3 little Miracles

3 little Miracles

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Christmas Ornament Exchange

I joined up with Leah over at The Imperfect Momma for the Christmas Ornament Exchange.  I love being a part of special blog events like this, because not only do you get a special surprise in the mail, but you make a new blog friend . . . . . maybe a few.  On November 16 Leah announced that over 140 bloggers had jumped on board to be a part of the Christmas Ornament Exchange, and I was partnered with Kim from A Wish for Her.

So Kim and I exchanged mailing addresses via email and on today I mailed off Kim's ornament. I wish I had used my brain and taken a picture of her ornament before mailing it, but I still wouldn't have revealed it yet because she won't get it for 2-3 days.  SO I will probably head back to the store I purchased it at and take a quick picture and explain why I selected what I did.  I will reveal hers and take pictures of mine when it arrives and blog them then.

Until then, I anxiously await the arrival of the ornament Kim has selected for us.

Oh what FUN it is to Blog at Christmas time this year!

Wordless Wednesday

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Tell Me About Yourself


One of the lovely bloggers I follow, Inna from Skippy Says,  had this wonderful interview in one of her blog posts, and I just had to do it myself and share it with you.  Inna shares her beautiful fashion sense on her blog, and besides that I just love her hair and her poses (check her out and you will see what I mean) the girl is young, cute and has no fear.  So here are my answers, what would yours be?

Name your favorite song: Laura Story's song - Blessings
Name your favorite dessert:  Chocolate Cheese Cake and Pecan Pie have a running contest with one another most of the year, but during the summer it is hands down Baskin Robbins Pralines-n-Cream Ice Cream.
What ticks you off: People who are inconsiderate of others in public spaces with their language, loud music, OR smoking.
Your favorite pet: I don't have a favorite pet . . . . . I LOVE my pets when they are a part of my life and for as long as they grace my life.  Currently I have a big fat cat named Crocket who is my constant companion and thinks he is the king of our home, but I wouldn't give him up for anything.  AND on top of that, no matter how many times he throws up on my floor, pees in my sons bed, lays on my face in the night, or nips me to hard when he is moody . . . . . I will love him.  We also have a dog named Maggie whom I love also, she is more of my husbands dog, but when she is smelling good I could hug and cuddle with her like crazy.
Black or white: Black to wear, but White to decorate with, my degree is Interior Design so you know I had to choose both, HA.
Your biggest fear:.  Harm to my children from others or illness. 
Best feature: I always thought my hair was my best feature, its got a few gray hairs in it now but nothing so out of control that Clairol can't help, HA.
Everyday attitude: Admittedly and sadly I can be very moody, but I try to keep it happy and friendly.
What is perfection: Family night, just David and I with the kids curled up on the sofa watching movies, eating popcorn and maybe having a little Wii time.
Guilty pleasure: A little bit of Real Housewives (although I am watching less and less of it, because it ALWAYS seems to end up with a big battle between the wives).   

I would love to have read your answers to this question and get to know you better.  Make your own post on your blog, and link back to me here so we can all get to know each other a little better.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Thanksgiving Day Menu & Traditions

Our Thanksgiving Day Menu (Serving 13):
Maple-Hickory Glazed Turkey (recipe from Paula Deen Magazine)
Traditional Turkey
Mom's Mashed Potato's

Traditional Sweet Potato Casserole
















Autumn Chopped Salad

















Green Bean Casserole
Mashed Rutabaga
Rolls

Desserts:
Pumpkin Pie
Apple Pie
Pumpkin Chiffon

We will spend our wonderful Thanksgiving day celebrating the blessed moments we have had this year and how much God has graced our lives beyond measure.  We will gather around the stoves and counters and work side by side preparing a Thanksgiving feast that will fill our bellies and put us in the mood for afternoon naps.  We will indulge ourselves in our yearly tradition of watching the Macy's 85th Thanksgiving Day Parade and the National Dog Show.
After our big face feed, the ladies of the house will take a stroll around the neighborhood if the weather is good, while the men set up the cornhole game in the front yard.  When we get back from our walk we will begin a late afternoon family friendly tournament of cornhole until we have worked off enough of our meal to dive into desserts, HA. I will miss my brothers and their families this Thanksgiving, but I know we have a wonderful family event coming up, so I will see them very soon.

What is your Thanksgiving Menu and traditions?

I pray you have a very blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!

Shop Small this Saturday

This Saturday, November 26, has been declared Small Business Saturday.  It's a day to celebrate small businesses across the country.  If your interested in shopping small, I want you to know I am offering over 50 items at nearly 75% off in my personal online Willow House store.
 
 

Here is a great gift for under $30 that promotes two small businesses!  Our Hawthorne Hurricane is on sale this month for $18.96.  Take it to a local engraver and have a monogram etched into the glass, usually less the $15 to have this done.  It will make the perfect gift for a newly married couple OR your best friend that loves to decorate her home with beautiful classic pieces.  

