Recently, Michelle Duggar did an interview with The Christian Broadcasting Network. The topic? Overpopulation. Her stance is that it's nonsense. She & her husband have 19 kids and no plans to stop. So how many are too many?
I believe how heartedly that no child is a mistake. Every child is born with a purpose. God doesn't make mistakes. Period. We also live in a free country. Government doesn't dictate to us how many we should have in our families. But..should they? In the case of the Octomom, should someone have intervened knowing she was on public assitance? Should baby-making be limited if the parents receive state aid? That's touchy & controversial. I wish to be neither; but, if a family already has 6 kids & receives all possible state assistance, should they honestly have a #7? I would say, what kind of parents are they? Do they love & care for their kids? Then, yes, they should. If they are only having more kids to receive more assistance, then no, they should not. I'm also pretty sure that after the 6th baby, failed birth control can no longer be offered as a valid excuse.
My mom once said that good people should have as many kids as they can handle. That's another issue. Can the family handle more kids? Are they having to borrow too much money & work so many hours that they can barely think? Than perhaps they should draw their own ethical line. You shouldn't have more than you can enjoy. Childcare needs to be considered, too. Are there resources for this many kids? In the case of the Duggars, her husband is financially responsible for their family. They are frugal. They are resourceful. Let them be. If they can afford 50, let them have 50.
The nightly news is loaded with child abuse cases & people who cannot handle 1 child. These folks & others with the same morals, can handle this many. Their kids are loved & well adjusted. It's funny that the Duggars are scrutinized for their family. Is it that our society is so boggled by their mentality to love & handle this many kids? IS society envious of their lifestyle? Why are we not interviewing the people that have many kids & at midnight, have no idea where several of them are? Instead we nit pick & question the morals of a well-adjusted, Christian family. The interview I'm referring to isn't an example of downing the Duggars. It's a well-balanced read. But not all their media attention has been friendly. I'd much rather hear people ask Michelle her opinions on teenage angst or tantrums than why she has so many kids. Let's learn from her not make her feel like a spectacle.
Friday, March 30, 2012
The A-Z Challenge Starts April 1st
I am very pleased to be a part of the A-Z Challenge. There's still a little time to sign-up. I am sticking with the simple theme of Words That Mean Something. On Wordless Wednesday, I will be showcasing my collecting of the Salt & Pepper Shakers that have names associated with the letter of the day. They'll be ones that are in my collection or if they aren't (yet LOL) I'll have a link. That way you'll have a chance to buy them first (grrrrr....just kidding!) I urge anyone wanting to write or wanting to learn something new, to check out this challenge.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Recipe Thursday:Jalapeno Bagels
Need:
1-3/4 cups lukewarm water
1/2 tsp dry yeast
2 tsps salt
1-1/2 tbsp sugar
5-6 cups flour
1/4 c. dried red peppers
Mix water, yeast, salt & sugar. Add flour & jalapenos. Knead 10-12 minutes. Add flour if necessary. Roll into a ball. Add peppers & knead a few minutes more. Rest dough 10 mins. Then cut into 12 pieces.
Roll each piece into a long rope. For each of the 12 pieces, connect the 2 ends overlapping about 3/4 inch., Roll ends together so you have ring shape. Make sure it's secure.
Cover with a damp towel & allow to rise 1 to 1-1/2 hours in a warm area. Bring 1 or 2 gallons of water to boil in a big ole pot. Put bagels into water & boil until they float which is 15-30 seconds. Use a slotted spoon to get them out & put them on a lightly greased pan. Bake on 400 for 10-15 minutes.
The less jalapenos you use, the less spicy they'll be.
1-3/4 cups lukewarm water
1/2 tsp dry yeast
2 tsps salt
1-1/2 tbsp sugar
5-6 cups flour
1/4 c. dried red peppers
Mix water, yeast, salt & sugar. Add flour & jalapenos. Knead 10-12 minutes. Add flour if necessary. Roll into a ball. Add peppers & knead a few minutes more. Rest dough 10 mins. Then cut into 12 pieces.
Roll each piece into a long rope. For each of the 12 pieces, connect the 2 ends overlapping about 3/4 inch., Roll ends together so you have ring shape. Make sure it's secure.
Cover with a damp towel & allow to rise 1 to 1-1/2 hours in a warm area. Bring 1 or 2 gallons of water to boil in a big ole pot. Put bagels into water & boil until they float which is 15-30 seconds. Use a slotted spoon to get them out & put them on a lightly greased pan. Bake on 400 for 10-15 minutes.
The less jalapenos you use, the less spicy they'll be.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Epic Fail
After months of work & preparation, I held an informational meeting for The Adult Literacy Program on Tuesday night. My goal was to speak from my heart to all who were interested in helping. I planned the meeting to coincide with our Church's Community Impact Week. Amid an Easter Egg Hunt, an appreciation banquet for civil service workers & a host of other projects, sat my launch. I printed info sheets. I enlisted middle son to take pictures of volunteers. Three weeks of sign-ups were held for the Church body to chose projects. I saw 3 teachers had signed up. That, to me, was a very good start. I had a list of agencies to promote to. I had vision. I had passion. I felt God behind our project.
Middle son & I arrived 45 minutes prior to the start of the meeting. The Appreciation Banquet was going on downstairs from us. We heard the success of it & smelled the dinner. I wrote cute, little quotes about the importance of literacy on the dry erase board. We set up tables & waited for our 6 o'clock start.
At 6:10, one of the Elders came down. He offered words of encouragement to my empty room. He offered that maybe this wasn't the season for my project- that maybe I wasn't in on God's timing on this one.
Finally, at 6:20, 1 woman showed. She asked questions. She decided that, although she had some interest, this may be too much of a commitment. We left. I sent a text to the Pastor who coordinates these projects. He said how sorry he was to hear the news.
I went home with middle son. I don't know exactly why our project is dead in the water. I have a few theories. Maybe the elder was correct. Perhaps my passion for the untouchable community is still very real, but God has a different plan. Maybe my little community isn't ready for such a large scale project. I don't know. I do know God is able.
I know there's a purpose for me. Maybe He wants me to work the mission field of my home. Either way, I know that, although failure hurts, God knows that I want to serve & isn't His opinion the most important one?
Middle son & I arrived 45 minutes prior to the start of the meeting. The Appreciation Banquet was going on downstairs from us. We heard the success of it & smelled the dinner. I wrote cute, little quotes about the importance of literacy on the dry erase board. We set up tables & waited for our 6 o'clock start.
At 6:10, one of the Elders came down. He offered words of encouragement to my empty room. He offered that maybe this wasn't the season for my project- that maybe I wasn't in on God's timing on this one.
Finally, at 6:20, 1 woman showed. She asked questions. She decided that, although she had some interest, this may be too much of a commitment. We left. I sent a text to the Pastor who coordinates these projects. He said how sorry he was to hear the news.
I went home with middle son. I don't know exactly why our project is dead in the water. I have a few theories. Maybe the elder was correct. Perhaps my passion for the untouchable community is still very real, but God has a different plan. Maybe my little community isn't ready for such a large scale project. I don't know. I do know God is able.
I know there's a purpose for me. Maybe He wants me to work the mission field of my home. Either way, I know that, although failure hurts, God knows that I want to serve & isn't His opinion the most important one?
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
How Far Would You Go?
If you knew your child was hanging with an unsavory crowd, how far would you go to stop it? I woke up yesterday morning with one of my sons heavy on my heart. Mothers' intuition is a gift from God. I just knew whereever he was, he wasn't ok. Where he was supposed to be was school. I sent a text to my other son. Yep, son in question wasn't where he was supposed to be. He is supposed to get off the bus & get onto a van at the high school. This van then takes him to the special education campus. He didn't get on the van.
Let me throw in at this point, if as a mom, you ever, ever, feel something is amiss, then it IS. I called the special ed campus. He arrived but with a boy who was banned from the school. They refused to tell me who it was. I was livid. This is my son. I have a right to know who he is with & when. He may be 18 on paper, but mentally/emotionally he is a very small child. But, the problem with special needs is that they are not evident to the naked eye. Unless it is Down Syndrome, people often can't tell. His special needs are only notcied when he speaks or interacts.
