday night at 9pm Eastern Standard Time. (Amy Gahran has some tips for following hashtags on twitter, here.) … Read entire article »
Filed under: Creative Domestication
For the Love of Home Made Soup
Don’t get distracted by the wonderful gingerbread or the toffee.. or the whole sweet sensation going on.. GO LOOK AT THE SOUPS! … Read entire article »
Filed under: Foodie Frenzy, HomeMade, Linky Love
All I want for Christmas is something slouchy and warm! :)
Let’s see how well Kwout can perform for us.. I <3 these: Lush Slouch Grey by megsknitshit on Etsy via kwout Handknit Stylish Neckwarmer/Cowl in a Color called by knitsnfrills via kwout TODAY ONLY SALE Hooded Scarf by Zarina2009 on Etsy via kwout Handmade wool scarfshawl blackwhitesmoke by italiacraft on Etsy via kwout and this: Cowl Hood Neck Scarf Espresso Brown … Read entire article »
Filed under: Feeding the Needz, HomeMade
30 Days of Truth.. Day 17 → A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.
I read a lot of books.. but hands down this would have to be Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach. Sarah has taught me how to care about me, again. She has given me hope that I’m okay and that its okay to take time for myself, too. The book teaches you how to have a toy box, a discovery journal, a comfort drawer full of wrapped gifts to yourself, for those days that don’t end. A Pamper drawer. It makes me look at jewel toned tissue paper, when I’m in the store. Silly, I know. But that’s what I love about this book. Its serious and yet fun. I gift it regularly. I, especially love the quotes at the beginning of each chapter, that is designed to … Read entire article »
Filed under: 30 Days of Truth, Book Love, Inspiration
Coming home from North Carolina, I saw “Ikea Blvd” and it was all over
Ikea. I know I have a picture in my phone. I so heart Ikea. I had a mission. I needed a cutting board and I did want to see all the cutting boards that they had.. which took some juggling. They are in two different departments. I found my treasured wooden cutting board, to go with my “almost killed us” Kohl’s knifes. I even found the oil to maintain it. And a sharpening ceramic thingamagic. We also found a cheap pan for crepes, like Alton Brown described, and some tiny clear dishes for herbs in upcoming recipe photos, when I can cook again. Good stuff. Its probably a good thing that Ikea is in North Carolina and that there are no bags so you must carry your items out, yourself.. because this is shopping … Read entire article »
Filed under: Creative Domestication, Feeding the Needz, Foodie Frenzy, Inspiration, Kitchen Miracles
#ZA Food Storage Deal of the Week ala Bi-Lo
Bi-Lo is having a huge Buy 10 for $10 Sale, mix and match, this week. I happen to still have the bonus $50 in Bi-Lo gift cards, from the promo. Girlie and I set out to see what food storage miracles we could procure on this sale. We found 50 pounds of assorted semolina pasta, 10 – 28 oz cans crushed tomatoes, 10 – 28 oz cans petite diced tomatoes, 12 – 15.5 oz cans garbanzo beans/chickpeas, 10 – qt bottles Powerade, 6 yellow crookneck squash, 2 unwaxed dental floss, 10 – Betty Crocker 8.5 oz chocolate chip cookie mix, 20 – Martha White 7 oz assorted muffin mixes, 4 – 16 oz sour cream, 8 pints 1/2 and 1/2, 6 – 8 oz cream cheese, and 6 1/2 pints heavy whipping cream. We … Read entire article »
Filed under: Creative Chaos, Creative Domestication, Foodie Frenzy, LowCountry
Reading Moving On – Sarah Ban Breathnach
Sarah Ban Breathnach is a genius! Anything with her name on it, will get my attention now. I’ve been stuck, in my book, on the same “chapter” for over a week. It just spoke to me, and I couldn’t move on. So, I read it again, this morning. How does it know me so well? That section is titled “Bleak House” and starts, “I don’t know which is worse, remembering a painful past or ignoring an excruciating present.” Sarah painfully compares her present with her past, when she was in full “Simple Abundance” swing. I don’t have to feel that I failed the path I wanted to be on, after reading “Simple Abundance,” because I’m just normal, from what I’m reading. I gift that book because it speaks to me. Its a … Read entire article »
Filed under: Book Love, Creative Chaos, Ephemeral Pursuitz
Herbs a Plenty around the Garden
Confession: I would rather grow something we can eat, even if we don’t eat it. Other than putting a sprig into a stew or under the skin of a whole bird.. I’m not quite sure what to do with Rosemary. The Thai Basil smells spicier than the Sweet Basil and I don’t know how to use it, at all. I learned, today, that my chives, that are in bloom, are garlic chives, because of the white flowers. I thought they were purple, last year. I guess I don’t know which are which, anymore, until they bloom. That big pot of oregano, from last year, still looks great. I’m thankful to live in a climate where there isn’t a hard freeze to kill all the herbs, outside. Now if the skeeters could just fly … Read entire article »
Filed under: Gardening
Do you Paperback Swap?
