My Etsy Shop Experience

My Etsy Shop is finally up. I have had a lot of people ask me questions about Etsy since I started talking about it. Etsy is a place where all types of artists display/sell their crafties. There are so many things on Etsy and many of them are amazing. You would not believe the talent in this world. It is similar to ebay minus the fact that you cannot bid on an item and the items are all handmade.

When I thought about pursuing this Etsy experience I literally thought that I would craft some jewels, click some pics and pop them online. No, just in case you are wondering what all is entailed, it is not like that at all. It takes a lot of research and time. I read somewhere that it is not for the faint of heart and I do believe that.

Look at me, all I have is two items for sale and that was probably 30 man hours. My biggest obstacle has been my camera. It takes horrible pictures. It was a purchase that I was forced into when my last camera went kapput. I have read and read and done everything I can think of. Tomorrow I am going to a friend's house who is a photographer who can "shed some light" on this dilemma. No pun intended or maybe just a little one. :)

I have learned lots of terms: lightbox, white balance, macro and delete delete delete!!!

The other obstacles that I have faced are pricing, shipping and handling including setting up a paypal merchant account, as well as jewelry terms. Girls, I just buy a bunch of beads, some wire and start stringing them! I have had to go back and figure out what I have been using. This is really wild stuff. I am hoping to at least make enough to get my time back! :)

No, really the entrepreneurial wild woman in me is having the time of her life. The perks is that you get to think of creative displays and get to do your hobby and call it, "WORK." Waaaaahhh! :) Really, honey, I can't cook right now. . .I am working ;)

Dread!

What do you dread doing and you put it off until the last possible minute? Mine is dealing with the outside world. . .mainly government agencies. Isn't that awful? I really did not realize what a phobia I had of government agencies until I put this post together, but I really do. Yesterday was the most amazing day. There were several things on my to do list and I took them head on like a bull in a rodeo. I was proud of myself and I think my kids think I am a bit crazy.

My To Do List:

• Mailing UPS package: The hours for sending UPS packages are 8-9 am and 4:00 - 6:00 pm. That's it! There are no other times the darn place is open. Can you believe it?
• Getting New Drivers License after having lived here (in a new state) over 2 years!!!!!
• Going to the Post Office to mail several packages
• Going to the grocery store with my kids (and I use very specific coupons)

These are pit stops along the way:
I had to send two huge packages through UPS and the UPS lady was actually helpful and she said that my options were the following. If you have a phobia like I do, here are your UPS options.

1. They can pick up your package for a PRICE.
2. You can take it your UPS Store between the slivers of time that they are open.
3. The final option is to flag down a UPS driver and hand it to them.

You would not believe who I got behind (with my packages not taped, but my labels available in my car). Yes, I was screaming and raving and my kids were like, "What is it?" I said,"God loves me, there is a UPS driver right there." I squealed tires pulling into the bank parking lot and showed the guy my untaped packages and HE TOOK THEM FROM ME!

Mailing UPS package: The hours for sending UPS packages are 8-9 am and 4:00 - 6:00 pm. That's it there are no other times the darn place is open. Can you believe it?

I went into the Revenue office and I thought God had abandoned me for a short moment. After having to order my lost marriage license I thought I was cocky walking in with all of my paperwork all neatly folded. Nope. . .I could not find my birth certificate or passport. I had been carrying around my passport because I thought if the police pulled me over even though I had the wrong state on my license they would still be nice to me since they knew I was a US citizen. My logic is quite irrational when I put it on the screen, but hey I didn't need that passport because I remembered it just in the nick of time when I was about to give up and walk out on the drivers license.

I was so giddy at having found all of my documentation that I decided to donate my organs and register to vote!!! Yay! I even asked for a discount since I did all of that, but apparently there is no discount for such noble things! That's a shame.

Getting New Drivers License after having lived here (in a new state) over 2 years!!!!!

