Winner, Winner Cornbread and Dinners

First I need to announce the winner of the cornbread mix Giveaway ~

Farmer with Rose Hill Farm.

Also, I was very thrilled to find out I won a 3 month subscription to E-Mealz from Manuela at The Pleasures of Homemaking.  E-Mealz is an online meal planning service complete with a weekly menu, recipes and shopping list. Talk about easy!  All the guess work, time hunting for recipes and making out that grocery list is done for you.

I am extremely excited to try them out and will let you know how it goes.

What's 4 Dinner? Back on Plan

Summer always keeps us busy and I fell off the Menu Planning wagon.

So it's time to hop back on and get with the plan.

What's for dinner this week?

Monday ~ Salmon patties, creamed potatoes, english peas and biscuits

Tuesday ~ Chicken pot pie

Wednesday ~ Leftovers

Thursday ~ Loaded Baked Potatoes

Friday ~ Bourbon Chicken with Rice (new recipe)

Saturday ~ Grilled Honey Mustard Pork Chops (new recipe) with veggies

Sunday ~ Attending a friend's cookout, taking my Strawberry Shortcake Trifle

Menu planning keeps me sane! Seriously.  It takes the 'guess work' out of that dreaded "What's for Dinner?" question every night of the week.  It saves me time:  a the grocery store, because I have a list to shop by and in the evenings after working all day.  Plus it saves me $$$$$$$$$.  I only buy what I need for the week in one stop shopping.  I can't wait to try out some of the new recipes I have found.  If you need a bit of menu inspiration be sure to check out The Organizing Junkie, where literally hundreds link in their weekly menus.

Goodwill Glamorous - Skirt Addition

Welcome to the 2nd edition of Goodwill Glamorous.

How I am wearing glamorous outfits for pennies!

Last week I shared my Dress Edition of Goodwill fashion finds.
Today I am sharing a few of my skirt discoveries.
During the summer months, I mainly wear skirts to the office with the occasional dress.
Rarely will you see me in a pair of slacks with our Southern heat.
Skirts are just cooler to me.

This recent purchase is my favorite!
I found the blouse (NY and Co brand), then picked up this skirt by Notions in the same store.
Grand total for this outfit - $9.12

Animal prints are back in style?  GREAT because this straight skirt was only $4.56, paired with a black sleeveless shirt for now.  Changing out to a three quarter sleeve black shirt will take me into the cooler Fall days.
Another versatile skirt is this fun multi color pleated number with sewn on beading at the bottom.

I've seen these in Department stores for over $20.
This one cost me $5 and some change.  Toss on a black shirt and my lime scarf to complete the outfit.

Another pleated skirt in neutral colors.
Plus a fun ruffled front blouse.
Found in the same Goodwill store, paired together for less than $10.
Notice the necklace in the photos is the same one worn with 3 different outfits?
Picked it up at Kohl's during a 50% off sale for $8.  It cost more than my skirts! But I have been able to utilize it to jazz up many outfits.

Does your wardrobe need some Glamour? Have you stopped by your Goodwill store lately?

***I will be linking this post up with several weekly blog parties, for the entire list click on my Blog Party tab at the top of my blog.

Saturday Barn Raising

So this is what today looks like around 'the farm'.

Old fashion 'barn raising' with new era equipment.

Makes lifing easier.

I'm taking photos, fetching things and cooking up treats with Sweet Tea.

Have you entered my GIVEAWAY? 

Go to this POST to comment for your chance to win!

Hope you are enjoying your weekend ~

Is Your Life a Raging Storm?

Does your life feel as if you are living in the middle of a fierce thunder storm, complete with tornado warnings?

• Unhappy, Just blah or Depressed?  (dark feelings of clouds looming overhead)
• Moving too fast or lost in which direction to go?  (like the whirling of winds)
• Your core self is shaken (Rolling Thunder)
• Anxiety/Anger? (lightening)
• Tears (Rain)

Where is your Rainbow?

Abraham Lincoln said, "People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be."   Do you notice how other's attitudes 'rub off' on you?  Like that one person that never has anything good to say.  Everything in their life is UNhappy.  Now we ALL have bad days.  And bad things happen to good people.  However, I sincerely believe I choose to be happy.  My attitude is MY choice.  I can wallow in the bad; which I have done or I can focus on the good.  If life gets crazy, if I allow others to hurt my feelings, when I feel the clouds looming and hear the thunder rumbling into my life...I remind myself.  It's my choice. 

Ralph Marston says this:  Let the experience of each moment come, and then let it go. Rest assured that the goodness will stay with you always, because you love it so. Be now in spirit where you would most like to be. Imagine waves of pure joy as they carry you along. Somewhere within you, all is well, no matter when, no matter what. Feel the peace of knowing the beauty of who you truly are.

I stumbled across a collection of writings for women by women. Reading the stories has made me re-evaluate.  Which I do often in my life.  The bottom line is... It is up to me to make myself happy, my choice to choose every day and I AM ENOUGH.

Read, hear, let it sink into your mind, your heart and your soul: 

Link to the stories...click  HERE

"Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties." - Helen Keller

Leftovers! Yes? or No?

Does your family eat leftovers?

I have friends that state they won't eat leftovers.  That it doesn't taste right; this that or the other, reason.

