{lagniappe 1}

So here we go with Lagniappe. Forgive me, but I already had this created and so it was just easier. The great thing about these "leftover" posts is they really aren't leftovers. They are just suggestions on what to do to prevent them - but regardless, these are some ideas/recipes that I come up with when I have a "little something extra."

So here we go with the first installment.

Meal idea:
Roast Pork Butt
green beans
mashed potatoes

Now, don't be intimidated by roasting a pork butt. Seriously, it is like the easiest thing you will ever do. I use Tyler Florence's recipe off www.foodnetwork.com and you can get these cuts of meat on sale for a VERY good price. Basically, you season the pork and based on how large the meat is you will bake it in the oven for several hours on 300 degrees (mine are normally about 7 pounds and take about six hours). Seriously, the house will smell wonderful and the meat will fall right off the bone.

Your Lagniappe - now you are going to have LOTs of meat leftover and you can shredd it up and freeze it for BBQ sandwiches for a later date (and you can do this like the chicken - fave BBQ sauce in the crock pot). But here is a wonderful twist on BBQ pork... Eggrolls - WHAT? Yes, and they are easy and divine!


Photo courtesy of the Food Network

Grab you a bag of slaw at the grocery store - and any other veggies you like (sprouts, water chesnuts, etc.). You will also want to purchase egg roll wrappers - in the produce section. Throw your veggies in a bowl along with some shredded pork, toss with a little terriayki sauce and follow the instructions on the egg roll packaging. Fry them up and you are good to go - with your favorite dipping sauce of course. Add a little sticky rice and some peas and you are set. Seriously, this was SO good! I was also very surpsied at how easy it made it as well (thanks, Erica, from www.ericasbloggityblog.com for the recipe!).

Hope you enjoy your little something extra!

Playdate at the Park

We live right down the road from a wonderful park. It has a great play area for the kids, a walking track, disc golf, and even ponds for fishing. We relished in the Spring sunshine a couple weeks back with the Jones' boys. The kids played and played and we also had a picnic there. Charlotte also enjoyed getting to feed the fish. And, I must mention, aren't Charlotte and Jayden so cute holding hands. Those two are always hugging or holding each other. :)

M.E.A

Today marks an exciting day in the English household, Doug, my wonderful husband, has his last and final day of class for his MEA (Masters in Educational Administration). To say we are excited is a complete understatement. We as a family are thrilled, but I know that Doug is more elated than any of us.

Just wanted to give a BIG SHOUT OUT to the hubs and say CONGRATULATIONS on earning your MEA. We are SO proud of you and are excited to see where God takes us with your new credentials.

Just fyi... Doug is pursuing jobs as an assistant principal. Because we are not from the area we are open to leaving - I know sad! - so if you know of anyone looking for an A.P. please let us know both locally and elsewhere.

Hooray for Doug! Now, what is he going to do with all that free time... :) I am sure he will fill it up before he gives me the chance to fill it up for him. Ha! :)

Lollipops

I wanted to get these pictures posted of Charlotte is her dress that I won from www.lilliposdesigns.etsy.com. It truly is too cute and I just adore the lollipop design appliqued on the dress.

More photos to come... and those recipes that I promised. :)

April Updates

The camera is dead, my house is a wreck, and these little chicks just make me so happy. Find them here. So... I couldn't go into the weekend without giving you a little update.

At the first of this month I mentioned a few things that I wanted to do this month... southernsavers.com, etsy - posting more often, and giving you leftover menu options. Well... I have been busy with the first two a little more than the last, but I do have another leftover post coming soon - as well as some pictures of the dresses I made for Charlotte and myself, the kids, and more personalized products.

On www.southernsavers.com, I have been hard at it and look forward to seeing some numbers soon - the hubs keeps a spreadsheet of where every dime of our money goes. So I will seriously be able to tell you if we are seeing a difference since I started using this website. I am loving shopping at Publix by the way and in addition to loving it, I saved $60.00 bucks there last week - the best I have EVER done with coupons.

