Last Chance!

This week is your last chance to take advantage of Scentsy's February special. Almost everything is 10% off. On top of that some of the scents and warmers are being discontinued. After this week, we say goodbye to some of our favorites like Snowberry, Boysenberry Moss, Coffee Shop and Bubblegum. Also, the warmer and scent of the month, Paws and Vanilla Suede are only 10% off in February. Isn't this warmer super cute?! Click on the link on the sidebar to see more! You can order directly from the website, or just contact me. Thanks!

Tasty Tuesdays!

Tasty Tuesday is back! I was really excited last week to find out that one of my favorite recipes will be published in an upcoming Gooseberry Patch Cookbook. I LOVE the Gooseberry Patch line of cookbooks. They have great everyday recipes from everyday people. I use many of their books for all the gift mixes that I make. They are going to send me a copy of the cookbook with my recipe featured inside, but since it's called Homemade Christmas, I'm guessing I will be waiting a bit. I won't make you wait that long, so here is my favorite bread machine recipe. I try not to make it very often, because I will eat the whole thing......in one sitting!

Cheesy Garlic Pull Apart Bread

4 tbsp butter
1/2 cup warm water
1/2 cup sour cream
3 cups better for bread flour
3 tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp active dry yeast

Cheesy garlic mix:
1/2 cup butter, melted
3 tbsp minced dried onion
2 tsp granulated garlic
1 1/2 cups shredded Colby jack cheese

In bread machine, add the first 7 ingredients, in order. Select dough setting. When finished, mix the cheesy mix together. Turn dough onto floured surface, cover for 10 minutes. Pull bread by handfuls and dip into cheese mix, place in a greased, fluted pan. Cover and let rise for 45 mintues. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

More from the sleepover.....

Here's the link to the video of the Nerf gun and baby Drew. Click HERE.

And here is my sister's blog, she posted pictures of all the kids from her photo shoot yesterday. Way stinkin cute!

Click HERE.

Auntie Survived the Sleepover!

This Auntie is tired.......zzz.....oh sorry. The sleepover with my brother's kids turned out great, but man they wiped me out. I had 6 kids for 24 hours. My Mom was wonderful and stopped by at dinner, which helped because Drew was starving, and I was trying to get all the kids dished up. Drew is 13 months old and ate more than two of the other kids combined. Really. I bought some Scooby Do snacks and had fun giving him bone shaped crackers. It's funny to see this little guy chewing on bones. The kids all played well, and had fun in the wet sandbox. Bath time went without me needing a dry set of clothes(shocker!). Drew went to bed without fuss, and Nate read stories to the other 4 kids. They all went down pretty easy. Grant kept getting out of his sleeping bag, but finally crashed after an hour. Drew woke up about 6 times during the night coughing. I binked him each time, and he went right back to sleep. 7am came early for me, and was way too early for Nerf gun wars. I called my Dad and thanked him (again) for giving the boys Nerf guns. It's not that they shoot everything, it's the stupid noises they make. Ben walked around all morning with his finger on the trigger, making the shooting noise. I asked him to stop and he looked at me with big eyes and said, "I shooting monsters". How do you argue with that?
My sister Amy showed up at 11am to help, and we were all still in jammies. I escaped to the shower, and she proceeded to join the Nerf gun wars. (Video to that one is uploading as we speak). Mom stopped by again to help get clothes on everyone, and I (ran for the hills) went to coffee. Amy attempted a photo shoot with the kids, and I am very curious to see how that turned out. When I left, Ben had gotten ranch dressing in his hair, and Drew was trying to get revenge with the Nerf gun. When I got back an hour later, they had cleaned up the playroom (Thanks Sis) and were playing with play dough, making sculptures.
When Tiff was getting Grant ready to go he said, "I run at Auntie Holly's house". He loves coming to play here, and it makes Auntie's heart happy to hear that. I wish we could have sleepovers more often.......like when Dan gets home!

Sleepover at Auntie's

We are having a sleepover tonight with my brother's four kids. The baby was in bed and Nate was reading a story to the younger kids. Too cute!

Another Tooth Fairy Visit

Lily lost another tooth today. She's only 6 1/2 and has lost 6 teeth. The funny thing is that she has never lost a tooth at home. Her first tooth came out at the lake, the second at the fair. She has lost two at school, and the other two have been at friend's houses.

I picked her up this morning from a sleepover and she's grinning at me with this huge smile. She told me she lost another tooth, and wonders what the tooth fairy will bring her tonight. Well, the tooth fairy always brings two quarters, so it won't be any shocker tonight!

Yesterday at school the kids celebrated Valentine's Day with their classes. One of Lily's classmates gave her a little heart shaped box with candies in it. Lily thinks this will make a great box for her tooth.

I better make myself a note so that I will remember to let the tooth fairy in tonight!

Valentine's Day

I have already heard the moaning and groaning about Valentine's Day. Some say it's just Hallmark's way of making money. Some whine about not having a sweetheart for Valentine's Day. I'm going to get on a little soap box now......you are forewarned.