I was having such a hunky dory time after those two things I thought I would press my luck. No Whammies! I ramped the side of the Post Office Parking lot only to see a bazilion cars. Ugh! My blessings have just run out. I get out walk into the Post Office and no one and I mean no one was in there . . . just two jolly postal workers smiling at me. God does have a plan for my life!!

Going to the Post Office to mail several packages

Ok, the last dreaded, groaned about chore. Before I could do it. . .I had to gear up with some high energy, low fat Sonic food. I treated my kids to take the whineys away. It didn't work. . .my luck stopped there. They asked for everything in the store and were only successful on about three of the, "ok, just get it's."

My dreaded tasks are finally over. I do not have to fear being pulled over anymore other than the ticket I get for high speeds or going down one way roads that I might incur. Other than that, I am bracing myself for the next government agency encounter. I have zapped a little of the fear and dread though having one good experience after another.

Thoughts Everywhere!

Today, I have been all over the place with my thoughts so I thought I would track them on my blog. Stick with me here. . .

Woke up thinking about hub's XBox/Rock Band/Guitar Hero Birthday Party last night. Did he have fun? Was he really surprised? Did they keep my friend up all night who volunteered her home for the all guy party?

I found out he had a great time and yes he really was surprised. I finally pulled it off after 10 years of being married to the sneakiest man on earth. Yay!

My thoughts slowly went to the condition of the house as well as of my heart. Both in shambles. I have not done much to the house except make it worse, but I did do my devotions this morning. By the way, I have changed the way I say the time spent with God from "Quiet Time" to "Devotions" because although it is by no means quiet at my house I am still quite devoted to Him! :) He assured me that although I am not 100% loyal to Him He is still my Jehovah-nissi (banner) and His banner over me is love.

Through my devotions, I decided my in-laws sign business is definitely biblical because they make banners! :) Yes, a random, but amusing thought.

I moved on to my work thoughts. I have been working (telecommuting) with a ministry for several years and have discovered that my position with one of the metros (not my whole job) is indeed about to come to an end. My boss assured me that it was not something that I have done/not done it is more about having someone local vs. telecommuting.

Obviously, my thoughts are all over the charts with this. I absolutely want what is best for the ministry because this is something that God is doing a great work in and I want what is best for the ministry as well as my own life. Just like your kids. . .you just want what is best for them even if it means a little heartache along the way.

So, I have been trying to decide what the Lord wants from me in my work. Whatever it is Lord, have Your way in me. I have decided to get my teaching license renewed through either taking the Praxis or a couple of courses at a local college this year. Either way, I am looking at a year to decide the correct course of action. I have been thinking for awhile that I need to get my teaching license back regardless if I go back to teaching or not. I just think it is safe to have it close just in case something happens. After all, it is a shame to have a degree and not be able to use it if need be.

I have another post floating around in my brain but I don't have the umph to construct it. More to come though!

Love you and hope you are having a great week!

Menu Plan Monday

Are anyone else's kids on summer break making them a little loony? This is especially not a good sign since I am home schooling both of them this year.

Monday - hot dogs and watermelon :( Not much of a menu, but hey it's food. . .well sort of
Tuesday - Happy Birthday To You! Special birthday dinner for hubs;
No Hints and I will not be able to reveal what I make until after dinner besides hotdogs on Monday always make you appreciate anything you get during the week!
Wednesday - eggs, cheese and Canadian bacon with English Muffins
Thursday - We did not get to try the Sweet and Sour Chicken Packets on the grill; I will serve rice with this and maybe some egg rolls
Friday - Ladies Night at church; eating at yummy restaurant in town; family on your own
Saturday - Small Group Olympics Party; Need to bring something from a different country that is represented at the Olympics. . .does anyone have any ideas?
Sunday - Taco Salad

Recipe Update: Last week I made the most awesome potato soup. I guess I cannot really say that I made it because my Prince Charming helped, but I take credit since I found the recipe. It really was good and you should definitely try it if you like that kind of thing. I made cornbread and salad to go with it.

