Gift Giving
CONGRATULATIONS to Our Autographed “Born Again” CD Winner!
The name has been drawn for the giveaway!
CONGRATULATIONS to
Tanesha
for winning an
Autographed Born Again CD by Newsboys!
Thanks for making a comment in honor of our Giveaway!
An email has been sent to you with more information*
Enjoy listening to Your New Born Again CD!
Don’t forget to enter our next Giveaway (the next giveaway will be announced later this morning)!
*Giveaway must be claimed within 5 business days of the prize being announced. Failure to claim the prize within the allotted time frame means you forfeit the prize.
The Blessings of Motherhood!
Mother’s Day cards – can you guess who gave me which card?!
There are so many joys and rewards to being a Mom. As I reflect on the recent Mother’s Day I am once again reminded of the many blessings I have in my life. It took my husband and I several years before we had children so when I look back it on those days it reminds me of the precious gifts we have been given as well as the big responsibility of raising our girls.
Cards from Karlie and Brina with for Mother’s Day with pressed flowers
Not every day is easy nor does parenting always go perfectly for me. Somehow raising children has a way of “highlighting” the areas in my life that I need to work on. Several times over the past few months I have noticed more and more how my kids reflect my attitude, actions, and words. I have had to apologize to my kids for overreacting, saying something hurtful, or just being in a grumpy mood. Thankfully through all the successes as well as the failures my girls still love me and want to spend time with me.
Mother’s Day cards from Karlie & Brina
More than a week before Mother’s Day the girls announced that they were going to our neighbors garage sale to “shop” for a Mother’s Day gift so off they went with their little purses and money to the neighbors house. The girls and their cousin came back with bags in their hands and smiles on their faces. They were very excited to find treasures for Mother’s Day and they picked out some pretty cool stuff too. Brina got me a “Mom” necklace, pens, and lipstick and holder. Karlie got me a candle holder with candles, a mirror, and a “Mom” bracelet. The best part is that they picked it all out themselves and they put so much thought into their gifts.
Adorable note from my sweet Karlie
I was spoiled because both girls gave me 3 Mother’s Day cards too. Just reading their sweet cards brought tears to my eyes. They have grown up so much…..its hard to believe that only a few years ago they were tiny preemie babies and now they are shopping, writing their own cards, and so much more. God has richly blessed me with Brina and Karlie. I love them dearly and pray that I have wisdom from above to be the best Mom I can be for my girls.
Note and picture from my beautiful Brina
Jake is so good to me everyday but he always surprises me around Holidays. He made all the meals the entire weekend (it was a wonderful break). Jake is an amazing cook so I was really spoiled over Mother’s Day weekend. His cards always bring tears to my eyes. This year I got a brand new…..office chair from my man for Mother’s Day. Even though I don’t ever remember mentioning anything about my office chair he noticed that it was getting near its end. It has been nice having a comfy chair to work in this week! Thank you Handsome for your thoughtfulness, kindness, and love.
Mother’s Day drawing and note from my beautiful Karlie
The best part of the weekend was spending extra time with my family. It was the first weekend in a long time that it was just us hanging out together. We went on adventures, played games, read books, worked around the house, spent some time with friends, laughed, and just enjoyed our time as a family. I am thankful for the many memories and our moments together are a truly amazing gift.
Cute note in the card from my sweet Brina
Giveaway: Autographed “Born Again” CD by Newsboys
I am thrilled to announce a new giveaway on Blessings Multiplied! The winner of this giveaway will receive an autographed “Born Again” CD by Newsboys! Jake and I were able to hear them live in concert. It was so neat hearing them sing then meeting all the members of the band. They have a lot of great songs on this CD including – Born Again, One Shot, Way Beyond Myself, Impossible, Build Us Back, Escape, Miracles, Running to You, On Your Knees, Mighty to Save, and more (a few links to the songs on YouTube are included for you). Here’s how to enter the giveaway:
- Sign up to follow my blog (if you haven’t done so already) and leave a comment below telling us how you follow Blessings Multiplied. Sign up to receive Blessings Multiplied via email or like on Facebook.
