Success

Success: The accomplishment of an aim or purpose


What makes someone successful? This was something I have
 been thinking about for the last couple of days. Well really every since
 we had dinner with the extended family on Saturday and my MIL asked
 my BIL if he felt that he was a success.

His list of accomplisments was varied and extensive. Running
marthons,being in 40 cities and 13 countries, and the list went on.
 As I listened to his list of things that made him feel accomplished I
 realized that if I measured against his list, including marathons,numerous
 countries visited and various other things I would never be as accomplished.

But that's not the point right? We all define what makes each of us
a success. What one person sees as an success might be totally
wasted on another.

Just because 1% of the population runs a marthon doesn't make it
a goal more worthy of accomplishment than the goal to never miss
a family dinner.

Don't get me wrong now, some goals tend to have a universal appeal.
Say becoming president of the U.S. or winning the Super Bowl.
But at the same time there are tons of things that people do every
single day that are no less important...

For instance the average marriage in America last 7 years now. So
as I approach my 8th year haven't I already accomplished a goal
beyond that of the average American.

See each person decides what makes them a success. Holding down
a job in this difficult job market is a success. Being able to rebound
after a foreclosure(something I have experience with) is a success.

Many people look to others and say I'm not a success because I
don't have a house with a pool, nice cars, nice clothes and all
that. I too have been known to try to keep up with the Jones'
but lately I've realized that I am a success in my own right.

So for all of you out there. Realize that you are a success and that
you can measure your own success. What makes you a story is
your own willingness to be the best person you can be.

Caprese Appetizers!

This is my own personal recipe! I came up with it off of a traditional
 Caprese Salad.For my none Italian Food friends Caprese salad is a very
popular dish that consists of mostly Fresh Mozzerella, Sliced tomato, Fresh
 Basil and some olive oil.

I changed it up a little to make a handhed appetizer. This is one of
 my favorite appetizers to make when we have guests over. It's fairly
simple to make and packs a delicious taste...

Here is my recipe.

1 box Keebler Flatbread Crisp-Italian Herb
16 oz bocconcini(mini mozzerella balls)
16 oz grape tomato
16 Fresh basil leaves
Wegman's Basting Oil( Olive Oil can be used)

*Note if you can't find mini mozzerella ball you
can use 3-4 large balls-must be fresh mozzerella

* Wegman's Basting Oil contains different types
of oil and herbs. It is a speciality oil that adds
a lot of flavor. If unable to get oil you can use
EVOO(Extra Virgin Olive Oil)

Directions:
1. Lay the crackers on the serving platter
2. cut the mozzerella balls in half,(if using
the large balls cut into small pieces about
the size nickle)
3. Slice each grape tomato in half
4. tear each basil leaf in half
5. Place one slice of tomato, mozzerella,
and basil on each cracker. Arranging in
any way that you please.
6. Drizzle with a splash of oil, I prefer
Wegman's Basting oil but a simple EVOO
or another oil can be used.
7. SERVE and enjoy

Confessions....Part 1

A collection of random musings and confessions....

1. I long to have a living that looks like it came from the pages of Pier

 One or Pottery Barn, somehow though I don't think that Pier One

and 5 kids go hand in hand..So for now I look at the pages and

 fantasize about a fab living room.

2. I want to go to disney world...taking the kids is just an excuse
 to go myself. I have a secret dream about having my vow renewal at
Disney World, or on a Disney cruise!!! Unfortunately the cost is more
than I can handle...so it'll be a dream for awhile.

3. I make up goofy songs for my kids when I make dinner.."Black
beans and red beans...yummy yummy yummy in my tummy." This is
one of my favorite make believe songs...

4. I love watching Phineas and Ferb on the Disney Channel. The
 show makes me laugh and I actually find myself singing the songs
 they make up on there.. "Gitchi Gitchi Goo means...."

5. I had to institute a no talking about farts, burps, or other
bodily functions at the dinner table. (Did I mention I have
3 little boys)

6. I'm a democratic catholic raised by protestant republican
parents. Needless to say we don't see eye to eye on a lot
of things.

7.I don't watch any celebrity entertainment and I
don't look at any of what my grandma use to call the
garbage papers. I think celebrity news is for people
who have an unsatisfied life.

8. I think Forbes magazine is way off base by saying that
Lady Gaga is more influential as a celebrity than Oprah.
Seriously...Lady Gaga is crazy and encourages people
to be crazy...that's not influence in my book.

9. I think that football coaches gossip more than anyone
I know. They have a whole website that is committed
to nothing but gossip about jobs..They just choose to
call it "scoop" not gossip.

Okay that's enough for now..I've got lots more but they can wait for another day!

Stay at home mom!

