Colter Toast

It's his favorite breakfast. One morning he made it all by himself and surprised me. Now we call it "Colter Toast". The recipe is well known but his is special for other reasons. Here's the recipe...
Here's the reasons this recipe is special. The heart cookie cutter shape is for Valentines day coming up. And this toast is extra yummy when made with homemade bread. And we use coconut oil! If you don't know about coconut oil... take 5 minutes and google it. It's worth the time and I think you'll understand why we are using it in all our cooking these days.

Oh, and I love our little chef's 'almost laugh' in this picture. He really didn't want to smile but I got it outta him in the form of making him laugh! :)

Hope you'll try this easy, quick, nutritiously loaded breakfast soon,
Alison

Rickrack in a Row

Here are 4 steps to create a cute, homemade gift...

Modge podge coaster tutorial next!

Alison

For Those Who Need an Update...

Our camera has plenty of pictures documenting this first year of Lita-Girl's life. Lots of firsts, lots of happy moments to remember. Here's a few from this last month...

how many babies can YOU hold at one time?

and if you have to drop one, which one should you drop?
maybe the one who's got it's fist up your nose...

this works great when Mom asks you to take care of the baby
so she can PLEASE GET SUPPER MADE...

this little girl loves to play with her toys!
as long as she's not hungry or tired...

she's happy in her highchair for a while but when you put her down it's go, go, go...

last Saturday was the very first day that Melita went out to play with the kids in the snow...
maybe mostly because we haven't had much snow this winter!

she loved it (contrary to what the picture says)!
it was a good twenty minutes before Kyla brought her back in the house...

Here are some more things I want to remember...

-She has had more ear pain this last week but I have been making my own olive oil/pressed garlic ear drops and putting them in her ears. They work great!!! She doesn't smell so well but hey... it's better than the sleepless nights and doctor visits. ;)

-The other day I was putting foam curlers in Maya's hair. I was sitting on the couch with Maya in front of me and Melita was in her little walker. I was trying to keep the comb and curlers out of her reach but forgot once and set the comb down right on the edge of the couch. She grabbed it and made a mad dash down the hall in her walker. We all just couldn't help laughing and laughing. :D

-She loves her little walker and knows how to stay right in my way with it and she thinks its funny to run into my feet. Hilarious in fact, because of my anticipated "OUCH". It started out as a little game between the two of us but now it's not so funny! This is always interesting when I'm trying to make breakfast and lunches for the kids so I can get them out the door to school. Oh yes, she has a way of starting out my day just right. ;)

-She is now doing the sign language for "food or hungry" and she says "num-num". She tries to say the kids names now but doesn't do the consonants very well yet. Today she said "Amma" for Grandma. She knows the works "no-no", "please", and "thank-you" very well. In fact when I walk toward her saying "NO NO" she holds out what ever she's holding that she shouldn't be and says, "tant-oo, tant-oo". Too cute! Whenever it gets really quiet in the house, I know she's into something. I just have resorted to keeping most doors closed!

-She's standing up and walking along the furniture. She got her first bruised cheek the other day when she tumbled against one of the kitchen chairs. :(

-She's still a squealer and a giggler.

I know there is probably more that I'm forgetting. I really need to write these things down. Wait... I am writing them down (pat pat on the back).

Have a great week everyone!
Alison

Snowboarders Among Us

Kyla tried snowboarding the other day for the first time. Randy went along for some good old fashioned downhill skiing, and took this video so we could all see the fun they had. Just slightly jealous here! ;) So, wanted to share this video with Auntie Melinda and Cousin Laura, her fellow snowboarding rebels! SEE what you've done to our daughter!

Lovin' it,

Alison

Chocolate Update and Loaded Fruit Smoothies

I'm still here and I do have some posts coming up but they will have to wait for another day. Since I spent all my "blogging time" this morning on the post below which I posted over at the exercise blog, I just thought I would post it on my blog too. Sorry it's a little wordy...

