Before Picture:

This is what my *BEFORE* pantry picture looks like---I am not proud of this...LOL. I keep most of my canned goods in the garage, so you won't see too many of those in here. I am going to organize it good this week--and then I will share the *AFTER* pictures.
What does your pantry look like?

Little Kevin :o)

My Little Kevin turned 9 months on January 26th--he is my little sweetie heart!!

Tuesday!

Happy Tuesday everyone. Today was a normal day, Cooking and cleaning--and all the wonderful things that us mother's have to do.
xo

Multi-Task Monday

How is that for a post title? Multi-Task Monday. I think being a mother, we have all learned to Multi Task BIG TIME...LOL.

Well, it was a very busy day, and I would love to go into it in detail but to honest, I am plain *Tuckered* out.... ( I love that word)

Have any of you seen the show on TLC called *Jon and Kate plus 8*--I love that show. A new episode comes on tonight at 9---so hopefully I will watch that and fall into bed, morning comes by quick.

Also, the Jog a Thon for my daughter at her school was post-poned until next week, because of all the rain we have had. I worked on her class t-shirts and they came out so nice--I put an IRON on, all 20 t-shirts, they came out great--I will take a picture tomorrow of my daughter's shirt.

One last thing---I had to Email Mel about my status on the Prairie Homemaker, I had to re-register again--and Mel said she would add my old post count back--YAY--I so enjoy that forum very much, and am glad to be back there---I lost track after having Little Kevin. So for those of you that visit PH , my screenname is *Julieann* there.

Weekly Menu Plan.....

This Week's Menu:

Hamburgers and French Fries

BBQ Meatballs

Chicken and Rice

Homemade Pizza

Ham and Potatoes

Spaghetti

Roast with all the trimming!

Dinners are in no particular order and can change at a moments notice. I have all these ingredients posted above on hand-----I will post the actual dinner for that day in my sidebar as usual. Plus--all dinners are served with a fresh green salad--and most with a warm dinner roll. I do make a lot of my salad dressing, and sometimes we use bottle.

It Is Spectacular Saturday .....

It is early Saturday Morning. I am on the west coast---so I know a lot of my readers have been up for awhile now. So when I say I am up at 5, it is already 8 in some places. I remember when we lived in Georgia--it would be 9 in the morning and 6 here in Cali--and I would have to wait until at least noon to call my Grandma. We would be eating dinner in Georgia and my Grandmother was just finishing lunch.

For the past 2 weeks I have done a lot of running around and I have not been home as much as I would have liked too--I am such a homebody, so I have really missed my home...LOL. Come Monday, I have a lot going on again, so this weekend I am completely dedicating it to taking care of it. So This is going to be my big CLEAN Saturday! We used to do these on the Prairie Homemaker, and I so enjoyed them--

I am going to work on my Menu--and that will be posted on Monday. I am going to organize my kitchen--my pantry looks like an explosion went on in there--I may be brave and take a picture of it before--would you like to see? If I get some yeses, I will do it---but I warn you--it is not a pretty site....also, my dress post, I am working on this post too--I would also love to see some of your outfits----what you consider feminine:)

Vacuum---I usually am a vacuum maniac--but I fear, it took a little break last week----so a vacuuming I will do--stairs too.

Clean, Clean, Clean!!! That is what today is all about! I will not get in my car today--I will not..LOL.

Little Kevin had his Well Baby yesterday--he is 19 pounds....and the doctor said he is a million dollar baby--of course he is;) He also gave me some Aquaphor to try on his eczema--and I think it is working better then the prescription he gave me---you all have seen that little spot on his cheek, well that is the eczema that won't go away, ugh--but I think it is now with the Aquaphor..YAY!!

I so enjoyed yesterday's Show and Tell too:)

It is 5:58....

Are you up???

