Scripture Memory Verse ~ 7/31/11

Memory Verse ~ 7/31/11-8/6/11

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- His good, pleasing and perfect will." 

Romans 12:2

(First Place 4 Health, "Seek God First", Week 8)

Hide these Words in your heart and they will be with you always.

     

Please see my sidebar to see all the wonderful places I'll be linking up to.

"Move" by MercyMe

 

Just you try to sit still during this song!  Make a joyful noise unto the Lord!!!

 

Have a great week!

{this moment} & Feel Good Friday ~ 7/29/11

 {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo (or 2, or 3) - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

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"Just make a list. List 5 things that made you really happy this week. No matter how bad or boring you think your week was, I bet you can find 5 things."

1.  We're making headway in the HHCS library!
2.  Swimming with the hubby and girls!
3.  Getting to visit with Kristie!
4.  I made some sales on etsy  this week!
5.  Spending last Saturday with the family just relaxing!

"A Woman Called Sage" by DiAnn Mills

Book Description:

They took away everything she loved ... now, she's out for revenge. Sage Morrow had it all: life on a beautiful Colorado ranch, a husband who adored her, and a baby on the way. Until five ruthless gunmen rode up to their ranch and changed her life forever.

Now Sage is a bounty hunter bent on retribution. Accompanied only by her majestic hawk, she travels throughout the Rocky Mountains in search of injustice, determined to stamp it out wherever it's found. The stakes are raised when two young boys are kidnapped and Sage is forced to work with Marshall Parker Timmons to rescue them. But Sage may ultimately get more than she bargained for.

My Thoughts:

I've never read a Diann Mills book that I didn't like, so I settled in with this book anticipating a great experience.  A Christian romance where the leading lady is a half-Native American, tough, gunslinging, bounty hunter.  I was so intrigued by the description alone.

As I read this book I was drawn in and fell in love with the characters.  I could feel Sage's pain.  The mystery was one I couldn't wait to solve.  I thought I had it figured out.  What was the connection?  I had me turning page after page into the wee hours of the morning.  Luckily, it was a Friday night and I could sleep in.

I loved this book.  I loved the characters, the setting, and the story.  This book is a must read.

Please see my right sidebar for the great places I'll be linking to!

Popcorn Balls

Saturday we to spent a Family Fun Day at home.  We hung out at the pool, watched the latest Chronicles of Narnia movie and the girls went through our cookbooks looking for a goody we could make together.

Kaylee came across this homemade Popcorn Ball recipe in her cookbook "Mommy & Me".  It has a ton of great, easy recipes to make with your kids.  They are simple and the kids get their hands into the cooking and baking.  This recipe they literally got their hands into it!

Popcorn Balls

10 to 12 cups popped popcorn
3/4 cup butter
1 (1 lb.) bag marshmallows

Pop the popcorn and place it in a very large bowl.

Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat and add the marshmallows.  Cook until marshmallows are gooey stirring constantly.

Pour the melted marshmallows over the bowl of popcorn and mix until the popcorn is coated.

When cooled, moisten your hands with cold water and form into balls.

Place the balls on wax paper and let set up.

Share with family and friends!

If your family is anything like mine, they won't be able to wait until the marshmallow sets up.  It was hilarious watching them eat the popcorn balls while they were falling apart in their hands.

There are a lot of fun things you could add to these Popcorn Balls.  Chocolate chips, sprinkles, colored sugar, etc.

We had a lot of fun with this recipe.  I hope you do too!

Please see my left sidebar for the great places I'll be linking to!

Scripture Memory Verse ~ 7/24/11

Memory Verse ~ 7/24/11-7/30/11

"Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." 

Matthew 4:4

(First Place 4 Health, "Seek God First", Week 7)

Hide these Words in your heart and they will be with you always.

     

Please see my sidebar to see all the wonderful places I'll be linking up to.

{Shop Update} ~ 7/14/11

Each Thursday I am going to dedicate a post to updating you on what is new and/or restocked in my "Colletta's Kitchen Sink" etsy shop.

I don't really have much new this week.

I've been working on trying out some new patterens that are turning out to be super cute!  I can't wait to share them with you.

A few different hats:  Cow, Sock Monkey, Sweet Monkey, a Cloche and more.  I my is going crazy with all the different color-ways!  Most of them will be customizable with any size and any color.  So much fun!

