You're One Thought Away From a Good Day

I may have written this three years ago but it is STILL true for today!  It was such a good reminder for me.

OCTOBER 13, 2016

I'm sick and tired!  I mean literally, I am sick and tired.  Bear with me while I throw myself a mini pity party for a second.  My body aches, my throat is sore, coughing like a frog, I'm breaking out in daily crazy hives, the toddler is not sleeping well, which means neither am I.  

Tuesday was rough emotionally and physically.  I'm getting virtual sympathy from friends and one in particular sends me a video on positive thinking and gratitude.  At the end of the video this little piece from Romans 12:2 popped into my mind:

Be transformed and RENEW your mind.  Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Good, pleasing, perfect.  All words that do not describe how I feel BUT I'm pretty sure the last thing God wants me to do is complain, feel hopeless, and defeated.  He wants me to RENEW my mind and be transformed.  To put a new perspective on these situations, his perspective. 

FLIP IT

So I flipped it.  I took each complaint, each situation I'm facing and asked Him to renew my mind to see them differently.  

I'm sick.

BUT through this sickness I've been able to experience and see Randy's love so strong and so tangible.  That man is pretty amazing.  Putting kids to bed, his prayers over me, the pity, and offering to take a day off to help.  I'm so thankful for him.  You're the best my love. 

Confused by rashes. 

BUT God knows.  He knows what is going on inside my body and I need to trust that it will get taken care of in time.  TRUST.  I have the ability to see a doctor and I'm thankful for that.  I'm thankful to have family and friends who are praying for my health and have been such an encouragement through this discomfort.  [looks pretty gross, I know]  

3am Wake Up Call

This was a tough one but the bestie said, one day he'll be grown and won't be crawling into bed with you anymore.  As hard as it is to have my sleep interrupted, the bestie is right.  So for this week I'll enjoy the snuggles and the baby love. 

RENEWED

You know what happened when I flipped it?  My body is still sick and I'm still tired but I genuinely feel good.  [hehehe]   My spirit is strong and I feel renewed.  I know God wants me to see how he is using this sickness and my tired body to strengthen my faith and show me just how loved I am.  I know that this crazy attack on my body WILL PASS.  

So if you're having a rough week or feeling sick and tired...  Take Romans 12:2 say it, pray it, and believe it.

God, you have given me the ability to transform and renew my mind.  I want to learn to know your will for me which is good, pleasing, and perfect.  

  RENEW your mind and FLIP IT.  See the hope in the situation and how God can use it for the good.  Take the complaint and turn it into gratitude.  

Orange Scented Slime

Halloween and slime have gone hand in hand since Cindy Boo was old enough to make it.  It's one of our messy yearly fall traditions and definitely one we like to cross off the bucket list.

How cute is this nugget making slime for the first time? 

This year the kids wanted to make cloud slime.  They wanted to make the super-soft fluffy kind.  Here are the ingredients: 

Save the image above onto your phone so you don't forget what to get at the store. 

Tip: You want to make sure the contact solution has Borite or it won't turn into slime. 

I got a disposable pan, let the kids throw everything in there, mixed it up, added a few drops of Orange Vitality Oil to the mix and boom a few hours of play at the table.  I didn't have any orange food coloring so we had to settle for yellow. 

Have some messy fun,

Sausage and Rice Recipe

Growing up my mom use to make Hamburger Helper... all the time.  WELL, consider this the Mullen family's version of Hamburger Helper.  It is so easy to make, kid-friendly, and tastes just as good leftover.  A win all around!  

Printable Recipe is below.  

I'm going to make your life a little easier and provide you with the grocery list.  Just save this photo and use it when you're shopping.  Happy cooking!

Be sure to join me on Instagram every week and follow along for recipes and weekly meal preps! 

Sausage and Ricehttps://youtu.be/27v3a8G5t-k

Yield: 4

Author: Patty May

Sausage and Rice

This is our go-to weekly dinner. It has all the goods and kid-friendly! This recipe can also be adjusted to be allergy-friendly.

prep time: 15 Mcook time: 20 Mtotal time: 35 M

ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 Tbsp Butter
• 1 lb Kielbasa 
• 1 Small Onion, chopped
• 2 Cups of Veggies
• 2 Cups of Cooked Rice
• 1 Cup Mild Cheddar Cheese (optional)
• 1/4 Tsp Pepper
• 1 Tsp Garlic Powder, Lawry's Seasoning, Nuritional Yeast, Onion Powder

instructions:

How to cook Sausage and Rice

1. Heat pan.  Add butter and oil until the butter is melted. 
2.  Add sausage and onions.  Cook until the sausages are tender.
3.  Add veggies, cover and let cook until soft (about 5-8 minutes on lower heat).
4. Add cooked rice and seasoning.  Stir until hot. 
5. Remove from heat and add cheese.  Cover until the cheese is melted. 

Calories
712.24

Fat (grams)
50.90

Sat. Fat (grams)
19.45

Carbs (grams)
38.05

Fiber (grams)
3.85

Net carbs
34.20

Sugar (grams)
5.50

Protein (grams)
26.79

Sodium (milligrams)
1548.74

Cholesterol (grams)
120.81

Created using The Recipes Generator

Gorgeous Homeschool Rooms and Kids Play Areas

If you’re hanging with me on Instagram you know that I can get a little cray cray putting our creative workspaces together.  I have completely done an overhaul of our home school space from last year.  We added a huge new sofa for the room and recycled my old faithful desk. You can see details of our space HERE

BUT before I even started changing our entire basement, I searched high and low for inspiration.  I found four lovely, awesome, hands-on mamas who have constructed an environment in their homes that would make any kid excited to learn!  

Brit @thesmittyfamgram who also blogs at The Smitty Fam

I have a soft spot for black and white.  I am so in love with this clean set up. The bins, the desks, and the personal touches she added to their space.

Brit is also great at putting together fun themed learning units!  Be sure to follow her on Instagram to get some great ideas. 

Steph @the.rome.home who has created a homeschool planner you can find HERE. 

What drew me to her space is all the fun pretend play items that can be used for learning.  I love all the wood elements in this room.  How adorable is that little kitchen area?!

Becca @beccas_homeschoool_journal who also has a Youtube channel you can find HERE.

Becca’s feed is full of home décor inspirations along with great tips for homeschooling mamas.  She does a book round up that is fantastic.  This is a nook I fell in love with!  I think it is so sweet that she also wanted to create a space for her preschooler.  I love the pops of color, the gorgeous rug, and that sign!  It oozes cuteness. 

Amy @ourgatheredhomeschool who also blogs at Our Gathered Cottage

First off, I loved her caddy of school supplies so much I went on a hunt to buy one for our room. There are so many things I love about this room!  The little fun little details with the globe and duck book holders.  How sweet is that reading nook where her kiddo can snuggle up and read.   

I just love that design on the wall!  

So much inspiration from these spaces!  I hope you all have an amazing school year wherever you are sending your kiddos to this year.

Happy learning,