I don't know how to put my feelings into this post this morning. But, I will do my best. When Sarah posted her new years resolutions (about eating no chocolate for the year) I immediately thought, "ridiculous". But almost as fast as I thought that, I thought. "YOU NEED TO DO THIS!" I very quickly decided to do it and I haven't looked back. It has been one of the best health decisions I have made.

When I was in college, I used to drink a daily dose of diet coke and when I got married I continued my habit. One day, my husband and I just decided to quit pop and we did. That's been nearly 14 years ago and we haven't touched pop since. In fact, when I think of drinking it, it makes me ill, just to think of it. Later we cut out all juices, opting instead for the real thing... fruit! So, I haven't had juice in the house for years other than for special occasions or an occasional package of juice boxes to send with the kids for lunch. I do let my kids have pop and juice occasionally at restaurants or at friends houses because I do want them to be able to start making their own decisions. Hopefully they will see the value of make wise decisions for their health. But I won't be surprised if they turn out just like me when they hit college and independent life ;) Everyone has to live and learn.

I don't know if it's a character flaw or benefit, but when I make a decision to do something it's all or nothing for me. It seems like if I allow myself some allowances and say... "I will just have one piece of chocolate a day", I will fail miserably. But if I say... "I will have NO chocolate", that is something I can stick too. It's a no tolerance policy! And it's working again. Thanks Sarah for putting the idea in my head.

During the holidays, when I loading up on sweets, I just felt sick. This scares me because there is Diabetes in my family and some autoimmune diseases. I was not feeling so well when I woke up in the mornings. Brain fog, lack of motivation, back pain. I'm feeling great now and it's all because I just decided to cut out chocolate. When I crave a treat or some munchies or something to drink I go through a decision process. In the past I would always choose chocolate if it was in the house. If I was in town I was always talking myself into grabbing a candy bar at the check stand or stopping to get a mocha. Now since I can't have chocolate I can much more easily talk myself out of these moments of pointless indulgence. If I can't have chocolate, what's the point of eating something that will just make me regret it later! I think cutting out chocolate is more than half the battle for me on my journey to eating healthier. I have no doubt I will be able to keep this resolution!

I haven't been exercising much lately. I hope to get back at it soon. Even without exercise I have dropped over 5 pounds in the last 2 weeks. My weight has been steadily decreasing since the first of the year and I know this will continue with my changed eating habits alone. Adding my exercising back in can only benefit me more.

I wanted to share this with you...



3/4 to 1 cup of Almond Milk
Handful of spinach
1/4 to 1/2 lemon with yellow skin cut off
2 different fruits (one frozen or both)
-banana
-apple
-orange
-berries
-plums
-cherries
-pineapple
-etc...
15 to 20 drops of stevia
1 teas flax seed oil
1 teas olive oil
1 teas flax seed
1 teas chia seed
Add ice if you don't have frozen fruit.

Combine all in a high powered blender and liquify. Enjoy!

My mom passed this along to me. Actually when she makes it, she uses 1 tablespoon of both oils and of the chia seeds and 2 tablespoons of the flax seed. I usually make if for a mid morning "snack". If you don't know about flax seed and chia seeds, click here... FLAX SEEDS/OIL or here... CHIA SEEDS

Have a great weekend everyone! Keep up the good work.
Alison

Simplify: Week 7

I have been wanting to do this time consuming project, that would hugely simplify my life, for a long time! I should have taken a picture of the pile of old address books, envelopes, sticky notes, ripped off corners of papers and outdated lists with addresses and phone numbers that used to reside in my secretary. Sometimes the pile wasn't so much a pile, but instead a cascading mass that would fall all over the place when I would open my desk. So frustrating! Finally, finally, I sat down with a spreadsheet at the computer and entered all the information into one long spreadsheet. I even added email addresses. So it's ALL there, at my fingertips. The minute I was done, I threw my pile into the fire and burned it. It felt good! Really, really good. You should see my desk now...Ahhhh.

