What I Mean When I Say, ‘I Hope to Raise you Right.”

September 15, 2018

When I found out I was having a girl back in 2014, the first thought that came to my mind was that I couldn’t believe it (that is a story for another day and the result of an ultrasound tech writing “It looks like a girl” on our printed sonogram) but secondly, I thought, “Oh, Lord, help me raise her right.”

I think that is a normal fear regardless if you are welcoming a boy or girl, or if you are a first time parent or bringing another child into this world. The truth is the “Oh, Lord, help me raise them right,” thought or ‘fear’ will follow you through life as a parent, not just during those pregnancy and newborn stages. However, raising them ‘right’ is up for interpretation and we can pour our hearts, souls, and well-being into our children as they enter each stage of their life, and yet, one day, in a moment, they will walk out of our home and be tested in the world.

So, dear child, while my hope always is to raise you ‘right,’ what I really mean is this…

Your best accessory is your smile. When you enter a room, acknowledge those around you with eye contact and a smile. It eases people and is a warm way to make a first impression.
You are beautiful but you are also more than that. We easily praise people on their looks but fail to compliment their brains, athletic ability, character, and heart, which amounts to so much more in value.
Treat everyone you meet with the same respect. Titles only matter on a business card. You can achieve just as much, if not more, than the person down the hall with a personal admin, sitting in a plush, shiny suite.
Always be honest. It is admirable. Even if the truth hurts you and others, at the end of the day, you answer to yourself and I pray you can always go to sleep with a conscious heart.
When all else fails, call your parents. No matter what, your biggest supporters in this life will be your ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad.’
Practice forgiveness and empathy. Too often we hold grudges and miss out on meaningful relationships because we can’t let go. Please, let go.
Treat yourself better than the people you love the most. That is not selfish, that is important. Your well-being is critical to your success and the love you project.
Perfection does not exist. Do not be fooled by what society pressures on you. Life is messy and unkind. Know that and you won’t be disappointed.
The smartest people in a room are the ones listening. Learn early in life that listening is a skill that does not come naturally, but if you excel at it, you are among the leaders.
Don’t burn bridges. Decisions will need to be made and some will not so easy, but always go about your actions and words by remembering that while this world feels big it is quite small, and you actually may never know who is standing on the other side of the bridge you just let burn.
There will come a point in your life when money actually doesn’t mean anything, but instead, your self-worth and contentment are more powerful and abundant than the zeros in a salary.
The adage of how you treat someone when no one is looking is exceptionally true. Strive to be the good the world is yearning for.
Stand up for what you believe, but more importantly remember that what you believe may not align with others and that is okay, I repeat okay. Respect others. Even if their beliefs are not the same as you.
Be silly and never take yourself too seriously. There is enough seriousness in this world.

And, while I will do my best to raise you the way I feel is ‘right’ and I know my work is never done, I also know one day I will transfer you to the world. From there my hope is my guidance and wisdom, lessons I have learned will stir and spiral somewhere in the depths of your soul, and subconsciously you will bring the world the grace, kindness, and love it so desperately needs.

Love you,

Your Momma.

Weekly Meal Plan + Grocery List #2

September 9, 2018

Hello from the rainy, no scratch that, the soggy state of Maryland. The common joke around here these days is it has rained two times this summer. Once for 45 days and once for 55. So, I guess you can say we are entering our third, who knows how long, stretch.

While I am over the rain, I do love the sudden drop in temperatures and feel of Fall in the air. Yes, I am that person. I have not always wished Summer to change to Fall but this year I am welcoming the season change. It could have something to do with the growing belly with this pregnancy and my sleepless, back aching nights.

With the forecast calling for 70’s, and you guessed it, rain, for the next week, this new plan is brought to you by comfortable foods.VIEW STORY »

Weekly Meal Plan + Grocery List

September 3, 2018

You asked for it, so here we go. As if our weekends are not jammed full enough, I have decided to get a bit ambitious and share with you our family’s weekly dinner meal plan. While I can sit here and act like I am doing this selflessly for the mere fact that many of you have shown interest in my past recipes and requested future topics on food, the reality is if I share our weekly plans with you that it will keep me on track with time management and conscious eating.

