...Happily Ever After! ♥

♪♫ Music Monday - Part 2 ♪♫

2012-02-06T09:43:00.001-05:00

Lest you be deceived by my last post, this is the music I'm actually listening to this Monday morning!! And, well, THIS is actually my favorite song right now!! Love my kiddos and hope they always fight over the piano bench! :)

Gotta love their curly bed head!!

♪♫ Music Monday♪♫ How Deep The Father's Love For Us

2012-02-06T08:35:00.000-05:00

This song has become a favorite in our house!!

My Goals - 2012 with Free Printable

2012-02-03T13:58:00.000-05:00

I love my Executive Homemaker binder and plan on using it more this year than I did last year. Mine is a conglomeration of different organizational printables I find helpful for staying sane! The printables at Tip Junkie are a great place to start.

Last year I printed a page to write down my goals for the year and loved that they were always in front of me as a reminder. I kept it simple and only listed about 4-5 things and was able to check off most of them! I did a quick search for a printable this year and didn't find one I loved, so I decided it would be faster to just make my own!! It's a little late, but January was crazy...time to get these goals from my head to the paper!!

You should be able to just click the image to download. ♥

A Few of My {Current} Favorite Things! ♥

2012-02-02T17:25:00.000-05:00

First up, my new FAVORITE mug in the whole world...thanks to my wonderful mother who always asks what I want for Christmas!! :) This Thermo-Ceramic Mug by Green Mountain Coffee is the perfect mug! Everyone knows coffee tastes better in ceramic, and everyone that knows me knows that I am not a fast coffee drinker. Sooo, now I get the best of both worlds...fab tasting coffee that is still hot after I've been sipping for an hour! It also comes with a travel lid!! (not pictured)

Next up...my new KINDLE FIRE!! Proof that my husband is the best in the world...he got me this -complete with its sleek cover - in JANUARY, as in, NOT for Christmas!! Just because...and it was a suprise...just showed up in its Amazon box on my doorstep!! Ahhh, he spoils me and I LOVE HIM!! ♥

No list of my favorite things would be complete without CHIPS and SALSA!! Big surprise... :) At the top of my preferences right now are Tostitos Restaurant Style and On the Border Cantina Thins...yummm!!

Silly, maybe, but I cannot live without my TRESemme hairspray...no expensive salon stuff here!!

Sadly, I could not take a picture of my favorite perfume because I'm out!!! {Hint, Hint, Babe, I know you read my blog! :o} But this handy powder came with my last bottle - L'eau D'Issey by Issey Miyake.

So, I'm not really a purse collectin' kind of girl, but I do have my favorites - Dooney & Bourke and Coach. And it just so happens both were given to me by my wonderfully awesome husband! Told ya I'm spoiled - and don't tell him I told ya, but he does dishes too! :)

Probably the most visited site on my laptop and Kindle - Pandora!! Favorite station right now is Keith and Kristyn Getty. :)

I could sit for hours at my piano...well, not really, since these days I have 6 little hands that like to join in. :) But I'm seeing lots of piano quartets in the future... ♪♫♪♫

All of these are essential items in making my perfect cup of coffee - my Keurig milk frother, Coffee-mate Italian Sweet Creme creamer {we buy NOTHING else!!} and Starbucks Pike Place K-cups!!

So, what are some your favorite things - stuff you can't live without?? I love to try new things!!

♪♫ Music Monday ♪♫ - God's Been Good

2012-01-30T10:09:00.001-05:00

This song has been on my mind since yesterday as I listened to many, many heavy and heartbreaking prayer requests in our Sunday School class. Many are facing and have faced heavier burdens than I, but I know that God is the one who plans our life and the trials and blessings He sends our way. Ultimately, we all have it better than we deserve - God is good!!

Cleaning on a Budget ♥ Part One

2012-01-20T09:48:00.000-05:00

I, like most people I'm sure, have a Love/Hate relationship with cleaning. I LOVE a clean, sparkly house, but do NOT necessarily love cleaning! And contrary to popular belief, the fact that I'm at home all day with my kiddos does not mean my house is always spotless! Because, "what else do I have to do besides clean all day?" lol... I've quit trying to make those who "think I've got the easy life" understand what a day in the life of a SAHM (with 3 kids 3 and under, I might add!) involves. But let me just say, YES, I clean ALL DAY!! Because we are here ALL DAY!! And my kids make a mess ALL DAY!! And honestly, it can get overwhelming, so hence my "cleaning budget" - and you probably thought I was going to tell you how I save money?? I do have a few of my favorite tips I'll share, but mostly I'm going to share my "Time Budget" cleaning schedule.

So, a little BACKGROUND -I'm a recovering clean/neat freak with OCD...meaning, yeah, not so much anymore! Twins and a toddler will do that to ya! But I still feel my stress levels rise when my house starts getting out of order - I've tried to be laid back, I really have! These days, though, I try not to hold myself to as high a standard as it was getting pretty overwhelming and not even really possible.

My PHILOSOPHY or manner of thinking is this: I do stay home so that I can be the best wife and mother possible for my children. I believe it's my purpose in life and why God created me. And I'm wired in such a way that working outside the home and being a happy wife and mother do not go together. So, while a clean house is part of it, I really don't want to spend my days CLEANING!! I want to teach and train and play with my little ones while they are here at home with me - the SPOTLESS house can wait until they are in school.

This post was really INSPIRED by a conversation with a new SAHM. She has two young children and due to various life circumstances, she no longer works in her career but rather stays home with her youngest who is not quite school age. She expressed to me during a play date one afternoon that her house is messier, she has less time to cook, and feels tired more often now that she stays home...WHAT?? She didn't understand how that could be so when she is home all day. I reminded her that being home all day means LIVING in your house all day.

I've tried SO MANY cleaning schedules and ideas and followed so many cleaning and organizing blogs, but finally had to sit down and think about what works for me and my family. I had to put myself on a cleaning budget - a cleaning TIME budget that is... I'll share my thoughts on that in Part TWO. I'm a little long-winded...sorry!! Are you still reading?? lol If so, think about some tips you can share either here or in my next post - I'd love to hear from you and learn some new ideas!

For now I'll close with this - my favorite discovery!!!
The Libman Freedom Mop- it has saved me a TON of money vs. my Swiffer. And I actually clean with it more because I don't have to worry about running out of refills or batteries. I got mine at good ol' Walmart!

I'm So Spoiled! ♥

2012-01-19T08:56:00.000-05:00

So, not a long post today, but I have to confess how spoiled I feel every time I use my Keurig milk frother!! My dad and mom got this for us for Christmas and I've used it every day since - sometimes more than once!! This has been a wonderful addition to our Keurig brewer. Couple those with Starbucks K-cups (Pike Place is my FAV!) and... Woolah - PERFECTION!! I now prefer making my own caramel macchiatos at home rather than going to Starbucks. :)

...and don't be jealous of my new Starbucks Grande mug!!

Nightstand Play Kitchen Makeover ♥

2012-01-18T11:42:00.003-05:00

I had so much fun with this project!! I worked on it with a friend (she made one for her daughter as well) in the few weeks before Christmas and it actually went pretty fast! Our husbands helped as well with installation of some of the features. My girlies LOVE it and their big brother, Titus (3 years), plays with it just as much as they do! He loves to cook in the oven! :)

This is how is looked when I got it - this is the actual Craigslist picture!! I paid $25 for it which was a little more than I had originally planned, but decided the Thomasville brand and solid wood construction were worth it. Plus, I kinda waited til the last minute to find one! I especially liked that the top was a little larger since my girlies would be sharing it.

The finished product!! We added a backsplash and painted it PINK!

Top view - I used vinyl circles for the stove and dresser knobs for the stove knobs. I'm planning to add washers so they will turn.

The sink is a square cake pan I got at the Dollar Store!

I splurged a little and got a "for real" faucet - it was $25 at Lowe's. Again, had I planned a little more ahead, I may have been able to find one on clearance.

I kept the top drawer "as is" so the girls could use it for storage. It works perfectly for all their utensils and hot pads! The divided wooden tray was part of the Apple Pie Set from Melissa and Doug.

The second drawer became the oven. We used the drawer front only and attached it with hinges. The guys had to cut a wooden piece to fit the bottom of the drawer space as it was open when we removed the drawer. I do have a picture, but it is on my friend's camera...

I used a cookie cooling rack I had on hand for the oven rack. I want to eventually get one that sits up higher, but am waiting to find a good deal on them!! And I will be adding a dome "push light" to add to the "realness" factor. :)

The oven also doubles as storage for all their baking sets!! :) They are all wooden Melissa and Doug sets - I got several of them 50% off at A.C. Moore - highly recommend!!! Apple Pie set is from HomeGoods and the Pizza Party set is from Grandma! ♥

I removed the bottom drawer completely and the space is used as a "pantry" for all their play food. The wooden crate came with the Melissa and Doug fridge food set. I made a cute little curtain and hung it on a tension rod inside the drawer opening. Originally we tried to hang a thin curtain rod on the outside, but ended up breaking off 2 screws and 2 nails INSIDE the wood - talk about some serious HARDWOOD!!!

In order to use the tension rod, we had to cut it down. To do this, my husband took the two pieces of the rod apart, cut the coil on the inside down to size and trimmed the outside rods to fit. I should also mention we did this part on CHRISTMAS EVE night!! Not such a good idea to wait until the last minute - fortunately, I had a tension rod on hand!

I just covered a plastic to-go cup with scrapbook paper for them to use as a utensil holder.

The towel bar on the side is actually a HEAVY DUTY cabinet pull. My friend's husband used to work as a cabinet maker, so she had lots of these on hand in many styles. I also have plans to make some matching towels for them...too many ideas and not enough time!! Maybe for their birthday in May???

And one last look at the "finished for now" project!! The drawer pulls are also some my friend had on hand - love the touch they add!

I'm linking up to Wednesday Wowzers @Oopsey Daisy!

AND

Sometimes He Calms the Storm

2012-01-12T08:42:00.000-05:00

Playing this song this morning! Love the truth in the words!

UPDATE: Sorry, the user deleted his account, but I am going to leave this post in hopes it will be reactivated at some point. There are other versions of this song on YouTube...just not my favorite renditions... :)

Bow Tie Baby Shower

2012-01-10T19:55:00.000-05:00

This past fall (yeah, I know I'm a little late with this post!), the ladies of our Sunday School class and I hosted a baby shower for one of the ladies in our class. We decided on a "Sip and See" style shower so that everyone could meet the baby and went with a bow tie theme for the cute baby boy. This was a perfect opportunity to do a "Sip and See" after the baby was born as the mommy had already had a few showers beforehand with family and friends.

Church baby showers can be a little hard to plan as you never really know how many guests to expect. At our church, though, we generally have anywhere from 50-75 people attend. Our showers are open to all ladies of the church and are usually a "floating" style shower where guests can come and go as they please within a 1-2 hour time period.

I realize the party style these days is what I would consider "over the top", and while I L♥VE party planning as much as anyone, it really is not practical for church baby showers of this size. But I really do still like to make each shower unique and special and not just use a package of standard baby shower decorations purchased at the local party center.

