my thoughts on craig's list.

so....craig's list and i are bff's lately.
this move has made us super tight.

i have been buying and selling like a mad woman lately.
i sell stuff so that i have money to buy stuff.
it is awesome.

 every night when aj and i are sitting in bed doing super spiritual stuff like watching parks and rec on the laptop, i am at the same time scrolling craig's list on my phone.
i am stalking my own items to make sure they sell and also scrolling through to see what awesomeness i can buy for our new house.

is it just me or has the spam gotten outta control lately??
good gravy. give it a rest.

i've gotten some amazing gems like this one:

"wat size are dresses n skirts" yep. that was the entire email. not sure if that was spam or just the downfall of the education system in america. i usually get 2 or 3 phishing for my email with really clever emails like:  "Cry me a river if u are fake and if u are not a fake I am sorry just reply back to my real email"

ummm...yeah right. 

sometimes they have rude expletives just to try to get a response and usually at least one word spelled wrong. 

pass.

also sometimes you find some amazing posts like this one:

"i have a awesome shirt it is yellow ans has no stains brand new and it say on the back on the top "rebel spirit" and it has alot more things done to it to make it look awesome you will have to see it to understand me!! so if you call i will send pictures it is a medium and the brand is "rebel spirit"

yep. and they are asking $25. 

sounds about right.

i am more than willing to put up with these shenanigans to find great pieces and make some money to buy said pieces. 

in fact last week, i found this awesome antique, chippy bookshelf with original casters from a girl in our same neighborhood.

so the moral of my story is this: 

get the craig's list app.

wander around your house or garage and take pics with your phone of stuff you're tired of or don't need.

list it in about 3 minutes flat.

make some dollas.  

find some gems.

steer clear of the spammers....i.e. any email that doesn't say the item in the email or just generally sounds weird. 

reap the rewards.

the end. 

God speed.

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mama finds

just thought i'd pass along some of my favorite mama things.

#1. seeds family worship.



that video is just a little sampling of the awesomeness that is seeds family worship.
my sis-in-law gave us a cd last summer and we love it.
we listen to it in the car regularly and now we have all memorized a bunch of new scriptures.
scripture . .  .set to music . . . that we all enjoy. . . perfect.

i was just looking on the website and see that they have a ton of neat tools for families.
scripture memory cards and a printable checklist.
that rocks.
we're doing that.

#2 okay this is so girly.
but i think this falls under the mom category, so we're sharing it.

in case you can't read it, it says total effects eye transforming cream.

this stuff actually works.

well it should for how much it costs for that little jar. 

but it is so worth it.

after i had ruby, i really noticed my eyes looking so. old.

i noticed a difference within a week of using this.

now every time i look in the car mirror, i don't gasp in horror at my eye wrinkles.

crisis averted.

at least for now. 

also, i've had it since september and probably used a fourth of the jar.

money well spent, i'd say.

#3 okay this is more of a wifey link but it ties in. 

gotta be a good wife to be a good mom.

anyhow, i'm reading this.

i'm only through chapter two but it's kicking my tail.

good stuff that i'm trying to learn.

old habits die hard. 

okay that's all i have for today.

anyone else have some great mama links or finds that you want to share?

if enough of you are interested, we'll start a mama finds linky. let me know. :)

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our farmland adventure

 

a few months ago, i bought a living social deal for farmland adventures. 

this past weekend we finally had a free saturday and the weather looked to be perfect so we loaded up the kids and headed out. 

it turned out to be the perfect morning.

farmland adventures is a brand new pumpkin patch/corn maze and it will definitely be where we take our kids from now on. 

it was extremely well organized, everyone was very friendly, there were a variety of activities, and everything was really spread out so you weren't stumbling onto each other.

also, it just had a really peaceful environment.  {which makes sense after I read about the family that owns and operates it...they love Jesus. so double bonus there. :)}

it was a perfect fall morning, cool enough to feel like fall, but warm enough to not feel chilled or uncomfortable.
first we trekked through the corn maze...we did the mini-maze since we had a stroller and a two year old to contend with.
the scenery was breathtaking.

next the boys played in the corn box.
it's like a giant sandbox filled with corn kernals.
i think they could have played there for hours.
i wish we had a corn box.

i would say this was their favorite activity....but i think all the activities were their favorite.

they had all kinds of measuring cups and bowls for them to play with in the kernels.
sawyer stayed in that same spot and poured and poured.

ruby did this . . . the entire time. 

part of our ticket deal was unlimited pony rides.  
sawyer was pumped. up.
he loves "horsies" so this was very exciting.

what is so great is that we paid the same amount for the whole thing that it costs to do one pony ride at most events.  
and i tell you...this place was worth every cent.

next up.... feeding the farm animals.

this was so fun!
Jesus was blessing us right and left that morning...besides ruby sleeping peacefully through the whole thing, a lady handed us a cup of animal feed that was 3/4 full because her kids were done with it. 
that cup lasted us quite a while and the boys had so much fun feeding the goats and cows.