There are also many wonderful seasonal items on sale, like these cute items.
Wirework Treasure Trio, $9.96 this makes wonderful teacher gifts filled with little treats or gift cards
Angel Wreath:  Apple Green $19.96 (also comes in 8 other colors)

So have fun shopping this Christmas Season and remember to shop Small Businesses this Saturday!  I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.


Tuesday, November 22, 2011

What's for Dinner Tonight from Pinterest

Barbecue Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Source: sweetandsavoryfood.com via Laura Ann on Pinterest
Ingredients:
Pork BUTT (I accidentally bought a pork loin roast, but I made it work )
1 can Diet Pepsi
1/2 bottle Jack Daniel's Barbecue Sauce
Lawry's Seasoning Salt
  • Generously coat pork butt with Lawry's seasoning salt, don't be afraid to cover it all! 
  • Place in crock pot and pour in soda and barbecue sauce. 
  • Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours. If you have a larger piece of meat, it will probably take longer. 
  • After 4 hours or so, take two forks and shred the meat into bite size chunks. 
Step 1
 Step 2
 
Step 3

Let it sit in the juice to soak up all that flavor. It can stay on warm in crock pot while serving, and can easily be reheated the next day. Serve on a kaiser roll and add more barbecue sauce if needed.

For more ideas on what to have for dinner tonight, check out the recipes I have tried and plan to try on Pinterest.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Day in the Life

Some mornings you wake up and wish you could turn back around and crawl back into bed . . . . .

Mine started with Jon waking up for the third morning in the row with a wet bed . . . . .
After taking David Jr to the bus stop I return to the house to get Jon ready for preschool and hopefully take a shower before leaving.  While I am in the shower Jon dumped half the fish food and the fish tank "clear water" chemical into the fish tank and all over the counter, wall and himself. . . . .  WHY it is called clear water I don't know, because it stains everything else it comes into contact with.

Take him off to preschool and use what should have been my quiet mommy time with Rachel at home, to clean the fish tank out (only for the fish to die later in the day).  We aren't telling Jon he murdered a fish today, that is a story for later in life, for now we will buy a new Oso and put him in the tank when the boys aren't watching.

Wash several loads of laundry, including the soiled bedding so that I can remake Jon's bed.

Pick up Jon and return home to make him lunch . . . . .
Try to keep Jon busy for a couple of hours before putting him down for a nap, in the mean time he takes the pillows off the sofa for the millionth time . . . . .
 Let the cat back in who had been playing outside . . . . .
 Only for him to barf on my white bedroom carpet . . . . . THANK YOU!
Get Jon settled for a nap and find he has left half of his lunch un-eaten and all over the table . . . . .
Feed Rachel, who always gives me a smile and makes everything else before my moment with her somewhat worth it . . . . .
After feeding little girl I put her down for a nap and manage to use the kids nap time to work on some photo edits from a recent photo shoot until it's time to get David Jr from the bus stop.

Lucky for me, little man comes home on GREEN and with no homework, so he goes upstairs to hang out with Grandma & Grandpa and I get to return to my work.

Hubby walks in the door around 4:10pm and I take a deep breath, because it's now a two person team . . . 

After that it's like a down hill slide, dinner, TV time, reading with the kids, and off to bed.

Hopefully tomorrow we will wake up and start the day dry, but even with the wet, the fish tank incident, the messy lunch, and the constant wrestling match for control with Jon . . . . I would do it again.  I am blessed beyond measure and I love my life.

Taking the Plunge

So I am diving in . . . . .
 taking the plunge . . . . .
trusting the Lord for my next step . . . . .
clicking away and finding my joy . . . . .
learning with each photo shoot . . . . .
and blessed to have captured beautiful faces and special moments in the lives of good friends.
I have felt God leading me in this direction for a little while now to start a small photography business, I have always loved taking pictures ever since I was a little girl and I had my first 110 camera.  Some of you are probably wondering what a 110 camera is, it's the quick pic camera of the 80's.  I am not a professional photographer and I still have a very long way to go in my knowledge of the camera and editing, but I feel like God has given me an eye and a talent for this.  Right now I am more of a Momtog or Hobby photographer, but family and friends are willing to trust me and spread the word . . . . . and so I am going through the door the Lord is opening for me.

I have been doing my homework and studying a lot of books and taking some online courses and plan to hopefully take a course at my community college in the Spring.  In the mean time a girlfriend had asked me to take her family pictures before her husband went up to Quantico, and I thought it was a great opportunity to start getting some practical knowledge and experience taking pictures of someone besides my own family members.  The first photo shoot went well (I didn't ask for money, just a thumb drive to put the edited images onto) and I learned a lot about lighting and working with a family group. As a result of the success of that photo shoot another family from my church also asked if I could take their family photos, and once again I agreed to do it for free so I could learn from the experience.  I feel it is important for me to get a variety of photo shoots under my belt before I actually start charging a small fee.  I have a little girl's 1st birthday photos, high school senior photos, my nieces engagement photos scheduled and tonight I was contacted for another family photo shoot.

