HIS LOVE

It seems like the message God is sending me lately is a simple, yet highly valuable one.  I keep “hearing” over and over again three words from Him…

Now…don’t get me wrong…I always knew He loved me.  Most of us do.  BUT, lately I am thinking of how much He LOVES me.  Really…LOVES me.  I am reminded of the verses…

“Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.”  Isaiah 26:4  tells me that He loves me so much that I can ALWAYS trust Him.  And He will NEVER let me down.  He is never changing…solid.

“The Lord replied, 'My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'”  Exodus 33:14 tells me that He will give me peace.  I am never alone.  I don’t have to rely on my own (weak at times) strength.

“Then Jesus said to his disciples:  'Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.  Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.  Consider the ravens:  They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them.  And how much more valuable you are than birds!'”  Luke 12:22-24 tells me that He loves me (and YOU) more than anything!!!  That He will take care of me because He loves me.

This allows for freedom in my love.  This means…that instead of focusing on the “what ifs” and the “Oh nos”…I can sit and rest.  I can be still and know that He is in control and that all is well.  The world around me may be falling apart at times, but in ME is HIM.  That is…I can sit down and drown out all the craziness…and rest IN HIM.

SO…I’ve decided that while I’m resting…I will also appreciate.  The butterfly, the cool breeze (Thank you LORD!), the coffe in my mug, the food in my fridge, the legs on my body that work, the children He has given me, the family, the friends…

I don’t want to live this (one and only) life that He gave me all wound tight and miss the awesome gifts He gives me…because He Loves Me.  So much.  

Food Holidays in America

Did you know that almost every day in the year is a food holiday in America?  That's right! According to State Symbols USA, nearly every day has a food associated with it.  Not only that, but almost every month has monthly holidays for food as well.  We're heading into October and here's what is coming up:

National Cream-Filled Donut Day
September 14th

National Apple Month
National Applejack Month
National Caramel Month
National Cookbook Month
National Cookie Month
National Dessert Month
National Pasta Month
National Pickled Peppers Month
National Pizza Month
National Popcorn Poppin’ Month
National Pork Month
National Pretzel Month
National Seafood Month

October 4 National Taco Day
October 5 National Apple Betty Day
October 6 National Noodle Day

October - National Seafood Month

October 9 National Dessert Day
October 10 National Angel Food Cake Day
October 11 National Sausage Pizza Day
October 13 National Peanut Festival
October 13 National Pumpkin Festival
October 15 National Mushroom Day
October 17 National Pasta Day
October 18 National Chocolate Cupcake Day
October 20 National Brandied Fruit Day
October 22 National Nut Day
October 23 National Boston Cream Pie Day
October 24 National Bologna Day
October 26 National Mincemeat Day
October 28 National Chocolate Day
October 29 National Oatmeal Day
October 30 National Candy Corn Day

That's a lot of celebrating to do!  I think my favorite coming up is National Chocolate Cupcake Day.  I just wish it fell on October 4th because that is my birthday.  I guess I'll settle for eating a taco for my birthday dinner.

Death by Crazed Monkeys

September 19th was National Butterscotch Pudding day.  In honor of that I'm sharing a recipe that utilizes butterscotch pudding.  Death by Crazed Monkeys. Yes, the name is a little on the psycho side, but this is one ridiculous dessert!

1 recipe chocolate croissant bread pudding (see below)
2 boxes butterscotch instant pudding (prepare as directed)
3-4 bananas (sliced thin)
6 Snickers bars (chopped)
1 8oz tub whipped topping
1 cup chocolate chips (more or less as desired)
Caramel sauce

Step 1 - Make your chocolate croissant bread pudding.

• 6 chocolate croissants, very coarsely chopped
• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 3 large eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Put chocolate croissant chunks in an 8-inch baking dish. In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and eggs. Pour mixture over croissants. Let sit for at least 10 minutes.  Bake for 40 minutes.  Allow to cool before assembling the dessert.

Step 2 - Make your butterscotch pudding as directed.  For your whipped cream, if you prefer to make your own, you can do that at this time as well.  I make my own using heavy whipping cream and vanilla.

