The little things

I took C on a walk to our local library a couple days ago. It's about a mile away from our house. I was kind of in a hurry, wanting to make it 'exercise' and all the sudden I looked down at C and noticed how much he was looking around and taking in all in. Smiling when the wind blew his hair and pointing at dogs and cars. 

It made me smile. I suddenly noticed colorful leaves on the ground. I stopped the stroller and picked one up and handed it to C. He got the biggest smile on his face and waved it around like a flag.

I suddenly was taken back to my childhood. I had a dad that would take us on walks on a local nature trail every weekend that we had nice weather

. We would stop and cross a creek, explore a 'secret' meadow, collect leaves while he would explain to us how to tell the difference between an oak and maple, he would show us the 'Queen' Ant in Queen Ann's Lace, and teach us how to open up Sycamore pods and find the seeds that you could plant and actually grow a tree. We would collect cicada shells, make grass whistles, collect and press leaves and flowers, and plant vegetable seeds. 

Not only did my dad teach me an appreciation for nature and the God that created it, but he taught me to enjoy the little things in life, to pay attention to small details. 

This is the type of parent I want to be. I want to celebrate and encourage my children's child-like awe and wonder of the world around them. I want them to imagine, create, and explore. 

I never want to be so busy and preoccupied that I don't notice the beauty of the world around and take the time to share that beauty with my children.

A saying that is a motto for my husband and I is: "The little things are really the big things." What it means to us is that the little things (grocery shopping together, evening walks, taking C to the park, sitting on the couch drinking hot cocoa and talking, working on the yard together, etc...) are really the things that make life special. They are the things that really matter.

5 Things

5 things that made me smile this week:

1) Norwex enviro cloth and window polishing cloth

These are wonderful. All you do is add water and they clean windows and mirrors streak free. You can also use the enviro cloth to dust and sanitize because it is embedded with silver which eliminates 99.94 % of germs. (Gosh! You'd think I sell these! I don't, I just am a huge fan!!!)

2. Paula Dean ladle.

Notice how it is pointed at one end?? Genius! It doesn't drip or spill.

3. New smart phone with fun cover.

It makes life so much easier! When we were at the store the sales lady asked if we wanted covers. My hubby found a nice plain black one, but I didn't like any of the other colors (bubble gum pink, cherry red, and hunter green.) so I said I might keep looking.

The lady smiled and said, "Check out the mall. They have more fun designs." 

I found this baby and I likey! My hubby saw it and smiled. "I wouldn't have expected anything different." He knows I like colorful and punchy things!

4. Hard salami from Target

Made grilled sandwiches with this and smoked gouda. So yummy!

5. Sweet and salty trail mix

Just. Addicting.

Salted and roasted almonds

Walnuts

White chocolate chips

Raisins

PB2 powder

Cocoa powder

Vi-Shake mix powder

I can't keep away from this stuff! I just sent the rest of it to work with the hubby to get it out of the house!

I'm linking up over at:

New Bedroom Art

I decided it was time to mix it up in the hubs and my bedroom. I had purchased some art work when we were first married, but I was ready for something new.

Here's the old art work:

I won a giveaway on a blog for a credit to the etsy shop of  Two Broads Design. They make all sorts of fun wedding things (chalk boards, favor bags, wedding dress hangers, etc...) I ended up choosing some small chalk boards that have two holes drilled in the top that can be used as tags. At first I thought I would use them as labels, but then I got the idea to make a pennant banner with them.

I love how it turned out!

The night stands are IKEA.
All the decorative pillows except for the cream 'fluffy' one I made myself.

The mirror was a Goodwill find that I painted black.

Awesome bench: My dad made this out of old barn boards a couple of Christmases ago.

I wrote little sayings that mean a lot to us or just general things to do with marriage.

***Update***

Here's the room with a couple of new lamps I found at Target. The bases were $6.75 and the burlap shades were $3.75!!!

Also,

Have you checked out my jewelry giveaway yet??

Here it is!

  Linking up at:

Thrift Decor Chick 

                                                                  

Good deals!

