Women Who Eat Chocolate

Read my column from The Holmes Bargain Hunter :  Oh ye that love preparing garage sales little, take heed of my words: They are a goldmine. I know. Preparation for a garage sale isn’t fun. There is lots of digging out of the corners of your closet, dragging clothes out and wondering why you bought them and finally coming up with a price that people won’t walk away laughing at. It’s hard work, but the payoff is immense. It’s pure profit and there are tried and true tricks that keep people coming year after year to your garage sale. You want to be the one that people say, “Your sale is next week? What time? I won’t miss it.” As I prepare for the annual Benton garage sales at my Aunt Fern’s house this week (they will be over by the time you read this) my mind goes over the myriad of garage sale tips I’ve gleaned over the years. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again – if I could, I would hold garage sales for people every week. That’s how much I love it. The set up, the banter o...

This has to be, hands down, the funniest read I've come across in awhile. Though my kids are 22, 18, and 17 I once was in this same boat just trying to make it through the day. I look back with fondness on those days of madness. Read on for some GREAT and funny lines that may help you through YOUR day. Jen Hatmaker , I salute you for you candidness! photos.  Surviving Summer

Why my front porch is my happy place There’s this place we call home, a place where we keep our stuff, a soft landing pad when things are tough, and a place to stuff your face when no one is looking. Most days we wake up in it and get ready for our day. We make coffee, strong and hot and sip it while browsing the internet or chatting with our better half. The kids move through it, tossing their shoes in the same corner they always have, opening the fridge and expecting or rather knowing that their favorite things will be waiting for them. They know that fresh towels will be perched on their shelf awaiting the next shower, and that no matter how messy they leave the couch it will always be freshly straightened by morning. This is home.  When you grow up and realize that your home is only what you make of it, it can be a sobering fact. Those towels won’t get clean by themselves and the fridge won’t magically dispose of leftovers – although what a great invention that would be. The ...

These look amazing. I'm all about jello. Thanks Nibbles & Feasts for this great little gem.  Patriotic Gelatina Squares Yield:  Serves 8 Ingredients Red Gelatin Layer 1- 3oz package of strawberry flavored gelatin 1 cup boiling water 1 cup cold water White Creamy Layer 1 tablespoons (2 envelopes) unflavored gelatin 2 cups In Delight Sweet Cream coffee creamer Berry blue layer 1- 3oz package of berry blue flavored gelatin 1 cup boiling water 1 cup cold water Instructions Strawberry Layer In a medium mixing bowl, add 1 cup boiling water to strawberry gelatin mix, stir 2 minutes until completely dissolved. Stir in 1 cup cold water until combined. Pour mixture in a 9"x13" glass dish Refrigerate until set. Approximately 1 hour. Sweet cream gelatin In a medium saucepan, over medium heat boil creamer. Remove from heat and add unflavored gelatin. Stir until gelatin has dissolved. Gently pour white creamy mixture over red gelatin...

This post from  http://jesslively.com/  is simply amazing. It encapsulates everything I long to do and the reasons for it. I intend to live and grow intentionally from here on out. Our dreams are just things we are GOOD at so let's grow them.  Intentional Careers Over the past few days I’ve had three important conversations with friends about various careers paths. Upon reflection, it has occurred to me that I have not shared my views on career life and intentionality. In a world where people,  women especially , face a vast array of career choices, there seems to have risen an equally vast array of judgment and ridicule. No longer is it assumed that women will stay at home, go to work, have kids, or even get married. And while we could be  celebrating  this freedom in our society, it seems that each camp faces ridicule from another. Stay at home moms feel uncomfortable explaining what they “do” in social settings, corporate women are bombarded...

Finding yourself after the kids graduate I’m here to tell you that I have the nicest butt around – well, Boston Butt that is. Thanks to Rodhe’s IGA I scored 30 pounds of these beautiful cuts for $1.28 a pound. I’m sure it was a Memorial Day sale, but it sure came in handy when I needed lots of meat to feed our grad party crowd. I’m even competing with a friend, who also bought some of the meat, as to whose butt looks better when done. Game on. I’m nostalgic as I write this because normally I write about getting a great deal or figuring out how to make extra cash. I’m nostalgic because I’ve been down memory lane this week getting ready for this grad party. I know, I know – I’ve been writing about it for weeks. But since I’m the one who gets to write then I guess, dear reader, you get to hear some more. I still feel 18. Wasn’t it just yesterday (instead of actually 26 years ago) that I walked down the middle aisle of Hiland High School and received my diploma in a blue floral print dre...