This Week 4 Years Ago...

This week 4 years ago Lily LaVange was born....I cannot believe it.  

Time goes by so fast. I feel like it was yesterday....

4 years ago

1st Time We Kissed Her

1st Time We Held Her

 Now She's FOUR and FEARLESS

Paddle Boarding in the Pacific

In Control of Out of Control Umbrella ;)

Riding the Ferris Wheel

Jumping on the Trampoline

We Love you LILY!

Cooked Peaches with Basil...

We planted a garden way back in February and it is growing like crazy.  It makes me want to cook with super fresh ingredients. We have a plethora of basil and I have been in the mood for peaches. I know peaches and basil sound like a funny combo but I promise it really is good.  This recipe  tastes like a cobbler but there is no baking.  It is super easy.

little helper planting garden in Feb.

we even have our own artichoke

lots of basil

fresh is the best ;)

Here's Recipe.  You can download here!

1/4 Cup of Butter

1/2 Teaspoon of Lemon

2/3 Cup Brown Sugar

2 Teaspoons Vanilla

3/4 Leaves of Basil

3 Peaches

1 Cup Blueberries

Vanilla Ice Cream

Reduce Butter, Sugar, Lemon, Vanilla in a sauce pan on low.  Add in peaches, blueberries and basil just till they're soft (about 2-3 minutes.)  Place fruit on top of ice cream. 
Be sure to drizzle sauce on top of fruit.

yummy

That's it!  All done!  

Fabulous Friday Follow

T.G.I.F! Every Friday begins with Fabulous Friday Follow Blog Hop here at Lily's Laundry and  

2Giggle Boxes. Joining us this week is Maxabella Loves!

Maxabella is our Guest Host! She is the mom to three, young children (6,4 and 2). 

Some of her posts include yummy recipes (can't wait to try this one), home decor, 

things that inspire and thoughts on life. 

Thanks for joining us! Welcome to FFF!

We are keeping it simple.

Here's what you do...

1. Follow the LLBB, 2GiggleBoxes, Maxabella Loves (We will follow you too!)

2. Click on the Linky Tool below and add your blog.

3. Check out the other blogs on "Fabulous Friday Follow" and follow them too.

Another person from this weeks Linky List who has a "FABULOUS" blog 

to host with us the week of September 10th-14th.

Linky will close on Tuesday evening and the "FABULOUS" blog 

will be notified on Wednesday, the 25th, via email!

Happy Following!

XOXO, Laura, Sarah and Maxabella

P.S.  What is a blog hop you ask!?!?

A Blog Hop, also known as blog hopping, is to move from one blog to another, reading posts or to leaving comments. Where the mission is to gain more followers on your blog!

  It's 100% for FUN!

The OC.

Here is my  photo journal of our Newport Vacation.

Pacific Ocean so fun!!!

Her new favorite thing to do.

Long sleeved lunch outside.  A big change from 110 degrees heat!

The Girls New Ride.

My New Ride.  Had to do Pink!

Our View for a Month...
Doesn't get any better then this...I'm not going to want to go home ;)

7 Ways to Teach Financial Responsibility to Children

My hubby owns a mortgage company out here in good ole So Cal.  He sends out a newsletter with great "financial/mortgage" tips every week. He brought this one home the other day.  It's hard raising kids in this instant gratification world. They have so much STUFF at their disposal.  Here are 7 tips to help teach them about finances.

Disclaimer: There was not an author named on the article or I would have given them credit...it was by The Mortgage Market Guide. Some of the examples I shortened!


7 Ways to Teach Financial Responsibility to Children
If the current economic climate has taught us anything, it's that financial education and responsibility are critical in today's' fast-paced, wired world. All to often, however, children grow up immune to the financial world around them. As a result, they're often ill equipped to manage their own finances when they become adults and leave home.

1. Pay an Allowance
If your children don't have money of their own, it's hard for them to really grasp the value of it. You don't need to pay a lot - a little goes a log way. The most important things is that your children learn the value of completing even small chores around the house to earn their own money.


2. Make a Plan and Set Guidelines
Before you actually start paying the allowance, sit down with your children and set some expectations. Discuss the specific chores and time lines for completing those chores, as well as the amount of money they'll earn for each chore and when they'll be paid. This helps instill a strong work ethic in children as well as drive home the message that money is earned, not given.

3. Save for the Future
Consider implementing a savings rule. Make it a rule to save half or 1/3 of their allowance. Go with them to establish a savings account in their name and then take them to make their deposits.  Or, if your children are young, you can decorate a jar to use as a special savings bank at home.

4. Educate on Interest
Once a month, sit with your kids and count how much money they have deposited, how much interest they have earned, and how much they have as a result.  Compare the amounts each month, so your children an see the benefits of not only saving, but the benefits of compounding interest.


5. Take Your Children Shopping
Take your kids grocery shopping with you.  As you go down your shopping list, have your children help you compare the prices of the different brands, sales and quantities per package.  You can also have your children try to keep a running tally and make a guess of what the total cost will be.

6. Set Them Free to Shop
If they need new school clothes.  Let them be in charge of their own money and be responsible for paying with their allotted amount.  Help them compare prices and let them figure out how many articles they can buy with the amount they have been given.


