Making My Home Sing andMenu Plan Monday

It's Monday again so that means it is time for Make Your Home Sing Monday at Moms The Word Blog.
I was having a hard time thinking of what I wanted to do for this week. I have decided that I am going to work on showing gratitude for all the things in my life especially the little things. Showing my children that they are such a blessing in my life. Making sure to notice the little things that get done and sometimes just gets overlooked.
Hope you all had a great weekend. Mine was good. Saturday I had early morning errands to take care of. We had a brunch that a neighbor was giving for my next door neighbor who is moving today. It is sad they have not only been great neighbors but she also has become a good friend to me. The brunch was a lot of fun with yummy food. The people that had the brunch are an elderly couple who moved out to Arizona about 6 years ago from New York. What a hoot they were.
I then took E'lyse and Faith shopping for a bathing suit. No luck in that department for a modest bathing suit.
Alan had taken Gabby to a movie, lunch and to The Bass Pro shop. Gabby got a badge for a pretend fishing then she got to do archery. She had 10 arrows and hit the dear with 5. From what Alan said she beet out all the boys there who weren't hitting the dear at all. She got another badge for that. They then had smores . I guess this is something that the Bass Pro shops are doing for the summer. They have classes and thing for the families to do on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. She had a blast!
The girls and I got home. I did my hour on the treadmill. Then Coco, Kyle and Talmage came over and we had dinner and visited.
Sunday was a good day. We got up early as usual. Alan had breakfast together and then worked on some paper work that needed done with a lot of talking. I did my treadmill time (feeling good). Then got ready for church.
We went to church and had a spiritually uplifting time. L=The lesson on praying in Relief Society (this is a meeting that is for women over 18) was a really good lesson.
Got home and had Mexican Stroganoff that I stuck in the crock pot early in the morning. It was really good. This was one of the freezer meals I had made with Coco a while back.
In the evening Coco, Kyle and Talmage came over to visit bringing brownies. E'lyse had just made a pan of brownies too. So we had brownies, pie and ice-cream. Alan was a doll and bought a strawberry/ rhubarb pie (one of my favorite) So much for the treadmill work before church. he he
We had a good time visiting and laughing. After the clean up Coco, Kyle and Talmage went home taking E'lyse and Dallas to spend the night so they could hang out some more.
The rest of the night was very restful. So all in all it was a good weekend. Now I am all refreshed and ready for another great week.

If you want to join in on Menu Plan Monday just click over to Organized Junkie blog This week menu is using items in my house no shopping for food:

Lemon Chicken (Crock pot)
Wild Rice
Corn

Lasagna
Green beans
Italian bread

Chili Burgers (Freezer Meal)
Pasta Salad
Chips

Chicken Pockets (Freezer Meal)
Cauliflower
Left over pasta salad

Date Night

Chicken Enchiladas
Refried Beans
Salad

Roast
Mash Potatoes w/gravy
Peas
Rolls
Have a great Monday! Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Posting Early for Pink Saturday

It's that time once again for Pink Saturday!

This is one of my favorite days of the week just because of this event. For this week I want to share these

I don't golf but if I did I would definitely use these. Hubby found them and brought them home to me. He knows how I love Pink

Then there is this
My iPod Shuffle. This keeps me on the treadmill longer than ever before. It matches my phone and camera. Who wouldn't looks stunning wearing this Pink iPod while sweating their butts off? It has my newest favorite songs from various artist like Lady Ga Ga, Pussycat Dolls, Pitbull, Blondie, AC/DC, Kiss and many more. I love it!
And last I know many of you have been waiting for these

I saw them at Payless and they were screaming at me while I was carrying my Pink purse, "I need a good home and I would look great on you!"

And they were right.

Are you suprised Scrappy Girl? he he

So those are my Pinks for this week.

Tonight when hubby came home he brought me these

Not Pink but beautiful just the same.

Have a wonderful Pink Saturday! Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Shoes

When I was younger befor I met hubby I had a passion for shoes, purses and accessories. I had studied Fashion Merchandizing and loved all the variety out in the world. When I got married I had over 120 pairs of shoes with matching purses. All different colors, styles and designs. After I got married and then became mom my shoes weren't that important but, I have never lost my passion for shoes. My favorites are pumps. They make me feel so feminine just like an apron does. Today Faith needed church shoes being that her foot has grown a size and a half in less than 2 weeks. So we went to Payless. They are having their BOGO sale. No I haven't bough new dress shoes in over 2 years. I walk down the iles and these jumped out at me

I love these. I had a pair like this in high school that I wore with my AFJROTC uniform. They are very comfy.
  Then I went over and helped out Faith with her shoes. She wanted to look around a little bit longer so I went looking in my size again and found these

 

 Oh, what is not to love about these sassy red heals. They just screamed out my name and now are in my closet.

