Mama Bear Gets Chatty

How Beautiful Are the Feet

2012-02-08T14:48:00.000-08:00

How beautiful upon the mountains
   are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,
   who publishes salvation,
   who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

Isaiah 52:7

I love those feet up there. They belong to our very energetic 5 year old. It seems his feet and hands and arms and legs and head NEVER stop moving. But we pray that he will use those feet, that body, to share the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others. I have to remind myself of that most days, when his energy tires me out. God has chosen him for a very special purpose, and He has placed this little boy in our home for a very important reason. Even if that reason is just to show me plainly how much I need Jesus and the cross and I how I can't make it without Him, then that is reason enough for me.

Mama Bear

Blackberry Oatmeal Bars -- A Small Deviation from a Pioneer Woman Recipe

2012-02-04T10:12:00.000-08:00

Blackberry Oatmeal Bars

(one small step away from Pioneer Woman's recipe)

Of course I follow Pioneer Woman on Facebook. Of course I had to make these yummy bars as soon as I saw the recipe link posted on FB this morning, from her show that aired this morning. Only, I didn't have any strawberry jam in the house (SHOCK & AWE, I KNOW!), so I had to use what I had (fortunately!), which was Sugar Free Seedless Blackberry Jam.

Yes, I made this at 8am this morning. Yes, we ate it for breakfast instead of as a dessert or snack. And it was DELICIOUS! If I were a coffee drinker, I'm sure it would be divine with coffee. But I'm not. So I just drank my standard fare---ice water.

Yes, this was supposed to cool completely before I cut into it. But who can wait when it's all warm and heavenly and smells SO good??? This would be excellent with vanilla ice cream, but I couldn't do that for breakfast. Sorry. That would've been a bit much.

Want her recipe? Ok. Here it is:

1-3/4 sticks salted butter, cut into pieces (plus a little more to butter your baking dish)

1-1/2 cups all purpose flour

1-1/2 cups quick oats

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

(oh, and I added a bit of cinnamon, just because)

One 10-12 ounce jar of strawberry (or blackberry or whatever you like) preserves

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch rectangular pan.

Mix together the butter, flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder and salt. Press half the oat mixture into the prepared pan. Spread with the strawberry preserves. Sprinkle the other half of the oat mixture over the top and pat lightly. Bake until light brown, 30 to 40 minutes. Let cool completely, and then cut into squares.

There you have it! Now, go and make it! You won't be sorry!

Mama Bear

A Beautiful Brown Eyed Girl Giveaway

2012-01-24T12:50:00.000-08:00

Want to win a $40 Gift Certificate to buy something GORGEOUS (like the clothing you see in the photo above) Beautiful Brown Eyed Girl Boutique? Go to A Moment Cherished, and you can read the story behind BBEG, which is AWESOME, because it's about adoption! And if you know ANYTHING about our family, you know that we adopted our two youngest children, so we have a heart for adoption. Be sure to scroll down to see all the ways you can enter to win!

I found a few things that I just LOVE for our little Princess Diva Bear!!!

Mama Bear

One Thing a Husband Should Never Say to His Wife

2012-01-17T10:17:00.000-08:00

I remember when Papa Bear and I were first married. I was cooking something and he said "Hmmm, my mom does it differently." In other words "That's not how my mom does it." WHAT? Of course it's not, because I AM NOT YOUR MOM! I think I actually might have told him that.

Husband's, if you want to offend your wives, tell them "That's not how my mom does it.". If you DON'T want to offend them, don't EVER say that. I mean EVER!!! Know that your wife is someone beautiful and creative and is definitely not your mom. She will introduce you to new foods that you would have never tried in your mom's home. There will be things that she does that won't make sense to you, because you've never seen it done like that before. But bear with her. Be patient, and don't open your mouth, unless you are going to offer your assistance...with ANYTHING.

On the other side of this, I have had to learn to be willing to learn new things too. For instance, my mother-in-law has taught me the correct way to make Spanish rice, and how to steam tamales. Wives, it's ok to learn something new. It's ok that you don't do things the way his mom does, but be willing to learn from her. She is likely chock full of wisdom, and if she loves the Lord, like my mother-in-law does, she will also be full of grace. She's not going to try and force her ways on you. She won't hold unrealistic expectations for you, in taking care of her "baby".

Wives, be willing to be taught. Be willing to let go of control. I never thought of myself as a control freak, until my husband (or son) would put things away...but NOT the way I did. Laundry wouldn't get folded the way I fold it. Dishes wouldn't get washed the way I washed them. But, get this...my husband and son were helping me with household chores, and they still do! So, I have learned (well, mostly learned) to keep my mouth shut and be grateful for a husband who helps around the house, and has taught our children to do the same thing.

Note added 01-19-12: Let me just add this; Papa Bear is the most patient and kind husband. He does not say things like this in our marriage. I think that was a one time thing, and he saw how hurt I had been, so he's very careful with how he phrases things. This isn't to say that he has to walk on eggshells around me. Not at all. He is just very gracious and kind in his speech, not trying to hurt or offend anyone in what he does or says.

Wives, I am leaving you with one more thing:

The Woman Who Fears the LORD

¹⁰ An excellent wife who can find?
   She is far more precious than jewels.
¹¹ The heart of her husband trusts in her,
   and he will have no lack of gain.
¹² She does him good, and not harm,
   all the days of her life.
¹³ She seeks wool and flax,
   and works with willing hands.
¹⁴ She is like the ships of the merchant;
   she brings her food from afar.
¹⁵ She rises while it is yet night
   and provides food for her household
   and portions for her maidens.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
   with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She dresses herself with strength
   and makes her arms strong.
¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
   Her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ She puts her hands to the distaff,
   and her hands hold the spindle.
²⁰ She opens her hand to the poor
   and reaches out her hands to the needy.
²¹ She is not afraid of snow for her household,
   for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes bed coverings for herself;
   her clothing is fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is known in the gates
   when he sits among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them;
   she delivers sashes to the merchant.
²⁵ Strength and dignity are her clothing,
   and she laughs at the time to come.
²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom,
   and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
²⁷ She looks well to the ways of her household
   and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed;
   her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women have done excellently,
   but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
   but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands,
   and let her works praise her in the gates.

I hope that you will strive to be like the Proverbs 31 woman, in every way that you can. Show grace and mercy when your husband doesn't do things the way you would. Show it when your children do something differently than how you would like. It's ok. There are MUCH more important things in life!

Mama Bear

What is True Beauty?

2012-01-11T13:35:00.000-08:00

Fotoshop by Adobé from Jesse Rosten on Vimeo.

A very creative mock commercial about the standards of beauty in a digital age.

I saw this posted on Facebook, by Carolyn McCulley, and I had to share it. It's such a shame that the entertainment industry and fashion industry have done so much to twist the view on what TRUE BEAUTY looks like.

We are trying to teach our two year old little girl about true beauty. When I do her hair, she always says "I so pretty!", but we want her to know that true beauty is found on the inside...in your heart...how you treat others, how you show love, how you forgive, how you share, how you talk, how you act...not in your clothing, your hairstyle, or your face/body.

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30

What are your thoughts on this? What do YOU see as being true beauty???

Mama Bear

Good Reasons to Eat More Fruit

2012-01-10T11:36:00.000-08:00

(As seen on Pinterest.com)

Mama Bear

Ham & Pinto Bean Soup -- Recipe

2012-01-09T14:06:00.000-08:00

Ham & Pinto Bean Soup

This soup is EASY PEASY and perfect for those cold winter days.

I used leftover ham that we had...but any boneless ham (except deli ham...that's a NO-NO!!!!) will do.

Take 2-3 cups of dry pinto beans (or any kind of bean, really) and soak them in water, overnight. (This helps eliminate the "gas factor".)

The next day, drain and rinse the beans, and then put them in a pot or crockpot and cover with salted water. Add in your ham and some minced garlic if you like, and allow to cook low and slow until the beans are tender. Add about 1-2 Tablespoons of Taco Seasoning and allow to cook for another hour. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Enjoy with biscuits or with cornbread (which is what we did!). Even my 1 year old foster daughter, my 2 year old and 5 year old LOVED this soup!

Mama Bear

More Flavor Please

2012-01-07T17:29:00.000-08:00

Want more flavor in your ground beef dishes? Give the beef a good sear (just like in the photo above)! To do this, just turn your skillet (or pan) on high and allow the ground beef to get browned on the bottom before you break up the meat. After it's seared, turn it down and finish cooking it.

What's YOUR favorite ground beef dish? I want to know!

Mama Bear

Merry Christmas from the Bear Family to Your Family!

2011-12-24T21:50:00.000-08:00

We pray that you all have a blessed and very Merry Christmas, and a wonderful New Year!

Love, the Bear Family

My Christmas Mantel

2011-12-14T14:02:00.000-08:00

This is my Christmas mantel. No, it's not something you would see in the latest issue of "House Beautiful", but we love it. This is the first year we've decorated this mantel like this, with the garland and lights.

There are so many wonderful memories in this photos.

There are two red wax "statues" of Christmas carolers that were purchased by my parents from Avon many, many years ago...when I was very young. I always remember the smell of those carolers in my home as a young girl, and it brings back warm memories.

There are little trinkets that my now 18 year old son purchased with points at Awanas, during the Christmas season, just to give to me. I will cherish those little trinkets for many years to come.

There are snow globes, which is our family tradition with Papa Bear and I and our kids. We get a new one each year, and now we have four, since we started this tradition.

There is a little angel on our mantel, that was given to us by Papa Bear's mom. She has had this angel (that came in a set of 3 angels....one for each of her three children) for many years...kind of like the wax carolers.

There are stocking holders that we have had to add to as the years go by. We started with three, and now there are SIX (we currently have a foster child who is 1 year old).

There is a "cutting board" with a sleeping Christmas mouse tole painted on it, from a tole painting class I took with my dad when we lived in Okinawa.

There is a ceramic snowman that was given to me as a gift from my sister-in-law.

And there is a mantel clock, given to us by one of my brothers and his wife, for our wedding in 2004.

If I didn't want to risk it getting ruined or falling apart, there would be a stocking hung over the fireplace that was made by my great-great aunt, and given to me for my very first Christmas. I want to protect it because some of the adornments are coming off, so it's tucked carefully away in a Christmas box.

I really, really love having this beautiful Christmas mantel, and so does Papa Bear. He said that he has never seen it look quite as pretty as it does right now.

What are some of your cherished memories from Christmas, that you have on display in YOUR home? I'd love to hear about them, or see them!

Mama Bear

"Butterfly, Get Away From Me..."

2011-12-07T15:50:00.001-08:00

Today, as I was dressing my 2 year old little girl in a pair of jeans that had butterflies on them, she started singing a song...

"Butterfly, get away from me

Butterfly, get away from me

I don't want you here with me."

Sound vaguely familiar? Sing it to the tune of "Shoo Fly, Don't Bother Me".

Gave us a bit of a laugh today, as I was on the phone with Papa Bear at the same time.

These are the things that I treasure.

Mama Bear

Winner of the Jesus Storybook Bible

2011-12-02T17:02:00.001-08:00

Remember THIS POST where I said that after November 30th, I would draw a name for the winner of the Jesus Storybook Bible? Well, it's December 2nd, but I finally drew the number, and the winner is:

COMMENT #1: Jeremiah Mutty!!!

Congratulations!!!!

I will contact you through your profile.

For everyone else, be watching, because we will be giving another one away, SOON!!!

Mama Bear

Printable Countdown Calendar for Santa's Arrival

2011-11-29T16:24:00.001-08:00

I know that tomorrow is the last day of November, so this is a little late in coming, but here is a printable countdown calendar I made, that you can get printed at your local photo lab. The size is 8x10 and it's high resolution, so you should be able to click on the photo, which should open a new window, where you can right click on the image, then click on "Open in a new tab", and save it to your desktop. Then, just upload it to your favorite local photo lab. I'm getting ours printed at Costco. For the beard, simply use cotton balls. The kids can put the last cotton ball on the circle that says "Merry Christmas", on Christmas morning, after they've noticed that Santa has been to their home.

If you'd like me to email you the file, please comment below, with your email address, and I will be glad to email it to you.

Yes, we still like to pretend that Santa is coming. It's just a fun thing for the little ones to do before Christmas.

Mama Bear

Gingerbread Spice Tea

2011-11-29T12:22:00.001-08:00

One of my most favorite things about this time of year (besides Christmas!)...

Gingerbread Spice Tea

I LOVE this tea! Papa Bear has been looking for it for me, and finally found it at Smart & Final. So, he bought 3 packages of it. YAY, Papa Bear! I had my first cup of it this morning, and it's so delicious! Now, if we can find the "Sugar Cookie" flavored tea by Celestial Seasonings, I will be a happy camper!

What is your favorite tea?

What is your favorite thing about this time of year?

