tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32477778509303427622024-03-05T00:10:16.387-06:00Burke-ologyHere's where I define Life.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247777850930342762.post-84198161445577604092015-06-08T14:27:00.000-05:002015-06-08T14:27:03.711-05:00What happens when *I* get a coldAutoimmune disorders are no joke. And I had just about zero idea of that until I was diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome at the end of last summer. I was one of those "but you don't look sick" people. Can I just tell anyone I ever thought that about how terribly sorry I am? I was a fool and you were doing a great job of keeping up appearances. Before I was diagnosed, I just knew something was wrong with me but had no idea why I would get sick repeatedly, have a hard time healing, wake up feeling like every joint was breaking. Now that I know it has no gotten any easier because something like a little cold knocks me so far down. And even though I know how to advocate for my well being, a lot of doctors are dismissive because they don't believe me or think I'm too fat (seriously told to just lose some weight and I'd be fine) or they just simply don't know much about Sjogren's Syndrome.<br />
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So 12 days ago, I started getting a sore throat. This is a red flag to me. Soon the sneezing started. Yes! My body acts like I'm having a horrific allergy attack when I begin to get sick. My eyes water, my nose runs, and I sneeze about 7,000 times. I started taking my tried and true combo of Nyquil, essential oils, and lots of fluids. I slept and slept and the rest of my family started getting sick as well. Of course, I start to dismiss my autoimmune issues because "it's just a cold". WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! I called my normal doctor and asked them to call in a prescription of steroids and some cough medicine. While I love my doctor, the communication lacks a bit. After two days of not getting the actual nurse on the phone, I went to an urgent care clinic. I told the doctor, twice actually, that I had Sjogren's. He never even indicated he knew what that was. He misses a few things, like my left ear infection, and draws blood. Oh and a strep test. Nothing about my symptoms said strep other than my sore throat. No fever, lots of sinus congestion, congested cough and wheezing. Not surprisingly, the strep test was negative. And my white blood count was normal but my neutrophils were elevated. This can indicate a bacterial infection but more likely is an autoimmune response indicating inflammation. The only treatment at that level is steroids. I leave with an antibiotic and a cough medicine with the same ingredients as the Nyquil I was already taking. That trip and those medicines cost me about $60.<br />
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By Friday, 2 days after the urgent care, I was still very sick and my regular doctor finally said she would happy to give me meds, if I came in. A 45 minute drive and 1 hour wait later, she decides I am sick but it is viral not bacterial as the urgent care doc said. She also tells me that 1 ear is horribly infected and the other is working on it. I get 2 shots, a new antibiotic, new cough medicine, and a steroid pack. That trip cost me over $70. <br />
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While I am feeling much better, I am still quite sick. It will take me another few days to completely recover and regain my energy. Oh and I did not even mention the best part. Those steroids that are the only thing that will make me better? Those are also causing me to lose my eyesight. Yep, at the ripe age of 38, I was diagnosed with steroid induced cataracts. Every time I take steroids, in a shot or dose pack, my cataracts are getting worse. I have already had steroids 2 other times this year. Most people think, "I had cataracts surgery and it's no big deal." or "Once you have the surgery, you'll be fine and can see again." I have a hopeful heart but I have a tendency to over produce scar tissue and that is NOT something you want on your eyeball. I also have a tendency to get the random, weirdo side effects come with whatever I have done. With cataracts surgery, that includes blindness. That is terrifying to me. My choices are so limited though! <br />
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I am so blessed to be a stay at home mom right now. I would not still have a job if every time I got sick I had to take weeks off to recover. I am fortunate to have great medical insurance and the money to even go to the doctor. And the money to afford the medicines. That is not always the case though and we've had to borrow money a number of times to get us over a hump because I had multiple doctor appointments or had to go to the emergency room. And my heart aches for those who cannot afford their medications or their medications are on a nationwide shortage or they've lost their insurance because they were too sick to work.<br />
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The next time you hear me joke about my Sjogren's or mention it or a random person tells you they have Rheumatoid Arthritis or Hashimoto's or whatever, know that we are sick when we don't look sick. We want your understanding. We want you to not feel slighted when we can't do things with you or we have to tell you no. It's isolating and hard to say no but sometimes it's all we can do to get through the week. And most of us are struggling to balance our lives so that we aren't grieving what we can no longer do and enjoying what we are still able to do for now. It's hard!<br />
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Lots of love and soft hugs to my fellow AI sufferers. And lots of love to my family and friends who help me through this roller coaster that I never wanted to ride!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247777850930342762.post-75627779931670399512015-05-28T18:39:00.000-05:002015-05-28T18:39:49.812-05:00Kitchen Sink BarsThere are days when I just want something delectable and it's bottom-of-the-barrel-grocery-shopping-isn't-til-tomorrow day. This means we have canned fruit, bread, maybe sandwich meat, and dry beans. This time I even ran out of flour so there were no cookies, sweet bread, cake on the horizon. That meant I had to do what I always do and scrounge. I think I may have stumbled on something so genius I'm expecting the Nobel Prize for Desserts to come in the mail.<br />
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KITCHEN SINK BARS!</div>
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You've heard of/made/eaten <a href="http://www.eaglebrand.com/recipes/magic-cookie-bars-3934" target="_blank">Magic Cookie Bars</a> before, right? I was so very close to having all the ingredients but 1) No butterscotch chips or coconut and 2) my kids hate nuts in stuff (I swear they are not aliens from some nut hating planet). What I did find was mini chocolate chips, PB2 peanut butter powder, Jet-Puffed Mallow Bits (chocolate ones), rice crispy type cereal, sliced almonds and the ubiquitous sweetened condensed milk and graham crackers (for the crust). <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMs4QhvhvpYBH22u74f6SuyXXXdM74FnW9xsGyIFEjVrC39BJeTwl3cZX26vjxf-f_feQYetrPp2Mg31nS11I4uZe1K7YD3EnuglOSO7qPyVpxybRQvRr5aNuBkRmBUYL08ne-pYh2VI/s1600/BPL-00200-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMs4QhvhvpYBH22u74f6SuyXXXdM74FnW9xsGyIFEjVrC39BJeTwl3cZX26vjxf-f_feQYetrPp2Mg31nS11I4uZe1K7YD3EnuglOSO7qPyVpxybRQvRr5aNuBkRmBUYL08ne-pYh2VI/s200/BPL-00200-4.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajG6m2UZinVfEMxriFj8fqZ5gZwwXG0Ug87XDSpLbCccTIkNAuT5ZLo3YDT7uibCwzpFQeHGvJ2wfDZFz6X_CDOgcuh4jA4wAUNn0LcxtZqrrn8MUhf_Hnl3tlzBeG8eR5Zc59e6LiKQ/s1600/Kraft-Jet-Puffed-Mallow-Bites.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajG6m2UZinVfEMxriFj8fqZ5gZwwXG0Ug87XDSpLbCccTIkNAuT5ZLo3YDT7uibCwzpFQeHGvJ2wfDZFz6X_CDOgcuh4jA4wAUNn0LcxtZqrrn8MUhf_Hnl3tlzBeG8eR5Zc59e6LiKQ/s200/Kraft-Jet-Puffed-Mallow-Bites.png" width="124" /></a><br />
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So I whipped up a graham cracker crust in the food processor. Don't tell my kids that I added the almonds to it! Pressed it into my oval dish...I don't own a 9x9 pan...who knows why. I poured on the condensed milk, then did two layers of mallow bits, rice crispies, mini chocolate chips. THEN I DUSTED PB2 ON IT LIKE POWDERED SUGAR! <br />
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That is some genius use of the PB2, isn't it? ISN'T IT?!?! You are probably sitting back and wondering why you never dusted anything in PB2. I mean, peanut butter dusted brownies or truffles rolled in peanut butter powder...seriously just upped my dessert making!<br />
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OK, so maybe this isn't a huge revelation or anything but these bars are awesome! I'm putting the recipe below if you want to try them!<br />
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Kitchen Sink Bars<br />
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.<br />
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For the crust:<br />
6 T melted butter<br />
9 graham crackers<br />
1/3 c sugar<br />
1/4 c sliced almonds<br />
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Pulse graham crackers, sugar, almonds in food processor until it looks like sand. Pour in melted butter and blend until thoroughly mixed. Press into 9x9 pan. It will come up the sides.<br />
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For the filling:<br />
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1 can sweetened condensed milk (14oz)<br />
1 c mini chocolate chips<br />
1 c rice crispy cereal (or whatever you have on hand. Pretzels would be good here too in my opinion)<br />
1 c Jet-Puffed Mallow Bits (or another type of chip like butterscotch chips, white chocolate chips)<br />
1 T PB2 powder<br />
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Pour entire can of condensed milk over crust. Then layer 1/2 c of Mallow Bits, cereal, chips. Repeat with final 1/2 c. Make sure the condensed milk is covered completely. Slightly press toppings into condensed milk. Then sift PB2 powder over the whole thing. <br />
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Bake for 25 minutes and allow to cool completely before serving.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247777850930342762.post-7040086971442156642015-03-18T15:39:00.001-05:002015-03-18T15:40:13.936-05:00Homeschool science is my favorite<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Science has always fascinated me. When I was a little girl, my mother started nursing school and my delight in how humans tick began. I learned all the bones in the body before I started elementary school. Then years later, high school chemistry amazed me again! I did not do well with the math and my teacher was dull but how these pieces of the world fit together to make an entirely new thing made me believe in God, science, and alchemy all at once. It was like magic truly existed in the world!</div>
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So fast forward to our little homeschool enterprise and I am thrilled to show my children the magic of science. We have done lots of experiments involving shaving cream and plants and paper towels and lots and lots of food coloring. </div>
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This one has been my favorite. We learned about surface tension, polar and non polar substances, lipids, density, and more! The milk magic was so fantastic we got more bowls and added different things like pepper and saw how dish soap broke the surface. We also added oil to a bowl of water and dropped food coloring through the oil. Tiny beads of blue and green collected at the bottom. This lead to a discussion about emulsifiers and then Jello. So tomorrow we will make salad dressing and see how pineapples affects Jello. Soooo much fun!!!</div>
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Here is a link to the how to of our milk experiment: http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/7483/color-changing-milk-science-experiment</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247777850930342762.post-45782832429084944252015-01-11T20:23:00.002-06:002015-01-11T20:23:11.739-06:00Weekends are not for resting around here.Weekends are a free for all around here. At any given time we are making something, getting crafty, or driving around to find an adventure.<br />
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This weekend was full of cookin' and junkin' and experimentin'.<br />
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Cookin'--<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCr5oEaBmGDgvo_Bj8LXDFWQToNdvMfcdjfDLAeEdCAE-DVwLAuilYYWLcl0J6kTJ_2psVrwp3tdITBPCTjxSiIpAxxGJd3sCGjL8aX0yrdvSKC-ptQj2nqGbrOUE2thSCEsXqVx-QB4/s1600/cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCr5oEaBmGDgvo_Bj8LXDFWQToNdvMfcdjfDLAeEdCAE-DVwLAuilYYWLcl0J6kTJ_2psVrwp3tdITBPCTjxSiIpAxxGJd3sCGjL8aX0yrdvSKC-ptQj2nqGbrOUE2thSCEsXqVx-QB4/s1600/cookies.jpg" height="252" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our piles of cookies pre frosting</td></tr>
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I made a meat heavy gumbo that wasn't really a gumbo because I didn't really use a recipe and we don't like okra too much. I taught the hubs how to make a roux. It was not as dark as it should have been but roux is intimidating. I don't think I will do this meal again. It was just ok.<br />
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I made <a href="http://www.inkatrinaskitchen.com/2011/12/best-sugar-cookie-recipe-and-kitchenaid_28.html" target="_blank">this no chill sugar cookie recipe</a>. It was very easy but the cookies tasted a little eggy. I didn't have the almond extract so next time I will be sure to add it. The cookies were firm with sharp edges. We frosted some and sprinkled some. <br />
