2 Moms and a Blog

Homemade Bagel Bites Recipe

2013-10-22T10:47:00.000-07:00

This was the biggest 'duh' moment in money saving, recipe making I've had in a long time. If you are like me you will do anything to save a buck. And that means making as many meals homemade instead of buying the expensive store brand. Case in point bagel bites. Yum, I remember these scrumptious little bites of cheese/pepperoni/bagel heaven from my teen years. Only recently I started to crave them again and was appalled at how expensive they were. So instead I went the homemade route. And boy did the yummy memories come back! These things are so good, easy to make and super cheap! DUH! Why didn't I think to just make them myself sooner!

It's pretty easy to figure out how to make these. But here is a step by step guide anyway!

You'll need:

Bagels (I used the mini ones for this).
Pizza sauce, feel free to make your own but I used pre-made.

Mozzarella cheese, but get creative! Try out some different recipes!
Toppings, I used pepperoni.

I started out by preheating the oven to 400. Then I lined a baking sheet with some foil and sprayed a little nonstick cooking spray.

Lay out the bagels and spread a little pizza sauce on each one. Then sprinkle your cheese on top.

Then place your toppings on the bagels.

Then pop them in the oven. It only took about 10 minutes until the cheese was nice and bubbly, but ovens differ so keep a close eye on yours!

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Pizza on a bagel. And kid approved, my recently turned 4 year old LOVES these! This would also be awesome for little ones to make themselves (up until the oven portion of course). Let them spread the sauce, sprinkle the cheese and put on the toppings. Kids love being able to cook for themselves!

Happy Cookin' y'all! ~ Miranda

Ridiculously easy Halloween Garland for kids

2013-10-18T07:05:00.003-07:00

This little Halloween garland is so ridiculously easy. I just gave my 4 year old all the supplies and let him have at it. Here is what you need for this simple decoration:

- Construction paper *we went with orange, black and green*
- Markers or crayon
- Scissors
- Glue or tape
- String

So first let you kiddos cut out some pumpkin shapes.

Then draw some pumpkin faces on them. This was the only part I really helped with.

Hey look, a Miley pumpkin! (hehe)

Then have the kiddos use the green paper to cut out some stems for the pumpkins. Have them glue on each side of the top of the pumpkin so there is an opening left on the stem to fish the string through.

And voila. That's it. Just fish the string through the stems and hang it where you please. Easy peasy!

Happy Haunting! ~ Miranda

Easy DIY Lava Lamp

2013-04-05T08:55:00.000-07:00

Ah, Lava Lamps. I remember when I was about 12 years old I had a few friends who had these and begged for one of my own. But, alas, it wasn't meant to be!
Until now!

Special thanks to this site for the idea, check it out for other great experiments to do with your kids!

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments/easylavalamp.html

This was so easy to make... here is how you and your kids can make one of your own...

You'll need:

*Clear plastic bottle

*Water

*Vegetable oil

*Food coloring

*Alka-seltzer tablet

Start by filling up your water bottle about a quarter full of water, then the rest with vegetable oil. After a minute drop in your food coloring.

Then break up your tablet of alka-seltzer and drop in a piece. Watch your kids faces light up as they see this start to happen...

Check it out in action!

Have fun!~ Miranda

Paper towel water transfer science experiment for kids

2013-04-04T19:08:00.000-07:00

We have been having so much science fun lately in our house. From balloon powered rockets to experimenting with food coloring, my little guy is having a blast learning!

I got this idea off Pinterest from:
http://wemadethat.blogspot.com/2013/03/water-transfer-experiment.html
Special thanks to this site for helping me explain this water transfer experiement to my son: http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments/escapingwater.html

First, I started out with only 4 glasses and added another after the process began (I found some green food coloring that had fallen out of the box!).

So set up your station with atleast 2 or more glasses. Your middle glasses should be empty... like this:

Drop some food coloring into the water, you could skip this step... but I like how the color helps you to see the process better!

Then take some paper towels and drape them from glass to glass. It should look like this:

Then you wait.

And wait... until-

YAY!

Enjoy!~ Miranda

Experimenting with food coloring!

2013-04-02T13:44:00.001-07:00

What little kid doesn't love experiments? I know my 3 year old does. He loves colors, seeing how things work and watching cause and effect.

So I set up a little station for him to experiment what happens when you introduce food coloring to other things, like water & baking soda.

Here is what we used to set up our little station...

I started out by having CJ drop some food coloring into a cup of water. He watched as it all mixed together.
Then we poured some food coloring into a bowl with vegetable oil. The saw how the food coloring didn't expand and mix.

Then we poured water into the bowl...

Then we moved onto the milk, food coloring and dish soap experiment. First pour a small layer of milk into a bowl or plate, drop some food coloring into the middle then drop some dishsoap on top and watch it swirl!

Here is a video of our fun, including the grand finale- baking soda & vinegar!

Have fun~ Miranda!

Jelly Bean Prayer - free printable

2013-03-30T12:15:00.001-07:00

I will be using this Jelly Bean Prayer to help my little guy better understand what tomorrow is all about. While Easter is fun for candy and baskets filled with goodies, I want him to understand why this day is important to us, and why we rejoice in the fact that Christ has Risen!

To print and use this cute Prayer, just right click and save to your computer, then print.

~ Have a joyful Easter, Miranda

Bunny Butt Cupcakes... so easy to make!

2013-03-29T09:08:00.001-07:00

I have been a baking fool lately, and I have to admit... it's been fun! These little cuties were so easy to make and it cracks me up to hear my little guy ask for a bunny butt cupcake!

Here is how to make these fun treats...

After your cupcakes have cooled completely frost them white. After doing so cut up some marshmallows into a tail and 2 feet for each cupcake and place accordingly. The should stick with the frosting.

Now with your pink frosting (I just put a dollop in a bowl with a drop or 2 of red food coloring for this part) use a toothpick to draw the details on the feet.

And that's it. Wasn't that easy? And cute as a bunny button too I might add!

Enjoy~ Miranda

Door step Bunny drop, last minute Easter fun!

2013-03-28T14:21:00.004-07:00

"Some Bunny" loves you! Who doesn't like to feel the love every now and then from friends? What what better way than with a door step bunny drop? I found these cute little felt bunny baskets for $1.00 at Target today. Aren't they cute? I also picked up 2 small containers of Hello Kitty bubbles for $1.00 total. Threw in some Easter basket grass, along with plastic eggs filled with goodies like candy and peeps. Then put a note inside saying "Some Bunny Loves You" and dropped it at some neighbor's door steps.

