Goals for 2011

So I've come up with a short list of goals for 2011 and I figure if I put them out there I'll be more accountable.  :)  I'd love to hear some of your goals for the New Year!

1.  To read through my Bible this year.  I've never actually read the ENTIRE Bible cover to cover.  So I am going to attempt that in 2011.
2.  To train for and finish a half marathon.
3.  To really get my skin care business off the ground:  I'd like to start doing monthly trade shows and getting my product "out there".
4.  To get serious about my working out/running.  I was doing so good for awhile and I need to get back on track with that.  I felt so much better when I was excercising nearly everyday.
5.  To be better at disconnecting from the internet, cell phone, tv etc., and deliberately spending more quality time with the kids and family.
6.  To buy a home - this is one of the scariest for me.  We move around a LOT and there is just something so final about buying a house.  But we are starting to feel like maybe this is the year... we shall see.  :)

Sorry if you were looking for this massive list of goalsI'm sure there are other things that will get added to my list.  I'm going to make a copy of the list and put it somewhere where I will see it everyday.

Check back soon! I have another great all natural home remedy for illness that I want to share with you.

Have a great time ringing in the new year! Here's to a fantastic 2011!

Today is kind of a gloomy day.  Add to that, the fact that I have been trying to kick this head cold I've come down with.  I got so sick on Christmas Day, it was awful.  The worst is over it seems, and now I'm just trying to clear out my head. 

Anyway, the day after Christmas we took the kids shopping to use some gift cards they got for Christmas.  I had some too, so to make myself feel better I bought myself a super cute pair of boots.  All is right in the world again.  HAHA

So if you wouldn't mind terribly, you can click on my business facebook page (to your right) and read about my New Year promotion.  You can get your name entered in a drawing to win a nice prize just by sharing my Etsy shop on your facebook page.  Details and rules are on my business page.

I'm off to make some cookies.  I know I should probably eat some fruit or something especially since I'm a tad under the weather, but cookies just sound so much yummier right now.  :)

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

New Years Resolutions

I've never really been a huge fan of New Years Resolutions.  It's like an automatic given that you will not follow through with whatever you've resolved to do in the New Year.   With that being said, my resolution is to get back on track with my excercising/running.  I took a few days off 2 months ago and that was the end of that.  Oops.  Oh well, it happens.  I have to say that I am ready to get back into the swing of things though that's for sure!  And yes, in case you're wondering, I am still doing the half marathon on March 6th.  I don't have any time in mind, I just want to say that I finished.  :)

The skin care business that I started has been doing well.  I really didn't have any expectations for it.  It's just so hard to know how well something will do.  But I'm happy with what I've done so far.  I have some plans for the new year, doing some trade shows etc.  So I'm excited about that. 

I'm still enjoying the "down time" at work right now.  Before we know it, Allaso Ranch will be all hustle and bustle and our days will blur into months.  So I'm taking this slow time to enjoy having Brandon around a little more. 

All in all 2010 was a pretty good year.  And I hope 2011 will be even better. 

Totally Random

So as I was figuring out what to wear this morning I realized that tank tops have to be one of my most favorite clothing accessories.  I wear some sort of tank top every day - well at least 5 days out of 7.  I am completely in love with tank tops.  I love them in cold weather because it adds another layer (I'm always cold).  I like the layering look that tank tops provide, you can add a splash of color to your outfit.  But one of my most favorite reasons why I love tank tops is because - and forgive me if this is too much info here but I'm only trying to be honest - after having 2 kids, I have found it quite hard to lose the little extra belly skin that was a result of gaining a cumulative 120 pounds between both babies.  (Don't judge me, I seriously lacked self control while pregnant).  So a tank top I've found really helps to disguise my midsection when I'm feeling a little extra "weighty".  LOL

Anyway, what are some of your must have clothing items?? 

Happy Monday everyone!

