Joyful Homemaking

Charging Station

2012-03-02T09:14:00.001-05:00

I saw this great idea at Gabriel's Good Tidings and since my bread box had somehow ended up in my daughters room, I knew I had one to spare and could make this cool project.

This is what I started with, my empty bread box. Hubby ~~gouged~~ drilled a hole in the back of it big enough for a three pronged power cord plug to fit through.

Here is said power cord...

and its new location inside my bread box.

I then assembled SOME of our assortment of items in our house that require charging. I used some hair elastics and...

cord clips to keep things a little more organized inside.

I had thought about painting the bread box a bright pretty color but was too ~~lazy~~ tired.

So after selecting a pretty piece of scrapbook paper,

I cut it down to fit the frosted glass front and mod podged it on for some added color.

Voila, here is my finished charging station made from a re-purposed bread box.

What do you think?

Blessings,

Linking to some of these fun linking parties:

The Shabby Nest , Fingerprints on the Fridge , Chic on a Shoestring Life as Mom , Miss Mustard Seed , Tidy Mom , Whipperberry , At the Picket Fence , French Country Cottage 30 Handmade Days , Creation Corner , Finding Fabulous , Just a Girl , Stuff and Nonsense , Naptime Crafters Tatertots and Jello, My Romantic Home , While He was Napping Saturday: Funky Junk Interiors, Young and Crafty , Be Different, Act Normal , A Vision to Remember Sunday: Under the Table and Dreaming , DIY Showoff , Nifty Thrifty Things, Homemaker on a Dime , Monday: Skip to my Lou , Craft O Maniac , Sumo's Sweet Stuff , It's so Very Cheri , Keeping it Simple, Creating Really Awesome Free Things Dittle Dattle, Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms , Between Naps on the Porch , The Girl Creative Singing Three Little Birds , Mad in Crafts , Organize with Sandy , Ask Anna Tuesday: Polly Want a Crafter , Coastal Charm, A Bowl Full of Lemons , Tip Junkie , Sugar Bee Crafts , Not Just a Housewife , Today's Creative Blog , Balancing Beauty and Bedlam , 5 Minutes for Mom , Funky Polkadot Giraffe , All Thingz Related , DIY by Design Lil Luna, Blue Cricket Design, Hope Studios , Reasons to Skip the Housework , Time Warp Wife , Chef in Training Wednesday: Raising Homemakers , Crystal & Co. , We Are THAT Family , Women Living Well , The Trendy Treehouse , Passionately Artistic , Night Owl Crafting , Feeding Four , Handy Man, Crafty Woman Someday Crafts , Fabric Bows and More , This Chick Cooks , Seven Thirty Three, Sew Much Ado , Sugar & Dots A Creative Princess , Dragonfly Designs , Beyond the Picket Fence , The Thrifty Home , Creations by Kara,Gingersnap Crafts , A Little Tipsy , Thursday: Shabby Creek Cottage , Diaper Diaries , Delightful Order , Somewhat Simple , House of Hepworths, Saved by Love Creations , Feeding Four , It's a Keeper , Thrifty Decorating , The Frugal Girls , Miz Helen's Country Cottage , Little Knick Knack , The Thirty Sixth Avenue, Raising Mighty Arrows

I'm an organizing junkie

Baked French Toast with Caramel Glaze

2012-02-29T07:17:00.001-05:00

I really enjoy french toast, but I tend to be a bit picky about it as well. I don't like it too "eggy" and definitely not soggy, plus I'm always wondering if it's cooked enough in the middle. For this reason, the concept of a baked french toast has really appealed to me. My thinking was that if it's baked in the oven, then for sure it would be cooked through. So after searching through probably 30 different french toast recipes online, I found one that accommodated my tastes.

I found this recipe at Southington Patch, and modified it a bit after making it three times, to get the consistency I desired, and then added a quick homemade caramel glaze to the top.

Here is what you need:
1 16 oz. loaf of french bread
6 eggs
1 cup milk
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 T vanilla

1/2 cup of butter, melted
3/4 cup of brown sugar, packed

Pecan topping
3/4 cup chopped pecans
4 T butter, melted
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed

Caramel glaze (from Pillsbury Annual Recipes 2010)
2 T butter
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 T milk
1/2 cup powdered sugar, sifted

Slice french bread into 1 1/2 inch slices and lay them flat in a 9x13 inch casserole pan.

Mix eggs, milk, cinnamon and vanilla in a bowl and then pour the mixture over the bread slices.

Cover and refrigerate. After a couple of hours flip the bread slices over so they will soak up the remaining egg mixture, then let sit over night or for at least four or so hours.
Now here is where I did things a little differently, I took the soaked slices out of the pan and stacked them on a plate while I washed and dried the pan (the reason I did this was because the first two times I made this, I ended up with a layer of egg on the bottom of the pan which I did not want).

Mix the melted butter and brown sugar together and pour into the bottom of the greased casserole dish, then lay your soaked bread slices back in on top of the mixture.

Mix pecans, melted butter and brown sugar together, and then dabble over the top of the french toast slices. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes.

To make the glaze, melt the butter in a little pan, and stir in the brown sugar. Heat to boiling while stirring, and boil for two minutes, and then stir in the milk and bring to a boil again. Remove from heat and let cool, then stir in the powdered sugar. I had to add more than the 1 Tablespoon of milk to get a glazing consistency especially if it sits for a few minutes.
When the french toast is done baking and you are ready to serve, drizzle the glaze over each slice.

This was so scrumptious, chewy and sweet on the bottom, and with the glaze on top there is no need for syrup. The pecans were toasted and crunchy, just delicious.
Hope you enjoy!
Printable recipe

Blessings,

Linking to some of these fun linking parties:

I'm an organizing junkie

Menu Plan for the Week of February 27th

2012-02-27T08:05:00.001-05:00

It's another winter wonderland here! It sure is pretty when it first falls and everything is white and clean looking.

Finally time to pull out the ski masks!
Still trying to use up food from the freezers, so that is where most of my menu is from this week.

Breakfast Options:
(Any combination of the following)
French toast
Cereal
Fruit
Waffles
Toast
Eggs
Oatmeal
Poptarts
Egg whites and spinach (hubby's choice)
Pancakes
English muffins
Muffins
Baked oatmeal

Lunch Options:
(We like to add fruit and/or carrots to any of these "entrees")
Pasta (my kids love it)
Ravioli
Macaroni and cheese
Vegetarian corn dogs
Vegetarian hamburgers
Hot dogs
Chicken, turkey or ham sandwiches
Graham crackers and milk
English muffins
Peanut butter and fluff sandwiches
Whole wheat toast
Soup
Yogurt or cheese sticks, crackers
Leftovers from dinner

Dinners:

Baked teriyaki chicken
peas, mashed potatoes, and carrots
Grocery list: Chicken, potatoes, peas, carrots, soy sauce, garlic, apple cider vinegar and ginger

Veggie sausage, egg and cheese biscuits and...

