A Wife at Home

Valentine Printables

2012-01-23T16:26:00.005-05:00

There seems to be a new craze in the do-it-yourself home decor blogging world....printables. Quite simply creating some kind of image on your computer, printing it off, and framing it.

Not wanting to be left behind, I decided to try a couple for Valentine's Day. It was super easy!!!

I just searched Google for Valentine quotes and found a couple of images I liked. These were saved to my computer and printed off as pictures. Once I printed them, I cut them down to the size of my frames and popped them in.

I think I will do this again for other holidays too!

My images came from here and here.

Happy printing!

Flip Flops with a "Splash" of Color

2011-06-01T20:17:00.002-04:00

Nothing says "summer" quite like water balloons and flip flops! BUT, have you ever tried to combine the two to make a pair of shoes??? I did this weekend and they turned out super cute!!

The supply list is nice and short. All of my supplies cost $4.50 and I over bought on the balloons!

You need:
Flip Flops
Water Balloons (about 80 for a little "poof")

That's it! And some time.

The How To:

Tie each balloon on to the flip flop with a double knot. A single knot will just pull out.

Here is a "do as I say, not as I did moment": Start tying on the balloons from the top near the toe separator. It is much easier to work back from there.

Be sure to slide them as close together as possible as you go to give the finished product a really "full" look.

Go as far back down the flip flop as you want. I did the first one all the way around and with the colors I had picked it looked like I had stepped in a clown! It also made it harder to put the flip flops on my feet.

The second flip flop I only did a few inches and it looked much better so I cut some balloons off the first one to match the more more toned down second flip flop.

How cute is that for a little slash of summer on your feet?! I now want to make even more of these in different color combinations. The possibilities are endless!

I got so many compliments on my flip flops over the weekend, I am making another pair to match different outfits!!

A Lady's Housekeeping Tips

2011-05-29T15:09:00.004-04:00

The book club I participate in, Ladies in Waiting, has been reading Little Women this month and I was asked to write a post about housekeeping tips. I had a few of my own and a few from my mom and aunt. Thinking that this are handy tips for everyone to know, I am sharing them here as well.

Here are a few housecleaning tips that have been passed down in my family:

For baked on dishes that you don't feel like SCRUBBING... pour a little bit of fabric softener such as Downy in the dish or pan and let it set for about an hour. It will come RIGHT out.

If you have rust stain on carpet...sometimes from the feet of furniture... a little bit of white vinegar will remove that rust instantly.

If your stainless sink is looking rusty, use a little baking soda and a scrubber to get it pretty and shiny again.

If you run out of laundry soap and have a load of white laundry to do... use dishwasher soap, it has a little bleach in it and will work wonders.

A blood stain on something white will come out quick with a little peroxide.

My favorite cleaning solution for windows and mirrors can be made at home:

1 teaspoon Dawn dish soap
2 cups Alcohol
1/2 cup ammonia
To the above add water to make 1 gallon. Good for windows and hard surfaces.

After you make up the solution, put it in spray bottles and keep one in each bathroom. Makes cleaning a cinch and your bathroom can be wiped down in about 2 minutes a day!

The best tip my mom taught me growing up was almost any household chore can be done in 5 minutes. If it is a quiet task like dusting or wiping down a bathroom or folding laundry, I will do it while on the phone. A 5 minute phone call and a room is dusted! Makes housework super simple!

What is your best housecleaning tip?

Infertility Resource for Ministry Leaders (and others)

2011-04-27T06:30:00.000-04:00

Last week, in anticipation of NIAW and because I had been thinking for awhile that I needed to do it, I sent an email to our pastor about infertility.

I had been thinking that it can be hard to know how to help someone, or what to say to someone, when you don't know what they are going through. Furthermore, if you are not in a particular community, you often don't know of the resources that are out there. So I thought it would be helpful to send some along.

Now, I know many ministry leaders...I am related to a pretty good number of pastors and ministers, not to mention lay church leaders...so I want to share my resources information here in case there are any who could use the information.

Infertility Awareness Day is May 1st, acknowledged the week prior to Mother's Day as a show of support for women and men who long for children. Infertility is currently the 3rd leading disease in the United States behind cancer and heart disease and affects about 1 in 8 couples. It is hard to know by just walking in to a church who is carrying this burden in the congregation, but it is probably more than most pastors realize.

Also, it may be something that a visitor is dealing with as well. This time of year is hard for families like ours. So many of my friends walking this journey have stopped attending church because of the focus on family and children. Not that either of those are bad to focus upon, but it also means a great deal to families that are hurting to know that they are also important. In general, infertility causes a crisis of faith, after all having children was one of God's very first commands and yet not everyone has the opportunity. It is really hard not to be mad at God.

Many church leaders, though, seem unsure how to acknowledge this issue in their church. I just wanted to provide you with some resources, particularly in light of the upcoming awareness time for infertility. I know there are some churches that do special prayers and such for the hurting families or do some other show of support. And some of these resources are just in case you do come across some families that are looking for help.

This website has some great resources for ministry leaders and ways to show support for the families suffering through infertility: Dancing Upon Barren Land

Focus on the Family has information about infertility and marriage: Direct Link

Hannah's Prayer is a christian support group for women experiencing infertility. They put together a list of ways to help a loved one, the church family counts as loved ones, I think: Direct Link

RESOLVE is the national infertility organization and has general resources about the condition.

The following letter to a pastor was not written by me, but I do share many of these sentiments:

Dear Pastor,

It's almost Mother's Day again. They seem to come so quickly. I'm sure you are planning a very special service for all of the mothers. I know that it is such a special day for them, and I do not want to spoil anyone's joy. It is important for all of us to rejoice with each other, and even those of us who are not mothers can give thanks for those who are mothers.

All I ask is that you remember that this day can be extremely difficult for a number of members in our congregation. For women like me who struggle with infertility, Mother's Day can be the most painful day of the year. I've thought about staying home, but I know I need to be in God's house.

The most challenging part of the service is when all the mothers stand and the congregation smiles and applauds them. It feels awful to be the only one still sitting. I want to be able to stand with them. I want more than anything in this world to be a mother. It's something I have always wanted. I have carried children, but they were taken before they were ever born. I do have children in heaven, but I'm not a mother in the eyes of those here on earth.

So, on Mother's Day I often go home and cry, not quite able to understand why I am unable to become what so many in the church consider to be "God's highest calling"...a mother.

