Years ago my friend Hoppi showed me the little inexpensive secret to a simple centerpiece: Buy wheatgrass and display! It seems to have made a comeback, I’ve noticed this spring season, as I’ve flipped through magazines. Some people add flowers or Easter eggs, but I say, keep it simple!

Just this week I purchased 4 individual pots of wheatgrass for $1.19 each.

Place on your favorite pedestal stand.

Find a ribbon in your ribbon stash that goes with the colors for Easter.

Tie around the outside.

Set on your dining table.

Don’t forget to water ever few days.

Simple, inexpensive, elegant, and beautiful.

Do you keep a stash of extra ribbon for decorating ideas?

Oh, and our kitty, Hobbes, loves to eat the wheatgrass … watch out if you have a kitty cat! This picture was taken in our old dining room (before remodel) back in 2006! I just caught her again eating the grass!

(The 2 winners to Lisa Leonard’s necklaces are: Liz (This Full House) and Sheryl R. – no blog. Congrats Ladies! And my friend, Emily (Chatting at the Sky) has a beautiful post on Glimpses of Home today. Check it out and be inspired.)

On my recent trip to Napa Valley with Bush’s Beans, we stayed right down the street from The French Laundry Restaurant.

I’m not sure if you’re familiar with this restaurant, but maybe you’ve seen their cookbook?

The French Laundry is one of the country’s most esteemed restaurants. Its name stems from the fact the restaurant building once housed a French steam laundry during the 19th century. And it is … spendy (thus, we did not eat there, and also the fact that it takes months to get a reservation!)

I love this photo taken at dusk. The garden is right across the street from the restaurant.

Look at this huge greenhouse in all its beauty!

It was dreamy!

Everything was so orderly.

And smelled good, too!

The next day as we walked into Yountville for lunch, we strolled through the garden again, and were very inspired to get home, to get our garden in the ground! (Here’s the beautiful lettuce from our garden, last year.)

Are you thinking ahead to planting a garden this year? Or even a few pots of veggies?

(One more day to enter to win a BEAUTIFUL necklace from Lisa Leonard Designs!)

This really should have been my Valentine’s post on how much I love my husband! Because look what he did for me?

When I saw the stack of leftover wood flooring from our kitchen remodel, I didn’t mean to make more work for him. No! I promise! But I couldn’t help but ask (beg!) for him to put the leftover pieces down over our ’70s tile in the front entryway. (We’ve known for 5 years the floor needed updating!)

When Fred built and designed our home, he did a beautiful job. And the tile has held up for 30+ years, but it was time for a change!

We thought we were going to have to rip up the current tile, but we planned it out and didn’t. SUCH A TIME SAVER!

Old tile.

New floor.

Ties in nicely with this floor.

If you have a small area that needs redone, ask around to some friends who’ve maybe just completed a project, to see if they have any leftover material for you!

Do you look for ways to use up leftover materials from projects?

(Don’t forget Lisa Leonard is giving away 2 beautiful pieces of jewelry. Enter today. Winner announced on Friday!)

A couple of years ago we entertained outside under our covered patio on April 1st, while it was snowing outside. I called it our April Fool’s dinner and you can read all about the food I served. Normally we don’t entertain outside in Oregon until the end of April or May.

This giveaway is to find out when you start your springtime entertaining!?

Lisa Leonard Designs Giveaway
Lisa Leonard makes beautiful jewelry. I know because I I have one beautiful necklace that I dearly love. Her work is stellar — classy, sharp and attractive.

Today on RE Lisa has generously agreed to give away 2 necklaces! Yes, 2 lucky winners will be able to win one of the following:

Illuminate necklace
illuminate. (v.) il.lu.mi.nate.

to lighten, to brighten, shine, glow

our hand-drawn chandelier is hand-stamped on a 1″ sterling disc, sweetened with a Swarovski crystal teardrop and strung from sterling chain.

customize with a meaningful word, phrase or names.

up to 18 characters.

And …

Forever Necklace
So sweet, so beautiful. This sterling heart is hand-carved in wax and cast in sterling silver. Customize with a special name or word. Pendant can be hand-stamped on both sides. Strung on sterling chain.

COMMENT TO WIN
What month do you start entertaining outside?