Fruit salad

Grocery list: Biscuits, veggie sausages, cheddar cheese, eggs, assorted fruit for salad

Hamburgers, smiley potatoes, carrots and fruit
Grocery list: Hamburgers, buns, smiley potatoes, carrots and strawberries

Chicken Chili
Grocery list: Onion, garlic, chicken broth, tomatillos or canned tomatoes, green chilies, corn, chicken, white beans and sour cream

Ham and bean soup and...

Sweet light rolls
Grocery list: Roll ingredients, celery, carrots, onion, great northern beans, chicken broth, ham, chili powder, garlic, bay leaf

Steak, baked potatoes and mixed vegetables
Grocery list: steak, potatoes, mixed vegetables, marinade ingredients of your choice
Hope you all have a great week!
Blessings,

Linking to some of these fun linking parties:

I'm an organizing junkie

Pretty Post-its

2012-02-24T07:38:00.005-05:00

I saw this adorable idea at The Not So Functional Housewife and also at Paper Wings and just fell in love with it. It makes such an appealing little display for post it notes, and it's easy, fun, inexpensive and simple to coordinate with any decor, person or holiday.

So cute for a little boy's desk...

or a girl's or mom's desk.

These are a piece of cake to make, and here is what you need:

Plastic photo stand (from Walmart, Target or Dollar Store...)
Scrapbook paper
Ribbon, twine or stickers
Post-its
Double sided craft tape or craft glue (optional)

You could also make these with the magnetic plastic frames to hang on the refrigerator maybe for a grocery list.

Cut out your scrapbook paper the same size as the paper insert from the frame, and then slide it in your frame.

If you want to dress it up some, just tie some ribbon around it with a tag and the person's name or whatever you'd like it to say, and attach your sticky notes. If you need too, you can always reinforce it with some tape or craft glue, but I didn't need too.

There you have it, so easy right? These would make cute gifts for many occasions.
Blessings,

Linking to some of these fun linking parties:

Chili Spaghetti

2012-02-22T07:53:00.001-05:00

Years ago when visiting some relatives in Cincinnati, I had the "Cincinnati Chili," and this recipe reminded me of that but without the cinnamon, cloves or chocolate. I got this recipe out of a library book that I really like called Quick Meal Solutions. It's full of great ideas for fast, easy, healthy, family friendly meals. I can see this recipe becoming a family favorite at our house, just like the Taco Spaghetti.

Here is what you need:

10 oz. spaghetti
1 tsp. oil
1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion
1 garlic clove
1 26 oz. jar pasta sauce
1 15 oz. can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
2 T chili powder
optional: cheddar cheese, sour cream, green onions, fritos or tortilla chips

Heat oil, and cook ground beef, onion and garlic, then drain.

I already had my ground beef cooked, so I just sauteed the onion and garlic, and then added my beef, pasta sauce and chili powder. After that has warmed through, add your drained and rinsed kidney beans and cook for about 5 more minutes.

Cook your pasta according to package directions.

After pasta is cooked and drained, you are ready to serve.

Serve chili over spaghetti noodles and top with cheddar cheese, and if desired, green onions, corn chips and sour cream.

Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Printable recipe

Blessings,

Linking to some of these fun linking parties:

I'm an organizing junkie

Menu Plan for the Week of February 20th

2012-02-20T07:43:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday! Sometimes the weekend can get so hectic, I'm actually glad when Monday does come, and we can settle back into more of a routine.
Craving greenery around here, so here is a picture from July in West Virginia.

Ok, on to the menu plan... It's a pretty simple menu this week as I'd like to use up some of the items I have on hand.

Breakfast Options:
(Any combination of the following)
French toast
Cereal
Fruit
Waffles
Toast
Eggs
Oatmeal
Poptarts
Egg whites and spinach (hubby's choice)
Pancakes
English muffins
Muffins
Baked oatmeal

Lunch Options:
(We like to add fruit and/or carrots to any of these "entrees")
Pasta (my kids love it)
Ravioli
Macaroni and cheese
Vegetarian corn dogs
Vegetarian hamburgers
Hot dogs
Chicken, turkey or ham sandwiches
Graham crackers and milk
English muffins
Peanut butter and fluff sandwiches
Whole wheat toast
Soup
Yogurt or cheese sticks, crackers
Leftovers from dinner

Dinners:

Pizza Bread Salad
Grocery list: lettuce, pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, breadsticks, tomatoes, Italian dressing, basil

Tex-Mex Bake and Cornbread
This is so good! I made it when we had my parents over for dinner, and they liked it so much, they served it when they had company. Fresh tomatoes on top and taco sauce was a nice addition.
Grocery list: rigatoni pasta, ground turkey or beef, onion, corn, black beans, salsa, cottage cheese, egg, taco seasoning, cilantro, cumin, Monterrey Jack cheese and cornbread fixings

Chicken noodle soup and the best Light rolls

Grocery list: I start with canned soup, and then doctor it up with extra chicken, broth and vegetables; light roll ingredients-flour, yeast, eggs....

Hebrew National hot dogs, fruit and carrot sticks

Turkey burgers, baked beans, carrots and spinach salad

Grocery list: Turkey burgers, buns, carrots, spinach and baked beans

Burritos
Grocery list: Tortillas, meat, taco rice, black beans, cheddar cheese, sour cream, tomatoes, lettuce, taco sauce, ranch dressing

Have a great week!

Blessings,

Linking to some of these fun linking parties:

I'm an organizing junkie

Some of My Favorite Little Luxuries

2012-02-16T19:48:00.001-05:00

I tend to think of myself as a frugal person, but I guess it's all relative depending on who I am comparing myself too. It's painful for me to pay over $20 for a pair of jeans, and my sister and I love nothing more than going to yard sales and thrift stores. However I do have some favorite things that I don't always mind spending money on, and since I have always enjoyed reading posts about other peoples' little splurges that make life more enjoyable, I thought I would share some of the more frivolous things I enjoy.

1. Bath and Body Works' Aromatherapy Body Wash and Bubble Bath-I can't wear perfume because it irritates my asthma, but I still want to smell good, and this leaves a nice but not overbearing scent. Bath and Body Works are constantly offering sales online too, so I always get a pretty good deal.

2. Herbal Essence's shampoos and conditioners-Again, I like the rich scent they leave in my hair.

3. Thick soft fuzzy socks-I like to be comfortable, so when I walk in the door to my home, the jewelry comes off, the hairbows come out, and comfy sweats or jammies go on, as well as snuggly thick soft socks.

4. Diet beverages-They make me feel like I'm getting something for nothing. My favorites are Zero Vitamin Water, Diet Coke and Diet Rootbeer.

