I love a Good Book. (And other Reminders, Revelations and a Blog Update!) ~

My Dictionary ~ "circa" 1977

This is the Merriam-Webster dictionary my mom gave me in 1977.  It's old and it's tattered.  The cover is no longer attached, but I love this book.  It sits on my book shelf, with the unattached cover and title page safely stored inside.  My eleven-year-old signature graces the front page along with the date and other miscellaneous scribbles.  I will never let go of this because... I love this book, I love the written word and moreover, my mom gave it to me.  It will be with me forever. :)

I am most definitely a sentimental fool and that's okay.  I like that about myself.  But I also like the fact that my old books can change in appearance but still be useful and entertaining.

When I started this blog, I stated, "I blog because I love to write and to share.  I blog because it's fun.  I blog because I want to help others.  To know I have enriched the lives of others in the areas of family, parenting, health, time management, recipes, home décor, budgeting, writing, charity, and lifting others would be my ultimate reward" and I wrote my mission statement to read: "My mission is to inspire, enlighten, and challenge readers with helpful advice and entertaining content."

While all of this is still true, I've decided to change things up a bit.  I've received compliments on my new blog (thank you!), but I started to feel as if there might be a few too many expected things.  Maybe having too many weekly reoccurring themes or posts made it a little boring.  Yes, I said it!  So, while my mission will remain the same, it may feel a bit different and be a little more entertaining!  My mentor, Jim Roberts, always believed that one must be willing to change to be successful in business, and I think that's true to life in general!  So watch for the changes!

As always, I encourage and welcome feedback!

Contributing Writers Coming Soon!

The contributors are coming, the contributors are coming!!  :)

As promised, I've rounded up a few great contributors, who will soon be joining the pages of This and That with Kim Funk ~ and I could not be happier with my selection!

You'll be seeing articles/posts on organizing, crafting, web/blog design, photography, photo projects, catering (yes!), travel tips (send me somewhere please!), budgeting, insurance, yoga, and much more!  I can't wait to share these ladies with you.  You'll love them (or perhaps you already do!).

Watch the blog for updates very soon!

Words for a Wednesday - February 15

Week Three!  Instead of calling it Words for a Wednesday, perhaps it should be called Weird Words for a Wednesday this week.  During a few heated matches of Words with Friends, my teenager manipulated tiles (in search of high score words) and came up with a few words that made us wonder if they were legitimate.  The answer is yes, and you'll find them here today (and they're not actually weird).

Here are a few words to help you build your vocabulary and/or build your score in the games Scrabble or Words with Friends.

The first word is wadis.  Yes, this is a real word.

Wadis: The plural form of wadi.  Wadi: a valley, gully or stream bed in regions of southwestern Asia and northern Africa that is usually dry except during the rainy season (and often forms an oasis).  Word origin:  First known use 1828 for the Arabic word wādi.

Next is the word inarch.  Any horticulturists or serious gardeners out there?  Where are my wine industry readers?  Did anyone see the movie, "Walking with the Clouds"?  If so, this definition may remind you of an important scene in the movie.

Inarch: To graft a plant by uniting a growing branch to a stock without separating it from its parent stock; both continue growing independently.   Word origin:  This word dates back to early 17th century combining the words in + arch.  I did not find a country of origin for this word.  In fact, I found very little, so I took a quick internet journey over to see what Wikipedia might have.

Wikipedia showed only the term "inarch grafting" which redirected to the word grafting.  Their description also added: "In most cases, one plant is selected for its roots and this is called the stock or rootstock. The other plant is selected for its stems, leaves, flowers, or fruits and is called the scion or cion."

As an individual who grew up in the Napa Valley and based on years of watching my Grandmother's creative gardening (she has roses that are very old!), I found the search for inarch to be quite enjoyable.

Finishing up this week, we have our two letter word.  Today's word is xi.

Xi (or XI):  The cardinal number that is the sum of ten plus one or/also the 14th letter of the Greek alphabet.  (It is also the name of a river in China.)  Plural version shown as xis.  Word origin: 15th century; Greek from the word xei.

So there you have it!  I hope you are growing your "vocab" or your scores ~ have a great week!

Sources: All definitions listed above were determined in part or entirety by researching definitions in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, The Free Dictionary by Farlex, or their online versions/websites.  This week we also used information from Wikipedia.

