Banana bread....Yum!!! All thanks to Aldi. :)

Hi all, (this ad is over, but you can still enjoy the recipe)
  This week I tried shopping at Aldi for the first time.  I had heard that they have great deals, especially on produce, so I decided to check it out.  I have to say, I am very happy I did!  The ads here run from Wednesday-Tuesday.  This week (3/23/11-3/29/11) they have 4lb bags of oranges for $1.99, 16oz packages of strawberries for $.99, and bananas for $.39/lb.  There were other great deals as well, but this is what I got on Thursday.  


  Since I had all these bananas I decided to make some banana bread.  I found a very simple recipe here.  It was so easy to make, and simply delicious!  Just a note, I didn't have all purpose flour so I used self rising and it turned out just fine.  


  As you can see, we couldn't even wait to take a picture before diving in.  Mmm Mmm!  I wish you all could smell it....heavenly!  I'm going to go back for more of those bananas so that I can make several loaves to freeze.  Can't wait.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Jennifer

Showing them you love them....

Hi all,
  Valentines is long gone, but it's nice to show the people most important in your life you love them all throughout the year. I always tell my husband I love him before we get off the phone, before either of us walk out the door to go somewhere, and before we go to bed.  You just never know what could happen before you see each other again.

  I also like to do little things to show him I love him.  Things that I wasn't asked to do. The just because I love you things. :) For instance, on cold winter mornings I like to go crank up his car and turn on the heat while he's getting ready for work, so it's nice and cozy when he gets in.  I also like to make him a to go breakfast and put a little note or an inspirational quote in it.

  He is my best friend, and I love him dearly.  You know the old saying, "Actions speak louder than words."  These are just some of the ways I like to tell him I love him through my actions.

 What little things do you like to do to show them you love them?   Maybe you have an idea to inspire more loving actions.  :)

Have a great weekend!
Jennifer

Treat your sense of smell!

Hi all,
  I've started doing something daily that just makes me smile.  Treating my sense of smell.  I've got perfumes that I never wear because I'm saving for a special occasion, and candles I never burn because I wait for company.

  I decided....that's crazy!  Why not treat myself with a spritz of perfume in the morning when I get dressed.  Who cares if I'm just going to be cleaning the toilet and vacuuming the floor?  Why shouldn't I enjoy the beautiful smell as a reward for doing those things?  Yes, I think I should! :)

 What about the candles?  Why in the world am I waiting to burn those only for company?  Shouldn't my family and I enjoy the wonderful smells that a candle permeates through the house?  Absolutely!  Burning wonderfully fragrant candles just make the house feel so warm and inviting....for us. :)

  So get out that expensive bottle of perfume your saving, and enjoy it.  Burn those good smellies.  After all, that is what they are for!

It's no accident that I chose a green candle. ;)  Happy St. Patrick's day!
Have a great day!
Jennifer

Great new Free Samples at FreeFlys!

Hi all,
  Here's some great new free samples being offered at FreeFlys!


Free Being Girl sample kit. 

Free Haagen-Dazs Midnight Dazzler. 
Free sample of Purex Complete with Zout detergent. 
Free sample of Lancome Genifigue. 

Free sample of Vaseline Intensive Rescue. 

Have a great day!


Jennifer


These are affiliate links.  Thank you for helping support Just Peachy in Dixie. :)

Are you a Flylady? Series 32 of 32 (I did it!)

 Hi all,

  For those of you following this series....Welcome Back!  For those of you new here....Welcome!  If you're new, don't worry, you can read from the beginning of this series here.

If you've never heard of Flylady, you can read all about it here.  

  Well, I did it!  I completed all the babysteps, and have renewed my desire for keeping my house in a nice, clean, orderly fashion.  When I first read about Flylady, I just kind of dove in, and did some of the things that I thought were a good idea.  I established a few good habits, but didn't really keep it up.  This time I started with day 1 and worked diligently all the way through.  I can't believe the difference this time!  I really have gotten to a point where I absolutely cannot go to bed with a messy kitchen!  I hate the feeling of walking down in the morning to face a mess MUCH worse than the short amount of time it takes to just clean up right after dinner.  

