Monday, March 25, 2013

welcome home

Welcome, don't forget to take your shoes off at the door:)

My home is lived in, comfy, and usually has toys scattered up and down the stairs. It is, by no stretch of the imagination a show home, elegantly decorated, or even 'guest' ready, but, it is filled with love and "mom". I pray nothing ever happens to me ,but, if something did I want my kids to still feel my presence in each corner of the house. Most every room has something I created, repurposed, or put my love into. It is by far my favorite place on earth. My family is here and we are creating so many family memories here!

When your walk into the door to the right is our "formal" dining room, but, lets face it we are not formal people so we have no need for it. So, we turned this space into a play room/office and I love it! Many days the kids bring their bean bags down and read books while I work on bills or paperwork. I love how this room functions as more living space and we utilize it every day, unlike, if it was a dining room and we only used it 3 times a year.


 
 Our hall is filled with pictures of my boys as they are growing!
 

Down the hall is our family room, eat-in, and kitchen. This rectangle is the heart of the home. We spend most of our days playing with toys, watching T.V., and crafting in here.  My goal for this space to be comfy, warm, and a bit eclectic.


 
 (Di1sclaimer: we have full intentions of staining the T.V. stand and fish tank the same awesome cherry color our toy chest is...just not today)







As you go up the stairs you'll notice my favorite wall in the entire house THE ART WALL. It is so happy and cheerful and full of imagination. The kids love to create masterpieces to go on here! Love it!



The hubs office is in our loft area but we have plans to eventually turn this into a fun hangout for the boys.
sorry for the TERRIBLE lighting...13 inches of snow make for a heck of a glare!!!

Caleb definitely has the pre teen feel to his room and isn't fond of Mom decorating it. He would rather do it himself. He truly his coming into his own style and personality. Proud Mommy alert :)


I want our master bedroom to feel like a relaxing oasis, an escape from the long day, and a calm haven. I am slowly turning it into that. I've added touches a blues, lavenders, and warm yellows.


Gabriel is all about cars and dinosaurs so I knew I wanted his room to be fun and colorful. His favorite color is green so there was no other option but his room to be green! (a. a little bright for my personal liking but he adores it and b. he isn't going to have that huge TV in there forever we are going to be purchasing him a smaller one soon! His brothers are uber jealous!)



Oh, goodness, Zachary's room is full of roars and toys! When asking Zachary what he wanted in his new 'big boy room' he said boo and roar. I am still searching Pinterest and Etsy for art but I think it is coming along quite well!





So, there it is my favorite place on earth, my home! I hope you felt warm and welcomed as your read my post.



Sunday, March 24, 2013

The "Mom" bag

My boys joke because I seem to have everything in my bag, but hey, we usually have what we need. I figured I would share with you how I keep the black hole everything but the kitchen sink my purse organized and easily accessible.

I use my purse as a diaper bag and purse so when I chose it I made sure it had adequate storage and large enough for my needs, yet, still adorable and not 'diaper baggy'...I've had a diaper bag for 3 years and was ready for a new bag.
Scored this beauty for $20.00 with a coupon and gift card leftover!! May I get an amen?!?



Everything in my bag


I put all of our medicine, Band-Aids, female products, first aid and other "medically items" in an old plastic makeup bag. I found this keeps them from getting lost, overwhelming the bag and keeps them hid quite nice!

I place that in one side of my bag along with a spare sippy and squeezable jello. I have a detachable wallet that I put my cash, debit card and drivers license in. This makes it so easy for grab and go and not having to thumb through my wallet for it.
 
One the other side is my changing pad, pull ups, boogie wipes, and wipes. I also stick on that side the monkey's butt and lotion. {Side note: I won't be needing the changing pad and pull ups much longer... Zachary has gone 4 days with NO wet diapers:(}
And, in the center I keep the calendar, medical cards, and my big ole' wallet.

