Area Cleaning Aug 31- Sept 4
Remember , 15 minutes is all it takes! Don't try to be a perfectionist!

M~ Prune bushes
T~ declutter entrance and Living room
W~ organize coat closet and/or clean doors & sanitize door knobs
T~ sweep entrance/ vacuum living room
F~ detail dust 

Continue reading ...

Weekly Menu

Breakfasts:
S~ cinnamon rolls, fruit
M~ egg and cheese crescents
T~ cereal with strawberries
W~ baked oatmeal with bananas
T~  pb toast, cinnamon toast, or chunky monkey, &  fruit
F~  panckaes and fruit salad
S~ pancakes or cereal

Lunches:
S~ pasta salad, sandwiches, veg and fruit tray
M~ egg salad, carrots, jell-o, yogurt. banana
T~ soft tacos with cheese and lettuce, chips and dip, yogurt, grapes
W~ turkey club, yog, cheese, celery, bbq chips
T~  tuna and crackers, salad, jell-o, strawberries...
Continue reading ...

Grocery Cart Challenge
 
 
Walgreens
kit kat $.89
reeses(2)$.80 (BOGO cpn)
cookies(2) $5.00 (sale)
tinted moisturizer(2) $5.99 ( BOGO store sale)
crackers (2) $5.00 (sale) 
nail polish $ 3.79 ( at 40% off and $1.00 cpn)
envelopes $.99 (sale)
salmon(2) $2.19 (BOGO sale)
cashews $ 1.99 ( store cpn)
folgers (2) $5.00 (store sale and $.25 cpn))
water bottle with samples $.99
rice krispies(2) $5.00 (2 - $1.00 cpns/ then a $2.00 store register cpn)
paper (2) $1.00
all $9.99 ( $2.00 cpn)
all $9.99 ($1.00 cpn)
Total cp...
Continue reading ...

Ryan brought this to me yesterday and said, "It's a BABY!! What should we do with it!!??".  We love all things "BABY" around here. All the other boys were gathered around him ooh-ing and aah-ing.  I was just scared that the thing would get spooked, jump off of his arm, and be lost in our house until next summer!  Then they all started to argue over whose pet it was going to be. HELLO!! Momma here! We are not keeping this as a pet! It's going back into the wild. So, they reluctantly let it go ...
Continue reading ...

It's back to school time. I have been constantly thinking about healthy lunch ideas for the boys. Nutrition is very important to me. They are only young once and good eating habits form when they are young. I do not keep "junk" in the house. This is for many reasons. One, because it is gone in a matter of seconds, they are on to eat something else, and that was a waste of money. And two, because it's just not good for their bodies to eat everyday. I do buy "junk" every once in a while. And wh...
Continue reading ...

I want to share two summer time treats before summer ends. These recipes are the ones I remember when I was young. It may bring you back to the fun days of summer of your childhood!

Fudge Popsicles



Continue reading ...

Sorry this is a day late. My site was down yesterday. This week we are back in the kitchen!  Remember, you only have to spend 15 minutes on each day. It doesn't have to be perfect. We aren't looking for perfectionism. 15 minutes is all it takes to bless your home!

Kitchen/ Dining Room
M~ clean inside of fridge
T~  wipe down all appliances
W~ Wipe/clean walls and baseboards
T~  declutter and organize under your sink
F~ detail dust, polish, clean furniture

Continue reading ...

Grocery Cart Challenge

Cereal                  1.99
cereal                   1.99 
Continue reading ...

"But they who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up on wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."  Isaiah 40 31

This verse often comes to mind when raising boys. I often say my life is never boring and I love it that way. Boys really do know how to keep you on your toes! They are always going from one thing to the next. I was blessed with very active boys. Fearless and will try just about anything. Yes, even my youngest little...
Continue reading ...

* You can also Tips of the Week every Wednesday on the homepage 

                                                   Tip of the Week

                    Back to School Organization

Your kids have or will be going back to school soon. Here are a few tips to organized their time, papers, and more.