I got one more pair, but you have to wait till Saturday to see them. You will never guess what color they are.

My shoe fetish is filled for a while at least. 

Hope you are having a great evening. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Extreme Makeover:Me Edition

You can check in over at {aefilkins} to find out more about this weekly event that Amber hosts.

This week's question:

What's your favorite beauty secret?
I guess my favorite beauty secret that has taken me years to realize is to take the time to take care of myself. Daily we give of our selves to our families, work and communities and we leave us for last. We need to take time for ourselves to do our hair, make-up, pedicure & manicure, in other words to pamper ourselves to make us feel beautiful. This also may include taking time for a hobby that we put on the back burner this can make us feel better about ourselves that turns into self-confidence and feeling beautiful. I think that a good percentage of beauty comes from self-confidence no matter what size we are or what the scale says we weigh.
Personal experience from Bobbi Jo: for many years I put off exercising regularly to take care of the family and cleaning and I have ended up over weight and depression set in. Now I may not be a size 5 like when I got married but I do take the time for myself and exercise and I am shrinking (slowly) and the depression is eased a lot.
So this is my beauty secret for today's edition of Extreme Makeover: Me Edition
As far as filling in on how I am doing eating is going good. I started making myself eat breakfast again. That is a tough one because I wake up at 5 and get busy with the day and then all of the sudden it is 10 and I am starving and realize I haven't eaten yet.
On the exercise front I am doing the P90X with Tony Horton , I am bike riding with my girls and trying to just keep active. I am going to up this with more time on my treadmill. It has gotten a bit warm here to be outside walking unless it is really early in the morning or at night and these don't seem to work out for me. So I will squeeze in a a walk during the midday.
As of yesterday from the start of the New Year, time off for knee injury and starting back up I have lost a total of 20.2 lbs. I don't see it so much as feel it. But yeah for me!
I will continue with the exercising, drinking my water,eating healthy, and doing what makes me feel beautiful. Have a great day. Hugs, Bobbi Jo
P.S. Not as sore as I thought I would be today. Maybe I didn't work out hard enough?

New Liscense and P90X

My New Liscense

I know the letters are a little crazily placed but hey so am I. This is on my bike I hope to have the same license on my van some day.

As of tomorrow these might be the only thing that isn't sore on me. I have started the P90X and I am feeling it in my bottom. I hope I am able to sit down and get up in the morning. he he My friend and family member Tammy had done it and looks so great. Thank you for the motivation Tammy! Sweet son in love loaned it to me and Dallas and I are working out together.
I actually like being physical again so I am pumped about this. Further pictures as I progress. You didn't seriously think I was going to post a full body shot did you? Filling more in tomorrow on Extreme Makeover: Me Edition.
What could be better after a workout than a protein shake and a little snack of apricots These are one of my favorite fruits. Picked them up at the Ranch Market last week. YUMMY!
For Nikki and others asking: I have taken before photos but they will not be posted at this time. My ego can't handle the humiliation.
Check in with you tomorrow. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Pancakes, Coloring,Chick-Fil-A and Gardening

While watching Talmage yesterday E'lyse wanted pancakes so she made some chocolate chip pancakes. As you can see Talmage really enjoyed them.

After a lot of play time with his Aunts, who just adore him I printed out pictures for the girls and him to color. For some reason he loves sitting on my dinning room table.
Last night we went to the Chick-Fil-A Family Night (No I do not make a profit of any kind for mentioning them so much. Maybe I should) he he
There was a couple there that started their own business together he makes balloon shapes and she does face painting. They were great. Her work looked like rub on tattoos she did a phenomenal job . This is balloon guy. He was making Ariel.
Gabby chose an ice-cream cone for her face art and for her balloon

Faith chose a rose for her face are (that is her middle name) and an elephant shooting out water

