Ethan turns 7 and his painting party

 

I'm not really sure when it happened, but my first born went from being an active little toddler to a boy.  I feel like I blinked and it happened.  There are days when I really just miss those days. . . they were a little simpler and there were naps.  Man, I really miss nap time.   But, I digress.  He's officially 7 and had his first party where he got to invite a few friends from school and church.  It ended up being an incredibly busy day and if it hadn't been for the smokey/ashy air from the Rough Fire, he would have been a little late to his own party due to soccer (all games were cancelled because it of super poor air quality and raining ash).  It worked out though and it was a wonderful celebration of our sweet boy!  

This year we chose the fun theme of painting! We went with bright rainbow colors and just had fun with it.  There were so many things I wanted to do with this theme, but just didn't have the time for.  My very wise husband kept reminding me that no one else would notice. . . he's pretty much right! 

 

Ethan's party was at 10, because in our neck of the woods it is still VERY hot!  California does not get the memo that fall is coming.  I didn't really want to paint in the house, so in order to paint outside, we needed to do it early.   We still did a lot of candy, because a.) why not? and b.) the colors are perfect for a painting party!  We chose skittles, birthday cake M&Ms,  and lolly pops that I found at JoAnns with a half off coupon (score!). 

You can't tell by the picture, but underneath the yummy marshmallow buttercream frosting (recipe to come soon!), the cake is rainbow.  We went with the Duff Tye Dye cake mix that we found at Target (man, I love target!). 

To paint, we moved outside and stayed underneath the patio because it was really raining ash!  Each kid was able to paint their own canvas to take home.  We used painters tape and did block painting.  They turned out super cute!  I also had water color paper and water colors for them if they wanted to paint some more.  Everything turned out soooo cute! 

Aren't these paintbrushes awesome!?  IKEA for the win!  I bought a ton of them when we were there this summer! 

Here is Ethan and his best friend Abi.  Ethan was very diligent in making squares with his painters tape.  Abi made an A with her painters tape and check out how cool it came out!  I really love the little paint pallets I picked up at JoAnns (also with a coupon!). 

 We really did have a 7. . . I bought it!  We used it at the Beach House on his birthday, but I don't think it made it home with us.  So, my husband improvised. . . good thing I didn't throw away Weston's candle from this party!

And that's pretty much Ethan's party. 

 A big thanks to my best friend at Epiphanie design for taking pictures for me so I could focus on our guests!  I don't know what I would do without her!


Thanks for stopping by! 

Monday Meanderings

It's Monday.  I won't lie, I could really use some more weekend.  Anybody else feel that way?  Oh, please tell me I am not alone!  Yesterday afternoon, I came really close (well, probably not that close) to talking my husband into driving to the beach for some fish and chips.  I was ready to load up the kiddos and go.  But the thought of driving for 6 hours the night before school/work just sounded exhausting.  Good thing, I was just there a few weeks ago. 

Soccer season is officially in full gear.   It's going to be fun this year.  I am really excited to see how Ethan has grown gone from a boy who just wanted to pass out snacks to being right in the madness of the game, with a full on grin.  Weston starts indoor soccer this week, too.  I think that this week might be a tad crazy, but I think we will survive. 

We tried this mac and cheese last night.  The boys loved it. . . even Ethan, who has had the really good stuff (as in 100 percent dairy). 

My kids and I love Arthur.   So, this buzz feed was awesome! 

These look amazing.  I do have some apples that need to be made into something scrumptious today.

Have you seen War Room yet?  It's awesome.  I laughed so much and cried and was inspired!  Oh, to have a prayer life like that!  My bestie and I snuck out last week for a much needed movie night and ice cream!  I can't wait to see it with my husband!

My kids earned whistles from the library reading program this summer.  I am not really sure if it was smart on the library's part because by the end of the day, I really wanted to destroy the things!  This made me laugh. . . and then laugh some more!

Star Wars Fever is a serious epidemic in my house.  Weston has officially joined the Force and I finally had to add a princess leia lego key chain to my keys, because I was starting to feel left out.  I am outnumbered, afterall.  This post gave me a laugh!

