Rocky Top Country Christmas CD

This CD is filled with 44 minutes of the most beautiful blue grass music I think I have ever heard. Country, Instrumental, and Holiday all come together with instrumentation from Fiddle, String Bass, Hammered Dulcimer, Dobro,  Autoharp and Mandolin. It is such a joy to listen to.

My kids and I love to listen to all different kinds of music while we are riding in our van, so when this came up for review from Family Christian, I jumped at the opportunity! I am so thankful I was chosen to do this review. As soon as it came in the mail, we popped it into our cd player and took a drive. We enjoyed this so much! We listened to the whole thing and decided to not listen to anymore until Christmas. We don't like to listen to Christmas music until the month of December. So you can imagine how anxious we are to get to listen to this wonderful cd again in about another week. We can't wait!!!

Here is the list of songs on the cd:

JOY TO THE WORLD

GOOD KING WENCESLAS

IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR

MARY'S LITTLE BOY CHILD

WHITE CHRISTMAS

WINTER WONDERLAND

JINGLE BELLS

ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH

THE WASSAIL SONG

THE FIRST NOEL

O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL

GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN

O CHRISTMAS TREE

Doesn't that sound like an awesome line up of songs to listen to the whole month of December!

If you love this kind of music, then head over to Family Christian and grab you a copy of this fabulous CD, Rocky Top Country Christmas. You won't be disappointed!

Also, Like Family Christian on Facebook.

Disclaimer: As a Family Christian blogger, I had the opportunity to review this CD in exchange for an honest review and a gift certificate.

Big Book of Earth & Sky Review.....

The Big Book of Earth & Sky is a 15 foot chart showing the inner and outer atmosphere, published by Masterbooks, a division of New Leaf Publishing Group. The book is recommended for children ages 7-12, however, I have six children that range from 18 years of age all the way down to 2 years of age and we are enjoying doing this  study all together.

The chart comes out of the book so you can unfold it to experience all the wonderful information to learn and enjoy!

This book is awesome! Each panel is so colorful and inviting. It has such detailed charts and graphs. We are learning so many things. There are all sorts of facts about oceans, mountains, weather, caves, deep-sea diving, the water cycle, just to name a few.

We highly recommend this book. There is also a Teacher Resource Guide for $5.59 that I recommend using when you are teaching out of this book. It has questions, activities and discussions on what you can do for each study. I downloaded a free preview off of their website that looks like this:

Be sure to Like Master Books Facebook page. Right now they are having a Book Clearance Sale going on. You can save up to 75%.



Disclaimer: I was given this book in exchange for my honest review of this product. No other compensation was given.

Living Virtuously: A Wife's Complete Guide To Keeping Her Heart & Home and Giveaway

Many years ago my friend shared some wonderful books and DVD's with me and one of the DVD's was of Erin Harrison and her family sharing on homesteading. We have always enjoyed watching them. When I saw her book Living Virtuously: A Wife's Complete Guide To Keeping Her Heart & Home, I knew it was something I would love reading.

 

 

This book takes you through Proverbs 31 in the bible among many other scripture. This is absolutely a wonderful book. I have really enjoyed reading it. There is so much to learn from this book. Any woman wanting to bless her family and herself will greatly benefit from the wonderful read. Many a woman would be blessed by this book by learning things taught in this book. It encouraged me to do better and become a better wife and mother.

This book will help you in so many aspects of your life. As a homesteading and homeschooling mom, I understand how hard it is to balance life! This book, for me, was a complete guide to learn to do better and how to do it. On the back of her book it lists.....

In the complete guide you will learn how to....

 

~Face adversity and find joy in your circumstances.

~Clean and organize your home as a haven of rest.

~Be frugal and plan meals.

~Arrange your life so you have more time.

~Teach your children a good work ethic while embracing motherhood.

~Control words and actions.

~Keep your heart pure.

~Honor your husband.

~Find balance in all areas.

~LIVE VIRTUOUSLY!

 

It is through her words and quoted scripture that I feel I can do better. When I read this, it made me smile. If you need encouragement and feel like you are failing at keeping your home, this book is for you. Erin will be a true inspiration to you.

 

 

You can order her book here. 

