Pure Joy

Menu Plan Monday - April 7

purelydelightful@gmail.com (Delighted) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:46:00 +0000

So...yesterday was my birthday! It was a great day that began with me picking my husband up from the airport after he was away for a whole week! (that's why I didn't have a menu last week.) We decided to go for my birthday lunch at our local restaurant that's famous for free birthday meals. Yum! Finally to bring the day to a slow close, we drove to a nearby town for my husband's first outdoor soccer game of the season. It was a bit cold for me, but I always enjoy watching nonetheless!

You're probably not here to hear me talk about my birthday are you? Okay, on to the menu!

Monday: BBQ flavored ribs in the slow cooker (I actually use pork chops)
Tuesday: BBQ beef stirfry thing (the recipe is out of my new Kraft's What's Cooking)
Wednesday: Chicken pot pie (I'll be making two so I have one to freeze)
Thursday: The famous weekly requested Stirfry
Friday: Greek chicken, Greek salad, potatoes

Today I will also be making some buns and I'll be trying a new recipe for chicken burritos to put in the freezer for lunches.

For more wonderful menus go to I'm an Organizing Junkie!

Magnesium - It Helps you Sleep!

purelydelightful@gmail.com (Delighted) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 04:01:00 +0000

I've heard that magnesium especially combined with calcium can help you sleep! So... I did a bit of research and found that this is true!

I quite often have trouble sleeping. Not so much falling asleep, but staying asleep! On a bad night I wake up about every hour. It's really quite frustrating! Especially when I know that sleep is a blessing from God! He wants us to rest and sleep!

Apparently magnesium helps induce sleep. A deficiency in magnesium can cause nervousness that obviously, makes it hard to sleep. Also, if you happen to wake up in the middle of the night with your leg in a painful cramp, magnesium could be the answer! So eat your bananas, almonds and cashews!

Calcium too, can aid in a better sleep, especially when contained in food. Sometimes before bed, I like to heat up a glass of milk and add a bit of honey and vanilla. Yum!

Now I guess I'll be off to take some calcium and magnesium!

Do you have any sleeping tricks that work for you?

Do I need to Have a Title?

purelydelightful@gmail.com (Delighted) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:27:00 +0000

Don't worry, I'm still around! (I'm sure you weren't worried!) I just don't have much to say for myself! I've been working full days at the golf course, coming home tired, then trying to be a good wife by keeping the house tidy and a home cooked meal on the table! Obviously, blogging has been on the lower end of my priority list!

I don't even have a menu for this week! (I've got good reasons.) But I did manage to accomplish a lot this past weekend. Saturday started out early with my garage sale. I must admit I think it was a great success! It really amazes me what people will buy and how much those things add up! I only came home with a few boxes that I hope to try selling again when my Mom has a garage sale. My Aunt and my Mom set up a great system for selling my Grandma's stuff. They gave each item a sticker, either red, blue or yellow. Then my Aunt printed out a few signs stating what the price of each sticker colour meant. Either .25 or .50 cents or $1. It was great!

Sunday I tried to relax but ended up doing a bit of laundry in the afternoon. I can't help it, I think it's a problem!

Monday I really allowed myself to go crazy. I managed to vacuum, wash to floors, clean both bathrooms, put the laundry away, get groceries, take in some clothes to a consignment shop, bake some cookies, make a couple of freezer meals, and did the dishes! No wonder I was tired yesterday! But I always feel great on days like that.

Today, I managed to have a most boring day, at work even! I think what makes boring days at work not fun, it the fact I always think about the stuff I could be doing at home! Mind you, I don't remember the last time I had a boring day and most days at work I'm super busy. Today just happened to be a training day for one of the new guys. I was in charge of training and looking after him for the entire day. But he was a guick learner!

Other than that I've been enjoying life, and trying to learn all that God is teaching me lately!

Making Our Home a Haven

purelydelightful@gmail.com (Delighted) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:30:00 +0000

Well, I thought I would join in on today's Making Your Home a Haven! Our home was in dire need of cleaning! Last week I started back to work but also ended up with a bad cold. (At least it wasn't the flu like Crystal, that was a few weeks ago for me!) Needless to say, not much got done around the house besides someone feeling sorry for themself, ahem.

