Friday Fav #24-YouTube Videos

This is a random thing to post for my Friday Fav, but I wanted to share some of my fav YouTube songs.

I learned a song a few years ago when AnnaLeigh was a baby, and I searched online to make sure I was singing it correctly.  I found this precious couple on YouTube singing the song, and then I sang it over and over to AnnaLeigh.  I have listened to it again lately as I’ve sung this sweet lullaby to Georgia.

I don’t know these people, but I love the old decor as it reminds me of my Sicilian great-grandmother, Nanna.  I also love hearing the dialogue at the end, “That wuza vera nice!”

The third verse is the sweetest, which they don’t sing, but it is this…

“I do Believe
That God above
Created you
for me to love
He picked you out
from all the rest
because God knew
I’d love
you best”

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The next 2 videos I love because they basically sum up my life. I’m sure most of you have seen both of these, but if you haven’t, watch them. If you have, watch them again. They will get your day started with a little laugh!

This song sounds like my crazy, wonderful life:

This song sounds like ME:

And while I’m posting YouTube videos, I might as well another one of my most favorite songs:

Happy Friday! :)

-kate

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Friday Fav #23 – Remember Nguyen

It’s been a while since I’ve posted a Friday Fav, and this is one I just have to tell you about.

In case you haven’t heard me say this, let me be the first to tell you that I am CHEAP!  I don’t buy it if it’s not on sale CLEARANCE!  I’m one of those weirdos that will not pay full price for anything.  It’s a curse, but it works for us, and I know my frugal husband appreciates it.

This Friday Fav is for Remember Nguyen (pronounced Remember WHEN), which is one of my most fav children’s clothing websites.  Remember Nguyen is having a HUGE sale, and all of their clearance and sale items are an additional 60% off.  I may or may not have loaded a cart full of goodies online yesterday.  :)  The great news is that I don’t think I spent more than $20 on anything…even monogrammed outfits.   You just can’t beat that!

The clothes are precious, and it’s hard to find new, smocked dresses for $12-$25 anywhere!  I’m not sure how long the sale will last, but they usually don’t last long.  My advice is sign up for their email list so you will know when they have these great sales.  Just don’t buy the sizes I need until I’ve placed my order, okay?

You can thank me later!  :)

Here are a few outfits I’ve purchased from Remember Nguyen.  Love them!

The clothes seem to run a little bit large, but my girls seem to run a little bit small, so I may not be the best judge.  :)  The site is www.RememberNguyen.com.

Oh, and yes…I’M STILL PREGNANT!  No baby for me yet, but I take this as a sign that this sweet baby just really loves his or her mama so much that it just doesn’t want to come out yet.  I keep reminding myself that though I’m uncomfortable, this baby is easier while it’s in there!!! :)

Happy Shopping!

-kate

Friday Fav #22-Dark Kiss

I could do a whole Friday Fav on Thanksgiving!  Who doesn’t love Thanksgiving?!?!

I love the food!  I love the kids being out of school for a week!  I love the food!  I love being with my family!  I love the spirit of thankfulness!  I love the food!  I love the fun fall decor!  I love the food!  Oh, I’m excited about next week just thinking about it! :)

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For my Friday Fav I need to give you a little background…

When I was in high school and wanted to get a job, my parents strongly discouraged me from working at a clothing store for fear that I would blow my whole paycheck on clothes.  They were right.  However, I chose to work at Bath & Body Works and LOVED it, but I blew my paycheck on lotions, body splash, and candles instead.  (The important things in life.)  I didn’t have any cute clothes to show for all my hard work, but I sure smelled good!

I worked at Bath & Body Works for three years and kept our college apartment stocked with yummy candles and lotions.

Every year, Christmastime at B&BW is NUTS and they needed stock boys to help with all the merchandise, so I convinced BRAD to work there for Christmas!  It’s still funny to me to think that Brad worked at B&BW, but so did his best friend, Michael.  I think they had WAY too much fun being stock boys!

Anyway, I still have a love for all things Bath & Body Works!  I ran in there last week and discovered a new “flavor” that I’m IN LOVE WITH!  The name sounds like a trashy romance novel, but I love the scent.

I know that scents and perfumes are so personal and some of you will HATE this (like my father!) but some of you will love it.  I’m talking to those people.  :)

I have always loved Angel, by Thierry Mugler.

If you love Angel, you’ll love Dark Kiss.

An added bonus is that Dark Kiss is just a wee bit (a LOT) less expensive than Angel!  They both have undertones of vanilla and powder with a little twang, and something that reminds me of my grandfather’s pipe.  That sounds weird, but the scents just work so well together in Angel to produce a sweet, soft perfume.

Dark Kiss has so many of the same scents.

Right now at Bath & Body Works, they’re having a great sale…Buy 3, get 3 free on their body care products.  Also, they have a coupon for $10 off $30 purchase, but it expires November 20.  Here’s the link for the coupon.  Google Bath & Body Works coupon, and get great coupons any time!

(By the way, B&BW has no idea who I am and did not compensate me in any way for saying this.  All of my Friday Favs are straight from my little scattered brain…not something somebody asked me to talk about.)

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Happy Thanksgiving week!!!!

-kate

Friday Fav #19-Ocean Spray Sparkling Juice

Let me take you back a few years…like 18 years.

Back in the day, one of my most FAV things was a cold, refreshing Blackberry Clearly Canadian!

Now, I realize that some of you youngins have no idea what I’m talking about, but Clearly Canadian was THE DRINK!  It came in a glass bottle.  It was clear, bubbly, lightly sweet, available in a variety of fruity flavors and always sold cold from the gas station fridge (you know…back when we actually went INSIDE the gas station for something other than to run a child to the restroom).  Blackberry Clearly Canadian was my fav!

For years I’ve missed the taste of my most fav drink from middle school and high school.

When I was pregnant with AnnaLeigh I was craving a Clearly Canadian so badly that I did a little online research.  At that time, in 2008, they were still bottled and sold, and I could purchase a case from Canada for only $80 plus shipping.  I almost bought it, but I decided Brad would have a pig, so I put my marriage first and didn’t buy the $80 case of cold bubbly goodness.  However, I did go as far as to write the company and ask if there were any local distributors.  I never received a response, but I did somehow get put on their promotional email list and received advertisements from the company almost weekly.  This only taunted me and increased my pregnancy craving.  Mean!

