I'm Back!

~C~ 

Hey Y'all! So sorry it's been so long since I've done a post! My September was CRAZY!! We took a beach trip, but had to leave early and rush to a different state because of a family emergency! So it was defiantly a busy, busy time!

Anyway, HAPPY FALL!! I love fall! I like to see the leaves turn colors, I love pumpkin spiced things (which are everywhere in the fall!), and of course it's full on gingerbread season so that makes me excited too! Plus Thanksgiving!

I thought I would give you a recipe for pumpkin muffins:

Ingredients:

1 small sugar pumpkin, seeded
3 cups all purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
2 Tsp. baking soda
1/2 Tsp. baking powder
2 Tsp. ground cloves
2 Tsp. ground cinnamon
2 Tsp. ground nutmeg
1 Tsp. ground allspice
1 Tsp. salt
2/3 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350 and line cupcake pans with paper liners.

Split pumpkin in half. Remove the seeds and strings. Place on a baking sheet, cut side down. Cook in the oven for about 90 minutes (1 1/2 hours) Remove pumpkin pulp and puree in the blender. Measure out about 2 cups of the pumpkin puree and set aside.

In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and spices. In a separate bowl beat the pumpkin, oil and eggs. Stir the pumpkin mixture into the flour mixture and scoop into muffin cups. Bake in the pre-heated oven for 20-25 minutes.

You can also spray and loaf pan and make pumpkin bread.

Hope you enjoy this recipe and have a great fall!!




See y'all next time!
~C~

Friendship Day!

Hey Everyone! It's ~O~ here! I haven't been able to post in a LONG time! My summer has been VERY crazy! I'm sure many of ya'll have experienced busy summer's as well!  With school starting back....its also been busy with music, sports and many other things!  Im not sure about you guys....but we started school a few weeks ago!  It feels good getting back into the swing of things! 

~C~ recently posted about Friendship Day and talked about different types of "friend groups" and how special having a friend is along with some cute friendship quotes that she enjoys!

I would like to talk about the importance of who your friends are and some quotes about friendship that i like!!

Ok, well...I have SO many close and special friends including ~C~!  One of my favorite things to do after a busy or long day is to just chat with friends wether it be over texting, email, social media or face time/phone call!  I feel that its SO important who your friends are because Godly friends have the power to upbuild you, help you, pray for you, love you unconditionally whereas unbelievers (people that choose to go the way of the world) often can be a bad influence doing things such as using bad language, dressing immodestly, watching things that aren't wholesome, tear you down and many other things.  And....I'm definitely not saying you shouldn't hang out with "non-believers" because you can be a witness to them and share the love of Jesus with them!   The Bible says many things about friendship such as these verses (which are some of my personal favorite friendship verses):

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." Provers 27:17 

"The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray." Proverbs 12:26 

Here are some of my favorite friendship quotes!

After School Snacks

~C~ 

Hey y'all! Hope you're having a great week! I know that a lot kids around the country are getting ready to start school back soon or have already started back. I thought it might be fun to share some fun after school snack ideas.

The first on is a banana tree. Now, I don't like banana's but I do/help with  VBS snacks at our church and one of the things that we did this year for the little kids was a banana tree. Peel the banana, cut up and apple for the leaves or branches and then sprinkle raisins on top. You could attach the apples to the banana with peanut butter but we didn't because so many kids have peanut allergies.

Another fun one is 2 slices of apple and mini marshmallows. Make sure the apple is red, spread peanut butter on one side of both apple slices and place mini marshmallows in between the apples. It makes them look like teeth!

Another one is trail mix, go to the grocery store one day a week and buy your favorite things to put in trail mix. For me, that would be pretzels, M&M's, craisins, peanuts, toasted chex cereal with seasoned salt (toasting bagel chips with this is yummy too) , and cashews. Mix up in a big bowl and put a serving in 5 little snack sized bags and they're already made up for the whole school week. (Monday-Friday) This is a sack that you might make on Saturday or Sunday.

Another make ahead snack is granola. At my house we don't really have a recipe for it. We use oats, chocolate chips, craisins,  flax seed (not much), slivered almonds and honey. Put in the oven at about 300 or 350 let it roast for a couple of minutes and then get it out stir it around and then put it back in for another couple minutes. Let it cool and place in snack sized zip lock bags for the week.

Laughing cow cheese... where do I start? This stuff is so good!! I love to put it in tomato soup, on my quesadillas, on grilled cheese, I have quite a long list that I could go on about. But for a snack... putting laughing cow cheese on fresh vegetables is so good! I use the creamy swiss garlic and herb. (It's in the purple package)  

Just plain fresh fruit is also a very good snack!!

Ham and cheese roll ups (again laughing cow cheese is perfect for this!)

Fruit smoothies are really good too! When we make them in our house we use Greek yogurt, frozen berries, frozen cherries, frozen peaches, cranberry juice and Juice Plus vanilla compete powder. We don't really have measurements we just do it until it looks right. It so good and refreshing! Of course you could always add frozen bananas to it or what ever kind of fruit you want but that's just what we usually put in ours. We usually have them for breakfast but they would can also make a good snack or you could use it as a substitute for a milkshake too.

