Three Monkeys In The Jungle

I'm Still Alive!

2013-01-25T14:20:00.002-06:00

Hi and welcome to Three Monkeys in the Jungle. I've been MIA lately due to a move we made from Kansas City, MO area to just north of Little Rock, AR only three days before Christmas! I'd planned to not let the move effect my blogging. Plans have a way of showing us who's boss, don't they? Turns out utility deposits trump internet deposits when the budget is tight. Budgets are always tight during moves because more gas is used than you calculate, more expenses {those darned deposits!} pop their ugly heads than expected, and it's hard to plan for the all around craziness that happens during and {long}after a move.

Craziness? Did you know that I'd never even seen my house before moving all that way? When we walked in the door I was greeted with a stomach twisting sight of dead insects - mainly roaches - everywhere in the house but concentrated in the kitchen. We pulled an all-nighter to move and arrived around 9:30am so I was exhausted as you can imagine. What's a gal to do when she HATES roaches {even dead ones} but can't imagine leaving that mess a second longer than necessary? She rolls up her sleeves and spends the rest of the day on no sleep scrubbing every single cupboard, drawer, and surface until not a single bug was left. I did finally get some sleep that evening but that was one of the worst days of my life. Did I mention I hate roaches?

All small incidents of craziness from moving aside, Casey is loving his new job at Pepsi and we're enjoying our new home. We've settled into a "rough draft" of a routine finally. I'm so very excited to get some of the kinks smoothed out and share more about how we spend our days. Life in Arkansas is starting to settle down for us and our rental house is starting to feel like home. Rest assured that I MISS sharing with you here on the blog and writing is a huge hobby of mine but my family is my priority. I'll try to keep getting to my local library {which is a challenge since it's only open M-F from 12pm-6pm} and update more often!

♥Shari

A Penny For Your Thoughts

2013-01-01T00:00:00.000-06:00

Photo Credit

It's that time of year again. A brand spankin' new year is here and 99% {okay, I made up that percentage but it seems like it anyway...} of folks are talking about their "New Year Resolutions." Love them or hate them, you're bound to have heard someone around you talking about their resolutions. I even shared an intentional list of homemaking goals I've set for myself for the year ahead.

For me, each new year does equate to a fresh slate. But, if we're being honest, life has a way of getting away from us and a whole entire year is a large chunk of time. Reassessing our goals on, say, a monthly basis even is certainly promoting accountability and giving opportunity for realignment of ones priorities. That said, I still enjoy focusing in on a list of "yearly" goals. I take my list with a grain of salt because, after all, I do title them "goals" vs. "resolutions" for a reason. I plan to fulfill these goals but I don't necessarily have the same sense of failure induced by setting resolutions and then being unable to complete them or just having a change of heart toward them. I also prefer to set mostly non-time sensitive goals. No, I do not intend to set about accomplishing all my goals for the year in the month of January. That would indeed be setting myself up for failure.

Now it's your turn...

How do you feel about "New Year Resolutions" or even "New Year Goals?" Do you make a list each year only to leave it lonely and forgotten by February? Are you Ms. Motivated and not only do you make a list but you complete it as if you're being graded? Do you laugh at the mere mention of making a list and move on to enjoy the year guilt free? Go ahead and share your goals or a link to your blog post if you made them!

This is a new feature on my blog. I'll share a topic or idea and we'll chat about it! I'm SO excited to get to know you better!

♥Shari

2013 Homemaking Goals

2012-12-31T00:00:00.000-06:00

Each year I make a small list of intentional and beneficial goals for myself to hopefully achieve throughout the new year. I feel that calling them goals takes all the pressure off and I can accomplish them in practical timing without the sense of failure should I not meet every goal before the next year. Oh, and it satisfies my love for list making!

My 2013 Homemaking Goals are simple and may be added to or taken away from as life calls for. This time last year I'd have never guessed I'd have just moved to Arkansas {the eighth state I've lived in!}. Life changes and no set of goals is worth stressing over instead of going with the flow of those changes.

My goals:

1. Create a blessings and memories jar.

I'd like to decorate a jar and place in little strips of paper or notes that can commemorate cute memories, happy moments, family events, and blessings. I feel it will be a great way to put a little more focus on the positive parts of life.

2. Implement an evening routine that works in my current stage of life.

For our family, I am the main cook and dishwasher {thankfully I have an actual dishwasher and I just have to rinse and load it and then wash a few handwash-only items}. Between varying job schedules and, certainly, misplaced priorities, our evenings haven't always been the most routine or peaceful and that led to too many nights of not leaving a spotless kitchen before going to bed. This is a bad habit that leads to wasted time scrubbing stuck on food the next day. My goal is to create a routine that will be practical for me and practice it every night until it becomes a habit.

3. Grow a small herb garden.

We are renting our very first house and have a lovely front and back yard to enjoy. I don't plan on tilling up the soil to plant a full garden but I do plan to set up some pots and focus on herbs this year. I am not particularly sure what herbs I'll grow yet {besides basil!} but I'm sure I'll get some great pointers from Creative Christian Mama where she lists her favorite herbs to grow.

4. Begin line drying my laundry more often.

Once we get settled, we would like to erect some sort of clothes line {I already have permission from our landlord!}. I see it as a great excuse to get outside first thing in the morning with the children, a way to save on our energy bill, and possibly prolong the life of my clothing.

5. Make better use of my slow cooker.

I already use it to make overnight oatmeal and chicken stock as well as the occasional recipe here and there. My goal is to make it a point to use it multiple days a week to cut back on the dinner time chaos. I would like to make more slow cooker freezer meals which will certainly make me want to use my slow cooker more often.

6. Join a homeschool group.

For the last 3 1/2 years I have participated in a wonderful program called MOPS but I am feeling that it is time for me to leave that behind and become involved in a homeschool group before the fall of 2013 when Sean will be starting Kindergarten and Logan will be my Pre-K student. This will be beneficial to hopefully develop friendships for all of us but also for support in keeping the state regulations in a brand new state to us!

7. Attempt to brew Kombucha at home.

I want to get a Scoby and start brewing Kombucha on our slow journey toward more natural living. I've tried it once before and thought it was better than I'd imagined but perhaps an acquired taste. Sean really liked it! It's cheaper to make at home and I can customize the flavor to my taste so I figured this is the best way to have it around and actually start incorporating it in our diet.

8. Try my hand at baking homemade gluten free bread.

I've been wanting to do this for a long time but I'm a chicken I guess. I hate to "waste" expensive ingredients and I'm afraid I'll spend a lot of time on it only to be disappointed. Well, the desire to serve fresh bread to my family will win out in the end.

9. Prepare some homeopathic remedies {example: elderberry syrup}.

This will first require making room in our budget and then secondly will require I learn how to go about it. There are so many resources on the internet so it will just be a matter of time before I take the plunge. I've heard amazing things about elderberry syrup and any natural remedy surely beats just suffering through a cold and waiting for it to run its course {my usual method}!

10. Pay off debt.

We won't pay off all our debt {hello school loans...} in 2013, but we already have a plan to knock out a nice chunk of it and we would like to implement the "snowball" method of paying off smaller debts and contributing what we were paying to each paid off debt toward the next lowest debt, and so on and so forth. It is a hugely relieving feeling to pay off debt and being low-debt or debt free is very important to us. The key to this goal is focus and intentional progress. It takes work and sacrifice to pay off debt but we're dedicated to making it happen.

Happy New Year my friends!

♥Shari

Merry Christmas!

2012-12-24T00:00:00.000-06:00

We've had a crazy year that ended with a bang as we moved six hours away to a new house in a new state just three days before Christmas! We invite you to join us again for an exciting adventure in 2013 as I share our journey through homemaking, homeschooling, marriage, and learning to trust God each step of the way.

Some plans for early on in the New Year include:

* 2013 Homemaking Goals
* Comforting Soups Series
* A homeschool update
* More "From My Closet"
* A New Feature called "A Penny For Your Thoughts"
* A tour of our new house
* And lots more!

