Super Secret ~ Revealed!

Here are some photos of my Super Secret Birthday project in action. The picture on the left is the "try-on" on the evening she received it. The other two are on party day. She looked....radiant. I mean, it really was amazing to see all my hard work, sweat, and tears finally come to fruition. The fit was nearly perfect. There is some room in the waistline & the dress was a tad long, so she would have to hike it up sometimes when walking around {truly princess-like}! All in all, my secret turned out great. Dear Daughter said it was the "best surprise she's ever had". That's good enough for me!

I *love* putting her hair in curlers! It's the best way to get it to stay curly. I remember MY grandma putting my hair in curlers when I was a kid. Do people even use curlers anymore? I guess in our day and age of needing instantaneous results, probably not. I did this for her dance photos & recital as well, and all the other moms were impressed. They were all planning on taking their girls to the salon. I figured for $10 I could make her hair curly as many times as I want.

So there ya go. I am pretty relieved that this project is over, although I've learned many things along the way. For example, if I ever get the urge to work with netting again, please do the humane thing & STOP ME!!

Now on to making more bags.....

Frugal Summer Purchase

I was so excited when I came across reusable swim diapers. With the kids swimming in our kiddie pool quite a bit, it seemed like I was going through quite a few disposable swimmies. I paid $5 on ebay, but I see that some of the infant/toddler swim accessories are all on clearance at Target now. So if you are in need of a reusable swim diaper {for the rest of this year or next}, they are available there for $4 a piece. No more wasting $$$ on disposables!

Super Secret Birthday Project

Before I get to the cause of all my hair-pulling details of my latest project, here is a neat quick little something I put together the other night. I don't remember where I saw it, but I think it was on another blog. They are bottle cap pincushions, using pop caps as the base.
I did made one extra, so if somebody out there is sewing or knows a new sewer and wants it, please let me know. They were sew easy to put together {something I desperately needed after some of the more "involved" projects}. Speaking of involved projects, I got the idea to make my almost-6-year-old a princess-like ballgown for her birthday. I figured it would be something totally out of the ordinary to receive as a gift & she really doesn't need any more toys that will get only occasional play. She actually picked out the pattern which you can see here. The one I picked is the style of the lavender dress at the bottom. {Somehow I feel like I've talked about this in a previous post. If I have, sorry, we'll just blame it on the pregnancy hormones.} She loves to look at the dresses on the outside & tell me which one she would pick for herself and which one she would pick for her little sis. Little does she know......Here is my progress so far:

The right picture is a close-up of the waistline. There is a sheer sash that goes around the waist and will tie into a big bow at the back. I completed the matching bolero in the third picture long ago, but still plan to add a rosette to the front for a little decor. Hubs took the kids to his parents today giving me the perfect opportunity to finish the task, but alas, it wasn't in the cards. I realized after wrestling like a mad-woman with 6 layers of fabric that I need a heavier-duty needle. Now my plan is to give the dress to her on Friday night, the evening before our family party. I was feeling really discouraged, like I undertook a project that is more advanced than my skills and is taking so much longer than my short-attention-span-personality can tolerate. After relaxing for a bit and seeing it on the hanger to take these blog photos, I am calmer and realize that I am so excited for my sweet daughter and hope she appreciates all the work that went into it. I hope she will feel like the princess that she is when she finally gets to wear it......

For your exercising safety.....

.....I know some of you out there are runners or are training to be runners or like to exercise. Yeah. We're so not related. Anyways, I just wanted to tell you about something I just ordered for Hubs. It's called Road ID. They come in several different styles like Wrist ID, Ankle ID, and Shoe tags and are engraved with your information like name, city, and contact phone numbers. It will give me a little peace of mind when Hubs is cycling at 20 mph with cars whizzing by at 65 mph. There are lots of testimonials featured on the website from people who have them. You never know when an accident will happen or if anyone will be around to tell the paramedics who you are. I googled for a coupon code and saved $2. Seems like twenty bucks is a small price to pay for your {and your loved ones} peace of mind. Just thought I'd pass it along!

Dishwasher Reviews

Ok. I really need your help. My dishwasher has been broken for about 3-4 weeks now , so I am in the market to purchase a new one. Online reviews can be so confusing! For the same model, some people love it and say it is the best one they've ever owned and other reviewers say parts are breaking and their dishes don't even fit. If you have a dishwasher {other than a human one}, would you mind sharing what manufacturer it is made by and what you think about it? Is it quiet? Has it needed repairs? What would you want to change about it? I am thinking {after reading all these reviews} that maybe I should bring a dinner plate & my standard water glass with me to the store to make sure they fit! The one option that I've seen that I like is the cutlery rack being on the door instead of on the bottom rack, leaving more room for dishes. Does anyone else have that? It seems like EVERY brand in my price range {under $400} has mixed reviews....

....looking forward to some help!

I'm hooked!

Making bags is just too much fun. Maybe I like it so much because I really WON'T make clothes for myself, but it's a little something for me that is so practical {plus it only takes a day or less from start to finish, unlike my Super-Secret Birthday Project that I just want to shoot myself over, but I digress}. I just want to make one for every purpose. I had to empty out the first one I made {it had all my cross-stitching supplies in it} so I could take it to the library. When I was unloading my books to check-out, my mom looked incredulously at the bag and said, "How many books do you have IN THERE??" It was so funny. I felt like Mary Poppins & her magic carpet bag {ya know, where she unloads a rug and a lamp and many other things}! I checked out the book Making Handbags yesterday morning and by yesterday evening I had my fabric purchased & pattern photocopied. Here she is:

The bag itself and the appliques are felt. So easy to work with!! No fraying edges to worry about. My grey is darker than the one in the book, but it was all JoAnn's had. These are close-ups of the applique on the front & the lining, which I added, and my first magnetic closure:

I love the way the polka dot lining looks. And I can't believe how cheap all the fabric was! This bag probably only cost a few dollars to make. I have plenty of fabric left over to make several more. I think the best part will be coming up with some of my own designs to use on the front. I think a huge initial would be really neat or just a bunch of different sized circles. There were so many different colors of felt to choose from, the possibilities are endless! Now to start thinking about what to create next......

