tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65342436721587211572024-03-08T01:59:37.194-08:00From Rookie to Rock StarI'd love to share my growth in two specific arenas, parenting and cooking.
I started off as a rookie (i.e. not even knowing what a clove of garlic was and thinking I would naturally be a good parent due to my background in teaching) and am working my way towards becoming a rock star. Join with me as I take the LONG journey ahead of me.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910385302391156910noreply@blogger.comBlogger389125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534243672158721157.post-40853983868093617032014-06-16T07:48:00.000-07:002014-06-16T07:48:00.022-07:00Menu Plannin’ Monday 6.15.14<p align="center">Monday – <a href="http://www.papamurphys.com/">Papa Murphy’s</a></p> <p align="center"><img src="http://firstfoodbank.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/papamurphys.png" width="202" height="202"></p> <p align="center">Tuesday – <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/crock-pot-chicken-and-gravy-509763">Chicken & Gravy</a></p> <p align="center"><img alt="Crockpot Chicken and Gravy" src="http://myfindsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/crockpot-chicken-and-gravy.jpg" width="252" height="243"></p> <p align="center">Wednesday – <a href="http://rookietorockstar.blogspot.com/2012/12/meal-plannin-monday.html">Chicken Parmesan & Broccoli</a></p> <p align="center"><img alt="Chicken parmesan, broccoli and spaghetti" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8aE6qEuiyrvhiitXKQTQfqDx-xogwC-mJE4s7V18GZZM3WbS6BPBfIRRIoGNnS4qgvKYureO7HG-uY7PAYTlDmrZgJjsb2GCDU0xFdgbYdYIiIcBGkcQecs-aH2H9eDjPwV3_wWck4nW4//?imgmax=800" width="412" height="275"></p> <p align="center">Thursday – <a href="http://rookietorockstar.blogspot.com/2011/06/chicken-spinach-salad.html">Chicken & Spinach Salad</a></p> <p align="center"><img alt="IMG_4910" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzznvNom5CHvn-4ycbP19RRMGXEeFsJ-Wvr-9Ky2qRfuLrKDDngrzmKaU-Z1mnOU-EZl3mn2HoKn0o5CEuy86dTaXgaTOex3bJLdJAv05i2liGw0Lf-GhafEKKIXmEkd73Acz0xFQ1wanP//?imgmax=800" width="380" height="289"></p> <p align="center">Friday – In-n-Out</p> <p align="center"><img src="http://www.esquire.com/cm/esquire/images/esq-in-n-out-burger-080709-lg-45867371.jpg" width="352" height="264"></p> <p align="center">(I know…2 “eat out” meals in one week! I’m traveling and super busy. Don’t judge! <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-o8jFPjWkGt4/U55pIHkDuJI/AAAAAAAAH70/UwRBBDM3eiY/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"> Oh, and sorry to all you non-Californians)</p> <p align="center">Saturday & Sunday – Whatevs….at my mom’s with the kids. Woot!</p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910385302391156910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534243672158721157.post-18962120121869319732014-06-13T06:01:00.000-07:002014-06-13T06:01:00.170-07:00Friday Faves–Apps<p align="center">In sitting down to type up today’s blog post, I quickly scanned through my local drafts to see if I had started anything in the past I could finish up and post. And I’m glad I did! I found the start of #1 below (dated from April…2013, eek!), and came across two similarly adorable apps by the same maker that I had yet to download, “Endless Reader” and “Endless Numbers”. So, enjoy if you haven’t already downloaded these (for kids, obviously). And BONUS…they’re ALL free!!</p> <p align="center">(for Endless Numbers, I think only #1-5 come with it, you have to purchase the remaining #’s, but you can check it out for free)</p> <p align="center"><font size="6" face="Mr and Mrs Popsicle">#1. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/endless-alphabet/id591626572?mt=8">Endless alphabet</a></font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-e590qMWLQpQ/U5oxcJL229I/AAAAAAAAH5s/-5GK1qPpTrQ/s1600-h/Endless-ABC4.jpg"><img title="Endless ABC" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Endless ABC" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-79IB7hg9m1Y/U5oxdQFp2ZI/AAAAAAAAH50/CIMU54mI_l0/Endless-ABC_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="391" height="221"></a></p> <p align="center">For starters, this gem of an app is FREE, and essentially teaches your kids letter sounds, spelling of words AND their definitions! </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-AnaOVZ-a214/U5oxeVWynoI/AAAAAAAAH58/_XAe2MEOqUU/s1600-h/Endless-ABC---Portrait4.jpg"><img title="Endless ABC - Portrait" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Endless ABC - Portrait" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mlgol3GzB9Y/U5oxfQ88nzI/AAAAAAAAH6E/gG--B_Xx35A/Endless-ABC---Portrait_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="419" height="301"></a></p> <p align="center">It shows a word, like above, and you drag the letters to where they belong. As you drag the letters, it repeats the letter sound over and over in a cute, fun voice! Then it says the word, followed with a short little skit depicting the definition, and then the word and definition are read one last time to wrap it all up.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-x0HcXnLKneo/U5oxgINSmoI/AAAAAAAAH6M/2I0TABST6-E/s1600-h/belch1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="belch1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="belch1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2Q1abHbttQQ/U5oxg4VdBsI/AAAAAAAAH6U/g6EcOtaUET8/belch1_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="432" height="242"></a></p> <p align="center">Belch is ONE of my kids favorites, go fig!</p> <p align="center"><font size="6" face="Mr and Mrs Popsicle">#2. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/endless-reader/id722910739?mt=8">Endless reader</a></font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-uBwPVL60_EY/U5oxhrsacyI/AAAAAAAAH6c/tDEb6uE9n68/s1600-h/screen568x568%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="screen568x568" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="screen568x568" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-onYcYyBbCKg/U5oxilq5Y9I/AAAAAAAAH6k/dkwmSPpkiu0/screen568x568_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="427" height="241"></a></p> <p align="center">Seriously can’t wait for my soon to be kindergartner to dive into this one! Same idea, except AFTER you put the letters together for the word, a sentence pops up and you drag the words into place as they are said aloud. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ACcXKZ2mhHY/U5oxjXSO5YI/AAAAAAAAH6s/HWr4FnR2OCI/s1600-h/screen568x568%252520%2525281%252529%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="screen568x568 (1)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="screen568x568 (1)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-p7RyFfPS8hY/U5oxkUNxgbI/AAAAAAAAH60/G_HJXcfKaWk/screen568x568%252520%2525281%252529_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="432" height="244"></a></p> <p align="center">Then, another cute skit to act out the sentence, and the sentence is read aloud, reinforcing reading skills.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-iIBQITv4Lns/U5oxk1sbpZI/AAAAAAAAH68/PaWmv_-RTg4/s1600-h/screen568x568%252520%2525282%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="screen568x568 (2)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="screen568x568 (2)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Asp2IXJLQ-M/U5oxl9SQRZI/AAAAAAAAH7E/Qfg37div-eo/screen568x568%252520%2525282%252529_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="437" height="246"></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="6" face="Mr and Mrs Popsicle">#3. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/endless-numbers/id804360921?mt=8">Endless numbers</a></font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1jGy6PtICpg/U5oxm14huXI/AAAAAAAAH7M/ISA29B8we3M/s1600-h/screen568x568%252520%2525283%252529%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="screen568x568 (3)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="screen568x568 (3)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PRXx0w1ArFo/U5oxntpBYLI/AAAAAAAAH7U/PUOHmLlhdwc/screen568x568%252520%2525283%252529_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="440" height="248"></a></p> <p align="center">While my son will likely get bored quickly with this one, I’m thinking it might be a huge help for my daughter. But, it does touch on addition, which might be helpful for my son, too.</p> <p align="center">Hope you enjoy these! At the very least, it makes me feel better when I let my kids have “screen time”. At least they’re actually learning something! <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-w_Ki3o0MZhM/U5oxuUL45CI/AAAAAAAAH7c/BHw6kZSEkms/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910385302391156910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534243672158721157.post-22772408035134155332014-06-12T15:27:00.001-07:002014-06-12T15:27:49.092-07:00Thoughtful Thursday–Don’t Overthink<p><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="Family Prayer Jar - cut out photos of family members, tape to popsicle sticks, put in jar and have your child choose one or two each night at prayer time! This is ADORABLE!" src="http://glittermagic.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/family-prayer-jar-cut-out-photos-of-family-members-tape-to-popsicle-sticks-put-in-jar-and-have-your-child-choose-one-or-two-each-night-at-prayer-time-this-is-adorable1.jpg?w=640" width="302" height="453"></p> <p align="center">I saw this ADORABLE idea over at <a href="http://happyhomefairy.com/2013/09/04/the-family-prayer-jar/">Happy Home Fairy</a> to create a visual prayer aid for my kiddos. I’ve been meaning to create one for months! </p> <p align="center">Today during lunch, I grabbed a pad of paper and a pen and said to my kids, “God tells us in the Bible that we ought to be praying ALWAYS. And that we should pray for our friends and family. So, who do you guys think we should pray for?”</p> <p align="center">My intent was to get a list of whose pictures I needed to print out to slap on a popsicle stick. But instead, this happened…</p> <p align="center">My son said, “Oh! For that boy that cut his chin!”</p> <p align="center">Our neighbor’s nephew cut his chin earlier this week and my amazing hubby utilized his medical training to help them out (so madly in love with him – side note). And my kiddo remembered, and thought to pray for him!</p> <p align="center">MIND BLOWN.</p> <p align="center">Here I am trying to overthink prayer for my kids, when in reality, prayer can come very naturally.</p> <p align="center">We continued with our list, and I would still like to carry out the “family prayer jar” to help in consistency, but my son’s response today was such an amazing reminder that with a technology-filled, Pinterest loving world and about a million amazing ideas flooding our brains daily, sometimes, doing something in its most simplest of manners might be best.</p> <p align="center"><img alt="I want to cut off the piece of my brain that is doing all this overthinking" src="http://www.thethingswesay.com/img/1278.jpg"></p> <p align="center">So as you REALLY delve into your summers (i.e. spend 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with no break from your kids), feel free to ignore those blog-perfect pictures and just BE with your kids. Don’t overthink the activities you do with them. They’ll love you for it!