Color Coded Bread Ties

I have seen this in several e-mails and I just checked snopes (they said it was true) about buying fresh bread.

Bread is delivered fresh to the store 5 days a week (Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri., & Sat.) and each day has a different colored twist tie (or plastic closure).

Mon. - Blue
Tues. - Green
Thurs. - Red
Fri. - White
Sat. - Yellow

So, if today was Thur. I would want a Red Twist Tie (not White - which is Friday, almost a week old). The colors go in alphabetical order and Mon. - Sat. It should be easy to remember, but if you can't you can print it off and carry it in your purse/wallet for a shopping reminder.

Gooey Gunk

Do you have young scientists in your family, do your kids like making concoctions, do you have boys that just like to make a mess (like I do)? If so, you need to check out Kid Concoctions.

I first saw the Thomas' several years ago on the Carol Duvall Show and instantly liked them and thier ideas. I got online and ordered 2 of their books. While I was at the MOPS Convention a couple of weeks ago, I took a workshop that the Thomas' were giving about their Kid Concoctions (I bought another book). Great workshop.

They have 'recipes' for all sorts of things that cost a lot of money at the store, but you can make it at home a whole lot cheaper with ingredients around the house (mostly from your kitchen).

Last night we made GooeyGunk. I used neon green food coloring (thinking that would be cool - instead the boys said it looked like snot - they are right, hint: if you make this use blue or purple or something other than green). *See pictures below.* [If you buy GooeyGunk in the store, it would be called 'Slime.']

See what my boys are doing with it. (That's o.k. I'm not sure either, but they are having fun doing it.)

Love & Respect

I just finished the book 'Love & Respect' by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs (Thomas Nelson Publishers).

This book centered around the scripture Ephesians 5:33, "Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband." I have often wondered why a man is told to love his wife, but a wife is told to respect her husband. That is one scripture that I never fully understood. I think that Dr. Eggerichs did a good job on explaining the importance of that scripture to a marriage.

He talks about the 'Crazy Cycle' in his book. Without Love -> she reacts -> Without Respect -> he reacts -> Without Love -> (do you see where this is going?). He has a great diagram in his book to explain it better. He also talks about an 'Energizing Cycle' and a 'Rewarded Cycle.' (Why and how you should still try to use his principles on your marriage even if your spouse is not cooperative.)

I really enjoyed the book. It made me look at the way I treat my husband and the way he perceives that he is being treated and vice versa (they are not always the same). On occasion, when Dr. Eggerichs address wives, he asks a very thought provoking question..."Are you treating your husband the way you would want your son to be treated by his wife?" Wow, what an eye opener and since I am the mother of 4 boys, this really hit home with me.

When I was around other couples, I became aware of how they were treating each other and how they perceived they were being treated by their spouse. After reading this book, I am very aware of how people come across (which very often is not the way they think they are coming across) to others. Communication (in all forms - body language, tone of voice, facial expressions, etc.) is extremely important in a marriage.

So if you are struggling in your marriage, or if you have a good marriage, but would like to make it better or if you just want to please Christ with your marriage and your role as a spouse - this is a good read. I highly recommend it.

http://brb.thomasnelson.com/

How to make a pumpkin

I am sorry that the pictures are not very clear. I really NEED a new camera (maybe for Christmas?). I took and re-took the pictures, adjusted settings and none of them are clear - sorry.


First you will need orange slice candy, plastic wrap, scissors, green floral tape, and a small bowl with a flat bottom (I used a 1/2 C measuring cup).


You will need a fairly large piece (it will need to be quite a bit bigger than your bowl) of plastic wrap.


Now, pay attention, it gets really technical here. Take your fingers and push the plastic wrap into the bottom of your bowl.



Now begin to stand your slices of orange slice candy around the outside edge of your bowl (with the narrow part of the candy toward the center of the bowl and the wide part touching the outside).


Continue to fill the bowl. It will depend on the size of the candies as to how many you will need. In the picture there are 8 candies on the outside and 1 candy in the center (if there are any broken pieces, I usually save them for the center).


Pull the plastic wrap up and lift the candy out of the bowl (keeping plastic wrap tight). Then twist the plastic wrap tightly next to the orage slice candy.


Take your floral tape and while stretching it (this is important - if you do not do this, it will not hold), wrap it around the twisted plastic wrap a couple of times.


Then take your scissors and cut off the excess plastic wrap and then you have a pumpkin. Now you can make a whole pumpkin patch for table decorations, gifts to your co-workers, child's teachers/classmates/friends/etc.

I've made a few batches for my MOPS Disscussion Group, Anthony's Pre-K class including the teachers (they are studying the letter 'P' this week and they are going to the 'Pumpkin Patch' tomorrow, so I thought it would be appropriate). I have been making these since Lee and Champ were in daycare (they are now 10 and 9).

Everyone seems to enjoy them and they are so easy to do. You can make these around Halloween or Thanksgiving.

Sorry that I haven't updated my blog lately. I am having trouble getting adjusted to school this year (this is the first time in about 3 or 4 years that I have taken the boys to school - Frank usually does it). Since Anthony is in Pre-K he gets out at 2:00 and we don't live close to the school, so I have to kill an hour until the other 2 boys get out at 3:00. This year I have 3 children in 3 different schools (this is Champ's last year at the elementary school, this is Lee's first year at the Middle School and the Pre-K is at the High School) makes for more driving. Also, this is the first time that I've had only 1 at home, so I am trying to volunteer at school some. I am not great at time management anyway, but this year seems worse than normal. Maybe I will get the hang of it eventually.

Well, I've finally updated my blog and for those of you that keep on me to update it, this one's for you (Mary). ;o)

Unique Centerpiece

I saw this idea in a magazine (can't remember which one and I am sorry - I really like to give credit where credit is due). It is now my favorite centerpiece. [It is just so 'me.']

They suggested getting fall colored balls of yarn and placing them in a wooden bowl as a center piece. I thought it was beautiful (they showed a picture). I, of course, had to put my own twist on it. I love baskets, so instead of a bowl I used a basket (found this one at Hancock fabrics @ 1/2 off - grin). I also had to use different textures of yarn (Lion Brand Yard was on sale at Hancock Fabrics also). I used Homespun in Candy Apple, Wool-Ease Wortsted Weight in Paprika, Wool-Ease Thick and Quick in Butterscotch and Micro Spun in Coffee.

I really need to get a few more skeins of yarn to roll into balls. I didn't realize (until I got home, rolled the yarn into balls and placed the balls into the basket) that the basket was so big. I thought that the basket would be fuller. I can always add to it later. (This might also be good at Christmas with reds and greens, silver and gold shimmer yarns.)

My favorite thing about this centerpiece, is that I can use the yarn later for other projects. It doesn't sit on the table for a few weeks and then collect dust the rest of the year. (I could also use the Candy Apple color for Christmas too).

What's your favorite centerpiece?