Home Maid Simple

Free Gifts from Cents of Style

2013-05-17T12:02:00.002-06:00

Have you checked out Cents of Style lately? I just LOVE their line. Everything is stylish and at a great price (yes one even cheap old me can afford).

Today only, they are giving away a FREE headwrap with every order. NO MINIMUM purchase!

They're not stopping there though! Oh No. If you spend $20+ today, you will get the Free Headwrap and a Free set of Earrings!

Keep going though, Spend $30 and you'll get the headwrap, earrings, and a scarf for FREE!

Let Cents of Style update your closet this spring.

We are not done there though! Use the code STYLE101 for 10% off your order, and FREE Shipping!

You really can't beat this deal.

*This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are however my very own. I even own Cents of Style products that I purchased with my very own money.

Asparagus and Pork Stir Fry #FoodieFriday

2013-05-16T20:36:00.001-06:00

This has been a very long, very straining week. So I did what I don't normally do, and made a very easy meal, and am now going to share it with you. Please visit my co-host Diane on her blog Simple Living and Eating, for another great recipe!

Asparagus and Pork Stir Fry

Ingredients

2 cups Minute Rice

2 cups Water

2-3 TBS Olive Oil

1 bag Flav-R-pac Asparagus Stir Fry*

Leftover BBQ Pork Ribs**, cut into bite sized pieces (or any other leftover meat.)

Soy Sauce

Directions

In a wok, or large frying pan, heat the oil. Once the oil sizzles with a little water droplet, add the Asparagus Stir Fry mix, and pork.

While the veggies are cooking, heat the water in a medium saucepan. When it begins to boil, add the rice. Cover, and remove from heat.

Once the Veggies and meat are heated through, remove from pan. Serve over the rice with a little soy sauce dribbled on.

*If you prefer to use fresh veggies, the mix contains asparagus, carrots, celery, green beans, and cauliflower. Julienne the carrots and green beans. Chop the cauliflower and celery into bite size pieces. Cut the Asparagus into long strips, almost like Julienne, but leave the stalk intact.

**The meat can be left out. I always enjoy a little added meat to our dishes though. For an extra boost of protein instead of meat, you can use some scrambled eggs. They would also be delightful in this dish.

~FEATURES~

Asian Mango Slaw

from Cook With Sara

This would be the perfect twist to plain old coleslaw.

Garlicky Cilantro Lime Dressing

from Peace but not Quiet

This dressing will go well over any of your summer staples - salad, chicken, tacos. Yum!

Peanut Butter Mini Cheesecakes, topped with Chocolate

from Something Sweet Winnie's Blog

I'm in heaven. These are the perfect treat for a long week.

Did you know? I have a pinterest board dedicated to all the Foodie Friday Features (plus ones I really really like, but didn't feature).

Add a Little Color to Your Porch #MiracleGroProject

2013-05-16T04:01:00.001-06:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Miracle-Gro. All opinions are 100% mine.

I love spring time! All the flowers begin blooming, and the world becomes a more colorful place.

Every spring though, I look at my front porch and feel blah. There's not much color besides the door (a dull green), and it just isn't all that inviting. This year, I decided to remedy that. After planting my vegetable garden, the porch has become my top priority! I need a little cheerful color greeting me as I leave and come back to the house each day.

The great part, is that it's really easy to add some color, and it doesn't have to be expensive either. I used what I had on hand, along with some flowers I received for Mothers Day to put together this bright little piece for my porch.

First gather your supplies. You'll need the following:

A colorful bucket

flowers, or flower seeds

Moisture Control Potting Mix

a little backyard dirt

Next fill your bucket halfway with the Potting Mix. If you're repotting flowers make a small well and transfer the flowers to your bucket. Top off with a little more potting mix, and some backyard dirt. Water the flowers, then sit back and enjoy your little splash of color.

Don't worry if the flowers were looking a little wilty when first planted. With Miracle Gro's potting soil, a little water and sun, the flowers will perk right back up.

In an effort to encourage more families gardening, from small potted plants to large garden areas, Miracle-Gro has put together The Gro Project.

For more fun garden projects, visit Miracle Gro's Pinterest page. Then get out and Gro something!

Today I was Mom

2013-05-15T09:00:00.000-06:00

As I sat in church this past Sunday, and listened to talks about Mothers, my 3 year old Princess used my in much need of a shave, legs as a racetrack for the car we brought. As I watched her happily run the car up to my knee, and back down to my foot, these thoughts ran through my head. I came home, and put them to paper, but spent a little time tweaking it.

These are my thoughts on motherhood. Enjoy.

Today I was Mom

Today I was a Racetrack

and my lap your favorite cushion

Yesterday I made 3 meals

And Cleaned 3 dirty rooms

Tomorrow I will play chauffeur

And nurse, and Biggest Fan

There was a time I was just me

But then you came along

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

I'll always be Your Mom.

Make Dessert Easy

2013-05-14T21:00:00.001-06:00

This post brought to you by Private Selection. All opinions are 100% mine.

We love desserts around here! If you couldn't tell from all my delectable Foodie Friday recipes lately, I spend a lot of time in the kitchen concocting recipes, and hoping they turn out great. When I have company coming over though, I do not like to experiment with our dessert. Sadly, that's exactly what I did the last time we invited friends over. I spent a fair portion of the day creating these little apple pies, only to want to hide after serving them. They really were that bad!

Looking back, I should have gone with one of my tried and true recipes, like cookies, but I didn't. It would have been so nice if I had some of Private Selections Upside Down Cakes on hand. Instead of serving odd looking and a tad cold apple pies, I could have just pulled out an Amber Honey Apple Spiced Upside Down Cake. A quick warming in the microwave, followed with a flip onto a pretty plate, and voila! Dessert served without embarrassment.

Of course the German Chocolate Fudge or Double Chocolate Molten Upside Down Cakes would have also been delightful to serve up in a pinch.

If there's one thing I learned about entertaining from my Mother In Law, it's to always keep something quick and easy on hand. She stocked me up one summer with brownie and cake mixes for the "just in case" events that came my way. It was so nice to have those in my pantry when the calls came in to drop a dessert off at the church...because I signed up to do it! Sometimes I sign up for too much, and easily forget until those calls are made. Private Selections look so scrumptious, and since they are already mixed and baked, are even easier to prepare and drop off in a pinch - Warm, Flip, Serve.

Private Selection is a premium Private Label Brand sold exclusively at Kroger and it's affiliated Stores. To find a store near you, visit the easy to use Locator Tool.

Right now Kroger is offering a $1 Off or $2 Off coupon to Private Selection Upside Down Cakes.