My goal was to get this done before I sent out my New Year's cards. I'm not quite through my mailing yet but maybe after the kids go to bed tonight I will finish. Instead of a letter, I just included the address of our blog on the photo card. I didn't want to bore everyone who reads this blog with all the details of our life when you already know them. And anyone who doesn't read our blog probably doesn't care to read a letter either. lol!

And if you don't get a card from me it either means that I lost your address one day when I opened my desk and it didn't make it onto my spreadsheet, or I have an old address from 15 years ago, or I don't have your address at all. I have plenty of cards so drop me your address at hugsfromus(at)yahoo(dot)com.

I wanted to do a quick update on all my other Simplify posts (click on the blue links below to read the posts)...

Simplify: Week 1 - Sandwich and snack organizing containers. This still works great! I'm pretty sure I'll keep doing this as long as I'm making lunches.

Simplify: Week 2 - The ten cents pick-up bin. This is amazing! It works! At first I used the big rubbermaid with the big sign on it saying "Ten Cents per Item Please, Thank you" to keep the kids aware of it. Now they have the idea, so I use a decorative basket that slides away in the bookshelf. I seriously don't have a pick-up problem anymore in the main area of the house.

Simplify: Week 3 - Workout routine. Well, with a teething and sick baby at the end of the year and the holiday happenings, this workout routine mostly fell by the way. I have, however, severely changed my diet since the new year and I am working back into my workouts.

Simplify: Week 4 - Organization boards, chore charts, and daily household routine. Some days work and some days don't work. It's been great to have the boards and to check the charts and lists. Definitely a good step in simplifying my life.

Simplify: Week 5 - Getting rid of stuff. You know what? I don't miss any of it.

Simplify: Week 6 - Bookshelves and organizing playroom. On Saturday, Randy and Colter ripped apart another room downstairs so they could make it into a bedroom for Colter. Guess where all the stuff in that room had to go... into the playroom. So now I need to go through all that stuff. Ah life, it's an ongoing project...

So this will be my last "Simplify" post for now. That doesn't mean I'm done off line... only just beginning. Some of my future projects include my sewing/craft/guest room, my laundry area, meal planning and getting my digital pictures organized. From now on, every month, I'm going to go through my picture file for the month and erase bad pictures and then save them onto our remote drive.

With just one project at a time, I will conquer my world!

All for now,
Alison

Playing

She kind of enjoys playing babies with her sisters already. :) She's going to be 11 months old in a couple of days so, I'll post more about what she's up to later.
♥♥♥
Alison

The Views

It's a beautiful world out there again this morning. Looking from the front porch, the views are amazing and I'm soaking it up. I've been thinking about "this front porch" a lot lately... actually my blog, you know, From This Front Porch. I started this blog way, way back in April of 2007 so I'm finishing my 6th year as a blogging mama, sharing the details of our life with family, friends and who knows who?

I started my blog as a way to share the goings on of our life with said friends and family and as a way to chronically detail our life as it was happening, so someday we could remember it all. I also started throwing in some pictures from the past from month to month for added amusement . I soon ventured out on the paths of Blogland and began meeting other bloggers, like myself. This made for a very long blog list and the fun of entering into the varied lives of so many wonderful people who I can now call friends. And to meet a handful of them in person has been the icing on the cake. :)

Speaking of cake, somewhere along the way, I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite recipes and soon I started a separate picture recipe blog. Others joined in too, and it's been a great source for good, tried and true, quick recipe references. Recipe books and cards are almost a thing of the past for me, although I do still use them sometimes.

Another benefit to blogging has been the ability to dive into photography and photo editing and then sharing the finished products with someone...you. My life, and all that is around me, and everything I enjoy, I somehow want to share it. It's been fun.

And then there is the writing and journaling that I have enjoyed. Let's face it, being a SAHM doesn't offer many opportunities to keep your writing, spelling, typing, and language skills sharp. Most days, I feel completely dry on wit and with no sense of humor, let alone anything worth while to say. I often trip over my own sentences, but... it has been good to keep writing and... thinking.

