Ultimate Blog Party 2010

Welcome to Between the Lines!  My name is Kel and I am your typical suburban mom with a lot to say about almost everything.  Many of my readers enjoy reading my daily trivia question or movie quote. While others stick just to the recipes.  My daily post usually focus on topics that pertain to my family and I, but I have been known to explore other topics as well.  

Are you ready for the Ultimate Blog Party of 2010? This fabulous blog party is sponsored by 5 Minutes for Mom and promises to be a great time! Last year, this party was a major hit amongst the mom’s in the blogospehere. These ladies were not only able to discover new blogs and increase their own traffic and followers, but they also won fabulous prizes! I am new to the blogging community and I am excited to take part in this fun little get together with 1000’s of my closest friends! Click on the link below to check out all the important details!

 A great part of the Blog Party giveaway is that they let you pick your own prizes! It is so hard to choose from all the wonderful prizes, but at the top of my wish list is the fabulous Toshiba Laptop, the Be My Guest certificate to Hilton Hotels from Hilton Garden Inn, the $100 gift certificate to Kay Jewelers from an unpink life, The Double Stacked A Lot of Love necklace from Kristen’s Custom Creations, and the $50 gift certificate from Target. Of course I would still be happy if I won any of these other great prizes in order: (US and Canada) 8, 25, 10, 33, 39, or 37. (US) 40, 11, 18,  72, 73, 74, 84, 76, 8, 31, 32, 55, 52, 61,15, 37, or 10. Thanks for all those who donated for this awesome Blog Party!

Recipe Corner: Homemade Ice Cream

My daughter had a lot of fun making ice cream at school with her class. She decided we needed to do it at home too. Unfortunately, I had no idea how to make it, so I had to look it up. I hope you enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup cold milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 pint heavy cream
• Your favorite mix in (candy, nuts, etc…)

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, stir together cold milk, vanilla, condensed milk and salt. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, beat heavy cream with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Fold milk mixture into whipped cream. Add mix in.
3. Pour into shallow 2 quart dish, cover and freeze for 4 hours, stirring once after 2 hours or when edges start to harden. Serve or store in an airtight container up to 10 days.

Movie Quotes

Can you guess what movie this quote is from? Bonus if you can guess the character!

"How do you like them apples?"

Values: Part Two

Yesterday, I posted a piece on values and a few ideas of hands on activities that enforce them. After posting it, I came across an article from Parents magazine that discussed the same topic. Since we already started the discussion, I figured I would share some of their ideas. Respect, for me, is a very important value in any stage of a person’s life. Parents Magazine suggests you help your child learn to respect their elders by visiting a retirement community. Bake a few muffins or cookies and hand deliver them with a smile. You could also help brighten the days of the community by allowing your child put on a musical or dance recital. This will not only teach your child kindness and respect, but also perseverance. Practice makes perfect!

Parents Magazine also has a great idea to help kids learn responsibility. Since there are not many chores that children can do on their own, why not make one up. Parents Magazine suggests you have a toy wash. Gather your child’s washable toy and place them in a soapy sink. Let them wash their toys, rinse them off, and dry them. This will teach children responsibility and that chores can be “fun”.

Another good idea from Parent’s magazine is one that I’ve had my children do since they were old enough to hold a crayon. Creating a homemade card is not only fun, but it can also teach children gratitude and sympathy. My girls, 3 and 5, now make cards on their own without any prompting. They use paper, crayons, stickers, and whatever they can get their hands on. They love trying to make people feel better by drawing them a picture or creating a card to say thank you. What kind of activities do you do to help enforce the values you teach at home? Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Recipe Corner: Yummy Fruit Smoothie

With the temperature reaching about 90 degrees this week, I thought we were in need of a cold recipe. This is a great fruit smoothie and can’t wait to make it again for my family. Just don’t tell my husband what’s in it!

