Gratituesday: My God Is An Awesome God!

How was GOD great, in 2008? (OH, I am a poet!)

Here is how God was great in a nut shell!

1- New Job for my Hubby after 16 yrs at one place!
2- My Old Job back (up until last sunday :-( to help me bring in money for our family!
3- A great YIELD in our garden! Enough to share with many!!!!!
4- Over 200 LBS of apples from our adopted Grandparents! (this ='s over 150 jars of apple sauce!)
5- Making great new friends!
6-Showing me the way to eat "CLEAN" this year has made a huge difference in my family! PLUS, I got to meet so many Woman on blogs here online who are a great support when I feel those around me are LAUGHING at me!
7- the finances to purchase my WONDERFUL Kitchenaid (ok, so that is a really selfish "THANK GOD" thing, but come on I bless my family with it daily!)
8- My ETSY shop selling lots... bringing me to over 360 sales!
9- Did I mention great friendships, in real life and online?????
and Number 10-
Giving me my wonderful family on more year, with out sickness, accidents, etc.... Showing me that my children and my husband are the greatest people here on earth, and I shouldn't take advantage of that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

Read more HOW GOD WAS GREAT IN 2008 at heavenlyhomemakers.com

These are the cutest kids EVER!!!!

OK, maybe I am ALITTLE bias... but I just think... HOW did I make such cute kids????

OK, so our christmas this year was pretty good!

Small gathering on the EVE at my inlaws because my hubbies sister and family couldn't come... so we were only 14 people instead of 18! (of course my family makes up 6 of those!)

The kids LOVED what the grandparents gave them on Christmas Eve so that is always wonderful! AND my favorite gift (I only got 4 of them, so it was a HARD CHOICE!) was a NEW cutting Mat from my Brother in Law! HMMMM, how did he know mine was getting old???!!!!

Yesterday I hosted Christmas at my house and it went off PRETTY well... ALL except for the NERF BALL SHOOTING GUNS my MOTHER got for 5 hyper, crazy, must be strung up by their toe nails, boys.... all between the ages of ALMOST 7 to 10 HELLO, what on EARTH was she thinking..... UMMM, I DON'T THINK THAT SHE WAS!!!!!!!!!! The balls were flying everywhere and my 31 yr old BROTHER, started shooting them out of his MOUTH of all things.... OH, how I was glad when they finally STOPPED!

I also invited a good friend of mine and her family over for dinner with all of us, because they didn't have plans! (HELLO GABBI!) They SAID they had a good time, but maybe in the future the truth will come out and they will tell us that my family SCARED THEM! We are like the Griswalds meet Disfunction! BUT, after the night was done and everyone left.... we were happy to have had the chance to hang out with everyone and also happy that NOTHING go broken, all except for Lucas' necklace that my nephew kept pulling off of luke's neck! (this is the same kid who ripped Trevor's Shirt off his body last christmas! UGH<>

SOOO, all in all it was a faily good christmas this year! Always a good time of the year to thank God for all that he does and all that he gives!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Merry Merry Merry Christmas!

It's the MOST wonderful time of the year........

I want you all to sing that all day today and tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sing it loud, Sing it proud!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas everyone!

My Rules!

OK, today after reading another blog, I thought of some RULE'S I think EVERYONE should follow and but that some people DO NOT!

When you BORROW something.... Give it back in BETTER shape then your borrowed it in!

When you BREAK something that you are BORROWING.... REPLACE IT!!!!!!

I truly believe in borrowing things that you NEED and Lending out things that others need! BUT there are SOME PEOPLE in my life that I just have decided to NOT LEND THING TO! They NEVER return them in a timely manner, they NEVER clean what they borrow, AND sometimes the item comes back broken!!!! I really believe GOD gives to those who care for others property!

IT goes like this.....
While we rented an apartment when first married.... we took care of it like our own house... we didn't eat in the livingroom, we cleaned up every spill, we didn't damage anything! BECAUSE I would tell my husband "I want a house one day and GOD will not provide that if you don't care for others housing!" ALSA, 3 months into our marriage we got our first home! Then after 5 yrs, we sold that home.... After caring for it and fixing it up, we made 45,000 on it! Yes, you read that right..... we bought it for 90,000 and 5 yrs later sold it for 143,000.... so after Relitor fees, we made that much money!!! So great to have to use when we built our new home! BUT we HAD TO RENT while we built! SO, back to renting and back to treating it like our own! This time though we had 3 children when renting! We found a great duplex in the middle of the country to rent (this is where we pick our hundreds of pounds of apples from each year)
To this VERY DAY, we have been their FAVORITE renters EVER! (and they have rented to others in 3 different duplex's for YEARS and YEARS! WHY you might ask.... BECAUSE we cared for their place!!!!! We were LENT this great home to keep our family in and we TOOK CARE OF IT like our OWN!!!!!!!!!!!

OK, that was a long tangent, but I think you catch my drift!

SOOOO, one of my top rules just follows the GOLDEN RULE we all grew up hearing!

OH, and also when walking somewhere like the mall, DON'T just STOP in the middle of the walking area to DO SOMETHING... this is one of my BIGGEST PET PEEVES!!!! Move to the side.... we do not ever STOP in the middle of the freeway to Tie our kids shoes!!!!!!!!

Doll bottoms everywhere are being diapered!

OK, so this morning, I did some adding up of HOW MANY doll diapers I sold JUST on ETSY!

So far this month I have sold 104 diapers.... that is 1 more than what I sold Jan-Oct..... (Nov. I sold 87)

WOW~~~~ Who ever though that there would be such a need for doll's bottoms to be covered!

You can check out my MANY MANY prints HERE.....

SOOOO, huge thanks to ETSY this month for the chance to COVER UP all those bare bottoms!!!!!

Gratituesday: My KITCHENAID MIXER!!!!!

If I have said it once, I have said it a thousand times.... EVERYONE NEEDS A KITCHENAID!

I got my first one for a wedding gift from my inlaws.... at first I didn't use it often, maybe 4-5 times a month TOPS! But as the years went on, I began using it more and more (could be that the babies came!)

One day last spring I turned my old one on and it started to make a grinding noise, which scared me because it A: was now 9 yrs old and B: because we use it ALL THE TIME, and I knew apple sauce season would be coming soon and that we would be using it A LOT!!!!

SOOO for mothers day/my birthday I got a new one! AND I AM IN LOVE WITH IT!

I use it pretty much ATLEAST once a day on average!

I love the PTO's that we have for it..... The shredder, the meat grinder, the ice cream maker, the strainer (the best thing to have for making apple sauce as seen HERE.....)

I am not sure I would be as good of a baker/cook with out it.... it is like that 3rd arm we all wish that we had!

SOOO, if you do not have a KITCHENAID mixer yet... put it on your wish list and find a way to get yourself one! ALSO, keep a look out at your friends mixer... maybe they will get a new one and you can have their old one!!!! (YOU ARE WELCOME GABBI!!!!) OH, and if you wait for a good deal you can get one for a great price... I know we just gave my MIL one for $103, a really nice one that was ONSALE at Kohls the day after thanksgiving!!!!! (with 15% off and rebates it was a steal!)

Read more Gratituesday at heavenlyhomemakers

First Hair Cut.....

Do you think she will be traumatized for LIFE????

My Favorite Sandwich Bread!

(WHY does it upload photos sideways???? I have tried 7 times and this is just the way it will have to stay since I can't fix it... anyone know how??????????)

