Jennifer

Transitioning to Work Fashion

January 26, 2014 by Jennifer 2 Comments

As I have transitioned into the work out of the home mom role, my fashion skills needed to be updated. Recently, they sent out an email at work that enforced the work dress code. This meant, no more wearing whatever jeans you pleased. If you did choose to wear jeans, it needed to be dark blue dress jeans. I needed an excuse to have more fashion in my life. My wardrobe didn’t include too many fashion must-haves but I am slowly changing this as I search the clearance sales and thrift shop sales.

I need to use my DSLR camera in the future. Made a mental note. Here are three of the outfits that I wore last week to work.

1. The jean skirt and the brown corduroy skirt are both J.Jill designs and came from Goodwill at the low rate of $3.75.

2. The “Be Amazing” sweater came from Old Navy clearance for $7.

3. The blue and white striped shirt and blue cardigan came from Belk’s clearance for $4 and $6 respectively.

4. The dress on the end came from Old Navy clearance for $11. I added the black belt that I had here at home and borrowed M’s cowl scarf.

How am I doing with my fashion? My husband is loving all the new outfits that I am coming up with which makes me smile and have butterflies in my stomach again. It is really so much fun to see how I can still be fashionable yet spend little money. Stay tuned for more frugal fashion finds!

Easy Chicken Dumplings Recipe – Gluten Free Option Too!

January 21, 2014 by Jennifer 1 Comment

The weather outside is frightful. The snow is falling outside and the temps are dropping to below zero tonight with wind chills. It was a nice evening to sit by the window with my family and watch the big and beautiful snowflakes fall. We warmed up by eating a big bowl of chicken and dumplings.

When our family from Florida was up for Christmas, they cooked these chicken and dumplings with us one evening. The recipe is so simple but yet the food is very delicious. I did a couple of changes so I could make it gluten free.

Ingredients:

1 whole chicken
Gluten Free Bisquick
Milk
Eggs
Butter
Two cartons of chicken broth
Salt and Pepper

Directions:

1. Cook the whole chicken in a pot on the stove. (You can used boneless chicken if you prefer.)

2. Shred the chicken.

3. Combine the chicken broth from the pot with the two cartons of chicken broth. (I use two pots to cook the chicken and dumplings. This works if you do not have a really deep pot.)

4. Put the shredded chicken in the chicken broth. Cook on medium high.

5. Make the gluten free biscuit dough per the instructions on the bisquick box.

6. Drop the biscuit dough by the spoonfuls in the chicken broth. Cook for about 10 to 15 minutes. Until dough is cooked all the way through.

7. Sprinkle salt and pepper. Enjoy!

This recipe makes a big batch. We always have leftovers.

Focusing on the Family in 2014

January 12, 2014 by Jennifer 3 Comments

My heart has really been convicted over the past few months. Obviously, with myself working outside of the home now, my time with the family has been shortened. I am still trying to figure out how to manage this whole work outside of the home gig, but I have been making great strides. My girls will always be my top priority of course alongside my handsome hubby. This past weekend, it dawned on me that we needed a weekly planner. With our busy schedules, each day leaves for lots of guessing at times. I found this weekly printable planner on Pinterest from DigiMamas.com.

Each day is marked with what time I will get off (since we are still working over-time at work), what is for dinner that day, the extracurricular activities for the girls and who is doing pick-up and drop-off. Also, one big thing that is written for every week day – NO Technology from 5:00pm – 8:00pm. This is going to be our first week really pushing the no technology all week but it needs to happen. We are going to allow technology for the family every week night from 8:00pm to 8:45pm. I am excited to see how this works for us. Be prepared to hear an update from me next week.

Then we will end each night at 8:45 with devotions and prayers. This month, we are working through a great devotion book called God’s promises for girls. We focus on two pages a night. Each promise listed on the page includes bible verses. The girls take turns reading the scripture from the bible and then pairing it with the promise in the book. God is already showing his provision with this book. One night last week, L was very worried about her tooth. We need to get it checked out by the dentist but she just was overcome by tears. Our devotion that night was God’s promises when you are worried. Divine intervention right? The wording is appropriate for M and L. The promises are great conversation starters as well. I definitely recommend this book to Moms of little girls!

Spending more time with my family and making that time mean something instead of our faces in front of technology really means so much to me. M and L are not getting any younger. I want to cherish every minute and also grow closer to my husband.

This also means more pictures in 2014 with ME in them. I know you can relate right? Moms are usually the ones behind the camera. Also, we can’t forget about spending time with our sweet Kingston. He is the sweetest and most cuddly dog.

Here’s to focusing on the family more in 2014!

Best winter getaways for families from FamilyFun magazine

January 8, 2014 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

It’s official. It is freezing in all 50 states. Thank goodness though we are reaching temperatures where we can actually enjoy Winter!

FamilyFun magazine has created a list of the best winter getaways in North America for families to explore!

The festival in my town actually made the list and I can agree, it is such a great family experience. We enjoy the winter fun every year.

