miscellany monday

I thought I'd share with you some random things I learned on vacation:

Jamison talks a lot.

Caleb think he's king and we now know we need to bring him down a notch.

Mommy and Rondell are SO much alike (this is not new news) and I realized just how special it is for them to have that kind of relationship.

I love Tanysha more and more as we get older realizing how deep our friendship goes.  We are truly sisters and not in the fighting kind of way, but in the I-can-finish-your-sentences/I'm-thinking-what-you're-saying kind of way.

Sticky buns are a great thing to make on vacation.  We had to buy a bundt pan while we were there to make it and we left it in the condo with the recipe for the next person :)

Priceline is awesome...our hotel was great with a great price attached.  If you're ever in Brentwood, TN I'd highly recommend the Marriott Residence Inn...great staff, lovely rooms and free breakfast.

Brentwood, TN is full of nice people...well at least the staff of hotel.  I mean they were super nice...I must write a thank you.

I love the feel of sand between my toes.

The Crab Trap has an amazing view of the beach...and the service was wonderful.

There's more to Destin than the beach and the pool...Rondell opened our eyes.  Next time we have a few new places we'll have to check out.

Brownie bits and frozen custard go well together.

I really need to pack lighter next time.

Bringing home clean clothes because the condo has a washer/dryer is awesome! 

We really need to start saving for a king size bed...all of that space was just lovely.

The seafood dinner that my mom makes is still my favorite meal while we're there.

Bring more toilet paper next time.

Taking a lot of pictures is great (editing them all...takes a bit of time...I hope to have the picture post up by Wednesday).

(friday) favorite things :)

This week Rachel is asking us to add some Mommy-moments to our Friday Favorites...I think I can do that :)

The giggle of my children

These caramel stick buns

The smell of my husband wearing cologne

 

Late evening snuggles with Caleb...gets me every time

 

A good movie

Emails from friends

Jamison telling me the story of Abraham and Sarah

Late night talks with one of my best friends (miss you Ty)

Hearing both kids tell me I'm the best mom ever and knowing they mean it (not just that they want something)

Being greeted with big hugs as I walk in the door from work

Rubbing my feet on clean sheets

Jamison's eyes

When Caleb and Jamison play well together and show each other love

Tuesday nights with my mom

A big cup of ice water

Our Destin family vacation (I will post about it soon...right after I load all of the pictures that I took!)

We Want to Know Wednesday - Q&A

I know it's late but I've seen this over the past few Wednesdays and thought it would be fun to participate this week.  Here are the questions:

{1} If money didn't matter, where would your perfect vacation take place? Briefly describe.

Probably two weeks in Destin in May.  I love Destin...so relaxing, water is beautiful, it's becoming familiar (I like familiar), the weather is great this time of year and relaxing...oops, already said that.  I would para-sail, go on dolphin cruises, hop around to all of the restaurants that I want to try and others that have become favorites, and do some shopping at the outlet mall.

Another idea would be to rent an RV and travel west.  I'd love to see Colorado, Arizona and take the family to visit California.  I would love to see the snow-capped mountains in CO and absorb all of their sunshine (I hear they have 300 sunny days).  I want to go to an outdoor spa in AZ and visit the Grand Canyon.  CA is a place I've wanted to take Rondell and the kids for a while now.  I love San Diego and would love to take them through LA to let them see all of the sights. 

{2}What's a bad habit that you have (or had) that is/was hard to break?

I was just talking about this with one of my friends...sucking my fingers.  I sucked my middle two fingers on my left hand until I was in the 5th grade...5th grade!  My parents did pretty much everything they could to get me to stop.  Eventually I had to have a piece added to my braces on the roof of my mouth so that I would not actually be able to suck on them.  This forced me to stop.

{3} If you weren't on a diet or counting calories, what would you like to have for dinner tonight?