OK, after many trial and errors and many loaves of bread my hubby didn't want to eat... I took my recipe and changed it up a bit to get a soft roll like bread that my hubby actually likes ALMOST as much as store bread! I love White Whole Wheat Flour from King Arthur. I also use their unbleached flour. Someday I will have a grain mill of my own and life with be rainbows and bluejays! But for now, this is the flour I am IN LOVE WITH! You can also use Honey instead of sugar, but we really don't care for the taste ourselves. To know if the water is WARM enough, I stick my pinky in it and if it is hot, but not too hot on the pinky (like you don't want to pull it out right away) then that is the PERFECT WARM for yeast! OH, I almost forgot... sometimes if I have POTATO WATER (water saved from cooking potatoes in) I will use that in place of the water. Yeast LOVE the starch!

My Favorite Sandwich Bread
6 C. Flour (3 unbleached, 3 Whole Wheat)

1/4 C. Melted Butter
1 C. Warm Milk
1 C. Warm Water

1 t. Salt
1 T. Yeast
3 T. Sugar
Put 1/2 the warm water in the mixing bowl. In remaining water, add 1 T. sugar and yeast. Add Warm milk, sugar, butter, and salt to mixing bowl. Add 3 C. Flour and begin mixing. When yeast mixture is bubbly, add to bowl. Add 2 more cups of Flour. Mix well. Slowly add remaining cup of flour until dough is no longer sticky. Knead for 5 min. Turn into greased bowl and let rise 1 hr. Punch down and form into 2 bread loaves. Let rise 45 min. Put into cold oven and turn oven onto 350. Cook for 30 min. Take out, brush with butter and put back into the oven for another
5 min. Turn onto cooling racks

DO NOT SHOP WITH THESE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!

emtcompany


Today I am doing my CIVIL duty to warn people about a SCAM type of SITE on the internet!

I say SCAM because they SAY they offer a 30 Days Money back Satisfaction Guarantee!!!

I ordered a NEW battery for my Cell Phone (IT WOULDN'T TAKE A CHARGE), I ordered a Hands Free Set for my Cordless Home Phone (THE MICROPHONE DID NOT WORK), I ordered a Blue tooth for my Cell phone that wouldn't Pair with ANY PHONE we could get our hands on! (We tried at least a Dozen phones, all different!)

SOOOO I wrote to them and they told me this.....

We offer 30 days money back for any reason. If you're unable to use the product then please send it back to the following address for a full refund: Emtc, Inc.2212 S Fairview StreetSanta Ana, CA 92704

Note: Please write 8BJ40691VL072733K outside of the return package so we may process your refund accordingly.

Sincerely,Paul Godwin

OK, so I do this, Mail it back and WAIT AND WAIT.... So yesterday I email them letting them know that I sent back the package and was wondering when I would receive my refund....

Today I open my email to this.....

We have cancel and refunded the transaction as requested. Hope all is well.

Sincerely,Paul Godwin

SOOO, I emailed them back right away and asked them WHY I only received 1/2 of my money!

I call them a SCAM, because when you order 3 things from a company and NONE of them work, makes you wonder what kind of company it is!!!!!!!!!

I will update with any future information!

What's New Wednesday??!!

What is NEW?!?!?!?!?!

1. Christmas is soooooo close I can taste it, AND I am scared! Scared I will not ge done all the things I need to GET DONE!!!!! Besides having to keep up with my ETSY shop, I have an order for 2 child quilts, 3 MY FIRST purses (ok, finished ONE the other night!), 2 MORE backpacks (I have already delivered 2) and that is JUST FOR PEOPLE at work! Then for my own gifts to give, I have to make ATLEAST 5 sports bags.... (smaller version of my laundry bags) BUT I would LOVE to get my boys done also, so that is 7 bags!
2. Atleast the christmas cookies are DONE!
3. I am having MY SIDE of the family over HERE for christmas... YES, call me crazy, but I just hate the complaining my mother does when she HAS to have it at her house!
4. I HAVE NOT EVEN STARTED CHRISTMAS CARDS YET....HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5. I finally went to see Jim's new work... the people were really nice and they are all in love with me... (I send baked goods on fridays for their big LUNCH!)
6. I have the worst cold ever! I am even medicating it... which I HATE doing! Now of course my head is in a fog.... UGH, you can never win!
7. My kids are in their first christmas play at church! They are all excited and the grandparents are all coming to see them! I even took off work so I could go (YES, sometimes you have to be a good mommy!)
8. I have lots of boxes of STUFF to wrap up for my kids gifts... This year we are ONLY doing handmade for them.... so I have traded on etsy and bought somethings... and made some things..... Hopefully they won't be TOOOO let down...LOL! Of course SANTA will bring something from the store... Just have NO IDEA what that will be yet! Of course they will all get NEW sweatshirts I am sure... since that is SANTA'S tradition at our house!
9. Have I mentioned my cold.....???????????????
10. OH, the best news ever! I bought MORE flannel today! LOL! LOTS AND LOTS of flannel! FOR making LOTS AND LOTS of diapers with....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is all, I can't think of anything that is NEW here!
Anything NEW with YOU??????????????

Gratituesday: Kleenex!

Runny Nose, Runny Nose, Runny Noses EVERYWHERE!!!!!

Need I say more????????

AND really WHERE does it all come from?????????????

Read more gratituesday at heavenlyhomemakers

Here is a great RUNNY NOSE POEM I found on the NET!!!!

I've got a runny nose!

By Denise O'Hara

I've got a runny nose!

It never seems to stop!

I wipe it with a tissue;

I've used three boxes up!

I've got a runny nose.

I blow and blow some more.

I need a box of tissue;

Oh! Now I've used up four!

I've got a runny nose.

I sniffle, snort, and sneeze.

Oh, dear! It's running faster now!

Quick! Pass the tissue, please.

What?! There is no tissue left

For my runny nose?

But it's running, running, running

Faster than a garden hose!

Oh, let me look all through the house

To see what I can find;

Oh, no, I can't use that stuff!

That stuff's for my behind!

I've got a runny nose.

I've rested like I should.

I've taken all my medicine.

I think I'm feeling good.

I had a runny nose.

It finally, finally stopped.

But instead of feeling better,

My runny nose is all plugged up!

One of my FAVORITE Crock Pot Recipes!!!!

This truly is one of the simplest crock pot recipes EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My 8 yr old makes this, it is that easy!!!!!!!!!

Crock Pot Chicken With Black Beans and Cream Cheese

Ingredients
4-5 boneless chicken breasts
1 (15 1/2 ounce) can black beans
2 C. Corn
1 (15 ounce) jar salsa, any kind
4 ounces cream cheese

Directions
Take 4-5 frozen, yes, frozen, boneless chicken breasts put into crock pot.
add 1 can of black beans, drained, 1 jar of salsa, corn. (if using canned, drain first)
Keep in crock pot on high for about 4-5 hours or until chicken is cooked.
Add cream cheese (just throw it on top!) and let sit for about 1/2 hour.
All done and enjoy!

I pull mine out before adding the cream cheese and shred the chicken and put it back... then add the cream cheese! We love to eat this with black bean tortilla chips!!!!!!!! Super easy and super good!!!! This is also a great dip (when chicken is shredded) to bring to a party!

PUMPKIN ROLL! YUM!

SOOO, do you have a freezer full of pumpkin like I do, or a can in your pantry because you never got around to making the PIE you were going to make????

Here is a WONDERFUL and easy recipe for you to use up some of that pumpkin!!!!!!!