Private Selection Upside Down Cakes coupon

Disclaimer: Coupon ends 6/2/13. Official rules: In order to load these coupons to your card, you will need to sign into your Kroger account or set up a Kroger account and enter your card number. Limit one use per digital coupon. Digital offers are not eligible on Managers Specials, cannot be combined with manufacturer paper coupons on the purchase of a single item, and do not double. Not all items are available in all stores. A limit of 150 coupons can be loaded per household at one time.

Private Selection uses only the best ingredients when making their cakes, so it truly tastes homemade!

Connect with Private Selection

Private Selection Upside Down Cakes on Facebook

Private Selection Upside Down Cakes on Pinterest

P.S. Don't Forget the Cake!

The Lake House by Marci Nault #BookReview

2013-05-14T08:00:00.000-06:00

The Lake House

By Marci Nault

About the Book: VICTORIA ROSE. Fifty years before, a group of teenage friends promised each other never to leave their idyllic lakeside town. But the call of Hollywood and a bigger life was too strong for Victoria . . . and she alone broke that pledge. Now she has come home, intent on making peace with her demons, even if her former friends shut her out. Haunted by tragedy, she longs to find solace with her childhood sweetheart, but even this tender man may be unable to forgive and forget.

HEATHER BREGMAN. At twenty-eight, after years as a globe-trotting columnist, she’s abandoned her controlling fiancé and their glamorous city life to build one on her own terms. Lulled by a Victorian house and a gorgeous locale, she’s determined to make the little community her home. But the residents, fearful of change and outsiders, will stop at nothing to sabotage her dreams of lakeside tranquility.

About the Author: Marci Nault hails from a town not too far from Lake Nagog in Massachusetts. Today she can be found figure skating, salsa dancing, hiking and wine tasting around her home in California. Marci founded the website www.101dreamscometrue.com - a motivational website that encourages you to live your dreams.

So far she has accomplished 90 of her 101 dreams.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed The Lake House. I felt pulled into the little community of Nagog, and wished for awhile that we lived lakeside as well. I hurt with Victoria as she faced the mistakes from her past, and wanted to yell at her old friends to forgive. With Heather I rejoiced when she moved her life on, and laughed at the antics of her new neighbors.

What I mostly took from this book, however, was that we need to slow our lives down and be aware of those around us. We should take the time to get to know our neighbors, and allow them to know us. Most importantly though, we need to not be so self-involved we miss those events that are important to those we care most about.

The only thing I did not like about The Lake House, was it did periodically get a little steamy. Although I would not classify this book as a romance, it did have it's parts that were a little too descriptive for my comfort.

Applie Pie Burritos #FoodieFriday

2013-05-09T20:40:00.002-06:00

Please visit my co-host Diane at Simple Living and Eating.

Today's recipe is brought to you by my husband Mark. He surprised me periodically with his creativity in the kitchen. Especially when what he is saying, doesn't sound all that appetizing to me.
If you recall I've attempted, not once, but twice, to make mini Apple Pies using puff pastry, and failed both times. So we had a nice bowl of Apple Pie Filling sitting in our fridge. I knew I needed to use it, I just didn't know how.

Then in comes Mark and he says
"Hey, you know that Apple Pie filling in the fridge?"
yes?
"I was thinking, let's wrap it in a tortilla, and drizzle butter, cinnamon and sugar on the top."
really? That sounds....not so great. But what the hey, let's give it a go.

An hour later (with a small twist of chocolate and ice cream by me) - "Holy Moly! This is good! I need more apple pie filling!"
And that my dear readers is the story behind Apple Pie Burritos. A little late for Cinco De Mayo (my bad), but that's OK because these are good anytime, anywhere.

Apple Pie Burritos

Ingredients

1 jar homemade Apple Pie filling

4 flour tortillas

1 TBS melted butter

1 tsp Roasted Saigon Cinnamon

2 tsp sugar

Chocolate syrup

ice cream

Directions

Warm the apple pie filling up in the microwave. About 2-3 minutes (stop periodically and stir). Spoon 4 TBS filling (or your own desired amount) of filling onto a tortilla. Roll the tortilla up. Repeat with each tortilla. Drizzle melted butter across all 4 tortillas.

In a small bowl combine Cinnamon and Sugar. Sprinkle over the tortillas. Top with a few scoops of Vanilla Ice Cream, and drizzle on some chocolate syrup.

Eat, Enjoy, Make some more.

~FEATURES~

Peanut Butter Pasta
from Confessions of an Overworked Mom

It seems strange at first, but it's another great way to get the Asian inspired peanut flavor into pasta.

Very Berry Spinach Salad
from Ashley's Dandelion Wishes
I love how simple this salad is, while still popping with pretty colors.

Pile-On-Tops
from A Handful of Everything
If your still looking for a Mothers Day Breakfast, this would be perfect!

Cut the Clutter and Enjoy more Family Time {Think About It}

2013-05-09T12:15:00.000-06:00

There has been so much going on in our lives right now. Between just being a Mom, and trying to really put more into this blog, as well as remodeling the bathroom, and other life stresses, I found myself getting completely overwhelmed.

I found my stress came out towards the house. I was tired of picking the same thing up over and over and over again. I was tired of feeling like the only one who cared to have a clean house. So I stopped cleaning beyond the absolute necessary chores.

So then one day, I was talking to my mom, and she told me something she's often said before

Less is More.

Yes Mom, I know, but so many things have an emotional attachment to them. I often have a harder time getting rid of items then the kids because I remember what we were doing when we got them. And as before when she's given me this simple advice, I pushed it aside, thinking I couldn't do it. I'd be the mean mom taking their toys away, the mean wife tossing things away and saying no to more "stuff".

And then a day or two after I talked to my mom I came across this post -

Why I Took My Kids Toys Away from Living Well, Spending Less.

This time, my moms advice came back to my mind, and I knew I needed to make the change. We needed to get rid of a lot of the "stuff" cluttering up our house. Not just for my sanity, but to bring our family back to true happiness. We've spent too many days crying over toys, not finding that special toy in the mess, and tears and tantrums because "It's too hard to clean up Mom!"

Before I made my plan of action, I presented the idea to Mark. We believe in team parenting, so I wanted to make sure he was on board, and felt good about what I was about to do as well. We gave it a day to think about, and then presented our plan of action to the kids.

Hey Kids, Mom and Dad were thinking, we have too many toys.

Noooooooooo! Don't take our toys away!!!

We're not taking your toys away! Calm down and listen please.

And then we did it. We involved our kids in the process to make room in our life for more family activities, instead of more toys.

The Idea: Earn money by selling toys at a yard sale. Use the money for a pre-chosen family activity.

The Plan of Attack: We told the kids they didn't have to sell any of their toys, but if they did we could earn money for something we can't normally afford to do. Mom and Dad wouldn't make them sell anything, but we would encourage them to minimize and choose only a few favorites to keep.