  I also love getting dressed first thing in the morning, instead of waiting until after I'm done cleaning like I used to.  There are many reasons for this:

1. It wakes me up

2. I feel better with a little makeup 

3. Even if I'm not going anywhere, I feel better about myself, and I think my DH appreciates the fresh look much better than the I just crawled out of bed look in the middle of the afternoon. :)

4. I have had a few instances where I unexpectedly needed to leave the house, and I was ready!

  My laundry has become much more manageable as apposed to the mountain constantly at the foot of my bed, with never ending wrinkles!  I still falter some with getting 2 loads done a day, but I'm working on that. ;) 

  Believe it or not my favorite task, second only to my nice shiny sink in the morning.....Swishing and Swiping our toilets daily.  I just love that my toilets are never dirty!  No more dread of cleaning a disgusting toilet.  Literally 5 minutes of my day wiping down tank, lids, seats, and swishing 3 toilets is well worth the reward!  If you don't think you can do it all at once, just use a different bathroom throughout the day, and when your finished do a quick swish and swipe....done!  I keep cleaner, and rags under each sink to make it even more convenient.  

  These everyday tasks have become so routine, that it's really simple for me to add the daily missions in each day.  No more spring cleaning!  It gets done year round.  Gotta love that!  For the longest time I  looked at my homemaking chores as burdens.  Now, I see them as a blessing!  A blessing to me, my family, and our home.  Through God's grace,  my DH has been able to provide so that I have been given the gift of being able to do what I love.  Stay at home with my daughter homeschooling her, and providing a haven for my husband to come home to.  Knowing that God's path for me can change at any moment, I am embracing my responsibilities with joy now.  

  I look forward to continuing my Flylady Journey.  I hope you have enjoyed this series, and it has blessed you as much as it has me!  

Happy Flying!

Jennifer

Are you a Flylady? Series 31 of 32 (Check Calendar in Advance)

 Hi all,

  For those of you following this series....Welcome Back!  For those of you new here....Welcome!  If you're new, don't worry, you can read from the beginning of this series here.

If you've never heard of Flylady, you can read all about it here.  

    Whew!  I'm back!  Internet issues are all fixed now.  I missed ya'll!  What did we ever do before internet, cell phones, etc.?   I have no idea, but I do know I realized how much I enjoy this blog, and I'm glad to be back in the saddle again. ;)  

    Today's task is really a good one for me.  I need to not only check my calendar the night before during my bedtime routine, but go ahead a look a month in advance.  It will be so much nicer to see what's coming up and have time to plan (if necessary-cards, gifts, supplies, etc.) rather than realize I'm not prepared!  Why have that stress when I can avoid it completely?  Now that I'm working on my Control Journal to get important dates (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.) in, this should be a nice addition to my routine.  

  I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Jennifer

Internet issues! :(

Hi all,

I'm having Internet issues. :( I hope to be back very soon.

Jennifer

Are you a Flylady? Series 30 of 32 (Pampering myself!)

  Hi all,

  For those of you following this series....Welcome Back!  For those of you new here....Welcome!  If you're new, don't worry, you can read from the beginning of this series here.

If you've never heard of Flylady, you can read all about it here.  

  Woo Hoo!  Today is remember to pamper yourself day!  :)  I have a library book, fiction, that I have been meaning to crack open.  I'm going to take a few minutes today to read some of that book.  It's been a while since I have read a fiction book completely for fun.  

  Lately I have been more into the non-fiction selections.  Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed those too, as they have been some how to books I have had a ball reading as well.  It will be nice though to just read something for the pure pleasure of reading, and to just get lost in the story.  I just love a great book!  I especially love books that are in a series.  I just don't like for a good story to end, so I look forward to reading one then moving on to the next one.  

