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thursdays…

i like thursdays because they are close to fridays.
i used to love thursdays because of must see tv… but i don’t really watch much anymore.
Parenthood is over and i am feeling like I’m through with series.
greys will finish up soon.
madmen is almost done… and i think I’m done.
is it my age?  what is it?
is it the new era of dvr and internet where i can pull-up anything whenever i want?
i don’t love anything like i did when i loved my fave shows.
it’s probably just that i miss those too much.
Seinfeld… Friends… ER…. Office… 30 Rock…

everything else is just those same stories over again.

moving on…
annie started piano lessons again.
by choice.
talby starts this week.
i love hearing them practice.
(although if i hear “All of Me” by john legend one more time i may die)

the other night annie was stalling before bed time and i walked in and caught this:IMG_2200IMG_2195
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i love her rainbow room so much.
(and she loves stuffed animals a little too much!)
but to be sure i am always “keeping it real” over here she told me recently that she can’t wait to re-do her room in a complete basketball theme because she is going to play in the WNBA and wants her room to look very sporty.
OY VEH!
i can remember my first lesson in humility regarding room decor with lauren.
she was probably 8 and we had painted her room just the prettiest way i thought it should be.
yellow floral Martha stewart bedding… matching curtains… i even painted plaid on the wall!
and then… she taped magazine photos of animals all over the walls.
ALL OVER.
and that did not match.
i tried to tell her how these pictures did not flow with the look i was going for.
ha ha ha
but SHE thought they looked really nice.
she chose her favorite animals and knew why they were here favorites.

i think that’s when i learned that it was going to be ok.
(it probably took many more lessons but i do recall that night)
my home should reflect all of us… not just MOM’s idea of pretty.
everything doesn’t have to look like a magazine.
and no matter their style is… it’s OK!  it’s GOOD to have an idea!
it’s GOOD to know what you like!
if you like animals… GREAT!  if you like basketball… GREAT!
i hope someday annie gets her dream room.
although it’s pretty darn great right now… maybe we should switch bedrooms…. what do you think craig?  want to bunk up in the rainbow room with me?  ha ha ha

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wednesday likes to sit in the sun… especially on the hood of my car.

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i made Marta’s meat muffins the other night at 8 pm.
(the recipe she shares now is a little different… eggs, zucchini and lots of spices… maybe she will blog it?)
i make them for me… not the whole family.
i COULD feed it to them…. but then i don’t have my stock.
i freeze all but 6 and then eat two at a time for meals during the week.
when my 6 in the refrigerator are gone i pull another container from the freezer.
it’s great protein when i want to eat cookies.  🙂

and then when i was done… i made pumpkin waffles at 10 pm.
i used this recipe by paleomg.com.
they are definitely gluten free & dairy free as far as taste but i am trying to eat that way so when everything tastes that way then you get used to it.
i freeze these also except for a few.
i heat one up and spread a little almond butter and strawberry jam on them.
i make strawberry jam by putting strawberries in food processor.
nothing else added.
🙂

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so those are two things i am eating to help me stay on track with my health.
remember my 2015 word was ACTION.

although… this week i have been sleeping like a bear in hibernation.
im not sure what the deal is but i am so tired.
hopefully it will go away soon.

this was yesterday morning at our house.
i just said “enough!”  (not in a mad way… just exhausted)
i am feeling tired and this does not help.
i mean… this is normal when 6 people share a space.
this is 6 people each leaving one or two or five things out.
and if it doesn’t get picked up… it multiplies.
and this is with the dishes done.
it’s so much worse when the sink is overflowing with dishes.
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so i made a new chart.
it was time.
we used to have a whole system when the kids were younger just for sanity
but when we moved to the farm i never made it again.
now it’s back in a newer simplified form.

annie’s charts are her own personal movitation charts.
she gets to choose a treat of her choice when she completes it…not just the .99 ice cream cone.
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yesterday was the first day.
i walked in at 9 pm from the garage and the smell of bleach was overpowering.
so i learned that i had to teach HOW to do these jobs.
we went over which cleaners to use… tools to use… what “put stuff away” means…. and how a counter top FEELS when it’s clean.
🙂
and this morning it was so happy to walk out to a clean kitchen.
they agreed that it felt nice to have it clean too!
ahhhh.

so if you got your kids started on their laundry…. maybe the kitchen is the next place.
your kids are going to hate that “Meg from Whatever”
HA!

my kids also load and unload the dishwasher.
scott & sean alternate loading and talby & sean alternate unloading.
(i step in and wash pots and pans… and load or unloadload when kids have been busy and having it done is better than waiting.)
no one likes this job at our house.
but who does?!
this is good for them.
we’ve been doing this for YEARS too.
it used to be lauren & scott loading and talby & sean unloading.
annie was too short.
but when lauren moved out… annie moved up.
it’s working.

chores are good.
they are!
i love being a mom so much.
but i don’t want to wait on them hand and foot.
my kids are able to help and we think they should.
they still have so much time for fun.. this is just life & helping each other out.

 

misty - I’d LOVE to know your breakdown on teaching kids to do laundry. I have a 6 1/2 year old & she wants to help with everything 🙂 I LOVE that, but how did you start with Annie doing laundry??

Renee - i love seeing the piano ones 🙂 I teach piano lessons VERY part time (like 7 students only part time) just for fun on the side. so so so fun to see glimpses of when kids like it 🙂

Kristi - I love reading your posts! They are so refreshingly real! And can I just say that I can’t wait until my kids are old enough to clean on their own?!! Can.not.wait!! Hope you get your pep back soon. I am being spring will put a bounce in my step. No more jackets weighing me down.

Lisa - Love that your systems aren’t complicated. I need to revamp our chore list and your post was the reminder I needed to just keep it simple. 🙂

Jenni - Meg, you’re awesome in so many ways. And, interestingly enough, my husband is applying for a job in Lawrence, KS. We currently live in California. When I think of life in Kansas, one of my first thoughts is , “how could I become friends with Meg Duerksen? If I have to move to Kansas, hanging out with her would make life easier. ” 🙂

Lisa - Great! I love the chores. I do the same (I’m a mom of 3 soon to be 4). Any way to get them involved is good and worth it in the long run. Laundry & toys need to be put away before they get to watch their show at night. Works for us.

