This Simple Home

Favorite Five #20

noreply@blogger.com (Annette {This Simple Home}) — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:43:00 +0000

Last weekend was a lot of fun for our family...and the week has gone well, too! Lots of blessings...

1. Strawberries. Picking strawberries as a family and making strawberry freezer jam for our family and as gifts. The teachers really appreciated it, too!

2. Many Hands. Saturday morning while Little Sis napped the rest of us filled the wagon and wheelbarrow with cut grass from our yard. (The cuttings were just getting worse and worse, and we have an acre of land...) It was a very enjoyable time while we worked together.

3. The First Fire. Saturday night we also had our first fire of the season. We have a portable fire pit that we enjoy every so often during the summer months. We had our first s'mores and Little Sis had her first graham cracker. (She took it from my hand and ate the entire thing...or at least what was not on her face, her clothing, and me.)

4. My Mother's Day Gift. I am enjoying my Kindle Fire, but for reasons you might not suspect. You can read the full story here.

5. Friends' Visits. I invite friends over somewhat regularly during the day, and occasionally (not often!) we have friends over at night or the weekends. This week two friends visited during the day and a friend of my husband's was able to come for dinner. It was especially nice to see my husband's friend...first time since 2002!

How was your week? Come share the good stuff over at Living to Tell the Story.
~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

A Thoughtful Gift

noreply@blogger.com (Annette {This Simple Home}) — Thu, 24 May 2012 15:14:00 +0000

I've been a mom since 2006. This was my best Mother's Day, by far. In the past, this day has passed nearly unnoticed much of the time. It wasn't because I preferred it to be unnoticed...it just was.

That may be why this year I was taken by surprise. Not only did my dear husband give me a lovely card, but he gave me a thoughtful gift, too.

The excitement began nearly two weeks before Mother's Day. Derek told me he was expecting an Amazon package, and I was not to open it. (Yes, we open each other's mail and packages; don't you?)

Brother-3, Little Sis- now 7 months, and Big Sis-5

Then, the day before Mother's Day, the children and Derek brought home some flowers for me. Later in the day, he told me he would be locked in our room for a while. He was upstairs for quite some time. Then he went to the basement for wrapping paper!

A couple days before Sunday, I finally realized that we could, without too much stress, attempt to go out to lunch as a family. Pizza is my favorite food. Pizza shops are not busy on Mother's Day. So I suggested that we do this. (Please note that during 2011, even before the baby was born, we only went out to eat as a family once (by choice...traveling doesn't count). It's just not something that we do. In the past it wasn't fun, and we tend to be too frugal.

On Sunday after church we decided to go to a pizza shop at the other end of town. It's far enough away that the pizza is cold by the time we get it home for take-out, so despite the tasty food, we do not buy pizza there much. It was an enjoyable and quick lunch with the family.

Upon arrival home, we settled down. I turned my head as my husband collected the Big Kids to make a card for me. Then he gave me a gift that really shocked me.

A Kindle Fire. It surprised me for many reasons, cost being the biggie. (It is my anniversary and birthday gift, as well, and I don't mind!) But the best part is that Derek thought it out. Not only that, he also prepared it for use as soon as it was unwrapped!

You see, Derek has had an iTouch (like an iPod from my understanding, but maybe different?) for a while from work. I never used it. Then Little Sis was born. She was literally awake most of the night, each night, for the first month, maybe two. (It's all a blur.) At night, I used his iTouch to catch up on blog reading and emails. I was also able to keep up with my reading through the Bible in a year with it, even if I don't recall anything from the last two months of the year. I played a word game. Really, that little device kept me mostly sane with a screaming baby on my shoulder. (In case you didn't figure it out, we do not have smart phones, nor are they in our plan to get them. We happily pay $7 a month for our cell phones and have plenty of talk time for us, and Derek even does the occasional text.)

I asked Derek what made him get me the Kindle Fire, he commented on how I enjoy the iPod, even if I only use it during the middle of the night. It probably saved my mind, so that may be a bit of an understatement. I don't think we even discussed e-readers as something we might purchase someday.

How do I like my new device? I ♥ it! I use it for various web browsing, blog reading, emails, weather, and such. Some of the apps are fun (or useful), too. I will likely never write a blog post on it (or more than a handful of sentences), but I really like it! It is also an e-reader, so I have several free books downloaded. I don't think I will ever prefer to read books on it, but I am kind of reading a book now...kind of. (If it wasn't an e-reader, I would still like it. My Kindle Fire's main purpose is not as an e-reader.) And who knows? Maybe I will read the 40 Louisa May Alcott books that are all free...someday. I will take advantage of free books when I see something of interest though. I also like that I can listen to the Bible for free. (Audio Bibles are costly.)

Oh, and now that my Big Kids know how to play Tic Tac Toe on paper, they love playing on the Kindle Fire. It's a real, and rare treat!

I have not spent any money on games, apps, or books, but it is still a very versatile device that I mostly enjoy for web-browsing. I would definitely recommend it for people, like us, who share a laptop but sometimes want something a bit more portable without the expense of a tablet like an iPad. (In our home Apple products are not allowed, but really we wouldn't likely buy any brand of tablet.) It is definitely not just an e-reader.

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

For the Horse Lover...

noreply@blogger.com (Annette {This Simple Home}) — Thu, 24 May 2012 09:00:00 +0000

Recently a box of goodies arrived on our front steps from Schiffer Books. I'm not even a "horse person" but I was drawn to both of these picture books immediately. (Nor am I against horses...) Actually, both titles take place on the well-known Chincoteague Island, too.

Told in rhyme, Wild Colt tells the story of a wild pony on Chincoteague Island in Virginia and is written by Lois Szymanski. The colt lives among the wild life on the island with its mom. We enjoyed the simple story and especially the realistic, yet simple illustrations by Linda Kantjas. I was taken by surprise by the end of the story when the pony is sold at auction. Upon the second reading, the front cover flap was explored, and I learned that on Chincoteague Island there is an annual Pony Penning auction. This helped me to understand the story's context and appreciate it so much more!

"Rooting, finding

Milk so warm

Tail is switching

Flies that swarm"

I also appreciated all of the other wildlife included in the story-text and illustrations. In the back of Wild Colt, the reader also finds a (brief) wetland creature guide, as well as some wetland facts and a brief discussion guide.

P.L. Caudle penned the other book that captured my attention: The Tale of Strawberry Snow. Also with rhyming text, this title tells the tale of a white horse with red freckles called Strawberry Snow. Strawberry Snow is born on Chincoteague Island and exits her barn to see the big blue sky. She quickly finds a friend in Oliver, a spider who lives in the wood box who braves the cold winter. The ending is rather sweet.

"And to this very day,

Strawberry Snow plays

Near the web in the bin

Where Oliver stays."