Jewelry Give-away Winner!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

71

Timestamp: 2008-08-04 00:04:27 UTC

Carol, from Sheep to the Right as well as Internet Cafe Devotions' blogs, you are the winner of my handmade jewels. I hope you just love it and will tell all of your friends about my up and coming Etsy shop.

Thank you to all who entered my give-away. If you stuck with me through the carnival because you like my blog, welcome aboard! I hope you will comment often and enlighten us with your thoughts. I often post my menu, a Work's for me Wednesday idea, some exercise updates and something spiritual that the Lord is doing with me.

Also, thank you for all of your sweet and encouraging comments about my jewelry. . .especially from the jewelry piercing lady (STAN. . .stay off my blog :))!!! Truly, I do thank you for your encouragement in the gifts God has given me and I pray that He will use it to His glory.

Several hopefully great posts coming up this week including. . ."The Unopened Invitation". Check back to see what this is all about.

Much Love,

I'm Hot!

Today, I woke up and looked at the weather and I knew I was in trouble. Yeah, the headline read that it was going to be "a scorcher" of a day. The humidity was way high and no one broke any records today on running. I have been training for a four mile race and today was the day of the race. Let's just say that I did not come in first, but I was out there running and that's all that matters to me.

My awesome partner-in-crime, Shanna, beat me again. Little booger! This has been such an awesome accomplishment since I have been exercising consistently since December 10th! I have never been much on exercise and really never big on running. Let's just say I was more cut out for "the track manager position" in high school. The #1 thing that has kept me motivated: a friend to exercise with. That's it. . .the key to sticking with it. . . a friend to run the race with!

Clappy Shoes Closet

Grand Opening Coming Soon to a blog near you! Yes, that is right. I thought about it for 30 whole seconds before I decided to plunge forward. I have told a lot of my friends about Etsy for awhile and no one would open a store so I figured if I like it so much why don't I do it myself!

I am currently screaming at my camera because it takes terrible shots of my cute jewels. Right before I went to the beach I had to buy a new one and let me tell you my old flame was so much better to me. I cannot stand this new one, but we are warming up to one another. I decided to read the instruction manual. You would think I was a guy the way I hate reading those things. Either way, my Etsy shop will be opening in the next couple of days and yes it is called ClappyShoesCloset. Oh my word, is that not the cutest name ever!?? :)

Ok, you convinced me!

After only 14 or so comments and many of them positive about my jewelry I am going to sell on Etsy. I have to tell you a little story though, so brace yourself.

Many of you know this story if you are a personal friend of mine. Not to exclude all of my cyber friends, but my friends that are around me hear my antics all of the time.

When I was a little girl (in my pretend world), my name was Stephanie Fox (I was related to Michael J Fox and I had a best friend named Stephanie). From 1st grade on I had wild entrepreneurial dreams. When I was in 1st grade I found some clay behind our home and shaped it and molded it into ash trays. I then went door to door selling my ash trays for $1. Many people bought them much to my mom's dismay.

Ok, it just gets better. When I was fourth grade I was a copyrighters nightmare where I sold Bon Jovi lyrics on the school bus for .25 cents. I made copies at the store for .10 (that is a .15 cent profit :))and then sold them until I was busted by someone who had gone to a concert and said that my lyrics were wrong. Short lived career, but a start nonetheless.

From fourth grade to sixth grade I had my pretend business world. My stores were carefully listed on paper. I was the CEO and founder of many stores including The Cubby Hole, Carpet and Carpet Inc, Mini Mart and Trailer Accessories, Inc.. I made a list of supplies that I sold, quantities and prices. I played pretend all day on a phone (made out of an Atari accessory). I wrote out scripts for my commercials that advertised my stores. I was the boss and everyone had to answer to me.

So all this to say, I have a really strong desire to have my own business. With the stage of life that I am in which includes: mom of two, working part time for a ministry, wife to a pastor, and the CEO of my home I do not have time, energy or money to start up my own business right now. But.... I do have time for hobbies like jewelry making in which I can sell my creations on Etsy.