Step 3 - Assemble your dessert.  Using a trifle dish, layer your dessert.  Start with the chocolate croissant bread pudding, then the butterscotch pudding, followed by the banana slices and whipped topping.  Throw some of the Snickers on there along with some of the chocolate chips and caramel sauce.  Repeat using remaining ingredients.  I do find that this makes more than the trifle dish holds.  Which is nice because I usually make this for a potluck function and this way I get to keep a little bit at home for the family.

Do you celebrate any fun food holidays?

Elizabeth is a full-time mom and part-time baker.  She collects whisks and has over 30 in her collection.  No two whisks are the same.  She also collects cookbooks and has lost count as to how many she owns.  Elizabeth likes trying new recipes and also is an avid believer in once-a-month cooking.  You can follow her cooking adventures at Elizabeth's Treasure Chest.

Advice Please!!

We are in the process of moving our 3 year old son into his 20 month old brother's room as we transition his room into the nursery when #3 arrives next month. We have bunk beds in there and will eventually separate them when we move #2 out of his crib.

We need some advice on how to move #1 into #2's room with as little disruption as possible for both of them.

Any advice is welcome!!

Photo used with permission from Creative Commons by budgiejen.


Kama is a stay-at-home-mom to 2 very active toddler boys and is set to have #3 of unknown gender in October. She is looking forward to delivering this baby at home. She loves sewing, quilting and crafting when she finds a few minutes and isn't dead tired!

This Old Dog...

Is still learning new tricks!  I love all things crafty.  I own two sewing machines and a serger. I have four glue guns, a drill, and rights to my husband's miter saw.  My craft room is filled with three 35 gallon tubs of fabric, four paper boxes of ribbon, and 5 sewing boxes of thread.  Then one Christmas, my Mom gave my daughter a how-to kit of knitting.  Normally, I am a "take the bull by the horns" kind of gal, and just figure out on my own how to do something new.  But I thought Jeffie might like having her Granny Sue teach her to knit. So we took the kit with us to my in-law's house, and the two of them spent many hours that holiday break knitting with each other.  Jeffie Jean then tried to teach me. I say tried, because it hasn't taken well.  It just doesn't seem to work! I can't remember all the steps well, and I don't enjoy it.  Then my friend, Erin, suggested I try crocheting. Oh.My.Word.  I have found a new love.


I dug through my Great-Grandmother's sewing box and found a few crochet hooks.  Then started looking through books and online sites to teach myself all the stitches.  I would recommend to anyone wanting to learn, going to the library and checking out some beginner books, or all about crochet books.  We were given a Reader's Digest book, "Complete Guide to Needlework", circa 1979, and it has been wonderful.  I have also utilized the Internet, specifically You Tube, and have found tons of video how-tos.  My favorite has been, a crocheted flower. I have made a whole garden of flowers! My girls love them, and Jeffie Jean can make them as well. I glued them to alligator clips, and all three of my girls wear them in their hair.  I wore one to church Sunday on my jacket.  They are adorable.

I also have found that Etsy has some great pattern for sale, and bought one there.  This is just my practice run, but the prototype looks really good. Now to make it with the "real" yarn!

This is really a simple hobby to get started. You just need to buy a couple of basic hooks, and some yarn.  It keeps my hands busy in the evenings when my husband and I are watching a show or movie.  And it is really a wonderful craft.  So, who is ready to start learning a new trick?!

Decorating for Fall: Mercury Pumpkins

        I love fall.  I think that may be the ultimate cliche, but I do not care.  It is a great season, and there are so many reasons that everyone proclaims their love of it regularly.  I am on the fall bandwagon and couldn't be happier to be there.  I got a Pottery Barn catalog in the mail, as I do every two days or so it seems.  This was the holiday version, and on the front were some beautiful mercury silver pumpkins.  I love things that are shiny and sparkly, and I certainly love pumpkins - put those hands together, and I am sold.  I thought it might be easier and cheaper to recreate than purchase from Pottery Barn, and it was!

