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**********