Over the weekend I was able to clear out a whole bunch of boxes and odd and sods out of our spare room in preparation for the garage sale we're having at my Grandma's this coming weekend. We can actually walk properly in that room now!

With that out of the way, today I am able to get a lot done! So far I have cleaned both bathrooms, vacuumed, planned this weeks menu, bought the groceries, did the dishes, started the laundry, and finally, started dinner in the crockpot! Now I'm taking a break by blogging!

After I'm done my break, I would like to cut up some veggies to put into individual baggies as these are great for my lunches now that I'm working. I would also like to bake a batch of cookies using my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe! If I'm really on top of it, there's this closet upstairs that's bugging me...we'll see!

Menu Plan Monday - March 24

purelydelightful@gmail.com (Delighted) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:30:00 +0000

Another week, another menu! I only have one meal to carry over this week! I ended up with a bad cold on top of starting work again so there was one night we just fended for ourselves! This week we will be eating a lot of chicken apparently. I'll show you:

Monday: Sesame chicken, rice, veggies

Tuesday: Stirfry (my husband requests this at least once a week!)

Wednesday: Chicken Kabobs, greek salad, rice?

Thursday: BBQ porkchops in slow cooker, veggies, rice again?

Friday: Chicken pot pie

There you have it! For more menu ideas visit I'm an Organizing Junkie!

Super Savings Saturday!

purelydelightful@gmail.com (Delighted) — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 04:00:00 +0000

(please excuse the poor photo quality, it was night time!)

I can actually post something! My Canadian deals! You can bet when I find something like these on sale I will grab them because it seems as though I'm forever going to baby showers! The onesie and the 'Cute' shirt were only 94 cents! Each! That's a deal up here! All the other items were 1.99 from the Children's Place.

I figure I've got enough clothing here for a few gifts. I, of course, will add other items to the packages to make the gift a bit more substantial. I'm pretty happy about these deals!

If you would like to see more deals visit Money Saving Mom!

Frugal Friday - Gardening Tips!

purelydelightful@gmail.com (Delighted) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 06:21:00 +0000

My tulips are starting to poke through the ground and yesterday was the first official day of Spring! Woo hoo! Since I'm so excited about gardening this year, I thought I would devote this post to frugal gardening tips! (for more great frugal tips visit Biblical Womanhood)

But since I'm suffering from a bad cold (my first one since last summer!) I've gathered most of my ideas from various sites and magazines.

Grow a container garden. I like to grow tomatoes and herbs in containers. Also, planting a group of containers with annuals create a great effect!
Use perennials. These are more expensive initially, but you do not have to replace them every year, thus saving money in the long run. I started to do this with my garden last year. I need to buy a couple more plants to fill it in, but in the mean time I will add some annuals for color.
Start your own plants with seeds. Now is a good time to do this. My mom only uses seeds to plant her carrots, green beans...etc.
Buy garden and landscape materials in bulk and split with your neighbors. A load of topsoil, mulch or sand is way cheaper than a bagged materials.
Feed banana peels to your roses. The potassium in the peels is great for them. Just push them into the soil at the base of the plant.
Before filling a large container full of dirt, add a plastic shopping bag full of foam packing material to the bottom. You will need less dirt, provides a great draining system, and the container will be easier to lift! (We do this at the golf course where I work)
Put up a pin wheel or two in your strawberries to keep the birds and chipmunks at bay.
Make your own compost. A great free way to nourish your plants.
Turn a heavy duty container into a rain water catcher. Scoop out buckets of water.
Ask neighbors for a part of they're perennial. Since most perennials spread, I'm sure a neighbor won't mind digging up a portion of their plant. My mom has received numerous plants this way. I've also received some from the golf course that were just going to be thrown out!

So, there you have it! A few of my ideas mixed with others I thought were neat!

What do you do to save money on your gardening?

Wordless Wednesday - Paris, Las Vegas

purelydelightful@gmail.com (Delighted) — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 04:26:00 +0000

Menu Plan Monday - Do I Have to Cook?

purelydelightful@gmail.com (Delighted) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 04:15:00 +0000

Tomorrow's the day. The day, I start back to work for the season. The days where I will eventually be waking up at 4am and going to bed when it's still light out. Bliss... ok, I lied. Even though I am a morning person, this is still a stretch for me most days! Knowing that I will be very tired after working outside in the fresh air all day, I tried to plan an 'easy' menu. But I'm pretty excited about it because I think everything is going to be tasty!