I especially like the color scheme - it was perfect for a fall, baby boy shower. :)

Bow Tie Napkins

We just served basic veggies, cheese and crackers, chips and dip, and a cookie platter and then refilled as needed. But there are lots of cute themed food ideas you could use for a smaller gathering of guests - bow tie pasta, custom bow tie cookies, tuxedo bow tie chocolate dipped strawberries, etc...

The shower time was perfect for an afternoon "tea", so we served Spiced Tea (I get asked for this recipe ALL the time, so I'll be posting it soon!), a variety of individual tea bags, and coffee with biscotti and flavored creamers.

The bow tie banner turned out adorable! The letters were cut out on a Cricut machine and the bow ties are made from fabric. I didn't even finish the raw edges! We pulled this shower off with about 2 hours of prep time.! :)

For more ideas on doing a Bow Tie themed shower, you can check out the following links:

Emmy's Events: The Little Gentleman Baby Shower
A Darling Day: Bow Tie Baby Shower

♥ There Are No Words...

2012-01-05T09:57:00.000-05:00

...really, to describe how much I love and adore my awesome little family!! Sooo, here are a few pictures that say it all. ♥♥

My favorite picture of them to date!! ♥♥♥

Kaelyn

Kourtney

Merry Christmas! ♥

2011-12-23T16:06:00.000-05:00

It's been a busy end of the year!! Christmas is almost here, and I'm ready!! :) We did not travel this year, and it has been soooo nice to enjoy our home for a change. While we will miss seeing our extended family, it's a load of fun to hang out just the five of us. And I'm getting lots done with organizing and cleaning so we can have a fresh start to a new year - with more blog posts!! LOL!

From our family to yours ~ MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!! ♥♥

My {FINISHED} Camera Strap Cover with a Tutorial Review ♥

2011-10-28T14:18:00.001-04:00

After much procrastination, I FINALLY FINISHED MY CAMERA STRAP COVER! Woo Hoo for me!! :) I am super excited! I pinned a bunch of tutorials to my Pinterest boards awhile back, but haven't had a chance to make one. I ended up using two different tutorials: one from The Cottage Home and the other from Nursery Rhymes and Sweet Times. I got my basic measurements and assembly instructions from The Cottage Home's tutorial, and used the one from Nursery Rhymes to make the lens cover pocket. I did vary a little from the tutorial at The Cottage Home, but only for a couple of things. I didn't have fusible fleece on hand, so I used some bamboo quilt batting to pad the back side of the strap and just quilted it down with a basic straight stitch. I also LOVE the look of the ruched camera straps rather than gathered or ruffled, so I modified that part as well.

Rather than sewing a gathering stitch down the middle as called for in the tutorial, I sewed one down each side hoping it would give me the ruched look I so desperately HAD TO HAVE and IT WORKED!! ♥ I'm always surprised when it works for me!

I chose a black and white damask print for the front (though you can't really tell!) and a black and white diagonal print for the back.

LOVE THIS! Since my strap is neutral, I decided to make my accent rosettes interchangeable!! I'm seeing red, teal, yellow, and pink in the future!! The possibilities are endless!!

I've seen many versions of the lens cap cover, but decided I wanted the elastic version, and the tutorial for this was super easy!! I like that it is roomy and that it will accommodate an extra SD card as well. ♥

Picture of the pocket without the cap in it... :)

I really do like the way the back of the strap turned out!! Even though I was just "making do," I think I'd probably do it like this in the future as well!! It's nice and comfy too!!

Just a closeup of the detail...

I was also really pleased with how the measurements came out. Honestly, it was a BEAR to turn this thing right side out and then to ~~slide~~ shove it on my strap, but I prefer that it fits snugly and doesn't slide around as I've seen with a lot of other tutorials.
So, yup, definitely in love with my new camera strap, and I must confess I really am quite proud of myself!! Mostly for FINISHING this project!!

Oh, and lastly... a confession...I had to take these pictures with my point and shoot because I had already put the strap on my camera and was not about to undo ANYTHING!!! :) So, please, excuse the blur...

Linking up at:

September Purge - 2011 - Gettin' It Done!!!

2011-09-15T14:04:00.000-04:00

WOW - I can not believe it has been a month since my last blog post! And I had been doing so much better at keeping up this year! The summer was incredibly busy, but fun. And honestly, this last month, I've really re-evaluated some priorities, and well, this blog is not high on the list! The whole reason, though, that I started this blog was to chronicle the happenings of our little family, so I'm going to stick with it. I do enjoy looking back at my old posts -especially the pictures of the kids- and realizing how truly blessed I am.

Probably the main reason for my online absence is that I've committed the month of September to completely purging every room, piece of storage furniture, and every nook and cranny of my house!!! I'm making great progress and it is soooo stress-relieving! I made a list for every day of the month and have thrown away at least 10-12 bags of "stuff"!! Definitely taking a minimalist approach to life these days!! I'm really thinking that once I complete my purge, I can maintain my daily cleaning SOOO much easier and faster! - At least until the next purge in spring... My personality really doesn't allow me to focus on other things - mainly both of my Etsy shops (especially my DigiDesign shop) - unless my house is in order and everything is caught up. Which, IMO, is how it should be, but I really need some more time to focus on making some extra income. :) And even thus far, my less cluttered areas have allowed me more time in the mornings for going outside with the kiddos to blow bubbles, dig for worms, push them around in the dump truck, and take lots of pictures of them - which is VERY HIGH on my priority list! :0

One thing I have been doing A LOT of is making my SIL's recipe for cheese enchiladas!!! She made them on vacation for everyone, and they were THE BEST ever!! And they are so easy to make. Hoping to get the recipe posted today or tomorrow for you all! YUM!!

And now my time limit is up...so on to the next thing on my list! :)

Titus: "Aww, he's so cute! He likes me!"

Tonight's Extreme Couponing Trip

2011-08-15T23:51:00.000-04:00

Tonight I went to Wal-mart and Harris Teeter for Super Double coupons. Saved a ton of money and was able to get my new binder, dividers, and card sleeves for free with my overages! :) This is addicting!!

Walmart - Before coupons = $130.00 After Coupons = $6.00

Harris Teeter - Before Coupons = $69.00 After Coupons = $13.00

My Newest Hobby!!

2011-08-15T15:20:00.002-04:00

About a month ago, a friend introduced me to the art of EXTREME couponing, and I'm hooked! I've always been frugal with our grocery spending, but this is sooo fun! I'm using the binder method to organize, and I get coupons from the newspaper, mailings, and online resources. I've posted below my most recent trip...but I'm going again tonight, so I'll be sure to update. :)

Total before coupons = $200! Total after coupons = $22!! Woo Hoo!!

I Need A Vacation!!

2011-08-15T15:11:00.000-04:00

Yes, I just came back from vacation, and YES! I feel like I need a vacation!! I think that this stage of my life involves taking "trips" rather than vacations. Vacation to me is a time to relax and do nothing - impossible to do with three kiddos! We were able to take two vacations this year - one with each side of the family! Both were loaded with TONS of fun and lots of memories. However, each vacation was on the tail end of a "trip" that required packing for two locations each time we traveled! Confused?? In June we spent a week in Oak Island with my family, but then traveled from there to Ohio for a 30th anniversary celebration at Tim's parents' church. Then the first of this month, we took a trip to the Majesty MusiCollege in Virginia for 3 days, and left straight from there to travel to Gatlinburg, TN for vacation with Tim's family. I have a TON of pictures to edit and post! :) And hopefully I can get that done sooner than later - still trying to get back into a routine. Next week I officially start school with Titus. I got the same curriculum our church's daycare uses so that when I finally send him off for K-5, he'll be prepared. EXCITING!! :) Now to tackle my To Do list...

Taken at the top of Clingman's Dome - that was a hike!!!!! ♥

SAHM - what it means to me... ♥

2011-07-27T14:58:00.005-04:00

...cloth diapering when I run out of disposables (very dear to my heart today!lol!)
....making my own baby wipes, baby food, etc...
...PB&J everyday for lunch (well, we changed it up today with broccoli and carrots with cheese sauce and fruit cups)
...constantly picking up toys
...being with my kiddos 24/7 (yay for naptime!)
...living on a VERY strict budget
...no eating out
...shopping in my closet and pantry
...saving pennies for over a year (and likely longer) to buy a DSLR
...no cable TV
...owning more "play" clothes than "career" clothes
...feeling isolated at times because zero of my local friends are SAHMs
*****************************************
But really WHO CARES about that stuff - it's all about...
....watching my little girlies toddle around the house in their stubby littly ponytails
..."playing" school with my 3 year old, teaching him his colors, numbers and the alphabet
...storytime
...hearing my girlies giggling when they wake up from their nap
...being with my kiddos 24/7 (LOVE eating their necks, bellies, and toes!)
..."cleaning" house with my 3 year old
...being there to train my kiddos instead of having to discipline them when I get home
...playing outside whenever we want - especially in the kiddie pool or running through water from the hose
...reading my Bible in Titus's room while he plays and then having him ask if he can get his Bible to read
...using my teaching degree to teach the most important (& cutest!) kiddos in the world
...building train tracks that cover the family room floor - it's a science, ya know!!
...fingerpainting
...singing fun and silly songs
...tip-toeing through their bedrooms at nap time to put away their clothes
...slobbery kisses and sticky fingers
...a heart full of precious memories of seeing my babies milestones before anyone else
...checking the mail with Titus - it's a highlight of the day! :)
I could go ON and ON and ON with daily delights that warm my heart!!

I decided before I was married, that if the Lord ever blessed me with children, I would stay home and train them while they were little. I am SOOO thankful for a husband who agrees with that decision and has supported it every step of the way! Of course, it has not always been easy! (Said in response to the lady who told me that my husband must have gotten a huge raise at work if we could afford for me to stay home - Ummm.... no!) But we have chosen to make the necessary adjustments in our standard of living so that I can live with no regrets. I was sooo made for this job - I'm the CEO you know! :) I wouldn't trade it for the millionaire's salary - some things just can't be bought! Some have asked if I'll go back to teaching when my children are school age. It's definitely a thought, BUT then there's field trips, class parties, after school snacks to bake, away ball games, soooo who knows??

DISCLAIMER: This post is NOT a debate about the choice to stay home or not. It is simply the thoughts I'm having today as my heart is so full of thankfulness that the Lord has allowed me to live my dream. I have the highest respect for moms who choose not to stay at home for whatever reason they've decided.

Our Favorite Lasagna

2011-07-23T18:30:00.001-04:00

Lasagna is my husband's FAVORITE dish in the whole world! Fortunate for me, since it is one of the easiest meals to make. I made a double batch yesterday to share with some friends who are going through a difficult time, and thought I'd add the "recipe" to my blog. But see here's the deal - I'm kind of a "throw in whatever and how much ever I want" kinda gal - usually depending on what I'm craving or what I have on hand. I've always been one to look to recipes for ideas, but I don't know that I've ever followed one exactly! :) Which, as a side note, is why I don't do much baking... well, and also because I don't keep fattening junk food in the house... But I do love to be creative in my cooking. All that to say, this is a VERY LOOSE recipe. I am by no means a chef!!! My goal is to make scrumptious meals that do not require expensive ingredients or a lot of prep time. SO, please feel free, as will ALL my recipes, to deviate - I'm sure it'll turn out great!