What a cute, easy quick way to let someone know you are thinking about them this Easter, and really fun for the kids too!

~ Miranda

A Very Manly Easter Basket

2013-03-26T09:09:00.002-07:00

Easter isn't always about the kiddos, sometimes we show our love to a spouse by making a special Easter basket. Here's some ideas for the special man in your life this Easter:

-Ties
Fun ones, serious ones or holiday ones, most men appreciate a new tie. Ties are great to roll up and put in an Easter egg too!

-Beer
Maybe instead of Easter eggs the bunny left something a little more suited to your honey's taste? Individual beer bottles placed here and there in his basket will make him smile wide (especially since most stores are closed on Easter!)

-Bottle Opener

How else are you gonna open all that beer? There are so many cool options for beer openers especially if you've got a nerd for a sweetheart!

-Book
Buy him the next book in his favorite series (Game of Thrones, anyone?). Or one he's been drooling over for a while. If he's an electronic reader then maybe a gift card instead.

-Video Game
Speaking of entertainment... the new Army of Two came out just in time for Easter!

-Jewelry or Watch
You can even go big with his basket and slip a new watch (pocket watches are coming back!) or his choice of jewelry into an Easter egg. I bet he'd never expect it.

-Giant Candy!

What guy wouldn't like this?! Find it at Vat19.com

And last but not least:

-Coffee Mug
Get it personalized or nerded out, whatever the mug, just know that he'll never let you use it!

Happy Easter!
-Kelsey

Easter Basket Ideas for kids ages 1 to teens. NO CANDY

2013-03-24T12:41:00.000-07:00

No candy Easter basket ideas for kids from ages 1 to teens. We even some ideas on fun themed baskets!

AGES 1-2

Pull and go soft race cars
B. Wheeee-Is! Soft Cars 4-pack

Safe car keys set
B. FunKeys

Favorite movies or CD of favorite songs

Clifford's Happy Easter, Norman Bridwell

Easter book
Clifford's Happy Easter, by Norman Bridwell

Easter life the flap book
Where are baby's Easter eggs? By Karen Katz

God Gave Us Easter, by Lisa Tawn Bergren, Laura J Bryant

Blocks
Mega Bloks Farm Blocks

Sidewalk Chalk
*Couldn't find a link, but the dollar section of Target has some with a holder so it doesn't get messy on little one's hands*

Kids this age love to open up plastic eggs, put fun things inside them in their Easter Basket
*socks
*squirt toys
*Little People Princess pack or Super Hero pack
*stickers
*Coins for piggy bank (it goes without saying, under adult supervision)

Sunglasses

Baby safe crayons and Easter coloring book
My First Crayons, Crayola Washable 2 pack

Stuffed bunny or chick

Snack Mix (like Goldfish or Cheerio's)

Spring Time PJ's

Instead of a basket, put gifts inside a bucket or bin that can be used for storage.

AGES 2-3

Step 2 Waterwheel play table

Maybe the Easter Bunny left a big present outside, like a water table?
Step 2 Waterwheel play table

Bubbles

Sidewalk Chalk

Snack mix - Like Annie's Pretzel & Cheddar Bunnies

DVDs or CDs

Books
Llama Llama Red Pajama, By Anna Dewdney

Again with the plastic eggs, here are some ideas for this age group
*temporary tattoos
*money
*stickers
*mini bottles of bubbles
*mini coloring books or note pads
*mini nail polish
*matchbox cars

Water color paint set

Spring Time PJ's Carter's Boys or Carter's Girls

Flip Flops

Hair Bows

Hat

T-ball and bat

Again, a bucket or bin that could be used to store toys later would be a good idea, instead of the traditional basket.

Themed Baskets for kiddos!

"Summer Fun Basket/vacation to the beach planned"

Sunglasses

Flip flops or crocs

Swim suit

Sand toys, like hand shovels, molds etc. Sizzlin' Cool 11 Piece Beach & Garden Set

Beach ball

Floaties

Beach towel

Activity book for summer trip car rides

Items could go inside a beach bag instead of basket

"Super Hero Basket"

Spiderman Flipout car

Action figures Marvel Spider-Man Adventure Playskook Heroes

Peel and stick wall decals Roommates Batman Wall Decals

Bandaids with their favorite super hero

Superhero mask and accessories Spider-Man Marvel Mask

Superhero PJ's

Books about their favorite Superhero Marvel - The Incredible Hulk

A Cape

Superhero shirt

Big boy Superhero undies

"Girly-Girl Basket"

Tiara

Dress up jewelry

Dress up clothes

Wand

Beauty Shop Play Play Circle Beauty Shop Hairdressing Set

Play makeup

Hair bows

Pinkalicious Tickled Pink, by Victoria Kann

Princess Barbie doll

Pinkalicious book Pinkalicious Tickled Pink Paperback, by Victoria Kann

DVD Barbie : The Princess & The Popstar

Princess puzzle, or memory card game

Princess PJ's

Big girl princess undies

"Construction/Working Man Basket"

Instead of a basket, use a large construction truck and put goodies in the bed of the truck...

CD of songs John Deere: Crazy About Tractors

Mini trucks Caterpillar Mini Machines 5 Pack

Building blocks

Hard hat

Tool belt Tomy Talking Tool Belt

Ruler

Play-doh

Colored pencils (for drawing blue prints!)

Ideas for tweens & teens

For a girl, maybe a new purse instead of a basket and inside...

New phone cover

Amazon gift card- for music, books or anything

Make up

Sunglasses

Season pass to local water park or amusement park

Gift card to their favorite store

For a boy, how about a new pair of tennis shoes and inside...

New phone cover

Amazon gift card- for music, books or anything

Season pass to local water park or amusement park

New wallet

Gift card to their favorite store

Easter Basket Ideas for Babies (no candy!)

2013-03-20T17:51:00.000-07:00

When my now 3 year old little boy celebrated his first Easter he was only 6 months old. It was difficult to find cute stuff to put in a basket for a child that age, everything was candy or unsafe little trinket toys he couldn't have. So I had to go the non traditional route with things for him. Here are some ideas for Easter basket goodies for your baby under the age of 1, with some links on specific items!

Teething Rings
Here is a cute chick teether from Target

Plush Blocks
Infantino Discover and Play Plush Blocks

Plush Bunny or Chick
Floopy Bunny Plush Security Blanet

Age appropriate snack foods, like Gerber Puffs

Soft Books
Sassy's Baby's First set of books

photo credit: Leap Frog Leap Frog My Puppy Pal Scout & Violet

Interactive Toy
Leap Frog my Puppy Pal

Sippy Cup Trainer
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=13277187

Spring time PJs

CD with fun songs
Baby Einstein Traveling Melodies

Special night time book
Biscuit's Pet & Play Easter

Simple, Adorable Cotton Candy Easter Cake frugal alert!

