Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful for a husband who understands the heart of a woman - more specifically, this woman. He gladly drops everything to grab lunch and bring it home to share with me. He understands that a momma at home with kiddos all day needs that grown up interaction. Honestly, something in the air changes when he walks into this house, it's like the pressure disperses and the tedious things I must do suddenly seem easier. I may not even ask for his help with any particular task but just knowing that he's here and available lightens the mental load. Then there are the times that he is protective of me. He's quick to come to my rescue whether he's defending my honor or protecting me from physical harm. Women may argue that they don't need or want a man's protection - that they are able to take care of themselves. To those ladies I say...that's fine by me but you'll never change my mind. My hubby is an umbrella over me and by golly, I like it that way! My hubby still insists on pumping gas into my vehicle. Yes, I am a competent woman who is more than capable...so what?! He doesn't like the idea of his wife having to deal with the often less than cordial environment at a service station or having to dirty her hands or spilling gas on her shoes. After nearly 15 years he still spoils me in a million little ways. I'm thankful for my husband - God's gift of love, provision, and protection to me.
I know that just like me, the rest of you ladies have so many things that you are thankful for. Choose a few things to share with us.

I only have eyes for you.

My husband knows that I love him; he's the only one for me. How can he be sure? For starters, I tell him all the time. But more than that - I show him. I want to be sure that my actions and my attitudes let him (and the rest of the world) know that I only have eyes for him.

How about you?

A Slow Decline...part 2

I was talking with a woman who is about twenty years my senior. When she told me that she was leaving to vacation with her husband in Paris I told her that she was so blessed to be taking such a romantic trip with her beloved, far away from distractions of everyday life. She literally laughed out loud and told me that I was still young and had a lot to learn. When I reminded her that I had 14 years of marriage under my belt she replied, "Oh yea, well just give it a few more years." My heart was saddened. She bought into the lie that marriage is at its best during the honeymoon and then it begins a slow and dreadful decline. This seems to be the consensus among the general population. I suppose that anything left unattended will decline - marriage is no different.
Let's explore this topic together.

Looking back...

I logged in to my face book account this morning and saw this status update from one year ago today:

Parenting is not for wimps my friends. Changing diapers, cleaning messes, catching bugs for a science project, and carpooling are the easy things. The real test comes when you must look into the face of your teary-eyed child, recognize his genuine repentance, and still enforce the consequence. The phrase "this hurts me more than it hurts you" doesn't just apply to spankings. Making a man out of a boy is no easy task.

 

Thinking back to the specific situation we were dealing with on the day that I posted that I still feel that little pinch in my chest. You know, that ache that comes with knowing that our children will sometimes experience pain and regret. The good news is that genuine repentance was present. The tough news is that we still had to enforce the consequence...and it made this momma cry. He was truly sorry but we had to reinforce the fact that sin has consequences. Mercy abounds, forgiveness is freely available, and we can face the consequences together through His grace. Discipling children is a divine calling - a sacred responsibility. When done well - raising our children will cost us something. Have you counted the cost?

The Pedestal Predicament Part 2

Chances are you've done it. You noticed the life of another woman and admired her. She seemed to have it all together. She had a thriving marriage, great kids, and seemed to be successful at every turn. You wanted to be like her, then maybe you too would have the contentment and joy that seemed to fill her heart. One day you came to the conclusion that if you could be like Mrs. X you could finally be happy. In your mind you placed Mrs. X on a pedestal. What's so dangerous about that? Well...actually, a few things...

 

Squash Casserole

This recipe is anything but fast and healthy. You'll have to invest a little effort into preparing this dish and a whole lot of effort into working it off. Trust me, it will be worth it.

Slice 4-5 medium yellow squash into circles. Combine with 1 coarsely chopped small yellow onion and bring to a boil with 1 tablespoon salt. Cover and boil about 20 minutes or until tender. Meanwhile, combine the following in a large bowl:

1 cup heavy whipping cream
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 sleeve of Ritz crackers, crushed
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
two pinches cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon thyme

Drain squash and onion well and combine with mixture in bowl. Pour mixture into casserole dish (9x13 works well) sprinkle top with additional 1/2 sleeve of crushed Ritz and 1/3 cup shredded sharp cheddar. Cover with foil and bake at 350 until set (about 30 mins). Remove foil and cook for 10 minutes longer.

I tweaked the recipe several times and finally settled on this version. I've been making it for about 10 years. The recipe is fairly forgiving, play around with it and make it your own. I get lots of requests for this one, it's a real crowd pleaser.

A Slow Decline

I'll explain my reason for asking this question later...

Why do most people assume that marriage gets worse as the years go by?

I'm interested to hear your feedback then I'll tell you the story and give you my take on the issue.

You are not defenseless.

¹ I love you, LORD, my strength.

² The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:1-2

Life isn't fair and that's OK. People will hurt and disappoint you. People will betray you. They may misunderstand you or they may twist something you said or did in an effort to hurt you. People may attack you with malicious intent or may wound you because of carelessness (never realizing the hurt they inflicted). The truth is that we have all been on both sides. We've been the offender and we've been the one to suffer. When you're hurt remember this: God loves you. He alone is your defender, don't try to help Him out - He's got it under control. If you are in Him, He is your stronghold. He uses even our suffering to accomplish His purpose. Not only does He love you - He loves the one who wronged you.

