Give Yourself A Little Credit

You just ran into her at the store. We all know her. That mom. The mom who from all outside appearances has it all together. She always looks perfect...cute hair and pristine make-up or naturally beautiful skin with manicured fingernails. Her outfits are trendy and well put together or a classic style that's always "in" with matching jewelry. She's calm, cool and collected. You look at her and think, "There is no way on God's green earth that she is a mom of young children." And yet, there they are. One, two or three little people in her stroller or shopping cart. They are well-mannered and as adorable as can be in their cute little clean outfits. Slowly, you feel your walls crowding in. You start thinking about your mangled ponytail and shabby outfit with a peanut butter smear on front that you tried to clean off with a baby wipe in the car. One of your kids is having a meltdown or being stubborn, one has something sticky on the side of their face and another one has a snot bubble blowing out and is taking off their shoe yet again for the third time. The oldest child who isn't in the cart is running around after you've told them for the tenth time to hang on to the cart and calm down when they turn to you and say, "I have to go potty!" even though you had them go right before you left the house. After reviewing this scene in your life you start questioning yourself. Insecurities spring up, and you think, "Why can't I get my act together like her? How does she do it?"

Have you been there?

I know I have. The thing is...motherhood is crazy! We seem to be these miracle workers with endless "to do" lists that need to be accomplished with lots of energy on little sleep. It's an overwhelming job at times (most of the time for some). We run circles around ourselves fixing the same things over and over as little people come right behind us destroying it again. It's a relentless job, but in the end it's also rewarding. I had my three boys in three years one right after the other. My husband and I didn't plan it that way, but that is what God gave us. I was in survival mode for a long time. Life was happening to me instead of me living my life on purpose. I felt like I was forever playing catch up just to keep my head above water. My once confident self was now rattled with insecurities in this new role of mother. I remember thinking how hard it was when I had my first, and now when I just have one with me it feels like a vacation. I have first time moms come up to me sometimes and say, "I don't know how you do it with three! I can barely handle my one!" I am quick to reassure them that I felt the exact same way when I was in their shoes. Once that first child comes, life is never "normal" again. I always say, "You just find a new normal." It continues to happen with each addition to your family. It's never the same, you just find your new normal. Now that I'm comfortable in my new normal, things are getting easier. As the boys get older and I continue to gain some years of experience under my belt, my insecurities are waning. I've learned some good lessons. It's been a physical, emotional and spiritual journey, but I've come out of my survival mode a better woman, wife and mom. I finally realized that it doesn't really matter what other people think about me. Sometimes I actually look like the mom who has it all together, and other times I look like I just escaped from the loony bin. What matters is that God gave me the children he destined for me to have. He will continue to use them daily in my life to help me grow and learn, and in turn, he will use me to help them grow and develop into what I hope to be amazing men who really make a difference in the world around them. I stopped carrying around such high and often unrealistic expectations for myself and replaced them with joyous victories in the little things I accomplish each day. My victories may be getting the laundry done, baking a cake for a party or playing kickball in the yard with my boys. It may be getting everyone fed, bathed and tucked tight in bed after storytime by 7:30 p.m., and on some days it's the simple fact that I actually got to take a shower! I am not an A-type personality who is extremely organized which is the category most of "those" moms fall into. I am a fun-loving, joyful, silly and adventurous mom. God made me unique, just like he made each of my children unique. And guess what? He made you unique as well! The more I let go of what I "think" I should be and just enjoy who God made me to be, the better I become as a mom. Not that I don't still set goals for myself and try to be the best version of me that I can be, but I don't stress about trying to be "the perfect mom" anymore. I also realized in befriending some of these "perfect" moms that what I see in them are their strengths. They also have weaknesses and insecurities as I do, and are often under a lot of stress because of the expectations they put on themselves. We all have strengths and weaknesses as parents, gifts that God gave us and things that we need to work on. Don't try to be something that you're not though, and please try not to compare yourself to other moms. Give yourself a little credit. Find those little victories in your day and be thankful for them. You are a special mom in your own way to those amazing little people God blessed you with. Love on them, appreciate them, spend time with them and (when you need to) take a break from them to find that confident woman you can still be. I love so many moms out there! Many of them bless me on a regular basis with their courage, determination and humor. So, gather round some other moms. Encourage each other, support each other and remind each other to give yourself a little credit. You're a good mom!

