Making a House a Home

Oh YUM!!! After visiting Mrs. Pear's place on Friday, I decided I HAD to make her Land of Nod Cinnamon Buns. OH BOY are these babies good!!!!

I did make some changes, though. I didn't have any frozen roll dough on hand, so I decided to use homemade. I made my Potato Roll recipe and used that instead of the frozen dough. I omitted the raisins, too, because Mr. U isn't crazy about them. I, however, think it would have been WONDERFUL with raisins, pecans and maybe even some orange zest in there!!!!

Here's my Potato Roll recipe. I use the bread machine to do all the kneading for me.

Potato Rolls
1 ¼ cup warm water
3 T vegetable oil
7 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
2 T mashed potato flakes
3 cups bread flour
1 ½ tsp yeast

Place ingredients in bread machine, set to "dough" cycle. When complete, divide the dough into 20 pieces.

Okay... now start the Land Of Nod Cinnamon Buns...
Place the pieces in a greased bundt pan, mix all the Cinnamon Bun ingredients together (except for the butter) and sprinkle on top. Drizzle melted butter all over. Let this rise in the oven for about 45 minutes and then bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

Here is Mrs. Pear's recipe. With either recipe, you will be SOOO happy that you decided to share this scrumptious delight with your family! And they will be happy, too!!

Here's a piece just for you...

It's Friday!!! So that means that Kelli is hosting (or should that be hostessing?) Show and Tell Friday!!! What fun!!

I would like to share with y'all my grandmother's ring. A few years ago, she gave my sister and I each a ring that had been special to her. She wanted to give them to us while she was still alive so that she knew that we would get them.

My grandmother is still alive (she's 87) but not in good health at all. I'm so glad that she gave this beautiful ring to me so that I always have something that I can "put my hands on" to remind me of her.

Yep, these bananas look just right for banana bread. I have the BEST recipe, too. So unless Mr. U gets to them first (he LOVES bananas really freckled like these are), I'll make some banana bread for the family! YUM!

Banana Bread
1 stick butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup whole wheat flour
3 large bananas, mashed
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup pecans or walnuts, coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease your 9x5x3 bread pan. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy then add your eggs in, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift all purpose flour, baking soda and salt together and then stir in the whole wheat flour. Add to creamed mixture, mixing well. Fold in bananas, vanilla and nuts. Pour into pan and bake 50 to 60 minutes or till tooth pick comes out clean. Cool in the pan 10 minutes and then turn out.

Go from this...

to THIS... in your own home!!!!

Yes, that's right. You do NOT have to use those bags of microwave popcorn anymore!! You can make your own DELICIOUS homemade popcorn! It's very easy and very inexpensive!!!

Directions:
In the bottom of a heavy pan, pour oil into the pan to the depth of 1/8 inch. Heat the oil on medium high . Drop one kernel into the oil and when that kernel pops, add enough popcorn kernels to cover the bottom of the pan in a single layer. Cover and shake until all kernels are completely popped. Salt and butter to taste.

This takes minutes to do, makes a TON and is very inexpensive!!! Your family will LOVE the smell of homemade popcorn wafting in from the kitchen. So y'all pull out a board game or pop in some old home movies and enjoy a big bowl of your own homemade popcorn!! Yum!

Hi y'all!!!

On a recent post entitled Cleaning Cabinets, Pamela asked,

"I was wondering if you had some good cleaning tips for cleaning and mopping the kitchen floor.This is the job I dread the most.
Thank You."

Oh Pamela!! I feel your pain!!! Mopping is my most dreaded chore, too! I have found that, for me, the BEST thing I can do to help with mopping is to do it weekly. Otherwise, the dirt will build up, I'll start feeling guilty about conviently "forgetting" to mop, and before I know it, the floor is horribly dirty. I sweep daily (sometimes more than daily- we live in an area with a lot of sand) so I think that helps keep the floor a tad cleaner and people aren't always stepping on something icky and mashing it into the floor.

When I do mop, I enjoy using a big bucket full of hot water, a sponge mop, and Pine Sol. Whenever I smell it, I smell my grandmother's house. It's AMAZING how powerful the sense of smell is, isn't it? My grandmother always had her house clean as a whistle. When we went to visit her, you were greeted by the smell of freshly mopped floors- the Pine Sol!!!

I would LOVE to hear from others that are reading this. Can y'all offer some advice to Pamela to help with mopping? For that matter, there may be many of us that don't look forward to that particular job, so many of us will probably benefit from all the help we can get!!

Ah, the good old potato masher!! I'm sure most of us have something very similar in our drawers, right? Or are you one that purchases potato flakes in a box to make "homemade" mashed potatoes?? If so, please reconsider. This inexpensive cooking essential is just what you need to make perfect mashed potatoes every time!!!