 

 

Time for a giveaway! I have an extra copy of this wonderful book to give to someone that would love to read this! Enter Below!

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Art - Day 9

Today is all about ART! These are not recent. These were drawn by my second bug when she was 11 years old. She will be 14 this month. I had forgotten about these drawing until she showed them to me the other day. I thought this would be the perfect post for today!

 

 

 

God Bless!

In My Bag - Day 7

What's in my bag? Well, lots and lots of blueberries! This year we have been extremely blessed with blueberries. Gallons and gallons have been put in the freezer this year for us to enjoy smoothies, blueberry cream cheese pound cake, blueberry pancakes, blueberry chess pie, I could go on and on but I will stop.

 

 

 

 

 

I have also been blessed with about 20 gallons of cucumbers out of the garden this year. I am still processing pickles and sweet pickle relish. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel though.

 

 

 

I just brought these in from the garden today. My vines are yellow and dying so I think this is the last of the cucumbers this year.

What's in your bag?


God Bless!

July Blogging Challenge

My friend Jennifer invited me to join a blogging challenge for the whole month of July with her and our friend Lynn. I am not one that is to good at keeping up with my blogging but this sounded like to much fun to pass up. I am going to do my best to keep up with this. Each day you can share and link-up to either one of their blogs.

Let's have some fun!

God Bless!

VeggieTales Super Comics Review

 

I received copies of the VeggieTales Super Comics from Family Christian along with an appreciation certificate for the purpose of this review.

 

 

 

Our family loves VeggieTales. We have been enjoying our dvd's for years along with all of their books.

 

When Family Christian started looking for bloggers to review the new VeggieTales Super Comics I got excited. I am always looking and buying these products to add to our collection of VeggieTales. So you can imagine how I felt when I got this opportunity!

 

 

 

Everyone in our big family, no matter the age, loves VeggieTales. But, I think my 6 year old and 8 year old enjoyed them the most.

 

 

 

The great thing about these comics is that my bugs (my children), I call all of them my bugs, know who the characters already are. We watch them so much that they know everything about each one.

 

 

 

We received both Volume 1 and Volume 2.

 

 

Volume 1 contains three stories; Dave and the Giant Pickle, Lyle the Kindly Viking and Larry Boy and the Prideosaurus.

 

Volume 2 contains three stories also; League of Incredible Vegetables, Larry Boy and the Reckless Ruckus and Josh and the Big Wall.

 

 

These are great little comic books. Very high quality in my opinion. The pages are beautiful.

 

Go check out these great VeggieTales Super Comics at Family Christian. These would be great for your own family or would make a wonderful gift for a VeggieTale lover!


God Bless!

Book Review: Home is where My People Are......

 

 

This book was provided by Family Christian for the purpose of this review.

 

 

 

About The Book.

 

Sophie Hudson takes readers on a delightfully quirky journey through the South, introducing them to an unforgettable cast of characters, places, and experiences. Along the way, she reflects on how God has used each of the stops along the road to impart timeless wisdom and spiritual truths. Nobody embodies the south like Sophie Hudson, and this nostalgic celebration of home is sure to make even those north of the Mason-Dixon Line long to settle on the front porch with a glass of sweet tea and reflect on all the people in our lives who-related or not-have come to represent home. (on the back of the book)

 

My Review Of This Book.

 

 



I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I was really excited about getting this review. I am so glad I did. It's a memoir and such a fun one. Sophie Hudson takes readers on a wonderful journey through the south. This book is full of humor. She shares her life story in the south during the 1970's through the 90's. She shares all her fond memories about her hair, her clothes, her music and movies and all the people and places she grew up in and around.

 

I love this book so much. I think it's because I am a Mississippi girl also and grew up in the same era. It's like I was her best friend growing up. I remember everything she talks about. I also loved how she reflects on how God uses each one of the stops along our paths for a purpose and how it molds and builds us and our lives into who and what we are.

 

The last few chapters in the book were my favorite. She was right on when she talked about home and what it means.

 

Great read. If you are wanting something fun and upbeat, grab this book, you won't be disappointed!

 

 

 

Disclaimer: As a Family Christian blogger, I had the opportunity to post this book review in exchange for a gift certificate.