7. Teach by Example
Remember children are always watching. So if you educate them on saving for purchases and budgeting bit make rash decisions on big ticket items yourself, you may find them learning a different lesson than you intend.  So make sure to follow your own rules when it comes to spending, saving and fiscal responsibility.

By Mortgage Market Guide

Want More Followers? 
Add your URL to our blog hop! Ends tomorrow night!

Try Tag-a-Long Tuesday too!

Fabulous Friday Follow

August 13th-18th

Slowly but surely we are getting the hang of this Blog Hop thing.  I am on vacation so I am having a hard time getting back to my computer to check on things...I know poor me. If you are here PLEASE leave a comment so I can return the favor and FOLLOW YOU BACK!

2GiggleBoxes who is a good girlfriend/sorority sister of mine from UF

is hosting the Fabulous Friday Follow with me.

For this weeks GUEST HOST we picked Dana from Thoughts on Life and Dirty Diapers. 
Dana has I post I love called I Made My Kids Eat Their Sunscreen.  Welcome to FFF Dana!

To join FFF we are keeping it simple.

Here's what you do...

1. Follow the LLBB ,  2GiggleBoxes and Thoughts on Life and Dirty Diapers.
(We will follow you too!)

2. Click on the Linky Tool below and add your blog.

3. Check out the other blogs on "Fabulous Friday Follow" and follow them too.

We will pick another person from this weeks Linky List who has a
"FABULOUS" blog to host with us next week.

Linky will close on Wednesday PM and blog will be notified if they win via email!

Happy Following!

XOXO, Laura and Sarah

Black Bean Recipe.

 I love Cuban food. My black beans are in no way  a "traditional" (mine are more sweet) Cuban recipe but were influenced by eating lots of Cuban food growing up in Florida.

YOU CAN PRINT RECIPE HERE.

Here's What You Need

3 Cups of Black Beans

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

4-5 Pieces of Bacon

1Teaspoon Kosher Salt

1/2 Teaspoon Lawry’s Seasoning

1/3 Cup Brown Sugar

1/3 Balsamic Vinegar

Directions

In a large, deep skillet over medium heat, combine and brown: bacon, olive oil, Kosher salt, Lawry’s seasoning. Turn on low so that bacon stays soft. Saute for about 3 minutes stirring occasionally. Pour in dry black beans and stir around for about a minute. Cover beans with water and simmer. Needs to cook for at least 3 hours or until all beans are soft. Make sure to keep adding water so bean don’t burn. Serve with rice (like saffron yellow rice.)

I think the key to the flavor is the Brown Sugar, Bacon and Vinegar.

MAKE SURE YOU ADD ENOUGH WATER OR THEY WILL BURN!  

You will need to check often adding more water.

You can garnish with tomatoes, onions, cheese, hot sauce and/or sour cream.  I usually make a shredded pork to go on top (will add this recipe soon.)

DON'T FORGET about the Blog Hop.  You have till tomorrow to add your blog!

 I will be getting caught up with following everyone back!  Happy Tuesday!

www.LilysLaundryBoutique.Blogspot.com

Fabulous Friday Follow

 I'm still loving the Blog Hop idea so I asked Sarah from

2GiggleBoxes who is a good girlfriend/sorority sister of mine from UF

to host the Fabulous Friday Follow with me.

We are keeping it simple.

Here's what you do...

1. Follow the LLBB and 2GiggleBoxes (We will follow you too!)

2. Click on the Linky Tool below and add your blog.

3. Check out the other blogs on "Fabulous Friday Follow" and follow them too.

We will pick another person from this weeks Linky List who has a "FABULOUS" blog to host with us next week.

Linky will close on Wednesday PM and blog will be notified on Thursday if they win via email!

Happy Following!

XOXO, Laura and Sarah

Do You Shoe? I do...

I can't help it.  I also Lil Blue Boo.

If you have not checked out, Ashley over at Lil Blue Boo you're missing out on the world of an amazing creative force.  She is so crazy talented. I love to see what she is "Crafting Up." I dream of sitting down and sewing up all these super cool things but....I never seem to get to them. I have a great imagination but sometimes when it comes to the execution I fall flat.

She had this post a couple of weeks ago called Extreme Glitter Shoes and I was like HOLA! Pink, Glitter Shoes and NO SEW! Right up my ally...So off cheap shoe shopping I went.  I finally found a plain pair at Walmart....Here's how they come out!  I love them and the girls do too!

GIVE-A-WAY!
On a fun note Angela over at the Children's Nook WON the Give-A-Way! CONGRATS!
Thanks everyone for playing!  We will have another one again soon.

Drawing #2,851 PRIVATE

Strawberry Fields GAW 7th drawing held by Laurae Neil Completed on Thursday, 5 August 2010 at 15:29:14 UTC 21 entrants, 1 winner

Winners (1)

1st: veniceangel@hotmail.com

Love these Blog Hops!

One called Welcome Wednesday from Take it From Me and

One called the Tuesday Tag-Along and it is super cute! Go check it out.

WE are having our own blog hop over here called Fabulous Friday Follow and it is just so much fun! I have found so much great blogs...my brain is getting fried from reading everyone great stuff.  

Wednesday I will pick another "Fabulous"Blog to host with us next week.

Don't forget about our Give-A-Way!  It ends tonight at 10 PM PST!

xoxo,  www.LilysLaundryBoutique.Blogspot.com