Tuesday, September 29, 2015

41 Hour Sale at Lilla Rose!!!!

Lilla Rose is having a HUGE 41 Hour Sale, with 10-40% Off Everything!!!



If you've been looking for a gift for someone else, or you just want to get a flexi (or two, or three) for your own collection, this is the time to shop.

Lots of new styles have been added!!!


And for my fellow owl lovers, check out this month's Flexi of the Month!!!
To shop, go here and have fun!!!!

Monday, September 28, 2015

Happy Homemaker Monday

Good morning, all! I'm hoping to maybe see a ray of sunshine today. I've not seen the sun since Thursday evening...I'm not at all happy about that.

Let's do this!!!

The weather in my neck of the woods: URGH. Rain, and lots of it. And it's not expected to stop at all this week. I may just go crazy, lol.


On the breakfast plate: Leftover chicken spaghetti. Judge if you want, but breakfast foods first thing in the morning literally  make me sick.

As I look outside my window: It's gray and hideous. For some reason, Dave chooses to lay around on a camp chair on my deck.

Looking around the house: I have some vacuuming and mopping and laundry to do.

On today's to-do list: *Laundry *Run the dishwasher *School Day *Buy Bread *Meet up with a local lady to do a kids-shoes swap *Possibly brave this stupid weather to wish Grandpa Bruce a belated birthday

On my mind: *My friend's Grandmother, who will soon see Jesus *My parents, as always *The Meal Plan for this week, which is coming to me as slowly as turtles stampeding through peanut butter, ugh.

On the menu this week: Monday: Beef veggie soup, cooked by a friend, french bread, green salad.
                                         Tuesday: Crockpot Asian Pork, white rice, steamed broccoli
                                         Wednesday: Potato Soup
                                         Thursday: Mexican Macaroni and Cheese
                                         Friday: Appointments all day, probably pizza
                                         Saturday: My birthday. Probably junk, ya'll ;)
                                         Sunday:  One pot spaghetti

Craft Creations: A couple of fall-themed decorations for the house. Pictures to come later.

New Recipe: None this week. With all this ugly rain, I'm so not feeling creative.

Favorite photo from the camera: 
 
Guys, last week had been so sucky...Gabe got me this tuxie mug to cheer me up. I love it!!!

Scripture, Devotionals, Key Verses: 

Have an amazing week, all! I hope the sun is shining wherever you are! 

Sunday, September 27, 2015

39/52

39/52: I always tease her about her little feet and her "pigeon toes".

39/52, Sunday: This outfit brought to you by "we're staying home to get over our stomach bug" and also "Oh, crud. We are out of trash bags." She is now fully over said bug and we have our trash bags, yay. :)

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Beating The Slump

I've been in one lately.

Work. School. School. Work.

The home life suffers. I'm not pleasant as a Mom or a Wife. Ugh.

Maybe you've been there, too? Hitting the snooze button as many times as you possibly can, before you roll out of bed, and trudge through your day, having too much coffee, so you veer between zombie and ogre?

Have you ever been so tired and un-inspired during your day that almost NOTHING you wanted to get done, got done?

I've been feeling so emotionally-awful lately, and I couldn't figure out why. Change in the weather, hormones, something, ugh.

My daily Bible reading is what keeps me sane, and for the most part, I had been reading at night. But, I was so tired by the time I sat down with my Bible, I don't think I absorbed much of it.

One day, I decided that I needed to make a to-do list. It was one of those really awful days, where no housework that I wanted done, got done, I was disappointed in myself and just ugh. On the top of my to-do list was "Read the Bible."

I'm reading my Bible in the mornings now, setting my alarm earlier and reading before I even get out of bed. That helps me get a jump on the morning chores and gets me to work in a better mood.

The to-do list has helped too. I put it on the back of each prayer journal page, so the next morning, after I read my Bible, and do my journaling, I can look at my to-do list and get started on it.

This is just a glimpse. I prefer to keep my journaling private, but you can see the highlighted list on one side.