According to Wikipedia...

A potato masher or bean masher is a food preparation utensil used to crush soft food for such dishes as mashed potatoes, apple sauce, or refried beans.

The potato masher consists of an upright or sideways handle connected to a mashing head. The head is most often a large-gauge wire in a rounded zig-zag shape, or a plate with holes or slits. Designs made from a single piece of wood are also known.

I use my potato masher for regular white potatoes, for sweet potatoes, to make applesauce, to mash strawberries before making strawberry preserves and even to make homemade baby food.

I rarely post on the weekends because I am usually busy with family. Yes, I AM still busy with family, but I wanted to be sure and point out two edifying posts I recently read.

Melissa over at Desiring to be a godly woman has a wonderful post about adoption.

Amanda Grace over at A Touch of Grace has a really encouraging post about studying the Word.

Thank you, Melissa and Amanda Grace, for giving me some really good things to think about this weekend!!!

Oh y'all!!! Hurry on over to Pinks and Blues Blog before 8pm TONIGHT and enter this fabulous contest!! The prize? A Dooney & Bourke bag and some Victoria's Secret perfume!!

When we were getting ready to go to China to bring Elizabeth home, we knew we had to have a car seat for her when we got back home. I had NO idea what the rules and regulations were about car seats. After several problems with two different car seats, we finally found one that installed easily and was highly recommended by everyone we know. While we did know that Elizabeth needed to be rear facing until she was 1, we weren't sure about the other requirements. Thankfully I found this website called Car-Safety.org. They share LOTS of information about car seat safety. So if you are like I was, this site will provide much needed help to you.


Yes, Elizabeth is almost 13 months and is still rear facing. After reading this, on the Car-Safety.org site, I think she'll remain rear facing for a while.


ADDED BIT OF REALLY GOOD ADVICE: Susan P. over at A Place Called Home shared this in the comment section.

I wanted to let you know that my son is a firefighter and around here they take all kinds of car seat safety classes. They are always ready to help at the Fire Station to check your car seat for safety, show you how to properly install, all the things you need to know and I like that they are so "hands on" about it. Maybe you could call your local fire dept. to see if they do this too.

This is DEFINITELY a great service that firefighters offer!! In an email with Susan, she said to be sure and call your fire department first to make sure that they do, in fact, offer this service. Thank you SO much, Susan!!!!

More Wordless Wednesday...

Oh y'all!! I just finished the BEST book!! It's called Aunt Jane's Hero and it's by Elizabeth Prentiss. A lot of you will know Mrs. Prentiss from her book Stepping Heavenward or her hymn More Love to Thee, O Christ.

Aunt Jane's Hero is about a lady named Aunt Jane and the people that she loves in her life. This book was a wonderful example of being content no matter what your station in life and reminding Christians to follow Jesus at all times. Though the world may look tempting every once in a while, the Lord's ways are always best and lead to joy.

Ooooh. I don't want to say too much- I want you all to experience it for yourselves. I love getting to know the characters in a book so wonderful as this, but I also hate to see them go, too, when the book is over.

I feel like Aunt Jane has been a friend to me during the reading of this book. Perhaps you will feel the same way, too.

We have white cabinets. White cabinets show dirt very easily and, therefore, need to be cleaned more often. I used to DREAD this task until I discovered that a bowlful of warm soapy water, a wash cloth and a little elbow grease can clean the cabinets much more quickly than I was cleaning them before!!! I just add a touch of dishwashing liquid or liquid handsoap to my water and start cleaning away!! They are clean in no time now!!

Yep... Victoria's website is up and running, ladies!!!!

Oh, and I should let you all know... I discovered this good news over at Smilnsigh. Go pay her a visit!! :)

I don't know about y'all, but a simple cup of tea can change me from feeling frumpy to feeling feminine in one sip. Why is that? Is it because I must pause to drink it? I can't just gulp it down like a soda. Or is because it is served in a pretty cup? Is it the enchanting aroma? Whatever it is, I love it.

Enjoying a cup of tea is just what I needed today. I woke up tired. I felt unkempt. I simply poured a cup of my favorite tea (Chai has been my favorite for about 2 years now), visited a lovely feminine blog, Homeliving Helper, and voila! I'm feeling much more ladylike than I was half an hour earlier.

For me, I enjoy keeping my home in order when I feel more feminine. I want to make sure that even the little things are straightened or cleaned- not just sloppily done simply to be able to check it off my "to do" list that day. When I feel more ladylike, I make sure that even the little things about ME are straightened, as well. For example, I make sure my hair is in place, my clothes are neatly pressed, my earrings are on, I'm smelling fresh and clean.