I have a real fear that no one will buy my stuff, that my beautiful lovelies will break in someone's hands, and that I will make a mistake in signing up on etsy with a username that I cannot change and that I did not like (ok, that was reality, not a fear).

My fears are real, but my God knows the desires that I have. He says that He will supply all of my needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. I cover this little Etsy shop in love, excitement, prayer and if you ever buy something from me and it breaks send all of your complaints to stephaniefox@*****.com.

Much Love to my real and cyber friends,P.S. My desire is to put my Etsy shop on my sidebar and my real hope is to have some really nice inexpensive pieces for you to buy for friends and family for Christmas. So make sure to subscribe or bookmark Clappy Shoes so you will stay tuned in to all of the upcoming details.

By the way, this will not become a jewelry blog, but just a convenient way to provide exposure. More news to come when I figure out how to set up my etsy shop with the shop name that I actually like.

A Little Late but Nonetheless

I am a little late for the Bloggy Carnival, but nonetheless I have an excellent and beautiful prize for you. I have been perfecting my jewelry making skills and am considering even selling some on etsy. . .only if I have a lot of positive reinforcement and encouragement! :) Please feel free to tell me if you think that I ought to stick with my day job. You know. . .talking on the phone and sweeping. :)

So here she blows. What I want you to do is very simple. . .tell me what outfit you will wear with your new jewelry.
These are two pics of the same jewelry. I have had a lot of positive feedback on my jewelry and I hope that you love it as well. So comment away on your cute outfits.

This set has several different colors and bead shapes. Both pieces are primarily made up of sea blue glass beads, silver rondelles and faux white pearls with a heart shaped clasp. The earrings have a tad bit of antiqued silver and are on lever back earring wires. Both the earrings and bracelet will come in the mail to you next week. They would make a great gift for someone or a fun new accessory for you! Hope you win!!

For more great give-aways and I mean a lot more. . .visit Chiliheads Bloggy Give-aways asap!!

Also, I have updated my blog with more details on an etsy shop. . .please read this post if you are interested in the future of my creations.

Love Always,

Planting Fun

What is that growing on my pool trellis? (Please ignore the garden that has not been weeded!) GREEN BEANS! If you need something fruitful to grow like a vine. . .plant some green beans. The fun thing is that when we are swimming and we get hungry . . .there you go, a fun snack! :)This was a fun project from something I saw last summer on a farm. I made the little table from a broken fountain. I made a really bad mosaic on the top. Two chairs with flowers growing from the little mesh containers. A broken gate with a fun sign hanging. I bought the little pails at Wal Mart and planted the sweet potato vine which grows like crazy here in Arkansas.
This was my really really fun project. I guess you can figure it out. . .but this is what you do. You get a big planter and turn in upside down. Get a large round bowl and put a smaller clay planter and turn it upside down in the larger round bowl. Fill the round bowl with potting soil, flowers and greenery. Put a clay dish on top and fill it with candles or use it as a bird bath. I saw this in several magazines and I just had to make it.

Menu Plan Monday- July 28th

Day One - I have all of the ingredients for this Crockpot Thai Chicken that organizing junkie made- I made this earlier in the year and I really liked it. . . my kids were not too fond but they ate it! So there you have it.
Day Two - I have a lot of potatoes that need to be eaten so we will have Cheesiest Potato Soup; It is kind of hot for this but it's all for the sake of the budget :)
Day Three - French Toast and bacon
Day Four - Chicken Caesar Salad
Day Five - Carbin' Up with Spaghetti and French Bread for my race
Day Six - My Four Mile Classic Run- pray for me because I have shin splints and I have worked so hard to this point; pray that they will not prohibit me from doing my best; I love this recipe idea that I got off of Three Ladies and a Dad blog; grilled Sweet and Sour Chicken Packets; I will make some rice to go on the side
Day Seven - We usually have leftovers or cheese quesadillas or some kind of taco salad; I have not been buying hamburger meat lately because it is too expensive and kind of on the do not eat list! :(

Looks like it is going to be a great food week! :) I made this awesome banana walnut loaf earlier in the week as well. I made it in my Pampered Chef Four Mini Loaf Pan and we have had a loaf a day. I love it.

