Guest Post:Create with Christina

Im so happy to have Christina here today to tell us a little bit about Thanksgiving in her neck of the woods...Canada! When you get done reading her story please go by and check out her blog! It's Fab. You won't be sorry!

Hi everyone, my name is Christina and I blog over at Create with Christina.  I am so honored to be blogging here on Katie's awesome blog, I am so excited to be here. 

  

Katie had asked me to write about Thanksgiving I had to think about that for a minute, I'm from Canada, we do things a little different up here, we celebrated Thanksgiving in October.... weird right?  Anyway, I'd love to tell you about how we celebrated Thanksgiving and what we are thankful for.  

 Unfortunately, hubby and I weren't able to get together with our family over Thanksgiving.  My husband is a cook and is often required to work on holidays when most people spend time with family.  Since our families don't live in the same city as us we weren't able to get away.  

Even though we weren't with family we had our own little turkey dinner, it was perfect.  We had planned to cook a chicken but when we went to the grocery store we saw that they had turkey breast and there was only one little one left, perfect when you only have a few mouths to feed.  We really enjoyed the turkey and all the trimmings and obviously we had pie, it was a mini apple pie, yummy!!!

We are so blessed, I think it's so important to reflect on the many things we are grateful for all year around sometimes we drown in the struggles in life and forget to be thankful for the many blessings.   

I am thankful for our beautiful home and all the material possession we have inside, our HEALTH, and the fiances we have been blessed with.  I am grateful for OUR FAMILY, our puppy, our friends, and an amazing husband who treats me like a queen!  I am blessed with a wonderful church, an awesome Saviour who died for our sins, and the ability to worship our God publicly without having to worry about persecution.  I am also thankful for our JOBS and their stability in this economy.  

There are so many things to be grateful for, these are just a few.  What are you thankful for?  I often forget I have so much to be grateful for and there are other who have far less.  My hope is not only to think about life's blessings on holidays like Thanksgiving but remember them everyday, because every breath I breathe and every day I live is a blessing! 

I hope my all American friends have had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!!!

Easy dinners

About the time that 5:00 rolls around in my house things get a little crazy. The baby is cranky, Brad is trying to get homework done and the husband is just getting home from work. I love to be able to cook dinner in less then 30 minutes. One of the things I loved that my mom cooked was chicken and yellow rice. Not sure if its cause shes a really good cook and can get a little fancy and this meal was very normal to me as a child or if its just that yummy. Anyway now that I have my own family I cook it all the time. I cooked it last night and want to share it with you guys.

 Recipe    

-1 bag of yellow rice

-1 whole onion

-1 pound of chicken breast

That's it, that's all you need. That brand of yellow rice is the best. 

First you need to cut your onion and your chicken into cubes

Then put the chopped onion into a pot and brown a little bit then add the chicken and brown it

(I may have burned my onions a bit... so don't do that)

Next add the amount of water that you rice package says (I has a small bag and it was 2 1/2 cups).  Wait for it to boil then add rice. Cover and simmer for 25 minutes. (Don't lift the lid!!!!)

Then you get this!  I always serve with peas.. Its yummy to mix it all together and even add hot sauce!

Happy cooking everyone!!! Let me know if you try it, Id love to hear what you think.

Im linking up with LeeLaLa

And the winner is....

Thank you all for entering the Arabella's Beauty From Nature contest.


Congrats to The Posh Daisy with comment "I want to try that pumpkin enzyme mask :)"

Please Email me to claim your prize!!

Guest Post: The Floyd Boys

I have a special treat for you guys today. Lesley from The Floyd Boys is going to share a few things about her Thanksgiving. If you havent been to her blog you should do so as soon as you get done reading this. Take it away Lesley!

Hello readers of Party of Four! I’m Lesley and I blog over at the floyd boys. I’m so excited to be guest posting!



I’m just a normal, everyday stay at home mom. We live in Virginia Beach. I have an amazing husband and two little boys. That’s right, I’m outnumbered and Queen of the house! I wish I could tell you that I’m a great cook or real crafty but that’s just not me. I love to laugh, have fun and most importantly, I love to encourage. That’s what I hope my blog will do for my readers.

I’m really looking forward to the holidays this year. It seems so many have forgotten about Thanksgiving though, which makes me sad because as much as I love Christmas, I think it’s important to be thankful and appreciate our blessings. I’m especially thankful for my amazing mother who prepares the entire feast every year (I at least bring the green bean casserole!). I’m actually terrified of the day I might have to do it. Like I mentioned before, I’m not good in the kitchen.
After dinner, my mom and I always scan through all the black Friday ads (yep we’re those crazy people up before the sun trying to get some good deals) and we make our lists over some pumpkin pie while all the guys watch football and the kids play.

That’s what Thanksgiving is to me. Sure, I love all the food and goodies but it’s so rare that my whole family gets together for a meal. We’re all so busy throughout the year with our own lives and schedules. But on Thanksgiving, all of that is set aside and we can just be together for the day. And for that, I'm thankful.

Please stop by and say hello, tell me what you love about Thanksgiving. If you have a yummy recipe, please share. Maybe you’ll give me something to go along with my green bean casserole :) I’d love to meet you!

