Mary Jane's Farm

I adore Mary Jane's Farm. Her motto is,

"It's Not Where You Live, It's How You Live."

(all photos from Mary Jane's Farm)

 

She has her own quaint Bed & Breakfast, along with a full line of bedding.  A couple of years ago I was shopping at Belk when the most charming bedding set caught my eye.

I purchased the mint green and floral bedding with birthday money and have loved it every day ever since.

 

So this week we are creating our own Bed & Breakfast getaway right here at home.  This is the third year we have done this.  I fully agree with the motto, "It's not where you live, it's how you live."  For me, this little project is about creating beauty in our lives.  It is fun to think about creating a pretty, relaxing space for us.

 

The boys like dreaming together about the fancy breakfasts we'll eat this weekend.  I like thinking about the freshly ground Butter Pecan coffee I'll be purchasing on Wednesday morning.

 

So, the first element in a well appointed Bed & Breakfast is a fantastic bed.  We needed a new bed but did not want to spend $1,000 plus on a mattress.  We found this 4 1/2 inch foam mattress topper on Overstock.  It.  Has.  Been.  Heaven.  Ever since we put it on our bed.  Now we have the most plush bed to sink into every night and it was under $200 to revitalize our existing bed.

 



We also purchased an inexpensive set of 1500 thread count sheets in Mint Green which have been equally luxurious.

It doesn't have to cost a fortune to breathe new life into your bedding and it is such a luxurious gift to give yourself.

(Linking up with Women Living Well  and Knick of Time)

Shirkers & Slackers

The Bible reading plan for Shirkers & Slackers.  Yesterday I was talking to a dear friend telling her my desire to read through the Bible.  There are so many ways to do this.  I didn't want a different Bible, I wanted to settle into my very own Bible.  Reading my very own Bible allows me to settle in and get to know it. 

It begins to take the shape of a well appointed home.  I love to move.  Houses not Bibles.  But they are very similar events for me.  Moving into a new house or Bible is the same.  Everything feels new and different.  It takes awhile to find a good rhythm and to begin to feel like home.

On the housefront, when we move into a new  house the first thing we do is clean till it sparkles.  Move all our stuff in.  We hang the curtains, hang the pictures, arrange and move and get to know our way around the new space.  Over time little touches here and there continue to make it home.  The only place I want to be.

Same thing with my Bible.  The more I settle into the words on the pages, mark them, and write in the margins, the more familiar it begins to feel.

But where to begin is always the million dollar question.  This Bible reading plan for Shirkers & Slackers is money.  Simply click on the link and print off the PDF file (for free!).  Fold it in half and tuck it in your Bible. 

It is arranged by days of the week.  That way you don't feel like a failure.  If you skipped yesterday or the month of November entirely, you are not behind.  Simply pick up today and keep going.  And the article attached to the link-worth its weight in gold because it is hilarious and makes you feel normal.

Page, thanks for the info about this great reading plan!

I'm linking up with Flower Patch Farmgirl today.

Store Bought Pie

I have Martha Stewart running through my veins.  I love her. Always have.

Even when the Pokey took her away, I was still a fan.

She's classic and has flawless taste.

Love her as I may, sometimes life calls for Store Bought Pie.

Take last night for instance.  You may recall I took a PDO (Paid Day Off) yesterday and ditched all my Motherly responsibilities.  I spent the day reading and writing.  The boys spent the day being kids.  Pretending, reading and playing make believe (is that the same thing as pretending?  ok, yeah, i thought so).

We had a Staff & Elder Christmas party and I had a task. Bring Dessert. So 15 minutes before the party we wheeled the bus into the Kroger parking lot. I chose the pudding cake with the neon orange $4.99 sticker. I put that sucker on my white cake stand and called it a day.

Lesson learned.  When life hands you a rainy day you serve up Store Bought Pie.

When life hands you Store Bought Pie put it on your prettiest white cake pedestal and serve it up with a smile.

My name is Anna and I approve this message.

Chilly Night Chili

 

Chilly Night Chili

2 pounds ground round beef

1 46 oz can Campbell's Tomato Juice

2 16 oz cans Bush's Chili Beans in Mild Sauce

2 10 oz cans Rotel

1 1oz pkg Williams Original Chili Seasoning

1 diced yellow onion

2-3 cloves minced garlic

1-4 Tablespoons Chili Powder (according to taste)

Salt & Pepper to taste

 

 

Brown beef with onion and garlic.  Drain meat.  In a large pot, combine meat with remaining ingredients.  Stir and simmer on low to medium heat for at least one hour, stirring frequently.  The longer it simmers the better it tastes!  Serve with Fritos, Crackers, Jiffy Cornbread Muffins, Cheddar, Sour Cream and Jalapenos.