 

 

you know how some pumpkin patches or corn maze places are crazy and overstimulating?
this was not like that at all....we really got the sense that they were trying to give families a fun farm experience.
this was our cup o' tea, i tell ya.

after feeding, petting & sitting on the animals, we got in line for the wagon ride.
even the wait was nice because while we were waiting the boys got to play around in the pumpkin patch.
fyi: arkansas is beautiful.

the boys ran and played while AJ and i dreamed about what it would be like to live on land like that.

oh hello hottie.

the wagon ride was awesome.
sawyer said, "that cowboy's gonna give us a ride."
anyone wearing a cowboy hat is a cowboy, the end.
they drove us on a nice, peaceful ride around the land and we got to enjoy the beautiful fall trees in all their autumny color.

after the ride the boys took another pony ride and then they got to hold baby pot bellied pigs.
such a neat experience....although that squealing is nuts!!

the last thing we did was get fried twinkies.
oh yes we did.
oh my mercy, it was heaven on a stick. . . and i don't even like twinkies.
but they dip them in batter and fry them and coat with powdered sugar and you just want to cry, they're so good.

this morning was a gift. . . just one of those times when everything works out so nice.
those are times you hold onto for the other times when everything seems to be chaos & crazy.
it was rejuvenating, for sure.

by the way, this is not a sponsored post at all.....we just loved farmland adventures so much, i had to share. :) Pin It

monday this and that

happy monday.
both my little ones are asleep right now.
it's a monday miracle. :)

we had the. best. day. on saturday...i'll tell you about it soon.

you know what i am so excited about?
tomorrow is november 1st.
i love november 1st. 
it means halloween is over and the holidays are officially starting.
i am ready to delve into all the wonderfulness that is fall and thanksgiving and christmas.
i plan on making the most of the next two months.
i'm going to bake stuff i find on pinterest.
i'm going to listen to christmas music.
i'm going to drink peppermint spice mocha creamer in my coffee every single day.
i'm going to buy a rick of firewood off craig's list & get that wood burning stove going.
i'm going to watch the family stone and dream about an old house in the country. 
i'm going to be thankful and enjoy these cozy days with my family.

you know what show we are loving right now?
person of interest.
it is so good.
love jim caviezel. love michael emerson.

did you see that emily at jones design company has her november giveaway up today?
she does the. best. giveaways.  so thoughtful & lovely.

okay, sister is waking up to eat....have a lovely day friends. :)


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stuff

1. this is from Jesus Calling yesterday:
"I have called each of My children to a different path, distinctly designed for that one.  Do not let anyone convince you that his path is the only right way.  And be careful not to extol your path as superior to another's way.  What I require of you is to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Me- wherever I lead."

isn't that so good?
let's marinate on that shall we?

2.  i love how in the summer my face is tan so the only makeup i wear are these three items:

 

cover girl simply powder foundation. 

i carry it in my purse and put it on when we're on the way to wherever.

NYC lippin large lip plumper in plum tart. 
love this stuff.

cover girl lash blast mascara ~ regular, not waterproof
this is the best mascara.
higher oz. than most and just works really well.

you can see i am a walmart/target makeup kind of gal.
i haven't found any department store makeup that i like more, so this is what i stick with. :)

3.  i have 9 weeks of pregnancy left!! holy cow, that's exciting!

4.  we're moving sawyer into the "big boys" room this weekend.
that should be an adventure.
i'm super excited to have a blank slate for baby sister's room.
i can't wait to watch it come together.

5.  question: where do you save all your pictures & files?
online?
external harddrive?
both?
i need some good/easy suggestions.


**have a wonderful weekend, friends!** Pin It

summer and stuff

the week of memorial day feels like the start of summer to me.
even though my boys have been out all month.
it could also be the fact that it's finally warm and sunny around here.
summer makes me a happy girl.
i was made for warm weather. 

okay...2 things i love:

1. my steamer/frother that aj got me for mother's day.

i love it.
i use it about 3 times a day.
i add it to hot tea, coffee or just make a steamer with a little vanilla & raw sugar.
yum yum yum.
good job, baby.

