Raspberry Summer Sensation

Another recipe! Yummy!

I tried this Kraft recipe and it was so yummy...
So, here it is!
Ingredients (the way I made it this time):

• 1 cup frozen raspberries
• 2 cups softened raspberry sherbet
  
• 1 (3.4 oz) package instant vanilla pudding
• 1 cup cold milk
• 1 tub thawed Cool Whip
• 2 squares melted Ghirardelli white chocolate squares

You'll also need a 9x5 loaf pan and foil.

Directions:

• Line your loaf pan with foil. Remember that the shiny side should not be the side that touches your food!
• Put your frozen raspberries on the bottom of the pan.
• In order to soften your sherbet, put it in a microwave-safe dish and put it in the microwave on 50% power for 30 seconds. That's all the time you'll need.
• Then, smooth the softened sherbet over the berries. If you use the full 2 cups, you won't have enough room in the loaf pan for all of the rest, since you've already put your berries in. The alternative is to save the berries until you are ready to eat dessert.
• Freeze the loaf pan for 10 minutes.
• Mix the pudding mix with the milk with a whisk until incorporated.
• Fold in the Cool Whip with the pudding.
• Melt the chocolate for 15-30 seconds in a microwave-safe dish, then mix in with the pudding mixture.
• Spread over the sherbet.
• Freeze for 3 hours to set.
• When you are ready to eat dessert, take the pan out of the freezer 10 minutes prior. Turn the pan over onto a dish and remove. Take off the foil and let the soften in order to slice and serve.
• Enjoy!
  

My Husband Rocks : Saturday Morning Edition

My hubby rocks like CrAzY!

Why? you ask...

Because, this week, now that my belly is so big that it prevents me from reaching into the washing machine (short people with big pregnant bellies don't mix with washing machines too terribly well), he has taken over the job of switching the laundry.

Gotta love a great man!

I know I sure do!

I just had to share...

I visit a blog called The Gaines Gang quite often.

Here are pictures taken after a storm near their home in central Oklahoma.

I just had to share the beauty that God can create after the havoc.
Isn't it simply amazing?!?!

Praise the Lord for the beauty of the earth that He has blessed us with!

At it again!

I've been at this nesting thing for MONTHS!

I just can't seem to find the time to get my house completely finished and if I could, I have these weight-lifting restrictions...something about not injuring a very growing baby...

So, I've been working a little at a time on the basement and attic.
The rest of the house is finished. Thankfully!
Now, it's just these two spaces.
And time for this baby to arrive is quickly approaching.

But, being in a nesting mood, I've come to appreciate this new me.
A me that I hope hangs around for a good long while after my little peanut is born (like FOREVER!)...

I've learned to say, "Good bye!"

I've said good bye to clothes that I once kept because I just might fit into them again...and not because I'll lose weight, but because somehow, when I put them on, my hips will magically be those of my girl-self, not my woman-self, and my shirts will suddenly fit me because I'll be the teenage Heather who was 1-2 inches shorter and smaller in the chest.

I've also said good bye to items I was holding onto from my childhood for no good or apparent reason.

I'm so tired of clutter that I could scream!

I really wish I would have taken before and after pictures of my house. I think it would have been neat to see. But, alas, I'm terrible at before pictures (something I've not hidden) and while I could show you after pictures, it just wouldn't have the right affect.

So, in conclusion, let me encourage you all who struggle with keeping things too long to cut through the clutter (one room at a time) and pare down to a clean home where you can take a breath and find relief after a long day. Know that it's not a quick fix and if a room takes you a week or more, that's ok. You are doing this for your family and for yourself.

My Husband Totally Rocks!

Today is Friday!!!

That means MHRF!!!

And does he ever rock!

I spent all day Wednesday being "nesty".
I did 6 loads of laundry, 2 loads of dishes, cleaned out the fridge, vacuumed all the floors, mopped all the floors, shampooed all the carpets, ran an errand, cleaned the hallway wall, wiped down the banister (it was so gross), and did a little plumbing work when the bathroom sink became clogged.

Mike rocks because when I was in severe pain yesterday (I couldn't even get out of bed) he left me lay on the couch all evening and he got up to get me whatever I needed. I am truly blessed to have him for my husband!

Spring Cleaning/Nesting: Upstairs Hallway and Closet

This week, in my spare time, I cleaned the upstairs hallway and closet.

This includes:

• Cleaning out the closet
• Organizing the closet
• Shampooing the carpets
• Shampooing the stairs
• Cleaning down the walls
• Cleaning down the banisters

I'd really like to repaint the hallway, but the walls need a little bit of fixing before I can do that. We've been at the house 3 1/2 years, and it's still on my to-do list (actually, on my hunny-do list) but that requires time and resources to replaster the wall after chipping away the bad spots.

My Husband Rocks!

Mike rocks because he works as much as he can. It's his 2nd week back to work. Last week, he had 53 hours. He'll also have overtime this week. He works as much as he can to make sure we have money to pay our bills.

Yummy Apple Crisp

I remembered to take pictures of the process! This must be progress!

I haven't posted a recipe in a while.

With yesterday being Mother's Day, my mom came over for a visit. I would have considered going to her house, but she has 5 cats and my hubby is EXTREMELY allergic to cats...thus, she must come to us.

My aunt took her out to dinner (and I was going to make dinner), so I made a dessert.

Apple Crisp...yum!

Here's the recipe...

Ingredients:

• 4 cups baking apples (I used Rome)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (since I used 4 apples, and I like cinnamon, I used 2 teaspoons)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

Directions:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
  
• Core, peel, and cut the apples. Be sure to remove any bad or soft spots.
• Place cut apples into a greased 8x8 inch baking dish.
• Sprinkle your cinnamon over the apples.
• Pour water all over the apples.
• Cream together the sugar and butter.
• Blend in the flour (I started with a fork and then graduated to use my hands).
• Crumble flour mixture over the apples.
• Bake for 30-40 minutes (until the apples are soft) in the preheated oven.
• Let sit for 10 minutes to cool. Serve with vanilla ice cream.
• ENJOY!

My Husband Rocks Friday...late again :(

I must admit, I wasn't on the ball at any point after 9 am yesterday.

By 9am, I had cleaned the floors, changed the sheets (and made the bed), picked up the bathroom, ran the dishes and showered. I was feeling pretty good.

Then I had visitors.

I ended up with salt all over the floor (a special thanks to my friend's 3 year old...), dog toys all over (I still can't train them to pick up after themselves...) and taking a nap.

Then came dinner time. I made spaghetti and ended up only putting enough noodles in for 1.

Mike rocks because he accepted my faults yesterday with a smile and a hug. He wasn't concerned that dinner would have to wait another 10 minutes and he was easy-going about my mistakes.

Go ahead....Pamper yourself!

I love pampering myself.
I love pampering myself in inexpensive ways.
And I love making the products myself.

I'm not sure where it comes from, or how it got started, but I love making things myself.

So, I will be starting a series shortly (hopefully in the next few days) with some of my favorite recipes for pampering yourself.

To start you off, I'll post some of what I've found at other blogs.

Stephanie Lynn has been doing a series herself over at Under The Table And Dreaming. There are several, so be sure to check them all out.

Kate at The Gaines Gang has a beautiful post up on making a garden hand scrub for the gardeners out there.

Maggie at Smashed Peas And Carrots has this bath salt recipe. I think it's a little involved in the decorating part, but it still works.

So, that should get you started.

I'm gonna try to be better with pictures, but I make no promises! (You may still end up with only the after pictures...just a fair warning...) And I'm gonna try to get started as soon as I can.