We began with the stuffed animals. 2 large bins of stuffed animals stuck in storage, with more hanging around the toy room was a bit much. We involved the kids, and had a stuffed animal sorting party. Mark and I pushed to get each Princesses pile down to 5 stuffed toys. We ended with 1 full bin to sell (and a very happy Mama!). Now every night as we clean up the toys as a family, some may get tossed into our yard sale pile as the Princesses realize they don't ever play with it.

The Goal: Bowling! Frequently we hear requests to take the kids bowling. Bowling can get expensive, and exhaustive with all the kids - but we know they enjoy it, and it will bring us closer as a family. It will be affordable as well. For me though, I will enjoy more time with the kids playing, instead of cleaning up their crazy messes as they try to find that 1 toy hidden in the depths of the toy box.

Think About It!

Are you being overrun with clutter?

It might not be an insane amount of toys (my kids really don't have that many), but if it's enough that tantrums are a daily occurrence, and you feel overwhelmed just looking at them - then you probably have too many for your space and your kids.

The tantrums truly tell us something. It's kind of like a hidden message. To me "Mom it's too hard to clean up" really was saying "Mom, I have too many toys, and I've just as overwhelmed by them as you are"

Disney Planes Coloring Pages

2013-05-08T08:55:00.001-06:00

We are so excited for Disney's new movie Planes! Every time we see a preview the Princesses start getting all excited, and shouting

It's Cars! It's Cars!

And then I try to explain to them that, no it's like Cars, but it's planes. They were made by the same people. To which my kids have now decided to call this new movie

Cars Planes!

August 9th is a long way off still, but I know this is one we'll be going to the theater to see (and we don't make it out to the movies often with 4 kids...). So in the meantime, I'm very excited that Disney has put together some coloring pages for the kids to enjoy.

Just click on the image and you'll be taken to the coloring pages you can print out.

Motherhood Matters {Book Review}

2013-05-07T10:03:00.001-06:00

Tour Schedule

About the Book

Motherhood is a divine calling---but it may not always feel that way. Now you can show the women in your life how much they matter to you, with this delightful and heartwarming volume of wit and wisdom about the divinity, reality, and rewards of motherhood. Fresher than flowers and sweeter than chocolate, it's a perfect gift for the women who give so much. In these hectic days where life's demands can quickly become a heavy burden, Motherhood Matters helps you find more memorable moments and take the stress out of the to-do lists. Written with clarity, concision, and wit, this short, yet indispensable handbook is better than flowers, more guilt-free than chocolate, and gives back to the woman who sacrifices so much of herself every single day.

BUY THE BOOK

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Connie Sokol is a mother of seven, a national and local presenter, and a regular speaker at Education Week. She is a monthly contributor on KSL TV “Studio 5,” and regular blogger for KSL "Motherhood Matters." She is a former TV and radio host for Bonneville Communications, and columnist for Deseret News and Utah Valley Magazine. Mrs. Sokol is the author of several books including the award-nominated romance Caribbean Crossroads, the 8-week Challenge program of Faithful, Fit & Fabulous, Life is Too Short for One Hair Color Series, as well as talk CDs and podcasts. Mrs. Sokol marinates in time spent with her family and eating decadent treats.

CONNECT
Website * Facebook

My Thoughts

Mothers Day is this Sunday! Are you ready for it? Have you found that perfect gift to tell Mom how much you truly appreciate her?

I received an e-copy of Motherhood Matters by Connie Sokol in order to share my review here. True to any good small inspirational book, Motherhood Matters is full of inspiring tales and words of wisdom. I was expecting to feel a nice little uplifting as I read this book, but I got so much more. I was reminded that what I do as a Mom does matter, and it matters so much more than I often give myself credit for. Connie helped show how even on those not so good days, we can still find joy and hope in the journey.

Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 5/15/13 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Clear Your Shelf Giveaway Hop

2013-05-06T21:33:00.001-06:00

I have so many books. SOOO many books! I also have a very hard time getting rid of books. Thankfully I have been able to receive many books for review that I may never have otherwise picked up. I have found so many good books this way, but have also read some that I didn't particularly care for. Then there are some that I read, enjoyed, but don't feel the need to hand onto any longer.

I look forward to this hop hosted by Kathy at I am a Reader, Not a Writer since it gives me the chance to clear some space, and you the chance to win some books! Right now, I need all the space I can get too. We only have 2 bookshelves, since the rest broke in our move. I have yet to get around to replacing them, and well - I have 18 boxes of books just hanging out in my basement. Not how I like to see my books. So I'm clearing my shelf, so I can pull a few more out. Isn't that nice of me?

Did I get a little winded there? So sorry. Here is what ONE lucky reader will win from moi

The Freedman and the Pharaoh's Staff

by Layne Heymont

This is a review copy I was sent for free. I wanted to bad to delve into this book, but emotionally I couldn't. It is strong from 2 very opposing sides. I hope whoever wins will be able to enjoy the historical content in this book, and see the view the author was trying to display in so dramatic a work.

GPS Your Best Life

by Charmane Hammond & Debra Kasowski

I enjoyed this book. I felt like I gained some insight into how I want my life to turn out, and what I need to do to go there. Now it's time for someone else to map their best life!

ec·o·nom·ics: a simple twist on normalcy

by Kersten L. Kelly

I read this book about a year ago. It was a very interesting read, and helps bring economics into your daily life, on a level most people can actually understand. Read my full review.

Racing from Death: A Nikki Latrelle Racing Mystery

by Sasscer Hill

I enjoyed the premise of this novel, but there was just too much horse racing talk I didn't get, and romance and drugs for me to enjoy.

The Lake House
by Marci Nault
I want to like this book so bad! Review will be on the blog early next week, but here's a quick inside view - New England Lake House, living around friends and family, love and heartache.
I'm giving this book up, because the love border lined on the not my kind of reading side. Which is too bad, because if it was just a bit cleaner, I would've loved this book so much.

The Path of the Fallen
by Dan O'Brien
This is a BIG BOOK! Just so you know. But a fun YA novel that explores another version on life, death and the beyond. Read my full review.

Roost
by Jasmine Winterson
This tale was just too unbelievable for me, and since it was set in modern day America, it made it that much harder to connect and believe I was in the story. Read my review.

THAT IS NOT ALL THOUGH! The winner will also receive my very last Home Maid Simple branded Book Bag: sporting Home Maid Simple's button and the phrase "Turning Your House Into A Home"

OPEN to US and CAN residents.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Motherhood: Keeping it Real

2013-05-06T12:58:00.000-06:00

*This post is an entry into Mompact's REAL Moms Giveaway*

When I saw Mompact talking about Real Moms, I though to myself - Every Mom is a Real Mom. We're just all different in how we approach things. What do they mean REAL Moms? So I started giving it some thought, and came up with this fun little picture.

