Tummy Tuesday - Sloppy Joe Casserole

We love pretty much any Sloppy Joe receipe but this one adds a little twist and is super quick and easy! Can't go wrong with that combination!

 



Sloppy Joe Casserole

 

Enjoy!

Mommy Monday - Natural High

The weather was rainy and dreary on Saturday so it was a perfect day for some Spring Cleaning and organizing. I am not even kidding, there is nothing better than the feeling of a freshly purged and organized home! I really do not know why but it is truly such a natural high!

 

Yes, I am living the dream people - don't hate!

 

First came the attic.

We had to shift and make room for the goodies that were coming up from the basement, which we hope to complete soon. And let me just tell you - I made magic happen up there in that attic people. It was like one gigantic game of Tetris and I was the master! Trying to get those tupperware bins organized and stacked together just right so we could make room for another bin was exhilarating! I kid you not, I was in hog heaven. I was so proud of myself and did not hesitate to share my exhuberance with Jeff. I proudly told him that if this were an Olympic sport, I would most certainly take the Gold! Yeah, I could tell he was totally turned on....insert saracasm here.

 

Next came Sophie's room.

We and by we I mean me, reorganized Sophie's closet and drawers - thanks Pinterest! I had litterly saved every single picture or activity sheet she had done since she started Mother's Day Out....at the age of one. And now she is 4 1/2 and in Preschool. You can only imagine the papers! When I shared this information once with a fellow mama (who was on her third child) she told me that the day would come where I would be ready to "clean out" all those papers which were now spilling out of the tupperware bin. Saturday was the day! We had some fun going through them all and selecting certain special ones to keep in our forever box - which is still a pretty good size box! 

Hey, I am hoarder when it comes to my best little girlfriend....one step at a time!

 

All in all - a wild and crazy weekend in the Easterday household!

 

And in another news totally unrelated to my party weekend....another natural high -

 

 

 

Are these sweet baby angels not two of the most precious and beautiful things you have ever seen?? OMG - those tiny feet, chunky cheeks, little hands and bellies - I could just eat them up!! I am one proud Aunt Coco!! Such an incredible blessing loving on them and being reminded of how pure God's love is for us and what perfect little gifts he has given our family to love!!

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Fabulous Friday - Just for Grins

TGIF!!!

Rainy TGIF but a Friday is a Friday!

 

This is genius!! Love love love it!!

 

 

My girl finally agreed to put on her school shirt even though it is a "boy" color. Now she loves it!

 

Representing for the class of Silverdale Baptist Academy 2027!

 

 

My best little girlfriend "ironing" her baby doll clothes while I ironed our big people clothes.

 

 

I need to be reminded of these every day!

 

 

Seriously? Really? Hmmm, there are no words!!

 

 

No where to go from there right?!

 

Have a great weekend!!

Random Thursday - Under Attack

Do you ever feel like you are under attack?

 

We have so many things to do and not enough time to do them right?! Did I play with Sophie enough today? Where is time going, she is growing up so fast!! Did I give Jeff everything he needed today? Was I present during our conversations when he was chatting away about something important to him or did I zone out and make the grocery list in my head? Oh no, the grocery list. What meals are we going to have next week and what all do we need? Our weekend is jam packed, when are we going to even have the time for the grocery store? I need to pick up some new clothes for myself and Sophie for spring/summer. Oh geez......I need to drop a few pounds before spring/summer.

 

You get the picture?! And that is just skimming the surface my friends! Yes, my head is a scary place but I know that sadly, I am not alone!

 

We recently completed a study in our SS class at church about Spiritual Warfare. I found this study so incredibly interesting and disturbingly true. For example, have you ever noticed how Sunday mornings seem to be the hardest morning to get up? Somehow, we always find a way to run late, hit every red light, and argue the whole way to church.

 

Satan ONLY wants to steal, kill, and destroy and he will do this by any means possible! Sometimes I feel like we do not give him enough credit for how masterful and powerful he and his tactics are!! The closer you are to God, the harder he works.

 

Personally, he has really been attacking me lately with a few of the gems I referenced above as well as some deeper concerns. Doubt, anxiety, and fear! An especially soft spot for me is my personal health because of my cancer history. This is an area where I know Satan only needs the window cracked a teeny tiny bit and he will slither his way into my thoughts.

 

In recent weeks, it seems as though I have randomly come across multiple stories about young moms who have died or are striken with cancer. Some even with Melanoma which was my personal diagnosis almost 10 years ago. While time may soften these "wounds", the fear is always there. Fear of leaving behind my family, my husband, and worse of all - my sweet baby girl. Even as I type this, it is hard to share because I can feel him knocking at the door wanting me to vocalize more of those fearful thoughts and how they sometimes haunt me. The more I vocalize them then the more they are recognized and the more real they become. Then, without really meaning, the more I allow the fear to take over.

