New Chore Charts!

I've been thinking about making chore charts for the girls for a while now.  Just hadn't ever sat down to do it.  Well, while I was in Wal-Mart the other day I found these document frames and thought they'd be perfect for our Chore Charts.  So, I found a "chore chart maker" online and typed in their chores.   Next, I printed it off and put it in a frame.  Of course, I had to make it cute first :)  I tied a dry erase marker to the frames so they can make a "check mark" once they'd completed the tasks.  I don't think I'm going to incorporate "allowance" into these charts.  We try to teach our children that we each have a role to play and we each have responsibilities that come with being a member of our family and you don't get "paid" for those things.  What I try to do is let them earn stickers for their "apple chart" (a different post for a different day) and when they get that all filled they get to go to Target or Wal-Mart and pick out a special toy.  It usually takes them several months to get these charts completed.  But we let them get whatever they want.  Once Madeline chose a $5 DVD and once Susanna chose a $50 Swan Palace :)  They really like that system.  I'm sure that as they get older we'll have to adjust it some.  If anyone has any ideas they'd like to share, I'd love to hear them!

Oh That Beth Moore....

I've recently started a new Beth Moore bible study and one day I hope to be as smart as she is.  She says such thought provoking words and she really has a way of presenting the bible and God's words that motivate me or inspire me to evaluate my walk with Christ.  I listen to her and watch her videos and think..."I want to be like her!"  Don't get me wrong...I'm not wanting to BE Beth...it's just that her love for the Lord and her willingness to serve Him seems to be contagious!!  Anyway...just wanted to say how much I'm enjoying my bible study.  The one I'm currently doing is called, "Living Beyond Yourself, Exploring the Fruits of the Spirit".  Something to share from this week's lesson....
"How will we ever know if we are 'in the Spirit'?"  The answer is simple...by the fruit of the Spirit."  What fruit am I bearing?  Oh goodness....I need to get rid of all these sour grapes that are on my branches!!!

My Sweet Little Pink Oven...

Matt and I went to the Home and Garden show today to get some ideas for our new house.  I thought the price was rather expensive for the tickets but I went anyway.  I enjoyed it, but didn't really find a whole lot of ideas b/c most of the stuff was out of our price range right now.  It was fun to walk around and play "what if", though. 
So, after the Home and Garden Show we went over to a local antique store to look at a table they had there.  We are in great need of a larger table!  So, while we were at the antique store we browsed around and looked at all of the neat antiques they had....and then I found this!!  I was so excited to find it b/c ever since I saw one of these cute little things on the Sugar Pie Farmhhouse blog I've wanted to have one in my kitchen!  I never would've thought I'd find a pink one.  I love the pink, but at the same time I'm thinking of painting it white.  I probably shouldn't.  I probably won't.  But it does need a little cleaning.  Anyway....I spent ALL of my allowance on this little thing but it makes me happy and I can't wait to display it proudly in my new kitchen!!  I'm sure that after I get all moved in and decorated I'll post a picture of where it finds it's new home.  (When I went to pay for it today the man the rang up the sale said he wants me to bring him a tiny slice of apple that I cook in it the next time I come to the store!)  Now I just need to find a tiny pretend pie to put in the little oven :)

MENU PLAN SUNDAY

I've been reading a lot of "menu plans" lately and I thought I would post mine.  I know that a lot of gals out there put links up or type out the recipes to each of their meals.  I am not ready to do that at this time.  I'm just doing good to get them posted. :)  I WILL, however, be happy to e-mail a recipe to anyone who sees this that might want one.  Just leave a comment about a specific recipe and I will e-mail it or send a link. 
Recently I've seen how awesomely helpful it IS to have a menu!! It makes the trip to the grocery store easier b/c I know what to buy.  It helps to prevent over-buying.  It saves money b/c I know what coupons to bring with me.  And finally it helps to keep me sane b/c I don't have that dreaded "what am I going to cook for dinner" question looming in my head all day.  Now, I know what's for dinner and I just go to my menu and that's it.  I reserve the right to rearrange the meals of certain days depending on schedules and stuff.  But I pretty much stick to these meals b/c that's what I've bought groceries for.  It's such a helper! 

