You Are NOT Going to Believe This - VIKING GIVEAWAY!

Guess who contacted me?     You will never guess so I won't make you!

Can you believe it?   THE Viking Cooking School.    You know.   The one where Little Guy and I did this...

 

and this....

 

and learned to make a meal like this....

Oh yes.    That Viking Cooking School.     

They have given me a FREE GIVEAWAY for YOU!   

Let me say that again...

Viking Cooking School has generously given me a FREE GIVEAWAY

and it is mine... I mean.... will be one of YOURS!

And seriously, I could not be more excited to be able to

share something so amazing with you... my friends!

 Viking Cooking School has given me a gift certificate 

for a hands-on cooking class valued at $99.

What do you have to do to enter?

Leave a comment below for EACH of the following things that you do:

1.    Become a fan of Viking Cooking School on Facebook

2.   Tweet about the Giveaway (leave your Twitter account name in the comment section)

3.   Suggest your friends become fans of Viking Cooking School   (link to suggest on the Viking Cooking School fan page)

4.   Make a post about this giveaway on your blog  (leave a direct link to your post)

5.    Go to the Viking Cooking School website and tell me which cooking class you would like to take!

Five ways, Five comments, Five entries to this GREAT contest!      

This contest will end at 6:00 p.m. on March 12.    

Homeschooling for the Rest of Us

Overwhelmed?

Wonder how others do it all?

Not sure you're cut out for homeschooling?

It's time to break a myth: Homeschooling families aren't perfect. In fact, real-life families like yours can be--and are--successful homeschoolers! That's the life message of Sonya Haskins, who is dedicated to helping everyday families meet the challenges of home education and enjoy its countless benefits.

In this practical, encouraging guide, Haskins shares tried and true ideas for how to:

*Discover a realistic vision of homeschooling for your family
*Help your child get excited about learning
*Find a routine that fits your goals and lifestyle
*Nurture a biblical worldview in your child's heart and mind
*And much more

Whether you are already homeschooling or just considering it, this book offers the support, answers, and flexible strategies to help you succeed.


Book Review
We are almost through with our first year of homeschooling.     "They" say that the first year is the hardest.    I am praying that is the truth because I feel like I must have been doing about everything wrong.     We have changed our schedule about three times trying to find one that fits our family.    We changed our math program halfway through the year because the boys just weren't learning what they needed.     We got involved with our co-op only to realize that you could be involved every day of the week if you weren't careful. 

Finding Sonya Haskins' book was such a welcome drink of water for this homeschooling newbie.     I really appreciated the fact that she does not hold up her family as the standard to follow as the model.    She encourages you to find what works for your family.     She gives you encouragement and suggestions in the area of schedules, budget, academics, dealing with nosy friends and family, issues specific to homeschooling, socialization, and addressing the needs of each child.   

While I can see this book as being a valuable resource for someone whether they are thinking about homeschooling, a newbie or a seasoned homeschooler.     I am especially glad to receive this as a newbie about to embark on our second year.      It will definitely help me smooth some of the rough edges and make what has been an enjoyable experience something even more exciting for our entire family.

In addition to Sonya's book, I intend to add her website (www.thehomeschooladvocate.com) to my RSS reader!

This book provided for review by Bethany House Publishers.

Shocked and Honored - Top 100

Yesterday I received an email from Internet Devotions Cafe that truly shocked me.     It was congratulating me for being one of the Top 100 Christian Women's Blogs for 2009.    Me?   Are you kidding?

If you had said Stretch Marks, B His Girl, A Pilgrim's Project, or (in)courage, I would have said "Of course!", but to be listed among these amazing blogs is simply humbling.

According to the Internet Devotions Cafe, it was readers who made the nominations.     Whoever you were...thank you.    I thank you for reading my blog.     I thank you for thinking I am worthy to be included in such a list as "Top 100 Christian Women's Blogs".... for 2009 or any year.     To honor my Jesus is my goal on my blog and in every area of my life.