</p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910385302391156910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534243672158721157.post-47780340038698849022014-06-10T06:34:00.000-07:002014-06-10T06:34:00.429-07:00Trick of the Trade–Keep Your Fonts Straight<p align="center">First world problem here.</p> <p align="center">I have an unhealthy love of fonts.</p> <p align="center">So much so, that when I’m putting something together and am pondering which font to use, I can’t even grasp my favorites because I have so many. </p> <p align="center">Here’s my solution…</p> <p align="center">WORD FILE WITH FAVORITE FONTS</p> <p align="center">I keep a word file with an alphabetical list of my favorite fonts IN the font so I can readily see it. This way I don’t have to sort through my other fonts I use seldomly in the font drop down. I just open the word document and quickly scroll through to spot the perfect font for said project. </p> <p align="center">Here are my non-script faves…</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ITIe2F9lwHs/U5aY9bpp4LI/AAAAAAAAH24/yiTZ3kfmUjI/s1600-h/image%25255B9%25255D.png"><img title="image" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xr_oe_jr8qI/U5aY-qr8kpI/AAAAAAAAH3A/4L_IFbj00eo/image_thumb%25255B5%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="273" align="left" height="602"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Co1n3RA1ZV0/U5aZF59rLVI/AAAAAAAAH3I/s4ULk4_MhTM/s1600-h/image%25255B7%25255D.png"><img title="image" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lyBENpXrask/U5aZGxERbvI/AAAAAAAAH3Q/Dw5pU0dp3hM/image_thumb%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="262" height="611"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vO7cpkqAACQ/U5aZHfcFFtI/AAAAAAAAH3Y/UVQVjXIo4qc/s1600-h/image%25255B14%25255D.png"><img title="image" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Ezw5cAbyTmo/U5aZHw1JXQI/AAAAAAAAH3g/BF3BQFPxpfc/image_thumb%25255B8%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="273" align="left" height="400"></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p align="center">And my script favorites…</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-J1C7u_My_vs/U5aZIr3RhVI/AAAAAAAAH3o/shXpqqys8qE/s1600-h/image%25255B20%25255D.png"><img title="image" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3X9riffyuns/U5aZJTasvfI/AAAAAAAAH3w/_UY39dK4090/image_thumb%25255B12%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="166" align="left" height="611"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KJTBqU1zwzM/U5aZKDsUr-I/AAAAAAAAH34/394sNmelhlk/s1600-h/image%25255B25%25255D.png"><img title="image" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OyOiuJhRJFg/U5aZKwOED_I/AAAAAAAAH4A/lAZnSwwqX9w/image_thumb%25255B15%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="273" height="594"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lkABHzulWas/U5aZLY5Y11I/AAAAAAAAH4I/ptKD0nfq6AY/s1600-h/image%25255B30%25255D.png"><img title="image" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DEFvbxZ0A1g/U5aZMOOQF9I/AAAAAAAAH4Q/medXf3_mqFA/image_thumb%25255B18%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="273" align="left" height="311"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910385302391156910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534243672158721157.post-88125465411545945952014-06-09T22:19:00.001-07:002014-06-09T22:19:18.545-07:00Menu Plannin’ Monday 6.9.14<p align="center">Monday – Sesame Chicken Stir Fry Salad</p> <p align="center">Tuesday – Taco Chicken Bowls</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/198791771021826558/"><img alt="pinned it...slow cooker taco chicken bowls...made it...the family loved it, and used it for leftover burritos the next night." src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/85/cc/90/85cc90c8938da70e62a8aaa344772dd0.jpg" width="322" height="242"></a></p> <p align="center">Wednesday – Spicy Thai Chicken Wraps</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://www.cakestudent.com/spicy-thai-chicken-wraps/"><img alt="Spicy Thai Chicken Wraps" src="http://www.cakestudent.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/final-wraps-C.jpg" width="366" height="261"></a></p> <p align="center">Thursday – Root Beer Pulled Pork Sandwiches</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://eatatallies.com/2010/06/root-beer-pulled-pork-sandwiches/"><img src="http://eatatallies.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/IMG_94951.jpg"></a></p> <p align="center">Friday – Turkey & Pesto Paninis</p> <p align="center">Saturday – Southwestern Chopped Salad</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/198791771026693238/"><img alt="Southwestern Chopped Salad With Cilantro Lime Dressing. Yum." src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/18/e2/a8/18e2a824464bcf7af99310d9d101ae6f.jpg" width="294" height="441"></a></p> <p align="center">Sunday – Warm Goat Cheese Salad</p> <p align="center">In an attempt to keep the blog rollin’, I’m going with imperfection. Sorry, no recipes for some, just couldn’t find them. But drool over the others, ready….go! =)</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://orgjunkie.com/"><img alt="Menu Plan Monday for the week of June 9/14" src="http://orgjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/MPM-Summer.png" width="365" height="117"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910385302391156910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534243672158721157.post-19068083196615166262014-06-06T06:03:00.000-07:002014-06-06T06:03:00.062-07:00Friday Favorites–Polident, Wall Tracks & Toilet Wands<p align="center"><font size="5" face="Smiley Monster">#1. Polident</font></p> <p align="center">First off, yes. You read that correctly. </p> <p align="center">It says polident, like the old fizzy tablets your grandparents used to clean their dentures at night.</p> <p align="center"><img src="http://pics2.ds-static.com/prodimg/15659/300.jpg"></p> <p align="center">It’s still me writing the blog, not an 80 something year old Grandma. Although my daughter did just recently utter the words, “Mommy, here’s your teeth!” while running up the stairs with my RETAINERS! <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-eZmlHarLDY8/U4_6OBqpM_I/AAAAAAAAH2I/rWHe1umrol8/s1600-h/Invisilign%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="Invisilign" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Invisilign" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-aCk566LuDAg/U4_6O3d1rII/AAAAAAAAH2Q/rG0mvDFMuM0/Invisilign_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="342" height="207"></a></p> <p align="center">Anybody else wear these every night? </p> <p align="center">That is not actually MY retainer, I just pulled a pic from the interwebs. I wouldn’t dare show you mine!! It has a gray stain where I’ve got a ghetto old filling. How EMBARRASSING! </p> <p align="center">Cue: eye roll akin to Eep from the Croods</p> <p align="center">Anyone else get sick and tired of BRUSHING them old school style? My husband mentioned trying polident, semi-jokingly and I simply refused on principle. Then, I came across this Pinterest post that said you could use polident to whiten your nails. I thought, well, why not. It’ll serve 2 purposes! </p> <p align="center">And guess what? I tried whitening my nails with them. Meh.</p> <p align="center">BUT…the ease of cleaning my retainers! It’s seriously…heavenly.</p> <p align="center"><font size="5" face="Smiley Monster">#2. hot wheels wall tracks</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fOyeb0fTTuMtqmR4WpBpbcJHxYDHewMHX9VCQDVEO_GJvp6SkaY-ujnWlH_ZAMecxbV7tnwGqkOKW0YZnVjOJBPi-fDW00xNSVbXWTe3kUPWZ-JYBFg5UrDEXq4DNKtVvNGjXaX74prd/s1600-h/IMG_1262%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1262" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkN5wUh-z4s6FUzkTFsArJg4t8LOrO817LYQ4rBMlwvsoBWywnZF7HLVi5-Jterb9zQV8mbt1fH_5au-RNH7N7UIuuGD8xwQpFVD0zRan1GlgvXGnbfDbD7ZFnlV0w4Bu9fOCPrbCYVbM//?imgmax=800" width="475" height="243"></a></p> <p align="center">Santa MAY have gone overboard buying Hot Wheels wall tracks for my son’s room, but boy howdy am I glad he did! They’re so cool! I read a whole bunch of reviews and they were all pretty good, so I figured I’d give them a go. They work like a charm! And it simply uses command strips to adhere them to the wall. Pretty much everyone that comes over likes playing with them.</p> <p align="center"><font size="5" face="Smiley Monster">#3. Clorox toilet wands</font></p> <p align="center"><img src="http://edge-1.thekrazycouponlady.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/clorox-toilet-wand.jpg?4e2e47" width="350" height="222"></p> <p align="center">Not much to be said here, other than, makes cleaning the toilet easier and much more pleasant. Who wouldn’t want that? Love these bad boys!!</p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910385302391156910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534243672158721157.post-38644092453152568172014-06-05T07:57:00.000-07:002014-06-05T07:57:00.959-07:00Thoughtful Thursday–Return the cart<p align="center"><img src="http://www.myparkingsign.com/img/lg/K/Return-Carts-Parking-Lot-Sign-K-4610.gif"></p> <p align="center">Okay. This is a major pet peeve of mine. </p> <p align="center">Shopping carts left either hitched up on a curb, or simply out in the parking lot. I have MAYBE hitched a cart up at Costco WELL out of the way of a cart “stall” as well as any car MAYBE 3 times in my life. Other than that, I always bring it back. Raining, 2 whiny children, whatever. </p> <p align="center">This isn’t a rant blog post, allow me to explain.</p> <p align="center">I’ve heard the excuses. They have someone who specifically works at the store, that is paid to go around and collect the carts (this excuse certainly was not uttered by my husband, no!!). I’m sorry, have you ever heard of common courtesy? That’s why they HAVE the cart stall! For you to return it, so your cart doesn’t unexpectedly try to escape and ding up a fellow shopper’s car.</p> <p align="center">All this to say…other than returning my cart out of respect for the store’s employees, I have discovered yet another reason which is even more special! Read and listen closely…</p> <p align="center">LITTLES ARE WATCHING!! AND THEY WILL COPY!</p> <p align="center">I want my kiddos to display that common courtesy. And we all know that being selfless simply does NOT come naturally. So any and every opportunity I have to display that for them, I’m going to do!</p> <p align="center">One of my absolute favorite “common courtesy” things my son has picked up on is wiping down the sink in public bathrooms, and picking up any paper towels that miss the trash (WITH another paper towel mind you, thank GOODNESS he learned that from me, too, otherwise, EWW!). It WITHOUT FAIL, makes me smile each and every time I see him do it. It’s a baby step mind you, but it’s a step. It’s a glimmer of hope that he has it in him! =)</p> <p align="center"><img src="http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/images/statemodel_restroom.jpg" width="409" height="308"></p> <p align="center">So, will you think twice before leaving the cart? What other ways do you model to your kids other common courtesies?</p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910385302391156910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534243672158721157.post-58660436342161904272014-06-03T17:43:00.000-07:002014-06-03T21:47:32.766-07:00Trick of the Trade - How to Apologize<div align="center">
