Weekday Wear

Weekday Wear by messybunch featuring skinny legging jeans

  This is the "Wishful Thinking" outfit of the week...snow is everywhere back home and it sounds like it will be hitting here within the next day or two.  Can you feel the sunshine in your face? lol 
  I can't wait any longer for the day that I can wear my sandals without tempting the frost bite to catch my toesies.  Do you find shoes claustrophobic?  I doooo! Sandals are my friend all year long...even if I look strange walking in the snow. So this is for you, you wonderful Gladiator Sandal! :) The lia sophia, Glance earrings are a perfect match with this sandal and give off such a pretty glimmer as you wear them, and the Elena bracelet from the Kiam Family Collection is the perfect statement bracelet! 


Lord please bring the warmth to go along with our sunshine soon....Lovingly, Heather :)

Keeper of the Home Blog

Keeper of the Home blog is having a giveaway to Hampton Creek Inn! Check it out...it's not too far from my neck of the woods in Eastern Washington. What a wonderful getaway it would be for a couple.

*Just click here!

Weekday Wear

Weekday Wear by messybunch featuring sailor pants

   I love, love, love this Peacock green color!  It's really great for those of us that have blue eyes and dark brown hair. My sister Amy and friend Melisa wear this color beautifully! 
  You've got to love the messenger style bag...throw it over your shoulder and go. The flats make it very easy to wear while the kids are in tow. The jacket is great for when you're heading out the door...and the plaid shirt is adorable to wear around the house (I've always loved plaid!) Throw on some nice smelling perfume, you know to hide the scent "O' Mac & Cheese," that I end up wearing all too often! lol You're not only a mom, you're a wife, a friend, and a mom...everyone loves a good smelling mommy...especially your kids.
  *I've paired it with lia sophia's Matte Gold Textured Earrings, and  Robin Bracelet.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day by messybunch featuring satin clutches
For My Loves...All Your Favorite Things!

Freezer Meals

  I know I have written about this subject before, but I thought I'd revisit it. Have any of you ever done freezer meals, or monthly meal planning? Well, if you haven't, keep reading, it is wonderful thing to start!

  I originally bought this book Fix, Freeze, Feast, 2 years ago, to start a "Club" of moms who got together monthly and prepared meals together. It was in the works with about 4-6 ladies with families of the same size. I believe football season started for our boys and things just got to busy to actually put our plans into action. Sad, but true. I ended up doing it on my own and it was such a relief in my household chores. I would just wake up, decide what sounded good for dinner...pull it out of the freezer and let it thaw some on the counter and put it in to cook when the time was right. I had a homemade, healthy, no fuss, no mess, yummy meal awaiting my hubby and family when he got home from work. It made meal time pleasurable instead of stressful. It is quite nice too that these recipes are for a "club" of sorts, so all the recipes are for really big batches. I cut them in half or thirds depending on the recipe for one meal to feed our brood. Family dinner is SO important! How many families do you know that sit together at a table for dinner every night? This is one thing that Bob and I both think is so important for our family. Maybe once a week (but hardly ever) do we not actually sit together at the table and have dinner.

  I am an extremely picky food person. If I could get a job sniffing out drugs trying to be smuggled in/out of the country, like a narcotics dog...I'd be a millionaire! Unfortunately when it comes to the smell of food, my nose is more of a problem than a blessing. Wat too sensitive! I hate to admit this, but usually when I'm cooking dinner, I try to breath through my mouth, so I don't smell what I'm cooking...otherwise it becomes unappetizing. Again, sad, but true. Maybe this is why I prefer to eat out. I never have to smell it being cooked, or see what is going into it. lol Sorry, I get sidetracked...so the gist of this rant is that I'd probably eat about half of the recipes that are in this book. Which means if you are a "normal" person, you'd probably be willing to eat almost all of them. :)

  These are a few of my favorites: 

      *Garlic Mashed Potatoes

      *Margarita Pork Chops

      *Breakfast Burritos

      *Granola

      *Manicotti

 There is a Freezer Inventory list to keep track of what you have put in and taken out. 

  Also, these Freezer Labels with directions for cooking, that you can print out and attached to your meals before placing them in the freezer.

  A perfect idea for meals maybe for a family that just had a new baby, or for any other reason that may come up to give a meal! Instead of it being a burden to figure out what you're going to give, and how you'll have time to do it, this allows you many options at your fingertips so that you may give freely without hesitation. That in itself is a blessing!

-I did notice that the cover is new on Amazon for this book, but I would assume that the meals are the same, or if anything, improved.

  I encourage you to look into this type of meal planning. You and your family will be blessed by it. I have gotten out of the habit of using the freezer meals when we moved and I am hurting because of it. I have gotten into the habit of not figuring out what we are having until 30min before we need to eat. Not a good idea! So, back to what I know works for us...I can't wait to start again. It's actually quite fun to take one day and prepare all your meals for the month, or even 2 weeks at a time. It's one day of messes and hard work, for a month of ease. Anything to help be organized and do our jobs of keepers of our homes, in a way that is pleasing to the Lord.