A simple cup of tea can lead to a clean home AND a more lovely feeling wife and mother! Imagine that!!

What makes YOU feel more feminine? Please share!! If you blog about it or have blogged about it before, please leave a link for all to enjoy!!

Shoved in the FAAAAAAR corner in my bedroom, where no one else can see it but me... sits my sewing machine. Yes. It's true. I own a sewing machine. I did not buy it, mind you. A very sweet lady at my church found out I didn't have one and she bought it for me. I've tried to sew a few things here and there, but I just don't seem to "get it". So, there it sits... in the corner... with fabric and old homeschool material piled on top (goodness, I have GOT to clean that corner!! LOL!!!)


Alas! What is THIS? Well, it's a sewing machine case (as if you can't read)!!! A friend of mine recently was telling me about some sewing lessons that she is going to take and I could probably get involved in the lessons, too!! I decided I needed to purchase a case so that I could carry it to and from the lessons. I found it at Walmart for only $17.83!! I can't wait!!

Maybe, just maybe I'll actually learn to sew!!!!! And hopefully that horribly cluttered corner will be neat and tidy, too!!

Until about a month ago, our family had to use "old-fashioned" (haha!) dial-up in order to get online. YIPPEE we are now high speed and LOVING it!!

Having high speed opens up a whole new world of the internet that we have not be privy to before. I've really enjoyed being able to view the YouTube videos that bloggers post on their blogs. I've LOVED being able to share music on my blog AND hear it on others' blogs as well. I think my FAVORITE thing so far that I've discovered is ONLINE SERMONS!!! Y'all!!! How WONDERFUL!! What a blessing!!!

Have you not been listening to them??? Oh my!! Be sure and go to to One Place or Sermon Audio and you'll find TONS of wonderful sermons to listen to. What a blessing to be able to listen to some wonderful teaching from all over the world!! So today, when your homekeeping is finished for the day, the children are napping, and your crock-pot is cooking away, sit back and listen to a sermon online! What great encouragment as we grow in the Lord!!

Imagine... Victoria Magazine FINALLY back in your mailbox!!! Did you EVER think this would happen??

Here's the website, too!!!

This is my first time participating in Kelli's Show and Tell Friday! What fun!

Please allow me to introduce you to my dear old friend, Teddy. My Grandma and Grandpa gave him to me my first Christmas, uh, a FEW years ago. Tee hee!!

Teddy was always with me when I was little. He was my favorite stuffed animal. He even went to college with me!! No joke!! Now Teddy lives with us and has his special place on my dresser. :)

Teddy is a boy, yes. But WHY, you ask, is he wearing a dress? Well, apparently when I was little, I felt bad for him having to go around naked all the time, so I put some doll clothes on him and just never took them off!

Thank you for stopping by for my Show and Tell Friday with my Teddy!! For more Show and Tell Friday, please go visit Kelli!!

Yep, that's my cutie girl!!!! She's sportin' a sweet apron made for her by her Aunt Amy!! Thank you, Aunt Amy!!!

Today, amongst the regular Thursday jobs around the house, Elizabeth and I decided to make Rachael Ray's Super Sloppy Joes for lunch. Remember, our big meal of the day is lunch, so that's why we were cooking this in the middle of the day.

Here's the WONDERFUL recipe! For those of y'all that still open a can of Manwich, try this!! It is super simple and VERY tasty!!!!

Super Sloppy Joes
Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan
1 1/4 pounds ground beef sirloin
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon steak seasoning blend, such as McCormick brand Montreal Seasoning
1 medium onion, chopped
1 small red bell pepper, chopped
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 cups tomato sauce
2 tablespoons tomato paste
4 crusty rolls, split, toasted, and lightly buttered

Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add oil and meat to the pan. Spread the meat around the pan and begin to break it up. Combine brown sugar and steak seasoning. Add sugar and spice mixture to the skillet and combine. When the meat has browned, add onion and red peppers to the skillet. Reduce heat to medium and cook onions, peppers, red wine vinegar and Worcestershire sauce with meat for 5 minutes. Add tomato sauce and paste to pan. Stir to combine. Reduce heat to simmer and cook Sloppy Joe mixture 5 minutes longer. Using a large spoon or ice cream scoop, pile sloppy meat onto toasted, buttered bun bottoms and cover with bun tops.


We also decided to make oven potatoes to go with this. It's a super simple dish, too! The hardest part is chopping the pototoes!!