We're Not Crazy

So about a month ago we made the switch from store bought milk to raw organic cows milk.  We get strange looks when people find out that we drink milk basically straight from the cow.  There is no pasteurization or homogenization.  The result is a creamier product chock full of all kinds of nutrients and vitamins that store bought milk just doesn't have.  Many many years ago, they used to use raw milk as a treatment for all kinds of sickness and diseases.  Now it's probably not safe to just get a cow and milk it.  We buy from a local farmer, his milk is grade A certified safe.  His cows are pasture fed, they get no hormones or anitbiotics.  I feel good that we are giving our kids something that is so good for them when everything out there is so bad for you.  We also get our free range eggs from him as well. 

Anyway, if you're interested in the subject at all, check out this blog.  She has alot of good findings and good info on the health benefits of raw organic cows milk. 

I love how she starts her post out, because we usually get the same reaction.  I personally think we need to be more aware of what we are eating and putting into our bodies.  I really would love to make the switch to all organic foods, but it is just so darn expensive.

A New Creation Organic Skin Care

It's official, I've finally launched my Etsy site for my all natural, organic skin care products. I'm very excited about this new adventure.  There are more products I will be adding as soon as I am able to so please check back often.  Everything is organic, all natural, no artificial ingredients or synthetic preservatives.
20% of all my sales will go to the A21 Campaign - helping to put a stop to human trafficking.  Please go to the website and read about them and what they do.

I hope you'll go to my site and check it out.  For a limited time you can get 10% off your purchases by using the coupon code BRANDNEW01 at checkout.  Let your friends know, and favorite me on Etsy! 

If you've never been to Etsy, it's a great way to support small businesses and local vendors, so take a look around and find some of your handmade and vintage Christmas gifts on Etsy.

Thanks for checking it out!

White Bean Hummus

I'm not usually a fan of hummus, but we were at the cheesecake factory one day and I loved their white bean hummus.  So I searched for a recipe that matched it.  I think I could eat this all day long, and it's good for you too!  Bonus  :)


White Bean  Hummus
1/4 c. chopped green onions - my fav kind of onion by the way
2 tbs lemon juice
2 tbs tahini paste - I found mine at sprouts, specialty stores would prob. sell it
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/8 tsp salt - adjust to your taste
1/8 tsp pepper
1 19oz can of cannellini beans or other white beans drained and rinsed
1 garlic clove

Combine everything in a food processor until smooth with some olive oil for easy blending and enjoy with homemade pita chips.  Seriously so good!

Ear Infections

Ear infections seem like another common childhood ailment.  Whenever our oldest Kalyssa would catch a cold it would always turn into an ear infection because of all the fluid build up.  Here is an easy remedy for ear infections.  Of course, if you are worried something more serious is going on you should take them to your Dr.  But this works great for my kids when they are complaining of ear pain and have had colds. 

Hydrogen Peroxide!  A few drops in the affected ear.  Then have them lay there and be still for about 10 minutes.  They will probably hear little bubbling noises while the peroxide does it's thing.  A warm compress also feels really good on the aching ear. 

This is also good to try when you feel yourself catching a cold, put some peroxide in your ears for 10 minutes on each side.  I know that sounds a little weird but it really does work.

We also as a family make regular visits to our chiropractor.  Chiropractic is a great way to clear up recurring ear infections.  If you have a child who is prone to multiple ear infections, find a good chiropractor and ask them about the benefits of chiropractic care for recurring ear infections before you have tubes put in or any other kind of major surgery.  It's amazing what chiropractic can do!!

But for those little ear aches, minor ear infections the peroxide in the ear does the trick everytime.  I usually do this 2-3 times a day until they are better.

Happy Tuesday everyone.  Tune in tomorrow, I'll share my recipe for White Bean Hummus.  MMM it's so good

Stuff

I got an email the other day about sale items from shop it to me and I thought these shoes were so cute!  I could seriously go on a major shoe shopping spree.  Ahhh, I can daydream though right?

