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From the Kitchen: Summertime Goodness

Who doesn’t love all the summertime foods, as well as the lighter eating that comes this time of year?
Although we’ve had lower temperatures this season ~ due to the rain every single day for weeks ~ it’s still good to have that lighter fare.

I can always use inspiration in the kitchen, and there are many times a sister or friend will tell me something they are cooking for dinner, and I will promptly make it as well.

Hey, when you’ve been married for 8 years, don’t eat out all that much, and cook pretty much everything from scratch, that amounts to a lot of meals. That’s actually around 2, 920 dinner meals alone, give or take. There’s a reason I sometimes run dry! :)

So, my friend Shelly and I are linking up to hopefully inspire some summertime cooking. She’s following the Trim Healthy Mama lifestyle, so for those of you interested, follow her there!

I attempt to cook healthful and nutritiously, although mine aren’t completely kosher! :)

Here are a few of our family favorites this summer. A lot of these are actually more lunch or snack type of items. Hopefully you will enjoy. :)

Sun-dried Tomato Pasta

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Although it’s a pasta dish, it’s a rather light-weight one, and accompanied by a large salad, it’s delicious.
[sorry, no link. I’ve been experimenting with my own recipe]

Saturday Night Pizza

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It’s becoming tradition: Saturday night is great for a pizza night! Even if we’ve had a busy day, it’s an easy and fun food to make with endless options.

I love to add garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and basil to the dough, and then drizzle it with pesto before the pizza sauce. The flavor is superb with all that olive oil and garlic flavoring. :)
I also like to serve hot marinara sauce, Parmesan cheese, and red pepper flakes on the side.

Our two favorites varieties:
Chicken Bacon Ranch
pesto /pizza sauce /crispy bacon/ grilled or canned chicken / mozzarella cheese / heavily drizzled with Ranch dressing

Supreme
pesto /pizza sauce / sausage / bacon / medium banana pepper rings / black olives / pepperoni / chopped fresh basil / sliced grape tomatoes / mozzarella cheese

BLT with Avacado and Provolone

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The avocado-turned-guacamole as well as the cheese took this BLT to a whole new level of goodness! It went from a normal café-style sandwich to gourmet-upscale-delish!

Snack & Lunch Time

Hummus with Vegetables

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On a recent trip home to see my family, I discovered my kiddos LOVE hummus.  They are such big fans they will even eat it with a spoon.

However, eaten with baby carrots, bell peppers, cucumbers, mushrooms, and really any dipping vegetable, it is a wonderful combination! We got through one of these family sizes a week, and I love it because it’s a nutritious snack that also tastes so good!

Yogurt Parfait

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This is another nutritious and easy lunch or snack that we all love.

homemade yogurt / homemade granola / fresh blueberries / fresh strawberries [blackberries, peaches] / drizzle with maple syrup and sprinkle with ground cinnamon / a pat of whipped cream

Smoothies

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So this follows the same lines as the parfait and is nothing new at all, but a healthy smoothie hits the spot on a hot day.

/ yogurt / frozen strawberries / frozen peaches / teaspoon of vanilla / a few shakes of stevia powder / a bit of milk to make it smooth

Blueberry Muffins

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Who doesn’t love to use fresh blueberries when they’re in season? Oh, that’s right. We had eaten almost all the fresh and these had to be made with frozen. Still just as good. :)

The recipe comes from here, and it is THE best blueberry muffin recipe I’ve ever made or tasted. I love the crunchy streusel on the top. I also substituted 1/2 of the amount of flour for whole wheat and added just a bit more milk, and it turned out very well! Also, I used regular-sized muffins tins, not jumbo.

Strawberry/Basil Refresher

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This idea I shamelessly copy from Shelly. :) It’s a variation of the Good Girl Moonshine, but I didn’t add all the ingredients in that original recipe.

This is an amazing drink. The flavor is so unique it surprises you, but so delicious!

1 quart water and ice / 1 teaspoon ground ginger / several shakes powdered stevia /  3-4 sliced strawberries / 3-4 basil leaves, torn 

Shake well and enjoy!

Happy Summertime, and good eating to you, my friends!
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For Those Days….

I came across this yesterday, and I wish I knew who to give credit to, because it’s a beautiful heart behind all this.