Oven Potatoes
5 medium sized red potatoes
1 large onion (I used Vidalia today... I wonder why...)
4 garlic cloves (or more if you LOVE garlic like we do!!!)
Extra virgin olive oil
Salt
Pepper

Wash potatoes and leave the skin on. Chop into bite sized pieces and put on a cookie sheet. Chop onion into bite sized pieces and place that on the cookie sheet, too. Rough chop garlic and toss those pieces on top of the potatoes and onions. Drizzle with about 2 T of olive oil, sprinkle to taste with salt and pepper and lightly toss it all together with your fingers. Place in a preheated 400 degree oven and bake for about 45 minutes. Half way through, take them out and toss them around to make sure they are cooking evenly on all sides. Enjoy!!!

So... what are you serving your family today?

It's that time of the year- VIDALIA ONIONS ARE HERE!!! I LOVE these sweet onions sooo much! Mr. U and our son BOTH bought me 10 pounds of Vidalia's... so I now have 20 POUNDS of Vidalia onions in my kitchen. WOOHOO!! What can I make? What can I make?

Soo... today we will be having Vidalia Onion Pie. Yummmm... Here's the recipe...

Vidalia Onion Pie
3 medium Vidalia Sweet Onions
1/2 cup butter
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup sour cream
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne red pepper
1 9-inch pie shell, unbaked
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 450 F. Thinly slice onions. Saute onions in butter until soft and transparent. Combine eggs, sour cream, salt, pepper and cayenne red pepper until smooth. Pour onions into pie shell, then pour egg mixture over onions. Sprinkle with cheese.

Bake at 450 F. for 15 minutes, then lower oven to 325 F. and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned and set. Serve warm.

Happy Mother's Day to all moms!! Enjoy this wonderful day with your family!! And be sure and call your own mother!!

In Queen of the Castle, a wonderful book that I reviewed on Wednesday, the author makes reference to a song by Paul Overstreet called "Homemaker" from his CD entitled Sowin' Love. Well, it got to me. What were those lyrics? So, I had to google it and here's the sweet words that I found.

To me she is a beauty queen
I love to watch her on the screen
In our home movies
And when she sings around the house
She's got a voice that knocks me out
She is my favourite singer

But you won't see her on T.V.
Or hear her on the radio
Worldly fame is not her aim
And she's the first to let you know

CHORUS: She wants to be a homemaker
It's her dream to raise a family
And give her love to just one man
And I thank God it's me
I'll never underestimate her
'Cause she could take this word and turn it on
But she takes her love
And makes our house of home

She can't afford to spend her day
In a old soap opera haze
She's much too busy
At night she puts the kids to bed
She's makin' sure their prayers get said
Before she lays down with me

It's plain to see
That she's not seeking glory on this earth
'Cause she believes in honesty
And the joy of giving birth

(REPEAT CHORUS)

Mr. Overstreet, thank you for encouraging homemakers everywhere!!!

Y'all!!! I just read a WONDERFUL book!! It's called Queen of the Castle- 52 weeks of encouragement for the uninspired, domestically challenged or just plain tired homemaker by Lynn Bowen Walker.

Why do I think it's so good? Read what Mrs. Walker says on page 5 of her book about homemaking. This is what I think about homemaking, too. It's more than just a clean home or homemade food. It's about... well, just read what she says here...

Homemaking involves people. It encompasses loving our children, nurturing their creativity, and helping them recognize their unique gifts. Homemaking is encouraging our husbands, admiring their finer qualities, and praying for them when they're going through a rough time. Homemaking is being a people tender, a "family manager," as author Kathy Peel calls it. It's caring about the people who enter our world and nourishing them with kind words, food perhaps, and a listening ear. You and I can change the lives we touch. We have the capacity to bring love and laughter and encouragement to those who enter our homes. It's a huge job.

My time to sit down and devour books has greatly decreased since we came home with Elizabeth. Homemaking is my favorite subject and all the books I have seen lately are thick and time-consuming. Queen of the Castle is broken down into 52 chapters. I can read one chapter in a sitting and actually feel like I accomplished some reading that day!! Plus, Mrs. Walker is so very real and encouraging in this book. While Martha Stewart comes across as larger than life, Mrs. Walker comes across like a sister- she KNOWS what it's like to try to juggle the demands of life and still somehow find time to clean her home, make homemade cookies, do special holiday projects with her family, etc. She's made mistakes and learned from them and she's had successes, too, and wants to share both with her readers.

Queen of the Castle has some really wonderful ideas for holidays and seasons, how to handle leftovers, flea market tips, etc. And she has some INCREDIBLE recipes in the book, too!!! Wait'll you see the recipe for French Dip in the Crock-Pot (page 225)- SOOO easy!!! Oh, and the chocolate butter (page 175). Yes, you read that right, CHOCOLATE BUTTER!!!!! And there are MORE excellent recipes, too!!!

