Where Did Summer Go?

I simply cannot believe that it is already AUGUST. Unreal. Unfathomable. Unfairly true, though! 
This month in Maine there are three "State Fairs" around us happening, and I am a long-time fair fan.

Bangor State Fair opened July 31st and to be absolutely, in a totally only my personal opinion way, this is THE fair to head to if you are in the Piscataquis/Penobscot county area, or the Somerset-heading-toward-Penquis county area, and are either 1) a family with kids that LOVE the rides, or 2) a kid at heart and, also, love the rides! For an almost all inclusive price of $12 at the gate, your bracelet includes fair admission, most shows, all exhibits, and UNLIMITED mechanical rides (anyone wanna Tilt-a-Whirl with me?), a price that is, when compared to other fairs, some of which charge a gate admission and then the bracelet for rides separately, sometimes to the tune of $15/$18/$20, can't be beat. This year Bangor State Fair runs July 31st through August 9th, and they have a lot of new shows and attractions, so check out their website before heading over!

Next up is the fair I grew up at, and it's always a hit especially with "MotorHeads" and the daredevil set, by that meaning the big draws are the Demolition Derbies and the midway, the first place I ever rode the Zipper and the Gravitron! Skowhegan State Fair admission varies this year, with opening day being only $2, weekend dates (the 14th-16th and 21st & 22nd) $10, all other days are $8, and there are special event days where admission is reduced for certain groups, like Senior Citizen Day on the 17th, where all fairgoers 62 and over get in for just $4. Kids 5 and under are free EVERY DAY. All day ride bracelets are $12 on opening day, $17 on the 15th, 16th, and 22nd and $15 every other day. You can find more information on the exhibits, shows, and events here

Finally, at the end of August is MY local fair, the Piscataquis Valley Fair, located in Dover-Foxcroft.  This year's fair runs from August 27th to 30th. While we're a smaller fair, still mostly focused on agricultural competition and animal events, that doesn't mean we don't know how to have fun. If you're a rocker, come out and see Back in Black on the 28th! For those who like country sounds, well, come shake your perspective up a little with Ragged Jack on the 29th. These guys are pure, ragged, Rockabilly sound and you will LOVE them!! Gate admission only $6, find all the details here

I hope your August is filled with fun, fairgoing, relaxing pool or lakeside, great eats with loved ones, and sun, sun, sun!!

Have you ever gotten that lost feeling...

I know I have. Several times. The times that it frustrates me, though, are the times I'm trying to get into the Word and just get left feeling like a spectator at a political debate with no information on the candidates, their platforms, or the issues.

Well, that obstacle has finally been removed, thanks to Tyndale House and The Wayfinding Bible. I was given the opportunity to check this Bible out, test drive it if you will, and it is an honest Blessing. I have bought a few versions of the Bible, but this one really honestly speaks TO me, instead of AT me. I know that's a personal perception, but that is why I'm thankful for the many different editions of God's Word out there.

This Bible is helping me understand my faith, the history of my faith, our God, and my savior Jesus better than I ever have. 

There are three reading plans that are integral to the layout and printing of this edition. They are the flyover route, the direct route, and the scenic route. 

The Flyover Route is a collection of 54 readings explaining the most important events in the Bible, and making them understandable, easy to grasp, and relevant to Christians today. I started this plan today, and plan to do the 54 readings over 3 days. It wouldn't surprise me if I complete this route in two, actually. I had to tear myself away simply to write this post! 

The Direct Route is the one I am going to immerse myself in next. 200 readings, and we have 121 days left in the year. I plan to complete one reading each day, but to also double up and read two readings on Wednesdays and Sundays.

The Scenic Route is the plan that I'll start on January 1st, and I'll share my progress here on the blog every couple of days. The Scenic Route is a collection of 400 readings, and I'll read through that one just as I'm going to read through the Direct Route, one a day, but doubling and possibly even tripling up some days as I feel led.

To purchase your own copy of The Wayfinding Bible, simply click HERE

*My copy of The Wayfinding Bible was provided to me free of cost from the Tyndale Blog network in order that I may review it. The opinion shared here is purely my own and no further consideration was given for a positive review. 

