Monday November 24, 2014: We know. Everything.

We are mothers we know everything yet nothing. My daughter has never been a fan of academics. Yet she gets A's, B's, and C's and has been a decent student at school. First grade she would melt down over spelling words even though the teachers for several grades used a format called Spelling Tic Tac Toe to make it fun and easy.. Hours of torture would ensue.. she would pitch awful fits even though that wasn't her typically just her when it came to homework. The 1st first grade teacher failed her not for her own lack of academics but because in my belief the teacher didn't give her the building blocks she needed for second grade. This has been the constant subject of contention with the principal with the school now that Skylar is in the 5th grade and still struggling according to Skylar. She was tested and diagnosed with a learning disorder and was assigned a teacher called an inclusion teacher which is like an in- class tutor. After a few years she was tested out of the program and no longer had scores low enough to say she had that comprehension learning disability. There would be incidents with homework like trying to teach her how to count money... she would be like that's not how so and so does it (her teacher)! I was so frustrated because I would explain this to the teacher yet Miss stubborn princess would not budge.. 5 grade now she is still getting C's or above and she is just being stubborn. Crying about how hard and stressful school is. Oh dear lord please save me I have 7 more years of this just from her! Her assignment was this weekend was trying to learn all 44 presidents in order. I am assuming she has had over a week notice that she needs to know this. The teacher told my husband that she was even put into small groups to figure out a way to learn them. The teacher sent an email with a helpful link. When asked today if Skylar studied she said she did. She said she watched youtube videos that would help her but she still didn't know them. *insert tears and whines out of her* Rick checked her history on her computer and there was nothing... So now I am frustrated thinking she is getting mouthy and lying to me. Lying isn't something normally coming out of her either. So I did some Googling and gave her some references and told her she had a choice on what to study or what tools to study with. After pouting and pitching a silent fit she gave in and decided to do it her way. I bet she still doesn't know but she is so mouthy! My thing is she has an acronym for division and the school has been teaching them acronyms for almost anything she needs to learn. Its either that or there is a youtube video with a catchy song. Her acronym is something like Daddy (Divide) Mother (multiply) Sister (Subtract) Brother (Bring down) something like that... She can rattle that off her in her sleep so I found several youtube videos that give you a little song to remember the presidents.. There is a story about an alien named Waj (Washington Adams Jefferson) and his favorite candy is M n' M's (Madison and Monroe) and so on... She of course is just like I watched that once it doesn't help. Oh child does taking medicine once do you think it works? Listening to a song once do you know the lyrics? *insert mouthy tween here* *insert tears* Ohmigoodness.
I do more digging on Google. They haven't nicknamed me the Google queen for nothing...
Then there is a song called Washy Ad Jeffy.. 
This is why I can't home school this child I have tried twice

I am usually a pretty cool mom but when it comes to sassy mouthed lying stubborn tweens I loose my patience. Now I am going to have to look through Net Nanny's to see which one will work best for us.. *sigh*

Not Me Monday

The blog meme was made by www.mycharmingkids.net but she no longer hosts the meme but I liked it :)

The week before last my children's school gave me awful anxiety. I am not an anxious person but I have some triggers that if you push those buttons awful things happen. Last week was one of those weeks. It is a rare happening but nonetheless I am a normal parent okay semi normal. Haha.

Last week I had an abscess tooth and was in pain most of the week or just not feeling good from the medicines I was on. Rick is really good about helping in the mornings matter of fact I am not afraid to say it he does 75% of the morning prep. I do my part too but I am a sleeper. I get up about 6 am. Get completely dressed, pick out the kids clothes and I usually help where he needs it like getting my Sleeping Beauty out of her bed. Well being out of it the past two weeks we discovered no one washed William's nap mat (good thing I have a spare)... No one has checked William's notebook. Oops he had homework. Kindergarten homework. Something my kids have done every year for years... we get a worksheet of a turkey and we are assigned to disguise it. On Facebook last night my friend had showed off her daughters disguised turkey- they live in another city far away haha. As I am looking at this Turkey- already late I said what to do with this turkey... In years past we have had a turkey under leaves, a turkey in clothes, even a Dr Seuss Turkey I believe one year. I remember my friends daughters turkey. I grab the crayons and begin coloring. Some tail feathers blue and orange on one side and black and red on the other side and then school logo's on every other tail feather and on the turkey's belly. Its a house divided SEC football turkey. Yes I colored most of it until William woke up and wanted to help then I let him take over. Shameful mama! At least he didn't eat Twinkies for breakfast.. Hubby baked blueberry muffins.... What did you or your kids "not" do lately? Anything your almost ashamed to admit? 