I also have a diaper cover pattern that I'm getting ready to try.  I'll probably pair them up with hats to make sets.  I am so excited!  There are going to be so many great combinations.

I also have a new pod and a new cocoon coming to my shop soon.  They are more loosely crocheted to add more stretch and will fit babies 0-3 months instead of just newborns.

So keep watching.  In between the busyness of summer, kids, pool, etc., I'll be having lots of new items soon!

***

Thank you all so much for supporting me on my blog and in my shop!

Have a great day!

Peanut Butter Fudge Bars

I've been on a chocolate and peanut butter kick lately.  I found this recipe at http://www.pastrychefbaking.blogspot.com/ . 

Everyone seemed to like them but I'm still stuck on those Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars.  yummmm.....  Gonna have to make them again soon.

This bar isn't as sweet but is still very rich with that chocolate fudgy center.

Peanut Butter Fudge Bars

1 (18.5oz) package yellow cake mix
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 large eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
2 Tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 and grease a 13x9 baking pan.

In a large bowl place the cake mix, peanut butter, eggs and oil.  Blend with mixer approx 1-2 minutes until well blended.

Reserve 1 1/2 cups of the mixture in a separate bowl.  Press the remaining mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan.  Set aside.

In a saucepan, over low heat, melt the chocolate chips with the condensed milk and butter.  Stir until well blended and smooth.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.

Pour over the crust.  Sprinkle remaining cake mixture over the top of the chocolate layer.

Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and the topping is firm to the touch.

Cool completely and cut into bars.

Share with family and friends.

 If you try both this recipe and the Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars recipe, let me know how you would compare them.

Have a great week!

Please see my left sidebar for the great places I'll be linking to!

Scripture Memory Verse ~ 7/10/11

Memory Verse ~ 7/10/11-7/16/11

"You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from You." 

Psalm 69:5

(First Place 4 Health, "Seek God First", Week 5)

Hide these Words in your heart and they will be with you always.

     

Please see my sidebar to see all the wonderful places I'll be linking up to.

"Times" by Tenth Avenue North

 

I've been there.  How about you?

Have a great week!

{this moment} & Feel Good Friday ~ 7/8/11

 {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo (or 2, or 3) - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

************************

"Just make a list. List 5 things that made you really happy this week. No matter how bad or boring you think your week was, I bet you can find 5 things."

1.  I hit 60 sales in my etsy shop!

2.  Watching the girls swim in the pool!

3.  I walked 5 miles yesterday!

4.  It stormed last night and I slept SO good!

5.  I found a great sale on yarn and bought so much I had to rearrange my sewing room!

{Shop Udate} ~ 7/7/11

Each Thursday I am going to dedicate a post to updating you on what is new and/or restocked in my "Colletta's Kitchen Sink" etsy shop.

Tomorrow, July 8th will be my 3 month-aversary of starting my etsy shop.  Last night I hit 60 sales!!!  60 sales in less than 3 months!  I am more than pleased.

I had some time this week to add some new colors to my Flower Clip collection and my Mug Cozy collection.  I also combined the two to make a Mug Cozy with Flower.  It really sets off the cozy and makes it girlier!

I showed all my new colors in yesterday's post about the flower clips.  You can go HERE to see them all.  This is the clip made in "Zebra".

I also added some bulk options with the Flower Clips that will give you a savings.  You can get any color combination in sets of 3, 5 or 10.  There are more solid colors in the listing, also.

All the flower clip options can be found in the "Hair Accessories" section of my shop.

This is one of the new Mug Cozy with Flower made in "Plum Pudding".  Isn't it cute.  I still have just the plain cozies listed also in case the flower accent just isn't your thing.

I also added a "Custom Team Spirit" cozy listing that I will make with the colors you specify according to your favorite teams/school colors. 

All my mug cozies can be found in the "Cozies" section of my shop.

***

Thank you all so much for supporting me on my blog and in my shop!

Have a great day!

Triple Layer Flower Clips - New Colors

I was very excited to get some new varigated yarns and couldn't wait to see how they worked up into the Triple Layer Flowers that I then attach a hairclip to.  They are so fun to make and I always love to see what pattern the varigation makes with the petals.

