Guess who I saw today?

I got to go to see this awesome team today.  Free.  Jumped at the chance.  It was so much fun.

No Housework Day

 

Today is my kind of day. Hehehehe live it up while you can. I don't know who come up with this day to celebrate but I'm all for it.  Won't see me lifting a broom today.  Oh, wait.  I've already made breakfast and put lunch in the oven.  Oops!!!  guess maybe I'll have to celebrate tomorrow now.  

Cookie Round-up time

Join in on the Cookie recipe swap at Gooseberry Patch.

Post Note Tuesday ~ Computers! ARGH!

Spring Into Action

Welcome to the Homesteading Carnival 

April Carnival # 175

"Spring into Action" Edition

We want to start our carnival off with some cool items to help you in your Easter celebrations this month.  We have a lot of places to visit in this carnival so just set down and relax and get started.  

Joleen has posted a few fun crafts at Jobie's Crafts.  Check out the cute chick and  bunny ear headband.  

Bless Their Hearts Mom has posted some really cute Bunny Cupcakes you can make for your Easter celebrations.   

Check out Family Fun site for Easter Craft, this cute Bunny Buddy will liven any celebration, Games, you might even find some new traditions to add to your celebrations with the Easter Egg Hunt, Recipes, try your hand at making this Easter basket cake, and so much more 

Taylor has posted a lovely Butterfly Wreath on her blog at Mary Janes Galoshes.  Be sure that while you are at her site you check out her many other crafts.  I saw some really cool DIY hair accessories.  need another wreath?  Well check out the 19 different spring wreathes posted @  FaveCrafts web site.  Oh the Bunny Peeps Bunting is absolutely adorable too.  check it out while you are there.  

OK maybe bunnies aren't your thing.  Check out the knitted teddy bear pattern that  is posted at Buttons and Beeswax.       

Is it time for a new hair style? Spring sometimes makes us want a change.  Check out the Healthcare Technicians post with 39 hairstyle blogs to check out, surely you'll be able to find a style you like.   Do you need some recipes for Greener Cleaning?  Well check out the post on RN Central.  Need a few tips on how to have less laundry?  Sonja has you covered with her article posted at ParentingSquad.  

Let's head outdoors now and see how we can spring into action there.  First, take a look at Frugal Family Fun and see what Valerie and her children did to spruce up their garden and welcome Spring in with this very colorful Spring Banner.  By the way, I dare you to say Valerie's web site name:  Frugal Family Fun 10 x real fast.  How about having making a Child-Friendly Garden with your children.  Catherine has posted some of her ideas at Simple Kids.   You might want to add a bird house to the garden there are 11 different DIY birdhouse designs to chose from at FaveCrafts web site posted by Caley.   


Maybe you want to concentrate on your patio.  Lawn Care Service has a post on how to make a stunning patio or you could check out the article about Carefree Perennials to put in your Garden.  If you are into the Organic gardens see the blog article that has 35 sites to check out on Organic Gardening.  

Do you have a spring article you'd like posted? then just fill in the Mr. Linky below.  

That concludes our "Spring into Action" Edition of the Homesteading Carnival.  I'd like to thank everyone that posted an article.  Remember you can still add to this carnival if you have a post by adding it to Mr. Linky below or you may submit it for later posting by using this easy form here. 

Aloha Friday ~ Apr. 1, 2011

The question for today came from Keeping up with the Rheinlander's.  I just couldn't pass it up.

Question:

Does your child(or do/did you) have a friend that they sleep with or have to have with them all the time??

On, my yes, both my girls have had attachments. 

 

The oldest was her bed pillow.  She's tote that thing all over the house like her doll.  And when we read books she'd rub it with the back side of her hand.  When she was about 4 we finally said, "Pillow must stay in your bed; however, when you need to come check on pillow you can."  It was a hard break, but the pillow was getting so filthy something had to be done.

The youngest (age 15 now) still to this day is attached to the blue bear.  This bear still is found on her bed.  He is so threadbare it isn't even funny.  I think the only thing that keeps the bear together is the doll clothes she keeps on him.  He has been sew so much it isn't even funny.  You can see his stuffing his material is so thin.  I undressed him some so you could have a better view.  Definitely shows signs of being well loved. 

 

And yes they both slept with all kinds of stuffed animals.  actually they both would line both sides of their bed with animals after they pulled down the covers.  There wasn't room for them to sleep.  They would roll over on top of them all the time.  Finally, as they got older they sent the animals to the floor realizing it was rather uncomfortable.

Does your child(or do/did you) have a friend that they sleep with or have to have with them all the time??

Raisels anyone??:??

 Ok I recieved a giveaway that I won in the mail today so thought I'd just show it off.

 I had never heard of Raisels before.  Have you??  I won them on Here and There blog 
well the samples came today.  four different flavors.

•  Sour Orange Burst ~  Big Bang Sour taste
•  Sour Lemon Burst ~ Out of this World sour taste
• Sour Peach Pucker ~ Irresistibly loveable sour taste
• Sour Apple Tko ~Rock 'em Sock 'em sour taste

So I had daughter sample a pack to sample.  She chose the sour orange burst

little skeptical at first

verdict is in

 Daughter, who doesn't like raisins:  "Oh, like gummys.  MMMMMMM  sugar, lots of it.  Pucker-power too"

Mom, who loves raisins:  Very sweet if you ask me almost too sweet.  I prefer plain old raisins.  Very fruity taste. 

Apple milder taste. "really taste like apple, apple peal and all," says daughter.
Lemon "nice and lemony, much like lemonade," from daughter who loves lemonade.  I thought they'd be more pucker power than the orange, but not so.
Peach could smell them the peach smell when you opened the shrink warp package.  Daughter says, "nice and sweet like a fresh peach"  peach is her favorite.  They really do taste like a peach.  I think I have to agree with daughter peach is my favorite with maybe apple close behind.

Can't tell they are raisins if you weren't looking at them.

Now we are on sugar-high.

The orange were definitely the most strongest, fruitiest, sweetest and pucker-power, coated in sugar.
 
There you have it folks.  Now you are going to have to go out and find some raisels or check out raisels on-line here.

False Pretenses, by Kathy Herman

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing False Pretenses David C. Cook (March 1, 2011) by Kathy Herman

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Suspense novelist Kathy Herman is very much at home in the Christian book industry, having worked five years on staff at the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and eleven years at Better Books Christian Center in Tyler, Texas, as product buyer/manager for the children’s department, and eventually as director of human resources.

She has conducted numerous educational seminars on children’s books at CBA Conventions in the U.S. and Canada, served a preliminary judge for the Gold Medallion Book Awards of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association , and worked as an independent product/marketing consultant to the CBA market.

Since her first novel, Tested by Fire, debuted in 2001 as a CBA national bestseller, she's added sixteen more titles to her credit, including four bestsellers: All Things Hidden, The Real Enemy, The Last Word, and The Right Call.

Kathy's husband Paul is her manager and most ardent supporter, and the former manager of the LifeWay Christian Store in Tyler, Texas. They have three grown children, five almost-perfect grandchildren, a cat named Samantha. They enjoy cruising, deep sea fishing, and birdwatching—sometimes incorporating these hobbies into one big adventure.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Zoe Broussard loves the life she and her husband Pierce have built in her beloved Louisiana hometown. She owns a thriving Cajun eatery in South Louisiana and is married to the love of her life.

But it’s about to become hell. One day, out of the blue, she receives a series of anonymous notes that sends her life into a tail spin. Five simple words, “I know what you did.” Zoe has a secret so terrible it could leave the business in shambles and tear her marriage apart. Unbeknownst to anyone, even Zoe’s husband, Pierce, she has a past—a past she had covered so well she never thought she would have to confront. How could anyone know what she did? Can she find the courage to face her past?

If you would like to read the first chapter of False Pretenses, go HERE.

My mailbox surprises

I love it when my mailbox brings me surprises. This week I received a few items that I've won on blogs. They are crafting and education items WooHoo. Just thought I'd show them off today.

from the CSN online stores be watching for my review.

won at Trinity Rose's Garden blog

 quilting book won @ sewcalgal

Lapel stick won @ The Quilt Ladies Collection

Aloha Friday ~ Mar. 25, 2011

OK time for an Aloha Friday meme.  I haven't done one of these since Nov.  so it is time.  You can get all the details about this meme At An Island Life

This week's question:

What is the Tooth Fairy payout either at your home or when you were a kid?

When I was a kid the going rate was $0.25.  My dad (oops the tooth fairy)  had a lot of kids so couldn't give alot out.  My girls it depended on the tooth fairy's mood I guess it was generally $0.50 but if they pulled it themselves it was $1.00.  However, if the tooth fairy forgot to come the first night they generally got more.

WWW ~ Mar. 23, 2011

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…
* What are you currently reading?
* What did you recently finish reading?
* What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading:

Recently Finished:

Read Next:

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday with Rancher's chili

 

Rancher's Chili

1 lb. ground beef, browned 

1 small onion

2 garlic cloves

1 15 oz. can tomato sauce

2 cans of tomatoes

1 can corn

2 cups diced cooked potatoes

2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

1 can chili beans

3 small jalapenoes

1 cup water

2 teaspoons sugar

1 Tablespoon vinegar

Brown ground beef along with onion and garlic in a skillet.  In a large soup pot mix all ingredients.  Simmer 45 min. to an hour.  This would also be easy to through into the crockpot to simmer for several hours or all day.  Serve with crackers, or corn chips.