Works-for-Me: Taking away the obvious

For me, decorating is not something that comes easy. I love to do it, but more often than not, it takes me several tries before I get something that looks remotely eye-pleasing.

I have, however, found something that makes my decorating roadblocks much easier to overcome.

Exhibit A: Here you will see my guest bathroom (also D-Man's bathroom) which I recently redecorated. In the corner, you will see a lamp and the cord that obviously is attached to it. The cord is not very attractive.

Never fear, though because I give you Exhibit B which shows what "Works-for-Me" to take that unsightly cord far, far away. I've used a plain, white kitchen salad plate and a dry erase marker. Write a verse on it, put it on an easel in front of the cord (which I've rubber banded together as much as I could) and you've got an instant fix.

Looks much better, doesn't it?

This item (inspired by Shannon at Bless our Nest) worked for me, and hopefully it will work for you. For other great Works-for-Me tips, click here.

Works for me Toys

Shannon over at Rocks in my Dryer is hosting a blogger-tell-all Works-for-me Wednesday. She wants to know what toys our kids can't live without in hopes that your Christmas list will be filled with suggestions.

For us here at the D-House, we have three toys that are played with every single day

The first is the tumbling Curious George doll. D-Man received this doll for his birthday (July) and George hasn't left his side since. He sleeps with D-Man, he rides to school with D-Man and he has seen several states with D-Man. D-Man says, "Buy him."

The second is the Leap Frog Leapster. D-Man received this toy several months ago for mastering the potty training. He loves it and uses it daily. He loves to figure the games out on his own and won't take much direction from myself or Husband. I wonder where he gets that from? The Princess recently gave D-Man several new games and he has thoroughly enjoyed figuring these out as well. Thanks Princess!

The third toy that D-Man plays with daily and one that would add much enjoyment to your child's life is the Little People Racin Ramps Garage. D-Man received this last Christmas from NaNa RAD and PaPa. He now mostly uses his matchbox cars on it and loves the ramps and turns and jumps that the cars can do. A must buy for a boy on your list!

Well, that's all I've got. I can't wait to see what everyone else has on their lists. I hope this helps narrow down your search as you shop for the perfect gift. May your Christmas season be one of joy and peace as we remember it is more about the season than the gift under the tree.

Works-for-Me: 4 Ingredient Pie

Hello All...if this is your first time to visit, welcome! I hope you find enjoyment and entertainment and wisdom and information here at By His Grace. Today, I've got a little bit of info or wisdom and enjoyment for all my bloggy peeps out there!

I seriously think this is the easiest pie in history. And, I hope you will make one today, put in the refrigerator to chill and invite me over ASAP!

Here goes...

Lemon Icebox Pie

1 graham cracker crust

1 can fat free sweetened condensed milk

1 8 oz tub of fat free cool whip

6 oz (half a can) of frozen lemonade

Combine last 3 ingredients, pour into pie crust, chill (you can literally chill while this pie is chilling because it takes so little time to make).

I made this pie this past weekend for my mother-in-law's birthday and it was a hit. I would show you pictures, but, well...the pie is all gone. For other great tips, visit Shannon and all her linky buddies at Rocks In My Dryer!

What Has Worked for You: Calming a Momma

So I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that D-Man had started preschool. The preschool he attends is a school-based program comprised of no more than 20 kids (3 teachers). D-Man attends his "school" on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8:30-12:30.

This, in my book, is just enough time for this momma to buy groceries, get them home and put away and wash a couple of loads of laundry all while eating my bon-bons and watching my soaps (and if you believe that this momma or any momma for that matter has time to eat bon-bons and watch soaps all day, I have a nice piece of property to sell you today!)

Anyhoo, this momma has to admit that it has been tough to let my three-year old sidekick walk away for 4 hours twice a week. To see him trying to fill Daddy's shoes back just a few short years ago to being well on his way to accomplishing that has been tough.


So, my question out there for all you mom's who've already been there, done that, got the t-shirt, how do I know that we've taught him right? How do I know that he'll behave like we've taught him? If he has a bad day and sits in time out more than once, is it all over? Do you find that your girls were different than your boys at preschool or school?

This momma needs her fears, anxietys and worries calmed. Help a girl out, PLEASE!

And for other great questions and answers, check out Rocks In My Dryer!

Works-for-me Potato Cooking

I've mentioned before my love for Pampered Chef's Large Micro-Cooker.

And today I want to profess how that love has grown...because I've found something new I can cook in it.

POTATOES!

I have found that the Micro-Cooker is the perfect bowl for cooking baked potatoes in the microwave. Simply wash your potatoes, prick them with a fork and wrap in a paper towel. Then place in the Micro-Cooker (the large cooker will hold about 3-4 medium size baking potatoes), place the lid on top and then follow the "baked potato" setting on your microwave.

The holes in the lid of the Micro-Cooker allow for steam to be released and in a few short minutes you have great potatoes ready for consumption!

For other great Works-for-me tips, check out Rocks In My Dryer!

Works-for-me: Teaching About Jesus

Today's Works-for-me Wednesday post is nothing too earth shattering. It's not that clever. It's not something new. It's something that we've truly found works for us in the D-Household as we teach our D-Man about Jesus.

I have a plate in my kitchen that I bought from Southern Living several years ago (I checked their website to see if they still made it and I didn't see it). The plate is a rectangle shape and has a place for a pretty piece of ribbon (which I change out from time to time.

