"Fall"ing in Love

I've not had time to devote to this blog lately and I apologize. To my loyal followers, thank you for hanging in there with me as I've tried to get the hang of having three kids in schools this year and a napping baby too. :)

Happy Fall! Today is the first official day but in my book, fall begins on the very first day of September. We have gorgeous falls around here and I love the sunny days with a soft cool breeze blowing lazily around. I love the crisp mornings and the way the azure sky suddenly gets a little deeper. I love how everything smells cinnamony and homey. I love watching the leaves change, antiquated by the long hot summer, yet refusing to give in to winter without going out in a blaze of fiery autumn hues.

Ah! Autumn is my favorite time of year! And because it is my favorite, I like to do it up right in my home decorating. Each year I try to make or buy something new to adorn my abode with. Here's the things I've added this year:

First I set about making my front porch look festively fall-ish by wrapping autumn leaf garland around the banisters and adding white twinkle lights. This is going to look even cuter come October when I add my friendly ghost and candy corn lights I bought to go around the door! Fun!

I found this large metal pumpkin at Hobby Lobby and fell in love. I put it up where I had the seashell wreath I made for summer. It seemed lonely so I bought two wreaths from the dollar store to go on either side of it. The were super easy to make: I simply spray painted them brown spray paint and tied strips of fabric around them. I added felt sunflowers to the top for some more visual interest. Total, they cost me a whopping 3 dollars!

The Happy Harvest sign was my fall purchase from last year and it's great. The real thing I'm excited about in this picture though is the paper pumpkins on the mantle behind it. I bought them on clearance the year we moved to Utah and they have been in their bag since. I just couldn't figure out what to do with them. I think they look cute interspersed with the autumn leaves, don't you? Next year I hope to find something to put up in place of the "Home Rules" sign at the back that will match a little better. The best part about this display is it keeps us all from stacking clutter on the mantle like we usually do! :)

Being a wife and a homemaker can sometimes be dull, monotonous, and hard. It's easy to lose sight of the little things that bring us joy in each day. Decorating for fall is so fun for me! It makes me happy when I look around and take it all in. Add to that a spicy smelling candle and there is nothing better.

It's just what I need to bring a smile to my face when I've had a stressful day. What brings you joy about fall?

Keeping Mornings Stress-Free

Now that it's back to school time for kids again it's time to think about ways to keep the mornings running smoothly. Here's a couple of tips to get you started!

Every Sunday night I make my way up to my three older kids' bedrooms and set out the clothes they will wear during the school week. My kids are all still young enough that they don't really have an opinion of what they wear and this way I make sure all of their clothes are being worn equally. If you have some opinionated kids then I suggest you have them in the room with you helping so they can make sure they're wearing what they want.

You could buy a fancy-schmancy clothing organizer doo-dad but I have found that the tops of my kids' dressers work just fine. I made some labels on the computer, laminated them with my trusty mini-laminator, and taped them to the walls using painters tape. Cheap, easy, and practical is what I'm all about.

It's my kids' responsibilty to get dressed when they wake up and because of my system it works great! Everyone always has something to wear and no one is frantically searching for an article of clothing.

I made this check list for my oldest back when she was in kindergarten. Back then I had a toddler and a baby to manage as well and so it was important to have the one who was capable of doing more things to be independent. Now I have a 3rd grader, a kindergartner, a preschooler, and a baby. The older three all have different school schedules so having a check list has become all the more important.

Instead of me hollering at my kids to get ready, they do it themselves. I have one of these lists posted on the fridge and another up in my girls' room so they can refer back to it as needed.  I also have added the times my older two go and come home from school along with the number to the school. That way mom doesn't forget anything either!

Getting your kids ready in the morning doesn't have to be a chore.

All it takes is a little planning ahead!

Super Easy Turkey Meatball Stir-Fry

Okay so apparently, I am in a recipe sort of mood on this blog lately. :) This year I have planted a garden and am so excited to cook with some fresh veggies that I grew all by myself! This recipe is a favorite at my house and is perfect for garden goodies. I thought I'd be nice and share it with you all too!

Here it is:

What You Need:
1/3 pkg of pre-cooked frozen turkey meatballs.
2-3 cups of your favorite fresh veggies (chopped). Last time I made this with pea pods (halved), yellow squash (sliced), carrots (chopped), bell peppers (diced), and baby corn (halved). I always just put in whatever I have on hand.
1/4 cup apricot jam
1/4 cup Catalina dressing
2 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2-3 cups cooked brown rice

Make It:
 Combine all ingredients in a large skillet.
Cook on medium high heat, 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Serve over brown rice.

Tips to Make it Work Great!
* I adapted this recipe from a recipe found on kraftrecipes.com. However, I have found everything cooks a little more evenly if I take the meatballs and zap them in the microwave for a couple of minutes so they're a little thawed before adding them to the skillet.

*While the meatballs are cooking in the skillet I take my trusty wooden spoon and break them into fourths. This is just a personal preference but I like to have a little bit of meat with each bite of veggies instead of one big meatball.