Yup, it’s that easy to win!

EXTRA ENTRIES
Tweet, post on your blog, become a new follower on RE – and come back and tell me for an extra entry.

WINNERS CHOSEN
Come back on Friday this week (March 12th) and I will announce 2 winners! Exciting!

Thank you, Lisa!

(If you haven’t seen it yet, my friend, The Nester, has been recently featured in Serious.Life Magazine. A great read about an amazing gal!)

After I made a comment on Facebook about the Winter Olympics and Curling … that I just couldn’t get into it (although my husband loves it!), my friend Jennifer commented:

Every time I see it I think I need to invite them to my house to clean my kitchen floor!

So true! My husband and I laughed as we read her comment. Which reminds me, I’d love to hear how you clean your kitchen floor?

Do you mop it?
Wash by hand?
Use a Swiffer?

Would you be willing to share your tips?

I have new hardwood floors and it’s hard to stay on top of them.

I’d really like a ROOMBA!

Have you heard of or do you have a ROOMBA?

(Thanks Jennifer, for humoring us!)

The winner to the Kelly Anderson Art Giveaway is Chris Ann from Love Feast Table. You MUST check out her incredible blog (she blogs along with her sister Kristin!), as these girls are True Hospitality Sisters at heart. Congrats Chris Ann!

When my decorating friend The Nester put out this cry on her blog:

Teach me oh wise decoratory friends, show me the folly of my naked top of cabinet ways. How do you decorate above your cabinets?

I jumped in and said white dishes and platters! Because they’re classy and handy!

Also, a girl can never have too many white dishes!

We were on a tight budget when we remodeled our kitchen a while back. So when Home Depot asked if we wanted our cabinets to the ceiling, or with space above, we had to save every penny and went with a “space.”

I really didn’t have a “plan” for the space until I got the actual cabinets put in, and then I knew. It was perfect for my white platters and bowls.

When my sisters and I cooked this meal, I reached for a few platters and bowls.

And recently I added some fresh daffodils from the yard!

So what to do with the space above the cabinets? Use white dishes and platters for a classy look and for simple, handy efficiency!

If you have the space between the cabinets and the ceiling or soffit, what do you fill it with?

(Speaking of springy flowers, don’t forget to ENTER the Kelly Anderson Art GIVEAWAY- winner will be announced on Monday! This beautiful print is in my living room and I’m sad I have to give it away!)

I’m also happy to announce, and honored, that Reluctant Entertainer made the Top 100 2009 Internet Cafe Devotions Blessed Aroma Awards!

Thank you RE readers for your support.

Blessed Aroma showcases favorite blogs that have encouraged with written words and examples of faith in 2008. The list consists of some of the most encouraging and inspiring blogs with 10 categories, and listed below are 10 blogs that made “The Classics” (along with RE!)

What are The Classics?
Upon reviewing the nominations, several blogs received many nominations in several different categories. It was decided these favorites needed their own category. In no particular order, the most nominations were:

Muthering Heights
Lysa TerKeurst
Money Saving Mom
Like a Warm Cup of Coffee
A Familiar Path
The Bowyers
Big Mama
Other Such Happenings
Heart of a Pastor’s Wife
Reluctant Entertainer

If you have the time, head over and check out the entire list of 100 blogs. You will be uplifted and inspired!

Last weekend when Bush’s Beans sent me to Napa Valley, it was more than a wonderful weekend of learning and kitchen fun. I always knew that beans were healthy for you, but the meaning of the “bean” took on a whole new flavor for me as we created an array of recipes in the CIA’s William’s Center for Flavor Discovery Kitchen.

What caught my attention, having lost my Mother and recently my favorite Auntie to cancer, was that The American Institute for Cancer Research recommends a diet rich in a variety of plant-based foods and offers these tips for adding beans to your diet:

Keep canned beans in your pantry

Add a new-to-you bean to your diet once or twice a week

Make meatless meals by substituting beans for the meat in your favorite recipes

So keeping in mind that diets including beans may reduce risks of heart disease and certain cancers, I am truly going to try to implement this idea in my family’s diet. It only makes sense and in a way, it’s a wake-up call.

