This Simple Home

Seeds Family Worship Music {Giveaway}

2013-05-20T05:00:00.000-04:00

Music made for children rarely excites parents. Seeds Family Worship is a fabulous choice for adults and children alike, and it is exciting. It's for the whole family. The lyrics are taken straight from the Bible and the music is upbeat and enjoyable.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. By purchasing an item through an Amazon link, I will earn a small percentage. Thank you!

Seeds Family Worship sent me their sampler CD of six songs for review and another to give to one This Simple Home reader. The day it arrived, we began to listen and enjoy it. It wasn't long (an hour?) before my four year old son had a favorite song that we listened to repeatedly. Want to hear the crazy thing? I didn't tire of hearing the same song over and over again, though I did want to explore more of the CD.

I like Seeds Family Worship because 1.) We are ALL learning Bible verses and 2.) The music is great and varied. 3.) The songs sound like the music on the radio instead of kid music.

I have to admit, when I have heard verses put to music in the past, it was usually to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle" or some other children's song or rhyme. Seeds Family Worship is nothing like that. Each song has its own unique sound, and each song is a joy to listen to. Listen and watch a few songs here and more on You Tube. My favorite song from the sampler is "Amen" from Revleation7:10 & 12.

Really, I have nothing but good to say about Seeds Family Worship. CDs cost about $13 at the SFW store, and a bit more at Amazon (and MP3s are available, too). For that price (wherever you purchase) you get TWO full-length, identical CDs: one to keep and one to give. How about that for planting some seeds of faith? On my wish list: Seeds of Character and The Power of Encouragement. And yes, I do intend to buy Seeds of Worship in the future and I buy less than one CD a year!

Recently, I was in my friend's van and I saw that she had a Seeds Family Worship CD. Curious as to her opinion, I asked her about it (knowing that I would be receiving one for review shortly), and she quickly began to rave about them and how her three year old knows the verses/songs...and then she broke into song to share her excitement before listening to the actual CD.

Thank you, Seeds Family Worship for sending me the sampler to review and one to give away. All opinions are my own, and I happily and highly recommend this!

GIVEAWAY

I have one Seeds Family Worship Sampler to send to a reader. To enter, please follow This Simple Home through RSS feed or email (see sidebar). Then leave a comment here telling me about your interest in this CD or about other music you recommend. Thank you for following!

Extra Entries - Leave a separate comment for each extra entry.
~ Follow through Facebook, Twitter, or even Google+ in addition to above. Leave a separate comment for each way you follow. (Be sure to let me know if you follow under a different name.) Thank you for following!
~ Share about this giveaway and leave a link in a comment. (You can also tag me with This Simple Home on FB and @thissimplehome on Twitter if you wish.) Of course you could blog about it, too. You can even spread the word through Pinterest! Thanks for spreading the word!

~ Look around This Simple Home. Your interest might be in recipes, homemaking, crafts,books, or faith. Pin a specific post other than this one and/or share about it on FB. (For those of you who do this regularly, you don't need to do it again.) Then return to this post and leave a comment with a link or that you are a regular sharer!

Giveaway will run through Sunday, May 26th. The winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. Random.org will help to choose the winner. Winner will be announced on Facebook and on this post. This giveaway is limited to the US. Thanks for entering and spreading the word!

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Bathtub Cleaner {Dawn and Vinegar SUCCESS}

2013-05-17T09:11:00.001-04:00

Cleaning bathtubs are a pretty low priority for me (unless we are having overnight company). We have two tubs in our home. The kids' tub stays quite clean. Thankfully, this is also the one guests use. However, the master bathroom's tub is not so clean. It constantly has gray soap scum in the corners of the tub, dust, and I don't know what else all over it. (Just to note: I do clean toilets weekly! It's a must with our well water. Remember the brown dishwasher stains?)

Read to the end to learn of my success with this!

Dawn and Vinegar {Part 1: Spray}
Months ago I saw the pin (linked to blog post, not Pinterest) that claimed to test another pin that basically said that equal parts of vinegar and Dawn sprayed on a bathtub would leave your tub sparkly clean if you wiped it down in one hour. It worked well for her with no scrubbing. I pinned it to my Pinterest cleaning board. And I tried it.

Here's the thing. When it's been a couple months since you last scrubbed your tub, it is going to need some elbow grease even with a great cleaning combo of Dawn and vinegar. It really did work well on my very dirty tub, but it didn't get it really clean, even with some scrubbing.

(I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who lets her tub go. Please feel free to offer me support in the comments if you are like me...and then keep reading below!)

So though I was somewhat pleased with the Dawn and vinegar spray, I was not impressed for my needs.

Dawn and Vinegar {Part 2: Scrubbing Wand}
Then I saw another pin that showed the vinegar and Dawn combination again but used a hand-held scrubbing wand. (Unfortunately, the pin did not link to the original blog post. Someone was trying to drive traffic to their site using someone else's image using the wonderful Pinterest to do it. Thankfully, Joyful Homemaking puts labels on her photos so it was really simple to track the original post and give credit properly.) You can see her post here.

I bought a scrubbing wand. I used water and a measuring cup to learn how many ounces it held, and where half-way would be in the wand. Next I filled it with vinegar, followed by BLUE Dawn. (I had read somewhere that the blue version is most effective for tub cleaning purposes.) Then, I placed it in my tub so that it couldn't be forgotten.

The next morning I was really impressed with how easily it cleaned. I didn't really need to scrub hard, since the scrubber was doing it for me. I used it as I showered, and it worked FABULOUSLY! When I got out of the shower and put on my glasses, I saw one corner that wasn't clean. I took my scrubbing wand to it (not hard though), and it was instantly clean.

It had been at least six weeks (likely longer) since the shower/tub had been cleaned, yet with the Dawn and vinegar power in the scrubbing wand, my tub came clean EFFORTLESSLY. Or as close to it as possible-no elbow grease required.

I like the combination of the scrubber with Dawn and vinegar because
1. It's cheap! Even the reusable scrubber is not priced highly. Vinegar is super cheap, and Dawn is not expensive.
2. It's fast! I spent less than 5 minutes using the wand and rinsing the tub.
3. It's safe! No harsh chemicals means I don't mind my little one's bum in the tub right after cleaning. Not only that, if my Big Kids want to scrub the tub, they can! (And at least one has already requested this!)
4. It's effective! My tub is sparkly clean. Better yet, this was so easy and fume-free, that I will be likely to clean it more frequently.

I just wanted to explain why I didn't show you pictures of my sparkly tub: Lighting. Our bathroom lighting is pretty good...except in the tub. Any pictures in there are not very good. Using a flash just washes out the white tub. So...no photos for you. Just trust me that it was quick, easy, and effective...even if you don't scrub your tub each week.

See more cleaning and organizing posts!

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Summer Smoothies

2013-05-15T05:00:00.000-04:00

With spring and summer's arrival, our family drinks a lot of smoothies. It's a real treat, AND it is super healthy.

I begin by putting all of our ingredients in the blender. Flavored yogurt first, then juice. These are followed by frozen berries and topped with bananas.

Quantities can be adjusted to your own tastes. I measure nothing. Scoops of yogurt, pour the juice, handfuls of berries, and break the bananas in half.

We blend on the "drink" setting of the blender, and add more juice if needed. (I added about twice as much juice as shown above. Sometimes it just doesn't mix well without enough juice.)