LASAGNA
Ingredients:
1- 16 oz carton of cottage cheese
1- 8 oz carton of ricotta cheese
1- 16 oz package of mozzarella cheese ,divided
1- 8 oz package of cheddar cheese
1 egg (beaten)
Italian Seasoning (to taste)
1/2 ts nutmeg
dash of salt and pepper
1- package of OVEN READY lasagna noodles
2 - large cans of spaghetti sauce (I DO NOT like Ragu, and usually use Hunt's or Del Monte because they're cheap!)
1 lb. Ground Italian sausage, cooked and drained
***If I have it on hand, I like to throw some Parmesan into the cheese mixture.

Directions:
1. Mix cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, 8 oz of mozzarella cheese, spices, and egg in a large bowl. Reserve enough mozzarella cheese to cover the top when you are finished assembling the layers. The cheddar goes on top as well. Set aside.
2. Spread a little of the spaghetti sauce on the bottom of a deep dish lasagna pan. I always use my Pampered Chef rectangular baker stoneware. Then combine the rest of the sauce with the cooked sausage.
3. Start layering in the following order: noodles, cheese mixture, meat sauce. I usually end up doing three layers of this, so you can judge your amounts accordingly. And be sure to spread out the ingredients evenly. :)
I am pretty persnickety (SHOCK!) about the way I layer the noodles. I have to break some of mine to fit so that each layer is completely covered with noodle. I also alternate the direction I lay the noodles as it seems to help my lasagna hold up better when serving it. But that is just our preference.... :)
4. After the last layer of sauce, top with LOADS of mozzarella and cheddar cheese. YUMMO!
5. Bake at 350º for 45 minutes. Let it cool slightly before serving with garlic toast. :

Best part is that this dish tastes even better as leftovers!

Hmmm....guess I should have taken a picture to add here to get your taste buds salivating..... maybe eventually. I'm doing good to post an update... lol! :)

Homemade Baby Wipes - My Recipe ♥

2011-07-17T16:02:00.011-04:00

In one of my many efforts to save a little extra money, I decided to try making my own baby wipes. I remember my mom making them when I lived at home, so this is definitely not something I invented! :) I am now on my second batch, and I LOVE them!! The first time, I followed a recipe I found online, but I thought my wipes ended up too sudsy, so this past time I tweaked the recipe a little and think it works better for my tastes.

Ingredients & Supplies:
Airtight Container
2 1/4 cups water (This depends on the size paper towel roll you use - you may need slightly more or less.)
1.5 Tbs Baby Wash
1 Tbs Baby Oil
1 Roll VIVA brand paper towels

Directions:
1. Bring water to a boil on stove top and allow to cool to room temperature. This step is important as it removes the bacteria from the water thereby keeping your wipes from molding.

2. While the water is boiling, use a serrated knife to cut the roll of paper towels in half. Place one of the halved paper towel rolls cut side down in the container. You will use 1/2 of the roll for each batch of wipes. The first time I made these, I took the inner cardboard out at this point - and it was a HUGE pain!! So, my second time around, I added a little extra water (hence the extra 1/4 cup) so the inner cardboard could soak up the water mixture. It was SOOO much easier to take out after it was soggy! :)

My knife is terrible, so my ends are pretty jagged. But it doesn't seem to make a difference in the end product.

3. Mix water, baby bath, and baby oil. (As a side note, the original recipe I followed called for 2 Tbs. of wash, but I prefer the wipes not to be as soapy.) I love the smell of the bedtime bath wash, and the Equate brand smells just as good! :)

4. Pour the liquid mixture over the paper towels and close with the airtight lid.

5. Turn the container upside down to allow the paper towels to completely absorb all the mixture. After about 5-10 minutes, turn the paper towels right side up and remove the inner cardboard. You will pull the wipes from the center. Voila!

Easy Peasy!! And I now prefer these to store bought wipes. I purchased all my ingredients at Wal-Mart and figured that these wipes will cost me about 1/4 the price of the Equate brand wipes (which I do NOT like!). My first batch lasted me about a week - of course, that is using them for twins!! :) And the addition of my vinyl polka dots to the container makes them even more fun to use.

Originally, I wondered how to use these in my travel wipes container for the diaper bag, and found that I could tear of a long strip of wipes and just fold them accordion style inside my container. I did this once and it was no problem at all. However, a very generous person bought us a HUGE box of Huggies wipes, so now I plan to use the Huggies wipes only for my diaper bag - maybe I can make them last until I no longer need wipes??? :)

Good luck making your wipes!! I'm sure you will want to tweak this recipe to your tastes, but that's half the fun - fully customized wipes!! :0

Mothering Twins - {Part 4} - Scheduling 6 to 12 Months

2011-07-05T11:39:00.004-04:00

Ok, once again I am just pasting an email I sent to a friend requesting our schedule. Hope it helps! :)

Here is my 6-12 month schedule. Of course, it is for managing twins and a toddler and even includes some of my daily "to do", but the core of it is basically the same. Basically at 6 months, a shift begins to start solids (though I started cereal at 4 months) and move into a 3 meal-a-day schedule with one additional night feeding before bedtime. At this age, I offer any formula or juice in a soft spout sippy cup. I like the NUK nipples. While I nursed Titus for a little over a year, I stopped nursing the girls at 6 months. That was goal and I accomplished it! 6 months x 2 = 1 year of nursing! So here it is - the copy and paste version!:

Daily Schedule
(Titus – 2 years; Kaelyn & Kourtney – 6-12 months)
6:30 – Wake/Devotions/Dressed for the day
7:30 – Kids Wake/Breakfast
• Girls - 6 oz. cup/fruit with cereal
8:00 – Kids Dressed for day
8:15 – Quiet play in crib or Pack n Play
• Morning Routine (Titus helps mommy)
8:45 – Group Play in family room
• Daily To Do List
9:15 – Story time/Song time/Interactive Play/Outside Play
10:00 – Girls’ Morning Nap
• Weekly Tasks
11:00 – School work with Titus
11:30 – Girls Wake and Lunch
• 6 oz. cup/veggies with cereal
12:00 – Titus and Mommy Lunch
12:30 – Titus Nap/Girls – playtime with mommy (15 min. each)
1:00 - Girls – separate play (playpen, floor, activity centers)
1:30 – Girls’ Afternoon Nap
3:30 – Wake/Snack
• Girls – finger food & 3-4 oz diluted juice (only as needed)
5:00 – Girls Dinner
• 6 oz. cup/veggies, fruit, cereal
5:30 – Family Dinner (girls in highchairs at table with optional finger foods)
7:30 – Bedtime Routine
8:30 – Titus to Bed
Girls – 6 oz cup then TO BED!

It took a little bit for them to go so long between naps, and they probably actually went down a little earlier and slept a little longer when they were only 6-7 months. My philosophy has always been "whatever works best for me and my family!" Anyhow, hope it helps.

Pretty Girls!! 6 months

Mothering Twins - {Part 3} - Scheduling the First 6 Months

2011-07-05T00:57:00.002-04:00

Well, I promised to post a schedule, and since I've really turned into a "do it the easiest way" kind of person since the twins were born {ok, well, not entirely, but I'm feeling it tonight!}, I've decided to just copy and paste a response I sent to a friend who was asking about how I scheduled my kiddos. Enjoy!

Hmmm...don't know that I'm one to be giving advice!! But I guess I can share what has worked for us. I love Babywise, but I've also implemented ideas from "My First 300 Babies" and "To Train Up a Child". With my first born Titus, I followed the Babywise schedule pretty rigidly, and he still did not sleep through the night until about 5 months. He did however take great naps and the days were wonderful.

His schedule looked something like this:
From 2 weeks - 6 months
6:00 - Nurse
*Back to bed
9:00 - Nurse
Waketime - Swing, bouncer, or play area
10:30 - Nap
12:00 - Nurse
Waketime - Sing, Read stories, Interactive Play
1:30 Nap
3:00 - Nurse
Waketime - Tummy Time in Play Pen (So I could fix supper!)
4:30 - Nap
6:00 - Nurse
Waketime- Bath, Time with Daddy, short nap if fussy
10:00 - Nurse
To BED!!!

I waited 4 hours before giving the last feeding to make sure he was good and hungry! He would still wake up usually around 2-3 am and I guess I always felt as if I should feed him because he was always on the lower end of the charts with his weight. HOWEVER, around 5 months, I'd had enough and decided to let him cry it out. He had pretty much just developed a habit of waking up. His weight was not effected by dropping the early morning feed. I think the girls slept through the night earlier for several reasons:
*I feed them breast milk in a bottle and they always get a full feeding - no snacking!!
*I put a small amount of powder fine cereal in the last bottle of the night starting when they were 2 months old.
*I moved them to their own room sooner, and I think some nights I just slept through their crying. Sleep deprivation will do that to ya!!
*I've also noticed they sleep better in sleepers with feet! I read somewhere that a common reason for babies waking in the night is that they get cold - especially their feet.

All my babies have slept swaddled TIGHTLY!! Titus slept swaddled until he was about 15 months old!
For naps during the day, he did go through a period when I just had to let him cry and a couple of times he cried until his next feeding. But that only happened a couple of times and he has been a SUPER napper ever since. At 2 1/2 he is still taking a 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon. Tim and I also decided early on that "all unnecessary crying takes place in the crib!" If there is no urgent need - food/diaper/discomfort - the crying baby is placed in his crib and the door is closed. Titus never had a "cry time", but I've noticed that Kourtney gets fussy in the evenings and just needs to expel some energy. That doesn't mean I have to listen though!
Mrs. Cowling's books are good too - great philosophies in there!
Also with Titus's nap training time, he would get pretty worked up as well and couldn't calm himself down. I would reswaddle (and check his diaper) and pat his tummy and "shush" him, but I tried not to pick him up. The goal is to never reward unnecessary crying.

Well, I'm sure you've heard or read all that before because it's not original with me, but maybe you can at least know you are not alone in your journey for sleep!!! Hey, with the twins, Tim and I had to get pretty creative. Their few weeks of eating 3 hours at night was INSANE!!! I had to nurse them each one at a time, then pass them off to Tim for a bottle because they were weak suckers and couldn't always get enough. Then I had to pump to make sure I maintained my milk supply. The whole process took 1.5 - 2 hours. Then we got an hour or so break/sleep before starting all over again. We got caught up on all our favorite shows though! Now they are sleeping 10 -12 hours a night....kinda scared to mention that for fear they'll wake up at 2:00 tomorrow morning!! Good Luck! Feel feel to ask any other questions or even just vent! I definitely understand!

Soooo little! :) 3 weeks

Mothering Twins - {Part 2} - Nursing

2011-06-30T20:43:00.001-04:00

As promised, I am posting about my experience with nursing twins. :) I am 100% for nursing when it is at all possible and nursed my first born for a full year. But this post is not about the benefits of nursing - and there are MANY!! We felt that my nursing our children would be the best thing for them, and so I committed myself to doing it. I must confess that while I am very glad and thankful I did, it was not easy or convenient!! I do believe it is one of the most unselfish things a mother can do for her child. ♥

My experience with nursing my twins girlies was FAR from glamorous or exciting!! They were both healthy at birth, but both had an extremely weak suck. And even though I managed fine with my son without the help of a lactation consultant, I did feel it was probably best to have a consult in the hospital after the girls were born. She convinced me that I needed to supplement with a nurser bottle of either formula or expressed milk because the girls were small and needed nourishment right away. I followed her advice because I felt that was best for my babies, but it did not help my efforts in trying to nurse exclusively!!