I thanked the school, then called his brother. I also know that the kids aren't supposed to have their cell phones with them. My middle son decided on finishing out high school with his friends rather than homeschool. I dig it. I was a teen a long time ago too. My youngest had no choice. With his eye defect & the fact that he spent 2 years getting bullied, he was eager to homeschool. But I digress. I called. Middle son says he is leary about giving info unless I promise not to let big brother know it was him. He tells all.
Big brother got into a vehicle driven by a boy we'll call Mr. X. I know Mr. X's family. He is a very troubled child. I feel an ache in my heart for this child. His mother abandoned him when he was young & dad is a single parent working 2 jobs. But, Mr. X has been thrown out of school for drugs. I don't want him with my son. I would help Mr. X at any time he wished, but he likes his lifestyle. I don't like it for my kids.
I text oldest son. He calls soon after. He hesitates than says yes, he was with Mr. X. Now, as a parent what do you do? Say no, no stop that. Scream? Yell? Demand? That may work for some, but not with this child. I tell him, he knows not to do that. He says yes, but no one caught us. I remind him that he isn't allow to receive rides to special ed campus per the school. He knows, but hates the van. It's too noisy. When I realize I'm not getting anywhere, I hang up with him. I call the hubs. He is on a roof & cannot talk. Once again, it's up to mom.
I get my youngest & we pray. Hard. We ask for protection for my son & for salvation for Mr.X. I ask for wisdom. Then I call the high school where the van picks him up. I ask the assistant principal for help. I tell all. He promises to escort my son to the van from now on. He promises to call Mr. X & tell him that although he may play taxi for other kids, he is to leave mine alone. Then I call back to special ed campus & speak to the principal. I tell him I know who my son was with. He reminds me he can't offer any info. I tell him I don't need it, I know it's Mr. X. He seems stunned to know that I know. I tell him I care about Mr. X but this is my child. He assures me he'll work with the high school to keep Mr.X at bay.
Nice tidy ending? Nay. Here's where being a parent can just suck. Oldest son rages that I've 'over stepped' my bounds. That's his boy. How dare I? After all, he is 18. Well, yes, you are 18, but you live here as a 10th grader in my house with 2 other children. You aren't just some kid. You are mine. I tell him that he can hate me now, but I will stand before my God & say I tried. He retires to his room.
Fast forward several hours, here's where being a parent is awesome: Oldest son confides in middle son that he was secretly glad I did what I did. Yes, he was embarassed in front of his 'crew', but, his heart is happy that his mom loved him enough to take on Mr. X, the high school, the principal anyone else who threatened her baby. He also tells middle son that he never felt like that when he was with biological mom- he knew she didn't care. He loves me.
I'd like to say I hadn't felt anxiety when challenging Mr.X, but I did. He's not someone who likes being challenged. But, these kids are mine. They've been entrusted to me. I will go as far as I can to protect them.
Let me throw in at this point, if as a mom, you ever, ever, feel something is amiss, then it IS. I called the special ed campus. He arrived but with a boy who was banned from the school. They refused to tell me who it was. I was livid. This is my son. I have a right to know who he is with & when. He may be 18 on paper, but mentally/emotionally he is a very small child. But, the problem with special needs is that they are not evident to the naked eye. Unless it is Down Syndrome, people often can't tell. His special needs are only notcied when he speaks or interacts.
I thanked the school, then called his brother. I also know that the kids aren't supposed to have their cell phones with them. My middle son decided on finishing out high school with his friends rather than homeschool. I dig it. I was a teen a long time ago too. My youngest had no choice. With his eye defect & the fact that he spent 2 years getting bullied, he was eager to homeschool. But I digress. I called. Middle son says he is leary about giving info unless I promise not to let big brother know it was him. He tells all.
Big brother got into a vehicle driven by a boy we'll call Mr. X. I know Mr. X's family. He is a very troubled child. I feel an ache in my heart for this child. His mother abandoned him when he was young & dad is a single parent working 2 jobs. But, Mr. X has been thrown out of school for drugs. I don't want him with my son. I would help Mr. X at any time he wished, but he likes his lifestyle. I don't like it for my kids.
I text oldest son. He calls soon after. He hesitates than says yes, he was with Mr. X. Now, as a parent what do you do? Say no, no stop that. Scream? Yell? Demand? That may work for some, but not with this child. I tell him, he knows not to do that. He says yes, but no one caught us. I remind him that he isn't allow to receive rides to special ed campus per the school. He knows, but hates the van. It's too noisy. When I realize I'm not getting anywhere, I hang up with him. I call the hubs. He is on a roof & cannot talk. Once again, it's up to mom.
I get my youngest & we pray. Hard. We ask for protection for my son & for salvation for Mr.X. I ask for wisdom. Then I call the high school where the van picks him up. I ask the assistant principal for help. I tell all. He promises to escort my son to the van from now on. He promises to call Mr. X & tell him that although he may play taxi for other kids, he is to leave mine alone. Then I call back to special ed campus & speak to the principal. I tell him I know who my son was with. He reminds me he can't offer any info. I tell him I don't need it, I know it's Mr. X. He seems stunned to know that I know. I tell him I care about Mr. X but this is my child. He assures me he'll work with the high school to keep Mr.X at bay.
Nice tidy ending? Nay. Here's where being a parent can just suck. Oldest son rages that I've 'over stepped' my bounds. That's his boy. How dare I? After all, he is 18. Well, yes, you are 18, but you live here as a 10th grader in my house with 2 other children. You aren't just some kid. You are mine. I tell him that he can hate me now, but I will stand before my God & say I tried. He retires to his room.
Fast forward several hours, here's where being a parent is awesome: Oldest son confides in middle son that he was secretly glad I did what I did. Yes, he was embarassed in front of his 'crew', but, his heart is happy that his mom loved him enough to take on Mr. X, the high school, the principal anyone else who threatened her baby. He also tells middle son that he never felt like that when he was with biological mom- he knew she didn't care. He loves me.
I'd like to say I hadn't felt anxiety when challenging Mr.X, but I did. He's not someone who likes being challenged. But, these kids are mine. They've been entrusted to me. I will go as far as I can to protect them.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Good Time Grillin Giveaway Hop! Bloggers Wanted!
. Summertime & Grillin' go hand in hand. Why not make summer the most fun it can be by joining the Good Time Grillin' Blog Hop!
Hosted by two family friendly blogs: Life Happens With Kids & The Giveaway Gal. It is F-R-E-E
to join! Sign-ups are on this post .
What will the prizes be?
Well, they can be anything to do with BBQs or Grilling! That's a wide variety of things. Leaves a whole lot of room to be creative, too! *Prize minimum is $20* That's not a bad investment or a lot to ask.
Of Moths & Butterflies Book Review
Of Moths & Butterflies by V.R. Christensen
Imogen Everard is caught in the most difficult of circumstances. She's endured a disasterous life under the custody of her uncle. When he passes away, she, an orphan, finds herself the sole beneficiary of his life's fortune.
The time frame, the 1880s, doesn't allow women to be mistresses of their own destinies. Their choices are family or finding a husband if they wish to be secure. Imogen has 2 such options- a cruel, over-bearing aunt or a long, involved search for a mate.
Had she had any semblance of a childhood, she may have had an easier time of it; however, she did not have this luxury.
The novel, long-winded & repetitous at times, unravels Imogen's life. Shaped by her choices & her stubborn will to defy her role in society, she is on a rollercoaster of emotions. She knows whom she wants to be and whom others treat her as being. We walk with her as she meets suitors, thwarts certain intentions of her aunts & ultimately, must decide to whom she'll run for security.
In order to truly fall in love with this book, the reader must adore historical fiction. I legitimately liked Imogen & felt for her and other women of her era. How difficult it must have been for them! However, I often questioned how the author made her a secretive person with some characters & a babbling brook of information with others.
It is, for the most part, void of any vivid imaginary. There were multiple times when I felt that the author should've put her pen down. Many scenarios were superb endings. But it stretched on & perhaps for too long. You won't find this a quick weekend or beach read. It is more an on-going nightstand book. I cannot say I disliked it, just that I believe it could have been so much more. I'd rate it a 3 of 5 stars.
