blog hop...giveaway style again!

It's blog hop GIVEAWAY style again!

This week we're giving away a $20 gift certificate to ablemabel on Etsy.

Just wait until you check this shop out....
I know...
I know...
I am doing no good for your budget
I really really apologize! {grin}
...but isn't it fun!

If you like fun.funky.unique things for your home...
you have to check out ablemabel

like this....
and I LOVE this...

and oh how I can just picture this in my kitchen at home...
{I miss my kitchen}
and I think you would all agree I need this...
{grin}
okay... so are YOU ready to win a $20 gift certificate to ablemabel?

And really... I think her shop is quite easy on the budget.
You could even get a few things with your $20

So head on OVER and check out ablemabel
come back and tell us what you would buy with your $20

and don't forget to leave your name this time! {grin}

Have FUN!

Blog Hop... what my house says

This weeks theme is encouragement.
there are so many things I could say
then I remembered this old post
back when I had 10 readers {and I think they were all friends and family}
and I knew I needed to share it again.

I could re-write it and go into more detail
and I really should
{because this was a life changing thing for me}
but for today I'll just share the original

what my house says

For years I've been fooled... If you've been to my house in the past you will know that our home is *almost* always picked up, I clean the toilet daily, the laundry is washed, folded & put away before lunch, the wood floors were swept and the tile was cleaned daily, I made all the beds every morning and picked up the toy room every night. So.... the house was clean. I thought that that made me... successful... like I had earned the right to be a mother & a wife because I could 'do it all'. I thought that if someone stopped by and saw a mess in my house they would think... it's because she's a young mom or it's because they have too many kids or it's because she's just lazy.

WOW! I was wrong! Some of you who visit frequently may have noticed a little 'change' in our home... and you may have even thought it was because we have a 4th child and I just can't keep up anymore... But really... it's the best thing ever! My house now says that I played with my kids, I gave them my time, I enjoyed just being with them, I let them help with the housework... even if it took 4 x's as long and didn't get done the way I usually do it. It says I spent time with my husband instead and doing my 'nightly routine' of picking up and cleaning the house so it's spotless for the morning. It says I can't do it all... without sacrificing my family. And besides... when the boys are grown what are they going to remember... some dirty laundry in the hall? I don't think so... but I do hope they remember all the fun we had and the love in our home.

Now... don't worry... I do still clean the toilets, sweep the floors, do the laundry, ect.... just not before I've given the best of me to my family. Which means I may not get it done everyday. :)

originally posted on Monday, August 20, 2007

Blog hop... Favorite Recipe{s}

It's BLOG HOP time again!

this week is....
Favorite Recipe{s}

I know I have shared a ton of recipes with all of you already...
but I don't think I have shared this one!

.Homemade Mango Sorbet.

it's so incredibly easy I have NO IDEA why we don't make it more!
all you need is....
ONE bag of frozen mango
ONE can of Organic coconut milk
ONE tablespoon of vanilla
ONE cup of sugar
{we've used 1/2 sugar 1/2 agave nectar before and it was divine!}

Mix it all up
Toss it in your ice cream maker
let it do it's magic
and
ENJOY!

I must share this recipe too...
I am in LOVE with this Gazpacho Salad.
My dear friend Shelly made this for our family while I was on bedrest
and it has been a family favorite since!

Gazpacho Salad:Chop:
THREE large organic tomatoes
ONE organic cucumber
ONE organic green bell pepper
1/2 med. RED onion
ONE handful cilantro

TOSS in a bowl with
THREE teaspoons Olive Oil
DASH of Salt and Pepper
Juice of ONE lime

ENJOY!

Have FUN blog hopping around!

Who me?

It's Tuesday and that means it's Blog Hop time! Today it is "3 things you didn't know about me" -- Seriously?! That might be hard considering all of these posts I've done! {grin}

...okay after sitting here pondering for the last 5 minutes I think I'm thought of a few...

.ONE.

shortly after Paul and I started dating {in highschool} he made me skip school with him and we got caught. We both got an ISR {in school reassignment}.

.TWO.

I totally fell in love with the color pink when I was preggo with the girls... before I knew they were girls. I thought it was a sign. {grin}

.THREE.

I let the boys get themselves dressed everyday and I don't usually mind if they don't even match... however I think I'll have a harder time doing that with the girls!

This just reminded me that I still have TONS of unanswered questions... looks like a rainy day on the farm so maybe I'll get back on those! {grin}

blog hop

I'm joining in on the weekly blog hop... i love excuses to post pictures! {grin}

Since I don't have access to my picture drive I went WAY back on my blog and found this picture of 1 year old Gavin. Man how time flies!

click on the link below to blog hop and have some fun!