1. Scheduling:
Sit down with your child and go over their activites. Type out a schedule  and routine of their daily events.
Here is an example of my elementary kids routine: 
6:45~ Wake- make bed - morning c...

Continue reading ...

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good, blessed is the man who trusts in him! 
 Psalm 34:8

Scalloped Corn

2 cans whole kernel corn
2 cans creamed corn
1 sleeve saltine crackers crushed / 1/2 sleeve crackers, crushed
1 small carton of heavy whipping cream
1 stick of butter, cut into squares

1. Mix corns, 1 sleeve of crushed crackers, whipping cream , and 1 stick butter(squares). The mixture will be soupy. Put in  greased,round casserole dish.
2. Bake 375 degrees/ 1 hour. 
3. 10 minutes before taking ou...
Continue reading ...

Laundry Area/Room & Office

M~ De-clutter top of desk, and top of washer and dryer
T~  Clean monitor and keyboard, wipe down washer and dryer
W~ Empty trash in office and laundry(lint!)
T~  Check supplies and restock
F~  Sweep and Mop or vacuum office and laundry room

If you take 15 minutes out of your day to do these little area cleanings, you will not have to spring clean!
Continue reading ...

Continue reading ...

Today is Kool-Aid Day! Go have some fun with your kids with Kool-Aid. Make Kool-aid, make popsicles, dye something with Kool-Aid- like a t-shirt with a design. Be creative and let your kids give ideas! 
Have Fun!
Blessings, Holly
Continue reading ...

 ***I am now combining the Grocery Cart Challenge and the Weekly Menu. That way you can see what I purchased at the store and compare to what I'm making for breakfast , lunch, and dinner for that week! ***

 Some of you may be wondering why I never have meats on my grocery list, yet it's on my menu. Here's why. My parents raise cattle for beef. They raise very healthy beef, so that is where I get my meat. We have a very good supply in our freezer. Google organic farms in your area. Take a famil...
Continue reading ...

Monday was the older three boys first day of school. They were actually excited to go this year! I never remember a time that I was excited about going back to school. Facebook has helped my middle schooler keep in touch with his friends over the summer. Well, Ian did announce a few times during the summer that he "was not going to to school this year!". We've heard that declaration for the last 3 years! (He is in 2nd grade now) But, the first day came and they were up early and ready!

Seth an...
Continue reading ...

 I love this lady and she is an inspiration to stay fit, no matter how many children you have. Check out her website.

Ten kids, Ten Back-to-School Supplies, Lists, Sports and Paperwork  Tips for college, high school, grade and pre-school prep for mom and kids College Three off to college this year! Find out the dimensions of the room so you can sketch out and plan what they can actually take with them. Have your child communicate with their roommate to find out what they are bringing to help share ...

Continue reading ...

      Oh, taste and see that 
       the LORD is good;
      Blessed is the man 
      who trusts in Him!
                                   Psalm 34:8

Chocolate Gravy
1 c sugar
2 TBSP cocoa
2 heaping tablespoons of cornstarch

~ Mix above in a saucepan. Add 1/2 c warm water to dissolve. Then add about 4 c of milk.
~ Stir constantly on medium or med/high.
~ Will be thick like gravy
* Serve on biscuits

This is a southern favorite. You have to try this! 
...
Continue reading ...

This week is bathrooms. You could do this alone, or you could have the kids do their own bathrooms along with you. This should only take 15 minutes or less! If this is your first time doing "area cleaning" weekly, the first time may take longer. But I promise if you keep up with the daily cleaning and 15 minutes of another area cleaning daily, your cleaning should only be 15 minutes or less! I know you can do this!
 
Bathrooms
M~ wash rugs
T~ clean shower and tub
W~ scrub toilets/ inside-out
T~ str...
Continue reading ...

Yesterday we had my in-laws in town so I made them our big Sunday dinner. The menu called for loaded baked potatoes, so I just added that to our dinner. Today we are going to a family gathering anyway, so it all worked out. 
 * most of these recipes are from my recipe page or recipezaar.com.