Banana Walnut Bread
2 cups sifted flour
1 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup margarine
3/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3-4 mashed bananas

Measure and sift together flour, soda and salt. Set aside. Cream margarine and add sugar. Cream this. Add eggs and vanilla. Add bananas. Fold in dry ingredients. Place in well greased loaf pan. Bake 325 for 55 - 60 minutes (less if you use mini loaf pan). Test with toothpick.

Enjoy and have a great menu planned week!

Lucky Duck!

Leslie. . .you are the winner!!! See, it pays to post! :) Your earrings will be sent this week. I think you will really like the turquoise earrings with the sterling silver wrap so I will send those to you. I hope you enjoy them. They have a money back guarantee :) Thanks for everyone's comments and there will be lots more opportunities to win in the near future.

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

8 

Timestamp: 2008-07-26 02:59:16 UTC

The Construction Zone

This is our new guest bedroom. I hope our guests enjoy the breeze.

This is where I see Prince Charming most of the time. We have had a lot of "dates" there lately too. Lucky me!

The other day, Prince Charming walked in looking like the pic above and 8 year old Hansel told him that he needed to be swiffered! :)

More construction zone pics to come.

The Essential Summertime Gear

What works for me? Country time Lemonade and that cooler!!! I know it seems so ridiculous to put a cooler on Works for Me Wednesday, but it really has been something we use everyday around here. I'm not sure where you live, but where I live it is HOT! We are in the midst of a construction project, going to the swimming pool, entertaining guests, and don't forget the lemonade stand.

The reason I love these coolers so much is that I can carry them - unlike the 4 gallon version of these. These coolers hold 2 gallons. You can find them at Wally World for just under $10. My little Gretel can top these off with Country Time and fill them with water and we are out the door to whatever event the day might hold. We fill them up for dad when he is working on the roof as well. They have been used daily by my family!

Another hot (no pun intended) tip: One thing we have done in the past is use them for hot water too. They are insulators and so we fill them up with hot water and take hot chocolate powder with us to make hot chocolate when we are out and about. I'm telling you, every mom should have at least one!!! :)

Please don't forget to check out my Christmas in July post for a give-away thanks to my new hobby. Have a great Works for Me Wednesday day!!

Christmas in July

While I sit around and eat bon bons between work, kids, church duties, etc I do not have a ton of spare time, but there are pockets of my day where I have a desire to create something. . .anything!! A couple of my friends are really into making jewelry and apparently gave me some sort of virus. As you know some viruses are contagious so you better watch out.

If you are really nice and leave me a message in the form of a comment about how much you love my new hobby, Christmas might come a little bit early for you. I have several friends and family members who have some sort of "comment phobia" who I would really like to see show me a little comment love here. You know who you are!!! Friends and family are eligible for the give-away.

For my regular commenter's, thank you so much and I would really like to do a Christmas in July give-away. I will send a cute pair of earrings to a commenter and the comments will close on Friday, July 25th. Please tell me in your comments what your favorite hobby is!! Have a great day and Merry Christmas!

Menu Plan Monday - July 21st

For my poor Prince Charming's sake, I am trying to change the way I lay out my menu . He gets really upset when he sees that we are having pork chops on Monday and then we do not have them until Wednesday. Sometimes I just get busy and have to do a different meal on a different night. That is just the way it works, but for now I am going to try to change it to just a general plan of our meals. We WILL eat all of these things, it just may be in a different order. Do you hear that PC? :)

I reserve the right to change the meal plan.

Day One - Sloppy Joes and french fries because we still have them from last week due to the leftover night we had on Friday.
Day Two - Chicken on Sale at El Kroger this week. Yay!

