Crazy Friday!

It's been a crazy Friday! I don't know about you but I am so ready for school to be done and to enjoy my summer. The kids are burnt out and so am I. I am in much need of some down time and I can't wait. The kids are finishing up school and hopefully in the next 2 wks we will be completely done. YAY!

Well today my lovely 2 yr old decides to get my cell phone and what does she go and do? She calls my Uncle her Great Uncle. I go look on my call history and saw that she did that and called my voicemail. On top of that she called 123123123. LOL But she didn't get my Uncle directly on the phone. So, after seeing she called him it was 5 mins later he calls me. LOL He's like I saw I missed a call and didn't recongize the number. Well of course I don't call him much as I have a busy life and don't really call hardly anyone for that matter. When do I have time to have a quiet converstion? But anyways I told him I was sorry about that and that F decided she wanted to make some phone calls. Who knows what she would have said if he did answer. LOL

She did call her daddy one day on my phone and was talking to him. Boy 2 yr olds are something. She is a hoot that's for sure. Of course there is never a dull moment in my life what with 6 kids all ages.

Things I have recently finished

I knit alot and crochet too. I have a love of both. I learned to crochet when I was little by my grandma. I can remember us watching TV together and her just crocheting away. But I didn't do it often so I forgot how. Then a friend of mine taught me to knit. She just taught me the basic Knit and Pural stitches and I went from there. Then I had another friend show me the basic crochet stitches and it all came back to me. So, I am always looking for new patterns to knit or crochet. Here are a few that I just finished knitting.

Molly Bubble Romper

Perpendicular Rib Baby Sweater

I have to say if you are a knitter or crocheter and don't have a Ralvery account I really recommend you sign up for one. You can find tons of patterns for free or for sale over there.

Friday Follow

It's Friday Follow time. Please leave me a comment and let me know if you are a Friday Follower. If you follow me let me know and I will follow you back. Thanks and have a Happy Friday!

Fresh Homeade Strawberry Pie Recipe

Well today I decided to make a strawberry pie with those fresh strawberries I had in my fridge. So, first I washed and cut the tops off and then sliced the strawberries. Then I add some sugar and tossed the strawberries in it. I put the lid on the bowl and stuck it in the fridge for at least over night. So, today all I had to do was make the pie crust.

Here is what you need to make homeade pie crust.

Here is the recipe for 2 pie crust:

2/3 cup plus 2 TBS of shortening

2 cups of all purpuse flour

1 tsp salt

4 to 5 TBS of cold water

Cut shortening into flour and salt, using pastry bledner or crisscrossing with 2 knives, until particles are size of coarse crumbs. Sprinkle with cold water, 1 TBS at a time, tossing with a fork until all flour is moistened and pastry almost cleans side of bowl (1 to 2  tsp more water can be added if necessary.)

Gather pastry into 2 balls. Shape into flattened round on lightly floured board. So you have 2 rounds.

Roll pastry into a circle 2 inches larger than upside- down pie plate, 9 x 11 1/4 inches, or 3 inches larger than 10 or 11 inch tart pan with floured rolling pin. Fold pastry into fourths, place on pie plate. Unfold and ease into plate, pressing firmly against bottom and side. Or you can do what I did and just turn the thin board upside down and place it in pie plate like that.

Next I pulled the strawberries out of the fridge and drained the juice into a sauce pan with 1/2 cup of water to boil and I add about 8 sliced strawberries to it for more juice. Once that was boiling good I add about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of sugar. I did it to taste. Turn down to sim and add about 3 TBS of cornstarch. Make sure to mix well or else it won't thicken. Then let it cool for a bit. While it's cooling preheat oven to 375 and place sliced strawberries in pie pan.

Once oven is preheated pour the juice on top of the sliced strawberries and add top pie crust. You can do a regular pastry edge with a fork or a rope or whatever. I did Pinch edge.

Then bake for about 30-35 mins till golden brown. Take out and let cool or serve hot. We let ours cool for awhile. It was delicious. Enjoy!