I hope you enjoyed these ideas for after school snacks (or snacks for anytime really)! See ya next time! ~C~

Let's talk about Friendship

~C~

Hey Y'all! Since tomorrow is Friendship Day I thought it would be appropriate to talk about friendship. We all have have friends right? Some closer than others... Yes, that would be true. Some live in other states, some live in different towns, some go to different schools or churches. But you're still friends. Most of us have a group of friends that if we need to talk about something or share something with them that's going on with you that is who you go to. I mean friendship is a very important thing! It's having someone to laugh with you, talk with you, even sometimes cry with you. Yes, family does this too but, this is someone outside the family. Now, some friends can be so close that you call them family even though their not blood related. I have several very dear and close friends that I see as adopted family. An adopted grandma, adopted sisters, adopted aunts and uncles, etc.  I have kinda of classified different "friend groups."

1. Acquaintances... people you might know and say hello to in the grocery store but that's about it... You really don't do very much with them and might not really know them that well.

2. Friends... People that you might do a little more with. Maybe go out to dinner together on occasion or something like that but you're not super super close.

3. Good Friends... A person who is loyal in the friendship and you do a little bit more with. Not to say that the friends aren't loyal but the good friends have had more of an opportunity to show it.

4. Best Friends!... They sometimes have you wondering "What would I do without them?"  You share a lot of memories with them. They can work with you, be goofy with you and you can be honest with them... If something is bothering you and you want to share it with somebody it might be one of your best friends. This is really probably the group  I was talking about earlier that we talk to the most often and share things with. They laugh with you, cry with you, ect.

5. The Bestest Friend!... There is usually only one very rarely is there more. They sum up all the friendships above and more.

What do all these people have in common or at least 4 out of 5 have in common? Your trust. Hopefully you trust your friends. I think it's very important that I be able to trust my friends and I do. I want to be able to tell them something and know it's not going to go all the way around the world. Sometimes trust can be broken... When it is it hurts and takes a long time to heal and be made right again. When your trust has been broken not only does it make you very very cautious around the person that broke your trust with them  but it can also make you cautious around the others that didn't break your trust. Being careful to not trust someone to quickly is actually a good thing. If you trust someone to quickly it can sometimes lead to your trust being broken more quickly. Not always... but sometimes.

I have a very dear friend that only lives a couple of hours away that I only get to see a couple times a year. A couple other really good friends that live out of state. Yes, not seeing them but once a year is challenging... But when you do get to see each other it makes you so happy and grateful! Thank goodness for emails, phone calls, texting, normal mail and face-time!

Anyway, I think that Friendship Day is a perfect time to celebrate your friends. The ones that live in your town, go to your church, go to your school, live in your neighborhood, the ones that live in different states, the ones that live a few hours away and the ones that you don't get to see very often. Let them know that you care about them. Give them a hug, send them a text, give them a call or even better send them a card! Thank them for being there for you! For the ones you don't get to see very often or live far away... tell them you miss them. Thank them for putting up with your crazy silly ideas. I mean we know everybody has them! :) Really just thank them for being them and being your friend.

 


I hope y'all have a great day!
~C~

DIY Picture Frame:

~C~

Hey y'all! We're SO sorry you haven't heard from us in awhile. ~O~ is on vacation this week and I've been crazy busy. But I'm back today! On to the picture frame!

A couple days ago I was in Belk and saw this pretty wall art frame thing that you could clip pictures to. I looked at the price tag.. it was about $40. I figured that I could make one... not exactly like it but pretty close. Where it used wood I used a canvas that I had at home. I also had the paint I needed. So all I had to buy was some mini clips and the pictures I wanted to use.

The canvas I used was 20x16. I wouldn't suggest going any smaller. You can only fit 5 pictures on  the 20x16. So, anyway I painted the canvas a brown-gray color. I would also recommend doing a couple coats. The paint I used dries really quickly so after about 10 minutes I was able to do the second coat. But you can deter-main that based on your paint. After you have put on your second or third coat of paint and let it dry really good  take a pencil and draw a tree or or half a tree coming onto the canvas. When you are satisfied with the tree paint it white. You'll defiantly need to do at least 3 coats of the white. Let that dry overnight. In the morning glue the mini clips to the canvas. You can use any kind on mini clips you want... just not paper clips. I used mini close pens. I used quick- dry glue so that I could put my pictures on later the same day.

Also pick out your favorite quote (preferably a short one so you can fit it on the canvas). The quote I used was "We didn't know we were making memories,We just knew we were having fun!" Pencil it in first  and then go over it with a black sharpie. You can use any quote you want, but for what I was doing that worked one worked really well! I just about put one on there that said " The secret to having it all is knowing you already do".

 I ordered more pictures than I can fit on the canvas so I can switch them out every now and then. Size 4x6 works really well. I hope you've enjoyed this!

Here's the one I made.

Until next time!
~C~

My Gingerbread Story Part 2:

~C~

Hey y'all! Sorry it's taken me so long to do part 2!! We had a family emergency that has caused me to be out of town for a week. Thankfully everyone is okay!

On to part 2!

