A Fixed {Heart}

Teaching Our Daughters Self Control

2012-02-05T21:21:00.000-05:00

We teach our children all sorts of things. We teach them about manners, how to share, working hard at school, just to name a few. But do we teach specifically about self-control?

Boys obviously need self-control as well. But I want to focus on our daughters

Girls can be EMOTIONAL. Some more than others.

I am not a hyper-sensitive female. I don't cry at movies, and I don't boo-hoo during that time of the month. That's not to say that I am emotionless-But I am aware that there is a time and a place for emotions. And I'm sorry, but emotional "outbursts" in everyday situations are not o.k.

When I had my 2nd born child, a daughter, (my first child is a relatively calm, compliant boy), I was in unchartered territory. She was definitely more emotional. I remember around the age of 2, she would cry ALOT. I'm not talking about colic type cry, I'm talking my world has been crushed because I didn't get my way cry. I knew I could not go through the next 18 years like this! God began to nudge me to train her in the area of self-control.

So at the age of 2, I began teaching her about self-control.

It started with little things-like when she folded her arms to pout, I would tell her to put her arms down.

If she was crying over a toy, I would physically remove her or the toy from the situation.

The self-control started with helping her control her physical actions. And I would use the word "self-control" when I talked to her about her actions.

As 3 and 4 rolled around, I talked to her about how God wants us to have self control. If you're not hurt, you don't have to cry "like that". There were daily opportunities to remind her that "this is not self controlled behavior".

By age 5, she fully understood what self-control was. Was she always self-controlled-no! But then again, am I always self-controlled? However, I could see her "controlling" her emotions in many situations.

At 6, she prayed to receive Christ. She began to understand the fruit of the spirit. We've prayed many times for God to help her have self-control.

Presently, at 7, she is not the emotional little girl she was at 2 and 3. I believe it's not just that she's matured. I believe it's because, by the grace of God and tools given to me by God, we have trained her.

Still not convinced? We've all seen 6, 7, 8, 10,13,15, and even 30 year old girls who whine and cry and are emotional messes. Why didn't they "mature"? They weren't trained. They weren't taught to recognize that particular fruit. The other day, she became visibly upset when I told her do something. She didn't cry, whine or argue with me. She went into the bathroom. She was quietly crying. Even my husband asked me what she was doing. LOL But 5 minutes later, she came out composed and went upstairs, and obeyed the instruction I had given her. That was one of those moments that I saw fruits of my labor!

Please understand that I don't want my daughter to be emotionless. She is going to cry and get upset, and that's o.k. on occasion or when the situation warrants real emotions. But I want her to understand that she doesn't have to cry over every.little.thing.

Being a woman is not a license to be an emotional mess.

The fruit of the spirit of self-control applies to us also.

Of course, this is always a work in progress, as is all aspects of child rearing. But the growth and maturity I have seen in her is amazing.

The best way I can train her to be self-controlled in her emotions is to model it. She has to see me living what I preach.

I love the verses in Titus 2 that charge us, as women to train the younger women-especially our daughters!! I'll leave you with these verses:

³ Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. ⁴ Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

Blessings to you,

Kris

The Good Wife's Guide Book Review

2012-02-03T18:03:00.002-05:00

I recently read Darlene Schacht's ebook The Good Wife's Guide, Embracing Your Role as a Help Meet. And I.LOVED.EVERY.PAGE.
It was one of the most practical "wife" books I've ever read. But don't let the practical side fool you, I believe that in the same way the movie Courageous challenged men, The Good Wife's Guide can and will challenge women!
Top 5 reasons I loved this book:1. It is not just a book for stay at home mom's. It's hands on information that is for women "who take joy in serving their families..."2. I love how the book's standard for being a "good wife" is the godly standard of Proverbs 31, not a worldly standard. It addresses some of the pitfalls that women fall into that are very "anti-Proverbs 31" like laziness and overindulging. We don't like to admit it-but these are real issues for us! 3. It addresses discipline and self-sacrifice. Both of which will produce "life-lasting results" in our homemaking, parenting, and our quest to be godly women and wives. 4. It is honest about time management. I know from experience that many of my short-comings and successes all rest on time management or lack of it. I loved seeing such valuable guidelines to help me in black and white!5. One of my most favorite parts were the attitude check verses that I can meditate on for every area of my home. I love how she shows that God cares about every detail in our lives through these verses!
I could give you lots more reasons why I loved this book-but I want you to go get this ebook and read it for yourself! It will be time well spent!

Blessings to you,Kris

I Heart Chalkboards

2012-01-24T14:08:00.000-05:00

I love anything "chalkboard". I keep chalkboard spray on hand and have used too many times to tell! I just recently bought chalkboard contact paper. Oh boy. Of course, I had the perfect spot in mind to use it.
I have a side of a cabinet in my kitchen that is bare and I felt like I needed something there. I wanted a chalkboard "something" to post our weekly menu and a weekly family Bible verse. {My son is 13 and suddenly it is very important to him what we are eating and when. Thus, the need for a posted weekly menu :).}
The cabinet looked like this:

Now it looks like this:

The contact paper costs $6 for the roll from Amazon. You can find it here. I still have plenty left for other projects (Oh, yea!!). It took me about 15 minutes to measure and adhere it. The best thing is it won't damage the side of my cabinet. As much as I love chalkboards, I won't love it forever, so it can come down when I'm ready (which I'm sure won't be for a very, very long time).

Blessings to you,

Kris

From The Mouths of Babes...

2012-01-15T23:41:00.003-05:00

My sweet Holly decided she wanted to have a "ladies Bible study/sleepover". She started asking me around November. I was very proud of her desire to lead a Bible study, but being the slacker mom that I can be from time to time, I kept putting her off. After all, it was the holidays, and we were busy. And frankly, I wasn't sure if it was more about the Bible study or the sleepover. But she was persistent. Finally, I agreed to let her have her Bible study over Christmas break. She was very diligent and wrote out what she was going to say. She planned and wrote down a Scripture that each girl would read. Her topic was very timely: "Jesus's birth".

We picked up the first little girl and my little Evangelist didn't waste any time. Listen in on the conversation that melted my heart:

{H-Holly, LG-Little girlfriend}

LG: What is a Bible study anyway?

H: It's where we study the Bible. You know, God really cares about you. He cares so much.

LG: Like He cared about Michael Jackson?

H: Ummm, I guess. He cares so much that He sent His Son, Jesus to die for our sins.

LG: What are sins?

H: They're the bad things that we do. When Jesus died on the cross, He had so many sins on Him that God couldn't even look at Him.

LG: He had sins on Him? What did Jesus do wrong?

H: Nothing! He took all of our sins on Himself!

LG: Wow, Holly, you sure know alot.

How, sweet is that conversation??!!

I love how God put this Bible study on Holly's heart and she was obedient. The girls had a true Bible study that night. They each read their Scriptures and they prayed. I wasn't "allowed" to sit in. But the one time I peeked in Holly was reading the Bible out loud and she stopped at the word "Galillee".

Not sure what she was reading. But they all had their notepads that Holly provided, with pencils in hand.

I was reminded that what I saw as an interruption, was a divine appointment by God. The seed of God's Word has been planted in these girls' hearts by a fellow 7 year old. Be still my heart.

I was very convicted by this little Bible study. Am I as bold about sharing Jesus as my 7 year old?

It's amazing how God can speak to us through our children.

So, now she's asking when next month's Bible study is going to be.
How could I possibly say no to this face?

Blessings to you,

Kris

A Determined Lady

2012-01-12T19:44:00.002-05:00

I am hosting a Girlfriends' 8 Week Weight Loss Challenge with 7 friends. We just started on Monday, and it has been fun, encouraging, and motivational. I set up a Facebook page privately for our group. This has been my favorite part. I've loved having that sounding board and cromarderie. But, I'm not going to kid you. It's been hard! Drinking 64 oz. of water a day, exercising for 30 min., staying away from sugary treats, eating 3 veggies and 2 fruits, not eating after 9, and recording my food everyday are not habits that I'm accustomed to. Thus the Challenge! I was thinking today that I still have 7 weeks left of this. 7. WEEKS. I don't know if I thought this through. LOL

Funny enough, Holly came home today with a paper from her Proverbs 31 Girls Club that was so perfect for where I'm at RIGHT NOW! Today, was her first day at the club. God's timing always amazes me and makes me laugh!

The paper she brought home was a "Parent Page" based on the girls' topic today from Proverbs 31:18.

¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,

and her lamp does not go out at night.

"Her lamp does not go out at night."
You see this Proverbs 31 woman was determined.

The paper had this title and these questions:

A Determined Lady

1. Does she give up as soon as something becomes hard?

2. Does she dwell on her problems?

3. Does she control her emotions in times of adversity?

If you know me, you know that I love me some Proverbs 31! I've been studying her (once again) the past couple of weeks. I strive to be like her...soooooo-

Will I give up when this diet is getting hard?

Will I dwell on the lattes that I want to drink or the high fat food I would rather eat (a.k.a. my problems)?

Will I bite my family's head off when I'm cranky from dieting or exercising or will I control my emotions?

...Or will I be a determined Proverbs 31 lady??

Blessings to you,

Kris

I got the 8 Week Weight Loss Challenge idea here.

Nutella Hot Chocolate

2012-01-10T20:42:00.000-05:00

I am bringing hot chocolate to my daughter's class on Friday for their AR party. So I needed to find a way to make mass amounts of yummy hot chocolate.

Tonight I decided to experiment. I plan on putting this recipe in the crockpot, which is better as not to scorch the milk anyway.

I used one tablespoon of Nutella per 1 cup of milk. To serve a large crowd, I will use the entire smaller container of Nutella which has 20 tablespoons in it.

The following are stove top directions:

Add the Nutella and a cup of milk. Stir until the Nutella is blended into the milk.

Once it's blended add the rest of the milk. Simmer but don't boil until desired heat.

In the crockpot, heat on low for 1.5 hours.

I promise, IT.IS.YUMMY.

Blessings to you,

Kris

Meatball Subs

2012-01-06T20:48:00.001-05:00

I've NEVER eaten a meatball sub. A meatball on bread with no pasta just doesn't sound right.

But today, that all changed. I decided that I wanted to make my own meatball subs. So I did what we all do, and I scoured the internet to find and compare recipes. This is what I came up with:

2 lbs. of ground beef and 1 lb. of ground pork

In a food processor add 3 cloves of garlic, 1 c. of fresh parsley, 2 eggs beaten, 1 small onion quartered, and 5 oz. of fresh parmesan chunked. Process thoroughly.

Set aside and grab your hoagie rolls. This is my favorite part...Remember how Subway used to make a well in their rolls to add the meats? That's what we're going to do to keep us from losing our meatballs when we eat our subs!

Don't throw away the bread that you take from the middle! Throw it in the food processor for the bread crumbs for the meatballs-genius! You need 1 c. of bread crumbs.

Put your bread back in the bag until you're ready for it to keep it fresh.

Add the bread crumbs and onion mixture to the ground meat. Combine it with your hands. Fun, fun.

Add about a tablespoon of olive oil to your pan. Form meatballs. Mine were slightly bigger than a golf ball, but smaller than a tennis ball. Can you visualize that? LOL

Don't they look pretty? I cooked them with the lid on to help them cook through more quickly.

Then, carefully turn them once or twice as they cook.

Meanwhile, add two 28 ounce cans of tomato sauce to a pot and simmer.

When the meatballs are done, add them to the sauce and let them simmer for at least 20 minutes.

Toast the buns in the oven until golden brown. Here's my 2nd favorite part...when they come out of the oven, take a large clove of garlic and rub the inside of the roll with it. If you've never made garlic bread this way, you're in for a treat! Garlic bread without the butter!