I will proudly add this badge to my sidebar.    Thank you, Internet Cafe,  Inspired Hearts Media., and Amy Bayliss.

  

What Is A Typical Day Like?

Kelly's Korner made a challenge for bloggers to post a typical "day in the life".     I kind of laughed at the word "typical".      Does any mom have a typical day?

6:15   Alarm goes off for hubs -- the first time
7:00   Hubs wakes me up to let me know he is going to work
7:15   Get out the bed and start the coffee maker and kettle for hot water.     Do a quick check of my email.
7:30   Take hot chocolate to the boys.   Little Guy is in the living room and Big Guy is still asleep.
7:45   Convince boys to get their breakfast and morning routine done (dressed, beds, teeth, unload dishwasher, laundry, etc...)
8:30   Start homeschool with logic and Bible
9:15 - 10:15   Individual time with Little Guy
10:15 - 11:15  Individual time with Big Guy
11:15   Time for me to do housework, help boys with other school work or catch up on writing book reviews
12:15    Lunch
1:00   P.E.
2:00  A couple of afternoons of running out for P.E. class, sign language class, running to the grocery store, trips to the library, art class and volunteer service projects.
2:45   If we are home, friends from the neighborhood start coming over.    I can check my computer and post my blog at this point.
3:00     Try to get something accomplished in the housework department
4:30     Announce that Dad will be coming home soon so we can do the "Ten Minute Tidy".    This means cleaning up living room, kitchen and making sure all unnecessary lights are turned off (one of Dad's pet peeves).
***A couple of times of week we leave at this time for baseball practice, church or swim.
5:00     Start supper
6:30     Supper and family time
8:30     Family devotional and prayer time
9:00     Lights out for Little Guy/I take time to review our schedule for the next day as well as review our lesson plans.

10:00   Lights out for Big Guy

10:00   I go to bed so I can read.
10:30   Lights out for me!

Now that I look at that list I think, why aren't I getting  more done, but some days can get crazy which is why I probably look something like this when hubs gets home.    Attractive isn't it?

Isaac Newton

Book Description
Christian Encounters, a series of biographies from Thomas Nelson Publishers, highlights important lives from all ages and areas of the Church. Some are familiar faces. Others are unexpected guests. But all, through their relationships, struggles, prayers, and desires, uniquely illuminate our shared experience.

He built the first reflecting telescope, authored the book that became the basis for classical mechanics, and wrote the three laws of motion—and that’s just a fraction of Sir Isaac Newton’s achievements. Despite the fact that he’s considered by many to be the most influential scientist in history, he actually wrote more about his Christian faith than he did about natural science. This Christian Encounters biography illuminates Newton’s beliefs and how they shaped his view of the world he so desired to understand.

Book Review
If you say "Law of Motion", law of gravity or calculus, you automatically think of Isaac Newton.    However, there are things about Newton that we were never taught, but just as important.     

My son's science curriculum this year has focused on great mathematicians and scientists.     We have done a great deal of studying about Isaac Newton so when BookSneeze offered this book as part of the Christian Encounters series I was excited to receive it.  

Learning about the science of Newton is one thing, but learning about the faith and Biblical foundations on which his science and his life is built is another.     Newton lived during 17th century and he questioned some of the Church of England's teachings.     He wasn't sure that he agreed with their Trinitarian view.     Did he believe in God?     Did he believe in Jesus and his divinity?    Yes.    But for some reason he couldn't see them as the three in one Godhead.

Mitch Stokes wrote a fascinating book about Newton.   Not just his science, but his religious beliefs which helped develop his science.     I can't wait to add this to our library as well as other from the Christian Encounters series.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I’d like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers for providing me this Book free as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Follow the Sun

Despite the winter cold, our cat has developed a very specific routine for enjoying as much sunshine as possible.       There are four large windows in our family room that allows in a great deal of light.   Early in the morning the sunshine comes in and shines closest to the piano.      That is where she starts her morning nap.    When the sun moves and she loses her warmth she will get up stretch and move over to find the warmth where the sun has settled on the rug.         Once again the sun will move and she will lazily stretch and find her spot stretched out along the edge of the couch.   