Win a Kitchenaid Mixer!

Yes, you heard me right Beso is givingaway a Kitchenaid Mixer in their Bake Up Summer Sweets Contest!
All you have to do is go over to their blog share your favorite summer sweets recipe! The winner will be featured on Beso Blog in June.

If you are like me you have been wanting a Kitchenaid Mixer. Oh how I would love to win this one for sure! So go on over and check it out! You really don't want to mess out on this one!

Youth Rally!

This past weekend we had our church had their Annual Youth Rally! I tell you it made the weekend fly by faster then it normally does. We had a blast and alot of kids got a lot of help.

I love seeing God move. Then Saturday came and we had what we call pop corn preaching where the youth can preach. Boy is that always a blessing to me to see the young kids get up there and preach. Then as fast as it came it went and it was time to clean up and head home.

Then Sunday morning rolled around and boy was the message Bro. Charlie Tenny preached was right on. Then that night the Lord really moved. I love it when it moves like that. Lots of people at the alter Thanking God and crying there eyes out. Then people hugging others and telling them how much they mean to them. It was awesome! Boy is our God good! He is sooooo GOOD! I could go on and on. I am just so blessed that He sent his only begotten Son to die on the cross for my sins!Praise God! Amen Amen!

April 23 Friday Follow

B&H Photo Review

If you are looking for electronics weather it be a new camera to a computer. You really need to check out B&H Photo. I have order a dslr camera package from them and just recently another lens. I love there live chat feature as you can talk right away to a customer sales rep. (during normal operation hours of course)

They are very reasonably priced as I checked around before buying from them. They also have a lot of items that have free shipping. I have to say the shipping is very fast. I do love the fact that you can get a replacement contract for fairly inexpensive.

So, I have to say if you are looking for a new camera or tv or anything of that nature go check out B&H Photo you won't be disappointed.

Bea's Gift Baskets for Mother's Day - Giveaway

I just am so happen to be a follwer of One2Try and she is having a awesome giveaway. I am still drooling over the beautiful Bea's Gift Baskets! I have to say you need to go over there and register for this giveaway. For this is one you won't want to miss! So go on over there and check it out. It will be well worth your time.

Bea's Gift Baskets for Mother's Day Giveaway

LOOK! Guidecraft Noah's Ark Table and Chairs Set Review and Giveaway!

A friend of mine is having yet another giveaway and this one you won't want to miss out on. It's for a lovely Noah's Ark Table and Chair set. So go on over to ATTHEFENCE and check out this giveaway. While you are over there check out her other great giveaways she has going on.

Homeade Strawberry Poptarts

I got my Bon Appetit Magazine and tried there Strawberry "Pop-Tarts". It was a success at my house. It was a good thing I made 2 batches. It's a wonder why people just buy them at the store but I have to say they are so much better homeade. If you invest the time in making them I have to say make more than one batch.

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients


2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all purpose flour plus additional for shaping and rolling

1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt

1 teaspoon sugar

1 cup (2 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

4 tablespoons ice water

12 tablespoons strawberry preserves (preferably organic homemade)

Powdered sugar

Fresh strawberries

Preparation

Whisk 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons flour, coarse salt, and sugar in large bowl. Add butter. Using fingertips or back of fork, blend in butter until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add ice water by tablespoonfuls, tossing until moist clumps form. Gather dough into ball. Divide in half; shape each half into disk. Wrap in plastic. Chill at least 1 hour.

Line 2 large rimmed baking sheets with parchment. Working with 1 disk at a time, roll out dough on floured surface to about 13x11 inches. Trim to 12x10-inch rectangle, then cut into eight 5x3-inch rectangles.

Arrange 4 rectangles, spaced apart, on each sheet. Spoon 1 1/2 tablespoons preserves in row down center of each rectangle. Top preserves with second dough rectangle. Using fingertips, gently press all edges of each tart to seal; press all edges with tines of fork to double-seal. Using toothpick, poke a few holes in center of top dough rectangle. Cover; freeze tarts on sheets at least 2 hours and up to 1 week.

