Easy Crockpot Refried Beans

Finished beans before mashing them.

I make this recipe all the time. I actually don't normally use a recipe but I wrote it down so I could share with you all. The preparation is fast and easy and you don't have to have your stove on for hours. I love to put these on before bed and have them ready in the morning. They smell good too! : )

♥ Easy Crockpot Refried Beans ♥

6 cups pinto beans
1 onion
couple garlic cloves
3 T oil
3 T salt

Directions:
Presoak beans if needed.
Rinse beans and place in crockpot. Fill crockpot with water until about 1 inch from the top. Add chopped onion, minced garlic & oil.
On high cook for 4 hours or until beans are soft. On low cook overnight, 6-8 hours or until beans are soft.
Add salt - it helps make the beans not so tough and easier to mash.

Mash beans with a potato masher or ricer. (I wouldn't recommend using a blender, though some do, as the heat from the beans can make the lid pop off and beans fly everywhere! Yes, I know from experience!) I often don't mash them, just use them the way they are. We love to use in burritos, casseroles, as a side, by themselves and any other way you'd use re-fried beans. These freeze really well. I freeze in zip-lock bags in about 1 1/2 to 2 cup measurements.

I hope you enjoy! ♥

This post is linked to:

Raising Homemakers Homemaking Link-Up!

Life Without Limits - Book Review

Sometimes you just feel like a book or sermon was written or preached just for you, right? As if right at this moment you are the only one in the room and this message is just for you. Well this book has hit home for me so much that Nick might as well have just started it like this: "Dear Tabitha, Read this book, I wrote it for you..."

Life Without Limits - Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good Life!

I first heard of Nick with no limbs several years ago and was amazed at almost everything. I watched his YouTube video of him doing things for himself and was surprised at such skill! How can someone without arms or legs be able to do anything for himself? When someone we know breaks an arm or leg they feel like they can't do anything, right? And that's only for a few months compared to a lifetime, that's nothing!

I have thoroughly enjoyed this book and I will be reading it over again! Many times! I don't want to ruin the book for you so I won't tell you too much! : ) ...First Nick is a GREAT writer and captures your interest right away! I don't know about you but I love stories! In this book Nick gives a challenge and then gives stories - some are of failures and others of success! But non-the-less captivating! His sense of humor is everywhere and there have been many times that I couldn't keep reading from laughing! : )

Nick's heart in this book is to really help others take a look closer at their situations, evaluate them and succeed above them through Jesus Christ! No, not everyone has the same struggles but we do all have the same God and we can rise above our situations. Take a different & better look on life and realize we aren't the only ones here suffering!

Again, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to many!




***I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review all opinions are honestly my own.

Take Action Bible ~ Book Review

Book Description:

Put the Word of God into action. The Take Action Bible features real-life stories and full-color photos of people who are putting their faith into action. Actions range from raising money with a lemonade stand to relocating to the mission field. Read their inspiring stories, and follow their examples with 52 ideas for you to put God's Word into action.

Features include:

• 48 full-color pages
• 15 real-life stories show how to take action with God's Word
• 52 Take Action ideas
• Personal Take Action note pages
• New King James Version® (NKJV) UltraSlim Bible text
• Translation and text notes
• Words of Jesus in red
• Concordance
• Bible reading plan

*****************

The Take Action Bible includes short stories in between the pages of God's Word about families, children, & churches ministering to the needs of the saints. I particularly enjoyed the story of one sweet little girl earning a small amount of money through her lemonade stand to donate to Christians in need. The stories in this book are both encouraging and heart moving - God is moving in great ways around the world and we are blessed to be a part of it. "Together we can change the world" by spreading God's word! This bible is in the NKJV and doesn't have any footnotes - just the bible. In the back of the book there are some maps - like pictures, I really enjoy maps, they give you just a glimpse of what it's like, what's where. It also has a concordance and a bible reading plan. This book would be a great start bible for a new Christian or an extra bible to keep around the house for easy pick up and read! : )

**************

Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

BabyLegs Review & Giveaway! Ends 5/14

I want to share with you my new favorite brand for baby socks & legwarmers - BabyLegs! Some of the reasons these have become my favorite are:

• Grips on the bottom of the sock! Perfect for your precious babies learning to stand and walk!
  
• They have some made from Organic Cotton!
• Adorable baby boy and girl patterns.
• Leg Warmers are perfect for those in-between times when its too hot or cold.
• Legwarmers would look absolutely adorable under a little girls denim dress/jumper/skirt!
• Large clearance section on their website.
• Great customer service and fast shipping!
• A whole newborn section!
• The socks actually stay on active baby feet - none of my other socks do!
  