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I prepped veggies for the <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/cabbage-fat-burning-soup/detail.aspx" target="_blank">SUPER FAT BURNING CABBAGE SOUP</a> I plan to make later in the week. Eh, we'll see if there is any fat burning going on. I don't plan to eat this every meal for a week and I am mainly making it because I love some cabbage.<br />
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I made this <a href="http://momsdish.com/recipe/400/beef-lo-mein-recipe" target="_blank">Beef Lo Mein</a> for dinner on Friday. It was phenomenal. I used thinly sliced skirt steak from Walmart as the meat. It was about $6.50. I had the other ingredients on hand already (we love Asian food). Even though I cringe at spending that much on meat, it was so cheap compared to a restaurant and not even remotely as greasy.<br />
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I also did some prep for Taco Tuesday. Except that it will be on Monday. And we don't really have a regular Taco Tuesday, it's just fun to say. I made this <a href="http://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/taco-hummus-and-tortilla-chips/2e45d72c-cd5d-430e-9b3d-bf956495ca91" target="_blank">hummus </a>and added 1/2 an avocado for flavor and creaminess. Oh and I didn't actually use Old El Paso Taco Seasoning. I make my own. I may never buy store bought hummus again because this rocked my face off.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These can be yours for the bargain price of eleventy million dollars!</td></tr>
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Junkin'--<br />
Originally, I was going to go to some Flea Malls with my dad. He and my stepmom have the flu or something like it and he decided to stay home on Saturday. Ain't nobody here got time for the flu so I'm glad he got his rest and we avoided the exposure. Sweet girl and I decided to visit a huge flea mall about an hour away. This place was packed to the gills with junk...some good and some bad. I was on the hunt for some Pyrex type fridge storage with lids. You know what I'm talking about, right? The rectangle dishes your granny put leftovers in? Christy Jordan at <a href="http://www.southernplate.com/2013/02/pyrex.html" target="_blank">Southern Plate</a> has a collection I drool over. My word in heaven that stuff is pricey! I found one sublime dish with a lid and it was $44. Mama can't afford that honey. The other thing I was on the hunt for is vintage embroidered tea towels. I use these as hand towels in my bathroom. Again, people think a lot of their stuff in this area. I paid $4 for a small dresser scarf that will work nicely as a hand towel. I will stick to <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-9-Vintage-Linen-Hand-Guest-Fingertip-Towel-Embroideery-or-Cut-Work-Detail-/331436657459?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d2b2a0b33" target="_blank">lots on Ebay</a> for these in the future though. Sweet girl did find a million Beanie Babies and some clothes...like an American Eagle Outfitters sweater for $3. It was fun to spend time with her one on one and even though I did not find what I wanted, I'm glad we went.<br />
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Experimentin'--<br />
We are learning about Thermodynamics in science and my kids were having a hard time understanding <a href="http://www.physics4kids.com/files/thermo_transfer.html" target="_blank">temperature gradient and heat sink</a>. I used <a href="http://www.coffeecupsandcrayons.com/walking-water-science-experiment-kids/" target="_blank">this walking water experiment</a> to not only explain what gradient means in general but also concepts of permeability/saturation/capillary action. We used yellow in one jar as our "heat source" and blue in the other for the "colder temperature". This was fun, simple, and effective as a visual representation.<br />
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I also learned all about <a href="http://encyclopedia.kids.net.au/page/el/Electrochemical_cell" target="_blank">potato batteries</a> this weekend. Another homeschool friend asked for help with their experiment on Facebook and after helping her troubleshoot their setup, I want to do <a href="http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/everyday-innovations/how-to-make-potato-powered-light-bulb.htm" target="_blank">this </a>with our kids! <br />
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We also got a book delivery from <a href="http://www.thriftbooks.com/" target="_blank">ThriftBooks</a>. I cannot tell you how much I love this website. Cheap books and free shipping. HEAVEN! My only complaint is that they use several warehouses around the country and some items have arrived ahead of others so we got the 3rd book in a series before the 2nd. <br />
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Oh and I forgot to mention watching TV. We do a lot of that around here. When the hubs picks what we watch I often find myself taking that time to bake or whatever. He and I have very different ideas of what is entertaining. Yeah, I'm looking at you Gold Rush Alaska.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247777850930342762.post-12917000678768102992015-01-05T18:42:00.000-06:002015-01-05T18:42:10.859-06:00SmorgasbordJust a little this and that recap of the year and what's on the horizon. <br />
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We have obviously been busy the past few weeks with the holidays. We had a few family gatherings. And we have been doing almost nothing outside of that because it has rained and rained and rained some more in the South. <br />
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We have been fortunate enough not to catch the flu and crud and pneumonia that has been floating around our extended family. I attribute that to diligent hand washing and lots and lots of Young Living products. We use the Thieves cleaner to clean every surface (including light switches and door knobs), we slather on diluted Thieves, RC, Oregano often, we use Thieves hand sanitizer when out, and we diffuse the oils regularly. So regularly, in fact, I broke my diffuser. BOO! I am on the hunt for another one. I am choosing not to repurchase the Young Living one because it is more expensive than I can afford. Plus, I would like to have 2 diffusers, one for our room and one for the living area. I will post what I find and a review later. My husband and I have also been taking Super B and Sulfurzyme to help with energy, joint support, and immunity support. I have noticed a huge difference on the days I miss them. <br />
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I found an internal medicine doctor that is committed to helping me feel better. Her attitude was "Autoimmune disease or not, you don't feel well and we need to fix that." I don't know that I will ever get a definitive, neatly wrapped diagnosis but having someone help me get back to "normal" is a blessing. She did lots of blood work and found some unusual things. More tests are on the horizon but her main goal is to get me through the winter without being incredibly ill. So far, so good!<br />
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Homeschooling has been so very bumpy the last few weeks. Lots of interruptions. We did not take a formal Christmas break because we had so many randomly timed events. I did find a new curriculum though. <a href="http://www.discoveryk12.com/" target="_blank">Discovery K12</a> is a free, online curriculum that is easy to follow. The kids log in and that day's assignments are right there. Scores, reading logs, some worksheets are online. It even records attendance. The kids click "Completed" at the end of each assignment and move on down the page. Since everything is in one place, they can work more independently than with even Easy Peasy Homeschool (we had to click to different pages for Math, Science, History). <br />
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Alabama History is a required subject here and we have been studying the early settlers and native Americans of the state. We are planning a trip to <a href="http://www.fttoulousejackson.org/" target="_blank">Fort Toulouse</a> soon. The hubs and I love living history. The kids waver on their love of it. haha<br />
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We are still working on our budget and sticking to it. We are planning and organizing better which helps. I am shopping once every pay period. I still have to get a few things now and then but I prefer shopping in one huge trip. I am planning our meals before shopping, making a list, and adapting based on what's available at the store. This week, I was able to get a HUGE ham for $14ish and that will make several meals, including a crockpot of ham n beans. Such a traditional Southern thing BUT I discovered I only had dried black beans in the pantry. Oh well...adapt, right? <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247777850930342762.post-51833431593671261332014-12-09T16:42:00.001-06:002014-12-09T16:42:35.896-06:00Sometimes the wheels just come offThis is a favorite saying of mine because it has actually happened to us. <br />
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Imagine our little family of four, trucking down the road at night in our free 1984 Toyota Van. Just van. No fancy model name. Van. We called it the Ghost Car because our kids said it reminded them of Scooby Doo's car and they were too little to remember Mystery Machine. Anyhoooo, we were having a lovely ride until smoke started POURING from the van. It was so much smoke, when the hubs pulled over, I yanked both kids out of the car and ran away. I thought it was on fire! Silly, right? Except that we had another van that caught on fire once so I wasn't taking chances. Turns out the car wasn't on fire but there was something terribly wrong. We called my step dad to give us a hand. He decided to tow us, redneck style, to his house. (Redneck style is where you attach a chain to the vehicle you are towing and basically drag it to your destination while someone sits in it and steers) So I loaded the kids into his jeep and away we went. There was some God awful noise a few miles down the road and while we were wondering what that could've been, a carload of teenage girls pulled up next to us and said, "HEY! The wheels fell of that car back there!" Did we stop? Nope. We dragged the Van the last mile, sparks a flyin. Turns out the back axle fell off. Amazingly enough, my hubs found a replacement axle and the Van was still in working order years later when we sold it to a collector of Toyota Vans. <br />
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No worse for the wear and a funny story. I love it when life turns out that way. Which brings me to today. I am sick with what I can only describe as allergies from hell. Except it's not really allergies but a stress related illness compliments of my wacky immune system. And as I was malaise-ing on the couch, I was surfing Facebook. I ran across a recipe for something called <a href="http://www.southernplate.com/2010/12/old-fashioned-potato-candy.html" target="_blank">Potato Candy</a> from Christy Jordan's Southern Plate. (Just a side note here, I love Christy Jordan. She is sweet and kind and knows how to cook those Southern recipes your MawMaw made without being fussy or expensive.) This recipe was insanely simple and something my step dad would love. He is the eater of all sweets and loves peanut butter. But when I went into the kitchen, I realized peeling a potato and then cooking it was too much work. I crack myself up. I felt too lousy to do this step but ended up spending an hour making Buckeyes. Do you know what Buckeyes are? Peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate. The recipe I did today is at the bottom of this post.<br />
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This is something I've done before and I have a really hard time making anything dipped in chocolate. The chocolate <a href="http://burkeology.blogspot.com/2010/12/seize-thechocolate.html" target="_blank">seizes</a> or I make huge globs instead of neat balls or what I'm dipping crumbles/melts/messes me up. There is typically a huge mess and each time I do these things, I foreswear all dipping stuff in chocolate! So I blame the sickness. I was delirious and candy sounded so good and things started out really well.<br />
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See? <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEvo6KcM5P1IdSCFDf6Tq7MAWRT9bJL0DOXORsY7cm7SWLpOIdTmJar2iXwRnUfxo3UfpQrGr6HjbvS-zlK9_ycTdpfkie9teAMNCwG_0yO2wSI5TJ3FGhpcLPTtu3c_jqDH6kWW5ywY/s1600/peanut+butter+balls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEvo6KcM5P1IdSCFDf6Tq7MAWRT9bJL0DOXORsY7cm7SWLpOIdTmJar2iXwRnUfxo3UfpQrGr6HjbvS-zlK9_ycTdpfkie9teAMNCwG_0yO2wSI5TJ3FGhpcLPTtu3c_jqDH6kWW5ywY/s1600/peanut+butter+balls.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">so round and shiny</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQIoSpkgQkCRsd-8fJYi6TxYl82YHqrIrbK_Ayxj30b38RWfZUaBYkLRv7BBCy5HWPZVcoTrAndjtZzU_ral06ubvqmpdX7QfrvShuPyuY7toR0EvYSG0RwSvJUOfAV9T7jPSZtHPXyk/s1600/chocolate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQIoSpkgQkCRsd-8fJYi6TxYl82YHqrIrbK_Ayxj30b38RWfZUaBYkLRv7BBCy5HWPZVcoTrAndjtZzU_ral06ubvqmpdX7QfrvShuPyuY7toR0EvYSG0RwSvJUOfAV9T7jPSZtHPXyk/s1600/chocolate.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love that knife, btw.</td></tr>
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THEN the dipping commenced. And it was going ok for a second. I got about 12 balls done and the chocolate was cooling already. The balls were not coming off the fork well. GLOBS WERE FORMING. And then...yep...the wheels came. <br />