On posting more on Etsy, I nearly quit after one week because I didn't get ONE SALE! I kept at it and I have been so slammed I have had to post a little less because I haven't been able to keep up with the volume. So... they have made a believer out of me. Posting more works!!!

Lastly, I want your opinion on what to name my leftover segment. I have come up with three options: "Loving Leftovers," "Lagniappe - A little something extra" (if you have ever ordered with me I currently have "lagniappe" cards that I include when I have an overprint. I include the extras with the purchase. Wouldn't want them to go to waste.), or "Lasso Your Leftovers." Please tell me which you like. Whichever gets the most votes wins. :) Another Leftover post is coming next week, so stay tuned. :)

Happy Friday and have a wonderful weekend!

Stained Glass

Isn't this window beautiful. This lovely stained glass sits in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church Batesville - my father's home town. This window means so much to me as it was placed their in memory of my grandfather, Ben Junior Moore.

I mentioned in my post about my trip to Mississippi that we went to my father's old church. My grandfather was a pillar in this church as well as in his community and I was struck with how much it meant to me to see that window in all its glory with his name graced below.

My grandfather would have never wanted the attention. He felt it was his duty to tend to others both in faith and in body. He was a physician and took great pride in his work. He "healed the sick" until the day he died and helped so many along the way.

One of the greatest things that I learned after my grandfather's death - when I was only nine - was that he helped a great deal of people - helped them get through school, saw them as patients and didn't charge them, gave money to not just organizations but to people in need. But we really didn't know about it - not even my grandmother - until people showed up at his visitation and funeral and told us story after story of how he had helped them.

My grandparents were also very much in love. As an adult I had the privilege of reading a love letter that he sent to my grandmother and he was full of passion for that woman. He was a World War II Vet and their young love- like so many at that time - was entwined in the horrors of that day.

I was struck while sitting in the service that Sunday morning with my grandfather's memory - wishing he could meet my children, know my husband, see some of the life he has given me. My grandmother, every Sunday, still sits in the pew that they have for years and ironically it is right next to this window. I was overcome with emotion almost feeling my granfather's presence and knowing that he was smiling down upon us.

You might wonder why this picture of Jesus coming unto the little children was chosen for his memory. My grandmother has always told us it was because of his passion for children - but most especially his grandchildren. How special to be cherished - and ironically, isn't that the story this picture tells of - Christ's love for His children. So while the window serves as a memory of my wonderful grandfather, it also repersents the ultimate story he would want to pass onto both you and me - that You and I are loved and cherished by our Heavenly Father!

A Little Luck...

We got it in this color


This is one of my favorites too.

I am a blog follower and I ADORE when blogs offer great giveaways - especially from designers I love.

I don't really believe in luck, but maybe that is because I am not usually a "lucky" person - meaning if there is a drawing I normally will not win it (we all know people that win ALL THE TIME. Seriously, how do they do it?).

I recently entered two giveaways and WON. I was thrilled.

One of the items I won was this adorable dress from www.lilliposdesigns.etsy.com. It arrived last week and Charlotte and I both love it. The great thing about this little dress is that it is eco-friendly - using repurposed fabric - which as a seamstress I can appreciate.

Jayme, the owner was just lovely and honestly, I would pick everything out in her shop. Too cute!


I have been in love with this set for quite some time. Is it too juvenile for me to use?


Would love these for Charlotte

The other item I won was from a web friend of mine. Stacy and I "met" through a friend that carried both of our products in her local store. I was doing aprons at the time and while we spoke over email we have never actually met. She also lives in Atlanta and has a wonderful line of stationery. She also has been so gracious in helping me with starting up my own line of stationery.

I won one of her 2010 calendars and a $25.00 gift certificate - of which I cannot make up my mind what I want. I love all of her things. Check out her site here at www.inkspotworkshop.com.

Baby Bluebonnet

These pictures were too much to resist. This is my sweet niece, Flannery, sitting in those gorgeous bluebonnets in her home state of Texas. She is wearing a dress that was her momma's when she was a little thing and these pictures turned out so sweet.