BabyLegs sent me 4 pairs of socks and 2 legwarmers to try - honestly I don't think all four pairs of socks have been clean at the same time! They are always my first choice when getting my baby dressed and have almost been a reason to wash laundry sooner! :) My baby is a.l.w.a.y.s hot (even when its cold) so I haven't really put the legwarmers on him much. But they were great the few times I did. They would make great layers for babies that need more warmth, making it easy to still change and dress quickly!

About BabyLegs - Their Story:
In April of 2005, a young mom was confronted with a diaper rash that just wouldn't quit. The rash needed some fresh air to heal, but she was also concerned about keeping her daughter warm. In a moment of inspiration, she snipped the feet off of a pair of socks and fitted her daughter from hip to ankle with a cool set of leg warmers. These leg warmers not only kept her daughter warm, but also protected her from the elements, made diaper changing and potty training easier, and protected her soft knees while crawling. With some fun designs and some grassroots marketing support, the functional and fashionable leg warmers that began as a solution to keep little legs warm quickly became much more.

You can purchase BabyLegs products online here! Cute socks, tights & legwarmers ranging from $12-$10 sizes 0-12 months - 4T!

My Baby's toes staying cozy in his BabyLegs socks!

I'm so excited to be able to giveaway a BabyLegs Gift Basket worth $50.00 to one of you!
If your baby is a boy then you will receive a basket containing 4 pairs of socks and 2 legwarmers! If you have a girl you will receive a basket containing 2 pairs if socks, 2 pairs of tights, & 2 legwarmers!

TO ENTER:
This giveaway is open to U.S. Only.

MANDATORY ENTRY (this has to be completed to qualify for this giveaway, all other entries are extra and will not count if this isn't done.)

Leave a comment with your name and a way for me to be able to contact you if you win! Also Fan BabyLegs on Facebook or follow on Twitter (if you have them) leave a comment here telling me if you do so! : )

EXTRA ENTRIES: (you can do one, all, or none of these)

• Follow A Restful Place through Google Friend Connect (2 entries, leave 2 comments)
• Leave a comment telling me you favorite product from BabyLegs (it's going to be hard!) (2 entries, leave 2 comments
• Blog about this giveaway! (3 entries, leave 3 comments)
• Put my blog button on your blog, leave me the link :) (3 entries, leave 3 comments)
  
• Make a purchase from BabyLegs! (5 entries, leave 5 comments)

This giveaway will close May 14th, 2011 at 11:59 pm (EST)! Make sure to leave a way for me to contact you! The winner will be chosen via random.org and will have 2 days to respond before another winner is chosen. Winner will be announced here on A Restful Place the following week after the contest ends!

Hope you win!

Disclaimer: I received free samples of these products from BabyLegs for the purpose of review only. All opinions expressed here are my own.

The New eBook - 31 Days to Clean!

I've been seeing this new eBook everywhere online lately! It looks so good and I really would love to read it and Lord willing, get a cleaner home out of it. : ) I love clean homes!

I was raised in a home where cleaning was regularly done and something my family was able to quickly do. Being married, having a little one and all the normal demands on life I have found deep cleaning (or most cleaning should I say?) to not be quite as frequent. Before I was married and became a momma, while a stay-at-home daughter it was much easier. We all had our jobs and we'd switch out for each other if needed to get everything done. At least that's how I felt...

I love hosting people, I grew up with it being a normal part of life. We would have someone staying at our house just to visit at least once a month. Sometimes we'd go a month or two without hosting, other times we'd have guests every weekend for a month or two, we also would have church meetings in our home quite often.

A clean home is so much more inviting and a blessing to others! It feels great for the host while having others in their home and it makes the guest feel more welcome and comfortable.

From the reviews I've read on this book I think it's written for the natural cleaners and for the ones who struggle in this area. :)

A little snip-it from the author:

"I am not a natural when it comes to cleaning. In fact, sometimes I think my DNA is allergic to it! However, I know that if I am to care for my home, and more importantly my family, I need to persevere in creating a clean, peaceful home environment (not a perfect one!).

31 Days to Clean is about the “why” and the vision and the heart for taking care of our domains. Each day I encourage you with some thoughts and ideas, and then we put those ideas to action.

After each days reading, you will be given two challenges:

• The Mary Challenge -Something you do that encourages/engages your heart
• The Martha Challenge – Specific cleaning tasks"

Take a look at the Table of Contents and let me know a chapter you want to read! I think I'd love to just read the whole thing and apply as much as possible. : )

****

Spring is here though many days it doesn't yet feel like it - rain and cold days don't make me think of spring, through the green grass and first wildflowers are a joyous reminder. : ) I'm looking forward to the warm weather that's coming, sometime! : )

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! Who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

~Blessings on your week!