About You Week: BBQ Dry Rub

I have to admit, this theme was hard for me. What recipe is "About Me?" The other ladies all did great posts on things for you. I love Erica's cleaning plan. I used it as a starting point for my own. She suggested to me that I post my favorite recipe.

So, here's the scoop. I love BBQ: meat, beans, potatoes, cornbread. Oh, I love it. I eat it all year, not just during the summer and grilling season. I came across this recipe online for a dry rub a couple years ago. I don't even know where I found it. The thing that I really like about it is that I can adjust it for my mood. Do I feel like a little more garlic? Sure, add some more. Do I want the meat a little spicier? Add some extra pepper. It is also easy to make a large quantity for larger pieces of meat. I've only tried this on pork. I've done ribs and pork roasts. We usually pull the pork for sandwiches. I feel like it would be good on chicken as well, but I'm not sure about beef.

This is a pork shoulder. It was rubbed the night before, and then placed in our smoker for several hours. We finished it in the oven on medium heat.

Dry Rub
1 t Garlic Powder
1 t Red Pepper Flakes
1/2 t Paprika
1 t Fresh Ground Pepper
1 t Mustard Powder
2 t Salt
3 T Brown Sugar

• Mix everything together
• Sprinkle on both sides and rub into the meat

If you're making ribs they are so good smoked with this rub. You can also throw them on a grill. If neither of these are an option for you try this:

Seal rib sections in foil with a Tablespoon of water in each package and bake for 2 hours on a cookie sheet in a preheated 325 degree oven.

Want a great recipe for cornbread? Buy two boxes of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix and one box of their Yellow Cake. Mix them all together just like the packages say. Pour in a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at the Cornbread temperature until the bread is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

About You Week: Household Hint

Here's the thing. I love being a mom and wife. I like to share with my family as much as the next guy. But, there are times I find something that I want for myself. I don't care if it's my ipod or a pack of gum. There has been a time or two...maybe more...that I have hidden treats (chocolate donuts in particular) to snack on while I'm home alone or the kids are out playing. I don't care if I bring them out while I'm cleaning or crafting. There are just times I need things for me. You know the best part? I do it guilt free.

About You Week: Guilt Free Housework

I don't know about you but I am terrible at housework!! I am always behind.  I have tried a million different schedules to keep on top of it, including cleaning a room a day, and just cleaning whatever I see first.  Needless to say nothing has worked.  I always have a million projects that I want to get done but I feel guilty working on them if my house is dirty.

One of my friends has an awesome blog, The Modern Hive, she is so inspiring!  If you get a chance peruse her site, you will love it.  I am always checking it to find out what great ideas she has come up with lately.  She posted about this awesome book published in the early 80's.

 

Source



Just a quick outline, it uses the creation of the world to help you outline your schedule for the week.  For example Thursday was the day of vegetation and beautification, therefore Thursday is the day to work in the yard.  I love the organization of this plan.  There are certain things that you need to do everyday, then there are things that are assigned to Mondays, Tuesdays, etc.  The chores that don't have to be done as frequently are assigned to the first week, second week, etc.  It really stresses how necessary it is to have time with your family.  It also sets aside time for you to work on your projects.  I like how it focuses on being a 'guilt free' approach to housework.  

Here is how I wrote my schedule up.  For now I wrote it on a white board so I can change days around and find out what works for me.  I also added a spot at the bottom of the board for 'ideas' and 'projects'.  That way I can keep track of everything.  

I really like this schedule.  I have had to modify a few things, for example Tuesdays are super busy for me, it is hard to get laundry done on that day.  It is easy to just switch days.

There are also some great ideas for how to get your kids involved.  One of the ideas to get small children involved, is to play games with them.  Let them pretend they have a farm.  They can feed 'hay' (paper) to the horse (trashcan) or cans to the billy goat.  

If you would like a list of what chores are on which day I compiled a list for you here.  Also Heather has a free printable that you can use to set up your chore chart.

Do you have an approach to housework that helps you have some 'me' time?  I would love to hear about it!

About You Week: Documenting YOU

I am going to step out of our "regular" feel here at The Polka-dot Umbrella for this post.

Documenting YOU

I started my family blog when I wanted a place to document us: my family. I love the concept of not doing a scrapbook but still connecting stories to pictures. My goal was to keep it updated and at each year mark get it printed. It is my family's story. I am not sure if any of you are like me, but my family blog has become somewhat of a travel and event log. Do you want to join me in making a my family story a deeper meaning that digs into who we really are? How about catching those memories and documenting who you are right now, and the things that you don't ever want to forget? Let's document the things that make you, you.

A big thanks to Paper Coterie who has sparked this new avenue and direction. Here are some fun new ideas to help your family blog dig a little deeper and catch who you are right now.

(I added pictures of how I would answer and document my entry. I was hoping to inspire you. When I was doing this I found myself having such a good time and loving the opportunity to reflect and think about these fabulous things in my life. Each picture is full of stories.)

1. Where have these shoes taken me today?

You can do this for you or anyone in your family. What does a average Tuesday look like for you?

My siblings and 2 spouses. Can you guess who's shoes are Erica's or mine?

2. What is your living space like?
Write down where you hang out as a family and what you like to do in the evenings.

When I was a kid we had a large family room in the basement with a nice sized t.v., but we were never around it. Most nights, when homework was finished, you would find all 4 kids and my Dad gathered around the bar watching t.v. on a small 7" screen in the kitchen . I have the perfect picture in my head of this but I wish I had something more tangible than that. I want something I can share with my kids. If my parents still lived in the home I grew up in, the kitchen bar would be something I would definitely take a picture of.

Every morning I do my little girls hair while she sits in the sink.

