Irish Wedding Blessing

Philip and I recently heard this Irish Blessing at a wedding we attended. It is so easy for me to get bogged down in the daily grind of life and forget that these are the simple, true blessings of life. I am so thankful for the man I married almost 10 years ago and for the home we have made together. May you be blessed as well.

Irish Wedding Blessing

May the glow of friendship guide your path together.
May the laughter of children grace the halls of your home.
May the joy of living for one another trip a smile from your lips, and a twinkle in your eyes.
May the spirit of love find a dwelling place in your hearts.
May your mornings bring joy and your evenings bring peace.
May you be poor in misfortunes and rich in blessings.
May your love last forever.
May each new dawn bring golden pathways.
May you be fixed with a certainty that God is with you every step of the way.

For all you Penny-Pinchers out there!

I just have to tell you about one of my favorite stores, The Bread Store. My mom always sang the praises of the bread store while we were growing up, but now that I am a mother of four, I have a new appreciation for such things.

The Bread Store is a store that offers bread at extremely discounted prices from the grocery retail prices. The bread is slightly less than first-day fresh, but it is well worth it for the great prices.

Today, I bought the following and came home and put it in my awesome and huge freezer in the garage:

10 loaves of bread, mostly 100% whole wheat--usually around $2.50 each even at Walmart
8 pkg. english muffins--retail price $3.69 according to package
1 pkg. hot dog buns, 100% whole wheat
2 pkg. mini bagels, 100% whole wheat
1 bag tortilla chips
1 lb., 11 oz., brown & wild rice
and a free green grocery bag!!

All for only $25.69 and if you are a grocery price guru, that is a FABULOUS deal!! This much stuff would be $60-$75 at the grocery store. Now bear in mind, you don't have to buy in quantity. You can walk in there and just buy one loaf of bread if you want. But my family uses over half a loaf of bread in one meal of sandwiches, so I like to stock up, and bread keeps perfectly in the freezer.

There is a bread store in your neighborhood, you just have to find it. The one I go to is Mrs. Baird's at the corner of Harwood and Central in Bedford. There is a Hostess Bread store on Pipeline in Hurst. If you don't live in the D/FW Metroplex, just google the name of your favorite bread manufacturer and add "thrift store" or "outlet" and you should be able to locate the Bread Store in your area. Happy penny-pinching!

Loads of Laundry

So today I carried a pile of towels from the dryer and tossed them on the couch. Then I asked Abraham (5) and Rachel (3 1/2) to fold the laundry. I went on with preparing lunch in the kitchen and when I came back to the living room, these beautifully-sorted stacks of towels and washcloths were sitting on the coffee table.

I cannot express how pleased I am with Rachel and Abraham and how thankful I am to have helpful children, especially as we prepare to have a newborn in the house! I only had to ask them to do it one time, they did it with a happy attitude, and they didn't take all day to do it. Abraham and Rachel worked together well and did a great job on this load of laundry! Believe me, there's a lot more to come!

Summer Fun!

This photo that my husband took is a glimpse into the peace and cooperation that I want my kids to live in each day. Don't you just love that sweet big brother giving his sister a drink on such a hot summer day?!

Need to Become a Better Blogger

I have decided I need to blog a little more often. I'm not committing to do this every day, but I could at least do it once a year or once per quarter or maybe even every month! I do have to figure out how to get Phil's pictures onto my login so I can use them in my blog. I think that has been a major roadblock for me...as well as figuring out what to say in my blogs, and not feeling silly or self-conscious about a little self-exposure.

Well, here's to my future in the blogosphere!

Granola Girl, Part Two

Okay, so we finally found time to make the Granola. I say "we" because I had plenty of help chopping, measuring, pouring, and mixing from my Kitchen Assistants, Abraham & Rachel. I had to put an end to the mixing with hands when Abraham coughed on his and Rachel licked the sesame seeds off hers. It turned out delicious and I'm looking forward to eating a bowl with cold milk tomorrow morning.

Here's the recipe for L'Abri Granola:

Ingredients:
8-10 c. rolled oats
1/2 c. sesame seeds
1 c. sunflower seeds (I forgot these at the grocery store, so they were omitted)
2 c. shredded coconut
2 c. nuts, chopped (almonds, pecans, pistachios, peanuts, walnuts...we used almonds & walnuts)
1 c. honey
1/2 c. olive or canola oil (I used canola)
2 c. chopped, mixed dried fruits (apricots, apples, bananas, cranberries, raisins, dates or figs...we used apricots, raisins, and cranberries)
dash of salt

Directions:
Mix all dry ingredients except fruit in large bowl.
Add honey, then oil, mixing thoroughly and evenly.
Spread across baking pans (I used 3 large ones)
Bake at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 30-35 minutes, until browned to preference.
Cool in a dry place. Once cool, push granola off baking sheets into a large mixing bowl.
Add mixed fruits.
Serve dry or with milk, yogurt, or ice cream.
Store in an air-tight container up to two months.

I got this recipe from Josh and Becca Good, friends and fellow food-lovers. Thank you both for the inspiration to make my first batch of homemade granola.

Granola Girl?

I'm not too sure about pouring my heart out on this blog. It just doesn't seem all that intimate. I think if I'll ever get used to it, I'd better start practicing some baby steps.

I am hoping to make some granola this week. I'm not sure why I'm so excited to do this, except I remember my mom making it when I was a kid. I don't think I appreciated the homemade granola all that much back then. I am sure it will be lots of fun for Abraham and Rachel to dump ingredients in and to mix it all up. We'll try not to spill too much! Most of all, I'm looking forward to eating it...