 Steak, lobster tail, loaded baked potato, salad, apple crisp/or brownie cheesecake for dessert and endless Coca Cola!  Ooh, and maybe a mojito...from someone who really knows how to make one.

{4} If you had the chance to interview anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be and what's one question that you would ask?

Either one of my grandmothers...my dad's mom, my Granita, I'd ask her for her biscuit recipe and anything else just to get to talk to her one last time.  I never got to meet my mom's mom so I'd probably just ask her all about herself...just to know who she was.

{5} Describe yourself in 6 words.

Loyal

Worrier (I'm really trying to work on this)

Sensitive

Hospitable

Homebody

Loveable

miscellany monday

 

1. May...already!  I can't believe that it's already May...time is going by so fast.  Soon school will be out, BSF is almost over, and summer is almost here.  It's almost time to get out in the yard and plant flowers (gotta call my gardener assistant...AKA my mom!).  I welcome May with open arms :)

2.  Speaking of May...HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my dear friend Kristina!  I love this girl with all my heart and I hope she has a fabulous birthday (with plans for an upcoming trip of some kind...I live vicariously through her travels!).

3.  Don't underestimate your kids...that's what I need to keep telling myself.  I have to remember that Caleb (and Jamison) is smarter than I give him credit for.  Recently we had this conversation:

Caleb:  Mommy, when can we go back and see the real Thomas (we went there here).

Me:  Maybe in September.

Caleb:  I have an idea, I can take my trains with me so I can play with them on their tracks (they have a bunch of train tables set up for kids to play with...side note: now mind you that Caleb NEVER played with the train table we bought him).

Me:  But what if another kid takes them?

Caleb:  pause...Well I'll just put my name on them.

Me: Thinking...duh!

4.  I am determined...to learn my camera.  I recently printed off the entire manual and I plan on reading it and playing around with my camera a lot.  I love how Lemonade Making Mama and Mimi take a photo a day and how it really captures their lives.  I don't think I'll do that, but I need to pull my camera out not just when something is going on but just because...to capture the little moments.

It's Heeeerrrrreeee!

I am so excited to share one of my new loves with you...the Our Best Bites cookbook.  I have followed the Our Best Bites site for a long time and I was excited to hear the ladies were coming out with a cookbook.

It's kind of a fun story of how I was able to get it.  I tried to win it through giveaways, but was not successful.  Then one day I saw on Facebook that there was a coupon where you could get 50% off the cookbook at Barnes and Noble (and I just so happened to have had plans on going there that same evening).  SCORE!!  Well, I didn't read the fine print and it was actually that you could get up to 50% off.  Basically it was a random scan at the check out and whatever discount came up is the one you received.  Well, I checked out and as she was scanning my order (I had to order the book because it was not in stock) I said a little prayer and BAM...50% off.  It doesn't get any better than that!

This cookbook is great...it's filled with wonderful, easy recipes, lots of pictures, tutorials and it also includes a little bookmark with measuring information.  Take a look...

It has a hard cover and is spiral bound.  Don't those cupcakes look delicious?!

A lot of the recipes come with an attached picture to give you an idea of how it's supposed to look.  I really want to try these dinner rolls.

 

Another feature that I really like is how they have side notes about freezing, making ahead and serving suggestions.  They also include what's called "Rollovers" where it features an item than can be used in multiple recipes.

Here's the index of the rollovers...so basically you could see that you have basil that you need to use up and go here to see what you can make with basil.  This could also really help with meal planning, using the same ingredients for different recipes.

 

They have quite a few tutorials (sorry for the fuzzy picture)

So my suggestion is that you run (don't walk) to get this cookbook and that you check out the OBB site as well...and the wonderful ladies at OBB is not pay me to say this :)

I recently made their Overnight Caramel Sticky Buns...oh they are divine (recipe to follow)!

Here's what it looks like once you let the dough rise overnight.

Here's how mine turned out...and here's the recipe for you to try:

Overnight Caramel Sticky Buns

• 18 Rhodes frozen dinner rolls
• 1 (4.6 oz) box cook-and-serve pudding mix in either vanilla or butterscotch (I used vanilla)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup pecans, optional (I did not use them)
• 1/3 cup melted butter

Spray a bundt pan with non-stick spray. Make sure to get your pan completely covered! 

Place the frozen rolls evenly around the pan.

Sprinkle the pudding mix, brown sugar and cinnamon all over your rolls. Make sure to evenly coat! Pour melted butter all over the rolls.

Cover with a clean dry towel and leave at room temperature over night (I also did this once in the morning and let them rise while I was at work and then baked it when I got home)!

In the morning, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake rolls for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes and then invert on a plate or platter.

**Make sure to be careful when inverting so as not to spill the caramel goodness...so you might want to make sure you have a plate large enough to cover the entire bundt pan.

Enjoy :)

miscellany monday

1.  Comments...on other blogs.  For some reason the computer that I use the most to check blogs does not allow me to comment on blog posts where the comment section is at the end of the blog.  The box does not pop up for me to comment.  So, if your comments are set up this way and you don't hear from me it's not because I'm not reading or don't love you (because everyone needs a little Kelli love), I just have to wait until I get to my laptop.

2.  Sorry we're closed...it's Easter.  Yesterday my mom and I had plans to meet at Target after I got out of church.  When I pulled up to the parking lot it was completely empty.  I pulled to the front of the store and there was a sign that said they were closed for Easter.  Wow.  Then I realized other places that were closed...Best Buy, Sam's Club, Verizon and we realized the place we were going to have for lunch was also closed after Rondell drove all the way there.  

While these things stopped my plans I was given a feeling of joy.  Joy that these establishments also stopped to Be Still.

I went home and did the same :)

3.  To etsy or not to etsy...that is the question.  Technically I have already opened an etsy shop but it's empty.  I have been debating about whether or not to start up a shop to sell my cards (and maybe a few bookmarks).

Here's where you come in.  If you have an etsy shop, please let me know any tips you have for having a successful shop.  Do you use Paypal, is it relatively easy, is there a cost to upgrade, and how do I go about connecting my checking account to it???  Do you charge for shipping?  How often to you have to update your shop?

For those of you who shop etsy...what attracts you to a shop?  What kind of packaging caught your attention when you received your item(s)?  What kind of cards would you like to see in my shop?

I would really appreciate your feedback :)

The Resurrection

 ^1(A) Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and^(B) the other Mary went to see the tomb. ²And behold, there was a great earthquake, for^(C) an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. ^3(D) His appearance was like lightning, and^(E) his clothing white as snow. ⁴And for fear of him the guards trembled and^(F) became like dead men. ⁵But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. ⁶He is not here, for he has risen,^(G) as he said. Come, see the place where he^[a] lay. ⁷Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold,^(H) he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you." ⁸So they departed quickly from the tomb^(I) with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹And behold, Jesus^(J) met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came up and^(K) took hold of his feet and^(L) worshiped him. ¹⁰Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid;^(M) go and tell^(N) my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."

 Absorbing today all that He is, all that He did and all that He does.

Happy Resurrection Day!

Good Friday Favorites

Today is Good Friday...when Jesus paid the Ultimate sacrifice for you and for me.  On this day (and everyday) I am working on absorbing what that means for me and how that brings Him Glory.  As I stop to Be Still today I take the time to be thankful...

** Images are from my church's Passover Seder last night

The Ultimate Sacrifice

Spontaneous kisses from my two favorite little people

Seder plate at our table

Bill Cosby (Rondell just told me that he was in town yesterday)...love him

Sleeping in

Friends who come to pick me up and take me to work (thanks Lyndsey!)

 

The unleavened bread...pierced, striped, without yeast (sin)...representative of Christ

Holding hands with Rondell

Reading

Jewish Seder plate

 

Being able to reserve library books

Jamison's excitement about sleeping over at a friend's house

Foot washing...serving as Jesus served

Google (what did we do before Google)

Fish sandwiches on Good Friday with my mom (we've been doing it for years)

Rabbi Silverman (he did a great job)

Saturdays with no plans

Handmade cards (I need to send mine out more often)

Thoughtfulness 

Main Table

Sunshine (even if it's still cool outside)

Skirts 

and again...

The Ultimate Sacrifice

Home Management Binder Update

I recently added some pages to my Home Management Binder and I thought I'd share them with you.  This binder really does come in handy, allowing us to have important information all in one place.  Slowly but surely I'm adding to it and making it very fitting to our family.

The following pages are printables that I received during iHeart Organizing's Household Binder Monthly Challenge.

 I added this sheet to our Family Information Section.  I just need to sit down and gather all of the information to add to this sheet.  It will be nice to have my neighbors' numbers in a central place in case I need sugar ;) as well as go-to people for services needed for our home.

 I already have a home maintenance sheet in my binder but I feel like you can never have too many resources, especially while I sort out what system works best for our family.  Plus, Jen's is much cuter than the one I created :)

I have a budget spreadsheet (that I'm in the middle of finalizing), but this sheet will be a good quick glance reference and I can use it to check off and date when bills are paid.

 I love this sheet!!!  Right now all of the information about service to my car is in my glovebox and this way I'll have it all mapped out in one place.  Sweet!

And lastly I just have to share that I {heart} sheet protectors :)

Daily Devotion

I thought I'd share with you how I try and stay connected with God on a daily basis...my devotional...Jesus Calling.  I first heard about it on Darby's blog and as soon as I purchased it I was in love.  The format of each devotion is set up as though Jesus is speaking directly to you...calling you to Himself.

My goal is to read the devotion each morning before I start my day...to kick me into gear and to focus on what truly matters.  So often the words that are "spoken" are just what I need to hear on that particular day.  Jesus really does "speak" to me through these devotions.

It's compact so it fits right into my purse.

 

A verse is referenced with each devotion and I often go to my Bible to underline the verse(s) and maybe write a few notes.

It is definitely a great way to start each day!

miscellany monday

 

 1.  1000 channels and nothing to watch...does this happen to you?  The other night I was home, the kids were asleep and Rondell was at work.  I was trying to find something to watch and there was nothing interesting on at all...nothing.  I'm always amazed by that.

2.  The hunt is on...in my backyard.  Yesterday I hosted an Easter egg hunt for my neighbors.  My church provided all of the materials needed for the hunt, including bags to decorate, candy, and information on how to put together a successful hunt.  After the kids were done hunting for eggs I gave them cookies and juice and then I read the story of Jesus' death and resurrection.  Overall it was a fun time.  Next year Jamison said she'd like to have a skit...she's adorable.

The kids getting ready to head out and find eggs.

3.  We've got a winner for dinner...taco bake.  The other night I made a taco bake and it was such a hit I made it again last night (this time doubling the recipe).  I thought I'd share it with you.  The pictures show the doubled version but I'll post the recipe for just a single dish.

I brown 1lb of hamburger and prepare it as taco meat according to the seasoning packet.  Then I add about 4 oz of Velveeta and 1/2 a can of (drained) Rotel.  Stir until all of the cheese (ha, ha...if we can call it that, but I do love it) is melted and the mixture has thickened a bit.

Break up flour tortillas and line the bottom of an 8x8 dish. 

Pour 1/2 of the meat mixture on top and then top with desired cheese (I like mild/Monterey jack).  Repeat...tortillas, meat, cheese.  Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.  Enjoy :)

4.  Holy Week.  This week is Holy Week leading up to Easter...the resurrection of Christ.  Our church is having a wonderful celebration that actually started yesterday with our Palm Sunday service.  It was a worship only service which is so fitting for what Palm Sunday represents...worshiping the King entering Jerusalem.  Our church is also having a Passover Seder meal on Thursday to walk through Jesus' last meal.  On Friday the church is having what's called Stations of the Cross, taking us through the trial and crucifixion of Christ.  Lastly, we'll have Easter Service and celebrate the ultimate sacrifice and the ultimate gift.  I can't wait :)   

Friday Favorites - I Am Thankful!

Taking this time to be thankful for a few of my favorite things...

Text messages (good thing I have unlimited texts!)

Blue skies

My ESV Study Bible

 

My camera (though I need to use it more)

Pandora Radio

 

Sharpie Pens (I can use them to write in my Bible and they won't bleed through!)

Pizza

 

Caleb asking me about my day

Tuesday dinners with my mom and then watching NCIS with her

 

This week's 10 on 10 post

Movie Night with the family

 

Chicken salad on croissant (anyone have a good recipe?)

Yahoo instant messaging to chat with Rondell during the day

Sleeping in on Saturday mornings!

Dear...

Dear Shawn from the Residence Inn hotel in TN:

Thank you for being a breath of fresh air during our phone call the other day.  In the days where good customer service is rare, you give me hope that there are still genuinely nice people in the world.  Thank you for your warm greeting and your welcoming attitude, making me excited to stay in your hotel during my upcoming trip.  Thank you for the detailed directions and the tip on a good BBQ place to try while we are there.

See You Soon (and yes, I look forward to it too!),

A Grateful Plan-Ahead Customer

Dear Caleb:

PUT THE TOILET SEAT DOWN!

Love,

Your Mom Who Had a Close Call

PS...Thank you for asking about my day yesterday...I needed that :)

Dear Sunshine:

Thank you for making an appearance.  Don't feel like you have to go away this weekend...stay so that I can get some yard work done.  Really...we enjoy having you around.  Please!

Sincerely,

In Need of Some Good Old Vitamin D

Conversations With My Caleb

Caleb goes to my in-laws Mondays and Tuesdays.  This week before he left we had an interesting conversation:

 

Caleb:  Mommy, I need you to do four things for me while I'm gone.

Me:  What's that Caleb?

Caleb:  First, I need you to protect my trains (I had to laugh at that because it was not was I was expecting).

Second, I need you to play with my trains.

Third, I need you to take a picture of my trains.

Fourth,...(I don't remember the fourth thing...see, I've already failed the assignment!).

 

That kid cracks me up with his love of trains.

10 on 10 - April

I have followed the 10 on 10 link party for a while, but since I work during the day I'm not usually ever able to participate.  When I saw that April 10 fell on a weekend I decided that this was my chance to jump in on the action.

Here's my 10 on 10...

 Off to church...

 Every 2nd Sunday I volunteer in the church office during service.  Today I was catching up on my BSF homework before the sermon started.

 Here's how I listen to the sermon while in the office...via TV.  Our Lead Pastor is in Uganda so one of our Associate Pastors gave the message this morning.

 Small Group time...I love diving into God's Word with this group of people.

 Time for a trim...

 Craving pizza big time.  This place is on the list as one of my favorite pizza places, but Rondell and I decided not to eat out this month so I was unable to stop.  It sure did smell good though :)

 The kids were SO tired this morning (perhaps too much Spring Break partying) so Rondell stayed home with them while I went to church.  I surprised them by bringing a donut home for each of them (and I know I just said no eating out, a donut for my sweets doesn't count!).

 She did it...she learned to ride a two-wheeler this weekend.  We had a beautiful day so she was able to practice a lot!

 Getting excited about my plants making an appearance...enjoying the outdoors!

Making dinner for two.  My friend Lyndsey and I are exchanging meals this week to save on time during the week.  I just divided up this baked spaghetti dish (that I got from my friend Angie) and TA DA...dinner for two families!

Hope you enjoyed :)