Easter Tablescape!

Happy Holy Week Everyone! I wasn't sure I was going to be able to do an Easter table because hubby wasn't able to get my Easter stuff down from the attic, so I bought a few things at thrift stores and shopped the house.

Here is my little bunny (that is out all year long!) The basket I found at SA for a couple of bucks- I am a basket freak anyway.

I am using Chippendale dishes that I found at SA awhile back. If you look back at last week's table you might be able to see how nice my silver is this week as I shined it up- so I had to use it again! I also did a little floppy thing with the napkin rings.

I reused the green metallic candles from St. Patty's Day.

Cute bunny I also found at SA! Turns out it is originally from the Dollar Store!

I added jelly beans to my hurricane lamps (got them on sale after Christmas at Michael's for $3 each)

Be sure and check out Susan's blog at Between Naps on the Porch for more beautiful tables! It is so much fun!

Menu Monday!

Hi Everyone!

It was funny, this morning I thought what am I going to make for dinner tonight? Oh, wait! I forgot to sit and do my menu! I realized how nice it was to have a plan, even if I veered from it a night or two! Also, I sat down tonight and I am going to make a month long shopping list. We have spent so much money running to the store for this or that even after grocery shopping! It is annoying! So I am working on my master list! I bet I could save a small fortune- will let you know how this experiment works.

Here is what is on the Menu for this week!

Monday- Lasagna (made from Spaghetti sauce I crock potted last week)
Tuesday- Cobb Salad (this is a Tuesday constant- I work part time at a restaurant and I make one before I leave every Tuesday!)
Wednesday- hamburgers and homemade french fries
Thursday- Beans and rice
Friday- Tilapia or Shrimp
Saturday-steak or tacos
Sunday-I am making quiche for brunch, eating at a relative's for dinner! Happy Easter! He is Risen! Alleluia!

My 7th Year in the Catholic Church!

As we enter into Holy Week, I thought I would take this time to do a little celebratory post! It was a little over 7 years ago that I began my journey into the Catholic faith. In all actuality, it was probably a lot longer ago than that, but actively, consciously- just over 7 years. Prior to this time, I was attending a Southern Baptist Church that I was very happily active in. I had been in this particular church for almost 20 years and all my children grew up in that church. I taught Sunday School, Children's Choir, I was a secretary and I also was the kitchen manager for a couple years, cooking dinners and weddings and catering every kind of event you can imagine.

We were homeschoolers (youngest graduated in 2007) and we were in co-ops and sports groups with several Catholic families. I will have to admit, I was in awe of them. Not only were they fantastic people with more children than I would have the courage to have, there was something ultra wonderful about the way they were in terms of their faith. It was deeper, it was sacred, it was different than what I had.

If I was ever one of those Protestants that thought Catholics were in a cult and "weren't saved"- all that would have been dismissed by knowing these families.

So intrigued was I, and so determined was I to "prove" my faith was the "same" (didn't we love the same Jesus?) that I began to study this wonderful Christ-given entity, The Catholic Church.

I studied on-line, got in touch with an old friend that I had heard became Catholic (I figured she did because her husband had been) because something told me it wasn't just because her husband had been a Catholic. This friend sent me the Catechism, and all kinds of books and set me up to speak to a Priest! Wow! Another Catholic friend took the time (she had 9 children!) to go out to lunch with me and answer all my questions and just be a great witness to the faith. I can't not mention another Catholic friend of mine that I had known by this time 10  plus years-she was also a very good example to me- such great faith and love for the Lord.
All the books and tapes were awesome and speaking to Father Frank probably changed my life, BUT, honestly, really honestly, I didn't have to read but a few paragraphs in my first studies to really know that I should be Catholic.

Sure, I had a few little obstacles like the whole Mary issue. Now, I have to laugh. Issue? Mother of God?? Come on! (Yes, I have a statue of her in my yard and several in the house). Praying to Saints? HUH? No, it isn't praying to saints like praying to God, but to ask intercession. Ok, that works. Communion- the Eucharist IS Christ? Oh, wait, my God can do anything, right?
I still have trouble with incense, but that is just my high intolerance for smells, not for using it.
The first time I entered the Catholic Church, I was so in awe of the peace, the quiet, the total reverence. As my friend had told me long before this "you are Catholic in your heart".
(By the way, did you know that Catholic means Universal, One? Isn't that what the Lord would want? ONE HOLY CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH? Yes, I think so!)
I don't think religion is man-made. I believe the Lord gave the authority to Peter (the first Pope!) to carry on HIS church. The Catholic Church has withstood so many obstacles, but has remained, why? Again, God's authority! I even learned Protestant meant Protest-er against the Catholic Church- Christ's church. Did I really want to protest that?

