Lea's Favorites

It's been a couple of weeks since I shared any of my favorites with you but I have some good ones for you today.  

These Perfect Portions bags are great if you, like myself, often buy bigger packages of meat and then divide them out into smaller portions.  I use them for chicken, pork chops and hamburger patties.  I can put each individual portion in one of these and then put them all in a Ziploc freezer bag and remove just what I need, one at a time.  You can find them where all the Ziploc products are found.

I have a couple of different bottled waters to share with you.  The first one I just found a couple of weeks ago.  I drink a lot of water and sometimes I tire of plain water.  I've used the flavorings and have tired of them as well.  So, I started looking for flavored waters and I found this by OceanSpray.  It is a cranberry infused water and it is soooo good.  I order it from Amazon but I'm sure that a lot of grocery stores carry it, just not in our fair city. ~shucks~ And, something else I like about this  is the plastic bottle is very thick and not flimsy.

This is my other favorite flavored water.   Nestle makes 3 flavors, Mandarin Orange, Acai Berry and Mixed Berry.  They are all very good and they are not too strong, just the right amount of flavor.  The one thing I do not like is that the Nestle bottles are very, very flimsy.  You have to be very careful just taking the top off of the bottle or you will get water all over you. ~ugh~ But, once you get the hang of it, it's not a big deal.

Okay folks, if you have never owned a steam mop then you are missing out on a great cleaning tool for your floors.  I just recently bought one of these.  I have owned a steam mop in the past but bought the Swiffer brand this time. I only use a steam mop on my wood floors about 2 times a year and on my ceramic anytime I want to.  Steam cleans better than any cleaner on the market and it leaves your floors squeaky clean.  And, I love the sizzle of the steam when using the mop. ~big grin~

You gals may have been using this for a long time but I just found it a few months ago.  And, I have no idea if it's a rather new product or been around for ages.  Like I said, I just found it and the word "gel" is what attracted me to it.  I like cleaners with bleach but you have to be so, so careful if they splash.  One drop on a bathmat can ruin it, so I love the fact that this cleaner is not "splashy."  I sometimes stand on the cleaning aisle at the store and study the various cleaners.  In fact, that's exactly how I came across this.  The choices are endless and it causes me to wonder just how many different ingredients can there be for cleaners.  It's sort of like facial skincare.  I mean, I think the names are just changed and minor alterations made to the ingredients and a price attached and their often pretty much the same. ~just my thoughts~

And, last but certainly not least, is this extra big and loud timer!  I have always used a timer even though my stove and washer and dryer have always had buzzers and timers on them.  My kids would be quick to tell you that timers going off at our house use to nearly drive them crazy.  They saw no need for it. ~smile~  But, I prefer this timer to any other.  And, since moving in our new house I have used it more than ever and turn it up as loud as it will go.  I couldn't hear the buzzers on our appliances if I had to. (and I think I still have good hearing)  They have a very polite sound and one could only hear it if they were in the room.  And, my washer and dryer are a long ways away from the living area.  And, yes, I do use the timer on my Iphone a lot but sometimes it is just easier to grab and set this.  It can be bought directly from the ThermoWorks website, believe it or not, it is NOT on Amazon! 

Okay, there you have it for this edition of favorites.  Hoping one of them becomes one of yours as well.  I'm off to enjoy another weekend with family!  Moms out there, have yourself a wonderful day on Sunday.

Lea's Favorites

It's been a couple of weeks since I shared any of my favorites with you but I have some good ones for you today.  

These Perfect Portions bags are great if you, like myself, often buy bigger packages of meat and then divide them out into smaller portions.  I use them for chicken, pork chops and hamburger patties.  I can put each individual portion in one of these and then put them all in a Ziploc freezer bag and remove just what I need, one at a time.  You can find them where all the Ziploc products are found.

I have a couple of different bottled waters to share with you.  The first one I just found a couple of weeks ago.  I drink a lot of water and sometimes I tire of plain water.  I've used the flavorings and have tired of them as well.  So, I started looking for flavored waters and I found this by OceanSpray.  It is a cranberry infused water and it is soooo good.  I order it from Amazon but I'm sure that a lot of grocery stores carry it, just not in our fair city. ~shucks~ And, something else I like about this  is the plastic bottle is very thick and not flimsy.