To keep up with the latest Three Monkeys In The Jungle articles, sign up for emails {on the sidebar of the blog} where each post is directly sent to your inbox or "like" us on Facebook for an inside peak at what's going on at our house.

Have a blessed Christmas!

♥Shari

I love hearing from you all! Seriously, I do! What topics are YOU most interested in hearing about next year? Crafts? Entertaining toddlers? Food? Homemaking? Marriage? Homeschooling a preschooler? Go ahead and share your suggestions!

Feminine Friday: From My Closet [5]

2012-12-21T00:00:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas! Today is the day that Casey comes home after almost three weeks of being away {around 3pm}! We're SO excited! Our moving helpers are going to begin arriving around 5pm this evening to begin helping Casey with putting all our belongings into our moving van.

So I have to apologize for the lack of quality in my photos lately {okay, probably all my photos...}. I have a hard time convincing my "photographer" to go outside to take pictures once it gets dark and cool in the evenings and we all know indoor lighting isn't the best. And, I can't edit out the red eye for some reason. I usually have green eyes! ☺

The outfit:

Lavender cardigan ~ thrifted {Originally from Target.}

Brown tank ~ Gordmans

Khaki skirt ~ Wal-Mart

Brown flats ~ JCPenny {I love these by the way and where them all the time. They're about 1 1/2 years old.}

I have a few scheduled posts coming out over the next week or two and we are scheduled to get internet up and running at our new house December 28th! I love you guys for reading all my ramblings! I'll update everyone on our move first through Facebook next week! Have a super Merry Christmas!

♥Shari

* Moving soon or know someone moving? Check out 5 Tips For Staying Sane During A Move.

* Super busy and want to keep the emphasis on Jesus this Christmas? Check out 5 Ways To Keep Christ In Christmas.

* Need a great gluten free breakfast for Christmas? Check out Cinnamon Banana Bread.

Feminine Friday: From My Closet [4]

2012-12-14T00:00:00.000-06:00

Another Saturday photo for today's edition of From My Closet. Another Saturday that I went grocery shopping. This is not all inclusive of all people mind you but when going grocery shopping, it appears that more people than not don't really worry about fashion before going to the store. I love me a casual day just as much as the next person, don't get me wrong, but appearance does say something about us {I'm pretty certain I've never left my house in my pajamas before!}. That doesn't stop me from wondering if I'm overdressed for Wal-Mart half the time though! Haha!

Okay, this outfit is obviously not winning me any fashion awards folks but I liked it because it felt functional, modest, and pulled together to me. This was me trying for a casual look but still wanting to stay warm on a cool fall afternoon. Dressing modestly is important to me but it is also important to me to look pulled together most of the time. What makes an outfit feel "pulled together" for me are cute but simple accessories or pieces {everyone has their own personal style tastes}, coordination {I try!}, and current {obviously the current fashions aren't favoring the conservative look but adding a contemporary piece here and there is still totally possible!}.

So for this outfit: Cute/simple ~ I wear glasses because I'm kinda blind but they act as an accessory {IMO} so I just added some cute teardrop earrings. Coordination ~ I went with a grey and black theme but chose my long denim skirt to keep it casual. Current ~ the white jacket was functional for the weather and added a trendy feel to the outfit.

Update: Our official move date is December 22!! I'm moving to a new house in a new state three days before Christmas! Akk! I'm just so excited to see my new place though! I feel truly blessed though because throughout the next week we are having so many social engagements to just keep our minds off the stress of the move and the fact that our family has been separated from Casey for almost two weeks (almost three before it's all said and done!).

What I'm wearing:

White vest ~ DEB store {bought 2-3 years ago}

Black long sleeved shirt ~ Mudd brand {I love it for layering}

Grey sweater ~ I honestly don't know what brand {I've had it for years and years!}

Long denim skirt ~ thrifted {Old Navy}

Shoes ~ Black Sketchers {with warm sweater tights}

Have an awesome weekend!

♥Shari

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5 Ways To Keep Christ In Christmas

2012-12-10T00:00:00.000-06:00

This year our Christmas is a bit unusual and a bit lacking in fun, family traditions. Not to say it will be any less of Christmas {Jesus is the reason for the season!}. We'll still read the Christmas story, have ham for dinner, and open gifts. But, the leading up to and the anticipation of the day has been overshadowed by our move. We'll have been in our new home for about a week before Christmas Day. So, with the craziness of moving out-of-state one week before Christmas, how do we go about keeping Christ as our focus this Christmas? Here are some ways I'm doing it and I hope they inspire you!

1. Encouraging a spirit of thankfulness.

No, I don't have my holidays confused. In truth, the very celebration of Christmas Day is our acknowledgement of and thankfulness for the gift of the King of Kings being sent down to earth to be with us. It is really all about thankfulness for who He is. Our family has been blessed with a new job that Casey is really excited about. This move with all it's temporary frustrations, is a huge blessing for our family. When I pray with the kids and I thank God for his blessings, I am encouraging a spirit of thankfulness through example. We also encourage common courtesy such as thanking people when they do things for us and being grateful for what we have instead of constantly wanting more.

2. Read Christmas stories together.

On Christmas morning before we open any gifts, Casey will read out loud the story of Jesus' birth straight from the Bible. Generally, he leads our family in family devotions but while he is gone, I am reading to our kids from a children's Bible and then we read one other story. Naturally, I am picking from our collection of Christmas books. Some books we own and are reading this season include: Who Is Coming To Our House?, What Is Christmas?, and The Christmas Story.

3. Decorate with Christ honoring decorations.

This year I put up minimal decorations because it was simply impractical due to our move {I'll try to get things back up when we get to our new home too!}. I like to think about the true meaning of Christmas when I do buy decorations so that I compile a collection that is mainly focused on Christ. We do have a few items with non-Biblical characters and I have a real affection for snowmen decorations. With that in mind, and since I was planning to put up less this year, I picked out items that had the most meaning/impact to display. I placed a plate that says Believe and has a picture of a baby in a manger on it. Our stockings may not be a Biblical inclusion but they are a fun tradition and are special because they are handmade by my mother!

4. Emphasis on giving rather than just receiving.

When the topic of the season comes up, too quickly the conversation turns toward gifts and what each child wants. I don't shun discussing what they would like for Christmas but I do try to redirect the conversations toward why we give presents {because Jesus is God's gift to humanity to exhibit His love and as a representation of gifts that the wisemen offered to the baby Jesus}. With a few dollars in hand, we will be planning a shopping trip to the local Dollar General to teach our three year old and four year old the fun and joy of purchasing gifts for others rather than themselves. This is really not about what the gifts are but rather an exercise in getting their minds working on thinking out getting gifts for others. We also believe this can be fostered year-round by cultivating an atmosphere of serving each other in our family and serving others as a family. Another big one is doing a charity gift such as Operation Christmas Child or the Angel Tree which are both great ministries that also can help teach the joy of giving to others. For younger children, a great way to involve them without taking them out shopping is to just let them assist with the wrapping process {if they can't keep a secret then just put items in boxes and let them help wrap the boxes} and they will feel like they contributed to that gift just the same!

5. Invest in a kid-friendly nativity.

A beautiful nativity scene may be a wonderful way to decorate for the Christmas season but it probably isn't something that is best handled by little ones. Investing in a durable nativity set that is meant to be played with and enjoyed by children may be a great way to learn about the Christmas story in your family. We own the Little People Christmas Story Nativity Scene Playset and we LOVE it! I highly recommend getting a nativity that the children can play with and enjoy because it will be so much more memorable than the one they aren't allowed to touch! It may even help bring the story to life for them!

How are you keeping Christ in Christmas this year? I'd love to hear your ideas!

