I Can't Sew but Boy Can I Iron!!!

I am a very crafty person, but I cannot sew a straight stitch to save my life. I really don't know what it is, but I think it's a patience thing!

I used to take all pants that needed to be hemmed (which is everything we buy because we are a VERY short family!) to a seamstress. Many, many years later, it hit me how much I was paying just to have pants hemmed! I did some research and found Hem Tape. Man, that stuff is awesome! BUT, what do ya do when it's COLD outside and your daughter has an outside field trip and only a skirt to wear because her pants are way to long and you can't find your hem tape because half your stuff is still in boxes and you don't have time to run to Wal-Mart??? Whew!

 

You use what you have! I had a choice between the sewing machine just sitting there or an iron and a glue gun! I chose the iron and glue gun! OK, so maybe it won't last forever! BUT, I bet it looks better than it would have if I had attempted to use the sewing machine!!!

Field Trip to Bellingrath Gardens

I went on a field trip today with Isabella's third grade class. We went to Bellingrath Gardens in Theodore, AL. The gardens were beautiful this time of year!

I was the chaperon for seven girls on this trip. Seven wild eight and nine year old girls and me and a HUGE garden wore me out! I guess it wore Isabella out as well! As soon as we got home, she fell asleep on the couch!

Alex, Julia, Olivia, Isabella, Armani, Cindy & Nattalie

Vegetarians are People Too!!!

It has never crossed my mind to be a vegetarian. I am not a huge meat eater, I am one of those people that can take it or leave it and honestly I'd be happy enough with a vegetable plate every night as long as it included some southern not so healthy cooked vegetables! I try to cook healthy, but being born and raised in the south, I can't live without an occasional fried green tomato or fried okra! Yum!

Being a vegetarian is a decision people take seriously though! My oldest daughter decided about 6 months or so ago to become a vegetarian and has stuck with it! Most people in the family thought she would have switched back to meat by now, but she hasn't! I'm proud of her for sticking up for what she believes in! All I have to say is, "WOW! People can be SO mean!" I mean people actually make fun of her for not wanting to eat meat! Some people even try to force her to eat meat! Really!? I don't understand! I know I have raised a very headstrong almost woman and when she puts her mind to something, she's not going to change it! People leave her alone!!!

The Christmas Elf

My family has an elf that comes to visit us sometime in the middle of the night Thanksgiving night. She does some silly things some nights, Sunday night, she spelled out Ho Ho Ho in the bathroom sink with toothpaste!

 

Our elf's name is Hopeful Hannah. Our elf is not like The Elf on the Shelf. I hear some stories about The Elf on the Shelf not being able to be touched. Hannah, our elf loves to be touched and hugged! She is a lot prettier than The Elf on the Shelf as well! I don't know what my family did to deserve such an awesome elf, but we have her so we are going to enjoy her!

She brought her friend, Christmas Carol along for my nieces this year! Carol made a mess in their bathroom as well!

 These elves can be a handful at times! (and wasteful too! I guess it's a good thing they only stay until Christmas Eve!)

The first night Hannah and Carol arrived, they brought a bunch of little plastic gifts with them. Just sort of like confetti presents.

 The second night, it looks like the trip to the North Pole was a little much for them because we found them in the dining room pigging out on pretzels! The second night was also when Hannah decided to change clothes, she sort of tore her boats up the first day here, so while she was at the North pole, she changed. She now has a Christmas Bathing Suit on contrary to what some people have thought. I have been asked why she has panties and a bra on. He, He

The third night, they were found in the living room inside Santa mailboxes, I think that was a hint that they would take some letters to Santa.

 

Tuesday morning, we woke up to find the Elves had made us cereal for breakfast and Hannah had her shirt on from the first night!!

BUT after the milk was poured, we realized Elf had somehow made the milk GREEN! WAIT! Is that a bottle of green food die in the corner of the above picture? IT IS! ELF!?!? 

 Kathleen was the first to get up and eat her cereal this morning!

We can't wait to see what the Elves have in store for us next!!!

Homeade 13th Birthday Party Invitations

My best friend, Jackie is really on a budget this year, but REALLY wanted to throw her daughter a 13th Birthday Party. She came over last night with card stock and an idea of what she wanted to do for her daughter, Katelyn's invitations. I went from there. I got on the computer and started designing. This is what they ended up looking like:

Back View

I think we did REALLY good! We had fun doing them and the only cost to her was the $3.99 she spent on the card stock. I already had plenty of ribbon from making hair bows. 30 invitations for $3.99, what a deal!
-Roberta

Turkey & Noodles Using Thanksgiving Leftovers

Yep, it's that time already. That time where everyone is tired of eating Thanksgiving Day leftovers! All of the yummiest of the yummy is already gone, so time to move on. When we hit this point, I take the turkey bones (we try not to waste anything!) and create something new! I make Turkey and Noodles!

Leftover Turkey Bones
Celery, Chopped
Onion, Chopped
Egg Noodles
Salt & Pepper

Boil the turkey bones in just enough water to cover most but not all of the bones until the remaining meat is falling off. Strain the bones into something where you are reserving the liquid you boiled them in. Put the liquid back in the same pot you used to boil the bones in. Add your uncooked egg noodles, celery and onion to this pot and slow boil while you de-bone the turkey. When the noodles are soft enough, add the turkey back to the pot, add a little salt and pepper and voila, you have a new yummy meal using those same leftovers everyone is now tired of looking at let alone eating!

This is a big hit at my house! I serve with dinner rolls. Last night I also served with some leftover sweet peas and potato salad.