When I looked online, it actually looked like most of these were sold out, but the little one that was still available cost $24 - it cost me a little over $35 to make all three of mine.  You could probably find cheaper pumpkins - I wanted the good foam ones that would last for several years, and they aren't just super cheap, even when 40% off at Hobby Lobby.

Here's what you need.

A pumpkin (mine were all heavy foam pumpkins)

Metallic Silver Spray Paint

Martha Stewart's Metallic Mercury Glaze (found at Home Depot)

I started off by spray painting all the pumpkins just silver.  You could actually just stop there and have cool silver pumpkins.  That would be super easy.

After getting them all silver, I took the glaze and painted over the spray paint.  I took a self-timer picture of myself crafting this step - I am thinking I may not do that very often.

In my mind, the mercury glaze was supposed to make it look more dirty and glazy.  It just looked a little more silvery when I was finished.

So, I decided to improvise.  I mixed the glaze with a little black acrylic paint and water in a cup.

I put black spots over the pumpkins.

Then, I brushed just plain water over that to make it run and spread out.

It worked!  At least, I like the way it turned out.

As we say here in Arkansas, "Happy Fall, Ya'll!"



Carol is the wife of a small business-owner, mother to two little girls, crafter, very-amateur decorator, and occasional cooker.  She blogs at the John and Carol Show - wanna watch?

Recipes with Crescent Rolls

 Reese's Stuff Crescent Rolls from Cookies and Cups

 Apple Dumplings from Or So She Says...

 Easy Chocolate Croissants from Real Simple

 Crescent Chicken from Women Living Well

The Gang's All Here Jalapeno Cream Cheese Poppers from Tasty Kitchen

Cheesy Hog Dog Crescents from Kraft Food

Helping kids adjust after a move.

My family and I recently just made are 14th move in 9 years of marriage.  With every move comes the emotions of saying goodbye to the familiar and hello to the unknown. For kids this can be a particular hard time as everything comfortable to them is now changing.

Here are a few tips to make the transition of moving easier on your children.

1. Stay Postive!  Your attitude and feelings  about the move need to be as upbeat as possible. Your children are watching how you act and will mirror your behavior.

2. Allow kids time to express how they are feeling.  Talking, drawing, or journaling {especially for older kids} are great ways for kids to express the emotions they are feeling.

3. Get bedrooms set up as soon as possible. This creates a sense of familier for children, especially younger ones.

4. Establish routines as soon as you can. Start school, sports, normal household routines. All of these things will help make the transition smoother.

5. Explore your new town. See what there is for kids to do. It is a great way for kids to start to make friends and you also.

6. Allow children to talk with friends and family from your previous home. Have them talk about school, friends, new experiences. This allows children to stay connected with those they care about.

7. Start school as soon as possible. My kids started school three weeks before we moved into our house. It was a lot of driving for me but made all the difference with my children both academically and socially.

Ten Questions to Ask Your Husband about His Fantasy Football Team!

My line-up last week!

As I type this on Monday night, I'm down fourteen points. I still have a chance, with Eli Manning and Hakeem Nicks playing. Yep, it's true. The men at church let me in their fantasy football league this year. I'm loving it! I have always loved football. Growing up, if I wanted to spend time with my dad, I did what he wanted to do. And what he wanted to do on weekends in the fall was watch football. So we watched together and I learned from him.

Then I married a sports guy. Our first date was to a college football game. We've spent many (many!) Saturday mornings watching Game Day on ESPN together. Watching football is something we enjoy doing together. And now, Fantasy Football is something we enjoy doing together. Well, at least until week seven when we go head to head!

Even though this is the time of year women joke about being "fantasy football widows," I thought it would be fun to share ten questions you can ask your husband about his fantasy team this week. Even if you don't know much about football, these questions will at least show you are interested in something he is passionate about!

