This "Dip" is more than corn...it's addictive!

One of my favorite holiday/picnic "starter" is corn fiesta dip...this is not a normal dip you usually see but it is addictive...once people take a couple of bites...they keep coming back for more...serve with tortilla chips.!  It is best to make a couple of hours before to let the flavors blend...enjoy!

Corn Fiesta Dip

2 large cans of Mexi corn (drain out water)

1/4 cup of green onions chopped finely

1/4 cup of jalapenos chopped

2 cup of Monterey Jack/Colby cheese shredded(bag is fine)

2 to 3 shakes of Mortens or Lawrys seasoned salt

*Mayo to stick--little as possible but just enough

-Mix together and put in frig till ready to serve!

I use to make this for Bunco and literally everyone would be around it talking!

Happy Labor Day!

Black Iron "Beauty"

I have been known to drive around my neighborhood and look at houses.  There is one house that I do the "drive by" often(ask my kids)...it is truly beautiful and some great ideas.  When my mom was in town...we drove by it and on their driveway was this beautiful iron table with chairs where the garbage is put for the next day.  After talking with the lady outside, they were THROWING IT OUT!  So we took it!  

I fixed it up with some black paint where it was chipped and it has a special "home" by our pool. It is so heavy and sturdy!  I was truly excited b/c I seem to never find those great "things" at the the thrift or yard sales!    It was truly a special "find"!

School Bells Are Ringing...

About five "postings" ago,  I mentioned that we had a hard decision to make and it was a hard one, indeed!  We have decided to put our two older kids back at the private school.  There are MANY reasons that surround this decision.  

 I feel peace about this decision and the kids love everything about school and always have. They have been blessed with wonderful teachers this year. There is a part of me that is sad that we didn't try "home schooling" this year because we see so many benefits and blessings in this type of "education".  Well, I am not going to bore you with more of my ramblings! This decision fits the season of life we are in for our family!  I pray for them daily as they go...

We miss you..thanks for a great trip(wish it was "home")!

Well, something that Works-For-Me is my big BINDER of everything.  I do have the day timer that I use for dates and scheduling.  But this binder holds everything else.  Let's just say that if there was a fire and my family was safe...I may come back after and try to grab my Big Binder. 

You need the biggest binder possible...NO 1 inch or 2 inch...the mega one!  After that you need to buy clear sleeves and dividers. 

 

I have my first divider that states "Phone numbers"...then behind that I put all those school, church, cub scout, soccer team rosters and phone numbers in their individual clear sheet.  My next divider is "Business cards"  (I bought the clear sheets that hold business cards) and I have a ton of cards collected that I need and refer to often from hair, plumber to lawn service.  Then it continues....I even have a divider that says "Restaurants"...I have clear sheets of restaurant menus and coupons.  It's easy and quick and everything is in ONE PLACE and not here and there and over there in that BASKET!

Some other divider ideas is ....things around the town, doctor information for family, mailing (stamps, stickers), kid activities (put information collected from their sports, soccer, clubs).

Have fun with it...it's endless!

This Little Light of Mine

I love "lights"...night lights, flickering lights...it makes everything feel "cozy". Especially when Fall seems to be around the corner, I love little lights even more.  I have them in my laundry room, guest room, bathrooms and all over my kitchen/family room area.

There is the sweetest little shoppe in my area that has some great unique items to buy. She has all different types of lights that people have made.  My mom bought me one last week that is in a simple glass jar with a candle light in it.  I bought some cute little pumpkins to put at the base. I can fill it up with all different types of things for each holiday like candy corn, valentine hearts, stones, shells...it's endless girls!  Literally, you could take anything and make a simple light out of it..a hole was drilled out of the bottom and it's fire-proof. 

A light can make any plain area.. more special and inviting!  What do you do with decorative lights?  Share your  ideas...

Our New Sport

    We have spent many, many hours at different practices from soccer, baseball, swimming, basketball and more.... Now the kids are taking golf lessons from a "pro" at a local golf club.  I have to say I have never seen my husband so excited for any other sport...they leave early and come home much later.  He loves to be on the golf course or the driving range so it has been fun having the two oldest join him.  My son just got his new clubs and he pampers them, stares at them almost short from "hugging" them each day!

My husband and I both agree that the sport of  golf is a great sport that will serve them well even as an adult.  Not many adults in the business world go and play a round of soccer after a business meeting:(!    