Questions of the Day! - February 13 - February 17

Inquiring minds want to know the answers to these questions!  You may reply by commenting at the end of this post, or you may email me by clicking here.  Can't wait to hear from you :)

Monday - Are you a "germaphobe"?  What extremes to you go to, to fight germs at home, and away from home?

Tuesday - How to you feel about cell phone use in a restaurant?  Do you pick up calls?  Do you let them go to voicemail and return calls after you leave? 

Wednesday - Valentine's Day Wrap-Up!  How was your Valentine's Day?  Did you celebrate in some way?  If yes, what crafts, recipes, ideas would you highly recommend (based on your experience this year)?

Thursday - Do you love music as much as I do?  What song(s) reminds you of your favorite days gone by?  Is there a certain verse or do you just love the WHOLE thing?  Please share :)

Friday -  Coming Friday!

Note: If you wish to be anonymous in an article related to this subject, just let me know! :)

Speaking of IHOP ~ National Pancake Day is coming!

Eating IHOP pancakes is a yummy way to start a day, however, eating yummy pancakes and supporting charity at the same time is even better!

IHOP's National Pancake Day is coming soon!  On February 28, 2012, IHOP will host their annual event which invites customers to enjoy a free short stack of Buttermilk pancakes.  "In return for the free pancakes, guests are asked to consider leaving a donation for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals© and other designated local charities."

IHOP has raised nearly $8 million to date and has a big goal of $2.7 for 2012.  So if you wake up hungry on February 28, 2012... think IHOP and their National Pancake Day Celebration!  For complete details, click here!

What's for Breakfast? New York Cheesecake Pancakes (like IHop!) ~

IHOP's New York Cheesecake Pancakes
(Photo property of IHOP.com)

We have a visitor in the house who LOVES going to IHOP. 
With that in mind, we ventured out for pancakes yesterday morning.  While reading the menu, my daughter eyeballed IHOP's New York  Cheesecake Pancakes.  She showed me the picture and I instantly thought "rich, yummy goodness" and wondered if anyone had recreated this deluxe pancake recipe online.  My daughter ordered them and LOVED them.  With whip cream, strawberries and chunks of cheesecake, how could one not love them?  Afterwards, we went home and found what I had guessed was true, someone has indeed recreated this dish!

Karina of Knitting and Purling blog has recreated the recipe {as you will read, she found a recipe on another {well known} site while doing the same search I did!} and shared it on her darling blog.  Her article on her search is an enjoyable read.  Her "About Karina" section reads, "Who am I? Knitter. Blogger. Stylishly domestic homemaker of the 21st century".  Although her blog is called Knitting and Purling, she says, "It's a knitting blog that's more than a knitting blog" ~ lucky for us!

Here is a link to her version of IHOP's New York Cheesecake Pancakes:  {Kindly click here}. You'll love the recipe and will also enjoy her visually appealing blog, and lighthearted and fun writing style.  (You may even decide to add her to your feeds list!)

If this version of pancakes seems a little over the top for you, but you think your family will enjoy them, consider making a small batch of regular pancakes and the New York Cheesecake Pancakes too!  You can enjoy a yummy breakfast together and can always save YOUR portion of strawberries for later.  {Or you can add champagne to the menu and enjoy that way!}

Of course... you can always leave the cooking behind and visit your local IHOP location and enjoy the original version.  For a location near you, visit IHOP's site by clicking here.

For basic pancakes, think Bisquick.  You can visit their site by clicking here.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Wall Gallery - Kim Funk style ~

There is nothing like a wall full of family pictures to make a house a home. My husband and I had been talking about doing a wall gallery for quite some time and I finally tackled it. (It was definitely a Kim project… not a husband project). I thought it would be a fairly quick process, but I was wrong!

First of all, I had to figure out HOW I was going to get picture frames on the wall the Kim Funk way. Now, that might sound a bit silly, but there’s one thing you should know about me… anything I display must be perfectly balanced. Yep, I’m one of those people. I have seen beautiful abstract wall galleries online and in homes and I love them, but I can’t have mine like that. Scrapbooking, pictures, retail displays… everything needs to be balanced and equal on each side (for me).

