My new hobby....

During the month of May, I took a cake decorating class. It was so much fun and I learned that I might have a talent for this kind of thing. Maybe one day I will open my own bakery or something. I think that would be fun! I am planning on taking the next course in August with a friend, so I will learn how to work with fondant. I am super excited about that!! Icing is great, but you open up a whole other world of creativity once you learn to use fondant. Here are some pictures of my cakes.


My friend Kristy was getting married....so I decorated this one for her.


This was the cake we decorated in the second class, so I used it at Michael's birthday party too....there was too much cake though, so it went to work with Mike.


This was Michael's actual birthday cake. There was only 1 piece left....I ate it and it was good! :)


This was my last cake and probably one of my favorites! I was very pleased with how it turned out!

Wow!

I just looked at the date of the last post and it was APRIL 27TH!! I hadn't realized it had been so long since I blogged. What a crazy couple of months it has been. Michael had his 1st birthday, Mike is about to have surgery to have his gallbladder removed, we are still trucking through school, trying to be business owners, and live life to the fullest with Christ at the helm (I guess that is the right term....I am not a boater, so if I said it wrong, I apologize) :) It's been a busy but exciting and fun couple of months. My little man is walking and we are in swimming lessons! He is a handful, but he is a good boy and usually listens. He loves exploring and walking everywhere! He is a cutie pie. I also have been trying out some new recipes, so I will be posting those soon! We have cut out preservatives and are trying to buy organic fruits and veggies.....it's a little more expensive, so we have had to limit it to that and milk for Michael. We want to give him the best foundation for health when he is older. Anyway, here are some pics of Michael the past couple of months. :)

Three Cheers for Home Depot!!

In the Christian household, we love gardening and being outdoors. So, we do a lot of looking around at nursery's and places we can find plants for our flowerbeds and our garden. Well, this weekend, Mike and I were on the hunt for a good deal and decided to pay a visit to our old friend Home Depot. I had wanted to check out the rose bushes...the cheap ones in the little bag container...and couldn't find them, so we stopped a worker and asked about it. Well, first of all, props to this guy. He was so friendly!! And guess what we found out?! Home Depot has a 1 year warranty on all of their plants. So, if you buy one and it dies, you take your receipt and the plant (ground up) and they will replace it or give you credit. Who knew!?

New button

Along the side of my blog I have added a new button for Shop4freebies!!! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this site! They email you an updated list of freebies every 24 hours, and I have gotten so much free stuff off of this site! So, sign up! :) The button is on the side, or you can click on the icon below!

I heart Wal-Mart...

Mike and I shop at Walmart. I don't always love going there because it's usually crowded and sometimes the store employees are rude, but we still go. While we can probably find better deals elsewhere, I'd have to go to 4 different stores to do my shopping and would probably use up the amount I'd save in gas, so out of convenience, we head to Walmart once a week. Well, something I learned not too long ago was that Walmart has a great website and there are 2 reasons why I love visiting their site.

1. Site to store shipping is FREE! That's right. You can order something online that they don't carry in the store and have it shipped to your nearest store and you don't have to pay extra for it because of the shipping. I almost wish they had groceries online because I'd order them and then go pick them up, so I wouldn't have to worry about crowds :)

2. This one is my FAVORITE! Walmart gives away free samples on their website!!! I have gotten TONS of stuff from them and I also just found that they give free music and have other online tools to use, such as, a tire selector and an over the counter medicine finder.

So, visit Walmart online to get your free samples!!

What a week....and on into the weekend

So, last week started off as a normal week. Sunday we went to church and Michael enjoyed his time in the nursery. Then Sunday afternoon, we went and had lunch with some friends and then had dinner with our sunday school class. On both occasions, we had fantastic food and had a wonderful time of fellowship. Then, monday night rolled around, and at about 9:00 Michael woke up sick. This is probably the 5th or 6th week in a row that we have gone to church and Michael ended up sick. Poor baby. Thankfully it was only a few hours and then he went back to sleep for the rest of the night.

All was fine and we went about our week. We had some friends over for dinner on Thursday night and then Friday morning, I woke up with the same sickness Michael had. I thought I was in the clear because it had been more than 2 days, but not a chance....but thankfully, as in Michael's case, it only lasted a few hours and I was much better.

