BUDGET IDEA DINNER SWAP

This is something I must share and I hope it's a blessing to many. Myself and five girlfriends are doing something we call Dinner Swap. It's a money saver, a time saver and a wonderful ministry!

Here are some of the details:

• We each make SIX yes, 6 portions of a meal including one for our own family.
• We meet at a sheduled time and give out our prepared meals, so each of us walks away with 5 new meals that only need to be heated (or baked) plus probably the sixth one that we all have admitted we either don't make or use what is left--keeping in mind Phil 2:3 where God tells us to think of others as better than ourselves.
• We spend between $30-60 on the food (and containers) and we've all seem to spend between one and four hours preparation to prepare the bulk meal. If someone only spent about $30+ they add something extra, like healthy whole grain pancakes that we can use for another meal, or corn muffins or a healthy loaf of homemade bread.

This has worked out so amazing for us all. We are all pretty much in shock that it hasn;t been a disaster thus far. Our husbands love it! There's no way I'd be able to prepare 6 meals (mostly gourmet type) for my family in a three hour time span. And, I'd never be able to make these types of meals on this budget. But, because you buy in bulk, it's much cheaper.

When it comes time for dinner, I just shop in my freezer or fridge and follow the directions that one of my lovely sisters provided on the container!

Here's what each family of 4-7 people ate the first week:

Chicken Piccata (Weight Watchers style which was delicioso)

Vegetable Lasagna (zucchini, mushrooms, red pepper with white or whole wheat noodles)

Turkey chili, which was by far the best ever!

Good Chicken (a recipe with apricots and russian dressing, yum!)

Sausage and Peppers (WOW)

Chicken Enchiladas (My husband was upset that we only had one HUGE tray and not five!)

I highly recommend this Dinner Swap.

• What we all did was chat about our likes and dislikes and we all happen to want very healthy food. We decided on portions of 4 chicken breasts per family and if we have extra that we throw it in for the larger families. (We all said we shouldn't eat so much anyway!) The chicken for the chicken piccata was filleted, so we all had about 9 pieces--a lot of leftovers with almost every meal! We can easily supplement with salad and/or bread if there isn't enough one week. Using say Gladware containers that are about 8-10 cups, those get about 3/4 filled with sauce/chili. Pastas and rice aren't included unless it's part of the dish (like lasagna or a casserole.) We all have also said that we take all this as a blessing to our families so we have all been very gracious and thankful.
• Even those who were stressed the day of because they felt stressed by preparing the large amounts, realized it's worth it--financially and time wise. It just takes a little planning and time management.
• Twice now I've divided my prep to a little bit of time one night and a little time the next day. I even had enough meat sauce this week to give dinner to a neighbor/friend and stash away a few extra portions for my own family.

This week's menu:

Meat sauce (ground sausage/beef), eggplant parm, monastery stew, pot roast with veggies, chicken parm. Can't wait!

If anyone wants more details or has questions, please ask! I think this is one of those gems!

Turning Six in Spring!

As you can see he has had six birthdays! Oh my goodness, I can't believe my honey pie is six.
He is such a fun little boy. I wish I could post all his funny clothes pics, but I wouldn't want to embarass him. He is well known for camouflage and cowboy boots by all who know him. And, anyone who knows him knows he'll go with just some boxer briefs as long as he can when he's home. We're homeschooling next year and all he talks about is how cool it is that we'll homeschool in underpants. I don't think so! I love my little guy who came into the world a week early weighing a whopping 9 pounds 13.6 ounces. Yikes, I gave birth to a toddler! He didn't speak until he was three as he had a numb tongue and it was difficult to cope--but God answered our prayers and once he was able to speak it was in three syllable words in full well spoken sentences! He is a smart little guy and has a crazy sense of humor--he often has us all in tears with his quick one liners. I love him to pieces.
This year we opted for his first party out at a kids' place--it was great fun and I loved that there was a host and I could actually socialize! Well worth the money spent!

