Planning a birthday party?

Let's talk kids birthdays and parties etc. If you're anything like us, a few months before the birthdays, we start planning, we start figuring out if we're going big or small, if we're having a party for all their friends or just a few or if we're doing it at home or at a venue.

No matter where we do ours we always need the supplies and they can get pretty expensive at times. Now the reason I'm bringing this up is because both Jasmine and Nicholas have their birthdays in April, two weeks apart to be exact, but they're in completely different age groups and with completely different tastes when it comes to the themes etc.

One place I've found that I'm able to get everything I want and even let the kids sit and help me pick, is Birthday Express. It's hard sometimes to find all the birthday party supplies in one place AND of whatever kind the kids want.

Nicholas LOVES LOVES LOVES Super Mario, he is just completely obsessed with it and has been begging me for a theme party using Super Mario Bros.. But honestly, let's face it, it's not something that I can find that easily, so when I found the birthday party supplies at Birthday Express today I was SO excited, I can't wait to show him.

How cool is this?

He is going to be over the moon.

Now Jasmine, well she's going to be ten and her mind changes every single day about what she likes and doesn't like, so there's a few options for her. I like the fact that you can mix and match the birthday party supplies.....you can even buy the favor packets and extras etc.

She LOVES dogs though, so I'm thinking this one may be an option:

I think when the kids get home, I'll sit down with them and look through Birthday Express some more and see what we can come up with....it makes party planning so much more enjoyable.

{ A Little of this and Little of That }

I've been kind of quiet haven't I? I feel like I have so many meme's and features going on during the week that it's starting to cut into my me time, my blog about whatever comes to mind time and that my dear friends, just can NOT happen.

I wish I could say that I've been off on some exciting adventure and therefore been too busy, but unless you count taking care of sick kids and a house and a military husband, an adventure....then yeah, nothing interesting going on.

First I want to thank all the ladies that are joining me in praying for our husbands, I hope that a lot more join us.

Now what exactly have I been doing around here? Well let's see, come on in and sit with me at the kitchen table I have some hot coffee and a wonderful Apple Cheese Coffee cake for you.

Life! There's your answer, I've been living, doing what life is all about, the daily grind and the routine that save for some things, is usually the same over and over.....and I've been cooking and loving my kids and husband and creating and imagining and crafting and crocheting.... continually turning my home into a safe comfy haven for us all.

On Sunday of course we sat down and watched the Superbowl, we ate yummy things and laughed and yelled at the TV and felt sad that The Cardinals did not win, but you know what, it was fun nonetheless. I think the Superbowl for us at least, is mostly about sitting down as family, having a bunch of food around and just lounging in front of the TV.

So moving on, let me show you what I did yesterday morning and I'm actually working on another one now for Nicholas. This started as a project for Valentine's day, I want to make a few for decorations and maybe, just maybe giveaway one or two on my blog.....depends if I have time to get them done. But yes, it started as that and then Jasmine came home from school and immediately claimed it for herself, she even slept with it last night LOL Of course Nicholas wants one too, in blue so that's what I'm working on this morning.

Is this not the cutest bird ever? I mean, I have to tell you for someone who had never crocheted, I'm absolutely thrilled with myself at how well I've taken to it and the amazing things I can make for myself and my family. I just love it.

Our homemade soap is also ready and the kids couldn't wait to try it last night. You should have seen their faces, they were all excited that it actually *worked* LOL

I don't know what they were thinking, maybe they thought this was all fun and games but the soap wouldn't really turn out right.

I put it in a little glass jar I have and made a tag for it and now it sits in the bathroom where everyone can just reach in and grab one.

I've also been reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett, for a review that I have coming up on February 9th....you can go ahead and pre order it from Amazon, it will be released February 10th. Let me tell you, I LOVE this book and I just can't wait to share it with you, I think it's one of those books that I will forever remember and will be talked about all over bloggy land.

Oh and I also watched Fireproof. As much as I loved the movie and thought the message was just outstanding, apart from Kirk Cameron, the rest of the actors were so bad at some points that it became quite distracting to watch the movie. I'm not judging, I know they were volunteer actors and in the end the whole message came across loud and clear and completely overshadowed any of the acting, so definitely a movie to watch, I mean hubby watched it with me and he really enjoyed it too.

And this post is getting super long and I'm afraid I may have lost some of you along the way, probably fallen asleep at your desks *snicker*

I'm off, I have a house to clean and I want to get the other little bird done before Nicholas gets home from school. I also have to make a run to the Library to pick up my two Yada Yada Prayer Group books, and then a run to the Post Office to mail off two birthday cards for the family back home.

