I Could Survive on Bread Alone

With that said, I would never make it on the Akin's diet.  Never.  I love carbs.  When I had gestational diabetes with Little Miss, it was like a knife to my heart.  It limited every little thing I loved about eating.  Bread. Desserts. Bread. Fruit. Bread.  Okay, you get it.  I love bread. A lot.  And because I love bread a lot, I always have a fresh loaf of french bread in my house. Always.  What do I do with all that french bread you ask?  Well, I slice it up and serve it with the majority of my meals.  One of my favorite ways is Honey Butter Bread.  I'm telling you, cooking (if you can even call it that) has never been so easy. 

• Slice the loaf of french bread into 1/2 inch slices.
• Spread a thin layer of butter on each slice.
• Drizzle honey on each piece of buttered bread.
• Spread honey evenly on buttered bread.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 5-7 minutes.

Told you it was easy!

Happy Cooking!

This Is the Day That the Lord Has Made

You know the rest...I will rejoice and be glad in it.

That was my mantra yesterday.  Not because I was rejoicing for rejoicing sakes, but just the opposited. I NEEDED to repeat it.   I NEEDED that reminder.  The Terrible Threes hit our house yesterday.  After 2 1/2 hours of straight disciplining, I needed a reminder that no matter how bad things seem to get I have still been given this day to rejoice. 

Later in the day, life got better for me and Little Man, and all the kids had a moment like this...

A nice quiet moment.  A nice moment of calm after a gigantic storm.

A Sneak Peek

Although I'm not ready to 'show' my entire house (I'm not sure that day will come), I do have some little things that can be shared....

This is one of my favorite pieces in the house.  It's about 5 feet long and 3 feet tall.  I had not a clue how I wanted to do the living room, but when I saw this piece it gave me some direction.  It has every color that really makes me feel, well....ahhhhhhhh.....

Next up, the front porch.  The bench is small for the actual space, but it's the coolest bench ever.  Super rustic looking and sturdy.  We need sturdy.

If you walk in my front door, you'll find this picture along with a little table...

This next pic has a story.  A story of attempted frugalness and major defeat.   A picture that I absolutely love.  My favorite picture in the house.  It sums up exactly how we are as a family.  It says...

Notice the 'disclaimer' at the bottom.  "...when happiness is actually a choice."  I found that amusing, because happiness is always a choice just not to a 3 year old.  What I did not find amusing was the little scratch on the 'C' at the bottom.  I asked the store if they discounted damaged items.  They didn't. So I put it back, and asked what they did with their damaged products.  "Well, if they don't sell we damage them out and throw them away." Disgusting. Completely disgusting and wasteful.  I purchased my other items and walked out.  Buying a damaged product at full price goes against every grain in my body.  Not my husband's though.  He loved it.  Therefore the whip got cracked and I had to go back and get it.  Now that it's up, I'm glad he was really adamant about getting it.  I love it. Damage and all!

Now for the Master Bedroom & Bath...

As the years goes on, and I do mean years, I'll show a little more.  It will take me that long to get this house put together.  Maybe even decades...

Freebies

When I first started this whole couponing thing, the websites that I follow always posted links on ways to get free samples of products.  I thought it was a waste of time.  Having a ton of little bottles here and there would be annoying, right?  Right.  Wait, wrong!  Recently, I started filling out the online forms to get free samples.  Not only do I get mail other than bills cool stuff in the mail, but the free samples often come with high value coupons.

Here's a few things I've received in the last couple of weeks...

See what I mean?  Sometimes, you even get full size products to try, or coupons for a completely free full size item.  Are you convinced yet?  Yes?  Okay, here's a few places to get you started...

Vocal Point 

Signing up is free and easy.  From this site alone I have received 2 sample packs of Pampers, a full size bottle of Dove Intense Hair Repair, a full size bottle of Pantene Nature Fusion shampoo, and 2 sample packs of Pantene Mr. Right shampoo and conditioners.  Each sample also came with multiple coupons for the product I was trying.

Kraft First Taste

Signing up is also free.  This is where I got coupons for a free full size Mayo with Olive Oil and the Philidelphia Cream Cheese Minis.  I've also received great coupons for Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon, lunch meat, and a few other items I can't quite remember right now.  The children suck out all of my brain cells.  Just a fact.

One last thing...if you are a facebook person, do a search for Mojo Savings.  They post all kinds of daily deals and freebies.  It's a really easy way to be in the know in the coupon world.

Happy Couponing!

Oops!

For the most part, I've got it together.  Very organized and scheduled.  I like my routine, and I like being on top of things.  Sometimes, though, I drop the ball.  And when the ball gets dropped, it gets dropped big time.  I've got a perfect case in point.

The elementary school I taught at had a weekly program called Rise and Shine.  It was a time for the entire school to meet in the gym Friday mornings for announcements and rewards.  A time where we celebrated children's successes.  One class would lead the entire assembly and then do a little performance.  Pretty cool.  Pretty cool, if you remember that YOUR class is supposed to lead.  Pretty embarrassing if you don't.  Especially if it's your first year of teaching.  Your very first year.

I was just sitting there in the cafegymatorium (cafeteria/gymnasium/auditorium) wondering why there was not a class up there ready to begin.  It was 8:30 by gosh.  I had things to get started on.  Geez!  What poor planning.  As I was sitting there stewing over the waste of time, the assistant principal walks up to me and asks if it was my week to do Rise and Shine.  "Not this week, Mrs. K.  I've got it next Friday."

She leaves and returns with the master calendar, and there in red ink is my name on the calendar.  Ink that was clearly written with my own hand.  I dropped the ball.  To make matters worse, the entire school knew I dropped the ball.

Thank goodness I worked with such kind and understanding people.  Up until the last year of teaching, several teachers would call to remind me when I had Rise and Shine.  Just in case I wrote it down on my own personal calendar incorrectly.  Those buttheads!  I guess I deserve it though.  I'm just as ornery.

Water Babies

I absolutely love summertime.  I love the sun.  I love wearing less clothes (which means less laundry).  I love pool time.  Turns out the kids do too.  Little Miss likes the water a little too much.  She'll jump right in whether you're watching or not.  She doesn't care if she goes under.  That's the fun of it for her.  Scares me to death.  I have yet to find a water safety device that she's comfortable wearing.

Now Little Man, he's much more cautious.  Always has been (thank the Good Lord).  He loves to swim though.  He's not quite getting the moving his arms with his feet yet, but he can kick around in his floatie ring like Micheal Phelps.

Wisp Clips Winner

And the winner is...

Jennifer Lin Paschal

Congrats!  I'll get in touch with you so you can get your loot!

Now, most of you know I'm a real simple person.  I like simple things.  I also like bright colors contrasting with darks.  Naturally, I would make these Bright Flower Wisp Clips for my Little Lady.

Introducing the Bright Flower Wisp Clips

{$2 each}

Happy Clipping!