We really enjoy this book. Personally, I would prefer the illustrations to be created in only one style. Digitally created (according to the book flap) by Frank H. Simmonds, IV, the landscape and barn are soft, beautiful images. However, the creatures of the story, Strawberry Snow, her mother, and Oliver the spider, are all very much cartoonish, complete with bold, black outlines around them. I found this contrast within the illustrations rather distracting, though the targeted audience of preschool through grade 3 likely wouldn't mind. It also helps to draw attention to the animals of the story, which can be a good thing. (Strawberry Snow also has pale blue eyes that seem a bit odd and unrealistic to me.)

These books make me want to read Misty of Chincoteague sooner than later. Wild Colt and The Tale of Strawberry Snow would be great choices for a unit study of Virginia or before vacationing on Chincoteague Island or the Chesapeake Bay.

Thank you, Schiffer Books, for sending these books our way. You can take a peek inside at all the illustrations at their site, too.

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

A Window Garden with Coffee Filter Flowers

noreply@blogger.com (Annette {This Simple Home}) — Wed, 23 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Earlier this spring my oldest daughter, age 5 suggested we make coffee filter flowers for the French doors again. (You can see last year's flower garden here at the old blog. We used markers and a spray bottle then.)

Coffee filter flowers are great fun to make for younger and older children, too. They are also easy for the adult to supervise! Since they are so thin, they are easy for a child to fold and cut.

Supplies Needed:

coffee filters

coloring materials (markers, watercolors, or finger paints)

scissors

green construction paper

newspaper or cardboard to keep surface clean

Scotch tape
spray water bottle (optional)

Create:

1. Open coffee filters so they are mostly flat.

2. Color the coffee filters. If using marker or water color, spritz with water to spread the colors and even make them "bleed."

3. Set coffee filters aside to dry.

4. Fold the dried coffee filters into quarters (or smaller, if desired).

5. Cut petal designs. (A younger child, who can use scissors, but is not confident in the flower process can still cut the design, just draw the petal design for him or her, as shown above.)

6. Open the flowers.

7. Cut the green paper into petals and stems. Arrange them together with the coffee filter flower and tape together.

8. Make "grass" by cutting a curve on one side of thick strips of green paper. Then cut into the curve of the paper to create the grass effect.

9. Tape to the bottom of your window and admire the view!

Pictured below is a coffee filter flower created with maker. That is Brother last spring, when he was two years old.

A note:
If you have a young child in the house who can reach the flowers use caution because he or she may not understand how fragile the flower garden is. I speak from experience. Our baby swing is by our French doors where we keep the flower garden...Not only that, but she crawls well and reaches up to pull the grass!! Too bad she isn't weeding yet...

Since we don't drink coffee, this is a great way to use coffee filters! (That's right folks. Earlier this week I said I don't like strawberries. I also have never had a cup of coffee. One is a texture issue; the other is the taste.)

Linking up to ABC and 123 Show and Tell and No Time for Flashcards.

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Friends, Flowers, and Fountains

noreply@blogger.com (Annette {This Simple Home}) — Tue, 22 May 2012 09:00:00 +0000

Recently my real life friend, Dorie, invited my children and me to go to a local garden with her and her four children. We were grateful to go and enjoyed the day immensely.

We strolled the hundreds of acres pausing to admire the beauty surrounding us often.

I am not certain what this was called, but it was similar to a gazebo.
Above shows the beauty of the metal-work while looking to the sky.

The paths surrounding us were covered with blooming flowers.

Below shows a bit of the Italian fountains.

In a different area, we were able to get up close and personal with a fountain.

Throughout the day, Dorie's children demonstrated love and kindness to my own as they walked and talked with them.

When the three younger (ages 3, 5, and 5) children became tired, the three oldest children carried them on their backs while the moms enjoyed watching friendships strengthen and pushed the baby stroller.

The outdoor children's garden area, complete with another fountain, may have been two youngest boys' favorite part of the day. Despite the cool temperatures, they rather enjoyed getting wet.

We were able to enjoy our picnic lunches just before the rain arrived. It was a beautiful day of time together with our friends.

Dorie has her own post today about our day at the gardens. Enjoy her thoughts and beautiful photography over at These Grace Filled Days.

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Homemade Strawberry Jam {So Easy}

noreply@blogger.com (Annette {This Simple Home}) — Mon, 21 May 2012 09:00:00 +0000

We took advantage of the early strawberry picking as a family. (We also learned that another few days may have been much better for much easier picking.) We brought home over five pounds of strawberries and intend to return again (without the children) to pick more.

In the past I made strawberry jam once and canned it. It was pretty good, but my husband could taste the processed (cooked) taste. Now that we have an upright freezer, I knew I would be making freezer jam from our strawberries. (But really, this doesn't make so much that even I couldn't have found room in my freezer, especially if you share with others.)

We have enjoyed the homemade strawberry jam by Derek's grandma for years. I consulted with her before making our jam. We used Sure-Jell since that was what Grandma uses. The other big change from the directions that come right inside the Sure-Jell box was that I used the blender to remove the fruit chunks and basically created a smooth sauce. (The box's directions suggests having chunks within the sauce. That is not our pleasure.)

I'm including the recipe here so you can see how simple it really is!

Homemade Strawberry Freezer Jam
2 cups crushed strawberries (see below)
4 cups sugar
3/4 cup water
1 box SURE-JELL Fruit Pectin

{To make 2 cups of crushed strawberries, begin with 1 quart of lovely ripe strawberries. You can use a potato masher. However, I wanted really smooth strawberry jam, so I used my blender and removed all those chunks!!}

1. Place the crushed strawberries and sugars in a large bowl.
2. Let it sit for ten minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Place the water and pectin in a saucepan. Cook on high, stirring constantly. Bring it to a boil. Boil for 1 minute.
4. Stir water and pectin mixture into the strawberries. Stir for 3 minutes.
5. Pour strawberry jam into prepared containers. Clean rims and sides if there are any drips or spills. Place lids on containers
6. Let sit at room temperature for 24 hours, undisturbed. Then freeze or refrigerate.

Please Note:
~ Be sure to measure your ingredients exactly!
~ If you want to use less sugar or a sugar substitute, buy the pectin specifically for that.
~ Grandma says when she wants more jam, she just uses her strawberries from the freezer and puts them in the blender. This may not work with a potato masher, but I wanted to share it.
~ You can use canning jars or any freezable plastic containers. I've heard the canning rings rust in the freezer, so I used my plastic lids designed for canning jars for the ones that would not be gifts. Half cup or one cup containers work well.
~ The Sure-Jell has lots recipes for lots of different fruits on the package directions. They are not all the same, so do not just substitute blueberries (or other fruit) for strawberries without checking.
~ The strawberry jam will stay good in the refrigerator for about 3 weeks, according to SURE-JELL. (I am pretty sure we used some of Grandma's for at least six weeks before it was fully consumed.)
~ Kids can certainly help make jam. Ours helped pick berries, placed them in the blender, measured, and stirred. Their favorite part was cleaning the spoons and spatulas!