Some nutrients in beans which may help fight cancer include: antioxidants, fiber, and phytochemicals. We have the information; it only makes sense to me to start using more beans!

Back to the kitchen. As soon as we tied on our aprons and geared up for cooking, we got our hands dirty and the smells were tantalizing as Amy (She Wears Many Hats) and I made this incredible recipe that I am going to share with you today!

I’ll even share our blunders! Yup, I drained the beans (when it called for undrained!) and then as we were dishing up, we realized we’d forgotten to add the spinach!

We all make mistakes in the kitchen, right?

Bush’s Chicken and Kidney Beans Spanish Stew
2 tsp. olive oil
1/2 cup Spanish chorizo, cut in 1/4″ chunks (peel it first)
2 cups mushrooms, sliced or quartered
1 1/2 cups onion, finely chopped
1 tbsp. garlic, minced
1 tsp. Spanish paprika (or regular, but I DID buy some at the CIA Store)
1 cup canned tomatoes, chopped (I’ll be using my own garden roasted tomatoes!)
3 cups chicken stock
1 can Bush’s Red Kidney Beans, with liquid (Don’t drain like I did – oops! I had to ask Chef Andy what to do!)
2 cups baby spinach, cleaned
1 cup chicken, cooked, shredded
1 tsp. sherry vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Heat olive oil in large pan; add chorizo, cook for 1 minute.

Add mushrooms, cook for 4 minutes.

Actually, Connie Guttersen, R.D., PhD told us that the longer you cook the mushrooms, the tastier.

Add onions, cook until caramelized, approximately 5 minutes. Add garlic and paprika, cook until aromatic.

Add tomatoes, stock, beans and their liquid. Bring to simmer, cook for 20 minutes.

Add spinach, chicken and vinegar. Cook until spinach wilts, approximately 4 minutes.

Pour into a beautiful dish and serve. You can even serve with sour cream or plain yogurt on top.

Delicious. I want to make it for my family this week because we LOVE red kidney beans.

Would you mind sharing what bean you cook the most with?

(Don’t forget about the beautiful oil Kelly Anderson Art GIVEAWAY going on right now … Winner announced on Monday! Bush’s Beans covered the costs of my Napa Valley trip, but I did not receive compensation for expressing my opinions shared on my blog. Oh, and that’s Aggie peeking into the kitchen above!)

Let me tell you what I love about Kelly Anderson. Not only is she a generous soul and a beautiful person, her Kelly Anderson Art oil paintings are incredible, and they will make you smile! Painting flowers is actually a stress-reliever for Kelly as it makes her happy creating and painting them for others!

The day that she brought this gorgeous, springy painting of stargazer lilies to my house, I literally teared up when she left.

There’s just something about her work that is good for the soul, and during a difficult time for me, it brightened my attitude every time I walked into the kitchen.

Because it’s springtime and because I’m such a believer in Kelly’s work, this week we are giving away an original piece – to ONE lucky winner!

Even if you don’t win, just know that Kelly’s work is so affordable, so make sure to check out her website.

Talk about bringing a bit of JOY into your life!

Perfect idea for Mother’s Day!
If you’re like me – you will be forwarding her link right on over to your husband’s email, right? It’s a perfect, affordable idea for Mother’s Day … start putting the bug in his ear now!

WHAT TO WIN

A piece of “Kelly Anderson Art” right in your home. Kelly is giving away this original piece of beautiful astramaris!

HOW TO WIN

ANSWER THIS: How do you cheer up your kitchen? Do you enjoy having meaningful artwork on the walls?

WHEN TO WIN

(Make sure I know about either one.)

Come back on Monday, March 8th to find out who won this incredible original piece of art!

If you’re local in my town, Kelly’s work is displayed at Facet’s Jewelry Studio in downtown Medford. You’ll also see her work displayed at the Art in Bloom weekend.

Oh, and if you’re an animal lover, check out her new line of “dog” pieces! Incredible! Thank you Kelly!

Many times I’ve been inspired by comments that I get from readers. One friend was getting ready to speak about hospitality in her church, and she emailed me for advice. I loved her heart when she made this statement to me, and I could just visualize what a beautiful, thoughtful person she is!

When people come into my home, I want them to know that I have spent time preparing for them and that they are important enough to me that I would take time out of my day to do something to make them feel special.