The Pedestal Predicament

Don't place someone on a pedestal. She didn't ask to be there and she won't like the way it feels when she comes crashing down. It will happen...and it will be costly. You'll both feel the sting.

I've been learning a lot about this subject. More to come...

Down time is over and I'm happy to be back in blog land. I have a lot to share!

Still here

No, I didn't fall off the face of the planet. I've been absent from blog land for a while and I've missed you all. I have lots of good posts stored up between my ears - now I just have to get them posted. The last two weeks have been l-o-n-g. Details to come.

Help!

I need your input. Does anyone have personal experience with buying grass fed beef? If so, how and where did you purchase the beef? 

What's for dinner?

Happy Independence Day!

If your family is anything like mine - and I'm guessing that it is, food is the centerpiece of your celebration today. I was in the kitchen prepping for this evening's meal with my most helpful assistant - daughter of skinny friend. We washed strawberries, green beans, potatoes, and carrots. I put her to work on the green beans, snapping the ends off. We were side by side at the sink and she watched me closely as we made small talk. Finally she looked at me and asked, "Why are you shaving those carrots?" I laughed and explained that I was peeling and chopping the carrots for pot roast. She was satisfied with that answer and we continued working but never had more than a five second break in conversation. She then related her analysis of this morning's boot camp workout (she was watching from the sidelines). She said,"You were really doing good on your squats today, you were fast too. I'm sorry that you had to run so many times." Then our conversation turned to fireworks, dessert, and the antics of my one year old daughter, Sugar Bee. She helped Sugar Bee negotiate the step stool without falling and then sent her on her merry way with a little hug and a word of instruction,"Now go play with your toys." That's when it dawned on me. This sweet fiery haired girl at just seven years old is a sponge. She's learning from working alongside her momma, her aunt Misty, and other women in her life who are willing to invest the time to teach her what it means to be a lady, a home keeper, a momma, a wife, and a friend. Could I have finished that task faster working alone? Yes, but I would have missed the opportunity to invest just a little bit of myself into a lady-in-the-making. I stood back in the kitchen watching the kids play. I observed that same sweet red head plunge her entire hand into her lemonade glass, retrieve a whole ice cube, and chomp it down. She's such a curious mix of little lady and little girl. Spend some time with a young lady in your life. I can promise two things: You won't be bored and she won't forget it.

My work in the kitchen is done for now. The veggies have been washed, shaved, and chopped. They're tucked safely into the oven with the roast. Later we'll make corn casserole, macaroni and cheese, sweet potato casserole, rolls, desserts, tea, and lemonade.

What's on the menu at your place tonight?



Freedom

Thank you for your thoughtful comments on the previous post about freedom. Keep them coming! Here's my take:

Freedom is...

purchased with blood.



I want your feedback. Fill in the blank.

Freedom is...

Cheater, cheater, french toast eater!

You're all familiar with boot camp but there's one juicy little tidbit I've yet to share:

The weekly cheat (aahh ahhh ahhhh).

Did you hear the angelic voices? I thought you would! I'll spare you the science behind it (don't you dare doubt that there is science behind it - because there really is and you know that I would never, ever lie about junk food) but I get one two hour cheat window per week. During this time I can eat whatever I've been craving. This is trainer sanctioned cheating, folks. Does it get any better than that?

After a long week of protein shakes, chicken, asparagus, lettuce, and more lettuce, I was ready for a hearty breakfast. I had been dreaming of short stacks, bacon, potatoes, and juice all week. Seriously, I stood in my kitchen and inhaled the steam wafting from my kids' cinnamon waffles one day last week. I savored every second of that aroma. I eyed the maple syrup. It was all so tempting but I didn't indulge. I resolved to wait until Friday night. Friday date night finally arrived and the hubs took me to Mimi's Cafe. I ordered freshly squeezed orange juice and this plate of deliciousness:

Cinnamon Brioche French Toast

My fellow diners didn't seem amused by the fact that I was taking a picture of my food with my cell phone, but I didn't mind. This was basically french toast made from a cinnamon roll...swoon. It was so sweet that it didn't even need syrup. I also removed that shovel load of butter right away. The good news - every bite was delicious. The bad news - I left 2/3 of it on my plate. Wait a minute! Maybe that last part is really good news too. I ate a small portion of the meal and drank all of my juice. You know what happened? I felt miserable. My stomach felt like it was full of cement - reminiscent of post Thanksgiving tummy.

I left the restaurant with my craving satisfied and the realization that this boot camp regimen is really changing me. My body has grown accustomed to my new healthy habits. I can't believe it! I know that this isn't a quick fix or a magic potion. I'm developing a healthier lifestyle and it feels great. I can still enjoy a sweet treat or indulge a craving, I just can't do it every day.

P.S. Don't be dismayed by the thought of wasted french toast. The hubs ate it for dessert.



Freebie

Vistaprint's Daily Deal is a sweet one. Order business cards for free using THIS LINK. Choose from more than 40 designs and customize to suit your needs. The cards are free and you have three shipping options starting around $4.