This is my other favorite flavored water.   Nestle makes 3 flavors, Mandarin Orange, Acai Berry and Mixed Berry.  They are all very good and they are not too strong, just the right amount of flavor.  The one thing I do not like is that the Nestle bottles are very, very flimsy.  You have to be very careful just taking the top off of the bottle or you will get water all over you. ~ugh~ But, once you get the hang of it, it's not a big deal.

Okay folks, if you have never owned a steam mop then you are missing out on a great cleaning tool for your floors.  I just recently bought one of these.  I have owned a steam mop in the past but bought the Swiffer brand this time. I only use a steam mop on my wood floors about 2 times a year and on my ceramic anytime I want to.  Steam cleans better than any cleaner on the market and it leaves your floors squeaky clean.  And, I love the sizzle of the steam when using the mop. ~big grin~

You gals may have been using this for a long time but I just found it a few months ago.  And, I have no idea if it's a rather new product or been around for ages.  Like I said, I just found it and the word "gel" is what attracted me to it.  I like cleaners with bleach but you have to be so, so careful if they splash.  One drop on a bathmat can ruin it, so I love the fact that this cleaner is not "splashy."  I sometimes stand on the cleaning aisle at the store and study the various cleaners.  In fact, that's exactly how I came across this.  The choices are endless and it causes me to wonder just how many different ingredients can there be for cleaners.  It's sort of like facial skincare.  I mean, I think the names are just changed and minor alterations made to the ingredients and a price attached and their often pretty much the same. ~just my thoughts~

And, last but certainly not least, is this extra big and loud timer!  I have always used a timer even though my stove and washer and dryer have always had buzzers and timers on them.  My kids would be quick to tell you that timers going off at our house use to nearly drive them crazy.  They saw no need for it. ~smile~  But, I prefer this timer to any other.  And, since moving in our new house I have used it more than ever and turn it up as loud as it will go.  I couldn't hear the buzzers on our appliances if I had to. (and I think I still have good hearing)  They have a very polite sound and one could only hear it if they were in the room.  And, my washer and dryer are a long ways away from the living area.  And, yes, I do use the timer on my Iphone a lot but sometimes it is just easier to grab and set this.  It can be bought directly from the ThermoWorks website, believe it or not, it is NOT on Amazon! 

Okay, there you have it for this edition of favorites.  Hoping one of them becomes one of yours as well.  I'm off to enjoy another weekend with family!  Moms out there, have yourself a wonderful day on Sunday.

A Mother's Day Hodgepodge

It's the Hodgepodge and Joyce has made a few changes that hopefully will help her conserve some time and us as well.  She is so faithful to conjure up these questions week in and week out and that in itself can definitely take a lot of time.  Hopefully this new format will help us all in the time arena.

1. Share a favorite memory of your mother or share a favorite something from your own life as a mother. If you're a mother (or stepmom) tell us how your experience as a mom differs from your own mother's experience.

My Mom was one of the most meek and mild women I have ever known, in fact, she was almost too much so.  She would withhold her own preferences in situations to make sure everyone else's preferences took priority over hers.  She would often take second place too and since my Dad was in the ministry this happened often.  She took her position as the pastor's wife very seriously and felt very honored to hold that position.  I've often thought how she should have taught a class on how to be the "perfect" pastor's wife.  'Just thinking about the woman she was brings a smile to my heart.

I'm not even sure how to answer the last part of this question but one big difference would be all of the modern conveniences that I enjoy that were not available when my Mom had children at home. 

2. In May we celebrate teachers (May 9) and nurses (May 6) both. Most every family has at least one in their midst, so tell us something (or a few things) you appreciate about the teacher or nurse on your family tree.
Well, our family has not one, but two teachers.  Our daughter teaches elementary and our DIL teaches special ed at a middle school.  I love that both of them take their jobs very seriously and truly want to make a difference in the lives of the students they teach.  There are definitely days that they feel like throwing in the towel but they pick themselves up and continue on doing their usual great job.  I'm so proud of both of them.

3. Chicken salad, egg salad, tuna salad...which would you go for if all three were on the menu? On bread or a bed of lettuce? If you answered bread, what kind of bread would make it the perfect sandwich?