I promised myself that I would never post anything that would bring regrets later, whether negative, controversial, self promoting, bragging or otherwise. I also didn't want it to be a place were my loved ones would come and I would be asking them to buy something or give something. I want people to leave my blog with a smile, not a feeling of guilt, or frustration, or annoyance. I have erased a few posts that didn't fit my criteria. I do however like to share things I have found useful or enjoyable, things I think other people would like to know about.

My latest blog diversion has been to share tutorials of things I have done. It's been fun to see these tutorials on other blogs and I've been captivated by so many. Usually easy, quick and inexpensive, these ideas and tutorials have been a life saver to me. So, every once and while, I like to share something with you...

...coming soon!

As I start this new year, I reminded about priorities. I have such a tendency to let these things (blogging and projects) that I enjoy doing, take my time up when I should be more concerned with other things that are way more important. It's just a struggle I have. I know what brings REAL joy and peace into my life. And I know THAT is what I want!

So, that's the views... from this front porch.

As always,
Alison

P.S. Today marks day twelve chocolate free! It feels good.

For Me, For You

Winter finally showed up in Montana. For those of you who don't know, we have had no snow, temperatures sometimes into the 40's and sunshine galore! But yesterday a new blanket of snow fell on the ground, and this morning there was a sparkling frost on all the grass and trees, and it was a frigid 3 degrees.

So this morning after I put Lita down for a nap I went outside and took some pictures. My hands were freezing and I was a little worried about the camera in the cold so I made it quick and got back inside were it's warm. Hope you enjoyed the pictures!

Oh yes, it's definitely winter in Montana...


Love those rosy cheeks!
Alison

Holiday Happenings 2011

{New Years Eve 2012}

Things I want to remember about these special days...

-Keith and Melinda and boys came and made our days extra special!
-Skating is fun and great exercise and a little painful when you fall.
-Mom and Dad's for seafood supper, gifts, facials for us ladies, babysitting by the men, and a little relaxing all around.
-Yes, at first Lita was more interested in the bows than in the contents of her gifts. *smile*
-We opened our gifts on Saturday morning and then dinner at our house.
-It was so awesome the get to spend a little time with Uncle Joe and Auntie Karen who came all the way from Alaska!
-Smoked turkey, roast beef, and seven different kinds of salad. And about seven different kinds of dessert too. Mmmm...
-White Elephant gift exchanges always make for a good laugh!
-I loved to sing sweet hymns together on Christmas Eve.
-Sunday was Sunday... we are so blessed.
-Lots and lots of little projects done around the house throughout the week. Big Yay!
-Thanks Jon and Jen for a nice evening of more great food, visiting for the adults and playing for the kids on Thursday.
-Visits with near family and friends are all to often few. Thanks MaryAnn.
-Steak at Applebees New Years Eve and Sunday lunch at The Orient Express all with fine company. Great to see Uncle Steve and Aunt Joanne.
-Grandpa and Grandma time is the best of all especially around the table playing Mexican Train.
-A trip to the top of the mountain for fireworks and night time views was a rewarding excursion. The kids loved it and I love my kids.
-A Midnight kiss always starts the new year off right. I love my husband.
-We have so much to keep us looking up and forward...

Happy New Year!

{watching the fireworks light up the New Years Eve sky}

Love,
Alison and Family

Simplify: Week 6

This week I wanted to share our library/playroom in the basement. Besides having fun this holiday season, Randy and I were busy working in the basement finishing window casements, organizing and cleaning. The bookcases above are a new addition and the kids like to call this area our library. It sure is nice to have a place to put all those books that used to lay in piles in various corners throughout the house. Much simpler to find the book we're looking for now too! Yay!