So, one of my favorite bloggers posted some really cute wearable (key word, here) fall fashion inspiration and I'm completely in love with this sweatshirt.  Meanwhile, I will be at a soccer Saturday morning with a tank top and an iced beverage.  I am soooo over summer (it's 100 degrees as I type. . . ick!)

  I just found this pin.  I am very seriously considering making some! 

Well, that's all for now.  Time to go check some things off my never ending to-do list (I really, REALLY need more time in the day!).  Have a great day and thanks for stopping by and reading my ramblings.  Feel free to comment. . . what are you considering, dreaming, or thinking today?

On Bible Memory and Why We Should

Okay, People.  I have a huge confession.  I absolutely hate to memorize things.  I remember having to memorize parts of various Shakespeare plays and I probably did the minimum to get an A.  I very specifically remember memorizing the Preamble to the Constitution in 8th grade very quickly while others said it so I could just get it over with and get the extra credit for saying it early.  I remember sitting around trying to memorize verses at summer camp to get our team points.  I helped. . . a little.  Others helped way more than I did.

Memorization has just never been my strong suit.  I am super good at memorizing details. . . strange details that NOBODY else remembers, but words. . . that's another story!  I get distracted.  I get really distracted.  And, really, let's just be honest, it takes work.  And quite frankly, after trying to do the many things on my to-do list & keeping my kids alive,  my brain is tired and run down.  Oh, and should I mention that once you turn 30 or have kids something happens to your brain and you forget things. . . even important things! It's a REAL problem.

But, last year, something happened.  Something changed inside me.  I became a table leader for the Bible Study I go to.  My co-leader and I challenged our ladies to memorize certain verses that stood out to us during our weekly studies.  Suddenly, I was in a position, where I couldn't use the excuse that I wasn't any good at Bible Memory.  I couldn't challenge my fellow ladies (younger AND older than myself) and then ignore the challenge.  I needed to work on this part of my spiritual life and grow in this area.  Also, one of my dear sweet mom-friends, was at my table and she memorizes entire books in order to keep her sanity.  So, if she could do that, then I could certainly memorize one or two verses!

So, I started making pretty cards (because I like pretty things) to put around the house in places where I frequent: the kitchen sink, the jogging stroller, the bathroom mirror, the dashboard of the car, and even the computer.  Believe it or not, I suddenly started memorizing scripture. And it really wasn't that hard.

I believe that the Bible, God's Word, is 100 percent true.  And, as a child of God, I need to hide His Word in my heart.  I need scripture to encourage me when I am feeling lonely, discouraged, or angry.   I need scripture to defend my faith when it comes under attack.  I need scripture to fend of the devil's lies and temptations (he is after all, out there to destroy my relationship with God).  The Bible is way more than a book of ancient stories.  It is full of wise words that are still applicable today, many, many, many years later.

Are you reading God's Word, but wanting more?  I highly recommend memorizing some verses and see what happens.  But, don't stop there. . . find a friend and do it together.  Keep each other accountable. Reward yourselves with a treat, even. Grow together.  I promise it's worth it!

Here's one to print out if you want to get started today.  

Flashback Friday: Fall Favorites

It's starting to feel like Fall. 

It's been kind of cool this week.  I say that and some of you might laugh, but a high of 95 has been wonderful  Plus, it's been cool enough during the night and early mornings to air out the house.  That makes a BIG difference!  But, I have no complaints because it has been a really mild summer here.

I bought my youngest two new long sleeve shirts. And, they are just sitting there because it's a little bit warm to wear them!  I also bought myself a sweater. . . and it's also just sitting there.  I really like wearing sweaters.

I had my first pumpkin spice latte last weekend (from Whole Foods).  It was quite tasty.  I heard they are actually going to add some pumpkin to the PSL this year at Starbucks.  I'm curious. 

So, in honor of fall, I am headed to the beach. . . where I will stick my toes in the sand, read a book, and hopefully wear a sweater and drink yummy coffee.  Oh yeah, and celebrate a couple of birthdays, including my oldest. 

While I do that, I will leave you with some of my favorite fall treats.  What's your favorite fall treat?  Link up in the comments! 

Candy Corn Cookies
 

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Autumn Salad

Apple Tart

Pumpkin Pie Muddy Buddies

A treat that screams FALL IS COMING!

