Tuesday, October 30, 2007

This and That

I admit that my previous post title was a *bit* dramatic, but all drama aside, I thought it was an important issue to share. Thank you to everyone who commented.

We did get moved out of our storage on time! Thanks to all the GREAT help we had, the guys were finished before noon! Absolutely nothing is out of a box, but the back bedroom is full to the ceiling, waiting patiently for me to tackle it.

I've had several vacuum cleaner issues that are keeping us from being able to set up the house, beginning with our vacuum pulling a disappearing act. Whether it was stolen or misplaced in the great store things here, store things there fiasco, it's just gone! We will still need one at some point--sooner I'm thinking, than later--so I'm in the market for one, preferably a canister. Any of you ladies have suggestions about a good brand/inexpensive price that will work well?

Well, that will have to be it for now. Brandon has nursed himself to sleep, and I need to lay him down and take advantage of the quiet. I have lots to do today, but I've gotten a slow start.

Until later....

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Soy--Miracle food or Death in Disguise?

I just finished reading one of these articles and STRONGLY suggest you all do the same! They address the issue of the dangers of soy in our diet. What has been hailed as "healthy" may actually be seriously harming us, especially our infants and children.


Here's an excerpt from the article written for No Geater Joy by Debi Pearl in 2001.


Soybeans! Healthy, right? Full of vitamins? Full of protein? Yes, everyone knows that. Not according to new research. It is common knowledge that soybeans are loaded with plant compounds that mimic estrogen, a female hormone. Many post menopausal women use soy products to help control hot flashes and other problems caused by hormonal imbalances. And soy is very effective in supplying the hormones needed! Think about it. If soy products supply sufficient hormones to balance out older women, what are they doing to newborn babies fed soy formula? What is this female hormone doing to men who have a constant diet of tofu and soy milk? What about younger women who already have a full supply of estrogen; how does a diet of estrogen rich soy affect them? Research is now strongly pointing to some very disturbing facts....read more.

(For some reason, my link is not working. Try to click on or copy/paste-- http://www.nogreate rjoy.org/ topics/general- view/archive/ 2001/october/ 10/soy-alert/ )


Pearl provides several links for beginning your own research into this issue. I believe we, as wives, mothers, daughters and friends, need to be informed and take steps to protect our families!

This is another site to study for more information

http://www.soyonlineservice.co.nz/

Please share this information with others. You may link back here if you'd like.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Interesting use for a common item

A friend sent me an email about Vick's Vapor Rub(sp?).

Some scientists in Canada have "discovered" that if you put the rub on the soles of your feet (yes, that is what I said, the SOLES of your feet!) you will experience relief from even the severest night-time coughing!!! How awesome is that!!!??? They determined that it was even more effective, especially in children, than powerful prescription drugs. You simply put a good layer of the product on the bottom of your feet, cover with socks and get into bed. It's supposed to give long-lasting relief.

Now, I haven't tested this out myself yet, but I plan to!!! The next time one of my boys or my husband gets that annoying, sleep-depriving, wracking cough, I'm going to slather it on and see what happens.

Has anyone ever tried this? Or if you try it, leave a comment and let us know how it works for you.

Yummy Fall Recipe

This is a yummy, hearty soup that will feed a family! It can also be frozen in small portions for easy-to-fix dinners later!

Santa Fe Soup
(Thanks, Viv!)

2lbs. hamburger, browned and drained
2 pkgs. ranch dressing mix
2 pkgs. taco seasoning
2 cans of corn
1 can of chicken broth*
1 can kidney beans
1 can pinto beans**
1 can black beans
Sour cream
Cheese
Corn chips

Mix all ingredients in large pot and heat through. You can also put this into a crock pot on low for several hours.

Serve topped with cheese, sour cream and corn chips.


*If you don't have canned chicken broth on hand, you can substitute 2 tsp. of chicken bouillon(2 sm. cubes) and 3 cps. water.
**I didn't have pinto beans on hand, so I used a can of Ranch Style beans. It worked fine!!

On sale!!

Once again, Crystal Paine is offering her Supermarket Savings course for marked down!!! It's half price for a short time!!! Take advantage, ladies! Click here!

Biblical Womanhood

I know I've written about this before, but I thought it might be a good time for a reminder!!!

Biblical Womanhood is an excellent site for ladies of all ages and positions. Crystal Paine offers an array of Godly resources for the family. Books for single young women, for married women, for mothers and children. She also has a regularly updated blog with lots of good ideas and advice. I've added a link to the Biblical Womanhood store on my sidebar. Go browse around when you have the chance!

Monday, October 22, 2007

Carolyn Mahaney Collection of messages--FREE DOWNLOADS!!!

A friend pointed these out to me. I have since downloaded all the free MP3 messages and can't wait to listen to them all.

Click here for Christ-centered messages for ladies given by Carolyn Mahaney!

Suggestions??(Extended)

I need some small house-little closets-even smaller kitchen-storage ideas. Input requested and appreciated!!!

Well, I'm going from a small house with two large closets and an attic that I could use to store boxes (Rubbermaid tubs.) I also had a fairly large kitchen with a lot of counter space and cabinets. The house we will be moving to has only small closets and the kitchen has only one wall of counter space, with few cabinets.

I will need a place to store canned/boxed/dry food, as well as my boxes of extra clothing (i.e. maternity, post-maternity, baby clothes, seasonal clothing). I'm beginning to stock up on household items, so I need ideas on storing that as well.

moving update

Yes, we're still planning to move, but we have SOOO much to get done!!
We're painting the inside of the house and planning to get some of the flooring replaced as well. The whole painting process has not been without its complications, but so far so good. The major part is done, leaving only the tedious, detailed work--cabinets, trim, insides of closets, bathrooms.
I was hoping to be able to jump right in and work along side my hubby, but for some reason my almost-six-month-old won't stay happy long enough for me to paint anything to completion. Of course, there's also Ryan who wants to "paint" too. Can you imagine the condition of things if he were to get hold of a paint brush. I shudder to think of it!!!
We have to have everything moved out of our storage by the 31st, or we have to pay for another month's rent. If you were watching us from afar, I fear we would look like crazed people right now, flying around trying futilely to accomplish everything!! :)
Just to show you how not on top of things I am, I haven't even started to consider going through things and packing things here at the house. Obviously, since we've been staying in my parent's house for the last year, we don't' have that much here to pack, but it is amazing to me how much stuff accumulates in a relatively short amount of time. Ryan's toy collection, for example, has grown exponentially since last June. I plan to go through them and donate them to a good cause (i.e. the trash or a garage sale) but you can only imagine the uproar that is causing. The thought that Mommy would give away my toys, even though I haven't played with half of them in who know how long!!!! Any suggestions here, people??? How do you separate a three-year old from his beloved collection without triggering a melt-down????
OK, I'm now being LOUDLY paged by Brandon. He's in dire need from the sound of his calling! Gotta run....more to come later, I hope.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Little Boys


Brandon has discovered the wonder of TOES!!!



Cutie!



My handsome boys!



Brotherly Love

Saturday, October 13, 2007

A Frugal Blog!

I came across this lady today and had to add a link to her site! She has a lot of good ideas on how to save money on grocery/household shopping. Since this is a new endeavor for me and something I'm starting to learn, I'm looking for all the help I can get!

SENSE TO SAVE

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Moving!

Wow, it's been too many days since I posted!!! But then, if you had seen the state of my house, you'd all be thankful that I took a few days to get it in order.

We're going to be doing some work on a house that my dad owns over the next few weeks. We hope that by the end of this month or the beginning of November, we can move in!! It's going to be nice to have our own little space again. :)

Needless to say, I won't be able to blog too often because of all the constraints of time and the work that goes into any move, especially with small children in tow!

I'll probably be asking one of the other ladies in my church to take over posting on our church's blog for a few weeks. I don't want it to lack for new posts while I'm busy with moving!

So, the few of you who visit here regularly, think about me and pray for me over the next month! I'll try to post some updates if I am able.

Signing off for now!

Friday, October 05, 2007

E-book Special!!!!

Crystal Paine is offering three of her e-books for only $1 each!! Hurry though, this offer expires TODAY!!!!

Click Here!

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

New Baby Girl!!!

I just wanted to give a shout-out to our friends Mike and Mary Ann Jordan. Mary Ann gave birth to a beautiful little girl today, a few minutes after noon.

Welcome, Kimberly Rose Jordan!! She weighed in at 7lbs, 11oz and is 22 1/2 inches long!

Mike and Mary, we can't wait to meet your newest daughter! May God bless your family as you continue to love and enjoy each other!!!

E-books from Biblical Womanhood

Crystal Paine is offering three of her e-books for only $1 each!! Hurry though, this offer expires Friday!

Click Here!

A New Love


StarbucksStore.com


I have to blame my recently acquired love for coffee on my friend Nichole. Before I started hanging out with her, I had NO interest in anything java related. Now, I can't drive past a Starbucks without my brain telling me that I smell that intoxicating aroma of COFFEE!!!

I wouldn't say that I'm addicted because I've yet to experience that all-consuming urge to have a cup of coffee every morning, but I can say that I've developed a taste for the brew.

I love it hot.
I love it cold.
I love it plain.
I love it creamed, sugared and flavored!
Do any of you share this love of coffee?

Interesting Concept!




Here's something I've never heard of before!!! Leave me some feedback (comment!) to let me know what you think of this service. Is it even something that you would consider? Personally, I think it's a strange idea, but you never know what people might like!

Reduced prices!

Restaurant.com is slashing prices!! You can get $25 gift certificates for as little as $5!!!

50% Off Sale! Use code DISCOVER at checkout. Offer expires Oct. 7th!

Monday, October 01, 2007

Riding for MS--MS150 In just 3 Weeks!!!!!!!!

I wanted to share this note from my uncle with you. He is riding to raise money for research into MS. As many of you know, my mother-in-law was recently diagnosed with this disease.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hey everyone. Yes its getting closer. Just 3 more weeks.

We have been riding. Although not as much as we would like to. This last Wednesday, I rode 25 miles. The Sunday previous was also 25 miles.
The Saturday of the prior weekend.
Tom and I rode our "circuit".
70 miles round trip from Portland, to Portland. We start over the Harbor bridge, down Ocean drive thru Corpus Christi, down S.P.I.D. over the J.F.K. causeway. From there we rode to Port Aransas across the ferry, riding thru Aransas Pass and finally back to Portland. All in less than 6 hours.
Tom has made great improvements since 2 years ago. We had to stop every 10 miles for 20 minutes to let him rest. Took us almost 9 hours.
Was planning on riding yesterday. However, the weather was terrible. Heavy rains, wind and some really strange beautiful lightning. Unfortunately, the same problem today.

I have ridden in the rain before.
The 2nd year I rode,we had rain for the first 50 miles at an average of 2 inches an hour. I don't mind riding in the rain. But, I hate training in it. lololololol.
But, we have been working out at the Community Center (tread mill, stationary bike, weights etc.). We have also been working out at home almost daily with the program "P90X". So, as you can see, one way or another we will be ready for the ride on October 20th and 21st.

In total this year. The MS 150 will actually be 160 miles long. Due to route changes. On Saturday, we will ride 100 miles from San Antonio to Beeville. Than on Sunday a much shorter ride of 60 miles, from Beeville to Corpus Christi.

Tom rides for a friend of his with MS.

As most of you know. I am riding for 2 people this year. And yes, I did ask Maggie first, if it was alright that I ride for Cindy also. Maggie, is a long time family friend that I have ridden for the last 2 years. I am also riding for Cindy Walker.
Cindy is my nieces mother-in-law. She was diagnosed very recently.
Both are FANTASTIC, WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL people, that live with MS everyday. Also, 2 of the most loving, caring people you will ever meet.

Tom and I, along with thousands of others ride and train to do a 150 mile bike ride every year. Sounds like a lot.
But, people like Maggie, Cindy and thousands of others live with the effects of MS everyday.


I can give you all these reasons to pledge.
But, it is for Maggie, Cindy and everyone else that lives with MS.

We do not have a minimum or a maximum amount that you can pledge. It is a 150 mile bicycle ride (bicycle not motorcycle).
You can pledge a set amount. You can pledge an amount per mile. You can pledge an amount on how long it will take me.

Please remember, we as riders not only pay the entry fee for the bike ride. Riders are responsible for transportation costs to San Antonio, the cost of the hotel Friday night, the cost of a hotel if we do not stay at the college in Beeville Saturday night, the cost of meals and the cost to return home if we do not live in Corpus Christi. Because we do get our bicycles inspected prior to the ride. IF we break down on the ride, we are not charged for labor. BUT, we are charged for parts.

We as riders must have $300.00 in donations. If we do not receive at least $300.00 in total donations. We are responsible for the difference.

THANK YOU again for everyone that have already donated. THANK YOU in advance for those of you that will be donating.
As much as Donations are very much needed and appreciated. Prayers and Support are just as much wanted, needed and appreciated.

All pledges are tax deductible.

The following is the electronic link that will take you directly to my donation sight for this years MS150.

http://www.ms150.org/b2b/donate/edonate_link.cfm?id=201953&p=B1EC61

You can also donate by check. Make checks payable to: National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Please if you donate by check, put my name, and/or e-mail address on the check so I will get credit for the donations....

George Elliott

e-mail: http://us.f841.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=sotxsrunner@charter.net

For an accurate rider account, please mail all pledges to: Valero MS 150 National MS Society P.O. Box 4125 Houston, TX 77210
For correspondences with staff, please mail/deliver to: National MS Society, Lone Star Chapter 9830 Colonnade Blvd., Suite 130 San Antonio, Texas 78230

PLEASE, FEEL FREE TO SEND THIS EVERYONE ON YOUR ADDRESS LIST!!!

Thanks Again,

George Elliott