The best free ABC Packs ever......

 

I have been looking for a fun ABC learning curriculum for my 5 year old. She knows most of her alphabet but still needs a little practice before I start her in Kindergarten in the fall. I have been following this site for a while but had forgotten about it. The other day, I came across it again and decided to look around a little more than before. I am glad I did. This is the best FREE ABC curriculum I have found. I am really glad I did.

This is something I will be using with my littles for a while. Just wanted to share this awesome site with you!

 

 

Go to: http://www.3dinosaurs.com/printables/abc/abcpacks.php

for these awesome downloads! Enjoy!

 

I plan on sharing our journey with you using these wonderful worksheets!

GOD BLESS!

soup and a muffin recipe....

Here are two recipes from my menu plan this week. The first one is The All- American Cheeseburger soup I made for Monday night. The second one is my Banana Bread recipe that I turned into muffins instead of a loaf. These two are very easy.

 

Little Ruthie Bug, as her daddy calls her with her bowl of All-American Cheeseburger Soup.

 

Not the best picture of the soup but you get the idea! I accidently deleted the other picture of it. Sorry! To lazy to go and find it!

All -American Cheeseburger Soup

 

1 pound of ground meat

1 medium onion, chopped

1 stalk of celery, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 Tablespoons flour

28 ounces of beef broth

2 potatoes, scrubbed and coarsely chopped

1 can petite diced tomatoes

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 small can tomato sauce

1/2 cup ketchup

2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 cup whole milk

Toasted buns or rolls, we used croutons

Cheeseburger Toppings:

pickles, onions, mayo, mustard, ketchup

 

In a 6 quart Dutch oven, cook beef, onions, garlic and celery until tender. Sprinkle the flour on the meat mixture and cook for 2 minutes.

 

Stir in the broth and potatoes. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat and cook about 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

 

Stir in tomatoes, cheese, tomato sauce, ketchup and Dijon mustard. Cook on low until cheese is melted. Stir in the milk. Heat through. Serve with toasted buns and cheeseburger toppings.

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

The next pictures are of the banana bread muffins I made this morning.

 

 

 

As you can see, the batter is very thick. That's ok.

 

Just scoop it into muffin tins.

 

This is the streusel topping I made for the muffins.

 

Just take little pieces of the topping and place on top of the batter.

 

Here is the finished muffin ready to eat!

Banana Bread Muffins

 

1 cup oil

1 cup sugar

1- 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1- 1/2 cups (about 2) mashed ripe bananas

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup chopped pecans

 

Streusel Topping:

 

2 Tablespoons softened butter

3 Tablespoons flour

1/4 cup brown sugar or sucanat

 

 

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray your muffin pans. Beat oil and sugar together. Add your vanilla, eggs and mashed bananas. Gradually  beat in the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir in your chopped pecans.

 

Scoop your batter into the muffin tins and sprinkle your streusel topping on top of the batter. Bake about 12 minutes or until golden brown.

 

Cool on baking racks for 5 minutes.

 

 

 

 

I hope you have enjoyed reading about the meals I am cooking this week for my family. Stay tuned for the Chicken Skillet Lasagna I cooked tonight, it was a hit!!!

 

God Bless!

 



Menu Plan for the Week of 1/18/15 - 1/24/15

I am really trying to get motivated to stay on a schedule and get organized with our homeschooling. I have noticed that when I have a menu plan for the week, things just go so much more smoothly. So, I decided to try to keep a menu plan, planned and posted for each week. Here is the plan for this week.

God Bless!

Sunday, January 18th

Coffee before church

Chicken nachos

Sandwiches, chips and homemade salsa and fruit

 

Monday, January 19th

Sausage, Egg and Cheese Bagels and Smoothies

Mac-N-Cheese and Fruit

All American Cheeseburger Soup

 

Tuesday, January 20th

Banana Bread

Sloppy Joes on Hot Dog Buns

Chicken Skillet Lasagna,

 

Wednesday, January 21st

Sour Cream Pancakes and Breakfast Sausage

Uncured Salami, Crackers, Cheese and Fruit

Beef Stew

 

Thursday, January 22nd

Link Deer Sausage Biscuits

Patty Melts

Fried Tenderloin and Baked French Fries, recipe here.

