Thrifty Thursday: Homemade Cleaning

Some of you may be interested in cutting the cost of cleaning supplies that can nickel and dime you, quickly adding up. Others may be interested in eliminating chemicals and going "green" in the cleaning realm. Maybe you don't fit in either category. Either way, it really is interesting to learn how natural, chemical free household agents and remedies that you most likely already have on hand can team up to remove odors and cut the grime. Thanks to one of our readers, Gail, for sharing this very informative and helpful homemade cleaning guide. Let us know which tips you try!

Homemade Cleaning: Safe Household Cleaners


Best Disinfectant/Sanitizer
This will kill germs better than bleach! You can use it on any hard surface and it will also eliminate odors on cutting boards. This is completely non-toxic for food surfaces.

• 1 spray bottle with undiluted white vinegar
• 1 bottle of peroxide (brown bottle) with trigger sprayer

Note: Do not pour peroxide out of its brown bottle or it will become ineffective if contact with light occurs.

Spray one and then the other, it does not matter which order. Let air dry overnight. If needed you can wipe after 5 minutes.

Glass and Surface Cleaner

• Equal parts water to white vinegar

Mix in a spray bottle and use on all glass or hard surfaces. A mild disinfectant but will not kill all germs.
Works great on all bathroom surfaces. Removes odors. Vinegar odor will disappear as soon as it dries completely and will leave a non-scent. This is a great cleaner for laminate and tile floors. Note: Do not use on hardwood floors.

All Purpose Cleaner
Disinfecting spray that is completely non-toxic and can be used around children without fear. If used directly on food surfaces it will need to be rinsed/wiped with a wet cloth.

• 14 oz of water in a spray bottle
• 1 oz of castile soap such as Dr. Bronner’ s
• 10 or more drops of Tea Tree Oil (I like it a little stronger)

Shake well and apply to any hard surface tub, sink, and toilet bowl cleaner.
Shake onto surface and scrub with a damp cloth, sponge, or brush.
For extra cleaning power, spray with pure vinegar.
Baking Soda Tip #1: Put Baking Soda into a shaker top jar (ex-parm. cheese jar)

Baking Soda Tip #2: You can also clean non-coated and glass pans with a baking soda and water paste to remove stuck on foods. Keep drains moving by putting a couple of tablespoons of soda in the drain and then chase with a cup of pure vinegar each month.
Tea Tree Oil Tips-wonderful disinfectant and in strong dilutions can be used to kill mold and fungus. Can be used to treat athlete’ s foot and nail fungus. It is also antibiotic and can be used on cuts and to treat acne. Note: Do not ingest.


Furniture Polish

• 1 cup Olive Oil
• 1/4 cup Lemon Juice

Shake together in a spray bottle. Spray on furniture and buff with a t-shirt or microfiber cloth.

Leather Furniture Cleaner and Conditioner

• 1 cup Olive Oil
• 1/4 cup White Vinegar

Shake together in a spray bottle. Spray on furniture and wipe with a terrycloth towel.

Other Tips

Odors:

1. For smelly laundry soak clothes, towels, or other items in the washer and add 1 cup vinegar per load size; 1 cup for small, 2 cups for medium, 3 cups for large. Soak for at least 1 hour or overnight. Then wash as usual. This is great for athletic items and soured towels. Vinegar can also be put in the fabric softener dispenser or Downy ball to soften laundry and eliminate odors. You will not smell vinegar on your laundry.
2. You can use vinegar on any hard or soft item to remove odors. Once it dries the odor, including the vinegar smell, will be gone. This works great for urine, sour milk, and vomit odors in carpets. You may have to treat several times to remove pet odors. It can take several days to dry completely on some surfaces so don’ t do this right before company comes unless you want your house to smell like vinegar! I have used this on clothes, drapes, carpets, rugs, sofas, and mattresses. It is a miracle!

Stains:

1. Carpet/Upholstery- use baking soda and/or peroxide. Check for color fastness before using peroxide as it can bleach some fabrics. Scrub into stain with a brush, allow to dry and vacuum. You may have to re-treat but it will remove most stains. Works amazingly for vomit and wine stains.
2. Laundry-use a 50/50 dilution of dish liquid to water in a spray bottle. This will remove grease stains and almost all food stains except milk. Use straight dish liquid, peroxide, or lemon juice to remove milk stains and tough grease stains. Do not use chemical (petroleum based) stain removers on fat/oil stains! You can also try a baking soda paste on greasy stains if you catch them right away. Salt will also take out some stains. Use rubbing alcohol to get out ink. I usually try my whole arsenal of stain techniques before I give up and I rarely loose an article of laundry to stains. Note: Do not dry clothes until a stain is removed or it will become permanent. Soak heavily stained clothes in Oxi-clean overnight in a sink or washtub then wash as usual. Hydrogen peroxide can also be added to the wash to brighten whites instead of bleach. Not natural or non-toxic but useful when needed, Pine-sol will take oil based paint out of clothes. Wink (rust remover) will take out rust and tough red mud stains. Both are dangerous and corrosive but sometimes necessary.

I was surprised to find that my homemade cleaners outperformed commercial ones. Not only that, but they are safe for your whole family and the environment. Another awesome benefit is they are super cheap to make.If you don’ t like something, at least you won’ t feel like you wasted a lot of money.

Train Up Tuesday: So You Think You Want to Homeschool (Series...Part 1)

Sometimes, I'll admit, I have NO idea what to write to sweet ladies. Occasionally I'll get "divine inspiration". Other times, it's just something I like talking about. Once in a while I'll just skip it because I feel like I have nothing interesting to bring to you. However, there are unique times when my life seems inundated with a particular topic or question by several friends. This post is for that type of instance.

Over the last couple of weeks, I've had several gal friends, other women from church, female family members, and such ask me about "homeschooling". I'm blessed, because glory goes to God in that they see something positive in our family's experience so far with it. To be fair, we've only been homeschooling for about a year. We aren't even "registered" yet since we were playing it by ear (my 5 year old didn't meet the birthday cut-off; I also was about to give birth when school started).

However, we have been very blessed in our experiences this year. That's amazing. A year ago, I knew nothing about homeschooling (other than what we all "know"....that homeschoolers are a bunch of unsocialized kids that might be really good at reading and spelling). I didn't even know what I "didn't know," since it wasn't part of my culture growing up. Does that make sense?

So, what did we do? I know it sounds simple and basic, but we prayed. I didn't have lots of time to research (one of my favorite things, honestly). I knew I wouldn't have a lot of time to prepare each lesson with 3 little ones. I didn't know where to start to get started! So, my husband and I prayed about all those things. Mainly, we prayed that God would guide and direct our search.

And He did. I asked ladies that I respected and admired, having learned that they homeschooled. Two of them had the same answer for where to start, as far as a resource to get me pointed in the right direction (I'll share that in the coming weeks, so stay tuned).

We also kept our nose in the Word. The curriculum and teaching approach that we thought we were leaning towards was validated in our own readings of the Bible. Now, I'm not saying that the curriculum we chose is what everyone should use. I'm saying that based on our family's education philosophy, goals, and our sons' learning styles, God spoke peace to our hearts about the choice we were making by confirming it with our daily walk with Him.

