We live in a weird area outside of the city, it has a lot to offer like Target, Walmart, Big grocery stores like HEB. Even other chains like Starbucks and Best Buy, even Costco are with in 5 minutes of my home.  However, we also have the benefit of living near "Rural" areas as well.  There's a local farm less than a mile a way where we can buy fresh produce & eggs.  I love Farm Fresh Eggs!  There is such a difference to me, and between the normal package of eggs and an Organic Free Range variety.  The cost is a bit more, but ultimately worth it.  If you can find a farm to buy your eggs from though, you should.  Not only do they taste better, are less expensive (than organic) but it supports the local community as well.  I thought the color variety was really interesting, so I had my 4 & 6 year old line them up lightest to darkest.  Pretty cool, huh?

So I know I'm a bit behind schedule, and I wouldn't call it a "summer reciepe" but here's a fun breakfast for your egg lovin' kiddos big or small.

Today I made some major progress in the "Itch to Pitch" Project. The Bean's & Crazy Little Guy's room was on the docket. Below you'll see both rooms. DD's room (aka "The Bean") is totally chaotic including closet. The transformation is incredible! Hopefully we'll get to painting it before school starts again. She loves fish and anything to do with the ocean. Obviously we are on a budget, and have been looking for a bed & mattress for some time. We have the paint, just not the time (and patience--with 4 kids under foot it can be quite the undertaking). Anyway, I'm pleased with our progress today. Two garbage bags full of trash and got all the toys and puzzels, books and games all organized and put away both in her room and my son's. BTW the bunkbed pictured was given to us and I found the top mattress (not included in the gift) almost new for $20 on Craigslist. Whoo Hoo!

Without further ado:

The Bean's Room: Before

The Bean's Room After:

Crazy Little Guy's Room After:
Sweet! Let's see how long this lasts! LOL!

Forgot that this was susposed to be a summer recipe. Sorry ladies, but I have had a crazy week...and so therefore haven't posted much in the last two weeks and I had already written this before realizing it didn't fit. Anyway, feel free to read on....or not.

Last week we gave up TV. It has been difficult, but already I can see the results. Since my Mother In Law was here last week as well, she gifted us with a bunch of games to give us something to do together as a family. We were finding that we would turn on the TV to keep the kids busy, to give ourselves a break, to "entertain" us. Mostly, we have found that it distracted us from having quality time as a family.

Hip Hubby and I had discussed turning the TV off before, but we both were reluctant for various reasons. However, several weeks ago, I found myself praying to find the joy in motherhood. I've said before, and maybe you feel this way too, I love my kids, but I don't find "Joy" in the role of MOM. The answer, to my surprise, was "turn off the TV". What? This was not the answer I was looking for. I was looking for some great spiritual revelation about myself, not THAT! When I mentioned this to my husband, to my dismay, he was like "Let's do it." (I was secretly hoping I could pull the "I'm just submitting to my husband--and he wants to keep the TV.) But no...that's not what happened. See my post Two Weeks Ago "Do I Have To?" So I called Direct TV (guess I can't get any adverts from them, right?) and they suspended our account starting the 24th.

So officially it's been 1 week. We are still getting used to the fact that we don't have one. The house is quieter. Last week you could have come in my home and at least 1 TV was on at any given moment. It would not be out of the ordinary to have all three on at the same time. Usually sometime between 7 and 8 I would set my self up on the couch with the baby and put my Tivo'd Dave Ramsey show on and feed the baby. See, that was MY time. Unfortunately for my husband, it also meant HIM finishing up dinner with the kids and not getting a chance to relax after a long day at work.

I'm sure I'll see other changes in the coming weeks, but so far I've noticed that I have been moving my feeding time to work around dinner more. That way we can eat together as a family. I instituted a daily chore list, so the kids can help me more around the house. It gives them something to do, that is productive, and we are now giving them some allowance money to save and spend. (only 1 quarter a day) We have been working on a few other things in our personal life as well, which has led my hubby and I to start working out together. The gym we joined has childcare, so last night we packed everyone up after dinner and went to the gym. A hour without the kids working towards a common goal. Awesome. (However, I'm sore as all get out today!) We've been reading as a family, playing games, going outside and talking with each other and our kids. I've made a few yummy treats for the kids and enjoyed a tea party in the living room. It hasn't been easy, but it's getting easier. I am beginning to see why the answer to my question was: "turn off the TV". I am starting to find joy in the moments. Not necessarily in the every waking moments...but in the moments when my kids are laughing with me, and surprised when I say it's OK to have "tea" in the living room with my fancy tea set. Or when they come and just want to snuggle with me on the couch. Now I'm noticing them, instead of being bothered--as much ;0) --by them. NO TV IS WORKING FOR ME.

