W is for....water is the cure for everything, especially if that water is emerald and the sand is white.

My love of the beach started at a very young age....there has never been a time where I have not loved the sounds of the waves and the feel of my toes in the sand.  It calms my soul and quiets my ever present worries. 
Growing up, we lived close to the beaches of the Florida panhandle.  When we moved to Texas, we still had all of our family in South Alabama, so the beaches were always there and waiting for us to come back and visit. 
I have the fondest memories of going to the beaches there and after I had my own children it became important for me to create as many memories as possible with them at the same beaches.   Luckily, I have converted my non-beach-loving husband into a beach lover.  All I had to do was get him away from the beaches near us....which have brown sand...and brown water and stick him in front of the amazing views of the Gulf from the Florida side.  He instantly fell in love with it.  I don't think he'll ever enjoy the sand in his shorts....but he loves it all the same. 
We have been heading to visit my family in South Alabama, or as my dad calls it L.A. (lower Alabama) during the summer for the past few years and it has made a huge difference in our lives.  Just the memories we make on the 12 hour road trip there can be hilarious.  I feel like I am beating a dead horse with the whole "make a memory!" speech but I promise you that your kids will not remember the things that didn't make it possible to make memories...they will only remember never going anywhere.  You don't have to make 12 hour road trips to make a memory with your kid, just go and do something! 
But if you do want to get the hell out of dodge, then you might want to check out the Emerald Coast of Florida.  You will never regret sinking your feet into the sugar white sand of the beaches along the Gulf of Mexico.  You will never forget the color of the water either.  I have been standing in the Gulf and feeling like I am in Hawaii somewhere.  Isn't it amazing all of the wonders we have here in these 50 states? 
So, enough jibber jabber....we have some news.  We finally decided where we would stay this year in Florida.  After visiting my family in Alabama we will be taking a short drive to Destin and staying at.....{insert drum roll here}
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort!

This is a really cool thing for us because it's a little out of our box...we usually stay in Panama City Beach which is where my parents usually took us as kids.  If you come from a family of divorce you will totally get that about me....how I constantly find myself trying to recreate happy childhood moments.  Even though, I love my PCB, I really want to try something new with our family and create our own traditions and special places. 
Sandestin has so many great opportunities for families.  I love that they cater to families with kids of all ages.  Destin offers so many great places to eat, shop and play....staying at Sandestin seems a bit of a no brainer.  With playgrounds and shopping, I have no doubt that we will be able to satisfy each of our kids.  With a teenager in tow, it also calms me to know that I will feel safe to let him explore within the resort.  Just around 5 blocks from the beach, we can have the beautiful beaches and great activities not on the beach all at our fingertips.
I am so excited, I can not even tell you! Sandestin is made up of 4 villages, if you will....Beachside, Lakeside, Bayside and Village.  These 4 areas have their own areas within.  Plenty of room for families, no matter what you may love to do.  Golf, tennis, bike riding, trails or just relaxing by the book or the beach, Sandestin has something for you and your family.   I will be including you on this journey too....we will be documenting our trip every step of the way.  You get to take a drive to Florida the easy way...no car sick kids for you! 
I can't wait to update you guys every day, keeping you in the loop of everything we have done that day whether it is a family bike ride or a relaxing day by the sea...I will be taking plenty of pictures and leaving links for you to create your own family trip.
Sandestin Resort has tons of deals and packages you need to take advantage of.  I urge you to make some plans for your family and.....(don't cringe) go make some memories!!

Be sure to head to my Facebook page....or you could click "like" right there to the right of this post so you don't miss one update or post while we're gone this summer.  You can find me on Twitter and Pinterest too so just follow away and stay in the loop.
Follow Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort on Facebook and Twitter too....you won't be sorry. 

 Getting close to the end......A to Z Challenge.

V is for....view from here.

