A Blessed Womans Daybook

Outside my window ~ Spring is here ! :)

Around the house ~ Back to cleaning, straightening, re-vamping things after a sickly couple of weeks.

I'm thinking - how daily Mass is God's gift to us and the devil doesn't want you to know about it!

Look mom ~

I lost my first tooth!

Buck loves PMK!

Weight Watcher's the last two weeks ~ Well, I haven't stuck to the plan, exactly, but I was down .6 yesterday?! :)  It's hard to stay on track while traveling.  Although, I do see how attending the meetings and staying aware of what I'm putting in my mouth is making a difference.  It's all about living a healthy lifestyle!

I'm happy for ~ Buck.  He's finally getting to go to ball practice today!

I'm praying for ~ children with cancer...and their families.

My picture ~

Homeschool Conference shopping goodies :)

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A Blessed Woman's Daybook

Outside my window ~ The weather is warm and beautiful.  Too bad the kids are stuck inside with bronchitis.  I noticed the wildflowers or maybe weeds are starting to bloom.  I picked a few for us to study.  God is so incredible!

I'm hoping ~  Everyone's well soon.  We are anxious to spend time with family!

Weight Watchers this week ~  Down 2 lbs this week!  Thats a total of 11.4!  Yay!  I feel soooo much better physically and spiritually.

Recipe of the week ~ Spinach Lasagna Rolls.  These were so good and easier to assemble than your standard lasagna, in my opinion.  I used more sauce than shown :)

I'm listening to ~ The House Cat's CD - Music Inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia.  Lots of good inspirational music.

I'm enjoying ~ My guitar lessons.  The House Cat is a good teacher!  Right now I'm learning Beautiful and Let your light shine by Bethany Dillion.  It's interesting how we came to listen to her.... She sings the song Dreamer from that movie.  We really liked her voice so we checked into her music.  I was thrilled to find out that she's a Christian artist!  She's definitely one of our favs!

Lenten cleaning from week two ~ I know it's a little late but, I've been busy! :)  Weekly focus was bedrooms.  We spent a lot of time cleaning out closets, going through clothing and doing a little re-decorating.  We took down drapes, scrubbed baseboards and I tried to clean the edges of the carpet that the vacuum doesn't quite get.  Still not perfect but better than before :)

The girls room

Snuggle Bug and I found this precious little bird house lamp for $3 on Sat.  We had some mother-daughter time and enjoyed shopping at one of our favorite stores, Mission Possible Thrift Store.  Proceeds there benefit a local homeless shelter.

We also found this great book shelf for only 8 bucks!

The House Cat was happy with her new CD rack for $2!

And I just love this painting of The Holy Family, given to Honeybee by her Godparents, surrounded by SB and HCs First Holy Communion dishes and El Divino Nino.

My room...

Do you remember Jessica's what's on your nightstand post?  On mine now is a special little book stand made by Buck and his Dad.  There stand some of my favorite books, our wedding photo and my special Good Shepherd picture.

I finally framed a painting by The House Cat that had been leaning in between the wall and my nightstand.  I just love it!

Buck and Honeybee's room...

Toys were sorted and stored in plastic bins.

Shoes were sorted and hung.  If you look closely you will see a door hanger made by HC for prayer time.  She made one for each of us this Lent.

Lenten Cleaning week three ~ Lets see....  Sick kids...  spraying Lysol.  Had the air conditioning guy come and clean the air duct intake.  Smells soooo much better now!  I hope killing that mold and mildew will help with Snuggle Bug's allergies.

Still trying to convince the sugar ants to find a new home.... 

Keeping an eye out on craigslist etc. for an Entertainment armoire.  Our entertainment center has seen its better day.  I'd love to be able to close the doors and hide all of the stereo equiptment etc.  Also watching out for matching twin comforters for Buck and Honeybee's Bunk bed.