I had watched my friend Michelle use paper to line things up on her mother-in-laws wall a few years ago and never forgot that. I decided to use that idea and of course, I wanted this project to be a reasonably priced as possible so I cut corners where I could
.
Follow these tips and you can cut corners too:





• Although there are “kits” (out there in the retail world) to plan out your wall gallery, using old wrapping paper works just fine. (No out of pocket expenses there!)
• Do your homework on frame prices! I carefully researched prices at Michael’s, Target, Walmart, Aaron Brothers and the like to find which store would have the best frame prices for my project. I wanted them to be inexpensive without looking “cheap”.
• Carefully plan which photos you want to display, and only order what you need. If you use Kodak Gallery, Shutterfly, or Snapfish (among others), you can order them online for pick up in your local Target, CVS or other drug store. This alleviates mailing fees, and quite often you can find a coupon, email or other form of discount to use towards a photo purchase.



Here’s how I created my wall gallery:



First, I measured the wall area where the gallery was going to go.
I used old Christmas wrap to create a map for the wall.

Then I went on my frame research trip, taking down all frame measurements.
I decided on sizes and created paper templates for each one.
This made it very easy to move things around and figure out what layout would look best.

After I purchased the frames, I did the daunting task of choosing pictures!
I ordered them online and picked them up at Target.
I even turned some frames into collages that weren't even meant for that...
choosing favorite pictures is tough!

I then filled the frames, and carefully traced the frames sizes onto the map in pencil.

I placed the paper back up on the wall, then got the hanging started.
Having the penciled map made picture placement very easy!

Using a laser level really helped to keep things straight.

And then... I finished!
I love this wall!
(The glass made it very hard to photograph with the glare - sorry readers!
My daughter used a photo editing app to try and get rid of the glare but it's rather light!)
The center/focal point reads,
"And they lived happily ever after".
I've had that for quite some time and knew we'd eventually find the perfect place for it.

Who's next?  I'd love to see your picture walls :)





Words for a Wednesday ~ February 8

Week Two!

Here are a few words to help you build your vocabulary and/or build your score in the games Scrabble or Words with Friends.

Our first word is brant.  Does anyone know what this one is?  I'm wondering if any hunters know...

Brant:  A small goose about the size of a mallard having a black head, neck, and chest.  These geese normally breed in Artic regions and spend winters along both coasts. The Brant along the Atlantic have light gray bellies, while those off the Pacific Coast have black bellies and were at one time considered a separate species.  Word origin: 1535–45; short for brantgoose, brentgoose;  akin to Old Norse brandgās, German Brandgans.

Our second word is tarn.

Tarn: The Free Dictionary by Farlex calls it "A small mountain lake, especially one formed by glaciers", while Merriam-Webster adds that it is a steep-banked (small mountain lake).  Interesting variation.  Word origin: Scandinavian origin; related to Old Norse tjörn pool.

And finally, our third word is our two letter word for the week.  How many times have you come across the word qi in a scrabble or word game?  I've seen it (and used it) quite a bit.  It can be worth a good number of points if strategically placed!

Qi:  A variation of the word "chi".  The circulating life energy that in Chinese philosophy is thought to be inherent in all things; in traditional Chinese medicine the balance of negative and positive forms in the body, essential for good health.  Qi/Chi is of central importance in some Eastern systems of medical treatment (as acupuncture) and of exercise or self-defense (as tai chi).  Word origin: 1850; Chinese (Beijing) qì, literally, air, breath.

Sources: All definitions listed above were determined in part or entirety by researching definitions in the Encarta Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Dictionary, The Free Dictionary by Farlex, or their online versions/websites.  In addition, this week we used additional interesting information from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology online.

Gardening - A Great Way to Reduce Stress ~

We all have too much stress.  That's something most people would agree on.  We think about how stressed we are and what's causing it (too busy perhaps?), we talk about it with friends, and write about it on Facebook, but it still doesn't go away!

I am no different!  I don't really think I have that much to be stressed about (not currently at least!), but I am clearly a worry wart!  Unfortunately, when I worry, the stress goes right to my stomach.  I deal with Acid Reflux (like many people do) and when I'm really stressed, I deal with esophageal spasms which is very painful.  Medicine doesn't do much, so I've been told I need to learn deal with my stress in other ways.  One thing that helps a lot is a little time in the garden!

We don't own the house we currently live in, but love the backyard.  It has a nice big lawn and flower beds along the perimeter of the yard.  The problem is, the weeds just LOVE the flower beds and now with the rain arriving, the weeds are growing as quickly as the flowers!  I've learned to grab a little time here and there as I can!