It is not only the un-mothers who feel lonely on this day. It must also be a painful day for single women who have never married, for mothers who have lost children, and for moms who have sons or daughters wandering from the Lord.

As Mother's Day approaches, I pray that you will remember that it is not only a day of rejoicing for some, but a day of painful reminders for others. I know that God will help you to be a blessing to our congregation as you minister to us on this Mother's Day.

Anonymous

If there is ever someone that my readers know is also working their way along this journey, please feel free to give out my name as a resource.

Inside the Heart of the Hurting

2011-04-26T11:13:00.002-04:00

When I am hurting, struggling, walking through a journey it is sometimes hard to tell someone what is in my heart.

I can talk about infertility from an academic and treatment perspective all day long. In fact, it is safer to talk about the logic of it. I have a better change of not crying.

But if you want to know what my heart looks like, watch the video in the link below. I didn't make this video, but it says what my heart is feeling every day.

Empty Arms Video

Thank you for taking the time to listen to our hearts.

NIAW Infertility Myth: "You are so young"

2011-04-26T06:52:00.005-04:00

This is National Infertility Awareness Week. A week dedicated to raising awareness and support for the many families walking the road of infertility.

Resolve, the National Infertility Association, challenged bloggers to "bust a myth" about infertility this week. All the myth busting blogs are linked here.

I chose to bust the myth "you are so young". It is also posted on the Ladies in Waiting Book Club along with all the myths busted by fellow members.

“But You are So Young!”

“But you are so young.” I cringe every time I hear those five words. Actually, I cringe every time someone asks my age right after I say we are trying to have a baby because I know what is coming. “But you are so young”. Or a close cousin: “You have lots of time”. Infertility has been pushed off in society as a problem for “older women”. There seems to be a myth that young people don’t have ANY problem getting pregnant.

It simply isn’t true. Infertility does not discriminate, and it certainly doesn’t discriminate based on age.

This myth is based on the truth that women are born with all their eggs, the number diminishes at an increasing rate with age, and eventually the woman enters menopause. However, there are many reasons for infertility and not all of them are egg related or dependent. These can strike at any age.

My “infertility diagnosis” came at 25, just months after I married my wonderful husband. Everyone said I was “so young”. That was three years ago, I may still be young, but I am glad I didn’t wait until now to get started.

What the uninformed conversationalist doesn’t know is that I was first diagnosed with Endometriosis when I was 18. I had surgery for stage IV endometriosis at 19. I knew that having a baby was NEVER going to be easy and I was YOUNG. Women with endometriosis can have trouble conceiving because there are endometrial cells covering their reproductive organs. Endometriosis is often diagnosed in the late teen and early 20’s.

A later diagnosis on our journey was Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome(PCOS). This condition has a whole host of symptoms including weight challenges, unwanted hair growth, irregular periods, and annovulation (failure to ovulate consistently). These symptoms can manifest themselves during the teen years shortly after a young woman goes through puberty. Women with PCOS can, and do, have children, but they will struggle even when they are young.

Another common infertility cause is a structural problem; this can include blocked or damaged tubes and uterine deformities. Women with this diagnosis often can only be helped through in vitro fertilization (IVF). Structural problems can be genetic or caused by trauma and can obviously occur at any age.

Couples that have male factor infertility face a whole host of other stigmas, challenges, and treatments. For these couples, it is clear that the age of the woman doesn’t matter at all. Telling a woman whose husband has low sperm count that she is “young” isn’t going to win any points.

There are some problems with female fertility that do get worse with age, but youth doesn’t automatically equate to easy conception. Personally, I am glad I started young, because I don’t see it getting any easier waiting until I hear “but you are so old”!

Learn more about infertility here.

A Personalized Journal

2011-02-02T18:17:00.006-05:00

I love making my own personalized journals. It is a very easy and inexpensive craft....two of my general crafting requirements!

I have made a few of these over the past year...

For my 2010 "Word of the Year"

For my "Baby Prayers" journal..where I write down my hopes, dreams, and prayers

And, most recently, a place to write down all my thoughts as I am reading each month's book club selection

For the last one, I also did a tutorial for my book club members and thought all the readers here would like it...so here it is from me to you!

Now for the super easy "how to":

First, you need supplies:

Composition notebook
Something to cut with
Adhesive - I recommend spray adhesive because it will keep the paper from curling up and gets right to the edges.
Colored paper
Embellishments of your choosing - I printed my from the Internet images because there are not many infertility related scrap booking stickers and such ;)

Next, cut the paper to the size of the journal:

(I generally leave the black binding showing, but that is just my own preference)

Now, glue the paper to the notebook (I highly recommend putting down paper if you are using spray adhesive):

Last step is to add the embellishments with the same adhesive as above:

(Sorry there is no picture of them actually being attached, I didn't have enough hands)

And there you have it, a book club journal:

What kind of journal will you make?

(If any part of this didn't make sense, please leave a comment and I will try to answer any questions)

Ode to My Ironing Board

2011-01-12T19:10:00.006-05:00

The title may be an exaggeration, but I AM going to talk about my ironing board :)

It comes to my attention from time to time that people don't like to iron their clothes. Really?!? This always shocks me. I like to iron, there is such a sense of accomplishment with ironing. There is a task, it can be finished, and the results are visible. Perfect! Some may even say I love to iron...that probably isn't a far stretch. I even have "ironing shoes" I always wear when ironing. Crazy? Maybe, but we roll with it.

As people talk about not liking to iron I find that they have a terrible set up for it. No wonder they don't like it. To properly enjoy a task, one must have the right tools.

So I am going to share the best tools for ironing with you now.

*Disclaimer: All I learned about ironing I learned from my mother. She is totally the world's most amazing ironer (is that a word? oh well)*

Here we go:

First the ironing board. Oh this is so important. My ironing board came from Walmart. It wasn't fancy. But it HAS been modified!!

The standard cover that comes with a basic ironing board is AWFUL!! AWFUL!! For two reasons. One, it slides around all over the place. Second, there is barely any padding. And where there is no padding there is no good surface to really get in to the clothes and get the wrinkles out. This padding can also slip about because it isn't secured to anything. This will cause you to iron wrinkles INTO your clothes and potentially to say naughty words to your ironing board. This isn't fun for anyone.

So you MUST get a new cover. People, I am NOT talking a serious investment here. Maybe $15. and you are set. I have had the same one for years. Here's the thing: It must have elastic around it so that it fits snug on the board AND it must have a thick padding. This padding must be sewn into the cover otherwise it will slide around and make for an uneven surface. Again, most of the $15. guys will have this.