I think MOST Mom's can relate to the above experience. Kids find something they shouldn't, get into it, make a mess in 2 seconds flat. How in the world did we as Mom let this happen?! Weren't we watching them? Don't we spend every waking moment right next to them, playing, teaching, crafting, and having fun?

The truth is we don't. That's not to say I go off and eat bonbons while my kids run a muck No. No. This flour (yes friends, that is about 5 lbs of flour!) incident happened when I took 5 minutes to go put clothes on. I wasn't getting a shower that morning (don't be offended, but I don't get a shower most days), I wasn't playing on facebook. I wasn't even blogging on this particular morning.

What did happen? Let me recount. I had gotten up that morning, ready to tackle the day. I fed the kids, and got them dressed. One even made it all the way to dress up clothes! While they were harmlessly playing with their toys, I ran down to our room to wake up Mark and get myself dressed. As most mornings go, I skipped a shower, waiting for a time when Mark could watch the kids, and I didn't have things that needed doing. So I'm dressed and headed back up for a fun filled day, when I walk into this.

My first reaction was wanting to cry. Something must have gone right that morning though, and I took the moment to capture the utter joy on my kids faces. This - this is where mothering will show it's true colors. I could have been angry and yelled. I could have thrown our couch out instead of cleaning it.

Instead - I laughed. I took some photos to remember. It's surprising actually how often I find myself searching for this photo - just to laugh. I then shook off the kids clothes, pulled out the vacuum and did some major cleaning of floor and couch.

A few weeks (maybe even just days), my kids showed up in the kitchen like this

I don't even remember what I was doing this time. Probably eating bon bons while cooking something like Macaroni and Cheese for lunch.

I try to be honest with you. My life is not perfect, my house is not clean all the time, but I do the best I can. Right now, in this crazy ride called Motherhood, I find it to be most real when my kids are smiling and laughing. I can ignore the messes, forget the burnt dinner from the night before, and just enjoy the moments.

Clean or messy, pinterest perfect or FAIL funny, if the kids are feeling loved - that is what matters

This is REAL Motherhood.

Mothers Day Breakfast In Bed {Foodie Friday}

2013-05-02T22:54:00.001-06:00

Please visit my co-host Diane at Simple Living and Eating. She has a Sausage and Eggplant Cassoulet for you today.

Mothers Day is coming up in 2 Sundays everyone. That means 1 week to get those gifts ready, and plans made to remind Mom just how much you love her. As a mom, I will tell you right now, it's the little things that mean the most - an acknowledgement of all she does and sacrifices for you is what Mom is looking for.
Last week I shared 7 gifts Mom will love - today I'm giving you 2 simple recipes to make Mom's breakfast extra special.

Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
3 Bananas
1 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Streusal Topping
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/2 tsp Roasted Saigon Cinnamon (gives it a very light kick)
1/4 tsp Nutmeg

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
Cream together shortening, sugar, eggs, and bananas. Set aside.
Sift flour, baking soda, and salt together. Add to the wet ingredients, and mix until well combined. Fill muffin liners 1/3 full (I bought my cute muffin cups from IKEA) with batter. Add a few chocolate chips, and fill the muffin liner up to 2/3 full.

In a bowl combine butter and sugars. Slowly add in flour and spices until just combined. Crumble on top of muffins. Bake for 50-60 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

Oatmeal Yogurt Parfait

1 cup water
1/2 cup Rolled Oats
1/2 cup frozen mixed fruit, thawed
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
Fresh blueberries and strawberries

Boil water, and add the oats. Stir until well mixed. Layer a 1/4 cup oats in the bottom of a cup or parfait dish, top with 1/4 cup frozen fruit mix, then 1/4 yogurt. Repeat the layers. Top with a spoonful of fresh blueberries and a strawberry. If you really want to make it special, add a chocolate butterfly! Directions for that can be found at We Lived Happily Ever After.

Don't forget to pretty up the breakfast tray! Add some fresh flowers, her favorite book, whatever it is your mom likes. Go ahead, spoil her!

Maybe your mom doesn't care for oatmeal, yogurt and muffins. Or perhaps you're looking for a special dinner. Check out these other ideas you could whip up for Mom!

~FEATURES~

Raspberry Sweet Rolls

from Butter and Jam

I would enjoy this for breakfast any day!

Chicken and Tortellini with Tomato Cream Sauce

from Hot Eats and Cool Reads

Creamy tomato and pasta? Yes please!

Actimel Mango and Passion Fruit Smoothie with Fresh Basil

from Anyonita Nibbles

Smoothies are a Mom's best friend to get through the crazy days. These look especially good and easy to make.

This post can be found at the following Link Parties

Finding Self Worth {Think About It}

2013-05-02T12:26:00.000-06:00

Have you ever wondered why you matter? Why should you care about things? Why should anyone care about you? Do you recognize yourself when looking in a mirror?

I believe we all at times ask ourselves these questions. It’s part of our journey to become an individual with likes and dislikes. But most importantly I believe the answers to these questions give us our self worth. They tell us just how much we value ourselves, and in turn how much we will value those around us.

Think About It!

Why do you matter? Because you’re a person. A living breathing person, you absolutely matter. Maybe you’re a mom – you sure matter to your kids, even if they don’t always acknowledge or appreciate it. Perhaps you are a teacher – those kids you teach need you. They’re practically like your very own kids. Father, daughter, nephew, grandparent – someone in this world thinks you matter to them.

From a religious standpoint – you matter to God. You might think no one in this world cares about you, but I know He does. We are all His children, and He cares for each of us individually in the struggles we go through. Just as mothers and fathers on earth, He can’t/won’t fix everything and make it all better, because He wants us to learn. Some lessons are hard to learn, others are easy. But also as parents on earth, He feels our pains and our sorrows our joys and excitements. He cares about you.

Gaining Self Worth

I didn't use to care. That is, I didn't use to care about how I looked, what I wore, or what others thought of me. At least that’s the outward show I gave. In truth I cared deeply what others thought, but brushed them off as not worth my time. Looking back, a big problem I had was that I didn't feel great about me inside, so why should I care about my outward appearance? I was a nice person, that’s all that should have mattered.

It took someone outside my family to show me just how much self worth I had, and help me gain more. Mark was and is my rock in self worth. He truly didn't care what I looked like on the outside, but looked at my heart instead. He still doesn't care really – shaved legs or not – but he wants me to care. Do you know why? Because when I started caring, I only became a better person. When I found that looking nice, and feeling good on the inside could change more than just me, I cared. I know Mark will love me through any stage I go through, and that was what stuck. It’s taken some time to grow into this new found self worth, and it’s still growing. What I want most though, is for Mark to have a nice wife, that loves herself enough to take care of herself. Sure he wouldn't care if I went out in a stained t-shirt, knots in my hair, and hairy legs – but now I do. I do because he cares about me.

