I've been noticing still, a lot of stigma attached to being a gamer lately. People assume we're all nerds, we don't have sex, we live in our moms basement. Basically like the South Park episode with WoW in it.
Well I'm here today to tell you otherwise! I am a stay at home mother. I clean my house every day (with the exception of Mondays, being my chore day off.) I bake homemade goodies most every day. I bake bread, cookies, I make dinners, or ask Kyle to help me make them. I walk my children to school to teach them the importance of exercise. Yes we even walk in the cold weather. I crochet. I watch silly soaps on TV. I also play World of Warcraft, with a dollop of LOTRO thrown in for good measure.
I spend extra money on those games, to buy the pets from the store, to buy point bundles from LOTRO. To race change. But you know what? All my bills are paid, I have my RRSPs in order, and even my RESPs (Savings for my kids). Heck, I'm even getting a new car next summer. In the process of saving up for that. So, I have extra money. You know what? We donate when we can, I try and teach my kids the importance of sharing, and caring. I help my sister when she needs money, heck, my father has been living with us rent free for the past three months, because he's sick, and can't work.
I am NOT a bad mother because I game. I spend time with my children, we do our homework together, we bake together, we have our time together, and I have my time to myself.
So, I'm financially responsible. I have sex often. (OMG NO WAI). And I chose to play games, instead of going out to a movie, or drinking, or other things. There's nothing wrong with what I chose to do, and no one in my family suffers for it.
Please remember, that just because I chose to play a video game, doesn't mean I'm lacking as a person. I have made some great friends that I have met, and continue to talk with and do stuff with for years from gaming.
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
You spent RL money on what?
Spent some of the morning reading the World of Warcraft forums. Everyone's a buzz about the new pet from the Blizzard Store.
It's amusing to read, as most people are against it, and some actually make valid points. However, most people say things like "Anyone who buys pets from the store, or CE's, or mounts must not have a life, nor ever have sex, and live in their mom's basement." Are they jealous? I don't know. I mean, if you're against stuff like the pet store, that's great, but argue your views with more then a "U haz no life."
I've also seen people get harrassed over buying the Collectors Edition of SWTOR. Why would you spend RL money on it? Why would you buy it? It constantly feels like one has to apologize for being able to buy things like this.
Yes, I've bought the CE of TOR, that's all I buy now. Yes, I've bought a few pets from the WoW store. Yes, I buy loads of points in the LOTRO store. Am I sorry? No, not really. I guess where I'm going with this is I wish people would just mind their own business, or have actual readable post regarding their views.
I guess it wouldn't be the internet then.
It's amusing to read, as most people are against it, and some actually make valid points. However, most people say things like "Anyone who buys pets from the store, or CE's, or mounts must not have a life, nor ever have sex, and live in their mom's basement." Are they jealous? I don't know. I mean, if you're against stuff like the pet store, that's great, but argue your views with more then a "U haz no life."
I've also seen people get harrassed over buying the Collectors Edition of SWTOR. Why would you spend RL money on it? Why would you buy it? It constantly feels like one has to apologize for being able to buy things like this.
Yes, I've bought the CE of TOR, that's all I buy now. Yes, I've bought a few pets from the WoW store. Yes, I buy loads of points in the LOTRO store. Am I sorry? No, not really. I guess where I'm going with this is I wish people would just mind their own business, or have actual readable post regarding their views.
I guess it wouldn't be the internet then.
Sunday, 9 October 2011
Happy Turkey to all.
Just finished setting the table, and this has got to be one of the best turkeys I've made so far. Happy Turkey to all!
I made a hat!
So I've been working on crocheting lately, and this is the best one I've made so far, made for and modelled by Kyle, (@paleblade77).
Working on a scarf now for my eldest daughter, and a hat for my dad. My mother gave me a ton of patterns, so after I'm going to attempt some stuffed bunnies. Kyle wants a terminator bunny, wonder if I can do that.
Working on a scarf now for my eldest daughter, and a hat for my dad. My mother gave me a ton of patterns, so after I'm going to attempt some stuffed bunnies. Kyle wants a terminator bunny, wonder if I can do that.