Fast forward 3 years…almost exactly!  I was at the grocery store Monday, and I was STARVING!  I know better than to grocery shop hungry, but I was there…at lunch time…with 2 small maniacs…and everything there looked delicious!  I was putting things in my buggy that I would have never bought as a non-pregnant, non-hungry, kid-free grocery shopper.  However, I was not that woman, and I bought many exciting new things on Monday.  One of which happened to be Ocean Spray Sparkling Pomegranate Blueberry!!!

I had let it chill in my fridge for a few hours, then Monday afternoon I decided to try my little splurge.

Oh.My.Goodness!

I’m pretty sure I heard a chorus of angels singing!  It was like taking my first sip of a Blackberry Clearly Canadian!  It was an instant party in my mouth, and I gulped it down with pure glee!  That afternoon I went and bought another package just because it made me so happy!

Now, are Ocean Spray Sparkling Juices really that amazing?  Well, they are very good!  I would happily purchase them again.  Sometimes I want something bubbly without the heaviness or caffeine of a dark soft drink.  Ocean Spray Sparkling Juice definitely satisfies that craving.  However, I know that it’s my fav because it reminds me so much of a flavor of my past.  Tastes really can take me back in time, and I loved how this taste did just that.

So, if you LOVED Clearly Canadian, give this a try.  I’ve seen them at grocery stores and Target.  I have not tried the Sparkling Cranberry Juice, but I’ve heard it’s really good, too.

Enjoy your blast from the past and have a great weekend!

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Friday Fav #17-iPhone Reminders

A few confessions…

I am a list maker.

I love Post-Its.

I NEED reminders!

I need LOTS of reminders!

I don’t have a watch.

I don’t like watches.

They pull my arm hairs.

Anyone that knows me can tell you I have an excess of hair on my arms.  (Thank you God for that fun joke.)

I am ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS late!

Always!

I look at the time on my phone about 452,000 times a day.  Often it is to just check the time.

I find that the more often I see something, the more likely I am to actually remember it.

My new FAV way to leave myself notes and reminders is on my phone.  I just had to share my new (I’m sure not at all original, but I’ve been very excited about it) idea.

When I need to know the time, I click on the magic little circle at the bottom of my iphone and the date, time, and my wallpaper are illuminated.  My previous wallpaper was a precious picture of my big bug, and while I love looking at his sweet face, I decided I could use this split second as an opportunity to remind myself of something…anything.

This week I heard a lesson on living life to the fullest and making a difference.  The key phrase I took away from it was “Outlive your life!”…to make a difference that will last longer than my life on earth.  This week my phone looked like this when I pushed the magic button to see what time it was.

I would like to NEED to focus on the fruit of the Spirit today, so I just made it my “lock screen.”

How to do it…

Write something on a piece of paper and take a picture of it with your phone.  If you’re planning on the www viewing your handwriting, you may want to make it legible.  I am in a hurry, so this is all you get.  It’s not pretty, but I don’t need pretty.  I need to the point!

Allow space at the top and bottom, because there will be images on the screen that will block your text.

After you’ve taken the picture, select the image and click on the little box with the arrow at the bottom left of your screen, which will give you these options.  Select “Use as Wallpaper.”

Then select “Set Lock Screen”

Set the image and then you should have a lock screen that looks like this when you push the magic button at the bottom to see what time it is.

What a fun way to remind myself of all the things I need to be focusing on constantly.  Here are some things that I SHOULD use as my wallpaper…

Whatever you need to be reminded of, put that message on the one little thing that we all look at WAY too much!

Happy Friday, and happy wallpapering!

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Friday Fav #16-Ephesians 4:29-5:2

Around this time last year I started running longer distances, and I memorized scripture passages to get me through some of the longer runs and the half marathons.  One of my most FAVorite passages is Ephesians 4:29-5:2

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

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I tried to decide what I should post as my Friday Fav.  I wanted to talk about my most fav stain fighter or my most fav coffee right now, but this verse just keeps HITTING me in the face!  I even tried to avoid posting this and I referred back to a list I made in February of things I wanted to post as Friday Favs, and out of 6 Favs, THIS was one of them.  So I guess this is what I need to hear today…and maybe you do too?!?  :)

Let me start by saying this has been a ROUGH week!  The girls have been precious and have played together beautifully.  LK has even slept a few nights this week.  (YAY!)  However, starting school is always very tough on Preston.  He requires MUCH more sleep than his roommate, Lilly Katherine, and the start of school throws us for a loop.  We sent him to half day kindergarten in part because he napped every day until the day before first grade. :)  Don’t be jealous…I can promise you LK wasn’t napping.

Anyway, Preston is a typical first born male.  He is logical, literal, analytical, TYPE-A, a rule follower, and over-all a very good kid.  He’s smart and likes to do his best at school.  It would CRUSH him if he got in trouble in school and I know that he does as he’s told, which makes me a very proud mother!  However…at HOME…this is not always the case.  Preston is extremely aggressive and intense, and the sleepier he is, the more aggressive and intense he becomes.  He’s so good at school that it’s like he uses up all his “good”ness there and has to let all his energy, aggression, wiggles, and frustrations out when he gets home.  That makes for a very challenging afternoon/evening at our house.

On top of that, my brilliant little boy HATES and I mean HATES to read.  He would rather be throwing a ball, and he’s been still ALL DAY LONG, so he just simply can’t do it anymore.  This is where the aggression and frustration enter.  Let’s just say if any of you have walked past our house in the last 2 weeks between the hours of 3:30-5:30 you would think I was beating someone, but it was just Preston avoiding his homework.  I have talked to him, tried to reason with him, Brad has talked to him, prayed with him, prayed for him, we’ve punished him, taken privileges away, and I was at the end of my rope.

I went for a short jog yesterday and was praying for my maniac when THAT VERSE came into my mind AGAIN, and I realized what I need to do with Preston.  I need to be teaching him scripture, so that his little mind can refer back to it when he needs it.  I need to be able to point to specific places in the Word that instruct him and guide him.  I, KATE, I need to hear the words of this verse echoing through my brain every moment of every day!   I myself need to get rid of rage and anger.  I need to speak affirming words to him that will benefit him and not things that will exasperate him or grieve the Holy Spirit of God.  It’s hard for Preston to get rid of rage and anger if his mother is screaming “Settle down!!!”

