No Rest

Hi all and welcome to another new week!  Eldest Daughter is sick, so I just wanted to remind you to enter the wonderful spirit top giveaway I'm hosting.  Just click here for all the details.  TTFN.

XOXO,

Kim

Weekend Words of Wisdom

Hi all and a happy weekend to you!  With all the talk of fall and my "diet" recipe post from the other day, I thought it only fitting to post these words of wisdom.

Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie.

--Jim Davis

Hope everyone has a great weekend.  We're full of football here!  Which reminds me, don't forget to check out the spirit top giveaway I'm hosting.  TTFN.

XOXO,

Kim

Eggplant Parmesean for a Friend

Hi all and a very Happy Friday to you!  For today, in honor of fall (and as a special request), I've decided to post my eggplant parmesean recipe.  It's so easy and so good.  Nothing like comfort food in the fall, or anytime you're feeling down.  Now, please understand, this isn't a healthy recipe -- well, it does have vegetables!  Kind of like saying fired fish is good for you.  Hope you all enjoy!  TTFN.


XOXO,


Kim


Eggplant Parmesan


Ingredients
2C seasoned breadcrumbs
1-1/2C parmesean romano blend cheese
4 eggs, beaten
2 medium eggplants, sliced 3/4" thick
2C+ Italian blend cheese
3C+ favorite spaghetti sauce
oil for frying


Preheat oven to 350


Dip eggplant slices in egg then into a mixture of the seasoned bread crumbs and 1/2 C of the parmesean romano cheese.  Fry until golden brown and soft.  Drain on paper towels.


Pour enough spaghetti sauce in the bottom of a 13X9 pan to cover and layer 1/2 of the eggplant.  Layer with 1/2 the Italian blend cheese and 1/2 of the remaing parmesean cheese, as well as 1/2 the spaghetti sauce.  Repeat, ending with the cheese.  Bake for approximately 30 minutes, or until golden brown.


I tend to be a little heavy handed when it comes to the cheese and a little lighter on the sauce.  I probably use that amount of sauce, if not a touch more and I know I up the cheeses some.


Great served with a Ceasar salad and fresh baked French bread.

Oh My!!

Hi all!  And a Happy Thursday to you!!  I only have a few minutes for a quick post, as I'm potty training Baby Bubba.  Yes, I'm sick of changing diapers.  Who can blame me?!  He is my fourth baby after all AND both of his sisters were potty trained before now!  In fact, Eldest Daughter potty trained her self at 18 months.  I so miss those days.  I know Baby Bubba is young and a boy, but I can't wait any longer!  TTFN.

Don't forget to enter my spirit top giveaway.

XOXO,

Kim

It's Getting Closer

Hi all!  Hope everyone is having a good week.  Still trying to get on a better schedule with the little ones.  I'm sure it will be much easier once we're not taking off random days for fun.  What fun would that be, though?! 

I can't believe the changing of seasons is fast approaching.  I can even feel it in the air here.  I know, I know it's still in the upper-80's here.  If you're in the shade though, and you feel the breeze, it's cool.  While I'm excited to debut my new fall wardrobe, I'm still not ready to let go of summer.  I love hot, lazy days!  Fall has it's good parts, like pumpkin and fall festivals, but that's really about it.  I truly do prefer warmer weather and long nights outside.  What about you?  What season do you like?  Or, do you like them all? 

With fall fast approaching, don't forget to enter the spirit top giveaway I'm hosting.  Talk about the perfect top for your daughter to support your her favorite team!  TTFN.

XOXO,

Kim

Happy Birthday!

Hi all!  Today Eldest Son turns 11 and I'm so not ready for it.  He's already telling me he's almost a teenager!  Where has the time gone?  Where is that little baby?  The first little boy I held in my arms and stole my heart.  He is my eldest, my first love, my first heartache.  We have grown together and made our share of mistakes, mainly him, of course! :)  Okay, I best stop this before I can't control the tears.  I know I don't say it enough, but I'm so very proud of this young man and can't wait to see the man he will be.  In the meantime, we'll make a Hummingbird Cake to celebrate the day and pizza tonight with his football team.  Not too much else, as we took him on a trip last week and he went to the movies with his dad over the weekend.  I still need to tell y'all about the trip -- delightful!!!

Here's a picture of Eldest Son taken on our trip on his special day of dolphin watching.