That's What Faith Can Do

It seems like such a very, very long time since my heart has been right with God. I lost my dad last September, and I tried the good old adage "fake it til ya make it" but through it all, faked smiles, faked laughs, genuine tears and even some genuine good moments, I was angry. At God. At Alzheimer's. At God for saddling both my parents with Alzheimer's. My mom, rest her soul as well, had been declining slowly for years, and I mean over a decade, closer to 15 years actually, when she finally succumbed so I had time to steel myself for it, and get used to it. My dad went extremely fast. I NEVER "accepted" that the strongest man I knew, who was the 'strong, silent type' most all of my life, was not the same man who raised me, taught me to drive, taught me to weld, to cut pipe, to fix electric issues, plumbing problems, and dang near everything else in my life, couldn't remember who I was, who my children were, most of any given day, then most every day of any week, then at all...I was SO mad, I can admit that now, and slowly I turned my back on God, the God I felt stole my dad from me. I told everyone, "Well, at least he and mom are reunited now." But inside? I felt numb, mostly, with flashes of intense grief and a constant, simmering rage. I completely turned away from my faith, from my Heavenly Father, through my small inward vision, I took the focus off the larger thing that mattered most...through ALL that, I still had, and still HAVE, my Heavenly Father! He's taught me everything, too, because I couldn't have learned it without Him giving me the earthly parents He did. This song, which I heard while station surfing on the radio a couple of weeks ago, froze me. It felt like someone ripped the earplugs out of my ears, and the eyes of my soul opened, and my heart stopped for a moment, and I completely and totally GOT IT. My parents were gone, yes, but HE didn't "take them" away from me. He took them out of pain, and suffering, and misery, into a transformed existence with Him. Wow. Kinda got a bit jealous at that.

I have a new relationship with God today, with my Savior, Jesus, with my family and friends. My co-workers, too. I've noticed the return of my faith has made me excited to greet each day, able to handle the small training tips I felt I didn't need for so long. Able to be proud of my younger co-workers who are above me in status rather than resenting "having" to take instruction and 'orders' from "kids" I rejoice in the strong, smart, funny, dedicated young people I work with each day, and pray for them every chance I get.

With that shared, I am thrilled to be on fire for God. To be infused with creativity and insight for this blog again. To feel whole, and loved, and part of God's family above all!

Coming Soon To the Great Outdoors Near You...

Yes, that's right, Spring is almost here! The vernal equinox is on March 20th this year. Here in Maine we are pretty much assured a few more snowstorms after that date, but hopefully not too much. The past three days have been pretty warm, actually, for this time of year. It hit 42° here yesterday, whew, that is practically shorts 'n t-shirt weather! Today it is only going to be in the teens but since there's no wind, that's not really bad. I think our below zero days are behind us.

I am busy making plans for what needs to be fixed around the homestead once warm weather hits and the snow melts. The first thing is going to be finding out what the issue with our new well-pump not holding a prime is. The fall and winter have been quite hard without running water, but Spring will see that remedied. I also need to diagnose how many pipes are broken, and where, underneath the house and get those replaced. The entire living room and kitchen wiring on the back wall needs re-done. Thank God my Daddy taught me how to do all this stuff, or I'd be living in a faulty-wired box with no water for a LONG time, since it is crazy expensive to hire someone.

The BEST news of the year, so far, is that I got my dream job at Tractor Supply and will be starting right off! I am so excited, the timing is ALL on God, because I have tried to find a job since last winter with no luck, and seeing the setbacks that have happened since then in hindsight, it was all because He knew I'd not be able to keep a job with the setbacks that were looming. I had a short lived gig as a cook at a local pub, LOVED it, miss it, but I've dreamed of working at TSC since I was a little girl, about 7 years old...I'm 33 now lol and it's finally happened!!

I have also been blessed to have a friend ask me to help with their landscaping and gardening this year, meaning that although I have a tiny space here at my home to garden, and will be making great use of it, I will have a HUGE garden elsewhere that I can enjoy working and getting my hands dirty in!

What are your plans for Spring? Share 'em below or share the link to your own blog! I LOVE reading what other homesteaders and rural folk are up to!

Halfway Day

♪Halfway Day, It's Halfway Day♫

And just what is halfway day, you ask? It's December 28th, three days past Christmas and three days until New Year's Eve. For me it is the day I finally get all the Christmas decorations put away, and start reflecting on the past year. I make my Priority One lists, which basically are things that need done around the house and homestead, activities I take part in, and character traits that I need to improve or remove over the year. I choose books that will help me be the woman God made me to be, that will uplift and inspire me to be and do more. I add those to my list to read over the coming year. 

I have done this ever since I was 16 and someone very dear to me told me he had done it for most of his life, since returning home from Vietnam and escorting his only brother's body back. He started by picking one thing he knew his brother wanted to do that he wouldn't get to, one thing about himself he could change for the positive, and one way to give back to the community in his brother's name. His Halfway Day evolved over the years and everyone's of course is going to be a little different. My husband picks two big projects around the homestead, one major outdoor trip and four smaller ones (he says this year, wait...THIS YEAR...we're going to finally do the Allagash!), and ways he wants to give back and reach out. My kids put things on their lists like books they want to read after seeing the movie, or a craft or hobby they want to start or improve on, and one volunteer project or act of giving they want to help with. 