It’s for those of us in the thick of it with kiddos and parenting and messy houses, when we feel like we’re getting nothing done ~ to sit, to drink deeply of this bit we call life, to treasure what really truly matters.

I was blessed and encouraged  and I hope you are too!

// blueberry picking with the kiddos //

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//  he’s walking everywhere! //

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// Edited: someone so kindly informed me that this was written by Lisa, of LisaJoBaker.com.  All credit to her for the following beautiful words! //

For the days we are running… on empty. For the days we just don’t think we have it in us to read one more story, play one more game of Uno, wash one more round of sheets. For the days when we think everyone else has it together. For the days we’re sure anyone else would do this job better.

For those days. You know the ones.

Repeat after me:

1. I shall not judge my house, my kid’s summer activities or my crafting skills by Pinterest’s standards.

2. I shall not measure what I’ve accomplished today by the loads of unfolded laundry but by the assurance of deep love I’ve tickled into my kids.

3. I shall say yes to blanket forts and see past the chaos to the memories we’re building.

4. I shall surprise my kids with trips to get ice cream when they’re already in their pajamas.

5. I shall not compare myself to other mothers but find my identity in the God who trusted me with these kids in the first place.

6. I shall remember that a messy house at peace is better than an immaculate house tied up in knots.

7. I shall play music loudly and teach my kids the joy of wildly uncoordinated dance.

8. I shall remind myself that perfect is simply a street sign at the intersection of impossible and frustration in Never Never land.

9. I shall embrace the fact that in becoming a mom I traded perfect for a house full of real.

10. I shall promise to love this body that bore these three children out loud, especially in front of my daughter.

11. I shall give my other mother friends the gift of guilt-free friendship.

12. I shall do my best to admit to my people my unfine moments.

13. I shall say sorry when sorry is necessary.

14. I pray God I shall never be too proud, angry or stubborn to ask for my children’s forgiveness.

15. I shall make space in my grown-up world for goofball moments with my kids.

16. I shall love their father and make sure they know I love him.

17. I shall model kind words to kids and grown-ups alike.

18. I shall not be intimidated by the inside of my minivan this season of chip bags, goldfish crackers and discarded socks too shall pass.

19. I shall always make time to encourage new moms.

20. I shall not resent that last call for kisses and cups of water but remember instead that when I blink they’ll all be in college.

… with love from one tired mother to another.

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Be encouraged to BE today before the Lord, not only DO.

Happy Day!

~clarita

 

 

 

 

 

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Festivities of the 4th.

So the 4th of July is several days past, but since it’s a big holiday, can I be excused if I still post pictures? Especially since they are mostly kiddo pictures, and I want my sisters and mommy to see them. :)

Festivities of the 4th, I said.
Well, to be perfectly honest, that might be stretching it.

It was a stay-at-home, project-working day with Husband.
It was a picnic day for the kiddos.
It was a grilled-burgers kind of supper.
It was a rained-out fireworks kind of night.

But the day goes down as a good family day.
There can never be too many of those, especially when it seems we haven’t had much of them recently.

There were a few minutes at the end of the day for a few pictures.
Little Man got into the patriotic spirit and was waving the flag with all his heart.

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And then paused for a moment of respectful silence.

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Give him a mower, or a mower ride, and he’ll be set for hours.

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Add in a screwdriver and he’s happy as a lark.

I am amazed at the differences between boys and girls.

He’s so little, but already he notices the train a block away, and trucks that pass and just NOISE, whether it’s a piano or an engine.

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And, it keeps him off of fire-ant piles.

Poor little guy got into one and each little foot had scores of bites. :(

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It’s hard work driving a mower, so a snack of hummus and carrots is a perfect snack any day.

Especially when mommy forgets to keep an eye on the snacking.

#hummusbaby

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Meanwhile, Husband and I worked hard on painting the picket fence.
Yep, real all-American we are. White picket fence and all. Ha! :)

My husband was so smart and made the fence in sections that can be pulled up and out for ease of painting.

We had only primed them before, but that was two years ago and the paint was coming off.
Let me tell you, it does not pay to wait to finish something.

We did five such sections and it took us all day to sand and re-prime and paint.
Four more such panels to go.

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Zoe and Olivia packed a little lunch and set it up on the front yard.

“This is just what I wanted to do!!” Zoe purred happily.
So she got to cross ‘have a picnic’ off her bucket list.
I must do that more often, for the simple joy it brings!

