Projects finished today...

I had a lot of fun with this one (also making something else I will show you tommorow when everything dries!) I like this vase, it's a good size, it's looks like it's nice, but in reality, it's plastic. Here it is...

It's nice the way it is, but why not add some charm to it, why not paint it? Yes, I just simply gave it a couple coats of white paint and I think somewhere along the way, it turned magical. I love, love, love how basic and easy and rewarding this project is. I'm thinking mason jars, wine bottles, the possibilities are endless!

I also finished a rather easy project for a wee little one about to be born. Something handstitched is always nice. I just cut out clouds from another fabric I had lying around and embroidered around them. It has velcrot attachments on the ends, I'm hoping it will be stained with pees and carrots, maybe some peaches and accompany many smiles and giggles!

July's Eucharisteo List

So I finally finished reading the book. It is a fabulous book in so many ways, something I should have read years ago. You can find Ann's blog here . An inspiring blog. I started printing out her Eucharisteo list (or thanks to the Lord) and we all found things to be thankful for during the month. I will continue doing this. It's wonderful seeing the whole family putting things on the list of what they're thankful for. Cultivating a life of thanks is something that needs to begin early. Here are tidbits of thanks for the month of July.

*Children snuggling with Daddy(watching funny video's on his phone)

*babies playing with bowls and spoons on the kitchen floor

*Eddrick is thankful for being healthy

*Abigail is thankful for really good food

*Daddy is thankful for his boys and girls and their differences

*blackberry pancakes

*handmade stationary from Grandma, drawn by her

*four year olds that color Renoir, but making the colors like a Lautrec

*the morning light coming through the kitchen window

*exciting school project

*the Lord's faithful provisions

*Planetariums

*the city of Phoenix

*our local church, the body of Christ

*Lox and bagels

*Booming Thunder

*the morning after a rainstorm: everything is clean and sparkly

*a grey, stormy sky

*toothless grins

*caring dentists

*mother and son dates

*the sound of rain on the windows

*baby fingers with mushy bananas between them

*bouquets of lavender

*wine on sale

*the feel of bread dough in your hands

*a three year old's need for Snoopy, the cute way he pleads for it before bedtime

*summer vegetables

*grapefruits

*basil plants

*watching stock car races with my son

*the gentle hum of a ceiling fan and it's lullabye effect

Eucharisteo Moment

Eucharisteo - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember as thanks to the Lord.

Wednesday weekly menu

This weeks menu is up (I do Wednesday to Wednesday because that's how I shop and it's just easier for me that way)

Trying to have more fruits and veggies. Got great stuff at Sprouts today, everything had a great price.Lots of lucious tomatoes, pineapples, avocados, 77 cent blueberries. Yum!

I had all five of my little ones with me and an elderly Italian woman stopped me and we spoke for quite awhile. She told me of the days of Mussolini, of the blue eyed marines who rescued her. She said my boys looked just like those handsome blue eyed marines. She thanked me for raising the next generation, she was beautiful and I could have stood there in between the pineapples and the mangoes for hours talking to her. What a jewel! Yet one more reason I love going to Sprouts! We mothers are so encouraged when someone spurs us on with good words. I thrive on those words.. likewise the reverse can also be true. When a mother of lots of little ones hears "you have your hands full" "you must be crazy" or "wow, I certainly couldn't do that!"... it can dash my day to bits. So if you, reader, are out and about in your day and you see a Mama, trying her best in the store with her children, encourage her! She needs it!

Tuesday Day book

Outside my window...

I am watching the breeze flow through the Jacaranda trees, it's amazing that we are having a breeze at all in this Phoenix heat, but it is lovely nonetheless!

I am thankful...

for my hardworking husband who never ceases to amaze me with how hard he works for us! He came home late last night with a black face, black hands, black arms, burns on his arms from welding. He never complains.

I am thinking about...

how nice my speed walk on the treadmill was during naptime for the kiddos. I listened to my Pandora radio station:Ella Fitzgerald. So nice!

Learning all the time...

Bought a book from the thrift store yesterday on Caligraphy. Can't wait to get two seconds together to delve in!

From the Kitchen...

Tonight's dinner is my Mother's Oven fried Lemon Chicken recipe. I tweaked it a little bit, a dash of garlic powder here, a tiny bit of jamacain jerk mix for a kick, marinating in fresh lemons. Going to bake some fresh french bread to go with it. The smell of fresh bread from the oven is on the list of top favorite smells!

I am creating...

a scrapbook for my husband's boss, Kevin right now(he gave me the pictures and the supplies).Seeing someone else's memories keeps me accountable to take time for my precious ones and make our own special memories. I also feel a little convicted that I have two kids who don't have their own scrapbooks.(someday!)