This whole second pregnancy has been harder on me than Lo’s. Maybe it is the age difference since I am four years older? I have been informed countless times that with each pregnancy, your body shows much sooner, and if it is the case I can truly attest to the advice. So, with the decreased energy and increased belly, I am trying to focus on much healthier eating through the remainder of my pregnancy.

MONDAY
Bacon Cheeseburgers on the Grill, with a side of Corn on the Cob, and Watermelon.

Grocery List:

1 lb. Ground Beef (note: you are going to also need ground beef for Thursday’s meal, so get double the amount of ground beef).
I Package of Hamburger Buns
Cheddar Cheese Slices
6 Bacon Slices
1 Red Onion
Romaine Lettuce (note: you will also use for Wednesday’s meal)
Corn on the Cob (note: you will need corn for Wednesday’s meal. I will cook an extra ear or two of corn and set aside, removing the kernels and saving for the meal)
Watermelon

Optional: Condiments and burger elements.

TUESDAY
Maple Pork Egg Roll Bowl

Photo courtesy: Cherry and Spice

Grocery List:

1 lb Pork Maple Sausage
1 Bag of Cabbage Coleslaw
1 Bag Broccoli Slaw
6 Green Onions
4 Cloves of Garlic
1 tsp Fresh Ginger, grated
2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
1 Tbsp Rice Wine Vinegar
1 tsp Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce

WEDNESDAY
Healthy Chicken Carnitas Bowl

Photo courtesy: Isabel Eats

Grocery List:

Mexican Slow Cooker Chicken Carnitas
- 2.5 lbs Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts or Thighs
- 1.5 tsp Cumin Powder
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 Tbsp Chili Powder
- 1 Tbsp Brown Sugar
- 3 Tbsp Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice (about 1.5 limes)
- cilantro
1 Can of Black Beans
1 Can of Whole Kernel Corn
Plum Tomatoes
1 Avocado
White Rice
Romaine Lettuce

THURSDAY
Low Carb Salisbury Steak

Photo courtesy: I Breathe, I’m Hungry

Grocery List:

2 lbs Ground Beef
3/4 Cup of Almond Flour (or you can substitute flour)
1 Tbsp Fresh Parsley (or you can substitute dry)
Beef Broth
Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
1 Tbsp Dried Onion Flakes
4 Tbsp Butter
Mushrooms
1 Yellow Onion
1/4 Cup of Sour Cream

It is a short week this week with the holiday weekend, but my plan is to come at you with a Sunday through Thursday plan each week (or so). 🙂 If you follow along on my Instagram, you will see I typically share my ALDI hauls in my InstaStories, after each trip. I try to meal plan my week, create a grocery list of items I need, and then stop at ALDI first for everything I can possibly get there. Most of the time I am not successful with being able to get everything on my list at ALDI, so I will swing by Martin’s for the rest. I will show you the cost comparisons in my InstaStories.

Finally, I will do my best to mix up my meal plans with recipes that are my own, and the ones I find on my Pinterest account. If you head over to my Cheers to the Yum Board you will see a great collection of tried and true recipes I have found and enjoy. If I pin an image on Pinterest, try the recipe, and do not approve, I remove from my Board.

Here is to a great week, and happy bellies!

Baby W 2.0 Is A…

August 23, 2018

In case you missed it, I am pregnant, and in case you really missed it, I shared this post yesterday testing out popular Old Wives Tales that are used to predict the gender.

I remember when I was pregnant with Lo I swore she was a boy. It was just my intuition, and then every darn one of these Old Wives Tales pointed me to a majority report that she was also a boy. So when we hosted our family at our home for a gender reveal in which we learned the sex of our baby alongside our family, I was shocked when pink balloons came out of the box we opened.

Well, the verdict is in for baby number two and by the verdict, I mean the sonogram tech who asked us, “Do you want to know the sex of the baby?” To which we responded, “YES!”

Drumroll please…

It is a Boy!

Yes, we learned this week that we will be having a son. It was a super emotional moment that we shared as a family, including Logan. This time we opted to find out with the tech actually verbalizing the sex versus last time when the tech wrote the sex on a piece of paper for our reveal party. When I was pregnant with Lo, the tech wrote, “It looks like a girl” on our printed sonogram. Not, it is a girl. So this set me into a panic for the next few months as I obsessed over the word, “looks.”

Lo has so far taken the idea of a brother well even though she was certain and excited for a sister.