Strawberry jam makes a delicious peanut butter and jelly sandwich, even for grown-ups...even for those like me who don't like strawberries. (It's a texture thing.)

What do you do with strawberries? Do you ever pick them yourself?

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Friday's Five #19

noreply@blogger.com (Annette {This Simple Home}) — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:19:00 +0000

Hmm...it's mid-afternoon on Friday. Obviously, my posting and time is a bit off this week.

It's been a good week, from what I can remember. It has also been a busy week, with a lot of phone calls to remedy a problem with an order. (Not quite remedied, but oh well.) Now...time to share five things from my week.

1. Normalcy. Oh, I love normal. It's not that I am inflexible, but I am a homebody who likes to know what to expect. This week my husband was home, and that helped tremendously.

2. Mother's Day. This was, by far, the best Mother's Day I have experienced as a mom. I felt appreciated and loved. I finally spoke up and said I wanted to go out for pizza. (It is my favorite food. In the past we have always thought eating out would not be fun with children with all the others trying to eat out, too. However, pizza shops are quiet on Sunday afternoons!) My husband also gave me a thoughtful gift, but I'll save that for another post.

3. Easy Dinners. We ate pizza and Stromboli leftovers most of the week. Then we had Fettuccine Alfredo. So good and so easy. Tonight...well, I think it will be ziti.

4. A Proverbs 31 Bible study. Women Living Well has a free Proverbs 31 e-book. There is also a study guide and such to go with it. I really like writing down the verses each day and drawing from those little verses that can say so much. I joined a Facebook group, too, for community, though my focus will be on completing it and then sharing on FB when I can.

5. The rest... 1) I went for two walks this week. (Three if you count our family "stroll" around the neighborhood.) 2) My husband is off from work today, and so the family went strawberry picking. It was so early in the season that the pickings were meager, but we have about five pounds of berries. 3) Yesterday I was struck by just how much we are saving on baby formula now that Little Sis is able to drink regular (actually generic) formula. I know that the special formula helped her when she was brand new, despite the continued screaming. Some days it was really hard to consider that we were spending more on her food each week than anyone else's in the family. Oh, and yes, the screams are over. 4) Yesterday on my way to Lancaster to shop at Target (about 45-50 minutes typically), I seriously passed no less than 45 horse and buggies. (By passed, I just mean our paths crossed on the road either traveling in opposite directions or me passing them. A typical drive there might be 5-10.) I wondered what was happening and learned that it was Ascension Day...40 days after Jesus' resurrection. It is a true holiday for the Amish. I was grateful for the reminder of it. 5) A chat with a good friend. We hadn't talked in months...It was long overdue.

How did you like me finding a way to say a bunch little things in #5. Maybe I am not the rule-follower I thought I was. Ha!

Feel free to link up your own blessings over at Living to Tell the Story.

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

250 Business Cards Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Annette {This Simple Home}) — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:00:00 +0000

A visitor in my home might notice our bookshelves, the crafts displayed, or the food I serve. If questioned, I happily lend the book, instruct about making the craft, or share the recipe. Despite the enjoyment I take from sharing what I know with others, not everyone knows that I blog, which is another way I choose to connect and share. If it comes up naturally in conversation, I happily share, but I don't want to force This Simple Home on anyone. Yet some people get excited when I say I have a blog and want to know how to find it.

Occasionally, I will meet a person who I am interested in getting to know better. With that, email or telephone numbers are often exchanged.

I have often considered having little business cards or something to help with these situations since a business card isn't as quickly lost as a scrap of paper.

If you are in need of a great designs combined with personal service and great paper products, Plum Paper is a great small business to support. Another option is Print Runner, an online printing company where you can use your own graphics for business card services. Since I do think business cards can have a practical purpose in the home, I'm excited to share...

Print Runner is offering one reader 250 Business Cards!

Business Card Size and Style Business Cards: 2x3.5 (Standard)

Quantity: 250

Colors: 4/4 Color Both Sides

Paper: 14 pt. UV Coating on Front, 14 pt. UV Coating on both sides,

Proof: None

Rounded Corners: No

Get to know Print Runner and their deals by following on Twitter or like them on Facebook!

GIVEAWAY
Congratulations to Carrie, the winner of the 250 business cards!

To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment below, including your email address (at least once) so I have a way to contact you. I'd love to hear how you will use the business cards. Are you a business owner? Blogger? Will you donate them to your favorite charity? Personal contact cards? Lots of different uses for the basic business card!

~~Extra Entries: Leave a separate comment for each entry.~~

~~~ Follow This Simple Home with Google Friends Connect (sidebar). (1 entry/comment)~~

~~~ Subscribe by email or with the RSS feed. (1 entry/comment)~~

~~~ Like This Simple Home on Facebook. (1 entry/comment)~~