Loved your comment about Lauren changing her room, too! My oldest (almost 8) does the same thing and hangs posters and tiny pieces of paper that are oh so important all over her room and it secretly drives me crazy! I am regularly reminding myself to chill out… House Beautiful is not coming to photograph my home. Perfectly imperfect, right? 🙂

Carrie - My girls are 4 and 7. It is the small toys and my 7 year olds books ( she reads 3 to 4 chapter books a week, guess I should not complain about my voracious reader). That stuff I pile on the stairs and threaten them. I wanted to start my 7 year old doing laundry and she was on board but she still can not reach down into the washer to get her clothes and I need to problem solve it. Quite honestly I need that chart for my husband!!! The girls help to unload the dishwasher, clear the table, clean toilets, and make beds. My 4 year old loves to make her sister’s bed!

sharon / theprincipledtype.blogspot.com - A clean, beautiful white kitchen makes Everything better, -in every department 🙂

Kathi - Your counter looks similar to mine just add a bunch of tools the hubs didn’t put away and you’ve got mine.

Amy Woods - I agree! It’s great the kiddos help with the chores. Their future roommates and families will so appreciate it. My poor son is an only. He thinks he has too many chores. I say whatever. What does he think, that I took him to raise? Oh. wait.

😉

Alice H - I miss ER!! Oh George Clooney!!

My 5 year old LOVES to help unload the dishwasher. He also likes to do laundry, mainly the towels and washcloths. He has a helping heart for sure. And I am doing a lot better at encouraging him than I did with my 14 and 16 year old back then. Ha! They have to do their own laundry, help clean up after dinner, and they are in charge of the upstairs (their bedrooms, bathroom, and hall). If it isn’t all cleaned up and presentable by Friday, they don’t get to do anything during that weekend. It works!! Love your kitchen chart and I have a chalkboard, may have to do that too!

jennibell - Agreed! On everything. . .except the eating part. Meg, you look GREAT and I know it’s taken you a lot of time and sacrifice and YEA FOR YOU!!! I just *can’t*, no matter what, get on the “eat food I don’t like” wagon. I got a FitBit and when my calories are up, they are up. . .I’m not being picky about how I use them. Exercise is key anyway.
Youngest does the trash every single time it needs to be taken out. Next youngest unloads dishwasher (expectation is that it is to be done by 7 a.m. every day) and 2nd oldest loads. Oldest is in charge of the yard, taking trash to the dump. . .he gets of “easy” in the winter months but works very hard spring/summer. It works for us.
The kids have naturally begun to do their own laundry. Things weren’t getting done as quickly as they liked (ha!) so they will, many times, do their own. I’m glad they know how. And every one of them (ages 11, 12, 14, 16) can make a meal for the family. So. . .parenting is the *greatest* job (http://jennisseasons.blogspot.com/2011/09/greatest-job.html) and I am so happy that God blessed me with the challenge!!
Enjoy your weekend 🙂

crissy - i love that you keep it real! it isn’t any less inspiring – but it’s hopegiving 😉

do you make your strawberry jam when you want it or do you make a jar and refrigerate it? i love the idea of making it and am wondering if that is one less thing i can buy from the store – and less sugar. thanks!!

Nanette - Thanks for the motivation! We are struggling right now with chores and responsibility. And I’m going to try those meat cupcake/muffin things.
My boys decorated their shared room the other day by taping over 100 hockey cards to the wall. At first I wanted to make them take it down…but they love it. And they actually did a good job by getting them spaced and straight. I figure someday they will talk about it when they are old…”hey remember when we taped all of our hockey cards to the wall? That was the best!”

Julie - My dishwasher has just died on us, so each morning the sink is filled with hot soapy water, and we all wash our breakfast dishes and leave them in the rack to drain while we are at work and school. Then in the evening my two children have to wash and dry all the dinner dishes. Certainly won’t hurt them, that is what I had to do as a child.

Heather S. - Our girls have quite a few chores and expectations around the house (dishes, mopping, laundry, cat care, etc). They have to – I homeschool them! I can’t be their teacher AND the lunch lady AND the bus driver AND the janitor as well as being mom. They have to pitch in. And they do. Like champs. You are SO right. You have to actually TEACH them how to do these things first, but then it reminds me of potty training. A bunch of hard work up front for a few days, but then sit back a bit and enjoy watching them grow up. I always say I’m not raising children – I am raising future adults. It takes constant training to get there, but every once in a while we get to just admire their growing responsibility and maturity. That’s what being a mom is really about – training them up, not waiting on them hand and foot.

kassondra - The end of this post almost sounded like you were defending your reasons for having your kids do chores. MEG, stop that! Our kids chores are much easier than when we were little and a thousand times easier than generations past. Your not causing damage to your children your teaching them valuable lessons in this chore system. Keep it up!

Necole@seriouslysassymama - My 11 year old does her own laundry. Her job is to also keep the bathroom clean. My younger two have to put away their clothes and keep their room clean. I give them each a list of chores to accomplish every Sat. Otherwise I do everything else. I find it cathartic when I clean my home. That, and I may be a little OCD.

Michelle Deckert Richmond - Welcome to my life…..I hear yah.

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fondue party

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every year craig’s side of our family has a fondue night at christmas.
like… craig’s WHOLE life.
kind of a fun traditional that i am glad they still keep up.
several people on IG asked for more information so they could do this with their family.
i will try my best to help you out.
it’s not really MY thing so i may miss some details.
we usually host which means i make sure my house is clean and there is space for every one.
then the other family members bring the food and set it up.

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there is usually one pot of oil and one pot of  broth to cook meat.
we have steak & chicken cut into small pieces & shrimp every year.
occasionally there have been chicken nuggets or meatballs too.
then bbq sauce, ketchup, cocktail sauce, A1 and…. i can’t recall what other sauces.
i think you could have any sauce you wanted.

there is always a cheese fondue.
this recipe would work fine or something like it.
we dip bread and veggies into the cheese.
someone cuts the bread into cubes with an electric knife.
this is the place i have a hard time staying away from.
melty cheese and bread.
YUM.
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someone makes a caramel dip and a chocolate dip for fruit, marshmallows and angel food cake.
(this is the kids favorite area)

and then everyone brings their christmas snacks from home too like muddy buddies and sugar cookies.
this year i didn’t bake ONE single thing so i purchased cream puffs and eclairs from the freezer aisle.
it counts for something.  🙂

We have all kinds of ways to make this work.
we have an Oster Fondue Pot that gets used every year…varies what is in it though depending on the needs.

the oil is always in a wok like this: Aroma Electric Wok

this year my sister in law put the chocolate and caramel in her new Crock-Pot Hook Up Connectable System.
i totally want to get that system!
amazon seems to be out of reasonably priced crock pot hook ups to link to but i found them here at walmart.

the cheese dip was in a ceramic dish on a Hot Plate.
it works!

we have LOTS of Fondue Forks  to keep track of which food is yours.
although some people still like to steal your meat if you don’t get to it quick enough.