 So, with that said, and at almost lunchtime, I still have some ornaments and lights to box up and lists to finish. 

 

A Feminine Revolution!

So a few months ago I was generously blessed to be chosen to test and review something I have wanted for a very long time, the Diva Cup. A feminine hygiene product, the Diva Cup will make you think completely different about "that time of the month." I have now been using mine for four months and couldn't be happier to have become a Diva Cup user!

Diva Cup is a silicone cup which is extremely durable and very flexible. It comes with full instructions but is so easy to use that after one or two tries you'll feel like a pro.  Yes, you insert into your lady bits, similar to a tampon, however, there is NO risk of contracting toxic shock syndrome with the Diva Cup because it of the durable silicone it is made from. Cotton or synthetic fiber tampons are a good breeding ground for bacteria, and as we ladies know the longer you leave them in, or the higher the absorbancy level you use, your risk of TSS increases. Not an issue with the Diva Cup. There is no applicator, you do use your hands so if you're squeamish be aware of that detail before hand. However, a plus of this is getting to know your own body and know what's going on with your feminine health. You can wear the cup for up to 12 hours without needing to empty it, whereas with tampons you are urged to change them after 4 hours, it is 'safe' to wear them overnight...but I've never taken that risk because of the TSS...in fact, I've NEVER felt comfortable or safe wearing tampons for more than two hours, let alone four...and couldn't sleep if I tried to wear one overnight...believe, I've tried...once...on a camping trip when I had no supplies of my own and my friends all wore tampons...yeah, long night, little sleep until I decided to make an improptu pad out of TP and a paper towel. Definitely NOT a fun situation to be caught in!

The Diva Cup comes in two models, one for women under 30 and those who have not had children, and women 30 and older and/or have had kids. I fall into both over 30 and having had kids, so I was sent Model 2, which is shown on the right in the following image:

They also make a cleanser called Diva Wash. It is formulated to clean, deodorize, sanitize, and also increase the lifespan of your Diva Cup. You can also use a simple liquid soap, but it needs to be free of lotions, dyes, and fragrances. Basically Dial liquid, although I use JR Watkins on mine because it's what I keep in the house anyway and it fits the specifications, as well.

As you can see, your Diva Cup comes safely boxed and you also receive a cute storage case. I also LOVE the "Diva" pin it comes with and display it with pride. Diva Cup has restored my sanity, confidence, and comfort during that one week of the month I used to dread. I no longer worry about if I have pads in the house, if I need them, if I'm going to be able to afford them if they're not on sale, if the closest store will even have them or if I'm going to have to drive 30 miles to the nearest Walmart, and so on and so on...Not any longer.

I use a really nifty little app called Period Tracker, which is available in both the iTunes Store and Google Play Store for iOS and Android platforms. There is a free version which works beautifully and a paid upgrade deluxe edition which gives you access to more moods in the journal log. Since I started using PTracker four years ago I have only been 'surprised' by an early visit from Aunt Flo twice. Yes, twice, total, in four years. The app lets you input your cycle and track how long each period lasts, what moods and symptoms you experience not only during your period week but leading up to it and afterwards as well. After you've got three months of established data in your profile it will predict when your next period is due. It only took four months of using the app for me to see what a great tool it is, and to be alert to when my period was due. Now I put my Diva Cup the night before I'm due to start, and have no surprises. It doesn't cause any harm and has saved some embarrassment and a few pairs of panties, as well.

Diva Cup retails for around $20. Visit their website at www.divacup.com to find a retailer location near you, or to buy online. Becoming a Diva was the best decision I ever made and I have no regrets! I can't say enough great things about this product and won't be without one again!

*In exchange for posting this review on my blog, I received a Diva Cup free from the manufacturer. I was NOT paid for this review. The opinion shared above is completely unbiased and not swayed in exchange for the product I received.*

Lord, it's good to be back home again

Here on the blog, I'm talkin' about! I've been away since July for a lot of different reasons. I didn't intend to take a long hiatus...I didn't plan to take any hiatus, actually, but one thing led to another and posting slipped down to the bottom of my priority list, sadly.

Gladly, things have turned completely around and I am able to focus on home, church, and definitely on blogging again.