- You can get a bonus entry into the drawing if you leave a separate comment below sharing what type of music you enjoy the most.
All comments must be made by May 31st at 10:00 PM EST to be entered into the drawing.
Memories of the Blue Lobster Named “Tsunami”
“Tsunami”
A long time ago before children and large pets……Jake and I lived in a little apartment. Our apartment was home but there really wasn’t a lot to it. We had a hand-me-down love seat from one of my clients who was upgrading her furniture, a bed, and a few pieces of other miscellaneous furniture. When a group of friends came over to our apartment the first year or so of our marriage we would sit on the floor and eat because we didn’t have enough chairs for everyone. Gradually over time we accumulated more pieces, most items were hand-me-downs or second hand items, but neither of us were picky.
The biggest piece of furniture I have ever bought personally was for Jake. One year I saved for several months to buy Jake a 72 gallon bow-front fish tank for our anniversary. He was thrilled. Thankfully fish were pretty easy pets. One of the most “unique” pets we owned was a blue lobster for our fresh water tank. It was so exciting to finally get one! On the way home from the pet store I was holding our new blue lobster in my lap when Jake went around the corner to our apartment I forgot to hold onto him and he went tumbling down my legs and to the floor thus resulting in his name “Tsumani”.
A few days ago Jake and I were discussing pets which brought me back to the many fun memories we had picking out and finding our first few fish. As I continued to think about the fish tanks and various fish “Tsunami” came to my mind. He was pretty neat looking in the fish tank and for the most part did really well. The other fish in the tank figured out that it is best to give him some extra space otherwise he might “snap his claws” at them. In the picture above Tsumani’s tail was tucked under his body but when he was stretch out he got up to 6 inches long.
Having a blue lobster was a great conversation starter. We got a lot of different reactions to seeing it in the tank. If you are looking for a unique addition to your fresh water fish tank you might enjoy one too!
I’ve got a “crush” on you!
Sweet treat for my man
I discovered these cute “pop” love notes from Darling Doodles and have been enjoying adding these love notes to my stash of ones to give to Jake! He enjoys drinking Orange Crush so when it goes on sale I try to get a little for him. This particular love note was a great one to give to my man – I’ve got a “crush” on you!
This was a surprise I had waiting for him one day after he had been away on a work trip. Always love having a little surprise waiting for him when he gets home after being away. I make sure the surprises are different and are placed in random places too which gives an extra variety. These love notes have been a great addition and been a lot of fun to use!
I’ve got a “crush” on you!
Review & Giveaway: Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler
I am thrilled to introduce you to the new Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler that I have recently received PLUS I will be giving away 1 of the Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler’s to one lucky reader (details below)!!! It includes everything you need for your waste and recycling in one container for your kitchen. Even though we have only been using it for a short time our family has enjoyed having a specific spot to put all our recycling materials. The recycled items are contained within the Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler so we don’t even have to see them until we are ready to take them to recycle. I am very excited to be giving one of these great Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recyclers to one of my readers!
Here are some of the benefits of the Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler:
- Keeps recyclables off the counter by giving them a place to live in your kitchen
- The bottom tilt out bin holds a standard 8-gallon trash bag AND features LinerLock™ bag management, so your bag stays put and does not slip
- Both the top bin and bottom bin have convenient handles when needed to transport recyclables to wherever your recycling is stored for pick-up or transport
- The 2-in-1 Recycler fits more recyclables while using 25% less floor space compared to typical divided containers
- Made with recyclable materials and is recyclable
The Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler has quickly become a hit with my family. My favorite part about this great product is that it takes up less floor space and contains all the recycled material in one spot. The recycled items are out of sight until it is time to take them and Rubbermaid has made it easy to transport the items with the handles.
Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler details:
- Two unit bin 2-in-1 Recycler
- Contain trash and recyclables all in one location or sort your recyclables
- Sleek design blends into kitchen décor
- Features LinerLock™ bag management in lower bin
- Removable lid
- Fold-away handles
- 5.8 gal sorting bin
- 7.4 gal tilt out bin with Liner Lock™ handles
- Total capacity = 13.2 gal
- Perfect for multi-stream or single stream recycling
- Suggested Retail Price is $39.99
I encourage you to check out more information on Rubbermaid’s 2-in-1 Recycler if you are interested in finding a nice solution for your recycling needs. These Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recyclers would make a great birthday or wedding gifts for family or friends! The Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler can be purchased at Rubbermaid’s website or at your local Meijer store.
