Weekends are for Bonus Posts...

Checking in on her toys...

Christopher Robin takes a bath (and pony tags along)

tea & beans...

bit of a traffic situation here, you might say...

if only doll clothes came in custom lengths...

might have a bit of a problem with those shoes. :)

I don't even know what to say...

what's cookin?

Thankful Thursday: Continuing gifts...

Gifts #40-57:
- my husband's kindness, even in my sharpness
- the ability to feel hunger
- sunshine after many days of clouds
- chapstick administered by my little 'fashionista'
- friends to share treats with
- an all-together day with my favorite two
- watching him melt when she is particularly cute
- his tenderness with us, his two girls
- his care and concern for me
- her little dance and giggle 
- a spirit of repentance in a young heart
- His peace even in storms
- 'Delight yourself in the Lord...' (Psalm 37)
- 'He has blessed us in the Beloved' (Ephesians 1)
- riches lavished upon us (Ephesians 1)
- yummy smelling soap and a cloth made with love for doing our dishes
- waking up to sunshine (and a husband who let me sleep in!)
- his gentle kiss on my forehead.

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Breakfast Quiche

I've been planning to share this recipe with you for several weeks, and I'm finally getting around to posting it. Some time ago, I signed up for a special offer to receive a cookbook in the mail with recipes from Jiffy (the baking mix company). There are actually quite a few good recipes in this little booklet, and can still be used even if you make your own baking mix (or purchase a brand OTHER than Jiffy...like me).

Breakfast Quiche (printable version)

1/2 cup buttermilk biscuit or baking mix
1 cup cooked ham, diced or bacon, crumbled
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 Tbsp. onion flakes
2 cups milk
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
4 eggs

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9" pie plate.
Mix together ham or bacon, cheese and onion flakes, and layer into prepared pan. Blend baking mix, milk, pepper, salt, and eggs. Pour blended mixture into pan. Bake 45-50 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

It's delish! I've made it with sausage, also.

So, fast forward and I have a whole bag of spinach that needs to be used ASAP due to an abundance of salad in my house over the last couple of weeks. I was looking around online today to find a crust-less quiche recipe and found this one that looked promising. As I was cooking the spinach, I decided to modify the recipe a bit and combine it with the Jiffy recipe to make this:

So, here's my recipe for this:

Spinach-Bacon Quiche

1 tbsp. butter
1 onion, chopped
1 (10oz) package fresh spinach, washed
5 eggs
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup baking mix
2 cups milk
8 slices turkey bacon

In a large pan, melt butter and saute onion until translucent but not brown. Add spinach and cook over low heat until wilted. Chop bacon into small pieces and fry, or cook and then crumble. In large mixing bowl, beat eggs, baking mix, milk, salt, and pepper. In 2qt. baking dish (greased), combine spinach/onion mixture, cheese, and bacon.

Pour egg mixture over spinach mixture.

Bake at 350 for 50 minutes. Enjoy!

linking up at Women Living Well Wednesdays


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Tuesday Tips: DIY Coasters

Before I get started on this post...here's how we spent a rainy afternoon:

C was making play-doh muffins, and I was cleaning out my coupon binder for the new year.  It was a good time! :-)

One of my favorite Christmas gifts this year was probably one of the least expensive, but there was time and love put into it which makes it very special.  And, it's a super-cute gift!!

THESE are my new coasters!  Are they not adorable?  I love them and it makes me happy, every time I look at them.

It gets even better...my {new} sister-in-law MADE them!!!  She made a set for my mom too, and I have to admit I was a little hopeful after mom had opened hers and I was handed a small, square gift with some weight to it...

Aren't the colors great?  She knows I love bright colors and these look so nice in my family room with the yellow walls and denim couches.

The underside has felt and looks like this...

Okay...ready for the how-to?  This was originally found on pinterest {of course!} and it's 4x4 tiles from Home Depot ($0.16 ea), Scrapbook paper, Mod Podge for adhering, clear spray paint for sealing (she did 3 coats, I think), and felt pads glued to the bottom.

Can you imagine the possibilities for these?!?  You could make a set of coasters for every season, every holiday, and think of all the gifts!  You could have coordinating coasters for every room in your house...  I really could go on and on....

Thanks, Rachel, for a great gift and an exciting blog post! :-)

linking up at Women Living Well Wednesdays


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Crunching Numbers...

This is my current facebook status:

Costco Shoppers: What things do you save the most on by purchasing at Costco vs. another store? Do you feel like your Costco membership saves you money as well as time? I'm in the midst of crunching numbers...Aldi + couponing vs. Costco...

I'm currently working on a price list to compare prices on items I regularly buy... I normally shop at Aldi, filling in at Walmart or Bi-Lo for items that Aldi doesn't carry. When I have time I try to use coupons matched with sales at grocery and drug stores to save on some food items, toiletries, and cleaning supplies. Couponing requires a LOT of time, and I'm wondering about scaling back. So, I'm looking into joining Costco. It seems that with the coupons that they send out (the only ones they accept), they might be cheaper on SOME items... I'm also factoring in the membership fee, and the savings on gas.

I'll report back once I finish this looooong list to see what conclusions I come to... In the meantime, I welcome any feedback regarding warehouse stores vs couponing, etc.

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Reading Goals for 2012

**Note: I just realized I forgot to include one of my newest discoveries, The Meaning of Marriage...perhaps I can fit that in somewhere...

I'm finally getting around to posting some reading goals for this new year, and I'll just say upfront that I may end up adding to or taking away from this list. I'm trying not to be too ambitious, in order to allow room for some new things I will discover and will want to read. In addition to this list are the ongoing studies that I am participating in with other groups. I will list those at the end. Please share any books that you have read recently ...I'm always on the lookout.