The last couple of days as I have watched Kit Kat in her sunshine routine, it has reminded me of the D.C. Talk song that the boys love so much.

"I want to be in the light.

As you are in the light.

I wanna shine like the stars in the heavens.

Oh, lord be my light and be my salvation

Cause all I want is to be in the light

All I want is to be in the light."

You know, I guess if God can use Balaam's donkey (Numbers 22) then He can use my cat to speak to me to this morning.

Still No "Ace"

Little Guy and I finished our cake decorating class.    We had a blast despite the pounds of icing that I had to make in that  month long period.       Decorating the cakes was nothing compared to trying to keep up with making all the types of icing we had to have for each class.     For that reason alone I am kind of glad that we are finished.

We had to make a cake for our "final".     Little Guy and I were allowed to make our cake together.     We had to make a cake that was two layers, iced in the middle.   Flat on the top (some people really struggled with this).      It had to have at least four icing colors and use at least four techniques.      

Our cake looks simple, but it took us almost two hours to complete.    Both Little Guy and I loved our bumble bee and hated our butterfly.    Live and learn.    

For now we are celebrating the end of our class.... with CAKE!

Held in the Heartland

The Richland library hosted a traveling bus-eum teaching on the German POW's that were held here from 1943-1946.      My cousin is a huge history buff and wrote me an email to invite the boys down to see it.   

In Mississippi alone there were four main POW camps.    Below is a picture of the map which was posted in the front of the bus.    The squares designate the main base camps and the circles designate the branch camps.   The main camps were in Hattiesburg (at what is now Camp Shelby), Clinton, McCain and Como.    There were more than 20,000 Germans held here in Mississippi.

I am not sure what you think of when you think of a POW camp, but you should erase all those thoughts.    Mississippians have a reputations for southern hospitality and they extended this to these POW's despite the fact that they were our "enemy".     Families around town would hire the POW's to help out on their local farms.     Their own sons had gone off to war and they desperately needed help with their farms.     Families became attached to these young men who were as homesick for their families as these families were lonely for their sons.      POWs were invited to homes for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.    

If the men were willing to work they were paid 80 cents to put into their kanteen.     POWs would use this money to buy cokes and even slip into town to watch an occasional movie and then slip back into their camps.

POWs organized bands, soccer teams, orchestras, theater groups and art circles.    Many beautiful gifts were given to members of the families that they became attached to while here.

I loved this postcard which was drawn showing "Silent Night"

Camp Clinton is particularly significant compared to other POW camps in the country. First, the camp's prisoners provided the work during the initial, and more tedious, phases of construction of the Mississippi River Basin Model.  Their work, which is valued at several million dollars, allowed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to complete their flood control project. In the decades after the Basin Model's completion, data collected during tests helped to save billions of dollars in property damage. Second, a special compound constructed at Camp Clinton was where all but a few of the Germany generals held in the United States were confined. Out of nearly forty generals in American captivity, thirty-five (and one admiral) were at one time or another at Camp Clinton. There was no other facility for German generals.

Members of the Clinton POW camp still have a reunion in Germany.   They call themselves the Clinton family.    

These POW camps were created shortly after the Geneva Convention was signed and they certainly honored the very spirit and hopes of that Convention.     

Dancing With My Father

The reality of living in a broken, fallen world can leave women feeling overcome by fear, guilt, and weariness. Many develop “sawdust souls,” numb to any sense of joy.

In this warm and wise book, author Sally Clarkson invites readers to take God’s hand and let Him lead them into a life of anticipation, passion, and purpose. With the voice of a trusted mentor, she reveals how, by getting in tune with the rhythm of God’s presence, women can nurture an inner attitude of anticipation and celebration even in the stressful seasons of life.

Through rich biblical insights woven with real-life stories, women will be inspired to recapture a spirit of joy as they follow God’s lead on the dance floor of life.



