Update on week 2 of the Home Project and more...

Quick update on week 2!  I got my pantry cleaned out from top to bottom.  I pulled everything out, reorganized things, threw things away and even moved some of my larger pots, skillets and a few casserole dishes into the pantry!  That sure did make more space under a few cabinets!!

I also worked on my closet too!  As I had mentioned, I did not include my craft closet in week 2 but can not wait to reorganize that closet.  I did not make it to the guest room closet either.  Soon, very soon.

The baseboards are still a work in progress.  Since hubby is painting them and I am cleaning them I am cleaning as he is ready to paint now.  They are going to look great when we are done though!!

So, I have been quite busy lately and have not had time to sit down and blog.  I am still going to get my post up on my weight loss journey. 

We have done several Fall/Halloween related things that I can't wait to post pictures of.  The princess is at that age now where she is really getting into dressing up and is having a blast doing it!  Here is a one picture from the hayride we went on!  I believe the princess really enjoyed it!!

The Home Project - Week 2

Quick update on my 1st week.  I had mentioned that I was going to spot paint the baseboards as I cleaned them.  Well, hubby had a different idea.  He decided we would repaint the baseboards.  This has slowed me down just a little because there are some baseboards I do not want to clean until right before he paints them just so we do not have to worry about cleaning them again.  We do have a lab that sheds so there is a chance that a piece of dog hair could get on the baseboards.  So, I have been cleaning them and he has been painting them.  Hopefully we get them finished this weekend!!

So, along with finishing up the baseboards my projects for week 2.  My desk area that I mentioned for week 1...well, that is going to be on week 2 also.  I am still trying to figure out what to do there.  I want to organize it where I will use it more, it will stop being the catch all place, and it will look neat when not in use.

My deep cleaning project for the week is cleaning the closets.  This also includes my pantry.  I am going to say this does not include my craft closet although I would love to have the time to tackle my craft closet too.

I can't believe Thanksgiving is only 4 weeks away!!!

Happy Wednesday!

The Weekend!!

We had a great weekend overall.  I got up Saturday morning and met a friend and we ran about three miles.  I got a side stitch so we had to walk a short distance pretty much through a parking lot but then we were able to run again.

Saturday morning LSU played Texas A&M at 11:00.  Talk about a stressful game...that was one stressful game!  I was glad LSU pulled it off and won in the end but seriously, I had no idea who was going to win that game.

Also on Saturday the small town some friends of ours live in were having a fall festival.  They had ask hubby to come up and video a puppet show they were doing numerous times through out the day.  So, after the game we all three loaded up and went.  The Princess had So. Much. Fun!!!!  Hubby videoed two shows and in the second show the Princess was chosen to help with a song.  Five kiddos were chosen to each hold one letter spelling out the name JESUS.  The Princess held the first S and when her letter came up she was suppose to hold up the letter....AND SHE DID GREAT!!  I did not know about it until afterwards because they were needing a few more people to help with puppets and we use to work with the puppet ministry at our church so they handed me a puppet and that is what I did for the two shows we were there.  I had fun doing that....made me kind of miss the puppet ministry.

When we were eating dinner we realized that ULM won their game too!  I have to say, ULM has been on a roll this year.  It has been years since I really paid that much attention to their football team and this year I told hubby we needed ULM t-shirts!

I was excited to see the Saints win Sunday too!  It was a football winning weekend for us:).

Snapshot Saturday

A picture of the Princess last weekend when we were putting out Kate's fall flowers. She looks like such a big girl to me in this picture.

Happy Saturday to each of you!

It's Friday!!!

It's Friday!!  Do you have a busy weekend planned?  I am thinking ours is kind of busy.  I have had a busy week so I am looking forward to the weekend!!

I told the Princess that she could take her nap on the couch today!  She is sound alseep while I am sitting here blogging and about to start cleaning house.  Hopefully she will take a good long nap!!

The Princess had a playdate this morning (and I forgot to even take a picture).  It could have been because I got to hold a cute little 11 week old the whole time I was there...she is so precious...and slept most of the time.  The Princess loves playing with her big brother.  While they were eating lunch I tried my very first that I know of Honeycrisp apple!  Oh my, I do believe I will be picking up a few of those when I go to the grocery store this weekend!  They were YUMMY!!!  Am I the only person that has never tried a Honeycrisp apple?

We had a nice cool morning so I think I am really getting ready for the holidays.

Hope you all have a great Friday and enjoy the weekend!

One more thing, I know some people have wondered about how I am losing weight, etc....so I plan on working on a post with a few pictures for next week.  So be on the lookout for that if you are one of the ones that have been wanting to know.

A Fun Reunion and Planning a Preschool Fall Party

So last night we had a Scrabble Sisters Reunion.  Who are the Scrabble Sisters you may be wondering....well, it is not a group of girls I play scrabble with...actually, I don't even think I play Words With Friends with any of them. 

Most of us still see each other at MOPS and hang out but it was fun having almost all of us back together again....we were lacking a few....and one had already left when I thought to take a picture. We sure hope the rest of you can join us next time!!

This is a horrible picture but I am putting it on here anyway!!

Last year in MOPS I was at the Scrabble Sisters Table.  I have to say I love hanging out with the Scrabble Sister girls!  We had the greatest year together in MOPS.  We were all so sad to see the year coming to an end and reality was hitting that we would never all be at the same MOPS table again.  See, in MOPS each year the tables change so you meet new people.

Can't wait till we all get together again...hopefully very soon!

Today, the Princess had school and then I met with a few of the other moms met before pick up to work on their fall party that is coming up.

I think we have a really cute idea for their craft....I will post it when the Princess makes hers.

I met my friend Camille today for a little walk/run.  I have been so tired all day.  I would love to go to bed early but it is a Bible Study night so hopefully tomorrow night I can get in bed early!!

The Home Project - Week 1

Five weeks from today will be Thanksgiving Eve.  A little over 9 weeks until Christmas.  I decided to start doing some of my deep cleaning now.  Not wait until right before the holidays and then stress out about trying to get it all done quickly.

I have decided that each week my goal is going to be to have one deep cleaning project and then one other project.  Would you like to join me in getting your house ready for the holidays?

Let's just set a small goal today.  Think of all the things you want to get done between now and Thanksgiving.  After Thanksgiving we will continue until Christmas but for now lets just think 5 weeks.

There may be some weeks you can do 2 deep cleaning projects but this week I am only going to focus on one.  My project this week is my baseboards.  Yes, to hand clean all my baseboards.  We have been in our house for over 9 years and I use to be pretty good about vacuuming them but with a three year old sometimes just to keep your house clean is hard enough without throwing in the baseboards!

So, in addition to cleaning them I told hubby we need to go pick up some touch up paint so I can touch up a few spots here and there.

My other project is to organize my little desk area.  It seems like it becomes a catch all for whatever may be in my hand  when I come in the door.

So who wants to join me and start now getting your home ready for the holidays and then you can enjoy the days leading up to the holidays rather than stressing over cleaning!!

If you want to join in the Home Project I would love for you to leave a comment below!

The Princess....Fall Flowers.....and Wave of Light

This weekend the Princess went shopping.  It was so funny because she found things she liked and told us she was going in the dressing room.  She has never tried things on in the dressing room before but has been with me trying things on.  We normally pick her clothes out and bring them home to try on.  She is growing up way too fast!  Here is a picture of her from Sunday morning wearing a new dress.  Hubby picked this dress out for her.

Sunday we took Kate's fall flowers to the cemetery.  The princess really wanted to take the scarecrow home.

If you saw my post yesterday, you know that October 15th is National Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day.  Last night I lit two candles, one for Kate and one for the little girl we lost through a miscarriage for the Wave of Light that was at 7:00pm.

Hope you all have a great Tuesday!! 

October 15th - National Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day

Today we celebrate and remember our babies that have gone to heaven before us.

National Pregnancy & Infant Loss Day is celebrated on October 15th.  I love, love, love there is a day to celebrate and remember all of our angel babies.  The picture above was taken several years ago at a balloon release.

Last Monday my MOPS group celebrated Pregnancy & Infant Loss Day a week early.  We did this because we meet on the 2nd and 4th Mondays.  One of the other MOPS moms who has had three miscarriages spoke and then I spoke.  It was such and honor and blessing to be able to share my story of Kate, my miscarriage and Ella's birth at the the meeting.  We also had a panel of 4 of my friends talking about what to do when your friend loses a child.  After the panel was finished we had a balloon release outside.  We released pink, blue and yellow balloons in memory of all the little ones that have gone to heaven before us.

Losing a child is one of the hardest things to go through and the grieving time can be such a long journey.  Without God I do not know how someone deals with such a loss.

I am so thankful for the friends that God had placed in our lives before we even knew about Kate.  They have walked the long journey with us in one way or the other.  Below is a picture of four of my friends that were friends before Kate was born.  They were all so sweet to take time out of their day and on a day their kiddos were out of school to come to the MOPS meeting.

 Ok, either I am really short or they all had on some mega heals last Monday!  I have a feeling it is the fact I am short. 

 (Picture is courtesy of our MOPS coordinator who also does photography.  She gave me permission to use it...thanks Christie!)

Tonight I plan on joining in the Wave of Light and lighting a candle at 7:00pm in memory of Kate and in memory of our little girl we lost through miscarriage.  If you would like more information on National Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day or the Wave of Light go to http://www.october15th.com/

Snapshot Saturday!

 

Growing up way too fast!!!

Super Easy Crock Pot Meal

Today over at Kelly's Korner she is hosting Crockpotalooza 2.  I love cooking in my crock pot.  One of my favorite things to make in the crock pot all year long is Chicken with Black Beans.

I love this recipe and even my 3 year old likes it.  I recently even took it to a friend who had surgery who has three little ones and she said her kids and husband all loved it.

This meal is so easy!!

What you need:
2-3 Frozen Chicken Breast
2 Cans Black Beans (or 1 can of black beans and 1 can of ranch style beans)
1 package taco seasoning (I use low sodium)
Tortillias
Cheese
Sourcream

In your crockpot first put in the frozen chicken breast, then the black beans and then the package of taco seasoning. 

• Cook on high 4-6 hours. 
• Once it is ready, remove the lid and using 2 forks shred the chicken and stir everything together.  
• (My husband does not like shredded chicken so I either try and slice it, you will see it is so tender it falls apart or sometimes I use chicken strips and then do not shred them

• Serve on tortillas with cheese and sourcream.

Enoy!!!!

Kate's 7th Birthday!

Kate's 7th birthday was September 15th.  This year the 15th was on a Saturday so we took balloons to the cemetery that day and took a cupcake for the Princess to have while we were there.

Each year a couple of our friends leave balloons and a gift on Kate's birthday.  It means so much to me for our friends to remember our precious Kate.  To know her memory lives on in other peoples lives too makes my heart happy.

The Princess was quite excited that Kate got a Barbie for her birthday from the Crowell's and Jeffcoat's.  Now to some of you that read this you may think this sounds strange....to those that know me well know it is just me...but we told the Princess that was Kate's Barbie and she gets to play with it. We are very open in our home with the Princess that she has a big sister named Kate.  She is only 3, so I realize she only understands so much but she will grow up knowing about her big sister.

Below, the Princess is getting ready to release a balloon for Kate's birthday.  I am guessing she was not to sure about letting go of it in this picture.

Up, up and away the balloon goes......Happy 7th Birthday Sweet Baby Kate!  You are missed and loved so very much!!

Birthday Party!!!

We celebrated the Princess birthday party on Sunday, the 8th of July.  I really like having her parties on Sunday afternoons because it gives us the weekend to finish up the last minute details.  I had a hard time deciding between a Strawberry Shortcake party and Jessie from Toy Story party.  The Princess loves to play with both of them so much.  I finally decided on a Jessie party and it was so much fun!!  The only thing is they really do not make party stuff for a Jessie party but thanks to Pinterest I got some great ideas.  I used cow print, bandana prints and red and yellow.  I think it turned out really cute!  There was probably around 30 people or so there.  It was a very fun day!!!

Here are pictures from this years party!  Still can't believe my baby is 3!!

Here is the cake!  On the top it had her name and then I added candles when we got ready to sing and and eat.  I thought the cake was so cute!  The same girl has made all the Princesses birthday cakes.  Her cakes are amazing and taste so good!!

 Here is the entry way.  I got the idea from Pinterest to include Mr. Potato Head and Mrs. (as the Princess calls her).  In the center is a bandana tray with bags of kettle corn for the take home treat.  Jessie and Bullseye were suppose to greet all the guest but the Princess did not always want Jessie left there....Jessie was in her hand alot of the party.

See what I mean...here she had taken Jessie and Bullseye off the table.

And here is the Princess enjoying her birthday cake!  This little girl loves sweets when she gets them.  I really did not notice she had put a crown on until after all the pictures were being taken....she wears one so much during the day playing that it never even phased me.....I guess I can just think of it as her birthday crown....

The etch a sketch was so much fun!  I have pictures of families with the etch a sketch too....here were a couple of the Princess and one of her friends with the etch a sketch.  So hubby cut this out for me and I painted it and my friend Jen, who also took the birthday pictures wrote the words on it.  So it really was a group effort.  I thought it turned out really cute though!  I want to figure out a way to incorporate it into the Princess playroom now I think it is so cute!!  Maybe a picture of her and use it as a frame or something.....I don't know....we will see what I end up doing.