2. fresh cut flowers from the yard.

i love to have fresh flowers on the table at all times.
it is happy.
our yard is full of flowery surprises.
someday i want to have my own cutting garden.
and that antique vase that i have had forever is the icing on the cake. 

tomorrow we are having a yard sale....the boys are having a lemonade stand because it is going to be {as aj so eloquently puts it} hotter than blue blazes.

they had fun making a sign for their stand.

even if you don't want to buy my junk, i'm sure you want to come out and buy "avery and finley's delcious lemonade" for 25 cents. :)

avery's had swim lessons all week.
it's fun, but i'm glad we're done.

he's such a litte fish.
i love that sweet boy. :)

you know what i don't get?
these.

i mean, i get the point of them for running.
but i don't get why i keep seeing everyone wearing them around lately.
they look hot and uncomfortable to me.
someone, please fill me in.
and please don't be offended if you love them.
they are just a mystery to me.

okay friends that is all . . .  enjoy your weekend!! Pin It

might as well think about valentine's day. . .

hello friends.
i don't have much to say today.
it's january.
january and february seem like the longest months of the year to me.
valentines seems like a fun thing to look forward to.
i know a lot of people think it's hokey but i really like it.
i love red and i love love. :)
so here are some fun things that are making me smile . . . 

{love this pillow}

{do you have some left over red felt??? this is so bright and happy.}

{we made these last year}

{what a fun platter for valentine's day!}

and one of my very favorite part of valentine's {besides the part where i get to go on a hot date with my man} is these:

{oh red hots....how i love you}

anyone have any great valentines ideas to share with me?? 

any tips for avoiding the winter blahs???

i'm all ears. :)

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what i'm digging.

i want to try to make this home made laundry soap.

[photo source]

i am swooning over this giant hanging window. 

i love her style.

[photo source]

 i want to make these funky, messy rosettes for something.

maybe for a pillow if i ever get back to sewing.

maybe for a pin or hair clip....

& this girl has tons of great tutorials. 

[source]

i'd like to make a sign like this one.

 [photo source]

here's an easy tutorial for it.

my friend ashley made a similar version:

[photo source]

loving this bunting

this is just fun.

it's friday friends! have a great weekend.

put on joy! :)

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praise Jesus, it's friday.

 hey friends.
this has been a long, emotionally draining week.
but it's almost the weekend and God is faithful.
i'm so looking forward to a whole weekend with my little family.

okay some fun things......
looky, looky what i got in the mail today:

how cute is that?
and it has gray polka dotty fabric on the inside.
gray and polka dots are two of my favorite things. so double yay.
i read lindsey's blog everyday so i was super excited to win a gift certificate to her pleated poppy shop 
through ordinary inspirations.  thanks lindsey & traci!!  you made my day. :)


2nd fun thing is this dish soap....

 holey moley this stuff smells amazing.
i had a $1 off coupon (of course).
they sell mrs. meyer's at wal-mart now. 
every time i type the word wal-mart, i think of kids in elementary school chanting "wal-mart, fall-apart."  
just thought you should know.
i think i am developing an addiction to sniffing this soap.
i may need to go to counseling.
and i may need to get a job so i can buy every single mrs. meyer's product on the shelf.

okay many of you asked for the bake ahead meal recipes.
i only have one so far, but it was one our our favorites.
the chicken bake.

1 (10oz or whatever the normal size can is) can of cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup milk
2 cups chicken, cooked & cubed
3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded & divided
3 1/2 cups frozen hash brown potatoes
1 1/2 cups frozen peppers & onions

Combine soup, sour cream, milk, chicken & half of the cheese.
Spread 3/4 of this mixture in a greased, freezable baking dish. (we used 9 X 13 but could have used smaller).
Sprinkle hash browns & peppers & onions over top of casserole & press down lightly w/ fork.
Top vegetables w/ remaining soup mixture.
Sprinkle w/ remaining cheese.
Wrap in foil & freeze up to 3 mos.
to serve: thaw overnight in fridge, uncover & bake @ 350 for 60 min. until bubbly & heated through.
the end.

we quadrupled this recipe and it worked great.
it's really yummy and everyone in my family ate it happily.  seriously. that is a miracle right there.

and lastly but not leastly. . .

Happy Happy Birthday Mom!!  looking forward to celebrating with you next week. xoxox Pin It