2013-03-20T08:08:00.002-07:00

I had to redeem myself after my pastel colored deviled eggs incident. I thought the best way to do that was with a cake, a treat for everyone! This one was super easy, and super frugal! May I present... cotton candy Easter cake-

I am no baker. Store bought cake mix is usually my go to and was in this case. Here is what I used to make this little cutie...

I got all ingredients at Walmart. Gotta admit, I haven't seem little icing decorations for cakes like this in years so I picked up a pack.

So I got to mixing, all the while my 3 year old is at my feet asking if the birthday cake was for him. "Where are my balloons?", "I want Spiderman party!". My explanation of this being an Easter cake for everyone went unheard.

I decided to make the batter purple, mixing blue and red food coloring, this part is up to you. I just like purple, it's such a spring-y color!

So just follow the instructions on your cake mix, and let it cool after it's finished baking. In the mean time I mixed up my cotton candy frosting creation! *Note- I had never used this before. It's a good idea to not have your face anywhere near the container of frosting when you begin to mix, the power from the flavor mix pack just exploded everywhere and covered me!*

So after the cake cooled I got to frosting. I am not a good at this step.. don't expect a cake from me to look professional in anyway! :)

The I put the little bunnies around the cake, my little guy was yelling with glee "The bunnies are dancing around the cake!".

Finished product...

Little Man was trying to sneak some frosting... and then tried to bribe me with kisses for a piece of cake.

So of course I caved in a gave him a piece.

Happy First Day of Spring! ~ Miranda

Easter Fortune Eggs

2013-03-18T07:27:00.001-07:00

Wow, can you believe it's almost Easter?! When time flies by this fast, It can be so easy to lose touch with those who are truly important in our lives. That's why I like to try to make every holiday a family event and that usually means a meal.

This Easter we are having a Pre-Egg Hunt brunch, in order to fill those bellies before the big chase. I wanted everyone to participate in the egg cracking so I decided to have an Easter fortune egg waiting on every plate.

It's can be as simple or elaborate a project as you like!

First start out with the fortunes. I used a heavier paper like construction or scrapbook paper because I wanted it to withstand any torture I might be putting it through in order to suit my needs ;)

There are many different ways you can cut or edge the strips of paper. I decided to forgo the scissors and use the 'fold, lick, rip' tactic in order to get an antique edge. You can also use the kid shape scissors that will give it a ziz zag or scallop edge.

You can also antique the paper with tea staining, just be sure to let the paper dry completely before writing anything on it. This would be really cute if you decide to put a bible verse instead of a fortune for a post-Church brunch!

Now, for the paper to fit nicely into the egg, just roll it up! It turns out well if you wrap it around something like a pencil or pen.

I bought a few eggstra (haha) packages of plastic Easter eggs this year just knowing that I'd use them for some project or another for the holiday and here it is!

Have fun with this! Break out your stamps or paper punches! It's easy and cute and can fit any theme.

Happy Crafting!
-Kelsey

Just cause it ain't pretty, don't mean it ain't yummy!

2013-03-17T17:45:00.000-07:00

So the colored deviled eggs seem to be pretty popular on Pinterest right now with Easter coming right up. I decided to try my hand at it this evening.

Here is my FAILED attempt at this project, and what I learned along the way.

First off, I found a new method (find detailed directions here) for making hard boiled eggs so to avoid getting that grayish/blueish ring around the yolk. It was pretty simple starting off.

Get your eggs out and find a tack. Now poke a hole into the shell of the egg on the bigger end, but don't go too deep.

Now put your eggs in a pot and cover with cold water, put on stove and bring to a boil. Once water is boiling lower the heat to a low boil and let it go for 10 minutes.

As soon as the 10 minutes are up using a slotted spoon immediately put the eggs into a bowl of ice water. Let them sit until cool.*** Please keep reading to find my experience and advice with this last step***

While the eggs were cooling I got a couple of bowls of water out and put a few drops of red food coloring into one, and then red and blue into the other to make a light purple. Once the eggs were cooled I proceeded to ATTEMPT to remove the shell. This was quite a task. Usually my hard boiled eggs are easy to peel, but I think putting them in the ice water made it more difficult. The shells broke off into tiny pieces and took chunks of the actual egg with them. So next time I attempt this, I will skip the ice water. This was my misstep #1.

So after seeing how gnarly my eggs looked, I thought about nixing this whole thing. But I didn't want to waste perfectly good food just because it didn't look appealing. So I cut them in half and was pleasantly surprised at how brightly yellow the yolks were! No grayish/blueish rings! The insides were perfect. I think I'll stick to the method of putting a hole in the egg before boiling from now on! So I scooped out the yolks and put them in a bowl to mix up later.

I moved onto the dying of the eggs. Sigh... I thought this would be easy peasy. Not so much. I dropped a half an egg into the pink water and waited a minute them removed. No color. Tried again... still no color. So avoid my mistake of only putting in a few drops of food coloring... seems to me you need a lot for this project. So I put some more drops of food coloring in and dropped the egg in... whoops- I forgot to stir the water! Misstep #2. Now that I had color (albeit not as smooth as I wanted) showing up after pulling them out of the colored water I put them on a paper towel to rest and dry. BIG MISTAKE. The paper towel weaving was imprinted onto my eggs! So this was my misstep #3.

So after sighing and griping about what I thought would be an easy project I got to mixing up the filling for the eggs. My recipe is simple. A dollop of mayo, small drop of mustard, sprinkle of paprika and pepper and super yummy deliciousness ensues. I put the mix back into my weird looking eggs.

So here is my finished project on pastel colored deviled eggs.

Not exactly the picture perfect plate floating around on Pinterest. But they were yummy!

So here is what I learned...

*In my experience peeling an egg that is a bit warmer will probably guarantee a cleaner break in shell, making for a nice looking egg.

*You need more than a few drops to dye a hard boiled egg!

*Don't let your eggs rest on a paper towel after dying them, put them on a plate!

*Just because it ain't pretty don't mean it ain't yummy!

This is not my last attempt at you, pastel colored deviled eggs! I will try and try again, feeding my husband as many of you little suckers as I can until I have perfected you. Or until he tells me his stomach can't take anymore.

