Stating the Obvious

My boys were having some trouble remembering some basic household rules, so I typed up this "contract" and had them sign it. Stating the obvious was never so necessary! ;)





Click link to download complete document.



 

What do you do to accomplish this in YOUR household?

 





No Chill Sugar Cookies

Let me just get this out of the way: I am not particularly fond of sugar cookies. I'm the girl who passes on them at Christmas time (or any other time) if I can have oatmeal raisin or chocolate chip instead...or  *gasp!* none at all.

Until my friend MADE me try hers.

Oh, these are good. They are the only sugar cookies I ever make. EVER.

Even better? I don't have to refrigerate the dough. Perfect for impatient kiddos :)

NO CHILL SUGAR COOKIES

1c. Butter, softened
1c. Sugar
1 Egg
1t. Vanilla
2t. Baking powder
3c. Flour

Preheat oven to 400°.

Combine dry ingredients and set aside.

Cream together butter and sugar.
Beat in egg. Add vanilla.

Add dry ingredients 1 cup at a time until thoroughly mixed. (Dough will be stiff.)

Do not chill dough!

Roll out to 1/4" on lightly floured surface. Dip cookie cutters in flour. Cut.*

Bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 6-7 minutes. Cool on track.

*To cheat like I do: roll a ball of dough in your hands, press ball flat with palm of hand on parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Cute little shapes are optional. So is the chocolate drizzle :) Simply melt chocolate chips in baggie and clip corner. »Squeeze« to please!

Happy Monday!

Cow says moo!

Hours with my husband, enjoying the roadtrip playlists of music from the soundtrack of our lives.

Time with my sons...they're growing up so quickly...I want to just be IN THE MOMENT, storing up these treasures in my heart, like Mary of long ago.

Today, my family embarks on an adventure. A long awaited road trip to visit my family. It's been years since I've been home and this trip is long overdue.

400 miles today will take us through mountains, through the woods, across state lines, and over bridges to reach the deep blue sea. We'll visit friends today and another 400 miles will take us to family tomorrow. I am so thankful to God for this time together and that it is finally happening. What a wonderful answer to prayer!

Blessings #94-117

Feb 1, 2014 3 gifts red
#94 freshly painted toenails
#95 a custom dress for a friend
#96 a banner of Valentine hearts

Feb 2, 2014 3 gifts on paper
#97 my completed tax forms
#98 an invitation to a wedding
#99 lesson plans ready to go

Feb 3, 2014 3 gifts found in writing
#100! a note in the card my husband gave me the day before got married
#101 my son's handwritten note on my grocery list
#102 a thank you card from a friend

Feb 4, 2014 3 gifts found when bent down
#103 lost pens under the couch
#104 a box of summer clothes under my bed
#105 a cake pan in the back of my cupboard

Feb 5, 2014 a gift stitched, hammered, woven
#106 hand sewing sequins to a dress
#107 the sign my son made me from recycled materials
#108 the last scarf I was able to knit before my hands hurt to much to do more

Feb 6, 2014 3 gifts found outside
#109 trees
#110 mountains
#111 dragonflies

Feb 7, 2014 a gift at 11:30 am, 2:30 pm, 6:30 pm
#112 coffee date
#113 stealing a few minutes to read "just because"
#114 dinner with the while family home

Feb 8, 2014 a gift broken, fixed, thrifted
#115 a necklace from my mom
#116 baggy, unflattering jeans that I was able to alter and can wear again
#117 a purse that was "just right"

Keep on counting those beautiful blessings!
♥ tika nicole

A Prayer for a Friend

Thank you, Anna, for this beautiful song!

Valentine for a Friend

Sometimes the sweetest gift from a friend is the also the simplest one.

A hug
A smile
A knowing nod

All for the purpose of showing someone we really do care. Love wrapped up.

Valentine for a Friend
inspired by Ann Voskamp's Ultimate Girlfriend Gift

Supplies:

12"x12" scrapbook paper (light colors work best)
ribbon
gluestick
hole punch
paper cutter
scissors
stylus (or a "dead" ballpoint pen)

Valentine for a Friend

1.  Cut 12"x12" scrapbook paper in half on the paper cutter. You should now have two (2) 6"x12" papers from each full size sheet.
2. Adjust your printer settings to our custom size of 6"x12". Print my free template onto your scrapbook paper.
3. Cut out pillow box and gift tag along solid lines.
4. Use the stylus (or an old ballpoint pen with no more ink) to score the dotted lines. This will make folding easier, I promise!
5. Using gluestick, seal the length of the pillow box. You may need to hold this for a moment, depending on how sticky your glue is.
6. Close one end of pillow box. Fill with your tiny gift or goodies.*
7. Close other end of pillow box.
8. Punch hole in gift tag. Thread ribbon or string through and tie bow around pillow box. 
9. Make a Special Delivery to a Friend today!

*I printed Page ONE of these on colored cardstock to stick inside my pillow boxes.

Happy Valentine's Day!

♥tika nicole

Blessings #76-93

Jan 26, 2014 a gift at dawn, at noon, after dark
#76 daylight revealing freshly fallen snow
#77 leftovers for lunch
#78 a cup of tea

Jan 27, 2014 3 gifts in the kitchen
#79 my gigantic, much-used stock pot (despite the fact one handle broke off)
#80 the wood handled pastry cutter that belonged to my mom
#81 my new blender, given to me by a friend :)

Jan 28, 2014 3 graces found in friends
#82 a phone call from a friend that picks up right where we left off 9 months ago like it was yesterday
#83 total "as is" acceptance
#84 laughter

Jan 29, 2014 a song heard, a soft word, light seen
#85 my wedding song heard in an unexpected place, like the grocery store
#86 "Mama?" at 3 am (he still needs me)
#87 spotting a light left on for me when i turn into my driveway when I arrive home after my family's gone to sleep

Jan 30, 2014 3 old things seen new
#88 a tablecloth from my husband's grandmother gracing our table for a party
#89 sharing songs from my childhood with my own children
#90 watching an old war movie and understanding it better 20 years later because of what I've learned from homeschooling my kids :)

Jan 31, 2014 a gift on paper, in a person, in a picture
#91 when my mom writes me notes, she still dots my "i" with a little heart
#92 real hugs from real friends, the kind that squeeze tighter and hold on a little longer
#93 the picture of my boys holding a picture of my husband holding a picture of his late father

Photo: gift #93 thanks to Pinterest for this great Father's Day gift idea

February 1st

Photo: the beautiful project I'm currently working on :)