Tool Time

 Okay, so I'm redoing a table.

And I have one of these nifty scrapers.

 The center section of the tabletop is damages veneer and has to come off.

This is going to take forever, right?

 WRONG!

Because I also have one of these! 

Well, yes, of course I know it's a saw.

 But that's where this comes in!

$15 at Lowes, this kit makes your sawzall into a multi-tasking maniac.

Sand, scrape, even clean your grill with this set.

It not only saves time, but money, since you don't have to buy an electric sander

ot additional tools.

 Lock it in to your saw just like a blade.

Now, lets get this tabletop off before the boys get home, shall we?

Something We're Thankful For

Sometimes, life teaches you lessons you don't expect.

 "Man plans. God laughs."

 Like being told at 50 that you're not leaving the hospital.

Then being told 2 months later that you're disabled.

Then hearing a few weeks ago that you've beaten the odds and can go out and play.

The Redhead has been cleared medically.

You're looking at a woman who is now in a suit and heels again

as an Account Executive for a major global corporation in the sales division.

Why didn't I listen to my original diagnosis and give up?

 I had a couple of good teachers.

These two guys have autism, and their prognoses were bleak.

 Thom would never speak, bond with me completely, or be potty trained.

 Neither of them would have sufficient social skills.

 Samwow would have difficulty making friends.

We didn't buy a minute of it.

 I never gave up on them, but more importantly, they never gave up on themselves.

And we had a very special evening Tuesday that proves their efforts.

 That blur on center stage is Thom.

He's rushing across stage to light his candle...

 ...to be inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, the college honors fraternity.

The boy has a 3.78 GPA.

And I clearly heard him say his pledge.

Disabilities only limit or define you if you allow it.

Save Your Life Dinner...and Frazzled Rambling

Okay, the longest chunks of time I've ever taken off from work were maternity leaves.

 Sammy was the most extensive of those, weighing in at a whopping six weeks before I returned to the yacht club as maitre d'.

Basically, I was that woman who managed a career and kids and EVERYTHING

 else. And yes, I thought stay at home moms had all the time in the world.

Until now.

I have been a SAHM for almost a year, and I have never been more frazzled and rushed.

Between Mom and the Minions, the house, projects, doctors, lawyers, friends and

"slowing down," I'm exhausted.

 We're launching a new series of recycled creations.

I'm covered in paint.

Boo seems to have taken over the pile of pallets.

Why do I have a pile of pallets?

And now you want DINNER?

It's cool, I've got this, with a little help from the interwebs.

If you've seen the following recipes and wondered if they were any good-

why else would I share them with you?

(Look for the new tag Save Your Life if you need recipes that are ridiculously easy.)

 Maggie at Smashed Peas and Carrots shared this recipe with the world, and it's a keeper!

I had Mom out all day shopping, Sam hit the gym after work, and two of the Minions had late college classes.

The house smelled amazing when I came home.

An added plus?

The meat stayed simmering in the crock pot so that as stragglers wandered in,

dinner was ready, hot, and even more tender.

I altered it just a little to make more au jus to freeze for prime rib and roasts later.

Collect the following:

A large, inexpensive beef roast, about 4 pounds.

2 cans of beef stock

2 cans of french onion soup

1 1/2 tablespoons of garlic powder

Whole wheat sub rolls

12 ounces of beer

An 8 ounce package of cheese. I used Sargento grated Swiss and gruyere

Oh, right, and a crock pot

Grab one for yourself.

Coat the crock pot with cooking spray. Pour the broth and soup in the pot.

 Set the roast in the liquid.

 Beer. Yes. Add some of that.

Sprinkle the garlic powder over the roast.

 Set the pot on low, cover, and put your mother's wheelchair in the Kia Soul.

Put her in it too, what the heck. This is going to simmer for about 7 hours,

so hit all the stores you want!

 Come home and help your oldest son construct a jet pack for his Environmental Science Class from soda bottles,

an old back pack, and spray paint.

 Make a couple of laser firing death rays too.

Use gallon milk jugs for those.

Just a suggestion.

 Remove the roast and slice that tender sucker up, returning the meat to 

the au jus for at least another half hour to soak up even more flavor.

 Throw together a salad to accompany the sandwiches.

Remember to save any trimmed seeds to plant in the garden.

Preheat the oven to 350, split the hoagie rolls, and sprinkle them with cheese.

Place them on a lined cookie sheet until the cheese melts,

then place some sliced beef on the rolls.

Serve with the salad and a cup of the au jus for dipping.

Prepare for the compliments.

These. Were. FANTASTIC.

 Now, get the hutch decorated for Easter.

 These little bunnies were a gift for my first Easter in 1961.

 The rest of the display has been joining us year by year since the Minions were born.

Wait! Did we forget dessert?

Be serious.

 For quick and amazing, I blatantly stole gratefully borrowed this Pineapple Angel Food cake that's almost fat free and only 148 calories a serving, plus there's just two ingredients!

Do you already love it?

I was skeptical on taste, but just you wait.

All you need is a box of angel food cake mix and a large can of crushed pineapple packed in juice.

DO NOT drain the pineapple.

Pour them both in a bowl.

 Do the cooking spray thing with a bundt pan.

 Mix. I just used a spatula.

 Scrape it into the cake pan.

Pop it into the 350 degree oven.

Hey, no one told you to turn it off when the rolls were done.

Bake until a fork comes out clean, about 40 minutes.

And yeah, this is what you get.

Fluffy, subtle, sweet, with delicious burst of fruit.

Slow down for a minute and just enjoy...

Okay, enough relaxing!

You promised recycling projects!

Scrub, Redhead, scrub!

Seriously, both recipes met with raves.

The death rays are not lethal.

The wine glass is filled with sparkling grape juice.

And the small wooden bunny band is really 51 years old.