Last week the girls (and a few little brothers) from our small group got together for a little informal party on Valentine's Day. Our small group happens to be made up of other homeschooling families, so they are who we usually get together with for our "class" parties. It was an afternoon party so we didn’t need a lot of food. The day before, Country Girl and I spent some time in the kitchen making a few treats to serve. Let’s just go ahead and start with the most important. CHOCOLATE! These brownie pops are a recipe from the Pioneer Woman. They are easy to put together, requiring no baking, and are so decadent! Candy hearts, of course, are a must on Valentine’s Day. My girl cut ... Read more
Fluff the Nest Friday: Post Party Pickup
Around here, Friday is the day to "fluff the nest", which is just a much cuter way of saying "clean the house". Am I right? So my Friday posts are all about tidying up and getting the house fresh and in order for the weekend. Some weeks my nest-fluffing comes more easily than others. I need motivation each Friday. ***** Good Friday morning, friends! Well, yesterday we hosted our GALentine's Day party which means we moved our Friday cleaning up a day so the house would be clean for company. This makes me pretty happy today because the bulk of the weekly cleaning is already done! It was so nice to sit and enjoy a clean and decorated house after the party, and I'm hoping to keep it that way ... Read more
Valentine’s Day Hot Chocolate Corner
Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and I'm so excited! Country Girl and I will be wrapping up our schooling early today to get in the kitchen and prepare for a *GALentine's* party we're hosting for the girls in our small group. I'm popping in this morning just to share a super quick idea for a fun hot chocolate corner we'll be putting together for the party! Once February gets here, we've been sipping hot coffee, tea, and cocoa for several months and are ready for some new flavors after all those fall spices and Christmas peppermints. So for Valentine's Day, I change it up a bit with strawberry syrup, candy hearts, white chocolate chips, red and pink sprinkles, marshmallows, and whipped cream ... Read more
Fluff the Nest Friday: Front Porch Refresh
Around here, Friday is the day to “fluff the nest” which is just a much cuter way of saying “clean the house”. Am I right? So my Friday posts are all about tidying up and getting the house fresh and in order for the weekend. Some weeks my nest-fluffing comes more easily than others. I need motivation each Friday. *** If you saw my last "Fluff the Nest" post, you know my LOVE for February runs deep. In fact, my motivation for last Friday's cleaning was all about the arrival of this sweet month! Not only did I get the inside of my house cleaned, over the weekend I extended those efforts outdoors to my front porch entrance. This time of year I'm usually getting a little tired of winter. ... Read more
Parmesan Pork Tenderloin
Sunday lunch at our house is usually our big cheat meal of the week. We eat a lot of salads, grilled meats, and raw or steamed veggies throughout the week, but Sunday's menu is pure comfort food—creams, carbs, and casseroles! However, this last Sunday was an exception. After a week of celebrating Incredi-Boy's birthday (yes, we celebrate week-long) with pizza, dumplings, doughnuts, cookies, and cake, we decided a healthier Sunday lunch was in order. Now I did say healthier, not super-healthy! I had been seeing this recipe for Crock Pot Parmesan Pork all around the internet and decided to give it a try. Serving it with steamed rice and veggies not only kept it a little more on the lighter ... Read more
Fluff the Nest Friday: Make Way for February!
Happy Friday and Happy First Day of February! Around here, Friday is the day to “fluff the nest” which is just a much cuter way of saying “clean the house”. Am I right? So my Friday posts will be all about tidying up and getting the house fresh and in order for the weekend. Some weeks my nest-fluffing comes more easily than others. I need motivation each Friday. Today’s motivation for getting the house clean comes from the calendar. It’s the first day of February!! I LOVE February for two reasons. First of all, Piano Girl was born in February (the 12th)! Second of all, Valentine’s Day is in this month and I’ve always really liked Valentine’s Day. It's just such a sweet occasion. What makes ... Read more
Sloppy Joes for 4 or 24
Sloppy Joes make a warm and filling meal for a chilly weeknight at home, or to feed a crowd at a large gathering! When making this for my own family, I cook the meat mixture right before serving it for dinner. But when preparing it for a larger gathering, I cook and freeze the mixture days in advance. On the day of the gathering, it's ready to be thawed and warmed up in a crock pot on low. I adapted this recipe from one by Rachel Ray, leaving out the bell pepper for those in my family who consider them an abomination, and making a few other minor adjustments. What I post here reflects my changes. Sloppy Joes for 4 Ingredients: 1 Tbsp. olive oil salt 1/2 medium onion, chopped 1 1/4 pounds ... Read more
Her Hands, Her Home
Among the women I've been blessed to know, I've observed a common thread in their God-given nature: a draw toward the home. Whether single or married, younger or older, mother of children or fur babies, employed at the house or office, a woman has a heart for her home. And somewhere between heart and home, her hands swing into action! Just think of all that her hands do in a day in support of her household! From performing housekeeping tasks to nurturing souls to clasping her fingers in prayer, a woman's hands are persistently and painstakingly employed. And, at times, her hands also become the extension of her home, reaching out beyond her own walls to serve others in church and ... Read more
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