Memories At Home

VAY-CAY!

2008-08-11T22:26:00.005-05:00

Hey ladies, I will be going on a 5 day vacation and the computer's stayin'!

When I get back I have lots of plans and ideas, like letting you take a peek into our Classroom/Arts and Crafts room, more Toddler Time activities, Potty Training, Bible activities for kids, and I will dive deeper into our new healthy (eating) lifestyle and my deep hatred for high-fructose corn syrup ;)

Please check back around the 20th!

Back to School Goodies

2008-08-10T01:37:00.004-05:00

I obviously don't have a little one in school, but I'm the aunt to two kiddoes who will be heading back before we know it! I wanted to do something special for them so I got to baking! Yikes... I must warn you, I love to organize, I love crafting and I love baking. Thing is, I'm not so great at baking. Before Rachel Ray, I though there was something was wrong with me! But as she proudly proclaims, "we can't all be bakers!"

Still, I try. :)

I saw the cutest pencil cake in an old copy of Family Fun magazine that I'd been saving.

I was knee-deep in making the cake when I realized, I only had enough butter for half of what the recipe called for. Just my luck. So, here is my version of the "mini" pencil cake.

If you'd like to see how it's supposed to look, check out the recipe here :)

(I made homemade brownies as opposed to store bought and they did not crumble.)

I also made homemade chocolate and white chocolate chip cookies and came up with these little treat baggies for the kids:

Just shape pipecleaners into letters (initials) and tie off with curly ribbon. Make another knot and slip a crayon through. Yepp, creativity as opposed to frosting a cake is definitely more my speed!

"Picnic" at the Park

2008-08-09T23:13:00.006-05:00

Once a week or so I take my little monkey to the park for dinner on a weeknight. There are many up-sides to doing it this way. One is that around dinner time it's not so hot! Another is that if you wait for the weekend, it may rain, or in our case, it's just too crowded! Usually we brown bag it, but sometimes we splurge and get fast food and she's always so excited to get to drink a "big girl drink"!

This week she wanted to climb the stairs herself...(gulp) and slide down herself. (double gulp) Needless to say, she slid down her way. WHEW!

I usually don't bring the camera, I don't want to take away from the fun and our time together, but this time she was on a roll, so I'm glad I did!

While walking to feed the ducks, she learned "quack quack"! (Up until now it was "duck duck", go figure, lol)

FREE Organic Lifestyle Magazine Subscription

2008-08-08T23:12:00.007-05:00

Check out the email I got from Annie's, this is great!

This fall, Annie's fans get a great back-to-school treat -- a free subscription to KIWI Magazine! Simply purchase any ONE (1) of Annie's yummy products, between August 1 and October 31, 2008, and sign up online at www.Annies.com/kiwimagoffer to receive a free one-year subscription to KIWI.

We have a treat for schools as well! Because Annie’s believes that gardening is the tool to connect kids with real food, we’re teaming up with KIWI® Magazine and the National Gardening Association to support garden projects in schools. We’ll donate $35,000 to the National Gardening Association’s Adopt a School Garden Program™, and will give away 100 Organic Garden Kits to schools across the country.

The easiest product to find is their organic macaroni and cheese. Even our po-dunk Wal-Mart carries it. Some of their products include cereal, ketchup, canned goods and snacks like "cheddar bunnies". These can usually be found in the organic section.

Visit Annie's Homegrown for all of the details. While you're at it, take a look at KIWI Magazine. It's an "Organic Family Lifestyle and Parenting Magazine"! I'm super excited about this!

Toddler Tip Time

2008-08-06T15:51:00.006-05:00

Sometimes when I have things that just need to get done and I cannot do a craft alongside my daughter, I have to get creative in ways she can do crafts without my help. She loves stickers and I think putting stickers onto paper builds great hand-eye coordination. Problem is, stickers can sometimes frustrate her! I have come up with a pretty simple solution:

I take the background (which is one big sticker itself) off and only the stickers remain. It makes it so much easier for her to peel them off and stick them as she pleases.

This morning I tried to teach her to keep the stickers "inside the box" and I think she did wonderfully!

She was very proud when mommy put it on her "Art Wall" in her classroom!

Works for me Wednesday

2008-08-06T00:43:00.005-05:00

I hate, loathe, and dispise cling wrap. The only thing I ever get it to cling to is the cling wrap itself. Seriously. I try, get upset, and end up tossing the darn stuff.