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I needed to add more chocolate to melt and a piece shot out from under the knife into the floor. I stabbed a hole into that plastic dish by mistake. My spoon broke. The chocolate was too warm and the peanut butter was making the coating slide off. WHEELS. OFF.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJVunxMOo0WXdOjuh0t1Dw5MlhO7q-BpOvEVQIK0vpN4pGCAU-G6mSar1Rovv2VOMyJJB8R6cTEuWwKqCfhiySBT3XysDp3cXeV0ikAEJOnOIsvjs8sSJdVE24tH-Pf00ndo1cbErS0M/s1600/broken+spoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJVunxMOo0WXdOjuh0t1Dw5MlhO7q-BpOvEVQIK0vpN4pGCAU-G6mSar1Rovv2VOMyJJB8R6cTEuWwKqCfhiySBT3XysDp3cXeV0ikAEJOnOIsvjs8sSJdVE24tH-Pf00ndo1cbErS0M/s1600/broken+spoon.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">boo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvTkTqsJ2f0jN6SpBsHkEXCIb_nISUujXQJaEx0RXaRT-t_cEkJBL9UrpuDFlynKG4aCopbBR5KUbc-xWf0qss6A6amXn66eb6lxNoXaFTM6-0V0sVyp0PeR7Npu4XeSOK0CC9fxGyXs/s1600/blobs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvTkTqsJ2f0jN6SpBsHkEXCIb_nISUujXQJaEx0RXaRT-t_cEkJBL9UrpuDFlynKG4aCopbBR5KUbc-xWf0qss6A6amXn66eb6lxNoXaFTM6-0V0sVyp0PeR7Npu4XeSOK0CC9fxGyXs/s1600/blobs.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">blobs and exposed peanut butter. arg!</td></tr>
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I seriously contemplated throwing it all in the garbage and pouting. But I remembered one time when I used leftover almond bark to make bark. Imagine that. So I poured the chunky melted chocolate into a small square dish (it is actually the tray to my food scale) and put the remaining peanut butter balls into it. I melted the last of the almond bark and poured it over to seal everything in.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2RkSLq0bvyYXaSQIp9osNpzgmqRpnepdFapb5OQo_1JF4div3Bpts8LEjRnqB4k7-DY3KzIm-iLDB5n7Xbu_P9UKKeXgrPoTZI4zOraQvO6eCPoYk5Gm6u3NBm1AaosONFUvLK9PbsE/s1600/tray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2RkSLq0bvyYXaSQIp9osNpzgmqRpnepdFapb5OQo_1JF4div3Bpts8LEjRnqB4k7-DY3KzIm-iLDB5n7Xbu_P9UKKeXgrPoTZI4zOraQvO6eCPoYk5Gm6u3NBm1AaosONFUvLK9PbsE/s1600/tray.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This might be genius!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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I think I just invented the best homemade candy bar to ever exist! I put the tray in the fridge, slammed it out on the counter, and cut into bite size pieces (use a really sharp knife and don't saw through it). The "filling" is smooth and packed with peanut butter. The outside is shiny and just the right amount of chocolate. Think Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, which as it turns out is my step dad's favorite candy. <div>
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See? No worse for the wear and a funny story. Love it!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipxHL67ePd6TIPgLWG3NpxxpRJqaV9kNqr1l47eUh3obleqRbea41oP6ccrqiZopk-plhVWKTnZR3o3dTm2GqOhuZTj1s5krCCbjajf24WefhCTC5WCVjXn1v9qXT-lxp1bN4JEN2Dfcc/s1600/finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipxHL67ePd6TIPgLWG3NpxxpRJqaV9kNqr1l47eUh3obleqRbea41oP6ccrqiZopk-plhVWKTnZR3o3dTm2GqOhuZTj1s5krCCbjajf24WefhCTC5WCVjXn1v9qXT-lxp1bN4JEN2Dfcc/s1600/finished.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Here's my little recipe for what I made today:<br />
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1 c. creamy peanut butter<br />
2 c. powdered sugar<br />
1 tsp. corn syrup<br />
1 lb. milk chocolate almond bark<br />
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Combine peanut butter, powdered sugar, corn syrup until a very stiff dough forms. Shape dough into teaspoon size balls (or bigger, depends on how many you want to make). Chop almond bark and place in a shallow microwave safe dish. Cook at 30 second intervals, stirring after each, until melted and smooth. Dip balls into almond bark and place on wax or foil lined cookie sheet. Store in airtight container once set up. I prefer not to refrigerate because they will sweat.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247777850930342762.post-33382207964796005412014-12-04T15:02:00.002-06:002014-12-04T15:02:54.419-06:00The best walk you'll ever take is walking down the aisleI heard these lyrics in a country song by Jana Kramer. It struck a deep chord in me. THAT is the best walk I ever took. Though the first two years of our marriage was racked with grief and fear and questioning our very faith, we made it through. Every year since has brought it's own troubles and doubts, arguments and hurt feelings but I look back on that blazing hot day in July and I am glad.<br />
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The other day, sweet girl asked us how daddy proposed to me. He and I just looked at each other and died laughing. He DIDN'T propose to me. We were leaving my mom's house one day and I was looking out the window. I remember how bright and clear it was that day. While I don't remember what we were discussing, I do remember saying, "I think we should get married." And he said, "I do too." And that was it! It was a little bit crazy since we had known each other oh...about a month. But we were in the throes of, what I call a case of, love at SECOND sight. The first time we met, he hardly paid me any attention. But a few days later, I arrived at a mutual friend's house for a bible study and when we saw each other, lightning struck. We were each other's answer to prayers said from desperate hearts, longing for a Godly mate.<br />
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Our families were delighted over the news and plans for an October wedding began. The soon-to-be hubs and I were a little too excited in celebrating and I discovered I was pregnant. I was beside myself. He was over the moon. I remember calling my best friend in the middle of the night and telling her this terrible news. She said, "Amanda! You are 25. You are not some teenager working at McDonald's. You HAVE a great job. You HAVE a man you love, who is excited." Her GET IT TOGETHER speech worked and though I had more doubts over the next several days, I GOT IT TOGETHER. We scratched the fall wedding and opted for July. I wanted to look "not pregnant" in my wedding dress. <br />
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Every thing went so very well in planning the wedding and in my pregnancy. My morning sickness was subsiding, I found THE dress, we had the chapel...then I got cold feet. There was some minor argument with my betrothed about money or a bill or whatever and I ran to my mama, crying. I told her, "This guy is not responsible! This guy is not who I want to be with!" I went on and on. She looked at me and said words that felt like a bucket of cold water being dumped on my head. <br />
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"Then don't marry him."<br />
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It was that simple she explained. If I didn't want to marry him then I didn't need to feel obligated to go through with it. She said she would support me no matter what I decided. But God spoke to my heart. It was like everything was out of place because we had chosen to follow our fleshly desires and I knew if we would make it right before the Lord, everything would be ok. So on that sweltering Sunday, I walked down the aisle with my fears and doubts nagging me but determined to make this covenant. I actually do not remember taking our vows. I only remember the transforming wholeness I felt when we were pronounced man and wife. I was a Mrs. and I was a changed person and I had no idea what we were about to face.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247777850930342762.post-91173198159375351222014-11-29T10:00:00.000-06:002014-11-30T14:21:32.931-06:00Budget? Yeah....Honest truth? I'm lazy, bad at math, and a bit of a compulsive buyer. Not saying that I shop daily or buy $70 boots I don't need. I do, however, let the kids get a toy they don't need when it's only a dollar or two. Or I might buy something I see on clearance because I really wanted it or will use it in the future. But THAT....THAT right there is why I need some dadgum self discipline! I can justify about anything. Spending a dollar now on something I will use in the future is foolish. Really it is. And I'm not talking big ticket items like birthday presents or every day necessities like bread or toilet paper. These are things like seasonal paper products, fuzzy socks, or My Little Pony themed goody bags. (Sweet girl has already asked for a MLP birthday party for her May birthday and the bargain hunter in me has been fighting with the wise spender I'm trying to be!)<br />
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We've been Christmas shopping and visiting family and I've had lots of excuses to grab some fast food and convenience items. And the money has been flowing straight out of our account four or five dollars at a time. That adds up SO fast. </div>
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And then there are things like this...<a href="http://weeklyad.publix.com/Publix/BrowseByPage/Index/?StoreID=2620277&PromotionCode=Publix-141126c&PromotionViewMode=1#PageNumber=1" target="_blank">Publix </a>is having a deal this weekend only where you get a $50 gas card (any gas station they carry cards for) for $40 when you buy $50 worth of groceries. I made our list based on what was on sale and BOGO at Publix and away we went. I overspent by $40 of what I budgeted. See? This is what I mean! I managed to save $20 off our gas budget, get a free rotisserie chicken, groceries for almost 2 weeks, laundry supplies and I still manage to sail through my limit. </div>
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So I am putting the brakes on. LIKE NOW.</div>
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I wrote down every bill we have for the next month. And I paid the ones I could today. Off my plate equals less stress.</div>
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I added in a few extra expenses I think may come up such as a follow up doctor's appointment I am expecting.</div>
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I did NOT add fast food or entertainment into our budget this month. I may add it in next month but honestly, we are paying for cable now and live so far from everything the gas would add up if we made lots of extra trips for movies and the like. I will have to factor in some field trips for schooling soon so maybe those will just be adventure days with some entertainment or McDonald's added.</div>
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Looking at everything on paper, we are in the black! I feel reassured about that but instead of seeing any of that as "extra" money, we will finish buying a few gifts and spend the rest on savings. If I tell my brain that savings is a bill along with everything else, then I won't be tempted to spend it. </div>
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I am going to further my limits by using a <a href="http://www.bluebird.com/" target="_blank">Bluebird </a>card from American Express. I am waiting on it to arrive so I have not set up my account yet. I researched it though and I was really impressed by what they offer. It is a free/no fee debit card. You can set spending limits on categories like groceries, entertainment, etc. You can also transfer money into a savings type account. Again, no fee. It's really like a Christmas Club that traditional banks offer but there is no penalty for moving the money out. The last reason I will be using the Bluebird account is because from now until Feb. 28, 2015, Bluebird will double any money you get back from using the <a href="https://savingscatcher.walmart.com/" target="_blank">Walmart Savings Catcher</a>! I've already gotten about $7 saved. Now, of course, you can only use this "money" at Walmart but that's ok. It's one of the closest grocery stores to me.</div>
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How do you budget? Especially this time of year when everyone is gift buying, travelling, eating away from home so much?</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247777850930342762.post-46543135019199385992014-11-22T10:00:00.000-06:002014-11-22T10:00:05.690-06:00Who turns down free money...er, soap?I have waffled back and forth and back again about shopping online and subscribing to deal websites. It just seems to get out of hand so quickly. Especially around the holidays. Did I mention I have willpower issues? Click, click, buy is so EASY and before you know it, I've gotten things I can use but don't necessarily need. See, I always justify whatever I get. You know...I've always wanted one of those...I'm saving it for a present...blah blah blah. Y'all. I bought $10 worth of hair from Korea because I watched a YouTube video about hair extensions. I legitimately planned on using them but do you know what the QUALITY of $10 worth of hair is? It ain't great. I would have had more fun setting $10 on fire than I did trying to untangle that mess and clip it onto my hair. Cheese and crackers. So I just stopped for a long time. All of those emails went straight into the trash bin and I only saved a few. (Let me preface this whole post by saying I have not included any referral links. I love getting credits or coupons but I just don't feel right putting it here.)<br />
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And, ahem, I have not forsaken any of my thrifty ways for buying a bunch of new junk. Most of my online purchases are for things I wouldn't (or can't) buy second hand. Shoes. Services. Consumables. Hair and Hello Kitty stuff. Just kidding. I just bought sweet girl a Hello Kitty clock (brand new) at a consignment shop for 5 bucks. And I will never buy anymore hair.<br />
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Groupon. Living Social. I saved these. I rarely buy things but when I do, it's something like movie tickets or a $10 Starbucks card for $5. That's my fave! And I may or may not buy one on my account and my husband's account too. Save one for us and give one away as a present. They also will offer deals on local organic markets where I live. Getting $40 worth of groceries for $20 is a deal I'd be crazy to pass up. That deal comes around 2 or 3 times a year so that's nice. I'm sure you have all heard of these sites and use them already. Just be careful! Read the fine print, pay attention to expiration dates, be thorough. And go to the sites of businesses you may not be familiar with to see how much you are really saving. If you were going to buy your mom a massage for her birthday and find a deal, see how much their regular packages are. Sometimes I've found I could get a lower tier treatment for less than the Groupon. <br />
