Masking Tape as Scuff Preventor | Real Simple

Genius!!! Keep baseboards free of skid marks when you vacuum. Cover the edges of the vacuum head with masking tape so they won't leave dark smudges when you inevitably bump into the walls. There will be no more black marks on your cleaning record.

Masking Tape as Scuff Preventor | Surprising New Cleaning Solutions | Real Simple

Nuts and Bolts | Easy Storage Solutions From A to Z | Real Simple

As in: All those loose thingamabobs driving you screwy.

The fix:
Contain nuts and bolts in jars. “Grandpa’s wood-shop solution of attaching glass Ball jars underneath a table or a shelf is tried-and-true,” says Ted McCann, a Brooklyn-based custom woodworker. Nail the lids to the underside of a surface near where you store your tools (see Tools), then twist the jars into place. Put like-size nuts and bolts in one jar and wood screws in another. Also attach an empty jar so that when you’re working on a project, you can keep the hardware for it in one place.

Note from Casey: I remember Grandpa Kester doing this & it does work like a charm. I think I'll have to remember this idea when I move to the Lincoln House. :)

Nuts and Bolts | Easy Storage Solutions From A to Z | Real Simple

Balsamic-Glazed Pork With Lentils | Real Simple Recipes

Serves 4| Hands-On Time: 20m | Total Time: 40m

Ingredients

• 1 cup green lentils, rinsed
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1 1/4-pound pork tenderloin
• 1 red apple, cut into 1⁄2-inch pieces
• 1 celery stalk, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Directions

1. Heat oven to 400° F. Bring 4 cups water to a boil.
2. Add the lentils and 1 teaspoon salt and simmer, stirring occasionally, until tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool.
3. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the balsamic vinegar and brown sugar.
4. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Season the pork with ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Cook, turning occasionally, until browned, 6 to 8 minutes.
5. Transfer the pork to oven. Roast until cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes, basting with the glaze twice during the last 5 minutes. Let rest before slicing.
6. In a medium bowl, toss cooked lentils with the apple, celery, parsley, lemon juice, remaining 2 tablespoons oil, and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Serve with the pork and any pan drippings.

By Kate Merker and Sara Quessenberry, October 2010

Balsamic-Glazed Pork With Lentils | Real Simple Recipes

Drunken Cheesy Bread | Real Simple Recipes

Serves 4-6| Hands-On Time: 10m | Total Time: 20m

Ingredients

• butter for the pan
• 1/2 baguette, cut into 2-inch slices
• 1/2 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 1/8 pound thinly sliced cooked ham
• 3/4 cup white wine
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) grated Gruyere

Directions

1. Heat oven to 400° F. Place the bread in a buttered ovenproof skillet, a 9-inch square baking dish, or a casserole. Scatter the onion and ham over the bread. Pour the wine over the onion and ham and sprinkle with the pepper and Gruyère.
2. Bake until the cheese has melted and begun to brown at the edges, about 20 minutes. Spoon onto individual plates.

By Kate Merker, May 2007

Drunken Cheesy Bread | Real Simple Recipes

Mini Grilled Cheese Sandwiches With Chutney Recipe | Real Simple Recipes

Serves 6| Hands-On Time: 20m | Total Time: 20m

Ingredients

• 12 slices white sandwich bread
• 12 ounces cheese (such as fontina or Gruyère), thinly sliced
• 1 cup fruit chutney (such as cranberry, fig, or mango)
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Directions

1. Form 6 sandwiches with the bread, cheese, and chutney.
2. In batches, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat and cook the sandwiches until the bread is golden and the cheese is melted, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
3. Cut each sandwich into quarters before serving.

By Kate Merker and Sara Quessenberry, December 2009

Mini Grilled Cheese Sandwiches With Chutney Recipe | Real Simple Recipes

Hang It All | 12 Organizing Solutions for Any Home | Real Simple

Whether it's damp towels or an impromptu art show, hanging whatever one can plays a major part in Lauri's master organization plan. "Hanging things is the easiest way to get them out of the way," she says. "But it's also a good visual solution―it lets things be looked at and enjoyed."

Towel bars have been replaced by hooks next to the shower, eliminating the need for folding and just-so draping. An extra hook installed below gives the bath mat a place to dry. "A friend and I were talking about how hard it is to live and raise kids in New York, and all the things we stress about doing right or wrong," says Lauri. "We agreed that the pressure of making sure your towels are perfectly creased and aligned over a bar shouldn't be one of those things. These hooks are a little thing that has made a huge difference to me."

Wall-mounted hooks: $4 and up, containerstore.com.

Note from Casey: We've been hanging our towels on the wall for years. It's the best ever!!! Especially when you have kids who can't fold the towels to make the room look neat again when their done with bath time.