Giveaway
As a way to say thank you to my readers and to share Rubbermaid’s great 2-in-1 Recycler I am hosting a giveaway!
The winner of this giveaway will receive:
- 1 Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler (see picture and details above)
Here’s how to enter the giveaway:
- Sign up to follow my blog (if you haven’t done so already) and leave a comment below telling us how you follow Blessings Multiplied. You can sign up to receive Blessings Multiplied via email or like on Facebook.
- You can get a bonus entry into the drawing if you leave a separate comment below sharing your best recycling tip!
All comments must be made by Monday, April 30, 2012 at 10:00 PM EST to be entered into the drawing.
More information about Rubbermaid and the 2-in-1 Recycler can be found:
*I was given this product for free to write an informed review. The opinions expressed in this post are my own. I was not paid to write this post. A special thanks to Rubbermaid for providing this 2-in-1 Recycler to review and for the giveaway for my readers!CONGRATULATIONS to Our “Wits & Wagers Family Game” Winner!
The name has been drawn for the giveaway!
CONGRATULATIONS to
Ashley Genovese
for winning a copy of
Wits & Wagers Family Game by North Star Games!
Thanks for making a comment in honor of our Giveaway!
An email has been sent to you with more information*
Enjoy Playing Your New Game!
Don’t forget to enter our next Giveaway (the next giveaway will be announced later this morning)!
*Giveaway must be claimed within 5 business days of the prize being announced. Failure to claim the prize within the allotted time frame means you forfeit the prize.
Travel & Vacation: Swag Carpet
Swag carpet…..
Growing up my grandparents had a bright orange shag carpet in their basement….boy that brings back memories…..well instead of “shag” carpet we changed it up a bit and did “swag” carpet not too long ago. When we travel without the kids it is always fun to bring back something little for them as a special treat or surprise. It is not always the same thing and we try to present it differently as much as possible to spice it up a little bit. Awhile ago Jake went on a trip to a conference and got a lot of “swag” gifts, you know all the goodies that vendors give out as gifts to market their products to you. He arrived home a few hours before the girls got home from school so we decided to take all the swag (along with their special gift) he had gotten and cover their bedroom floor. At the conference he received a lot of t-shirts so he should be good on those for awhile now!
Brina discovering the necklaces and Karlie finding the airplanes
When the girls opened the door they stopped……in…..their….tracks…..what in the world!? They were totally surprised to find their entire floor covered with shirts, cups, and various other swag goodies. Brina was the first to find the necklaces Daddy picked up for them and Karlie was fascinated by the paper airplane cutout that you put together. It was hilarious seeing their expressions!
Cute little fish necklace Jake brought back for the girls
Jake brought home a cute necklace for each of the girls. They loved their pretty necklaces and have worn them to church, on Date Nights or other special occasions. But most of all enjoyed having Daddy home to play with again!
Karlie and Brina fascinated by the blue silly putty
They each picked out one of Daddy’s swag shirts to keep as a nightshirt. Karlie picked out one that had a rocket on it and Brina picked out one that had a splash of bright colors (a “rainbow of colors”). After trying on their shirts they sat down to play with their cool blue silly putty for awhile. It is amazing how entertaining little goodies can be.
Even though I love to travel it is always wonderful coming home. I am thankful for the amazing opportunities Jake, myself and our family have been given. It is an adventure traveling and exploring new places, but hanging out at home making memories together is just as precious!
Intentional Living: Weekly Goals
Last week was a tough one in many ways. I felt like I was being pulled in so many different directions all at the same time. Several unexpected things came up throughout the week and this week is going to be a big one with all the extra activities going on. I am hoping this week will still be productive even though I need to cut it back a little with everything that is going on.
