This whole thing reminds me of the ancient Pueblo People who populated north America from about 500 – 1700 AD (that number changes all the time).

When white people first got to the area, the ancient pueblans were long gone and the people who remained referred to them as the Anasazi. Anasazi literally means “ancient enemy”. But when DNA evidence proved that the modern pueblans were in fact descended from the ancient pueblan’s they became offended at their own term. We are now asked to refer to the Anasazi as Ancient people, or ancient ones.

So I guess that growing up, Alexi thought of homemakers as old, “motherly” women, basically, the term homemaker was pretty synonymous with boring ancient woman in Alexi’s mind. But then something happened, Alexi got older, she may have moved away from home or had friends who got married and began homemaking. So they all became boring and ancient. Alexi doesn’t like being ancient or boring so she created a campaign to get rid of homemaking in leau of domain (it’s killing me to not add an “ing” to the end of that).

Here’s the problem with that Lexi,

Homemaking, unlike Anasazi, never actually meant ancient boring woman, homemaking is a sacred calling. Homemaking is pouring love into your home and life and kids. Yeah, a big part of it is cooking and cleaning and decorating, but it’s also promoting a beautiful spirit. You don’t have to have kids to homemake. You don’t have to be a stay at home mom. You don’t have to be female. You don’t even have to own your home. All you have to do is try to make your living space a comfortable and happy place to be. And frankly, domain doesn’t describe the love that homemaking does. It makes it sound cold and distant, rather than warm and inviting.

I don’t mean to sound overly harsh here, I really don’t. I think the design for your site is gorgeous and l’m positive that you’re intentions were good, but honestly I feel attacked. I feel like your saying, “you’re job title isn’t cool enough – why don’t you change it so that it’s hip and young”.

So for my part, I’m not going to be “donating” to your campaign.

But here’s some link love – maybe some of my readers will disagree with me and join your domain revolution.

What do you think? Make my day and comment.

We wanted to make her first birthday party special, and we figured the star of the show should be the traditional cake smash! So hubby and I made this lovely strawberry cake complete with added gooey factors and let her have at it.

Here’s how it started

And here’s how it ended

And here’s the “recipe” for how to make it

Ingredients:

1 package instant strawberry pudding mix

1 box strawberry cake mix

1 container of chocolate frosting

1/2 lb strawberries

Instructions:

1. Make your cake in two round pans according to the instructions on the box. Spray the pan with oil and dust it with flour – once the baked cake has cooled turn your pan upside down, supporting the cake with your hand, and tap it lightly – the cake should just fall out in perfect condition. Cut the rounded top of the cake so that it will lay flat. In order to make the cake smaller, and get an edge that would absorb the chocolate frosting dripping of the side we used a bowl as a template and cut the cakes down to a smaller size.

2. Follow the box instructions and make your instant pudding (this is the added gooey factor)

3. Spread about 1/4 cup of pudding on the first layer of cake, top with sliced strawberries

4. Place second layer of cake on top of the strawberries

5. Heat up frosting for about 2 minutes in the microwave (time will differ based on your microwave) Pour frosting on the top middle of the cake and just let it slide over the edges. Do a little at a time, giving the frosting time to drip off.

6. Make a couple of strawberry roses and arrange them however you want. Someday I’ll have to make a picture by picture tutorial, but until then here’s someone’s YouTube one.

7. Using an easy fake fondant recipe make yourself a number one and whatever designs you want – that funny shape on the side of mine is a flower that goes over the edge – unfortunately I didn’t have the foresight to take a picture of the flower from the side – sorry!

And voila! A beautiful cake perfect for messy memory making.

Today I’d like to talk about my better half, my sweet money making partner. Because if it weren’t for him I couldn’t do what I’m doing. Stay at home parenting is a two person equation and sometimes we stay at homers get so caught up in trying to tell people that what we do is worthwhile that we forget all that our spouses do to make it possible.

Thank you hubby,

Because it was hard when you missed our daughter’s first steps because you were at work

Because it’s hard when you work through the night, and then can’t sleep during the day because our daughter is so full of life … and noise

Because we have to budget carefully to make it all work with one income

Because you understood  when the baby was sick and wouldn’t nap and you came home from work to find me still in pajamas, our daughter screaming, and the tornado… *ahem* house a mess

Because I get to be there for our daughter almost 24/7

Because I’m the one who rocks our daughter to sleep for her naps every day – she puts her chubby little arms around my neck and tries to sing with me, bouncing up and down to stay awake – I love those moments, and because of you I get more of them

Because we are in charge of how our daughter is raised

Because I get to experience the joy of a child every day

Thank you my darling love, for letting me be the stay at home parent

I know that not everyone has the option of stay at home parenting, but to those that do, let’s not forget both halves of the equation and thank our money making partners.

Mountains to Climb – Henry B. Eyring First Counselor in the First Presidency

Snack:

Trail mix (peanuts, m & m’s, raisins)

bottled water

Opening Song:

Faith (Faith is Knowing) Children’s Hymn Book # 96

Attention Getter:

Tell a personal story from your life about trials and faith, talk about how trials can either strengthen faith or diminish it depending on how we respond to faith. Discuss as a family.

Meat:

Take the family on a local hike. Talk about how when we hike up a mountain it takes many little steps to reach the top. Life is the same way. When trials come, many small acts of faith help us overcome those trials. Each act of faith builds on the next. What can we do to build a firm foundation of faith? Discuss. When you reach the end of the hike talk about how trials can help us become better stronger people.

Read the following passage of Elder Eyring’s talk:

Now, I wish to encourage those who are in the midst of hard trials, who feel their faith may be fading under the onslaught of troubles. Trouble itself can be your way to strengthen and finally gain unshakable faith. Moroni, the son of Mormon in the Book of Mormon, told us how that blessing could come to pass. He teaches the simple and sweet truth that acting on even a twig of faith allows God to grow it:

“And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.