Anyway....here is my Menu Plan for the next two weeks!!

Sun. – Hamburgers, Ranch Style Beans, Swt Pot. Fries


Mon. – Pinto Beans, Corn Bread

Tues. – Fried Chicken, Mashed Pot’s, Corn on the Cob, Rolls

Wed. – Leftovers/Fast Food

Thurs. – Crockpot Angel Chicken, Steamed Veggies, Salad

Fri. – Breakfast (Eggs, Sausage, Hashbrowns, Toast)

Sat. – Out to Eat (Diet Free Day!)



Sun. – Chicken and Noodles, Mashed Pot’s, Sweet Baby Carrots

Mon. – PW's Beef Tips, Oven Baked Pot’s, Peas

Tues. – Grilled Steak, Baked Pot’s, Salad

Wed. – Leftovers/Fast Food

Thurs. – Mexican Skillet, Mexican Rice, Ref. Beans

Fri. – Baked Tilapia, Green Beans, Salad, Cheddar Biscuits

Sat. – Out to Eat (Diet Free Day!)

Vintage Style Bottlecap Necklaces...

So, my BFF and I have been seeing these cute little bottlecap charms at all the craft shows lately.  I think they are really cute and have been wanting to make some.  Well, Hobby Lobby was having a sale last week on most of the materials.  I bought some chains, some bottlecap charms and a few other sized charms too.  Oh, and I bought the Mod Podge Dimensional Magic.  I have been trying to think of what I want to put in the charms and I have decided that I really like vintage images....housewives, farms, animals, whatever.  So, I did some searching and found some images.  I even used a sheet of scrapbook paper for one of the charms.  I cut the papers out, glued them into the charms and then poured the Dimensional Magic.  It's obvious that these are my "starter" projects b/c they don't look as good as they could.  There were bubbles in the Mod Podge.  I tried to pop them with a needle, but they just "ran" from the tip of the needle.  When they did pop, they made a smudge in the Dimensional Magic.  Also, the charm with the scrapbook paper looks like it has some dark spots underneath the paper...not sure why.  If anyone out there reading this blog has any suggestions or advice, PLEASE comment.  I'm going to research some other blogs out there to see if I can figure out what I'm doing wrong.  My friend and I are going to share a table at our church craft show and  I'm wondering if I could sell these...if I get them looking a little cuter. 

Here are some of the things I used to make the charm necklace with the scrapbook paper...

This is the Mod Podge Dimensional Magic....

Here are my finished products.  It's hard to see the spots in the floral charms.  You can see the little bubbles in the others.  But I do really like some of the images I found...

Oh My Vintage Goodness...

Most of you that know me know that I love vintage things.  I love finding fun vintage pictures or items to decorate with. I love thinking about them and where they've been. I love the stories they hide.
Well, several months ago I bought my first vintage magazine off of ebay in hopes of finding some pictures to use in decorating our new house.  I bought a Betther Homes and Gardens magazine from June 1934. My grandma was born only 3 months before this magazine was published!!!  It's amazing to think of the ads in that magazine being some of the same one's that my Great Grandmother would have been reading.  The products in that magazine were being marketed to MY great grandmother!
So...I bought the magazine and never even opened it up!! I was just so busy and I knew I didn't have the time to actually DO anything with it.  This morning, I felt like I wanted to look through it and see what kind of treasures I'd find.  I've said this before but I absolutely LOVE reading the ads and the articles and thinking about what life was like during the time it was written.  There was a fun ad for Gerber baby food and it's interesting to think of how different the approach to feeding babies is today...this ad said that babies born in June (when the ad was published) would be ready for strained veggies by harvest.  Not in this day and age!  Babies today are just ready for cereal by around 4-6 months.  Oh, and one of the foods they advertised was strained tomatos!! 
Anyway...so I found some great ads in the magazine that I totally plan to use in my new home.  I just HOPE that Hobby Lobby is having a sale on scrapbook paper and frames next week! I will be sure to post my final projects.  I'm so excited to make these projects!!