This picture here shows the padding inside and the elastic band. Super easy. Super important. Ironing board is modified. Done.

Next part. The iron. It kills me how people hate to spend money on household appliances. These are an important part of your life, folks.

I have a Rowenta iron and I refuse to buy anything less. This baby can make some serious steam and get wrinkles out in a New York minute. Since I use this every week, I am willing to spend some money here. Even so, you can get a decent Rowenta for about $60ish. Make sure it has a full range of settings and steams well.

And that is IT. With just two simple investments ironing becomes a joy (ok, maybe still not for everyone, but at least you are not fighting the process anymore).

Maybe I really am crazy with the whole "I like to iron, doesn't everyone" attitude. BUT I have introduces many people to the combination above and it never fails to make ironing at least pleasant.

Let me know if you try these tips and how it worked for you!

New Word, New Year, New Me

2011-01-11T20:49:00.003-05:00

I first posted this entry at Inspire.com an online support community (for lots of things, but I am a member of the infertility section). After reading it over, I thought some who read this blog might also benefit...

I was so ready for 2010 to be over!! It was pretty easy to know it was the worst year I have had and I wanted it to go away!

So here is 2011 and I want to make it better!!! I often pick a word to focus on for the year. This year that word will be "joy". Finding joy, bringing joy, living joy! Not necessarily over the top happiness, but heart-level joy. Where my soul is at peace and I can see the wonder of the world around me. I often fill my home and office with my word so that I have a visual representation to remind me (and I need to go shopping now to find some word art!).

This morning Mark and I joined a gym. We have never been big work out people, but both of us were more active before we got married. I think this will be a great chance to do something positive together. We also went on a 6 mile bike-ride New Year's Day...the first time our bikes have been out in a long time.

With still doing acupuncture, trying to focus more on finding quiet time to read my Bible and pray, a new word, and a gym membership... I am ready to take on the year.

I hope it is a year filled with our greatest blessing, but even if it is not, I want to know I did count my blessings!

My Journey to Motherhood: I'm NOT cold!!

2010-12-01T12:24:00.003-05:00

I am happy to report that right now I am NOT cold, nor have I been all morning. This may seem unimportant to some of you, but it is very noteworthy to me. See, I am always cold, always, always, always. Temperature actually played a role in my decision to move to Florida, I wanted to be warm.

But I was still cold. I often wear Mark's wool socks...in July...in Florida. We keep our house at 76-78 degrees during the day...and I wear a jacket. I am always cold.

Except for today. Today I went jogging and it felt nice out. I was asked about the outside temp and said "pleasant". Others said it was cold. Hmmm. I dressed in crop pants and a sleeveless blouse and headed to Walmart. Everyone else was in jeans and coats. Hmmm. I went to Publix (where I am always the very coldest) and felt fine. Hmmm. Called my mom, sure she would back me up on it being a nice fall day. Nope, she said it was chilly when they went running. That's weird. Now I am working at my desk, with NO jacket.

I AM NOT COLD!!!!

One of my complaints to the acupuncturist was that I am always cold. She said that fits my diagnosis and that my blood was probably not flowing well. Five days on herbs and the biggest difference I have noticed....

I AM NOT COLD!!!

baby steps to success!!

My Journey to Motherhood: Acupuncture, First Treatment

2010-11-28T15:29:00.003-05:00

Friday was my first acupuncture treatment. I had NO idea what to expect. I did learn (at an earlier appointment) that I have an Qi deficiency, a Yang deficiency, and Blood Stasis. These are the problems that will be treated.

It turned out to be one of the most relaxing 25 minutes I have had in a long time. I laid on the table and the doctor put about 10-12 needles in, mostly in the abdominal area but also my legs, hands, feet, and head. (I did have to slip out of my jeans, but if I had worn shorts I could have stayed completely clothed). The needles were sealed in packages that were not opened until I was ready for them and disposed of when the treatment was over. She put a heat lamp over my tummy, turned the lights down, turned on some nice music, and left.

I actually fell asleep I was so relaxed.

As for results...I was on the third day of my period and in horrible pain when I went in (basically had been living on Motrin for the last 48 hours). I didn't want to take pain killers before I had needles poked in me for the first time (thought that would maybe be a bad idea), so I planned on taking Motrin when I left. Except that when I awoke from that nice nap the cramps were gone. Completely. And haven't returned!!! For 2 days! Talk about immediate results!

I was giving herbs mixed just for me. Surprised when I found out it was only $30. for a 2 week supply. It was like reverse sticker shock after the cost of fertility meds.

So far, this has been a great experience. I am very excited for the long term results.

My Journey to Motherhood: Where I am going

2010-11-28T15:19:00.002-05:00

So when we left off...I was feeling like we were becoming the living definition of insanity (you know? where you keep doing the same thing, expecting different results?). Maybe not quite, because we did keep tweaking things but it just wasn't enough.

I started really digging into the PCOS diagnosis. What could I do differently to make this better? Anything at all was fair game. Part of the reason for this was that PCOS patients should "over respond" to fertility meds and I was clearly "under responding" (as in, there were not a lot of follicles growing each month). So I wasn't even a normal PCOS patient.

Several months ago I saw a book called "The Infertility Cure" which is based on eastern medicine. It recommends acupuncture, herbs, diet and lifestyle changes to achieve pregnancy. I also met a girl who had ovulated on her own (with no fertility meds) for the first time in years after a few months of acupuncture.

The idea of acupuncture was starting to grow. Maybe it would be better to treat the whole body and get well...rather than keep adding drugs and hoping for the best each month?

So I met with an acupuncturist and she was very encouraging about my possibilities with acupuncture. She can help me get back to normal, where my body produces it's own hormones. That sure sounds better to us.

For now, we are going to leave the RE behind and try this new path. We don't know exactly what it will look like, but we feel better about it. At least it is, today, a less stressful path. And that alone is a good feeling!!

Many people have asked me about this plan and want to know how it works for us so I am going to use this blog to keep everyone up to date on the treatments and how acupuncture is working for me.

Peeling Apples

2010-11-28T15:13:00.002-05:00

I really like apple crisp, probably my very favorite non-chocolate dessert (I think, at least for right now). But I don't like peels on the apples so I must peel all the apples before making this super yummy dessert.

But I don't like to peel apples :(

It's really hard work...until today!

