Hairstyles of my little dancer

Whenever my DD6 goes to dance class we do her hair up all pretty and she just loves it. I get a lot off of Cute Girls Hairstyles, then practice practice. We sit and watch t.v. and play with her hair she is such a girly girl and loves to put pearl bobby pins in or anything shiny! Sure wish my older 2 would let me play with thier hair.
With out further audo here are some of our favs.

Starburst Braid

French Fold In

Waterfall Braid headband, Into bun

Awesome Pillowcase from Pintrest

My Pintrest addiction has reached new heights and I have been dying to share our results! Here is the first of many! Do you do what you pin? We sure do!

Follow Me on Pintrest

My Girls Made Pillow Cases from an awesome easy turtorial I found, each made her own, I will never buy pillowcases again!

The Pin




The Results

Catherine, 6

Taylor, 10

Bailey, 13

Finally Spring

It has been a long winter and very cold for april I am so glad that spring has finally sprung, sure hope it sticks around! Now if my garden would just dry out so I can plant. Its like a cranberry bog out there atm!
Who else is excited for spring?!

Halloween 2012

We went trunk or treating at our local church and with 3 girls I refuse to buy new costumes every year so we make them from what we have. Here is what we came up with!

I did my eyes up with spider web make up
My youngest was dead Jem (you know the old rock star cartoon)
My middle child was the queen of hearts, I did her make up in the style of Regina as the wicked queen in once upon a time.
Finally my oldest was a dead prom queen, did her make up as dead glam!!! They made a huge hit!!!

Busy Summer

It was a long extremely hot and dry summer here in Western, Ky, which made gardening and spending all day in the kitchen that much more miserable. Usually I really enjoy it, but this summer it was a horrible chore, but the benefits were worth it as always. We put out a garden, and because of the drought it had to be watered almost everyday, If I counted on the rain my garden would have been dead in a week.
So here is a photo journal, of what I had and what we canned. This is only my second year gardening and canning, and it was a lot more productive this year than last. My favorite canned item this year, has to be my banana peppers, they are so sweet and yummy. Usually I don't even like banana peppers but these are so perfect, even my 6 year old puts them on her tacos and stuff! So Delish!

 

           

Storage, its overflowing now

Cutting Starwberries

Catherine's First Grape Jelly Batch

Stay Tuned...

I am coming back again and this time for good. I have missed blogging so much, but life has been insane. Lots of great recipes, projects, crafts and reviews to come. Hope to see you back here with me!
xo

Dress and Rings!!!!!

Jamie and I went to pick out my wedding dress the other day, we had such a good time. Even Jamie enjoyed himself, and we wound up with a dress that I just loved and looks like it was made just for me. It's beautiful with old world lace and tool, and a perfect corset back. I just love it! Jamie picked it out, and damn does he have good taste! I can't wait to wear it.
We also bought out wedding bands, and I love mine so much, its perfect!

Next on the wedding planning list is to finally decide on center pieces and to start making them as well as starting to create the invitations. I have a rough idea as to what I want to do for them, just have to mess around in illustrator and see what I come up with.

This is a busy week so I will check in when I can, next post should be another homemade cleaning supply.

Yummy Recipe ~ Soft Pretzels

An update on my 5 year old daughter. She had a sever case of tonsillitis and spent a night in the hospital and a week and a half at home in bed from school. She is doing much better and back to school. Thank you for all your support!
Being a girl from South Jersey orginially I have a thing for soft pretzels!! I have tried so many different recipies trying to find one that I just loved and made me think of those oh so yummy Philly pretzels. Well I finally found one, and it is from non other than Alton Brown. I think that he is amazing and his baking recipies are so percise you can't screw them up, if you do exactly what he tells you, you will have perfection. 

Homemade Soft Pretzels

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups warm (110 to 115 degrees F) water
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 package active dry yeast
• 22 ounces all-purpose flour, approximately 4 1/2 cups
• 2 ounces unsalted butter, melted
• Vegetable oil, for pan
• 10 cups water
• 2/3 cup baking soda
• 1 large egg yolk beaten with 1 tablespoon water
• Pretzel salt

• Directions

  Combine the water, sugar and kosher salt in the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle the yeast on top. Allow to sit for 5 minutes or until the mixture begins to foam. Add the flour and butter and, using the dough hook attachment, mix on low speed until well combined. Change to medium speed and knead until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the side of the bowl, approximately 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the dough from the bowl, clean the bowl and then oil it well with vegetable oil. Return the dough to the bowl, cover with plastic wrap and sit in a warm place for approximately 50 to 55 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size.

  Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line 2 half-sheet pans with parchment paper and lightly brush with the vegetable oil. Set aside.

  Bring the 10 cups of water and the baking soda to a rolling boil in an 8-quart saucepan or roasting pan.