 

Friday, January 23rd

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Tacos and Spanish Rice

Creamy Tortellini and Spinach Soup, From my friend at http://www.glimpseofourlife.com/

 

Saturday, January 24th

Cereal

Sub Sandwiches

Breakfast for Supper

2014 December Fun Days and Holidays....

December is here! We can't hardly wait for this time of year. Twinkling lights, baking cookies, singing and listening to Christmas hymns, wrapping gifts, drinking hot cocoa.

We love so many things about December and have so many fun things planned this month. Maybe you could join in on some of the fun.

Stay tuned because we will have lots of pictures to share, great recipes, crafts and more! We are also doing Christmas reading in our bibles. I know I am a little late posting all of this but I will post our scripture we are reading soon.

Here are the holidays and fun days for the 1st 25 days of December.....


Day 1 -  Decorate the inside of our home for Christmas.

Day 2 -  More decorating, putting up the Christmas tree and making No-Bake Fudge. Will share the recipe.

Day 3 -  Make some yummy microwave caramels. Not to fond of cooking in the microwave but my stove is out of commission right now.

Day 4 -  National Cookie Day! We will be making No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal cookies. Will share the recipe.

Day 5 -  We will be making No Bake Pecan Coconut Cookies.

Day 6 -  Make balls out of chicken wire and Christmas lights for outdoor decorations and go see a Live Nativity.

Day 7 -  Cotton Candy Day!

Day 8 -  National Brownie Day! We are going to make Nutella ones.

Day 9 -  Christmas Card Day!

Day 10 - Make some No Bake Oreo Truffles and if we have enough time, maybe some chocolate covered oreos.

Day 11 - Celebrate National Hot Cocoa Day. Its really this coming Saturday.

Day 12 - Make a Christmas Tree Hand Canvas and some fingerpaint canvases.

Day 13 - Ice Cream Day!

Day 14 - Make homemade wrapping paper.

Day 15 - National Cupcake Day!

Day 16 - National Chocolate covered anything day!

Day 17 - Make photo ornaments for the grands!

Day 18 - Make cookie baskets for our Christmas cookies and our annual Van Express Ticket Day!

Day 19 - Christmas Party with friends!

Day 20 - Bake lots of Christmas cookies!

Day 21 - Winter Soltice!

Day 22 - Deliver gifts to the local hospital to the children that are sick.

Day 23 - National Chocolate Day tomorrow! Make something yummy!

Day 24 - Christmas Eve Boxes and bake Jesus a birthday cake!

Day 25 - Celebrate Jesus' birthday and drink some homemade eggnog. Yesterday was National Eggnog Day.




As you can see, we are planning on having some fun this month. Maybe you can check back and see some of the fun things we will be doing!

God Bless!

Couponing Made Simple.....Molly Crew Review

Are you one that wants to use coupons but really don't know how? I have the solution, Couponing Made Simple by Christi the Coupon Coach. The Molly Crew had the opportunity to review this product. Her books sells for $18.00 or $4.99 for the ebook.

Christi is a homeschooling mom of 4 and has been couponing for years. Her book teaches you how to use BOGO coupons (Buy One Get One Free), and how to "stack". This is what she calls successful couponing.

In her book, she shares a step-by-step process:

1. Buy Newspapers

2. Sort Newspapers

3. Find the Deals

4. Make Coupon Matches

5. Organize for Coupon Run

6. Shop and Save

7. Wrap Up at Home

8. Celebrate & Share

Here are the contents in her book:

1. Success Stories

2. A New Way to Shop

3. The Language of Couponing

4. Organization System

5. Step-by-Step Process

6. Tips & Tools

7. Couponing Ethics

8. Networking & Communicating

9. Bonus Section

10. Beyond Couponing

When the book arrived, I thought I would be overwhelmed by it but when I started reading it, I really enjoyed learning about the process which made it very simple to understand. She has so many ways of using coupons.

How it worked for me:

We live in a small town and the one newspaper that is available to buy has no coupons in it, not even on Sunday! So, I went online and found various websites where I could print coupons. After that, I went around town collecting all of the sales papers. When we put our minds and energy into this, we save anywhere from around $8 - $10 each shopping trip. That's not much compared to Christi but I am hoping to learn more and more each time and one day walk out saving 68%  or more like Christi.