So, there's a quick update, just to say hello and I'm back, and of course, WELCOME BACK TO MY BLOG! With all that said, November is leading us headlong into my favorite time of year, the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season...so there are going to be lots of posts with recipes, crafts, book reviews, movie recommendations and reviews, and occasional random postings that pop into my head, of course.

Here's one of my favorite John Denver songs to kick off the morning while I polish up my upcoming post, live here in an hour or so, so stay tuned!

Nothing says Summer like...

Summer is in full swing again and I was able to actually pick some of my early cherry tomatoes this morning. I grew an heirloom tomato mixture this year, which gives a beautiful mix of flavors, colors, and sizes.  You can buy heirloom cherry tomatoes pre-packaged now in most grocery stores very inexpensively and at this time of year there's a plethora of delicious veggies and fruits in season.

This is hearty enough to serve as a main course, yet sliced smaller it makes a simple, elegant and delicious appetizer as well.

Tarte Rustica con Tomates es Fromage

• 7 sheets phyllo dough (14 inches x 9 inches)
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 7 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese
• 1 cup thinly sliced sweet onion
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded gruyere cheese
• 2 pints heirloom cherry or 4 pints grape tomatoes, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons minced chives
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions

• Place one sheet of phyllo dough on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush with oil and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon goat cheese. (Keep remaining phyllo covered with plastic wrap and a damp towel to prevent it from drying out.) Repeat layers, brushing oil all the way to edges.
• Sprinkle onion over top to within 1 in. of edges; sprinkle with fontina cheese. Arrange tomato slices in a slightly overlapping pattern over fontina cheese. Sprinkle with chives, basil, salt and pepper. Bring up edges of tart over filling.
• Bake at 375° for 30-35 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Yield: 12 servings.

Who wants FREE Eyeglasses?

I received my eyeglasses free in exchange for this review post. The opinions shared are 100% my own and did NOT have to be positive. 

Okay everyone so here's the links I mentioned in the video:

The Firmoo First Pair Free Program

WHY choose Firmoo, you ask? Besides the reasons I mentioned in my video, here's a few others:

1) Firmoo's Interactive Digital Try On Tool. Upload a face shot and see what your new glasses will look like on YOU, not on a random generic model!

2) First Pair Free Program: HELLOOOOO What about the word FREE didn't grab you already?

3) Cute, cute, CUTE frames and styles! Adorable, trendy, funky, fun, flirty, ultra stylish...if you want a type, these guys have them!

4) Great support!! Any questions you have, they get back to you super fast! Most questions can be answered by visiting this link

5) Bonus gifts! I talked about these in the video but here are some pics of what you will receive from Firmoo in addition to your glasses: 

 Now here are some pics of me wearing my new Firmoo's glasses,

 Follow this link here to get the exact style I chose and have showcased in this entry. They are style SD 2303 in the Black/Blue option. They also have Black/Clear and Black/Burgundy in this style.  

  

AND FINALLY THE LINK TO COUNTRY SISTERS MUSIC VIDEO, THANK GOD I'M A COUNTRY GIRL

Arms of Love -- A BookSneeze Reviews

Arms of Love is a tender, touching, soulful novel in my favorite genre: Amish Fiction. I love the thought of Amish love and indeed some days wish I were Amish (okay, every day I wish I were Amish). Until the day I save enough to chuck it all, buy a farm in Bird in Hand or somewhere in Pennsylvania, I will content myself with reading terrific Amish fiction.

Arms of Love was new and familiar to me in many ways. I liked reading about a time period in American Amish life I had not read of before, the late 18th century. Set in 1777, the American Revolution is raging and American Separtists and British soldiers are both troubling Amish people to join their ranks and declare themselves. Their lives were fraught with peril because many refused to fight, to house soldiers OR 'Englischers' meaning anyone not Amish. Young Amishmen were leaving home and taking up arms to fight for freedom although it was staunchly against their religion to do so. Amid this troublesome time Lena Yoder and Adam Wyse are a young couple deeply in love. However Adam is torn between the fighting and between his religious beliefs and the Amish community. Does Adam ignore his personal beliefs and stay in the Amish community with Lena, the only woman he's ever loved? Does he turn his back on home, family, and love and go fight? What does Lena do?  Those are answers that can only be found out by reading Arms of Love which I highly recommend you do!

**I received a digital copy of this title in order to provide this review. My review is my own personal opinion and reflects no one else's input or thoughts. My review had to be at least 100 words and did NOT have to be positive.**

Do you LOVE reading? Are you a fellow blogger? Join BookSneeze and you too can get free books to review! Follow the banner in my sidebar for great reads!