Last October, my dad received a heart transplant.  I wrote a little about it here.  It was a very intense end of the year in 2011 and there times where I was worried if my kids would get to spend time and make memories with my dad. 
Well, he is a fighter and God is good.  He had a rough recovery for about 3 months or so but now seems to be right back to normal.  He is ready to get and up and go all the time.  This weekend, he and my step mom took the big kiddos camping for the weekend in Brazos Bend State Park.  I always love to find places close by that seem so far away!  The kids had a blast and if you follow me on Facebook you probably saw that my teen dream son decided to forgo a pool party/crawfish boil where all of his friends would be to go continue camping with his Grandaddy and Twomama.  After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I told him of course he could stay!  They had such a good time learning how to start the campfire, making the perfect s'more, riding their bikes all over the place, fishing, spying on alligators....I know they will want to go back. 
I am just so glad that they have these memories now.  B and I headed out with our little Tae Kwon Do warrior on Sunday after I got home from church....we loaded up G's bike too so he could have a taste of the camping lifestyle.  I got some great pictures and had a good time.  I thought we would leave early so we could get the kiddos ready for school the next day but never one to let the party end, we stayed until around 8 pm.  We climbed into the car....the kids with their filthy feet, dirty nails, and sweaty hair.  We all smelled like we might have bathed in the ashes of the camp fire and we all had huge smiles on our faces.  A great time had by all.  The tough time getting everyone up and moving this morning....well worth it.

The view from here, is mighty nice I'd say.

I get by with a little help from my...brother.

She is happiest while covered in dirt.

The happy little campers..check out the bottom of the feet. And this was only 30 minutes in.

Baby Gator

How amazing are trees? I couldn't get over all the history this tree was around for.

Petting the alligator

Twinsies checking out the gators...

and of course...the boys feel the need to get as closeaspossible.

{insert Jaws theme here}

My dad :)

My dad and me enjoying posing for silly pictures...

T turned a bit pyromaniac while he was camping

This was a another post for the A to Z challenge...

U is for....Upcycled

Who's not a fan of upcycling?  I absolutely love it when I see the creativity involved in taking something that could be thrown away or recycled and then turning it into something really useful or beautiful.  I always find my favorite things on Pinterest, let's face it....it seems to be the easiest place to find the greatest ideas out there.  Here are some of my favorites that I have pinned on my own boards....

I know I have shown you this one before but I just love this idea.  Using a chick feeder as a little shelf. Perfect.  This idea comes from Better Homes and Gardens.

Source: bhg.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Solar Power Mason Jar lights!  So smart and so sweet....this brilliance came from BootsNGus, a beautiful vintage + handmade shop on Etsy.  They have some amazing things in their shop....crazy beautiful mason jar chandeliers, lamps, just some great stuff.

Source: etsy.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Using an old wagon to hold books!  So easy and makes so much sense....this idea came from Cory Connor Designs...she has a whole blog about designing on a budget!

Source: coryconnordesigns.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

This post has tons of ideas on using upcycled items as trellises in your garden. The post is from I Want to Make This but all of the ideas come from different places. 

Source: iwanttomakethis.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

There are so many great ideas out there......have you found any that you're into?  Please, do tell. 





A to Z blogging challenge.....

P is for.....Pray like a child

Each night we say our prayers together. We have our typical prayer, Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord our souls to keep....but then we add on whatever is on our minds.  The kids prayers are always so open and honest.  I admire this because, as an adult I tend to be more guarded with my prayers, especially when they are out loud.  T is about at this point now, at 13, he will say a prayer out loud at small group but it's more of a God is great, God is good type of thing.  As he's gotten older, his prayers are more guarded like mine.  R prays for things cautiously and considerately. I have never heard her pray from things that are frivolous or material, at least not aloud.  G though, at 5, still has that innocence that only a 5 year old can.  He come to God and talks as he would talk to me or his dad.  He talks freely and with an ease that most adults lack. 
I think we should all come to God as children and it would be a much more honest prayer. 
Here is the video of G praying last night, you will have to listen closely.  For translation sake; he is basically telling Him, thank you for a good heart and a good family and we love you God, we love you.

Blogging A to Z.....

O is for....one more thing to keep me distracted (plus a recipe)

Do we need another thing to keep us distracted?  No.  We have Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, numerous blogs, DVR, Pandora...many, many more.  But, we can add just one more thing.....PicMonkey!  I am sure I am the last one on this bandwagon but it is amazing.  You might have heard that Picnik is shutting down, I only used Picnik sporadically so it's not that big of a deal to me.  Once I saw PicMonkey though....I was immediately hooked.  As a Blackberry user, I do not have handy dandy Instagram to make all of my fuddy duddy photog work look fab.  PicMonkey does though, well....something like it.  Totally free and wonderfully easy to use.  Go, my friend and edit some pictures.  Make your family look even cooler than they already are.

