And if that wasn't enough...

5 Minutes for Mom, together with Best Buy, is hosting a giveaway for a flat-panel LCD HDTV!!!

...


IF you wanted to enter (which, I mean, surely you won't, right?) the link is here. :)

And the winner is......

Jessica! Who, unfortunately, doesn't have a blog I can direct you to. Too bad, because I'm sure I would love to read her thoughts (that's my favorite part of blogs)! I am e-mailing her to let her know that she has won. :)

On second note--I am leaving for vacation to Colorado tomorrow, so if you're here to contact me about having WON your giveaway (which, hopefully SOMEBODY is--I mean, come on! I entered 18275057 of them!), and I don't get back to you for about a week, please know that it's just because I don't have internet access!

Thanks so much for visiting my blog and for entering the giveaway and/or for giving me prizes. :) I hope you'll stay to look around and see what I'm all about. Have a blessed day!! :)

An lm3 Giveaway! Handmade Cards

As part of the super Dog Days of Summer blog giveaway hosted by Shannon at Rocks in my Dryer, I'm giving away some handmade greeting cards that I made myself. To win, just make a comment! You don't have to be a blogger to win, but if you're not, be sure to leave an e-mail address! I will randomly draw for a winner this Friday. If you win, I will ship the cards to you. Because we're poor college students and I would be hardpressed to afford out-of-US shipping, I'm going to have to limit this giveaway to people who are stateside. Sorry!! I hope you like the cards!

Be SURE to go to Rocks in My Dryer for more giveaways!!!


On the top left, the card says, "I owe the much: thou hast deserv'd from me far, far beyond what I can ever pay." (Robert Blair)

The top middle, pink card, says Miss You

The top right card says "CONGRATS" in metal letter blocks

Bottom Left is a christmas tree made from ribbon and buttons.

The bottom middle card says, "Way to Go!!!!!!"

And the bottom right says "Happy Summer" The popcicle is raised from the card. This card has two stickers inside it--one is a little girl playing with a sprinkler, and another is a girl holding water balloons. (No words)

Except for the summer card, each card is blank inside.

BooMama Hooked Me Up!

Yesterday, BooMama alerted the blogosphere that she would post a link today that would lead to a free Monk & Neagle CD! Now, I had not heard of Monk & Neagle until she started raving about them, but I had heard a couple of their songs on the radio without realizing it.

If you hurry, maybe you can get one too! Just go to this webpage. But hurry!

WFMW: Simple Recipe Holder

I like to keep my recipes online (you can see my recipe blog here). Then, when I want to cook them, I print them out. My tip today is meant to keep the recipes easy to see and out of the way. I just put them on the oven hood with a magnet! Here's an example:


That paper is my recipe. :) Hope this helps another cook! Don't forget to check for more tips on Shannon's site, Rocks in my Dryer!

Something More

Last night, when I was washing dishes, I looked out the window and saw a girl taking out the trash, and I had no idea who she was. This may not seem like a big deal, but it really struck me. There are only 16 apartments in our complex, and we go to a kind of small school. Last year, our apartments were full, and I can only say that I knew a few of the wives who lived in them.

I think God wants something more.

We are all in similar situations--young, newly married, most of us in school. We're just figuring out all of this. Instead of being isolated, what if we were in regular fellowship? Finding support from each other in these new uncharted territories?

I have a vision for these women. I'm just figuring out what God wants, but I think it's definitely something more.

Where? WHERE?

Things that are currently missing in our 500 sq. ft. apartment:

1. The remote for the TV. This would not be a problem, since our Tivo remote controls the power, volume, and channels... EXCEPT that it will not switch the input on the TV. So, for Jonathan to play PS2 or for us to watch a DVD, we have to manually switch the cable cord from the playstation to the TV. If you knew my husband, you would know that this is a time-consuming problem.
2. A library book. My library record is... blemished. I tend to be a less than responsible patron, but usually I know where the book is, but just delay in turning it in. A few weeks ago, I was reading a novel in our bedroom on a Sunday afternoon. Now, I have absolutely. no. idea. where it is. And I have looked!
3. 2 mice with jingle tails, 2 stuffed leopard-printed balls with feathers. Lola apparently has found some storage place in the apartment that I have yet to discover. Her toys disappear. They are not under the couch, or the bed, or the TV, or anywhere that I can find. Until about 30 minutes ago, this list also included a minature yellow stuffed duck. I retrieved him from under the fridge with a hanger. By the time I had returned the hanger to the closet, Mr. Quackers (Jonathan named him) had returned to his hiding spot under the fridge. I dug him out again and then put a dish towel under the fridge opening.
4. This list goes on with other things that are escaping my mind right now.

But really! WHERE could this stuff BE?

I'm one of Rachel's Company Girls!

Rachel Anne, of Home Sanctuary, has asked me to be one of her company girls! She explains the phrase here. I've been reading Rachel's blog for awhile, and I am always inspired by her sincere, insightful words. If you haven't checked it out yet, you should!

Today, she really got me with this post about June Cleaver. Definitely go read how she put it, but the essence is that maybe the Beav's mom had a good idea, cleaning in her pearls and heels. As wives and moms, maybe we can get more done, and be respected more, if we'd dress for success.