If you have been following Mike's blog and his weight loss journey, you will know that he and I have been using advocare products. Well, we have decided to become Advocare Advisors (distributors), and Friday night, we took the plunge. Advocare products are wonderful products and while you can see the biggest difference in Mike, I have had success as well. I have not done the 24 day challenge as he has (which I am considering), but I have been drinking the spark drinks. Some days I feel like I am gonna pass out, I am so exhausted, then I drink a spark and I don't need a nap. It's mostly vitamins (some caffeine) and it's great because it gives me energy without the jitters. I love it! All you mom's out there.....my mom told me once that I would be tired for the rest of my life once I had kids.....now I don't have to be :)

So, on Saturday, Mike, Michael and I were running around and on the way back we got rear-ended. Yep. In our new car. The guy behind us was turned around talking or something to someone in the back seat and we were in traffic (because of road construction) and the car in front of us stopped, we stopped, and they didn't. Praise the Lord we were all ok. Michael got a little scared and cried, but other than that, you wouldn't have known anything happened....well, that and our crunched up back end of the car. Grrr. So, we called their insurance and filed the claim. They called back today so that we could take the car to get it fixed and you won't believe what they told us. The guy driving said that Mike was turned around messing with Michael and stopped for no apparent reason. WHAT?! Some people. Mike told our side of the story and the insurance girl said that it didn't matter anyway what that guy said because we were hit from behind and that it was automatically their fault. I don't get why people lie. It irritates me.

Well, today is Monday and we did go to church yesterday and so far, Michael and all the rest of us are still healthy. I am praying he stays that way :) He's too cute to be sick....and here's a pic of him being just that....lol. My little guy loves to smile with his mouth open. haha.

A couple of free things

Hi there!

I got notified of some free stuff this morning and thought I'd share it with you! If you were on Facebook yesterday and saw my status about the mail (I had said the mail and I have a love/hate relationship), this is the "love" part of it. I love to go out to the mail and see what exciting new things that little box has inside. So, because of that fact, I thought I'd share it with you guys! So here we go.....

1. Get a free sample of Everlast Energy Bars in your choice of either Peanut Butter Chocolate Crunch, Dark Chocolate Nut, or Oatmeal Raisin Walnut. You should receive your free sample within about 6 to 8 weeks. Thanks goes out to Freebies 4 Moms for this one!

2. Ben and Jerry's now has a free cone day!! AND IT'S TODAY!! I love ice cream and FREE ice cream is even better! So, if you have a Ben and Jerry's around, be sure and go get your free cone! You can get more information on their Facebook Page. Thank you Shop4freebies for this one!! Enjoy!!

Also, be sure and check out Mike's blog. He has been using some Advocare products and is posting about his weightloss journey!

So Thankful...

So, I took the week off last week. Basically, I didn't have to do anything I normally do. No school work, no house cleaning, no cooking, no getting up early...it was wonderful. Mike's mom and Nanny came for a visit for spring break and I got to focus on me and have some time of pampering. Monday, I went shopping and bought a new purse....so cute and it was on sale! That night, Mike and I decided to try our hand at car shopping again.....we came home frustrated and disappointed. For those of you who don't know, we spent about 3 months car shopping with no luck.....the most frustrating experience I have ever had. Anyway, so we were easily discouraged when we visited 4 dealerships and only saw about 2 SUV's that were not even close to what we were looking for. So, we went home and decided to look online a little and then go visit some more places the next night. Tuesday mid morning, I headed out and got a pedicure. It was probably the greatest pedicure I have ever gotten. They even put paraffin wax on my feet. Amazing. Then I met Mike at the house and we headed out. We went to the first place and thought we had found "the car", only to find out they wanted to give us almost 3000 less than what our car was worth, so again, we left frustrated, and headed to another dealership. And there is where we found it........our 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe with less than 17000 miles on it!! Just perfect and roomier than a Chevy Trailblazer! So, we negotiated, and left empty handed. We decided to do a little research and found we were being offered a really great deal, and decided to go back on Wednesday to get it. So, Wednesday during the day, I went and got a massage. I needed it so bad! It wasn't relaxing...not one bit, but oh my goodness! I cannot remember when my back felt so free of pain and knots. The massage therapist was amazing and probably gave me the best massage I have ever had. I need to go back soon (and more often), so that eventually I will not need the knots worked out and I can have a relaxing massage, rather than one out of necessity. Thank the Lord for birthday money!! Anyway, then Mike and I headed out that afternoon to go get our car....it only took about an hour for the entire process! And that included a printer malfunction....lol. Praise the Lord for back up printers. Once I get some, I'll post some pics! It's perfect! On Thursday, I decided I needed a haircut, which actually turned out pretty cute....I was a little concerned because the guy did not seem to be very precise when cutting and I felt like he was saying "woosh" every time he snipped (he had some strange follow through techniques). Thursday night was date night and Mike and I had a nice dinner at Carabbas (see his blog for ways to eat out healthy) and went to see "Shutter Island". The movie was a little disappointing, but it was so nice to be able to go out on a date and not worry about Michael. Friday, I got to go visit my sister for a little bit and have lunch with my mom and then Mike's dad flew in to join us all for the weekend.