Plans for next week ~ Hope to start on the big kitchen project.  I'm sure it'll take at least two weeks.  It needs a head to toe cleaning!  We are looking into updating the cabinets a little with wainscoting and paint.  I also plan to take everything out of the cabinets and pantry, replace shelving paper, and pass along items that haven't been used in a year.  I've asked my honey for a 5 gallon bucket of white paint - semi -gloss at least!  Must be able to wipe down frequently! :)

40 bags ~ We've been filling up lots of bags.  I need to ask hubby what the count is.  It feels so good to go through things, make a home for what you use and give away the rest!

My picture thought ~

Honeybee's new apron... a special gift from her Godmother.

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A Blessed Woman's Daybook

Outside my window ~ Big, beautiful snowflakes this morning.  Now just rain :(

I'm thinking of ~ The Mass offered for our homeschool group by our dear Bishop on Sunday.  His homily was so touching.  He was so supportive of what we are trying to do. What's that?  Getting our children and ourselves to heaven, of course!

I'm creating ~ March, Literature for the Young Lady schedule with Snuggle Bug.  She'll continue reading Anne of Green Gables.  She has started a notebook for unfamiliar words she comes across.  She writes down the  words as she reads.  Then, we look them up together. She reads the sentence again to make sure she now understands the meaning and then writes down the definition. 

Shakespeare studies ~ The House Cat and I are continuing with Hamlet.  When I went out to the website for our nearest Shakespeare festival, guess what tickets had just gone on sale?  Why, Hamlet of course!  She and I are looking forward to taking in our first Shakespeare play and some qualitity mother/daughter time :)

Speaking of Shakespeare, I really like the Shakespeare Can Be Fun series!  Check it out when you have a sec.  Also, Poetry for Young People, William Shakespeare is good.  I just ordered a copy from Amazon :)  New copy/memory work assignment - To be or not to be; that is the question.....

Weight Watchers this week ~ down .8 ~ total loss 9.4.  I'm trying a new snack as we speak or should I say as I type :)  Creole Popcorn.  1 single serve 100 calorie pack of popcorn, popped, fat free Parkay spray and Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning sprinkled on top.  Yummy!  2 points!

I'm reading ~ or will be this week - Part 4, She Provides Tasks for Her Maidens from Graced and Gifted by Kimberley Hahn. 

I'm hoping to ~ Make it to book group to discuss the chapter and to spend some time with some remarkable ladies!

We're playing ~ Staetris, after reading this post.  Please pray for Noah, Donna's nephew, and his family.

I'm praying for ~ God's will to be done in our lives.  Especially in my parent's new home acquisition.

My Picture thought ~

Never fear ~ The Marshall is here!

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A Blessed Woman's Daybook

Outside my window ~ I'm hearing lots of birds chatting away.  Snuggle Bug and I are using one of her new birthday books to try to identify them.



Around the house ~ I've been up and busy since before six this morning.  The laundry is going, I've got a lot in my "to do" pile.  It would be so easy to get overwhelmed.  Through the grace of God, I'll be at peace with whatever happens today.  He knows best.  May I be the pencil in His hand!



I'm wearing ~ A long sleeved Alabama t-shirt, my brown scapular, black Danskin pull on pants, Asics (my work shoes), my hair in a clip , and of course my reading glasses.

To be fit and healthy ~ Two months down with Weight Watchers - a lifetime to go!  We are really enjoying our "life style" change.  I realy like going to the meetings.  They keep me motivated and I pick up lots of ideas there!  So far I've lost 7 pounds.  Even better than that - I wore a belted skirt to Mass yesterday!  I can't remember the last time I tucked in a shirt and wore a belt! 

Recipe of the week ~

Chili (2 WW points /cup) and yummy!

• 1/2 pound lean ground chuck (85-15), 1 onion, 1 green bellpepper, salt, pepper
• 4 cans Mexican Stewed Tomatoes (chopped up as you like them)
• 1 can dark red kidney beans, drained
• 3 Tlb. chili powder
• 1 & 1/2 Tlb. cumin

Start by browning the meat with the onion, bell pepper, salt and pepper.  Drain fat.  Add canned tomatoes with liquid, beans, and seasoning.  Let simmer at least 2 hours or transfer to a crock pot for the day. 

