11 Temmuz 2012 Çarşamba
10 Temmuz 2012 Salı
9 Temmuz 2012 Pazartesi
The BIG 5-0!!
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He loves, loves, loves his new stainless steel grill!!! He spent most of the day putting it together.
I took the morning off from work {thanks Beth!!!}, and cooked a big dinner and made Lemon Lush for dessert.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY PETER!!! your family loves you sooooooo much!! xoxoxoxo
P.S. Hoping you'll be doing the cooking the rest of the summer!!! :O)
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| Peter turns 50!!! |
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| We've been married for 29 years and I've never been able to surprise Peter....UNTIL this year!!!!! I ordered his gift online and when it arrived, Nathan hid it at Mom's house. He picked it up earlier today and put it in the yard. He came inside and told Peter he needed him to come out and look at his scooter, so Peter went out with his tools in hand...SURPRISE!!!! He had NO IDEA!!! :O) |
He loves, loves, loves his new stainless steel grill!!! He spent most of the day putting it together.I took the morning off from work {thanks Beth!!!}, and cooked a big dinner and made Lemon Lush for dessert.
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| These birthdays are killing my diet!!!! |
HAPPY BIRTHDAY PETER!!! your family loves you sooooooo much!! xoxoxoxo
P.S. Hoping you'll be doing the cooking the rest of the summer!!! :O)
VBS Day 3
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This has been a very busy, but fun week. Not only have the kids had a great time, but so have the adults/teens who helped with VBS this year. On Thursday, Day 3, our lesson was "John Proclaims Jesus". (Matthew 3:1-17, Mark 1:1-11, Luke 3:1-22)
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that whosoever believes in him, shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16
We made cute fish magnets decorated with jewels, we played memory {I had a beach bag full of misc. items-they had to see who could remember the most items, once I put them away}, and Cameron stopped by our room with a bucket full of sea creatures! More games, music, and some yummy sugar cookies and it was time to go home. Whew....those 2 hours flew by!
Week 23: 52 photos/52 weeksFUTURE
Couldn't help but think of the bright future this amazing bunch of kids have ahead of them!
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that whosoever believes in him, shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16
We made cute fish magnets decorated with jewels, we played memory {I had a beach bag full of misc. items-they had to see who could remember the most items, once I put them away}, and Cameron stopped by our room with a bucket full of sea creatures! More games, music, and some yummy sugar cookies and it was time to go home. Whew....those 2 hours flew by!
Week 23: 52 photos/52 weeksFUTURE
Couldn't help but think of the bright future this amazing bunch of kids have ahead of them!
FTD for Mother's Day (Giveaway)
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I received a surprise from my dear friend Zippy this week, lovely flowers from the Better Homes and Gardens collection from FTD. Actually, it's an extra-special surprise because I ended up getting two arrangements! Here's what happened. The florist tried to deliver the first arrangement while we were in New Jersey but I had to schedule redelivery when I got home.
I think they delivered the same arrangement, three days later. The flowers were pretty but a little wilted. I mentioned this to my FTD contact and they sent a replacement arrangement, via a different local floral shop. I think it's more "me," what do you think?
FTD has been America's flower expert for over 100 years and is a go-to source for Mother's Day gifting. Their Better Homes and Gardens collection features “Editors’ Choice” arrangements, designed by BHG editors. Each flower arrangement and plant is designed to reflect the style and elegance of the Better Homes and Gardens magazine. For Mother’s Day, all Better Homes and Gardens Flowers by FTD come with an additional gift that is sure to make moms feel even more appreciated: a free one-year subscription to Better Homes and Gardens!
I especially love the idea of giving FTD potted plants, like bonsais and container gardens, because they keep giving well after the holiday is over.
$50 FTD Gift Card Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
You might also want to check out the Mother’s Day Getaway Sweepstakes on the FTD Flowers Facebook page where, amongst other prizes, one Grand Prize winner will receive a trip for two to Morgan Bay Beach Resort in St Lucia. Prize includes a 4-night stay in a one-bedroom (double occupancy) Oceanview Suite with Morgan Bay’s all-inclusive program for breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, unlimited beverages, all on-site activities, nightly entertainment, and more!