You want to make sure that cords are out of reach from children to avoid burns… obviously.
we have even taped down cords in the past before we had an island with electrical outlets.
safety first for all of your guests.

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do you have more questions?
do you have suggestions for us – something that your family does differently?
what kind of food do you see missing?
let’s hear it!

 

AND lastly…. check out this peanut butterscotch fondue!!!
we are making this one next year.
🙂

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Sue Linse - We also do Fondue every Christmas day. Have tried to do it at the table, but too many people so I want to try the island idea. For meat sauces, we also have honey mustard, horseradish sauce and teriyaki. For the chocolate fondue, we include maraschino cherries, pound cake and clementine oranges. Fun tradition.

Amanda - Small Home Big Start - So much fun!! We do cheese fondue every couple of years for my brother and sister’s birthdays in December. My fav things to dip in it are bread (obviously), sliced apples and blanched broccoli. The leftover cheese is great cooled in the fridge and then grated over steamed broccoli and cauliflower as a gratin. This is the recipe we use: http://smallhomebigstart.com/2012/02/cheese-fondue.html

Kimberlee Jost - I love this so much. It makes me want all of my cousins to live near me so that I could gather them up for a party like this. Hmmm…maybe I’m going to have to adopt some people. I think I know who and it involves Circles. 🙂

Rebekah - Meg, you needs tripod so that you can take pictures and actually be in the picture and not just show your face at a weird angle!!

Jennifer Andersen - A chocolate fountain would totally fit in there. Love the whole idea. Well done.

Amanda - Our family loves fondue too. It’s the time and conversations that you have that make it such a nice option to a regular meal. We like to end our meal with a round tube of refrigerated biscuits. Take one biscuit and place an unwrapped Hershey kiss and wrap/roll the uncooked biscuit dough around it. Then cook it in the oil fondue (no fork required just drop carefully to not get burned by oil). When done, it is like a doughnut with melted chocolate in the middle. Roll it in powdered sugar or regular sugar. Yummy!

lisa - What a FUN tradition!! All of those choices sound super yummy. My one thing is how do you make sure that the meat is cooked through!!? & that no one eats undercooked chicken? My under-cooked & raw-chicken-sitting-out-at-room-temp-too-long anxiety wants to know!! {sigh – lol!!}

Tiffany - Traditions, big and small, are such a sweet way to bring family together. Thanks for sharing this one.

Michelle - i have zero experience with fondue so please forgive my ignorance. Does having to cook the meat cause a big hold up in the movement of the supper line? Also is the meat seasoned with any salt or other seasoning before it’s cooked? this seems like a really fun idea, just trying to wrap my head around the full concept. Thanks!

vanessa schroeder - My family used to do this but sitting around the table. If your piece of food you dipped into the pot fell off the stick we had to give the family member on our right a kiss on the cheek! Sometimes we got Grandma & Grandpa to approve hugs as the cousins got older!

Kelly - We got SMART this year after learning from a chaotic celebration last year and since a bunch of family lives in town we split up the “kid present night” from the “grown up present night”. We got a baby-sitter and my mom treated us to million dollar spaghetti, a terrific salad, rolls, etc. and caramel fondue for dessert. We used to do that a lot as teenagers in our house but hadn’t had the fondue in ages. I thought the cream puffs in your photo were one of our favorite dippers at first – the toasted coconut covered marshmallows! Super yummy! I know it is over the top but I also like brownies dipped in fondue. Angel food cake is probably my favorite though so yay for that! Fun tradition! Kelly

Emily - Thank you so much for sharing this family tradition. I’m always looking for fun things to do with extended family when they come to my house to visit. What a great memory to create. I will be looking up those woks and crock pots. Thank you for all the info!

chrissi - we were just talking about having a fondue party. your party looks like so much fun. reminds me of growing up with lots of cousins and kitchen chaos. the best kind of memories.

Julie - Yum – my first and only cheese fondue was tried in Switzerland many years ago. Such a fun way to eat. I have to ask though, what is a muddy buddie?

Janel - I love love to do Fondue… Another fun alternative
is using a Raclette Pan. You can even find Raclette cheese for this very purpose. You basically grill thinly sliced potatoes on top and underneath the grill you melt your cheese in single serving pans. When the potatoes are cooked and cheese melted, you plate your potatoes and pour melted cheese over top and eat. Repeat repeat repeat…

I have done thinly cut meats and veggies to change
It up. What I haven’t done yet is fruit..I think that would be fun!

I purchased my Raclette pan on amazon
And googled my way thru for the best outcome.

Have fun!

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snow day and a recipe

i have had times where i dread a snow day but i was actually excited about this one.
it was as if we had the time for a break.
that is kind of sad but it is true.  I was caught up enough that i was excited for a snow day.

first off… we made hot chocolate donuts.
snow6this was our recipe….  a boxed cake mix we had in the cabinet.  Two mixes actually.  the marshmallow frosting comes in the box.  and we have a donut pan.   AND a few weeks ago my little girls BEGGED for the Mallow Bits so it was perfectly meant to be on our snow day!donutIMG_3215we each just watched it snow all day long while still in our jammies.  snow3oh these dogs.  they LOVE this stuff!IMG_2680IMG_2707we finally ventured out of the house at 4:00.  it was so beautiful!IMG_2701IMG_2693IMG_2692IMG_2690IMG_2686IMG_2709snow7IMG_2743“HEY MOM!!! I”M CLEANING THE FENCE FOR YOU!”
thanks sweetie.  it had really been bothering me how “messy” it was.   ha ha haIMG_2674IMG_2684
IMG_2729IMG_2721IMG_2756snow1doesn’t he look like bigfoot combined with the abominable snowman?!IMG_2753IMG_2750IMG_3284snow4snow2we wore this guy OUT!

for dinner i looked through my computer for something yummy to make.
and looked.
and looked.
snow8snow9between a bunch of different recipes… i threw this soup together and it was YUMMY!!!
we made bread to dip in it too.
seriously…SO GOOD.
ALL of my kids ate their whole bowl….  WITH VEGETABLES IN IT!

you could add broccoli too or other veggies.
i didn’t put the peas in since i knew i pushing it big time with the celery AND carrots in one pot.
but maybe next time they can handle it.

it was delicious comfort food after playing out in the snow.

katey - Oh the snow looks wonderful!!! We are keeping our fingers crossed that Alabama will get at least one snow this year. And the soup looks great!! Will have to try that one because the family can only take Chili and Veggie Beef so many times in one winter. Thanks.