I've also started reading some passages in Polish, because of the awesome Polish Bible I received from my in-laws.

Such a simple change, but it's already made a difference in our lives. My husband says I'm more pleasant to be around (thanks, honey!), I'm more productive at work, and life just goes better in general.

Monday, September 21, 2015

An Open Letter to My Fellow Christians

I've spent the better part of the day rolling this post over and over in my mind, trying to get the wording right. I'm pretty sure I've failed....

But...

Christians, why are we wasting so much time? Why are we sitting in our churches, gritting our teeth and backbiting people who don't think like we do? Why are we blaming the sins of the world on groups of people, instead of acknowledging that we are just as sinful?

God doesn't measure sin by how "big" it is. Sin is sin. Friend, if you cheated on your taxes, you're not any better than that drug addict down the road. You're not better than me. I'm certainly no better than you.

I had someone say to me "Christians are some of the most hateful people I've ever met in my life." And it hurts my heart, as a Christian, because it's true. We may veil it in "oh, it's righteous judgment."  No. JESUS judged with righteous judgment, and guess what? He helped the sinners. He healed the sick.

Christians, why aren't we out there, helping others? Why aren't we out there, catering to the needs of a fallen, broken world? We can sit in the church house all day, thinking "Thank God I'm not like so and so. They have problems." Yup, so do we. One big problem. We're blind. We're blind to what's really going on out there.

If we're truly reading His word...then we need to be following it. We need to be OUT there. Reaching out. SHOWING people Christ's love.



This verse has been on my heart so much lately. If I see someone in need, I try my best to fill it. But, oh my goodness, I am so guilty of saying "Hope everything works out" when there is something that I can do. If I can feed someone, I need to be doing it. If I can clothe someone, I need to be doing that.

Yes, this country is in rough shape. As Christians, we need to do our best not to contribute to the problem.

So, fellow Christians, open your Bibles tonight and go and BE Christ's love tomorrow.


Happy Homemaker Monday

Good morning, all. It's so very quiet when I'm the only one up. The only sound I hear is the periodic jingling of Dave's collar as he sneaks through the house. Gabe's gearing up for another day of work (read: he's sleeping) and Ella's still trying to get over her cold...summer colds are THE WORST. I'm trying to get as much done as possible (including this blog) while they are both in bed, before I have to hit the school day running and prepare dinner and blah blah blah.

Here we go!


The weather in my neck of the woods: Precious, blessed rain. God's answered my prayers. NC has been in a drought for most of this summer. It's supposed to rain more today. I say bring it on!

On my bedside table: Pens, pencils, Where Secrets Sleep, a newspaper

What I'm Reading: Still Where Secrets Sleep, and I've started another Amish mystery series "Serenity's Plain Secrets"...I read the first book "Lamb to the Slaughter" and it honestly creeped me out, which isn't easy for a book to do. Love it!

On the news: Our government is insane. Can we elect someone sane now, please?

On the menu this week: 
Monday: Crockpot Stuffed Peppers I love this idea!!!
Tuesday: My world famous Chicken Stew
Wednesday: Beef Pasta
Thursday: Baked Potato Bar
Friday: Beef Stew
Saturday: Chicken Soup of some kind
Sunday: Chicken Spaghetti

New Recipe I want to try: Brunswick Stew, but the idea of using ketchup in a soup makes me shudder.

On my to-do list: Oh, ya'll. Way too much. Let's just say I need a personal assistant to help me accomplish it all, or a clone. Or something.

In the craft basket: Still that secret thing I can't tell you about. And I really want to make Ella a lace skirt. She's absolutely worn out the one I made her a few years ago.

Looking forward to: Crossing things off my to-do list today. It feels so good to be able to say "There! That's DONE!"


What I'm doing for myself this week: Organizing my pantry more...because my sanity depends on it.  Also, something unexpected I did for myself last week: I dyed my hair. Just a streak...but it's red and it's beautiful and I love it. More to come.

