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My oldest son has been having a hard time in school learning what the different coins were. They learn cute songs and practice, but he still had't quite 'got it' yet. So, we grabbed some money flash cards and started practicing. The problem? He still wasn't getting it. I was about to pull my hair out, when this idea hit me....a cheat sheet.

I had to work with what I had at the moment, a cardboard box in the recycling bin - all we did was glue the coins onto the box - front and back - and then had Ashton write out what each coin was and how much it was worth.

My oldest son got a hold of my camera sometime this week. I went to down load pictures and this is what I found:

Do you love Pioneer Woman as much as I do?

I love reading Ree's daily posts. She seems like such a sweet person. I really love finding new recipes on her site. We eat Chicken Spaghetti at least 3 times a month! Seriously. That stuff is good.

I've tried several recipes out of her cookbook and they were all amazing. I now have a whole new way of making pot roast that it way better then the way I use to do it. I'm in love with her chicken fried steak and we love love love those cinnamon and sugar muffin things. I gave some to the neighbor last time I made them...I thought she was going to kiss me she was so happy to get them.



But, in all this time that I've owned Ree's cookbook The Pioneer Woman Cooks, the cinnamon rolls have always scared me. I've never really tried to make homemade, from scratch bread. I make bread from the bread machine all the time. But never from scratch.

I've spend the last couple of years pouring over that cookbook over and over again and always looking at the recipe for the cinnamon rolls but never having the balls to really make them. The doubts would roll through my head.

It'll take hours to make those. When will I find that kind of time?
What if I screw it all up? I'll have wasted all that time and energy?
Who will I serve 40+ cinnamon rolls to?
I can't make bread! Are you crazy!

All these doubts would roll through my head. Until last weekend. I decided to bite the bullet and just do it.

You need a ton of milk and flour to make those, so I went to the store and bought what I needed. I figured if I had everything I would need, there would be no excuse to NOT make them.

I told my husband my intentions. He didn't have the doubts I did. He was just excited to have some fresh baked cinnamon rolls.

So, I moved on.

I mixed and waited and rolled and waited.
I melted butter and floured and measured.

When all was said and done. It had really only taken me a little over an hour (other then the hour of rising - but I don't count that since I left for a bit during this stage). But I did it. The table was covered in flour and butter and sugar and cinnamon. The kitchen was a wreck. But I did it.

I was so proud. Really. I was beaming. 

I put the first batch in the oven. My oldest son kept running upstairs asking if they were done yet.

I was getting nervous. What if they are gross? I probably added too much sugar or not enough cinnamon. Oh no.

The first batch came out, I poured the frosting and cut the first bites for everyone.

They were heavenly. Pure heaven.

I had tamed the beast. 

I ended up taking a batch to the neighbors and a pan to our church group. Everyone raved. Everyone told me how brave I was to go after the Pioneer Women cinnamon rolls. Apparently I wasn't the only one who was scared.

I'm glade I pushed myself. I need to learn to trust my skills more then I do. I'm sure I have some other beasts that need to be tamed.

I wanted to take a minute to share with your the beauty products that have completely changed my skin. Even thought I'm in my (early) thirties, I still have acne. I've had it since I was a pre-teen. It's never been too horribly bad, but it's always been there.

As a teenager and into my early twenties, I would wear so much makeup to try and cover it up. I went to Dr's and got medications and creams - and they would work for a while and then quit and I'd be back to where I started. It wasn't until about two years ago that I started doing some research to find out why my skin was still so acne prone.

What I found it that it could be all sorts of things - foods that I'm allergic to, chemicals in the products that I use, genetic factors, air pollutants and more. Basically, I found out that I couldn't control all the reasons why my skin looked the way it did. So I decided to seek out products that would use less chemicals, makeups that were good for my skin and watch what types of foods I ate and drank.

I tried other products and weren't impressed. These all have made the final cut. These are the best products that I've seen that fit my budget and make my skin look amazing. My skin is now smooth and soft, and the acne has went away. I wear less make up now and am (for the first time) comfortable leaving the house without make up on!!!

Here's what I've been using:

Can you believe that Valentines Day is on Tuesday? I have so much that needs to be done before then. It's going to be craziness for the next few days until I get everything done.

Yesterday I went to the "planning committee" for my oldest son's school Valentines Day party.

Chris and I were invited to our first Super Bowl Party in years and years. He was really excited about having some guys to watch the game with, the kids were excited to be able to play with the other kids. Me? I was excited about thinking what dish I would bring.