homemaking

Quick and easy breakfast on the go…

| resumeofamother

If you’re like me… Breakfast is one of the hardest meals to make. I am not a big egg eater… and neither are my kids, although my husband will enjoy one now and again. I find it hard to come up with some recipe ideas for something quick and easy.  Especially when we’re always running out the door first thing in the morning most days.

So what’s a mom to do when you work full-time and you need to have a healthy quick breakfast that you can grab and go with? Breakfast sandwiches, breakfast burritos and many of these other types of quick breakfasts are good too, but I just found a quick and easy recipe that turned out to be very yummy and simple to make when you have a busy schedule.

Only three ingredients:

  • 2 to 2 1/2 cups of rolled oats (I found 2 1/2 cups worked out better)
  • Half a cup of honey or half a cup of maple syrup (your choice and I preferred to only use 1/4 of a cup)
  • One cup of peanut butter (natural is better for less sugar)
  • Mix all three ingredients together, place a piece of wax paper in a baking dish, add your mixture to the dish and pressed down firmly to even out the mixture in the dish. Put it in the refrigerator for several hours or even overnight, and then enjoy.

Let me know if you have any other ideas for a quick and easy breakfast. Send a comment below with your recipe.

Lynn A. C. Wilson –  Resume of a Mother

img_1773-4

Autism and Routine….

| resumeofamother

Routine is something hard to create and stick with in our lives….but it is a necessary thing.  I watch a You-Tube channel with “Andrea Mills”.  She talks about doing things routinely if they are important enough to you. Check out her website and channel for this topic and more.

https://www.andreamills.tv

With any type of special needs and we have two types in our family, I find as a homemaker that I need to create a way of organization for them; and not necessarily for me.  With epilepsy and Autism in our home, I find that this affects everything that we do!  For example, just leaving the house to go out for the day…we need to make a list on the back door of what we need to bring with us.  This way my husband who has Epilepsy, whether it be a good day or not, does not have to think about what to bring. Especially when it is an “off” day for him, he just looks at his list on the door.

(example list for the door)

  • travel bag
  • pills
  • water bottle
  • phone
  • phone charger

For our son has Autism.…so for his needs we have created labels in the refrigerator and also a routine of where to put things.  This way there is no frustration of where things go.  We also labeled where all of our coats go.  Again, this way it keeps things simple and organized!

We have created a “white board” system to help with all those daily questions that you find Autistic kids always asking.  They want to know what the next days meals will be 24 hours ahead of time. Our board includes 3 meals, 3 chores, 3 school events (we homeschool), and whatever the special event of the day is also.

This has proven to relieve many meltdowns, and crazy evenings in our home.  When he asks the questions that he always does by 5pm sharp, we can just refer him to the white board.

Special needs can be a struggle to the caregiver as well as the person who struggles with it.  Why not make life as routine as you can to avoid any chaos and confusion.  There will always be other issues to deal with, but when things are routine it helps out a great deal.

Lynn A. Wilson – Resume of a Mother

Are you writing your Eulogy?

| resumeofamother

I know this is a very odd question to ask, “are you writing your own eulogy”? This is not something that we usually ask each other.  Let me explain.  Recently a friend of mine lost her dad.  As we were talking she said that the service was graciously done but that they were really struggling with what to say.  You see he had lived a very hard life.  The life that he lived was not a very good one; the choices that he made in life were not the best.img_9069

Just prior to chatting with him….I was discussing with another friend about what people think of us in general. We were discussing about when someone walks in the door and what you immediately think of them.  If I were to walk in the door ….do my friends get excited to see me? Or am I one of those people who when you see me, you say “great….she here now”.  You know what I mean…there are those people who we love to see and those we don’t.  Why would you want a personality that no one wanted to be around?

I heard someone say a long time ago….while you are living you are writing your eulogy.  What a thought…but so true.  What you do now, how you treat people, how you are around others will ultimately be in the end, what you are known for.

What do people say about you now?  What will they say about you then?  Something to thing over today! See if you need to make some changes in your life!

Lynn A. Wilson – Resume of a Mother

Amish Homemade remedies…and Natural finds.

| resumeofamother

I have always leaned on the side of natural meds.  And the more and more I learn about natural ways I enjoy practicing using them more often!

My family and I have not been on any form of antibiotics for over 25 years now….people look at us strange when we say this.  We use a natural one made from a plant and it works.  We have not suffered side effects from it and it works even better for us.  With having Autism and Epilepsy in our family ……I have found that natural as help us way more than regular prescribed medication.

Now I DO NOT claim to be a doctor or a medical professional.  I am just a mom who practices being a “wise woman” who builds her house with the Lord’s guidance.  We use natural plant remedies, essential oils, chiropractic applications and I have recently found some GREAT finds from our Amish community too …. all natural plant based items.

