$1 Family Fun Magazine Subscription

I've got an awesome deal to share with you that I found on Free Sample Freak.  You can get a one year subscription to Family Fun Magazine for only $1! This offer ends today so grab it while you can! Here's how:


Sign up for mamapedia.  (It's free to join and its a coupon site like Groupon and you get a $5 credit for signing up) 
Buy $5 subscription to Family Fun
Enter code FATWALLET4 at checkout for $4 off

I am going to give my subscription as a gift, they have a place to enter a separate shipping address so this is a great last minute gift idea!

I've had a subscription to Family Fun for the last two years and love it!  It is full of great ideas and crafts to do with kids.  I use it as a resource for church crafts and activities!

*this offer is only valid to new members of mamapedia

Writing in Pencil

Last year, my roommate Bethany let me read this book she had that was written by Shauna Niequist, a lady she knew, called "Cold Tangerines".  There was one specific chapter she wanted me to read and I'll never forget it.  The chapter was called "Writing in Pencil". 

This chapter talked about how too often we write out the plans for our lives in Sharpie instead of pencil.  How we need to leave room for God to change our plans once in a while and write plans in pencil, freeing ourselves to allow our own dreams and plans to be erased and rewritten by the Author of our life. 

The chapter starts out,
"I just turned thirty, and I'm finally willing to admit something about life, or at least about my life, and it's this: I should have written in pencil.  I should have viewed the trajectory of my life as a mystery or an unknown.  I should have planned lightly, hypothetically, and should have used words like ‘maybe and possibly.  Instead every chance I got, I wrote in stone and Sharpie.  I stood on my future, on what I knew, on the certainty of what life would hold for me as though it were a rock."

Right now my life seems a little like I'm in limbo.  I often feel like I'm just waiting for the next step: waiting to get married, waiting to have a place to live, waiting to get a 'real' job.  But I always want concrete and permanent, not interim. 

One part of this chapter states, "Everything is interim.  Every season that I thought was stable and would be just how it was for a long time ended up being a preparation or path to the next thing.  When you decide to be on this journey with God, everything is interim."

How true that is!  I'm never going to reach permanent.  To reach permanent would be to become stagnant.  I always have to be open to the next step, to the next phase in life that God is going to bring.   

The author says, "I’m learning to just keep moving, keep walking, keep taking teeny tiny steps.  And it's in those teeny tiny steps and moments that I become, actually, who I am.  We won’t arrive.  But we can become.  And that’s the most hopeful thing I can think of."

I want to become the woman of God who follows His will without question, without fear.  Isn't it freeing to think that we will never really "arrive" in this life?  I don't have to keep waiting for permanent to arrive, because it never will. 

I think that Shauna said it well, "There is a loosey-goosey feeling to the future now, both a slight edge of anxiety, like anything can happen, and a slight bubble of hope and freedom that, well, anything can happen."

So as Jeremy is sending out resumes to find a job, and as I find myself worrying that I don't know where we'll be or what we'll be doing in six months...I pray that I will bring it to the Lord and give my plans and my dreams back to Him.  With that anxiety also does come a sense of excitement that God could send us anywhere to do anything- and we're just waiting to discover where and what it is. 

Elisabeth Elliot once said, "Waiting on God requires the willingness to bear uncertainty, to carry within oneself the unanswered question, lifting the heart to God about it whenever it intrudes upon one's thoughts"

I'm trying to write in pencil- and lifting my heart to God about all the uncertainties while embracing the freedom of not having our plans written in Sharpie.   

Hallmark Freebies

I received a free magazine in the mail the other day that I signed up for on Free Sample Freak. Inside was a little treasure- a coupon for $5 off any purchase of $5 or more at Hallmark!  You know what that means- freebies! 

I was able to get 5 cards with my $5 coupon.  I just love Hallmark cards-they are so pretty!

A Dream Come True

Do you have a piece of furniture or an item for your home that you have dreamed about having for years?  I have a couple...

An old beat up door with beautiful peeling paint to sit around the house


and adirondack chairs.





Saturday night Jeremy and I decided to take a quick run through Goodwill on our way back to my apartment to watch a movie.  I was making my way through the home goods section when I saw them.  My heart skipped a beat and I rushed over to them.  If you thrift, you know that feeling.  I looked around, knowing somebody else had to be eyeing these things too.  Two perfectly blue, perfectly shabby, perfectly cheap adirondack chairs with a table!  I sat down in one and told Jeremy how much I loved them and wanted them. 

Jeremy, being practical, asked where I thought I would put them.  I'm currently living in an apartment with really no where at all to keep 2 huge adirondack chairs and a table.  I of course said I didn't know, but that I didn't care.  I was sitting there trying to figure out a solution when he said that we probably shouldn't get them.  My heart sank.  I wanted them so bad, but I knew he was right... it wasn't practical at all.  So I reluctantly got up from the chair that fit me so wonderfully, and started walking around the store basically sulking.  Funny now when I look back on- sulking because of some chairs, really?  Jeremy said he was going to go look at the clothes so I started down the dishes isle.  He came over to where I was a few minutes later and gave me a hug and asked if I was alright.  I said yeah that I would be fine, I was just disappointed.  He had this sly smile on his face and said we should go take one more look at them.  I said alright, and as we were walking over he asked when I wanted him to give me my Christmas present.  I said it didn't matter and he stopped and said he was giving it to me tonight and that he had just bought me those chairs for Christmas!! 

