Is hiring a real estate agent worth it? Doubtless, many people ask this question when venturing to buy or sell a home or piece of property. One may wonder if he or she wants to pay a real estate commission on top of the loss of equity experienced in the last several years. One may wonder if he or she would come out ahead on their own.
I would argue vehemently that YES . . . a good real estate agent is worth every penny.
Please welcome our son, Gideon Stanley, to this wonderful world! Gideon was born on November 23, 2013 at 10:25 PM (the same birthday as my Dad and Grandpa Jeff :-)). At birth he weighed 8 lbs and 14.5 ounces and was 21.25 inches long. Mommy and baby are both doing well! Continue reading Introducing Gideon Stanley→
I remember distinctly the first time we found out we were pregnant. We were so excited and I remember the people around me communicating similar excitement. When I shared the news with friends, family, and even strangers, their immediate response was either “Congratulations!” or “How exciting!”…something like that. Based on that first experience I assumed that was the way people always respond when someone announces a new life will be joining this world. When I made that announcement my new baby was just an “it”…an unknown person, unknown sex and I had no idea what ‘it” would be like. Today, that little baby is my 16-year-old daughter, Mannah. Continue reading Children are a Blessing…Yes, Even the 6th Child!→
These Whole Wheat Pumpkin Chocolate Chip muffins are a perfect wholesome treat for fall weather. They have just the right mix of spicy, chocolatey goodness! The texture of the muffins is especially yummy and the pumpkin flavor just shines through. If you are looking for an outstanding autumn recipe to add to your archives, this could be the one! These are equally good in the morning or for an afternoon snack with tea. Try them once and you will love them. I promise! Continue reading Whole Wheat Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins→
When it comes to choosing interior colors for our new home, I have little trouble knowing exactly what I want.
Choosing a roof color, however, is trickier! I definitely know that we want a white house. But when it comes to the roof, I am lost. I have been obsessing over shingle samples for several weeks now. Up close, they all look very similar. And pictures are not accurate representations of what the shingles look like in person. Basically, I have narrowed it down to off-black, dark gray, and light gray. Here are some example inspiration pictures of what I like in each color. Continue reading Choosing a Roof Color→
These whole wheat bread machine cinnamon rolls are simpler than you might think! The bread machine makes fresh, gooey rolls attainable right from your very own kitchen! Nothing compares to the yummy smell, and the kids have a blast helping to throw them together. If you don’t want to get up early enough to make them in time for breakfast, you can assemble them the night before (except for icing them). Simply assemble the rolls according to the directions, cover with foil and refrigerate. The next morning all you have to do is take them out of the fridge and allow them to set at room temperature for about an hour before baking and icing as usual. Your family and your guests will thank you! I promise! Continue reading Whole Wheat Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls→
I have been slowly developing a gut for many years….the first time I realized I had a problem was while flipping through some photos from a vacation to Mexico back in 2004. I wish I could say I took immediate action and got back in shape but I’ve pretty much added a pound or two every year since. Sure, I’ve tried dieting. Over the last 10 years I have collected 21 different sets of my “before” pictures for Body for Life, P90X, and others…..but, so far, no “after” photos. I have tried the Atkins Diet, the Hallelujah Diet, the Abs Diet, and a dozen others, but I was not successful with any of them. They were either too complicated, there was no variety in the foods, the foods were too limiting, or they required more discipline than I could muster up.
There is only one time I experienced both significant and lasting results – The Emery Fit program. I only stuck with it for a short time but I managed to lose 17 pounds and it took about a year to put it all back on (instead of the typical 2 weeks). I only made it about a third of the way to my goal weight and then things got crazy at work and I abandoned the program. Continue reading The Emery Fit Program→
These curried chickpeas are a hearty addition to our meal plan rotation. Preparation is quick and simple, and the smell of the sweet curry wafting through the house is a welcome addition on a chilly afternoon. Besides being delicious, it is packed with protein and fiber, and plenty of nutrient-rich vegetables. We like to serve it with steamed quinoa topped with freshly diced pineapple, tomato, and cilantro. For extra heat, you can add more curry paste or a sprinkle of cayenne pepper. This recipe is also an excellent candidate for preparing in bulk and freezing. Continue reading Curried Chickpeas→
These whole wheat brownies with chia seeds and pistachios are perfect for you sweet-and-salty chocolate lovers! And you don’t have to feel guilty since they are also made with whole grains and fiber-rich chia seeds. If you like even more salt to your sweet, you can sprinkle a little kosher salt on top before you pop them in the oven. The feel of these brownies are more cake-like than fudge-like. They have just the right texture , and are perfect served with a glass of icy cold milk! Continue reading Whole Wheat Brownies with Chia Seeds and Pistachios→
I have heard plenty of women talk about their spouses as if they can’t stand them. They go on and on about this or that shortcoming. They fantasize about time spent away from them. They speak about them with disrespect, disregard, and sometimes even disgust. They talk about how they wish their husband was more this or more that. They idealize other women’s husbands as so much more upright, handsome, successful, thoughtful, funny, hard-working, romantic, and witty.