Pumpkin Roll
3 Eggs

2/3 C. Pumpkin
1 t. Baking Soda

1 C. Sugar
1 t. salt

1/2 t. Cinnamon
3/4 C. Flour
Filling:
8 oz. Cream Cheese

2 T. Butter
1 C. Powdered Sugar

1 t. vanilla
Mix all the cake ingredients together. Spread into a Parchment Paper lined cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 15 min. Sprinkle top with powdered sugar, then flip onto dish towel. Pull off parchment and sprinkle with more sugar. Roll up like a jellyroll in the dish towel. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
Meanwhile, mix together
Filling ingredients.
Unroll; spread filling on
roll and roll again without
the towel. Place in
plastic wrap. Refrigerate.

Can be wrapped tight and frozen for up to 3 months!!!!

(why does blogger sometimes rotate our photos for us???? and how do you rotate them back?)

Visit passionatehomemaking for a nutritious Freezer Meal Carnival that is going on right now!!!!

THURSDAY CHALLENGE!!!!

JUST ONE DAY LATE>>>>>>>>

OK, I want you to start your HOLIDAY TO DO list if you already haven't done that!
~What else do you need to get done? BE SPECIFIC!
*Cards mailed out?
*Gifts Bought?
*Food Decided on, When will you prepare it?
*Visits planned?
*Parties planned?
*RSVP's make for things you were invited to?
*Cleaning planned?
*Decorating done?
*Outfits bought?
*Gifts wrapped?
*etc......

If you do this NOW, there will be less stress in the next 20 days... YES, that is right,
Christmas is 20 days away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You can head HERE for some great checklists (PDF files)
One great one is the HOLIDAY TO DO LIST!
They also have one for starting a CASH savings for christmas next year!

She has one of my favorite sites and you can sign up for FREE for emails from her!
Teaching how to SHOP AT HOME FIRST!!!!!!!

SUPER FANTASTIC COOKIES!!!

OK, I made these super yummy cookies that I found on the web....
They are
Milk Chocolate GingerSnaps

AND you can find the recipe RIGHT HERE it is the VERY TOP cookie!
Don't they look wonderful??????

Look forward to some more RECIPES from me very soon... as today I am making christmas cookies with my sister......

Gratituesday: ETSY

OK, so today I really need to be grateful for ETSY and the opportunity it has given to me!

These last few weeks have been filled with sales and I couldn't be happier! November was my best month ever and I give all the credit to God! YES, God,.... for I prayed and prayed and asked him to do with my shop what he see's fit.... it is funny how that works...WAY back in July I did the same thing and up until November, JULY had been my BEST month! Why you ask don't I just do that all the time... WELL, I have no idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BUT I am handing it over to him again this month and so far with 4 sales, I think he is SOOO in-control!!!!!!!!!!!!

SO on this Gratituesday, I guess in a nut shell, I am grateful for the internet....LOL, but really I am grateful for ETSY!!!!!

Read more gratituesday over at heavenlyhomemakers

YUMMMMM YUMMMMM!

Today I want to share with you one of my favorite recipes for HFCS FREE candy!!!!!

THIS is super duper yummy and keeps in the fridge for a few months!

AND if you pour this into a larger pan, it is very thin and you can coat it with chocolate... it is just like a HEATH BAR!!!!!

Old Fashioned Butterscotch Candy
2 C. Sugar 2/3 C. Heavy Cream
2/3 C. Water Pinch cream of tartar
6 T. Butter, cut into small pieces
1/2 t. Vanilla extract
Place sugar in a large saucepan; add cream and water, and stir until the sugar dissolves. Add a pinch of tartar, place over medium heat and boil the mixture very slowly until it reaches the soft-ball stage-240 F on a candy thermometer. Add the butter and boil the mixture until it reaches the soft-crack stage-280 F on the thermometer.
Remove the pan from the heat and add the vanilla. Pour mixture into a deep, buttered 7" square pan. When the butterscotch is nearly cold, use the point of a knife to mark it into squares.
When it is quite cold and set, break it up and wrap each piece in wax papaer,
and keep the candy in an airtight container. ( I don't do the wrapping in wax paper, I just put it into the container!)

REMEMEBER******* Once sugar is disolved, it will RE-crystalize if a sugar crystal gets in there... so make sure you get a clean spoon once it is disolved all the way! I like to put a cover on the pan for a few min. while boiling the mixture before the SOFT ball stage! This helps get all the sugar off the sides of the pan**********

BIG BRAG ABOUT TO BE TOLD!!!!!!!

I HIT 300 SALES NOT BY THE END OF THE YEAR,

BUT BY THE END OF NOVEMBER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CAN I JUST SAY, WOW, GOD IT GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can I just BRAG a moment????

OH, it doesn't matter if you don't want me to... I am going to do it anyways!
Yesterday I not only sold 15 Doll Diapers, but I also sold an I spy quilt and a small I spy blanket. All in one day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yippie, God is soooo good! I was afraid I made my GOAL of hitting 300 sales by the end of the year tooooo steep, but I am already at 282, so maybe not a hard to reach goal after all!
THANKS for letting me brag a moment... I am just so excited!

Gratituesday: Shutterfly

Do any of you use shutterfly???
Today I am grateful for their photo books!

I find that I do not have much time anymore for scrapbooking and their photo books are the PERFECT thing to do instead of scrapbook!

The downside for me is that I have DIAL UP and it takes forever and ever to do each page... in fact I was at it for more than 2 1/2 hours...

but I am now done and our TRIP TO SOUTH DAKOTA is now in a perfect little book that will soon be on the way to my house...

NO scrapbook supplies used, NO cutting, NO writting, NOTHING!

Just pick up photos and DROP them into place!

If you have never tried it, run there and check it out!

Check out more gratituesdays at heavenlyhomemakers

Spring at my house?????

YES- you read that right... SPRING as sprung here... at least in my kitchen it has!

This is what I wandered into the kitchen to see on Sunday Morning! What a glorious gift from God!

Just thought I would share the WARMTH (oh and this morning I woke up to snow!!!!!!!! Just not in the kitchen!)

Also, I am making APPLE BUTTER in the crock pot today... my house smells so yummy, I can't wait to CAN this later and eat it up over the next couple of months! I will also be giving some pints away for christmas! AND since we canned the apple sauce with FREE apples, the out of pocket cost is very little (with the exception of the jar!)

Can you smell the cinnamon from there??????????

Cockpot Apple Butter

8 C. apple sauce

4 C. Sugar

4 t. cinnamon

2 t. allspice

2 t. nutmeg

2 t. cloves

Stir altogether and place in a crockpot, cover off, turned on high for 6-7 hours.

Fill pint jar and hotwater bath for 10 min.

Can also be frozen or stored in the fridge for a month.

Just think, this on top of pancakes with some whipping cream whipped up! YUM, apple pie for sure!!!!!!! OR spread on some homemade apple bread......Look for this recipe in the near future! It is a long time favorite at our house!

THURSDAY CHALLENGE!!!!

Ok, it has been a few weeks since a THURSDAY CHALLENGE!!!!!
So here is one to get your butt movin' for Chirstmas time....!

START YOUR GIFT LIST.... if you don't have one already!
You don't want to OVERSPEND or buy more than you meant to, or FORGET someone!