So I told you in part one (Click here to read it) that we didn't get anywhere in the competition. Which was okay because... well we didn't have a clue what we were doing. We were just learning. A year past and it was July/August of 2013 and my friend and I decided we wanted to enter again this year. So we decided that we would do "Christmas at Grandma's Cabin". We were going to make a cabin with a front porch, chimney, outhouse, dogs, a pond and snow covered ground. We began working on the project... just the two of us. Two girls, a whole lot of sugar and a whole lot of work can call for a lot of giggling and laughing! That is for sure! I mean you just "have" to test the icing to make sure it's good whether anybody's gonna eat it or not. We worked and worked and WORKED on that thing 3 days a week if not more until the finial week it was everyday of the week! The thought "What it the roof falls in like it did last year?!" crossed our mind more than once! By the last day it was 7:00 and there was still a little work that needed to be done! So we put it in fuller than full gear and got it done! We were so proud of ourselves! "Good job Ole' Pal of mine!" She said patting me on the back. "Yep! Good job Ole' Pal of mine!" I agreed patting her on the back too.  Now... If we can just get this up the mountain without anything going wrong it will be a great day! We got it up there with no trouble at all... other than I was nervous that something would go wrong. Well... everything was going great until it started raining. The gingerbread soaks in moister and can cause harm to the piece. Thankfully we got it inside without anything going wrong! I set it on the judging table and took one last look before I left the room. Because when you set you piece on the table that's it! You don't see it again until the next night around 5:30 and when you enter the room you aren't aloud to go see you piece you have to sit in your seat until you are either called to the top 10 or until around 8:30 when the ceremony is finally over. It's tough because you want to go see your piece and check on but... You can't. Anyway, I left the room and went to eat dinner and finish the rest of the night. The next day (the day of the judging) I do get nervous. I mean there's gonna be at least 450 people at the ceremony, plus local news and people from the New York Times. So that's kinda nerve racking for me. That night we sat through the kids division and they were all so cute! A lot of them dressed in little chefs hats (adorable!) and the little girls with their gingerbread men dresses. Then came time for the youth division... and my nerves start again. Oh dear! My friend was so excited! She was squeezing my arm pretty good too. Haha! :) Then the lady called "Top ten winner Y-608. The Happy Homeschooling Girls!" We got up, went to stand with our piece. The people came to where we were picked up out piece and took it up front to where the "Youth Top Ten Table" was. The rest of the ceremony proceeded... we didn't get in the top 3 that year but we were very happy with the outcome!

So on came June/July/August of 2014 and yet again we were trying to figure out what the plan was for the 2014 gingerbread entry. We deiced on doing a gingerbread tree that soon became known as "Nutmouse Tree House"! We couldn't wait to get started! My friend had gotten a horse since the last time we had entered so she was very busy with him but helped as much as she could! I worked on it everyday from morning until evening! Now some of you might be wondering "How in the world did she make a tree out of gingerbread?" The answer is rather simple.. Very slowly and steadily. Don't rush with anything when you're doing gingerbread. You'll regret it later! Soon I had a tree with two stories on the inside. A bedroom upstairs with a bed, nightstand with a candle on top and a picture of the most famous mouse of all hanging on the wall (Mickey of course!) Downstairs was a kitchen table with a bowl of apple-seeds on it, two chairs, a rug and a side table with a candle. Everything you put in the gingerbread creations has to be 100% edible. The outside of the tree had a tire swing, a pond, a garden, fall leaves, a garden, Grandma Nutmouse, Grandpa Nutmouse and Junior Nutmouse, Grandpa was busy gardening, Grandma had spent her day seed gathering and baking, and Junior was on his was to the pond to do some fishing. Can you imagine the sigh of relief that I heaved when we finally got it to the Grove Park Inn?! I left the room as usual when I set it on the table. I thought about that tree all night, and the whole next day until I got into that room and saw that everything was okay! I was just as nervous that night has I had been the past two years. My friend was right there beside me in her seat. "What's our number again?" She asked "Y-617" I replied a little shakily. They went through the child's division first (as always). Then came time for the youth division. They called out a few numbers including the number right before ours "Y-616". So I thought "Well, we did our best and that's all we could ask for." Then came "Top ten winner number Y-617. Team Happy Homeschooling Girls" Oh my word!! I couldn't believe it!!  We went to the youth top ten table and waited for the top three winners to be announced in our category. They started with third place... I was for sure we wouldn't get in the top three! Just as that thought crossed my mind they called "Fist Place winner Y-617. Team Happy Homeschooling Girls." I couldn't believe it! We just won first place in a national commotion!! We went out to celebrate later with dinner.

This year 2016 will be my second year competing in the teen category. I competed last year too. I entered "Glamping VW style." It was my first year competing in the teen category and it's a whole new ball game! I didn't get in the top ten or place anything but it was fun anyway!! I can't wait to see how this years project turns out!! I can't tell you what I'm doing just yet but I will when I can!


I hope you have enjoyed my gingerbread story! Have a great week!

~C~

                                                                                 2013

2014

A Day in the Life of a Homeschooler!

Hey Guys! It's ~O~ today! I wanted to share with you what it is like being a homeschooler! Many people think homeschoolers are socially awkward, over protected and missing out on important things in life. It's actually the complete opposite!

This is my 8th year doing homeschool, I enjoy every minute of it! Because I have extra time during the day, I am able to take harp, piano and violin lessons which I am VERY thankful for! Now please don't hear me wrong, I respect Public and Private schools very much! As a matte of fact, I have many, many close friends who choose not to do homeschool....but I love and respect each of the dearly!