Ahh!!  I was sooo happy and gave him a huge hug and went and sat in our chairs again.  I sat there until the worker came over with the sold tag- just to make sure no one else got any ideas about buying them! :)  The picture above is of the chairs- don't you just love them?

Everyone in Goodwill probably thought I was a crazy woman, but I don't care. 

So I have had one of my "house things" dreams come true, I am now the proud owner of 2 lovely adirondack chairs. 

Jeremy is also a dream come true.  Come on, a husband-to-be who will buy me adirondack chairs for Christmas, what more could I want! 

Did I mention that the chairs were only $10.50 each?  Seriously, how could you pass that up?

They are now in the back of my Jeep waiting for me to go home to NC for Christmas so I can store them at my parent's house until we have a place to live. 


Thought I'd share in my excitement :)

Memory Verse

This week's memory verse is to help me to remember the magnitude of the season of Christmas.  The long awaited Messiah was born so that He could die for my sins.  He is and always will be Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace!

Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Homemade Croutons

I just love croutons in my salads, don't you?  I think they are the best part of a salad :)  Today I wanted to share a simple recipe for homemade croutons.  This will save you money from buying pre-packaged croutons and I think they taste better!

Homemade Croutons
You will need:
Bread (Loaf bread, Italian bread, etc.  Any bread should work)
Olive Oil
Mrs. Dash Table Seasoning

I found a great buy on some artisan garlic bread at Kroger on my last shopping trip.  It was originally $3.29 and I got it on manager's special for .89! I am making spaghetti this week so we will have garlic bread with that, but I had plenty and decided to make some croutons. 


1. First, preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Cut bread into cubes.  I would suggest using a serrated knife- it works better cutting bread.  Trust me, I tried the other first :) You can cut these however you like best, big or small.

3. Place bread cubes onto a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. 

4. Sprinkle with Mrs. Dash Table Seasoning

5. Bake for 10 minutes and then flip

6. Bake an additional 10 minutes- watch them closely so they don't burn!

7. Let cool and then serve or store!

Antique Store

On our way to Asheville to see the National Gingerbread House Competition, we stopped at one of my favorite antique stores in Hendersonville, NC.  Needful Things II is a HUGE antique store with 2 floors!  It is like a huge warehouse.  It is right off of I-26 across from World of Clothing if you're ever in the area and want to go if you're out that way. 

I stopped in to pick up a couple of goodies for my bridesmaids (can't tell you what- it's a surprise!) but we browsed for a while as well.  I took a few pictures of some of my favorite things.

I was in love with this bench but it cost $1,200! 

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

I woke up to this beautiful sight this morning!  It is suppose to snow all day and work was canceled, so I'm going to be snuggled up inside drinking hot cocoa and making homemade Christmas presents and wedding crafts. 

If I do decide to go out at some point today I'm excited to wear my cute rain boots!

Hope you are getting to enjoy some snow today as well!

Pretty Paper

I love pretty wrapping paper, but I hate the high price!  I found some adorable wrapping paper at the dollar store that is decorated kraft paper.   I love the dollar store and get so excited when I find something pretty like this. 

I have a couple of inspiration photos of wrapping with kraft paper.  I love the natural look!

Homemade Whole Wheat Tortillas

Tuesday morning I went out on a limb and decided to attempt making some homemade whole wheat tortillas.  I'm so glad I did! 

As I've said before, Jeremy and I really want to eat healthy and live healthy lifestyles, and we part of that is cutting out as much processed foods.  I decided that instead of buying loaves of bread full of high fructose corn syrup I would attempt making our own bread and tortillas.  I've not got to the bread yet, but I'm fairly pleased with the tortillas.  They are quick and easy and taste great!

Here is what you need:
1 Cup of White Flour (I used unbleached organic white flour)
1 Cup of Whole Grain Flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
4 tbsp canola oil (I used vegetable oil)
2/3 cup of water (I used hot water)

Directions:
Combine flours, salt, and baking powder in a large bowl

Add oil and water and mix together until dough forms

Flour flat surface and knead dough

Form dough into 7-8 balls (You can dredge these and flour and save them for later in the fridge if you want)

Roll balls out thin, flipping between turns

Place tortilla in an ungreased pan on medium high heat.  Cook on each side about 40 seconds. First side should be pale and sprinkled with brown spots and the other side will be blotched.

Continue with other balls until finished.  Stack together to keep warm. 

Serve and enjoy!

I used one for a sandwich wrap for my lunch and plan to make tacos for Jeremy tonight!

I need to learn to make them a little thinner (maybe a real rolling pin would help, I used a glass cup), and make them into circles. 

Recipe modified from here.