The news also goes against most of the tested Old Wives Tales I shared, as a majority pointed to a girl.

We are super blessed for this life God has given us and grateful for the next journey.

Baby Reveal!

August 22, 2018

If you missed our little family’s BIG news, no worries, that is what direct links are for. See here, or, just read along.

Clearly based on this post we are having another baby and super excited to grow our family.

The first trimester brought a lot of toilet hugging, food aversions, crankiness, and tiredness, while the second trimester has brought my appetite back, creative dressing (as the belly is growing much quicker than with first), charlie horses at night, and night waking. One other addition the second trimester has provided, another glimpse at baby number two and the sex identity.

And, while we plan to announce soon, I thought I would have some fun with Old Wive’s Tales that are typically used for gender prediction. I thought it would be fun to see how these obsessed over predictions truly stack up to the ultrasound tech’s version of Baby W 2.0 (that is what I am calling it.)

So, let’s have some fun!

Carrying the Baby: Low is a Boy | High is a Girl – Winner: Girl
Heartbeat: Lower than 140 is a Boy | Higher than 140 is a Girl – Winner: Girl
Cravings: Salty is a Boy | Sweet is a Girl – Winner: Girl
Skin: Clear skin is a Boy | Acne breakouts is a Girl – Winner: Boy
Morning Sickness: Not a lot is a Boy | A lot is a Girl – Winner: Girl
Moodiness: Smiles and happy is a Boy | Moody is a Girl – Winner: Girl
Side You Sleep On: Prefers the left side is a Boy | Prefers the right side is a Girl – Winner: Girl
Protein: Craves meat and cheese is a Boy | Doesn’t crave meat and cheese is a Girl – Winner: Boy
Headaches: Yes is a Boy | No is a Girl – Winner: Boy
Heartburn: No is a Boy | Yes is a Girl – Winner: Girl
Swollen Ankles: Yes is a Boy | No is a Girl – Winner: Boy
Dad’s Weight: Stays the same is a Boy | Gains is a Girl – Winner: Boy
Chinese Calendar: Winner: Girl
Mayan Gender Prediction Test: Winner: Boy

Total Tally: 8 for Girl and 6 for Boy.

Only time and a sonogram will tell. Stay tuned… announcement coming soon.

PS – The Coffee Is Cold

August 12, 2018

The last two weekend mornings I have rolled quietly out of bed in the early hours, adjusted the curtains so no sign of approaching sunrise sunshine can peek in and reveal the call of the morning, tippy-toed out of the room, and pulled the bedroom door closed. Why? Because for some time our three-year-old has been failing the “sleep in your own bed” nightly quiz and finding her way to our bed sometime between the welcoming hours of oh say – 2 or 3 am, each night.

This results in me tossing and turning and bracing myself for impact as I cuddle against the edge of our queen sized bed. I am not sleeping. And, with my growing pregnant belly, I am forced to get creative in how I find comfort.

So when 6 am rolls around, I have had it. I am spent. And my only saving grace is the thought of a hot cup of coffee, and some quiet alone time while Logan and Nathan sleep.

People, so far this weekend I am 0 for 2. I swear my toddler has a built-in magnet that connects her to my body or some weird internal radar that alerts her when I have exited the bed, specifically on Saturdays and Sundays. Yes, on those days the radar is particularly so strong. What I want to know is who the heck turns it on during weekends, because weekdays, she could give two cares less if her peaceful sleep is interrupting my need to get out the door and to work on time.

Both attempts this weekend for some alone time have included a successful cup of coffee being brewed. I have indeed cozied into the couch and took advantage of On Demand, to catch up on any TV show that does not include the words Mickey Mouse, Doc McStuffins, PJ Masks, or Fancy Nancy, but just as I settle in, I hear footsteps and the door open and the whine begin.

Usually, her first words are “get me some milk” or “turn on a girl’s show.” Good morning to you too, precious one. And from there the demands continue and pile up.

This morning within 30 minutes and all before 7 am, I had already canceled my On Demand, found a “girl” TV show, made her a cup of milk, put in a movie since the TV show was not quite jiving. There was a baby doll that needed dressed, a baby’s hair that needed to be combed, I got yelled at for tossing the baby on the couch and being miserable (I was). We cried because she wanted me to stop drinking my coffee to make “Daddy one” (even though Daddy was still sleeping). Bitter? Maybe. We needed a blanket. We cried for a popsicle. We settled for blueberries. We asked what our plans were. We spilled the blueberries all over the couch.