5. Eating out once in a while-This one should be obvious, no prep, everyone gets what they want, and no dishes.

Two of the men in my life

6. Baileys coffee creamer-It's my absolute favorite because of the rich flavor and sweetness.

7. Having someone else give my children piano lessons-I know how to play the piano, but since I teach my kids most everything else, it is nice to let another person teach them piano. I consider it a sanity saver.

8. Having a babysitter one day every two weeks where my kids go to her house-Again, since I homeschool, my children are with me 99% of the time, and I really enjoy having a couple of quiet days a month to clean, blog or read, alone. This is a true luxury for my personality; I need the peace and quiet once in a while.

9. Getting my hair cut, colored and highlighted professionally twice a year-It's a bit pricey, but I can manage the rest of the year by myself with trims and root touch ups.

10. My Kindle

I have the older version, but it is just so convenient to take on the go, and it can hold thousands of books in a slim form. It also feeds my desire for instant gratification when I see a book I just have to have, and can go online and buy it.
I would love to hear about your fun favorite things.
Blessings,

Linking to some of these fun linking parties:

The Shabby Nest , Fingerprints on the Fridge , Chic on a Shoestring Life as Mom , Miss Mustard Seed , Tidy Mom , Whipperberry , At the Picket Fence , French Country Cottage 30 Handmade Days , Creation Corner , Finding Fabulous , Just a Girl , Stuff and Nonsense , Naptime Crafters Tatertots and Jello, My Romantic Home , While He was Napping Saturday: Funky Junk Interiors, Young and Crafty , Be Different, Act Normal , A Vision to Remember , I heart Naptime Sunday: Under the Table and Dreaming , DIY Showoff , Nifty Thrifty Things, Homemaker on a Dime , Monday: Skip to my Lou , Craft O Maniac , Sumo's Sweet Stuff , It's so Very Cheri , Keeping it Simple, Creating Really Awesome Free Things Dittle Dattle, Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms , Between Naps on the Porch , The Girl Creative Singing Three Little Birds , Mad in Crafts , Organize with Sandy , Ask Anna Tuesday: Polly Want a Crafter , Coastal Charm, A Bowl Full of Lemons , Tip Junkie , Sugar Bee Crafts , Not Just a Housewife , Today's Creative Blog , Balancing Beauty and Bedlam , 5 Minutes for Mom , Funky Polkadot Giraffe , All Thingz Related , DIY by Design Lil Luna, Blue Cricket Design, Hope Studios , Reasons to Skip the Housework , Time Warp Wife , Chef in Training Wednesday: Raising Homemakers , Crystal & Co. , We Are THAT Family , Women Living Well , The Trendy Treehouse , Passionately Artistic , Night Owl Crafting , Feeding Four , Handy Man, Crafty Woman Someday Crafts , Fabric Bows and More , This Chick Cooks , Seven Thirty Three, Sew Much Ado , Sugar & Dots A Creative Princess , Dragonfly Designs , Beyond the Picket Fence , The Thrifty Home , Creations by Kara,Gingersnap Crafts , A Little Tipsy , Thursday: Shabby Creek Cottage , Diaper Diaries , Delightful Order , Somewhat Simple , House of Hepworths, Saved by Love Creations , Feeding Four , It's a Keeper , Thrifty Decorating , The Frugal Girls , Miz Helen's Country Cottage , Little Knick Knack , The Thirty Sixth Avenue, Raising Mighty Arrows

I'm an organizing junkie

Pie Crust Cookies

2012-02-15T07:24:00.001-05:00

The pie crust is always my favorite part of the pie, so when I saw this idea at Baked Perfection, I was excited to try it, and these little treats did not disappoint!

The politically correct way of making these is to use leftover pie dough, however, I did not go this route.

I started with pre-made store bought refrigerated pie crusts to test out this recipe.

Roll out your pie dough, or in my case, unfold it onto a lightly floured surface.

Mix up some cinnamon sugar; I use 1/4 c of sugar to 1 tsp. of cinnamon.

Lightly brush a small amount of melted butter across the pie crust, and then sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar.
Then use some little cookie cutters to cut out the shapes you want.
Bake on a lightly sprayed cookie sheet at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, and that's it.
Watch the time though, since oven heat varies.

Even my picky eater liked these. They are lightly sweet with a hint of saltiness, and a little crunchy like a cracker, yum!
Hope you enjoy!
Blessings,

Linking to some of these fun linking parties:

The Shabby Nest , Fingerprints on the Fridge , Chic on a Shoestring Life as Mom , Miss Mustard Seed , Tidy Mom , Whipperberry , At the Picket Fence , French Country Cottage 30 Handmade Days , Creation Corner , Finding Fabulous , Just a Girl , Stuff and Nonsense , Naptime Crafters Tatertots and Jello, My Romantic Home , While He was Napping Saturday: Funky Junk Interiors, Young and Crafty , Be Different, Act Normal , A Vision to Remember, I heart Naptime Sunday: Under the Table and Dreaming , DIY Showoff , Nifty Thrifty Things, Homemaker on a Dime , Monday: Skip to my Lou , Craft O Maniac , Sumo's Sweet Stuff , It's so Very Cheri , Keeping it Simple, Creating Really Awesome Free Things Dittle Dattle, Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms , Between Naps on the Porch , The Girl Creative Singing Three Little Birds , Mad in Crafts , Organize with Sandy , Ask Anna Tuesday: Polly Want a Crafter , Coastal Charm, A Bowl Full of Lemons , Tip Junkie , Sugar Bee Crafts , Not Just a Housewife , Today's Creative Blog , Balancing Beauty and Bedlam , 5 Minutes for Mom , Funky Polkadot Giraffe , All Thingz Related , DIY by Design Lil Luna, Blue Cricket Design, Hope Studios , Reasons to Skip the Housework , Time Warp Wife , Chef in Training Wednesday: Raising Homemakers , Crystal & Co. , We Are THAT Family , Women Living Well , The Trendy Treehouse , Passionately Artistic , Night Owl Crafting , Feeding Four , Handy Man, Crafty Woman Someday Crafts , Fabric Bows and More , This Chick Cooks , Seven Thirty Three, Sew Much Ado , Sugar & Dots A Creative Princess , Dragonfly Designs , Beyond the Picket Fence , The Thrifty Home , Creations by Kara,Gingersnap Crafts , A Little Tipsy , Thursday: Shabby Creek Cottage , Diaper Diaries , Delightful Order , Somewhat Simple , House of Hepworths, Saved by Love Creations , Feeding Four , It's a Keeper , Thrifty Decorating , The Frugal Girls , Miz Helen's Country Cottage , Little Knick Knack , The Thirty Sixth Avenue, Raising Mighty Arrows

I'm an organizing junkie

Menu Plan for the Week of February 13th

2012-02-13T08:16:00.001-05:00

Life sure is full isn't it? I would rather be busy than bored though, although sometimes a LITTLE bored might be ok...