My family does a homeschool program called "Classical Conversations." It is very beneficial! Foundations (Pre-K- 6 grade) does 12 weeks in the fall and 12 weeks in the spring. Challenge (7-12 grade) does 15 weeks during the fall and 15 weeks during the spring. Foundations covers Math, Latin, Science, History, Geography and Timeline. They also offer a writing class (4-6 grade) that is very helpful!  I am so thankful that we are a part of Classical Conversations! I have made so many tight friendships and learned so many things and for that I am so grateful!

During a normal homeschooling day, I will get up, start school by 9, cover all my new grammar from CC, do my math workbook, practice music and do writing assignments from Essentials.  I normally finish around 1:30/2:00!

Hope you all learned something about homeschool! ~O~

My Favorite Vacation Spots

Hey! It's ~O~! I wanted to share with ya'll 3 of my favorite vacation spots!

1. Disney Cruise~ Disney Cruise's are AMAZING! It's relaxing, fun, entertaining, family friendly, the food is delicious and well prepared, the shows are appropriate for all ages and you make stops along the way....such as the Bahamas', Disney's private island, Castaway Kay and many more places! Disney has 4 ships: Disney Wonder, Disney Magic, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy! They are in the process of building 2 more ships as well!

(Disney Dream at Castaway Kay)

 

 

2. Destin, Florida~ Destin, FL is truly breathtaking!  Clear water, white sand and much more! That is one of my favorite places to vacation!

 



 

 

 

 

3. By the lake~ I live on the lake! It's so peaceful yet exciting and fun! My family enjoys jet skiing, water skiing, tubing, eating at our local marina and just relaxing together!

 

 



My Gingerbread Story... Part 1

~C~

Hey Y'all! I hope you are doing well this week! Today I thought I would post my "gingerbread story". Now some of you might be thinking "What in the world is she talking about?!". Let me explain. A few weeks ago I did the blog post about Easter Cookies. (See it Here) I told you that I LOVE to bake!! Whether it's cookies, brownies, cream puffs, eclairs, cake, etc. I love it! But, I also love entering a gingerbread project in the National Gingerbread House competition every year in November. Ok, On to the story:

So about 4 years ago I was in a home-school history group. There was about 7 kids so it wasn't too big but, we were getting ready to study Germany and of course gingerbread is partly from Germany. One of the suggested projects was to build a gingerbread house. (From the box) I remembered my parents and grandparents taking me to a place called the Grove Park Inn when I was about 4 years old. (I have a very good memory) Anyway, I was absolutely fascinated with all the pieces of art! So when it came time to do the gingerbread house project I told my Mom "Mom, why don't we take it to the competition??"  she said "You mean take the box kit to the competition?" "No, like make it from scratch to the competition!". Now, I am not a competitive person unless it's gingerbread season. (Or I'm playing UNO with my Dad.) I think I shocked my Mom because of the fact that I am not competitive. But, she agreed to talk with the other Moms about it and if they said it was ok then it was ok with her! Now, you have to understand we had NO clue what we were doing! We didn't have a recipe for the gingerbread (unless we used the actual bread kind but that wouldn't work.) So were searched and searched for one until we came across one that we thought would work. Our theme was going to be "The Gift of Christmas" It was supposed to look like a box that had been punched open on Christmas morning with the Manger scene inside. We made multiple, multiple trips to Walmart for fondant, flour, sugar, twizzlers, food coloring, edible spray paint, etc.

We worked so hard on that thing! About two days a week to start with, three days when it got closer and then four days a week and finally on the last week before we had to take it we work from Monday-Friday. When we got that thing done we were SO proud of it!! Well... the MORNING we supposed to take it we got a phone call from the Mom's house it was staying at. She said that her daughter went downstairs to check on it as soon as she woke up and the roof had collapsed. OH NO! What were going to do?! We didn't have an extra roof laying around anywhere! So while the other daughter and myself were trying to keep from loosing our mind we went over to their house at 7:45 in the morning. We got over their and we were going crazy! We don't have gingerbread dough made, we don't have an extra roof, we have to leave between 12:00 - 1:00 in the afternoon and it was already 8:00! That means we have to make more dough, cut out the new roof, bake it, let it cool, put it on the project and cover it to make it look like the rest of the piece! Oh, and did I mention that my Mom and I hadn't packed? Needless to say we probably looked like chickens running around with our heads cut off! Haha!! But it all worked out and we were able to take it that afternoon. Whew! Of course, we didn't get anywhere in the competition but we had a BLAST doing it!


PART 2 COMING SOON......

Things on my Bucket List + My Favorite Holidays!

Hello Everyone! It's ~O~ here! It's been forever since I've posted anything...LOL! Hope you all have been doing well! It seems like the "fast forward" button has been hit on 2016! Is it really almost May?!?? Where oh where does the time go? I thought today I might share a few things on my bucket list and my favorite holidays and why! (I know it's a bit random...HAHA!)

My bucket list:

1. Go on a missions trip~ I'm thinking and praying about going on one to China!
2. Travel to all 7 continents
3. Travel to all 50 states
4. Have lots of kids~ Maybe around 12
5. Go visit the Northern Lights
6. Donate my hair to Locks of Love or Pantene
7. Read the entire Bible
8. Lead someone to Christ
9. Own a grand piano
10. Learn sign language
11. Be a harp teacher
12. Ride in a hot air balloon

My favorite holidays are:

Christmas~ Because we celebrate Jesus' birthday!
My Birthday~ Because I get to celebrate the day I was born!
Valentine's Day~ Because we can show our love and appreciation to people we love.
Easter~ Because Jesus rose from the grave and HE IS ALIVE!