Here is the update on last weeks goals:
Family Goals
Spend 1-on-1 time with each child everydayRead a book to the girls everydayHave each girl read 1 book to myself or Jake 5 days this weekConnect with each family member at least once a day- Put together a Schedule / Reference Worksheet for Mom – almost done
Personal Goals
Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week- Go to bed by 10:30 pm or earlier Monday to Thursday – getting in a habit of staying up too late again
- Finish reading When Work and Family Collide by Andy Stanley
Read and listen to the next section of Desiring God: Finding Complete Satisfaction and Joy in God by John Piper (our church Community Group is going through this book together).– finished the entire book
Home Management Goals
All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one dayWeekly Dinner Menu planned and written by MondaySpend 30 minutes every day picking up / cleaning the houseSpend 1 hour a day de-cluttering and organizing the house
Business Goals
Pay all bills that come in the mail this weekWork on ideas for upcoming blog postsSpend 10 minutes a day cleaning and organizing my desk- Finish 2011 Business Taxes – still at the accountants office
Ministry Goals
Email our weekly Community Group update including upcoming events on the calendar, praises, and prayer requestsMeet a friend or family member for Breakfast or LunchWrite and Email the meeting notes for our Alms & Legs Ministry Team Meeting
Financial Goals
Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4- Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses – working on it
- Complete our personal 2011 taxes – waiting on the business taxes to be complete
- Put money aside for upcoming trips – put a little aside
- Put cash aside for 1 year of Jake’s College Classes – have some of it done
Here are my goals for the upcoming week:
Family Goals
- Connect with each family member at least once a day
- Distribute the girls “I Love You” Surprises
- Write and mail cards
- Put together items for Jake
- Print off the Family Calendar, Event List and Information
- Meet the girls for lunch at school
- Finish reading The Secret Garden and Swiss Family Robinson to the girls
Personal Goals
- Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week
- Finish reading When Work and Family Collide by Andy Stanley
- Keep an up-to-date written & photo log all the adventures this week
Home Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Weekly Dinner Menu planned and written by Monday
- House cleaned and ready for company
- Pay all bills that come in the mail this week
Business Goals
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
- Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
- Finish 2011 Business Taxes
Ministry Goals
- Email our weekly Community Group update including upcoming events on the calendar, praises, and prayer requests
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
- Take time to talk, listen, and encourage the people I encounter this week
- Be a blessing to a total stranger this week
Financial Goals
- Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
- Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses
- Complete our personal 2011 taxes
- Put money aside for upcoming trips
- Put cash aside for 1 year of Jake’s College Classes
I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us. I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true. When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals. Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick). Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.
Why Share My Goals?
- To keep me accountable
- To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
- To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
- Create healthy habits in my life
- To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn
How did you do this week on your goals? Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.
The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results
You Never Know….What You Might Find!
You never know what you may find in the clearance section at a store. During a quick trip to BiLo (a local grocery store) to grab a gallon of milk I noticed these two chairs sitting up in the front of the store. As I was speed walking past them to get the milk and I thought to myself that’s an odd place for two chairs and the second thought was those chairs are pretty cute! While standing in line waiting to check out they caught my attention again so I got out of line, went over to them and found out they were marked down to $2 (originally priced over $20). They were the last two chairs and the store was trying to move the final pieces of their seasonal stock. These are the only 2 chairs I have ever bought in a grocery store but it goes to show you never know what you may find when you go out to get a gallon of milk!
When the girls got home from school that day I had the two chairs set up in their room. They were excited and gushing over how “cute” the chairs were. I didn’t have to ask or tell them which chair was for who they knew instantly, that’s one of the joys of having twins with two very different personalities. Since then the chairs have been used for reading, watching TV, playing school and many other fun activities. Each girl has their own chair so their is no disagreements on who got the chair first or who has been sitting in it the longest…..do those types of conversations take place at your house too?!
The chairs are big enough the girls are comfortable, but small enough they can carry them from room to room. I love that they have so much personality with the smiling frog and cheerful ladybug! Sometimes it is worth it to take the extra minute to glance at the clearance section, you might find a something you need or a fun treasure. Although their favorite place to sit when we read a book together is still on our laps, which is fine with me because someday soon these precious days of them being little girls will be a thing of the past!