Well, a couple at my church recently had a baby and I made them a little something so they wouldn't have to cook. Out of shear aggrivation, I grabbed a large baggie, cut the zipper of the top and used it instead. The weight of the bottom was just right and I finished it off with a ribbon.

Why had I never thought of this before?!

THAT works for me. Buh-bye cling wrap and the frustrations you have caused me!

Chew on This...

2008-08-06T00:25:00.005-05:00

...or don't. I got a bunch of this stuff a while back at CVS for free. Take a gander at the box:

"Antioxidant"

"Strong Heart"

"Lightly Sweetened"

Since when does high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oil, tons of salt, artificial vanilla flavor, and malt flavoring translate into healthy?? I counted AT LEAST 5 ingredients that are just plain sugar with different names.

Gee, that's really a "smart start" to your day.

I'm sorry, but this doesn't seem fair to me that they could market it this way. I am working on a post about this sort of thing. You would be really surprised what I found out.. it's pretty disturbing! I could have read the box before I "bought" it but why would I have any reason to doubt it? Thank you, Kelloggs, I am now a label Nazi!

Wordless Wednesday

2008-08-06T00:07:00.003-05:00

my little doll :)

My Favorite Things

2008-08-05T23:53:00.005-05:00

This week I want to share with you my favorite kitchen "gadget" and it was FREE. It's a rubber-gripper-thingamajig that helps you open stuff. LOL. It has saved my hiney in the kitchen more times than a few. Especially with hubby being gone, it definitely has been my strong arm lately (Miss you baby!)

It can open bottles, cans, sippy cup lids when wet, nail polish, you name it.

I got this in a goody-bag from an Alzheimer's Walk sis and I did (with other sis) a while back. It was donated by a local vendor. When I was looking for a picture of this fantastic invention, I saw that many pictures were for promo items. So that leads me to believe that you can definitely get one free for yourself, too! Keep your eyes peeled! I love this thing!

Check out what others are loving this week at Fiddledeedee!

I've won an award!

2008-08-05T21:16:00.004-05:00

Mama Koala presented me with the Blog Award above! I am so flattered, wish I had a speech prepared ;) I am a loyal reader of her blog and to be listed with the other blogs I read (and aspire to be like) on a daily basis leaves me speechless! So thank you so much Koala Mama! You can check out her blog here: http://koalamama.blogspot.com/ She has such awesome tips and links for being frugal, being a mommy, and everything in between. ADD HER to your blogroll, ladies! She's got it goin' on!

I have made many great friends out here on the blogosphere, so I am purposely not nominating any of you gals. ;) Reason being is because I want to turn you on to the blogs that I want you to love, too! Check out these awesome blogs you may never have found if it weren't for reading this post:

Amy at Clothesline Alley

I think her daily life is both adorable and inspiring and she has great posts on homemade stuff and some really healthy and yummy recipes.

Laura at Heavenly Homemakers. All I can say is WOW, WOW, and WOW. This gal is my muse! Check out her pantry and recipes. OMW I want to be you, Laura! I am well on my way thanks to this blog.

Keeper of the Home. You got that right, she does it beautifully! Stephanie, you are amazing, girl! All of your posts have transformed my life and the life of my family.

Likely Classroom. Such cute ideas for FREE FUN and teaching little ones at the same time. You rock, momma!

Lindsay at Passionate Homemaking. Ok. I want to be her, too, lol. I love their healthy lifestyle. I have learned so much from reading her blog, it is no less than amazing. She also has such a great way with words when it comes to her love for the Lord. She is very inspiring.

The Coupon Diva. Her name says it all. BLOWS ME AWAY!

Here are the rules for the winners:
1. Put the logo on your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded it to you.
3. Nominate at least 5 other blogs.
4. Add links to these blogs on your blog.- Don't forget this step. This is great free advertising!
5. Leave a message for your nominee on their blog.

(I cheated and chose 6 because technically two are actual sites and I had to nominate them so they and you would know how great they are!)

Just for Fun...

2008-07-30T22:32:00.004-05:00

Monkey and I dance to this all the time and this song just gets me so PUMPED :)

(Pretty cute to see a toddler get so excited about a song like this, too!)

I love this:
I tried driving solo but I finished on "E" ...

Spreading the "Tackle it" Love!