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Nothing like a bowl of fresh cold watermelon, everyone armed with their own fork.

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A few more pictures of Little Girls and Flags and New Skirts that I made last week.

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It is a gift to live in this land.
I am so grateful to all those soldiers who gave their lives for the cause of freedom, freedom they could never experience themselves, for the sake of the generations after them.

Freedom wasn’t free for them. It was at a high price, the price of their blood.
May I never take that for granted.

But even more than the freedom of my country, I’m grateful for the freedom that comes from Christ Jesus alone.

No bondage or slavery is too great for my Savior to free, and even when a body may be enslaved, the spirit can be free indeed.

Freedom wasn’t free for Him either. It was at the price of His own blood for the sins of the world.

May I never take His freedom for granted, and may the life I live bring honor to the sacrifice He paid!

Have a blessed weekend, everyone!
Clarita

 

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Mary Kay Summer Specials!

Happy July, everyone!

It is unbelievable how quickly this year is flying by ~ and today is the first day of July!

So it’s time to run some Mary Kay specials!
These are running this full week, July 1-6, Monday – Saturday.

In the heat and humidity of the summer, it can be hard to wear makeup and not feel like it’s just smeared off!
Here are some of my favorites from Mary Kay that I recommend:

 Cream Eye Color, in 9 colors
Whether swimming, exercising, or just anytime, this beautiful eye cream with a hint of shimmer is both a primer and a waterproof cream. You can use it alone or with other eye creams or powders.

The Beach Blonde color is great by itself or used with other colors, for any eye color. For blue eyes, the combination of Beach Blonde and Iced Cocoa are a great combination.

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Lash Love Mascara!
This is the best mascara I’ve ever tried. It’s a fine brush and it’s not clumpy! It separates the lashes for a soft, defining look.
This also comes in waterproof and lash-lengthening options.

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The Nourishine Lip Gloss collection has 15 colors, and I love to keep one or two in my purse for quick and easy application. It even has Vitamin E in it! This is great because you can wear it on top of lipstick to add color and gloss, or by itself if you’re not a lipstick-wearing person.

Three of my favorites:
Au Naturel
Icicle
Pink Sateen

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For those who have trouble with very oily skin, especially in the summers, this Oil-Free Hydrating Gel is wonderful because your face stills need a moisturizer but not additional oil. Use this after a Cleanser for oily skin.

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In the intense heat of the summer, you want some nice color but not at the expense of aging and sun spots! This oil-free sunscreen has a 30 spf that helps protect your skin, and it’s waterproof up to 80 minutes.

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Also, in the summer it can feel as though your foundation is constantly trickling down your face! Whether you use a powder or liquid foundation, this Primer    is wonderful! It also has a 15 spf sunscreen, and holds your foundation firmly throughout the day!

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Oil-Free Makeup Remover
Did you know that leaving makeup on overnight adds age to your face? Well, it does! It’s important to remove any makeup and foundations, and gently cleanse and moisturize each night. This makeup remover is oil-free and also doesn’t irritate eyes, especially good for those of us wearing contacts or with sensitive eyes.

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TimeWise Miracle Set

This is the basic skin care set, and you can try a one-month trial set for oily skin, or for normal/dry skin. This set not only nourishes your skin, but is also age-fighting and repairing.

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Firming Eye Cream

If I could pick a favorite, which would be hard to do, this would definitely be one of my picks. It firms the skin under and around the eyes, as well as minimizes fine lines and wrinkles. I don’t go a day without it!

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If you are pregnant and want to avoid stretch-marks, or have spider-veins, or just want an overall firm look to your skin (excluding face), the Time Wise Visibly Fit body lotion is a wonderful product that has rave reviews!

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I also love this Hydrating Body Lotion, which has a very soft scent and feels absolutely wonderful!

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If you do a lot of traveling and like an organized system, this may be for you!
This roll-up travel bag holds not only small items like brushes and powder, but also bottles of cleansers and moisturizers!

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Even if you are content with your own makeup, Mary Kay brushes are a notch above the rest. They are high-quality, and apply makeup and powders with a smooth blending finish.

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The special I’m running this week is 15 % off any Mary Kay product, including those not mentioned above!

There is a flat rate of $2 shipping within the continental US, but if you order $40 (after the discount) there is a free gift with purchase!