Need a great gift idea for a fellow mom? Try creating mommy contact cards. Customize a business card with her name, her kids' names, her contact info, and maybe even a few short details about her (pageant mom, little league mom, home room mom, loves to bake, etc.). I met a mom in Target a few months ago and we struck up a conversation over toddler toys. We discovered that we shared common interests and said that we should get together. Instead of writing phone numbers down she just handed me her card. It was fantastic. Order some for yourself or for a friend. Enjoy!

'Splain to me (that's EXPLAIN for all you proper folks)...

...how my one year old daughter can traipse through the house all morning seemingly never noticing the fifty-seven toys littering the floor. You know how it is, you're going about the day folding clothes, answering the same question over and over, wiping noses, and answering the phone when STAB! your foot lands atop Barbie's tiny stiletto or GI Joe's Uzi. Aaahh the pain that ensues. You're just about to yell, "Who left that toy out?" then you realize that any question of the sort will render your children speechless. Seriously, when confronted with that question they are reduced to pointing, shrugging, and mumbling some sort of unintelligible grunts. Then they scatter. Smart little stinkers, aren't they? They know when to make themselves scarce.
  Any how, back to the explaining. Please explain to me how my little girl can wonder around oblivious to the toys-for-carpet that cover the living room without one thought of picking them up BUT she can hone in with laser focus on the singular cheese puff that lies beneath the dining room table (the last shred of evidence that I bribed her to sit still in her high chair last night so that I could unload the dish washer in relative peace). Then she can scale every obstacle undaunted like she's a part of some covert mission just to obtain that one cheese puff. How is that possible? Furthermore, after watching her plot and execute that complicated operation how in the world could I pry that cheese puff from her tiny fingers?
  So there you have it my friends. Today I stood by and watched as my little girl, so proud of herself, ate a cheese puff off of the dining room floor.

Free T-Shirt

Free duds for you - just pay shipping.

If you've never ordered anything from Visatprint this would be a good time to give it a try. Check out Vistaprint's special offer. Choose from 36 designs and customize your shirt. The shirt is free, you pay for shipping which starts around $3-$4. If you want to pay an extra $2.80 you can order a ladies cut shirt and choose from hundreds of designs. I ordered a sports themed shirt with my kids' names to wear to their games. Have fun creating your shirt!

*Be careful during the checkout process. They always try to sell you other products - especially address labels. On the last order screen be sure you click 'accept without address labels' (unless you want the labels).



Boot Camp Progress Report

As promised, I'm back to give you an update. I weighed in before Friday's boot camp workout. After 13 days on the nutrition plan and 12 workouts I lost... drum roll please...........7.5 pounds. Woo hoo! That's right, seven and a half. Yep, I said half. Are you wondering why I had to mention the half? Why didn't I just leave that part off? I'll tell you why my friend - because I worked for every.single.ounce. No one handed it to me on a silver platter. I have sweat equity and it feels great! More on Friday's workout in my next boot camp post.

Juicy insider info

Would you like to save money on juice?

Mott's is offering insider info and savings on their Mott's for Totts products. Head over HERE to sign up to receive coupons for their products. 

Popcorn Deal

 With all the buzz about Cars 2 opening this weekend I thought you may enjoy this deal. Regal Cinemas is giving away 1 million bags of popcorn this summer. The only requirement is that you check in at their theater using your smart phone. Go HERE to sign up to have a link sent to your smart phone OR simply text POPCORN to 35350 then take your phone to the theater and check in to get your free popcorn.

This deal is ongoing and will end when the giveaway reaches 1 million bags.

Let them eat cheesecake!

  While you're out getting your $2 tanks from Old Navy today why not enjoy lunch and FREE cheesecake? Go HERE to print your coupon for a FREE slice of cheesecake for every $30 spent at The Cheesecake Factory. Saturday + a truckload of tank tops + lunch with your sweetie or your bff = smiles all around. Have a great day!

Today is the last day of the Old Navy deal (no coupon necessary) and cheesecake coupon is valid through Thursday.

Boot Camp Chronicles

Sooo....I'm fairly certain that I was schooled at boot camp today. In fact, I'm absolutely certain. The up side is that I sprinted - I actually sprinted. No, smarty pants, I was NOT being chased by a big scary monster. On second thought maybe I was being chased by a big scary monster. It was the me of 2 weeks ago. The me that woke up tired everyday and lived on a steady diet of carbs. The me that laughed and rolled my eyes at the thought of exercising at 6am. The me that was out of breath after climbing 4 flights of stairs on my son's field trip last month. Just to re-cap the good news is that we could choose to walk or sprint and I chose the sprints. The bad news...the lady who beat me is about 15 years my senior. That's right people, she wore me out. My loss on the first sprint wasn't too bad. Imagine my shock when I realized that we would be doing more than one little race. Sneaky trainer - don't you know you're supposed to fill me in on that beforehand so I can reserve some gas in the tank for the second through fourth sprints?! Let me assure you that her margin of victory increased with each sprint but that's ok. I beat my own expectations and I'm getting stronger.
In the interest of full disclosure I want you all to know that I'll be arriving a few minutes early for boot camp tomorrow morning to be weighed and measured. I'll keep you posted.

Tank you very much!

