• Love It – Elenco Snap Circuit Set

    P1340025c

    Building with the Snap Circuit set

    The girls have enjoyed their Elenco Snap Circuit set.  They can build a variety of projects with it.  The set they have allows them to do over 300 different variations.  They received the Elenco Snap Circuits SC-300 Physics Kit and it has been a huge hit with them!

    Karlie has spent a lot of time working through the various projects.  One of her favorite tasks that she did at the beginning was building a working radio.  She was very excited to be able to tune into a real local radio station and hear it over her newly built radio.  Love seeing them building items and learning how to put together various projects on their own!

    P1340027c

    Working on a different project!

    P1340028c

    Close up of one of the Snap Circuit items she put together!  If you have a child who loves to build, create, and/or a budding engineer who loves to explore a variety of technology items this is a wonderful educational toy they will love!  Also, you can by additional kits to add onto the sets to expand the number of projects you can do.

    You can learn more about Elenco’s Snap Circuit Toys or read reviews by going to the Elenco Snap Circuit website or on Amazon.  There are several different Snap Circuits you may enjoy trying, here are just a couple that they carry:

    “Love It” is a series of posts on items that I use regularly in my household that I love!  There are some items in our daily lives that make life more enjoyable, efficient, or just plain fun.  I will be sharing with you some of the products that have been given to us (or to me) that have made it to the top of my list.  It’s my way of giving a huge thumbs up!

  • Celebrating Valentine’s Day!

    Sphero, Valentines Day, Birthday, Brina, Karlie, Grandpa, Grandma, Celebration, Family,

    Heart cinnamon rolls to start off the Valentine’s Day weekend!  Friday’s breakfast!

    The girls did not have to go to school the Friday before Valentine’s Day which was really nice.  My parents were also visiting us from Kansas that weekend.  The first couple of days they stayed at my brother’s house and the last half of their stay at our house.  It was great spending time with family over the Valentine weekend.

    Sphero, Valentines Day, Birthday, Brina, Karlie, Grandpa, Grandma, Celebration, Family,

    Valentine goodies from Grandma Kay!

    P1360093c

    Opening their gift.  Lots of great school supplies and some sweet treats too!

    P1360094c

     Brina is ready to have some fun!

  • What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan

    https://blessingsmultiplied.com//wp-content/uploads/2011/09/4088699532_ae44f04b7dc.jpg

    Our first priority is eating up the leftovers from the previous weekend with my parents and brothers family visiting.  We have several items I want to incorporate into our menu and finish up so we don’t waste them.  Thankfully my family enjoys leftovers and it is a great way to help fill in the menu while making sure not to waste the food already in our fridge.  It will be a simple menu this week and may not be exactly on target with our usual schedule, but hopefully we can catch up on items.  Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:

    Our Weekly Menu Plan

    • Monday (Beef or Pork Entree):  Smashed Baked Potatoes with Bacon Crumbles, Fresh Lettuce Salad
    • Tuesday (Kid’s Night to Cook):  Ham Sandwiches, Fresh Fruit Salad, Green Bean Casserole
    • Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree): Special Event – Kids Birthday Celebration
    • Thursday (Pasta or Seafood Entree):  Roast, Mashed Potatoes
    • Friday, Saturday, & Sunday:  Leftovers, Family Preference, and Hosting

    I have a general pattern I try to follow for my weekly Menu Plan (for example Monday we have a beef or seafood entree and so forth).  It is my goal, at least in the beginning, to have at least the main dish and one side planned.  I will put together the remaining side dishes (veggies / fruits) based on the food items that need to be used up first and compliment the main entree.

    Setting a weekly menu plan helps me utilize my time better, thus freeing up extra time to spend with my family.  On the days that I am working longer hours I can prep the meal in advance so it will be easier to pull together once I am home.  As I go through the menu planning process I will try to share some of our favorite family recipes.  If there is a specific recipe you would like please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate (some recipes are a toss together meal and I do not use any set measurements).

    As a family of four our life can get busy.  What’s for Dinner is our weekly menu planning series and one of the ways to help keep us organized, on schedule, and within budget.  Our family typically eats 6 to 7  dinner meals at home a week.  We do try to go out to eat at least once a month as a special treat.  Breakfasts are eaten at home before work and school, lunches are eaten at work, school, or home, so dinner is our main meal together as a family.  Dinner is our time to reconnect, share, and enjoy being together after a busy day.  Our weekly menu plan covers Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only because the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) is our time to spend with family and friends.  The weekends tend to be more spontaneous and my husband (who is the better cook) likes pitching in therefore we keep the menu open for variety.  We use up the leftovers throughout the week for our lunches and on the nights that we are busy or can’t cook.

