Wow...its been a while!!

So sorry its been so long!!
I decided to only keep up with my family blog since our lives with our family and ministry are just too busy to keep up with 2 blogs!

But, I did want to ask for you help. A dear sweet family, the Groeneveld's, lost their home on Saturday morning due to a fire. You can read their story on my blog. I put a link to her blog there!

Thanks so much!

Buffalo Chicken Dip

A friend of mine recently gave me this awesome Recipe for Buffalo Chicken Dip! I love it!

Ingredients:

2 8oz Cream Cheese
1/2 cup of Ranch Dressing
3/4 cup of Texas Pete
2 cups of Chicken Cubed or Shredded
2 1/2 cups of Cheese

1. I cooked the chicken in the microwave for 9-10 minutes then cut it into cubes
2. Mix the cream cheese, ranch dressing, texas pete, chicken and half of the cheese together.
3. Put it in a 9x13 or crock pot then sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top.
4. Cook on 350 for 20 minutes.

Serve with Tortilla chips or Crackers.

If you love Hot stuff- this is for you! My new favorite Dip!

One Thousand Gifts

I have really enjoyed this book (so far) and it has already made a difference in the way I view everyday life.  I seem to live in the "fast lane" in life, getting things done (in a hurry), getting the boys dressed (in a hurry), getting supper on the table (in a hurry), and getting the boys to Sunday School (in a hurry). 
Nothing in life, really worth-while happens in a hurry.

I'm afraid I have a tendency not to "stop and smell the roses" but to hurriedly take a glance at them as a I jog through life. Everyday when I wake up, I want to count my blessings. Count the ways that Jesus has shown that He loves me by all the beauty that surrounds me. He has created all of these things in life, even the simplest of things, just for me. To show me that He loves me.



I found out about the Bloom Book Club by reading "Bring the Rain" by Angie Smith. If you would like to join in, click here for more information.

Disclaimer: I do not agree with the author's view of theology in chapter 2. However, I can glean great information from the rest of the book.

Couponing not for you? Then why not Try this......

We all know that using coupons takes a lot of time. Sometimes if I don't have all my coupons organized and together, I just get frustrated and go to Walmart without any at all.

 

With 2 little boys in the cart ages 2 and 1, coupons aren't always the easiest thing for me to use! I am just trying to get through Walmart without leaving a Goldfish trail. (this is why now I almost always go at night after the boys are asleep- do you blame me?)

If you aren't a couponing mom, don't give up. Just use cash. Make a list, add it up roughly before you go, bring a calculator, and use cash. No more cash in my envelope at the end of the month? Then I guess we all will starve.=/

The envelope system--it really works!

I think using cash regularly for groceries will really help our family. I have found that it is alot harder for me to spend that cash then to swipe my debit.

Hope this helps you! Check out her other tips here!

Finally....a cute BOY sewing project!

Most of you know that I have two sweet and adorable boys, Evan (almost 3) and Pierson (14 months). I love to sew for them, but we all know that sewing for boys is just not as fun as sewing for girls! No frills and ruffles in this house!!
So when I saw this ADORABLE tutorial on how to make little boy's ties, my heart skipped a beat!

I think I just found me another project to add to my list for next week! I can't wait to find the perfect material for a few matching ties for this summer! (or I could just buy them some matching ties at The Children's Place?--but this is so much more fun, right!)

Now, if I could just have a little girl to coordinate her dress with their ties! Have to talk to the hubby about that one!ha Until then, maybe we can coordinate with my adorable niece!

real life is happening around here- organizing, cleaning out, 2 boys with fevers, laundry, mom group, cooking, family, teaching piano, and church ministry. Know what i mean?

Maybe my life will be back to normal soon and time for projects won't be so sparse!!- looking forward to a nice trip to the beach this weekend with my hubby and close friends for a couples retreat!! Yay for some alone time!!

Have little boys in your life? Go check out this tutorial! Did I mention there is no sewing machine involved?

Friday FaVes- a book, some recipes and a decorating Blog

Sharing with you some Friday Faves! Happy Weekend Everyone!

My dad gave all of us  this book for Christmas. Its one of those books that is life-changing. It is easy to read and so convicting!

These Cream Cheese Squares are so good and easy! Adding a little bit of cinnamon and sugar to the top would make these even better for my sugar-lovin' boys!

Twirly Whirly Pizza Roll-Ups. This is one of those recipes that you might want to wait until your husband is out of town! Or if your lucky like me and have a husband who LOVES pizza, then this kid-friendly recipe is for you. Look for the recipe here on one of my favorite blogs.

Looking for another Decorating Blog to read? Hop on over to Young House Love! I really love how they take older houses and remodel them. View their first makeover-home here!

Myron and I love to have Mexican on most Saturday Nights.  Its just a great time to have chips/dips, quesadillas, and try out a new mexican recipe while watching football the boys play!  This dip, "Paula Deen's Touchdown Taco Dip", is so awesome! My aunt first made it and we love it! ---its super easy,too! (We do NOt add all of the extra ingredients in the pic to our dip--so don't let that scare you off!)

Ingredients:

1 8oz cream cheese

1 pack of taco seasoning

Cheese (enough to cover the top)

1 Can of Refried Beans

1 4oz sour cream (optional)

Little bit of Salsa (optional)

Tomatoes (optional)

Whatever else you want to add

• Pre-heat oven to 350
• Spray a casserole dish with Pam
• Mix cream cheese and taco seasoning
• Add sour cream (optional)
• Pour this mixture into bottom of pan
• add beans
• add salsa
• add cheese
• add other toppings
• cook in oven for 20 minutes or until everything is melted.
• did I miss something, Aunt Kristi?

Awesome recipe- easy, cheap and so good!

One of my new Mexican Recipes (that I will share soon) is from my newly-wed sis, Jen. She has been cooking up a storm and lets me know when she finds a good recipe. This one is a keeper.

Doesn't it look good! Its not your typical "mexican" taste--so comforting and good!!

Look for it soon---

Easy Creamy Cheesy Chicken enChiladas. (I've made it twice in 2 weeks, it was that good and my boys loved it!)

Hot Deal--Hurry Fast!!

Today's Deal For Living Social is a 20 dollar gift card to Amazon for 10.00!! I have bought tons of things on Amazon for Awesome Steals this year!! Including 12 packs of toilet paper for free! (using my swagbucks and they were running an awesome deal!!) I also have bought toys, books, diapers....they really have about anything you want!!

Anyway---just thought I would share! If you want this deal you better hurry up---the quatities are limited!!