♥Shari

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Feminine Friday: From My Closet [3]

2012-12-07T00:00:00.000-06:00

What a week! Last week I shared with you that I was sending off my husband {Casey} to go stay with a relative of mine in Arkansas while he begins his new job and house hunts for our family. Sounds like fun for him right? DUN Dun dun... Not so much for me...

Haha! Sorry about the dramatics! Well, as you might imagine, it's never easy being the only parent to three energetic little ones for, say, one afternoon. But, going an entire week is pushing my limits. Unfortunately, as a parent, I don't have the luxury of limits it seems. I am, however, blessed that they do go to sleep for a short afternoon nap and then there is their 8pm bedtime which leaves some recuperative time in my evenings. My evenings are filled with packing and cleaning projects mixed with some *ahem* snacking and internet time {and a few girly movies my husband isn't super fond of!}.

While being the only parent isn't an easy task, I don't want you to think that because my job is a little more challenging that we aren't having some fun! Some things we've been up to include afternoon walks to check the mail {about two blocks away} and play at the playground, Christmas movies, Christmas stories, preschool lessons, playing with the nativity set {we have the one pictured below and we LOVE it!}, and lots of bouncing off the walls... Well, that is, the kids are bouncing off the walls - not me!

Now about that outfit...

White "stars" shirt ~ JCPenny {old}
Brown drape-front vest ~ Maurices {old}
Tan skirt ~ Wal-Mart {about $15 I think - hey, it's not everyday I find a casual skirt that fits me and that I like!}
Brown ankle boots ~ Kohl's {old}

Well, as it turns out, Casey isn't going to be able to come back for a visit before we move but we are planning to move in less than two weeks. I know many people {including myself previously when Casey was gone for a month right after our second son was born} who've had to endure longer separations so I know it could be worse. Still, we're very excited about our move and his new job and our family being reunited in just over a week. We're trying {I am not always successful - like during the times when I catch the kids unloading a box I had almost completely packed!} to focus on the positives! Hopefully by next week I'll have an official move date to share!

If you or someone you know is going through a move - whether across town or out-of-state - check out 5 Tips For Staying Sane During A Move.

Happy weekend to ya!

♥Shari

{This blog post contains affiliate links.}
Linked up here:
Creative Christian Mama: Weekend Whatever Link-up
The Modest Mom: Modest Monday Link Up
The Better Mom: Better Mom Mondays Link-Up
Growing Home: Teach Me Tuesday

5 Tips For Staying Sane During A Move

2012-12-05T00:00:00.000-06:00

Hi, my name is Shari and I have moved seven times in my seven year marriage {not including my cross-country move to marry my husband - I flew from NC to OR a week before our wedding! - or our current move from MO to AR!}. Thus before our eight year anniversary we will have moved eight times {a total of five out-of-state moves!}. I could go on and on about what not to do when moving but I also have {through trial and error} some advice to hopefully make things easier for you.

Aside from the goals of keeping all your belongings intact and arriving safely at your new home, remaining sane should be a top priority. Let's face it, moving can be SO stressful if you don't take precautions to buffer yourself. If you're like our family, your husband will be working full-time up until the end of his two-week notice and then he'll be immediately stepping into his new job with little time or energy to help with the packing. What little energy he has left will be spent on doing all the heavy lifting. Your job may very well cover all the rest including packing, cleaning, and keeping up with meals and the children. Let's try to make sure you aren't on the verge of a nervous breakdown by the time you arrive in your new home, okay?

My five tips for stressing less during your move:

1. Communicate with your spouse.

Make certain you two are on the same page about what needs done by when and who is responsible for what. This way you can be more focused on what you need to do and less stressed about the big picture of the move. Agree ahead of time that moving can be a stressful life event and you are partners in this together to support each other. Plan a date night before the move/packing begins so you can reconnect and feel refreshed in your marriage. Pray together. Really pull together to make things happen. Work together as a team even if you have separate responsibilities.

2. Make lists.

Write down all that you know must be accomplished and leave room for surprises along the way. Cross items that are complete off to give yourself a sense of accomplishment because all those boxes sitting around might just make you feel more frazzled. Keep a list of important phone numbers handy. Write down your new address so when you call utility companies or want to change your address for a magazine subscription you don't have to rely on your cloudy memory {mine gets cloudy during moves anyway!}. Plan ahead for your menu. Plan easier meals before the move and {gasp} I recommend paper plates as you near the move date. Plan easier meals for a few days once you're in your new home {think slow cooker, freezer-meals, cold sandwiches}. Don't lose sleep if you decide you need to grab some tacos or burgers for the family a few times. The idea is stress-less!

3. Involve the kids.

Hand the kids bags and ask them to fill them with items off the floor {trash, toys, books, whatever...}. If nothing else, they will feel involved even if it isn't the most helpful at the moment. Keep kids doing their normal tasks like keeping their room and toys picked up throughout the day so you don't trip and hurt yourself while carrying boxes! Involve kids {age appropriate} in picking through their belongings to consider what items may be best to toss {if broken or missing pieces} or donated/sold {no longer loved or needed or fits}. Offer them damp washcloths to clean wall, doors, or windows even if you have to re-clean them.

* I want to add a special note that during moves, just as pets can sense there is something afoot, so do children. They may misbehave more often or seem more energetic or unruly during the move. Try to keep this in mind going in so you can offer them extra grace. Try to make the move something fun for them. If the move becomes stressful for you, perhaps it is stressful for them as well. Make at least part of the day {example: dinner and bedtime routines} "normal" to what they expect and, if necessary, continue packing/cleaning tasks after the kids are in bed.

4. Entertain the kids.

When you really need to focus on deep cleaning the refrigerator or packing a box of dishes, ensure before hand that the kids are busy doing something fun so that you can focus {for at least five minutes!}. Consider pulling out a fun activity for the table {puzzles, peg boards, coloring} and have them all seated at the table. Perhaps an extra movie {or two!} a day during a move won't be all that harmful! Or, just send them outside to play in the dirt! Prepare to serve an extra snack during the busy packing/cleaning days {just sayin'}. Think ahead and prepare small bags of entertainment type items for the moving day. This will come in handy whether you're moving across town or out-of-state. If moving across town, the items may help keep them occupied and out of the path of the movers. If moving out-of-state, save the entertainment bags until they're secured in their seats in the car. I won't promise they won't get bored thirty minutes down the road though. In that case {this is our forth out-of-state move with children}, save extra entertainment items to pull out when they're tired of the first few items, plan extra snacks, bring drinks, plan extra stops to stretch their little legs, and bring along music to crank up and sing loudly too {if nothing else, they'll be fascinated with their parents singing but they may just sing along too!}.

5. Take regular breathers.

You've gotten on board with your hubby, made a list and checked it twice, and spent half your day entertaining, feeding, and directing the kids to "help" you... Don't spend the rest of your entire move rushing about to get everything done and expect to not go at least half-crazy! Take a break! Even if it's just for a few minutes to have a snack or a drink and read a few pages in your book, check your email or moving to-do list, or just cuddle on the couch with the kids, you need to pace yourself so you can be your most productive wife, mom, and packer you can be. Just a tip: leaving everything until the last minute or rushing around all day only to collapse and order pizza at 6pm isn't being your most productive self. You may forget things, pack the wrong items {don't pack that coffee pot until you're walking out the door!}, or lose your temper with your kids. Not that ordering pizza is a bad idea...

If you're going through a move or about to, I hope these tips help you as much as they have me!

♥Shari

Linked up here:
Deep Roots at Home: Encourage One Another Link-Up
Raising Homemakers: Homemaking Link-Up
Day2Day Joys: Healthy 2day Wednesdays
Feminine Adventures: Thrifty Thursday
Creative Christian Mama: Weekend Whatever Link-up
The Better Mom: Better Mom Mondays Link-Up
The Time-Warp Wife: Titus 2sdays

Feminine Friday: From My Closet [2]

2012-11-30T00:00:00.000-06:00

This Sunday I'll be sending my hubby off to Arkansas to begin his new job and we're going to miss him SO much! Can't wait until we get to join him in our new town! I'll be pulling ideas from Seven Tips For When Dad Is Working Overtime to make the weeks at a time during the month of December that we won't be with him go smoother. I know I'll get good use out of my own advice to stick to our normal routines and getting the kids more involved in what we're doing each day (like cooking and clean-up). I'm thankful for modern technology like the ability to text message so I can still "talk" to Casey throughout the day and we'll all talk to him each night. And, I'll keep reminding myself that it's only one month!

