tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44266959953336527882012-02-16T04:56:15.015-07:00There is no greater place of ministry or position than that of a wife and mother.Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.comBlogger1241100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-49461564259166153062010-08-17T20:14:00.003-06:002010-08-17T20:26:39.032-06:00

Okay - I know I have said it before, I LOVE cake. I really do, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE vanilla cakes with vanilla frosting from Safeway (a grocery store here in Canada). It is a sick obsession, honestly it is...someone close to me must come to my house and save me from myself. I accidentally bought to much cake and it not as much was eaten as I had predicted (there was two kinds) and I was left

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-8042623693693688542010-08-07T10:53:00.004-06:002010-08-07T11:52:44.841-06:00

During June I am dreaming of long, lazy days spent basking in the sun. Warm skin, cool drinks and the shrieks of happy kids playing. I am dreaming of doing nothing and having to go nowhere. Yet summer is over in a blink of an eye. The end of summer is looming ahead of us and the back to school shopping and preparing will soon begin. My summer days passed with not a whole lot to show for them.

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-40229522828946387732010-08-03T11:47:00.004-06:002010-08-03T12:19:28.735-06:00

It feels quiet around my house as of late. It is very different then when I had four young kids running around my house. When my kids where young there was a constant clatter of noise that made me feel like I would sell my right arm for a bit of piece and quiet. Something was always happening - fighting, crying, banging of toy trucks, the bossing a small, but determined little princess...Quiet

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-63285109252187168322010-08-02T13:02:00.004-06:002010-08-07T12:00:13.620-06:00

So I was doing some random reading and I came acrross this:“A lifetime can be well spent correcting and improving one’s own faults without bothering about others.”-- Edward WestonI have no idea who this person is, but as soon as I read this it hit me hard. How often do I focus on what I see as other peoples faults? Far too often...maybe I should change my focus...

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-7240346582574363222010-07-13T19:29:00.003-06:002010-07-13T19:37:51.959-06:00

We are in the middle of torrential downpours! Here in Alberta we sometimes have wet springs, but more or less dry summers. We are known to be quite a dry climate overall...Well sump pumps have been working over time for the amount of rain we have gotten in the last two days! It has been raining...and raining...and raining...and hmmmm...raining some more!I have decided I don't like rain - NOT

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-75679490198895377742010-07-09T11:19:00.004-06:002010-07-09T11:31:32.210-06:00

So for the last five days I have been trying very hard to eat better, not just better, but with more awareness of what I put in my mouth. I have realized that I have become desensitized to what I have been eating in our over processed food society.This week I planed meals with fresh cuts of meat, fish, lots of veggies and lots of snacks of fruits and nuts...but wow...this is harder then I thought

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-47404342135235390122010-07-04T14:33:00.004-06:002010-07-04T15:14:06.980-06:00

For the last two years I have been slowly putting on some extra weight - nothing huge, 5lbs - 10lbs. I told myself that this was just the mid-30's spread and that my metabolism was starting to shift and I had also decreased in exercising off and on over that time."This is normal", I told myself over and over again and what was a few pounds anyways?So I just increased my exercise routine, still

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-14055557391868480382010-05-22T13:19:00.003-06:002010-05-22T13:25:08.983-06:00

Did you know that 12 year old girls can be KILLED by giant worms????Also, that when chased with a worm by a teenage boy and a father who is acting like a teenage boy that the same 12 year old girl can scream loud enough for the whole neighbourhood to hear and wonder who is being being killed?Hmmmm...she was almost KILLED by the giant worm!!!!!!!!!

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-30326153039958727372010-05-21T13:43:00.005-06:002010-05-21T18:24:10.979-06:00

So I have been thinking a lot lately about my “10 Year Plan”, I have decided that revisions must be made. I have been reading a lot lately about how people who have goals written down and are more likely to be actively working towards them, but that you should revisit and revise your goals at least twice a year. Plus, I have decided that 10 years is just too long, I am anxious to do these things

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-33250424875598796242010-05-16T19:18:00.001-06:002010-05-16T19:21:10.251-06:00

Are you ever just bored with your life and no amount of planning, vacationing or even warm weather (after a very long winter – or so it seemed) seems to pull you out of your funk?It seems like I have had a hard year. Nothing major happened that I can point to; it was just all the little things that were the same this year as they were last year, and the year before that, and the year before that…

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-36332008697744776172010-05-09T19:43:00.002-06:002010-05-09T19:47:22.922-06:00

Happy Mother's Day to my mother! xoxoxoxLove Christine

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-84347276646306549172010-03-05T17:39:00.004-07:002010-03-05T17:59:56.870-07:00

So I have had some time to think about my ten-year plan and I have decided that all the traveling may be a bit ambitious. I haven't decided what to strike out yet, but I will keep you posted on what I decided to take out and what I may decide to put in instead.#4 - Run a marathon: I have started on this, I am now running 6 km in about 35 minutes, which I do 3 - 4 times a week. I do strength

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-57416232654187707352010-02-22T09:18:00.003-07:002010-02-22T09:34:37.395-07:00

I am serious about my ten-year plan, I may not get to do all the traveling that I want to, but I am going to diligently try to do everything on that list!So as I was planning our Vancouver Island trip I noticed several Whale Watching Adventure Tours, particularly on the Pacific rim of the Island out of Tofino and Ucluelet. As I was reading I found out that from early February to the end of April