After you've simmered the meatballs for about 20 min. put them in the roll. This batch was enough meatballs for 10 subs at 3 meatballs per sub.

Put slice provolone or mozzarella on top of the sub and pop them back in the oven for a minute or 2.

Look at how perfectly that meatball fits in the roll!

After you take them out of the oven put the top back on and wa-laa!

Don't forget to serve some sauce on the side to pour on top!

Meatball subs!

Blessings to you,

Kris

I'm linking here:

How We Celebrated 2012

2012-01-01T13:52:00.001-05:00

We celebrated 2012 with friends and family at our house. It was so nice to be home and ring in the new year in a family friendly way. Here's a peek into our evening.

You can see my theme was blue and white. All inspired by the blue and white plates and decorations I found 75% off the day after Christmas!

I love all the Pinterest inspired ideas, like the balloons on the picture frame. Each balloon was labeled with an hour. The kids took turns popping them on the hour. Even though we forgot to pop the 12:00 balloon!

Some other pinspiration was the snowflakes. They were super easy to make, a cost effective decoration, and pretty.

We had a chili station, complete with cheese, sour cream, fritos, and hot sauce. Chili is always a great way to feed lots of people. I was able to make it ahead and put it in the crockpot, which freed me to mingle with my guests.

We set up tables out back and enjoyed the beautiful South Florida winter.

I made "baby" lemon bundt cakes and mini apple pies. Because everything tastes better when it's cute and mini.

I made some staples, like sausage bites. You'll also recognize the individual cups of bruschetta and 7 layer dip that I served at my Sisters' Cookie Swap. This is a definite trick to entertaining: find a few good crowd pleasers that you're good at it and stick with them.

Though I depend on the staples, I also try to challenge myself and try at least one new recipe when I entertain. This is bacon cheddar dip a.k.a. crack dip that I discovered on Pinterest.

We had a great time eating, chatting, hanging by the fire pit, playing 4 men on a couch (a must-play at your next gathering of 8 or more people), lighting off fireworks (my apologies to my neighbors!) and just enjoying each others' company!

I love that we are able to celebrate New Years' Day at church in the morning. And then we were able to come home, reheat chili, veg on the couch and watch the Dolphins' game and sneak in a nap. I pray that you and yours are as blessed as I am in 2012! I leave you with a verse for the new year:

Philippians 3:12-14

¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Blessings to you,

Kris

New Years' Resolutions

2011-12-28T11:40:00.002-05:00

Do you want to be a better wife, mother, and/or woman? Do you want to tackle the clutter in your home this year? Do you want to be wise in your spending in 2012? Do you want to find maximum joy in the daily tasks of mothering and housekeeping?

I love the potential of a new year. Even though many resolutions fall by the wayside, the optimist in me, savors the possibilities.

My resolutions for 2012 revolve around being the Proverbs 31 woman that God has created me to be.

Which is why I was so excited to get Courtney's ebook, from WomenLivingWell, on the Proverbs 31 woman!

You can get it too, by simply liking her Facebook page.

I've been reading it as my "Winter Break Bible study".

Click on the picture to get your FREE copy!

I highly recommend that you go get your copy and start 2012 off right!

Blessings to you,

Kris

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2011-12-26T21:54:00.001-05:00

Are you having guests over for New Year's? We are and I'm so excited! A fun thing we did as a family last year was this picture. I plan on setting up a "photo booth" for my guests this year where they can can take a 2012 picture of their own.

I cut the largest numbers I could with my Cricut. I think they were 12 inches. We will take the pictures first thing in the evening and print them out before the night is over. I'm getting frames from the dollar store to put them in. What a great favor on the cheap! Even if you're not having guests, this is a great way to make a memory with your family!

Happy New Year,

Kris

This year...

2011-12-19T21:29:00.002-05:00

Christmas is days away. And the craziness is being kicked up a notch as I type. The crying, moaning, and complaining about how we wish things would slow down this year, is also in full swing right about now. We hope to be able to enjoy Christmas this year. We just want to focus on the true meaning of Christmas this year, and let the other stuff take its rightful place- in the back seat. We want our kids to understand that Christmas is not about the gifts, parties, and Santa. This year, maybe they'll get it. But how can we really accomplish this? We give the same lip service each year. And as each year passes, our children get older, and our opportunity to really instill why we celebrate -is passing us by.

Well, I have good news for you! This year is the year! Christmas is on Sunday in 2011. What better way to live what we've been longing for, than to be at church on Christmas morning worshipping the One we say we're celebrating. Sure- we could be at church on the 22nd, 23rd, or 24th and check church off our list.
But then, what are we really teaching our children? What are we showing our lost neighbors about why we, Christians are really celebrating? You know the old saying, "Actions speak louder than words".

What's that, you say? "But if we have to go to church on Sunday morning, Christmas morning, how can we fit in Christmas breakfast? We won't have time to open all of our gifts. How will I get Christmas dinner in the oven?"
Wait, why is it that we celebrate Christmas? The food? The gifts? The family time? No, No, and No. Not that any of these things are bad-in fact they're all good and special things. But, we celebrate because Jesus left heaven and came to earth as a baby for us-to save a lost world.

This year, in a small way, we can live it, and make Jesus our priority.
I challenge you to inconvenience yourself.
*Plan breakfast ahead-make an overnight casserole.
*Get up earlier and open a few gifts and let the kids enjoy their stockings. Save the rest for after church. We complain anyway that we shop for weeks and the gifts are all opened in minutes and it's over.
*Work a little smarter on Christmas Eve and have the table set and all the side dishes made to lessen the burden on Christmas Day.

You CAN make it happen, if He's your priority.

Joshua 24:15 .... As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

Christmas Blessings to you,
Kris

Creative Gift Idea

2011-12-18T19:07:00.001-05:00

I like giving gift cards, but I always feel like I skimped in the "thoughtfulness department" when I give them. So, I love to add a cute, thoughtful touch when I can to the gift card.
I saw this adorable snowman idea on Pinterest (where else?). When I came across a snowman gift card at Target I knew what I had to do!

I'm not going to kid you, "gluing" those mini chocolate chips on for the mouth and nose was tedious. A snowman head was harmed in the making of this treat. But if you're only making a couple for gifts, it's well worth it. Of course, I'm a little crazy, and I'm going to make 24 of these guys for Holly's class Christmas breakfast on Wednesday. SMH. The good news is that the gumball buttons, candy corn nose, and fruit roll-up scarf were super easy to put on.

Christmas Blessings to you,

Kris

Quick and Easy Gift Idea

2011-12-14T19:45:00.000-05:00

Looking for a great teacher, neighbor, Sunday School teacher, or friend gift idea?

Here's one anyone would love.

Grab a Subway giftcard in a denomination that fits your budget. Even a $5 card is enough from Subway. Make sure you get one of the Subway bags for cute packaging. I put some yellow shredded paper grass inside. Write or type up the label that says "There's no 'sub'-stitute for you!". Put the gift card in the bag and bless someone special to you!

Christmas Blessings to you,

Kris

Sisters' Cookie Swap

2011-12-12T22:15:00.002-05:00

It's time for my annual Sisters' Cookie Swap. I have to be honest, I love this cookie swap. But it has nothing to do with the cookies! I just the love the process of planning, shopping, preparing and entertaining! This process is just one way that I am able to savor and enjoy the Christmas season. So here's a peek into my Cookie Swap!

I love trying new appetizer recipes. For about a month before the swap I start collecting ideas for appetizers. The nice thing about a cookie swap is you don't have to prepare any desserts since your guests bring all the desserts!

Brie Bites (Super simple-crescent rolls in a mini muffin pan. Add little chunks of brie, a 1/2 tsp. of brown sugar and a few dried cranberries. Bake till golden brown. Yummy)

Bruschetta-I put the servings of the bruschetta in individual cups. Love this!

I also divided a 7 layer dip in individual cups-I layered each cup with refried beans, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, cheese, tomatoes and black olives. (That's 7, right?)

These were delish! A Paula Deen recipe, of course!

The turkey cranberry pinwheels are Pillsbury recipe. Love Pillsbury's holiday recipes!

Fun hot chocolate bar!

Toppings included peppermint marshmallows, mini marshmallows, chocolate sprinkles, crushed candy canes, and homemade whipped cream.

Some other random pics:

And the stars of the night-the Cookies!

I hope you can find what ever it is that helps you savor and cherish this Christmas season-whether it's entertaining, baking, or spending time with family or friends-and embrace it! Christmas is a time to embrace the joy of the Lord!

Psalm 126:3 The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

Blessings to you,

Kris

I'm linking here:

Easiest Christmas Cookies Ever

2011-12-08T21:13:00.001-05:00

I went to a cookie exchange tonight-one of my favorite Christmas festivities!

I made cookies last night and THEY.WERE.AWFUL.

They looked pretty, so I toyed with the idea of bringing them and trying to pass them off as good. But I couldn't do it. When I got home from work, with one hour before the exchange, I decided to make the required FIVE DOZEN cookies. Ca-razee. But I pulled it off! They were festive looking and yummy. So, if you need a quick holiday cookie on the fly, here's your recipe! Brace yourself-it's ridiculously simple.

Buy this packaged cookie mix:

Bake according to package directions.

Then as soon as they come out of the oven, put one of these Hershey kisses in the center of the cookie.

Let cool and dust with powdered sugar.

Wa-laa! Christmas cookies!

Christmas Blessings,

Kris

Thankful Rolls

2011-11-22T19:27:00.001-05:00

Here's a fun new tradition to add to your Thanksgiving Day. Make a bunch of "I'm thankful for..." slips of paper.

As each guest arrives, have them complete the sentence with something that they're thankful for.

Then, wrap each slip in a little piece of tinfoil.

Place the tinfoil in a crescent roll (or other roll of your choice) and roll it up.

Bake as directed on the package. When they come out of the oven you would never know there's a little surprise in each!

Now, here's the important part. Make sure you tell your guests that there's something inside the crescent roll! I don't want anyone having to do the heimlich maneuver on Thanksgiving!

When you break open the roll, the little piece of foil is tucked inside and the slip of paper is in tact.

I plan on having each guest read their "I'm thankful for" paper, and then they will guess who wrote it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Blessings to you,

Kris

Thankful Journals

2011-11-14T19:05:00.001-05:00

We made these Thankful Journals at school, and I thought they would be good to do with your children at home or for my homeschooling friends.

We stapled writing paper inside a construction paper folder.

I used this model for the students to follow for their writing.

Then, every day in November they have written in their journals.

They have been so creative in thinking of things that they're thankful for.

Blessings to you,

Kris

Testing, Testing, 1-2-3 Thanksgiving Edition

2011-11-13T19:20:00.001-05:00

I'm hosting Thanksgiving for the second year in row. And I'm very excited about it! There's something about it that makes me feel very grown up (as if the mortgage, minivan, husband, kids, and job wasn't enough to make me feel grown up!)
So any who, I wanted to test a side dish I found on Pinterest (where else?).
Roasted acorn squash...

Cut the acorn squash into fourths.

Take out the seeds and drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper and brown sugar. I'll be a little more generous with the brown sugar next time.

Bake at 400 degrees for about an hour and fifteen minutes. Meanwhile, sauté 1/4 cup each of dried cranberries and walnuts in 2 tbsp. of butter. When the squash is done spoon the cranberry and nut mixture on the top.

The answer is YES- I will be serving this on Thanksgiving!