I was watching Good Eats on the Food Network last week and Alton Brown was making apple pie. He said using a peeler was the way to go for small amouts of apples. Of course, I only use mine for potatoes...had never even thought to use it for apples.

IT WORKED!!

Peeled the apples in less than half the time!! YAY!!!

My Journey to Motherhood: Where I have been

2010-11-27T15:06:00.003-05:00

*Disclaimer: I am going to start blogging my infertility journey on this blog along with all the other things I post about. These posts will mention, not in great detail - but some details, female reproductive issues. If these types of things are not what you want to read feel free to skip any post labeled "My Journey to Motherhood".

Where I have been...oh, my...where to start.... The very beginning is a long time ago, but the best place to begin.

Warning: This post probably will not be short.

I was first diagnosed with endometriosis (endo) when I was 19 after months and months of illness. My first laparoscopic (lap) surgery to laser the endo was in January of 2003 just a couple months before I turned 20. After the surgery I had monthly Lupron shots for six months to ensure I didn't have menstrual cycle in hopes the endo would go away. This was my first foray into high powered hormone therapy. Shortly thereafter I went on continous birth control (BCP) to keep the endo at bay. This is a common treatment for women not seeking to get pregnant but can really mess with the body's ability to regulate hormones later.

Fast forward a few years to 2008. I married Mark in May and we wanted to start family building right away. Figuring that it wouldn't be easy given my past, I tossed the BCP so we could get started on the journey...and what a journey it has been.

Our first infertility (IF) consult was in November of 2008. This was at the 6 month mark of trying...when anyone should seek help if they are actively trying to get pregnant but haven't yet (do NOT believe people that say it should be a year...the extra 6 months do not generally make a difference). This appointment was with my regular OB/GYN. I had 3 periods in this 6 months and things were NOT going well.

That appointment was the first time poly cystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) was mentioned, but I was told it "mild". Clomid was prescribed (along with provera to start my period) and off we went. And nothing happened...for 4 months, still not having periods on time, still no baby.

So in May 2009, we did what my friend Julie refers to as "get thee to an RE". An RE is a Reproductive Endocrinologist or fertility specialist. In meeting with the RE and many test later it was determined we had female factor IF only and the diagnosis was "annovulation" (in normal people speak...ovulation isn't occuring correction). In my case, NOT at all, without fertility drugs. I also had another endo lap and to make sure my tubes were clear...endo was lasered and no other problems found. Back to Clomid. No dice.

In November 2009 we decided to bump it up a notch and try injectible fertility medication. Time out for facts: This involves nightly subcutaneous shots of highly purified follicle stimulating hormones (FSH) along with transvaginal ultrasound (yes, you read correctly) and blood hormone monitoring (these u/s occur 4-5 times in two weeks). Followed by a "trigger" shot of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) to induce the follicles to ovulate. And then the part which won't be talked about here because this is a family blog;) It also involves somewhere around $1000-$1200 a month to be paid to the doctor and pharmacy. The basic idea is to flood the body (in a highly controlled manner, of course) with the hormones it doesn't have in hopes that it will do what it is supposed to do. Very inexact science, but its the best they have right now, so we don't knock it too much.

The first round of this therapy was "text book perfect" except for one thing...no baby. So we tried again because these things can take time. Second round...great follicles, great lining, great...never mind. And two weeks later...double lines on a home pregnancy test (HPT or pee stick)!!!!! Whoo-hoo. The journey is over!

NOT yet :(

My first betaHCG (blood pregnancy test) was 40. Low, but early. Test again in a few days. Now 70, officially not good. Then 67, there will be no baby. I can't even begin to describe in words how I felt right then, only those that have been there can "get it".

Because we were planning a "vacation of a lifetime" for May, I went on BCP to "hopefully" keep my body from getting all out of whack again. Except that I bled really badly on the pills (for anyone reading this that has such an experience, I can not stress enough the importance of demanding an ultrasound to see what is going on in there). When I went off the pills, no period.

That was because a super giant cyst had been forming on my right ovary. As in 84mm (about the size of a softball) and it was messing up all my hormone levels. It was removed via lap in June 2010. Good news...again, everything else looks fine.

At the same time, my ovaries were drilled to allow my body to ovulate on its own easier or at least be able to go back to oral meds (like Clomid). That procedure was pretty much a bust. We did three rounds of oral meds: 1-Clomid, thin lining; 2-Femara, horrid depression and low progesterone; 3-Femara, same results.

Back to injectibles. And here I should interject that we have never lived closer than 2 hours to the RE and this was a crazy amount of driving to the doctor we were doing. If this doesn't work we are switching to a closer doctor.

It didn't work. In fact, it was the WORST treatment experience yet. So many things didn't go right and my body didn't respond well at all. The final kick was super low progesterone (which has probably always been a problem but wasn't being addressed).

On to a new doctor and he also suggests injectible meds, but with progesterone. AND he believes the PCOS (remember from the 4th paragraph?) should be addressed with Metformin. Huh, this is new. We are now tired of doing this same thing and expecting different results, have spent upwards of $8,000 on the process and have no baby.

So we want a "break" from all this medicine. And this is where we turned to somethinge new...which, sorry it took me this long to get to it, is why I am now documenting the journey. I want to share this new plan.

Except that I am worn out from reliving all that as I wrote it, and that was the short version! Next time, I will share "Where we are going". Thanks for sticking around, feel free to leave comments and if they are questions I will do my best to answer them!

Pumpkin Creme Pies

2010-11-14T15:02:00.003-05:00

WARNING: These cookies are addictive!

I saw this recipe a few weeks ago and knew I HAD to make these. I think one of the reasons I love this time of year is that pumpkin is one of my favorite flavors!

I made a few modifications to the recipe as I went along so my changes are in brackets.

Cookies:
•1 cup Brown Sugar
•1 cup Sugar
•1 cup Vegetable Oil
•1 can Pumpkin (15 Oz.)
•2 whole Eggs
•1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
•3 cups All-purpose Flour
•1 teaspoon Baking Soda
•1 teaspoon Baking Powder
[I just added up all of the amounts for Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves and put in that much Pumpkin Pie Spice]
•1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
•1 teaspoon Ground Ginger
•½ teaspoons Salt
•½ teaspoons Ground Nutmeg
•¼ teaspoons Ground Cloves

FILLING:
•1 package Cream Cheese Softened (8 Oz.)
•1 stick Unsalted Butter, Room Temperature
•1 package Powdered Sugar (16 Oz.)
•3 drops Vanilla Extract
•2 dashes Cinnamon [about 1/2 tsp of Pumpkin Pie Spice instead of cinnamon]

Preparation Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Pumpkin Creme Pies: Beat together brown sugar, sugar, oil and pumpkin. Add eggs one at time, mixing well after each addition, followed by the vanilla.

