Neo-Homemaking With Sylvia

OMG!!! I’m Back…Again:)

Sylvia — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 19:28:49 +0000

Life has been very busy for this mother of 3 but I realized that I missed sharing my thoughts with the general public (as if they really care…but I like to think you guys do).

Anywhoo! A few things have changed since I last blogged:

1) We moved.

2) I have a part time job that allows me to work from home so I can be with my lil Munchie.

3) I am actually losing weight without a specific program. Good ole calories in/calories out program works for me.

4)We found a new church that I absolutely love!!!

Feel free to check me out!!!

Help Haiti

Sylvia — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:00:26 +0000

Christmas Tree

Sylvia — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 22:00:27 +0000

As promised, here is a photo of my tree:

Thinking

Sylvia — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:51:37 +0000

Okay, so I am forever thinking. Thinking about things to do, to make, to complete, to create, to learn, etc…You get the idea. So today while I was in the tub relaxing and yes…thinking:) I thought it would be a good idea to create another blog just for journaling my recipes. Since I am forever on Weight Watchers I thought I would start the year off with the concept of gathering 365 recipes with points/nutritional values (one recipe per day). I’m setting up the blog now but won’t have it unveiled until January 1, 2010. So all my fellow Weight Watchers stay tuned and join me on January 1, 2010 as I start to collect recipes for the entire year of 2010.

Oh Christmas Tree

Sylvia — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 13:57:40 +0000

Another year, another Christmas…

I absolutely love Christmas…the lights, the decorations, the gift-giving, family time, and of course the food:) But every year I have the same dilemna when it comes to Christmas trees. My problem is the knowledge I aquired about the origins of the Christmas tree and the pagan practice of using decorated trees to celebrate their winter solstice.

In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet wrote:
Jeremiah 10:2-4: “Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.” (KJV).

This Pagan practice was similar enough to our present use of Christmas trees that this passage from Jeremiah can be used to condemn both.

So here is the dilema: My husband and kids love the decorating of the tree and in our hearts we know that we are not pagan and that we are not worshipping a Christmas tree. The tree is like a festive decoration for us just like the poinsettias, snowman, and lights. So hubby thinks that it is a matter of the heart and knowing that (although we don’t know the exact date of Christ’s birthday) we set aside this day to honor His birth and have family time filled with love and traditions. But me, (being the type that follows structures and rules) always feel that we should attempt to follow the Bible as much as we can especially if there is an awareness.

As for this year I am following hubby’s lead and we are going to pick up a Christmas tree and decorate it with the kids. Play our Christmas music. Drink our hot cocoa…And enjoy our family tradition knowing in our hearts that we are not trying to dishonor God.

I will try to upload some photos of our decorations to post at a later date.

To learn more about the origins of the Christmas Tree click the link below.
http://www.christmas-tree.com/where.html

Here I go again!!

Sylvia — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:30:24 +0000

So many family and friends wanted to know, “What happened to your blogs?” They tell me that they actually missed reading what you had to say (go figure:?). Me, being the type to not want to disappointment my “fans” lol….I thought I would casually get back to blogland again…Hey why not:) My kids and hubby keep my life interesting and fun…I still dabble in making my own healthy recipe…I love saving planet earth with my whole “Green/Organic” philosophies, and I’m always trying to lose weight…heehee:) In other words I have much to talk about. So here I go again:)

Oh yeah I’m no longer on blogspot, I cancelled that blog so I’m using this blog for now on…it was already setup and many of my musings are already on file here. So feel free to browse around if you are new to my blog:)

Great Soapmaking Video

Sylvia — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:43:45 +0000

Yes I know…I’m a B. Smith wannabe:) I love to learn how to make things homemade. I am truly a homemaker at heart.

Personally I think soapmaking is a great skill to learn. Not only does it save you money but it the purest soap you can get…Yes, even purer than ivory and dove. As a child with really bad eczema I remember going down to South Carolina to visit some family members and my aunt noticed my skin and told my father to go to his uncle’s house to pick up some lye soap to take back home. As a child I remember using this odd shaped soap with a weird smell. Not only did it help my skin from being too dry it actually helped my eczema to heal. Now that both my daughters have eczema I realized that I should learn how to make this soap for them also.

I found this youtube video that I will use to help guide me through the process. I heard that 3 batches can last for months. What a great hobby and a cost effective one too;)

Bible Blog

Sylvia — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:36:02 +0000

Hello dear readers! I found a blog that I just love and wanted to share it with all of you. The name of this blog is called “One Year Bible Blog.” The author of this blog gives scriptures to read everyday along with key verses and his/her thoughts about that scripture. I found this sight to be very refreshing.

Many of you don’t know but on January 1 I made a committment to read the entire Bible this year. What I like about this site is that it gives you a thought or lesson that you can reflect on after reading the daily scriptures. Its broken down to give you: Old testament scriptures, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs, daily. This blog also provides a link to listen to the scriptures along with a link to biblegateway.com to read the scriptures online. I have the link on my sidebar if you are interested.

Hubby’s Going to Haiti

Sylvia — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:20:04 +0000

I didn’t want to blog about this until I was sure that he was going but I am happy to announce that my DH is going to Haiti with an organization called the Lambi Fund. The Lambi Fund supports peasant led community organizations in Haiti that promote:
Non-violence
Gender equity
Self-sustainability
Non-partisanship
Grassroots democracy

For my husband this was a chance of a lifetime, to go back to land where is father, grandfather, and so on lived and to do something positive for his island.

He wanted me to go but since the cost is quite expensive and its during school time for my son I thought it would be best for him to go. But I did remind him that he owes me a trip to Africa (which he has already been) and to Jerusalem. I’m so happy that he has this opportunity…it so HIM:) One day when our kids get older we plan to go to Africa to do missionary work as a family, to give our children the opportunity to learn that life is more than just “getting” but its about doing something purposeful to help other. I’m looking forward to the day that we can do this as a family. Perhaps in a few years we can go to Haiti to help out the Lambi Fund also. The sky is the limit for this family!!!

If you would like to know more about the Lambi Fund visit www.lambifund.org to learn more about what they do and to see photos!

Day Book #1

Sylvia — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:17:56 +0000

For Today…

Outside my window…clear skies, cold temps.

I am thinking…I need to do my meal plan for the week and cut coupons.

I am thankful for…The marriage conference I attended last week.

From the kitchen…left over brown rice and vegetables.

I am wearing…black tank top and black cuolots (I’m sure this is spelled incorrectly)

I am reading…Bible; The Guardian by Dee Henderson (Christian fiction)

I am hoping…that my son was focused and more verbal in school today.

I am creating…nothing at the moment.

I am hearing…television in the background.

Around the house…fold clothes.

One of my favorite things…a clean house.

A few plans for the rest of the week…order the girls and myself some dresses for our Dominician Republic vacation, grocery shop, attend a weight watchers meeting.