~~~ Follow This Simple Home on Twitter. (1 entry/comment)~~

~~~ Share about this giveaway. (1 entry/comment)~~

Giveaway will run through Monday, May 21st, and is open to US residents, ages 18 and over. Random.org will choose the winner. The winner will be announced on this post and will be emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me, or I will choose another winner. The winner can not have won from Print Runner in the past two months.

Thank you to Print Runner for providing this giveaway. I will receive a set of business cards in return for hosting this giveaway.

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Up in Smoke

noreply@blogger.com (Annette {This Simple Home}) — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:30:00 +0000

When I was a teenager living with my dad, I thought it was crazy to have a smoke detector in the kitchen. It beeped so often!! (You may read between the lines as to the cause.) I'm thankful to say that now my current smoke detector does not beep quite so often. (

After Carrie's Great Smoke Out (no fire, just smoke and months of complications and relocation), now I know the value of working smoke detectors in the kitchen. (Carrie did have smoke detectors...but for some reason they chose not to work. Did you ever find out why?) I now value smoke detectors, even when they awaken the children. During. NAPTIME.

One Friday afternoon I decided to whip up something sweet to eat. I made my giant chocolate and peanut butter chip cookie since provides practically instant gratification. I baked it right on my pizza stone, and it was delicious.

Since it was, indeed, Friday, I was making homemade pizza for dinner. Forty-five minutes before baking, the oven and pizza stone need to be preheated. To do this, I removed the cookie from the pizza pan and transferred it to a plate. Sounds much less than dramatic, right?

I do not place our pizza stone on our ceramic stove top without placing a potholder or trivet under it. As it happens, we were given a pair of handmade trivets (of a natural fiber) as a wedding gift, and I placed the pizza stone on these trivets. (I forget which African country our missionary friends sent them from, but I think it was Kenya...or possibly Zambia. Despite my failed memory, these are rather special to me. And they match!)

Back to the pizza prep. The cookie has been removed from the pizza stone, so I placed the stone in the oven and preheated the oven to the rather warm temperature of 450°.

My husband and I are on the couch, probably watching "The Mentalist" and eating more than our share of that giant cookie. He asks me what the smell is. Hmm. Yeah, I smell something, but it is probably just the crumbs of the cookie burning off the stone. He asks me to check it out, so I pass Little Sis to him and walk into the kitchen.

Despite my many, many burned food and other items in the kitchen, I was shocked to see smoke pouring out of the steam vent. Seriously. It was black and scary.

Looking at the stove top, I knew right away that one of the trivets was missing. And I knew that it must have been wedged between the metal carrier handles of the pizza stone and the stone itself.

I threw open the oven door. Smoke assaulted my eyes and blinded me for a minute. I yelled to Derek to come and help because I knew that smoke detector would be beeping within seconds. It did. (The smoke detector is not located in the kitchen.) I threw a towel at him and managed to find potholders. With restored vision, I grabbed the pizza stone and threw open the door to the garage (located very close to the oven). Not caring if Lucy, our indoor cat, escaped, I left the door open and squeezed my way between the parked van and sedan in the garage. I practically flung the pizza stone to the driveway pavement as the smoke continued to pour off the trivet hiding beneath it.

(Breath, Annette, that was the climax and the excitement of the story is mostly over. Amusement awaits readers at the end.)

If you look closely at the trivet, you can see the dark and light contrast on the right-hand side. It's part of the design. Above shows the side that was protected by the pizza stone. The bottom picture is the culprit of all the smoke and shows the underside of the trivet-the part exposed to the preheating oven.

Smoke filled the entire first floor of our home. The second floor wasn't nearly as hazy. The smoke detector did its job and beeped furiously for several minutes while my husband used a dish towel to move the smoke away and opened windows. I was at the door swinging it open and shut.

Our smoke detectors are linked to each other. That means that when the one on the first floor went off, so did the ones in all of the bedrooms. Amazingly, Brother napped through the whole ordeal. Big Sis promptly came down and asked many questions about all of the smoke. Mostly, the questions were left unanswered, but no, there was not a fire. And no, the fire truck would not be coming. I put her to work swinging open and shut the garage door so that we might breath easily again.

When the whole thing was over, and we could let the breeze move through the open windows, Big Sis had a request.

She asked if I could make the alarm go off again. (You see, we don't get much excitement around these parts!) Derek assured her that I would make the alarm beep again, but maybe not that same day.

I have suggested to my husband that I could be fired from kitchen duties. Somehow we get through these incidences time and time again. And we laugh. And we're thankful that no fire truck was needed.

We are thankful that it was not worse AND that we were not expecting company. It took days of open windows to really remove most of the smoke. (It may still linger a bit. I think I've gotten used to it.) But really, at least it was not a roasted chicken in the middle of the night that displaced my family from my home...

(If you are wondering about my husband being home during nap time on a Friday, I should explain that he has every other Friday off because he works long days. By the time the cookie was out of the oven the yard was mowed and he was ready to relax. Maybe he'll have the chance some other time.)

Maybe I should write a post of all my kitchen mishaps. There are many, though this may have been the most exciting. Thankfully. Thanks for reading to the end. I know this adventure was way more exciting to live it than to read it.

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Blueberry Delight Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Annette {This Simple Home}) — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:42:00 +0000

For many years I was on a quest to find that delicious blueberry muffin. I could never make my blueberry muffins just right.

Then I found the recipe for To Die for Blueberry Muffins. They were, indeed, delicious. However, they were not very appealing to the eye. I turned the muffin recipe into a coffee cake. At least I called it coffee cake for years. I think it is actually more of a blueberry buckle. However, I have named it...

Blueberry Delight

1 ½ c flour

¾ c white sugar

½ t salt

2 t baking powder

1/3 c vegetable oil

1 egg

1/3 c milk

1 c blueberries

Crumb Topping

½ c sugar

1/3 c flour

¼ c butter, cubed

1 ½ t cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400°. Spray 8x8 pan with cooking spray.

Combine flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Place vegetable oil in a liquid measuring cup. Add egg to the oil. Add enough milk to make 1 cup total with oil, egg, and milk. Mix this with the flour mixture until just combined. Fold in blueberries. Spread in the prepared pan.

To make the crumb topping combine the sugar, flour, butter, and cinnamon with a fork. Sprinkle over the batter before baking. Bake for approximately 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick is clean when tested.

Please Note:
~ If using frozen blueberries, do not thaw them and stir them as little as possible to incorporate them.
~ This recipe doubles nicely. Bake a double batch in a 9x13 pan for approximately 35+ minutes.

Have you ever renamed a dish that you love? What's your favorite blueberry recipe? (And if you have a yummy muffin recipe...do share!)

Linking to The Better Mom, Tidy Mom, Rattlebridge Farm, Better Moms Monday, DIY Linky Party, Homemaking Link-Up, I'm Lovin' It, and A Bowl Full of Lemons
~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Sharing Friends

noreply@blogger.com (Annette {This Simple Home}) — Mon, 14 May 2012 01:06:00 +0000

It's pretty typical for young (and otherwise) children to have a problem sharing at times. However, it's still a bit difficult when a child does not want to share a friend.

Our child's teacher has informed us of the unwillingness to share a special friend at preschool. What's a parent to do? We talked about how I share Daddy. Not only do the children get to do things with him, but I do not always sit next to Daddy on the couch. The children each get to enjoy special times with Daddy, too.

