fashion show fun...by bria

It's a Frugal Fashionista Party at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam

I love fashion and my mom loves when I find clothes at the goodwill store on half-price friday! I love Selnea Gomez outfits - her look is easy to get without spending a lot of money.



all of these clothes we got at the Salvation Army. At first I complain when we go in, because the cutest clothes are sometimes hard to find. There are times when we go in and do not get anything. Last week though...we find all these cute things...

I got this jacket for $1.25....





then we found this sweatshirt with owls on it for $0.50



..this is my smart look - this pink jacket was $1.00. I am wearing it with a pink dress, but I could also wear it with jeans



summer t-shirt.$0.25 which goes perfect with my new shoes



This is me in my new "free love" t-shirt that I love and we found perfectly matching plaid shorts :) Total outfit was less than $2.00 and I love it!





...this is my brother Matt. He got this cool shirt and shorts for under $3.00. He looks good - I guess.



It was so fun having my mom take pictures of my new thirft store clothes!
bye

a little sad and something to cheer me up

I woke a little sad this morning.
It seems to happen at the end of every school year.
I think I could have done a better job with the kids.
More than birthdays, buying the next year's grade curriculum
reminds me they are getting older - fast

Nate almost done with freshmen year in high school -
I'm getting a little nervous
driving soon?
can we afford that?

I do not like the heat
I love the cold

I turn 40 this month
I am starting a diet today

that is my grumbles for this morning

this little viedo made me smile and tear up a bit because I am wierd

I Heart Saturday AND ........being the mom

Time is going so fast. The kids are growing up and changing everyday. What a blessing to be the mom to these three.

trading card

an early b-day present from an artist and friend....i love this! It is a hand painted artist trading card with the reminder that nothing can separate me from the love of Christ. thank you kristen....

I Heart Saturday AND .......jolly beggars

"Grace substitutes a full, childlike and delighted acceptance of our Need, a joy in total dependence. We become Jolly Beggars."

C.S. Lewis

(picture taken from our friends property in Tennessee)

pitch, put, bogie and chip?

Im not sure what all the talk is about...

but this guy sure is fun to watch....

I did not need to know I was good at frying

I don't really fry food. I do eat plenty of fried food. I love beer-battered onion rings at a good old-fashioned diner.

I ran across this recipe and had to try it.

Beer Battered Asparagus with Lemon Herbed Dip

Dip:
1/2 c mayo
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp grated lemon zest
1/4 tsp black pepper
pinch of thyme, rosemary or whatever you have fresh
pinch of salt

* Stir together and chill

Asparagus:
1 c of flour
1 tsp of salt
1 tsp of pepper
1 tblspn lemon zest (I used less)
1 c of beer (I used a light beer - whatever brand was the cheapest)
1 pound asparagus, trimmed
Vegie Oil for the frying

* Heat oil until it reaches 375 degrees
Whisk together flour, salt, pepper, and zest until combined. Stir in beer and whisk until smooth (it gets a little bubbly)
Dip asparagus in batter to coat. Fry until golden. Transfer to baking sheet lined with paper towels. You can keep them warm in pre-heated 200 degree oven while you fry them all.

It was hit and fun to eat along with our BBQ pork chops. Of course we all started to think of what we could beer batter next time....onions, chicken, zuchini, shrimp... mmmm

For other (probably way more healthy) recipe ideas visit Balancing Beauty and Bedlam today!

bring me hope

Bring Me Hope helps orphans in China and changes lives! The Night Walk is so fun and an easy way to give.

It is great to write a check to a mission organization -but how great to be able to physically do something too. How often would your kids have a chance to feel like they are doing something? That is why the night walk is so great - you will hear the voices of the orphans in China and walk with friends...with a purpose!

Click on the link above and get your t-shirt for $25 today! or register to walk for $25 donation from now until May 15. Meet at Confirmo Booksellers on May 15 at 7:00 pm (the group begins walking from the store) and you will be so glad you and your family took the evening to walk and pray for the orphans in China.

I Heart Saturday AND........norway

laundry room

found these at a yard sale - loved the frames





picked paper and a font




my laundry room is about done :)

I Heart Saturday AND.......my afternoon commute

Taking Nate to golf or music lessons every afternoon I enjoy the scenery along the country vineyard roads. Isn't it so pretty?

ET came home

Oh Joy! I almost cried. My beloved stuffed ET has been found! I was up in the rafters putting the Easter baskets away when I spotted him. I thought for sure he had never made it after our last move. I bought him at the mall when the movie was still in theaters (1985). It is silly the number of times I have thought about it.

The last I remember seeing it was Nate (now 15) sitting in the shopping cart seat holding ET through a grocery store. Almost every shopper stopped us asking "is that ET?", "where did you get him?" or "I loved that movie!"

I clearly remember, I was 16, my mom was making her bed at our old house in Orange County. She was crying. I asked her what was the matter and was she ok? She said (sobbing) "oh, I am fine, it's just that I cannot stop thinking about ET!"

be still necklace

A blog I love...a soft place to land

is giving away jewlery today - I really love this artist. If you go to the link, you can see even more of her work. My favs are the necklace above and the mom bracelet. I never win anything...but it never hurts to try :)

more easter 2009

Thank you Reynolds Family for this really fun day!

easter 2009

I Heart Saturday AND....a little easter basket

this was my basket as a little girl - the ribbon is over 30 years old....tied by my mom

it takes me back to memories of running around my childhood home searching for my basket of surprises......

sunday morning it will be filled with little surprises for bria

a way to remember good friday

Since Nate was little I have done a few Good Friday lessons with the kids. I want to do my best to get them to understand their sin and what Jesus did for them. This is the day to remember. I have found that they (me too) get so excited about Sunday morning when we take the time to reflect on the cross on Friday.

One of the visual lessons we do each year is to make a wooden cross. We find two pieces of wood around the yard or on a walk. We nail them together as best as we can. The rougher it looks the better. I then get out red paint and a brush. We each take turns naming sins that we know we are guilty of everyday. Having the older kids go first is helpful. As we begin, we each think of even more and each time we name a sin we make a red paint mark on the cross. Lying, cheating, complaining, envying, swearing, being unloving, unkind, bragging, selfish and disobedient. Our cross looks pretty beaten and bloody when we are done. After reading scripture and praying for forgiveness, we remember the cross.

On Sunday morning the kids look forward to finding that their rugged, red cross has been painted white. It makes an impact and our hearts are a little more prepared for our celebration and worship time at church.

Best Doggy Toy in the World

Does your doggy have one? This is the only toy that Snickers comes close to "playing" with. The secret is the hidden puppy snack inside the toy. It's fun to watch as he goes crazy trying to get the snack out :)

I Heart Saturday AND.....Spring Break

We hung out with dear friends. We love this couple! Julie and Alphie. They are missionaries in the Ukraine. Dr. Alphie is a teacher at the Odessa Theological Seminary. Thanks Becky for hosting us with such an awesome menu!

During Spring Break we were also introduced to some new friends....

...went to the Long Beach Aquarium

....more of our new friends

....finally made Tracy's (via Gina's) mocha drinks - so good! Easy Mocha Recipe

.....more lost friends

....had funnel cake!

.....lots of smiles!

.....and Knott's Berry Farm

If we had not got so "Lost" it would have probably been a more productive two weeks! Really, it was fun hanging out with Nate and getting to relax a little (well alot)

yep, he short sheeted her bed

Happy April Fools Day!