Does any of that make sense?

Think About It.

Has someone changed your life, just by simply loving you for you?

I got a shower yesterday morning. I put Princess V in charge of the younger kids, and then allowed my trust in her to over ride any worries that someone was going to get severely hurt while I took care of me. Do you know what happened?

No one got hurt. Everyone was happy, and so was I. I took the time to show myself a little love, and our day went so much better than most. In fact, the day went so well, that even the lack of Internet didn't get my spirits down. I did some major cleaning in the spare room, got laundry done, fed kids, played with kids, fixed the curtains Mark didn't like, and kept up with potty training Princess R. All with a smile on my face, a calm voice, and love radiating out from me. All because I loved myself first. The kids spoke kindly to one another, homework and chores were done without complaint, and we all felt the sun shining in our home.

I still may not have a great sense of fashion, and I’ll definitely still wear my worn thin flip flops out in public. But my hair will be combed, and I will care if there are huge stains on my shirt. Because I matter to someone – I matter to me. I have a husband who showed me that, and I am so grateful for his forever love.

Things I Love

2013-05-01T18:43:00.000-06:00

I had a pretty rough night last night. Mark was so kind and let me sleep in (actually he always pushed for me to sleep in, but still, very nice of him). So after waking up, and taking a shower, I started thinking about all the things I love and that make me happy. Here is a short list for you.

Cute Kids Clothing – and the kids wearing them of course

Reading good books – like The Dressmaker of Khair Khana.

Such a good read, and insight into women in the middle east.

The Happify Community. What a difference they are making in individual lives as we come together on their social platform.

Good Food.

Blogging – and my new Business Cards. I loved how easy these were to create at Modern Greetings, and when I realized I messed up a quick email and call got the order fixed before printing!

Time with Daddy – but especially watching the kids spend time with Daddy.

What Makes YOU Happy?

*Just a note - this is not a sponsored post, nor does it contain affiliate links. I just wanted to share the things that make me happy.

Remodeling with Pfister Faucets {Giveaway}

2013-04-30T12:32:00.001-06:00

I've mentioned a little on here, and some on my Facebook page that we are remodeling our bathroom. It started out as a small idea -

Get rid of the Walk-In Tub

(although I had 5 good reasons to keep that tub!)

Upon buying our new house, our realtor asked if we would sell the walk-in to her. She would take care of the removal and purchasing our new tub. That was the easy part. Mark and I like to dream with our homes. We truly love making a house into a home, and that includes making the layout fit (a reason buying new wouldn't be such a bad idea). Ideas began to flow, plans were made, and walls started to come down. Remodeling is very exciting, but I'm also learning I'm not as handy as I wish were. In our current stage, I can't do anything - it's electrical work. Mark does that.

What I have been doing though, is design planning! I've already bought new towels for just Mark and I (the other ones are 7 years old, gasp!), and started looking at fixtures. The one thing that we took the longest to decide on, but are the most happy with, are our new faucets. Since we gutted the whole bathroom, we've been able to completely customize the fixtures to our style.

Before I show you the faucets we're installing, let me show you a little of the reno plans.

OK, this isn't quite accurate. We've made some more changes since this plan was drawn. But just take a look at the master bath. It use to be the only upstairs bathroom, and only have a tub. We are adding the walk-in shower, and turning the doorway to open straight into the master bedroom. I am so stoked about this little retreat we are creating!

We of course wanted to make sure we got quality faucets, and when I think faucets, I think Pfister. Top of the line quality! We are installing the Kenzo line into our shower. Isn't it sleek?

Pfister has been an absolute pleasure to work with and has sent us all the components needed to make sure it is installed correctly, along with extras like the towel bar and tissue holder. I really can't say enough good about the experience I've had working with Pfister.

So let me just share the experience with one of you! One lucky reader will be receiving their choice of Pfister faucet (up to a $400 value)!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Weekend Baking {Menu Plan}

2013-04-29T09:01:00.001-06:00

I've never spent quite so much time in the kitchen as I did this last weekend. Maybe it was because I finally got some major cleaning done during the week, or maybe I was just really excited about some of the ideas I have cooked up for you. I don't know. I do know, that by the end of the day yesterday my feet were killing me!

Here's a little run down of what I made:

Sourdough bread. I made my first starter ever last Sunday, and was itching the whole week for it to be ready to use. Unfortunately my bread machine decided it can't sit still anymore, so it pulled it's own cord partway through rising. Thankfully my mom taught me bread making as a child, so I easily adapted and oven baked it.

Mini Apple pies. I tried making these a month or so ago and they failed. They failed again. I don't think I'll be attempting apple pie with phyllo dough anymore. It's just too tricky to work with.

Chocolate Butterflies. These were so fun to create, and turned out so pretty. Although Mark's reaction to the books in the fridge will be right up there on things I will never forget - "Umm, did you know there's a couple of books in the fridge?" Yes honey, I put them there. Find the tutorial at We Lived Happily Ever After.

Chocolate chip Banana Muffins and Yogurt Oatmeal parfaits. I've made these before, and whipped them up quick Saturday so I could do a little photo shoot. I even bought some pretty flowers just for show (and really I love having fresh flowers in the house!)

Nutella Banana Fudgesicles. This happened. It oh so happened. Mark bought our very first jar of Nutella and I went wild! Last Sunday it was nutella no-bakes (just switch out the peanut butter in this recipe with nutella). This week it was fudgesicles and sandwiches. The girls loved their Nutella and Honey sandwiches.

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This week's Menu

Monday - Steak and Egg Burritos

Tuesday - Stovetop Beef and Penne Casserole

Wednesday - Pancakes and Bacon

Thursday - Lasagna

Friday - Pizza night

Saturday - Leftovers

Sunday - Hawaiian Ham Skillet

May's Freezer Cooking:
Italian Beef and Beans
Beefy Enchiladas
Chicken Tucson
Spaghetti Casserole
Ham and Corn Casserole

7 Mothers Day Gifts She'll Love!

2013-04-26T13:49:00.000-06:00

2 weeks - and then it's Mothers Day.

I love this day to celebrate my own mother, but now that I am a mother myself I like to use this day to reflect on how I can be a better mother. I won't lie though - I enjoy being shown just a little extra love on this day as well. Even if it's just home made cards - a little something to show that what I do does matter.

1. Breakfast in Bed. Let her sleep in - even if she's not actually sleep. Allowing mom to relax in bed for just this one day will rejuvenate her mind and body. She'll be happier, and so will everyone else.

2. Photo Books. There are so many different options for photo books these days. Mom will love having a professionally bound book with photos of her children. On those hard days, a flip through this book will remind her why she's mom. Blurb book currently has a sale for Mothers Day books - 20% OFF when you use code LOVEYOUMOM

3. Home Made Cards. Moms don't need expensive gifts to feel loved. A hand drawn card made with love will always mean more to mom than anything else.