Another one

Meet tote number 2. I made this in honor of my mom's birthday. We didn't get to celebrate her actual birthday which was two weekends ago, so I made her a really nice birthday lunch {garden salad, grilled ribeye, garlic roasted green beans, sauteed mushrooms & onions, and creme brulee with fresh raspberries for dessert ~ in case you were wondering}. I spent several hours on Saturday putting this bad boy together....nothing like waiting til the last minute for inspiration to hit. The fabric is very "Mom" and this time around I added black topstitching along the bottom panel and made super-reinforcements where I attached the handles. I realized this probably isn't necessary & know what I will do different the next time. The purple fabric perfectly matches the purple centers on the flowers, which I love. I debated about using a green solid fabric, but the colors in the black pattern are a bit more BRIGHT in real life & lime green just didn't seem to suit. This time I made sure the bottom purple panels lined up when I sewed the outer side seams together. I am getting more proficient with each one I make. Number three is already cut & I am going to try to do a machine embroidered initial on the outside & a zippered pocket on the inside. I am amazed at all the little things I learn with each new project I undertake. I *so* enjoyed having my mom-in-law visit on Saturday and review all my sewing projects. She complimented & critiqued and gave me lots of new wisdom on how to make my work sturdier and more professional. She really is a true kindred spirit when it comes to all things crafty. I am good company as she enjoys many different types of crafts. I know you don't even know about blogs, but thanks Mom-in-law!!

On that note, does anyone out there like to sew? Does anyone want to learn? Just want to see if I have any IRL sewing buddies {figured I'd better use at least one of my new emoticons, eh?}

Now you can SEE how I feel....

I'm not sure if this works in IE or only in Firefox, but I just added an extension to my blog to use emoticons ~ you know, those little smilies with all the different emotions...

Happy

Surprised

Angry

Embarassed

Sad

There are many more, but I just picked a couple to test out. Let me know if you can see 'em!

My First Attempt

This is my first attempt at making a tote bag. I designed the pattern myself based roughly on the finished size of a bag I already own. I have been reading up online & tried to incorporate some different techniques that I've read about here and can't help but be inspired by the bags I see here & here. Take a look see:

I purchased the fabric from a super limited selection at my local Wal-mart & only spent about $7 {with some fabric left over}. I wanted to make a limited investment in case I screwed up royally. The interior has a side pocket which is divided for a pen/pencil on the left & miscellaneous on the right:

I am really fairly happy with the way it turned out. Do you think these would make nice gifts? What about if I included one of these to match? Or I was thinking I could try to make one slightly shorter with more pockets, a magnetic closure, and a matching changing pad for a simple diaper bag. Can't wait to start on the next one!

Dear Sir....

To an Unknown Capron Resident:

You could've just asked. You didn't have to come in the middle of the night & back your truck up through my front yard to steal some of the gravel I had delivered for my backyard. This gravel is for my children's play area. It was like you were stealing candy from a baby. Did you think I wouldn't notice the tire tracks you left in my grass or the coffee cup you littered onto my lawn? Was it really necessary? I would've been happy to tell you how to get some for a low cost. My husband works in the aggregate industry for gravel's sake. The least you could've done was left a note explaining your desperation & maybe a $20 bill. I hope you are happy.

Sincerely,
Rebecca, a couple buckets short of 1/2 a ton

Sew and Sew

I've been doing a lot of sewing lately. I mean, A LOT. I have a handful of hobbies that go in rotation as far as what I am interested in for that season, but I always come back to them at some point. I guess this is the season for sewing {Sorry yarn & knitting needles}. Here is my most recent finished project:
The pattern is New Look 6556. The fabric was purchased at JoAnn's. I just love the way it turned out. I wanted it to be stylish, like something you would find in an upscale childrens' clothing store. I just made a straight size 3. As you can see on my model below, it is a little big now, but hopefully by spring it will be fitting much better:
I was super excited to be able to purchase a kit to make fabric buttons to match!That way, I could turn this...................................................into...........................................this!


Cool, eh? I think they make the coat look a little more professional ;>)

Next FO is a 4th of July-ish type dress that I made for the older Princess. She picked out the pattern, Simplicity 3902 and we labored together over choosing the fabric. I had to add the little red triangular pieces on the front since the fabric has a border at the bottom, so laying out the pattern was a little trickier & I came up a bit short. Here she is:


I think she likes how it twirls!

I am happy with how this one turned out as well. I love the colors! It has quite a few pieces which I am not used to & a zipper {double YUK}, but I am trying to improve my skills with each item I make.

The last thing I am working on is a Super Secret Birthday Project. It is so secret that I don't even have a picture of it! It is a ballgown-like dress for my sweetie's 6th birthday using Simplicity pattern 3943. It will be similar to the lavender dress on the model in the bottom photo. I picked dark pink fabrics. I was expecting all the 15 or so yards to cost me around $50, so I was tickled pink {literally} when the total was only around $25. I think it will be an exciting gift for a girl who already has too many toys & other clutter. I will try and post some in progress pictures when I can. I haven't decided whether I will give it to her on her actual birthday or the night before her party so she can wear it the next day. I guess it depends on how fast I sew!!

Menu Planning Technique

I must admit that since I've been pregnant I've really gotten away from menu planning, which probably explains my somewhat chaotic dinner hour. I *love* doing my OAMC, but I just haven't had the energy or feeling of health to be able to do it. I absolutely hate staring into my freezer wondering what food items are going to cook themselves {a girl can hope, can't she?} into a tasty & creative family meal. I was reminded today about a menu planning technique, taught to me at a homeschool group meeting, that I found really ingenious. So, I will share. This will provide you with one month of menus for your family.

Step 1: Category Planning
Come up with 7 different categories of meals, one for each day of the week. {You could use a printable calendar like the ones found here to assign the categories & later for brainstorming the meals.} Categories may include: beef, chicken, pork, pasta, casserole, crock-pot, pizza, Italian, seafood, grilling or any other type of food that your family enjoys. You should also decide which day of the week will be dedicated to which category considering your family schedule. For example, if one day of the week is your errand day, that night could be crockpot night.

Step 2: Brainstorming
Write down all the possible recipes you could prepare under each category. It is best to come up with at least 3 or 4 different recipes for each category. Look through your recipe file {great to have a nice recipe binder for this} or ask your friends for ideas. Menus4moms also provides a great service of sending you a week's worth of meals with recipes and grocery lists to your inbox every week. This would be a great source of new meal ideas!