Can’t you just imagine having dinner in her home?

But I really wanted her to share this with the women …

Unfortunately, not everyone has the time or money to take the extra step to make things special, or they may feel pressured that they have to do these extra things in order to entertain. Hospitality doesn’t have to be showy in any way.

I encouraged her to stay with the idea of keeping things simple: simple meal, even order out, just clean one bathroom and have the area you’ll be hanging out in picked up — that is enough.

My advice: Approach hospitality very simply!

Do you get overwhelmed when you think of the word “hospitality?”

(Top photo (and showing our yummy salads) is of me and my friend Ellen B from The Happy Wonderer blog. Ellen and her husband invited my husband and me out to dinner this last week at a fancy restaurant. It was as if we’d known each other for years, although it was our first time to meet! When you’re a hospitable person, you just know how to reach out … Thank you, Ellen B!)

Come back tomorrow for an amazing Kelly Anderson Art GIVEAWAY!

I am so excited to tell you more about how the wide world of beans will help all of us to have more people into our homes, as I share in this post about a wonderful experience I recently had.

Stay tuned while I explore the grand intersection between food and hospitality!

This past weekend I was in beautiful Napa Valley with three amazing bloggers and the staff from Bush’s Beans, who brought us together to cook in the world-famous Culinary Institute of America at Greystone.

Can you believe it? What an experience!

Our mission was to cook up tasty bean recipes and to participate in delicious chili tasting. I’d say more than our mission was accomplished. Bush’s Beans has been around since 1908, a family-owned business that would have been proud of the results of our 24-hour retreat.

It reminds me of why I entertain in my home and how food brings people together. Because in this 24-hour time frame, we all became like family!

I love how so much in life happens around “the table.”

Tasty food was served and an excellent brainstorming session happened around this table.

Gearing up with chef coats and aprons!

Recipes, tips, tasting and new friendships were created.

I will admit that my eyes were opened to the power of the bean. I always knew that beans were versatile, but after spending a day in the kitchen with Chef Andy Wild and Dr. Connie Gutterson (author of Sonoma Diet Cookbook), creating amazing recipes and using beans in ways I never thought of, I am EXCITED to come home and expand my cooking.

Together Connie and Chef Andy taught us the art of bringing food and science together – through a bean!

Tastier than I otherwise thought, beans are more versatile and easier to prepare, and they can save you a lot of money, especially during these hard economic times.

Benefits of beans in my household:

Entertain more – knock the expense of entertaining down

More versatile to cook and they take very little time to prepare

Buy from a can – less time in the kitchen

Adds a deeper level of variety to your cooking – more pizazz than before

Nutritional value is better than I realized

But back to the table where our group connected and shared the recipes that we created… the spread looked like this.

And close up …

Speaking of family… at the end of our day in the Culinary Kitchen (CIA – William’s Center for Flavor Discovery Kitchen), our spouses joined us for chili tasting.

Even Connie’s kid’s came and helped us do some of the cooking.

Truly…Beans and family go hand in hand!

Soon I’ll be sharing the recipe that Amy and I whipped up: Bush’s Chicken and Kidney Beans Spanish Stew!

It’s so healthy and tasted so yummy, I can’t wait to make it for my family!

I also plan on sharing with you more about the Culinary Institute and more recipes we cooked this day. So stay tuned!

(So wonderful to meet new friends, Amy (She Wears Many Hats), Tina (Mommy’s Kitchen) and Aggie (Aggie’s Kitchen). Also a huge thank you to Ken from Bush’s Beans, and the gals who brought us – Katie and Chris! Bush’s Beans covered the costs for my trip, but they do not pay me for my opinions shared about Bush’s Beans here on my blog.)

I was recently organizing our books and came across this beautiful set, by The Metropolitan Museum of Art. We bought these books for very little at a yard sale, years ago.

I like to rotate through interesting books and display them on our coffee table. You can even use books in a functional way by creating your own side table.

Build it up with some of your larger books.

Perfect for your morning coffee!

Do you have books that you rotate through for display on your coffee table?

It’s a way to stimulate creative talk! And I must say, I am getting very excited for yard sale season, are you?