                                                                           

Old Navy Solid Ribbed Tanks for $2 each this Saturday

Quick! Go HERE to print your coupon.

Limit of 10 per customer while supplies last. This deal is in-store only.

These are perfect for layering or for keeping cool while working around the house this summer. 

Sunken Ships

Check out this World War II poster.

I live with a couple of history buffs. They love this sort of thing and I enjoy watching their enthusiasm when learning some historical fact. I love it even more when it brings to light a spiritual truth.

We've all heard the expression loose lips sink ships but chances are we don't know it's origin. Millions were drafted or volunteered for our armed forces during WWII. The military needed to convey a life or death truth to these civilians turned soldiers. It was imperative that they understand the importance of keeping information confidential. If a soldier revealed details of routes or plans, even inadvertently, in letters or careless conversation - it could be intercepted and result in the slaughter of his fellow warriors. Soldiers were also taught to keep silent when coerced or tortured. They were loyal to one another, refusing to endanger those who stood alongside them in battle.

Take it from me, we can learn so much from this example. My twist on this slogan is:

Loose Lips Sink (Friend)Ships.

Chances are we have each been on both sides of this sad reality. We've been the one with loose lips and we've been the one to sink. In both instances we've had to deal with the carnage. Both sides are awful but this scenario isn't inevitable.

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1Thessalonians 5:11

The key to these is a transformed heart.

For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Matthew 12:34b

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23

A wise man's heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction. Proverbs 16:23

For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45b

But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.   Matthew 15:18

A heart transformed by repentance and faith in Christ is transformed. That heart, moved by genuine love for God and thankfulness for His grace so freely given, longs to love others. We recognize just how great God's love for us really is and we want to share it. Do we still mess up? Sure we do! Then we run to the cross, repent, and then make it right with those we hurt. We move forward confident that He is always at work in our hearts - changing, shaping, purifying, drawing us to Himself. We must be careful to guard our hearts and our lips. Take it from someone who knows. I pray that you will be blessed today and that you will know the immeasurable love of God and the freedom that comes from a life surrendered to Him.

Another Free Meal

  The folks at Chili's must love kids. OK, who are we kidding here? The folks at Chili's know that kids tend to tag along with their parents and those parents have wallets. So Chili's is engaged in a shameless campaign to convince us to drop in on Tuesday nights. Frankly, my arm doesn't require much twisting. It's summer break and our schedule is a little more relaxed. Why not take the night off from our culinary duties and let someone else do the work. Go HERE to sign up for an email coupon for a free kids meal on Tuesday, June 21.

$20 to spend at Target...A group effort

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
Plum District is a daily deals site. Today's deal is good all over the country. Simply sign up for a FREE account and you'll get your own referral link. Share your link with your friends and if 3 people sign up through your link today you will receive a $20 target gift card by mail. Twenty bucks to spend however you wish all for spending a few minutes on the computer (something you'd be doing anyway).

  In the spirit of working together I've devised a plan. If the first person to act on this signs up by clicking my link (in blue above) then you can leave a blog comment with your link. The next reader can sign up using your link and then post their own link in another comment. This way all my readers would have one referral taken care of and would only need 2 more. Who wants a gift card?

Dress Sale

David's Bridal has a style of dress on clearance for $10, the original price was $99. Shipping is $12.95 so this deal isn't amazing but I'd say it's decent. If you're getting married soon this could be a great option for your wedding party. If you need a dress for a warm weather special occasion this may work. Both red and black are sold out in all sizes. Good luck and happy shopping! 

Go HERE to check it out.

Light 'n Fluffy

  Do you allow your kids to lick the mixer attachment or the spatula? This is one recipe that will have them begging - unless you beat them to it. This is the base for scrumptious, light and fluffy frosting and it just happens to be my favorite fruit dip. This is so much better than those pre-packaged fruit dips sold in stores. I've made this so many times and have tweaked the recipe over the years. My kids have been all too happy to be taste testers. Mix up a batch for your crew and serve with your favorite fruits. We especially like to pair this with strawberries, pineapple, and mango.

1 brick cream cheese, softened
1 pound 10X sugar
1 capful vanilla extract
1 large tub cool whip


(If you know me in real life then you are aware of my disdain for cool whip. I don't use it - except in this recipe. We prefer fresh cream whipped and sweetened at home but cool whip holds up better for this recipe.)

In mixing bowl combine cream cheese and extract. Mix/beat on high until creamy. Slowly add sugar, being careful to scrape down the sides of the bowl. When mixture is smooth fold in cool whip.

You can jazz up the dip by adding 1 can of crushed pineapple (extremely well drained).

Store covered in refrigerator for up to 1 week. I'll share other uses for this base soon.

Enjoy!

This sums it up!

  Last year I ordered a sign to hang with pictures of my husband and our children. When I read it I knew instantly that it summed up the situation in our home. On this Father's Day I'd like to share it with you.


Daddy: A son's first hero and a daughter's first love.


Swoon. I love it. It brings tears to my eyes and a smile to my face.
Blessings to you!