Mom never gets a sick day

I admit when Rick is sick I get grouchy because I know the probability of me getting it is high. Like this week. William got food poisoning and or the stomach flu. Rick came up with it next and he just laid around and "acting" out of it. I would ask him questions and I got "I don't knows" from him. The bed needed to be made but he didn't know where to find the sheets or what they looked like. Oh yes and he basically snored on the couch most of the day. First of all I know he really was sick because he is a work a holic even on a weekend he will check his work laptop frequently.  But I am an out right witch when my husband or adult step son is sick. I admit it. I can sit here and try to claim its not me that is mean to them when they are sick that I baby them just like I do my younger ones. But I am not going to lie on my blog. I am a bitch and you want to know why? I have been sick one way or another most of my life. I have had more surgeries/operations/procedures done than I can count. I have more stitches than the average person and I have had over 100 staples lining my head from ear to ear. I have a higher tolerance of pain probably. I don't bitch and moan when I am sick. Before we all caught the stomach flu we had Whooping cough except the little ones because of their vaccinations.  I was pretty ill. I still had to take care of my kids with a 102 fever.  No one takes off of work to care for me. Moms are like Soldiers we get no sick days LOL. So when Rick is home sick I treat him like I get treated.... oh sure like right now I am pretty sure I have an abscess tooth I have been neglecting getting it pulled and the stomach bug... Rick feels sorry for me that I am in so much pain I have to take Vicodin but I always get a bad reaction from it. But he goes to work because he has to work he can't stay home and take care of me. I don't get a nanny to fill in for me when I am sick. Not many moms do get a helping hand when they just feel like they can't cut it. So why should I say "poor baby" when my husband is sick. My adult step son is extra pitiful. I just can't give anyone a pity party when I've been there and survived. 

Pray for Me Monday

I am not really good at pulling Bible Verses out of the air. There are a few verses I know well. Because I repeat them when I need them or share them when I want to bring calm or something to someone else. But I do know my faith by heart. Yesterday I shared the story about how my faith was tested. How I had to hang on to something. A couple of phrases come to mind... "When your down to nothing God is up to something" and "Everything comes to you in God's time." So knowing what I have been through with Mackenzie I was in a downward spiral and by giving my struggles to God I was blessed with my new "Second Life." I know God has reasons for Mackenzie not being here. Not everyone believes that we have free will, not everyone believes in Destiny or Fate, I am not sure what you call it but I couldn't say that my life after court would have been ideal for Mackenzie. Of course I am not sure his current situation is any more ideal. I know what my ex went through with his childhood. I was faced with challenges as Skylar became a little girl from a premature baby. Again I had to learn to give it to God. Of course as the world goes there are many more challenges in my life. Our family is working through some not so smooth roads and I pray that I can remember to keep giving my struggles to God. My patients, emotions, and stress levels have been all over the place lately I just have to pull it all together. Keep the faith and trusting in God.

Military Monday

The Military Monday topic this week  is

1 Are you worried/glad or whatever about the downsizing of our military? 

2 How do think things are going to change?

Since my husband and son are retired the downsizing doesn't effect us. Nor am I sure about it or how I feel about it. 

I do have an exciting announcement I hope it all works out but I have been selected as a Guest  Military Blogger for DomesticDivaNation.com so stay tuned when I post with them I will update the link here! We are still working out kinks!

Pray for Me Monday

Link up and read about Pray for Me Mondays

at Home Grown Families and Troop Petrie

I loved Pam's Post about Anxiety and the story of Daniel. I need to share it with a friend that struggles with Anxiety. I have had to face a lot of fears in my life 5 years ago this weekend I faced one of the worst fears of my life. Luckily it also lead to a blessing. God Bless the Broken Road.