Monday: Funky chicken, salad
Tuesday: Goulash
Wednesday: possibly grilled cheese and tomato soup
Thursday: Asian beef rice bowls
Friday: Sesame chicken (slow cooker), rice, veggies

Goulash (courtesty of The Grocery Cart Challenge)

1 lb ground beef
½ green bell pepper chopped
1 medium onion chopped
2 cloves garlic chopped
½ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 can tomato soup
1 can water
1 cup cheese
½ cup rice or elbow macaroni

Brown beef and drain the fat. Add bell pepper, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper to taste. Add soup, water and soy sauce. Put lid on a simmer for 20 minutes. Then add a little more water and either rice or macaroni. Simmer with lid for 15 minutes, stir. Add cheese to the top. Take off stove and keep lid on until cheese melts. Serve with bread and vegetables. Serves 4.

For more menu ideas check out I'm an Organizing Junkie!

Spring Cleaning my Computer

purelydelightful@gmail.com (Delighted) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:13:00 +0000

I'm not sure about you, but I tend to make my computer pretty cluttered in a year. I have an abundant supply of photos that I have taken, more e-books than I know what to do with, and many sites favorited that I'm not quite sure why I favorited in the first place.

So...I commence my Spring cleaning. (Don't worry, I also spring clean my home.) Yesterday, I started to put all my photos onto my jump drive so that I can delete them off the computer. I really take a lot of pictures! Mostly of my cards right now though! I will also be taking this jump drive to a photo developing place (Walmart) to get our vacation pictures developed, finally.

While I'm at Walmart, I think I'll get my ink cartridges refilled so that I can print off the e-books I have. They're not very useful to me just sitting on my computer!

As for all my Internet favorites, I will be going through them all, ditching the ones I don't like anymore, then finally categorizing the ones I have left. Like recipes, household tips, inspiration...etc!

I'm even going to be defragmenting my computer. This should actually be done once a month, but I'm bad that way.

You know what else? I think I'll lug out the old vacuum and try to get all the dust out from in between the keys!

Do you Spring clean your computer?

Ramblin's

purelydelightful@gmail.com (Delighted) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 05:08:00 +0000

(Just a card I made!)

Since I'm not too sure what to write about these days, I thought I would just give you a mix of everything!

I got 'the call' from my boss at the golf course. The one telling me I can start anytime. I could have started today but he knows how much I dislike raking all twenty seven holes on the golf course. He was kind enough to let me start next Monday. (He is the best boss ever!) So, I've been livin' it up over here! Enjoying my finall week of fully devoting myself to my home. Living it up to me is you know, cooking, cleaning, a bit of yard work, and making tons of cards. Just call me crazy!

I've actually been a little tense about starting back up at the golf course. Don't get me wrong, this job is the best job I could ask for, for myself. I guess my priorities have been changing, that's all. It all started to change the day I got married! My priority has changed from being totally self seeking, to what's best for my husband. That best is being able to prepare his meals, and do the housework. That's how he likes to be shown love! He is my priority now! I guess the fact that I have to go back to work made me worry about not being able to do those things to the extent that I would like. I'm kinda an all or nothing girl. Unfortunately, it's not an option for me to stay at home all year if we would like to purchase a home in our ridiculous market. Fortunately though, I will only be working four days a week instead of five. Getting up at 4am everyday really does something to the will that wants to get things done!

This week I've also been doing a bunch of baking. Cookies, buns, will be doing some banana bread, to make things a bit easier when I start back. I've also made a lasagna for the freezer and will be making some burritos for easy grab and go lunches. I'd still like to make a couple of chicken dishes. Mainly just throw in a marinade.

I did a little bit of yard work today and noticed that our tulips are starting to poke through! Spring is here! I can't wait to start planting beautiful flowers! I'm still excited to plant a vegetable garden too. I'm also excited because we will be getting a smaller deep freezer and a nice patio set from my Grandma!! (She moved into a senior living home so will not be needing them anymore!) We also received a new BBQ for Christmas from Jesse's Dad. We are so ready for summer!

I think that's enough rambling for one day. Off to bed now!