 

 Well, first of all, I am completely humbled by the amount of people who read and commented on this post last week.   It was a hard post to write because it was me, sharing my heart, and that is way more difficult for me to do than sharing something that I made.  So, thanks for reading it and sharing it.  I hope and pray that you were challenged just as much as I was by typing it!  I hope to do more "heart" posts in the future. . . I want to get out of my comfort zone a little bit more. 

So, funny story.  My mom and I often share things.  We pass stamps and crafting supplies between the two of us and sometimes we even borrow kitchen gadgets.  Several months ago, I had borrowed her candy thermometer to make these, and we just sort of forgot about it. . . until Saturday, when she needed it.  The problem with that, was we don't even live in the same town, and she had just been here the day before.  So, Sunday after church, we ran said thermometer down so my mom could try out this caramel recipe that she needed to try out before she made a very large batch of it.  I honestly think, that she tricked me into it, because I ended up helping her with it.  It was fun.  There was a point we almost quit, but we kept going.  And, man, we are so glad we kept stirring and not worrying about the caramel.  It turned out amazing!  I have a few in the fridge and I might have to have a snack after I finish this blog post.  These were so amazing, that I took pictures of our hard work and decided to share them with you!  

The caramel was so amazing, we couldn't stop eating it.  Ethan absolutely loved it! He even shared with one of the recess aids at school, who apparently thought it was amazing (but that story came from the mouth of my almost 7 year old, so who knows what really was said).  Now, part of the success of this recipe was in the comments on the allrecipes.com post. I am sure, if you have made, or attempted to make, caramel apples you may have ran into a sticky situation when your caramel just falls off of your apple.  Then, you just have this nice apple sitting in a pile of caramel.  Not quite a pretty sight.  There is one step that really MUST be done in order for this to be a success.  It has to be done, even if you are just melting caramel candies down and dipping your apples in them. Many people do not know that when you buy apples at the store, they are actually coated in wax to help keep them fresh and bright. . . so you want to buy them!  This waxy coat is what causes the caramel to stick.

Heat up your large pot half full with water.   Let it come to a nice boil and keep it there.  Make sure all the sticky is off of your apples.  Some of it will fall off in the boiling water, but it's easier if you just get a head start and take the sticker off.  Stick a popsicle stick in the top, by the stem, going down through the core of the apple.  Then, holding on to your apple by the stick, roll in into the water for about 45-60 seconds.  Once it dries, you will notice it's not so pretty.  But the wax will be off and your caramel will stick beautifully to your apples.  Once they are dry, you can start dipping them in the caramel. . . whatever recipe you choose.  But seriously this one I am about to share is really delicious! 

Caramel Apples

source: allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

8-12 large apples (I reccomend granny smith, but we did red delicious and they were great).  

8 -12 popsicle sticks

  1 cup butter

2 cups packed brown sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

1 can sweetened condensed milk

2 tsp vanilla 

Directions:

Stir the butter, sugar, corn syrup, and sweetened condensed milk together in a saucepan of medium high heat.  Bring it to a boil, then reduce your heat down to medium (do this, or you will burn your caramel and you might just cry. . . trust me!).  

Cook and stir until theremometer reaches 248 degrees.  It  will take about 30 minutes and you might need a friend.  We found that the theremometer staying put would cause it to start burning so, one of us held the thermometer while the other stirred.  Don't take long rests because this also could cause burning.  Caramel is a fragile thing, but with patience it's beautiful and tastey!  

Once the thermometer reads 248 degrees (or firm ball stage, because you can actually form a ball and it stays!), add the vanilla and stir in.  

Next, start dipping those apples into the caramel,  Cool on a piece of parchment paper and try to wait patiently for it to harden.  

Enjoy! 