Packing Tips:

~C~

Hi! I hope everyone is having a good week and had a great Easter! Today I thought I would share some packing tips that I have kind of made up. But they work really well!! So here we go!

If you know me you know that I LOVE packing! I don't know why but I do. Anyway, I make a packing list just about wherever I to stay somewhere. Ok, that might be a little over organized but I like to make lists. Haha! So if you seem to always forget what you want to take or just forget to put something in your bag.... a check list might be helpful for you. For me I get really excited about going and usually make my packing list two weeks ahead of time print it off and then... Of course forget where I put it but usually remember everything on it. But just to be sure I make another one about three days before we leave.

If it's a big trip and I'm going to be gone about a week then I start packing or pulling my stuff out about three days before. If we're only going to be gone a couple of days I just pack the day before I leave. I would suggest that you pull everything that you are going to be taking (clothes, shoes, socks, jackets, coats, ect.) out and lay the stuff on your bed or near your bed that way you have everything in one central location and don't have to go running around your room or house to find everything. Or thing you're absolutely finished with your suitcase, zip it up and then remember "Oh! I didn't put shoes in there!" Pull it back out and try to find room,to cram them in. (I've done that way to many times!!) If you're going to do a lot of walking take comfortable shoes!

I would also check the weather before packing your clothes. I'm sure that is something most everyone does but just in case... It's very helpful!

It's also helpful to check how long you're flight, train ride or car ride will be. If it's a long ride wear comfortable clothes! If you are going on a plain check for thing you can and can't take! If you're going out of the country check the date on your passport. In some countries if your passport expires in six months they won't let you in. So to be on the safe side make sure it expires in over six months.

When I am going on a trip I always try to take snacks, If I get hungry and don't eat I can get weak. So I always try to have something to snack on to keep the hunger at bay. (Peanuts, almonds, cashews, ect.) But remember if you're going to museums some of them might not allow food/water.

Take lots of pictures! I personally always take my camera on trips. I'm sure most people do, but it's so fun to look back on the pictures!

Be sure to pick a hotel that you will be comfortable in and that meets what you will need during you stay. But also make sure you stay within your budget. :)

Most importantly HAVE FUN!!!!!

So in summery:

• Make a packing list if you need one or just want to (for me I just want to I don't necessarily need one)  
• Pull your clothes out so you don't have to chase them down 
• Pack comfortable shoes
• Check the weather of where you will be going and pack accordingly
• How long is the ride? (car, train, plane) 
• CHECK THE DATE ON YOU'RE PASSPORT! 
• Snacks (crackers, nuts, ect.) 
•  Take pictures! 
• Pick a hotel that will be comfortable for you. But don't brake your budget.
• MOST IMPORTANTLY HAVE FUN!!!!!! 

I  hope you have enjoyed this weeks blog post! See ya next time!
~C~

Favorite Board/Card Games

Hey Everyone!! It's ~O~ here! This week I thought I'd share with you my favorite board/card games!!

So.....I enjoy playing card wise:

Phase 10


Russian Rummy (A twist on Phase 10)


Racko


Apples to Apples:


Swish


And for board games....I enjoy:

Monopoly


Battleships


Thank you for viewing my blog post! Have a blessed week!

Easter Cookies:

Hi y'all! I hope you're having a great week! It been super nice outside where I live recently! Anyway, I personally love to cook and bake!! I decided that since it's near Easter I would post an Easter cookie recipe! I hope you enjoy!!


You need:

• 1 cup whole pecans
• Mixing bowl
• 3 egg whites
• Wooden spoon
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp. vinegar
• Zipper baggy
• 1 pinch of salt
• Wax paper
• Cookie sheet

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Place pecans in the baggy and  beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.

Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Add egg whites to the vinegar. Sprinkle the salt into the bowl. Add 1 cup sugar. Beat with mixer on high speed for 11-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Fold in broken nuts. Drop with a tsp. on to the cookie sheet with wax paper.

Put cookies sheet in the oven. Close door and turn oven OFF.  Leave cookies in the oven overnight and on Easter Morning give everyone a cookie. 

Enjoy!! 

(There are other recipes out there but this is just the one we use.) 

My Story Of Playing Harp

So, I wanted to share with everyone the (long) journey of finding a harp and a harp teacher!!

So I always attend FASA (Fine Arts Summer Academy) and one of the harpist there had always inspired me to play harp and I literally thought..."I'm never going to be able to play such a big and hard instrument!"

One day I told my mom "I really want to play harp one day." and she said "Ok." So, we prayed for over a year for a harp teacher where I live (we live in a small town).  I continued waiting and then it was time for FASA and I was able to have a private lesson with the harpist. That made my motivation level to play harp go WAYYYY UP! Haha!

So, after another whole year of praying and looking.....we found a harp teacher!! PRAISE THE LORD! I met with her and she was super sweet and was amazing at harp!

Now the search for a student rental harp...they are so expensive to rent so the search was on....and the Lord was good and ended up sending a lever rental harp that was in pretty good condition...for a good price!! Harp was SO much fun! I was progressing and enjoyed it lots! Then....I needed a bigger and nicer harp!

