Yard sale Stop

A lady down our street collects antiques. She has a yard sale at least three times a year, I always try to stop in when time permits. Saturday, was by accident. I was by myself (which is a rarity) and had the time. Whoop!

Look at my finds…

This matches some Fostoria glass that has been handed down to me. I love it!!! I don’t know if it is Fostoria but for $3.00 – I couldn’t pass it by.

(That is green Kool-Aid in it – the pitcher is clear.)I have no idea what this really is…I’m thinking a soup tureen. It is missing a handle but the design is what drew me to it. I love things that tell a story and this certainly does that duty. It goes perfect in my living room which has a lot of deep colors. I’m thinking I might use it for a pot for a beautiful plant.
Still not a bad find for 4 buckaroos.

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you have a wonderful week!

Blessings to you!!! You are loved!!!

If you are interested in more yard sale finds,
go see Southern Hospitality. I just love her site!

Technorati Tags: Fostoria,soup,yard sale,story

Football 101 (mostly for the girls) – pass me those brownie points if you please.

Football season is upon us, whether we like it or not.
I ♥ Football! I love the smell of the leather. I love the air is getting cooler. I love the yells from both sides. I love the camaraderie that comes from men and ladies cheering on their fave teams. I ♥ football.
When I was in high school, I was on the drill team. Our drill team wasn’t about doing drills, it was more of a dance team. I went to 40 plus games in a 4 year stretch. I had NO clue what was happening on the field. (Honestly, our team probably only won 4 out of the 40 games.) It didn’t matter.
I loved it! I loved the sounds, the crowds, the people. Yes, I was a football fan.
I thought a little more about this football phenomena and came to this conclusion, if I knew a little more about the game, I might enjoy the actual game that is being played on the field. So, I learned some highlights, that might help, if someone asked me what actually what was the last play, not to mention earn some brownie points with my boys – thinking MOM knows everything!
(This was taken a few years ago at a homemade Super bowl Party. The numbers were their ages.)
FOOTBALL 101
Object of game: To win the most points by either kicking a field goal or making touchdowns.
Played on: A field.
Since I was on drill team, I knew about the playing field. We danced on it! It was green. It was long. It is actually 100 yards long. It is divided with the center line called the 50 yard line. (Those are the best seats, if you want to surprise your honey with some tickets.) At the end of the field, are 2 goal posts.
Every 5 yards their is a running stripe. (No this is really not math but you will have to know what yard everyone is on during plays.) At the end of each zone is called the end zone. You want your team in the other team’s end zone! The other team protects their end zone so you can’t score.
Who Plays: 3 teams on one
Okay, that sounds confusing. Let me clarify. Yes, their are only 2 teams playing against each other. However, each team has 3 teams on one. They have the DEFENSE, OFFENSE and SPECIAL TEAMS. Kind of like an egg, outer shell, egg white and yolk. Still the same egg just different parts.
OFFENSE job is that they have the ball. I remember this by OFFENSE starts with the “a” sound and ball has the “a” sound. Cute huh? Their job is to get the football to your end zone and score. The infamous skinny quarterback is on the offense team as well as the linemen (the protectors), the running back (the guy who catches the ball the quarterback throws), and the tight end (serves 2 jobs, being a receiver and a blocker). The OFFENSE protects its quarterback and the ball at all costs. (Kind of like a mom and her chicks. She will protect them from danger.)
DEFENSE JOB is that they don’t have the ball. They are trying to kill the offense team to get the ball. (Not really, but this is a rough sport and I wouldn’t want my baby out there.) By the way, the DEFENSE are the HUGE guys. They are to tackle and recover the ball at any costs. (Mama don’t let your babies grow up and be cowboys defense.)
SPECIAL TEAMS are used for kicking aka punting. (I don’t know why they have to use a fancy word like punt when they could have just said kick. Men, I’m sure. Unlike us ladies who never use more words than needed. I.E. blend, mix, fold in, whisk, turn over, and cream. Okay, maybe we are alike more than we think. lol.
Special teams may only come unto the field when the football is dead (not in play.) The kicker is usually a scrawny guy and not usually tackled but heavily protected. I WANT his job.
Okay for the game basics…
Each team will protect their end zone and try to score. Pretty easy right? Except they have to go through human bulldozers to do it and some simple rules.
Each team has to go 10 yards in 4 plays (downs) or the other team gets the ball. If they don’t do this in 3 tries – they have a choice, either bring out the SPECIAL Teams and punt or decide to make a run for it. If you get this – the rest just falls into place.
Oh, one more item of IMPORTANT info: line of scrimmage. It is imaginary but very REAL. The quarterback can’t cross it, if he crosses it then he has to RUN the play, he can no longer throw the ball past this line. Behind it he can toss the ball as many times as needed.
Some Plays: EXTRA brownie points!
Okay football players have to either run or pass. Pretty simple right? But, they are a little more tech than that.
Plays:
Quarterback Sneak – This means he is being SNEAKY. He acts like he is going to do a play and then RUNS the play to gain some yardage. (Remember they have to gain at least 10 yards in 4 plays (downs).
Hand-off is where the quarterback acts like he is going to pass and instead hands the ball off to the running back, who runs the ball.
HAIL MARY – When all the eligible (a wide receiver , tight end or running back) can catch the ball. Basically, the QB throws the ball and hopes for the prayers of Mary.
BONUS “BROWNIE POINTS”:
When your hubby/boyfriend/son are not paying attention – you can throw one of these plays out and sound mighty impressive…
Flee Flicker – QB hands off to running back ..Running back takes few steps with ball... then pitches ball back to QB who then throws ball downfield.
Bootleg – No, they are not selling illegal alcohol on the field (that we know of). This is when football players start playing pretend. The QB pretends he is going to pass the ball to a Running Back – then he moves the other way to run or throw another pass. (My hubby tells me this is done in a shape of a boot thus the name.)
NFL SEASON
Starts Thursday, September 10th at 8:30 Eastern.
TENNESSEE TITANS (who used to be the HOUSTON OILERS) VS PITTSBURGH STEELERS on NBC. You could make it a neat party – just you and your hubby. {wink}
Okay – that was a lot of talk about one sport or at least writing. I hope this helps someone win a little favor with their man.
My man doesn’t really care for the sport but WE make it a family event, so it will be something our family will enjoy later TOGETHER. Yes, even my girls get involved. Usually it is girls team vs. boys team. The girls always pick the team with the prettiest helmet or jersey color. I’m sure every team loves to hear that!
On a much serious note, if you home-school or care a little more about math, fantasy football is a great way to learn some stats and cool record keeping.
If you have any other pointer feel free to leave some pointers or some neat facts!

