GIVE AWAYS!!! go go go...time is flying by!

Hurry over to Danielle's she has two great give aways ending SOON! Don't forget I've won 5 TIMES!! so your chances are good and it doesn't take long at all to enter .....what have you got to lose? Both of the sites giving these items away have some really COOL things to look at so you might enjoy checking out their sites too! Go to Danielle's and look at her Give Away list on her sidebar! HOPE YOU WIN!!

Easter Pecan Pie!

Chocolate Pecan Pie is so heavenly and rich and decadent you won't be able to eat a whole slice I'll bet! (well maybe a small slice!) Enjoy!

1 pie crust (if I don't feel like making homemade, Pillsbury makes a very good roll out crust)
Filling:
1 C. firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 C. light corn syrup
1/2 C. dark corn syrup
1/4 C. butter, melted
3 large eggs
1 1/2 ts. Vanilla
1/4 ts. salt
2 C. pecan halves
3/4 C. semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 C. flaked sweetened coconut

Preheat oven to 350*. Put crust in deep pie plate, crimp edges (be sure edges rest on the rim if you use the prepared crust so they don't fall in/melt into the pie plate) Bake crust for 8 mins.
In large bowl, combine the sugar and corn syrups. Add melted butter, eggs, vanilla and salt. Beat until well combined. Stir in pecans. Sprinkle chocolate chips on the bottom of crust evenly. Then sprinkle coconut on top of chocolate chips. Pour pecan mixture on top of coconut. Bake for 1 hr. or until center is set. Cover with foil last 10 minutes if needed to prevent burning.

I WON I WON!!!

I WON DANIELLE'S GIVE AWAY FOR THE GEL MAT!! I DIDN'T KNOW ALL DAY! I JUST FINALLY CHECKED EMAIL AND THERE IT WAS YOU WON!!!!! AMAZING! I JUST ENTERED LAST NIGHT 2 HRS. (MAYBE LESS) BEFORE THE DEADLINE!! GET OVER THERE AND ENTER FOR THE OTHER GREAT GIVE AWAYS....I THINK THAT'S MY 4TH TIME WINNING...I'VE WON A COOL FIRST AIDE KIT, YUMMY COWGIRL CHOCOLATES, DIVINE VANILLA LOTION AND NOW THIS AWESOME MAT......OH MY TOOTSIES ARE ALREADY THANKING ME!!! GO ......GO NOW AND ENTER!!! THANKS DANIELLE!!

Give Aways!!

Get over here quick for the greatest give away at Danielle's! She has ALOT of cool give aways happening right now and more to come I see! This gel mat would be sooo cool to have at home for sore and tired feet!! hope you win!!!

Spring....Easter....Smiles!

Doesn't Spring bring smiles and more smiles to your face? When that sunshine pops out and my Crocus' are popping through the ground.....it makes me smile! We've had a few warm days but not this week but the sunshine has been so lovely......I know it changes my whole countenance when the sun is shining! Remember the cute shadow box Beth gave me? it's become one of my favorite things and I keep thinking up ideas for it all the time! Here's what Easter brought to it this year! We named this cute little guy "Ben"! haha

I copied this "bright idea" from the front cover of Country Living magazine......I love it when my family can walk through the back door and they are greeted with a burst of color and Spring! These are just "fakers"....I love Hobby Lobby!

Wouldn't you know this is another little ditty BETH GAVE ME....this glass dome is another fun thing I love to find things to put underneath it! This little bunny is enjoying some fresh green grass and petals without being bothered!

I nabbed this Easter tree on super sale and the girls especially loved it, Grace loved hanging all the Easter eggs from it.....we also hang Easter eggs outside on a Rose of Sharon tree right outside our front window! We used green polka dotted ribbon and I found Eggs in bright Earthy colors this year at my other favorite store...TARGET! they are bright green, peach, Rosy red, yellow, robins' egg blue and pale yellow! fun to drive up the driveway and see that Polka dotted egg tree outdoors!

This is another favorite Easter piece I got years ago....the little flowers are napkin rings that are felt! so fun and colorful! This sits over my computer desk! Notice the ceramic carrot behind it, I love that too! WELL YOU'RE ALL ON TO ME BY NOW.....I LOVE AN EXCUSE TO DECORATE!! I hope some of you put a few bright touches out for Spring and Easter....I hope too that you are celebrating the "true" meaning of Easter.....It can be alot of fun to celebrate Easter with the chocolate bunnies and jelly beans but it's also a reminder that our SAVIOR paid a HIGH PRICE for US! I find Easter to be a precious season in my life.......we help host a Seder supper for the kids at church the night before Good Friday after sharing a stew supper together and it is the beginning of a weekend to reflect on what it really means that Jesus DIED FOR US.....and all He asks is that we spread the news that he did just that....so others can come to know him, live for Him and spend an eternity with him! WOW!

Banana Cake! Old fashioned style!

