Going in 100 Different Directions

This has been one busy week for this stay at home mom. I really do try and commit myself to staying at home and working for my family...goodness knows my home needs my constant attention :) This week was filled with crazy sinus pressure, grocery shopping, goodwill & dollar tree finds, errand running, birthday lunch & dinner, very yummy cake baking, present wrapping, dental appointment, and now it's friday. Taking one room at a time and then locking the door behind me when i'm done. My bathroom and 2 bedrooms (never mine, lol) are done and laundry is rolling.

Got some MatchBox 20 blaring while Adam and I straighten up.

Next week, I have 2 books to review and both are giveaways! Trav's birthday pics to post too. March and April are fast approaching. Seems like these two months are the busiest for us around here. I'm prepping for all that Spring has to offer, this crazy weather has to go.

Have a great weekend bloggy friends!

Avoiding a Meltdown

Yep, it was one of those weekends. And after reading This is Me, Then's blog post this morning, I was comforted to know that I am not alone...that WE moms are not alone. Saturday was a busy work around the house day...mainly outside. The weather was so wonderful! Dinner was simple and delicious...
Sunday, a long drawn out time of flipping pancakes for everyone. Then guess what happens after that...someone needs to wash all those sticky plates and forks. I get that done...off to good ol' Wal-Mart to get my oil changed. Oh the joy of waiting at WM for an hour. By the time I get back home, it's lunch time. I made this awesome pasta bake. It took a little time, but so good! Dishes did not get done after lunch...we all opted for a nap. A much needed nap. After an hour, I got up and started straightening up AGAIN before the rest were awake. So after the huge lunch I cooked, no one wanted left overs for dinner...off to make chicken strips and fries. Late dinner, late bedtimes, a glass of wine, and it's my bedtime.
I still have a huge pile of laundry in my front living area and dishes galore in the sinks.....but dirty dishes mean we were all together and ate well. The laundry means we are overflowing with blessings. I'm opting for the glass half full today :)

Stella's Turning One

This past weekend my family went to LV for my baby niece Stella's first birthday party. Though it was a quick trip, we had a ton of fun! It was all worth it to see that little girl dancing and digging into her cake & cupcakes.- blue frosting and all.

All babies & kids LOVE Uncle Tim. He's fun, he listens, it's just him...

Of course, there was a pinata...hit with a little help from her momma.

Happy Birthday Stells! We love you!

Simple Chocolate Chip Cookies

Really...these are the easiest cookies ever to make. They are really good the first day, after that they get a little too hard for my taste. Oh well, gotta eat them the day ya make them, which is no trouble here. Cayley even asked me where I bought these from!

Here's what you need:
1 box of yellow cake mix
1 (or more) cup of chocolate chips
1/3 cup of vegetable oil
2 eggs

Directions:

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2.Pour cake mix into a large bowl. Stir in the oil and eggs until well blended. Mix in chocolate chips. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls (or small melon baller) onto the prepared cookie sheets. Parchment paper is the best!

3.Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove from pan to cool on wire racks.

Love & War Winner

Congrats to Julie!

You'll love this book...and it's a good one to pass along to married friends.

I'll get it to ya this week.

Love & War Review, Plus Giveaway!!!

This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Author: John and Stasi Eldredge

Summary:

What the Eldredge bestsellers Wild at Heart did for men, and Captivating did for women, LOVE & WAR will do for married couples everywhere. John and Stasi Eldredge have contributed the quintessential works on Christian spirituality through the experience of men and the experience of women and now they turn their focus to the incredible dynamic between those two forces.

With refreshing openness that will grab readers from the first page, the Eldredge's candidly discuss their own marriage and the insights they’ve gained from the challenges they faced. Each talks independently to the reader about what they’ve learned, giving their guidance personal immediacy and a balance between the male and female perspectives that has been absent from all previous books on this topic. They begin LOVE & WAR with an obvious but necessary acknowledgement: Marriage is fabulously hard. They advise that the sooner we get the shame and confusion off our backs, the sooner we'll find our way through.

LOVE & WAR shows couples how to fight for their love and happiness, calling men and women to step into the great adventure God has waiting for them together. Walking alongside John and Stasi Eldredge, every couple can discover how their individual journeys are growing into a story of meaning much greater than anything they could do or be on their own.

...

This book is completely refreshing!!! I had so many "aha" moments while reading it. I love how the points of view change from John & Staci through the situations and you get to really see their perspectives. Their honest approach to romance meeting reality- with a Christian point of view is appealing. I could see a lot of my marriage in their experiences...like movie quotes, etc. I walk away from this book knowing that my marriage is a wonderful love story and a blessing in God's plan. I love that...our love story! I could go on and on about the notes I made about this book.

Though I didn't get an extra copy as a giveaway...this one is too life changing not to share it.

*To Enter:

1. All you have to do is comment with a little insight to your "love story" or what your family is doing for Valentine's Day.