Father's Day

  In a world where the importance of fathers is underestimated I'd like to thank every man out there who loves his children well. To every daddy who sacrifices his time to play one more game of Operation, to inflate a bicycle tire, to play catch, and to sit patiently while a wide eyed little girl styles your hair...thank you! Thank you for every bed time prayer, every hour spent on Algebra homework, every heart to heart talk. You aren't just imprinting the heart of your child, you are impacting our world. Bearing the responsibility of providing for a leading a family is not easy. Your strong and broad shoulders carry a heavy load. In the eyes of your little ones you are brave and strong, you are loving and wise, you are fun and adventurous. When they make mistakes, as children often do, you correct their disobedience and then gather them up in your arms. They sleep peacefully at night knowing that nothing can harm them because nothing can get by daddy. When you love this way you model for them part of the character of their heavenly father. When children grow up knowing the love of an earthly father they adopt that same view of their heavenly father. You make a difference every day! Happy Father's Day.

Freebie

  I wish I were a scrap booker. Those books are adorable. They're packed with things that dangle and spin, fancy schmancy stickers, shimmery stamps, and perfectly cropped photos with sentimental captions. I sooo want to have a house full of scrap books but I am NOT willing to put in the time (or money or effort) required to have a house full of them. I have a few scrap books and I love them but I have not forgotten all the resources that went into creating those sweet books. Scrap bookers, I salute you! Your craft is amazing but it's not a pursuit for slackers. This is one area where I just have to let good enough be good enough - at least for now. While I'm in the thick of caring for little ones I'm going to employ another strategy to deal with my ever growing mountain of pictures.
  If you're anything like me I'm guessing you have about 4,000 pictures that you've never printed. I tell myself that I'm going to print them, sort them, and get every single shot in an album. Umm yea, fat chance! Life always gets in the way. A while back I discovered a way to give myself a break (I'm all about making life easier) in the photo department. I can group my favorite shots depicting a certain event like little league, a birthday, water fun, or vacation. The possibilities are endless. I upload my pics to an online photo store and create a collage. The collage can be customized and can be ready in about an hour although I normally leave mine sitting in the store for a few days. I don't make a special trip to pick it up, I just wait until I'm planning on being in the vicinity of the store. I place the collage in an album and make a small step toward scaling the photo mountain.
  A photo collage is also a great alternative to a greeting card. You can customize the title to suit your needs for the occasion. On Father's Day I'll be giving my hubby a collage created with candid photos of our kiddos taken over the last year. We'll all enjoy looking at it on the refrigerator for a few days and then I'll tuck it into an album. All parents and grandparents love photos of the small fries in their lives so you can use this idea often. Why not make a collage of your favorite wedding and honeymoon shots for your anniversary? Create a collage using before, during, and after pics of your latest home improvement project (guys love this sort of testament to their home improvement prowess). If you have a baby it's great to make a collage for each month during the child's first year. Use your imagination and please share your ideas with the rest of us.

  And now the pay off:

Go HERE to create and order your collage from Walgreens. Use code 1FREEBIE at checkout and get your collage FREE. Just create, place your order (don't forget to use the promotion code), and then designate a store for pick up. Finally, congratulate yourself on a job well done. This promotion is valid through Saturday so don't waste time!

Comfort

When hurt and regret linger and tears turn to a flood I'm often reminded of this old song.

Standing at my window, hidden by the night
Harboring the private wounds, safe and out of sight
There's an agony in living, but there's a comfort in the truth
That no one knows my heart better than you.
-Lyrics by Susan Ashton


He knows me. He really knows me.

Text And Save

  Did you know that you can receive Target coupons via text? I signed up for this free service about a month ago and it's been great. Mobile coupons are so easy - no need to print coupons and then remember to bring them along. I've received coupons for clothing, shoes, groceries, cleaning products, and beauty products. Sign up HERE and give it a try.

Happy shopping!

Give yourself a night off

  We all love to dine out. Let's face it, we love it even more when we get a great deal.

Sign up for Chili's eclub HERE and receive a coupon for FREE chips and skillet queso. Just fill in this simple form and they'll email your coupon. They'll also send coupons and special offers your way in the future.

Go HERE to access a coupon for the kids to eat FREE tomorrow, June 14.

*These coupons cannot be redeemed in the same visit.

Enjoy!

In the spirit of sharing...

  I thought it would be fun to pass along this email I received from someone near and dear today. 

As a busy mother, wife/pastor's wife, friend, and confidant I know you must rely many nights on a quick, low maintenance meal for the fam ----soooooooo, I thought you and your clan might (as we do) enjoy this easiest of recipes:

1 can cream of mushroom soup (undiluted)

1 can cream of celery soup (undiluted)

1 envelope of Lipton onion soup mix

2 lbs. Beef Stew meat

Combine all soups in a bowl.  Next, put meat and mixed soups in crock-pot.  Stir everything very well (trust me, no need to salt & pepper).  Cover.  Put on low and let the machine do it's magic for 6 hrs on low.  Serve on mashed potatoes, rice, or buttered wide egg noodles (our fave!).  Add garlic bread, corn or broccoli, and a salad. Easy dinner, good to the last bite!  

I'm going to try this one asap. If you try it, let me know what you think.

Are you some sort of secret agent?