Thomas the Train Cake

My middle son, Owen, celebrated his third birthday a few weeks ago. My husband and I were out of town and got home the evening before his party. I didn't have a lot of time to work on the cake, so I kind of threw it together last minute. If you need to make a last minute cake for a child's birthday, you can "cheat" a little by using toys to decorate with. I used a chocolate boxed cake mix and filled the cake with an easy chocolate mousse (Cool Whip mixed with instant chocolate pudding mix), then frosted it with a homemade buttercream icing (I usually double or triple the recipe below). I put a simple border around the top and bottom edge then added some Thomas toys to top it off. I finished with a simple "Happy Birthday Owen" message on top and some "Choo-Choo" lettering on the side. It ended up being a cute little cake, and Owen loved it! Whether it's cars, trains, polly pockets or toy figurines, you can usually get a second use out them as cake toppers (especially in a time pinch). Happy decorating!

Recipe: Buttercream Icing

2/3 cup butter (softened)
4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2-3 tablespoons milk

In a mixing bowl cream butter. Add vanilla. Mix in powdered sugar one cup at a time. Add milk one tablespoon at a time to desired consistency (more milk for thinner icing). To thicken icing, you can add more powdered sugar.

Yummy Cake!

Tomorrow is my mom's birthday, so I thought it would be fun to bake a cake in celebration. My oldest son, Jacob, loves to help out in the kitchen, so I had him by my side during the cake-making event. On a side note: As a mom, I think it's important for men to be self-sufficient. While my home does have many stereotypical male/female "roles", it's because we choose them not because it's expected of us. My husband and I are very fair and balanced in our lives, and we are trying to teach our boys how to literally be a "Jack of all trades". My goal is for my boys to not only be handy around the house in a handyman sort of way, but also be skilled in cleaning and cooking, along with all the other things they'll need to know to survive the world of bachelorhood without living like a bachelor. Whether or not they carry on with what I teach them is up to them, but I would hope they turn out to be something like their dad who I just can't say enough good things about. I'll support them regardless, but hey, it's something to shoot for, right? I'm just trying to raise up some good men who will love, appreciate and support their wives (wherever that may be). With all that said, we're back in the kitchen with Jacob by my side oozing with excitement about the wonderful world of cakes. It's great to get your kids involved in the kitchen. You can teach them math skills with measuring and counting along with motor skills through tasks. They think it's a blast, and it is also a perfect way to spend some quality time together and enjoy good conversation with them. We started with a boxed yellow cake mix. Boxed mixes are great for the everyday mom. The key is to not overbake it! You can get a delicious moist cake from a box every time if you follow that key rule. Jacob counted out the eggs we needed based on the picture found on the box. I measured out the rest of the ingredients and let him add them in as needed. With the batter ready to go we headed over to our pans. I always line the bottom of my cake pans with waxed paper. It keeps the cake from sticking and (after removing) it gives you a perfectly smooth finish to ice. Once the cakes (2 8-inch rounds) were baked, we allowed them to cool while running some errands. When we got home, we started on the chocolate icing (recipe below). Jacob was my taste-tester to make sure the icing was just right (of course I snagged a few finger licks myself). Once the icing was ready, we sliced up some fresh strawberries and then began assembling our tasty treat. I wanted the cake to have several layers, so after leveling off the tops, I cut both cakes in half with a cake leveler. If you don't have a leveler, you can use waxed dental floss and slide it back and forth through the middle of the cake (although you do have to eyeball it, so just make sure to watch closely as you go). You can remove the waxed paper before moving on. I placed the top of the first cake face down on a plate and then piped a thick layer of icing around the circumference (I just put some icing in a plastic ziploc bag and cut a 1/4 inch hole in the bottom corner for piping). This provides a barrier to keep your strawberries in place and also acts as a glue for the next layer to stick to. I added one layer of fresh sliced strawberries to the inside of the circle then topped it with the bottom layer of the first cake. I then put a layer of icing across the entire top of the cake and added the top layer of the second cake face down on the icing. After repeating the piping and strawberry slices on this layer I topped my cake off with the last bottom layer of cake face down. Cake assembly done...on to the icing. We put a thick layer of icing across the top and let it kind of ooze over the edges before coming back around to smooth the sides over. With the cake iced, it was now time for some decorative detail. Jacob really wanted to put some strawberries on top of the cake, so after adding a border along the top and bottom edges, I came up with a strawberry rose design to top everything off. I took two very large strawberries (you could use 3-4 smaller ones) and sliced them long-wise to create "petals" that we placed in a pinwheel shape leaving a small opening in the middle. I then cut an "X" into a strawberry long-wise, but not all the way through, so the pieces still held together some. I opened the four pieces up and set the strawberry in the middle of my pinwheel. I then took my "star" icing tip that I used for the border, filled in the middle of the opened strawberry and followed along the edges of each petal making a chocolate tipped strawberry rose. It's not the most beautiful cake I've ever made (we were a bit crunched for time), but it was fun to bake and do something creative with my helpful excited 4 year old by my side. And of course, it's yummy cake with delicious rich chocolate icing and fresh strawberries which are a match made in heaven as far as my mouth is concerned. I know my mom will love it, especially since Jacob helped make it. So, get those kiddos in the kitchen, have some fun and make some memories while teaching them some life skills. Happy baking!