Menu Plan Monday - March 10

purelydelightful@gmail.com (Delighted) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:33:00 +0000

I almost forgot to post our menu! At least I didn't forget to make one yesterday. This week I'm going to be making a couple of extra things for the sole purpose of freezing. I got word from my boss at the golf course that I can start anytime. I opted to start next Monday. I'm anticipating that the freezer meals will come in very handy as I'm quite often very tired after a long day working outside.

Monday: Fettucine Alfredo, garlic buns
Tuesday: Quesadillas (from last week)
Wednesday: Stir-fry
Thursday: Alice Springs Chicken, veggies, rice
Friday: Crock pot Garlic rosemary chicken, mashed potatoes, salad

I'm planning on making a bunch of burritos to put in the freezer which will make great lunches while I'm at work. I also made a lasagna on the weekend which is in the freezer waiting for a lazy day.

Do you have any recipes that are great freezer meals?

Ultimate Blog Party 2008!

purelydelightful@gmail.com (Delighted) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 01:38:00 +0000

Welcome! Let's get this party started! (Now's the time to dance like the girls in the banner. oh to have nice flowy dancy hair!) But first let me introduce myself.

My name is Taya. I have been blogging since December 2006. (wow...it's been over a year?) I can honestly say that it's still addicting!

I have been working for the last 7 years at a local golf course here in Canada on the grounds crew. It's probably the best job outside the home for me! (Although I am most comfortable being at home since getting married.) I couldn't ask for a better boss and the people that normally work there are fantastic. But besides that I get to ride really big expensive lawn mowers and I get to be dirty! No fancying myself up for this job!

I believe it was September 2002 that I ventured out on my very first long period away from home. I was accepted to do a Discipleship Training School with YWAM (Youth With a Mission) in Brisbane, Australia for 6 months. I must say that those were very fun, challenging, and growing times! As part of the mission part of the school, I went to Ethiopia for 8 weeks. What an eye opener! Those people are so blessed in spirit! I will never be the same.

My blog, Pure Joy, was named after a verse in the bible, James 1:2-4

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. "

I absolutely love this verse and remember it whenever I am under going a difficult time! Difficult times are a blessing to me because then I know that God is doing a good thing in me and I will come out victorious! That is Pure Joy to me!

September 8, 2007 was the day that changed my life forever. Definitely for the better I might add! I married my sweetheart that beautiful day! I'm thoroughly enjoying myself. I've been trying to embrace the challenges that marriage brings but believe we will both be the better for it! God is good.

You will find lots of pictures in my blog for Wordless Wednesdays, ways I'm attempting to be frugal, and also how I'm learning to make our house a home!

I would also like to invite you to have a look over at my new blog Happygiggles, it's devoted entirely to my love of creating greeting cards! So if you love homemade cards go and take a peek!

Now I think I've written too much and we need to get back to the party end of things! Have fun!

To get back to 5 Minutes for Mom click here!

Frugal Friday - Garage Sale Tips

purelydelightful@gmail.com (Delighted) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 17:12:00 +0000

I've had garage sales on my mind for the past couple of weeks because the sun has been shining and the snow is almost melted! I'm ready for Spring! On Wednesday, I posed a question for Shannon's Works for me Wednesday backwards editions. I wanted all the tips I could get for having my own garage sale! It's amazing the amount of stuff that can accumulate even after only 6 months of marriage! (Mostly my stuff too!)

Anyways, at the end of that post, I said I would compile all the great answers into a new post and link back to each commenter. So here you have all the wonderful tips I was given! (Feel free to add more!)

