Blessing #24- Goodwill Outlet

After our Goodwill audition, Shad and I went to the Goodwill outlet that was next door. Doesn't the Goodwill OUTLET sound like a paradox, as if Goodwill wasn't cheap enough, they have an outlet too. However, it does exist. I was able to get so many good deals for only $12! Decorative pumpkins, travel mugs, an wooden activity center for Collin (I was very excited about the abacus on the side), a frame, an owl (my favorite!), a vase, a big muffin pan, and a book for Brandon. We also got Shad a case for his phone, but I didn't take a picture of it.

Other than the owl, my favorite find was this frame. I have been looking for a frame with three openings ever since I got the J,O, and Y pictures from Craftily Ever After. You can find them here.

I love that it has the glass background. I knew exactly what I wanted to do as soon as I saw it. I love burlap and black together. The frame, pictures, and burlap all cost me about $4.


Linking up to Junkin'Finds Friday.

Project Life- January 10 - 16

Week two of Project Life 2011! Thanks to a fellow Project Lifer, I decided to try the digital version of Project Life. I loved it and will definitely use it. If you want to see other Project Lifes just click on the badge up top.

Tuesday, January 11- Tigger! Put your tongue back in your mouth.

Wednesday, January 12- Snow day!

Thursday, January 13- Brandon decided to put on a concert for us before he went to bed.

Friday, January 14- Goodwill of Delaware audition!!!

Saturday, January 15- Collin doesn't smile much, but when he does our entire house stops (even Brandon) to watch him.

Saturday, January 17- B wanted a snack and announced that he wanted peanut butter crackers with chocolate chips. I had to take a picture of the proud chef with his "recipe."

Sunday, January 16- Because I grew up in warm Georgia, this frozen river just amazes me.

Blessing #23- Wife of the Year

In December, I mentioned my qualifications for Mother of the Year. Well, I waited by the mailbox for my trophy, but it never came. I think I may have mixed up my Mother of the Year submission with my letter to Santa. That would explain the lump of coal I found in my stocking.

I know that 2011 is only seventeen days old, but I am declaring myself “Wife of the Year.” It’s over, no other applicants needed. Why do I make this bold assumption?

It all started two weeks ago. We received an e-mail from Goodwill of Delaware (yes,we are on their maling list) about their “Wardrobe Makeover” auditions. Here’s what it said…

Are you interested in receiving a complimentary “wardrobe makeover” with fashionable items from Goodwill while also appearing in the next Goodwill commercial? Tell us in 100 words or less why you would benefit from a session with our fashion consultant and why your story is unique.
If you are creative and we like your story, we’ll be holding auditions on Friday, January 14th at Goodwill’s Wilmington, Delaware offices (300 E. Lea Boulevard). You and your new outfit could be featured in our next commercial, which will be airing in February.

After I read it, I knew I had to enter for Shad. Getting him into a Goodwill commercial would be one of the coolest things I could do for him. So I sent in an e-mail describing Shad’s love of Goodwill. Don’t get me wrong, I love Goodwill, but he is a Goodwillaholic. Goodwillin’ is his hobby. In order to make it a surprise, I deleted the original e-mail from Goodwill. A few days later, I got a congratulations e-mail notifying us that we had earned a chance to audition for the commercial. After I read the congratulations e-mail, I calmly handed the laptop to Shad and said, “Happy early Valentine’s Day!” He read it, and I then explained what I had done. He was thrilled, and couldn’t wait for the audition.

On Friday, we went to Goodwill of Delaware’s main office to audition for the commercial. When we arrived for our audition, Ted, the marketing director brought us into a room with a big conference table. Sadly, my day was made just getting to sit at a big conference table. I had the overwhelming urge to shout, “You’re fired!“ (It's the small things for me.) They asked us all kinds of questions about why we should be in the commercial. It was very fun to have the opportunity to nerd out about one of our favorite places.

We also learned more about the mission of Goodwill and many of the programs they provide including job placement, job coaching, mentoring for teens, and family strengthening through education. You can read about that here. I love supporting companies that do good for others, and that's Goodwill's sole mission! When I shop at Goodwill, I help them accomplish their mission (in the picture below) to improve lives through the "Power of work." Then Goodwill helps me through the "Power of the Deal." It's a win-win!

When we left, we felt great about our audition, but we did not know what would happen. Later that day, I got a phone call telling us that we got a spot in the Goodwill commercial. After doing my happy dance, I called Shad who was out running errands. When he picked up, I asked, “Where are you.” He answered, “Goodwill.” (shocker) I then said, “Why don’t you let them know you are going to be in their next commercial.” He couldn't believe it. We go to the taping in a week!

So that is why I am self-declared wife of the year, and I think I earned it. Shad even agrees, and I guess his vote is the one that really counts.

***I blog about what’s on my mind, and, to be honest, this commercial is all that’s on my mind right now. Therefore, I am declaring this week “The Week of Goodwill” on Calculating Blessings. Every post (except Project Life) will be Goodwill related! Stay tuned.

Saturdate with Southern Plate- {chocolate chip pie}

In case you don't know what Saturdate with Southern Plate is, you can check it out here.

For this weeks Saturdate with Southern Plate, I decided to make chocolate chip pie. This recipe is only found in the cookbook so I don’t have a link to the recipe on Southern Plate. The best way I can describe this pie is if a pecan pie and a chocolate chip cookie got married…this pie would be their child.

Doesn’t it look pretty? Well, about two minutes after I took this picture this pie was not so pretty.

The recipe did not call for it, but I just knew I should let pie cool before I cut it. Knowing and doing are two different things though. The pie smelled so good, and Brandon came in from the snow right when it got done. I thought the pie would be the perfect treat for him. So, against my better judgment, I cut into the pie. I went to take a piece out for B and it was just ooze. It was ugly ooze, but it was tasty ooze! (I MAY have taken a bite of B’s ooze.) I stuck the remaining pie back in the oven for a bit more, and then let it cool properly. The pie was ugly, but it was tasty. (I did not take a picture of the ugly pie. I should have.)

Just when I start to feel bad about my ugly chocolate chip pie, I remembered the story in the cookbook “Why you are a good Mama even if your cake is ugly.” You can read it here. It made me feel better, and so did Brandon saying, "What's this called, Mommy?" I told him, and then he said, "I looooove chocolate chip pie."

Give Me Five Friday- {faces}

Often, Brandon teaches me lessons. One lesson I have learned from Brandon is that a smile is not the only face one can make for a picture. In the beginning, I would get frustrated with him for making faces, but after I got so many cute pictures of his “bad” faces, I decided he was right. Earlier this week, I started snapping pictures and these are some of the faces he gave me.

{five faces of Brandon}

Blessing #22- The Second Time Around

Collin is ten weeks old today, and I have not calculated any blessing related to him yet. Today, I decided to make Blessing #22 about him.

About once a week since Collin was born, I look at Shad and say, “I’m enjoying this more the second time around. ” It’s not that Collin’s a better baby, but I have changed the second time around.

The second time around, I am much more confident in my mothering abilities. At first, I felt so inadequate to be a mother. I am not the natural “mothering” type, but I have learned, and I like the mother I have become. That’s probably why God gave me 9 ½ and 10 pound BOYS. They needed to be hearty if I’m going to be their mom.

The second time around, I am more calm. Things that would have seemed like the end of the world the first time around, are not the end of the world now.

The second time around, I focus less on what everyone else thinks, and listen to my baby more. The books and people may say one thing, but if it doesn’t work for Collin, we don’t do it.

The second time around, I know how fast the “baby” stage goes. It seemed like I blinked and Brandon was a toddler. Knowing the speed of the process makes me slow down and savor the little moments I have with “baby” Collin. Right now, I love the moments when I hold him and his face is near my ear. I listen to the sound of his little breaths, and my heart just melts for this new little life.


I'm so thankful for the lessons I learned the first time around, and I'm excited to learn some new ones now.

Mr. Collin, I love the new joy you have brought to my life and our family, and I'm excited to see what surprises you have for us.

Project Life- January 3 - 9

I did good spacing my pictures out this week. I only missed one day! If you would like to see more Project Lifes, just click on the badge at the top of this post.

January 3 - Brandon was taunting Shad with the candy.

January 4- Brandon really wanted peanut butter and jelly toast. I made him a slice of peanut butter toast and a slice of jelly toast. For some reason mixing the two together on toast really grosses me out.

January 5- I made french bread pizzas, and Brandon got to make his own piece all by himself. He did great! He enjoys putting stuff on the pizza so much, I think I could get a few vegetables on there next time.

January 6- I'm sorry, I know I'm biased, but isn't he the cutest!!!

January 7- Stinky the Garbage Truck has so many neat features, but the feature Brandon likes best is that he's the Godzilla of the matchbox cars.


January 8- We had some snow on Saturday, so we just watched some Saturday cartoons. This photo makes me tear up every time I see it.

January 8 (again)- Shad took B to the farm where he works. They had some fun on the gator.

January 9 - No picture