Daddy Doll Giveaway WINNER

Thank you to everyone who entered our Daddy Dolls Giveaway!  I wish I could give more than one away since so many of you wanted one.  Be sure to check out Daddy Dolls and order yours today if you didn't win.

 

THANK YOU to DADDY DOLLS for this giveaway!

 

The winner is LAUREN FRANK, please email me at Lindsey(at)Happyhouseof5(dot)com within 24 hours to claim your prize.

 

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Crock Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage

 

My family is part Irish and we LOVE Corned Beef and Cabbage. We definitely have it every Saint Patrick's Day but we also have it on and off throughout the year because we all love it so much, even the kids.  Well I take that back, they don't like the cabbage so I try to buy a small head of cabbage for my husband and I and I'll make another vegetable to go with it. 

I've learned over the years to buy the "Flat Cut" brisket as they tend to be less fatty.  You have to really look at all of the packages and try to find the one with the least amount of fat. 

I put the brisket along with the packet of seasonings that it comes with, into a crock pot and cover it with water.  If I have an onion in the pantry I'll cut it into quarters and  throw that in there too, if not I'll sprinkle some Minced Onion into the pot.  Cover and turn your Crock Pot on low, cook for at least 8 hours. 

 

An hour and a half before your ready to eat, slice your cabbage and carrots.  Place them into the Crock Pot with the brisket.  Cover and continue to cook for the last hour and a half.  (I don't like hard or mushy cabbage and I've found the hour and a half to be just the right amount of cooking time)

Take out your brisket and cut it against the grain. 

You can serve it with potatoes or pasta.  We like to drizzle ours with apple cider vinegar. 

This is an easy and delicious meal for even the busy Momma!

Daddy Doll Giveaway Reminder

Hi lovely readers!  Don't forget that there the Daddy Doll Giveaway is still running!  It ends on February 27th at 12am!  Once you've entered, you can come back each day until it ends for more chances to win.  Sharing the giveaway on Facebook and pinning on Pinterest are the two ways to enter each day.  GOOD LUCK!

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Turn your Fears into Prayer Requests



Lately I've been struggling with the idea that my daughters are growing up.  Everyone who has kids always tells you that they grow up fast, I'm guilty myself of telling that to people who just had a baby.  It's not until you look back at pictures in your old photo albums or have a life event, such as your child entering their teen years, that you suddenly realize just how fast the time flew by.

Everyday seems to fly by, the weeks turn into months and suddenly its another new year.  I have the best intentions of being the fun-loving, happy go lucky Mom that I always dreamed of being.  Somehow life gets busy and I become emotional, abrupt and defensive towards my daughters and my husband.  I'm so glad that I've come to know of Gods perfect grace, that I can call to him for guidance and ask for him to forgive me when I'm not the Mom and Wife he calls me to be.

Part of the girls growing up so fast has lead me to have fear and to be anxious over their futures.  My oldest turned 13 and within the past few months she has changed from a little girl into a young lady who wants to experiment with eye shadow, fashion and now is showing interest in boys.  I'm so not ready for these teenage years and honestly it frightens me because of the past choices I've made.  If you're new here you can read more of my personal testimony here on how I had a baby at the young age of 19 while I was unwed. 



God has perfect timing, just the past couple of weeks at BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) we have been learning about Abraham and his son Isaac.  Abraham was a righteous man who walked closely with God and raised his children to do the same.  Even though Isaac had a wonderful Godly Father to learn from he still made mistakes and sinned.  The generational sin was passed down between Father and Son when it could have possibly been avoided if Abraham had shared more of his past mistakes of following his own will instead of Gods. 

Talk about perfect timing, I'm struggling with the idea of my daughters getting older and experiencing things like boyfriends, peer pressure, drugs, alcohol and sex.  I've been wrestling with trying to find just the right thing to say about having a boyfriend and what rules to put into place and that's when it hit me like a ton of bricks.  I may never have the perfect words for each new experience that my daughters go through, but what I do have is even better.  I have Jesus to turn to for help with these unchartered territories.  I have the Holy Spirit within me to guide my thoughts and help me to find just the right words at the right time.  I can use my past experiences to talk with my daughters about how my sins affected me and how I could have turned to God for his help.  It will be something that I have to pray.  How much information I share with them will depend on when I feel led by the Holy Spirit that the timing is right. 