2008-07-30T21:50:00.004-05:00

I've been at my mom's for the past few days and I got to tackle her pantry!! (Is this normal to be so excited to actually want to tackle someone else's home to fuel my organization hunger? PROBABLY NOT, lol)

I always tease her, "Mom, how are you going to know you have enough pasta if its on the bottom shelf with the chips?" After more than a few comments, she finally said the magic words, "Well, get in there, girl!" :)

I am so insanely jealous that she has a closet pantry. We used to in our old house and I miss it! I had been wanting to tackle it for forever because I wanted to put an over-the-door shoe organizer on that pantry door! She was so excited..not as much as me of course, but again, I'm an odd duck when it comes to this stuff ;)

So here we go..

BEFORE

(It's not an actual "before" shot, because I realize that the shelf with the cans was already started. Whoopsie.)

AFTER:

Oh, and how I adore this can organizer. Won't fit in my dinky cabinents :(

Isn't this awesome!?

I spread the clear glass container love, too. Something so crisp, clean, and organized about kitchen staples being in clear glass containers. (sigh. love.) Didn't remember to get a pic, though. Hmph.

Oh, and guess what my mom purchased? A LABEL MAKER!! The disease is spreading!!

Toddler Time

2008-07-30T21:32:00.005-05:00

"Homemade" Crayons!

This is super easy and gives new life to crayon bits!

Just take all your crayon bits, remove the paper, and arrange in your tins. You could get really creative with your color mixtures, but I made it pretty simple considering it was the first try. Note: I do not recommend "cheapo" crayons. It may have just been a fluke, but once they were molded, they didn't color anymore. So, stock up on the cheap Crayolas while you can!

You could use any shaped muffin tin or mold pan, I just happened to score a heart shaped one at the dollar store!

Pop in the oven at about 200 degrees.. just keep an eye on them! Once melted, set out until dried and molded. Mine popped out easily once cooled, so you shouldn't have any problems.

Perfect for little one's hands. I sprang for the Tadoodles a while back and trust me, they were not worth the money!

I will be using these for goody-bags and holidays. Very original and creative and I can't think of a kid who wouldn't love these!

Wordless Wednesday

2008-07-30T00:00:00.000-05:00

POTTY TIME!!!

I am so proud of my girl!

Gratituesday

2008-07-22T22:03:00.004-05:00

I am grateful for being a stay at home mommy because:

I know what "go go" means (Diego); what "see see" means (Jesus); what "I wanna wead" means (our bible story time).

I get "monkey kisses" anytime I want.

I get to blow bubbles and make her squeal with such innocent joy.

I get to watch her hair glisten in the sun as "we" water our plants together.

I can lay on the floor like a kid myself and color with my girl.

I have a little buddy that loves to follow me and "help".

I know what my daughter is eating, seeing, and hearing.

I get to dry my daughter's tears. I get to hold her hand. She will always know that I will always be there whenever she needs me.

Bathtime is rarely rushed :)

I am raising my daughter.

AND

I (almost) always have an empty laundry basket.

I can listen to praise and worship music all day if I want to. (and I do!)

I keep a clean home where memories are made and fun is had on a daily basis

I get to wear an apron as my uniform ;)

I now see God's miracles and beauty in the eyes of a child.

I have a deeper gratitude and love for my mother more and more each day.

None of these could be accomplished if I was working outside the home. Money may be tight without the extra income, but in my life, I could never put a price on this:

This is what I live for. God has called me to do the best job in the world, which isn't a "job" at all.

TAG!

2008-07-21T17:46:00.003-05:00

Tag!

Here are the rules:
1. link the person(s) who tagged you
2. Mention the rules on your blog
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours

4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them

5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.

Here we go!

1. I highlight, make notes, and use sticky tabs in every book or magazine I read. It helps me absorb it more ;)

2. I'm a containerizing/labelizing junkie.

3. My toes are never still. They have a mind of their own and make my mood a dead giveaway. Hubbie will often ask if I'm "stressin" because they will stick straight up in the air. (even when I don't realize they are doing it!)

4. You know I'm annoyed when I scratch the back of my head/hair. Mom does it, too. Weird.

5. I have no (nil, zero) patience for people who smack their food!!!!

6. I vacuum AT LEAST twice a day.

I was tagged by Sis at http://mommyminded.blogspot.com/

Okay, here are the people I will tag....

1. Sarah at Fiddledeedee http://fiddledeedeeblog.blogspot.com/

2. Trina at Fabulously Frugalicious http://fabulouslyfrugalicious.blogspot.com/

3. Tasha at Comical Coupon Cents http://comicalcouponcents.blogspot.com/

4. Annie at Me and My Three Boys http://indecisivemomoftwo.blogspot.com/

5. Elizabeth at Our Small Town Blessings http://smalltownblessings.blogspot.com/

6. Mama Koala http://koalamama.blogspot.com/

Sunday's Sermon

2008-07-20T14:09:00.010-05:00

I am going to be posting weekly what our Sunday's sermon was about in hopes to share His Word and how I'll be applying it to my life, so you can, too.