I'll take chicken salad on just about any kind of bread and I also enjoy it on a bed of lettuce with some crackers.  I prefer not to have grapes, apples or any other kind of fruit in my chicken salad. ~I know, I know, strange~ 

4. Do you have a desk? Is it organized? If so, share your secret to keeping it that way. If you don't have a desk, where in your home do you take care of family paperwork and business? Where do you normally sit to blog?

Oh, yes, I have two desks, one for my desktop computer and another where I take care of business and paperwork.  Both are very organized, a place for everything and everything in it's place.  I sit at my desktop or in my recliner with my laptop to blog.  Both are very comfortable.

5. When I was nine years old....

my Daddy entered the ministry and we made our first move from Ft. Smith, Arkansas to Alma, Arkansas where he pastored a small rural church.  It was the beginning of a different life for our family and one that I enjoyed very much as we moved from here to there.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Taken during their performance of Last Train to Nibroc in Feb.

I'm preparing for Round 3 of company this weekend.  This cute nephew of mine and his adorable girlfriend will be gracing us with their presence this weekend.  We look forward to their visit and showing them a little bit of rural life.  Warren is from DesMoines and Amanda from Chicago so our little town will be like rural America to them.  We might even talk them into doing some acting for us, you never know.  Whatever we do, it's sure to be fun with these two.

Monday's Musings

We've had such a fun past few days around here.

Tommy's sister and her husband from Atlanta came for a visit.  Susan had her 50th class reunion Saturday evening and that was part of the reason for their visit.  I think they were probably one of the best looking couples at the event. ~and I'm not biased~ wink!

 On Friday evening we enjoyed some family time with the kids.  The fish were biting and the girls had such fun reeling their catches in.  Tommy and Steve got in the little boat and puttered around and didn't catch a thing but enjoyed watching the girls and hearing their squeals.  It's so neat how the clouds are reflected in the pond.  Susan and I took it all in from the patio.

On Saturday we left early to attend the May Madness Festival on our downtown square.  It has been many many years since our city has hosted an event such as this.  The downtown merchants and other interested folks began planning it over a year ago.

 There was something for everyone, vintage items, home decor, live plants and homemade dolls.

There was an old car show, metal work of all kinds, and 

signs of all descriptions.  I had to laugh when I read both of these.

A local gal had one of the neatest booths there.  She will take clothing from a person's deceased loved one and make them either a memory bear or a pillow.  I think it is such a cleaver idea and her work is perfection.

It has been a fun filled last 4 days and the weather could not have been more picture perfect.  It made for a great family visit and we are thankful for these fun times together.  Of course, it would have been even better if our daughter and her family could have joined in the fun.  But...........

Have yourself a great new week!

The Wednesday Hodgepodge

It's Wednesday............it's the Hodgepodge!!!!

1. Can you tell I'm embracing a Cinco de Mayo theme here this week? Do you like Mexican food? What's your favorite dish? How about on the side-black beans, pinto beans, refried beans, rice? What about heat-mild, medium, hot? Will you celebrate with Mexican food and drink on May 5th aka Cinco de Mayo?
Yes, I do like Mexican food and we do happen to have a really good Mexican restaurant here in our fair city.  I love  chips and salsa,  I like cheese quesadillas with salsa and sour cream and chicken enchiladas.  A side of refried beans is good and you can make all of it HOT, the hotter, the better.  No, we will be enjoying a family dinner here but it will not be Mexican. 😊

2. Ever been to Mexico? For work or holiday? Love it or no? If you haven't been is this a place you'd like to visit? Can you speak Spanish?
Hubby has won 2 trips to Acapulco over the years through his work.  We stayed at the Princess resort both times and it was amazing.  But, when we  went outside the resort it was a totally different story and pretty sad to see the life style of the locals.  No, I cannot speak Spanish.

3. What's one thing you may accomplish this month?
I'm pretty sure by the end of this month that I will have earned the designation of being "the hostess with the mostess."  We have one of Hubby's sister's and her husband arriving today, my nephew and his girlfriend  will be here to spend next weekend with us and then Hubby's other sister and her husband will arrive the following weekend.  So, our door will be doing a whole lot of swinging and I'll be wearing my chef hat more than normal for sure.  We look forward to this time.  Family is where it's at!

