Adventures in Homeschooling!

Yup you heard me right, HOMESCHOOLING. Trust me when I say I didn't EVER think I would be homeschooling. But here I am, jumped in feet first and just completed my second week! I am not homeschooling both boys. I am homeschooling Kris, who I have described very well here . We haven't been thrilled with his school placement this year. Actually we haven't been thrilled with it any year since preschool. But this year has been particularly awful.
To make a long story short, he told me the other day that I am the best teacher he has ever had. Yes, I almost cried when he told me this. However, he does still try to avoid things that are hard for him, math in particular. But he is plugging along and doing great! The hardest part of homeschooling is my 18 month old! She is crawling on the table, yelling to use our pencils. Generally wanting to do EVERYTHING we are doing! So we are letting her (or so she thinks!) and still plugging along.
Well, that is where I have been. But I do have some fun stuff to post this week! I had a BANNER day at two of my favorite thrift stores today! Which is just what I needed after being cooped up in the house for the last two weeks! And some yummy recipes! So I'll be back! :)

The frugal kitchen part 1

I have been thinking about doing one of these posts, since I seem to be falling more and more in love with cooking. I am always looking for ways to help stretch a dollar. And the kitchen is no exception. I have found that it's usually a win-win situation if you find a few uses for the same thing. Which brings us to bread crumbs. They are SO much better if you make your own! You can season them any way you desire. I tend to like to make them and freeze them plain. That way when I pull them out to use them I can season them anyway I please. Or sometimes just leave them plain! I promise they will be SO much tastier (is that a word?) than their store bought counterparts! And you can make them as fine or as chunky as you want.

I usually start by toasting bread in the oven until crisp all the way through. If your family doesn't like the "ends" of the bread you can throw them in the freezer until you have enough to make a batch. Sometimes I buy a loaf of bread just to make them! Depends on what I have here. Other times I put the bread in the food processor first and then toast. Either way is fine whichever you prefer. If I am making more of a chunkier panko-type breadcrumb then I smash them up after they are toasted. I usually use my pounder that I use for meat.

Make them, I know you will love them! XO

A Birthday and my love for chalk boards!

Well this past weekend was my twin baby boys' birthday party, say that 3 times fast! :) They turned 9 and I honestly don't know where the time has gone. I find myself saying this all the time now, a sure sign of getting old!!!

We had a family party, which we always do. Lots of cousins, aunts, uncles and mema's and papa's! I saved myself some work and ordered the food. I NEVER do this, but when I priced it, it would have cost me the same in the grocery store! So I did it and it ended up being delicious!

I also finished painting the island doors and drawers black. You can see a glimpse of it here. Don't mind the pile of cookbooks underneath, they are patiently waiting for the shelves to be put on the island again. Hopefully soon!

And I had this ornate frame in my basement for a few years and couldn't decide on a corkboard or a chalkboard. I bought it for $40 at one my favorite stops. You see which won! It's a pretty big frame too, All I did was had my dh cut a piece of AC plywood (that I already had) and then painted it with chalkboard paint (that I already had) After that I used liquid nails to adhere it to the frame and VOILA, Ballard Designs chalkboard without the Ballard designs price! :)

I have a thing for chalkboards anyway. I figured I'd show you my little french pig chef who sits next to my sink! They are so much fun to leave little messages on and switch things up some!

Enjoy!

Have to share this

Well today was my baby boys' birthday, they turned 9. I just can't believe it, where does the time go? We are having their party tomorrow so I have been busy busy around here! I will have pictures of the birthday boys very soon! I am DONE with the island and a few other projects and pictures coming soon!
I really wanted to share this with you. This was hanging in the horse barn my kids ride at and I just love it. It's basically a more elaborate "golden rule". I hope you like it as much as I do! :)
Kristi


Set a shining example
Set a shining example The world around you will follow the example that you set. The shortcomings in others that frustrate you the most are able to do so because they resonate with similar shortcomings in your own life.
Make improvements in your own attitude and behavior, and you'll see corresponding improvements in those around you. Focus your own thoughts on the positive possibilities, and others will pick up on and emulate that focus.
Stop searching for blame and start mending what's broken. Stop seeking to judge and start putting your values into positive, productive action.
Your influence is far greater than you now realize. Use that influence wisely, to build, to grow, and to improve everything with which you are connected.
Every achievement, every injustice, every inspiration, every frustration that you notice has something to teach you about yourself. Learn the lessons well, apply them with true commitment, and you'll change your world as well as yourself.
Set a shining example with the way you live each day. For life is watching and busily following along with your every move.
-- Ralph Marston