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-90185224232045346592010-02-17T13:02:00.002-07:002010-02-18T09:28:52.284-07:00

We are going to Vancouver Island over spring break this year. We have a friend who has a vacation house in Campbell River who has graciously offered to let us use it so we will be packing up and driving the 16 plus hours to spend a glorious week on the Island. My husband has driven out a few times (he has family in Vancouver) with the boys, but Tia has never been, and I have not been out since

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-61209115645737260232010-02-17T12:41:00.004-07:002010-02-17T13:01:25.310-07:00

Have you ever been in a crowded place with someone across the room that you are trying to communicate with? Maybe doing silly hand signals or mouthing the words real slow in hopes that they can figure out what you are saying and you have a stupid expression on your face because you have no idea what they are saying? Maybe it is just me, but this seems to happen a lot to me. I have always

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-44098464322719772942010-01-29T15:48:00.007-07:002010-01-29T16:12:03.370-07:00

So my dear sister was up thinking about goals last night and it got me to thinking. What exactly are my goals of what I want to do? I am always telling my husband and kids that if they need a plan of what they want and how to get there. I admit, I love lists, I especially love writing other people lists, although the feedback that I have gotten is that others do not especially love my lists,

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-84420129325227615902009-10-19T21:56:00.015-06:002009-10-19T22:17:07.558-06:00

We decided to get out of town this weekend and go hiking. Every time I turned my back Jesse was climbing something and Jerry was busy snapping pictures off the fool child and encouraging the foolish behaviour...boys!!Needless to say, we all had fun and I can't wait to plan another hiking trip!What a fun trip!! Christine

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-3567344077237519822009-09-09T09:33:00.003-06:002009-09-09T09:46:13.772-06:00

I have been looking for ways to live more simply, more naturally, and to save money in the process! For years I have advocated for making things yourself instead of buying it from the store – I don’t like pre-packaged foods as a whole; yet it never even crossed my mind to make my own cleaning supplies.I never did have a ton of different cleaning supplies, just the basics – glass cleaner,

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-36369261188557101272009-09-02T08:00:00.001-06:002009-09-02T08:01:53.025-06:00

I have said this many times before – I am not a naturally organized person – it is something I need to work at and keep focused at in my priorities. Since being organized is a priority I do lots of things that help me from being totally scatterbrained and flighty. One of the main things I do is to make chore charts – I do have a love for making lists, so I put this talent to use.One of the

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-38634015831785703322009-09-01T08:51:00.004-06:002009-09-01T09:14:35.158-06:00

Today is the first day back at school for children all over our city and my three younger kids were all up early in anticipation and excitement to see all their friends again, and in my son's case, to see if any new girls were in his class (ahem - that's my Jess).I have to be honest, although I enjoy having some time to myself again and for our schedules to get back in tune, having my "babies"

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-83911634276674016052009-08-28T22:39:00.002-06:002009-08-28T22:58:23.495-06:00

.Well, I am still alive and kicking just in case anyone was wondering and I realize that I have not posted all week! With my husband and boys all gone and just my daughter and I at home I have been lazy about cooking and meal times. Lets see, for the last two weeks we have lived off mocha smoothies (our favorite), chicken and tuna sandwiches, salad and store bought Mexican food that can be

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-51002827664518538852009-08-21T14:36:00.002-06:002009-08-21T14:41:27.280-06:00

.As you may have noticed, I have not posted any photos this week. The reason why is that my husband and three boys have left for a boys trip to Vancouver for two weeks and have taken the camera with them. Therefore, the only photos I will be posting for the rest of August are photos taken by others and then sent to me or those already saved on my computer. Sorry everyone - I love photos too!

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-37162339741378622812009-08-21T08:28:00.003-06:002009-08-21T09:26:18.564-06:00

.I love drinking coffee. The smell of freshly brewing coffee reminds me of happy childhood memories, of waking up Saturday mornings the smell of fresh coffee, bacon and pancakes.Today we have many choices for specialty coffees, some which are sure to break the bank! Since I do not like to spend those high prices I have come up with some easy and frugal recipes for my favorites.Iced Cappuccino1

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-12804515071171824132009-08-19T02:28:00.002-06:002009-08-19T10:31:37.123-06:00

I have that sort of in-between hair - not quite strait, but it is not really quite curly or either. In many ways it is nice because I can wear both strait or wavy styles, but both take some effort. If I blow it dry or let it dry on its own it kind of turns frizzy wavy wild - not really what I want.I assumed that frizzy hair was my lot in life and that there where worse things, so I shouldn't

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-48188652650863484042009-08-16T14:57:00.003-06:002009-08-16T15:03:42.747-06:00

Today is my eldest son's 17th birthday...how time flies by!On the menu tonight:Marinated bbq steakGarlic mashed potatoesRoasted tomatoesCesar saladCrab stuffed jalapeno peppersHomemade icecream cakeHappy Birthday Brandon!!