I also really like all the wonderful quotes she has throughout her book (plus all the new words she teaches as the book goes along!!!). I think my favorite quote is from page 32 in her book...

C. S. Lewis once said, "A housewife's work...is surely in reality the most important work in the world. What do ships, railways, mines, cars, government, etc. exist for except that people may be fed, warmed, and safe in their own homes?... We wage war in order to have peace, we work in order to have leisure, we produce food in order to eat it. So your job is the one for which all others exist."

What I like most about Queen of the Castle, though, is the constant reminder to spend time with the Lord. There is Scripture throughout the book continually pointing readers to the fact that we exist, ultimately, for our Lord and Savior. We take care of our homes for Him and because of Him. I have other homemaking books, but this is the only one that comes to mind that talks about the Lord and takes us back to our relationship with the Lord. I appreciate this more than anything.

In the busyness of life these days, I welcome a book that points me to Jesus Christ, but that also encourages me in my calling as a wife and mother- as a homemaker. I am blessed, indeed, and Queen of the Castle reminded me of that blessing. Thank you, Mrs. Walker, for a lovely book.

Today has been such a LOVELY day!! This is the kind of weather that I am SURE Heaven has all the time! :)

We woke up to cool weather. A cup of hot coffee felt mighty good in our hands this morning. After Miss E's morning nap, we headed off to meet some friends for lunch. By the time lunch was over, it had warmed up and the sky has been soooo blue with beautiful puffy white clouds scattered about. There is a breeze blowing and you can hear the birds chirping "Glory to God! Glory to God!!". If you stand in the sun, you'll get too hot, but on our back porch, it felt juuuust right.

Elizabeth and I decided to take the advice of Heather and Mrs. B and give my sad ferns a haircut and fertilize and water them good!! After that, little miss took her nap while I enjoyed the outside weather but from the INSIDE of my home- I opened the windows while I cleaned!! I LOVE having the windows open!! Not only does the house get a good "airing out" but I love the feeling of having the outside inside.

Such a lovely day, indeed!!

Have any of y'all watched "Dora the Explorer"? HAHA!! My title sounds just like something she would say!!! LOL!!!

Anyway... I DO need your help. Last October I posted about wintering ferns. I was SO excited and KNEW that I would be able to successfully keep my ferns big and beautiful all winter long.

Boy was I WRONG!!! They are brown and dead. Do y'all know of ANYTHING that I can do to help them? Are they doomed for the woods behind our house????

Any help y'all could give would be most welcomed!! :)

Today has been very productive so far!! Don't you just love days like that? Mr. U was able to be home a bit this morning and that allowed me to get some things done here while he watched Elizabeth.

So far today, I have mopped the kitchen and dining room, vacuumed the entire house, cleaned the master bathroom and that includes scrubbing the walls in the shower!!! Woohoo! You know, now that I have typed that out, it doesn't look like I've done much, but believe me, it IS!! I just have two loads of laundry to do later this afternoon after I get back from running errands. Aaaahhh, I LOVE getting my home into shape.

I love taking care of my family. I love making our house a home. Thank you, Lord, for letting me have my dream job- a wife, mother and homemaker. I am so blessed.

So why the roses at the top of this post? First of all, I think they are absolutely beautiful. They are called Queen Elizabeth and, of course, remind me of my Elizabeth. Secondly, they are just so feminine looking and I love having pretty, feminine things in my home. Next, they look so happy and bright and make me think my home is smiling after such a good cleaning. Last, they remind me of the Lord's kindness toward us to give us such lovely things and how I often don't take time to notice them. He is good and does good. Always.

So take some time today, if you can, to tidy up your home. Take some time to notice the gorgeous things the Lord has created around us that we often take for granted. But most of all, take some time to sit down with the Word and spend time with the Lord.

How many of y'all used to pour over the pages of Victoria Magazine? I know I did for years!! And suddenly... it was gone!!!

Alas!! I read today that in October of this year, it is making a reappearance!! Yippee!! I'll definitely be waiting in line at the newsstand to get a copy!!

I am so blessed. My sister and sister-in-law hosted a baby shower for Elizabeth Saturday. It was wonderful to see some dear old friends (not in "age", I've just known them for awhile!! LOL!!!) and to see some of my mom's sweet friends, too!!

We already have sooooo many things for Elizabeth so I requested that gifts not be for her, but for the orphanage that Elizabeth lived in in China. They are in need of 6-9 month sleepers that snap, are long-sleeved and have no feet in them. Believe it or not, they CAN be found!!!! We left the shower with LOTS AND LOTS of sweet little sleepers!!! We will get them in the mail to China this coming weekend. When we found out that the orphanage had a need, we definitely wanted to help out. They really did take great care of Elizabeth and it's just a teeny way to say "thank you"!!!


