I've Got Sunshine on a February Day

Florida, you are beautiful & awesome & amazing & wonderful & I am madly in love with you....even though you've had bipolar tendencies lately. I don't even care that the crazy wind & a blister slowed me down. Because today, you let the sunshine in & I got to run outside. And Soak. It. Up.

Barbells & Ponytails

Woop woop!! I feel like such an athlete!! So excited to be an ambassador!!!

Hasselback Chicken by Proper Tasty

Ingredient list and directions are on the youtube page, under the video.

 

I'm Gonna Sweat

Not gonna lie. Once in a while, I need a little motivation to get to the gym.
Gonna work this headache off in my new workout tank!!!

Runner wardrobe LOVE.  It makes a difference.  Really, it does.

I Ran A Mile....

Watching my 14 year old at baseball tryouts & thinking about our after school convo from yesterday....

Him:: "Mom, I ran a mile at school today"
This, from the kid who hates running...and, in the past, was not shy about letting me know it when he was forced to.
Me:: "You did?!?! Was it awful & horrible for you???". wink emoticon
Him:: "No.... All those other kids were complaining so much and I thought, 'you shouldn't complain.. This is nothing! My mom ran 28!!!'. I even said it out loud to one kid. Because I'm really proud of you, Mom". ❤❤❤

Maybe their thing isn't running. Maybe YOUR thing isn't running. But taking care of yourself, pushing to achieve goals...it's not selfish. It's being an example....you're teaching those you care for that they can achieve hard things too. They're always watching & always learning from you, whether you think they are or not.

Some Days, I Need a Little Bit of the Diva...

...because. Some days, ya need a li'l sass to get 'er done... 

Baked Avocado Egg Rolls by Tip Hero

Because.  YUM!!!

Run/Walk/Crawl....My 2015 Wall of Awesomeness ;)

"I always thought of running as just dancing forward" ~ Tom Hiddleston


 BEHOLD. The wall of awesomeness that was my running year, 2015.  Looking ahead to this one. ;)

♫Life's a dance, you learn as you go...sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow♫......I don't think it really matters, as long as you Just. Keep. Going..... & find a way to dance along the way wink emoticon

♫Don't worry 'bout what you don't know, Life's a dance...you learn as you go...♫

Never Quit Never

Repeatedly heard this weekend by a certain Never Quit child o' mine, "this is awesome!!! Jacksonville is such an awesome place to live!! This is awesome"!!!

And from the youngest child: "this is actually a lot of fun. I think I might do this with you next year. I'm going to try running more".

And the oldest child had a good time, too. ;)

This mama loves that. ❤

 

 

Jacob and I ran the 5K with a group of friends, dressed as our favorite Super Heroes in support of a sweet boy just diagnosed with cancer.   I was Wonder Woman {a lifelong dream fulfilled ;) } and Jacob was Captain America.

 

Please pray for little Keegan.... :(

 

A quick pic before the race of me and my boy:

 

 

 

 

Running Shoes Are Made For Dancing....

I just got back from a walk/jog.....and stopped walking/jogging where the road meets the drive that leads to my house and with it being a long, private & isolated drive....with no one in sight....I proceeded to totally rock out & dance like no one was watching to Superchick & Carrie Underwood all the way.

 Until I reached the corner where I take a turn or head into the woods. It was then something caught my eye and I turned around. Behind me was a truck with 2 work men in it, laughing & grinning from ear to ear. Welcome to the comedy act that is my life....

 

It's a good thing I know how to laugh at myself :: A sense of humor is critical at times like this ;)

Tomato Basil Soup

• I got this recipe many moons ago from Light & Tasty, a magazine put out by Taste of Home.  It's a perfect accompaniment to the last recipe I posted, Chicken Pesto Paninis.  It's yummy just the way it is, but I sometimes add some freshly pressed garlic to it, because we love our garlic and it's good for you!  I'm thinking about making it this weekend, in addition to some other goodies for one of the few football games I actually care to watch.  Go Dawgs!! =)

• Tomato Basil Soup
• 
  
• 

photo & recipe by: Taste of Home

• 
  
• 4 medium carrots, finely chopped
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed
• 1 can (49 ounces) reduced-sodium chicken broth or 6 cups vegetable broth, divided
• 1 can (29 ounces) tomato puree
• 5 teaspoons dried basil
• 1-1/2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
• 1 can (12 ounces) fat-free evaporated milk

In a Dutch oven, cook carrots and onion in butter over medium-low heat for 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and cool slightly.

