lewa's designs

I've always wanted to try the vinyl wall decals/words, but I've never gotten up the nerve to order any.

What perfect timing - via Kimba at A Soft Place to Land, Lewa's Designs is offering a giveaway! Everything is cute, but the baseball will be PERFECT for Ryan's room in the new house, and I can find a spot for a bird anyway.

Thanks, ladies for this awesome giveaway!

project procrastinators party

Over at The Inspired Room, Melissa is hosting a Project Procrastinators Party. I've got a list a mile long of projects I want to complete before moving into our new house. Fortunately, none of them are huge!

First, I want to turn this bulletin board:

into this bulletin board I saw at Cherry's Jubilee. So cute! I've had this bulletin board forever, just hanging around with no purpose. It'll look great in my new kitchen (or mudroom, I haven't decided yet).

Next on this list is making these:

I fell in love with this idea I found at Dukes & Duchesses/Mad About Martha a long time ago - I've had the frames since just after Christmas. I've had the handprints for longer than that! Good thing I didn't procrastinate tracing their little hands; otherwise this project would be impossible.

So many more things to do on my list. I also need to:

*spraypaint 2 wicker chairs
*frame antique fishing lure for Cade's room
*decide on pictures I want to use, have them printed and frame
*oh, I'd also love to make this for our learning room:
We have a constant & abiding love of birds (and bird study) going on here always. I am so sorry to whoever (whomever?) I filched this from off the internet. Love your bulletin board!

I am trying to get all of this accomplished in 2 weeks. Officially, though, I am only going for the bulletin board & hand pictures.

And now, in keeping with the theme of this party, I've procrastinated on this post until mid-morning.

times are changing around here

and we'd love to have you join us for the ride - especially if you live in Georgia or a neighboring state.

We've been working our tails off getting our new business off the ground. We've poured our hearts & souls into this, along with a lot of hard work and HUGE amounts of faith. We believe He will provide!

Please visit our new website for our business Sporting Families. Be sure to read the note from Brian, as well as click the button to find out more specifically what we're about. And for more details on membership, click the Family membership button at the top of the page.

We're so excited and can't wait to see what all is in store!

cornbread fococcia

{image: my recipes via Southern Living}

I originally saw this recipe in Southern Living while waiting in the doctor's office. I had planned to make bbq ribs that night. Since we have bread with most meals (and I'm always looking for a new recipe) I came home & searched for this one. It was a hit! The only thing I changed was to add a little bit of fresh garlic.

• 1 (1/4-oz.) envelope rapid-rise yeast
• 1 cup warm water (100° to 110°)
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup plain yellow cornmeal
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 (14.5-oz.) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, drained
• 1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Preparation

1. Combine rapid-rise yeast, warm water, and sugar in a small bowl, and let stand 5 minutes or until mixture bubbles.

2. Stir together 2 cups flour and next 3 ingredients in a large bowl; stir in yeast mixture and 2 Tbsp. oil until well blended (dough will be sticky). Turn dough out onto a well-floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic (about 3 to 5 minutes). Place in a well-greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover with plastic wrap, and let stand 15 minutes.

3. Sprinkle cornmeal onto a baking sheet. Place dough on baking sheet, and roll into a 12-inch square, sprinkling with flour as needed to prevent sticking (about 1 Tbsp.). Cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 45 minutes.

4. Preheat oven to 400°. Brush dough with balsamic vinegar. Gently press end of a wooden spoon into top of dough, forming indentations. Top with tomatoes and cheese. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Drizzle with remaining 1 Tbsp. oil.

5. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until golden and cheese is melted. Cool 5 minutes, and cut into squares.

This post is linked to:

• Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty & Bedlam

Be sure to visit Jen everyday - there's always something great!

as always, I'm a little late

but I fell in LOVE with Nester's toile egg.

And so, I made some for myself. I've had these eggs for years, but I've never been able to come up with something to use them for. They've just been sitting in a cabinet. And I've had this toile tissue paper for a while too; it was on clearance one day at Michael's & I bought it without knowing what I'd use it for.

{please excuse the poor quality of these pictures - I was in a hurry to post - I'll post better ones when I'm finished with the table}

I made four red and four blue, and I'll use them in these cute little egg cups on my Easter table. After that, they'll be relocated to other parts of the house where I can see them every day. {HEART} them!

This post is linked to:

• Decorating Spring Fling at The Decorating Voice
  

starting the week with a plan

This week will be fairly busy for us. I admit that I don't function well when we're super busy - especially if I don't have a plan in place for the week. We have a lot going on this week with last minute details on the new house, some things for the new business, doing school, baseball and then just the general things that go along with life. So this really motivates me to get my week in order on Sunday evening.

This week's menu:

Monday: beef roast, cornbread, pinto beans, mashed potatoes and gravy
Tuesday: sloppy joes w/homemade buns, oven fries, brownies {baseball practice}
Wednesday: sticky chicken drumsticks, green beans, cheesy grits, fresh bread
Thursday: pepper steak and rice {I kinda just throw it together, but it's based on this}
Friday: beef and bean nachos {baseball practice}
Saturday: wait-and-see

This post is linked to:

• Menu Plan Monday {check it out for LOTS of great menu ideas} hosted at $5 Dinners this week
  

y'all are just gonna have to indulge me...

while I share pictures of our "big" snow. I think we got about 6 inches, which is about 6 years' worth.

What is this white stuff falling from the sky? Our boys (and our birds!) only know about snow in theory.

Sweet girl Carley - she doesn't know what snow is either. {What's that in the background, you ask? Why it's a picture frame I had just spray painted the day before... when it was over 70 degrees.}
The muddy mess that IS snow in Georgia, especially when it follows 5 inches of rain:

The snow on our new house, that we're not living in. Still. (Don't worry, we didn't brave the weather to get this picture - it's just next door).I just liked this picture.

Our woodsRyan trying to catch snowflakes
Cade making a "snowball"
All was fun and games, until the power went off at 4PM - just as I was getting ready to cook supper. So, we had no power (which also means no HEAT) until 10AM Monday morning.

Welcome to snow in Georgia.