Blessings to each of you! You are loved!!!

BTW – if you wanting to know my fave team, it is the Houston Oilers.

Yes, they are now the TN TITANs but I will always
Love YA’ BLUE!

Go see more WFMW - I love these!

Technorati Tags: Football,Football 101,Oilers,Super Bowl,Titans,Love ya' Blue,helmet,jersey,girls,boys,together,brownie points

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap

Want to SAVE some MONEY?

For us, this has been a true Dinero-Saver since I don't have a money tree!

I have been making my own laundry detergent since last April. One batch has lasted my 7 member family since then. Last Saturday, I made another batch.

It is SUPER-DUPER EASY!!! The longest part is grating the soap. I found all my ingredients at my local HEB, our grocery store. I think I spent about $6 - $7 for all the ingredients. The only thing, that I will have to buy for every batch is the soap bar. The other ingredients will be LONG lasting!

I got the recipe from The Duggar Family Website. Actually a friend told me about it and my sister also makes it. Theirs is a little different but this is what I use.

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

• 4 Cups hot tap water
• 1 Zote soap bar (This last time I used 2 regular Ivory bars.) 
• {Update:  I like Zote better than Ivory bars.}
• 1 Cup Washing Soda (NOT baking soda) It is found on the laundry detergent aisle
• ½ Cup Borax
• 5 gallon bucket
• 1 grater
• Empty Laundry Soap Dispenser (save your last one)

Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)
-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

For laundry softener, I have started using straight vinegar. Works great and has NO smell. Plus, my washer is cleaner.

FYI: I have a front loader.

Let me know what you use to wash laundry…if you tell me that someone else does the laundry – I might not like you! Just kidding! {wink}

Blessings to you!!! You are LOVED!!!

Old site for some – new for me…

Have you ever heard of paperback swap?  It is my newest venture.  Due to my organizing kick that I am on, it is working really well.

It is a super idea!  You find 10 paperback books that you have already read and don’t mind parting with.  
Hit this button   or here and sign up. (That way I get a credit for referral.  By the way, if it asks you for my nickname, it is:  ilovemy5kids.)

Enter your 10 books and you get 2 credits.  For each credit, you can receive 1 book.  You get to KEEP any book that you swap.  You never have to share it again!  (Note:  There cannot be any writing inside the book, cannot have water damage and must be good condition.)

Now someone might want one of your books that you have listed and you are responsible for mailing them.  I had this happen on Saturday, someone wanted one of my OLD college books.  I was able to print everything including postage on my printer just using 2 sheets of paper. Then I just put it in MY mailbox and it was OFF.  It costs me around $3.00 to send it.  (However, since I used PayPal it was way less than that because I had a credit from another source, that I will have to tell you about at another date.)

I have already requested one book that we needed for homeschooling.  I would have had to pay more than $3.00 for it so I have already saved money.

