About Liza

Disney/Pixar BRAVE's Merida

Disney/Pixar’s newest film, BRAVE, will be in theaters on June 22nd. Fortunately you don’t have to wait until then to get a taste of Scotland! Try one of the two new BRAVE-inspired recipes below! Click the image to download them for printing. I think we’re going to give the Scotch Egg a try this weekend.

BRAVE is the story of Merida, the headstrong daughter of King Fergus and Queen Elinor. Merida challenges tradition in an effort to carve her own path in life. This causes unexpected anger and chaos – including a curse! – in the kingdom, located in the Highlands of Scotland. Merida will need to use all her skills and discover the meaning of true bravery in order to set things right.

Like BRAVE on Facebook to stay in the loop leading up to the release.

Next week the last transit of Venus – when the Earth, sun, and Venus all align and Venus appears as a black circle moving across the surface of the sun – of what is likely our lifetimes will take place on June 5th. The next one will happen in 2117 – which, unless there are significant medical advances – most of us probably will not be around for. Matter of Cents and I thought it would be fun to share this twice-in-a-lifetime (the way the orbit works they happen in pairs 8 years apart; the last one was in 2004) event with you as part of our Pin Me! series.

Here is a photo of what the transit looks like:

Someone mentioned the other day that our children are much better dressed than we were as children. While I think my mother did a great job dressing me, the fashions of the day then just don’t compare to what’s available today. If you look in my closet and then you look in Bubbles closet, you’ll quickly release that the smallest member of our household has probably the widest wardrobe selections of us all; it’s just too hard to pass up all the cute toddler gear!

We’ve slowly been working on updates, home improvement projects, and redecorating ever since we moved into our new house a couple of months ago. One of the things we’ve been planning to get around to was the lighting for the living room. The living room was equipped with a ceiling fan when we moved in, but it wasn’t really our taste. In addition, not all of the bulbs worked, and the ones that did were blindingly bright.

Walmart

I realize we could have just changed out the bulb and made it work for awhile, but – well, it seemed easier to just turn the light portion off at the time. This meant supplementing with a couple of floor lamps, which also wasn’t ideal. Last week, though, a challenge was extended to replace my current incandescent lighting sources with #GELighting that is energy-efficient. I thought it would also be a good opportunity for us to get serious and update at least a couple of light fixtures, too, so my husband and I packed Bubbles up in the car, and we headed to Walmart to see what we could find. Continue reading »

Affordable Family Fun: Family Appreciation Night

I really enjoy reading Formula Mom’s blog. Mariah always has great crafts, fun giveaways, and yummy-looking recipes. A couple of weeks ago she wrote about having a family appreciation night as a fun, affordable family activity.

Mariah suggested giving each family member a jar or cup, and then passing out slips of paper. Each person would write two or three compliments for each person and drop them in that family member’s cup. Then they would take turns reading aloud the compliments they had received.

I totally see that as something we’ll be doing in the future. I think it would be fun to make it a monthly thing. Instead of cups and paper slips, though, I will probably cut out a rectangle per person of kraft paper. Prior to dinner I would place the pieces on the table next to their plates, and then everyone could come in and write or draw their compliments for each person. I’d pick them up before we ate, and then after dessert I’d pass them back out and everyone could take turns reading theirs (a good reminder of what we like about each other in case any squabbles came up during dinner!).

I’d reuse the rectangles at each family appreciate night until both the front and back side of each was full. Then I would cover them with contact paper and use them as placemats. This way we’d continually be reminded of the compliments we received and how much we love each other!

Do you have any special, affordable ways that you like to celebrate your family and show appreciation for one another?

Views From the Ville

Liza

A Taste Of Scotland From Disney/Pixar’s BRAVE

Last Venus Transit Of Our Lifetimes Is Almost Here!

Wobabybasics Organic Clothes Wrap Your Child In Pure Softness

Get A Lighting Makeover With #GELighting Energy-Efficient Bulbs

Looking For Affordable Family Fun Activities? Hold A Family Appreciation Night!