My final thoughts:

If you want to learn how to coupon and don't have the time to figure it all out on your own, you may want to look into purchasing Chrisit's book. She has done all of the work for you! I am looking forward to learning more and more from her. I just scratched the surface!

I really like the best and last deal she says we will ever find. The deal of the universe----- SALVATION IN JESUS CHRIST!!!

Check out what other crew members had to say about Christi the Coupon Coach.

FEELING GOOD!!!

I will be 22 weeks pregnant Monday and I am feeling good! Finally!

I have been catching up on things around the house and garden that I have neglected since I was feeling so bad in my 1st trimester. Now that I am in my 2nd, and feeling great, I decided to play catch up!

This past Wednesday, one of my best friends called me to let me know that she found strawberries for $7 a flat at a local salvage store near by. I decided this would be a perfect opportunity put some strawberries in the freezer. I ended up with four flats and decided to put some in the freezer, can some of them and make some strawberry jelly! She also let me know how easy and fast it is to use an egg slicer for slicing strawberries. It worked like a charm!

Here is what mine looks like:

I have, so far, put sliced strawberries in the freezer, strawberries with a little sugar (for strawberry shortcake) in the freezer, sliced strawberries up in jars and next week, after our little bugs birthday Monday, make strawberry jelly with the remaining 6 lbs. that is still in the frig.

I figure while I am feeling so good, I might as well do all I can until I start feeling rotten again!

God Bless!

Days 13, 14, 15 and 16

Day 13......

The Suburban Express!

Got our tickets and we are ready to go!!!

I found these cute little tickets here.

We had a ball! We went to town and looked at Christmas lights and instead of hot chocolate for our snack, we decided to get TCBY! Yummy! Lots of fun and memories!

Day 14.......

This was suppose to be family game night but the plans changed. I needed to finish my Christmas shopping so hubby kept all the bugs Friday night and I finished!!!!!!!

Day 15......

This day we were suppose to make a Rice Krispies Holiday Train but we had to change our plans again! We had to build a goat pen for our two new dairy goats! We spent the day together and made up for our family night and had a family day! Lots of fun. I will post pictures of our new farm animal members later.

Day 16.....

Today we had planned on singing Christmas songs together while our 2nd born bug played the piano. Instead, we decided to make our Rice Krispies Holiday Train and some Rice Krispies Christmas Trees.

For our train, I found this little kit at Hobby Lobby.

Everyone had such a good time with this!

For our trees, we used used the rice krispie recipe that is on the box of Rice Krispies and pressed it into a small plastic funnel for the Christmas tree shape. Then they decorated the trains and the trees. FUN, FUN, FUN!



I am really looking forward to tomorrow! I am the only one that knows what is in store, hehe!

God Bless!

a little behind.......

Well, as you can see, we are a little behind on our Advent ornaments.

First, here are a few pictures of our Advent ornament garland.

So far, we have done Day 1 and Day 2 and worked on Day 3 today. We will finish Day 3 and Day 4 tomorrow.

Day 1 we made an Advent chain.

Macy bug is holding our chain and as you can see, there is a star at the top that reads:

One Christmas night, so long age

A star shone down so all would know

That in a manger, on that night

A Savior was born, our guiding light!

Now Christmas time is almost here

A very special time of year

When everyone anticipates

That night we can celebrate!

As you remove a link each night

Remember the star that shone so bright

And told the world of Jesus' birth

The Son of God, here on earth!!!

I found this little craft on  a website I found off of Confessions of a Homeschooler website. I , for the life of me, can not remember it right now but when I do, I promise I will share it with you.

Day 2 we made paper snowflakes. We have decided to only put our homemade ornaments on the tree this year. Here are a few we made:

As you can see in this picture, we have two proud little artists!

Day 3 we made Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments and as I type, they are drying, so I will have to do Day 3 and 4 together tomorrow!

For Day 4 we will be making reindeer ornaments.

We are having so much fun doing this and I think our tree with our homemade ornaments will be our best Christmas tree to date!!!