In a separate bowl, mix together the dry ingredients.

Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined.

Using a pastry bag with a round tip, or a big zip top plastic bag with one corner snipped, squeeze out concentric circles of batter, starting from the middle and working outward until the circles are about 2 inches in diameter. [I made them a little smaller to make them easier to eat]

Transfer each square to a baking sheet. Bake for 11 minutes, or until firm, and cool on a rack.

Cream Cheese Filling: Beat together cream cheese and butter. Add powdered sugar, vanilla and cinnamon. Frost flat side of half the pies and top with another piece.

Enjoy right away, or chill overnight. These keep very nicely in the fridge for at least a few days.

And in the end you get....

So Yummy!!!

Easy Fajitas for Two

2010-10-27T19:02:00.003-04:00

The end of the month and the end of the grocery money has challenged me to make some creative dinners this week. It has actually been kind of fun! Here is a "must do again" dinner recipe I made up as I went...

2 boneless, skinless chicken breast portions (cut into strips)
1 T oil
1/2 onion
1/2 green pepper
1 clove garlic
splash of water
salt
pepper
cumin
tortillas

Heat oil in skillet over medium high heat. Slice onion, pepper, and mince garlic, add to skillet. Stir for a few minutes until tender crisp. Remove from skillet. Put chicken in skillet and cook until no longer pink in the middle. Add salt, pepper, and cumin after the first minute or so.

Once the chicken is cooked through, add the veggies back in. Splash in some water to deglaze the pan. Cook until mixed together, add more seasoning if needed.

Microwave tortillas for 15-20 seconds.

Spoon chicken mixture into tortillas and eat!!

We will be having this simple meal again very soon!!

I am the Face

2010-10-10T17:06:00.002-04:00

October is National Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Loss month. There are an estimated 2000 women a day who lose their baby in one of these ways. About one in four women in America will experience pregnancy/infant loss.

Most of them suffer in silence and don't know the resources available to them. For many, this will be one of the most trumatic experiences of their life. I AM THE FACE is a campaign to raise awareness of these women and provide support and resources.

Please visit www.iamtheface.org to learn more.

Please help because I AM THE FACE.

Serving tray - updated for the season

2010-09-16T16:29:00.003-04:00

I have been eyeballing a cute little dish at Marshalls for at least a few months. I think every Marshalls in Orlando had a least one. It was cute. Really cute. But it wasn't the right color....

Don't get me wrong, I love red...it is an accent in a few rooms here, but this just wasn't the right red. To me it just screamed "Valentine!"

The other day, Mom and I were shopping together and she said "why don't you get this and change the ribbon?" I really should have thought of that earlier.

Today I made a quick trip to find some ribbon (which I got for $1). And came home did a bunch of other things like work and baking...then I got out the ribbon and the dish.

In less than 10 minutes (which included taking pictures and washing the dish), I had this pretty dish sitting on my counter...

I am so excited to take my new dessert in this cute fall dish to our church dinner (if it turns out, I will show you pictures).

I broke my blog :(

2010-09-09T19:51:00.002-04:00

Sorry everyone :(

I broke my blog! (and my phone, and my computer...but those are not relevent to you right now)

It looks funny. I am sorry. I will fix it as soon as I can.

Promise!

:)

Cupcakes for everyone!

2010-09-09T16:30:00.006-04:00

Have you ever had this conversation with yourself?

"Hmm, there is a cake mix in the pantry."

"Yes, but you don't need cake right now."

"I KNOW, but that doesn't stop me from WANTING cake right now."

"Well, yes, but are you going to eat the ENTIRE cake?"

"Umm, I could make cupcakes, you know, for portion control!"

"You will STILL have the same amount of cake even if it is cupcakes."

"But I WANT cupcakes and obviously if I can have this long of a conversation with myself about the cupcakes I am crazy and NEED the cupcakes!!"

I really have had that exact conversation (and be glad you missed the one about ice cream from Tuesday night!).

Here is the PERFECT solution! Did you know you can freeze cupcake batter???? I had no idea until I read it on the Homebased Mom. So I am giving you all the link directly for how to freeze cupcake batter HERE.

Because how awesome would it be to be able to tell myself I will eat one cupcake (give one to Mark because I do know how to share) and then freeze the rest for some other day???? I WIN and me in the future wins too by getting fresh from the oven cupcakes on some other night as well.

I think I am going to go make some cupcakes now...and my first freezing attempt will be to freeze the batter in the little cups so that I can easily make them up for a quick treat on another day.

Pesky Cords

2010-04-08T18:11:00.004-04:00

This has been the view behind my desk since we moved. Which means it is also the view that greets me each time I walk from my kitchen to my office. Ugg. It looks messy! But I need each and every one of those little cords to make everything on the top of the desk turn on.

I was trying to find a solution to this problem. A cheap solution. I had read about cord covers, even bought some...but I don't need these cords to necessarily be covered, just hidden from view. What to do? What to do?

DUCT TAPE!! Yes!

So, taped all of the cords to the back of the desk or to the floor under the rug. And it looks more like this:

So much better. Much less messy.

And soon (very soon) I will be aquiring a small shelf to hide the pile of cords and power supplies and routers next to the desk. Baby steps and all...

Yummy Pork Dinner

2010-03-15T18:24:00.002-04:00

Tonight we are having a delightfully yummy pork tenderloin dinner. It is super easy to just put together a marinade early in the day, put in the pork, and have a tasty dinner to grill at the end of the day.

ASIAN GRILLED PORK TENDERLOIN WITH PINEAPPLE
Serves 6 to 8.

2 pork tenderloins (12-16 oz. each)

Marinade
1 can (6-oz.) pineapple juice (3/4 cup)
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons minced fresh garlic
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt (kosher)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 cups peeled & cubed fresh pineapple (1-inch pieces)
6 to 8 wooden or metal skewers

Cooking Directions
Place pork tenderloins in resealable plastic bag; set aside.

In small bowl, combine marinade ingredients; pour over pork. Seal bag; refrigerate for at least 1 hour to marinate, or up to 24 hours to enhance flavor.

Preheat grill to medium-hot.

