What is in a Name?

When I first thought of a name for my blog, I Googled it. I am the Googling Queen. I think Google should keep track of who Googles the most and hand out a prize. Like a million dollars or some chocolate. Either one would be great.

...anyway, when I googled "Living on a Whim", I only came up with another blog that was pretty much discontinued (can't find it now). At that time, I contemplated changing the name to "Life on a Whim" like the website address, but never got around to it.

The other day my husband discovered a few more sites after his daily google to find my blog. So, I decided to do another Google search myself. This is what we found:

1) http://www.livingonawhim.com/pblog/ - This guy's blog has been around before mine... I think. -- he could have changed the name after he opened his store front, http://www.livingonawhim.com/...who knows.
Looks like an interesting blog. Some good pictures as well.

2) http://lifeonawhim.com/ - not to be confused with this one, mine (http://lifeonawhim.blogspot.com) - She's a photographer and just started her blog last month.

3) http://theglitteratini.blogspot.com/2006_03_01_archive.html - Living, on a Whim. Oh I see, the comma makes all the difference. Thats why I didn't find your blog Maxine! Living, on a Whim has been around awhile, dates back to December 2004. Oops! Anyway, Maxine has a nice fashion, celebrity blog. A place to get the latest scoop.


There are more with similar names, but not as close as the one listed above. So, what now? Should I change my blog name? ...I don't want to.

I think I will just continue "Living on a Whim" and enjoy the company.

Brown Bananas

I hate wasting bananas. They are my favorite fruit.

If you are like me, it is always hard to gage how many bananas to buy for the week. So, when we don't eat them all before they are brown, I throw them in the freezer. It is too bad my Aunt, who loves brown bananas, doesn't live near by.

Anyway, its time to make banana bread. Here's my favorite recipe:

2 1/2 cups Whole-wheat flour
2 tsp Baking soda
1tsp Salt
1 cup Butter, soft at room temperature
1 1/2 cups Sugar
4 large/ripe Mashed Bananas (ok to use yellow bananas, just add more sugar)
4 Eggs
OR 4 tsp of Flax seed and 1/2 cup of water
1 cup Pecans or Walnuts

Preheat over to 350
Grease and flour 2 medium loaf pans
In a medium bowl stir together flour, baking soda, and salt
In a large bowl, beat (or hand mixer) together butter, sugar; gradually mashed bananas; then eggs or flaxseed/water and beat until completely mixed (mixture will look a little curdled). Add nuts. Then add the combined dry ingredients and mix until blended.

Pour evenly and equally into 2 prepared pans. Bake for 55-60 minutes until tooth pick comes out clean. (You may have to add 5-10 if using Flaxseed).
Let cool before serving.

Move on back!

Do you know the song, "The Wheels on the Bus"? Little Bean loves that song and all the actions that go with it. If you don't know it, click here and listen. One of her favorite verses in that song is ...The driver on the bus says "Move on back" . When you sing this verse you motion with your fingers in a fist and your thumb sticking up, swinging it back toward your shoulder. Indicating the passengers should move on back.

With that in mind....

We traveled a little bit this past summer and one of the airlines we took was Southwest. If you are not familiar with Southwest, they don't assign seats. In a way it is nice, since they let all the small children and their families on first. In most cases the families tend to sit in the same area. So, when Little Bean kicks the back of a seat, she is only bothering the toddler in front of her.

While everyone was looking for seating, one flight attendants made an announcement. "Folks, there are plenty of seats in the back, so move toward the back.....move on back..." As she repeated "move on back" several more times, Little Bean could not resist to assist. She stood up in her seat looked sternly at each passenger as they approached and motioned for them to move on back.

Clever girl.

Wood working class: Desk to Desk Organizer

Just completed my second week of beginning woodworking class. It went as smooth as a sanded board. However, I have to admit the first week didn't go so well.

Last week, I got dinner on the table early and rushing out the door, to go sign-up for the wood working class. After signing up I had to drive to the other side of the building and check-in with the teacher. I arrived exactly on time. No one was there yet. After 5-10 minutes about 3 other men trickled in and an hour into the class a woman showed up as well. I quickly learned, I was truly the only novel woodworker. On the most part, people take the class each year, so they have access to the woodworking shop. Teaching is mainly experiential and informal.

Since, I spent most of my time trying to convince my husband that this woodworking class was just a whim and I won't buy any major equipment like table saws and planers . I wasn't prepared. All I had was a picture of a desk I wanted. I cut it out a few months ago from a designer magazine in hopes of finding a less expensive version. When asked by my classmates, "what are you planning to make?", I would pull out the picture. No one really said anything until I showed it to an older gentleman. First he laughed, then he told me I was a very ambitious. "B.... can tell you a little about being ambitious , can't you?" he said as he touched her shoulder, the only other woman in the room. At this point I was ready to walk out of the class. Actually, I tried by saying, "well since I don't have anything to work on, I'll just come back next week". That didn't work. I should of just ran for it. The teacher said I should stay, learn the machines and work out the dimensions of my project. So I did.

Over the weekend my husband and I looked at various desk woodworking plans. In the end we decided it might be better if I worked on a desk organizer. I bought 2 planks of pine wood and returned to class the following week with my project plan. Above is a picture of my wood all cut-up. I just have to do a few more groves, then I start to put it together next week. The teacher was a big help! Thank goodness, I am the only newbie to woodworking, in the class!
...stay tuned

Organic Bugs in our Canned Organic Chic Peas...YUM!

I am not really good about buying everything organic and environmental safe, but I try. I just have to say, looking at these bugs don't make it easy.

...I think I'll go back to soaking dry beans.


(previous post erased... didn't want to display too much ignorance about organic food)

I want to be kind....

I want this badge.

....However, I know I have a lot of work to do to earn it.
Thats means no snide, cheeky, teasing remarks about anyone, including my mother and husband.

...hmmm, then again, thats no fun.

Maybe I can find an "Almost Kind Blog" badge.

For those who qualify for this badge, here is the website:
http://www.chookooloonks.com/kindblog/