~ Miranda

'Clean' Spring Cleaning! Guest Post

2013-03-14T14:36:00.000-07:00

Spring is literally right around the corner folks! This means warmer weather, 12 hour long days (increasing through the season), blooming flowers and trees, the birds & the bees, and SPRING CLEANING! That’s right everyone’s favorite part of spring is right around the corner. Oh wait….you’re not a big fan of spring cleaning? Well join the club. Who in their right mind would think scrubbing baseboards, emptying closets, de-cluttering every corner of the house is fun?! I’m the first to run outside to soak up the sun, forgetting about the 3 months of dust stored under the bed or the closet that everyone in the house is deathly afraid to open. You know what’s worst then spring cleaning? Yes, there is worse! The chemicals used to clean houses. Did you know that most commercial household cleaners contain; Ammonia, 2-butoxyethanol/ Ethylene glycol butyl ether, Ethoxylated nonyl phenols (NPEs), Methylene chloride, Naphthalene, Silica, Toluene, Trisodium nitrilotriacetate (NTA, Xylene, Bleach (Sodium hypochlorite), and Phosphates. If you’re like me, you cannot pronounce most of these, let alone know what they are doing to you. So, here is a site to visit if you are feeling gutsy and want to read about it- http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_279.cfm.

You lucky people are so awesome that I’m going to share my natural cleaning solution secrets with you. That’s right NO EXCUSES for cleaning with toxic chemicals. I’m here to help. Plus these formulas will save you money! Who doesn't like making their pockets a little fatter? First thing first, crank up that stereo. I have to clean to music. I don’t care what it is you listen to. I have a confession… I listen to Dubstep while cleaning (I bet my neighbors want to kill me). A bit embarrassing to admit but, hey it works for me. So, find what works for you. Now we get down to the nitty gritty. Make sure you have all your cleaning supplies stocked up.

Cleaning Supplies

• Baking Soda - cleans, deodorizes, softens water, scours.

• Soap - unscented soap in liquid form, flakes, powders or bars is biodegradable and will clean just about anything. Avoid using soaps which contain petroleum distillates.

• Lemon - one of the strongest food-acids, effective against most household bacteria.

• Borax - (sodium borate) cleans, deodorizes, disinfects, softens water, and cleans wallpaper, painted walls and floors. (Borax is a natural substance which is non-carcinogenic, does not accumulate in the body, or absorb through the skin. It is not harmful to the environment.)

• White Vinegar - cuts grease, removes mildew, odors, some stains and wax build-up.

• Washing Soda - or SAL Soda is sodium carbonate decahydrate, a mineral. Washing soda cuts grease, removes stains, softens water, cleans wall, tiles, sinks and tubs. Use care, as washing soda can irritate mucous membranes. Do not use on aluminum.

• Isopropyl Alcohol - is an excellent disinfectant. (It has been suggested to replace this with ethanol or 100 proof alcohol in solution with water. There is some indication that isopropyl alcohol buildup contributes to illness in the body.)

• Cornstarch - can be used to clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets and rugs.

• Citrus Solvent - cleans paint brushes, oil and grease, some stains. (Citrus solvent may cause skin, lung or eye irritations for people with multiple chemical sensitivities.)

• Microfiber Cloths- which lift off dirt, grease and dust without the need for cleaning chemicals, because they are formulated to penetrate and trap dirt. There are a number of different brands. A good quality cloth can last for several years.

Non-Toxic Formulas

*Before applying any cleaning formulations, test in small hidden areas if possible. Always use caution with any new product in your home.

All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda (or 2 teaspoons borax) into 1/2 gallon (2 liters) water. Store and keep. Use for removal of water deposit stains on shower stall panels, bathroom chrome fixtures, windows, bathroom mirrors, etc.

Air Freshener: Commercial air fresheners mask smells and coat nasal passages to diminish the sense of smell.

• Baking soda or vinegar with lemon juice in small dishes absorbs odors around the house.

• Having houseplants helps reduce odors in the home.

• Prevent cooking odors by simmering vinegar (1 tbsp. in 1 cup water) on the stove while cooking. To get such smells as fish and onion off utensils and cutting boards, wipe them with vinegar and wash in soapy water.

• Keep fresh coffee grounds on the counter.

• Grind up a slice of lemon in the garbage disposal.

• Simmer water and cinnamon or other spices on stove.

• Place bowls of fragrant dried herbs and flowers in room.

Bathroom mold: Mold in bathroom tile grout is a common problem and can be a health concern. Mix one part hydrogen peroxide (3%) with two parts water in a spray bottle and spray on areas with mold. Wait at least one hour before rinsing or using shower.

Carpet stains: Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray directly on stain, let sit for several minutes, and clean with a brush or sponge using warm soapy water.

For fresh grease spots, sprinkle corn starch onto spot and wait 15 - 30 minutes before vacuuming.

For a heavy duty carpet cleaner, mix 1/4 cup each of salt, borax and vinegar. Rub paste into carpet and leave for a few hours. Vacuum.

Chopping block cleaner: Rub a slice of lemon across a chopping block to disinfect the surface. For tougher stains, squeeze some of the lemon juice onto the spot and let sit for 10 minutes, then wipe.

Coffee and tea stains: Stains in cups can be removed by applying vinegar to a sponge and wiping. To clean a teakettle or coffee maker, add 2 cups water and 1/4 cup vinegar; bring to a boil. Let cool, wipe with a clean cloth and rinse thoroughly with water.

Deodorize:

• Plastic food storage containers - soak overnight in warm water and baking soda

• In-sink garbage disposal units - grind up lemon or orange peel in the unit

• Carpets - sprinkle baking soda several hours before vacuuming

• Garage, basements - set a sliced onion on a plate in center of room for 12 - 24 hours

Dishwasher Soap: Mix equal parts of borax and washing soda, but increase the washing soda if your water is hard.

Dish washing Soap: Commercial low-phosphate detergents are not themselves harmful, but phosphates nourish algae which use up oxygen in waterways. A detergent substitution is to use liquid soap. Add 2 or 3 tablespoons of vinegar to the warm, soapy water for tough jobs.

Disinfectant: Mix 2 teaspoons borax, 4 tablespoons vinegar and 3 cups hot water. For stronger cleaning power add 1/4 teaspoon liquid castile soap. Wipe on with dampened cloth or use non-aerosol spray bottle. (This is not an antibacterial formula. The average kitchen or bathroom does not require antibacterial cleaners.) To disinfect kitchen sponges, put them in the dishwasher when running a load.