Preston needs to know these words.  He needs to hide them in his heart, so that he can recognize his sin as he’s being unkind to his sisters or his friends.  I tell my children all the time, “Be kind and loving to each other” which stems from this verse, but Preston needs to KNOW the verse.  It will be much easier for him to KNOW this verse if he sees someone trying to live it, and I can honestly say that he hasn’t seen that in his mother!

I need to watch my mouth, and not let any unwholesome talk come from my face!  I need to not say ugly things about other people, to other people, or to my children.  I’m learning that they don’t hear a lot of what I say, but they do hear the negative things I say to them, about them, or about others, and they remember it.  How horrible!  I am their example!  And this verse clearly says that it GRIEVES the Holy Spirit of God!

I need to stop dwelling on past issues with people and get rid of bitterness.  This is something Preston struggles with, so I need to be a good example!

I need to treat my children the way I want them to treat each other.  I still have to discipline them, and correct them, and train them, but I should do it without screaming at them in a fit of rage and anger!  Yes, that does happen sometimes.  I am able to sit and calmly talk to them, but sometimes I just get to the end of the flipping rope, and I lose my mind like I’m one of the children!  Yes, good example…I know.

I need to show them kindness and compassion.  I find this much easier to do to friends and strangers sometimes than to my own family.  I also feel that I’m exempt from this statement before 8 am, as I am physically unable to be nice or kind to anyone before 8 am! :)

I need to be an imitator of God!

I need to live a life of love, and for some reason I know that God gave me these 3 precious, wild children to show the meaning of the word LOVE!  I don’t do a very good job of that sometimes!

This verse just keeps coming to mind this week.  I think that’s the point of scripture memory.  I think maybe I should heed the words and try to teach them to my children.  I think this needs to be OUR Friday Fav for the week!

Happy Friday…now go memorize Ephesians 4:29-5:2!

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Friday Fav #15-CHIPS!

(My awesome photography and attention to detail didn’t notice the small boo-boo bunny in the background of the first picture.  I’m sure some horrible catastrophe had just happened, but I can’t even remember what it was.  Thank goodness all 3 maniacs are still in one piece…and thank goodness for that little blue boo-boo bunny which miraculously heals all wounds!)

Now on to my Friday Fav #15…

We live in Texas.

We LOVE chips and salsa! We could eat them with every meal!

Lately, we have found 2 new kinds of chips that we just can’t get enough of.

Our very fav is Julio’s Corn Tortilla Chips, available in Texas.

They are often sold in a larger paper bag, but recently I have seen them in this plastic bag.  The color scheme is the same.  The wonderful flavor is consistently delicious!

They can be found at many Wal-Mart and Brookshires stores, and if you find them, buy them.  Julio’s Chips taste more homemade than mass produced chips.  They taste more restaurant-y (you like that word?)  They have just the right amount of their special seasoning blend, and they are great with hot sauce/salsa!  Especially this salsa! (scroll down to second recipe)

The second kind of chip is Tostitos Artisan Recipe Fire-Roasted Chipotle Corn Chips.

They are more readily available and delicious as well.  They’re just a different kind of corn chip.  They also have a great flavor, and the flavor is cooked into the chip instead of sprinkled on top.  Very unique, and very good!

It’s 12:15 on Friday night, so I guess I’ve missed my Friday deadline for the “Friday Fav” but we’ll just pretend like I’m on the West Coast!

Now I think I’ll head to the kitchen and stare in my pantry because now I’m hungry.  I’m sure that I’ll make every effort to avoid foods like this, and in the process I’ll take just a little bite of about 25 different things, realizing 15 minutes into my pantry raid that a few chips would have been a better decision.  Oh well.

Good Night World!

Have a wonderful weekend with those you love!

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Oh, and these chip people have no idea in the world who I am, nor did they ask me to write this.  However, if they would like to send me a few bags of chips, I will be happy to accept. :)

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Friday Fav #14-Gracie Belle Hair Bows

I have 2 girls!

They are maniacs.

They wear hair bows.

They lose hair bows.

They get chocolate on hair bows.

We go through a lot of hair bows!

That’s to let you know that I have to BUY a lot of bows and have bought them from MANY different sources, and my FAV place to buy bows is this precious company called Gracie Belle Hair Bows.  I would HIGHLY recommend Gracie Belle to anyone with girls!

I have ordered TONS of bows from them, and they are always perfect!  They are the best quality, the fastest shipping, and usually the shipping is FREE!  She has incredible deals on her bows (and you all know how cheap frugal I am).  She also runs specials all the time which makes the deal even better!  Sign up for her newsletter to find out about new products of special deals.  Trust me, you’ll be glad you did.

Last week she had a 20% off sale, and I ordered 16 hair bows.  I got to choose the size, color, what kind of clip, lined/unlined, knotted/flat center…my point is that these bows are made TO YOUR SPECIFICATION, and I bought 16 precious bows for $25.47!  That’s an average of $1.59/bow!

$1.59/bow! Plus, the shipping was FREE, and I received my bows within ONE week of placing the order!  I’m telling you, you won’t find a better bow company.

The bows I typically purchase are the basic boutique bow sets.  You can look at almost any of my past posts to see what they look like on my girls.  I buy the Small Boutique Bows and the Gracie Sized Boutique Bows.  With my last order, I also purchased a color chart, so I could choose the exact colors I needed.

I do not know the owner, Michelle, but I have emailed her many times, and she graciously answers my questions quickly and kindly.  I emailed her yesterday to let her know I had a blog and wanted to highlight her business because I’ve been so impressed with it, and she offered to give you guys a 10% discount!! :)

Order from Gracie Belle Bows by Friday, July 1, and enter the discount code TRH10 to receive 10% off your order.

Share this with any moms that buy bows as often as I do!  They’ll thank you for it!

Have a lovely Friday, and enjoy this Friday Fav, thanks to Gracie Belle Bows!

-kate

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Friday Fav #13-Leigh Oliver’s

Aside from the fact that Leigh is one of my most favorite people on earth, her products are SO delicious!  If you haven’t tried any of the “Leigh Oliver’s” products, then today is the day to start!  We almost always have one or two of her items in our fridge or pantry.

My new fav is Leigh Oliver’s Cantina Fajita Seasoning.

