Saturday, May 22, 2010

Fresh Grown Produce

Here is today's meager harvest from my container vegetable garden:


Not too much to show, but i am hoping for more in the coming summer months. I have a bunch of tomatoes but these were the only two red ones, sigh. Fortunantely, I was able to supplement this home grown goodness with my trip to the farmer's market this morning where I got this for less than $4:

Tonight we will enjoy a salad with a mix of local produce. It is exciting to eat something that you actually grew!

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Kroger Savings

Yesterday I ran out to Kroger for a quick trip. I highly dislike grocery stores on Saturdays, but you do what you gotta do. It was totally worth it though. The verdict: $22 spent, 78% saved!

Highlights:
2 lbs Mahatma rice- free
1 McCormick grill mates marinade- free
2 Old Spice Deodorants and 2 Old Spice body washes- free+ $3 overage!
1 Laura's Lean 92/8 ground beef- Manager's special 3.17
1 Oral B toothbrush- free
2 Cover Girl Mascaras- .52 each
1 Cover Girl nail polish- Free + .23 overage
1 Nivea body wash- .49
2 Knudsen Organic Just Juice- 1.35 each
1 package Land of Frost turkey- 1.29


We are enjoying eating from our stocked freezer. I am starting to plan for freezer cooking for June. Anyone want to join?! I will be posting my plans and recipes soon.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Favorite Things

Lately I just love these fun and fluffy headbands! Instantly makes any outfit more interesting!

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Behind Closed Doors...

photo collage: lifeinitaly.com

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness." Matthew 23:27

I have been giving it some thought lately as to how blogs can quickly become places where we post our moments of glory, our culinary achievements, and our strokes of creative genius. Ronnie and I refer to these as "blog boasts."

One of the things that I love about reading blogs is the inspiration that they provide. I love to see neat and creative things people are making, fun and delicious recipes, and beautiful decorating that people do in their houses. But the danger is that we can pick and choose what we want the world to see. I might show you the 20 meals in my freezer but I failed to show a picture of the masses of dirty dishes piled high. I am eager to show you a delicious and attractive meal, but I don't feature those nights where 6:30 has rolled around and I have no clue what we are going to eat and we resort to scrambled eggs. It is easy for me to show you where we have added a little beauty to our house, but I don't show you what is behind the closet doors or in the top dresser drawer- the drawer that was in such disarray that the other day I resorted to emptying out on the floor to find the one thing I was looking for.

And I definitely have not mentioned to you what lurks in my heart behind the whitewashed doors! How I so quickly grow impatient, how I worry about the future, how I pass judgment on others, and how I become consumed with trivial things rather than hungering and thirsting for righteousness.

Why am I mentioning these things now? This is my effort to continue to keep things real. It is easy to fall into the trap of presenting ourselves as people that have it all together, but oh how far from the truth! Isn't it refreshing to remember that Jesus came to save and heal the sick?! He isn't looking for those that have it all together. In fact, in all our failed efforts, brokeness, and sin we see our desperate need for Him. Today I rejoice in the fact that my life is hidden in Him and He is making all things new.

And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Mark 2:17


"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." Col. 3:1-3