Drain Cleaner: For light drain cleaning, mix 1/2 cup salt in 4 liters water, heat (but not to a boil) and pour down the drain. For stronger cleaning, pour about 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain, then 1/2 cup vinegar. The resulting chemical reaction can break fatty acids down into soap and glycerine, allowing the clog to wash down the drain. After 15 minutes, pour in boiling water to clear residue. Caution: only use this method with metal plumbing. Plastic pipes can melt if excess boiling water is used. Also, do not use this method after trying a commercial drain opener--the vinegar can react with the drain opener to create dangerous fumes.

Fabric Softener: To reduce static cling, dampen your hands, then shake out your clothes as you remove them from the drier. Line-drying clothing is another alternative.

Floor Cleaner and Polish:

Vinyl and linoleum: mix 1 cup vinegar and a few drops of baby oil in 1 gallon warm water. For tough jobs, add 1/4 cup borax. Use sparingly on linoleum.

Wood: apply a thin coat of 1:1 vegetable oil and vinegar and rub in well.

Painted wood: mix 1 teaspoon washing soda into 1 gallon (4L) hot water.

Brick and stone tiles: mix 1 cup white vinegar in 1 gallon (4L) water; rinse with clear water.

Most floor surfaces can be easily cleaned using a solution of vinegar and water. For damp-mopping wood floors: mix equal amounts of white distilled vinegar and water. Add 15 drops of pure peppermint oil; shake to mix.

Furniture Polish: For varnished wood, add a few drops of lemon oil into a 1/2 cup warm water. Mix well and spray onto a soft cotton cloth. Cloth should only be slightly damp. Wipe furniture with the cloth, and finish by wiping once more using a dry soft cotton cloth. For unvarnished wood, mix two tsps each of olive oil and lemon juice and apply a small amount to a soft cotton cloth. Wring the cloth to spread the mixture further into the material and apply to the furniture using wide strokes. This helps distribute the oil evenly.

Laundry Detergent: Mix 1 cup Ivory soap (or Fels Naptha soap), 1/2 cup washing soda and 1/2 cup borax. Use 1 tbsp for light loads; 2 tbsp for heavy loads. Commercial natural, biodegradable laundry detergents are also now available online and in select stores.

Lime Deposits: You can reduce lime deposits in your teakettle by putting in 1/2 cup (125ml) white vinegar and 2 cups water, and gently boiling for a few minutes. Rinse well with fresh water while kettle is still warm. To remove lime scale on bathroom fixtures, squeeze lemon juice onto affected areas and let sit for several minutes before wiping clean with a wet cloth.

Marks on walls and painted surfaces: Many ink spots, pencil, crayon or marker spots can be cleaned from painted surfaces using baking soda applied to a damp sponge. Rub gently, then wipe and rinse.

Metal Cleaners and Polishes:

Aluminum: using a soft cloth, clean with a solution of cream of tartar and water.

Brass or bronze: polish with a soft cloth dipped in lemon and baking-soda solution, or vinegar and salt solution. Another method is to apply a dab of ketchup on a soft cloth and rub over tarnished spots.

Chrome: polish with baby oil, vinegar, or aluminum foil shiny side out.

Copper: soak a cotton rag in a pot of boiling water with 1 tablespoon salt and 1 cup white vinegar. Apply to copper while hot; let cool, then wipe clean. For tougher jobs, sprinkle baking soda or lemon juice on a soft cloth, then wipe. For copper cookware, sprinkle a lemon wedge with salt, then scrub. A simpler method is to apply a dab of ketchup on a soft cloth and rub over tarnished spots.

Gold: clean with toothpaste, or a paste of salt, vinegar, and flour.

Silver: line a pan with aluminum foil and fill with water; add a teaspoon each of baking soda and salt. Bring to a boil and immerse silver. Polish with soft cloth.

Stainless steel: clean with a cloth dampened with undiluted white vinegar, or olive oil. For stainless cookware, mix 4 tbs baking soda in 1 qt water, and apply using a soft cloth. Wipe dry using a clean cloth. For stainless steel sinks, pour some club soda on an absorbent cloth to clean, then wipe dry using a clean cloth.

Mold and Mildew: Use white vinegar or lemon juice full strength. Apply with a sponge or scrubby.

Mothballs: The common mothball is made of paradichlorobenzene, which is harmful to liver and kidneys. Cedar chips in a cheesecloth square, or cedar oil in an absorbent cloth will repel moths. The cedar should be 'aromatic cedar', also referred to as juniper in some areas. Cedar chips are available at many craft supply stores, or make your own using a plane and a block of cedar from the lumberyard. Homemade moth-repelling sachets can also be made with lavender, rosemary, vetiver and rose petals. Dried lemon peels are also a natural moth deterrent - simply toss into clothes chest, or tie in cheesecloth and hang in the closet.

Oil and Grease Spots: For small spills on the garage floor, add baking soda and scrub with wet brush. Or use CitraSolv nontoxic degreaser.

Oven Cleaner: Moisten oven surfaces with sponge and water. Use 3/4cup baking soda, 1/4cup salt and 1/4cup water to make a thick paste, and spread throughout oven interior. (avoid bare metal and any openings) Let sit overnight. Remove with spatula and wipe clean. Rub gently with fine steel wool for tough spots. Or use Arm & Hammer Oven Cleaner, declared nontoxic by Consumers Union.

Paint Brush Cleaner: Non-toxic, citrus oil based solvents are now available commercially under several brand names. Citra-Solve is one brand. This works well for cleaning brushes of oil-based paints. Paint brushes and rollers used for an on-going project can be saved overnight, or even up to a week, without cleaning at all. Simply wrap the brush or roller snugly in a plastic bag, such as a used bread or produce bag. Squeeze out air pockets and store away from light. The paint won't dry because air can't get to it. Simply unwrap the brush or roller the next day and continue with the job.

Fresh paint odors can be reduced by placing a small dish of white vinegar in the room.

Rust Remover: Sprinkle a little salt on the rust, squeeze a lime over the salt until it is well soaked. Leave the mixture on for 2 - 3 hours. Use leftover rind to scrub residue.

Scouring Powder: For top of stove, refrigerator and other such surfaces that should not be scratched, use baking soda. Apply baking soda directly with a damp sponge.

Shoe Polish: Olive oil with a few drops of lemon juice can be applied to shoes with a thick cotton or terry rag. Leave for a few minutes; wipe and buff with a clean, dry rag.

Stickers on walls: To remove, sponge vinegar over them several times, and wait 15 minutes, then rub off the stickers. This also works for price tags (stickers) on tools, etc.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner: Mix 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar, pour into basin and let it set for a few minutes. Scrub with brush and rinse. A mixture of borax (2 parts) and lemon juice (one part) will also work.