Since it's freezing cold and very dreary looking outside here, I thought maybe a burst of color would be nice to enjoy before we get on to menu planning.

Breakfast Options:
(Any combination of the following)
French toast
Cereal
Fruit
Waffles
Toast
Eggs
Oatmeal
Poptarts
Egg whites and spinach (hubby's choice)
Pancakes
English muffins
Muffins
Baked oatmeal

Lunch Options:
(We like to add fruit and/or carrots to any of these "entrees")
Pasta (my kids love it)
Ravioli
Macaroni and cheese
Vegetarian corn dogs
Vegetarian hamburgers
Hot dogs
Chicken, turkey or ham sandwiches
Graham crackers and milk
English muffins
Peanut butter and fluff sandwiches
Whole wheat toast
Soup
Yogurt or cheese sticks, crackers
Leftovers from dinner

Dinners:

Taco Soup
Grocery list: Ground turkey or beef, kidney beans, pinto beans, corn, canned diced tomatoes, can of tomatoes and chiles, taco seasoning, ranch dressing packet, cheddar cheese and sour cream

Quiche and Banana bread
Grocery list: Pie crust, eggs, broccoli, cheddar cheese, bacon or ham, onion, white and whole wheat flour, sugar, bananas

Chocolate chip pancakes, ham, carrots and peaches
Grocery list: Pancake ingredients, ham, carrots and peaches

Baked Pasta
Grocery list: Rigatoni, cottage cheese, garlic, Parmesan cheese, parsley, mozzarella cheese, pasta sauce

General Tso's chicken, and egg rolls (I get them from Sam's Club)

Pasta with pesto & chicken (I just use leftover chicken & jarred pesto sauce), a salad and garlic toast
Grocery list: Pasta, pesto sauce, chicken, salad ingredients, french bread, garlic, butter, ranch dressing, Monterey jack cheese, parsley

Have a good week!
Blessings,

Linking to some of these fun linking parties:

The Shabby Nest , Fingerprints on the Fridge , Chic on a Shoestring Life as Mom , Miss Mustard Seed , Tidy Mom , Whipperberry , At the Picket Fence , French Country Cottage 30 Handmade Days , Creation Corner , Finding Fabulous , Just a Girl , Stuff and Nonsense , Naptime Crafters Tatertots and Jello, My Romantic Home , While He was Napping Saturday: Funky Junk Interiors, Young and Crafty , Be Different, Act Normal , A Vision to Remember , I heart Naptime Sunday: Under the Table and Dreaming , DIY Showoff , Nifty Thrifty Things, Homemaker on a Dime , Monday: Skip to my Lou , Craft O Maniac , Sumo's Sweet Stuff , It's so Very Cheri , Keeping it Simple, Creating Really Awesome Free Things Dittle Dattle, Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms , Between Naps on the Porch , The Girl Creative Singing Three Little Birds , Mad in Crafts , Organize with Sandy , Ask Anna Tuesday: Polly Want a Crafter , Coastal Charm, A Bowl Full of Lemons , Tip Junkie , Sugar Bee Crafts , Not Just a Housewife , Today's Creative Blog , Balancing Beauty and Bedlam , 5 Minutes for Mom , Funky Polkadot Giraffe , All Thingz Related , DIY by Design Lil Luna, Blue Cricket Design, Hope Studios , Reasons to Skip the Housework , Time Warp Wife , Chef in Training Wednesday: Raising Homemakers , Crystal & Co. , We Are THAT Family , Women Living Well , The Trendy Treehouse , Passionately Artistic , Night Owl Crafting , Feeding Four , Handy Man, Crafty Woman Someday Crafts , Fabric Bows and More , This Chick Cooks , Seven Thirty Three, Sew Much Ado , Sugar & Dots A Creative Princess , Dragonfly Designs , Beyond the Picket Fence , The Thrifty Home , Creations by Kara,Gingersnap Crafts , A Little Tipsy , Thursday: Shabby Creek Cottage , Diaper Diaries , Delightful Order , Somewhat Simple , House of Hepworths, Saved by Love Creations , Feeding Four , It's a Keeper , Thrifty Decorating , The Frugal Girls , Miz Helen's Country Cottage , Little Knick Knack , The Thirty Sixth Avenue, Raising Mighty Arrows

I'm an organizing junkie

Daughter's Room Organization Part 2

2012-02-09T19:43:00.000-05:00

Last May I worked hard and whipped my daughter's room into shape as seen here.

Well, it has been nine months since we did a purge/reevaluation of her toy situation, and her shelves have started looking like this.

Yikes-a-roo!
We desperately needed to go through all her toys and books to re-access what she still plays with and reads, and what she doesn't. Besides the obvious reason (see above), after organizing my youngest son's shelves a few weeks ago, I was extra motivated to get this room done as well.

So we dug in, and by "we," I mean "me."

Sorting and purging trash and unused or broken toys...

We even brought all the kids' stuffed animals into the living room to see if they were willing to get rid of some. Can you imagine why? Holy moly, that's a LOT of stuffed animals. They agreed to donate 10 each.

Do you think they picked any of the bigger ones?

Ummm, no, and actually, this pile only seems to have nine...

They had many larger options, but no, they are staying. They get it honestly, because I always seem to get attracted to the soft fuzzy ones in the store as much as they do.
We are relocating a lot of the stuffed animals to the basement play area because they can trap quite a bit of dust, and I don't want them breathing all that in while they sleep. We are still negotiating how many they can have in bed at night with them. In the past it has been so bad, my daughter has slept on the very edge of the bed because of all the animals that she insisted on having in bed with her--crazy! I think three is enough, but my daughter is holding out for five. I'll keep you posted.

I accumulated about 5 bags for donation, and one large bag of trash.

After gathering some matching baskets from around the house, and purchasing an additional three, I made up some labels,

using card stock and scrapbook paper.

Here we have the finished product.

I really have faith that we will be able to keep it in order better for two reasons. The first is because we purged so many items. I am becoming more and more of a firm believer in "less is more," and that "too much is just too much." The second reason is because I labeled EVERYTHING this time so my daughter will know where everything is SUPPOSED to go. Of course occasional maintenance with some good routines is always very helpful as well.
I think it turned out nice, and my hubby was pleasantly surprised and thrilled when he saw the end result. My daughter thinks it's "really pretty and cute."

Blessings,

Linking to some of these fun linking parties:

I'm an organizing junkie

Pizza Bread Salad

2012-02-08T07:43:00.000-05:00

Ok, I admit it. I have a fixation with pizza. Last week Taco pizza, and before that, Breakfast pizza, Puff pastry pizza pockets, Garlic mashed potato pizza, Garlic butter, chicken, vegetable and feta cheese pizza,
and finally my favorite Pizza dough recipe where I made chicken pesto stromboli. Yikes, I didn't realize exactly how many times I've posted pizza recipes till I looked back and figured it out. I get it honestly though, as we made pizza every Friday night growing up.
Today's recipe I adapted from Pillsbury's Annual Recipes 2010 cookbook which my sweet mom bought me for Christmas. We share a love of cookbooks.

