2011 September

Easy Taco Dip for a Tailgate Party!

September 29, 2011 By Courtney 14 Comments

The Ohio air is crisp and cool and that can only mean one thing…it’s football season!!! My son is in the middle of his 3rd season of flag football at the local public school. I’ve spent hours and hours, since the beginning of August, watching him chase after flags! lol! Here’s our little football player:

Janelle from Comfy In The Kitchen has the perfect Taco Dip for a Tailgate Party!!! She writes:

“Who doesn’t love a good taco dip? This deeeelicious dip is quick, easy, and can be made ahead of time and refrigerated until guests arrive. I have a feeling this isn’t going to last long tonight at my house! Enjoy!”

Spread 1 can of refried beans on a large serving dish

In large mixing bowl mix cream cheese, sour cream, and taco seasoning packet

Spread that mixture over top of beans

Layer salsa (If I don’t make my own salsa, I use Garden Fresh Gourmet- it is amazing)

Top with cheddar cheese (I finely shred cheese in most mexican dishes I make)

Top with shredded lettuce and garnish with olives

Wanna bite?!

MMMMmmm…

Easy Taco Dip

1 16 oz can refried beans

1 8 oz package cream cheese softened

1 16 oz container sour cream

1 packet taco seasoning mix

1 16 oz jar salsa

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

2 cups shredded lettuce (I purchased pre-shredded)

1 6oz can black olives drained and sliced

Spread refried beans on a large serving dish. Beat cream cheese, taco seasoning, and sour cream with mixer and layer over top of beans. Layer salsa, cheese, lettuce and garnish with olives. Serve with tortilla chips.

Thanks Janelle! We are rooting for the Ohio State Buckeyes this weekend!

Walk with the King,

If you are in need of some fresh new recipes for the fall – then visiting Janelle’s blog at Comfy In the Kitchen is a must! She also has a Feasting In Fellowship Friday Link-Up Party happening right now – join the fun!!

Filed Under: Comfy In The Kitchen, Recipes

WLW Wednesday Link-Up Party & My Top 3

September 27, 2011 By Courtney 11 Comments

My Top 3 Favorite Posts of the Week!

1. Vintage Fall Mantel and Fireplace: Look at Myra’s BEAUTIFUL mantel above – you must check out how she made this for some inspiration at My Blessed Life. You will find loads of other great decorating tips as well!

2. How to Stay Married For 25+ Years. : Since we’ve been talking about marriage here, I thought you’d enjoy this wise post by Connie, a mother of 8 little ones, who blogs at Smockity Frocks .

3. Godly Woman, Wife, Mother and Friend: A new woman has entered bloggy land – it’s the wife of Pastor Mark Driscoll – Grace Driscoll. This was her first post last week – so I thought I’d share it with you!

Now it’s link-up time! It’s Women Living Well’s Wednesday Link-Up Party!!! Join the fun, do a little blog hopping and don’t forget if you join below -please add the Women Living Well Wednesdays button to your post so your readers can find us here! (Posts can include the topics of marriage, parenting, homemaking, finances, recipes, organization and more!)

To find the code go to the sidebar – or right click and “save as” the button and then upload it into your post!

Walk with the King!

Filed Under: Women Living Well Wednesdays

Honey, the House Is On Fire!

September 26, 2011 By Courtney 37 Comments

While your husband is at work do you ever give him cause to worry about what is happening at home? Have you ever called him in the middle of the day with a big crisis for him to solve? Let me be honest, I strive not to and here’s why.

Proverbs 31:11 says, “Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.”

My desire is to give my husband a wife who he can have full confidence in. I want him to be able to go to work and know that his wife is solid emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually to handle the home while he is gone. I want him to be able to rest in his wife’s steady support. BUT…

In June of 2010, my furnace fan caught fire while I was at aerobics class. When I returned home the house was filled with smoke and the alarms had failed to call the fire department!

My husband happened to be out of state on a business trip so rather than dialing 9-1-1 like I should have – I frantically dialed my husband’s cell! The poor guy was eating lunch with a group of business men (all from other states as well) – and here I am on the other end of the line – FRANTIC – FRAZZLED – FREAKED OUT!

He told me to do the obvious! Dial 9-1-1 and then call him back!

Luckily, our house was not burning down – though it appeared to be by the smoke! Our furnace fan had caught fire and as it burned it blew smoke through the entire house – then it went out inside the steel box. So I returned a call to my husband after the firemen arrived and fans were put into place to empty the house of smoke. I assured him all was well – and just a little stinky! Lol!