Book Review:

Did you ever dance on your Daddy's feet when you were little?    That is the first image that popped into my mind when I saw the title of this book, Dancing with My Father.     As a little girl, it was always complete bliss to stand on my Daddy's shoes while he spun me around.      How great would it be to experience this type of day to day bliss in a relationship with God?     Not only is it possible, it is what God desires for us.

Every day there are struggles, problems, bills, troubled relationships and difficult people.     How do you maintain that kind of joy with God in the middle of all of that?    The chapters help lead you through that discovery:    a heart that dances, reveling in God's melody of joy, letting go to take God's hand, listening for the music of God's voice and more.       Each chapter ends with questions that will help these applications to your life.

If you are feeling weighted down, reading each chapter of this book can be like taking the bricks of weight off your shoulders and allowing yourself to replace it with God's grace and joy.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Mother Daughter Duet

When a daughter is born, her mother has a thousand hopes and dreams for her, especially that they will be best friends one day.

Unfortunately, even the best of intentions can go awry. There are so many challenges on the journey to adult friendship that the reality is fraught with friction and frustration. But a harmonious relationship is possible.

Award-winning author Cheri Fuller and her daughter, Ali Plum, have been there and have discovered the keys to a healthy relationship. In Mother-Daughter Duet they share their story—each from her own perspective—in which they have experienced distance and tension, growth and challenge, and, ultimately, acceptance and harmony. Filled with personal anecdotes and based on several basic principles (letting go; listening; respect; setting boundaries; and more), Mother-Daughter Duet helps moms repair the breach so that daughters want to draw close.

The mother-daughter dynamic is intense, personal, complex, and unique. But mothers and daughters can achieve mutual respect and learn to celebrate their differences when they learn the two-part harmony of the mother-daughter duet.

 Book Review:

Can you think of anything more complicated than the mother/daughter relationship?    It is like riding a rollercoaster that you can't get off.     Parts of it leave you screaming, "Let me off!"  

Cheri Fuller and her daughter, Ali, have certainly experienced this roller coaster in their relationship as mother/daughter.     With an acknowledgement that there are two sides to every story and everyone has their own story, Cheri and Ali teamed up to write their Mother-Daughter Duet.      Their hope was to not only explore their own relationship, but to hopefully show other how you can get the relationship you want with your mother/daughter as well.  

No book can solve every mother/daughter relationship.      However, they show what can happen when a mother loves her child unconditionally and each person in a relationship is willing to listen to each other.

While I do not have daughters, I have two younger sisters who both have daughters.    Both of them love their girls and want to have amazing relationships with them.     I would love to share this book with them as a resource for their future.     


This book provided for review by Waterbrook Multnomah.

My Addiction

On March 1st I am seriously going to need some professional help for my addiction.     I am going to have to learn how to live in the real world again.    I will actually be able to go to the grocery store without worrying about whether or not I am missing an Olympic event.     Yes, that is my addiction.    The Olympics.  

I feel like I have been living the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat along with the amazing athletes.     I have screamed like a teenager when Lindsey Vonn received her gold medal. 

My boys looked at my funny when they caught me sweeping the kitchen in a strange new way.     (Hey... it works for the women of the curling team!)  

I sobbed like a baby when the Canadian ice skater gave her freestyle performance after the death of her mom.   *sniff*  Still chokes me up.

Thought I was having a heart attack the night the women's bobsled team flipped over and ejected the girl from the sled but then realized I was just holding my breath too long.


Skipped an invitation to go out someplace because I didn't want to miss watching Apollo Ohno skate in one of his events.    So glad because that night he became Apollo 7!   Go, Go, Ohno!  

Signed the boys up for Olympic Physics classes just so I could feed my addiction and learn even more about each of the sports.    What?   It was science, physics and olympics all wrapped up in one!

Who didn't love the gravity defying Shaun White?    Hats off to his mom.     I would have had heart failure before now watching him do all that crazy stuff.

Oh man, who am I kidding?   There is no help for me.   I LOVE the Olympics.    Always have and always will.      Come on 2012 Summer Olympics.      Only 881 days to go!