As I sit here and type this I am getting all my ducks in a row to get my skin care business off the ground.  I am planning on launching my etsy site by the end of this week.  I am very nervous and excited all at the same time.  I can't sleep at night because my mind is going a mile a minute with ideas that I can't wait to be able to put into action! 

My sister is a photographer, you can check out her website here.  She has been helping me get pictures ready to post and they look fantastic.  I like that I can snap a crappy picture and she is 1500 miles away and I just email it to her and she makes it pretty.  :)  I really have no artistic talent whatsoever when it comes to taking pictures, so I'm glad she does. 

Well, that's about it for today's post.  I hope everyone has a really great day!  I've got another all natural remedy coming up this week for ear infections and a good recipe post too.  So check back!

Happy Thanksgiving

Ok, so I hope I don't sound terribly anti holiday here, but Thanksgiving really is not my favorite holiday.  I think I'd have to say Christmas is by far my favorite time of the year as far as holidays go.  We did have a good Thanksgiving, don't get me wrong.  We spent the afternoon at a friends house and my mom and stepdad were in for the week visiting.  Sometimes I just feel like all the holidays bring anymore is a bunch of stress.  Everyone is so caught up in buying presents, preparing food, shopping that we forget the true meaning of the holidays. I think as I get older it has become easier for me to say NO to certain things surrounding the holidays that are just going to be more stress that its worth, and say yes to the more important things.  Things that will last, that my kids will remember.  Little family traditions that we've started with them that I want them to pass on to their kids because they want to create memories with their families one day.  I don't want them to think that all Christmas is good for is Santa and presents.  Because that's totally not the point!  I won't even get into my thoughts on Santa.  :) 

Anyway, I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving and took some time to really be thankful for everything you have right now.  Here are some pictures of our little Thanksgiving.

ps.  Be on the lookout this week for the opening of my Etsy shop.  Barring any major issues, I should be ready to launch my site this week sometime!!

A Lesson in Gratefulness by Holly Furtick

If you've never been to Holly Furtick's (wife of Pastor Steven Furtick) blog, you should check it out sometime.  She has a great post today about being grateful and teaching your kids how to be grateful.  Go check it out.  And while you're there, enter her giveaway!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Enjoy your day and be GRATEFUL.

http://hollyfurtick.typepad.com/the_preachers_wife/2010/11/a-lesson-in-gratefulness.html

It's Monday!

Why do Monday's have such a negative stigma attached to them?  It's the start of a new week, shouldn't that be exciting?  Like we get to start all over again.  Anyway, I'm thankful for do overs because my half marathon training has been pretty non existent.  I hate that I've been so flaky about it.  So this week I am pretty much starting over.  Good thing the marathon isn't until the end of March so I have plenty of time to get ready....

I have also been working hard on getting my esty shop and products ready to sell.  There is alot of preparation and it's been keeping me busy.  I am almost ready to launch two of my skin care products.  I will have a face wash and moisturizer for sale very soon.  All natural, organic - which I am very proud of.  So be on the lookout.  I am hoping to launch by December 1st.

Happy Monday everyone!  Do you need a do over too?

Pinecones, Glorious Pinecones

So, here in East Texas pinecones are definitely not in limited supply.  I've been wondering what I can do with them.  There are so many, it's kind of sad to see them just laying out there being put to no good use.  :)

So the girls and I along with the help of Grammy (my mom who is visiting from Massachusetts) made some Christmas decorations with a few of the larger ones today.  The girls really love crafting and this was easy enough for them to help with without getting hurt or needing any grown up help.  All we did was dry out the pinceones in the oven at 350 for like 10 minutes.  This helps to kill any little critters that might be hiding in there and dries any sap so they aren't sticky. We got our work area ready - we covered a table with paper - then we put glue on the cones very carefully so we didn't break them, with a small paintbrush to get it on all the stems good.  Then we sprinkled glitter all over them and glued a glittered, wooden star to the top with hot glue.  I plan on displaying these on our mantle, and I will put them in some vintage teacups that I have and some bud vases.  Take a look at our pictures and let me know what you think.  These might not be Martha Stewart quality, but it was fun and easy, and we all had a good time, even the grownups.  :)  Perfect activity for a chilly, cloudy Saturday afternoon. 