    In a blender, place 1/2 broth and the cooled vegetables; cover and process until blended. Return to the Dutch oven. Stir in the tomato puree, basil sugar, salt, pepper and remaining broth. 

    Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Gradually stir in evaporated milk; heat through (do not boil). Yield: 6 servings (2-1/4 quarts). 

Berries of Blue ~ Fun in the Summer Sun Link-Up!

Welcome to the 1st of our Fun in the Summer Fun event! Each Monday until September 7th Mama to 4 Blessings along with
 Adventures of Mommydom,
 Sweet Diva,
Harvest Moon By Hand, and
Sweet Phenomena
will be hosting Fun in the Summer Fun link up events.

Here's the line up:

The 1st Monday of each month: link up your "Kid friendly summer activities"

The 2nd Monday of each month: link up your "Kid friendly summer crafts"

The 3rd Monday of each month: link up your "Kid friendly summer recipes"

The 4th Monday of each month: link up your "How to stay cool in the summer heat"

Here's our family's  "Kid friendly summer activity"

Berries of Blue.....

Some of the best things about the summertime are the delightful natural gifts God has given for us to delight our taste buds with!  Every year, I think about taking my kids blueberry picking, but have waited too long and missed the short season before I know it!  Recently, when a ♥sweet friend♥ sent an email out with the location she frequents, I decided that THIS year, we wouldn't miss the opportunity!

My kids already have a great appreciation for fresh-from-the-garden, locally-grown fruits and vegetables, so I had no doubts at all that they would be all for it.  We have taken trips in the past to local organic produce farms and that "fresh-picked" taste is one that is easy to get accustomed to. ; )  There's also something about meeting the people that grow the food, talking to them and then choosing and/or picking your own items fresh from the Earth that tends to inspire a sense of wonder and appreciation not only for the food, but for the goodness and the wisdom of our God who created it for us. =)

I highly encourage you to check out what's growing in YOUR local community, get out.....and get picking!  To find local farms in your area, try visiting Local Harvest ~ a great site that should get you on your way......or ask around!  Your friends are often your best source for recommendations! 

If mine were younger, I would have pulled out our copy of Blueberries for Sal  by Robert McClosky and read it to them the night before.  But they're not.....boo hoo.  Just suggesting it for you in case yours are younger.....one of the many great books we discovered when we were learning with Five in a Row. 

On the morning of our recent trip to the blueberry farm, everyone was up bright and early ~ eagerly anticipating the rewards of our soon-to-come "labor".....water bottles packed, smiles in place.....

If you have a bit of a drive to get there and you're a super (ahem) cool (cough) mom like me ; ), take along your favorite new CD, turn it up really loud, and rock out on the way while educating your children on what good music is! ; ) { I don't worry about embarrassing them.....I've learned that as long as they don't know the other people driving around us, they're totally ok with their mom having a dance party in the vehicle. They even love me for my weirdness. ♥ As long as I act normal when their friends are around and within a block or so of church, it's all good! ; ) }

If you're local to my area, we went to:

Dowless Blueberry Farm

7010 Ricker Rd 32244

772-1369

Bucket ready, all smiles!

Rows and rows of beautiful blueberries!  You pay for what goes into the bucket.....what misses the bucket and lands in your mouth instead is free ; )

Jacob was the most productive picker of the 3.....

These 2 spent more time sampling than collecting ; )

"Mom, I keep trying not to eat them, but I just can't help it!  They're so good!"