So to make a long story short, I ended up investing in a hands free pump to aid in my efforts. It was almost impossible to nurse them both and manage to keep my 2 year old out of trouble. I tried nursing them both at the same time to cut down on the total time involved, but was only successful a few times and mostly just found it to be frustrating! During the first few weeks, my routine was to feed them every three hours so.... I had to try to nurse one, then pass her off to finish with a bottle while I tried to nurse the other one and then pass her off for a bottle while I finished by pumping to make sure I could keep up my supply. URGH! :) Since I was feeding them every three hours and it took 1 1/2 hours to complete the feeding cycle, that didn't leave me much time for anything else!! And it was worse when I was by myself during the day with no one to help with the bottles. At this point, I was extremely discouraged with my efforts, but fortunately I've always been too stubborn to let myself quit anything. So after much prayer and talking with my husband, we decided it would be best if I just pumped exclusively and fed the girls the expressed milk in bottles. Yes, I did miss the bonding time that nursing allows, but, honestly, there wasn't much bonding going on in my previously frustrated state. And with the arrangement, I could at least insure that the girlies got the best nutrition possible. The Medela Freestyle pump was AWESOME and let me pump while I did other things - including keeping up with Titus!!

It also has a rechargeable battery option that allowed me to pump on-the-go. My goal was to nurse (or pump rather) for 6 months and I DID IT!! :) At the 6 month mark (which is really a year since we're talking double time here!), I decided it was best to begin formula in order to allow me to attend more church services and start back up with all my ministry responsibilities.

So that's my story! I know of others who have successfully nursed twins, but various circumstances in my situation made that almost impossible. Fortunately, pumping worked out and they still got all the benefits of having mommy's milk. :)

Titus helping Mommy! :) {BTW, ♥ Snappies!!)

I got smart and let him feed one the bottle while I tried to nurse the other one! :)

Mothering Twins - {Part 1}

2011-06-28T15:58:00.006-04:00

I LOVE having twins!!! And with that being said, I must confess that it keeps me crazy busy and addicted to coffee! :) It has been about a year and half since my husband and I found out we were expecting twin girls, and my life has never been the same. Throw a toddler into the mix (because my son was only 21 months old when the news came), and you've got the potential for major chaos!! I was about 5 months pregnant at the time and immediately began my never ending Google search for "managing twins, twin pregnancies, etc..." I have learned a lot from other mothers of multiples - both those whom I call friends and those I've never met! And well, now that my twin girlies are toddlers, I finally feel like I can post about about our lessons learned from their infant days.

I initially titled this series "Managing Twins", but almost immediately thought otherwise. Our journey has not been about "managing" and getting by, but rather embracing this as a wonderful opportunity that is not entrusted to just anyone! HOWEVER, the first 6 - 8 weeks were basically a nightmare - not to scare anyone who might be expecting twins because I survived, but it was definitely SURVIVAL MODE. Our family all lives at least 6 hours away, so they were only able to help as their travel schedules and other responsibilities allowed. And since I was put on bed rest at 36 weeks, I had to learn a LOT about letting some things go - you know, the stuff that doesn't really matter to anyone but you. And honestly, I really am mostly just thankful that I had a healthy pregnancy and my girls were born healthy at 38 weeks. Kourtney was 5 lbs. 13 oz. and Kaelyn was 5 lbs. 9 oz. - and YES, that's a lot of baby! So, now for some practical ideas and tips! And these are in no particular order and may actually appear random as I just write what comes to me next - don't have time to make this a big production!! lol!

#1 - DON'T STRESS and let others help!!
Now, some may not have issues in this area like I do, but I am the type who would clean my house spotless before the cleaning lady came. I had to learn to let others help, even if my house wasn't what I considered "company ready". And also, I should point out that I learned a LOT about how to help other people through all of this! If someone says to me (as well-meaning folks are so often apt to say), "Let me know if there is anything I can do" - Ummmm, yeah right! Like I'm really just gonna walk right back up to ya when I feel like I need something!! :) There were a few precious people in our church who made it a point to say, "I want to help you! Tell me what I can do!" and then they waited for me to think of some area in which they could be a blessing. And another would frequently call and say, "I'm going to be out running errands today. Can I stop by your house and watch the kids so you can take a nap?" Umm, YES!!! Another lady asked for a list of things she could pick up for me while she did her own grocery shopping.

#2 - We implemented a very strict schedule.
I followed advice found in the Babywise books and also in the book My First 300 Babies. We kept the girls on the same schedule as each other. If one woke up to eat or be changed, we woke the other up as well. Some may (and have) argued that it is best to listen for baby's cues for when to be fed, changed, etc... And while I agree somewhat, I more strongly believe that it is also important to make sure I am well taken care of, and keeping the girls on a strict schedule took away some of the craziness. Of course, we never let them go hungry and did demand feed for the first week, but we really tried to anticipate their next need rather than always feel like we were one step behind because they were crying for something. I won't delve into scheduling here, but I do plan to post our schedule soon as many of my friends (even those with singletons) have tried it and liked the results.

#3 - LESS is MORE!!
We decided ahead of time to buy double of only a few necessary things. Because this was not my first pregnancy, I already had one of most things. And fortunately, I did have some experience with babies and knew what I really needed and what I didn't. Here are the items we felt we needed two of:

• Carseat - obviously! I actually got a complete new travel system with a double stroller. I researched and found the Baby Trend Double Sit N Stand travel system would best meet our needs since we had a toddler (and a budget!) as well.

• Bassinets and Cribs - We wanted them to sleep separately from day one. And, by the way, have not regretted it! They are awesome sleepers! I borrowed the bassinets and found very similar cribs on Craigslist. As a side note here, I also got a changing table even though I did not need one for my first baby. I just felt it would help me stay more organized.

• Bumbos - LOVE these!! I got the second one in EUC for less than $10! They take up so little space and are great even for feeding when solid foods are started. I must say that I probably could have gotten by with one, but I was really glad that I had two!!

• Boppy Pillows - A MUST!!! I used these multiple times every day!!! Feeding, nursing, tummy time... you name it and the Boppy can help!! :) Again, I bought the second one used for less than $10 and just got a new cover for it (on clearance for $3!).

• Pack n Play - Well, I do NOT have two of these because we don't have room in our house and it is a rather pricey item. But for traveling purposes, it is almost a necessity. I am fortunate that my mother and MIL both have one that I can borrow when we are visiting them. If you stay in hotels, most of them have portable cribs available, but you will need to reserve TWO ahead of time! I have never let my girls sleep in the same bed just for safety reasons - especially when they were younger and the risk of suffocation is greater. But even now, they are both very active in their sleep, and I'm sure they would wake each other up if they had to share.

For everything else, we just used a rotation system. When one was in the bouncer, the other was in the swing. And then we'd move on to the playpen or Around-We-Go, etc... And since you can only bathe one infant at a time, we only had one infant tub. However, as with many other things, we quickly ditched the infant tub (after about 8 weeks) so we COULD bathe them both at one time!! lol! I used hand towels on the bottom of the tub so they wouldn't slip and just laid them side by side. Of course, you will need to master picking them both up at the same time first! :0

Well, this is defnitely going to need to be a series as there is SOOO much to know and learn about having twins! :) Next post, I will discuss feeding - bottle vs. nursing.

My girlies at 6 weeks!

30 is the new 20!!

2011-06-17T17:35:00.004-04:00

Yesterday was my 30th birthday, and my husband made sure it was a special one!! He proved that one doesn't have to spend a lot of money to make a person feel loved and appreciated! We are on a STRICT budget {even stricter than usual - HA!} in order to save and pay for some things, so neither of us has been spending any money lately.

But anyway, I had a wonderful birthday starting with.....BREAKFAST IN BED! Oh yeah! And he did it up right too - especially with the huge helping of tater tots and ketchup - my FAVORITE! :)

Tim helped Titus make me a card...♥

He then got the kiddos ready {while I took my leisurely time} so that we could do some shopping - with gift cards, of course!! :) I had been saving some gift cards that were given to me at various times for a fun occasion to go shopping on someone else's dime - the best kind of shopping! When I got in the car {after he had already loaded everyone up}, he had picked some of our newly bloomed hydrangeas - GORGEOUS. And I love that our bush has TWO different colors in the blooms!

We did our shopping in record time and got home in time to let the kids take a nap while we relaxed and did some catching up on one of our favorite tv shows. Then we dropped the kiddos off at the sitter's house and went to Chili's for supper - with a giftcard! :) Our pastor and his wife and one of my dear friends were waiting there as a surprise to me - FUN! After, we went to the mall and walked around like two lovebirds without a care in the world {and splurged on a small, unneeded but fun gift for me!}. Of course, the night would not have been complete without a stop at Starbucks!! {to use my giftcard!} YUM!!

Forgive me for not rotating this, but I'm feeling extremely lazy! :)

So, I'm officially another decade older and feeling great!! Life is good... I know who I am and what {and more importantly WHO} makes me happy! My health is great, I have the best husband in the universe, and my kiddos are the cutest and most adorable little stinkers you'll ever meet - God has been SO GOOD to me!!

Inspirational Printable - Free Download ♥

2011-06-07T17:47:00.003-04:00

I saw this quote on the internet the other day, and LOVED it!! I have to remind myself of this EVERYDAY!! So, to help me remember that I'm really not Super Woman, I designed this cute little printable to frame. Feel free to download one for yourself - just click the picture. :) It's designed to be printed as a 5x7, so I'm not sure what kind of quality you'll get if you try to go larger.

http://www.filedropper.com/youcandoanythingcopy_1

New Invitation Design

2011-06-07T17:41:00.001-04:00

I designed this invitation and cupcake toppers for a friend and thought I'd share them here. I'm adding a link to my PSE page, but first I have to blog it! :0

Water Babies ♥

2011-06-02T23:42:00.004-04:00

Wow! We had sooo much fun with the girls in the pool! Kaelyn especially LOVED the water and was absolutely fearless! Kourtney was fine until Titus and Kaelyn starting splashing her! :) And I think she was a little tired from not sleeping her whole nap time, so she went inside early. But I really could not believe how well Kaelyn took to the water - she was crawling around and even standing up in the pool. Oh, and the baby pool wasn't big enough for two! Though, I may need to let Kourtney have her own space tomorrow. Anyhow, here are a few fun pictures and a video. :)

Fearless!!

Kourtney did NOT like to be splashed!

Yup, she went under - once! She learned that lesson the hard way!

Yay for Summer! ♥

2011-06-02T15:29:00.001-04:00

I have always said that fall is my favorite season with spring being a close second. But now that I have children - especially a 3 yr old - I have fallen in love with summer! I love the more relaxed work schedule my husband has - he even has a day off every week! Which is huge since he gives his weekends to the ministries at our church year round.

Well, this week has been super HOT, so we cleaned up the kiddie pool and filled 'er up. Titus has gone swimming the past three days - he LOVES it! Now I just need to get out the smaller baby pool for the girls - can't wait to let them wear their adorable little swimsuits. I'm curious to see how they take to the water since Titus hated it his first two summers. So pics of them will follow, but for now I've got some super fun pics of Titus for you! :) Enjoy!