I don’t know how apologies run in your household, but in mine, it frequently involves a mean-spirited “Forry” (that’s right, they can’t even take the proper time to enunciate the word sorry) blurted in the siblings face and then they proceed to run away in the opposite direction. </div>
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No seriousness, no actual meaning behind it. I generally work to get some sort of authenticity behind said apology, often times with a hug instead of words. But there are many times when it simply does not seem worth the battle. </div>
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Quite frankly, because the child simply is not sorry. *sigh*</div>
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About a month ago I came across this article on <a href="http://www.cuppacocoa.com/a-better-way-to-say-sorry/">Cuppacocoa</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://www.cuppacocoa.com/a-better-way-to-say-sorry/"><img alt="Sorry" src="http://www.cuppacocoa.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Sorry.png" height="212" width="282" /></a></div>
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I’ll let you read it over there, PLEASE do, it’s amazing and has great examples of how to teach your children how to properly apologize. But in a nutshell, it has the following guidelines for how to properly apologize:</div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HY3UiAqZFwk/U45r3ip6eXI/AAAAAAAAH0Q/D2sM_S3rSr0/s1600-h/How%252520to%252520Apologize%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="How to Apologize" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rtn4ttkghEw/U45r4oy0auI/AAAAAAAAH0U/dUjA11M47kM/How%252520to%252520Apologize_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="403" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="How to Apologize" width="491" /></a></div>
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I created this to put on our refrigerator, as well as one upstairs in the hallway. We just used it and went through why for the first time after my daughter hit my son, for…no apparent reason.</div>
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Here’s how it went down:</div>
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I’m sorry for hitting.</div>
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This is wrong because it hurts people.</div>
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I can make it right by kissing brother’s ouchie.</div>
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In the future, I will keep my hands to myself.</div>
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Brover, (again with the pronunciation, although I am kind of in love with this mispronunciation!) will you forgive me?</div>
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That simple! I might even have to use it for myself when I find myself in a place where I owe them an apology. Anywho, I know I’ve been absent from the blog for quite awhile, but I just had to share this and need to remind myself that my blog doesn’t have to be about perfection, simply sharing things that help me as a wife and mom. So, I hope this helps the pitiful apologies in your household turn into something a bit more…sincere. =)</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910385302391156910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534243672158721157.post-49603436905166348242014-03-31T08:39:00.000-07:002014-04-03T16:15:39.519-07:00An Easter Tradition…You’ve Been Egged!<p align="center">While I’m very hit or miss when it comes to my blog, I enjoy seeing some of the traditions that we’ve been consistent with. This is one we’ve done the last 2 years now, and this year will be our third! In our new house! We hit our first house today (scroll down for pics), and will do two more tomorrow (weather permitting). </p> <p align="center">Anywho, here are the <a href="http://snk.to/f-cdx3qpmh">FREE printables</a> we use for our secret endeavors…and scroll down to see the excitement we had the previous two years. =)</p> <p align="center"><img title="clip_image002" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="clip_image002" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pIGBBEoJE8g/UzmRhnMoPGI/AAAAAAAAHwg/n0dR_tR9q9w/clip_image002%25255B8%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="437" height="579"></p> <p align="center"><img title="clip_image003" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="clip_image003" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UBGuMiH4GrY/UzmRiiLxrQI/AAAAAAAAHwo/fHT7CEcUn4k/clip_image003%25255B10%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="429" height="672"></p> <p>Here’s what the print out says (it’s a bit tricky to read it as is):</p> <p align="center">Look at that, you’ve just been EGGed!</p> <p align="center">But do not be alarmed!</p> <p align="center">We came, we dropped, we ran away!</p> <p align="center">Your house, it was not harmed.</p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center">“Why the egg?” you ask right now.</p> <p align="center">Why this Easter surprise?</p> <p align="center">To spread the news that Christ is risen,</p> <p align="center">Some eggs lay in disguise.</p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center">Some secret friends have dropped them by</p> <p align="center">To share some Easter cheer.</p> <p align="center">So now you’re it! It’s now your turn!</p> <p align="center">To “EGG” a house that’s near.</p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center">Christ has risen from the dead!</p> <p align="center">Jump, dance, shout and sing!</p> <p align="center">Celebrate along with us,</p> <p align="center">Let His praises ring!</p> <p align="center">Have fun finding the ____ eggs hidden in your yard!</p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center">Here’s your challenge:</p> <p align="center">1. Keep your sign on your door so those around know you’ve</p> <p align="center">been “egged”! </p> <p align="center">2. Then, fill some plastic eggs with candy, toys, or small notes </p> <p align="center">of encouragement. </p> <p align="center">3. Pick a friend or neighbor and scatter the eggs in their</p> <p align="center">yard when they are not at home, or under the safety of</p> <p align="center">darkness (If they don’t have a yard fill a basket and put</p> <p align="center">it on their doorstep.) </p> <p align="center">4. Tape an “You’ve Been Egged” sign to their front door, and </p> <p align="center">leave this note on their doorstep.</p> <p align="center">5. Enjoy the joy that comes with the spirit of Easter!</p> <p align="center">To print online go to: </p> <p><a href="http://rookietorockstar.blogspot.com/2014/03/an-easter-traditionyouve-been-egged.html">http://rookietorockstar.blogspot.com/2014/03/an-easter-traditionyouve-been-egged.html</a> <p align="center">And look how fun…my kiddos from the past two years, then this year! <p align="center">2012 <p align="center"><img alt="[IMG_2403%255B1%255D.jpg]" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ48OS3YEHsyO0mIkyDQzDV7dZp3PfvxAnYvpDVqOssY2kdwvddDToapxRj3bMVOHXoVkqqmVpxuBkXuzo_5-sW4IwoFcgKRT9ENqYG3gA1nr1j0lf4cz-zEIGN7LWrK2jOTYhzyspH2Em/s1600/IMG_2403%25255B1%25255D.jpg" width="452" height="302"> <p align="center">2013</p> <p><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="[IMG_8346%255B6%255D.jpg]" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwcjrlyKeL3u11nsgSt0ohlsiogg3DzLaEwa73d5I2D3VnBy4c4-qvvmGb6_0KpSWO5tlLJpqZCDQRDVnyfzYnVIxXedVapN2FrCMfEWR5kL_zrwqrBzozMKoAYCVtVtA7nFxLurtX9xk/s1600/IMG_8346%25255B6%25255D.jpg" width="467" height="700"></p> <p align="center">2014</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGzJd3-udq7y3kvrlu4AsEsMuIfmcYEfHAlq5zMtPam-VfVDEMO-7DT6WxPHT7Ra8WxN7EMXFOc1JYaL35NonFySQvxx7NiRXze-Sum771arAmQtgFlKNZyAeytNL2p1T-LAT3F_gJEKa/s1600-h/IMG_1843%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1843" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1843" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgkFWFGF4dtX-JBRZ5ydJt3ZG4m9IaArS4env0ZR9UtWKsCPpKDd4giSIH4a_SAnOFXaOAUIsyZAC0A5_aE0LqdD88x4-QfqaBO-tuMkJmzTKCh8zOwEI-ZUwhjLlUiMp5ti2QmcBHD_S//?imgmax=800" width="490" height="327"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOktlIjdgMo2s9OmXAutRAT3RtU-RVMsU9Rh2Q8tDUFAJwNmqbejRNDSbQb_m0ye2bry39dkSV9gcRMT_gJlJiGMnE_CKXNtHz8nCL-QDEGCUyFpdmMa6bjvcFYhmpyOQ4xYoBf-HxORy7/s1600-h/IMG_1851%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1851" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1851" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hbNtKo2i1sNGu0FscNnvQgZwzfy5KfcOd6UfI0bOi0BqepnuaqU3jr9hJ2ByAf4_IvH47xprWLUfWZAzYL5gRXAMySenQpz61g7yAboRITmqisGixLwyvRziiRodxCR6mmm0j1TR8ctI//?imgmax=800" width="491" height="351"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUig5-C2ecgDs_RBNSol2UTsTT8oJKiubZb8OJi5FzS8si0d3pQcjedhXM9_ZEYq9tBHldmaOHxQb1xVIph06S84Y4cqar1nn3oe1xjrwyaZKp9B0dh1sprm__IAUmPQKOidlYHInUe8g/s1600-h/IMG_1853%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1853" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1853" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigS813CW3M9nZXxc3wUZwAMrRSMuK_hHF0JYXzjLVkO_7FmxIjrXsn_3C6YcGNn-myX87mQ3S5PuTx9HeZn5iEM_TvWQ8ubHRCxq4wVEadgeO3-BV3oRhPTAl8FTRYloafO9U22iwunfG4//?imgmax=800" width="486" height="324"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRQqYuHC_ecK-4HhG77ukoO2V9QpT4s54pBM0LU0Av-1kNHaof_C6NXsuofIxsx4RSwUrqyepsTbLP879R3aGp_dF4O0ua8NImZ8oxn-MIccaSI0SYGOKtZJBdLkKRrZ27mWjv-OYuH2a/s1600-h/IMG_1858%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1858" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBr9p3HV0v-c6OZSxhD2v-Tj17nHWe3Z0Bu0tBCiM2I2W29Pug9Xp-DqZb9yR9lfJJzGCbNYWhfbdsQuPeVcX-kAmuTRKsK9j5FkEK9BZLE4fOQ941KHWj4OyCCi7tfmLCKeaSjxWZS6Q6//?imgmax=800" width="482" height="344"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910385302391156910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534243672158721157.post-45401630560065416432014-01-14T15:55:00.001-08:002014-01-14T15:55:47.916-08:00Trick of the Trade Tuesday–Baby Names<p>First off…no, I don’t have an announcement.</p> <p>Baby names…they’re so tricky, aren’t they? </p> <p>They can’t remind you of that awful bully from school…</p> <p>or that clinically insane patient of yours…</p> <p> and it can’t be a complete failure in the name song (so long Tucker)</p> <p>BOTH parents have to approve…</p> <p>it has to be a name you won’t mind repeating over and over and over and over and over…</p> <p>it has to “jive” with your last name (so long Nicholas)</p> <p>it SHOULD fit with your previous kids’ names (Hmm…Cooper, Allison and Beauford?? Maybe <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ae-6-fWUoBw/UtXOgrFiijI/AAAAAAAAHrs/cnQZtCqGxBc/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800">)</p> <p>maybe you consider it’s meaning (So long Calvin – Meaning: Bald (Latin). I don’t know, perhaps it might be fitting?? Love you hun!)