Here is what you need to make this yummy salad:

1/2 c Italian dressing (I used light)
1 teaspoon dried basil (could use 1 T fresh chopped basil)
1 10 oz. bag Italian salad mix or hearts of romaine lettuce, torn bite size
4-6 garlic bread sticks
25 slices turkey pepperoni chopped
1-2 tomatoes chopped
4 oz. mozzarella cheese cut into bite size cubes

Slice up your cheese,

chop the tomatoes,

and pepperoni.

Bake your bread sticks and cut into bite size pieces.

Mix dressing and basil together.

When ready to serve, assemble all your salad ingredients, pour the dressing over, and toss to coat.

This makes a tasty meal of its own, but if you're looking for something heartier, you could always add a baked pasta or lasagna soup. I really enjoyed this salad, and I hope you do too.
Printable recipe
Blessings,

Linking to some of these fun linking parties:

I'm an organizing junkie

Menu Plan for the Week of Feb. 6th

2012-02-06T08:10:00.001-05:00

Happy Monday everyone! I'm feeling sympathetic for the guys in my house today since their pick for the Super Bowl didn't win. My son normally roots for the Steelers, but since that wasn't an option, he was rooting with his dad who is a born and bred Maine boy. Personally, I always feel a little sorry for whatever team loses just because I know they must be so disappointed. Life goes on, and here is the menu plan for this week. Hope you find some inspiration.

Breakfast Options:
(Any combination of the following)
French toast
Cereal
Fruit
Waffles
Toast
Eggs
Oatmeal
Poptarts
Egg whites and spinach (hubby's choice)
Pancakes
English muffins
Muffins
Baked oatmeal

Lunch Options:
(We like to add fruit and/or carrots to any of these "entrees")
Pasta (my kids love it)
Ravioli
Macaroni and cheese
Vegetarian corn dogs
Vegetarian hamburgers
Hot dogs
Chicken, turkey or ham sandwiches
Graham crackers and milk
English muffins
Peanut butter and fluff sandwiches
Whole wheat toast
Soup
Yogurt or cheese sticks, crackers
Leftovers from dinner

Dinner:

Taco Spaghetti
Grocery list: Spaghetti, corn, ground beef or turkey, onion, taco seasoning, cheddar cheese, salsa, lettuce, tomatoes, tortilla chips, sour cream, olives and chili peppers

Beef roast, mashed potatoes, green beans
Grocery list: Chuck roast, ketchup, beef broth, brown gravy mix, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, cornstarch, potatoes, green beans

Hamburger Vegetable Pie
Grocery list: Hamburger or turkey, 2 cans vegetarian vegetable soup, 1 pie crust, potatoes, cheddar cheese

Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches
Grocery list: Hoagie rolls, onion, green peppers, garlic, provolone cheese, shaved or sliced steak or roast

Taco Salad
Grocery list: Lettuce, mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese, ground meat, taco seasoning, tortillas, tomatoes, Italian dressing

Pinto beans, cornbread and salad
Grocery list: Pinto beans, bacon (optional), pinto bean seasoning (optional), cornbread ingredients, and salad ingredients, onion

Hope you have a great week!
Blessings,

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I'm an organizing junkie

Framed Dry Erase Board

2012-02-03T07:45:00.002-05:00

Make and Takes blog has a post with a gorgeous wipe off weekly menu board, and I just had to make one for myself using my kitchen colors. The best part is that it was incredibly easy and inexpensive!

Here is what you need:

A picture frame (I used an 11x14)
Scrap of pretty material or scrapbook paper
Frame stand (unless you want to hang it on the wall)
Tape (I used packing tape) or craft glue

Take the cardboard insert out of the frame and wrap your fabric around it.

Make sure you do it nice and unevenly like I did, and secure with tape.

Put the insert back in the frame, set it on your stand or hang on the wall, and voila!

I apologize for the pictures, as it was difficult to get a picture without a glare on the glass.

You are all set to write on it with a dry erase marker.

Use it for a menu board, to do list, phone messages, phone numbers, love notes, chores for the kids...

Make and Takes used vinyl letters for the days of the week on her menu board, and hung it on the wall which is of course a great option.

I made a smaller one to hang on the side of my kitchen cabinet.
It's such a versatile craft that you could match it to any room in your home.

This one made with scrapbook paper is cute for my daughter's room.
Blessings,

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Taco Pizza

2012-02-01T08:33:00.000-05:00

Pizza is a staple at our house. We've tried it with many different toppings besides just the regular cheese and pepperoni. We also like it with BBQ chicken, pesto sauce, feta and chicken or just lots of veggies (not all at the same time, of course). So when I saw this recipe for taco pizza, in one of my favorite cookbooks which I've mentioned here before, Taste of Homes 2003 Quick Cooking Annual Recipes, I definitely had to try it.

Here is what you need:
1 pizza crust ( I usually make my own, but this time I used a roll out one from the grocery)
1 cup of pizza sauce
1-2 cups browned ground beef or turkey
1 T taco seasoning
2 medium size tomatoes, seeded and chopped
2 cups of cheese (I used a combination of mozzarella and cheddar)
shredded lettuce
sour cream

Start with your pizza crust.

Top with sauce.

Top with your cooked ground meat that you've seasoned with the taco seasoning.

Add your seeded and chopped tomatoes. You definitely want to seed them and get out the wet stuff so your pizza crust won't get soggy.

Top with cheese and bake for 15-20 minutes at 400 degrees.

To serve, top with lettuce and sour cream.

If you like a little extra zing, drizzle some taco sauce over it.
Serves 3 or 4 depending on how hungry those 3 or 4 are!
Enjoy!
Printable recipe

Blessings,

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Menu Plan for the Week of January 30th

2012-01-30T07:55:00.000-05:00

It's a beautiful winter wonderland here. I do enjoy the beauty of the snow, but not driving in it.
Our Sunday school lesson yesterday was such a good one that I just had to share a bit. We have been watching a 3 part DVD series by Andy Stanley called "Why Worry," based on the passage in Matthew 6:24-34, and it has just been a great reminder on the destructiveness of worry, and why we don't have to worry, and even more than that, why we are commanded not too. If this is something you struggle with, as I do, I highly recommend this series.
Ok, on to the menu plan for this week.