 

Set a pretty table.  Light the Fall candles.  Throw on a sweatshirt because this my friends is a Fall dinner done right.

This recipe is my sister's.  It got published in a magazine and let me tell you, it is one of our families very favorite dinners! 

This is even better the next day.

It freezes and reheats well.

I like to use left overs to have Chili Dog & Tater Tot night.

If there is just a small amount to freeze, you can pull it out for a quick meal one night.  Top Baked Potatoes with the Chili, Cheese & Salsa-serve with a Salad.

Goodwife

Goodwife.

It's what the woman in our story was called today.

Goodwife kept a fire burning in her home for two solid years.  There were no matches in her day, so it was very important that she kept the fire lit.  Other women would carelessly let their fires burn out.  When they needed hot coals to rekindle the fires, they'd go to Goodwife for help.

Something about that story makes me happy.  The picture of a woman keeping her home in such a way that the fire stays lit.  Goodwife needed the fire to cook.  Don't you know the family found comfort in the crackle of the fire day in and day out.  Provision.  Comfort.  The familiar.

Two things I like to do in the evening, around 5:00pm are,

~light a candle in the main room

~turn the lamps on

It signals that dinner is almost ready.  As you get busy with homework, dinner, dishes, baths, stories, the sun goes down and your living room has a nice ambiance.

Last night I ran by a friend's house to borrow something around 8:00pm.  Her house was so peaceful.  Dinner was over, the dishwasher was humming, counters wiped, the kids were in bed and the lamps were on.  It was a place of peace.  Everything was neat and tidy and her house was cozy.  It made me want to stay for hours visiting because it was so inviting.

Your home have the exact same feel.

Goodwife.

Candles.  Lamps.  Two simple things you might want to try tonight.  See if it makes your home cozy and blesses your family.

Bye

At our house when Dad leaves we don't just say Bye.

We give hugs.

Kisses.

High Fives.

Handshakes.

Booty Bumps.

Knucks.

Knucksplosions.

Then the boys ask every single time if Daddy will wave bye.

So we all four gather around the window and wave.

If it is an extra special day we get the wave and a double honk.

We are a rowdy, wild bunch. A friend and her two precious daughters came over today. I got tickled. My boys were running around. I'm making lunch. Please put your clothes back on kids. No you cannot have another cheese stick I'm standing here making your nachos for lunch. Where is your shirt? Do you want tea or orange juice to drink? Yes you have to take a nap today. Put the cheese sticks down I'm plating your lunch. Don't take that diaper off.

Sweet times.

I think.

Laughter

The manifestation of joy.

Sharing my husband's dream of deep sea fishing with him.

That's my fish everyone. I think God was laughing when He sent that one my way.

Seeing the look on his face as he reeled in huge, beautiful fish. This one is my favorite of the look on his face with his fish. Shiny gray with black stripes.

Laughing hysterically when I caught a shark. Really LORD?! I mean we talked about it a lot and I'm really excited you took me up on my plea to catch a shark. It was one of the most exciting things I've ever experienced. Nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh.....


We have celebrated 10 years together. We're happier, more content, give our opinions less, see the small things, love our boys to pieces and I do mean we enjoy them to the hilt, we drive a bus, I mop and clean up sticky messes every day, I enjoy the sunset in our dining room through finger-printed glass and we are learning to experience the dailyness of life in it's fullest these days.

There's nothing like:

Butt's in the air

Butt's in the air

Lookin' like a fool with your butt's in the air.

Ahem, Do you think I could have passed up taking this shot. I took this one for ya'll, because somehow me telling you about the yoga class going on while we enjoyed our romantic sunrise coffee on the beach yesterday is much different than you seeing it for yourself.

Have a good en' today.

My Summer House

If I built a dream house this is what it would look like.

Charming white picket fence and porch. Sunny yellow paint. Ivy growing up the walls. Colorful flowers lining the path. Lights on inside, always.

When I took health in college I am not kidding one day my professor had us all close or eyes and imagine a happy place. Well, I am not serious enough to get into stuff like that so I shut my eyes and was creeping out about the freak show session that was going on during class. A little too hokey for my taste, ya know what I'm sayin? But man oh day, he had us searching for our happy places for a long time.

Did he forget to prepare lesson plans?

Yeah, I bet so too.

So anyway, after awhile it was getting boring so I started thinking about my happy place.

It had a charming cottage with floral oversized chairs inside, white walls with beadboard, board and batton. Arched doorways. Striped wallpaper on the walls. Thick crown moldings around all the windows, door frames, baseboard and ceilings. Jasmine growing outside. Sheer curtains blowing from the breeze flowing through the open windows. A waterfall was nearby. There were lots of colorful flowers. It was yellow, sunny, bright blue skies and green, purple, pink and orange on the ground with the flowers and plants.