4. Jewelry. Depending on the Mom, jewelry can be a wonderful tangible gift. These necklaces from Cents of Style are perfect for mom, and can be personalized with initials.

5. Flowers. Mom's love flowers. Pick them from your own backyard, or personalize a bouquet from a local shop. Every time she sees these flowers she'll be reminded of the love she has in family, and will bring a smile to her face.

6. A Flirty Apron. Or something else she wants but won't splurge on for herself (for me this happens to be a Flirty Apron..)

7. Finally if you just don't know what to give Mom - don't guess. Give her a gift card. Places like One King's Lane and Layla Grace have fashionable items for every taste. These are my personal favorite online sale sites for home décor.

Now you know what to get Mom! Don't be like me, and wait too long to order. I have the bad habit of wanting to buy something online, but forget it takes a few days for shipping. Order early to have in time for your mom!

*This post contains affiliate links. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I believe moms everywhere will enjoy these gifts, otherwise I wouldn't recommend them.

Nachos - Made for Dinner {Foodie Friday}

2013-04-25T21:40:00.000-06:00

After indulging in my Nachos made for dinner, head on over to my cohost Diane for some delicious looking Carrot Chickpea Soup!

Mark has requested a few more manly type meals. In truth he doesn't request much, but he came home one day with a bag of chips and a #10 can of Nacho sauce. The challenge was on!

He of course only expected chips, cheese, salsa and sour cream. He was not expecting what he came home to - a high pile of chips, shredded chicken, beans, cheese, tomatoes, green onions, sour cream and guacamole.

I could not in good conscience serve my family nachos as a meal. Unless of course I found a way to balance it with a slightly more healthy take. This my friends, this was good. I even had some as leftovers for lunch one day.

Ingredients

2 chicken breasts

2 tsp Wildtree Fajita Seasoning

1 cup water

1 bag tortilla chips

1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup cheese sauce, divided

1 avocado

1 TBS Wildtree guacamole mix

1 tomato , chopped

4 green onions, chopped

sour cream dollops

Directions

1.Place the chicken, fajita seasoning and water in your crockpot on high for 3-4 hours. Once the chicken is cooked through, use forks to shred the chicken. Set it aside.

2. On a large baking sheet (a 9x13 baking dish would also work well) spread out half of the tortilla chips. Spread half of the chicken, and half of the pinto beans on top of the chips. Pour 1/2 cup of the cheese sauce over the first layer. Repeat the layer of chips, chicken, beans and cheese.

3. Place your nachos in a 350 degree oven (can be preheated or not), for 30 minutes. While the nachos are heating up, cut the avocado in half. Remove the pit and peel. Mash the avocado with a fork, and stir in the guacamole mix. Place in fridge.

4. Remove Nachos from oven. Top with tomatoes, green onions, and dollops of sour cream and guacamole. Enjoy!

And if you're wondering - this recipe makes enough to serve a small army...I'm not kidding, it's a lot and pretty filling. Mark's only "complaint" was not enough cheese.

~FEATURES~

Banh Mi Asian Burgers

From Half Baked Harvest

I have never heard of Banh Mi before, but she had me at "drippy eggs". I will do about anything for a nice soft egg yolk.

White Chocolate and Maple Caramel Eclairs with Orange and Star Anise Cream and Chipped Almonds

from Anyonita Nibbles

Have you noticed anything yet? If it has maple, I'll probably feature it. If it's got maple and caramel, there's no way I'm passing it up! I'm headed to a food coma just looking at these...someone pull me away from the screen!

Strawberry Rhubarb Cake

from Food Done Light

Guess what I found growing in my backyard this week? RHUBARB! This cake will be making it's way into our house this summer.

Practice Makes Perfect {Think About It}

2013-04-25T13:19:00.002-06:00

Practice Makes Perfect

I seem to find myself teaching the kids this good bit of advice a lot recently. At this very precious time in their lives, they are learning the value of doing something well, and the hard work it takes to accomplish something well.

I worry actually that if I become too slack, they will be too much like me - everything done will be only partly done, or only satisfactory instead of excellent.

I don't want that. I want my kids to strive for excellence, and reach it. Because really, is it worth doing something if it's only so-so? We have this little sign hanging in the kitchen that the previous owners left. It's a humorous, but also true.

I almost always look busy, or at least feel busy, because I'm doing too much only partway. It's time to focus and narrow down what I do.

Think About It!

I'm not saying everything has to be perfect all the time...because well that would make everyone go insane! What I am saying is we should pick an area we want to excel in, and then go for it. Don't settle for less than your best. Keep practicing until you are truly happy with what you've accomplished.

Think About It!

Why in the world is this the topic I'm thinking about today? A lot of reasons. It's the product of my mind going 50 different directions and deciding that everything I was thinking fit under this one idea.

I'm tired of being a Jane of all Trades.

I want to hone my skills so when people ask me what talents I have, I can tell them instead of handing them a long list of things I enjoy doing. We've had a couple discussions this year on talents and hobbies and the things we've given up as we became mothers. Those were some of the best discussions I've had around here, and I want to put them to use. So I'm not going to sit around wishing I was better, but I'm going to start changing; I'm going to be better!

Think About It!

I'm not going to give up anything I like doing, but I am going to have more of a focus. This year, I plan on improving my sewing skills. I've got the basic knowledge. I can make things that look nice - if you don't look too closely.

Why this skill? Well, it seems to come in the most handy, and I know my kids will benefit from it. Actually, my kids are pushing me into it. It's only April, but I already have 1 request for a Belle costume, 1 for a Tinkerbell, and another that keeps changing but I think is currently either Cinderella or Ariel.

It would be one thing if the Princesses asked me to buy them a costume. It's a complete different thing when they specifically ask you to make it. My kids believe I can sew these costumes, so I should believe I can too. Kids are pretty amazing don't you think? They see where we can go and believe in us, even when we aren't so sure ourselves.

Not to get ahead of myself or anything (though I have a habit of not sitting still), but once I master my sewing skills I plan to return to my artwork. I took some classes in college, and while looking back through my old work I realized I've got another little talent - one I completely forgot about!

Will you join me?

Pick an area of your life you'd like to improve. Reach for the stars and believe you can excel in it. Don't give up, or move on until you have become satisfied with your accomplishments.

How am I going to achieve my goal? First off, I need inspiration. I've created a little corner just for me in this house. Something I've never done before, and to be honest - I didn't realize just how much I needed this space.

Next, decorate with things that will inspire you to keep striving towards you goal. For me that's a wall calendar with different quilt patterns, and my college artwork. For you, it might be some quotes, books, or photos.