Imogen Everard is caught in the most difficult of circumstances. She's endured a disasterous life under the custody of her uncle. When he passes away, she, an orphan, finds herself the sole beneficiary of his life's fortune.
The time frame, the 1880s, doesn't allow women to be mistresses of their own destinies. Their choices are family or finding a husband if they wish to be secure. Imogen has 2 such options- a cruel, over-bearing aunt or a long, involved search for a mate.
Had she had any semblance of a childhood, she may have had an easier time of it; however, she did not have this luxury.
The novel, long-winded & repetitous at times, unravels Imogen's life. Shaped by her choices & her stubborn will to defy her role in society, she is on a rollercoaster of emotions. She knows whom she wants to be and whom others treat her as being. We walk with her as she meets suitors, thwarts certain intentions of her aunts & ultimately, must decide to whom she'll run for security.
In order to truly fall in love with this book, the reader must adore historical fiction. I legitimately liked Imogen & felt for her and other women of her era. How difficult it must have been for them! However, I often questioned how the author made her a secretive person with some characters & a babbling brook of information with others.
It is, for the most part, void of any vivid imaginary. There were multiple times when I felt that the author should've put her pen down. Many scenarios were superb endings. But it stretched on & perhaps for too long. You won't find this a quick weekend or beach read. It is more an on-going nightstand book. I cannot say I disliked it, just that I believe it could have been so much more. I'd rate it a 3 of 5 stars.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Love Thy Neighbor?
When I met my husband, he'd owned our home for a few years. I had lived suburban most of my life in a housing plan full of people. Our house is on a gravel road. We have only had 2 neighbors for the last 13 years. Recently, neighbor to our left got engaged & moved across the state. We three neighbors have always been cordial & helpful to one another. Never argued. No issues. Now we have an endless parade of cars travelling our once silent hill. People are now using the neighbor to the right's land & parking area as a turn around. It's a dead end. We've seen a wide variety of people come & look. We have, for the most part, not said a word to any of them. Once, when my sons were targeting shooting, one of these lookers backed up to our house & complained. We explained, we are country folk. This is o-u-r land. Yes, we can.
Tonight, the lookers took everything to a whole new level. You see, my husband started the tractor to move some things. I'll preface by saying we've had high winds & storms recently. We have debris & branches everywhere. Well, I thought I'd help the hubs by moving some branches to our burn pit.
Right before we'd gone outside, lookers arrived. An older couple with dog. Maybe in their mid-60s? I was walking in the yard, moving debris such as the bricks around my flowerbeds. I looked up one time & found 'older man' staring at me. I paid him no mind as he let his dog defacate in the lawn of house for sale.
I restacked the bricks & motioned for my middle & youngest sons to help mom. We began pulling branches to a pile where hubs could grab them. As we moved along, I noticed our fence, the one separating the two properties, was down. I said to middle son, "We need to fix this; in fact, I'd like a bigger, stronger one."
I certainly wasn't dressed to the hilt. In fact, I actually had my jammies on, no make-up & was sweating like a hog. I didn't notice 'older woman' around the back of house for sale. I hadn't noticed her man get into his truck with the dog either. I looked up to find 'old man' staring. Middle son asks what's up with the man. I say don't know & continued along fence line.
Some of the branches had been stuck in a mud-filled area. We had had to pull pretty hard to get them up. I said to middle son that there was a branch literally holding down part of this wire fence. Youngest son comes over & the 3 of us pull. Well, it was still rooted so I told the kids this & said let's move on. As we stand up, 'older lady' is sitting in the truck now with her cell phone pointed at us. Yes, she is taking pics. Of my kids & I. WHOA!
I don't like anyone I don't know snapping up pics of my kids. I turn to hubs & say she's taking our picture. I put up my hands & said What's the problem? My hubs yells Hey, what are you doing?
She smirks, puts on her seat bealt & rolls her window up.
I'm left to wonder why exactly this woman is taking our picture. I felt really uncomfortable so I called down to the local P.D. where we know everyone & the chief is a good friend of the husband's.
I left a message for one of the guys we know best telling him what happened. Haven't heard back because there isn't anyone on site there after 4. (I know- very Mayberry).
Fast forward an hour. Neighbor to the right is outside now. I walk up & ask him if he knows anything about this couple. He laughs & drops a bombshell............................... We've been labeled 'Problem Neighbors'. US?
I'm floored. Apparently, neighbor who moved told her real estate agent that we're hard to get along with & loud. HE states that he told anyone who asked that we've been here years without incident. He's right. The police have been here twice. Once when now 9 year old was 2 & he accidently called 911. The other time when cows 3 miles down the road got loose & came to visit us. We don't drink or party. We burn paper things only on burn day. Our lawn is well groomed. Our kids go to bed at 9 on school nights, 10 on weekends. We don't even do fireworks on the 4th. So why exactly are we problem neighbors?
Well, apparently when the lookers who complained about the target shooting (with BB guns, mind you), they told the real estate agent we cussed them out. Also, my special needs 18 year old had a meltdown within ear shot of another set of lookers.
So I received a callback from the officer I'd left a message for earlier. He believes the pic taking was spitefully done because we told them not to do it. I believe, in light of other info, he may be right.
What's the moral of my ramblings? You never, ever know what people truly think about you until something bad or erratic happens. If this neighbor hadn't moved, we never would've known she thought we were a pain. Also, country folk are viewed differently by non-country folk. The lookers weren't from the country. We could tell by the awe the viewed the land with as they strolled. If you are moving to a new community, take a minute to realize the surroundings of the community. If you aren't born rural, understand that your neighbors ways may be different from yours. And, for Heaven's sakes, don't take pictures of people's children!
Tonight, the lookers took everything to a whole new level. You see, my husband started the tractor to move some things. I'll preface by saying we've had high winds & storms recently. We have debris & branches everywhere. Well, I thought I'd help the hubs by moving some branches to our burn pit.
Right before we'd gone outside, lookers arrived. An older couple with dog. Maybe in their mid-60s? I was walking in the yard, moving debris such as the bricks around my flowerbeds. I looked up one time & found 'older man' staring at me. I paid him no mind as he let his dog defacate in the lawn of house for sale.
I restacked the bricks & motioned for my middle & youngest sons to help mom. We began pulling branches to a pile where hubs could grab them. As we moved along, I noticed our fence, the one separating the two properties, was down. I said to middle son, "We need to fix this; in fact, I'd like a bigger, stronger one."
I certainly wasn't dressed to the hilt. In fact, I actually had my jammies on, no make-up & was sweating like a hog. I didn't notice 'older woman' around the back of house for sale. I hadn't noticed her man get into his truck with the dog either. I looked up to find 'old man' staring. Middle son asks what's up with the man. I say don't know & continued along fence line.
Some of the branches had been stuck in a mud-filled area. We had had to pull pretty hard to get them up. I said to middle son that there was a branch literally holding down part of this wire fence. Youngest son comes over & the 3 of us pull. Well, it was still rooted so I told the kids this & said let's move on. As we stand up, 'older lady' is sitting in the truck now with her cell phone pointed at us. Yes, she is taking pics. Of my kids & I. WHOA!
I don't like anyone I don't know snapping up pics of my kids. I turn to hubs & say she's taking our picture. I put up my hands & said What's the problem? My hubs yells Hey, what are you doing?
She smirks, puts on her seat bealt & rolls her window up.
I'm left to wonder why exactly this woman is taking our picture. I felt really uncomfortable so I called down to the local P.D. where we know everyone & the chief is a good friend of the husband's.
I left a message for one of the guys we know best telling him what happened. Haven't heard back because there isn't anyone on site there after 4. (I know- very Mayberry).
Fast forward an hour. Neighbor to the right is outside now. I walk up & ask him if he knows anything about this couple. He laughs & drops a bombshell............................... We've been labeled 'Problem Neighbors'. US?
I'm floored. Apparently, neighbor who moved told her real estate agent that we're hard to get along with & loud. HE states that he told anyone who asked that we've been here years without incident. He's right. The police have been here twice. Once when now 9 year old was 2 & he accidently called 911. The other time when cows 3 miles down the road got loose & came to visit us. We don't drink or party. We burn paper things only on burn day. Our lawn is well groomed. Our kids go to bed at 9 on school nights, 10 on weekends. We don't even do fireworks on the 4th. So why exactly are we problem neighbors?
