Memorial Day!

(Via Facebook)

I would like to wish a Happy Memorial day to all my readers! I would also like to extend my prayers and condolences for all those brave people out there who now deal with an empty space at their table today. My heart goes out to all the parents, spouses, children, friends, and other love ones of fallen soldiers today. I can not express the gratitude I feel for the sacrifice their loved ones made or the sacrifice that they make every day. I admire all the brave men and women who continue to carry on with their life. So please pray for our fallen soldiers and their families. Especially for their families they are the ones who are still suffering and this holiday is just as much for them as it is for the love ones they lost.

Solar Powered Clothes Drying Apparatus!

So I  am always looking for ways to save money. I hung up our clothes line and I love the way it makes my clothes smell! But how much does this really save. I used a calculator to figure out what it would be for my dryers. Links will be posted at the end of this post. 

My dryer costs me about .33 cents a load. So every year at approximately 5 loads a week I pay approx. $86. So using the clothes line during the summer it ends up saving me $6.60 a month and a total of $26.40 for all four months I will able to use the clothes line. So its not a big savings. However my window unit costs me $15 a month. So its a discount on my electric bill more than it is a savings. Hanging your clothes out in the summer helps compensate for your AC usage. But it is not saving as much money as people think it is. For me it is less than 10%. 

Tips: 

1. You do not have to have posts like I do. You can tie between two trees get creative. 

2. Depending on where you are located (and remember perverts are everywhere) be careful and mindful on where you hang your unmentionables. 

3. Tension is everything!!! That way your clothes do weigh the line down.

4. I like to spray a little fabric softener on my clothes  after I hang them. 

5. Your electric company's website should have your energy rate, if it is not located on your bill. I have an energy rate of .09 cents.

Sources: 

http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/dryers.html

http://www.rapidtables.com/calc/electric/electricity-calculator.htm

Hebron Carnival!

Every weekend, my hubby and I try to go on a date. We love seeing our family as well. Hubby only gets full day a week to spend time with everyone who is important to him. So being able to see my sister-in law and brother-in law and my niece!!!! We also got to see my nieces boyfriend as well. They're the cutest!!!!
The Hebron Carnival is a staple here on the Eastern Shore! Their Oyster Sandwiches are delicious, they do however cost 9.50 this year! However every year they some how convince me to pay for a sandwich because its the best oyster sandwich on the Shore!!! Hubby and I got ice cream ($4). Last year the cones were as big as ice cream on the board walk. This year we got $1 McDonald's Ice Cream Cones!

Here we are faking a smile. We were not happy for our $1 cones that cost $4. 

 If you are down on the Eastern Shore it is definitely worth checking out! And of course we could not leave with out playing our favorite game.

I won a $1 but I only usually play $1! 

Over all we had a great time! I can not wait to go with my nephew! It is the people who were there made it a great experience. 

ULTIMATE LEFT OVER NACHOS!

'

So I love turning left overs into something else! The other day I made chicken burritos for my friends and I had a ton of left over chicken. Here is the recipe:

Left Over Nachos

1 bag of tortilla chips

1/ 2 jars of salsa verde and red salsa 

2 cups shredded cheese (I like the fiesta blend)

1 jar of white or yellow queso

1/2 cup jalapenos 

1 cup of diced tomatoes 

1 can of black beans ( I also add a can of red but you don't have too)

1 can of corn

1 green pepper (I also add a red and yellow put you don't have too) 

2 cups of leftover chicken (beef or turkey what ever you have left over)

1 white onion. 

Directions: 

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

line your pan with tinfoil and spray it (use a 13x9 pan)

take half of the bag of chips and lay them in pan

take 1/4 jar of both salsas (green and red)

1/4 cup jalapenos 

1/2 cup diced tomatoes 

1/2 can of beans

1/2 the onion 

1/2 of the pepper

1/2 can of corn  (remember to drain your cans)

 cover nachos 1/2 cup of shredded cheese and half of your queso. 

Then add the second layer and repeat the process.  You should have 1 cup of cheese left. Bake for 30 mins then cover nachos with the remaining cup of cheese and bake for 5 mins or until cheese is melted! 

WHY ME LORD!

Sometimes we forget how grateful we should actually be. We all go through hard times. We all struggle. I feel like one of the stages of struggle is ungratefulness. God pushes us in life (and you should always surround yourself with people who push you in the right direction). I have so much to be grateful for but like all sinners I am easily distracted. What I mean is that when we are going through rough times (like my husband being away or any other trouble that may plague you), we become so distracted with our own drama that we forget all of the things we do have.  Everyone has struggled with this and you are not alone. However part of moving through your troubles is figuring out that regardless of what we have lost or do not have, we need to be grateful for all the things we do have. It is so easy to get angry, especially with God.

(Via Google) 

A long time ago a wise woman once told me "Don't ask why me ask why not me! Remember you could be a starving baby in Africa and there would be nothing you could do about. BE THANKFUL"

God wants us to trust in him! And when things are great, it is easy to fall into the sin of forgetfulness. Whether it is you forgetting your humble roots, or forgetting to be appreciative of what you have, or getting so caught up in your own drama you forget that your love ones are still going on with out you even though you're stuck.

You can not get past your bs with GOD!