Step 3: Pick your meals!
On a monthly calendar, write the category heading at the top of each column of days. Now it's time to pick your meals. On each day, go through your brainstormed list of meals for that category & write down what you will make, adding side dishes or desserts as necessary. If you have a file of "to-try" recipes, you can throw some of those new items in the rotation as your schedule allows. {If you are really into cooking, you could always make "New Recipes" one of your meal categories!} When you plan your grocery list, simply look at the meals planned for that week to see what ingredients you need. If you brainstormed at least 4 meals for each category, you should be able to plan an entire month of menus with no repeats!! I am sure the family will appreciate your "creativity" and the fact that they are never eating the same meal more than once a month {something I'm sure my Hubs can NOT imagine at this point}!

Hope you found this somewhat helpful in your meal planning endeavors. I am feeling so motivated after writing this that I am going to start doing it! I also wanted to mention that the gal who taught this "method" has been using it for decades. A few of her grown children were present at the meeting & I got the impression that having "Every Sunday as Italian night" or "Every Friday as Pizza night" has really created some wonderful long-lasting memories that have carried over into their own families. If you have any other menu planning tips/websites/encouragement, please share with the group!

Homemade Chocolate Syrup

Chocolate milk is very popular in my house. Although I despise the sugar content, it DOES get my kids to drink more milk. I was buying commercially prepared chocolate milk & calculated that it was cheaper than buying the Nesquik powder. Lately in a pinch I've been using Hershey's Chocolate Syrup mixed with white milk. When I ran out, I gave the following recipe a try!

Step 1: Unclog your Hershey's syrup bottle cap by letting it sit in a bowl of hot water while you make the syrup.

Step 2: Follow Hillbilly Housewife's chocolate syrup recipe. I made the recipe as written and it all fit into my current 24 oz. Hershey's bottle. Be careful when the syrup is boiling. This stuff bubbles up big!

Step 3: Let syrup cool. Or if you are impatient like me, let it cool just a little......

Step 4: Using a funnel, pour the syrup into your bottle. Recap.

Step 5: Use to make chocolate milk, pour over ice cream or in your favorite chocolatey desserts. Or for those of you having an anniversary........Voila!

A "REAL" Poll

I was just testing this poll feature to see if it actually works. I think it's kinda cool!

Mozzarella Sticks

My archaic method of saving recipes I want to try is just to write them by hand in a spiral notebook. I use a type of shorthand so I only have to write out the ingredients with a couple prepping and cooking instructions. This way, I am sure to actually only save the recipes I will really try since I am going through a little more work. It's easy to see what recipes are waiting for me to give them a whirl. This recipe is one of them. Hubs *loves* cheese sticks, so as a special treat I tried this recipe that was waiting in queue.

Mozzarella Sticks

Makes 16 sticks

1 egg
2 T. water
¾ c. seasoned bread crumbs
½ t. garlic salt
1/3 c. flour
1/6 c. cornstarch
1 qt. Oil {for frying}
8 cheese sticks

Procedure:

Heat oil to about 350° {or put the oil over medium heat while you're prepping everything else}. I used a medium sized pot with tall sides & just filled it up so the oil was about 2 ½” deep. You'll need three separate bowls. In one, mix the egg and water. In the second, mix the seasoned bread crumbs & garlic salt. In the last, mix the flour & cornstarch. Cut each cheese stick in half so you have 16 smaller sticks. Dip the sticks first in egg, then in the flour, then in egg again, finally in the breadcrumbs. {Helps to use tongs/forks/spoons so as not to gunk up your fingers.} I battered all the sticks first, then fried them all at the same time. Fry about 4 at a time for 30 seconds each or until golden brown.

Special Notes:

If you are not using “seasoned” bread crumbs you may want to add about ½ t. salt and some ground pepper for more flavor. I also sprinkled the finished sticks with kosher salt as they were coming out of the oil. Serve with marinara sauce for dipping. YUM!

Free Movies

This seems so great that I just have to mention it {especially since my recent post about Family Movies}!! I just read about this over here, but I will repost the details. AMC Theaters hosts a Summer Movie Camp every Wednesday at 10:00 am where the whole family {or group/organization~HINT. HINT.} can see a FREE movie. Of course no movie experience is complete without the right snacks, so for only $3.00 you can purchase an AMC KidsPack which includes one drink, one popcorn, and one kids-size snack. If you are a local reader, the closest theater to us that participates is the AMC South Barrington 30 . You can view the movie schedule here. I think Charlotte's Web on August 1 sounds especially appealing. Hope this helps you have some frugal summer fun ;>)

Thanks to Alicia's comment, I am editing this post to add that Regal Cinema in Crystal Lake also has free movies for the family as well. Much better since it is so much closer {to many of you local readers}. You can also check their home page to see if a Regal Cinema near you is participating. It doesn't give any information as to snack deals other than saying "Kids Meals Available". Here is the link to the movie schedule. The other great thing is that they show them on Tuesdays and Wednesday mornings at 10:00 am and there are two movies to choose from. The two movies consist of one rated G and one rated PG--great if you have an older set of children. There are at least four movies that I would love to take the kids to go see. Thanks Alicia for the tip!!

Clickety-Click

Here are where all my blog clicks led me to this morning. First I started out at:

Like Merchant ships: reading her post about a tutorial she will be writing for homemade crackers. We eat a lot of crackers!! They just make an easy snack for the kiddos & I love dipping 'em in stuff too ;>) {By the way, I am also excited about her post on making homemade dishwasher detergent. This kind of frugal solution is right up my alley!}

After reading a post she had written a few days ago, I linked over to Charming the Birds from the Trees' post about the feminine attitude. I so enjoyed this post! What a great reminder about the kind of attitude we should have as women. I just feel so encouraged & motivated by this to be a better woman, especially because of the clear explanations of what this looks like.

Then I stopped over at My So Called Perfect Life, a blog I have been lurking at recently. I downloaded her instructions on making a Tote bag, since I have been sewing like a mad women recently. I love the idea of having bags already packed for the kids for church, library, beach, etc. Sounds like a great time saver!

From there I cruised over to Rocks in My Dryer . Her blog design is so happy & friendly looking. I love reading WFMW & learning new tricks to making my household run more smoothly. Out of the other bloggers she listed participating in the WFMW, I visited....

