Age Spot

I was going to say..."It's Monday already...but it's already Tuesday. Life right now is Crazy...I honestly feel like I need to be other places....giving attention to other things than my computer so bear with me.

Yesterday, I went to Caribou coffee....mmm...remember I am a starbucks girl! I just needed something cold and with caffeine plus light. As I stood at the counter, my hands looked like little specks of chocolate or something was on it...so I tried to wipe it off. But, it would NOT come off!

The YOUNG lady behind the counter said "Do you need a wet paper towel for your hands? " I explained to her that something is on my hand but can't figure what I got on it. She took one quick look and said...."Those are Freckles...well, maybe for you they call them AGE spots".

I was completely speechless....Speechless!Really speechless considering I am turning one year older next week {not dealing to well with that}.

But, she is so right....they are NOT coming off...they are not a true freckle but a rounded shaded small AGE spot...I even googled it. I remember my grandmother use to have them! I even read about a lady who put foundation on her hands to cover them but then realized she needed to "embrace" her spots. Embrace????

Hand foundation is sounding pretty good right now~

Well, I would normally post pictures....but not of my hands...I guess I will of my Caribou coffee~!

How is your week going? Finding any weird spots on your hands??

I am ready to pick up "shells" and put them in MY pocket...summer come quick!

"Stir and Season" Saturday

"Stir and Season" Saturday

Good Morning! I am about to leave for an all day Scrapping and I am ready for a great breakfast~ French Toast Strata. I believe I received this recipe years ago in a playgroup...it is perfect with hot syrup and fresh fruit on the side~

French Toast Strata

2 loaves Italian Bread...cut into cubes

2 8oz cream cheese...cut into cubes

1 dozen eggs

2 cups milk

1/3 syrup

Cube bread, and place 1/2 of those in the bottom of 9 by 13 pan; Cube the cheese and put on top of the bread; Add the other 1/2 of bread. Beat the eggs with the milk and syrup. Pour over the bread; Cover and frig overnight!

Bake uncovered at 375 for 45 minutes the next morning. Serve with syrup.

Enjoy!

Seeing Rain~

You sign your kids up for all types of things...SPORTS, here! Every season...all year lonnnnggg! Then you look out your window and you seen rain~

Thinking to yourself "Yeah, No Practice!"...

Why do we do this? Sign them up and then get all excited when there is no practice.

Come on...you know we all do this~

Is the chicken decorated?

I have a "love hate" relationship with cooking. One week, I am cooking 3 course meals with the trimmings and the next week we are in the drive thru. My son has been going through a PICKY stage lately....when I tell him we are having chicken? He says...

Did you decorate it???

Which means...is it plain or does it have sauce and spices on it.

Honestly, the moment he says that....it puts me in a bad mood. I go into the whole "conversation" of how I have cooked all day for you...be thankful....there are starving people in the world...no dessert if you say one more comment.

Do you do this???

Lately, I have been considering my attitude and why I do what I do....

or this....

or that...

I can easily get in the "poor me" syndrome when I am faced with loads of laundry or after cooking a wonderful, hot meal....looking for compliments from my family and then realizing they have all left the table. {Okay...this is an all HONEST post...it's hard for me to write this but it's so true.}

A verse that I have put in my laundry room and over my dishwasher is...

"Whether, then, you eat of drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. " I Cor. 10:31

I have my {seasons of life} where I have to refocus on why I do what I do ~being careful to not fall into the "martyr syndrome"....

What about you....do you sometimes stick your head in the laundry basket and sing "Woest Me"?

My Home...Room By Room

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice....

Today, this post I am featuring my girl's room. My girl's rooms are full of stuff....I am always organizing...binning....tossing stuff...sometimes I wonder how it all "grows" more and more. I didn't even touch the whole "American Girl" area...that is a post all by "itself"...

There is something "magical" with my girls rooms...sometimes I will sit in their "tiny" chairs and watch them play. They both are full of imagination...one day their bedrooms are classrooms with them being the "teacher" and the next day it's a little "boutique" shop with fake money and old grocery bags full of stuff for shopping.

They have even been known to have a lemonade stand at the entrance of their room with "real" lemonade {water from the bathroom}.

Sometimes, after the girls are sleeping...I will sneak into their rooms and fix up their dollhouses. No, I am not "playing"...I am organizing...smile~

My girls and their spots...

One day...I will have to do a post on the nightstand drawers...it's amazing what I find....salt and pepper shakers...my jewerly....my lotion...calulators...q-tips...tons of papers...even old receipts...I think I have a couple "garbage" pickers on my hands~

It's Monday...let's laugh~

I have my Favorites...Starbucks being one of them and then Chick Fil A~

Ever had their sweet tea? We have one right down the road...my 4 year old calls it "Chick A lay". It could be "false feelings" but their indoor playground seems so clean and they have a sweet older lady who is always wiping and sweeping it. {You know you go too much when she knows your daughter's name.}

I saw this video on a friend's facebook and it made me laugh~ It's so true and yet that is so very sad indeed....

"Stir and Season" Saturday

Yesterday, was the first day of Spring... I already am digging through my summer recipes. I love easy and "make ahead" meals for summer. We are always on the go and the last thing I want is to have to come home and make a full dinner.

This is one of my favorite summer evening meals b/c I can make it ahead. These warm sandwiches are delightful and perfect with fresh fruit and handful of chips.

Baked Ham and Swiss Sandwiches

1/2 cup butter or margarine

2 T minced onion

1 T poppy seeds

1 T of Dijon mustard

1/2 t of worcestershire sauce

8 hamburger buns, split

16 ounce cooked ham

8 slices of Swiss cheese

Combine first 5 ingredients, stirring well. Spread butter mixture evenly on cut sides of hamburger buns. For each sandwich, place 2 slices of ham and 1 slice of cheese on bottom half of each bun; cover with top half of bun. Wrap each sandwich in aluminum foil.

To SERVE: Place aluminum foil wrapped sandwiches on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 20 to 25 minutes or until sandwiches are thoroughly heated and cheese is melted; Makes 8.

{I make these the night before then warm right before eating}

Enjoy!

Friday {Blog} Friday

It's 4:45p.m. in the afternoon! In less than one hour, we are off to two soccer practices...I am standing in front of my opened frig thinking ...."What's For Dinner?" This is a normal scenario for me more than I would like to admit.

However, it has been happening less since I found this amazing blog called...

Full Bellies, Happy Kids

{There is nothing like a home cooked meal to show your family how much you love them}

This blog is full of the most amazing recipes and guess what? You don't have to feel like you are Martha Stewart to accomplish it. She has the best family recipes from weeknight meals to amazing desserts.

She shares her amazing two week menu with recipes and pictures {I need pictures!}.

I love when she posts step by step directions on how to make certain dishes. Her pictures are amazing~ I actually feel like going to the grocery store and then coming home to cook(all before 4:45p.m.).

I have tried so many of her recipes and they are truly delicious {and easy!!!!}. After reading, this blog who needs the "Food Network"! This amazing lady started blogging with her family blog but her love for cooking needed a "spot" of it's own...Check this Lady out...you will never ask "What's for Dinner" again!

Thursday Thankful~Antibiotics and a mixer???

Well, the past week and a half we have been battling the dreaded infection..."strep"...ever had it?

It feels like 4 knives are scraping your throat and when you talk you almost choke. Thank goodness for modern medicine and antibiotics!

We have had at least one member taking an antibiotic and some times four people in my family taking antibiotics...it was hard to keep track! The hardest part was convincing my 4 year old that it does taste good...like bubble gum or cotton candy. She wasn't convinced but I enjoyed watching her "squish" up her little nose when she drank it...it made me giggle.

In midst of kids being home from school, I was pleasantly surprised when my doorbell rang and Fed Ex dropped off a package. My new Kitchen Aid mixer! Now I have to give MAJOR "kudos" to this company.

My old mixer has been broken a while~

I would fix it and then it would fall right off again. On Saturday, my husband called Kitchen Aid to see where we could get it fixed. After some time on the phone, we found out that our Kitchen Aid professional was RECALLED{five years ago} and they would send a new one right out!!!!! We were thrilled!It's like Christmas all over again in the middle of March.

Now that is customer service!!! So when I am again looking for some type of new kitchen "tool" if I have a choice b/t Kitchen Aid and some other brand....you know what I am buying!

This Thursday Thankful is all about companies that have great customer service and for that "thick" pink syrup my kids take that bring a smile back on their faces.

"On My Soapbox"

{a new theme feature}

On Sunday, my husband and I left church in a solemn mood...we were talking about the role of "church" in government. In our 'humble' opinion...there is no role "left"! The church has completely become silent all in the name of "feel good love " philosophy. Churches don't speak out on much anymore...

We have been reading that the American Revolution started and really "geared" up b/c the churches were speaking out so the people "acted" out what they heard from the pulpit...

To be completely honest, I am no activist and I really have no desire to be one. To be really honest, I would rather be talking to my girlfriend on the phone then calling my senators office {every week lately}...I would rather be "thrift and antique" shopping than going to rallies or protests.

However, like never before I have a heavy heart for our country and our children....our roots...our foundation....

Glenn Beck had a special on the "state" of our country. One thing that struck me the most is that he said "People need to start talking...talking together about what is going on." Start reading....reading about how this country began and WHY the forefathers did what they did b/c they knew this young country could self-destruct.

Driving home on Sunday...we decided to go downtown to a protest going on all over the country "Tea Parties"...it was jammed...packed! There were so many great signs and so many passionate people that love our country. People from all walks of life...incomes...professions....it was amazing.

It was refreshing~

I could go on and on but I want to know what you think....

How are you feeling about the our "country"? What direction do you see us heading towards?

Most important...have you thought about how YOU can get involved?

p.s. I also want to tell you about a new blog that has started...it is for conservative women...it is wonderful and mainly informative...important things to read! I urge all my readers to take the time and read this blog.....click here!

St.Patty's Morning Greeting...

Now...if you already don't think it...you certainly will think that I am CRAZY! First, you must know that I taught second grade for years every holiday was something to celebrate in my class. I loved St. Patty's Day.

I would mess up my classroom in the morning...put green paint on my fingertips and make little green footprints all over the classroom sprinkled with a dash of gold glitter. The kids would follow the trail and find chocolate coins on the way. At the end would be a letter from "Lonnie the Leprechaun" under a bright-made rainbow...plus a bucket of goodies.

Well, I still have a little fun with my kids. I do not put "paint" all over my house but I do tint the toilets "GREEN" with a little note. Why? the toilet...well, it's the first place my kids go in the morning. From there, they find clues to the chocolate gold coins ....It's great "green" fun! {Plus I do try to pinch them all before they put on their green shirts in the morning...smile!}

Oh...and what would St. Patty's day be without pancakes dyed green in the shape of a clover~

May the Irish hills caress you.

May her lakes and rivers bless you (Or bathroom water)

May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.
~Irish Blessing

p.s. Today, I just read probaly the best St. Patty's post EVER...go here!