Mindy - What wonderful fun topped off by homemade soup – the best!

Shelby Shreck-Beck - Looking through the pictures makes me smile and I so wish I had your skills for taking pictures! Your girls are beautiful, your boys are handsome and your dogs are so stinkin cute!!! Thank you for putting a smile on my face! Oh, I love snow days too!

Deb Meyers - i just knew you’d buy the green-lidded tin at Target (seen in picture with Sean). 🙂

deb meyers

Lisa - Great pictures! We got a lot of snow today but no snow day… boo! 😉 And that soup looks so yummy!

Andrea - What a great snow day. Your dogs had as much or more fun than all of you! that Waffle looked like he was in heaven!

Kimber-Leigh - what a gorgeous snow day! and that soup sounds delicious!

Tiffany - You create such stunning pictures of every-day life. I love it. I’m amazed by your winters down there. Weren’t you out taking pics without jackets and no snow on the ground at you last CW, and now this much snow?! I guess MN is so different. Once it snows it stays for a good 5 months. Plus there is no way we would be out without jackets. (-10 degrees air temp as I type.)

PS- That recipe sounds so yummy! I’m going to have to try that one. Hummm… maybe tonight. I think I have everything. What would be the chances of that?!

Heather - You take the best pictures!

kim - i havvvvvvvve to be honest. i’m super jealous of this snow day.
as much as i am enjoying our wintersummer, this looked all kinds of magical. what i wouldn’t give to be cooped up in my house for a full day or two, enjoying cocoa and donuts. 🙂

thrilled to see you guys making the most of it, and the pups too. i can’t get enough of them!

Michelle K. - Love seeing all your pics, especially of the ones with the dogs playing…they are absolutely adorable.
Now a question for you, do you do anything to protect your camera when taking pictures in the snow? I love taking outside pictures, but have been afraid since my camera once malfunctioned because of snow/water getting into it.

Kim Barlow - I love the pic of Annie by the big tree. It’s so sweet.

danielle - Looks like a perfect snow day! We are a little farther south than you I only dream of that much snow. Thanks for the yummy looking recipe! I am cold right now and that looks really good!

ira lee - those donuts look so yummy!! as does the soup!!! and you are right, it was beautiful in that snow!!

Suzette - Meg, I love you and I love your blog! Don’t ever change!

Penny - Oh, that sweet Waffle! He is perfect! The new little guy is pretty cute, too. We love snow days and have had our share. 7 so far! I work at the local middle school, so snow days are days off for me! I love how you captured these great memories for your kids! I wish I had pictures of times like that when I was young!

Julie - That looks like a lot of snow and a lot of cold. I think I would love to be able to experience playing outside in the snow like that at least once in my life. I am very much a summer girl though. Those dogs of your look like they are having an absolute ball. Keep warm.

Pamela Gordon - Wow, you had a great snow day there. It looks beautiful and I loved seeing the pics of the kids and the dogs out playing in the snow. Fun! The soup looks delicious and easy. Pamela

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q u i e t.

all your comments on the One Word post were fun to read!
i feel like we are all in this together don’t you?
everyone working on becoming better versions of us through God’s grace.
i love it.

i am very much enjoying the quiet house with the kids back at school.
i say that not because i don’t like to be with my kids but because i have not had any silence since the school break began!
having kids home all day everyday, a new puppy that barks ALL NIGHT LONG in his kennel, not traveling anywhere for christmas to break up the time, freezing cold temperatures…. you get the idea.
i loved the sleeping late and no place to go or be for days and days but after awhile i miss routine of school and a quiet house.
the older i get the more i enjoy quiet.
complete silence.
i have been sitting here for 5 hours now with nothing but the sound of the heater and the dogs breathing deeply.
they needed down time as much as i did.
IMG_2196i made my meal plan for the week.
if i ever get it down in a photo friendly kind of way i will post it.
but right now it’s all messy on notebook paper and scribbles…with my grocery list.

i found lots of new recipes to try…. and of course i want to share with you too!
i am going to try to do this as often as possible.
i hope you like it.
7food

1. Skillet Mexican Zucchini

2.  No Bake Banana Oat Energy Bars

3.  Chicken with Roasted Butternut Squash & Green Beans

4.  Thai Peanut Chicken Salad

5.  Tuscan Chicken Soup

6.  Southwest Chicken Chili Mac

7.  Broccoli Crack

 

i found these through Pinterest of course!
apparently i like chicken.
next time i will try for some other meats… but i DO like chicken so this is good for me.

i will be putting them to use over the next two weeks in our evening meal plans.
some of them are more for the kids and some are more for me.
tonight we are having #3… i picked an easy one because it’s a ball game night.
(four of the next five nights are ball game nights!     crazytown.)

i have already made the broccoli many times and i eat SO MUCH because it is sooooo good!
who knew broccoli could ever taste so delicious?

Renee - yum yum! glad you’re sharing. i have worked hard the past 3 years to transition into regularly cooking fresh and healthy meals. sometimes i’ve been teaching, sometimes i’ve been having babies. so it’s not like gourmet is my goal here. easy. fresh. yummy.
one trick that works for me is to repeat meals once or twice over the course of 2-3 week. the first time you make anything, it always takes longer and seems more labor intensive. and if it feels hard, you’re less likely to do it again. but if you can make it a couple times in a couple weeks, it’ll feel easier and the people you’re cooking for might like it more subsequent times. their palletes just have to adjust 🙂 ANYWAY, the easier it feels, the more likely you are to start making your ‘go-to’ meals in your repertoire these healthy & fresh ones. (instead of casseroles, and things that involve pillsbury crescents or something.) That was a lot. sorry! good luck!

Aubrey - Thanks so much for sharing the recipes! I’m always looking for healthy recipes that aren’t to complicated.