Bottom line is that we as Mothers do not have anything to worry and be anxious over.  We must take our worries and turn them into prayer requests.  Simply leave it at the cross of Jesus because after all he is the one in control of our childrens lives.  He loves them more than we ever could.  Thank you Lord for allowing me to be their Mother and for speaking this lesson into my heart. 

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

 

"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.  So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life will be given over to the Lord."  1 Samuel 1:27-28

 

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philipians 4:6

 

GIVEAWAY:Daddy Doll

Today is an exciting day...I get to tell you about Daddy Dolls Inc!

Daddy Dolls was started by Tricia and Nikki, two Marine wives whose children were missing their deployed Daddy's.  They saw how much the dolls helped their children cope with the deployment stress and decided to make them for other families.

This is an awesome deployment tool but I think it's also great for families that have a member who travels for work, family that lives out of town, Emergency or Police Officers. 

We are a proud Coast Guard family who deals with deployments several times a year. The girls miss their Daddy very much while he's gone and the Daddy Doll is going to be there for them to snuggle with and have "Daddy" there for our everyday things like trips to the store, doctors office visits and bed time.   

All you need to do is visit their website at:

Daddy Dolls.com

Upload a head to toe picture and they will edit out the background and make a super cute and soft doll for your child to snuggle with. I was so happy to read that they are machine washable, that's a must in my book. Then pick out which fabric you would like on the back, there are lots of choices for both boys and girls.  We chose the 17 inch dolls with pink camo, aqua paisley and Amy Butler pink, because of course we had to get one for each of the girls!

 They each have a keepsake pocket sewn on the back, you can also add a voice recorder or text for under your picture for an additional cost. 

The lovely ladies at Daddy Dolls Inc have so graciously allowed me to host a giveaway for one 17 inch Daddy Doll for one of my lucky readers!!!  Enter below through the Rafflecopter:

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If you're new to Happy House of 5 be sure to check out my other posts on Military Life and Deployment:

Deployment Countdown Printable


and Our First Deployment.

Valentine's and a Hockey Surprise

I'm sharing a couple days later than I would have liked to but we are busy enjoying some family from out of town.  Hope you all had a very lovely Valentines!

The night before Valentines I decorated the breakfast table with heart plates, napkins, and foam stickers from Walmart.  I found the felt hearts at Joanns.  I decorated some Target Dollar Bin mailboxes with our first initial. 

Daddy surprised the girls with a rose for each of them.  The big girls got some valentine notecards and Pedi/Mani kits from the Target dollar bins as well.  Plus a necklace that I picked up for them at Walmart.   Little Sis got this movie:

Plus we all recieved a bunch of cards from our families :)

 

 My surprise for Daddy was a hockey game on Valentines with some friends from church!  He was so excited to go he went and put his Panthers jersey on as soon as he was done reading the printable I made to reveal the surprise. 

 We enjoyed some seafood stir-fry from the arena while watching from the comfort of a suite at the best spot in the house.....CENTER ICE!!

 Very excited to have a night out together!!

We also got to sit the third period right next to the ice, I've been to a few hockey games but never so close before and it was pretty cool!  The game was 0-0 until the other team scored a point during the over time.  Thank you to our family who helped with the girls so we could enjoy our Valentines together :)

Valentines and FREE Hugs and Kisses Printable

 This weekend Middle Sis and I worked on her Valentines mailbox for her class party.  We wrapped a shoebox with girly wrapping paper, added a couple of doilies and hot glued some leftover felt flowers that I had from an old wreath.  Need a tutorail for some super cute felt flowers?  The Crafted Sparrow has a great tutorial here. 

 I picked up some Valentines pencils at the Target dollar bins and planned to find a cute printable to use with them {I'm the Mom who doesn't usually send in candy for holidays} and lucky me I found the cutest idea on the 36th Avenue blog for these super cute Monster Pencils!! 