♥ Pinterest ♥

2011-06-01T08:44:00.004-04:00

I am SOOO excited to have found a new way to organize my ideas and to find new ones! I have always been kind of an organizing freak, so this new site is just up my alley! I have been seeing references to Pinterest here and there and just never really had the time to check it out...well, I finally did and I LOVE it. It is an invitation only site for "pinning" things you love to "boards" to organize your ideas and share them with others. To get an invitation you simply need to request one on the site (which I did and it took a couple of days to hear back) or have a friend who is already a member send you an invitation. I have sent a couple so far, so if you need one - let me know! :)

Until now, I have had folders on my computer for copying images of things that inspire me and things that I want to remember to make or try. I have a folder for birthday parties, home decor, tutorials, etc... And while I do keep these on an external hard drive so my computer doesn't get sluggish (learned that the hard way!), it is so nice to have such a creative and fun way to organize. And I love being able to follow all my favorite bloggers and designers!! Screenshot below is of Tom Kat Studio's Boards - love her style and taste!

So wanna join me on Pinterest?? I promise you will NEVER look back! :0

{REAL Party} - Sugar & Spice Part 1 ~ The Details

2011-05-29T15:30:00.009-04:00

What a fun party!! - to host and to plan! It's not everyday that I'll have twin girlies turning one, so I wanted their 1st birthday party to be extra special - and yet REAL! I am a SAHM on a budget, so pretty much whatever I wanted at their party had to be done by me. Fortunately my family came in town for the big day, so I was able to pull it off. I definitely could not have done everything without the help of my mom and sister!

I chose the theme Sugar & Spice because that is what our twin girlies are to us! :) Kaelyn is our fun & feisty girl and Kourtney is our sweet and snuggly girl. Though, as twins are prone to do, they like to switch it up on us often! Just when we think we've figured 'em out, they surprise us! What's not to love about having adorable twin girlies?? We really feel so blessed beyond measure.

For the colors, I had originally planned for pink and brown, but then fell in love with pink and gray! Fortunately I found a designer on Etsy {digitalpotpourri} that had some digital elements combining the three.
View their invitation.

Now on to the details! :)

{As a side note - I had a TERRIBLE time with blogger putting my pictures in random places, so please forgive their being "out of order"!}

Party Banner made by my friend Sarah - She sells these and does an awesome job!

The tissue pom poms are one of my favorite trends right now!

My girls' birthday cakes - I was thrilled to discover the ease of using Wilton's 1M tip!!
Rather than icing the bottom, I made my own "liners" out of scrapbook paper.

The Sweet Shoppe ♥

My mom and sister and I hand-dipped most all the chocolate goodies.

I purchased these adorable Sweet Shoppe bags from In The Clear on Etsy.

I ♥ Subway art, but it can be expensive, so I made my own budget friendly version.

I saw this these in a book and loved the idea of baking the cupcakes in teacups! So pretty and elegant!

I designed the cupcake toppers in PSE and my friend Sarah assembled them for me. :)

The brownie pops were probably the most challenging thing we made

- mostly because we'd never done them before. But they turned out DELICIOUS!!

These were definitely a learning experience!

Another good use of PSE.

Table Centerpieces with Pictures of the Girls for Favors.

I served homemade croissants - chicken salad {recipe link coming soon!}, ham/cheese, and turkey/cheese

Vegetable Medley with Tim's Buffalo Ranch Dip

Watermelon Salsa {a personal fav.} and Tortilla Chips

Fruit Kabobs

Pink Lemonade - I bought the straws from Hey Yo Yo on Etsy

.

Stay Tuned for Part 2 - {Party Action}! :)

Kaelyn's and Kourtney's First Birthday Party ~ Just a sneak peek! ♥

2011-05-28T21:18:00.001-04:00

WOW! The past 10 days since my last post have been almost completely consumed with organizing and preparing everything for the girls' first birthday party. First birthdays are so special and doubly so with twins! I had so much fun doing their party and could NOT have done it all without my mom and sister in town to help! But still I am WORN OUT! So you only get two pictures for today's post... :0

Kourtney

Kaelyn

Happy First Birthday to Kaelyn and Kourtney ♥♥

2011-05-18T00:10:00.003-04:00

We had a small family celebration today for Kaelyn's and Kourtney's first birthday!! We took them to Chick-fil-a for supper and their first kid's meal. :) Then we came home for cake and presents! Sooo much fun watching them smash their teddy bear cakes. :)

Since I uploaded a TON of pictures, I made them smaller, but you can just click to get a better view! :)

The Wilton stand-up teddy bear is a tradition in our family since my first birthday! I bought the mini version pan to make for all my kiddos' first birthdays! :0

I really was pleased with how well the cakes turned out - I've definitely improved since making Titus's 3 years ago! :)

Kaelyn - happy girl! She keeps me laughing!

Kourtney - sweet little angel - but she can be a stinker too! :)

Kaelyn biting the nose off

The highlight - Kourtney picked up bear and bit the head off!

Kaelyn acted out the term "smash cake". :0

Kourtney diving right in!

Full Belly!

Caught Kaelyn in the middle of a sneeze -too cute!

Also, I may or may not get around to adding descriptions later... but I think most everyone who reads this blog can tell them apart by now - lol! :)

Birthday Celebration with Free Download ♥

2011-05-17T13:32:00.005-04:00

Today is my twin girlies' first birthday!!! We are planning a (now) traditional first birthday meal for them at Chick-fil-a followed by Gibson family traditional stand-up teddy bear cake. I will definitely post some pictures tomorrow! :)
I just finished designing the cupcake toppers for their party next weekend and thought I'd make the download available for free. I am trying a new file host site, so we'll see how it goes... :) The theme for their party is "Sugar and Spice" - you can view their invitation here.

Download Here

Homemade Laundry Detergent ♥

2011-05-14T16:31:00.007-04:00

I finally took the plunge and made my own homemade laundry detergent! I made the powdered version and am quite pleased with the results. A friend sent me a recipe that looked easy enough and I'd like to share it with you! :)

Homemade Laundry Detergent - Powdered

• 2 cups Fels Naptha Bar Soap {finely grated}
• 1 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
• 1 cup Borax

Combine ingredients and store in an airtight container. Use 2 Tbs. of mix for each load.

The hardest part was grating the soap. It took me about 10 minutes to grate it because it has to be FINELY grated. But considering the cost, I will definitely be making my own from now on. My total cost was $7.00 - not sure yet how many loads I'll get. My friend uses Lever 2000 instead of Fels Naptha, and I would think that would be even more cost efficient.

One bar of soap yielded a little more than 2 cups, so I put in a little more than 1 cup of the other ingredients.

Finely grated Fels Naptha soap

The Final Product

Free Bottle Cap Images ♥

2011-05-14T14:32:00.007-04:00

I've been trying to learn my way around PSE and the internet a little better! This is my first attempt at making bottle cap images. I've done some cupcake toppers for the kids' parties, and it is basically the same. I know for sure I am doing this the hard (long) way though! :) I need to figure out how to make my own template so I can just drag and drop! :) Of course, I could buy one on Etsy, but there's no fun in that! lol! This is also my attempt at using a file host on the internet, so hopefully I can get it to work properly. Sometimes, when I check the blog the picture is fine and sometimes it says file not found...working on figuring that out...but for now the only solution I've found is to refresh the page. :\ Anyhow, my son was watching VeggieTales this morning, so I decided to do VeggieTales bottle caps! :) Enjoy!

Sneak Peek - Twins' First Birthday

2011-05-11T00:08:00.002-04:00

Finally got around to making the invitation for the girls' FIRST birthday party! I'm really excited to plan this one and have decided on a "Sugar and Spice" theme! Stay tuned! :)

Best Mother's Day Ever!

2011-05-09T14:16:00.004-04:00

I was so spoiled yesterday for Mother's Day! I am mother to the world's greatest children and wife to the best husband a girl could ask for!! Since my kiddos are too young to pamper me on Mother's day, my wonderful husband did it for them!

I just love the smell of lilies and how they fill my whole house with their sweet fragrance. I'm so glad Tim spoils me with fresh flowers! :)

He also prepared a wonderful lunch for us while I relaxed in my bed with a magazine. He changed the kids out of their church clothes, fed the kids, and grilled some wonderful fish!
We had fresh wild-caught salmon, broccoli and cheese, sweet potatoes (with a wonderful cinnamon butter and marshmallow creme!), and sparkling grape juice. For dessert, he prepared our copycat version of a dessert we had during our trip to London a few years ago - a Belgian waffle topped with ice cream and caramel and chocolate syrup! Complete with coffee, of course! It's to die for!!

After lunch, he cleaned up the kids and put them down for a nap so that I could go straight back to the room to take a much needed nap. AND while I slept, he cleaned up the dishes, organized the laundry room, and did two loads of laundry (even folded a load)!! My husband is the BEST EVER!! He honestly spoils me most days, but yesterday he outdid himself!! I love being his wife and the mother of his children!! So, I'm already planning how I can "pay him back" on Father's Day... ;)

REAL PARTY! - Curious George Goes to the Circus {Titus's 3rd Birthday!}

2011-05-04T15:44:00.004-04:00

This {REAL} party was a lot of fun to plan! I had so many ideas and just not enough time to implement them all! I definitely will be better prepared for the girls' first birthday party after this! And I learned a TON of lessons through this whole experience - but that can wait until another post! All in all, it was a great party, and I was thrilled with the way it turned out! :) Titus LOVED it!! - which is all that matters!

The tablescape- thanks to Sarah for showing me how to use my Cricut to make the banner! :)


Titus sneaking some candy from the buffet. :0

The cake

Cake Close-up

I used the framed pic of Titus with his Curious George books as part of the decor.

Popcorn machine borrowed from a friend. We also had a cotton candy machine.

The popcorn was SO YUMMY!!! Found these bags on Etsy! Too Cute!

We served hot dogs with chili. Found these hot dog trays at Hobby Lobby! They added the perfect touch!

I have been saving these bottles from our Frappaccino addiction and they came in handy! I found the paper straws on Etsy as well...love this trend!

Chocolate Covered Banana Pops! Super Easy to Make!!

Bags of Cotton Candy Goodness!

I set up a photo booth and had mustaches, clown noses, funky ties, and a clown wig!

The boy twins! :)

Our Pastor and his wife are such good sports! So glad they could come! Titus LOVES them!

Josh, Sarah, and Kelsey

Kelsey and Titus

Darren and Becky

She's STYLIN'!

Birthday Boy!

Part of the candy buffet

Found the cute sweet shoppe bags on Etsy as well! FUN!

He watched me make his cake and was so happy to finally get to blow the candles out!

Make a wish! :)

Finally getting to eat his cake!!

Presents!

Yes, Kaelyn and Kourtney were there! Any guesses as to which this one is?? :)

"Guess Who" with her "big sis" Erica. :)

I have some more actions shots that I may post as I can get them edited. :) For now, though, I have to get busy with planning the girls' first birthday party! FUN! :)

Missions Conference with Dr. Jack Schaap

2011-05-04T13:44:00.000-04:00

We've been privileged the past two nights to hear Dr. Schaap preach at our very own Missions Conference. He is always such an encouragement to our family!

Fun in the Sun!