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Family Friendly Frugality (<a href="http://www.familyfriendlyfrugality.com/">www.familyfriendlyfrugality.com</a>) This is a blog/couponing site. I also follow them on Facebook. The main reason I saved it is because they have the drop on sales. This time of year, I'm trying to keep up with what they are posting. There were several Cabella shoes on sale for less than $10, shipped, this week. I was slow on the draw and missed them BUT had I been paying attention, I could have some cheap comfy shoes headed my way. They also find ways to stack deals with coupons, in store and online. <br />
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Speaking of coupons, PLEASE do a google search of coupon or promo codes for what ever store you plan on buying from online. Retail Me Not almost always has a % off code for pretty much every store I ever shop at.<br />
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Ok. So the soap. I held on to some email subscriptions for stores I had no reason to. Like The Honest Company. I have no babies (have you seen those diapers? ADORABLE!) . I really like their packaging and a lot of the ingredients in their cleaning/body products but I couldn't justify spending the money plus shipping. Tonight I got an email from them stating I had a $20 credit on my account. There was no minimum or other qualifying purchase so I went over to the site to browse. It's winter so I need body oil. I'm also almost out of shampoo and body wash...Hmmm. I started adding things to the cart and had about $22 worth of stuff. Then I see the shipping will be $8.95 no matter what so I google promo codes. I find one that will give me $10 off a $25 purchase. Glory be to the websites that let you stack promo codes. That will just about guarantee my repeat business. So I add more things and have $26 worth but my credit is $30 off now. ADD MORE THINGS! I swear I edited my cart about 55 times trying to get exactly $30 worth of stuff but everything is priced at dollars and 95 cents. I'm sure some math/Jenga genius could have hit it on the head but I ended up with $29.80. Woot! I paid the $8.95 for shipping and got 5 things I was planning on purchasing this weekend. I'm excited to see how the products stand up to other natural/organic brands I've tried. Have you tried them? Thoughts?<br />
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Another side note, about once or twice a month I will hit up some free sample sites. I did unsubscribe from the emails though. They were overwhelming. The only caveat to freebie sites is the scams. If you have to pay for anything, don't. If you have to fill out 97 questionnaires or sign up for other "offers", don't. A good site will just have links to the manufacturer of whatever product you want a sample of. There are a few monthly sample "subscriptions" that are reputable. I signed up for one called PINCHme. I'm not sure why they chose that name. You do have to work a little by filling out a profile and doing follow up questions after you've used your samples but I got a free box of Weight Watchers ice cream bars, a full size nail polish, and more. The samples make great stocking stuffers or filler for birthday gifts. I also stock my first aid kit, car, and travel makeup kit with the samples of OTC meds, bandages, hand sanitizer, etc. So it satisfies my shopping AND my frugal needs!<br />
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It is hard to resist all the gift with purchase, BOGO, holiday special clearance type emails this time of year. But I will be strong! Bottom line? The only way I'm hitting that COMPLETE PURCHASE button is if 1) There is no possible way I can buy this anywhere else; 2) I'm saving much more than I'm spending; and 3) I was going to purchase the item within the next few weeks. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247777850930342762.post-40320453881554429182014-11-15T10:00:00.000-06:002014-11-15T10:00:05.474-06:00SANTA!!!!!!My most favorite time of the year has arrived once again!!!! I love Christmas so much! And yes, a lot of it has to do with the magic of Santa. More on that in a sec. But UNTO US A SAVIOR IS BORN! I have childlike glee over the thought of that tiny baby being born to scared, first time parents. This time has grown even more special to me over the last decade as I finally understand, for myself, what awe and terror the first child brings. Did Mary worry what kind of a mother she would be? Probably. Did Joseph regret scolding young Jesus (debate away on whether a sinless man was a rowdy child...my vote is kids are kids)? I'm sure he did. But on that first night, they were made a family and tears of joy were shed by all of mankind. Whewwwww! I get goosebumps just thinking about it. So how do we celebrate according to Burkeology?<br />
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In the cheapest way possible. Ha! </div>
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Seriously, we have never been loaded with cash in December. I don't care how fat our hog was earlier in the year, it's always slim pickins at Christmas. So we have tempered our children's expectations with reality but never shorted them on the mystery and magic of the holidays. We have celebrated Advent for a number of years now and I wonder why I didn't do this my whole life. Did y'all know that December 1st to January 6th is one long Christmas celebration? Yep! Hooray! December 1st through the 24th is Advent (the coming of Christ) and the 25th is the culmination. We do an advent calendar now but in years past we did a Jesse tree. This was a particularly fun way to get the kids involved in learning the Christmas story. There are tons of sites to find scripture and the ornaments that go with them. Ann Voskamp wrote a book titled <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1414387083/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1414387083&linkCode=as2&tag=holyexper-20" target="_blank">The Greatest Gift</a></i> which explains the Jesse Tree and <a href="http://www.tyndale.com/web/greatestgift/" target="_blank">here </a>you can download the printable ornaments for free. We handmade a lot of the ornaments we had and loved them until they tore, crumbled, or broke beyond repair. </div>
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What about Santa? Well, we are full on Santa lovers here. We taught our children about St. Nicholas. <a href="http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/fatherchristmas.shtml" target="_blank">Here </a>is one version of his story. A story of selfless giving by a faithful man? Definitely want my kids to know about him. <i>The Polar Express</i> came out when the kids were little and that was a huge hit with my son. Hello? Trains. Enough said. We would let the kids have their Santa gifts on St. Nicholas Day (December 6th) for a little while but it was hard to explain to their school friends why Santa came to their house before he did everyone else's. So back to December 25th it went. Now that we are homeschooling, I think we will return to St. Nick's Day and leave the 25th for seeing family and praising the Lord. Our kids always get ONE BIG THING from Santa and a few odds and ends from us. A stocking full of do dads. Even Santa presents are probably second hand at my house though. Last year, I got my daughter a well loved wooden dollhouse from a church bizarre for $5 and my sweet brother in law and sister painted it and repaired it. They helped me get the cutest dog family to live in it. And even mounted the house on a board with a lawn. A friend, who I am forever indebted to, sold me vintage doll furniture (NEW IN THE BOXES) for a song. When it arrived, I was in tears. It was an entire house of furniture with teeny silverware, rugs, the whole kit and caboodle. See? The magic of Christmas and Santa ARE real!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">there is even sheet music with the wee piano!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">how stinkin cute is this doll house?</td></tr>
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It was just too cute not to share again.<br />
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We have parties at my mom's, my dad's, and my sister's house most years. That is a lot of family and presents to try to get. One year, I was able to do some major thrifting in a resort town and I got things like a Prada wallet, swimsuit cover ups new with tags, souvenir T-shirts new with tags, well made purses, and more for practically nothing. This year I am going back to my roots and making everyone homemade goodies in reusable containers, of course. I found a killer <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/hot-cocoa-recipe.html" target="_blank">recipe</a> for "Swiss Miss" (I omit the cayenne but hey, spice it up!) and since <a href="http://www.walmart.com/msharbor/ip/Jet-Puffed-Mallow-Bits-Marshmallows-3-oz/21806645" target="_blank">Jet-Puffed</a> makes marshmallow bits now, it's the realest deal you can get homemade! And cheap. I also saw <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/118078821455727669/" target="_blank">this pin</a> with cute dips mixes and you just add them to a tub of sour cream. I may throw in some <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/118078821455592036/" target="_blank">spicy pretzels</a> and <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/trisha-yearwood/sweet-and-saltines-recipe.html" target="_blank">Christmas crack</a>. Trisha Yearwood needs a nomination for sainthood, sharing that recipe. I don't even like toffee and I consider it crack!<br />
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Then on December 26th we start the 12 days of Christmas. I take this time to binge on leftovers and wish for warmer weather and no ornaments to put away. That's what February is for, right?</div>
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My birthday is New Year's Eve and it is cursed so we won't discuss it. Except to say that one year my husband was out of state and forgot to call me, another year I got food poisoning and had to get my daddy to drive me to an urgent care clinic at the crack of dawn New Year's Day. You get the picture now? I will say that my family always makes it a blast. We weather any storm together.</div>
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And just when you think you could not stand another round of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, it's EPIPHANY!!!! <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/06/three-kings-day-celebration-history-and-traditions-behind-el-dia-de-los-reyes_n_2412379.html" target="_blank">Three Kings Day</a> is another name for it. Lots of other cultures really play this day up. For the last several years, we made a valiant effort to celebrate this day with our dear friends The Guidos. Funny story...their last name is actually Gonzalez but the husband, Guido, was our priest when we first met them and we all called him Father Guido. My wee kiddies assumed that was his last name or that the people belonging to him were Guido's...I'm not sure exactly but they always called them The Guidos and it stuck. Sadly, they moved away last year and we are working on a new tradition. While I don't know that we will read <i><a href="http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/activities/view.cfm?id=51" target="_blank">Twelfth Night</a></i>, there is a cake. So I'm in!</div>
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One thing I have not mentioned is how we give to charity during this time. On and off for the last 13 years, I worked for a Christian group home. I helped make sure those kids had the best Christmas we could, to the tune of 50 kids at times. And now that the group home has closed, we are looking for new ways to give during this season. It will be something we decide on the 1st day of Advent and I can't wait to share it with everyone.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WINTER...CHRISTMAS?...WONDERLAND!</td></tr>
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Ok, so now that all my family knows what to expect for Christmas (I never could keep a present secret) and I've explained how I manage to get 37 days of celebration (give or take) out of Christmas, let me share my final favorite tradition. WINTER WONDERLAND. Actually, it may be called Christmas Wonderland. I don't recall even though we've gone every year for the last 7 years. There is a dirt road in the backwoods of Chilton County, Alabama and on that road is the holy grail of Christmas lights. An entire street filled with lights, animatronics, music, THE WORKS. They even have Santa there. I have no idea why these people do it and we always put what we can afford into their "light bill" donation box but my Christmas would not be complete without a drive through it. I am seriously getting misty thinking about it. Pure, unadulterated celebration of our Lord and it is lit up for everyone to see. It is the star that I follow every year to remember why I love Christmas! So corny but the childlike love I have in my heart wouldn't have it any other way.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I cannot even do it justice in these panorama shots.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247777850930342762.post-23401218435802902202014-11-13T10:00:00.000-06:002014-11-13T17:06:07.463-06:00Tiny spaces.Moving to a smaller space means getting veeeerrrryyyy crafty with what little storage you have and finding ways to maximize each space. I am really not much of a decorator. I love to wander Home Goods and World Market and dream of highly stylized living rooms and such. Honestly though, my budget and patience can afford all the trinkets. So I just make do with what I have, what I can find at the Dollar Tree or thrift stores, and paint.<br />
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We needed a place to put EVERY SINGLE school supply. Pens, paper, workbook, ya know. We already had a white bookcase and the new house had a 3 shelf peninsula in the living room. So to divide the kitchen from the living room a bit, we stacked the white bookcase on top and anchored it to the wall. While, it isn't a seamless architectural detail, it is very functional and organized. I covered the back of the bookcase with some dollar store contact paper. It was a very ugly brown in the back and now you see the pretty graphic floral when you walk in the front door.</div>