When we have something we want to discuss with the children, I tend to want to use picture books to do so. (That is also how we told them we were expecting Little Sis. It also works for illness, dentists, first day of school, and loose teeth.) But really, I had no recollection of any books that discussed sharing friends.

Thankfully, I didn't have to rely on myself to find a book to speak to my child's heart.

The next day, I went to my stash of review books and pulled out My Friend Fred for our nap time book. HA! Written by Hiawyn Oram and illustrated by Rosie Reeve, this book is described as, "A heartwarming tale about friendship and sharing."

Fred is the much loved family dog, but Grace pretty much claims him as her dog, and with reason. He tucks her in, checks for monsters, and is there when she wakes up in the morning-every day. One day Grace's sister has some friends over and invites Fred to play ball. Fred LOVES the game of ball and cannot resist it. In that selfish moment, Grace takes Fred to her bedroom where he whines and whimpers and wants to go outside.

Then it dawns on Grace that friends should not keep their friends all to themselves. And she shares Fred.

This was a great book with cute illustrations even without the perfect timing of the very lesson we needed to hear. Thank you, Tiger Tales, for sending My Friend Fred our way!

How do you use books to teach your children about life?

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Friday's Five #18

noreply@blogger.com (Annette {This Simple Home}) — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:23:00 +0000

How about some good stuff happening at our home?

1. A confident "No." When my daughter exited her bedroom to a smoke alarm and smoke filled downstairs, she asked if the fire truck was coming. I was able to answer her with a confident "No." Details coming next week...and yes, I can laugh now that we can breathe in our home.

2. A friend's invitation. A friend invited the children and me to visit the local gardens (over 1,000 acres!) with them as their guests. It was really lovely, but really, for me, the best part was spending time with my friend and watching our children love one another.

3. Peanut Butter, Banana, and Chocolate Chip Muffins. I halved my friend's recipe and made tiny muffins with mini chocolate chips. Not too unhealthy for my kids to eat as snack instead of dessert! It was a delicious, rare treat for us. (Another bonus: These were dense enough that they were not crumby like muffins typically are.)

4. My husband. Derek has been away two nights this week. He does so much as husband and dad. I truly don't know that I could have survived if he had to go away during Little Sis's (age 6 months) first three months of life. But we have survived just fine.

5. A new understanding. This week I have come to the conclusion that I have a lot of anger. I figure this is a beginning. Any suggestions?

What has been your biggest blessing this week??

Thanks for reading...feel free to share your favorite five over at Living to Tell the Story.

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Chicken Spiedie Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Annette {This Simple Home}) — Thu, 10 May 2012 09:00:00 +0000

If you have ever lived in the Southern Tier of New York state (or northeastern PA like myself), then you likely know all about chicken spiedies. It's a delicious, regional food. Spiedies are a delicious, tender meat that has been cubed, marinated, and grilled on skewers. You can read a bit of history here. When you make these for yourself (and I really hope you will) say the word SPEE-dee .

Now that we no longer live near New York, we can't go to a restaurant and order chicken spiedies. Now we make them ourselves a few times a year. We have already had them twice this spring, once with family and once when we were sharing a meal with friends.

The recipe below comes from allrecipes.com. We think it's right on, though there are lots of variations out there for spiedie recipes. (Spiedies can be made from a variety of meats, even lamb, though we prefer chicken.) I have made a full batch of spiedies, and I have halved the recipe, as well.

Chicken Spiedies

5 pounds chicken, cubed

2 cups olive oil

1 cup white vinegar

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 teaspoons salt

5 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoons orgeno

1 tablespoon garlic salt

3 tablespoons crushed mint

2 tablespoons basil

1 teaspoon pepper

1. Place chicken in a large bowl with lid (or resealable bag). Mix other ingredients in another bowl and then pour over chicken. Stir thoroughly. Marinate for 1-3 days, stirring every 6-8 hours.

2. Spray skewers with cooking spray. Place chicken on skewers. Do not place the pieces too close together.

3. Grill should be lightly oiled/sprayed and preheated to medium-high heat. Place chicken on the grill. Turn the chicken 3 minutes or so. They do not take long to cook, maybe about 15 minutes. Be careful to not overcook the spiedies or they will be tough.

4. Remove from skewers and serve on Italian bread (our preference) or hot dog rolls.

Please Note:

~ Raw, marinated spiedies are perfect for the freezer. A quart-sized freezer bag with a single layer of spiedies can serve four nicely.

~ When cubing the chicken, attempt to keep the pieces similar in size so they cook at the same rate.

~ I really hope you try these! They are SO good!

Linked to The Better Mom, Tidy Mom, and Rattlebridge Farm.

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict by Trenton Lee Stewart

noreply@blogger.com (Annette {This Simple Home}) — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:36:00 +0000

I was absolutely thrilled when The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict arrived in the mail, having thoroughly enjoyed the series of The Mysterious Benedict Society. (Though to be completely honest when I heard a MBS prequel was in the works I questioned it...but then I just became giddy over the thought of reading new Trenton Lee Stewart material.) Despite my enthusiasm, I offered EENB to my husband to read before myself. I had two books that I was already reading that needed to be completed before I could begin...and I knew he had read and enjoyed the MBS.

Nicholas Benedict is a nine year old orphan with a rather unfortunately large nose. He is beginning life at yet another orphanage. Though Nicholas is an off-the-charts intelligent child, he still faces many difficulties that come as a result of being an orphan. In addition to adjusting to life in a new orphanage and the loneliness, Nicholas must also deal with narcolepsy, a condition where he falls asleep suddenly, often due to excitement.

Life at Rothschild's End (or 'Child's End) is difficult for all children, but a group of rough boys known as the Spiders make every day miserable and life is just plain lonely for Nicholas. Nicholas is smart enough to keep his emotions in check and not let their bullying defeat him publicly, but he he doesn't have much hope for the future.
Then Nicholas learns of a great treasure that is hidden at the orphanage. He puts all of his hope and energy into finding this treasure. The treasure seeking leads them on some adventures (and sneaking about and deception) the property and learning to care for others.

With the obsession of the treasure, I couldn't help but to think of the verse Matthew 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (That is just where my mind went. These books are not considered to be Christian, though Carrie certainly found and shared lots of truth in them.) Nicholas was not the only person consumed with finding the treasure.

The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict is a good book; don't get me wrong. However, the tone is subtly different than The Mysterious Benedict Society books. Nicholas is working for the treasure and does not put much hope in others or any thing else. He does not have any positive history with adults being generous and kind. Though the MBS is also full of adventure, wits, and even a bit of deception, that was all for the greater good of the world. EENB is a bit more self-centered as Nicholas is just trying to survive day to day in the orphanage. Despite this, it was not a negative story, but truly a book I can highly recommend!

Without offering any spoilers here, I will say I had guessed parts of the ending, but was pleasantly surprised at other resolutions. (Granted, this is children's literature...)

Let me just say again that I definitely recommend this book and all of the Mysterious Benedict Society books for children and adults. This prequel can be read independently of the MBS books, though I enjoyed knowing what kind of man he would grow up to be. I think we'll be sharing them with our children after age eight. How about you? (Amazon has a great deal now for the original three book set for less than $15...just in case you want your own set! They would also make a terrific gift for a boy or girl ages 8-13. You know how 12 year old boys might be challenging when it comes to finding a good book? Try these!!)

