Christmas in July

Is it too early to be thinking about Christmas already?  For me, I don’t think it is…especially for what I am planning this year.  I am planning “a handmade Christmas”…meaning the majority of the gifts we give will be handmade, but useful.  I am really excited about this plan, and hope to come up with handmade (and useful) items for each family member.  I keep throwing the word ‘useful’ in there, because I know I don’t like getting ‘junk’ that you’re just going to tuck away in a closet, or sell at the next garage sale, etc.  I have a couple of ideas for the little boys in my family already…pictures will come as soon as I’m done with finished products.  🙂  I will say that I am really into crochet, some sewing, a little bit of woodworking…well, painting on wood anyway…and putting appliques on clothing.

Have you thought about Christmas yet?  What are your plans?

Until next time!

~ jenn ~

Our 12th Wedding Anniversary

The hubby and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary this past weekend!  The little one stayed at his grandparents house, and we took off to Houston.  First on the list was to do a little shopping…we did, AND I actually got what I was looking for!  After that we had reservations at a very nice restaurant, Fogo de Chao.  We had a delicious all you can eat dinner…it included a wonderful salad bar, several differents types of meat, and a few side dishes.  We were stuffed!  After our dinner, the waiter kept asking if we wanted any dessert…we both said that we would have to pass.  A few minutes later, he comes back with a cheesecake with strawberry topping and cool whip, and “Happy Anniversary” written around the edges of the plate!  How sweet was that?!!  We took a few bites of it, and they boxed the rest up (I finished it up the next day!).  Wonderful day with a wonderful man!

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Until next time~

~ jenn ~

Pink Zebra Home

As I mentioned on the About page, I am an Independent Consultant for Pink Zebra Home.  Pink Zebra Home is a direct sales business featuring home fragrances in the form of wax sprinkles.  These wax sprinkles come in jars, and can be poured right into your fragrance warmer.  The best thing is…you don’t have to touch the wax or break bricks apart!  To ready more about Pink Zebra Home, visit my website at www.pinkzebrahome.com/jennsgiftsandmore.  Here, you will find loads of information about the products, as well as about the business opportunity.  And as always, I am here to answer any of your questions!

www.pinkzebrahome.com/jennsgiftsandmore

Until next time!

~ jenn ~

What We’ve Been Up To Lately

It seems like forever since I have written a post!  Things have been pretty hectic around our house between soccer, swimming lessons, and trips that we’ve had planned.  Let’s see…since Easter, which was the last post I did, we have been to the NASCAR race at Texas Motor Speedway, to the beach in Port Aransas, soccer practice every Monday evening, soccer games every Saturday morning, and now swimming lessons every Tuesday and Thursday evenings…yes, busy!  I wouldn’t change anything about it though.  Our last soccer game was this past Saturday, so that can be crossed off our list now.  We have three more weeks of swimming lessons for the little one, and then t-ball starts in June.  We are also gearing up for our annual vacation to the Frio River in Concan, TX.  We are taking our camper this year, and will be staying seven nights!  Only problem is the Frio River is VERY low right now…WE NEED RAIN!  At least there are some good swimming holes that should have plenty of water…we just may not get to do the floating part.

I’ve been busy at home as well.  Last weekend, I made some strawberry jam with the eight pounds of strawberries I got from Bountiful Baskets (a post on this later)!  It tastes wonderful, however, it’s not very thick…I don’t think I boiled it long enough.  So instead of eating it on toast, I’ve been mixing it into plain yogurt and using it as an ice cream topping…very tasty!  I am also in the process of making sauerkraut…we shall see in a few weeks how that turns out.

Mother’s Day was wonderful!  I had a nice relaxing (for the most part) day at home with my husband and son.  I did do some laundry and housecleaning that I was behind on, but other than that it was great.  The hubby grilled burgers for dinner, and we had my mother-in-law, father-in-law, and my Mema over for dinner.  {My parents are out of town on a motorcycle trip…Run for the Wall…check out the site if you get a chance…it looks like an awesome experience!}

 

Until next time!

~ jenn ~

Easter Weekend 2013

We had a GREAT time this Easter.  We pulled our camper out to a park that is about 7 miles out of the town we live in.  Family came out on Good Friday for an early Easter get together, and a good time was had by all!  My sister-in-law fried a turkey, I cooked a ham, and we had bunches of side dishes and desserts to go with.  The kiddos hunted Easter eggs, and my little man ended up with the Golden Egg, so he got an extra little prize.

The next morning, the park hosted an Easter egg hunt, so we took the little man to hunt some more eggs there.  I got only ONE picture at this event…I was a little upset about that.  The reason: right after they said “GO” to start the hunt, I took a step, and something (thinking it was a bee, but who knows because I never saw it) stung the bottom of my foot (I did have flip flops on)!  I just wanted to cry, it hurt so bad!  I hurried and snapped a picture and tried to take my mind off of my stinging foot, but it wasn’t working. 