2011-05-02T12:44:00.005-04:00

The past few days have been so busy trying to get everything ready for Titus's party while re-doing our family room and keeping up with everything else I have going on with church conferences and Kurli*Cues. Sooo, this past Friday, it was absolutely NECESSARY to take a breather for about 45 minutes and get some fresh air while relaxing in the sun!! I even took my coffee outdoors! :)

Titus's dump truck is PERFECT for helping Mommy haul everything outside! :)

Yay for snacks! :)

Stomping on a crane fly - he hates those things!!

Kaelyn

This look is classic Kaelyn - ♥ her!! :)

Kourtney

Kaelyn

I had fun editing these with some actions from the Coffee Shop Blog ~ Coffee and PSE - two of my favorites!! And yes, I must drink coffee WHILE I edit! I so do NOT know what I'm doing, but it's fun anyway! And I think I'm learning a few things here and there along the way. :) So far, I think trying to edit my pictures has been the best way for me to learn how to take better pictures. So, check back in a few years.... LOL! :)

Disclaimer: These were shot in full sun (with an old Kodak point and shoot) :0 - because that's what we were doing - FUN in the SUN! :)

Sneak Peek! :)

2011-05-02T00:59:00.001-04:00

Super busy weekend, super busy Missions Conference week, then prep for the girls' 1st birthday party - BUT in the midst of it all, I am trying to get some pics edited and posted from Titus's birthday party!! So here is one for you, mother! :0 I hope to get them all posted by the end of the week... :)

Lemonade! :)

My Sweet Kiddos!

2011-04-28T00:34:00.000-04:00

Just a few new pictures! I am trying to take more time to actually get pictures of the kiddos during the day. Sometimes I get so caught up in trying to get 101 things done, that I put off taking pictures until I finish whatever it is I'm doing. WELL.... since I'm constantly in the middle of doing something, pictures don't always happen. So here is proof of my efforts to change this bad habit! Enjoy! :)

Titus loves playing with "them" - as he calls his sisters! "I wanna play with them!"

Kourtney with her talking egg. :)

Front - Kaelyn with her talking egg. :)

Titus helping "them"! :)

Family Room Re-do

2011-04-26T12:40:00.002-04:00

I am having so much fun re-doing our family room!! We've done A LOT since we moved here about 5 1/2 years ago - including tearing down the wall dividing the kitchen from the family room and replacing the cabinets and counter top. We added a bar to divide the two rooms and have loved the set-up!! But with our growing family, it was time for some additional seating!! :) We also enjoy having friends over and needed a place for everyone to sit and fellowship. I'm posting some pictures of our progress so far, and will post pics of the final product after we make a few more decor purchases. :) I probably should have waited until it was finished, but with our family out of town, I'm posting so they can see what we've done so far!! :)
Still gotta find a rug and curtains and some shelving/boxes for the walls! Oh and a TV for Tim....:) FUN!! :0

Kitchen when we bought the house - EWWW!!

The wall we tore down - looking into family room from kitchen.

Family room - left wall is the fireplace wall.


Couldn't find the pics I took right after the remodel - maybe eventually...

Fireplace in between re-models. We painted the mantle and the frame.

Again the only pic I could find for now to give an idea of the "in between" stage. :0

New cabinets and counter - June 2008

Our new sectional and color scheme! Love all the seating!!!!

New fireplace - we put stone over the brick and got an updated insert! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! Still need the TV and mantle...

Decor Close-up

Fireplace Close-up

Decor Close-up

View from kitchen - still need to find pillows that match! In the meantime, we turn them around! LOL!

Fireplace and pantry - we added that as well!

Easter 2011

2011-04-26T00:04:00.001-04:00

Easter Baskets

Kaelyn - She was not happy to be awake so early!

Cutest kiddos ever!! :)

Kourtney - She's serious about her snacks!

My little man wearing his bow tie I made him!! Love it! :)

Party Planning

2011-04-21T12:20:00.003-04:00

I FINALLY got Titus's birthday party invitation designed and printed!! I've even given them out!! YAY for me! This month has been CRAZY busy, so Titus's party is two whole weeks after his birthday. He was born DURING our 2008 Ladies' Conference, so his birthday always falls around an extremely busy time of year.

I'm super excited about this year's party theme, "Curious George Goes to the Circus"!! How can I go wrong with a dual theme! It's going to be super fun!! Now to get busy designing the rest of his party printables and finishing up some decor!

SO what do you think??? LOVE Photoshop Elements, but I'm still learning my way around, so be nice! :)
And please excuse the ***** in place of my address... :)

Gorgeous Day!!

2011-04-19T22:37:00.000-04:00

Today was the perfect day for riding tricycles and police motorcycles, pushing lawn mowers, filling dump trucks, blowing bubbles, squashing crane flies, blowing dandelions, playing baseball, and running around the yard in circles!! Love playing outside with Titus!! I wouldn't trade my SAHM life for ANYTHING!!! :0

"Three years old!"

Cutting the grass! :)

I plan to upload the video of him "helping" Daddy cut the grass tonight. He stayed out with Tim the whole time, pushing his own little mower and working up a sweat! :) LOVE HIM!

Patch the Pirate

2011-04-19T12:51:00.002-04:00

Titus absolutely LOVES Patch the Pirate! It's all we listen to in the car - good thing Tim and I like it too! :) We have been privileged the past few years to have Patch and Sissy at our annual Ladies' Conference. Tim is their host while they are here and has enjoyed getting to know them! They are such wonderful humble Christians!! This year Titus was actually old enough to know it was Patch the Pirate and Sissy Seagull and kept saying "I want to talk to him" and "I want to touch him"! He was definitely fascinated!! He got to hold Patch's sword and Sissy even gave him a couple new cd's - he was in heaven! :) We are so thankful for the ministry of these dear people and grateful for the positive influence on our children. I have called on Patch's character building songs MANY times when teaching, training, and even correcting Titus, and even now I can see that the songs speak to his heart and his moral conscience. If you are not familiar with Majesty Music, you definitely need to check out their site!

2010

Patch and Sissy - 2010

Singing with Sissy - 2010

2010

New cd!! -2010

2011 - Blessed to know such great Christians!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Titus!!

2011-04-18T23:37:00.002-04:00

Today, my first born turned 3!! He has been so excited about his birthday!! He knows it means CAKE, ice cream, and presents!! :) Nana and Grandma both left him a present when they were here last week, and we went ahead and let him open his presents from us as well. Though, I probably will end up getting him a few more things for his BIG party next weekend. :)
We celebrated with cake and ice cream and supper at McDonald's! A dear family at our church gave Titus a sizable gift card to Mickey D's for his birthday - our church family is so thoughtful and generous! We also let Titus take a beautiful flower bouquet to his "Birthday Buddy" - a sweet lady in our church who shares his birthday. He was SO SWEET delivering her flowers! We ended the day by taking him to Toys R Us to spend his birthday money from Great-Grandma Pat and some other church friends. He got a HUGE dump truck and is in HEAVEN!! :) I can't wait to take him outside to play with it tomorrow. :0

Titus LOVES Patch the Pirate!!

He also had a party in Ohio a few weeks ago so he could celebrate with Papa and Grandma and Matthew and Aunt Keri!! He was in Toy Story heaven!!

COOL 3-D party ware!!

To infinity....AND BEYOND!!

Yummy Birthday Cookie!!

Now we just have ONE more BIG party!! :) FUN!!!

Ways to Save Money: Baby/Children

2011-03-18T23:05:00.004-04:00

I am so pleased with the responses to my last post about saving money on groceries!! I was inspired to attempt to make my own laundry detergent as soon as my stash gets low. A lot of you had some great ideas - and some of you had great ideas and didn't post them!! :o I realize that my ideas are nothing new, and honestly, I had heard of all the ideas posted in the comments, BUT I believe what is gained from all these wonderful ideas is not some new found concept but rather MOTIVATION!! :) I plan to start implementing some of your ideas because YOU MOTIVATED ME! And perhaps some of my ways of saving money will likewise help others realize that YES, people really do that, and YES, we survive, and YES, we are content and as happy as ever without the "latest" and "greatest" cluttering our homes. :)

Saving Money with Babies and Children:
I stand in unbelief MOST of the time at the money people pay on items for their babies and children. I understand that convenience plays a huge part in today's society, but I guess I am willing to be a little inconvenienced to save money!! I do have twins and a toddler - 3 kids under 3 years - and my days can get pretty crazy! So I am not as thrifty now as I was when I only had one child, but I still have a few ways to stretch my dollars.

1. I nursed all three of our children. I'm not going to delve into the nutritional benefits and the fact that none of my children have ever been sick... aside from those benefits, it's FREE! :)

2. I have cloth-diapered all three of our children. Some use cloth diapers as a way to save the planet - I use them to save money. I use velcro tab covers with standard pre-folds, and it's as easy as changing a disposable diaper. I have not used them as much with the twins because of not being able to keep up with the laundry, but I do still use them periodically. With my first born, I even cut up my husbands old white t-shirts and used them for wipes. I've also made my own wipes out of thick paper towels and baby soap. I've found Amazon to be the cheapest place to buy disposables if I have a coupon. To get the best deal, I take advantage of the 30% discount for using "subscribe and save" and then just cancel my scheduled shipments when my first order arrives. I can almost always get my name brand diapers for .10¢ each or less.

3. I make my own baby food. I used to boil the fruits and vegetables, but now I prefer to steam or bake them as I believe they retain more nutritional value. I then use my blender to puree the food and add water and infant cereal to make it stretch even further. My children have never spit out the homemade food, so I guess it tastes better too! :)

4. I buy quality clothing over quantity clothing for CHEAP!! I can usually get an item new with tags in the store for cheaper than what it is going for at the local consignments or on ebay. After every wash, I hang the clothes to dry so that any stains I might have missed do not "set in" and so that the clothes do not fade and shrink. By doing this, when I no longer need them, I can sell them for almost what I paid for them. I've actually sold some things used for MORE than what I paid for it new and the buyer was still getting a great deal! Oh, and I make all my girl's hair accessories. :)

5. I spend money on CLASSIC books only, otherwise we go to the library. Same for movies and cartoons... I usually buy used for these type items.

6. I've found that with babies, less is more. Especially with the twins, I just do not have room for all the latest gadgets invented for convenience. I'm sure those with larger houses may be able to utilize more products than I, but I prefer simple! I even found it easier to give baths just in the tub instead of having to drag the infant bath out every time and warm the bath twice. I decided before the girls were born what items I couldn't live without and then I bought them used at less than 20% of the retail price. I've even borrowed items from friends who weren't using theirs at the time.

7. Along the same lines as less is more... children really don't have to have all the snacks and meals marketed to their age group. Sure, if you have the money, go for it!! But if you are trying to save money, don't feel like you have to buy the made-for-toddler foods. I usually make a big pot of pasta noodles and sauce and then divide it into containers and freeze for fast meals on the go or for when my husband and I are eating something that may be harder for my toddler to eat.

Maybe you've heard these ideas before, but have just never taken the time to implement them. You can do it!! Pick one area in which you can start saving more money and make it happen! Now, I want to know your biggest money savers for baby and children items... I need some motivation! :)

10 months!!