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The kitchen has a sparse amount of cabinets and they are all small. It only has 3 drawers. So storing dishes AND food was out of the question. I bought this amoire a few years ago for about $10. It is a 1920s art deco style. I loved it but the veneer design was missing several pieces. I painted it a soft green color and decoupaged coordinating scrapbook paper into the panels. It served as a pantry in another small house and then as a true clothes amoire for my daughter. Now it is back to being a food pantry. The green color and scrapbook paper doesn't really go with my color scheme now so I redid the inner panels with the same dollar store contact paper I used on the school bookcase. I plan to pain the armoire white and faux bois it with a dark gray or black. It will be very graphic and I can't wait to buy the paint! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6sdy_EGVKbN1iqpqDtQFcB0YLpDF9OCzfoUPTdB9K0QTCBcba-f2X338eSJxqCdY1kJi66L7XYLHwwsSZWy6A-qzMXlT4cxAdb8ntFNXArKWaf_QpLv8nds74CMkkAQ3mb9ngA1RzgCc/s1600/behind+armoire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6sdy_EGVKbN1iqpqDtQFcB0YLpDF9OCzfoUPTdB9K0QTCBcba-f2X338eSJxqCdY1kJi66L7XYLHwwsSZWy6A-qzMXlT4cxAdb8ntFNXArKWaf_QpLv8nds74CMkkAQ3mb9ngA1RzgCc/s320/behind+armoire.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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The armoire has to back up to the kitchen bar in order to fit and be useful. I was going to cover the back of the armoire or paint it but I have not decided yet. In the meantime, I hung my badly beaten Tupperware rolling mat there. It wouldn't fit into a drawer so decoration it becomes! The tins all hold dry goods. Cracker tin holds flour, cookie tin holds sugar, so on. All of the items are used on a regular basis so it just made sense to incorporate them into the decor. The little matryoshka dolls are my measuring cups! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHccPv4hNlBrBHj0SA2E46HCl-CrZ3zXLUXfNnlO2-xzRmGj67f5sN-fZR0LyWM7x8lyl84laX655fnCS6kZGOM7MB0K8YUBf1AmxaPoiE_VyoGDbafqbq3uyJ78fhp9cw-aSWtFXpHs/s1600/towel+holder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHccPv4hNlBrBHj0SA2E46HCl-CrZ3zXLUXfNnlO2-xzRmGj67f5sN-fZR0LyWM7x8lyl84laX655fnCS6kZGOM7MB0K8YUBf1AmxaPoiE_VyoGDbafqbq3uyJ78fhp9cw-aSWtFXpHs/s320/towel+holder.jpg" width="240" /></a> Did I mention this house is tiny? Our "master" bathroom is en suite but is about 5 feet by 5 feet, not including the shower enclosure. The vanity has a wee bit of storage but I used it to house first aid supplies and stuff we don't use often. We were able to put a free standing over the toilet shelf in. It's pretty and white and let's me hide away my hairbrush and the like. It is much too small for extra toilet paper or even towels so my mom brought over a magazine holder. She had it painted in a fabulous red color and if it was for the living room, I would have left it as is. But I want everything in my bathroom to be white and light so I painted it an antique white color.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPoBRPuB4FF0UcKlyFBijD25gLcMQmzITNf6SNnfjR1RXLYYFYuKOkjaXq7ROf72oZGPI9VZ2SU9QaIYnX6r7y-evGFlFok8M0unnePNsnyqpvmp-BRpongwdrLTHxzeDE8bSmuDN5M8/s1600/shower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPoBRPuB4FF0UcKlyFBijD25gLcMQmzITNf6SNnfjR1RXLYYFYuKOkjaXq7ROf72oZGPI9VZ2SU9QaIYnX6r7y-evGFlFok8M0unnePNsnyqpvmp-BRpongwdrLTHxzeDE8bSmuDN5M8/s320/shower.jpg" width="236" /></a>I have to thank Pinterest for my next genius idea. I had intended to get a vinyl shoe organizer and hang this stuff INSIDE the shower. Honestly, after going to 5 stores, I gave up. I bought this cheaply made cloth one and hung it outside the shower curtain. I have to reach out for things but it holds all my shampoo, conditioner, razors, etc. It is definitely maximum storage without taking up any space!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNOC1bPCvVPLXMdcoleCuIAI6Zy8gHvKUGD8ePJgBvxHv3kHlv9AUlTZM9FPgLLD8kRbXl-vj3ivXqjQ5eeRhFUiZy5pexKOxtLd1j2YCTNeyUX5HKkIvC9u54ZelanJGBJt4KyyQhvA/s1600/diffuser+shelf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNOC1bPCvVPLXMdcoleCuIAI6Zy8gHvKUGD8ePJgBvxHv3kHlv9AUlTZM9FPgLLD8kRbXl-vj3ivXqjQ5eeRhFUiZy5pexKOxtLd1j2YCTNeyUX5HKkIvC9u54ZelanJGBJt4KyyQhvA/s400/diffuser+shelf.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Last but not least is this little shelf. It is in my tiny bathroom above the sink. Made just for my Young Living diffuser, if you ask me. I can put a favorite wake up combo like Peppermint and Lemon in it and it will fill the whole house in no time. Oh, yes, that's right. I forgot to say OUR BATHROOM HAS NO DOOR ON IT! Thankfully our bedroom does but yeah...no door on the facilities. I have a heavy curtain hung there for some privacy but let's just say having the diffuser in the bathroom keeps...well...unpleasantness down. Ha!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247777850930342762.post-39025602393298309972014-11-11T14:42:00.001-06:002014-11-11T14:52:50.659-06:00Good and Cheap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That is the name of my new favorite <a href="https://8b862ca0073972f0472b704e2c0c21d0480f50d3.googledrive.com/host/0Bxd6wdCBD_2tdUdtM0d4WTJmclU/good-and-cheap.pdf" target="_blank">cookbook</a>. And author, <a href="http://www.leannebrown.com/#what-is-good-and-cheap" target="_blank">Leanne Brown</a>, conquers something very near to my heart. Affordable food that tastes great. Ms. Brown started this cookbook as a project while getting her master's degree in food studies. She took a budget of $4 a day and made some of the best dishes I've seen in a long while.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why $4 a day? Because there are 47 million Americans on food stamps and the average monthly stipend for food is $126. Could you feed yourself for an entire month on $126 plus a little supplemental cash? Most couldn't without resorting to eating Top Ramen or boxed mac n cheese for most meals. That results in too much sodium, too many unhealthy carbs, and not much in the way of vitamins, minerals, or fiber. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was a time in our lives when food stamps was all the currency we had. My husband lost his job while I was staying home with a 18 month old and a 4 month old. We were devastated. It took us a very long time to recover from those months of no income. We had to move several times over the following 2 years. And though the hubs found a full time job and a part time job, we stayed on food stamps during most of that time. As his income increased, our stipend decreased. Then he got a $20/month raise and we lost our food stamps completely, nearly $200 a month. I was scrambling to replace what amounted to about 2 weeks worth of groceries with $20! How I wish Ms. Brown had written her cookbook then!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, with the complete understanding of what it means to have little money for food, I have always searched for low cost food that will taste great. People like Martha Stewart or Rachael Ray have been invaluable for the best recipes but not always the cheapest ingredients. Things like prosciutto or even bacon, at times, ain't cheap. And while I can make some really tasty ciabatta bread for pennies thanks to Martha, a meal it does not make. Ms. Brown took what the <a href="http://www.choosemyplate.gov/budget/downloads/2WeekMenuCookbook.pdf" target="_blank">government did an ok job with</a> and made it appetizing and appealing. Pictures so wonderful, you can practically smell the spices and warm stew cooking. Upscale recipes that appeal to the foodie in me. Meatless recipes to stretch the budget and boost my overall health. To me, this book is the perfect marriage of practicality and indulgence.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know food stamps is a hot button issue but my convictions are firmly grounded in my own experiences. Every single person-man, woman, child-should have access to affordable food. Fresh produce and milk should not be a premium item (that is often traded for gallons of $1 fruit drink instead). Because here is what is worse, there are <a href="http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpswp2012.pdf" target="_blank">millions of Americans</a> considered the "working poor". Sure, some of those people qualify for food stamps but often times, they do not. Then what? Like our family, a very slight increase in wage disqualified us completely and caused major financial havoc. So regardless of your own opinion about food stamps, we should all be able to agree that a trip to the grocery store should not bankrupt you nor should you have to sacrifice staple, nutritious items that are simply too expensive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Could you make it on $4 a day per person in your family? It definitely takes planning and strategy but it is doable. So, armed with this amazing cookbook and your wits, I challenge YOU to take the <a href="http://frac.org/initiatives/snapfood-stamp-challenges/" target="_blank">Food Stamp Challenge</a>. Do it! For a week, a month, forever. Whatever time you can take to shop like millions of others are doing daily, it will be eye opening. And hopefully, delicious!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247777850930342762.post-18451523589032969822014-11-10T14:23:00.002-06:002014-11-10T14:23:20.962-06:00I have no idea where my kids are.Well, I have some idea where they are but I don't have my eyes on them at the moment. This is a motherly sigh of relief you can only feel out in the country on acres and acres of land. I am so thankful to have it once again. <br />
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You see, I have always thought of myself as sort of a modern day Laura Ingalls Wilder. Anyone who knows me, knows this. And while I do not yearn for the Western prairies the way she did, I do yearn for a simpler life filled with wide open spaces. Both in my heart and on my homestead. I tried being the wanderer she was and when I was single, it was fun. When I was married with two tiny babies, I couldn't hack it. I only wanted to be near my family and the rolling foothills of Dixie. I'm ok with being in one place. I resigned to it much the same way I'm sure Laura resigned to living in Missouri.<br />
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Anyway, for years, I was a stay at home mom and mended, tended, cooked, baked, crafted all the things we needed to have a cozy life. We lived in one old, small house or another. Charming with character would be the realtor words but cramped, dated, not from this century would be the words most everyone else would use. Then I began working full time again and frankly, the tiny house with two kids, who seemed to grow exponentially overnight, was just too much for me. I hated it. I didn't have time to clean or organize. Nor craft or bake. I just wanted a normal house with central heat and AC. Oh, and a dishwasher. And a regular working washer and dryer. So we moved into "the city" to a townhome that had all the luxuries I had missed for some years.<br />
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It took a while but I started to feel something was missing. I couldn't remember the last time I had used my creative side. I was even giving my kids store bought birthday cakes! This is actually something that most people do on the regular and it made my life so easy but in the years before I had always made, from scratch, whatever elaborate concoctions they wanted. It was a thing of joy and I didn't even care about it anymore. I had gotten so far away from who I had always wanted to be. And, lo and behold, the Lord stepped in. Funny how He does that, right?<br />
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The job I had been so dedicated to ended rather suddenly. I had made a huge commitment to them and God made it so I did not have to leave, the job ended because the organization closed. I suddenly had the time I had been needing. Then, an auto immune disorder decided to make itself known in a big way. So now this modern, huge, 2 story house was too much for me. And as it would turn out, our lease was ending. The hubs had a friend with a small house on some land and the price was too good to pass up. We decided to homeschool the kids, move to this one level house in the middle of nowhere, and get back to how we love to live. Simply.<br />
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The change we have seen in ourselves and our kids over the last few weeks has been amazing. The kids and I are able to get so much done each day. I have been able to craft and organize everything into a lovely home again. One where each thing has a place and a purpose. We are much more relaxed. And most of all, my kids are joyful again. Being well rested, not overloaded with homework, not working 8 hours a day at school, having unfettered outside time (where I'm not freaking out about traffic or crazy neighbors) has made them kids again...it is a blessing to me.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247777850930342762.post-79802246241225667582014-11-08T16:08:00.004-06:002014-11-08T16:08:46.541-06:00Tomato TimeI recently watched a video going around Facebook called <a href="http://pomodorotechnique.com/" target="_blank">The Pomodoro Technique</a>. It was a little bit of a revolution. I say little bit because I had a manager named Ann who told me about a similar technique used at the high school she went to. I finally realized where this would useful in my life.<br />
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Pomodoro means tomato in Italian. I have looked for a reason why the developer of this technique chose this name but I can't find one. If you know, please share! Ann the manager called the 20 minute chunks of time modules or mods. I have not come up with a kitchy name for our version of this so, for now, we'll call them blocks. Good enough? Ok.<br />