No wonder we feel depleted some days before the sun.

I love this little girl with my whole heart and soul. She brings me joy and fulfillment and every ounce of happiness one could, but for the love of all things magical, this tired Momma could use a Mommy timeout or break, or just an hour alone in the grocery store today. Anyone else picking up what I am putting down? Empathy please.

Cue the sappy violin music.

PS – Coffee turned cold.

And Now You Are 16

July 31, 2018

The day you were born, I was 9 days shy of turning 16 myself. And today, as a mother, I look back and think, “How in the world did our Mom and Dad do it?”

Their oldest was worrying about what new jeans she would get from American Eagle for back-to-school attire, her impending Meet The Squad cheerleading performance, if and when she would be getting a car to go alongside her soon to be issued license, and how she was going to convince her tired (scratch that – exhausted) parents that even though a new baby was brought home, she really needed to go out with her friends for the weekend.

Meanwhile, there was this sweet new baby, fresh life, at home sleeping through the day and requiring feedings through the night.

I swear they had to look at me, then at you, back to me, back to you, and think, “Here we go again.” Or, maybe it was a “Dear Lord of all things mighty, what did we do!” I doubt it was the last one.

But you were the caboose. The last baby. The missing puzzle piece to our family. My first, and well-wished for sister. The plural to Mom and Dad being able to say they have daughters.

And now you are 16.

I swear I don’t know how it happened. (The whole you turning 16 part.) If I close my eyes really hard I swear I can catch glimpses of you through the years of your youth.

The happy, bashful baby who would bury her head in my shoulder when excited after bouncing on my knees. The cuddly toddler who would by nightfall, nuzzle into my arms, finding her spot, to sleep. The little girl who inherited my box full of Barbies and giddily played in the middle of the living room floor bringing a new life to old toys. The shy middle schooler who earned her right of passage by battling the awkward phases, while keeping a lot to herself as she gauged her way through the halls and her world.

And now you are 16 and a beautiful young lady who stands before me.

Time moves fast. It can be so unforgiving and so unkind. Especially when you turn around one day and realize what just passed before your very eyes. Time brings mommas and daddies to their knees to cry. Become a mother one day and you too will realize this precious gift called time, which leaves you longing for a day to end yet begging for it to be given back. And, leave it to big sisters too, for time makes us a little weepy eyed as well.

Watching you grow up seemed like we had forever and yet now you are 16.

In fact, I swore we had forever, promise me we still have forever. I swore you would never grow up, promise me you won’t grow up. I swore you would always be my baby, promise me you will always be my baby.

And now that you are 16 know how much you bring to my life, to our lives. Know that you are a blessing to this world. Know that you have this same world before you and can do anything you set yourself up to do. Know that you can believe in yourself more than others believe in you. Know that you have a team of people who love you and are cheering you on. Know that just because you are now 16, we need you as much today as the day you were born.

Happy Birthday, Livvy Lou, I still cannot believe it, but happy sweet 16.

We Have An Announcement…

July 19, 2018

If I am being competely honest, 2018 has been a really tough year. Actually the last nine months have proved to be full of trials and tribulations. Moments marked by fear, sadness, heartache, and unnerving anxiety.

Last October, Nathan suffered an unexpected accident which impacted his sight in one eye and left us on a journey of unknown. Trips to a specialist an hour and a half away. The first week consisted of daily appointments which became multiple a week for weeks, dwindling to multiple a month, and then slowly spreading out over the course of months. We saw multiple doctors. We were introduced to the lead doctors at the eye institute as a mere, “must see,” given the rarity of his case. We tried a second opinion three hours away. Slowly this became a new stressful norm, and sure enough time has been our biggest ally. It eventually brought answers, peace, healing, and adaption.

New Year’s Eve weekend I miscarried. It was a heartbreaking experience followed by surges of hormones, emotions, and lots of what if’s and self blame. Being seven weeks along I felt afraid to feel or express the loss, yet I clearly dealt with the sadness associated with losing something. I quietly processed my emotions with very few knowing the reason for my sudden emotional change, because very few knew I was pregnant to begin with. Considering how many women experience a miscarriage, which is 1 in 4, it was a lesson and harsh reality in how uncomfortable the topic still is for people to talk about. Sharing this today took a deep breath in and giant exhale out.

