Life Happens

I was doing so good, posting everyday, even sometimes twice in one day! But life happens and it certainly has this week and is the reason for my absence since last Sunday!

I've had to work a few more hours this week than normal since the manager is on vacation which leaves me busy catching up on housework during the day. I also went through a bout the first part of the week with extreme fatigue and fighting a chest cold but thank goodness it has passed.

We've also been busy working on getting our house sold back in Indiana. Lots and lots of back and forth conversations with our mortgage company and the realtor! David and I usually get one day a week that we are both not working and thought I might get some blog time while Elias played with Daddy. That plan was a no go as we spent the day running around making copies, getting things notarized, faxing, etc.

We have managed to make some much needed time to start having our family nights again. It was a special treat to have the weather warm enough to go the park. However, it appears we will be giving it up to submit to the freezing cold again in Kansas! Yes, I said Kansas! It appears David will be transferred the end of February. That has also kept us busy making plans for the big 17 hour move!

You can see I have good intentions for this blog but my family takes precedence as they should. I hope to get back in the swing of things soon. I will still be doing my giveaway for the $25 Visa card and two dinner kits this coming Tuesday, so make sure to enter!

DIY: Flour Tortillas

Okay so those who know me know I like to be domestic and try to be domestic. However, they also know the truth is I have had many more flops and failures than successes when it comes to various organizing attempts, home decor ideas and especially kitchen related projects.

Now that I'm home more though, I have become a bit more proficient in the culinary category and am a little more adventurous in my recipe choices.

I have also come to realize how much JUNK my family consumes in easy convenience foods. I'm not a huge health nut or anything, and am certainly not suggesting a ding-dong free diet. I do like the idea of recreating some of those convenience items here at home though with ingredients I know how to pronounce and are just that, ingredients and not some chemical compound.


So in my pursuit of wholesomeness, I have found a great "5 Minute Bread" recipe that we all love and tonight I will attempt to make homemade tortillas!!! I have heard the rumor in the blogosphere that the time isn't really worth it to make these from scratch, so I'm a little nervous this might be a total waste of time or another one to add to my flop list. For us though, tortillas are one of those items that we never seem to have when the craving for Mexican comes around. So I shall continue my expedition because I would love to say the next time my husband or kids ask for enchiladas, sure let me just whip some up! This is a response I would rather give them versus the hurried trip to the store where I end up getting way more than just the tortillas, thus wasting money and gas!

I will keep you all updated on my findings, if they're worth it to make from scratch or not. What convenience food have you started making from scratch? I would love for you to share or feel free to email me stefani0521@hotmail.com and do a guest post!

Saturday Stalk Hop

Saturday Stalk Blog Hop
Welcome to Saturday Stalk, a hop hosted by us... Just Married with Coupons AND Debbie Does Coupons & YOU! We will pick one featured guest each week to hop with us. We will randomly pick a participant. Make sure you post our button each week if you would like to be eligible!

Grab our Hop Button

This week's featured guest is:
Mommy's Corner

Thanks for those who have been participating from week to week and a big welcome to you if this is your first time. We are so glad you are here! This blog hop is all about having fun, meeting new bloggers and building new readership!
Blog Hop Rules
Please follow us: Just Married with Coupons, Debbie Does Coupons & Mommy's Little Corner then we WILL FOLLOW YOU BACK!
Copy the Saturday Stalk into a blog post on your site.
Come back and post the direct link to that blog post here into the link forms below.
Follow as many participants as you would like, leave them a comment letting them know you're are following them.
Follow back anyone that is now following you and leave them a comment back letting them know you're following back through this event
Thumbnails: This is a Blog Hop! 92 entries so far... you're next!

Another Giveaway: Cutest Crocheted Accessories

One of the newer to me blogs I've been following, Better Life Bags , is hosting an amazing giveaway! She is giving away a $30 gift certificate to Yarrrn, a shop that makes hand-crocheted accessories.

I'm not much of a fufu girl that needs all the cute lil pieces to coordinate my outfits, hence my blog name, but I DO love cute accessories that are practical and handmade!

You have to admit the little owl hat shown here is pretty cute! Visit the Yarrrn Etsy Shop and see that they not only have cute, cute kids stuff but they also have fabulous goodies for us Mommy's!

This giveaway ends Monday, January 24th so hurry and head on over to BLB to enter!

Running in Circles

Well it's Friday and it used to be a much anticipated day when I was in the work force. However, now my days tend to just run together and other than avoiding shopping on the weekends and attending church on Sunday's I don't usually pay attention to the days.

Although I wish I had that happy, relaxed Friday feeling I have A LOT to get done today and some I really dread. I dread having to discuss our house listing contract with the realtor. There's a lot of discrepancies in her new contract and I just plain hate dealing with all that legal stuff. Wish me luck gals! I will also be dealing with the mortgage company today as they work to get our payments lowered and I never look forward to that either. I know the Lord will provide me the strength though.

I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Thankful Thursday

I know I have sooo much to be thankful for and I really needed to do this post. The truth is I haven't had a very thankful heart lately. I know all that the Lord has blessed me with but knowing what they are and appreciating them are two separate things.

God's asking me to come out of my comfort zone again and possibly move the second time in three months. I'm having a really tough time with it but I know God is faithful and has a plan (Jeremiah 29:11 I know the plans I have for you, to give you hope and a future.)

So let's see, things to be thankful for...
1. A Heavenly Father who is REAAALLY patient with me!
2. My husband's job here in Florida that allows me to stay home part time and a second job offer (even if it is 3 states away) after having two years of on and off employment.
3. My sister who has recently recommitted her life to Christ.
4. A new church family in a most unexpected place.
5. A great part time job that's more of a ministry.
6. My wonderful boys.
7. Great friends

I know there are many more things to be thankful for but it's a start. I'm really trying to get the focus off myself and my circumstances and this helped a lot!

So what are you all thankful for?

Homekeeper's Journal

I've decided to give blogging on a somewhat regular basis a try. Now that I am a part-time SAHM I now see why so many bloggers are SAHM's! We are women and we need to feel connected! Am I right or am I right? Having nothing but Mickey Mouse, Elmo and baby talk for days can wear a girl down!

One of the ways we as women feel connected is to "peak" into the lives of other women and see how they do life. With that said I will randomly partake in The Home Keeper's Journal sponsored by the ChristianHomekeeper.org.

This week’s Journal is all about HOME.

In my homey kitchen …..There are fresh baked banana-nut muffins and choc chip cookies (cheated on these, they're a mix!) in a container ready for little hands to grab. I have a 5 minute bread batch in the fridge. This bread was probably one of my best Internet recipe finds! Good thing no one here is on a low-carb diet. I also have a partially eaten cheesy-Italian bake in the fridge I made for the guys before I had to work at the bookstore tonight.

My thoughts on being at home …… It is a blessing! I remember when Eian was little and actually kind of resenting having to stay home. I missed having "me" time and feeling like I never got anything accomplished but cleaning, cooking, and diaper changing just to do it all over again. I was not a Christian during this period but even if you are being at home is tough IF you lose focus of the purpose. I then went from full-time SAHM to having no choice but to work again full-time in a clerical position.

It didn't take more than one time of dropping my baby off to strangers that I longed to be home again! Due to un-foreseen circumstances I worked away from home full-time for the next 7 1/2 years. Oh how I missed being home to where my heart ached for it. But the Lord in His awesome wisdom and love, He knew the perfect time and here we are. I appreciate it so much and see it as a wonderful gift and a high calling to be able to take care of my family.

I'm getting choked up as I type this, oh my word! But I love watching Play House Disney and watch my lil guy do his funky dance to the theme songs, picking up toys is a pleasure (yes I said pleasure) because there were lil hands that played with them, and meal planning is so much fun and I love trying new recipes. I also have more time to coupon and get the best deals AND I don't have to shop when all the crazies are out on the weekends! I love being home when Eian's out of school, not to mention being able to attend school functions and volunteer without doing anything short of giving a kidney to get out of work. I love the look on my husband's face when he comes home to a sometimes clean home and the smell of something simmering. Is my life PERFECT because I stay home more? Absolutely not but there is more peace and order to our home. That I like, a lot!

A constant habit I have of making my home comfortable is ….keeping it warm and cozy with candles burning and I bake a lot in the winter. But as soon as there's a slight warmth to the air, the windows are opened. I make an effort to at least keep the bathroom clean and nothing smells better to me than bleach in the bathroom! I also strive, as much as one can with an 18month old, to keep things off the floor. I also like to keep clutter contained in lined wicker baskets. You may not find what you're looking for IN them but they look pretty!

What I want my children/spouse/other family to remember about my home is …… that it was a comfortable, relaxed place where they could be themselves and feel welcome.


So what is your home like and your thoughts about it?

Win a Free Date Night

Hurry and Enter- Giveaway Winner Will Be Chosen Tuesday 2/01/11

"Free Date Night", that got your attention didn't it? While I can't take care of arranging babysitting for you, I can offer, with the help of Wanchai Ferry and Macaroni Grill and myblogspark.com, a chance to win two dinner kits and a a $25 Visa Gift Card!
MyBlogSpark also sent me a prize pack to re-create a date night with my hubby! Unfortunately I had to hold onto the dinner kits for quite awhile until David returned from training in Arkansas. So... I was really antsy to make these two dinners when he returned!


MyBlogSpark gave me a Wanchai Ferry Orange chicken boxed dinner kit and a Macaroni Grill boxed dinner kit. I went ahead and made both of these on the same night so we could compare the one we liked best. They were both really good and taste wise they were neck and neck. I found the orange chicken to a little less hassle though with fewer packages to open and less steps. All I had to do was add diced chicken breasts!

These are quick and easy dinners that taste just as if you were going to a restaurant but in the comfort of your own home! Just become a follower of my blog or subscribe to have an entry to win these two dinners and a $25 Visa card. Leave me a comment that you did so.

Thanks to MyBlogSpark for giving my hubby and I an awesome date night in!