New arrivals, this week: The Modern Woman’s Guide to Life The Quotable Book Lover MLA Handbook for Writer’s of Research Papers Writing Down the Bones Perfect Phrases for Resumes Looking for God in Harry Potter Office Proffessionals Desk Reference Unfinished Business Building Belief While discussing Writing Down the Bones, on Twitter, I was able to add a couple more books to my wish list: Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life :: Anne Lamott On Writing :: Stephen King These were added to my other wish list books that I’d love to touch: The Omnivore’s Dilemma : A Natural History of Four Meals :: Michael Pollan Peace and Plenty: Finding Your Path to Financial Serenity :: Sarah Ban Breathnach SparkNotes: Women’s Literature :: SparkNotes Editors I feel there is no hope that I will ever receive The Omnivore’s Dilemma. I’m almost the 900th person waiting … Read entire article »
Filed under: Creative Chaos, Frugality
Home Made Cleaners Examined
Image via WikipediaI’m going through some changes.. in my HM cleaning type recipes.. HM Dishwasher Soap I’ve been stretching my powdered Cascade, for about a year now. I did try to just go to HM powder, but the film, on the dishes just wasn’t working. Even white vinegar was not helping the film. Upon some research, I noticed that many others were mixing Dollar Store Dishwasher Soap, with their borax and baking soda, to cut the film. I just kept buying my powdered Cascade at Sam’s, and used it as one part, of three.. 1 part Cascade Powder 1 part Borax 1 part Baking Soda I am going to experiment, now, though, with Citric Acid, in place of the Cascade. Citric Acid is the common “dishwasher cleaner” ingredient. I bought some from WholeSalesSuppliesPlus and … Read entire article »
More Egggstra Attention
Okay. Confession. I’m an egg snob. I prefer “free-range” brown eggs, in paper cartons. It all started as a taste experiment. I choose to be ignorant to the humane aspects of the treatment of chickens. This post is not about the chicken. I’d have my own chickens, if that were possible. Right now, its not. My choice of free-range eggs is much like my switch to hormone-free (not ultra pasteurized) milk. Purely a taste choice. Here’s a great break-down. I’ve never seen this side-by-side, before, and yet I felt this way about the poor commercial white eggs. We like free-range brown eggs more. We think they taste better. There really is no comparison, though. We take the “eat less of it, so you can eat the best tasting..” philosophy. I … Read entire article »
Filed under: Creative Domestication, Foodie Frenzy, Health/Nutrition
OH, the Taco!
Image by simply_carolina_dreamz via Flickr I adore tacos. We’ve been eating them all week. I’m hoping to have a more creative menu next week. Don’t hold your breath, though. My creativity is disabled, at the moment. *blink blink* I prefer corn tortillas. I love flour tortillas, too, though. Especially fresh home-made flour tortillas. In my book, tacos should crunch. Crunch is a relative term, though. I’ve decided there are some must-have’s in the taco world.. My taco must have: meat cheese lettuce That’s it. If we don’t have meat, cheese, or lettuce, we can’t have tacos. Bonus items include: Beans (Kidney or Pinto) Fresh Tomatoes Salsa Chopped Cilantro (Yes. I’m one of those people.) Sour Cream Guacamole Bacon (hahaha.. I’ve never had bacon on a taco.) Onions (fresh or sauteed) Cooked peppers (I prefer red, orange, or yellow bell peppers.) Jalapeno’s (I prefer them pickled.) What did … Read entire article »
Filed under: Feeding the Needz, Frugality, HomeMade
Bi-Lo introduces Chef’s Catch Seafood Line
I was fortunate to be invited to the Super Bi-Lo, in Hanahan, for a taste testing of Bi-Lo’s new Seafood Line, called Chef’s Catch. From their site: Satisfying your next craving for restaurant-quality seafood, just became affordable and convenient! You no longer have to dress up and dine out to enjoy the same freshness, quality and selection a restaurant can provide. With our new Chef’s Catch Fresh Seafood, the only thing we won’t match is the restaurant-quality price. The Press Release mentions the color coding system, they’ve chosen for this new line of seafood. Fresh, Never Frozen is Blue Previously Frozen at sea is Purple Ready to Cook (seasoned or marinated) is in Orange The Chef’s Catch Line includes pre-packaged, ready to cook, restaurant-quality seafood, to include Salmon Filets and Steaks Tilapia Rainbow Trout Steelhead Trout Wild Ocean Perch Cod Haddock Flounder Sea … Read entire article »
Filed under: coupons and dealz, Creative Domestication
Kohl’s is a Deal Maker
So much has been given, to me, from Kohl’s since I figured out how to Play their game. Last month, I signed up for a Kohl’s charge card. I was buying some sterling silver jewelry, that was already 60% off and the speaker above my head kept telling me I could get an additional 15% off if I opened an account. I figured that if I don’t keep a running balance on this card, I won’t have to worry about their horrendous percentage rate. Since I opened that card, though, I’ve had many unexpected surprises. @HeatherSolos and I braved shopping, one afternoon, and a package of knives, that I had been wanting to buy was on sale. As I reached to pick up this three-pack of sharp kitchen knives, the package split and all … Read entire article »
Filed under: coupons and dealz, Creative Domestication, Feeding the Needz, Frugality, Unexpectations
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