So, on December 3, 2003 my son and I were baptized into the Catholic Church and my husband followed shortly after. We were all Confirmed at the Easter Vigil 2004 and my youngest daughter converted in 2007. I love being Catholic!

God Bless and have a wonderful Holy Week!

Pretty Little Tablescape!

 * I would love it so much if you would leave a comment for me- trying to see if I could possibly get 50 comments this week! My highest is 15 I think! I have Blog envy of all the comments that I read on other blogs! Just for fun! 

I took the St. Patty's Day table down last week and before I do an Easter one (if hubby gets my Easter stuff down from the attc!) I decided to do a simple but I think, pretty Tablescape this week. I guess most of my Tablescapes are pretty simple! Anyway, hope you enjoy- and look around a little I have been working on my blog some and I am pretty happy with it!

My table


Dishes are part of my growing collection of Ironstone- I love the Snowwhite, the Classic white, Regency- they all match in just a slightly different shade of white- very different and fun to look for- my sister has had a lot of luck finding pieces for me!Anything swirly- Johnson Brothers, little green crown, Ironstone- they all say a little something different on the back of the plates. My latest find was at SA- 6 cups and 6 dinner plates for $10- they weren't marked, but I KNEW they were Ironstone- love 'em!

The centerpiece is a glass basket of my grandmother's. My sister (Tammy) snagged it up first, but after a year or so of nagging, um sweet pleading- she finally graciously gave it to me for my 50th birthday last year! I just found the silk flowers at SA last week- they were in an ugly little basket, but I knew they would look great in the glass basket!

Just simple candles- both glass and silver candlesticks are from Yankee Candle (one of my true loves!) The silver is in such need of polishing, but ever since I found it off ebay, I have been in too much of a hurry to use them than to polish them. It is 1921 Grosvenor. I think I paid $18 for the set including box!

Be sure and check out BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH for some great inspiring, decorative tables- it has been home therapy for me!

Love to all-

Menu Monday!

This week for dinner:

I was sick last week so some of this will be a repeat of last week since I didn't cook some nights!

Monday- Beef Stew (with leftover pot roast in the crock pot)

Tuesday- Cobb Salad

Wednesday-Chicken Picatta

Thursday- Spaghetti (homemade sauce in the crockpot)

Friday-Tilapia (lent fav)or Red beans and rice

Saturday- Hamburgers or Tacos

I am trying so hard to use up what I have- a lot of times, too, I just feel like making something else, but it is good to have a plan!

Have a Blessed week!

Good Shopping Day!

Yesterday, I had a $5 off $50 purchase coupon to use at Publix (it was a competitor's coupon that is in the paper almost every week) and a $50 rebate card from T-Mobile, so armed with my other coupons- I was off to good old Publix. (I also love their BOGO dealios)I was determined not to go over $50. Well, the total was $56 before coupons, so not too bad and the GRAND total was $39! This was a time to buy my stock up items, not my "we are going to eat this this week" stuff. I figured this was the best way to get the most of my rebate card.(My husband calls me a hoarder, but we all know, I am just a stockpiler!)

I bought 2 cans of tuna, 8 pk Brawny paper towels, 2 types of toilet paper,(I hate, hate, hate running out of tp or pt!) 2-Swiffer dusting spray (coupon was BOGO), batteries, baby wipes (grandson),2 loaves of bread, Bon-Ami,Soft scrub toilet cleaner (it sprays upside down- it is awesome!),Listerine,and I think that is it- receipt is in my car and I don't feel like going out to get it. So when you think of it that is a bunch of nothing, but all stuff I use! There were only a couple things that I didn't have a coupon for and I didn't see any good BOGO dealies for me this week, so it was off to Target.

Our Target is a Super Target and though I have been there several times of course- we are now making the switch from Wally World to Target- our WW has gone downhill and I like the Target deals I see. I was in the other day and they had a laundry deal purchase you get a $5 gift card, ok, I had a coupon for both the necessary items and I use both, so hey! Then at check out I got a coupon for tp and a $10 coupon for a new or transferred presc, so my hubby had one to fill, so we went there. So NOW I have more coupons and $15 in Target gift cards.(Plus the presc was $35 cheaper than we had gotten it before! Yeah!) I had a coupon for a shaver get a free body wash, then noticed if I bought another razor (which hubby needed) I would get another $5 gift card- and I bought a few toiletry items I thought would be cheaper there than Publix- I wasn't always right with that idea. My coffee was on sale $1 cheaper than Publix so I got one of those (with a $1 off future purchase). So I saved about $25 on this trip- BUT word of warning- I looked at my receipt and I had 3 items that the coupon did not show up on. This has happened to me before too. I need to be more watchful, either I dropped some coupons on my journey through the store or the cashier did (and this one surely wouldn't have bent over to pick them up )I did find one coupon in the bottom of my purse, so I took it back in the store and got that cash back and just returned the other 2 items (a BOGO deal that I will wait to get another coupon for). So total trip- I bought $138 worth of stuff for $56- not too shabby. I still have yet to get $200 worth of stuff for $12 yet, but who knows. I don't do online coupons and I don't buy a lot of processed boxed food or cereals or frozen stuff, but I try real hard to get everything BOGO or with a coupon or with both or buy in bulk at Costco if I can. It is a game, in a way, and it is fun getting the lowest price you can for stuff you regularly use!



