How Do You Love?

It is Monday!

We had a great weekend, full of family and entertaining.

My friend Aimee, her husband, and dynamic 2 year old daughter Scarlett joined us Saturday evening, and my brother in-law and his wife, P&J, on Sunday evening.

After our guests drove away last night, and I finished cleaning the kitchen sink...my favorite part of the clean-up process, I sat!

I didn't realize how tired I was, and yet the most amazing feeling swept over me! I love having people in my home, I love serving them, I love their laughter, and I LOVE COOKING for them! Usually the meal isn't fancy or complicated, but full of fresh and tasty ingredients.

I don't mind being in the kitchen for 4/5 hours prior to them showing up, and I feel real joy when everyone is sitting, the food is served, and conversation and laughter fill my home.

Have you ever heard of the five love languages?

If cooking were a love language then I was created to show and receive LOVE by workin in the kitchen! I also grew up in a home where friends were always welcome for dinner, the food was delicious and made with love, & two parents who loved to see others enjoy what they had been blessed with! Something was always stewing in the kitchen and laughter abounded!

I learned from my parents example how to love others by serving others, and I can't think of a better way!

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This weeks verse is:

Proverbs 31: 13 & 25-31 (A worthy woman)

She looks for wool and flax,

And works with her hands in delight.

Strength and dignity are her clothing,

And she smiles at the future.

She opens her mouth in wisdom,

And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

She looks well to the ways of her household,

And does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and bless her;

Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:

"Many daughters have done nobly,

But you excel them all."

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,

But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

Give her the product of her hands,

And let her works praise her in the gates.

This is the goal...our life is a journey, I am still daily learning how to be gracious and Godly, but I am so thankful I can share my journey with friends and family...and fun food!

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Meals for Monday...Tuesday...Wednesday...

Do you know of the Pioneer Woman? If you don't then allow me to introduce you!

She is so talented, funny, real, a hard working mom/teacher, and a fabulous chef! Her blog is filled with AMAZING photos, soooo many recipes that cause me to gain pounds just by looking at them, and post after post of helpful, encouraging, and realistic information! Sit down with a cup of coffee and enjoy hours of fun reading with The Pioneer Woman!

This week, in light of my love of servin others up with tasty food, I am serving my dudes with recipes from the Queen of great food and hospitality...The Pioneer Woman way!

Mon: Leftovers from our weekend.

Tues: Three Cheese Stuffed Shells with Meat Sauce

Wed: Beef Stew & Salad

Thurs: Freezer Meals...way to many leftovers in my freezer, it is going to be a smorgasbord!

Fri: Chicken Parm & Warm Spinach Salad

Sat: My Favorite Meatloaf & Roasted Veggies

Sun: Ginger Steak Salad

I am linking my meal plan up with the Organizing Junkie, her blog is an amazing resource and filled with hundreds of meal plans weekly! Check it out, you won't be sorry!

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Monday Facial

Don't forget with all that servin others, you need to take a moment or two for YOU!

Today is the last day to

Refresh, Replenish, and Save!

Three super sales targeting three different areas of your body!

Stock up and save on products that will have you moisturized, smelling great, and bikini ready in no time!

www.mysensaria.com/allnatural

Have a great week! I hope you spend some time around the table enjoying your friends and family!

Photos: HipHomeMaker, Pioneer Woman, & Organizing Junkie

Buzzing, Wizzing, Chopping, and Mixing

I Have Been Busy In The Kitchen...

I received a food processor as a Christmas present, and I AM IN LOVE! My time in the kitchen has never been so easy, and so fun! You might have noticed that my meal plans the last couple of weeks have included many soups...this wonderful machine makes soup so easy! And, allow me to tell you how easy it was to make a pie crust.

Flour, salt, butter, water/apple cider vinegar mix, and just a few pulses...my job was done! Gone are the days of using my hands to mix gooey, sticky, messy dough. My rings, finger nails, and clothes stayed so clean...seriously, I am in love.

