bucket list

My bucket list is in my about me [at the top] but I am posting it in a post, because I want to know what is on YOUR bucket list! {PS a bucket list is a list of things you want to do before you die AKA: 'Kick the Bucket'} I will totally add stuff to this as I grow/go...

my bucket list...

--go to jerusalem, israel. do a Jesus tour

--travel to as many places as possible & teach our kids all different cultures!

--learn to do a mean hula

--locate biological father

--make sure my kids grow up in a happy, healthy, Christ centered family

--do a mission trip

--live in san diego again

--go on a cruise
--home school our kids

--take a spectacularly awesome honeymoon with hubby after a vow renewal [in 2013!!!] we never took a honeymoon!

Conversations with Kids...

Setting: Over brownies...deep conversations come out over brownies and milk:

Brie Bird: Hey mommy? I had a bad dream last night...

Mommy: Oh? What was it about?

Brie Bird: Well, it was Christmas and I was eating nuts...

Mommy: Okayyy...? Then what happened?

Brie Bird: *Looks at me like I'm a Loser* I HAD TO EAT NUTS!

Mommy: {blank stare} wow. That sounds horrid. {i feigned horror...obviously}

Brie Bird: *nodding in agreement* It was bad.

I am the only one in the family that will eat nuts...why there are always two batches of brownies made. I dislike brownies without nuts and no one else will eat them WITH nuts...and hence, why we seldom by brownie mix or make them....I will never lose weight with that kind of brownie intake.

Snack DIY with Brie

  Our youngest daughter [middle child], "Brie Bird" wanted to do a cooking show today. She's so funny. So I let her do this snack tutorial. Who doesn't like fruit on a stick?!? Kids will eat most things or at least try them if they're presented in a new way. Case & Point : Fruit on a stick...with some marshmallows thrown in. And it's a bonus if they get to do it themselves.

**May need to do this for younger kids since there's a point on the end of the stick or clip it off**

You need:

-Skewers of some kind

-Fruit of any kind [we do this with canteloupe, blueberries, strawberries, bananas, watermelon, etc]

-Marshmallows [jumbo or mini. colored or not] 

-A willing & hungry child. 

Take it away Brie!

CHECK OUT THAT CONCENTRATION...

ENJOY!!!

Baby Food : Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus

I decided to make Everett's baby food. I needed a food processor. I wanted it in a color that was fun, worked like a charm, easy and simple, affordable. I got all of that in the Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus...in turquoise. What's more fun about that?! [Plus I got that free two day shipping with Amazon Prime. I have a shameless love of free amazon prime...you get it through signing up for free for Amazon Mom. Google it. It's that awesome]

Soooo...I decided to make baby food tonight in the Mini Prep Plus. Everett is just shy of being 6 months old, so we're just starting to test the waters of baby food. He's eaten some bland mashed potatoes [he likey], mashed banana [he gagged...to my surprise, but I'm going to try that again], and applesauce was a big YES! Oh, and pureed pears.

This little thing has power. Do not underestimate it. The first photo is before I pureed in the last bit of water.

PS: the cilantro behind it is NOT in the baby food. It's part of supper for the rest of the hungry brood! Cilantro Lime Rice, Honey Spice Fried Chicken [skinless/boneless] & Corn on the Cob. 

Free Kitchen Printable Art

Ok, I have more printables. I know. Three in one day, I obviously have an illness. But the first one is a funny Julia Child quote and I like it. The second one has fun Kitchen-y doodles. Yeah. I only did the Julia Child one in an Aqua Color because it's for my kitchen...

I'll post a photo later after I get it up in my kitchen. All of these are 8 x 10 prints!

1. Click on Printable 2. Click it again to enlarge it to full size. 3. Right Click & Save 4. Print at home or send to an online Printing company [ie: Mpix.com] 

ENJOY!

Get Fruit & Vine Scripture Printable {{here}} FREE.

More Kitchen Printables:

Dijon Mustard:

Festive Red:

Sail Away Blue:

Sea Skies Grey/Blue:

font used for kitchen doodles

Fruit & Vine : Free Printable

I whipped these up today. This verse, John 15:5, has been an awesome guide for me lately. With new endeavors coming up, journeys I could never have even dreamed up, God has plans. It's not my own will, but His. Following is scary but the leap of faith requires me to trust that God has a plan & I should lean on Him. Another verse I may make into a printable is Jeremiah 29:11 which has been a long time life verse. I am also thinking of doing some fall printables! This one is my first. I am getting mine printed from the online printing company MPix.com . This is an 8 x 10 Print! I did it in a few colors. ENJOY!!! Also if linking, let me know in a comment.

1. Click On Chosen Printable. 2. Click to Enlarge to Full Size 3. Right Click & Save 4. Print from printer or Upload & Print from a photo place.

Fresh Turquoise:

Chic Charcoal:

Vintage Aqua:

That 70s Show Mustard:

Ravishing Red:

Simplify & Organize Your Nest : Part 1

  I love to organize. It's a complex condition really. I get a natural high walking into stores like The Container Store. I mean..it's in the name. OrganizeIt.com is almost too much to bear. I was the weirdo teen that alphabetized the canned goods and VHS tapes [those video viewing things that predate DVD's...you had to be kind and rewind.]

  Anyways, we moved recently and-WHOA-while packing you really realize how much junk that multiplied like rabbits stuff you have. We have been moving towards a more minimal lifestyle. We want to use less stuff, use less space and live as clutter free as you can with three children. I know. Oxymoron. Tell me about it. But we're trying anyways! 

  We're starting in the kitchen in a new series of Simplify & Organize Your Nest. I started with the Anchor Hocking glass storage jars. We are trying to keep as much plastic out of the house as possible. It's gross. [insert smiley face] These jars were less than $8 a piece at Wal-Mart. I usually avoid Wally World like the plague. I really hate going there. Ours is always crowded or nasty or just a headache. BUT I also love a good deal. So I went with two of three children in tow at 7:45 am on a Thursday. It was borderline blissful. I recommend it. 

  Anyhow, back to the jars...They do not have that food seal, and I have done an absolutely INSANE amount of research for jars & for the price and our use, these work for us. Why? We never keep them full. See photographic evidence of sugar...I *JUST* bought the flour that day, which is the only reason it's full. I bake & cook like a mad woman. There were only two in stock, so I have to wait to buy more but I need one for rice, brown sugar, and confectioners sugar. And a tall jar for pasta.

Then I moved on to the spice drawer. Yes. Drawer. I cannot form the words to match my excitement. In our last place they were in a cabinet and were a mess. At least in the drawer next to the stove they were more accessible to me, being that I am slightly vertically challenged. I took it a step further and removed more plastic by getting two sets of these glass Libbey spice jars. [free two day shipping]

Now it looks like this:

 and this...

seriously. it's a complex. i was practically giggling while filling my glass spice jars.