In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received the flowers shown above to facilitate my review and gift codes to use and give away. No other compensation was provided and, as usual, all opinions are my own.
I think they delivered the same arrangement, three days later. The flowers were pretty but a little wilted. I mentioned this to my FTD contact and they sent a replacement arrangement, via a different local floral shop. I think it's more "me," what do you think?
FTD has been America's flower expert for over 100 years and is a go-to source for Mother's Day gifting. Their Better Homes and Gardens collection features “Editors’ Choice” arrangements, designed by BHG editors. Each flower arrangement and plant is designed to reflect the style and elegance of the Better Homes and Gardens magazine. For Mother’s Day, all Better Homes and Gardens Flowers by FTD come with an additional gift that is sure to make moms feel even more appreciated: a free one-year subscription to Better Homes and Gardens!
I especially love the idea of giving FTD potted plants, like bonsais and container gardens, because they keep giving well after the holiday is over.
$50 FTD Gift Card Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
You might also want to check out the Mother’s Day Getaway Sweepstakes on the FTD Flowers Facebook page where, amongst other prizes, one Grand Prize winner will receive a trip for two to Morgan Bay Beach Resort in St Lucia. Prize includes a 4-night stay in a one-bedroom (double occupancy) Oceanview Suite with Morgan Bay’s all-inclusive program for breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, unlimited beverages, all on-site activities, nightly entertainment, and more!
In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received the flowers shown above to facilitate my review and gift codes to use and give away. No other compensation was provided and, as usual, all opinions are my own.
Happy Birthday, Graco Pack 'N Play! (Giveaway)
To contact us Click HERE
Please rise in a standing ovation for Graco, a company that has made an overwhelming contribution to raising the world's babies, including my own. Both of my kids are sadly well beyond the playpen age but since I am a Graco Nation Ambassador (we have TurboBoosters in each car these days), I was given the opportunity to give one away in honor of the quarter-century anniversary of the Graco Pack 'N Play. Can you believe it's only been around for 25 years? What did parents do beforehand?!
Pack 'n Play® Playard with Reversible Napper & Changer™ The original Pack ‘n Play providing 25 years of heritage, trust and leadership Fact Sheet
Designed to offer a compact, convenient solution for on-the-go parents, this playard combines two of our most popular features into one convenient solution – a reversible napper and changer. The Reversible Napper & Changer is a napping station on one side and can be flipped over to become a changing station on the other side.
MSRP: $99.99
Available online and in stores at Babies ‘R Us, Target, Walmart, Amazon.com, GracoBaby.com, Buy Buy Baby and specialty retailersFeatures:
Pack 'n Play Playard with Reversible Napper and Changer in Soho SquareWin one, courtesy of Graco by filling out the entry form below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I am a Graco brand ambassador and have received complimentary samples of their products in the past. They are supplying a prize for this giveaway but no compensation has been received and, as usual, all opinions are my own.
Please rise in a standing ovation for Graco, a company that has made an overwhelming contribution to raising the world's babies, including my own. Both of my kids are sadly well beyond the playpen age but since I am a Graco Nation Ambassador (we have TurboBoosters in each car these days), I was given the opportunity to give one away in honor of the quarter-century anniversary of the Graco Pack 'N Play. Can you believe it's only been around for 25 years? What did parents do beforehand?!
Pack 'n Play® Playard with Reversible Napper & Changer™ The original Pack ‘n Play providing 25 years of heritage, trust and leadership Fact Sheet
Designed to offer a compact, convenient solution for on-the-go parents, this playard combines two of our most popular features into one convenient solution – a reversible napper and changer. The Reversible Napper & Changer is a napping station on one side and can be flipped over to become a changing station on the other side.
MSRP: $99.99
Available online and in stores at Babies ‘R Us, Target, Walmart, Amazon.com, GracoBaby.com, Buy Buy Baby and specialty retailersFeatures:
- The first playard to feature a reversible napper and changing station, all-in-one
- Toy bar features soft toys to amuse baby
- Removable, full-size bassinet provides an extra-comfy spot for infants to nap
- Convenient carrying bag for no-fuss travel and storage
- Beautifully-styled, soft fabric cuddles baby for naps while the wipe-clean fabric resists messes
- The first Pack ‘n Play was created in 1987
- Pack ‘n Plays are currently available in more than 60 models and fashions
- Pack ‘n Plays can range in price from $49.99 to $229.99 based on model
- More than 30 million sold
Pack 'n Play Playard with Reversible Napper and Changer in Soho SquareWin one, courtesy of Graco by filling out the entry form below:
In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I am a Graco brand ambassador and have received complimentary samples of their products in the past. They are supplying a prize for this giveaway but no compensation has been received and, as usual, all opinions are my own.
Live A Little - Ditch the Dead Weight
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It's summertime and, as they say, the living is easy. Well, easy if you are super organized and can manage two out-of-school kids underfoot when it's too hot to go outside. I'll admit that I am only so-so about filling up the days with gainful entertainment.
Being stuck inside at length also reminds me of all the things I've been meaning to do since early springtime, when I started stockpiling garage sale stuff. It's kind of taken over our lives, making our house look like a junior Hoarders venue.
I finally owned up to the fact that we were never going to have that epic sale, especially now that the temps have surpassed the triple digits for a couple of weeks. We passed the nursery furniture along and it occurred to me that I would like to have our living room back possibly more than making a few bucks. So yesterday we finally schlepped two truckloads of stuff to Goodwill.
Sometimes you need to ditch the dead weight so you can really Live A Little. It truly does lighten your spirits!
Share your Live a Little suggestions with the Skimbaco every Monday by adding the link to your Live a Little blog post in the InLinkz widget below. Rules: Link either to Skimbacolifestyle.com OR grab the InLinkz code for your blog post – or do both! If you post the widget in your blog post, please add the rules as well.
Being stuck inside at length also reminds me of all the things I've been meaning to do since early springtime, when I started stockpiling garage sale stuff. It's kind of taken over our lives, making our house look like a junior Hoarders venue.
I finally owned up to the fact that we were never going to have that epic sale, especially now that the temps have surpassed the triple digits for a couple of weeks. We passed the nursery furniture along and it occurred to me that I would like to have our living room back possibly more than making a few bucks. So yesterday we finally schlepped two truckloads of stuff to Goodwill.
Sometimes you need to ditch the dead weight so you can really Live A Little. It truly does lighten your spirits!
Share your Live a Little suggestions with the Skimbaco every Monday by adding the link to your Live a Little blog post in the InLinkz widget below. Rules: Link either to Skimbacolifestyle.com OR grab the InLinkz code for your blog post – or do both! If you post the widget in your blog post, please add the rules as well.
8 Temmuz 2012 Pazar
The Housewares Show
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I feel like I walked many of the reported 13 miles of aisles at the International Housewares Show earlier this week, but I only saw a fraction of the latest and greatest gizmos and gadget.
I went to the Housewares Show looking for items that were new and different. Here's a quick summary of what I saw. I will share a few product demos and more fully describe a handful of intriguing items in the coming weeks.
Here is the second of my Whrrl stories, look for the first on Hormone-colored Days.
More check-ins at Mccormick Place Convention ComplexPowered by Whrrl
I went to the Housewares Show looking for items that were new and different. Here's a quick summary of what I saw. I will share a few product demos and more fully describe a handful of intriguing items in the coming weeks.
Here is the second of my Whrrl stories, look for the first on Hormone-colored Days.
More check-ins at Mccormick Place Convention ComplexPowered by Whrrl
Mrs. Prindable's Gourmet Jumbo Caramel Apples
To contact us Click HERE
Take a peek at the highlights from a MomImpact (my company) blogger tour at Mrs. Prindable's. The factory is located just outside of Chicago in Niles, in the same facility that produces Affy Tapple taffy apples. However, Mrs. Prindable's features its own production line and a more labor-intensive process. Each hand-dipped is apple is an individual work of edible art. With layers of caramel and chocolate smothering a ginormous, tart apple, Mrs. Prindable's apples are delicious treats that can be shared with up to ten people.
More check-ins at Mrs. Prindable'sPowered by Whrrl
More check-ins at Mrs. Prindable'sPowered by Whrrl
Hershey's Milk Chocolate Drops
To contact us Click HERE
At first glimpse, we thought Hershey's came out with an M&M wannabe snack. In reality, these drops are about twice the size of M&M's without the colorful coatings. According to the packaging, there is no candy shell, but rather a "light shiny finish" that keep them from melting in your hands.
The melt occurs much more quickly than with M&Ms resulting in immediately chocolate satisfaction. The sweet taste is similar to a Hershey's Kiss.
My .6 oz sample pack had 5 large drops, but from a psychological standpoint, 10 M&Ms might feel like a more satisfying indulgence.
The melt occurs much more quickly than with M&Ms resulting in immediately chocolate satisfaction. The sweet taste is similar to a Hershey's Kiss.My .6 oz sample pack had 5 large drops, but from a psychological standpoint, 10 M&Ms might feel like a more satisfying indulgence.
Breyer's YoCrunch Fruit Parfait
To contact us Click HERE
Knowing how much my preteen son's Starbucks granola yogurt parfait habit cost me over the summer, I happily accepted when the folks at Breyer's offered to send me a sample pack of their granola-topped Yo Crunch Fruit Parfait.
The four-pack they sent me was gobbled up before I could say, "Yo!" Seriously, I did even get to try it.
I like that the product is HFCS-free and lowfat, though I'm not pleased about the artificial dyes. Still, these are a good size for him and easy to tote along. I'm happy that he's eager to bring these as part of his lunch.
Knowing how much my preteen son's Starbucks granola yogurt parfait habit cost me over the summer, I happily accepted when the folks at Breyer's offered to send me a sample pack of their granola-topped Yo Crunch Fruit Parfait.
The four-pack they sent me was gobbled up before I could say, "Yo!" Seriously, I did even get to try it.
I like that the product is HFCS-free and lowfat, though I'm not pleased about the artificial dyes. Still, these are a good size for him and easy to tote along. I'm happy that he's eager to bring these as part of his lunch.
Gimbal's Sour Lovers
To contact us Click HERE
Gimbal's comes so close to getting it right for today's discerning parent- they use real sugar and natural fruit juices in their gummies and jelly candies and their sweets are free of 8 major allergens, but I really wish they would lose the artificial food dyes in favor of natural ones.
I received a sample of Gimbal's new Sour Lovers, which are tasty enough. They offer a tart zap of one of 12 flavors, and hooray for the natural fruit juice flavors, but those too bright colors and the dyes that make them are a turn-off.
This year as I head to the Sweets and Snacks Expo, I'm on the lookout for items that are made with real sugar and use natural food dyes. I'll be sharing my thoughts about the best of them over at Feed Our Families.
Disclosure: Gimbal's sent me three bags of Sour Lovers, but did not ask for or require a product review.
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| Image borrowed from the Gimbal's website |
I received a sample of Gimbal's new Sour Lovers, which are tasty enough. They offer a tart zap of one of 12 flavors, and hooray for the natural fruit juice flavors, but those too bright colors and the dyes that make them are a turn-off.
This year as I head to the Sweets and Snacks Expo, I'm on the lookout for items that are made with real sugar and use natural food dyes. I'll be sharing my thoughts about the best of them over at Feed Our Families.
Disclosure: Gimbal's sent me three bags of Sour Lovers, but did not ask for or require a product review.
7 Temmuz 2012 Cumartesi
Food for April Fools Day
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There's always room for foodie fun on April Fools Day!
One year, I took salad plates and covered them in vanilla yogurt and topped each one with a half of a bright yellow-orange canned peach and told the boys I was serving up giant eggs. They totally fell for the surprise, much to my delight--and theirs.
Another time, we made faux sushi with Froot by the Foot to substitute for the nori (seaweed wrapper) and coconut flakes instead of rice. We didn't fool anyone, but we did have a lot of fun making it.
Last year, my boys created a lot of fun/disgusting treats with the Spatulatta girls. Click through to the videos to learn how to make a Moldy Sandwich and Kitty Litter Cake, among other delights. Did I say delights? Ewwww!
And I just received a fun new suggestion for April Fools Day "Bacon and Eggs" from the folks at Family Fun magazine
For the eggs:
• 3 tablespoons white chocolate chips
• 12 yellow M&MS
For the bacon:
• 1 square caramel
• 1 Tootsie Roll Midgee
Instructions
1. For the eggs: Melt the white chocolate chips according to the package directions. Transfer the melted chocolate to a ziplock bag and snip off a corner.
2. Squeeze nickel-size portions of the chocolate onto a sheet of waxed paper, then gently press a yellow M&M, letter side down, into the center of each. Let the candies cool. Makes 12 eggs.
3. For the bacon: Remove the wrapping from a square caramel and a Tootsie Roll Midgee. Microwave the candies for 4 seconds to make them soft. Use your thumb and forefinger to slightly flatten each candy piece, then press them together.
4. Halve the candy, then stack and press the pieces into alternating layers.
5. Slice a 1/4-inch-wide piece from the stack. Pinch and stretch the piece lengthwise into a flat bacon strip, then cut it in half. Add ripples to each half by gently bending the edges. Makes 3 strips (6 pieces).
Check out Family Fun for more cute and harmless April Fools tips and treats.
I did not receive any compensation for this piece. I'm just sharing it for the fun of it.
One year, I took salad plates and covered them in vanilla yogurt and topped each one with a half of a bright yellow-orange canned peach and told the boys I was serving up giant eggs. They totally fell for the surprise, much to my delight--and theirs.
Another time, we made faux sushi with Froot by the Foot to substitute for the nori (seaweed wrapper) and coconut flakes instead of rice. We didn't fool anyone, but we did have a lot of fun making it.
Last year, my boys created a lot of fun/disgusting treats with the Spatulatta girls. Click through to the videos to learn how to make a Moldy Sandwich and Kitty Litter Cake, among other delights. Did I say delights? Ewwww!
And I just received a fun new suggestion for April Fools Day "Bacon and Eggs" from the folks at Family Fun magazine
For the eggs:
• 3 tablespoons white chocolate chips
• 12 yellow M&MS
For the bacon:
• 1 square caramel
• 1 Tootsie Roll Midgee
Instructions
1. For the eggs: Melt the white chocolate chips according to the package directions. Transfer the melted chocolate to a ziplock bag and snip off a corner.
2. Squeeze nickel-size portions of the chocolate onto a sheet of waxed paper, then gently press a yellow M&M, letter side down, into the center of each. Let the candies cool. Makes 12 eggs.
3. For the bacon: Remove the wrapping from a square caramel and a Tootsie Roll Midgee. Microwave the candies for 4 seconds to make them soft. Use your thumb and forefinger to slightly flatten each candy piece, then press them together.
4. Halve the candy, then stack and press the pieces into alternating layers.
5. Slice a 1/4-inch-wide piece from the stack. Pinch and stretch the piece lengthwise into a flat bacon strip, then cut it in half. Add ripples to each half by gently bending the edges. Makes 3 strips (6 pieces).
Check out Family Fun for more cute and harmless April Fools tips and treats.
I did not receive any compensation for this piece. I'm just sharing it for the fun of it.
Mrs. Prindable's Gourmet Jumbo Caramel Apples
To contact us Click HERE
Take a peek at the highlights from a MomImpact (my company) blogger tour at Mrs. Prindable's. The factory is located just outside of Chicago in Niles, in the same facility that produces Affy Tapple taffy apples. However, Mrs. Prindable's features its own production line and a more labor-intensive process. Each hand-dipped is apple is an individual work of edible art. With layers of caramel and chocolate smothering a ginormous, tart apple, Mrs. Prindable's apples are delicious treats that can be shared with up to ten people.
More check-ins at Mrs. Prindable'sPowered by Whrrl
More check-ins at Mrs. Prindable'sPowered by Whrrl
Hershey's Milk Chocolate Drops
To contact us Click HERE
At first glimpse, we thought Hershey's came out with an M&M wannabe snack. In reality, these drops are about twice the size of M&M's without the colorful coatings. According to the packaging, there is no candy shell, but rather a "light shiny finish" that keep them from melting in your hands.The melt occurs much more quickly than with M&Ms resulting in immediately chocolate satisfaction. The sweet taste is similar to a Hershey's Kiss.
My .6 oz sample pack had 5 large drops, but from a psychological standpoint, 10 M&Ms might feel like a more satisfying indulgence.
The melt occurs much more quickly than with M&Ms resulting in immediately chocolate satisfaction. The sweet taste is similar to a Hershey's Kiss.My .6 oz sample pack had 5 large drops, but from a psychological standpoint, 10 M&Ms might feel like a more satisfying indulgence.
Breyer's YoCrunch Fruit Parfait
To contact us Click HERE
Knowing how much my preteen son's Starbucks granola yogurt parfait habit cost me over the summer, I happily accepted when the folks at Breyer's offered to send me a sample pack of their granola-topped Yo Crunch Fruit Parfait.
The four-pack they sent me was gobbled up before I could say, "Yo!" Seriously, I did even get to try it.
I like that the product is HFCS-free and lowfat, though I'm not pleased about the artificial dyes. Still, these are a good size for him and easy to tote along. I'm happy that he's eager to bring these as part of his lunch.
Knowing how much my preteen son's Starbucks granola yogurt parfait habit cost me over the summer, I happily accepted when the folks at Breyer's offered to send me a sample pack of their granola-topped Yo Crunch Fruit Parfait.
The four-pack they sent me was gobbled up before I could say, "Yo!" Seriously, I did even get to try it.
I like that the product is HFCS-free and lowfat, though I'm not pleased about the artificial dyes. Still, these are a good size for him and easy to tote along. I'm happy that he's eager to bring these as part of his lunch.
Gimbal's Sour Lovers
To contact us Click HERE
Gimbal's comes so close to getting it right for today's discerning parent- they use real sugar and natural fruit juices in their gummies and jelly candies and their sweets are free of 8 major allergens, but I really wish they would lose the artificial food dyes in favor of natural ones.
I received a sample of Gimbal's new Sour Lovers, which are tasty enough. They offer a tart zap of one of 12 flavors, and hooray for the natural fruit juice flavors, but those too bright colors and the dyes that make them are a turn-off.
This year as I head to the Sweets and Snacks Expo, I'm on the lookout for items that are made with real sugar and use natural food dyes. I'll be sharing my thoughts about the best of them over at Feed Our Families.
Disclosure: Gimbal's sent me three bags of Sour Lovers, but did not ask for or require a product review.
|
| Image borrowed from the Gimbal's website |
I received a sample of Gimbal's new Sour Lovers, which are tasty enough. They offer a tart zap of one of 12 flavors, and hooray for the natural fruit juice flavors, but those too bright colors and the dyes that make them are a turn-off.
This year as I head to the Sweets and Snacks Expo, I'm on the lookout for items that are made with real sugar and use natural food dyes. I'll be sharing my thoughts about the best of them over at Feed Our Families.
Disclosure: Gimbal's sent me three bags of Sour Lovers, but did not ask for or require a product review.
5 Temmuz 2012 Perşembe
VBS Day 4
To contact us Click HERE
We had our last day of VBS on Friday. Our lesson was "The Disciples Choose to Follow Jesus" taken from Luke 5:1-11, John 21:4-24.
"Choose you this day whom ye shall serve, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15
We worked on two crafts: ornaments and necklaces.
We filled clear glass ornaments with sand, glitter, and tiny shells, and tied on a pretty aqua ribbon for hanging. The kids loved them! For the necklaces, we used shells that Mom had found on the beach. We made holes in them for stringing on necklaces we had bought. Aren't they pretty???
We had music time
and played games, then we ended the week with a treat. We had hot dogs on the Foreman grill and for dessert we had Brownies Overboard............yummmmmm.....brownies, icecream, caramel, chocolate syrap, whipped cream, and mini-M&Ms....:O) :O) :O) Mom & I were worn out, but we have been truly blessed this week and we are very thankful to have been a part of Bible School this year.
We had our Bible School program this morning. The kids did a great job with the songs and with their memory verse. :O)
"Choose you this day whom ye shall serve, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15
We worked on two crafts: ornaments and necklaces.
We filled clear glass ornaments with sand, glitter, and tiny shells, and tied on a pretty aqua ribbon for hanging. The kids loved them! For the necklaces, we used shells that Mom had found on the beach. We made holes in them for stringing on necklaces we had bought. Aren't they pretty???We had music time  |
| Nathan leading the kids in practice.... |
and played games, then we ended the week with a treat. We had hot dogs on the Foreman grill and for dessert we had Brownies Overboard............yummmmmm.....brownies, icecream, caramel, chocolate syrap, whipped cream, and mini-M&Ms....:O) :O) :O) Mom & I were worn out, but we have been truly blessed this week and we are very thankful to have been a part of Bible School this year.We had our Bible School program this morning. The kids did a great job with the songs and with their memory verse. :O)
celebrating the 4th.........
To contact us Click HERE
The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays! I love the food, being out on the boat, the water, the beach, the fun, spending time family and friends, the fireworks, well, just about everything about this day.....today was no exception. Peter, Nathan, & I headed out in the boat around 4 pm to meet up with friends at the beach.
Over the past 7-8 years or so, we have celebrated the 4th of July with Gina {Peter's cousin/ my classmate}, and her family. We plan a huge menu including fried chicken, crab salad, deviled eggs, macaroni salad, brownies, rolls, watermelon, dip/chips, and lots more. We even had chocolate covered stawberries this year{{{{soooooo good}}}}!! We sit and eat and talk and laugh, and after we eat, the teens hang out with their friends. This year I wanted to do something different, I wanted to take the kayak to the beach with us. Of course, Peter doesn't want to try anything "different" from our regular agenda, and wasn't too excited with my idea, but I was a bit pushy, so we ended up taking the kayak to the beach! Gina had never kayaked before, but after we took our first trip out, she was hooked! Peter also ended up giving it a try! :O) A fun time....a gorgeous evening!! We stayed until 7:30ish, then headed home for showers and then the fireworks at 9pm. Here are a few pictures from our day:
Over the past 7-8 years or so, we have celebrated the 4th of July with Gina {Peter's cousin/ my classmate}, and her family. We plan a huge menu including fried chicken, crab salad, deviled eggs, macaroni salad, brownies, rolls, watermelon, dip/chips, and lots more. We even had chocolate covered stawberries this year{{{{soooooo good}}}}!! We sit and eat and talk and laugh, and after we eat, the teens hang out with their friends. This year I wanted to do something different, I wanted to take the kayak to the beach with us. Of course, Peter doesn't want to try anything "different" from our regular agenda, and wasn't too excited with my idea, but I was a bit pushy, so we ended up taking the kayak to the beach! Gina had never kayaked before, but after we took our first trip out, she was hooked! Peter also ended up giving it a try! :O) A fun time....a gorgeous evening!! We stayed until 7:30ish, then headed home for showers and then the fireworks at 9pm. Here are a few pictures from our day:
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| the 4th of July......... |
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| our picnic.... |
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| let's eat!!! |
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| so cute....Gwyneth filling her bucket, one scoop at a time :O) |
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| fun for the kids..... |
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| Nathan waiting for his friend Kayla to arrive..... |
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| boats anchored in the harbor............. |
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| the beach has changed so much... |
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| this is fun!!! |
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| more kayaking....Nathan & friends in the background |
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| heading home |
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| the best I could do with my new camera.... |
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| I <3 fireworks!!! Thanks TVFD!! |
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| Nathan finally showed up for a shower and a quick check on his itouch before heading back out with friends... |
A Perfect Gift: Mrs. Prindable's Gourmet Apples
To contact us Click HERE
Did you know that Mrs. Prindable's is the premier provider of deliciously elegant gourmet food gifts?
And lucky me!
I got this in the mail:
The dark chocolate delight caramel apple!
In the interest of conducting this professional review *ahem*, I just want you to know that I had to hide this apple from my children. So I could taste for myself, you see.
And yep, I ate the whole damn thing.
But not in one sitting. That would be just ridiculous!
(It only took me 3 nights.)
Mrs. Prindables' unique specialty gifts make great gifts for any occasion - especially for that person who has everything!
Or, you know, you could buy one for yourself.
And chow down.
And lucky me!
I got this in the mail:
The dark chocolate delight caramel apple!In the interest of conducting this professional review *ahem*, I just want you to know that I had to hide this apple from my children. So I could taste for myself, you see.
And yep, I ate the whole damn thing.
But not in one sitting. That would be just ridiculous!
(It only took me 3 nights.)
Mrs. Prindables' unique specialty gifts make great gifts for any occasion - especially for that person who has everything!
Or, you know, you could buy one for yourself.
And chow down.
BJ's Wholesale Holiday Blogger Event
To contact us Click HERE
Last week, I was lucky enough to be invited to an informal meet and greet where BJ’s representatives gave me and some other blogger friends a tour of one of their clubs and introduced us to a selection of their holiday products.
I was eager to attend this event, as I am a regular shopper at this store. (Please tell me it's not just me. I can't help but giggle everytime I say "BJ's.")
Did you know that BJ's (heh) carries everything you'd need to make your holiday planning less stressful ???(because we alllllllll know it's never stress-free)...From elegant decor to the season's hottest toys to a wide-assortment of top-quality food. And all at great values!
I? Did not know this. So it's not just about the toilet paper and the ribs?! (Which are the 2 main staples I buy there. Seriously.)
Who knew? 400 SQUARE FEET of wrapping paper for $9.99!
The busy store manager graciously took time to speak to our group.
And at the end of our tour through the store, we were treated to a scrumptious array of holiday goodies. Like red velvet cake. And candies.
And then I went back to work and took a nap under my desk. The End.
Kidding.
*****In addition, BJ’s asked me to enlist my boyz to test out some of BJ's holiday toy offerings this year. We were given the Discovery Kids Digital Photo/Video Camera (only $27.99 at BJ's - normally $40ish everywhere else!)
Can I just tell you that this is a perfect gift for a preschooler/kindergartener? Baby has NOT put it down! Everywhere I turn, he's snapping a picture. And yes, he's already dropped it a few times. And it's fine.Eldest, age 9, was not so impressed with the digital quality, as we have let him take pictures with my camera a few times. So he's used to the clearer quality. But, like I said, it's fabulous for younger children.With its 16MB of internal memory storage, the camera is able to capture up to 120 still photos, plus full-motion video clips! The camera plugs into your computer via the USB cable (included), allowing kids to share their photos and video footage.So, in summary,Head to BJ's (*giggle giggle) for your one-stop-shopping needs this holiday season! And yes, while you're there, pick up those bulk rolls of toilet paper too! 
Last week, I was lucky enough to be invited to an informal meet and greet where BJ’s representatives gave me and some other blogger friends a tour of one of their clubs and introduced us to a selection of their holiday products. I was eager to attend this event, as I am a regular shopper at this store. (Please tell me it's not just me. I can't help but giggle everytime I say "BJ's.")
Did you know that BJ's (heh) carries everything you'd need to make your holiday planning less stressful ???(because we alllllllll know it's never stress-free)...From elegant decor to the season's hottest toys to a wide-assortment of top-quality food. And all at great values!
I? Did not know this. So it's not just about the toilet paper and the ribs?! (Which are the 2 main staples I buy there. Seriously.)
Who knew? 400 SQUARE FEET of wrapping paper for $9.99!The busy store manager graciously took time to speak to our group.And at the end of our tour through the store, we were treated to a scrumptious array of holiday goodies. Like red velvet cake. And candies.
And then I went back to work and took a nap under my desk. The End.
Kidding.
*****In addition, BJ’s asked me to enlist my boyz to test out some of BJ's holiday toy offerings this year. We were given the Discovery Kids Digital Photo/Video Camera (only $27.99 at BJ's - normally $40ish everywhere else!)
Can I just tell you that this is a perfect gift for a preschooler/kindergartener? Baby has NOT put it down! Everywhere I turn, he's snapping a picture. And yes, he's already dropped it a few times. And it's fine.Eldest, age 9, was not so impressed with the digital quality, as we have let him take pictures with my camera a few times. So he's used to the clearer quality. But, like I said, it's fabulous for younger children.With its 16MB of internal memory storage, the camera is able to capture up to 120 still photos, plus full-motion video clips! The camera plugs into your computer via the USB cable (included), allowing kids to share their photos and video footage.So, in summary,Head to BJ's (*giggle giggle) for your one-stop-shopping needs this holiday season! And yes, while you're there, pick up those bulk rolls of toilet paper too!
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