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To order, follow any of the links or go directly to my Mary Kay website, www.marykay.com/claritayoder

Feel free to message me with any questions!

Happy first week of July!

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Personalized Silhouette Shirts

 

 

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About three years ago I was on a silhouette-kick.

Now I’m back on it. :) In the form of personalized shirts!

This was a fun little afternoon project. I love quick and easy projects, and this was one. I made a shirt for each of my daughters, but with a few changes it could be boy-friendly as well.

Here’s a little tutorial.

 

Supplies needed:

~ white t-shirts
~ black felt ( as used in example) or your choice of colored fabric)
~ iron-on adhesive
~ picture on a computer
~paper & pencil & scissors
~ iron
~ sewing machine

 

1. Take a side-profile picture against a bright background, such as outside your front door.

This will be the look of your silhouette, so if you want a high up-do, make sure you do that before the picture unless you like to free-hand it later.

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2. Hold a piece of printer paper, or other very lightweight paper, against the computer screen and trace.

You can choose the size of your silhouette at this point – very large, very small, depending on how much you enlarge/zoom the picture on your computer.

3. Cut out the picture, and trace onto iron-on adhesive. Cut out the adhesive in a square-ish size, then iron the adhesive onto the fabric. Cut out your silhouette.

4. Center the silhouette and iron onto the shirt, following the directions on your iron-on adhesive package.

I bought shirts at Walmart, for a cheap $3.47.  If you’d want a better quality then go elsewhere, but these are great and cheap. :)

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5. Top-stitch the silhouettes for a clean finish, using black thread on the top AND bottom.

Normally I use a white thread on the bottom so it’s a clean look underneath, but with the black fabric it will show the white thread if you do.

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If you want to add a little embellishment, you may! I made a bow with ribbon I already had, and hand-stitched it in place.

And the finished project! It’s just so fun when it turns out well, and I’m not the only one happy. :) My girls were delighted too, and we’ve paired them with light pink tutus for a fun outfit.

I think this would also be super cute in a hot-pink fabric for girls, or aqua for boys, for a modern take on the silhouette. A solid color works better to show the details on the silhouette; a patterned fabric would hide those cute little noses or other small things quite a bit. :)

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Happy projecting! :)

 

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Dreamy Hydrangeas.

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I have dreamt of having my own hydrangea bushes and walking out the door in my pretty little frock and plucking lovely stems from my very own garden.

This summer, it is a reality.
Well, maybe not the “pretty little frock” part, but the “plucking my own stems” part.

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When you buy a run-down repossessed property, or if you build you own house, most times there is no landscaping, and it just takes a lot of patience to plant small young plants and wait for years until it grows and blooms!

These I planted these three years ago, from very very tiny plants. I had saved up birthday money or something of the sort, and wanted to buy an assortment of plants for our barren yard.

And, wanting to make that money stretch, I bought small plants.

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Three years later, lots of fertilizer and watering, adding ferns [that were leftover from my front porch at the end of the year that I cut in two or four parts and planted], and I so love it. It’s simple, so simple, but such loveliness. It draws attention to the flowers rather than our falling-down deck. Ha!

And maybe by next year I can learn how to actually determine the colors, rather than being surprised. :)

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Of course, some must be brought indoors and enjoyed as long as possible…

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There are some things about life that are so hard for me to grasp.
Beauty and pain, I’m thinking of now.

Sometimes I almost feel guilty for enjoying life, enjoying beauty, when there are so many painful things in this world.

Why was I not born in a slum in India?
Why do I know love and comfort rather than misery and rejection?
Why was I given a family, a home, when others are orphans and homeless people?
WHY?

And I’m over here exclaiming about hydrangeas.

I guess what I come back to is this:
I do not worship the beauty I see; I worship the God who created the beauty.

Sometimes it feels my heart is torn by the pain I see others experiencing, here and far away.
I want to do something for those who cannot help themselves.
I don’t want to pretend the world is fine and everyone is going to Heaven.

And yet, regardless of the terrible things in the world,
not minimizing them, but even in the middle of them,
God is worthy of worship.

He is worthy of me noticing His creation, the beautiful things He’s made,
those things that are a glimpse of how He created life and the world to be,
and for me to stop in the middle of the busyness of life and be delighted with Him.

I don’t ever want to stop noticing.