Isn't that how it should be? Should all our decisions and choices go to the filter of those 2 very basic things...prayer and God's Word? Amazing how the obvious sails right past us sometimes.

Stay tuned. In the coming weeks, I'll share encouragement on why you CAN homeschool as well as a great resource to get you going in the right direction.

Until next time,
Ashlie

Marvelous Monday: Easy Spring & Easter Decoration Craft

Despite the yucky weather this weekend which is not an indicator Spring is here for keeps, we decided to go ahead and spruce up our decorations so it at least feels a little fresh and Spring-y inside. The good thing about Easter being at the end of April this year is you can reallllllly get a lot of mileage out of your Spring/Easter decorations if you start now! We have an inexpensive, basic, eaaaaasy peassssssy craft that'll give your tables, mantles, and any nook and cranny a cheerful, happy, warm fuzzy little Spring is in the air lift! We'll call them Lil' Bunny Foo Foo Vases.

All you need is:

                                                       -Box of Peeps in any color

-Your color preference of Jelly Beans

-2 jars in different sizes, one smaller than the other so that it will fit inside and allow approx. a 1 inch space around the sides

Directions:

-Fill bottom of jar w/ jelly beans leaving enough room from the top so a peep can sit on top of the beans and still fit down in the jar.

-Put smaller jar inside of the peep circle so you can fill it with water and insert flowers.

Note: Peeps look better if you leave them attached and do not tear them apart.

These snapshots are from our trial run. For some reason, I always have jars when I don't need them and today, I couldn't round up any of those jars I had been "saving." I must've really used a lot on our Valentine craft. That being said, these weren't quite the jars I had in mind but they worked in a pinch. Next go round, I'd like to do some bigger ones.

Good ole Mason jars came to the rescue!

....and so did a couple of tumblers.

Little Bunny Foo Foo Vases Round 1

Aren't they screaming for some bright, colorful tulips or gerber daisies?!?! Got some and accidentally left em' at Target. :/ Gotta go back. Ready for some SUNSHINE!!!!

Ya'll try this out and send us pictures! You hear?!?!? Happpy Monday and Hapy Spring! Have a marvelous one!

-HPS

Stay at home Saturday: Savory Smackerel~Fix and Freeze Part 4

The past few Saturdays have been devoted to a special Savory Smackerel Series on the topic of Fix n' Freezes...what they are, our insight gained through trial and error and maybe a freezer friendly recipe or two. If any of you are experienced at FNFs we would love for you to throw in your 2 cents! Feel free to comment on this post, email us at roofwithaview (at) gmail (dot) com or join our Facebook group here.

So far, our FNF tips to ensure FNF success and harmony have been:

• Select friends that have roughly the same size family as yours.
• Be sure the people you do it with have similar "taste" as you and your family.
• Be honest with one another about preferences, likes, dislikes (ex.-no grizzle, dark meat, mayo, peppers, etc.).
• State expectations of portion size and # of servings from the onset to prevent assumption and the feeling of getting jipped. :)
• Select your recipes.
• Do not select a recipe that you've never made or perfected.
• Share your recipe that you've selected with your FNF partners to make sure they give an A-OK and aren't repulsed.
• Schedule your FNF exchange date far enough in advance (all the while collecting coupons)-- preferrably 3-4 weeks out so you can work the sales and coupons accordingly.
• Keep an eye on the sales, particularly meat. Meat will most likely be your most costly FNF item so Buy One Get One or significant cost reductions will be your time to stock up.
• Select your FNF friendly recipe based on the sales you have hit and the stockpile of groceries you already have.

Today's FNF tips are focused on how to freeze your freezer friendly recipes. What you use to wrap your items and how wrap them is key to preventing freezer burn, not so great smells and change in taste. Use only ziploc bags or tupperware containers that are labeled "freezer" b/c these will be moisture and vapor proof.

• Remove as much air as you can before sealing the items. Note: Leave just a tad of room for liquids because they will expand just a bit.
• Wrap solids such as casseroles, meat and baked goods in aluminum foil before bagging.
• If you use a container, make sure the lid is air tight.
• Write the dish and date on your items.
• Keep in mind you don't have to spend a ton on such containers and wrappings. You can find great freezer pans in packs of two at your local dollar store.
  
  Great freezing resources

• Freezing and Food Safety- The US Dept of Agricultures in depth guide to freezing and food safety.
• Freezing Foods: A Real Time-Saver- AllRecipes guide to before you freeze, freezing, thawing, freezer friendly recipes and storage times.
• Foods that don't freeze well- National Center for Home Food Preservations guide of things that don't freeze well and the effects freezing has on those foods plus the effects on spices and seasonings.

Our Ashlie (from Train Up Your Child Tuesday) has shared one of her fav tried and true recipes that just happens to be a freezer friendly recipe. It sounds like one you can't mess up and that you can adjust according to your family's taste preferences. Ashlie says:

It is my ABSOLUTE favorite chick cass. My m-i-l used to always make it for me. I didn't even wanna know how to make it b/c I thought no way it would turn out like hers. Turns out though, that I CAN rock it out, and do frequently ;-p

Here's the basics: (Oh, and I don't know what book this came from, but it is called "Company Chicken Casserole")

Company Chicken Casserole
1 cup chopped cooked chicken
¾ cup mayonnaise
1 cup chopped celery (or cream of celery)
1 cup (or can) of sliced or chopped water chestnuts
1 cup cooked rice
1 can cream of chicken soup
½ cup sliced almonds
2 Tbsp. grated onion
1 cup crushed bread crumbs, stuffing, or even crushed cornflakes (I've never done the latter, but that is the original recipe idea)
2 Tbsp. melted margarine

First, know that the celery, chestnuts, almonds, and onion are all pretty optional. I've made it with all of them or just some of them. Once you make it, you'll know what you like best.


Also, I've used whatever leftover chicken from a small roast chicken (the kind you pick up at Target or Food Lion and such).

Finally, I've tried all types of topping....stuffing, bread crumbs, and my new favorite - Panko bread crumbs. They all work!

Directions:
Combine chicken, celery (if used), rice, soup(s), onion, mayo, water chestnuts, and almonds. Mix well. Spoon into a 2 quart dish (or 9X13). Top with stuffing and margarine. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes.

You could cook half of this and freeze the other, or better yet, make 2 or 3 of these recipes. Cook one, freeze smaller portions of the rest. Keep some or give away to the household with the new baby or the elderly widowed woman next door. :)

Happy Saturday, ya'll!