I also thought it may help to give you all a little something to read on Sunday without any participation, as Sundays are the day of rest, and the time to spend time with our families!

Today we learned about fearing the Lord. Something I never really and truly understood until it was explained like this: You cannot respect the Lord until you fear Him.

Like it says in the Bible, the ones who actually were before God fell to their knees in honor and awe. This cannot be accomplished without fearing Him. (Otherwise, you would just be like hey God, what's up, lol) We learned that some people are initially saved by the fear of being sent to Hell alone. And that's okay. I personally came to know Him because I love Him and I am grateful for all the marvelous things He has done. This is the same way I feel about my parents. Some children do what they are told because they have to or because they are scared of the consequences. I honestly was not that kind of child. (Seriously!) I legitimately loved my parents and didn't want to do anything to disappoint them. I respected them. But, had I not feared their disappointment or value their opinion and love, I would not have respected them so. Sounds simple enough, but very profound when thinking of how I live my life for Him.

Which brings me to the next point:

"The fear of the Lord will affect our deliverance and our worship."

This one hit me like a ton of bricks and something I am really struggling with lately. In church, I do not feel comfortable singing His praises, but my poor daughter must be getting really tired of me singing to all my praise and worship cds in the car, and in our home 24/7! See the problem? Where is my fear (and respect, honor, and awe) in showing Him my whole heart when I sing publicly? Am I too worried about what people are thinking? Am I worried that someone might hear my terrible singing voice? Yes, yes. But that doesn't interfere with being "myself" at home. Why? Because, I am not fearing Him the way I should or these things would not matter to me, no matter where I am.

Which is no coincidence that the next point is this: "We will have a strong confidence in our life by our fear of the Lord." (This would be my AHA! moment, lol) All of my insecurities and worries should not be interfering with praising and worshipping Him! If I fully fear and love Him, again, these things should not matter. I will try to remind myself of this when I have money worries or things just don't "go my way" That strong confidence I have in fearing and respecting Him will remind me that HE IS HERE. He is always here with me and it will all be okay. I really need to put this into application, because it couldn't be more true. I also need to apply this confidence when it comes to spreading His word and being a "vocal" disciple for Him. I struggle with this and I know it is part of my Christian responsibility. (Hopefully "blogging" this is a good start!)

Next, "the fear of God is a great restraint for Evil". Evil of course, meaning anything against God. This to me, in a nutshell, means that while we have man's law, we also have God's law, and the latter should be feared because of eternity. It also reminds me of the angel on one shoulder and devil on the other. 'Nuff said.

"The fear of God will produce purity." If I know God and I know what He expects from me, and I fear Him, I will live a life that is pleasing to Him. (Kinda goes along with being a good son or daughter to your parents if you fear and respect them!)

"The fear of God will affect your whole life." The last and my favorite. So very true. Fearing Him will affect my thoughts, actions, the words that come out of my mouth, how I live, what kind of wife, mother, daughter I am, the list goes on. Fearing His disappointment in me, fearing His judgment, and loving, honoring and respecting Him, and being totally in awe of Him will AFFECT my whole life.

Further and similar reading:

Romans 3:18-31

Ecclesiastes 5: 1-7

Ephesians 5:21

Psalm 34:7

I have to acknowledge my wonderful pastor, who does not read my blog, but through him some of these wonderful points were made.

Then Sings my Soul Saturday

2008-07-19T13:37:00.004-05:00

Only Grace

Matthew West

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

Hebrews 4:16

Cooking for Kids

2008-07-18T22:15:00.012-05:00

Tonight I made monkey Mickey Mouse Pizza. I totally cheated and used a box mix for pizza crust (pressed for time) but check back next week, and I will have a whole wheat recipe for you!

It's pretty simple, just roll out your dough and use a small biscuit cutter for the ears. You could use anything small and circular. I used a cup for the face.

Press the ears into the face and viola! A cute little Mickey Mouse pizza!

She was so excited! It made me a little sad to have to cut it up, lol :(

I also made "fried" green beans by sauteing green beens in italian bread crumbs and EVOO Spray. Not totally healthy, but also, not fried. It fooled her, and she hates green beans! (I tried them and they were very yummy!)

