FYI

I just thought I'd let you know: those delicious coffee creamer (you know, international delights dark chocolate and MANY other delightful flavors) are FREEZE-able!! That means when there is a crazy good sale, or you have multiple coupons, or room to stock up on a discontinued favorite! Go ahead and keep one out and FREEZE the rest! Then take them out as needed!(the night before because going to make coffee and NOT having the creamer is sadness!!) They also make great gifts for the coffee drinker you visit:) As a "thank you for letting me crash here" gift!! Happy Monday!!

a thought to think...

The other day (which in my world could literally mean the OTHER day or it could mean weeks, months, years ago;) a friend of mine posted an article about how blogging was selfish. I was like "WHOA!!" and then like "Whoa" so I discontinued blogging for about 19 days to think and pray about what it was I am actually trying to do with this blog (BESIDES promoting my...*cough cough* own AWESOME ideas;) http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Famous-Blog Read point number 4, it will make you stop and think for a minute.. why am I blogging? what is my motivation? to be immortalized forever in this world or am I using it to glorify the Lord? So....why am I blogging? I know now:) It really is just a way for me to share the ideas that are inside my head, maybe they are helpful, maybe they are not, but it does leave me with a feeling of bountiful peace when the idea is out there. I wont lie, it makes me feel uber special when one of my friends/stalkers/admirers comments on my postings....oops! my human nature is showing again?!? This verse 2 Corinthians 3:5-6(MSG) "We wouldn't think of writing this kind of letter about ourselves. Only God can write such a letter. His letter authorizes us to carry out this new plan of action. The plan wasn't written out with in on paper, with pages and pages of legal footnotes, killing your spirit. it's written with Spirit on spirit, his live on our lives" No fair taking this out of context! I am not trying to say I am writing the Bible here... just a place I can write my thoughts down and share them with my friends and if they are helpful they can share them with their friends and so on... it's a better way of playing telephone because you can read what the original person wrote and not have to guess from the whispering's of others(nifty, another cool topic to explore!!!):) So with that said, I am going to try my best to keep this blog strictly to glorify my creator who created me to be; a bouncy ball, with all the flaws and imperfections that make for a uniquely effervescent ball bouncing along life's way!!

more BUGS!?!? in my food

Another twist on an old favorite! just to add texture in a non threatening way, also other forms of protein.

BUGS in noodles

Mac N cheese (how ever your family prepares it)

Black beans

1.) make your macaroni and cheese 2.) add black beans to the macaroni and cheese 3.) Serve BUGS in noodles and let the kids "play" with the theme:)

IDEA!! Make a center piece out of bugs and plants! Have a magnifier at the table so they can investigate their food. Maybe put on "safari" hats and be bug hunters! If your kiddo is as "picky" as mine, playing at the dinner table (in a respectable fashion) is a much needed thing! B always had 2-3 "meal time buddies" to help him eat his food! (just make sure they are dishwasher safe!)

BUGS!!in my food?!?

Soo.... another picky eater recipe! Finding way's to shorten the eating time (from 2hrs to 45/1hr) kept me on the hunt and forced me to be a little creative with food. I am sure I am not the first person to blog about this, "cook" this, or even think of this but! I figured I'd share it and maybe it's helpful to one.

Ant's On a Log/Frogs on a lily pad

bread/leftover pancakes

banana's(frogs)

peanut(other nut) butter

cinnamon sugar/ sprinkles

raisins(bugs/ants)

carrots(log)

1.) prep carrots into thin sticks, wide enough to spread peanut butter on 2.) spread peanut butter onto bread and carrots 3.) adorn peanut buttered carrot(log) with raisins(bugs) 4.) cut bread into four equal parts 5.) cut banana into circles 6.) place one banana circle (frog) on each lily pad (bread/peanut butter) 7.) sprinkle frog with cinnamon sugar/sprinkles 8.) serve with milk and you have a complete meal!!

Picky Eaters!!

You know how you have this wonderful plan for your life and its just so wonderful that you tell God that about it. Of course after wiping tears of mirth, our loving Savior kindly reminds us HE is in charge!!(thank you Jesus! Because I would have made a really bad aristocrat's wife, schmoozing is NOT my thing:) In this wise wisdom I asked the Lord if he would be so kind to NOT give me a picky eater!! Because of all the frustrating characteristics children exemplify picky eater's were my Achilles heal! I have now grown a little more patient and a little more tolerant of the small children (and occasional adult) who is VERY particular about what they like and dislike to eat. I being a lover and enjoyer of food still find pickiness a baffling trait! I would like to thank my son for being God's instrument of change for me, I'm sure it wasn't easy because I am not one to change quickly:) Here is a recipe that came in my desperation to get my small child to EAT!!(he really just didn't like the actual act of eating, oddness to me?!?)

Veggie Pancakes

1 cup flour

1/2 scoop protein powder(3T)

3 T baking powder

1 egg

1 pureed steamed veggies

1/4 cup oil

Instructions: 1.) whisk all dry ingredients together 2.) whisk all wet ingredients together 3.) whisk ALL ingredients together (may need a little more milk to moisten) 4.) cook pancakes 5.) add butter and syrup 6.) serve! They'll never know they are eating vegetables!!

Just in a Visiting Mood

Just in a Visiting Mood

was so very blessed by my mommy(via one of her friends:) To have the privilege to see Beth Moore live and in color!! She used the theme UN-tangled as a play on the movie tangled (She even showed a clip, she's so cool!!) I just wanted to share some of her bouncy ball type insight! I really related well to this wonderful woman of God:) She just bounced from one topic to another, leaves some people spinning but me... keeps me engaged, focused and there 90% less sightings of....SHINY SQUIRRELS!

What do you crave?

http://youtu.be/BjMfzWWKRZU

NutriGrain commercial

As I was giggling / chastising my self for having coffee(2 cups) and a piece of yummy pound cake for "breakfast" making me hungry one hour later:) I remembered this NutriGrain commercial. You see in the commercial how her one choice in that split second at her desk influenced each and every food choice she made that day.

Isn't this the same with the way we chose to spend our days? I know I've noticed that if I start my mornings off with the Lord everything else seems to be easier to handle. Be it a short verse to meditate on(KTIS texts me the verse of the day/ I also have a few sticky notes around the house to re-focus my attention on the Lord), devotions from www.cbn.com, or my 30-45min time of devotions and prayer. This choice I make most days influences my cravings through out the day. Keeps me focused on the things eternal, less likely to sweat the small stuff, and just a more positive outlook on the day versus the day's I just don't make the time for anything Christ centered...those are not pretty days! So whatever your "flavor" may be... short and sweet! online! or those wonderful, enjoyable, beautiful hours with the Lord! Make the "right choice" and keep your eye's on HIM before you get too far! http://youtu.be/UHmenrxcbsw