Favorite Photo:

Most of you know that about two months ago, following the loss of our Tom Cat, we adopted these two. (The black one is Sphinx and the tabby is Dave). Sphinx has always been a bit mean to Dave and I never thought I would see the day where they would be laying peacefully side by side. But it happened, and I have picture proof!!!

Lesson Learned: Family is so very important. Spend all the time you can with them. Even if you're cleaning the house or cooking dinner, it's so much better with family helping you.

Devotionals, Scriptures, Key Verses: 


Have a blessed week, ya'll, I'm off to work on that massive to-do list!!!

Sunday, September 20, 2015

38/52

38/52: Ella at the VW graveyard. (It's on a friend's property)

38/52, Sunday: Sorry for the lack of fanciness, ya'll. But when 2 family members (me and Ella) are feeling under the weather, this is the best we can do.

Monday, September 14, 2015

Happy Homemaker Monday

Good morning, everyone!
Brrrrr!!!!
It got down to a very chilly 39 degrees last night, and some places are reporting 32 and under.
Isn't this THE SOUTH?
I had to turn on my heat last night, brrr!


The weather in my neck of the woods: It's chilly this morning, but it's supposed to warm up some.

On my bedside table: Kindle, devotional, pen and paper, notebook, recipe books, mug of tea.

What I'm reading: Still making my way through Where Secrets Sleep. Romance and I aren't friends. Also, reading a Biography of Lucrezia Borgia. "Callie" by Sharon Srock was an awesome book with a great ending. And there are more books in the series, so I'll definitely be getting those!

On the news: Dear Mr. President,
                      Why on earth would we want to give nuclear weapons to people who are shouting                                "Death to America"? Do you know something that I don't?

On the menu this week: Can I just take a moment to say how much I like that I can turn on the stove/oven and not feel like I'm going to die in the heat?
Monday: Taco soup
Tuesday: Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Wednesday: Breakfast for dinner
Thursday: Chicken Pot Pie Soup, which didn't happen last week
Friday: Tacos
Saturday: Steakhouse Soup
Sunday: Rigatoni Lasagna

New Recipe I want to try: Still that pot pie soup...

On my to-do list: School, Library, Ladies Meeting, Must buy bread and milk (seriously, I ran out of bread and milk this morning, how cliche), laundry, house cleaning, pantry inventory, chopping up 30 pounds of green peppers, the dread summer-to-fall/winter closet switchout, urgh.

In the craft basket: Something special that I can't tell ya'll about quite yet.

Looking forward to: A photoshoot, finally having all of E's summer clothes out of her closet (although I'm not looking forward to moving them), this Friday.

What I plan on doing for myself this week:  My nails. I almost never have my nails done, because of the various jobs that I do, so I'm going to treat myself this week.

Favorite photo:

Her nose is all scrunchy and she's doing the squinty eye, but it was all bright and sunny and windy yesterday afternoon. I cut her bangs yesterday, she told me she's missed them :)

Lesson Learned: Sometimes, we have to be the ones to reach out to others, with a helping hand, or a hug, or to meet a need. We can't count on other people to do it.

Devotionals, Scriptures, Key Verses:


Sunday, September 13, 2015

37/52


37/52: Yup, that's my kid and a stuffed snake, checking out the Home Science Tools catalog.

37/52, Sunday: Breaking out the tights. It was cool out today!

Monday, September 7, 2015

Happy Homemaker Monday

Happy Labor Day!!!
Even though I'm "off work" I'll still be laboring today, as we prepare to celebrate my husband's birthday this week!

Here we go :)

On the weather front: It's supposed to dip into the upper 60's here, later in the week. I.can.not.wait!!!!

On my bedside table: Tea, Kindle, paper, pen, devotional.

Books I'm reading: Still struggling through "Where Secrets Sleep" (by Marta Perry). Good news is that it's picked up a little. I'm also reading "Callie" by Sharon Srock, who is an awesome Christian author.