Toddler Time

2008-07-17T21:50:00.007-05:00

Another Toddler Time post for this week since I just got the pics from last week's activity and they turned out so, so cute!!

Meet my little sister, Hanlee, by the way :)

I hit the Dollar Tree and got foam shaped flowers (stickers), foam door knob hangers, and foam letters (also stickers) and sat the girls down with their supplies and a muffin tin and the fun began!

We talked about the colors and I worked with Monkey on matching the colors in each of the muffin tins.

So, $3.00 for an activity they had a blast with, an opportunity to work on our colors, hand-eye coordination, and memories and keepsakes that we will forever cherish!

Thrifty Thursday

2008-07-17T21:22:00.004-05:00

I got lucky once again with Kroger Manager Specials! And a plus, most of them are organic!

Here's what I got:

Organic Barley-(Closeout) $1.50

(This stuff is $5.00 at our health-food store!)

4 boxes Organic Macaroni and (White) Cheese- .77/each

regularly $1.99

Earth's Best Organic Cheese Crackers-$1.00

regularly $2.00

2 Bags of Cheddar All Natural Kettle Chips-$1.19

regularly $3.19 (WOW!)

2 Containers of Buitoni Light Alfredo Sauce .50

2 Container of Buitoni Marinara Sauce .50

(I don't know what these are regularly but I'm guessing too high since I never buy them!)

Nothing I purchased expires earlier than mid August. Not bad! :)

Keep an eye out for Manager's Specials. They are so bizarre, sometimes things are already out of date and others have no reason (at least to me) to be on markdown- it's definitely hit or miss!

See what thrifty finds others are sharing this week over at Comical Coupon Cents!

Wordless Wednesday

2008-07-16T22:17:00.003-05:00

Matthew 6:6

"When you pray, go into your room. Close the door and pray to your Father, who can't be seen. He will reward you. Your Father sees what is done secretly."

Healthy Comfort Food?

2008-07-16T21:51:00.007-05:00

Mmm.. Mashed potatoes with cheese, sour cream and fried chicken. Sounds great, doesn't it? How about if I told you there was a way to make it and it was actually healthy? Even better, right? Well, you're gonna think I'm crazy, but please keep reading :)

I kept hearing that you could make "mock" mashed potatoes by mashing up steamed cauliflower and chesse. (Did I lose you, yet? lol) Lots of ladies swear by it, so I decided to give it a go.

And, yep thats good ole' plain yogurt you see. It tastes just like sour cream! My version of fried chicken was a cut-up Boca meatless chicken patty. So, so delicious. (And cheap!!) My body felt like it was cheating big time!

It was a crazy evening, so no finished pic, but if its any conciliation and you still don't think it would work, my (very picky) 18 month old gobbled it up!

I might add that when you "mash" your cauliflower, you will literally have to mash it to death ;)

Yummy Scents!

2008-07-16T21:40:00.003-05:00

I will never buy a candle again! Monkey and I had oranges for a snack today and I thought I'd simmer the peel in water with a little cinnamon and it smells GREAT! Better than any candle or warmer I have ever purchased. The scent filled my entire house. I highly recommend this--it really works. Just simmer on low and add water as needed. YUM!!

Preserving Memories

2008-07-16T21:16:00.006-05:00

I have come up with a few creative ways to preserve my daughter's artwork and I wanted to share them with you! In doing this, though, I am hoping some of you have some ideas to share, as I am losing space on my refridgerator! ;)

A few weeks ago Monkey picked me "my first flower" and luckily I got a great picture but she quickly shredded it up. So, later when she picked me another one, I held on to it for dear life! So here's what I've done:

I got a frame that matched my kitchen (Dollar Store, of course) and I "laminated" it by taping it across a plain white index card. I pressed the flower down pretty firmly to keep it from getting "icky" under the tape. I also put the date on the back.

Another thing I've done is kept a notebook for her to doodle in. I purchased a matted frame that holds 3 pictures and just cut to size a few of the doodles she made and framed it in her little classroom.

I went to our local print shop and laminated a some of her scribbles and came home and created a few gifts. Big Daddy's (Grandpa) birthday is right around the corner so I made a bookmark out of one of them and I know he will just be tickled!

So inexpensive, yet priceless!

I would love to hear some of your budget-friendly ideas!

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

2008-07-15T23:04:00.002-05:00

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang up my first painting on the refrigerator, and I wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I thought it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I knew that little things are special things.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I believed there is a God I could always talk to.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I felt you kiss me goodnight, and I felt loved.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I LOOKED....and wanted to say thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.