My preacher says we're probably all going to have our own thermostats in heaven and we can adjust how we want it, so my thermostat would always be set between 68-74 so you cold folks would want to be sure to bring a light jacket.

I sure do enjoy beauty. Some days it takes a little more looking around to find it hidden within the day, but every days holds some beauty. I hope you enjoy yours today.

Clinque Drama

A couple weeks ago I ran by the Clinique counter to grab some make-up. The Clinique Lady said they were having a complimentary eye make-over that day. I said, "Thank you, I just need a bottle of Stay Ivory please." She goes to get it, comes back and says, "Sit down." I did sit down and before I knew it she had whipped the make-up off my right eye. Dang I thought, I didn't want an eye make-over today, I'm in a hurry. Plus, we all know I watched the Smokey Eye You Tube video the last time Shane was out of town.

The Clinique Lady proceeds to put on her reading glasses and looked at me for an uncomfortable amount of time. I was like, oh heavens, what is she looking at me like that for? Then she says, "What's with the eyebrows?" The wheels are turning, I'm like, "Uh, I don't know?" I mean, I've been plucking regularly. Is she thinking they look good or bad? Then the horror. She handed me the mirror and showed me how my right brow is like a million miles shorter than my left. What tha???? Did I DO THAT (Steve Erkel Voice)????

I wear make-up every. single. day. You'd think I would've noticed the GREAT DIVIDE. This is what getting 4 people ready every day is doing to me. Don't worry though, I'm now the proud owner of an Eyebrow Pencil. Geesh.

So then she says, "You been wearing black eyeliner since the 7th grade?"

I'm like, "NO, Actually the Clinique Man just sold it to me last year."

"Michael?"

"I'm like, I don't know his name."

"I'm really proud Michael would recommend the creme liner, but you need brown. I wear black (she was a black lady) so if I'm wearing black then it is too dark for you dear."

Drama. Pure Drama I tell you. She railed me to pieces. You need to know something though. I've been looking at everyone's brows since The Incident. I can't help it. I've tried to stop but I can't. It must be the remnants of the shock still having effect on me. Next time you see me, if you feel like I'm checking out your brows, you're going to be right. And you can sneak a peak at my fake drawn in job. I won't care.

I can't believe I've turned into a Brow Stalker.

Dallas Unwrapped

You need to know that the women in your life are always in one of two phases regarding their hair. They are either growing it out for a myriad of reasons. Maybe for the upcoming wedding or post baby because she realizes showers are a thing of yesterday and she needs the ability to wear a pony tail. OR she just got it chopped because the wedding is over or she is pregnant.

Between 3-4 months every pregnant lady will chop her hair and get bangs which she hasn't had since 7th grade. It is some kind of effort to feel younger and springier yet only results in making her look more like a bubble. She'll do this usually on her first baby and the scars will run so deep she will re-enter the growing out phase for the next 6 years. See Exhibit A.

Exhibit A

Two years ago I went from straight hair to curly. Honest to goodness I did not know I had curly hair. Here's how I found out I had some wave. Picture it. 1999. A summer discipleship training program in Florida. I meet a boy named Shane. We stay out past curfew one night hanging out on the beach. The next morning after my shower I get a knock on the door requesting my presence in "the office." So I dutifully go, wet hair and all, to get my reprimand (which was deserved considering I was in leadership that summer, tsk tsk tsk). I go back to my room to find mostly frizzy, very slightly wavy (if you squint your eyes real good) hair.

60% of women have curl and don't even know it. If your hair frizzes in humidity then you have the ability to train your hair to release the wave. It takes 2-3 weeks of so-so, OK I'll be honest, crappy looking hair to get the wave/curl going. You will have a few crispy looking hair days as you get to know your hair products. You'll research on the Internet how to get your hair to look better and you will realize it is all about the cut. Then you'll start getting the itching to go to the big city to let a real, curl cutting expert tackle your hair. You'll choose a big city near family and off you'll go.

My sister and I chose On The Avenue in Dallas. Marc Marcel had 28 reviews on http://www.naturallycurly.com/ . 28. Most people only have 1-4. The building was in the heart of Dallas right next to the CBS Tower.

We just had a ball on our little road trip.


This is my sis. She has super curly blond hair and is as skinny as a toothpick. Don't hate her though, she's super sweet and crafty and a good mom.

We walked into a brightly colored salon.

This is Marc cutting Natalie's hair. You can see his curly hair. He only washes his hair once a week. His curls are perfect. The thing with curly hair is you should not wash it often at all. Shampoo is not good for your hair cuticle. It's a cultural thing that we wash every day. I talked to God about it the other day and he was saying Adam and Eve never washed their hair with Pantene. I kind of had a hunch about that one.