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-57274379887566912242009-08-15T17:00:00.002-06:002009-08-15T18:50:12.077-06:00

.Here is what my daughter thought I did to my hair back in the 80's - pretty close eh? All I need is some blue eyeshadow, black mascara and hot pink lipstick and I may just pull it off! Time has flown by here in blogger world, and for my 100th post I will do something that I have enjoyed reading from others...100 Things You May Not Know About Me:1. I always have my toenails polished, and have

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-14412238151786924882009-08-14T00:22:00.000-06:002009-08-13T23:11:38.431-06:00

.My daughter has been hounding me for cheesecake and since it suppose to be summer (sure not feeling like summer lately here in Alberta - what is 12 Celsius in Fahrenheit? It is cold thats what it is!), I chose a cool frozen version of her favorite baked mocha cheesecake with a super easy crust!Mocha Freeze Mini-Cheesecakes24 Oreo cookies2/3 cup chocolate chips3 tbsp water1 pkg (8 oz) of cream

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-84023929387674771572009-08-12T11:07:00.006-06:002009-08-12T11:33:36.751-06:00

My daughter is the queen of lip gloss - she is constantly slathering her lips with some form of shinny balm. She doesn't like any other form of makeup (yet), but she loves her lips shinny and moisturised.I have been going through books and websites that talk about making your own beauty products and have had lots of great results, so I have been starting to branch out. Here is the lip gloss

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-19053952801152440292009-08-11T10:05:00.003-06:002009-08-11T10:31:34.070-06:00

. Among home renovations this past few days I had some Saskatoon berries that I had picked off my parents tree that needed to be used. I typically make 5 - 6 batches of jam over the summer, which lasts us throughout the year and even give us a couple to give away as gifts. Yesterday I got a good start with two batches of Saskatoon Rhubarb and one batch of Saskatoon Strawberry. I will likely still

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-41525320300526912402009-08-10T10:54:00.004-06:002009-08-10T11:21:20.991-06:00

.I despise messes, so home renovations seriously stress me out! When we moved into this house just over two years ago I was relieved that no serious renovations were needed - the house was painted and updated, and although not necessarily to my exact tastes, it was nice and nothing needed to be done. The previous house we had was bought with the intention to fix it us and sell for a profit, so

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-67791745156117445882009-08-07T10:57:00.005-06:002009-08-07T11:34:49.160-06:00

. I LOVE hamburgers! I don't know what I love most about them - that you can eat them anywhere, that you can make them taste so different with spices and toppings, that they are pretty frugal meal for hungry boys, or that they are a crowd pleaser!I will buy pre-made burgers to cook in a pinch, but there is something special about a thick and juicy homemade burger, loaded high with fresh veggies

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-76435226940020419152009-08-04T16:24:00.006-06:002009-08-04T17:22:57.513-06:00

.I find soup calming to make and is a nutritious and frugal meal to serve hungry boys! Since I make my own stock, this dish cost me about $3.50 or so to make (that's in Canadian dollars - you will pay less in the States!) and gives us almost 6 L (or 6 quarts) of soup. Cream of Potato Soup4 slices bacon, diced small2 large carrots, diced1 large onion, diced3 - 4 stalks of celery, dicedsprinkle of

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-85017284648373914952009-08-02T10:17:00.006-06:002009-08-02T11:19:09.433-06:00

.Are you looking for books that will captivate you and leave you feeling inspired and uplifted by God's glory and might? Well look no further than novels by Francine Rivers. Among other titles, Francine Rivers has written two series that outline the lives of ten remarkable people in the Bible.Sons of Encouragement - Tells the stories of five men who worked along side of God’s chosen leadersThe

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-32576495892496679152009-07-31T06:17:00.001-06:002009-07-30T23:36:54.493-06:00

.To be honest, I have just started experimenting with making my own beauty products, but I have yet to be disappointed with what I have made!Hair Rinses:Rinses improve the health and nutrition of the hair follicles and increases shine and bounce. It also can help with itchy skin, dry scalp and dandruff. I make both of these rinses - one for each of my middle boys.Rosemary Hair Rinse* Good for

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-78011976479376009592009-07-31T00:01:00.002-06:002009-07-31T22:08:26.979-06:00

.Making cupcakes is a nice alternative to baking a cake in that there is not cutting or slicing needed and it takes a fraction of the time in the oven, so your house does not heat up as much. We love desserts and are trying new recipes this summer. Here is one I found in Cupcakes, by Ceri Hadda.Espresso Chocolate Chip Cupcakes1 1/3 cup Flour½ tsp Baking powder½ tsp Baking soda¼ tsp Salt1 cup Mini

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-48331151114358180492009-07-29T08:33:00.003-06:002009-07-28T23:01:43.448-06:00

.Who doesn't love relaxing in a warm tub? Bath salts are good for relaxing, but they are also good for your skin and for aching muscles. Baths are not just good for cooler winter months, but are also perfect after long summer days of doing yard work, gardening, hiking and so on.Buying bath salts can be a pricy, but making your own bath salts is easy and inexpensive and you only need a few

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-8120109731878444082009-07-28T09:43:00.007-06:002009-07-28T13:39:14.356-06:00

.We eat alot of pancakes, I often will make a big batch that the kids can reheat for an easy and fast breakfast. If you are not a blueberry fan, then these pancakes are also nice with sliced banana's and syrup as well.Whole Wheat Blueberry Pancakes3 cups Whole wheat flour2 tbsp Baking powder2 tbsp Sugar1 tsp Salt3 cups Milk (or 2 cup milk and 1 cup yogurt)2 Eggs1 tsp Vanilla1 tbsp Vegetable

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-91489483387805432782009-07-27T10:52:00.003-06:002009-07-27T10:58:56.952-06:00

