Mondays Maid Simple: Slipper Genie

I hate the feeling of crumbs or dust or anything on the bottom of my feet and it seems in this house that it is unavoidable. From the moment I get out of bed in the morning I slide into some form of sandal or slipper to ensure that this won't happen. That is until I discovered these bad boys.

order here

The Slipper Genie. I know some of you have already heard of these fabulous slippers but I hadn't until I saw them in last months issue of Real Simple mag. I ordered them off amazon as soon as I saw them because my whole house is hardwood floor, linoleum or tile. Basically a crumb and dust trap. Even though I sweep religiously it doesn't seem to help, but these do.
Not only do these little gems help me clean without even having to try but they are super comfy and a breeze to clean. The bottom part detaches and all you have to do is pop them in the wash. All the while I can still wear them as regular slippers while the bottom part is being washed. I even bought the mens pair for Micah and he thinks they are super comfortable as well and doesn't even realize he is helping me clean by walking around the house. HAHA! I love these things and will probably invest in every color.
So if you're looking for something to throw on while lounging around the house and you don't have a carpeted home I really suggest getting a pair of these. You won't regret it.
Have a fabulous week.

'til death do us part

... except our officiant said "til death us do part" which of course we repeated. I understand that technically it is still correct to say it that way but it didn't feel natural, I mean saying our vows came naturally but the "us do" didn't exactly roll off the tongue because we had both always heard it said the other way. That was eight years ago today. I still can't believe it. I know people say this all the time but it truly does not feel like it has been that long. It's crazy to think that after buying our first home and selling it, traveling all over, and having two kids that our journey together has only just begun (queue Carpenters "We've only just begun" track here) We still have so much to look forward to. I can't imagine my life without him. He is still,hands down, the funniest person I know, most genuine and kindest as well. His integrity has not faltered and find that I (as cheesy as this sounds) am more in love with him today than I was the day we said "I do"

Micah, you are an amazing father and wonderful husband. Thank you for all you do for me and our family. I am tremendously blessed with you as my partner in life. You are my best friend and I love you. Our adventure continues...

look at us, we were just babies

5 year vow renewal in Las Vegas

aww... look at these two love birds

...and now

The traditional eight year anniversary gift is Bronze. I decided I would have a sculpture made of me and place it in the front yard for Micah to discover upon his return home from his business trip but who knew that would cost thousands, so I think I'll stick to the modern gift idea and go with Linen. I wanted new sheets anyway, so it's the perfect excuse. 

"The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart." - Helen Keller

"There is a time for work. And a time for love. That leaves no other time."- Coco Chanel

1 Cor: 4-7 "Love is patient, Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Mondays Maid Simple:Ten in Ten

Last week Micah told me he was going to be home late so I kind of put dinner out of my mind and was playing with Elsie never once looking at the clock. He walked in 5 minutes after six (not late) and there was no dinner to be had. I jumped up and ran to the fridge and grabbed my secret weapon. My life saver. Trader Joe's Island Soyaki sauce. I cut up peppers, onions, zucchini, mushrooms and grabbed a handful of broccoli out of the bag and threw it all in the skillet. I poured some of this secret sauce on it and while the veggies cooked I heated corn tortillas over the open flame, sliced up some limes and cilantro and set out plates. These were the best veggie tacos ever! That is when it hit me, whenever I am short on time or haven't prepared a meal ahead of time I turn to this awesome sauce. Knowing we all have days like this I wanted to share this tip with you and have even offered 10 meals in 10 minutes using this special ingredient.

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Ten in Ten

• Teriyaki Tacos (veggie,chicken, steak, tofu)
• Shrimp Skewers
• Fajitas
• Hawaiian Burgers (top burger with fresh pineapple for extra yumminess)
• Sir Fry (top over brown rice)
• Grilled fish Salad (grill in sauce then heat a little extra sauce as dressing for the salad)
• Lettuce wraps (dice veggies & heat with ground turkey/chicken, place in lettuce)
• Grilled Chicken and veggies (all marinated in sauce or just brushed on while grilling)
• Meatballs (yes this sauce is awesome on frozen meatballs vegan,turkey or beef)
• Pork kabobs (pork tenderloin cut into pieces, skewer w/ chunks of pineapple and brush with sauce)

Seriously, these meals rock and are all super quick and easy due to the Soyaki. Go stock up on this item and while you're there grab some of their Organic Cooked Brown rice. This is another life saver of mine if I didn't have rice prepped ahead. It cooks in 3 minutes. I apologize now for those of you who don't have a Trader Joe's in your area, but get in touch with someone who does and have them ship you some. Seriously, this is so good!

Have a fabulous week!

Motherisms

"No feet where we eat" I heard myself tell Elsie these exact words this week and realized that I am officially a mother. I mean ya, duh I have two kids and of course I knew I was a mom, but now that Elsie is coming into her own and needs more guidance and rearing I find myself saying things that, well... let's face it, moms say. These aren't necessarily things my mom said but just moms in general. I searched real quick for the top 10 Motherisms and was relieved to find I haven't used any of these yet. I say yet because my children are young and I'm bound to say a few of these if not all.