Well, apparently when the lookers who complained about the target shooting (with BB guns, mind you), they told the real estate agent we cussed them out. Also, my special needs 18 year old had a meltdown within ear shot of another set of lookers.
So I received a callback from the officer I'd left a message for earlier. He believes the pic taking was spitefully done because we told them not to do it. I believe, in light of other info, he may be right.
What's the moral of my ramblings? You never, ever know what people truly think about you until something bad or erratic happens. If this neighbor hadn't moved, we never would've known she thought we were a pain. Also, country folk are viewed differently by non-country folk. The lookers weren't from the country. We could tell by the awe the viewed the land with as they strolled. If you are moving to a new community, take a minute to realize the surroundings of the community. If you aren't born rural, understand that your neighbors ways may be different from yours. And, for Heaven's sakes, don't take pictures of people's children!
Recipe Thursday: Tropical Tilapia
I'm reposting the recipe I featured in the Tropical Traditions Review:
5 tilapia fillets
1 box McCormick Golden Dipt Tempura Seafood Batter
3/4 cup water
1 quart Tropical Traditions Gold Label Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
Prepare batter mix according to package directions. Make sure fish is thawed but not mushy.
In a deep skillet, heat oil to 375 degrees. You'll know it's ready when you drop a few drops of water into the oil & it sizzles. Place fillets, one at a time, into batter. Thoroughly coat both sides. Lay 1-2 but no more than 2 fillets into oil. After 4 minutes, flip fillets. Cook an additional four minutes.
Remove fillets from oil. Place them onto a paper towel to drain. If you feel adventurous, add coconut flakes to the batter. Serve hot.
5 tilapia fillets
1 box McCormick Golden Dipt Tempura Seafood Batter
3/4 cup water
1 quart Tropical Traditions Gold Label Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
Prepare batter mix according to package directions. Make sure fish is thawed but not mushy.
In a deep skillet, heat oil to 375 degrees. You'll know it's ready when you drop a few drops of water into the oil & it sizzles. Place fillets, one at a time, into batter. Thoroughly coat both sides. Lay 1-2 but no more than 2 fillets into oil. After 4 minutes, flip fillets. Cook an additional four minutes.
Remove fillets from oil. Place them onto a paper towel to drain. If you feel adventurous, add coconut flakes to the batter. Serve hot.
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Follow 25 bloggers on their http://www.viviscal.com journey to help correct & maintain their thinning hair or hair loss with this hair treatment!
For the majority of my adult life, my hair has been both fine & limp. I have tried a variety of hair styles, colors & lengths. It always seems to hang there like hair out of the drain (yeah, ew, but true). My sister was blessed with the beautiful, curly tresses, not I. Many products, whom I will not name, have promised to pump up the volume so to speak. Mousses, creams, gels- you name it. I've had a bit of luck alternating shampoos, but that's about it.
I heard of a product called Viviscal. I saw a post asking for volunteers to join a group of bloggers trying out this product. I was elated when I was accepted. We were told a bit about it & that we would receive a 3 month supply of this product. My main concern, in all honesty, was the fact that it was a pill. Now, I take multiple meds each day for multiple health problems. So mainly, I was concerned about drug interaction. But, tada! It's NOT a drug. It is all natural- a health supplement. I liked the sound of that. Supplement sounds good.
It also promotes the growth of already existing hair. Nice. Need more? How about it's gluten-free. Nicer. Nowadays, many people have either a gluten allergy or have eliminated gluten to be more health conscious. Either way, Viviscal has you covered.
You can see from the above pic that the pills are only about the size of a watch battery. Honestly, I was expecting a big, honking horse pill. Most vitamins or supplements I've seen are huge. This was an unexpected surprise.
You take one in the morning & again in the evening. This works perfectly for me because the pills I need are taken the same way. You wash these down with a glass of water & a little food. I, personally, haven't experienced any side effects especially not upset stomach. Again, I've experieced many side effects with other supplements, but not with Viviscal.
Now, you may be wondering, what's in it? Is it loaded with things we can't pronounce? Nay. It is made from......fish ingredients! Awesome. It has a nice, natural orange flavor. It doesn't taste fishy at all. It also contains vitamin C.
You may feel that the full 6 months recommended by Viviscal is a big commitment. In actuality, it isn't. We invest months to grow hair out or color treat or even gas & time to trim, treat, or redo. Why not invest in a twice a day, natural ingredient supplement? No gas used to drive to a facility to have treatments done. No time spent in a doctor office or salon. It's delivered to your door.
Thats' a plus for me & alot of other mommies-for sure. Although our husbands may think we play all day, you & I both know it isn't that easy for us. I'm all for any company that will cater to me by delivering a product to my door.
Visit their website http://www.viviscal.com/ for all info that you may wish to read. Google it. Do your own research. Ultimately, I am so excited to be on this journey. It's just begun for me. I haven't been using it long, but I like what I've seen so far. My hair is definitely shinier. It looks healthier. I'm no clinician, but I can speak for myself. I like it. I will be updating my hair tale as I go & when I finish the 3 months of supplements, I will give my final verdict. I'm not expecting to be Rapunzel (lol), but any thickening will be much appreciated.
Do you want to try it? Of course you do! So Viviscal wants you to try it too. They've authorized the 24 other bloggers & myself to give away the same 3 month supply that we got. I must say, although there will be 25 giveaways, you can only win 1. But the more you enter, the more chances you have to win your own. Hop around. Read each of our stories. Have fun. Dream BIG.*open to US only* *18 years old++
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil Review & Giveaway
TROPICAL TRADITIONS VIRGIN COCONUT OIL REVIEW
On a Sunday afternoon, I enlisted the help of my handsome husband to create a meal with Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil. I must start by saying, the smell of this oil is fantastic! Both while it’s cooking & fresh from the jar- we enjoyed it’s aroma. We had decided to cooking Tilapia fillets. 
We thawed the fillets for around 5 minutes. We used McCormick Golden Dipt Tempura Seafood Batter Mix. Per the directions we needed:
¾ cup cold water
Vegetable oil
Instead of the typical, generic vegetable oil I usually use, we substituted Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil.
We heated the oil in a pan until it was roughly 375 degrees. It melts quickly & efficiently.
After dipping the fish in the batter, carefully coating both sides, we added it to the pan.
As with any oil, the first batch took a few minutes longer to cook. I’d say 8 minutes total, flipping after 4. We placed foil between the bowl & pan to catch drippies. The result? Beautiful, restaurant quality, golden brown tilapia filets!!!!
Out of our family of 5, 3 of us adored these! The youngest two dislike tilapia altogether so they really don’t count in this review. My husband, oldest (18 year old) & I were sorry there weren’t more.To be extra creative, my husband added coconut flakes to the batter for the last two fillets. These were phenomenal! When we do this again, we’ll cook them all with the flakes in the batter.Overall, the oil was a wonderful compliment to the tilapia. The coconut isn’t overpowering. The oldest called them “Long John Silvers’ without the grease”. He’s right. They weren’t greasy or oily. The fish & breading was crisp & perfectly golden. We had a great time cooking them & the kitchen smelled great, too. There wasn’t the burning oil smell you often get with vegetable oil. I would definitely recommend this oil for all frying.
We were sent this product in the hopes we would write a review on it. We were under no obligation to write a positive review or any review at all. The only thing we received from the company was the jar of oil to try.
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I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” The opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own. Your experience with the product may differ from mine. The sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment and will be shipping the winner(s) their prize(s).
Saturday, March 17, 2012
THE GRIMM CURSE: ONCE UPON A TIME IS NOW BY STEPHEN CARPENTER
THE GRIMM CURSE: ONCE UPON A TIME IS NOW BY STEPHEN CARPENTER
BOOK REVIEW
‘Grimm’ has recently become a television sensation. Many of us have either read The Grimm Brothers Fairy Tales or had these read to us. Children & candy houses, wolves & girls in red, princesses & princes- all collected into the many stories of our childhoods.