Tub and Tile Cleaner: For simple cleaning, rub in baking soda with a damp sponge and rinse with fresh water. For tougher jobs, wipe surfaces with vinegar first and follow with baking soda as a scouring powder. (Vinegar can break down tile grout, so use sparingly.)

Wallpaper Remover: Mix equal parts of white vinegar and hot water, apply with sponge over the old wallpaper to soften the adhesive. Peel of the lifting paper and reapply the mixture to stubborn patches. Open the room windows or use a fan to dissipate the pungent vinegar smell.

Water Rings on Wood: Water rings on a wooden table or counter are the result of moisture that is trapped under the topcoat, but not the finish. Try applying toothpaste or mayonnaise to a damp cloth and rub into the ring. Be careful not to run too vigorously so as not to mar the finish. Once the ring is removed, buff the entire wood surface.

Window Cleaner: Mix 2 teaspoons of white vinegar with 1 liter (qt) warm water. Use crumpled newspaper or cotton cloth to clean. Only use the black and white newspapers, not the colored ones. Don't clean windows if the sun is on them, or if they are warm, or streaks will show on drying. Be sure to follow the recipe, because using too strong a solution of vinegar will etch the glass and eventually cloud it. The All-Purpose Cleaner (above) also works well on windows.

Happy Spring to every one of you! I hope you found this blog post helpful. I also hope that even if you don’t switch from toxic cleaners all together, that you at least try to replace one each week with a safer non toxic cleaner. Challenge yourself this spring!

- Katie Riemke

Katie Riemke is an out of the home full-time working mom of 2 boys. She volunteers with TheMommiesNetwork as promotions adviser. She also has an online store Abnormal Oddities that offers weird and bizarre items nonetheless they are fantastic.

Pintrest: http://pinterest.com/abnormalodditie/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AbnormalOddities

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AbnormalOdditie

Please welcome a new contributing writer to '2 Moms and a Blog'

2013-03-13T17:55:00.000-07:00

Please welcome our newest addition to '2 Moms and a Blog'. Katie Riemke will be a contributing writer for our blog, and we are so happy and excited to see what she has in store for our readers!

About Katie:

Katie Riemke is an out of the home full-time working mom of 2 boys. She volunteers with TheMommiesNetwork as promotions advisor. She also has an online store Abnormal Oddities that offers weird and bizarre items nonetheless they are fantastic.

Pintrest: http://pinterest.com/abnormalodditie/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AbnormalOddities

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AbnormalOdditie

5 Minute, $5.00 St. Patty's Day Wreath

2013-03-11T07:38:00.000-07:00

Does anyone else think this year is just going by way too quickly? I just realized that St. Patty's day is coming up, and Easter is right after that! Wow, time is FLYING BY!

Anyway, I wanted to put up a wreath for St. Patty's Day, but seeing as it was only going to be up for a short amount of time and I didn't really have any craft funds I had to force myself to get simple and cheap. But that's always a good thing in my book! So here we have a 5 Minute, $5.00 St. Patty's Day Wreath.

Here is what you will need:

*straw wreath (I purchased this from Walmart for under $4.00)

*green streamer (I purchased from the dollar store for $1.00)

*floral pins (like these that I used when making the birthday wreath, so I had on hand)
Birthday Wreath Tutorial
*bright green card stock (I had on hand)

*pipe cleaner (I had on hand, or use whatever method of wreath hanging you like!)

So I took the streamer and wrapped it around the wreath and secured it with tape. It looked like this.

Then I secured the floral pins and pipe cleaner on the back so I could hang it on my front door.

Then I cut some clovers out of the bright green card stock and taped them to the wreath. I am lacking in the shape cutting skills, I am sure you will do an awesome job. Or if you have a chance to hit up the craft store pick up some wooden clovers, or a rainbow or little leprechaun! You can really get creative with this! Here is the finished product:

This took me only 5 minutes to make. It's not the most elaborate or special St. Patty's Day wreath, but it works for me!

Happy St. Patty's Day everyone- may the luck of the Irish be with you!
~ Miranda

Valentine Cupcakes with a surprise middle!

2013-02-11T16:24:00.001-08:00

I absolutely love Valentine's Day. My thought has always been that on Valentine's Day, the homemade gifts and treats are much more meaningful. These little cupcakes are filled with a surprise middle and a marshmallow heart on top. Here is how I made these...

What you'll need:
2 boxes of cake mix and ingredients to make (two colors, or both white)
Food coloring
Marshmallow hearts (or other topper of your choice)
Cupcake liners
Toothpick
Frosting
Very small heart shaped cookie cutter

So I started out by cooking a box of strawberry cake mix in a regular square cake pan. Allowed it to cool and then using a small cookie cutter, cut out some hearts.

Now depending on how much your cake rose, you may need to cut these little hearts in half and make 2 out of one cut.

Next I prepared a batch of vanilla cake mix. I put some cupcake liners in my cupcake pan and dolloped a little bit of the vanilla cake mix in the middle of each liner. Then I took one of my strawberry hearts and placed it in the batter. Then I carefully spooned more of the vanilla batter over the top and around the sides. You want to be sure that the batter doesn't knock your heart over or out of place.

**IMPORTANT**

As you are placing in the hearts make sure they are all turned in the same direction. You will need to mark the batter in some way in the direction the heart is, so when people bite in the heart is facing them. I used a little red food coloring and dipped a toothpick in and put a dot facing the direction of the hearts.

I thought I would add that this was supposed to be a trail run and I was going to make a better version of this to post this week. But my son has come down with the horrible sickies and I don't think I'll be doing anymore baking this week. I should have pushed the hearts down more into the batter and covered them better. You'll see why in a moment.

Now bake according to the box directions.

In the mean time get your frosting prepared. I used cream cheese and tinted it with red food coloring. I don't have any of those fancy pastry bags, ziplock has been my friend when decorating cakes, cookies and cupcakes. One of the best tricks I've learned when putting frosting into a ziplock bag is to but the bag into a small cup then put the batter in. So much easier! Then just cut a little corner off the bottom for your frosting to come out of.

When your cupcakes are done cooking let them cool completely. Now before frosting, make sure you place the cupcake in front of you with the little red dot facing you.

Now frost away, and please be more creative than I was! I topped with a heart marshmallow facing in the direction the red dot was so people knew to bite into the cupcake that way.

Here is the finished product.

Another with a pink marshmallow on top...

Now cut open to find the heart inside. And getting back to my note on needing to push the heart down better before baking, as you can see the very top of my heart was not showing well on this one. It came out good in some of the cupcakes, but I didn't want to cut open them all open at the same time.