I'm thinking of ~ Lots of days spent busy with blessings.  Especially the date I had with my honey last night!

I'm praying for ~ friends who have babies on the way and those who have new little saints in heaven.  For Donna's nephew Noah and his family.

One of my favorite things ~ morning hugs from sleepy little ones.

We're listening to ~ Pursue Me, Danielle Rose's last CD.  A birthday gift from the House Cat to her sister. All of the proceeds of this album go to support vocations.  So go buy one - you won't be sorry!

I'm creating ~ Lots of Liturgical Year Notebooks.

I'm enjoying ~ more evening family prayer time.  Including the Jesus Tree Reading, the symbol being placed on the tree and a decade of the Roasry by candlelight.

I'm looking forward to ~ Mass with the Bishop on Sunday.  He's offering a Mass for our homeschool group.  We are blessed to be able to help with the Mass music.

I'm hoping ~ we get go to the Natural History Museum this week with good friends.

My picture thought ~ As still as a statue

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A Blessed Woman's Daybook ~

Outside my window ~ More clouds and rain.

On the Menu ~

Eggplant Parmesan ~ another of Gina's recipes. I've got this ready to pop into the oven. If it's anything like her other recipes I've tried, it will be Yummy!

I bought myself a little treat at the Weight Watchers meeting this morning. I've lost 5 pounds :) so I got myself this new water bottle. My focus this week is to drink more water -

I think this will help :)

I'm creating ~ A new and improved recipe binder. Only smart, delicious recipes allowed!

I'm hearing ~ The Rookie. Buck asked me to pick this up for him from the library -AGAIN- . I've got a little guy who is ready for the season to start!

Notebooking fun ~ Here's Snuggle Bug working on the cover for her bird book.

Here's the completed project along with The House Cat's Liturgical Year Binder. The girls are really enjoying working on these!

A peek inside the liturgical year binder...

More to come....

Have a blessed week!

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A Blessed Woman's Daybook

Outside my window ~ Blackbirds, blackbirds, and more blackbirds. Boy they sure are chatty! The birds gave us quite a show Saturday morning. I don't think I've ever noticed so many in our yard at once. We could barely get finished with our lunch without someone jumping up and grabbing the binoculars. A special treat for me was seeing our Blue Jay and his mate. Another first!

I'm hearing ~ silence. It's after ten and everyone else has gone to bed. I've been trying to type this post all day to no avail.

We're looking forward to ~ 19 Kids and Counting: Special Duggar Delivery will air Sunday night at 7 central time on TLC. We enjoy watching the Duggars. They are such a beautiful Christian example to the world!

I'm wearing ~ my new University of Alabama shirt (Roll Tide), black pull on pants, and my hair is still in the braid that Snuggle Bug fixed this morning.

Around the house ~ Buck has successfully knocked all three of the pictures off the wall leading from the living room down the hall. How, you may ask? Playing football - of course :) I'll buy new frames later. For now he needs to be a boy.

Recipe of the week ~ Baked Zucchini Sticks with Homemade Marinara Sauce. This was Yummmmy! Thanks for the recipe Gina. This one is definitely a keeper....Yummy and Low point!

Weight Watchers ~ I am not focused on the scale. Repeat -I am not focused on the scale! Today was my meeting day. I was determined to be happy no matter what the scale said! I am peaceful with knowing I am being temperate with my food, sticking to the plan and not overeating . I took a new notebook with me to write down goals, recipes, and other info that comes up in the meetings. Yes, I'm a note taker :) It's good to be back and I already am feeling so much better - even if the scale doesn't show much of change ;)

Thought of the day ~ Nothing tastes as good as healthy feels!

Healthy Goal(s) this week ~ Walk at least three times and eat breakfast first thing in the morning.

We are creating ~ A Book of Centuries for The House Cat and Snuggle Bug. Also, we picked up needlepoint and cross-stich packets at Michael's this weekend.