I have waited a week to post about my new cut because, frankly after our haircuts we went to hang out with our family and got to having fun and I forgot to take an after picture. Then I wanted to see what I thought about my hair after I fixed it. I went 4 days without washing it. Now I'm on my second day and it looks better and better. I sleep on it get up and go.

So here it is. Here is the thing about an amazing hair cut. It looks like a normal cut. The difference is that my hair falls perfect and I don't have to do anything to it. Wash it one or two times a week, sleep on it, put on a shower cap so it doesn't get wet and that's it.

Coping Diet

COPING DIET

Only girls can understand this one. This is specially formulated diet designed to help women cope with the stress that builds during the day.

Breakfast:
1 grapefruit
1 slice whole wheat toast
1 cup skim milk

Lunch:
1 small portion lean, steamed chicken
1 cup spinach
1 cup herbal tea
1 Hershey's kiss

Afternoon Snack:
The rest of the Hershey kisses in the bag
1 tub of Hagen-Daaz ice cream with chocolate chips

Dinner:
4 glasses of wine (red or white)
2 loaves garlic bread
1 family size supreme pizza
3 Snickers Bars

Late Night Snack:
1 whole Sarah Lee cheesecake (eaten directly from the freezer)

Leanna sent me this and I am so thankful. I've been looking for a new diet. This may work.

Happy Allergy Season To You & Yours

I trust the beginning of this allergy season is blessing you with all the proper ailments that it was meant to.

I pray the 3 million Bradford Pears and the 10.2 million crepe myrtles are in full bloom on your street, and that your local grocer has taken the liberty of lining their drive with the blooming trees.

I'd like to thank the Arbor Club for all the new stuff they planted last year. I'd like to thank the Future Farmers of America for any contributions they made to the foliage industry. Garden Club Members- Bless you! I'd like to thank the Academy, too many names to name but you know who you are.

I pray you are surrounded with good enough friends who can be honest with you when you have tissue fuzz on your nose as that can prove to be as embarrassing as your little angel's number getting put on the big screen at church and having to take the walk of shame.

My hope is that Benadryl will produce a drug induced relaxed, sleepy state on your child, unlike last year when it made them turn into JoJo the Monkey boy and they swung from the chandeliers for 3 days straight.

I hope you have found the proper exfoliater, moisturizer and under eye cream. I want you to have the same happy glow on your face as the lady frolicking through fields of Wildflowers on the Charitin D Commercial does.

From our family to yours, many Bless You's & Achoos,
Anna

Bye Bye Ugly Shoes

A few years ago I went into Kohl's which is a store I normally don't enjoy shopping at, I don't know why I don't like shopping there, I just don't. However, that day I found a lovely pair of black slip on shoes for $3 or $4. I tried to tell myself the huge rubbery looking heals looked like a wedge, but I'm out of denial now and realize now that they were as orthopedic looking as anything you ever laid your eyes on.

Well, I flyladied them a couple weeks ago. And you know what happened? Friends and family gave shouts of joy and knew exactly what pair of black shoes I threw away (Becke' & Mom!). There is no telling how long they had prayed for me to see the fashion errors of my ways, they are the patient praying types, we'll just wait and see God work. God was teaching them his timing, because it took years for me to part with the black rubber monstrosities. And God was teaching me about the Footprints poem. OK, really I don't know what that poem is about. I just know it comes on Oak Plaquard's, always has a gold and opalescense background, and can be found in any elderly person's house somewhere.

My Mamaw Nicholson used to have a great plaquard hanging in her bathroom. It said, "If you sprinkle when you tinkle be a sweetie and wipe the seatie." I guess with 5 boys and 1 girl you have to have stuff like that hanging on your bathroom wall.

Goodbye shoes. You were so comfortable and I wanted to wear you today because it was cold.

Birthday Asphyxiation

Definition of Birthday Asphyxia: a condition of severely deficient supply of oxygen to the body that arises from being unable to breathe normally.

Also known as what happened on our way home from dinner tonight. Tonight was one of those perfect nights that come along once in a...well, never. It was the first family night of perfection we may have ever had?! Mamaw joined us for Shane's birthday dinner, the kids ate free, we got a free chocolate mess, the boys behaved really good except for the occasional getting out of the chair's to dance and get a whoo-hoo.

On the car ride home is when things took a turn for the worse. Somebody (who shall remain nameless because I wouldn't want Shane to get embarrassed even though I think it was one of his proudest moments) let a silent big one. Folks, I'm talking I'll be having nightmares tonight. It gets worse though. The frickin' child safety locks were activated on the windows. Yep, you read me right we were on lock-down in a most crucial time.

Then sweet Mamaw, with her prim & proper 83 year old Southern East Texas draw says, "I believe someone let out a Rooty Tooty!!!"