Free-for-all Friday: Babyfood In My Hair

I don't know about you, but before I had a baby, I pretty much had most things under control (at least that's how I remember it now- ha!). But I cooked dinner most nights, my house was usually clean, the laundry was regularly folded and actually put away, and my worst surprise in the way of messes came if my dog shed a little more than normal. Well, imagine my surprise how many changes occurred once my sweet little angel was born!!!  Having life under control seems like a distant memory (although I must add that the trade-off is more than worth it!). That's why I got such a kick out of the name of this blog: RocksInMyDryer. I think it's a phrase only a mom can relate to, and doesn't it instantly make you think of all the confusing and surprising.... ummmm.... what's the word I'm looking for here- things that can happen once a child is brought into the mix?  Since finding that blog, I've often found myself wondering what the name of our family blog would be if I named it in the same fashion.  Here are a few of my current thoughts:

MilkOnMyCouch
PaintOnMyBaby
Cheerios...Everywhere
ChocolateOnMyMind
DishesInMySink
MoneyInMySavingsAccount (haha, yeah right!!)
ToysInMyToilet (yes, my ten month old has already figured this one out)
DogInMyShower (I just found her in there today for the first time.... I'm baffled!)

And I have to add one last one because I happened to be the wife of an amazing man and the mother to an amazing baby: LoveInMyLife.

If you had to name your family blog, what would it be?

Thrifty Thursday Part 2: Exciting Local Charlotte Event!

Many of you may be fans of Nordstrom. If so, it doesn't get much better than the Nordstrom Rack (Nordies version of their outlet). If you happen to live near Charlotte or are planning any future road trips, you may want to add the Nordstrom Rack to your to-do list b/c Charlotte's fittin' to have one! The Grand Opening is next Thursday, March 31 beginning at 9:00 AM. For more details, visit here. Me excited. See you at the sale?! :)

Thrifty Thursday: Parties for Pennies

We've had a couple of posts on birthday parties. Now, how can a mom of two boys that is trying to juggle the world accomplish all these ideas with success-and for minimal cost? I thought I would share a couple of additional points that I've found helpful.

1. Calendar- January plan your parties and get togethers for the year.

• James Birthday ~ Handy Manny (family party)
• Graham's Birthday ~ Diego
• Baby Shower for friend

2. Timeline- Make lists of the supplies that you are going to need for the parties and dates to purchase if time sensitive. This will allow you to purchase things with coupons and jump on deals throughout the year.

3. Storage/Oraganization- Make sure that you have boxes to place these items so when you purchase you will have somewhere to put them. You may also want to put the lists there and mark off items and you collect. By doing this you are going to have a great party with these supplies.

4. Don't Procrastinate- Make sure to do things throughout the month so you are not stuck doing everything the day before. By spreading things out it really allows you to enjoy the preparation and it does not become a chore.

5. Activities- look on websites for color sheet print outs and activities. Note: If you find some and you have color ink in your printer. Print now and place in box. Do not wait till day before because your ink will more than likely run out! Trust me.

6. Party Details- Pick a free place. Your house is always great but you can also look look at parks and pools that will allow you to have party there.

7. Invites-Limit the number of guests. You do not have to invite everyone...maybe just family if there are lots of cousins or your child's very closest friends. Invitations can be done electronically on sites such as http://www.evite.com/. This is nice because you can ensure people get their invitation since it tells you if they've viewed it. You can also check a couple of printing websites such as http://www.vistaprint.com/ for specials and order 10 invites for free or even print your own. These options are good for people that do not have access to electronic invitations.

7. Decorations- Use what you have. Use your child toys to decorate. Example: For the Handy Manny party I am going to use a big dump truck and put the cupcakes in the back and use crushed oreos for the topping. Oh...you could also find a coloring book with the theme of the party for $1 and cut the pages out and use for color sheets as the activity. Keep your eyes open for ideas online, in magazines and as you are around town.

We'd love for you to share any other creative birthday tip you may have. Have fun and happy celebrating!
Love,
Imogene

More w/ Wednesday in the Word's Glenda!

On Friday, Glenda did amazing interview along w/ her husband, Preston, with host Jim Wood of the program "Abiding in Christ" aired on Sirius/XM radio. Jim read FINDING HOPE and did an excellent job conveying its message. This interview is especially wonderful because you hear them speak--in a raw way--from a mother's heart and a father's heart. You may also want to become involved in Jim's work of helping troubled young people at Wears Valley Ranch in TN. Here's an mp3 link to the interview: http://tinyurl.com/4qmu7lu

Enjoy and pass it on!

Train Up Tuesday: Reaping Care

I sometimes wonder if my boys will step in when Social Security is nonexistent (most likely our lifetimes, right?). That's part of what I hope I am sowing into by being at home with my boys - caring for them, teaching and training them to love others as Christ loves us, and looking out for each other.

I love being there for them when they have a boo-boo (and let's face it...we've only JUST begun with boo-boos - 3 boys and only one that's hit the 5 year old mark). I don't make a huge ordeal over each one, but I let them know that mommy cares about each little bump and bruise.

I was delighted in the last week to see myself "reaping" already some of what I hope my boys are learning. I was making breakfast for the boys and just barely burned a knuckle of one of my fingers. No big deal and I didn't make much of a yelp at all. However, my middle son noticed :) He looked it over carefully and immediately ran to the bathroom to get me some "cream" and what he knew was the LAST Toy Story band-aid (that's a big deal, ya know). The best part though was, of course, the kiss to top it all off.


Also, last week (unrelated) my oldest told me that when I "get wrinkles like a grandma" he'll "still think I'm pretty."

So, when I'm old, wrinkly, and need care from others, I'm thankful to know that my body and spirit will be in good hands - those of my boys, my husband, and God.

Have a great week!
-Ashlie

Marvelous Monday: Spring (cleaning) Fever

If you’ve ever been pregnant, you know about or have experienced the Nesting Phase. For many, in some trimester or another, you get a sudden urge to clean anything and everything. Baseboards? Bathrooms? Cabinets? Sky is the limit to your Cinderella cleaning abilities. Scrub, scour and straighten!

Well I have given birth to two sons now ages four and almost 2 and the Nesting Phase never even remotely hit me. Quite the opposite. I want to hang on to everything for sentimental reasons. I also stockpile groceries and household items through good sales and careful couponing. I’m not a hoarder, so don’t put in an application for a TLC show for me anytime soon, but cleaning and straightening and being a neat freak just aren’t part of my vocabulary.

I was recently talking to a good friend who was putting her house on the market. When selling a house, you have to give the appearance of lots of space by de-cluttering and having your home look pristine and perfect. She told me that she, like me, was very sentimental in wanting to hang on to things, but once she started de-cluttering, it was actually liberating. Liberating? Seriously? I can’t part with the 87 thousand crafts my kids bring home from school, the cork from the bottle of champagne at my wedding – it was our first toast! I can’t get rid of the 47 pair of Christmas socks I never wear (nevermind that I only wear socks about 3 days out of the whole year). I can’t get rid of the mountain of stuffed animals sitting in a garbage bag in storage. I just can’t! What if, when my sons are grown and married, have kids of their own and I have nothing for them to play with? And what about grandma’s sewing machine that is broken and I’m hanging onto it even though I can’t sew more than a button on a shirt? I have to keep it, right? Let’s also not forget the 3 pounds of peppermints I have had in the pantry since my 30th birthday. Surely there is a dessert needing this lifetime supply that will pop up soon? That was several years ago…hmmm.