She said she is scared of storms. She asked if I was too. I told her I am not there are a lot worse things to be scared of. No reason in being scared of something you can't control. I admit since our April 27th Tornado I get nervous and I know no one is safe but I've lived through terrifying tornado's before. The day I moved to Calhoun, The day I moved to Dillon SC Hurricane Hugo hit. I lived in LA and I have been through Earthquakes. Mother Nature is a force of nature and she is unpredictable but there is no reason being scared of Lightning and Thunder. Plus if our kids sense we are scared of the little things I bet they will think they need to be scared of it too. 

The only thing I need prayer for is I am sick, Rick is sick, and William is sick and we have a wounded fur baby. We would take care of her but she is feral and we are really tight on money. So I am networking and trying to figure out a plan. *fingers crossed*

Also life up prayer and positive thoughts for peace and equality exactly what today is all about.

Pray for Me Monday

Please pray for me... my family is under constant challenges. We knew when we got married we already faced challenges apart as well as we were going to face them as a family. Some we didn't realize at the time but we will manage.
As a military family there is over 50% it ends in divorce. I think close to 60%. 3.6 military marriages end in divorce as of 2011.
Over 70% of second marriages that involve step children end in divorce. 25% fail in the first five years. (Okay we've almost overcome that statistic)
Having children with special needs gives you a higher chance of divorce. Some articles state 80% but that is being argued now.

So we have over 50% chance that a military marriage would end in divorce. Luckily we aren't active duty anymore but we are still struggling with the side effects of forever being military.
We have over a 50% chance that we will divorce because we are in a second marriage
and over a 50% chance we will divorce because we have one or more children with special needs.
So does that give us over 150% chance of divorce?

I tell you what statistics I didn't add in
I am a christian and I believe in my vows...not in the Karadashian way but in the real way of from Better & Worse
I think this being a second marriage gives me the advantage of learning from the first with MY mistakes. I can hope the same with Rick.

But I ask for you to hold up my family in prayer as we face these challenges. I know God doesn't give more than I can handle. My plate may be full, it may be heavy, I know I can do this but every once in awhile I need a helping hand. Babies don't come with instruction books and neither did my marriage. Every where I turn there is marriage advice from my Pastor, from this Author, or that blogger, this expert or that one. But no one has the marriage I do. So the what if's out weigh the advice.

There is a lot on my plate... my smallest one is almost 2½ and he struggles with severe separation anxiety... again everything in a text book has been tried now the doctor says to wait it out. So its not an option to hire a sitter and go on a date and enjoy my one-on-one time with my husband. Its not even an option to go to church together since he hyperventilates in the area where they watch the babies and the one for toddlers. Yes he will cry for the solid hour if not more. My 9 year old will soon be hitting puberty and all the mess that is coming from that. She's got a sassy attitude and mouth just like her mother and sometimes she struggles in school. Even if she made straight A's on her report card. YAY Skylar! I struggle every day with loosing my 11½ year old. I am not sure if to move on or to fight and how to cope because again there aren't many people I can turn to for help that understand where I am at. We have James who is 24 and he Aspergers and Anxiety disorders we are still trying to deal with on a daily or weekly basis and Alex the 25 year old who is trying to make it on his own but he is still Rick's baby you know what I mean? They all come with their own challenges and we have five blessings there isn't much time to break for ourselves. There is no text book, self help book, or expert to help us on this journey just God and prayer!

I never thought I'd find this in my child's room...

When my daughter was little she was supposed to be napping in her play pen and I was napping as well in the next room. I came in to get her as I could hear her full of giggles and glee. I came into her room to find out she took off her diaper and played in her poo. Ohmigoodness it was disgusting. I had to clean her off and I just threw out the play pen!





More on Not My Child Monday....
Skylar has said two really funny things lately I swear she is on a role!