This is the hand pie recipe from last week's meal plan, so versatile...so yummy! I stuffed the pie crust with ground turkey sauteed with onions and garlic, carrots, peas, thyme, and some cream...uumgh!

Here is the finished product...I usually serve it with sour cream and cranberry sauce, they compliment the savory flavors of the hand pie, and add a touch of creaminess!

I hope you will give this recipe a try, and if you have a food processor...you are in for a treat!

bon appetit!

It's Monday Again

Hi All,

It is Monday again...right. Well not exactly, it is Tuesday you say... You are correct. This post was suppose to go out yesterday, but I have been without Internet for 48 hours. We have been blessed with a new computer....I am LOVIN it, and so it was time to upgrade our Internet speed as well. This process wasn't as easy as we thought it might be, and has been one big problem after another. I am happy to be back on line again, I hadn't realized how addicted to my blog I actually am! Nothing but L.O.V.E. for you ladies! : )

You all know, by now, how much I adore Mondays.

They really do tickle my fancy, I always get so much done, our day is slow and spent together, I give myself the luxury of extra time spent on me, and life resumes order once again.

However, this was not the case for yesterday.

I ruined a perfectly good Monday with a really bad attitude. I couldn't shake it, the funk lasted from my first morning cup of coffee...which was cold, through a crazy but much needed trip to the grocery store, all the way onto dinner which had to be changed at the last min because I choose to help a lady in the wine isle and got distracted, until finally, with one long huffy sigh, I went to bed!

Sad, hu? I agree, it was a waste, and I am so not proud of how I behaved. My oldest son even commented on my attitude, " Your really having kinda a rough day today Mom...," I just had to hang my head and ask for his forgiveness.

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Today is a new day.

New computer, with extra fast speedy capabilities, new attitude, and a new opportunity to choose joy! My day started with Jazzercise, and I am still going strong. I love how exercise can help with a new perspective! I did get to spend extra time with my Bible yesterday, a coping mechanism, and so without further ado...here is the verse for me this week!

Isaiah 40:28-31

Do You not know? Have you not hear?

The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth

Does not become weary or tired.

His understanding is inscrutable.

He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly,

Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength;

They will mount up with wings like eagles,

They will run and not get tired,

They will walk and not become weary!

Yes, Yes, Yes, and an Amen too!

(For more on this, see Listening to the Silence tab)

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Meals for Monday...Tuesday...Wednesday...
Mon: Breakfast for Dinner-Crepes with Roasted Veggies and Goat Cheese (served over a bed of greens with V&O...amazing)!

Tues: Roasted Potato Leek Soup (w/bacon and avocado)

Wed: Roasted Chicken and Pears (over brown rice)

Thurs: Pot Roast with a Big Green Salad

Fri: Homemade Chicken Pesto Pizza

Sat: Flex

Sun: Italian Wedding Soup (I use kale instead of spinach)

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Facial Monday:
It is my hope that you will set aside some time this week for yourself. I know that time is precious, but so are YOU! Take an extra ten minutes, if that is all you can spare. Close the bathroom door, breath, and take care of you. I love candles, a hot bath with fun reading material, a facial, freshly painted toes, and a little Vanilla Bean body butter! I wish I could say that I get all this in every week, I don't, but I do find time for some pampering. Do what you can, you are so worth it, and will be a better mom, wife, and friend for the time spent on you.

Deal of the week:

This is an amazing collection of products, a fun pomegranate scent, and a great gift for someone you love...maybe you! To order click here, this deal won't last long!

Have a great week!

I've Got Mail...

One of the things that I love the most about "Blogland" is how talented the ladies are! I mean it, every single one of you...AMAZING! I love logging onto my computer and finding inspiration, creativity, friendship, faith being lived out, and some truly beautiful, from the inside out, women!