Ingredients

• 1 kiwi, sliced
• 1 banana, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 cup blueberries
• 1 cup strawberries
• 1 cup ice cubes
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1 (8 ounce) container peach yogurt

Directions

1. In a blender, blend the kiwi, banana, blueberries, strawberries, ice, orange juice, and yogurt until smooth. (if you want to eliminate the ice cubes, start with frozen fruit)

Movie Quotes

Can you guess what movie this quote is from? Bonus if you can guess the character too! No peeking!!

"I wish I had a guardian angel to tell me what to do. You know like Debbie Reynolds had in "Tammie." What do you think?"

Values

With my daughter now in public school, we have met many children outside our little intimate playgroup. For the most part, it has been a good experience for her. However, I have noticed many children lack certain values that I try to instill in my kids. Before my daughter had entered elementary school, I had read more news reports on violent and disrespectful kids than I can count. I always felt bad for these children and their victims, but always dismissed the articles or reports. This could never happen in our small suburban neighborhood. Right!?! Unfortunately, my ignorance bubble was shattered a few short months after the first day of kindergarten. My daughter would come home daily with stories from school, especially from lunch time and from the bus. She even started picking up on some the disrespectful behavior. I have now returned to my daily reminders of the importance of good values. Every morning, to my eldest daughter’s dismay, I recite almost the same speech. She sometimes even recites it with me. And she always reminds me that she is already knows “all that stuff”. Still, I feel that it is my job to raise my children to be good citizens. If that means annoying them a little, oh well!

Although I feel that it is important to give my girls a little pep talk each morning, lecturing can only go so far. Children often learn better (in all areas) when they can actually do something. Doing is easier and more fun than listening. A few weeks ago, my girls each started their own garden. We began by going to the local nursery and picking our very own seeds. To accomplish any growth in their new garden, my kids are learning some very important values. Perseverance is a definite must! Since seeds don’t just grow into flowers overnight, the girls are learning the importance of patience and sticking to something they made a commitment to. They are also learning the importance of nurturing. They check their garden everyday to make sure it is getting enough water and sun. After their flowers bloom, they are deciding who they want to share them with. The value of thoughtfulness is very important to have throughout your life.

Charity is also an important value that should be taught at an early age. A charitable person can make such a big difference in the world, whether they help a single person or an entire country. From the age of two, I have shared my charitable works with my girls. Of course, being a stay at home with a hard working husband, I can’t do much. But what I can do, I know makes a difference. My children have watched me bring food to the salvation army soup kitchen, can goods to the soup pantry, collect toys for Toys for Tots, gather shoes for Soles for Souls, help friends on bed rest, work for Habitat for Humanity, and cut my hair for Locks of Love. Now that they are a bit older, they even ask me if they can donate toys or share their food. My eldest daughter even donated her long hair to Locks of Love!

The love and charity in their heart brings me overwhelming joy and I pray that they will keep their values close to their heart. As they grow, they will continue to face others who do not share in the same values and I pray that their little hearts will not be swayed. Do you think the values of America’s youth are strong? Who is to blame? The parents? The media? Our culture? Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Movie Quotes

Can you guess what movie this quote is from?  Bonus is you can guess the character!

"If they can dye the river green today, why can't they dye it blue the other 364 days of the year?"

Drywall Toxins

As parents, my husband and I are always careful when we purchase toys for our children. With countless amounts of toys being mass produced in China and then later recalled for toxins, it is definitely important to know where your toys came from. But not once did we stopped and think about where our drywall was coming from. We bought our home about three years ago brand new and never thought about our builder’s products. However, after reading an article from Yahoo about toxic drywall in Virginia and Florida, we are a little concerned. Of course the chances of our drywall being toxic are slim, but we contacted our builder anyway. The Feds are stating that anyone with this Chinese drywall will have to gut their entire house. And from the sound of some of the people they interviewed, the financial burden is solely on the homeowner. Of course, the government is suing the Chinese manufacturers, but until the cases are resolved the homeowners will be on their own. If you are interested in reading the article go to http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100402/ap_on_bi_ge/us_chinese_drywall . Do you think the home builders should be responsible for repairing the home? Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Recipe Corner: Grilled Chicken

The warm weather is back, so break out those bored grills and try this wonderful grilled chicken recipe. It is easy to make and yummy to eat. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

Directions

1. Combine the first five ingredients; spread on both sides of chicken. Place chicken on plate. Marinate at room temperature for 10-15 minutes or for several hours in the refrigerator. Grill, uncovered, over medium coals, turning once, for 10-15 minutes or until juices run clear.