~~Cleaning House~~ A Blogging For Books Review

This was the BEST book I have read in a very, very long time!! I love non-fiction and parenting books and this book was written with insight, humor, and you can feel Kay's sheer joy come through her words.

Cleaning House is the story of Kay Wills Wyma's year long experiment to change the status quo in her household. Her kids were not always tidy yet felt entitled to certain things and a way of life. Kay became frustrated and decided that the family needed a real shake up to make things happen. She chose twelve things for the family to work on and assigned one area each month for a year.

My favorite part of the book was how she engaged the children in helping with meal duties. They took turns making a decision on each meal, one kid did the shopping (with mom's help, of course) cooked as much of it as they could alone but mom was there to supervise and served dinner then cleaned up afterwards. Her oldest son was early disillusioned when he decided to buy take out for the family on his nights to cook and found that everyone was not as appreciative of his effort as he thought they should be. His final weekly turn came around and mom put her foot down and told him he needed to go the whole distance and plan a meal, shop, prep, cook and clean up. Everyone was more appreciative of his home made effort and he felt he had made a major accomplishment.

Cleaning House is a terrific book for moms who are tired of being Supermom with a household who expects everything done for them instead of helping to do things around the house.

**I received a copy of Cleaning House through Waterbrook Multnomah's Blogging for Books program in consideration for my review. The above account is my personal opinion of the title and does not reflect any one else's opinion either the author nor publisher. The review did NOT have to be positive.**

♥♥ Thursday Thankfulness♥♥ †2.28.13†

I have thought about starting my own "meme" for quite a while now and this morning, my Inspired email from Waterbrook Multnomah came and I wanted to share it with everyone. Then the Thursday Thankfulness idea came back to life. So what if I can't afford a Mr. Linky right now? Hopefully other Christian bloggers, Mom bloggers, and definitely Christian Mom Bloggers will want to take part! This meme is the place to grab some inspiration and then go to your own blog and post a verse from your quiet time reading your Bible, reading your devotional, one that came via email maybe such as my Inspired uplift or my KLOVE Encouraging Word does. Maybe a verse that God has put on your heart as meaningful, that is pulling you through something, giving encouragement, solace, peace, comfort, and reassurance. Share it! We could all use a daily Faith Lift and this is my way of sharing and caring.


There's the daily dose of inspiration. NOW for the Thankfulness part of the post: Choose THREE things, large or small, that you are thankful for in your life to share.

1. God showing me each morning that my life is great in little ways: a kitty waking me up to cuddle, my dog needing to be walked, friends and family to connect with. 
2. Kaplan University! This is a new one for me. Kaplan has a similar-yet-different approach to online education. Yes, there are still discussion posts but they are more engaging. There is also a live seminar component one day a week in each class that helps me firm up my schedule and keep in my routines. 
3. My career with The Old Schoolhouse Magazine!

Do you want to share some inspiration and thankfulness? COMMENT! Share your link to your blog in your comment. Within a week I should be able to get a Mr. Linky up and running to make this easier but for now if you comment and leave a link we'll visit you, I promise!

God Bless & Happy Thursday Everyone!

†Saving Grace† *A Review for ~~Blogging♥For♥Books~~

Somehow I managed to NEVER get this wonderful book reviewed and for that I can only apologize to Waterbrook Multnomah's amazing Blogging For Books crew and the remarkably talented Annie Jones, one of my all time favorite authors.

I received this book quite some time ago to review and fell in love practically from page one. The ladies from Prayer Tree, a previous Jones title, are back and as engaging as ever. Most every woman can find a character to relate to in these two titles, either in Rosemary, Naomi, Gayle, or Lucy who were introduced in Prayer Tree or perhaps in the elderly character of Grace Grayson who relives a tragic disappointment every year on the night of New Bethany's Splendor Belle Gala. 

This year, on the night of the gala, Mrs. Grayson is seen once again in her ball gown of fifty years earlier but this may well be the last year she puts it on.  The prayer circle ladies, who've grown a bit apart since the last time we joined them, have decided to take Grace on as a project of sorts hopefully to strengthen their bonds again and make Miss Grace less lonely, too.  Each woman undergoes different trials and troubles through the story but each one brings the woman closer to her family, her friends, and ultimately to God. 

As I've said previously, Annie Jones is one of my favorite authors and Saving Grace definitely did not disappoint. Even though it is a sort of sequel you do not have to have read Prayer Tree to understand Saving Grace and enjoy it as well. 

I received a copy of this title in exchange for my review through the Waterbrook Multnomah "Blogging for Books" program. The review did not have to be positive and is my own opinion.

