{this moment}

{this moment} - inspired by SouleMama

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.




. . . . . . . .

{this moment}

{this moment} - inspired by SouleMama
A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.


. . . . . . . .

{this moment}

{this moment} - inspired by SouleMama
A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.


. . . . . . . .

Where I've been...

Allover, it feels like.

No one every said this blog would be written with consistency, right? It is, chaotic, after all.

So the update fate:

I found a job
It's the holiday season
I have three children that keep me extraordinarily busy.

Yup, that about sums it up!

So where does that leave me and this blog? I still love to write here, but I need to find a new routine for writing here, esp while i have a more chaotic work schedule until my class is done (i won't even start for another month, and the course is 6 weeks). Then i should have a bit of a normal, set schedule.

Here's to hoping, right?

I will be back this afternoon with another post or two though, so be prepared!!

{this moment}

{this moment} - Inspired by SouleMama

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I was to pause, savor and remember.



Links to more moments can be found in the comments section at Souelmama.

Have a lovely weekend!

Menu Planning Monday - October 10th

Monday: Small shell pasta and cheese sauce

Tuesday: Baked chicken, mashed potatoes, carrots

Wednesday: Pasta bake

Thursday: Chicken fajitas

Friday: Grilled cheese and tomato soup

Saturday: Homemade pizza

Sunday: Who knows yet!

Make sure you head over to I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu planning resources! The host blogger is Canadian, well as some of the other blogs that link up. Today is their Thanksgiving, so I know I'm picking up some ideas before Thanksgiving hits the states next month!

Also, make sure to check out my review of the digital scrapbooking software, My Memories, for a chance to win the software yourself while you're visiting my blog! The giveaway ends this Friday!

{this moment}

{this moment} - Inspired by SouleMama
A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I was to pause, savor and remember.




Links to more moments can be found in the comments section at Souelmama.

While you are here, make sure you check out my giveaway post from yesterday!

Have a lovely weekend!

MyMemories Suite Review, + $10 off coupon + a giveaway!

CONTEST IS DONE! WINNER IS: Comment #8:Crunchymommy said... Followed the My Memories blog via e-mail.

I was recently given the rare opportunity to review the My Memories Suite 2.0 digital scrapbook software. Given my dismal attempts at scrapbooking previously, and that the vast majority of my photos are now digital, I couldn't say no! But once I got to actually reading about the program, I found out that My Memories Suite can also make greeting cards, calendars, even slideshows. But, I'm getting ahead of myself.

click to enlarge

First let me say, that this software is available for both windows, as well as mac users!
I found the software relatively easy to use. So much so, that I was able to make a simple page in less then 10 minutes! You have a wide range to zoom in and out while working on your pages that makes seeing the whole page, or working in fine details, possible. The left hand side resource gallery is like a mini preview area to look at photos, embellishments, papers, etc, that you may want to use. The right hand side control panel allows you to really tweak items on your page. You can mat photos, add shadows to just about anything, rotate, change the opacity, mirror and flip and more.


What's great is that everything is organized by theme, making it much easier to find what you are looking for, rather then long, unsorted lists. Making things even easier, all the page elements are drop and drag. You can also adjust the size of your page elements, and if you try to make an embellishment too large, it will pop up with a caution message that the embellishment pixelation will be distorted if you use it at that size. I haven’t come across any software, for photos or scrapbooking, that does that.



My Memories Suite 2.0 comes with over 20+ templates, 1,500 papers and over 1,300 embellishments. Plenty of stuff to get you started on your way to digital scrapbooking, but I really love looking at all the extra kits and templates from their only store. I have already bought the School Memories pack and Into the WoodZ extras, but there is also plenty of free kits available to download as well. I have already downloaded quiet a few, and it is just as easy to add purchased and free items as it is to use the program. I've also just discovered that if you like the MyMemories Facebook page, you will receive a promo code for $5 towards digital scrapbook kits!

So cute, and finally a way to preserve photos in more then just endless files upon files "gathering dust" on my computer hard drive!

While I haven't had a chance to try out many of the other features of this program yet, I loved this software! I imagine I am going to be using it quite a bit, especially as Birthday's and Holidays start approaching.

Want to win a copy? The lovely folks over at My Memories would like to give one lucky reader their own copy of My Memories Suite 2.0 (valued at $39.95).

How to enter:
You must go to MyMemories.com and look around their website. Come back here to this blog post and leave a comment telling me which scrapbook kit or template you would want most. Please make sure to leave your email address (you can use the word "at" for "@" and "dot" for "." to help reduce spam). If you don't leave a way for me to contact you, I will be forced to choose another winner.

Want to increase your odds of winning?
Do any of the following before, and leave a separate comment for each one you do (i'll check). Please note that if you do not do the initial entry above, additional entries will be invalid.

• Follow The Chaotic Homemaker using Google Friend Connect [1 entry]
• Like The Chaotic Homemaker on Facebook [1 entry]
• Follow the MyMemories blog and tell me how you are follow (google reader, email, etc)[1 entry]
• Like MyMemories on Facebook [1 entry]

Make sure you leave a new comment for each additional entry.

Entries will be accepted from Thursday, October 6th, until Friday, October 14th at 3pm Eastern time.

I will randomly select a winner from all of the entries received. I will then notify the winner by e-mail. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email or I’ll draw a new winner. After the winner replies to me, I will announces the winner here on my blog.

Don't want to wait and see if you win in order to have your own copy of My Memories Suite 2.0?
The software is normally $39.99 but if you enter the coupon code STMMMS37602 when you check out, you will save $10 off the purchase price. In addition, you will receive a code good for $10 towards digital scrapbook kits in the My Memories Suite store!
Add that to the $5 for liking their Facebook page, and you can get $15 towards digital kits to start you off!

So, what are you waiting for? You only need to enter once by telling me your favorite template or kit from the MyMemories.com store and comment below. While there will only be 1 winner, the more entries you make, the great your chances of winning! Any questions? Click on my profile link at the top of my right side bar, and there will be a link to email me.

Disclosure: I received a copy of My Memories Suite 2.0 in order to facilitate this review. I received no other compensation and the opinions stated are my own.

Menu Planning Monday - October 3rd

Running a day late, but I am planning on a few more posts this week, including a return of WIP Wednedays, and even a giveaway!
But no chatter - just straight to this weeks menu!

Monday - Kielbasas with mac and cheese

Tuesday - Pasta night

Wednesday - Take-out

Thursday - Chicken and rice with broccoli

Friday - homemade Chinese night

Saturday - Pizza, veggie tray

Sunday - Andrew's choice

Of course make sure you check out I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu ideas and links!
Have a great week everyone!

{this moment}

{this moment} - Inspired by SouleMama.
A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I was to pause, savor and remember.

Have a lovely weekend!!

Menu Planning Monday - September 26th

Monday: Beefy Taco casserole

Tuesday: Chicken and rice

Wednesday: Ravioli and salad

Thursday: Breakfast night (apple spice waffles, omelet, toast, etc)

Friday: Asian orange chicken, over rice with broccoli

Saturday: Pizza night (homemade)

Sunday: Chicken divan

Make sure you head over to I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu planning ideas and links!

{this moment}

{this moment} - Inspired by SouleMama.
A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I was to pause, savor and remember.

Have a lovely weekend!!

Where I'm From

This is writing exercise that one of my friends posted on her blog. The template I used was taken from another blog here.

Where I'm From

I am from the family television, the WWF and R/C cars.

I am from the the big white house that was an apartment, the blackberry bushes and walnut trees.

I am from the gladiolas and bleeding hearts, from the backyard flower bed.

I am from big Sunday morning breakfast and Christmas cookie trays, from Barbers, and Hunters, and Millers and Pavicks.

I am from the denial and addiction.

From Do as I say, Not as I do and If they jumped off a bridge, would you too?

I am from Episcopalian, Presbyterian and Agnostic. A do as you will, but don't preach to me mixture of beliefs.

I’m from the Finger Lakes region of New York, from Ireland, Wales, France, England, Germany, Italy and the unknown , of potatoes and cheese.

From the brother fooling us all about being shut in the car truck, but really climb in through seats that fold down to the backseat, and the dad taking us to swim lessons at the company pool every summer, with the every popular min golf course.

I am from photos and items in dusty boxes, scattered among the homes of various family, including my own, of hard drives and memories, more priceless any other possession I own.

Menu Planning Monday - September 19th

I can't believe it's almost autumn! And our dinners are taking a turn for the super easy lately, as well as warming us up. This week 2 out of 3 open houses at the kids school, plus a school dance. Let the hectic school days being!

Monday: Tomato soup and grilled cheese

Tuesday: Pasta with marinara sauce

Wednesday: Subs and chips

Thursday: Picnic at one of the kids open house nights (will supplement with healthy snacks at home, too)

Friday: leftover night

Saturday: Pizza and wing night (ordering in)

Sunday: Chicken divan, noodles, salad

Make sure you head over to I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu planning ideas and links!

It's been a chaotic life!

The title for my blog has been really on spot as of lately, as proven with my lack of posting on here.

Here's a quick run down on the last couple of weeks events

~Started painting the girls bedroom
~8 yo old's first horseback riding lesson
~Start of school (all kids are full day now)
~Rally day (start of the Sunday school year. This year I'm "in charge" of acolytes)
~First mid-week kids church group
~Restart of handbell choir (YAY!!), and decisions about joining choir
~More horseback riding for the 8 yr old
~Oldest started Lacrosse camp
~A meeting with a 3rd grade teacher

and coming up is 3 open houses (cause none of the kids attend the same school, of course), pictures days, first school dance of the year, more lacrosse, more horseback riding, thinking I should find something for Andrew if the girls get to do a sport each, knitting and crocheting Christmas gifts, helping out at church when I can (fall rummage sale anyone?), looking for a job and trying to keep our home running smoothly with everyone's schedules being as hectic as they are

*Whew*

I promise to get back in this space posting more regularly. really... i mean it this time :)

Until then - i hope everyone is having a happy chaotic start to autumn!!