Well, I told my hubby about this liberation and the Nesting Phase hit him (and we are not pregnant). I woke up Saturday morning to find our linen closet bare and the contents on the floor in stacks in piles. He told me it needed to be done and he didn’t want to throw anything away without asking me first (bless him!). So I began helping him sort – we didn’t need the 15 receiving blankets, Mexican themed table cloth (don’t ask), and variety of other crazy linens. So some went to a ministry involving babies, some went to my mom (she loved the raw silk pillow covers) and the rest went to Goodwill (Hello, tax write-off! Be sure to get a receipt).

I was resistant at first, but once I started finding uses for the items, I began to really get into the spirit of de-cluttering. I don’t always want to give everything to Goodwill (gasp if you wish), it helps me to put a face to the item I need to get rid of. I don’t have time to put together a yard sale right now and so finding others, or specific ministries that could benefit got me charged up. Suddenly, I was expanding past the linen closet to my bedroom, then the basement. I was feeling LIBERATED! Now I know exactly what my friend was talking about. As for the kids crafts, some will definitely go in the ‘mementos’ box, but others will be photographed and take up less space as a picture for the memory than the 2 foot robot decorated with spare parts and my old clip-on earrings.

I am getting rid of things I didn’t want or need, de-cluttering and here’s a fun twist…making a bit of money? There were a few items that I decided to try to put on Craigslist.com - I told my husband that we’d post them for one week and if nothing sold, I’d call for a large trash pickup or donate them to charity. Well within 20 minutes of posting one item, I had an email and made a sale! I’m still waiting on the second posting, but wow! I can clean, make money and feel liberated all at once. This is a great feeling.

As I compared notes with others, a few helpful de-cluttering suggestions below might help give you the kick in the pants that I needed:

- Too many toys? Put half in storage bins in the attic and rotate them once or twice a year so the kids don’t tire of them.
- Lots of toiletries? Put some in shoe boxes, neatly stacked and categorized so it doesn’t look like Walgreens or CVS blew up under your sink.
- Closet so stuffed you don’t know what you’ve got? Pull things out of season and put them in bins out of site…or better yet, force yourself to give some clothes AWAY! You could bless someone else with those cute capris and skirts or tanks or dresses that don't fit or you haven't worn in ages.
- Memento madness? If you are extremely sentimental but don’t have tons of space like me, consider taking pictures of your child holding that priceless artwork – the bluebird made out of construction paper sitting in the Styrofoam cup nest will look even better in a photo of your cutie pie holding it in the years to come. Pitch the craft when you’ve admired it for awhile and make room for the new stuff…they are in school for 12+ years…
- Kids clothes…look into area consignment sales or shops to get a return (albeit small) on your investment, or find friends with children younger / smaller than yours who could use the gently used clothes. I’m always heartbroken when my son grows out of something and has only worn it twice. I don’t need to hang onto it though!
- Pantry crammed beyond recognition? Face it, you landed a few amazing sales and really won’t use the 47 packets of steak seasoning, Tabasco sauce or black eyed peas. There are food banks that would welcome these items! Be realistic in what you will and won’t use and donate accordingly.

So now all I have to do is figure out what to do with 3 pounds of mints and some Christmas socks. Any takers?

Safeguard your Spouse Sunday: Fillin' Up Those Loooooooove Tanks!

Yesterday, I listened to a Focus on the Family podcast that featured Dr. Gary Chapman, author of the book, The 5 Love Languages.  If you haven’t read this book, I think it’s a must-read for couples.  I’ve even found that it has helped me learn how to love other people in my life better (like a sibling, friend or parent) by tuning into to their specific love language.

On this particular broadcast, Dr. Chapman suggested an exercise for married couples to complete once a week.  He suggested asking your spouse how full their “Love Tank” is on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest rating.  If your spouse says anything less than 10 (which would mean they are soooo filled with love, they couldn’t possibly feel any more love in their life), then the next question he suggests asking is, “What can I do to help you feel more loved?” I love my husband with all my heart, but I know I can always do a better job at showing it.  So I decided to ask my husband these questions that same night!

After dinner, before I got up to start the dishes, I suddenly got very nervous.  Just as I was getting ready to ask the official “Love Tank” questions, I realized I haven’t been doing much to intentionally make him feel loved lately.  My husband is a very kind and gentle man, but he’s also honest, so I knew he wouldn’t sugar-coat his answer.  I also have been overwhelmed with life in general these days and to be honest, I thought to myself, “I don’t possibly think I could accomplish one more thing in my day or put one more item on my To-Do list”.  Ever felt like that?  (If you’re a mom, I’m sure you’ve felt that way too often- or is it just me?!?) . 

Well, imagine my surprise when his answers included mostly small things that I can easily fit into my day.  One example was that he loves it when the baby and I meet him at the door when he gets home from work.  Since I can hear his diesel truck coming a mile away, that’s more than easy! :)  He said he’d also like more dates nights with just the two of us.  What a great idea!  My apprehension was quickly laid to rest and now I have a tailored-made list directly from my husband of great ways to make him feel loved. 

So, ladies, what do you think?  Is tonight the night you’ll ask your “Love Tank” questions?  I definitely encourage you to do so!

Love,
Jaime

PS Oh! I forgot to mention my “score”.  It was a very generous 8- I am sure I would have scored myself much lower than that :).

Stay at Home Saturday: Fix and Freeze~Part 3

The past couple of Saturdays have been devoted to a special Savory Smackerel Series on the topic of Fix n' Freezes...what they are, our insight gained through trial and error and maybe a freezer friendly recipe or two. If any of you are experienced at FNFs we would love for you to throw in your 2 cents! Feel free to comment on this post, email us at roofwithaview (at) gmail (dot) com or join our Facebook group here.

So far, our FNF tips to ensure FNF success and harmony have been:

• Select friends that have roughly the same size family as yours.
• Be sure the people you do it with have similar "taste" as you and your family.
• Be honest with one another about preferences, likes, dislikes (ex.-no grizzle, dark meat, mayo, peppers, etc.).
• State expectations of portion size and # of servings from the onset to prevent assumption and the feeling of getting jipped. :)
• Select your recipes.
• Do not select a recipe that you've never made or perfected.
• Share your recipe that you've selected with your FNF partners to make sure they give an A-OK and aren't repulsed.

Today's FNF tips are focused on how to balance the cost so you can justify the convenience without it costing an arm and a leg.

• Schedule your FNF exchange date far enough in advance (all the while collecting coupons)-- preferrably 3-4 weeks out so you can work the sales and coupons accordingly.
• Even if you aren't a couponer, keep an eye on the sales, particularly meat (a department which doesn't usually have many coupons). Meat will most likely be your most costly FNF item so Buy One Get One or significant cost reductions will be your time to stock up.
• Select your FNF friendly recipe based on the sales you have hit and the stockpile of groceries you already have. It will be more costly if you buy your items based on need because you will most likely be paying full price.
• So far, my most favorite budget saving meat trick is in regards to chicken. I only dig white meat and white meat errs on the expensive side. Awhile ago, Amy A. posted a white meat chicken tip here that is KEY to keeping cost down for FNFs. Note: NOW is the time to take her up on it b/c the particular chicken needed (split chicken breast) for this savings is on sale NOW at Harris Teeter for .99/lb. I stocked up this week on 5 packs of those bad boys at $2-$3 something a pack (normally would've been $8-$9 a pack) and had two crockpots roasting it up in my kitchen yesterday. Half I'll use for a next FNF and the other half will go in the freezer to save bookoos of time. It's inexpensive, easy and saves time in the long run so it's a win win.

