The Brownies Are Back!

I hope this post find you all doing well.  The Brownies are back! Thank you for being so patient with me. I know my last post was about a month ago, but my first priority is family. I have been working on things to share with you, and I'm so excited about the future of this blog.

Let me tell you,  moving is not easy. It has taken much more time to get settled than I expected, but we love our new home. Each morning I wake up with a smile on my face because I feel so blessed to be in our new home. The memory making has already begun!

Now that most of the unpacking has been completed, we have started our project list. Like proud homeowners, the hubby and I have begun making weekend trips to Lowe's to complete some of the small projects on our list. Here are a few things we are working on.

• Upgrade dryer cord to four-prong cord.
• Replace garage door springs (they broke our first week in the home).
• Upgrade to three-pronged outlets in the living room and master bedroom
• Hang all art and mirrors.
• Organize playroom toys and books.
• Organize storage area.
• Prepare for a fall garden.
• Create a composting station.
• Create a recycling station.

Again, we are so blessed to begin this new journey in our new home. Please continue to pray for our family and read about our progress. Here are a few pictures of my favorite room in our home, the kitchen!

Weekend Round-Up

Hi there! It has been a few days since my last post. Things have been busy in the Brownie home. What have we been up to? Mostly we have been preparing for closing and the big move! From inspections to paperwork, purchasing a house keeps you busy.

We had our first home inspection last Wednesday and it went well overall. Some electrical issues did arise, but I am confident the seller will resolve all of the issues. The inspector said overall the house was very structurally sound so that gives me a good feeling. Please keep our family and the sellers in prayer as we move forward in this process.

My husband and I have also been busy preparing all of the paperwork our lender needs for closing. Collecting all of our financial documents and having them notarized has kept us busy in the evenings.

It hasn't been all business and no fun. Yesterday I was able to "preview" and estate sale and pick up a few items for the new house. I am really excited about our new pieces. We will pick them up this weekend and I can't wait to share them with you.

I will only be posting a couple of days a week during this busy time in our lives. Please continue to read. I enjoy reading your comments and sharing this journey with you.  Here are a few pictures of Catherine being silly over the weekend. For some reason Catherine now enjoys here baby swing?? Stay blessed!

DIY: Cloth Napkins

My husband and I try to be as "green" as we can be. I would like to say that our commitment to being "green" began by our desire to save the earth, but it was actually our desire to save money. Although saving money is a major factor in our desire to be "green", we have developed a more conscious approach to the things we purchase and how we live our lives.

So what does being green and frugal in the Brownie home look like? We recycle everything. When I say everything, I really mean everything. From cans, glass and cardboard to the paper on the back of my nursing pads. Not only do we recycle, we cloth diaper, use a water filter (no plastic water bottles here), real dishes (no paper plates), and even buy second hand.

With Catherine's food allergies causing our food budget to soar, I have decided to take another step toward "greening" our home. By removing paper towels from our home I will not only save money (about $100/year), but help the earth. Over the next month I will transition my family to only using cloth napkins and towels. The only paper product that will be left in our house will be toilet paper. 

Today during nap time and even after dinner, I sewed our first set of cloth napkins. It was easy!  I simply used scrap fabric I had in my stash to create our napkins. I love the pattern. I feel it is appropriate for spring! Today I made 6 napkins.  I plan to eventually sew a total of 42 by upcycling vintage sheets I purchased for only $3 at the Salvation Army.

Do you use cloth napkins? What are the ways you save money for your family. Share your ideas for being "green" and frugal in the comment section.

Seeds of Faith: Finding a Home Pt. 3

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.Romans 8:28

On Sunday I said I had some exciting news. We found a home! We made an offer last Friday and it was accepted Saturday evening. I am so glad this process is almost over. We have the home inspection this week and then onto closing.  This process has been very emotional for me, but I give all of the praise and honor to God for making it possible.

All I can say is God is always on time. I know the last time I wrote about our home search in this post, I was down because we lost a home. I know now it was so that I could have a testimony. The promise of Romans 8:28, is true. Not only did we find a home with everything on our wish list, but it was priced just right, and in a better part of town than the house we lost. God always knows what is best for us.

Now that we have found our home the packing has begun. I have always tried to post at least 4 times a week but with the big changes in our household, I may only have time to write 2 post a week. I ask that you keep our family in prayer as we finish this journey and begin a new one.

Savory Sunday: My Favorite Kitchen Tools

I hope you all are doing well. Things have been busy in the Brownie home. I will update you later this week on some of the exciting changes.

In this weeks edition of Savory Sunday instead of sharing a new recipe, I have decided to share my top five kitchen tools. Being an accomplished home cook, I have an array of kitchen tools. Many of my tools fill my kitchen counters, but listed below are the tools I use most. You might be able to guess what color accents my kitchen!

1. Mixing Bowls: I love my red mixing bowls. I use them almost everyday. They are great because they have a spout.
2. Wooden Spoon: I use my wooden spoon everyday. From cooking and sauteing to mixing cookie dough. This spoon does it all. Best of all it doesn't scratch any of my pans. 
3. Mason Jars: I use mason jars for several things around my house. In the kitchen I use them for storage and I often drink from them.
4. Dutch Oven: I love my Le Creuset cast iron dutch oven. I use it for cooking great soups and stews. I have also used it as a deep fryer. 
5. Whisk: I use my whisk often. I currently don't have an electric mixer, so I mix everything by hand. 

What are some of your favorite kitchen tools?

Seeds Of Faith: Finding a Home Pt. 2

This morning my husband and I found out our offer was not accepted. I must admit that I am feeling disappointed and frustrated with the home buying process. The only thing keeping me going is my faith. I know that God has a plan for our family.Keep our family in prayer as we move forward in this process.

Seeds Of Faith: Finding a Home Pt.1

  Source

 Last week I shared that my husband and I have officially started the house hunting process here. We have been through this process before, only to be disappointed when our deal fell through. Although this process has been difficult, I know what God has something special for our family. Finding a home has defiantly been a faith building experience for me.

When my husband and I were first married, I never dreamed we would be able to afford a home of our own. Living on one income with significant student loan debt, I never imagined we would qualify. 

 I  believe God knows what we need even before we ask. I can say without a doubt that God has blessed us with an opportunity to buy a home. Yes, we have worked hard and sacrificed, but I know it is the hand of God working in our lives that has led us to this point. I could share testimony after testimony of how God has blessed us and how the promise of Malachi 3:10 is true.

This Sunday we went house hunting again.  I am pleased to say that we found a house we would like to make an offer on. Owning this home would lower and stabilize our housing cost and give us room to grow as a family. Best of all it has been completely renovated. Everything is new and energy efficient.

For the last year, we have been looking at listings online and searching for the perfect home for our family. Now that we have found a home, I am excited, yet nervous, but faithful that the dream will be realized. Home buying has been a long an challenging process for us, but I believe , Those who sow with tears reap with songs of joy. Psalm 126:5.