****This is a repost from a friends page on FB, these are not my own words, but I can honestly say that they are a thought I've had a couple of times...especially when I didn't get to something and I get the "What the heck did you do all day?" from Coach******



.A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard. The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog. Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall. In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a Cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing. In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door. He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened. He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls. As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked, 'What happened here today?' She again smiled and answered, 'You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world do I do all day?' 'Yes,' was his incredulous reply. She answered, 'Well, today I didn't do it.



by Jennifer Johnson



I couldn't have said it better myself...Next time hubby asks you that question print this out and hand it to him...maybe he'll get the hint!

What I love Wednesday-Candles, Eskimo Kisses, and Quiet

That's right its time for another installment of What I'm loving Wednesday!!!
Today's contestants are Candles, Kisses and Quiet!!! It won't take a genius to
figure out why...

First up Candles. I love scented candles. Every time I walk by the Yankee
Candleshop its all I can do to not walk in there and empty my bank account.
 Most people would say they have a favorite smell..I like a lot of different types
of smells. For instance I always burn food smell candles in the kitchen, I burn
ocean or beach related ones in.....you guessed it the bathroom and I mix it up
between floral and clean smells in the living room...My favorite Yankee candle is

Storm Watch! I love the smell of this candle. The Yankee candle store says
 it smells like the Ocean Air right before the storm..I don't know about all that
 but I have always loved the smell of this candle and it is very comforting to me
when I do burn it..

Next up  Eskimo Kisses!  I remember as a kid my mom use to give me Eskimo
kisses...I always thought it was funny to rub your nose against someone else and
 I still do that with my kids today. I Eskimo kiss Coach sometimes too, although I
usually then give him a doggie kiss and he gets all freaked out about it... I don't
know what it is about rubbing your nose against someone elses...its kind of funny
that it can be so calming and reassuring to one. Whatever the reason I know that I
 hope my kids will pass on a good Eskimo kiss too!

Finally Quiet! Now come on with 5 young children you have to expect that I would
love quiet. There is never a dull moment in this house. I savor the times when I
can just sit back and hear....nothing! Well we all know not nothing...That clock in
 the kitchen, the sound of the refridgerator, the tumbling of the dryer, the sound of
 that fly,but when you have 5 children these everyday sounds get drowned out
by the talking(mostly at a level above indoor voice), or crying(mostly the 2yr old)
of the children.

Don't get it wrong. I have had times where I realize that the quiet is too quiet. The
constant and reassuring noise lets me know that all children are present and
accounted for and that they are all okay. I enjoy hearing them talk to one another
minus the fights and the talk about burping, boogers, and farts(I have 3 boys), it
is fun to hear them talk about things and use words that they heard us say...
coincidentally that is a topic for aother time... But sometimes the ability to turn off
the TV, the sound and just listen...well that's a moment that I hold dear!

Well thanks for reading this weeks update of What I love Wednesday! I hope
you guys enjoyed this one!! I know I enjoyed writing it!

This says it all....

So my first interruption of the new and improved Jordan Family has happened.
 Most of you may be thinking already but its only June??? Yes already! See
 Coach has decided to increase his networking by taking an 9 day trip to Winnipeg!!!
 He was able to get a guest coaching spot with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers(CFL).

I'm currently on day 3 of a 9 day interruption. Although I'm sure that many a fellow
 football wife would say that having him home is more of the change from the norm..
.but more on that later. Back to Day 3! Although he's "only" in Canada the
constraints of the schedule have limited any chance to talk, not to mention that it
 cost $.20 a minute to call home...thank goodness for free text messages!

So our conversations have been very limited and since Coach is admittedly not a
 fan of texting we have not spent very much time at all in conversation. For the
 average person this may not be such a big deal but for me it sort of is. See Coach
 is pretty much my only friend. A lot of you will say that isn't true but honestly
 I can count on less than one hand the people who text,message, or  try to talk to me
 at least bi-weekly(not even talking about weekly here) Anyway I digress that is
 a topic for another blog....

Not having anybody around can be a little challenging. It sure can be depressing,
especially when one sees picture after picture of people partying and having fun
 on FB. Knowing that my daily routine is pretty much a combination of school work,
 childcare and homework can lead to some melancholy. Ok I'm way off track now....

Back to Day 3! So today I sat down and made a list of some things, people and
 places that I can use to get me through the "interruptions" set to come in this crazy
 thing we call a life. I'm not gonna post the list today, it may be used for another day
 but at any rate "blog posting" was involved in the list.. I'm trying to decide how to set
up the posts I'm looking at doing...I also have a blog name change in mind...More on
 that in coming days and weeks... Anyway enjoy and thanks for reading!