Craig's list is a great way to sell the bigger ticket items and to advertise for your yard sale. by Awesome Mom
get a pack of those dot stickers, and assign every color a price - and post the list of prices on your garage, along with "will negotiate." by anonymous
Price things low and offer deals on matching sets of things. I also agree to put up signs that say "will negotiate". And start early... people who are big into garage sales start early, around 8 am. by Abbey
I would say make sure that the prices are low enough to make people want to buy things. Also, rather than pricing things individually, put out tables where everything is $.50 or $1.00 etc. It makes your job preparing the yard sale a lot easier. by Britni
I would use Craig's List for the big items. If you are having a yard sale borrow tables so that everything is up high so people can see it easily. Hang all clothes. Price everything and remember that it is a yard sale, people aren't willing to pay close to full price even if things are like new. Use big bright signs and have lots of small change. By The Happy Housewife
Also, you might want to consider asking friends to bring their stuff to sale. It has been my experience that everyone does better if there is more to sale. We have just put our initials on the price tag and kept a running list when people are paying and just write CC 1.00 or DD .50 then divide it up at the end of the day. I would advertise in the paper and indicate that you have furniture or whatever big ticket items. Also, we never do anything less than .25. Makes change easier. My friends and I have a sale twice a year and usually do well. Good luck! By Amanda (no link)
depends on your aim...do you want to get good money, or do you just want the stuff gone?If you want to make good money...stick to your pricing and don't be too easy to negotiate with. If you want it gone, being willing to negotiate, be willing to group things, price a bit lower.Bigger ticket...sell privately if you can.. Craig's list, kijiji, As to when to start...EARLY!. around here...people start coming at 7 a.m. Best sales I find are between 7-10 a.m.My general rule of thumb is put things that are alike together. Group in such a way that you know what you just want gone, put a price tag of half to a third more than what you think you can get for it... and if someone looks interested, but unsure say...hey... want to make a deal on that? Stuff that you are less willing to just "get rid of", put that off a bit so you know what's what and put a reasonable price on it and stick to that until at least 1000 a.m. THEN negotiate. By Annette
contrary to the happy housewife's advice, i would put the "large ticket items" out at your sale as well.i have found that if you have a ton of tables full of little stuff, it won't sell as well as it does at a sale with a ton of tables of little stuff AND a bunch of big stuff. it's like people come and say "oh, they have good stuff, i need to get whatever i can..."i know that if I'm at a sale with good stuff, i have a couple of friends that i call to let them know!we have had the best luck in a neighborhood yard sale - everyone has one on the same day, so advertising costs are shared and the traffic is MUCH higher.keep a smiling face on all day - and negotiate, but don't let yourself be pressured into giving up stuff for less than you want. although any money for it is good when it's just been taking up your space.have a money apron on so that you have change right with you so that if you're not at your central table, you can still make that deal right there.hoard grocery bags for a little while so that you have some to give away. just a little thing that makes people like your sale, and maybe tell someone else. we always sell food as well - krispy kreme doughnuts for a quarter, or free with any purchase over $5. go in with friends. i never have a sale just by myself - at least three friends. that way, there's more stuff. and more variety. if it's just a baby clothes sale, it's not going to generate as much traffic as baby clothes, furniture, books, tools, knick knacks, etc... By lifesamama
Over our many many moves, I have had oodles of yard sales. ADVERTISE!!! Even simple things like brightly colored signs on your main crossroads can make a huge difference. I tend to price things fairly low and keep the prices until mid morning. Yes, I will allow bargaining, but not too much right away, because the sale is just getting started. You really do not need to have a long sale either, 4 hours or so from 8-12 should do it. Unless you can get in on a neighborhood sale, then stay open longer. It can help to say that everything will be half price the last hour too, if you really want to move things. I have to keep telling myself that I do NOT want these things anymore and the point is to get rid of them and so therefore, be willing to take lower prices than you had originally intended. I love to find a great deal at yard sales, and like to see others walk away from mine feeling like they scored a treasure too! Happy Sale-ing! By Tina in Thailand (no link)
I always have a huge sale with as many friends as I can. We each have our OWN color dot (so we don't have to use initials). We each put a dot on the item that represents the family selling the item, then write the price on the dot. Then you keep a sheet with a color dot at the top of each column to keep a running total for each couple. By Kilikina

So there you have all the wonderful tips! One more I read somewhere: Try to have one of the first garage sales in your city. All the bargain hunters will be raring to go after having the winter off!

Stop by Biblical Womanhood for more fabulous money saving ideas!

Works for Me Wednesday - Backwards Edition!

purelydelightful@gmail.com (Delighted) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 05:52:00 +0000

So this week at Rocks in My Dryer is a backwards edition of Works for Me Wednesday! I've so got a question you could answer! Well, actually I know you all will have great tips for me!

Even though I've only been married for 6 months (that long already?) we have accumulated a large amount of stuff. Right now all this stuff is in a closet in the spare room. This stuff consists of good quality items that we have upgraded in our home. Thanks to our generous wedding guests, we were able to get rid of hand me downs. (By "get rid of", I mean put into said closet!)