Blessings~Heather

Valentine's Date Night

Valentine's Date Night by messybunch featuring an evening clutch

  Valentine's is just around the corner....and even though our family doesn't put much heed into this commercial holiday, it is nice to have an excuse to trade in the apron, dress up and feel pretty. Although, my apron is really pretty! :)

  What better way than being pretty in pink! I just thought this was a nice romantic looking outfit fit for the occasion. Lots of sparkle and shine with lia sophia's Party Favor bracelet, Samba earrings, and the stunning Dahlia ring. You'll get nothing but compliments with these beauties! And, you definitely can't go wrong with a little Michael Buble for a romantic serenade! 

(Yes, you hear laughing...that would be everyone who knows me and knows that romance and me don't go hand in hand! lol)

In theory...not logic...I'd rather have a good laugh! I'll leave the romance to the serious folks. :)   

             Happy Valentine's to all you true romantics!

Beauty of the skies...

Psalm 19:1

  1 The heavens declare the glory of God; 

         the skies proclaim the work of his

               hands. 

   I have found living in the desert, the Lord blesses us with these glorious sunsets. They are the prettiest ones I have ever witnessed...including those in the tropics. It literally stops you in your tracks, makes you take a deep breath and say "Wow!" in reverence to the Lord. The desert has a beauty that you can only appreciate after living here. 

 * In the spring the mountains look like plump unripened peaches with their green fuzzy layer and crops beginning to sprout their green little caps. 

 * In the summer you have the sun, warmth, and beautiful rivers with lush trees and breezes. 

 * In the fall you get the cool crisp air that smells like football season. 

 * In the winter you get fences and trees frozen with beautiful spikes of shimmering ice crystals clung to their bodies, looking as if Jack Frost himself blew the ice into place.

  It reminds me of life as a Christian. Those from the outside see our lives and or lifestyles as boring and possibly even enslaved. But, what they don't realize is the beauty and peace that lies within the confines of the Cross. The Lord doesn't keep us from these things to harm us, but to allow us the fullest life possible. He has so many things planned for us, if we would just take the time to stop, rest, and listen. 

  Why do we question His plans? Why do we think we know what's best? He is the creator of ALL, heaven and earth. If we could focus our eyes on Him, maybe we could see the beauty that lies within His plans. Just like the desert, we need to find the resting place that He has provided for us. Wade down to the water to pray and feel His breath upon your face...it's life changing, because He promises it is. It changes our eternal destination...

Colossians 1:15-20

 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Romans 5:8 

  8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  

  So, next time you see what you would consider "a desolate desert," remember things aren't always as they seem... :) 

Blessings~Heather

Giveaway Winner!

  Thanks to all who entered the lia sophia giveaway! I appreciate all your help and opinions as to which types of styles you'd like to see.

  My handsome husband kindly helped me by using random.org to pick our lucky winner...comment #2...Melisa! In this case...the early bird did get the worm! lol Sorry, I couldn't help myself! Way to go, Melisa, I hope you enjoy!

*Melisa, if you'd like to get me your shipping info, I'll get your beautiful bracelet out to you ASAP!

Weekday Wear

Weekday Wear by messybunch featuring a stripe cardigan

  Nautical is "In" this season, and I've been dreaming of beaches, sand, and sun this week...so I thought I'd bring it to you! :) This outfit is so classy, yet so simple. You've got some bootcut dark washed jeans, black & white striped cardigan, your basic white racer back tank,  a shimmery shell inspired shoe (I know it's not practical, but it's "Oh, so pretty!"), and some shades for all the wonderful sunshine. Add a little bronzer to give you the "sun-kissed" look and off you go! 

  I did pair it with lia sophia's Elena bracelet and Glance earrings to give this outfit that last bit of polishing!

*remember, you can click on the photo to see the links to buy these great pieces!

Giveaway!

Giveaway Ended...Thank you all who entered!

  In celebration of lia sophia's 2011 Spring/Summer Collection, debuting TODAY...Feb.1st...I'm having a giveaway!!!  You're excited, right?!
 

  I'm giving away this beautiful cuff, the "Wind Up!" One of my favorite cuffs. This fashionable 5-band silver rope cuff slips on and keeps you moving through all your social circles. It's perfect with jeans & a tee, or for a night out on the town.

To Enter the Giveaway:

1. Check out my website: www.liasophia.com/heathermessner come back here and comment telling me which is your favorite piece of jewelry from the new line.
2. Become a "Follower" of Raising a Brood...
3. Share this on your blog and/or facebook page and comment telling me you did so.
4. Comment on what style of jewelry you'd like to see as samples (if you were to attend a lia sophia jewelry party.) i.e. more brushed gold, stones, rings, silver pieces, etc. or names of pieces work too!

That's up to 5 comments/entries per person! No entries after 10:00pm Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011
--Winner will be selected at random and announced Friday morning.