I always get an email from flylady and it says to start your morning routine:

Reminder from: FlyLadyMentors Yahoo! Group

Title: YOUR MORNING ROUTINE WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Date: Friday January 25, 2008
Time: 8:00 am - 8:30 am
Repeats: This event repeats every day.
Notes: REMINDER: YOUR MORNING ROUTINE WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

We are going to build a Morning Routine for your Control Journal or to just post on the refrigerator. Here is what I do.

1. Get up and weigh <---- I don't weigh my self...LOL--I also don't think you should every morning, it would make me go coo- coo
2. Shower, get dressed to lace up shoes,fix your hair and face
3. While you are in the bathroom Swish and Swipe
4. Grab a load of laundry and start the washer
5. Check your calendar for today's activities
6. Empty dishwasher to start your day
7. Eat something good for you, take your medicine and vitamins
8. Drink your water.




What is your morning routine? Mine really is a lot different from Fly Lady--I will share my morning routine with all of you---but just reading this email from flylady, MOTIVATES me to do better.

Show and Tell Friday

This is Kelli's Show and Tell Friday! I look forward to this everyweek--I may not play every week, but I do enjoy looking at everyone's Show and Tell's :o) So, please go over to Kelli's and and leave your own link for something you would like to share and visit everyone there too.

For those of you that know me and have read here awhile know I collect cows. So, today, I am going to share a very special cow--she is one of my smaller ones--and she was placed on my birthday cake when I turned 25. She was given to me by a dear friend of mine---most of the cows I will share periodically was given by my dear friend Mary--Mary passed away not too long ago from breast cancer, and I miss her dearly--but I look all around my home and see all my cows that she had given me and I smile---- Last week for Show and Tell, at my daughter's school--Alexis brought the little cow in and told her class about my dear friend Mary.

Thank you all for looking:) My little cow is going back on her shelf now.


Isn't she just adorable? Look how tiny she is:)

Thankful Thursday!!

I took this picture last week and forgot to post it--

It is still raining----and I have been running around again all day. I was in Alexis's class room for a couple hours today--and then she had ballet, and Tony wanted to visit his friend up the hill---so, I was in my car quite a bit today. Plus, I went to the new Ralph's grocery store and stocked up on the wonderful Manager's Specials--ohh, happy day--I have a nicely stocked kitchen. I do need to take some time and organize my pantry and refrigerators once again--adding this project to my list. Hopefully this weekend I can get to my dresses, and post them (and yes with Pictures)..but if not this weekend then next week. Alexis has her Jog-A-Thon on Tuesday so that day I will be kind of busy, and Monday my grandmother has an appointment to have her ears checked and her hearing aides looked at---I had no idea hearing aides were so expensive, she paid over 1000.00 for each--OUCH!

I bought a really neat kit at Target to make Valentine Cards to send out to family and friends--plus I have to organize the Valentines party at school and I am making either cookies or cupcakes, we shall see.

Little Kevin has his *Well Baby* Checkup tomorrow morning (Friday) so I will post his measurements/stats when I get back--I am thinking he is about 20 pounds......and to keep with it being THANKFUL THURSDAY---- I AM so very Thankful for this life--Thank you Jesus!

My Day! :o)

Rain---It is raining as I type. The weather kept saying it was going to rain---and it finally came. I woke up this morning at 5 and I have not stopped all day--I had a day of errands and cooking. Do you ever work so hard that crawling into bed just feels sooooo good! I am at that point this very moment--I am going to welcome sleep very much tonight. Before I go to bed though, I did want to do some computer work first. I also got a few goodies at Target today that I want to share, but I will do that tomorrow, when I can take pictures too. I also want to share some new dresses of mine---they are so pretty and feminine---and I think that is so important for us, women to be--feminine. It is supposed to rain through the rest of the week, so if that is the case I have lots of little projects around the home to get done, while staying in the warmth of our home.---of course all work and play adjusts around the baby--he is on the move--he can crawl from 0 to 60 in no time...LOL. He is a lot of fun--he is also favoring his left hand----so I am wondering if he is going to be a lefty too. Alexis is left handed, and she is the only other left handed person I know--so that would be interesting if Little Kevin was left handed too. Well, I think that is all for now---I can hear the pitter patter of raindrops--I just love hearing the rain--well, if I am going to get up at 5 tomorrow, I should finish this ramble up.....