We were going past Jimmy's (a strip club) and Rick had commented that they were building a Super Walmart around Jimmy's. So Jeanette Skylar Armyknightsprincess asks what do they do at Jimmy's? I said they have lady dancers at Jimmy's but not ballet type dancing. I said its for adults only. She said is it like pole dancing? I LMAO... then I turned into the good serious mom and I said Skylar what is pole dancing? She said where you dance with a pole? I said yeah probably where did you hear about it. She said Destiny (her friend from the bus stop) LOL

Driving skylar to girl scouts and I was putting in a cd in the stereo and we get to talking about one handed driving. I told her your not supposed to one hand drive she said why does daddy do it is it because of butt burgers? Omg skylar what are you talking about butt boogers. She said not boogers eww burgers. I'm still not catching on. She said you know the a word. I said Aspergers? She said yeah butt burgers what your always ....
Saying daddy has. I swear I almost wrecked

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to http://www.mycharmingkids.nether blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

Monday Blog Prompts

Blog prompts for Thursday

Blog prompts from Paper Coterie http://www.papercoterie.com. Get a $38.00 credit by using the code BeAThankful

Day Four Blog Prompt

What are your favorite things to do in your free time these days? Or more realistically, what favorite things would you do if you managed to find some free time today? Make a mental list, take a picture of one of your favorites and write it down!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Conversation Starters, Blog Prompts, Writing Prompts

http://creativewritingprompts.com/

"If I were a superhero, I would be..."

What song best describes your current situation?

 Something I always like seeing posted is a favorite family recipe, with pictures. If you don't have pictures, I'm less likely to check it out!

If you could choose any time period to live in, what would it be?

Top 10 websites you use.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Blog Meme's, Carnivals and Hops for Mondays and beyond

Happy Homemaker Monday

Pray for Me Monday here or here

Military Monday

Not Me Monday

Friend Making Monday

Monday Morning Meme

Meal Plan Mondays

No Mom Talk Monday

Mondays in Motion

Moody Monday

Proud Mommy Monday

Question of the Week

Punny Monday

Music Memoirs

Curious as a Cat

Best Shot Monday

Monday Meme

I heart Faces

Monday Movie Meme

Mamalicious Monday

Give Me Five Monday Meme

Homemaking Mondays

The weather in my neck of the woods:

Things that make me happy:  

my Christmas tree makes me at peace

Book I'm reading:
not really


What's on my TV today:  

House & Hart of Dixie

On the menu for dinner:
Depends on how I feel during the week


On my To Do List:

rest

New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:

In the craft basket:

A Christmas gift 
a Christmas centerpiece


Looking forward to this week:
getting better


Tips and Tricks:
I don't have one but I will ask one. What is your suggestion on protecting your dining room table?


My favorite blog post this week: 
http://ramblingsofamarinewife.blogspot.com/2011/11/toys-for-tots.html

Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):
I haven't found anything new.


No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):

Lesson learned the past few days:
People make their own decisions on whether to be part of an active family if they distance themselves from you its their loss.


Also keep your hands to yourself or a cup of hot chocolate can cover your daughters brand new American Girl Doll and her dressed in their Christmas duds.


On my mind:
Just wanting to feel better


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
Thought of the Day from Tonya

The first duty of love is to listen ~ Paul Tillich

When we finally find time to look in the mirror, we generally do not like what we see but we cannot blame the mirror. We need to spend more time judging ourselves so that others do not find it available to judge up, we tend to leave the door open for that. However, in judging ourselves it does not mean we have to self-defeat. In Matthew 5:29-30 it says,²⁹ If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. In order to cast our sins out we must directly at ourselves.

In Proverbs 12:15 it says, ¹⁵ The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise. There are too many of us relying on our desires and not our needs. We simply confuse the two and make it one definition. We need to understand that a desire is something we want or long for while a need is something required. There are times where our desire and our need are the same thing. For example, when you desire food because your stomach is growling you have a need/requirement to eat so that your body can sustain and maintain its duty. In most instances though we transpose our desire and make it a need. When we do this, we are not listening to ourselves (that's the first sign of a fool). If we cannot discern the difference between our desires and our needs how can we express them to the people that matter the most? We cannot explain what we do not understand. In Proverbs 18:2 it says, ² A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart.  