After blended, we pour into glasses and cups for various sizes. My 18 month old and I had about the same amount. The Big Kids had about 6 ounces each, and my husband had about 14 ounces.

Then we enjoy!

By using frozen berries, I eliminate the need for ice in our smoothies. However, as my children get bigger and require more smoothie to satisfy them, we may need to add ice!

Typically, we use strawberry or strawberry/banana yogurt. I prefer orange juice in our smoothies instead of other flavors. I am willing to use any berry, but do prefer strawberries. (I also have all of those ingredients on hand at all times.) Raspberries and blueberries also work. Occasionally, I used frozen bananas in the past, but really, any banana is fine. I prefer at least two bananas in our family (with small children) sized smoothie, but three or four would be suitable, too.

What do you like in your smoothie? If you've never had one, try one soon!

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Contentment in Disagreement

2013-05-14T05:00:00.000-04:00

When I married my dear husband almost ten years ago, I didn't feel like there were too many big surprises...nor did he. Love and marriage didn't seem difficult. But really sometimes it is.

Sometimes it is really hard to be a loving wife.
It is hard because I am selfish. Add to that tired and whatever other circumstantial issue I face (three grumpy children??), and my husband has a cranky woman on his hands who wants to be understood.

I do not need to be right in a disagreement (even when I *know* I am), but it does not help the problem when I feel that he must understand my perspective (because that is just more of being right) and I just keep defending and explaining my side of the issue.

Please don't misunderstand. In a disagreement I will share what I think and feel, respectfully-I hope. But it really is futile to keep going at it when we do not agree on some minor point.

Hours ago we were in a disagreement over something absolutely not important (a spatula!), I was shocked when I was able to say what I needed to say and then I literally closed my lips (rather tightly) so that the disagreement could end there. And it did. More than that, I am content with the end results. We didn't come to an agreement about the ridiculous disagreement, but it was not a matter of importance. And there is peace in our home and marriage. And that is more important than being right and understood.

What if it is a matter of importance?
My husband is the head of our house. He leads our family and values my input, but for us, the bottom line is that the final decision is his. You may disagree with this, but as a woman who values what the Bible says, I try to not lead so that he may.

This is not always easy especially regarding a matter of great importance. When it is not easy, what can I do? Obey? Yes, and ideally without fuss or nagging. (Yes, me!) How am I to show that I respect and honor him-and his leadership-if I do not let his decision be the final say?

Not all "issues" come to a quick and easy resolution.

Prayer
Some situations, even important situations, will take months or years to find a resolution. During times such as these, I must be careful how I pray. Things will work themselves out as God desires them. I do not want to pray only to see my desires met...because, really, that may not be the will of God, even if they are sensible and good desires.

I am learning as I go, but for now...
I pray for contentment. I pray for patience. I pray that our God would be glorified and my husband loved.

If you are looking for books to help you as a woman or wife, I highly recommend the following books in addition to the Bible. They are linked to my reviews.
The Beautiful Wife, by Sandy Ralya
The Fruitful Wife, by Hayley DiMarco (linked to Amazon, an affiliate link, since I am not quite finished yet)
Choosing Gratitude, by Nancy Leigh DeMoss for any woman, not just wives
God's Priorities for Today's Woman, by Lisa Hughes

Linking to Titus 2 Tuesdays. ~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Books for Advanced Readers

2013-05-10T11:00:00.000-04:00

Friends often ask me for book recommendations. (And sometimes they don't even have to ask...) Recently a couple of conversations led me to ask a few blogging friends for book recommendations, especially for advanced readers. It seems especially hard for some parents to find good books for tweens who like to read once they have read all that is written for their age group but are not ready for the romance and other "mature themes" of young adult literature, and even middle school literature. Another problem is when your five or seven year old is reading chapter books, but you don't want tween drama.

Many minds make light work...and give a much larger list of great books than I could think of on my own. So I decided to ask some blogging friends for their book recommendations for advanced readers. I thank each of these friends for sharing some of their most recommended books with my readers and me!

I have only highlighted a couple books from each friend's post. Go visit their post to learn more of their recommendations!

~ Bluerose's Heart
Bluerose shared her Reading Suggestions for Young Readers, with better than average books for tweens and teens. She included books that are unfamiliar to me such as The Owl Keeper and Under a Fairy Moon along with some of my top picks. Consider investigating her non-fiction choices to read with your older child!

~ Homeschooling Just Next Door and These Grace Filled Days
Dorie has a nice way of categorizing the books so you might know what will interest your child, including separate posts for boys and girls.
Classics and Good Books, Biographies, Book Series, and Picture Books For BOYS with titles like
The Swiss Family Robinson and The War of the Worlds.
Classics and Good Books, Biographies, Book Series, and Picture Books for GIRLS with titles like A Little Princess and Black Beauty.
As a follow up to those two posts, she also wrote a post called How to Get Your Child to Read Good Books.

~ Hope is the Word

Amy has two girls who read well above their age levels. She has already been a great resource for read alouds for our family. She wrote a post specifically to address Age Appropriate Books for the Precocious Reader. Her girls are past Little House and The Boxcar Children. They have moved on to books by Marguerite Henry and Edward Eager, along with The Hardy Boys and more. Those seeking book ideas for any age will be interested to know that each week Amy also hosts Read-Aloud Thursday where she, and others, share what they are reading.

~ Reading to Know (which is full of adult and children's book recommendations and my go-to place for book recommendations to make me think)
Carrie shared Early Chapter Books for Tweens. She heartily recommends Caddie Woodlawn and The Mysterious Benedict Society.

~ A TIPical Day
Meredith shared Children's Chapter Books for Reading Aloud with many book selections divided by age or grade, including The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Twenty and Ten. This book-loving mom enjoys sharing her love with her five children.

~ This Simple Home (me!)
I shared very easy Introduction Chapter Books for Young Readers. These books are appropriate for children as young as 3 or 4 as a read aloud or for an independent reader ready for more than just picture books. Poppleton and Little Bear are some of our favorites. I also made a lengthy list of Recommended Classic Chapter Books for Young Readers (and a few for older readers, too) including Stuart Little and Little House on the Prairie.

A few books/series mentioned repeatedly: Anne of Green Gables, Narnia, Betsy-Tacy, Caddie Woodlawn, and one new to me is In Grandma's Attic! If you are serious about finding some variety for your reader, please visit these other blogs for some great recommendations!

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Homemade Gifts {Grandparents}

2013-05-08T05:00:00.001-04:00

With Mother's Day coming up this weekend and Father's Day around the corner, I thought I would highlight a few gifts we have made in the past to give to grandparents.

Hand Print Towel
We made this towel with a simple white tea towel and fabric paint. You could even use an apron.

Photo Bookmark Tutorial
Even if you have an only child, you can still make a great bookmark (or refrigerator decoration) for the grandparents!

Star Wars Peg Dolls
I made these for my children, but given the right person, they would make a fine adult gift, as well. (My sister has hinted at wanting a set for her 40th birthday.)

Homemade Cards
This year we will try to send all of the grandparents a card made by the children.

Not necessarily homemade, but personalized gifts are often popular. Whether it be a monthly planner (beginning in the month of choice) or a wooden box, I shared some of my favorites.

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

You Know Your Child Reads Classics When...