Thank you, Little, Brown, for providing this book for review purposes!!

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Hand Print Towel {Mother's Day Gift}

noreply@blogger.com (Annette {This Simple Home}) — Tue, 08 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

With Mother's Day right around the corner, we finally made our final hand print towels for the grandmas.

This time when we made the hand prints, we used just one layer of paint, directly from the children's hands (or foot). They placed their hands all over the textured towel.

Would you like to make your own hand print towel for yourself or for a gift? It's rather easy, and the hand print towels can be used and washed, too.

Supplies Needed:

washed white cotton kitchen towel (I found ours at KMart. They are not as easy to find as you might think.)

fabric paint (Linked to a six-color sample set. It was perfect for this with plenty left over for other projects.)

paint brush (sponge-type worked well)

plastic lid or paint palette of some sort

water

newspaper or cardboard to place under the towel

baby or hand wipes to clean hands/feet if you are working with a young child

Create:

~ Gather your supplies, then call the child over. Decide in advance where you will want hand prints placed (or be content with where the children place their hands).

~ Paint child's hand with fabric paint. Have the child spread fingers just a little before pressing firmly to the towel.

~ If you desire a dark hand print, you will need to paint a second layer of paint using the brush. (One layer of paint is pictured above. Two layers below.)

~ Once the hand print is dry, use a contrasting color of fabric paint to paint the initials or name of each child on the hand print, if desired. You may want to practice on a paper towel first. This was very tedious work! I only had patience for initials, seen below.

~ Repeat as desired for each hand print.

~ Obviously, we used a footprint for our six month baby.

During the Christmas holiday we made our first set of hand print towels (linked to post). The turned out nicely, but were very different from the latest hand print towels, as you can see.

At Christmas our nephew was visiting, so we included his hand print in the towel for the children's grandma and great grandma on my husband's side. The two new towels we made are for the other side of the family, being my mom and stepmother. Each style has an advantage; it just depends on how you want the final product to appear. I like both.

I'm linking to lots of places this time. Go and check them out! Better Moms Monday, DIY Linky Party, Homemaking Link-Up, I'm Lovin' It, A Bowl Full of Lemons, ABC and 123 Show and Tell , Kids Get Crafty, It’s Playtime Quirky Momma , TGIF, PreschoolCorner 5&up, Play Academy, No Time for Flashcards.

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Calendar Activities

noreply@blogger.com (Annette {This Simple Home}) — Mon, 07 May 2012 09:00:00 +0000

This is the year of change for our family. Despite the fact that my husband and I are homebodies, we are now busy with activities. In the past, any activities we had were on a regular schedule. I knew to expect speech therapy every Tuesday and Thursday at 4 o'clock. Bible study the first and third Fridays.

Things are different now. Big Sis actually has a tee ball schedule that is irregular. EEK. Though I keep our calendar right on our refrigerator door (the most visible area), I knew I could not be caught off guard for a game. (Upon my husband's arrival home, we must eat immediately and head out the door...sometimes leaving dishes on the table in our rush.)

To draw my attention to the calendar on game days, I used little stickers to help. On those stickers, I also wrote the time of her games.

My husband's softball games don't vary, so I didn't feel the need to give him his own set of stickers, but each person could have their own color or symbol for keeping track of your family activities. These stickers are just those little stickers found in dollar store sticker books.

{In case you are curious, I printed my calendar from The Nest Effect. Though it does not have holidays on it, I like that it is free, and I can print the full year at once.}

Linked to Better Moms Monday, DIY Linky Party, Homemaking Link-Up, I'm Lovin' It, and A Bowl Full of Lemons

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Friday Favorite Five #17

noreply@blogger.com (Annette {This Simple Home}) — Fri, 04 May 2012 01:12:00 +0000

Keeping the focus on the good and not the bad is not so easy for some of us. Yet, it is extremely refreshing to keep my perspective positive. (I do try to keep my blogs positive and not complaint-filled. When I look back, I don't want to read that I was dwelling on the difficult moments instead of focusing on the blessings of being a mom of three children and wife to a great guy.) And I appreciate really focusing on the good each Friday.

1. Sleep. Hmm...Have you heard this before? Little Sis is staying up a bit later at night, but allowing me to sleep later in the morning. I feel like I'm not really dragging myself out of bed now.

2. Family. My dad has been officially retired for over a month now! He worked for the same factory for about forty years! My mom's medication is helping her enough that she is close to walking normal with her fibromaylia. My mom and stepdad also just celebrated their anniversary.

3. Opportunities. Summer is practically here (EEK!!!) with less than a month of preschool remaining, and I have our June and July practically booked with fun. (I don't necessarily like that idea since I really am a home-body, but it will be fun!) We have multiple family things happening, plus swim lessons for the first time and hopefully Vacation Bible School. But really, I will enjoy the days at home the best with our little kiddie pool.

4. Rain. This week we have had much needed rain. It was a dry winter and dry spring. Finally...rain!

5. Little Women. I just listened to it. Again. All twenty hours. Now that I have (almost) read Pilgrim's Progress, I enjoyed it even more. And now I feel that I can properly read the Louisa May Alcott biography that I received for Christmas. (I had read a few pages, and then decided I wanted Little Women fresher in my memory.

BONUS: Little Sis is into everything and going from room to room at just six months of age. We'll call this a great thing since she is keeping me on my toes and the floor vacuumed.

Read about what others' favorites of the week are over at Living to Tell the Story.

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Teaching Bible Verses to Children

noreply@blogger.com (Annette {This Simple Home}) — Thu, 03 May 2012 09:00:00 +0000

Slowly I have taught my children a few verses from the Bible. I am ashamed to say this, but it seems like the verses I teach to the children are the only verses I memorize myself. At least we are learning together.

Typically, when I teach them a verse, I write it on a piece of colored paper and hang it on our pantry door where it is highly visible. We'll read/say it together once in a while, and sometimes one of us will just read or say it, too. That has been highly effective, though slow-going.

I wanted to share with you a few resources I found recently in case you are also interested in a couple basic ways to share verses with a child. If you are interested in more like this, you might like my Faith for Kids Pinterest board.

The first is printable for a set of My ABC Bible Verses from Homeschool Creations. Big Sis really likes this. Though this set is for our family, she has asked for her own. (I basically said she could have it as long as Brother and I could borrow it.) I actually like the simplicity of each card. Below is our set. I couldn't find our little O-rings, so I braided embroidery floss to make a ring.

I really think these are great for parents to read with preschoolers or for older children who can read independently, too. Big Sis did have to ask what a couple of words were, but overall could read them by herself.

Each card is 2x3 (like a playing card). I cut them apart and laminated them. Then I used a corner punch to round the corners and a hole punch for the hole. Perfect! (If you don't have a laminator, you can find them pretty cheap. Linked for about $30, but I found mine closer to $20 a few years ago at BJ's. Another alternative to laminating is using packaging tape. Of course, you could just use cardstock or not laminate at all.)

(If you use Pinterest, please go to the original source to pin. If you don't use Pinterest, and are interested in it, I can send you an invite. I will just need your email address. I use it for recipes, books, crafts, and more.)