If you teach them from the time they're born to give thanks for all things, if you express wonder and gratitude for the creativity, thoughtfulness and wisdom that our Lord put into all the gifts He's given, perhaps you'll hear your kids making these types of comments along the way.....

"It's so cool how God made so MANY things for us to enjoy!  I mean, he could have just made ONE kind of food and we'd have to eat the same thing all the time.....but we have SO MANY things!" ~ Ashlyn, with a side note, "I'm sure glad He gave us taste buds!"

"I'm so glad God made these blueberries for us.  I guess He knew how much we'd enjoy them.....and they're really good for us, too!" ~ Robert

Two brothers, who were literally at each other's throats the day before, happily working side by side & commenting on the goodness of God in between mouthfuls of berries.  Boys who will be men before I know it, foraging for food. ; )

Tongue check!! (Not as blue as I expected them to be!)

The results of just under an hour's worth of picking (plus another 1/4 of a bucket).....it was starting to get hotter, more humid and the bugs were waking up.  Those factors started to lead to some mild complaints (plus the fact that they want to go back again next week with some friends) told me this party was over ~ because when the whining starts, the fun stops as far as I'm concerned! ; )

The weigh-in.....we left with lots of berries and a flat of those home-grown tomatoes in the back (oh, the difference home-grown makes!)  =)

As we pulled out of the parking area and onto the street, two of my kids said, "Thanks, Mom, for bringing us.....that was really fun" while the other one quickly chimed in with, "Yeah, you're awesome. You always think of really fun things to do.....I can't wait to go back"!

And so, I encourage YOU to get outside with your kids and discover what fresh, local flavors YOUR community has to offer this summer!  Good summer memories don't come just from vacations or expensive theme parks.....some of the best ones come from the little things that don't cost a lot of money, but instead your time, effort and energy.  That's my theory, and I'm sticking to it!  All the proof I need is in the laughter and smiles, the compatibility of working together, the conversations had and overheard, blue-tinted tongues and little blue chunks stuck in their teeth. ; )  Oh, and I'll admit the "thank you's" and "you're awesome" don't hurt, either. ; )

Join the Fun in the Summer Sun and link-up your kid-friendly summer activity below.....I can't wait to read about it!  Oh, and while you're here....please leave a comment for me so I know you stopped by!

Quick Peach Crisp

The calendar may not say it's summer yet, but here in the South {Florida, specifically} it sure is feeling like it!  Being a major foodie, one of my favorite parts of summer is the flavors!! ; )

This past week, we excitedly cut into our first watermelon of the year, and arrived home from a beach day on Monday to find a surprise waiting for us on our doorstep!  One of my favorite flavors of the season happens to be peaches......and I am convinced that there ain't nothin' quite as sweet as a juicy Georgia peach!!!  With family in The Peach State, I've got connections and get them straight from the packing shed every summer.  My mom was coming home on Memorial Day from a weekend visit with my Granny and delivered a huge box! =)

If you live within driving distance or happen to be passing through close enough to Musella, GA, you should consider making a pit stop at Dickey Farms, visiting their packing shed or shop and picking some up!  Trust me.  They grow the BEST peaches and have been doing it since 1897!!  Visit their website for lots of interesting facts and tons of recipes as well!

We've been going to town on these peaches all week, but I spotted several that needed to be used ASAP.  I whipped up a double batch of Quick Peach Crisp because I will never, ever let a precious peach be wasted if I can help it! ; )  You can use another type of fruit if you don't have peaches {or, (gasp!!!!) if you don't like them}.  As always, I'm posting the original recipe with my whole grain substitutions in parenthesis.  Alas, no picture for you.....I took it out of the oven as I was leaving for my Thursday evening choir rehearsal and it was not picture-worthy the next time I saw it!  Greedy little beggars.......but I gotta love 'em! =)

Quick Peach (Fruit) Crisp

4-5 cups sliced fresh apples, peaches or pears 

 Tbsp. lemon juice

2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar

2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour (or freshly ground soft wheat or oat groats)

1/2 cups regular oats, uncooked

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Dash of salt

1/3 cup butter or margarine

Vanilla ice cream (opt)

Place fruit in a lightly greased 8-in. square baking dish; sprinkle with lemon juice.  Combine sugar, flour, oats, cinnamon and salt; cut in butter with pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Sprinkle crumb mixture over fruit.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until fruit is tender and topping is browned.  Serve with ice cream, if desired. 