Breakfasts
S~  Cinnamon coffee cake
M~ eggs, bacon, toast, fruit. 
T~  Rice with butter and sugar, bacon, fruit
W~ oatmeal, fruit
T~  oatmeal muffins
F~  pancakes(left over from Thursdays dinner)
S~  cereal

Lunches...
Continue reading ...

The AMA Amateur Motocross Nationals at Loretta Lynn's
  The boys have been looking forward to this mini-vacation since last year. Ryan's friend, Mathew, qualified for the nationals, so it made this trip even better! We were going to camp, but it was so packed and too expensive. We made it a long "day-cation"!

Ryan, Ian, Seth, and Luke watching the races                   Jeff and his friend, John and his 2 boys

 The boys swimming                                                  The famous "Hillb...
Continue reading ...

Sorry this is a day late! We were out of town yesterday. I'll post our "last mini-vacation" before school starts on a later post. This week for me is also back to school shopping and food for lunches. If I were able to homeschool, my groceries would be cheaper this week. I had to just get a few things to kick the school year off right. I am not posting the school supplies that I had to buy. It was ridiculous! These last 2 weeks I have been off on my shopping.  And please remember I am not per...
Continue reading ...

This past week I had two of my brothers oldest girls, Morgan and Rachel. The boys had a great time with them. I hardly ever get to see them because they live in Missouri. This is the first time I have had them for the summer. We didn't have enough days to do everything I wanted. We rented movies,went downtown Memphis walked around , had dessert, went tot he top of the Peabody hotel to look at the skyline, went to the zoo, went out for ice cream, went to see the Disney's Christmas Carol train,...
Continue reading ...

Bedrooms

M~ flip mattress
T~ rid clutter
W~ clean cobwebs
T~ straighten closet
F~ Polish furniture

 15 Minutes a day is all it takes!
* Make this list for your kids. Help them do these things in their rooms, also.

Continue reading ...

HOT FUDGE CAKE 

2 cups flour                                  Sift flour with sugar, combine oleo-shortning-cocoa-and
2 cups sugar                                water in a sauce pan. Bring to a boil for 1 min. and pour
1 stick oleo                                  over dry, ingredients. Stir well and add buttermilk, eggs, 
1/2  cup crisco                             cinnamon,soda and vanilla. Mix real well. Pour into a
4 tablespoons cocoa                     greased pan or cupcake pan. Bake at 35...

Continue reading ...

Last Monday I didn't tell you what we had for dinner b/c it was a surprise to the bunko girls. My theme at bunko was "Christmas in July!". I made a ham, green bean casserole, scalloped corn, candied yams, rolls, and chocolate pie. YUM!

Aug 2 -8

Breakfasts:
M~banana bread
T~scrambled eggs, toast, fruit
W~muffins
T~oatmeal
F~bagels with cream cheese
S~waffles
S~pancakes

Lunches:
~ egg salad, BLT's, PB & J, pizza rolls, chicken nuggets

Dinners: 
S~ salsbury patties with brown gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet fr...
Continue reading ...

I have two nieces with me this week so , I bought a little more than I usually would! So I went over my budget. 
Aug 2-8

Wal-mart:
Pizza crusts                ~ 4.32 ( 2@2.16)
popcorn kernals         ~ 1.28
shampoo/Dove            ~ 5.00
mini bagels                 ~3.38
                  total =       15.14(with tax)


Aldi:
mint choc ice cream  ~ 1.79
pizza snacks              ~  4.98 (2@ 2.49)
rocky rd ice cream     ~1.79
ckn breast                  ~5.49
whipped topping        ~.85
baby carrots          ...
Continue reading ...

Sorry, I haven't blogged in a while. I have been in MO visiting family. My Mom also surprised the boys with a trip to Silver Dollar City in Branson, Mo. If you haven't been there, you should really go at least once for a family vacation. I grew up in that area and went there as a child every summer, all summer. It has since changed very much. But each year just gets better and better! Check out their website and make sure you go during KIDSFEST!
Here are a few pictures:

All of us about to go in...
Continue reading ...