P.S. If you all are wondering about the deleted comments--it was just a spam comment about cash loans, nothing important.

My *NEW* Mop

Isn't it just wonderful. I bought this mop over the weekend, I wanted one that wrung out the mop easily--and this one does just that--plus the mop head can come off and be washed in the washing machine--pretty neat, huh? Ohh, and you can also buy new mop heads when this one gets old. The brand is LIBMAN and I got it at WalMart.

My Menu Plan

I will still post my menu in the sidebar, this is just a run down of what I will be making through the week. This is just a plan it can change at any time.

Hot Wings w/
Celery and Carrots
Salad

Tacos w/ all the trimmings

Baked Chicken

Pork Chops

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Hamburgers and French Fries

Pork Roast-----this is usually always a Sunday Dinner

With all my dinners a Salad is always made--except of course with the tacos--and then with all the dinners there will be a starch and a cooked veggie----keep checking back on my sidebar for the complete dinner each day. I will be heading out to the grocery store tomorrow to finish up my menu and like I said this menu can change at any time...LOL. This is just a basic menu of what I will be making this week and what I have on hand too.

Sweet Sunday!

Have a beautiful Sunday!

It's FRIDAY!!!

YAY!!!
I love Fridays just as much as I love Mondays! I did not post my dinner menu on the sidebar yesterday because we ordered pizza last night--we got it from the San Clemente Pizza Kitchen, it is sooo yummy--and best thing about pizza is no messy kitchen to clean up after a very busy day.
I did not stop yesterday once my feet hit the floor in the morning until I layed down in my bed. It was a wonderfully busy productive day.

Now, I have a date with the washing machine and dryer, and I have lots of little projects I want to do this weekend. It is sunny outside but still a little chilly.

I went to the Farmer's Market yesterday and bought all my fruits and vegetables---then this morning I stopped at Walmart and bought a few odds and ends that I needed--I just love that store ( another poster commented on her love/hate relationship with Walmart, I hear ya sister!!!)...LOL---I wish we had the full on grocery store in Walmart like we had in Georgia---I remember being able to stock my kitchen for under 100.00 dollars, now I am lucky to stock my kitchen for under 200.oo a week---California is so expensive. I finally found a pair of white keds in my size that tie---I am a size 5, and it is sometimes difficult to find them. I like them white, and if they get a scuff I have to wash them, isn't that terrible--LOL---I think little white keds with a sundress is cute and comfy---I like pretty things, feminine things--not bulky manly shoes on woman...LOL. Also, Polish--I like to paint my toenails, but the polish has to be fresh--if they start to chip I have to immediately take the polish off---right now my toenails are natural for that very reason--the polish started to chip, so zap, off the polish came..but it is pretty to see pretty toenails peeking through the sandal. Okay, I did not mean to go off on a tangent..LOL---I have a lot of really weird quirks--I will share them a little at a time--I am quite normal though, I assure you...;oP

I am going to make a little poll on my sidebar about grocery bills--please take a moment and vote--the voting is anonymous:)

What's Going On Wedneday!

One of my favorite things to talk about is being a wife and mother---and I don't mean I like talking about *ME*, I mean I like talking about what we all do and I like to hear what others do--that is why I blog hop--I go to blogs that are after my own heart, goals, and such.

I was soooooooo busy starting Monday--I went over to my grandmother's, I knew she had some errands to run--we went to Walmart---she had to get some things from there, I also got a new pair of sandals--and then off to Costco--Oh, I could spend a fortune in that store----they had little samples all over the store too--yummy.

Then after that it was girls scouts--cookies are coming!!!