Below is the playroom part of the room. Randy made the bookshelf/toybox on the left when the kids were toddling around. It stores all the picture books and Highlights. The rest of the playroom is organized on the shelves-games, puzzles, toys, stuffies, etc...
In the middle of this room sits our old dining room table. It's a great place for overflow when we have company, or doing projects with the kids or laying out sewing projects. Kyla's currently working on the quilt below for her new room...
And I've been working on my sewing/craft room. It also doubles as a guest room. I can't wait to get it done. It'll be nothing too fancy but it will be a place that I can work easily. The goal is organized and simple! :)

Have a great weekend,
Alison

P.S. I'm working on my next Simplify project as we speak. I'll share it next week. It's making me REALLY happy!!!

Couple Things

While I continue to go through our holiday pictures, I wanted to share a couple things (would you like some chocolate?)...

1. I have three bags of chocolate chips left over from my holiday baking. I'm trying to figure out what to do with them (besides taking pictures of them). Should I give them away or should I save them (eeek!) to make something for my family or a potluck or something else? Decisions, temptations, decisions, hmmm...

2. Lita's doing good now and is sleeping through the nights. We switched around our sleeping arrangements over the holidays and she's finally working into a good routine. She's been sleeping from about 8:00 at night to about 6:00 in the morning. Ahhh, sleep is a wonderful thing! ;)

3. I've been reading Little Britches by Ralph Moody before bed to the family. Everyone should read this book several times in life. So very good...

4. This beautiful bouquet was delivered to our house during the holidays. WOW! It was so pretty with the red and white carnations and green boughs and then a few days later these beautiful lilies opened up! It was just so lovely and it lasted until now. Thank you MaryAnn!

5. Colter and Maya are all excited about Lita's first birthday since all the Valentines stuff and hearts and chocolate is showing up in the stores now. I guess it's safe to say I'll have plenty of time to plan this birthday party.

6. Kyla made this paper mache' gift for me at school. He's the cutest Santa Claus ever!

7. I've been informed that chocolate is in a food group of it's own. Some people have suggested that it might not be a healthy choice to give up chocolate completely. Gulp.

8. Yesterday I went to town with no coat. Only a long sleeve shirt and vest. Is this weather for real? I'm loving it! Oh, Randy said some weather man said that winter will hit in February. I think I better get rid of the chocolate.

9. About the chocolate chips? I didn't eat one single one! The truth! So far, so good...

10. I have lots of New Year Cards to send out... hopefully soon. Send me your address if you've moved, or if you think I don't have it and I'll be sure to send one your way. hugsfromus(at)yahoo(dot)com.

Have a wonderful Wednesday,
Alison

Basking in the Glow and a High Resolution!

Dear Front Porch Visitors,

The above picture was one of my favorites taken of one of the "highlights" of our holidays. You can see Randy with Lita on his back and then Maya, Colter, and Kyla headed up the stairs to view the torch and firework display at our local ski resort. Beautiful New Years evening.

We have had such a wonderful couple weeks behind us now. I will post some other highlights soon! Tomorrow the kids return to school so I'm sitting here tonight, basking in the glow of our wonderful days, not quite sure I'm ready to face tomorrow. Just not quite thinking about it helps. But, the alarm clock will ring bright and early and we'll be off to the races. Thank goodness the kids are happy to head back to school. :)

And then there is this business about my new years resolution. I'm going way out there this year! This was someone else's idea and when I read that they were going to make it their new years resolution I thought "oh, my... that poor person!" Then I thought to myself... "why don't you do it!" It's absolutely CRAZY!!! But I know if I can stick to it, it would really be a healthy step for me and if I say it here, on this blog, I just might have a chance of sticking to it! So....... (drumroll please)

I resolve to eat NO chocolate this year.

There I said it! And... I'm gonna do it! It's a high resolution but think of all the desserts, treats, drinks and snacking it would cut out! Plus, I'm highly addicted and I'm taking drastic measures. It'll be kinda fun to... to see if I really can do it. Anyone want to join me? I'll be sure to post updates along the way. :)

Do you think I'm crazy?!?

Welcome to this New Year everyone! Hope you have a wonderful 2012! It will be a chocolate free one for me. Cheerio!
Alison