Lagniappe Tidbits

Oh yeah, baby - seafood boil over at the cousin's house last weekend! Boiled crawfish, crabs, sausage and veggies. Then the next day all the leftovers went into a big pot of gumbo. Good eatin' yall!

So here's something interesting about Louisiana - its very Catholic. So Catholic customs and traditions are prevalent even among non-Catholics. For example, this time of year you see gobs of commercials for all of the Lenten special menus (meatless) that restaurants have created. I even saw a mention of Lent on a Taco Bell sign! You drive through a neighborhood and you'll see lots of yards with a Mary or St. Francis statue in the garden. On All Saints Day the cemetaries are full of people visiting the graves and adding new flowers. I never realized how unique (and wonderful!) this all was until I moved away after 29 years of living in Louisiana.

Due to the trip, not a lot got posted this week, but here are a few tidbits:

No Catholic Bible-reading challenges this week due to Holy Week. I'll be meditating on the stations and reading from the Sacred Liturgy instead.

You can read some snippets about our trip to our home, New Orleans, on the other site.

I put up a video I took from out streetcar ride down St. Charles Avenue on the Home & Garden section of the other site. St. Charles is a gorgeous street to ride down, filled with huge oak trees, mansions of architectural delights, and beautiful landscaping.

Confederate jasmine was growing all over New Orleans! It is so beautiful and smells incredible. As soon as I got back I started researching this plant, because I want some in my yard pronto! You can read all about it in the gardening section of the other site.

If you missed it, I have a new article up this month on The Homeschool Classroom. It is about creative book-reporting activites, so check it out!

That's about it! Have a blessed Easter weekend!

Lagniappe Links

{Since I have gotten into so many different topics on this blog, I have decided to differentiate each topic using a different site. This blog will still be here, with regular Christian family & homeschooling posts. Other topics will be on the new site and will be listed here in Friday's lagniappe links each week, in case ya want to check them out!}

Gardening: Keeping a Garden Journal With the Kids

Homeschooling: Teaching Letters and Sounds

Cooking: Quick Recipe Tip

Homeschooling: The Cool Stuff Table

Cooking: Chocolate-Covered Macaroons

Faith & Inspiration: Paul's Recipe for the Good Life

Main: Field Trip in Knoxville

Gardening: Battle of the Weeds

 

 

Have a great weekend!

Lagniappe Links from the Week

{Since I have gotten into so many different topics on this blog, I have decided to differentiate each topic using a different site. This blog will still be here, with regular Christian family & homeschooling posts. Other topics will be on the new site and will be listed in Friday's lagniappe links each week, in case ya want to check them out!}

Cooking: Bacon Tarragon Red Potatoes - A quick & delicious side dish with just a handful of ingredients!

Gardening: Forcing Branches - It is probably warm enough in most parts now that you don't have to force anything. But here you can see how nice cut branches can look in the home!

Home: Pottery Barn Spring Decorating Idea - I found lots of ideas in my new Pottery Barn catalog that I think will be easy and inexpensive to recreate. Here is my first attempt, and it was a success at just $6.50 total!

Home: One Solution to Electronic Chaos! - A quick & simple solution to all of those Wii remotes, wires, chargers, etc.

Home: Fireplace Makeover - Check out the fireplace makeover to go with the new den in progress!

That's it for this week at the new site. Have a great weekend everyone, and see you here on Monday with a new week of Catholic Bible-reading challenges, as well as some new ideas for Lent with the kids.

Lagniappe Links: The Birthday Edition

Jill turned 12 this week! Last night I took her and two of her friends to the mall. We grabbed a bite to eat, shopped at all the girlie stores, the girls jumped on the moon bounce, and then we went into a department store and the girls had their own fashion show in the dressing room with all of the Easter dresses. They had a blast and I have the cutest photos! Look at my girl - she is all arms and legs! But don't be deceived. I was too when I was her age. Everyone always said, "Wow that Tanya is going to be 6 feet tall!" ROTFL! Now? I am 5'2! And a half. If I stand as straight as I can. So we'll see.

Anyhoo, Jill is going to have a "frog"party, and we have spent weeks browsing the web for ideas. There are some a-maz-ing party idea sites out there, I tell ya! So I am going to share some in this week's lagniappe links. 

By the way, I am a new Orleans girl so in case ya don't know, "lagniappe" just means "a little something extra"!

How ingenius is this? Birthday cake batter chocolate bark!  This comes from the blog, How Sweet It Is, where the amazing Jessica shares all things yum yet manages to stay in shape. No fair! Check it out, and find things like: macaroon-crusted tilapia, maple bacon brown sugar scones, pizza stuffed baked potatoes (did I mention she's a genius?), caramelized honey mustard chicken, baked potato nachos, . . . shoot! I can't stop listing more yummy concoctions she has on her blog.

Party Frosting, which used to be Frost Me, is a party idea blog with themed party ideas as well as lots of general party ideas. There is a "Shopping Saturday" feature which is a list of party-ish things you can find on sale at your local big stores. I love this site not only for the party ideas, but because a lot of the general ideas are just fun to do/make for anytime with the kideos!

Spend any amount of time over at Sugar Swings! and you will find lots of ideas for birthday goodies! And no, I do not have a sugar problem. Really. Why do you ask? How pretty are these chocolate marbled hearts cupcake toppers?

Hostess With the Mostess is a fabulous blog started by Jennifer and Sonny. It features lots of amazing parties from around the web. When I say amazing, I mean professional parties that make all of the guests say, "Wowza!" Take, for example, this Robot Party find (from The Couture Cakery), complete with free printables. LOVE the jello shots!

Finally, One Charming Party is a blog started by Sara and Brittany. Its got great party ideas, tutorials, and even free printables. Look at this simple but so cute cake for a dinosaur party. There's a whole awesome party to go with it as well.