The Building Brows and her post about the Diva Cup. I don't know if you've ever heard of this product before, but I considered it once in the past. All of the commenters give me confidence to try this out {when I need it eventually of course}. I just seems so much less of a pain than mainstream products. You would never have to worry about running out of supplies & would definitely be a cost-saver in the long run. It seems amazing that it would eliminate cramps as well. Bonus!

In all fairness, those weren't the FIRST blogs I visited. I always stop by the blogs of my real-life friends first, this morning enjoying Alicia's reflection about how her despair has turned into thankfulness. Let me know if you've found any of my visits interesting as well. Stay cool today!

Chocolate Eclair Dessert

I just tried this recipe over the weekend & had great success. I didn't actually try any myself because my weird appetite just wasn't gonna let me. Judging from the empty pan at the end of the day, I can be confident that it was well-liked!

Chocolate Éclair Dessert

Makes 12 servings

1 box graham crackers {will only use about 2/3 of the box}
1 3 oz. package instant vanilla pudding
1 3 oz. package instant French vanilla pudding
3 c. milk
1 8 oz. container Cool-whip
1 16 oz. can chocolate frosting

Procedure:

Make the puddings using the 3 cups of milk. Let stand 5 minutes. Fold in the Cool-whip. Line the bottom of a 9 x 13” pan with crackers, breaking them up a bit to make serving easier. Layer with ½ of pudding, then crackers, rest of pudding, ending with crackers. Remove foil from inside of chocolate frosting can. Microwave for 30 seconds. Spread ½ of frosting over the top. {Save the rest for another use.} Refrigerate.

Special Notes:

Make at least 12 hours before serving!! Great for potlucks. The entire pan I made was practically licked clean ;>) I also used low-fat graham crackers and Lite Cool-whip and no one seemed to notice.

Family Movie Night

Please help! Hubby decided that for the summer {at least} we are going to institute a family movie & pizza night. I think it will be great to let the kids stay up a little later, especially since hubster's hours at work will get longer as the summer goes on. Nothing like a little snugglin' to keep everyone's love tanks full. {I also look forward to not having to cook that night!} But I am looking for some good family movie recommendations. Recently we rented Stuart Little 2, which we all enjoyed. I also bought Jurassic Park at a garage sale for $1.50. Tatiana had seen parts of it before and was really interested. We took out our Magic School Bus book about dinosaurs & discussed the different types, what they ate, the different shapes of their teeth, how a fossil is made, etc. Despite the small educational value, it is also a little on the gory/scary side. Even the 2 year old has started saying, "Dinosaurs eat people." But I digress. So any family movie ideas? Here are some that I came up with by looking around at plugged in online and a few of my own ideas thrown in:

1. Anne of Green Gables
2. Miracle on 34th Street {Christmas in July, anyone?}
3. Nanny McPhee
   
4. Mary Poppins
5. Free Willy
6. Polar Express {I miss the cooler weather I guess.}
7. The Princess Diaries
8. Cast Away {we have this already}
9. Swiss Family Robinson
10. Singin' in the Rain
11. Honey I Shrunk the Kids
12. Indiana Jones {??}

I am open to ideas. Have you seen any of the movies listed? I am kind of wanting to stay away from animated movies as {usually} they don't have a lot of adult appeal. Let me know what you think!

20 Reasons He's a Great Dad

1. He changed both of the girls' very first poopy diaper in the hospital.
2. When the girls were babies, he would get them from their cribs at night and bring them to me for a feeding, then put them back again.
3. He loves having a baby asleep on his chest {his favorite part about babyhood}.
   
4. He gives them baths.
5. He buys them M & Ms for no reason.
6. He takes one or both with him when he has to run errands.
7. He will take them both to visit his parents without me so I can enjoy some alone time.
8. His heart is made of marshmallow fluff, so when he has to spank them, he does it softer than I d0.
9. He will sleep in Tatiana's trundle bed if she is scared at night.
10. He tries to fix the girls' hair, even though that's not the easiest thing for a guy to do.
11. He will talk to the girls on the phone when they miss him, even if he has had to talk "baby talk" when they were younger.
12. He rides the carnivals rides with Tatiana since they make me sick.
13. He chases the girls around the house & riles them up & makes them laugh like no one else can.
14. He lets the kids hop on him, knock him over, tickle him and anything else in the name of fun.
15. He participates in pillow fights & tea parties.
16. He lets the kids stay up late to snuggle with him and watch a family movie.
17. He supports my decisions as a mom and is my #1 cheerleader.
18. He will help change the child & strip the sheets if one of the kids throws up in the middle of the night.
19. According to the kids, he is the fixer-of-anything-and-everything.
20. He loves them more than they will ever know or be able to understand.

I love you so much, babe. There is no one else that I would rather share this parenting journey with than you. I look forward to many more Father's Days with you {and maybe a couple more kids too}!

A Good Habit

I thought I would share something a little more personal, since lately it has been reader polls & recipes. So here goes. I have put away all my Bible study books. I have stopped reading books on Christian topics. Why? I have always struggled with self-discipline, especially in the area of my quiet times with God. I know it's something I should do, but would find a million excuses not to. My perfectionisitic tendencies would fool me into thinking that unless it was some earth-moving, soul-baring, hour-long experience then it wasn't worth it. I remember when I was younger {than I am now} I would look up to older more mature Christian women & think to myself that when I was older, I would be like them. I would *magically* study my Bible everyday just because I was older & wiser. Seems simple enough, but I finally realized: ain't gonna happen. Not *magically* at least. It is going to require work & {gasp} discipline. One reason why I started to develop this habit is because of my girls. I know they are watching me. I so badly want for them to grow up & be these godly women who love the Lord and long for Him and always want more of Him. With me as their example, I'm not sure that would be easily accomplished. They need to see it. I know now that it is better to spend 10 minutes with God every day, than 1 hour once a week. Why is it that I would waste an hour or two online, but I couldn't spend 10 minutes reading my Bible? Sometimes we are so emotion-driven that we don't have quiet times because we "just don't feel like it". I know now that this is wrong. It is something I should do whether I feel like it or not. He expects it of me and is just waiting for me to show up. I have started simply by using a daily devotional we received from K-LOVE. I look up all the Scriptures & do some journaling & praying. It has not been earth-moving, but it has been thought-provoking and, quite importantly, habit-forming. I leave my Bible & journal on the kitchen table, that way it is right there staring me in the face every day. It is my own gentle reminder of what I should do. If I happen to miss a day for some reason, I try not to beat myself up about it, but instead just move forward. I want to encourage you in this. Maybe everyone reading {to whom this topic applies} is much more disciplined than I am, but if not, I want to say: Just do it. Know that I am trying to "do it" too & that we can be on this journey together. We need a fresh filling of Him daily. Sunday mornings or Friday night small group is just not enough {although I can fool myself into thinking it is}! {File this under the: Million-reasons-why-I-don't-need-a-daily-quiet-time category}. If I can keep you accountable or ask you how you are doing with your quiet times, please leave a comment or feel free to email me privately. Or maybe you have some other tips that would help me to continue with my habit. This is the simple prayer I begin my Bible times with:

"Open my eyes that I may see the wonderful things in Your law." ~Psalm 119:18

Another Scripture that has really encouraged me in this process is Isaiah 55:10-11

"For as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
So shall My Word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."

Even if I don't feel any spiritual adrenaline, He assures me that my quiet times ARE working and are "accomplishing what He pleases". He will work in you too! Have a blessed weekend!

Easy Summer Meal

Much to my dismay, I have not had the desire to cook as of lately. It was until just recently that I have been able to even watch the Food Network without feeling queasy. Needless to say, the fam hasn't been eating the well thought out home-cooked meals that they are used to. I did manage to put together this easy one-dish summer meal yesterday. I baked it early in the day when my energy was up & the outside temp was still low so the oven wouldn't heat up the house terribly. My mom used to make this quiche-like dish quite often, especially in the summer when zucchini are overflowing from the garden. Serve with a side salad or some sliced tomatoes. Great for breakfast, lunch or dinner!

Bisquick Zucchini Pie

Makes 6-8 servings

3 c. shredded unpeeled zucchini
1 large onion, diced
½ c. shredded Parmesan
½ c. shredded cheddar
½ c. vegetable oil
1 c. Bisquick
4 eggs
½ T. dried parsley
s & p, TT

Procedure:

Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease 9” pie plate. Combine all ingredients. Bake for 50-60 minutes.

Special Notes:

I used 2 medium zucchini for the 3 cups. I also like sharp cheddar for more flavor. I like to let the quiche sit for about an hour so that it firms up a bit more.

Share a story, make a difference!

Did you know that you can donate a meal to someone in need right from your comfy computer chair? It won't cost you anything other than a couple minutes of time. Maybe you have seen the TV commercials for Shedd's Spread Country Crock's Spread the Sharing Campaign. For every story someone shares about a meal they have had, Country Crock will donate one meal to America's Second Harvest, the nation's largest charitable hunger relief organization. If you are in the giving spirit, you can donate more than one meal! When you are registering, there is an option to opt-out of receiving any emails from Country Crock & its affiliates, so you won't be getting any junk mail {if that bothers you}. It's such a simple way to make even a small difference. Please post a comment & let me know if you share a story. Blessings!

Are they really THAT different?

After reading this post at another blog I stumbled across, I began wondering, "Are boys really THAT different to raise than girls?" Do you treat your boys differently than you treat your girls? Do you expect them not to cry if they get hurt or expect your girls to be the compassionate ones? Are they really the stereotypical rough & tumble, rowdy, rambunctious creatures that they are made out to be? Aren't there quiet and thoughtful boys too? For example, my two girls have very different personalities. My oldest girl is a compliant, sensitive, feminine, and yet adventurous little lady. My second girl is a mischievous, highly curious, doesn't-get-hurt-easily, toddler who loves to cuddle {when she isn't getting into trouble}. She does things that I never even thought a girl would do like play in the toilet, eat dog food, & take off all her clothes and diaper when I'm not looking. Really quite different. I would think that personalities amongst children would vary widely, whether boys or girls. I know some intellectual introverted men & some rowdy extroverted ones as well. I know some very emotional women & some very non-emotional ones. If you only have one boy & one girl, I would think it might be hard to discern whether or not their personalities are different because of gender or whether it is just because they are two different children. I guess I am also curious because if this next baby turns out to be a boy, I am wondering what I am "in for"!

Small Town Living

I went to our local post office on Saturday to mail some packages & buy some 2 cent stamps. The postal worker there was so friendly. There are only two different workers that are ever in the office, so you start remembering and appreciate seeing the same friendly face. {I even remarked to hubby afterwards how personal it felt & how you probably wouldn't experience that in a bigger town.} She handed me the stamps and I noticed that there was an actual sized picture of the same stamps on the counter. Somehow I got so mesmerized by trying to align my stamps with the picture {yes, I'm weird or maybe it's just the pregnancy hormones} that I ended up leaving the stamps on the counter. I realized the next day that I had left the stamps there. Lo and behold, on Monday morning, the stamps were in my mailbox with a little note that I had left them at the post office. The worker must have looked up my address and took it upon herself to make sure they got to me. I don't think you'd get that kind of service in a big city. Just one thing to love about small town living!

Crystal Light on the Go

I really like Crystal Light {or the knock-off} since I'm really drinking water, but with much more flavor and without all the calories. It helps me keep my fluid intake up, which is especially important now. I've heard people rave about Crystal Light on the Go, little packets which you dump into a bottle of water to make Crystal Light {$$$}. I like this idea particularly because I could alternate flavors without having to make a full pitcher at a time. I figured out how to make my own at home. Here is what you do:

Open your container of CL meant to make a 2 qt. pitcher. Get your standard size {16.9 ounce} bottle of water. Measure out 3/8 teaspoon CL mix & dump into bottle {I usually do 1/4 teaspoon plus a half of the 1/4 teaspoon to make 3/8}. Shake vigorously, enjoy! Depending on how full your bottle of water is, you may have to drink a little off the top to get it to shake well. I just put the rest of the container on a safe shelf in the cupboard.

So there's another money-saving homemade idea to begin your week. Hope your weekend was blessed!

P.S. My favorite flavors are raspberry ice, pink lemonade, and iced tea {which I shouldn't drink too much of now}!

Reader Poll

Here's another fun reader poll, since it seemed many people chimed in on the last one:

Do you continue to patronize a restaurant/store where you have received bad service?