2013-05-06T05:00:00.000-04:00

My six year old daughter has been exploring classic chapter books (linked to the list of books we have read or listened to together) since she was three years old. It's amazing what one can learn from a book!

My daughter...

Thinks it is normal to marry at 16. Don't worry. I talk about finishing school and likely college and waiting much later for her to be married. The good thing is that romance in a classic book is so innocent by today's standards...

Showed me the "lame" school bus. A wheelchair-accessible school bus comes into our neighborhood on weekdays. One day, as we were waiting for our own school bus, she explained to me that the other bus was the "lame" school bus. When I inquired about where she had learned this and what it meant, I realized that she knew the word lame from A Christmas Carol and possibly other books. (We had listened to a children's version.)

Uses queer to mean odd or different. Personally, I dislike encouraging her to STOP using her new vocabulary words, but too often this word is used in a derogatory way. Anne of Green Gables and Betsy-Tacy (some of our favorites!) definitely use this word a lot.

...has explored different times and places that she hasn't had the chance to explore in life. I am grateful for every bit of it, especially her large vocabulary! (She is even willing to work hard to wash laundry during her Little House birthday party!)

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

An Easy Way to Earn Money {Swagbucks}

2013-05-03T05:00:00.000-04:00

As a stay-at-home-mom with a growing book collection, I like having a way to shop (at a variety of places, not just Amazon) without actually spending our cash. Swagbucks offers help in this way. By using their search engine, I earn points. The points are called Swagbucks and are then redeemed for gift cards or purchases. I think my next gift card (likely next week or sooner) will be for Starbucks, though I have only redeemed them for Amazon gift cards so far. (Though I don't drink coffee, I do meet girlfriends there every other month or so, and I do like their hot chocolate!)

First, I will say that I am sharing about Swagbucks (linked through my account) because I have been earning money (in the form of Amazon gift cards) from them for several months now. Occasionally someone asks about Swagbucks, so I thought I would create a post telling you what I do to earn and how it all works.

I had heard about Swagbucks, but wasn't sure if it was a gimmick or not. Then a blogging friend wrote about it quite a while ago. I trusted her and signed up "under" her.

Swagbucks is a search engine (like Google). You do not earn Swagbucks (SB) each and every time you use it, but every so often (multiple times a day if you search a lot) your searches earn you Swagbucks. Typically I earn 7-11 SB on my "winning" searches. Once I won 50 SB which was quite exciting! Your SB add up, and then you redeem them for gift cards or you may shop using them. Each SB is worth about a penny (depending on how you redeem them).

You do not need to refer friends to earn Swagbucks, but if a friend is referred by you, you are able to earn up to 1,000 SB for what each friend earns.

I choose to redeem my SB for Amazon gift cards because we shop Amazon multiple times a year (sometimes multiple times a month) and it seems to be the most valuable. For 450 SB, I redeem them for a $5 Amazon gift card. I can, with minimal effort (2 minutes a few times a week) earn a $5 Amazon gift card each month. If I remember to use Swagbucks for my search engine a few times a day, almost every day, it would only take a week or so to earn the same. But I don't remember to do that.

Other Ways to Earn
Swagbucks is not just a search engine. They now provide multiple ways to earn SB like polls, coupons, videos, games, shop, and surveys. I, personally, don't have the time to earn SB with some of those, though I do the daily poll (all of 10 seconds) when I think of it to earn 1 SB.

Earn Fast with More Searches
If you and your family really want to earn SB, I would suggest downloading the SB toolbar which will be at the top of your internet screen or make SB your home page. (To be honest, I do prefer the Google search engine, but SB searches also work.) Instead of downloading the toolbar, I have Swagbucks saved in my "Bookmarks Bar" which also goes across the top of my screen, but does not take up so much screen space as the SB toolbar.

Earn Slowly with Less Searches (My Way)
Typically, when I come to the computer, I want to check email (Yahoo and Gmail), Facebook, and possibly a couple of other sites. First, I go to Swagbucks, and then I search for Yahoo mail, Gmail, and Facebook. Doing that may or may not earn SB. But then I will also search for whatever else is on my mind, if anything.

When you do earn SB, you will see an image similar to the one below (not my own). It tells you how much you have earned.

A Tip or Two
I read somewhere that by searching morning, afternoon, and evening tends to give you a better chance of earning SB. I don't know if it is true, but it seems to be. I may earn some SB after four (or ten...) searches, but once I earn, it seems to take a long time to earn additional SB.

The NOSO (No Obligation Special Offers) do provide you with images that if you click them, you will be asked to provide your information to get on a mailing list or that type of thing. If you are not interested, just scroll down to the "See Next Offer" button. You do NOT need to get on all of the mailing lists...unless you want to.

I am by no means an expert, having only been earning Swagbucks actively for a few (4-5) months now. But, if you have questions, feel free to ask. If you want to, my Swagname is thissimplemom, and you can sign up through me here (or any link in the post). You might be interested in this post from SB if you are considering joining or already have.

Do you already use Swagbucks? What is your favorite way to earn? Any other tips for newcomers? I bet you could teach me!

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

20+ Classic Chapter Books for Independent Readers and Read Alouds

2013-05-01T05:00:00.000-04:00

Once your child has mastered Frog and Toad "type" books (being very easy chapter books), your child will be ready to move on to some of these classic chapter books (especially the titles marked with # below).

Before beginning longer (120+ pages) chapter books such as these, consider introducing simple chapter books to see if the interest is there, whether the child is reading independently or you are reading them as a read aloud. The chapter books listed below are ideal when a child can read without frustration. As a read aloud, these books have been read to or listened to by children as young as 3, though I think 4-6 is a more ideal age. About half of the books below we found as audio books at our public library. I know for certain that my 3 year old (now 4) listened and paid attention to chapter books with the questions he asked and answered and observations he made. (My daughter was also introduced to lengthy audio books at age 3.)

Stuart Little#
Raggedy Ann# (series)
The Velveteen Rabbit
Charlotte's Web
Betsy-Tacy (series)
Cricket in Times Square (series)
Little House on the Big Woods (series)
Encyclopedia Brown* (series)
Heidi
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle (series)
The Littles (series)
Anne of Green Gables (series)
Pippi Longstocking (series)
Mr. Popper's Penguins
Narnia (series) (I recommend beginning with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.)
The Boxcar Children (series)
Hank the Cow Dog (series)
Caddie Woodlawn*
A Bear Named Paddington (series)
Misty of Chincoteque*

Some of the lengthier books like the Narnia series and Heidi were listened to on audio books. I am not a homeschooling mama, so I don't have as much time to read to the children as some families, but we still enjoy books together as a family! We listened to the Little House series at least two or three times before my 6 year old began reading it on her own. (Which is why we had a Little House birthday party when she turned 6!) A benefit (for some) of reading classics, is that often there is a movie tie-in. This is especially good for readers who might need to get excited about the book before reading them.

This list of 20 classic chapter books and series should be available at your local library. What a blessing to share books with our children that we grew up reading! (Actually, I only read 8 of them as a child.) The only book you may have trouble finding is Betsy-Tacy. I 100% recommend owning the Betsy-Tacy Treasury if you have a girl though, and I don't buy a lot of new books!

Newer Chapter Books to Read for Younger Children

Mercy Watson# (series)
Sarah Plain and Tall# (series)
The Lighthouse Family# (series)
Humphrey the Hamster (series)
My Father's Dragon# (series)
How to Train Your Dragon (series. However, I would use caution before allowing a young child to read this due to some potty humor, mean attitudes, and name calling...and women's undergarments as slingshots. Read here.)

