Do You Still Have Easter Eggs?

That title. Yeah, do you? Please tell me it's not just me! I still have paper bags filled with empty Easter Eggs sitting in our garage.  I can't let them just sit there, & yet I can't just throw them away, right? I have to make them into something useful.  I figured it was time to get the Easter Eggs out of the garage & into our home classroom.  And so enters our leftover Easter Egg Number Matching game...
This game was really simple to create.  All I did was take a permanent marker, and on one side of the egg I wrote a number.  On the corresponding side of the egg I made that number of dots.  To play the game, the eggs are halved and face down, and just as if a child were playing memory or a matching game, the child has to match the number with the correct number of dots.  Simple right?! And my garage is one bag of eggs lighter! Don't you just love simple & easy recycled, but educational games?????  What do you do with you leftover Easter Eggs???

Flashcards for Mama

I am VERY aware that there has been the new (and abundant) addition of school content here at LWTH in the last year.  I'm aware; I get it! I know that I talk a lot about school stuff for kids, but I rarely get a chance to talk about studying for women, mothers, & basically me!  It's a theme in my life these days; I'm on the back burner.  I mentioned earlier in the year that I was "rerooting" and working on myself.  I've continued to do so through the year.  I have been using these flash cards for the past few months and they have been a great tool to keep me focused on the eternal over the earthly.There are 51 hard-covered flash cards in the box, about the size of a playing card.  These cards really are beautiful and covered in the Word.  One side has a nice inspirational quote & the other side has scripture.  I mean these cards are not really for studying, I mean I guess you could but I don't.   I just use them to bombard my brain with the Word. 

I put them on my dashboard in my card.

I have them tapped to my bathroom mirror. 

I put them on the window above the sink so I can read them as I'm washing dishes. 

I send them as gifts ALL. THE. TIME.  In fact as I was writing this post I stopped to have some sent to a friend that I know is going through some tough stuff. 

It's a great gift and reminder to someone that you love them and you're thinking of them.  You could send an entire box to a friend or slip one into a hand-written note to a friend or a thank you note or something like that.

If you're looking for some cards or a gift, I highly recommend these.  They help keep me focused and prevent my brain from distractions. Check them out and let me know what you think!  If you have something else that you use during the day to keep you focused on Him, please send your suggestion my way!

Obligatory Blogger Disclaimer ~ I was not paid for this review.  I just really like this product.

Blessed Nest Designs {Take 3}

Well it's been a minute since I posted about my latest Blessed Nest Design creations!  Honestly I didn't share anything from Christmas, Valentines Day, St. Patrick's Day OR Easter!!!  What?!?!?! I know, I know, shame on me!  Trust me, I might not have posted about it, but that is only because I was having so much fun working on various holiday projects for my kids and friends (even though I didn't post them, does anyone want to see???).  But just to recap, Blessed Nest Designs is just a little side hobby of mine (not a shop). During nap time, I've been crafting some fun gifts for friends and family. If you're interested in something you see on Etsy, Pinterest, or in the store and don't want to pay the price OR if you have a really great idea you would to see come to life, let me know and we can make it together. I have really enjoyed working with friends to make completely custom designs. I'm happy to send items if you're far away. Contact me if you're interested (darbyhawley@gmail.com).
Here are some of the cute outfits I made for my babes this July. Spoiler alert: everything is red, white, and blue :-)
If anyone wants to see everything that I created since my last update back in October (oops!) just follow me on Facebook.  I have an entire album dedicated to my projects. I have over 324!!!!!
See something you like or have an idea for a project to collaborate on with me....please contact me.

Same & a Little Different

Hey I'm just popping in for a second today to share this picture with you.  This is the same onesie, same age, but different baby.  Do you think they're related?

Third Year Scripture

A couple weeks ago, I told you about Dutch's third birthday "party".  Something I didn't get around to telling you was about his yearly verse.  I select a verse to pray over our children every year.  I want them to know that from the time they were conceived (& even before that really), that they were consistently & specifically prayed for.  We want to be intentional in our prayer life & parenting of our children so we select a new verse & have it framed & put in their nursery for the year.  In the past I have had the picture frame next to their birthday cake at their party which has been an awesome opportunity to witness to others.  As I said a couple days ago, Dutch didn't have a traditional birthday party, but we still had his verse framed and we study it with him all the time.

Their verses in the nursery before they were born.  First there was one for Dutch, & then we added Ellis' before she was born.

Dutch's first birthday verse by his cake.

Ellis' first birthday verse by her cake.

Dutch's second birthday verse by his cake.

This year's verse

Having a verse to pray over my children and write in their prayer books is awesome, because it gives me focus and direction.  But now it's also something that Dutch can learn and recite over and over and have on his heart for years to come.  What kinds of things do you do to be intentional in your parenting?

