The "Sisters After Birth" O.A.P. Challenge

Let me start by explaining the title.
The Lord didn't give me a sister growing up.  I was an only child.  I turned out fine.  (no comments allowed about that).
In 2006, He sent me Robin.
I knew by looking at her pocketbook that we were gonna be lifelong friends.  I told her this.
I have a sister, God just didn't give her to me until later in life.
Knowing us, if we had grown up together, we would have caused a lot more trouble.
He knew what He was doing. 

Now back to the challenge.

When we bought our home almost 5 years ago...it was a plain blank slate.  I had never decorated a house before and expensive, magically appearing due to credit cards, furniture was not an option.  And boy oh boy am I glad I had a hubby that would say no!!!! 

It has been a process over the years.  It is definitely still in progress but we've come along way baby! 

But with decorating comes organization.  I love organizing (especially other people's stuff) that I don't have to see get messed up!

I have a toddler.  We have purged a lot of stuff.  But we still have a lot of stuff.   I also have a lot of unfinished projects.  Did I mention I have a toddler???  Come see my half painted laundry room that has been that way for months!

Now I know you are thinking...get on with it Jess, what does my sister after birth and organization have to do with one another.

Well we Robin and Jess have decided to become Organization Accountability Partners. 

I got the idea from I'm and Organizing Junkie.  Not the OAP part, cause I came up with that snazzy-ness (lets just give credit where credit is due folks!).  jk  She basically suggested choosing a room/project a month and focusing on "getting it together" in that space.  She encourages that you take pics of the space before and after.  I loved that part!

I liked this plan.  It requires focus.  Something I struggle with.  And I have Robin to get me on track.  She can pop in anytime to see my progress, and will not judge my mess.  We can bounce ideas off one another and celebrate together when the project is complete.

I encourage you to do this with us.  You don't have to pick the same room or space, just find a bud and get to it.  We will be posting pictures of before and after.  Our first challenge is the LAUNDRY ROOM...dun dun dun!!!!!  It all kicks off in March so be on the lookout for our progress and we hope you will join us.

How to Fold Sheets...The Toddler Way

I get a lot of help around here.

Wookie is learning to fold sheets.

He picked up on it really quickly.

His steps were pretty much limited to "wad", "spread out", "roll around".

 

It gave me took him 20 minutes, and he needed a little help at the end, but whatever works for me him!

 

Menu Plan Monday

Here's "The Plan" for this week....now if we can just stick to it!   
Don't forget to see below for red entree recipes!

Monday:     Chicken and Peppers Fajitas, Hubby's Homemade Guacamole, Veggie Toppings
                  


Tuesday:    Fish Fillets, Pasta Salad , Steamed Broccoli


Wednesday: Hungry Man Mini's, Green Beans, Salad

Thursday:   Crockpot Herb Chicken, Mac and Cheese, Peas


Friday:        LEFTOVER   BUFFET
Saturday:   Valentine's Day Date!
Sunday:    Venison Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Steamfresh Veggies

Hungry Man Mini's

Ingredients:  1 lb. cooked ground beef sauteed with onion, 1/2 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce, 3-4 tbsp. ketchup,
1 can refrigerated biscuits.  
Directions:  Preheat oven to 350.  Tear biscuits (if using them) in half horizontally so you have 2 circles from each biscuit.  Press one circle in the bottom of your muffin tin holes.  Mix ground beef
onion, bbq, and ketchup in a bowl.  Spoon this mixture into each muffin tin hole, filling almost full.  Bake these at 350 for 15-20 minutes until golden brown!

For more great menus visit I'm an Organizing Junkie and Chubby Chica.

Windows of Opportunity

This is the story of three very old window panes who have been nestled in my garage for a couple of years now.

Two of the window panes were very pushy and demanding.  One little window pane was quiet and forgotten about because of the larger two.
One day the two large window panes begged me to paint them and then sell them to good homes in my Mama's antique booth.
I had to tell the two large window panes "I cannot paint you. I have an infant, and I am really into sewing purses right now. There is no time. Check back with me later."
They collaborated and asked me to hang them over my bed.
I had to tell them "I cannot hang you two over my bed.  I am having nightmarish visions of the two of you dropping your glass in the middle of the night and slicing us open in our sleep, leaving us unable to call 911 and tell on you."
They looked at me like I was crazy. Go figure.
They told me I could prevent the middle of the night slicing accident from happening with a little silicone sealant.
I told them, "Sorry window panes.  The gruesome image is already ingrained in my head.  Besides I am busy making Mother's Day presents.  Check back with me later.
Again, with the crazy looks.