Have a super weekend!

Lagniappe Links: The Spunky List

{I'm a New Orleans girl, and lagniappe just means "a little something extra"!}

I usually like to group my lagniappe links together, like a list of birthday party idea links or a list of homeschool links. This week I am feeling spunky and am throwing random fun links out into blogland. I hope you enjoy!

Photo: Electronichouse.com

The Coolest Home Upgrades - These are so frivolous (except the little fridgy thing - I would like to fill that with healthy snacks for my little one), but so fun to look at! The above is a hidden television! I say they are frivolous, but if you have any of these in your home, I am coming over to play! Well, except for the shower. 'Cause trying out a shower at a stranger's house is creepy.




My Family from WiddlyTinks.com



In case you wonder where the little family silhouette pics come from, here is one place you can make them. Choose silhouette, stick people, a penguin family, or a gingerbread family! Ha ha!

I am completely addicted to the "Awkward & Awesome" segment at The Daybook. Seriously I cannot stop reading through them. The whole blog is hilarious, but that one is just too funny! I might have to start participating in Sydney's link-ups. Here is my little one regarding this photo: (oh, Sydney's photos are not sharable except with all kinds of extra gook so I had to use something) Awkward - What is up with that red hair? Awesome - Ah, my skinny minny days. 

Photo: Trey Ratcliff/ Stuck in Customs

Do you know what HDR is? Its basically taking a photo and then playing with exposure at different parts of the photo and then combining them all. Stuck in Customs is the blog of Trey Ratcliff, who travels and creates amazing HDR photos, like the one above. Visit his site - it is so mesmerizing that you may be "stuck" there for hours! =)

Okay folks, that's it for this week! Have a spectacular weekend!

Blessings,

Lagniappe Links: Christian Valentine Ideas

{I am a New Orleans girl, and lagniappe simply means "a little something extra".}

We've never done a particularly Christian Valentine's before, so I am so excited to find all of these resources and use them with the kids this year! If you know of others, feel free to leave ideas or links in the comments! 

Print this wonderful John 3:16 template from DLTK Bible Crafts for Kids. They also have a great story for kids about Valentine's Day and love.

Here is a great craft, also found at DLTK Bible Crafts.

JOYFilled Family has some Christian images that would make for good Valentine's that were found at Holy Reflections.

Ministry-to-Children also has the 3:16 valentine, but in a coloring page version. They also have a Bible lesson about love.

Catholic Icing used the RSV Bible verses rather than the KJV. {Honestly, I didn't know there was more than one wording for John 3:16!} and made it into a cute kids craft.

Also at Catholic Icing, find Bible verse Valentine's that use a play on words to go with different kinds of candy. So cute!

Speaking of Bible verses, Family at the Foot of the Cross has a great post on how to make a Bible verse Valentine wreath!

Kalei at That Resource Site wanted to make valentines that were uniquely Catholic, so she looked up truths about God in the CCC for her valentines. Check out how she did it and the truths she used at the site.

You can find a file folder game about love at Bible Story Printables.

Familia Catolica has several ideas for celebrating Valentine's Day as a family. The site is in Spanish, but when I visit a translator pops up to change it to English. Its a great site, full of wonderful resources, so its worth the effort!

Have a fun Valentine's weekend!

Lagniappe Links: Valentine's Ideas

Photo: Jill and Little Bill are making heart-shaped pizzas for Valentine's Day, I made heart-shaped pancakes on the griddle for breakfast, and there are all three kids with their valentines from me. Mardi Gras and Valentine's were close together that year, thus the Mardi Gras decorations.

Here are a bunch of fun ideas for this Valentine's day that I have saved in my Evernote folder:

What a fabulous idea for boy valentine cookies! I can't wait to make these with Little Bill! Find out how to make them at The Sweet Adventures of SugarBelle.

I filed these cuties into Evernote from See Jane Cook, but can't find the exact page anymore! Well, the "cherry" is a red gumball, and ya can pretty much figure out the rest. But take a peek at the blog for great recipes & fun ideas!

Lagniappe Links: List Mania

I usually do lagniappe links on a Friday, but I'm throwing one out there today. This is a random assortment of interesting lists for homeschoolers, moms, and Christians. Enjoy!

15 Things Children Can (and should) Value More Than Possessions at becoming minimalist - This is a fantastic site that you may get caught up in once you visit!

10 Kid-Friendly Finds for Less Than $10 at Apartment Therapy - If you need low-cost yet really unique & fun birthday gifts, you can find some ideas here. I love these fishie earbuds!

Top Ten Ways to Begin Making Disciples of Older Children at Disciple Like Jesus - If you are a little late in the game of passing on your Christian faith to your children, for whatever reason, or you just need some tips on how to do so, this article shows you how to share your faith in a way that keeps your older kids open to what you're trying to teach them.

10 Tips for Taking Pictures of Kids at How Does She? - My fave tip is #10, "shoot, shoot, shoot". When I am hanging out with the kids and a camera, I usually just shoot, shoot, shoot - one photo after another. I can always go back and delete anything that didn't work. Its how I got this series (above) of Jill, which I just love! Oops, wrong year! Ha ha! Gotta go change that now.

Photo: Flickr/ Melanie Hughs

How to Make Felt Food: Our Gigantic List of Tutorials at Ohdeedoh - If this is your thing, you don't want to miss this list!

25 Must-Read Homeschooling Articles for Newbies at Jimmie's Collage - This will take some time but the articles are great.

The World's 15 Most Extraordinary Homeschoolers - I found this an interesting article, showing how diverse homeschoolers are and how unschooling can really turn out some incredible adults. Yes, that's the Jonas Brothers, who are/were homeschooled by their mother and who also speak openly about their faith and wear purity rings.