- Blessings to you,
Kris
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

30 Days of Thankfulness

2011-11-05T20:39:00.000-04:00

Today I'm thankful for Pinterest! A little shallow, I know. Of course, I'm thankful for my family, my home, food, and all of that. But sometimes it's the little things that bring happiness!Tonight, each recipe I made for dinner was from Pinterest. All of the dishes were yummy, and I would make them all again. Here's what I made (Click the pics to go the original sites for the recipes)::

Cheddar & Cracker Chicken

Paula Deen's Crockpot Macaroni and Cheese

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie

Ok, Ok, I'm not JUST thankful for Pinterest. I'm also thankful for the sweet friends we had over that I could cook these Pinterest finds for!

Blessings to you,

Kris

A is for Apple

2011-11-02T18:48:00.001-04:00

My daughter loves apples but with the recent mass exodus of her teeth, biting into an apple is impossible for her! So we've had to move to the slices. But, the precut slices are pricey, and when I cut the apples ahead of time, the slices turn brown. Once again-Pinterest comes to the rescue. I saw this great idea and decided to see if it worked, and it did!
Simply cut the apple using an apple slicer. Don't cut the apple all the way through. Stop just short of the bottom.

Then, wrap a rubber band around the apple. (Wash the rubber band first).

Next, hold the apple and push the apple all the way through the slicer, keeping the core in place.

Stick it in a baggie.

And it won't brown!

Blessings to you,

Kris

Zucchini Crisps

2011-10-23T19:59:00.001-04:00

Finding veggie side dishes is hard at my house. This is a different one that went over pretty well. I ate the leftovers for lunch and they were delish. I will definitely serve these next time I have guests.

Gather these ingredients:

Cut the zucchini into quarter inch slices.

Put them in a single layer on a greased baking sheet.

Drizzle each and every one with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Sprinkle each zucchini slice with a generous pinch of panko bread crumbs.

Then top each one with a generous pinch of parmesan cheese.

Bake for 20 minutes at 400 degrees. The zucchini doesn't get crisp but the topping does.

A fresh idea for a veggie side dish.

Blessings to you,

Kris

Candy Bar Bark

2011-10-23T08:57:00.000-04:00

No doubt you've seen this yummy idea on Pinterest! I had to try it out!

Gather these ingredients:

1/2 bag of peanut M & M's (preferably oranges and yellows)

8 Reese's Cups

8 snack size Butterfinger

8 snack size Heath bars

2 boxes of Baker's semi-sweet chocolate

1 bag of white chocolate chips

Melt the Baker's chocolate using a double broiler or a put it in a pyrex bowl and sit it on a pot of boiling water. Stir it constantly as it melts.

Coarsely chop up the candy bars. Be careful when you chop up the M & M's. I almost chopped off my finger more than once.

Line a cookie sheet with foil. I sprayed it with Pam also. Spread the melted chocolate on the foil. Evenly distribute the candy on top of the chocolate. Gently press the candy down into the chocolate. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or until set.

Then, melt the white chocolate using the same method as the semi-sweet chocolate. I added a tablespoon of vegetable oil to make it creamier.

Drizzle the white chocolate on top of the candy. I put the white chocolate in a baggie and snipped one of the corners. Refrigerate another 30 minutes.

When it comes out it looks like this. Gently break it into pieces. Try to not to eat it all yourself.

I put some of mine in this little bucket I got for $1 at Target. I took it as a hostess gift to a friend's who had us over for dinner last night. Yummy treat!!

Blessings to you,

Kris

31 Day Fall Challenge: Making Your Home a Haven

2011-10-16T20:41:00.000-04:00

(So, I totally skipped week #2. I didn't skip the challenge, just didn't blog about it!)

Here’s week #3′s Challenge:
List a few of the spots in your home that make you visually stressed. Work on cleaning up clutter. Throw things away.
While you’re at it – clean up some clutter in your spiritual life. What gets in the way of your peace spiritually?

Home Clutter:

I have two main areas in my home that make me clutter-crazy!
This is the big one:

These dishes are all clean, but they're sitting there waiting to be put away!

When we did our kitchen remodel, I made the decision to go without the dishwasher to have an extra cabinet. While I don't regret the decision, it does require me to be more on top of dish duty. I do have a secret, though. My wonderful husband has been a-maz-ing at washing dishes for me. But on Thursday, he fractured four fingers and had to get stitches-so the dishes have been all up to me! There's really only one way for me to de-clutter this area. I just have to wash and put away more often!

My second area of clutter-craziness is the basket at the bottom of the steps.

It's always full. I will try this week to empty it and then keep it empty!

Spiritual Clutter:

The Lord has brought to my attention, through several different avenues this week, the need to get away and just pray. Jesus set the example for us by the way he always retreated to pray.

Matthew 26:36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”

Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Luke 5:16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Luke 9:18 Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”

Whether we're a stay at home mom or we work outside the home, getting away to pray throughout the day is crucial. It helps me to be a better wife, mom, teacher, friend and disciple. I will be working on getting away to pray this week!

What's your main area of home clutter? spiritual clutter?

Blessings to you,

Kris

Earring Organization

2011-10-06T17:30:00.001-04:00

Every since I organized my necklaces, I've been brewing over a way to organize my earrings. I used to store them like this.

It wasn't working and it was ugly. So I picked up a few things from Target.

I put each pair of earrings in their own compartment.

I stacked them (I used 4 trays) and put them in the pretty brown container.

Mission Organization accomplished!

Blessings to you,

Kris

31 Day Fall Challenge, Week 1

2011-10-02T21:29:00.000-04:00

I am joining the WomenLivingWell.org 31 Day Fall Challenge. And I'm so excited! Every week Courtney will give us a challenge with the goal of making our homes a haven.

This week's challenge is this:

I love the scenarios that Courtney shared:

Let’s compare two women and see which home you live in.

Home #1

1. The woman of the home is distant. She is pulled into her computer, television, books, or text messages and it’s hard for the family to connect with her. She wonders why no one seems to listen to her? The children don’t obey her and her husband is insensitive.

2. The woman of the home is distracted. Her calendar is very full and her daily demands are so high it’s hard for her to focus and live in the moment with her husband and children. She is often late and rushing everyone and feeling guilty about being distracted but stuck in this rut of feeling overwhelmed and too busy.

3. The woman of the home is crabby. She is short on sleep, she hasn’t had a minute alone since the 1990′s and she really can’t see a light at the end of the tunnel to get a break. She is hopeless.

4. The woman of the home is discontent. She doesn’t like her home. She doesn’t like her husband. She doesn’t like one or all of her kids. She doesn’t like her church. She doesn’t like her neighbors. Truthfully, she doesn’t even like herself.

5. The woman of the home doesn’t pray. It’s counter cultural. She’s never lived in a home with a mom who prays. She doesn’t know other moms who pray. She wants to try praying but doesn’t know where to begin so she never begins.

Home #2

1. The woman of the home is engaged. She is aware of what everyone is doing right in that moment. If a child needs help or correction – she is right there to give it. If her husband needs a hug, an encouraging word or a helping hand she is right there to care. She is playful and makes time to tickle, dance, play checkers or Wii with her family. This is a woman whose family praises her (Prov. 31:28).

2. The woman of the home is wise with her time management. She guards her family from getting so busy that they lose their connection with each other. She dissects her calendar and eliminates things that are unnecessary. She is prepared when it is time to go somewhere to alleviate the stress that comes from late minute rushing. She and her family enjoy the slow paced life she has created in her home.

3. The woman of the home has a pleasant demeanor. She does not stay up late watching television, reading, surfing the web or working. She goes to sleep at a reasonable hour so she can wake cheerfully for her family. She knows that some seasons of life are harder than others so she is patient with her season of life and is confident that she will reap what she has sown. She works diligently trusting God with the results of her labor.

4. The woman of the home is content. She knows that no home, husband, child, church or neighborhood is perfect. So she chooses to be content with what God has given her for today.

5. The woman of the home prays. She knows that she is weak but God is strong and that she cannot fulfil the role of wife, mother, homemaker and sometimes employee, on her own strength. She is completely dependent on God and practices this dependence by daily praying for all of these things.

I have been very conscious to create Home #2. I fail-Alot. But my goals always remain the same.

#2 (Time Management) is my strength. I have worked very hard to create a slow paced life in my home. I know it's not popular. The going thing is to "enroll those kids in any activity they want" or we'll have deprived kids on our hands. Or, "say yes to every social event we're invited to". I've done just the opposite and purposely.

#1(Being engaged) is my weakness. I need to be more engaged. I love to play games with my family. But it's not always what they want to do. So, I need to be more flexible and do what is meaningful to them, which may mean throwing a football, or playing fashion show-which may not necessarily be my choice!

Please, Please join this challenge! We can never have too much peace and tranquility in our homes!

Blessings to you,

Kris

Necklace Organization

2011-09-24T15:40:00.001-04:00

This is how I ~~organize~~ stored my necklaces. Not good. I was inspired by a project on Pinterest using a towel rod and S hooks to organize necklaces. But I wasn't happy with how bulky and heavy all the towel rods were. I also didn't want it to turn into a $50 venture. So, I took a trip to Ikea today and hit the jackpot!

As my husband was running out the door to go golfing, I asked him to hang this for me, and being the sweetie he is, he did!

The rod is thin and streamlined,yet strong, and it was $1.99. The s-hooks were 99 cents for a pack of 10. I was silly enough to think that 2 packs were enough. I had to take a 2nd trip to Ikea to get 2 more packs...

Then, I hung all the necklaces.

You may be able see in the background that I reused the jewelry tree for watches and bracelets.

Oh, how I love Pinterest and Ikea!!

Blessings to you,

Kris

Weekly Plans

2011-09-23T17:25:00.001-04:00

Digging Deeper Into God's Word: So excited to start the Ministry of Motherhood study this week!

Hiding God's Word in My Heart:

Colossians 3:12

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Motherhood Ministry: I want to show my children that they are a joy to me, not a just another thing on my to-do list.

Marriage Builders: Working on being attentive to Brian!-this will mean closing the computer or putting down the phone to be an active listener!

What's For Dinner: (It's a slow-cooker-kind-of-week!)

Sunday- Jambalaya, bread, salad

Monday- Bible study in my home starts! So a slow cooker meal is in order! French Dip Sandwiches

Tuesday- Italian Chicken in the Slow Cooker (if it's good, recipe will follow!), rice, green beans

Wednesday- BBQ ribs in the slow cooker, sweet potatoes in the other slow cooker

Thursday-Taco Soup in the slow cooker, salad

Friday-The kids have friends spending the night so it's Pizza Night!

Saturday- Dinner out

Gotta Get It Done: *Decorate for fall (I know I live in S. FL but I can still pretend it's fall!)

*Prepare for International Day at school on Friday

*Prepare for my iPad lesson

*Paint my nails- I WILL make time for this this week!

On the Calendar:

*Monday-Ministry of Motherhood Bible study starts!

*Wednesday is my big iPad lesson in my classroom and I'll be videoed while teaching-lots of prep necessary for that!

I would love to read your weekly plans! Let me know if you post them!

Blessings to you,

Kris

Turkey Breast in the Slow Cooker

2011-09-18T20:16:00.001-04:00

My friend, Lori, has been telling me for years about how she makes her turkey in the crock pot every year. Well, I finally decided to try it! It was a slow cooker success!

First, I bought a turkey breast-not a whole turkey. I got mine on sale for 99 cents a pound at Super Target last week.

Sprinkle with poultry seasoning.

Fill the crock pot 3/4 of the way with water.

That's it! Cook on high for 5 hours or low for 8-10 hours.

I'm not a big fan of white meat because it's usually dry.

It was juicy and tasty! I served it with mashed potatoes and turkey gravy and it was great!

Blessings to you,

Kris

Cinnamon Roll Cake

2011-09-17T16:11:00.000-04:00

Pinterest has struck again! Saw this recipe from Cookingupnorth.blogspot.com and HAD to make it! It came out great!

