Last Day of 2015

Yes, today is the last day of 2015. It's been a wonderful year. Many things have happened and I know so much more is on the way. I hope that it's all good, but I'm sure there will be a few things I will have to muddle through.

This blog will continue of course, and hopefully I will post more. I have some great things in mind, but I have to be bold enough to publish them once completed. There are many "musings" I have already compiled. I just need to make some final touches before they get posted here. So if you follow me, watch out!

I plan on posting my thoughts over topics that may cause the readers of my blog to think. Of course, there are a few humorous stories and pondering as well. I'm also trying to figure out a way to let you all follow a few of my design projects as well. This could be fun!

Like always, if you have any ideas or questions, feel free to contact me! http://mattpaasch.com

Happy New Year!

~Matt

Look... Essential Oils!

After church a few Sundays ago, I was talking with some of the guys and we joked about greeting each other with gifts like the magi. You know, the wise men who presented gifts to Mary and Joseph. We teased that we should arrive at our weekly Bible study with gifts of precious oils. Then we laughed over the idea of it being "essential oils", since our wives are starting to get into this trend. 

The idea struck me that two of the three gifts presented to Mary were oils, and the Bible doesn't really specify that the "gold" wasn't solid, it could have been an "oil", Hmmm. I then mentioned to the guys that I could imagine that Mary would have went nuts over the idea. We laughed again.

When I got home, my mind was still working. I told it to Lydia and she thought it was funny as well. I then grabbed my sketchbook and got to work. Within 30 minutes, I had the final drawing completed. I took a picture with my phone, adjusted the image, and posted on Instagram (that shared on Facebook and Twitter). Sure enough, it immediately got several likes and shares.

Over the following few days and through Christmas, I've been tagged and messaged from others I don't know. Several have "tracked me down" just to say thanks... they've used it for their essential oil business.

I guess I need to come up with another great idea!

~Matt

"Christmas Adam"

The other day, my kids kept saying they couldn't wait until "Christmas Adam" on December 23rd. Say what...? Well, they explained, "Its' the day before Christmas 'EVE' , and because everyone knows that Adam came before Eve."

At first, I thought they were just being foolish and funny. They told me that it's not new, but mentioned by friends. I still brushed it off.

However, that changed when I started seeing a few memes on facebook. Huh? It's an actual day? How did I miss this?

Well, in doing some research, it's actually been around since 1998!

Christmas Adam December 23: the day before Christmas Eve, so called because Adam came before Eve. Created by an opportunistic child looking for a reason to open a gift two days before Christmas.

1998 Paul Dickson, Family Words: The Dictionary for People Who Don't Know a Frone From a Brinkle.

There is now a new celebration for the day in gift-giving. Since Adam and Eve were created by the hand of God, "Christmas Adam" gifts must be handmade by the gift giver or something that can be made by the one receiving it.

Or like the meme suggests... just go to McDonald's for a McRib!

~Matt

A Christmas Survey

1. Hot chocolate or apple cider? Hot chocolate

2. Turkey or Ham? Turkey

3. Do you get a "Fake" or "Real cut it yourself" Christmas tree? Fake

4. Decorations on the outside of your house? Yup!

5. Snowball fights or sledding? Sledding (it's not fair to be in a snowball fight against a 8 & 10 year old)

6. Do you like hanging around the fireplace because it's warm? Yes (and to watch the flames...)

7. Do you enjoy going downtown shopping? Only if I had money to spend!

8. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night

9. How do you feel about Christmas movies? I love 'em

10. When is it too early to start listening to Christmas music? The day after Christmas...

11. Stockings before or after presents? Before

12. Carolers? Oh yeah!

13. Go to someone else's house or they come to you? Don't care! Either way is fine!

14. Do you read the Christmas Story the night before Christmas? Yes, the true Christmas story! (Luke 1 & 2)

15. What do you do after presents and dinner? Nap....

16. What is your favorite holiday smell? Pumpkin Pie!

17. Ice skating or walking around the mall? Both!

18. Favorite Christmas tradition? Too many to name just one! Live Nativity, Christmas Lights, etc.

19. Favorite Part about winter? Snow.....!

20. Who do you want to kiss under the mistletoe? Lydia!!!!!!!

Baked Low-carb Green Chili & Cream Cheese Poppers

This is my favorite snack and appetizer!

Ingredients:

6 low-carb tortillas 

1 cream cheese block

2 cans chopped green chilies 

Instructions:

Heat oven to 350°. Melt cream cheese in bowl. Mix in green chilies. Cut tortillas into 1/4s, and stuff in 24 cupcake pan. Spoon mixure into each tortilla cup. Place in oven until tortillas are crispy brown.

Let cool and serve!

App Review: Office Lens

Sometimes I come across awesome smartphone apps that make my life easier. This is one of them!

For a few years, I’ve been scanning my kids’ artwork and homework to the computer for digital backup. It was a pain. And it took forever. I knew there had to be an easier way, but didn't know what it might be.

One day, a friend showed me an free app by Microsoft called Office Lens. It allows you to take pictures and automatically re-sizes the image. Even when you capture a document at an angle, it’ll adjust it by cropping it correctly.. It also enhances and makes pictures of whiteboards and documents readable. Office Lens can convert images to editable Word and PowerPoint files too.

It’s one of the handiest tools on my phone. I use it at work to scan documents to my camera roll, and save those important whiteboard meeting notes before they are wiped away.

I highly recommend it!

~Matt

Christmas Music On-Air

First off... Well, here I am again. I know it seems that I have ignored this blog, when in actuality, I just haven’t posted my thoughts that I’ve written. There are many things that I have started but not completed. Hopefully, I can get them completed and posted soon.

Of course, this the last month of the year has started, and we’re in the holidays. Thanksgiving has just passed and I’m in the Christmas mood. We’ve recently been playing all Christmas music on both stations, and I’m really enjoying it. I’m not ashamed to admit it, and close friends and family know it… I’m a big Christmas nut!

If you tune in to KWFC radio during my show in the afternoons, hopefully you can hear the joy in my voice as I share this musical treat for the season. I believe we have a fantastic variety by our Southern Gospel artists. You’ll hear favorite tunes, both secular and traditions. But the best part is that we have some songs unique to our genre that you won’t hear anywhere else. Those are the real treats!!

Yes, we’ve received a few complaints that it’s ALL Christmas. And I guess I can understand. Thankfully, there are many, many more that appreciate the seasonal music on-air. I believe we have the best reason to celebrate… it’s the Gospel from the beginning: Jesus’ birth!

~Matt

PS   Besides listening through the free app, you can tune in online at http://kwfc.org