Make sure you have the tools to succeed as well. I have a very nice sewing machine Mark bought me a few years back. It hasn't seen as much work as I would like, but that's about to change. I am now saving up for a serger, because I know they can take my skills from so-so to amazing! Sometimes all we need is a good teacher. I've been browsing the sewing classes at Craftsy, and really think I may take one or two...or all of them. They even have free mini courses if you just need a little help to get started.

Finally - get to work! Try to set aside time every day to practice and work on your goal. If not everyday, at least once a week! If you don't make the time, it won't happen.

What are you going to work on? Let's encourage each other in the comments!

*This post contains affiliate links. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I share because I think these classes are great!

DIY Repurposed Roller Shade: Instant Kitchen Facelift

2013-04-24T13:54:00.000-06:00

If you look really closely at the left side of my shade here, you'll see a speck. It's no ordinary speck. That my dear readers is a squashed mosquito. Very flat too. I have no idea how long this bug was a part of the kitchen decor, but upon buying this home I knew it needed to go.

I LOVED the roller shade though. Personally I think they are the best kinds of blinds because it eliminates dangerous cords, and they are extremely easy to pull up and down. I digress though. Let me tell you how I turned this into that for an easy DIY Kitchen Facelift.

I'll try and break down into easy steps for you - but please leave a comment or email if you have any questions.

Measure - You'll want to start by doing a lot of measuring. First measure the height of your window, and how far you want the shade to reach down. Then you'll want to unroll the current shade and measure the width. Next you'll pick out your fabric and measure. Give yourself a 1 1/2 inch seam allowance on the sides, and a few inches on the bottom.

Cut - Cut out your fabric. Next you'll want to roll your shade onto a cutting mat on the floor. Anchor the roller so it doesn't get in your way while you do this. Measure from the very top of the shade down to where you want the shade to end, and then give yourself another 1-2 inches (just for good measure).
DO NOT do what I do, and just cut off the bottom. First make sure you're shade is straight both up and down and side to side. Then go ahead and cut off any extra of the current shade (my shade reached almost to the kitchen floor. I didn't need that much, and I wanted to get rid of the smooshed bug).

Iron, Fold, Pin, Hem - Go ahead and leave the old shade for a bit now. Take your piece of fabric and measure out the seam allowance. Fold at the 1 1/2 inch mark, and iron it down. This will create an easy line to follow for a finished hem. After ironing the seam, unfold it. Now you will fold the edge back in, but just so it lies on the ironed crease. Fold over again, and you have a nice finished edge. You only need to do this on the 2 sides and the bottom. The top can be left a raw edge. Pin the folds as you go. In the corners, turn the bottom edge in at a 45 degree angle to get a more clean and professional look - just make sure the pin goes through both edges to hold it in place.

Now you're ready to hem it up. You'll be sewing blindly. Just make sure you know where your 3/4 edge is on your machine, and you'll be good to go. For my Husqvarna Viking, that put my fabric right on the edge of the presser foot.

Position Fabric and Glue it on - You are almost done! With your roller anchored still, position your fabric on to the front of the shade (you would hate to hang it up, and realize you put the pretty fabric on the wrong side, wouldn't you?).

The side edges will go right up against the side of the old shade. Only the bottom will fold under to the other side. Once you have the fabric positioned, make sure it's laying out flat. You'll see why a little further down...

Start with the top edge and using fabric glue, glue the edge down. Let it dry before moving down the rest of the shade. If you want, and I think if I ever do this again I will do this, use a sponge brush and smear fabric glue across the rest of the old shade. Lay down your new fabric and press flat. Let dry.
Or do what I did do, and just glue the edges...

Once the front if completely dry, flip your shade over, and turn the bottom edge over. Glue down.

Reattach the original, or add a new pull ring for easy up and down action.

Voila You're Done!

Unless of course you made the mistake I did, and you now have a bubble of fabric after rolling the shade up.

If this happens to you, find a coordinating fabric and add a decorative strip to cover it up. Just use the fabric glue sparingly here, or you will end up with some spots (DOH!)

I hope you found the tutorial helpful. If you have any questions on this tutorial please leave a comment or send me an email.

I would love to have you join me on Facebook and Twitter, where I frequently talk about other home designs, and share photos of in progress projects.

Rosie Posie....Bucket of Worms?

2013-04-23T19:11:00.000-06:00

Today my 3rd Princess...Princess R...turned 3 years old. She acts a whole lot older with her clear vocabulary, and very grown up facial expressions. She can give a stink eye like none other, and she never gives up when she wants something badly.

Awhile ago, I must have said this to her, but I called out one day "Rosie...Posie", and she responded in a sly little voice "Bucket of Worms...*giggle giggle*"

The truth: she is my bucket of worms - my squishy, sometimes gross, fish catching bucket of worms.

Dear Princess R,

You have always loved the camera, but don't always feel like smiling for it. These days you prefer to smile and run away from the camera in hopes I'll chase you down with it.

In your first year and a half of life you were prone to enjoy odd places, and loved getting into the most trouble you could find

That eye wound gave me a good fright, but all turned out well.

In your second year, you were determined to become one of the big girls, and refused to let your sisters leave you behind. Although sometimes that was difficult since they are closer in age, for the most part I get to witness beautiful moments of sisterly love.

Shortly after you turned 2 you were no longer my baby, but became a big sister. You stepped up to the plate, and showed me that you knew how to be a big sister. But you continued to be my bucket of worms as I recently watched you use brother as your horse but also made sure to share your applesauce when he was hungry.

Happy Birthday Princess. I can't wait to see what the coming years will bring as you continue to shine with your very unique personality. Come fall it will just be you, Prince L and I at home. I have adventures planned for the 3 of us!

I love you baby girl!

Love, Mom.

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Princess R's only request for her birthday was an M&M cake. I was happy to oblige, but learned something in the process.

Don't mix the M&M's into the batter. The will sink to the bottom, and stick to the pan. Of course cupcake liners would have worked just fine, I didn't use those either. Next time I'll try topping the batter with M&M's just before cooking.

Tips & Perks to Buying a New Home #StartFreshBuyNew #CGC

2013-04-23T09:33:00.001-06:00

Thank you BHI for sponsoring my post today. Explore the benefits of a newly built home. Learn more here.

I completely understand! After renting for 6 years, Mark and I were finally ready to buy our first home. We had spent a good portion of those 6 previous years jumping from one rental to another just to save a little money. Moving became a breeze for us, but it was getting pretty tiring. One thing that kept our spirits up through it all was browsing homes. We'd drive by a house and think...gosh that looks nice, let's go check it out. So although we weren't serious yet on buying, we wanted to see different layouts, and get an idea of what we liked and didn't like.

Once we decided to buy, we had a pretty good idea of what we were looking for. Being on a budget we had to settle and compromise on a lot of our wish list, and buy an older home. Personally I loved our first home, but since it was built in the 40's we ran into some unexpected surprises....like the time we decided to build a pantry and found termites eating away the support beams.