Older Children Advanced Tween Readers to Teen (and Adults Will Enjoy!)
These are a handful of books (new and old) that I look forward to sharing with my oldest child! These are for advanced readers. The content may be a bit mature (romance, but not heavy or good guys/bad guys/violence), though still "clean."

The Penderwicks (series)
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place (series)
The Mysterious Benedict Society (series)
The Strictest School in the World (series)
Little Women (Little Men/Jo's Boys)
Betsy-Tacy (high school series)
Emily of Deep Valley (linked to review)
Anne of Green Gables (the rest of the series)

Which would you add to each category? Any of your favorites listed here?

* Books I have not read to my children, though I have read them recently and intend to introduce them to my 4 and 6 year old this summer.

# Books that have many illustrations to help transition into lengthy chapter books.

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. By purchasing an item through a link, I will earn a small percentage. Thank you!

DIY Toddler Stationary {for Grandparents}

2013-04-30T09:14:00.000-04:00

Instead of letting Little Sister, age 1 1/2 color on paper to just be thrown away, we made stationary!

First, I gathered my materials. Washable markers, blank note cards, large scrap paper, and a baby wipe.

Then I placed Little Sister in her high chair. (Most high chairs have a larger tray than this. We choose to use a portable high chair at home so she is the same level as us. It also takes up less room.)

I set down the scrap paper and then the note card. Unfolded, it provides a larger surface for her to color. I handed Little Sister a marker, and said the color of it as I removed the cap. She scribbled for a bit, and then handed it back to me and received a new marker.

As soon as she lost interest we stopped. She colored* four cards in just a few minutes. The baby wipe quickly cleaned the marks off her high chair's tray, hands, and lips. (Yes, she still explored the markers with her mouth, but only once!)

Each card now says, "Art by Little Sister. Age 1 1/2." Then I wrote a few notes to grandparents.

*Little Sister colored every single card with her left hand. She eats most of the time with her left hand. I suspect she will be left-handed, just like Big Sister!
More Gifts for Grandparents
Photo Bookmark with Tutorial
Hand Print Towel

Annette {This Simple Mom}

My BEST Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

2013-04-29T05:00:00.000-04:00

Advert your eyes if you don't want a new chocolate chip cookie recipe! My hunt is over for the (my) perfect chocolate chip cookie!

If you've been around here for long, you know that I tend to adore homemade sweets. Fudge Cookie Bars are one of my favorite cookies. They are a perfectly delicious bar cookie. You can't go wrong with them, especially since it makes such a large batch. No-bake cookies are another win-win favorite with almost immediate gratification in a delicious cookie.

At the same time, I've always been on a hunt for a perfect chocolate chip cookie. On my search, I've tried many recipes. A couple years ago I did find a great recipe, but it called for instant pudding. However, I didn't really make it much because I was still looking for the perfect, traditional chocolate chip cookie. The hunt is over!!

A few months back I had invited a friend over. (This is the same friend who gave me the Cinnamon Scones recipe!) She brought the BEST chocolate chip cookies I had ever had. Seriously. Of course, I asked for the recipe. She explained it was the Nestle recipe with rounded cups of flour. Since then, I have been working on how properly measure (spooned into the measuring cup and leveled with a knife) the flour so it would be the same outcome each time. (I also increased the baking soda a tad bit!)

Now I know that you may not prefer chocolate chip cookies the same way I do. I prefer my chocolate chip cookies with some bulk to them. Thick. Chewy. That is what these cookies are!

(On a side note, my dear husband is rather smitten with his mom's chocolate chip cookies, which are also based on the Nestle recipe. However, he has said that this is his favorite of MY chocolate chip cookies. I definitely agree...and over the past (almost) ten years of marriage, I have made a lot of chocolate chip cookies that were only okay to him! I made these twice in a two week period and no one complained about the monotony of our desserts. Nor did they last long in the freezer.)

My Best Chocolate Chip Cookie
(Alternately titled THE Best Chocolate Chip Cookie EVER...but that sounds rather proud, and I know we do not all have the same preferences!)

1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1-2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Mix flour, soda, and salt together. Set aside. Beat butter, sugars, and vanilla together until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time until well-blended. Mix in about half of the flour mixture. (Cover mixer with a towel to keep "flour dust" from flying all over your kitchen.) Slowly add the remaining flour. Then stir in chips. (I prefer using only 1 cup of chips.)

Drop by a very rounded tablespoon onto parchment paper or an ungreased cookie sheet. Leave a lot of space between cookies. These are also very good when baked into even larger cookies!

Bake at 375° for 9-11 minutes. The edges should be barely golden for a very soft cookie, and browner for a crisper cookie. (The pictures above are of two different batches. The top batch is a smaller cookie and a bit browner than the bottom picture of very large cookies, barely browned.)

Cool for 2 minutes and then move to wire rack. Because these cookies are a bit larger than the standard teaspoon, the recipe will only make 2-3 dozen cookies, depending on size of your cookies.

Enjoy!

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

A Quieter Day

2013-04-24T05:00:00.000-04:00

I have three children. I rarely have an hour to myself...let alone a day. I didn't have one on Saturday, but it was close! It was a day with less responspibilities, namely Brother and Big Sister!

My husband took our oldest two children to Penn State's Blue and White (free!) football game this past Saturday. Little Sister was home with me, so I knew parts of the day would feel quite normal.

How did I spend my day?

I was up by 6:15, the usual time, to help get the children around and snacks and sandwiches packed for the day.

Summer Planning
The remainder of the morning was spent with Little Sister and a bit of planning for our summer. She was rather needy (more than usual), but I still worked a bit. My husband's work is impacted by the government sequester, so we will not be going/spending as easily as we have in the past. Trips to the zoo and such are a limited option for us. I made a list of activities that the family would enjoy doing. Most of them will be right at home...in the backyard or in the house. I used my Pinterest boards of Fun, Faith Activities, and Summer for the most part, to create my list. There is no reason to have Pinterest if I'm not going to use the fun ideas from it!

Favorite Movie
After I put Little Sister down for her nap, I made my simple lunch and put in one of my all time favorite movies, Return to Me which I hadn't seen in a couple of years. (Derek may have bought it for me when we were dating, but that doesn't mean he likes to watch it.) This was a real treat. Most of my television/movie watching is done with Derek. I rarely watch alone.

A Phone Call
I called a good friend who lives in Boston. Then I washed dishes and folded some laundry. Rather glamorous, huh?

A Friend and Pizza
A bit after 3 my friend arrived. We visited for a bit, and then she took Little Sister and me out for a bit of pizza for dinner. After she left, Little Sister had a bath and we settled down for the night. It was fun to hear all about the day from the children who had a blast...including ice cream for dinner.

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. By purchasing an item through a link, I will earn a small percentage. Thank you!

Introducing Chapter Books to Preschoolers

2013-04-23T05:00:00.000-04:00

I am a firm believer that children want not only a fun story, but a good story. Many picture books do offer great stories, but chapter books take stories to the next level and prepare the child for independent reading.

Young children, about three years of age, often respond eagerly to simple chapter books. Before plunging into lengthy chapter books, ease young children into the idea of chapters by reading chapter books designed similarly to a picture book.