Start with a budget first.... (here is a SHEET you can use! you can break it down using THIS )
-what do you have to spend in the first place????? DO NOT CHARGE GIFTS!!!! NO ONE wants you to go into debt just to IMPRESS THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So be honest about what you have to spend!
-Figure out what you can MAKE to give away! This will save Money and it will IMPRESS others!
*Cookie mix in a jar
*Baked Goods
*Sew Something for them
*Put together a book of your favorite recipes

ALSO here is SITE with gift ideas under $10!!!!!!

Start this NOW before you budget gets out of hand!!!! Stick to it!!!! It will feel SOOOO GOOD when the new year comes and you DON'T get a Credit Card Bill in the mail making you feel horrible about the holidays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Remember to give of YOURSELF this holiday season!!!! People like to receive services! Give your friends and family YOURSELF!
Coupons for babysitting, a COOKIE of the month club, a Meal of the month club (this is great for family members or BUSY moms!), A girls night out, A Day of helping them Clean up, etc.....
You know what you are good at.... JUST DO IT, instead of BUY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW, where have I been?????

AND, did anyone miss me??????
Life has been turning so quickly lately.......
Jim's new job started last monday and that threw a whole new change into our lives... NO LONGER do we eat at 4:45, but now at 5:45..... AND I now have to do most of the homework BEFORE Jim gets home from work.... again, big change takes awhile........
I have also been really busy getting ready for a craft fair I am doing on Saturday THIS WEEK!!!! UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AM I READY?????????? I DON'T KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Doll Diapers have been selling like MAD in my Etsy shop... which is keeping me way tooo busy!
AND the girls have been into reading and painting lately, so that keeps my mouth busy and my hands cleaning up busy!!!!!!!!!!!!

AND I know things will not slow down until after the holidays, because my TO DO LIST for gifts to make and things to make that others have bought is just getting longer and longer.....
DON'T GET ME WRONG, I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And it is what I have been praying about, so I am in no means complaining.... just venting!!!!!!!!!!!!

Better run to sew some more!!!!!!!!! LOL! How many doll diapers will I get done this afternoon??????

WOW, this lady does great work!!!!!!!

I was contacted by a woman on etsy because she NEEDED some Doll Diapers for her daughter.... and wanted to trade! SOOOO, here is what she made for me! and I am sending her 4 doll diapers and a girls apron in return! Isn't it super cute! She is sending me 20 blank cards!

You can find her shop HERE on etsy.... Her shop name is finalidesign !!!!!!

They look just like my kids! (well, maybe the oldest girl should be a TAD taller, but other than that.... I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I might just have to get a BIG print done of it!!!!!!!!!

TOOTSIE ROLLS

Alright, who loves tootsie rolls???? I know I USED to love them! They used to be one of my MOST FAVORITE candies!!!!!!!!! But after reading the lable one day, I had to GIVE THEM UP!

here is what the REAL ONES... have in them....

INGREDIENTS:Sugar, corn syrup, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, condensed skim milk, cocoa, whey, soya lecithin, artificial and natural flavors

Here is what mine have in them.....

1 C. Sugar

1/2 C. Sugar syrup (homemade-like corn syrup)

1/4 C. Butter

1/4 C. Cocoa

1/4 C. Sweetened Condensed Milk

2 T. Water

1/2 t. vanilla

Pinch of salt

No corn syrup, no HYDROGENATED oils, no whey, no soya lecithin, and NO artificial flavors!!!!

THEY were hard to make though, I will tell you that! This is what it did to my hands after the first 10 min of pulling and twisting the candy! (see the NICE little blister??? OUCH!)

AND they were very hard to twist and pull the second time around... and hard to roll into snakes! BUT they do taste yummy, so I will maybe do them again someday!!!!!!!!!!!! For now we will slowly eat our yummy candy and make it last!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**********************UPDATE****************

These things were good when they were first done! BUT they got all dry and crumbly after sitting in a container for a few hours... GGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRR!!! I will have to try that again!!!!!!!!

I also made ENGLISH MUFFINS today! YUMMY! I will have to do a tutorial on those next time I make them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I did learn that the VERY BEST way to cut them is to NOT cut them at all, but to "CUT" them with a fork! Poking it is all around it! VERY AIRY! YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

RUN RUN RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Run to this womans BLOG(one of my most favorite blogs out there I must add!) and check out her giveaway for her Year Web-aniversary!
It features ME ME ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Run there and check it out!
I feel soooo darn privilaged I could cry!
PLUS you will get a chance to win a TOTE from ME ME ME!

Gratituesday: A NEW JOB!!!!

Ok, not to beat a dead horse, but my hubby GOT THE JOB!!!!!!! YES, you heard me right! GOT THE JOB!!!!!

Life will change around here starting next Monday and MONEY will be VERY TIGHT for awhile while we have to pay our $900 Health ins. ourselves for 2 months (who has that kind of money lying around????) BUT I know GOD is in control and that this is an answer to our prayers! SOOO I will put it all in his hands and let him have that control! I will NOT worry about things and when I start to, I will PRAY!!!!!

THANKS to all who prayed for my hubby last week!

Good things are happening all around us!

Take the time to notice them!!!!!!!!!!!!

Read more gratituesday at heavenlyhomemakers

Halloween FUN!

So here is what my children ended up looking like before we headed out to trick or treat!!!

Aren't they CUTE!!!????

And for Supper, here is our Halloween supper!

Bones and Blood

(Parmesan flat bread and sauce)

Brains in a Skull

(mashed potatoes in a Cabbage Leaf)

Frankenstiens Guts

(Canned meat)

It was the best I could come up with because I procrastinated until yesterday... maybe next year I will brainstorm further in advance!

Of course, my kids scored lots of candy even though we only hit maybe 15 houses or so in our old neighborhood (where we both grew up!) I made them pool it all together this morning and then kept only the chocolate and some WHITE boes that the inlaws gave them.... The rest is heading to my work with me today (the tootsie rolls are going too since they have TRANS FATS in them... OUCH, they used to be my favorite candy!) Only my 6 yr old is upset at the candy leaving... the others (except the 2 yr old who could care less) know that it is for their own good! NOW to find out what is in a butterfinger!

Halloween Feast!!!!

This will be our 3rd halloween with ALL 4 KIDS and it is out 3rd annual Halloween Feast!

Each Halloween we eat a feast of FUN YUCKY GROSS food!