That same evening, we had more family and friends out for dinner.  Another great visit with them all!

On Easter Sunday, we pulled in the camper, and then since we really didn’t have any big plans, we went to a seafood place about an hour away, and had a yummy lunch with family.  Lastly, we had BBQ hamburgers for supper at my husband’s parents’ house.  A GREAT day!

Now to get ready for the week.  Thankfully, I have one more day off though…since daycare is closed…so I can get caught up on laundry and housework…fun fun!

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter!

Until next time!

~ jenn ~

Trivia, Soccer, Birthday, Easter

That title pretty much sums up our weekend!  It was indeed a busy one.  It started off Friday evening with the hubby and me participating in a Trivia Night that a local organization puts on as a fundraiser.  We were on two separate teams…neither placed in the top three (my team came out ahead of his in points though  )…but we had a great, fun-filled evening!

Saturday, little man had his first soccer game of the season.  Despite the cold, nasty weather, he did great!

We then did a little shopping and had a yummy Chick-Fil-A lunch.

There was enough time when we got home for little man to catch a nap, then we headed to my sister-in-law’s birthday party.  Had a great time visiting with family and friends.

Sunday was a catch up on housework and laundry day (still not totally caught up though), and an annual Easter egg hunt that we attend each year.  Little man ended up with all kinds of goodies!

That was our weekend!  Now to start another work week…short one at that (yay!).  We’ll be heading out to the park for some camping Easter weekend!  Ready to relax!

Until next time!

~ jenn ~

Book Review: Seriously…I’m Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres

It’s hard to find the time, but I love to read!  I love romance, romantic comedy, “smutty” (as some might say) kind of books.  However, another type of book has caught my attention…one by Ellen DeGeneres.  I LOVE the Ellen Show, and watch it any time I’m at home during the week.  “Seriously…I’m Kidding” is actually Ellen’s third book to write, however, my first of hers to read.

You have to know and appreciate Ellen’s humor to read and understand this book.  It is funny and the most witty book I’ve read in a while!  Not only is it full of humor, it is also full of words of wisdom.  Ellen brings her readers back to a simpler time and makes you realize how ridiculous life has gotten with laziness, busy-ness, and technology.

I purchased the Kindle edition on Amazon.com.  If you’re a big Ellen fan, I definitely recommend you read this book!

 

 

Until next time!

~ jenn ~

Crockpot Cube Steak

I am ALL for easy meals!  Especially meals I can just throw in the crockpot and do nothing else.  Well, here’s one I’ve made a couple times already.  It is SO EASY and SO TASTY!  Crockpot Cube Steak.  I didn’t take a picture when I made it (I will try to remember next time!), but there is one on the site this recipe came from.  This is great served with creamy mashed potatoes, another veggie (green beans possibly), and crescent rolls…gotta have bread to sop up the remaining gravy!

Anyhow, this is a recipe I highly recommend!

Until next time!

~ jenn ~

Homemade Cough Syrup

I have been a little under the weather the past several days.  I, at first, thought it was just allergies, then got a little worse, so I thought probably a cold.  Well, yesterday, I lost my voice, had lots of drainage, and felt like I was coughing up my lungs.  RELIEF WAS NEEDED ASAP!  I tend to be extremely stubborn when it comes to taking medicine…I like to be as all natural as possible.  From earlier research, I knew honey and lemon were good for colds, but I didn’t know how to take them.  I went to the lovely information packed Internet, and used Swagbucks to search for “honey and lemon for bronchitis” (I was sure I had bronchitis, as my mom was just diagnosed with it, and my symptoms were the same as hers).  There it was…a few search results down…Honey Lemon Cough and Cold Remedy.  I had the three required ingredients on hand…raw honey, lemon, and garlic cloves.  I whipped this syrup up and started taking a teaspoonful every 30 minutes for the first couple of hours, then a teaspoonful every couple of hours before I went to bed.  As the evening went on, I started coughing less, feeling less congested, and my voice started slowing coming back!  I went to bed and slept until 4:00 a.m. when I had another coughing attack.  I got up and took another teaspoonful of this wonderful homemade cough syrup, and within 15 minutes or so the coughing subsided.  I have continued taking a teaspoonful every 2-3 hours today, and though not 100% better, I am definitely feeling better than I have been the last few days.  This is definitely a home remedy I will keep bookmarked!

Until next time!

~ jenn ~

My First Post!

Finally, my first post on my new blog!  I am very excited about this blog, and using it to connect with other mom bloggers.  You will find an array of information here (hence the name Random Ramblings)…DIY/craft projects, recipes, home remedies, things about our life, and much more!  I’m also open to writing about things YOU want to read about.  Comment or contact me, and I’d be happy to see what I can come up with!

Until next time!

~ jenn ~