In this novel, written in 2010, a young man, caught up in the messy child welfare system, decides to find out where his roots may lie. He has always felt he was different. He soon learns his genealogy is set in the world of the Grimms. His only hope of unraveling his mysterious past lies in finding a distant relative.
The novel predominantly takes place in one small town. However, it is a town that is inhabited by a number of peculiar folks. Some are like you & I; however, some are regular townspeople by day & creatures of the imagination at night.
After our main character enters his new surroundings, he discovers that this sleepy little town isn’t so sleepy. When young couples start disappearing, he realizes he may hold the keys to helping them return & ending the nightmare.
This book is very light-hearted and the characters are likeable. However, although it isn’t marketed as such, I believe this book would appeal more to the teenage crowd. I can honestly see my 15 year old getting more out of this than I did. It is very well written & the plot is hardly just an episode ala the tv show. It is imaginative & original. But the youthful way in which it plays out is much more suited to the teen crowd.
I would highly recommend it for teens. I appreciate the lack of gory violence & the fact that there isn’t anything dirty or risqué about the dialogue or description.
BOOK REVIEW
‘Grimm’ has recently become a television sensation. Many of us have either read The Grimm Brothers Fairy Tales or had these read to us. Children & candy houses, wolves & girls in red, princesses & princes- all collected into the many stories of our childhoods.
In this novel, written in 2010, a young man, caught up in the messy child welfare system, decides to find out where his roots may lie. He has always felt he was different. He soon learns his genealogy is set in the world of the Grimms. His only hope of unraveling his mysterious past lies in finding a distant relative.
The novel predominantly takes place in one small town. However, it is a town that is inhabited by a number of peculiar folks. Some are like you & I; however, some are regular townspeople by day & creatures of the imagination at night.
After our main character enters his new surroundings, he discovers that this sleepy little town isn’t so sleepy. When young couples start disappearing, he realizes he may hold the keys to helping them return & ending the nightmare.
This book is very light-hearted and the characters are likeable. However, although it isn’t marketed as such, I believe this book would appeal more to the teenage crowd. I can honestly see my 15 year old getting more out of this than I did. It is very well written & the plot is hardly just an episode ala the tv show. It is imaginative & original. But the youthful way in which it plays out is much more suited to the teen crowd.
I would highly recommend it for teens. I appreciate the lack of gory violence & the fact that there isn’t anything dirty or risqué about the dialogue or description.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Recipe Thursday: Apple & Sausage Bake
Cooking Spray
1 carton Egg Substitute Original
1 can (12 oz each) fat free evaporated milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 large round loaf Hawaiian sweet bread
◦4 frozen Brown 'N Serve Sausage patties, chopped
1-1/2 cups shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese, divided
1 large apple, unpeeled, chopped
◦1/2 cup dried cranberries
1.Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray 13x9-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray; set aside.
2.Combine Egg Sub, milk,and salt in large bowl. Add bread, sausage, 3/4 cup of the cheese, apple and cranberries to bowl; toss.
3.Place bread mixture in prepared dish; press down lightly. Bake uncovered 50 to 55 minutes or until knife inserted middle comes out clean. Top with remaining cheese; bake an additional 5 minutes or until cheese melts.
4.Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
D-O-N-E-
1 carton Egg Substitute Original
1 can (12 oz each) fat free evaporated milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 large round loaf Hawaiian sweet bread
◦4 frozen Brown 'N Serve Sausage patties, chopped
1-1/2 cups shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese, divided
1 large apple, unpeeled, chopped
◦1/2 cup dried cranberries
1.Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray 13x9-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray; set aside.
2.Combine Egg Sub, milk,and salt in large bowl. Add bread, sausage, 3/4 cup of the cheese, apple and cranberries to bowl; toss.
3.Place bread mixture in prepared dish; press down lightly. Bake uncovered 50 to 55 minutes or until knife inserted middle comes out clean. Top with remaining cheese; bake an additional 5 minutes or until cheese melts.
4.Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
D-O-N-E-
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Testing Testing 123
I’m sure how other states do their state testing. But, in our case, we were required to travel to a different city to have these done. In our case, we were giving an exhaustive list of possible testing facilities to use. My husband & I labored over this list. I Googled all the zip codes. None were less than 30 minutes away. I finally settled on a town whose name I had heard of before that day. It seemed easy enough. However, several weeks prior to test day, I received the email containing all the details. He’d be required to be there 2 hours each day over a 3 day span. Ok. Still fine. He’d be integrated with other students. Hold on. Slow down. Why? A teacher he’d never met would administer the test. Wait a minute. It was located at an alternative school campus. Easy now. Total one way travel time equaled 45 minutes. Wow. Is there more? Bring a snack to eat in the cafeteria. Ouch.
Perhaps I should preface by saying, we began our homeschool journey due to bullying. Not just by students. Faculty, too. He didn’t want any part of a brick & mortar school. He also has the eye defect which causes him to have migraines & wear the thick, thick glasses. No amount of positive reinforcement can erase the tragic way he’d been treated. Only God can heal that wound.
So, I told him. He cringed. He panicked. He had an anxiety attack. His father hit the roof. I blubbered. How can we do this? No, we couldn’t skip it said the school. No there wasn’t any place closer. No I can’t stay with him. No, neither can his brothers, father, or grandma. No, no, no. NO, they didn’t understand MY child. No, they didn’t get it. No, they weren’t sympathetic to his plight. Required. I hate that word. Required. I’m required to pay taxes & worship Jesus. No mention there about appeasing the State. But, alas, this fell into the taxes category.
His facilitator at the homeschooling office understood. She sympathized. She couldn’t do diddly to help though. So we played Flashcar. We read. We did math drills. He took Study Island. We memorized definitions & prayed…constantly. We talked about how it was only 2 hours over 3 days. We talked about doing all things through Christ. We waited.
So here we are. We are at the school. My beautiful , little boy with the big, blue eyes & heart of pure gold, walked into this school with his head up. He shook the teacher’s hand. He introduced himself to a young girl on the way in. He smiled. He hugged me & said bye. He walked into that classroom like he owned it. He taught me something. I had underestimated him. I had made an unconscious agreement with defeat. I accepted it & worked it. He defeated it. He trampled on the defeat like a crumb. He was more mature today than some adults I know. I’m so proud. I’m buy you a pony proud.
Now when people ask me to describe my child, I will some it up for them in 1 word:grace.
Perhaps I should preface by saying, we began our homeschool journey due to bullying. Not just by students. Faculty, too. He didn’t want any part of a brick & mortar school. He also has the eye defect which causes him to have migraines & wear the thick, thick glasses. No amount of positive reinforcement can erase the tragic way he’d been treated. Only God can heal that wound.
So, I told him. He cringed. He panicked. He had an anxiety attack. His father hit the roof. I blubbered. How can we do this? No, we couldn’t skip it said the school. No there wasn’t any place closer. No I can’t stay with him. No, neither can his brothers, father, or grandma. No, no, no. NO, they didn’t understand MY child. No, they didn’t get it. No, they weren’t sympathetic to his plight. Required. I hate that word. Required. I’m required to pay taxes & worship Jesus. No mention there about appeasing the State. But, alas, this fell into the taxes category.
His facilitator at the homeschooling office understood. She sympathized. She couldn’t do diddly to help though. So we played Flashcar. We read. We did math drills. He took Study Island. We memorized definitions & prayed…constantly. We talked about how it was only 2 hours over 3 days. We talked about doing all things through Christ. We waited.
So here we are. We are at the school. My beautiful , little boy with the big, blue eyes & heart of pure gold, walked into this school with his head up. He shook the teacher’s hand. He introduced himself to a young girl on the way in. He smiled. He hugged me & said bye. He walked into that classroom like he owned it. He taught me something. I had underestimated him. I had made an unconscious agreement with defeat. I accepted it & worked it. He defeated it. He trampled on the defeat like a crumb. He was more mature today than some adults I know. I’m so proud. I’m buy you a pony proud.