    Photo by Liz

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    Thankful for a fun time with my parents and brothers family last weekend.  The weekend went by quickly, but we packed in a lot of fun.  We celebrated the girls birthday, played games, read books, went on adventures, ate good food, and so much more.  Grateful for my parents and their willingness to come visit so they can spend time with our family.  The girls were thrilled to have some time with their grandparents.  Quality time together means so much to kids and memories are precious treasures during their growing up years!   Here are my goals for this week:

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Finish reading Ashleigh’s Dream (Thoroughbred Series #5) by Joanna Campbell to the kids – didn’t read as much of the chapter book with all the extra activities this past week
    2. Plan one special activity with the family – spent several days with Grandparents and Brother’s family, even made a trip to downtown Greenville
    3. Play a Game with the Kidsplayed a couple old and new games with the kids this week!  Grandpa Russell taught them a simple version of 7 up & 7 down.  Grandpa & Grandma played their new “Herd Your Houses” game with them!
    4. Prepare for Upcoming Winter Events – some preparation items were put on hold briefly while  my parents were visiting
    5. Spend time Monday – Thursday helping the kids with Homework
    6. Attend After School Activities
    7. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    8. Plan a Fun Birthday Activity for the Kidshad a birthday party Friday night with Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Lee, Aunt Becky, and the boys!
    9. Confirm my parents plans and activities for their upcoming visit
    10. Celebrate Valentine’s Dayglad to spend time with my parents, we packed a lot of fun into the day!
    11. Spend Extra Time with Extended Familywe split out time with our house and my brother’s house so it was nice to have some time together.  The kids enjoyed a lot of extra play time together too.

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water each day – didn’t keep up with it a couple days this past week and pretty sure I was low a couple days
    2. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    3. Go to my  Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day – took more than 1 day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Use up food items in our pantry and freezer – working through some of the items that need used
    4. Clean House (Focus – Overall House Cleaning) – it wasn’t completely done, but thankful for Jake and the girls pitching in to help.  It wasn’t perfect, but nobody seemed to mind.
    5. Organize Chaos (Focus – Game Closet) – got it cleaned out!
    6. Yard Cleanup (Focus – Yard Clean Up)we got some things cleaned up than had another wind storm over the weekend now have more branches and other items blown into the yard that need to be picked up now
    7. Pet Care (Focus – Pick Up Salt Block for Goats)we have a mineral bucket for them

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Respond to Inquiry – Business Relation Emails
    3. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention – have some extra “catch-up” work to do this week
    4. Work completed for clients

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch

    Financial Goals

    1. Payoff the Car – working on it
    2. Payoff Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, bed, medical, and other debt) – working on it, made a small extra payment on it last week
    3. Pay Bills & File Paperwork
    4. Go grocery shopping one time to one store this week and stay within budget – went to more than 1 store and went over budget this week (really need to work on this one)
    5. Sale Items no longer using or do not need on Facebook / Craigslist / Ebay – sold a couple items which we applied towards an extra payment on our debt

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Finish reading Ashleigh’s Dream (Thoroughbred Series #5) by Joanna Campbell to the kids
    2. Plan one special activity with the family
    3. Play a Game with the Kids
    4. Prepare for Upcoming Winter Events
    5. Spend time Monday – Friday helping the kids with Homework
    6. Attend After School Activities
    7. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    8. Plan a Fun Birthday Activity for the Kids
    9. Celebrate Kid’s Birthday

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    2. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    3. Go to my  Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Use up food items in our pantry and freezer
    4. Clean House (Focus – Laundry Room)
    5. Organize Chaos (Focus – Linens Cabinet)
    6. Yard Cleanup (Focus – Pick Up Down Sticks)
    7. Pet Care (Focus – Pick Up Hay for Goats)

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Respond to Inquiry – Business Relation Emails
    3. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    4. Work completed for clients

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch

    Financial Goals

    1. Payoff the Car
    2. Payoff Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, bed, medical, and other debt)
    3. Pay Bills & File Paperwork
    4. Go grocery shopping one time to one store this week and stay within budget
    5. Sale Items no longer using or do not need on Facebook / Craigslist / Ebay

    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.

  • Free Ebooks: The Miracle Journey of Apollo 13, Hippos, Hydrogen Peroxide Secrets, To Wheat or Not to Wheat, How to Create the BEST of You in Your Home, Public Speaking, Self Defense, and more!

    The price to download these books is currently $0.00 (although the price may change at any time, please confirm prior to downloading).  The ebooks are specifically for Kindles, however, you can click here and download the free application that allows you to read Kindle ebooks on your PC.

    Download a free copy of #Houston70: The Miracle Journey of Apollo 13 by Philip Gibson

    Download a free copy of Hippos (Safari Kids) by Jenny Hall

    Download a free copy of Hydrogen Peroxide: Proven Secrets to Optimum Health, Quick Healing, Illness Prevention and Natural Beauty by Jesse Jacobs

    Download a free copy of To Wheat or Not to Wheat by Shashank Jain and Ankit Pandey

    Download a free copy of Food for Thought – 365 Christian Quotes to Start Your Day by Nicholas Appleyard

    Download a free copy of How to Create the BEST of You in Your Home by Alexa Keating

    Download a free copy of Terrified of Public Speaking? Top 20 Techniques to Help You Take Control and Master Public Speaking! by Online Business Buddy

    Download a free copy of Self Defense: Proven Strategies and Tips For Protecting Yourself With Martial Arts by Ken Matthews

  • Flashback Friday: Let’s Have a Ball – 2nd Birthday Party

    Happy 2nd Birthday Karlie and Brina - where are youc

    Having a “ball” in the swimming pool ball pit!