2011-03-17T12:31:00.005-04:00

My baby girlies are 10 months old - WOW!! They are growing way too fast!! They are more active than ever - especially Kaelyn! I took them outside to try to snap a few pictures and she was just way too curious about everything around her...so I didn't really get a good smile out of her even though she is usually my crazy girl! :) And of course, Kourtney was just as sweet as ever - she's such a doll! I love them both sooo much!!

Kourtney

Kaelyn

Homemade Fresh Salsa

2011-03-16T15:09:00.002-04:00

I LOVE this stuff!! I will have to add the pictures next time I make it.

Fresh Homemade Salsa

Ingredients:
2 large cans diced tomatoes (I really like to use fresh when they are in season)
1/2 large Vidalia onion
1 Jalapeno (I prefer mine seeded)
1/2 bunch of cilantro
1/2 lime
salt to taste
**Every now and then I will sprinkle either garlic powder or cumin in just to switch it up.

Directions:
1. Chop tomatoes in food processor and transfer to a large bowl.
2. Chop onion, jalapeno, cilantro and add to tomatoes. *This is the tricky part because not all onions are of equal strength!! I usually add about 3/4 of the mixture and then taste it to see how much more I need. Sometimes, I use it all and sometimes I don't. This recipe leaves A LOT of room for personal taste! :) Remember too, that the flavors will be stronger after it is refrigerated for a few hours.
3. Squeeze lime into mixture and add salt to taste!
4. Enjoy!!

Ways to Save Money OR "How in the World Can You Afford Not to Work??"

2011-03-15T12:28:00.007-04:00

I've been asked several times recently about how my family of five can live on just my husband's full-time ministry salary. So I thought I'd post a few things we do to save money in hopes that you, my fellow shop-savvy friends, will comment with some of your best money-saving tips!! Obviously the best way to save money on things is to never spend it in the first place, so a lot of what we have done is just completely eliminate unnecessary spending. I am going to limit this post to saving on groceries and will address baby items, entertainment, etc... in later posts. And while I appreciate a frugal homemaker, as of yet, I do not make my own laundry detergent, farm my own food (though the fresh kind is the best kind!!), or sew my own clothes (well, I have made the girls a few skirts...). So I think everything we do as a family is pretty practical - at least by our standards. Also, let me say, that none of my "tips" are anything new and special, but hopefully some of them can be an inspiration to try to save even more money. And so, well, here goes:

Saving Money on Groceries:
1. I do not generally buy processed foods. On occasion, I will take advantage of a great sale stacked with coupons, but we prefer homemade for taste and nutritional value as well as a way to save money.

2. Our meat consumption consists of chicken and turkey. I have started substituting ground turkey for ground beef as well. I only splurge on ground beef for grilling hamburgers because who wants to eat a turkey burger??!! I do buy beef roast when it is on sale because it is a fast meal for Sunday afternoons. However, chicken and turkey are healthier options anyway.

3. I do use coupons when I can, but at this season in my life, it usually requires more time than I have. I follow a few coupon blogs and generally only take advantage of the sales and deals that are posted as I don't take the time to figure them out for myself. I could definitely do better in this area, though, I have stocked up on LOTS of freebies by playing the drugstore game! :) And it really is fun! And I sign up for a TON of samples...I use a separate email address so that my primary account doesn't get an overload of spam. As a stay-at-home-mom, I especially enjoy getting those treats in the mail! :)

4. I shop sales, stock up, and FREEZE food if necessary. I do this mostly with meat, fruits, and vegetables, as well as staple non-perishable items. Most of my grocery shopping is stocking up on whatever is on sale...I then use what I have available at home from previous weeks to plan my menu. I usually only have to buy a few items to complete my meal plan. Guess I could add here that one night we eat breakfast for supper which is super cheap, and one night a week we eat leftovers. Another night I scavenge my pantry and fridge and get creative!! That's usually the night before grocery shopping! So that's three meals I don't have to plan!

5. Honestly, we just eat very simply. I do not fix elaborate recipes that call for expensive ingredients. I use recipes as a guide and for ideas, but rarely fix it exactly as stated. One day, I might. But for now, to save money, we have simplified our tastes. I have changed my thinking when it comes to grocery shopping...I am not purchasing food items to fill our bellies, but rather I am purchasing NUTRITIONAL VALUE. I do not just want to stuff my family full of junk, but rather the nutrition they need to make it through the day feeling good and healthy. Which leads to my final tip...

6. My #1 money saver - I do not buy snacks. On a very rare occasion, I will take advantage of an ice cream sale, but I do not spend my grocery money on cookies and chips etc... Sure, there are times when we wish we had junk food in the house to munch on, but those are also the times we are glad we don't!! We do snack on tortilla chips and salsa because that is something I will NEVER give up!! :) Titus snacks on fruit, peanut butter and crackers, and popcorn. And he eats old-fashioned oatmeal (with a little cinnamon thrown in) for breakfast nearly every morning - by his choice!! ")

So this is what works for us right now at this time in our lives. I'm sure there are those who have more to spend and those who have less. Regardless of one's budget, though, we ALL like to save money!! :0 So now I want to hear some of the ways you save on groceries!! Or maybe even a great "steal" you recently took advantage of!! I'm excited to try some of your great ideas!!

(Please comment on this blog post rather than facebook, so we can keep all the great ideas in the same place.)

House Party

2011-03-12T18:05:00.016-05:00

About a year ago, I joined a site called House Party. It is a company that connects consumers with manufacturers that are looking to introduce their product to the public and spread the word about their companies. I have applied for several parties and have been selected to host 3 different ones now. The first House Party I hosted was for Shutterfly and every guest received a free custom photo book and 12 free custom greetings cards. I also hosted a party for Gerber and was sent a TON of free goodies for myself and my guests. I did that party as a play date for infants and toddlers. The most recent party I hosted was last night for Johnsonville. I prepared a few yummy recipes for my family and some friends using free product sent by Johnsonville and then ended the evening with DUTCH BLITZ!! Super FUN!!! My guests received several coupons for free products as well. I highly recommend the House Party site. You can choose which parties to apply for as well.

My Johnsonville Party Pack

Sharon's favorite sausage! :0

Sarah's a fan of the Zuppa!

I ♥ my Crazy Husband!!

My Gerber Party Pack

Italian Sausage Rigatoni

2011-03-12T13:44:00.004-05:00

I served this dish at the Johnsonville House Party I was selected to host (post on that to follow). It was delicious!!!

Ingredients:
1 pkg. Johnsonville Mild Italian Sausage links, cooked and coin-sliced
1 pkg rigatoni pasta
3 Tbsp. olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 large red pepper, chunked and sautéed
1 jar (26 oz) of your favorite pasta sauce
*I think I would have preferred more sauce.
2 Tbsp. parsley, chopped

Directions:
Cook sausage according to package directions. Keep warm.
Cook rigatoni according to package directions. Keep warm.
In a large pan, place olive oil and garlic; sauté lightly for 30 seconds.
Add peppers and cook until desired tenderness.
Combine cooked sausage and pasta sauce with peppers and heat until warm.
Mix with the pasta or serve separately.
Top with fresh parsley.
Serve warm.

My finished product! :) YUMMO!!!!

Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana

2011-03-12T00:37:00.010-05:00

Tim and I love to go to Olive Garden to get their unlimited Soup 'N Salad!! However, the closest one is 45 minutes from our house. :( I found a great copycat recipe online for Zuppa Toscana and tweaked it to perfection so we can have it whenever we please! Love this stuff!!

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground Italian sausage
1 ts crushed red pepper
1/2 large white onion, diced
4 Tbsp. bacon pieces (real bacon)
2 ts. minced garlic
10 cups water
5 cubes chicken bouillon
1 cup heavy whipping cream
4-5 large potatoes, sliced
olive oil
kale

Directions:
1. Sauté Italian sausage and crushed red pepper in a large pan. (I like to use my non-stick skillet for this, but if you don't want to dirty as many dishes, everything can be cooked in a large stock pot.) Drain and refrigerate.

2. In the same pan, sauté bacon, onions, and garlic for about 10 minutes or until the onions are tender. (There is usually not a lot of fat left from the sausage, so I like to add a little olive oil.)

3. Add water and bouillon cubes. Heat until boiling.

4. Add potatoes and cook until soft, about half an hour.

5. Add heavy cream and heat thoroughly.

6. Stir in sausage.

7. Add kale just before serving. ( Amounts of this are totally up to preference. I like just enough for color!)

ENJOY!!

Super Mom!!

2011-03-11T15:17:00.009-05:00

Today I feel like a SUPER MOM!! A lot of days I don't, but today I DO!! :) I successfully ventured out BY MYSELF with ALL THREE kiddos under the age of 3 WITHOUT CATASTROPHE!! Titus was a perfect angel and the girls just smiled and cooed at everyone who stared. I had to pick up some groceries for a party tonight, and there was no way my extremely busy husband could help this time. I had Titus in the front of the cart, Kaelyn in her car seat in the back, and Kourtney strapped to me in my Bjorn. It did take just as long to get in and out of the store as it did to actually get my groceries, but it was actually FUN!!! I was well prepared with snacks for the kids and my strategically mapped out list, and we just sailed through the supermarket. Of course, I rewarded myself afterward with a Sweet Tea from McD's (even though I had to drive 5 minutes out of the way to stop!). :) I would actually attempt it again. Not sure what I'll do when I can't put one girl in the back and one in the Bjorn....guess I'll have to shop only at the stores with "cars" in the front of the cart. It's soooo fun being a mom, and my children are at such a fun stage - especially the girls! I definitely have celebrity status with them in tow. :) I've had lengthy conversations with the most random people all because the girls are with me, and I've discovered that everyone and their brother is a twin (no pun intended) or knows twins or has siblings or parents that are twins - and yet they are still amazed at my adorable little girlies! :) Well, all rambling aside, now I need to go conquer the rest of the world - aka my house cleaning! ♥

Christmas in March

2011-03-10T23:52:00.010-05:00

The end of the year was so busy, I never got around to posting any Christmas pictures! Sooo here they are finally... in March! We ended up celebrating 4 different times!! We had to leave for Ohio a day early (Christmas Eve) to be sure we didn't get stuck in North Carolina with the "snow storm." So we celebrated on the day before Christmas Eve by opening all the presents we didn't want to travel with. Then on Christmas Eve we opened the traditional Christmas PJ's once we got to Dad and Mom's house. We celebrated Christmas there and then traveled to Tim's parents' house and celebrated again and then traveled back to Dad and Mom's to celebrate with my siblings...all in a week's time. Wow, that's all very confusing to read....anyhow, it was a wonderful, never-ending Christmas!! And our first as a family of 5!!

Yes, they wear bows with their pj's! :)

{10 Things to Never Say to a Stay at Home Mom}

2011-03-08T17:19:00.007-05:00

A friend posted this and I just HAD to copy and post it here! Love this!! And I think I've probably heard all ten!