A few months ago…my girlfriends and I went for the day out to PA for a road trip.  We take this trip about 4 times a year for the day from NJ. We stopped at one of my favorite shops for some homemade Amish pies and breads now also sells natural remedies.  I picked up a few things along with two of my friends and we tried it for a month and ….WOW, we were hooked!  So a month later when I went back out to PA with my hubby, I was given a list by my friends to buy these same items and anything else they had.

I love learning and learning about things that can help my family is even better!  I will be taking an on-line training class in the spring for essential oils, so that I can learn even more.  As I learn things and experience the pros and cons of natural remedies ….I will share this with you!

Share with me what natural remedies you have used and how they have worked for you. I would love to hear from you and exchange ideas.  Comment below or email me!  Find me on Facebook and Instagram too for more pics.

Lynn A. Wilson – Resume of a Mother

High Tea….Girl’s Nite Out!

| resumeofamother

Do you ever just need a night out….does life get crazy at times for you?  My days are filled with an 8 – 9 hour work day, followed by homeschooling, a barking dog, Autism, Epilepsy, and one crazy full schedule after my normal working hours.  Phew….that’s a lot of stuff to handle!

Many times people ask me how I do it all. If you follow me on Facebook you can see how nuts things can get. They will ask “so what do you do for you”?  Well, a long while ago I made it a point to have a night, a day or even an afternoon just for me.  It might be just running and doing a “Tuesday Morning” Haul to find some goodies, or a walk around the lake near our house or something similar.

I work with a great group of women and about every 6-8 weeks they will plan a girl’s night out.  This time we decided to try a new Tea Room for some “High Tea”.  What fun we had with dressing up, eating scones, sandwiches, specialty teas and more.  Have fun looking at the pics.

What do you do for your “Moms” break?  Do you ever think to take some time for you?

Let me leave you with a verse for today and some fun pictures.  I would love to hear from you ….leave a note in the comments below, follow me on Facebook and Instagram too.

Lynn A. Wilson – Resume of a Mother

DIY…Thank you note, with a Twist!

| resumeofamother

I think we have lost the art of saying “Thank you”!  It is an easy 2 words to say, text, write etc…and yet we go on our way and forget.  I made it a point a number of years ago when we were having a really hard time in life, to take note of the things done for us. So many people prayed for us, brought us bags of food, sent a check, shared a kind word and the list goes on and on.

I could not afford to repay them but I could say thank you.  A simple note was all I could do at that time and I thought it was so small. Yet the reaction I received back from so many, was that they were thankful to receive a simple note. Fast forward a number of years and we are still blessed by many things given to us, but most of all just having some really great people in our lives.

It is easy to take things for granted in the business of life.  But for today….I want to take the time and say thank you for all of you who read my Blog today!

Sometimes it is nice to write a note and other times…to add something special with it.  I have included a bookmark, a teabag or two and other similar things in the card.  I now have a new candy mold that you will see in the pics.  I decided to add this to a thank you note for extra special occasions.

Items Needed:

  • Candy mold
  • Candy chips to melt
  • Glass bowl or similar
  • Microwave

Very easy to do….

  • Melt the chocolate in the microwave ( directions are also on the candy chips bag)
  • Pour into the candy mold
  • Place in freezer for about 10 minutes
  • Pop candy out
  • Put in decorative box or similar with a thank you note attached.

Have fun being creative with this project.  Send me pics and comments of what you did.  I would love to see it!

Thank you from,

Lynn A. Wilson – Resume of a Mother

Why do Church? Why do Faith?…

| resumeofamother

Here it is another Sunday and some of us have spent the morning in some type of church service.  What did you do this Sunday Morning?  Do you spend it in church….if so did you ever ask yourself why?  Why do I do this…is it tradition, or something that you are just supposed to do?

I was brought up going to church most Sunday’s when I was young. Then later I watched my parents, as I was approaching my teen years make a bigger commitment to church.  Something gripped their hearts and I could see a life change in them.

We would go as a family to every event. My parents would make sure that each of us girls had a job to do and made us feel part of what they did.  We never felt like we were going with them to the event or service but that we were actually part of it!

When I was very young, I accepted Jesus into my heart and I knew that it was real. As I grew older and began to serve with my parents….my desire grew for the things of the Lord too.

Why do Church? Why do Faith? …I am not sure why you do what you do but for me it is truth and real.  I know that Jesus is my Lord and Savior and I know what I do will matter for eternity.  I am far from perfect and there are days I could hang my head in shame for the way I have acted.  But I know that a heart to heart talk with Jesus and a confession of the soul will make all things good again.

I now am privileged to serve alongside of my husband, married son and daughter –in-law and younger son too.  We all serve in different ways…some youth, some to teens, men’s groups, women’s group, in the kitchen, community work and more.  We support each other in the work being done whether we are involved that day or not.

We raised our kids the same way our parents raised us. By showing by example and teaching them our faith. In the end it was still their choice to make. They all needed to make it a personal decision and not based on what we did or think.