This photo was taken early on in the fall on a cool and rainy Saturday afternoon. I was heading off to do my weekly grocery shopping. What I like about this outfit is that it came together in a very casual but practical way. I matched the boots, belt, and purse to give it a more smooth look. For a feminine touch I wore dangle pearl earrings. The boots and long skirt were weather appropriate. The white shirt and lavender cardigan added a splash of color and kept the outfit from appearing to wintry.

What I Wore:

Cardigan ~ $0.49 from the Salvation Army

Shirt ~ Gordmans (I love keeping a plain white shirt on hand for layering!)

Skirt ~ Thrifted (it's actually about a size or two too large for me but I love the length so I always wear a belt with it!)

Boots ~ on sale from Kohl's (also pictured here)

Have a fabulous weekend!

♥Shari

Linked up here:

The Modest Mom: Modest Monday Link Up
The Better Mom: Better Mom Mondays Link-up
Time-Warp Wife: Titus 2sday
Raising Homemakers: Homemaking Link-Up

My Girl Loves Shoes

2012-11-26T00:00:00.000-06:00

Gorgeous!

Today I'm writing all about my baby girl! Get ready for some mama pride! ☺

This girl couldn't have been better suited to me than if I'd custom ordered her myself... wait... if I had that option I might have asked for a volume reduction on her screams... just sayin'!

Anywho... after two cute as buttons (but rough and tumble) boys I felt so delighted and blessed to be given a daughter. A daughter who is a mama's girl through and through. This mama is tickled pink about that if you can't tell! She is all girl too. Who else could pull off that above adorable albeit bright outfit?

Yep... that's my dirty van!

You can read here about my take on raising daughters to be homemakers. I take my job seriously but there is a fun and light side to being a girl that I like to put emphasis on too. She adores getting her toe nails painted and enjoys girly things like jewelry, clothing, and... yep, you guessed it! Shoes! She likes shoes! She picked out these adorable zebra print and glittery sandals this summer for herself.

Oops! Guess we forgot the clothes!

Ella can be caught wearing shoes at almost every moment (but when she isn't, you can bet she's left a trail of shoes she was wearing around the house!). She loves digging through my shoes and doesn't always have a preference for them to be matching. Above she is wearing a pair of my sandals while tempting fate with the kitty. The poor kitty was so patient though and didn't even leave a scratch!

Check out her sassy look!

This little princess (mama in training!) can even be caught sporting her brothers' shoes! She isn't super picky about which ones she has on but she loves to try them all on. Again... that trail thing... We go on a lot of shoe hunts around our home!

Shhh... don't tell! I got her a cute princess dress for dress-up as a Christmas gift (like this one) and a matching pair of dress up heals (like these) to go with it. I am so excited because I know she is going to LOVE this present!

Miss Ella is two years old. She has an army of baby dolls but the one pictured in her stroller is the only one she accepts as her own and calls her "my baby." She would love it if I'd let her sip on milk all day. Not potty trained yet but we're planning to work on that once we get settled (we're moving!). She enjoys playing with her brothers, watching silly movies, and reading books with her father.

While we encourage dress up play and her enjoyment of girly things like nail polish and jewelry, we are training up a future woman (wife, mother, daughter of the King) and my example to her is very important in her upbringing. We (me and her dad) have put a lot of time into discussing modesty and I am attempting to model for her what a modest lady looks like. I see no reason to wear anything I wouldn't want my daughter to wear. I'll be featuring outfits I wear (everyday and Sunday clothing) that will be posted on Feminine Friday.

♥Shari

Linked up at:

The Modest Mom: Modest Monday Link Up
The Better Mom: Better Mom Mondays Link-up
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Feminine Friday: From My Closet [1]

2012-11-23T00:00:00.000-06:00

Hi girls! We just wrapped up a twelve week series on Feminine Behaviors pulled from chapter 31 of Proverbs. Writing my thoughts on each of the eleven feminine behaviors was loads of fun but also challenging. The Lord brought new insight to me that helped me to grow as I shared my perspective with you. Can I just say that that is why I love blogging so much? It provides a creative outlet and at the same time is so much deeper because I am challenged to grow and step out of my comfort zone. I'm excited for the next few months - through the fun and busy holiday season - I am going to be sharing seasonally appropriate and modest outfits straight from my closet. I hope you enjoy the From My Closet posts!

Isn't this picture cute? You know I love it just because of that little tutu-wearing girl in the doorway behind me! She looks like such a princess when she wears her tutu dress. I know I am not quite so elegant looking but I do my best. This is an everyday or errand-running outfit for me (I rarely wear my denim skirts to church). I love how the tall knee boots help to keep my legs warm when I'm wearing a knee-length skirt. The teal shirt has a turtleneck which makes it great for layering and just in general for fall weather as it keeps my neck warm but I love that it has short sleeves so I don't get too warm when working on household chores or playing with the kids. The necklace adds such a feminine touch to the whole ensemble.

What I Wore:

Shirt - A gift from my mom.

Necklace - A clearance purchase from Gordmans.

Skirt - From New York & Company that I bought about eight years ago and it's still going strong! I know I bought it on sale though!

Boots - A clearance purchase from Kohls. (I think I paid about twenty dollars for them so you can bet I was thrilled!)

♥Shari

Linked up here:

The Modest Mom: Modest Monday Link Up

Some News To Share...

2012-11-19T08:04:00.001-06:00

Photo Credit

Yay! I'm so excited to share with you our big news....

We are moving!

Casey got a new and exciting job with a company in Arkansas. He starts in early December. We will hopefully be joining him in our new home at the end of December.

This will be the eighth move in our 7 1/2 year marriage (5th state!). I'm already knee deep in moving mode. Sorting, tossing, donating, and packing.

Join me on Facebook to keep up with all the fun (and not so fun) details!

♥Shari

Feminine Friday: She Fears The Lord

2012-11-16T00:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the eleventh and final segment of the Feminine Behaviors series! This series has been a weekly focus on eleven feminine behaviors I pulled from the account in Proverbs of the virtuous woman. I hope you've enjoyed this series as much as I have!

As a homemaker, there are so many different job responsibilities that fall under our care.

To name a few:

1 Timothy 2:9 - Dress modestly.
Proverbs 31:15 - Provide food for her family.
Titus 2:5 - Be kind.
1 Timothy 3:11 - Trustworthy in everything.
Proverbs 31:26 - Speak with wisdom.
1 Peter 3:1 - Submit to your own husband.
1 Timothy 5:14 - Manage your home.

Another aspect of the homemaker is the emotional and spiritual guidance that she offers to her children and the emotional and spiritual support that she offers to her husband. She isn't responsible for spiritually leading the family but she may guide her children in spiritual matters through schooling, devotions, music, discussion, or prayer. One of the most important aspects of guiding your children in life is through example. Children often learn more from what they see us doing than from what we tell them to do.

Our verse today is Proverbs 31:30 (KJV):

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman

that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

A woman that feareth the Lord. What does it mean to fear the Lord?

The word feareth in Hebrew means 1) fearing, reverent, afraid Source

To fear: 4) reverential awe Source
To be reverent (reverence): 1) a feeling or attitude of deep respect tinged with awe Source
To be afraid: 1) feeling fear Source

A woman that fears the Lord will be making it her utmost priority to exemplify the Lord's ways in her life whether she is a married woman or not. It will be obvious to those around her that she does fear the Lord. Her spiritual responsibility to her children and husband begins with her life displaying her fear of the Lord. Indeed, in 1 Peter 3 we are told that by her example alone (without a word) she could win over her husband to the gospel. A homemaker's Christ-like example is powerful and a big responsibility. It begins with her fearing the Lord. Her instruction and guidance to her children thereafter will be reinforced by her example.