January: finish The Prodigal God and 1000 Gifts

February: finish A Praying Life and Creative Home Organizer

March: Give Them Grace and Building Her Home

April: The Ministry of Motherhood and Loving the Little Years

May: Homemaking and Comforts From the Cross

June: The Power of Prayer in a Believer's Life and Organized Simplicity

July: Same Kind of Different as Me and Sacred Parenting

August: The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen and A Shelter in the Time of Storm

September: One Day and Real Marriage

October: Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands and The Happiness Project

November: Though the Darkness Hide Thee and Better Off

December: up for grabs....like I have time to read in December!!


It's an ambitious list for sure. But, I had to start somewhere, and this seemed like a good place. We'll see what happens.

I will also be involved in the following studies with groups:
Lies Women Believe (due to a scheduling change I will be finishing this study on my own)
GMG Ephesians Study (online study)
Shepherding a Child's Heart (SS class at church)
Women's Ministry in the Local Church (with the WLT at church)


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Thankful Thursday: Starting the New Year...

Ever since I started reading Ann Voskamp's book One Thousand Gifts, I've been keeping my own journal of things I'm thankful for, but it's been very sporadic and inconsistent.  I was thrilled to read this post on her blog and find the January list for the Joy Dare in 2012.  This will be my guide for actually listing at least 1000 things this year that I am truly thankful for.  3 things each day.  The part about this that makes it even more exciting is this is done so that you can photograph your thankfulness as well.  I love how Ann's posts include photos, and hope to include some on mine as well.  Since I'm a little behind in getting this up, I have almost 2 weeks worth of thanks and pictures, so bear with the long post this time.  

Gifts...  #1-15
- organization; cleanliness; the gift of loving others passionately
- the sun reflecting off of the deck, making the dining room glow
- breakfast for dinner
- "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness..."
- "Be strong and courageous, do not be terrified"
- "Isn't He wonderful?"
- old handmade doilies from my Great Aunt; new handmade doilies for Christmas
- a blue glass basket from my brother as a wedding gift
- Scripture all around me, permeating my home
- this list of things for which to be thankful
- a clean, comfortable home, far more than I deserve

Gifts #16 - 39
- disposable diapers 
- leftover "Christmas Milk" after naptime
- the gift of gentleness, modeled to me by my own mother
- my husband gently cleaning up after me when I've been sick
- my mother caring for my precious little one 
- my daughter who is already modeling gentleness (1 Peter 3:4)
- watching the candle flickering
- showering...after not showering for 3+ days (a personal record!)
- the shadow of her hand in mine walking to the mailbox
- flowers from a friend
- clean, folded laundry in neat piles
- the end of the day, cuddling as a family, reading & praying
- watching her face eating lemons
- Chocolate Peanut Butter balls leftover from Christmas
- his arms gently around me
- light reflecting on yellow walls making all seem aglow
- the clean-ness of lemons
- discovering a book highlighted by a previous reader
- clouds heavy with snow (hopefully)
- warm fuzzy socks
- my precious girl snuggling close in the morning
- her small voice..."Isn't He wonderful, Isn't Jesus my Lord, wonderful?"
- heat blowing through my warm home
- her pens scratching away at the paper while she creates

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update...

Just a quick post to say thank you for praying for me in recent days and for your sweet notes of encouragement. Surgery was successful on Friday, and I'm happy to report we were only at the hospital for about 6 hours total.  My hospital experience was fantastic and I'm so thankful for God's provision through all of that.  I cannot describe to you the relief as I was waking up from anesthesia to realize that it was over and it all went well.  Even in my "foggy" state, I was praising God.

My recovery has been better than I anticipated, despite a small setback on Sunday which we're pretty convinced was an allergic reaction to pain medication.  (I spent the day in bed and vomiting...which is very painful with 4 incisions in one's abdomen and no pain medication as that is the cause of the vomiting...you get the idea.)  Thankfully, I awoke on Monday with a calm stomach and the pain was tolerable so that I did not need to figure out an alternative medication.  Yesterday was even better, and so far today is looking really good!  Now, if I can just remember that my body is still healing (especially on the inside) and I still have to take it easy for a few weeks even though I'm starting to feel normal again...

Despite my fear, I was very resolved on the day of surgery, and I was at peace with going to "get it over with."  Looking back, I see so many blessings throughout it all and I'm so thankful for my Heavenly Father's tenderness and watch-care over me.  Thanks, friends, for your prayers.

Back to regular blogging, soon...

Seeking Peace...

Traveling home from precious time spent with loved ones, and I'm finally caught up on e-mail, facebook, and blog posts.  Arriving home will find me anxious to start on the mountain of laundry, a quick (and not-too-thorough) cleaning of the house, cleaning out the refrigerator to re-stock it again for 2 weeks, a trip to the library to stock up on books and movies, phone calls, sorting through the mail, etc, etc...  And all, in 3 days, with a medical appointment thrown in there as well.

I said I wasn't going to do this, but my blog is probably going to be very quiet for at least this week, possibly longer, so I wanted to say something. I am having (routine) surgery on Friday morning, and I covet your prayers for me.  I've never been hospitalized or had anesthesia or any kind of surgery, and to say I'm terrified is a bit of an understatement.

It's challenging for me (a lover of new beginnings) to realize that my January is not going to be the way that I want it to be, full of resolutions, new starts, inspirations, and so on...  I'm hoping February can be that way.  I am reading all of your posts about resolutions, organizing, planning, top posts from 2011, reading goals for 2012, and I want to join in and post some of my own thoughts, but now is not the time, and I have to accept that.  Maybe during some of my down-time of recovery I can do that...

So -- don't think I'm giving up blogging for good...just for a little while.  In the meantime, pray this for me, as I pray it for myself... every. single. moment.

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