When ready to grill, remove pork from marinade and place on grill. Cook, covered, for about 10 minutes per side or until the internal temperature of pork is 160 degrees F.

Meanwhile, place the pineapple chunks on the skewer; place on grill during the last 6 minutes of grilling time, turning after 3 minutes.

To serve, slice pork into 1/2-inch slices (medallions) and serve with grilled pineapple.

We skipped the pineapple for tonight, but served with baked potatoes, it is amazing!!!

Strudel Coffee Cake

2010-02-14T16:31:00.004-05:00

It is no secret that I LOVE chocolate and cookies of almost all kinds. But even I sometimes need something different. So lately I have had a coffee cake craving. This week I had a little afternoon tea party and decided to make a coffee cake.

I found a recipe on the internet and followed it perfectly. We will leave off here with it was a total disaster. I won't even link to it, it was BAD.

So, I looked at a few other recipes and created my own...and it was yummy!!! (And it looked pretty...bonus)

April's Very Own Coffee Cake

3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup shortening
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup milk
1 and 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons melted butter
4 teaspoons cinnamon

Mix sugar, shortening, egg, vanilla, and milk. Add flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix well and set aside. Mix together the brown sugar, flour, melted butter, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Pour 1/2 batter into a greased 8x8 inch square pan, then half the brown sugar mix. Pour in remaining batter and top with remaining sugar mixture. Bake at 325 for 30 minutes or until done in the middle.

Holiday Basket: Valentine Edition

2010-01-30T20:11:00.004-05:00

I love holiday decorating. I always have. I am sure I always will. We had an awesome fireplace mantle in our living room in the Rodda house back in Spokane. Mom and I would decorate it for every holiday we could think of. One of my favorite pieces was "the basket"....which was redecorated or filled for each holiday.

Well, I don't have a mantle...or a fireplace because, well, I live in Florida now :)

But I do have a basket!!! I decided last fall to create a basket for each holiday. The way this works is that I have one basket and fill it for each holiday, then after the given holiday is over I take everything out and put it in a ziplock bag. Then the next holiday goes in and over and over it goes. Next year, all I have to do for each holiday is take the goodies from their baggies, place, and fluff, and done!

I am now up to Valentine's Day in the year of the basket.

This was a bit more tricky, because there really isn't a type of greenery associated with Valentine's Day and what is a basket without greenery? Nope, wouldn't work. Enter the generic vine! I will probably use the leafyness in this basket for the next few holidays as well.

I may even try to come up with a non-holiday basket for the in-between times of the year...I would need a coffee theme...and there are not exactly coffee flowers at Michaels....hmmm.

Next up...St. Patrick's Day! I am already collecting for that one!!!

Bennett Chili

2010-01-24T19:18:00.007-05:00

Our menu for this month had chili planned for a dinner. Mostly because it actually felt winterish here for a few weeks during which time I made the menu. The problem was, I didn't have a good chili recipe. I have tried a few here and there...including a white chili...but nothing really stuck with me.

So, I decided to see what would happen if I just put a bunch of chili-like ingredients we had about into a pot and cooked them up. Success! Husband said it was the best chili he ever ate!

Here is the recipe, which I wrote as I went, so it isn't super exact on measurements (think Rachel Ray)...

1 medium onion, chopped
1 1/2 bottles of water (yes, this is lazy, but it was sitting right there!)
1/2 pound sage flavored sausage, browned
1/2 pound ground turkey meant, browned
2 chipotle peppers with a teaspoon of adobo sauce (these are HOT, adjust as needed)
2 cans kidney beans in red sauce
2 can fire roasted tomatoes
1/2 jar medium salsa
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon of salt
tiny dash of chili powder

Boil onions in water while browning meat. Add meat to onions and water. Add everything else. Turn down to a simmer. ~~Go vacuum the house.~~ Simmer for 25-30 minutes. Eat!

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

2010-01-17T16:34:00.004-05:00

This recipe is one of the most requested around the Bennett household. It is a modified version of the recipe by the same name in the Nestle Tollhouse Best Loved Recipes book.

Crust:
2 cups (12 ounces) mini chocolate chips
Premade Oreo crust. To me this is easier than making a cheesecake crust (and I don't own a spring form pan so it gets me around that issue as well).

Filling:
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
3/4 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup sour cream

Preheat oven to 300 F.

Sprinkle chocolate chips in the bottom of the crust, enough to cover with an even layer.

Beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in large mixer bowl until smooth. Beat in eggs and flour. Gradually beat in evaporated milk and sour cream. Pour over crust ( fill to close to the top, there will be left over filling). Sprinkle with more chocolate chips, enough to cover all the filling.

Bake for 25 minutes. Cover loosely with aluminum foil. Bake for additional 30 minutes or until edge is set by center still moves slightly. Place in refrigerator immediately; refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm.

Makes 8-10 servings.

Grocery Store Savings

2010-01-06T18:58:00.001-05:00

I am so excited about my most recent trip to Publix! I am trying to be more aware of how much we are spending on food, where the best place is to get certain items, and weekly sales. This will be more important when we have more mouths to feed, but I figure now is a good time to get in the habit!

So, that trip to the store...first, I bought most of my groceries at Super Wal-mart, but I prefer to buy meat from Publix. Also, Publix always has buy one, get one sales that can make it "cheaper than Wal-mart" (it's a Mexico joke).

I bought:
Strawberries
Dessert shells
Ice cream
Sweet tea
Shoulder roast
Deli ham
Boneless pork chops
Green beans - 4 pack of cans
Corn - 4 pack of cans

I spent: $26.54

I saved: $15.97 (38%)

Everything was on sale! And I am going to be sure to look at the sales again tomorrow!!

Meal Plan

2010-01-05T18:47:00.002-05:00

I generally plan out our meals a few weeks ahead to save time in thinking about what to make and trips to the grocery store. My cousin Misty posted her menu plan for January, which has inspired me to do the same.

Jan 4th - Turkey noodle soup
Jan 5th - Sweet and sour chicken
Jan 6th - Grilled chicken on salad with fixin's
Jan 7th - Burbon salmon, sweet potatoes, green beans
Jan 8th - Stuffed turkey burgers, chips, salad
Jan 9th - April's kitchen is closed for Saturday night!!
Jan 10th - Steak, baked potatoes, salad
Jan 11th - Grilled chicken on salad with fixin's
Jan 12th - Grilled pork chops, mashed potatoes
Jan 13th - April's kitchen is closed because the cook is out of town
Jan 14th - Chili
Jan 15th - Tacos
Jan 16th - April's kitchen is closed for Saturday night!!