There was a lot of really good food at the shower and I defintely ate more than my share!! LOL!! But y'all would have, too, if you had tasted the chicken salad that my sister-in-law made!! It's the BEST chicken salad I think I've ever had!! YUMMM!! Here's the recipe... enjoy!!!

Pecan Chicken Salad

1 - 20 oz. can crushed pineapple
1 - 11 oz. can mandarin orange segments
1/2 cup grapes (slice with food processor)
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups cooked chicken (shred with food processor)
1/2 cup celery (slice with food processor)
1/4 cup pecans (crushed)
1/4 cup green onions (slice with food processor)
1/2 cup mayonnaise or Miracle Whip

Drain pineapple and oranges very well. Combine remaining ingredients. Fold in fruit. Spoon onto salad greens or serve with your favorite bread or roll.

(In the photo up top, Elizabeth is being held by my dad.)

I was tagged by Jthemilker so here goes. This may be a bit more than you ever cared to learn about me. :)

Here's how it goes:
Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their seven things, as well as these rules. You need to choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog!

1)I HATE HATE HATE seafood. All kinds. Canned tuna fish. Even fish sticks. YUCK-O!!! And duck fits into this category because they swim IN THE WATER!!!

2)When I eat pretzels, I MUST scrape all the salt off before I eat them. And no, I can’t just buy the unsalted ones. They taste too plain. LOL!!! SERIOUSLY!!!!

3)Whenever I vacuum our home, I HAVE TO vacuum in the exact same order each time (as in spare bedroom first, Elizabeth’s room next, Joshua’s room, then the hall, etc…). And I MUST see those vacuum lines!!!!

4)I’ve lived in Georgia my entire life.

5)I failed the test for my learner’s license 2 times. We were allowed to miss 5 questions and the first time I missed 7, the second time I missed 6 and the last time I took it I only missed 5 and was the proud recipient of a learner’s license!!!!

6)I am claustrophobic (but didn’t realize just how bad it was until I stepped on that plane for the LOOOOOOOONG flight to China!!!! Oh dear!!!).

7)I am not a chocoholic, I am a SWEETOHOLIC!!!

Please consider yourself tagged:


Melissa

Susan P.

Amanda Grace

Kelli

Kim

Tammy

Chrissy

It’s mid-afternoon here in our home and I’ve got laundry in both the dryer and the washing machine and I’m about to pull a pan of brownies out of the oven. I can hear a very faint noise coming from the master bedroom. What is it? I step in to listen and discover that I left the nursery monitor on. I can hear little Miss Elizabeth in her room giggling and “talking” (she’s supposed to be napping! LOL!!). What is it about baby gibberish that just melts your heart?

I had no idea that being a mother of a little one could make my heart so full of love that I feel like it could almost pop with joy!!! I had no idea that when she cried, I would cry, too!! I had no idea that such a tiny little person could have me so completely wrapped up in her.

This is love.

Hmmmm.... where have you seen this apron before???? That's RIGHT!!!!! You saw it on Tammy's Times!!!!

I am the blessed friend that received this apron!!! Isn't it just lovely?? And it's even PRETTIER in person than it is in the photograph!! Oh, and let me tell you, there is not one mistake in this apron- I LOOKED!!! Tammy is an excellent seamstress, indeed!!!

When it came in the mail yesterday, I immediately put it on and said, "I just HAVE to cook something right now!!!"

If y'all haven't noticed, she recently opened an Etsy shop. OOOHHH!! I can't wait to see all the beautiful things she'll have in there!!!

Thank you soooooooooo much, Tammy!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!

I want to give a big Big BIG THANK YOU to all of y'all that emailed me and/or left comments on my post about "Where have I been?"!!! Y'all are the BEST!!! I've already starting incorporating MANY of your ideas and am SOOO very grateful for them!!!

I currently have an Asian chicken dish (which I made up and might not be any good at all!!! HAHA!!) in the crock pot (which I doubled, thank you very much, y'all, for sharing that tip!!!). I just have to whip up some really quick rice before sitting down for our meal.

We've gone on SEVERAL walks now, too, with Elizabeth in the stroller!! And Mr. U has been able to join us!! We haven't been "exercise walking" (I'm sure there's a term for that)...we've just been strolling along but we are outside and we are moving, so I guess that counts as exercise, right? Plus, Elizabeth LOVES it!!!