Roasted Aritchoke Hearts with a garlic aoli

 

So, we are two weeks into the school year.   And the countdown has begun to the period of time, I like to refer to as "all things pumpkin."  But, as much as I really fall food, I really LOVE summer food.  And living in the Central Valley, I won't lie. The fruits and veggies are awesome!  I may be spoiled, when it comes to good quality produce.   One of my favorite things I did this summer (twice, in fact) was stop by a produce shop just the 1, between Monterey and Castroville.  I can get 12 artichokes for a dollar and it's amazing.  One of the best parts of this stand is the famous Choke Coach.  They sell all sorts of artichoke food, but my favorite is fried artichokes with a garlic sauce.  They are completely worth the $6 dollars!   Sometime this summer, I found this pin and new I just had to make them.  So, at my next Trader Joe's visit, I picked up a bag of frozen artichoke hearts and saved them for a rainy day. . . well. . . it doesn't rain much here, but you get the idea. 

 

I ended up making them one night for dinner and I probably could have eaten the whole bag.  They taste like fried artichokes. . . without the fry.  In my head, that makes them healthy, right?  I paired these with my traditional garlic aoli.  Just blogging about these, makes me think that I need to go and get some more and make some for dinner next week. . . or maybe just for a snack.

Roasted Artichoke Hearts

Ingredients:
1 bag of frozen artichoke hearts
2-3 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
1 tbsp lemon juice

Directions:
First, the above measurements are just guidelines.  I don't really measure with this recipe.  I just sprinkle and toss.

Pour your bag of artichoke hearts onto a baking sheet and sprinkle with olive oil, lemon juice and salt and peper.  Toss with your hands. . . don't be afraid to get your fingers dirty.  Stick in the oven at 425 for about 45 minutes.

Garlic Aoli

1/4 cup mayo
1 garlic clove, minced
lemon juice
salt and pepper

Mix together and chill until ready to serve.

Let's get real. {for the mommies}

There are days, like today, where I just feel the strong desire to turn off everything.  The more that is required of me, taken from me, or needed from me, the more I need this.  I turn off my cell phone, I send my kids to quiet time, I find some sort of yummy drink, usually caffeinated, and I sit. Sometimes, my mother-in-law comes, and I run away to Starbucks with Bible and journal in tow.
  I bask in the occasional silence (because let's face it. . . my kids don't nap, and they still need me to help them with some sort of lego creation or something), I pray, and I open my Bible.  I read.  I listen.  I study.

I linked you to this post on Monday.  It was a good read.  So, honest and true.  Satan has a goal to destroy the family.  Let me be honest, he's doing a darn good job of it and it makes me sad angry.  We need to do every possible thing to fight off this.  I think one of his easiest targets is us, moms.  We are tired, worn, tugged in every possible direction, and he uses that for his benefit. 

But, I think he tries to steal our motherhood in another way.  One that wasn't even addressed in the article that I shared.  One that guards our hearts and destroys Satan's darts of shame, embarrassment, anger, and inferiority.  And, that my friends, is regular, scheduled time with God. 

I know.  Right now, you are reading this and you are tired.  Go to the One who gives you rest.

It feels as if the life is being sucked out of you as we speak.  Friend, go to the One who breaths life.

Are you feeling sad, depressed, walking through the mundane?  Go to the One who gives Joy and encouragement.

Are you wrestling with something?  Go to the One who gives wisdom and discernment.

Honestly, it makes us better moms.

One of the best decisions I ever made was to go to women's Bible Study.  Part of me didn't want to go.  But, I went. I went even though it disrupted my baby's sleep schedule.  I went even though I was pregnant and nauseous and miserable.  I went and was encouraged, challenged, and I haven't stopped going.   The sweet fellowship, yummy treats, and sweet words from the Bible were what my soul was craving.  There were years that I didn't completely connect with everyone at my table, but I still went.  I still dug into the word each week, even when it was hard (and trust me, some weeks were harder than others). 

I know that every stage of motherhood is different. Some are easier than others.  There are days that I really miss the baby stage (and naps) because I felt like I got WAY more done than I currently do, now that I have one in school and one that I'm homeschooling.  But, don't let Satan feed you the lie that it's okay not to study the Bible during whatever stage of motherhood you are in.  My fear, is that if you do that now, it'll always be hard.  There will always be something stopping you from growing closer to God.  Satan doesn't want that.  He will do everything in his power to feed us lies. 

So, go. Get into the word.  Make it a habit.  Maybe even join a Bible Study.  Stop Satan from winning.