In Matthew 22:39 it says, . ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’^[a] How can you love your neighbor as yourself when you do not love yourself enough to listen for your own sake? Although the world may be filled with sadness, disdain, and evil, not everyone and everything is evil. Psalm 34:7 clearly states that,  ⁷ The angel^[a] of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. Maybe, just maybe, God sends Angels to help us deliver / show us the mirror/ or simply see ourselves for who we really are. God always speaks to us, but unfortunately, and I can attest to this, we do not always listen. The first duty of love is to listen, are you listening, are you loving? Look in the mirror and answer that question. Lord give me strength and courage to look at my soul in your mirror of truth! 

Pray for Me Monday

Linked to Home Grown Families

& Troop Petrie

  I had such a wonderful time with my husband last night the anxiety we get from leaving our children with sitters seemed to not be on the front burner. Skylar went to the Botanical Garden -Gardens of Lights walk with her friend Kara. Skylar really doesn't need a sitter she is pretty good about taking care of herself. I think its more for supervision and a peace of mind. She's very smart and aware of the dangers of the world as much as she is supposed to be at 9. William went to his friend James house for an extended play date and had a great time. Knowing I have a variety of people to depend on in a crunch that I can "trust" is a great feeling. I pray that my husband and I continue to work on reconnecting like we did last night. Yes we try to steal a an hour away once the kids go to bed every once in awhile but hanging out at a Pub just isn't the same for me. Its hard to talk and reconnect when someone is screaming ROLL TIDE! maybe it will get better outside of foot ball season in the Spring/Summer. Huntsville is full of college football fans here.

I ask for prayer because somewhere Rick used his debit card someone cloned it and stole $500 from our checking account. Regions says we have to try and dispute it with the company first then they might file some type of fraud claim dispute. We might get our money back. This time of year that's a lot of money to just loose. As much as we are trying to learn from our Financial Freedom Class honestly the only thing saving us and giving us a turkey on our table this Thursday is a credit card I asked Rick to apply for late last week. It hasn't ruined my holiday spirit however... plans just have to change/be delayed/ and priorities in order. We went on our date because luckily I had gotten the tickets in October and James had paid his rent for this pay period so that helped pay for the sitter. I also had made reservations weeks ago for Breakfast with Santa at Parkway Place. Chick-Fil-A is a super company that was nice enough to host this event and even give all the children free kids meals. We just had to forego Santa pictures until I can afford William's Christmas outfit and the actual pictures. So pray for us that all the finances come together. Pray for our bank of their nasty business practices, and pray for the thieves who stole from us. This is the time of year people get greedy and desperate instead of really getting into the spirit of giving they become Scrooge. (I think they missed the moral of the story.) Our local news is filled with burglaries have gone up so high in neighborhoods you wouldn't expect, even someone robbed the local Apple store... what did he/she think everyone in his family DESERVED an IPOD and IPAD? I pray for these people who think they are entitled to other people's hard earned possessions. I believe we got the good news of that Credit card and the little bit of money we had in our savings account had not been taking out in over draft because God provides. When you pay it forward he will always give you the gift of giving in mysterious ways.

Three  prayers for others...
Tim Defoor his is a married father of two from Georgia that was involved in a major car accident and the doctors are doing all they can but its really up to Tim and God's healing hands to take him out of this danger period.
Ty Campbell a courageous little boy who has beaten cancer when they were told it couldn't be done. He has done it and its in remission for now http://www.superty.org/
and the third prayer is for 3 little boys in my family.

Miscellany Monday

My husband lost his man card by taking me to see Breaking Dawn. Then during one of the action scenes he squeezed the blood from my hand.

Thats okay though because I think he would rather trade his man card for Brownie points

Its hard being the mommy of a toddler they grow up too fast

There is little sign that my baby is still a baby. The fat in his hands is all gone and he tries to fill his sisters shoes. Why doesn't he understand that he is my last and I want to treasure these baby years as much as I can instead he wants to grow up faster. Why doesn't he understand I don't want his big sister to fill those shoes either!  Mr. Independent destroyer of worlds needs to slow down and let me baby him some more.