Top Ten

• “If everyone else jumped off a cliff, would you do it too?”
• “It’s all fun and games until someone pokes an eye out.”
• “You’d forget your head if it wasn’t screwed on.”
• “Elbows off the table.”
• “Don't talk with your mouth full.”
• “Clean up your room, it looks like a tornado hit.”
• “Do you think I was born yesterday?”
• "Is that too much to ask?"
• “Why? Because I said so, that's why!”
• “Money doesn’t grow on trees!”

Here is a glimpse into my Mother's Day weekend. 

Gardening

 

in our bathing suits of course

enjoyed ourselves with family at my cousins reception.  

Here is the happy couple Dan & Jenn

 Making my special mother's day breakfast

homemade waffles, made with love

a bit of shopping here

matching pj's

...and Micah finished hanging our wall-callage today. This made my weekend!

As my children grow and I am faced with new challenges and blessings as a mother I find it hard to not think of my own mama and all she did and continues to sacrifice for my brothers and myself. I love her so much and can only hope to impart on my kiddos the love she showed me. I hope all of you had a fabulous weekend filled with love while celebrating your mommies or your own motherhood.

Nose stuck in a book

In the recent weeks I took a break from cyber space (facebook, blog, stalking people and blogs) and started reading. Well I should say reading, again. Finally. It started on March 23rd when Elizabeth Taylor's death was announced. I went to Barnes & Noble and purchased her biography that day. It took me about a week to read. It would have been sooner but had to read between feedings, naps and all that other mommie jazz. Well since then I read four other books. Two light hearted non-brain stimulating books, a great fiction and a kind of self-help (which I highly recommend every mom reading) book. I am still on a kick but decided I want to read one book a month. It has been great for me to take time and escape into a different world of another through a biography or find myself cracking up out loud over a funny fiction or wipe tears when relating to someone in a non-fiction or fiction for that matter. It is just nice to find time to read again. It also helps that at our local library they have a used book shop where I bought most of my reads for $1.00 or less. You can't beat that and only encourages me to go each week and stock up!

 This was so intriguing. Disheartening and inspiring at the same time.

THIS BOOK HAS CHANGED MY MOTHERING LIFE!

 Shan talked about this book in a recent blog post. Check it out here

 I only put this book down when I needed to use the restroom. 

Finished this in two days. Super easy and fun read. 

Started this in the morning and finished by Vernon's last feeding the same day.

If you need something super easy and light hearted guaranteed to make you laugh, get this. 

Mondays Maid Simple

So I am here, and with an actual tip for you all. Yay, I know so exciting. Shan was the one to introduce me to this simple method so technically this is her tip and she should be the one posting it, but it was years ago when she showed me and since I am in the process of hanging the last of our artwork in the house I thought I'd share it with all of you.
Instead of the crude and sometimes destructive method of hanging wall decor (i.e; nails and screws) there is a much more discreet way of going about such a process. Steel Sewing Needles. Yup, you read that right. Just your standard sewing needle will do the trick.

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I used them in the past to hang pictures, clocks and anything really. I would not recommend hanging something as heavy as a large mirror but the needles hold a surprising amount of weight and can be removed with almost no sign that they were ever driven into the wall. You don't have to use fat needles either, I used a regular sized needle to hold one of my 17 x 22 prints in our last house and two of the same size to hold one of my heavy decorative mirrors.
Purchase needles in various sizes, clip the "eye" end off to the appropriate length and drive them into the wall at a 45 degree angle or perhaps 30 degree for heavier items.
A hammer installs them and a pair of pliers pulls them out.
Least damaging of any other method we have tried.
Unfortunatley, our 1956 home with original plaster walls won't allow this technique to be done. I am super bummed and am now in the process of laying all of our art and decor on the floor to see how I want it displayed on the walls, otherwise we will have huge holes if we make a mistake considering we have to use a drill gun. (BIG SIGH) Hope the rest of you can benefit from this tip though.

Cross Country Cookin': Taco Ring

So this weeks recipe from Jenn is for Taco Ring. I have had this on different occasions at various family gatherings and every time she makes it I can never get enough. The combination of crescent rolls, meat and cheese can only translate to fatty goodness! I can remember having this as a young girl at a Pampered Chef party with my mom and think that is where it originated from...not quite sure though.

TACO RING
1 lb of meat (ground beef, turkey, chicken)
1 packet of Taco Seasoning
grated cheddar cheese (however much you like)
2 cans of crescent rolls

Brown the meat. Follow directions from your taco seasoning packet for making taco meat. When meat is ready add cheese to it.

While your meat is cooking start by placing the crescent rolls in a "sunshine" shape on the baking stone or sheet. Take one triangle and put it at 12 o'clock (wide part to the middle, pointed end out), put another triangle at 3, 6 and 9 o'clock. Fill in the rest of the triangles. When meat is ready place it around 

the center edge of the "sunshine" then fold the pointed ends to the middle to cover the meat. Bake it in the oven at 375 until golden brown.

Topping Suggestions:

sour cream

lettuce

tomato

cheese

olives

salsa

I'm thinking that if you really wanted to cut some calories you could use the 1/3 less fat crescent rolls, soy meat crumbles and soy cheese. I might try that this week.

This dish is so simple and is great for entertaining. I think I will go stock yp on these ingredients seeing as how I have guests stopping by each week to meet my little man and would love to have a delish dish on hand for them. 

Hope you all enjoy! ( I know you will) 

This pic is from the Pampered Chef Cookbook. What a fab idea to have the toppings in the middle for guest to scoop up. Great presentation!