Crunchy Baked Chicken

Defrost 2 pounds of chicken breasts - can be the tenderloins or full breasts
Dredge chicken in butter that is mixed with on package Good Seasons Italian Dressing Mix - found with packaged ranch dressing mix
Dredge and coat in Pepperidge Farm Stuffing Mix that has been crushed in a ziploc bag
Bake chicken, covered at 350 degrees for about 30-45 minutes - depending on size of chicken
Take the aluminum foil off for about 5 - 10 minutes before taking out of the oven.
This is flavorful, yummy chicken. You will love it and it can be cut up for chicken nuggets for your kids as well. It tastes amazing on the top of a salad too.

Serve with hot buttered noodles, salad or green beans and bread. OOOH La La!

Day Three - Ham that I bought on sale last week and potato salad. . .this is my all time favorite meal by far!!!
Day Four - Greek Pasta Salad and hot buttered bread - I had a version of this pasta salad last week to celebrate the end of my Vertically Inclined Bible Study and I keep thinking about it - very yummy and summery
Day Five - Ham Sandwiches or ham and cheese omelets. . whichever I am in the mood for
Day Six - busy day with a wedding to attend as well as a birthday party; probably no dinner will be cooked
Day Seven - same ole, same ole Incredible Taco Salad Madness!!!

Recipe for a Fun Night

Tonight my family and I ate leftovers, watched the Alvin and the Chipmunks Movie and ate scrumptious peanut butter honey popcorn.

I got the recipe for the popcorn from my mother-in-law. They have been making it for years and I always ate this at their house when I was dating my husband. Must be nostalgic feelings I have for the popcorn. My son and I both have a special love for peanut butter. Unfortunately, he will probably die from heart disease with all of the butter popcorn he had last year during home schooling. Every day at 10:30 he would make a bag. Now his sister is so excited about home schooling next year because she will have popcorn at 10:30. Hey, whatever motivates them!! :)

I wanted to share the popcorn recipe with you because it is easy, yummy and fun for family nights like ours.

1/2 cup of popcorn kernels - air popped (maybe two bags of microwave popcorn)

Melt 1/2 cup honey and 1/2 cup of sugar in a pot until it comes to a rolling boil. Add 1/2 cup of peanut butter and 1 tsp. vanilla to the pot. Pour over popped popcorn and toss it until it is coated all over. It's that simple. It is really, really good.

Let me know if you try and love it like we do!!

As for the movie, it was pretty good. It was not a deep movie like The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe or anything, but it had a fun, sweet feel. I think the worst word was sucks and it was only once. There were some crudish humor, but nothing my kids have not seen or heard or said for that matter. It was fun for my kids to get excited about the funny parts because they had already seen it. They kept saying, "you are going to crack up at this part."

Hope you have a great weekend!

Favorite Product These Days

My family is not much on ironing. They do not mind leaving the house with a plethora of wrinkles. I like to iron my clothes, but I am not one to sit and iron all of our clothes on a Sunday afternoon. I was talking with a friend and she mentioned Downy Wrinkle Reducer. Sounds like an infomercial, huh? Well, I ran to Wally World the first chance I had and picked some up. My family is hooked. My friend who told me about it . . . I bow down to her when I see her. It has changed our little wrinkled lives!!

Funny story: On Monday, my Prince Charming was frantically looking for the Downy because he had a ball game and he wanted his shirt to look pristine. The wrinkle releaser definitely helps when you have lettering that you cannot iron over. Anyway, I let him know it was on the table.