“For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathers, after he had risen from the dead; and he showed not himself unto them until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs be that some had faith in him, for he showed himself not unto the world.

“But because of the faith of men he has shown himself unto the world, and glorified the name of the Father, and prepared a way that thereby others might be partakers of the heavenly gift, that they might hope for those things which they have not seen.

“Wherefore, ye may also have hope, and be partakers of the gift, if ye will but have faith.”⁷

- Elder Eyring

Closing Song:

I’ll Go Where You Want me to Go Hymn # 270

Disclaimer: I’m not an official representative of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Everything here is my opinion. I’m just a normal Mormon mommy hoping what I post can help myself and others as we seek to reach our potential :)

The Bird

I had a memory flash into my mind the other night from my childhood. There was a bird, I don’t remember what kind, and for some strange reason it flew into the window of our house. Crashed right into it.  I suppose it didn’t know there was glass. Then, it got up and did it again.  Just kept crashing into our window.  Over and over, again and again. This went on for quite some time.

I was only 10 or so, and watching this happen made me sad and quite confused. Why was the bird doing that?  Didn’t it see it was hurting itself?

Last night as I was thinking about this memory I realized that must be how Heavenly Father feels watching us. I’m sure he too thinks, “Why do they keep doing that?  Don’t they know they are going to get hurt?”

I think he feels deeply emotional watching us in the midst of our trials. He loves us. We are His children.

Likewise, our Savior has gone through all of our pains, when he atoned for us. He knows how we feel. He felt the same pain, both physical or emotional.

It is my belief that we are not alone. The two most important people that there are; Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, are going through our ups and downs along side us.

- Maria

This tantalizing veggie melt is a delicious healthy meal, perfect for days when it’s too hot outside to bake.

Ingredients:

Thick artisan bread (homemade is preferable)

2 cloves of garlic – minced

2 T vegetable oil

1/2 Cup chopped carrots

1 yellow squash – sliced

1/2 white onion – cut into rings

1/2 Cup mushrooms – sliced

1 Cup mozzarella or swiss cheese – grated

5 Tbs fresh parsley – chopped

Instructions:

1. Sautee’ 1 clove of garlic and vegetable oil on  medium heat

2. Add onion and sautee’ for about 5 minutes or until edges are browned – remove from pan and set aside

3. Sautee’ second clove of garlic with squash on high heat for about 5 minutes or until edges are browned

4.Turn to low heat and add mushrooms – sautee’ until mushrooms are browned evenly

5. Place Slices of bread in casserole dishes – layer vegetables smother with cheese, and top with parsley

5. Broil on high for about 10 minutes

Serve and Enjoy! These are surprisingly filling. Two thick slices filled the hubby – also known as the garbage disposal.

]]> http://www.ambermaybe.com/2012/05/04/springsummer-dinner-veggie-melt/feed/ 0 http://www.ambermaybe.com/2012/05/02/positive-affirmations-printable-for-boys/ http://www.ambermaybe.com/2012/05/02/positive-affirmations-printable-for-boys/#comments Wed, 02 May 2012 15:27:39 +0000 Amber Mae http://www.ambermaybe.com/?p=882 Continue reading]]> Words are powerful. How we speak reflects how we think which reflects how we act. I think that’s why the response to the positive affirmations printable was so overwhelming. Since publishing it my site traffic has tripled, and I’ve received a number of requests for another, less feminine version. So here it is, positive affirmations for boys. I hope that someday I’ll have a son or a nephew I can give it to. :)

As before, feel free to right click, save, and print. These are designed to be printed on an 8 x 10. Oh and please remember that these are for your own use only – not commercial use.

And if you missed the first positive affirmations printable. Here it is.

He Truly Loves Us – Paul E Koelliker of the Seventy

Snack:

Heart shaped cookies

Opening Song: 

Love One Another Hymn # 308

Attention Getter:

Make Sugar Cookies as a family. Use a heart shaped cookie cutter and discuss together what love is.

Click on the picture to reach an awesome sugar cookie recipe

The meat:

While the cookies are baking fill out this printable – with teenagers and adults just discuss the questions listed.

In his talk Elder Koelliker says,

“Because of the heaven-designed pattern of the family, we more fully understand how our Heavenly Father truly loves each of us equally and fully. I testify that it is true. God does know and love us.”

Discuss how the family helps us to understand love.

Closing Hymn:

Home can be a Heaven on Earth Hymn # 298

Disclaimer: I’m not an official representative of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Everything here is my opinion. I’m just a normal Mormon mommy hoping what I post can help myself and others as we seek to reach our potential :)

I promised I would do a giveaway this week, and here it is! Seven Every Day Slings has graciously agreed to give away one of their cute slings (shipping included) to a lucky reader.

So here’s the skinny on their slings. I’ve had one since before Little Lion’s birth and I love it. This is great for new moms, expectant moms, and baby shower gifts (as long as you have the right size)

It’s cute, Little Lion loves being close to me, and it helps me get things done. I wouldn’t suggest using it for a hike or anything that takes longer than an hour and a half because it gets uncomfortable after a long time, but for every day purposes this sling is awesome.

Alright let’s get to the rules: in order to enter just like Amber May Be… on facebook and leave a comment below stating the style of the sling you want. For an optional additional entry share the giveaway on facebook  or pinterest and let me know that you did in your comment.

P.S. – to enter a comment just click where it says the comment number right above this post and it will take you to where you can.

P.S.S. – this giveaway ends two weeks from today on May 12th!

Good luck!