I believe the Proverbs 31 account of the virtuous woman concludes with this final feminine behavior because it is the foundation for which we can hope to accomplish all other behaviors. If we first and foremost fear the Lord in our hearts and actions, it will pave the way for obedience to His calling for us as women.

Remember, whether the Proverbs 31 woman was a real life woman or an example of the ideal godly woman doesn't matter, what matters is that we strive in our own lives to fear the Lord. As we seek Him with a reverent heart, He will give us the strength to be trustworthy, helpful and attentive to our husband's needs, willing to work hard, resourceful, self-sacrificing, wise about spending money, hospitable, wise about the future, able to speak with kindness, and to have a heart for homemaking.

How lovely it would be to be valued above rubies! The writer of the Proverbs 31 account brings his story to a close with a statement that resonates with motivation, "give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates." (Proverbs 31:31 KJV)

What Feminine Behavior from Proverbs 31 do you feel you are most accomplished at? Which one do you feel needs the most work? Let's strive to work together to pray for each other and support each other in our homemaking journeys so we can receive the fruit of our hands.

♥Shari

For more on this series: Feminine Behaviors - 1) She Is Trustworthy, 2) Helpful and Attentive, 3) She Willingly Works Hard, 4) She Is Resourceful, 5) She Is Self-Sacrificing, 6) She Spends Wisely, 7) Generous and Hospitable, 8) She Anticipates and Prepare, 9) She Speaks with Wisdom and Kindness, and 10) She Concerns Herself With Domestic Affairs.

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Cinnamon Banana Bread

2012-11-14T00:00:00.001-06:00

When I began our gluten free journey, I knew immediately that I would want to recreate many of our favorite recipes so I could serve yummy and comfortingly familiar foods to my family. The process of recreating isn't always instant as is the case with banana bread. It took some trial and error but I am very pleased with these results. This banana bread is a moist, mildly sweet, and tender quick bread that can satisfy your morning hunger or make for a pleasing snack.

Cinnamon Banana Bread

Gluten Free and Dairy Free

3/4 c. sorghum flour
1/2 c. brown rice flour
1/4 c. arrowroot flour
1/2 c. Sucanat
1 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. xanthan gum
1/4 t. sea salt
3 T. cinnamon
1/2 c. grapeseed oil
2 Lg eggs
1 t. pure vanilla extract (gluten free)
3-5 ripe bananas, well mashed (2 cups worth)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a standard-sized loaf pan with palm shortening and set aside.

In a small mixing bowl, cream together the eggs, Sucanat, vanilla, and oil. In a large mixing bowl, measure out the sorghum flour, brown rice flour, arrowroot flour, baking soda, baking powder, xanthan gum, salt, and cinnamon; mix to combine. Pour in the egg mixture and the mashed bananas and mix until well combined.

Pour batter into the greased loaf pan and place in the center of the oven. Bake for 60 minutes. Halfway through the baking time, place a sheet of foil over the loaf pan to prevent the bread from over-browning. Bread is done when a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.

Makes one loaf.

♥Shari

More recipes to try:

Slow Cooker Apple Pie Oatmeal

Pumpkin Donuts

Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

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Homemade Ginger: Ginger Jamboree

10 Things I'm Thankful For (In Pictures)

2012-11-12T00:00:00.001-06:00

In light of this season geared toward remembering those things which we have been blessed with, I am sharing with you my top ten things I am thankful for. They are in no particular order. I thank God for each blessing I have because He is the author of Life. I appreciate each one of my children and my husband because no blessing comes with a life-time guarantee except the merciful gift of salvation which He has so freely offered me. I want to cherish each moment.

#1 I am so very thankful that God blessed me with a daughter. She rocks my world! She wants to be like me and adores it when I paint her toenails. She enjoys clothing and always points at my earrings I'm wearing and says "pretty!" She is a girl through and through. I love seeing her cuddle her baby doll. I love everything about having a daughter! I tell her often that she will make a wonderful mother someday.

#2 I am so thankful for the items I have in my kitchen that make meal prep so much easier for me. My slow cooker is a life saver. My cast iron skillets make clean up a breeze and I just love them. My coffee pot is also a life saver! And, let's not forget to mention my oven and stove-top which I use so often and my dishwasher which I would rather not live without! I also appreciate my refrigerator. I get a great deal of use out of my garlic press too. ☺

#3 I just love having animals around and these cats are no exception! Aren't they just stinking adorable? I'm very thankful that they are both so patient with my children who aren't all that good about being gentle. These two rough house and chase each other through the house and then cuddle up to rest together. It's so cute! Their names are Sadie (black) and Lily (gray).

#4 I'm so very thankful for the right to homeschool my children and the blessing that it is for our family. It isn't always an easy responsibility but it is what we feel called to do. I enjoy spending the extra time with my four year old while we go over preschool work. I look forward to future grades with him and adding my younger two as students.

#5 I am thankful for a husband who is a hard worker and dedicated to providing for his family. I'm very thankful he is a loving and attentive father that enjoys playing, reading, and wrestling with his children!

#6 I'm thankful for being blessed to be a mother of two rambunctious boys. Boys are so much different than girls. But, they have a sweet, loving, and gentle side that shows when they offer me darling hugs and bring me fresh picked weeds - I mean flowers. They want to grow up and be dads one day like their father and that makes me so proud!

#7 I am thankful that my mother taught me to cook. Without the familiarity and basic knowledge in the kitchen that I have, I might have been completely at a loss when I discovered my husband needed to eat a gluten free diet for health reasons and my son who has a dairy allergy and can't have anything containing dairy. Don't get me wrong, I've not always had a smiling attitude about this challenge in my life (as a cook) and it wasn't a smooth transition into cooking allergy friendly meals. However, the basic skills that my mother took the time to teach me have been a great foundation for me in the kitchen. Cooking allergy friendly foods from scratch saves so much money over buying the mix or pre-made product and I have successfully recreated many of our favorite dishes and baked goods. This success has bolstered my confidence that when I have more time I will be able to successfully make the items I have not yet attempted such as homemade yeast bread.

#8 I am thankful for the crazy days when my house looks like this (with dirty dishes on the table and toys strewn every which way). The crazy days remind me that my first basic responsibility is my relationship with God and it becomes so evident when that isn't my priority on days when things don't go the way I think they ought to. The crazy days remind me that I need God.

#9 I'm thankful for that coffee cup (thanks Mom!). It's my all-time favorite and I get a little irritated with myself when I forget to wash it and I have to use another mug for my morning mocha. I don't drink coffee every morning because quite honestly some mornings are crazy (see above) but most days I do and I am often seen carrying this mug around as it keeps my coffee warm longer than all other mugs I've tried and a busy (side-tracked) mom knows how quickly coffee turns to ice while she's distracted!

Source

#10 I'm thankful for old fashioned games. I love playing a good game in the evenings. We enjoy playing battleship, Rack-O, Clue, Checkers, and Uno. I am a big fan of Monopoly too. For some reason though I can not find anyone who will play Monopoly with me. I even have the new version with "debit" cards which I think is super cool. I also really enjoy Bananagrams, chess, and Yahtzee. Playing games is a fun way to include entertainment into the evening with my husband while building our relationship because we can actually talk and enjoy each other in a way a movie doesn't allow for (don't get me wrong, my hubby's favorite date night is watching a movie together so we do that at least once a week!).

What are you most thankful for this Thanksgiving season?

♥Shari

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Feminine Friday: Domestic Affairs

2012-11-09T00:00:00.000-06:00

As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a mother and a wife. When I was a teenager, I dreamed about the day I'd have my own home so I could organize it my own way. I wanted to meet a young man that would have similar standards to my own and would feel the same way regarding getting married and having children. I don't have early memories of my own mother telling me this is what I should or had to do but rather I remember that she was a stay-at-home mother that attempted to keep her home and put in much effort to feed her family and she did take the time to teach me how to do these things. I understood early on that being a homemaker was a Godly calling for a woman.

I so often read these days about the contempt some people feel for the "over-emphasis of gender roles" placed on young children. I fully believe a baby boy or a baby girl is formed and created to be exactly the gender God wanted them to be. From a very young age we parents begin molding and shaping these little ones so they know how to behave and what is expected of them. No matter the method, most parents attempt to teach their babies and young children how to sleep in a bed, how to eat with the proper utensils, how to cloth themselves, and eventually things like how to properly address someone, how to be grateful, how to brush their teeth, and how to pick up their toys. It would appear that most parents agree that early instruction on some matters is an important part of raising children.

Why not teach little boys how to be leaders, how to handle stress properly, how to express themselves constructively, and how to treat ladies? These are things men are expected to do both Biblically and as a normal part of life at home and in the workforce. Don't leave them to find cultural examples of manliness because I assure you it will not lead them down the path of Biblical manhood.

Why not teach little girls how to be respectful, how to run a home, and how to be nurturing? How to act femininely and dress modestly? These are things that women are called to be Biblically. No other cultural standard should be consulted.

Our verse today in the Feminine Behaviors series is Proverbs 31:27 (KJV):

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

The obvious take-away from this verse is that the virtuous Proverbs 31 woman concerned herself with domestic affairs and wisely managed her time to remain active or busy throughout her day.

This feminine behavior is not a gift to some and others are left lacking but rather a skill that has been learned through practice and persistence. A young woman is truly blessed to have been taught by her mother through example and early instruction how to efficiently run a household.

This is a woman's calling as outlined in scripture:

Proverbs 31:10-31 (KJV) Describes a woman of impeccable character who devoted herself to running her household and serving her family.
Titus 2:3-5 (KJV) Older women which were known for their honorable character are instructed to teach the younger women to be "keepers at home."
1 Timothy 5:14 (NKJV) Paul advises young women to "manage the house."

Also we are given this wise advice from Proverbs 22:6 (NIV):

Start children off on the way they should go,

and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

If God so instructs women throughout scripture to concern themselves with domestic affairs, is it not our duty as parents to properly instruct our daughters in these matters from a young age?

♥Shari

For more on this series: Feminine Behaviors - 1) She Is Trustworthy, 2) Helpful and Attentive, 3) She Willingly Works Hard, 4) She Is Resourceful, 5) She Is Self-Sacrificing, 6) She Spends Wisely, 7) Generous and Hospitable, 8) She Anticipates and Prepare, and 9) She Speaks with Wisdom and Kindness.

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Gluten Free Granola Balls

2012-11-07T00:00:00.000-06:00

I'm going to share with you my own version of a recipe I found on The Marathon Mom. This treat is worth the time it takes to prepare because moms and kids alike are going to really, really enjoy these! Take it from me... these won't last long!

I made a few tweaks to satisfy our personal tastes. First of all, all the ingredients need to be gluten free, especially the oats because they are known to be highly contaminated with gluten. Secondly, the chocolate chips must be dairy free. Thirdly, I just seriously don't like coconut so that had to go! These make great snacks for at home or on the go.

Gluten Free Granola Balls

3 c. gluten free old fashioned oats
1 1/2 c. peanut butter
1 c. ground flax seed (I grind mine in a coffee grinder and pour each ground batch into a measuring cup until I get what I need.)
1 c. chocolate chips (I use dairy free.)
1/2 c. raw honey
2 t. pure vanilla extract
1 t. cinnamon

Measure all ingredients into a large mixing bowl and mix thoroughly (mixture will be very stiff but it will come together). Roll into bite sized balls. I used a small cookie scoop to shape mine and just packed it full so they held together well. Store in an air tight container in the refrigerator. We prefer them refrigerated before we eat them so they hold together firmly.

My kids beg me for these and I have a hard time keeping my hands off them too! Enjoy!

♥Shari

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Fireflies and Jellybeans: Show Off Your Stuff Party

Learning About Pumpkins With Young Children

2012-11-05T00:00:00.000-06:00

This week is our third week (after a few I've taken off from writing!) of Fall Lessons For Young Children and we are learning about pumpkins! I love pumpkins! We love decorating with them and we love eating foods that are flavored with them. I'm sharing several fun ideas covering all things pumpkin and we picked a few that worked for us this week. Which means lots of fun ideas to choose from for next year!

Pumpkin lesson ideas:

Visit a pumpkin patch.
Borrow books from the library to read about pumpkins.
Roast pumpkin seeds.
Eat a yummy pumpkin treat like my Pumpkin Muffins.
Make a pumpkin craft...or make several! I've got a few pinned over on Pinterest!
Discuss how pumpkins grow and different ways to use pumpkins.

We've read books, discussed pumpkins, and enjoyed pumpkin treats galore! We also decided to do this super easy and fun pumpkin craft! You can find it here... I found it on Pinterest!

Supplies you'll need:

One paper plate per child
Orange crayons
Green construction paper
Leftover toilet paper rolls (I used one cut into three pieces.)
Green pipe cleaners (I used one cut into three pieces.)
Craft glue
Scissors

Here's how you do it:

1. Preparations. I did all the scissor work before the kids were up from nap so I had the supplies all ready to go. Cut the centers out from the paper plates. Trace a simple leaf shape onto the construction paper and cut out (I bent ours in half to give them some texture). Twirl the pipe cleaner around a pencil to form the pumpkin vine then cut the pipe cleaner into two or three smaller pieces. Cut pumpkin stems out of the toilet paper rolls by cutting vertically down the toilet paper roll to make it into a rectangle. Then cut the rectangle in half length wise. Cut stem-sized pieces out of the strips of toilet paper roll.

2. Supplies. Gather together all the necessary supplies so when little ones are ready to do their craft you can jump right in and help them without having to go grab things. They do seem to have short attention spans!

Gathered supplies.

3. Color. Have the kids color their paper plates orange. I happened to have three small broken pieces of orange crayons (actually most of our crayons are in small, broken pieces) so each child got their own.

4. Design. Set the pumpkin stem, leave, and vine pieces out and let the child decide how it should appear on their pumpkin.

5. Glue. With some help from Mom, allow child to glue the stem, vine, and leaf to the back of the paper plate and hold the pieces down to help the glue to set.

6. Dry. Allow pumpkins to sit until the glue is dry to ensure that the stem, vine, and leaf remain secured to the pumpkin. I didn't take a picture of this.

7. Take More Pictures!

Sean

Logan

Ella

After we were done with our little modeling the pumpkin crafts, I hung them up on our school bulletin board.

What is your favorite fall pumpkin activity?

♥Shari

Fall Lessons For Young Children: 1) Leaf Rubbings, 2) Baking Cookies, and 3) Bird Feeders.

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A Change Of Plans (and family pictures)

2012-10-26T00:00:00.000-05:00

We've had a busy week but I wanted to drop in and share a quick update about our week. We've certainly had some lovely autumn weather which inspired me to take pictures of everyone out in the piles of leaves in our yard.

Since Casey graduated with his MA degree in May of 2011, he has been pursuing an actual career job opportunity as opposed to just a job - his main interest is in a decent salary to provide stability for our growing family. It's a tough job market out there for a lot of people and the college graduate is no exception. He is currently pursuing a specific company that he feels would be a great match for his abilities and was finally offered two interviews this week in two different towns.

To prepare for Casey's trip I planned out a mini-menu for his meals he'd be eating away from home.

Tuesday

Dinner - A pre-packaged bowl of onion flavored rice noodles with a little bag of cheese to stir in and a bottle of pepper sauce. We planned that he would be able to eat this at his hotel.