Yesterday afternoon my girlfriend that lost her husband came over, it was the first time she had actually gotten in her car to do something---we talked for awhile, and she is going to be just fine--she has a strong faith in our Lord so I know she will be okay.

I also went to Michael's and bought calendars at .40 cents each----they had so many to choose from --Kelli, made this awesome post about what to do with old calendars--I love it--I am going to make these too.

Thursday is going to be a very busy day for me---My grandmother has a doctor's appointment, plus she has to go to CVS and Radio shack---and then Alexis has her Ballet class. So, today, I am going to work on my laundry, and just detailing my home and making it nice. It is going to be in the 60's today. I picked up some pretty little doilies and I put one on my nightstand with my bible on it--it looks so lovely, and then I have one on my table with my little roses on it.

Baby Food

I am 100% pro-breastfeeding---I will not get into debates with anyone about it though--I have been there already---and no one can change my mind about it. Okay, this is not about formula bashing, I promise, this is about feeding our babies---or I should say, this is how I feed my baby:)

Breastmilk is most important, so I always offer my baby the breast before I offer anything else, and will do so until he hits a year--I am also an advocate of self weening. I read somewhere that a mother weened her baby of the breast because she thought it was *gross* to do so any longer after 6 months--that just broke my heart!!! God made the perfect food for our baby, how can anything be gross about it.

Little Kevin is 8 1/2 months and he eats egg yolks for breakfast, with soft bananas cut up--babies should not have the whites of an egg until they are at least a year--it has something to with allergic reactions sooo, I stay away from those for now. I also will not give Kevin any thing with citrus, like oranges or orange juice: to hard on there little tummy. His very first food that he tried at about 6 months was mashed up avocado--all my kids started on avocados, and I never had a problem with it. I have a very good Doctor, he has been a doctor here in San Clemente since 1978 and he is very *Old* school--which I like very much:) With Alexis I made all my own baby food--all of it--with Kevin, I am buying some already made jars--I look at the ingredients and go from there-he loves the Beach Nut tender peas----the ingredients are peas and water, and that is it. He also enjoys mashed sweet potatoes. I buy Yo Baby yogurt, and cottage cheese.

Here is a little run down of his eating day:

Breakfast:
Egg yolk
Smashed or cut up bananas
Sometimes baby cereal

Lunch:
Peas

Snack:
Baby yogurt/cottage cheese


Dinner:
Sweet Potatoes
and I will introduce small soft foods to him, like a small taste of chicken---

He nurses on demand, and he is not that demanding...LOL---I also give (Watered down) juice in a sippy cup and water in a sippy cup--no bottles.

I also wipe his teeth off all the time---to keep them clean.

I hope this post answered some of your questions, if any of you have a question or I missed something ask away

Show and Tell Friday!!

YAY!!! I made it. This is Kelli's Show and Tell Friday, so please go over to Kelli's and look at everyone's Show and Tell and add your own link too--it is fun!! I have found so many wonderful blogs and blog friends. :::::Waiving to Everyone:::::

I am showing you today, my hat box--isn't it just a happy box--I love this box. I bought it about 15 years ago--and I keep it on my dresser---inside I have tissue paper and my extra buttons. I haven't actually ever put a hat in it...LOL. Thank you for looking at my Show and Tell have a wonderful Friday everyone:)

Books and More Books

Today is Thursday, Thankful Thursday--and I have so much to be thankful for. I have been to my Grandmothers a few times this week, and we went to a used bookstore--ohh, I could spend hours, days, weeks in a book store...LOL. I picked up some books that I am going to share with you. Also, I had finished my list of chores, and now, I must start a new list. I made this chart on my computer to make up menus---When I have charts and lists and notebooks to play with, it just makes my days more fun and organized.

I am going to make chicken for dinner, and rice in my steamer, salad with these beautiful tomatoes I got.--Alexis has Ballet from 4-5, so I need something that I can prep now, and have ready for dinner when Kevin gets home. I bake the chicken through the day and keep it warm.