Thanksgiving.
Happy Turkey day! What are you thankful for on Thanksgiving? I'm thankful for my people, good food, and good friends.
Here's a few pics of the feast as I make them through the day.
The main course, injector with butter, and homemade stuffing before finished cooking -
Will be making cranberry sauce, taters, yams, corn, and the fixings as the day progresses.
Happy Turkey Day to all, and to all a good TURKEY!
Here's a few pics of the feast as I make them through the day.
The main course, injector with butter, and homemade stuffing before finished cooking -
Will be making cranberry sauce, taters, yams, corn, and the fixings as the day progresses.
Happy Turkey Day to all, and to all a good TURKEY!
Friday, 7 October 2011
Pumpkin Pies for family!
Pumpkin Pies with my awesome pie crust. All from scratch!
Before cooking -
Before cooking -
The finished product.
The girls made this with the left over crust and filling
And the finished product of our mini pies!
My favourite Pie Crust recipe.
Making a bunch of pumpkin pies this weekend, so thought I would share my pie crust recipe with you. Will post pictures of the pies later when they are baked.
I do make a homemade pie filling, which you can find on any can of pumpkin!
Pie Crust -
Add ice water, vinegar and egg. Mix together till you have a working dough. Flour the table (really well this dough is sticky) and roll out. Should make enough dough for two pies, or a pie, and top. You also don't have to roll out the pie crust, you can just push it into the pie plate, but I find this is too thick, and too overwhelming.
Depending on the pie your cooking, I usually start the temperature at about 400°F for the first 15 mins, then turn it down to 350°F for 30-35 mins or longer until knife comes out clean.
I do make a homemade pie filling, which you can find on any can of pumpkin!
Pie Crust -
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups shortening
- 1 tablespoon white sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup ice water
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
Add ice water, vinegar and egg. Mix together till you have a working dough. Flour the table (really well this dough is sticky) and roll out. Should make enough dough for two pies, or a pie, and top. You also don't have to roll out the pie crust, you can just push it into the pie plate, but I find this is too thick, and too overwhelming.
Depending on the pie your cooking, I usually start the temperature at about 400°F for the first 15 mins, then turn it down to 350°F for 30-35 mins or longer until knife comes out clean.
A Background on Solidaster Thornblossom - hobbit hunter on Laurelin
Solidaster was a happy hobbit. Following her in her elder sister's footsteps, she decided to become a Hunter. Hunting, playing, and tracking the days away with Rosette (being her sister), Solidaster had a happy time in the Shire.
As the days went by, Rosette decided to leave the Shire. She went to train with hunters in Bree. All thought Solidaster would follow. Solidaster, however, was too in love with the Shire. Giving up all but her basic Hunter training, she decided to become a cook and farmer. Purchasing a small piece of tilled earth, with her parents blessing, Solidaster is on her way to becoming a well known farmer, and hopes one day, to supply the Inns with her barley, and food.
She also has plenty of Pipeweed on hand, with dreams of becoming well known through the Shire. You can find her North of Hobbiton, farming the land. Or often in Michel Delving, cooking up a stew fit for any hobbit.
If you were to see her outside of the Shire, she is often in a hooded cloak, so as to not be noticed by the tall people.
As the days went by, Rosette decided to leave the Shire. She went to train with hunters in Bree. All thought Solidaster would follow. Solidaster, however, was too in love with the Shire. Giving up all but her basic Hunter training, she decided to become a cook and farmer. Purchasing a small piece of tilled earth, with her parents blessing, Solidaster is on her way to becoming a well known farmer, and hopes one day, to supply the Inns with her barley, and food.
She also has plenty of Pipeweed on hand, with dreams of becoming well known through the Shire. You can find her North of Hobbiton, farming the land. Or often in Michel Delving, cooking up a stew fit for any hobbit.
If you were to see her outside of the Shire, she is often in a hooded cloak, so as to not be noticed by the tall people.
Thursday, 6 October 2011
A recipe for white bread.
So I regularly bake white bread (meaning every other day), and played around with recipes till I found one I rather like.