And to make your weekend a little better, head on over to http://thedressupdrawer.blogspot.com to catch a nice review and put your name in for yet another The English Pea Giveaway.

I hope the site of babies and Spring, and the chance for a win bring a smile to your face. Wishing you a happy Friday and a wonderful weekend!

Stretching the Almighty Dollar

photo courtesy of Food Network

One thing I promised this month was sharing some recipes that I use when I am "reusing" food - because we don't like leftovers. Here is my first attempt so please let me know if you like the format.

And why don't we start with chicken - easy, delicious, and most everyone likes it. Here we go...

Meal Idea 1:
Roasted chicken, green salad, and roasted potatoes, onion and red pepper medley

Roasted chicken:
Purchased Split Chicken Breasts for $3.98 and used Tyson coupon for $1.00 off = $2.98. Four breasts were in the pack.

Cover chicken breasts with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast all four breasts in an oven at 350 for 30-45 minutes.

Green salad - go ahead and prepare all the lettuce, but unless you need it, don't make all into a salad (can use this for other things later).

Cut onions, potatoes, and red peppers into equal sizes. Use a large skillet, heat a tablespoon of olive oil, and throw all veggies in skillet. Saute and brown vegetables. Can cover if needed (sometimes helps the potatoes cook faster). When the potatoes are fork tender it is ready.


photo courtesy of Food Network

Meal idea 2:
BBQ Chicken Sandwiches with baked fries

BBQ Chicken Sandwiches: Take left over chicken and shred in pieces (I normally use one to two breasts for the above meal). Place shredded chicken in Crock Pot, pour favorite BBQ sauce over the chicken, saturating it. Cover and cook on low all day. Spoon onto bun for sandwiches.

Baked Fries: Take raw potatoes that you didn't use for your veggie medley, cut into fries - these could be thin, thick, however you like them (I figure one potatoe per person). Cover with a little olive oil in a bowl (don't saturate), sprinkle with salt and pepper. Spray a baking sheet and spread the cut potatoes on the sheet. Cook in the oven for 30-45 minutes at 415 degrees until brown.

Tip: With four breasts I can usually get three to four meals out of them. Depending on how many you are feeding you may be able to take some of the shredded chicken from the above recipe and freeze it for future use. Also, if I have BBQ chicken left over I also freeze that for a future meal.

Enjoy! If you try this, let me know how you and your family like it! :)

10 Years Ago...

I would have never dreamed that this evening I would be listening to my iPod while having my hands elbow deep in chicken - tearing it to pieces to use in yet another recipe to feed my little family. 10 years ago I pictured a different place, a different man, a different life.

April of 2000 was a difficult month. God was truly bringing me to a turning point in my faith and through some humiliation, heartache, and the decision to leave a job I loved, I sought to leave and embark on a journey. I had no idea where it would take me.

My dream - the desire of my heart that had always been since I could remember - was to be a wife and mother. Seriously, as a teenager people would ask me what I "wanted to do when I grew up." My answer... "to be a wife and mom." I normally got no response from people. They were dumbfounded that I had no other aspriations.

This was truly, at the deepest core of my soul, what I wanted to do and I was merely being honest. But on this day, ten years ago, at the ripe age of 21, I wondered if my dream would ever come to pass.

Funny, when we are young, starry eyed, and dreaming about our futures the ideas we have in our heads about what our dreams will look like. I don't really remember much of what I thought it would look like, but shredding chicken at 8:30 on a Monday evening listening to tunes was not quite how I pictured it.

Ironically, though, while my dream in its reality is a different picture than I dreamed it, God has truly given me the desires of my heart. It is both humbling and joyous to look back at where I was ten years ago. I was brought to such a point at that time that I reliquished this dream. I went forth, following the path I felt the Lord had given, and little did I know that six weeks later Doug would enter my life and change it forever.

Forgive my sentiment, but the place I was ten years ago today was one of great sorrow. One of pain. One that in a sense gave me freedom. Freedom to leave my dreams, trust a God who loves me, and venture forward. Looking back, letting go was the most precious gift and I am so thankful that I am now living my dream - being mom, wife, and shredding that greesy chicken.