If you are anything like me then you have extra books in every room that you could list and never miss any of them.  Just an idea – throw it out if you are not interested.

Blessings to you!  You are loved!!!

My very own button…explained.

I wanted to explain my button.

It has a picture of a tree that was taken at my parent’s house.  Where we live now, we don’t have these HUGE  trees.  I just appreciate them so much more now that I’m an adult and a parent.

As a child, we would climb them, use them for shade, hiding places, find critters or watch them blow with the winds. 

As an adult, I am reminded of God’s faithfulness and
Psalm 1:1-3.   

    ¹ Blessed is the man
         Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
         Nor stands in the path of sinners,
         Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
 ² But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
         And in His law he meditates day and night.
 ³ He shall be like a tree
         Planted by the rivers of water,
         That brings forth its fruit in its season,
         Whose leaf also shall not wither;
         And whatever he does shall prosper.
          (Psalm 1:1-3, New King James Version)

Trees withstand storms, trials, disease, even kids, and are not rushed to hurry their own agenda.  They are set to produce fruit in their owner’s timing. 

Not to mention, how majestic trees are.  They are HUGE!  The smell of the pine needles or tree sap just take me back to being a child.  When fall comes, the colors are just breathtaking.  My hubby has started calling me a tree-hugger.  Yes, I don’t mind being called a tree-hugger in this respect.

I hope when you see a tree – you are reminded of this scripture as well and are like the “blessed man” as well.  Enjoy the video below!

Blessings to you!  You are loved!!!

If you would like my button to be posted on your blog or site, just copy the code under the picture in the sidebar and paste it. 

I hope now you know and appreciate the meaning behind it.

I think I’m losing my marbles…

I went to Target the other night with an agenda.  I had a list in my mind.

• Toilet brush (I threw mine away.)
• Look at some book shelves that were on sale.
• Modeling clay (the non-hardening kind)  {I don’t even know if this exists.}

Guess what???  I only looked for the modeling clay and forgot about the rest.  However I managed to come home with a lot of other stuff including chocolate.  In my mind, mission complete.

My son ran into the room and said “Mommy – I found your marbles!”  I have a mason jar full of marbles that I keep on my desk.  I like the colors.  Apparently, he had found some, that mysteriously went missing from jar.

I’m glad he found them.  Have you lost your marbles lately?

Blessings to you!!!  You are loved!!!

A little conferencing going on…with a superstar to boot.

The reason we went on our trip to Houston was the Homeschool conference by THSC.  Not to mention, the wonderful “free” babysitting from my parents.  The conference was like a booster shot for my hubby and me.  It gave us some tools to take home that we were looking for.  

The speakers were awesome and inspirational.  The governor of Texas, Rick Perry was there the first night.  We missed him.  We decided to go to the movies instead.   I made my hubby see a chick-flick.  I now owe him a action one.  Ugh!

Along the way we ran into some sweet friends.  This is Cathy and her mom. 
She is originally from California and married a guy from Texas.   Her mom flew in from Cali just to be with her.  Isn’t that precious?    Cathy  just recently moved  four hours away from me and I miss her so much!  
We like to get in “trouble” together.  She truly is a precious person to me! How I miss her!!! This is what we looked like much of the week – ALL SMILES!  Did I mention my parents gave us a much NEEDED break from our 5 adorable children?  I love my parents!!!! This is how I got my hubby to really come to the conference.  I told him Hank the Cowdog was going to be there.   Get the CD’s or tapes from your local library and listen to them if you haven’t heard of him before!  He is a smart aleck but wouldn’t you be if you were a dog?  My kids and husband love him.

Isn’t that a horrible picture?  I posted it on purpose to show you how horrible my “concert” picture really was. This is John Erickson aka Hank the Cowdog.  I told him I took a horrible picture of him the night before and asked him if I could get another one – he said “SURE!”  My husband is going to want this one framed! This is the other store I must visit, when I am in the Houston area!  I love SAM MOON’s.  This was the first time I have ever visited and came out with zilch!  I wanted to practice self-control.  Now I wonder, what was I thinking????  I used to visit the one in the Dallas area, then they came to Houston…I did the happy dance!!!

Here is the Home Decor Store!  FUN!!!  It actually reminds me of Kirkland’s.  I also showed self-constraint in there.  I think it was the fever.  My hubby and I both got sick in the middle of our time in Houston.  Can you believe it?  Every time we leave or say we are going to leave our children, someone gets ill. 

We still enjoyed ourselves!  Thank you again to my precious parents, who also had a blast!  We love you!

Blessings to you!  You are loved!!!