Each of these books has pictures on each page spread and limits the number of sentences per page. They really will hold a young child's interest!

This selection of books can be read independently by your new reader, too! Since almost all of these books are available as a series at your local library, your child will really learn to connect with the characters and stories.

By Arnold Loebel
Frog and Toad Owl at Home Mouse Tales

By Cynthia Rylant
Mr. Putter and Tabby Henry and Mudge Poppleton Annie and Snowball

By Wong Herbert Yee
Mouse and Mole

Young Cam Jansen, by David Adler

Little Bear, by Else Holmelund Minarik

What other books would you add to this list? Some Amelia Bedelia books are also the easy readers, but I find the play on words in those books are a bit mature for 3 and 4 year olds, though they still enjoy the silliness of the books.

When your child enjoys these simple chapter books, consider going to the next level and reading "real chapter books. We have enjoyed many Classic Chapter Books for Children together! If you feel you don't have time to read lengthy (120+ pages) chapter books, use the audio book from your library!

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. By purchasing an item through a link, I will earn a small percentage. Thank you!

What's on My Nightstand in April

2013-04-22T05:00:00.000-04:00

I am having a seriously hard time coming to terms with time flying by. It was a week into April when I realized it was not March any more. The proof was on freezer foods marked with the wrong month. These are the books that I read this month! See what others are reading at What's on Your Nightstand!

Fiction
Ring of Secrets, by Roseanna White. This was a thoroughly enjoyable Revolutionary War spy novel. It was an excellent book. Read my complete review.
Villa Triste, by Lucretia Grindle. OH MY! It was a really awesome book. One part present day mystery. One part historical fiction. I suspect it will be one of my top picks of the year. Thank you, Carrie, for pointing me to it. For a 600 page book, it went surprisingly fast! (For conservative readers, there was some language in it, but not a lot.)

Non-Fiction Mission of Motherhood, by Sally Clarkson. I read this over the past three months or so sitting in my van waiting for the afternoon bus. This was a good book, though I must admit I did a good bit of scanning. Sally speaks about moms building relationships with their children by serving them. (I read aloud in the mornings when we all wait together.)

Audio
13 Gifts, by Wendy Mass. Young Adult. On trips the library I kept noticing this book, and finally picked it up, knowing nothing of it or its author. I actually really enjoyed it, though Tara's stealing in the beginning of the book was a bit tough to read through. Tara's parents send her to her near-stranger aunt's home for the summer while they go overseas to work. In Willow Falls, nothing is as it seems. Tara makes friends for the first time in her life and learns many lessons all before her thirteenth birthday. My only complaint is that though there was a consequence for some of her ill-chosen behavior, there was no admittance of guilt to the one she attempted to wrong. I appreciated that the things that seemed almost supernatural during the story were explained away at the (surprising) end of the book. I do recommend this and intend to seek out other Mass audio books.

Churchill, by Paul Johnson. A biography of Winston Churchill. I enjoyed it.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney . I decided to listen to this book to see for myself what it was all about. It's middle school drama from a boy's perspective...all in diary format. I am not a big fan, but can see why boys of that age would like it. Some negative content would be name calling, deceiving parents, and things like that.

Heidi, by Johanna Spyri by I think last month we listened to the book as a family. This month we watched the movie. (I prefer the book, and my 6 year old did, too! I did not care for Clara in the movie.)

Did Not Finish
The Sacred Cipher, by Terry Brennan. I read the first 100 pages of this book. Though I really liked the idea of it, I just couldn't connect to the characters and could not finish it. I may try again in the future though because I do see the potential! (This book was provided by the publisher for review purposes. That is my honest review.)
~ If you have read Villa Triste and enjoyed it, what else would you recommend for me?
~ Be sure to enter my giveaway for six board books! Just leave a comment on the post to enter! It's low-entry!

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Spring Board Books and BIG GIVEAWAY

2013-04-18T10:42:00.001-04:00

Don't miss the BIG giveaway at the end of this post. Whether you have children, grandchildren, or give them as baby shower gifts, you don't want to miss the great books that one of you will win!

We have been enjoying more books, courtesy of Tiger Tales. I already shared with you the learning books that are great for promoting language (and a set of those will be given to one of you), but today I want to tell you about a few of their spring board books that we have been enjoying.

Little Sister (18 months old) repeatedly asks for That's My Mommy! by Ann Hodgman. Different animals are portrayed throughout this book showing and telling the special ways moms show love to their children. I think my favorite is "My mommy wakes up when I do." The illustration shows the little bunny bouncing on the bed while the mom looks on with a smile. (Maybe soon a certain someone will sleep through the night, every night!) This would be a great gift for a mom...and That's My Daddy! would make a great Father's Day gift, too!

My 4 1/2 year old son's favorite is It's Spring Time! Written by Elizabeth Bennett, it's a cute padded board book that celebrates all of the changes that take place during the spring like cleaning, growing, nesting, and playing. This sturdy book has the special enhancement of bits of glitter (that remain on the page, not on the finger) to highlight butterflies, flowers, and raindrops throughout the pages. Little fingers go right toward them!

Another neat concept is with the book Peek-a-boo. Magnetic arms help the reader to play peek-a-boo on the front cover of the book. Within the book, animals are having fun hiding from the reader while the reader guesses what animal is hiding. Hug! also has the magnetic arms and explores animal "hugs." (I will note that my 1 1/2 year old did bend one of the hands on Peek-a-boo when she was looking at it on her own. It still sticks, but I thought I would mention it. Like flap books, this may be one to supervise your child with until they are older.)

GIVEAWAY

Tiger Tales has offered to give away at least six of the My First Learning Books pictured directly above in blue to one This Simple Home reader. I adore these books and think they are just fabulous. Even if you don't have children/grandchildren of your own, these will make a wonderful gift for others. Please read about the books that will be given away and then return to this post to enter. To enter, please leave a comment with your email address so I can contact you. Winner must be a US resident.

Extra Entries - Leave a separate comment for each extra entry.
~ Follow through email, RSS feed, Facebook, or Twitter (see sidebar). Leave a separate comment for each way you follow. (Be sure to let me know if you follow under a different name.) Thank you for following!
~ Share about this giveaway and leave a link in a comment. (Instead of leaving a link, you can tag me with This Simple Home on FB and @thissimplehome on Twitter.) Of course you could blog about it, too. You can even spread the word through Pinterest! Thanks for spreading the word!

~ Look around This Simple Home. Your interest might be in recipes, homemaking, crafts, books, or faith. Pin a specific post other than this one and/or share about it on FB. (For those of you who do this regularly, you don't need to do it again.) Then return to this post and leave a comment with a link!

Giveaway will run through Thursday, April 25th. The winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. Random.org will help to choose the winner. Winner will be announced on Facebook and on this post. This giveaway is limited to the US. Thanks for entering and spreading the word!

Thank you, Tiger Tales for providing the books featured for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Fudge Cookie Bars {Fudge Nut Bars}

2013-04-17T05:00:00.000-04:00

I have been enjoying these fudgy cookie bars for about fifteen years. I remember asking the first person who made them what "that cookie" was called that I liked so much. She told me they are Fudge Nut Bars. I told her it must be a different cookie, because these didn't have nuts in them. She explained that she didn't put nuts in them. A couple years later, I met my husband. His mom and grandma also make Fudge Nut Bars...without the nuts. After I married, I also began to make Fudge Nut Bars. Of course I left out the nuts. On a rare visit to my Aunt Janice's house, she had made cookies. You guessed it. Fudge Nut Bars...without the nuts!

Since you can't taste the AWESOMENESS of these cookies (and they didn't photograph well), and I didn't want to confuse you by calling them Fudge Nut Bars, I thought I would just call them Fudge Cookie Bars. Now if you like nuts, do add them, but really, they absolutely delicious without them. I will say they are a tad bit of work, but being a bar cookie, they really don't take too much time to make.

Earlier this month I opted to make these Fudge Cookie Bars knowing I could give a large portion of them away, while keeping a good amount for ourselves. A couple months ago new (Amish) neighbors moved into our neighborhood. I couldn't believe all that time had passed without meeting them. So Big Sister, Brother, and I went one night after supper, taking a plate full of cookies with us.

Finally...the family recipe!

Fudge Nut Bars
or Fudge Cookie Bars

Cookie Dough

1 cup butter, softened
2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups quick oata

Chocolate Fudge Layer
1 cup sweetened condensed milk (14 oz can)
12 ounces chocolate chips (one bag)
1 tablespoon butter
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped nuts-optional

~ Beat together butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Then add flour, soda, and salt. Next mix in the oats. Set the cookie dough aside.

~ Over low heat in a medium saucepan, melt together sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, butter, vanilla, and salt. Stir until smooth. Then stir in the chopped nuts if you really want to.
~ Spread 2/3 of dough in 11x16 pan using your hands to press and spread the dough to the sides. Spread chocolate mixture on top. Crumble remaining dough on top. Or take a handful and flatten it and then place on the chocolate topping.
~ Bake 22-27 minutes at 350° until edges are just browned. If using a nonstick pan, be sure to bake at 325° instead!
~ Cool and cut into bars. (You can make your cookies 1.5x3 or 2x2 or whatever size you like.)
~ These make a large batch. They freeze beautifully after they are cut.

Below on the left is an image of the Fudge Nut bars before baking. On the right is after they are baked, and before they are cut.

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Ring of Secrets, by Roseanna White

2013-04-15T05:00:00.000-04:00

Revolutionary War. Spies. Mystery all around. Woo-hoo (says me)!

Ring of Secrets by Roseanna M. White was a book that drew me in and held my attention. I even woke up in the middle of the night thinking about it.

Winter Reeves is a Long Island farm girl taken by her rich (and rather nasty) Loyalist grandparents to live with them upon her mother's death. While living in the City of New York, she bends to her grandparents wishes and basically "dumb down" her personality around others so that she does not say or do anything to infuriate them. She learns to act stupid and convincingly so.

This does have its advantages. She becomes a Patriot spy who keeps her ears open, though only her childhood friend knows of how she helps the cause. Unlike other spies, her risk is minimal since she mostly just listens at parties for any intelligence.

Though she may act brainless, Bennett Lane sees through her mask. Though neither actually are interested in romance, they do become interested in one another.

Committed to different causes, I just could not see how this would play out, but Roseanna White pulled it off perfectly. I thoroughly enjoyed Ring of Secrets with actual historical people woven into fictitious ones. The Culper Ring was an actual spy ring that Washington used for intelligence.

It just may be my favorite of her books, and I've read them all! (Stray Drop of Blood, Jewel of Persia, Love Finds You in Annapolis Maryland- linked to reviews) Her research is thorough, and I learn so much!! I am looking forward to the next book in the Culper Ring series.

If you think you may be interested, read the first chapter!

This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Homemade Bread Recipe {2 Loaves}

2013-04-12T11:01:00.003-04:00

This is my simple white bread recipe that I have been using for years. I stopped using the breadmaker since it is so easy...and tastes better! It's traditional in taste and texture...very good in my opinion!

Last month I finally made this easy bread again after months of no fresh bread in the house. Instead of making bread in recent months, I had been making One Hour Dinner Rolls, but my husband asked for bread. Since the recipe makes two loaves, we ate one while fresh and froze the other for Easter dinner.

A little secret about my husband and me: When I make homemade bread, we eat about half of the loaf when it is still warm. Not with a meal, but as a snack. We may like it a wee bit too much!

Homemade White Bread
makes 2 loaves

2 cups warm water
1/3 to 2/3 cup white sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast (or 1 1/8 tablespoons instant yeast)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup vegetable or canola oil
6-7 cups bread flour

In a large bowl, dissolve sugar in the water. Stir in the yeast. Allow to proof until yeast is foamy. Stir in the salt and oil. Mix in flour, one cup at a time until you have mixed 6 cups. (I use the Kitchen Aid dough hook to do this.) The dough should clear the sides of the bowl, but still stick some to the bottom. If it does not clear the sides, add more flour, one tablespoon at a time, allowing dough to mix well after each addition. Knead dough for about five minutes.

Place bread dough in a lightly oiled bowl. Turn to coat. Cover with a damp cloth and allow to rise for about one hour, or until doubled. Punch dough down. Knead a few times on a floured surface. Divide in half. Shape into loaves. Place in two well-oiled bread pans. Allow to rise again for 30 minutes or until dough is just above the rim.

Bake at 350° for about 30 minutes.

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Forgotten in Plain Sight {Epilepsy}

2013-04-10T05:00:00.000-04:00

We give medication to our son twice daily, knowing it prevents seizures. But sometimes it just becomes part of Who We Are and What We Do. It's life. It's routine. Its significance is sometimes forgotten among "more important" things, even if we still remember to give the medication.

For more than two full years Brother took this medication and we had no idea if he even needed it. (Normally, one seizure is not enough to warrant meds, but his seizure was severe.) He had seized for over three hours (with medical intervention), which is called status epilepticus. He was just days away from his first birthday, which he spent in the hospital. His neurologist placed him on medication for more than two years. During that time we never saw another seizure, and his EEG's showed no seizure activity. We didn't know if the medicine was working or if he didn't need it.

Brother was eventually taken off medicine. He was seizure-free. We were grateful.

Then, three years and a couple of days after his first seizure...he had another seizure. It was totally different in how it looked. No convulsions with the body stiffening and relaxing (typically what people think of as seizures).

Brother had been laying on the floor playing and listening to music. I was in the next room when I heard a strange noise. Brother was vigorously rubbing the carpet. Really, really fast. His eyes were WAY off to the side. He couldn't look at me or stop rubbing. He was non-responsive, though certainly awake.

I didn't panic. But I also didn't do what I should have done...and knew to do. I did not call 911. I did not look at the clock. I did not remember to notice which hand was rubbing. I did not take note which way his eyes were facing.

Thankfully, it was a short seizure. It only took him a couple hours to recover. I was once told that a seizure, even a short one, is like running a marathon: exhausting!

Brother returned to his medication. After his seizure, I made sure to inform and educate his preschool and church workers. We now know he needs the medication. His last EEG even showed seizure activity within the brain (though he was not actually seizing). Since then, epilepsy is rarely thought of or discussed in our home. He is, overall, healthy, and it is easily forgotten.

Isn't God like that? How many of us depend upon God during crisis and thank Him after the crisis for bringing us through, but when it comes to everyday life, we make Him the least of our priorities, even if our words say otherwise. Instead of living our lives for God and letting Him be our ALL, we "let" Him into our lives when it's convenient or He is needed. We give Him time when we can instead of letting our life be His.

