Spice Organization

As I told you last week, I've been organizing. And I left the worst cabinet for last!

That would be my corner cabinet that I keep my spices in. It. Was. A. Mess! I have a spice rack that I keep on my counter that held some spices but then I also had a ton of them in my cabinet. I tend to buy spices in bulk just because it is cheaper. I hated when I was baking or cooking and I had to dig through them to find what I needed. I knew there had to be an easier way!

I searched high and low for an idea to solve my problem........actually I just searched pinterest. But I wasn't really having any luck. 

I did find one idea to score a piece of cardboard and set it in your drawer and organize your spices on it. I know that didn't make much sense but not really sure how to explain it. I thought it was a great idea but it involved having your spices all in the same size jars. 

From that idea, it evolved into what you see below. I took all my spices that were currently in containers and sorted them in the drawer. I had some spices that were in bags, so I switched those to the jars from my old spice rack and labeled them. 

I absolutely love that I can just open my drawer, see exactly what I need and grab it. It really does make life a lot easier! No more spice rack on my counter and no more mess in my cabinet!

Last week I also read this post on Money Saving Mom with some great ideas of how to organize using things you already have in the house. It's not my brilliant idea of boxes, but still some great ideas!

Three times Two plus One

In January I received a message from a girl named Melissa. She has triplet boys that are 6 months old. 

Not only is her name Melissa but she also has the same maiden name as me.

Strange. Don't you think? 

We thought so too.

We also thought it would be fun to get together so we could meet and so could our triplets.

So we did just that a couple weeks ago.

As I looked into my past and she looked into her future, we exchanged stories. She then mentioned that she hadn't had her boys pictures taken in a while. Since I had my camera with I told her that I could snap some for her.

This is what I got.

Since that wasn't working out, I figured we could show her that someday it will be much easier to photograph your kids.

As you can see, that didn't work out so well either.

Then we added Isaac.

Whenever I tell the kids about another family that has triplets we usually have a little conversation that goes something like this:

Kids: "But they don't have an Isaac do they?"

Me: "Nope they don't have an Isaac."

Kids: "They need an Isaac."

My triplets are definitely a blessing but so glad we have our Isaac too!

We were only able to stay a short time but it was great to meet Melissa and her 3 little boys. Can't wait to go back and visit again. And next time we will have to get a picture of the two Melissa's as well!

Frugal Organizing

I believe that everything should have a place and that drawers should not look like this one does.

Of course, my family doesn't feel the same way that I do and that is why drawers end up looking like this!

Today I finally finished going through every drawer, cabinet, and the pantry in my kitchen.

In my effort to make things more organized I tried to make more little compartments for things in the hopes that maybe things won't get so out of place.

Of course, being the frugal person that I am I hate spending money on things that no one sees.

Enter...... my love of boxes.

Every time a new box comes into my house I see at as something special. I know, I'm a little weird.

Each different size box makes make think 'gift','storage', 'bring things to the thrift store', 'perfect for in a drawer.' So, yes, I have a huge section of boxes in one of my closets.

When I see little boxes I think of my junk drawers.

If you notice the large white one in this picture, I recently found it in my storage room holding a few things from our computer. It screamed to me "USE ME TO ORGANIZE!"

A few weeks ago I found some old checks from an account that was closed years ago. I knew the boxes would be perfect for this drawer.

Of course I have already found my dear husband taking something out of one of the boxes and putting it in another. I think he does it because he knows how crazy it makes me. But at least with all the different little boxes in the drawer it's easier for me to put it back where it belongs.

I can't wait to show you what I did with my spices!!!!