Now when people ask me to describe my child, I will some it up for them in 1 word:grace.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
THE NECESSITY OF AN ENEMY BY RON CARPENTER Book Review
In each of our lives, enemies are present. Some are physical. Some are mental. Ron Carpenter, a very energetic & charismatic Pastor from Greenville, South Carolina, shares some very intimate details of his life’s struggles in this book. Using sound Bible doctrine, he shines light on why Christians have enemies & how they become useful to us. He is generous enough to open up his past hurts in order to serve as an example on how we should handle these enemies. His anecdotes are very funny especially his humorous remembrances from his early days of pastoring. Pastor Carpenter never portrays himself or his family as perfect, but instead remains accountable to his readers & congregation on things he did or didn’t do properly in his life. This honest approach makes it much easier to take his words to heart & apply them in the now of your life.
I particularly enjoyed the Biblical references he uses to compare present day enemies with those in the Bible. He speaks of Elijah vs Jezebel and David Vs. Goliath. Both are well known, but perhaps not in this context. Pastor Carpenter’s no-nonsense approach in this book makes it an excellent strengthening tool for weary souls. An easy recommendation for all those who feel victimized in this world or who have questions that they may feel aren’t unacceptable to ask regarding things happening in their own lives. This is definitely a book which has found a permanent place on my shelf to be read again.
I particularly enjoyed the Biblical references he uses to compare present day enemies with those in the Bible. He speaks of Elijah vs Jezebel and David Vs. Goliath. Both are well known, but perhaps not in this context. Pastor Carpenter’s no-nonsense approach in this book makes it an excellent strengthening tool for weary souls. An easy recommendation for all those who feel victimized in this world or who have questions that they may feel aren’t unacceptable to ask regarding things happening in their own lives. This is definitely a book which has found a permanent place on my shelf to be read again.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Flowerbox Education
We homeschoolin' mommas are a creative bunch. Give yourself a smile & back pat today for loving on your kids! Some days, in the interest of time, it can help to combine subjects. Should that need arise, here is a pretty inexpensive multi-class project. If you can invest a wicked amount of time, Pre-K & K kids can do this, but I'd say second grade & up.
Perimeters can be confusing. Showing kids a fenced in yard can help. When they see it in 'real' life, it sometimes clicks, especially if you have a visual learner. I decided on these flowerboxes to show my then 3rd grader perimeters. He also got to practice fractions with the tape measure. We used old scrap wood that the hubs had laying around. That's a perk for a contractor's wife- ;). If you don't have that luxury, do your best with what you have. Maybe you already have a flowerbox. At least the child can measure the box & explain the perimeter to you? That way he/she is still grasping the concept. Now, you've built or measured the box. If it's within your budget, get some potting soil & cheapie little flowers. Herbs will work, too. Talk about what you need to do to help these flowers succeed. Boom, science. If you were able to make the box yourselves, paint & decorate it. Art class. Get as fancy as you wish & can afford to. The way we went was with handprints. You can never have too many child handprints. Everytime I look at my teens, I can remember something we've done together. It's nice to have a momento too. Or maybe Grandma's been a little down? Gift it to her. If your child is much older & an independent studen, depending on your curriculm, this can also be a wood shop project.
If money is really tight, you can modify this with a Chia Pet. Don't laugh, you can. Measure the perimeter like anything else & well, it's the pottery that grows. It can still prove an effect science class by discussing why you're doing what you're doing. I'd recommend the George Washington one. LOL You can use it as a history class, too!
Perimeters can be confusing. Showing kids a fenced in yard can help. When they see it in 'real' life, it sometimes clicks, especially if you have a visual learner. I decided on these flowerboxes to show my then 3rd grader perimeters. He also got to practice fractions with the tape measure. We used old scrap wood that the hubs had laying around. That's a perk for a contractor's wife- ;). If you don't have that luxury, do your best with what you have. Maybe you already have a flowerbox. At least the child can measure the box & explain the perimeter to you? That way he/she is still grasping the concept. Now, you've built or measured the box. If it's within your budget, get some potting soil & cheapie little flowers. Herbs will work, too. Talk about what you need to do to help these flowers succeed. Boom, science. If you were able to make the box yourselves, paint & decorate it. Art class. Get as fancy as you wish & can afford to. The way we went was with handprints. You can never have too many child handprints. Everytime I look at my teens, I can remember something we've done together. It's nice to have a momento too. Or maybe Grandma's been a little down? Gift it to her. If your child is much older & an independent studen, depending on your curriculm, this can also be a wood shop project.
If money is really tight, you can modify this with a Chia Pet. Don't laugh, you can. Measure the perimeter like anything else & well, it's the pottery that grows. It can still prove an effect science class by discussing why you're doing what you're doing. I'd recommend the George Washington one. LOL You can use it as a history class, too!
SPRING CLEANING GIVEAWAY HOP
Welcome to the Spring Cleaning Giveaway Hop! Our hosts for this event are MamaNYC and Sweeping The USA! We have some great giveaways and even a GRAND PRIZE iRobot Roomba, which is a robot that will actually vacuum your floors!
This event will run from March 10-24, 2012. Keep reading to find out what I am giving away, but don’t forget to enter for a chance at our GRAND PRIZE - and hop down the linky list for a chance to win even MORE prizes!
MY GIVEAWAY IS A $25 TARGET GIFTCARD TO HELP PURCHASE ALL THE THINGS YOU NEED FOR SPRING CLEANING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[GRAND PRIZE]
PRIZE: iRobot ROOMBA
VALUE: $299
You can enter to win the grand prize here: http://sweepingtheusa.org/2012/03/spring-cleaning-giveaway-hop-grand-prize/
*Official iRobot Website: http://www.irobot.com
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Yum Yum Dishes
Portion control is a huge issue in our house. I've said before, my boys have been known to kill off 15 boxes of cereal in a week. Explaining to them that a mixing bowl should not double as a cereal bowl is like talking to a potted plant. Many times, though, their eyes are bigger than their stomachs. I've had the unfortunate task of trying to scrape Fruity Pebbles out of bowls (it's like cement when dry) or a variety of other food from plates. So, the question is how can a mom show them proper portion control? What about the mom who needs help in this area for herself? The answer is: Yum Yum dishes.
These 9 inch plates & 4 inch bowls available in Mom-friendly (so you can feel girly in a testosterone filled environment) colors (yellow- HOORAY), are perfectly sized so you & they know when they've appropriately filled their plates. Worried there's more carb than veg on that kid plate? Not anymore. It's easy to see where the battle lines of nutrition have been drawn. We women folk can also feel good about what we've put on our plates & serve as an example to our kids (or spouse, or both!). If you are as guilty as I am about cereal or ice cream portions, these bowls can help in these instances, too. I am a huge fan of Yum Yum Dishes. I also love their cleaver name. They are available at:http://yumyumdish.com/. Very affordable to which helps because we all spend waaayyyy too much on food! Right now, you can W-I-N some YumYum for yourself as The Mommyhood Chronicles is GIVING away Yum Yum Dishes. Yes, of course I entered. Free Yum Yum Dishes? Yes, PLEASE! Click this link: http://www.the-mommyhood-chronicles.com/2012/02/luck-of-irish-mommyhood-chronicles-yum.html?showComment=1330834879415#c8970780822428078071
Try to win some, too & become a believer!
These 9 inch plates & 4 inch bowls available in Mom-friendly (so you can feel girly in a testosterone filled environment) colors (yellow- HOORAY), are perfectly sized so you & they know when they've appropriately filled their plates. Worried there's more carb than veg on that kid plate? Not anymore. It's easy to see where the battle lines of nutrition have been drawn. We women folk can also feel good about what we've put on our plates & serve as an example to our kids (or spouse, or both!). If you are as guilty as I am about cereal or ice cream portions, these bowls can help in these instances, too. I am a huge fan of Yum Yum Dishes. I also love their cleaver name. They are available at:http://yumyumdish.com/. Very affordable to which helps because we all spend waaayyyy too much on food! Right now, you can W-I-N some YumYum for yourself as The Mommyhood Chronicles is GIVING away Yum Yum Dishes. Yes, of course I entered. Free Yum Yum Dishes? Yes, PLEASE! Click this link: http://www.the-mommyhood-chronicles.com/2012/02/luck-of-irish-mommyhood-chronicles-yum.html?showComment=1330834879415#c8970780822428078071
Try to win some, too & become a believer!