Told you....very retro and cool....and we look much more colorful than in person.  (Note to self: create a self editor to give myself the glow I get when cross processed.  Tanning bed...never an option.)

Yesterday I looked in the fridge for inspiration for dinner.  None found.  Luckily, I had a few chicken breasts and thighs in the freezer and bonus! they were already seasoned with salt and pepper.  I concocted a chicken dinner somewhere in between Chicken Cacciatore and Chicken Parmesan (minus the parm) and threw it in the slow cooker to stay out of my way all day while making the house smell great.

I will now give you my nowhere near precise recipe and we shall call it Italian Chicken. General enough?  PS: I used all dry seasoning because that's what I had on hand.  I also did not use even one measuring spoon or cup.  I used my hands.  To measure, just cup your palm and you have a good, healthy tablespoon (or so).  I also rub the seasonings in between my hands as I put them in the slow cooker so they can "open up".   If you watch Rachael Ray, you are familiar with this "handy" method. Hee hee.

• Chicken ; seasoned with salt and pepper ( I used around 6 breast tenders and 3 thighs) -you could use a package of chicken breasts by themselves but the dark meat was really great cooking all day and the tenders were so much easier to serve.
• 28 oz can diced tomatoes with the juice (use any kind you like, seasoned or original)
• 1 jar of pasta sauce (something with loads of flavor)
• 1 bell pepper ( I used orange) diced
• 1/2 or 1/3 of an onion, diced
• salt/pepper (to your taste)
• basil (about a cupped palm full)
• oregano (cupped palm full)
• garlic powder (1/2 palm)
• minced garlic (3 tsp.) or just use a baby spoon like I do and scoop how ever much you like
• onion powder (sprinkle)
• parsley (palm full)

Spray your slow cooker with cooking spray (you will thank yourself later)

Put the diced onion and bell pepper at the bottom of the slow cooker and spread out to cover the bottom. (not densely, just where the chicken can sit on top)
put the chicken on top, try not to layer right on top of each other, give them some breathing room.

Pour diced tomatoes on top.

Add all of the seasonings and any more you want to toss in.

Pour the pasta sauce on top.

Turn that bad boy on and cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 5-7. 

When done, just stir it up a bit before serving, breaking up the chicken a bit as you go but leaving big chunks for serving. We used a ladle for all the good juices. 

I served this with twirly pasta but you could use either brown rice or any other noodle your family likes.
R and I also decided to make some garlic butter biscuits because we didn't have any garlic bread and I despise the grocery store.  We just melted some butter along with garlic powder and parsley and brushed it on to the uncooked biscuits.  Popped them in the oven and 10 minutes later we had hot, fresh garlic butter biscuits. Yum.

There you have it, an easy weeknight dinner that you probably have most of in your pantry or freezer.  Enjoy.

Another A to Z blogging post......

M is for.....Mom Brain

You might have Mom Brain if....

• you have ever walked into a room and have no clue why....even if that room is the bathroom.
• you have ever tried to unlock your house door with the keyless entry key chain to your car.
• you have ever shushed an adult for using their "outside voice" or corrected their grammar...just out of habit.  Especially "yes ma'am" (this is for fellow Southern moms, I guess)
• you have ever worn any article of clothing inside out....all day.
• you have watched an entire show....and can't remember what happened.
• you have ever read an entire chapter....and have to re-read the whole thing.
• you have ever talked to your spouse in a "baby voice".
• you have laughed hysterically at something no one else finds funny....it's called delirium and it will pass (in at least 18 years).
• you have had a Redbox movie for over 3 days....and still haven't watched it.
• you don't realize that you're still watching Disney Channel....and there are not any kids in the room.
• you know all the theme songs to those shows you are sleep watching. Phineas and Ferb....pretty catching!
• Goldfish count as a meal in your world.
• you forget something 10 minutes after it came out of some one's mouth...or even your own.
• you can't remember people's names....it's okay, you probably have enough friends anyway.
• if you have poured half and half in the kids' cereal instead of your coffee cup. (they'll survive)
• you chopped, diced, browned and prepared dinner in your slow cooker.....hours later you realize.....slow cookers work much better when they are turned on.
• you have ever started your coffee pot with just water.....no coffee (totally did this a few weeks ago, who knew it would make such a  mess).
• you can fold clothes without looking (I actually consider this a talent that we acquire in time...out of pure necessity).