Ingredients:

Cake:

3 c. flour

1/4 tsp. salt

1 c. sugar

4 tsp. baking powder

1 1/2 c. milk

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 c. butter, melted

Topping:

1 c. butter, softened

1 c. brown sugar

2 tbsp. flour

1 tbsp. cinnamon

Glaze:

2 c. powdered sugar

5 tbsp. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix all the cake ingredients together saving the melted butter for last and pour them into a greased 13 x 9 baking dish.

Mix the topping ingredients together and dollop it on top of the cake mixture.

Use a knife to swirl the topping into the cake batter.

Bake for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees. This cake is going to make your house smell like a cinnamon roll!

Meanwhile mix the glaze ingredients together.

When it comes out of the oven it looks yummy.

But then when I poured the glaze on it -it took it to a whole 'nother level.

MhMMM.

Blessings to you,

Kris

Your Kids Can Pack Their Own Lunches!

2011-09-16T20:39:00.000-04:00

I've always disliked packing lunches. I don't know why. It's just such a chore. Well, it could be because one kid likes sandwiches, one doesn't, one likes soup, one doesn't, one likes fruit, one doesn't, one likes cracker snacks, one doesn't, one likes caprisuns, one doesn't, one likes Gatorade, one doesn't. Well, after 7 years of having kids in school I've finally figured out the solution. LET THEM PACK THEIR OWN LUNCHES! One less chore for me, and everyone gets what they like in their lunch. It's a win-win situation.
Here's a few tips that have made it manageable for my kids to pack their own lunches:
1. Pack lunches right when you get home. Don't wait until 10 minutes before bedtime or in the morning before school when time is short and patience is shorter.

2. Put all the refrigerated snacks and drinks in a container in the fridge. The container keeps it all together so no hunting through all the shelves. It's easy to pull out the container and see everything that's there.

3. Divide all the fruit into baggies and put the whole fruits in a large container in the drawer. Again, it's all in one spot and ready to grab.

4. Divide all the chips into baggies and put them into a large basket in the pantry. This is a time saver and a money saver. I bought 3 bag of chips for $5 and made 20 baggies of chips. It costs $6.49 for 24 bags of prepackaged chips. And I guarantee my baggies of chips had twice as many chips in them.

5. Take all the snacks and crackers out of the boxes and stack them neatly in a basket. It provides easy access and makes for an organized pantry.

Our new lunch packing system has been working like a charm for about a month now. The kids have not complained once about packing their own lunches (go, figure!). I've also noticed that I'm saving money, because all the snacks are eaten before I replenish them. I'm able to look in those 4 key spots and see right away what I have and what I need.

I spend about 30 minutes a week putting everything in baggies and taking them out of the boxes. The kids spend about 5 minutes making a sandwich and throwing snacks into their lunch boxes. Holly is my soup eater, so if she wants soup, I heat it up in the morning for her and put it in the thermos. That's my only lunch responsibility left and I'm lovin' it!

Blessings to you,

Kris

How To Be An {Organized} Mom

2011-09-09T22:01:00.002-04:00

I love being organized. It's a love that grows deeper as I get older. When I was a twenty-something, organization wasn't high on my priority list. Maybe because I had less to organize back then!

But now, with 2 growing kids, a full time job, a husband, and a home -organization is key to sanity.
I don't like chaos in my home and organization prevents chaos (for the most part!).

And more importantly, as I teach my 2nd graders, God is a God of order. I need to have order in my home.
Let's be honest, the Proverbs 31 woman makes us all look bad. But she is something that I need to strive for. Her habits are modeled for me right there in black and white. Just another reason I love God's Word so much. It gives me direction for every area of my life!

Over the past 5 years I have become more organized than ever. I have found some simple things that help my home run smoothly. So I share...

1. {Train your kids to pitch in.} Whether you work outside the home or not, this is a necessity. If for no other reason, we need to teach our children life skills and how to become responsible adults. Male or female they should have set chores. I've shared this before, but my 13 year old son completely does his own laundry (operating the washer and all). And I can tell you, he is going to be a catch some day for a lucky girl!! My 7 year old daughter folds and puts her laundry away. They both make their own lunches (starting this school year and it's working like a charm!). Those are the 2 big things that they are responsible for. There's many other "little" chores that they do. But those 2 things take such a load off of me. I can be more available to them on the evenings and weekends because I have 2 less loads of laundry and 2 less lunches to make.

2. {Do everything the night before.} This is a must for me. Some of the things we do the night before school/work: make lunches, lay out clothes, sign homework journals, go through school papers, decide what's for breakfast the next morning, make sure shoes are by the door, we even put backpacks in the van the night before (extreme? no! A couple of times a month I have students show up without a backpack in my class! Totally could have been prevented with a little organization!) This isn't just for the kids either. I lay out (and iron if necessary) my clothes, shoes, and jewelry for the next day. I make sure my coffee pot is "loaded" and the cup is sitting by the pot. Every little bit helps!

3. {Have a folder for each kid} I buy 2 extra folders when I buy my school supplies: one for Dylan, one for Holly. I put all their school papers that I need to keep in their folder, i.e. weekly newsletters, field trip, party info, picture day info, etc. I always know where to look for pertinent information. I also mark the calendar immediately with important dates that are mentioned in their weekly folders so I don't have to keep papers just for the dates.

4. {Don't keep it!} When I go through their weekly folders I TOSS everything that is not pertinent. No stacks of papers allowed around here. I probably save 5 papers a year for the scrapbook. I take pictures of art projects or science fair projects and throw out the originals! Yes, I do!! (thankfully with a 2nd & 7th grader we're passed the season of excessive craft projects!) I act on papers as quickly as possible. I send in the picture money, sign the permission slip etc. within a day of receiving it.

5. {Say No!} One of the quickest ways to NOT be organized in your daily routines is to be too busy. We have a strict limit on activities. Only one extra curricular activity at a time per kid. We rarely have any other weeknight activities. This gives my kids time to do homework. It allows us time to sit down and have a family meal time and devotion time. I also say no to working late unless absolutely necessary. As much as I love my job, my family is my priority and I always need to keep that in perspective. We say no to too many weekend activities, as well. As I've shared before, we only go to birthday parties of family and very close friends. Maybe once a year, we break that rule and attend another party outside of those parameters. There's no way I can keep up with my home if we are running the entire weekend, weekend after weekend. I've learned this the hard way!

6. {Plan your meals and plan ahead} This is huge for me. I generally don't go to the grocery during the week. This robs me of valuable time. Not to mention that it's the last thing I want to do after work! I plan my meals on the weekend. I don't always stick to it exactly, but I know I have everything I need for meals for the entire week. I also do all other shopping during the weekend-birthday presents, cards that need to be mailed out, supplies for the kids for school-whatever I have to get to avoid the stores Mon.- Fri.!

7. {Have a daily devotion time}I NEED to start my day with God's Word. It sets the tone for my day and keeps me on track. Nothing can derail a well organized day faster than not giving my day to Lord!

Do you have any great tips or tricks for staying organized at home?

Blessings to you,

Kris

Real Recipes for Real Moms {Wednesday}

2011-09-07T16:44:00.000-04:00

I have declared this week "Real Recipes for Real Moms" Week! Each day this week I will feature a "real recipe" for you! I hope to give you a few new recipes to add to your regular recipe rotation.

Wednesday's recipe is an oldie but goodie: Chicken Pot Pie. I made these as mini pies. But you could make the same recipe in a premade pie shell. Or if you like the mini size, small ramekins would work as well.

So here's the recipe:

1. Boil boneless skinless chicken in chicken broth. I used thighs because they're cheaper and tastier in my opinion. But you could certainly use breasts.

2. Cut up the chicken. Then in a large bowl combine a can of cream of potato soup and a can of cream of chicken soup.

3. Add frozen vegetables of your choice. I used corn and chopped up fresh mushrooms since my family does not like most other veggies. Combine all the ingredients.

4. Using the refrigerated pie crust (I use the store brand since it's cheaper) cut circles that are a little bigger than the jar opening. Cut slits in the crust.

5. Fill the jars with the mixture. I was able to fill 6 jars.

6. Place the crusts on each jar creasing the edges to look pie like. Bake for about 30-45 minutes on 350 degrees.

The end result was deliciousness. I would even make these when I entertain. I was worried that the jars were a little small and might not be a full individual serving. But it was plenty. The kids and I each ate 1 and my hubby ate 2. I served with a salad.

Blessings to you,

Kris

Real Recipes for Real Moms {Tuesday}

2011-09-06T17:17:00.000-04:00

I have declared this week "Real Recipes for Real Moms" Week! Each day this week I will feature a "real recipe" for you! I hope to give you a few new recipes to add to your regular recipe rotation.

Tuesday's recipe is an easy, new idea for breakfast. Waffles! I saw this idea on Pinterest and had to try it out. You may remember my previous attempt at a Pinterest recipe using the waffle iron. It didn't end well. This recipe, however, is pure success.

You need 2 things:

I used the honey butter biscuits because I like the idea of the sweetness.

I put the biscuits on the waffle iron.

I closed the waffle iron for about the same amount of time that it takes to toast frozen waffles. (O.k., maybe a minute more)-and wa-la!

Aren't they pretty? And what's better is they tasted a-mazing! I can give my kids a yummy hot breakfast even on school mornings using this technique-and so can you!

Blessings to you,

Kris

Real Recipes for Real Moms {Monday}

2011-09-05T17:47:00.002-04:00

I have declared this week "Real Recipes for Real Moms" Week! Each day this week I will feature a "real recipe" for you! I hope to give you a few new recipes to add to your regular recipe rotation.

Monday's recipe is Coke Can Chicken. This is a twist on the old "Beer Can Chicken" recipe. This is a favorite of mine because it takes less than 10 minutes to prep. Then, I can pop it in the oven, and while it's cooking make lunches, prepare the next day's clothes, and help with homework-just like real mom's have to!

You'll need:

1 whole chicken (be sure to take out the yucky insides)

1/4 c. brown sugar

1/4 c. taco seasoning or 1 packet

1 can of coke

Combine the taco seasoning and brown sugar for the rub.

Then rub that chicken! {I spared you the photos of that because it's just messy and gross.} Don't forget to sprinkle some rub under the skin and in the main cavity of the chicken.

Empty half the coke and drink it, of course.

Then stick the can, you know where, and stand it in a baking dish. I like to use a deeper dish just in case it falls. Make sure you put it on the lowest rack in your oven. My chicken started to get a little too brown on the top so I just put a loose foil tent on top of the chicken for the last 30-45 minutes of cooking.

Bake it for 1.5 hours. Hopefully, this is long enough to get all the other things on our weeknight to-do list done!

Taking the can out of the chicken is a two-man job. Remember, the can will be super hot!

The chicken will be moist on the inside and crispy and flavorful on the outside!

Serve it with some sweet potatoes-check out my easy sweet potato recipe here.

And since you're a real mom-I wanted to leave you with some real good advice from God's Word-my verse for this week:

Colossians 3:12

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Strive to make all of your responses and attitudes sweetened with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience as you interact with your husband, children, co-workers and neighbors this week!

See you tomorrow with another real recipe!

Blessings to you,

Kris

I'm linking here:

Weekly Plans

2011-09-04T22:17:00.001-04:00

Bible study: All 4 chapters of Philippians

Memory Verse: Colossians 3:12

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Train Them Up: STILL Working with Holly on keeping her room clean daily so it's not a big mess come the weekend. As a family, committing to using the prayer list from our church to pray for the pastoral search committee.