I'm loving these Branch Hooks from The Container Store. I think I'll order a few to see if I can make them work for hand towels at the Lincoln House.
As for the bath towels, I'm loving the Owl, Bunny, and Horse from Urban Outfitters. The door knob might be perfect for the Master Bath. Too cute!

Hang It All | 12 Organizing Solutions for Any Home | Real Simple

Box it | 12 Organizing Solutions for Any Home | Real Simple

In the bathroom, hair ribbons, ponytail holders, and barrettes are a pretty, well-ordered still life instead of the snarled, clumpy mess they become when they're shoved into a drawer. Lauri borrowed an idea from a favorite New York children's store, whose owner displays accessories in similar covered boxes next to the register. "I get great ideas from store displays," she says. "The people designing them have spent a lot of time figuring out how to do it best."

Pink boxes: 40 cents to $3.20 each, containerstore.com.

Box it | 12 Organizing Solutions for Any Home | Real Simple

Contain and Maintain | 12 Organizing Solutions for Any Home | Real Simple

Where there are kids, there will be stuff―lots of it, scattered everywhere. In the children's rooms and bathrooms, Lauri keeps their precious things in containers that look good enough to be showcased on shelves and countertops. She has focused on transparent holders so the kids can find what they're looking for with no "Hey, Mom!"

"Kids are natural collectors," says Lauri. "They pick up things everywhere, and I like to encourage that―even if sometimes I find myself wanting to yell, 'Put that down! That's garbage!' " For collections of shells, rocks, and other found treasures, Lauri buys white-topped clear jars and identifies the contents on office-supply labels. Each jar is a packaged memory. Arranged on a shelf, the collection makes a pleasing display. "I've tried to find a way for the children's inclinations and interests to be incorporated but contained, so that those things don't bother me," Lauri says. "It's part of respecting that the kids have to have their private space, as Douglas and I have to have ours."

Storage jars: $1.50 to $3.50 each, containerstore.com.

Contain and Maintain | 12 Organizing Solutions for Any Home | Real Simple

Chicken With White Beans and Tomatoes | Real Simple Recipes

Serves 4| Hands-On Time: 10m | Total Time: 50m

Ingredients

• 2 15.5-ounce cans cannellini beans, rinsed
• 1 pint grape tomatoes
• 4 sprigs fresh thyme
• 4 sprigs fresh oregano, plus leaves for garnish
• 2 garlic cloves, smashed
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 3 pounds total)

Directions

1. Heat oven to 425° F. In a 9-by-13-inch (or some other large) baking dish, toss the beans and tomatoes with the thyme and oregano sprigs, garlic, red pepper, 1 tablespoon of the oil, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper.
2. Pat the chicken dry and place on top of the bean mixture, skin-side up. Rub with the remaining tablespoon of oil; season with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper.
3. Roast until the chicken is golden and cooked through, 35 to 45 minutes. Sprinkle with the oregano leaves.

By Vanessa Seder, January 2011

Chicken With White Beans and Tomatoes | Real Simple Recipes

Maple-Roasted Chicken With Sweet Potatoes | Real Simple Recipes

Serves 4| Hands-On Time: 15m | Total Time: 1hr 40m

Ingredients

• 1 3 1/2- to 4-pound chicken, cut into 8 pieces
• 1 yellow onion, cut into 1-inch wedges
• 2 small sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 3 tablespoons maple syrup
• 6 sprigs fresh thyme

Directions

1. Heat oven to 400° F.
2. Rinse the chicken and pat it dry. Arrange the chicken, onion, and sweet potatoes in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Drizzle the oil over the chicken and vegetables and season with the salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Drizzle with the maple syrup and top with the sprigs of thyme.
3. Roast, stirring the vegetables once, until the chicken is cooked through, about 1 hour, 15 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

By Sara Quessenberry, December 2005

Maple-Roasted Chicken With Sweet Potatoes | Real Simple Recipes

Our Dinner Conversation....

Owen "Maddie, pick a number between 1-10."
Maddie "5."
Owen "Morgan, now it's your turn. Pick a number between 1-10."
Morgan "Ummm....4."
Owen "The number was 7 so Morgan do you want to pick another number?"
(Across the table, Maddie holds up two fingers.)
Morgan "Ummm...2."
(laughter erupts)
Owen "Maddie wins."
Morgan "Not fair. Maddie told me to pick 2."
(laughter erupts)

Owen "Ok, let's play again. Maddie, pick a number between 1-10."
Maddie "5."
Owen "Morgan, now it's your turn. Pick a number between 1-10."
Morgan "Ummm....7."
Owen "The number was 3 so Morgan do you want to pick another number?"
Morgan "Ummm...8."
(laughter erupts)
Owen "Maddie wins."
Morgan "How????"
(laughter erupts again)

Too cute!!!