Myah and Me Matching T-Shirts Review

If you read my post below titled "Twinkies" or if you know me, you will know that I am all about my family matching!
I give my girls a present to open every year on Christmas Eve. Doing this calms down the, "Mom, can we open a present?" "When can we open a present, Mom?" "Mom, is it time yet?" questions! It took my oldest quite awhile to realize the present was ALWAYS new pajamas, it didn't take my middle daughter any amount  of time to realize this! This makes me wonder if maybe Kathleen told Isabella early on that yep, you can open that gift, but all it's going to be is pajamas, so hush! lol
I do this so my Christmas morning photos turn out better because I know the girls have a nice, fresh set of pajamas on!
This year, I looked online and found family matching pj's at a couple of different sites. (This tells me I'm not the only weird one out there!) I went to one of the sites and added the five sets of pj's into my cart just to see what the damage would be... I was NOT prepared for $348!!!
Just when I was getting ready to give up and move on, I ran across http://www.myahandme.com/ I fell in love with what I found! I ordered each of my girls' a tee (the youngest a onesie) that said, "STAR" I ordered my husband and I both a shirt that said, "Keeper of the STARS" These aren't pj's but t-shirts that I am going to pair with matching bottoms and use as pj's and the best thing, I only paid $43.80 for ALL!

http://www.myahandme.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=16_46&zenid=4d25f06be68f1e3ac1612c6cd6a854cd

I ordered these Tuesday morning, they were in my mailbox today! What great customer service and what great quality these turned out to be! I STRONGLY recommend Myah and Me!

-Roberta

Starbucks Gift Card Giveaway

Giveaway

$5 Starbucks Gift Card

Mandatory Entry:

Follow my Blog via Google Friend Connect. (and leave me a comment below telling me you did.)

Bonus Entry:

Make a relevant comment on any of my other posts. (and leave me a comment below telling me you did.)

*Be sure to leave your e-mail address on all entries.

*Maximum of two entries allowed per e-mail address for the entire length of giveaway.

*You must be at least 18 years old to enter this giveaway.

*Giveaway is open to residents of the US only.

*No purchase necessary to win.

*I will pick a random winner at midnight CST on December 10, 2011.

*If you are the winner, I will send you an e-mail and you have 48 hours after I send to respond or I will pick another winner.

LOUISIANA Cajun Butter Injectable Marinade With Injector Review

I have not been selected to do this review, but I used LOUISIANA Cajun Butter Injectable Marinade With Injector for the first time today and discovered I would never cook a turkey without it again! The ease of use and deliciousness made me want to tell the world about my experience with it today. I purchased the kit as an afterthought at Wal-Mart on my way to checkout last weekend. I saw a display and thought, hmm, why not try this!
It was very simple to use. I had a ten pound previously frozen young turkey. I cleaned it and stuck it in a large aluminum pan. I shook the jar of marinade up real good. Put the needle end on the injector which was very simple, it just popped on. I then sucked the juice into the needle and injected the juice into a turkey leg, filled it up again, did the other leg. I put half of a shot into each wing. I then just went crazy with it and started shooting the juice all over inside the turkey until I had just a little bit of juice left in the jar. I poured the little bit left over top of the turkey and rubbed margarine all over the turkey inside and out. The margarine was probably not necessary but something I have always done when baking a bird. Also, I don't think you are supposed to use the entire jar on one turkey but OMGosh! This turkey was the juiciest, tastiest turkey I have ever had in my life! Below is a picture of what was left of the turkey after it was attacked!

The only complaint I have about LOUISIANA Cajun Butter Injectable Marinade With Injector is I LOVE Thanksgiving leftovers! We didn't have enough turkey leftover to even make a sandwich with!
-Roberta

FREE 8 X 10 Collage at Walgreens

I just ordered this Collage FREE from Walgreen's! Today or tomorrow if you place an online order for an 8 X 10 Collage and enter the code: RGIFT2U at checkout. Mark that you will pick it up at the store, you get it completely FREE!
-Roberta

Twinkies

Yep, I am one of those weird moms that like to makes my family wear matching outfits. I pick a color of the day (or multiple colors of the day) and coordinate us all. Today's colors of the day were Heather Grey and Hot Pink. I call us Twinkies when we do this, although Twinkies come in a pair not sets of five!

I almost always take our Christmas Card picture on Thanksgiving Day as well. Nope, Heather Grey and Hot Pink are not so much Christmas pictures, but I bought the girls matching T-Shirts when Abbygail was born and I wanted the kids to get at least one more wear out of them before Abbygail outgrew hers! I LOVE how this year's picture turned out! What do ya'll think?

-Roberta

Beech Nut Turkey & Turkey Broth Review

I was so excited when I found out Turkey was now available in a Stage 1 Baby Food! This was not true for my older daughters.
I knew Thanksgiving was quickly approaching which was the reason for my excitement over finding this out! Abbygail would get to share in our Thanksgiving meal!
After popping the jar open and actually attempting to feed this to Abbygail, my biggest excitement now is that I only purchased one jar!

Check this face out:
Whenever she tries a new food, she is really unsure about the first three bites, so I keep trying. I kept trying with this one and kept getting this awful face! I switched it out with Beech Nut Stage 1 Sweet Potatoes and she about licked the jar clean!
I am going to have to give Beech Nut Stage 1 Turkey & Turkey Broth a BIG thumbs down! Although, I am still very excited about it being offered and Abbygail trying Turkey for the first time on Thanksgiving! Thank you, Beech Nut for giving me this memory that will last FOREVER in my heart!
-Roberta