</p> <p>watch those initials lest they be taunted down the road (sorry Patrick Michael Sanders…at least you brought a chuckle to our small group, if it’s any consolation, mine isn’t far off: Becky J Nicholas, hehe)</p> <p>some family names are just out…wouldn’t it be awkward if you named your kid after your sibling’s kid? (Shane, like ya, but no longer an option for our family)</p> <p>See? Super tricky, right?? Well let me clue you in on a little secret that contributed to both our kiddos names.</p> <p align="center"><strong>*************MOVIE CREDITS************</strong></p> <p align="center">Yes, as in…</p> <p align="center"><img src="http://ferdischeepers.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/tt880_crawl1-light_comp_render-3115.png" width="469" height="264"></p> <p align="center">See Allison up near the top there?</p> <p align="center">It’s no secret that my husband and I love to watch movies together. You could say it’s one of our favorite past times.</p> <p align="center">Our son’s name, we totally agreed on after seeing it in movie credits. We obviously chatted over many others, but kept coming back to Cooper. Don’t ask me which movie. I have no idea at this point, don’t even think it was from a Bradley Cooper movie (although I do know that it was Cooper as a last name, not a first, but I still love it!). </p> <p align="center">But knowing how crucial picking the right name is, if I’ve got the time, I’ll scan credits as I watch them in hopes of catching the right name. I may or may not even have a running list of names I like in my phone. I know, potentially laughable if we don’t have anymore kids. hehe</p> <p align="center">But hey, you could even do it for dog names!</p> <p align="center">So…there’s a reason for you to watch the credits…plenty of VERY “unique” names, if that’s what you’re looking for. Tolga, Ferdi and Mach just 3 from the credit page up above.</p> <p align="center">Good luck with your own baby name ideas!</p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910385302391156910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534243672158721157.post-10299429721545407502014-01-13T15:24:00.000-08:002014-01-14T15:26:09.370-08:00Menu Plannin’ Monday<p align="center"><strong>********DINNER MENU***********</strong></p> <p><strong>Monday:</strong> Buffalo Pasta (carryover from last week…#hadnachosonsunday #momoftheyearaward #somuchforeatinghealthyin2014)</p> <p><strong>Tuesday:</strong> <a href="http://www.bhg.com/recipe/soups/good-greens-winter-soup/">Good Greens Winter Soup</a> (I always add store bought meatballs…and it’s better than it looks, I promise!)</p> <p><a href="http://www.bhg.com/recipe/soups/good-greens-winter-soup/"><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" src="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/recipe/38/R111474.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" width="332" height="332"></a></p> <p><strong>Wednesday:</strong> <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/missys-candied-walnut-gorgonzola-salad/">Candied Walnut Gorgonzola Salad</a> (I cheat and buy candied walnuts instead of making them)</p> <p><a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/missys-candied-walnut-gorgonzola-salad/"><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" src="http://images.media-allrecipes.com/userphotos/250x250/00/26/37/263739.jpg" width="315" height="315"></a></p> <p><strong>Thursday:</strong> <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/middle-eastern-chicken-burgers-recipe/index.html">Middle Eastern Burgers</a> (sorry, no pic…and if you read the recipe, I use pomegranate jelly. Sounds weird, but it tastes delish!)</p> <p><strong>Friday:</strong> <a href="http://rookietorockstar.blogspot.com/2012/12/chicken-kabobs.html">Chicken Kabobs</a> (an easy go-to in our household)</p> <p><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="[IMG_5922%255B4%255D.jpg]" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFCpz-fj97W_mpiq4FERoTjWTZhviWBXYTvsc5L8t6_eiR8JYQncQV73P-jyii92JBCSYiVS8jEHcRqJtUW8wKQQ4vuPT5fgeWwFxVS3RMrLRGPWU4eRxdirtq6cWvMapCeMg5Ker3p-f/s1600/IMG_5922%25255B4%25255D.jpg" width="393" height="262"></p> <p><strong>Saturday:</strong> <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/crock-pot-chicken-and-gravy-509763">Chicken & Gravy</a></p> <p><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="Crockpot Chicken and Gravy" src="http://myfindsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/crockpot-chicken-and-gravy.jpg" width="342" height="330"></p> <p><strong>Sunday:</strong> Fiesta Chicken Bake (couldn’t find it, so here it is below)</p> <p><b>Fiesta Chicken Bake</b> <p>6 chicken legs (thigh-drumstick pieces) (3-3 ½ lbs. total) <p>½ c. chopped onion (1 medium) <p>1 T cooking oil <p>1 14 ½-oz. can tomatoes, cut up <p>1 8 ¾-oz. can whole kernel corn, drained <p>1 4-oz. can diced green chili peppers, drained <p>1 tsp. chili powder <p>½ tsp. paprika <p>¼ tsp. ground cumin <p>1/8 tsp. pepper <p>Several dashes hot pepper sauce <p>½ c. shredded cheddar cheese <p>2 T sliced pitted ripe olives <p>Rice (optional) <p><b>Directions:</b> <p>Skin chicken. Rinse; pat dry. Arrange chicken in a 3-quart rectangular baking dish. Bake in a 375◦ oven for 30 minutes. Drain fat. <p>Meanwhile, for sauce, in a saucepan, cook onion in hot cooking oil until onion is tender but not brown. Stir in undrained tomatoes, drained corn, chili peppers, chili powder, paprika, cumin, pepper and hot sauce. <p>Pour sauce over chicken. Bake in 375◦ oven for 20-30 minutes more, basting occasionally with sauce. Sprinkle chicken with cheese and olives. <p align="center"><strong>********BREAKFAST MENU***********</strong> <p><strong>Monday:</strong> <a href="http://fitandhealthywithdebbie.blogspot.com/2012/10/banana-oatmeal-breakfast-muffins.html?m=1#.UtXFR_RDt8F">Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Muffins</a> (Also, a prime example of me on the path to becoming a “rock star”. Previously, I would’ve gone to make these and FREAKED OUT because I didn’t have enough yogurt and no flax seed. When I made them yesterday, I improvised and added some cream to equal the amount of yogurt and omitted the flax seeds. These are DELICIOUS and even my picky eater daughter GOBBLED them up!)</p> <p><a href="http://fitandhealthywithdebbie.blogspot.com/2012/10/banana-oatmeal-breakfast-muffins.html?m=1#.UtXFhPRDt8G"><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_QqHo_c8KhaculeS8-lsEiTObbyHQWQrMYiANO6VYWPiKcqatjwCBy5S4BCsnWg5oMrYBHG8QMKHR0m71LXPSTkg4gk4d5arX21hYzOAPK85Q6zu-XiqMJPc9TcId7_MIMuAMnlZVPfaW/s1600/bananas5.JPG" width="252" height="337"></a></p> <p><strong>Tuesday:</strong> <a href="http://moneysavingmom.com/2012/10/pumpkin-pie-oatmeal.html#_a5y_p=983082">Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal</a> (made this for the first time…could take it or leave it. Son liked it, daughter nearly puked, I tolerated it)</p> <p><a href="http://moneysavingmom.com/2012/10/pumpkin-pie-oatmeal.html/pumpkin-pie-oatmeal-2"><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal" src="http://cdn1.moneysavingmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Pumpkin-Pie-Oatmeal-187x300.jpg" width="271" height="434"></a></p> <p><strong>Wednesday:</strong> <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/pumpkin-waffles-with-apple-cider-syrup/">Pumpkin Waffles</a> (and I actually have apple cider from a recipe last week, so I may even make the apple cider syrup – YUM!)</p> <p><a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/pumpkin-waffles-with-apple-cider-syrup/"><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="Pumpkin Waffles with Apple Cider Syrup Recipe" src="http://images.media-allrecipes.com/userphotos/250x250/00/78/88/788831.jpg" width="326" height="326"></a></p> <p><strong>Thursday:</strong> Bagel & Mango</p> <p><strong>Friday:</strong> Cereal</p> <p><strong>Saturday:</strong> <a href="http://www.positivelysplendid.com/2012/12/cream-cheese-filled-sweet-bread.html">Cream Cheese Sweet Bread</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.positivelysplendid.com/2012/12/cream-cheese-filled-sweet-bread.html"><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="Cream Cheese-Filled Sweet Bread Recipe www.PositivelySplendid.com" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/25/a7/b9/25a7b920316bfe0599d9e0ee879e49ac.jpg" width="281" height="393"></a></p> <p><strong>Sunday:</strong> Scrambled Eggs & Bacon (if I can get the hubs to make it…otherwise, cereal <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ZXg4RcqXB48/UtXHGUUgbvI/AAAAAAAAHrg/yP8YzEF30Cs/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800">)</p> <p><a href="http://orgjunkie.com/"><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="mpm chalkboard" src="http://orgjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/mpm-chalkboard.png"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910385302391156910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534243672158721157.post-23367981197844390902014-01-06T22:42:00.001-08:002014-01-06T22:42:44.034-08:00Menu Plannin’ Monday–First of 2014<p><strong>Alright, if you follow my blog and have been missing it, you have a good friend of mine to thank. She’s been missing it…so here’s to you, you know who you are. Here’s my menu plan for the week…</strong> <p><strong>I did breakfasts, too, but didn’t have time to post yet. MAYBE…no guarantees. Enjoy these for now! YUM!</strong> <p><strong>Monday: </strong><strong> <a href="http://www.thegardengrazer.com/2013/04/southwestern-chopped-salad-with.html?_szp=343154">Southwestern Chopped Salad with Cilantro Dressing</a></strong> <p><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TNN3qcRqFS4/UXWAPLAz5zI/AAAAAAAAChM/bWOBHhHbZos/s640/southwesternsalad2.jpg" width="286" height="428"> <p><strong>Tuesday:</strong> <a href="http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/cheddar-chicken-recipe-00000000033194/">Cheddar Chicken</a> <p><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="Cheddar Chicken" src="http://img4-1.realsimple.timeinc.net/images/1005/cheddar-chicken_300.jpg" width="280" height="333"> <p><strong>Wednesday: </strong><a href="http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/shredded-french-dip">French Dip Sandwiches</a> <p align="right"><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="Shredded French Dip Recipe" src="http://hostedmedia.reimanpub.com/TOH/Images/Photos/37/300x300/exps15927_QC10199C38.jpg"></p> <p><strong>Thursday:</strong> <a href="http://picky-palate.com/2010/09/13/cheesy-chicken-and-wild-rice-casserole/">Cheesy Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole</a> <p align="center"><img src="http://602660503.r.cdn77.