Husband Encouragement: Was not consistent with this last week! So keeping this same goal this week: A small thing this week-but a big thing-greeting my hubby at the door with a kiss when he gets home!

Menu:

Monday-BBQing burgers and baked potatoes-maybe try a new dessert recipe since it's a day off...????

Tuesday-Turkey breast in the crockpot and mashed potatoes and turkey gravy

Wednesday-Sonny's (kids eat free!)

Thursday-Chicken tacos (didn't make these as planned last week)

Friday-Boys camping-which means cereal or whatever for the girls all weekend!

Saturday-Boys camping

Sunday-Boys camping

To Do List: *Get AHEAD on lesson plans at work

*Grocery shop and prepare food for the boys camping trip

*Deep clean my van this weekend

On the Calendar: Tuesday night: Dylan's 7th grade back to school night

Wednesday night: Awana starts

Thursday night: viewing for Brian's dear friend

Friday: boys leave for their camping trip

I would love to read your weekly plans! Let me know if you post them!

Blessings to you,

Kris

Chipotle Dorito Casserole

2011-09-04T12:05:00.001-04:00

This is a great week night meal. It's also a great one for potluck dinners!

Gather these ingredients:

2 lbs. Ground chicken

2 packets of taco seasoning mix

2 bricks of cheddar jack cheese (or 4 cups)

2 cans of chicken mushroom soup

1 bag of Spicy Sweet Chili Doritoes (a.k.a. chipotle flavor)

I buy my taco seasoning in bulk. If you eat tacos almost weekly like we do, I recommend you do the same. It's less than $5 and I use it for months. When you figure that a single packet of taco seasoning is about a $1, it's a huge savings! And you don't have to worry about not having the seasoning on hand.

I also find it healthier and more cost effective to grate my own cheese.

Brown the ground chicken and add the taco seasoning.

Add the cans of mushroom soup. Pour 1/2 of the mixture in a 13x9 cassrerole. (I only made a 1/2 portion and used a 8x8 in this pic)

Put a layer of Doritoes and 1/2 the cheese. Then add a second layer: meat, Doritoes, cheese.

Bake for 15 minutes on bottom rack (to keep the Doritoes from getting too brown) or until cheese is melted.

Top with lettuce, tomato, sour cream and enjoy a new twist on a taco salad!

Blessings to you,

Kris

I'm linking here:

Weekly Plans

2011-08-29T16:54:00.001-04:00

August means back to school and back to a more strict schedule. So weekly plans are back!

Bible study: Studying the Holy Spirit. I'm simply using My Utmost for His Highest devotional. There's a great list of verses and devotionals that pertain to the Holy Spirit in the index.

Memory Verse: Matthew 18:15-17 My class is memorizing these verses. While I "know" these verses I honestly don't have them memorized. So I'm memorizing with my 2nd graders!

Train Them Up: Working with Holly on keeping her room clean daily so it's not a big mess come the weekend. Working with Dylan on speaking to his sister in a more loving tone. Also, we are getting back to a more consistent schedule with our daily family devotions (which floundered during the summer months!).

Husband Encouragement: A small thing this week-but a big thing-greeting my hubby at the door with a kiss when he gets home!

Menu:

Monday-Spaghetti (an easy Monday night meal!)

Tuesday-Parmesan crusted chicken (will post the recipe after I make it), rice, cornbread

Wednesday-Sonny's (kids eat free!)

Thursday-Jambalaya with smoked sausage, salad

Friday-Chicken Tacos

Saturday-Friends over - TBD

Sunday-Labor Day picnic at church (LOVE church picnics!)

To Do List: *Wash sheets-going to try one bed a day instead of all the sheets on the weekend

*"Catch up" on school work-just can't seem to get ahead

*Find a different potato salad recipe for the church picnic on Sunday

*Decide on breakfast recipe for Sunday School this week

I would love to read your weekly plans! Let me know if you post them!

Blessings to you,

Kris

Oven Corn on the Cob

2011-08-28T14:15:00.002-04:00

My family loves corn on the cob. It's cheap and yummy.

How do you make it at your house?

Well, because I can be lazy...one day I put all the cobs-husks and all- straight in the oven. And, surprisingly, they came out perfect!

I bake them for about an hour at 350 degrees. As an added bonus, they stay hot for at least 30 minutes when you take them out of the oven since the husks act as an insulator.

The corn comes out crisp and delicious. They make the house smell wonderful. And what's even better, they're much easier to shuck when they're hot (which happens to be my husband's job!)

Try it this Labor Day weekend!

Blessings to you,

Kris

10 Ways to Pray for Your Husband

2011-08-26T21:38:00.003-04:00

I love this list that I came across today. It's a privilege and a responsibility for us to pray for our husbands. You can print this bookmark from iMom for yourself here.

Blessings to you,

Kris

What I'm Loving Wednesday

2011-08-24T17:34:00.001-04:00

I'm loving...

...That's it Wednesday-which means it's "Kids Eat Free" night at Sonny's and I don't have to cook tonight!

...That Hurricane Irene is NOT heading our way (though the day off from school wouldn't have been so bad...)

...That the first week of school is behind me and I'm not feeling so frazzled.

...Pinterest. Time sucker? Yes. Mindless way to unwind and see pretty things? Yes!

...These pants from Old Navy. They were on sale for $15 this summer and I bought them in 4 colors!

...The song Honey Bee from Blake Shelton. It's just cute!

Honey Bee - Blake Shelton - Blake Shelton Videos

...My Utmost for His Highest Devotional. Deep, life changing devotion time!

...Answered Prayer-my prayer lately has been "Change ME, Show me the error in MY ways" and He sooo has been doing that!

What are you loving this Wednesday?

Blessings to you,

Kris

Media Monday

2011-07-31T22:10:00.002-04:00

{I'm participating in Media Mondays over at Women Living Well.}

How does Media in the year 2011 keep me from being a Proverbs 31 woman?

Do you dare ask yourself this question? I feel my toes being stepped on as I type...

To be honest, my first thought when I read Courtney's post was "Media? Oh totally not distracted by it..." Then, I got up to get a drink and saw this mess... (Just keepin' it real, girls & just for the record that is a bread machine that I made some homemade bread in just yesterday...)

Then, I walked back to the couch to sit down and it hit me.like.a.ton.of.bricks.

This is where I was sitting. Do you see it? The iPad, Macbook and cell phone -all perfectly placed to ~~distract~~ surround me. Ouch!

I love my technology. I love having my lists and calendars all sync between my iPad, laptop, and phone. I appreciate the great recipes, homemaking, and teaching ideas I find through other blogs. I love the fact that I'm going to have iPads in my classroom next year. I love reading my Bible on my iPad every morning. But...as much as I love all of this amazing technology-

I love my family more! And ALL of these things distract me from my family and my home.

I think Courtney said it perfectly.

Media Mondays could not have come at better time for me. With a new Macbook on hand and school getting ready to start, I need to make sure I am honoring God with this technology. One way I can do that is to not let Media take away from my family!

How does Media distract you from being the wife and mother that God has called you to be?

Comment below or link up with your own blog post!

Blessings to you,

Kris

Aunt Erran's Peanut Butter Fudge Cake

2011-07-31T14:15:00.007-04:00

I love making meals for others, whether it's in my home to fellowship or delivering them in a time of need. I never realized that making meals was a ministry. But I now view it that way. I can see that God has given me a love of cooking and He uses that to bless others.

I'm always looking for great recipes that are different and of course, delicious, for my meal ministry. This cake recipe fits the bill for sure. I copied this recipe from my Aunt Erran many years ago. I've recently rediscovered it and can't get enough of it! I've made quite a few "chocolate/peanut butter cakes" over the years and NONE compare to this cake! It will "wow" your guests and/or family-I promise!

Ingredients for cake:
1 c. margarine (melted and left to cool slightly)
1/4 c. cocoa
1 c. water
1/2 c. buttermilk
2 eggs, beaten
2 c. sugar
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla

First, melt the butter. Be sure to put a paper towel over the bowl so you don't have a mess to clean up later!

In a bowl beat together the eggs, cocoa, buttermilk and water. Don't add the butter yet!

Let the butter cool for a couple of minutes and make sure you've blended the other ingredients well. Then, add the butter. If you add the hot butter with the eggs, you'll end up with chunks of cooked eggs in your cake. (I may or may not have done this the first time I made this cake).

In a separate bowl, stir together the sugar, flour, baking soda and vanilla.

Then add the cocoa mixture and blend well.

Pour into a greased 13x9 baking dish. Bake for 40-50 minutes at 350 degrees.

When the cake is finished it will crack on the top. I just made 2 of these cakes and they both did it. No worries!

Let it cool completely. Then gather the following ingredients for the icing (my favorite part!):
1 c. peanut butter
1 tbsp. oil
1/2 c. melted butter (or margarine)
1/4 c. cocoa
6 tbsp. of buttermilk
1 lb. confectioners sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix together the peanut butter and oil. (The oil is just to make it spreadable.) Spread it on the cooled cake.

Melt butter and blend together the cocoa, buttermilk, vanilla and confectioners sugar. Add more confectioners sugar as needed to bring the mixture to frosting consistency.

Spread on top of peanut butter layer. I LOVE this frosting so much because after you refrigerate this cake for a couple of hours it tastes like a layer of fudge on top of the cake-Yes, please!!!

See the layers???

I hope that you'll try this cake and bless someone with it!

Blessings to you,
Kris

I'm linking here:

A Few of My Faves

2011-07-20T20:02:00.002-04:00

{as of this week-subject to change by mood change, new shopping or Pinterest finds}
1. 3/4 sleeve sweaters. Most of mine are from Target. They're so perfect for work in the a/c. I have many colors. Though I still need a black one...

2. These flowers as a dinner table centerpiece. I bought them 5 days ago for dinner guests and they still look great. I especially like this small vase so the flowers don't get in the way of dinner conversations. Don't ask me what these flowers are called...I can tell you that I got them at Publix for only $4, which makes me love them even more.

3. Supremely spicy hummus and pretzel crisps. I never knew I liked hummus until I tried this combination!

Pita chips are good but the pretzel crisps are so much better.

The hummus has to be spicy for me. (Notice how the bottom is scraped clean?)

4. Raisin bran muffins. I made this recipe today and it was so delicious. Best homemade muffins I've tried to date. They're not too branny either. You can find the recipe over at Rita's Recipes.

5. Suave dry shampoo. My hair takes ForEver to blow dry. So I try to make the blow out last as long as possible. This spray-on dry shampoo is amazing! It kept my hair clean looking and straight for...let's say quite a few days!

6. Foot scrubber thingy. My friend gave this amazing find to me. She got it at the oriental grocery store (go, figure?) I've tried the ped egg and every other pumice stone and cream out there. This crazy find finally worked! My feet are like a baby's bottom...

7. Travel cups. I love my Keurig. But I'm really loving these travel cups. I guess it makes me feel like I'm splurging on Starbucks. I got these large ones at Sam's -100 of them for like $13. They're lasting me forever!

8. Ikea milk frother. Since we're on the subject of coffee- can u see the frother in the background? I got it at Ikea for $3. Isn't the froth on the coffee beautiful?

9. Missing teeth. 3, count 'em, 3 are missing on top and a 4th one is loose! It's just too much cuteness.

10. All boy. I love that my son is all boy and loves anything and everything his Daddy loves.

- Blessings to you,
Kris
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M.W.A. {Moms' Weekend Away}

2011-07-17T23:03:00.002-04:00

I just got back from a refreshing, relaxing, rejuvenating weekend away in Naples with my dear friend, Ana. Our husbands blessed us tremendously by letting us go on this trip guilt-free and worry-free.
It was so refreshing to get to spend a weekend with a friend that I could chat with, pray with, bask in God's Word and just relax and laugh with! As I explained to my daughter before I left, these moments away help make me a better wife & mother.