Here is an oh so fabulous recipe for which you can use your new batch of homemade roasted, flavorful, white meat chicken~ Chicken Divan and to quote a fan, "Chicken Divan is chicken divine!" The jury is out on how it will freeze but Passionate Homemaking freezes it (even though our recipes differ. can't speak for hers so use the one I just gave you but you should still be able to freeze it) and she also gives you a homemade Cream of Mushroom substitute if you have a prob using the canned version. Check it out here.

What are your fav Freezer recipes? Do tell!

Happy Saturday, ya'll!
HPS

Free-for-all Friday: REAL Houses of the Roof

Are you one to carry the weight that every square inch of your house needs to look perfect at all times....only to feel more weight of all the other things that "need" to be perfect...clothes, kids, meals, you know the drill. Well, loosen those too tight ponytails (your eyes are starting to slant), let down your hair, take a deep breath and say with me, "IT's OOOOOOKAAAAAAYYYYY!"

A dear, sweet and what I would consider "clean" friend recently sent me my most fav email ever....a pic of her messy kitchen for the sake of accountability BUT what she got was replies of pics of other messy kitchens (including mine). It was my most fav email thread ever for a couple of reasons.

1. It was freeing to know I wasn't alone at that moment and I'm not the ONLY one w/ an overwhelming mess on my hands at times.
2. It was REAL.
3. Believe it or not, it gave me incentive to get busy on the whizzy and begin somewhere despite my feeling of being overwhelmed.

Soooo....the Women of the Roof  are here to say that we have messes, too. Our houses are real just like yours. Granted, they cover a broad spectrum~little piles and clutter to BIG piles and clutter BUT despite the size of our messes, I can attest the one common thread behind every single picture below was the woman that shared it obviously felt guilt (we woman are good at carrying that) judging from each detailed description and reasoning that accompanied each and every picture. Every picture. No joke. I'll admit it gave me a good chuckle. No judgment here. At least, the good (or bad) thing about a mess is it's not going anywhere. It'll wait for you. It's the one thing in your life that's not in a hurry.

So, tell us to which mess you most relate. Do I hear an "AMEN!" for...

...messy kitchens!

....cord clutter!

...dirty sinks (don't tell the Fly Lady)!

...strowy closets!

...overwhelming "catch all" rooms!

....stacks of papers, etc!

...toy areas!

....bathrooms!

You name the area and the mess and between all of us, we most likely have it covered. If you need motivation getting started, trust me. Take a picture and email it to us (roofwithaview at gmail dot com). It will get you started when you see your mess in an actual picture. Another piece of good news is Catherine is going to be giving us her tried and true Spring Cleaning tips since the Spring Cleaning bug has bit her good. Maybe it's contagious. :)

BTW, names were not shared to protect the innocent. ALTHOUGH, Angela wants her name shared so someone will see her bathroom mess and have a burning desire to select it for a makeover. Any takers? She deserves it just for being loud and proud.

Happy Friday!

-HPS

For Women Only ~ Book Review

This book is by Shaunti Feldhahn and is wonderful for any woman. I got through this in about two weeks with my sister in law doing it beside me for discussion. Boy, what a fun way to bond and discuss our husband's make ups:) I found the best way to review this book was simply list some chapters and give a discussion point for each. It is so good I would desire for you all to read it.

Chapter One~
Lightbulb On! ~ How I woke up to what I did not know about men.

Imogene ~ I come from three sisters and a divorced family. This was a great chapter for me. On page 19 ~ "The more we understand the men in our lives, the better we can support and love them in the way they need to be loved." There are many facts in this chapter that reveal how they need to be loved to kick off this entire book and I loved it!

Chapter Two~
Your Love is Not Enough ~ Why your respect means more to him that even your affection.

Imogene~ When I get caught up in my daily life sometimes I forget about what my hubby may be going through in his daily life. So often it is the small things that mean so much to him. My daily prayer is for God to show me how to respect him more in my actions when we spend time together at the end of the days. Page 30 states, "ordering her husband around like one of the kids." OH! This stung, I find myself doing this all the time. Instead of asking, I am demanding. So just rephrasing what I desire can help so much in making him feel like part of the family.

Chapter Three~
The Performance of a Lifetime ~ Why Mr. Smooth looks so impressive but feels like an impostor.

Imogene~ Page 70 tells how they desire our affirmations. We can do things like proactively set up date nights or even activities once the kids have gone to sleep to show him that you do care and desire a relationship with him.

Chapter Four~
The Loneliest Burden ~ How his needs to provide weighs your man down, and why he likes it that way.

Imogene~ Men get emotional about this! No matter what side job I find to do it is still not taking this burden off of his shoulders. This has been a great discussion point with tons of my other friends that are moms. It is so hard to say my job is to support my husband emotionally with this burden and allow for God to meet this need for my family. So now when he leaves to go to work I do look at him differently just as he should look at me differently about my job.

Chapter Nine~
Words for Your Heart ~ What your man most wishes you knew about him.

Imogene~ page 181, I am not sure if you just started here you would get the impact these next couple of pages left on me. But you could try, I could not read this through my tears. Please read this book and take comfort in the love that the Lord has for you through your relationship with your husband.


I have reviewed this book this way with my name under these chapters. If there are any other authors of this blog that have read this book I would love for you to edit this post and complete. If you are not an author and have read this book please comment to encourage others to read and see what God truly desires for us in our marriages.

Click Here to Purchase.

Ready for Spring Giveaway!

The winner of the book and Starbucks Gift Card is LoisAnn.  Please email me your mailing address:thegrossmans@carolina.rr.com and it will be in the mail.  Happy Reading!


In celebration of Spring and all the wonders it entails  I am giving away a copy of a fabulous Christian fiction book that is based in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and I am also going to include a Starbucks Gift Card.

Alice J. Wisler's third novel Hatteras Girl is an incredible book to  enjoy this Spring/Summer and will have you dreaming of the summer sun and ocean air.
 
This book follows approximately a year in the life of Jackie Donovan who is a single lady close to the age of 30 working a reporter for a local publication.  Jackie's days are consumed with interviewing local businesses for her work, going on blind dates and caring for her best friends son who is Kindergarten age while her best friend juggles the responsibility of working two part-time jobs and being a widow.

Reading this book is like sitting down and learning about the details of the life of a close friend.  The main character, Jackie Donovan, is lovely and possesses incredible loyalty, love of family and dreams that she desires to fulfill.  Most women will find her easy to relate to as Jackie struggles with family commitments, desire for a life partner and the dream of owning her own Bed and Breakfast.  Jackie's friends and family are quirky, real and experience love and loss.