I Need A Brick

Growing up whenever my Daddy thought we were growing too fast he would say, "Do I need to put a brick on your head?"    Of course we would always say "No, Daddy!" and walk away thinking he was being so silly.

Tonight as we were having family prayers all of a sudden I heard this distinctly "male" voice.   I admit it.    I opened my eyes.   I knew it without opening my eyes, but somehow I just needed to see that voice coming out of my little boy's face.    When did Big Guy's voice start changing?   

Just last week he walked in and said, "Mom, whenever we have the money I think I need new church shoes."    I took him this past weekend and he wasn't kidding.    His foot had grown two shoe sizes.     How did his feet grow so quickly?

He is tall enough to kiss me goodnight on the cheek now, but I still vividly remember him wrapping his little arms around my legs and saying, "Mama.   Mama.   Up!  Up!"

Two weeks ago after class he asked if we could make a stop at Game Stop.   This isn't an unusual request for him since this is his absolute favorite place to go and the only place he would willing "shop".     I knew he had a gift card so I agreed.      When Big Guy and Little Guy walked out, only Little Guy had a package.    Big Guy was empty handed but had a huge grin on his face.     His purpose for going to Game Stop?   To buy his brother a new game to play on his Playstation.      When he did become such a joyful and sacrificial giver?

I took this pic of him this past Monday.     He was sitting in that chair and turned on Sesame Street because he knows how much MM and LK love the opening song.    They ran to sit with him.

Wasn't it just yesterday that my Big Guy was the same size as MM and LK?     I think I need to put a brick on his head.

New Jewelry Is So Fun

I love jewelry, but it is not something that I buy for myself.      I was thrilled when I was contacted by Sarah of Jewelry Art Designs to consider reviewing a piece of jewelry from her website.   

Have you ever dreamed of someone just allowing you to shop?     Me too!    I just enjoyed being able to browse around the website knowing that I could pick something out.

I loved this ring.   It was called a promise ring and I really would promise to wear it every day!  

What about this pave circle pendant?

 

In the end, I decided to pick a pair of sterling silver circle hoop earrings.    I haven't gotten a new pair of earrings in forever and that is one of the only pieces of jewelry I wear every day.

I was so impressed when the earrings arrived because they were in this precious box.    You could just put a cute bow on that and it would be gift ready!

 

I opened that cute box to find my earrings.    I will admit that when I first saw them I thought, "Oh my!  Those are small.  Are they going to look right on my fat earlobes?"

To give you an idea of their size.    Here they are next to a ruler:

 

I have had a chance to wear them to my son's basketball game, to church and to sign language class.    I asked my sister to try them on so I could see what they look like on her.      We both agreed that since these are such petite earrings where your ears are pierced makes a big difference on how these will look on you.    They looked really great on my sister, but they seem to poke out slightly on me.     

Here I am wearing them:

 

I loved the fact that these were SO comfortable to wear and I never noticed them after I put them on.    I think these would be a very sweet selection for a lot of age ranges from young girls to women.

And YOU get a chance to win $5,000 of her jewelry to spend any way you like.      Simply display one of the Lushae jewelry badges on your blog (like my cute one in the sidebar), website or social profile page and be automatically entered each and every month. The sweepstake giveaway is open to all countries.  She will also draw $200 monthly to a random winner.

Be sure and follow Sarah on Twitter to get the latest information about what is going on and see the latest deals!
 
Thanks, Sarah, for allowing me to enjoy your wonderful jewelry!

Deep Harbor

SOME TIES CAN NEVER BE BROKEN

As they build new lives in America, Tora, Elsa, Kaatje, and Karl each experience a personal tragedy that threatens to destroy everything they left Norway to find. Tora’s web of lies has cost her a successful future with the man she loves. When tragedy strikes, Elsa must draw upon her faith and the strength she can muster to discover who she is and the path she must follow. After her husband’s disappearance, Kaatje struggles to raise two young daughters and tend her farm, and Karl finds himself caught in a life of loneliness and emptiness. Only by placing their trust in God—and in each other—will they pass through these rough waters and find the safety of the harbor.