I love my home. Even when it’s dirty or turned upside down, home is still home.

Last week I was inspired by 3 things that made me even happier in my home.

Beauty
I took a favorite long white dish (thank you, Hoppi!)

Bought 4 primroses at the grocery store.

One of my favorite things is bringing a bit of Spring into my home.

Food
My neighbor Ellie did it again. She returned our plate full of yumminess (love the way she always lets us know what we are eating!)

One of may favorite things is having awesome neighbors who share.

A friend also brought a meal over and fed our family – easy … no returning the dishes.

Friendship
And then a card came in the mail. Just when I needed it. A hand-written card with a handwritten note of encouragement, from a friend … just because.

Sometimes I find myself dreaming about bigger things (trying not to get caught up in “If Only …”).

But then I remind myself that it’s the simple things in life that bring joy.

Have you reached out to a friend lately with food or a card, or even purchased flowers for yourself?

We are becoming more and more of a “bean” family. We love the flavor, the protein and nutritional value, they’re hearty, and as Mom, I love how you can stretch a meal with beans.

I’ll usually do this by adding whatever kind of beans that I have stocked in my pantry!

One of our favorite dishes in our house, and with the kid’s friends, is chili. Doesn’t everyone love chili? (My delicious Chicken Chili recipe will be in my new book!)

Back in the Fall we had a last minute Chili Feed in our new kitchen for the soccer team. We invited the team in even though the kitchen was not finished.

After opening can after can of Bush’s Beans (and tomatoes), and filling two large pots with delicious chili, I really thought I had made enough for the entire team, plus adults.

But guess what? We ran out of chili!

I underestimated the amount for 14 boys and all of the adults. That was not good, as I pulled leftovers out of the fridge for last minute stragglers who showed up.

Luckily my friend Vicky watched my body language as I thought “FHB” (Family Hold Back!), which meant – go light on the chili – there’s not enough!

Moms just know.

Vicky and I looked at each other and before I could even say anything, she said “that’s okay, I’ll share with my daughter.” (Love you, Vicky!)

Back to Bush’s Beans. If I only had more in the pantry, I could have made it work. But later I made up for it as I pulled these 2 cakes hot out of the oven (No Peel Apple cake – again recipe in this book!) I redeemed myself, I guess you’d say.

Recently when I received an invitation from Bush’s Beans to travel to Napa for chili tasting and cooking at The Culinary Institute of America with Connie Guttersen, R.D., Ph.D., author of The Sonoma Diet, how could I say no?

Me? Cook at The Culinary Institute? I am so glad I’ve never claimed to be a chef – all pressure is off!

So I’ll soon be heading to beautiful Napa along with Amy from She Wears Many Hats, Aggie from Aggie’s Kitchen, and Tina from Mommy’s Kitchen. I love these ladies and we are going to have so much fun!

As we’re going to be cooking up some chili, here’s the site for Beans and everything you want to know about them, plus tons of recipes and nutritional information that you may find helpful. I know I did!

Have you ever had a group of people over where you underestimated the portions?

I’d love to hear your story!

(People always want to know, so I’ll tell you that Bush’s Beans is covering the costs for this trip, but they are not paying for sponsorship of this ad or anything I write here. They are just a very generous group of people and I’m excited for this experience! And thank you Amy for sharing your photo with me!)

Fifteen years of history, I see as I’ve flipped through the index cards that I have rubber-banded together. I see names of couples and families, along with faces etched in my mind. The dates of when we had these families over, or even what I served, is not what’s gnawing at me. No, the “names” and memories are what’s staring at me …

What has happened to this couple? Why did they divorce? We used to have so much in common! Oh, the pain that their family has endured … as I think of one couple in particular who did divorce, and then a few years later they lost a child.

My mind then takes off and starts to contemplate relationships. We’re made for them, we’re to pursue them, we need them – but oh so often they can turn into a painful situations as things don’t turn out the way we expect. It’s true that differences, different paths, or even pride can get in the way of what was once a close-knit relationship. Sometimes they change because they’re no longer healthy. We all grow and mature and sometimes life takes us in different directions.

But there is still a memory. A strong feeling. A good feeling. A deep feeling of love. That is what hospitality is all about.

The great writer Henri Nouwen describes hospitality as “a central attitude of the minister who wants to make his own wounded condition available to others as a source of healing.”

Being real and opening up our homes and lives with others can actually help heal our guest’s hurts. That is just a beautiful thought!

Back to my index cards that I started on Day #1 of my marriage: A set of index cards on which I recorded the name, date and what I served for my guests. I did this in fear that I would serve the same thing twice to my guests – God forbid! But little did I know that almost 20 years later, as I flip through these cards, that they would have deeper meaning …

“We do not know where we will be two, ten or twenty years from now. What we can know, however, is that man suffers and that a sharing of suffering can make us move forward.” (Henri Nouwen)

Do you ever reminisce about couples or individuals you’ve dined with?

Meet my Guest:
Robin Sue of Big Red Kitchen

I’m so happy to introduce to you today my friend, Robin Sue, who has an excellent blog (Big Red Kitchen) and is a great cook (look at her mouth-watering recipes!). What I love about Robin is that she is passionate about food and people! And yes, I even love her silliness!

When I read this statement, I knew right away that we shared similar views on hospitality: Perfection is pride stepping on your creativity.

And so today Robin is sharing a great story and some yummy food ideas. Thank you, Robin!

I remember when I was first married having a long discussion with my mother-in-law, Mary Lou about hospitality. She shared with me that one of her favorite memories was when a friend of hers invited she and Dad along with a bunch of other couples for dinner. Mom remembers all the ladies piled in the woman’s tiny but cozy, cluttered kitchen watching her make fresh ravioli. The glasses were miss-matched mason jars, some with handles, others without. She recalls that they had the best time chatting, laughing, and telling stories.

Contrast to that story is another woman who hosted she, Dad, and others many times but had to have everything perfect. Mom said the group felt as if they could not live up to that lady’s expectations and eventually broke up. Sad isn’t it?

Mary Lou taught me that hospitality has nothing to do with a perfect home, matching china, or gourmet food, it’s how we make our guests feel welcomed and comfortable in our homes. Simplicity. Friendliness. Selflessness.

This is a meal I remember served to my family and me by very good friends of ours as we were passing through their town on our way to Boston. The meal was simple, thoughtful, and delicious. Thoughtful in that it was kid-friendly and very hearty. I have shared it to my own guests who joked that we are having a Wedgie Bar because everyone loves a good wedgie. Do you have friends with whom you can be silly?

Wedgie Salad Bar
1-2 heads iceberg lettuce cored and cut into wedges-use a plastic knife so the lettuce does not brown
Ranch Dressing- recipe follows
1 pound Crispy crumbled bacon
6 hard boiled eggs, chopped
1-2 cups shredded cheese
2 cups cherry tomatoes, chopped

Place lettuce wedges on a large platter and drizzle with Ranch Dressing. Place all other ingredients in small bowls around the platter. Let your guests pick their own wedgies because picking your friend’s wedgie is never a good thing. Serves 8.

Ranch Dressing/Dip
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup buttermilk, only 1/4 cup if making dip
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 t. dried chives
1/2 t. dried parsley
1/2 t. dried dill weed
1/4 t. garlic powder
1 t. dried onion flakes
1/2 t. kosher salt
1/4 t. ground black pepper

Whisk all together and chill for at least 2 hours. This can be used as a dressing or a veggie dip.

Turkey and Cheese Panini
1-2 pounds lunch meat turkey slices- amount depends on thickness of sandwich desired
8 slices provolone or Swiss cheese
16 slices fresh artisan bread
Butter for spreading the outsides of the sandwiches
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup grainy-brown mustard
1/2 T. dried thyme

Preheat and lightly grease skillet or grill. Layer cheese and turkey over 8 slices of bread. Mix together onion, mayo, mustard and thyme until well blended. Spread the other 8 slices generously with mayo spread. Place on top of turkey and cheese. On outside of each sandwich, smather with butter and grill on each side until golden and cheese is melted. Makes 8 sandwiches.

It was a joy to place my thoughts on your website Sandy and therefore meeting your first commandment- Hospitality. Thank you for your hospitality.

Warmly,
Robin Sue of Big Red Kitchen

(This post is linked to Jen’s Tasty Tuesday!)