So, here we go again praying and looking! We looked for about 5 months.....and I saw many beautiful ones that were WAY too expensive or too far away.  I finally find two good priced harps about 5 hours away! Yay! Well, have you ever heard the saying "Its too goof to be true?" that was the case for me....yes, they sold the week before we were planning to go and look at them!

Theres still hope....one more about 4 hours away!! It again sold two days before we were going to look at it.....so now im pretty upset! So the plan for this trip is to look and learn more about harps....not buy one.

We arrive at the harp center and low and behold a used pedal harp (the kind I needed) for a good price and almost brand new sits there. Im speechless....we ended up buying it the next day! Im so thankful for my parents and mostly to God who made this harp playing dream possible!

Thank you for reading today's post! God Bless You!

(I haven't had time to download pictures of the harp....but here's the same model!)

March Monthly Post

Hello Everyone! Hope you are all doing great! Hope you enjoy the March monthly post!!

Chapter 6~

 Vivian’s POV~

Oh my goodness! So much has happened lately! Natalie, Taylor and I are ALL expecting at the same time! On top of that, David is recovering from his broken arm and Nicole will be turning 5 this month! WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE??? I remember when my sweet Nicole was first born! Now, I have 3 precious kids and 1 on the way! I am a blessed lady! Taylor and I need to think of  some ideas for our “Baby Announcement Party!” I’m trying to think of some ideas….I should call Taylor because she is the most crafty person I know!

Taylor’s POV~

Wow! I can’t believe that Vivian and I’s due date are only 1 week apart! It’s so fun being pregnant at the same time as your sister! We are both 3 months along now! Next month we find out genders! Ahhhhhh!! I can’t wait till our precious babies make their way into the world! I wonder if Vivian has any plans made for our “Baby Announcement Party?” I know I do!! Haha! A WHOLE list!

 Vivian (Calling Taylor): “Hello!”

Taylor: “Hey Viv!! How are you feeling today?”

Vivian: “Great! What about you?”

Taylor: “Good!”

Vivian: “I was just calling to see if you have any ideas on our “Baby Announcement Party?”

Taylor: “Yes! I do have quite a few things in mind!”

Vivian: “Awesome! I knew you would have some good ideas! Unlike me! Haha!”

Taylor: “Well…we could pick up some shirts that can announce the newest additions!”

Vivian: “That’s such a cute idea! I love it! We can have the family over for dinner this coming Saturday!”

Taylor: “Thanks! And…let me check my calendar really quick to make sure I’m free this Saturday! Yes! I don’t have anything!” 

Vivian: “Okay! Sounds like a plan! How about 6:00?”

Taylor: “That’s great! Do you want to have it at your house or mine?”

Vivian: “I would be happy to host it at my house! The kids always like having company over!”

Taylor: “Ok, sounds great!”

Vivian: “Love you! Bye!”

Taylor: “Love you too!! See you soon!

25 Fun Facts/ Random Facts~C~

~C~

Hey y'all! ~O~ did a blog post last week (See it here) "25 Random Facts About ~O~" I loved the idea so here goes my version of "25 random (or fun) facts about me! Hope you enjoy!

1.) I love math!
2.) I don't like McDonald's or banana's but I love all other foods!
3.) I have very curly hair
4.) I love to cook/ bake
5.) I love to swing but especially on tire swings!!
6.) I love animals (all except for cats, sharks and snakes) I have a dog named Sara
7.) I am always out of state for Christmas with family
8.) I was born on Mother's Day
9.) I have a fear of shots, lighting,snakes and sharks
10.) I play the piano ( I used to play the fiddle)
11.) I love to write (and blog!)
12.) I sleep with my bedroom door open most of the time
13.) I wake up around 7:00 am every morning sometime earlier
14.) I usually eat lunch at 11:30 or earlier everyday
15.) I love to knit (Maybe in a later post I will do a knitting pattern)
16.) I have a full sized bed
17.) I count stairs when I walk up or down them. My Mom says I get it from my grandmother
18.) I really enjoy swimming
19.) I love hot tea, hot chocolate and hot chi (Chi is sort of like tea but with with milk added)
20.) I don't have any siblings
21.) I have brown hair and brown eyes
22.) I have a ton of cousins, aunts, uncles, etc!
23.) I don't drink soft drinks
24.) I want to open a bakery
25.) I love nuts and sun flower seeds!

Well, I hope y'all enjoyed that! Thank you for taking an interest in our blog!!

~C~

25 Random Facts About ~O!

Hey You All! As a southerner, we would say "Ya'll!" Haha! Hope everyone's week has been great! I thought for my post today, i would do the "25 Random Questions" tag!! Enjoy!!!

1. Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed? Closed!
2. Would you rather be attacked by a swarm of bees or a big bear? Probably bees!
3. Do you have freckles? Sometimes in the summer when I tan!
4. Do you ever count your steps when you walk? Sometimes...when I'm going down the stairs!
5. What size is your bed? A twin!
6. Do you still watch cartoons? Yes, sometimes with my younger cousins and sister!
7. What do you drink at dinner? Normally water or Sprite!
8. What is your favorite food? Wow! That's a hard question...I love Chinese or Japanese food!
9. Favorite kind of sandwich? Nutella or Turkey, Cheese and Mayo!
10. What is your usual bedtime? 9:30!
11. How many languages can you speak? Well, 1...but I'm studying Latin currently!
12. Which are better, Legos or Lincoln Logs? Legos!
13. Are you afraid of heights? Yes, VERY!
14. Do you sing in the shower? Yes! Sometimes!
15. Do you cut out coupons but never use them? I used to when I was younger...just to be like my mom!
16. Ever used a gun? Less than 5 times!
17. Occupations you wanted to be when you were younger? I used to wanted to be an astronaut!
18.  Wal-Mart, Kmart or Target? Target!
19. Peanuts or Sunflower seeds? Sunflower seeds!
20. Ever take dance lessons? Yes, Ballet and Lyrical when I was younger.
21. Can you curl your tongue? Yes...haha!
22. Who would you like to see in concert? Moriah Peters or Tim Hawkins!
23. Hot tea or cold tea? Cold!
24. Can you swim well? Somewhat!
25. Do you enjoy blogging? Yes!

Hope everyone enjoyed it!! Thank you again for taking time to keep up with our blog!

~O

Happy Belated Valentine's!!

~C~
Hey y'all!! This is out like a week late and I'm so sorry but things around my house have been crazy busy!!! So I'm putting it up today and you will be hearing from ~O~ on Friday or Saturday!

Anyway, do you have any traditions you do for Valentine's Day? I do!

It started when I was about three years old at my grandmother's house. I was up there spending a couple days with her and it was the day before Valentine's. She was going to be drinking a cup of hot tea and fixed me a teeny tiny cup since I was only three years old. It has now become a tradition! Yes, we drink hot tea through out the year and do it quite a bit but Valentine's Day is a special time I get with her fixing some of the food the night before (such as the cupcakes or jello, bread dough to make rolls with the next day, moose, etc.), decorating everything in pink and red, getting ready on the day of the tea, etc, etc. She always makes it really special time for me as she always does where Valentine Tea or any other time during the year! If time allows then I give her a foot massage the night before the tea and if we don't have time then I always go back and give her one the next time I'm there.

It has defiantly grown though! Now instead of just being me and her at the tea my aunt, my Mom and three dear friends come at three-o'clock on the Saturday before or after Valentine's (a couple of times Valentine's has landed on a Saturday and we do it the day of.)  It has also gotten more fancy! I really love this tradition and can't wait until next year's party!!!

Hope you enjoyed this post and have a wonderful day!!
~C~

February Monthly Post:

So sorry this is late!! We've been extremely busy!! Hope y'all enjoy chapter 5!

Chapter 5~

Vivian's POV~

Taylor ran into Chick-Fil-A to get us some sweet tea to drink. I still haven't told her "the big surprise". David and I have four children, with each one of them we told the family a different way... I just have to think of someway to tell Taylor so she can help me brainstorm ideas. Oh here she comes gotta go!!

Taylor's POV~

I'm in Chick-Fil-A getting Vivian and I some sweet tea. I haven't told her that I'm expecting yet. I want it to be just at the right time... Well we are going shopping next maybe I'll find someway to tell her there! I hope she has some ideas on how to tell the whole family...

Vivian: "Thank you for the tea!"

Taylor: "You're welcome! Have you heard from Mom about Nicole?"

Vivan: "No. Well here we are! I just love this thrift shop! Don't you?"

Taylor: "Yes! We should look at baby girl clothes for Natalie’s baby!"

Vivian: "Oh Yeah!! Totally!! I mean what are Aunts for?!"

(Inside the store)

Taylor:" Oh Vivian! How cute is this?!"

Vivian: "Oh my word!! That is so stinking cute!!!! We are totally getting that for Natalie’s baby!!"

Taylor: "Well, we could but I was thinking for mine...."

Vivian: "Oh yeah... WHAT DID YOU SAY??"

Taylor: "Or we could get it for mine...."

Vivan: "Your b...ba... Baby??!?!"

Taylor: "Yes!"

Vivian: "Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!! Are you kidding???"

Taylor: "No!"

Vivian: "You're pregnant?!?!"

Taylor: "Yes,I'm pregnant!"

Vivan: "You're pregnant!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!"

Store manager: "Is everything ok back here?"

Vivian: "My sister's pregnant!!!!!!"

Store manager: "Oh! Congratulations!!!!!! Well, just wanted to make sure everything was ok."

Taylor: "Yes, thank you! Everything's fine!"

Vivian: "I can't believe this!!! You are pregnant and I am too!!! I am so crazy excited for you!!!!"

Taylor: "Yeah! Thank you! Wait did you just say you're pregnant too?!"

Vivian: "Yeah!!!"

Taylor: "You're pregnant?!?! Are you sure??? Are you kidding?! No you're not!!!!"

Vivian: "Yes I am, yes I'm sure and no I'm not kidding!!"

Taylor: "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!"

Store manager: "Are you sure everything's ok?"

Taylor: "My sister's pregnant!!!"

Store manager: "I know you just told me."

Taylor: "No, my sister, Vivian told you I'm pregnant and she just told me she is too!!!!!"

Store manager: "Oh! Ok well double congratulations. Just making sure!"

Vivian: "Thank you for checking!"

Winter Activities!

Hey Everyone! It's ~O~ here! It's been snowing like crazy for the past few days! Even though this has been the "long awaited snow" I'm ready to say good-bye to it! I wanted to blog about my favorite winter activities!