Recipe: Chocolate Icing

6 ounces (1 cup) semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 stick unsalted butter (you can use salted for a richer taste)
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Melt chocolate chips and butter in bowl in the microwave. Be careful not to burn chocolate. I usually do 20-30 seconds at a time then stir. Pour chocolate mixture into mixing bowl. Add corn syrup, vanilla and sour cream. Mix til combined. Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time while mixing with electric mixer or by hand with a whisk.

Target + Coupons

The other day I mentioned how I've been working on cutting down our grocery expenses. Well, I've also been trying to cut down any and all expenses that I possibly can using coupons on top of sale prices. I swear this is an art form in its own right. There are women out there who feed a family of six on a budget of $45 a week! I know this sounds nearly impossible for those of you who are just finding out about this coupon extravaganza going on in the blogging world, but the truth is you could be saving tens to hundreds of dollars a month by learning some of these great shopping skills. Like I said in my previous post, I still have a lot to learn, but I just wanted to show you an example of what a beginner can buy with ten bucks using these saving strategies. I tackled the wonderful world of Target today with three kids and my coupons in tow. I ended up with two card games (a gift for some friends), face wash, mouthwash, lotion, feminine products, two packs of Wet Ones antibacterial wipes and a 6-pack of lightbulbs (originally priced at $9.99 by itself!). While there are "pros" out there who have bought two weeks worth of groceries for $10, I'm very happy with the nearly $30 I saved had I bought each of these items at regular price! It's not a lot of work and even if you can save $10-$25 a week, by the end of the month it adds up to a chunk of cash. I know so many moms who are trying to work odd jobs and/or make some extra money from home. This is something you can spend just an hour or two on per week to save your family some hard-earned cash. I think it's well worth my time, and I hope if you're a fellow penny pincher that you'll be encouraged by my little financial victory today. If I can do it, so can you!

Monster House

Oh, the rain...I keep getting teasing glimpses of spring only to wake up the next day to gloomy skies dumping water droplets everywhere. Another day inside with three rambunctious little boys. What's a mom to do? We have colored, played multiple games of candyland, put together puzzles, played trains and cars more times than I can count, and I am running out of things to do. I have a friend in Virginia who also has three boys, and she was asking for advice on what to do on yet another rainy day. My mind instantly went to "monster house". What in the world is "monster house" you ask? It is a fun game that my niece and nephews have been playing for years. I don't know where it originated. I only know that I have not met a kid yet (including my own) who doesn't love it. Rainy days are gloomy, so this game fits perfectly for those dark shadowy days. The rules are simple. It's sort of like hide and seek except for only one kid hides. This kid is the monster, and they growl quietly in their hiding place while the hunters go looking for them. The other kids are armed with a flashlight (or many flashlights if you have them). Their goal is to hunt down the monster with their flashlight. Whoever finds the monster this round gets to be the monster in the next round. Normally my kids aren't big on hide-and-seek because for one, they have a really hard time being quiet when they're hiding, and two, they sometimes get bored looking for those who are hiding quietly. Add a growl to the hiding monster and a flashlight to what is now an armed hunter and suddenly, it becomes one of the funnest games ever! They absolutely love it! Another fun thing that we play is "tickle monster". I run around the house acting like whatever animal they want me to (monster, dinosaur, monkey, chicken, whatever!) and when I catch them, they get a tickle attack for a couple of seconds before they run off again screaming. It's loud and a little crazy, but it's a good workout for me, and it gets some of their energy out running around the house. When we're all worn out we usually cozy up on the couch, and I give them hugs and kisses til everyone calms down. Then we read a book, talk, sing songs or play something quietly. I enjoy all those moments from the screams when they find a monster to the giggles of a tickle attack to the "I love you, Mommy" that you hear when they're snuggled up in your lap after they've worn out their energy. Being outside is fun and there are so many adventures to enjoy with your kids in the great outdoors, but you can have just as much fun in the great indoors. You just need a little creativity, some energy and some adventurous little kiddos to join you. Have fun!

