Good bye Tupperware, Hello Rubbermaid

This warmer weather has put me in a cleaning and organizing mood and my pantry was the first victim.  Here is a before picture - look on the bottom shelf all the way to the left.  It looks like a pile of mismatched, old, icky containers.  

I used to have dreams of shelf after shelf of beautifully arranged Tupperware containers storing everything in my pantry. (Christy, if you are reading this, you were the inspiration for that dream.)  I bought Tupperware at yard sales, Goodwill, thrift stores, you name it...I bought it. The only problem with that is the stuff didn't match, smelled, ended up cracking, didn't store well (mismatched pieces don't play well together) and I just didn't get a good vibe from it all no matter how hard I tried. 

Then a miracle happened.  Or else I was hit in the head with a V-8 (remember those commercials?).  

I discovered Rubbermaid Food Storage containers (can you hear the angels singing right now?)  I have both of these sets below and I can tell you that I plan on buying more of the ones on the right.

They clean up well, are easily stored as you can see in the pantry picture below, and they have made my life so much easier!  So, without sadness or regret, I have to say good bye Tupperware, hello Rubbermaid!

Proud Mom...Now and Then

I am just a proud mother that wants to show off my boys and what they've been doing now and then....

Kyle during basketball season this year.  Both of these photos were taken by Laura Harris.

This is from the first dirtbike race Kyle ever did in April 2007.

Here's all three of my guys waiting for the start of the race....

This is Rocky from his second race of this season (first race was motorcross, second was this hare scramble). He finished in second place, but was holding steady at first for most of it. 

Rocky getting scanned at the end of the race.

Post race reflection on the one that got away.....

Flowering Fern

The winter thaw has turned my mind to gardening and trying to come up with a plan to keep garden maintenance to a minimum.  I have so many hostas and have started to incorporate ferns and other shade loving plants waiting for them to grow (which has turned out to be a wonderful tool for keeping weeds under control), but I'm ready for something a little different.  This weekend, I found this beauty in a coupon insert ad for Brecks and they're calling it a flowering fern.  Here's the description from the Brecks site: 

Flowering Fern is known for its attractive, textured, fernlike foliage and striking, trumpet-shaped blooms. Each plant features 3-5 statuesque stalks that reach up to 18" tall and are loaded with beautiful pink flowers. This perennial multiplies freely and forms neat clumps up to 18" wide. Makes a lovely border addition. Adored by hummingbirds. Not a true fern, it needs a bit of sun to thrive. Plant in full sun to partial shade.

Photo courtesy of Brecks

This is definitely going to be added to my gardens this summer for a splash of color (and my favorite color too).  Have you been thinking about your gardens already?  What are some of your favorite plants?

Third Day Concert

If you read my previous post, you know that Carl and I went to see Third Day, Tenth Avenue North and Trevor Morgan at Northview Church in Carmel, IN.  What a wonderful night.  Absolutely amazing!  I can't stop singing all the music we heard (luckily we purchased a CD from each group).  Here's a clip from the show on Wednesday courtesy of 3rdDayRocker on YouTube (Thank You!!!!)

Make Your Move

Carl and I are going to a concert tonight to see Third Day, Tenth Avenue North, and Trevor Morgan at Northview Christian Church in Indy.  I'm super excited and wanted to share the newest Third Day song, Make Your Move.

Barn Quilts

Last spring we drove to Georgia and saw so many of these barn quilts.  By the time I thought about actually taking a picture that would last alot longer than my memory, we didn't see any more of these beautiful pieces of art. 

Photos courtesy of A Prairie Home

Photo courtesy of Mad Silence

Photo courtesy of Sarah Creates



This photo is from the Town of Neversink.  There are several great pictures of barn quilts on this site. 

Well, I think I've found several places for inspiration for my new spring project.   The only problem is that my husband doesn't know that I want to put one of these on his barn. 

Happy Birthday Rocky!!!

Today my baby is 11 years old.  I don't know where the time has gone. 
Happy Birthday Ryan (Rocky) Sacco!