Remembering

"Can do. With willing hearts and skillful hands; the difficult we do immediately, the impossible takes a bit longer. With compassion for others we build, we fight, for peace with freedom."

--Seabee Motto

These photos are the Seabee Memorial in Washington, DC.

This is the Seabee Logo.

Seabee Song

Words by Sam M. Lewis

Music by Peter de Rose

We're the Seabees of the Navy

We can build and we can fight

We'll pave the way to victory

And guard it day and night

And we promise that we remember

The "Seventh of December"

We're the Seabees of the Navy

Bees of the Seven Seas

The Navy wanted men

That's where we came in

Mister Brown and Mister Jones

The Owens, the Cohens and Flynn

The Navy wanted more

Of Uncle Sammy's kin

So we all joined up

And brother we're in to win.

My husband is a Seabee. I am proud to be his wife and I am proud to be a military wife. Click here to learn more about the Navy Seabees.

A Verse For You

The fruit of the spirit is

love,

joy,

peace,

patience,

kindness,

goodness,

faithfulness,

gentleness,

self-control.

Galations 5:22

Mineo Stamp Club Flashback

This is a simple aluminum can made beautiful. Using a safety can opener the lid was removed, then the food was eaten, can was cleaned and dried. Then made beautiful with paper, ribbon and stamps. Great to put a gift in or use as a pen holder.

Pancakes!

I am always starving when I get home from the gym! Pancakes sure sound good. Any tips to avoid gym induced starvation? Please, I may drown in syrup!

AND THE WINNER IS...

njscrapdiva said...
Shared your contest on FB...
so many posts... LOL, you did say ONE for each right?! LOL!

Please message me your address and I will get your books mailed out this weekend! Congratulations! And thanks to everyone for participating in my first giveaway. I have been very busy but I'm trying to make it to everyone's blogs to at least look around and say hello!

New Shoes!

I got new shoes!
They are hot pink and white.
They are super comfy.
I want to wear them every where.
They are running shoes.

Running? Shoes? Me? Yes.

I was on the track team in high school. Does anyone believe this fact? It was 15 years ago. I have pictures somewhere. I swear.

We were at Dick's Sporting Goods (buying hubs a mountain bike) and I decided I wanted running (?!?!?!) shoes. I have super low, almost flat arches. I need lots of support. I saw these and kind of jokingly tried them on just to see what the deal was. I chose the white shoe with HOT PINK zigzag! Too cute! and a little funky!

Ahhhhhhh, so comfy. So stable. No ankle rolling in these babies.

I've NEVER spent $100 on any pair of shoes... especially running shoes! But these are gonna change my life! (Gosh, I really hope so!)

The Simple Woman's Daybook

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... birds chattering and sounding twitterpated.
I am thinking... about my husband's eye surgery on Friday.
I am thankful for... my mri being over!
From the learning rooms... only a few months left and hubs will have his BA!
From the kitchen... left-overs and lofty goals.
I am wearing... comfy-ness.
I am creating... a journal for a special little one.
I am going... to consider part-time employment.
I am reading... Sacred Marriage, last day is Wednesday. Then I think I'll start some Frank Peretti.
I am hoping... this humidity goes away.
I am hearing... nick jr.
Around the house... boys and their toys.
One of my favorite things... when things fall into place.
A few plans for the rest of the week: Joshua's check up, PWOC, Jason's eye surgery, craft/photoshop time.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

A Verse For You

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
—Galatians 2:20

Trying something new…

Jolanthe over at No Ordinary Moment and Homeschool Creations told me about something that I think will be fantastic. I am testing it out for the first time and like it a lot. It is called Windows Live Writer. It basically makes a blogger’s life easier. I am going to use it for the next week or so and then I’ll let you know how I really feel about it.

Mineo Stamp Club Flashback

This was fun! It took long hours but I love it!

Father's Day Is One Month Away

I really like to honor my husband on Father's Day. He is an amazing father! I don't usually have a problem making some kind of craft with the kids for him but this year I'd really like to do something special. I think dads usually get forgotten because Father's Day is after school gets out. That is why they have awesome moms like us! What are your plans? Do you have memories of making something special or a certain gift that you loved giving your dad?

Check out Kaboose for some great crafty ideas for dad! and a million other cool things, too.

HUGE Usborne Book Giveaway!

ONE HUNDRED POSTS CELEBRATION GIVEAWAY!

This is my first giveaway at Creative Disaster! I'm excited! I hope you are, too! This giveaway includes 5 books!

This is a great book with lots of Summer Activities to do with your children (not suitable for children under 36 months). It includes over 50 cool stickers, too.

The Big Book of Vacation Things to Make and Do has over 800 stickers and almost 100 pages of fun activities (not intended for children under 36 months).

Going to School Sticker Book has over 50 stickers and is part of the Usborne First Experiences series.

Why? by Lila Prap has great pictures and is filled with ways to get your child's mind thinking.

More great activities to do with your children this summer or anytime!

To Enter: Leave a comment for each entry!

1. Go to my Usborne online store and pick something that you'd love to add to your collection of books. Then leave a comment about it. This will be your first entry and if you do not complete this entry all other entires will be void.
2. Place an order on my Usborne site, no minimums.
3. Blog about this giveaway on your blog (or email it if you don't have a blog, cc me please).
4. Follow me on Blogger.
5. Follow me on Networked Blogs.
6. Share this giveaway on Facebook.
7. Follow me on Facebook.

Drawing open to United States mailing addresses including APO/FPO and PO boxes.
Winner will be chosen May 26, 2010 at 9PM Eastern time.

Giveaway is valued at $40 + s&h.

Military Homecoming Ideas

I found these great, simple ideas to celebrate a homecoming. They are from Navy Wives Online. These would be great for any homecoming, not just military.

DECORATIONS

• Make a banner to hang over your fence, patio, front door or garage. You can get a plain bedsheet for about $5, and use craft paints to make a great welcome home sign!
• Paper chains decorated by the kids make great decorations to hang all over!
• Crepe Paper streamers and balloons
• Sidewalk chalk to make signs on the drive, walk, and patio, welcoming home your sailor
• T-shirts with photos of the family, or special pictures, anything special to say welcome home
• Favorite Flowers, vased at home or wrapped at the homecoming
• Decorated dixie cups (you can get these hats at Oriental Trading.com)
• Plant some special plants, flowers aroudn the house to dress it up for a spring or summer homecoming
• Holiday lights are a great addition to make the house pop out if you are driving up in the evening, If you are not going to be home for a while, you can get a timer to set them on, and have them turn on just before you get home

ACTIVITIES

• Take your special sailor out to a nice dinner
• Plan a night in with family, playing board games or card games
• Run a hot bath or shower, light a few cadles, and invite your sailor to wash off that boat residue, and relax for a few, and then enjoy a body massage at yor own skilled hands
• Make a special dinner with their favorite foods
• Invite a couple friends over and have a laid back movie night, or get together to catch up, and just take it easy
• Take your sailor out for a nice walk to see the neighborhood, or even just the mall

HOMECOMING GIFTS

• A special card made by you and/or the kids
• Dinner out at their favorite restaurant
• Video games that have been released since your sailor went on deployment/underway
• A good book
• New music
• A gift certificate for a night out
• A super clean house

You Come Equipped!

Hebrews 13:20-21 (NIV)

²⁰May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, ²¹equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

We have been discussing Hebrews at my Sunday Bible study. These verses just about cover it, don't they?

A Verse For You

Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

— Proverbs 31:30

CSN Product Review

Remember a few weeks ago, I mentioned that I'd be doing a review! Here it is! I was so excited to get an offer to review a product! CSN Stores is taking over the e-tailing market. They have everything your heart could desire! When I mentioned before Id be doing this review I talked about my kitchen specifically and how I was looking for the perfect way to finish it. I found these beauties! A beautiful spice rack and mail sorter!



I think it looks great, other than the mint green cupboards. I also wanted to mention that ordering was very easy from CNS Stores. It was shipped quickly and packaged well. The spice rack and mail sorter are both very sturdy and well made. Right now they are hanging with nails because I am not finished painting in the kitchen. The items did come with matching hardware. I will be making purchases from CSN stores in the future.

I was not paid for this review. I did receive $40 to put toward any item on the site with the only obligation being to do a review.

Stay Tuned!

Next week there is going to be a huge giveaway! Tell your friends! I am!

Mineo Stamp Club Flashback

I am going to be doing some flashbacks to my previous stamp club. This is a clipboard that we covered with paper. It has a pocket, I added the personalization and a couple matching bookmarks.

Day 5

The boys and I got to video chat with hubs last night. Poor Joshua's sad face just breaks my heart but I keep reminding him that daddy is working and helping other people. And that he'll be home soon. These are two of my favorite pictures from our Sea World trip in December. In the second Joshua is very excited about Shamu! I am truly blessed.

Peach Dump Cake Recipe

This is the world's easiest thing to bake!

I used two cans of peaches in 100% juice (none of that gross syrup), a yellow cake mix and a cube of butter chopped up.

I sprayed the stone with non-stick spray, then I dumped the two cans of peaches and juice in and covered it with the dry cake mix. I dropped the chunks of butter on the top. Baked at 350 for about an hour!

YUM! I can't wait to share this with the at bible study!

UPDATE: My kids decided to dig into this while I was getting ready to go, so I decided not to take it to share. I was disappointed but the kids really enjoyed it.

Bored: Day 3

Maybe I'll get something done today. Maybe I'll clean a bathroom or something exciting like that. Maybe I'll go rent a chick flick from the Redbox! OOO, I know, I'll tweeze my eyebrows!

You see, I'm bored. My husband, the entertainer, is not here right now. I need to learn how to entertain myself. Any suggestions? I need a fun craft project to work on!

Am I pathetic or what?

Lonely: Day 2

I'm really not lonely. I'm trying to remain positive and enjoy my time away from hubs. I have had a lot of time to read and get caught up on a few things.

I've really wanted to revamp my "Sanity Keeper" aka my homemaking binder. I love simplemom, it really is a great resource to make life simpler. [You can also get to simplehomeschool, simplebites and simpleorganic there.] simplemom has these great downloads for FREE!

Right now I am printing and hole punching the Daily Docket and the Master Weekly Checklist for cleaning. I printed 60 of the Daily Docket and 8 of the Weekly Checklist. I'm set for two months. I like the idea of scheduling it out daily and having flexibility. Some days I really don't want to clean the kitchen as soon as I walk downstairs and some days I really want to read in the recliner all day. I always use pencil! Church is in ink and my husband would say the gym is, too. I'm just not there yet. I use dividers in a big three ring binder. I also have a monthly list of blog ideas that I just made and will start using to keep you coming back for more! I just made it in Excel and listed boxes 1-31 for each day of the month that are big enough for ideas, notes and references. One of my goals is to learn more about sharing documents on my blog, so then I can show you and share them with you. Please let me know tips for doing this and resources, too. Thanks.

Some other things I'd working on putting into my binder are my "Five Fat Files". If you've ever read Elizabeth George's book (I did the study) A Woman After God's Own Heart® then you know what I'm talking about. If not, I'll try to explain a little bit and then you need to just order the book! Elizabeth's five fat files are full of information to increase your expertise in any five areas. It's all about intentional spiritual growth. By committing just fifteen minutes a day to your areas, you can become an expert in a few years and use your knowledge to teach, inspire, and minister to others. My files include marriage, ministry, managing my home, health and parenting. There are numerous sub categories, which I write on the front of the file. In these files I keep notes, scripture, print outs and anything else I've found to make me better at each subject. These are very personal and each person's files can be completely different. I also have this setup in my web browser bookmarks, so I can save links according to which file it would go in.

I plan on adding a warranty section for all our product information that we always seem to lose. In the fall when I will be a full-fledged-preschool-homeschool-mom I will use my binder to organize and schedule all that good stuff. And I'd like to add a menu plan section.

Whats in your binder?

Out of Town: Day 1

hubs left on a short trip for work today. I'm going to work on something each day around the house and I'm going to blog about it for your reading pleasure. Any motivation is greatly appreciated.

Today I will rest (it was a very early morning!), then I will clean the kitchen and vacuum downstairs. I need to go pick up my new glasses. At some point today I want to make a paper chain with the number of days represented until hubs returns, hopefully this will be good for Joshua. He is such a daddy's boy!

Pray for safe travels for hubs. Pray for sanity and positivity for me. Pray that the boys understand why daddy is not at home with us.

Spending time with hubs,,,

My husband is preparing to go on a short trip. So, I'm spending lots of time with him. I'll get back to posting on Monday. Thanks!

A Verse For You

John 1:12

"As many as received Him,

to them He gave the right to become children of God,

even to those who believe in His name!"

Beautiful, Beautiful

You can sample Francesca Battistelli's music here and purchase songs for download!

Lyrics:

Don’t know how it is You looked at me
And saw the person that I could be
Awakening my heart
Breaking through the dark
Suddenly Your grace

(Chorus)
Like sunlight burning at midnight
Making my life something so
Beautiful, beautiful
Mercy reaching to save me
All that I need
You are so
Beautiful, beautiful

Now there’s a joy inside I can’t contain
But even perfect days can end in rain
And though it’s pouring down
I see You through the clouds
Shining on my face

(Chorus)

I have come undone
But I have just begun
Changing by Your grace

(Chorus)

Joshua's Notebook

This is Joshua with his new notebook that I made for him. He loves writing and doodling.

This is the front cover. I started with a basic composition book. I used Stampin' Up paper and the letter stickers are from Creative memories. I used a punch to make the letters stand out more. I used glue stick to adhere the paper.

This is the back, I "laminated" it with packing tape for extra protection.

This is the inside of the back cover. I printed an alphabet tracer page. He can use a dry-erase marker on this because it is laminated.

And, finally, on the inside cover I put a tracer page with his name.

Goal for the Week 5/3

In anticipation of my new spice rack arriving this week, my goal is to go through all my spices; toss old, yucky ones, check expiration dates and make a list of the ones I need to replace. Then when I'm all done, hang my new spice rack and make them all look pretty!

Not for your granny anymore...

Maybe it is because I am getting older (no, not old but older) but I really enjoy Good housekeeping. They have great tips, recipes and decorating ideas. I saw this awesome price and am getting myself a subscription. Buying off the stand is ridiculously expensive! What is your favorite magazine? Mine used to be Fitness. I also love organizing and decorating magazines. duh.