Recipe: Chicken Marsala

This is a great recipe that tastes like you slaved in the kitchen for hours. When I'm crunched for time and have forgotten to pull out meat to defrost for dinner I use frozen chicken tenderloins for this recipe. I throw them in the microwave or in a plastic bag under cool water in my sink for a few minutes and they're ready to go. Hope you enjoy this one!

Recipe: Chicken Marsala

1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon paprika
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1/2 inch slices (or 8-10 chicken tenderloins)
2 tablespoon olive oil
4 tablespoons butter
1 lb. sliced mushrooms
1 cup Marsala wine
2 cups chicken stock (or 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon and 2 cups of water)
2 tablespoons corn starch
2 tablespoons water
salt and black pepper (to taste)

Heat large skillet over medium-heat. Add two tablespoons olive oil. In a small bowl stir together flour, garlic powder, salt, pepper, onion powder and paprika. Spread mixture out on plate and dip chicken slices in flour mixture on both sides being sure to cover entire slice. Shake off excess flour. Brown chicken on both sides (about 1-2 minutes per side). Set chicken aside on plate. Add 2 tablespoons butter to skillet. Swirl butter til melted then add mushrooms. Saute mushrooms until they give off their liquid, being sure to stir frequently. Add Marsala wine. Bring to a boil for 3-5 minutes until wine has reduced down by about half. In separate bowl stir together corn starch and water. Add chicken stock to skillet. Quickly stir in corn starch mixture. Bring to a boil until sauce begins to thicken. Reduce heat to medium and add two tablespoons butter. Add chicken and simmer for a few more minutes until chicken juices run clear. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve over noodles or mashed potatoes. Enjoy!

Tiny Time

The past few weeks have been heavy on my heart. A fellow mom at my church lost her battle with cancer and an acquaintance of mine lost her 11 month old daughter. However, on a positive note, a childhood friend of mine was able to bring home her 1 year old son from the hospital after a successful bone marrow transplant. It's hard to understand why some things in life happen. Life experiences often come without warning and are out of our control. As I've sat and pondered over the last week about these recent events a few things have come to my attention. First, our days are numbered. I've understood this for quite some time, but I seem to get blatant reminders of it now and then in a not so subtle fashion. Second, though many things in life are out of my control there are many things pertaining to my family that I can control. As wives and moms we are so BUSY all the time! Often our time is tied up in important things, but many times we don't prioritize our time to the best of our ability. The days fly by us and in a blink we are in mid-February trying to figure out what happened to Christmas! Or in my case, I've made an appointment to register my oldest for kindergarten and am thinking, "Have five years already gone by so quickly?!" I remember having a conversation with my mother-in-law who is fantastic with young kids. I swear the woman has more energy and fun with my kids than I do sometimes. She has a way of getting down to their level and really enjoying the moments she shares with them. My husband is a walking billboard for her creative way and nature with young kids. His love for reading and "outside the box" thinking on how to raise little ones stems from her. I was talking to her one day about the busyness of motherhood and wondering how she kept up with her three little ones. She looked at me and said something to the extent of, "You know, your kids aren't going to remember how clean your house was, but they will remember the time you got down on their level and played with them." Um...lightbulb moment! It's so true. Not that we shouldn't do our best to keep a tidy house or an organized lifestyle, but how many times have those gotten in the way of you spending some quality time playing with your kids? So many times I've told my kids "not right now" or "maybe later". Many opportunities and moments have passed me by without even realizing it. My job as a mom is to raise responsible sincere loving adults who put others before themselves. How am I supposed to do that when so often I pass by them without taking the time to teach them how to love, share, enjoy life and be selfless? I'm supposed to teach them by example, and yet at times I don't put their needs before my own because I'm "busy" doing something else. My house isn't perfect, my life is chaotic, and I (hopefully) have a lot of life experiences ahead of me, but in the midst of all of it I want to be remembered for my "tiny time". Whether it's the tiny moments I took out of my busy schedule to teach my children or the time I spent loving and laughing with the tiny people running around my house, I can guarantee you that the impact on these sweet little people God has blessed me with won't be tiny. It will matter in a BIG way. Those are the moments and times that they will carry into adulthood and appreciate me for. With that being said, take some time to play cars, barbies, candyland, hide-and-seek or whatever it is that the tiny people in your life enjoy. Don't rush it. Enjoy it. Appreciate them while they're still tiny. And remember, your children are one of the greatest things you'll ever invest in, so make your "tiny time" with them count.