4. If you were mayor of your village, city, or town, what's one thing you'd like to see changed, done away with, revamped, or accomplished? Is serving in public office something you've ever seriously considered?
How funny, we just had our city's mayor race this past Saturday.  If I were mayor of our city I would do all in my power to bring some type of business/industry to boost our economy.  About 7 years ago International Paper closed their mill located here and it has had devastating effects on our town.  Life has gone on but it's definitely not the same. ~the strong survive~

NO, I would never want to serve in any public service!

5. What's something that may be popular, but that you just don't get?
There's a whole lot of things but one is the strange colored hi-lites that girls/ladies are having put in their hair.  It seems that a lot like the mahogany color and without elaborating I'll just say, "I don't get it at all."

6. Can't let this week slip by without mentioning Thursday May 4th is Star Wars Day. As in 'May the 4th be with you' ahem. Are you a fan of the Star Wars series? Exactly how much of a fan are you? On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being 'I've seen every film, own the action figures, might have dressed as Darth Vader for Halloween one year', and 1 being, 'what's a Vader?' -where do you land?
Well, believe it or not, I've had to say, "what's a Vader."  I've never seen the first Star Wars movie nor am I the least bit interested in seeing them. 

7. Scroll back through your blog posts and in three sentences or less tell us the general theme of your fourth blog post. Does it still ring true today? Is it a topic you re-visit on your blog from time to time?
My 4th post was on March 25, 2009 and it was called Wednesday Snippets.  I chuckled as I reread it and think it is safe to say, I've come a long way in blogging since then. There was nothing wrong with the post, it was just a bit about what was currently going on in my life (my Mom has just died 4 months prior).  I had no photos included in the post and it just seemed a little boring.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
I have some good news to share...........Bridget saw the shoulder specialist yesterday morning and the news was much better than we were expecting.  He said it was the best AC Separation (a grade 1 out of 3, with 3 being the worst) if there is such.  He took her out of the immobilizer sling and told her to use her arm as she could without over doing it.  Of course, it is so, so painful for her to move it but he told her that the more she moves it the better it will be.  He also said that she will not be fully healed by our Disney trip but she will be well into her recovery.  So, she was thrilled with that report and was so, so glad to get out of the sling.
 ~the power of prayer~

Monday's Musings

It's May 1st, how on earth did that happen?  It seems it should be Feb. 1st but time just keeps marching right on by.  I do think it's true that the older one gets the faster time goes. ~hummm~

Speaking of time flying by............. these two precious little girls are getting so big.  Hanna Beth has almost finished the 1st grade and has had a great year.  Andi Kate talks as good as a 5 year old and she's 2 years and 3 months old.  Her vocabulary constantly amazes me and she is so animated.  They hold a piece of my heart for sure!

Our daughter had a very bad fall last Wednesday evening that has left her and her family in a pretty big MESS.  She was walking across her bedroom with some clothes in her arms and got tangled up with a sandal (that Coleman had dropped in the floor after he got it out of her closet).  She said she started falling and she fell and fell and fell and finally hit a table in their bedroom.  She hit it with her left shoulder and she said the pain was excruciating.  She and Coleman were home by themselves and the fall, plus her crying nearly scared little Coleman too death.  She tried to comfort him with her good arm while wanting to scream in pain.  She called Clint and he and Clancy headed towards home and took her to an Urgent Care Clinic.  After x-rays and exam it was determined that she has an AC separation.  That is where the shoulder separates from the clavical.  She has been in a immobilizer sling and will see a shoulder specialist tomorrow morning.  It will likely take 6-8 weeks for it to heal and then she will have to have physical therapy to regain the use of her arm and shoulder.  Not exactly what any working Momma needs.  But, she has had a good attitude and they are managing. Please join me in praying for her speedy and complete recovery.

The first of Feb. our family began plans for all of us to go to Disney World in June.  Hubby has wanted us to do this for some time and while Andi Kate (2 1/2)  and Coleman (22 mos) are still very young, Hanna Beth (7) and Clancy (8) are at the absolute perfect age to go. We've all had such fun gathering our tee shirts and Disney apparel for our time there.  We will arrive on a Sunday and stay until the following Friday.  I have had a Disney planner plan our entire trip and it's been the easiest thing in the world.  She has taken care of absolutely every detail.  Our family has been to Disney plenty of times but our SIL and DIL have only been once and the Grans have never been so it will be an especially special time for them.  We are in countdown mode now to join the other bazillion folks in the land of magic. ~we'll all take a double dose of happy pills~ big chuckle~

Have a happy new week!!!!