The Saturday before Easter, life suddenly stopped. I woke up with a missed call and a very early morning text from my mother asking if I was awake. Looking at the time the text came through I knew something was wrong. My grandmother suffered a sudden respiratory illness which left her unconscious and on a ventilator four hours away from us, as she was visiting family for the Easter holiday. A week and a half later they removed her from the ventilator and moved her out of ICU. We were relieved by the idea of her progress, so I drove with my Mom for what we thought was going to be a trip to discuss moving her by ambulance to a rehab or hospital near home. Instead, we were blindsided by a prognosis that her lungs and heart were failing. I held her hand, and was able to exchange an “I love you,” before slowly watching her fade mentally and physically from us in a matter of hours. The absolute pain of seeing a woman I admired my whole life, a woman who was so strong, and unbreakable during hard times, lay helpless before me was one of the hardest, if not the hardest moment of my life. I could barely handle the breathtaking pain of realizing the magnitude of the news, so I excused myself from her room multiple times in hopes that helpless wandering through the hospital halls would help me find my breath. If you are ever faced with knowing that you are in a moment that is your last with someone you love so much, let me express that the walk away will be the hardest steps you take in this life. April 14, 2018, she died in the same room I kissed her goodbye in.

A few weeks later I sat in my doctor’s office. After the previous miscarriage and nearly two years of being unable to successfully grow our family, I learned my struggle was not without reasoning and was referred to a fertility specialist for some further discussion.

So, you can imagine my surprise when well before my upcoming appointment I learned we were pregnant.

Clearly, Logan is excited. I mean she has only been asking for the last year, with puppy dog eyes, why she doesn’t have a brother or sister.

Now you may be wondering why I led this announcement with such a backstory?

Well, first this is why I have been so quiet here. My mind has been swirling the last few months, and then the first trimester reared its ugly, “I am going to make you feel less human head,” and I just did not have the mental capability to write.

Secondly, I never want this space to be about a perfect life. Gosh, we all know there are enough blogs and influencers out there with picture perfect portrayals which has never been my thing. I want to connect, and hopefully relate. I also want to reiterate that I am not looking for pity. This is a story, my story, and leads me to my next point.

Third, life has a way of dealing us a deck of cards with winning and losing hands. If these turbulent nine months have taught me anything it is patience and surrender.

I have prayed, pleaded, bargained, screamed, and cried to God. I have started my prayers with, “I know this is about me again,” far too many times. I have questioned Him with “why?” And, yet, through all the sadness, heartache, pain, and tears, here we are nine months later rejoicing in His goodness, and this exciting blessing.

It is amazing how much can change in such a short period of time. God does not promise a life of happiness, absent from heartache, and He doesn’t deliver us our sorrows. What He does deliver is the promise to trust in Him through the highs and lows of life. To surrender to His timing, and to have patience in the journey.

While I give Him all the glory of this exciting new chapter and life, I can’t help but smile thinking my Meema had a good sit down with him in Heaven about this new little blessing.

We are excited to share this new story with you and clearly I have some great new content for this space and my social channels. Have I told you how much I love you? Thank you for being a follower and reading along.

Happy Amazon Prime Day!

July 16, 2018

*Please note: This post contains affiliate links.

Amazon Prime Day is here! Now if you follow Bloggers, you may by this point be annoyed with three words: Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. It is everywhere. I can almost bet one in every four InstaStories will be someone mentioning the sale. I, on the other hand, am focusing my energy and attention on one online promotion – Amazon Prime Day.

If you are unfamiliar, Amazon Prime Day starts at 3:00 pm EST on July 16th, and lasts through the 17th, for a total of 36 hours. Basically, it is a giant online yard sale, with Amazon Black Friday savings in July. There are two types of deals – 1) Lightning and 2) Spotlight. A lightning deal is only available for a short period of time and one per customer. The spotlight deals are available on the website for longer periods of time during the sale. But, and there is a big but, you have to be an Amazon Prime Member to take advantage of the deals.

I LOVE being a Prime member. In fact, I have been one for about three years now. You pay a one-time fee and in exchange, you receive free shipping and a whole slew of special promotions. Read Here.