Alexis has a *Show and Tell* today, she is sharing her *Build A Bear* at school...LOL

Look at this book---it is a beautiful children's dictionary I got for $2.00.









Look inside the book--it is in perfect condition, I wonder what little child had this book before, and took such nice care of it too



..and then at the .99 cent store, I bought one of my favorite stories--Jonah!

. OHHH, and look at this children's bible story book!
and these are the chapters in the book

Aren't these little petite roses just gorgeous!!! These were .99 cents too---I should have bought more...LOL



The weather is cold, but when the sun comes out it is nice--I took a long walk yesterday with the kids and I actually got a little color on my face--I couldn't believe it--I try and protect my face, I didn't think i would get sun yesterday. Little Kevin just loves those walks. Speaking of baby Kevin, I am glad I was able to share that video with you all--now I can make more --YAY--baby is up--be back soon.

::Giggles:::

I just figured out that my camera can do this...LOL. There is audio--but I think the Little House and the Prairie song has to finish first to hear me talk.

How neat is this??...

Tag!

I've Been Tagged

Here's how it works:

Link to the person that tagged you---> Mrs. A from Country Life

Post the rules on your blog.

Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog.

1. I love Non-fiction books

2. I like the show "Wife Swap"--and was so happy to see a new episode last week.

3. I don't like sports

4. I like talk radio

5. I like getting a sun tan (not on my face)

6. I got my ears pierced when I was 10 years old.

7. I learned how to surf when I was 25...LOL


Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.

Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blogs.

Okay, I am going to tag everyone that wants to play--I know a lot of people I read have *no tag zones*, and I can't remember who likes to play and who doesn't--so please if you like tags let me know in my comment section so we can all read yours, and so I don't break the rules.

Mrs. A thank you so much for thinking of me, it was a lot of fun reading your answers, and it was fun to sit here and reflect on some of the things about me, you all may know or not. :)

Build-A-Bear

Over the weekend we went to Build-A-Bear. It was so much fun, I want to do one too...LOL. I set a budget for Alexis at 40.00 and it was a good thing I did, because you can easily spend a small fortune in there. We ended up spending 42.00 which was okay---

Here is the front of the store--they are already inside, I ran out and quickly took this picture.

Alexis picked out her Bear (dog...LOL) and the lady helped her stuff it, add a heart and pick out a noise to put in. When you squeeze her paw she barks--Alexis wanted to make it Meow--which I thought was funny--but she decided to make it bark.

Little Kevin was such a good boy through it all.
...after her dog was stuffed, she got to bathe it....and brush....
..all done.
...now she picked out clothes for it..with Daddy helping, and little Kevin looking on

they are now sitting at the computer making the birth certificate, and Alexis named it Love---you can see in this picture, Kevin repeating to her the name "LOVE"...(HA-HA!)

...all done!Now off to the candy factory....
...so much candy. We then stopped at the Food Court in the mall and had lunch....Here is Alexis at home with her little "Love"
...all dressed and ready to go.

Also, the animal comes with a code just like the webkinz did ---so she has a another fun and safe website to play on too with her doggy.

Come and Play!

Happy Saturday---the rains came last night--I see in my comments I have a lot of questions to answer--I will answer all of them in the next following days---I especially like the question about feeding my baby--I will make a post all about that----

I want to play a game---a little game--what does it look like looking out your front door?

This is what it looked like when I opened my door today--cold and wet:

What does it look like outside your door? Take a picture, post it on your blog, then add it to my Mr.Linky:)

Rain? Vinegar! Garlic?...

It has not rained yet---this is the sky this morning--it is coming--the news keeps saying..LOL Little Kevin waiting for his breakfast--I like feeding him in the swing for now--I am still looking for pads for his high chair--my Step mom says it is a Jenny Lynn Highchair--never heard of that kind but I am going to Google it and see what I find.