Our first year we ate.....

~~~~~DRUM ROLL PLEASE~~~~~

Pumpkin shaped buns with GUTS inside

(Buns made in a pumpkin mold pan & sloppy joes)

Fingers with Blood Dip

(red dyed dill dip)

Deviled Eye Balls

(green dyed filling with black sprinkles)

Throw-up

(cheese sauce with veggies)

SLUMP (swamp drink)

(Chocolate milk with whipping cream)

The kids LOVED it!!!!

Our Second year we ate......

Green Sea Serpent

(green dyed bread with sloppy joes)

Witches Hair with Lice

(Black dyed noodles with parm cheese)

Toothy Smiles

(apples with p-nut butter and marshmallows)

Frozen Blood Drink

(Strawberry smoothy!)

Of course this year it will be different because we no longer use DYES.... so I am quickly trying to come up with something SUPER GROSS for our evening supper!

Maybe alittle sewing time will get my brain working!

DO YOU HAVE ANY FUN HALLOWEEN TRADITIONS YOU WANT TO SHARE??????

THURSDAY CHALLENGE!!!!

If the shoe fits....

Wear it or throw it??????

That is the question you need to ask yourself today,

as we explore the depths of our closets!

whether you are like me and have only a Dozen or so pairs of shoes,

or like my good friend Shirley who owns DOZENS and DOZENS of pairs of shoes....

This is a great time of year to GO THROUGH them and get rid of some!

First, get a box to put the shoes in that you aren't going to keep.

Take out each pair and decide if you WANT to keep them and WHY!

Next: If you can't decide, put them on and walk around for alittle bit!

Are they comfortable? Do you REALLY like them? Do you REALLY wear them????

If the answer is that you aren't going to keep them, put them into the box!

When you get done going though all the shoes and you have the pile of the ones you are planning on keeping, figure out how you are going to organize them.

You can put them on little shelves, put them on a shoe rack, line them up on the floor, put the OFF season ones away and just leave out the ones you will wear for this season, etc....

Figure out what is going to work best for you!

You might find as you put them away, that there are a few more shoes that you REALLY aren't going to wear again....

You can then decide what you are going to do with all those shoes....

This is a really great organization to donate all those shoes too...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

soles4souls
Donate New or "Gently Worn" FootwearSend us your shoes! We want the leftovers in your closet. People across North America are cleaning out their closets and shipping their new or gently worn shoes to one of our warehouse facilities or drop them off at one of our participation locations.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If this doesn't work for you, remember you can donate to GOODWILL, the Salvation Army, a needy friend, a local womans shelter, or any other good cause that you can think of!

Remember, PLEASE throw out the shoes that are OVER worn and WORN out!

NOW, take a look at your shoes, doesn't it make you feel good that they are all organized and that you will be helping others out by getting rid of your shoes you no longer love!!!!!

NOVEMBER 10th!!!!!

That is the day my husband starts his new job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YEP, that is right, they loved him even though he doesn't have the training that they wanted a body tech to have... but they said he has a lot of years of experience and a great personality they just couldn't let walk out the door!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am super excited and nervous at the same time! His hours will change.... he will be working in a metro city (St. Paul, MN to be exact!).... he will add to his commute... he will have to learn a whole new shop system.... and he will have to make new friends!

The only bummer (that I am already over) is that our 10 yr anniversary is coming up in March and we had big plans to go up to the Upper Peninsala of Michigan to go Snowmobiling for 5 days... NOW that can't happen because he will go from having 3 wks vacation to having NONE for a year..... BUT that is OK, we will just take a few weekends to our selves..... ;-)

THANKS to everyone who sent up prayers!!!!!!!!!!! GOD IS GOOD!!!!!!!!

Gratituesday: Hopefully a NEW JOB!

Ok, so yesterday I wrote requesting some prayer! and shortly after I posted the post, I looked at the Metro paper in our area and Found a job for my husband to call about! He called right away and was told to call back today (he called yesterday at 10:20) because the 2 owners were out of town. WELL, about 10 minutes later, the lady called him back and left a message on his cell asking him to call back and set up an interview for today! SOOO, right now he is on his way to the job interview (my husband does Auto Body work.) The shop is in the heart of St. Paul, MN and will add about 28 more miles a day to the commute....

I guess right now I am just grateful for the opportunity they are giving him to atleast come in and interview..... they were looking for someone with 3-5 yrs experience and ICAR certified (this is a special hands on training) My husband has 16 yrs of experience but no ICAR, but told them he was MORE THAN WILLING TO GET ALL THE TRAINING he would need! SOOO, lets all fold our hands and pray! Feel free to read yesterdays post for the whole story!!!!!!

Read more gratitusday at heavenlyhomemakers!

Yeah for ME!!!!

I just wanted to brag and say... HA HA HA! I got my comments posted on another bloggers blog (a consumer reports blog of all things!)
comments are here
I am so excited I could scream! I am even getting a TIGHTWAD shirt in the mail! YIPPIE to me!
This is a great new blog guys, check it out!!!!!!!!

PS: he did spell my last name wrong.... and my email was mrs_pennypincher... instead of tightwad, but none the less, it is ME!

Prayer Request!

May I vent first?????

OK, here is the situation in a nut shell!
My Hubby has worked for the same Man (he works in a small Auto Body Shop) for the past 16 yrs.... yes, since he got out of tech School he has worked for this man! He has left 2 times to try other shops, Once 11 yrs ago or so, and once alittle over 2 yrs ago! Each time, he has gone back to the Shop he started at!
Long story short, My hubby makes Squat for money doing what other guys in the same field get paid 2 x's more a yr to do! He stays because his boss has always paid 100% of our Health ins. for our family of 6 (which is now costing his boss $900 a month to do).... Well, his boss has NOT been paying and has been bounching the checks that he does pay the Ins. comp. with!! This now means that we have NO Health coverage for our Family... with 4 kids under 8 yrs, that is SCARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My husband is Angry and ready to walk out with out another job to go to! He has been nothing but GOOD to this man he works for and now being good has gotten him NO WHERE!!!!!!!! His boss also isn't paying my hubby's Long Term Dis. Ins. Premiums, which come right from his paycheck! SOOO, now is boss is STEALING what belongs to my husband and using the money somewhere else!!!!!!!! I am all cried out about this and the stress is wearing on me daily! I am yelling more than I should and snapping at little things when my mind seems to be occupied with the thoughts of everything that is going on!
SOOOO , today I ask that you PRAY for my Husband and our future! Of course, as you know, I am losing my job at the end of the year... making things MORE stressful here! I know God Always provides, but in the same sense, it is scary!! This is just NOT what we need when the economy is falling apart!
It is scary to think that we are ONE major injury away from lossing it all!!!! All because my husband has been faithful to a man who cares not one bit about the people that bust their butt to keep his business going!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So Scared,
Denai

Money Saving Tips

Here are my few tips for saving $$$$$$

1st- be ORGANIZED! Disorganized people spend MORE money than those who are organized... usually they can't find something and end up going out and RE-buying it!

2nd- BORROW things you don't use often and LEND things out that others need! I am a huge advocate of this one! COME ONE, who really uses that HUGE roaster more than 1 or 2 times a year anyways???? OR that Spritz cookie maker or Pull behind Fertilizer Spreader.... Borrow things from friends, it keeps your space clean and SAVES YOU MONEY!!!!