It's In The Air...

Last September I went to the Country Living Magazine Fall fair in Ohio.  I remember that tons of people were doing really fun things with "sticks with orange berries"...on the mantel, in baskets, floral arrangements with candles etc.  Well, this is our first fall in our new house and I look out my window yesterday and realize I have those orange berry sticks!  Hoorah!  Now I am stumped on what to do with these sticks!  I may dry them...bend them...I guess it's endless and in some way enhance my fall decor!  Any ideas? I know it's still August but fall is in the air for me already...can anyone say "pumpkin spice"?  

Free Me From the Doubt...

Honestly, the last thing right now I want to do is write about anything...this past week we had to make some hard decisions.  With those hard decisions, there is sadness but yet a peace...there is a yearning for "rest" and comfort but a lot of hard work and change ahead. Now is not the time to write about it specifically or maybe not ever.  However, a dear friend sent me this poem this morning and I want to share it with you all...

My hands pressed together palm to palm,

My eyes looking on darkness praying for the calm.

A storm has entered my life,

With crushing waves of painful strife.

I pray, Lord, free me from my doubt,

and let the tide gently roll out.

So I can see the footprints in the sand, 

and know that you are holding my hand.

"All About You"-Homeschool Memoirs Weekly Theme

Our first assignment...
Well, this is our first year home schooling and it has gone well.  This was our first week and I am still double guessing our decision from christian school to home school.  We chose to home school for many reasons but to strengthen the relationships with my kids, Biblical based education with a classical emphasis, character training (for kids and mom) and so many more.

     I have been married for 12 years.  I taught second grade, sixth grade and special education in Virginia and Ohio.  I loved teaching and always wanted to be a teacher since I was a little girl. So home schooling fits my personality b/c I love the "school" thing!

  I enjoy scrapbooking especially when I am caught up:)!  I love to shop  and love a good Fall fair!  We moved this past year so it has been a BIG change for us but I love to spend time with friends and do family outings.  

            I enjoy cooking(when I feel like it) and trying new recipes.  Buying cookbooks is a hobby of mine especially if they have great pictures.  I love Paula Deen and the Food Network. Besides cooking, I love to decorate my home but I do get stumped and go months and months withough doing anything to my home.  However, I love to 

decorate with French Country, reds, black and

 creamy white.

I love the smells of Fall and cool breezes at night.  I am very excited to pull out the pumpkins and fall-scented candles.  I enjoy all the holidays right down to Valentines day and love all the special traditions that go with them.

               Organizing my closet, drawers and I guess my entire home...gives me a thrill of excitement.  Ikea has become a new favorite store b/c I love all the organizing bins...they warm my soul!

         Well, I guess that about ends it..something about me is that I NEVER thought I would be writing on a home school blog but here I am.  The Lord directs our lives in areas we thought we would never be.

Two Days of Homeschooling complete...whew!

Wow...I have such a new found respect for all those women I have known who home schooled through the years...it carries with "it" every emotion possible all during the day. One of my favorite blogs "www.pagesofourlife.blogspot.com" asked to see what a "day" of homeschooling looks like. So here we go, however, next week after adding classical conversations it may be completely different!

I start with the "hard stuff"...smile!  I am "picky" about my coffee because I do NOT like the coffee I make at home. However, I am not heading out to Starbucks before my husband leaves so Diet Mt. Dew it is!

My kids have to be dressed and all their morning activities and eat breakfast before 8:25 then we are off to the classroom...8:30a.m.

We begin our day with prayer/Bible time(memory verse), journal writing and go over Classical Conversation work/memory. After, we begin our Math block and then Reading/phonics/spelling block with a snack time between(this is my kids favorite time!).We finish up with "penmanship".

(My daughters journal..,first day in first grade)

This brings us to about 12:00 and then we have lunch and play.  At 1:00, we will come back and do our Science/Social Studies Block..."The Body" is our first science unit to go with Classical Conversations. My son is doing our state history/government class.  We will tie up all our loose ends with this.  My one daughter is done but my son will be doing his "Essentials" work for the week and Co-op class assignments. 

My kids are thrilled to start the co-op because they will be doing gym classes, art class, Spanish class and Hands on Science/Ohio History. 

Our schedule is a little busier than I would like with extra- activities at night but we will see how it goes. 

After all this, I am done and would like to lay on this But I remember...