ADD decorating

While following LifeinGrace, Edie talks about being ADD. If you aren't reading her blog, go ahead and visit. You will thank me. I realized, while literally laughing out loud reading her posts that I am definately ADD as well. Seriously, I started painting my kitchen island in July and it's not entirely done. Well, let me rephrase this. I sanded, primed, painted and poly'd the kitchen island from start to finish. But I didn't do the doors and drawers, until tonight almost 6 months later. I'm getting it done though right?

Some projects I whip out like you can't believe. Others can drag on and on and on and ON! I am showing you some pictures I would probably never post on here. But I need to do this to hold myself accountable! My boys will turn nine on Friday (which I can't believe) and I will have 30 people in my house on Saturday night! So these drawers and doors need to be DONE! And then I can reveal it in his glory.

Do you have projects that drag on? I am a person that I'm in creative mode or NOT. There is no inbetween for me. I'm either painting, decorating, rearranging and ripping something apart or I'm doing nothing creative. And let's not even TALK about sidetracked! I will go downstairs in the basement to frame a few prints and two hours later I walk upstairs with baby pictures, some fleur de lis tacks and the prints are still on the craft table with no frames on them. I digress. FOCUS Kristi, FOCUS! :)

Hello 2010!

I took a short break without even realizing it. We have been just enjoying ourselves, eating too much and generally having a good time! I thought I'd share a few pictures with you all. We had a wonderful Christmas and started the New Year off sled riding! Fun times!

I usually never make New year resolutions because I don't like looking back on all the things I didn't do!!! But this year I would like to take better care of myself. Exercise, eating better and making and going to doctor's appointments! This sounds easy enough, but we'll see if I do it. I think I will. :)

Here are some pics of our Holiday!

Here is how Moo moo spent her time sledding! LOL :)

Cookies, cookies and more cookies!

I admit, I have taken the last two years off of baking. The Christmas before last I was pregnant and I had all I could do not to throw up on the 20 lb prime rib I made for Christmas eve. And last year the baby was about 5 months old. So baking took a back seat. I think we might have made chocolate covered pretzels.... but my mind is blurred, I can't remember.

This year however we are back with full cookie power! The kids are loving baking with me. The challenge this year is to actually have some LEFTOVER to give to others, or at least a small plate to bring to my mom's Christmas eve. These people I live with have eaten EVERY cookie I have baked so far. Actually last night was the FIRST night we had some leftover. The kids made some round sugar cookies and I did cut outs the night before so they could frost and decorate them all. Their little friend Olivia came over to help us and had a ball! Let me tell you, I forgot how ANNOYING cut outs are and how they BREAK or stick! That's a whole other story, lol. I was trying to think nice thoughts and not say bad words while cutting them out. I think I did pretty good.

I made a couple batches of ricotta cookies and THOSE are all gone too. Seriously. I had them in the FREEZER and these scavengers I live with are eating them FROZEN right out of my freezer!!! Apparently these came out real good, LOL! I need to make these again and HIDE them, maybe in the shed this time? And I'm going to make butter balls, which are my mom's favorite.

I'm getting the year off from hosting Christmas eve this year. I have hosted every year the last 7 years. It's bittersweet. I like our "tradition" of having it here and the kids keep asking why. But on the other hand it's nice that we will go to mom and dad's and have a nice meal. And I get to R E L A X. I know I have many entertaining years ahead of me (God willing) so I'm going to enjoy this one at my parents house! I usually have an egg bake in the fridge Christmas eve for Christmas morning. We are real LOW key on Christmas day. We open gifts, eat our yummy breakfast, relax and enjoy each other. Around 3 o'clock we go to my parents house (they are doing both this year!) and have dinner. Christmas Day attire usually consists of a jogging suit or something VERY comfortable. I have even taken a shower, done hair, make up and put back on a pair of PJ's and gone over there. We aren't real fancy, but very comfortable :)

It's hard to believe it's Christmas Eve already! I am wishing each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas. Have a GREAT day!

xoxo

Kristi