As we're approching Spring here, I'd like to have a yard sale in the next few weeks. Sooo...my question is do you have any tips that would help me in selling these items? How about any tips for selling those bigger ticket items that have only been used a couple of times? (These were not gifts)

Thanks so much! If I get enough tips, I think I'll compile them into a post linking back to you, the commenters!

Wordless Wednesday - Venice, Las Vegas

purelydelightful@gmail.com (Delighted) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 05:52:00 +0000

For more Wordless Wednesday's visit 5 Minutes for Mom!

Menu Plan Monday - March 3rd

purelydelightful@gmail.com (Delighted) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 06:42:00 +0000

What a weekend! I knew this weekend was going to be busier than normal, but I never factored in the fact that I would get food poisoning! This is not a good thing to have the night before you're suposed to help your Grandmother move! Well at least I got to relax after that! (Really, I mean lazy!)

Since I'm feeling much better, I guess I'm not off the hook for making dinner this week!

Monday: Stirfry

Tuesday: Almond Chicken, veggies, rice

Wednesday: Lasagna (carried over from last week)

Thursday: Pesto Pasta

Friday: Chicken Quesadillas

If you would like more menu ideas check out I'm an Organizing Junkie!

Frugal Friday - Clear containers

purelydelightful@gmail.com (Delighted) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:58:00 +0000

This tip I've learned from my Mom. After dinner she would always put leftovers in a clear container. Her reason being that if you can see what's in the container you're more likely to eat it! This saves a lot of money on the grocery bill! I find myself doing this now. Actually all the containers I have are clear. I have no excuse to let something go bad!

If you would like some more frugal tips visit Crystal at Biblical Womanhood.

I Think I'm Ready

purelydelightful@gmail.com (Delighted) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:44:00 +0000

So those of you who frequent my little place on the web, must know that I love to make cards. Just recently my desire to make even more cards has been reignited. I have to blame it on a website called Split Coast Stampers. The members in the forum have inspired me to create at least a card a day for the past week.

Anyways, the point of this post is to let you all know that I have created another blog devoted to my card creations! It's called Happygiggles. I've wanted to try out wordpress so that's why it's there. Oh, I will still be posting here!

So, would you mind checking it out? I won't make you. :)

My Favorite Dinner Rolls!

purelydelightful@gmail.com (Delighted) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:44:00 +0000

Since I'm making these dinner rolls right now, I thought I would share the recipe with you all! (Actually, my bread maker is making the dough for me!) It's really easy and I happen to think they're pretty tasty! At least that's what my husband and my Dad told me! Also that fact that I don't eat a lot of bread but I love to eat these ones means you should really give them a try!

The Best Bread Machine Rolls

3 cups flour
3 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup dry milk powder
1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast

1. Place the bread flour, sugar, salt, milk powder, water, butter, and yeast in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Set on Dough cycle; press Start.
2. Remove risen dough from the machine, deflate, and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into twelve equal pieces, and form into rounds. Place the rounds on lightly greased baking sheets. Cover the rolls with a damp cloth, and let rise until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

3. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown.

My notes: I can usually make about 18 smaller rolls with this recipe. I bake them for about 12-14 minutes, just keep your eye on them. Also, this time I used 1 cup of whole wheat flour instead of one cup all purpose flour, still 3 cups in total. (This is a first so I'm not sure how they will turn out.)

I hope you enjoy these! Let me know!

Wordless Wednesday - To Brighten Your Day

purelydelightful@gmail.com (Delighted) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 06:51:00 +0000

I Take Pride in My Home!

purelydelightful@gmail.com (Delighted) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 02:09:00 +0000

I've been reading Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney and I'm thoroughly enjoying it! I would encourage you to read it! It's very thought provoking for me.

One part in particular has really touched me recently. Carolyn is talking about our home being a home for God, meaning our home can actually be a showcase for the gospel! Carolyn also goes on to quote this from Peter Marshall, former chaplain of the senate.

"I was privileged, in the spring, to visit a home that was to me - and I amsure to the occupants- a little bit of Heaven. There was beauty there. There was a keen appreciation of the finer things of life, and an atmosphere in which it was impossible to keep from thinking of God.