Our hotel was beautiful and just screamed "RELAX"

My favorite part of the room was the robes we found hanging on the bathroom door.

Saturday morning started here.

By the pool with our books, notepads, iPad and our RELAX!
The rain moved in after lunch. So the obvious thing to do was shopppppp.

Have you seen a more beautiful shopping center?
My favorite store...

Saturday night dinner was at a great local place.

Our view from the table was spectacular.

The food was even more spectacular.

But the company was the most spectacular!

Sunday morning began with our personal devotion time by the hot tub.

Then, sadly it was time to check out and head home. But not before one more yummy meal.

It was a great weekend with lots of coffee involved, of course!

Our prayer was that we would return to our families refreshed, renewed and ready to serve them. I had a great weekend with my friend and I can't wait to do it again!! (hint, hint)

- Blessings to you,
Kris
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Cookie Fail

2011-07-13T21:18:00.002-04:00

Have you ever made a recipe that didn't come out as promised? Of course, we all have! But I don't usually blog about the fails...until today.
I saw this adorable idea on Pinterest.

Cookies made with the waffle iron?!! How adorable is that...well not so much.
I decided to use the break apart cookies.

And my $5, black Friday waffle iron.

Maybe that's where I went wrong, cheater cookies and cheap waffle iron. But after analyzing the recipe I can't see that either of these should have been a problem.
I put the cookies on the iron. I tried 2 different ways hoping for a better result the second time.

No such luck.

I wanted sooo badly for this to work. But the cookies were just too soft. And when I took them off the waffle iron...

The crumbs were tasty. I may or may not have eaten them all.
Oh well, you win some, you lose some. Maybe a different batter may work, maybe it won't. But I'm movin' on.

- Blessings to you,
Kris
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Spicy!

2011-07-13T20:08:00.001-04:00

In the beginning of the summer I organized my pantry. You can read all about it here
But one area of the pantry was bothering me.

My spices were just thrown in a plastic bin.

I just didn't know how to best organize them in a way to make them easily accessible. Until I saw this on t.v. one day.

My mother in law found one for me at Bed, Bath & Beyond. It's not seamless, but it works. I found this basket for $2 to hold the 8-10 bigger things that didn't fit in the rack.

I alphabetized the spices and used my label maker.

Since I had room, I left a few empty slots in each rack to leave room for any new spices I might need to add.

The catch with this gadget is that you have to allow several inches on each side for the swivel motion.

Not a perfect fix, but definitely better than my previous system! Have I told you lately how much I love organizing?

- Blessings to you,
Kris
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Slow Cooker Sliders

2011-07-04T14:08:00.002-04:00

Barbecue number 2 happens today. So I'm making sliders. I wanted to make them ahead of time. We're going to our dear friends' house and I wasn't sure how full the grill would be. So I came up with a plan and I gathered these ingredients:

I lightly beat the egg and mixed all the ingredients together.

Then, I made golf ball sized meatballs and flatten them. I baked them for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. 20 minutes made them medium well with no pink (kid friendly).

You could also grill them ahead of time. But my burgers came out juicy and flavorful. Lastly, I put them in the crockpot on warm. They'll stay hot and ready to be assembled for your crowd.

Ingredients:
2 pounds of ground beef
1 packet of ranch mix
1 packet of beefy onion soup mix
1 egg lightly beaten
3/4 cup of Italian bread crumbs

Mix all ingredients and form into golf ball sized meatballs and flatten. Bake for 20 minutes at 350.

Happy 4th my friends!

Stand fast therefore in the LIBERTY wherewith Christ hath made us FREE, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (Galatians 5:1 KJV)

- Blessings to you,
Kris
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Hughes Household Family Workday

2011-07-02T21:08:00.002-04:00

Do you ever have workdays at your house? I mean a day where you swear off any and all other activities and resolve to get those projects around the house done? I find that it's necessary to stay organized and keep on top of things at my house. Our "workday" was on the calendar for weeks. I determined that it has to be scheduled, otherwise it can take months for the garbage disposal to be installed-uh, or whatever the lingering projects may be.

We tackled a few light tasks today. Here's some before and afters:
Before:

After:

Before:

After:

And of course, a little child labor never hurt.

Before:

After: (new garbage disposal & all!)

Notice the tension rod holding the spray bottles? A little Pinterest genius!

What did you accomplish at your house this holiday weekend?

- Blessings to you,
Kris
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Pretty Laundry

2011-06-26T22:12:00.003-04:00

I don't have a laundry room. I have a laundry closet. I got a bee in my bonnet (placed there by spending too much time on Pinterest) that I wanted to paint my laundry closet. My husband and son thought I was crazy, but this is not new.
One of my favorite things about organizing and/or painting a space is how clean it feels afterward. It forces you to clean parts of a room (or closet) that you normally wouldn't. So here's my laundry closet before:

Boring and small. When we renovated our downstairs I took off the ugly bifold door and put up the curtains-which I like, but I needed a bigger change.
So I painted the closet this color:

I love this lime green and I figured this was the safest place to put it (since my husband may protest if I tried to paint anything else this color)!
And, since we all know the Cricut and vinyl makes everything prettier:

I got a matching green basket from Target to store all the "stuff" on top of the dryer. I also hung a tension rod so I could hang up a few things (on the matching green hangers, of course)as I take them out of the dryer.

Before:

After:

A subtle change that makes my space a little more organized and pretty!
Pin It
Blessings to you,
Kris

Small Spaces

2011-06-26T18:07:00.001-04:00

We don't have a separate "mud room", but we do have, I guess, what you would call a mud corner. Organization for the family is important. I'm convinced (after years of living in a small, cozy home) that no matter the size of your space you can make room to effectively organize everything. My current quest is not only to organize it but make it visually appealing as well.
This is our "mud corner" located right behind my front door.

I got this great calendar at JCPenney Outlet for $4. It is a 4 month calendar. I use a paper calendar tucked away on the frig for dates that may go past the 4 month span. Each family member has a different color on the calendar. Everyone can see at a glance the events that pertain to them.

I got these heavy duty hangers from IKEA for $4. My husband drilled them into the studs so they hold even the heaviest back pack. No more back packs dropped at the front door.

Of course, letters made of vinyl using the Cricut makes everything pretty.

The end result: inexpensive, appealing organization that makes for a happy mama!

Pin It
Blessings to you,
Kris

Fancy Napkins

2011-06-23T21:48:00.002-04:00

I decided to try my hand at these adorable napkins that I've seen around bloggyland using the freezer paper technique that I've been dying to try.

I cut words out of freezer paper on my cricut. Cricut users: the settings are blade-5, pressure-3, speed -3. I had to redo the words a couple of times. Luckily the freezer paper is cheap!
Then, I ironed on the freezer paper shiny side down onto the pressed cloth napkin.

I used a sponge brush to apply fabric paint on the stencil.

I let it dry for about 15 minutes and peeled off the paper.

Love them!

Pin It
- Blessings to you,
Kris
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Summer Boredom Busters

2011-06-21T14:53:00.011-04:00

I know I may be struck by lightning for saying this, or at the very least, I may get slugged by a non-teacher, but I'M BORED!
It's 2 1/2 weeks into summer and I'm struggling, yes, struggling with staying busy, and not just for busyiness sake, but staying motivated is hard for me today. Yesterday in my devotions I read the end of Proverbs 31. The part that struck me hard is "She does not eat the bread of idleness". I've been eating the bread of idleness and all the other bread in the house. BLAH.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my time home for the most part. This is my time to be a stay at home mom with my kids and take care of my household in a way that I can't as a working mom. But today, I am just bored. Notice that it's Mom saying, "I'm bored" and not the kids...
I'm a firm believer in not having to entertain my kids every minute of the day. We don't do summer camps or daily pricey outings (i.e. movies, waterparks, lunch outings and the like). We spend time with friends, take advantage of the pool, and just enjoy downtime. What do my kids do to entertain themselves? Well here's what they are doing as I type:

My 12 year old put up our tent in the yard and they brought out drinks and snacks and hung out. All without any direction from me. And that's the way I like it.

Another way we spent our time today after we went to the pool of course, was making lunch. I've learned I can entertain the kids for quite a while by letting them make their own lunch. So we made pizzas.

I always try to use what I have in my pantry and avoid running out to the market on a whim. I didn't have any tomato sauce, but I did have diced tomotoes. So I pulled out my mini food chopper, added some garlic salt and basil. And PRESTO tomato sauce!

I used 2 can of biscuits, but of course any dough or bread would work. I put out any topping I could find for them to construct their pizzas.

And they came out pretty great!

Lunch provided about 45 minutes of entertainment!

But then I was bored again... I really think this is the result of being self centered. It's so natural for us as humans to be that way. But it's certainly not a godly attitude. I had to make a conscience decision to snap out of it. I asked God to forgive me for complaining and being bored. I also prayed for a swift change to my ho-hum attitude today. He's so good and faithful. I love that He cares about even the silly details of my life.

Thanks for reading {listening}. I'm off to plan a fun dinner for my family!

Blessings to you, Kris

Stuffed Sweet Peppers

2011-06-20T18:43:00.004-04:00

I had sweet peppers in the fridge that needed to be used, so I adapted the recipe on the bag to make these delicioso stuffed peppers!

24 sweet peppers

2 tbsp sun dried tomatoes

1 tsp basil

1 tsp garlic or 1 garlic clove

1 cup mozzarella

1/2 c. sour cream

1 brick of softened cream cheese

1/2 cup parmesan cheese

Mix all the ingredients by hand.

Cut the tops off the peppers and take out the seeds.

I just emptied the seeds over a plastic bag.

Use a small spoon to stuff each pepper.

They look yummy before they're ever baked!

Put them in the oven on 350 for 15 minutes.

You're welcome!

Blessings to you,

Kris

Father's Day Dessert Buffet

2011-06-19T21:58:00.002-04:00

Today we hosted a Father's Day evening for our dad's.

I made the cute Happy Fathers Day tie pendant that was floating around the net and I made 5 different desserts.

Lemon bars, oatmeal raisin cookies, peach crumb cake, pineapple pretzel fluff, and chocolate lovers cake
The beauty of it was I didn't even have to go to the store. I built my menu around what is in my pantry. Not that I wouldn't go all out for my dad, but this also shows that anyone can entertain on a budget and with limited time.
It was a great way to honor our Dad's that was a little bit different format than the usual dinner.

- Blessings to you,
Kris
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Father's Day Breakfast

2011-06-18T17:49:00.003-04:00

A tradition in our home is to give Dad breakfast in bed on Father's Day. Not only do I want to teach my children to honor their father, but I also want to instill in them a desire to honor their spouses one day.

So daddy will be receiving this lovely breakfast tomorrow morning.

(the Google card is one that I found floating around the net. Just google "Father's day google card & I'm sure it will pop up.)

Now because it's summer & I can hardly wake up early, and because the special day is on Sunday, and we don't want to be late for church, I made these bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits the day before. This is a breakfast I've previously made for camping trips as well.

First, prepare the bacon (I always bake it in the oven so I can multitask & I don't have to deal with grease), scramble 6 eggs, and bake 8 Grands biscuits. You certainly could make smaller biscuits for smaller appetites. You could also use sausage or ham instead of bacon.

Open up the biscuits and put a scoop of eggs,

Sprinkle on some shredded cheese and layer on the bacon.

I wrap the biscuits in wax paper.

Then I seal them all in a large Ziploc to store them. They stay nice & fresh.

When you're ready to serve them, microwave one at a time for 40 seconds. Keep them in the waxed paper. They are so much better than the pre made frozen ones from the store, and you can serve your family a hot breakfast any day of the week with a little preparation.

And I don't have to wake up at the crack of dawn on Sunday morning!

- Blessings to you,
Kris
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Healthy Eating

2011-06-17T18:00:00.003-04:00

Are you trying to eat healthy? Me too. It's not easy. Especially when one enjoys cooking & baking as much as I do. It also complicates things when you have a family to feed. Don't get me wrong, I want my family to eat healthy too. I definitely limit their "junk" intake. But when I'm really trying to count calories, my meal and portions can be very different than theirs. And let's face it, my skinny, minny kids shouldn't have to count calories with me!

I just started the 17 day diet. Are you familiar with it? It's very sensible and not "faddish". But...and here's the clincher, it's low carb. Ughhh! But I can do anything for 17 days. And a good sugar detox never hurt anyone, (right???).

For my dinner tonight, I was able to make just a "me" portion using these handy dandy Ziploc bags.

I had some tilapia and broccoli that I seasoned with some Mrs. Dash.

Then I put everything in the steamer bag in the microwave for 6 minutes.

It was tasty and fully cooked. It didn't tasted nuked at all.

I think this method will be a great way to customize my meal without any extra work!

Blessings to you,
Kris
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New Blog Design

2011-06-15T16:11:00.001-04:00

Summer means lots of time on my hands that I normally don't have as a working mom. I've already accomplished so much in less than two weeks! I have:
organized the pantry
scrapbooked
got the living room furniture and rug cleaned
had lots of pool time
read 2 books
had friends over for dinner
and lastly redesigned my blog!
And I still have 6 + weeks to go!
Oh, how I love summer!
What do ya think of the new look?

Blessings to you,
Kris

Summer Organization Project: Kitchen Pantry

2011-06-14T21:43:00.004-04:00

Let's face it: organization costs money. I've been scouting out pantry organization ideas on pinterest {amazing-you must visit!}, and my pantry could look phenomenal as well if I spent a gazillion dollars on baskets and other items from the Container Store! And if I had a pantry the size of my master bedroom like some of the pics I saw, my pantry too could be spectacular.
However, neither of these things are happening, so I gleaned what I could from the pics and tried to be super practical. I think I succeeded! Here's the before shots:

It was jam packed. Now when you see the after you'll notice I did toss some things, but not many. It really is just a product of better organization. I had a helper emptying the shelves.

At this point it looked like the pantry exploded.

I put aside all of the containers I previously used. I repurposed all of them.

I found that it's key to use baskets in my pantry since the cabinet is very deep and we haven't invested in the pull out shelves (yet:).

Awww much better!

I love the containers for the hot chocolate & oatmeal packs. The skinny basket was from the dollar section in Target and they're perfect for teabags. I have a snack basket, a baking basket, a basket for oils and vinegars, and basically baskets for everything else! There's no loose items.
I still have a little tweaking to do but all in all an organization success!

Taco salad

2011-06-13T23:20:00.003-04:00

Brown ground chicken and add taco seasoning.

Arrange lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, rinsed kidney & black beans, dollops of sour cream & ground chicken. Top with fritoes and serve with salsa.

Easy peasy!

Berry Daiquari Pie

2011-06-13T23:15:00.003-04:00

A refreshing summer dessert!

Mix 2 cups of softened raspberry sherbet with 2 cups of softened vanilla frozen yogurt or ice cream together. Add 1/3 cup of frozen non alcoholic strawberry Daqari mix.

Pour into a Graham cracker crust. Don't worry if the ice cream & sherbet don't mix together completely. It makes a pretty swirly filling if its not completely blended.

Freeze for 4-6 hours & serve.

Smashed potato bites

2011-06-13T11:14:00.003-04:00

These cute potatoes are a great side dish or perfect for an appetizer buffet! First, steam them in the oven. Put about an inch of water in a pan. Place small red potatoes in the water and cover with foil.

Bake them at 425 until they're soft-about 45 min.
Use a potato masher to flatten each potato.

Sprinkle with olive oil and put them back in the oven for about 30 min. I think next time I'll put them under the broiler to crisp them a bit more. Top with shredded cheese, sour cream, bacon bits and green onions. Yummmm!

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

2011-06-08T09:08:00.003-04:00

This is an easy, tasty chicken soup I found right on the back of the chicken broth box.

I used 3 cartons of chicken broth. I think next time I'll use 4.
I cut up celery and carrots nice & small. You could add other veggies of your choice like onions or mushrooms.

Add the veggies to the chicken broth and boil until veggies are tender.
Then add already cooked chicken breast. I boiled mine and shredded it really small.

Add the chicken and 2 cups of extra wide egg noodles. Boil for about 10 minutes until the noodles are tender. I let it simmer for about an hour just because I think the longer a soup cooks the yummier it gets. Though it is isn't necessary.
Pour your soup into a recycled spaghetti sauce jar to make it pretty and bless a sick friend with it!

11 things to accomplish In Summer 2011

2011-06-07T20:38:00.002-04:00

Lists bring me joy. Summer makes me happy. Put the two together & I'm giddy!

1. {Organize my pantry}
I'm in the planning process for this task.
2. {Complete one household task a day}
Today it was cleaning out the frig & washing sheets. Tomorrow it's more sheet washing. Just one small thing a day but not too much as not to interfere with the summer fun!
3. {Read my entire Bible in 90 days}
My goal is to do this every year. It was an amazing accomplishment for me last year and definitely a time of drawing near to God. I'm excited to listen as I read on my iPad using an audio book I found on the virtual public library!
4. {Scrapbook}.
I've already booked my standing "scrapbook play dates" on Monday nights.
5. {Read LOTS}
I like to read about a book a week over the summer. Already finished book #1 called "Craving God". I recommend it. Any suggestions for good reads?
6. {Count calories & exercise}
I hate that this one is always on list! Hiding this verse in my heart for this task: "I Cor. 6:12 Everything is permissible, but not all is beneficial". I'm using an app called fitnessPal to keep track of calories. You can "friend request" people for encouragement. Let me know if you join! (it's free)!
7. {Do at least one fun activity with my kids each day}
It doesn't have to be an outing necessarily. But just something that I do WITH them that does not involve the t.v. Maybe a walk, reading a book, making a dessert together, etc. One of the best things about being a teacher is being a stay at home mom all summer. I want to take full advantage of this blessing!
8. {Paint our master bathroom}
Since all of our other renovations last summer, I realized how badly my bathroom needs a fresh coat of paint.
9. {Plan for next school year}
I love being able to plan at my leisure over the summer. There's so many things I could do better in my classroom. Summer is the perfect opportunity to reflect and redo!
10. {Have lots of friends over for dinner}
I do this during the school year, but time is always limited. Summer will allow us to entertain several families that we just couldn't fit in Sept.-May.
11. {Spend lots of time at the pool with friends}
This is officially my favorite activity of the summer. Relaxing at the pool, chatting, watching the kids swim. Then, having friends over for a summer lunch. LOVE it!

Happy Summer My Friends!

Coffee Cake

2011-05-26T19:43:00.000-04:00

I made these tasty coffee cakes for my daughter's Father's Day breakfast at school.

Ingredients:

1 white cake mix

1 tsp cinnamon

1 c. sour cream

3 eggs

1/4 c. water

1 can pie filling (flavor your choice)

1/2 slice almonds

1 c. powdered sugar

1 1/2 tbsp. milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Beat the first five ingredients.

Pour batter into a greased 13x9 pan. I'm using disposable pans for this event.

Dollop the pie filling on top of the batter. Don't mix the pie filling in. I'm using apple pie filling and cherry pie filling.

Bake for about 35 min.

They look golden brown and yummy right out of the oven.

Lastly, mix the powdered sugar and milk and drizzle over the top of the cake. Then sprinkle with almonds.

I've even made it the night before and served it cold, but it's best warm.

{Skittle Cupcakes}

2011-05-20T10:43:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow is Holly's birthday, which means it's cupcake time!

I'm not in love with these cupcakes. But I am in love with the technique. I have some great ideas for how to use this technique for future cupcakes that I'll share at the end of this post.

First, bake some cupcakes from the box.

Then, take a melon baller (is that what it's called??) and scoop out a little well in the middle of each cupcake.

Give the "cupcake ball" to the nearest cute kid to eat.

I found out the hard way that it's best to fill each little well with skittles BEFORE you ice them.

I decided to use 3 different colored icings, just because I'm always looking for ways to make life more difficult.

Then, I used my handy-dandy decorator to make little dollops around the "skittle well".

Like I said, these weren't may favorite cupcakes, appearance-wise. The colors were too "Easterish".

But the little well technique is genius.

Think about all the cute things you could put in the middle: a little scoop of ice cream, M&M's, diced fruit, the list is endless!

You haven't seen the last of these guys!

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Women Judging Women

2011-05-20T10:11:00.001-04:00

This was sent out as an email at my work-SO CONVICTING!

Women Judging Women

Lysa TerKeurst

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble…” 1 Peter 5:5 (NIV)

How differently might our lives be if we women didn’t have to fear the harsh criticisms of other women? Might we be willing to step out a little bolder for Jesus? Might we be willing to be a little more vulnerable? Might we live our lives a little less guarded?

Oh sweet sisters, women judging other women must absolutely break God’s heart. The crazy thing is when we judge others, we elevate ourselves past the ability to recognize our own propensity to sin in the very area we are criticizing. Show me a woman who is leveling a judgment against another person, and I will show you a woman who is wrapped in sin herself.

If it’s not the very same sin she’s criticizing, it will be a sin just as dangerous — pride.

It is a subtle shift that Satan invites us into. Voicing criticisms against others will coat the eyes of our soul with smut so thick, we become blinded to our own sin. Pride and self-righteousness will detour us from God’s best path and lead us on a treacherous journey of denial. We’ll deny our own sinfulness. We’ll deny our own need for grace.

Those who can’t see their own desperate need for grace, refuse to freely give grace to others.

Now, if you’re like me, you may be tempted to start making a mental list of those who you have felt judged by and you started praying a few sentences back: “Please let so and so read today’s devotion. Oh I hope she sees herself in this and gets a whammy of conviction.”

But, let’s stop making that mental list and receive this message personally. Even if we aren’t naturally critical people, this is an area we can all grow in.

I recently read a wonderful quote outlining a beautiful plan when we feel tempted to judge someone else. Francis Frangipane in his book Holiness, Truth, and the Presence of God says, “Anyone can pass judgment — but can they lay down their lives in love, intercession and faith for the one judged? Can they target an area of need and rather than criticizing, fast and pray, asking God to supply the very virtue they feel lacking? And then persevere in that love — motivated prayer until that fallen area blooms in godliness? Such is the life Christ commands we follow!” (pg.11)

I know just posting this devotion will not suddenly make the world tip on it’s axis and shake all of us women into breaking the cycle of criticisms and judgment. However, maybe, it will be a start. If it causes even one of us to fall in front of Jesus in repentance and allow Him to wipe clean our spiritual eyes — it will be a great start. Now, let me be that one.

Dear Lord, may I first fall in repentance into Your loving arms of grace. Thank You for the harsh ways I have been judged lately for it has made me so aware of how hurtful this can be. Forgive me. I am a woman who desperately needs grace — therefore, I should be a woman who freely offers grace. When I am tempted to be critical of someone else, help me hold my thoughts and my tongue. Instead of voicing those things, help me bring them to You in honest, sincere and heartfelt prayers. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Slacker Mom

2011-05-17T19:24:00.002-04:00

That would be ME. One of the parents in my class used this term to describe herself to me, and the term has stuck with me. What's interesting is she is absolutely not a "Slacker Mom", but isn't that so typical of us moms to be so hard on ourselves?

What qualifies me to be a "Slacker Mom"? Well, the list is long, especially as of late. But the most recent qualifying incident happened yesterday. Holly lost her 3rd tooth. {In the rankings of lost tooth importance, the 3rd one still ranks pretty high. By the 8th or 9th tooth, the importance and novelty falls significantly. If you're not there yet, you'll understand soon enough}.
So, she lost her tooth and put it under her pillow. Fast Forward 12 hours-6:20 a.m. Holly comes in my room-very disappointed-because the tooth fairy did not come. UGHH.
I distract her with some nonsense that I can't even recall and run to my wallet-EMPTY (as usual)...so...I go to HER wallet, yes, I said HER wallet. S.L.A.C.K.E.R. I score 5 bucks, run to her room and stick the $5 in her pillowcase (where it could be easily overlooked).
I call her into the bedroom and assure her that she didn't look everywhere, and whatdoyaknow? $5 in the pillowcase. I shared with her that the tooth fairy probably didn't take her tooth because it was so tiny. At which she assured me that the tooth fairy is a tiny, tiny fairy and the tooth is not that tiny to her. oops.
Yes, I will pay back the $5 before she ever realizes it was gone. Yes, I do feel guilty about the whole lie, I mean incident.
Hi, My name is Kris and I'm a "Slacker Mom".

Top 10 Ways to Give Life to Your Home

2011-05-10T21:10:00.001-04:00

When I first read these 10 things I had an A-HA moment! These are exactly the things that need to be present in my home. I can look at this list and pick out the things that I am already doing that have been successful. I am posting this top 10 list in my home and I encourage you to do the same!

Top 10 Ways to Give Life To Our Home, By Renee Behringer

(Excerpt from 31 Days to Clean)

1.) Retrain our tongues to give words that encourage, comfort and edify others.

2) Offer life-giving and grace-filled words to husband and children.

3) Make our homes a place of grace where mistakes and sins are not met with anger but with love and hope.

4) Decorate our homes to make home a place of beauty. Beauty raises life above mere existence.

5) Develop necessary cleaning skills and habits; clutter causes stress.

6) Face our anger, anxiety, fear and depression. Our homes reflect our mental/spiritual/emotional health. Ask the Lord to replace these emotions with faith and hope.

7) Plan regular times away from home to rejuvenate and gain perspective.
8) Persevere in planning fun activities for family on weekends or ordinary weekdays.

9) Play praise or worship music in home to lift everyone’s spirits.
(Even King Saul in the Bible, when the Holy Spirit had left him, was refreshed and calmed by David’s worship.)

10) Ask the Lord: What areas of my home are causing stress or bringing spiritual/emotional/mental ‘deadness’? What can I do to bring life to those places instead to make them a place of refuge?

All of these suggestions have risen out of a heart that longs to be this kind of woman, yet has consistently failed in all of these areas. Some suggestions are on my ‘impossible prayer list’ of what I’m asking God to do this year in my life! I have seen the ill effects of doing the opposite of what I’ve written. I know that I don’t want to live that way anymore! Instead, I’m striving to develop diligence in these areas to bring life to my home flowing over from the One Who gives life freely to all who ask. May He encourage us in our life-giving.

"If you follow these precepts [all the things we should do] all of your life, you will find at the end of it not a perfect trouble free life, but a blessed one. When you fail, get right back up, repent and start all over again with God’s grace to do the very things that He wants you to do. You will not ever be sorry.”

-Anonymous

How to REALLY Bless Your Child's Teacher

2011-05-06T13:46:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I received a homemade dinner from one of my students for Teacher Appreciation day. It was the best.gift.ever. I had a crazy busy night ahead preparing for my Mother's Day breakfast in my classroom, and getting ready for a trip on Friday. So...it was definitley going to be a "Little Caesar's" night at my house. This inspired me to bless my children's teacher's with a meal as well.

I purchased these pretty reusable grocery bags.

I added this cute tag.

I put the menu on the back of the tag.

Lastly, I added a Publix gift card.

I hope it was as much a blessing to them as it was to me!!

Random Thoughts

2011-04-29T21:39:00.000-04:00

1. I'm having self-esteem issues physically, socially, & professionally.
2. Why is being a woman so hard?
3. Why do I care what other people think?
4. When I have low SELF-esteem, lack of SELF-worth, or drowning in SELF-pity, I'm being prideful-THE END-I need to get over it.
5. My husband just made us monkey bread-he's the best.
6. We watched the royal wedding today. The boys were TOR-TURED. But they deserved it-we watch their "man" shows all.the.time.
7. Only 23 school days left until summer-I'm doing a happy dance right now.
8. My favorite part about Friday nights is turning the alarm OFF.
9. My house is clean-this makes for a Won-der-ful weekend.
10. I'm glad, yes, I said, I'm glad, I'm having self-esteem issues physically, socially, & professionally-because if I had it all together what would I need the Lord for?
11. I love rainy nights like tonight.

12. We (They) are watching Cody Banks-I'm counting the minutes til I can get in my bed and watch a good chick flick.
13. Girls' night out tomorrow for my niece's 16th birthday-yahoo! How is it possible that she is 16?? Just yesterday my sister was pregnant with her!
14. One of the little boys in my class told me today that when we were practicing our Mother's Day song he almost cried. {awwww ..my heart melted}
15. Finally-in response to #1: I am a new creation (& so are you): 2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Oh, how I love God's promises!

Sweet Potatoes

2011-04-20T18:40:00.002-04:00

I tried a little experiment today. I put sweet potatoes in the crockpot, wrapped in foil in an attempt to make "baked" sweet potatoes. I poked holes in them first. They "baked" on low for about 9 hours.

And guess what?? It worked! They were delicious!!

They probably could have cooked for as little as 7 hours on low. But the nice thing about sweet potatoes is the longer they cook the softer and sweeter they get. Pulled pork in one slow cooker and sweet potatoes in the other made for a workin' woman's dream dinner.

Reese's Surprise Cookies

2011-04-18T19:23:00.002-04:00

I was making a meal for a friend tonight and needed a quick easy dessert. Enter Reese's Surprise Cookies. These cookies are so rich that it's hard to eat more than one. But they are TA-STY!!!

Have one of your kids unwrap the mini reese's cups. Just try to keep them from eating every other one.

Prepare the peanut butter cookie mix as directed by the package. Flatten a golf ball size of dough in your hand. Put a Reese's cup in the center.

Completely cover the Reese's cup with dough. Roll the ball of dough in sugar.

Bake about 25 minutes at 350 degrees.

Yummy!!

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Pizza Dip

2011-04-17T20:44:00.000-04:00

There's lots of variations of this dip out there. Here's one that I tried that was a hit!

Gather these ingredients:

Combine the softened cream cheese with a tsp of basil and a tsp of oregano. Spread it in the bottom of pie dish or 8x8 microwaveable dish.

Sprinkle a half cup of mozzerella cheese and a few shakes of parmesan on top of the cream cheese mixture.

Spread a cup of pizza sauce on top of the cheese mixture. Then, put a half cup of the mozzerella cheese on top along with a few shakes of parmesan cheese. Top with pepperoni, or any other of your favorite pizza toppings. I just love these mini pepperonis. They're perfectly dip-sized!

Loosely cover and microwave for 5 minutes. I served it with crackers and a sliced baguette. No one touched the crackers. So from now I'll only serve the bread. The bread gives the crust taste to the pizza dip. Enjoy!

I'm Tired

2011-04-15T13:34:00.003-04:00

I'm tired today. Not really physically tired, I've had enough sleep this week. I just feel worn down. It's Friday at the end of a high pressured testing week at school. And though I love the weekends, I know that the weekend brings errands, activities, laundry, a science fair project, church and who knows what else. So rest is not at the top of the list. This week was long, last week was longer. My grandmother passed away, my van died and was fixed, but not without a hefty price tag. I know that all these things, in the big scheme of this temporary life are so insignificant. And I'm not feeling "Woe is me" either.
I'm just tired. Ladies, you know what I mean.
When I feel worn down, I know the only solution is not more sleep, or even "me" time. It's God's Word. I need it like the air I breathe daily-but especially when I'm worn down and worn out.

Isaiah 40:29
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

Isaiah 40:31
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Exodus 33:14
The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.

I am so thankful for the rest I can find in the Lord, even when my daily life doesn't allow rest.

10 Things I Remember About Mamaw

2011-04-05T20:36:00.000-04:00

1. She made the best banana pudding and fudge.
2. She liked to take baths, not showers.
3. She had beautiful hair and always fixed it so pretty with hot rollers.
4. She loved Papaw in a way every woman should love her husband.
5. For many years, she bought everyone - I mean, everyone, in our family a Christmas present. Sometimes it was a just a pair of socks for each of the guys-but WOW!
6. She loved word search books. I venture to say she may even have set a record for completing the most word search books from start to finish.
7. She loved reading her Bible.
8. I loved spending the night at her house when I was little.
9. She looked the most beautiful on Sunday mornings when she was in pretty dresses and skirts going to church.
10. She was a mother to 13, a grandmother to 48, and a great grandmother to 38, and one amazing woman!!

Thank you, Lord, for the legacy she left.

Are Your Children a Delight to You and Others?

2011-04-03T18:44:00.001-04:00

Are your children a delight to you and others?

Proverbs 29:17 (the Message)
Discipline your children; you'll be glad you did—
they'll turn out delightful to live with.

At a parenting conference when my children were very young, I heard teaching on this verse. The question posed was, "Are your children a delight to you and others? Or when your children enter the church nursery do others think 'O no, here come those kids'"? That verse and teaching changed the way we parented. We began to look at disciplining our children with a different purpose in mind-we wanted them to be delightful to live with, for us and others. Of course, the primary purpose of discipline is to raise children in the way of the Lord, but this became our secondary purpose and as we have discovered, a natural result of raising kids biblically.
Now on to table manners-others can sit and enjoy a delightful meal with us-even when our children are present. And I owe it all to the grace of God and table manners!

For quite awhile we have posted our table manner rules by our dining table. It really helps to remind us all of proper table etiquette. I can't tell you how many times our children have caught us breaking a rule! As a result, we have seen these manners consistently in our children in and outside of our home. Isn't this our goal?
Click on the picture below to print out the table manners.

I originally used table manners from another source but have since customized them to fit our family's needs and expectations. Teaching and enforcing table manners are definitely one easy way to ensure that our children are a delight to others.

Easy Chicken & Dumplings

2011-03-30T21:31:00.002-04:00

Easiest and tastiest chicken and dumplings-I promise!

Gather these ingredients.

Pour 1 can of cream of mushroom, 1 can of cream of chicken soup, and 2 cans of water in a slow cooker or covered dutch oven type dish.

Cut 1 can of biscuits into quarters.

Add biscuits and cooked chicken to the soup. I boiled 3 large chicken breasts, because that's what I had, but to make it even easier you could use the chicken from a rotisserie chicken.

Put it in a slow cooker on low for 4-6 hours. I'm using this fantastic "dutch oven" type dish with a lid that I got for next to nothing from Pampered Chef when I hosted a party (which I highly recommend!). If you bake it in the oven, you can bake it at 350 degrees for about 2 hours (or until the biscuits are cooked through).

This meal was also super easy to partially prepare ahead of time. I'm making this meal to bless a friend, but when I make meals for others my goal is never to deprive my family. Since tonight was "kids eat free night" at Sonny's, I'm preparing some for us for tomorrow night. So when I made the chicken, I cooked 3 large breasts for tomorrow night. Then I'll throw all the ingredients in the slow cooker for tomorrow's dinner for my own family. Serve with a salad and enjoy!