.We are back - slightly sunburned and definitely over tired! We spent the weekend fishing, swimming in a river, playing volleyball and board games and eating way too much junk food. Today the kids and I are going to rest today and do some much needed cleaning and laundry, while my poor husband puts in at least 14 hours at work today. Christine

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-74677337565303473952009-07-24T12:51:00.003-06:002009-07-24T12:57:12.750-06:00

.My husband has convinced us to go camping this weekend, and although my daughter and I are not real campers, we ended up conceding.So I have been busy packing and preparing (seems more work than it is worth to me) and have not had the time to post, but I will have something ready to go for Monday. My plan this weekend is to spend much time lazing around reading and writing (and eating alot of

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-20010312929999568272009-07-22T11:23:00.004-06:002009-07-22T12:05:35.337-06:00

.Soothing? Laundry? I bet that got your attention. Laundry is one of the most disliked chores for moms everywhere! It is not that it is really that bad or hard to do, it is just so continuous (kind of like dishes!).Here are a few tips that have helped make this chore easier for me:1. Have scheduled laundry daysFeel like you are doing laundry all the time? Well maybe you are! Pick certain days of

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-64586944898495844952009-07-20T22:08:00.011-06:002009-07-21T00:17:43.535-06:00

.I am always playing around with new cookie recipes and in summer there is nothing quite like the refreshing taste of lemon. Meringue is light and fluffy and not as heavy as a regular cookie. These cookies are lemony with a hint of coconut sprinkled on top and are perfect on a hot summers afternoon, to pack for a picnic or to bring to a pot-luck! Lemony Meringue Cookies 4 Egg whites, room

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-76954709660070636412009-07-20T12:50:00.005-06:002009-07-21T11:48:45.425-06:00

.What does your closet look like? Do you have enough shirts, tanks and pants to cloth a small village? How would you describe your wardrobe – trendy, classic, relaxed, or maybe an odds and end smorgasbord of all of the above, bursting at the seams?Personally I would say I have a relaxed wardrobe – basic jeans, sweaters, shirts and tanks fill my closet and drawers, along with really casual wear of

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-57228850440455031282009-07-20T11:20:00.004-06:002009-07-20T11:32:37.889-06:00

Monday – Pork Chops with Baked Potatoes and Green BeansTuesday – Spicy Tomato Sausage Pasta with BunsWednesday – BBQ Chicken with Thai Style Rice and Bean SaladThai Style Rice and Bean Salad(*Note - I have not yet tried this recipe, we can try it together!)1 cup Rice, cooled1 cup Corn1 cup Black beans (cooked and cooled)1 Onion, chopped2 Ribs celery, chopped1 Red pepper, chopped1 Jalapeno pepper,

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-22918326375256929702009-07-17T10:09:00.008-06:002009-07-31T22:09:11.789-06:00

One of the ways that I try and stretch my grocery dollars is to using up my leftovers. There are some times when the teenage boys eat every last scrap of food at dinner, but often we have leftovers. .Last night we had bean salad for dinner and since I made a large portion, I was expecting leftovers. Roll-ups are a great way to use up leftovers - just toss in whatever you have and roll it up! No

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-20776689477481961302009-07-16T00:10:00.010-06:002009-07-31T22:09:46.818-06:00

.Beans are an easy, frugal and nutritious addition to any meal. I have been experimenting in new recipes for beans, as one of my goals is to add more beans and lentils into my families diet. Everyone in my family really enjoys beans, so this should be a pretty easy challenge, but in the past I always used canned beans, not dried. I have no idea why it took me so long to make the switch, dried

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-88522578231434499242009-07-15T08:22:00.005-06:002009-07-15T08:58:36.866-06:00

.I have gotten a couple of questions on Simplifying Your Life (Part I, II and III) that I would love to answer:"You mention your family’s "beliefs, goals and priorities" in the last couple of posts. I'd be interested to learn what your family's beliefs/goals/priorities are and how you established them. Was it a formal process with the whole family? Are they written down somewhere? Etc.”This was

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-59579439411835464612009-07-14T00:37:00.013-06:002009-07-28T11:23:57.855-06:00

.I do a lot of baking to help cut down costs – and who doesn’t love fresh biscuits? But often they seem like just a bit too much work. Here are two easy recipes that do not require any rolling and you can have them mixed and in the oven in 5 minutes flat! Since these are just biscuits and not loaves, cooking time is around 1/3 of the time, which means that you are not heating up your house for

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-70174689587775695192009-07-13T09:26:00.006-06:002009-07-13T09:50:07.509-06:00

In the winter I meal plan by the month, but in the summer, with our days and weeks constantly changing, I find it easier to meal plan by the week. So here is what my family will be eating this week. Monday – BBQ Beef, Spicy potato oven fries and ColeslawTuesday – Spicy buffalo drumsticks with cut carrot and celery sticks and Mediterranean inspired bean saladWe love spicy chicken wings, but

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-48920748972401187622009-07-11T00:30:00.002-06:002009-07-11T00:30:00.586-06:00

I love being a homemaker and I feel completely fulfilled and satisfied, yet I have noticed that many women feel that if they "just stay home", that some how their job is just not as important as when they worked outside of the home and I often hear that they feel that they are just “not good at it”. On top of this, many women feel the pressure of their family (and friends) to contribute

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-38585357708981488982009-07-10T00:35:00.005-06:002009-07-10T21:23:52.888-06:00