Last night I used it on caramelized onions and chicken.  It was wonderful!  I love it on chicken!  Last week, I sauteed shrimp using the Cantina Fajita Seasoning, and then tossed it with pasta and tomatoes.  DELISH!

Here’s what it looks like.  I wish you could smell it. :)

Another product that we have inhaled recently is Leigh Oliver’s Creamy Jalapeno Dip.

It’s HOT.  It’s creamy.  It’s so good!  Brad and I ate the whole container on chips in a week.

She has a list of items from Marinara to Pimento Cheese, Spices to Sauces.  Check her out here.

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Leigh has no idea that I’m posting this on my blog.  She did not ask me to do it.  I just honestly love these products and think you will too!  So go get ’em!

Happy Friday!

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Friday Fav #12-Don’t Make Me Count to Three

I am NOT a reader.  I read blogs.  I read my Bible (not as often as I should).  Other than that, I don’t read.  Sad, I know.

Due to the 3 maniacs that I am raising, I have read a few parenting books.

Due to the 2 weeks that we’ve had, I will be RE-reading this one tonight.

Due to the fact that this is an easy read and a wonderful resource, this is my fav parenting book, and i just wanted to share it with all of my favorite people.

Ginger Plowman offers wisdom and guidance on how to raise your children and “train them the way they should go,” but she does it with humor and humility.  Most of the pages in my book are highlighted and underlined.

“Don’t Make Me Count to Three” is available on her website, GingerPlowman.com, and she offers other great resources as well.  I also have the “Wise Words for Moms” that’s only $3.99.

Happy Friday!

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Friday Fav #11-Goat Cheese with Honey

“Mama, can I please have some goat cheese?”

Those were the words out of Lilly Katherine’s mouth this morning.  My new fav snack is Wheat thins with GOAT CHEESE.  Never saw that one coming.

A few months ago, I saw this post on a sweet friend’s blog.  I had never tried goat cheese before, so I went out on a limb and bought some.  There were 2 ladies at the grocery store telling me to try honey goat cheese.  I don’t like things to be sweet if they’re not supposed to be (for example: cornbread, cottage cheese, and rice should NOT have sugar in them!)  Needless to say I was hesitant to buy goat cheese with honey.  I finally gave in, and I LOVE IT!

This is the kind I currently have in my fridge.  It’s by Belle Chèvre, and it has the cutest name, “Belle and the Bees Breakfast Cheese.”  It’s smooth and creamy, has a soft tangy taste, complimented with the wonderful taste of honey.

Ask for it at your grocery store, or you can purchase it online at here.  I haven’t tried it on a warm bagel, but I bet that would be delicious!  The girls and I can’t eat enough of if.

Don’t be scared…give it a try!

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I think that was my shortest post ever. :)

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Friday Fav #10 – My favorite Salad

This has been a wild week!  WILD!  I feel like it’s just been a whirlwind.  Now I’m back to my normal routine…putting off laundry to sit at the computer after all my maniacs are asleep.  I’ve hardly touched my computer this week, so this is quite relaxing right now.  Ahhh! :)

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I’ve said MANY times that Lilly Katherine is ME!  She is ME!  She is ME!  She is ME!  (and it just might do me in!) :)  However, here is just one more example to prove that we are EXACTLY alike.  I laughed out loud when I received the results from her Kindergarten Readiness Test.  The test is three pages long, and she did really well on everything, with the exception of two areas.  She can’t count by 5’s (because her mother never dreamed to teach her that.  She’s not my first born, you know.  I forgot that you’re supposed to teach all your kids “stuff,” and not just your first born.) :)  The other thing which needs improvement…please see number 22.  (Seems backwards, but D is the highest score)

Oh, the poor thing can’t catch (or throw) a ball to save her life.  SHE IS HER MOTHER!  It’s not a skill I possess.  It’s not a skill she possesses…and she probably never will.  We’re thinking she’s going to be a dancer, because she flits and flutters around the house all day. :)  I’m not at all pushing dance or keeping her from playing sports.  The Lord just didn’t wire her for throwing and catching (some might call that hand/eye coordination), but my joyful baby girl will find something else in which to excel!

It’s so funny to me how she and Preston are the antithesis of each other!

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Speaking of Preston, his baseball team WON tonight…finally! (Chest bump!)

They are now 1-9.  It’s been a rough season, and Preston REALLY cares about stats, scores, and wins!  It has pretty much stressed him out all season.  In a very Eeyore voice he always says, “We’re defeated!” (as in the opposite of “undefeated”)…but now they’re not!  He was SO excited!  Now, I hope we can win just one or two more before the season ends! :)

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A few more random thoughts…

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Watching the Royal Wedding last week, Lilly Katherine was just enamored by the “Princess” and “Prince” and all the beauty of the wedding, as if it were a Disney fairytale.  She leaned over to me while we were watching, and in this sweet voice of innocence she asked, “Mama, did you marry a prince?”  I responded, “I sure did, baby!  I pray that you will marry a prince one day, too.  A prince just like your daddy that loves the Lord and loves you as much as daddy loves me!”  She just smiled at me with those big, sparkly black eyes.

Oh, Lord, please bless Lilly Katherine with a “Prince” that is just like her daddy!  A man that will love you, love her, and love their babies.  Thank you for giving her an amazing earthly example of a wonderful husband and daddy.

Last week there were horrible storms that swept through the South, and I know there was so much loss.  I am sorry for anyone who was in the thick of the storms or who has lost a friend or family member to the tragedy.

My intention is not to make light of the situation, but to document the happy innocence of my sweet girl.  We were fortunate enough to escape the devastation of the storms, however, we did have a few hours of uncertainty.  The warning sirens were sounding all over town, and it made my kids a little nervous.  LK asked, “What is that noise?” and I told her that it was a siren to warn us of bad weather.  I compared it to the sirens on top of a firetruck or ambulance, but told her this siren was on top of a tower instead of a moving vehicle.  A few minutes later AnnaLeigh asked LK what the noise was, and LK’s very excited response was, “That sound is coming from the castle.  They are telling us the weather is bad.”

I asked her what in the world she was talking about, and she said, “You know, mama, the castle…you said the sirens were on a tower, and they tell us when the weather is bad.”  I had to explain to her that by tower I meant a tall pole, and not the kind of tower Rapunzel lives in.  I am not aware of any castles in the back woods of East Texas. :)  This maniac lives in a happy, princess, fairyland in her mind.