Homemaking Mondays

The weather in my neck of the woods:
We had some rain late last week which brought in a blistery cold front. Its getting a little warmer with the highs in the 60's. Today it might even reach 70! Sounds like a great day for the park!

Things that make me happy:
My children make me happy this week. I got a night out with my husband and I come home refreshed they both did well at their different babysitters and they make me proud they missed me and I missed them!

Book I'm reading:
Nothing right now

What's on my TV today:
House and Castle

On the menu for dinner:
Chicken and Mac & Cheese

On my To Do List:
Laundry
Make phone calls

New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
I haven't gotten to try the Carrabba's Chicken Marsala at home yet.

In the "craft" basket:
I've been speaking to an online friend about an upcoming digital project
I want to do a scrapbook page about my sons attachment to my hair
Fleece no sew blankets for the kids

Looking forward to this week:
Thanksgiving
Putting up Christmas Decorations

Tips and Tricks:
Off of Martha Stewart
Create a Smart Calendar for the Year
Make a monthly calendar that is as changeable as your schedule. Instead of crossing out plans as dates shift, just move the notes and stack them up on busy days.
Calendar How To

Collect for Charity
Take advantage of all of that extra time spent indoors this season -- winter is a perfect time to tackle larger organizing projects. Clearing the clutter and bringing order to every room will reap benefits for the entire year.

This is the season for giving. And since it's cold outside, why not host your own drive for coats, sweaters, and other warm clothes? Set out a labeled collection basket and ask friends and relatives to bring an item to donate when they visit. Check that the clothes are clean and in good condition, then give them to a shelter or other charity.

Organize Your Medicine Cabinet
Discard expired cosmetics and prescription medicines. Affix a sheet of precut galvanized steel to the interior of your medicine cabinet with construction adhesive. Magnetic hooks can hold scissors and a mirror, and small plastic cups with magnetic bottoms corral small necessities, such as rubber bands and hair clips.

Bring Order to the Hall Closet
Take storage to new levels with shelves below a row of jackets. Install shelves near the base of your closet, and you'll no longer have to rifle through items strewn across the floor. Here, each family member has his or her own bin for hats and scarves.

The lower shelf is lined with shoes, and boxes tucked underneath hold dog toys, tennis balls, and the like. Leave a foot of space between shelves and the door frame, and you'll have room for boots and a metal bucket for umbrellas. Long hooks keep handbags neat. An acrylic organizer on the door ensures essentials, such as a wallet and sunglasses, are accessible; a mirror allows for a final once-over on the way out.

Upgrade Your Shelves
Add a splash of personality to a lackluster work space by covering plain floating bookshelves with wallpaper. Measure the shelf, and cut the wallpaper slightly longer and wide enough to wrap around it with an overlap. Use wallpaper paste to affix the wallpaper to the shelf, pasting one side at a time. Cut slits into excess paper at ends, forming flaps; fold down, and affix with paste. Let dry completely, and hang shelves as usual.

Never Forget a Birthday This Year
If the cards you buy tend to be of the belated variety, this calendar will serve you well. Print the template. Then fill in names and birth dates of friends and family for each month. Fold the chart in half to show six months at once, and pin it to a bulletin board or hang it on the refrigerator. You can even shrink it and slip it into an address book. With a glance, you'll be reminded of important dates ahead of time
Download Our Birthday Chart

Organize Your Shoes
Normally used in kitchens, a pull-out pantry becomes a shoe closet when the shelves are installed at an angle; professional assistance is recommended for this project. Nonskid shelf liners prevent pairs from sliding when the unit moves

Stock Your Spice Rack
To add flavor and kick to your winter dishes, keep an arsenal of spies and herbs in your kitchen. Stock these essentials, and you'll never come up empty-handed when following a recipe.
Get the Printable Check List

Create a Car Kit
Stock your car's trunk for winter-weather emergencies. Include a compact shovel, ice scraper, flashlight, sand or cat litter, flares, a heavy blanket, and warm clothing.

Detangle Jewelry
Four divided trays, painted orange, become a layered jewelry organizer. Two trays lie flat along the drawer bottom. The remaining two, joined with wood glue, form the top shelf, elevated by strips of 1-inch square molding affixed to the inner sides of the drawer.