Sunday funday

Today was fabulous! I couldn't be happier that my sister Kristin has been in town for our family reunion and that we got to spend the day together just me and her before her trip back to Cali.

I love these times I spend with her. With her being on the other side of the country I only get these moments about twice a year. 

This morning my hubby dropped the baby off with his mom and he took Brad to Shoot some guns and do other manly things so I could go to the beach. I picked Kristin up at about 9:30 and we headed down to Sarasota (2 1/2 hour drive) so we could lay in the sunshine and gaze at the pretty ocean all afternoon. I was so excited to go that I forgot my camera  (insert panic here).

But don't you worry I have a few crappy cell phone pic's for ya (yey)

Seriously this beach is worth the drive for me. Its one of the prettiest beaches in Florida. The sand is amazing! Its pure white and feels like powder. Even in the middle of summer it never gets hot. And the water... oh the water is clear blue bliss. Ok, so today it was freezing and I didn't get in but normally its great.

I love Florida! It's crazy to me to think that some people are all bundled up in fall and this is us... chillin' on a beach in November sippin' fruity cocktails and getting our tan on. As I was laying on my lawn chair I was thinking about the last time I had a day where it was about me. About what I wanted to do, with out worrying about what time the baby needs a nap, or anything that has to do with my little children. I think a lot of mommies don't take the time to make your self happy. Today was so relaxing, even if it took two and a half hours to get me there. 

It was really sad to drop her off at her and say good bye. I'm going to miss her so much. With the long ride home all by my self I turned up the radio (maby even blew a speaker) and rolled all the windows down for the first time in like forever and jammed out!! It was great knowing that no one could here me sing random songs from the past since i'm a terrible singer. 

Thank you Kristin for a wonderful day. I wish that we could spend every weekend together! I love ya!

You can read more about my sister over at The Cardigan and the Cook

Don't forget about the contest going on that will end Tuesday morning when I pick a winner! Go enter Now!!!!

HERE

Inspiration Workshop

My dining could really use some help. I'm so glad Gussy asked us to speak about dining rooms today because I feel like this is one of the most important rooms in the house.

I believe every family should make the time and sit down and have at least one meal a day together. I know it could be very hard to do these days but if you pick a time and just do it you will see how much closer your family will become. I love sitting at the dinner table and going over how school was, and hearing what my hubby did at work and telling him what the baby did today. It's a special time in this household.

I don't know about you, but if I am sitting at a table and I am surrounded by pops of beautiful fun colors it makes me feel so much happier. Color has a funny way of changing my moods. So on that note everything should just be bright and cheery! Wouldn't you like to sit in a dining room with your family that looks like this?

source via Pinterest

Couldn't you just see the happy faces on your babies playing in there food while in this dining area?

source via Pinterest

Or even this??

source via Pinterest

All of these picture are so much fun! I feel the need to go spruce up my dining area and put super bright colors in it!

Now my husband is such a "Man's Man" so I'm pretty sure he will not go along with the idea of having a bright cheery "girly" anything in my house, But a girl can dream right?!?! So one day, I shall convince him to at least let me have a room like the last picture.

 {I usually get what I want!}

.....Don't forget about my 1st giveaway going on right now... (pssst. it would be easy to win)

CHECK IT OUT HERE

                                                                

What I love... and my 1st give-a-way!!

 Today I will be sharing one thing I really love and that's my Mom!!

My mom is awesome. period. She owns Arabella's Beauty from Nature. 

Her products are made from the finest ingredients that nature has to offer including Facial products to die for, luxurious Goats Milk Lotions, soothing bath salts and natural cures from Mother Nature herself. A lot of them are hand-made and all of them are free from parabens and other harmful ingredients. Using as much organic and plant based materials as possible, we bring you an outstanding line of natural beauty, bath, and spa products for your whole body at a price that will make your wallet happy, too.

She slaves away everyday making all of this in her kitchen! I know! Crazy. And best part is she wants to give YOU a gift basket valued at 45.00$.
In this basket you will find Red Dragon bath salts, a perfumed oil, and a goat's milk lotion.

She also is offering 10% off on all first orders... so happy shopping ladies.
OH OH and she makes Monster Spray! Yes, its a lavender scented fabric spray that helps ward off bad dreams and monsters... and if your wondering if it works....Just ask my son Bradley. He's the reason she started making it. I swear to you, I use it every night. {thanks Memaw} you can buy it HERE

Just to let you know what my favorite product is, The Virgin Coconut Sugar Scrub. I love sugar scrubs but this one wont leave you bath tub coated in a layer of gook that you hubby is going to bust his butt on when he get in. Not to mention it leaves you skin super soft! You can check it out HERE

All you need to do is be a follower of my blog to enter.  (click the google friend button on right) comment on this post that you did so.

For more entries

-"Like" Arabella's Beauty From Nature on Facebook  HERE and leave her a comment that I sent you

-Visit her store and tell me what your favorite item is  HERE

-"Like" me on facebook HERE and leave me a super sweet comment.

Leave ONE comment per an entry and a winner will be chosen in a week from Random.org

This post will be linked up to LeeLaLa