Winterfest

Blowing Rock, NC

January 23-26

Family-friendly activities abound, including ski and snowboarding lessons, ice carving demos, hayrides, bonfires, kids’ games and crafts, and the Polar Plunge.

blowingrockwinterfest.com

Let’s go from my beautiful mountains of North Carolina to the streets of Quebec, winter festivals offer a feast of frozen delights: snow sculptures, ice palaces, winter-and winterized-sports (think: snow golf and snowshoe softball), along with light shows, fireworks, torchlight parades, and seasonal treats like maple taffy on snow.

Saranac Lake Winter Carnival

Saranac Lake, NY

Jan. 31–Feb. 9

Try snowshoe racing or cross-country skiing; enjoy concerts, dances, and parades; and watch the fireworks over the awesome Ice Palace at this 117-year-old festival.

saranaclakewintercarnival.com

Lake George Winter Carnival

Lake George, NY

February weekends

This lakeside celebration features beach bonfires, ice-diving demos, hot-air balloon rides, a giant snow slide, kite flying, and chili and chowder cook-offs.

lakegeorgewintercarnival.com

Stowe Winter Carnival

Stowe, VT

Jan. 18–Feb. 2

Vermont’s best-known ski town goes all out with snow volleyball and golf, youth hockey and snowboard half-pipe competitions, ski racing, fireworks, and a kids’ carnival.

stowewintercarnival.com

Montréal en Lumière

Montreal, Quebec

Feb. 20–March 2

This sprawling urban festival features light shows, guest gourmet chefs, life-size board games, a Ferris wheel, and a massive sled slide plus music, theater, dance, and circus performances.

montrealenlumiere.com

Carnaval de Québec

Quebec City, Quebec

Jan. 31–Feb. 16

The world’s largest winter carnival boasts sleigh rides, snow slides, nighttime parades, an extreme canoe race, an ice palace, and more.

carnaval.qc.ca/en

Winterlude

Ottawa, Ontario

Jan. 31–Feb. 17

Skate through downtown on a frozen canal, then check out the illuminated ice sculptures, annual bed race, the hockey classic, and the world’s largest snow playground.

ottawafestivals.ca/events/winterlude

Saint Paul Winter Carnival

Saint Paul, MN

Jan. 23–Feb. 2

Go geocaching and thrill to fireworks, parades, hot-air balloon races, sled dog competitions, and the bouncing team’s aerial acrobatics.

winter-carnival.com

Fur Rendezvous

Anchorage, AK

Feb. 21–March 2

Celebrate Alaska’s heritage with the Rondy World Champion Sled Dog Race, the Running of the Reindeer, the blanket toss, outhouse races, and the native arts market.

furrondy.net

Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival

Steamboat Springs, CO

February 5-9

Watch ski jumping, cross-country obstacleracing, and the Dog Dash; compete in shovel and three-legged races; and cheer on the Lighted Man as he sets off fireworks down the slope.

steamboat-chamber.com

Snowdown

Durango, CO

Jan. 29–Feb. 2

Activities all over town mark this annual winter blowout, including a parade, costume party, doggie Olympics, waiter/waitress race, and music.

snowdown.org
Whitefish Winter Carnival

Whitefish, MT

February 7-9

A lake plunge, torchlit parade, horse-towed skiing (ski joring), battle of the bands, and pie social are all part of this kid-friendly fest.

whitefishwintercarnival.com

Hello 2014! What will you bring?

January 1, 2014 by Jennifer 4 Comments

Happy New Year from the Spink Family. We were blessed to all be together over the holiday season.

Hence the reason it has been quiet here. Family time couple with busy season at work has not left much time. I do have a schedule set forth for this blog and my local blog, so this brings excitement for 2014. Thank you all so much for your sweet comments over the years. It has been quite the ride since I started this little space on the web in 2005.

Here is a shout-out to one sweet and faithful reader, Sharon! This picture is just for you. The girls and I preparing Christmas goodies around the table.

We were without a table for too long and we are cherishing this table so much. 2014 will bring more dinners with with the family. I am pledging to create and/or find more recipes the family will eat. We are going to stick with eating out one time a month unless we do a fast food night such as pizza. We want to make sure we are all eating healthy and saving as much money as we can this year.

Another big pledge is taking time for my best friends. Since I started working out of the house, it has been extremely hard to keep up with my precious friends. I never want to take them for granted and I already have one BFF date on the calendar for January. A manicure and dinner out is just what a mom needs to start the New Year. Also, this month I start my pre-op appointments (more on that coming soon) in Raleigh so I am looking forward to getting together with my bestie in Raleigh. It has been way too long. My bestie in Texas who is always there day after day to brighten my day, I want to make sure we get in our skype sessions in with our families. Are you planning to take time with your best friends this year? I highly recommend it. It is good for the soul.

Game nights with the family is another big pledge for 2014. The girls received several new games for Christmas and we always just have so many wonderful laughs. It is good for the entire family to just take time and concentrate on the family. I want to make sure this is a weekly night for us. It will be fun to see how we mix up these nights as well.

Bible time is my biggest pledge for 2014. God has blessed us so much and I was so tied up in my new job that my bible reading was placed on the back burner. Don’t get me wrong, I still read my bible but it was not a fixed time everyday. This year, I am planning on making it a fixed time every single day. I yearn to grow more in my Christian life and understand his word even more.

Those are my pledges for 2014. It’s going to be a fantastic year and a year that I am very much looking forward too!

Jennifer

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