Recipe Thursday: Our Version of Shepherd's Pie
This is the version of the dish we use (so everyone eats! LOL)
2 lbs ground beef
1 envelope onion soup mix
1 can of corn or 1 bag of frozen corn
1 entire box (2 pouches) Betty Crocker Mashed Potatoes
Set oven for 350. Brown beef in pan with 1/2 cup water & onion soup mix. While beef is browning, either defrost frozen corn or heat up the canned for 5 minutes in the microwave. Add heated corn to a casserole dish. Add beef on top of corn. Put in the oven while you make the potatoes according to package directions. When potatoes are done, take casserole dish outta ovem & pour evenly on top. Put a pat of butter in the center of potatoes. This way the butter will evenly melt onto the potatoes as they're heated. Put the dish back into the oven for a solid 10 minutes.
2 lbs ground beef
1 envelope onion soup mix
1 can of corn or 1 bag of frozen corn
1 entire box (2 pouches) Betty Crocker Mashed Potatoes
Set oven for 350. Brown beef in pan with 1/2 cup water & onion soup mix. While beef is browning, either defrost frozen corn or heat up the canned for 5 minutes in the microwave. Add heated corn to a casserole dish. Add beef on top of corn. Put in the oven while you make the potatoes according to package directions. When potatoes are done, take casserole dish outta ovem & pour evenly on top. Put a pat of butter in the center of potatoes. This way the butter will evenly melt onto the potatoes as they're heated. Put the dish back into the oven for a solid 10 minutes.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
The Mill River Recluse by Darcie Chan Book Review
Every small town has secrets. The sleepy town of Mill River is no different. There is a mansion that houses a woman who is never seen. A priest who has a commandment-breaking habit. 2 policemen- 1 is a stalker in his off time & the other a single dad trying to raise his child. A new teacher trying to overcome who she really is. An eccentric old woman who sees things (or does she?) that no one else sees.
The best element in this novel is the way Ms. Chan weaves all their stories together. She switches, via page breaks, between her characters. Each is attached to the other. But I truly loved how effortlessly she made this switch.
Her characters aren’t just believable- they could be anyone we know. She creates a seamless pattern that connects everything together. I had to fight the will to skip ahead once I found myself invested in these people.
This story’s plot is fantastic. It is mystery, a drama, & at times historical fiction. The main problem is the old woman in the mansion. Why doesn’t she mingle in her community? What is her story? She is the recluse in the title. As we learn about her, we want to ‘know’ her.
I could see this book easily becoming a television pilot. It would make, at the least, a great miniseries. I would give high recommendation to read this book. At true 5 of 5 stars.
The best element in this novel is the way Ms. Chan weaves all their stories together. She switches, via page breaks, between her characters. Each is attached to the other. But I truly loved how effortlessly she made this switch.
Her characters aren’t just believable- they could be anyone we know. She creates a seamless pattern that connects everything together. I had to fight the will to skip ahead once I found myself invested in these people.
This story’s plot is fantastic. It is mystery, a drama, & at times historical fiction. The main problem is the old woman in the mansion. Why doesn’t she mingle in her community? What is her story? She is the recluse in the title. As we learn about her, we want to ‘know’ her.
I could see this book easily becoming a television pilot. It would make, at the least, a great miniseries. I would give high recommendation to read this book. At true 5 of 5 stars.
Disaster Relief Efforts For Tornado Victims in Kentucky
This is from an email I received from a blog network I belong to. If God so moves your heart, there's info on how to help.
We've all been watching the newscoverage of the aftermath of the terrible storms that have sweptthrough the Midwest. Tonight, we're calling on the SheBlogs community tohelp make an impact. One of our community members, Barb Webb, who lives inone of the hard-hit communities in Kentucky, contacted us this eveningabout the ongoing recovery:
"As of today, the donation areas are out of food and towels and arein desperate need of support...the people of Kentucky who are livingthrough this disaster are in GREAT need."
Barb has posted an article with informationon donation opportunities, and she is asking for our help in spreadingthe word to our readers who may be able to help. She added:
"If anyone would like to make a direct impact, I am accepting Paypaldonation to make a grocery run for the shelters based on lists they willprovide. I will be happy to scan and provide a receipt for thoselooking for confirmation or a tax receipt for their efforts. MyPaypal is ruralmoms@gmail.com -people are free to contact me via this address with questions oralternative donation methods."
Please join us in helping Barb and all of our other fellow bloggersin these hard-hit areas spread the word about donation needs and makedonations to help relief efforts where possible.
Feel free to repost/re-tweet/facebook share/email share!
We've all been watching the newscoverage of the aftermath of the terrible storms that have sweptthrough the Midwest. Tonight, we're calling on the SheBlogs community tohelp make an impact. One of our community members, Barb Webb, who lives inone of the hard-hit communities in Kentucky, contacted us this eveningabout the ongoing recovery:
"As of today, the donation areas are out of food and towels and arein desperate need of support...the people of Kentucky who are livingthrough this disaster are in GREAT need."
Barb has posted an article with informationon donation opportunities, and she is asking for our help in spreadingthe word to our readers who may be able to help. She added:
"If anyone would like to make a direct impact, I am accepting Paypaldonation to make a grocery run for the shelters based on lists they willprovide. I will be happy to scan and provide a receipt for thoselooking for confirmation or a tax receipt for their efforts. MyPaypal is ruralmoms@gmail.com -people are free to contact me via this address with questions oralternative donation methods."
Please join us in helping Barb and all of our other fellow bloggersin these hard-hit areas spread the word about donation needs and makedonations to help relief efforts where possible.
Feel free to repost/re-tweet/facebook share/email share!
Monday, March 5, 2012
Childrens' Book Review:Why Do We Celebrate Easter? by Mark I. Sutherland
Easter is fast approaching. Among the eggs & choclate, there is a more eternal purpose for Easter. While surfing through Amazon's Kindle Books yesterday, I came across this free e-book for children 3-9. Being we have a 9 year old & Easter was the topic, I clicked on it. What a great surprise! This book is adorable. It's purpose is clear. It explains in the basic yet ideal way, why Easter's important. It takes the children through all the events of those 3 special days, explaining each detail perfectly. There are no gory details yet it gets the point across. Jesus died, rose again, & is in Heaven preparing a place for us. I have added this book to our Kindle & have approved it for our Book It! list. This book was free although it's message is priceless. I would gladly have paid for it. Kudos to Mr. Sutherland for writing a book worth reading at any age.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
THE EXECUTION BY SHARON CRAMER BOOK REVIEW
Violence is the one word I would use to describe this novel. What begins as a story riddled with tragedy, soon becomes an overly descriptive journey of pain in the 14th century.
The characters are believable; however, they do seem to lack any emotion other than sadness. We have a priest as our main character. The story swirls around why he is where he is & how he got there. Also involved is a murderer awaiting his execution. I would have enjoyed more dynamic than just their stories of agony.
Most of the setting is presented in flashback format. This in & of itself is fine. However, there were many times throughout the novel when it was hard to keep up with the flashbacks. Other times, I was invested in one angle only to find out that the conclusion I sought was 3 chapters away. It became a tad frustrating.
Ms. Cramer has a beautiful way of using descriptions especially concerning setting. I got the impression, though, that where gaps of history were present, scenes of violence were inserted.
The villains were just too sadistic for my taste. The unlikely heroes played their role, but fell just shy of gray area of heroism. In essence, this novel bears a striking resemblance to the 1991 film, “Double Impact” where Jean Claude Van Damme plays a dual role as twin brothers (one a mercenary, one a good boy).
It’s obvious the Ms. Cramer is talented. I would enjoy a work by her that contained more story & less violence. I don’t intend on recommending this novel to anyone unless, of course, they were a diehard, gory novel fan.
The characters are believable; however, they do seem to lack any emotion other than sadness. We have a priest as our main character. The story swirls around why he is where he is & how he got there. Also involved is a murderer awaiting his execution. I would have enjoyed more dynamic than just their stories of agony.
Most of the setting is presented in flashback format. This in & of itself is fine. However, there were many times throughout the novel when it was hard to keep up with the flashbacks. Other times, I was invested in one angle only to find out that the conclusion I sought was 3 chapters away. It became a tad frustrating.
Ms. Cramer has a beautiful way of using descriptions especially concerning setting. I got the impression, though, that where gaps of history were present, scenes of violence were inserted.