Sorry the pics are all over the place, I was having a little trouble getting them where I wanted them.  oh well.

A Sweet Snack

Ok so today's favorite recipe really isn't very good for you, but it is good.  It is so fast and easy, great for a quick snack on the go.  I don't recommend eating it in large quantities, although it is very easy to do. 

Sugary Trail Mix (not the official title, but i don't have a name for it)
1 Package vanilla flavored almond bark - most grocery stores should have it, I got mine at Walmart in the baking section next to choc. chips etc.
golden grahams cereal or similar
unsalted peanuts
mini pretzels

You could really use almost any snacky items you wanted.  This is just what was in it the first time I tried it and I liked it, so I kept it the same.  Let me know what else is good if you switch it up.

Melt (over a double boiler so it doesn't burn) 3 squares of almond bark.  When it's melted toss in approximately 1 cup of pretzels, 1 cup of peanuts and 1 cup of cereal.  There really is no wrong measurements.  If you want it gooier add more bark and less snacks and vice versa.  Mix it all up and put it on wax paper or foil lined tray to cool.  Once it's cooled break it up a little and store in air tight container or zip lock freezer bag. 

Pink Eye

So if you have kids, they have probably had pink eye.  It's inevitable, they will get it at some point no matter what you do.  If your kids have never had it I'd love to know you're secret! 

Instead of giving them a harmful antibiotic try this all natural remedy instead.  Now, if there is a serious eye infection and you are not sure what it is, you should take them to the doctor.  But if the diagnosis is pink eye, this remedy works great in our house.

All natural, organic (if possible) chamomile tea!  Most stores carry chamomile tea. You brew a tea bag, let it cool for a bit.  Then dip a cotton ball in the tea and rub on the infected eye.  Make sure not to dip the same cotton ball back into the tea, because you will contaminate the whole cup and will need to brew more.  You can also use a q-tip to coat the corners of the eye good.  Make sure not to reuse cotton balls or q-tips.  Always use a new one for each application.  After you do this, you can place the cooled tea bag on the eye for several minutes, then discard the tea bag.  This will help to soothe the itchiness.  You can save the cup of tea to use throughout the day as long as you didn't cross contaminate. Do this several times a day until the infection is cleared up.

It is also helpful to make sure your child is washing their hands alot.  Kids love to itch even when you tell them not too.  You will probably need to treat both eyes at the same time because of this.

Wishlist & Big Announcement

Today's wishlist is a bit different.  There is a house out here in our community that went up for sale not too long ago.  I saw it, and it is the cutest house.  We have a lease at our current house until the end of February, and we are not sure what we will do at this point, but it sure is a cute house. 

I also have a big announcement to make... Well, big for me at least.  :)  If you follow me on twitter or read my blog at all, you know that there is something I have been working on.  I am in the process of making my own skin care products that I will have available for sale by the first of December.  (hopefully)  I am always trying to find a good all natural, organic skin care routine and it hit me that I should make my own  and sell them.  I feel like this is a product I can stand behind and be proud of.  There is still some testing and tweaking going on right now.  But I really believe I have come up with a good product and I can't wait to be able to share it with everyone.  The best part is that everything I use will always be all natural and organic with no preservatives or synthetic ingredients.  Just good for you and your skin.  I will even be using recycled packaging materials.  So be on the lookout in the coming weeks for my big unveil.  :)  I have an etsy shop that I am getting ready and will let you know when it is up and running. I would appreciate continued prayers over this.  This is a big step for me, but overall I want to promote a product that people will love and I can be proud of.  