3. What is something that means a lot but won't always be around?
Take a picture of this, and write down your thoughts about it. Do you have a place or a chair that your little one loves to be rocked in? How about a high chair or car seat, do they provide any memories. Is there somewhere that your spunky 3 year old hides every time you play hide-and-go-seek?

My little girl HATED her rear facing car seat. When we put her forward facing, she was just fine.

4. Tell about a place that brings back memories.

Do you ever pass a location that every time you see it you think of a story or memory? You might even say something to another person in the car, like, "have I told you about.." when your passing by. Take a picture, tell the story.

This is Dinosaur park. We went to this park almost every day last summer and some times twice. 

5. Write down your thoughts about starting your own family.

Have you written down the feelings you had when you knew you wanted to start having kids? How did you feel when you found out you were pregnant? We all have so many precious memories that are hard to put in words, but what we can put down will mean a great deal to our kids or can make you and husband look back and laugh.

Before I announced our second son I made this shirt and took pictures of my little girl wearing it.

6. Make a timeline.

Post an event timeline. Be creative: write down some of those special and life changing events. Why are you where you are, and how did you get there?

7. What is your favorite thing about a season?
Why? Post a picture of something that makes it your favorite.

8. What puts a smile on your face today?
Did you laugh when your 2 little guys were playing and laughing together? Did you smile when you saw your precious little one finally asleep after an hour battle before bed? Did you smile because your tulips finally opened up?

 First time mowing our lawn this year.

9. Did you name a child after someone?
I am sure that this person is amazing and someone that is close to you. Write down why they are close to you. What do they have that you want your child to have? How can being named after this person influence your child?

Grandma Marilyn, who my daughter is named after.

10. What does your work space look like?
Why do you have a plant that looks like it isn't going to make it? Why a bobble head? What made you choose that picture to frame? Was the empty plate full of yummy snacks today?

I hope this sparks some great ideas that can help capture a little more of who you are and some fun ways to document them. Does anyone have any experience on printing their blog? Any suggestion on companies to use?

About You Week

Since next Sunday is Mother's Day, we thought it would be a nice idea to spend the week focusing on projects for YOU!  I know many of you are Mothers and most of our crafty energy is spent working on things for our kids.

We have some amazing women on this blog, women that I look up to and have learned so many things from. As you have followed our journey and stories you too have seen what wonderful women each one is.

I asked each gal to tell me something about her and a picture to go along. I hope you have as much fun as I did learning more about them.

About The Polka-dot Umbrella Gals

Carlee

I am a project runway junkie!  And my husband loves to watch it with me too (awesome right?).  We live in New England and are close enough take day trips to NYC, and the last time we went we did a little Project Runway pilgrimage.  We visited the Lincoln Center where Fashion Week is (and I've been to Bryant park its old home), Parsons, and Mood.  As you all know, I really love to sew, and sometimes I dream about going to fashion school.  Until then, I've been reading books about pattern making, working on learning new garment construction techniques, and of course watching lots of Project Runway.  

Emily

You may have already figured some things out about me from our meet the team page and my posts.  I have a bad sweet tooth, I am a (temporarily retired) teacher and love doing art projects with my 3.5 year old daughter (and the 9 month old too, but she still doesn't do much), and I'm in the beginner sewing stages, but I still love making things.  I'm always so inspired by what the other ladies here at the polka-dot-umbrella are coming up with.  Here's something you may not know about me: In a few weeks, my husband will be finally, finally graduating from school after 6 years of marriage and 9 years of post-secondary education.  We are getting pretty excited to start having an income (again) and about putting a dent in the student loans.  Yay, yay!  If we never had to worry about money ever again, I would TRAVEL.  Before I was married, I got to go to some pretty cool places, and I sure would love to go back, and to add to my list of countries visited.  (The picture is of me in Fiji, where I went to do my student teaching for University.  Soooo, beautiful!)

Shauntel

I like to be busy. I feel like I need to be doing something constantly. I love to read, bake, play, craft, take pictures, paint etc. I also love surfing the web, I'm a total Facebook stalker and I love Bakerella! I just started building furniture with my next door neighbor and I LOVE it! I like being with my family and having girl time with my mom, sisters and friends. My favorite holiday is Halloween. Lately, I spend a lot of time at the gym with my husband. I hope one day my muscles will forgive me. I enjoy snowboarding and was so excited to take my kids this year. I like to take my kids swimming at least once a week and finding new places to visit. I love my husband. I can not wait for the summer!

Erica

Hey everybody Erica here, I have to confess that my all time favorite thing to do in my me time is watch girly movies.  By girly I mean anything Jane Austen or similar.  I love to curl up and watch any movie where they wear petticoats, awesome dresses and sit around all day and do nothing.  I am one of those people that loves the A&E version of Pride and Prejudice, and yes I do mean the five hour long version.  I am a hopeless romantic.  I just saw the new Jane Eyre movie and loved it.  I highly recommend it!  If you have any movies you think I should check out let me know!!!

Jennifer

These past few years, since I have become a Mom, I have developed interests and goals and hobbies that I have never done before. These include my love for sewing, running in the mornings, being with other Mommies and like most of you I have become a, “house manager” and these duties take up most of my time. There is one thing that has been the same for several years and that is my LOVE and fascination for whales. Yep, whales. What do I mean by love and fascination? I have 5 documentaries on whales and each one has been viewed more than once. My favorite is blue whales, they are amazing.!! Did you know that they are the size of an 8-story building, their tongue is bigger than an elephant and their heart is the size of a car? 

(The picture is when I was on a whale watching tour. I can’t even begin to tell you the smile that was on my face the whole trip.)