Wednesday

Breakfast - Plain whole milk yogurt mixed with frozen blueberries.

Lunch - Egg salad with rice crackers.

I also packed cashews and a Lara bar for snacks as well as the extra rice crackers. I made lots of ice for the few days before I knew he'd be leaving and saved it in a bag in the freezer door. That way I could pack his food safely.

We were grateful for the opportunity for him to be considered for these two positions and we are praying earnestly for God's will in our lives regarding his future employment.

We believe that no matter what happens we remain in God's hands and He has already given us the greatest gift of all - Jesus!

♥Shari

Feminine Friday: She Speaks With Wisdom And Kindness

2012-10-19T00:00:00.000-05:00

Source

Our ninth Feminine Behavior - we have two more still to come - is "She speaks with wisdom and kindness." This is obviously a virtue for all women and wives but I am specifically going to focus today on how this can be applied to us as mothers. As a mother of three, I so very often deeply desire to speak with wisdom and kindness to my little ones but I know I regularly fail. It's easier said than done but let's delve into this pertinent topic together and see if we can't take something away to apply today.

Our verse this week is Proverbs 31:26:

"She openeth her mouth with wisdom;

and in her tongue is the law of kindness."

(KJV)

Another translation to consider:

"When she speaks, her words are wise,

and she gives instructions with kindness."

(NLT)

According to the Strong's Concordance, another possible word that would describe the message of the word wisdom could be prudence. I think prudence is a great way to explain this. One definition of the word prudence is using discretion. As a mother, dealing with the most crazy of questions, most wild of behavior, and most foul of messes is sometimes an hourly part of our job description. At the end of ~~the day~~ breakfast, I may be tempted to say something harsh or unkind to my children in one of those smelly, messy, or stressful moments. This verse is reminding us that we must choose to use discretion in our words to all people but most certainly our children.

In the second half of this verse, the word law means instruction or possibly even mannerism. This could be phrased She imparts knowledge of kindness or she habitually speaks words of kindness. Some words that are synonymous for kindness are: compassion, generosity, affection, courtesy, gentleness, grace, patience, and thoughtfulness. These are all characteristics that we desire others to possess who come in contact with our children. Likewise, these are characteristics that we desire to cultivate in our children. A mother who wishes to instruct her children in kindness must be speaking with wisdom and kindness.

"What you say flows from what is in your heart."

Luke 6:45b (NLT)

Thus in conclusion today I will leave us with this verse which "hits the nail on the head" so-to-speak about why we sometimes struggle to maintain composure or use discretion or impart kindness. The practical and pointed truth of this verse reminds us that it is not the daily chaos or the actions or lack of actions from others that cause us to lose our kindness but it is an underlying issue of the heart. It's a daily process of allowing Him to shape my heart so that His ways will flow from my heart into my words, attitudes, and actions.

For more on this series: Feminine Behaviors - 1) She Is Trustworthy, 2) Helpful and Attentive, 3) She Willingly Works Hard, 4) She Is Resourceful, 5) She Is Self-Sacrificing, 6) She Spends Wisely, 7) Generous and Hospitable, and 8) She Anticipates and Prepare.

♥Shari

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Homemade Pumpkin Muffins (GF/DF)

2012-10-17T00:00:00.000-05:00

It's that time of the year where every time we turn around we're reading about another pumpkin recipe. So why not add another to the galore of pumpkin recipes "out there?" I am going to share with you a "makeover" of one of my favorite gluten free recipes that just so happens to be Pumpkin Muffins. These delightful muffins make for a great breakfast. They're mildly sweet and filling, not to mention they are pretty healthy! My kids gobble these up fast so I hope they hit the spot with your family too.

I originally found this recipe at none other than the amazing bakers at King Arther Flour. I really enjoyed this recipe made exactly the way it is presented on their website but I ended up making several changes in an attempt to make these a healthier breakfast option. Some of the substitutions I've made include using whole grain flours instead of an all-purpose mix, decreasing the sugar while using a less-refined sweetener, and switching out the butter for oil (this was just because my son is allergic to dairy - otherwise I'd have used the butter!).

Homemade Pumpkin Muffins

3 large organic free-range eggs
2 T. blackstrap molasses
1 (15oz) can organic pumpkin
1 c. brown rice flour
3/4 c. sorghum flour
3/4 c. organic Sucanat
2 t. aluminum-free baking powder
1/2 t. xanthan gum
1/2 t. sea salt
1 t. gluten free vanilla extract
2 t. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 c. grapeseed oil

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, molasses, vanilla, pumpkin, and oil. Add in the Sucanat and mix well. Measure in the brown rice flour, sorghum flour, baking powder, xanthan gum, salt, and pumpkin pie spice and mix until combined. Spoon evenly into oiled or paper baking cup lined muffin tins. Bake for 25 minutes (or until a tooth pick inserted comes out clean) for regular-sized muffins or 11-12 minutes for mini-sized muffins.

More breakfast options:
Chocolate Zucchini Muffins (GF/DF)
Slow Cooker Apple Pie Oatmeal (GF/DF)

♥Shari

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Making Bird Feeders With Young Children

2012-10-15T00:00:00.000-05:00

It's week three of the Fall Lessons For Young Children series and this week we're doing a fun, messy craft that my boys were so excited to dive into. We made bird feeders! I'm sure the peanut butter didn't have anything to do with their excitement... wink! I hope your little ones enjoy this craft as much as mine!

Here's how to make your very own (and very easy) bird feeders:

1) Grab your supplies -

Empty toilet paper rolls (try to peel off the last shreds of paper as much as you can) or tree bark, pinecones, rice cakes, small tree branch, etc...
Peanut butter (We made three and we used about 1/4 cup which I measured out into a bowl.)
Bird seed (I used the cheapest bag of seed I found at Wal-Mart but you can use whatever kind you think your birds will like. ☺ I poured about 1/2 cup onto a kitchen plate.)
A hole punch
A butter knife
Yarn or twine or pipe cleaners or wire...

2) Punch holes - I only have a three-hole paper punch (you can actually see some dust on it because I almost never use it ☺) so I carefully squished together one end and did a double punch.

3) Do as I say not as I do - Okay, I thought it would be easier to run the yarn through the holes before we got the toilet paper rolls all covered in sticky peanut butter. Turns out *ahem* the yarn would get stuck in the peanut butter either way so it would be easier to wait and run it through the holes afterward. It's your call though. You're gonna have peanut butter on your fingers either way and the birds don't care if it's pretty. ☺

4) Smear on the peanut butter - I let the boys make their own attempts at covering their toilet paper rolls with peanut butter on their own before I offered to help them. They enjoyed this and there were only a few incidents of finger licking which I ignored (it's easier when I'm not eating the final product ☺).

Logan trying his best but - bless his heart - he started filling the inside of
the roll with peanut butter! I had to help him quite a bit.

Sean did a great job and I only had to help smooth out his efforts a little!

5) Roll in bird seed - This is where things start to get messy but in a fun sort of way. I did have to explain to them that we don't eat bird seed. ☺ Once they got a chance to roll their toilet paper rolls in the bird seed, I showed them how to pick up small amounts of seed to pour over the peanut butter and pat it in so the toilet paper rolls got good and covered.

As a side note, I did try to involve my two year old daughter but she didn't have much interest in being crafty on this particular afternoon and really only wanted to eat peanut butter so I pretty much made the third bird feeder all by myself.

Our finished bird feeders!

6) Hang 'em up - I chose a low hanging branch that leans right over our porch. I could just reach it while standing on a chair. We only have two trees in our yard and they are mature oak trees. If you have smaller trees or bushes that the children can reach then by all means allow them to hang their own feeders. Since this wasn't possible for us, I did the tricky job of hanging them up on a very windy afternoon. We're laying bets on who will find the feeders first, the local birds or the squirrels that nest in the other tree in our yard! Either way we fed some wild life! ☺

This is Sean just after I hung up the bird feeders.
He's very proud of his craftiness!