So my #1 favorite activity is snow skiing! I have been a few times and it is definitely a fun and challenging activity! So, the first time I want, I was 6 and I lost my first tooth! I was very proud! Haha! So, advice....to start, I started on what they call the "Bunny Slope!" It is by far, the easiest slope, which is good since I'm not a big dare devil! Then, with some encouragement and help from some friends....I moved onto the "Intermediate slope!" I rent my ski gear from the ski lodge! Anyways you will need:

1. Warm clothes!!!! I wore like.....3-4 shirts, 2 pairs of socks, 3 pairs of pants, ski bibs and a coat!
2. Ski Boots
3. Ski's

My 2nd favorite snow activity is sledding! We normally sled down our backyard hill! It's so much fun! I sled with my sister and sometimes my dog tags along! After we get to the bottom of the hill, dad pulls us up on the four wheeler!





And lastly, I enjoy making snow cream! Here's a recipe!!

1 gallon of snow

1 cup of white sugar

1 tablespoon of vanilla extract

2 cups of milk


Hope you all have a very blessed week! Enjoy the recipe!
~O~

Hello there!

~C~

Hi there! It seems like a long time since I have posted anything! I'm sorry this is a few days late, our area got a lot of snow. I hope each of you had a merry Christmas and happy new year! It is a very busy time of the year for my family and I! ~O~ talked to you last week about good T.V recommendations... Today I will be giving you a recipe for blueberry and lemon scones. I do a lot of baking and this is something I recently made and really enjoyed!

2 Cups all-purpose flour
1/2 Cup sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 Cup cold butter
Zest and juice of one lemon
3/4-1 cup heavy cream
1 Cups blueberries (toss them in extra flour)
1 tsp vanilla

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees and line baking sheet with parchment paper. Sift flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add butter to bowl cutting it into the flour until the largest clump of butter is the size of a pea and flour resembles course meal. Add zest and juice of lemon. Stir in 3/4 cup heavy cream. Press dough together in-between your palms, if it doesn't just stick together add more cream. Add vanilla extract and fold in blueberries.

Pour dough onto lightly floured pastry board. Pat dough into a large round disc about 1 inch thick. Cut dough into equal sized wedges and place on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake scones for 20 -25 minutes or until lightly golden.

Hope you enjoy this recipe!!
~C~

Good TV Show Recomendations

Happy 2016 Everyone! It's ~O~ here! Last year was a very adventurous, fun, exciting, blessed and sweet year! Can't wait to see what this year holds! Today, I wanted to share with you some of my favorite TV shows! And, I'm the type of person that likes recommendations for good and wholesome TV shows because today....there are very few of them!


So, the first TV Show is, "Fixer Upper!" Chip and Joanna Gaines are a "dynamic duo" that fix up older homes into their clients dream home! They are so talented but most importantly they share a family bond like no other and love Jesus!  They live in Texas with their 4 sweet children! Here's a preview of "Fixer Upper!"

 

One of my other favorite shows is, "Bringing Up Bates!" It features Gil and Kelly Jo Bates, who have chosen to trust God with the number of children they would have....the Lord blessed them with 19 beautiful and healthy children! They reside in Tennessee with their children.  Here is a quick introduction to their show!

Another favorite is, "The Willis Clan!" They are a musical bunch with 12 talented and sweet kids! Toby and Brenda Willis (Dad and Mom) really placed the love of music into their kids at a very young age.  Today, they inspire to share the love of music with many people! They travel performing beautiful music and just being together as a family! Here's their audition on "America's Got Talent!"



Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to read our blog each week!

Blessings, ~O~

January Monthly Post

Happy New Year Everyone! Thank you to all the people that have viewed our blog the past year! We are so thankfully for everyone! We have decided to start with our monthly post this month! Hope you all enjoy!

 

 

Chapter 4~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Walking into the salon) 

 

Taylor: “Oh my! This is such a nice place!”

 

Vivian: “Yes, It is! I’ll go tell the ladies we are ready.”

 

Taylor: “Ok!”

 

Vivian: “Hi, Clark for two.”

 

Lady: “Clark for two?? I don’t see it are you sure it was here?”

 

Vivian: “Yes Ma’am!”

 

Lady: “Let me get one of the other ladies maybe that talked to you.”

 

Taylor: ”Thank you so much!”

 

Lady: ”Hi! What was the name you reserved under?”

 

Jessa: ”Clark for two!”

 

Lady: ”Hummmmmmm…I see a Clark party of eight, but no party for two!”

 

Taylor: ”Oh, okay! Do you have an opening for two?”

 

Lady: ”Yes we do! Someone just canceled! Would you like to get in that spot?”

 

Vivian: ”Yes Ma’am! That would be great!”

 

(While getting nails done)

 

Taylor: "So do you want to go shopping afterward?"

 

Vivian: "That would be awesome!! David and the kids are going to stay at his parents’ house for dinner. They said Andrew is welcome to stay!" 

 

Taylor: "Oh! Ok! Are you sure?"

 

Vivian: "Yes! Positive!" 

 

Taylor: "Ok! I'll call text him real quick."

 

Lady (Doing their nails) : "What color would you like Ma’am?"

 

Taylor: "Coral please." 

 

Lady: "And for you Ma'am?"

 

Vivian: "Coral as well please."

 

Taylor: "Andrew said he would have dinner with them."

 

Vivian: "Great! So for dinner we could fix something at my house."

 

Taylor: "Sounds good to me!!"

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