Menu Planning Monday - September 12th

Still getting into the routine of being back in school. This week, all our regular activities start back up too. Welcome fall!

Monday: Chicken and Rice

Tuesday: Breakfast for dinner

Wednesday: Pasta night

Thursday: Chicken Divan

Friday: Leftovers/YOYO

Saturday: Lunch: Macaroni and cheese muffins
Supper: Homemade pizza night (and Doctor Who!)

Sunday: Gonna use the grill 1 more time before it gets too cold :)

School lunches:
The kids actually wanted school lunches for most of this week (and almost not at all next week), so for the 1 day the younger 2 are bringing, it's just your typical sandwiches, but we're going to turn the traditional PB&J into a PB&J sushi rolls

Menu Planning Monday - September 5th

So here we are, September already! Where did the time go this year?? This week the kids head back to school, and for the first time they all be gone for the full day. There is obviously a mixture of elation and sadness with this, but I'm going to go with the positive, and say "yeah" for all the housework i can finally get done that has been slacking over the summer months!

So, we had an unexpected heat wave over the weekend, and dinner's meal that my husband picked was move to Monday, for the holiday here in the states. Otherwise, just working on trying to get a nice routine going again before we get busy with all the after-school activities.

Getting to this a day late (was busy with all the back-to-school stuff yesterday to post), but here is how our week is going to shape up!

Monday (Labor Day) - Chicken-fried Steak with mashed potatoes and green beans

Tuesday - Chicken and rice

Wednesday - Pasta night

Thursday - Breaded chicken (baked), baked potato, salad

Friday - Vegetarian chicken nuggets and french fries (maybe the kids will stop begging for McDs)

Saturday - Homemade pizza (daiya cheese pizza for me)

Sunday - Slow cooker ham, scolloped potatoes, green beans.

School lunches. In trying to make sure the kids have healthier lunches then the standard lunch room fare each day, I'm going to be packing the kids lunches at least 3 or 4 days out of the week. I imagine they will want to partake in the weekly pizza day, and the girls have liked breakfast for lunch, but I'll be trying to pack them that. And it seems this year that the menu for the schools is different from the elementary to middle/high school buildings. Also, they do not have access to any way of heating their meals at school, so I'm going to learn to get creative with lunches this year. Without anymore chatter from me, here is the lunches planned for their first week back to school.

Tuesday - Sandwiches, grapes, carrots, milk box and pudding cup.

Wednesday - Sandwiches (or dinner leftovers), pear cup (or whole pear), milk and brownie.

Thursday - (pizza day for the younger 2) I'm going to ask Lexi what she would like

Friday - Mac and cheese, broccoli, orange wedges and drink mix.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Have a lovely weekend!

My First Sweater

I've been wanting to post about this for awhile now, but really hadn't gotten to it.

I'm working on my first knitted sweater!!

Now, I've done plenty of crocheted sweaters. Granted, they have all been small child size and smaller (and the majority were newborn baby size). So in keeping with that, as well as that doing the smallest size i need first will result in less time/supplies lost if I end up really making a mess of the the thing. But, I'm almost nearly 1/2 way done, and it's looking great!!

sweater, before the pouch was fully attached.

sweater after attaching the pouch
(updating with a better picture this afternoon!)

This sweater is going to be for my son, the youngest. The pattern is called The Wonderful Wallaby (ravelry link). Right now I'm actually up to the arm pits and needing to cast on sleeves. I need to run and grab another needle so i can knit those this weekend. I was hoping to be done before school started, but realize for a first sweater that was an ambitious goal for myself. But, I can see myself getting it done before mid-September (when he'll really need to start wearing a sweater).

And then I'll have to cast on for one of my daughters (who are already begging for one of their own!)

Menu Planning Monday - August 29th

WOW! Has it been a busy summer! And here we are, the last week of summer vacation for my kids (we seem to start later then everyone else, going back after Labor day). Now it's time to get busy getting back into a routine of wake up, bedtimes, and regular, healthy meals (and meal times!). Something new, Sundays are going to be my husband's dinner choice each week. That might be challenging for this non-red meat eating momma, as this week's choice may show!

So without further ado, here is our menu this week.

Monday: Sandwiches, carrots and chips

Tuesday: Chicken fajitas

Wednesday: Pasta night

Thursday: YOYO (your on your own, aka leftovers)

Friday: "Brinner"

Saturday: May not be home, will play it by ear (and maybe update this day later in the week!)

Sunday: Chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, green beans

Next week's menu I hope to include what I'm packing for kid's lunchboxes (and for the younger 2, their at school snack)

For more menu ideas and links, visit I'm an Organizing Junkie!