I know this is a problem for me. Jonathan and I are coming up on our one-year anniversary (in less than 2 weeks), and I haven't improved at housekeeping as much as I would like to. On days when he works and I don't, I wake up with lofty goals, but by the time he gets home, it seems I've done nothing! I'm not sure if it's a lack of motivation, or something else, but it seems I have trouble getting things done. I don't even have children to worry about--just me and Lola--so I shouldn't have a problem here! Maybe if I would get myself up and get dressed, I would have better luck getting everything done.

I really want my home to be the sanctuary that Rachel's blog title refers to--and not just for my husband and I. Our apartment is on campus--in between the most beautiful, quaint one-room church that was moved to our campus and a dorm. All of our school friends, as well as the freshman girls who I lead in bible study live in dorms or school-furnished apartments. I really desire for our home to be a place with open doors to which our friends can come and find sanctuary.

If anyone read this who has this housekeeping thing under control, please shed some advice!!!

Menu Plan Monday - July 16

It seems that my blog has just been a place for me to post meal plans and sprinkle in a few other random posts! I'm hoping that when I start my practicum, I will have more interesting stories to tell. Right now, summer consists of work and studying for the GRE!

But on to the Menu Plan! We had several things come up last week, so I'm recycling some of the recipes.

Monday: Garlic Parmesan Chicken (I still can't wait to try this!), wild rice, veggies
Tuesday: Slow-Cooker Porkchops (A definite Favorite), mashed potatoes, veggies
Wednesday: Oven Barbecued Chicken, green beans, rice
Thursday: Not cooking
Friday: Foil-Pouch Taco Chicken, Mexican Rice, Refried beans, Salad
Saturday: Out of town
Sunday: Out of town

Be sure to check out Laura's blog, at I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu ideas!

Summer Giveaway Extravaganza!

First of all, let me say, I .love. this idea!!!

Shannon, over at Rocks in My Dryer, is hosting a Dog Days of Summer Bloggy Giveaway!

I've put the banner in my sidebar and I'm already trying to decide what to give away!

My Favorite Cookbook

(Almost my favorite book, period.)

This book is so full of tips, recipes, and ideas, that every time I go through it, I find something new. The idea is to have a book that promotes frugal cooking/housekeeping/gift giving/habits, and it exceeds expectations! The recipes are for down-home, real food. Nothing is too fancy.

There are tons of tips and encouraging sayings, many of which are from a Christian perspective! (ex: "Never be discouraged. Remember, Noah was an amateur. The experts built the Titanic.")

There's also a 32 pg. section on mixes for giftgiving, a 22 pg. section on recipes for kids (including playdough, finger paints, snow ice cream, etc.), and a a 32 pg. section on cleaning tips (including recipes for cleaning solutions, etc.) and a 22 pg. section on beauty recipies (homemade leg wax anyone??)

This guide (because it's really more than a cookbook) is great for basic recipes, tips, and teaching general housekeeping stuff!

In sum, I'd recommend it to anyone!

Menu Plan Monday - July 9

Monday - Cheesy Pasta (from a bag)
Tuesday - Honey Mustard Chicken
Wednesday - Hot Dogs
Thursday - Foil Pack Taco Chicken Dinner
Friday - Pizza Rolls
Saturday - Garlic Parmesan Chicken
Sunday - Crock Pot Pork Chops

Be sure to look for more tasty meal plans at I'm an Organizing Junkie!

Menu Plan Monday: July 2

We've had several unexpected expenses in the last week or so, so this is my penny-pinching menu!

Monday: Oven Barbecue Chicken
Tuesday: Hotdogs
Wednesday: Granny's House!
Thursday: Easy Enchiladas
Friday: Hotdogs again/leftovers (if necessary... but we probably won't be here)

We love the enchiladas; they're super easy, and semi-healthy! I like to make a double batch of the meat, and then freeze half until the next time I make it. Then, it's even easier!!

Be sure to get more menu ideas on Laura's blog at I'm an Organizing Junkie!

I love... Sushi.

This image of a spicy tuna roll makes me hungrier than you can imagine! I would gladly give up many, many things if you could promise me a steady supply of sushi.

Problem 1: There is no sushi in this small, small town.
Problem 2: My sushi tastes, like seemingly all of my other tastes, are expensive. The cheap rolls are fine, but I am ALL. ABOUT. the specialty rolls with several kinds of fish and special sauces.

One day... One day, sushi.

Pimp my blog!

Let me just say that I am very proud of myself. I found a tutorial about how to add a picture to the top of my blog. Then, I found a picture on google image search... BUT, it wasn't big enough.
SO I made it bigger in the new image editing software that came with our printer (which is surprisingly RICH in features!)... BUT, it was kind of pixelated because I had made it bigger. SO I added an "oil painting" filter to make it look pretty... BUT it wasn't quite the right color. SO I added blue to it to make it match the background.

Anyway, I'm just excited I discovered how to use the softwre, and how to make my blog prettier. :)

(all the while, Lola snuggles IN my lap, UNDER the laptop. She almost doesn't fit (I think she's growing faster than she realizes)! But I bet she likes the warmth the motor makes.)