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Cheesy-Chicken-and-Wild-Rice-Casserole-1.jpg" width="246" height="324"></p> <p><strong>Friday:</strong> Buffalo Pasta (Sorry, can’t remember where I got the recipe…and no pic to accompany) <p><strong>Saturday: </strong>YOYO (leftovers or Papa Murphy’s) <p><strong>Sunday: <a href="http://www.skinnytaste.com/2010/01/asian-turkey-meatballs-with-lime-sesame.html">Asian Turkey Meatballs w/ Lime Sesame Dipping Sauce</a></strong> <p align="center"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUY4eBKNDu1J0MrIzjZXJ3YI2BtTgteDP_V53d3j7FxC_rRimHSoe-cZMgPMk6NUdJTJWZHSCl4MrRKS3jArnncB1Fx_vLAre0JKvuizYeLAy3nrQK0vIYnocSCUwRNkKS3zstjaEO0YQ/s800/asian-turkey-meatballs4.jpg" width="358" height="258"></p> <p><a href="http://orgjunkie.com/"><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="MPM-Winter" src="http://orgjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/MPM-Winter.png" width="381" height="122"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910385302391156910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534243672158721157.post-69691716352284516462013-11-01T15:06:00.000-07:002013-11-01T15:07:22.700-07:00Happy Halloween!<p>I’ll post more sometime about our super fun costumes this year, but for now, Happy belated Halloween! =)</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8hBi2uAlWjz-vPcRg5edU4t6VJ78S3UUoHmFfnNQwH6Bm_NQaVtsreIIPryqUvtvjFNDL1geRXpf8wVUZFFb0A7AHbpwE-qkUv9YWFBEzGOJb2STsLscSb6aLzjiPRiN79EnUCzmcHcP/s1600-h/IMG_0446%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0446" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEpKiE_SYaZkYTYijM6Cd1l7CxsThWlHBeG1rQ6YLPbe4_gAwbhuttpYu3JTkMivZdGPoik5VqYhuygjujFusqf6iSLm90hVLV8JP8I1gLgXAukus0oh4DWx_hUNAEKRO87odnpgKAb9C//?imgmax=800" width="402" height="563"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910385302391156910noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534243672158721157.post-15474823262737386572013-09-17T14:35:00.000-07:002013-09-17T14:35:00.056-07:00Trick of the Trade Tuesday–Put a Twist on Gifting Gift Cards<p align="center">For those of you who know me, it doesn’t come as a shocker that I’m not the best when it comes to gifts (or thank you cards). I’m not sure why, I think I dwell on getting the PERFECT gift, and then just end up scrambling.</p> <p align="center">So when I recently attended a double baby shower, I again, waited too long to go pick out something super cute. Plus, it was the third and fourth for these two cute mommy friends. So really, while it’s nice to get new things, they NEED very little at this point.</p> <p align="center">So I thought what I might enjoy.</p> <p align="center">STARBUCK’S!!! What new mom wouldn’t, right?</p> <p align="center">But, how boring to just gift a gift card. So I came up with a clever little card to accompany said Starbuck’s card…</p> <p align="center">Here’s the front:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-d1_6nlk6KuA/UjYoTp2OrUI/AAAAAAAAHXU/JA8_uAW2EtI/s1600-h/Baby%252520Shower%252520Card%252520-%252520Front%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="Baby Shower Card - Front" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Baby Shower Card - Front" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kf55gM93qeY/UjYoUDYjdQI/AAAAAAAAHXc/3zDas0-fjQ0/Baby%252520Shower%252520Card%252520-%252520Front_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="335" height="414"></a></p> <p align="center">Really? You HAVEN’T gone through the Starbuck’s drive through to get your older child milk because you ran out and didn’t want to have to get out at the store?! Well, kudos to you for having it all together. <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" style="border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CFXc7RUYYs0/UjYoUlQ8cdI/AAAAAAAAHXk/I0S4Dgm9rso/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"> hehe</p> <p align="center">And the inside:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7RFwYUh-Q4s/UjYoVi_uLzI/AAAAAAAAHXs/mdHX4nh8X5g/s1600-h/Baby%252520Shower%252520Card%252520-%252520Back%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="Baby Shower Card - Back" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Baby Shower Card - Back" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-jyy7jGlHbaA/UjYoWENVDzI/AAAAAAAAHX0/QR_2gfIn55I/Baby%252520Shower%252520Card%252520-%252520Back_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="361" height="389"></a></p> <p align="center">Much more fun than just getting a gift card, right? Well, maybe a little. So, below is the free printable! If you just print it out on a normal sheet of paper, then fold like a card in fourths, you’re good to go. Hope somebody out there can use this in a pinch, too!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-iBgoU3n_r-c/UjYoW2g7ZTI/AAAAAAAAHX8/RXJfUhQfBTQ/s1600-h/Baby%252520Shower%252520Card%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="Baby Shower Card" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Baby Shower Card" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-b9Sxk3xLIdo/UjYoXsi38cI/AAAAAAAAHYE/Ha3u6LDQfvQ/Baby%252520Shower%252520Card_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="505" height="615"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910385302391156910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534243672158721157.post-44215496929426924652013-09-13T14:50:00.000-07:002013-09-13T23:43:56.957-07:00Friday Faves–Monty Python and the Holy Grail<p><a href="http://now.msn.com/monty-python-and-the-holy-grail-modern-trailer-goes-viral"><img title="image" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-TSwuWwJZ0B4/UjQFqYtOxMI/AAAAAAAAHW4/PvEC64QsKz0/image%25255B5%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="354" height="357"></a></p> <p align="center">If you’re unfamiliar with this scene above,</p> <p align="center">or with the title of this post…</p> <p align="center">RUN AWAY!! <font size="1">(you are unworthy)</font></p> <p align="center">If not, please click the picture above for a modern trailer of the ever nostalgic movie, ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’. Who would’ve ever thought you could make the hilariousness that is this movie, look like a legitimate feature? Trust me, you will not be disappointed.</p> <p align="center">In fact, I think I may have to watch it this weekend while I’m packing!! Yes, you read that correctly. We’re in escrow and if all goes as planned, we close September 30th. </p> <p align="center">Cue freak out.</p> <p align="center">That is all. Happy Friday!</p> <p align="center">************************************************</p> <p align="center">Seeing as it is Friday the 13th, I had to add one more Friday favorite memory. <font size="2">(And no! I am certainly not procrastinating from all the things that must be done when one is planning to move in 2ish weeks!!)</font> Please leave a comment if you recall your school ever doing this.</p> <p align="center">Growing up, my classmates and I in elementary school thought we were SO hilarious when we collaborated to pull a Friday the 13th prank on our recess aides.</p> <p align="center">When the recess bell would ring, the entire playground either froze still, or fell down (as if we were dead). </p> <p align="center">I know, we were pure geniuses, right? <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" style="border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zIPeMMcfAWw/UjQFq1zvIgI/AAAAAAAAHW8/aNGiUnDjD2c/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"></p> <p align="center"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bispsPPFH13tn42qbjblYL65vAFAE11WHbegXlKUZ_Vmqr8MOK04Wj_SjVYGJRGYvF3vCK7A0r0TX2RZChr8Z8X2l5IO6GEvH1BVcsOlQ9-4OJghMtB9iqmdq7GSYSiQjEst0an2lqy8/s1600/trekroner+school+playground2.jpg" width="366" height="275"></p> <p align="center">Happy Friday the 13th!</p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910385302391156910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534243672158721157.post-14197226747615468322013-09-11T15:16:00.000-07:002013-09-11T15:17:02.083-07:00What I Wore–9/11/01<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3ubbB1WGtOU/UjDr2iWGDJI/AAAAAAAAHWg/Cw3rRS2Mv_Y/s1600-h/Our%252520TV%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="Our TV" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Our TV" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-13GCrxK_6IQ/UjDr3Eph7oI/AAAAAAAAHWo/9AayNL5Wan8/Our%252520TV_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="297" height="551"></a></p> <p align="center">I don’t usually remember what I wore 12 years ago, let alone one week ago.</p> <p align="center">But I do remember what I was wearing 12 years ago today.</p> <p align="center">I had the amazing opportunity to do part of my student teaching overseas in Papua New Guinea. I worked at an international school and stayed at a base camp with the organization Wycliffe Bible Translators. Hence my more conservative attire.</p> <p align="center">Most Americans old enough to remember can easily recall what they were doing and where they were the day of September 11th, 2001. My circumstances were that much more unique in the sense that I was out of the country. But let me tell you, it made that day somehow even more memorable.</p> <p align="center">Similar to many, my roommate and I awoke to a phone call, her dad, calling to tell us of a major catastrophe in the states. He couldn’t talk long. Each phone call cost a fortune! And unfortunately, we did not have access to any form of media. That little TV pictured above was for VHS videos only.</p> <p align="center">But, when we arrived at our school that day, the principal had hooked up cable and nearly every teacher, certainly every American teacher, was huddled around a tiny TV watching the horror that was 9/11 play out in front of us. </p> <p align="center">The love and respect non-Americans around us poured upon us was unreal!! They all noted their condolences as every one of us walked around with heavy hearts. It was odd trying to process the events while so far away from home, and yet, so bizarrely encouraging to see people of so many different places and culture come together in sorrow.</p> <p align="center">Altogether I was out of the country for over 3 months total.</p> <p align="center">Our flight out of Sydney, Australia on September 21st was the FIRST international flight from Sydney to the states after the attack. Man was I thankful to be home. Many people question me about how terrified I must’ve been to fly. I honestly had no hesitation whatsoever. Really, it was probably one of the safest days to fly…ever, when you think about it. Talk about heightened alert! </p> <p align="center">**************************************************</p> <p align="center">Below was my journal entry from that day….</p> <p align="center">9-12-01 </p> <p align="center">(remember, we were half way around the world)</p> <p align="center">“We were awoken early this morning by a phone call from Jen’s dad informing us that 2 planes were hi-jacked by terrorists and flown into the world trade center twin towers within an hour of each other. There were also 2 other planes – 1 crashing into the pentagon and the other landing in a field in Pennsylvania. </p> <p align="center">As we arrived to school, more and more people began sharing what they’d heard and all of a sudden, a spontaneous chapel was called. Dave Pederson shared, reminding us that our God is not a God of chaos – that He will prevail. Sort of in the dark to all that had happened, I finished teaching that morning and retreated to the AV room to watch an Australian channel covering the numerous plane crashes.