1000 Gifts

587. A Successful new recipe and a not so successful recipe

588. Frozen food

589. A husband who puts the sheets on the bed for me

590. A fun night out filled with lots of laughs

591. A tearful little boy that needs hugs

592. An encouraging email.

593. The kids joy that they get a week of seeing their daddy at night.

594. The whole family sitting down at the table for supper.

595. The smell of shampoo.

596. A fun girls overnight.

597. Sunday naps.

 

More Bits and Pieces

Last week I posted a list of some little tid bits of happenings in our lives around here. I kind of enjoyed doing that and thought I'd continue it. Of course last week when I posted I said that I would probably remember a couple more things as soon as I hit publish and of course I did. So I am adding those this week as well.

1.) My sister-in-law sent back a box of clothes that I let her borrow for her daughter. It was nice to reminisce as I went through the box. There were even a few sleepers that I had let her borrow from when my kids were babies. Then there were some clothes that I felt my girls just got out of and she was already sending them back.  They were size 3t and 4t. I guess it's been longer than I thought. Sigh.

2.) Speaking of clothes.....Amanda has been growing out of all her shirts. Alex says, "Mom, you better go to the thrift store and get her some new shirts." I love that she said thrift store!

3.) Last week I told you that I enjoyed Madonna's Superbowl half-time show. Then the next day I saw in the news that MIA had an obscene hand gesture during the show. First, I have no idea who MIA is and second, I totally missed this gesture.

4.) The other day I asked Brad what was in the mail. He told me nothing. I then found a 30% off to Kohls. How is a 30% off to Kohls NOTHING?????

5.) Brad got switched to the midnight shift this week. We are enjoying having him home in the evening with us. Isaac hasn't complained about going to school at all this week. Brad is getting used to the sleeping schedule. I am getting used to having only 4 hours a day that someone is not sleeping in this house, I am also getting used to him being around after the kids go to bed. It may sound weird but for a year and a half now I have been used to being by myself those couple hours and getting a lot of things done.  The kids have decided that dad is nocturnal.

6.) Speaking of nocturnal.....they also told me last week that they don't want a hamster because they are nocturnal. Oh good because I was almost ready to go out and buy one of those disgustingly furry little things.

7.) I have 29 socks in my laundry basket that are missing their mate.

8.) Yesterday I ran into a mom of 2 1/2 yr old triplet girls. They were screaming and just generally not happy. I felt for her. I know how much work it takes to get them all out and once you are out you have to get your errands done no matter how crabby they are. Thankful that I could talk with her for a little while and be an encouragement to her.

9.) Yesterday I got my chalkboard paint. Watch out walls!

Red Velvet Cupcakes

 I made these cupcakes for my family for Valentine's Day. They were delicious!

This was my first attempt at Red Velvet anything. And honestly I don't think I've ever even eaten Red Velvet cake. Isaac was not liking that I added all the red food coloring but he got over it pretty quickly while he licked the whole bowl clean and had it all over his face!

Here is the recipe:

Cupcakes

2 3/4 cups all purpose flour

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 c (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

3/4 c. reduced fat sour cream

2 large eggs

1 bottle (1 ounce) red food coloring

1/2 c. milk

Heat oven to 350. Line 2 standard size muffin pans with 24 cupcake liners.

In bowl, mix flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In second bowl, beat butter and sugar on medium-high until smooth. Beat in sour cream. Beat in eggs, one at a time. On low speed, beat in flour mixture and food coloring, alternating with milk. Spoon into cupcake liners, filling each about 2/3 full.

Bake at 350 for 23 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pan and cool. I actually baked for 20 min and still thought they were slightly over baked, so watch them.

Frosting

1 - 8 oz package of cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup  (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened

1 box (16 ounces) confectioners sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. On low, beat in confectioners sugar, then vanilla. Spread onto cupcakes or you can pipe them on to make them pretty.

Sunday Morning Deliciousness

I found this Sticky Bun Breakfast Ring recipe on Pinterest. But as I made it I realized that the ring just wasn't cuttin' it for our family. 

Don't get me wrong.....the kids loved it! They ask for it all the time, it just didn't make enough.

First I made it with one tube of Grands biscuits. Not enough.