I'm planning ~ on Snuggle Bug starting a bird book of her own. I'd love to hear suggestions if any has them.

A picture thought ~
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A Blessed Womans Daybook

Outside my window ~ The birds are back! My honey brought home some more suet and our downy friends are back :) The kids are all outside enjoying the warmer weather. All except for the House Cat whose back in her room immersed in Jane Austen :)


Praying for ~ All of the poor people in Haiti.


To be fit and healthy ~ I'm not focused on the numbers on the scale.....right? Right! Today is weigh in day at Weight Watchers. That scale is not my friend! Just kidding :) When mama eats good food, everyone does. The whole family is making healthier choices and feeling better for it!

God is making sure that I don't forget why I'm really doing this. I must learn to be temperant with food! This weeks focus is to move more. My commitment - walk on the treadmill at least twice.


On the menu ~ Tonight we are going to try this Spinach Lasagna recipe and this on the side. A couple of nights ago we made Taco Soup. It was yummy and only 2 points for a cup. Here's the recipe if you want it.


Recipe of the week ~ Weight Watcher's Taco Soup

1/2 pound lean ground beef, chicken, or turkey
1 chopped onion
1 can of black beans, drained
1 can chili beans
2 cans diced tomatoes (we used Rotel and it was very spicy) Use diced tomatoes to suit your taste.
1 can corn
1 pkg Hidden Valley Seasoning Dry Mix
2 cups water
1 pkg low sodium taco seasoning mix


Brown meat and onions. Add all remaining ingredients. (The only thing we drained we the black beans. Otherwise just pour the whole can in.) Bring up to a low boil and cook over med. low temp 45min. Enjoy!


One of my favorite things ~ Honeybee's curls. They form little ringlets at the bottom of her long hair.


To live the liturgy ~ Have you visited Lacy over at Catholic Icing? She does a great job gathering and sharing ideas for celebrating upcoming feast days.


We are watching Saint Jon Bosco - Mission to Love this week. His feast day is on the last day of January which falls on Sunday this year. So, we will be watching during our evening family time this week.


In the school room ~ Which is of course the whole house :) We are still working on the baptism folders. I've got lots of work printed and ready to go for Buck and Honeybee. Snuggle Bug and I are continuing to gather books for her sunflower basket and The House Cat and I are looking into starting Shakespeare Fridays. I still need to order the January Science Basket books for Buck. I just love Serendipity - don't you?




My picture thought~ Reading is great - especially when your sitting in a tree!

Have a blessed week!

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Our New Years Eve Plans

Today we celebrate Pope St. Sylvester. He is remembered for baptizing Emperor Constantine,who was cured from leprosy afterwards. He was the first pope to be called a saint who wasn't also a martyr.

Austrians dedicate this day to him and celebrate how he brought about the dawning of a new era for all of Europe. Sylvester Punch is served on this night.

Well, I don't have the ingredients for that and I know my kids wouldn't drink it! So.... instead I think we will have some yummy ice cream punch instead. To make it you let 1/2 gal (box) of vanilla ice cream soften in a punch bowl. Once it is soft you pour Cream Soda in until full. This is my kind of recipe! Quick, Easy, and Delicious! I'm definitely the semi-homemade kinda cook! :)

I started my day off wondering what movie we could watch tonight as a family. After reading about Austria, I'm definitely thinking of The Sound of Music. I'll get my honey to pick up pizza from Sams on his way home. So we'll enjoy pizza and ice cream punch while we watch our movie. We may as well have one last calorie blow out before tomorrow. Yep, 2010 is our year to get in shape :) I know, I know, you've heard me say it before. But, this time I pray God will give us the grace to do it for HIM! Weight Watchers is calling my name and I'm starting back going to the meetings next week. I've already gone online, picked a meeting time, and added it to my calendar. I weighed this morning -OUCH- :( No wonder I'm staying tired all of the time. Please pray for us as we start this new journey towards eating right and exercising. Watch my sidebar for updates on how we are doing.

I pray you all have a wonderful last day of 2009. May God Bless You All Richly in 2010!