One of our Fave restaurants – Italiano’s in Humble, TX

If you ever have a layover in Houston, at the Bush Intercontinental Airport and need a good restaurant head North on 59 to Italiano’s. We found this little restaurant years ago. In fact, my hubby and I call it our “spot.”  It is like we were having an affair together because we were alone.  The kids were at Grandma’s house.  I get giddy just thinking of the weekend. Doesn’t this look scrumptious?  I’m sure it had NO calories.
I had the chicken parmesan with a side of spaghetti.  Ohhh….my mouth waters just thinking of the cheese and sauce together.
We spoke to the owner and told him how far we had traveled  so he treated us to free dessert with coffee. 
Oh my!  Oh my!  Shut my mouth!  YUMMY!

Blessings to each of you!  You are loved!!!

Slipping and a sliding…

Look what we got in the mail from www.allchildrensfurniture.com for a review.  Since we had planned to go to Grandma’s house in the country the following week, we decided to try it out there.

 
This is my two princesses with their cousin.  I love their smiles! 
My mom (John Deere Grandma) supplied the 500 water balloons to go along with the water fun. Oh, I wish I could sing – I’d be singing -
“A splishing and a splashing!”
The knees – The knees.  That gotta hurt.
 
Perfect FORM!  I’ll give her a 10!
This is a very special picture.  The lady in the middle is my Grandma, thus their Great-Grandma.  She will be turning 82 next March and can run circles around me.  I’m surprised she didn’t go down the Super Slide.

I would say the Super Slide was a big success.  Plus, it is totally re-useable.  We can’t wait to get it out again and have some more cool water time.

Thank you All Children’s Furniture, who sells everything from awesome water slides to toddler beds.

Blessings to you!  You are loved!!!

1st stop in Houston – IKEA!!!

On a recent trip to Houston we stopped at IKEA.  We love IKEA!!!My kids love it as well.  They are sprinting to get inside! I make them stop to point at the sign.  Yes, the mean mommy!

It seems we have a hit a growing pain.  Our eldest is too tall to go into the play land.  He has grown almost a foot since the last time we were here.  Oh the tears fell for me and him.  I commanded him to quit growing and he didn’t listen. He got over it real quick but my heart still aches.  I can’t believe he is growing into a little man.

This little guy couldn’t go in because he is not fully potty trained.  He is getting better just not there quite yet.  See him sporting his new backpack.  If you sign up for IKEA’s kid’s club they give you all kinds of neat birthday gifts.
He still had fun in the children’s department.
A slide just for him.
After our quick shopping trip, IKEA fed us dinner.  My kids had the choice of the menu but they still picked PB&J’s.  Go figure!
Not to mention, chocolate milk.  Oh, the goodies children can eat and not gain a pound.
So goodbye IKEA – it was a treat to see you again.  We will see you next year.

Blessings to you!!  You are loved!!!

Upcoming Review and Giveaway

Soon I will be reviewing an awesome set of somethings, from Dining Rooms Direct. Not only a review but a sweet giveaway as well.

I'm not telling what it is quite yet! I like knowing what surprises are, just not being surprised myself. My friends know this is true, for I always guess who my secret sister is - ALWAYS - sometimes I guess correctly!

I'm so pleased to be asked to work with Dining Rooms Direct, a part of CSN Stores, as they have some amazing dining room furniture.

Come back soon to see what you could win!

Blessings to you! You are loved!!!

©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

World’s largest Squirrel

By now, if you have been reading my blog at all, you know I love stopping at World’s Largest _______ (you fill in the blank).
When we saw the sign for the World’s Largest Squirrel, we made a quick detour on a recent trip.

It turns out it is a Praline shop in Sinton, Texas. It was so stinking cute!

This was actually in the restroom.
Another restroom picture. For some reason, restroom pictures for this trip were a must at every stop. The boys were lucky that I didn’t follow them to their restroom.
The little ladies that ran the shop just loved on all my children. They even gave us free “glass” coca-cola drinks. How sweet was that!!! They had no idea my kids LOVE Coke! We usually only have “soft drink day” on Sundays, so this was a treat!

Look what else I found in the restroom! How cool is that?!? Blessings to you! You are loved!!!!

Precious Delivery…

Meet my newest nephew. He is a few days old here. Just adorable.

Because we try to keep the names of kids quiet on here, we will call him B! He was born on July 31st 8 lbs and 20 1/2 inches long. Oh, I wish we could live closer, so I could hold him like this all the time. He is just a doll baby!

Congrats to my brother and sister-n-law for their newest addition!This is a picture of my brother and me. Isn’t he a sweetie? I just love him! I didn’t get any picts of my precious sister-n-law this time. She is so precious to me!

In a few weeks, I’m going to do a tour of homes that I love and will be showcasing theirs. She did most of the designing – God has truly blessed with her with amazing creativity.

Last week, we did some traveling and the Lord truly blessed us with amazing refreshment that only could come from Him! I can’t wait to share all we did.

Until then…

Blessings to you! You are loved!!!