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I had to come up with a daily schedule for our family of laze about procrastinators. Honestly, we would sludge around in our PJs all day, watch TV, and eat chips if left to our own devices. Plus we had to get cable TV in order to get Internet during our recent move. This is the first time we have had cable since before our children were born. This is a blessing and a curse. Blessing because TV! And we can record shows. And can I say that being able to pause what I want to watch, deal with XYZ kid problem or cook dinner, then come back to what I was doing has cut down on mommy meltdowns a good bit. Curse because TV! There is so much fun stuff to while away the time watching. I mean, educational stuff to watch. Yeahhhh. So back to our schedule...<br />
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We are trying to model our homeschooling after Charlotte Mason's <a href="https://simplycharlottemason.com/what-is-the-charlotte-mason-method/" target="_blank">philosophies </a>so the first half of the days are spent schooling. Then lunch and outdoor time. This will sometimes be educational/experimental but most of the time it will be exploration and good, old fashioned playing. Then the kids have downtime in their rooms. This gives me a chance to have time to myself and the kids can relax after all the brain growing and muscle building of the morning. Then the kids have free time for the computer, video games, or TV. I get to finish projects and start dinner, they get to watch all the cartoons their little eyes can bear. Then when Daddy gets home, we eat, and have family time. We might play games, watch a movie, whatever, it just has to be together. Then we clean up as a family. This way no one person feels like they are doing the bulk of the work and I get to leave the dishes, trash, etc. until this one time. I don't feel like I am constantly cleaning the entire day. Then baths, PJs, and the kids go play in their rooms again. The hubs and I get time together and can watch grown up shows without fussing at the kids. We have a bedtime snack like popcorn and hot chocolate, brush teeth, then winding down. Kids go to bed and I usually stay up a little longer. If the hubs feels like it he will go talk on his ham radio but most nights he goes to bed. <br />
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It's a very detailed but relaxed schedule that is really working well for us. I have told the kids we won't stray from it but if we are sidetracked by appointments or errands, we just jump on schedule when we return home. I don't even stress if we miss out on a school subject. I know we can catch up and the kids don't feel pressured about missed work. No stress for kids or mom? Yes!<br />
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Ok, so where does the tomato come into play? Well, if you watched the linked video, you'll see that tasks are broken down into intervals with rest in between. What we have done is assigned 20 minutes to each school subject. No breaks in between though. This lets me maximize the attention kids at their age are willing and able to give. Plus, I work better if I can just flow from one thing to the next and not break. Another way this works well for us is setting the timer for 10 minute turns at games or apps we are using for a certain subject. No more fighting over who's turn it is or how long someone has been "having fun" while the other is doing a worksheet or reading. <br />
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What techniques do you use to manage school time?<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247777850930342762.post-19503133438979044812014-09-30T15:27:00.000-05:002014-09-30T15:27:40.264-05:00Kids are in Charge: Aldi EditionI decided to have some real world learning today and let the kids shop for their own food. By this, I mean snacks and goodies. I gave them a $15 budget that had to include tax. The only caveat was for every junk food item they got, they had to also buy a healthy, nutritious snack they would actually eat.<br />
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I thought this would be a lesson in Mother Knows Best or See How Far A Dollar Really Goes? NOT FAR. I was pleasantly surprised by the results!<br />
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Sweet Girl tends to be a healthy snacker. She chooses apples or pretzels over snack cakes or candy 9 times out of 10. And she picked much of the same today. What surprised me with her was how diligent she was in adding her total as we walked through the store. She was very frugal and initially came in around $5. However, after I firmly said no to a baby blanket (at Aldi? Yes.) that was on sale, she bought a few more snacks. Final total $8.21. I give her points for her negotiating skills and seeing a way to balance what she "needed" (food) with what she "wanted" (blanket). Being able to sacrifice and stay flexible is a valuable trait.<br />
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Sweet Boy is my junk eater. He would eat cake, brownies, soda, and meat 24/7. He hates fresh produce so I knew this would be a challenge. His negotiating is much more manipulative that his sister's but he is practical. His plan was to get 5 boxes of some NutriGrain bars as his healthy snack and get 5 candy items. I wouldn't let him get the bars though. Hello sugar! So we talked about true nutrition and how fruit filled does not equal fruit. I did commend him on his plan. There were 8 bars a box so they would have lasted a while. He spent much more than his sister but he was very thoughtful after our conversation. His total was $12.56.<br />
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I loved giving almost free reign over how to spend their money. We left the store with much less junk food than expected. It was a solid reminder that if we don't have junk in the house, no one really misses it. Even if they have the freedom to get it themselves!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247777850930342762.post-25292335902877212512014-09-28T07:08:00.001-05:002014-09-28T07:08:45.920-05:00Songbird for WilderI was standing in front of the bathroom mirror, absentmindedly listening to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXU219b3Zdw&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">some nightly news program</a>, when the voice of an angel pierced right through my heart. Her voice was so clear and strained with emotion that I walked, without thinking, to the TV. I sat on the floor as close as I could get to our giant 70's console set. I wanted nothing to break the spell I was under. I listened intently to the newscaster talk about a lovely, lit from within, woman named Eva Cassidy. They played pieces of several songs and I was captivated with every note. Since I was not paying attention to the beginning of the story, I was brought to tears when I realized she had passed away some years earlier after a battle with cancer. This beauty taken too soon hit a particular nerve with me as I was carrying our first child, a son we named Wilder, who would likely never breathe a breath on this earth. He had been diagnosed with a genetic disorder and his chances of life outside of my womb were slim at best. So I sat in the floor, bathed in the light of the giant TV, and cried tears for trascendent beauty and terrible grief.<br />
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I went out the next day and found THE album. The one with a picture of Eva Cassidy backlit by sunshine. It perfectly embodied the angelic sound of her voice. I took it home and listened. Track number 5 was the one I had been meant to hear. Wilder kicked in response to the music and it was his song.<br />
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The words were written for us.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247777850930342762.post-485695294537173742014-09-27T15:33:00.002-05:002014-09-27T15:33:37.813-05:00If we forget our history, we are doomed to repeat it, right? Welcome to Vulcan 2.0Everyone has met <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Flat-Stanley-His-Original-Adventure/dp/0060097914" target="_blank">Flat Stanley</a>, I assume. He's a boy that got flattened and then goes on super adventures via the mail. A friend of ours was just introduced to Flat Stanley and mailed us his ninja Stanley. Yay! Adventures in our great city!<br />
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First of all, we had to write an apology to said friend because that ninja is so stealthy, we cannot find him anywhere in our <strike>mess</strike> house. So Sweet Girl crafted a new Stanley with a hoodie for the fall weather. Crisis? Averted.<br />
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Now on to where the adventures would take place. Let me give a little back story and exposition here. <a href="http://visitvulcan.com/" target="_blank">Vulcan </a>is a 50 ton cast iron statue that looks over the city of Birmingham, AL. We have BEEN to Vulcan once before and it was replete with crying and gnashing of teeth. (Crying and gnashing of teeth is our theme song around here so be prepared to hear it often.) This mama has insane vertigo. I have actually looked over the 2nd floor railing of the mall and gotten dizzy/terrified/nauseated. My Sweet Boy is afraid of heights. He is built like a tank but melts into tears at the THOUGHT of any height. Elevator ride? Tears. Standing on a step ladder? Crying. You get the idea. Sweet Girl is more on the fearless side but she sways with the crowd. <br />
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So whatever possessed us to go to Vulcan the FIRST time is beyond me. It was nighttime. Strike 1. It was so windy. Strike 2. And did you know the walkway around Vulcan is open grate? WHY WOULD ANYONE DO THAT? STRIKE 3. So we look around the park and had a pleasant time We have a major meltdown about the elevator though. My dear husband walks up the many flights of stairs with the kids while I ride the glass elevator alone. The doors to the elevator open, I step out, and I'm stuck! I could not cross the open grate walkway from the elevator to the actual statue. I promise, I tried but that metal walkway was made of flimsy Jello as far as my mind was concerned and the wind was making the whole statue gently lean from one side to the other. Or, at least, that is what my vertigo was telling me. My husband tried to coax me over and it wasn't happenin'. So he starts to walk the kids around the statue. There were several people up there. One woman decided a skirt was a wise fashion choice and it flew up over her head. My kids were shocked and did not notice (for a moment) that they were essentially suspended in the air, high above the ground. THEN THEY NOTICED. Let's just say leaving that place was in no way bittersweet.<br />
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Fast forward a few years and here we are with Flat Stanley in need of some fun. Wednesday morning, I call Sweet Boy into my room to discuss a plan:<br />
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Me: Where should we take Stanley?<br />
Sweet Boy (SB): VULCAN!!!!!<br />
Me: Uh...really?<br />
SB: Yep!<br />
Me: You remember what happened last time right?<br />
SB: What?<br />
Me: The crying and well, it just wasn't very fun. Do you think you could handle it now?<br />
SB: Yes, I'm not afraid.<br />
Me: Even of the open grate walkway that is so high up in the air that it makes you dizzy? (See, I'm trying to scare him because I don't know if I CAN HANDLE IT.)<br />
SB: Yep!<br />
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So we go and it starts out so fun!</div>
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This time we went in the museum and it was a nice little set up. However, my 11 year old son could not keep his hands off of anything. I promise I have taught my children how to behave in public. They just pretend I haven't. The museum walks you through how iron is made, the life of people in the mines, Birmingham history as it relates to Vulcan and the iron industry. It was visual enough and short enough to keep the kids' attention the whole time.</div>
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Then we walk over to the statue. We give the seemingly nice lady our tickets and she proceeded to murder our plans for a happy ascent. I was going to let Sweet Boy walk up the stairs alone. This lady wasn't havin' it. When I finally convinced her that he was old enough to go up the stairs alone, Sweet Girl wanted to go too. Sweet Girl is tiny for her age and the lady did not believe she was 10. Whatever lady. I told Sweet Boy we were going to have to ride the elevator. He welled up immediately. I told ticket lady to excuse us while we had a talk. Once I convinced him to ride, we went up and I forced...FORCED...myself to smile and walk across that death defying grate. I made it to the wall of the statue and the world started melting. I managed to hang on to the side of the building and grab this picture.</div>
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Do you know how hard it is to focus a camera phone from the top of the planet with one hand? It's hard. I asked the kids if they wanted to go around to the city view and they said yes. So we slinked around the walkway with our backs to the wall as if we were perched on the tiniest ledge of the highest building. I made it about 3 steps and told the kids we were leaving. We practically ran down the stairs. </div>
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As we walked out of the building, I looked lovingly at my children and said, "WE ARE NEVER COMING HERE AGAIN!" </div>
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Our adventure with Flat Stanley taught us we are willing to go to the highest heights for a friend and that when we learn a lesson, it needs to stay learned!</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247777850930342762.post-16873051557987596172014-09-22T12:07:00.000-05:002014-09-22T12:07:56.606-05:00Keeping scoreI had to ask myself how to keep up with attendence (required in my state) and how/if/when to record grades (not exactly required in my state). You have to teach certain subjects here but grades are only needed if you want transcripts (which I do).<br />