Fall Lessons For Young Children: 1) Leaf Rubbings and 2) Baking Cookies.

♥Shari

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Feminine Friday: She Anticipates and Prepares

2012-10-12T00:00:00.000-05:00

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I'm so glad you have joined me for the eighth Feminine Behavior, "She Anticipates and Prepares." I promise you I didn't even plan it this way but this virtue just happens to fall (no pun intended) at the most appropriate time of the year. It's a chilly 47 degrees here and I am so glad that I took the time last week to switch our wardrobes from warm weather to cool weather. As each morning grew cooler and cooler, it was no problem to dig into freshly organized dresser drawers to pull out long-sleeved shirts, pants, or warm tights. It was a simple process really, all I did was keep an eye on the weather and when I anticipated cool weather approaching, I set aside part of my day to prepare for it.

This week's topic is found in Proverbs 31:21 where we read:

"She is not afraid of the snow for her household:

For all her household are clothed in scarlet." (KJV)

I also appreciate this translation:

"She has no fear of winter for her household,

For everyone has warm clothes." (NLT)

I would like to focus on the fact that this verse starts out so simple in that the words are meant to be conveyed in a literal sense. She literally did not fear for her family during the upcoming cool season because she had taken the necessary steps to prepare and ensure that they would be clothed warmly.

This is certainly the appropriate time of year to discuss this simple but practical responsibility of the homemaker. Preparing for winter is going to look different for different families by taking into consideration their geographic location and, certainly, their economic situation. Whatever your personal circumstances, preparation for each new season is still necessary.

Here are the steps I take to prepare my own household:

* Prepare the outdoors. My husband and I have always rented so I have absolutely zero expertise on preparing a yard for winter! However, I do keep several potted plants on my deck. This is the first year I have cared for a rose plant and I would like to successfully keep it alive! The rest of my plants are annuals. I found this website to have a few useful tips for beginners (ahem, me...) in preparing roses for winter. We also store our grill and the kids' large yard toys in our shed. Other outdoor preparations for our family include preparing our vehicles. The obvious steps include keeping up with the vehicles' maintenance and adding items like blankets for the "just in case" situations.

* Winter accessories. To keep our home somewhat organized throughout the cool weather months, I keep a few extra bins by our front door area (sadly, we don't have a "real" entryway - just a door opening up into our living room) to store hats, gloves, and scarves. They're conveniently accessible when we're about to leave and they're just as convenient for immediately replacing the items when we return home (at least that is how it should be! ☺). There is also a box (literally a brown shipping box - hey, it was free!) next to the doorway for storing the kids' shoes and boots. The adult shoes are either put in the laundry room if muddy or in the Master bedroom.

* Wardrobes. As I mentioned earlier, I do a big wardrobe switch twice a year where I pull out all the previous season's clothing for each family member and replace them with the next season's clothing. While doing this task, I separate the previous season's clothing into designated piles of keep for next year (or future use) or donate (or yard sale if applicable). I take inventory of the next season's clothing as it's going into closets and dresser drawers and take note of items that are still needed to stretch each person's wardrobe. As an example, my daughter has very few hand-me-downs being that she has two older brothers, so I am stretching her wardrobe by keeping in all her summer dresses and layering them over a long-sleeved shirt and some warm tights. She didn't have a versatile solid-colored shirt to wear under all her dresses so I added that to my list to fill in her wardrobe gaps. Instead of buying five new outfits, I just needed one shirt. I applied the same concept to everyone elses wardrobes to ensure everyone has enough warm clothing. Taking inventory is also useful for when relatives ask what items the kids need and I can relay their practical needs. The last step is to then store away all the previous season's clothing in labeled bins or boxes.

* Inside the home. Again, we rent so I have no expertise on more than just the basic of home maintenance (read: if you need me to change a light bulb then I'm your gal!) since one benefit of renting is that it is someone else's responsibility to see to the majority of these tasks. This will cease to be a benefit when we do get our first home because we'll have a lot we'll need to learn! In the meantime, I do know that there are many valuable and free resources you can find online to educate on preparing the pipes, furnace, and fire place among other matters for the cool weather months. One thing I have learned is that it is always good to check to make sure your heater is working before you actually need it so you have time to fix it if necessary!

Essentially, the practical advice from Proverbs 31:21 is "be prepared." Each year the seasons and, for that matter, many other changes of life such as the school year, holidays, birthdays, and sports seasons, all come around at somewhat predictable times. The Proverbs 31 homemaker takes the time to anticipate these events in her life and plans ahead to prepare for them.

I would love to hear how you prepare your households for winter and any tips you may have!

For more on this series: Feminine Behaviors - 1) She Is Trustworthy, 2) Helpful and Attentive, 3) She Willingly Works Hard, 4) She Is Resourceful, 5) She Is Self-Sacrificing, 6) She Spends Wisely, and 7) She is Generous and Hospitable.

♥Shari

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Slow Cooker Apple Pie Oatmeal

2012-10-10T00:00:00.000-05:00

Waking up each morning to hungry children can sometimes put a damper on my ♫Oh what a beautiful morning!♫ mood. I've learned that preparing ahead by menu planning and utilizing tools like my slow cooker, we can all better enjoy our weekday mornings. I am so very excited to share this week's recipe Slow Cooker Apple Pie Oatmeal because it has been such a huge hit with our family! It is easy to prepare, cooks overnight, is ready in the morning when we get up, and the clean up is a breeze!

Before we delve into the recipe, I want to share the method. For this recipe I used my 7-qt oval slow cooker and a 1 1/2-qt oval baking dish. I basically steamed the oatmeal overnight and was left with considerably less clean-up than had I cooked the oatmeal directly in the crock of the slow cooker. If you do plan to cook the oatmeal directly in the slow cooker, be sure to oil the inside of the crock well. This method will just require a bit more cleaning afterward, otherwise, taste-wise the results are the same!

Slow Cooker Apple Pie Oatmeal

1 c. Gluten free steel cut oats
1/4 c. Pure maple syrup
1/4 t. Real salt
1 T. Ground cinnamon
2 Small apples, cored and diced (I leave the peels on. I have used Gala and Johnathon apples.)
3 c. Water

Place a 1 1/2-qt oval baking dish inside a 7-qt slow cooker. Evenly pour in the oats. Pour in the maple syrup. Sprinkle in the salt and cinnamon. Once your apples are cored and diced (I've even used a food processor to chop them but it makes less dirty dishes to just chop them by hand!), carefully and evenly distribute them on top the oat mixture. Carefully pour in the three cups of water over the apples (the dish will be full to almost the brim - if you have only large apples consider using only 1 to 1 1/2). I used the hose next to the faucet on my sink to carefully fill the crock of the slow cooker with water up to almost the edge of the baking dish. Be careful not to go past the edge of the baking dish. This water is what allows the oatmeal to steam cook overnight. Place the lid securely on the slow cooker. Set on LOW for 7-8 hours or overnight.

I turned mine on at 10:40pm and switched it over to the warm option as soon as I got up the next morning (just turn it off and leave the lid on if your cooker doesn't have this option). When I was ready to serve breakfast, I used one oven mitt and my bare hand to remove the baking dish from the slow cooker. I don't recommend this method as it was pretty warm to the touch! As an alternative to trying to remove the baking dish while it is so full, perhaps try ladeling some of the oatmeal out and then remove the dish. As the baking dish was quite full, I poured the oatmeal into a serving bowl and then mixed it well. I did not add any other ingredients before serving. However, you may wish to add cream or almond milk or more sweetener. We really enjoyed it as-is!

I hope you'll give this creamy oatmeal a try!

♥Shari

More breakfast recipes:

Pumpkin Donuts
Baked Oatmeal
Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

This recipe was featured here:

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Granny's Vital Vittles
Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways