38 years ago today...

38 years ago today my husband came into this world! Happy birthday sweetheart...I hope this is your best year yet!

(Christmas at mom and dad's 2009)

Food Inc. - a must see!

So I got to watch this over the weekend.... If you have not seen it...you must! If you care about what your family is putting in their bodies - please watch this film and then tell everyone you know about it! I really had no concept of our food production in this country...it is truly shocking! While I have tried to go organic in some areas for our family - fruits and veggies when possible...I never thought about the meat we consume on a regular basis....that is now changing! If you live in the East Tennessee area...there is local farmer who produces all his products (meats, eggs, etc...) the old fashion way - please support him! We initially found him at the Farmer's market which started up in this area several years ago! Now you can find Laurel Creek online and at The Market in Maryville Tennessee. His meat is terrific - we've tried the sirlion, bison, ground beef, chicken (and the eggs, although we get ours from Papaw now)go to Laurel Creek Meats! Now go watch this film!!!

Gotta catch up!

I am super behind this week...on every aspect of my life! So Happy Friday! Here's what's on my LIST for the weekend:

• CLEAN MY HOUSE - it looks like a disaster area!!!
• attend a birthday party tonight for Sydney (one of Olivia's pals)
• Return cable boxes and modem - YES, we disconnected our cable for the spring and summer in an attempt to have more quality time as a family and to save some $$$$ - my 7year old has already protested! Oh, and the home phone as well - do we really need three phone numbers????
• Go take a look at seedlings we want to plant in our garden at Papaws...
• attend B's baseball game on Saturday
• Watch this...which I am 99% sure I will be watching by myself,ha!

• ENJOY MY FAMILY!!!!

Final FOUR, Girl's day and a bag lady!

What a great weekend we've had...it has sort of carried over into the week...the kids were out of school on Monday and my boys decided Sunday afternoon to take an impromptu trip to the FINAL FOUR!!! Yes, that's right - my boys took off Monday morning for Indianapolis to watch Duke in the FINAL FOUR - this was a dream come true for my husband -he is the ultimate DUKE fan, no joke! One of his basketball players called Sunday afternoon and said they had 3 extra tickets - so David, Braxton, and Pipaw (David's dad) took off for a road trip! They really had a great time!!! So Olivia and I had a "girls day" on Monday....we went to Hobby Lobby, the Library, and to Target! Hobby Lobby was a must because she received $10 from Mimi and Papaw in her "Surprise Easter Egg"...she wanted to go spend it! She got a mini sewing kit, "cupcake" fabric, "kitty cat" fabric, and some ribbon - this is what we made.... Now, before you think I am some master seamstress, let me assure you, I am not! The cupcake fabric was already smocked and we purchased all they had left which was just shy of one yard...we bought the matching ribbon to use as "shoulder straps"...I just wrapped the material around her...marked it...then sewed a hem up the back with a few button at the top! Sewed on the ribbons and put a little eyelet trim at the bottom hem (had left over from some project that I am sure never came to fruition) I would've taken a picture of her in the dress, but she currently insists on keeping it in her "movable storage facility" or as we call her, the "bag lady"...take a look....

I'm not even sure you can make out what this is, but it is her stroller that is piled high with most of her belongings...along with some other household items she has randomly picked up! For instance, you can see some of my Tupperware, wet wipes, a can of cheesy pringles in case she gets hungry, 2-3 coats, a tutu, shower sponge - and so much more that I wont bother listing! It is quiet humorous and I don't know when I will convince her to "unload" everything and put it back in it's place....oh well, whatever keeps them busy, right? Happy Wednesday to all!

Happy Easter!

My prayer today is that everyone would come to the knowledge of what Jesus Christ did for them on the cross...words cannot express the gratitude I have for the sacrifice He made! I hope you and your families have a wonderful weekend! It is a Good Friday indeed!

Holy Week and a recipe!

Happy Wednesday! I have been a bit absent...we've had the stomach bug and strep throat in the span of two weeks....so I've been needing to catch up! I will start with a recipe that I promised last week...Resurrection Rolls...which are perfect for Holy Week. This is one of my families favorites and we make them often, not just for Easter! Try to eat just one...it's not possible! The cast of characters:

1 can of crescent rolls - regular or reduced fat - more if you have a large family

1 bag of large marshmallows

cinnamon

butter

parchment paper

muffin pan

First, you will need to preheat your oven according to the crescent rolls directions...next, take your parchment paper and cut into pieces that are large enough to hold a "muffin" in...you will need 8 if that is the number of crescents in your can...

Next, take the crescent dough and separate them, eight total....roll them up into balls and then flatten them out as thin as you can - they need to "hold" the marshmallows....now as you are doing this you can discuss with your kids the story of Easter...

These "flat circles" will be the tomb they placed Jesus in...next...take your cinnamon and sprinkle generously onto each "tomb"....then place one marshmallow on each circle- the marshmallows represent Jesus....

Next, fold the crescent dough up and over the marshmallow - this is Jesus being placed in the tomb!

Take arrange your parchment paper into the muffin pan and place the "tombs" into the pan...after this, melt some butter and drizzle over the top! That's it...bake according to the crescent roll directions...

After they have baked...approximately 11 minutes....remove from the oven - what will you find?

the marshmallow, representing Jesus, has "disappeared" (melted away) which symbolizing Jesus' resurrection from his tomb on Easter morning! Let them cool, peel away parchment paper and enjoy!!!

Kingdom Design Ministries

Please go over to Kingdom Design Ministries to check out the latest

on our room makeover for Jimmy!

Hope you all have a wonderful Thursday!

I'm back!

I'm back, sort of...the past few weeks have been busy...kids, family, work, etc...My posting lineup for the week includes:

• some of my finds from Atlanta spring Market - home stuff, fashion stuff, kid stuff!
• post about the room we finished for Kingdom Design Ministries
• and a recipe for Easter that you will want to make everyday with your kiddos

I hope you all have a wonderful Monday!

A bright new day...well, almost!

A bright new day except for the fact that it is RAINING!!! But I am smiling anyway and I hope you have great Thursday....This is what I'm loving today:

I am sorry I do not have credits for photos, only the last which is Atlanta Homes Mag...if you recognize please shoot me an email!

One of those days...

It has been one of those days...although it is only 11a.m. where I am at! It is days like this that have me on my knees - literally - with the realization that I can never measure up to the standards that I have imposed upon myself! That's it...that's all I have today - just keepin it real! Go here for spiritual enlightenment....

Working on my LIST...

Well, my Tuesday has flown by...both the kiddos home today so not much accomplished in the way of cleaning house!!! We did find time to go eat lunch with David and the kids really enjoyed that - I got to have a grown-up girl conversation with one of David's colleagues, Libby! She is so sweet and I found out she's a great organizer - may need her expertise at my house :) So, I've been looking over my list and here is what I've accomplished thus far for the year:

• Joined the public library
• completed one room with Kingdom Design Ministries - post coming soon!
• Working on "habits" with the children - so far we've worked on obedience, now we are working on "attention"
• Starting journaling again...
• Setting up a budget - starting this process, we are doing a church wide study on "giving" so THIS IS THE MONTH!
• Starting a cleaning schedule - cleaning schedule has failed miserably, or maybe it's me that has failed in KEEPING the cleaning schedule - so back to the drawing board!
• Attending Atlanta Market - on the calendar for this month, will be attending the Spring show at Americas Mart for 2 days!!!

So as you can see, I've made some progress - still have a ways to go! This spring weather is beginning to inspire me to get into the "organizing and cleaning out" mode so maybe I can make some progress in those areas! Two places you can get some inspiration for organizing - Simply Seleta - just love her post from today on cleaning out her back hall and laundry room!!! Also, doing a series on organization are the girls over at Deliciously Organized - go check it out!

Random acts of kindness...

Happy Monday!!! I am dragging a bit this morning - think I'm fighting off a cold maybe? Anyway, my family had a wonderful weekend - spring like weather got us outside! I just wanted to share something that happened to me yesterday while on our way to morning service...we (when I say we, I really mean "I" bc no one else in my house drinks coffee) woke up to NO COFFEE in the house! This might not be a big deal for some people, but for me it has become a ritual that I depend on...you see, when I don't have my coffee I can get a little grumpy! My 7 year old walks around the house chanting "I need a cup a coffee!" over and over...just to prove this point! Magically we were all dressed and ready to leave for church EARLY, which lets face it - never happens! So David agreed to stop by Starbucks to get me a latte - YEAH!!! So we pull in, I order my tall, skinny vanilla latte and we wait patiently for the car in front of us to get their order and pull away. When we pull up, the Starbucks guy confirms my order and then casually says "oh yeah, the person in front of you paid for your coffee!" David and I look at each other, totally surprised! By this time the car had driven off - so we have know idea who it was - a stranger, someone we know...it's a mystery! But this is the point I want to share...that single, random act of kindness made my heart happy in a way I cannot put into words! It was not a huge gift but it sure felt that way to me....it inspires me to think of ways I can do the same for others! Have a happy Monday!

Go here, SECRET AGENT L to read more about how you can do your own random act of kindness!

Photo credit: Andy S. Flickr

Mini BLUEPRINT sale!!!

Happy Tuesday! It is a bit gloomy here and I have spent most of the day - well, o.k., all day catching up on paperwork and design projects in my office! I know I still need to post on the Kingdom Design Ministry project from last week, but there are still a few items that we are finishing up this week...so as soon as I have the go ahead from Missy, I will post all the wonderful details!!! In the meantime, I am offering 20% off the miniBLUEPRINT from DHBdesigns beginning today through this Friday, March 5th!

What is the miniBLUEPRINT you ask? It is e-decorating at its best..so go over and check it out at http://www.dhbdesignstudio.com/. If you would like to purchase a miniBLUEPRINT, email me at info@dhbdesignstudio.com labeled "20OFF" and I will get you started!!!

I've been missing....

I've been missing this week....I haven't had a chance to post anything or read any of my favorite blogs! Typically I will check them out while the kids are snacking or playing Lego's - happily occupying themselves or after they are in bed...but I've been a little wiped out this week! I am part of a nonprofit group called Kingdom Design Ministries...it was founded several years ago by a dear friend of mine, Missy Barker Johnson! She is also an interior designer with a heart for the Lord! She began this group as a way to minister to children and their families - we do room makeovers for children who have suffered tragedy in their young lives - whether through a terminal illness or tragic loss! This week we began a room for a little boy name Jimmy...he is so precious! So that explains my absence in posting...it's been a busy week of getting that room done! I can't wait to bring you the full story on Monday - photos of the room and all the wonderful volunteers that make it happen along with an interview with Missy! Have a wonderful weekend - I am hoping for some warm weather!!! In the meantime, go over and check out some of the previous stories of room makeovers....Kingdom Design Ministries

Happy Monday!

Happy Monday, I am back!!! My little break from the electronic world did me good...it was harder than I anticipated at first but effortless once I hit Friday night and I didn't miss it at all over the weekend! We, my family, had a wonderful Sunday...we got outside to enjoy the warm weather....it just made me all the more ready for Spring and Summer....here is a little inspiration! All these pieces are JCREW....the top four pics are from the CREW CUTS collection for kids...aren't they adorable!!! And the last three are for us big girls! I know the last photo is tights and a sweater, but I just love the gold and grey color combo - and those rockin booties - although I could never pull them off - oh well, in my dreams I guess!!! Happy Monday!