Thrifty Finds

 Proverbs 14:1-"The wise woman builds her house.."

This past weekend Derrick's grandparents had a yard sale. They kindly gave us a few things for free! :) My favorite item we got was this awesome old trunk!! I believe it was his grandma's great uncle's.

I love that it has two compartments on top and then storage underneath. Can't wait to get this thing cleaned up and painted! Stay tuned for before and after pictures!

SIU also had their annual flea market this weekend. I found this frame for 25 cents and this little antique jug for $1.00!

I LOVE this desk! It was only $15.00 and has such unique character. After a fresh coat of paint it will look great in my craft room! :)

Have you found any great thrifty finds recently?!

Something's Cooking Sunday- #2

Welcome to our second week of Something's Cooking Sunday! Every couple of weeks I will post our meal plans for the next two weeks. Here is the last meal plan: Meal Plan #1


Now this weeks:

April 29th-May 5th

Sunday- Breaded Tilapia, Green Beans, Cheddar Bay Biscuits

Monday- Home Team (To find out more about our church and Home Teams look Here)

Tuesday- Tamale Pie (Crock Pot)

Wednesday- Shake N Bake Chicken, Stuffing

Thursday- Biscuits and Gravy, Bacon

Friday- Grilled Pork Chops, Cresent Rolls, Mac & Cheese

Saturday- Quesadillas! (For Cinco De Mayo!)


May 6th-May 11th


Sunday- Sloppy Joes

Monday- Home Team (To find out more about our church and Home Teams look Here)

Tuesday- Spaghetti and Provolone Italian Bread (Place a piece of provolone cheese on a slice of bread. Sprinkle garlic salt and Italian seasoning on cheese. Bake 7-8 minutes at 350 degrees)

Wednesday- Parmesan Crusted Tilapia, Green Beans, Cresent Rolls

Thursday- Steamed chicken, rice and green beans

Friday- Pulled BBQ Chicken (Crock Pot)

Saturday- Grilled hot dogs & S'mores (In Fire Pit!)


**Some meals may be listed same as last week because we ended up not eating them for some reason.

Kitchen Decor and Organization

Proverbs 14:1--"The wise woman builds her house.."

Here is a shelf Derrick built me! I found all of the white pitchers and other items at thrift stores!

I love this little box for tea bags.

Little coffee bar.. the coffee mug holder I got at Goodwill for $1! 

I used my Silhouette to cut out brown vinyl letters to label what is in these jars (Georgia font)

Here is above the kitchen sink.

I put burlap in the frame and use a dry erase marker on the glass to plan out our meals for the week.

This is a crate I got at a resale shop. I hot glued the scrabble letters on and used the scrabble tile holder to hold a recipe. (This keeps the recipe from being on the counter and getting dirty or wet while cooking)

The hooks holding the measuring cups were also from the same resale shop. They came in a pack of three. You can see what I did with the other one Here.

How do you like to stay organized in your kitchen?

Compassion--Making a Difference in a Child's Life

Tomorrow is Compassion Sunday--A national event that draws the attention of the Church to the needs of the world's poorest children. 

Several years ago at church camp my sister and I decided to sponsor a little boy from Kenya, Africa through Compassion International. Compassion is a "Christian organization that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults".  

Each month we give money to allow him to attend school, learn about Christ's love for him through church and Sunday school, and allow him and his family to have a balanced diet. We also exchange letters with him a few times a year and receive information on how he is performing in school.

When we send our Christmas gift each year, I had always assumed that the organization bought toys and clothes for him.  However we got a letter from him thanking us for his gift one year. Here is what he said: " Thank you for the Christmas gift. God bless you a lot."  Then listed was what he received with our money: mugs for drinking, baking flour, maize flour, rice, cooking fat, and tea packets.

Wow..this letter really showed me how much of a difference we are making in his life! He was so happy and thankful for getting cooking items for Christmas!  