Mama Bear

Black Friday Sale in my Etsy Shop

2011-11-21T19:03:00.001-08:00

‎**********BLACK FRIDAY SALE**********

Get 30% off ALL HOLIDAY/CHRISTMAS Photo Greeting Card Designs this week only! Use coupon code: BLACKFRIDAY30 at checkout. Good through November 26th at Midnight PST only. This code may ONLY be used on Holiday or Christmas Photo Greeting cards.

Get your printable Holiday or Christmas Photo Greeting Card design at

Bear River Photo Greetings.

Mama Bear

A Fun New Venture -- Hair Accessories

2011-11-15T13:52:00.001-08:00

I have been playing around with making headbands for my little girl with all of the little curls. I have bought quite a few on Etsy.com and have thought "I can probably do this!". So I bought some headband elastic, some artificial flowers, some other goodies, and I started to put things together. I have so many flowers, that I am now wondering if I should start selling these!

I LOVE how this one turned out! Pretty much exactly how I envisioned it, but without the feathers. I am working on a few others and will post when I get the chance.

Mama Bear

Make Your Spaghetti Better

2011-11-14T21:21:00.001-08:00

The Bear Family LOOOOOOOVES my spaghetti. And anyone who I've taken it to (we have a thing in our church where we take meals to families who have just had babies...or have had surgeries, or whatever) has LOVED it. I don't do anything super special, but I will be glad to share what I do to kick it up a notch.

For the most part, we use Trader Joe's Spaghetti Sauce, but you can use any sauce you like. Then, I just add about a tablespoon (or more) of Balsamic Vinegar, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, and some fresh, chopped basil. I also will add sometimes, a teaspoon of dried oregano and some minced garlic (unless the sauce already has garlic in it). Sometimes I will also need to add a small can of tomato paste to thicken the sauce up a bit.

Everyone in our family eats this meal with gusto, from our 11 month old foster daughter, all the way up to Papa Bear....and we pretty much eat it once a week, with NO complaints!

It may not be the way the Italians do it, but it's the way Mama Bear does it.

Mama Bear

Did you Burn Yourself -- Honey?

2011-11-10T10:30:00.001-08:00

Honey.

It's not just for bears.

When you burn yourself, whether it's with the curling iron, a hot pan, the microwave steam burn (you KNOW which one I mean!!!), or whatever, the best thing that I know to do is put honey on it right away! If there is food on the burn, be sure to wash the food off first with cold water. Then apply a thin coat of honey to the burned area. Honey has healing properties that take away the sting and the redness. The longer you are able to leave it on, the better, of course.

Yesterday, I burned my thumb when popping popcorn on the stove. Somehow, the potholder allowed a bit of steam or hot oil or something come through one of the stitches in the potholder, and it burnt me. And it HURT! I put honey on it, and was only able to leave it there for about 15 minutes, but it did the trick. No burn mark, no redness, no pain.

I promise!

(Please do not rely on this method for a major burn that needs professional medical attention! If you need professional medical attention for a burn, please get it!!!)

Mama Bear

2011-11-09T19:15:00.001-08:00

Want a 20% discount on your Christmas Photo Greeting Card from Bear River Photo Greetings? Please"Like" my Facebook page and then get 20 of your friends to "Like" my Facebook page by November 24th, and I'll give you a special code to use for 20% off any Christmas or Holiday Photo Greeting Card design in my shop! Be sure they let me know who sent them! :-)

The person who sends the MOST people over to "Like" my page before November 24th will get FIFTY percent off!!!

Check out my Holiday and Christmas designs HERE.

(Coupon Code expires December 31st)

Mama Bear

Think Before You Speak

2011-10-27T16:19:00.001-07:00

I found this on Pinterest.com and thought it was REALLY good:

(Source)

I need to print this out and hang it up right in front of my own eyes!

Mama Bear

Trader Joe's Brings us a New Treat

2011-10-24T13:40:00.000-07:00

At least it's new to me.

Yep!

They're pretty doggone good!

And they're only 3 points per bar for all of you WW people out there.

YUM!

Mama Bear

Win Your Own Copy of The Jesus Storybook Bible

2011-10-22T18:59:00.000-07:00

Our kids LOVE the Jesus Storybook Bible. Really...all three of them! We have an 18 year old, an almost 5 year old, and a 2 year old, and they all love looking at the book, and love to hear Mama Bear or Papa Bear read the stories.

And the great thing about these stories, is that they all point to Christ!

You can buy this book HERE. (I don't get any compensation for this...we just wanted to share what we love.)

Want to WIN one? We're going to give one away! All you have to do is go "Like" the Jesus Storybook Bible page on Facebook, and then leave a comment below, letting me know that you "liked" them, AND in the SAME comment, let me know what you would do with the Jesus Storybook Bible if you win.

Oh, and feel free to say hello to the people over at the Jesus Storybook Bible page on Facebook...show some love on their wall! :-) Let them know that you're a new fan!

(source)

This giveaway will end on November 30th. This would make a wonderful Christmas gift, birthday gift, baby shower gift, or a "just because" gift.

Have a blessed day in Christ!

Mama Bear

Harvest Party Mix

2011-10-22T14:51:00.000-07:00

Harvest Party Mix

I had seen this on Pinterest and wanted to try it out, so when I knew I needed to make something for home group last night, I knew this was the perfect thing. See, home group is over 40 adults and over 40 kids!!! We didn't have that many there last night, but there were probably at least 50 people. I took two bowls of it, and most of it got eaten.

Here's what I did:

Melt one stick of butter (NOT margarine!!!!!)...add about 1/3 cup of brown sugar and about a teaspoon of cinnamon and cook on low until the sugar is about half dissolved. Put about 4 cups of Corn Chex and 3 cups of mini pretzels in a large bowl, pour the butter mixture over the top, and toss well...for about 5 minutes, to make sure the chex and pretzels get well-coated. Put this mixture on a jelly roll pan and place in a 300 degree oven for about 25-30 minutes. Take out, and allow to cool completely (you'll want to kind of toss the mix with a spatula/egg turner after it comes out of the oven, just to separate any pieces that might have stuck together because of the sugar.). You will FALL IN LOVE with the Chex!!! Oh, my! I could not stop eating them!!!

In the meantime, pop up 2 pots of popcorn (I got about 8 cups of popped popcorn from this)...pour into a large bowl and lightly salt. Once the popcorn is cool, add a bag of Harvest Mix Candy Corn and a bag of M&Ms (regular...not peanut or anything else). (I took out all of the red and blue M&Ms, because I couldn't find a Fall themed bag of M&Ms at Target.)

After the Chex and pretzels are completely cooled, add to the rest of the mix and toss.

Enjoy!

Mama Bear

I Got a New Backdrop

2011-10-20T17:20:00.000-07:00

I purchased a backdrop for the first time ever, from Backdrop Baby. I couldn't WAIT to try it out, and so I decided to do photos of my little ones (AGAIN). They love each other, as you can see, but they also don't tolerate getting their pictures taken for very long at all!

Mama Bear

Please May I Come In?

2011-10-14T14:42:00.000-07:00

(source)

"Please may I come in?"

This is a phrase I hear almost every day. My little ones want to be wherever we are...wherever I am. And when I'm trying to get ready for the day (hair, makeup, using the potty, etc.), or when I'm making the bed, I always have someone hanging around outside our bedroom door, asking that question.

Since Papa Bear and I got married, we have had the rule that our children must knock and ask if they can come in to our room. They are not allowed to just barge in uninvited. They don't come in during the middle of the night or wee hours of the morning and climb in bed with us. They do not come in our room and "play" or whatever else they can come up with doing in our bedroom. It's kind of funny, because it's like our bedroom is this very cool, mysterious place of wonder and excitement, as much as we get asked that question.

But it's not.

It's just our bedroom.

Our sanctuary.

It's not neat and tidy. It's nothing super ornate. It's not what you see in the photo above (although I wish it was, because I LOVE the look of that room!!!). No, it's just OUR room. It's just about the only place in our house where we can have a little privacy, and it doesn't have kids' toys or clothing strewn everywhere.

One day, our room will be a beautiful, romantic sanctuary, but for now, it's simple and functional. It's where Papa Bear and I are comfortable and know that we can hang out without the kids coming in. Not to say they don't knock on the door on a regular basis, or stand outside the closed door begging to come in. But they know the rule. They HAVE to ask to come in, and they have to be given permission.

And we love it that way!

Mama Bear

Go To Dinners

2011-10-11T17:43:00.000-07:00

What's for dinner?

That is a question I get from my husband pretty much every day. Sometimes, I say "I haven't really thought about it yet." and sometimes I say "Let's get Subway", but many times I do have something planned.

Do you have "go-to" dinners that you can fix without a recipe? I do! I have to. Sometimes you just need to make dinner on auto-pilot.

Here are my typical go-to dinners:

Pasta (spaghetti or penne pasta with red sauce), salad, bread (filone is our new favorite bread!)

Taco Salad

Enchilada Casserole (NOT made with any cream of something soup), Refried Beans, Spanish Rice

Marinated Baked Chicken, Steamed Broccoli, White Rice

BLT's Chili Beans, and sometimes Chips

Boca Burgers, Chili Beans, Sweet Potato Fries

Tacos, Refried Beans, Spanish Rice

Hamburger Soup and some sort of bread or biscuit

So how about you? What are your "go-to" dinners that you can fix quickly and typically have most of the ingredients for, already in your pantry?

Mama Bear

Shrimp Tacos For Dinner Tonight

2011-09-28T20:31:00.000-07:00

One of our family's favorite meals EVER is fish tacos, made by yours truly. We had some shrimp in the freezer, and some tortillas in the fridge, so Papa Bear thought Shrimp Tacos would be fantastic, and I agreed! These shrimp tacos are made simply with warmed, soft corn tortillas, shredded cabbage (or cole slaw mix--no dressing), grilled shrimp, and Garlic Cilantro Aioli (my recipe), with a little fresh lime juice squeezed on top.

We also had Baked Tostitos Scoops with "Cowboy Caviar", which is super yummy and very healthy too!

Want the recipes? I thought you would. Keep in mind that these are not perfectly measured recipes, so you can adjust to your own taste.

Garlic Cilantro Aioli

1/3 cup light sour cream

1/2 cup Miracle Whip Light (I suppose you could use mayo if you really MUST!)

a handful of FRESH cilantro (stems and all---makes it easy!)

2 heaping Tablespoons of minced garlic

Juice from one lime

1 heaping teaspoon (or more) of ground cumin

Put everything in a food processor and mix away.

For variation, I have also done this with a few drops of Tapatio Sauce and some fresh pineapple.

*****

Cowboy Caviar

1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed

1 can of sweet corn, drained

About 3/4 cup of fresh pico de gallo or salsa (although for what you see in the photo above, I used half of a jar of Pineapple Peach Salsa and it was AMAZING!!!)

1 Tablespoon of red wine vinegar

1 Tablespoon finely chopped cilantro (I processed in the food processor ALL the cilantro for both recipes, then took out what I needed for this recipe.)

1 heaping teaspoon ground cumin

Mix well and ENJOY!!!

*****

If you just happen to have some leftover grilled shrimp and the aioli, it's SO yummy to put a shrimp and a little aioli in one of those Tostitos Scoops, with a little lime juice sprinkled on top. We're thinking this might need to be a weekly meal instead of a monthly meal!

Let me know if you make this. It's super easy and FAST!

Mama Bear

Results of My First Newborn Photo Shoot

2011-09-27T10:21:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of photos from my first ever newborn photo shoot.

You can see more at Angie Ochoa Photography.

Have a blessed day!

Mama Bear

My First Newborn Photo Shoot

2011-09-19T11:01:00.000-07:00

I'm getting super excited! Tomorrow is my very first newborn photo shoot!! I will be photographing a baby who will be 6 days old tomorrow, and I will also be photographing his momma, daddy, and 1 year old brother. I'm a wee bit nervous, but confident and excited, too!

Here is my list of things that I will be taking to the family's home for my shoot:

Camera

Tripod

Lenses

Extra Battery

Media Cards

Puppy Pee-Pee Pads

Reflectors

Step Stool

Baskets

Soft and Cozy blankets

Heating Pad

Portable Heater

Backdrop Frame

Sheer Curtains

Clamps for backdrop frame

Pillow

Water & a snack

Added: Lint Roller and Towels

GOODNESS! That's a LOT of things to haul! I think I need an assistant! I hope I remember everything!

I will be posting a couple of the photos here when I get them processed, and I will also post over at my photography blog: Angie Ochoa Photography

Have a blessed day!

Mama Bear

I Need Help Deciding...

2011-09-17T17:12:00.001-07:00

I have these four pieces of fabric, and I plan on making two peasant dresses for my little girlie bear. Here's my dilemma: Which should be the main portion of the dresses and which should be the sleeves and "tuxedo" ruffles?