MUST SEE for ALL country fans and/or Lady GaGa fans

Yeah, I, um...well, I never and I do mean NEVER post stuff like this...because most people who know I was raised country and will live and die country would be appalled to know I also like Lady GaGa...okay, there, my big deep dark secret is out...and yeah, I sing along with Hannah Montana songs AND Jonas Brothers Year 3000 still, too...

But, I was cruising YouTube looking for some new karaoke videos...and I totally found something I NEVER expected...one of my fave country groups covering Lady GaGa...and covering my fave GaGa song, at that! I *love* born this way. I was bullied horribly as a kid for being a little overweight, having reddish hair, and loving country music and wearing boots and jeans in Orange County...California, of course. Probably folks from Orange County in NY wouldn't have thought twice...after all, they've got OCC and that totally rocks!

But, here it is the video I've been raving about...if it speaks to you or you just really love it, think about reposting it or sharing it with someone else!

I hope you guys really loved like I did. Have a great night!

Friday's Fave Five

First Fave Five in Forever!

So, I'm a *huge* fan of Susanne from Living to Tell the Story and thank her graciously, again, for hosting Friday's Fave Five. I haven't been able to blog for an excessively long time, first because of not having internet service at home, then not having a home period...Now I have both again, blessedly, and I'm so thrilled to get back into the swing of the Fave Five. I guess my them here would be new things and renewal, so here we go: 

1. Three new baby bunnies born on Valentine's Day. They're too young to get a pic of without upsetting Mina, their momma, yet...but as soon as I can, Cupid, Cocoa, and Valentine will have a starring role in a photo shoot and blog post to follow!
2. My hubby buying my favorite chocolates in a beautiful keepsake tin...see, my daddy always did this for me, it was "our" thing since I was a little girl. He bought my mom, sister, and I a Valentine's heart every year from the time we hit Kindergarten (of course my mom's even longer than that, lol!) and I always saved the boxes. They were SO pretty. Some I kept in my cedar chest with mementos in them, others I taped shut and stapled to my bedroom wall. The really rugged or specially fancy ones I used to hold stuff on my desk, dresser, and vanity table. My dad isn't able to buy them for me anymore due to advanced Alzheimer's...so my hubby picked up the tradition this year...including buying ones for our two girls, and a cool metal toolbox and tool shaped chocolates and hard candies for our son. 
3. A new start on my college and career goals. I've been accepted to Kaplan University, I start on the 27th...it's SO good to be back on track with this!
4. A new church family...I've been out of church for so long (way too long to post here, but when I get into soul baring made again, I'll make a full disclosure post). 
5. My Keurig brewer. I *LOVE* being able to go to my local Shop N Save and pick out individual cups. They end up costing me the same as a full box of one flavor would, but this way I'm able to mix and match. I got some Wolfgang Puck Breakfast in Bed cups, Gloria Jean's Mudslide which is actually hot cocoa, Green Mountain had my seasonal faves Spicy Eggnog and Gingerbread House as well as my regular fave, Dark Magic. So, I'm brewing up a cup of Mudslide, putting the last sentence on my fave five, and saying Happy Date Night and see you tomorrow!

My Keurig and some of my fave flavors

 

Super Date Night Suppers Volume 1

Happy Friday and Happy Date Night for the couples who have a partner which reads my blog! Hope you all had a terrific and love filled Valentine's Day yesterday!

For tonight's Date Night we decided to do Chinese Take-In.. We're on a really tight budget, the Chinese place is cuh-razy on Friday (besides being almost a half hour away) and my hubby says he likes my cooking better anyhow...tee hee what a sweetie!

So, I decided I'd make chicken lo mein and an egg roll. We're not huge eaters, and the leftovers will be excellent tomorrow.

Chicken lo mein, shrimp egg roll and yes, a Dixie mini cup of duck sauce

 

 

This menu came together really quick and easy with some staples I keep on hand and a terrific deal that my local Shaw's supermarket is running right now called Pick 5 for $20. For my $20 this week I got a full rack of St Louis Style barbecue ribs, almost two pounds of individually sealed Perdue All Natural Italian marinated boneless/skinless chicken breasts (the bag had 5 large breasts in it), a large ready to cook chicken pot pie, and a beautiful boneless pork loin that I can't wait to cook tomorrow! Look in your weekly sales ad or the meat department when you get to your local Shaw's or Star market. They have many choices besides what I've listed so have fun mixing, matching, and filling your menu with delectable options!

Now, to the recipes!