Acts 20:35--..."Lord Jesus himself said: It is more blessed to give than to receive."

If you would like more information on this organization or would like to sponsor a child, check out their website Here.

Front Door Makeover

Here is my front door last spring. I love the basket and flowers I got at the dollar tree, but I still thought it was a little boring.

So..I decided to paint the door purple! I was definitely a little hesitant at first, but I think it turned out beautiful! I then spray painted the dollar tree basket white, took out the pink flowers, and added some purple ones to match the door.

What do you think? I plan on eventually adding a "Welcome" sign on the door with some vinyl. Something like this..but these didn't stick long so I'm going to have to get some transfer paper or something.


Have you done a front door makeover? I'd love to see it!

Baked Breaded Lemon Chicken

 Proverbs 31:15- "She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family."

Following along with our meal plan for this week…I made “baked breaded lemon chicken”.  It turned out delicious and was so simple to make!! 

Baked Breaded Lemon Chicken

Ingredients

3 TBS butter, melted

2 TBS lemon juice (Use an actual lemon and it’s zest)

1 garlic clove, minced

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp pepper

½ cup seasoned bread crumbs

4 (4ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

Directions

1.       Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2.      In a shallow dish, combine the butter, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper.

3.      Place bread crumbs in another dish.

4.      Dip chicken in butter mixture, then coat with bread crumbs.

5.      Place in a greased 13-in x 9-in x 2-in baking dish.

6.      Drizzle with remaining butter mixture.

7.      Bake, uncovered, for 25-30 minutes.

** I served this over white rice. 

I have a JOB!!

Jeremiah 29:11- "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.


Since graduating in December with my Bachelors in Early Childhood Education I have been substitute teaching. In March I started a maternity leave at the Southern Region Infant and Toddler Program. The coordinator there informed me of a 60% opening they were going to have. After praying about it and talking it over with Derrick I decided to apply!


I found out this afternoon that I got the job!  It will be in the in the mornings and I will be done each day by 1:00! :)

Subbing was great because I worked some days, and had other days off which gave me time to get things done around the house and have time to spend with Derrick in the evening and on the weekends. When I started the maternity leave, it was nice to have a larger income, but I just wasn't happy being at work 8-4 or 9-5 everyday. It also took a toll on our relationship because I wasn't happy that the house was always a mess and it resulted in us spending a lot more of "our time" doing things around the house instead of spending quality time together.

We had been praying for awhile that I would either find a job that would allow me to be at home some, or that God would somehow help me have peace with the fact that I needed to work full time.


Psalm 37:4- "Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart." 


Sometimes it's hard to put your faith in God and trust that he knows what's best for you. I'm so glad that I did trust Him and that He gave me the desires of my heart..to be a teacher and a homemaker.


Are you asking God to reveal the plans HE has for you?

Birthday Fun

This Sunday was my 23rd birthday and I was able to celebrate everyday this weekend with people I love! 

Friday night I went to BWW and then to Cool Spoons with Derrick and some of my friends.

Saturday Derrick took me birthday shopping and we stopped in at Gloria Jeans for a cookie chiller..YUM!

Saturday night my parents grilled out and made me Oreo Dirt Cake. It's so delicious, I have my Mom make it every year! :)

Sunday we went to church and then to Giant City Lodge (my favorite restaurant!) with Derrick's family.

Today at work they bought me Quatro's and made me a yummy chocolate-caramel cake!

I'm so blessed and thankful to have such awesome people in my life and to have a twin sister that I get to celebrate my birthday with every year!

Something's Cooking Sunday

 Proverbs 31:15- "She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family."

I decided to start a new blog series called "Something's Cooking Sunday"  I plan out our meals two weeks at a time. I found this to be easier because I don't have to plan meals each week and it saves me from always having to be at the grocery store.