1. "Who are you starting at _________ this week?" Most fantasy teams are made up of twelve players who play different positions. They are offensive players plus you start a defensive line. You can pick a position like quarter back, tight end, running back, or kicker and ask your husband who he is starting.
2. "How did your _________ do last week?" Pick a position mentioned above and fill in the blank. If you are really football challenged, just ask about his defense. That's easy to remember.
3. "Who was your top points getter last week?" Each player earns his owner points. The team with the most points wins. Fantasy team owners love to talk about their top points getters.
4. "Any injuries on your team this week?" Leading up to the game, there are status reports on each player. If a player is injured it will list him as probable, doubtful, questionable, or out. Owners have to decide if they want to take a chance on a probable player, or bench him and start someone else.
5. "Are any of your players on a by-week?"  If so, he'll have to start bench players. Or you could follow up with....
6. "Are you picking up any new players?" If he has weak bench players, he may have to pick up more players.
7. "Have there been any interesting trades in your league?" As the season goes on, there will be more and more trades.
8. "What's your team name?" Some guys get really creative with the team names!
9. "Who is projected to be your biggest points getter this week?" Before the weekend, the platform hosting the fantasy league (Yahoo and ESPN are popular platforms) projects the points players are likely to get. They aren't always accurate, but at least the owner has an idea of what could happen.  
10. "Can I get you a snack?" Ok, if all else fails and you really don't care, just ask if he's hungry. Managing a fantasy team can be hard work.

 Who knows? You might earn a spot in the league next year. You can borrow my team name if you want-- "You Just Got Beat by a Girl." (I'm kidding! I'm totally a gracious winner. I want to be invited back next year too!)

Sandra is the family editor for Today's Housewife. She's a pastor's wife, mom to two boys and is in the process of adopting from Ethiopia. You can see what her family is up to at Celebrate Every Day and follow her on Twitter at @SandraPeoples.

Linked up today to Top Ten Tuesday!

Washing Machine Cleaning

I've had a front-loading HE washing machine for about 8 years now, but since moving I've really struggled with mildew in my machine. I think it's because our laundry room is in the basement now and the air is extremely humid. Either way, I've recently discovered that the rubber boot never completely dries. You can only imagine the mildew that was growing on it upon further inspection. Eeeew!

I tried wiping it clean, but that only removed some of the dark coloration. I found this article on cleaning your washer regularly by Martha Stewart. I followed the instructions and there was still some mildew in my machine. (I do think cleaning my washer like this monthly will prevent future growth!)

Finally after some additional google searching, I settled on washing my machine on the hot cycle with 1 cup of bleach. I followed that wash cycle with another cycle containing only vinegar.

It worked! My washing machine looked and smelled as good as new!

Now I am wiping the rubber boot with a rag following each use so that the water doesn't sit on the surface. And I always leave the washer door open so that the machine can dry out between loads.

Has anyone else had this issue with their washer? Any tips for keeping it dry? (Other than having Naked Thursdays everyday?)

Examining our hearts...

    Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man.

 Colossians 3:23

examining

    This past week I have felt like I have been running, running, running!  School is in full swing, we have been settled in our new house for over a month now, and we are becoming active in our church, and military communities. But, I started to ask myself in all of the busyness what was my heart focused on? Was I doing these things because I wanted to or because God was calling me to? 

In the book of John Chapter 12 verse 26 it states...

Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

     Rather we our helping at our children's school, attending a bible study, or planning a church event we need to stop and make sure what we are doing is with the correct intentions. While in our minds we may be telling ourselves I am doing good, we need to stop and listen to see if our plans are the same as Gods. I took some time this week and thought and prayed about each of the things I am involved in. Asking myself what was my heart  focused on.  God uses prayer and quiet time with Him to reveal Himself to us. If we do not take the time to seek God in everything, how do we know we are doing what God has called us to do?

    My Challenge for you today is to examine your own busyness of life. Ask your self what is your heart focused on. Take time to pray and read God's word asking God for guidance on what you should or should not  be doing. Second, and this is the area I find I need to work on the most! Pray before you take on each new activity asking God if this is something you can do with a Servants heart.

   

Cassie is a military wife and mom to six kids. She enjoys family time, date night with her husband, reading, and spending time with friends. She blogs about everyday life in organized chaos  as a military family  at Day of Bliss

Double Chocolate (oh my goodness) Cookies

Cookies are perfect anytime of the year - right?

What is your favorite?

My future hubs' favorite is oatmeal raisin. Though they would be very high on my list, I think the following cookies would also be high on the list.

