Golden 'Versary Giveaway

February 3rd is my 3rd Blogiversary!! I cannot believe I've been blogging for three years. Not a very exciting or highly visible blog, but a nice constant throughout a busy and unpredictable time in our lives.

As a big thank you, I have prizes for THREE lucky readers (US or International)!!!

1) For my Christian sisters, I have a wonderful new devotional journal that I cannot wait to share with you. It's a 365 day red leather(like)-bound undated book that you can start at any time. I've been using it this month and LOVE it!! If this is the prize you want, leave me your favorite verse for 2009 in your comment.

2) For my sewing readers who have little girlies in their lives, I have the cutest Little Flirty Skirty apron pattern. This adorable pattern is from The Apron Lady, Jan Lutz. If this is the prize you want, tell me a little bit about the girlie in your life and why you want to make her this apron!!

3) For prize number #3, I will make the winner an original Flirty Apron designed my Moi! Think ruffles, rick-rack, and a lot of sass. If you want this prize, you have a little homework. Go through my aprons on Flickr and leave a comment here with your favorite(s) and also tell me your favorite color in an apron made just for you.

You may enter for all three prizes, just leave separate comments for each. EXTRA entries for blogging about this giveaway on your blog with my giveaway image from the top of this post, linking back here and leaving a separate comment telling me ya did it!

Are you feeling the love???

Entries close at Midnight, February 2 (Pacific Standard Time), and winners will be announced on February 3rd. Make sure I have a way to contact you ... leave an email or blog site if you're posting anonymously. If winners don't reply within 48 hours, I will draw a new winner until all prizes are distributed.

PS -- You're also invited to join my Flirty Valentines Apron Sew-Along!!

PPS -- Like giveaways? Jump over to Bloggy Giveaways for HUNDREDS more giveaways this week!!!

Menu Plan Monday 1/25/09

Monday 1/26 - Mustard Oregano Pork Chops**Chill MAMAs
Tuesday 1/27 - Yankee Pot Roast
Wednesday 1/28 - Taco Salad
Thursday 1/29 - Mikey's Stir Fry
Friday 1/30 - Homemade Spaghetti Sauce with Italian Sausage
Saturday 1/31 - Soup and Salad
Sunday 2/1 - Super Bowl - Chili and Cornbread

Be sure to check back and join my Golden 'Versary Giveaway in conjunction with Bloggy Giveaways.

Sewing Expo Anyone??

Calling all Northwest Sewers -- Are you going to attend the 25th Anniversary Sewing & Stitchery Expo in Puyallup February 26 through March 1?? My beloved MIL Karen has taken me several times and asked again this year. I'm trying to figure out if we can make it work; I think my DD is old enough at 10, don't you? She's very interested in sewing, too.

I still remember one of our trips vividly -- we waited to try and make hotel reservations until TOO LATE and we were in the scariest little no-tell motel you ever saw. I don't think we took off our shoes!!

These are always great memories and I learn something new every trip. Hope you can make it!

Jenn-Air Love??

Help me out here, I'm looking for ANYONE who has a Jenn-Air range/stove. Do you love it??

We live in a vintage farmhouse which had a vintage Jenn-Air oven that short-circuited out. It ruined my very expensive rice cooker, too, since I was dumb enough to have it on a burner I wasn't using (no countertops, ya know?) and then THAT burner misfired and -poof!- no more rice cooker. So, all through the holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years, we've been cooking and entertaining with only one burner and an oven that had an unpredictable element: too hot one time, not hot enough the next. My poor family and nursery workers! Plus, I didn't really know how to use the appliance properly and only tried convection two times. Fine results, but nothing to write home about.

OLD JENN-AIR

So, imagine my surprise when the new range arrives and it's another Jenn-Air! I know this things are so expensive and it really seems to be overkill. I do like that this oven is bigger than a postage stamp so I can actually bake. I'm kinda down over the fact that I still will only have two burners since our landlord ordered one with a built-in grill. I'm trying to pump myself up, since we do a lot of sauteeing and grilling our meats anyway so who really needs four burners, right? And I could learn how to use the convection, I suppose. Is it great??

NEW JENN-AIR

What do I need to know? I'd love some testimonials to encourage me! Thanks gals!!

Happy Birthday, Mom

Little T and I made a trip to the cemetary today in this bone-chilling cold. Yesterday would have been my mom's 86th birthday. She's been gone for almost 12 years now, and I still really miss her. We took her some purple tulips; purple was her favorite color and she liked any flower except for carnations because they reminded her of death. You see, she was raised in the Depression and carnations were cheap funeral flowers, a sickly-sweet smell she always remembered with distaste.

She always took care of and spoiled me, right up until she passed from pancreatic cancer. I was too young at 32 to fully appreciate her when she died. I was still a selfish daughter busy with three young kiddos, many times viewing her phone calls and requests for visits (she lived about 45 minutes away) as an interruption, instead of being a grateful daughter who appreciated having her around. I remember that we only had six weeks from her initial diagnosis to her death and we spent about half that time trying to confirm the truth we didn't want to believe.

She and dad adopted me when they were older, just a few years younger than I am now actually which is a little sobering, and she always hated it when people asked her if she was my grandmother. Same when they "got me a baby brother" a few years later. She doted on us the ways she knew how and would have done anything for us. I really miss having that kind of unconditional love in my life.

But then I remember I still do. Jesus doesn't care when I've done or not done, where I came from or where I live, He loves me no matter what. He loves you too. Remember that when you need a little love in your life.

Happy Birthday Mom.
-Shawnee

Menu Plan Monday 1/19/09

The freezer clean out continues!! I did an inventory last week and I still had nine entrees ready to go, most made by my Chill MAMAs group using primarily recipes from the Fix, Freeze, Feast cookbook. My food budget is very happy. That left some room for me to buy new fabrics for a flirty apron as part of my Flirty Valentine Apron Sew Along!!

Monday 1/19 - Molasses Rum Chicken **Chill MAMAs
Tuesday 1/20 - Mustard Oregano Pork Chops**Chill MAMAs
Wednesday 1/21 - Korean Pork Tenderloin and 4Bs Flank (freezer) **Chill MAMAs
Thursday 1/22 - Mikey's Tilapia (freezer)
Friday 1/23 - Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings (holdover from last week)
Saturday 1/24 - Sweet and Sour Pork (freezer)
Sunday 1/25 - Crockpot Beef Stew

My Blog in Review

Well, my 3rd Blogoversary is coming up in about 18 days on February 3. Oooh, that means it's my GOLDEN 'versary since it's the Third on the Third! Here's a pictorial review of what I've been focused on these past three years.
I started with my first post talking about my crazy family, spent a long time focused on crochet and cooking, moved, and then became obsessed with aprons. My future blog focus will be more about sharing with others - recipes, tutorials, scriptures and insights, still some swaps - and making lots more friends I hope, both online and around home, too.

As a big thank you to current friends and readers, I will be hosting a "Golden 'Versary Giveaway" with a trio of prizes. Come back soon for details!

Best Deal on an Apron Pattern

I just have to recommend an apron pattern! I recently purchased this new apron pattern M5720 from McCalls.com for only $4.00 shipping and I am so pleased with it. I had not seen this particular pattern before by designer Jan Lutz, the Apron Lady, and I thought I knew every apron pattern in the pattern books.

This ONE pattern has at least four of her regular patterns!! Check it out:





Jan's patterns normally sell for around $10-12 each, so this is a great bargain for some adorable patterns. Good luck hunting!!

Menu Plan Monday 1/12/09

We are once again doing major freezer eating this week, using dinners made by my Chill MAMAs group using primarily recipes from the Fix, Freeze, Feast cookbook. Having a full freezer is certainly easier on the January budget! Oh, and don't forget to wear a flirty apron while cooking!! Join my Flirty Valentine Apron Sew Along!!

Monday 1/12 - Pecan Crusted Chicken Strips (holdover from last week) **Chill MAMAs
Tuesday 1/13 - Cam's Ribs (another holdover) **Chill MAMAs
Wednesday 1/14 - Apple Cranberry Pork Roast **Chill MAMAs
Thursday 1/15 - Cashew Chicken Stir-Fry with Brown Rice **Chill MAMAs
Friday 1/16 - Chicken Parmigiana **Chill MAMAs
Saturday 1/17 - Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings (recipe below)
Sunday 1/18 - Crockpot Beef Stew


Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 tablespoons butter
2 10.75-ounce cans condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 14-ounce can chicken broth
1 onion, finely diced
1 10-ounce package refrigerated biscuit dough

Place the chicken, butter, soup, broth and onion in slow cooker. Cover, and cook for 5 to 6 hours on high. One hour before serving, open biscuits. Roll each one to be about 1/4-inch thick and cut into 1/2-inch strips. Add to the slow cooker, laying on top of chicken and liquid. Overlapping strips of dough will occur. Continue cooking until the dough is no longer raw in the center, about 1 hour. Note: Dough will not cook into biscuits as you might think. It will become like traditional dumplings. Serves: 6 to 8.

My Baby is 10!!

I cannot believe it. My sweet little surprise baby, the one I couldn't imagine how in the world we'd fit into our already bulging household, is ten years old today. She's been the light of my life and a precious gift when our first three kids graduated and went off to college. I love how she's always so happy, and we will hear her singing to herself almost every day ... in the shower, while doing homework, getting dressed, whenever. She is at the age where she still loves her mommy and daddy, and loves to be with us. I treasure this time in her young life. Thank you, God, for our little Tatum. Here she is with her most awaited Christmas present, young Molly the Bocker (Beagle-Cocker Spaniel mix), all snuggled up in bed.

Sale at C Berry Baby

My friend, Debye, has had an on-line baby boutique for the past year and she's making a little change. So, she's got a terrific clearance sale going on right now for gorgeous baby items - baby legs, carriers, slings, hip carriers, nursing necklaces and more.

Menu Plan Monday 1/5/09

I am doing major freezer eating this week, using dinners made by the Chill MAMAs group/Fix, Freeze, Feast cookbook. Having a full freezer is certainly easier on the January budget!

Monday 1/5 - Breakfast for Dinner: Hashbrown, eggs and bacon (all low-fat, of course)
Tuesday 1/6 - Honey Glazed Chicken Thighs with mixed veggies and rice **Chill MAMAs
Wednesday 1/7 - Urban Garlic Chicken from my Chill MAMAs group/Fix, Freeze, Feast Cookbook Carryover from last week 'cause I forgot to defrost!
Thursday 1/8 - Baked Ziti **Chill MAMAs
Friday 1/9 - Pecan Crusted Chicken Strips, Onion Rings and Yellow Squash **Chill MAMAs
Saturday 1/10 - Cam's Ribs **Chill MAMAs
Sunday 1/11 - Tatum's Birthday - Spaghetti with Mozzarella Meatballs, Green Salad and Birthday Cake!

Also, MPMers, please consider yourself invited to join my apron swap with Lucy, Sassy Flirty Apron Swap. We have giveaways GALORE scheduled and sign-ups end Friday.

More Snow!

I cannot believe it, but here we are at Sunday night and we just got more snow! Today has been icy and in the high 20s/low 30s so who knows what tomorrow will look like. The kids had an extra week of vacation due to unseasonably bad weather the week prior to Christmas break. We are scheduled to be off tomorrow and I don't think this will stick around, but I am thoroughly sick of the white stuff. Just so ya know.

On a crafty note, I made an apron today and it's so cute, black/white penguin print for the body with solid red accents and bottom ruffle. This has become one of my favorite apron patterns to use McCalls 5643.
Oh, speaking of McCall's, they are offering a free pattern from their website, McCall.com. Unfortunately, I don't know when the offer ends, and there are a LOT of exclusions (no Designer patterns, so it says I cannot buy this one I used or the cute new one M5720 from Jan Lutz, the Apron Lady) but you might find something you like!

Ooh, I don't know how, but I just got this Apron Lady's pattern for just the $4 shipping. I didn't have to wait for a sale at my local Joann!