And I love her! :)

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Ok, so finally a new recipe!  This is my go-to salad.  This is the salad that I make almost every week.  The whole family loves it, and it reminds me of my Italian grandmother, MamaSara.  Anytime we eat at her house, she has a salad with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, olive oil, and lemon juice.  The taste of this salad just reminds me of MamaSara, and that makes me happy!

Cucumber and Tomato Salad

(…because I’m too lazy to cut up and wash lettuce…and because my people eat this salad better without lettuce.)

Full recipe at the bottom of post.

Ingredients:

  • Cucumber
  • Tomato
  • Onion
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Lemon
  • Garlic
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • I also often add Fennel/Anise (which has a wonderfully unique taste, similar to licorice.  I don’t like licorice, but I love fennel.)

Cut the cucumbers, tomatoes, onions (and any other veggie of choice) into bite size pieces.

Put all veggies, salt, pepper, garlic, lemon juice, and EVOO in a plastic container with a lid that seals well.

Place lid on tightly, and gently roll around mixing all ingredients and coating well.  Do not shake or you will kill your beautiful veggies.  This is the lazy person’s way of tossing the salad, but it works for me…

Open.  Take a bite of a cucumber or two or three to make sure you like the amount of salt, lemon juice, etc.  Add more flavor if needed.  Doesn’t that look refreshing and delicious?!?  It is…and it is SO easy!

Serve with anything!

Last week…My fav salad with grilled chicken, asparagus, tabbouleh, and rice.  (Rice was there just because Preston had a friend over and I was afraid my tabbouleh would scare him.)

This week…My fav salad, salmon, homemade mashed potatoes, and asparagus.  It’s 1:00 am, and my mouth is watering!

I’m on an asparagus kick.  I’ve been on an asparagus kick since college.  Love it!  (Thank you for helping me fall in love with asparagus, Kristin!)

Recipe for Cucumber and Tomato Salad

(I’ll admit, I’m a “little this, little that” kind of cook.  I don’t exactly have measurements.  For this recipe, I used the following, but adjust to what your needs/taste are.)

Ingredients:

  • 1 Cucumber
  • 2-4 Tomatoes (I try to have equal amounts of cucumber and tomato)
  • Throw in any additional veggies you like.  I often add fennel, celery, bell pepper, or whatever I have in my fridge.  This time I added 2 stalk of Celery.
  • 1/2 Small Onion (I don’t eat the onion, but it adds a lot of flavor to the salad.  I’m weird.)
  • Juice from one Lemon
  • 2 Tbsp EVOO
  • 1-2 Cloves garlic, minced
  • Salt and Pepper to taste (for this amount, I use about 1/3 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper)

Cut the vegetables into bite sized pieces.  Add all ingredients to a large plastic container with a tight-fitting lid.  Place lid on and make sure it is sealed tightly.  Gently turn container over and over, not shaking or tossing, but gently turning, to combine all ingredients.  You may need to add additional salt before serving, because the salad tends to absorb the salt as it chills.

Enjoy!

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I’ll leave you with one more random thought.  On May 6, 2003 I received the greatest news I had ever received.  I found out I was going to be a MOTHER!  On this day, 8 years ago, I found out I was pregnant.  I will NEVER forget that moment.  The flood of emotions that came over me is unexplainable.  The moment I looked at the pregnancy test, I dropped to the floor in a sea of laughing tears as I cried out praises to the Lord!  Such a precious and emotional moment in my life.  I get happily teary just thinking about it.  I can’t believe it’s been 8 years, and I am so very thankful that God chose this specific child to knit together in my womb.  I am thankful that God knows exactly what we need, and He knew I needed Preston!  I love my big bug more every day, and I am so thankful to be his mother!

Thank you, Lord!

13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

-Ps 139: 13-14

Friday Fav #9-Giada’s Sun Dried Tomato Pesto

Well, helllllooooo there, friends!  I’m sorry I disappeared for a few days.  I have so many recipes to post, but they will come later today.  I’ve not felt great this week, and I have had a lot going on.  But I’m back…with a few Friday Favs!

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I stumbled upon this item at Target, and I love it!

Giada’s Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

It’s great on pasta.  It’s great mixed with cream cheese and spread on crackers.  And my fav is to make Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto HUMMUS!  I just make the Caramelized Hummus Recipe, except I use about a tablespoon of this pesto instead of the onions (although I’m sure it would taste great with the onions)

When I found it, I found a ton of Giada products and foods, but THEY’RE NOT IN THE FOOD SECTION!  Not sure why!  They’re with the cooking and baking utensils and kitchen supplies.  There’s a whole Giada section at our local Target.

She also has a basil pesto that’s very good.


Warning: These pestos do contain cashews. I had no idea pesto often contains cashews until Lilly Katherine had an allergic reaction to my sun-dried tomato hummus. Oops! Now every time I give that child hummus she approaches with caution for fear that her mother is giving her something “spicy for her tongue!”
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Happy Friday and happy eating!
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Friday Fav #8-Aveda Be Curly

Today has been such a blessing.  It didn’t start out that way…it started out with dog vomit.  For some reason, this stinkin’ dog doesn’t throw up on the wood floors that cover 80% of our house, he instead chooses to vomit on my Pottery Barn rug.  Dumb dog!

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Anyway, after getting my Friday treat, I was much better.  (Thank you, my love!)  After eating my healthy breakfast, I was having a hard time getting motivated to go to the gym, but I LOVE ZUMBA, and I decided I needed to make myself go.  Zumba is by far my most favorite workout ever!  I’m not an exerciser, so if I can dance, jump, and shake (and pretend like I’m in high school again) then that’s the kind of workout for me.

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After Zumba, I came home to feed the maniacs and I was still dancing.  I typically listen to Praise and Worship music or children’s songs, but I have recently gotten hooked on Adele, and my fav song of hers is “Rolling in the Deep.”  I was dancing my heart out in the middle of our kitchen to this song, and I’m pretty sure I could have rivaled anyone on So You Think You Can Dance.  My girls were just giggling then they decided to join me.  Oh, what a fun moment!