Too Cold

So, last week was my first week of training for the half marathon.  I have to be honest, I didn't do so well.  I had good intentions though, that has to count for something right?  We were so so busy this last week, and it seemed like I just couldn't quite squeeze it in anywhere.  Plus, its getting cold now, and I really don't like running in the cold.  I know I have to deal with it but brrr.  So this will be a better week.  :)

This past weekend was our work weekend at Allaso Ranch.  With the help of about 150 volunteers, we got so much work done at our camp and retreat center.  For those of you that don't know, this is where Brandon and I work.  He is the conference coordinator and I do office work and oversee the bookstore.  East Texas is very pretty this time of year.  All of the leaves are changing colors.  Right out my office window is the lake and all the pretty colors.  Even when we are crazy busy, it's still nice to be able to look around at all of that and feel very blessed that God has picked us to be a part of all that is going on at Fellowship Church.

Last Friday I shared briefly about something I have in the works.  I am getting a little closer to revealing exactly what that is.  Things are coming together and I can't wait to let you all in on my little secret.

Well, that's all I have for now.  Tune in tomorrow, I'm going to share pictures of a house that is up for sale that we really like. 

Busy, Busy, Busy...

Wow, these last few days have been quite busy for me... We have been preparing for a big volunteer work weekend at Allaso Ranch which is where we work.  There is a lot of preparation that goes into this.  We are ready to host a LOT of volunteers this weekend and I'm ready to finally get some work done around the ranch that we have been planning on now for months.

On top of that, there is also something that I personally have been working on.  I don't want to share details just yet because it is still very much in the planning and thinking through everything stage.  But it's something I am very excited about.  Hopefully in the next few weeks I will have more to share with everyone, but for now I will just ask you to pray for wisdom and direction as I move forward.  Sorry to be so vague about that.  But I hate spilling the beans about stuff and then what happens if it doesn't work out?  I will say that I have been praying about this and even though it is in the very beginning stage, I feel like God is showing me things and directing me.  So that makes me really excited too!

Anyway, that's all I have for this Friday.  Hope everyone has a GREAT weekend.  And if you are reading this and will be at Allaso Ranch later today, SEE YOU THEN! 

Who Doesn't Love Bacon?

This recipe is one of our very favorites.  I forget where I found this recipe, but it's so good.  There's a little bit of everything in it, even the kids like it.  Well, the kids don't have a choice, they eat whatever we make, but they really do like it. 

Chicken & Tomato Bowtie Stir Fry
2 c. uncooked bowtie pasta
4 slices bacon cut into 1/2"pieces
2 bonless, skinless chicken breast cut into strips
1 c. fresh baby carrots halved lengthwise
1/4 c. water
2 c.sugar snap peas
1/2 c. halved cherry tomatoes
1/2 tsp. garlic pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
6 tbs. shredded fresh parmesan cheese (fresh really does make it better)

Cook and drain pasta.  Cook and stir bacon in large skillet until browned and crisp.  Remove bacon, reserving 1 tbs. drippings in skillet.  Add chicken, cook and stir 3-5 minutes or until browned.  Add carrots and water, cover and cook 3 minutes.  Stir in sugar snap peas, tomatoes, garlic pepper and salt.  Cover and cook 3-5 minutes until veggies are tender and chicken is no longer pink.  (dont over cook the tomatoes or you'll have mush)  Stir in pasta, bacon and 4 tbs. of shredded parmesan.  Cook until fully heated.  Sprinkle with remaining parmesan cheese.  Serve with homemade garlic bread.  MMM, makes me want this for dinner!

Grapefruit Seed Extract

Ok, so if you know me even a little, you know that I try to be as all natural as possible when it comes to healing, medicine etc.   We don't give the kids antibiotics unless it is absolutely necessary.  Personally I feel like antibiotics are way overused.  You go to the Dr. for a sniffle and they are prescribing an antibiotic before you can finish describing your symptoms.  So anyway, as a family we've taken the all natural approach to healing whenever possible.  This is great to keep on hand.  You can buy it from most health food stores.  It comes in a little bottle and lasts forever.  It's the extract from grapefruit seeds.  It's an all natural, antibacterial, anti fungal, and you can use it for so many things. 