Maria - First off I am a huge fan of your blog! I live in SW Missouri so I can relate to your posts about weather and the countryside!

I made the Broccoli Crack and the No Bake Banana Oat Energy Bars today. Both turned out awesome! The Broccoli Crack was a bit salty for my taste but I ate almost half of it at lunch! My kids LOVE the energy bars (I might have snuck in a little extra stevia :))

Sarah{Handbags*and*Pigtails} - “Broccoli crack” huh? I dunno…seems sooo far away from Julie’s version of crack,haha. 😉

tara - this post reminds me how nice it would be if i would make time to do a month long meal plan….sometimes, those work great, if you can make them with your calendar in mind.

Stacey - Love these meal ideas! love your blog:-)

Amber H. - I’ve found using an app on my phone works great for meal planning. I use the Paprika one. I can download recipes directly off the Internet or I’ve added my own to it over time. This way when I decide on a recipe when planning my meals I can add the ingredients needed with the push of a button. If you get the app for both your iPhone and ipad (if you have them) then they will interface with each other. No I am not payed to promote this app but yes, it’s my fave app out of any I have on my phone! LOL

Mindy - Mmm your recipes look delicious AND nutritious – great way to start the New Year!

Tracey Garcia - This broccoli recipe is great. Both my kids love it and my youngest will eat 2 or 3 servings every time I make it. Of course, I found it on Pinterest. http://www.amateurgourmet.com/2008/11/the_best_brocco.html
I’ve been meal planning off and on for a couple of years now and my week really goes much better when I’ve planned the meals. I know what I need to buy at the grocery store, I have everything I need each day for the evening meal, and there is no last minute scramble to figure out something for supper. Plus, my kids HAVE to know what they are eating for supper BEFORE they leave for school. LOL I don’t know why—I guess they are afraid I might forget to feed them.

KirstenP - Check out this show on CBS on Sat morning 11am Eastern – Lucky Dog. Brandon McMillian helps shelter dogs to kick bad habits, including barking, before they go live with their new families. I know Stanley(is that still his name?) isn’t a shelter dog but his techniques might work with your puppy. Good luck.

Susan - Meg –

I have the BEST recipe for you, and your vegetable-hating kids will love it! My kids can’t get enough of it, and it sounds like they are a lot like yours. Anyway, all you have to do is take a bag of shredded carrots (or shred your own if you aren’t as lazy as I am), toss them with 1-2 tbsps olive oil, and spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 400 until crispy (about 20-30 minutes, depending on the thickness of your carrots). Sprinkle with salt. These taste like shoestring potato chips! The only trick is that you have to watch them at the end, they go from almost cooked to burned pretty quickly. But the burned bits aren’t too bad, either! My kids, 15, 13 and 6, actually ask me to make these.

Ruth - Meg, I am excited that you are sharing your recipe finds! Thank you for the inspiration,in so MANY ways. You are a delight, I am grateful God put you in my cyber “path” a couple of years ago.

Tracy - I love you recipe sharing!!! Please continue to do it!!

Christy - Try cauliflower roasted too! It’s delicious!

Sheryl - Thank you for posting the recipes. I love getting new ideas for meals especially healthy ones!

karen - i feel ify about meal plans. it seems like something that could get to be seen as more work. i would just ALWAYS have your fridge loaded with fresh food and go with it. roasted anything works for me. and never shop in the center isles of the grocery store!! only the perimeter.

Kris - Ok chiming in…again…sorry! Try pioneer woman’s italian meatball soup….I bake the meatballs though! Have a big pot on the stove right now! Also try roasted cauliflower….it’s is amazing…and roasted Brussels sprouts with balsamic glaze( I LOVE Pinterest for recipes!)
Love seeing those recipe ideas!
I’ll have to try these!

Michele - Good for you! I love the quiet, too! 🙂
I have been meal planning for about 10 years. Yes, it’s a pain, but it really helps in the long run. For healthy recipes, check out skinnytaste.com. Her recipes are delicious, but you won’t feel deprived. We love her salisbury steak and cajun chicken pasta! I don’t stock very many pre-packaged foods in our house and I buy organic whenever I can (those pre-washed organic salads blends and spinach at Walmart are a lifesaver)! I also don’t stock the house with things like ice cream, Oreos or soda…not because I never eat those things, but because if they are in the house, I will! And if you haven’t jumped on the green smoothie bandwagon, I highly recommend it! I have one every morning and I can’t tell you how good and energized it makes me feel. And think about adding flax meal to things you already eat–smoothies, yogurt, oatmeal, etc. Good luck, Meg!

Tanya - They all look awesome…like really yummy.
Hope it’s all received well 🙂
I am very happy kids are back at school as well.
Moms need some quiet. No apologies.

Lennie Jackson - My bestie and I were just discussing how badly we need easy clean family friendly meals. Thanks so much for posting!!! Can’t wait to be on this journey with you!

Julie - My house is just starting to become noisy again – my husband and daughter have been away for 10 days at Scout Jamboree in New Zealand. She came back last night and he comes back tonight with our son who has been at his grandparents. Only 4 weeks till they go back to school. Thanks for the zucchini recipe link – I have a glut of these and cucumbers in my garden at present.

Sarah D. - In case you are interested in the CI link… http://www.cooksillustrated.com/recipes/4032-roasted-broccoli-with-optional-garlic#

Sarah D. - Roasting broccoli like that is my absolute fav. I found that exact same method in a Cook’s Illustrated magazine almost 6 years ago and it has been my all-time go-to for broccoli ever since. Is is delicious!!!

Natalie - I was so looking forward to some quiet tomorrow morning and then… they canceled school. It’s cold but we don’t have any snow here in Atlanta but oh well… maybe Wednesday! I love a good meal plan too! Thanks for sharing! Enjoy your quiet time and back to routine!

Necole@seriouslysassymama - I love meal planning. I have been doing it religiously for about 2 years now. I can fee my family of 5 for two weeks on $250. I only go back to the store for milk,bread, and apples. We eat a ton of apples. My husband laughed at me the other day because the majority of our groceries are produce. I cut up fresh fruit and veggies for our sides. It helps that we all eat like birds, especially our three daughters.

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cravings.


i want to eat these cookies from iheartnaptime.com

 


this pumpkin dream cake looks TO. DIE. FOR.  from thenovicechefblog.com

 


i know for a fact that i would love this Puppy Chow with Snickers from thirtyhandmadedays.com

 


and seriously…. coconut AND dark chocolate… frozen?  come to mama.
these are called Coconut Klondike Bites from paleomg.com

 


if i could sit out on my patio on a saturday morning with a cup of coffee
and these blueberry lemon sweet rolls… my life might be complete.
these are from abeautifulbite.com.

 

 

can you tell that i am hungry?

and that i haven’t been eating any foods like this for quite awhile?!

i love sweets.
but my waistline disagrees.
so for now… i will have a salad and dream about enjoying these treats (just a taste) in a few months.

first i need to stop drooling though….

 

 

Molly - I’m reading your new posts backwards and I love how you posted this and then posted about your weight loss! Cruel!

Carol s. - I’d definitely reach for the bowl of puppy chow first, but I’m on the low carb wagon for a couple months with decent success. I did have a splurge meal of deep dish pizza, umm three pieces, and a bowl of ice cream with a blessed banana (oh how I miss my bananas) but have been back on the wagon happily since. Someday those sweets will be yours…

Mindy - Oh how I admire your self control when it comes to sweets! I eat plenty of vegetables but I also have something sweet every.single.day. Looking at your lovely pictures has set off my craving for today…you can pray for me if you want : )

melissa rice - i thought you were going to share your health journey with us?

comfypjs - Looks like you have an extreme sugar craving…Ha!

Jen - Yum! Those do look good! Proud of you for having willpower though. It’s hard. I just started a food journal for the first time ever a month ago. I am amazed that I don’t eat as much as I thought each day, but am also very concerned about my lack of fruits and veggies. It’s been an eye opener and I’m trying to feed my body with the real food that will fuel it.

April R - come to momma indeed! 🙂

Kimberlee - That pumpkin cake looks amazing.
I want it now.
Thanks a lot.

Gina - Thanks a lot Meg!! I just started a diet. 😛 Actually, I was thinking about foods to make at Thanksgiving and I thought of a pumpkin cake with cream cheese icing so I pinned that one. And the sweet rolls. Oy! 😉

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cravings….

today…. it was monday.   
blah.
we cleaned up the house all morning and caught up on some laundry.     
it was needed. 

then as a reward i took my kids to the pool.
and we walked in the door and over the speaker it was announced

"please clear the pool. there is lightning "

ugh.

it was just that kind of day.
and i really wanted to eat something sweet….
i REALLY wanted it.

but we have no groceries so we couldn't make any of it!

which made it even more of a monday. 

nerds. 

these were some of the pins that were making us drool over here today:

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                                                Oreo Pudding Pops

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                                              York peppermint brownies

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                                           mocha coconut frappuccino

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                               white chocolate mint oreo icebox cake

Brownie-cookie-smores-1-of-5
                 
                                        s'more brownie cookies 

 

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                                       snickerdoodle crumble donuts

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                                  peanut butter banana french toast

 

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                                            blueberry mojito
                             my kids weren't craving this… just me.
                                              
Ab6060050e093863368eb5d4776225db
                             
                            frozen chocolate caramel sea salt banana bites  

 

Chocolate-peanut-butter-cup-cookies-recipe
                              
                                   chocolate peanut butter cup cookies

 

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                                            twinkie layer cake

 

are you a sweet or salty cravings kind of person?

i am 100% sweet.  
i never crave salty food.

and now… i have to go to sleep before i get out of bed and find something to eat.
do you do that too?
 
 

Sara - This post just about kills me. Reminds me that I’ve been wanting to make coffee ice cream Oreo pie. I’m dying to make that blueberry mojito. That is some outstanding food photography! I have Smitten Kitchen’s peanut butter brownies with chocolate ganache in the oven right now…

Rach - Well I won’t be starting that diet anytime soon.

Mindy - A sweet tooth definitely – and your Pinterest photos are not helping : ) I laugh at our grocery cart in slight embarassment at all the fresh veggies we put on the conveyor belt followed by a package of cookies and a couple candy bars. We are so bad…

Terrie G - Stop. it.
I just gained 5 pounds looking at the pictures!
I can go either way…
salty…chips & Salsa/dip
sweet …red vines licorice (preferable rope from the store where I grew up in Califonia…it’s all different now. 🙁 )
of course…all things Pinterest!

barbara - Sweet all the way and I could eat one of each!

Lora - Oh!My!Gosh!
York peppermint brownies!…. and everything else!
I LOVE sugar…

Tiffany - Sweets win for me. Every. Time. All of those look SO good!

happygirl - I like salty and sweet TOGETHER. And, this post gave me a toothache. Loved it.

Suzanne Gallagher - How I wish I was a nerd right now 🙂 YUMMY!

Linda - Now I’m craving those things!! I even had to go pin them! I totally have a sweet tooth too I never crave salt.

Gemma - Sweet all the way!!

stephanie - WOW. YUM.
If I am actually hungry I crave salty food–savory all the way. However, for treats and snacks it is all sweet, all the time. I never crave, say, chips. Or pretzels. Or Goldfish. But I do crave steak with grilled asparagus, or a loaded salad.

Alice H - I am both sweet and salty! Chips with salsa is one of my faves. Or a root beer float. I want both ALL the time!

Kimberlee Jost - Ultimately, salty.
Cheese, chips, crackers, pickles. Oh OLIVES.
I should have had a child named Olive.
Oh well.
Too late now.

nan - ditto! That was so bad to tease us like that. Just kidding.

Casey - We made those blueberry mojitos last week, and they were DELICIOUS! Switching out the berries for pineapple is really good too.

Kristin S - I think I just drooled on my computer.

Racheal - I crave both! Usually salty during the day and sweets at night. I think I’m going to have to make those chocolate peanut butter cup cookies now!

CathyC - Everything looks delicious! I crave both sweet & salty. Gotta have both. Now I want some ice-cream…

nora - I love both together! My favorite is M&Ms with some pretzels on the side. Pretzel M&Ms are just not as satisfying.

Robyn Farmer - Those all look yummy! This is one of our favorite summer treats.
http://www.thefarmersnest.com/2012/07/watermelon-lime-slushie-recipe.html

Sabrina - I love sugar!! Sometimes I just sit on Pinterest and look at hundreds of pics of desserts just to satisfy my sweet tooth, but without the cals.

Allison - Sweets are my thing, especially chocolate. I’ve been trying to watch what I eat and breaking my chocolate addiction has been the HARDEST part of it all.