Kaylee and Laken were my models last evening.  Here are the new colors:

"Pink Camo"

"Bonbon"

"Mistletoe"

"Plum Pudding"

 "Zebra" (could also be "Cow" lol!)

"Shades of Brown"

These as well as all the other colors in my collection can be found in the "Hair Accessories" section of my shop.  I have about 27 different colors available so far.

Thanks for looking!

Please see my left sidebar for the great places I'll be linking to! 

"Finding Faith" by Denise Hunter

The New Heights Series Book 3

Book Description:

Set in the high-pressure world of a Chicago television newsroom, author Denise Hunter brings to life a story of intrigue and integrity, of secrets divulged and promises kept. Paula Landin-Cohen's new job as an investigative reporter quickly puts her in the spotlight as she pursues a story that becomes nationally followed as the Switched at Birth Mystery.

Finding what really happened to the young couple's baby will assure her a coveted role as news anchorwoman but she also faces the challenges of a shaky marriage, a colleague who fiercely asserts his desire for the job, and a past decision that haunts her.

My Thoughts:

This book followed in line with the first two books of the series in that it was an exceptional read.

It picks up Paula's story where book 2 leaves off and then follows her to Chicago and a news story that changes her life in a very personal way.

The issue of abortion and the consequences thereof were continued throughout this book.  I don't want to give too much away but still want to convey how intriguing this story was.

Another great book from Denise Hunter!

*******

Now that my reviews of the series are over, I do want to mention that each book has some factors that are very coincidental and not very realistic.  But that is the greatness of fiction.  The author can take unrealistic happenings and turn them into a great story.

Please see my left sidebar for the great places I'll be linking to!

Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars

Anytime I see a recipe combining peanut butter and chocolate, you can bet that I print off to give it a try.  This recipe was a definite!  I found it over at http://www.sixsistersstuff.blogspot.com/ .  They have some great recipes.

The recipe calls for it to be baked in a sheet pan but I wanted a thicker, chewier, cakier bar so I used a 13X9 cake pan.

They were delicious!  I mean really, really, REALLY yummy! 

My husband was on 3rd shift that night so I made him take them along to work so that I wouldn't eat them all.  I made sure to get my fair share of them before he took them though, so don't worry about me!

Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

1 cup butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs

1 cup peanut butter

2 cups oatmeal (quick or old-fashioned)

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

Heat oven to 350.  Grease either a jelly roll pan (18x13x1) or a cake pan (13x9).

Cream first 3 ingredients.

Add the vanilla, eggs and peanut butter and combine well.

Add the remaining ingredients and mix together.

Spread the dough on the greased pan.

Bake 15 minutes for jelly roll pan or approx. 30 minutes for cake pan (until golden brown).

While hot, spread 1 1/2 cups peanut butter on top.  Cool so that the peanut butter is once again solid.  You can put it in the refrigerature to speed the cooling.

Spread your favorite chocolate icing on top and cut into bars.

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Here is the Six Sisters favorite frosting for these bars (I had to add additional powdered sugar.  The amount I used is indicated in the recipe below.)

1 cube margarine, softened

1/4 cup milk

1-2 teaspoons vanilla

3 cereal spoons cocoa

4-5 cups of powdered sugar

Mix all ingredients until smooth.  Spread on top of bars.

Share with family and friends....and co-workers!

I will definitely be making these bars again.  Very soon!  Yum...

Please see my left sidebar for the great places I'll be linking to!

Scripture Memory Verse ~ 7/3/11

Memory Verse ~ 7/3/11-7/9/11

"Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me.  He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love him and show Myself to him." 

John 14:21

(First Place 4 Health, "Seek God First", Week 4)

Hide these Words in your heart and they will be with you always.

     

Please see my sidebar to see all the wonderful places I'll be linking up to.

Sweet Summertime...

Aww, summer.  July, no less.

I have been so sporadic on my blogging since getting back from vacation.  Especially, the last two weeks.

The thing is, I have posts planned and then before I know it, the day is gone.  I'm going to work on getting back on schedule and trying to post in the morning before the day gets going.

Things should be settling into more of a routine now, so wish me luck.

Oh, and if you could say a little prayer for my girls to get along and not fight so much...that would be great!

Have a great weekend and be safe! 

Happy July!!