I'll share another neat printable soon that I'm using for The Lord's Prayer and Psalm 23.

What's your favorite Bible resource?

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Homemade Pizza {Worth the Effort}

noreply@blogger.com (Annette {This Simple Home}) — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:26:00 +0000

I love pizza. Cheese pizza. I wish I could eat it several days a week. Instead I settle for two or three times a month. For several years I was on a quest to make better homemade pizza. I figured out a few things along the way. Then, about a year ago, I finally found a good pizza dough recipe.

You can see the original, really detailed recipe here. For my own purposes, and maybe yours, too, I am summarizing it here, and including photos. If you are motivated to make this, know that you need to make the dough at least 24 hours in advance. The initial work is actually fairly quick; most of the labor-intensive work happens the half hour or so before you eat.

If you are going to take the time to make your own dough, I would strongly suggest you use homemade pizza sauce and take the time to shred your own mozzarella cheese. We do not prefer the low-moisture mozzarella for pizza. (Typically, a one pound block of mozzarella is enough cheese for one complete recipe of the homemade pizza below, though we eat the pizzas on two different occasions. The shredded cheese freezes fine.)

Homemade Pizza Dough
4 1/2 cups all-purpose or bread flour, CHILLED
1 3/4 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon instant yeast
1/4 cup olive oil (optional)
1 3/4 cups water, ice cold
Cornmeal for dusting

1. Stir together flour, salt, and yeast in a large bowl. Using a metal spoon or paddle attachment of stand mixer, stir in the oil and water until mixed. Mix for 5-7 minutes, or until the dough is smooth, even if mixing by hand. (Use a dough hook if using mixer on medium speed.) The dough will be very sticky, but should clear the sides of the dough, though it will stick to the bottom of the bowl. The finished dough is not just tacky, but very sticky.

2. Sprinkle lots of flour on the counter and transfer the dough. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Mist the parchment with cooking spray. Cut the dough into 4 (to 6) equal pieces. Sprinkle flour onto each piece and your hands. Then shape into a ball. Transfer the dough balls to the parchment paper. Mist the dough with cooking spray and place the dough in a large, food-grade plastic bag.

3. Place in the refrigerator overnight, for up to three days. If saving for future use, roll dough balls in a bit of oil first, and then place dough balls each in a freezer bag. Transfer frozen dough balls to the refrigerator the day before you intend to make the pizza.

4. Remove dough balls from the refrigerator 2 hours prior to making pizza. Upon removal from fridge, heavily dust the counter with flour and mist with cooking spray. Press dough into a flat disk of 5-6 inches and a half-inch thick. Sprinkle dough with flour and mist with cooking spray. Cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let it rest for two hours. See all that flour pictured below? That much flour keeps it from sticking to the counter!

5. If you are using a pizza stone, preheat your oven AND pizza stone to 450° forty-five minutes prior to baking. (See step #5 at the original recipe for other options if you do not have a pizza stone. Also, they recommend the highest temperature possible, but I tired of burned cheese with raw dough, so I like 450°.) The stone should be in the lower third of the oven.

6. Dust your pizza peel (or back of a sheet pan) generously with cornmeal. Dip your hands in flour. Be generous. You can follow the directions for using your fists at the original recipe, or stretch the dough with your fists and on the very floured counter. Despite my pizza shop experience from my younger days, I find these pizzas are too small for me to effectively "fist" and toss. I may just be out of practice.

7. When the dough is stretched as thin as you can make it without putting holes in it, (10-12 inches) put it on the pizza peel. Place an itty-bitty amount of sauce on it. Really! You only need a couple tablespoons of sauce. You want to be able to see a lot of white through the sauce. In the picture below, I was actually heavy-handed on the sauce. Top with desired toppings. We prefer cheese. Nothing else. But we are weird, and we know it. Keep in mind as you test recipes that the basic cheese pizza is a good test though.

In addition to using homemade pizza sauce, be sure to take the time to shred your own mozzarella cheese. We prefer to buy whole milk mozzarella cheese and NOT the low-moisture stuff. (Even if it does shred better, it does not taste better.)

8. Do your best to slide the pizza onto the stone or sheet. Stay close to the oven. Consider using your oven light to watch the pizza because it bakes quickly. Rotate after 2-3 minutes if the pizza is baking unevenly. Remove pizza after 5-8 minutes. Wait a couple minutes before slicing. Enjoy!!

Please Note:

~ Cornmeal can be used directly from the freezer. I store my cornmeal in the freezer since I only use it for pizza and the occasional cornbread.

~ Ovens often do not show the correct temperature. Consider using an oven thermometer to check your temperature. (My oven was only a year old when I learned it was inaccurate.)

I hope you enjoy!

Download the printable version of homemade pizza recipe(without images).

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Pizza Sauce

noreply@blogger.com (Annette {This Simple Home}) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:00:00 +0000

♥ PIZZA♥

Seriously, I could eat pizza every week, even multiple times a week. Our budget does not allow that, so I try to make pizza a couple times a month. For years I tried various recipes. Some were okay; some were good. I finally found a great recipe for pizza dough. We have also learned that what you put on that dough matters! First, it is definitely best to use homemade pizza sauce! It is also important to shred your own mozzarella cheese. We buy blocks that are NOT low-moisture.

Today, I will share my super easy pizza sauce. Since each pizza only needs a few tablespoons of sauce, I freeze the sauce in baggies after making a batch. (If you decide to do the same, make sure you let the sauce cool completely.)

Pizza Sauce

2 cans tomato paste (6 oz each)
2 cups water
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt & pepper to taste

Mix together all ingredients in sauce pan. Bring mixture to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Cool before topping pizza. Use much less sauce than you think you need. You should be able to see some of your pizza dough through the sauce.

What's your favorite pizza topping? Mine is cheese!

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Friday Favorite Five #16

noreply@blogger.com (Annette {This Simple Home}) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:20:00 +0000

Typically I spend a few minutes during the week to write down my blessings. This week has been very busy, so that has not happened. Yet, I am still blessed.

1. The patience of the tee ball coaches. After watching my daughter's first game last night, I really appreciate what these three men do. (My husband is the assistant coach, but that is beside the point.)

2. Wise friends. I've asked a few friends for some parenting advice, and really appreciate their thoughtful, godly advice and questions.

3. Time with friends. This week has been a very social week for me, and the weekend will continue to be the same with a bridal shower and company.

4. My husband. Despite his hard work all day (and LONG days at that), he is very supportive and understanding, even when he walks in to chaos at five o'clock.

5. Little Sis back to normal. After a very rough week/weekend last week, she is back to herself. This includes only waking once in the night which helps me to function much better.

I'm linking up the goodness of the week over at Living to Tell the Story.

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Lit! A Christian Guide to Reading Books

noreply@blogger.com (Annette {This Simple Home}) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:58:00 +0000

For the past few months I have really been trying to choose the books that I read and listen to more carefully because I have so many good books I already want to read that I don't want to waste time reading something that may not be so great. That was before I read Lit! A Christian Guide to Reading Books. Now I know that I will be more purposeful in my reading.

Lit!, written by Tony Reinke, offers much to consider for readers and non-readers alike. If you love to read, Lit! is for you. If you want to read, but don't have the time, it's for you. If you have never been a reader, but wonder if you are missing out, this short book is also for you.