Then, the quiet, shabby, but chic smaller pane spoke up.  "Excuse me Your Craftiness?"
"Yes?" I replied.  "Have you considered using me, already painted antique white and chippy, on that blank wall in your dining room?
I did some thinking.  Weeks went by.  I was busy,  I have a toddler and I was really into making vintage wreaths right then.
"Ok, little window pane.  Let's do this.  Your natural with age wooden streaks will go so well with the furniture, and your antique white chippy-ness will match perfectly with the baseboards and window treatment. There is little that needs to be done to make you wall worthy."
The little window pane and I spent a good hour together.  I believe it was during a nap.  She needed a good cleaning and her glass sealed to prevent any slices accidents.
That afternoon we enlisted the help of two very handsome and very handy men.  Well, a man and a boy.
They drilled and screwed heavy screws into the back of the little window pane.

They fastened hanging wire around the screws.  

Being the math minded men they are....they MEASURED!!!

The sweet and shabby little window pane had a new home, now she just needs some sconces neighbors.

And we all lived happily ever after.  We will live happier when we find some sconces.  But you get my drift.

Oh what happened to those two pushy larger panes, you ask?


I mentioned my story of the window panes to a friend.  She (not knowing the "pain' the two large window panes had been) expressed that she was interested in  putting up with  using them in her own home.  They moved to her home last night!  I can't wait to see what they she comes up with to use them for.

Baked Grilled Cheese from The Rubber Punkin

 I found a new blog that I *heart* so very much.  Its The Rubber Punkin.  You will want to check her out for all things creative and crafty!! She decided to share this new concept in the world of Grilled Cheese and I can't wait to try it out.  I, too, dread spending the time making one grilled cheese at a time, or dragging out my large breakfast griddle. Not that I'm complaining.  So here is  her solution to that "woe is me" problem.

 

Baked Grilled Cheese

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

2. Butter one side of each piece of bread.

3. Put the buttered side face down onto an ungreased cookie sheet.

4. Slice your cheese and place the cheese onto the unbuttered side of the bread.

5. Put the other half of your sandwich on top of the cheese, the buttered side face up.

6. Sprinkle a SMALL amount of seasoning salt on top.

7. Put in the oven and bake for four minutes.

8. At four minutes, flip the sandwich so it's evenly crispy (my oven may differ from yours. Just make sure it's starting to brown ever so slightly before you flip it).

9. Bake another four minutes.

10. Ding ding ding! Time to eat! This is perfection dipped into hot tomato soup.

The Fruitful Life by Jerry Bridges/ Chapter One

I love Wednesdays... because of my bible study lady friends.  It is uninterrupted conversation.  No interruptions like asking for a snack (even with that cute scrunched up nose), or stopping to wipe that cute little nose, or to get a little someone down from standing on the couch (or anything climb-able at the time).

Its just adult conversation and I leave there able to spiritually make it through the week.  I feel so comfortable and thankful knowing someone is praying for me throughout the week. 

We have had many answered prayers within that group, and some prayers that we lay down not knowing if they will ever be answered, but knowing that they are in His hands, and that He sees us on the other side of them. 

We just started our new book The Fruitful Life by Jerry Bridges.  And I LOVE IT.  Here's a link to it on amazon if you want to check it out.  The Preface was like no other I had read.

This week we will be discussing "Taking On God's Character"
So here is the jest of Chapter One:
Jerry gives us 6 principles of Habits of Grace, Godliness, Godlikeness, or Christlikeness (which I will be calling it)
1. Devotion to God, What are our motives....Self Centered or God Centered?

2. Power for a godly life comes from the risen Christ.
3. Though the power comes from Christ, it is our responsibility to develop and display His character.
4. Developing godly character entails "putting off and putting on". (vices and fruit)
5. We are to pursue growth in all of the graces that are considered fruit of the Spirit (balance)
6. Growth in all areas is progressive and never finished. 

I will be sure to elaborate more on this chapter after our discussion tonight!

Mini-Chicken Pot Pies

I am going to use three of my favorite adjectives to describe the Mini Chicken Pot Pies I made tonight.

QUICK
EASY
YUMMY

You will need:
Chunked or Shredded Chicken (I used the thighs and legs from a whole chicken I cooked the night before)
1 can mixed vegetables
1 can cream of chicken soup
Dash of salt and pepper.
1 can of 8 ct. Grands Biscuits

I preheated my oven to 350.  I sprayed my muffin tin with Pam and divided each biscuit in half so that I had two round pieces of dough from each biscuit.  I mixed my chicken, veggies, soup, salt and pepper in a bowl and set it aside.  I pressed one biscuit half, into the bottom of 10 muffin tin holes, pressing the dough up the sides as much as possible.  I then filled each with the veggie/chicken mixture.  Then I topped each with the second half of the biscuit dough, pressing around the edges to seal each pie.  Finally I cut and X in the top of each pie.  I baked these about 15-20 minutes on 350 or until golden brown.