Many of us, myself included, seek God most when we are desperate.
.
We seek God through prayer and Bible reading. But shouldn't our faith become part of Who We Are and What We Do? God should be life...MY ALL. He should be routine (though never mundane).

For myself I hope that I will...never allow God to become less than a priority...not give just a few token minutes of Bible reading and prayer (though some is better than none)...let His significance not be forgotten in the busyness of life...not to take a backseat to babies, teenagers, my spouse, or even ministries.

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Fabulous Baby and Toddler Books

2013-04-09T05:00:00.000-04:00

Tiger Tales is at it again! They create such fabulous picture and board books. Today I want to highlight the most recent titles they have released. I was so excited for the books they sent us!

First of all, I should remind you that I have a 17 month old daughter. Around these parts, I refer to her as Little Sister.

She likes books.
She likes to eat books.
She likes to rip books.
She likes to turn pages in books.
She likes to read books...sort of.

You see, Little Sister is a typical toddler. She explores with her hands and mouth. She doesn't know her own strength. Despite needing to throw away a few books and repair many, we allow her to explore board books to her heart's content because we want her to enjoy books now in the way she wants to investigate them. Yes, she is hard on books, but she is finally asking us to read to her occasionally.

We have learned that Little Sister (and Brother before her) will listen to someone read a book, but only if the book has short sentences on each page so that she can turn pages quickly. (I allow her to turn at her pace.) She also likes to point to the pictures and especially likes flaps (which are dangerous in her hands) and adores touch and feel books.

This set of Tiger Tales books is perfect for a child who is developing book skills and interest. I appreciate how the bold photographs want my 1 1/2 year old want to engage in the books. With flaps, textures, and tabs, she gains interest with each new book! The images without a story facilitate language development as the child identifies things from the book and relates it to their own environment. And you know I like books that facilitate language because of Big Sister's apraxia, right?

I really appreciate these new books from Tiger Tales which feature classic concepts of learning through interacting with books. They seem to be very sturdy board books and of nice sizes for little hands to turn pages and see the images.

Personally, I love to give books such as these as gifts, especially for an expectant parent. Keep these in mind when you shop for a little one or add them to your gift-giving stash now!

My First Lift and Learn: Numbers and Colors
With a handle built right into these board books, little ones can enjoy toting them around as they read. Each book is Lift and Learn book. In First Colors, each page asks questions like "What color is the strawberry?" Under the flap it tells the answer and shows more images of other red items. First Numbers offers a similar format with the question like, "How many ducklings can you count?" It shows the answer with a finger-traceable number, along with another similar image as to what was on the flap.

My First Touch and Feel: Farm and Pets
Touch and Feel books have engaged two of my children when no other books would. This pair of books is well-made. I like the bold writing and short sentences. Each book also teaches animal sounds or movement. These promote language development and even hand-eye coordination as the child touches each texture. Should I mention my daughter likes to lick the bunny's fur?

Things to Learn and Things to See
This pair of books has tabbed pages that engage toddlers in turning pages. Each of these board books offers bold photographs and labeled images. Things to Learn pages: Colors, Animal Noises,Shapes, Baby Animals, Numbers, and My World. Things to See Pages: At the Park, On the Farm, At the Beach, At Preschool, At the Zoo, At My Party. By interacting with these books, with an adult's guidance, a child's vocabulary will increase and he will gain a better understanding of his environment while discovering his world..

My First Puzzle Set: ABC Puzzle and Book
This set is for older kids since it include a jumbo (or at least larger-than-normal) 30 piece puzzle. The book and puzzle come in a box with a handle for easy transportation. The book itself is a paperback (though sturdy) alphabet book with many images for each letter. The puzzle has an image and image word for each letter of the alphabet.

Thank you Tiger Tales for sending us some of these books for review! All opinions are my own.
~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Star Wars Peg People

2013-04-08T08:50:00.003-04:00

Our children have seen the original three Star Wars movies and really enjoyed them (as much as a four and six year old can). Prior to viewing them, the children learned a bit of background by reading the Star Wars Phonics books. It helped them to know characters and even the plot. The children would sometimes pretend-play Star Wars, and my son would hum the theme much of the time. They have also looked at this incredible pop-up book with my husband to familiarize themselves. (It is my husband's...and it is kept out of their reach.)

When I saw a Star Wars peg dolls on Pinterest, I decided to search out other Star Wars crafts. I really thought the felt figures/puppets would be easiest for me, but I thought the wooden figures would be played with much more. (You can see these ideas, and more, on my Star Wars Pinterest board.) I found another set of Star Wars peg dolls. One set was rather plain, while the other was more detailed than I preferred, though very helpful. I combined them and came up with the set you see below for my children. The bottom line is that they were a lot of work, but I had fun planning and painting them.

To make these Star Wars peg dolls, I bought a handful of wooden "people" at Michaels. (You can also purchase in bulk.) I also consulted Ticia on tips for painting little wooden people. (I did not use painters tape to cover the hands...I just attempted to paint around them.)

First I drew my plans on paper, examining the peg dolls that had already been created and actual photographs of the Star Wars characters. Next I drew on the little wooden people using pencil. Later I went over the pencil with my Sharpie pen so lines could be seen through a layer of paint. (Eventually I gave up on this and just "winged it" at the end drawing in the details with pencil on top of the paint, and then using the Sharpie pen.)

I began painting by creating two different flesh tones (using white, yellow, red, and green paints). I painted the face, neck, and hands of the Luke, Leia, and Han prior to anything else. In addition to acrylic paints (which are permanent), I also used silver and gold paint markers and Sharpie markers (also permanent). After painting them, I added details using a Sharpie pen (not marker). They are sealed in glossy Mod Podge.

Click on any image to view it larger.

The pegs in progress.

For Princess Leia's hair I used small, painted buttons, attached with Super Glue. Her belt just has three silver circles in the front. My daughter told me she really likes Leia's hair. (Score!) I'm guessing Leia and Luke both have about 4-5 coats of white paint.

Luke Skywalker may be the hardest to identify, but I am pleased with him. His hair is also brown, but has much more yellow in it than Han and Leia's. I used a marker to make his belt.

I used three different shades of black or black/brown combinations for Han Solo's dark clothing. I tried to part his hair in the middle, but my husband vetoed it, saying it looked feminine. It did.

My husband helped to make R2D2 by taking a peg person and sawing the head about in half and also cutting the body down to a tiny size. Put together with wood glue, they make a nice little robot. I used a silver paint marker for the top and a Sharpie maker to add the blue colors. (Ignore the fuzzies on him from Darth's cape.)

An appropriate green felt was not available, so I used a green fabric I had on hand from my daughter's Statue of Liberty costume to make Yoda's ears. To keep the edges from fraying (which is why I wanted felt), I dipped all of the edges in Elmer's glue prior to super gluing them on to his head. My husband also cut Yoda down to size. Originally, I had Yoda's skin with a bit more brown in it, but I changed it to match his ears. Too bad I couldn't attach wispy strands of hair on top of his head, huh?

After painting all of Darth Vader in black, I drew the details again on his body using pencil and then the silver paint marker. I made a cape template with paper. The cape is a trapezoid shape, being more narrow at the top. The cape is made from black felt and Super Glued to his neck. The blue and red "lights" were added with a Sharpie marker.