Homemade Cooking

2008-07-14T23:57:00.008-05:00

Whole Wheat Oatmeal Applesauce Waffles

You will need:
1 1/2 Cups of whole wheat flour
1 Cup of quick cook oats
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon (I used a tad more than that!)
pinch of salt (I omitted)
2 eggs, slightly beaten
2 Cups of milk
1/4 Cup and 2 Tbsp. oil (I used chunky style applesauce to cut the fat)
2 Tbsp. brown sugar

In a medium size bowl, sift together flour, oats, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.

In another bowl, stir eggs, milk, oil (or apple sauce), and brown sugar.

Add wet mixture to dry mixture and stir until blended.

Makes 7 waffles

Also, I froze the remaining waffles to be able to pop in the toaster on busy mornings. (Great tip, Megan!)

*I topped with additional chunky style apple sauce for more flavor--

Meet my food critic: Ella Beth, a/k/a "Monkey" :)

MMMM!! The few crumbs that were left told me this recipe was a success!!

Toddler Time

2008-07-14T22:53:00.010-05:00

Tonight Monkey and I made a Froot-Loop Necklace. I thought for the most part I'd be doing most of the "work", but she was a great little helper! We "chatted" about the different colors and everytime I asked for red, she knew which ones were red! I am so proud of her! This will be a great activity to get her more and more familiar with her colors.

Mommy's Little Helper

She was so excited...

and that it was edible!

All you need for this activity is Froot-Loops (or Apple Jacks, Cheerios, etc.) and string!

"The most important seed I can sow in this life is my children, and the love and knowledge that I can bestow upon them and the help I can give them."

Tip Time!

2008-07-14T18:19:00.006-05:00

I usually vacuum my lampshades, but apparently that doesn't do the trick, just check out what a lint roller was able to get!

OH, MY WORD!

This tip is brought to you courtesy of my stack'O'magazines :)

Say No To Clutter!

2008-07-14T17:43:00.011-05:00

I thought I was the original Tip Junkie, but apparently there are many out there like myself that just adore tips and tricks!

Unfortunately, this makes me hold on to tons of magazines and other papers that turn me into a pack-rat according to my husband. But, hey I might need those one day! (I think that might actually be one of the thoughts that define a pack rat but thats beside the point!)

So, I am saying no to clutter and getting organized!

I took an evening to go through each of my magazines, page by page, (dating back to 2006 I might add) and rip out every recipe I wanted to try, every article I wanted to read, every craft I wanted to tackle, etc., and put them in a folder.

It went from this:

To this:

Whew! Isn't that better?

Next step will organizing each page in its own corresponding notebook! And, of course keeping it up as I receive more and more free magazines!

How are you Saying No to Clutter?

4th of July Recap

2008-07-08T23:59:00.017-05:00

Better late than never, I wanted to take a quick second to share the highlights of our 4th!

Hope everyone stayed safe and had a blast!

The Patriotic Pops were a hit!

Crafting with the kids!

The kids (missing one!)

What would fireworks be without jammies and homemade treats!

Who knew glo-necklaces could be so much fun?

The girls!

Looking for ways to beat the heat this summer? Check out Keep'N Kool at Mommy Minded!

(And baby, we sure missed you. It just isn't the same without you here! Thank you for fighting for what we are able to celebrate--our freedom. I love you forever.)

Tackle it Tuesday

2008-07-08T23:18:00.005-05:00

Well, I have been on the look-out for the perfect storage solution for batteries in the junk drawer and I think I've finally found it.

A drawer organizer that I found at the dollar store for a buck =)

What did you tackle today? Show and Tell at 5 Minutes for Mom!

My Favorite Things

2008-07-08T22:57:00.005-05:00

It's that time again over at Fiddledeedee and I'm ready!! I think about how lucky I am to have stumbled upon this everytime I clean up Monkey's toys.

My Under-shelf Organizer!

I got this on clearance at Dollar General a while back. Up until now, its been collecting dust because when I tried to put it in my cabinets, the doors wouldn't shut. (Gee, I wonder why it was on mark-down...)

Not wanting to waste the money, it became the perfect solution to store puzzles! It's just out of reach enough for little hands, but still open to see so she can tell me if she wants them. Perfect!

What is your latest "favorite thing"?