We had a Birthday party Friday night for my mom and Mike and my niece. Mike's aunt brought a luscious German Chocolate cake and I made my Grandma's old fashioned banana cake with Marshmallow icing! Both cakes were great! but I can only give you the recipe for my Grandma's! ha So here goes!
Banana Cake:
1 1/2 C. sugar
1/2 C. shortening
2 eggs, beaten slightly
1 C. sour milk or buttermilk
1 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
2 C. flour
1 C. mashed bananas (3)
dash salt
*You can make sour milk by adding 1 ts. lemon juice to 1 C. milk and stir for a minute, it really does make a difference in the cake's taste!Cream shortening and sugar. Add beaten egg. Add dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk. Add bananas and beat well. Pour into 2-9" cake pans prepared with Pam. Bake at 375* for 30-35 min. until browned and done in centers. You can also make a 9 x 13 and bake 35 mins. until done. Marshmallow Icing:
2 egg whites
1 C. dark Corn Syrup
1/2 C. mini marshmallows
Beat eggs whites and Corn syrup in double boiler on stove.(I make my own by putting a smaller pan in a larger pan of simmering water) Beat over hot water until thick and fluffy. (About 5-6 minutes) Add marshmallows and beat until melted. Remove pan from stove and beat until icing holds peaks. (5 mins. or so) Let icing sit about 5 minutes before icing cake.

You really have to make the icing the day you want to make the cake and eat it. Otherwise the icing gets a bit too stiff, although it's good leftover just not AS good as the first day. I made a triple layer cake by making a batch and a half of the cake mix BUT then I was short icing. If you want to make a triple layer (which is really pretty) make a double batch of icing! MMM this cake is so moist and has a yummy crunchy outside to it....you could almost eat the cake with NO icing.....but then again once you taste this icing you wouldn't WANT to go without it! it's really simple and delicious! There's nothing like "Grandma cakes!"

VOILA! cake! notice my little shadow box, remember the one Beth got me? I found the perfect Easter bunny to put in there...we named him Ben! ha ENJOY everyone....this would be a great Easter cake.....I have a yummy chocolate pecan pie recipe to share soon too that would be wonderful for Easter and is very simple!

MORE Spring cleaning......

MORE spring cleaning........Heading to our Master bedrooms!! I'm just starting on mine today.....I was looking at the book shelves in my room and thought that would be a good place to start! I seem to always have so many books I "intend" to read so I'm going to line them up in order of wanting to read them and see if that motivates! ha

I LOVE wearing baseball caps and mostly wear them in Summer so I am thinking one of those baseball cap hangers would be ideal for me! Jordan has one I might steal since he NEVER puts it on the hook! ha I have my eye on a FLORAL cap at Target...watching for a sale......

My closet is what I dread.....not the clothing part since I did clear those out in the Fall for a church clothing drive.....but the shelves! I KNOW there are dust bunnies up there having a ball and BOOKS .....old books......and get this: CASSETTE TAPES that I used to let the kids listen to for their quiet times in years past. (BOO HOO I don't have any napping kids anymore.....well little napping ones anyhow! ha I have a teen but that's not my point! ha)

So......we'll see if I have some good before and after photos of my closet by end week! good luck!! the Sunshine sure is helpful!! Head over to Beautiful 2 God, her button is on my sidebar!!

GIVE AWAY!

Danielle is ending her big give away here......so go and check it out! there's still time!! it's an awesome prize!! What do you have to lose really? ha ENJOY THE WEEKEND!!!

Spring cleaning!...someMORE!

(Be sure to turn your speaker on when you read this....you'll get a kick out of the song!
Beautiful 2 God (click here or look for her button on my side bar) is hosting another Spring Cleaning challenge......your main bathroom! Fortunate for me, I tackled this a few weeks ago because it was driving me bonkers.....I can't tell you how many bottles with just dribbles of shampoo etc. I cleaned out.....and SHEETS? folding sheets is not my favorite chore let alone sorting them.....but I did by person! now no one has an excuse not to put clean sheets on their beds each week! haha "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. "Ezekiel 36:25, 26

Do you pray when you go about your cleaning? I try to pick certain people or groups to pray for when I'm doing my "jobs"....meaning when I clean 2 houses for PAY! haha I love to pray for the people that live in that house knowing each week prayers flow through their rooms after I leave! and considering one of the houses I clean is my friend it's especially sweet to me to pray for her and her family!!

"Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow." Ps. 51:7

Do you use Hyssop? I looked it up and Hyssop was used for a Cologne or used in cooking as an herb with a minty flavor. It also had many medicinal purposes! I don't think we use Hyssop these days haha

This is a toothbrush holder I found on clearance years ago for Grace, it has a salt timer so you can remember how long to brusha brusha!!