I had been putting Elizabeth in the high chair while I tried to cook, her patience didn't last long. So I employed y'all's idea of giving her her own "cooking utensils"!!! She LOVES banging spoons and bowls!! Storage space is at a very minimium in our home, so I probably won't be able to clear a space of her own to use, but I can definitely make sure that she has her "cooking utensils" near her when we get in the kitchen!!! Thank you all for that suggestion!

And yes, I've been doing things during her naptime, too! Today she slept 2 hours during her morning naptime and played in her crib for 30 minutes after she woke up!! I had time to get the crockpot going, boil some eggs, cook sweet potatoes, steam broccoli, make bread, do two loads of laundry and do dishes, too!!! What a blessing!! Now... I just need to get that master bathroom cleaned... :)

Oh... before I forget... a sweet friend (thank you, Gretchen!!!) sent me the book called Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron. WOW!! I LOVE this book!!! I'm not incorporating all her ideas, but am doing many of the things she suggests. That's why I hard boiled eggs and cooked sweet potatoes and steamed broccoli!! I put the sweet potatoes and broccoli, after cooking and cooling, into ice cube trays to freeze. I now have cubes of fresh, homemade baby food for Elizabeth!! After they are frozen completely, I will take them out of the ice cube trays, put them in zip loc bags, label them and pull them out to thaw as needed! Ms. Yaron gives directions on how to freeze lots and lots of wonderful foods for your baby. This book is really wonderful and I am very thankful to be able to give my little sweetheart delicious and nutritious foods!!!


Again, thank you all soooo very much for your help, encouragement and prayers!! Even though I only know most of y'all through this bloggity world, y'all are very dear to me, indeed!!

I recently stumbled upon this blog entitled Especially Heather. Funny how you stumble upon blogs. Anyway, it was obviously God ordained that I go there. Heather needs prayer. Big time. Would you PLEASE remember her and her family in prayer? And if the Lord so leads, please visit BooMama to help financially.

For everyone that's been asking where I have been, thank you!! I have been right here, just a few feet from my computer, with little Miss Elizabeth. She's a bundle of energy and I LOVE every minute of it! She's a bigger blessing than I ever dreamed!!!

I've been TRYING to figure out a schedule for myself this week. I mean, I REALLY need to get this house in better order and I really REALLY need to cook more nutritious meals!! Poor Mr. U has been so kind in eating whatever it is that I can slap together really quickly. I am trying my best to learn to cook with a little one so close.

I've also got to figure out how to get some exercising in!! Just this morning, I was able to hop on the treadmill for 2 miles, but that's only because Mr. U happened to be home at the time! Is it possible to walk on the treadmill with an 11 month old nearby?? Or do I just try to do it while she naps??

I know I will figure most of this our over time, but in the meantime, any advice from y'all would be MOST appreciated- everything from quick, nutritious meals to what to do with a baby while you are exercising!!!

Thank you!!!

Spring has sprung around here!!! Yes, even in the midst of freezing temps revealing itself around parts of the South, we still have some lovely plants growing in our yard and I am SOOO excited about it!!!

Would you please join me for a quick turn around our yard?

I plant petunias every year in the front of our house. They are annuals and never ever come back. I was pleasantly surprised to walk out our back door recently and discover these beautiful smiley petunias!! How they got there... only the birds know!!

Here is some Carolina Jasmine. I planted two last summer and I didn't even know that they bloomed!! I bought them because they smell so lovely. I can't wait to smell their sweet perfume!!!

I just LOVE irises! They are so old-fashioned PLUS they grow so nicely right under our bedroom window. I have yellow, white and purple (both light and dark purple) planted but so far only the darker purple has bloomed.

These are some new leaves on one of my hydrangea bushes!! Oh how I love my hydrangeas!! I have two planted on either side of my front porch. They get bigger and bigger each year and I look forward to seeing how big they will grow this summer!!!


This is the new growth on some oriental lillies I planted last Spring. I planted 25 of them and only about 12 grew last year (and only 2 bloomed!!). It looks like all 25 are already growing this year and I purchased 25 more to plant! I can't wait to see all the lovely blooms and have them to clip and bring indoors to brighten our home!!!

This is my lavender plant. It hasn't grown very quickly, so I'm not sure I have it planted in the best place. I did get some blooms last year and was able to smell that lovely, calming lavender scent.

Here is the beginning of one of my hostas peeking through the soil!! I just love hostas- they are easy to care for, come back year after year and grow so pretty and green each summer!
Thank you for touring my garden with me. I can't wait to invite you all back when everything is in full bloom!!

I am sloooooowly getting used to cooking with a wee one around. I must admit, I have new admiration for mothers of young ones. I never knew just how hard it is to accomplish tasks with small children nearby. I am constantly worrying "Will this harm Elizabeth?".