PS- Hubby used my $5 gift card today and bought me a 4GB SD card for my camera for $10-$5 gift card= $5!!! Not bad, now I don't feel so bad about having to spend $27 on my last one at Disney World because I forgot to get it out of my computer before we went!)

Another Giveaway! Rachel Ray Bakeware!

Sherry over at The Charm of Home is having a great give away! Check it out!

What is for dinner this week?

Hi all! I am trying to get better about planning my menus (after 31&1/2 years of marriage, I guess it is about time). Somewhere out there in blog land there is a Menu Plan Monday deal, so I figured that was a good day to start!

This week at my house we are having:

Sunday (tonight!) we had roast in the crock-pot with potatoes and then mixed veggies on the side (couldn't be easier- I put the roast in the crock pot FROZEN on high for a bit then down to low (my crock-pot runs hot)

Monday- Whole Chicken in the Crock-pot- already prepped it and it is ready to go will probably add some new potatoes and green beans

Tuesday- Cobb Salad (this is yummy, even my non-vegetable eating son loves it)

Wednesday- tacos or hamburgers

Thursday- Chicken piccatta (made with my homemade broth from the whole chicken in the crockpot) Rice and broccoli

Friday- Tilapia (breaded and sauteed)homemade fries and veggies

Saturday- hamburgers or tacos

Sunday- Stew with leftover meat from tonight! in the crockpot!

Hope you have a good week!

Giveaway!

DeNiece at Organized Home for Christ is having a giveaway! Check it out! DeNiece is all about the home and family! I have enjoyed her blog!
Thanks, DeNiece!!

Testing, Testing, Testing (My new signature)

Blog Improvements!

In my blogging today, I came across some ways to improve my blog! Yeah! I have been wanting to get big pictures and do some more changes! Thanks to Beth and Susan for the inspiration!

Luck o' the Irish Tablescape! REPOST- improved blog

***I worked on my blog this week and enlarged my pictures and did some other stuff so I thought I would share with you last week's Tablescape again! (I also learned how to link to a blog!)


Naturally, being Catholic, especially, I have to do a St. Patrick's Day tablescape! My hubby never got my St. P's stuff down from the attic, so I had to make do. I had found a few things recently for this table, but other than that it went together pretty quick and I love the simplicity! (Hubby said tonight that someday, it would be nice to actually EAT at the table, so we are working on that!)

Here is an aerial view!
Isn't he cute? "Table runner" is a length of fabric.

Green metallic candles!


I wish I would have had some green hydrangea or something for the beer stein.

I found the green goblets at a thrift store- Salvation Army or Goodwill, can't remember? I started a collection of Ironstone recently, finding pieces here and there (thanks to inspiration from Bill, I think?) so don't have a complete set- my sister has been great about finding pieces too-she even found a platter, but it slipped onto the floor today as I was moving my plates around today ;~( but I mixed it up a little I have gold rimmed plates and a few saucers and a couple of little bowls and I really do love the white simple look. Napkin rings are just Christmas ones from the dollar store


I never got a taste for beer, but bought the stein thinking of hubby, who has a little collection.

Be sure and go to Between Naps on the Porch where Susan hosts Tablescape Thursday! It is a lot of fun- I really enjoy doing this- it is therapeutic and adds so much to the look of the house!

Prayers needed!

I know not many people will read this, and that is ok, I started this blog mainly for myself and to write down my thoughts somewhere. I do, however think it would be great to have one of those fancy blogs that has a zillion followers and offers so much info on stuff. Oh, well, this is my blog and hey, I have kept it up pretty well for over a year not bad! Anyway- just feeling like I could use some prayer! We are in the middle of trying to decide what to do about our house. It is eating us up alive and we are realizing that we are in a money pit that we are never going to get out of and at our age, we really need something better. We have refied a few times to get extra cash to help with big things around here like air conditioning, roofs, septic and college loans. The last time we refied a few years ago we still had equity- now no more equity. It makes no sense to stay here- we pour everything into this house. Also, the real biggie here- our neighborhood is getting kinda scary too. Anyway, prayers are appreciated! ~Nana