Christmas Gift Idea

Ever since Nate was born I have been talking about keeping a journal, but something about all those blank journal pages staring at me were so daunting... I kept telling my friend Angelique that I wished I would write down just one thing a day that Nate did or said. But I just never got around to doing it.

In October, Angelique and I were in a little store in Philly when we stumbled upon this journal. It's a 5 year journal designed for the writer to journal just one line a day! Each page in the journal represents one day of the year (Jan 1, Jan 2, etc.) and each page has a space for 5 one-line entries to made in 5 consecutive years.

It's perfect! I keep it by my bedside and each night I write down one thing that Nate did or said that day that was new, or cute, or just simply made my heart happy. It's been so easy to keep up with because it's just one line!

This would be a great gift for any mom, dad, or even an older child. Even if they can't write yet, they can tell you what the best part of their day was and you can help them write it down. I think this would also be a wonderful way to keep track of "God Moments" that happen throughout our days.

The One Line A Day Journal is available at Amazon.

Submitted by Amy

Tip of the Week: Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs

Easy Peeled Hard Boiled Eggs

1. Bring Refrigerated Eggs to Room Temperature

2. Bring Pan of Water to Vigorous Boil

3. Add Eggs w/spoon to avoid cracking

4. Boil Vigorously for 15-20 minutes

5. Drain the Hot Water

6. Shake the Eggs in the pan until they crack

7. Add Cold Tap Water immediately after cracking the eggs and peel away easily.

Submitted by Gwen

Buttercream Icing Recipe and Cupcake Directions

Buttercream Icing

1 cup solid vegetable shortening

1 tsp. flavorings (vanilla, almond or butter or combination)

1 pound Confectioners sugar

3 Tbsp. water or milk

Beat shortening on low speed until smooth. Add flavorings and milk or water. Beat on low speed until smooth. Add confectioners sugar (1 cup at a time). Beat on low speed until smooth. Try not to use a high speed-you'll get a huge mess in the kitchen!!

This recipe makes a medium consistency icing which is good for decorating (like the pull-out grass and turkeys).

If you need to ice a cake or cupcakes, add one more Tbsp of water or milk to the above recipe to make a thin consistency icing. Always ice your cake/cupcakes in thin consistency!! Medium consistency would be hard to spread and you would end up tearing up your cake.

Printable Directions for Pumpkin Patch Batch Cupcakes

Printable Directions for Our Fine Feathered Friend Cupcakes

Printable Directions for Falling Snowflakes Cupcakes

Move Over Martha Stewart!

The cutest little decorator!

Just for Butts

Aubrey does not like shopping with me anymore. Well, it's more I don't like shopping with her. She loves to go but thinks the stores are for running around and knocking things over. The other day I absolutely had to run some errands and had no choice but to take the kids. So I told her if she was good I would get her a surprise.

Now, I am not the kind of Mommy that bribes her every time we go in the store (not that I object to it if you have the money, but I'd be broke! j/k) but this day I decided because I had to get somethings done I would bribe her.

Well we got done with our shopping, out last stop was Babies R Us and she really did need new underwear. (she just finished potty training YEAH) I told her she could pick any undies she wanted as her surprise. So she picked the Ariel ones and we headed towards the check out. Well then the tears came and the quiet sobbing. I asked her what's wrong? So she says to me, " Mommy, undies aren't a surprise. They're just for butts."

Submitted by Becky