I was a little skeptical too when I first heard about it.  But we use it around here for all kinds of things.  Sore throats, flu symptoms, stomach issues.  I even had an infection in my thumb once, it hurt so bad for like 3 days.  I was getting ready to go the urgent care and I tried putting a few drops of GSE on it instead, and the next day the pain was gone and it was already starting to clear up.  I know I sound like an infomercial - LOL.  But what have you got to lose?  Dr's will even tell you that if you overuse antibiotics, they lose their effectiveness.  So why not switch to something more all natural?  Antibiotics also kill off any good bacteria in your digestive tract along with the bad stuff, so that's why you tend to get sick with something right after you finish a round of antibiotics.  Because you've killed off everything, even the good stuff that your body needs to fight infection! 

Ok, I'm off my soapbox for at least a week.  ;)   But trust me, go get a bottle of GSE, it costs around $12.  It's safe for little ones too.  You can even take a drop or two a day to ward off sickness.  Especially good for cold and flu season. 

Wishlist

I really like this pair of shoes from DSW.  I am loving ankle boots/booties right now and I don't own a pair.  I think there are like 6 pair that I want.   LOL   I wish my birthday was coming up because then I could probably talk my loving husband into a pair.  :)   I'm not really sure when my love of shoes started.  I guess I've always liked shoes.  I feel like you can change your whole outfit just by changing your shoes.  Maybe that's why I'd rather buy shoes than clothes (most of the time).  I can wear the same outfit with different shoes and it looks like a new outfit!

Anyway, these wishlist posts won't always be about shoes I promise.  ;)  As a matter of fact I think next week I'll share some pictures of a house out here in East Texas that we really really like that we have our eye on.

Have a great Tuesday everyone!

This is the Week

So I officially start training for a half marathon this week. 

I've been running since the summer, but just decided that I wanted to do a half marathon.  It's either really ambitious or really dumb I haven't decided yet.  I've never run further than about 4 miles, so this will definitely be a challenge for me.  I found a training program that I should be able to stick with without getting overwhelmed.

Since I've taken the last 2 weeks off from running/working out I'm ready to get back into it.  And what better way to jump back in than to start half marathon training right??

Pray for me

A General Direction

So I think I've come up with some sort of plan for my blog.  I've narrowed down a few topics for my daily postings.  Hopefully this will give me some sort of direction.  Brandon said it was a Seinfeld of blogs - LOL. 

So, since it is Favorite Recipe Thursday and all.  Hope you enjoy it!  Have a great Thursday everyone.


Barbecue Chicken
1 tbs mustard
1/2 c. water
1/4 c. white vinegar
lemon juice
1/4 c. butter
1 lg. onion sliced
salt/pepper
2 tbs brown sugar
Bring the above ingredients to a low boil for 15 minutes.  Then add 1/2 c. ketchup and 1 tbs worcestshire sauce.  Pour entire mixutre over 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts and bake covered at 325 for about an hour or until done.  You can also put all in the crock pot and cook on low for 6-7 hours.

Money Doesn't Grow on Trees

Since we are a one income household for the next few months I have been trying to find ways to conserve a little extra money.  I came across this website the other day and thought they had a few useful tips on how to save a few bucks a month.  It's not rocket science, but helpful nonetheless.  Just little cutbacks can make a huge difference.  It's kinda funny how when you make less you find ways to save more...

Feel free to share some of your easy money saving tips!

Shop it to Me

Ok, so I just came across this website http://shopittome.com/.  It's basically like a personal shopping site, you pick some brands that you like, put your sizes in and they send you items they think you might like when they go on sale.  Since there are not a lot of places in East Texas for shopping, I'm liking the idea of virtual window shopping with styles picked out just for me! 