  In the meantime, turn the dough out onto a slightly oiled work surface and divide into 8 equal pieces. Roll out each piece of dough into a 24-inch rope. Make a U-shape with the rope, holding the ends of the rope, cross them over each other and press onto the bottom of the U in order to form the shape of a pretzel. Place onto the parchment-lined half sheet pan.

  Place the pretzels into the boiling water, 1 by 1, for 30 seconds. Remove them from the water using a large flat spatula. Return to the half sheet pan, brush the top of each pretzel with the beaten egg yolk and water mixture and sprinkle with the pretzel salt. Bake until dark golden brown in color, approximately 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack for at least 5 minutes before serving.

  
  

  These are so yummy and I love them with mustard! What do you like on your soft pretzels?

  
  

  Recipe taken from http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/homemade-soft-pretzels-recipe/index.html

Menu Plan Monday ~ 2/6

It has been a crazy week last week as  my little one was pretty sick. 102.5 fever, a bad cough, swollen adenoids, and a headache that brought her to tears a lot. We went to the Dr on Thursday morning and got some cough meds and antibotiocs, her fever then was only 99.9, not to bad. By Thursday night after taking the meds and some fever reducer her fever spiked to 102.5. So 1am Thursday night it was off to the E.R. She has never had a fever that high. And she was screaming and crying about her headache. The Er could not pin point what the problem was and told me to continue the meds and add cool baths, and popcicles to bring down the fever. My discharge papers said that if she started to throw up to bring her back.. So Saturday morning, he we go she wakes up in throwing up and with her head hurting more than ever. So back we go! They took a ton of tests and decided that it was either bacterial or viral. Well gee thanks I figured that much out on my own. Said that because she had already been on antiboitics for a few days the tests were inconclusive. Well why didnt they do the tests the first time! So they gave her a shot of anti botics and sent her on her way again. Today she seems a little better but her fever is up and down and her head is still hurting. So thats why I havent posted lol.

Anyway onto this weeks menu. Which is a simple week with some box dinners which I hate, but we have a lot of late nights with Girl Scouts this week and they are just so easy. Usually I make my own tv dinners the weeek before but I did not get the time cause of sick 5 year old!

Monday- box, mommy has a meeting
Tuesday- box, 2 oldest have a girl scout meeting
Wed- pork chops and buttered noodles
Thurs- box, little one has a girl scout meeting
Friday- Chicken and brocc
Saturday- Dinner Out
Sunday- Dinner at friends

Tackle It Tuesday ~ Master bedroom

Ok so I have been doing the Flylady, and so far love it. This weeks zone is the Master bedroom, which honestly I have been dreading!!! Its a mess. I am going to be an open mommy blogger here and give you a peek into my master bedroom. Hubby is supposed to be making me a new bed that is going to be awesome, im just waiting for him to get around to it. So excuse the mattress on the floor!

Dosn't look to bad but it def. needs attention

OMG its just a cluster ...

Make that damn bed girl!

We do not need dressers because of the closet set up that we have but I am hoping that hubby will get me these nightstands to go with my new bed he will eventually build!

Added: 1:00pm central

My closet!

So here I go... Wish me luck I will be back to update with pictures of the progress when I am done!

DONE!!
After Shots!

Woot! There is a floor!

Lazy puppy watched me from the bed the whole time

Much better!

Video of cleaned closet!

Purex & Jockey Team up Review & Giveaway

    

      So I received another wonderful package in the mail from Purex insiders! This time it contained the  Purex Crystals Tropical Splash which I love! I did a review on the crystals at the beginning of last year and loved it then. I have been buying it ever since. The Tropical Splash sent is my favorite sent from the collection so far. It smells clean and tropical without that coconut smell that is so often overwhelming in tropical scents. Again the clothes came out soft, not clingy, and smelling great! The scent lasts a long time as well, which I love! I washed my big blanket 2 weeks ago and used it and it still smells awesome and I have 2 dogs that sleep on the bed with me! Now that's lasting power!

     You put the crystals in right at the start of your wash, and no need to go back to add softener and no need for dryer sheets either! Another great thing about these crystals is that they can be used on sportswear, it will not prevent the wicking process. 

      Now onto the sports bra! As a rule I am not a fan of sports bras, because I am rather large breasted and sports bras give me that uni-boob look. You all know what I'm talking about, I'm not sure if it is the way this bra is cut or the cups inside it but the uni-boob look is almost completely gone. I still would not wear it anywhere but to work out, but the silhouette is defiantly better than any other sports bra that I have tried over the years. This 2012 Jockey Sports bra was also very breathable, I did not feel like I was basting it in, which is also a huge plus. It also has a very convenient pocket for a key that is quite comfortable, though I use it mostly for my shuffle! I've washed it quite a few times, using the crystals and it is holding up great, still very supportive and elastic!!

      On To The Giveaway

One winner will win both the Sports bra and a full bottle of the Tropical Splash crystals! Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter, winning entry will be verified and contacted on the 31st via email from me, so please make sure I have someway to contact you. So that I can get your contact info to the sponsors so they can get you your fab prizes!! Thanks for reading and good luck.

Menu Plan Monday 1/23/12

As with a lot of things here on the farm we are getting back to basics. I'm actually cooking more, even did a lot of canning last fall. Ive also started planning my weekly meals. I find that it saves me tons at the super market and also saves me time during the day. When I wake up a lay out whatever I'm going to need to cook that day. When its time to cook no rummaging thru the cabinets and freezer looking for something. I already know what I was planning and get to cooking. I shop on Friday so my menus run Friday to Sun. Here is this weeks menu.

Friday- we did a fridge clean up. There was so much in there that it was time to eat it or pitch it. So whatever didn't get eaten got pitched. Pretty Fridge!

Saturday- Sweet Italian sausage, garlic bread and noodles with Emeril's home style marinara. 

Sunday- Pizza Night

Monday- French's Crunchy Onion chicken with a Ranch pasta salad

Tuesday- Tiffany's Whiskey Pork (see bottom for recipe) with taters and green beans

Wednesday- Citrus Ham steaks and buttered noodles with sauteed onions

Thursday- Leftover night eat it or pitch it!

Tiffany's Whiskey Pork

So easy! I use boneless pork chops, seasoned with my house seasoning, salt, and pepper. I pan fry in a little extra virgin olive oil and butter. Then I add 1/2 to a whole cup of Jim Bean (use whiskey of your choice) and reduce it down to a flavorful sauce. Prepare sides, serve and enjoy!

Homemade Cleaning Series ~ Laundry Detergent

I have been dying to do a homemade cleaning supplies series for a while now, but I had to tweak my recipes still and get them to how I wanted them. I decided to turn to homemade cleaning supplies not necessarily because they are better for my family or the environment, though that is a great reason as well, but mainly because of the cost. Cleaning supplies are outrageous, at least the good ones, and I have things I would rather spend my money on that gallons of Windex, tide, etc.. Right ladies, cleaning is not an area where we want to spend a lot of time let alone money!
My very first homemade cleaning supply was laundry detergent, I saw it on the Duggers and had to give it a go. I mean less than .3 cents a load and one batch lasts a month or more for my family of dirty 5 and 2 dogs. You just can't beat that with a stick, and it works just as well is not better than store bought products. I make the gel kind because I can not stand powders, I just do not think they clean as well or dissolve well since I wash in cold water. So I have finally have gotten my recipe like I like. It is a mash up of a few different recipes that I have come across on the net. Try it, tweak it and find out what works best for you. The way the Dugger's made it, it was still a little watery for my liking so I looked around and found a few other recipes that I also tweaked and came up with this one that gel's nicely.

Wyatt Family Farm Laundry Soap
Ingredients:
5 gallon bucket with lid & 1/2 cup measure
1 bar Fels Napa soap (you can use about any bar soap but this was my favorite)
1c washing soda (not baking soda)
1c. borax
about 4 gallons water
essential oil of choice

Grate the bar soap and put in a large pot, then pour in 6-8 cups of water and heat til soap melts. Add the washing soda and the borax. Stir until dissolved and take off heat.
Fill 5 gallon bucket half-way with water, add soap mixture and stir well. I use a dowel rod just for this purpose! Now fill the bucket the rest of the way, leaving a bit of head space about 4 fingers. Stir! Add the essential oil, I used a whole bottle about 2 ounces I think. (That 30 drops other recipes called for just didn't do it for me, I like yummy smells, lol) Stir well and let sit for about 24 hours to gel!

Now I just use it right from the bucket, its a whole lot easier and a whole lot less messy then trying to transfer it over to other bottles.
The duggers also split this and mixed it with more water when they transferred to containers, but I use it at this strength and love it, because I do not think it works as well so watered down.
I think mine is thicken because of the extra 1/2 c. of borax and the fact that I don't split it again. It resembles jello when you open the lid, just give it a stir with your hand or dowel rod before each use.

Here is what mind looks like after each stir.

The Fel's Napa runs about $1 per bar here and The Borax maybe 3ish same for the washing soda. You can get I'd say 5 or 6, 5 gallon buckets of soap from the borax and soda so stock up on the bars when you get your boxes.

Happy Washing!

Pin it!

 

This is such a cute hop hosted by my buddy at Mommy Only Has 2 Hands, and since I am totally addicted to pintrest I figured I'd jump right on in there. I spend so much time on pintrest it is not even funny! It's an invaluable tool, and has helped me clean up my bookmarks as well.

Here's what I've been pinning:

I love this idea for your wedding dress

DIY Bow Maker

So what have you been pinning? Make a blog post, add your pins and head on over to Mommy Only Has 2 Hands to link your blog and your pintrest so we can spread the word about this new meme!
It's a week long meme!