Day 243 - The Best Chicken Strips & Sauce Ever

Day 242 - My Motivation

This little baby is what keeps me working out!! I started working out faithfully two weeks ago and discovered the elliptical machine that is fabulous for my knees because there's NO impact.  I play just the right music and I'm off!!!

Day 241 - It Pays

PandaGirl's allowance is $2 per week and then she gets paid a little to do a couple of extra chores.  I got this idea from my dear friend at the beginning of summer and it works with PG.  I start the week with 8 quarters and take a quarter away for disrespectful attitudes, eye-rolling, disobedience, etc.  I also have been known to allow her put a quarter BACK into the cup if I really catch her doing the right thing without being told to do so.  Very effective for her.

Day 240 - One Year Dog-aversary

It blows my mind that today marks the one year date for us having brought home this crazy PandaDoggie!!! I have cried, laughed, wanted to kill, wanted to give away, wanted to strangle, hugged, snuggled with and played with this adorable DEAF DOGGIE more than I can imagine in the past year.  He's like a growth that won't go away and takes so much work, leaves tons of white hair everywhere, is spoiled rotten and still puts his big paw in the middle of my cat's tummy but wins my heart over every single time I think about his disability.  His deafness and his super sweet disposition keeps him alive and well and thriving in our PandaFamily.

Day 239 - Homemade Cherry Pie

This is PandaPop's mema's recipe with a couple of secrets that his mom taught me how to make.  It the third time I've made it in four years and the only real pie I've ever attempted.  I know.....I should try more pie baking!!! It's PP's favorite pie and is very nostalgic for him.

Day 238 - Children's Ministry Event

Day 237 - The Birds & The Bees & a Frappuccino, Please

I needed something to distract from the awkwardness of telling PandaGirl about the facts of life and how bodies work and such so at the last second I remembered that I had some coffee in the fridge and whipped up some pretty amazing fraps for us girls to enjoy while we delved into the great......well, you know. hee....hee.....  We had a BLAST!!!

Day 236 - Child-Free Shopping-Spree!!

And all God's people said, "Amen."

Day 235 - 3rd Grade Textbooks

Day 234 - 19th Wedding Anniversary

Using our same 99 cent glasses that PandaPop bought at the grocery store way back in our seminary days. We use them every year to celebrate the blessings of our marriage.  God knew what He was doing when He introduced me to my best friend. He is my Love.

Day 233 - Ready for the 1st Day of School

Day 232 - SHINE

These DARLING handmade blingy gemstone keychains were our party favor at the luncheon that went along with our SHINE theme.  Every time we use the key on the keychain we are reminded to SHINE for the glory of the Lord and the work He is continually doing through us when the light shines through the stones.  They were displayed on the cupcake-tree table and we got to choose which one we wanted as we also chose our cupcake.  That's my kind of dessert...frosting & bling!

Day 231 - Whimsy

This is part of my set up for the tablescape I did for our Women's Ministry luncheon where we kick off the academic year with a showcase of all the opportunities available for Bible Study, missions and other women's groups that we offer at our church.  I so love doing these table set-ups!!! My inspiration all started with that darling little retro straw.  I saw it on Pinterest** and knew I HAD TO do something cute with them.  They were a hit.

Day 230 - Grillin'

With the HORRIBLY HOT summer we are still having, we really could have cooked these babies on the sidewalk, but figured the grill was cleaner.  We are so sick of 110 degree days back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to......

Day 229 - RIP Shadow

We froggy-sat Shadow.  Shadow went to be with Jesus during the first night.  His life was short.  The owners understood the grave circumstances.

Day 228 - School Supplies---CHECK

Day 227 - His & Hers---Switched

Mine was the blue and His was the pink.  Mixed together was pretty good, too!

Day 226 - Sweets from a Sweet

Precious girl from my 6th grade Bible Study class blessed me and my co-teacher with these darling treats along with a movie gift card just for being her teacher at church.

Day 225 - Saturday Breakfast Out---my favorite

Day 224 - Tablescape Prepping

Day 223 - You Smell Like Beef & Cheese

Day 222 - Completely Squeezable

Day 221 - Our Favorite PB

Day 220 - Delectable

Day 219 - Big Girl Panties

Day 218 - On the Lake

Day 217 - Shhhh---They're TOUCHING!!!

Day 216 - The Root Beer Bottles

Day - 215 - The Tournament

I have to say that this photo IS FABULOUS!!!!!!! I took it at Medieval**Times which is an entertainment place that serves 11th century food you eat with your fingers and actual (choreographed) jousting with real horses and knights and kings, etc.  It was soooooo much FUN!!!!!  I captured this moment in a nano-second of time when the swords of the good guy and the bad guy hit in their final battle.  I put the watermark across the middle because I don't want it stolen from here by anyone.  I plan sending it to the company because it is so COOL!! In real life the sparks were tiny, but the camera doesn't lie, right?  I guess it happened so fast that our eyes didn't catch it like my little 50mm 1.8 did.

The night before we went to a Japanese hibachi grill for dinner which was fabulous fun for the girls to see fire right at our table, but I took my point & shoot camera and the pics are gross. : (

Day 214 - WaterPark!!!

I am NOT a waterpark kinda girl since I burn so easily and certainly do not like to be in public in a swimsuit, but this new park opened up in our area and we loved every second of it!!!!

Day 213 - Melt in Your Mouth

We picked up these babies at a mall that we stopped by when kicking off our vacation staycation. They were gone the first night!!