He was kind of in a silly mood and he started telling the kids to look at his wrinkles disappear magically. He would squirt then say voila. . .no more wrinkles. He was squirting up a storm and the kids were laughing along with him. I was kind of ignoring his silliness until I looked up and squealed, "You are using 409 on your shirt!!" He picked up the wrong bottle and his shirt was drenched with 409. We laughed and laughed until we could not laugh anymore. So the moral of the story is pick up the right bottle!!! :)

Many thanks to Prince Charming for letting me share your funny story. I love you.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday - Guys Ballgame, duty calls. . .gotta wear my cheer leading outfit; Creamy Tacos (recipe below) and home made garden salsa

Creamy Tacos
1 lb hamburger meat
1 can chili w/o beans
2 cans hot chili beans
1/2 can rotel
1 lb velveeta
1/2 pt. whipping cream
Doritoes
salad and Italian dressing

Brown hamburger meat in large pot. Drain. Add chili, beans and rotel. in a separate pan or microwave melt velveeta, mix in whipping cream until smooth and creamy. Add to meat mixture. Put doritoes on each plate. Pour some cheesy meat mixture over it and top with salad that is already mixed with dressing.

This makes a lot, but you can freeze it in smaller sections if you need to.

Tuesday - Crash, hot potatoes, teriyaki chicken legs;
Wednesday - Garden Veggie Night; fried green tomatoes, salad, squash (from a friend's garden), tomatoes with basil and olive oil. . .perhaps a little feta on top = yum :)
Thursday - Sloppy Joes, french fries
Friday - Chicken Quesadillas, rice and Mexican Layer Dip
Saturday - Marinated Grilled Chicken Breasts, Ranch Potato Salad,
Sunday - Homemade Pizza - we buy Sam's Club crusts and top with veggies and cheese = yum!

Last week, I was running low on ingredients and I made Zucchini Alfredo from and it was pretty good. My kids do not like zucchini but they ate about half of it. My husband and I enjoyed it though.

Also, for our Church Ladies Night I made "Bowl of Yum" again (recipe below) and I cannot tell you how good it is. I need to take a picture next time for you.

In a trifle,
1st layer - crumble up brownie with walnuts (the walnuts really make it good) (see note on Sam’s Club brownies, but add walnuts)
2nd layer – prepared chocolate pudding (large box of instant)
3rd layer – Cool Whip (1 8 oz. carton)
4th layer – Heath bar (1/2 to 3/4 bag)
5th layer – Cool Whip (another ¼ to ½ the container)
6th and final top layer – Heath bar (1/4 bag)

Have a great week! Remember, always cook with love (recipe for Chicken Parmesan and explanation!

Hired Out Spirituality

This post should be called The Lord, the Weed eater and the Milk to follow this post because I really heard the Lord speaking to me this morning while I was weed eating the yard. As I was doing my usual delightful yard work I was thinking of the things that I would hire out for if I could. I really do enjoy mowing the front lawn and weed eating feels like a fresh haircut or when I get my eyebrows waxed by my stylist. You just get this renewed feeling where everything feels as it should be.

I wish that I got that same sense when I swept the floor or dusted the furniture. Yes, I do like it clean I just don't want to be the one who has to do it. I like it when the closets are organized I just don't want to make the effort to do it.

I know this is a stretch for the imagination, but we cannot hire out for our spirituality either. Yes, there are lots of things you could pay someone to do, but we cannot hire out going to church to fellowship with our Christian brothers and sisters. We cannot hire someone to read our Bible to find out what pleases the Lord. Yes, sometimes when I am in a slump I would like to hire someone to go to church in my body to take notes for me, but this is not what the Lord wants from me. We each are responsible for our walk with the Lord and we each will be called to account for our life, whether close to Jesus or not. So we may can hire out for those dishes or that yard work, but we cannot hire out for our relationship with Jesus.

So what is the point of this post: to challenge myself to look at my walk with the Lord and to ask where I need that eyebrow waxing, weed eaten refreshment. . . that renewed feeling of everything is as it should be. Where are the areas that I would rather hire out with my Lord? Those are the areas that the Lord wants us to grow in. The result is not a read Bible or to be able to complete Bible drill. . .the result is a peace that surpasses all understanding. It is a knowledge of the Lord and His will for our life. The result is a love relationship with the Lord because you know that He loves you and is in control of your life.