Walking...

"Running" somewhere in the yard - with pure joy all over his face


Taking a breather


Passing in the wind. He is getting pretty quick, but still can't catch his sister - who is really quick


Finally at the top fo the hill

I was thrilled that Douglass Charles chose this week - while his daddy was home - to really take off walking. He was really working it Easter weekend, but this week, he made it official. He LOVES it - not just because he can get around everywhere, but I believe he feels like a big boy. He squeals, he laughs, he grins from ear to ear, he "runs" and follows his big sister everywhere.

One thing I HAVE to try to get a picture of is Charlotte and he hand-in-hand. Charlotte likes to "help" him walk and most times he lets her (from time to time he lets us all know he is not really keen on her help). It touched my heart watching them walk hand-in-hand down the hall the other night. So sweet.

While I am thrilled for my little guy, I am a little sad. We have crossed over into the toddler years and Douglass Charles' being a "baby" is over. I would never keep my children back for my sake, but this past year has gone so quickly. It amazes me how grown both my babies are getting.

Uncle Andy and The Varsity

Charlotte and her Uncle Andy - who has recently become a vegetarian. He nearly gave it up for the sake of The Varsity. :)


Douglass Charles would NOT leave the hat on.


Charlotte wearing her hat. She wore it the WHOLE time. I was very surprised.

It seems that all of our Varisty trips revolve around family, but we were thrilled to make the trip once again to one of our favorite Atlanta Landmarks. We got a surprise call from Andy, Doug's older brother, in the middle of the week. He was going to be in town for an ISO Phsycologist's meeting (he is Dr. Andy). He currently lives in San Fransico, California, so it is always good to get a visit in.

We loaded up the trip and headed into town. Picked him up and made our way to the original location of The Varisty. Charlotte took right after her family and ate her fill of hotdogs - 1 1/2 dogs. I was pretty impressed.

It was wonderful to briefly catch up with Andy and enjoy some of those famous chili dogs and onion rings - and our favorite - a PC (chocolate milk over crushed ice). DELICIOUS!

Trip To Aunt Meg's

Charlotte with Uncle Grant - He is an officer in the Army


Sweet Sleeping baby - both the kids did so well traveling and with taking their naps.


Just up from his nap, staring at his Uncle Grant, trying to figure out who he was.


This week was Doug's Spring Break. We stayed home - one to save money, and two, so that I could work without paying a sitter. My sister-in-law, Meg, and her husband, Grant, were just re-stationed back in Columbus, GA. They have been in Louisianna for quite a while now and we are thrilled to have them so much closer to us.

We decided to use one of Doug's days this week to take a day trip down there to see them. Meg is pregnant with their first child and it was great to see her little baby bump growing.

Sadly, there are no pictures of Aunt Meg - what was I thinking - but we had a wonderful time, the kids did great, and they both thoroughly enjoyed playing with their aunt and uncle. :)

And the Winners Are...

YEAH! Here are the winners for my Spring Giveaway!
1. The Kimmels
2. Joanne Moore
3. Plum Tree Studios

Congratulations and thanks to all that entered. I will contact those who won to see what item you would like to receive. Happy Friday!

An Easter Swim

This is the last day to enter my giveaway, so scroll on down to enter. I will announce the winner tomorrow. Good luck!

We have had unseasonably warm weather this week and it has been wonderful. It was so warm on Sunday that we got the kiddy pool out that my mom bought Charlotte last year. Needless to say, Charlotte and Douglass Charles had a blast splashing and playing in the water. I do believe they enjoyed that more than hunting eggs.

This makes me look so forward to the summer we have ahead - time at the neighborhood pool, going to the beach with family, and grilling out in the backyard with friends. Not to mention all the water fun we will have at our house. I am loving this warm weather!

YEAH for 100!

Today I hit 100 sales on Etsy. I knew I had already hit this number because of local sales/family sales etc - thanks for all your support. You know who you are! - But today, I finally hit 100 sales in my shop.