Finding Your Frugal Side

With today's economy being so crazy, many families (including my own) are really having to tighten their, dare I say, budgets. Although budget is not a four letter word, many people gasp at the mention of it. The good news is once you have a budget established, it gives you a lot more freedom and relieves stress in the area of finances. I've always been a bargain shopper by nature, but I am still learning lessons in the area of budgeting. Some areas are easier to cut than others depending on your priorities. Currently, I'm working on cutting down our grocery bill. I've started "couponing" and looking for sales, but have a long way to go in learning this incredible savings skill. My sister is as frugal as they come, and she's been helping me along on this journey. There are many blogs and sites out there with tons of information on couponing and bargain-shopping. The two I have been learning the most from lately are www.hip2save.com and www.thefrugalfind.com. The Frugal Find is more localized to Northern California, but the basic principles that she teaches can be used anywhere. Hip 2 Save has tons of informative videos to go along with their money-saving tips. I would recommend checking out both to start learning more about the wonderful world of couponing. As for budgets, if you don't have one already, I would strongly recommend sitting down and making one. There are many different budgeting options out there, so find the one that fits best for your family and stick to it. Don't know where to start? Check out www.daveramsey.com. He has books, software programs and even a class you can work through to get your finances under control and back on track to achieve your financial goals. Financial freedom is a journey, and I'm in it for the long haul. Hope you learn some good tips from these sites to keep those monthly bills down. Happy couponing!

Recipe: Beef Dips

This is a fan favorite in my house. My dear friends, Theresa and Cheryl, threw me a beautiful baby shower for my third son. They served this yummy recipe, and it was an instant hit with all the ladies. I've tweaked it a little based on what I usually have in my cupboard. This is an easy crock-pot recipe and always gets rave reviews!

Beef Dips

2-3 pounds beef (roast or tri-tip works great!)
1 package of Lipton onion soup mix
3 cups of water
1 beef bouillon cube or 1 teaspoon loose beef bouillon
1 package of sandwich rolls (french or sourdough are my favorites)
1/2 lb. of sliced havarti cheese (you can also use swiss or cheddar based on preference)
1 stick of butter

Trim any fat off roast. Place roast in crock-pot. Sprinkle soup mix over roast. Add water. Toss in bouillon cube. Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours. Use two forks to pull apart and shred meat. I usually just do it in the crock-pot, but you can pull the roast out and shred it on a cutting board or plate if that's easier for you. Let beef soak in juices for a few more minutes. Meanwhile, pull out a medium-size frying pan and set to medium-high heat. Put 1 tablespoon of butter in pan. Swirl around to melt. Open sandwich roll and place face down in butter until toasted (approximately 1-2 minutes). Cut cheese slices in half. Lay 2-3 half slices across sandwich roll. Use fork or tongs to place meat over cheese (make sure some of the juice has drained off meat before placing on roll otherwise you'll end up with a soggy sandwich). Close sandwich and slice in half. Place some of the beefy onion soup from the crock-pot into a small bowl using a ladle. Dip sandwiches in the soup and enjoy!

Recipe: Chicken and Dumplings

I know many people that flinch at the thought of making something from "scratch". While some recipes are way more work than they're worth, there are a number of delicious meals (and goodies) you can enjoy that fall into the "scratch" category without spending hours in the kitchen. Chicken and dumplings is an American favorite (especially in the South) and it's actually easier than you would think. I bought a cooked rotisserie chicken at Costco the other day when I knew I wouldn't have a lot of time to make dinner. We ate half of the chicken, and I made Au gratin potatoes and sauteed green beans to go with it. Although I often make chicken salad the next day with the rest of the chicken, I decided to squeeze another dinner out of it this time to save on our weekly groceries. I put the chicken in a large pot, filled it up with water until it covered the chicken, threw in some celery and onion, then put it on the stove over medium high heat to cook for about 30-35 minutes. Although this recipe takes a while to cook, the time in preparing ingredients is pretty minimal which makes it a great meal to make when you have cleaning or laundry to do around the house. You can go work on something else while it's cooking and come back to it later to finish up the meal. While this recipe isn't completely from "scratch" (I use a can of soup and Bisquick mix, it has the flavor of "scratch" and all the same yummy ingredients). Hope you enjoy this one!