3rd- Plan your menu's! If the average family eats out 2 1/2 times a week, then my family is WAY WAY WAY below average because we only eat out 1 time a MONTH and it is ALWAYS planned (unless someone else is paying, then we are game!) Plan your food menus and you will be less likely to find yourself asking :"WHAT AM I GOING TO MAKE FOR DINNER???" PLUS, with a PLAN in mind when you head to the store; you can save money, by sticking to the list! I like to See what is ON SALE, make my menu and SHOP from home first (what I already have on hand) and then the sale items! ALSO stocking up on your favorite sales items is a great way to save money in the long run!
ALSO, don't buy convenience foods, these just cost more $! Try to buy INGREDIENCE and make your own foods! This saves money and the food TASTES BETTER TOO!!!!!!!

4th- Buy used! Some things must be bought new like Toilet Paper, notebooks, Food.... but lots of things like Clothes, radios, books, cd's, videos, toys, games, etc..... can all be bought USED! Find a good thrift store near you and shop often. My favorite one near me has 25% off on mondays, and 50% off on holidays, NOW, where do you think you can find me about 1 monday a month for an hour or so! OF COURSE, the local thrift store, buying GREAT used things! Think of it as UP-CYCLING instead of buying USED!

5th- Speaking of BOOKS, use that local library of yours! I look and request online and they have the books all ready for me to pick up! HOW great is that???????

As a Stay at home mom of 4 children living on a small 1 person income, and a even smaller part time income of my own; I can tell you, I bake everything from scratch, eat natural foods with NO junk in it, grow a huge garden, and try to buy used when every possible. Only travel to the cities to do shopping once a week and if I forget anything, I wait until the following week or ASK a friend to pick it up if they are heading that way! ( We live 30 miles from the GOOD stores). I teach my children about Wants and Needs and let them know that their NEEDS will always be supplied by us, but sometimes the WANTS their wants are just that; WANTS!
Don't be too proud to say "I CAN'T AFFORD THAT!" when someone is pressuring you to spend money! Or you can always say "I CHOOSE NOT TO AFFORD THAT!" It will keep the money you have in your pocket or the money you don't have from being spent!!!!!

10 Secrets of the Effortlessly Thin

The majority of thin people—whether they have been lean all their life or managed to lose weight and keep it off—share several healthy strategies that help them stay thin and healthy with seemingly little effort.

Here are 10 secrets you need to know in order to join the ranks of the thin.

They don't diet :
Or at least not in the traditional, all-or-nothing, deprivation sense of the word. "You need to get rid of that diet mentality and realize that what you are doing is making a permanent lifestyle change," says Anne Fletcher, M.S., R.D., author of the Thin for Life book series. She adds, "You do have to cut back on calories if you want to stay thin, but it's about reassessing what you eat and being more sensible in your choices, not about a quick-fix, crazy diet." Research has also shown that thin people tend to have a better quality diet than those who are overweight. They eat more fruits and vegetables and more fiber, and drink more water—all healthy things that provide more food volume for the number of calories.

They keep track of their weight:
Thin people know how much they weigh, and they monitor that number by stepping on the scale frequently. It's not about a having an unhealthy fixation on that number on the scale, but it's a way to catch a 5-pound gain before it suddenly turns into a 20-pound gain. "Aim to keep your weight within a five-pound range, and if you see it go above that buffer zone, make sure you have an immediate plan of action for how to address it," suggests Fletcher.

They exercise regularly:
"In my research, 9 out of 10 people who've lost weight and maintained it exercise regularly and make it a critical part of their lives," says Fletcher. Even if you've never been a fitness fanatic, it's not too late to get moving. Even taking a few 15-minute walks throughout the day will be a move in the right direction. Once you start to enjoy the mood-boosting and calorie-burning advantages of exercise, start looking for ways to keep your workouts interesting. Join a local gym and try a variety of classes and cardio machines, find friends to walk with, or experiment with at-home exercise DVDs.

They don't solve problems with food:

Almost everyone is guilty of occasionally drowning their sorrows in a pint of Ben & Jerry's or taking out frustration on a batch of brownies, but thin people definitely don't make it a habit. "They tend not to eat purely for emotional reasons," says Fletcher. When you are upset (or bored, lonely, frustrated or angry), she suggests asking yourself: Is food really going to solve the problem, or will it just end up making you feel worse after you finish eating? Chances are, the food won't fix what's bothering you, so it's important to come up with a list of other small pleasures you can turn to instead of food. Some ideas include going for a walk, watching a movie, calling a friend, playing with your kids, or taking a bubble bath.

They stop eating when they're full:
Most thin people are not members of the clean-plate club. Instead of mindlessly eating however much they are served, they pay attention to internal hunger cues and satiety. "Thin people are tuned into noticing when they are satisfied, and they stop eating even if there is food left," says Jill Fleming, M.S., R.D., author of Thin People Don't Clean Their Plates (Inspiration Presentations Press, 2005). "They often report that they don't like that feeling of being uncomfortably full, so they've learned how to stop before they reach it."

They don't surround themselves with temptation:
Rather than stocking the cupboards with junk food, thin people's kitchens tend to be filled with healthy foods. That doesn't mean you can never have any indulgences in the house, just that you shouldn't have so many that you're likely to overeat them. For example, if you love to bake, give most of your sweets away to friends, or have your kids bring them to school or soccer practice, leaving just a few behind to enjoy yourself.

They allow themselves treats:
It's the opposite of the deprivation mentality that many overweight (but dieting) people espouse: Thin people let themselves eat what they crave, sometimes even indulging in a treat every day. "The difference is that they do it consciously, choosing exactly what they really want to eat and then eating slowly and enjoying it," says Fleming. So if it's chocolate you want, don't try to eat around the craving with an array of foods that don't really satisfy you. Instead, allow yourself to have a small but really delicious chocolate bar and put the craving to rest.

They eat breakfast:
According to the National Weight Control Registry, which tracks the habits and strategies of more than 5,000 people who have maintained a significant weight loss, nearly 80 percent of these successful losers eat breakfast every single day. And most of their naturally lean counterparts do the same, and make sure that eat within about an hour of waking up. "Breakfast is literally breaking the fast of the night," says Fleming. "Until you send food into your system, your metabolism doesn't really start to kick in."

They move, stand and fidget more:

"Thin people are rarely sitting," says Fleming. Beyond their regular fitness routines, they simply move around more—and consequently burn more calories—throughout the day. And a study at the Mayo Clinic confirmed this: Researchers found that on average, a group of lean subjects sat for two hours a day less than the obese subjects, potentially burning up to 350 additional calories.

They don't skip meals:
There are two problems with skipping meals—and thin people are careful not to fall prey to them. Going more than six hours without food will slow down your metabolism, plus you'll likely get so desperately hungry that you'll grab anything (as opposed to something healthy) and eat too much of it. "Thin people keep their gas tanks [i.e., their stomachs] between one-quarter and three-quarters full all the time," says Fleming. The best way to do that is to eat frequent mini-meals every three to four hours.

By Sally Wadyka for MSN Health & Fitness

All this information can be found HERE On MSN Health & Fitness

Gratituesday: Kids and Reading!