As you follow Jackie's decisions and revelations you can see how the hand of God protects and guides and gives her the desires of her heart.   I highly recommend this work of Christian Fiction by Bethany House.

If you would like to be entered in to the drawing for a copy of this book please leave a comment indicating your favorite vacation spot.  This can be a vacation destination you have enjoyed in person or one on your dream list!  I am also going to throw in a $10 Starbucks card to give the opportunity to take a friend  for a nice hot or iced drink.

The winner will be announced on Monday, March 21st and entries will be accepted until 10:00 a.m. on the 21st.

Happy Reading and blessings to you today, Caroline

Giveaway Winners!

Congratulations to our THREE winners of Finding Hope in Times of Grief! Each of these peeps will receive a copy (signed upon request) mailed to them.

1. Catherine
2. Cindy
3. Tracy Suzanne

If you would like your own copy or simply want to have some copies on hand as a gift when the need should arise, you may place an order here.

Happy reading and stay tuned for another exciting giveaway Caroline is hosting tomorrow!

Train Up Tuesday: More Than Tolerant Part 2

Last week we talked about "tolerance" and our hopes that our children will see that we truly LOVE them because they are a joy and a blessing. That is the first step in teaching them to be beyond tolerant.

We can also be proactive and intentional in providing opportunities to share God's love....and that He isn't merely a "tolerant" god but, rather, the God of Love. Maybe it looks like this in a child...helping open doors for strangers or carrying groceries for that mom in the parking lot who has her hands full, making cards for shut-ins, raking a neighbors yard or helping to weed. It's teaching them to be honest (like when you are given back too much money at the register), to engage those they come into contact with (yeah, there are times you SHOULD talk to strangers!...ask them how they are doing today; sometimes it opens the door for the gospel), smile at people, be a reflection of The Light.

Behind the "public eye", "being intentional" might be praying for people that it's "hard to love" and also those who the child feels needs extra prayers or working on their own character issues. Perhaps you have boys who need to work on their arrogance and boasting or rudeness (see 1 Corinthians 13:4, 5) or girls who need to learn to rejoice when others rejoice (instead of being envious?).

The point is to be proactive in this teaching. I think that failure to do so will make them like everyone else in society....merely tolerant.

What are some verses that come to your mind that we can teach our kids to "live out"? Do you have any suggestions for practical, daily applications of showing LOVE to friends, family, strangers?

Get that comment role going! ;-)

Much LOVE,
Ashlie

Marvelous Monday: St. Patty's Food Fun

March 17. St. Patrick's Day. This coming Thursday.

Whether or not you're Irish, St. Patty's Day can just be a little something fun to give you a reason to deviate from the norm and have some family friendly fun. Maybe you already have some ideas up your sleeves. If not, maybe these will help get those creative juices flowing in the area of creative food without adding green food coloring to everything under the sun. Don't get tooooo excited cuz we're keepin' it preeeettttty basic here, but your kids might likey.

Breakfast:

• One blog I read suggested topping your favorite healthy muffins recipe or mix with cream cheese an green sprinkles for some added flair.
• I also have learned that you can use a heart cookie cutter, cut three hearts, put them together and it makes a shamrock. This could work w/ toast or french toast, girls.
• I'm thinking about trying these Naturally Green Sweet Pea Streusel Muffins. I like the name. Think the munchkins will go for them? I mean, they do have chocolate chips in them. I can hear my mother right now telling me those look not very good.

Lunch:

• Remember the heart cookie cutter turned shamrock idea from above? Take it to the limits, baby....tortillas, quesadillas, sandwiches. Name your (or your child's) pleasure.

Dinner ideas :
Actually, this is me needing you to get my creative juices flowing in this department.

• Shepherd's Pie may be a hit for some families. In others, it may make the children dread SPD. If you decide to make it, one option could be to make the mashed potatoes green w/ spinach puree but then again...risk of creating a holiday tradition the kids may dread? Maybe you have some better ideas since "green" foods aren't typically at the top of my three year olds list.
• Sweet Peas?
• Green Beans?
• Cole slaw?

LOL. OK. I'm at a loss for surefire hits in this category. Somebody help this sister out. I'm starting to think our best bet is to make homemade shamrock shaped pizzas. Hey, the heart shaped ones are a hit at Valentine's Day!

Fun Snack/Dessert:

Would you believe these are yogurt covered pretzels?!?!? Cuteness. Click here to make your own.

Dessert:

What we called Grasshopper Pie was one of my all time fav desserts as a child and it was a very special treat when my mom made it! Click here for recipe. Note: Make green by using green Mint Choc. Chip ice cream. I guar-an-tee this will be a crowd pleaser! :)

Happy Monday, ya'll. Have a Marvelous one.

Love ya,

HPS

Safeguard your Spouse Sunday: Enjoying Intimacy

This article was written by Natalie and posted here on Passionate Homemaking. It's a topic about which RWAV ladies have shown concern and been very responsive so we appreciate Natalie sharing via PH!


Imagine for a moment: one night, you sit down on the couch next to your husband, put your feet up to relax, and start talking. You’ve been waiting all day to tell him what’s on your mind.

He turns to you, rolls his eyes a little, and grumbles, “Well, honey, it’s my joooob to listen to you jabber about your day, the kids, and what you made for dinner, so (sigh…) go ahead. But keep it short.”

(Tension in the air.)

This imaginary story hardly begs an explanation! Let’s draw it out anyways.

Duty vs. Desire
We wives can never be satisfied with less than being enjoyed, loved, and adored. Especially when it involves romantic, mushy-gushy things like…talking. A dutifully-listening husband would just not cut it.

OK. Now, time to flip it around.

Don’t our husbands want the same kind of treatment from us? They want us to enjoy, love, cherish, desire, and delight in them! Especially when it involves romantic, mushy-gushy things like…well, you know what they love! I think we all know how important intimacy is to our husbands. The real question is, how can a wife rise above duty (merely being “available” for, or present during, intimate times), to really love and adore her husband? Let’s put ourselves in our husbands’ shoes, and think it through.

A husband wants his wife to honor him by being delightfully interested in spending intimate time together! What does that mean? A wife shows genuine interest when she pursues not only his, but also her own enjoyment.

(Crickets.)

Some wives might say that’s not selfless or truly loving. Let’s go a step further and work through it.

This is the part that really rocks my socks: that pursuing my enjoyment in intimacy with my husband is good, because my marriage should reflect the Christian’s pursuit of delight in God!

 Whoa. Unpacking time.

Delight in God
John Piper says the way we glorify God is by enjoying him. It’s not complicated. If I love God…think he’s wonderful, awesome, and amazing, doesn’t that say something about him? Doesn’t that show him honor?

Here are some of my fave scriptures that tell how we should be absolutely tickled at God…and that we get to be with him:

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)


My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. (Psalm 84:2)

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. (Psalm 73:25)

Oh, to be enraptured with God, to derive our greatest pleasure and happiness from him!