Simple Woman's Daybook

2008-07-08T00:20:00.005-05:00

FOR TODAY: July 8, 2008
Outside My Window...my sunflowers and marigolds are trying their best to grow!
I am thinking...Hubbie will not believe our stockpile.
I am thankful for... Megan, she's been more than "just a sister" to me lately!
From the kitchen...I am soaking my grains thanks to Lindsay!
I am wearing... pj's
I am creating...a Godly Tomato ;)
I am going... to Arizona! yay!
I am reading...blogs mostly, Confessions of an Organized Homemaker, Dr. Oz' book, Dave Ramsey, Bible Study Guide
I am hoping... I can make healthy/organic eating a habit, indefinitely.
I am hearing... New Kids on the Block :)
Around the house... little projects are started everywhere!
One of my favorite things... see through containers!
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Church, Sleepover for the girls, My niece's birthday party, Weekly CVS run
Here is picture thought worth sharing..

Cleaning with Mommy :)

Thrifty Thursday

2008-07-03T23:36:00.008-05:00

It's Thrifty Thursday over at one of my favorite blogs, Comical Coupon Cents. So, here are my finds from our local Just a Dollar yesterday:

The "Seedling Bible" is just precious! This will be great for "Bible time" since it's in story-book form, with lots of pictures, and it actually has little sidenotes which will help me in teaching.

The "Matching Items" is a flip book complete with pics and simple words. Just right for teaching a toddler.

And lastly, my favorite; old-fashioned, good 'ole alphabet blocks. Perfect for teaching colors, letters and words. The backside of the blocks also have shapes!

AND... drumroll, please:

HAIRBOWS! WOW! A buck! I make my daughter's hairbows, but I can barely get the materials for that price! And my little monkey can't seem to keep her white bows "white", so this was definitely an excellent find! (I also might add that in my 'pre-frugal days' I was known to frequent boutiques and buy these for as much as $12 a piece. I'm shaking my head as I type this. YIKES!)

If you have a local $ store, take some time to really stroll the aisles. I mean, really stroll. Some of it is just pure junk, but sometimes there's some really great stuff! Like once I found a "Take Out Menus" accordian file. To some it may be worthless, but for a new mommy it made the perfect baby shower gift! It was a huge hit! (And it was A DOLLAR.)

And start stocking up on little Christmas gifts as you see them, (especially for the kiddoes) because they will be gone! (My sister and I do this all the year through! Saves a lot of stress in December!)

Works for Me Wednesday

2008-07-02T23:22:00.005-05:00

Another one I'm joining in on today is "Works for Me Wednesday" at Rocks in My Dryer! In getting creative for lunch ideas for my monkey, I have come up with this:

The Turkey Dog Train!

And, in keeping with this week's rules, it is definitely 5 ingredients or less! We eat turkey dogs around here, but you could always substitute regular hot dogs, lunchmeat, or whatever- with a little one sometimes ya just have to get creative!

All you will need:

Turkey Dog, cut in half, then lengthwise

Sliced carrots

Cubed cheese

I serve it with wheat crackers, and heres a plus: there's no mess!

(Oh, and you can always make it a longer train, we add fruit, etc. to make it a "meal")

High/Low Game!

2008-07-02T18:29:00.007-05:00

Welcome to the First Edition of the High/Low Game!

(Just like Sunday School or around the dinner table, but in pictures!)

My Low Today:

What $30.00 gives me in gas :(

My High:

Coming home to see that my sister got grocery ads for me :) YAY!!

What was your High/Low today?

If you want to participate, just leave a comment with your blog address and I will be working on a Mr. Linky! Feel free to take the graphic but please link back to me to join in the fun!

Wordless Wednesday

2008-07-02T17:46:00.009-05:00

Brushing Mommy's Hair =)

I love how she's actually chattin' me up like a true stylist ;)

My Favorite Things

2008-07-02T00:44:00.013-05:00

Fiddledeedee hosts a "My Favorite Things" gathering and I'm on board! Get ready for this:

MY LABEL MAKER!!!

This may be viewed as a little OCD to some, but for me, it's a breath of fresh air. I LOVE organization. I NEED organization! So, here we go:

Monkey's Snacks

Fridge

A tub for the ducks at the park with a handle to grab and go. This will come in handy when hubbie comes home, so there's no confusion lol

And last but not least, in my efforts to conserve energy and "go green", it helps to serve as a reminder to UNPLUG the microwave!

(Ok, Megan, your turn!!)