Our next door neighbors were there and sat across from us. They are moving this week. sniff sniff I hate to see them go.
This is Taylor one of Faith and Gabby's best friends . She got a penguin for her face art and balloon.
This is Taylor's brother Brandon.I asked him if he wanted to be on my blog. So here he is!
We had a good time. The girls keep talking about the next week when we go.
This morning I have gotten 3 loads of wash done, worked on the yard and cleaned up the house. As I was watering my garden I found these . This is a closer picture of them We have eggplant. I have never grown it before and thought we would give it a shot.
I also had planted some seed to grow loofah. You know the loofah sponges you use to exfoliate the skin. A wonderful lady Rhonda Jean at down-to-earth blog sent them to me a few years ago from Australia where she grows them. Her blog has wonderful information on living the simple life through self sufficiency. Where I was living at the time the heat didn't stick around long enough for them to grow so I never planted them. Here in the valley of the unending sun and heat they will have their 4-6 months of heat to grow. They can grow up to 15 ft. high , you have to have something they can climb on like a tree, trellis or a wall. I am excited about these too. They are to produce a orange or yellow flower and it turns into the large pod. I will take pictures as they progress. These will be great gifts along with bath oils, soap and beads for holidays.
So that is just a smidgen of what has been going on in my life. I still have a couple more load of laundry to do, some organizing , budgeting and I have to fill in a craft there somewhere. I am feeling craft deficient. Have a great day. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Homemade Moisturizer

I have very sensitive skin and the slightest perfume in a moisturizer can cause my face to burn so on Saturday I found a recipe for homemade moisturizer. It is basic items you have in your kitchen.
This recipe make 3 oz. and must be kept in the fridge when not being used.

1 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. coconut oil
1 Tbs. vegetable oil
2 Tbs. mashed strawberry (1 lg. strawberry)
Optional of 1 Tbs. Vitamin E

Mash up strawberry really well. In a airtight container mix in the oils and then add strawberries to it. Refrigerate and use when needed. It smells really yummy and makes your skin shiny and soft but soaks in fast. I wouldn't suggest this if you have oil skin or acne problems.
Before I used this I did a homemade facial exfoliate. You put in a handful of regular table salt and add olive oil to it till it is spreadable. Spread on your face and neck and rest for about 15 to 20 minutes. After this rinse well. Your face will feel so good.
Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Weekend and Monday Happenings

I love Mondays! It is a fresh start for a new week. This weekend went by fast. On Saturday worked around the house after running a couple errands with Coco. Saturday evening Alan took Faith, Gabby and two of their friends to see Escape to Witch Mountain. They enjoyed the movie. Dallas, E'lyse and I were hanging out and Coco, Kyle and Talmage came over and visited for a while.
Sunday Alan made a yummy breakfast. We kept busy with other things till it was time to go to church. We had a fantastic lesson in the combined class for the 5 week. Our Bishop is a wonderful man with so much love for everyone in our ward.
We got home from church ate lunch and took a short nap. Coco, Kyle and Talmage came over for a cookout and visiting. We had a good time and good food. I had got some fresh corn on the cob from the Ranch market this past week. After Gabby got done shucking it I cooked it up and it was enjoyed by all.
This morning the girls and I are going for a bike ride. I am hoping to get further than we did last week there are some great areas to explore in our area.
I am starting a new workout today. Crossing my fingers I will be able to walk and sit down by myself tomorrow. he he
I have a couple errands to run today and then babysitting for Coco and Kyle. Most of my day will be spent organizing and hoping to fit in a craft or two today.
I would love to hear what you all are up to. Have a great Monday! Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Making My Home Sing Monday

For this Monday's Making My Home Sing my plans are for incorporating my fun and fitness into the day with my kiddos. Summers here, in Arizona it can get pretty hot and uncomfortable. It makes in hard to want to go outside and play in the afternoon when it is hitting in over the 100 degree mark. Going on bike rides, walks, playing at the park and doing most of our outdoor activities in the morning will be much more tolerable. The rest of the days will be filled with things that need to be done, crafts, movies and reading. Errands to the library weekly will help out a lot.
You can join in on the fun over at Mom's The Word blog.
Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Menu Plan Monday

Menu Plan Monday: In no particular oder

Mexican Stroganoff (Freezer meal)
Corn
Salad

Chicken Cutlets
Green Beans
Salad

Beef with Broccoli (Crock Pot)
Rice
Mandarine Pineapple Salad

Tater Tot Casserole
Peas
Salad
Pudding

Chicken Pasta Parmesan Bake
Cauliflower
Salad
Italian Bread

Date Night

Homemade Pizza
Salad
Desert Pizza
Hugs, Bobbi Jo