Souper Bowl of Caring - Emerson Nebraska

I am pretty proud of the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade youth group at my churches.

We put this video together in preparation for Souper Bowl of Caring on Super Bowl Sunday.

What are you doing for Super Bowl Sunday?

Souper Bowl Prayer:

Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us to be mindful of those who are without a bowl of soup to eat.

Baby Hats

My sister-in-law knitted my husband and baby the coolest matching strawberry hats. They wore them in our first photos as a family.

Now that baby #2 is coming, I've been thinking about another knitted or crocheted hat, maybe a hat for the whole family. I like silly ones, pretty ones, oversized ones, etc. The only problem is that my knitting skills are still of the pot holder caliber!

The strawberry hat! So cute!

The First Craft in prep for Baby's birthday

Baby Girl is a book worm! She loves books and will choose them from among a pile of toys to play with. So we decided to have a garden-themed party, perfect for a worm like her!
These little flowers will go in bitty flower pots for the favor. They're simple to make, but cute!

Supplies: Buttons, beads, wire, scissors (or wire-cutters), and floral tape

1. Cut a length of wire and gently fold in half. 

2. Add beads to the middle of the wire.

3. Add a button with the beads in the middle of two button holes.

4. Twist the wire together.

Here are some other examples...

5. Wrap with floral tape! Floral tape is funny stuff-- it doesn't feel sticky till it's stretched and warmed by your fingers, but then it will stick gently and effectively.

6. I put my little button buds in bouquets by taping three of them together at different heights.

Some hints: play around with colors and lengths till you get the desired effect.  I found that narrowing my colors to reddish, whitish, and tealish gave the flowers a more unified feel.
Knowing what you're going to do with them will help you determine the ideal length for the stems.

Carpe Diem

I am just surfacing from my pharmacology book briefly to say hello! I have lots of new recipes to share soon - hopefully Friday. In the meantime, here is a cute DIY project to bookmark for that rare sunny winter day or for a few months down the road. Too clever!

Perfect Summer Bangle  via Lumi

Moved By Generosity...

A couple of months ago some members from my church community along with myself were doing some mission work in Lexington, NE. During our time in Lexington we were moved by the generosity that we saw in the projects that were taking place in the churches and in the schools. One of the projects that stood out was a back pack program for a local school that was supported by a local food pantry. One of the ladies that was with me was so moved by what she learned, that in the 5 hour drive home had put together a plan for a food pantry for our community back home. Not only was the plan in place by the time we got home, but by the next morning she had already talked with school counselors and local church leaders. That was the first weekend in November. She formed a committee, found a location, started taking donations and the food pantry was open by December, with some early boxes sent out before Thanksgiving. We are looking forward to the official dedication next week. Since its opening, more and more people are hearing about it, and hours of operation have been increased to meet the need. It already has become a wonderful gift to the community.

A couple of weeks ago our 6th 7th and 8th graders got together to participate in the Souper Bowl of Caring. This is a nationwide service campaign that addresses poverty and hunger around the world. I think that many of our youth were surprised to learn that poverty and hunger exist within their very own community. I think that it is often easy to dismiss hunger as something that exists in far away countries. When actually, 35 million people in the United States live in households considered to be food insecure. This is enough people to fill over 500 NFL stadiums. This is staggering, and a strong reminder of the importance and value of our new food pantry as it addresses the most basic human need. Through this valuable resource individuals and families are able to put meals on their tables - providing food for the bodies, relief to the minds, and nourishment to their souls.

Some things have really stood out to me in watching the development of the food pantry. First, is the way in which a need was seen, action was immedialy taken, and support was and continues to be positive and strong. I am truly moved by the generosity in the time, energy, organizational skills, gifts of money and food products given. Now that the pantry is up and running they want to extend the giving power with a back pack program. It is awesome! I am also moved with the ability of this new venture to bring people of all ages, churches, towns, cultures and families together.

It is a beautiful reminder that we have a Generous God - A God who loves to fill our cups of blessing until they are overflowing. God gives to us so generously and by this has provided a pattern of giving for us to adopt - Giving generously out of love! Because of our generous God we can be moved to be generous with our talents and abilities, generous with our time, generous in sharing our learning, generous in our encouragement and praise, and generous in our hospitality.

“If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” - 1 John 3:17-18

I am proud to live and serve in this community. I pray that the community continues in its excitement and support of this wonderful gift. The food pantry has been and continues to be a powerful witness of God’s love working through the loving hearts and giving hands of our community.

25 Clever Ideas To Make Life Easier...

25 clever ideas to make life easier

Posted on November 01, 2011 in Bed, Bath & Kitchen, Decor & Furniture, Organise & Personalise by Simone

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Via: amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com

Why didn’t I think of that?! We guarantee you’ll be uttering those words more than once at these ingenious little tips, tricks and ideas that solve everyday problems … some you never knew you had! (Above: hull strawberries easily using a straw).

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Via: apartmenttherapy.com

Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes.

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Via: unplggd.com

Remove crayon masterpieces from your TV or computer screen with WD40 (also works on walls).