I need to get ready for the next day.  Each "next" day I am so excited to do something different..throw in an extra activity, a "special" art project, read an exciting book and see my children build relationships with one another.  This is one of the biggest reasons why I home schooled. I saw the "division" of my kids with one another after school. Peer relationships were becoming more important than family.  This is already a "seen" blessing!

Heart of the Matter Topic For This Week...books!

This week's topic from Heart of the Matter is talking about our favorite books or curriculum. That is hard for me because I could have a lot of favorites.  This year for our Bible we are doing the "Pilgrims Progress" curriculum by Answers in Genesis.  It comes with full-length text, cds with the story on it, discussion questions, character analyses and unit study.  It could be from highschool down to young elementary.  You can go as deep as you want!  I am excited about it because it really portrays the Christian life with it's ups and downs!  

Our first verse for the first week of school from this curriculum is "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 3:15

What do you do for Bible?

Can I eat dinner in my Laundry Room?

We moved last year and had to sell a house that I decorated with red walls and toile wallpaper. Well, in this type of market, we ended up re-painting and having all the wallpaper taken down to make it "neutral"!  So in our new house I have been careful with what I choose. However, I had to have one red room and this time I did the laundry room...

I accented the laundry room with black and white decor down to pillows...Yes...Pillows in a laundry room!  I bought this cute "cubby" with three baskets from HL and accented it with some fun pillows.  The gold letters behind are the initials of my kids and they use the baskets under the their letter.

I love black and white pictures and try to place them anywhere I can.  I bought this cute rooster tassel at the "nestingplacenc"blog.  I bet she never thought it was going in a laundry room! 

Some mornings the sun shines so nicely in this room...I just want to brew a cup of tea and sit  in here.  However, reality hits me quickly and remember that I have a lot to do in this laundry room called wash and fold clothes! But, decorating this room has made laundry more enjoyable..hee hee!

Happy Wordless Wednesday

Glad it is "Wordless Wednesday" because I have a lot of this to do....

And even MORE of this...

Probaly been doing too much of this...

 And continue to do more of this...

Simple Things Bless A Day!

This past month, I have been on an organizing "frenzy" and it has begun in the kid's room. I literally come up with my garbage bags, baskets and bins to clean and organize from top to bottom.  We start in one corner of the room and go in a clockwise direction and nothing is left untouched from closet, drawers, baskets and the "UNDER THE BED"!  

Honestly, if you came to my house, my kids rooms are organized and neat most of the time.  But, it's amazing how things from our playroom in the basement creep up to the second floor and the rooms are jammed pack with stuff!

I did my son's room today.  His room is kept fairly organized and clean.  However, my son claims to LOVE everything and cannot part with anything.  Hmmmm...who does that sound like?  I have a hubby who cannot get rid of any piece of clothing and at last resort will tell me it would be a good painting shirt!  So we slowly are organizing my son's room and it always amazes me that he had sweatpants and t-shirts from years ago...he says they are comfy!  

Well, in the depths of the dark closet, there was the red Superman cape from his pajamas. He was delighted to see it...like a reunion with an old friend!  He quickly tied it around him and insisted on keeping it.  In that moment, it was great to see that he would wear it and I had a glimpse of my "little" boy who really is not little anymore. After, we folded it up and it's again in the closet. I wonder if we come across it next time this year...will he tie it around him again?

Happy Birthday, Sweetie!   

Cup of Tea for Three

Happy Birthday, Sunshine!    

We went to a special tearoom and had "high noon" tea with "S" for her birthday!  She loves tea especially when it comes with little sugar cubes.  The tearoom let the girls pick out a "tea" hat...there were so many beautiful hats . "S" loves English Breakfest tea with sugar and cream but the chocolate sundae put it over the "top". What a wonderful day with the girls!

               

Blog Vacation !

Hi Everyone!  I am taking a break from blogging...Have a great first full week in August!

Heart Of The Matter: Thoughts of Future Memes...

I am new to home schooling so I would love to see more ideas and topics on...

* Classroom setup in your home with pictures??

* Activities you do during the summer to keep them motivated??

* Keeping grades or not??

* Typical day or home school schedule?

* What has being involved in a Co-op meant to you and your kids?

* How do you balance being a mom and "the teacher"?

* How do you keep your HOUSE CLEAN?

* What jobs or chores do your kids do in the morning to get your day started?