Family

  • Giveaway: $10 CVS Gift Card

    I am doing another giveaway on Blessings Multiplied!   The winner of this giveaway will receive a $10 CVS Gift Card!  As a Mom, wife and homeowner I am always looking for ways to save a little extra when buying items for around the house and for my family.  It is a great time of year to pick up a few extra items at your local CVS to keep you family healthy especially during the Holiday Season.  If you shop at CVS regularly and use coupons you may be able to stretch this gift card over several trips.  Here’s how to enter the giveaway:

    1. 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.
    2. You can get a bonus entry into the drawing if you leave a separate comment below sharing one of your favorite items you like to get at CVS’s!

    All comments must be made by November 30th at 10:00 PM EST to be entered into the drawing.  On November 30, 2011,  I will randomly draw a winner from those who have entered the giveaway.

  • Halloween Candy Buy Back Programs

     

    Hope everyone had an amazing Holiday.  Halloween is a great time to create memories with your family.  The Fall Festivals, pumpkin carving, hayrides, dressing up and candy…..sometimes too much candy.  Every wonder if you’ll be able to eat, share and giveaway all the candy before the next Halloween hits.

    Dentists all over the country are participating in a Halloween Candy Buy Back Program. They buy the kids Halloween candy then donate it to the groups that send it to those in Military Service.

    • Example:  Holly Tree Pediatric Dentistry in our area (1334 South Hwy 14, Simpsonville, SC 29681 / Phone: 864-297-5585) is Buying Back Halloween Candy and giving the kids $1 per pound ($5 max per child) and a Treat bag.  The Buy back dates are Tuesday 11/1 to Thursday 11/3 between 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.  All the candy will be donated to our Troops Overseas.

    If it is something you interested in participating in you can read more about on the FAQ page and search for locations near you!

    Photo by Rochelle

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    After much thought I have decided to share my weekly goals with you.  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.

    Here are my goals for the upcoming week:

    Family Goals

    1. Spend 1-on-1 time with each child everyday
    2. Read a book to the girls everyday
    3. Have the girls read 1 book to me 5 days this week
    4. Do devotions with the girls every night (sometimes it gets late and we rush to get them into bed)
    5. Schedule a Date Night with Jake
    6. Schedule a Date Night with each child

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week
    2. Finish reading  The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman
    3. Listen to The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss
    4. Go to bed by 10:30 or earlier on Monday through Thursday

    Home Management Goals

    1. Weekly Dinner Menu planned and written by Monday
    2. Spend 30 minutes every day picking up / cleaning the house
    3. Dinner on the table by 5:30 PM (Monday through Thursday)
    4. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    5. Summer clothes pulled out of the main part of the closet and put away (it’s getting chilly and we are not wearing them as much now)
    6. Pick the fresh vegetables that are ready and start preparing the garden for the first freeze.

    Business Goals

    1. Spend 10 minutes cleaning and organizing my desk (somehow everyone stacks stuff on my desk, myself included, and within a day I have a pile sometimes piles)
    2. Pay all bills that come in the mail this week
    3. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    4. Research ways to create more residual income

    Ministry Goals

    1. Email our weekly Community Group update including upcoming events on the calendar, praises, and prayer requests
    2. Alms & Legs Ministry – Email upcoming meeting reminder to members, write and print the meeting agenda
    3. Meet a friend for Breakfast or Lunch
    4. Pack our Operation Christmas Child boxes

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Pay off remaining debt
    3. Emergency Fund – save 6 months worth of living expenses

    I am striving to live intentionally so I have the ability to give my time, talents, and resources more generously to family, friends, and those who my life touches.  Please feel free to share or link your list of goals in the comments below.  Let’s help each other be accountable for the goals we set for ourselves.

    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

    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

  • Fresh & Healthy: Fall Harvest – Community Supported Agriculture (Week 4)

    We are enjoying our Fall Harvest with our Local Farm with Community Supported Agriculture program.  The Fall harvest is 10 weeks long through our farm.  We were thrilled to get the produce and fresh eggs.  Our family is doing a half share again for this harvest.

    Fall Harvest Week 4 of Fresh Goodies from our CSA!