*The original recipe says to cover the skillet while everything's cooking but I like my veggies to be more crisp so I leave the lid off.

*This recipe can also be made using a package of frozen stir-fry vegetables so it can be used in the winter time as well when fresh, good quality veggies are harder to come by.

I hope this recipe becomes a favorite of your family's too!

Root Beer Float Cake

Since it's summer it's a must at my house to have yummy Root Beer Float Cake. I saw the recipe when I was home visiting my mom a couple of years ago on her Gooseberry Patch calendar. I was a bit skeptical but it turned out so yummy! The frosting tasted like the foam on a root beer float. It was very fluffy and held up well. I was worried it would absorb into the cake but it set just fine.

Here's the recipe:

Root Beer Float Cake

18-1/4 pkg white cake mix

2-1/4 c. root beer, chilled and divided

1/4 c. oil

2 eggs

1 env. whipped topping mix (Dream Whip)

In a large bowl, combine cake mix, 1-1/4 cups root beer, oil and eggs; beat until well blended. Pour into a greased 13"x9" baking pan. Bake at 350 for 30-35 min.; cool completely. In a medium bowl, combine remaining root beer and whipped topping mix; beat until soft peak forms. Frost cake.

Beauty Is...

I used to dread art class when I was a kid. It seemed no matter how hard I tried I just couldn't make my hand create the beautiful picture I envisioned in my head. I hated looking around and seeing, what seemed to me, everyone doing their art projects with ease while I struggled and struggled. Even now as an adult I avoid the arts and crafts activities our church has because I don't like drawing attention to my inadequacies as an artist.
It's funny I tend to feel this way because I am not one of those people who can't make anything. In fact, I am very crafty. Most of the wall hangings in my home are things that I've created. The difference is, I guess, that I've made these things my own way, on my own time. There's been no one to look over my shoulder and critique my art or give me a bad grade.

Instead, I grade my own work and judge whether or not it's worthy to adorn my wall. That makes me happy. I love beautifying my home and improving myself in the process.

I painted this picture recently. It's mediocre, in my opinion, but I put it on my wall anyway. Why? Because I kinda like it, actually. I've always wanted to be a painter and although I know I'll never be a Monet, I am trying.

And so, even though my art teacher never gave me an "A", I'm giving one to myself. An "A" for effort and a "+" for taking the time to do something for myself and beautifying my home at the same time.

To me that's what beauty really is.

She Sells Sea Shells

Being summer and all I've been in sort of a beachy mood so when I came across this seashell wreath in my mom's Woman's Day magazine, I knew I had to make it. I think it turned out great and I love the eclectic feel it has mixed with my other decor. The only thing I wish now is that my wall were painted a different color so the shells would really pop. A project for another day perhaps... :)

Here's the instructions if you'd like to make your own wreath.

To make the one I made you have to modify Woman's Day's version a little.

-Instead of a 16 inch foam wreath I used a 14 inch one. The 16 inch one was just too big

-They call for 5 bags of shells which is way too much in my opinion and way too expensive. If you make the 14 inch wreath you can get away with two bags easily.

-I also added glass jewels in colors that match my decor. I think it makes the wreath a little more funky and a little more colorful.

Making things for my home makes me happy!

How to be a Good Housewife

My husband brought home this funny list from work several years ago about how women were supposed to treat their husbands in the 1950's. It was meant to be used as a guide for being the perfect wife and homemaker. Recently I found it and thought it was worth sharing.

How to be a Good Housewife

1. Have dinner ready: Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready-- on time.This is a way of letting him know you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospects of a warm meal are part of the warm welcome needed.

2. Prepare yourself: Take fifteen minutes to rest so you will be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair so you will be fresh looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. Be a little more gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift.

3. Clear away the clutter: Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives, gathering up school books, toys, paper etc. Then run a dust cloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order. It will give you a lift too.

4. Prepare the children: Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces if they are small, comb their hair and if necessary change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of washer, dryer, dishwasher, and vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.

5. Be happy to see him.

6. Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.

7.  Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first. Remember his topics of conversation are more important than yours.

8. Make him comfortable: Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest he lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.
 Speak in a low, soothing, and pleasant voice.

9. Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to relax.

10. Your goal: Try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order and tranquility where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.

11. Don't greet him with complaints and problems.

12. Don't complain if he's home late for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day.

13. Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.

14. A good wife always knows her place.

There is speculation to whether this is a real list taken from Housekeeping Monthly as the article claims it is. Real or not it's pretty funny yet I am here to testify that there is a lot of truth to it too. My grandma is a bonafide 50's housewife and almost every item mentioned on the list I have witnessed in her own household. Even though my grandparents have a very traditional 50's household they are one hundred percent committed to each other and love each other deeply. So even though that way of life seems so backwards to us now maybe there was something that was working... ie putting your spouse's needs before your own. Just not to the extreme as this article suggests though!

Good and bad but definitely times have changed!