I think it is the BEST that when I walk into a room and find my middle two children sitting this close together and not fighting; but rather reading together! What a blessing it is!

Every night we ask our childern what their favorite part of the day was, and VERY often my oldest says, "Listening to mom read" or " finishing my Book I was reading"..... oh the feelings can't be discribed! I can only hope that they will keep reading and enjoying it!

Read more Gratituesday at heavenly homemakers

OUR FALL TRADITION....

Every year since our oldest was little, we have gone to a place called AFTON APPLE! We usually pick some apples (which we didn't this year since we decided to pick raspberries instead!) WE always take a photo of the kids by this sign.... (it is fun to see how they have grown) and we take a Hay Ride around the orchard! My Husband actually worked in the orchard when he was MUCH younger, so it is very fun for him to go back year after year to see how much they have expanded and grown!

Do you have any YEARLY FALL traditions that you ALWAYS do????

Kids and the CHORE WAR!

Today I thought I would share with you what we have done to help stop the arguing that happens when dinner time chores come along! The kids used to say "I SET THE TABLE YESTERDAY, WHY DO I ALWAYS HAVE TO SET IT?" or they would say "I JUST VACUUMED THE FLOOR, I AM NOT DOING IT AGAIN!" or they would say "I AM ALWAYS THE ONE WHO HAS TO HELP CLEAR THE TABLE!!!" So I got sick of listening to it about 1 1/2 ago and made up a chore chart! It used to say MOM & DAD where Kaylin's name now is! BUT even at 2 1/2 she does her chore to the best of her ability!!! There is HELP WITH SUPPER, VACUUM THE FLOOR, HELP WITH DISHES, and SET THE TABLE! We also have whoever is supposed to help with supper, bring the compost out to the garden! There has been NO MORE arguing and it has brought peace to the meal time prep work!

I made the chart in the PRINT SHOP program. 1 Large Circle, 1 Small divided into pie shapes (this would work for any size family! Just break it down into as many pies as you need!)

I then Laminated it with just the STICK ON LAMINATE, and attached the two together with a Brad. Now each day we just turn it clockwise and NO MORE FIGHTING!!!!! By the way, I taped a Large Magnetic Business card to the back so it sticks on the fridge!

This would work for any chores or such..... We used to have one for TOOTH BRUSHING at night... because they would argue about that too! One circle chart with #1,#2,#3,#4 and their names in the middle, that way they just brushed in order!

THURSDAY CHALLENGE!!!!

Get out those Vacuums ladies, it is time to Dive into the Couch!!!!!!!!

What is Growing under those cushions girls?????

When did you last eat cherrios in there????

OH, that is where that piece of the puzzle went to!

Pick up all those little things!

THROW THEM OUT!!! (Oh, but keep the change!)

Now turn on that vacuum and suck up all the tiny things!

NOW, put back on the cushions and take delight in the clean couch!

OH, and don't forget to look UNDER the couch....

You NEVER know what you might find under there!

HEY, an NO MORE popcorn on the couch... OK, just kidding, I won't take all the fun out of your TV TIME!

What's New Wednesday??!!

Nothing.... Nothing is new.... I can't believe it!
I am STILL working 31 hour weekends, with 4 hours of driving and 5 hours of sleep a night... can you say CRABBY on mondays!!!!!!
I am STILL working on sewing enough for a craft fair on Nov. 22nd.
I am STILL baking up a storm and finishing freezing pumpkin from the garden!
I am STILL cleaning the house daily because of 4 little rug rats!
I am STILL hanging clothes on the line until it gets to cold to touch the wet clothes (gloves and clothespins don't work together!
OH, I know something NEW... I have decided to NOT go to the Hearts @ Home conference.... because we can't really afford for me to take off of work for 2 days of a weekend, and My boss pretty much told me that he NEEDS me that weekend because the train is busy! I am sad about not going as it is the most fun to be had all year! BUT I will look forward to NEXT year!
I am STILL trying to figure out what I will do when my job is OVER! I heard that there are now 2 1/2 people for every job available! THAT is SCARY!!!!!!! Maybe I should become a waitress in the restaurant attached to the Train, they have offered me the job.... I am scared because I cry easily and don't like to deal with crabby/mean people! ALSO, my mom works with my Great Aunt as a personal care attendant and my great uncle is interested in me maybe working one day a week and some weekends.... the drive is an hour away, but the pay would be good..... OR I could always do Daycare, I have all the paper work ready to go because it was going to be a choice back in Aug. UGH, I must pray about this and see where GOD wants to use me!
OF COURSE, my DREAM would be to be my OWN contractor....
Having my own ORGANIZED KITCHEN AND NUTRITION business!
I am STILL blogging and that is COOL! I had a BLOG last year that I MAYBE, and I mean MAYBE wrote in 5 times.... and had a woman harrassing me because I used her SEWINLOVE name (the name of my etsy shop) as my blog name... and wasn't writing.... so I closed it down and let her know to LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!!!!!
OK, I suppose that is enough for now..... SINCE nothing is really NEW anyways!!!!!!!!!!

Gratituesday: BOOKS ON TAPE!

I know, what a silly thing to be thankful for, but really. I am on my 2nd book on tape....
First one was DOES THIS CLUTTER MAKE MY BUTT LOOK FAT. I wrote about it here.
Right now I am listening to THE OMNIVORE'S DILEMMA, wow, it is wonderful! I am SO SURE I would never be able to read this book without giving up! It is full of UNBELIEVABLE information! I am just about 4 hours into it... (it is 15 hours long).... and I have learned more than I ever thought possible about CORN! I plan on blogging about this sometime in the near future!
SOOOO THANK GOODNESS to whoever started books on tape! I love love LOVE to read, but wow, to listen while I drive back and forth to work on the weekends... NOW that is wonderful!!!!!

To read more gartituesday, head to heavenlyhomemakers

Does your child ever get off the school bus....

With a HEAD WOUND?????

Just wondering if I am the only one out there with the ACCIDENT PRONE CHILD!!!!

Halloween Bags OH MY!!!!

I just want to give a SHOUT OUT to my ETSY shop!!!!!
AND make a special offer here on my BLOG!
If you purchase a HALLOWEEN tote, I will SEND you (in your tote) a $1 of your purchase price!
Here are all of the totes listed so far! If you need more than 1 of a certain one, just ASK, I am SURE I can make a few more!
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5053414&section_id=5091079
I will also send a $1 back for any Kids APRON purchase!!!!
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5053414&section_id=5091643
Or $1 back with the purchase of a 4 pack of diapers!!!!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14917981

Remember that Christmas is coming sooner than you think!!!!!!!!!!!

Did you know.....

That candy corn is 98% Sugar/Corn Syrup?????

UGH, that is just like EATING sugar out of the container!!!!!

Who Knew????

Raise your hand high so we can see!

Plus the rest is Dyes and other FILLER stuff!

UGH, Double UGH!!!!!

So far So good!!!!!!

Like I said yesterday, the kids and I were going to go on a THROWING spree today and CLEAN HOUSE!

We tackled their bedrooms so far and threw out a LARGE garbage bag of garbage (broken toys, useless things, etc....) and took out 2 Grocery bags of things to donate! And that is just from 2 shared bedrooms! If you can believe it, my hubby and the boys apparently cleaned out the boys room last weekend... UMMMM, yeah, OK.... you forgot some trash!!!!!!

It feels good to GET IT OUT of the house!

As a Natural Born Organizer, I just hate looking at clutter and trash (things that my 6 yr old considers a fun thing to keep like yogurt containers, cut up cereal boxes, and broken things!)

Maybe tomorrow after we all get home from the Science Museum, we will tackle the TOY ROOM!

WATCH OUT GOODWILL, HERE WE COME!!!!!!!!!

I am so angry...

I could spit bullets right now!!!!

I must vent!!!!!!!!

I got a new IPOD, for FREE, yes, FREE with our credit card rewards I have been saving for so long! Here is why I am soooo darn angry right this very minute.....

#1. I have DIAL UP

#2. DIAL UP IS SLOW

#3. I started to download the ITUNES program hours ago

