Sunday, December 21, 2008

Homemaker Monday: I have an unatural obsession with my oven timer and I'm okay with it.

Welcome to...


Thank you for joining us! If you're new to this carnival and would like to enter your post, please check HERE for the rules and regs. (By the way, if you have been featured on Homemaker Monday in the past, your name is on my left sidebar. Check it out!)

YOURS: This week's "YOURS" goes to "The Homemaker's Cottage" . She posted a recipe for an adorable cheese ball snowman. Here, check him out...


(Photo courtesy of Bettycrocker.com)

When I saw him, I fell in love with him, and I wanted to create him, show him to my friends, then eat him. If you'd like to create him and eat him yourself, click HERE for the recipe. Thank you, Homemaker's Cottage, for this lovely addition to our Homemaker Monday and please feel free to grab the "I Was Featured" button from my left sidebar. We'll look forward to more great ideas from your cottage in the future!

MINE: I'm scattered-brained. I'm pretty sure that's what it is. I feel that I'm too young to be senile, so that must be it. I guess my brain has room to process only one pressing issue at a time, and the most pressing issue right now is feeding the babies and trying to keep the toddler from pinching them. And so... I forget things. I forget that I put the toddler in time out, I forget that I have to meet with the 12-year-old's teacher after school to discuss why he wakes up too late to eat breakfast, I forget that I have to pick the hymns for Relief Society, the women's organization in our church, I forget that I have cookies in the oven, I forget that my visiting teachers are coming over, I forget that the kids get out of school early on Tuesdays and when I finally remember my kids half an hour later, I get to listen to the six-year-old girl exclaim, "Mom?!? What were ya thinkin'?!?"

In an effort to solve this problem, I have begun to utilize the timer to help me remember things. Here is a list of things I time with my oven timer:

1. 2 minutes for the toddler's time out
2. 10 minutes for the 8- or 6-year-old to take a turn caring for a twin
3. 20 minutes for the 12-, 13- or 16-year-old to take a turn caring for a twin
4. As a reminder that I need to start making the kids' lunch
5. As a reminder to check the bread rising
6. 20 minutes to clean something, anything, after the kids go to bed
7. 4 minutes to blend my wheat and milk in the blender in preparation for blender wheat pancakes
8. As a reminder to put another log on the fire
9. As a reminder that I have something in the oven (This is an important one.)
10. 10 minutes for a family clean-anything party right before bed each night

So there you have it - my obsession with my kitchen timer. Does your kitchen timer make your life better? If so, tell us how in the comments!

OURS: Okay, now it's your turn! And let me take this opportunity to thank all of you who participate regularly here at Homemaker Monday. When I view my site meter, I can see that so many visitors click on your links and I know your ideas, recipes, hints, and how-tos are much appreciated! I can't wait to see what you've got for us today! Have a great Homemaker Monday and a wonderful Christmas!



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15 comments:

High Heels and a Sippy Cup said...

Oh how I love my kitchen timer too! Nothing would ever happen around here without it. Don't worry. You aren't the only mama that feels scatterbrained most of the time.

*wink*

Anonymous said...

Ya I think it is just the mother thing to do.... being scatterbrained that is. We just have too much on our minds. I have my cell phone with me all the time so I use that timer or alarm to remind me of things. Even if something is just ten minutes away I will still set alarm because there is an 85% chance I will forget.

Anonymous said...

I went crazy and bought a whole large bucket of wheat berries...and I have no grain mill. I love the idea of blender pancakes and never thought of using these. Thanks and thanks for hosting this carnival.

Christine said...

I love my timers. I have three and use them all the time. It's not unusual for a kid to holler "what's that timer mean?" at any given point in the day. My favorite way to use them is when I'm giving myself 15 minutes to get something picked up. I don't get sidetracked that way.

threesidesofcrazy said...

That snowman cheese ball is fantastic! Scatter brained, senile, nope neither one ~ LOL you just have 9 kids! Merry Christmas!

Rhonda said...

I have a little automatic timer in my brain. I don't need an alarm clock to get up in the morning and I rarely have to remind myself of when it's TIME to do something.

My obsession is more with my calendar. I have so many Dr's (and other) appointments that I have to constantly refer back to my calendar to keep it all straight. And then I'm lucky enough to have kids throw last minute things out there: "Mom, I have a game right after school today...in the boonies...but I don't have an address. Can you come?!" gotta love it.

Jessica said...

We use our oven timer for time outs, to remind me to remind the potty training toddler to go potty, for baking, and as an alarm clock if I decide to take a nap on the couch with the newborn before picking up my kindergartener from school...I just know I will sleep through pick up time one day.

Unknown said...

I usually FORGET touse my kitchen timer...and it has cost me! :o)

But I am getting better!

Unknown said...

You have a fabulous blog!

Happy blogging

Toddler Nutrition

Mrs. Homemaker said...

I love when I set mine, and then when it goes off, sit there thinking "Now what on earth did I set the timer for?"

Heaven bless oven timers!

Jennifer @ Her Southern Charm said...

Thank you so much for your sweet and kind words! I really feel that it would be viewed differently if I had a child and I just can't understand why. Is my precious husband not good enough to take care of? Do I have to have a child to stay home? I'll just never understand those things. (And I'll never understand why women choose to work!! Don't they know how awesome it is to be in your home all day making it beautiful and a haven?!) I guess God gave all of us free will and people have to choose how to live. It's sad to see women working so hard towards nothing really. What will they have when they're 80? Memories of meetings, skipping lunch, working overtime for promotions, late nights in the office? What they won't have are memories of cookies baking, a sweet smelling house, time with your husband, walking the kids to school,etc. Very sad when you think of it.

Ok, off my soapbox now! :)

Just wanted to tell you that I'm a big fan of your blog. Love reading about your adventures in Mexico. I'm in Texas, so I absolutely love Mexican/Hacienda decor as well. There is a store up here called El Paso Import Co. and I know you'd love it. We have several pieces from there (our living room tv cabinet is from there) and we just love it!

OK, enough of a book! See you on Monday- I already have my submission ready to go!
-Jennifer <><

Nicole said...

You are a crack up! I'm glad you commented on my blog so that I found yours. Wow, 9 kids, I'm impressed. My husband came from a family of nine also. Hey, I only have 3 kids and I think I'm just as scatterbrained. I think every pregnancy kills a few brain cells.

Carla said...

Hey, Jen, I hope you and your family have and HAD a wonderful holiday season!

I love my timer too-sometimes I wish it would tell me what I'm remembering:)

And I KNOW I'm scatter-brained, and I'm ok with that:)

Kendra@My Insanity said...

Fun cheese ball! I know Christmas is over, but it is still fun to share what we have done. Maybe inspire a few ideas for next year.

Shauna said...

Great post! Come see the pictures I just posted on my blog :) Happy New Year 2009! ♥ Hugs :) Shauna