woulda, shoulda, coulda

I have a Mulan hangover.  It's like a bad dream replaying over and over in my mind.  Not that Mulan was bad, but the songs are unfortunately forever engraved in my mind.  It's haunting actually.  I was trying to go to sleep last night and all I could hear were children's voices singing "written in stone" in harmony.  Since I couldn't sleep I added up how many hours I spent at big chick's school last week...35 hours!  YES I SPENT 35 HOURS at night and on the weekend.  35 hours where I wasn't at home with my honey or my other child.  As magical as this play has been I'm really looking forward to it being over!  'Nough said;)

I had big plans on doing something fabulous for Valentine's day.  You know make something special...something homemade with love.  Didn't happen.  Life happened instead and that's okay.  My people know they are loved.  A store bought love note will have to do. 

Source

**If I would have had extra time, I might have whipped these up.

Source

**Or made these cute little heart banners....somethin'...anything!

Source

Or really outdone myself and made homemade Valentine's for little chick's entire 2nd grade class;)BUT WHO AM I KIDDING??!!  I probably wouldn't have done any of that.  The problem with Pinterest...and don't get me wrong...I adore Pinterest.  It's that sometimes it makes me feel like a complete and utter slug!  It's just a little overwhelming seeing all that creativity in one place, meanwhile I'm siting in my pj's, sipping coffee...dreaming the day away.


Well I'm not sure if it's the Mulan hangover, burnout or just the winter blah's, but I'm pretty okay with just being right now.  I'm not feeling overly inspired lately, but with that said...I'm actually partaking in a wonderful new thing.  This is going to sound ridiculous after what I just shared, but I'm going to be submitting posts for another blog about...

wait for it...

CREATIVITY! 

I'll be one of 27 contributors to a new blog called Beautifully Rooted.

It's a daily gathering place, with lots of gifted women all sharing tidbits of their life, with the Lord as the common thread.  I just couldn't say no.  I mean initially I wanted to, but I really felt God told me to get off my lazy rear and move forward with what He's given me.  I'm praying this new blog venture will help me continue to tap into those gifts, and to share it with others who are struggling to get their creative juices flowing as well.  Anyhoo it should be great.  I'm super excited.  I'll be posting something "creative" every two weeks...starting next Friday, but today is the first day to check it out.   




Happy Valentine's Day friends.  Won't you be mine??




413.  a steamy hot bath
414.  tulips and roses from my thoughtful honey
415.  God nudging me to get out of my comfort zone 
416.  having new opportunities come my way
417.  staying home

the show must go on!

Well we've got the first 3 performances under our belt.  When they say it takes a village to raise a child...let's just say it takes a big city to put on a children's musical production. 

 

These kids have been in countless performances.  They've had to learn tons of lines.  Remember cues.  Sing on key.  Sit for uncomfortable make-up and hair sessions.

They are professionals through and through. 

This is the director...Jennifer Hicks.  I'm in awe that she and the other leaders were able to pull something this big together.  It blows my mind really.

I have a little confession to make.  I really don't like musicals.  I think they are a tad corny.  I mean breaking out in song mid-sentence.  Just spit it out already.  Do we really need a song?? 

But this was GOOD!  The songs made sense.  The scenes kept me interested.  They harmonized and sounded amazing!!!!  I am beyond impressed.

These are just kids, but they made me forget they were kids.  Can you find Big Chick??  Hint she's on the floor in the middle. 

 

And the best part...they pray before the shows.  They leave scriptures for the kids in a special place.  It's encouraging and uplifting.  It's for His glory...not their own. 

There isn't a sense of self importance and competition.  They seem to really love each other.  It's like a big family.

The beautiful and talented Lindy...aka Mulan! 

One amazingly gifted kid...Mushu...wow!

We had a little surprise on Saturday.  It started spitting snow.  I've never seen such a flurry of excitement.  The kids had their noses pressed against the windows, heads bowed in prayer that it would stick.  TOO FUNNY!  It didn't stick by the way;)  So glad.  I really don't miss it at all!