Many of you know I'm a serious kind of a food snob, so if the food was bad {or even only decent}, I wouldn't go back again. Recently the family ate at a corporate-owned neighborhood bar & grill type franchise. I have been to this restaurant a bazillion times. I *love* the food. I have had bad luck with the service though. Seemed really slow this time...on a rainy Tuesday night! {I'm sure the fact that I felt like I could pass out from hunger at any moment didn't help!} I have worked many customer service related jobs {restaurant server being one of them} and have really high standards when it comes to customer service.There is one Woodstock restaurant that after receiving bad service there, we have never gone back. It's a shame too, since Woodstock isn't exactly overflowing in the restaurant department. Anywho, back to my original question.....

Leaving a Legacy

Even though I am a day late, I feel somewhat obligated to do a Mother's Day post {that's what good mommy-bloggers do, right?} So here I am. When I think about Mother's Day and what others write about it and my own mom, the thought that comes back to me again and again is leaving a legacy. Mother's Day usually offers a chance for us to reflect on what our moms did for us as children, the greatest lesson they taught us, what they mean to us, etc. summed up basically in the term "legacy". One definition of the word is "anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor". It was really hard to put into words and appreciate the legacy my mom has left me, especially since she was not a Christian while we were growing up, but here are the two things that I was able to formulate:

Legacy of the Strong Woman: My mom passed down to me the idea that women are strong physically and mentally. We can do much more than we believe we can. We should not be ashamed to express our own opinions or emotions. If life hands us something difficult, we can and should keep pressing forward, never giving up.

Legacy of the Big Dreams: My parents always encouraged my brother and I to dream big. Imagine what it is you want to be and go for it! You can have it all! {I've come to realize this isn't true, but their hearts were in the right place.} Whatever we wanted to be, they would support, as long as it made us happy.

To this day, I still consider myself to be strong and am always coming up with Big Ideas. Hubby jokes that I am a one-woman think tank. And so, I am left to consider what sort of legacy I am leaving my girls {children}. Some days I wonder if they'll just remember me yelling or always asking them to pick up their toys. Each day that passes is our opportunity to work towards that legacy. I want mine to be one of prayer, passion, and purpose. {That sounds so cliche, but it's what came out while typing.} Basically, I want to leave behind that I put God first in everything, that I was passionate about life {enjoying it to the fullest} and the things of God, and that I was meaningful and had reason for the things I did. I also hope they remember how loving I am, how much fun we had, and how much they truly enjoy being part of this family. I am always telling my oldest daughter how lucky I am to be her mom and I hope one day, she feels the same about being my daughter.

To all the moms I know, Happy Mother's Day! I pray the legacy you leave will span the generations, so make it a good one!

I just don't get it

I really don't. I came across this story of a 7 year-old Colorado boy who died from cardiac arrest due to undernourishment. The article claims he weighed 30 pounds. That is about the weight of my 2 year-old. What is going through your mind when you are starving a child, any child, let alone your own? What words do people use to justify that to themselves. I just don't get it. I also read the story of a Texas mom who sold her 15 year-old daughter to a sexual predator for $3000. Some of us recently had a discussion about internet/real-world safety regarding our children. Can you imagine literally feeding your child to one of these predators? I wonder if when these babies were born, their mothers cried for joy or held them tenderly or were amazed at their creation. I wonder if they ever felt unworthy to be blessed with the miracle of a child. If so, how did they get to the point of doing something so unthinkable? My heart is just wounded for these children and thousands of others who are abandoned in some way by their parents. Can you fathom living the rest of your life knowing that your mom tried to sell you or kill you? I pray for these families today. I pray that they would find healing in the One who loves them unconditionally and will never forsake them. And it leaves me wondering how many kids I have come across or who live in my neighborhood or in our county who are hungry or scared or abused.......

Frugal Inspiration

Need some fresh inspiration for your frugal lifestyle? Here are some blogs I have come across recently that I really enjoy:

The Family CEO - seems like she hasn't posted in awhile, but when she does, it's good. Lots of links to other frugal blogs as well.

Like Merchant Ships

the Abundant Life

No Limits Ladies - ok, not so much a frugal blog, but a blog about money sense. I *really* am liking this one.

I have enjoyed all the conversations regarding frugality that I have come across as well, like this one. I came to realize that frugality is not about paying less, it's about living with less. Sometimes I think I am being frugal, when in reality I am just buying cheap stuff that I really don't need. I want to live a simpler life. {I think this is why I enjoy doing some things the "old-fashioned" way.} I want to have control over my "stuff", not the other way around. If you have any frugal inspiration or thoughts, please share with the group!

Reaching Out

One of the down sides to being a Christian stay at home parent can be, unless we are purposeful about it, the lack of unbelievers who cross our paths on a daily basis. My spouse, working in a secular marketplace, undoubtedly has many more opportunities to build relationships with those who need Christ than I do, which is why I have to be more diligent about creating those opportunities for myself. I think sometimes it can be a tendency of us young moms {do I still qualify for this category??} to surround ourselves with Christian friends, while at the same time neglecting those who need to hear the Good News. After all, "it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick." {Mark 2:17} Here are some opportunities that you can create for yourself to try and reach out in love to those around you:

• Meet your neighbors! How many do you know? Make it a goal to meet one new neighbor a month {or every 6 months}.

• Talk to other parents at your child's sports practice/dance class/library story time.

• Myspace. It's there, let's use it. I've noticed quite a few of you joining lately. I purposely downloaded Myspace IM in hopes that I would reconnect with one of "my friends" who I know could really use a Godly influence in her life. Maybe after enough IMing I could invite her to a playdate or out to lunch. Use it for His Kingdom, instead of just for socializing.

• Connect with the parents of your child's school friends! Invite a couple kids & moms over for a playdate. I would totally be doing this if I had children in a public school. At dd's preschool I enjoyed talking with the moms & I think there would be a much bigger chance for relationship building when your child is attending with the same kids year after year. Seems like there is big opportunity here.

These are just a couple things that I have personally tried that I know God has blessed and are geared toward building relationships. Of course there are countless opportunities to reach out in love through random acts of kindness, but I was thinking more about long-term opportunities. Are you actively building relationships with those who need Him? Any other great ideas for creating opportunities for His glory?