Delight in Your Husband
Likewise, in marriage, if you were absolutely delighted by being with your husband, wouldn’t that honor him for all that he is?

Don’t you, deep down, want to be caught up in delight and pleasure with your husband?

Every woman dreams of that. But when your husband is less than loving …when he hardly inspires delight and adoration…when you have no extra love to overflow…

God answers our womanly dream. He is the perfect inspiration of delight to our feminine hearts.

You shall no more be termed Forsaken,
and your land shall no more be termed Desolate,
but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,
and your land Married;
for the LORD delights in you,
and your land shall be married.
For as a young man marries a young woman,
so shall your sons marry you,
and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
so shall your God rejoice over you.
Isaiah 62:4-5

Give of that overflow, to your husband…and love it!

Some Practical Tips
- Pray that you will love marital intimacy.

Do this first. You cannot have real love and delight for your husband unless God places it in you.

- Meditate on Bible passages that describe God’s love and delight in you. (See my favorites above)

Allow God to heal your soul from believing you’re not loved, pursued, or don’t deserve to enjoy your marriage. You don’t, but Christ bought it for you. Use scripture to tell your soul to receive it.

- Take responsibility for your role.

If you have a passive attitude about intimacy, and you think it’s your husband’s job to make it fun for you, sorry. You get out what you put in.

- If you’re not “there yet”, don’t give up.

Discouragement can be your worst enemy. Don’t create self-fulfilling prophecies in your head. “Well, it’s never been all that great up till now…” Hope. Learn. Keep trying. Relax. It’s not supposed to be that difficult!

- Talk honestly with a trusted older married lady friend.

- Know your body.

It’s not magic! Learn about your physical makeup and what “tends” to work.

- Read books. In this order, I like:

A Celebration of Sex: A Guide to Enjoying God’s Gift of Sexual Intimacy, Dr. Douglas Rosenau

Intended for Pleasure, Ed and Gaye Wheat

The Act of Marriage, Tim LaHaye

- Establish traditions and routines.

- Break traditions and routines! (Sometimes.)
Keep it varied and FUN.

- Pray again that you will love marital intimacy.

You might feel you’ve tried everything. Ask God to help you understand yourself. “He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you.” (Isaiah 30:19)

What will you do to improve on/continue to show your delight in your husband?

Stay at Home Saturday: Savory Smackerel~Fix n Freeze Part 2

Last week we began a special Savory Smackerel Series here on the topic of Fix n' Freezes...what they are, our insight gained through trial and error and maybe a freezer friendly recipe or two. If any of you are experienced at FNFs we would love for you to throw in your 2 cents! Feel free to comment on this post, email us at roofwithaview (at) gmail (dot) com or join our Facebook group here.

Without further ado, today's FNF tips will be helpful on the topic of recipes. Some things we've learned are:

• Once you have formed a FNF group with friends of similar sized families that have similar tastebuds as you AND shared your dislikes/preferences, select your recipes.
• Do not select a recipe that you've never made or perfected. Trust me on this. A recipe may look easy and seem foolproof but if something is going to go wrong, it WILL go wrong when you are making it for 15 other people and you don't want to be the FNF flop. I fear I may have been the flop on our last FNF go round with a Sloppy Joe recipe I deviated to at the last moment. I thought it may be better than my usual. I should've stuck w/ my usual! Also, two nights ago, I made something I thought was a surefire FNF hit for the next go round. I was sadly mistaken and glad I tested it on my family first before disappointing three other families, too. Pheweeee. Close call. 
• Share your recipe that you've selected with your FNF partners to make sure they give an A-OK and aren't repulsed. Hopefully, they'll be honest with you. :)

One hit from our last FNF round was this Taco Pie. Even my babies liked it~especially the crust! Try it out first, add your own little touches and I assure you it can be a hit for your next FNF, too (or even just for your own freezer).

Next week, we'll share some tips on how to keep down the costs if you are planning your own FNF.

Happy Saturday, ya'll!
-HPS

Free-for-all-Friday: Feeling clumpy and comfy? Find the runner in you!

If your answer to today's title is a resounding "yes!," we have a special treat for you~a guest! Today we are featuring Melanie (aka Bella Mella) who has been a RWAV reader (and commenter-gasp!) since we began 2 1/2 years ago. She has been a pleasure to get to know through the the wonderful world of blogging and I know you'll relate to her and find her story inspiring. I'll admit she has given this exercise hater, non-runner, "better get my badonkadonk busy cuz summer is comin' FAST" girl some incentive to hit the pavement! Sock it to us, Melanie....

Melanie's Story & Defining Moment
Several years ago I was listening to my husband and his running buddy talk about their upcoming race. Incredulously, I thought, “They really enjoy running and racing!”

Then I thought of Jr. High school gym class: the ugly one piece gym suit, jumping jacks, square dancing and running. I hated all of it, especially the running. Running always made me feel slow and clumpy. And I invariably got that painful stitch in my side.

Interrupting the “guy talk,” I said, "I wonder if I could run."

Probably based on the fact that I had recently stopped nursing our youngest child and was still carrying quite a bit of “pregnancy fluff” my husband answered, "You're not built for speed. You're built for comfort."
We all laughed but secretly I took that innocent response from my husband as my personal challenge. I thought, “I’ll get some cute running shorts and an industrial strength running bra and when no one’s watching, I’ll run.”

That was over a decade ago and with several 5 k’s, a 10k and a half marathon later, I have to agree with my husband. I am not built for speed. In fact, I’m pretty happy when I am running a consistent 10 minute mile. But I disagree with the “built for comfort” part; I have discovered that I am built for endurance and I actually enjoy running several miles each week.

Melanie the Runner
So how did I go from hating running to running six days a week and loving it?

On my daily walks I began doing a little running. Very little. I walked a little and ran a little. Gradually I began to run a little more and walk a little less. I wore a stop watch and began timing the walk part and the run part. I remember the day I could run for 3 minutes without stopping! And then 3 MILES! Yeah...baby.

The Runner in YOU!
Spring is just around the bend and now is the time we women usually start trying to lose a few pounds and shape up for the summer. Running is a great way to get in shape fast, and if you have always wondered if you could be a runner, the answer is, “Yes!” If, that is, you are in overall good health, then there is probably no reason you cannot run.(And this is where I should probably say, check with your doctor before beginning a new exercise plan.)

Baby Steps~A Starting Point
The number one mistake of a beginning runner is starting too fast. Don’t try to sprint. You are not in a race. Start by walking 10 minutes at a comfortable pace to warm up.
Then run a minute or two. Or run from one mailbox to another, then walk for a while, and repeat.

This is how I began all those years ago. In fact I called myself a “mailbox runner.” Gradually over a few days time, decrease the minutes you walk and increase the minutes you run.

Don’t worry about how you breathe, just breathe. It will get easier as you continue your running routine.

Helpful Tips on Form

• Swing arms forward and back not across the body.
• Run tall. Any lean in your stride should start from the ankle, not your waist.
• Relax your shoulders. Hunching eats up energy.
• Land lightly to reduce bounce in your stride.