</p> <p align="center">My jaw dropped at the images of the planes crashing into the twin towers, the heat from the explosions weakening its structure, causing the upper floors to collapse, the weight of these floors bringing down the remainder of the building. People jumping out of the windows, falling to their death, chaos as people scattered throughout the streets, escaping the crashing rubble. Then – bringing my amazement to a heightened degree, scenes of people celebrating in Afghanistan filled the screen. <u>HOW</u> – was all I could think as the news calculated the possible death toll to be near 50,000, mostly consisting of innocent bystanders!</p> <p align="center">The mood was somber for the rest of the day – I felt pretty detached from home.”</p> <p align="center">So…yes, I WILL NEVER FORGET.</p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910385302391156910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534243672158721157.post-39366325461583505762013-09-10T20:57:00.001-07:002013-09-10T20:57:21.590-07:0010 Things I’ve Learned in 10 Years of Marriage–#4. Study Your Husband<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-k36xJVG7rtk/Ui_qG9bf5zI/AAAAAAAAHV8/RbMpxXC-v3U/s1600-h/Marriage-Tip-46.jpg"><img title="Marriage Tip #4" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Marriage Tip #4" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-MOPLIl6lPPo/Ui_qHl2QtHI/AAAAAAAAHWE/9LV8ZzL_KhY/Marriage-Tip-4_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="426" height="357"></a></p> <p align="right"><font size="1"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kelseyphoto/4816800119/in/photostream/">Photo Link</a></font></p> <p align="center">My husband and I dated for 2 years before getting married, but one of those two years we spent halfway across the country from one another. So not much “studying of my husband” (well, boyfriend at the time) was going on (other than how hot he was – and seeing as it was long distance, not even a whole lot of that was going on). And let’s face it, when you’re newly married, you can’t help but get caught up in the excitement and fun of it all! While you’re head over heels in love with your husband, realistically, you’re not really, truly studying him for those first few years, unless you choose to be intentional about it.</p> <p align="center">Things I’ve learned about my husband by studying him…</p> <p align="center">1. To unwind, he plays video games.</p> <p align="center">2. He is a homebody. Socializing does not energize him.</p> <p align="center">3. He eats a light breakfast and lunch, and is famished when he gets home!</p> <p align="center">4. Simple ways are best when it comes to expressing that I love him.</p> <p align="center">5. He’s FOCUSED! And by that, I mean, he could literally go a month without realizing I swapped out pictures in our house. This doesn’t imply he’s not aware, he just tends to have a narrow focus on the task at hand.</p> <p align="center">Those just scratch the surface, but are helpful for knowing things like…</p> <p align="center">1. When (and when NOT) to have important conversations with him (for example – do NOT bring up anything important while he’s playing video games or right before bed)</p> <p align="center">2. How often (or infrequently as the case may be) I can book a “social agenda” for us as a couple</p> <p align="center">3. He’s SOOO interested in what we’re having for dinner (see #3 above) <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" style="border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-iAFoYC2ZErc/Ui_qIKpA3FI/AAAAAAAAHWM/-N2jTWKkrjE/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"></p> <p align="center">4. Giving him a night to play games, or simply telling him how thankful I am that he works so I can stay at home with the kids are better ways to show him I love him than concocting some elaborate scavenger hunt date night. While he would gather that I loved him by doing so, it would not be necessary, so why I ask you, why?</p> <p align="center">5. I should not be offended when he fails to notice that I cleaned the kitchen, or added a new piece of décor. It’s not that he didn’t appreciate it, it’s simply not on his manly radar. <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" style="border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-iAFoYC2ZErc/Ui_qIKpA3FI/AAAAAAAAHWM/-N2jTWKkrjE/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"></p> <p align="center">By studying your husband, you can learn to love him in a way that HE feels truly loved. So, for example, while I would totally melt if my husband were to randomly surprise me and take me out swing dancing (HINT HINT), he would be kinda irritated (social activity, not in the house). </p> <p align="center">So, to help maintain a strong marriage, study your husband and love him the way HE wants to be loved (not the way you think he should be loved, ‘cuz chances are, that ain’t it).</p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910385302391156910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534243672158721157.post-68740245352065335032013-09-03T09:22:00.000-07:002013-09-03T09:22:00.492-07:00Trick of the Trade Tuesday–How to cut mango<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUDThIDq5AsAYQ-eaM_fZr2KZIeh_sICpRSzzVfZ-lXrQjxfs4taGTDFovXXeyBpE3ZRty0aSVq_iaxkzhHN0-poHsurPkQUR_LkIrUbVPPR4FXev_pV1W8yWZwlSJC9X0EgCEn_EI5wFw/s1600-h/IMG_0361%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0361" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXhvZe9ugrP5TrNexU3Fpdom6WDPo4MzLTr-dVvYtEY9I3mj6Dh4PI9hVUP1iAGYKAhMgB54M4aFrdeqXjQcS5VlrZpj2qmurEIUATrF2kdbHtYJyLATQ9JUg6lpqTpoxCCHJnvBU4mwAc//?imgmax=800" width="405" height="304"></a></p> <p align="center">This picture was taken awhile ago, with the intent to post this as a trick of the trade, and here we are, well…quite a few months later. Anyhow!</p> <p align="center">My good friend Mary taught me how to cut a mango. Remember my blog description? My journey of becoming comfortable in the kitchen? So yeah, I needed to be taught how to cut a mango. </p> <p align="center">My kids LOVE to eat mangoes this way! (YES! Even my picky eater Allie!)</p> <p align="center">Instead of shooting a video myself, here’s a pro to show you how. Just click the picture to take you to the link. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvLdPjpELyU"><img title="image" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="image" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3KDm2ACjzceo2lu4jEtcmQh52IrC_02P9IycLry-hnHgFBuzMnZKkRvJltTtZJhhXFOWPbiVbecEftXMxh9vVMfnuyDv0AlRpDg5WUIv1qbuew9dvIQd-O0ByPXH4M4CG3OTc4psSXx4Q//?imgmax=800" width="361" height="286"></a></p> <p align="center">By the way, I use the second method he shows, and you don’t have to make quite so many cuts. If you see in the picture of my son above, I think I made 4 slices each way, but you can even get away with only 3 and just have some BIG bites too. Enjoy your mango!</p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910385302391156910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534243672158721157.post-55609271524349402572013-09-02T09:06:00.001-07:002013-09-02T09:08:36.109-07:00Menu Plannin’ Monday–Happy Labor Day!<p><strong>Monday: </strong><a href="http://www.recipebyphotos.com/2013/06/oven-fried-eggplant.html">Oven Fried Eggplant</a> (I may have gotten an obscene amount of eggplant in our Farm Fresh delivery this week, so…) <p><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLi6EBpBSpiB50cYSK5HHDhyphenhyphenkCcXGOhWX0eFgAcnDpHSa917YTRWUpsJiBTfioglaKi6kvdBe168RSZNJInHWnmBALJ121pinq6a6HeZhAQ7Zj3WZSxFzcpxR4g63eAB2ng061gZ430ZAv/s1600/Oven-Fried-Eggplant.jpg" width="284" height="267"> <p><strong>Tuesday:</strong> <a href="http://joyinmykitchen.blogspot.com/2013/08/zucchini-mac-cheese.html#.UiPbFTasgyq">Zucchini Mac & Cheese</a> (and, a wee bit of news…I may or may not have picked a zucchini while house hunting! The house was vacant, it would’ve gone to waste. <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" style="border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--m03snxkaYM/UiS3lJDdYPI/AAAAAAAAHUg/QFKKCXIzuAM/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"> Stay tuned for more info!) <p><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_-WLpWWoOgY/UWoZcbK4gXI/AAAAAAAAdMU/AvcHfYwLP6g/s640/DSCN2912.JPG" width="312" height="234"> <p><strong>Wednesday: </strong><a href="http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/2012/09/12/taco-casserole-stockpile-recipe/#_a5y_p=970598">Taco Casserole</a> <p align="center"><img alt="Quick & Easy Taco Casserole. This super yummy family-pleasing recipe whips up in just 15 minutes, and is ready to serve in 45! The perfect go-to recipe for busy weeknights!" src="http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Quick-Easy-Taco-Casserole.-This-super-yummy-family-pleasing-recipe-whips-up-in-just-15-minutes-and-is-ready-to-serve-in-45-The-perfect-go-to-recipe-for-busy-weeknights-739x1024.jpg" width="245" height="339"></p> <p><strong>Thursday:</strong> <a href="http://www.dizzybusyandhungry.com/2013/08/01/loaded-eggplant-rounds/">Loaded Eggplant Rounds</a> <p><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="Loaded Eggplant Rounds" src="http://www.dizzybusyandhungry.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/loaded-eggplant-rounds-br.jpg" width="273" height="274"> <p><strong>Friday:</strong> <a href="http://www.thegardengrazer.com/2012/03/black-bean-spinach-enchiladas.html">Black Bean Spinach Enchiladas</a> <p><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="The Garden Grazer: Black Bean Spinach Enchiladas" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/75/db/49/75db49b617fc11cb9553740af6c1e3f9.jpg" width="338" height="225"> <p><strong>Saturday: </strong>Date night! Mac & cheese for the kids <p><strong>Sunday: </strong><a href="http://simply-delicious.co.za/2011/03/08/teriyaki-chicken/">Teryiaki Chicken</a> <p><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="Teriyaki Chicken" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/6a/44/b5/6a44b5f6cc3a69ead4d6128d02210105.jpg" width="225" height="337"></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://orgjunkie.com/"><img alt="MPM-Summer" src="http://orgjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/MPM-Summer.png" width="331" height="106"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910385302391156910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534243672158721157.post-92047194809567283202013-08-26T22:52:00.001-07:002013-08-26T22:53:48.106-07:00Menu Plannin’ Monday<p>Nothin’ fancy this week, but I think sometimes it’s nice to show that some weeks are whatever you can throw together because it’s the end of the month and you’re trying to stay on a budget! hehe =)</p> <p><strong>Monday: </strong>Beefy Pasta (sorry, can’t find the recipe online)</p> <p><strong>Tuesday: </strong><a href="http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/turkey-cranberry-chutney-00000000041912/index.html">Turkey & Cranberry Chutney Sandwich</a> (carryover from last week)</p> <p><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="clip_image002" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TWhhx3kWz_c/UhMG276U85I/AAAAAAAAHRg/VwAlLfu5_yY/clip_image002_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800"> <p><strong>Wednesday: </strong>Baked Potatoes, Chicken & Salad <p><strong>Thursday:</strong> Throw Together Kidney Bean Burritos (from Real Simple) <p><strong>Friday:</strong> <a href="http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/artichoke-pizzas-00000000000705/index.html">Kung Pao Chicken</a> <p><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="Kung Pao Chicken" src="http://blogchef.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/kung_pao_chicken_1.jpg" width="252" height="189"> <p><strong>Saturday: </strong>Invited to dinner at a friends, lucky us!! =) <p><strong>Sunday: </strong>Eat out – celebrate hubby’s 4 day weekend! <p align="center"><a href="http://orgjunkie.com/"><img alt="MPM-Summer" src="http://orgjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/MPM-Summer.png" width="336" height="108"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910385302391156910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534243672158721157.post-11539866772516495432013-08-21T14:45:00.000-07:002013-08-21T22:03:24.141-07:00What I Wore Wednesday–Not Too Shabby<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-a33MuCXhnq8/UhWbj8n9V5I/AAAAAAAAHR4/EMb-MCcFL-w/s1600-h/IMG_9940%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9940" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_9940" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2TUHL64tB2U/UhWbkmpzgPI/AAAAAAAAHSA/Ybe91vtFVlE/IMG_9940_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="385" height="539"></a></p> <p align="center">CONFESSION TIME…</p> <p align="center">I think I’ve not been posting any OOTD (outfit of the day for any newbs) pics lately partially because I’ve not been trying my best to look nice. </p> <p align="center">It’s hot. I’m tired. I’m trying to stay fit (i.e. sometimes I haven’t showered and am in gym clothes). And I’m chasing my kids at parks.</p> <p align="center">ALL THAT SAID, I’m glad I took this pic. I don’t look too bad. <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" style="border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-saQHj1DZoL4/UhWblN2hC0I/AAAAAAAAHSI/RMXto_kt9ro/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"> </p> <p align="center">Shirt & Flip Flops: Old Navy</p> <p align="center">Shorts: Loft</p> <p align="center">Earrings: Gift from when I was a teacher</p> <p align="center">Sunglasses: Target</p> <p align="center">And one I took awhile back but never posted, just for fun…</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gncS_QyvX3o/UhWbl0Md6jI/AAAAAAAAHSQ/hNCzRwtlvoQ/s1600-h/IMG_9344%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9344" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_9344" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-EM2LBwE_0qs/UhWbmuzPWHI/AAAAAAAAHSY/ZZoAZ5HRLfQ/IMG_9344_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="389" height="544"></a></p> <p align="center">Shirt & Flip Flops: Old Navy (I’ve since graduated to what I call “adult” sandals, but wasn’t there yet for this pic. Hopefully I’ll post a picture of those cute shoes soon)</p> <p align="center">Necklace: Charming Charlie’s</p> <p align="center">Shorts: Banana Republic</p> <p align="center">Bracelets: H&M</p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910385302391156910noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534243672158721157.post-81046864739342898752013-08-19T23:03:00.000-07:002013-08-19T23:05:13.935-07:00Menu Plannin’ Monday<p>Gosh, time flies! I’m too embarrassed to admit the last time I posted my menu plan. Not that I haven’t been doing it, just not posting. But, here goes…</p> <p><strong>Monday: </strong>Chicken, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=417548841692524&set=a.387811441332931.1073741829.386086474838761&type=1">FB Broccoli Recipe</a> & Salad (it was super healthy!)</p> <p><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="Photo: This recipe should be illegal!<br /><br />Preheat oven to 375°<br />Chop a head of broccoli (do not rinse immediately prior to preparing!)<br />Mince 2-3 cloves of garlic<br />Put broccoli, garlic, 2 tbsp. olive oil, and a few shakes of salt and pepper in a ziploc bag.<br />Shake it up (my daughter loves to do this part)<br />Spread out on baking sheet, place on top rack, and bake for about 30 minutes.<br />Broccoli will be crunchy and delicious! I make this at least 3 times a week and have to control myself once I take it out of the oven, I could eat this alone for dinner! -Danae" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/p480x480/999366_417548841692524_857934497_n.jpg" width="241" height="176"></p> <p><strong>Tuesday: </strong><a href="http://www.midwestliving.com/recipe/poultry/bite-size-chicken-empanadas/">Bite-Size Chicken Empanadas</a> (new to me recipe!)</p> <p align="center"><img src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS0t_3Rk7sE9KBOAFJACFaP39W3KtDhO3vZf2PV4KQzKdUvGXVL" width="241" height="181"></p> <p><strong>Wednesday: </strong><a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/chicken-fajita-melts/">Chicken Fajita Melts</a> (second time making it, yum)</p> <p><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="Chicken Fajita Melts Recipe" src="http://images.media-allrecipes.com/userphotos/250x250/00/32/89/328905.jpg" width="210" height="210"></p> <p><strong>Thursday:</strong> <a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/greek_orzo_stuffed_peppers.html">Greek Orzo Stuffed Peppers</a> (second time as well, yum)</p> <p align="center"><img alt="Greek Orzo Stuffed Peppers Recipe" src="http://assets.eatingwell.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/standard/recipes/MV6824.JPG" width="232" height="232"></p> <p><strong>Friday: </strong><a href="http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/artichoke-pizzas-00000000000705/index.html">Artichoke Pizzas</a> (This is an easy go-to for me I found a LONG time ago in Real Simple. It has almonds on it and is delish!!)</p> <p><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="Artichoke Pizzas With Lemony Green Bean Salad" src="http://img4-1.realsimple.timeinc.net/images/0808/20-meals-14_300.jpg" width="238" height="283"></p> <p><strong>Saturday: </strong>Burgers, <a href="http://cookieandkate.com/2010/baked-sweet-potato-fries/">Sweet Potato Fries</a> & Salad</p> <p><strong>Sunday: </strong><a href="http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/turkey-cranberry-chutney-00000000041912/index.html">Turkey & Cranberry Chutney Sandwich</a> (second time yet again, and yummers!)</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6p_VhK3bHYA/UhMG2fqa2_I/AAAAAAAAHRY/nw9pdiAWAe4/s1600-h/clip_image002%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="clip_image002" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="clip_image002" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TWhhx3kWz_c/UhMG276U85I/AAAAAAAAHRg/VwAlLfu5_yY/clip_image002_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="295" height="155"></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://orgjunkie.com/"><img alt="MPM-Summer" src="http://orgjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/MPM-Summer.png" width="346" height="111"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910385302391156910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534243672158721157.post-92217370705150707392013-08-19T22:43:00.000-07:002013-08-19T22:44:54.596-07:00Strawberry & Nutella Crepes<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lbw9vxAl8Zo/UhMCTTtLFfI/AAAAAAAAHQg/XaoNvr6UsxQ/s1600-h/Strawberry%252520and%252520Nutella%252520Crepes%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="Strawberry and Nutella Crepes" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Strawberry and Nutella Crepes" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QzKtQeAByv0/UhMCT4yn01I/AAAAAAAAHQo/ArrSB1xjw9U/Strawberry%252520and%252520Nutella%252520Crepes_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="412" height="275"></a></p> <p align="center">Short and simple post for ya!</p> <p align="center">I made crepes for the first time this morning…it will CERTAINLY not be the last or else my hubby will never forgive me for making these on a work morning when he has already left the house. <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" style="border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qKycUlYGO5U/UhMCUK4IoLI/AAAAAAAAHQw/LwwlC-lmyj0/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"></p> <p align="center">Clipped the recipe out of a Mother’s Day issue of <a href="http://www.familycircle.com/recipe/sweet-reward/">Family Circle</a>. (and yes, I’m just now getting around to trying it! – instead of being embarrassed about waiting this long to try the recipe, I will pat myself on the back for hanging onto a paper copy of said recipe for oh…4 or 5 months. BAM!)</p> <p align="center">SUPER EASY…AND SUPER DELISH! Too bad my daughter still chose to pick out the ONLY healthy part – the strawberries. *sigh*</p> <p align="center"><font face="Mr and Mrs Popsicle">strawberry & nutella crepes</font></p> <h6><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OqZQnXX5Lp0/UhMCU9glQfI/AAAAAAAAHQ4/anvN9p-qgyc/s1600-h/IMG_9939%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9939" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_9939" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tdOUbf4Om44/UhMCVdQl4TI/AAAAAAAAHRA/nQCCeqLM1To/IMG_9939_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="397" height="265"></a></h6> <p><b>1.</b> In a medium bowl, whisk 2 <b>eggs</b>, 1 cup <b>skim milk</b>, 1/2 tsp <b>almond extract</b>, 1/2 cup <b>cornstarch</b>, 1/2 cup <b>flour</b>, 1 tbsp <b>oil</b>, 2 tsp <b>sugar</b>, 3/4 tsp<b>baking powder</b>, 1/4 tsp <b>salt</b> and a pinch <b>ground allspice</b>. Refrigerate 20 minutes. Stir. <p><b>2.</b> Heat an 8-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot. With a ladle or 1/4-cup measure, add 2 tbsp batter to skillet. Tilt and rotate pan to coat. Cook 30 seconds or until crepe is browned on bottom and edges are dry. Lift with a silicone spatula and flip over. Cook 5 seconds, then transfer to a sheet of wax paper. Repeat with remaining batter, stacking crepes with wax paper in between. Spread with <b>Nutella</b> and scatter sliced <b>strawberries</b> on top. Fold, then dust with<b>confectioners' sugar</b> and <b>cocoa powder</b>. <p align="center">Enjoy!</p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910385302391156910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534243672158721157.post-65839144211958794372013-08-09T23:02:00.001-07:002013-08-09T23:02:06.802-07:0010 Things I’ve Learned in 10 Years of Marriage–#5. Maintain Your Girlfriends<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zk7GxaaHruflv0Qz-ZsG_FblzQO9i8JUpYd47gvmHLd-30mmCXhrK9mwq0d1f05bg0-bgtTIPTzwyGRSuJbDzZcw_rtotLrTW4UPrj7p49tJexSzXxu_vnB2vc8XO7auWZFjKveM81-S/s1600-h/Marriage%252520Tip%252520%2525235%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="Marriage Tip #5" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Marriage Tip #5" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9MegKkmc1uLTAkoy0PNUQSCYQ1FQq6abv4Kzbnl0PThKKg3am0Y7Y2VAEizcm3A6DHEHVvVMNrwUliIRFPoC_PlcJJ4GH66L7IGUlY8bRO7Lzrv16i3oFpjXYetE9NAcH0921YvXGWWF//?imgmax=800" width="364" height="660"></a></p> <p align="center">I clearly alluded to this same tip in my last marriage post, <a href="http://rookietorockstar.blogspot.com/2013/08/10-things-ive-learned-in-10-years-of.html">here</a>, but indulge me in allowing me to provide further explanation as to how beneficial your girlfriends can be!