To start off with, I find if you can get Bakers Yeast, it helps the bread rise better. I use the quick rise bakers yeast. My bread rises very well this way.
You will need yeast, sugar, salt, warm water, and flour.
Preheat oven to 350°F
6 cups of flour
2 1/4 cups of warm water (Ideally water should be between 115°F-120°F to get the yeast to rise)
1 pkg of yeast - works out to .25 oz, or 1/2 tbsp
3 tsp of Sugar
2 tsp of Salt
Combine yeast with 1/4 cup warm water, and 1 tsp of sugar. Let rise for 10 mins. Yeast should appear 'fluffy'.
Combine 2 tsp salt with left over 2 tsp of sugar in 2 cups of warm water. Add to yeast mixture. My kids often enjoy coloured bread, so if you want to add food colour, do so now, to the warm water mixture.
Add three cups of flour, and mix together, forming a sticky dough. From here I add a cup of flour, mix it up, and another cup of flour, mix it up, and usually end up only using 1/3 to 1/2 the last cup of flour. I find if the dough is a tiny bit sticky, it makes the bread better.
After you have a working dough, place on floured table, and knead. I knead the dough for approx 6 mins. You should have a nice dough now, with an elastic feel to it.
Place dough in greased bowl, and turn over, so all dough is covered. I usually use Pam Cooking Spray, OliveOil. Cover dough, place on oven. (DO not put dough on burner that has oven vent, I have done this, and it cooks your dough!) Let rise for one hour.
Remove dough from bowl, punch down, and shape into two loaves. Place into two greased bread pans. (Again I just use the Pam spray) and place on oven again, covered, to rise for another hour.
By now, your oven should be preheated to 350°F. Place bread in oven, around middle, for approx 35 mins. This is how long I bake mine for. After baking, I place on a wire rack, and cover entire outside of loaf with butter. This helps keep the bread soft. Let cool and place in bread bags, and enjoy!
To start off with, I find if you can get Bakers Yeast, it helps the bread rise better. I use the quick rise bakers yeast. My bread rises very well this way.
You will need yeast, sugar, salt, warm water, and flour.
Preheat oven to 350°F
6 cups of flour
2 1/4 cups of warm water (Ideally water should be between 115°F-120°F to get the yeast to rise)
1 pkg of yeast - works out to .25 oz, or 1/2 tbsp
3 tsp of Sugar
2 tsp of Salt
Combine yeast with 1/4 cup warm water, and 1 tsp of sugar. Let rise for 10 mins. Yeast should appear 'fluffy'.
Combine 2 tsp salt with left over 2 tsp of sugar in 2 cups of warm water. Add to yeast mixture. My kids often enjoy coloured bread, so if you want to add food colour, do so now, to the warm water mixture.
Add three cups of flour, and mix together, forming a sticky dough. From here I add a cup of flour, mix it up, and another cup of flour, mix it up, and usually end up only using 1/3 to 1/2 the last cup of flour. I find if the dough is a tiny bit sticky, it makes the bread better.
After you have a working dough, place on floured table, and knead. I knead the dough for approx 6 mins. You should have a nice dough now, with an elastic feel to it.
Place dough in greased bowl, and turn over, so all dough is covered. I usually use Pam Cooking Spray, OliveOil. Cover dough, place on oven. (DO not put dough on burner that has oven vent, I have done this, and it cooks your dough!) Let rise for one hour.
Remove dough from bowl, punch down, and shape into two loaves. Place into two greased bread pans. (Again I just use the Pam spray) and place on oven again, covered, to rise for another hour.
By now, your oven should be preheated to 350°F. Place bread in oven, around middle, for approx 35 mins. This is how long I bake mine for. After baking, I place on a wire rack, and cover entire outside of loaf with butter. This helps keep the bread soft. Let cool and place in bread bags, and enjoy!
Changing my Blog
I was doing some LOTRO rp'ing writing in here, but have decided that I will pretty much just make this a blog about whatever I feel the need to write about. I have been doing a bunch of baking, and a bit of crocheting now.
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