Breakfast Options:
(Any combination of the following)
French toast
Cereal
Fruit
Waffles
Toast
Eggs
Oatmeal
Poptarts
Egg whites and spinach (hubby's choice)
Pancakes
English muffins
Muffins
Baked oatmeal

Lunch Options:
(We like to add fruit and/or carrots to any of these "entrees")
Pasta (my kids love it)
Ravioli
Macaroni and cheese
Vegetarian corn dogs
Vegetarian hamburgers
Hot dogs
Chicken, turkey or ham sandwiches
Graham crackers and milk
English muffins
Peanut butter and fluff sandwiches
Whole wheat toast
Soup
Yogurt or cheese sticks, crackers
Leftovers from dinner

Dinners:

Hamburgers, smiley potatoes, carrots and strawberries
Grocery list: Hamburgers, buns, smiley potatoes, carrots, strawberries, tomato and lettuce

Southwestern chicken, mashed potatoes, and peas
Grocery list: Chicken breasts, garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, lime juice, potatoes and peas

Scrambled eggs, bagels, apples and carrots

Baked Chicken Chimichangas, Mexican rice and salad
Grocery list: Chicken, olive oil, garlic, onion, green chiles, chili powder, salsa, cilantro, cumin, tortillas, refried beans, sour cream, guacamole and tomatoes

Chili hot dogs, baked chips, carrots and apples
Grocery list: 97% fat free Hebrew National hot dogs, hot dog buns, Hormel turkey chili, baked chips, apples and carrots

Garlic Butter, Chicken, Vegetable and Feta Cheese Pizza
Grocery list: Dough ingredients, garlic butter, chicken, spinach leaves, broccoli, tomato, Feta cheese, mozzarella cheese

Have a great week!
Blessings,

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Clothespin Magnets

2012-01-27T08:48:00.000-05:00

I've seen cute decorative clothespin magnets all over the web, and just had to make some of my own. I like this craft for two reasons: it doesn't require a huge time commitment or skill, and you can be as creative as you want for very little expense.

I cut out some scrapbook paper to fit the size of the clothespins, and then just mod podged it on to the clothespins, and painted a coat over the top. I love stripes, so I thought they turned out adorable.

I used a roll of magnetic tape and cut it up to fit the back of my clothespins.

This tape comes in a roll, and after you cut it to the size you want, just peel off the backing and stick it to the back of your clothespins.

I made some with sweet musical note paper...

Some with glitter...

and my daughter and I made some with peel and stick letters. The possibilities are endless, and I'm sure you all can be a lot more creative than I am.

Of course they are not just for holding notes on the fridge, but they also work great at keeping bags closed!

Blessings,

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Cool Whip Fun

2012-01-25T07:35:00.000-05:00

My husbands very favorite dessert is pie, but I think it's because of what he likes to put on it---cool whip, and lots of it. I've caught him eating cool whip straight out of the container. This week I made up a treat that I usually do when I'm trying to drop some pounds, and yet indulge a sweet tooth at the same time, and it's these little graham cracker "ice cream" sandwiches.

I'm not fabulous at math, but the best I can figure, if you use light cool whip these have about 120 calories for one sandwich, and they are yummy even to my non calorie watching husband. Normally I prefer to eat "normal" food when dieting, and just cut back on portions, and yet these sandwiches make a good lower calorie dessert, so it's a win win.
These can be made two ways. The first is to take one graham cracker sheet (of 4 crackers) and break it in half, and then put a generous dollop of cool whip on one half, then top with the other half and freeze.
The other way is to take a large container (16 oz) of thawed light cool whip and spread it in a 9x13 casserole dish.

Spread it out as evenly as possible, and then freeze for several hours. Then you can cut it into squares for your graham cracker sandwiches. The first square is tricky to get out, but after that, using a pancake turner works well. Make up your sandwiches and then store in a sealed container in the freezer. If you make 15 sandwiches with this amount of light cool whip they are around 120 calories each.

This next idea, I saw on Pinterest from The Sweetest Occasion and it's so fun because you could use any little cookie cutter shape. Use your spread out frozen cool whip, and a cookie cutter to make cute shapes to top off hot chocolate, jello or pudding with.

Again, it's a little tricky getting it out, but worth it just for the fun and novelty of it.

I've mentioned a cinnamon dip before for dipping fruits or topping off baked oatmeal, and it's main ingredient is cool whip.

Cool whip cinnamon cream
I also tried out this lower calorie and lower sugar recipe for a jello and cool whip dessert, and it was really good too.

Mix a 16 oz container of light cool whip with one .3 oz box of sugar free jello (I used raspberry).

Freeze till firm and then use an ice cream scoop to dish it out, and then serve with berries.

Doesn't it look pretty? My son thoroughly enjoyed it, and that's saying something. There you have it, some fun with cool whip (non dairy whipped topping)! Hope you enjoy.
Blessings,

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Menu Plan for the Week of January 23rd

2012-01-23T08:08:00.001-05:00

Happy Monday! My theme for this week is easy meals. (Well actually, that is my always theme for meals). We don't eat fancy around here, but it works for us.
My sister and I spent two hours at Hobby Lobby on Saturday, so hopefully I can attempt to be more creative this week. My hubby is helping me set up a crafting area in the basement so I can organize my small stash of supplies. So I am excited to get busy, and hope to create some home decorations.
In the mean time, here is the menu for the week:

Breakfast Options:
(Any combination of the following)
French toast
Cereal
Fruit
Waffles
Toast
Eggs
Oatmeal
Poptarts
Egg whites and spinach (hubby's choice)
Pancakes
English muffins
Muffins
Baked oatmeal

Lunch Options:
(We like to add fruit and/or carrots to any of these "entrees")
Pasta (my kids love it)
Ravioli
Macaroni and cheese
Vegetarian corn dogs
Vegetarian hamburgers
Hot dogs
Chicken, turkey or ham sandwiches
Graham crackers and milk
English muffins
Peanut butter and fluff sandwiches
Whole wheat toast
Soup
Yogurt or cheese sticks, crackers
Leftovers from dinner

Dinner

Sub sandwiches, carrots and tortilla chips
Grocery list: Sub buns, deli meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato, carrots, baked chips

Chicken and Dumpling Casserole and vegetable
Grocery list: Chicken, chicken stock, cream of chicken soup, flour, butter, milk and vegetable

Toasted peanut butter and banana sandwiches and fruit salad
Grocery list: Bread, bananas, peanut butter, honey, powdered sugar and assorted fruits

Pasta and meatballs, salad, garlic toast
Grocery list: Angel hair pasta, meatballs, spaghetti sauce, salad ingredients, garlic toast

Burritos
Grocery list: Tortillas, ground turkey, rice, black beans, taco seasoning, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and sour cream

Pizza
Grocery list: Dough ingredients, sauce, cheese, pepperoni, green peppers and onions

Have a great week!
Blessings,

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I'm an organizing junkie

Handwritten Lampshade

2012-01-20T07:54:00.001-05:00

I've seen a couple of unique lampshades lately, and decided to try making my own after seeing one at Little Glass Box. She wrote a letter to her son on a piece of fabric and then covered her lamp shade with it; you can check it out here.
I decided to cheat and just write directly on the lampshade itself which I already had. Unfortunately, I didn't snap a before picture of the shade, but just imagine a plain blah cream lampshade.