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Via: athomewithrealfood.blogspot.com

Stop cut apples browning in your child’s lunch box by securing with a rubber band.

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Via: marthastewart.com

Overhaul your linen cupboard – store bedlinen sets inside one of their own pillowcases and there will be no more hunting through piles for a match.

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Via: realsimple.com

Pump up the volume by placing your iPhone / iPod in a bowl – the concave shape amplifies the music.

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Via: savvyhousekeeping.com

Re-use a wet-wipes container to store plastic bags.

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Via: iheartnaptime.net

Add this item to your beach bag. Baby powder gets sand off your skin easily – who knew?!

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Via: realsimple.com

Attach a velcro strip to the wall to store soft toys.

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Via: flickr.com

Look up! Use wire to make a space to store gift wrap rolls against the ceiling, rather than cluttering up the floor.

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Via: instructables.com

Gotcha! Find tiny lost items like earrings by putting a stocking over the vacuum hose.

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Via: realsimple.com

Make an instant cupcake carrier by cutting crosses into a box lid.

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Via: stephmodo.com

For those who can’t stand the scrunching and bunching: how to perfectly fold a fitted sheet.

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Via: sprwmn.blogspot.com

Forever losing your bathroom essentials? Use magnetic strips to store bobby pins (and tweezers and clippers) behind a vanity door

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Via: realsimple.com

A tip for holiday packing. Store shoes inside shower caps to stop dirty soles rubbing on your clothes. And you can find them in just about every hotel!

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Via: familyfun.go.com

A muffin pan becomes a craft caddy. Magnets hold the plastic cups down to make them tip-resistant.

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Via: unplggd.com

Bread tags make the perfect-sized cord labels.

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Via: kiboomu.com

Bake cupcakes directly in ice-cream cones – so much more fun and easier for kids to eat. Definitely doing this!

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Via: squawkfox.com

Microwave your own popcorn in a plain brown paper bag. Much healthier and cheaper than the packet stuff.

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Via: jengrantmorris.blogspot.com

Brilliant space-saver: install a tension rod to hang your spray bottles. Genius!

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Via: 9gag.com

Win friends at breakfast with this heart-shaped egg tutorial. Aww shucks!

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Via: wilton.com

Turn your muffin pan upside down, bake cookie-dough over the top and voila – you have cookie bowls for fruit or ice-cream. Click here for recipe.

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Via: realsimple.com

Freeze Aloe Vera in ice-cube trays for soothing sunburn relief.

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Via: lifehacker.com.au

Gutter garden: Create a window-box veggie patch using guttering.

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Via: re-nest.com

Use egg cartons to separate and store your Christmas decorations.

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5 things I'm thankful for.

Five Things I've Been Thankful for Lately

1. Dramamine.  We made a long road trip to Florida and back over the holidays.  I sat with the baby in the backseat for much of the trip.  I am glad for Dramamine.

2. Sprout TV and the Excersaucer.  Sometimes this is the only way I am able to take a shower, especially since baby girl has gone mobile.

3. Zippers. One broke on my jacket the other day.  I could pull it up but not down.  I finally had to take it off over my head, and having pulled the zipper all the way up, it was a tight fit! I am grateful for functional zippers.

4. Instant cake mix.  I made a kick-butt Red Velvet cake the other night for guests, and then I made yellow cake cookies with fudge icing the next night.  From cake mix. Yum!

4. My Friends (yes, cheesey, but true). They are so fun and silly and they make me laugh at bunny rabbits and Betty white and Tim Tebow.  They also have stuff going on in life and are tough broads.

Recipes: Getting' Wild w/ Cupcakes

Here are some fun cupcake ideas. The monkeys are courtesy blogger CherieZ. The Owl is from Disney Family Fun and the Colorful Caterpillar is from the Two Savvy Sisters.

Craft Idea - Shadow Box Piggy Bank

I think that it is clear that I love the ideas of vlogger HeyKali. I love her newest idea of making Shadow box piggy banks. Especially as I begin my Dave Ramsey financial classes, I am reminded of the importance of saving for what I want rather than buying on credit. DOWN WITH CREDIT CARDS! This is a great way to pass on the ideas of saving and goal setting for youngsters. I would like to do this craft the next time I am together with all my girls and their miniature girls.

A Bone to Pick: Children's Toy Packaging

The holiday hangover is long gone but my aggravation with children's toy packaging won't budge. Why on Earth do these toy manufacturers feel the need to reinforce a cheap toy with Fort Knox-like securities? Why does a gadget need a cardboard box twice its size, 4 impossible-to-cut zip ties, twist ties, a plastic screen, and cellophane wrapping?!? I mean, seriously!!! Its like, here you go kid, here's a really cool toy, but you can't play with it until Daddy gets the chainsaw, vice grips, and industrial strength wire cutters out.

Since becoming a parent, I've been paying attention to toy packaging. We recycle everything that can be recycled so if I have a choice between two toys, one with recyclable packing and one without, guess which one I'm buying? This is yet another reason why I love getting hand-me-down toys - they come with no packaging! One of my favorite line of toys has eco-friendly packaging, unusual colors, and a sense of humor. There are plenty of companies out there making an effort to be mindful of the Earth and I like that. Check out The Earth Friends, Etsy, and Green Toys. I also find local consignment shops and Craigslist good sources for kid's toys. Your kid doesn't care about the packaging so save some cash and the environment by buying eco-friendly or used.