  Anyone have some great suggestions?  I love all kinds of genres.  Any great books you've read lately by Christian authors (but doesn't have to be limited to)?  Series or not would be fine, but would like to stick to fiction for now.  :)  

  Reading is just what I would like to do today, but there are many things I like to do to pamper myself.  My favorites are to just sit with my husband watching something on TV, crochet with my DD, polish my nails (I need to do this badly!),  take a nice hot bath, and read other blogs.  What do you like to do to pamper yourself?  

I hope you all have a great day finding a way to pamper yourself!

Jennifer

Are you a Flylady? Series 29 of 32 (Drink water!)

Spring has sprung! 

 Hi all,

  For those of you following this series....Welcome Back!  For those of you new here....Welcome!  If you're new, don't worry, you can read from the beginning of this series here.

If you've never heard of Flylady, you can read all about it here.  

  Well, I have to say I had a very productive day in the kitchen yesterday (for me anyway).  I made a whole weeks worth of sausage and biscuits for my husband's to go breakfasts.  They are individually wrapped two to a baggie, with all the baggies in one big freezer bag in the freezer.  All I have to do now is set one baggie out of the freezer after dinner clean up tonight, and in the morning a quick heat up in the microwave, and voila!  

  I also made the stuffed bell peppers last night. Mmmm Mmmm!  I diced some of the edges of the tops I cut off and added that along with some Italian diced tomatoes into the stuffing as well.  I had enough stuffing to fill 4 bell peppers, and still had some left for 3-4 more.  I put the left over stuffing in a container and I'm going to freeze it for a quick future meal.  Planned meals, and freezer cooking.....here I come!  Woo Hoo!  Did anybody else try this recipe, or plan to try it soon?  

  We only ate 3 of the peppers (one each), so one of us will have the left over one for dinner tonight, and I have left over tacos from the night before for the rest of us.  Easy dinner tonight. Yes!  Also, no waste, which I love.  

  Today's task is something I am just terrible about.  Drinking water.  I don't drink nearly enough water through the day.  I only tend to drink it when I get very hot, and it has to be VERY cold for me to want it.  I often realize I've gone hours without drinking anything.  I've even eaten meals without  something to drink.  With most meals, I just don't want to drink water, I prefer Diet Coke or something with carbonation.  Terrible, I know.  Many times I don't drink any water until my body is just screaming for it.  I don't even notice myself doing this until I'm just so thirsty I can't ignore it.  Weird, huh?  

  Today, I'm going to fix myself a big glass of water filled with ice.  After every task, I'm going to take a nice big drink.  Maybe that will get me in a better habit of drinking water.  Repetition has worked for everything else, so why not this?  I hope that I will be unconsciously "drinking" water, instead of "not drinking" it in no time.  Only time will tell. :) 

  Does anyone else struggle with drinking water?  What do you do to make yourself drink more?  

Hope you all have a wonderful day, and drink lots of water! :)

Jennifer

  

Are you a Flylady? Series 28 of 32 (What's for Dinner?)

Spring is in the air! :)

 Hi all,

  For those of you following this series....Welcome Back!  For those of you new here....Welcome!  If you're new, don't worry, you can read from the beginning of this series here.

If you've never heard of Flylady, you can read all about it here.  

  Today I'll be following a task that I have been doing for a while now.  Making sure I have my main ingredient ready for dinner first thing in the morning right after I unload the dishwasher.  

  This makes it so much easier, than realizing at 5:30 I have no idea what we're having and everything is rock solid in the freezer.  As I mentioned recently, I'm hoping to soon evolve into not just have my main ingredient ready for today, but to have at least a week's worth of meals planned and (dare I say it?), already prepped or pre-made and ready to pop in the oven, on the stove or crock pot.  I'm getting there slowly but surely.  I went to the grocery store yesterday, and made sure to have all the ingredients for 3 planned meals this week.  

  What's on the menu tonight?....stuffed bell peppers.  You can find this great recipe on another fantastic blog The Beehive Cottage.  I've tried this recipe before...simply delicious, and a big hit with the whole family.  Let me know what you think. 

Thanks for stopping by, and please come back soon!   Hope you all have a wonderful day!

Jennifer