A perfect example of this is Becky from Farmgirl Paints! Do you know of her? She is truly talented, oozes joy, is smart, funny, and lovely inside and out! Her artwork is every bit as beautiful as she is! I fell in love with her necklaces the first time I saw them! Becky loves words as much as I do, and she incorporates them into her art to inspire and encourage others! I love it! I have pawed through each and every one of her necklaces, looking for the right word for me! Just after Becky released her new pieces in October, I found, and fell in love with THE necklace!!!

This little beauty arrived in my mailbox early this week! She is lovely, sparkly, and says "Be Still," with a colorful Fall tree in the background. "Be Still" is the perfect phrase to have around my neck this year, these words will serve as a reminder the stop and listen. That is my new year's resolution, and I love that I now have a reminder!

Thank you Becky for creating a beautiful reminder that the Lord is right here with me, I just need to stop and listen. I love the necklace, it is just perfect for me, and so special that you made it! Becky has a fun blog and an etsy store chalked full of her colorful and inspiring work! Stop by and visit her, she would love to meet you! I am sure she has a necklace or cuff with a word that would fit your upcoming year too!

Mondays Make Me Smile...

T.G.I.M.

Mondays are such a great way to start the week!

(We had a great weekend; family movie night, packed away Christmas, caught up with friends, and enjoyed massive birthday celebrations!!!)

BUT Monday...well...

It is my day to catch up, relax and enjoy my boys, and set the tone for our week.

On Mondays I usually;

do

Laundry, Meal Planning/Shopping, My Weekly Facial, and Set the Tone for Our Week!

I want you to love and look forward to Monday as much as I do! Hope I can encourage you!

Here's what is happening today:

Meal Plan:

Mon: Clam Chowder and BLT's

Tues: Flank and Roasted Veggies

Wed: White Bean and Leak Soup w/salad and bread

(I add 1-2 leaks in with the onions, and a squeeze of lemon at the end...)

Thurs: Warm Rice and Chicken Salads

Fri: Turkey Hand Pies w/ salad

Sat: Chicken Chili

Sun: Fish Tacos

Facial Tip:

We are all starting our new year with fresh ideas, goals, and schedules. Why not start this year with a new facial routine, which will refresh, brighten , and renew your skin!

May I introduce the: Sea Silk Mask

Red Algae, a sea plant rich in nutrients, has been known to regenerate and hydrate the skin to dramatically improve firmness, smoothness and elasticity. The complexion is revitalized, the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles is reduced, and all signs of irritation are soothed and calmed.

This is an amazing product, one of my favorites. Your skin will be transformed with one weekly mask! Try it!

Setting the Tone:
Our family verse for this week is

Romans 12:21

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good!
for more on this, see the listening to the silence tab

So what do you do on Monday? I hope it was a happy day for you, and set the tone for a wonderful week!

Setting the Tone...

I did a post a few days ago about my goals for 2011, and how I was hoping that these five words would help define my new year!

Silent, Still, See, Hear, Surrender

Then I saw Lisa Leonard's post about her amazing "New Word of The Year" necklaces. She asked her blog followers to choose ONE word to define how you want to live out your new year. One word, wow, but I chose five...what am I going to do now? Well I did some thinking about my words, and decided that if I had to choose one word which would encapsulate my thoughts, prayers, and ideas for 2011, it would be LISTEN. I want to listen for the Lord and his guidance in my year, I want to go where He takes me, and I am excited to see just how listening can affect my day to day activities, mentalities, and goals.

What is your word??

I want to challenge you to think about how you want to live this new year, think about one word that speaks to you, live with it this next year, and maybe, just maybe...follow where it leads you!

I would love to know what your word is, if you would like to share!

Lastly, here is a little encouragement for the winter blues! I know many of you struggle this time of the year to just get though each day! Here is some great news for you, did you know that orange oil is a natural anti-depressant? Orange oil will naturally help you to feel happy, optimistic, and excited for your day. The Sweet and Smooth is a fabulous way to wake up! Treat yourself to a morning scrub, and literally wash your blues away!

www.mysensaria.com/allnatural

My Very First Award!