 

Last week, I had my yearly checkup and they had to remove a suspicious area that had grown back after being removed a year ago. After calling in another doctor for a second opinion (yeah, if that doesn't shake you to the core nothing will) they worried the lab was wrong in their original diagnosis and decided to remove again, only deeper this time and another biopsy.....just in case there was something "trying to happen" there. Praise God, I received the news yesterday of negative results however, it took me back to that place of pure raw fear all over again.

 

But guess what???! Do you know what the most amazing, blessed, and glorious news of all is?

WE DO NOT HAVE TO FEAR!

WE DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY!

Our heavenly Father reminds us time and time again that he WANTS to take that burden from us!!

 

Philippians 4:6-8

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things."

 

Those feelings of doubt, anxiety, worry, and concern only come from one place - Satan and his army.

 

1 Peter 5:8-9

 ^"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings."

 

The joke is on them because while they may be mighty, they are no match for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because through him all blessings flow!

 

Satan wants to rob me of the pure joy of running and playing with Sophie by planting doubts about myself as mother.

 

Satan wants to rob me of the wonderful blessing and sanctity of being married to my best friend by placing doubts about myself as a wife.

 

Satan wants to rob me of enjoying the blessing of another day to breath in deeply and enjoy this wonderful life my Heavenly Father has blessed me with by helping me to become consumed with my "to do" list.

 

Satan, most of all, wants to rob me of my relationship with Jesus Christ by casting fear and worry over my future whether it be with health, how to pay a bill, or when the grocery shopping will get done.

 

Satans only comes to steal, kill, and destroy but it's not happening here! I REFUSE to give him that power! I have seen how powerful my Lord is and witnessed his magesty time and time again. I know the glory of his love for me and that is where I CHOOSE to stand - no matter what! I stand strong and proud with my armor of God and my ALMIGHTY army of Jesus Christ!

 

Psalm 28: 7-9

"The LORD is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,and with my song
I give thanks to him."

 

Can I get an Amen?!

Tummy Tuesday - Thin Mint Cookie Truffles

Just when you thought Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies could not get any better...they can....and do! In honor of Girl Scout cookie season being upon us, I just had to repost one of my most favorite sweet treats ever - Thin Mint Cookie Truffles.

 

Thin Mint Cookie Truffles

 

If you have already blown through your purchased box (ahem...or boxes in our case) of Thin Mints then you can replace with the Keebler Grasshopper cookies and they will work just as well. In fact, that is what I have used everytime because we cannot keep the Thin Mints in the house long enough to use them for the recipe.

 

As amazing as this recipe is, I must admit....I do wish Girl Scout cookie season was in the dead of winter as opposed to spring when it's all I can do to break out of hibernation and prepare for bathing suit season.

 

Enjoy!

Mommy Monday - Babies R Us

This weekend I co-hosted, along with another friend and my mom, a much delayed Sip and See for one of our best friends and her precious Baby Beau!

 

My mama, being the ever gracious host that she is, opened her home and then worked her magic with the decor setup. Rachael and I would have been in alot of trouble with her!

 

 

 

Loving on our Lindsay and sweet baby Beau!

 

 

 

The babies were everywhere!! I could litterly feel my insides turning to mush and melting inside my body!

 

Sophie was so excited that big brother Tripp got to come and play with her for the day!

 

 

Baby Jack and Lucy Claire made their first official public appearance!

 

 

The next set of pictures are intended for a mature viewing audiance only.

 

This somehow ended up happening during a discussion on the taste of breastmilk. Not yet having a child of her own, Rachael was very curious and Beau just happened to have some leftover milk in his bottle. One thing leads to another......

 

Come on Rachael, everybody's doing it!

 

At one point she shared that she was starting to have flashbacks from our days in college. I must admit while cheering her on and taking pics of her drinking a suspious substance, I may have had some flashbacks as well. However, my how the times and substance have changed. 

Post chug response - "Not bad at all."

I so enjoyed all the squishy lovey babies but I must admit this was def one of the highlights of my day!

 

Once the mommies were done pretending they were still in college, we were quickly brought back to reality when we realized that the kiddos were awfully quiet. Luckily, this is what we found.

 

And then my insides melted again.

 

 

 

Of course our perfect day ended on the drive home with Sophie singing along to her Frozen CD while rocking her Hawaiian Fruit Punch mustache. I just loved how she looked so serious and lady like while belting out the lyrics. The lyrics, which I might add, that I have heard morning, noon, and night for the past few months. Lyrics that I hear in my sleep and find myself singing while I am at work. We could seriously step into a broadway production tomorrow of Frozen and not miss a beat!

 

 

 

 



Tummy Tuesday - Delicious Beef Stroganoff

I am most certainly not a huge Beef Stroganoff fan. However, Jeff loves it so every now and then when I am need of some wifey brownie points, I will suffer through it one evening. However, this time around I thought I would experiment with it a bit and I found the most amazing recipe that I LOVED!!!!!!

 

It's a beef stroganoff miracle!

 

Beef Stroganoff

 

Enjoy!!