Here are the meal plans for the next two weeks:

4/15-4/21: 

Sunday: Grilled Tilapia with Mango-Lime Seasoning; Green Beans; Cresent Rolls

Monday: Home Team (Find out more about our church and Home Teams HERE)

Tuesday: Cheesy Jambalaya (This site also has several other homemade Hamburger Helper meals)

Wednesday: Baked Lemon Chicken; Rice

Thursday: Cornmeal pancakes; Bacon

Friday: Out to Eat


Saturday: ?? (Derrick has soccer so it depends)


4/22-4/28

Sunday: Grilled Pork Steak; Cheddar bay Biscuits

Monday: Home Team (Find out more about our church and Home Teams HERE)

Tuesday: Crock Pot Tamale Pie

Wednesday:  Unstuffed Bell Peppers

Thursday:  Parmesan-Crusted Tilapia ; Green Beans

Friday: Tacos; Chips & Salsa


Saturday: ?? (Derrick has soccer so it depends)



What is your meal plan for the week?

Baby Gift

While yardsaling last weekend I stumbled across this cool hat box for $1.00! I decided it would make the perfect baby gift container!

At the same sale, I also found a couple of the items in the box. A great deal for brand new baby items!

Here it is with a card on top. The pink card is from Wal-Mart, but I added the cute flower sticker on top.

Do you ever find neat ways to present your gifts?

Easter Weekend

I had an awesome Easter weekend with my friends and family and hope you did too!!

Friday: Derrick and I made homemade pizza and watched one of our favorite TV shows, Grimm!

Saturday: I got up early and went yardsaling with my friend Jordan. We found some great deals!! :)

Derrick and I then went over to his grandparent's house for Easter lunch and then I went birthday shopping with my mom and sister!

Sunday: We got up for church and then went over to my parent's house for lunch and had an Easter egg hunt!

Derrick and I

My twin sister and I!

Sunday evening we went to Golden Corral with Derrick's other set of grandparents for dinner and then relaxed and watched some TV. It was a great 1st Easter as a married couple!

I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful husband, family, friends and Savior that died for me!!

What did you do for Easter?!

Women Witnesses

Here is a post by Grace Driscoll, the wife of pastor Mark Driscoll from Mars Hill Church. They are also the ones who wrote Real Marriage!

I really enjoyed this post and I hope all you ladies will too. Have a blessed Easter weekend! :)


Matthew 28:6-- "He is not here; he has risen. Just as he said."

Godly Friendships

Proverbs 17:17: "A friends loves at all times.."

Over the past few months I have began some new friendships with some awesome Godly woman from my church. 

I love my time with Derrick. He is without a doubt my BEST FRIEND. (See a post about friendship with our husbands HERE) However, I also have come to realize just how important it is to have Godly friendships with other people, especially other women.

So what is a Godly friendship?

Proverbs 17:17 tells us that a Godly friend loves at all times and in 27:6 we see that a godly friend will be faithful to tell you the truth - even if it hurts.

 It's important to have these Godly relationships so that you have someone who will pray for you, who will give you Godly council when needed, and who will love you for you, at all times, no matter what.


What can you do to be a Godly friend? 

1. Make sure they know that they are important to you and God. (Write them a note, send a text, spend quality time with them, etc.)

2. Take time to listen to your friends.

3. Encourage them to be better women, wives and mothers.

4.  Pray for them..everyday!!


So, are you this Godly friend? Are you seeking to develop these Godly friendships?

** Also, wives, remember that it's important for your husband to have these Godly friendships as well. Encourage him to have close friends that are holy and helpful to him.

Being Humble

"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 14:11

Becoming the woman and wife God wants me to be is not always easy. It can be hard work sometimes. However, I often forget that I am not the one doing most of the work; the Holy Spirit is.

God calls us to humble ourselves and ask Him to lead us and show us areas that we need molded or changed. We need to walk in obedience to His leading. If we do this then God will reward us:

"Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gates." Proverbs 31:31

Are you asking the Holy Spirit to lead you and mold you into the Godly woman He wants you to be?