The dresses will be similar to this one, but possibly with three little "tuxedo" ruffles, instead of just one, like what is shown:

(source)

Here's what I am thinking: Using the two similar fabrics (each are only 2 colors) as the main body of the dresses, with the fabrics to the left of them in the photo as the sleeves and ruffles. But maybe I should do it the other way around, so that the smaller prints are the main bodies of the dresses. AGHHHH! See why I need your help??
What do you think? I would appreciate your input!

Mama Bear

52 Weeks of Mail

2011-09-15T12:32:00.000-07:00

Do you like receiving personal, hand-written cards and letters?
I do!!!

Do you find it difficult to stay in touch with people because of your busy life?
I do!!!

Here is a way to keep in touch with your friends and loved ones in an intentional way.
52 Weeks of Mail is designed to encourage people to commit to sending at LEAST one card or letter a week, for the next year! 52 Weeks of Mail starts on October 9th, 2011 and goes through October 7th, 2012. We are asking that you commit to doing this, and sticking with it!

Please feel free to blog about this, Tweet about it, post it on Facebook, and just spread the word as far as you can! We have a Facebook page, and we are trying to get 1000 likes by the end of September. Please help us reach this goal by letting your friends know about 52 Weeks of Mail.

If you are looking for some beautiful handmade cards to send, please visit Etsy.com and check out the abundance of offerings from the EtsyGreetingsTeam!

Thanks!

Mama Bear

Going to the Dentist

2011-09-14T10:34:00.000-07:00

Going to the dentist equals high blood pressure, tears, and near hyperventilation. At least for me it does. I went for a period of 18 years without going to the dentist because it creates SUCH anxiety for me! I try praying through the appointment, and it doesn't work, only because I still am anxious and have "fear", even though I wouldn't if I were truly able to let go of it and allow God to bring me peace.

I went to the dentist on Tuesday to get a cleaning and 3 fillings. I was trying to be a big girl about it and thought I could just do the nitrous oxide (laughing gas) thing, and all would go well. HA! No such thing! The dentist numbed my gums while I breathed heavy and cried. That was of course, after the x-rays and the polishing. Then she gave the shots. My right side went all tingly and I felt like I was going to shake right out of the chair. When they took my blood pressure before they would let me leave the office, it was 140/93 or something like that. Normally, I run about 113/70.

Apparently, I can not get through a dentist appointment without tears, but at least I have a WONDERFUL and VERY sympathetic dentist (unlike my LAST dentist....UGH with a double UGH!). She asked me what I wanted to do. I told her that I would try the nitrous oxide, but my nose was too stuffy from crying and all of the anxiety-producing mucous. Sorry. I know. TMI. But it's true! And you have to breathe through your nose to get the gas. But I couldn't. Now I have to come back with my hubby, who can drive me to and from my appointment, AND make payment to the dentist office. I guess if you're taking an oral sedative, you can't pay for your visit. Which makes me giggle. :-)

So, next month, I will be paying nearly $200 more, so that I can not remember anything about getting three cavities filled. To me, it's TOTALLY worth it!

How are you with the dentist? What helps you relax? Are you like me? Or is it a walk in the park for you?

Hey, have a blessed day!

Mama Bear

2011-09-11T15:07:00.000-07:00

I may have forgotten what I did last Tuesday, but I will never forget what I was doing on Tuesday, September 11th, 2001, when I heard the tragic news of a plane crashing into the World Trade Center. I called my mom to tell her that a plane crashed, and as we were talking, I WATCHED the second plane fly straight into the 2nd tower. I got chills as I realized that this was not a random crash. I cried as I told my mom what happened (they don't have a TV).

I can remember being at work that day, constantly wandering into the break room to watch the unfolding events on TV. It is a day I will never forget. I don't personally know anyone who lost someone on that day, but I know that my God personally knows and loves each one who was lost and each family member who lost a loved one. He is a sovereign God, and I praise Him for that.

Please remember to continue to pray for the families who lost loved ones, but also for those who do not know Christ. They need the cross, they need the Gospel, they need Christ.

God Bless,

Mama Bear

A Birthday Celebration

2011-09-10T12:18:00.000-07:00

This picture was taken on the very first day we met our baby girl.

A Very Happy 2nd Birthday to our Little Princess Diva Bear.
Yesterday was actually her birthday, but today we are having her party.

We prayed for this baby, and put our application in, in August 2009 to get a baby girl to adopt through foster care. In October of 2009, we got a call from our caseworker, saying they had a baby who wasn't yet two months old (born 09-09-09, sharing her birthday with my father-in-law), whose birth mom was pretty young and in foster care herself. Would we be interested in taking the baby, knowing that she could potentially end up going back with birth mom? We said "Absolutely!". We left it in God's hands, all the while praying that we would be picked out of the 12 families who were put forth as possible families for this precious little baby.

We were leaving to go to our church's family retreat a week later, when we got a call from our caseworker. She said, "Congratulations!", and I nearly screamed! I was SO giddy and happy and excited, even though we didn't know whether or not we would get to keep her.

But we did get to keep her. Her adoption was finalized on February 14th of this year.

She is a pistol, and smart as a whip. She is tender, and is quick to say "Sorry". She randomly comes up and rubs against me like a little kitty cat and says "I love you". She is full of life, full of energy, full of spunk, full of joy. She loves her brothers. She loves books. She has a little elephant snugly named Ellie, whom she sleeps with nearly every night. She has loads and loads of curls, and she cries every time I do her hair. She asks for a bow (hairbow) every morning when she wakes up. She scrunches her nose when she smiles. She loves Apple Jacks and "salad" (tomatoes and cucumbers). She loves to be rambunctious.

We are so blessed to have this precious little girl as our daughter. We love her and pray that she will come to know God at an early age. We pray that she lives up to her name meanings: Sophia (wisdom) Grace (grace) Angela (messenger of God). We pray that she will develop a gentle and sweet spirit. We pray that she will love those around her and be always ready to tell others about Jesus. We pray that we will be the best parents we can be, always pointing her to the cross. Thank you, God, for blessing us with this little girl.

Mama Bear

A Sneak Peek of a Project I'm Working On

2011-09-06T10:36:00.001-07:00

I've seen a LOT of cute DIY projects out there (especially on Pinterest.com!!!), thinking "Oh, I could probably do that!", but then I never take the time to do it. Well, this time it's different. I didn't see this project anywhere but in my head, but I wanted to see how it would turn out.
Here is a sneak peek.

Any ideas as to what it is or will be?

Mama Bear

A Good Movie to See: Broken Hill

2011-09-04T15:27:00.000-07:00

Our family is always looking for GOOD, CLEAN movies to watch. We don't need or WANT to see a lot of bare skin. We don't need or WANT to see a lot of sex scenes. We don't need or WANT to hear a lot of foul language. So, you can see our dilemma in trying to find decent movies to watch.

Well, it seems that Netflix has a lot to offer in the way of movies that are decent and have a good storyline. Broken Hill was one that my teenager and I found to watch while Papa Bear was out hunting again this weekend.

Here is the storyline, from IMDB (which we use on a REGULAR basis!):
Tommy, a gifted teenager composer, dreams of being accepted into the famous Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Unfortunately, a good band is hard to find in the middle of Outback Australia - until a strange incident involving flying watermelons leads him to a group of talented prison inmates. Written by H. Rose

No sex. No violence. If there were bad words, I don't remember hearing them.

I would definitely recommend this movie as one to watch as a family (if you have tweens and teens). And if you like this, I think you also might like Forever Strong.

Have a blessed day!

Mama Bear

When Bananas Turn Brown

2011-09-04T15:11:00.000-07:00

Got brown bananas? Don't throw them out! Stick them in the freezer!

Yep, brown bananas in the freezer will keep them "good" until you're ready to do some baking with bananas. When you're ready to make bread or pancakes or some other banana-filled goodie, simply take the bananas out, let them thaw, snip off the tops, and just squeeze the banana out into a measuring cup...no mess! And they're SO sweet and give so much yummy banana flavor when they're "over-ripe".

Also, if you like bananas in your smoothies, it's ok to put brown bananas in them. From what I understand, the longer fruit ripens, the higher the amount of antioxidants.

So don't let your kids toss their bananas! Use them to their fullest potential!
You'll be happy you did!

Mama Bear

So Proud of Papa Bear!

2011-09-01T13:53:00.000-07:00

My husband with his first bear!

My father in law with my hubby's bear.

My husband and his dad went hunting in the Shasta/Trinity area of NorCal, on opening weekend of bow season, just a couple of weeks ago. Their plan was to each get a buck (you can only hunt bucks in CA, and they have to have certain size/type horns...we have STRICT hunting laws here) to bring home for meat for our freezers. They each had a deer tag, but they also had a bear tag, just in case.

These photos are from hubby's Flip Camera, so they're a tad blurry, but you get the idea. I'm so proud of my husband for getting his first bear! Yes, we will cook the bear meat (steaks, stew, etc.), and yes, there will be a bear hide adorning the huge wall above our fireplace. That's how much I love my husband. :-)

Mama Bear

Winkflash Photo Contest: Birthdays!

2011-08-31T14:52:00.001-07:00

I realize this is my THIRD blog post for the day, but I just had to do this one. This is our baby girl's birthday photo from here 1st birthday party. I have entered it in a contest on Winkflash.com, where I can win a$100 gift certificate to Winkflash.com (where I LOVE to get my photos printed!!!!).

Here's the catch: I need YOU to help us out by going to vote for our photo. Click on the photo above, and it will take you to Winkflash.com, where you can vote for our princess.

Yes, you must sign up with Winkflash to vote, but it's totally worth it! You can get 50 FREE 4x6 digital prints when you sign up for the first time! AND you can opt to NOT receive promotional emails from Winkflash when you sign up. It's a win-win, right?

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!

Mama Bear

A Yummy Little Snack: Duros!

2011-08-31T11:55:00.000-07:00

Have you tried these? I first found out about them when my sister in law brought them home from the flea market. You can sprinkle lime juice (or lemon, because that's what you have readily on hand), and chili powder on them. I just use lemon juice...no chili powder. They will snap, crackle, and pop a bit when you put them juice on them.

What are they, you ask?

According to Gourmet Sleuth (source of the above photo), they are:

Duros

Other names: duritos, durros, pasta para durito

Duros are a Latino snack made of wheat flour and look a bit like a very hard pasta. The traditional shape is a rectangle with grooves but wagon wheel shapes are common too. Typically the duros are deep fried but they can also be microwaved. The prepared duros puff up then can be dipped in salsa or sprinkled with chile lime salt (see Tajin).

Basic Ingredients
Flour, Iodized Salt, Corn Starch, Bicarbonate of Soda, Vegetable Oil and food coloring.

Believe me when I say that you can eat a WHOLE bag of these in ONE sitting! They are so light and airy and delicous! And my Princess Diva Toddler Bear loves them too (no lemon juice on hers, although she LOVES lemons!)!

Where can you buy them? I believe Papa Bear got ours at either Lucky or Safeway. You can buy them like pasta and fry them yourself, or you can buy them already fried.

If you try them, let me know what you think!

Mama Bear

Would You Like Some Cheese With That Whine?

2011-08-31T11:22:00.000-07:00

I have an almost two year old little girl. She doesn't talk. She whines. Well, not all the time. Part of the time she does talk in very intelligent sentences. Part of the time she sings. Part of the time she yells at the top of her lungs, with excitement. But the rest of the time she whines, and whines, and whines. Lately, she cries over every little thing, and I can't get out of her why she is crying. I don't get it. Except for the fact that she is almost two and she is a girl.

I know that there have been days (no, weeks!) (no, really, MONTHS) where I have been tired and impatient and have yelled at my kids. Or I have whined myself, asking them why they have to do this, or why they did that. I need to pray and ask God to help me stop whining. I have a feeling there will be a big change in Princess Diva Toddler Bear, once there is a big change in me. Our attitudes and emotions affect those around us much more than we think. If we are always whining, complaining, grumpy (read: hormonal), angry, joyless, then our loved ones who live in the same house with us will also do these things. Don't expect them to change, until you are willing to change.

Lord, please work in my heart. Forgive me for my sins of anger, impatience, discontent, selfishness. All of those things cause me to react in ways that are not pleasing to you, and make me look ugly. Please help me to reflect your glory through patience, joy, love, compassion and tenderness. Help me to be selfless. This is one of the biggest things I struggle with, but I know with your help, I can change. I can do ALL things through YOU who gives me the strength. Thank you for your forgiveness and grace in MY life. Please help me to be quick to forgive and show grace in the lives of those I love.

Mama Bear

My Fitness Pal

2011-08-30T09:02:00.000-07:00

I just got an iPhone for the first time EVER at the beginning of the month. Yeah, we're a little behind on technology, but that's old news. Anyway, as some of you might know, I am on a quest to lose weight. It seems like this has been a life journey for me! Now, I really know that I need to lose weight and KEEP it off! No, I don't have heart disease, or diabetes, or anything like that, but I am at high risk for those AND for strokes if I DON'T LOSE THIS WEIGHT!