2. If you don’t have a grill, you can also bake the chicken as chicken strips at 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes.

Movie Quotes

Can you guess which movie this quote comes from?  Bonus if you can name the character too!

"I may not be a smart man, but I know what love is."

Reading Review: Dee Henderson

Dee Henderson is an amazing author! I was so surprised when I discovered not many people were familiar with her wonderful books. Although all her novels are worth a read, my favorite (and my sister’s) series is The O’Malley Series. The O’Malley series follows an astonishing family as they face roadblocks in their road to finding Christ. This family is like none I’ve ever seen, and not just because they all have COOL jobs! These seven young adults met each other when they were younger and orphans. They created a bond so tight that after they were old enough to move out on their own, they all legally changed their names and became a brand new unique group. Each book in the O’Malley series focuses on one of the siblings. While the rest of them are present throughout the novel, they are there as a support team.


The first in the series is called The Negotiator. It follows Kate O’Malley and her life as a police negotiator. Throughout the book, Kate struggles with falling in love, accepting Christ, and keeping herself alive.


The second in the series is called The Guardian. The Guardian follows Marcus O’Malley and the struggles he faces as a U.S. Marshall. Marcus has always been the big brother of the group. But as he struggles to rediscover his faith, he may need some support from his family.


The Truth Seeker is the third book in the series. This novel follows Lisa O’Malley and her investigations as a forensic pathologist. Lisa is good at what she does, but so is the killer. After discovering the truth of some recent murders, Lisa goes missing. Will her secret admirer Marshall Quinn Diamond and her family find her in time?


Jack O’Malley is the focus of the fourth book in the series. As The Protector, Jack works as a firefighter who is up against a heartless serial arsonist. In this fast paced thriller, we are introduced to Cassie Ellis. Together they will struggle with the dangers of past, present, and future fires. Will they find their faith in the process?


The fifth book in the series is The Healer. This book focuses Rachel O’Malley. Rachel specializes in working with children who have suffered trauma. The Healer follows Rachel as she deals with a school shooting in her community.


The final book in the series is The Rescuer. The Rescuer follows Stephen O’Malley as he struggles to deal with a personal tragedy while maintaining his job as a paramedic. With one love one dead and one in danger, will Stephen be able to pull it together to be The Rescuer?


I know you will enjoy all these thrilling and fast paced novels. This is definitely a series you won’t want to put down. After you are done, go back and read Dangers In The Shadows. This is a prequel to the O’Malley series. Enjoy!

Recipe Corner: Velveeta Dip

Now I’m sure most everyone has heard of this easy dip, but just in case you haven’t, I needed to share it with you. This is an easy recipe that you can see on the Velveeta or Hormel Chili commercials. It is so delicious!

Ingredients

- Velveeta Processed Cheese Loaf
- One Can of Hormel Chili (our favorite has meat and beans)
- Chips or Veggies to dip in it

Directions

- Cut the cheese into one inch cubes. Place the cubes in a microwavable safe bowl.
- Pour Chili onto the cubes and microwave until melted.
- Make sure to stir every 30 seconds to keep it from burning.
- Dip your chip or veggie and enjoy!

Movie Quotes

Can you guess what movie this quote is from?  Bonus if you can guess the character too!  No peeking!!!

"Does Barry Manilow know that you raid his wardrobe? "

Silent Sunday

                    A Very Happy Easter From My Bunnies To Yours!!!

He Has Risen!  Rejoice In The Wonder Of The Day!