Today was the day of shopping! I went out to a local kids consignment event this morning and did pretty well for C. I have been wishing I had a portable booster seat high chair and also a changing pad. (I bought a large purse instead of a traditional diaper bag which usually includes one.) I found both things as well as a little pop up toy. One of his grandparents have one and he loves it. I also found a cute little musical dog and a few tops. All this for $21. Yeah!

The haul!

While I was there I also picked up some Norwex cloths. I've been wanting an all purpose one and also their window/glass polishing cloth. 

I.am.in.love. 

I cleaned four windows this afternoon and I seriously had fun! :)

I hit Target on the way home to just get a few things, but C actually fell asleep, so I decided to walk around and do some shopping. I found some great stuff! 

Maternity swimsuit bottom (to go with a top I got somewhere else.)

Cute jade colored dress. Maternity, but I'm going to wear it now. Watch for it in a WIWW post soon!

Chrome piggy. I've been eyeing him for several weeks. Originally  he was 10, then dropped to 5 a couple weeks ago, but I couldn't justify the $. Today he was 2.50, so he got to come home with me. :)

Grey leggings.

Two lamps and two shades. (Wasn't crazy over the ones that came with the lamps.)

The lamps were reg. $30 each, but I got them for $6.75!!! The shades were reg. 15 each, but I got them for $3.75 each. Major score!

Because I love this type of thing...

                                  

                                                 Regular price this would have cost $156

                            I actually paid $41.50

                                                                              -------------------------

                                       I saved $114.50

Have you gotten a great deal lately???

Giveaway for a cause

I came across a beautiful story today. A story of a woman, named Sharlie, who is battling cystic fibrosis. She has been surviving on 18% of ONE lung. She is currently waiting for a double lung transplant. Two of her closest friends decided do what they could to help her raise money for the procedure. They put together an online shop from which all proceeds will go to pay her medical bills.

I was very touched when I saw this. I noticed that they were asking anyone who wanted to support her to consider doing a giveaway one their blog. I immediately knew I wanted to do it.

So here's the deal. I am giving away a free pair of earring from my shop. Winner chooses.

Here's a few things that are currently in my shop.

To get entered in the drawing leave me a comment letting me know you donated $5 here or purchased something here. You can get extra entries for each additional $5 you donate.

Thanks for supporting this beautiful woman.

Simple Lasagna

  Recipe time!

Here's what you need for a 9x13 pan of lasagna:

1-1 1/2 lbs. ground hamburger

2 cloves garlic

2 jars pasta/spaghetti sauce

1 can mushroom

1 large container of cottage cheese

 1 egg

1/2 cup parmesan

1 box lasagna noodles

        

 Cook the meat with the garlic (minced).

.

While that's cooking, stir together cottage cheese, egg, and parmesan.

Drain the meat. Add spaghetti sauce, spices (I usually add basil and oregano), and mushrooms.

In greased 9x13 layer 1/3 meat mixture. (I added tomatoes from the garden. Yum!)

Layer uncooked noodle and 1/2 cottage cheese mixture. Drop it on....

....then spread it out.

Put on another 1/3 of the meat mixture and another layer of noodles.

Add the other 1/2 of  the cottage cheese mixture.

Add the rest of the meat mixture and a little bit of mozzarella cheese.

Bake covered for 40 minutes at 375. Uncover and cook for another 20 minutes.

Let sit for 10 minutes.

Keeping the lasagna covered for 40 minutes helps cook the noddles through so you don't have to precook them. I like to make as few dishes as possible when I cook, so I love that about this recipe!

The finished product!

New Jewelry

  I've been busy!

 Here's some new designs I've been working on

 Anchors away!

 Pearl cluster necklace.

 Multi glass Necklace

 Boho Sparkle Earrings

 Filigree Dangles

 Pearl Chandeliers

Freshwater pearls, Mother of Pearl, and brass necklace.

 Filigree Puff Heart w/ freshwater pearls

Some of these are listed in my shop

I'll be getting the rest of them up soon!