 
Here is the bag all filled up and organized. I just love when I know exactly where what I am looking for is. I feel it gives a sense of confidence and self-worth.
 
 
I linked this up at House of Rose! Check out all the cool linkups there!

Friday, March 22, 2013

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

Happy Friday!!! Today I am sharing a DELICOUS, easy, kid approved meal! I adore having dinners where no one says "I don't like this" or "how many bites do I HAVE to have?" or "may I just have cereal?" It is so nice to feel like what you made is appreciated...this meal is so good they ask for seconds! Can I get a holla?!?!

I started with 4 chicken breast I thawed, cubed, lightly salted and peppered.

When the chicken was almost cooked I added 1 green and 1 orange pepper, 3 green onions, and a little dash of salt. While this is cooking the rest of the way I made some macaroni noodles, we had a potty break while this was happening and I forgot a picture! (potty training is a ALL the time thing!)

When the mixture is cooked add 2 cups of cheese to this and pour into a 9x13 pan
 
I mixed together 3/4 a cup of cheese and 3/4 a cup of Panko crumbs together and set it aside for the topping! Delicious!!
Here's a tip: use Panko regular bread crumbs do not crisp up like Panko

This is 8oz if fat free cream cheese, 3/4 cup of buffalo sauce, and 2/3 cup of Good blue cheese dressing that I blended lightly.
Once the noodles are cooked add to the buffalo mixture and pour on top of the chicken, peppers, and onion mixture. Add the Panko and cheese a top and sprinkle with 2 green onions that have been chopped up.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until it is bubble and the Panko crumbs have slightly browned.
Serve and Enjoy!

linking up @ Serenity You, All My Bloggy Friends #58



Monday, March 18, 2013

I'm letting go


From the outside you see a bubbly, energetic, sometimes silly acting mom but on the inside I am angry. I have never been able to pin point why I have such a hard time controlling my anger, maybe I was never taught how to control it, maybe it is because I need the control in situations, maybe from being in 3 year abusive relationship...I guess it could be a combination of many things. But, by being this way, it affects many aspects of my life...I overreact when I feel I am losing control of a situation (large or small), I yell WAY to much, I shut people out, and I am not fully devoting myself to Him.

As hard as this is to admit I yell way to much at my babies. Instead of yelling I need to sitting down and explaining to them how they did something wrong. By yelling I am not only hurting them, but, even more importantly I am letting the cycle continue, letting them think it is o.k. to act this way. My marriage is strained by my intense anger and behavior, also. My hubby is SUCH a hard worker, he provides financially, emotionally, and spiritually for our family but how do I repay him by having to control everything, by nitpicking, and by arguing over little things. I know how I SHOULD act but it is once again letting go of that ANGER. I feel if I let go them what can I control?

 But, I do know one thing in order to be a FULLY DEVOTED FOLLOWER of CHRIST I have to LET GO. In Luke 14:33, “Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." That means I have to give up EVERYTHING. EVEN, the anger? A lot of times I read this verse and question "really God, I gave you my finances, my marriage, my Zachary...do I have to let go of this?" One would think, it is anger...why do you want to hold onto it? My answer is when I hold on to this I secretly feel like I am in control of everything I gave to Him. SO, did I really give him anything? NO, do I want to? YES! I have gotten to the point in my life I am ready to pick up my cross and carry it too. I want to have a deeper, more grounded relationship with my heavenly Father. I am putting these verse into action.  Will I always be perfect at it? NO, but I am giving it my EVERYTHING and that is all he is asking me to do. I deny myself for him today and everyday until the end of time!  Luke 9:23, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.”

I want to raise my boys in a way that they KNOW that their mom is a FOLLOWER of Christ, not JUST a FAN. I will grow with my God, I will grow with my spouse and kids as well. I know that as I connect with God on a more personal, deeply rooted level I will want to let go of that ANGER.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkpRIx7jMp4&list=PLA6B698600A15A9B8