Fitness Fashion :)

• Wear shoes designed for running, not for playing tennis, and not those “shape-up" type shoes. You will most likely need to go up a ½ size or more in a running shoe.
• While it is not necessary to look cute while running, I find it makes it more enjoyable!
• You will need a running bra and running clothing that wicks away the sweat. Target and Marshall’s are good for finding inexpensive running shorts, bras and tops.

Additional Resources

• Runner's World is a great site for finding articles for beginners.
• You can always visit my running blog See My Mom Run for a little inspiration and motivation to run your race with endurance!

Beyond Running
Starting a new fitness plan is a good time to think about healthy eating. Three do-able changes that anyone can easily incorporate are:

• Increase fiber intake so that you are consuming 25 grams per day.
• Drink 16 ounces of water within a half hour of waking.
• Stop eating at least 3 hours before bedtime.

Each of these healthy habits will help decrease your appetite, fill you up with the good stuff and help you sleep better.

Happy running!

Melanie Dorsey
http://www.thebellamella.com/
http://www.seemymomrun.com/

Thrifty Thursday: Cut the Chemicals (and cost)

We got a waffle maker for Christmas that we've loved. As we were making a cozy snow day breakfast a couple days after Christmas, my sister in law informed us that Bisquick has aluminum in it (cue the Downer Debbie "wah waaaahhhh"). That fact had never dawned on me and I tried to disregard it because we had a big honkin' box of Bisquick in our pantry that we use all the time.

BUT since then, everytime I've fed the children something with Bisquick, I can't help but think "aluminum, aluminum, aluminum" since it's linked to ADD (and also Alzheimer's). I've been looking more closely at the ingredients on boxes of similar mixes. Turns out, aluminum is in many pancake mixes as well. The only mix I've noticed it's not in is Krusteaz.

I've found 2 recipes that are easy peasy and give me a piece of mind knowing what my kids are putting in their mouths. Most of the things you probably have on hand so it should cut your costs to use these mixes whenever a recipe calls for Bisquick or pancake mix. My kids seem to likey, too, so it's a win win!

Homemade DRY Pancake Mix
4 cups all-purpose flour (I use 3 cups of the flour and 1 cup of wheat germ)


2 cups whole wheat flour

2/3 cup sugar

2 tablespoons baking powder (without Aluminum)

1 tablespoon baking soda

Mix dry ingredients and store in air tight container. You can use this mix in a recipe that calls for pancake mix OR make pancakes by adding 1 egg and 3/4 cup milk (plus an optional medium banana and/or 3/4 cup blueberries).

I most recently used this mix in Jessica Seinfeld's Pink Pancake recipe and my meat n' taters husband said, "These are the best pancakes I've ever had!" Now, THAT's a compliment. Another healthy pancake recipe you may want to try (it does not call for pancake mix) is posted here on The Carolina Clipper.

Dry Bisquick like mix (can use for anything that calls for Bisquick)
3 1/4 Cups all purpose unbleached White Flour


1/2 Cup White Sugar

1 Cup Non Fat Dry Milk Powder

1/4 Cup Cornstarch

1 tbls Baking Powder (without Aluminum)

2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp Salt

• In a medium/large mixing bowl, Add flour, non-fat dry milk powder, and sugar, mix with spoon until blended.
• Add cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, cornstarch and salt, mix together with flour mixture.
• Store in an Airtight Container in a cool dry place. Mix ingredients before using for a recipe.

This Chicken Pot Pie recipe is one of my favorite's where I typically use Bisquick. I think I'll give this mix a whirl instead.

By the way, I've also learned most deodorants are full of aluminum. Haven't researched a way to make that or cut that cost yet. Let me know if ya'll come up with something--besides settling for BO. :)

Happy Thursday!
HPS

Wednesday in the Word: Glenda on Grace Cafe

If you wanted to hear yesterday's interview with Glenda on Grace Cafe and missed it, you can listen here. She actually begins the interview speaking about her heart for young moms like many of us. Enjoy!

Listen to internet radio with CWA Radio on Blog Talk Radio

Train Up Tuesday: More Than Tolerant

Do you know the difference between tolerance and love?

As a society we are told to be tolerant. That's the mark of an educated person, supposedly. But tolerating a person is a far cry from really loving them. Tolerating is something most of us can do, after all, it's really nothing more than just putting up with something or someone. In fact, the first entry for “tolerance” in Merriam-Webster is “capacity to endure pain or hardship,” the further definitions relate to “allowances in deviations” from one’s own preferences. While that may be “noble”, it’s hardly a strong definition for “love”.

I don't want to teach tolerance in my home. That's not enough! As you know though, the most effective way to teach is modeling behavior.

Unfortunately, though, it seems that the idea of mere tolerance has crept into the parenting ideas of many families that I have seen....and at times even in my own home. I'm talking about just tolerating my children rather than really being an example of God's love to them.

How can I tell if I’m tolerating rather than really loving them? Do I sigh when they ask their many questions and need help with the little things? Or am I ready to feed their hungry minds and to serve them? Do I serve cheerfully or is it an obvious sense of duty? Do they know my sacrifice in being a mother by what they see or because I choose to remind them and everyone else anytime I get the chance? Am I constantly looking for “me time” to get away from everyone and to discover things on my own or am I looking for opportunities to share life and discoveries with my family?

These are a few questions to consider....that I have had to consider and revisit on a regular basis. I want to do more than “tolerate” these little blessings God has bestowed on me and I want them to sense it. My children are not a “hardship” to “endure”. If I ever start reacting in a way that says otherwise, I certainly need to take this to my Father.

Much love!
Ashlie

Marvelous Monday: FREE Subscription to Thriving Family!

First off, let me say that bloggers are greatly encouraged by comments. Some days comments can be slim pickins here on the Roof but THAT'S OK! We don't need affirmation to still have a heart for you~women just like us (cough. cough...unless perhaps the Spirit moves you to turn over a new leaf...cough...cough). Yesterday, however, I was blessed by a sweet email from a sweet friend saying that she got a lot out of yesterday's article from Thriving Family because it was something she has really been working on. So, Praise the Lord!

Did you get a lot out of the article? Are you interested in Thriving Family for your own home?

What's Marvelous about this Monday is it can be yours~for FREE! That's right. You heard me. Focus on the Family is partnering with Christianbook.com and offering you a free one year subscription (6 issues) to Thriving Family magazine.

Go straight here to get yours! They also have a gift option so you can also send a friend a surprise gift while you're at it! They'll love it and not to share TMI but it's GREAT bathroom reading material. :)



Couple items of business that we've mentioned on the RWAV Facebook page but want you to know about:

• In a few minutes @ 11:00 am, Glenda of Wednesday with The Word is going to have a live online interview on Grace Cafe. Click here to listen.
• Marvelous Monday's Angela ( also of Clipsy Chicks) is currently teaching several Save-inars in the Atlanta area. If you are interested in attending or hosting one, visit the Clipsy Chicks blog for the new Save-inar request form and the current Save-inar schedule.

If you want to stay updated on "more fun with women of Roof with a View", be sure to "like" us on Facebook while you're there and we'll keep you posted!