I used my trusty black sharpie marker, and set the lampshade in my lap, and started writing some of my favorite inspirational scriptures, turning the shade as I went.

It was such a simple quick fix for a bland lampshade, and I am so pleased with the results which took less than 10 minutes. The options are endless since you could write whatever you choose to fit the setting.

Blessings,

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Chocolate and Butterscotch Caramel Pecan Bars

2012-01-18T08:05:00.001-05:00

These bars were scrumptious and easy to make! I adapted the recipe from Jill Snider's Bars and Squares book.

The nice thing about this recipe is that it contains items you commonly have already in your pantry, except maybe the pecans. As a child I did not like any nuts except peanuts, and now as an adult I realize what I was missing. The pecans in this recipe add so much flavor and texture! Here is what you need to make these luscious bars:

For the crust:

2 c flour

3/4 c brown sugar, packed

1/2 c softened butter

1 1/2 c pecan halves

In electric mixer, beat the flour, sugar and butter until crumbly, and then pat down firmly in the bottom of a greased 13x9 inch pan.

Sprinkle the pecans over the top of the crust.

Caramel Middle

1 c butter

3/4 c brown sugar, packed

Cook brown sugar and butter on medium heat, while stirring until it bubbles for a minute or so, and then pour over crust.

Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Glaze

1 cup chocolate chips

1/3 c butterscotch chips

As soon as you take it out of the oven sprinkle chips over the top.

Let them melt for 3 minutes, and then take a butter knife or spatula and flatten out and swirl the chips a little to spread them out and make a pretty design. Cool completely (I put mine in the refrigerator for a little while), cut into bars and indulge!

The original recipe called for for just chocolate chips, but I substituted a portion with butterscotch chips which gave these bars a unique flavor. Hope you enjoy!

Printable recipe

Linking to some of these fun parties:

Wednesday: Raising Homemakers , Crystal & Co. , We Are THAT Family , Women Living Well , The Trendy Treehouse , Passionately Artistic , Night Owl Crafting , Feeding Four , Handy Man, Crafty Woman Someday Crafts , Fabric Bows and More , This Chick Cooks , Seven Thirty Three, Sew Much Ado , Sugar & Dots A Creative Princess , Dragonfly Designs , Beyond the Picket Fence , The Thrifty Home , Creations by Kara, Gingersnap Crafts , A Little Tipsy , Thursday: Shabby Creek Cottage , Diaper Diaries , Delightful Order , Somewhat Simple , House of Hepworths, Saved by Love Creations , Feeding Four , It's a Keeper , Thrifty Decorating , The Frugal Girls , Little Knick Knack , The Thirty Sixth Avenue , Raising Mighty Arrows , Thrifty 101 , Diary of a Stay at Home MomLike Mother LikeDaughter Friday: The Shabby Nest, Chic on a Shoestring , Life as Mom , French Country Cottage , Thirty Handmade Days , Comfy in the Kitchen , At the Picket Fence , Stuff and Nonsense , Just a Girl , Alli-n-Son , Naptime Crafters , Ann Kroeker, Writer , Creation Corner , Grocery Cart Challenge , Tidy Mom , Whipperberry , Miz Helen's Country Cottage , Finding Fabulous , Tatertots and Jello, The Organizing Junkie , Fingerprints on the Fridge, Miss Mustard Seed , My Romantic Home While He was Napping, Bacon Time with the Hungry Hungry Hypo Saturday: Funky Junk Interiors , Young and Crafty , Sweet as Sugar Cookies , Yesterday on Tuesday , A Vision to Remember , Be Different, Act Normal Sunday: Under the Table and Dreaming, DIY Showoff , Nifty Thrifty Things , Embellishing Life , Homemaker on a Dime, Monday: Skip to my Lou , Craft O Maniac , Sumo's Sweet Stuff , It's so Very Cheri , Keeping it Simple , Creating Really Awesome Free Things, Dittle Dattle , Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms , Add a Pinch , Between Naps on the Porch , The Girl Creative , A Southern Fairytale , Singing Three Little Birds , Mad in Crafts , Organize with Sandy, Ask Anna Tuesday: Coastal Charm, A Bowl Full of Lemons , Tip Junkie , Sugar Bee Crafts , Not Just a Housewife , Today's Creative Blog , Balancing Beauty and Bedlam , Home Stories A to Z, Chef in Training

Menu Plan for the Week of January 16th

2012-01-16T08:06:00.004-05:00

Happy Monday! We had a pile of snow accumulate the past few days, so I think winter is catching up with us, but we kind of knew it would happen sooner or later. This week's menu is all about comfort foods to savor while we snuggle inside.

Breakfast Options:
(Any combination of the following)
French toast
Cereal
Fruit
Waffles
Toast
Eggs
Oatmeal
Poptarts
Egg whites and spinach (hubby's choice)
Pancakes
English muffins
Muffins
Baked oatmeal

Lunch Options:
(We like to add fruit and/or carrots to any of these "entrees")
Pasta (my kids love it)
Ravioli
Macaroni and cheese
Vegetarian corn dogs
Vegetarian hamburgers
Hot dogs
Chicken, turkey or ham sandwiches
Graham crackers and milk
English muffins
Peanut butter and fluff sandwiches
Whole wheat toast
Soup
Yogurt or cheese sticks, crackers
Leftovers from dinner

Dinner:

Cheesy Chicken Bake
Grocery list: chicken, stuffing, peas, cream of chicken soup, cheese of your choice

Macaroni and Cheese, broccoli and grapes
Grocery list: macaroni noodles, Swiss and cheddar cheese (I don't use the Gruyere listed in the recipe), breadcrumbs, milk, flour, broccoli and grapes

Chicken pot pie
Grocery list: 2 pie crusts, 2 cans of veg-all, onion, chicken broth, chicken

Turkey meatloaf, mashed potatoes and peas
Grocery list: ground turkey, onion, breadcrumbs, egg, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, potatoes, peas

Pasta with meat sauce, salad, light rolls
Grocery list: spaghetti, pasta sauce, ground turkey or beef, Parmesan cheese, salad fixings, light roll ingredients

There you have it; have a great week!

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I'm an organizing junkie

A Muffin Pan's Many Uses

2012-01-13T14:18:00.001-05:00

We all know to use a muffin tin for fabulous muffins and cupcakes...

Marshmallow flower cupcakes

Raspberry Filled and Frosted Cupcakes

Biscuit and Egg Puffs

Easy Mini Apple Pies

However, there are practically limitless ways to use these exceptional pans!