2. Repost on your blog and/or Facebook and link back here. 1 entry for each

3. Make sure you are a follower here! I have several more books for review coming up soon! If you are new...welcome! enjoy an entry just for the new following :)

If you want to purchase your very own copy click here. Giveaway entries accepted through 2/14! I'll post the winner on Monday :)

Let Me Count the Ways... Day 8

in january, for no occasion at all, my husband brought me this special little book. "i love you because..." about 100 pages of romantic love quotes and sweet thoughts. i was so moved to tears and inspired. here's the theme for february: i'll post a new quote/thought for each day and then elaborate with a personal story. i encourage you all to do the same for your significant other. it's a great way to get that feeling of renewal. feel free to borrow the graphic and link to my blog as well. there just might be a giveaway at the end ;) i'd love for you to share your stories!

day 8:

the best relationship is one in which your love for each other

exceeds your need for each other.

i love this one.

Let Me Count the Ways... Days 6 & 7

in january, for no occasion at all, my husband brought me this special little book. "i love you because..." about 100 pages of romantic love quotes and sweet thoughts. i was so moved to tears and inspired. here's the theme for february: i'll post a new quote/thought for each day and then elaborate with a personal story. i encourage you all to do the same for your significant other. it's a great way to get that feeling of renewal. feel free to borrow the graphic and link to my blog as well. there just might be a giveaway at the end ;) i'd love for you to share your stories!

day 6:

love doesn't make the world go 'round.

love is what makes the ride worthwhile.

day 7:

love is like chocolate,

too much is not enough.

Let Me Count the Ways... Day 5

in january, for no occasion at all, my husband brought me this special little book. "i love you because..." about 100 pages of romantic love quotes and sweet thoughts. i was so moved to tears and inspired. here's the theme for february: i'll post a new quote/thought for each day and then elaborate with a personal story. i encourage you all to do the same for your significant other. it's a great way to get that feeling of renewal. feel free to borrow the graphic and link to my blog as well. there just might be a giveaway at the end ;) i'd love for you to share your stories!

day 5:

to love someone is to see the miracle invisible to others.

individually, tim and i are very different. i'm sure people think we are complete opposites! in being so different, we truly appreciate what each other brings into our marriage. how blessed are we to have the chance to really know someone better than anyone else on the planet!

Let Me Count the Ways... Day 4

in january, for no occasion at all, my husband brought me this special little book. "i love you because..." about 100 pages of romantic love quotes and sweet thoughts. i was so moved to tears and inspired. here's the theme for february: i'll post a new quote/thought for each day and then elaborate with a personal story. i encourage you all to do the same for your significant other. it's a great way to get that feeling of renewal. feel free to borrow the graphic and link to my blog as well. there just might be a giveaway at the end ;) i'd love for you to share your stories!

day 4:

love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction.

we learned a long time ago that being on the same page means the world to us. sure we struggle to work on the everyday things, but our plans are exactly that "our" plans. not for just one of us...but things in the long term that we pray over. our lives are forever intertwined...and it's so comforting.

Let Me Count the Ways... Day 3

in january, for no occasion at all, my husband brought me this special little book. "i love you because..." about 100 pages of romantic love quotes and sweet thoughts. i was so moved to tears and inspired. here's the theme for february: i'll post a new quote/thought for each day and then elaborate with a personal story. i encourage you all to do the same for your significant other. it's a great way to get that feeling of renewal. feel free to borrow the graphic and link to my blog as well. there just might be a giveaway at the end ;) i'd love for you to share your stories!

day 3:

love is always bestowed as a gift- freely, willingly, and without expectation...we don't love to be loved; we love to love.

ok, this took a while for me to learn how to do. expectations are always hard to handle! when i started taking this approach...everything changed.

Let Me Count the Ways... Day 2

in january, for no occasion at all, my husband brought me this special little book. "i love you because..." about 100 pages of romantic love quotes and sweet thoughts. i was so moved to tears and inspired. here's the theme for february: i'll post a new quote/thought for each day and then elaborate with a personal story. i encourage you all to do the same for your significant other. it's a great way to get that feeling of renewal. feel free to borrow the graphic and link to my blog as well. there just might be a giveaway at the end ;) i'd love for you to share your stories!

day 2:

love is friendship set on fire.

he is my best friend. the first person i want to call with good news, when i need to vent, the one i want to date!

Let Me Count the Ways... Day 1

in january, for no occasion at all, my husband brought me this special little book. "i love you because..." about 100 pages of romantic love quotes and sweet thoughts. i was so moved to tears and inspired. here's the theme for february: i'll post a new quote/thought for each day and then elaborate with a personal story. i encourage you all to do the same for your significant other. it's a great way to get that feeling of renewal. feel free to borrow the graphic and link to my blog as well. there just might be a giveaway at the end ;) i'd love for you to share your stories too!

day 1:

i love you because...

you make me laugh.

tim and i have countless inside jokes! it's almost a secret language we speak. he can just give me a look and we'll just connect and laugh. we have had this since the beginning. even when things aren't going right, he can always make me smile...or laugh at myself.