    Fresh Goodies from our Local CSA Farm

    Items in our Basket this Week:

    • 1 Acorn Squash
    • 2 Sweet Potatoes
    • 1 bundle White Radishes
    • 1 White Eggplant
    • 1  Black Eggplant
    • 2 Milk Thistles
    • 1 bundle Greens and ?
    • 1 Half Dozen Fresh Eggs
    I am not sure what the vegetable is on the left front corner of the picture, I’ve seen them before but cannot remember what they are.  I am looking forward to eating these goodies this week!  Thanks everyone for the delicious Recipes!  To find out how you can be a part of a local CSA check out this post – Fresh & Healthy:  Community Supported Farms

  • Book: “Bob Books Sight Words Collection” by Bobby Lynn Maslen

    My parents gave the girls this set of books “Bob Books Sight Words Collection – Kindergarten and First Grade” by Bobby Lynn Maslen when they were just starting  to read.  What I really enjoyed about these books is that they were “simple” from the words to the pictures.  The words were easy for them to sound out as they were beginning to read and the pictures were captivating enough to get their attention but were not so amazing that they couldn’t focus on the words.   As the girls were learning to read it was great pulling out the books and having them read because they were so excited to read a big book all by themselves.  This set of books are for Kindergarten and First Grade.  The  first few books are pretty easy and gradually get harder as they go through them.  I think our girls have gone through them several times now.  If you have a child who is just learning how to read these books are short, easy, and give them a quick reading accomplishment victory.

  • Family Recipe: Mom’s Baked Steak

    Layered and ready to go in the oven for our Baked Steak dinner!

    A few weeks ago Jake asked me if I could make my “Mom’s Baked Steak” recipe for dinner.  Unfortunately I couldn’t find her recipe.  She was at a conference that day and was unable to call me until later so we pulled one from online that seemed similar, it was good but not like Moms.  I wrote it down this time so the next time I pick up Cube Steak I can make it for him without scrambling around trying to get the recipe!  It is a great Fall / Winter Recipe because it cooks for awhile.  She does it from memory so it was fun putting together the recipe.

    Mom’s Baked Steak:

    • 1 pound of Cube Steaks (about 4)
    • 1 cup Flour
    • Dash of Salt
    • Dash of Pepper
    • 1 to 3 tablespoon Olive Oil
    • 1 can Cream of Mushroom
    • 1 can Mushrooms or slice Fresh Mushrooms (optional)

    1.  Put half a can of the Cream of Mushroom and Mushrooms on the bottom of a 9 x 13 pyrex dish.

    2.  Put Olive Oil in a pan heat on medium heat.  Mix the flour with a dash of salt and pepper.  Coat both side of the Cube Steaks with the flour mixture and place in oil for about 30 seconds on each side.  (The point is to sear the juices into the cube steak not to cook it).

    3.  Place the seared Cube Steaks on top of the cream of mushroom sauce in the pyrex.  Add the remaining can of Cream of Mushroom and Mushrooms on top of the cube steaks.

    4.  Cover and Bake at 350 for 2 1/2 to 3 hours until the steaks are tender.

    Mom’s Baked Steaks make a great meal for a cooler day!  Plus you can have a delicious steak with a less expensive cut of meat.   If you want a more hearty meal you can add rice.

     

  • Raising Twins: Multiples Party at Shipwreck Cove

    As I was going back through some of the pictures the last several months I realized I never posted anything about this great event (better late than never right!?).  I have the privilege of being a part of the Upstate Mother’s of Multiples Club.  It is a great group of Moms and families that have been supportive from the days when I was on bedrest and beyond.  Once a season we get together with the families (Moms, Dads, and all the kids) and enjoy some fun activities.  Here is a little taste of our adventure at Shipwreck Cove in Duncan, South Carolina:

    Karlie ready to go down the slide.

     The girls love pools, water parks, and the beach (really anything with water, including splashing around in the tub).  They had a blast swimming, sliding and tubing at Shipwreck Cove.

    Mommy had a blast too!

    Honestly I am not sure had more fun….the little kids or the big kids!  I enjoyed the many trips down the big slides, catching up with friends, floating along on the lazy river and swimming just as much as the girls did.

    View from the top of the big slides (part of Shipwreck Cove Waterpark).

    When we first arrived at the water park it was pretty quiet other than our groups munchkins running and swimming around.  As the day got later more people arrived, but we still had a blast.

    Karlie going down the big slide all by herself.

    So proud of the girls for going down the big kid slides.  I had a mixture of excitement and sadness to see how much they had grown up over the last few years.  It was a wonderful day of memories for the whole family.

    Brina going down the red slide again.

    Glad to see them having a blast at the water park!  Brina’s favorite slide was the big red one that was open at the top, but she did try both slides.

    Karlie getting sprayed by a water canon while floating on the lazy river.

    Karlie thought it was hilarious when she got sprayed by the canons as she was floating by.  We went around the lazy river several times that day.

    Brina waiting to go down the slide.

    This slide was on the “palm tree island” and a favorite to play on in between going down the big slides and floating along on the lazy river.

    Karlie waiting for another turn on the big slides.

    The slides were a HUGE hit with Karlie girl!  She didn’t mind standing in line to go down the slides again and again and again and again.

    Brina enjoying the water jets.

    The water park was really nice.  It did surprise us to find out the that water was “salt” water not fresh water.

    Having fun in the water.

    Brina enjoying her time at the water park.

    Pausing for a moment to let me take a picture.

     Glad for those quick pauses to take  pictures.