"She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks." Prov. 31:17

Sometimes I don't feel like my arms are very strong especially after cleaning! haha Sometimes I plop down after a cleaning job and stay there.....too long! ha

These are flossers for kids that we keep in a glass jar so they look like EYE CANDY to the kids and it entices them to floss! So many neat things for kids these days.....I had plain old string floss when I was a kid!

"She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple" Prov. 31:22
This reminds of my friend Jacki who makes theeee most gorgeous quilts! they are amazing and she finishes peoples quilts for them, attaching the backing and edges and quilting it! amazing to me for sure! and I have friends that sew! THEIR CLOTHES.....that amazes me too....I couldn't do either but I'm a heck of a clearance finder! haha
Nothing fancy in the toiletry cabinet but it's nice to have things ready to reach and know when you're down to that last bar of soap or out of toothpaste!!

So......I could tackle the "guys" bathroom.......but I don't think I will.......I didn't do a very good job getting to last weeks challenge so I think I'll work on the front closet this week!! Danielle did a great job last week! WOW!! Look for her button on my sidebar and check out her GREAT give away and her entry way cleaning job at Finally Finding Me!!

GIVE AWAYS!!!

YOU HAVE TO GO OVER TO MY FRIEND DANIELLE'S AND CHECK OUT HER GIVE AWAYS! SHE HAS A DOOZY TODAY ........I WON A GIVE AWAY THIS WEEK! A FIRST AIDE KIT FOR KIDS! SO FUN!!! CHECK IT OUT!!! CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING!

My Daybook!

FOR TODAY Outside my window...SUNSHINE SUNSHINE SUNSHINE!! birds at the bird feeder (and squirrels, argh ha) and lovely lovely SUNSHINE!! and blue fresh skies...Spring is Springin!!

I am thinking...about what we might do this afternoon, maybe a walk later!

I am thankful for...SUNSHINE! God just knew how much we would enjoy the changing seasons, and the artwork he provides outside each day!

From the learning rooms...Trying to work with Grace on reading and math.....I don't know why it was so much easier with the first two! Grace would much rather be off playing than working on school work! haha But we are getting much better and reading thankfully!

From the kitchen...stuffed pizza and Olive Garden salad(I just copy what they do!) for my brother in laws Birthday party here tonight! Mike's aunt Roz is bringing her famous chocolate cake with Chocolate Butter cream....my mouth is watering!!

I am wearing...red polka dotted pj's pants, a t shirt and an ADIDAS zip up jacket! (It is Sat!)

I am creating...a more organized environment around here hopefully!

I am going...NO WHERE today! yay! accept a nice walk! I planned early in the week not to make any plans to go out today since we've been so busy this week!

I am reading...Fresh Wind Fresh Fire (still) and a Debbie Macomber book

I am hoping...that it's a GREAT weekend!

I am hearing...Count Basie slam it out on Sax! ha

Around the house...PAPERS PAPERS PAPERSSSSSS!!!

One of my favorite things...Saturdays with blue skies and SUNSHINE!!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Birthday party tonight, guys are all going to a local Hockey Game, church on Sunday....easy weekend!

Here is picture for thought I am sharing: This was Grace last Sat. playing Employment office in her room with the piano bench as her desk! I couldn't resist when I saw her in a skirt, PEARLS and these white socks and "high heels" as she calls them......I'm savoring these days while she's little!
Hope you go and do your own Daybook for others to enjoy, go here to do so or read others!

SPRING CLEANING.....it's time!!

My friend Danielle
over at Finally Finding me blogged about another blog Beautiful 2 God
some Spring cleaning projects that you can start TODAY and work on throughout the next few weeks leading up to Spring! She also has a schedule for the upcoming weeks and a button you can add to your own blog to keep up with her ideas!

I think this is a GREAT idea. So go over to Beautiful 2 God's blog and check out her task starting today which happens to be the entry way........So like Danielle, I decided to post photos of our messy entry way.......When it's Winter you just can't help but be swallowed up in hats, gloves and coats let alone THE BOOTS....the wet.....dirty......dripping BOOTS! ha These photos are taken actually after what my kids thought was cleaning up........I'm not sure I should have ever put a bench on the sun porch because it has easily become the CATCH ALL! oh well, at least it's off the filthy floor!



Hope you check out this blog and maybe take part in some Spring cleaning too......Spring is just around the corner.....which means Summer is too and the kids will be out of school. Wouldn't it be nice to have some of these decluttering projects done before we're able to enjoy Summer vacation!!

I took down my Valentine's decorations today, I will wait a week or so to put out Easter stuff I think.....So things are looking bare........I got out a few more candles to perk it up a bit.....I don't have anything in the kitchen right now with sparkling lights on it.....GULP...but I can make it a week or two more! ha

ENJOY THIS DAY EVERYONE........For God is not a God of Disorder but of peace!
1 Cor. 14:33
I think this is such a good reminder, and I have this verse on an index card on my desk so I will remember this often......It can mean so many things, our homes, our spiritual lives, spending TOO much time on the computer haha and our relationships!!!