Summer Pasta {Upgrade!}

Okay, I posted a picture on Instagram and Facebook a couple weeks ago & y'all went cra-zay! I got soooooo many requests for this recipe!  Truth is, I have already shared this recipe with you (4 years ago lol), BUT since then I have made several amendments.....so today I'm sharing the recipe from the picture I posted recently... and I've got to say "recipe" loosely because this is so free and loose.....my summer pasta UPGRADE!
Ingredients:
1 lb chicken tenders, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tbs bacon fat
1 tsp fresh oregano, chopped finely
sea salt & black pepper
2-3 tbs EVOO
2 cups multicolored cherry tomatoes, diced into quarters
2-3 tbs (more) EVOO
1.5 tbs (more) fresh oregano, finely chopped
2 tbs fresh basil, finely chopped
2 tsp garlic powder
pinch of sugar (I used coconut sugar)
sea salt & pepper (more)
frozen or fresh tortellini
Asiago cheese, shredded or grated

Directions:
1. Marinate chicken in oregano, EVOO, salt & pepper for a couple hours.
2. In a separate bowl, marinate your tomatoes in EVOO, oregano, basil, garlic powder, sugar, salt & pepper for a couple hours.  I promise this is going to make your kitchen smell delicious!
3. Boil tortellini according to package instructions, and then drain.  As your pasta is cooking, sauté chicken in bacon fat over medium-high heat in a skillet (I use cast iron) until nicely browned.
4. Toss cooked pasta with the marinated tomatoes and top with chicken. Garnish with fresh asiago cheese.
5. Enjoy!

Anyone Else??? {and 5 NEW things!}

Well it's Friday again.  Again.
I thought I would share some weird, and super random, new things that have been happening to me lately.  Because who doesn't like a bunch of random-isms to distract you on a Friday?!

Previous lists of weird Hawley-isms for more distractions hehehe

March 2016 ~ October 2015 ~ September 2014

March 2014 ~ September 2013

1- I'M HOT- Like really really hot.  Like I'm a furnace....a furnace caught on fire.  You know how when you're pregnant you're a bazillion degrees (because you're baking a bun) and then as soon as the baby is born you go back to normal???? Yea well after Ellis was born I didn't go back to normal.  I'm still hot ALL. THE. TIME.  My over-heated nature has nothing to do with the weather, but everything to do with my internal temperature.  My poor hubby is being frozen out still, and I'm still hot.  Typically I'm a person that doesn't even sweat.  I'm never hot.  I tolerate being heated when I'm pregnant because I understand why I'm so hot.  Let me tell you, I'm not tolerating this heat so well right now.  I'm hoping that after I stop nursing & donating milk, my hormones will re-regulate and I'll cool off.  Let's hope for everyone (including our electric bill this summer) that I start to cool off. Anyone else????

2- I NEED HEAT- Despite what I just wrote about being so hot internally, after I had Ellis I can no longer taste flavor. Well the sense isn't completely gone, but it is a really dull sensation.  So I have been adding heat to all of our dishes.  I have to make dinner for everyone and then an extra plate for me covering it in chipotle peppers, hot sauce, smokey paprika, jalapeno peppers....basically whatever I can to taste again.  Anyone else like this postpartum???

3- SCISSOR LOVE- I have a great set of knives in the kitchen gifted to me from my hubby.  But I will be honest, I have stopped using knives to cut meat before cooking.  Instead I have been using my cooking shears.  I cut bacon, chicken tender, pork tenderloin.....anything I want with my scissors.  I just feel like it's easier and faster.  Anyone else???

4- NUMBER MEMORY- I can't remember anything.  My brain is sooooo full I forget everything, EXCEPT, kid toys.  I find it completely fascinating (and utterly shocking) that I can't remember what month it is but I can remember exactly how many pieces go with everything single kid toy we own.  "This game has 11 pieces", "This puzzle has 9 pieces".....you get the idea.  I remember exactly how many spoons go with each tea set.....and if I can't find one of the pieces, and the game or set is incomplete, I will turn our house inside out until I find it.  It's like I can't sleep until everything is back together.  And if I can't find something it will bother me so much.  I like all of the toys to be complete sets.  Doesn't this sound like a clinical issue?! haha Thank goodness this is just a kid toy thing and not trickling into other areas of my life.  And maybe my brain isn't completely fried because at least it can remember to count toy pieces lol Anyone else??????

5- SUMMER SHOES- I fell in love with both of these shoes and just had to have them.  I was thinking that you can't wear booties in the summer.....but I asked my stylish, fashion-forward sister if it was okay, and she approved.  So it must be true, and I ordered them both!  I am only in these shoes this summer: super fun and comfy! I'm so grateful for my fashion-forward sister for help like this.  Anyone else???

Laser Cut Block Heel ~ Espadrille Wedge

Welp, if it wasn't true before, it certainly is now: I'm weird!  Anyone else????

Have a great weekend!

Obligatory Blogger Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this reviews, I just really like these products!

Honest Hawley {May 2017}

I know that summer isn't technically here until June, but in my house it. has. arrived.  We're in summer mode, and aside from the heat, it's so fun with two little ones.  We are all about some splash pads, ice cream, & running around bare-footed.  This month my mom came to visit and that was a real treat since we hadn't seen her since about this time last year.  Even though it is summer we are continuing with our school.  It's just part of our day now, so we're just going to keep going. Like last month when Aunt Nana visited, this month with my mom coming, being a birthday month in our house & mothers day, there were a lot of photographic moments this month.

Here are the honest, unedited, unscripted
scenes of our May life :-)
2016: June ~ July ~ August ~ September ~ October ~ November ~ December
2017: January ~ February ~ March ~ April