If you have any of these symptoms you probably have Mom Brain.  Don't worry, just sit tight....you WILL get better.  In 18-20 years. 

They sure are cute....but they give me a bad case of Mom Brain.

A to Z blogging post (M)

L is for....a lifetime of Love

Sometimes I feel an abundance of love swelling in my heart.  I look at my kids, or my hubby...or my parents, and many more....and just feel like thanking God for who he put me with in this world. 
Our life truly is made up of little moments of love, joy, fear and tragedy.....I would rather focus on the moments of love and joy and accept where the moments of fear and tragedy have gotten me.  The people that surround me on this planet are there for a reason and only God knows exactly why and how that is shaping me as a genuine Christ follower. 
Those times when I feel my heart calm and my eyes well with tears of pure contentment are the ones I relish and try to recreate repeatedly.  Unsuccessfully.  The times when I feel so overwhelmed with love must be those moments that I am not attempting to do anything but be in the moment.  I guess the moments we are taken off guard by the glory of God are the times where He has seeped into our souls; through our walls we have put up or the things that stay on our mind, the worries that we needlessly have, the fake smiles we are wearing. 
I can only thank God for the moments that I have experienced, the people I have  met, the times of pure abandonment of insecurities (those are much more few and far between), the smiles on my kids' faces, the kiss from my husband each night, the unconditional, unfailing,  love of my family. 
Here is my lifetime of love...well not a lifetime...I wouldn't have enough room on this blog for all the love I've experienced and given.  But here's a peek....

Love of the women of my family <3

My love of the beach

Daddy's love

Cousin and grandparent love

My first real love

Our first love together

Mother, daughter, sister love <3

More love than I knew I had

and even more love than I deserved...

Family love

Another A to Z Challenge post!

J is for...Just living in my Pinterest world

Are you a pinner?  A pin-aholic?
I am right there with you.  In my little Pinterest world I live the high life.  I would love to live in the home that could be created from my pins....although there is no way I could ever afford it.  Stay at home moms should unite for a pay increase!  I am also a brilliant teacher and philosopher in my Pinterest world, with plenty of beautiful photos with witty and inspiring sayings written across a sunset or waves. 
I guess Pinterest could be my alter ego or maybe just a grown up version of playing "house".  The recipes have been an amazing time saver and most of the ones I've tried have been really good.  I have been inspired to garden from my Pinterest pins....now if I could only make it to Lowe's to support my Pinterest habit.  It seems like every time I am on the way to Lowe's there is a reason I can't go.  Shut up, sub concious....I DO need to buy flowers and succulents!  I have also found endless ideas for homeschooling, which I will be doing next year with G for Kindergarten.  So, yes....Pinterest is a HUGE time-suck....but I love it and therefore, I pin.  Here are a few of my favorite pins from this past week or so.  If you are not a fellow pinner and would like to be, let me know in the comments with an email address and I will send you an invite.  If you are on Pinterest and have boards that may inspire me, let me know!

Sometimes, when you have a big span in between kiddos you tend to forget about the lovely little things that entertain the younger ones.  This is a prime example, I need to build/grow this for my little man. Every kid deserves a hide out. 

Source: paintontheceiling.blogspot.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

The amount of time we spend worrying about how we look....could be spent doing so much more. 

Source: google.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

I love this idea....because of it's simplicity.  A birdbath, especially one in great colors can be turned into a succulent oasis.  I will be doing this.  Promise.

Source: gardenworldimages.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Seriously sweet, this bag would be the greatest vacation/beach bag. Ever.

Source: etsy.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Creative, rustic and cute.  This could be used as 1 or combine a few at different heights.  Would make a great little shelf under a window in a kid's room.

Source: bhg.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

I am one of those weird people who touches everything while walking through a store, I love to hold, touch and feel everything.  Especially rocks and pebbles. This would be my dream backsplash.