Whether it’s a pink hydrangea outside my back door.
Or a picture that turned out better than I expected.
Or that teasing twinkle in my baby’s eye.
That big strong tender man that is my husband.
Those little-girl giggles coming from the bedroom.
That beautiful morning light, picture-perfect.
That little note from a friend that was the encouragement I needed.
The voice message from a sister.
Little raindrops on a leaf.
Those little simple delights.

It’s endless, really.
In this world I never will be able to reconcile the extreme beauty and pain,
but I do want to live with eyes to see Him, to see His beauty,
and mostly, with a heart to worship.

xo

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The {weekly} Daybook

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I have seen this Daybook idea around on different blogs and loved it, but this is the first I’m trying it as an attempt to catch up on the past few weeks. So this here is my Daybook, with a few variations…

Outside My Window

are the tennis courts and a few players enjoying the overcast day. There are times I would like a better view out the front door, but then I can also sit on my front porch without someone across the street looking at me. :)

I Am Thankful For

 a day of quietness.
The last few weeks have been a constant busy and going and activity, and while it was so enjoyable, we are all so thankful for a quieter week.  We’ve had rain days, which make for a quieter feeling as well.

The end of May Zoe finished up Kindergarten on the front porch. It was a year of learning for both of us – doing Kindergarten at home, and we plan on doing 1st grade at home as well. We used the Abeka DVD’s and they were wonderful. I can’t imagine homeschooling without them.

My blue-eyed daughter is quite the scholar. She LOVED school, and was sad for it to end.

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Not to be outdone by big sister, little sister did some learning as well.
However, distraction comes easily for her… :)

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We had a jewelry-making day with the nun, er, princess,
I mean, bride!

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And don’t even think of forgetting Little Man.
He’ll let you hear about it.

He wants to be included in everything. :)

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I Am Reading

several books at the moment.
I love to read, and different years I have different “themes.”
Sometimes I feel like I get stuck in mommy-mode, and while some of that is okay, I don’t want to stagnate either!

One year I wanted to stretch my mind, so I read a lot of  C. S. Lewis and Chesterton and those great old authors. It was good, and mind-stimulating!

This year my sister gave me an armload of books, many having to do current desperate world needs, orphan advocacy, and a call to holiness.

I have been incredibly moved, and reading some of those books leaves me a different person, with a different heart.

To name a few…

Terrify No More
[a story of  sex trafficking in East Asia]

Too Small to Ignore
[the moving story of the beginnings of Compassion International]

The Hole in Our Holiness
[a call to do all for God and His glory, rather than using “grace” to cover flesh and sin]

The following picture:
“Mommy, I’m adopting this baby. She doesn’t have a mommy or daddy, so I’m adopting her and I’m gonna be her family.”

I am melted. I LOVE that she has a heart for the orphan, even if it’s in baby-doll form at four years old.

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I Am Looking Forward

 to a day with my husband, to celebrate almost-8 years of being married! :)
A very sweet babysitter is lined up, and I am so grateful to her!

One of the things I miss about not living near my family is that ability to call them up and say, “I need ONE HOUR! Can you watch the kids for ONE hour while I regroup!?” Or to have dates with my husband on a regular basis… So, I am very grateful for this babysitter. :)


I Am Thinking

of good ways to have chores organized for the kiddos.
They are super helpers, but I would like something organized rather than me verbally asking them each time.

I don’t really want a sticker system; that seems like too much to keep after for me!

I do want something efficient and easy… for both the kids and myself.
Maybe incorporate it into allowances?
But I’m stuck!

I would love to hear your ideas and see pictures!
And if I get 3 or more ideas, I’d love to put into into blog format to give other people ideas too.
If you’re up for it, send ideas and at least one picture to skiesofparchment (@) gmail.com
:)

In The Kitchen

Not today, but in the past few weeks…
… Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie, recipe passed on from my husband’s mother

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A breakfast or lunch favorite learned from a friend:
a yogurt parfait
with
homemade Greek vanilla yogurt
homemade granola
sliced strawberries
blackberries
drizzled with maple syrup
a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Mmmmmmmmmm.

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One of My Favorite Things

Early mornings on my front porch, before the kiddos wake up.
A hot cup of coffee, my Bible, journal, and an hour of quietness.
There is nothing better.
If only I could do it every morning.

A Picture

 my peanut butter baby.

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Happy Hump Day, Lovelies! :)

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