Thank you, thank you Dru and Nanny for watching Michael for me this week! Although I missed Michael, it was so nice to get to rest, relax, and for Mike and I to be able to spend some time, just us.

This picture is at Home Depot....Michael really liked this car basket!

Yay Mike!

So, first of all I want to say how proud I am of my husband, Mike. He is on a weight loss journey and has lost 52lbs so far! This has been a roller coaster, but I am so proud of his dedication and hard work. The poor man gets up at 3:40 every day to make it to the gym before he has to be at work at 6:15. I know I couldn't do it....

Anyway, he is starting a new venture and will be blogging daily about it. I am excited to see the results and I know you all will be too!

So, be sure and check out his blog GO MIKE!!

Bye Bye....everything!

So, Michael is growing and learning and doing new things every day and he is just so adorable doing it all! I find myself standing and watching him play on his own where he can't see me just to see him exploring, figuring things out, and talking to whatever will listen....whether that be the dog or the cat, his stuffed animals, or his feet.

So, he's been babbling away for the last few days, saying all kinds of consonants and looking like he is trying to say something very important and I noticed something. Every time we would leave a location, he would wave his little hand in the air and say bah-bah. I just thought he was babbling because he does it so much and then I realized what he was doing! He was waving at whatever we were leaving and saying BYE-BYE!!! My little man is talking!! I picked this picture because it looks like he's waving at me....such a big boy!!!

I already missed a day....

Well, somehow I got confused on the days and thought I posted the day before yesterday, when in fact it was 2 days ago. I am sorry I already messed that up. :)

Some of you probably have noticed that there are little ads on my page now. Well, I have used each of these sites personally and can vouch for each one. So, click away and save some money, earn some points, or get some new recipes!! From time to time, I'll be adding more, so keep an eye out for different things. But know, that I will not put anything on there that I have not tried out myself and had a positive experience with.

Did anyone remember to get their free entree at Panda Express yesterday? I wasn't able to take advantage of the offer, but I sure hope some of you were able to get some of their delicious food! Panda Express is one of my favorite places to eat!

Ok, so I am a member of Vocalpoint, which is a community of moms that can express their opinions and try free stuff. You can also get recipes and tips on different things around your house or for your family. They have a section that is called "Try and Tell" where you get a coupon for a full sized product that you can try out and then log back on to take a little survey about how you liked it, or didn't like it. I have received cereals, shampoos, conditioners and other things from this program and wanted to share it with you. It's an awesome way to try out new things. Sometimes the coupon is for free product and sometimes it's just heavily discounted (like I got a coupon for Pantene for $2.50 off, so I got the smallest one, and it was a little over $1, which is a GREAT price). So, click here if you are interested in signing up and being apart of this neat group!

Free entree at Panda Express!!

One of my favorite places to eat!!

Panda Express | Free Honey Walnut Shrimp

Posted: 08 Mar 2010 06:31 PM PST

Receive a Free order of Honey Walnut Shrimp at Panda Express. Just become a Fan of Panda Express on Facebook. Click on the “What’s New” tab to print off your coupon! This is valid on 03/10/2010.

Thank you Mommy Snacks for sharing this with me!