The Bridge | Part 8 |

The house actually is starting to look like a house. Well, at least it's got the makings of a bathroom instead of a hole in the floor. :)

|Master Shower|

|Double Vanity in the Master Bath|

|Hall Bath|

It's really hard to take pictures of small spaces and for me, it was a little hard seeing the bathrooms. Although we've made the most out of the space, the two bathrooms are so much smaller than our norm. I'm thinking when the girls get older, we'll have to have a portable makeup mirror so that they will be able to get ready at the dining table. :\ Small bathrooms and three girls will be interesting. I guess maybe this will encourage the girls not to get use to taking a long time to get ready! The good news is it will be REALLY EASY to clean!!!!

Cute Comments

Morgan and Maddie have chores each day. As Morgan was empting out her part of the dishwasher, she looks at Owen and asked, "Where does the potato scracher go?" How cute!

How Cotton Candy is Made

As we drive by the cotton fields, the large combines are picking the cotton and putting them into huge bails. In the backseat Morgan (5 yrs old) says, "You know why they have to get all that cotton? Because that's how they make the cotton candy." I love how she saw fields upon fields of cotton candy growing. Oh, to be able to look through the eyes of a child!

The Bridge: Night of Dedication

Tonight was the Night of Dedication for The Bridge. Darren conducted a dedication ceremony where we promised to use the house for God's glory. We then circled the entire house (creating an unbroken chain) and each person prayed a prayer of blessing. The prayer went all the way around the house until everyone had spoken. Next, each person took a moment to write their favorite scripture on the floor of the living room. Because we live in the south, the night wouldn't be complete without food. Hot dogs and s'mores around the fire pits - yummy!!!

I absolutely love the picture above as the light pours out of the house onto our faces as we prayed. Isaiah 9:2 "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."
























Psalm 139:8-12

"If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,"even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you."

Ribbon Run!

| Summer, Cristina, Me|

My first 5K has been completed. It was a wonderful day to see so many happy faces and our team raised a ton of money to purchase a machine for early diagnosis of breast cancer! While I trained, my best time was 39 minutes. Of course, before the race, I had only run 3.1 miles four times in my life. My dear friend, Summer, stayed with me the entire time. She kept encouraging me to keep putting one foot in front of the other. At times, I wasn't sure that I would make it. There were some really big hills (considering that I run on totally flat roads.) Summer said, "Your going to hate me when this is over." I jokingly responded, "I already do." That of course as I was gasping for air. :) Thank you my dear friend for keeping me going, I met the goal that I had set for myself at 37 minutes.| Summer & Me. Mission Complete!|

| The Family: Ricky, Carrie, Morgan, Maddie, Owen, & Me (again)|

|Team Cristina. 144+ Members!!!!!|

Fresh Manna | Hearts To Be Softened |

All this year, Maddie has been begging not to ride the bus. Her bus driver makes them have assigned seats and sit quietly because of a few behavioral problems. Maddie has been very upset that she is punished even when she is not one of the kids causing problems. (The punishments are enforced for the whole bus.) Because of this, Maddie thinks the bus driver has been mean. I've not let Maddie stop riding the bus because she's got to learn how to deal with things that are uncomfortable.

Fast forward to today: The girls come home with suckers and pretzel packs that they received from the bus driver. So I ask Maddie, "You mean to tell me, you've gotten treats from the bus driver who you say is mean?" Maddie said, "I prayed for her heart to be softened and that's why she's being nice now. The next day after saying that prayer, I got on the bus and she was smiling and happy. Now she's giving us treats if we are good instead of punishing the whole bus."

OH MY!!! Does this mean Maddie's getting it!?!?!?! I'm so proud, happy, and excited all at the same time. I love to see the prayers of little children answered.

Fresh Manna | ...and where thieves break in and steal |

I woke up to a voicemail from 1:30 am. My neighbor had called to tell us the car alarm was going off in our driveway. When I heard the message, I told Owen someone's tried to break into the cars. We went out and the window farthest from the house had been busted out. They broke the little window so that they could reach in to unlock the car and that window would make the least amount of noise when broken.

They broke in trying to get the tools we've been using to renovate the Lincoln Village house but the car alarm scared them off before they got them out. Luckily, we have all the tools! Unfortunately, we've got a lovely broken window. It was humbling to see shattered glass on the bible in the backseat of the car and made me think of this scripture...

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal." Matthew 6:19


It also made me thankful that my family slept safe and sound while God protected us. In fact, I'm not even worried about moving to The Bridge. My car can get broken into in our safe, little, South Parkway neighborhood. It reminded me that I need God's provisions no matter where I live.