How cute is this pair of shoes from Steve Madden?  http://www.stevemadden.com/Item.aspx?id=50894&np=127_282-157_431&CID=cj_1827884  I really love shoes,  I mean really really love shoes.  I think a fabulous pair of shoes just makes whatever outfit you're wearing. 

Anyway, I just had to share.  Maybe someone out there loves shoes as much as me!

A Favorite Fall Recipe

Fall has finally decided to make it's appearance here in TX. This is one of my favorite times of the year.  I love fall clothes, fall food, and sitting by a warm fire.  So I thought I'd share one of our favorite recipes for this time of year.  We actually just finished off a pan of this not too long ago.  Let me know if you try it and what you think of it!


Butterscotch Pumpkin Cake

1 (11oz) pkg butterscotch morsels
2 c all purpose flour
1 3/4 c granulated sugar
1 tbs baking powder
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 pkg pumpkin or butterscotch pudding mix (optional)

1 c pure pumpkin
1/2 c vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

heat oven to 350, grease a bundt pan
microwave 1 c morsels until smooth allow to cool (they won't really be melted, just kind of smooth)
combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, pudding mix.  stir together melted morsels, pumpkin, vegetable oil, eggs and vanilla then stir in flour mixture.  spoon into pan.  bake for 40-50 mins or until done.  serve with powdered sugar and whipped topping.  enjoy!

Date Night at the Gun Range

So a couple of weeks ago we were at a friends house and she mentioned that she and her husband along with a few other couples were going to the gun range for date night.  It didn't take Brandon (my husband for those of you who may not know) more than 2 minutes to invite himself along.  So Friday night we all went to the Bullet Trap in Plano.  I shot a borrowed 22mm and 9mm since I do not own a gun of my own.  Brandon has wanted to keep a gun in the house and he was hoping our little venture would convince me of the same thing.  While shooting a gun wasn't totally terrible, I'm still unsure whether I want to keep one in the house or not. 

I will say though, that I'm actually not a bad shot.  Who would have thought?  The 9mm definitely has a little more kick than the 22.  Now I don't know how good of a shot I'll be if I ever have to shoot someone to save my life, but with a little more practice.... burglars beware!

Sorry for the bad quality of the picture, we had to take it fast and on the sly because you weren't supposed to have a camera in there.  shhh


Tune in tomorrow, I'm going to post a recipe for one of our favorite fall desserts.  Butterscotch Pumpkin Cake.  MMMM it's so good.

Seemed Like a Good Idea...

Well I've always wanted to blog.  About what, I really don't know.  I'm sure it will be about whatever happens to be on my mind at that particular moment.  Sometimes I feel like I have alot to say or there is something that I find interesting at the moment and maybe if you're lucky I'll share it with you. 

I find myself temporarily a stay at home mom and wondering what the heck I'm going to do with all my free time for the next few months.  Let me clarify, I don't think that stay at home moms have a ton of free time. There are slow days for sure, but for me, both of my kids are in school full time.  I suppose I could get really good at cleaning the house more often and having dinner ready when everyone gets home at night, but lets be honest here, I hate housecleaning (and thats an understatement) and I don't cook - at least not very well.  

I feel like I've been given this opportunity to have a few months off of work and I'm supposed to be learning something from all of this.  If and when I figure out what that is I'll let you know.  But for now I guess I will hone my blogging skills.  So you will have to be patient with me since I'm new to all of this.  And let me just say that I welcome your comments, but please don't write to me and tell me how many grammatical errors you find, or runon sentences, or how many sentences start with a preposition.  Yes, I took english/grammar, but in the grand scheme of things, does it really matter if I start my sentence with the word AND?  Now, spelling is another issue altogether.  I was a spelling bee champion in 5th and 9th grade - there's a little tidbit for you - so while my posts may be filled with random thoughts and run on sentences you can rest assured that everything will be spelled correctly. (i hope)

Anyway, there's my little introduction.  I hope you'll stick around for awhile.