Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Hearts for Home Blog Hop- January 9

Welcome to the first Hearts for Home Blog Hop of 2014!  I am delighted to be a co-host with many other wonderful bloggers.

We hope that you will be able to join us with your posts that show that your heart is in your home--homemaking, homeschooling, recipes, DIY, crafts...the possibilities are endless and we are all looking forward to seeing what you will share.  :-)  Have a great week.  God bless!


Hearts for Home Blog Hop
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.upsidedownhomeschooling.com/hearts-for-home/" title="Hearts for Home Blog Hop" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r505/upsidedownhomeschool/HFH150_zpsf22ef64f.jpg" alt="Hearts for Home Blog Hop" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
 

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Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Try a New Recipe Tuesday- January 7

I apologize for this week's linkup going up so late.  We started back at homeschool yesterday, and it has been a busy couple of days.  How is it in your neck of the woods?  It is SO cold here.

There aren't going to be features this week.  Instead, I am remembering a blogging friend and frequent visitor who linked up often with Try a New Recipe Tuesday.  She passed away last week and I was so very saddened and surprised to hear the news.  I am sure many of you knew her in your blogging circles.  So, this week's Try a New Recipe Tuesday is in memory of Judy Haughton-James from Judy's H-J's Thoughts.


This week, I am sharing my son's Microwave Chocolate Mug Brownie.  If you are looking for a quick and easy way to make a chocolate snack, look no further!  My son made it for a 4H project and it was SO good.  It is linked up in the first spot below.  :-)

Have a good week and keep warm!  :-)





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Monday, January 6, 2014

Microwave Chocolate Mug Brownie

My son made this for a 4H project and it was delicious!  :-)

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons water
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour

In a 12 ounce coffee mug, add water, butter, vanilla.  Whisk well.



Add cocoa powder, whisk well.





Add sugar, whisk well.



Add flour, whisk well.

Microwave for 60-90 seconds.  Center should be slightly molten.


Careful not to overcook.  Enjoy with a spoon.  :-)  It is a quick and easy way to make a delicious snack.



Linking up with the Gathering SpotKids in the Kitchen, Domestically Divine Tuesday, Raising Mighty Arrows,Addicted to RecipesHomemaking Wednesdays, Living Well Wednesday,NOBH, Judy H-J's ThoughtsWisdom Wednesday , Favorite ThingsModest MomFull Plate Thursday and Melt in your Mouth Monday and Show Off Friday and Tuesday's Table and Look What We Did and Titus 2sday Mom's Monday MingleMonday MingleCrafty SpicesBetter Mom,Create with JoyThursday's TreasuresTasty Thursdays and Wonderful Food Wednesday and Mondays with Countrified Hicks and Tuesday How to Party and the Tried and True Recipe Party and Kids and Mom in the Kitchen and Family Fun Friday and Clever Chicks Blog Hop andAll My Bloggy Friends and Hearts for Home Blog Hop and Foodie Friends Friday and Family Fun Friday and TGIF Linky Party and Food on Friday andHip Homeschool MomsA Wise Woman Builds Her Home andGood Tastes Tuesday and Thriving Thursday and Friday Flash Blog Hop 


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Thursday, January 2, 2014

Top 10 Posts of 2013

As we welcome in 2014, I am sharing the Top 10 most viewed posts on Home to 4 Kiddos in 2013.  Some of these will look familiar from the Recipe Top 10, but there are definitely some different posts on this list.

10) Peanut Butter Bear Cookies



9) Homemade Laundry Detergent



8) St. Patrick's Day Craft



7) Italian Pizzelles



6) Chocolate Chip Banana Bread



5) Pressure Canning 101



4) Chocolate Green Smoothie



3) Shipwreck Casserole



2) Free Printable- Punctuation



and the most viewed post on Home to 4 Kiddos in 2013 was.....

1) Landmarks Matching Game



Happy New Year!  :-)

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Tuesday, December 31, 2013

One Word for 2014




I am not a fan of "resolutions," long lists of things to do or change that are usually abandoned after the first couple of weeks.

I read about the "one word" idea last year and it appealed to me.  The choosing of just one word to apply to the new year is not only challenging, but requires much thought not only now, but throughout the months to come.  It can be applied in so many different ways in so many different situations.  It is not a inflexible list of "to-dos," rather a way to live in the upcoming year.

I chose optimism last year.  I wanted to see all things from a more positive perspective.  It was not easy.  I had to remind myself so many times to be optimistic during times of challenge or frustration.  To look at the world today can be very depressing and can turn one instantly into a pessimist.  It takes much to see all of that from an optimistic viewpoint.

This year, I am choosing indomitable.

Indomitable, you may ask?  What on earth does indomitable mean?

According to the dictionary, it means "that cannot be subdued, or overcome, as persons, will or courage, living and trusting without fear."

There it is.  Without fear.  In the Bible, the Lord tells us to "Be not afraid" or "Do not fear" many times.  I want to trust Him in all things without fear or trepidation.  I want to encompass the lyrics of Mandisa's song "Overcomer," knowing that with Him, we can do all things.  One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

As Christians, we are called to be indomitable.  He tells us that good will triumph in the end.  He has secured that victory for us.  His church cannot be overcome or subdued.  We are called to live in courage and trust Him without fear.

What is your one word?


Come see what my friends on the Schoolhouse Review Crew chose as their one word.  You can see the post here (after midnight!)  :-)


Word for 2014


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Monday, December 30, 2013

Try a New Recipe Tuesday- 12/31

Happy New Year's Eve!  I hope 2014 brings you much love and peace.  :-)

Below in the first spot you will find linked up my Top 10 Recipes of 2013.  They are the recipe posts that got the most views.  Come on over and check them out.  :-)

Ok, so I owe you all two weeks of features since there weren't any last week on Christmas Eve.

Here are the features from the 17th:






And, here are the features from last week's linkup:








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Sunday, December 29, 2013

Top 10 Recipe Posts of 2013

As 2013 draws to a close, I am sharing the recipes from this year that got the most page views.  If you haven't seen some of them before, feel free to click on them and enjoy.  We love to cook and bake here and are happy to share our recipes with you.  :-)

Without further adieu, here they are:

Honorable Mentions (just missed the top 10):

Deluxe Oatmeal Raisinets Cookies



Zebra Brownies



Chocolate Biscotti



There was an exact tie for 10th:

10) Chocolate Cake



10) Peanut Butter Oaties



9) Snickerdoodles



8) Buried Treasure



7) Homemade Donuts



6) Pressure Canning 101



5) Chocolate Chip Muffins



4) Chocolate Chip Banana Bread



3) Chocolate Green Smoothie



2) Peanut Butter Bear Cookies



and drumroll please.....the most viewed recipe of 2013 was:

1) Shipwreck Casserole





Linking up with the Gathering SpotKids in the Kitchen, Domestically Divine Tuesday, Raising Mighty Arrows,Addicted to RecipesHomemaking Wednesdays, Living Well Wednesday,NOBH, Judy H-J's ThoughtsWisdom Wednesday , Favorite ThingsModest MomFull Plate Thursday and Melt in your Mouth Monday and Show Off Friday and Tuesday's Table and Look What We Did and Titus 2sday Mom's Monday MingleMonday MingleCrafty SpicesBetter Mom,Create with JoyThursday's TreasuresTasty Thursdays and Wonderful Food Wednesday and Mondays with Countrified Hicks and Tuesday How to Party and the Tried and True Recipe Party and Kids and Mom in the Kitchen and Family Fun Friday and Clever Chicks Blog Hop andAll My Bloggy Friends and Hearts for Home Blog Hop and Foodie Friends Friday and Family Fun Friday and TGIF Linky Party and Food on Friday andHip Homeschool MomsA Wise Woman Builds Her Home andGood Tastes Tuesday and Thriving Thursday and Friday Flash Blog Hop 

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