There’s something about spring and the newness of life that gives me hope.

The dreariness of winter is put to rest and there’s a feeling of excitement in the air. Lately I’ve sensed a hint of spring on my early morning workouts. Several times my girlfriends and I have stopped just to smell “spring!”

We start dreaming about Spring, where I live, in February.

The crocuses have reappeared. And although I just captured this picture in our front yard, words and pictures can’t portray its beauty.

I can’t wait for this bud to be bursting at its fullest.

The garden beds that lay dormant will soon have life.

The pool will be warm and full of laughter.

We’ll soon catch a whiff of fresh cut grass.

Our animals just love sunshine.

As I dream about spring and long for the warm days of summer, I can’t help but think of the simplicity of the crocuses and bulbs popping out of the ground, and the welcoming sign of spring.

They say to me, “Spring is here – get ready!”

Do you find yourself dreaming and wanting warmer weather like I do?

I was a grumpy mom this morning. I apologized to my kids before they left for school, and I even gave them all a kiss. They are so forgiving!

After feeling bad throughout the day, for being a part of helping them start their day off with a negative spin – I redeemed myself!

How did I redeem myself?

I made Cookie Brittle, an easy 5-ingredient recipe. I had it waiting for them when they walked through the door, after school.

Bad Mom = Cookie Brittle.

The kids eyes lit up when they saw what I had made!

Cookie Brittle
Mix together: 1 cup butter, 2 cups sugar, 1 tsp. vanilla, 2 cups flour. Add: 1 cup chocolate chips. Press into a 15×9 jelly roll pan (I used my Pampered Chef Bar Pan.)

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes, checking often so it doesn’t burn around the edges. It should be brown all over. Cool. Break into irregular pieces.

Food always helps when we get in a bind, doesn’t it?

I’m just a normal mom, not perfect by any means. And I bet you are, too!

I’m thankful for God’s grace, and I’m thankful that my kids understand it, too!

What do you make your family when you want to give them a treat?

My husband left strict orders this last weekend, as he left for Vegas for a soccer tournament with my 17 year old: Get the strawberry plants in the ground!

I realize we don’t all live in the same gardening zones but on the west coast, if you’re interested in a strawberry bed this year, it’s time to plant those strawberry plants – now!

Our bed is looking so winterish and sad.

I took 3 bushels (mixed varieties, sorry we didn’t write down what they are).

Separated into 2 plants each.

Pulled out the big weeds.

Replaced the hole with 2 strawberry plants.

Brilliant idea! (I give my sweet hubby credit for this!)

In a few months we’ll be reaping the benefits, looking like this.

Varieties should be replaced about every 3 years or whenever they seem to slow in vigor.

And we’ve learned if you don’t get the plants early from the store, when you think it’s time to plant, they’ll be gone. (Call your local Grange now to find out when the plants will be stocked!)

BUY YOUR PLANTS EARLY!

Have you thought about replanting new strawberry plants, or are you considering a brand new bed this year?

Here’s an excellent site that will guide you through ALL of your planting questions. I found it to be extremely helpful. And would you please come back and share your pictures with me if you get inspired to plant!?

When my friend, Mary, from Giving up on Perfect commented on this kitchen post, she asked me: Why did you choose a one-bowl kitchen sink over two?

My answer is easy. Years ago I sold Pampered Chef, and after 160 kitchen shows, I learned what I loved and what I didn’t love in a sink! What I found to be more efficient was a one-bowl, deep sink!

Our home at the time had a deep one-bowl ceramic sink and it was perfect for cleaning big pots, roasting pans, 9×13 pans, and just being able to soak larger items in. (I did not have a utility sink at the time.) There was no maneuvering pots under the faucet to make sure it was completely washed, and I really liked that.

I also loved bathing my babies in a deep sink.

It even held a certain big boy who broke his arm in Pre-K!

And then I got into canning, where I’d fill the entire sink with apples or pears, and wash and get ready for the canning process.

I felt confined with 2 shallow bowls (my old sink) …

And since redoing our kitchen, I’ve not regretted our decision, simply because one-bowl is way more practical. Yay!