Chicken Lo Mein

• 1 package Koyo brand Organic Udon Noodles 
• 1 Perdue All Natural Italian marinated chicken breast, thawed
• 1 1/2 cups frozen stir fry blend veggies, your pick
• 1 package Simply Asia Stir Fry Sauce Ginger Teriyaki

Bring 8 cups of water to a rolling boil. Add 1 teaspoon salt and the package of noodles. Boil 8 minutes til done. While noodles are cooking, heat 2 teaspoons olive oil in a medium skillet. Add chicken and cook til browned and cooked through, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove from skillet and keep warm. Drain Udon noodles in a colander in the sink. Let them drip while you heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in the pot you cooked the noodles in. Add the frozen veggies and stir fry for 2 minutes, til heated. Slice chicken breast into strips and add to veggies, stif fry 1 more minute. Pour sauce packet in with meat and veggies, turn heat to low, and return noodles to pot. Toss until well mixed. Turn heat off and cover pot. In the chicken skillet, heat 3 tablespoons oil to near smoking. Add your favorite fresh or frozen egg roll, one or two per person depending on the size and cook on each side to golden brown and crisp. Remove from oil, drain on paper towel briefly, dish up a serving of noodles, set egg roll alongside, grab chopsticks or a fork and dig in!

We haven't gotten around to watching the Karate Kid remake (I know, I know, we don't watch a ton of movies though) and we're debating between that and one of my old favorites, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.

Here's wishing you all an amazing date night!

Wow it's been a long time!

Holy roses, Batman, it's been forever since I've posted. A LOT has happened since my last post...we were staying with friends a while, that became a hot mess, and we've moved on. Now staying with another friend who's lifestyle (off grid, self sustaining, raising livestock, growing our own fruits and veggies as much as possible, fair trade purchasing, etc etc) is completely in line with ours.

Things are as near to perfect as they can be. Essentially for a while there we were homeless. Now have an established address, will be able to secure work with new references that I have secured, worked a few volunteer positions to flesh out my resume after being a stay at home mom since 2005. I have been a full time student in that time as well, I am going back to school now that things are on an even keel to complete my elementary education degree, a dream I've had since third grade back in, um, let's see...1989! Wow, it will be amazing to complete that and become a full time teacher instead of just a substitute and ed tech.

We are on a homestead now, not as large as our farm but eventually after helping out here for a year or two to get another place of our own and start over again. Will post again tomorrow and upload some pictures of our rabbits, too cute too believe and the cats are so cute with them when we let a few have free-play time outside their cages.

Goodnight!

Heaven in Her Arms: A BookSneeze Review

Catherine Hickem certainly knows the struggles Christian women face today.  As mothers the struggles are even more intense: when to push our kids harder and when to back off, when to trust and when to doubt, when to hold on and when to let go.

Mary, the mother of Jesus is not much mentioned in the Bible and certainly not as her own person. She enters the Bible when it is time tell of Jesus' miraculous conception and birth. Little is talked of his upbringing, the day to day struggles Mary faced knowing her child was of God, God's own son, and how that impacted her personally as a woman, as a believer, as a mother.

I cried a lot while reading this book because Mrs. Hickem shares some fabulous insight into what God wants of us women who believe, who follow Him, who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior and she also shows us how to find the answers to our deepest questions.  The section which touched me the most was "Love in the Rearview Mirror: Mary Knew God Looks at the Heart." Our hearts are often spoken of as something that leads women down a sinful path or gets us into trouble. It is also the repository of our deepest feelings: joys, triumphs, fears, longings, anxieties and tragedies we often think they are stored in our head but they are truly written upon our hearts.

The second most impacting for me was "There Are No Accidents" which states that Mary knew God as Master Designer. This is so very true. Sometimes when God shows us His plan for us, for our life, we think "but I don't want that! That's not what I planned." We don't control our lives, God works everything--good and bad--for our good. Sometimes it is hard to see that in a tough moment such as the loss of a loved one or economic uncertainty but that is what we have to remember.

Excellent read which I recommend to any woman who struggles with her faith or wants a deeper relationship with God.

Nearing the end of another school year

As I strolled down our main street in Guilford today, enjoying the nearly 70° temperature, the sun pouring down and a gentle breeze I marveled at the number of older teens lounging in their yards doing the same, enjoying the Spring Break to the fullest just soaking up the sun and hanging out with their friends. I substitute teach in our town on occasion and know many teens and preteens because of 4-H, subbing, and friends who are parents of tweens and teens.