Craft Some Stylish Storage Pouches
Whether you're packing a suitcase or storing items at home, these drawstring pouches are handy to have around. Made in a range of sizes, they are perfect for stowing jewelry, shoes, and even laundry.
[url=Drawstring Pouch How To]http://www.marthastewart.com/how-to/drawstring-pouches[/url]

Color Code Your Home
A home color-coding system can bring order to your living space wordlessly, providing information at a glance without a miscellany of labels. Put hues to work, whether you are organizing papers, preparing food, or outfitting your entryway. With these bright additions, your living space will be far from drab -- and far easier to manage.
color code how to

Organize Kitchen Drawers
Clever ideas, practical storage, unusual solutions -- Martha shares her secrets for creating a kitchen that works.
See Martha's Organizing Tips

Hang Cleaning Tools
Wall hooks keep an assortment of brooms and mops off the floor.

Make a Stain Treatment Kit
Keep a variety of remedies at the ready: cornstarch, to absorb fresh grease stains; oil solvents, or dry-cleaning fluids, for greasy residue; combination solvents and a mild, clear dishwashing liquid for all-purpose stain removal; natural bleaching agents (lemon juice and white vinegar); glycerin, for ballpoint ink; and eyedroppers and cotton swabs, for easy application.

Keep Traction on Hand
Spread gritty alfalfa meal -- available from feed stores -- on slippery paths to provide traction on ice and snow. In spring, the alfalfa serves as a nitrogen fertilizer for surrounding greenery.

Organize and Display Photos
Why should your favorite snapshots linger in a drawer? Pull them out and create a display using colorful, inexpensive mats.
The Skinny on Photo Mats

Organize Computer Passwords
It's hard to keep all of those numbers and characters straight, especially since you shouldn't use the same password for more than one service. Find out simple ways to keep everything straight.
Password Storage How To

Consolidate Electronics
There are clever and stylish ways to conceal the necessary electronics of this modern age, without resorting to a haphazard arrangement stuck away in some inaccessible closet.
Hidden Assets

Buy and Keep Bulk Items Neatly
Do you have room for two dozen rolls of paper towels? Here are tips for getting good deals, as well as for stashing your purchases -- all you need to be a savvy and satisfied bulk buyer.
Tips for Buying and Storing Bulk Items

My favorite blog post this week:
Miracle MRI Recap. Ty is in Remission!
Amazing kid and amazing parents!

Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):
http://helena-alabama.blogspot.com/


No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):

Lesson learned the past few days:
Dating your spouse when you get married is very important. I knew this and tried to practice it with my first marriage. My husband and I don't get a lot of time to date. Sometimes we will tuck the kids in bed and leave them at home with their adult brother (he doesn't mind so much) and we take off for about 30 minutes. But twice this year we have actually go to go out with a real time constraint. I love how my hubby can get back to basics and reconnect on a raw level.


On my mind:
My bank account (someone took our money)
Getting a couch and getting the table repaired.
The Holidays

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." Psalms 18-2.

Homemaking Mondays

The weather in my neck of the woods:
beautiful outside 73 degree's low of 48


Things that make me happy: 
William saying no


Book I'm reading:
nothing... waiting on Vampire Diaries


What's on my TV today: 
I missed Pan Am, Tonight is House and Castle

On the menu for dinner:
We call it Dinner in a Box


On my To Do List:
Laundry, A school project, mailing off packages


New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:



In the craft basket:
I just put up a new Tag offer on Little Monster Designs. I have other tags I need to put up for LMD and I have Skylar's school project and my school project

Looking forward to this week:
Veterans Day 


Tips and Tricks:
Christmas Photo Tips 

My favorite blog post this week: 
Good Bye Curly http://trooppetrie.blogspot.com/2011/10/good-bye-curly.html

Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):
http://ordinaryinspirations.blogspot.com/


No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):


Enlarge this image Click to see fullsize





Lesson learned the past few days:
?


On my mind:
Rick's surgery tomorrow


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
“[For] it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Philippians 2:13 (NIV 1984)