Do you have cable or TV at your home? How do you control it?

This post is part of Works For Me Wednesday at www.wearethatfamily.com

I'm always trying to organize. On the surface, I seem like a pretty laid back kind of a girl. Dig a little deeper, and you find a never satisfied, perfectionist that beats herself up for not doing a good enough job. I always feel I'm doing everything half-assed. Really I just set my expectations so high that I can never possibly think of attaining my lofty goals. I then inundate myself with this crazy negative dialogue. What happens is, I get overwhelmed, and then I can't function, and the whole house will go to pot.

Thankfully, I've joined a Bible Study group over at Giving up on Perfect. We're studying a book called Me, Myself, & Lies. Go check her blog to find out more about it. It's mainly about dealing with our inner thoughts and negative dialogue. I will write more about this in the coming weeks.

So back to organizing, The Happy Housewife is having a Itch to Pitch Carnival, that I've decided to participate in. So check out her blog and see how you can participate. Here's where I am at at the moment. My kitchen living area and kids bath & rooms are "clean"--not organized but clean. My room, closet & laundry room is a disaster. I have a tendency to throw everything in a container, I love containers, so when I'm doing a quick clean up I throw all the stuff into a container...but never get to the organizing stuff or putting it away. This weekend we set aside a spot in our home where all those containers are going, and we are putting anything on shelves that's cluttered and unorganized out and into that spot. Once all the clutter is accumulated then we'll go through each basket or Rubbermaid tub one at a time. We've also decided to make a goal for a garage sale closer to the end of July. My Hip Amazing hubby has agreed to help me with the project in the evenings, especially since we won't have the TV to distract us.

To participate please leave a comment and say "hi" and then write your own post about your de-cluttering experience and then visit The Happy Housewife and link up with her Mr. Linky.

Since Wednesday seems to be my "most" visited day I thought I'd take this week's Works for Me give you a chance to get to know me a little better...kind of a Hip Mama's Favorite things.

I love my name: Autumn Lynn
My Maiden name Free--although I did take my hubby's last name

I love...

barefoot feet in cool grass
Florida sunshine
sweaty beaches
stinky little baby feet
my kids feet...those they can keep the stinky part
Kraft Mac & Cheese
Mimi's fudge brownies
Majik Bars
Monkey Bread
My Hip Hubby
Bisquits and Gravy
Fried Eggs (over medium)
horses
horse back riding
snuggling my hubby
watching movies
road trips
rv trips
The Bible
watermelon
grilled sweet corn
corn dogs
zeus (our Great Dane)
when my kids tell me the love me...randomly (and not when they want something)
hugs and kisses
snuggle bugs (after my kids get out of the bath and they are wrapped in their towels...it's like a big bear hug/pre-good night hug)
my hubby getting me ice cream after the kids go to bed
sex (read last wednesday's post here)
being married to my best friend over 10 years
friends
Jesus ( I hope you don't think this is in order)
Books
Quinny
The Bean
Crazy Little Guy
Silly Lily
My parents (all of them)
My in laws (i know can you believe it)
My Mimi & PopPop
My siblings (they keep me "hip" @ 17 & 20) or make fun of me for not being hip
Blogging
Writing

Disney World Resort
The Magic Kingdom
Cocoa Beach
Daytona Beach
Red Reef Park
My 1995 Chevy Suburban (even though the A/C needs to be fixed)
Swimming in the pool with family
BBQ
did I say Fudge Icing Brownies?
Traveling
Scrapbooking...but never get to do it.
Baby Head (specifically my own)
adorable amazing smiles from Lily
cruises
The Disney Cruise Ship
Missions Trips
Flip Flops
Jeans
American Eagle
Gap
Target

OH! How could I forget...I love my red hair & freckles too! Works for ME!

All these things Work For Me...I hope you enjoyed getting to know me a little better. Do be shy! Say Hi! And don't forget to check out some great tips and other things that work for other peeps over at We Are THAT Family


This post is part of Works For Me Wednesday