I have a "Biggest Loser" style challenge going on Facebook, and it starts on September 10th. This is round 3 for me, and I need to do well this time, especially since I am the one who started this! (By the way, if you're reading this, you're a woman, you have at least 30 pounds to lose, and you're on Facebook, we'd love to have you join us!!!)

So, back to the reason for this post. I have just discovered "My Fitness Pal", and app for iPhone, that allows me to track my calories in and calories out (exercise), based on my weight, height, gender, and age. That photo you see above is actually my breakfast entry for today.

The thing that I got really excited about as I did this for the first time today, is the fact that you can SCAN the barcode on a container of yogurt, and it will put in ALL of the information FOR you! You don't have to type all that stuff in and try to find which yogurt is yours! I'm SO excited about this, because it means this could be a LOT easier than doing WW online! Well, except for the fact that I do a LOT of our family cooking from scratch. I guess that's still going to be tough, but instead of typing on my tiny iPhone keys, I can enter everything online too. Pretty cool!

This app shows how many calories I've used, and how many I have left for the day, based on the number of calories I should be eating to hit my goal weight by a certain time. I haven't done this yet, but I can enter my exercise, and it will show me how many calories I burned for however long I did the exercise.

I'm thinking this could be a GREAT tool in finally helping me to get into a weight loss way of life! What do you think? Do you use any weight loss apps on your smart phone? Please share!

By the way, I am not being paid by My Fitness Pal or Apple, to do this "review".

Have a blessed day!

Mama Bear

How to Butter a Pan Without Mess!

2011-08-28T19:11:00.000-07:00

This is the best way ever to butter a pan and NOT get messy! Take a sandwich sized ziploc bag, turn it inside out, grab hold of your un-wrapped stick of butter, and butter that pan!

When you're done buttering the pan, just turn the bag, butter and all, right side out, zip the bag, and store the butter in your fridge for the next time you need to butter a pan (or for your next big bowl of popcorn!)

Mama Bear

A Longer Life for Berries

2011-08-25T08:12:00.001-07:00

I learned something new, thanks to Pinterest (if you don't know about Pinterest, you SHOULD!). I learned that if you give berries a water/vinegar rinse, they will last longer in your refrigerator!

Katie from FoodLush blog says this:
When you get your berries home, prepare a mixture of one part vinegar (white or apple cider probably work best) and ten parts water. Dump the berries into the mixture and swirl around. Drain, rinse if you want (though the mixture is so diluted I find you can't taste the vinegar,) and pop in the fridge.

The vinegar kills any mold spores and other bacteria that might be on the surface of the fruit, and voila! Raspberries will last a week or more, and I've had strawberries go almost two weeks without getting moldy and soft. So go forth and stock up on those pricey little gems, knowing they'll stay fresh as long as it takes you to eat them.

I tried this with a 2 lb. package of blueberries that I had purchased. I actually did it about 2-3 days AFTER I bought the berries, and it STILL worked! Those are the berries, up there in that photo...being "dunked" in the vinegar water. That was on August 15th. We ate the last of the berries (of which about 99% of them were still yummy and plump!) on Monday night, August 22nd! Imagine berries lasting for over a week in your fridge! The things you can learn on Pinterest!

Mama Bear

The First Day of School -- 2011

2011-08-24T15:51:00.001-07:00

My two boys on their first day of school. One is a senior in high school, and the other is going to preschool. I love that they love school!

Mama Bear

Learning to Make Fabric Flowers

2011-08-22T18:05:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to learn how to make fabric flowers for a little while now, and today I finally sat down to do it. I have loads of fabric, so I picked some pieces that match outfits I have made for our little girl.

The pink flower was made from THIS TUTORIAL.

The blue and white flowers were made using THIS TUTORIAL.

I like the blue and white flowers better. With the pink one, I felt like I had to color inside the lines, but with the blue and white flowers, I felt like I could gloriously paint/color ALL over the page, and it would still turn out beautifully. I'm an "outside the box" kind of girl, so I loved how easy the second tutorial was, and how it allowed me to just twist and pinch and bunch and glue. With the second two flowers, I glued probably every 1/4", and found that it was easy to give a more "poofy" and soft look to the flower.

With the pink flower, I felt awkward, but not because the tutorial was bad! Just because it was my first one, and I wanted to try both tutorials to see which worked better for me.

Now, I have a feeling I will be making loads and loads of these fabric flowers, and trying different types of fabric (I used quilter's cotton on these flowers). Oh, what fun! My girlie is going to have lots of pretty headbands and pins/brooches for her wardrobe!

ADDED 08/23/11: Here are some more flowers I made. All but the one on the bottom left are made with the second tutorial from above. The one on the bottom left was made using the first tutorial above. The plain aqua colored flowers were made with an old t-shirt of mine, and I LOVE how they turned out! One thing to keep in mind: They don't have to "look perfect". That's the beauty of this craft. There's no exact way to pinch, fold, twist, glue, etc., yet the flowers still come out SO cute!

Mama Bear

Even More Summer Reading With the Kids

2011-08-20T10:42:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I did our last "Summer Reading with Kids" post, so I figured I had better do it before we take these books back to the library on Monday.

The Christmas Ship by Dean Morrissey
This is a book my 4 year old picked out, and we just read it the other night. This is such a whimisically illustrated book, that it is half of the fun of the book. Read about a toymaker who is in danger of losing his shop in a tough economy, and about how a kids and Santa himself help the toymaker out with his dilemma.

Ruby Sings the Blues by Niki Daly
This book is perfect for little ones who haven't learned the lesson of "indoor voices". It's about a little girl with a VERY loud voice, and how she was able to use it in a good way. It's fun to read this book as it reads...loud parts and soft parts.

Picnic at Mudsock Meadow by Patricia Polacco
I love reading books like this, that seem to come right out of the author's own life. This book is a good one to read around Halloween. It's about a town Halloween party, and a boy who is at a bit of an awkward stage in life, but has a "hero moment".

Easy as Pie by Cari Best
I am a Food Network addict, so I could totally relate to this book, where a boy watches his favorite chef on TV, and then proceeds to make a peach pie for his parents' anniversary. AND, there's a recipe for Happy Peach Pie on the back cover of the book!

Trouble in the Barker's Class by Tomie DePaola
If your child has ever dealt with being a new kid, or even with bullying, this is the perfect book to read, and then discuss both issues. There's a new girl in the Barker twins' class at school, and rather than being nice and kind, she's mean and has a tendency to bully.
Find out why in the book! I'll bet you can relate to her!

Have fun reading with your kids. It's SO good for them AND for you!
I'd love to hear what books you've been reading to your little ones.

PS...I have not been compensated in any way by the authors, the illustrators, or Amazon.com.
I simply enjoy being able to share with you, a love for the books that we have been reading.

Mama Bear

Feeling Like You Don't Fit In Anywhere

2011-08-16T14:01:00.001-07:00

(source)

In the past month or so, I have had a tear-filled discussion with Papa Bear about not feeling like I fit in anywhere. I don't have any close girlfriends that I get together with for coffee (or whatever). As I thought about it, I really haven't felt like I have fit in anywhere EVER. It's kind of crazy to think about.

As a military brat, we moved every couple of years, so it was hard being the "new kid" at so many different schools (six to be exact). Along with being in different schools, with each move, we also went to several different churches. Then, at one point, I think I actually felt like I fit in at a church when I was a teen...that is, until I had gone away for a couple of years, and came back as an unwed mom, with a brand new baby. Since then, it always was hard going to a new church as a single mom. Then, once I finally got married, I went to my husband's church, where he had been attending for around 10 or 11 years. TOTALLY did not fit in there! We ended up finding a new church that was closer to where we lived. Still...didn't feel like I fit in. I felt like it was more "classy" than I was used to...in an upscale neighborhood. And I'm just a girl from the country. Now, even at our current church, I am wondering about where I fit.

My husband made a point that I didn't think of. There are probably LOTS of people in each of those places who did not and do not feel like they "fit in". There are lots of people who struggle with not being invited to this or that, or not being called, or not getting a card sent to them. There are probably lots of moms, especially moms of little ones, who feel isolated and alone. Husbands are gone all day, and we have little ones who nap for 2 or 3 hours, so we're kind of stuck at home, unless we want a whining little one on our hands if we go out.

It gets easier and easier to stay at home...to be a homebody. Here are some things I have thought over the past 7 years: It's comfortable. I have things I can do at home. I'm a homeschooling mom (we homeschooled our oldest for a few years, several years ago). We don't have the money to "go out" with girlfriends or couple friends. I love spending time with my family, and I'd rather just stay at home with them. No one calls me, or writes me to invite to anything. I am this BIG white girl, who is not super fashion conscious, and not college educated, and not hip, and I have a teen and a preschooler and a toddler, so where in the WORLD do I fit in??????

I think these are thoughts that Satan perpetuates in my head. He is an instigator, an accuser, a liar, and will do anything he can to get us to believe that we are not precious in the sight of Christ, that we are not important. He will do whatever it takes to divide the family of God, to get us to allow bitterness to grow in our hearts towards others, especially fellow Christians. He will sow seeds of doubt, mistrust, anger, envy, and more.

What are things we can do to combat this type of thinking? Papa Bear helped me think about things that I myself could do. I can invite someone over during the time when my boys are in school, and my girlie is napping. I can make a point to go up to people at church and talk to them instead of wondering why they aren't talking to me. I can stay off of Facebook (where I can see status updates that may make me feel even more alone and isolated), and instead, I can send a card, or a letter of encouragement, just to let someone know that I'm thinking of them and praying for them. I can actually pray for people, instead of just saying I will. I can really make an effort to join in on the things where I AM invited, instead of being lazy and making an excuse for why I can't go. I can remember that Christ commanded us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. For some reason, this is SO tough to do! We want so badly for others to love us, to approve of us, to want to be BFFs with US, but when the tables are turned, it's not so easy for US to be the ones to reach out and love OTHERS.

And this is true with me. I know that I am a sinner, and there are SO many reasons why people might not want to be my friend. I am critical and judgmental. I whine and complain. I am lazy and selfish. I sin. But I am also covered by the blood of Christ, and I can not wallow in those sins and allow them to be excuses or reasons why I can't love others. Christ shed his own blood for me, so I am precious to Him, and to the Father. I have good news! I need to show the love of Christ to others, because of what He has done for me.

Lord, please help me to be the one to reach out to others, instead of waiting for or expecting others to reach out to me. Forgive me for my selfish whining. Forgive me for being envious of the relationships of others. Forgive me for not loving others the way that YOU love me. Please help me to be the friend to others that I want others to be to me. Thank you for your mercy and grace in my life. Thank you for being a friend to me, when I don't deserve it.

Mama Bear

I Heart Faces Photo Challenge: Eyes

2011-08-15T11:41:00.001-07:00

This is our little guy, whom we adopted through the county foster care system. He is such a sweet, lovable little boy, and everyone who sees him comments on how gorgeous his eyes and eyelashes are, and I HAVE to agree! For someone who has gone through as much as he did in the first couple of years of his life, his eyes are a true window to his joyful, happy soul.

This is the photo I've submitted for the I Heart Faces Photo Challenge: Eyes.

Mama Bear

I Finally Did It...

2011-08-13T17:41:00.000-07:00

My hubby finally talked me into getting an iPhone. I have had my Motorola Razr for several years now, and I've been fine with that, because I'm not a big texter, or anything. It's just handy to have a phone when I'm out and about.

But now, we have stepped into a totally different universe! I now have to learn how to use an iPhone. I'm a little nervous, but excited too. I have no idea what apps to get, or how to even use them. Any ideas? I'd love to get your input!!!

Do you have a smartphone? Or are you still in the last century like I was until today? Are you resistant to change? Is it hard for you to learn something new (especially new technology!!!)?

Mama Bear

TOO Much STUFF!

2011-08-11T11:23:00.000-07:00

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Sometimes I wonder how we ever fit all of our STUFF in a small 2 bedroom apartment! Granted, we have added furniture and clothing as we have added children, but still! We have a garage that is full to overflowing with STUFF!!! I am not good at organizing or staying organized. I am not good at getting rid of stuff. There's always that thought, "I'm sure this will come in handy some day". I have a really tough time getting rid of stuff. Some of it for sentimental reasons, but some because I'm kind of a thrifty, use and re-use kind of person. Or, I think "We could probably sell this at a yard sale.", but seriously! When am I going to have the time and energy to prepare STUFF for a yard sale? I just need to be able to get rid of STUFF without looking back...no regrets.

I'm SO tired of all the STUFF!!! (I dread the thought of ever having to move again with all this STUFF!!!) I want to organize, simplify, purge, throw out! Then I look at everything and feel simply overwhelmed at the HUGE task. I don't know where to start.