One of the best things about buying a brand new home, is you won't run into problems like termites, or broken pipes (a current issue we ran into) within the first 5-10 years of living there; and potentially longer!

I think the next time we think about moving...and fingers crossed it's not for awhile...I would really like to consider buying new, even building from the ground up. That way we can personalize every aspect of the home. Instead of remodeling our guest bathroom into a master bathroom, and wondering where we can add a half bath back in for guests, we would be able to plan it that way from the beginning. I would no longer have to worry about working around support beams, because in a new home, we wouldn't be taking down any walls.

Instead of dreaming about a mudroom, and having a place to store the piles of shoes I would make sure our builder put in something like this....

I know, I'm pretty easy to please. But that's just it. A new home makes everything just a little more simple. I could put my energies into more of the things I enjoy doing, like decorating, rather than the huge things that need doing like adding doors to bedrooms.

Of course if you don't feel comfortable asking to take pictures of your neighbors homes - or don't want to take your children in and out of a myriad of homes - there's so many places online to find just what you want as well. BHI has a fun website with more tips to becoming a homeowner, as well as an Inspiration Gallery that I enjoyed browsing through. They also have a handy cost calculator to help keep you in a budget, and an easy search of new homes in your area.

Of course there is also Pinterest, that allows ample opportunity of browsing home designs. Another website I recently came across, similar to pinterest, is HomeTalk. So many ideas, you're bound to find something you love that also fits your pocket book.

Speaking of pocket books - new homes are also more energy efficient. We're still trying to figure out what sucked up our electricity this last winter. That bill is one I hope to never see repeated! In a new home, your power will be easy to trace (we're still wondering how the wall heaters are getting their power since the circuit breaker didn't turn them off...), you'll have brand new double paned windows, and heat and water sources that are built for energy efficiency. The savings there would be worth a new home!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Eating Healthy

2013-04-22T12:55:00.002-06:00

Keeping our bodies healthy means eating right, exercising and getting the right amount of play time and rest time.

That's hard to balance for kids! I've noticed my oldest Princess V struggling lately to communicate her feelings. We were experiencing meltdowns way too often for anyone's enjoyment. One day after her dance class, when we left early because it became too much, I decided we need to talk. At 6 years old, I feel she can understand more on what she can do to take care of her physical body and avoid the it's' just too much and I'm just TIRED meltdowns.

The first place I decided to start was with food. She has always been such a picky eater (despite my best efforts to follow the baby advice at starting with veggies and moving to fruits...it still resulted in a picky eater). I do my best to offer healthy options at all meals, and for snacks, but sometimes - the chocolate milk wins out, the cookies are set out, and it's just too hard to cut up carrots that will be pushed to the side for lunch. Excuses excuses - I know. So she and I are both doing better.

It's only been a few days since we first talked about making healthier choices with Princess V, but already she complains less about her food, and seems a tad more willing to try it out. I was shocked when she ate all her peas, chose to finish her potatoes over her pork, and even asked for an apple!

The best part - the daily (often more than once a day) tantrums and meltdowns have seriously become almost non-existent. She is more pleasant to be around, and when there is a problem, we've been able to talk it out before hysteria sets in.

I am so proud of my girl and the example she is setting, both for her sisters and for me. Her effort has encouraged me to look at what I eat more, and stick to the healthier foods, with sugary snacks as more of a once in awhile treat.

I was given Skinny Spices E-Book to review, and the whole introduction really resonated with me.
You could easily call me a spice addict. I love spices, and adding different flavors to dishes. The best part is, most spices add little to no calories and processed junk to your food. In basic terms - it's a great way to add flavor while keeping it healthy!

It's not just about the food though. Like I said earlier, we have to care for our bodies through food, exercise, and a well balanced scheduled. The author of Skinny Spices knows this too, and she doesn't sugar coat it (pun not intended...)

oh I just love the way she put that. Can you picture it? Coating yourself in curry powder? My kids attempted it with flour once...not such a pretty sight...or mess...to clean up.

I'm excited to try out some of the spice blends from this book, and the recipes that go along with them. In the new enhanced E-book edition makes finding recipes a breeze for what you have on hand!

BUY THE BOOK

SKINNY SPICES: 50 Nifty Homemade Spice Blends That Can Turn Blah Healthy Eating Into Flavor-Rich Delicious Dining

*I received a copy of Skinny Spices to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Monday - Fast Fiesta Soup

Tuesday - Princess R's birthday dinner: Home made Pizza and M&M cupcakes.

Wednesday - Pork Chow Mein

Thursday - Spaghetti with Garlic toast (using the Mild Garlic and Parsley Blend from Skinny Spices)

Friday - Sandwiches

Saturday - Hamburgers and Hot Dogs with friends

Sunday - Steak and Potatoes

Earth Day Craft: Milk Jug Planter

2013-04-21T19:09:00.005-06:00

Monday is Earth Day! I love this day to celebrate our planet, and give a little back. It's also a great day for teaching our children. I know, I should be better about teaching them every day, but I'm not. We're working on that though.

School days always get away from me, so I thought, hey let's do a fun little learning crafty thing on Saturday. The girls were at first just ho humming, do we have to turn the wii off mom? attitude when I told them we were going to plant flowers. (by the way, I'm a mean mom and they only get to play wii on Saturday's). Once I pulled out all the stuff, and had them run outside to find some rocks, their attitudes changed pretty fast.

This truly is a simple "craft" that anyone can do, with very basic supplies. You'll want to start with an empty milk jug. Wash it out as good as you can, and then using a pair of kitchen shears (or other good scissors) cut the jug in half, just below the handle.

Step 1

While you, the adult, are handling the scissors, send your children out into the wild to find some rocks. Not too large, but not too small either (unless of course you have a gravel pit, then by all means get a bunch of tiny rocks).

Now that the dangerous scissor cutting is done, and you have a pile of rocks, layer the rocks in the bottom of the jug. I would go up about 1 inch for good drainage. You don't want your plants sitting in too much water.

Step 2

Next cover the rocks with dirt up to the top of the jug. I used some extra seed starter I had, but you can go out and get some backyard dirt for this project too. My kids I know would love any excuse to go dig up some dirt.

Step 3

Now you're ready to plant. I let the Princesses choose from a myriad of seeds, just because I already had them (thanks Mom!). So in our recycled milk jugs we're growing Marigolds, Sweet Peas, and Daisies. Once the seeds are planted give them a drink of water, set out in the sun, and wait for them to grow.

Since putting ours outside, the Princesses have been checking on them every few hours, to see if they've come up yet. So far the idea hasn't worn off, and they haven't lost their patience. I just have to continue to explain that it takes a few days for them to grow.

Next on our spring crafty list - A Fairy House!