This is great way to get different shapes inside a cupcake. If there is a cookie cutter small enough, it should work! Also a good idea for all those gender reveal cupcakes going around lately!

Happy Valentine's Day- Miranda

DIY Valentine Heart Craft for kids! So simple!

2013-02-03T14:32:00.001-08:00

I got the inspiration for this versatile Valentine craft from Pinterest, in particular this post.

http://amazingmae.blogspot.com/2012/02/salt-dough-necklaces.html

What I loved about this idea is that it's easy for kids to do, and add their own style to each little heart. The end result can be a necklace, magnet, paper weight... whatever!

Here is what you'll need:

Start out by making a batch of craft dough, you can use our recipe found here- http://2momsandablog.blogspot.com/2012/06/craft-dough.html

Cookie cutters

A toothpick or skewer

Kid safe paint

After making the dough let the kids help roll it out very thin then use cookie cutters to cut out your hearts. If you want to make necklaces or something you can hang with ribbon make sure to poke a hole in the top of the heart. I used a wooden skewer.

This part is fun for the kids!

Line your baking sheet with some parchment paper and bake at 300 degrees for about 40 minutes. You'll know they are ready when they are hard and beginning to brown a tiny bit on the top.

Pull out of the oven and let cool. Then let your kids paint them however they want.

One batch makes a lot of hearts, so this would be great for something your kids could hand out to their friends or family.

Enjoy, Happy Valentine's Day!

Photo a day challenge February 2013

2013-01-31T14:54:00.000-08:00

You may have seen this photo challenge floating around Pinterest! I wanted to come up with one that would challenge my creative side and also be fun.

Get creative. Take a challenge and put your own spin on it. Do something out of the ordinary.

So enjoy! I do hope you take part in this, and feel free to comment with a link back to your photos from February 2013.

DIY Valentine! Heart Robot

2013-01-22T11:31:00.001-08:00

This cute little Pinterest inspiration came just in time for Valentine's Day! My son loves robots and when we started to make small variations of these he thought they were super cool. He tried to play with the robots but the paper I had used in the beginning was too flimsy and the tape I used just pulled pieces apart. So I had to improvise making a new one with heavy card stock and brad pins.

Here is how I made this Valentine Heart Robot

***Now depending on how you will use this, or if you are going to let little ones try their hand at making this you may want to skip out on the brad pins and just use tape or glue. Brad pins are tiny so keep out of small hands!***

Pick out some coordinating colors of heavy card stock. For this particular robot I went with pink and green. Fold a paper in half and cut trace out half a heart like so...

and then cut it out.

Then I cut out 4 smaller hearts for the hands and feet, the 2 more small hearts for the top of the antennas.

Next you want to trace and cut out 4 strips on another piece of card stock for the arms and legs of the robot. Then two more smaller ones for the robots antennas.

Once you've cut the strips for the arms and legs, you want to start folding them back and forth to make an accordion like effect. (I didn't do this with the antennas, but feel free to change it up!)

Now comes a time to choose if you are going to want to use tape, glue or brad pins. The reason I used brad pins to secure the arms and legs to the robot is to make them moveable. However if you have really small children who will be handling the robot, or are if-y about using small pins stick to tape or glue!

Here is what brad pins look like.

By the way... have I mentioned brad pins enough in this post yet?

Brad pins. Brad pins. Brad pins. :)

I poked a hole in the robot in 4 spots where I will attach the arms and legs. Then I cut the arm and leg strips to make a spot for the pins to go through. Next I attached everything.

I put a piece of tape over the back of the pin, just to ensure it was secure and to make sure my little guy wouldn't poke his finger.

Front

Back

I used more brad pins to attach the hands and feet. The antennas and hearts on top were attached with glue and tape.

Now you should have something that looks like this.

Here is when you can get creative. You can let your kiddos draw on the face. I cut out eyes and a mouth from paper as my son was too busy snacking on pretzels and didn't feel like drawing at the moment.

And voila! A cute Valentine Heart Robot!

My little guy played with this for about 30 minutes until he decided he wanted it on the front door.

This is such a cute little project to do with the kids. They can make miniature ones to give out as Valentines or keep for themselves.

Enjoy! ~ Miranda

One of the best turkey recipes- EVER!

2012-11-16T12:13:00.000-08:00

The best turkey... ever!

This has been my go to recipe for turkey for the past few years. Never fails, always so juicy and flavorful and everyone loves it! And I'm going to share my recipe with you today, aren't I nice?

This recipe is a twist on Sandra Lee's roasted butter herb turkey
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sandra-lee/roasted-butter-herb-turkey-recipe/index.html

Fair warning, I'm not a measuring kind of person when it comes to cooking. I am more of a dash, pinch, and throw in a tad of something person! I like to live on the edge like that. So here goes...

What you will need (based on a 20 lb turkey, which is what I usually get):

4 sticks of butter (yes, it's a lot, but you will not use it for only the turkey!)

1 package of Knorr garlic and herb sauce mix

3 oranges

3 lemons

1 Large onion

1 garlic bulb

poultry seasoning

Fresh rosemary

So the night before, let your butter soften up and put it in a mixing bowl with the zest of 2 lemons and 2 oranges, the juice of 1 lemon and 1 orange, the garlic and herb sauce mix, and a few dashes of the poultry seasoning. Now mix all of this together really good.
Take some plastic wrap and roll it out onto your counter. Pour the mixed butter mixture in and roll it into a log. It should look something like this...

Now let that sit over night in your fridge.

Thanksgiving day prep-
Cut an onion into 4 pieces
Cut the garlic bulb in half
Slice an orange
Slice a lemon
Get out a couple of springs of the fresh rosemary
Remove the butter log from the fridge

As for the turkey, to prepare... have someone else (lol) remove the innards (again this is how I do it, I will not touch the innards- it grosses me out!). Now rinse the turkey and gently pat dry.Gently use your fingers to loosen the skin from the entire bird.
Cut some of the pieces of the butter log (reserve a good amount and put aside to ensure there is no cross contamination) and start to place the butter pieces in between the skin and the bird. Then take some more of the butter pieces and massage the whole outside of the bird with it.
Now stuff the inside of the bird with some of the orange and lemon pieces, the onion, garlic and rosemary.

As for cooking the bird, I cook mine on 325 and baste it about every hour or so, cooking until the little thermometer pops up and I check it with my own meat thermometer to confirm that it's done. I take it out and let it sit for a little bit before moving it to the platter.

To garnish, I cut up some of the oranges and lemons and place around the bird and finish off with some rosemary.

Now for the reserved butter, we use that for our rolls!