If you like chocolate, you'll love these easy, gooey, enjoy-with-a-glass-of-milk cookies! These might even be really enjoyed well sitting by a fire with some hot chocolate or chai!

1 bag dark chocolate chips (I think ghiradelli or lindt is the best, so I use extreme dark)

6 T unsalted butter

3 eggs (at room temp)

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 bag semi-sweet chocolate (again, I used Ghiradelli)

1/2 cup chopped pecans (these are optional, but I like texture in my cookies)

Melt dark chocolate and butter and set aside.

Cream eggs and sugar. Add in melted chocolate. Combine with flour and baking powder. Fold in chips and nuts (if you are going to use them). Wrap in wax paper and chill for an hour.

Cut, roll, and bake for 11 minutes at 375.

Enjoy nice and warm from the oven (that's when most cookies are at their best).

Your kids and husband will love them (if there are any left from the baking)!

10 Ways to Keep in Touch with Far Away Family

We just got home from visiting my parents in (super hot!) Houston. We love being with them, but as the boys get older, it's harder and harder to say goodbye. Here are ten ways we keep in touch with family members far away!

1. Phone- We talk on the phone pretty often, but our favorite time to call is as soon as we've done something fun! On the way home from the park? Call Grandma! She loves hearing about the fun when it's still fresh.
2. Skype- Seeing each other face-to-face is important. My five year old loves to show his grandparents new toys. We try to make a Skype date every other week!   
3. Cards and Letters- You have to do something with all those art projects and pictures, right? Send one to the cousins! They will love them.
4. Blog- We have a family blog where I post pictures and tell what's going on in our lives. This week I posted pictures of our flooded basement, the first day of first grade, and our trip to the county fair. Anyone can check the site and see what we're up to. 
5. Videos- Videos are great to capture first steps, first words, or even first roller-coaster rides. We post them on the blog or email the video.
6. Facebook- Perfect for keeping lots of family members up to date. I can tell you what's going on in the lives of cousins I haven't seen in years.
7. Email- I got my boys email address when they were born. Family members can send them emails for their first day of school, before Awana award night, or for no reason at all. It makes the boys feel so special.
8. Pictures- Lots and lots of pictures! I don't want my parents to miss the big or small moments. With my camera phone, I can catch a pic anywhere and then send it or post it!
9. Texts- It's a great quick way just to say hi or let them know how our day is going.
10. Visits- Of course, being together is the most fun of all! We drive to North Carolina and fly to Texas twice a year. It's not easy, but it's worth it to see the boys swimming at the pool with Nana or fishing with Paw-Paw. We are thankful to have them in our lives and don't take a single visit for granted.

How do you keep up with family far away?
*linked up to Works for Me Wednesday*

Sandra is the family editor for Today's Housewife. She's a pastor's wife, mom to two boys and is in the process of adopting from Ethiopia. You can see what her family is up to at Celebrate Every Day and follow her on Twitter at @SandraPeoples.

Holding out hope

It is said you can tell how someone truly believes by how they live and the actions they take. I guess if that is true then I believe that fall will come despite the horrid hot summer we have had around here. The reason being is that I took some time to make door stoppers so that when I open my windows the air rushing through the rooms wont slam the doors shut. That has to be the most annoying sound in the world, the slamming door.

Of course, in making door stoppers I really wanted something cute and functional. After all, you should "have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." If what you have fills both, even better! I'll admit, what I chose isn't "beautiful" but it is cute, and gosh isn't that just as good sometimes?

I followed the pattern for this little stuffed owl at the Moda Bake Shop, Owlivia. Isn't she adorable? I thought so too. Their patterns are extremely easy to follow, and while I did get caught on the placement of the pattern on the material, I did finally figure out what they were talking about. I actually enlarged the pattern for bigger owls, and only used two fabrics rather than the number they had. I would suggest, just because I found it easier, to draw the pattern on the batting, and then follow that with the machine. This kept the batting on top so it didn't get caught in the machine, which I sometimes have trouble with.