Side note:  last year for Mother’s Day, Preston’s teachers had him answer questions about me.  For the question, “My mama is great at__________” his answer was “dancing in the kitchen.”  Haha!  However, his answer for “My mama weighs__________” was “1,015 pounds,” and he told me he was the only one in the class that knew his mama’s real weight…so I’m not sure if you should totally trust his answers.

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Ok, so I digressed.

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After dancing with my girls, I took them to AnnaLeigh’s bedroom to change her diaper and I laid down on the floor for a few seconds.  I had my back on the floor, knees bent, feet on the ground.  After about 1 minute of peace, I hear this little voice say, “You poo-poo, mama” and before I know it she has a cold, wet wipe wiping me (I still had workout clothes on) and she slipped a diaper under me, much like what she did to Sam earlier this week.  I just laughed and told her I didn’t need my diaper changed, and before I got off the ground, this was coming at my face.

“You have booga.  I need suck you nose out.  Be still, mama.”  I was squealing as you can imagine, but I managed to snap this blurry pic with my phone before she tortured me.  I guess this was payback for all the times I’ve done it to her.  She was doing to me what she did to this baby doll a few months ago.  Crazy woman!

Speaking of noses.  Yesterday I thought Lilly Katherine’s nose was bleeding, so I ran to see if she was ok.

She giggled and said, “Oh, I was just smelling markers.”  She must have shoved those things all the way up her nose, because her little nostrils were RED!  Again, crummy phone pic.  Sorry.

As my friend Leslie say, “Never dull, people!  Never dull!”

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ANYWAY…

On to my Friday Fav #8

My hair used to be STRAIGHT.  When big 90’s hair was in, I couldn’t make my hair curl.  I would roll it in 4,000 hot rollers every morning to try to accomplish my goal of big beautiful hair.  I would painfully sleep with pink sponge rollers snapped all over my head in hopes of beautiful curl.  We all know that sponge rollers don’t produce anything but crazy curl with a big crease where the plastic snap was, but I did it anyway.  My mop hair would stay curly until around noon…then it was flat again.

Fast forward.  The style is straight hair.  Well, God thought it would be funny to give me curly hair now.  I finally have the big hair I worked so hard to achieve…20 years too late.  With every pregnancy, my hair has gotten curlier, and bigger.  Many days I feel like Monica from this Friends episode.

My hair is a curly mess. Several years ago, my friend Jessica told me about this product, and it’s the ONLY thing I will put in my hair.

I love the way Aveda smells, and Aveda Be Curly seems to do the trick for me.  It makes my hair hold it’s curl without leaving it crunchy or slimy.  They also make “Be Curly” shampoo and conditioner, but I’m too cheap to buy all 3. :)  If you have curly hair, give it a try!

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All in all, this beautiful Friday could be my Friday Fav, and we still have Sonic with friends and a Preston’s baseball game!  YAY! :)  Have a blessed weekend!

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Also, I will post a wonderful Easter craft later tonight…I hope.  So check back…late tonight.

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Friday Fav #7-LARABAR

Well hello friends!  I’ve been M.I.A. this week, because ALL of my time and energy have gone to the CCC Sale, but I’m back…with lots of fun clothes and furniture. :)

My Friday Fav is simple.  Pure.  Delightful.

Let me introduce you to the LÄRABAR.

This is how they describe themselves:

“LÄRABAR is a delicious blend of unsweetened fruits, nuts and spices. Made from 100% whole food, each flavor contains no more than nine ingredients. Pure and simple, just as nature intended.”

They are made with very few ingredients.  Natural ingredients.  I feel like I’m eating pure nutrition and not junk when I eat them, but they are really good!

Apple Pie is probably my fav, but I love cherry pie, too.

Apple Pie ingredients: dates, almonds, unsweetened apples, walnuts, raisins, cinnamon.  That’s it!

Cinnamon Roll ingredients:  dates, walnuts, almonds, raisins, cashews, cinnamon.  I know what all those things are, and I can pronounce them.  AND, it’s YUMMY!They have lots of great flavors, and you can see them here.  I have always purchased LÄRABARs at Drug Emporium or health food stores.   They have recently started carrying a few varieties at Target.

Just remember, they are made of all natural ingredients.  No preservatives.  Eat within the expiration date, but give them a try!

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I’ll be back later with a yummy recipe…I hope! :)

But for now, I’ll leave you with 2 pics (taken with my phone) that pretty much sum up my life.

Brad and I had a date night.  We tried to watch a movie.  We’ve probably watched fewer than 10 movies in our married life.  This is why…

Please notice the DROOL on his lip.  (You know I love you dear.)

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And this pic…This was taken a few weeks ago, but it just makes me laugh.

Preston is being obnoxious crazy.  Lilly Katherine is posing for a picture, wearing her fav “big sister” hat.  AnnaLeigh is “nursing” her baby.  Sam is licking his bottom.  Welcome to paradise.  I love every minute of it…most minutes, anyway. :)

Happy Friday!!!

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Friday Fav #6-Blogs

This is a list of some of my fav blogs!  There are so many wonderful Blogs I enjoy reading.  Here are a few that I follow regularly.  These people are wonderful, inspiring, and real!  They give me ideas, share favorite recipes, inspire me with verses, make me feel “normal” and remind me to cherish every moment with my maniacs!

Enjoy!

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Baseballs, Butterflies, & Blessings

Chapman Family of 5

Chilek Family

Day by Day Delight

Doha Days

Everyday Blessings

Fletcher Family

Fly Through Our Window

Full Blessed Life

Happiness Hill

Hoover Household

How To See With Low Vision

Johnson Family

Just Me My Soldier and our 4 Little Chicks

Kelly B’s Boys

Kids and My Kitchen

Kraus Family

Made Like Madeley

McLain Moments

Meg and the Boys

My 2 Men and a Little Lady

My Kids Make Me Smile

Our Fostering Adventure

Rich Indeed

Southern Giggles

Sweet Caroline Bum Bum Bum

The Pioneer Woman

The Poe Fam

The Sheps

There’s Mud and a Big Red Bow on my Monogrammed Apron

Thoughts from a Storytelling Mommy

What A Lovelee Day

Williams Family

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I’m SURE I have forgotten some, but this is the list that popped to my mind.