Melissa, (The Inspired Room), shared similar thoughts as me (Melissa is sort of like an expert, in my mind):

I love that you chose just a one bowl sink. I also made that choice in my old kitchen and I LOVED it. It could fit any size pan I wanted to put in there. Now I have two bowls and I really dislike that, it makes it impossible to wash most oversized dishes!

So, I’m a “One-Bowl” girl. And I love it. Love it. Love it!

What is your ideal sink preference? One or two bowls? Deep or shallow?

(Above pictures: My kiddos … um, like, … 13 years ago!)

The winner to the House of Havoc books are AnNicole and Jackie FO. Congrats!

The Balcony Girls and I met last week, and being dressed in somewhat of a queen’s attire, my goal was to pull the girls into my drama as I whined, I cried, and then pitched a fit. What a big baby!

No, really I was acting like a DQ. A Drama Queen.

Drama Queens make something out of nothing. Oh, and by the way, I’m not talking about girls who are exuberant in life, funny, and loud – you know, the kind that do well in school plays. I’m talking about girls that like to bring other girls into their meanness and insecurity … (cliquey might be a good word here) … into their drama.

We talk a lot about Drama Queens in our house. The other day we even discussed the subject with our teenage sons, so they can be prepared in life as they deal with DQ girls! We pointed out to them what to look for.

Drama is intentional. It is not an accident. It usually is deliberate! It’s exhibited in a person who’s not getting what they want, and by golly – they are going to get it. And often they want it from YOU!

Next I showed the girls how “drama” can come across in meanness, in looks, or jokes, or even notes or text messaging (or Facebook or email!).

Eggshells
I then asked the girls to help me out. They each drew a scenario out of a cup: gossip, eye-rolling, silent treatment, and walking on eggshells! Walking on eggshells – you just never know how to act around that girl. Is it a day she’ll be nice to you and include you? Will she even talk to you?

Eye-rolling
When it came to “eye-rolling” I explained to the girls that this, or even what I call “big eyes,” is a sign of contempt and disdain toward a person. It’s a position of saying “I know more than you!” It’s a sign of supremacy! Eye-rolling is one of the rudest gestures you can do! And Drama Queens love to do this. I’m always surprised at how many of their mothers let them get away with it.

Gossip and whispering
We laughed as we role-played, but role-playing works well with teen girls. It draws them in, involves them in the lesson, and it gets the point across, especially when we’re talking about gossiping, whispering, and just plain rudeness.

(even our doggie sits in on the lessons!)

Don’t get sucked in
When we turned the vacuum cleaner on, I said, “Don’t get sucked in, girls,” as I threw a bunch of paper on the floor and we vacuumed it up. “Drama girls LOVE their own drama! And they love it when others join in!”

These role-play ideas are simple for 7th grade girls, but I believe any way of visually showing them a life lesson that will impact their minds and hearts will work!

When my family met a couple of weeks ago (remember, I have 3 teens in my house!), we came up with these solutions when dealing with a DQ:

- Be smart! recognize what’s happening
- Let them know you have their number
- Let them know you know what they are about
- Ignore and walk away
- Don’t get sucked in
- Hang out with other girls

It takes confidence, but once you stand up to a Drama Queen, it gets much easier. Once you become wiser to what they are about, you feel more free.

As I’ve said for the last 5 years with my Balcony Girls group, it takes a wise mother to help her daughter and to observe her friendships. Of course we can’t be there at all times, but we can certainly pay attention when the girls are in our home!

Being Valentine’s Day week, we made individual heart brownies and each girl decorated their own to take home.

My tablecloth was oooh, a tiny bit wrinkled. But that’s okay – it was festive, pink. And our snack was Chix Noodle Soup (yup, out of a can!)

A little fun.

Smart girls who “get it.”

A whole lot of love.

And very teachable girls.

Who, by the way, do not stray away from one of my BG rules: We may talk about true-life scenarios, but we never mention names while in a group setting. That is a respectful way to talk about the problem, and come up with a solution, without slandering or gossiping ourselves!

I always come away refreshed after Balcony Girls, because I know our time together makes a difference!

(Don’t forget I’m giving away 2 COPIES of House of Havoc – winner’s announced tomorrow!) This post is linked to Chatting at the Sky’s A Truce on Tuesday.