I spent time this last weekend working in the yard and it felt great!  It may not be as rewarding as it would be if we owned the house, but oh well!  I pulled weeds, cut back some ivy, trimmed dead blooms off of my geraniums so more could appear... it was fun and rewarding.  I enjoyed the time outside, it gave me a sense of peace, a sense of accomplishment, and now I'm ready to plant some new colorful plants.

Here are my top 5 reasons why you should try gardening...

1. Physical work of any kind reduces stress (and gardening is much more fun!).
2. It gives you a great sense of accomplishment and peace of mind.
3. It makes your neighbors and/or family members happy (maybe the family will help next time!).
4. A nice yard will encourage you to host events at your house (fun and another way to de-stress!).
5. And for you calorie counters... an hour of yard work burns about 272 calories... which is equal to (1) Grande Starbuck's Caffe Latte or (1) Snicker's Bar (among other things).  Sounds good to me! 

Give it a try!  And if you are a renter, or live in a small space, try container gardening!  Your containers can go wherever you do!

** Calorie count found on About.com **
Note: Definition of a worry wart: "A person who tends to worry, especially over insignificant details".

Questions of the Day! - February 6 - February 10

Inquiring minds want to know the answers to these questions!  You may reply by commenting at the end of this post, or you may email me by clicking here.  Can't wait to hear from you :)

Monday - Do you have a scent that reminds you of a special relatives house?  What is it?  Geraniums and apple smells make me think of my "Grama's" house. :)

Tuesday - Today's question is for those of you who have had to job hunt in the last two years.  How long did it take you to find a job, and what was your best job hunting tool?  Old school ways or internet-related?

Wednesday - Have you ever ridden a bicycle built for two (tandem bike)?  Did you grow up loving your bike?  Did you have a favorite bike?  Do you have a funny bike-riding story?  (Too many questions?)  Please share :)

Thursday - Do you have a favorite kind of apple?  If so, what kind?  Do you like to use them for baking or just to enjoy as they are?

Friday -  Do you tweet?  Do you use Twitter to promote a business or other venture or do you enjoy on a personal level?

Note: If you wish to be anonymous in an article related to this subject, just let me know! :)

Very Easy Baked Ziti Dinner - Kim Funk version ~

Make tonight an easy dinner night with Baked Ziti!

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
2 16 oz. jars Traditional Prego Spaghetti Sauce
½ of a 16 oz box of ziti tube shaped pasta (penne works also)
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon onion powder

Directions:

1. Cook pasta as directed (usually about 11 - 15 minutes).
2. Meanwhile, brown ground beef with onion powder, and remove any fat.
3. In a large bowl, combine sauce, 2 cups of the mozzarella, pasta and beef mixture. (You can also use the pot you used for pasta, but it needs to be large in order to be able to stir all ingredients). Mix well.
4. Poor mixture into a 9 x 13 baking pan and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

(Easy!)

Notes:

• If you prefer a lighter sauce presence in your favorite pasta dishes, use only 1 ¾ jars of pasta sauce.
• If you’d like to view the original recipe which is a double recipe (now and later) and includes onions and mushrooms, take a peek here. My version is a combo of the original with bits and pieces of related tips. (My family doesn't like onions and mushrooms and as you’ll see in photo, my son doesn’t like cheese on the top of his ziti, so a corner is sans cheese on top!).
• Add a green salad and garlic bread and you’re ready to go!

Get to know Beth Moore with Living Proof Ministries ~

When I was invited by a friend to join a 10 week Bible Study in January of 2011, I had mixed feelings. Growing up in the Catholic Church, I was never exposed to an actual “Bible Study”, nor did I really know much about the bible. I wondered if I would feel out of place or if I would look "stupid" or ignorant when a bible verse was discussed. I was told we’d meet once per week and that the study would consist of watching an amazing lady speak about the bible via DVD (The series was called “The Inheritance”) and then we’d discuss it afterwards. Being that I was at that point in my life when I was seeking a bit more spirituality in my life and because I completely trusted my friend’s opinion on things, I jumped in. I’m so glad that I did!

Beth Moore was that lady and she is amazing!  She felt called at an early age to serve God in some way, but didn’t know how that might fall into place. By 1994, however, she had founded Living Proof Ministries "for the purpose of teaching women how to love and live on God’s word”.

This feisty Texas woman speaks with a zest for life and a fire to share the bible with others. She is a very down to earth speaker who all of us in Bible Study relate too. (Have you ever watched a speaker and sat there shaking your head in agreement with the speaker? That would be us with Beth).