 She's ready for her class party. 

 I wanted to make a little something for some special little kiddos who happen to live near us.  I went with the classic Hershey Kisses and created this FREE printable to share with you lovely readers. 

Little cellophane baggies, kisses, the printable and some twine are all you'll need to pull these together.  A great little treat for anyone you think is special. 

Click HERE for your FREE printable :)
{I have some special plans for my Valentine but it's a secret so you'll have to wait}

R2R Snap Bag Giveaway WINNER

 

 A BIG THANK YOU to all who entered and to R2R Designs for offering their fabulous Attention on Deck Snap Bag.  And now it's time to announce the LUCKY winner.....

 CONGRATULATIONS Emily Mazza

Please email me within 24 hours, at Lindsey(at)Happyhouseof5.com with you mailing address :)

If you didn't win....I have another AWESOME giveaway coming VERY SOON!!!! 



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Day in the Life:Student of the Month-Respect

Middle Sis was recently chosen as Student of the Month for her second grade classroom.  There are different character traits that they focus on each month and she was chosen for the month on Respect.  We are so proud of her for showing respect to her teacher by replying "Yes Mam" and "No Mam".  She also was very helpful to her fellow students.  What a great honor it is to be chosen as the student of the month and especially for being chosen as respectful.

 Mommy and Daddy are very proud of you Sweetheart, keep up the great work!
Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God.
1 Peter 2:17

Just a friendly reminder, today is the last day to enter for the Attention on Deck Snap Bag from R2R Designs.  Enter here if you haven't had a chance to yet.  Earn more chances by sharing this giveaway on Facebook too. 

 



First Place Chili and Cornbread Recipe

This past week we went to a FUN and Super CUTE Chili Cook off.  We may live in South Florida but we happened to be having a bit of Fall like weather here, making the cook off that much more appropriate. 

If you've noticed from the recipes I've shared on here, I don't make recipes that are very difficult.  I love simple and easy to follow yummy recipes.  This may be a prize winning chili but you will be pleasantly surprised just how easy it is to make.  A Special Thank You to my Momma for sharing her yummy recipe with me and our readers!

First Place Chili (aka my Mommas Chili)

1 package French's Chili-O Seasoning Mix (THE Secret ingredient...Sshh)

1-1.5 lbs Lean Ground Beef

2 Cans Hunt's Diced Tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano

1 Can Red Kidney Beans (include the juices)

1-1.5 can of water (depending on the thickness desired)

1 Medium Onion chopped

1 Medium-Large Green Pepper (chopped)

2 tbsp Minced Garlic or 2 Cloves of Pressed Garlic

Optional:add a teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper

 Chop your green pepper and onion while browning the ground beef.

 Once the ground beef is completely browned add the green pepper, onion and either minced or pressed garlic into the pan and cook for approximately five minutes.  Add Chili-o seasoning mix, two cans of dices tomatoes, kidney beans and a can of water. 

Bring to a boil then simmer for ten minutes, or until pepper and onion are cooked.  If sauce is too thick for your taste, you can add more water. 

 Our hostess did a great job decorating, preparing a salad bar, drinks and desserts. 

 There were six chili's there to taste and judge, all were completely different from each other. 

 Toppings for your chili.

We each filled small cups of all the different chili's to sample and then voted for the different categories.  Then we went back and made big bowls of whatever our favorite was and all the yummy sides to choose from.  It was a great night visiting with friends old and new. 

 

Here's a great Cornbread Recipe from my Momma too to go with your Chili. 

(photo source)

6 Eggs

¾ cup of Butter flavored Crisco

1 Tsp. Sea Salt

6 Tbsps. Sugar

2 Cups Sour Cream

3 Cups Corn Muffin Mix

2 Cups Cream Style Corn

Directions:

Mix oil and eggs well. 

Blend all ingredients together

Spray (2) silicone cake pans with PAM

Bake at 375F for 45 minutes

Let me know how you like the recipes!!

 

(See where I link up and party here)