I've been meaning to share my Valentine's Day present that Brad and Tommie gave me! It's this really, really awesome Praise and Worship c.d. It's called, Songs that Changed Church. I really wanted something that would uplift me, longer then flowers. Let me tell you...this CD does just that! It adds tremendous joy during homeschooling. And, it added so much joy today.. which I desperately needed.

My mom also lifted me up today. She knew I needed a boost. So, she buzzed over and brought, bought and taught me how to make penny rugs! I started on this one! I know my stitches aren't perfect..but I think that's what makes it unique.


I'll be adding soft yellow flowers and leaves in the center of the hearts. The pink hearts are actually a felted sweater!

Whoops..the pictures are a little mixed up...below is the beginning! It was such good therapy today! Thanks mom for teaching me this!

I'm excited to share this breakfast cookie recipe with you! I'll be back sometime this weekend to share it with you! Get your peanut butter, oatmeal, cornflakes or rice krispies and soda, flour, sugars and vanillas... ready! You're going to love this one!

SUNDAY.

How cheap can I be? Yesterday, found me whistling the Fiddler on the Roof (see my Twisted Education blog entry) and making super extra cheap household-good for-the-environment cleaners! I'm not sure the exact cost of the homemade cleaners...but I do know I forked out $2.37 for a big jug of Meijers brand white vinegar. The rest of the ingredients I already had. I had most of the containers, too....leftover jars and clean pop bottle! The spray bottles came from the dollar store. And, the floral and butterfly stickers came from the Dollar Tree, too. They're actually wall decals and adhere to the plastic and glass containers, like no body's business.

The recipes came from: HERE. I made: scouring paste, glass cleaner (which works wonderful!), furniture polish, all-purpose cleaner, 2 washing machine rinses, microwave cleaner and scouring powder. And, I still had a lot of ingredients left over. I didn't even open the second vinegar.

My coupon came for my free bottle of SUAVE SHAMPOO. I went to Wallyworld yesterday and picked the Tangerine scent.

On Valentine's night, I made pork chops, baked apples, squash and twice baked potatoes. Afterwards, I served a really horrible dessert that went straight into the garbage...it was Cranberry Upside Down Cake, taken from Cranberry Valentine picture book. We settled in and watched the video, I found at the .25 store: Second Hand Lions. IT IS EXCELLENT! Very excellent. A wonderful family movie...but it does have mild language. RENT IT. BORROW IT OR GET IT FROM YOUR LIBRARY and make a big bowl of buttery popcorn!

Valentine's Day decorating!

Today, found me in the mood to decorate this tiny little house for Valentine's Day! It was another beautiful afternoon here in Michigan... I went outside...gathered some branches, painted them white, laid them in the sun to dry and then set off for a long outdoor walk... letting the sunshine drive some vitamin C and D into my bones and breathing in the fresh fresh air!

I made the hearts above, a few weeks back. I cut up a .25 cent sweater. I've had plans to hang them from our Valentines tree.... Today, it all came into fruition!

I'm not sure what our Valentine's plans are? I'm thinking of maybe a fondue! With lots of chocolate for dipping! How about you? What are your plans?