I am so grateful for friends and family who have been so generous with us and have given us clothes, toys, books, etc., but at some point, we need to learn to say "No, thank you.".

I am a visualizer. I can see neat, orderly rows of tubs with labels stating what is in each tub. If only I could turn that visualization into reality. Papa Bear would LOVE me for that! (I mean, he already loves me dearly, but I know that he would love that we are able to get things organized and get rid of stuff.)

Here's where I could use your help. What advice can you give? What organizing tips do you have? What's the best way to get started? What's the best way to part with STUFF?

I'd love to get your input!

Mama Bear

Emergency Foster Care

2011-08-10T08:57:00.001-07:00

(source)

About a month or so ago, we called our caseworker at the county (we adopted our two youngest through the county foster care system), to let her know that we'd like to give emergency foster care a try. We had a few motives behind this.

Number one: We also put in our application to adopt another child, and we wanted to see how we would do and how the little ones would do with a baby in the home again. (We got our little girl when she was 2 months old, and got our little boy when he was 18 months).

Number two: We wanted to see how emergency foster care works, and how it goes, so that we are more prepared to share this information with others who might consider doing this.

Number three: Even though my selfish flesh says "No more kids! We're done!", both Papa Bear and I feel that God has called us to take care of these little ones who need a safe, loving place to be cared for, while their parents aren't able to care for them.

If it were up to me alone, I would say no more. I am 41 and my two little ones, plus my teenager are ENOUGH! Having two special needs kids is tough (our girlie is not special needs, but she is a bit spicy, so you can see where this would make me tired, and make me say now more, right?). Then, when you throw into the mix an infant whose sleep pattern and feeding pattern you do not know, who isn't used to being away from their mama, life gets very interesting.

This past Sunday, we got our very first emergency foster care child. We had gotten calls twice before, and we said yes, but for one reason or another, we didn't actually end up getting the kiddos. Sunday night, we got a call about a 2 month old baby whose parents got arrested. They said there was a possibility of the paternal grandma getting custody, but she needed to go through the whole application/background check process first. We wouldn't know how long this baby would be with us. Papa Bear went to Target before the caseworker on duty brought the baby. We needed bottles, formula (we were told which one to get), diapers, etc. You never know what age you'll get, so it's kind of tough to be prepared in advance with everything you might need. (I could have used a bouncy seat! I think we'll be getting one for the future!)

People (my mom) have warned us about how easy it is to get attached, and how it breaks your heart when they go back home, but this wasn't the case for us. I think God was protecting our hearts, because we knew this baby would be going "home". It was kind of weird, but it was easy to take this baby to the grandma yesterday. I think if it was a baby that we had been told was up for adoption, and we would be doing a concurrent foster/adopt situation, it would have been tough, but it wasn't like that at all.

Yesterday, my husband shared with me an article written by Pastor Rob Tims, a pastor whose family does foster care, and I believe is trying to adopt. It was about having a ministry of reconciliation. I had never thought about that in regards to foster care. I just figured, we were following God's command to "care for widows and orphans". I encourage you to read the article (linked above). If you are a Christian, we have a duty to care for these little ones. It's not easy. Especially when you want to sleep. It's not easy when you have a little one who is "the princess", the baby of the house. Sometimes it may not be convenient, because you have things you want to do, without having an extra person to bring along. But God will give you the grace you need. All you have to do is ask. I could feel the effects of the prayers being prayed by friends from all over the US, who knew we had gotten this baby.

Be prepared to love on the child you get. But do not harbor resentment in your hearts toward the parents, grandparents, or whoever else is involved. Do not expect them to gush over you and thank you, thank you, thank you for caring for their child/grandchild. Do not expect them to even want to look you in the eye or talk graciously with you. It's ok. They're hurting. Mistakes have been made, that resulted in them losing their family member, even though for a short time. They're not going to want to be your friend. In fact, they may even see you as the enemy. They may think you are just in this for the money (if they even know that you get paid to do this...which, if they knew how much you got paid, versus how much you spent on diapers, etc., they would realize that it's NOT about the money!). They may think you are trying to "parent" their child or grandchild. They may feel guilty. My advice? Pray for them, and pray that you will not have ill feelings toward them for ANY reason. We are to love. We are to be available to care for these little ones, no matter the reason. And we can and will for as long as God allows us to do so.

Oh, and go love on your own kids or grandkids, and never take them for granted!

Sorry about the VERY long post, but I really felt the need to write about our experience.

Have a blessed day in Christ,

Mama Bear

Unaccompanied Minors

2011-08-09T10:55:00.001-07:00

When we fly, we normally fly Southwest. So, naturally, when it came time for us to book a flight for our teenage son to fly by himself to visit his grandparents in New Mexico, we chose Southwest. I have been nervous about his flying by himself (for the first time), because he is a heart & stroke patient, and has a lot of cognitive delays because of the strokes. He doesn't function with the typical common sense that most of the rest of us do, and he has auditory issues to where he can't hear you if you're talking to him in a crowded, noisy room. Now can you see why I'm nervous? He also has partial hemi-paresis on the right side, which causes him to limp, and to not have much use of the right hand/arm. I was not able to go to the airport with them, because we got a 2 month old baby through emergency foster care on Sunday night, and with all four children, we would have had to take 2 vehicles, since we don't have a mini-van or equivalent vehicle. I couldn't take pictures! I'm sure our son was ok with that part.

All I could do was put him in God's hands (again) and trust that God would take care of him. After all, God created him, and loves him SO much more than I ever could. When we don't trust God to take care of us and our families, I believe that's a sin. It's saying "You can't take care of him like I can.". God says in His Word that He will never leave us or forsake us (Joshua 1:5), and I believe that. He is with me here in California, and He is with my son in the air and in New Mexico. I trust in Him, and He gives me peace.

On another note, Papa Bear was given an "escort pass" and was able to go all the way to the gate with our son, and my mom will be able to get one as well, to meet him right at his gate. We never knew that such thing was allowed, but we are SO glad that they allow this!

Have a blessed day in Christ!

Mama Bear

Photo Challenge from Digital Photography School

2011-08-06T15:21:00.000-07:00

Today, I saw in my email that there was a Photography Challenge from Digital Photography School, to take a photo with the theme TOYS. So, here is the photo I took. (Good thing Princess Diva Toddler Bear had her toys all over the floor...perfect timing!) I also have just learned about "Selective Focusing" this week, and am SO excited to have been able to use it in this photo!

Mama Bear

It's Time for Potty-Training!

2011-08-05T16:44:00.000-07:00

(source)

Our little Princess Diva Toddler Bear is almost 23 months old, and is finally starting to show an interest in going potty like a big girl. I have tried on numerous occasions, and all she did was scream and cry. NOT ready! I wanted to wait until after our camping trip, because I didn't want to have to deal with all of that while were camping.

The other day, she came up and told me, "I want to go potty like a big girl.". Well, OK THEN! So, I took her and sat her on the potty, and sat with her. She didn't scream and cry. We sang songs. That was a good sign. Then, the other night when I was getting them ready to get into the tub, she pulled her own diaper down. Another sign, right?

Last night, she and Brother Bear (our 4 year old) went to spend the night at Grandma & Poppaw's house (his second time, her first). They did REALLY well. No crying whatsoever, and my mother-in-law and sister-in-law decided to try putting Princess Diva Toddler Bear on the potty. Well, what do you know???? She went #1 and #2! I think she may have surprised herself, because she certainly surprised the rest of us.

So, today, I went and bought her some Minnie Mouse panties (she LOVES Minnie!) and some Pull-Ups. We'll see how long it takes.

Any advice? What do you use as a reward? Do you do a sticker chart? I'd love to know! I've never had to potty train a girl before!

Mama Bear

What to do When Mama Bear is Sick

2011-08-03T09:40:00.001-07:00

UGH! I could feel it coming on last night, so I sucked on zinc lozenges. I prayed I wouldn't get sick. This is my birthday week! I have too much to do this week to get sick. I have a consignment event this weekend, and I still have to hang and tag about 200 items. UGH! But I woke up at 3:43 this morning, with a killer sore throat and earache. Now what??? I was supposed to take the kids to the park today, to play with friends from church, but all I want to do is crawl back in bed, ignore my children, and have a little pity party for myself. Not gonna happen!

So what do you do when you are feeling lousy and you have little ones to take care of? I am going to pray, because I know that only God can get me through this day/week. I don't have time to be sick!

Mama Bear

Canning Pickles: Bread and Butter

2011-08-02T10:41:00.000-07:00

We are growing pickling cucumbers in our garden this year, and they're doing quite well. We actually were able to harvest enough to do a small batch of bread and butter pickles, and I can't wait to try them! Of course, we will wait the recommend three months before we open these jars, but still...I can't WAIT! Bread and butters are my favorite!

I used a recipe from Pickles and Relishes by Andrea Chesman,
called "Louise's Bread & Butter Pickles". Here is the recipe:

3 pounds cucumbers, 1-1/2 inches in diameter (8 cups, sliced)
1/3 cup pickling salt
5 cups cold water
1/2 onion, thinly sliced
2 cups cider vinegar
1-2/3 cups sugar
2 teaspoons prepared mustard
1 teaspoon celery seeds
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/8 teaspoon mace
few dashes of red pepper (optional...I opted not to use)

Wash the cucumbers well and remove the stem end and blossom end neatly. Then cut the cucumbers into 1/4-inch crosscut slices. Put into an enamelware or glass bowl. Sprinkle with salt and add water. Cover and let stand overnight.

The next morning, turn the cucumbers into a colander and drain for 10-15 minutes. Pour the cucumbers into a preserving kettle (or big stainless steel pot), and add the onion, vinegar, sugar, and spices. Heat to simmering. Simmer only 3-4 minutes. Pack into hot, sterilized pint jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Seal.

Process in a boiling-water-bath canner for 10 minutes, according to the instructions on pages 21-26 (of the book).

*Adjust processing time for altitudes above 1000 feet: 15 minutes for 1001-6000 feet.
20 minutes for anything above 6000 feet.

What are you canning this year? I'd love to hear about it!

Mama Bear

Where I Buy Bows & Clippies for Our Princess Bear

2011-07-26T12:02:00.001-07:00

There's hardly a photo of Princess Diva Bear, where you don't see a bow of some sort in her hair. Well, I LOVE Etsy, and I LOVE finding sweet hair accessories for our little princess.

Here are some of my sources, from where I've gotten bows for PDB.

Tessie Lou

Celeste & Company

Sugar -n- Spice Boutique

Neisha's Blue

So there you have it. And believe me, I WILL be checking out more Etsy shops for more CUTE hair accessories for Princess Diva Bear, so I'll be sure to share with you.

Have a blessed day!

Mama Bear

Recipe: Best Ever Sugar Cookies

2011-07-25T17:55:00.000-07:00

I think this is probably one of my favorite cookies from my childhood. My mom had a church cookbook that had a vinyl or plastic cover and was done with run off pages...the typed out kind. It had those fold over metal tab thingys to bind it. I remember it pretty well. There were a few pretty tasty recipes in a sea of cream of something-or-other casseroles. This recipe was the best thing to come out of that cookbook.

This is a light, crisp cookie that just melts in your mouth.

BEST EVER SUGAR COOKIES

2 cups sugar
1 cup butter
3/4 cup cooking oil (preferably canola or vegetable)
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs

4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

Cream together the 1st three ingredients. Add salt, eggs, and vanilla.

Sift together flour, soda, and cream of tartar. Add to creamy mixture and mix.

Roll dough into 1-1/2" balls and roll in some sugar. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and slightly press on the ball with the bottom of a glass. (It helps to first press on the cookie dough, and then dip in sugar each time before "flattening" the next ball of dough. This way, the glass doesn't stick to the dough with each cookie.)

Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies turn a nice, golden brown.

Cool on aluminum foil or cookie racks.

ENJOY!

Mama Bear

Princess Diva Bear's First Camping Trip

2011-07-22T11:05:00.000-07:00

This is the first day of camping for our little princess diva bear. She really had a lot of fun, but BOY, did she get filthy! I will write more about our trip in the next day or so. It was an experience that we will always remember, including having to buy a new tent halfway through the trip. UGH!

Mama Bear

A Sweet Little Gift

2011-07-15T18:45:00.000-07:00

Check out this sweet little gift a friend brought over today.
His wife made these little treats and decorated the mason jar.

How cute is this?!!

Mama Bear

Happy Annivesary & Happy Birthday!

2011-07-15T12:42:00.000-07:00

Happy Anniversary to my darling Papa Bear! July 17th marks 7 years that we've been married, and I couldn't have asked for a better bear to spend the rest of my life with. Papa Bear, I love you, and I'm so grateful that God brought us together over the internet and over the many miles! You are my best friend, my knight in shining armor, my love, an amazing daddy to our children, and the most patient and forgiving person I know. Thank you for being such a picture of who Christ is for our family.