Ok, I am finished preaching. I hope that this word encouraged you as it did me. Ok, now back to dusting, sweeping and doing the laundry. :)

I have so much to tell you!

It has been difficult for me to write lately because so much is going on. I have sat down at my computer I don't know how many times, to post and cannot express my thoughts. It is not so much that my thoughts are so incredible but I just think I don't have a lot of extra words. I know that seems odd, doesn't it. . . especially to those who know me personally.

Ok for starters, if you follow this blog at all we are adding on to our house. I cannot tell you how many blog posts that I have come up with when I am on the roof shingling. Including the title, "Look, I have shingles." I know, ridiculous. Another thing that I have pondered up there is what to do with my poor kids who are below biding their time on the computer. I felt so guilty last night when my kids came out at 9:00 pm and said that they were so hungry and I discovered when I came in they had gotten into the French bread and were eating off the ends like cats. My only thought is that I am literally "putting a roof over their heads" and until the house is "in the dry" I have to work.

The other great thing that is going on is I am doing a great Bible Study called Vertically Inclined by Mary Kassian as well as reading a book called The Shack. The Shack is a very controversial book and one that I have agreed with so far until the end where he talks about the church. If you could just pull out the last pages it is a good fiction, thinker! My Bible Study is just great. The gals are great who I am completing it with and the daily work is very enlightening.

On another and final note, I am having major Naughty Lobby withdrawal as my sweet Prince Charming lovingly calls it. I am into jewelry making and I need beads in a bad way. I have tried several websites and maybe I just have some kind of tactile deficiency, but I really need to feel as well as see the beads that I am buying. Maybe it's just the smell of Hobby Lobby that I need. I don't know, but I may have to head that whopping 75 mile direction soon.

Well, there I got the post out of my system. Maybe, just maybe there will be some fun little pics with me soon "with shingles." :)

Fruit Salsa

Today's Work for Me Wednesday post was very easy for me to come up with because I heart cooking simple, easy dips!!!

Fruit Salsa
1 tub frozen strawberries
2 kiwi - peeled
1 can crushed pineapple

Throw it in the blender until it is salsaish consistency and voila you have fruit salsa.

What do you eat with this, you ask? That is the really yummy part. Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Strips. You have to make them though, but I promise it is worth it.

Cut a package of flour tortillas in triangles using your pizza cutter. Put them on a baking sheet with some canola oil sprayed on your pan as well as the tops of your tortilla strips. Sprinkle the tops with cinnamon sugar and place them into the oven at 350 degrees and wait until their crispy. . .not burnt (speaking from experience here). They are easy to burn. Let them cool a tad bit and eat them all up!! I have served this for my friends as well as my kids and we all love it equally!

Check out my Menu Plan Monday Links on the side for more tasty recipes. Also, don't forget to get back to Rocks in My Dryer for more great, easy recipes in 5 ingredients or less. Have a great day!

It Really Does Work. . .the Good Job Jar

A few months ago we were struggling with how to keep our kids motivated and to get tasks done around the house without having to nag them. Well, we have been trying out the Good Job Jar since February and it really, really works. The kids have had a regular "income" streaming in and it has incredibly motivated them to do all sorts of things, including having a good attitude. On Monday, I gave Hansel a list and he got three pennies (which equates to .30 cents) for each thing that he did.

• Read a book (don't normally pay them for reading. . .it just happened this once . . .I promise!)
• empty dishwasher
• 5 minute clean up on room
• empty all the trash in the house and take it out

There is a note at the bottom of the list that says whining = losing a penny

It works, seriously. . . I don't like to nag and this really helps with nagging. I give my six year old equivalent chores as well and it works for her too. I hope this works for you. My kids have decorated their jars different ways at different points and this is a great way for them to take ownership and control over their jar.

Let me know if you try it and if it works for you. Make sure to check out Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer for more amazing tips and tricks for your family. Have a great day.