For real?!?

I LOVE leftovers!

Tonight's dinner was leftover pintos.  Just added fresh baked cornbread and tater salad.

There isn't much that we do not eat in the way of leftovers.

Mashed potatoes are not really that great leftover; add a little more milk and butter, they will pass.

Another 'dish' that I have learned to 'doctor' up on reheat is mac n cheese. 

Add little dabs of butter before zapping it in the microwave.

Did I hear a few moans?  ;-)

While there is cornbread in my photo, don't miss out on your chance to win a bag of Bev's Cornbread Mix in my GIVEAWAY this week!  Click HERE and comment.

Do you do leftovers?

Yes or No ?

Is there something you absolutely will not eat left over?

So comment and let me know.

Linking in to several Food Blog parties, find all of them at the top of my blog under Blog Parties.

Goodwill Glamorous ~ Dress Edition

Welcome to my NEW recurring series featuring Glamorous Fashion found at the Goodwill Store!

Sassy looking isn't she?  Oh wait!  That she is ME.  ;-)

If you've read any part of my blog you KNOW I *heart* Goodwill.

Nothing makes my heart skip a beat like finding a steal of a deal!

A while back, I shared my new purse passion with you.

All thrifty finds.

This week, I could toss on one of these Goodwill numbers for work.

Church on Sunday.

A night out on the town.

Or even a walk down the isle.

For LESS than $10!

Yes, Ladies, you read that correctly; where IS the smelling salts?

In fact, these set me back $6.56 EACH ~

Let's begin with this Evan Picone number for work, shall we? 

I have a meeting this week, so my co-workers will probably see me in this one.

Maybe you like more color?  Fun and flashy?

Giggles! Better prices than those fancy department stores.

Need a little more sophistication?

We all need that one "Little Black Dress".

Liz Claiborne for that special 'date' night.

Where is the Limo?

Attending a wedding? Or maybe you ARE the Bride.

This one is timeless, classy and elegant.

Uh photographer, didn't I say classy and elegant?

That's more like it.

Now where is my bouquet?

I hear you saying, "Sherri, I can't find these dresses at my Goodwill!".  Well, neither do I, every time.  Keep going back.  Plus I visit other Goodwill Stores in neighboring cities. I'd rather drive to a Goodwill Store than I had go to the Mall!  My favorite Goodwill is about 45 minutes from me, even though we also have one locally. My last trip was very lucky.  I found all four of these, along with some other goodies I have planned to share next week.  So be sure to check back for my next Goodwill Glamorous edition!

I will be linking in to some frugal blog parties this week.

Be sure to check out all of them listed at the top of my blog.
Don't forget about my GIVEAWAY.  Leave a commet HERE to win!

GIVEAWAY!!!! Featuring Cornbread Millionaire

Inspiring and Fulfilling!

We all like a touching story, a giveaway and good food!

Please meet Beverly Davis of Cornbread Millionaire

You may recognize her!  She's already been on ABCNews.com and FoxNews.

(click on the links to read the stories)

She lost her job and her home was foreclosed.

This is Bev, in front of her home.

The very one that was foreclosed and she is determined to purchase back!

Beverly didn't sit down, didn't give up.

She focused on her faith in God and a vision became clear.

Sell cornbread mix.

Cornbread Millionaire was born.

Bev's philosophy is "I've learned to DREAM BIG. If we have faith for little, we get little. If we have faith for big, we get big. I’m trusting in the Lord’s ability to abundantly provide. "

You can read her story at Bev's Cornbread Cafe, her own blog detailing her journey of selling cornbread mix, gift sets and an eBook of Cornbread recipes to succeed as an entrepreneur and to repurchase her foreclosed home. As Bev says, You're invited to visit and see "the mountain move."

I would like to give you the opportunity to win a package of Bev's Cornbread Mix.

(winner will receive one bag of mix only, skillet not included in the prize)

ALL you have to do is leave a comment. 

No hoops to jump through for your chance to win.

Also, if Bev's story touches you, I humbly ask that you share her story!

Blog it, Tweet it (or my giveaway), go visit her sites, leave her encouragement.

I will draw the winner next Sunday, August 29th ~ A FULL week to enter!

This is a giveaway of my heart, because Bev has touched mine.

I actually hope she makes the Oprah show!  (a dream of hers).

Bev is a homegrown gal from my neck of the woods.  Truly an inspiration.

When you read her words, you hear her abundant faith!

Now let's have some pintos and cornbread.

Tomorrow come back to see the NEW 'Goodwill Glamorous' Series, where I will prove that you can wear glamorous namebrands for mere pennies.

You won't believe what I paid for this Liz Claiborne 'Little Black Dress'!

***Photos courtesy of Beverly Davis, Cornbread Millionaire.com

Butterfly Garden

Simple Beauty

Sunday evening, we were delighted by butterflies dancing over the Lantana in our backyard.

I have learned to appreciate the simple beauty in life.

A flutter of wings on a hot Summer's day.

Snapping photos.

Joy shared.

God painted such a perfect design in an array of colors on these delicate creatures.

Our unintentional Butterfly Garden

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." ~ Robert Brault

What simple beauty have you enjoyed this week?

More outdoor beauty can be seen at Outdoor Wednesday, hosted by A Southern Daydreamer