Happy 30th Birthday (July 15) to my little sister (in red), who has turned 30 years old today! I have so many great memories of growing up with her. She was my maid of honor in my wedding (above). She is "auntie" to my kids who love her dearly. She was the best sister ever, since we had FOUR brothers to contend with!

Have a blessed day!

Mama Bear

If You Think You Have a Rough Life, Read This!

2011-07-15T11:20:00.000-07:00

Through a series of occurences, I have come upon this site of a little boy with cancer, who was photographed by Fotolanthropy.

If you think that you have a rough life, watch this video and then go read the family's blog, which is a journey through dealing with their son's cancer. You WILL need Kleenex!!!

Before you even finish reading, I am POSITIVE that you will be thanking God for His mercy in your life, and that you will be grateful for the life that He has given you, no matter how easy or how rough that life might be.

If you think about it, please pray for this family. I am sure that they are devastated that their precious little James will likely not see his first birthday. They will need a LOT of prayer as they deal with their grief and their loss.

Mama Bear

Depth of Mercy: Selah

2011-07-13T14:17:00.000-07:00

Depth of Mercy by Selah

Lyrics:

Depth of mercy can there be
Mercy still reserved for me?
Can my God His wrath forbear,
Me, the chief of sinners, spare?

Heaven find me on my knees
Hear my soul’s impassioned plea
Depth of mercy can there be
Mercy still reserved for me

Now incline me to repent,
Let me now my sins lament,
Deeply my revolt deplore,
Weep, believe, and sin no more.

Heaven find me on my knees
Hear my soul’s impassioned plea
Depth of mercy can there be
Mercy still reserved for me

Heaven find me on my knees
Hear my soul’s impassioned plea
Depth of mercy can there be
Mercy still reserved
Mercy still reserved
Mercy still reserved for me

Lord, Please Grant Me Your Grace!

2011-07-13T13:47:00.000-07:00

(source)

Oh, Lord! Today hasn't been a good day! I am in such need of your grace! I am a sinner and it shows as I try to take care of my children. I yell at them in frustration or anger. It's an ugly thing. It's because of my own selfishness and laziness. I don't want to be bothered when I'm trying to work, or when I'm web-surfing. I wait until things have reached a fever pitch to take care of the discipline issues, instead of nipping them in the bud.

Father, forgive me for my impatience. For not taking the time to actually listen to what my children are telling me. For not finding the joy in being a mom. For being angry that they have interrupted my schedule today.

Please give me enough grace to make it through the day. Please help me to be loving, tender, compassionate, and full of joy towards the gifts you have given to me. Please help me to tear out the selfishness in my heart, and replace it with a selfless love for others.

Thank you for hearing my prayer.

Delicious Reduced Fat Dill Dip -- Recipe

2011-07-13T08:08:00.000-07:00

(Source)

When I was growing up, my mom always made dill dip. If we had company, she made dill dip. If we had a church potluck, she made dill dip. If we were just having hot dogs, chips, and veggies & dip, it would be dill dip that she would make. And I LOVE dill dip. But mom always used to use fully-loaded (not reduced fat) Miracle Whip and Sour Cream. Here is a lighter version of mom's dill dip:

Delicious Reduced Fat Dill Dip

1 cup light Miracle Whip (or may if you must!)
1 cup light sour cream (or fat free is ok too)
3 Tbsp. onion, minced (NOT the dried stuff!)
CORRECTION: 3 Tbsp. Dill Weed (fresh or dried is fine)
1 Tbsp. seasoned salt

Mix all ingredients together well, and allow to sit in the refrigerator for at least two hours, to allow flavors to completely meld together.

Serve with veggies or chips, or even as a salad dressing (better thin it out with a little milk if you're doing to use it as a salad dressing!).

Have a blessed day!

Mama Bear

Ten Reasons Why I Would Love to Take Our Family to Virginia Beach

2011-07-11T18:45:00.001-07:00

As a little girl, our family loved to travel, and would take off for about two weeks each summer to visit various parts of the United States. Thanks to parents who loved to travel, I have been to such places as Mark Twain's home, Laura Ingalls Wilder's home, 2 of Abraham Lincoln's homes, Thomas Edison's home, Andrew Jackson's home, Juliette Gordon Low's home, the Okeefenokee Swamp, Disney World, the Cherokee Indian reservation in SC, the Sea Lion Caves of Oregon, Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado, the Grand Canyon, the Redwood National Forest, Disneyland in CA, Tokyo and Tokyo Disneyland (my dad was stationed in Okinawa while in the Air Force), and MANY, MANY other places.

My husband grew up in California, and until he married me, had only been to Lake Tahoe, Reno, and Tijuana. Since we married, we have together been to Monterey and Carmel on the Central Coast of CA, Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Missouri. And my husband had the opportunity to visit Washington, DC last year, for a pastor's conference in Gaithersburg, MD.

As an adult, I have been fortunate enough to have traveled to many wonderful places as well, including Montana, Wyoming, Yellowstone, Colorado, Atlanta, Illinois, Ohio, Carmel and Monterey on the Central California Coast, Hawaii, and one of my favorite places, Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri (which I actually grew up visiting). But one place I have NEVER been is Virginia Beach, VA.

Why would I want to visit Virginia Beach after some of the amazing places I've been? Well, truthfully, because I LOVE the beach, and I LOVE travel, and I LOVE visiting places where I have never before been.

Here are TEN reasons why I would visit Virginia Beach, VA (in no particular order of importance):

1. The beaches! One of my favorite places to be, is the beach. I love the roar of the ocean, because it somehow brings about such a peace inside. God created such an amazing and spectacular gift when He created the ocean and all the beauty within! I love digging my toes in the sand and letting the sun warm my skin. I love the smell of saltwater and the wind tossing my hair about. I love watching my children play in the sand and race away from the lapping waves of the ocean, crying in delight as they barely miss getting splashed.

2. The FOOD! I'm sure that the seafood in Virginia Beach is much different than the seafood on the West Coast, thanks to the cultural differences there. I enjoy food to the very fullest, and so does my family, so we would definitely try to get the most out of our culinary adventures there. From fine dining, to "you catch-it, we cook it", to sampling luscious chocolates at the Schakolad Chocolate Factory, we would be in heaven, on this yummy adventure.

3. The accommodations. We enjoy going camping, but let me tell ya! When it comes to vacation, I want to stay in a place that has it all...clean sheets every night, a nice hot shower, TV, a fitness center, a pool and sauna, and even a full kitchen! Whether you are the camping sort, the vacation home sort, or the luxury hotel sort, Virginia Beach has every type of accommodation that you could want! As long as someone else gets to make the bed, I'm happy!

4. Church! We belong to the Sovereign Grace family of churches, and when we go on vacation, we always like to try and go to a local church if we're there over the weekend. There are several Sovereign Grace churches in VA, but one is particularly close, in Chesapeake. We would be thrilled to worship with others who believe the way we do.

5. History! Papa Bear and I both LOVE American History! Virginia and most of the East Coast is chock FULL of historical places to visit, including where John Smith and his crew stepped off of their ship for the first time, in search for an area to settle. If we had the time, we would fit in as many historical sites as we could!

6. Entertainment! From the looks of the website, there are many ways to be entertained in Virginia Beach, including Family Great Adventures, where you can "camp out" on the beach and watch a movie on the big screen, with your family. That sounds so wonderful! If you're not into watching movies at night on the beach, but you're more into the club scene, go for Funk Fest, at the end of August, where you can shop, eat, and dance, all in the same spot!

7. The weather. While we pretty much have the best weather around, in the Bay Area of Northern CA, I like to go on vacation where the weather isn't too hot, and not too cold, not too rainy, not too snowy. You know, we ARE bears after all (think Goldilocks!). :-) Virginia Beach is said to have some gorgeous spring and summer weather, and I imagine their Falls are full of glorious splendor!

8. Busch Gardens! I LOVE going to GREAT amusement parks, and from what I hear, Busch Gardens is one of the best, and most beautiful parks too. It would be a lot of fun to take the kids to a "new" amusement park! And everyone knows how yummy amusement park food can be!

9. PIRATES, Matey! ARGGHHH! Papa Bear and I would love to take the kids on the Pieces of Eight Pirate Ship Tour! How fun would that be???!!! I mean, between the pirates on The Wiggles, and The Pirates of the Caribbean, we would HAVE to make that a priority should we ever get to visit Virginia Beach.

10. Just because it's somewhere we have never been before and would love to visit!

In conclusion, I'm thinking that I had better start planning my Virginia Beach trip. Hmmm, maybe I should have a "Donate to my Virginia Beach Trip" fund here on the blog. :-) Just kidding. But, seriously, I would LOVE to have a couple of weeks to go to Virginia, and spend a lovely time with my family in Virginia Beach and the surrounding areas. I mean, really! Washington, DC isn't too far away! So much history! So many beaches! So much food!
So little money...

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Virginia Beach Tourism blogging program, for a gift card worth $40.
For more information on how you can participate, CLICK HERE.

Mama Bear

Some Giveaways Going On Right Now

2011-07-11T10:07:00.000-07:00

I would like to try something new, by letting you know about contests and giveaways that are happening around the blogosphere. So, here are just a few:

You can win a First Years True Fit Recline Convertible Car Seat by visiting HERE and completing the requirement for entry.
This giveaway is from Faithfully Free.
Win a $100 Visa Gift Card from Burgh Baby by visiting HERE and completing the requirements.

Win these Costa del Mar Little Harbor Sunglasses from Crunchy Beach Mama by visiting HERE and completing the requirements.

Win a $25 Visa Gift Card by leaving a comment about your laundry routine over at Blessings Abound Mommy.

All of these giveaways end on Monday, July 18th, so hurry and get your entries in at each of the blogs mentioned!

Have a blessed day!

Mama Bear

Stickers are a GOOD thing!

2011-07-10T19:16:00.000-07:00

Right now, with an almost 2 year old, and a 4 year old in our house, stickers are our best friend. They LOVE to get stickers and we use that to our advantage.

Eat your food without making a mess all over and you get a sticker.

Go to sleep at night without us having to come in and administer discipline for all the talking, playing around, giggling, laughing, and getting out of bed, and you get a sticker in the morning.

Go to the "Gym Time" class (for toddlers) at church, without crying and making a big fuss, and you can get a sticker.

We don't see it as bribery. We see it more as a reward for good behavior. We don't believe in "I'll give you a reward if you stop doing this.". We expect our children to obey the first time we say something. We don't beg and plead with them to behave. If they don't, there are consequences. If they do, there is a reward. Rewarding good behavior can be a great motivator.

Mama Bear

Please vote for our daughter's photo at Winkflash.com

2011-07-08T20:23:00.001-07:00

Please go over to Winkflash.com and vote for our Baby Bear. If she gets the most votes, we win a $100 gift certificate from Winkflash. You must register with Winkflash to vote, but when you do, you can get 50 FREE 4x6 digital photo prints!

This contest ends on July 11th, so please hurry over and vote.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO GO VOTE.

Your vote would be HUGELY appreciated! The top entry has nearly 100 votes right now. WE have a LOT of catching up to do!

Many thanks,

Mama Bear

You Capture -- Patriotism

2011-07-07T21:45:00.001-07:00

Our family LOVES the 4th of July. If you know me or Papa Bear, you know that our wedding colors were red, white, and blue, and that we would have gotten married on July 4th if it had worked out for us. So, of course, I'm going to dress the kids in their patriotic best for church. Princess Diva Toddler Bear is wearing the pillowcase dress that I made her. The patriotism bug has been passed on to our teenager. He couldn't WAIT to hang the flag!

Want to see more patriotic photos?
Check out the You Capture: Patriotism post.

Have a blessed day!

Mama Bear

There's a New Grocery Store in Town

2011-07-07T16:10:00.001-07:00

Sprouts Farmer's Market

This is our newest grocery store. It's technically in the next city over from us, but since they all run together, it's practically in our town. They had their grand opening this past weekend, and I just visited today, for the first time. I went specifically for 4 things: Cantaloupe, white peaches, nectarines, and plums.

I came home with more than those 4 things. Here is what I bought:

1.19 pounds of Black Plums at $0.39/lb.

2.53 pounds of broccoli crowns at $0.99/lb.

3 cantaloupe at $0.99 each

2 cucumbers at $0.49 each

1 bunch of green onions at $0.49

2.05 pounds of nectarines at $0.39/lb.

1 bunch of parsley for $0.49

2.19 pounds of white peaches @$0.39/lb.

2 one pound bags of organic tortilla chips

My total for this transaction: $13.54! I could hardly believe it! A lot of their other items are a bit on the pricey side...like $3.49 for 8 flour tortillas. Won't be buying tortillas there any time soon! But, for us, it's completely worth it to go there for JUST the produce! I believe it's much cheaper than ALL of the other grocery stores in town, including Trader Joe's!