I am blessed to be married and have someone to love. But, he's rarely home for Valentine's Day. So let's throw out the traditional idea of Valentine's Day, and get back to the "heart" of it. What if everyone took the day to do something from the heart. It doesn't have to be for your "sweetheart", but if you had one, it would be a great day to remind them they are loved. If you don't, then use that day to show love to someone. Maybe your Grandparents, a friend who is ill, or a lonely friend who needs a shoulder. There is no greater feeling than to give. Think of the great wave of love that could be spread this Sunday.

In the past when Dan is gone, I have taken the opportunity to help out others. One year I volunteered at the church to watch kids while other parents went out. Another year I took my friend's kids overnight so that they could get a much needed romantic getaway. This year I am taking my brother's four kids so that he and his exhausted wife can have some alone time.

So forget Hallmark cards and the idea that you have to buy roses and chocolates. Try giving your time this year and showing love in the way that God meant us to.

Mom vs Mouse Part 3

I haven't caught any more mice, yet. I'm starting to think that there was only one, and I already caught him. I had to run to the hardware store to buy a mallet (I was putting some shelving together). My wonderful neighbors who own the hardware store saw me coming in and Ron asked if I had caught any more mice. I told him about the one and only mouse, and how I had to have a friend come and get rid of it for me. He was getting a good giggle out of my story. Then I told him I was there to buy a mallet. He looked right at me and asked if I would be beating mice with it. Really? I won't get within 10 feet of them, you think I would get close enough to beat it with a mallet? I know he was joking, and it was pretty funny. So then I take the mallet to the counter and Daisy asks me if I will be using the mallet to beat my husband.......hmmmmm.........she may be on to something there!

So I still have my trap set, and bait out in case of any more mice. And, now I have a mallet just in case I need to beat them......or anyone else.

Oregon Trail

Nate started learning about Washington State history and the Oregon Trail. He came home with a paper from class, and on the back, he had written his own Oregon Trail story. I asked him if I could share it on my blog and he said yes. (That is my disclaimer for 10 years from now when he reads my blog and asks why I embarrassed him so much).

On the Oregon Trail, two travelers were coming in covered wagons. One named Nate and the other named Billy Bob Jo Jr. They were walking besides their wagon when thunder struck. Everyone jumped. Again, thunder struck, but this time it hit a wagon and caught on fire. Now Nate and his family rode with Billy Bob and his family. What will happen next to the families?

Star and Rock Star

Today is my 1 year anniversary as a Scentsy Consultant. I love this job and have a great time sharing it with others. I have moved up in rank and am now a Star Consultant. I am thankful for my team and the wonderful group of women who are fellow consultants.

Today I also went to my other job, subbing at my kid's school as a Para Educator. I saw the class of kindergartners that I spent three weeks with last October, and they all came running, yelling "Mrs. Snow"!!! They looked at me like a Rock Star, and I was so happy to see them. They told me I need to come visit their class, and invited me to their Valentine's Party, even bribing me with cookies! I will have to pop my head in their class that day, along with both of my kid's classes.

I am praying that a job will open up for me to be at the school next year. I love being there and love that I get to see my kids while I'm working. I am very blessed that I love both of my jobs!

Spring Cleaning, a little early

Last month I bought a Kirby. Yes, I feel old now. We have finally come to the conclusion that any future purchased must be things that will last. We are past the "small children break and destroy EVERYTHING" stage, and are tired of buying things that need to be replaced within a few years. So along came a Kirby salesperson, and I was sold. The first day I vacuumed the cedar beams on our ceiling that were nasty! I have always left that job for Dan (because I am too short) and it rarely gets cleaned. Now with my new Kirby attachments, I can clean my ceilings, which need it BADLY!

So the last few weeks I have been trying to get things cleaned that have never been cleaned. I know this sounds like I am a horrible housewife, but I am just bad at deep cleaning. I do laundry every single day, and dishes, and almost always have cookies on hand......but HATE doing the big stuff.

Today I found out that the stones behind my fireplace where covered in cob webs. It was one of those things you don't see until you are up close (good thing and bad thing-I didn't notice it, and hopefully nobody else did too!). My Kirby and I sucked up all the cob webs and dust off the rocks. Now I am on to the ceiling in the kitchen. Unfortunately, this is very noticeable, and I have been needing to do it for awhile. The STUPID popcorn ceilings in this house suck, or more appropriately, they suck up the cobwebs and dust.

With any luck, I will actually finish my spring cleaning.......by the end of spring!

Tasty Tuesdays and Post #400!

Wow, it's my 400th post! I can't believe it! I feel like it should be an important post, but all I have for you is Tasty Tuesdays. Maybe I should start planning now for 500.

Ok, so today's Tasty Tuesday is a great soup recipe. If you love Italian food (like me) you will love this simple soup. I found the recipe from my Taste of Home Healthy Cooking magazine. Of course I added garlic to it (because I LOVE garlic). If you are looking for great new recipes, check out this magazine. I love the simple recipes that do not taste like they are "diet" or "healthy" foods. Enjoy!

Sausage Pizza Soup

1/2 pound Italian turkey sausage links, casings removed
1 med. zucchini, sliced
1 cup fresh sliced mushrooms
1 small onion, diced
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
1 cup water
1 cup chicken broth
1 tsp dried basil,
1/2 tsp pepper

In large saucepan, cook the sausage, zucchini, mushrooms, onion and garlic over medium heat until meal is no longer pink, drain. Add the tomatoes, water, broth, and seasonings. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes.