VLOG-Celebrating Motherhood & Sunday Blessings

Sienna is sleeping.. Sophia is next to me..

ben is on the other couch watching the football game.

enjoying our lazy sunday.

brownie cookie oreo amazingness is in the oven.

kevin and amanda..you will be the 45 extra pounds of me......... 

Gifting Desserts is my excuse to bake up dangerously delicious treats like this!
Sneak a couple and pass it on..that's the only way this recipe is possible. haha.

Today was a day I was able to slow down and enjoy life..
Sophia said a lot "this is a fun day. this is relaxing"..haha. and she's right! :)

I've been thinking about Shannon a lot today..but not in a sad way..more in a "OMG there is something at work in our lives more greater than us or than we could ever know!" Kinda of an in awe of God day for me. and that she gets to BE WITH HIM. I think this is a blessing..because I usually am just sad when I think of shannon. I was on an Aldi's run earlier today with sienna..and this song came on K Love.. it's been a favorite of mine.. I was singing it out for my sienna ;) It's beautiful. and makes me want to praise. and I'm usually not a hand in the air kinda girl.
but it moves me and really gives me peace.
You should watch this video about the song...

This week has been a bit wild with the girls..
I will quote my husband to sum it all up...

BEN: "Doesn't it feel like the girls take turns being tough for a day..

but ever so often they are like..let's do this!"

haha.. baby/toddler were teaming up on us parents this week.
it's mutiny.

I figured out another official baby rule: If mom sits. sit on her.

I had to give up on getting any work done a few days this week...
and just GO WITH IT. So blessed to have these two sweeties..
Celebrate Motherhood!

song in video by B Reith - "Antidote"

Happy Sunday!

GIveaway Winner- 3 Month Subscription to E-MEALZ

I love this part of blogging and giveaways... :)

Congrats to Laura for winning the Giveaway!

Enjoy your 3 Month Subscription to E-MEALZ!

For those of you wanting to cash in on the 10%
off for all new subscribers...
 It ends today! (January 15th)
You can Click the Banner below and type in code 2012 at time of purchase

PS. I have such a sweet husband!
he threw me a surprise party last night. I'm still in shock. ;)
I turn 26 on tuesdayyyy. but I stopped counting at 24.
You would think I would be suspicious that he TOTALLY CLEANED OUR KITCHEN..
left it sparkly. and he picked up the playroom too..AND he got the girls down for a nap and let me take one. how did I NOT see that he had a party planned?? ;) I'm so spoiled. you must be thinking what did she do yesterday?? haha. The hubby is making me look bad. ;)
Yay for a fun night with family and friends!
I might jump on the "birthday week" festivity band wagon.

Hope you are all having a great sunday! 

Just got home from Church..had lunch..

Girls are sleeping...It's family nap time..

starting.....now.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Mini-FAST-Meatloaf with Mashed Sweet Potatos

Sorry for the not so fabulous photo..but

WE ATE THIS BEFORE I COULD TAKE A BETTER ONE!

It was sooo yummy! but seriously..New favorite.

I kinda winged this one (hence no cooking photos)..

I pulled from your basic meatloaf recipe

and used the ingredients that I actually HAD in my fridge.

I loved the salty meat with the sweet potatos. The family loved it too. :)

Makes up a good batch..We made up meatball sandwiches the next day for lunch with some of the leftovers. Just added some sauce, cheese and bread!

Going to use the rest for spaghetti and meatballs another night!

bang..for..your..buck... and bang for your time in the kitchen too. love it. and think you will too!

Do you have these things

in your kitchen?? make this tonight!

Best part about this recipe...limited amount of dirty dishes. :)

you throw all the ingredients in one big bowl!

Mini-FAST-Meatloaf

INGREDIENTS:

2 lb ground beef

1/4 cup olive oil

1 egg, slightly beaten

1 cup bread crumbs

1/4 cup parmesan

2 TB tomato paste

1 celery stick-finely chopped

2 carrots-finely chopped

1/4 cup onion-finely chopped

spices: Oregano, Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder & Parsley

(SO BAD about measuring..I sprinkled over everything at the end..

a rule my mom always told me..season the meatloaf as if you were

seasoning a portion on your plate)

STEPS:

--Preheat oven to 350

--Roughly chop carrots and celery and onion and throw in food processor till finely chopped.

--Throw all the ingredients into a bowl..stir.. form into balls.

--Heat Skillet on Medium High Heat. (I use my le creuset pan so I can pop it in oven)

--Add olive oil..(make sure it's hot enough!) place the meatballs in the oil and pat down a bit.

--brown on both sides.

--Bake in oven for 20 minutes or until no longer pink.

Mashed Sweet Potatos

steps: Boil up potatos..drain..return to pan..

mash..add butter and brown sugar. eat.

(I only used a TB Butter and a spoon of brown sugar. really depends on how sweet you want it...and how many potatos you make up! taste along the way.

Going to be making up more recipe posts like this! What do you think??

I don't know about you..but I'm a visual girl..

And always looking for recipe inspiration and favorites of real people..

and husband/baby approved! ;)

Chocolate Dipping Exchange- Awesome as it sounds.

A friend of mine hosted this get together..

it was a play date....from HEAVEN!

I had never heard of, or even thought of, doing

a Chocolate Dipping Exchange Party (playdate)

But it's genius. Colleen, (I know you read this....) you're a genius!! ;)

It was really fun seeing what everyone showed up with to dip!

We chatted..melted chocolate..made yummy treats and

while everything dried the kids kept playing and the moms kept talking.

then at the end everyone packaged up a portion of each to take home!

Thanks Colleen for hosting such a fun party idea!

You should all try this.. it was cool. and yummy.

WHAT WOULD YOU TAKE TO

A CHOCOLATE DIPPING EXCHANGE??

I brought E.L. Fudge Cookies..

because they are sorta like oreos..but something different.

Amazingness.. that's all I can say. and they were eaten very fast. that too.

Giveaway- 3 Month Subscription to E-MEALZ

:::GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED!:::

So excited about this Giveaway...

E-MEALZ is perfect for anyone busy and budgeting!

You choose the store.They provide the plan..

Each week you receive a brand new plan with a complete grocery list organized by sections. For all the list girls like me...this is a dream come true. ;)
Watch my video below for more details!

HOW IT WORKS...

E-Mealz relies on a team of experienced meal planners, writers and editors to create new dinner menus every week that are designed around grocery store sales, seasonal specials and diet preferences. For $5.00 per month, subscribers download a recipe plan for the week with a matching aisle-by-aisle grocery list. The easy-to-follow recipes usually contain fewer than seven ingredients to allow for prep times of less than 30 minutes.  It also helps families stay within a predictable budget by being prepared with a detailed list to use at the grocery store. 

I love that this company was started by sisters and moms!

E-Mealz was created by sisters Jane DeLaney, mother of four, and Jenny Cochran, mother of three. The sisters were frustrated by the challenge of coming up with healthy, budget-conscious meals for their own families and inspired by their own mother’s frugal ways, they launched the program in 2003.

Check out their blog for recipes, tips on how to simplify your life, organize your days, and plan family fun. www.maketimeforfamily.org

If you can't wait...they are currently offering 10% discount for all new subscribers...

just enter 2012 at the time of purchase! That code is good until January 15th!
CLICK ONE OF THE BANNERS TO SUBSCRIBE

GOOD LUCK! 

YOU CAN ENTER UP TO 7 TIMES!

HOW TO ENTER: Leave a comment(with e-mail address if you do not have a google profile/blog)

for each entry-

1. Follow The Busy Budgeting Mama via Google Connect (top right sidebar)

2. Follow The Busy Budgeting Mama via Twitter

@thebusybudgetingma


3. Tweet "I would love to have the _______meal plan from @E-Mealz

4. Visit www.maketimeforfamily.org and "Like" your favorite blog post

5. Like The Busy Budgeting Mama on Facebook

6. Post about the Giveaway 

(Facebook or Blog.. Just include Link in comment)


7. Enter the giveaway for a friend/family member..
and Subscribe to E-MEALZ getting a discount!
(Use code 2012 at check-out for 10% off!)

The Giveaway will end on January 15th at noon .

And a winner will be chosen via random.org

I will announce the winner on my blog on January 15th..

The winner will be contacted via e-mail(if left)!
Thank you for entering and good luck!!

Giveaway Winner-The RoSK Pouch by Rain or Shine Kids

Congratulations Meagan!!

Big Thanks to Rain or Shine Kids for

gifting one of my readers with their RoSK Pouch!

I usually don't do giveaways back to back...but I'm too excited about this one to wait!

It's practical, useful and MONEY SAVING! check it out tomorrow. unless I post it late tonight because I'm so excited. ;)

Phases of grief?

I consider myself a strong woman..but strength has nothing to do with this.
The sadness of losing Shannon is always there...
like it's waiting for a moment of quiet to be suddenly heavy on my heart.

Sometimes I feel like I'm too busy to even breathe!
I'm juggling babies and house and work and relationships.
I can't remember the last time I actually slept straight through the night..
or ate without some little cutie sneaking from my plate or trying to climb into my lap like something sooo exciting is going on that they musttt be a part of it.... ;)
So when I do have time to pray or to reflect on this loss..it can be overwhelming.

This is my first experience with grief..
I feel waves of sadness and then waves of anger and then waves of
OH my GOSH how did this happen..
The other day, during Christmas time, it was especially hard. I was so angry..upset over the memories I wasn't going to be able to make with Shannon here on earth. Her wedding.. our kids playing together..being old ladies together haha..even if we were states away!
And even though I pray every night for 'his' conversion...that day my heart just felt...angry.
And then I would think of her babies..without her. and it breaks my heart.
I want to not be angry. I want to think about the fun and special memories instead of her tragic death.
Jesus, please take away my anger. Help all of us who are missing her to heal..and to trust.
I know there will be tougher days than others..but you are a faithful God.
Shannon, shower us with blessings from above.
I know you are doing things up there more powerful then you could do here..
I'm sure you are up there praying for all the women you see here who are experiencing
what you went through...being an angel to each of them..

I remember the time we all got together over Christmas break and went to Centennial Park in Downtown Atlanta. We loved it there. We went ice skating..and just goofed off.

I'm so glad we brought a video camera so we could always remember that time.

I really was so lucky in my high school years to be surrounded by such awesome friends.

We were "good kids"...and occasionaly got into trouble..(barely. in all honesty.)

I hope that my girls one day have friends like I did growing up..

friends that were kind, uplifting, authentic, loyal and into their faith!!

friends who LOVED LIFE.

I want to remember her like this.
(I made this video as a Christmas present to my friends back in 2003.)

For any of you grieving over a loss..my heart is with you.

And even though as busy women we can sometimes

not have a chance to work through it then it

hits us all of a sudden....know that you are not alone.

Thank you for following along with me in this process of healing..

I'm lucky to have such a wonderful husband helping me through this. I pray that everyone missing her has someone like I do to lean on in hard moments. I also have my sweet girls.

The beautiful faith of a child always amazes me and opens my eyes to trust more.

The other day we were looking out the window at the sunset..sophia goes "mommy heaven is there! God and Mary and the angels are there! Baby Jesus was born..we have to be quiet!" She didn't realize what she was saying was what I needed to hear..even if it wasn't in the same context as she meant. But I took it as yes.. Baby Jesus was born.....we have to be quiet(still..) and trust.

To read all posts related to Shannon you can click here.
Please share her story..donate if you can.

If you have been touched by her story and would like to 

visit her Memorial Page you can visit here. 

Please Pray for peace in our world 

and for all those affected by Domestic Violence.