The coolest thing about this plate is that you can write on it with a dry erase marker and then change it whenever you want because amazingly, the marker wipes right off.

I use this plate to write Bible verses on and most recently have begun writing the verse that D-Man learns in Sunday School on it so that we can talk about it all week. The plate is located in the kitchen, close to the table and is a great piece for starting conversations.

Here's a picture to show you what's on it this week...


And there you have it, something that works for the D-House and hopefully will work for your house. For other great tips, check out Rocks In My Dryer.

Works-for-me: It only takes 5 ingredients

Okay, here goes my bloggy friends. Here is dinner, prepared and on the table in less than 20 minutes. It's my version of spaghetti and meatballs (complete with a homemade sauce...I said the sauce is homemade, not the meatballs, but you could always do that if you have say, EXTRA TIME ON YOUR HANDS).

I have not the extra time. Therefore, frozen meatballs make a dinner of champions for us in the D-House.

I digress, so very sorry.

My sauce consists of 1 pkg of frozen meatballs, 1 can tomato sauce, 1 can Italian style diced tomatoes, 1 TBSP Italian seasoning and 1 TBSP minced garlic (I use the already minced kind from the store).

Combine all of the above ingredients and let simmer on low to medium low for about 20 minutes. While the sauce is cooking (the sauce that only takes 5 ingredients), prepare the noodles, heat some bread and toss a salad and presto...dinner is ready!

For other great Works-for-me recipes that only take 5 ingredients or less, visit Rocks In My Dryer!

Baby Stuff that Worked-for-me

I wrote last week of our brother and sister-in-law having their first baby after many years of trying. This has gotten my thinking cap rolling back to a time filled with many wipes, lots of diapers and little sleep.

And I wondered to myself...what worked for me during that time?

Well, bloggy friends, I'm going to tell you about one of the BEST things that worked for me.

It began with a little caddy named Ultra Sterilite that looked something like this.And in it was filled to the brim with everything a new mother could need (and would want to tote around the house with her). Things like Desitin, Boudreaux's, baby wipes, diapers,

changing pads, Q-tips, Vaseline and baby lotion. If I might need it during the day, it was probably in there. It is something I never would have thought of, but one thing that I toted around with me forever. It became a permanent fixture in our living room (thanks Queen B for such a neat and thoughtful gift!)

Looking for other great things that work, visit Shannon's site!

Pancakes and Medicine: Works-for-me

Ok my bloggy friends, I have found the BEST food to help disguise any type of medicine that a child might have to take that is in pill form.

Pancakes.

With syrup.

Lots and lots of syrup.

And milk.

And maybe some bacon.

Oh, I digress, sorry.

Anyway, D-Man recently had to take some medicine that only came in pill form. After 2 tries of him spitting it all over me because of the chalky, nasty flavor, I decided to try giving it to him while eating pancakes.

I cut it into several small pieces, wrapped a bite of syrupy pancake around a piece and he gobbled it right up.

Yes, I did just say gobbled.

Anyway, he never knew and ate every medicine-laden bite. And he smiled. And was happy. And wanted more pancakes.

I would say it was a success!

Score 1 for Mommy!

For other great Works-for-me Wednesday tips, check out all the great links here!

Works-for-me Wednesday: Helping New Parents

Lately in our Sunday School class, many people have been having babies. Therefore, being our Sunday School class director (not sure how I got the title or the job), I organize the "meals list" for our class. Below you will see a meal that works-for-me when I am signed up to bring food.

Basicall, it consists of bringing meals to the new family for 7 days. One of my absolute favorite things to bring on my meal day is chicken spaghetti, salad, bread and chocolate no-bake cookies. I also like to throw in a can of cinnamon rolls or a package of muffin mix so that they have something for a 2nd meal as well. And the number one biggest thing I always remember to do is to put all the food in throw-away containers so that the new parents don't have to remember what Pyrex dish goes to which family after they are finished with the food.

Not a very interesting works-for-me tip, but one that I know certainly helped us back when D-Man was born.

For other great Works-for-me tips, go here!

Ordering that works for me and a giveaway to boot!

Today's Works-for-me Wednesday post is all about ordering online and how I've made it work for me. I frequently use Amazon.com for everything from books to electronics and stuff in between. My best friend, the Queen B, told me about the "Amazon Prime" membership that you can sign up for to have everything shipped 2 day shipping for free. The membership itself costs $79.00 a year and in just a few short months, I've already made back my membership money in shipping.

Imagine purchasing your Christmas gifts online and saving money on shipping (exactly what the Queen B has done)!!! So, if you are interested, click here for more details.

And in honor of Amazon.com and the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival, I'm giving away a copy of the book Nobody by Creston Mapes that I mentioned in my Titles on Tuesday post this week. Just leave a comment and let me know whether or not you subscribe to this Amazon membership. I'll close the comments at 5 pm cst on Friday and will announce a winner sometime on Saturday. You don't have to be a blogger to enter, simply leave a comment and a way for me to get a hold of you should you be the winner.

For other great Works-for-me Wednesday posts click here and to check out all the cool things happening at the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival, click here!

Today, the first of many

Welcome to all who have come to read (I hope there is at least one of you out there). I invite you to come along on this journey with me as I ride through life with the hopes and aspirations of doing exactly what God has in store for me in my life. Enjoy and post comments as you see fit!