Position 1 rack in top third and 1 rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 375°F. Bake frozen tarts uncovered until golden, reversing sheets after 15 minutes, 25 to 30 minutes total (some preserves may leak out). Immediately transfer tarts to rack. Sift powdered sugar lightly over. Serve warm or at room temperature with fresh berries.
 
Here's a link to how to make them perfectly http://www.bonappetit.com/tipstools/slideshows/2010/04/how_to_make_homemade_pop_tarts#slide=1
 
Yeah right! I know mine aren't as pretty but they sure tasted good. I will be doing this recipe again but I think next time I am going to use my homeade blackberry perserves.
 
So, tell me what is your favorite homeade treat?

What 20 cent items?

I am a follower of several blogs and ran across Nelle Bug's Tutus & More post on 20 cent items on Etsy. I was like do what? There is no way! Well sure enough they are and they are PIF or Pay it Forward Items. (So, if you purchase one of these please leave feedback and do something nice for someone else or create your own PIF listings.)

Cute Hair thingies

10 cent pearl earrings

Butterfly earring set

Bracelette and earring set

flip flop earrings

cute ponytail holder

PIF search results

Another note is some of these items are less than 20 cents and some are a little more. They are some free patterns even though it shows a price. If you click on the listing you will see that they are free and they have  a link to the site. So, go on over and check out some of these great PIFs! You don't want to miss out.

Giveaway for Nellie's Tuts and more.

Hey friends!

I been hoping along and ran across a great giveaway if you have a cute little girl or if you know someone that does. It's for Nellie's Tuts & More and boy are they adorable.

Just go on over to  One 2 Try and check out her giveaway and she has many others going on over there too that you might be interested in.

Starbucks Pike Place Roast Review

I am a buzz agent. I don't know if many of you have heard of Pike Place Roast. I was sent a package to try. I just love it. I haven't been too wild before on there coffee as it is usually very strong. But not Pike it but it's a WOM organization. Where you get to try the latest products for free! That's right for free! I so love it.

Anyways I recently got a package of Starbucks Pike Place Place Roast it's actually smooth and enjoyable. I wouldn't normally buy there coffee just to try. I am normally a Maxwellhouse coffee gal.

But I would so recommend you try Pike Place Roast if you have never tried there coffee or if you have. Another good thing too is when you finish your coffee if you take the empty bag in before or by the expiration date you get a free cup of coffee. What a great deal!

So, go on over and check out the newest coffee at http://www.starbuckscoffeeathome.com/

They even have a sweepstakes going on over there. So, check it out.



*This is my honest opinion. I was sent this product free of charge to review but was not paid to say these things*

Zenni Optical

I just have to brag I got some prescription sunglasses from Zenni Optical. I order them and it took 2 wks for me to get them. Anyways the frames over there start at $8 and go up. I got my prescriptin sunglass for a total of $24.80 with shipping.

That's cheap compared to what it would cost at the eye doctor. I am so pleased with my new sunglasses. As I haven't be able to wear regular sunglasses for years and never could afford prescription. I think next time I have to get new glasses though I will be ordering from them again.

Even transition lens are cheaper through them. I think I will get those next time around. But I just really have to say how pleased I am with Zenni Optical. It just goes to show you how much more the eye doctor's office charges.

So, if you are in need of glasses weather they be prescription sunglasses or just glasses I say check out Zenni Optical. You won't be disappointed.

Giveaway!

A friend of mine atthefence is doing a giveaway for a gorgeous apron at Vermont Aprons! They have gorgeous aprons. I personally like the Colonial Red Bib apron. You should go check her giveaway out at http://atthefence.blogspot.com/2010/04/vermont-apron-review-and-giveaway.html

Besides just that giveaway she has several others on her blog that you might be interested in getting in on.