Here are some tips for shopping the sale.

If you are not a Prime Member, sign up for a free Amazon Prime Trial.
That is right, you can sneak a 30-day trial to take advantage of the sale, and then once it is over and before the end of your 30-days, cancel your subscription. However, download-er beware, we cannot guarantee that you won’t love Prime and want to keep it.
Ask Alexa
If you own an Amazon Alexa, ask her for some Amazon Prime deals early. Word on the street is she will reply with a poem or cryptic message which should provide some hints on the deals. By the way, deals are available every single hour and yes, they do sell out.
Visit the Prime Day Homepage for Deals
Once the sale starts, the Prime Day Homepage will feature a number of early deals. The web page will showcase a countdown too so you can be ready to snag some of the future deals.
Download the Amazon App
Amazon is offering $10 in credit for the first time that you make a purchase using their app. Plus, you can set up alerts under settings for when deals occur. Learn how Here.
Love Music?
Amazon is offering Amazon Music for just $1 for four months! After the trail, you will be billed $7.99 a month, but you can cancel your subscription at any time.
Eary Access Top Sales
Here is a sneak preview of some of the upcoming sales. Amazon discounts their own products the best! Christmas shopping in July, anyone?
1 – Echo Dot (2nd Generation) with Smart Speaker with Alexa – $29.99 | 2 – Kindle Paperwhite E-Reader – Black – $79.99 | 3 – Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition Tablet – $69.99 | 4 – Amazon Echo Spot – Black – $99.99 | 5 – Amazon Echo (2nd Generation) with Smart Speaker with Alexa – $69.99

Happy Shopping!

Strawberry Freezer Jam

July 9, 2018

There is nothing I love more than those little pink boots, that house those tiny baby doll feet, that are my sweet little fresh strawberry-eating-smeared-faced, little girl.

That one right there.
One fortunate thing about living in the mountains and country-land USA (what I am calling home for the sake of this post) is the great opportunities to connect with Earth, and your local farmer. We have been members of a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) for about two years now. A CSA is a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm operation. We pledge a fee once a year which is used to help front the farmer’s costs, but then our purchases from the farm are deducted from our pledge.
This local farmer; however, is not the CSA I mentioned above, yet basically supplies two to three nights of one of our favorite summer side dishes when their corn comes into season. Oh, but when the berries are ready for picking, we usually make it part of our summer bucket list to head out and pick some of their harvest for our consumption.
I had every intention on one container of berries. Just enough for a week’s worth of healthy snacking, but the picking continued and continued, and eventually, I found myself with more than I had anticipated. I know, I sound like a berry snob.
So what’s a girl to do? Ya, make some dam Jam. Sorry! I had to.

Here is the thing, I am a simple, and easy kind of girl when it comes to ingredients, and a kitchen. I do not want to be in the space longer than I have to. I do not enjoy extra unnecessary steps. I am not going to find joy out of hours behind a stove when another recipe can speed up the whole process.

I share this with you because clearly, I hate cooking. Just kidding. I actually like cooking. But, I do dislike unnecessary cooking.

That is why, my friends, this Strawberry Freezer Jam is my dam jam. (I had to again.)

STRAWBERRY FREEZER JAM

1 Box Sure-Jell Pectin
2 Cups Strawberries, crushed
4 Cups of Sugar
3/4 Cups of Water
Ball Jars

The first step – clean. Yes, those delicious berries you picked up in the grocery store and/or picked from your local farmer, they need C to the L to the E to the A to the N to the E to the D. Unnecessary, I know. Cold water is the best way to clean the fruit. Once cleaned, cut the tops off the strawberries, and smash the strawberries in batches. I use my Ninja for the job, pulsing the strawberries. Once all the strawberries are smashed, add to a large bowl. Measure four cups of sugar, and add the sugar to your smashed strawberries. Once the sugar and strawberries are combined, add the 3/4 cups of water to a saucepan on high and add the box of Sure-Jell Pectin. Stir until the mixture comes to a boil and time for one minute, stirring the whole time. Add the heated mixture to the strawberries and sugar and mix continuously for three to four minutes. Fill your bell jars with the jam and store in the freezer. The frozen jam has a 3-month shelf life in the freezer and 3 weeks once thawed and stored in the refrigerator.