Summer Fun Recipe- Ice Cream in a bag!

This is a fun idea that we have tried before, with the kids of course but grown-ups are encouraged to try this as well...great for cook-outs and other summer gatherings!

Ice Cream in a bag

You'll need two tablespoons of sugar, one cup of half and half, a 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract, a 1/2 cup of kosher salt, ice cubes , small and large zip lock bags with an easy zipper, and yours or your child's favorite ice cream toppings. First, combine the sugar, half and half, and vanilla extract in your small zip lock bag. Seal it and set it aside. Next, add enough ice to fill the large bag halfway. (Optional step: You can double bag it to make it extra secure.) Next, add your salt to the ice bag (not the cream bag!) It's best to use a large granule salt like kosher or rock salt which is sold at most grocery stores. Finally, add the sealed smaller bag to the ice bag and seal the ice bag tight. Now, shake the bags until the ice cream hardens. It takes about five minutes, so which makes this a great activity for the kiddos. Once it becomes a consistency of frozen yogurt you're done, it's that simple. Just add toppings and the kids can enjoy ice cream right out of the bag.

Happy Summer!!!!

Runner girl

It wasn't so long ago that I would say to people that "the only reason a girl like myself should ever have to run is if someone is chasing me." I would scoff at these joggers and runners as they wrecked their joints and embraced their shin-splints with pride. That was never going to be me.

Never say never.

Fast forward to present day. I am almost half way through training for a half-marathon. That's right, a half-marathon. 13 point 1 miles to be exact. Have I gone crazy? Maybe. Actually, I have this amazing friend who convinced me that it would be "fun."

So I have faithfully been going to the YMCA and climbing onto the treadmill 3 to 4 days each week since January. Each week my runs get longer, 3 short runs and 1 long run. This week my long run was 6 miles. Which I counted as half of my half-marathon. So I'm feeling pretty proud.

OK, so to be honest I do have an ulterior motive to all this running. I really want to fit into my "skinny jeans." They are 2 sizes smaller than me right now, but I am seeing progress. :)

Well, there is one other thing. I want the digits. 13.1 on the back window of my car.

"The half" is the last weekend of March. Maybe I will be in those jeans by then. But you can be certain, as soon as I cross that finish line, the digits are going on the car!!!

Run girl run.

Snow Days, Heart Attacks, and a Heart Tree, oh my!

So, the day started off with my #1son and #1daughter bouncing into the room in a dozen and one choruses of "Mommy!!!!" At 7:30am. On a Saturday. Don't these kids know after 7 and 4 years respectively that Mommy needs her sleep on weekends? But of course the early bird chorus was justified in the fact that there was (near as I can tell) 12 inches of snow on the ground.

Side note, you gotta love this global warming problem we're having here. :)

So, it's off to the races. Snow pants, snow suits, gloves, socks, snow boots, hats, coats. Bundle, bundle, and off they go! Normally I would bundle myself and join in the frosty merriment, but moments later I receive a call from my stepmother.

It appears that my #1Dad, age 57, has been taken by ambulance (on this newly fallen 12 inches of uncleared-from-the-road snow, mind you) to the hospital for a heart attack. Or at least that is what is suspected at the moment. Fear of loss grips me, as I reel at the thought of my #1Dad, my daddy, possibly leaving this world for a better one. I surpress the tears as the details are given, which are few at this moment in time.

I wave my #1Husband inside from snow shoveling and, moments after hanging up, I collapse into him in a sea of tears. He reassures me as best he can, and after a minute or so, I collect myself and pocket my feelings for the time being.

Now my #1daughter has decided that she has had enough of loose socks in oversized snow boots, not to mention being cold, and retires to her room for some demolition also known as playing with her toys.

Luckily, #1son has found his 'hoodlums, also known as "the boys" next door ages 2, 4, 9, and 4. So, he goes off to sled with them, leaving me with just one to worry with at home. About 2 hours pass, in which time I busy myself with laundry and periodical calls and texts from friends who have heard "the news." The phone rings again, and without looking I answer it.

The voice on the other end took me off guard- it was my dad. As soon as he says hello I break down into tears. He is confused as to why I am crying, and I inform him that it's because he is AT THE HOSPITAL for a possible HEART ATTACK. He explains that he is fine, and that I should not be so worried. They will keep him overnight for observation, and although they have not confirmed that he has had a heart attack, they have not ruled it out either.

So, I am somewhat comforted. It was good to hear his voice, and he sounded quite normal. Later in the day when #1son returns from his hoodlum-isms, I have he and #1 daughter to call the hospital room where #1dad is to stay the night and talk to him. This no doubt "did his heart good."

So now, as the sun is gone from the sky, #1son has returned to the frozen hood with "the boys" for some night sledding. I can only hope it does not end with a trip to the ER for us, as hoodlum-ing can do sometimes.

To conclude, I will end on a light note. I am somewhat ashamed to say that one prelit Christmas tree remains in our house. It stands in the dining room, and the reason it has not been packed away is because the box was destroyed. I have been meaning to get a new box from a "big box store," but just haven't gotten around to it. So I thought it would be fun to hang some Valentines on the tree and make it a "Heart Tree." So last night we took a stack of red-paper lace doilies (of old-fashioned Valentine repute,) and hung them all over the tree, along with 2 strands of "Valentine garland." Voila- a festive Valentine "Heart" tree.

P.S. Who knew the Valentine "Heart" tree would become symbolic of my #1dad's current condition. As I type this, confirmation has just arrived that he indeed did have a heart attack. Each time I look at our "Heart Tree" I will think of my #1dad, and pray for his health and healing. Your prayers are also encouraged and appreciated.

