Subliminal Messages

On our way home from a fun day out yesterday, my husband and I were explaining subliminal messages to our 8 year old.  We were talking about the fast food that we ate and why we wanted to eat it.  Simply put, it came down to advertising.   We are led to believe that Wendy's french fries (delicious, in my opinion) are healthy because they are called "natural cut" and use sea salt.  There is nothing healthy about those things! At about 420 calories for a medium you might as well... I don't know, just skip the fries and order that frosty (410 calories) your guilty conscience never lets you order.
I mean, the fries have more calories, more fat, slightly lesser carbs but 310 more MG of sodium.

Anyway- This post actually isn't about food at all, I guess I'm just in a typing mood :-)


  So last night before bed my husband says "Lets fold laundry tomorrow night".
I respond "But... We don't even have any clean laundry to fold??"
He says, "I know, but I can help you with folding"
I said "okay.."  blew it off and went to bed.

This morning it hits me.. I think he's trying to tell me to take care of the giant over flowing hamper and stash of towels in the bathroom needing to be washed.  I mean what husband volunteers to fold laundry, when there isn't baskets of clean laundry taking up his spot in front of the TV?

It's just about 1pm and I have pretty much all of the laundry washed, dried, and even put away.  I wonder what he'll come up with for fun now! haha!

I want you to think about what your husband is indirectly telling you.  Does he want more time with you?  His laundry washed? His kids to respect him, and a wife who encourages that?  Or maybe a little more time to relax on his own?

Inspiration

Have I ever told you what inspired me to start being better?  It was a silly book I bought for a buck at Dollar Tree in the Mall of America.  Yes, I went all the way to the MOA and still shopped at Dollar Tree... What can I say, I LOVE that place.

So, this silly book is titled: 1,000 Ways to Be a Slightly Better Woman.  It's full of lists. My obsessively organized personality can sure appreciate a good list!

I seriously could not put it down.  If it weren't for the toddler in the house, I would've read right through it in one sitting.

From this book (and some other influences) I started serving my family healthier food, spending less money on materialistic things, organizing my closet, and just trying to be a better ME. 

It's not that the book was SO incredible, or some sort of best seller, but it just movitated me.  I like being motivated right where I am, and this book was great at that.

What motivates YOU to be better?


Ps- I can feel our gracious God healing my physical body, and I feel SO honored.  I am honored that He chose ME to live this life, to raise these kids, and to be a wife to this husband. 

Thank you God!

Ephesians 3:20-21

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Creative workers

"If you want creative workers, give them enough time to play"

-John Cleese

I am forever feeling like my kids don't have enough time during the week to play.  By the time my daughter gets home we do homework, make supper, eat, baths and go to bed.  It just goes too fast! 

 This week, I will work in time to play. 

What do you like to "play" with your kids?  Or what do they love to play with on their own?

Link: Info on Kids PJ's & Chemicals

http://green.yourway.net/3-ways-to-get-the-flame-retardant-out-of-your-kids-fuzzy-pajamas/
Check out the link above.  I really can't add much of anything to this great post.  Except we had a  "fire retardant" comforter that caused me a bundle of health problems.  I'm 90% certain my problems started from a certain zebra comforter that looked beautiful, but stunk like chemicals.  I guess looks can be deceiving.

And the winner is.....

The winner of the Christy Nockels CD is........

Congratulations comment #4...mrsfredknapp You are the winner of this giveaway.

James 1:17

 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Story Time

Deal Wise Mommy posted about a free online story time from Barnes and Noble.  You can check out the post here.

I hadn't heard much of this before, so I did a quick search and found there are other sites that offer this as well. 

Although I don't think this should replace a real story time in an actual library, I do think it would be a fun activity!  We'll be adding this to our weekly schedule.  You can watch them any time, we just like structure around here ;-)

Here is another site with online stories for children.

Do you regularly visit a library?
What are your thoughts on online story times?

I'm sure there are plenty more, If you see them, send them my way!

Thanks!

CD Giveaway!

Back in November I went to Hearts at Home with a lovely lady named Rebecca.  Musician Christy Nockels was singing at the event that weekend.  She was so uplifting and really touched my heart.  ♥

Rebecca bought me Christy's  wonderful CD.  Thank you Rebecca!

The kids and I love to crank this up and sing and dance to it, and just praise God for his love. 
I want to give this same CD to one of you.

To enter this giveaway simply leave a comment below, be sure to include your e-mail address. Becoming a follower is encouraged, but not required. 
Winner will be chosen using Random.org. 

GIVEAWAY ENDS WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 9TH AT 12pm (noon) Central time.

I will e-mail the winner to get a mailing address.  If I haven't heard anything back within 24 hours, a new winner will be chosen.

Kitchen Uprgade: Plastic Storage Containers.

My husband mentioned that the toy isles of Wal-Mart smell when you get close.  That darn plastic smell.  Have you noticed this?

I haven't, just because I avoid those isles.  I'm always shopping with children, and rather than saying "no" all the time, we just skip it all together.

Well it got me thinking about this drawer in our kitchen that was full of plastic Ziploc storage containers.  I never noticed it until this morning, but when I open that drawer.. it STUNK, like plastic. 

Plastic smells so nasty.

I started taking out any plastic containers that were "pitted".  I ended up with just TWO that were decent.  But ended up putting all of them in the recycling bucket and nicely lining the drawer with my new adorable jelly jars (They were on clearance at Wal-Mart). 

They look so much neater than the plastic.  We use these to store food in the fridge, cupboards, snacks in the car, wherever!  we also use the larger jars as our "bottled water". 
In the fridge I date the tops with a dry erase marker, so we know when the food was made.  Oh & these awesome, adorable little jars are MADE IN THE USA.  How cool is that?  Oh, it's pretty cool!

I just read this very disturbing tip on the Ziploc Web-site:

"If you’re in need of a makeshift pillow at home or while traveling, blow some air into a Ziploc® Brand Storage Bag and then seal it. You’ll have the perfect temporary pillow and, when you’re done, you can simply open the bag and fold it into your pocket"

What a horrible tip.. and I'm pretty sure I don't need to tell you why.  But just in case, the bags are full of chemicals so you don't what those by your face all night, AND what about the danger of suffocation? 

This was a very refreshing change, one I'm happy I made!  Are you making any, or have you made any changes that you're happy about?

God is trusting us with our families, it's our job to look after their health and nutrition.

 

Psalm 20:4 (Amplified Bible)

⁴May He grant you according to your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans.

Disclaimer- I did keep a few square plastic containers my husband takes his sandwiches to work in.  I want to replace these with stainless steel containers, but haven't found them reasonably priced yet. 

Snow Days

We've had two snow days in a row here! 
Normally the kids would be terribly bored.  But this time, I was prepared.  I pulled out our cart of homeschool supplies and did school both mornings.  They both did great & even had fun! 

Yesterday the kids begged and begged to play outside with Buddy.  I finally gave in.   My husband took the snow blower to the back yard and made a great "dog run" to play in.  It took about 5 minutes for them to get bundled up, then they went outside with Buddy for oh, about 2 minutes!  Yes, 2 minutes, that's all the longer they lasted out there.

When we woke up this morning the dog run had blown shut again, we can hardly tell where it was. :( 
Big bummer.

What do you do on "snow days"?