Beth has been married for over thirty years, has two adult children, beloved dogs and LOVES her Starbucks. She’s very much like the rest of the world! She didn’t grow up living the perfect life. She was sexually victimized as a child and dealt with addictions related to that part of her past, well into young adulthood. She continues to fight insecurity, like so many of us, and uses her various studies and programs to help others deal with the same or similar issues.

Because I love to share things, I just had to share Beth with you as well. I absolutely love watching her telecasts and series by DVD or digital download, as well as reading her books and her blog (she has a lot of material out there!).  I highly recommend that you check out some of her clips online. I’m providing a few links below so you can easily do that!

To sneak a peek of the series my bible study is currently watching, click here. This series is called, “Wising Up”. Open the page, and you will see the option to “click to view preview”.

For a longer peek, click here to watch an episode of “Wednesdays with Beth” which is part of the television program, “Life Today with James and Betty Robison.” This episode is called, “The God of all Comforts”. Her episode starts at about 2:10 into the link, and to skip right to the “real” Beth showing her humor, jump to 8:46 (although I highly recommend you take in the whole viewing of about 15 minutes).

If you're interested in a series, most digital downloads are $5.00 each and can be purchased week by week or you can purchase a DVD version and have it shipped to you.  To access and view all of the things she has to offer, along with her blog and bio, click here to visit Living Proof Ministries.

Kim Funk's vote: Yes on Bible Study and yes on Beth Moore :)

What's for Breakfast? Coffee Cake! ~

Time to check those cupboards for ingredients!  Do you have what you need to make this yummy coffee cake?  Our family has been using this recipe for as long as I can remember and it's always a favorite to share!

Streusel Bisquick Coffee Cake

Ingredients:

Cinnamon Streusel  (topping)

1/3 cup Original Bisquick® mix

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 tablespoons firm butter or margarine

Coffee Cake

2 cups Original Bisquick® mix
2/3 cup milk or water
2 tablespoons sugar

1 egg

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees and grease a 9-inch pan (I use a cute pie plate).
2. In a small bowl, make streusel topping first, then set aside.  (You will need a pastry cutter or a small knife to chop up butter, then stir to combine ingredients.)
3. Now combine ingredients for coffee cake and spread in pan and sprinkle topping evenly over top.
4. Bake for 18 - 22 minutes or until golden brown.  (I have always done 22 minutes ~ depends on the oven!)

Enjoy warm with a yummy cup of milk, hot cocoa (Quik with milk of course!) or COFFEE.  (Also warms up nicely in the microwave).

Official recipe states that this will serve 10 people.  If you are serving with other items, this may be true, but we have always chosen to slice it into 8 slices, and it nicely serves 4 for a main breakfast dish.

To access a printable version of this recipe (without my added commentary), simply visit Betty Crocker here: http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/streusel-coffee-cake/6961f214-b8aa-480b-8cd5-d57ea4350757

Enjoy your Sunday! :)

Words for a Wednesday ~ February 1

Week One!

Here are a few words to help you build your vocabulary and/or build your score in the games Scrabble or Words with Friends.

Our first word is platen. When I saw this played by an opponent in Words with Friends, I thought to myself, “Is that a real word?” Answer: yes indeed it is!

Platen: The roller in a typewriter or printer against which the type bar/print head strikes or the glass surface of a flatbed scanner. Word origin: from the French word platine, meaning metal plate.  Who knew? (Did you?)

Our second word is woof. I’ll be honest. If that word was to come up in my house (currently), it would be safe to assume, it would be used in a playful way, creating the sounds of a dog barking (woof woof). However, there is a real meaning to the word!

Woof: woven fabric/the texture of a fabric or a basic or essential element or material.
Word origin: A combination of the Middle English word oof, from Old English ōwef, + wefan to weave.

And finally, our third word is a two letter word! (And might I add, worth a good number of points if strategically placed in a word game!).

Za: Slang for pizza. Word origin unknown. First known use circa 1970. (Note: I will add that I did find a bit of back and forth conversing online, debating whether or not there are additional definitions for this word, but at this time, all official dictionary/word sources showed only the definition mentioned here.)

Sources: All definitions listed above were determined in part or entirety by researching definitions in the Encarta, Merriam-Webster, and The Free Dictionary by Farlex, or their online versions/websites.