The room was bright and white and clean, as well as cozy. There were many windows. Flowers were blooming in pots and vases, adding their fragrance and beauty. Books lined one wall - good books - inspiring and instructive - good book - good friends. Three bird cages hung in the brightness and color of this beautiful sanctuary, and the songsters voiced their appreciation by singing as if their little throats would burst.

Nature's music, nature's beauty - nature's peace...It seemed to me a kind of Paradise that had wandered down, an enchanted oasis - home."

Carolyn emphasized 'an atmosphere in which it was impossible to keep from thinking of God'. After reading this, I picked up my pace and felt a whole new desire to make my home a haven for my husband and whoever may enter through the doors. I try to carefully decorate it, clean it and cook in it. I'm taking pride in my home. Our home isn't even worthy of being in a beautiful magazine and is definitely cozy but we live here, and I'm very happy and blessed.

Menu Plan Monday - Feb 25-29

purelydelightful@gmail.com (Delighted) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:22:00 +0000

Another week is upon us! Yay! (Just trying to sound excited about it being Monday) I must admit, I'm going to have it pretty easy this week! Let me show you:

Monday: Peanut Chicken Pasta
Tuesday: Out!! (we're using a gift certificate we've had for awhile now!)
Wednesday: Perogies, sausage, and salad
Thursday: Last weeks homegroup dinner got cancelled due to the flu, so we're doing it this week instead! I'll still be baking some buns to bring.
Friday: Lasagna (a new recipe for me!)

So there you have it! Oh yeah, last weeks chicken noodle soup never got made so, I'll be making it for lunch today. For more tasty menu ideas, check out I'm an Organizing Junkie!

The Dahlia Fold

purelydelightful@gmail.com (Delighted) — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:37:00 +0000

*Update: I've had a request for the instructions but I don't think I could give you very good ones so I'll just send you to the website that helped me! Here it is! *

I found this 'new to me' technique I was dying to try so I went over to my parents and grabbed everything I thought I might need. (My Mom and I keep all of our stamping stuff at her house because she has more room.) This is called the dahlia fold technique and was actually quite simple and would have been even easier if I had used a thinner paper instead of a cardstock. I decided to keep the rest of the card pretty simple so that the flower would remain the focus.

So... What do you think?

I'm So Happy!

purelydelightful@gmail.com (Delighted) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:34:00 +0000

This is a picture I took while on our holidays to Las Vegas!

This week, the weather has been amazing. The sun has been shining everyday since we've been back! The snow is melting, and the air is still crisp but refreshing! Now, I can almost guarantee that it will not last and we will receive new snow, but for now, I'm trying to enjoy the sun! I'm amazed at how happy I am with the sun shining!

The sun has been making me quite productive. I've managed to finish all of our 10 million loads of laundry. It's even all put away! (I have no problem washing and drying laundry, it's the folding and putting away!) I've actually found a new technique that works for me. I fold the laundry as I pull it out of the dryer instead of just throwing it all into a heap in the basket. For some reason this makes it seem easier to put away!

I've also managed to organized two closets in our home, the coat closet and the closet that holds everything. (Broom, snow shovels, recycling, gardening supplies, tools, pantry items...etc.) Sure feels great to get these done! Although, I would like to invest in some sort of storage unit for outside where I can store all my gardening supplies and small planters.

This brings me to my next thought. I'm really excited for this year's gardening season. Here at our home, I only have room for planters and one small flower bed that I've been filling with perennials. My Mom has quite a large garden at her home and will be allowing me to have a corner or so where I can grow my own produce! I'm pretty excited about this! I'd like to plant some carrots, green beans (maybe for pickling), snap peas, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, strawberries, and much more! I'm sure we will just end up sharing the entire garden. My Mom already has a raspberry bush and a blackberry bush that grow an abundant crop! With all this gardening, I'm pretty sure I'll be learning how to can which I'm also excited about!

I sure hope I won't get sick of gardening because my job at the golf course also entails a lot of gardening! I'll have to remember to take some photos of the flower beds we do this year. There's probably about 20 flower beds I have to plant and upkeep!

I should probably get on with my productive week. Next on the list: wash the floors and deliver mail to the mail box!

If you have a garden, what's your favorite thing to grow?