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So, I google homeschool record keeping and rather randomly choose a <a href="http://www.homeschoolminder.com/" target="_blank">free trial</a> of one. The set up was a skosh overwhelming. Lesson plans? Skills? Grade weighting? I'm not afraid to admit when I'm out of my depth. And here, I am out of my depth. I need to find a really concise, practical online record keeper. What do you use?</div>
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I have decided I will grade my children's work. I have to. I'm a quantifier. I want visible markers for progress. Numbers MEAN something to my brain! I am not going to stress it to my kids though. If they fail a quiz, we'll just go over the material again in a way that sticks. I want the knowledge to be their success, ya know? Not a number on a page.</div>
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Do you grade? Pass/fail? ABC? </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247777850930342762.post-45998115993293459262014-09-19T13:26:00.001-05:002014-09-20T21:07:55.686-05:00We just jumped off the diving board!Today, I am withdrawing my children from public school and beginning our homeschool journey. So jumping off the diving board is the exact metaphor for how I feel. My heart has been yearning to teach my children at home for years. YEARS. I've read about the Waldorf tradition, unschooling, Charlotte Mason, this and that curriculum set and I was always always always gripped with fear. <br />
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Finally, we were faced with a move (that is coming in a few weeks) and I really did not like our options for school. I told my husband I would revisit the homeschool scenario again. And again all the same fears came back. I asked my kids what they thought of the idea. Sweet girl was all for it. More time with Mommy? Yes. Did I mention she is 10? Did I mention she has spent all those years trying to resume her living arrangement prior to birth? Ok. So Mommy's baby was a no brainer. Sweet boy was a different story. He is 11 and he is my go to for the God's honest truth. Does this make me look fat? Yes and your hair looks awful. How does that dinner taste? Like it has too much salt and it looks like cat food. He tempers this brutal honesty with a well meaning heart of gold, so when I want real answers, I ask him. "How would you like to be homeschooled?" Pause. Sweet boy replies,"Could you really give me a quality education since you and Daddy didn't go to college?" Gee thanks for hitting the overwhelming fear I have right on the head!</div>
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I read some more articles and looked at more sites and then I did what you do when you have no other foreseeable options. I prayed. Ugly crying, hand raising, thanking the Lord for all His glory kind of praying. And like <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=WffOAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT83&lpg=PT83&dq=laura+ingalls+wilder+praying+with+reverend+alden&source=bl&ots=bA_yZYdsla&sig=K0mTJfTaaaHPxPFsranrX_uLTkQ&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1HIcVI-cLsOjyATL-ILQBA&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=laura%20ingalls%20wilder%20praying%20with%20reverend%20alden&f=false" target="_blank">Laura Ingalls Wilder described the quietness of a prayer spoken by Reverend Alden</a>, I felt the coolness of peace wash over me. All I had to do was start at step one.</div>
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I researched several cover schools but thought I should wait to enroll when it was closer to our move. Then this morning, as I bemoaned the fact that I had to wake up a very cranky Sweet Girl, I found a school that met our needs. It also occurred to me in a divine flash...I AM IN CONTROL OF OUR SCHOOL DECISIONS. Holy smokes! You mean, I could go ahead and enroll them in this new school and just start teaching them? You know the Bible <a href="http://biblehub.com/kjv/acts/9.htm" target="_blank">verse </a>where Saul is converted and scales fell from his eyes? That is what I felt like (maybe not THAT dramatic). It was such a revelation to me and again, the coolness of peace comforted me.</div>
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So here we go...off the diving board into the deep end. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247777850930342762.post-11566781490561003882011-03-06T20:09:00.001-06:002011-03-06T20:11:47.606-06:00I didn't think 35 was that old until this weekend.I thought 35 was the new 25 or something equally fabulous. When I was 25 I was a lot lighter, newly married and the world was my oyster. Now that I am 35, I am heavier, a DECADE into being married and truth be told, I don't really care for oysters. So there. However, I never really felt my age. Any time anyone asked me how old I was or what year I was born in, I would respond but in this sorta out of body detached kind of way. In my mind, my mom is 35. I am still dewy skinned and rosy cheeked. (Just because it's from exertion doesn't matter!)<br />
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So this weekend I did two things that showed me how "not young" I am.<br />
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1) I played Kinect with a few family members and a few strangers. Not only was it exhausting but it was a real kick in the pants too. Mainly because I was the only one that exposed herself during the game. Yes, I jumped up with such excitement that my shirt nearly went over my head. Luckily, it stopped just before the bra. And while all of this seems like a micro-second faux pas, what I haven't yet told you is that the Kinect TAKES PICTURES OF YOU WHILE PLAYING. So at the end of the game it flashed the picture on the giant TV screen for everyone to see. One woman laughed so hard I wanted the floor to swallow me whole. I guess that really has more to do with my pride than my not being so young anymore but my shoulder did really hurt this morning. <br />
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2) I danced with my daughter and nearly ruptured her spleen and almost broke my arm. Even typing is making my elbow throb. This was a double whammy of old age. No balance and no resilience. I fell over backwards because of the balance issue. I landed on my poor little daughter. And because I am no longer a child whose bones haven't even finished fusing, I will probably feel this injury for DAYS to come. My back hurts, my arm is partially numb and it took me a full minute to get up off the floor. <br />
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I feel like I have skipped being my mother and gone straight onto being my grandmother. This sucks to no end and I am going to do something about it. What, exactly, remains to be seen. So wish me luck and send some Ben-Gay my way. Address it to the nursing home. Thanks.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247777850930342762.post-51761965019006562642011-03-01T20:44:00.001-06:002011-03-01T20:52:45.643-06:00The next chapter...Long time no blog Amanda. Geez what gives? Well, I have gone back to work. I cannot say in one blog post how much I love my job. It is part time, meaning I still take my kids to school and pick them up every afternoon. I work for an organization that is very dear to my heart. I work with people that I love and respect. Plus I have a sunny little office that is a slice of organizational heaven. That is the upside.<br />
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The downside is that I have little time for my bloggin' and craftin'. I have, however, set up a great new crafting station in my house. I was severely impeding my family's ability to have dinner because our kitchen table was covered with glitter and paper scraps. My motivation for getting a desk just for me was this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aIwnkfkSzpA/TW2tBcnec4I/AAAAAAAAAJI/H7SYeZqNeNw/s1600/book+binder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aIwnkfkSzpA/TW2tBcnec4I/AAAAAAAAAJI/H7SYeZqNeNw/s200/book+binder.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>This is the YourStory thermal book binder and laminator. Word. I have laminated everything but the cat since getting this thing. I have not bound any books yet, mainly because I have been trying to get some pages together that are "book worthy". What really grabbed my attention about this gadget was a demo I saw on some PBS craft show. The woman had taken her child's hand written/drawn story and bound it. It was adorable and a true keepsake. Avery and Alden have come up with some real beauties in the story department. I can't wait to start my own library.<br />
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Oh and I finally broke down and got a printer. It was a whopping $39 and I have already used almost all the ink that came with it. Uh, did I mention we got it two days ago? I am completely ashamed but I have been saving up printables for 6 months just for this occasion. And since I don't do anything half assed, I started printing everything the minute my husband finished installing it. Now I have more note cards than I know what to do with. I also have a copy of Avery's hand and a pony named Friday. (She waited until I was taking a shower to sneak those in).<br />
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I know you will be waiting on pins and needles for my next post. I will try for the sake of your bottom end not to wait so long until the next post!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247777850930342762.post-73824404373098011812011-02-15T13:04:00.001-06:002011-02-15T13:04:56.772-06:00Valentine’s Day Recap<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbe82jXnEpPXhrYj8EZdjVmL9e_vR96b0C2kokhCEXX82rVTLrZRLTL-EOljPcly8zVkWaM2OXwblEG3zagL85O2fnBdnCI7Utx39xGSy9aZ-QmVdZegYtEfJitLq68AA2y1zkQspnBWY/s1600-h/cupcake%5B15%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="cupcake" border="0" alt="cupcake" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_KOxv4FbRHDY/TVrOVmDygaI/AAAAAAAAAJE/Q1-4AnxsV38/cupcake_thumb%5B13%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="260" height="200"></a>Sunday we tried to go out to eat as a family to what I thought was going to be a semi-dressy Italian restaurant. I called ahead of time to see if they took reservations. They did! So I made one for all four of us at 6pm. Since this was turning out to be fancy, we dressed fancy. Alden was in his new shirt and tie, Avery wore a skort (that’s a big deal), I wore my snazzy new red sweater and Josh wore actual slacks. And with much anticipation, we were off to our family Valentine’s dinner.</p> <p>We arrived to find a brightly lit super casual pizza joint. The woman that greeted us at the door was wearing a disheveled ponytail, untucked polo shirt and jeans. I told her we had a reservation and she looked at my quizzically and said, “We don’t take reservations.” Turns out her dad (the owner) just took my reservation. But they don’t actually TAKE reservations. At this place, you order your food at the cash register and pay for it before they bring it to the table. FINE. WHATEVER. We were there, dressed up in our Sunday best. So we decided to make the best of it. We sat in a booth…by the way did I mention how bright it was in that place? My retinas are still burning. Josh took everyone’s order and went back to the cash register. He promptly returned with our Styrofoam cups and my saran wrapped side salad and we waited for our food.</p> <p>And let’s just say that things went downhill from there. The food was pricey. The service was awful. Our server brought our appetizers, salads and entrees within minutes of one another. Then made us wait for 15 minutes to deliver our desserts. AND I had to saw through my veal parm with a knife. Oh well…</p> <p>When we got home that night, I had the kids get everything together for the next day. Backpacks…check. School clothes…check. Valentine’s for the parties…. This is when my son decided to announce that he had ALREADY taken his Valentine’s to school last week and handed them out. WHAT?!?! So there I am at 9 pm trying to wrangle some goodies for the party out of thin air. I will say this. I am a magician. I managed to throw together 18 prizes complete with name tags. Proved to my husband that my box of flotsam IS actually useful. All of this drama and it’s not even Valentine’s day yet.</p> <p>Monday I awoke to not presents or notes or anything. If you know my husband, you know this is par for the course. He is the most caring, loving, genuine person I have ever known but his gift giving prowess is, well, not his forte. But when I got home that evening, he had gotten me a pot of tulips. And not just any tulips, but some that were the most lovely shade of violet. I have never seen any that color before. Plus he bought me a bag of Dove chocolate. Not wrapped, just the bag. He totally cracks me up. I can never tell anyone what he got me for this past birthday without laughing hysterically. Want to know what it was? A universal remote. A massaging pillow that felt like it was really, really mad at me. Some headphones (which I did need). And a yoga DVD (it’s been around 5 years since I last did yoga).</p> <p>All that being said about his gift giving, I love him dearly. I don’t need any special day to remind me of that. And after 10 years of being with him, I will take him the way he is, especially since he takes me the way I am!</p> <p>Oh and just as a PS to this whole Valentine’s drama, I asked Alden if his friends liked the goody bags I made. He said that he had the best ones in his class. Then told me that he shouted at the top of his voice in class, “ALDEN BURKE STRIKES AGAIN!” </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247777850930342762.post-40939009754466003492011-01-17T13:47:00.001-06:002011-01-17T13:47:24.114-06:00Uninspired winter blah’s<p>I am feeling so uninspired these days. I sat down last night to whip up some Valentine cards and most of them are still sitting on my table unfinished. I just couldn’t seem to get the juices flowing. So I’ve resorted to stealing other people’s ideas and doing them myself. Here are a few I’ve stolen:</p> <p>1) <a href="http://www.spottedcanary.com/Paper_Crafting/Matching_File_Folders.htm" target="_blank">Scrapbook paper covered manila folders</a>. I made some of these and they are GORGEOUS. I cannot, however, show the pictures because they are gifts for people that may very well read this post. So I will show you the ones from the <a href="http://www.spottedcanary.com" target="_blank">Spotted Canary</a> (ahem, the place I stole the idea from).</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_KOxv4FbRHDY/TTScup4O7FI/AAAAAAAAAIE/LMj2Vq_Ktc0/s1600-h/folder%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="folder" border="0" alt="folder" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_KOxv4FbRHDY/TTScvENUK6I/AAAAAAAAAII/EQNvvshTzGY/folder_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="291" height="284"></a></p> <p>2) On the same episode that showed the file folders, they also made some <a href="http://www.spottedcanary.com/Paper_Crafting/Clips_for_Dad%E2%80%99s_Office.htm" target="_blank">paper covered binder clips</a>. But the twist was they used them as photo holders! She took a huge binder clip, covered it in coordinating paper, made a little photo mat with coordinating paper and voila…unique handmade photo “frame”.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_KOxv4FbRHDY/TTScvrI9iGI/AAAAAAAAAIM/G0WQtOuExs8/s1600-h/clips%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="clips" border="0" alt="clips" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_KOxv4FbRHDY/TTScwI7UVkI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/gAtE8Hbu3h4/clips_thumb%5B10%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="266" height="305"></a> </p> <p></p> <p>3) This has nothing to do with awesome office supplies. This has to do with Valentine’s day. I need to make some great Valentine’s for my kids to give to their friends. I wanted it to be easy, kid friendly (they are free labor after all) and cheap. So I found <a href="http://www.skiptomylou.org/2011/01/12/paper-baking-cup-flower-valentines/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+skiptomyloublog+(Skip+To+My+Lou)" target="_blank">cupcake liner/lollipop flowers</a>. This is from <a href="www.skiptomylou.org" target="_blank">Skip to My Lou</a>. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_KOxv4FbRHDY/TTScwgqZBcI/AAAAAAAAAIU/VKLoGVUIRAI/s1600-h/muffin-paper-flowers%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="muffin-paper-flowers" border="0" alt="muffin-paper-flowers" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_KOxv4FbRHDY/TTScxDrm7lI/AAAAAAAAAIY/Gpfnwsp4-rg/muffin-paper-flowers_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="260" height="204"></a> </p> <p>4) I also found an idea for <a href="http://www.skiptomylou.org/2009/01/21/candy-cane-hearts/" target="_blank">candy cane heart lollipops</a> from Cindy at <a href="http://www.skiptomylou.org" target="_blank">Skip to My Lou</a>. But they involved melting in the oven and that sounded complicated for my poor brain. I seriously envisioned candy cane goo running all over my oven. So I found <a href="http://www.pleasant-home.com/2011/01/valentine-candy-cane-lollipops.html" target="_blank">candy cane hearts</a> from <a href="http://www.pleasant-home.com" target="_blank">Pleasant Home</a> that only involved melting white chocolate. Possibly as challenging but hopefully I’ve learned my lessons about melting chocolate. And since I bought some fruity, colorful mini candy canes on clearance the week after Christmas, this will be a great way to use them.</p> <p>melting candy canes…<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_KOxv4FbRHDY/TTScxhCyhnI/AAAAAAAAAIc/ohM2wRhZueA/s1600-h/candy-cane-heart%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="candy-cane-heart" border="0" alt="candy-cane-heart" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_KOxv4FbRHDY/TTScyDCsQvI/AAAAAAAAAIg/5WHgu9e9niU/candy-cane-heart_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="200" height="260"></a> </p> <p></p> <blockquote> <p>or melting chocolate…<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_KOxv4FbRHDY/TTScyQgJqZI/AAAAAAAAAIk/OKcY6-FFHyY/s1600-h/v%20day%20suckers%20and%20stickers%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="v day suckers and stickers" border="0" alt="v day suckers and stickers" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_KOxv4FbRHDY/TTScyt5XS9I/AAAAAAAAAIo/eDNlCqneyTo/v%20day%20suckers%20and%20stickers_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" height="260"></a> your choice.</p></blockquote> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>I hope that you find inspiration in these ideas. I hope to post pictures of my versions of these soon. And I also hope to have some great ideas of my own soon. The internet is such a dangerous crafting crutch. LOL!</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247777850930342762.post-44493145306100020032011-01-14T09:37:00.000-06:002011-01-14T09:37:40.270-06:00The most adorable printable playsetsI found the cutest playsets that you can print out for your budding baker, pizza maker or breakfast in bed chef! They are from the illustrator Tricia-Rennea and could not be more adorable. You can head on over to her blog, <a href="http://triciarennea.blogspot.com/">Trillistrations</a> and see all her amazing work. You will need to email her for the pdf files and I am sure she is getting tons of emails for these, so be patient! <br />
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Since my daughter is young enough to enjoy a playset I think I will be using them for just that purpose. I saw a suggestion though to use them as gift cards. Wouldn't that be great? Give a neighbor or new parents a make-your-own pizza basket with that pizza as the card! You would be such a hit.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8L3iR0nwQKwRBvbLuW-Xx5FI-ZsRkiGyFnrCdO6SHO-DotXZ9lTP4_Up3xlDzrf-TrFK0ZIIxW-bpRqkVEMBqp2loOClASoYk6VxednZP_a5M6wWc1Uj7NNkA3X-IXVVixlkl5g9Q1Q/s1600/cookiesset.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8L3iR0nwQKwRBvbLuW-Xx5FI-ZsRkiGyFnrCdO6SHO-DotXZ9lTP4_Up3xlDzrf-TrFK0ZIIxW-bpRqkVEMBqp2loOClASoYk6VxednZP_a5M6wWc1Uj7NNkA3X-IXVVixlkl5g9Q1Q/s200/cookiesset.PNG" width="154" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj675-F6SnLj0qh-enG0zsFQsHXsya7HNa4MZq6JBIW-EzVhpjkvAgujjTmDbY7o9puHpnvnAVs0wFVuMfot-HABNeo2YAlXxVQM2v8tg-ZZ2gcCxiALYztJ64biNeUw4IXl7Bq8TEO2gQ/s1600/pizzaset.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj675-F6SnLj0qh-enG0zsFQsHXsya7HNa4MZq6JBIW-EzVhpjkvAgujjTmDbY7o9puHpnvnAVs0wFVuMfot-HABNeo2YAlXxVQM2v8tg-ZZ2gcCxiALYztJ64biNeUw4IXl7Bq8TEO2gQ/s200/pizzaset.PNG" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz10lL84t0b_zazhIK9vugiCNw9vjmMWFUvw8hyphenhyphenG0CjszzMR5_rwdWdB1fOYL4femOnia_Bnjr10AKNUcEF0RWVU0GArulMY9Nzmbjj0qJal3NG6W9Dcivs0jbe86nt0dRGJ7L66x6QHQ/s1600/breakfastad.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz10lL84t0b_zazhIK9vugiCNw9vjmMWFUvw8hyphenhyphenG0CjszzMR5_rwdWdB1fOYL4femOnia_Bnjr10AKNUcEF0RWVU0GArulMY9Nzmbjj0qJal3NG6W9Dcivs0jbe86nt0dRGJ7L66x6QHQ/s200/breakfastad.PNG" width="154" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247777850930342762.post-24827007092128534562011-01-11T14:05:00.001-06:002011-01-11T14:05:40.676-06:00Birthday Business<p>Ok, so I just posted about not spending money and here I am posting about my son’s birthday party. Which will surely involve spending scads of money on supplies, decor and cake. Right? Well, I think I have this one beat. I am after all very thrifty and I can make fondant from scratch. Here is the proof:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANL5hmdu3o2UevK0KPzCwkRj00uxL-ceY5g8ZAnrW7fHMCyYmmKMKVQ0AdIRHR4AtTaXC3dK9vtPICniaecQK0yTYgG0V5FTuC5Ry-D8rZDBlB4AsgXg28ocSSggrLkFSj2RAhkvKjME/s1600-h/cake7%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="cake7" border="0" alt="cake7" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_KOxv4FbRHDY/TSy4BYyGMYI/AAAAAAAAAHo/VkKWtSvFTTE/cake7_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180"></a>Well, I didn’t make the colored fondant but I did make the white from scratch. That was a mess. Have you ever done that before? If so, why didn’t you tell me that kneading molten lava melted marshmallows and 18 tons of powdered sugar together “until smooth” would be such a farkin’ mess? Anyway, that was soooo last year. </p> <p>Actually, this year we are forgoing the traditional party. Instead we are taking a friend or two to the McWane center. I think that will involve a lunch out and a hot fudge sundae. And since we have a McWane membership this year, the cost will be low. AND…omg…AND this membership lets us get into other museums around the country for free so we are also going to the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville. I think Alden about died when I told him that. He is already saving money for space camp (though he has a few years until he can go). He hasn’t even seen the rockin’ 80’s movie, Space Camp. I cannot wait until he’s old enough for that. It will be a bonding moment for us, I just know. So that is TWO adventures for the price of none. Besides gas. And food. Well, whatever, it’ll be really, really cheap.</p> <p>But since I am a bargain hunter and I always want to get something for nothing, I found a few places that will give me just that, all in the name of Birthdays.</p> <p>* <a href="http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/dap_10151_10104_DAP_BirthdayClubAbout" target="_blank">Kmart</a> has a birthday club. The closest Kmart to me is not very close but for a $5 gift card, I can drive the extra miles. Yes, that is right. Sign your kid up for the Kmart Birthday Club and your child gets a $5 gift card plus some kind of fun pack. I have no idea how good any of this is but I signed my kids up anyway.</p> <p>* <a href="http://www.firehousesubs.com/Birthday.aspx" target="_blank">Firehouse Subs</a> will give you a free sub on your birthday. You don’t even have to sign up for anything. Just show up on the day with your ID. Obviously, this will be a pain for kids but Mom’s and Dad’s need some love too. I wish I would have known on my birthday :(</p> <p>* <a href="http://www.jasonsdeli.com/subscription" target="_blank">Jason’s Deli</a> will give you a $5 gift card on your birthday. Just subscribe to their newsletter. That means you could get a Mediterranean wrap for $0.99. Or their salad bar for $1.99. And since they have free ice cream and bread and stuff like that, you could really make that $5 into a meal. I love that place.</p> <p>* Burger King has <a href="http://www.clubbk.com/" target="_blank">Club BK</a> for online play and they will send you a coupon for a free kids meal when a parent creates an account. They classified my soon to be 8 year old as a tween and this upsets me. He is still a child Burger King, let’s just get that straight. Anyway, a free kids meal is a free kids meal.</p> <p>If you need a little inspiration for your kid’s birthday party, I really have to suggest the blog from <a href="http://www.hostessblog.com/" target="_blank">Hostess with the Mostess</a>. She is beyond amazing. She does celebrity parties, for Pete's sake. But a lot of the things she does are not very costly. Honestly, if you took her ideas to the dollar store, you could probably pull off a lot of it. AND she has tons of free printables. Same with <a href="http://tomkatstudio.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The TomKat Studio</a>. Or for the low, low price of $10 you could get an entire printable birthday party collection from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/PartiesByHardie" target="_blank">Parties by Hardie</a>. She will even customize it for an extra charge. You just need some cardstock, a printer and scissors. How cute is this?</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_KOxv4FbRHDY/TSy4CDZVrvI/AAAAAAAAAHs/3j3BoAr7T84/s1600-h/party1%5B13%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="party1" border="0" alt="party1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_KOxv4FbRHDY/TSy4CVlbrqI/AAAAAAAAAHw/tYC_GtaZ-C0/party1_thumb%5B11%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="276" height="323"></a> or this?</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_KOxv4FbRHDY/TSy4DbDb_WI/AAAAAAAAAH0/dmnxCEhtMQo/s1600-h/party2%5B10%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="party2" border="0" alt="party2" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_KOxv4FbRHDY/TSy4D-1JLEI/AAAAAAAAAH4/Q7UC6wKofkQ/party2_thumb%5B8%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="270" height="312"></a> </p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>As far as cake goes, this is a very personal choice to me. If it’s my birthday cake, it needs to be <strike>good</strike> great. So that means spending $30 or so. For my kids, this means baking a cake in the color they have chosen and decorating it in the theme. That cake up there that I made for Alden was lemon cake on the top and chocolate on the bottom. Seriously. This cake (below) that I made for Avery was pink on the inside. She didn’t even request strawberry, it just had to be pink inside. With blue frosting and yellow polka dots. I think the cost for each of the cakes I made was $10. Granted I could have bought a dozen cupcakes from Wal-Mart for that but then I would not have gotten all the glory! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQaUV3pwbNP-vAAYQqDaKpAF4dSG8NA9oQdKRghY7khyphenhyphen1eCCZW9qzQG7ui1fPWqeYwWn9wv7jfy-SpSo5g5a63GTp9K-QukVCcSfQncWLesapc6WKitJGw9kDAFFD9ppKs6Jwcrz0jWM/s1600-h/averycake%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="averycake" border="0" alt="averycake" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_KOxv4FbRHDY/TSy4E7ExdGI/AAAAAAAAAIA/S_8mEluX3L8/averycake_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="222" height="240"></a> </p> <p>Now that I am looking back over all this fun stuff, I am kind of sad Alden has chosen a non traditional celebration. Oh well. Avery’s birthday is in May and she has already decided what kind of party she would like. Strawberry Shortcake. Honestly, the 7 year old inside me is ecstatic!</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0