Melanie

from The Tiny Tudor,

thinks I am a Stylish Blogger!

I am totally honored and completely blown away! This is my first blogging award, and I can't wait to pass on the love!

Thank you Melanie, you too have a wonderful blog. If you haven't stopped by The Tiny Tudor, her posts are fun and insightful like; Won't You Be My Neighbor, or her Cool Front Door! She is a new blogger and it would be fun for her to get to know you better too! Stop by and say Hi!

Okay, 7 things to know about me...

1. I love Fall the most of all the seasons..., I was born in October, I love the colors and smells of Fall, and I met my sweet husband in the Fall.

2. Walking in the rain is so peaceful and best with a latte!

3. Iced tea is best served all year long and with LOTS of ice!!!

4. I love lemons! I love their color, smell, and taste. If Mr. Clean was a perfume I would wear it! I love looking at them and using them to completely transform the flavor in a recipe!

5. I love rainbows, I collect crystals from old chandeliers, and hang them in windows that get direct sunlight! They are cheery, and help to get through the grey days of Seattle.

6. I love to sing, I have been known to sing through most days, some silly songs with the kids, some praise songs, and others from my years of musicals and choirs!

7. I am passionate about my kids, they are a complete blessing, and I am honored to be their Mommy!

I would love to award the Stylish Blogger award to:

24 Corners

A Country Farmhouse

A Vintage Mom

Between You and Me

Boy Crazy

Faded Prairie

Farmgirl Paints

Flower Patch Farmgirl

Home and Harmony

Humble Pie

Lemonade Makin' Mama

My Sweet Savannah

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

My Villa Life

The Swenglish Home

I love reading each of these blogs, they are some of my favorites! I hope you will stop by and say hello!

This is how this fun award works:1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award.2. Share 7 things about yourself.3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers.4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award!

Thanks again Melanie! This was fun!

The best part...

The best part of the holidays being over is the appearance of these little beauties at my local grocery store!

Love their sunny disposition, they make me smile every time!

Hope you are having a cheerful and sunny day wherever you are!

Oh the pain...

Okay, so I know what I said in my last post...but like everyone else, I do have a few things that I plan on changing around here...other than listening to the silence!

I know that just about everyone has added, plans on continuing, or is tweaking an exercise routine this year. I am right along with y'all. Now that I have had two babies, 20 months apart, and succeeded getting through the baby/toddler years with my sanity, I need to focus on my bod...!!!

I am pretty sure that when I got married I had a hot, little, sexy body, and I intend to get some or all of that back! So this year I am making the commitment, this is a first for me, and I am actually excited to feel better about the way I look!

So, here is the nitty gritty...

The goal: is too loose 50 lbs! Crazy to see that number on paper, but the truth hurts! My plan: here is a little background info you need to know...This little adventure of mine began last year when another mom from pre-school invited me to join her in Jazzercise. I actually laughed in her face...rude hu? But my only exposure to Jazzercise was the typical 80's video, complete with leg warmers and a NOT attractive leotard, also a professor of mine who was crazy about her Jazzercise class and totally fit right into the previous description!!! In hind sight I am sorry I laughed at her, but seriously, I didn't think this was for me. However, I have had a whole year to think about this, gained a few more pounds, and now I am ready to re-consider! On January 2nd, I made the commitment to my Jazzercise friend that I would be joining her this week!

After she left my house the panic started to sink in!!! What was I getting myself into, could I even keep up with these ladies, one look at the online video...and the answer was NO, and oh yeah...what was I going to wear??? After an evening of hyperventilating...I got up the next morning and marched myself into TJ Maxx. I am not fully sure what I am getting into, I may not be able to keep up, but I CAN CONTROL HOW I WILL LOOK!!!