Turning a new leaf

Ok, so I have thought about this a little and decided that I need to blog a bit more and post about all the fun and exciting stuff that is going on in the Christian household. So, I am turning a new leaf. I used to blog, oh I'd say, maybe once or twice a month, and now I am going to do my best to blog about something every other day....whether that be family stuff, fantastic new recipes, free stuff I have found, or ways that I have felt the Lord move in my life. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I am planning to! :)

Sooooo, here we go.

I have found this awesome recipe for homemade white bread. I have tried several different ones and although this one makes a smaller loaf, it's wonderful!! Thanks goes out to Cher's Kitchen for this one! I haven't made this into buns yet, but I can imagine they would be just as good! I'll put a picture under the recipe....oh, I also didn't fold the dough up like the recipe suggests because I have not had the best results with that, so I just shape it into the pan and let it rise....but you can do it either way.

White Bread

also for hamburger and hot dog buns and dinner rolls

1 cup warm milk (100 - 120 degrees)
1 T. sugar
2 1/2 t. yeast (1 packet)
2 T. melted butter
2 1/2 to 3 cups bread flour
1 1/2 t. kosher salt or 1 t. table salt

Stir milk, sugar and yeast together until dissolved. Let stand 5
minutes. It should have foamed on the top (if not, your yeast is not active). Add the butter. Stir in 1 cup of the flour and mix well,
Stir in another cup of the flour and salt. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead in the remaining flour as needed, until smooth and elastic, about 5 to 8 minutes. Put in an oiled bowl, turning to oil the top, cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap and let rise until doubled, aboout 1 hour.
Punch down and shape as desired.

For 1 loaf, shape it into a rectangle. Fold in the short ends of
the dough until it is approximately the length of the pan. Then, fold the
far, long edge over to the middle. Fold over the other long sides
and compress it gently to form a tight cylinder. Place seam-side down in the lightly greased bread pan. Cover. Let rise until almost doubled, about 45 minutes.
Bake at 375 for 35 minutes or until golden brown and the bottom
sounds hollow if tapped. Remove immediately from pan and let
cool on it's side on a wire rack.

For Hamburger buns:
Divide dough into equal pieces. Shape into smooth balls, and place on a greased baking sheet. Flatten slightly. Cover, and let rise for 30 to 35 minutes.
Bake at 400 F for 10 to 12 minutes, or until golden brown.

For Hot Dog Buns:
Shape each piece into a 6x4 inch rectangle. Starting with the longer side, roll up tightly, and pinch edges and ends to seal. Let rise about 20 to 25 minutes. Bake as above.

10 things I've learned so far this year....

So, I got to thinking about the fact that I haven't posted and why, and I realized that it's not only because I am busy doing stuff, but because I am busy learning and growing in the Lord, and as a mom and a wife. So I thought I'd share some of the things I've learned so far in 2010 (in no particular order). :-)

1. No matter how clean and germ free I try to be, I cannot stop Michael from getting sick and then passing it on to me and Mike. We were sick almost the entire month of February and are finally on the mend. Praise the Lord for the renewal of our health.

2. Being sick is the pits!

3. I never have to measure up to anyone because my "measurements" have been taken to the cross with Christ. (Thank you Beth Moore)

4. I can try my best to be "super mom" and "super wife" but it's never gonna happen. Something in my house will always be a mess and I am slowly but surely becoming ok with that.

5. Some days I need to just relax and that's ok.

6. I love my husband more than he knows. I don't know that I can ever show him enough, but I can try every day to make him feel valued and loved and respected.

7. All babies cry....and sometimes yell and scream. Mine is no exception.

8. I love the Lord more than I ever thought possible and I can't stop talking about him.

9. God is trustworthy and He cares for me.

10. The fact that I mess up or fail at certain things does not define my ability to be a good wife and mom. The fact that I try and I work hard at it and I love my family (and the fact that God is gracious and shows this to my family) makes me a good wife and mom.

Pine Cone Research

Hey Everyone! I wanted to invite you to join Pine cone research! You take surveys and for each one you get $3. Sometimes, you can even receive a product to test! I have been a member of this panel for around 5 years and they are GREAT!! Just remember, 1 member per household.

Here is the link to the registration:

http://www.pineconeresearch.com/signup/RR570DS1.asp