The weather has been poor all week, kind of on the cool side, windy and rainy. Today seemed to be the worst weather of all, so bad,in fact, that we did not want to leave our house. So what do you do on rainy summer days? Normally on rainy days you will find me in my kitchen, with the smells of chocolate and spicy cinnamon surrounding me and wafting through the entire house, enticing the children

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-17982467387265240552009-07-09T10:15:00.004-06:002009-07-10T09:49:42.342-06:00

Are you a keeper or a tosser? I am definitely a tosser – I have been known to wipe the clutter from entire surfaces strait into the garbage out of pure irritation. This has gotten me into sticky situations in the past, as I am sometimes none to careful about what I throw out. I remember one time in particular that my husband could not locate a very important document (ahem, amongst his clutter),

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-62415044922021841132009-07-08T00:47:00.000-06:002009-07-09T00:01:58.043-06:00

We live in a society who always wants more – more clothes, bigger homes, better vehicles, more gadgets, more success, more money. We are constantly bombarded with adds for new iPods, laptops, iPhones, Blackberries, new vehicles – we live in a culture that is not satisfied with what we have, but is completely geared towards wanting and getting more. Yet, every item we own or buy says something

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-29048738011160463402009-07-08T00:01:00.001-06:002009-07-08T23:14:23.969-06:00

Life sure has a way of getting complicated fast – kids, husband, job, school, bills, home maintenance, vehicle repair – oh my! I could go on, but the list would get exhaustive!For me, summer is time for a slower pace, a time to evaluate my priorities, our schedules, and in the end determine what my family’s goals are for the upcoming year. What is really important? Is what we are spending our

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-74389415109423472882009-07-06T12:02:00.009-06:002009-07-06T22:11:49.230-06:00

The actual facts are hard to pull from the data available. According to Statistics Canada, an average family in Alberta spends around $625 a month on food. What makes it so difficult is what constitutes a family – which is anything from a single person living on their own, to a married couple with 10 children. Averages that cover such a broad spectrum are not very good indicators of what an

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-67846927042096517472009-07-05T14:10:00.005-06:002009-07-09T22:39:37.472-06:00

I saw that on some guy’s shirt the other day and thought that it pretty much described my life right now and it made me giggle.In an earlier post, I mentioned that we were having vehicle trouble. My poor van is not doing so well, it has high kilometers and things are just breaking down. Even if my husband had time to fix what is wrong with it, it would still cost more to fix it than what the van

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-52390229686177669472009-07-03T00:01:00.009-06:002009-07-07T10:31:20.627-06:00

Summer gives us an abundance of healthy and frugal fruits and vegetables. Depending on where you live, you may get more or less, here in Alberta we tend to have more vegetables than fruits (we get a lot of fruit from British Columbia next door). We do have some homegrown fruit and overall fruit is very inexpensive at our local grocery stores. The Farmers Market does offer a large variety of

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-79670059410661792872009-07-02T08:00:00.002-06:002009-07-28T11:23:16.737-06:00

I have recently started making homemade yogurt and have LOVED IT! My kids are loving it too - my husband and I have yogurt, fresh fruit and granola most mornings, and the kids are enjoying lots of breakfast smoothies with hot oatmeal or fresh muffins. I make lots of yogurt pops too, so that when they ask for ice cream, I can offer a yogurt pop instead. My friend Tyler even posted a great real

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-83648037322812065192009-07-01T23:59:00.005-06:002009-08-01T11:20:45.486-06:00

Here in Canada we are celebrating Canada Day! My family and I celebrated by going to local celebration where there are lots of different performances - dancing, singers, storytelling, bands and at the end of the night there are fireworks..Since we did not leave till late afternoon (the fireworks start at 11:15 at night), I had time to whip up some Canada Day Cupcakes!.Canada Day Cupcakes with

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-87922000246749803162009-07-01T00:00:00.003-06:002009-07-31T22:11:46.314-06:00

We LOVE salads – well I love salads, my husband has grown to appreciate salads, and my kids have never known anything different. Everyone in my family has their favorite and I try and make a variety of different salads all year long, but especially in summer. I love making really big salads that have every type of vegetable imaginable in it – I want to see lots of green, orange, red, purple – you

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-17211770590882467802009-06-30T15:07:00.009-06:002009-06-30T18:04:50.370-06:00

In recent years, eggs have gotten a bad rap for increasing your cholesterol and that you should eat egg whites only, or limit the amount of whole eggs you eat. New research now shows that this belief is not necessarily true and eating eggs may actually improve your cholesterol levels.Although too much of one thing is not necessarily as good for us as having a variety of nutritious and healthy

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-52420671989895310822009-06-25T21:29:00.014-06:002009-06-26T15:42:10.891-06:00

I try hard to keep a frugal grocery budget - which is hard with so many growing kids! People who see my kids eat are always astonished, unless they too, have teenagers! So how do I fill up lots of growing boys without having to remortgage?1. I buy healthy and frugal potatoes in bulk (and serve them lots!)I buy potatoes in 20lb bags, we eat approximately 30 lbs - 40 lbs of potatoes a month.