Happy Birthday Eldest Son!!!  TTFN.

Oh, don't forget to check out my giveaway!

XOXO,

Kim

Weekend Words of Wisdom (A Hint)

Hi all!!  Happy weekend to you.  Well, this weekend's quote comes from the legendary Alabama coach Paul "Bear" Bryant.  Kind of a hint for the giveaway being announced on Monday.  TTFN!

Show class, have pride, and display character. If you do, winning takes care of itself.

--Paul "Bear" Bryant

XOXO,

Kim

Just You Wait...

Hi all!  Wow, has this been a week!  Just got back from vacation yesterday to run to the dentist this morning.  Now, I'm trying to get caught up with laundry and all the other basic tasks I have to do every day.  I have to tell you about all I have coming up on the blog next week, I'm so excited!!!  First of all, I'm hosting a wonderful giveaway, so all you mommas of sweet little girls, best come back on Monday to check it out!  Also, next week I'll be telling you all about our vacation -- where we went, what we did.  It was SO relaxing and such fun, even with the four kids in tow!!  I think this is a place many of you will enjoy visiting.

Well, I hear the dryer going off and Baby Bubba is fussy.  So I better run!!  TTFN.

XOXO,

Kim 

Goodbye Summer, Already?

Hi all!  Happy day to you.  Well, I know summer is fast coming to an end and it makes me so sad.  How do I know this?  Eldest Son had his first scrimage football game, which means the "real" games will be here before I know it.  The team looks really good and they won the game.  Go Falcons!!  What also helped make it seem more like fall was the fact that it was rainy and gross and chilly. Oh so sad.  Okay, so I know 80 is nowhere near cold, but it sure felt cold to us!  One of the mom's was even wrapped in a blanket!  No, it wasn't me.  I was the mom with the three kids sitting her SUV when the rain was too much!  What fun fall activities do you have planned?  TTFN.

XOXO,

Kim

And The Winner Is...

Hi all!  Sorry this is so late in posting, but am beyond busy!!!  In fact,I just realized my weekend post never made it on here.  So, if you get a second, go check it out.  Enough of my complaining, though.  I'm so happy to announce the winner of my grilling giveaway is Entertaining Mom!  Please contact me with your mailing address so I can get all your goodies to you!  Thanks to all who entered and have played along.  TTFN!

XOXO,

Kim

Weekend Words of Wisdom -- The Sea

Hi all!  Welcome to another addition of weekend words of wisdom.  I'm longing for the beach and quiet time with my family.  Hopefully, it will happen soon.  TTFN.

"For whatever we lose (like a you or a me)

it's always ourselves we find in the sea."

- e.e. cummings

 
XOXO,
 
Kim

Time's A Wasting

Hi all!!  So excited the weekend is almost here!!  What about you?  Well, just a reminder, today is the last day for the grilling giveaway.  Go check it out.  There are several fun finds included.  I'll announce the winner on Moday.  Good luck to all who enter.  TTFN!

XOXO,

Kim

It's Time

Hi all and a Happy Wednesday to you and a very Happy 40th to our dear Shopaholic in Alabama!!!  Hope this year is wonderful for you!

Something happened yesterday, that I thought would make y'all laugh.  Baby Bubba is reaching the ripe old age of 20 months, understand, by this time, both girls were COMPLETELY potty trained!  Well, Baby Bubba is a boy and isn't cooperating or is he just smater than they?!  Yesterday I told him we needed to change his diaper and he went and got one for me.  Okay, so he knows the words.  That's enough to make me know he's ready, but then he decides to run into the living room and grab a pillow for his head.  Yes, you read that right!!  He wanted to make sure he was comfortable.  All with the cutest smile on his face!  So, now I'm trying to potty train him, as much as he has trained me!!!  TTFN.

Oh, don't forget to enter my grilling giveaway.  The deadline is this Friday.

XOXO,

Kim

Oh What a Day -- Wordless Wednesday

Hi all!!  I wish you all such peaceful slumber...

XOXO,

Kim

Cheeseburger in Paradise

Hi all!  In honor of my grilling giveaway, I felt only it appropriate to share this link of Jimmy Buffet's "Cheeseburger in Paradise," complete with photos of all sorts of great grilling burgers!!!  Enjoy!  TTFN.