I took a small break from another project to work on the Owlivia door stoppers, and it took me one day to make these three, and that includes taking care of a teething baby. I promise, easy to do, and cute to boot. And yes, they do sell bleached walnut shells at the pet store. Check the rabbit/gerbil/hamster aisle. Now, for those temps to start dropping.....

About the author: Stacey loves lists, works hard to be organized, and spends her free time crafting, reading, and writing. Her greatest goal currently is learning to love like God does. You can read more about Stacey's days and crafts over at her blog, My Unfinished Daze. Random Fact: I'm finding that quiet is sometimes better. Sometimes. Friend her on facebook for more random facts.

Lovely Because We Are Loved

Image from www.heartandsoulreflections.com

Recently, after hearing much about it, we borrowed The Jesus Storybook Bible from our local library. The stories share God’s truths and some accounts recorded in the Old and New Testaments through beautiful language, vibrant feelings evoked from each character, and easy-to-follow words – all focused on telling each story pointing to Christ.

One of my favorite parts surfaced in their version of the creation story. After God spent days creating the world and everything in it, The Jesus Storybook Bible says, “God saw all that he had made and he loved them. And they were lovely because he loved them” (p. 25, emphasis mine).

On the next page, after God creates Adam and Eve, it reads again: “God loved them with all his heart. And they were lovely because he loved them” (emphasis mine).

I love this wording. Granted, this phrasing perhaps takes some artistic freedom to write it as such. Typically in Genesis, we read something like Genesis 1:31: “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.”

But, we also know without a doubt that God loves us.

And it’s because He loves us that we are lovely. That we are beautiful. That we can receive love. And that we can give love.

“We love because he first loved us.” – 1 John 4:19

We are not lovely because we can accomplish five loads of laundry in one day while taking care of the kids while planning the week’s meals while working on projects or jobs.

We are not lovely because we feed our bodies nutritious food, exercise regularly, or care for our skin.

We are not lovely because someone on this earth tells us we are physically beautiful or because we adorn ourselves with “things” to “make us pretty.”

These choices and deeds aren’t bad. In fact, many of them are good, productive, wise, helpful. But they don’t make us lovely. We don’t make ourselves lovely.

We are lovely because He first loved us. We are all – you, me, her, and all – lovely because He created us.

Adam and Eve chose to forget God’s words and instead follow the serpent’s temptations to eat the forbidden fruit. They forgot they were loved by God and because of this love needed nothing else. Like Adam and Eve, we forget this God-created truth too. We may berate ourselves, judge others by appearance, or treat ourselves like trash rather than God’s child. We may feel like we need this product or that person to accept us to look beautiful or feel worthy.

I do this. I forget God loves me so greatly that I am made lovely. God loves my neighbor, that stranger in the store, that person I disagree with constantly. He loves us all equally, beautifully, wholly.

And it’s only when I remember, when I renew, that I can fully fill up with the love God so openly pours. And only then – only when I remember God makes you and me lovely because He loves us – I can readily pour His love onto all those around me.

How do you know you are lovely because of God? How do you share that knowledge through loving others?

Author bio: Caroline is a wife, mother of a beautiful and charming toddler son, avid reader, and writer.  She is honored to write with Today’s Housewife.  You can also find Caroline at her personal blog (Under God’s Mighty Hand) and on Twitter.

Eggplant Potato Frittata for Two (or a Crowd)

Q: How do you get a husband (or kids) to eat eggplant?
A: With eggs, cheese, and potato of course!

This summer my husband and I joined a CSA for the first time. CSA stands for "Community Supported Agriculture" and is basically a chance to purchase a basket of produce each week from a local farmer. You can read more about our experience here, but for the most part, it's been great--and it lasts until early November so we still have several months to go! I love that my CSA basket has items that I would never purchase on my own... but sometimes it does create challenges, like when you have an eggplant-hating husband and you receive a pint full of those purple vegetables.


Enter the frittata, also known in my kitchen as a "miracle vegetable hider" or just plain "delicious." A frittata is a crustless quiche, prepared mostly on the stove but thrown in the oven for a delicious finishing touch. Frittatas sound complex, but are really simple to prepare and make a great, filling dinner on a busy night or an impressive looking meal for company.