Then I made it with two small tubes of refrigerated buttermilk biscuits. Still not enough.

So here is my "big family" size which no longer works in a ring but has to be made in a 9x13 pan.

If you want the "small family" size recipe you can get it HERE.

Otherwise here is my version.

4 tubes of refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
6 Tbsp melted butter or margarine
1 c. pancake syrup
2/3 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon

Spray a 9x13 pan.

Melt butter and mix with syrup. Pour half of the mixture in the bottom of the pan.

Mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle half of the mixture on top of the syrup.

Lay the biscuits on top, overlapping them.

Pour the rest of the syrup mixture on top of the biscuits and then sprinkle with the rest of the brown sugar mixture.

Bake at 375 for 20 minutes.

Let sit for 1 minute and then turn over onto a serving platter and enjoy!

Since we are usually busy getting ready for church on Sunday morning, I love to make these on Saturday night. I then just throw them in the fridge and pop them in the oven on Sunday morning.

There you go......super easy and super delicious. 

Where Do I Go With All The Things Swirling In My Head

So now that I am taking a little break from Facebook I have no where to share all the fascinating things that are happening during my day and that are swirling around in my head. I thought about going to Twitter (I have an account but never really got into the whole Twitter thing) but that would kind of defeat the purpose, don't ya think? Cut down on time on one social media site to just move to another?

But thankfully I have my blog and so now I will just have to do an occasional post on all the little random things. Of course some of you may know most of this since I have taken up texting it all to you as well.

So here goes:

1.) Thursday night I went upstairs to color my roots (not that I have gray hair or anything) and when I told the kids I was going to do this Isaac says, "Yep, you don't want old hair." (This actually is a lot funnier if you know Isaac and how he says things.)

2.) Got this new mop from Norwex. You can use it dry or wet. Alex & Isaac were fighting over using it. They nicely took turns and I overhear them say, "We should do this everyday!"  BEST MOP EVER!!!!!

3.) I really enjoyed the Madonna half-time Superbowl show. I told Brad it was the best one ever, he did not agree. Of course I must say that I can only recall seeing 3 halftime shows in my life and one of them was the Janet Jackson debacle. I really like that I could just sing along to all the songs....took me back. Sigh! And props to her, she looks really good for her age and didn't even look like she broke a sweat.

4.) I forgot to tell my kids to shower for 4 days and so they became the stinky kids that everyone was trying to stay away from. Whoops! Don't worry, they have showered and are now clean. Phew!

5.) I went to my sisters house the other day and she pulls out her headband holder to show me. It was a jar. Really? I kept looking at it thinking "you didn't even do any cutting or pasting." Seriously!? A jar!? So, if you need a headband holder you can either pull out a Mason jar or you can make my Ultra Cute Headband Holder. (Actually, the jar is quite genius just don't tell my sister I said that.) Just wait til you see my next craft that I'm working on!

6.) I added a "Pin It" button to my blog so now you can pin anything you see here. I hope it actually works. If there is anyone out there that actually wants to pin something of mine please let me know if it worked!

I'm sure there was probably a lot more but I can't remember and of course as soon as I hit "post" I will remember. I'll just have to save it for next weeks list.

A Conflicted Heart - 1000 Gifts

They are all sleeping. My husband. My kids. I ascend the stairs to head to bed.

My heart is full. Can't I just freeze time? Little kids.......little problems.

My mind quickly jumps and my heart is filled with sorrow. 

A friend. Sin has taken over and Satan has a strong hold.

How can my heart feel so full and so grieved at the same time? 

"giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father..." Ephesians 5:20

But how? How can I be thankful for this?

I fall asleep praying and trusting in a God who is greater than all of this. A Sovereign God.

Morning comes and it fills my mind again.

Finally, a phone call. The road to recovery begins.

Tears of Joy. Tears of Thankfulness. Praise the Lord.

Here are some of the things I have been thankful for this past week. 578 ~ 586

Isaac holding my hand as we walk through the parking lot.