Another great thing about this store, is that I got a receipt that measured about 5" long, with half of the transaction printed on the back, instead of a 10" receipt with nothing on the back, or with ads or coupons I'll never use, on the back. Way to go on helping cut down on waste!

You should check to see if there is a Sprouts Farmer's Market near you. Right now, they are in California, Arizona, Colorado, and Texas.

Have a blessed day!

Mama Bear

A Lot of Fun for Only $20

2011-07-06T11:56:00.000-07:00

My three kids in the $20 Walmart Inflatable pool.

Friends and family on the 4th of July.

Who knew that $20 inflatable pool from Walmart could be so fun? It's big enough for my teenager, my preschooler, and my toddler to all get in, AND have fun! Papa Bear and I even took turns getting in this past Sunday, because it was 98 degrees outside!

Mama Bear

A Little Frank Sinatra...

2011-07-06T10:58:00.000-07:00

I've been listening to my "Sinatra" station on Pandora,
so I thought I'd create an Etsy Treasury to reflect the man himself.

Please feel free to click on the above image to check out each item or to comment on the treasury.

Enjoy!

Mama Bear

I Really, REALLY Like Amazon Prime!

2011-07-06T09:04:00.000-07:00

Our family has been using Amazon Prime for probably 3 or 4 years now, and we LOVE it! You pay one fee for the year, and you get FREE 2-day shipping for just about anything you find on Amazon. And believe me when I say, we do a LOT of shopping on Amazon!

If we are at a store and we find something we like, we'll usually say "Well, let's see how much it is on Amazon.", and typically, it will be cheaper on Amazon, plus there's hardly EVER sales tax on it. For those of us who live in a high state tax state (California!), this is a good thing.

We even purchase grocery items, personal care items, and medicine on Amazon. We get my Prilosec on Amazon, along with razor blade refills for my husband, because if you use the subscription method, they're MUCH cheaper than at any store that we go to. We purchase Nature's Path Flax Plus Pumpkin Granola from Amazon in a case of 6, because it's much cheaper than at the grocery store.

Recently, I was at Target, looking for a certain shampoo that I use. I can't substitute any other shampoo, because of the sensitivity of my skin. But it was EXPENSIVE! I called home and asked hubby to look on Amazon (no, we don't have smart phones yet) to see what the price was. You could get a 2-pack of this shampoo (which will last me probably 6 months or longer!) for $2 less PER BOTTLE, than at Target. So we ordered it.

Books? Yep! When we shop for books, we usually look for USED books, because in most cases they are in really good condition and MUCH cheaper than new books. We have been able to find books for under a dollar, with a few dollars shipping, saving us loads of $$$! Movies too. We'll look for DVDs that are used, but in great condition, and so far, we have not been disappointed.

We have purchased cameras, a Wavemaster punching bag, ice cream makers, electric blankets, vitamins, ink for our printer, USB cables, a video baby monitor (a gift for a friend), cooking utensils, a set of pots and pans, a wine bottle opener, Swiffer dusters, Case Logic cases for electronic devices and for DVDs, 3 ukuleles, batteries, backpacks, bluetooths, our ESV Bibles, ear plugs, a basketball rim, etc. You name it, we've bought it on Amazon!

We also will buy things for our families. Whether it's a gift or something that they are looking for, we will order it for them, and Amazon will ship it directly to them. My parents don't own a computer, so this comes in really handy for them. They're amazed at some of the things you can find on Amazon! My in-laws will be looking for a specific item, and we'll usually say "Let's see if we can find it on Amazon." and usually we can.

No, I'm not receiving any kind of compensation for this post. We just really, REALLY like our Amazon Prime! I'm not sure if our UPS guys like it so much, but we sure do!

You should check it out, if you haven't already. You'll be amazed at what you can find!

Mama Bear

I've Reached 800 Sales in My Etsy Shop!!!

2011-07-05T08:37:00.001-07:00

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has made it possible for me to reach 800 sales in my Bear River Photo Greetings Etsy shop!!!!

As a "thank you" of sorts, I am offering 20% off on any invite or announcement design in the shop, good through July 9th.

Please use this discount code when checking out: 800SALES
(This discount code may NOT be used on party favor tags.)

Have a blessed day!

Angie

Happy 4th of July!

2011-07-04T09:02:00.000-07:00

Have a blessed and safe
4th of July!

Love, The Bear Family

A Good Book: Predator by Terri Blackstock

2011-07-01T12:23:00.001-07:00

"Predator" by Terri Blackstock

Amazon's Product Description: "Bestselling author Terri Blackstock presents another stand-alone novel, Predator. The murder of Krista Carmichael's fourteen-year-old sister by an online predator has shaken her faith and made her question God's justice and protection. Desperate to find the killer, she creates an online persona to bait the predator. But when the stalker turns his sights on her, will Krista be able to control the outcome? Ryan Adkins started the social network GrapeVyne in his college dorm and has grown it into a billion-dollar corporation. But he never expected it to become a stalking ground for online Predators. One of them lives in his town and has killed two girls and attacked a third. When Ryan meets Krista, the murders become more than a news story to him, and everything is on the line. Joining forces, he and Krista set out to stop the killer. But when hunters pursue a hunter, the tables can easily turn. Only God can protect them now. "

I like a good crime drama. Some of them out there (like Criminal Minds) are a bit too dark for me, but there are quite a few that Papa Bear and I like to watch together (like Law & Order: Criminal Intent and CSI: NY). So, it is no surprise that I like reading mysteries. When I was young, I read The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, and even Encyclopedia Brown. I prefer to stick to Christian mystery writers now, because they don't tend to get too "dark", and there is usually a redeeming element to the story.

This story did give me some adrenaline rushes, for sure! If you're on Facebook, you will likely want to go and take down every picture, every status update, and possibly even delete your account after reading this book. I wanted to...for a minute. (Facebook is really the only way I keep in touch with a lot of people, because I'm not good about writing or calling.)

I hope that you'll give it a try.

If you like this book, try these other titles, also by Terri Blackstock:

Last Light (Restoration Series #1)
Night Light (Restoration Series #2)
True Light (Restoration Series #3)
Dawn's Light (Restoration Series #4)
Double Minds

Happy reading!

Mama Bear

Recipe: Crackle-Top Molasses Cookies

2011-06-30T15:48:00.001-07:00

Archway used to make a Soft Molasses Cookie that was probably my most favorite non-homemade cookie EVER! They were BIG and soft and SO delicious!

The closest thing that I have found to those cookies, is this recipe
for Crackle-Top Molasses Cookies, found in a cookbook called "Cookies"
by Natalie Hartanov Haughton.

Here is the recipe:

********************************
2/3 cup vegetable oil (I use canola)
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses (I use about 1/3 cup)
2 to 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (I doubled that)
1 teaspoon ground ginger
(I added about 1/4 teaspoon salt...for good measure.)
About 1/3 cup sugar (set aside in a bowl)

Preheat oven to 350F (175C). In a large bowl, combine oil and 1 cup sugar. Add egg, beating well. Stir in molasses, 2 cups flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and ginger. If necessary, add a little more flour to make a firm dough. Shape dough into 1-1/4 inch balls. Roll in 1/3 cup sugar. Place 3 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown and tops "crack". Remove cookies from baking sheets; cool on racks. Makes about 45 (2-1/2 inch) cookies. (Or, if you're like me, and like your cookies bigger, it will make about 24 3" to 3.5" cookies.)

I hope you like them!

Mama Bear

Great Uses for Common Household Items

2011-06-30T08:21:00.000-07:00

Source: womansday.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Grilled Monterey Jack Cheese Sandwich with a Tiny Twist

2011-06-29T13:01:00.000-07:00

I knew I saved that Papa John's Garlic
dipping sauce for a reason!
We are nearly out of Country Crock,
so I saw these little tubs in the fridge,
and thought I could use them for
grilled cheese sandwiches.

Monterey Jack Cheese and this garlic dipping sauce???

AMAZING Grilled Cheese Sandwiches!!!!

Probably not the most healthy thing for you, but YUM!!!

Mama Bear

How I Would Decorate my Front Porch for 4th of July

2011-06-28T18:06:00.000-07:00

BHG

One of these days, I want to have a home that looks like this, complete
with the white picket fence, the brick walkway, the wrap-around porch,
the bell, the flag...yeah, pretty much everything!

I love this sweet front porch too:

BHG

This one looks just lovely! I really like the porch swing with
the red, white and blue cushions.

BHG

Are you decorating for the 4th of July? If so, I'd love to know what you're doing!

Mama Bear

Recipe: Apple Streusel Bars

2011-06-28T11:48:00.000-07:00

As I was drooling over all of the yumminess on Foodgawker.com, I happened upon a scrumptious looking recipe for Apple Streusel Bars. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE apple desserts (like Apple Dumplings from Pioneer Woman--I guarantee they are like nothing you've ever had, and they are A-MA-ZING!!!!), so I thought I'd give this recipe a try.

The recipe is from Lovin' From the Oven.

Apple Streusel Bars

SWEET PASTRY:

2 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. real butter, softened (no substitutions!)
1 egg, beaten

APPLE FILLING:

1/2 c. white sugar
1/4 c. flour
1 tsp. cinnamon (I used about 2 teaspoons.. I LOVE cinnamon)
4 c. (about 3 medium) sliced, peeled baking apples (I used 2 BIG Fuji apples)

GLAZE:

2 c. powdered sugar
About 3 Tbsp. milk (whole milk is best)
1 tsp. almond extract (I used vanilla extract)

To prepare crust, mix flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or two knives until you have pea-sized crumbles. Gently mix in beaten egg.

Spray a 9x13 baking dish (I used a 9x9) with non-stick cooking spray. Gently pat about 2/3 of the crumb mixture onto the bottom of the dish. Preheat oven to 350 and set aside.
To prepare apple filling, combine flour, sugar, and cinnamon. Toss with apples and spread apples out on prepared crust. Sprinkle reserved crust mixture over apples evenly and bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes (mine took just less than 50 minutes). When finished, allow to cool completely.

To prepare glaze, whisk together powdered sugar, almond extract, and enough milk to achieve desired consistency. Place glaze in a Ziploc bag and cut off a very small portion of one of the corners. Drizzle glaze over cooled pastry and allow to harden (you can place it in the freezer to hurry things along). Cut into bars and serve.

And the verdict is: My family LOVED them and I will DEFINITELY make them again!

Happy cooking! (Because I know you'll want to try these!)

Mama Bear

Costco Chicken

2011-06-22T15:50:00.001-07:00

When we buy chicken, we usually get the 10 pound bag of boneless, skinless breasts from Costco. Then, I break it up in to 4-5 different Ziploc bags, and add marinades while they are still frozen. Shown here, I have one Teriyaki, one "Taco" (which is great for chicken soft tacos or even fajitas), and two Baja Citrus. I zip 'em up and stick 'em right back into the freezer. When it's time to get it out for a meal, I'll take a bag out the night before, or that morning, and let it thaw. As it thaws, it soaks in the yummy goodness of the marinade it's been bathing in.

Sometimes, the chicken is still partially frozen when I'm ready to cook it, but that's not a problem. I simply put it in my cooking pan (9x13 metal or glass pan, lined with aluminum foil), cover it tightly, and let it cook. (You can also do this for crockpot chicken.) Generally I will cook at 350 for just about an hour...sometimes less. When they're still partially frozen, be sure to check for doneness! Chicken is NOT one of those meats that you can eat "medium rare"! But when they're still partially frozen, I do find that they retain more moisture, and end up being super delicious!

Serve over rice, or in a tortilla, or next to rice, or in a salad. However you serve it, I'm sure it will be a hit, and saves a lot of time and hassle!

Have a great day!

Mama Bear

2011-06-21T14:49:00.000-07:00

This treasury is one that is chock full of lovely sweets that I would LOVE to try!

Have a blessed day!

Mama Bear

Steak Soft Tacos with Lime-Cilantro Aioli

2011-06-20T08:55:00.000-07:00

Father's Day 2011: Steak Soft Tacos with Lime-Cilantro Aioli

This is what Papa Bear wanted for Father's Day Dinner. I also made Spanish rice and refried beans, but seriously, these tacos were a meal all on their own!

Here's how they're "built":

Start with a warm tortilla and add some cooked, chopped beef.

(We marinated our chopped steak in mesquite marinade, lime juice, cilantro and green onion.)

Then add some of the Lime-Cilantro Ailoli.

(I'm willing to share my very own recipe for this....just keep scrolling down.)

Now, spread on some yummy guacamole.

Throw on some grilled onions.

(Believe me when I say that you will ALWAYS want to add grilled onions to your soft tacos of ANY kind!)

Add some shredded sharp Cheddar (or Monterey Jack, or whatever kind of cheese you like.)

Add some chopped tomatoes...