I hope that you too know the Lord….if not why not pray to Him today.  Read John 3:16!

Have a wonderful day today and know that Jesus Loves you!

Lynn A. Wilson – Resume of a Mother

Simple Cleaning To-Do List….

| resumeofamother

I always like watching and learning from others.  Whether it be from reading a book they wrote, a You-Tube video, some hands- on training or what have you.  I want to know what worked for them and where they started from so that I can see how that fits where I am in life.

When I first was married and starting my family, I read the book “More Hours in my Day” by Emily Barnes.  Her insight was right where I was at.  I needed step by step instructions as to how to set up my home, how to create a chore list for my kids and so on.  Her organizational skills amazed me!  She even has a section on how to organize your pocketbook, which I still use to this day…30 years later.

As in anything you evolve and adapt to where life has you now….so fast forward 30 years and where I am today is a little different.  I used Emily Barne’s card file system for years for cleaning. But now I need something a little simpler and updated.

You-tube has become my best friend for info, and some of the people I follow I consider my friends.  I would love to meet them in person someday, and thank them for all the tips they have given me!

When I was looking to update my cleaning schedule and make it a little simpler for me and our life style now, I found some tips on You-Tube. “Andrea Mills” and “Parsnips and Parsimony”, are two families on You-Tube that I follow and LOVE… and I can really relate to.  I have taken things they have shared and created a new system for a cleaning routine for me.

Here are some of the charts and things that I now use. Maybe you will find that they will help you put together a new system for yourself too.

The first one is a chart for a 30 day cleaning challenge. Each day of the month from the 1st to the 30th, there is a special area to bring my attention too.

The second chart is my daily/weekly cleaning schedule for routine items.

Let me know in the comments below how you set up your home and cleaning routines. I would love to hear from you and maybe even learn from you too.  Also, tell me who you like to watch on You-tube!

Lynn A. Wilson – Resume of a Mother

Minimalism…Simple….Simplify-where does life have you?

| resumeofamother

What does this mean to you?  Minimalism comes to my mind. So many of the younger generation are going this way.  Many of them have watched their grandparents and parents collect things over the years so they now have taken up with the new trend of “less” is better.

I do find that the old saying…“less is more”, can be true!  But what is less?  I have watched some “extreme” shows, where they will have a beautiful “large” house and only have a mattress on the floor, 1 dish, 1 cup, 1 fork…you get the picture and they seem truly seem happy. This is not the life that I want.

I have a friend who LOVES to collect things…did I say loves it.  She collects any and everything that you could imagine.  She has now gone through her collection and resized it.  To most people…you would still say that she has a lot of “stuff” but to her …she has simplified her life in her own way with her collections and she is a happy girl.

wilson gang

In my life…which is full of special needs and most days cioas….I need “my” type of simple.  Let me explain. My husband has Epilepsy and my youngest son as Autism…..for me this changes my life on a daily basis.  I have always enjoyed a full schedule of events, lots of involvement in family, work, church and life in general.  I like lots of hobbies, things, stuff, and decor in my home etc…I like to enjoy life as I see it….but then life doesn’t alway fit what I like!!!

Recently in my home….I have had to simplify things. Less stuff, less things and to be more practical and less nostalgic. This has been very hard for me but as I get into it …it does becoming easier. I need to create a very practical world for my two men. I need to label where things go in the refrigerator and label whose jacket goes where etc… And yet find a way to make my home still seem special and pretty to me and our guests we invite over.

Recently with my schedule….I have had to simplify that too. How do you take a girl who LOVES a full schedule and adapt it to “SIMPLE” one…so that I meet the needs of my family as well as myself.  I have and am still learning how to balance life ….I really don’t know how to explain that in words with exactly I am doing. I probably need to do a VLOG on a day in the life of me.

This might not be “minimalism” to some, but for me I need to carry a planner, snacks, change of cloths, meds, water, essential oils, band aids etc… in many different bags.  I have a travel bag, pocketbook, workbag, church bag etc…each one is filled with what I would need for that event and the extras for that “just in case I need it” moment.  This works for me….my car is full of bags stuffed with stuff.  But all this stuff to me equals an organized, simplified and simple way of living.  To me my life is now not full of stressful moments and I don’t have to think as much when life takes over and craziness begins. If you have anyone in your family with special needs you would understand. We never quite know what’s going to happen at a given moment and having these extras with us at all times and organized in designated bags for that particular event definitely helps.

Simple is defined by YOU and only you.  We should not jump on a trend just because!!! Yes, we should evaluate our lives and simplify them… but this does not mean throw everything out that you own, and live in a sleeping bag.

God has given and blessed our family many times over with things and not necessarily money…I need to use what I have, simplify what I buy and sometimes bless others with my overflow.

Remember to enjoy life and where life has you. I know that this is a unique way of looking a “simple life” but it is the way I do it.  How do you do it..leave a comment below.

Lynn A. Wilson – Resume of a Mother