Overseas Coupon Program

2008-07-01T23:13:00.001-05:00

Attention Coupon Clippers! Don't throw those coupons away! There is an awesome program that accepts your coupons (expired, too!!) and distributes them to our military families overseas. Here are a few details from their website:

"Our program serves military families by assisting you to forward "manufacturer's coupons" to overseas military bases. These bundles of coupons are placed on tables, at the PX and Commissary, or handed out for use by military members and families on base. This helps the family save valuable dollars and stretch their budget. The service pay rates are no longer below the poverty level, but they are in no way great. (AINT THAT THE TRUTH!) They appreciate your assistance.

There is no minimum. You'll find that those pesky little pieces of paper add up fast! The average Sunday newspaper contains approximately $125 worth of coupons. Even the smallest donation, when combined with the donations of other individuals, will make a difference in the lives of many military families serving our country overseas.

Expired Coupons?
2 Months Max! Yes expired coupons are accepted.

If you are interested in adopting a base, visit the Overseas Coupon Program here for more information. Be sure and bring this program up at church tomorrow night! You can register as a group or an individual. (This would definitely help on shipping costs.)

I am thrilled to have found this, I think it's a wonderful program!

Teaching in the Home

2008-07-01T21:53:00.002-05:00

Here is our little classroom. I am so proud of this! She just adores it! I chose to put it at the end of our hallway because I know she will focus if all the doors are shut and there are no distractions. She loves to learn!

Our biggest achievement is, "tell mommy what you want". So, Monkey and I have been working on our basics alot lately and I am proud to say she has learned the following in just the past few days!

She says, "I want out." (car)

What does a puppy dog say? "Wuff Wuff"

What does a bear do? "Woar" (complete with claw theatrics)

She knows the color red, or "wed".

Everything this week is a head-shake for yes or an "uhh-uhhhhh" for no! (this is especially at night-night time, lol)

She turns the t.v. off on her own when its time to go bye-bye.

She also narrates her every move. "I turned the t.v. off," "trash", "diaper".

She throws things in the trash on her own!

We had dinner at the park yesterday and she kept saying, "I wanna swing momma." And on our way to the swings, "walk, walk momma!!" (Guess I wasn't going fast enough?)

She goes and gets a diaper and the wipes when I ask her if she went potty. (She knows which is which if you know what I mean!)

So, we will be getting a potty tomorrow! GULP!

Can ya tell I'm a proud mommy?

Tackle it Tuesday!

2008-07-01T21:25:00.002-05:00

When I was a working mommy we just moved "right on in" to our new house. The previous tenant (a little muchkin) had some fun with a permanent marker up and down the hallway! I heard that toothpaste would remove it from our wood (ick) paneling (ick, ick). So I decided to tackle it and it worked!!

Toothpaste, ya say? We got plenty of that! (Thank you, CVS, lol)

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Did you tackle something today? Post it over at Five Minutes for Mom!

My Bucket List!

2008-07-01T17:25:00.001-05:00

Megan turned me on to The Apron Queen's Bucket List and I wanted to join in on the fun! So, with a little thought, this is what I've come up with:

1) Visit Pennsylvania (where my family immigrated)
2) Go to a Cubs game at Wrigley Field with my dad
3) Ride in a hot air balloon
4) Take my dad to Chadron, Nebraska
5) Go somewhere tropical with my husband and NO AGENDA!
5) Spend an entire day baking with my mom
6) Go to a live taping of Paula's Party
7) Have a natural water birth
8) Take Monkey to Disneyworld
9) Go to a live taping of SNL with my brother

10) Have a vegetable garden and get everything I need from it

And to change it up a bit, here are some things that would have been on my list, but I've done ;)

1) Write my family history (book)
2) Walk the streets of my ancestors
3) Change my own breaks ;) this is a biggie because I'm a girly-girl!
4) Change a tire by myself

This is one of those things that will get me thinkin' for days and I will probably add to it! What's on your list?

Where does the time go?

2008-06-29T12:39:00.000-05:00

"I write you letters by the thousands in my thoughts"
Ludwig van Beethoven

I hope one day you know how much I love you Monkey, and how I cherish every moment of every day with you. You mean everything to me.

Edible Finger Paint!

2008-06-29T01:48:00.002-05:00

This weekend we had our Fourth of July at GiGi and Big Daddy's and the girls had a blast in the pool and playing with all the new toys that Big Daddy spoiled them with.

I made the girls edible finger paint and it went a little something like this:

Hanlee was not a fan of the lime! lol

Quick Clean-Up!

Mommies, if you want the recipe you can find it at Kids Crafts 101 here.