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-24527111395830026412009-06-25T07:50:00.003-06:002009-06-26T15:48:06.490-06:00

I am always trying to get the most out of my grocery dollar. Many people are trying to stretch each dollar, but my challenge is compounded in that we have three teenage boys to feed (one that is ALWAYS hungry!!) and a very fussy daughter. All my boys are good eaters and are happy with almost anything I feed them, but Jesse (the one who is always hungry) and Justin are more mindful of what food

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-60039731171684430662009-06-24T08:40:00.002-06:002009-06-24T14:49:38.404-06:00

I don’t know about you, but my kids do more snacking in the summer then they do during the school year and I need to have things that can be packed up in a pinch for a day at the beach or pool. I prefer not to put on my oven and do much baking in these few warm months, so I try and stick to thinks that can be made on the stove top or microwave.These may not be the most healthy snacks that you can

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-64792737500937574222009-06-23T14:18:00.000-06:002009-06-23T14:20:02.303-06:00

Here in sunny Alberta we go through long periods of no rain. The sun shines brightly, winter or summer, and you can spend hours just basking in the glory of Gods beautiful sun. Being that I have lived here since I have been 5, I am use to our dryer climate and nothing feels better to me than the hot sun on a summer’s day baking my skin (no steaming allowed!!). It makes me feel comforted,

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-34721721953483223372009-06-21T00:01:00.002-06:002009-06-21T00:01:06.285-06:00

To Jeremy - 50 Things I Appreciate and Love About You:1. That you always make sure to get me directions when I go out of town so that I know where I am going. 2. That you love everything I cook and you say “thank you” after every meal.3. That even if you don’t love everything I cook, you never say so.4. That you genuinely appreciate that I work hard to keep the house clean.5. That you are kind

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-19135789430204335472009-06-20T07:12:00.011-06:002009-06-20T23:01:20.528-06:00

Yay, Saturday if finally here! This year I have been truly enjoying my Saturday mornings - there are some huge benefits to having teenagers, one of them being is that is not woken, they sleep, sleep, sleep! I am not kidding, often times it is around noon that the last two stubble out of bed. I have to admit that it is glorious. I get up, leisurely have my coffee, do my devotions, check my blog -

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-81323747567319891982009-06-19T08:06:00.008-06:002009-06-19T08:27:53.241-06:00

Well, it is the end of the week and I saved the best for last…BUDGETING…aaaahhh! It is a horrid task, I admit, but one I feel deeply passionate about! So, to go with my theme of the week, here is…My Typical “Friday To Do List”:1. Banking and BudgetingWe may as well jump right in – and I will say up front that I DO NOT enjoy this chore, it gives me a headache and I try and do it when I am alone as

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-54147389149556344522009-06-18T08:18:00.003-06:002009-06-18T09:22:23.469-06:00

As with all my posts this week, I will continue outlining my weekly schedule, today is Thursday, we are almost to the end of the week, phew! Today's schedule looks much like Monday's schedule.My Typical "Thursday To Do List":1. CleaningI have this huge list for cleaning, that outlines what needs to be done when. There is a Monday week one/week two, and a Thursday week one/week two. And I "

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-59518268427159019662009-06-17T08:00:00.002-06:002009-06-17T09:06:52.187-06:00

My days can be summed up as…A. Busy, but running like a well-oiled machine.B. A blur! Frantic running from one appointment or activity to the next, with nothing ever really getting done.C. I am slowly going crazy – I don’t know what I will serve for dinner tonight, I have a pile of laundry as high as a 10 year old child, we have been out of milk for two days and we missed the first day of soccer

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-38245799734753732182009-06-15T19:57:00.006-06:002009-06-16T08:32:43.233-06:00

As I stated yesterday, this week I will be outlining my basic weekly schedule. Of course there are always exceptions and changes when need be, but beside my kids weekly chore schedule, I keep this basic outline to help me get the most out of my time. Since I am not a naturally organized person, I feel that sometimes my days can get a little scattered, plus, whenever I feel overwhelmed or tired

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-29874791988890812332009-06-15T10:05:00.005-06:002009-06-15T10:32:35.062-06:00

Since my kids are all in school and I do not work full-time out side of the home, I get asked alot "what do you do all day long?" In order to answer that question I am going to spend the next 5 days outlining my weekly schedule.Mondays are the most important day of the week for me during the school year (this will change once the kids get out of school, but we still have two weeks of school left

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-54667088917340147582009-06-14T10:38:00.003-06:002009-06-14T10:48:54.216-06:00

Well time seems to be flying by in rapid motion, with end of year trips and special events around every turn. Long evenings outside, first trips to the beach and picnics in the sun. I always enjoy this time of year, so much happening, lots of fun going on, the promise of long and lazy summer days are so close. The sun warming your skin, the sand beneath your toes and the smell of sunscreen

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-54606453953557537812009-06-12T08:34:00.004-06:002009-06-12T11:18:25.559-06:00

I don’t know about you, but left to my own devices and my own will power, I often lack self-control – there are cookies in the house, so I snack on them all day long….I am tired in the morning, so I sleep in and miss my time with God…I am frustrated with my kids, so I raise my voice…I am hungry while out doing errands, so I pull through a drive thru…my kids ask me for new clothes with big

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-838021641081242372009-06-04T20:47:00.007-06:002009-06-04T21:06:47.207-06:00

My dog Rex LOVES our trampoline, we catch him on it almost every time he goes out into the yard. He naps on it, runs on it, jumps on it - he is on the trampoline more than the children are!He loves to go onto his back and rub his head and back all over with his feet in the air, when he gets up - poof - up goes his hair! This is not the wind blowing his hair!!!Silly dog - can you tell that he

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-57359713074800931912009-06-04T06:55:00.007-06:002009-06-30T17:57:56.212-06:00