Yield: 6 servings {haha! not in this house ; ) }

**When I double this, as I usually do, I often lower the fat by not doubling the butter.  If your fruit is very juicy (like my peaches were), the juice from the fruit makes up the difference in the moisture content.  I feel less guilty with less butter, and it's still oh-so-yummy!  We want-to-be-healthy-but-really-like-to-enjoy-our-food people have to use all the tricks we can find! ; )

Speaking of Summer, make sure to stop by and visit me every Monday beginning June 6 ~ Sept. 7.  I am so excited to have been asked to collaborate along with

 Ticia at Adventures in Mommydom,

Ann at Harvest Moon by Hand,

Tiffany at Sweet Phenomena  

and our host, Nicole at Mama to 4 Blessings' "Fun in the Summer Sun" Blog event! 

We'll be posting some super fun summer activities that our families enjoy, crafts, recipes & keeping it cool in the summer heat tips and ideas! ; )

Tasty Thursday

Suwanee Soap - Review

Several weeks ago, one of my favorite fellow bloggers ~ Rebecca of Mom's Mustard Seeds ~ announced the launch of her new home-based business, Suwanee Soap.  As soon as I read about it, I couldn't wait to try it out!  She kindly sent me a complimentary bar and my intention was to write a review as soon as I received it and tried it out.

My life has a way of getting in the way of my intentions lately, and that review that I intended to do right away kept getting put off as time for blogging is sometimes hard to come by.  At first I felt very guilty, but now......I'm actually glad I waited.  I'm hanging on to the last sliver of her soap that I have left and sad to see it go!  I can honestly say that I like it more now that I've used almost all of it than I did the first day!

Originally I was interested because it was an all-natural product, and even more so because it was a fellow homeschool mom's business.  I'm all for supporting small businesses and especially one that will help keep a Mom  home where she wants to be.  However, as the weeks have gone by and I have used her product daily....the quality has me sold. =)

I am not usually a bar soap person and prefer body wash most of the time.  Day after day, however, I've found myself reaching for Rebecca's soap instead.  I have purchased all-natural, chemical-free household cleaning and personal care products for years from a wonderful company and have always been happy with what I get from them.  I have to say, though, that their bar soap doesn't impress me as much as Suwanee's.

Suwanee Soap currently offers their safe and pure soap in Patchouli Essential Oil, Lemon Essential Oil, Tea Tree Essential Oil, Lavendar Essential Oil w/ Lavendar Petals, and Lavendar Essential Oil.  I received the Lemon Essential Oil soap after mentioning that I love the scent of citrus. =)  The soap comes in what I think is very quaint and charming packaging perfect for the product that lies within.  Simple and pure.  It reminds me of something you'd find in a country store off the beaten path, which is where some of the best natural products can be found.  Lately, in our busy,never-stop, ever-increasingly complicated world, I find myself drawn to and longing for sweet simplicity and how refreshing it is when I find it {not to mention the refreshment I get from that squeaky-clean sensation that comes with using the soap - haha ; ) }!

The bars are wrapped in muslin and tied with a brown string.  Simple, yet appealing.

Inside you find the pure goodness, not perfectly stamped out bars of manufactured goods, but that of a product that is handmade, and made with care. =)



The above is a photo of the Lemon Essential Oil.  I borrowed the pics from Suwanee Soap's site and Facebook page because I forgot to take pics of my own.  I didn't think Rebecca would mind ~ I think she'll just be happy to see the review finally be posted.  ; )

The scent makes it's presence known while being soft and not over-powering, which as someone who is highly sensitive to many scents, is something I can really appreciate.  It lathers extremely well, another feature I love.  The soap from the other company I order from doesn't lather as well which is why I usually prefer body wash.  I like bubbles. =)  It also rinses cleanly away, leaving no hint of residue and the scent doesn't linger heavily on your skin so as not to conflict with any other scent you may wish to wear.