  Every girl has that one friend...you know who I'm talking about. The one who white knuckles her recipe book. The one who looks at you as though you have asked for her firstborn if you dare ask for her recipe for (insert dish here). Gee whiz, I'm not trying to rip off and patent your award winning treat here gal, I'm just asking if I can have the recipe so that I can make some (insert dish here) for my family, we think that it's yummy. I won't bring it to any gatherings that you'll be attending and I won't share it with anyone else without your permission. Still a no? OK, but are you some sort of secret agent or something?
  We've all been down that road. If you are the rare woman who hasn't experienced some variation of that conversation - just wait. Your day is coming. You'll be standing there, jaw on the floor, feeling like you should be posing for your mug shot because you just tried to rip off your friend/family member. Why are some gals so secretive about their recipes? Could it be that they feel that one dish is their claim to fame and if anyone else made it their acclaim would be ruined? Insecurity? Stubbornness? I'm no expert on cooking but I know a thing or two about relationships (just ask my hubby as he has spent countless hours listening to me recount the finer points of female bonding) and I know that sharing is essential to female relationships. When I discover a better/faster/easier/tastier way to prepare something I can't wait to share it with my girlfriends.  I reason that if it made my life easier or better than maybe it could do the same for them. On the same token I'm not too proud to say, "Your so-and-so was so much better than mine. What's your secret?" If she gives me the stink eye or reaches into her bag for the taser then I know not to ask again.
  Let's just be real for a minute. I'm always ready to share something with other ladies. I'm a talker. Oh what's that? You hadn't noticed? Well thank you very much for trying to make me feel better but I think the truth is abundantly clear. One of my childhood nicknames was motor mouth. I know that sounds harsh but it was accurate. What I'm trying to say is that we need each other. We're all working hard, caring for our families, and doing the best that we can each day. We should pool our intellectual resources, then we could work smarter instead of harder. I'm so thankful that my mother-in-law has so graciously shared so many of her prized recipes with me. She could have held her recipes close to the vest, insuring that I could never make a carrot cake for my hubby (her son) quite like she made it during his childhood, but she didn't. She gave me the recipe and even helped me make it the first time. Three cheers for mom-in-law! If you're part of the crazy secret recipe keepers society, please consider loosening your grip. If you just can't do it then the rest of us will just have to deal with it. But, you should know that we're gonna google that dish and find the recipe. You never know, we might find a version of the recipe that blows yours away :)



One last question for my secret keeping friends. Are your recipes protected by biometric security? Do you scan your eyeball or your finger to gain access?

Lagging behind

  The first day of boot camp proved to be exhausting. Seriously, I was out of gas by the end of the stretching/warm up phase. After that I was running on pure determination. I guess being stubborn and willful finally worked in my favor. I was talking to myself the whole time, wondering how in the world I managed to drift so far from the active, fit young woman I used to be. The answer is...drum roll please...laziness combined with detestable nutrition. The 158 pounds gained (and some of it lost) during my three pregnancies probably didn't help. Yep, you read that right - 64 pounds with baby #1, 29 pounds with baby #2, and a whopping 65 pounds with baby #3 = 158 pounds. That's more than my ideal body weight. Yikes! That's a whole extra me! Not an adorable, well accessorized, healthy version of me. A jiggly, tired, sugar devouring, frumpy me. The me who wants to wear pajamas until noon. The me that likes to put a pat of butter on cookies and microwave them for eight seconds (oh yes I did!)  During my first and third pregnancies I indulged in second helpings and dessert every day (think Krispy Kreme, cheese puffs, pasta, jars and jars of salsa, etc) and I ate like there was no tomorrow. That was all well and good as long as I had my baby bump (more like a baby mountain) and that special glow. You know what the problem is with eating like there's no tomorrow? Eventually that tomorrow is knocking on your door. Not a polite knock - more like a bust the door down pounding. The baby is born and suddenly the baby bump is doughy mush (how in the world is it fair that after pushing out a baby you leave the hospital looking five months pregnant?) and the glow is replaced by profuse sweating. Not cute. Not in any way. Then eighteen months later I grew tired of  hauling around 25 pounds of that baby weight and signed up for boot camp.
  During the 1.25 mile run I was lagging behind, in fact, I was the last boot camper to finish. My legs were quivering. My trainer must have picked up on my disappointment because he said, "No matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everybody on the couch." I smiled, knowing that he was exactly right ( and knowing that I was lapping my hubby who was at home in bed). Now that's my boot camp motto. I'm lapping the Misty of two weeks ago. Every day I'm getting a little stronger. Everyday I'm one day closer to my goal. Is there something you've been dreaming of? The next week, next month, next year will come and go. Will you be closer to accomplishing that thing? Get up and get started - you may be clumsy, you may be slow, you may be unsure - but you'll be lapping everyone on the couch!