We need God in these times and if we seek him, it may not change our problems over night but through our FAITH we will all get through our struggles. Jesus says that we are to share our knowledge and our faith. But how does own do that with out any experience. Our trials make us stronger and through our own strength we can not only grow closer to God but our love ones as well. Be strong you will get through this God will be there for you whether you seek him or not.

Freebies

Hey Y'all,
I am all about free stuff!!! I believe that my husband and I work very hard for our money and well this meme pretty much sums it up for me:

So here is the list of my top 5 favorite freebies sites:

1. http://crazyforsamples.com/

2. https://womanfreebies.com/

3. http://www.heyitsfree.net/

4. http://www.freeflys.com/
5. http://www.ohyesitsfree.com/


I have been using these five sites religiously for about five years now. If anyone has any other legit freebie leads please comment and let me know!

Facebook Page!!!

Hey guys just wanted to let you know I have joined Facebook!!!

Check me out and give me a like at : https://www.facebook.com/Bella-Bricks-1729081087360691/

Verses for when Hubby is away

(via Pintrest)

With my hubby being gone 5 and 1/2 days out of the week it has been a trial for both of us. I know that God has blessed us with an amazing job opportunity, it is a struggle. I think that it has been hard on both my husband and I. God is the only thing that has kept us strong through this.  We have alwasy had each other to lean on and now we are apart and are forced to face these trials on our own. But we aren't completely alone God is the rock that is helping us keep ourselves together. My heart goes out to the women who have to do this full time.  So it has been a struggle here is some Bible versus that help me deal with this particular struggle.

1. For when my expectations of him are high and he is too tired to help me.

(Via Google)

(Romans 3:23-24)

See I spend all week planning on the things we are going to do around the house all the help I haven't had all week. I put a lot of pressure on him to help me. I know he needs rest but I need help too. I need to be reminded some times  that my husband isn't perfect and neither am I. 

2. For when we both feel like giving up and it things don't feel worth it anymore.

(via Google)

Trying to keep it together with our lives. Church, charity, work, police academy, the list goes on. Leaning on God allows you to not only find the strength to get the mundane done but He also challenges you to glorify him while doing it. Our good works do strengthen our marriage especially when we are apart. They not only serve as a distraction but for me it gives me a boost of confidence!!!

3. For when I miss him. 

(via Google)

God does have a plan. His plan for us is for us to be separated at the moment. It will bring on great things for our family and I just need to trust in God that no matter how much I miss my husband, I must remember there is a plan. 

I am not going to sit here and say that I read these verses study them and instantly feel better because I don't. However through out the day I  keep reminding myself God has a plan and it is for the best!

White Sangria

So growing up my mom and my titis always made sangria, I have wonderful memories sitting in our screened in porch drinking sangria! Also when we moved to Greece, sitting in the court yard drinking sangria. So many happy memories! 

So this sangria is what I like to call this is what I had so this is what's going in:

1 bottle of white wine 

2 cans of summer shandy

1 bottle of hard cider

1/4 bottle of gin

1/8 cup cherry vodka

Assorted fruit (I used strawberries, white peaches, white grapes, apple slices, and fresh mango!!!)

Vote for Kathy!!

Recently I got to meet an amazing woman! Kathy is running for Senator here and Maryland! Local government is soooo important! We must remember that as Americans we do have the power to choose our officials, but that starts on a local level not a federal one. In April Kathy won the primary! We need more strong real woman in office and Kathy is that woman!

Check Kathy out ! 

 

Confirmation!

Recently, I made the choice to give my life back to Christ. I walked away from the church many years ago and wondered aimlessly. Unfortunately, even though I had my own plans, God had another. I am so grateful that God has touched my life. I started going to church again and my life has improved so much. I have been blessed in so many ways. So because I have given my life to Christ and my church, I decided to be confirmed. Confirmation (usually done in 8th grade by children who are raised in the church), is a person making the choice to be Catholic. I was confirmed in April, and when my husband gets out of Police Academy he will be baptized and eventually confirmed.
 My husband and I made the choice to give our lives back to Christ because it felt like everything was falling apart, even though everything has been going in the right direction. With my husband being gone five days out of the week, having God to lean on has been the only thing that can get us through it. I am proud today to say that I am a Christian (Catholic).

Dandelion Water

 Dandelion Water is great for a lot of DIY home remedies. I am all  about making my own medicine! Self sufficiency is important and the more you can do for yourself the better. Dandelion is great for joint pain and sinus pressure. There are other uses, but I do not want to advertise "Facts" that may just be opinions. It is super easy to make!

 1. First go out and pick yourself some dandelions, everyone's yard pretty much has them!

2. Then put them in a pot with water. I like mine to be very strong and concentrated. So if you want it strong do not cover the dandelions with water, the more water the less potent,

3. Your water should start to look like this and stir occasionally. 

4. When you are done it should like this: 

5. Once it looks like this pour the water into a container that can stand the heat. This whole process should take approx. 20 mins (not included picking your dandelions). Once it is cooled it is ready to use. 

Tips: 

1. If you or some one in your household is allergic do not use in a pot you eat with. However if no one is allergic then you can use a pot you cook with. 

2. I do not personally use dandelion water in medicine that I make to be injected. I prefer to use it in medicines that are either inhaled or made into a salve. I am not saying you can't but I honestly do not know the answer so I am just gonna say don't