The villains were just too sadistic for my taste. The unlikely heroes played their role, but fell just shy of gray area of heroism. In essence, this novel bears a striking resemblance to the 1991 film, “Double Impact” where Jean Claude Van Damme plays a dual role as twin brothers (one a mercenary, one a good boy).
It’s obvious the Ms. Cramer is talented. I would enjoy a work by her that contained more story & less violence. I don’t intend on recommending this novel to anyone unless, of course, they were a diehard, gory novel fan.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Tattoos or No Tattoos?
One of the complaints I hear most as a deacon's wife when we invite others to church is: 'I don't fit in.' Somehow, to these folks, we've failed. Not failed in Christianity, but failed in love. Epic Fail. No one goes to the doctor simply because they're well. Therefore, no one stepping into a Church should be made to feel like more of a sinner than another. My husband has 36 tattoos over most of his body. He is ruggedly handsome, but gives off a 'Don't mess with me' vibe. To those who see him out & about, he is often mistaken for a biker. (For the record, we don't own a motorcycle) He has had all varieties of things said to him. He has been asked to wear long-sleeved shirts. He's been asked to put band-aids on his fingers. He's been told in certain circles that he offends the elderly. He tries to shrug it off, but let's face it- most people don't wish to be offensive. We don't come from money. We live well within our means. We don't buy vehicles that we can't pay cash for at the moment. We aren't credit users. But when we are in the public eye- we are clean, we are respectable, & most importantly, public eye or not, we are born again. We are well aware that after he completes his pastoral study, it may be quite difficult for him to obtain a pastoral position. But all these issues are in the eyes of man, not God. God sees individuals in a crowd. He looks at the heart when men, who say the don't, view only the outside.
My husband isn't alone. If you have a moment, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNMa1yAH1pA
and take a listen to this awesome, young man. Pastor Cleetus Adrian. He's been on TBN & is a well respected preacher. He's also been on TLC (you can find this clip on youtube also. It's worth the time.). There he was featured getting yet another tattoo. The entire time he witnessed to the artist. He explained that his pieces are a witnessing tool. They are a conversation piece. They are anything BUT Satanic.
If we are going to have a compassion revolution in this country, then we cannot pick & choose who gets our compassion. Christ didn't die on the cross for the well-dressed, manicured, high society types. He died for all. His Resurrection wasn't just for non-smokers, never-been addicts, or perfectly moral folks. It was to conquer death for all people.
If a younger Cleetus hadn't been given an opportunity to flourish, we, as a society, would've been deprived of his fountain of knowledge & insight. Perhaps when we go to church the next time, we won't double take at the girl in the micro- mini or sniff the alcoholic two pews up. Perhaps we can simply shake their hands, welcome them, & pray that God will direct them. If God wants to convict their alcohol, short skirts, drugs, tobacco, etc. He will. He doesn't need us to point him to those we feel need conviction. He had some harsh words for people like that in the New Testament.
We shake our heads at Biblical people such as the Pharisees. But once in a while, we need to check ourselves & make sure we, too, are being like them.
My husband isn't alone. If you have a moment, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNMa1yAH1pA
and take a listen to this awesome, young man. Pastor Cleetus Adrian. He's been on TBN & is a well respected preacher. He's also been on TLC (you can find this clip on youtube also. It's worth the time.). There he was featured getting yet another tattoo. The entire time he witnessed to the artist. He explained that his pieces are a witnessing tool. They are a conversation piece. They are anything BUT Satanic.
If we are going to have a compassion revolution in this country, then we cannot pick & choose who gets our compassion. Christ didn't die on the cross for the well-dressed, manicured, high society types. He died for all. His Resurrection wasn't just for non-smokers, never-been addicts, or perfectly moral folks. It was to conquer death for all people.
If a younger Cleetus hadn't been given an opportunity to flourish, we, as a society, would've been deprived of his fountain of knowledge & insight. Perhaps when we go to church the next time, we won't double take at the girl in the micro- mini or sniff the alcoholic two pews up. Perhaps we can simply shake their hands, welcome them, & pray that God will direct them. If God wants to convict their alcohol, short skirts, drugs, tobacco, etc. He will. He doesn't need us to point him to those we feel need conviction. He had some harsh words for people like that in the New Testament.
We shake our heads at Biblical people such as the Pharisees. But once in a while, we need to check ourselves & make sure we, too, are being like them.
Curvy Canadian: A Blogger Who Is Proud to Be Herself
Finding a person who is sincere about being themselves nowawadays is like a needle in a haystack. The Blog: Curvy Canadian is a testament to this young lady's valuable self-worth. She gives awesome fashion advice including a list of fab thirft stores in her area that are worth a look. Along with her insight comes www.yourbigsisterscloset.com. It has new & vintage clothing. Most importantly to those of us that need it is a Fabulous collection of Plus Size colthing. Karen's site includes dresses, swimwear & jewelry. The products are beautiful. The prices fantastic. She has some truly stunning dresses for $20. $20! That beats Ross's & Gabriel Brothers. She certainly knows what she's doing as a Fashionista. I enjoy her blog & HIGHLY recommended http://www.yourbigsisterscloset.com/storepage1210280.aspx for all your fashion needs.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games
I am a big fan of the Wii. I love that it makes exercise fun. I've watched my sons become incredibly competitive in a variety of sports. I've also become pretty darn good at Carnival Games. With the 2012 Olympics approaching, what better way to get kids moving than combining 2 all time favorite video game icons with these world renowed games? Through the magic of technology, you & your family can compete against each other in these games. Wanna win a copy for free? Darn right you do!
Sara at Momma Findings is having a Rafflecopter giveaway for a copy of this new game from Sega! Can't wait? Find it at Amazon.com. For more info on the game itself go to: http://www.olympicvideogames.com/
Click the link to Sara's giveaway! This page with also contain all disclosures & giveaway rules. Go give her some love!
http://www.mommafindings.com/2012/02/video-game-giveaway-mario-and-sonic-at.html?showComment=1330265886260#c2247121887667421357
Sara at Momma Findings is having a Rafflecopter giveaway for a copy of this new game from Sega! Can't wait? Find it at Amazon.com. For more info on the game itself go to: http://www.olympicvideogames.com/
Click the link to Sara's giveaway! This page with also contain all disclosures & giveaway rules. Go give her some love!
http://www.mommafindings.com/2012/02/video-game-giveaway-mario-and-sonic-at.html?showComment=1330265886260#c2247121887667421357
Recipe Thursday: Ground Beef & Past with Garlic Sauce
Ground Beef is extremely cost effective when you have many hungry boys & more month than money.
1 box whole grain pasta ( I used Giant Eagle brand)
2 lbs. ground beef
3 bell peppers ( for a more colorful look I used 1 green, 1 yellow 1 red)
1 container Philadelphia Cooking Creme in Savory Garlic
1 tsp Vegetable oil
Brown the ground beef in a pan. Here I sprinkled it with minced onions. While it's browning, I boiled the water for the pasta. I add 1 tsp of oil so the noodles don't stick. While these are brewing, I diced the peppers into not-so-neat little piles. When the beef was no longer pink, I added the little pepper piles. After the noodles are done, roughly 12 minutes, drain & set aside. Drain & rinse beefy pepper stuff. Combine noodles & beefy peppers together in a big ole saucepan. Add the cooking creme. Mix. Warm through. Done. Serve.
1 box whole grain pasta ( I used Giant Eagle brand)
2 lbs. ground beef
3 bell peppers ( for a more colorful look I used 1 green, 1 yellow 1 red)
1 container Philadelphia Cooking Creme in Savory Garlic
1 tsp Vegetable oil
Brown the ground beef in a pan. Here I sprinkled it with minced onions. While it's browning, I boiled the water for the pasta. I add 1 tsp of oil so the noodles don't stick. While these are brewing, I diced the peppers into not-so-neat little piles. When the beef was no longer pink, I added the little pepper piles. After the noodles are done, roughly 12 minutes, drain & set aside. Drain & rinse beefy pepper stuff. Combine noodles & beefy peppers together in a big ole saucepan. Add the cooking creme. Mix. Warm through. Done. Serve.
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