Fudge

  We're planning themed fun nights for our church kids every Wednesday night during the summer. I decided that we'd have a Christmas in July night next month. My motivation for planning this night probably wasn't entirely selfless. Who am I kidding? It definitely wasn't selfless. I love Christmas and all the traditions that go along with it. We're going to encourage the kids to wear green and/or red and let them decorate cookies. We're going to sip frozen hot chocolate while we read the Christmas story. Then we're going to make ornaments. Aren't you feeling giddy just thinking about it?
  Family traditions are great, they give us a sense of belonging. Certain foods and activities always remind us of special occasions shared with loved ones. Just say coconut cake and my mind instantly turns to Easter. Mention sweet potato casserole and football and BAM! it's Thanksgiving. You get the idea. Lately I've been making an effort to do special things for my family just because. Bake a cake on Tuesday night just because. Have an all finger food dinner, pile up on the couch together, and watch Animal Planet just because you can. Why should we reserve our best (and usually most fattening) recipes for holidays? Why shouldn't we set the table with the fancy stuff and light candles just for our family? We can make any old day a special day.
  All this thinking about Christmas, traditions, and recipes inspired me to make a treat for my family. We love fudge and we eat a ton of it (thus the boot camp experience) each December. We'll be enjoying our fudge early (and twice) this year. Try something new then sit back and smile while your husband or your kids wonder what in the world you're up to. Keep 'em guessing!

Easy Fudge

1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 bag semisweet morsels
3/4 bag butterscotch morsels
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (we also love almond)

Place first three ingredients in medium sauce pan. Melt over medium heat, stirring constantly. Add extract, stir well, and remove from heat. Pour immediately into a square pan. Place in refrigerator until set.

Yummy additions that can be mixed in along with the extract:
pecans, almonds, walnuts, peanuts
coconut
marshmallows
candied dried fruit (think fruitcake)
white chocolate chips
peanut butter chips
crushed oreos

Enjoy!

Sound Off

  Date night, ahhh how I love the sound of it. Often times the thought of date night is the light at the end of the kid-wrangling, errand running, mess cleaning, answering 763 questions per day tunnel. I love my our three children and count myself blessed to spend my days training and loving them BUT I need some grown up time too. My favorite grown up is my hubby. We still date as often as we can. For many years we've avoided movies during our dates opting to enjoy some activity that allows plenty of time to talk without interruptions. You know what I mean - the moment we attempt to have a conversation one or more of our offspring decides to have a life threatening emergency (well, it feels like an emergency to the kiddo). More on this subject later.
  A few months ago we decided to mix it up a little. We saw a movie and much to our surprise, it was fun. We opted for the caramel corn and a large icee. I spent a few minutes searching for tiny gold flecks in the bucket of caramel corn - reasoning that since we paid $10 for it there must surely be some hidden treasure in there. Nope. Just golden brown, sticky, caramel-y, calorie laden goodness. We savored every bite of that yummy confection without pint sized beggars clamoring for just one more bite. The room was dim and we raised the arm rest between our seats. We snuggled up without little ones trying to pry us apart long enough to squeeze in between us. We whispered, we cuddled, we ate, we laughed, and I think that we may have annoyed the people around us. We sat much closer than we could have in a restaurant - that was my favorite part.

What about you? What are some of your date night favorites?

A Side For All Seasons

  Every gal needs a versatile side dish in her recipe file. This one is so simple that you can adopt it as your no-brainer side. What do I mean by that? After just a few tries you'll be able to make this with your eyes half closed after a night of sleep deprivation. You'll be whipping it up with one hand while slicing hot dogs into bite sized pieces with the other hand, talking on the phone, and using your toes to pick up the paper towels your kids have strewn all over the kitchen floor. All the while you won't even notice the toddler attached to your leg.

Corn Casserole
1 can corn, drained
1 can creamed corn
1 stick butter, melted
1 box jiffy cornbread mix

Mix all ingredients and pour into 9X13 dish. Bake at 350 degrees until set.

Variations:
Add 1 cup sour cream to give your casserole a softer texture
Replace plain corn with mexican corn and mix in 1 cup shredded cheese

This casserole travels well and can be served at room temperature. It's ideal for potlucks as it pairs well with most any meat. It will disppear quickly and you'll get lots of requests for the recipe. My pantry is always stocked with the ingredients for this dish. It's perfect as a last minute addition to family meals. Enjoy!

What did I sign up for?

Boot Camp: Day 1

  My alarm went off at 5:20am. The last time I willingly left my house before 6:00am was on Black Friday - and let me tell you something, that wasn't torture. Boot camp, however, is torture. Maybe I sorta got sucked in. I was excited by my tremendous savings and even patted myself on the back for snagging such a great deal. How bad could it really be? After all the word CAMP is part of the name. Camp brings to mind s'mores, cozy cabins, sing alongs, and crafty projects with BFFs (all things that I thoroughly enjoy). Let me assure you that none of the aforementioned things are part of boot camp. Nope - not one. Skinny friend (name changed to protect the innocent) signed up to go with me but couldn't be there for the first day. So there I was all alone facing certain (no - not death) torture.
As I walked into the un-airconditioned building armed with only a water bottle I asked myself, "What did I sign up for?"