Biding my Time

I have been biding my time, trying to think of anything I can blog about, other than the inevitable. Groceries. Warm weather. House-wifery. Anything. I guess I thought that if I went public, somehow things would be more real than they are now. For weeks now, I've been trying to pretend that everything is normal, ignoring the proverbial white elephant in my living room. My hand is being forced though. My cousin tells me that if I don't make an announcement soon, she will out me. Nice. I am still adjusting to my new version of life. I am trying to make sense of how one little line can alter my future. Forever. It just seems so inconsequential, that one little line. And then there are the three words that necessarily follow. The three words that are so exciting, joyful, nerve-wracking & exciting all at the same time. Do you know the three words I am talking about? Here they are:





I.

am.

pregnant.


So now you know.

You know it's warmer when....

...all the suburbanite homeowners start firing up their lawn mowers.

...I start drinking iced tea and iced chai {instead of hot tea & hot chai}.

...you open the windows to let in the breeze.

...no jackets!

...lemonade is really refreshing.

...flip-flops are {really} appropriate {as opposed to my wearing them when the weather is frigid}.

...no socs with my Crocs ;>)

...I feel like hanging my clothes out on a line {even though I don't have a clothesline}.

...you plan outdoor field trips, like the zoo!

...{insert your answer here}

How does your garden grow?

One of the great things about the official start of spring & the warming weather is thoughts about what I will plant this year. We are blessed to have had some nice landscaping to begin with, but I have really enjoyed adding my own personal touches. Since I love to cook, herbs are a must. Last year I transplanted chives from my grandma's garden and they grow like weeds. Really. If you want some, let me know. You can have 'em! I bought rosemary and thyme plants this season and have planted them in hanging planters on my deck. Now all I need is basil!! {Basil is my favorite herb. I think I may try to plant several varieties if I can find them.} I have strawberry plants that I transplanted from my grandma as well and they seem to be doing quite nicely, already having sent out runners and forming two more little baby plants. I have yet to decide what to do with my flower bed off of my patio. Last year I did annuals, but I am wondering if perennials mixed with a few annuals might be better for me. If you want a great plant that flowers throughout the summer & spreads very nicely, get a Wave Petunia. I loved how they overflowed the bed and spilled out onto the patio.

What are you growing {or planning to grow} this season? Here are some resources that I have been using lately to research plants:

Backyard Gardener

Gardenweb Forums

Illinois Best Plants

Money, Possessions & Eternity

...is the name of the book I am reading by Randy Alcorn. From the back jacket, here are some of the questions it address:

• Why is money so important to God?
• Is prosperity theology right or wrong?
• How can we be liberated from materialism?
• What should we do about debt?
• How much does God want us to give?
• How can we best help the poor and reach the lost?
• What about gambling? investing? insurance? saving? retirement? inheritance?
• How can we leave our children a true heritage?
• How can we use money in ways that God rewards?

It is not an easy read, that's for sure. I try to read a little bit every day & am only on page 52 (out of 447). There is a lot to digest. It is not your typical book on finances or budgeting or how to be frugal. It challenges your core beliefs about money. Here are a few quotes from the book:

When we look at money only as money, and not in light of its impact on eternity, we walk away with a cloudy and shortsighted vision.

The hardest part of dealing with our materialism is that it has become so much a part of us. Like people who have lived in the darkness for years, we have been removed from the light so long that we don't know how dark it really is. Many of us have never known what it is not to be materialistic. This is why we need so desperately to read the Scriptures, to grapple with the issues, bring them to God in prayer, discuss them with our brothers and sisters, and look for and learn from those rare models of non materialistic living in our Christian communities.

Seeking fulfillment in money, land, houses, cars, clothes, boats, campers, hot tubs, world travel, and cruises has left us bound and gagged by materialism--and like drug addicts, we pathetically think that our only hope lies in getting more of the same. Meanwhile, the voice of God--unheard amid the clamor of our possessions--is telling us that even if materialism did bring happiness in this life, which it clearly does not, it would leave us woefully unprepared for the next life.

Everyone that I know who has read this book says it has radically changed their views about money & possessions. Has anyone out there read it? If so, I would love to be able to discuss with you ideas I find interesting. The reason I decided to start reading is because if the (seemingly) ongoing struggle I/we have had with money. It seems like a monkey always on my back. I thought that maybe I have had the wrong perspective all along about money & possessions and if I could change that perspective, I could better live in light of the eternal instead of the temporal. Like the first quote alludes to, when we learn about things like budgeting, debt reduction, frugality, and other financial principles without addressing how our beliefs and use of it relates to God's kingdom and our treasures in eternity, we have completely missed the boat. It's like mowing over the weeds in the yard, if you know what I mean. It won't do any good unless you address the root. If you have the "money monkey" on your back, maybe it is time for you to shake up your money beliefs as well!

Reader Poll

Do you let your kids eat food at the grocery store that you haven't paid for yet?

For example, you give them a couple of cheese slices from your deli selection. Or get them a donut from the bakery {of course letting the cashier know when you pay}. Or open a bag or box of some snack food. Snag a couple of grapes from the bunch. Or is this just plain inappropriate? Share your {kind} opinion now!

Drudgery....well, kinda

I feel like a hamster on his little spinning wheel. I do, what seems like, endless amounts of housework, and yet, I have gotten nowhere. Forever spinning my wheel. Do you ever feel like staying at home is drudgery? Why is that I am always doing dishes, even though I have a dishwasher? Do the dirty clothes multiply at night while I am sleeping? {I am SURE that Polly Pocket accessories multiply.} I am convinced that full-time working career moms have houses that are 10x cleaner than mine, but this is probably because there is no one there to get them messy, eh? It's not something you hear moms ever talking about at playdates or over lunch: "Yeah. I'm just sick of picking up toys & folding clothes. I am worn out by the endless amount of work. Sometimes I yell at my kids because I get overwhelmed." Guess that conversation doesn't really leave you with a warm fuzzy feeling. Am I the only one who feels this way? Maybe other moms have children who always pick up after themselves, have clean faces & hands, and they themselves have a non-stop cheerful attitude when it comes to housework. Or is this some dirty secret that I am not supposed to mention? I am wondering if there is some sort of trick to not feeling this way. Don't get me wrong, I KNOW staying at home has it's benefits. For one thing, I never wake up with an alarm clock. {On the rare occasion that I have to, I sleep terribly & am in a panic because I am so not used to it.} I can take breaks when I need to {or even when I don't need to}. I can sneak in the occasional nap when all my ducks, er kids, are in a row. {Although I'm sure this happens in office life as well.} Every day is dress casual. I can make my own schedule. I can have breakfast & lunch outside. I can go for walks when the weather is nice. I get to see my children learn amazing things firsthand. I get lots of hugs & kisses. Lots of great things about staying at home.
And yet, sometimes I feel like the hamster......spinning, spinning, spinning.