Laura - If I crave ANYTHING salty, it’s a Reese’s cup. Sugar – all the time.

jen - i used to have a bakery so yes…i crave sweet foods ALL THE TIME!!! and i make them too!

Kate S. - I dream about dessert – all day, all night!

meredith feisel - 100% Chocolate girl! Also, I just made an Oreo Ice Box Cake. The link I had was to use regular Oreos and I thought I’ll try it with mint… then I see your pin here. Lol. Its really simple. Made it for Daddy for Father’s Day.

Molly - Hey Meg, I was craving the snickerdoodle donut, but the link appears to be the icebox cake link. Can you link to the donut? I’d love all of those and the blueberry mojito sounds really good. Thanks for sharing……..

Valerie @ Chateau a la mode - I crave all foods, but mostly sweet. Pinterest has amazingly yummy looking recipes. I’m heading to my freezer right now after seeing all that yumminess. I think we have some Ben and Jerrys in there somewhere 😉

Lisa - I just crave food period. Ha! But sweets really are my addiction. 🙂 And yes sometimes I scavenge for food too. Ugh… Why is food soooo yummy!?

Kate - nerds

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alright….it’s a new day.

so i got lots of texts yesterday and emails asking "what's going on??!"
i guess i was making people nervous or being dramatic?

or keep it to myself too often that when i explode people get nervous?
i think people were worried.
it's all ok…it's just HARD….and i wish it wasn't so hard most of the time.  

but i got it all out in writing here yesterday and felt so much better almost immediately.
God gave me another day to try again.
thankful for that.

IMG_6921-5
 
we made chocolate chip cookies.  (best recipe ever)
a double batch.
and it was like yummy therapy.  :)

then i took the four youngest who were off of school to a movie.
and freddys for dinner.

it was good to get out of the house.

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still liking this book a lot.
i am about halfway through….it is very interesting writing…i am so curious to see where it leads.

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i had a happy box on my porch.
it's about time i got on board with this company.
what has taken me so long….seriously?
i am a convert.
love them and want to get some more already.

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good thing we gave waffle that bath…..

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watching talby play volleyball this past weekend made me realize how very tall and grown up she is getting!
right before my eyes.
and she was the only one with out knee pads… #parentfail

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speaking of growing up… holy cows.
i don't get the hair but i understand the need to make your choices and have a "style" you like.
i am not sure what that is…but he does and so i am not making a big deal.

he looks good in black and red though.

IMG_6932-9
i am a sucker for good marketing that is visually awesome.
and this is.  
old navy you have great designers.
i want every color.          
(except purple…no thank you)

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this morning i printed out my pdf files from CLEAN MAMA and i am ready to get organized.
i love that she has the jobs written out already.
that was a huge for me.
i get so overwhelmed with chores and cleaning and keeping up at my house.
so becky has all kinds of ways to help me get organized and doing it such a cute and colorful way!!!
thank you Clean Mama for getting my life together! 

okie dokie….
i am off to get my hair did.
and go to the bank
and the walmart.
and high school volleyball games tonight.

thank you for the hundreds of encouraging "you are not alone" comments and emails and texts.
THANK YOU.

i felt lifted up in prayer and in friendship.
i felt heard.
i can be open and honest here and not be attacked.
i am so grateful for that.

and my husband teased me about the mama grizzly.  :)

but it's TRUE!!!

 

 

Erin - Just finished Donald Miller’s book. Thanks for the recommendation!!

Kelly Henderson - Thanks for the heads up, girlfriend! 🙂

wesandruthb@gmail.com - Meg,
Love you for being you.
You are real
and that’s why
other blogs come and go with me-but you…
you feel like my friend from Kansas.
Aren’t we grateful our children
will remember our faith, when
the time comes they need their Savior?
Because we all do.
Loves, Ruth

Jessica R - If you’re quick and get to the ball you don’t need knee pads! That was my motto in volleyball ;). I want to see what Toms you picked. I’ll definitely be heading to Old Navy soon – super cute!

julie - Rock Star jeans go on sale tomorrow for $19. For reals. Treat yo’self. To a lot of them.
Happy jeans are cheaper than therapy.

mich - I love this blog so hard. I only have two, and their 5 and 3, so I can’t imagine all the craziness that comes with FIVE, the oldest being in high school. Nuts. Cut yourself some slack, girl.
And I notice that you mention wanting babies a lot on here. 🙂 I get it. I think we might be done at two kiddos, but something I’ve been considering down the road is fostering. Who knows? Maybe that would be a good fit for you guys? You seem to have so much love and fun to share, and those tiny ones in foster care could really use it. Just a thought…

christi - so glad you are having a better day!
if you haven’t already … go now and get the rockstar skinnies! they are AWESOME. no, more than awesome. like infinity awesome! some of the best fitting, most flattering and incredibly comfortable pants i’ve bought in a while. at a whopping 35 bucks! score on sale for $30 right now! the dark purple are fantastic … the green delicious … mustard so totally fall … red/orange energizing. size up. size up. size up. i always have to size down in ON but def. size up in these bad boys. they are ROCKSTARS! can you tell i love them?!

Andrea - Some days – and I read your blog every single day – I leave it feeling envious of you – your skill, your home (the way you make it a home), your craft weekends. Then I remind myself “comparison is the thief of happiness.”
I tell you that to tell you this: Even more inspiring than your home and your craft weekends is the way you honestly parent, the way you honestly share, the way you honestly keep working at your relationship with God.
Thank you so much Meg, I just love you.

Leah - I’m in awe at this Clean Mama stuff! I just want to buy all of her stuff. So before I do, which packets of hers did you get? Thinking about the 2013 starter kit. I’m one of those odd organizing freaks, so the more tools I have, the better!

Anne - You are SO not alone in the “parenting struggles” department! While I felt sad for you, and could totally relate to what a crummy day you had had, it was quite refreshing that you just put it all out there. I love your blog! I love your honesty and the fact that you just typed it out! You are the {real} deal, Meg! Totally legit. No faking from you that everything is all hearts and flowers and rainbows all of the time. Parenting is HARD work! What a blessing to be able to communicate, and make new friendships, and touch so many lives via the Internet. You keep typing, and posting your fabulous photos, and I’ll keep reading! Oh yeah, pull my name for Craft Weekend, and I’ll come to that, too! I’d totally die!!!