Now, I’m about to embark on birthday party preparations that WILL keep me up ALL.NIGHT.LONG!    So, why in the world am I on the computer?  I just couldn’t skip another Friday fav! :)

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HAPPY WEEKEND, EVERYONE!

Friday Fav #5-Isaiah 1:16-20

This has been my Friday Fav since last week.  I never got it posted last Friday, and it seems I missed this Friday, too.  I’m just posting it on Saturday night, but I’m still calling it a Friday Fav. :)

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This year in BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) we’re studying Isaiah.  My most favorite passage has been Isaiah 1:16-20.  This passage of scripture is so rich and full of life lessons!  I have loved thinking about it, memorizing it, and trying to teach it to my kids.

16 Wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
stop doing wrong.
17 Learn to do right; seek justice.
encourage the oppressed.[a]
Defend the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow.

18 “Come now, let us reason together,”
says the LORD.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the best from the land;
20 but if you resist and rebel,
you will be devoured by the sword.”
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

“STOP doing wrong.”

Such an elementary thought, yet such a wake-up call.  We need to take notice of the yucky, nasty, ugly things that are awful habits in our lives…the little things that are wrong, sinful…and STOP!  We can’t be the person God wants us to be if we continue to (willingly, blatantly) live in sin.  Because we are imperfect humans, we will always be sinful, but we should make every attempt to live like Christ.

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LEARN to do right.

This verse is key!  Correcting our sinful habits doesn’t typically change overnight.  It can happen with the help of the Lord, but in most cases correcting our sin takes time.  LEARN to do right.  It’s so special to me that the Lord knows this is a process.  Take the time to figure out how to do right.  Take the time to study the WORD.  Spend time with others that are encouraging and wise and knowledgeable.  Be teachable.

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Personal examples:

It’s easy to think this verse doesn’t really apply to us if we’re not committing “big” sins…but large or small, a sin is separation from our HOLY GOD.

I need to STOP yelling at my children when I am frustrated with their deliberate disobedience.  I need to LEARN to calmly speak words of truth to them.  Correct them, YES, but not exasperate them.  This is SO HARD for me!

I need to STOP being lazy, messy, unorganized.  I need to LEARN to be productive, organized, and take care of the gifts to which I’ve been blessed.  I know God is a God of order, I am a woman of CHAOS, and something needs to change.

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(vs. 17) Seek Justice.  Encourage the oppressed.  Defend the cause of the fatherless.  Plead the case of the widow. Be the arms and hands and feet and mouth of the Lord for people who are broken, discouraged, down, frustrated, weary.  There are so many people hurting, so many people who feel they have no voice, and they need YOU and ME!

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Come now let us reason.

Be reasonable!  Sit down, think about your life.  Think about this verse and BE REASONABLE.  Don’t make excuses (which I’m an EXPERT at doing), but instead try to see your life as GOD sees it.

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Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are as red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”

(This always reminds me of an old Sons and Daughters/Watermark song)

Our sins are sometimes so small that we don’t think about them much, but they build to something ugly.  Sometimes they’re large and public.  No matter what they are, no matter how public they are, we are all sinners, and we all need the saving grace of the LORD!  Whether we feel the glare of peoples’ judgmental eyes due to a public sin, or we just know in our hearts that we are living in sin, THE LORD WILL…AND IS HAPPY TO…FORGIVE US!  No sin ever has to be a permanent stain, because He wants to make us “as white as snow!”  He wants to wipe our slate clean.  LET HIM!  Fall at his feet and ask for forgiveness.  He will make us clean if we only confess our sins, ask for forgiveness, and get back on track with a personal relationship with the one who created every one of us!

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If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.”

This verse DOES NOT implythat walking with the Lord will give you an easy life or that living in sin will cause death.  To me, this verse sounds like good parenting/shepherding words of wisdom!  If we willingly obey the few things He’s asked of us, we may not have an easy life, but we’ll have a full and joy filled life.  If we resist and rebel (as we often see our children do), we will be met with consequences and a lack of peace.  We will never be completely happy with that void in our life, and we will one day face judgment…from the only judge that matters.  We can have eternal life with Him, or we can have eternal life without Him.  I choose to be WITH Him!  I choose joy, peace, hope!

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These verses have made me think a lot about my actions.  There are so many things I need to stop doing and so many things I need to learn.  The one place I know I can find wisdom is The Bible.  The Lord tells us clearly in Jeremiah 29:13,

“Call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you,” delcares the Lord.”

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Friday Fav #4 –Germ Story

To go along with my germ theme of the week, this Friday Fav is GERM story #5!  This story is so repulsive that it’s one I will remember always.  It’s my “fav” germ story to tell, however one of my LEAST “fav” moments in life!

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GERMS!  I don’t like them.  I think they’re gross!  I am a germ-a-phobe!  My daughter…is not!  If you missed my previous germ stories, you are welcome to read them…

#1 here, #2 here, #3 here, and #4 here.

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And now, for the granddaddy of them all…for the grand finale…

I’m going to do the best I can to give you a visual of how this “went down.”  It’s hard to type it with the same expression and visuals , but I’ll do my best to give you the full effect!  Here goes!

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Every time we go into a public restroom, I am CONSTANTLY saying, “Please don’t touch anything.”  This child of mine, she loves bathrooms.  Lilly Katherine thinks the “flusher is so cute” and the “little trashcan by the potty is so cute” and the “little door lock-er is so cute.”  She has a very hard time not touching these things.

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Well, we were at a birthday party for my nephew, Garrett, at Putt-Putt.  Our local Putt-Putt was celebrating their 50th anniversary, and I can promise you that not ONE THING has changed in 50 years…or at least for the last 25 years!  Anyone that lives here can attest to that.

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In the middle of the party, Lilly Katherine had to go to the bathroom, of course.  I wanted to make her hold it, just because I LOATHE public restrooms, but the outcome of that decision would not be favorable…nor was the outcome of this one.

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We went into the “one-hole” restroom.  I repeated my mantra of “Do not touch anything!”  Then I put toilet paper on both sides of the horse-shoe shaped seat, like any good germ-a-phobe would do, and I sat my sweet little girl on that nasty, old potty.

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Now, this may be too much information, but I have to give you the visual.  My baby is little and has to hold onto something so she won’t fall in.  What I do is pick her up, put her on the potty, then I stay right where I am and let her hold on to my legs.  That way she has support and can hold on to me instead of the toilet bowl to keep from falling in.