A Frugal Girl's Guide to Wall Art

You don't even have to be terribly creative or crafty to spruce up your space with hand-painted art.

1. Select your space.
I am still working on giving Sienna's room finishing touches. I *love* her room. It's kind of like what I always wanted as a girl.

2. Select your art.
I wanted a whimsical saying on her wall {something that reflects her character}, but you could do a Scripture, your child's favorite movie character, their name or initials.

3. Decide how big the art needs to be.
I just stood back and tried to imagine the words on the wall & figured that my words needed to be about 5-6" tall for the best look.

4. Open your word processing program. Then type your phrase/name/quote. Select different fonts to get the look you want. Adjust the font size to the size that you estimated you need. Format the font so that it will just print the "outline". I only got about one word printed per page, sometimes only half a word. Then print out your phrase, selecting "mirror image" in your print options so that it prints your words in reverse. If you are wanting a character on your child's wall, try photocopying a coloring book & enlarging on your printer.
For Sienna's wall, I chose the font MA Sexy {downloaded from the internet} because I wanted something whimsical looking. The font size was probably about 200 or so.

5. Get out your pencil! Trace over each word with your pencil {just the outline}. Once all the words are traced it is time to transfer them to your wall. Place the paper on your wall, with your pencil markings touching the wall. Then go over the words AGAIN on the back of the paper, rubbing where your pencil marks are touching the wall to transfer the words on. Here is the mirror image traced:Here is the word after rubbing on the back side. You can kind of see how I used almost a crayon-coloring motion:

If your arms get tired like mine did, you can make a little pencil mark across the bottom & one side of the paper ONTO the wall, that way you can reposition the paper in the exact same place if you have to come back later. Here is the word after being traced on the wall. It was hard to get a good picture, but I think you can see the faint outline:

6. Get out your craft paints & a little paint brush. Start filling in each word with your desired color. I picked a darker green to contrast with the the pale green walls. Words in progress:

7. Stand back and admire your handiwork! Here is a close-up of the words:
The finished product:
The happy recipient of my whimsical creation:

Fairly simple way to personalize your space. How about adding some words in your kitchen? Or a welcoming Scripture in your entryway. This cost me nothing but my time as I already have plenty of pencils and paper, craft paints, and paintbrushes. With an unlimited number of fonts available on the internet, you can customize the size & look of your wall art. Happy crafting!

Another post...

...from the Pedaling Theologian. I have been trying to encourage him to post more often, but alas, time is short. Enjoy!

"Hello! Cooking Hotline......"

For English, press one. Para espanol, oprima el numero dos. You have reached the home office of the Cooking Hotline. How may I help you?

Apparently my passion for cooking & baking makes me a good target for cooking questions. I actually LIKE it when people call me asking how to make something or what to do now or for a recipe suggestion. Here are some real life examples of calls placed to my cooking Hotline:

How do I make chocolate curls to top a cheesecake?

Simple! With a Hershey bar & a vegetable peeler. Just run the peeler along the side of the bar. As the bar softens a bit in your hand, start running the peeler along the softened edge to make nicer looking curls.

How do I blanch a potato?

Blanching is just quickly cooking a {usually} vegetable in boiling water then putting it in ice water to stop the cooking process. Depending on the size of your potato chunks, they only need to be in the boiling water a minute or two.

I assembled {but did not bake} a ravioli casserole to deliver to a friend tonight, but she had to cancel. What should I do with it? Can it just be refrigerated? Freeze it?

{Apparently I have not talked enough to this friend about OAMC.....} I recommend putting the casserole in the fridge for delivery tomorrow. The raviolis are already cooked all the way through so freezing them in the sauce, dethawing & baking might lead to mushiness.

What should I make for dinner tonight?? I have chicken/ground beef/pork chops dethawed in the fridge.

This is actually one of the more exciting types of Hotline calls as it allows me to express my creativity. After asking the caller if they have other types of pantry staples on hand, I am usually able to come up with something quick & yummy. {Although if their freezer were stocked with meals.....}

Can I use stew meat for beef kabobs?

Um, no. Although it is cut into little chunks for you already {deceiving, eh?} stew meat is a tough cut of beef, meant to be tenderized during a long simmering time in a stew. For kabobs, use a cut such as top sirloin cut into chunks {recommended by several websites I polled}.

One repeat caller loves to call me while at the supermarket. She asked the kabob question & calls to tell me what she wants to make for dinner & asks the Hotline what ingredients she needs. Sometimes she asks other things such as, "Between a scallion & a scallop, which one is the seafood?" I believe it was she who wanted to make fortune cookies for her Valentine's Day dessert. I had to restrain myself from jumping through the Hotline phone & screaming "NOOOOO!" {It's important to know the callers' relative cooking skills & abilities here.} I've made fortune cookies before; it teaches you lots of patience & attempts to callous your fingers against high temperatures. Caller promptly crossed it off her list.

Thank you for calling the Cooking Hotline. I have enjoyed assisting you in your culinary endeavors. Please feel free to call again. Good-byeeee!

Knitting Minds Need to Know

Well, actually just my own knitting mind. If you are pregnant & received a knitted baby gift that was "hand-wash only", how would you feel about that? Would it be a terrible pain?? Obviously if it were a hat or mittens or booties you wouldn't have to wash them that often & a sweater only if the wee one puked on it or whatnot. I realize that something {especially like a sweater} that is machine washable probably would be a lot more practical, eh?? Would you even appreciate a knitted gift?? Be honest, please. Obviously if you are expecting & you know me in real life, there is a good chance that I might want to knit something for your newest peanut. Considering how many hours go into the knitting part {not to mention the agonizing over the perfect pattern & picking the yarn ~ OY!}, I just want to know if I should just pick up something for your babe at Target instead ;>)

I guess if you are not pregnant, you could chime in here too. Have you ever received a knitted baby gift? Did you like it? If not, was it because you are just not into hand-made items or maybe it was dorky/grandmother-ish {no offense meant to grandmothers here}?