C3PO is my absolute least favorite. I probably shouldn't have even have included a detailed picture here. But I did. I used gold spray paint for his body and a gold paint marker for some detail work, along with a black Sharpie. I know I should redo him, but I just haven't yet.

Materials:

wooden peg people

acrylic paint

gold spray paint

glossy Mod Podge

silver and gold paint markers

Black Sharpie Pen (I actually prefer these for all of my writing.)

green fabric/felt

black fabric/felt

Super Glue

paint brush

surface to mix paint colors (plastic lid, cardboard)

wood glue

Optional Materials:

Various permanent markers (Black, red, brown, blue)

White paint marker for "clean up" on white paint.

White glue if using fabric to keep edges from fraying.

Wax paper

Tips

~ I used an open cereal box for my work surface. It is important to protect your surface from the permanent acrylic paints.
~ I used one flat paint brush about 1 cm wide for all my painting.
~ Wash your brush very well after each paint color. Before dipping in another color, dry it on a paper towel.
~ Use as many coats of paint as needed. When spray painting gold, be sure to do several light coats instead of a heavy coat.
~ Mix your own brown and flesh colors. You'll likely be more satisfied with the variety you make than what comes from the bottle. I added a bit of black to bottled brown to make Han and Leia's hair dark brown...and added extra yellow for Luke's hair. To make flesh tones, begin with white and add bits of red and yellow. Then add green (or blue) to turn it to brownish. Add more red and green to make it darker.
~ The Sharpie pen does dry quickly, but not immediately, as you can tell by looking at Yoda's face. The Mod Podge did smear it a bit.
~ Paint markers do take a long time to dry. Do not handle the people until completely dry.
~ When the Mod Podge is drying, set the Star Wars peg people on wax paper to dry. Otherwise you will have cardboard/newspaper stuck to your peg dolls.
~ Do not store the peg people in one container until they are seal with Mod Podge. I would suggest storing them in separate containers/baggies until sealed. Unsealed, the paint comes off and on to the others very easily. Once sealed, they can bang against each other without the paint coming off.

I had everything on hand except the wooden peg people, silver paint marker, and the spray paint. I borrowed the gold paint from my dad. It was a rather affordable project!

Many, many hours was spent on this project, but it was worth it. The kids like them, as do I.

A note: If you know our family, you may be surprised we allowed our children to watch the original three Star Wars movies, as we are rather conservative with such things. We felt that the movies are basically clean, other than the violence. The violence is unique in itself, being light sabers and guns without bullets. So we deemed them okay. We are rather cautious with PG (and some G) movies.

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

What's for Dinner in April

2013-04-05T05:00:00.001-04:00

In January we bought a good deal of pork from a neighbor. I decided then that I wanted to try to make it until March to purchase ANY meat again. I made it! During the month of March when ground beef and chicken breasts were on sale, we bought it. That combined with the meat already in our freezer has me aiming for June before I buy meat again. This time around, we will allow deli meats to be purchased since Little Sister does eat them with her lunch.

As always, we tend to eat a lot of leftovers, so I don't end up making everything on my menu. For me, it's just important to have ideas written down in advance.

Now that Tee Ball has begun for Big Sister, it is important for me to have a quick meal or leftovers prepared for those days. I still use my visual reminder of special events on our kitchen calendar.

Curious about what others are making for dinner? Check out Meal Planning Monday!

This Week
Ham and egg wrap
Creamy Ham and Mac
Spaghetti
Pizza
Bacon Ranch Chicken
Week 2
Pot roast
French dip (slow cooker)
Pancakes
Marinated chicken legs
Week 3
Chicken tacos (slow cooker)
Beef and broccoli (doubled)
Pizza
Quesadilla
Week 4
Three cheese pasta bake
Ranch pork chops (slow cooker)
Ribs (slow cooker)
Treats to Make
Chewy granola bars
Peanut butter chocolate chip banana muffins
Apple cinnamon scones
Chocolate chip cookies
Strawberry jam
~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Schaeffer on the Christian Life {Book Review}

2013-04-03T10:00:00.001-04:00

Last month Crossway offered a couple of biographies of great Christian theologians. Having never read or studied any of these people before, I decided to take the opportunity to read about Francis Schaeffer in the book Schaeffer on the Christian Life: Counterculture Spirituality. It certainly helped me to know this book was less than 200 pages in length. Also, the Christian Life series is described as "provides accessible introductions to the great teachers on the Christian life gaining wisdom from the past for life in the present."

Francis Schaeffer was a leading influence in bringing young people to understand just what the Christian faith really is during the second half of the 1900's. The author of this book, William Edgar, an agnostic, became a Christian within days of meeting Francis and Edith Schaeffer, like countless others. Edgar was a friend of the Schaeffers throughout their lives.

(I will note here that Edith Schaeffer died just days ago at the age of 98. Sherry wrote about Edith and her influence through books and linked to some other relevant articles).

I found the faith of the Schaeffers to be rather fascinating and inspiring. In his early ministry days, Francis actually was a pastor in my county in Pennsylvania. Eventually Francis and Edith built the Swiss community of L'Abri where anyone was welcome to come and discuss Christianity. Some stayed for a brief visit, while others had extended stays of months while learning and growing in the faith.

L'Abri was a center of prayer and of learning. It seems that every aspect of daily life and work were consumed within God's reaches.

To me, it seems that Francis and Edith Schaeffer were evangelical, conservative fundamentalists. They lived their lives in a loving way, opening their home (with children) to others in a way that demonstrated their true faith and purpose of teaching others about Jesus Christ.

William Edgar does not paint Francis Schaeffer as the perfect theologian. Throughout the book, he points out downfalls in Francis's theology and teachings, and even briefly discusses his bursts of temper, which provides introductory readers some balance.

I deeply appreciated this book. It certainly made me realize how much we/I (typical Christians, even evangelical Christians) separate our faith from the rest of our lives.

I am now interested in reading, and being challenged by, at least one of his books. (Any recommendations? I have a few that stand out to me.) I also want to read Edith's The Hidden Art of Homemaking.

My only "complaint" of this book is that though it is meant to be an introduction to Schaeffer, I felt that many religious "big words" were used, sometimes in regards to other belief systems and sometimes related to Christianity. I would have liked to see more definitions/explanations so I wasn't left guessing, attempting to remember while possibly confusing terms, or interrupting my reading to look up the information (which rarely happens). This didn't happen all the time, but enough that I thought it worth mentioning.

I am eager for more Christian Life biographies from Crossway and thank them for sending Schaeffer on the Christian Life my way. You might be interested in reading an excerpt of this book before buying it.

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Star Wars Craft

2013-04-02T10:11:00.001-04:00

My children received these Star Wars wooden peg people for Easter. I am writing a more detailed post to share how I did it and where my inspiration came from. Just thought I'd tease you a little in the meantime.

Updated: You can now see close-ups and learn how I made the Star Wars Peg People!

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}

Counter Clutter

2013-04-01T05:00:00.000-04:00

I find that the kitchen counter gets rather cluttered when the dishwasher is doing its job and we have dirty dishes waiting to get washed. I prefer to stack the dishes and place the dirty silverware in a jar. It keeps the silverware clutter contained. It works well for us, so I thought I would share it with readers, too.

Linked to Titus2Tuesdays.

~ Annette {This Simple Mom}