Oh how my pride hated having to call him in such distress! I so want to be capable – BUT this beast was more than I could conquer alone. God has given us our husbands to protect and provide for us and in this crisis I needed his leadership!

: St. Joseph’s Beach, Michigan

Vice versa – our husbands need a woman who they can have full confidence in when they are not available. Proverbs 31:11 says he lacks nothing – absolutely nothing of value – if he has confidence in his wife. This means this character quality is of supreme importance.

Can your husband have confidence in you in these areas?

Money - Can he depend on you to spend it wisely?

Children - Can he trust you to train your children wisely?

Home - Can he trust you to run an orderly home?

Reputation - Can he trust you to not speak poorly of him behind his back?

Faithfulness - Can your husband trust you to not build emotional connections with other men?

Emotions - Can your husband trust you to be self-controlled when under pressure?

Choices - Can your husband trust you to make wise choices when urgent situations arise?

If not, what areas can you change in your own life so you can gain this character quality? Commit these areas to prayer, search scriptures for guidance and find Titus 2 women who can help you grow as a wife.

Walk with the King!

Courtney

Filed Under: Marriage

Making Your Home a Haven ~ Fall Challenge Is Back!

September 25, 2011 By Courtney 195 Comments

Last year we did this challenge, and an overwhelming number of you have been requesting it again! So it’s back and I’m excited to get started! Each week I will give you one practical tip and one spiritual tip that you can do to create a haven in your home.

Is your calendar full? Do you feel a tense, rushed and even panicked at times? Do you feel like the rest of the family is feeling the same way?

I believe we can create a physical environment, as well as a spiritual environment, that can bring peace, harmony and a sense of calmness to our homes if we are willing to be intentional.

So let me introduce you to the “Making Your Home a Haven” Annual Fall Challenge.

This challenge will begin next Monday, October 3rd and run through the month of October. Check out the video and topics below. If you would like to join me and you are a blogger - I invite you to place the wreathe button on your blog and be sure to link up your “Making Your Home a Haven” post on our Women Living Well Wednesday Link-Up this Wednesday! If you are not a blogger, leave a comment in the comment section to let me know that you would like to join the challenge. Here’s a few more details included in last year’s video:

Here’s the topic schedule for those who want to link up each week:

October 3 - Go buy an extra large candle and light a candle everyday in your home. I will be starting mine in the morning! But you can start yours at dinner time. Do what makes sense for your family. I will be placing mine in the kitchen – the main hub of my home. Each time the candle catches your eye, say a prayer for peace in your home.

October 10 – Play soft music everyday in your home. Choose worship, classical or another form of peaceful music that the family enjoys. Focus on using peaceful words and maintaining peaceful relationships. Remind your family to avoid seething anger, tattling, criticism or back talk. As the wife/mother, work on gentleness this week.

October 17 – List a few of the spots in your home that make you visually stressed because of all the clutter.Now go buy something for that spot – like a basket to put it all in! Work on cleaning up clutter – throw things away and encourage the children and your hubby to do the same in their bedrooms or offices or work areas this week. While you’re at it – clean up some clutter in your spiritual life. What gets in the way of your peace spiritually?

October 24 -Keep the candle going, the music playing, and add some tender moments with your family. Have a pillow party in the family room and get out every blanket and pillow in the house and be cozy with the kids or your hubby! Even if you live alone you can do this. Enjoy a cozy evening of hot cider and caramel corn. Give a 5 minute back rub to every single person in your house…and for a double challenge- try to give one every day to each family member! During your tender moment with the family, ask them how they feel about this challenge. Are they enjoying it? Is it helpful? Is there anything they would change. Give your family listening ears. I think you will be blessed by the positive feedback you will receive!

October 31 – Focus on the kitchen, the heart of the home. Cook things with pleasant aromas. Pick a meal the family can cook together – include everyone in a task and take pictures so everyone can remember moments in the kitchen together – test tasting, being creative, laughing and loving. Remove discontentment with your home or family and give thanks to God for the home God has given you to in which to create a haven for your family.

Jesus said in John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

I have been lighting my candle all winter, spring and summer long. It’s my daily habit to light my kitchen candle and then say a prayer for peace in our home. Join me today – light a candle in your kitchen and say a prayer for your family.

Walk with the King!

(I apologize I don’t have a code for this button – someday I’ll learn how to do that lol!!! But until then, just “right click” on the pic, then choose “save as” and save it. Then upload it onto your blog and link it back to http://womenlivingwell.org/category/homemaking/making-your-home-a-haven-challenge/ or not This is just for fun!)

Filed Under: Homemaking, Making Your Home a Haven Challenge