{10 Things to Never Say to a Stay at Home Mom}

1. When the kids are older, do you think you'll get a real job?

2. How June Cleaver of you!

3. Oh, so you don't work?

4. Since you have extra time on your hands, could you whip up a few dozen brownies for the bake sale tomorrow?

5. All day with your kids? I can't even imagine.

6. I'm jealous. I wish my husband were rich so I wouldn't have to work either.

7. What do you do all day, anyway?

8. I'm sure you're not the only one who's ever wasted money on a college degree.

9. That explains why your son is so clingy!

10. Weird. I assumed your house would be superclean.

I have never understood the need to differentiate between SAHM and WAHM - as if any mom just STAYS at home!! :)

Dino Wars

2011-03-08T14:03:00.009-05:00

I love it that my son is 100% ALL BOY!! He loves to play outside and usually runs straight for the ickiest, muddiest spots in the yard - he knows exactly where they are!! This past Saturday, he was playing outside while Tim and I were bathing the girls. We came into the family room to find this:

I must admit I wasn't even really upset...I was planning to clean the floors anyway after the kids went to bed so it really just struck me as cute and funny. I just wish I knew what sort of thinking possessed his almost-3-yr-old mind that he thought the dirt needed to be INSIDE the house. We found dirt clumps in both his pockets as well. And well, I love it!! I love having a boy and all the dirty messes that come with it! I especially love it when he runs and hugs me for no apparent reason and says, "I love you, Mommy!" ♥♥

2011-03-07T13:47:00.010-05:00

Well, I just spent the last 30 minutes or so reading through the old posts on my blog and looking at all the cute pictures - so fun! I must say though that I wish I had posted more this past year. Life was sooo busy with the addition of our adorable twin girlies and (as they should) my family consumed most of my time. But reading back over the posts of the last couple of years - yes, sadly, it only took 30 minutes - has made me want to keep up with this blog more. I don't have time to scrapbook these days, and the only journal I keep is my devotional journal to keep track of my Bible reading and daily blessings. I want to use this blog as a journal of EVERYTHING I want to remember. So, basically, I'm no longer posting for friends' and family's sake, but for my own. Someday, I will have time to scrapbook again and I know this blog will come in handy!! I love that I can organize our daily happenings and pictures in one spot and right now this is the fastest way!! So, in closing, here are a few of my favorite pictures from the last month.

Christmas Card 2010

2010-12-19T22:19:00.004-05:00

I had a lot of fun designing our Christmas card again this year! I would love to be able to take some classes to learn how to do more in Photoshop, but in the meantime I'll make do with the online tutorials! :)
Merry Christmas to all of our friends and family!!

My Babe

2010-12-16T21:06:00.002-05:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

Learning to Share...

2010-12-10T13:34:00.006-05:00

Initially Kourtney dropped her toy and when she couldn't reach it, she reached for Kaelyn's. They are constantly trading toys back and forth and I find it quite humorous! :) I love my girlies! ♥♥♥

Corn Maze 2010

2010-12-05T23:32:00.006-05:00

Misc Pics

2010-10-03T00:55:00.006-04:00

Kaelyn

L - Kaelyn
R - Kourtney

Kourtney

Oh WOW!

2010-09-16T11:56:00.003-04:00

Family Pictures

2010-06-11T00:31:00.001-04:00

We finally got pictures taken today. I have posted them to Facebook. Be sure to have a look! :)

Happy Birthday, Titus!!

2010-04-19T21:47:00.006-04:00

Titus turned two years old yesterday!! He is growing soo fast!! We had a small family party this past Thursday since my mom and Tim's parents were in town for our church's Ladies Spectacular. Yesterday after church, we let him have another cupcake and blow out candles again...this time he knew exactly what to do!! We are having his Thomas the Tank Engine party this Saturday for all his little friends and his favorite babysitters. Lots of preparation to get done for the 30+ people we will be hosting!! :) I'm having so much fun planning it and making all the neat decorations...be sure MANY pictures will be posted!!

We also moved him to his toddler bed last Thursday and he has done GREAT!! He loves sleeping in his new bed! Only downside for us is that he comes in to wake us up as soon as he wakes up in the morning - no more playing quietly in his crib while mommy sleeps in!

Enjoy the pictures!! Some are very small, but you can click on them for a larger image.

Ultrasound Pictures!

2010-04-09T22:13:00.006-04:00

We had another ultrasound today and got some awesome pictures! I went to the new office and it is sooo much nicer and they were able to do 4-D for us! Both are still breech though, so more than likely when I go for my appt. next week they will schedule my C-section for some time around the middle of May. Which means I'm down to only about 6 1/2 weeks to go!

We still have tons to do in the nursery!! Got it painted, but still need to add the glossy stripes to the pink above the chair rail. And we officially have two matching cribs and changing table thanks to many searches on Craigslist!!

AND I just found out that some ladies at church are giving me shower which is a huge blessing!! Buying for twins can be overwhelming at times!!

Enjoy the pictures! FYI - if you click on the pictures, you can see them larger! :)

Baby B - Kourtney- Decided to put her first this time to be fair! :)
She had her hand over her face and then she opened her eyes - SOO COOL!!
.

Baby A - Kaelyn - She started out with her hand in her mouth and then moved it under her chin.

ALSO, I added pages at the top for each of the kids (that was strange to type!). I will keep those updated with pictures and interests for each of them. ENJOY!

Kurli*Cues Giveaway on Facebook!!!

2010-02-15T16:30:00.004-05:00

********************FACEBOOK FANS**********************
Become a fan of Kurli*Cues Boutique on Facebook to be entered in our GIVEAWAY! As soon as we reach 100 fans, we will have a random drawing for a sampling of our products - valued at $30!!

Kurli*Cues Boutique

"SNOW FUN"

2010-01-30T20:18:00.007-05:00

Titus loved the snow this year!! He cried when we brought him back inside! Hopefully tomorrow we can get out earlier and stay out longer!

Karate chopping the snow!

Let It Snow!!

2010-01-30T12:15:00.003-05:00

We finally got some snow!! We haven't gotten this much snow since we moved here 6 1/2 years ago!! Tim ventured out to get some pictures, but we are waiting until after Titus's nap time to go out and play. Will post more pics then!!

Pictures of My Favorite Little Boy!!

2010-01-26T09:47:00.005-05:00

I would have never thought to give Titus a whole apple to snack on - I usually cut it up into manageable bites for him. However, during our last trip to Kroger I discovered he likes them better whole! I had put the apples in the back of the grocery cart and turned my back to get some more produce. When I turned back around, Titus had gotten the apples out of the back of the cart and started eating one!! Only problem was that they were the "Pay per Pound" kind!
He loves them and calls them "Appy." :)

Titus & Daddy cuddling before bedtime.

Titus loves playing with his "Cahrs" & "Choo Choos"!!

Sampler Quilt

2010-01-26T09:42:00.005-05:00

I finally finished my sampler quilt that we started last fall in our church sewing group, "Seams Like Heaven." It took longer than expected - the holidays were soo busy!! Now I can focus on finishing the Log Cabin Sock Monkey quilt for Titus. Then I'll be busy on making baby quilts for the nursery!!

A close up of my favorite center blocks. It is hard to see the quilting, but I did a diamond pattern. It was fast and easy!! :)

And So It Begins - x2!!

2010-01-21T15:46:00.003-05:00

I'm having fun shopping for good deals (well, really STEALS!!) on matching outfits for the girlies. Though I must say it is harder than I thought! Shopping for one boy is definitely easier than 2 girls even if the selection for girls is 3 times as much. I refuse to pay full price for something they will only wear 3 months, so finding 2 of the same thing, in the same size, for the right season, at a great deal has been quite challenging, but also VERY FUN!!! Will I always dress them alike? Well, if I could afford to -maybe. But, of course, I'm not going to pass up a STEAL if I only find one of something. Though it's not as much fun to buy one as it is to buy two and imagine them on our sweet little girls. :)

Now that I know they are girls and am 99% sure they are identical, I AM SO EXCITED!!! Tim and I are both still in amazement that we actually get to have twins! God has truly blessed us - first with Titus and now 2 girls!

Identical Girls!!

2010-01-20T16:29:00.007-05:00

Top - Baby A profile
Bottom - Baby B profile

Baby A - Kalen/Kalyn/Kaelyn (Can't decide on the spelling!!)

Baby B - Kourtney

Best shot she could get of both. You can see Baby A's back and Baby B's head.

Backgrounds

2010-01-19T23:01:00.002-05:00

Well, I've been having fun making blog backgrounds in Photoshop. It took some trial and error to get the measurements right, but I think I finally figured it out - somewhat. I need to get some more elements to use, but for now I like the simple look and clean lines of this background. Next, to design a cool banner! :)

Date Night! :)

2010-01-15T09:00:00.003-05:00

My wonderful husband got a sitter for our date last night and we went to Qdoba Mexican Grill. It's similar to Chipotle with a few more selections. I had chicken and steak tacos and chicken tortilla soup and Tim had the naked burrito and a steak quesadilla - so delicious!! After, we did some shopping, and I found the CUTEST matching outfits for the twins - just in case it is two girls!! And if not, the outfits are still cute, so I'll just take one back! :) Should know for sure next Wednesday - YAY!!

Christmas Pictures - Finally!

2010-01-12T15:12:00.003-05:00

Twins!

2010-01-12T14:49:00.005-05:00

I had my first ultrasound last Monday, and was shocked to find out that we are expecting twins!! We know that one is a girl, but aren't sure about Baby A. The technician guessed it was a girl, but couldn't say for sure. My next ultrasound is scheduled for January 20, and I'm hoping to get better pictures - at least a shot of both of them together! For now, though, these will suffice.
We are planning on two girls until we find out differently, so I decided to celebrate a little and update the blog with a girly background! I tried to keep it masculine before for Tim's & Titus's sake, but with two girls they will be outnumbered!! Though I may end up having to change it on the 20th...

Baby A

Baby B

Christmas Card - 2009

2009-12-18T22:47:00.003-05:00

So, I decided to put last year's Christmas present to work and designed my own card in Photoshop. I really like the way it turned out, and it actually matches our picture!! :) I'm thinking I like this digital scrapbooking thing - no mess to clean up afterward!! Don't think I'll ever convert 100%, though - I still love the look of a 3D handmade page!! For now, until life slows down, however, this is definitely the way to go!!

New Pictures-Christmas 2009

2009-12-18T22:19:00.007-05:00

We had these taken tonight - talk about last minute!! Titus was really hamming it up with the photographer, so we got some really cute shots!! Sorry I didn't take time to crop and make them look nice, but you get the idea!! :)

Our New Nephew!! - Dakota Alex

2009-10-17T17:16:00.002-04:00

A Message from Titus!! :)

2009-10-07T10:12:00.003-04:00

Future Soccer Player!!

2009-10-06T19:49:00.007-04:00

We've had a lot of fun going to some of Tim's soccer games this school year. I finally took my camera and got some pictures!! "Baaalll!" is Titus's new favorite word!! He is ALL BOY!!
**Some of the pictures are kind of far away, but you can click on them to see them closer. :)

Daddy & Titus

Nice Save!!

I love his ADIDAS shoes!!

Happy Anniversary to Us!!

2009-10-04T15:45:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, October 3, was the 11th anniversary of Tim's and my first date. We were in our freshman year of college and we went to the Bus Ministry's Fall Rally! Yesterday we celebrated by leaving Titus with some friends and going to Uno's Chicago Grill - very reminiscent of our time spent in college near the "Windy City". We enjoyed the Muchos Nachos appetizer and then shared a personal deep dish pepperoni pizza.

For dessert, we headed over to the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and shared a gourmet Apple Pie flavored caramel apple.

I am so glad that we still have a weekly date even after 11 years of dating!! I have the best husband in the world!! I love you, Tim!!!