2 L of Homogenized milk½ cup Skim milk powder (optional, but will help add extra thickness)½ cup Natural plain yogurt (you only want to see three ingredients: milk, skim milk powder and bacterial cultures – that is it!!)First things first, you really do need to use homogenized milk, I have had no luck with anything else. We drink 1% so that is what I used at first, I even tried a combination of

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-5711908538092844712009-06-03T07:58:00.009-06:002009-08-14T12:30:39.026-06:00

Vinegar is a sour-tasting liquid produced usually by oxidation of the alcohol in wine (plain white vinegar or red wine vinegar) or cider (cider vinegar), and typically used for things like pickling, food preservation, marinating meat, or one of my favourites - putting on to of your French fries.Apple cider vinegar has been noted for weight loss by helping the body burn calories better by boosting

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-73337632620457214572009-06-02T07:00:00.000-06:002009-06-02T07:19:22.803-06:00

Yesterday I joined the Grade six class on a tour of our Legislative Assembly. Alberta is fairly “young”, but when we traveled to Edmonton to see our Provincial Government at work, we also got to see a piece of history as well. Alberta became a province in 1905 and the first legislative assembly was held in an ice rink, where 4000 people attended the ceremonies.In 1907 construction of Alberta’s

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-18392484070177701032009-05-31T17:42:00.009-06:002009-05-31T18:08:36.691-06:00

Friday morning the younger three kids and I packed up our stuff, took the dogs and went to spend the weekend at the lake. It wasn't really swimming weather yet (as the last of the ice just melted off the lake a mere two weeks ago), but we still found lots to do.It was rough, I have to say - all the lounging and napping in between - but what can I say, this weekend God was gracious and provided me

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-78487704017791293012009-05-29T09:17:00.007-06:002009-05-29T09:46:42.034-06:00

I have the opposite of a green thumb, I am a bad gardener. I have tried many times in the past and each time it is a horrible chore that causes bickering between me and my middle boys (who are the only ones I can convince to help me) and sometimes the results are not quite as satisfying as we hoped - I not exactly sure if it was due to our short season or my bad gardening, but I guess we all

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-89844066218125279272009-05-27T20:26:00.007-06:002009-08-14T12:34:54.320-06:00

Think of some ways that make you feel loved - a word of encouragement, a special night out, a bouquet of flowers, breakfast in bed, your husband taking your hand when the pastor prays at church. Although all of these things are nice, there is probably one or two that would mean more to you than the others.I love reading Gary Chapman books, one reason is because they are "easy reads" and I can get

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-66469380445733419042009-05-27T08:15:00.015-06:002009-07-31T22:14:51.126-06:00

Summer is almost upon us and nobody wants to spend all their time cleaning! I like cleaning more than most and even I can find a ton of things that I would rather spend my time doing in the summer than cleaning my house! So here are some super easy tips to help you keep your house clean quickly and efficiently so you can spend your time doing more enjoyable summer activities.1. Every daySchedule

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-67203293568112622072009-05-26T21:41:00.003-06:002009-05-26T21:45:40.424-06:00

Did you know that your morning cup of joe actually has more benefits than an early morning pick me up? I often try to get in a quick run once the kids get home from school and if supper is cooking and not needing my attention. So here I was, on my treadmill, watching Rachel Ray when I hear that coffee actually contains antioxidants, and that most Americans (and I am assuming Canadians) actually

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-16134823693253766992009-05-25T08:32:00.004-06:002009-08-14T12:29:44.042-06:00

I ran across an interesting post this morning while browsing through Down-to-Earth blog. It is about the importance of homemaking and after a hard weekend, and feeling a bit under appreciated, this was just what I needed to perk me up and remind myself that my job as homemaker is essential and and important role in my family.Blessings, Christine

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-18703312901474742132009-05-21T21:06:00.005-06:002009-05-21T21:26:24.655-06:00

Almost everyone has pasta sauce in their pantry – either homemade or store bought. Although I do not often reach for the store bought stuff, I often keep a jar around for those days that don’t quite work out the way I wanted and it is now the supper hour and I have nothing to serve. In my house, busting with 3 hungry teenage boys, having nothing for supper is quite the emergency, so sometimes I

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-55494300695872791162009-05-21T07:27:00.003-06:002009-05-21T07:35:58.892-06:00

Oh no, with all the snow and cold weather, bathing suit season kind of snuck right up on us. I look outside my window and I can still see some snow – like the snow man that is half melted made by some young kids who thought a May snowstorm was fun. Yet I know that our outdoor pool opens in less then two weeks time and temperatures for the rest of the month are suppose to continually rise (PRAISE

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-33519235350903303262009-05-19T22:23:00.007-06:002009-07-31T22:15:31.368-06:00

I have been on a quest this spring to find ways to live more simply, more naturally, and to save money in the process! For years I have advocated for making things yourself instead of buying it from the store – I don’t like pre-packaged foods as a whole; yet it never even crossed my mind to make my own cleaning supplies.I never did have a ton of different cleaning supplies, just the basics –

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-50975861797304436432009-05-19T14:57:00.007-06:002009-08-14T12:33:10.597-06:00

Such fun! We woke up to find to ducks in our front street. They waddled their way over to our yard and my middle son Jesse was able to get some pretty close pictures of them. We think that they were probably grouchy over the snow too!!!Blessings, Christine