I went into the classroom and did a fun edible plant project with the kids which seemed enjoyable! Pudding for the dirt, crushed oreos as topsoil, gummy worms for uh yeah worms! etc etc.

HERE WE GO BIRTH THROUGH 5TH BIRTHDAYS...

Turns out our chunky monkey was sick with RSV...but we didn't know it at the time.

He was already potty trained for months at this age. I said, "Big boys go on the toilet and don't wear diapers" when he was just over two. He nodded and never wore a diaper again.

No lie. He's just that way...
I think, yes, I know, I am wearing the same shirt in his 2nd birthday pic as I am in his 3rd birthday pic, hmmm...heeee heeee ooh and maybe the same pants.
If you notice above-- fourth birthday pic--he NOTICED in his peculiar little-everything-in-its place-kind-of-way that he has, that one candle was not lit. Do you see it? That one little stinker that I missed!? Well, when we finished singing he just couldn't make a wish and blow it out because well that just wouldn't be right since all the candles weren't lit properly. So, he tried desperately to get my attention and I was unaware. So, in order to get my attention, he tried pointing at it and ended up burning his hand on another candle. Hence the crying and the icepack in the following pic. Poor baby. I was just a few months from having baby boy three here. A new baby taking away mommy's attention and you fail to light all my candles? The nerve!
Birthday five was a St.Patty's Day celebration and everyone wore green, we ate green, everything was GREEN. It was fun, we used the community room at my church and played music for the kids to dance and played fun games. It was a nice traditional party.

I'm very thankful for my boys and privileged to be their mommy.

P for Lavender Penny

I meant to post this a while back, but forgot to...this is the P that I created for "Lavender Penny" (as I refer to her) after she won a giveaway I had offered. I searched through her blog and tried to design something that fit her. It became one of my favorites. You can read what she wrote about it here: http://lavenderhillstudio.blogspot.com/2008/02/give-me-p.html
I had written to Penny after searching through her blog--and panicked because I realized she is a REAL ACTUAL artist, and I thought, what was I thinking doing a giveaway and now I have to create something for a REAL ACTUAL LIVE ARTIST? She's really creative and talented and is published in LIKE ARTSY MAGAZINES! (I hope you can all tell I'm not a real valley girl, just exaggerating for effect!) So, anyhoo, I had written to her and said something dumb like UH YEAH I'm really nervous because I've just realized through your blog what you are (the like real actual live artist.) She so graciously responded with very sweet encouragement,
"Hi Katrina -I am sure whatever you do will be fabulous! Please don't be intimidated! I am just like you. Really.... I am just looking forward to getting this from YOU!
Hugs,
Penny"
Well, those words gave me such encouragement about doing this for her. I felt like she had mentored me in some respect. She wasn't looking for me to do what she does, she was looking for what I do. So...I did what I do without any nervousness and it was such a treat...







It was done with a basecoat of black paint, then a crackle medium--on which I painted a cream-white paint. I then decoupaged the lavender florals that I delicately cut out. I cut out pieces of aqua scrap paper and attempted to emulate mosaics (attempted!) and then bordered them with some cream paint. I couldn't find toile anywhere, so I found some on-line and actually printed it on my own printer, lightly wet it and glued it on...never knew it would work, but I hoped! Last but not least--quite a few layers of mod-podge, some light wet sanding, a varnish--and completed with vintage ribbon!

cReATinG in mE a nEw hEaRt...