...and a little squeeze of fresh lime, over everything.

(Sorry about the blurry lime!)

And there you have it! Get some blood-orange soda, throw it in the blender with plenty of ice, and some Coconut Rum, and you have a delicious Mexican fiesta-ish drink!

Now, as promised, here is my very own, made-up recipe for the Lime-Cilantro Aioli:

1/2 cup light sour cream
1/2 cup light Miracle Whip (or mayo...depends on your preference)
Juice from 1 lime
A handful of cilantro (be sure it's washed, and don't worry about the stalks...
they'll chop up finely in the food processor)
1 heaping Tbsp. of minced garlic
2 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. Tapatio sauce (or other hot sauce)
1/2 tsp. salt (optional)

Put all of it into your food processor and blend away. You can add less or more of the cilantro, garlic, cumin, hot sauce, and salt, according to your taste. The first time I made this, I also added about 1/4 cup of fresh pineapple (for fish tacos).

Mama Bear

Taking Pictures

2011-06-18T14:54:00.000-07:00

If you know me, you may know that I LOVE to take pictures! I have since I was pretty young, thanks to my mom, who currently probably has about 40 photo albums full of my and my siblings childhoods, not to mention drawers up on drawers of photos that have not been put in albums since, oh, about 1985!

Anyway, yesterday, I did a mini photo shoot for a friend, of her little girl. I made a makeshift "studio" of sorts in my backyard. Wish I had taken a picture of the setup, but didn't. I secured 4 long sheer curtains on a rod, and sat the rod on the backs of two dining room chairs, and then set up two other chairs to make a little canopy with two more sheer curtains. Then I set a little white chair in the "tent", along with some toys, storybooks, and some white lace pillows.

My friend's little girl didn't want to sit for long, as she is a bundle of get up and go, but we managed to get some good pictures, and since I had the "tent" rigged up, I "forced" (because they just wanted to play outside) Preschooler Brother Bear and Princess Diva Toddler Bear to go in the "tent" and let me take pictures of them too.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE how some of the photos turned out! Those sheer curtains act as a GREAT diffuser on a bright, sunshiney day. The first three photos are of my friend's little girl, and the rest are of my little bears.

Hope you're having a great summer so far!

Mama Bear

Lemonade and Lavender: An Etsy Treasury

2011-06-17T11:52:00.001-07:00

Right now, I'm loving the color combination of lemon and lavender,
so I created this Lemonade and Lavender Treasury on Etsy.com to showcase some
beautiful items for sale on Etsy, in these very colors.

Mama Bear

Summer Reading

2011-06-16T10:51:00.001-07:00

This summer, my plan is to read....a LOT....to all three kids. Since our 17 year old is special needs, he still enjoys me reading to him...even if it is a kid's book.

We have read books aloud since Papa Bear and I got married. We read "Peter and the Starcatchers" out loud, when it was just three of us, and we loved it.

We are now working through "The Ranger's Apprentice" series. We are currently on book four.

Here are some books that we got from the library that have been fun to read with the kids:

"Bess and Bella" is an imagination-filled story about
a little girl who is longing for a friend.

"The Web Files" is a GREAT book written in Dragnet style. My kids and I all LOVED it!
(If you find this for sale somewhere for LESS than about $8, will you let me know???)

We enjoyed "Jamboree Day" because of its colorful illustrations and fun rhyme.

"Little Flower" is the story of a pot-bellied pig who saved the life of her owner and won over some neighbors who didn't think she was as remarkable as other neighbors did. Love it!

"Tacky Goes to Camp" is a cute story, and it made me want to read the other "Tacky" books.

So there you have it. I will be sharing more books as the summer goes by. (I'm so excited because my mom keeps sending me BOXES of books that she's found at thrift stores for really, really LOW prices!!) My mom is the one who instilled in me a love for reading from a VERY early age. Seriously, my parents would read Dr. Seuss books while we were in utero! And I'm fairly certain you won't believe me if I told you the age at which I started reading.
Or the fact that I was reading Laura Ingalls Wilder books when I was in kindergarten.
(This is the honest truth!)

What are you reading with YOUR kids? I'd love to know!!

Mama Bear

Making Homemade Ice Cream Without a Machine

2011-06-14T19:48:00.001-07:00

(source)

Oh, how I LOOOOOOOVE ice cream. I could eat it year-round, no matter how cold it is, and especially when it's hot as blazes outside! I have loved ice cream since I was a little girl. Hmmmm, maybe that's why I have this girlish figure.

Anyway, I do have an ice cream machine. We bought a Cuisinart Ice Cream maker that we love, but it doesn't make a large amount of ice cream.

Looking around on Pinterest (my new favorite place to gaze and drool), I saw a "pin" that showed the picture above, of ice cream. Now, I LOVE chocolate chip ice cream, but only when it's done like you see it in that photo up there. I'm not too keen on ice cream with actual chocolate chips in it.

I had to find out "how to make ice cream without a machine", so I followed the link, and here is what I found: A great article on how to make ice cream without a machine!

I'm going to try this out...maybe this weekend.

How about you? Do you make homemade ice cream? If so, what is your favorite flavor, and how do you make it?

Mama Bear

Rustic Flag Sign -- A DIY Craft

2011-06-11T15:33:00.001-07:00

At our house, we LOVE our country! My husband and LOVE the 4th of July...so much so, that our wedding was in July (couldn't get the 4th), and our colors were red, white, and blue, with lots of patriotic themed items running throughout.

Just recently, we (actually, I) re-did our guest bathroom (well, doesn't that sound lovely? it's actually just our main bath, which everyone uses.) in a patriotic theme. One of these days I will post photos. But I think this sign would fit perfectly in the theme.

By the way, the bathroom is a hit. It's more Americana than anything, and I love it! A friend used the bathroom shortly after I redecorated, and she said "I didn't know whether I should sit down or stand up!". I love it! Her sense of humor always makes me laugh.

You can learn how to make this sign for yourself at Thrifty Decorating blog.
Just click HERE.

Have fun!

Mama Bear

Making Homemade Playdough

2011-06-10T12:22:00.001-07:00

My mom must have been the best mom ever. Among other things, she gave me a love for things homemade. Like playdough. I can remember us making playdough when I was a little girl. It smelled like mint and came in all the colors of the rainbow. I love how homemade playdough feels in your hands...so much nicer than the store-bought stuff. And if you keep it in an air-tight container, it'll last for a long, long time! Plus it's really inexpensive to make.

Since today is the first day of summer vacation, I decided to make playdough with the two little bears. Note: I have NEVER had both of them help me with cooking ANYTHING...not at the same time anyway. This was Princess Diva Toddler Bear's first time ever, to cook with Mommy.

The little ones wanted purple, so we made purple. When I get some more salt, we will make some more, in various different colors.

Here is the recipe I found to make the playdough (from Cooks.com):

COOKED PLAYDOUGH

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 Tbsp. cooking oil (I used canola)
1 Tbsp. cream of tartar
1 cup water
Food coloring (desired amount)

Mix together all ingredients. Cook mixture over low heat until thickened. Store in an airtight container when not using.

*This is NOT for eating!

Mama Bear

A Pretty Little Bedroom

2011-06-10T08:33:00.000-07:00

(Source: The Little Things)

If I had an unlimited source of money, time, and imagination, and a BIG house, where the kids could all have their own rooms, my little Princess Diva Toddler Bear MIGHT just have a room that looks a lot like this one.

I'm just sayin'.

Mama Bear

Kids Get Rewarded for Good Grades

2011-06-09T11:56:00.000-07:00

I had a thought. Are there places who will reward kids for good grades? So, I looked it up and sure enough, there are! Check out the post from Mama Cheaps, called 2011 Report Card Freebies. Be sure to call in advance to make sure these are participating establishments!

What are YOU doing to reward your kids for good grades? We give our high schooler money for his report card. An "A" gets a little more than a "B", and a "B" gets a little more than a "C". He's not had a "C" that I can remember, so he makes out pretty well each time. Typically, it's all "A"s, so he will break the bank! But we're ok with that. He is a special needs kid, and struggles with school, so we feel very blessed by the education that he is getting.

Have a blessed day!

Mama Bear

My Very Favorite Way to Eat Yogurt

2011-06-09T08:48:00.000-07:00

I REALLY love fruity yogurt!!! But I don't buy the expensive "fruit on the bottom" yogurts from the grocery store. I haven't quite ventured out to make my own, but this is the next best thing.

I simply buy a LARGE container of fat-free, plain yogurt, then add my goodies to it. It's great when you're on Weight Watchers and you want a healthy and yummy breakfast! Guess what? It's only 2 points!

My Recipe:

2/3 cup fat-free, plain yogurt
3 packets of Splenda (sorry...I like it SWEET!)
1/2 tsp. real vanilla (NOT vanilla flavoring!)
1 cup of frozen mixed berries (I like the berries from Costco)

Mix the Splenda and vanilla in to the yogurt and then add berries. Stir well. Voila!

You will love this, even for a dessert. Just pop it into the freezer for about 20 minutes, and you have a cool, sweet, delicious treat! Our kids LOVE it, and I'm willing to bet that yours will too!

Mama Bear

Gifts for Teachers and Bus Drivers

2011-06-08T14:22:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year...the end of school. We always want to get a gift for the kids' teachers and school bus drivers, but we're never quite sure what to get. This time, I think we may have come up with a great idea. For the two main teachers for both boys, we got a pair of movie tickets (at Costco) for each one. Then, for the teacher's helpers for Little Bear, and for Little Bear's school bus drivers, we got Starbucks Gift Cards. Those are both gifts that I know I would like to get, so we hope the teachers and bus drivers will like them too!

What do YOU do for your kids' teachers and bus drivers?

Mama Bear

Mama Bear Gets Chatty

How Beautiful Are the Feet

Blackberry Oatmeal Bars -- A Small Deviation from a Pioneer Woman Recipe

A Beautiful Brown Eyed Girl Giveaway

One Thing a Husband Should Never Say to His Wife

The Woman Who Fears the LORD

What is True Beauty?

A very creative mock commercial about the standards of beauty in a digital age.

I saw this posted on Facebook, by Carolyn McCulley, and I had to share it. It's such a shame that the entertainment industry and fashion industry have done so much to twist the view on what TRUE BEAUTY looks like.

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30

What are your thoughts on this? What do YOU see as being true beauty???

Mama Bear

Good Reasons to Eat More Fruit

Ham & Pinto Bean Soup -- Recipe

More Flavor Please

Merry Christmas from the Bear Family to Your Family!

My Christmas Mantel

"Butterfly, Get Away From Me..."

Winner of the Jesus Storybook Bible

Printable Countdown Calendar for Santa's Arrival

Gingerbread Spice Tea

Black Friday Sale in my Etsy Shop

A Fun New Venture -- Hair Accessories

Make Your Spaghetti Better

Did you Burn Yourself -- Honey?

Think Before You Speak

Trader Joe's Brings us a New Treat

Win Your Own Copy of The Jesus Storybook Bible

Harvest Party Mix

I Got a New Backdrop

Please May I Come In?

Go To Dinners

Shrimp Tacos For Dinner Tonight

Results of My First Newborn Photo Shoot

My First Newborn Photo Shoot

I Need Help Deciding...

52 Weeks of Mail

Going to the Dentist

A Birthday Celebration

A Sneak Peek of a Project I'm Working On

A Good Movie to See: Broken Hill

When Bananas Turn Brown

So Proud of Papa Bear!

Winkflash Photo Contest: Birthdays!

A Yummy Little Snack: Duros!

Duros

Would You Like Some Cheese With That Whine?

My Fitness Pal

How to Butter a Pan Without Mess!

A Longer Life for Berries

The First Day of School -- 2011

Learning to Make Fabric Flowers

Even More Summer Reading With the Kids

Feeling Like You Don't Fit In Anywhere

I Heart Faces Photo Challenge: Eyes

I Finally Did It...

TOO Much STUFF!

Emergency Foster Care

Unaccompanied Minors

Photo Challenge from Digital Photography School

It's Time for Potty-Training!

What to do When Mama Bear is Sick

Canning Pickles: Bread and Butter

Where I Buy Bows & Clippies for Our Princess Bear

Recipe: Best Ever Sugar Cookies

Princess Diva Bear's First Camping Trip

A Sweet Little Gift

Happy Annivesary & Happy Birthday!

If You Think You Have a Rough Life, Read This!

Depth of Mercy: Selah

Lord, Please Grant Me Your Grace!

Delicious Reduced Fat Dill Dip -- Recipe

Ten Reasons Why I Would Love to Take Our Family to Virginia Beach

Some Giveaways Going On Right Now

Stickers are a GOOD thing!

Please vote for our daughter's photo at Winkflash.com

You Capture -- Patriotism

There's a New Grocery Store in Town

A Lot of Fun for Only $20

A Little Frank Sinatra...

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30