From the richly forested banks of the Washington Territory to the burgeoning city of Yokohama and across the turbulent, danger-filled waves of the open sea—experience the epic saga of perseverance, pain, faith, and calling in the Northern Lights series.

Book Description

Deep Harbor is classic Lisa Tawn Bergen.    She is amazing at writing historical fiction and this book is no exception.      There is a character for everyone to identify with in this book, but truly you will become to each character as you are reading.      A lifetime of hurt, struggle, joy, desires, love, and pain are packed within the pages of this book.     You may recognize these characters if you read the first book in this series called Captain's Bride.

Since this is part of Waterbrook Multnomah's spring break series, you will enjoy taking a trip to Norway and then across the ocean to America.     Isn't that a great spring break trip?      I thought so too.   

This book provided for review by Waterbrook Multnomah.

IHOP National Pancake Day Celebration

 

IHOP is giving away free pancakes for National Pancake Day  TODAY! 

IHOP has been celebrating National Pancake Day since 2006 and has raised $3.25 million to support local charities.    This year they will be taking donations for local Children's Hospitals.    What a great opportunity to support our local Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital!

Go here for all the details! 

Secrets

Secrets

by Robin Jones Gunn

Jessica has moved to a new town to start a new life. But a friendly fire-fighter and a suspicious boss both want to know what she’s hiding.    

Jessica ran from her past...but can she hide from love?

Jessica Morgan wants desperately to forget the past and begin a new life. She chooses a small, peaceful town tucked away in Oregon’s Willamette Valley as the place to start over—Glenbrooke. Once there, Jessica conceals her identity from the intriguing personalities she meets—including the compassionate paramedic who desires to protect her and the jealous woman who wants nothing more than to destroy her.

Will Jessica’s deceit ruin all hope for the future? Or will she find a deeper peace that allows her to stop hiding the truth from those who love her most of all? 

Book Description

Waterbrook Multnomah has introduced a line of value Christian fiction which will be easy on your travel budget this spring break, but will allow you travel to all kinds of places.    At a price of $5.99, everyone can afford to take a break this spring!

Secrets takes you to the Willamette Valley of Oregon.    It also takes me back to the place where I first fell in love with Christian fiction.     This is a classic story about the choices we make in our lives.     Jessica's choices have led her down paths that God doesn't necessarily intend her to go, but despite that fact, God can use our mess ups and use them for His good.      

Despite all her deception, Jessica has the opportunity to find an entire new life with the paramedic who saves her life from a car wreck as she arrives into town.

You know those books that say, "If you don't enjoy this book we'll give you your money back."   This book should have a sticker like that!

This book provided for review by Waterbrook Multnomah.

Cake Boss is Safe

Back in January I told you that I wasn't making New Year's resolutions, but I wanted to challenge myself to learn a few new things this year.     One of the things on my list to learn has been to decorate cakes.     I always thought it would be fun to just learn some basics.      

Little Guy and I ran through Michaels a few weeks ago and there was a Wilton demonstrator there and they were having a special on their classes which allowed you to sign up for 50% off plus they gave you a coupon for an additional $5 off.     We decided that we would jump in and take Course 1.

We have a few classes left.      We have really enjoyed taking this class, but trust me when I say that the Cake Boss and Ace of Cakes are very safe with their business!   Ha!


Little Guy took this picture of his first cake.     He decided to put his initial on it as well as stars, clouds, meteors, the moon and a planet.

Here is my first cake.    I went with basics to try to practice some of the techniques she was teaching us in class.    Boring, but finished.

 

We decided to challenge ourselves a little.     When it was our turn to take snacks for Little Guy's basketball game we made sugar cookies and decorated them to look like basketballs.      We had so much fun doing this!   (Sorry this is such a bad pic.   I took it with my cell phone.)

