Kids Music Giveaway

Do your kids love music? well mine do they are always going around humming a song or singing. They love to listen to it and when their song comes on watch out cause they are gonna bust it out. That's why I love this giveaway

Enter to win CD Kidz Bop
Where the blog Mom and More
Giveaway ends 8/25

Beautiful

heirloom tomatoes

Recently we were able to purchase some delicious heirloom tomatoes I love the farmers market as we never know what we will find. They were delicious. While I would love to be an avid gardener like my parents I am not but know many that are. If you enjoy gardening and would like more information on heirloom tomatoes. Here is a great post created by a fellow blogger.

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fabulous finds

Simplify To Make Room For Those Important TO You

Sometimes life can spin to fast and before you know it the day is gone and then another and yet another. Step back take some time and keep in mind a few tips

1. Keep in mind what is important to you. Don't let the daily hustle and bustle take those pleasures away. Make up your mind what is important and sometimes it is not what is important at the moment. My grandmother always said the work will wait while the days pleasures may not. Children grow fast and we age a bit every day (sad as it is) that is why it is so important to relax and take the time to enjoy the day and life. When deciding what is the most important ask a question or two of yourself. Take a moment and see if what will change in a day, a week, a month or a year from now.

Sometimes it is our activities that take over our life. Doing to much can create a negative effect draining your energy and time. Decide what activities and hobbies you most enjoy. Is there something that has become to demanding? Sometimes we must release an activity or commitment in order to make room and enjoy what we find interest in. When we strive to do to much we can become overwhelmed with stress

Clutter is something that often stresses me out as well. With it not being organized my life seems a bit chaotic. Try to remove what you no longer need or use and keep the rest straight and organized.

One of the toughest words to say is a simple 2 letter word. The word I speak of is one that I have trouble saying myself  "NO". Often people will take advantage of this and you may find yourself doing so much that there is no possible way. It is best to learn to be selective in the jobs and goals you accept. Remember in the end it is what you hold important that will end up suffering.

I try to hard to get it all perfect or as near to it as I can get it. The thing is I am sure that there are others that are like me. I have been told many times that there are no perfect individuals and while I know this I must try to remind myself of that. Trying to select a realistic goal is better than feeling like it never is good enough. Being successful also spills over to our children. We try to hard to make sure that we set them up for success and make it better than our childhood. Instead of pushing to hard we should concentrate on being there for support and whatever the outcome offer a bit of love.

Taking a moment for yourself allows you to refresh , enjoy life more and giving those around you a more loving refreshed you. Take a walk, participate in a hobby, read a book or sit and ponder whatever it is take some time and do it. 

In this world of technology it is hard to escape but getting away for a few seconds is what you may need. There are times where go for a ride to simply get away from the world, don't worry when you go back it will all still be there but for a moment it will help you escape from it all.


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Thoughtful Thursday

Peach Fest and a Yummy Recipe

 

 

Over the weekend we were able to have lots of great fun at the annual Peach Festival in Cobden Illinois. Never heard of Cobden? Here in southern Illinois it is the location of a few orchards that supply the area with delicious goodies of peaches and apples both. Yummy desserts are among my favorite things to make from the fruits that are available. Perhaps you would like to try your hand at a delicious recipe like peach crisp.

 

 

 

 

4 to 6 large peaches

sprinkle of sugar

 

For the topping:

½ cup flour

½ cup rolled oats

½ cup brown sugar

¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

¼ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

¹/₈ teaspoon ground cloves

½ cup (1 stick) butter

spread peaches in baking dish and sprinkle with sugar

Mix dry ingredients together.  

Using a pastry blender, blend in the cold butter until mixture is uniformly crumby.  If you don’t have a pastry blender, just use a fork. 

Evenly sprinkle the crumb mixture over the top of the peaches.  Some crumble recipes stipulate patting the mixture down on top of the peaches.  I chose not to, and it was fine.  Bake at 350° for 45 minutes.

Don’t try to serve like a piece of cake.  Allow the peaches to jumble together with the crumble.  It is so good!



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What'd you do this weekend
Grand Social
show and tell friday

family fun summer time fun

As a mother of 6 I have learned to look for frugal fun out of necessity. This fun family craft will provide cool off fun for hours. Frugal and fun go in hand in hand as you travel through hours of splashing fun.

 

 

 

 

FOR EACH BALL:

3 plain kitchen sponges
Scissors
Strong string
Bucket

How to make it

1. For each ball, you'll need 3 plain kitchen sponges fresh from the package and still slightly damp. Use scissors to cut each sponge lengthwise into 5 strips about a half-inch wide. Stack the strips as shown.
2. Loop a piece of strong string around the center of the stack and pull tightly. Double-knot the string and trim the excess.
3. For a fast cool-off game, have two players stand a few feet apart, each beside a bucket of water. See how many times they can toss the ball back and forth, taking a step apart and dunking the ball in a bucket before each throw

resource: family fun magazine

shared at Crafttastic Monday
In and Out of the Kitchen

End of Summer Pasta Salad

I love end of summer, harvest time, a great time when fresh veggies are fully available. This pasta salad recipe allows you to share your bounty in one delicious recipe. Check it out many veggies currently available from your own garden, farmers market or roadside stand. Enjoy the summer and all that it has to offer.

1 package pasta (your shape choice)
½ cup carrot, diced
½ cup bell pepper, chopped
½ cup cucumber, chopped
½ cup green beans, choppedL
2 cups tomatoes, diced (any kind of tomato)
¼ cup onion, chopped
½ cup feta
Fresh basil, chopped (to taste)
Salt and pepper to taste
Italian dressing (dress salad to your liking)

Prepare the pasta until al dente and rinse in cold water, set aside.
In a large bowl, mix the other ingredients except the dressing. Then add pasta and dressing and toss to evenly distribute and coat.
If you expect your pasta salad to be eaten at one sitting, then feel free to use all of the Italian dressing. If you expect leftovers or for it to sit for several hours before serving you may want to reserve some of the dressing as it is absorbed into the ingredients and can leave them dry if stored too long. You can also use olive oil to refresh the salad if you don’t want to add more flavor or don’t have any dressing left.

recipe source here
meet up monday
marvelous monday