</p> <p align="center">#1. You need a <strong>shopping buddy</strong>, and your husband is probably not the right person. <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" style="border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-v6K_w7dzL58/UgXXWN3pePI/AAAAAAAAHPs/6jpnNN_pXQ4/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"> </p> <p align="center">#2. <strong>Chick flicks</strong>! I don’t see them often, but every once in awhile, I get sucked in. The last one I saw was “Safe Haven”. I’m confident my husband would rather poke his eye out with a spork than to have seen this movie. Or worse yet (for him anyway) listen to 2 hours of country music.</p> <p align="center">#3. <strong>Girl’s nights. </strong>There’s just something about kicking back with a group of your closest friends, laughing, sharing kid stories, etc. that simply makes the heart happy.</p> <p align="center">#4. <strong>She’ll tell you the truth.</strong> Not that your husband won’t, but if you ask him if you look fat in your new dress, and he were to actually tell you that yes you do indeed, look fat in the dress, you might punch him in the face (or worse, withhold sex! DON’T do this ladies, seriously…while you think you might be gaining an upper hand, you’re just leaving the door open for him to find that fulfillment elsewhere). Your girlfriends have that way of being honest, without damaging your ego too badly.</p> <p align="center">#5. <strong>You need a sounding board. </strong>Not if, but when you get frustrated with your husband, it’ll be helpful to have a girlfriend to process with, and gauge whether your emotions are legit, or totally out of whack. Word of caution, however, just as women run on love, men run on respect. So don’t go around bad-mouthing your man or saying such awful things your friend will never be able to respect him. Try to share your frustrations in a logical fashion. In other words, try to present the scenario in a way that is unbiased. She’ll also be able to provide better feedback/advice that way, too.</p> <p align="center">#6. <strong>It’ll make you a better person</strong>. It’s unrealistic to expect that your husband will provide you with everything you need. You need support from other people and not become completely codependent on your husband. That won’t be healthy for either of you. We should always go to God first, with everything, but God also intended for us to have support from others. And ladies, we need support from our fellow ladies! </p> <p align="center">*****************************************</p> <p align="center">One more thing to note on this topic…</p> <p align="center">Notice the depth of the friendship described here, and the word “maintain” in the tip. In order to maintain girlfriends, you have to make an effort. You need to call them, email, text, plan play dates, plan girl’s nights, etc. Friendships don’t just magically happen (or rarely do). You have to show the person you care.</p> <p align="center">This is something that I’m working on, and need to. I’m blessed with some amazing girlfriends, that apparently love me faults and all, because I often get caught up in my own, silly, busy world, and forget to say “Hey, we need to hang, and talk meaningfully, instead of in between yelling at my kid and changing a diaper.” </p> <p align="center">So to my girlfriends…you know who you are…bear with me as I learn. And point it out when I’m failing, please, I’m giving you permission. I love you deeply and am thankful to YOU for helping me to be a better person.</p> <p align="center">*************************************</p> <p align="center">P.S. – Take pictures with your girlfriends! I went to find some with mine, and seriously? I have like 10,000 of my kids, and like 3 with girlfriends…maybe. So watch out friends, I may start making you take selfies with me! hehe</p> <p align="center">Okay, I’ll at least leave you with this gem I found of one of my longest girlfriend relationships from waaay back in jr. high. Love you Kel!</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdicS9CRHvetpPVRNrFUVljxBmDLVF-H3ZgItrxv1ZyALvouzKq_P0Z6VRRWGztGeJiIkgMK61hr4os2kHVo3lhYvm2LhKi2YR4UHIfMAyUTteBpshWtoR-x_-DhyphenhyphenOWAxZGIX28nw1SXNe/s1600-h/Becky%25252C%252520Kelly%252520and%252520Julie%252520at%252520Dland%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="Becky, Kelly and Julie at Dland" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Becky, Kelly and Julie at Dland" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOda-f6rVszOIIWcNscjsQbziI8UFN_jQLYBp1CmZJghPbwW6-hiFNJKUqzk4YpFwXUn3qu_nuv8iMd40TW2-foVD6Vfxpgl6tZUXAyMakbPi-9yQ1zKfkHMCZ8JaeQZVIkhmror88U8TZ//?imgmax=800" width="273" height="326"></a></p> <p align="center">Oh my word! I just laughed out loud, with tears, for maybe like 5 minutes after giving this a good look over. My husband asked why I do this to myself and I said, “’Cuz sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself!”</p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910385302391156910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534243672158721157.post-73672461104239460362013-08-05T21:15:00.000-07:002013-08-05T21:16:02.240-07:0010 Things I’ve Learned in 10 Years of Marriage–#6. Ladies, pipe down about “the nail”!<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4EDhdAHrOg"><img title="Marriage Tip " style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Marriage Tip " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPKnX7ISxI5e0m-dczMtXVzqOLHtq_n8dpJDwsuqsAS3p51aAvYxbkRwjLHoHU6oPxrnYlbnow7JSDZ8ZYA3rG6KWGgsMjal1lKOr-8cr_BIRhekVXRHDay88XgysBbPDe1dEvl6gVVPU//?imgmax=800" width="421" height="333"></a></p> <p align="center">If you have yet to watch <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4EDhdAHrOg">this video</a>, or simply need a good laugh, please go watch it before reading the remainder of this post.</p> <p align="center">Man do I wish I had learned this one earlier on in our marriage! Not only would it have saved both my husband and I a LOT of frustration, but many of my problems would’ve been solved waaay sooner than they were!</p> <p align="center">Let me start with an example of something from real life…</p> <p align="center">I asked my husband to help me come up with an example, and surprisingly…we had to go a ways back to come up with one, but, here goes!</p> <p align="center">*****************************************</p> <p align="center">Pre-kid days, I was a teacher and had an unfortunate situation in which the principal was not above moral reproach. The students, myself, his staff and many others paid a high price.</p> <p align="center">I would frequently come home complaining and needing to talk out some anger about the situation. Sweet hubby kept pointing out what steps I should take to fix the situation. “No, you’re not listening!” Sound familiar? </p> <p align="center">******************************************</p> <p align="center">So, let’s be real here. We’re women. We talk. A lot. Probably a lot more than we need to. And that’s partially just how we run! So I’m not telling you to never hash out your struggles and problems with anyone, I’m just telling you to not hash them out with your husband, if you can avoid it. He honestly DOES NOT GET THE NEED FOR PROCESSING and simply wants to FIX IT! I had an aha moment that finally helped me understand how LITTLE he comprehends your need to talk things through. I equated him listening to my long drawn out stories about my frustrations, to him excitedly telling me about his most recent battle against the troll and how he leveled up and received a new pet in doing so (sorry hun, I’m working really hard to care!!). “What does that even mean” you ask yourself? EXACTLY! They don’t get it, and don’t wanna hear your half hour long rendition of why you’re torn up (maybe if you could sum it up in 2 minutes?). </p> <p align="center"><font size="5" face="Smiley Monster">So when you feel the need to talk about “your nail”…</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="5" face="Smiley Monster">#1.</font></p> <p align="center"> Talk to God first. </p> <p align="center">Often times, that’s all you end up needing! I mean, He did create the world, I’m certain He can handle helping you through your problems, right? But, God also understands our need for human interaction.</p> <p align="center"><font size="5" face="Smiley Monster">#2.</font></p> <p align="center">Find a girlfriend.</p> <p align="center"> <u>A</u> girlfriend ladies. Not a slew of them so you end up sharing your stories over and over again, reliving them exhausting your mental capacities simply for the sake of talking it out. Seek out ONE trusted girlfriend who understands your need to talk something through and share your feelings with them.</p> <p align="center">And on those very rare occasions when a girlfriend is not available, or simply nobody else will do other than your husband, begin your “storytelling” with the following words…</p> <p align="center">“HONEY, WOULD YOU JUST LISTEN?”</p> <p align="center">And proceed, knowing that if he answers yes, he loves you a gosh darn awful lot! Because he is solely listening for that reason alone – he loves you. Absolutely no other reason. </p> <p align="center"><font size="5" face="Smiley Monster">#3.</font></p> <p align="center">Consider taking action about your “nail situation”. =) In other words, fix it!</p> <p align="center">Once you get in the habit of sharing with your girlfriends instead of your husband, you might actually find yourself coming to your husband for…*gasp* actual advice and an answer! Yes, you might actually come to him in hopes that he will fix it. You’ll learn that it’s far less emotionally exhausting to just let him provide you with the answer, versus spewing all your emotional garbage before hearing said answer. And let me tell you how much more at peace and productive you will be in life! I’m still learning, I still hash things out, even with my patient sweet hubby. But I’m making progress, and that’s why my marriage is still flourishing, I’m WORKING AT IT! =)</p> <p align="center">So, in closing…</p> <p align="center"><font size="5" face="Smiley Monster">#6. pipe down about “the nail” and consider fixing it</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuVY8lsgua5iV5ro-szizh0mOepqRHAVIgPQFjncDFXHHkkKDttqUfeEzCOYMjggNdYBU_-BNY_xwwlh_xr_w-UyIMzF0d2YldWi-dY2lkWxndzK6wlF-FU18FVcw-jmynnRAPYf1Jwqc/s1600-h/clip_image003%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="clip_image003" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="clip_image003" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ed3qDOWC8kuY_CF0lbT88cEulzw2MM8WTHm9i18BnICzTbwZUSpW3nb5IjyEgdKkjzBc8sHQnWMRq7pPmrcCgr9hD77N8fz_e4R7arNkl-JAOFrkSl5_RrUtMcoHrRD7omFeV9Bu4cLA//?imgmax=800" width="183" height="137"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910385302391156910noreply@blogger.com0