On the news: While it completely breaks my heart to read about more police officers being killed (seriously, America, what gives?) my heart is uplifted by stories like this one , where a teenager watches over a police officer at a gas station (after another officer was gunned down at a gas station). There is still hope for this broken world. We all need to pray and turn back to God. We all need to treat one another like our lives have VALUE.

On the menu this week: This is an odd week...it's a clean-out-the-pantry week, prep-garden-harvests-week, and also Gabe's birthday week. Um....we'll see.
Today: Hamburger Helper.
Tuesday: Gabe's mini-birthday shindig. I'm thinking crockpot hamburgers, grilled hot dogs, and BLT's (because tomatoes are still plentiful)
Wednesday: Crockpot Mexican Chicken
Thursday: Cube Steak in mushroom gravy, whipped potatoes
Friday: Birthday shinding, continued. Pizza, cake, and ice cream
Saturday: Chicken Pot-Pie Soup (wish me luck, I'm wingin' this one)
Sunday: Pasta, of some kind.

New Recipe I want to try: That'll be the Chicken Pot Pie Soup.

To-do list: Oh my heavens.
                   Store
                   School (nope, no breaks for us, Ella insists)
                   Clean the house
                   Freeze tomatoes and peppers and tear down most of the tomato plants
                   About a gazillion things I haven't even thought of yet...so much for a day off!

In the craft basket: Even more headbands (everybody is having girls!) and a special project Ella and I are working on.

What I plan on doing for myself this week: If I can get through to the weekend with my sanity intact, that's what I'll have done: kept my sanity.

Favorite Photo: 


That's Dipper. Go ahead and say it, ya'll. I shouldn't be allowed to go to the Humane Society unattended.

Lesson Learned: God is there. Even when everything else falls apart, He is always there.

Devotionals, Scriptures, Key Verses: 




Sunday, September 6, 2015

36/52

36/52: I think she loves cats. :)

36/52, Sunday. Nope, no fancy dress today. It's been a long, long week, finished off by a migraine for me that barely lets me open my eyes. We all stayed home today.

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Desperation in the Kitchen: Gabe's Favorite Zucchini Boats

I've always been kind of indifferent toward zucchini, except that I really like it sauteed with tomatoes. (and I'm the only one in the family who likes it that way)

And then this summer, everybody seems to have had a bumper crop of zucchini, so what the heck do I do with it all?

Well, I made a lovely chocolate chip-zucchini cake, and that was awesome, but I got sick of shredding zucchini. (For those who cannot imagine why on earth I would get sick of shredding zucchini, try it sometime) I've made zucchini pizzas, and those are fine, too, but I've always wanted to try my hand at making zucchini boats.

I made a practice run of said boats yesterday (because, dude, ya'll, we have a LOT of zucchini) and when I called Gabe at work to let him know that's what he'd have for dinner, he asked "Is there going to be meat on those zucchini boats?"

Yes. There's meat.

And they are delicious, and he loves them. (It's why they're GABE'S favorite zucchini boats, after all)

Here goes.


Here's what you need:
Some large zucchini
Ground beef (I used less than a pound, but you can certainly use more)
salt, pepper
olive oil
salsa
cheese

Here's what you do


*Wash your zucchini. Cut the ends off, and slice in half lengthwise.

*Using a spoon, scoop out the pulp. When you're done, it should look something like....

...see above


*Chop the zucchini pulp, and put the zucchini "boats" in a baking dish.

*Take a moment to thank a cat for her thorough inspection of the zucchini, and for not eating them.

*Brown and drain ground beef. Add salt, pepper, some olive oil, and the zucchini pulp.

*Add salsa. (the original recipe called for tomatoes, onions and peppers, but salsa has all that stuff and is so much faster)

*Stuff the boats with the meat/zucchini/salsa mixture

*Bake at 375 for 15 minutes

*Sprinkle with cheese

*Bake til cheese melts. Yumminess!!!