    Today’s Flashback Friday is about Brina and Karlie’s 2nd “Having A Ball” Birthday Party!  In case you haven’t noticed for this month my flashback posts have primarily been about the girls early birthday parties. We had balls every where in the house!  The kids loved it!!!

    It is really cool to look back at the pictures and see how much they have grown.  It has been a lot of fun seeing some of the great activities from the past.   Thankful for the blessings of these two treasures in my life.  They make me smile!

    Brina and Karlie on their tricyclesc

    Look out here comes Brina, watch your toes!

    Brina and Karlie 2nd Birthday Party

    Balls emptied out of the pool and filled with books.  The girls are having a grand time.

    Brina very excited to see all the balls againc

    Brina all smiles!

    Karlie and Brina trying to blow out the candlesc

    Karlie very concerned about her cake being on fire while Brina is digging in regardless of the candles.

    Fork licking good - Karlie and Brinac

    Eating their birthday cakes – Karlie eventually ate her cake once the candles were removed.

    Granma Kay made beautiful ball cakes this yearc

    Grandma Kay made two delicious birthday cakes for the rest of the group celebrating – a baseball one and beach ball!

    Karlie and Brina looking out the pretty doorc

    What happened to our front door!?

    Karlie loving the room full of ballsc

    Karlie having a grand time!

    Sam is so adorablec

    Our cousin Sam!  So adorable!

    Swimming pool full of balls and kids - Brina, Karlie and Jackc

    Playing in the pool ball pit with Jack!

    The party family with everyone doing something different - Karlie and Brinac

    The only picture we shot of all four of us at this birthday party.  Guess we got busy with the celebrations!

    They love their musical cards - Brina and Karliec

    Loving their musical birthday cards from Grandpa Russell and Grandma Penny.  They listened to them over and over again!

    We love our Daddyc

    Jake looks like he is up to mischief…..wonder what he is planning to do with that big purple ball?!

    The Crazy Birthday Party Crew - Happy Birthday Brina and Karlie - We Love Youc

    Grateful for family and friends who joined us in celebrating the girls 2nd birthday!

  • Creative Play – Karlie’s Fun Shop

    P1320784C

    Karlie’s Fun Shop!

    I love it when my kids get creative during their play time!  When they use their imagination it also stimulates creative thinking, analyzing, organization, math skills, and uses a variety of other great educational skills.  One of the activities they enjoy doing is creating a store complete with products, cash register, hours, and more.

    Setting up a store takes time and planning.  They really have fun pretending to sell us various goodies.  The store names change and products change from time to time, however, I have noticed that they are becoming more efficient and organized at setting up and running a store.

    These activities allow them to practice some wonderful entrepreneurial skills which will be beneficial for them later in life!  Sometimes only one of the kids runs the store and other times it is a joint adventure.   On this particular day Karlie was the one who decided to “set up shop”!  She took time in selecting her merchandise, setting it up, creating a name, advertising her products and hours, and selling her inventory to her customers (aka family members).

    P1320787C

    Some items displayed in Karlie’s Fun Shop that will appeal to a variety of people!

    P1320792c

    She has all her products neatly displayed for her customers to see and purchase (looks like she has some great educational items for sale)!

  • Free Ebooks: America’s 50 Favorite Barbecue Recipes, Feeding Success, Parenting and Relationships, Accelerated Learning, Household Hacks, Math Made Easy, and more!

    The price to download these books is currently $0.00 (although the price may change at any time, please confirm prior to downloading).  The ebooks are specifically for Kindles, however, you can click here and download the free application that allows you to read Kindle ebooks on your PC.

    Download a free copy of America’s 50 Favorite Barbecue Recipes by Buford Moore

    Download a free copy of Feeding Success: A Nutrition Blueprint To Fuel Busy Professionals and Business Travelers by Emmanuelle Galland

    Download a free copy of Parenting and Relationships by Samuel K. Taylor

    Download a free copy of Romantic Lovers for Life: Keeping the Flames Burning for a Passionate Marriage by Laura Beckder

    Download a free copy of Accelerated Learning – Advanced Technique for Fast Learning: Become a Super Learner – Learn Speed Reading and Advanced Memorization by Thomas Abreu

    Download a free copy of HOUSEHOLD HACKS: Super Simple Ways to Clean Your Home Effortlessly Using Hydrogen Peroxide and Other Cleaning Secrets by Alynda Carroll

    Download a free copy of MATH MADE EASY: A quick and easy guide to mental math and faster calculation. (Intellectible Math Book 1) by Reed Lerner, Brett Moses