Over the past few months, we've had the opportunity to make many combinations of frittatas with different vegetables and herbs. It's amazing what egg and cheese can do! This is my latest version--sweet, chewy eggplant combined with familiar, comforting potatoes was a winner in our book, and I hope you enjoy it too!

Eggplant Potato Frittata for Two (or a Crowd) [adapted from In Praise of Leftovers and The Pajama Chef]

Ingredients:

• olive oil
• 3/4 cup potato, cut into very thin rounds
  
• 3 small eggplants, chopped [about 3/4 cup]
  
• 4 eggs
• 1 tablespoon water
  
• 3 tablespoons fresh herbs, chopped [I used basil] or 1 tablespoon dried herbs
• salt and pepper
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese [I used mozzarella]

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Heat a small, ovenproof, non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add a little oil [once around the pan], then add potato and eggplant. Cook 4-5 minutes or until soft, stirring frequently.

Meanwhile, beat eggs, water, and herbs together in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper.

After vegetables are soft, pour in egg mixture and use a spatula to evenly distribute vegetables. Allow to cook for a couple minutes, until the bottom of the frittata starts to set, then use a thin spatula to lift the edge of the frittata. This allows the uncooked egg to transfer below to cook. When eggs are almost set, top with cheese and place in the oven to cook for 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Cool briefly before cutting, then serve warm.

Note: Recipe can be easily doubled, tripled, etc. as needed, but leftovers aren't the best so just make what will be consumed in one meal if possible.

Yield: 2 servings

Time: 30 minutes

Sarah began blogging at The Pajama Chef in order to chronicle her adventures in and love of cooking and baking. Sarah is currently a graduate student at Indiana University working towards a Master of Library Science and a Master of Arts in African Studies. Sarah's efforts in the kitchen would not be possible without the assistance of her husband, Ben, and his stellar dish-washing and sous-chef skills. Sarah and Ben were married in May 2009 and enjoy running, reading, involvement in a local church, and spoiling their kitty, Sheba.

What did you do with your mission statement?

Nearly two months ago Sandra talked to us about a Marriage Mission Statement. While I am sure she thinks I dropped the ball, it is something I am still working on. It seems I get sidetracked easily, and this is one of the things that has been put on the back burner a few times, but not forgotten. One of the things that did get done was a reframing of our Family Mission Statement.

Several hundred years ago, okay maybe not that long, but when the boys were little I received Steven Covey's book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families. I read through this book devouring the information, filling notes within a notebook, and in the end my husband and I came together to write a Family Mission Statement. Once it was developed I chose to put it in cross-stitch, and while we lived in McKinney it sat in our entry way.

When we moved here both it and another cross-stitch I had done never did find a place to call home. I took them out of their frames, and they sat in the corner of my craft room waiting for inspiration. After I read Sandra's posts about the Marriage Mission Statement I remembered the hidden statement I had of our own, and decided it was time to get it back out. I only knew that I wanted it to have a new look.

After a little searching online I decided the best look would be the subway art. There are so many amazing tutorials out there on how to use Picasa, or special scrapbooking tools to get this look, but all I had was my computer with no amazing tools on it. I simply used Microsoft Word, typed the words in and sized them so each line fit the width of the page, chose two separate fonts to make the distinction I wanted, and centered the entire thing in case any line was off by a hair or two. After I printed it out I cut some scrapbook paper and used a glue stick to glue it around the edge of the canvas I purchased. Then using the same glue stick I glued down the page with the mission statement. and laid it face down so that it was smooth as it dried. Once it was completed it went on our mantel in the family room.

If you haven't considered making a marriage or family mission statement I highly encourage you to do so. And if you have made one, then make sure to display it somewhere prominent. The easiest way to remember something is to see it all the time.

About the author: Stacey loves lists, works hard to be organized, and spends her free time crafting, reading, and writing. Her greatest goal currently is learning to love like God does. You can read more about Stacey's days and crafts over at her blog, My Unfinished Daze. Random Fact: Stacey's favorite snack (right now) is a cheese stick wrapped in a fruit roll up. Don't judge! Friend her on facebook for more random facts.