I saw this idea for freezing soup in muffin pans from The Mommy in Charge and thought it was great. Since we home school we are most often at home for lunch, and I love the idea of freezing leftover soup for lunches.

Just pop them out when they are frozen and put in a freezer bag, then microwave for a quick meal.
Muffin and cupcake pans are awesome for organization as well.

Keeping a junk or desk drawer tidy

Keeping little girls' hair accessories separated

Keeping jewelry organized

Doing a search on Pinterest gave some more fantastic ideas for using all the muffin pans you could come up with:
Mini quiches
Mini meatloaves
Pepperoni pizza puffs
Freezing stock
Cookie cups made from cookie dough
Little round brownies
Monkey bread
Mini cheesecakes
Candle holder
For dyeing Easter eggs
Making crayons
Storing craft supplies
Freezing single servings of ice cream for a party

I'm sure there are tons more ideas out there, but hopefully this will give you some new ideas. I know it did me!
I started using silicone muffin pans because my old metal pans were hard to clean and I wouldn't get them dry enough, and they would rust. Now I've learned to put my pans back in the still warm oven after I wash them so they get nice and dry and don't rust. The silicone bakeware requires special care with handling because it's floppy and can get punctured, so here is a link for some information that is helpful in taking care of it.

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Baked Oatmeal with Cranberries and Cinnamon Cream

2012-01-11T08:06:00.000-05:00

This is the second time I have made baked oatmeal for company, and it was really a nice change of pace from typical breakfast food. The first time I made a peanut butter baked oatmeal, which was good, but this time I was in the mood for something fruity. I came across this recipe at "allrecipes," and everyone really liked it.

Here is what you need:
3 c rolled oats
1 cup of brown sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 c milk
2 eggs
1/2 c melted butter ( I like Smart Balance)
2 tsp. vanilla
3/4 c dried cranberries (I used pomegranate flavored)

Mix oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl beat milk, eggs, butter and vanilla, then add to dry mixture, and finally stir in cranberries.

Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray, pour mixture in and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 40 minutes.

This makes about 12 small servings or 6 larger servings. My hubby likes to pour milk over dishes like this, but I thought this cinnamon cream would be yummy to try on it; it is from Taste of Homes 2003 Quick Cooking Annual Recipes.

Cinnamon Cream

2 cups cool whip

1/4 c brown sugar, packed

1/8 tsp cinnamon

Mix well, and then put a generous dollop on top of your oatmeal. Let me tell you, it is decadent!
(If your sugar crystals don't dissolve right away, refrigerate the cinnamon cream for a little while).

Doesn't that look delicious? Oh, and the cinnamon cream can be used as a dip for fresh fruit as well. Hope you enjoy!
Printable recipe

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Menu Plan for the Week of January 9th

2012-01-09T20:23:00.000-05:00

Whew! I finally got all the Christmas decorations put away, and it's nice to get the house back together. Even though I do enjoy the season so much, I can still appreciate having somewhat of a routine again. I am excited for this week's menu plan as it includes many of my favorites, especially the hash brown quiche and the taco soup! Thank you to all who have told me that the menu plan is helpful; that is really my intent, and at the same time it helps me be more organized as well. Ok, here is the plan for this week:

Breakfast Options:
(Any combination of the following)
French toast
Cereal
Fruit
Waffles
Toast
Eggs
Oatmeal
Poptarts
Egg whites and spinach (hubby's choice)
Pancakes
English muffins
Muffins
Baked oatmeal

Lunch Options:
(We like to add fruit and/or carrots to any of these "entrees")
Pasta (my kids love it)
Ravioli
Macaroni and cheese
Vegetarian corn dogs
Vegetarian hamburgers
Hot dogs
Chicken, turkey or ham sandwiches
Graham crackers and milk
English muffins
Peanut butter and fluff sandwiches
Whole wheat toast
Soup
Yogurt or cheese sticks, crackers
Leftovers from dinner

Dinner:

Quiche with hash brown crust and raw veggies
Grocery list: hash browns, eggs, cheddar cheese, bacon, half and half, onion, carrots sticks

Taco Soup
Grocery list: ground turkey, kidney beans, pinto beans, corn, diced tomatoes and chiles, taco seasoning, ranch dressing mix, cheddar cheese, sour cream, taco chips (optional)

Cashew sesame noodles, broccoli, and garlic toast
Grocery list: angle hair pasta, cashews, garlic, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, pepper flakes, broccoli, garlic toast

Tuna mac and cheese casserole (this recipe is good even without the Italian seasoning) and raw veggies
Grocery list: box of macaroni and cheese, peas, Parmesan cheese, cheddar cheese, can of tuna, raw veggies

Chinese food (from the freezer section of the grocery except the garlic wontons)
Grocery list: egg rolls, rice, steak and veggie stir fry, wontons, ground turkey, cabbage mix

Toasted roast beef and provolone cheese sub sandwiches, carrot sticks and apples
Grocery list: Sandwich buns, sliced roast beef, provolone cheese, carrots and apples

See anything that looks good?
Have a great week!

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Keeping Little Boys Organized

2012-01-06T08:31:00.001-05:00

My children all seem to be pack rats, and I have no idea where they get it from!? Well, a few months ago, I showed you how I organized the boys' room which my 16 year old and six year old share.

This is what it looked like then, but my little guy and I had let the organization go a bit, and he has new favorite items, and so we needed to phase in and out some things. So, after I had picked up some tools at the dollar store...

I took about an hour on a Saturday morning to quickly sort through his toys that he keeps in his bedroom. My hubby wasn't crazy at first about me using buckets because he likes the canvas bins, and I do too, but the buckets were cheaper, don't take up as much room, and they have a handy dandy metal handle on them.

This shows a fraction of what I was dealing with, and of course my little guy was supervising to make sure I did the job right, and didn't get rid of any of his treasures.

Since I still haven't opened the Cricut machine that my mom got me for Christmas last year (I am sorry mom, this week, I promise), I just cut some labels from scrapbook paper and hand wrote categories on them.

I even labeled one container "whatever" because I figured that was easier than "miscellaneous."

I attached the labels with this putty which I really like to use for lots of things, because it never dries out, and you can reuse it again and again, thus making the labels easy to switch out also.

I also used it to hang Christmas cards on our mantle.

When my son wanted to hang his newly colored canvas on the door first, and then on his wall, we used the putty. No holes, or tape and it is easily removed.

Since my oldest son did not want me to touch his shelves (he gets the top 18 shelves), here is what my youngest's allotted shelves looked like when I was done.

There you have it, nice and organized, and now that he is learning to sound out words, hopefully we can keep it together better.
Hope you find something helpful, and if you didn't see their closet/gaming station that I posted last week, you can see that here. We certainly don't expect perfection around here, just attempts to keep chaos at bay!
Have a great day!

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