I learned a lot from Reinke, and honestly, am still thinking about what I learned, though it's been a couple of weeks. Below I am only sharing a few things to consider.

Reinke distinguishes books in two genres: the Bible and all other books because Scripture is perfect. It does not matter the book or the author; all other books are imperfect.

We know that books can be read for enjoyment, and it is with the discernment of being a Christian that we "test" all books. We build our worldview from the many influences in our lives, including what we read. But before we can be discerning with all those books out there we must first be informed by reading Scripture.

"Christians can read a broad array of books for our personal benefit, but only if we read with discernment. And we will only read with discernment if the biblical convictions are firmly settled in our minds and hearts. Once they are, we have a touchstone to determine what is pure gold and what is worthless." ~p. 59

Many books, sometimes including those within the Christian publishing industry, abound in sin. Many great pieces of literature show the realities (and fantasies) of life, including evil.

"This makes it impossible to reject books because they include bloody violence, illicit sexuality, scornful unbelief, or dark witchcraft. The Bible includes all four." ~p. 62

We need to consider how the sin is portrayed. Are there consequences? Is the sin celebrated? Is the evil left unresolved? Authors must help the reader to understand the wretched sin in order to understand the wonder of God's grace, even if it is not their goal, as in secular books. The process through which the author takes the characters can be a difficult one. Still, deciding what to read is a matter of discernment and personal conscience.

Lit! A Christian Guide to Reading Books is a book about books. As a person who regularly reads, it was a rather delightful book. Lit! isn't just about picking up a good book. Reinke bring great knowledge books and discusses about reading wisely. He provides practical advice for reading, including how, what, and when to read after providing many, many good reasons why we should each read.

I thank Carrie's review of Lit! for first introducing me to this great book. You should peak at her thoughts, too. She is always worth reading!

Even if you don't need to be convinced to read, I still highly recommend Lit! and thank Crossway for sending a copy my way. It just might change the way you think about books!

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Smile {It Makes a Difference}

noreply@blogger.com (Annette {This Simple Home}) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:00:00 +0000

I am one of those people who naturally looks unhappy if I am not smiling. Apparently, my mouth turns down a bit when in its natural position. Especially when I am tired. (I'm always tired!)

This might be fine most of the time, but when I am face to face with my children, I have been trying to smile, even if my eyes are not looking at their little faces.

I have found this is especially important when I need to discipline or speak firmly to my children. Of course, if I am angry, that is almost impossibly hard. But still, I smile. I think it makes a difference.

When I am buckling my baby or son's car seat I am so close to their faces. They often do not have any choice but to look at my face. I smile. I think it makes a difference.

My baby is no longer content to "just lay there" and get a diaper change. Her intention is to roll over and get away from me. Already. But from the early days, I have purposely smiled at her through those diaper changes, even when holding my breath. I think it makes a difference.

When I bend low to help with shoes or zip coats, I will smile. I think it makes a difference.

And when my five year old asks to take my picture. I smile. It makes a difference.

When my husband walks in the door to hear children crying, a mess all around, and no comforting dinner smells in the air. I hope I can smile. It makes a difference.

"I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression, and smile." ~ Job 9:27

When will you smile? It makes a difference.

Linked to Word-Filled Wednesday and Proverbs 31 Link-Up

Sausage and Egg Casserole

noreply@blogger.com (Annette {This Simple Home}) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Breakfast foods are my favorite. However to keep things simple, we have cereal or oatmeal almost daily for breakfast. I enjoy serving breakfast foods for dinner. When I have friends over during the week, I prefer to call it brunch so that we can eat early and I can serve some breakfast foods.

A while back when I had a couple of friends (and their children) over, I decided to try a new recipe. It was really good. I will definitely make it again...and often. I adapted this recipe from Taste of Home.

Sausage and Egg Casserole

12 ounces bulk pork sausage

1 medium onion

5 eggs

2 cups milk

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

8 slices white bread, cubed

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1. Cook sausage and onion over medium heat until sausage is brown. Drain and cool.

2. In a large bowl, beat eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Gently stir in bread cubes, cheese, sausage, and onions.

3. Coat 9x13 pan with cooking spray. Pour mixture in pan. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

4. Remove pan from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.

5. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake uncovered 35-40 minutes. It is done when an inserted knife comes out clean from the center.
6. Let stand for five minutes before cutting.

Please Note:
~ If you are looking for a healthier version, you will want to go to original recipe. It uses some egg whites and skim milk.
~ We do not typically buy white bread. I did have some homemade white bread on hand. I used some of that. Though it was not dense (as suggested by the original recipe), it still was fabulous.
~ We have now tried this with ham, too. I can recommend either ham or sausage.
~ I almost always cut the suggested onion in half for recipes. Though this recipe calls for one medium onion, I used half of one. Still delicious!
~ This was not that filling. I don't think 12 people would be satisfied with this recipe (as suggested by original recipe). I am thinking that adding some potatoes to this might be something to consider for a big group.

I'm linking this up to the Pinterest challenge at Serendipity, Tidy Mom, and The Better Mom.
I'd love to hear your favorite breakfast recipe!

In Minutes...

noreply@blogger.com (Annette {This Simple Home}) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:49:00 +0000

So much of my cleaning and organizing is done when I have just a few minutes to spare AND motivation in the moment.

It's recommended that you properly clean your dryer's lint trap occasionally. It's thought that if water can't flow through it, air cannot either, and can cause fires.

First, I took my lint trap to the sink to see how well water flowed. The water just sat upon the screen!

I took my scrubbing brush and cleaned the lint trap. The water now flows easily through it. Then I cleaned any remaining lint and let it air-dry.

It only took a few minutes, but I feel better knowing that it has been recently scrubbed! I noticed a difference when removing lint, too. The lint now comes off much easier than before.

It only takes a few minutes (plus drying time). I hope you'll do it, too!

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

This Simple Home

Favorite Five #20

A Thoughtful Gift

For the Horse Lover...

A Window Garden with Coffee Filter Flowers

Friends, Flowers, and Fountains

Homemade Strawberry Jam {So Easy}

Friday's Five #19

250 Business Cards Giveaway

Up in Smoke

Blueberry Delight Recipe

Sharing Friends

Friday's Five #18

Chicken Spiedie Recipe

The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict by Trenton Lee Stewart

Hand Print Towel {Mother's Day Gift}

Calendar Activities

Friday Favorite Five #17

Teaching Bible Verses to Children

Homemade Pizza {Worth the Effort}

Pizza Sauce

2 cans tomato paste (6 oz each) 2 cups water 1 teaspoon oregano 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 1 teaspoon garlic powder Salt & pepper to taste

Mix together all ingredients in sauce pan. Bring mixture to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Cool before topping pizza. Use much less sauce than you think you need. You should be able to see some of your pizza dough through the sauce.

Friday Favorite Five #16

Lit! A Christian Guide to Reading Books

Smile {It Makes a Difference}

Sausage and Egg Casserole

In Minutes...

2 cans tomato paste (6 oz each)
2 cups water
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt & pepper to taste