The Wednesday Hodgepodge

It's so good to be back with Joyce and the HP.  She was out one week and I was away last week but I'm back and ready to exercise my brain today.

1. April showers bring May flowers or so the saying goes. Has your April been filled with showers? Do you carry an umbrella, wear a slicker, or make a run for it? Besides rain, what else has filled your April?

Our April has not had an abundance of rain but we did have the "storm of all storms" the first weekend of this month that not only poured rain but it hailed and the wind blew like rip and our entire city was without electricity for about 3 hours.

I am an umbrella carrying gal and have the awesome Totes brand that have the automatic up and down and are golf sized.  If I'm going to carry an umbrella I want it to cover every inch of me amply. 

Hubs and I have spent a lot of time readying our porches and patio for spring and summer.  We have potted ferns, mandevilla, bougainvillea and other plants.  It all looks nice and we will sit back and enjoy it now. 

2. What's something you could you give a 30-minute presentation on at a moment's notice and with zero preparation?
Oh, no doubt about it, a presentation of tips on leading an organized life and having an organized home. I'm of the firm conviction that an organized home is a well run home and an organized life is a productive life. My favorite tip for an organized home is to have the motto: Don't put it down, put it up!

3. Share with us a favorite food memory from childhood.
I remember pot roast, gravy, carrots and potatoes every Sunday for lunch.  That was in the days long before crockpots but Momma would prepare it and put it in the oven before we left for church and it would be ready when we got home.  Sunday lunch was always a very special time for our family and I'm afraid it isn't all that special for most families anymore.  

4. What's a song you thought you knew the lyrics to, but later discovered you were wrong?
Sorry, but have drawn a blank on this one..............

5. According to one travel website, the most overrated tourist attractions in America are-
Niagara Falls (NY), Hollywood Walk of Fame (California), Times Square (NYC), Epcot (FL), Seattle Space Needle (WA), and Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market (Boston). How many of these have you seen in person? Did you feel like a tourist? Did you care? Tell us about a place (not on the list) you've visited that might be considered a tourist trap, but you love it anyway.
I have been to Times Square, Epcot and the Seattle Space Needle. I did indeed feel like a tourist and enjoyed every minute of seeing these.
We made many, many trips to Pigeon Forge when our children were growing up.  It was on our route to Virginia to visit my parents and we enjoyed every trip we made there but I'm sure it is considered a tourist trap by many but we did love it.

6. Your signature clothing item?
Oh, this is difficult.............rather than an item it would be that  75% of my clothes are black or white.  I don't do that on purpose but I am drawn to black and white like a magnet.  
Now, an item that I wear every single day and I "guess" would be my signature item, is an extra long cami. Yep! when the extra long cami's came out I feel in love with them and, as I said, wear one every day. 
~now you know~
7. What's an experience you've had you think everyone should experience at least once? Why?

Hubs and I went on an Alaskan Cruise about 9 years ago.  We had never cruised before and Hubs was not all that excited about a cruise but he was lured by the fact that it was to Alaska.  It was one of the best trips we have ever been on.  Alaska has such beautiful scenery and at all of our ports of call we had such great excursions. We went with 5 other couples that just added to the fun and enjoyment of the cruise.  It was such a memorable trip and I would urge everyone, if they possibly can, to go on an Alaskan Cruise and have the  experience of a lifetime.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Have you heard of the "fidget spinner?"  If not, let me introduce you.  It is a stress and anxiety reliever, time killer, and aids with ADHD, etc.  I first heard of them through my daughter about a month ago.  Several students at her school had them and she was saying that Clancy wanted one badly.  So, I got him one for Easter and also got our son one because he has to have something to fidget with in his hands at all times.  Who on earth comes up with things like this is beyond me but I'm sure they are laughing all the way to the bank now.  I hear that is also a fidget cube  but I have not checked those out.  So, if you like to fidget, then you may need to get yourself one of these. ~smile~