Running into a friend and we chat as one goes up the escalator and one goes down.

Silly kids putting their stuffed animals on the ceiling fan and giving them rides.

Laughter from children as they run through the house playing tag.

Children that give a name to a fly.

Hot tea.

A toothless little boy.

That I can pray to my God at anytime and for anything and He hears me.

Answered Prayers.

* This was actually written last week and was to be my multitude monday post for last week but it never got posted.

Trying to Kick a Habit

I am reading the book "Disciplines of a Godly Woman" by Barbara Hughes. In her chapter Disciplines of Mind she explains that "if a person does something for twenty-six days in a row, research shows he has actually developed a habit."

I am actually hoping to do something for twenty-six days to change a habit.

Just after the new year started I was thinking of things that I wanted to change in the new year. One of them was my use of social networking. I don't play games on Facebook but I do tend to go to the computer A LOT to see what all of you are up to. When I thought about giving it up completely I remembered that I have a lot of people who contact me through Facebook and it is really a great tool for this. I basically talked myself out of it and told myself I need to just cut down my use.

Well......it's a month later and that has not happened! Yesterday I decided that I am not going to get rid of my account for the simple reason of being able to connect with people. What I plan on doing may take a lot more discipline but I'm hoping in the end it will end my habit and develop a new habit.

I will continue to check my account for Notifications but that is it.

I will also still post links to blog posts because I know many of you come here from there.

But......I will no longer be checking my computer all day long to see what you are all up to. In fact I won't be reading it at all. That is the only way I can think of to keep me from being on there too much.

I started this today and have noticed myself always walking to the computer and then remembering that there really isn't a need to do so.

What I hope to do instead is spend more time in the Word, time in prayer, time reading books, connecting with friends the old fashion way (by actually talking to them), organizing, getting things done around the house and things on my list that I have been putting off.

So far tonight I have actually gone through my emails and got it down from around 260 to 97. I will actually read my emails now! I was able to write a letter to our sponsored child (something on my list for 2 weeks now). Paid some bills. Wrapped some presents. Finished ironing. Colored my hair.Waxed my eyebrows. I think that is about it. A pretty successful night! And yes, I even talked to a couple friends on the phone today as well!

So, the reason I am telling you all this is so if you see me commenting on your Facebook post you can yell at me and know I've failed. Also, if there is something important going on in your life that you would like me to know, please don't assume I've read it on Facebook because I haven't. Text me, call me, come see me. Whatever you need to do! Of course, if you write on my wall or private message me I will get it and can respond that way as well.

And now that I'm done typing this, I may just go do some reading!

I Got a Little Crafty

I saw this idea years ago in a magazine and ripped the page out, put it in a file and was planning on making one.

Then Pinterest renewed my interest in making this. (Do you like my rhyme?) 

This is so easy even the uncrafty can do it. (Yep, even I did it!) This is my kind of craft!

Some of the blogs that Pinterest brought me to had different ideas on how to make it.

First you start with a large oatmeal container. The round circular ones.

One person made it by wrapping it in material and another with scrapbook paper.

When I was at Target a couple weeks ago I found some really cute scrapbook paper for $1 so I bought it.

Of course, when I got it home it didn't wrap all the way around, so it would have been cutting and pasting and things wouldn't line up. It would have been awful.

But then I remembered that I had an old book of wallpaper samples that I had gotten from the paint store that I could use.

If you don't have one, just head to your local paint store and ask them if they have any that they are getting rid of. Mine wasn't at the time but they called me when they had one for me to come pick up.

I used a large piece and then I also used a border. I simply cut it out of the book and use some spray adhesive and attached. Yep, it was that simple! I told you, it's my kind of craft.

Of course I didn't want that cute scrap paper to go to waste so I cut out a circle to glue on the top of the lid to make the lid pretty too.

So, to go over this again.

Cut.

Paste.

Got it?

And here is the finished product.