I have three big windows in my dinning room--and we like to eat are breakfast and watch the rain(?)--and every one in our neighborhood leaving for work
He had banana and egg yolks with some apple juice--and then after that he nursed and went to sleep--so content:)

I am a big fan of apple cider vinegar--I don't need to write all the great things about apple cider--Google it and see all the wonderful things it does for your body--myth or not--it works for me. Kevin uses it on his salad too--so when I did my shopping yesterday I bought some more. Also, I have done a lot of reading about garlic--but I am a little nervous about taking it, because of the smell---I don't want to smell like garlic. I read if you swallow it quick it won't give you bad breath--but if it is taken for a long period the smell comes out of your pores--does any one know if there is any truth to this?

I stayed up late again last night--I was working on my menu, I was using my tools on the computer and made this chart. The word *Wednesday* was messing my chart up--that is a really long word...LOL.--I was having too much fun---I made myself stop and go to bed--morning comes by super fast--especially when the baby wakes up and wants to suckle a bit through the night.


This weekend, I want to take Alexis to *Build a Bear*---I have asked about this before----can she build a bear for under 40 dollars? I looked on their website and it seems possible---the bears priced form 5 to 20--and the accessories were 2 dollars and up (and UP)-----is that accurate?

What Matters

This is my blog, this is my online journal of my daily life as a wife and mother. As long as I can remember, I have been writing--do I think I am a good writer, I think I am okay--I enjoy going back in time and reading what I did, my family, kids..etc did--I enjoy looking at photos I have taken in the past--this is my journal. Sometimes I feel like writing in it all day--some days I just don't have much to say. I just can not see taking the time to write all this stuff down and then just delete it all---I am hoping one day to print this out or save it some how for my children and their children--If I don't write for a couple days--it usually just means I am not writing, if something came up that was important I of course would update. This is just me--I don't want my blog to sound like a running commentary---I want it be personal-I don't want it to sound like an advertisement for products, even though I will talk about my favorite products. I want readers to come here because they are my *friends* they read because we have something in common--trying to be the best wife and mother we can. Okay?
I want to talk about cooking, recipes, cleaning, children, husbands, dresses, housework, gardening, reading--everything about being a woman. There is so much out there to learn and we have the Internet now---I remember when I was first married, I did not have this available---I did everything by instinct and common sense...LOL. I am raising my coffee cup up to all the beautiful wives and mothers out there that enjoy their place in this wonderful world--we are women, we are not men--I wouldn't want to be a man( I just love being a girl) --I surely would not want to do what my husband has to do--oh, my poor husband, how hard he works--I am here to help make his life a little easier, not harder:)

Okay enough about that---for now.

Here is a picture of my Little Kevin--he is now 8 months!!! 8 months, can you believe it??!!!

Here is my closet--it isn't perfect, but it is neat--it looks a lot nicer in real life--I promise...LOL

I have a big box filled with things that I am going to get rid of---throw out some and donate the rest---a few things I am going to use the material to reinvent some things too--ohh, the possibilities :o)

Besides my organizing my closet, I have played a lot this past week and half--now it is time to get back to work--I stayed up late last night and used Microsoft works and wrote out a list that I want to get done by Monday--I printed it out, I am going to do everything on that list!! It is supposed start raining tomorrow and not stop until Monday--so this is the perfect time to get a lot of things done--because once my list is done--I am going to start my reading list--I am going to go to the book store and get myself some new books that will help me and encourage me in my life as a wife and mother. I am going to try new recipes, I am going to be healthier--I am going to be the best wife and mother I can be. Oh I wish my own mother would have had some kind of journal--I would have loved to have really known her. She is in heaven now--so I must wait until I meet her again :)

All that said--I have to get started. I also promise to take some time to not only visit all my beloved blogs, but to leave a comment too ;oP

I have also started my Bible again from the beginning--I am going to read it straight through!!! This should be fun and enlightening; I am not going to chapter hop--I am not!

xoxo