The Long Way Home

From Edgar Award winning and best-selling author Andrew Klavan comes the second novel in the Homelanders series.

Charlie West was an ordinary high school kid who went to bed one night and woke up in the clutches of terrorists and wanted by the police for murder.

Now, with both the terrorists and the cops on his trail, Charlie makes his way home to find some answers. Holed up in an abandoned mansion, Charlie is joined by his high school buddies as he tries to find the truth about a murder he can't remember--and recover the love he can't forget.

"A thriller that reads like a teenage version of 24...an adrenaline-pumping adventure." 

Book Description:
As soon as I saw the review quote that said this was a thriller that read like a teenage version of 24, I knew I had to request this book.   Not only for me, but for my husband and son.     My husband and I are HUGE fans of 24.   My son doesn't watch, but I knew he would love a book with that kind of action.   

My husband actually read this before me and judging by the fact that he read this every time he had a free second, I believe he agrees with me, this is an action packed book from beginning to end.     Despite the fact this was the second book in a series, I did not feel as though I was trying to fill in gaps in the story line perhaps due to all the flashbacks that were provided.

 Charlie West, the main character, has been thrown into an adult world despite being a teenager.     It is an action packed, wild ride considering he can't remember the previous year and somehow during that year he became involved with terrorists.    Hoping to find answers to what has gone on, he returns to his home to find answers.

My advice to you is to read this quick before your family grabs it or you may be in a long line before you get your chance!

Linky Love: Peachy Cheap

I am.  I really and truly am.   I am addicted to PeachyCheap.com.   But don't tell my hubs, OK?    Besides, once you click that link and discover that they offer you a new ridiculously outrageous peachy cheap deal every day you won't want your husband to know either!

Excuse me.    I ordered some ribbon last week and I have been running to the mailbox every day hoping to grab it before he finds it.    Tell me you don't do that too!?!?

Looking for Color In My Button Jar

Yesterday was Random Acts of Kindness day.    I had challenged the boys to find ways to perform some random acts of kindness.     As for me, I knew what I was going to do.    I was going to clean off our kitchen table.    It was in terrible shape.    Somehow it had become the dumping ground for everything over the past couple of weeks and I knew that it was driving hubs crazy.      After cleaning it off I started looking for something to put on the table to "decorate" it.  

I found this table runner and a couple of hurricanes and put it on the table.

 

Hmmm....  It needs some candles.

 

It kept standing there thinking that it still needed color.    I walked around the house wondering what I could do to add some color.     I guess I have a touch of spring fever.     I walked through my bedroom and spotted this...

 

My button jar!    Have I ever mentioned that I have a button jar?     Sounds crazy since I don't sew, but I just can't seem to throw away all those extra buttons that come with outfits.      It is amazing the amount of buttons that I have managed to collect in the last 25 years.      Anyway, I grabbed my button jar and decided that they would add just the color that I needed.

 

That button jar has inspired me and I have a few other ideas, but for now I am happy to have this splash of color on my kitchen table AND my hubs was really happy to come home to a table that was clean again.

Grab Them Before They Are Gone

I love after holiday sales.    I could not think of a thing I needed from the Valentine after holiday sales so I didn't go out yesterday to look.    But this morning it hit me that there is one thing I always buy at the sales after Valentine's Day....

 

They are PERFECT to put away for all your St. Patrick's Day baking that you will be doing in a few weeks.   Stock up now!

For Andrew

Andrew, I don't know what project you had to draw these for, but they are awesome!     Hope this helps you!

Squeezing Every Ounce of Fun

The boys were determined to squeeze every ounce of fun out of the snow.    On Saturday morning we woke up and realized that everything had pretty much frozen to ice overnight.    We packed up the boys boogie boards and drove over to the big hills of the reservoir.     It was one huge sheet of ice.      They had a blast!

 

Who knew the boogie board we took to the beach would work so well in snow?

 

 

  

And of course, when they were exhausted, we went home for even MORE hot chocolate!

 

  

And then head back out to play some more...

 

We love the snow.    Can you tell?