I am telling you guys, this turkey is so juicy and good! You can't go wrong with this recipe!

Enjoy!~ Miranda

My Thanksgiving Contribution: Oyster Dressing

2012-11-13T17:40:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time I cooked everything for Thanksgiving but now that we live closer to family I am only required to make one thing. I'll allow a moment for your jealous rage...

Good? OK.

This is my Father's recipe and it's a family one so I'm pretty sure that if he ever finds my blog that I'll be excommunicated from the Doyle brood but it's just too dang good not to share! This is a stuffing but since he's northern it's called a dressing and yes, it does have oysters in it and, yes, it can get a bit yucky to prepare but it is so worth it in the end. Don't you want to be the talk of the table this year?

Well, enough gab... On to the dressing!

*Warning* We do not measure, this is approximate. All the best recipes are ;)
**Double Warning** This recipe is for a large disposable tin pan, it's HUGE. Cut it in half and you'll feed half an army

1 cup celery
2 cups white onion
1 red bell pepper
2 green bell peppers
2 loafs of white bread
3 large bags of seasoned bread crusts (Pepperidge farms is what I use)
10 eggs (yup!)
1 cans of chicken broth
2 containers of fresh oysters
1 softened stick of butter
Salt and Pepper

Preheat the oven to 375

In a blender blend together the butter, oysters and chicken broth. Set aside.

Chop the celery, onion and bell peppers and combine together in a microwavable container, cover and cook for a 4 mins or until tender and steaming. Set aside.

Lay out all of the two loaves of bread to dry until the pieces feel slightly stiff on both sides (flip if you need to) then tear into smaller pieces and place the bread into a large deep tin cooking pan, add the 3 bags of seasoned stuffing crusts and the celery/onion/bell pepper combination and mix together with hands.

Now add the 10 eggs and mix again with your hands until all the ingredients are moist. Cover the top with Salt and Pepper and then pour on the oyster blend and mix again until completely mixed.

Well that was yucky!

Cover with tin foil and place in the oven for 30 mins or until the sides separate from the walls of the tin and testing the middle of the dressing with a straw comes out clean.

I will update this post with pictures around Thanksgiving!

Gobble 'Til Ya Wobble!
-Kels

My Thanksgiving dinner menu!

2012-11-13T07:54:00.003-08:00

I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week. Where did November go, where did the year go for that matter? I haven't gotten my turkey or any ingredients for Thanksgiving dinner yet. I need to get on the ball y'all!

Here is my Thanksgiving dinner menu. I will be hosting lots of family members in my home so our menu includes lots of foods that are traditional for us, along with some new items this year!

Citrus Herb Turkey (recipe to come, it's so good!)

Potato Salad - I'd love to be able to share this recipe with you, but alas... it's a family secret.

Green Bean Casserole - Nothing fancy, just the simple French's recipe. You can find it here- http://www.frenchs.com/recipe/frenchs-green-bean-casserole-RE1511

Creamy Peas and Carrots - This is new on the menu this year. I have been making this side dish for a couple of months now and everyone seems to love it. It's so easy...
Chop one onion and saute' in a large pan with a small amount of vegetable oil. Once the onions are translucent throw in some fresh carrots that have been peeled and chopped. Also put in a 1/2 tbsp of water. Let the carrots some up to a good simmer and throw in some thawed peas. Turn the heat down to medium and put the lid on. After the carrots are good and tender throw in a couple of tablespoons of cream cheese (don't freak, it's SO GOOD!) and put the lid back on. Let the cream cheese melt all the way through to create a creamy sauce and serve. So simple, and good!
This recipe is a variation of Giada's creamy pastina found here-
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/pastina-with-peas-and-carrots-recipe/index.html

Spinach Artichoke Mac & Cheese - Another newbie on my menu this year. I stumbled upon this delicious bit of heaven on pinterest over the summer. Thank you to the Budget Savvy Diva for the recipe, which you can find here-
http://www.budgetsavvydiva.com/2012/05/spinach-artichoke-mac-cheese-bake-recipe/

Sweet Potato Casserole - Another family favorite. Here is a recipe you can follow, I just don't use pecans and I use real marshmallows!
http://www.pauladeen.com/food_section_articles/view2/a_house_and_casserole_divided/

Cranberry Sauce - Yeah, I take a shortcut on this one. Canned cranberry sauce is just as good as home made!

Mashed Potatoes - this is another family favorite, only this year I will be making them in the crock pot following this recipe (Thank you again Budget Savvy Diva!) -
http://www.budgetsavvydiva.com/2012/01/ultimate-crock-pot-mashed-potatoes/

Gravy - Our house is divided. My parents and husband love the giblet gravy which makes me shutter just thinking about it. I prefer the store bought canned!

Dressing - Here is Kelsey's (my partner in blogging!) recipe for easy peasy oyster dressing! http://2momsandablog.blogspot.com/2012/11/my-thanksgiving-contribution-oyster.html
If you are not a fan of oysters try this - http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/southern-cornbread-stuffing-recipe/index.html

Rolls With Citrus Herb Butter - I buy pre-made rolls like these - http://www.saraleebread.com/our-bread/sara-lee/buns-and-rolls. The citrus herb butter to melt on top will go along with my turkey recipe which will be posted shortly!

DESSERTS!

Apple Pie - I am going to try my craft hand at these apple pies baked inside apples this year - http://domesticdilettante.com/2012/01/11/applepie/

Pumpkin Pie - I will not be making this, I am giving this dessert to my sister to make. But here is a good recipe to try! http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/pumpkin-pie-recipe/index.html

So that's it! My Thanksgiving recipe round up. I hope that you have found some inspiration here!

~ Miranda

Giving Thanks Tree

2012-11-07T07:49:00.002-08:00

It's the time of year to reflect on all we are thankful for. With Thanksgiving fast approaching I wanted to do something special, memorable and begin a tradition for years to come. So I got the idea for the Giving Thanks tree, originally called Gratitude Tree here http://meandmyinsanity.com/2008/11/gratitude-tree.html#comment-8090.

We just so happened to come across a big roll of brown paper from my parents who recently moved. So we rolled it out and my husband drew out the tree outline, cut it and hung it up. I traced and cut out some leaves on construction paper and every day we will write on a leaf what we are thankful for and add it to the tree. By Thanksgiving the tree should be full of beautiful leaves and many many thanks!

Excuse the tape all over the tree, I'm working to hide it!

I even made a little pouch and hung it on the door next to the tree to hold the leaves we will add.

I am all about starting traditions with my family to make everlasting memories for my son. This is such an easy way to start one for Thanksgiving.