Company's Comin'

Every gal needs a go-to meal for entertaining. If said meal is comfort food - score! If that same meal is made by following a proven no fuss recipe - double score! If that meal can be assembled and put on to cook 6 hours before guests arrive - OK, let's not get carried away with it - but you know what I mean. I love making this pot roast. I also love the fact that it frees me from last minute fussing in the kitchen. I need to take advantage of that eleventh hour adrenaline rush to organize the toy store that materializes in my living room each and every.single.time.we're about to have company. Then I have time to sweep up the smorgasbord of kiddie snacks that has been laid out beneath the dining room table. You know the scene... smooshed things, slimy things, and various unsuspecting animal shaped confections that have been mutilated beyond recognition. Then there's that sticky spot. What could that be? Hmm, for a moment I reason that the sticky spot could prove useful for keeping the toddler still. How long would that sticky spot affix her diaper (and her squirmy self) to the floor? OK, you get the picture. I need a few minutes to tidy up before I open the door to our guests. If I'm lucky I'll have about 90 seconds to change out of my house cleaning clothes (a topic for another day), brush my hair, and maybe even apply some lip gloss.
The doorbell rings, I sweep open the door with a flourish and say,"Y'all come in." They say something about the food smelling delicious and I know that they're right. I've been smelling it for hours and at this point I'm starving. My stomach is clinging to my ribs the same way that a seventh grade boy keeps his back glued to the wall at a junior high dance. I hurry them in. I pop the rolls into the oven and less than ten minutes later we're digging in. I bet you're thinking gee, she sure took the long way around to tell me that this recipe won't stress me out. Well madam, I concur. I always take the long way around. That's just how I roll. That's right, I just used the word concur and the phrase how I roll in the same paragraph. Don't try to understand, just go with it. My mind never stops. I'm engaged in a constant dialogue in my mind and sometimes it slips out. You endured my explanation so onto your reward:

No-Fail Pot Roast

2-3 pound rump roast (just trust me on this -don't try another cut)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 envelope onion or onion-mushroom soup mix
6 peeled medium sized potatoes
1 bag of carrots peeled and cut into halves or thirds
1 pkg fresh green beans washed and ends removed (optional)
salt,pepper,garlic powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large sturdy pot whisk together the soup, soup mix, and 2 cans water. Rub the roast generously with salt (coarse or kosher salt if available),pepper, and garlic powder. Place the roast in the pan with the fatty side facing up (this is important). Salt and pepper your veggies and toss them in. I place potatoes on the bottom and then pile the carrots and green beans on top. Cover tightly with foil. Place in the center of oven and bake for 6 hours. Don't peek, just let the magic happen. After about 3 hours you will smell a magnificent aroma and be convinced that the roast is done. Don't fall for it. When the timer goes off simply remove the pot and let it sit. Just before serving slice the pad of fat off the top of the roast then place the roast on a platter (it will be falling apart) and surround it with the veggies and pour some of the liquid over the top.
Rolls are a must with this meal. When you remove the roast simply pop the rolls in to brown while you arrange the roast and trimmings on the platter. You can serve this with additional side dishes if you like. Some of my favorites are: corn casserole, squash casserole, and just good old fashioned macaroni and cheese. Make one or make 'em all. Do what works for you.

I bit the bullet.

I mulled it over for a long time. I reasoned that it was just too tough to find the right time to begin. Then I heard about a great deal and I bit the bullet. After all, those of you who know me in real life know that I looove a bargain. I'm officially enrolled in fitness boot camp. While I like the idea of a sweet personal trainer who likes to accompany me on leisurely walks while giving me pep talks and then going to Starbucks for low fat drinks - I must face reality. I have plenty of gal pals who do that already and I'm still out of shape. So tomorrow morning I'll be attending my fitness evaluation. Obviously these people have never met me. Hello, you can't evaluate my fitness because I'M NOT FIT! Anyway, I'm sure the morning will be filled with twinges of humiliation and plenty of laughter. No - not the I'm so jovial because this evaluation is more fun than a barrel of monkeys sort of laughter. I'm talking about the gee it's really awkward when you record my BMI and measure the girth of my left thigh sort of laughter. The strangely inappropriate nervous laughter that makes bystanders wonder if I just might be a few fries short of a happy meal. Well obviously I'm not lacking in the french fry department. How do you think I got myself into this state of un-fitness (is that even a word)? I digress. I'm fortunate to have a friend to help me endure this torment although it won't exactly be torturous for her. This is the friend who in a panic one day told me that one of her thighs *might* have touched the other thigh while she was showering. She was appalled. I fought to muster up some sort of sympathy. Honey, my thighs have been close friends since the moment that little stick had two pink lines. As if the moment I announced, "I'm pregnant" my whole body surrendered. It's been downhill since then.
I'll report back to you tomorrow. Right now I have to enjoy what will be my last Krispy Kreme donut for quite a while.

Freebie Alert

What's better than watching a movie in the comfort of your own home? Drumroll please....getting that movie for FREE! Use the code listed below for a free one night rental from a Blockbuster Express kiosk tonight (Monday, June 6).

MONDAYLOVE

If your local grocery store has one of these kiosks you could pick up the movie tonight. When you return it tomorrow you can pick up the ingredients for the no-fail pot roast recipe I'll be sharing tonight. Don't you just love combinig your errands? I do.

Enjoy!

Match Making

I love to play match maker, don't you? I just had an idea for a match made in heaven. I arranged for these little fresh faced beauties

to have a date with a hunk (of roast). They'll be spending some quality time together at one of my favorite hot spots - my oven. This match is a recipe for happy bellies.

I'll be sharing this no-fail recipe for pot roast and an introduction to my blog soon.  Won't you come back and join me?