I am working on...

being extra affectionate with my children these days. Being a family of five kids, I know there are times when they are really missing out. So I'm pouring it on just to be on the safe side. Couldn't hurt!

I am going...

to hang out this evening in our backyard and let the kids play. Hopefully it will be a bit cooler by then.

I am reading...

Yikes... still in the same book. But I'm loving it, and I guess slowly digesting it. "A thousand gifts" by Ann Voskamp. Probably one of the best books I've ever read. It's beautiful, it's painfully convicting at times, it's what I need.

I am praying...

for a certain brother who works in Washington DC, that God will prove Himself faithful and that justice, TRUTH and peace reign in the White House.

I am hearing...

Fernando Ortega. I love how he sings the hymns. So lovely.

Around the house...

a few kids still napping, a few doing school, a few playing.

One of my favorite things...

this week, it has to be sea salt Chocolate.

a few pictures to share...

we set up our miniature planetarium. It was magical!

Eggplant Parmesan

Our family loves Eggplant Parmesan! It is a comfort food, usually involves a bit of prep work and turns out greasy but good. But, we're trying to be healthier people these days and so I've worked out some of the kinks from my original recipe, and so here is my healthier baked version which I think tasted even better than the one I've always made.

First, take a glass baking dish (9x13), spray with Pam and dust a layer of italian seasoned bread crumbs and then a light layer of Parmesan Cheese. After that, a layer of pasta sauce. I used "Classico's Caramalized Onion and Garlic Sauce"-it's really yummy!

Then lightly saute sliced and peeled eggplant and a red bell pepper in a little olive oil.

Then saute mushrooms and shallots together until soft and golden.

Add the mushroom mix as a layer, dust again with bread crumbs and parmesan cheese. After that, place on another layer of tomato sauce.

then, place on the magical eggplant and bell peppers.

Add another layer of bread crumbs, parm cheese, sauce and top with slices of fresh mozerella.

Then dust the cheese with more bread crumbs and parm cheese.

Bake at 400 degrees for about 25-30 minutes, then put on broiler for two minutes to toast the cheese and bread crumbs. This turned out delicious!!! No egg batter, no frying, and it's easy to spoon on the plates. The bread crumbs makes the sauce thick and still adds another level to the eggplant. Oh my, it is good! Why don't you make it tonight?

Julia's Eggplant Parmesan

1 eggplant, washed, peeled and sliced

1 pkg mushrooms, washed, sliced

1 red bell pepper, washed, peeled and sliced

2 shallots, finely chopped

approx 1 cup bread crumbs, give or take

approx 3/4 cup parm. cheese (the cheap stuff)

1 lb. fresh mozzerella cheese (you'll be happy you chose fresh, trust me!)

pam spray

olive oil for sauteing

2 jars of your favorite pasta sauce

Serve with pasta noodles.

We gather together...

Here is a sign I made for our house. It's above our dining room and just before the kitchen. A place where we gather together to ask the Lord's blessing.

Eucharisteo Moment

Eucharisteo - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember as thanks to the Lord.

cool idea!

I love these little tea lights from IKEA! They smell so lovely and so good and I'm always lighting them around our place in little vases or jars. They really are the best. But the packaging and such is a little messy, not a fan of bagged tea lights, and if you try to keep them in the package they seem to get all over the place. So...I found a great way to upcycle what I normally would have put in the trash.....

Enter: the Cascade box. Yes, I know, they are not the most eco-friendly of detergents, butcha' know what? They actually clean the plates!

Walla! A great holder for those tea-lights and the lid is perfect for easy access. These babies would make great crayon holders, button holders, really anything, but I've found them to fit a whole package of tea lights. yay!

back to business

Ah yes, summer has been flying by. We've been busy, what's new? What did you miss? Vacation to San Diego including camping at the beach, I celebrated my 30th birthday. Soeren celebrated his first birthday, school continues, recipes tried out, sewing and scrapbooking. Lots of great stuff. Just doing everything to avoid the dreaded fact that we live in Phoenix and today it is 110 degrees outside. It is CRAZY hot! But I won't think about it, we will move on and share pictures! How about that?

we got to visit my mom (she flew out from SC!!) and here is her shot with all 10 grandkids (the first time ever!) with them all together. It was so great!

My husband and I NEVER get pictures taken of just the two of us...we made up for it! I love these so much!

...and this will be the Christmas card picture!

My sweet sister in law Sally and I in Oceanside near their groovy beach side apartment. I was completely jealous and ready to move in.

a discovery made, my mom and I look A LOT alike. I mean, if this doesn't say it all, I don't know what does. Spooky huh?

Camping at night near the fireside. Cold? we experienced cold? Yep, it was amazing!

My 30th birthday...

All the girls in my family. Such great times!

Hopefully I'll be posting more often, recipes discovered, projects and the like. Love to you all!