Breakfast is generally cereal or bagels and fruit or yogurt.

Lunch will mostly be PB&J and Slimfast (because Mark is at school over lunch most days) or frozen pizza or something equally quick.

And that makes grocery shopping so much easier. Today I did my major shopping of all pantry items and meat. Now all I will need to run into the store for is milk and produce (oh, oh, oh, I found a new fruit stand today with awesome prices and it is super close to the house!).

Christmas Candy - part 2

2009-12-09T19:33:00.004-05:00

Today's Christmas candy making involved more of the yummy white chocolate I used yesterday. This time it was for white chocolate covered pretzels which were specifically requested by Husband. I had no idea how to make these, but I managed to fake it pretty good (at least I think so!).

First take pretzels, white chocolate, and sprinkles.
Melt chocolate for about a minute and a half in the microwave, stir until melted.

Put in a handful of pretzels, not to many or they are hard to stir up.

Pull them out with tongs, this allows some of the chocolate to drip off into the bowl.

Put the covered pretzels onto a wax paper covered cookie sheet.
Sprinkle with festive Christmas sprinkles.

Put cookie sheet in the fridge until chocolate is set.

Eat and enjoy!

Christmas Candy - Part 1

2009-12-08T19:40:00.008-05:00

I love this time of year....buying and wrapping presents for my family, decorating the house, and all the fun Christmas baking. This year I have already made my go-to Christmas candy, Peppermint Bark, twice. Candy bark may be the easiest Christmas baking project possible, just a tiny bit more complicated than stopping at the store on the way to the party :)

Let's begin...

That is chocolate chips, white chocolate, and peppermints. I have always used Nestle white chocolate chips, but this year because I am doing so many candy projects (stay tuned for the next few days) I bought a block of Ghirardelli white chocolate and OH MY GOODNESS it has so much more flavor. I wanted to eat it all right out of the package. YUMMY!!!

Why, yes, that is a meat tenderizer, and yes, this is the only purpose I use it for. Seriously, I don't even know what to really do with it, but it works magic on hard candy.

There are several steps missing because one must work quickly with melted chocolate, but this is what you get after a while...
The chocolate is alternated and then swirled with a knife.

A few hours in the fridge, an appointment with a knife and into the cute little jar it goes.
This one is going to the in-laws!

And now for the recipe you have all been waiting for...

Peppermint Marble Bark

12 oz Chocolate chips
12 oz White Chocolate (I will be using the squares from now on)
50 peppermint candies smashed up

Melt each chocolate seperately in microwave for 1.5 minute, then stir until melted. Add 1/2 the peppermint to each bowl of chocolate. While the chocolate is still warm, spoon it onto a wax paper covered cookie sheet. Alternate the two colors of chocolate in small mounds. Then take a knife and drag it through the different chocolates so it looks marblized. Let cool (best done in the fridge). Cute with a sharp knife.

Turkey Meatballs with Spicy Tomato Sauce

2009-11-12T19:38:00.003-05:00

A while back I was feeling like trying out something new and, since I had never made tomato sauce from scratch, I thought I would attempt to make meatballs and sauce from scratch.

I found a recipe here (by the way, I have made several of Ellie Krieger's recipies with ground turkey and all have been wonderful)

But then I had to modify it as I went, because here in the Bennett household LOTS of sauce is a must have. So I added a bit more tomato sauce and paste than in the original recipe (and some extra garlic!!)

So here is the Bennett version...

Ingredients

Sauce:
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 6-ounce can tomato paste*
• 2 8-ounce can tomato sauce*
• 1 (28-ounce) can crushed fire-roasted tomatoes, liquid included
• 1 teaspoon finely minced canned chipotle en adobo and sauce, or more to taste
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• Salt
• 1 tablespoon dried basil leaves

*Depending on how much sauce you want, add or subtract some amount of these two items.

Meatballs:
• Cooking spray
• 1 pound ground turkey meat
• 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 2 large cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoons parsley leaves,
• 1 teaspoons minced fresh thyme leaves
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

• 1 box (16 ounces) spaghetti

Directions
Fill a large stockpot with water and bring to a boil for pasta.

Make Sauce:
In a 4-quart saucepan heat the oil over medium heat. Sauté the onions until translucent, about 3 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add tomato paste, tomatoes, chipotles, oregano, and salt. Bring all the ingredients to a low boil, reduce heat and cook for approximately 15 minutes, until liquid has evaporated slightly. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. While sauce is cooking, make meatballs.

Meatballs:
Preheat the broiler. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Combine the turkey with all other ingredients in a large work bowl. Form into 2 1/2 -inch balls and place on a baking sheet. Broil for 10 minutes, or until browned and almost entirely cooked through.

Add the meatballs to the sauce, cover, and cook additional 10 minutes, or until sauce has slightly thickened and meatballs have absorbed some of the sauce. While the meatballs are cooking, cook the spaghetti according to package directions.

An Encouraging Poem

2009-10-20T18:23:00.002-04:00

I came across this poem in The Wedded Unmother by Kaye Halverson, I don't know where it was from orginally. It is a great verse about being a woman who loves and is loved.

Accept your womanhood, my daughter, and rejoice in it.

It is your glory that you are a woman, for that is why
he loves you, he whom you love.

Be gentle, be wise, as a woman is gentle and wise.

Be ardent and love with a woman's ardor.

Through your love, teach him what it means to be a man, a noble man, a strong man.

Believe in him, for only through your belief can he believe in himself.

In your secret heart, man and woman, we long above all else to know that the other, the one we love, knows what we are and believes in what we can be.

Is this not romance?

Yes, and the highest romance, investing the smallest detail of life with the color of joy.

Marinated Salmon and Purple Potatoes

2009-10-15T17:26:00.005-04:00

This recipe is a true Bennett Family Favorite. I think I found it on-line after Husband said he liked the salmon dish at Lonestar Steakhouse. We don't have one of those near us, so this is what we came up with. So far, we like it better!!

Marinade:
1 sweet bourbon marinade
1/4 c pineapple juice
2 tb soy sauce
2 tb brown sugar
1 ts kentucky bourbon
1/4 ts cracked black pepper
1/8 ts garlic powder
1/2 c vegetable oil

Combine the pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, bourbon, pepper
and garlic powder in a medium bowl. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Add
the oil.