Chicken and Dumplings

1 rotisserie chicken (whole, half, quarter, whatever you've got!)
1 small onion chopped
3 stalks of celery chopped
approximately 4 quarts of water
2 chicken bouillon cubes or 2 teaspoons of chicken bouillon seasoning
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
pepper (to taste)
1 cup of frozen peas and carrots
1 can of cream of celery soup
2 tablespoons corn starch
1/4 cup water
1 1/2 cups Bisquick mix
1/2 cup milk
paprika

To get started, place what's left of your chicken in a large pot. Fill with water until the chicken is completely covered. Place on medium high heat and cover. Chop up the onion and celery. Add to pot and cover. Let chicken lightly boil for about 30 minutes. Take chicken out of pot to remove skin and bones. This can be a little tricky if your chicken starts falling apart on you. Make sure you get a good hold of it from both sides to lift out (a spatula and serving fork work well for me) and place in bowl or on a large plate. Once the skin and bones have been discarded add your tender chicken back to the broth. Add chicken bouillon (mix til dissolved), garlic powder, pepper and peas and carrots. Stir in cream of celery soup. Bring to a boil. In separate small bowl mix corn starch and 1/4 cup of water. Add mixture to pot while stirring. (This will make the broth thicken to a stew/gravy consistency. If you would rather have it more soup like then omit the corn starch and water step and move on to the dumplings. Both ways are tasty, so it's up to you how you like it). In a separate bowl mix Bisquick mix and milk just til combined to a dough-like consistency (overmixing will make the dumplings tough). Drop dough by rounded spoonfuls into boiling stew (about 6-8 dumplings). Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 10 minutes. Sprinkle dumplings with paprika. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 10 more minutes. Congratulations! You just made homemade chicken and dumplings! Enjoy!

P.S.-If you don't have a whole chicken, but still want to make the recipe, you can pan fry 8-10 chicken tenderloins or 2-3 chicken breasts then boil them in approximately 2 quarts water. I would recommend cutting the recipe down to 1 chicken bouillon cube and then adding 2-3 cups of canned chicken stock. You can add salt and pepper to taste.

Memory Books

First, I would like to say "Bravo!" to all of you moms out there who scrapbook. I think the devotion you put into your work is meaningful and rewarding! Although the art of scrapbooking is amazing, the cost and time involved is more than I am able to invest. With all of the photos of my boys being digital, photo books have become a great option for me to capture all of their snapshots in one compact and adorable place. Plus, once you make one, it's easy to order extra copies for grandma and grandpa without any extra work! Many photo books also offer text options to add dates, names and descriptions. With these wonderful options at my fingertips I have made it a goal of mine to put together photo books for each of my boys this year.
We all have those stories of the silly, funny, sweet and sometimes embarrassing things that our children say. Every mom of grown children out there will tell you to write those things down because you'll forget them. When they would tell me this I remember thinking, "How could I possibly forget that?" And yet, here I am a couple years down the road, and I've already forgotten many of the things my witty 4 year old son has said. This brings me to my second goal this year of documenting these fun moments and phrases in writing. I got to thinking and the thought dawned on me, why don't I combine the two? How fun would it be to have all those sweet photos surrounded by those great stories and memories you have of them? Also, if you have a child in school (elementary or preschool) you can easily "preserve" their creative artwork and crafts by taking photographs of your favorites and putting them in your books as well. I still plan on keeping 2 or 3 things a year for each of my children to keep in their memory box, but taking photos of my other favorites allows me to hang on to them without taking up so much space. These years go by so fast! With the busyness of everyday life this is one of the best ways I know of to remember every little bit of their childhood adventure. So ladies, get your cameras and your pencils ready. Take a million pictures, document the date and all those fun moments in a notebook to match up later with photos, and then get to work on your memory books! Have fun!
P.S.-If you haven't heard of blurb.com, that's a great place to get started on a photo book! You can also make them at kodakgallery.com and snapfish.com along with many other sites.

My Valentine

My husband and I were laying in bed last night reminiscing about our past. We've been together for over 10 years now and will celebrate our 8th anniversary this March. We've never been big Valentine's Day people, and started a tradition long ago of going on a date the week after Valentine's Day when the long lines are gone and all that delicious candy is 75% off. I'm such a bargain shopper that I might actually say that 75% off tastes better than full-priced candy! I also would like to mention that I'm not the biggest fan of the color pink. Mostly because I had a bad stomach as a kid, and pink reminds me of Pepto-Bismol, thus making Valentine's Day a shocking reminder of my tummy's dreadful past. Maybe I would feel differently about pink if I had a little girl!

Anyhow...although it's nice to spend a day set apart for all that "lovey-dovey" stuff with your special someone, those aren't the days that really make a relationship special. I explained to my husband last night that I feel like he is ingrained in every fiber of my being. I can't really separate where I end and he begins because in reality we are "one". I was so in love with him the day we got married all those years ago, but it doesn't even compare to the love I have for him today! Think flashlight versus spotlight. With my "flashlight" love, I saw him (even with some of his flaws), and I loved him as deeply as I could at that time. With the "spotlight" love, I see even more of him with greater clarity, the good and the bad and everything in between. I love him deeper because I know him more, and I see the amazing man that he is. So, I got to thinking...What are the things that take you from "flashlight" to "spotlight"? I've come up with a simple list that is true of my husband's and my relationship.

#1 Laughter-There's nothing greater than sharing a good laugh with your best friend. It keeps us young at heart and reminds us of the fun we have together.

#2 Forgiveness-The fact of the matter is we are both human, and humans make mistakes. We love each other enough to say, "I'm sorry", and we're able to forgive each other and let things go. Holding grudges doesn't fly in our house.

#3 Affection-We'll keep this PG, but whether it's holding hands while walking down the street, stealing a kiss when the kids are running wild or snuggling on the couch, sweet acts of affection should never be skipped.

#4 Friendship-We never stop getting to know each other. Investing in a life-long friendship means we keep learning about each other and building a bond through experiencing life together. We love, respect and support each other because that's what friends do!

#5-Communication-I remember talking for HOURS on the phone and in the coffee shop when we were dating. We loved communicating back then, and there is no reason for that to ever change. Whether we are having a disagreement or enjoying a random conversation about something silly, we always communicate. And in the case of communication, always be HONEST!

There are a bunch of other important things that make up the relationship we have together, but those are definitely some of the key points for us that have helped develop and keep the love that we have for each other going strong. We've always tried to live by a couple of basic principles in our relationship. The first: I'll take care of your needs, you take care of my needs, and everyone's taken care of. The second: Try not to have expectations, but accept everything you're given as a gift. While these are sometimes hard to live out, they are a good starting ground to work from. What are the things that make your relationship so special? Have you told your special someone the things you love and appreciate about them? Take the time to let them know how you feel about them and set some goals for yourself to show them through your actions. My current goal is to always greet my husband when he comes home from work. Whether I'm in the middle of cleaning house, cooking dinner or checking my Facebook account, nothing is more important than for my hubby to know he is loved to his core. Dropping what I'm doing and greeting him with a kiss is one way for me to show him.

In the end, I want to graduate from "spotlight" to "sun" love. Nothing is hidden from the sun, and I want to be that old couple holding hands on a park bench 40 years from now.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sweet Valentine

For those of you that went away to college, you remember how exciting it was to go to your P.O. Box and find a package! Snail mail is a lost art form in today's society, but everyone still loves to get a handwritten note or special package now and then. I also remember what it was like to be a single girl around Valentine's Day. At my college, some of the girls actually wore black that day like they were in mourning or something! Not everyone has a "special someone", so with that being said, I thought I'd try something new this year to bring some happy into a few single ladies' Valentine's Day. We have three very sweet babysitters that are off at college, and of course our family misses them dearly. They happen to all be single this year, and I have three little boys who love each of them in their own special way. I let each of the boys pick one of the girls to send a valentine to. We put together a small package filled with cute little heart stickers, light-up pens, note pads, candy and swirly straws (nothing super fancy) and included a Valentine's day card with a picture of one of the boys and a note saying "Happy Valentine's Day! I love you!" It was super easy to put together, and the boys thought it was so fun picking out the little "treats" we sent. I know it will make each of the girls' Valentine's Day feel special this year just by the simple fact that someone thought of them and loves them enough to let them know it. So, if there is someone special in your life that could be cheered up this holiday by a simple handwritten note, card or package, then take a little time out of your day to let them know they matter to you by heading over to the post office. Hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Spruce Up Mommy's Lunch!