#4. It literally was taking about 3 1/2 hours

#5. When it had NOT KIDDING YOU, 22 min left, MY CONNECTION WAS LOST!!!!!!!

#6. EVERYTHING WAS LOST..........................................

#7. I am crying :-(

#8. I do NOT have time to do this again until MAYBE tomorrow night, AND THAT IS A MAYBE!

#9. BECAUSE I HAVE DIAL UP, I can't busy my line for hours during the day time!!!!!!!!!!

#10. I feel slightly better now, THANKS!

Gratituesday: A FIVE day WEEKEND

Atleast a 5 day weekend for the kids! (I still have to work :-( boo)

We are planning on doing some fun things for the next 3 days.... well, maybe not tomorrow, we are actually CLEANING OUT the house... getting rid of UN-NEEDED things to goodwill! Toys will be the FIRST thing to go since christmas will be here before you know it! (FYI: We are NOT buying our children toys this year, we are also not buying them for the neices and nephews! HANDMADE all the way this year!!!! )

We have confrences with the kids teachers tomorrow night, which I am super excited about! It is always great to hear/ or not so great to hear, how the kids are doing in school! (this is most important with our 5 yr old in Preschool, she is Oppositional Defiant and Mild PDD, but the teacher was NOT supposed to be informed of that, I wanted her to FIND things on her own instead of LOOK for them, KWIM!?!?!?!)

Thursday my dear hubby is taking off of work (he has lots of time to use up) and we are heading to the Science Museum of MN! The kids and I were there in June, but my Hubby has never been to the new one that opened about 7 yrs ago! Lots of fun to be had there!!!!!! We are hoping it won't be tooooo busy since MN has school and WI has th/fri off for the state teacher thingy.

Friday the kids and I are headed to the MN Zoo to have some animal lovin' fun! WE have a membership to the zoo and try to get there every few months!!!! Hopefully we will meet up with a few friends which will make it a rockin' good time!!!!!!!

And then of course, they will have fun with their Dad during the weekend while I am off working to bring home some much needed bacon!

SOOO today I am grateful for DAYS OFF of School!!!!!! Yeah for teacher workshops!!!!!

Read more Gratituesday at heavenlyhomemakers!!!!

Pumpkin Apple Muffins!!!!

OK, here is the recipe I promised a few days ago... These are sooooo soooo GOOD! They are almost like a yummy spice cake! TOOO good to be true!!!!!!!

2 1/2 C. Flour (I used White Whole Wheat)
1 T. Pumpkin Spice
2 C. Sugar
1 t. Baking Soda
1/2 t. Salt
2 Eggs
1 C. Pumpkin (can use canned, I used real)
1/2 C. Oil
2 C. Chopped Apples

Combine Dry ingredients. Combine Wet ingredients. Stir wet into dry just until moist. Fold in Apples. Fill 18-20 lined or greased muffin cups.
COMBINE: 1/3 C. Sugar, 3 T. Flour, 1/2 t. Cinnimon. Cut in 4 T. Butter until Crumbly. Sprinkle over muffins. Bake at 350 for 25-30 min or until done!

Try these today!!! You won't be let down. These also freeze very well, so don't be scared at the 18-20 muffins worth! (Mine made 22 muffins with a 3 T. scoop!)

MY NEW FAVORTE CLEANER!!!

OK, the story goes like this....

We had crappy yucky non-stick BUT the stick was coming off pan. We decided to replace them last spring (a gift to me...LOL!) and I choose nice Stainless Steel pans. They are NICE, but don't clean up well. My hubby HATES them! He hates cleaning them and COOKING with them. I on the other hand love them. BUT not cleaning them!
SOOO I finally broke down and found and bought,

Bar Keepers Friend


WOW, do my pans now shine!!!! I hadn't been able to find ANYTHING that would TRULY clean them before! My sink is now shiny and so are my pans! If you have Stainless Steel and can't seem to get that NEW look back! TRY this... it is sold in the grocery store in the cleaning section or online!!!!!!!

Future Heart Breakers!!!!!

YUMMY in my TUMMY!!!!

Do you smell something??? AAHHH, it smells sooooo darn good in my house right now!

Here are the things I am baking today! (because I know I have to work for 30 hours tonigt through sunday evening and won't get a chance to cook again except everyone elses food at work!)

FIRST we have a yummy brownie that is made from a recipe I found HERE ....

OH, it is so fudgy and de-lish!!!!! Just the way I love them!

(NOTE: Brownies are my FAVORITE FOOD!)

THEN I made some Pumpkin Apple muffins (I will post the recipe later!) They are SOOO Super yummy! Tastes alittle like Carrot cake which is strange because there is no carrot in them! I had to make these since I wanted to try the pumpkin I cooked down yesterday!



Last there is a popcorn muffin! Yep, POPCORN!!!! I have never tried these before and am VERY impressed! I found the recipe HERE... You must try these, they would be soooo wonderful with supper!!!! (the recipe says it make 12... but I got 19 with the 3T. scoop!)
UPDATE:::::: THESE DO NOT FREEZE WELL!!!!! THEY ARE ACTUALLY HORRIBLE IF YOU FREEZE AND THEN THAW THEM! THEY ARE FANTASTIC OUT OF THE OVEN, JUST NOT A "EAT ME LATER" KIND OF MUFFIN!!!!

I do have some bread dough rising on the counter that I need to punch down and bake up! I have been having a hard time with bread lately but still am trying to find a good sandwich bread recipe (this may be my last try if it doesn't turn out!!!!!!)



Time to clean up the kitchen and sew up some things before I head out to work for the weekend! Maybe a nap sounds better than sewing????? MAYBE!!!!!

THURSDAY CHALLENGE!!!!

TODAY we are going to CLEAN UP OUR COMPUTERS!!!

Specifically our email box's and our favorites!

I know some of you have TONS and TONS of emails that NEED TO BE DELETED!!!!

Take 5 min of your 15 min for your challenge and CLEAN THEM OUT!!!!! All that junk mail NEEDS TO GO!!!!!

NEXT, Clean up your favorites! File them in "Folders" ex: all your favorite blogs, put in a MY FAVORITE BLOGS folder, maybe 2 of them if you want to sort them out! Your READ everyday ones and your READ every few days one! DELETE all those ones that you have NO IDEA why you bookmarked them in the first place!!!!!

"Why do I have a body building Blog bookmarked??? I am sure there was a reason at the time!!!!"

Clean up those online computers guys!!! It only takes 15 min (give or take on how bad or good you have let it be) and the time it will save in the future is

PRICELESS!!!!!!

What's New Wednesday??!!

1. I am hoping October is filled with Great news (Sept. wasn't the best!)

2. I am trying to figure out if I should cut of my hair (it is SUPER DUPER thick and to about the middle of my back.) Short or Long, Short or Long, Short or Long????? UGH!

3. I need to sew my little heart out over the next 6 weeks as I have 2 craft shows coming up. I also need to get some of my items to the shop that is letting me sell there!

4. I need to be more DILIGENT on my menu plans.... I do pretty well, but this last week or so I have NOT been planning at all! I always pull it together (meaning we NEVER have to go out to eat or have CRAPPY food because of it!) BUT I do LIKE knowing what we are having instead of having to figure it out that day!

5. My husband starts a SIDE JOB at a friend of mines house doing their bathroom remodel! He is super excited about it! If the money was to be had, he would TOTALLY be a handy man!!!! He is TRULY a Jack of ALL trades!!!!

6. My kids have 3 days off of school this next week.... OH what am I to do with them??? Maybe the Mall Of America to UNDER WATER WORLD, Maybe the ZOO, Maybe the Science Museum? We have a membership to all of them so it wouldn't be terribly expensive to do those things! I actually think Jim is going to take a day off of work to HANG with us! He just hates missing out on all the fun to be had!

7. It is getting colder out and I am LOVING IT!!!! I love jeans and long sleeve shirt weather! (don't get me wrong, I LOVE wearing Tanks and Capris too, but after so many months of that, it is fun to get to wear all the other clothes in my closet!)

8. I have failed at making bread the past 5 times I have made it.... It is really frustrating me and I almost bought a loaf at the store today because of it! I guess I have to go back to my original recipe huh??? I am just trying to improve the bread, but I guess I just can't!

9. I have been doing REALLY REALLY well at excersising lately! For the past 3 weeks I have either used my Eliptical for 50+ min a day or went to work! It is working out great because m-th my hubby and I watch one show on TV, and I just work out to it! Keeps me from eating too!!!!

10. HAPPY OCTOBER EVERYONE!!!!!!