    Thankful for a great time playing with my family!

  • Heart Reflections: Gifts from Above

    A few weeks ago I was speaking to a friend who received a gift anonymously.  As we were talking I mentioned to her that we have been recipients of such gifts in our lives as well.  I can think of several times God used someone in our lives to deliver special gift from above.  During those times I had been praying for something specific and it came through a completely mysterious giver.

    A desire to show appreciation.

    After receiving the gift I would often find myself racking my brain thinking…..who could have given such an amazing gift?  Did they know that I have been praying specifically about this particular item?  Most of the times I never even shared the need with anyone other than God.  In these situations I often find myself really wanting to know who it was that delivered the gift so I could say thank you in person or write a thank you note to them.  I want to express my deep gratitude for what they did and the impact they made on my life.  However, it is during those times that I realize that they don’t want me to know who it was because they didn’t do it for their glory or praise, they did it for God’s glory.   It provides an opportunity for me to give God ALL the glory because only He could have instrumented such an amazing answer to my prayer.  He really does hear our prayers.  Whether you are going through a financial, physical, emotional time or other need, he hears and cares for you.

    Directing my praise to the one who holds my life in his hands.

    What do you do when you receive an mysterious answer to your prayer?  Give all the thanks and credit to God.  He worked through another person to directly answer your prayer.  Glory in the goodness and blessings he continually bestows on us even in the midst of a difficult situation.  We don’t deserve anything yet he longs for us to have a personal and ongoing relationship with him.  Pray for that person who was used by God to meet your need at the time.  You may never know who it was on this side of heaven but there may come a time when they have a need that God allows you to help answer.

     What am I doing to help others?

    On the flip side of the coin how often to I get those nudges from God to help someone or call or write or do something completely anonymous but don’t follow through with it.  God can use you and me to deliver these amazing gifts to others.  The gifts come in all shapes, sizes and varieties from an encouraging note, listening, phone calls, financial, physical help, and so much more (there really is no limit to the width and depth of these gifts).  We may not know what is going on in their hearts and lives.  They may be asking God for something specific or need to hear a word of encouragement and he gives you the opportunity to deliver His gift to them.  I cannot tell you how large of a blessing and encouragement these gifts from God are to people.  When you have a nudge or feel called to do something for someone take a moment and do it.  You may be a tremendous blessing to a specific need that they have in their lives.

    But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

    Matthew 6:3-4

    Photo by JD Hancock

  • Travel & Vacation: Fun Day at Isle of Palms Beach

    Beach day with my three favorite people!

    I love my family and am thankful for the amazing opportunities we had the past few months.  It was wonderful sharing so many great memories together at home, the beach and traveling!  One of our favorite spots to visit was the beach at Isle of Palms near Charleston, South Carolina.

    Crazy crew at the beach.

    The girls have such different personalities!  Karlie has to wear her goggles in the ocean where Brina prefers not having anything on her face in the water.

    Swimming in the ocean.

    It always amazes me how long the girls want to stay at the beach.  Usually Jake and I end up decided to go because we are exhausted not because the girls are asking to go.  It is not uncommon for us to stay for 6 to 8 hours swimming, building sand castles, collecting sea shells and eating our picnic lunch.  Although, the girls typically crash on the way back to the hotel or home.

    Karlie Kool Kat having a blast

    Enjoying her time swimming in the ocean.  Thinking she is pretty cool swimming on her own (at least until the next big wave comes)!

    Mommy and her girls

    Swimming together at Isle of Palms.  Love spending extra time with the family at the beach.

    Brina Bee swimming in the big ocean by herself.

    Brina all smiles swimming on her own in the big ocean.

    Digging around in the sand

    Sometimes just digging around in the sand is the most entertaining.  We typically do a sand castle and just let them play to their hearts content.  One of those times playing in the mud is just plain fun!

    The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax.  Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away.  Explore with a good attitude, look for fun and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories.  It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine.  Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn.  You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!

  • Recipe: Seasoned Pumpkin Seeds

    Fresh pumpkin seeds.

    I shared this recipe last year and since it was a big hit I am re-posting it again this year.  Jake made some amazing roasted pumpkin seeds during our time carving the pumpkins.  Here is a super easy and great recipe for roasting pumpkins seeds:

    • 2 c pumpkin seeds
    • 2 T butter
    • Sprinkle Seasoned Salt (or substitute a 1/2 package ranch package mix)

    Rinse the pumpkin seeds.  Saute pumpkin seeds in the butter for about 5 minutes (until they start to turn brown).  Sprinkle the Seasoned Salt or Ranch Mix on the  seeds.  Spread seeds into a shallow baking pan and baked at 250 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes or until crispy.  Stirring every 10 minutes.

    We made half with the sprinkled Seasoned Salt and half with the Hidden Valley Ranch Dill Seasoning mix this year.  Delicious snacks for the whole family!