Welcome to Mary Lou's Sitting Room

Hello! You are entering the world of Mary Lou...hope you have fun here! I created this blog to be a place of refuge in the storm, inspiration in the fog, light in the darkness, and hope for your life. I love to encourage people and have fun-I hope you will find this true as you visit me here. I plan on writing about all types of subjects, because I am interested in all the good things God has made, so hang on for the ride~! I love to sew and also cook...hence the name..

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Tuesday Tips for that annoying question: What are we having for dinner tonight?

Good Tuesday morning! I was thinking today about a habit I began years ago that has helped me save time and money!
Since we have had to watch our pennies over the years (I was mostly a stay-at-home mom till the boys got older) I knew I could not afford to run to the store several times per week. Every time I go to the store for something I come home with more items than were on my list! So a friend suggested that I make a grocery list from a weekly menu.

I make up a menu for one or two weeks at a time-and then put the items I will need for each menu on the list. I always add a couple of days that are marked "leftovers" which we always have after I make certain dishes. Then I check my coupons and take along the ones I need for that week.  Having a menu also prevents the frustrating question of "what are we having for dinner tonight?" It really only takes a few minutes to make up a menu - and it also helps to do so with a cookbook on hand so you can have more interesting meals instead of the same old, same old!

It also helps to make your grocery list & menu out while looking at the weekly ads - then you can plan meals according to what's on sale and that helps save $ as well.

Besides that, all I can say is to try not to be lured by all the displays in the stores-buy what's on your list and don't deviate too much if you're trying to stay on a budget. Budgets are good things! They help us save for vacations & retirement, Christmas and all kinds of fun stuff! :) The pic of chocolate "blob" at the right is Cranberry Pecan Dark Choc Bark that I made at Christmastime. You just melt dark chocolate at medium temp in the microwave (can add choc chips - need about 1 1/2 cups total) and add as much dried cranberries and toasted pecan pieces as you like - spread out on parchment paper & let cool. Put it in the fridge to help that process & then break up into pieces to serve...Delish!

Monday, January 30, 2012

Monday's Moment-Confessions of a mom-turned-mother in law

I love being a mom and I love having daughters-in-law....I think of them as daughters. I hate commercials and TV shows that portray mothers-in-law as monsters and as someone who stresses you out all the time by her meddling. I will tell you this: I never pictured myself as a mother-in-law and when it happened to me I tried a bit too hard...gave advice when it was not wanted, etc....and generally made a LOT of mistakes! So easy to do when one has a mouth....and opinions, ideas and even experience that one wants to share to help others not make the same mistakes....ah well....no one is perfect and I have def learned that the hard way!
My goal is to be there when my "daughters" need me and to NOT get in the way - to pray for them & give advice when asked....and to be their greatest cheerleader as they live out being wives & mothers. It's been important for me to realize that I do NOT have all the answers-and that we all make mistakes as parents...and that most of our mistakes will not "mark" our children for life as some would make you think. Scripture says that "love never fails" and it also "covers a multitude of sins". So if you're a mom or a wife, just know that you will likely make mistakes - but that love will cover. Never be afraid to say you were wrong & that you are sorry.  Know also that God's grace and strength are there for you every single day...all you have to do is go to Him and ask. Listen. Receive.

..and to my "daughters" this day I say this: You are beautiful, capable, skillful & talented young women and....I love you with all my heart-I am thankful for you, I pray for you and I am standing on the sidelines cheering for you to be a success!

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Saturday Music day!

Good Saturday morning!  Today I thought I would share some music videos with you....<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_fsrQFWb-xc?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>





Streams of living water shall fill you as you invite Him in....


God's power is unequalled....

May your day be filled with the blessedness of the Presence of Almighty God Himself! all for now...
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He thinks & cares about every little detail


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Friday, January 27, 2012

Funny Friday

Howdy! Thought you'd enjoy a few more funnies on this awesome Friday! So...here you go! And try not to let all the politics get you down this year...be informed, but not obsessed! :) Hope your weekend is super!  Look on the bright side of life...,  smile, it'll do you good!
And think of something nice you can say to make someone else's day brighter!

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Thursday Tidbits & Tips..

Did you know...... that if you keep a sep wash cloth in your shower & wipe it down before you get out each time you'll never have to scrub it? Just freshen it with a bleach cleaner once/week to kill germs, but you won't end up with scum! yea! ..and if you spray that cleaner on your sinks every few days you won't have to scrub them, either! Just don't let that icky stuff accumulate in the first place...


Did you know....that by being thankful first thing in the mornings you will avoid starting the day with a bad attitude? People will enjoy being around you more and you WILL be happier!

Did you know....if you save your yarn scraps you can make a scrappy scarf (see pic) or an afgan! It all adds up!  I've seen them in the stores & they are asking a lot for something you can make for practically nothing if you have scraps of yarn to use!  :)
Did you know...saving for a rainy day really works?! Having a budget keeps your spending in check & allows you to have savings for those unexpected expenses that inevitably happen!

Did you know...you can make soup or a skillet scramble out of all kinds of food leftovers(see below)...don't throw them away until you've searched Allrecipes.com or another website that allows you to search by ingredient....saves bunches of $ to do so!

 All for now....hope you have a delicious day!