Going vegan....

So I began 2010 by going on a 21 day fast, similar to last year's Daniel Fast but without the exclusion of caffeine (hey I'm a mom, I need my Coke Zero and coffee!) Anyway, the fast ended on Thursday, and I must say that I honestly enjoyed everything I ate (lots of veggies, fruits, and whole grains...no bread, meats, dairy, eggs.) However, trying to integrate what was once "normal foods" has proven to be somewhat difficult. The mind is willing, the body is putting up a fight. It started when I tried to have a yogurt with some granola for lunch on Friday. Harmless enough right? Not a Big Mac or a steak, just a low-cal yogurt. But boy, was I queasy. Later that evening I tried to eat some chicken tortilla soup. YUCK. Tasted terrible. Saturday I had cereal, something I had not had in 3 weeks. Here comes the queasy again. Lunch was chicken noodle soup, which was okay...hey maybe I'm turning the corner. Dinner was calabash seafood. Shane is surprised as I hungrily eat my flounder and oysters. The rest of the evening is uneventful, and I think we are finally in the clear. But alas, today's eggs, grits, and latte are sitting in my belly and talking to me in a not-so-nice way.
I never intended this fast to become a lifestyle, and I don't want to be "that girl" at dinner parties and in restaurants who can't eat anything because she's VEGAN, but I really need to listen to my body right now. And it's NOT WORTH IT feeling like I'm going to puke just for the sake of eating "normal food." I am at a crossroads, to be or not to be...Vegan.

Goodbye 2009!!!

As we close in on the last hours of 2009, I thought it would be appropriate to reflect on the past year. So many things have happened this year, and for some reason it seems to have been such a long year that it is hard to remember all the way back to January! But I will certainly try!

January- We went to Atlanta for my annual Premier Regional Rally, and we also had our first big snow of the year!
February- Shane and I were treated to a cruise to Mexico without kids. Cold, but a nice vacay.
March- The polish incident: Sydney pours an entire bottle of hot pink nail polish on the sofa and her feet.
April- I cut all of my hair off. Spent a long weekend in DC at the Gaylord, and caught up with an old friend there. Syd was bitten by a camel at the petting zoo at church. We also spent a week at Myrtle Beach with my mom for Easter, and Syd showed off her new-found underwater swimming skills (@ age 3!)
May- Mother's Day Tea with Sydney and her preschool class. Tyler graduated from Kindergarten! Welcome to summer.
June- Both kids played Tball/baseball with the YMCA. Shane became official with a logo for Eden's Gate. Lots of days at the pool. Shane and I celebrate 10 years of marriage. First of many trips to Carowinds on the season pass. VBS for both kids at HTLC.
July- 4th of July kids parade downtown. We decorated bikes and scooters accordingly. Also spent the 4th at the lake with friends and a boat. Great fireworks! Annual trip to Dallas, TX for Premier's National Rally. Returned with (undiagnosed) swine flu. Kids spent a week at Mimi's at the beach.
August- Birthday month. Tyler turned 7 and Sydney turned 4. Partied accordingly! Also, school started again by month's end. Tyler begins 1st grade- and stays for lunch and until 3pm for the 1st time @ school. Syd goes to preschool 3 days a week instead of just 2. Goodbye summer.
September- Shane's birthday and his last one as a "thirty-something." Went to a UNC game, wandered around Chapel Hill, and had dinner with some good friends that we rarely see. Tyler lost some baby teeth Also, found that I could be "crafty" and made my first tutu.
October- My birthday. Annual trip to Grandfather Mountain. One last trip to Carowinds for Howl-o-fest. Trip to the pumpkin patch with Sydney. Various Halloween festivities and house party pre-trick or treating.
November- Visit to Oxford. Fishing with Grandaddy. Thanksgiving with Gigi. Trip to SugarPlum to find a Christmas tree. I discover how much fun painting bisque can be!
December- Lots of baking! Tyler sings in school Christmas program. Syd is an angel in the preschool pageant. Trip to Oxford, and also to mom's new "castle" at Myrtle Beach. Kids have their first White Christmas! Santa spoils the kids as only Santa can do.

Whew! What a year! I'm sure I have missed more than a few details. But it is safe to say that it has been a very full year, and we have been very fortunate and very, very blessed.

So now it is Goodbye 2009, and Happy New Year 2010!
May the Lord bless this year with more than we could ever hope, or dream, or imagine!

Merry Christmas!

So, the tree and decorations are up. And the presents are bought and wrapped. The cards are selected and printed (but not addressed yet, unfortunately.) Yes, we are in the full swing of Christmas here at the Hasty house. One more jewelry show to submit, and then I will begin my week of baking baking baking!!! Sugar cookies, haystacks, pecan snowballs, oreo truffles.....mmmmmm. Yes, the stressful stuff of Christmas is over, and it's time to enjoy this beautiful and wonderful time of the year! Merry Christmas to all!!!

Thankful thoughts...

I saw a sign yesterday that made me think. It said, "Practice Thanksgiving every day, not just one." Wow. I must admit, that I can wallow in self-pity with the best of them when life gets me down. In those times, it can be quite challenging to count your blessings instead of your problems. And yet, that is exactly what we should do!
Perhaps if I spent more time with a thankful heart for all that He has blessed me with, I would be less tempted to focus on whatever is this week's/day's/moment's problem. Today, my prayer is that I will have an attitude of gratitude, and that I will share it with all whom I come in contact with. Let us be thankful!