Anyone ever try on a bathing suit in a too small dressing room, with bad light, a glaring white bod, and a little too much extra...in places that well, let be honest, shouldn't be shown??? This is exactly how I thought this experience of finding work-out wear was going to be like. However, I was pleasantly surprised! I found 2 pant options and about 10 tops, confidently entered the dressing room, and after a lot of squeezing, smooshing, wiggling, and jazzercise practicing, I walked out with two tops and a pair of pants that not only did I feel good in, but fit my budget too! Hurray for me, at least I will look cute while I kill myself!

Yesterday I went and signed up, bought a pad for who knows what, and quickly figured out the routine. I stayed and watched/sorta practiced some of the moves, then left feeling even more nervous that I may not be able to keep up. I was a cheerleader & have done tae bo for years, but after not using any elaborate coordination for years I was slightly concerned I may fall on my face. Check out http://www.jazzercise.com/ ... to get a look for yourself! No fuzzy leg warmers, just a whole lot of fast booty shaking!

Today was the big day...After a couple cups of coffee, one slice of cheese...too nervous to eat, a few trips to the bathroom, and a pre-school drop off I marched into the unknown. Oh my word...I was so right. You totally know were this is going, don't you? This workout is like none other I have ever experienced, this is totally going to kill me! Within the first five min...the warm up, I was already completely out of breath and dripping with sweat! We moved constantly for 60 min. I did find out what the pad was for...a crazy hard leg and ab workout on the floor, that produced pain much like childbirth. Fun, hu? The other mom, she is the instructor...did I mention that, she can move! I seriously have so much more respect for her, she literally works her hiney off everyday, and she totally worked mine off today! I know this is going to be worth all the pain, and I am excited to have a cute bod again, but today...exactly 5 hours after I embarked on my first serious workout, I am hurting soooo bad! Every part of my body hurts!

I am off to take a much needed shower, take a few more advil, and prepare myself for tomorrow! I will keep you posted on this journey, but seriously take a look at the video!

I hope you all are doing well in your resolutions, we have almost completed a week! hurray for us!

Just Five Words

I began my New Year's resolution post today, I know it should have been out at the beginning of the week, but I needed to invest thought and prayer into how I wanted to tackle 2011, before posting.

However, I have unintentionally deleted my almost finished post twice now, and I just couldn't try to duplicate another. But I wanted to at least put something out there...

2010 was a VERY challenging year for my family and me, full of changes, bleak and difficult decisions, and forced sacrifices. My heart felt like it was in constant tribulation, very unstable and emotional, never knowing when the next hard blow would come. 2010 felt like a war zone, and I am coming out with many battle scars.

I like many people love to begin my new year with a resolution of how and what I will change in the next year. My list usually contains big dreams and goals, some attainable...some not, but always chocked full of anticipation and hopeful enthusiasm! This year is different, my heart is different, and to make a list of what I want to change seems overwhelming. Also I fear I might fail If I set goals for change with a list of such immensity. So, instead I plan on taking one giant step back to focus on a subtle change, instead of trying to conquer things I cannot.

I enter into 2011 at a loss for words, and I am okay with that. Usually when faced with a challenge I rev up and fight with all I have. I am not one to back down quickly or quietly, but today...here and now, I am out of words. The image I have in my brain is of a toddler who isn't getting what they want...they have thrown themselves on the ground kicking and screaming, giving it all they have in hopes that their loving parent might change their mind. They eventually let go, exhausted, silent, and ready to surrender. It is at this point that a loving parent scoops them up, whispers loving and consoling words into their ear, and gently sets them on their feet again. The child doesn't always know or understand the heart of the parent, trust is learned and gained over time. My year has been full of so many circumstances I don't understand, but I am ready to listen to the heart of a loving and caring Father who does!

I am ready to be silent, I want to be still, I need to see, I am longing to hear, and will surrender to His good and perfect plan for my 2011. These are the words that will define my upcoming year. My resolution for 2011 is to listen to the silence, the Lord is there, and He will guide me if I listen.