Really the icing on the cake has been the sense of community.  We are officially involved in something.  A good something!  The time zap has totally paid off.  We have made some wonderful new friends and memories that we will never forget.  Does it get any better than that?  Now it's off to do 2 more performances today.  Wish us luck...or break a leg or whatever it is they say...the show must go on;)

Have a blessed day.

408.  adults who invest in children

409.  giving a labor of love

410.  learning to french braid

411.  seeing my child live out a dream!

412.  the sound of children singing

Feed my family...Friday & more

 

Hello my friends.  It has been a cra-z-y week around here.  It's been one of those weeks we could have had breakfast for dinner or take-out every.single.night, BUT because of this weekly Feed my family link up I actually made a healthy meal.  Yep just one, but that's better than none.  So yeah for motivation!  Thanks for keeping me accountable. 



On the menu this week is Chicken Tenders with Balsalmic Vinegar Glaze, and I've got to toot my own horn here and say these were restaurant worthy.  Like sooooo amazingly good I can see making them every week.  I got the recipe from my Oxygen Magazine Fat-Blasting Food Guide.  It's on display at Target until 4/3/12.  Great recipes packed inside.

You need:

olive oil

12 oz. chicken tenders

black pepper,

1 tsp minced garlic

3 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 tbsp honey

1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth

1.  Heat some olive oil and add chicken tenders.  Season with pepper and cook through approximately 7 minutes.  Set aside.  2.  Reduce heat and add garlic and saute one minute.  Then add vinegar, honey and chicken broth.  Simmer scraping the bottom of the pan for 1 minute.  3.  Return chicken to the pan, stirring to coat chicken with the glaze.  Heat through and serve.

 

Such an easy peasy recipe.  Have you ever had the chicken tenders from Cracker Barrel?  Reminds me of them.  SO GOOD!!!!  Don't forget to link up at the bottom of this post.

Had to share my sweet girl's b-day with you.

Then it was on to Mulan rehearsals...

Where complete chaos reigned.  I'm working backstage doing hair and make-up.  Needless to say getting 68 kids ready in full make-up, intricate costumes and braids is a challenge.  Have to admit we are really having fun though.  It's a great feeling to be a part of something special.

We are making memories here.  We are building roots.  My big chick will never forget what she was doing on her 12th birthday and neither will I.  BTW don't ya just love my whacked out hair?? The two tone, wispy fake braid look should be my new everyday do...ha;)  

The play begins tonight and goes through next Sunday...there are 9 performances.  If you live in the Richmond, VA area you should definitely come check it out.  You can buy tickets here.  They have all worked so hard.  The sets, costumes and lighting are amazing.  What a talented bunch of kids!!  HERE WE GO:)

&&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;/span>;&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">br</span>&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;/span> /> &&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;/span>;&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">br</span>&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;/span> /> &&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;/span>;a &<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">href</span>&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;/span>="http://&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">farmgirlpaints</span>&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;/span>.&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">blogspot</span>&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;/span>.com/search/label/feed%20my%20family%20friday">&&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;/span>;&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">img</span>&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;/span> &<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">vspace</span>&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;/span>="none" &<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">hspace</span>&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;/span>="none" alt="feed my family &<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">friday</span>&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;/span>" &<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">src</span>&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;/span>="http://i629.&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">photobucket</span>&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;/span>.com/albums/uu20/folly_surf_fisher/&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">feedmyfamily</span>&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;/span>-1.&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">jpg</span>&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;/span>" />&&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>&<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;/span>;/a>

 Okay so don't forget to link up a healthy yummy recipe to share.  Let's Feed our families!!!





Have a blessed day. 

403.  SHOWTIME!

404.  surprises

405.  reliving youth a bit

406.  yummy chicken dinners

407.  keeping busy...really really busy