XOXO,

Kim

Grilling Giveaway

Hi all!  Well, it's another hot week here, which seems to be the new standard.  With all the heat, I haven't been baking as much and have even started using my crockpot more.  Anything to try and keep the house feeling somewhat cool.  Though it really doesn't matter the temperature, we have been doing a lot of grilling here which inspired me for this...

That's right, I'm hosting a grilling giveaway with these fun items.  These are all from my personal stash and contain some of my favorite products that I think you will enjoy, too.  Included are a chicken roaster pan -- you can put beer, wine or other marinades in it, a bottle of W ketchup (thank you to Entertaining Mom for introducing me to it!), a bottle of Smack Yo Mama BBQ sauce (I buy it every year at a Fall Festival), 3 different types of seasoning blends and a tomato relish.

So, here are the rules.

For one entry you MUST be a follower, either become a follower and let me know or let me know you already follow. 

For another entry, leave a comment about your favorite grilling experience/recipe.

For two entries either tweet this contest (@4kidlets -- so I know you have) or blog about it.

Please put your comments into one comment and let me know how many entries to give you. 

The giveaway will run through Friday, August 13 at midnight eastern time, with the winner being announced on Monday the 16th.  Good luck to all!  TTFN!!

XOXO,

Kim

Weekend Words of Wisdom and a Clue...

Hi all and a happy weekend to you!  The following quote is a clue about next weeks giveaway. 

"A mighty porterhouse steak an inch and a half thick, hot and sputtering from the griddle; dusted with fragrant pepper; enriched with little melting bits of butter of the most unimpeachable freshness and genuineness; the

precious juices of the meat trickling out and joining the gravy, archipelagoed with mushrooms; a township or two of tender, yellowish fat gracing an out- lying district of this ample county of beefsteak; the long white bone which divides the sirloin from the tenderloin still in its place."

~ from the writings of Mark Twain, while touring Europe in 1878

Any guesses? Please share. TTFN.



XOXO,


Kim

Inspiration, Please!!!

Hi all!  Well, this didn't take long.  First week of school and I'm already uninspired for this blog, school ideas I have aplenty.  With that out there, any one have any ideas to share?!  No particular topic, I just need some inspiration.  TTFN!

XOXO,

Kim

Wordless Wednesday -- Toothless Fairy!!!

XOXO,

Kim

My Hero

Hi all!  Well, it's been a little rocky here, but I think we'll survive.  It's always fun getting back into a school routine!! I just wish I could be as tough as my little hero here...

My poor Ittybit gave herself her first black eye the other day and is wearing it as a badge of honor.  She tells everyone how cool it is and loves showing it off!!  Not only would I not find it cool, I would be hiding under the covers worrying that everyone would find me ugly.  I'm so proud this little girl has such confidence and realizes this is an outward symbol of her great strength.  Now, will her great strength and wisdom wear off on me?!  TTFN.

XOXO,

Kim

How Hot is It?!

Hi all, welcome to a new week, and month.  Hope this finds y'all doing well!!!  As you know, the two oldest started their classes today, so if you have a moment, please say a prayer for a peaceful transition back into our school schedule.

To start preparing ourselves for the fun of a new school year, I decided Friday was to be a day of eggsperiments and other eggsperiences!!  Okay, so I'm not the funniest girl in the world, but my guys had fun.  First, we went to our local egg farm and picked up our usual order -- a flat of farm fresh eggs.  These truly are the best eggs and the best deal -- 30 extra large eggs for $2.  Yes, we go through that many eggs every week!  I also had a few store bought eggs here to use for comparison.  We thoroughly went over our eggs and discovered how strong, and fragile, they can be, as well as finding out if eggs could float by follwing these experiments.  We are also working on the "naked egg" experimemt.  Simply put, you cover the eggs with vinegar and it "eats" the shell.  This has been a lot of fun and watching the kids observe the differences between farm fresh and store bought has been fun -- I love when they really pay attention to detail.  By the way, we have observed farm fresh eggs seem to have a thicker shell. 


Now, how do we know it's hot here?!  Well, we could simply turn on the local weather report or even step outside to roast, but Husband and I had a better idea.  We discovered it's so hot outside you can...

Oh, yeah, we fried an egg!!!  Well, I must be off for our new adventures in learning.  TTFN!

XOXO,

Kim