It has been so long since my last post, but I have been busy...! Not doing art and certainly not blogging. I am in a season of change. I say that with the hope that I am giving all glory to God for it. I have been blessed to be at church where I've been involved in small group studies for years now. Currently, I am in an ladies' group of an inductive study of I Peter, 2 Peter and Jude--which is incredible---I love breaking down the scriptures verse by verse and really getting fed. My pastor has been doing a series of sermons on change since the start of the New Year--very powerful stuff. It's been an incredible series. I'm also doing a short, four week study that an area Pastor's wife is holding at her house on Monday nights. I felt like since it was only four weeks I could handle it. It's themed around CJ Mahaney's, "Cross Centered Life." Wow, what an amazing and thought provoking little book. Who knew that my life wasn't about me being happy or fulfilled!??? If you did, why didn't you tell me!?? In all seriousness, this is a concept I was well aware of...but I wasn't truly getting it. OR if I was getting it, I wasn't living it...no, I wasn't getting it! Therefore, I wasn't living it.
I have been doing these studies and God has definitely been giving me homework. It's been a rough few weeks, but I know that there are many things about my life that are changing for the better. I am one of those people that needs a big event to help the truth get through my thick skull. Even with my artsy stuff, which I love--I was letting that be an idol in my life. If I am a Christian then my life ought to be Christ centered. Always returning to the fact that Jesus laid down His life for me. The first chapter of this book opens with a question, "What's at the center of yours?" ['yours' referring to life]. "Think about it for a moment" Mahaney continues, "What's really the main thing in your life? Only one thing can truly be first in priority; so what's at the top of your list, second to none? Or let me put it this way: What are you most passionate about? What do you love to talk about? What do you think about most when your mind is free? Or try this: What is it that defines you? Is it your career? A relationship? Maybe it's your family, or your ministry. It could be some cause or movement, or some political affiliation, perhaps your main thing is a hobby or a talent you have, or even your house and possessions. " He continues further on with this: "Here's how Paul answeres that question for us: 'Now I would remind your, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you...For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins.' First importance. Paul is pointing us to the one transcendent truth that should define our lives. In the midst of our various responsibilities and many possible areas of service in the kingdom of God, one overarching truth should motivate all our work and affect every part of who we are: Christ died for our sins...nothing else--not even things that are biblical and honorable--are of equal or greater importance than this: God sent His Son to the cross to bear his wrath for sinners like you and me."
This truth has become so evident to me in the past weeks and months. It has been life changing. I greatly recommend CJ Mahaney's book. I love how he breaks down what he believes are the "three main tendencies in particular that tend to draw us away"...from the gospel:
1. Subjectivism or basing our view of God on our own thoughts and feelings.
2. Legalism or basing our relationship with God on our own performance
3. Condemnation or being more focused on our own sin than God's grace.
paraphrased from Page 16, Mahaney

So, I remember--and try to remain focused on the cross and not myself.
Thanks for reading. I'd love to hear some thoughts on this if you have read the book or want to...
AUTHORS I HIGHLY RECOMMEND at the moment:
John Piper
CJ Mahaney
RC Sproul though I don't share his belief on infant baptism, I think he's a genius
John Macarthur
Elizabeth George
J Vernon McGee
Kay Arthur

Seafood Mykonos & A Chocolate Heart

VALENTINE'S NIGHT...My hubby and I went out for a bite to eat while Grandma babysat. We went to our absolute favorite restaurant and as we sat down I was so excited. My husband had made reservations and I knew exactly what I was getting, Seafood Mykonos. We've just recently changed our way of eating so we can get healthy. We eat very strict, but it just so happens mediterranean is great for us. Seafood Mykonos is my favorite--shrimp, scallops and lobster with mediterranean spices and FETA cheese!!! over a bed of broiled tomatoes. I couldn't wait!!! As I sat down to eat, the kind waiter placed a piece of paper over my plate...and announced that he would be back for our order momentarily. I looked at this paper and said to my husband, "where is the menu?" Really I meant, "uh what the heck is going on, where is my Seafood Mykonos???"