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-39806646475652416332009-05-18T13:26:00.008-06:002009-08-14T12:33:42.332-06:00

Greenery is just starting to come in... The dog thinks it is great...The tramp is up...The fire pit is ready for our first weiner roast...My flowers are just starting to bloom...AND YET...THE SNOW IS BACK!!! WHAT ELSE CAN WE EXPECT FOR MAY LONG WEEKEND!!!???Christine

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-46066477038691045652009-05-15T20:58:00.008-06:002009-05-15T21:21:18.837-06:00

I had a craving for cake - well cupcakes to be exact! I really wanted to come up with a pumpkin cake recipe so I decided to pull out all my cookbooks and look over some cake recipes. I love fooling around with recipes till they are exactly what I want - the results tonight? Delicious! Pumpkin Cake (or Cupcakes!!) 4 Eggs1 cup White sugar1 cup Brown sugar½ cup Margarine½ cup Sour cream2 cups Pure

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-54282478116471405612009-05-14T12:09:00.009-06:002009-08-14T12:27:44.928-06:00

I received this award from my good friend Tyler over at Titus 2:3 - 5, and although our interests may be different, our priorities are the same - God and family - and she has been an amazing friend and support over the years that I have known her.There are some "rules" for the receipt and acceptance of this award:1) Put the Lemonade Award logo on your blog or post2) Nominate at least 10 blogs

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-49841350304736102922009-05-14T07:43:00.003-06:002009-05-14T08:07:19.713-06:00

Eating spicy food can speed up your metabolism and decrease your food cravings. It has actually been found that jalapeno and cayenne peppers can raise your metabolism as much as 25% after eating! But the spices that are found in many spicy foods have many health benefits as well.Curry’s is made out of many spices, but typically you will find a combination of turmeric, cinnamon, black pepper,

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-17410283139686706912009-05-13T07:53:00.002-06:002009-05-13T08:33:52.406-06:00

I am not a naturally organized person, like most others I need to work at it. Things do not automatically fall into place and left up to my own memory, appointments will be missed, bills forgotten and important tasks will never actually get done.I found out a long time ago that to keep on top of having four kids, a husband that works shift work and a busy extra-curricular schedule needed a lot of

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-7722949385985885152009-05-12T17:20:00.009-06:002009-07-31T22:13:00.094-06:00

Muffins can always be found in my kitchen at least once a week. I tend to make large batches and freeze them so that the kids can grab them in the morning, for an afternoon snack (or a midnight snack for the teenagers!) or for their lunch.I make alot of different types, but a few seem to be the favorites - carrot being one of them. Hope you enjoy - let me know how they turn out for you!Spicy

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-53011364248671422192009-05-12T08:23:00.007-06:002009-08-14T12:29:11.990-06:00

Someone came to our home the other day and tried to convince me of the benefits of having a home security system – all the while my dogs barked, watched and were ready to “protect” if they saw the need. I stood there thinking “are you serious? The wind can’t blow our trees around without my dogs noticing and throwing a fit!” The poor guy tried to explain that strangers would not be able to get

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-89407103072795396912009-05-11T07:41:00.009-06:002009-05-11T07:52:40.114-06:00

You know boys, no matter their age you just can't get them out of trees!!! Here is one of my middle boys and my hubby sawing of some branches that got broken from a storm we had late last summer.

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-88439719527387663932009-05-10T12:16:00.001-06:002009-05-10T13:00:52.596-06:00

This is my most popular and requested cake and this year will be made for my mom for desert at our Mother's Day celebration!Carrot Spice Cake4 Eggs1 ½ cups Brown sugar1 ½ cups Grated carrot (aprox. 3 large)2/3 cup Vegetable oil2/3 cup Sour cream2 ¼ cups Flour1 ½ tsp. Cinnamon1 tsp. Nutmeg½ tsp. Allspice1 ½ tsp. Baking soda1 tsp. SaltIn large bowl beat eggs and sugar until frothy. Mix in grated

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-2296035650417195232009-05-09T11:20:00.005-06:002009-05-09T11:35:42.558-06:00

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-20980802989007450922009-05-07T22:18:00.007-06:002009-05-08T08:30:55.037-06:00

I kept on find posts about making your own yogurt and since I LOVE to cook and I LOVE to save money – I thought hey, I could totally make my own yogurt too!So Tuesday I took the plunge and did it. It was way easier than I thought it would be. It may take hours to be done, but I put in maybe 5 minutes of effort (honest)! I decided to make the recipe from Nourishing Days that I could make in my

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-64793052385275383722009-05-07T07:43:00.008-06:002009-05-07T13:09:15.208-06:00

My family loves pasta and it is a standby for those days where everyone is busy and needs a healthy and satisfying meal that is easy to throw together before we run out the door again for our evening activities. Growing up I did not eat very much meat, and although I have developed a taste for meat as an adult, I still really enjoy vegetarian dishes (I also enjoy the money I save by omitting the

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426695995333652788.post-3490377087790887742009-05-05T20:23:00.007-06:002009-05-06T08:29:21.761-06:00

1. Be happy with what you have.2. Use old grocery bags to line trash cans.3. Buy energy efficient light bulbs.4. When replacing your appliances, make sure they are energy efficient and look into any tax credits you may be eligable for "going green". Lots of states/provinces have income-tax credits or deductions for taking energy-conservation measures.5. Plug all of your "power hungry" items on a

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18079708732762929798noreply@blogger.com2