Random Question: Reality TV - Why do I watch what I watch?

Well friends, I would like to talk honestly about something - something that has taken a hold of me and I am not sure why. I would like to talk about The Jersey Shore. Yes, the reality show. I am not sure why, but I watch the show. I can not say that I like it, but I can say that I have watched every episode (I spent a weekend "involved" with a marathon of it). And now I find myself continuing to watch the new season and actually felt bad last week when Vinnie (my favorite, yes I have a favorite, male character) was homesick (I too, have experienced homesickness and can feel his pain).

I don't understand this. Anyone that knows me knows that I don't like watching people fight, or argue on television - It makes me uncomfortable, and my stomach acids boil. Yet I watch the Situation start fights in bars like it is my new part time weekend job. What is even more interesting to me is the fact that I CAN NOT stand, and refuse to watch the show That Shall Not Be Named (I refuse to mention the name of the show because it gives them power, but I can tell you that the Show That Shall Not Be Named is on E! and is about some overly indulged, under talented sisters and the money grubbing mother).

Now, at one time I also refused to watch The Jersey Shore thinking that it was just plain bad TV, but the more that I watch the more that I watch. I won't watch any of the Housewives of ? I have not watched The Real World since the 7th grade, and 16 and Pregnant makes me doubt that I EVER want children? So therefore, how can I watch the Jersey Show without feeling physically ill like when I hear about the Show That Shall Not Be Named? What is it about Snookie, JWOW and Paulie D that I find interesting? Why do I EVEN know the names of these people? Is it that I have sworn off The Bachelor franchise and crave this genre of television? Is it that I secretly want to have bigger hair, party more, and go tanning? Is it that I find it interesting from a Pastoral Care point of view? What is it?

Please shed some light on this. I feel better now that I have gotten this off my chest!

New Year Reading List

For Christmas I got some new reading material and I can't wait to get reading!

This is all part of my New Year's resolution to be a better steward. I want to be a good steward of my money, relationships, and personal well being. So I am beginning my resolution by starting the 13 week long Dave Ramsey course this January, and I will begin reading the classic 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

I have always enjoyed writing little notes to people and very much value a hand written note as a way of telling someone they they are important to me, and that I am thankful for them. I think that this extra little book, entitled The Art of a Handwritten Note will bring new ideas for my notes. I am setting a goal of at least one note a week to someone in my community.

What are some of the ways you are working towards your New Year's resolutions?

New Year's Resolution

Last year, my New Year's Resolution was to find balance. For me, that meant balancing my responsibilities as a mommy with the responsibilities as an employee. I never wanted to put myself in the position of deciding whether in any certain moment, I had to choose between being an all-star mommy or an all-star employee. This is easier said than done because sometimes, your kid gets sick on a day when you really can't afford to be away from work. All in all, I did a good job finding balance. I starting saying no to some "extras" and started saying yes to simplifying my life. None of this would have happened without the support of my husband. He can tell when I'm overwhelmed and swoops in to give me a break. I hope to keep up this balance heading into 2012, with a few added goals.

This year, I want to:

1) remove clutter - if I haven't used in the the past two years, its gotta go

2) run a half marathon - I almost made it this year until I found out I was preggers

3) be more selfless, especially when it comes to my kids - really, updating my Facebook status is NOT more important than the kid wrapped around my ankles begging for my attention

4) continue to live with intention - this might mean a career change, or moving somewhere, or something BIG...we are due for a meaningful change in my house

Do you have a New Year's Resolution?

Theme?

My baby girl is going to turn 1 in about 5 weeks.

I need a theme for her birthday party. I learned from A that parties need a theme.  E is a pro at designing invitations that go with the themes.

Here's the thing. E's birthday is right before Valentine's Day. I don't want to do pink and red and hearts and lace and stuff.  I don't want to do princesses, see T's post from a few weeks ago. And really, she won't remember the party, right? And it's not like SHE has friends, the friends are just mine and Rob's... and partly it's a celebration of Hubs and I surviving the last year, right?

I want to make pretty invitations.  I want to cook fun things like these, and I want to decorate and make favors around a theme.  I need something that will be fun and enjoyable for grown-ups and yet be sweet and nice and fun for her. I need something that our guy friends and our gal friends will find equally charming... A, E, T, readers, any ideas?

J

20 Questions

As you might have guessed from my late post, school started today. This quarter 18 credit hours and my first online class will be the challenge. But at the end of it all in March, I will have Little E's birthday celebration to look forward to.

When I first met A, I was greeted with 43 Questions (her version of 20 Questions). I am looking forward to passing along this ritual to my daughter. Nicole at Reaves, Party of Four, shared her version of the question and answer session. Starting this March, I want to make one for my daughter. Picture books are always something we enjoy looking through together, but this will add another layer of laughs to our memories!

 image c/o Reaves, Party of Four