Well, our pleasant waiter informed us that "this" is the menu for the evening and he has strict orders not to take any other orders. "OK, thank you" we responded. As he walked away, we looked at one another and said, "wanna go to Chili's?" and giggled. It was pretty funny. Neither of us wanted to stay as there were no more than five items listed on a piece of paper and no where did it say seafood or mykonos...so we politely thanked the waiter for his time (he brought us water) and excused ourselves. He didn't seem surprised at all, the poor guy. Perhaps this is custom, but not for us. So...we actually went to a fantastic seafood place about five minutes away and had a great meal, we had to wait all of five minutes for a table. On the way to restaurant numero dos, I thanked my husband for his efforts and told him that it was really sweet. He had no way of knowing.

Once we got home, we all sat around the table and had chocolate-dipped strawberries. As you can tell...the baby doesn't like chocolate AT ALL. Weirdo! And boy I wish he'd learn to use a spoon properly!

My blonde hunk discovered some of the chocolate that missed the strawberry and it was in the shape of a heart which he so lovingly presented to me. All my sons are little romancers and can have me wrapped 'round their fingers in a matter of seconds.

NEW ART PROJECTS

The K is my interpretation of a modern day Dick & Jane theme

I hope I got it right!



I've been busy creating some new things. I haven't block mounted in a very long time and this was the first time I ever used scrap paper (that I can remember)--I normally used proper decoupage paper.


The e was for a friend's daughter's birthday present. I love that I can create something for someone that will be lasting and so personal to them. I hope Little E loves her letter! But, it's not as much as I love her.

The K was made for someone--and that person will give that as a gift to her friend's daughter. Pretty kewl...


The front of the letter was completed with scrap paper...all the sides were painted with a muted pastel pink and then just some light accenting.

NEW CAMERA

Here are Daddy and his baby boy...some photos I was taking with our long awaited new camera!

We don't have A winner...

We have two winners.

Looks like my fellow P's have won!

Penny
http://lavenderhillstudio.blogspot.com/

Jennifer P.
http://theboysquad.blogspot.com/


I'm thrilled for the opportunity to make something for Penny and Jennifer P. It just so happens that I find their blogs extremely inspiring!!!!

Many Blessings,
Katrina

BLOGGY GIVE-AWAYS

***I had noticed that after day one, hardly anyone was entering the giveaway. I found this odd because hey, I may not be that interesting, but free stuff certainly is! I found out today that my giveaway had disappeared from the BLOGGY GIVEAWAY site...I was informed by a reply email today that my entry was deleted because I linked my blog instead of my post. KindofstinkybutwhatcanIdo. So, for three days I was excited to be a part of something that I really wasn't a part of. Sniff sniff.

I'm a little late joining in on this "carnival"...but I so want to be a part of it. The generosity of the hundreds of bloggy friends prompted me to offer a give-away of my own. Before my third son was born I had an at-home business of nursery decor but got overwhelmed with trying to balance a steady flow of orders and my three ring circus. So, I had to let it go for a while. I still do it by referral only, but rarely! So...I thought this would be a perfect thing to offer...!
I hope you like the give-away.

It's for one customized wooden letter. See the many examples below. It will be for one block letter of your choice--the winner will have to let me know what color paint/s, ribbon, if you want a simple design, etc--and I will do my best to make the winner very happy.

SIMPLY--leave a comment and be sure I have a way to contact you. I will close on Saturday night after dinner...and then announce the winner.

DECORATED BOX!

I purchased this old box years ago for about $15 from an antique shop. It's a great way to store silverware that we only need for parties.
I used European decoupage paper and layered it so that some of it looks warn and then pieces like the bumblebee, the dragonfly and the large center tulips are clean and all together. The florals to the side are from papers I found from a shop in Milan called Calambour...somehow the sales person and myself were able to email one another enough in eachother's language that I was sent the papers I wanted! It takes lots of fine cutting and patience, but I love the look of decoupage. I painted on about 20-25 layers of mod-podge and then wet sanded it to a glass-like finish. Then, of course, added a finishing layer of gloss varnish.

I do wish I knew how to recover the inside in a less old fashioned like material, but I wouldn't have a clue! It serves its purpose I suppose.