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Well, sometimes (as she did this time) she bends over and pushes her head down by my legs to see how things are going in the potty.  I was asking her questions, when all of the sudden I realized her answers were sounding muffled.

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After a split second of pondering that, I screamed, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?  IS YOUR MOUTH ON THAT POTTY?!?!

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To which she screamed back in confusion and fear, “I NOT TOUCHIN ANYTING!!!”

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I (not really wanting to know the answer) asked back in HORROR, “I know, but were you LICKING THE TOILET?”

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An innocent, “Yes, ma’am”

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My sweet baby girl was LICKING what I would like to refer to as “The pee catcher”…you know, that space between the two sides of the seat.  That little gap.

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HER TONGUE WAS ON IT!

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IT WAS SALTY!

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SHE WAS LICKING THE TOILET SEAT OF A NASTY, OLD PUTT-PUTT BATHROOM!  Who cares where it was, Wal-Mart or my own house, SHE WAS LICKING OTHER PEOPLE’S NASTY, NASTY URINE!

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I ripped that child from the toilet and ran to the sink.  I started scraping her tongue, hoping and praying I had misunderstood what she was really doing.

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I asked for clarification.  I had not misunderstood.  She really was LICKING THE TOILET…but in her defense, she was indeed NOT touching anything!

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As little miss carefree skipped back to the birthday party, I walked back MORTIFIED trying not to throw up!  It makes me gag just thinking about it.  My sister-in-law, who is not at all a germ-a-phobe almost died when I told her.  Her response was, “Well, if she breaks out in purple spots, at least we’ll know why.”  Purple spots were the least of my concern.

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Now, when we enter public restrooms, my mantra is, “Remember, don’t touch anything, and PLEASE DON’T LICK ANYTHING!”

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The only good thing about this horrible moment in time is that I will make all her dates read this post before they take her out.  What boy in his right mind would want to kiss a real “potty mouth?” :)

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Friday Fav #3-Chick-fil-A’s Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshake

In case you haven’t figured this out, I like to EAT!  I enjoy it.  It makes me happy.  I love good food.  I love healthy food.  I love junk food.  I love FOOD!

I don’t eat ice cream when my kids are awake, because ice cream turns Preston into something super-human.  It literally makes him lose his mind.  You can see the sugar start bubbling through his veins the instant it touches his tongue.  I’ve been told he looks like a racquetball in a small court.  It’s the truth!

SOOOO, My favorite sweet indulgence after the kids are asleep is

Chick-fil-A’s Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshake

(credit)

And this is what it looks like when i’t gone. :)

I enjoyed this one with my sweet hubby last night!  So, so so yummy!

The Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshake is seasonal, so get it before it’s gone!

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Friday Fav #2-Cedarmont Kids Bible Songs

I have been very convicted about television this year.  I don’t want to fill my mind with the junk that’s on TV and I certainly don’t want to fill my babies’ minds with it.  I have always been pretty good about limiting the maniacs’ TV time, but this year I’m actually practicing what I preach.  Amazing!

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My Friday Fav #2 is the Cedarmont Kids Bible Singalong Collection.

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My kids have these CD’s, and they they listen to them ALL.THE.TIME!  They sing, shout and dance about…and it’s so precious!

My sister encouraged me to get the DVD’s of these same songs, so I got them for my maniacs for Christmas.   My girls LOVE them!  About 100 times a day AnnaLeigh says, “I wanna watch my songs, Mama!”  It’s so sweet to hear them sit and sing and know that they’re filling their minds with praises to the Lord instead of the drama of Hannah Montana.

The songs on this Platinum collection include the following 3 CDs or DVDs:

SUNDAY SCHOOL SONGS

  • I Am a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N
  • Standin’ in the Need of Prayer
  • He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands
  • Alive, Alive
  • Jesus Loves the Little Children
  • Whisper a Prayer
  • Jacob’s Ladder
  • Old Time Religion
  • Go Tell It on the Mountain
  • I’ve Got Peace Like a River
  • Michael, Row the Boat Ashore
  • Oh, How I Love Jesus
  • Down in My Heart
  • Let the Sunshine In
  • Do Lord

ACTION BIBLE SONGS

  • Onward, Christian Soldiers
  • Rise and Shine (Arky, Arky)
  • Zacchaeus
  • Father Abraham
  • I’m in the Lord’s Army
  • Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
  • His Banner Over Me Is Love
  • Jesus Bids Us Shine
  • O Be Careful, Little Eyes
  • Happy All the Time
  • Jesus Loves the Little Ones
  • Isn’t He Wonderful
  • One Door and Only One
  • Behold, Behold
  • If You’re Happy
  • This Little Light of Mine
  • Climb, Climb Up Sunshine Mountain

BIBLE SONGS

  • Little David (Play on Your Harp)
  • This Is My Commandment
  • Jesus Loves Me
  • Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho
  • Jesus Loves Even Me
  • Dare to Be a Daniel
  • Everybody Ought to Know
  • Peter, James and John in a Sailboat
  • My God Is So Big
  • Every Promise in the Book Is Mine
  • I Will Sing of the Mercies of the Lord Forever
  • The B-I-B-L-E
  • Silver and Gold Have I None
  • Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam
  • I Have Decided to Follow Jesus
  • Give Me Oil in My Lamp

If you have young kids that love to sing, I encourage you to look into these CD’s and DVD’s.  They are a wonderful price, especially if you buy the box sets, and so worth it!  We have this set which includes 3 full length DVD’s.  You can purchase them at Christian book stores or you can buy them here.  The CD set is only $9.99 and the DVD set is only $19.99.  Hard to beat!

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“Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things.”

– Phil 4:8

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Friday Favs-La Tortilla Oven

I think I am going to start a new little blog tradition called “Friday Favs!”  We already have the Friday tradition of  “DONUT DAY!!!” which is of course a FAV, so why not add another tradition.  I think I’m going to try to list an item, a product, an idea, a moment, etc…that is a favorite!

My first Friday Fav is…

La Tortilla Oven

It is the best tortilla warmer ever!  The tortillas stay warm throughout our entire meal.  This is smaller than those styrophome or plastic warmers with lids.  It really works!  I used it again this week to make homemade taquitos and it just made me happy!

I bought ours at Mistletoe and Magic, but you can buy them online here.

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