How many times in one week can you eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? Honestly! I often find myself either skipping meals or eating the same things that my kiddos are eating. While I do my best to make sure my kids have a balanced nutritional diet, lunch time tends to get the short end of the stick in my kitchen. I tend to "cook" breakfast and dinner and "make" lunch (sandwiches, chicken nuggets, etc.). My boys love peanut butter and jelly which I often serve with a side of fresh fruit, veggies and cheese and crackers. However, pb&j can get old fast! I like having a good lunch that satisfies my hunger and fuels my body for the rest of the day. Another favorite in our house is grilled cheese. I was visiting a friend a few months ago (a fellow stay at home mom of boys) and we had "fancy" grilled cheese sandwiches which I loved! It gave me a serving of fresh veggies right in the middle of my melted cheese. After you've grilled your sandwich, open that baby up and shove in a few slices of fresh tomato, spinach leaves, sauteed yellow bell peppers and a dash of balsamic vinegar. It's delicious, easy and a much healthier option to your plain cheese and bread combo. You can also add avocado or mushrooms, whatever sounds good to you! Another option is a good hearty soup! After having many homemade soups, canned soups just don't really do it for me anymore, and they are often loaded with salt! Whenever I make a homemade soup or crockpot recipe, I've started freezing a few 1-2 serving size packages in plastic freezer bags. This is something that I can heat up quickly in the microwave or on the stove without making a big mess to clean up afterwards. It fills me up and is a great meal when topped with fresh items and paired with a yummy salad. Those quick and easy quesadillas are also a place you can fit in some healthy veggies and chicken to "fancy" up. Be sure to keep a good stock of healthy snacks available too (fresh fruits and veggies, granola bars and yogurt are good options), so when you do have a spare minute in your day to boost your metabolism, you have something that you can feel good about eating. Bottom line, you're a busy woman who needs ENERGY to get through your day, so make sure you are taking care of yourself physically by providing your body with the nutrition it needs! Happy lunches!

P.S.-Homemade soup recipes are coming, so be on the lookout!

About Me...

Welcome to Creative Chaos Mom! I am a happy homemaker married to my amazingly cool husband, Jason, and mom to three crazy rambunctious little boys (4 and under). I often say that I gave birth to wild monkeys who sometimes act like dinosaurs! My life is LOUD! It's busy and exhausting, but it's also a lot of fun!

My passion for creativity started when I was a little girl. I remember watching in amazement as my mom would make beautiful birthday and shower cakes, put together floral arrangements and whip up fabulous meals for the many people who passed through the doors of our warm and welcoming home. I come from a home with four kids, so our lives were busy, but my mom has always had a hospitable way about her. My creative side developed at a young age by watching this talented woman, and it has blossomed ever since.

If I were to describe myself, it would go something like this...

Think June Cleaver, sprinkled with chaos, a slight perfectionist and habitual procrastinator, with a wardrobe selection ranging from comfy yoga pants and tank tops to dolled up dresses and stilettos (all of which I wear in public depending on the occasion), happy-go-lucky and optimistic, extrovert with a closet introvert side, the mom who might take my child to preschool in my sweats and ponytail, and yet be carrying perfectly beautiful cookies and confections for the party they're having that day, bargain shopper extraordinaire, lover of "real" people, a slight disaster at times who for the most part has my act together and miraculously gets my daily duties done (by the grace of God) along with many extras that I throw on myself and volunteer for. In short, I'm your everyday mom trying to do the best with what I've got to work with! Thus, you have Creative Chaos.

I love all things creative, so that is mostly what this blog is all about. Baking, cooking, photography, cake/party designs, crafts, writing and home decor are just a few things you'll find here. I will also try to keep you up to date on info that may help you as a homemaker, wife and mom. There is so much great information out there, and I hope to pass it along as I come across interesting things that may be helpful for you. Lastly, this is my voice...the voice of a real mom with real life issues who sometimes just needs to speak her mind. Thanks for stopping by my blog, and let the creative chaos begin!