My 100th customer is a new mom - as of Friday - and ordered a two sets of Classic Boys Personalized Notecards with envelope liners and a set of return address labels for her boys. I love when my cards are used for new little ones. :)

I just want to say that I am so thankful for my customers, my family, my kids, my hubby, and our wonderful God. I know 100 doesn't seem like much, but my goal was to hopefully sell that many in my first year and God did it in 9 months - exceeding my expectations and honestly surprising me.

So yeah for 100 sales and might I add that I am just a little humbled and grateful for this blessing!

Spring Giveaway

So... are you ready to try to win you some free stuff? I am always up for winning - even though I usually don't - but it is always fun to try. So, this is what I am going to do. I am giving away 3 - that's right I said 3 - freebies. And what do you get, you may ask... ANYTHING in the shop up to $19.00. That's not too shabby if you ask me. Here is how you enter:

1. Visit www.theenglishpea.com and comment with what your favorite item is - old or new.
2. Follow this blog - or comment letting me know that you already follow.
3. Blog, put it on facebook, or tweet about it (and comment letting me know that you did it)
4. Do all three and increase your chances of winning!

You have until Thursday, April 8th, to enter.

Happy Spring!

Egg Hunting

We had the pleasure of eating lunch with my friend Anna and her family today for lunch. We had a delicious meal and then we let the kids loose in the back yard to hunt for eggs.

This was Charlotte's first egg hunt - as well as Douglass Charles. Charlotte caught on pretty quickly and then after discovering there was candy in the eggs she was content to discover her prize.

Douglass Charles also got into the fun. He is walking up a storm now (seemed to really happen this weekend) and he was all about finding eggs. He wasn't interested in collecting them. He just needed one. He would pick it up, throw it, and run after, pick it up again, and start the whole process over - and he was very proud of himself I might add. The only trouble this game caused is the older children would see the egg he had thrown and try to collect it for themselves. Thankfully there were plenty of eggs so his game was able to continue.

Douglass Charles and Charlotte both are very into playgrounds right now and they honestly, were more into playing on the Jones' swingset than they were about hunting eggs.

We had such a wonderful time and it was fun to share in such memories with friends.

Charlotte's Easter Dress

When I was little finding the perfect Easter dress was always a fun thing to do. I am a girly girl and always have been. Buying a pretty dress for this Easter Sunday definitely goes down in my life as a special memory.

This is Charlotte's third Easter and the second time I have made her dress for this special day. This year was a little more rewarding than the last. When I put it on her, told her I made it special for her, she looked up at me with those blue eyes of hers, stroking the front of it and said, "Pretty, Mommy!"

Also, notice her shoes. Think me sappy, but I cried when I put these on her for the first time. They look like such big girl shoes and my big girl really liked them. I can't believe how fast she is growing.

Don't think I forgot Douglass Charles. I am no wonder woman and we used the outfit I made him for his baptism several weeks ago for this special day.

Here's hoping your Easter was filled with love and joy. He is Risen! Allelujah!

New Additions

Timid lion


pink giraffe


New size invitation


Another version of the new size invitation


New notecards - perfect for Mom!

My zoo collection has a new member and something specific for the little girls out there who are so in love with pink - this timid lion and a pink giraffe. Honestly, this lion is one of my favorites right now. I have also been wanting to offer a pink giraffe - thankfully a customer recently asked for one and I got the opportunity. :)

I am also offering a new size invitation in my shop. They are 5.5"x4.25" and will be a couple dollars less than my square invite. While I love the 5"x5" square (and will still be offering it) these new little invites will cost you the price of a stamp to send - where the square invitations require additional postage. I don't know about you, but that savings is welcome at my house.

I am also offering intials instead of graphics for those moms or dads that would like to enjoy my line of stationery. So... think Mother's Day, you can get The English Pea quality and fun color for the mothers in your life. :)

Feel free to stop on over at www.theenglishpea.com and take a gander and don't forget to check back Monday for a great giveaway! Happy Easter and Happy Spring!