It hit me that many of the kids I know will be heading off to college next fall and more still in the fall of 2013. A lot of these kids are brilliant, funny, creative kids who have no idea what they want to do in life. Most are excited about college but are a little scared of taking the PSAT, SAT, and ACT tests. Most of the parents I know and am familiar with are not college educated and are worried that coaching their kids for these tests themselves may have damaging results instead of positive ones. That is where Studypoint's SAT tutor and ACT tutor programs can make a world of difference. Colleges rely on student's scoring on these tests to determine whether they are accepted or not and if accepted which courses they must take based on achievement level.

I shared these programs with one of my closest friends and her 17 year old daughter who is a junior in high school this year. The daughter has testing anxiety and her mom left school to become a mom in her senior year. K, the mom, was very worried about trying to help S, the daughter, with her SAT prep studies. SAT Tutor has been a blessing and I hope it will help others out, as well.

These are definitely two programs I am going to be recommending to every student I know!

Five Dollar Dinner - Weeknight wowzers!

♥♦Please excuse the lateness of this post, I usually post $5 Dinner entries on Monday but this week I had a computer malfunction & didn't get my new laptop up and running until this morning. So, without further ado, here I give you TWO Weeknight Wowzers for $5 Dinners this week ♦♥

Monday

Tonight I made a family favorite, a not quite lasagna that uses black beans instead of sausage or hamburg, enchilada sauce rather than Italian red sauce and a Mexican five-cheese blend in place of mozzerella and parmesan. It also replaces lasagna noodles with corn tortillas so there is no boiling to do ahead of time. The only thing that requires pre-cooking is the black beans and I do suggest, to stick within the $5 budget limit AND make the tastiest beans that you use dried and spice them to your own family's liking as they cook. The recipe is easy and requires few ingredients. Here it is: 

• 1 pound dried black beans, sometimes called black turtle beans
• 2 cups frozen corn
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon cumin powder
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic (about 2 large cloves)
• 1 package corn tortillas
• 1 large can enchilada sauce
• 1 package Sargento brand Mexican cheese blend

Put the dry beans in a large stockpot, cover with water, bring to a boil. Turn off heat, cover pot and let beans sit one hour. Drain beans, cover with fresh water and boil 1 1/2 to 2 hours until beans are tender. Drain liquid then add the corn, onion, cumin, chili powder and garlic.
Preheat oven to 350°. Pour about 1/4 cup enchilada sauce in the bottom of a 9"x13" baking dish. Line with a layer of corn tortillas, cutting to fit as necessary. Spread another 1/4 cup of sauce on tortillas and top with a layer of beans, then cheese. Repeat layers until beans are used, ending with a tortilla layer. Cover the top layer with the last of the sauce and cheese. Cover pan with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake 10 more minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
Serve with a tossed salad and Spanish rice: 2 cups instant rice cooked according to package directions, a teaspoon of taco seasoning (I buy Old El Paso's shaker container. It's got TONS of uses!) and a 1/2 cup of your favorite salsa.

Tuesday

A quick and easy meal tonight because of my women's meeting at 5:30. Pineapple glazed pork chops, butter and herb mashed potatoes and broccoli with a kick: 

Pineapple glazed pork chops: 

• 1 package pork chops (one chop per family member)
• 1 cup apple juice
• 1 can crushed pineapple (you're only using 2 tablespoons for the chops. Serve the rest over a sliced pound cake for dessert!)
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons water

Lightly brown the chops on both sides in a non-stick frying pan. Add the apple juice and simmer until chops are done, 10 minutes for boneless chops, 20 for bone-in thicker chops. Pour off water and remove chops to a plate. Keep them warm. Add the pineapple, brown sugar, and water to the skillet. Warm over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar is dissolved. Cook down until the sauce thickens, about five minutes. Return chops to pan to warm through and coat with the sauce.
Butter and herb mashed potatoes: 

• 2 pounds new red potatoes, scrubbed, unpeeled
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 bunch chives, chopped, OR green onions, chopped, only the top green part
• 1 bunch parsley, chopped

Boil the potatoes in lightly salted water until tender, about 10-15 minutes. Drain water off and mash, with skins. Add a little milk to thin out if potatoes are too dry for your liking. Add the butter, chives or onions, and parsley and stir to combine well.
Broccoli with a kick:

• 1 head fresh broccoli, or 1 one pound bag frozen florets
• 3 tablespoons water if using fresh broccoli only
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1/2 tablespoons red chili flakes (sometimes called crushed red pepper)

Cook the broccoli until tender if fresh, just til warmed if frozen. Drain any water and return to pan over low heat. Add olive oil, garlic, and red pepper and toss to combine.