Source: howtonestforless.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Your mind was just blown.

Source: flickr.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

I hope all of you have a fabulous rest of the week. 

This post is part of the A to Z Challenge. 

I is for....idiosyncrasies

According to Merriam-Webster, idiosyncrasy means this:

id·i·o·syn·cra·sies

Definition of IDIOSYNCRASY

1

a: a peculiarity of constitution or temperament : an individualizing characteristic or quality b: individual hypersensitiveness (as to a drug or food)

2

: characteristic peculiarity (as of temperament); broadly: eccentricity

 

How many idiosyncrasies do you have that others may...or may not, know about?  I have so many I wouldn't dare try to count them.  I guess we all do.  Even people you may think are the most monotone, boring people have idiosyncrasies (monotone and boring would be two of them).....some of us just have quirkier little idiosyncrasies.  My whole family is one big idiosyncrasy.  I am probably the worst offender.  I'll list a few to help you feel more human....and I am only showing one part of my pantry....just so you can't judge (too harshly). What a mess.

 

• My pantry has all the cereal boxes, rice, granola bars, everything....facing the same way.  The nutrition graph is never showing.  Weird, I know.
• My grocery cart looks like an OCD documentary...everything is in "order", put together and ready to be bagged. And God bless the bagger who screws that up.
• I pop my knuckles.  Repeatedly.  When my dad was in the hospital so long, my step mom and I were in the (quiet) waiting room for hours on end plenty of times....this is where I realized that I pop my knuckles.  I think I've probably done it forever but haven't really noticed until I realized it was driving her nuts. 
• I drive with my left leg up in the seat. All the time.
• I go through worst case scenarios in my head all the time...drive thru window pedestrian attack? Random shooter in the movie theatre? Wild dogs on my walk? I'm so weird.
• I double and triple lock my car before I go into a store. Yes, I know I locked it the first time....but I don't trust that I did.
• I turn down the radio in the car when I'm stuck in traffic or lost.

My daughter won't sleep by a window.  My son, freaks if sour cream comes anywhere near him or if there is anyone chewing ice in the same room as him.  My youngest son....well, we won't even start that list because he is as quirky as they come.  My husband has super sonic ears at the dinner table and can tell if a kid is even thinking about smacking.

We are all a bit crazy.  But that's part of who we are....I guess we would all be pretty boring if we didn't have any odd quirks. 

What idiosyncrasies do you have that may (or may not) drive the people you live with nutty?

This post is part of the A to Z blogging challenge.

Eggs, Easter and a family that loves each other.... (F, G and H)

so sue me....I'm like 3 posts late on A to Z blogging.  Let's play catch up and combine all of my late posts along with my new one. 

Easter weekend was amazing.  Weather in my part of the world was gorgeous!  We enjoyed spending time together, a beautiful church service and great food.  We also dyed Easter eggs which was so much fun....and easy with the Kool Aid method I found on Pinterest.  Head over to Hey! Jen Renee and dig through all of her ideas..she's genius.  After finding this Kool Aid dying secret, I suddenly felt cheated out of many long hours of dying Easter eggs with PAAS kits and (unsuccessfully) holding my eggs in the dye with the little octagon shaped wire hanger/egg holder.  And the whisk....one more moment of "why the heck didn't I think of that years ago?!".   Here's our fun egg dying experience...
F is for Fun Times!

Using a whisk to hold the egg while dying....I just blew your mind, right?!

before

after

Even the  moody, teenage boy liked dying eggs. 

G is for Grateful


I am forever grateful for the family I have been blessed with.  B and I will be married 14 years this July...pretty amazing to have this kind of love story.  Ups and downs and all around...we are a family and will stick together through it all.  I am so proud of us and the family we have created together. 

Easter 2012

H is for Happy kids.....


They may drive me nutty and make me want to pull my thinning hair out but they are happy and I love them.  There are times where we just fall on the floor laughing at each other and to me, that helps me remember that we are doing things right.  They are goofy, love practical jokes, wrestling, making fun of each other and themselves....I love them so deeply.  In the wise words of Jerry Maguire...they complete me. 

I hope all of you had a fantastic Easter weekend!

This post is a part of the A to Z challenge.....