Here are some of my favorite pics (I ran out of time at the computer...I'll have to scan more later!)

My Best Friends...

Just a quick post about these ladies....they are my "Co-Workers" in mommy-hood :)  I've known most of these ladies for almost 7 years now.  We formed a playgroup when our oldest children were just babies.  Back then we'd meet once a week at someone's house and do a pot-luck lunch or pizza. We'd talk and the kids would play.  We'd talk about babies and how we didn't know what we were doing and we'd find comfort in each other.  It's helpful to know there are other mommies out there in the same situations that you are in.  It was always so helpful to be able to talk to other ladies who knew what was going on and could offer words of wisdom or advice or even offer no words.  Just listen.  We've grown and so have our kids.  We aren't able to meet as often and we don't get to spend as much time together as we used to.  Fortunately, though, we do all get together once a year to go on a "Mom's Trip" for two nights away to a cabin or a lake house.  Talk about a great time...a bunch of girls, good food, good company, magazines, crafts and LOTS of talking!!  Anyway...just wanted to say how much I love these girls!!!

Maybe I Have Found a New Hobby to Research.....

I watched a new show called "Decoded" on the History Channel this morning and it was talking about lost "Cofederate" treasure.  So, I did a quick google search and found this article.  Maybe Matt and I will need to go on a treasure hunt soon!! 

http://treasuretrovegold.blogspot.com/2010/01/jesse-james-and-knights-of-golden_08.html

Jesse James and the Knights of the Golden Circle: Oklahoma's Treasure "Triangle"


(Oklahoma's treasure "triangle" is formed by Coal, Johnston, and Atoka Counties.)

Oklahoma's Treasure "Triangle"

There is little doubt that Jesse James made numerous trips into southeastern Oklahoma either to stash both robbery caches or Knights of the Golden Circle (KGC) treasure caches and troves. How do I know this?


Treasure Hunting
First of all, there is documented evidence of numerous KGC signs and symbols in what I call Oklahoma's treasure "triangle." This triangular region is formed by Coal, Johnston, and Atoka Counties with Coal County representing the top third of the treasure "triangle," and Johnston and Atoka Counties forming the base and 2 sides of the triangle (see the Oklahoma county map above).

Important Proof

What sorts of signs and symbols am I talking about here? Various types of tree blazes, rock carvings and etchings, and even initials such as "JJ." These have included KGC hearts and directional "turkey" or bird tracks as well as buried treasure markers such as old weapons (rifles and pistols).

But the single most important proof that Oklahoma's treasure triangle is an area of KGC treasure repositories has been the recovery of a number of small-to-medium sized troves within the boundaries of the "triangle." One of these troves was composed of a large stash of Morgan silver dollars and another was filled with U.S. gold type coins that probably had a value well into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.


An Ideal Region to Carry On the KGC's Work


Although I have nothing to document the fact, I suspect that many smaller KGC or Jesse James robbery caches have been recovered in the "triangle" as well. I base this supposition on the fact that many larger KGC troves are often indicated (and subsequently found) by the presence of smaller, "payroll" type caches.


This area of Oklahoma is still sparsely populated and in Jesse's lifetime the "triangle" was probably an ideal region to carry on the KGC's work of hiding treasure for future use. In fact, in Jesse's day Oklahoma was still known as The Indian Territory and was known for its relative remoteness and lawlessness.


Those of you living in Oklahoma or interested in the possibility of pursuing KGC or Jesse James treasure leads in the "triangle" should use this post as your starting point for further, more detailed research. Treasure has been found in this area, that much is certain.


Thorough research is your best bet for finding your share of the treasure "triangle's" goodies. Good luck out there and good hunting!