Tracy Fisher - I just have one thing to say…. I get it, sister!!! Happy Tuesday. -Tracy

Jennifer - Ok, so maybe no knee pads, but definitely Talby has the most awesome shoes!
I didn’t write yesterday b/c I didn’t know what to say….except I have moments like those…monthly. Times where I want to scream at my girls, “YOU BETTER START APPRECIATING EACH OTHER!” We wanted siblings because of all the love and joy they bring to each others’ lives. So start enriching already dammit! And the days when nobody listens? Or storms out of the room? Or stomps up the steps? Hello 10 and 12 year olds with attitude.
Anyway. The bad times pass, but they are not fun when you are in the throes. Most definitely you are not alone, and I’d be willing to be you handle it a lot better than I do.
<3

Kristin S - Oh, and, now I want those cords in kelly green. I worked at The Gap in college and we had colored cords and denim! That was 1991. It all comes back….

Kristin S - Meg, I’ll say it again, your post was so refreshing! I don’t go to your blog because it is all cherries and rainbows (well, rainbows, yes…) but because you are real and normal and honest and love Jesus.
I linked to your post yesterday at the bottom of a difficult post I had just written before seeing yours. http://kristinwithani.wordpress.com/2012/09/18/weary/ Many readers clicked on that link and I know were blessed by your gut-level honesty.
His mercies are new every morning. Praise the Lord!!!

Valerie @ Chateau Ala Mode - Hi sweet Meg, just caught up on your last two posts…please don’t get too overwhelmed with being a mom, although I totally get it. I hope you realize that being a good mom means we get overwhelmed and we get frustrated and we feel like we’re not enough, yada, yada. A good mom does feel like that…alot because you care and you want so desperately to raise kids that love the Lord, and love you and love their family. You want them to succeed in the world and in their life. Check all of that out…that’s alot that we have to do and think about. I’ve said many times that I really don’t know how I would get through raising kids if I didn’t have God to lean on. If I didn’t have prayer and His word I would have to be heavily medicated to do this job. It’s a heavy load to do by yourself. Glad you’re feeling better today. Chocolate chip cookies help 😉 but so does a big God.
P.S. My son went through the wild hair stage at about that age. We let him do his thing and it lasted about a year and after that he’s kept it short ever since. Sometimes I think letting them do their thing (within reason) is the answer.
Sending you a big hug!
Valerie

Lisa M. - Glad to hear it’s a better day. I sent a little prayer up for ya yesterday 🙂
I thought I made the best ever chocolate chip cookies!! Now I’m going to have to try your recipe. I didn’t see butter listed in the ingredients. Hmm…

Flower Patch Farmgirl - 1. Talby is RIPPED!
2. I always experience the same sort of thing when I let the ugly out. It freaks people the heck out. And I’m always like, why? I’m having a bad day. It happens!
3. But I think you’re right, some of us keep it in and then it takes people off guard.
4. Why do those tight cropped cords look so cute on other people but I feel like a dork in ’em?
5. This is quickly turning the corner to Part II of my rambly comment from yesterday…

Becky-Clean Mama - It’s a new day! Thanks for the feature – you are too sweet 🙂

Kimberly Dial - So glad you are feeling better. Chocolate chip cookies & a trip to the beauty shop … two awesome ideas!

Sarah - I completely understand where you’re coming from with the hair. I let our 6 year old get a real mohawk this summer and even painted it for him every morning after I spiked it up. It made him happy, it was what he needed after our big move so I went with it. And I’m so glad you’re feeling better! We really do all have those days.

northern cottage - what a gift that we get to start all over again each day…each sunshiney – fresh – wonderful day. add coffee to make it even better! xo

Corny - Kids, I raised 4 and they can embarrass you sometimes, BUT as long as they don’t steal, and are drug free they are going to be just like there parents. Just fine!

Beth - It’s good to see that you’re feeling better 🙂
I am cringing at that volleyball picture though… #7 has her fingers interlocked. No, no, noooo…. my old volleyball coaches’ voices are playing in my head. haha.
Btw, those cookies look DELICIOUS! We’re going to make some on Thursday to take to our local police and fire stations… we’ve been talking about it for months. Might have to use your recipe!

Brooke - Those jeans…don’t even go there…at least I couldn’t. They are not like the target version. They are made for talby size girls with no hips. Not that I’m bitter… At least they have great marketing! I think you are doing a great job walking through this honestly….and knowing that all parents walk through the journey of not knowing if you are doing things right. You’re doing a great job. Clinging to your husband and the Lord and just hoping (praying) that you are not screwing anyone up and that everyone will choose wise things SOMEDAY….
And thanks a lot…saw your insta chocolate chip cookies and had to make my own. Thanks for making me LESS likely to fit into any colored jeans anytime soon.

happygirl - You are bouncing back. I’m glad. 🙂

Jocelyn Pascall - Glad you are having a better day. Hang in there…

angela - So glad His mercies are new every morning.
I’m with you on the color purple.
Love me a cookie.
What a great mom to let him rock his own hairstyle. I failed in that dept.
You is kind. You is smart. You is important.
And I love your heart.

Linda@Restyled Home - Hah! I love that you hate purple, too!
I love that you are real and don’t hide the not so nice bits of life.
We all have them!

seriously sassy mama - I need a pair of Toms. I never wear socks and am always wearing either converse or loafers. The would be a nice addition. Love all the colors to organize with. Reminds me I need to update my planner.

Heather S. - You had a “poo” day and then the next day you made cookies, took the kids to a movie, and then hit Freddy’s? You really know how to bounce back! LOL 🙂

sara @ it's good to be queen - i like you. you’re good people. 🙂
p.s. the new rockstar jeans from old navy are awesome. have you bought a pair? not too low rise…not too high. perfect.

Alisha - So glad you’re having a better day! I’m always amazed at how the promise and arrival of a new days gives a whole new perspective to what seems dark and impossible at times. Bless you for sharing.

Kate - You are LOVED. Not judged. Just loved.

Pink and Green Mama MaryLea - I always feel better after I dump out my brain in my journal and cookies sure do help make it better too!! So glad today’s a better day — hugs!

stephany - isn’t it great that a new day always gives a “do over”!
being a momma is hard work…we do the best we can.
have a great day!

Regina - YAY! Glad you were able to “turn that frown upside down”, lol! 🙂 Here’s to many more great days ahead!

elma - Life is hard and you are awesome!!!

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