I hope you have a wonderful day and don't forget to come back later for Day 3 of our Prayer for our Husbands.

{ 31 Days of Prayer for my Husband } - Day 2

I feel that behind every wonderful blogging woman I have come to know, there is an amazing man, they are the ones working in the background. The ones providing for our families, fixing what is broken around the house, giving us a hug when we're down, listening to our bad days, putting up with the constant flashing of cameras in their eyes (admit it, you tote that camera around just as much as I do LOL).

So I think they need to be recognized and admired and acknowledged for the wonderful husbands they are and what better way to do that, than to devote a whole month of prayer to them. Will you join me?

Embark with me on a journey for the next 31 Days, in which we devote ourselves to prayer for our husbands.

A couple of you have brought up the fact that February is only 28 days but I am doing this for 31....yes, there is a reason for that, the prayer journey is for 31 days and I didn't want to cut it short so I'm going to run it for it's full time, even though it goes a few days into March.

Day 2
Pray that your husband’s relationship with God and His Word will bear fruit in his life. Pray that he will be a man of wisdom and understanding, fearing the Lord. (Prov. 3:7, 9:10; Ps. 112:1)

Proverbs 3:7-8 (King James Version)

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

♥♥♥

Proverbs 3:9-10 (King James Version)

9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

♥♥♥

Psalm 112

1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

{ Happy Homemaker Monday }

Welcome to my Monday feature, a place where I'll be writing about my day, what I've learned the past week, any new recipes I've tried, scriptures that made an impact and everything else in between.

Every Monday, I will post a Mr Linky, you are more than welcome to join me, all you need to do is grab the button, copy the categories and fill in your answers, then come back here and add your post so that others can come and visit you.





On my bedside table:
The Help by Neta Jackson. I'm loving this book, it is so so so good....can't wait to review it here.


On my TV:
Catherine Cookson's Anthology "Tilly Trotter"
Bride Wars
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas


On the menu for tonight:
Lasagna with Garlic Bread


On my To Do List:
Laundry to put away
Floors to sweep and mop


New Recipe I tried last week:
I didn't try any new ones last week but I'll be trying a few this week, like Garlic Wings and Beef Pitas


In the craft basket:
Valentine's Crochet Heart Garland
Little crochet birds


Looking forward to:
A new mattress coming in this week, desperately need it.


Homemaking Tip for this week:
Wash greasy dishes and pans in a snap...just add a tablespoon of white vinegar to the hot soapy dishwater.
The vinegar will cut right through the grease.


Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
Come What May by Marie at A Year from Oak Cottage.


Favorite photo from last week:

Lesson learned the past few days:
That sometimes you need to make the best decision for yourself and your children irregardless of whether you think others will approve.
When the school nurse called me last week to pick up the kids on a thursday, I knew that I should keep them home with me on friday too but I couldn't help but feel bad that they would be missing another day of school. But I had to do what was right for my children and to make them better, they NEEDED to be home and taken care of. I'm glad I followed my heart.


On my Prayer List:
My husband
Troops overseas and at home
My children


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:

For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?
~ II Samuel 22:32 ~

{ 31 Days of Prayer for my Husband } - Day 1

I feel that behind every wonderful blogging woman I have come to know, there is an amazing man, they are the ones working in the background. The ones providing for our families, fixing what is broken around the house, giving us a hug when we're down, listening to our bad days, putting up with the constant flashing of cameras in their eyes (admit it, you tote that camera around just as much as I do LOL).
So I think they need to be recognized and admired and acknowledged for the wonderful husbands they are and what better way to do that, than to devote a whole month of prayer to them. Will you join me?
Embark with me on a journey for the next 31 Days, in which we devote ourselves to prayer for our husbands.

Everyday I will put up a prayer and a Mr Linky. Now, you don't need to go to your blogs and do your own post, you can if you want to but it's not required. But I would like you to sign your name on Mr Linky if you do say the prayer for that day, just so that we can see how many wonderful women are praying for their husbands.

Day 1

Pray that your husband will grow spiritually and consider his accountability before the Lord. Pray that he will guard his heart by developing spiritual disciplines—Bible reading and study, prayer, meditation, scripture memorization, etc. (2 Peter 3:18; Prov. 4:23)

2 Peter 3:18
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

Prov. 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.