This covers 2 8 oz fillets nicely.

Place the fillets in a shallow dish & pour the bourbon marinade over them,
saving a little to brush on the fish as it cooks. Put a lid over the
fish & refrigerate for at least an hour. A few hours is even better.

After the salmon is done in the marinade, it can be cooked any way you like salmon. We have tried it grilled and baked, both are tasty!!

The purple potates add a nice splash of color to the dinner. These seem to be getting more popular and can be purchased at major grocery stores now (for those of you in Florida, almost all Publix carry these potatoes).

Quick Cleaning Tip - Cleaning Supplies

2009-10-13T19:55:00.003-04:00

I am not sure if this is quick because I have little time today or quick because it makes cleaning faster...anyway...on to the topic at hand...

I like to clean house, but I dislike wandering back and forth and all around looking for cleaning supplies.

My solution: keep everything where it is needed.

For example, we have two bathrooms...so this means I have two of everything necessary to clean a bathroom. Now, when the bathroom needs cleaning I don't have to go get the cleaning supplies, walk them to the bathroom, clean, and walk them back to their home.

As for cleaning supplies that are not as room specific, those all live in the laundry room in one special place. Again, this shortens the prep time for cleaning since I know exactly where the squeegee (I don't know if that is spelled right, but I too tired to care) is at all times.

For things that Husband also uses, he gets his own set of cleaning supplies for the garage so he also does not have to go wandering about looking for things.

It's the little time savers that really add up!

Saying Goodbye

2009-10-06T18:44:00.003-04:00

I know what you are thinking..."what? wait, we just got here, why are you saying goodbye?!?" I am talking about how to say goodbye to your husband. This idea, I will gladly admit, comes from my mom.

When I think back on growing up, I can't remember a time that my mom left the house (if my dad was home) without finding him and telling him where she was going and giving him a kiss (awwww).

Smallish tangent: I must insert here that I was SHOCKED when I found out this was not done by everyone. Along with being all cute and loving, it also strikes me as being respectful of those in your household. Just something to think about. End tangent.

So, now that I am married I put this into practice...the last thing I do before leaving the house is to kiss Husband. It lets him know that I am thinking of him even as I am out and about.

Next step...in the mornings when Husband leaves I go out to the garage with him. Sometimes I just stand on the step at the door, sometimes I actually go outside (this generally depends on a combination of what I am wearing, the weather, and if the neighbors are out). I watch him get his stuff in the car, I smile all cute (because isn't that what he should remember me looking like while he is gone? who wants to think about a grouchy wife nagging about one last thing as he walks out the door?), he comes over and kisses me, and then I stand there and wave. Just STAND and WAVE...not working on any project, not playing with the dog, not distracted by what I am going to do next, just waving to Husband. So that the last thing he sees as the garage door shuts is his wife focused on sending him out into the world.

Everyone is happier when they know someone cares about them. Why not take a few minutes to have a routine that sends your husband out into the world knowing there is a wife at home cheering him on!

Fall Decorations

2009-10-05T17:41:00.000-04:00

I love fall, it is a wonderful season that always reminds me of warm sweaters, hot cocoa, and a good book. Of course, I live in south Florida so fall is not quite as I think it should be.

One of the ways I make sure I get that "fall feeling" is to decorate our home. This is pretty easy because fall decorations are everywhere starting in mid-August. Quick tip: Walgreen's has great fall decor items (by "great" I mean cute, cute, cute and cheap!) Anyway, I like to decorate for fall, not so much for Halloween, but for the entire season from back to school to Thanksgiving.

This year I was feeling inspired by the Thrifty Decor Chick to make something for Fall. Normally, I am a "buyer" not a "maker", so this is mixing it up a little for me.

I went to Michael's and bought a basket, some stems of fall flowers and berries, and a foam florist thingy (all this was about $16.00). I had a baby (child?) size pumpkin at home from Husband.

I came home and stuffed the foam in the bottom of the basket. I placed the pumpkin in the middle (must make sure the foam and the pumpkin fit together right...may require cutting the foam). I snipped all the stems apart so I had a lot of "filler" to work with. Then I "fluffed"! And it turned out so cute I just had to share it with all of you.

How do you decorate for the fall?

Organization - Drawer Style

2009-10-05T17:01:00.001-04:00

I have a secret obsession to share with you all...which, I realize will make it less of a secret...I really like to organize EVERYTHING. I have organized my closet, my desk, all the spaces you could thing of and probably some you wouldn't think of (example: I have an organized grocery list on my computer...I will tell you about that later). Anyway, I recently changed out a yucky old plastic set of drawers for a pretty wooden chest of drawers as the holder of all things office supply related.

Much to my dismay, my old drawer organizer did NOT fit the new drawer. Horror! So I set out to find something new and find something I did. It can be found here, the 10 piece drawer organizer (mine is black and I got it at Staples). This comes with 10 little boxes that fit together ANY WAY I WANT (or you, at your house). I love it! I used 7 of the 10 pieces in that drawer and all the pens and staples and binder clips are in their happy little homes. I am sure I will use the others somewhere else in the house. I liked the ability to choose the layout so that the most useful things were at the front.

If you have a drawer that doesn't fit the "normal" organizers...I suggest you give this system a try. What will you organize next?

What this blog is all about

2009-10-05T10:22:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the first post of the Stay at Home Wife blog. Here are a few things about what is going on here...

Who am I? I am a 26 year old wife who loves the role God gave me! I have been married 1 year, 5 months, and 5 days (yes, I am counting!). My passion is being a helpmeet for my husband. I have a unique chance to do this and still work a "regular" job since I work from home for a company named "Bennett Research Services" (yup, I own the company). No kids (yet, everyone keep their fingers crossed!).

What am I up to? I love, love, love being a housewife. It is more fun than I even imagined when I was playing "house" as a kid. I actually like to cook and clean and even (gasp!) iron. I also like to do the added touches of being a house wife...decorating, baking, and making Husband his lunches before he leaves in the morning.

So why a blog? This has been running around in my mind for awhile now. I am always in search of cool new things...books, recipes, clothes, friends, ideas, decor, cars...anything. Sooooo, I am generally excited about something or other to do with being a housewife all the time! And it just bubbles up inside of me and I want to TELL someone!! Here is where all of you (I hope that number grows from just my mom soon!) come in...I can share with you tips and tricks and really cool ideas I come across! Aren't you totally excited now?!?

So, stay tuned.....