I wanted to try this soap for the simple reason of helping another homeschooling mom start her business, because she is a mom I relate to so well.  Now, after using the whole bar, I can honestly say that I really do LOVE it and will be using more of it!  I'm thinking it would make a really nice gift and think it would look too cute partnered with embellished hand towels, dish towels, kitchen towels, etc.  If you are a person who might receive a gift from me for any reason, don't be surprised it you find a ♥super sweet♥ set such as this in a gift bag with your name on it. = )

You can find Rebecca and her handmade soap at her websites:

Mom's Mustard Seeds

Suwanee Soap

or on Facebook:

Mom's Mustard Seeds

Suwanee Soap

Zoned Hummus

From Zone Perfect Meals in Seconds. This is my favorite hummus recipe - the ingredient list may look a little strange, but it has delicious flavor and a great balance of protein/carbs/fat. My family is a big fan of hummus, and say they prefer my hummus over any other. We're serious about enjoying our food, so I'm pretty sure it's not just flattery! ; )  I often serve it alongside quinoa tabouleh as an appetizer with pita bread/pretzels/crackers/celery for dipping or as a spread in wraps, etc.  Grill some mushrooms & chicken (for the carnivores) and wrap it, along with the tabouleh, all up in a whole grain wrap or pita. YUM.

Zoned Hummus

{Sorry, no pic today.  It looks like.....hummus! ; ) }

Ingredients:

2 cups chickpeas, drained, canned, cooked ( save juice)

14 ounces tuna in water, drained, canned, no-salt

2 hard-boiled eggs

1/2 cup tahini, raw or 1/2 cup sesame tahini, raw, toasted, unsalted

1/3 cup lemon juice, fresh ( 1 lemon)

1/4 cup fresh parsley, minced

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 cup filtered water or 1 cup chickpea liquid

1/2 teaspoon sea salt (optional)

ground paprika ( to garnish)

Directions:

Combine the chickpeas, tuna, eggs, tahini, lemon juice, parsley,garlic, cumin, pepper, and chickpea juices or water in the work bowl of a food processor.

Add sea salt if desired.

Cover and process until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides with a spatula.

Add additional water as needed to blend. Taste and adjust the seasonings.

Cover and refrigerate.

Quinoa Tabouleh - Recipe

Back when my life was my own (or, I thought it was - aka: before children), I was going to school  for Interior Design while working as a store manager for a local decorative fabric store.

One of my very ♥sweet♥ employees was an older lady named Mary Tringadjis, who kind of adopted me into her family and treated me as such ♥.  Mary introduced me to the wonderful, amazing flavors of Greek and Mediterranean food and made the most amazing Baklava I had ever tried, or have tried since.  I thought I didn't like baklava until I had hers ~ I am convinced no one could make it like she could!  When I was expecting my daughter, she would bring me all of my favorites on a regular basis. =)

While this isn't a recipe for Baklava, it is a Mediterranean recipe and every time I make it, I think of Mary and silently thank her for exposing me to what has now become my favorite Ethnic cuisine......and I sometimes close my eyes and imagine I am in the one place in the world I would go if I could:

Care to join me? ; )

Unfortunatley, I'm not there right now.  : ( 

But, I am starting a fruit and veggie fast today.  Because I am exhausted.  Really exhausted.  And don't feel well......and kind of tired of not feeling well.  Often when I get in this run-down rut, I find that fasting and praying helps get me back where I need to be.  So, that's what I'm going to do......and this recipe fits into my fast for lunch or dinner.  When I'm not fasting, I combine it with my homemade hummus and grilled portebello mushrooms and wrap it in a whole grain wrap.  Amazingly, wonderfully, healthfully delicious!!