I decided to forge ahead and bake some cookies for my family. Aw, and let's face it, cookies are just FUN to make!! I decided to make some Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. YUM! The cookie dough is my FAVORITE part, but the end result is quite tasty, too!! I sat Elizabeth in her high chair and explained step-by-step to her exactly what I was doing when making cookies. It was ADORABLE when she started licking her lips! LOL!! I told her "I'm sorry honey, but you can't have this yet. One day, though, you will be diving into cookie dough for sure!!" She just smiled.

Yummy!! Cookie dough!!!!


Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 sticks butter, softened
1 ½ cups light brown sugar
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 ¼ cup peanut butter (smooth or crunchy, whichever your family prefers)
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 ½ cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
10 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

Combine butter and sugars and mix well. Stir in eggs and mix well. Add peanut butter, corn syrup and vanilla and stir till well-combined. Add in ½ of the flour and all of the baking soda and salt. Stir until well combined. Stir in the rest of the flour. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by rounded tablespoons on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 9-13 minutes. Be sure and watch your cookies carefully so that they do not burn!!

I use two different pans when baking cookies and each one cooks so differently so I always keep a close eye on my cookies while still in the oven!!

For years, I have read websites and blogs about the Ergo baby carrier. Everyone touted it as being "the best". Last year, in anticipation of Elizabeth, I bought one. It sat in my bedroom for an entire year until we got to leave for China. My sister-in-law has a another brand of a baby carrier and told me "It's too much trouble and your back hurts SOOO bad even after just a few minutes!! Trust me, just buy a stroller." So, being the kind of person who refuses to give in (read "stubborn"), I took the Ergo with me anyway, thinking "Well, she had a different brand than my Ergo!!"

The first full day of Elizabeth being with us, our guides in China took us to a huge department store where we could buy any baby things that we needed (formula, clothes, bottles, etc). We had already rented a stroller from a nearby store, so Elizabeth was sitting happily in the stroller. There were SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO (can't emphasize that enough) many people in and around that store!! I mean, we were in the 5th largest city in China!!! I was incredibly nervous about Elizabeth. Was I worried that someone would take her out of the stroller? No, because I made sure she was securely fastened in. I was worried that someone would take Elizabeth AND the stroller!!!!!

So the next outing we went on, I knew I needed to try out the Ergo. It fit my body perfectly (and I'm a plus sized girl!!!) and Elizabeth was very happy to be nestled up close to Mommy. I did have a bit of trouble getting it on by myself, so Mr. U helped me. We went to some stores and walked around for a good bit in VERY crowded areas. Not once did my back hurt!! Not once did I worry that someone would steal Elizabeth!!! She was snuggled up close and content as could be. I fell in love with my Ergo and wore it lots more in China!!!

Since we've been home, I've discovered how wonderful it is to wear Elizabeth even when I'm vacuuming! I just pop her in the Ergo and we start vacuuming together and she LOVES it!! I will constantly talk to her and tell her what we are doing and why we are doing it. She just smiles and laughs the entire time. Oh, and I've figured out how to use it by myself now, too. I can get her in and out of it no problem!!

This Ergo has been a blessing!!! If you have ever considered getting one, you should! My back doesn't hurt while wearing her (it doesn't hurt after, either). And I get the joy of holding my daughter close. How wonderful!!!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE bread!!! Other than bacon frying, fresh bread baking in the oven is the most mouth-watering smell. YUMMMMM...

Years ago, I came across the best recipe for French bread. Not only do I use it for French bread loaves, but I also use it for my pizza dough!! It does great double duty work for our family!!

French Bread
1 1/2 cups warm water
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 cups bread flour
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. sugar
2 1/2 tsp. yeast

I place everything in my bread maker, set it on "dough" cycle and let it go. After the "dough" cycle is done, I take the dough out, divide it into two even sections and shape them into French bread loaves and place on my bread pan. I use my sharpest kitchen knife and make little "slashes" across the top to allow the bread to rise even more. Then I set it in the oven to rise for 1 hour (I let it rise in the oven because it is a draft free place). When the hour is up, I bake the bread in the oven for 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Now... if you do not have a bread maker, you can easily mix the ingredients by hand and then knead the dough for about 10 minutes. Let it rise for 30 minutes in a greased bowl, punch it down, knead it again for about 5 more minutes and let it rise again until double in size. Then divide the dough into two even sections... and go from there in my original directions.

You can also lightly brush a beaten egg across the top of the loaves just before you bake them and they will have a beautiful golden shine to them. I often will do this when I make bread to take somewhere.

For pizza: Make the dough according to directions. You can either divide the dough into two even sections and shape into two "thin crust" pizzas OR you can use the entire amount of dough for a "deep dish" style pizza.

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