I think I am off to a good start and pray I grow in my skills, myself, and friendships with each click of my camera.

You can see more of the photos from the photo shoots I have done so far at my facebook page 3 little Miracles Digital Impressions, link located on the right of my page OR you can just click HERE.

Monday, November 14, 2011

What's for Dinner Tonight from Pinterest

Easiest Crockpot Chicken Dinner EVER

Another great recipe from Pinterst that is the EASIEST Chicken recipe I have literally ever prepared.

All you will need is:
3 lb bag of frozen chicken tenders
(1) 8oz. block of cream cheese (do not use FAT FREE!)
Can of Corn, drained
Can of black beans, drained
Can of Rotel
(the original recipe does not call for S&P but I found it needed it, so add Salt & Pepper to taste)
  • Place FROZEN chicken into crockpot
  • Put cream cheese on top of chicken
  • Put remaining drained Corn and Beans, along with Rotel on top
  • Cover & Cook on low for 6-8 hours and serve over rice.
  • Stir ever 2 hours
The end result will be a little soupy, but allow it to stand for 30 minutes OR so after it has finished cooking and it will thicken a little, but the rice will soak up a lot of the juice.  I served ours with the tenders whole, but you can also shred them.  This recipe produces portions that will serve 6-8 adults, so if you don't eat it all the first go round you could always shred the left overs and freeze it for taco night (which is what I did because we had about half a crockpot left because my parents didn't eat with us tonight).
Really easy and REALLY Yummy . . . . . for sure one I will be adding to the rotating family menu.  Guess it's chicken taco's next week with the left overs, HA.

You can find this and more recipes I have tried OR plan to try Here.

Happy Cooking!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Friday Blog Hop

Photobucket
Mama to 4 Blessings and Melissa at Home Grown Families! They invite us to join them every Friday to make more blog friends!

It's very easy to join in on the fun!
Add your main blog (PLEASE DO NOT LINK UP GIVEAWAYS) link (they ask that you please follow the hostesses in the first 2 spots (Mama to 4 Blessings & Home Grown Families.) Then leave us a quick comment letting us know you are following.
Then start blog hopping!
This is a great opportunity for you to visit other blogs on the link up and comment on their blogs! When people comment on your blog please let them know that you are part of Friday Blog Hop then return the favor and follow them back! Please grab their Friday Blog Hop button and add it to your blog and spread the word!
Please only enter your MAIN blog link and please G rated links ONLY - NO CURSING.  Home Grown Families and Mama to 4 Blessings are family friendly blogs.
This week's featured guest hostess is: Judy H - J's Thoughts 

Please also follow this week's Featured Guest Hostess: Judy H - J's Thoughts.  Each week a new featured blogger.  IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A FEAUTRED GUEST HOSTESS PLEASE LEAVE THEM A COMMENT WITH YOU INTEREST AND INCLUDE YOUR BLOG LINK AND E-MAIL ADDRESS.

What's for Dinner Tonight

Beef Stroganoff
(Image courtesy of The Crockstar)
Ingredients:
(Recipe adapted from one found HERE)
2 pounds cubed stew meat
2 cans Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
2-3 Tbsp. of Worcestershire

1/2 cup of water
8 oz of cream cheese 
1 Tsp.of Garlic Salt

1 Tsp. of Paprika
1 largish onion diced (optional, I didn't use it because I know the boys won't eat it)
Sliced Mushrooms (optional)


1.  First, you will need to warm up a stew pot on the  stove with a couple of table spoons of olive oil over medium high heat.  Then lightly salt the stew meat and toss into the heated pot, browning until you see no more red.
2.  Add all of the remaining ingredients EXCEPT for the cream cheese, you will add this just before serving.  Stir in all the ingredients with the browned stew meat and lower temperature to medium low to cook until meat is tender.
Serve over egg noodles.
Crockpot Directions

  1. In a slow cooker, combine the meat, soup, onion, Worcestershire sauce and water.
  2. Cook on Low setting for 8 hours, or on High setting for about 5 hours. Stir in cream cheese just before serving.

For more ideas on what to have for dinner tonight, check out the recipes I have tried and plan to try on Pinterest.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

My Mom with someplace to Go Style

Mom with someplace to Go


WELLICIOUS draped top
£45 - harrods.com

Double breasted coat
$91 - romwe.com

Old Navy stretchy jeans
$50 - oldnavy.gap.com

Python shoes
$50 - anthropologie.com

Oasis body bag
£40 - debenhams.com

AK Anne Klein sparkle jewelry
$95 - nordstrom.com

Drop earrings
stelladot.com

Zirconia jewelry
$39 - stelladot.com