Quinoa Tabouleh

Photo by Timeless Gourmet

 Prep Time: 10 mins Total Time: 30 mins Servings: 6-8

Ingredients :

1 cup quinoa
2 cups water
1 -2 medium tomatoes, cut into cubes
1 medium onions or 6 green onions, finely chopped
1 medium cucumbers, peeled and cut into cubes
1 small green peppers, seeded and cut into 1/2 inch cubes ( opt)
1 bunch parsley, finely chopped
1 cup fresh mint, Finely Chopped or 1 teaspoon dried mint
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon sea salt
pepper

Directions:

Put the quinoa in a wire strainer and thoroughly rinse with hot water to remove any bitter flavor.

In a medium saucepan, bring the water and quinoa to a boil over high heat.

Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender and the water is absorbed, 10 to 12 minutes.

Let cool completely.

Stir the tomatoes, onion, cucumber and parsley into the quinoa.

In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, oil, garlic and salt.

Pour over the quinoa and toss well.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving

Multitude Monday: 1,000 Gifts 159 - 175

"It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness."

~ Charles Haddon Spurgeon

159.  New flooring piled up in front of my fireplace

160.  Furniture outside on the back deck, and piled into the center of the room

161.  New paint ~ good-bye 12 yr. old faux finish and color scheme I have long ago tired of; hello clean, simple, tranquil colors!

162.  The therapeutic benefits of covering worn, dated walls with a new fresh look ~ although I have to admit, it was much more therapeutic before I had 3 children old enough to help......and argue  debate and chatter NONSTOP throughout the whole process

163.  My ♥daughter♥, who is work-horse when she wants to be!

164.  Child Labor ; )

Yes, that is a tent in the backyard.  ~ Sigh ~

165.  Organic produce, quite literally fresh from the garden ~ one of my sweet friends introduced me to a local apiary and organic produce farm located nearby this past weekend!  We visited it, and the owner took us through her garden, explaining what each variety of produce was, then cut what we wanted!  We are so enjoying our selections this week....and I love supporting my local economy!

166.  Gorgeous weather

167.  Wisdom to make the time to enjoy it ~ ok, so maybe you wouldn't call it wisdom.....maybe Spring Fever.  But when my children say to me "Thanks, Mom....I had fun with you today" before bed ~ I'm going with wisdom ; )

168.  Butterflies

169.  Bunny rabbits ~ esp. when they hop right over to me, hoping I have a treat

This is Jack!

170.  Sunshine

171.  Green grass

172.  Windows open

174.  Daisies ~ my favorite!

175.  ♫ For the beauty of the earth, For the glory of the skies,
             For the love which from our birth, Over and around us lies.
             Lord of all, to Thee we raise, This our hymn of grateful praise. ♫

Pumpkin Pancakes

Earlier this week, I walked into the kitchen to clean up breakfast and lunch dishes while pondering what I wanted to make for dinner, and found this on the dry erase board......

The ♥Mom♥ in me was taken by the sweetest of this unexpected note, but the teacher in me had a hard time overlooking the spelling mistakes.  I made a deal with the writer: if he could fix the spelling mistakes without my help, he would get what he so sweetly asked for.

I posted this pic on Facebook, and received a couple of requests for the Pumpkin Pancakes my son was requesting.  If you were one of those people, this one's for you......and anyone else who happens to stop by! ; )  They are indeed delish ~ serve with butter maple syrup for a Fall/Winter taste of Heaven (we actually even like them without syrup)!

Sharing the original recipe, with my substitutions of freshly ground wheat in parenthesis for my fellow wheat grinders.

Pumpkin Pancakes

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups milk

1 cup pumpkin puree

1 egg

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoons vinegar

2 cups all-purpose flour (or 2 1/2 cups freshly ground soft wheat)

3 tablespoons brown sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground allspice

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. In a bowl, mix together the milk, pumpkin, egg, oil and vinegar. Combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, allspice, cinnamon, ginger and salt in a separate bowl. Stir into the pumpkin mixture just enough to combine.

2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.