Everyday Mom

Our family is growing by four feet....

2013-09-06T06:11:00.001-07:00

No, I'm not pregnant with twins. THANK HEAVENS! Not that I'm against twins... my mom had twins (love you R&R), my grandma had twins, my great grandma had twins... and I really wanted twins when I was in my child-bearing years, but now that I am old and the factory is closed, no twins for me, please!

But I digress.... Our new addition is of the kitten variety. I am not a pet person and neither is my husband. He was raised with dogs and cats and chickens and horses and cows and I'm sure even a pig or two, but he is not a pet person. I had a hamster when I was about three and we had a dog named Jim Morrison when I was 16 or so. Aside from a few tries with fish, those are all the pets my family had. We just aren't pet people. Our kids, however, are pet people... or at least they want to be. They have been begging for a dog or a cat since they could talk. I have always said that we would get a pet when all of the kids could feed themselves and were potty trained and we live on a piece of property where the pet could roam (we are DEFINITELY not indoor pet people). Well, we are almost to that point (depending on the day with the potty training) and we live on a farm, and I haven't come up with another good enough reason to postpone the pet adopting...

Having said that, we know we need a cat. We have known we needed a cat since we moved into this house eight months ago. We had four-legged "homesteaders" almost immediately. We haven't had any in the house, thank goodness, but they are outside for sure and love the window well outside my daughter's basement bedroom window.

Last night while I was at Quilt Club, my sacred time away from spouse and children, I received a very excited phone call from a very excited 11-almost 12- year old girl. "We found a kitten," she says. "Can we keep it?" she asks. "Ummmm... I'm leaving now. I'll be home in a bit and then we'll talk about it," I answer and hang up the phone. I immediately received another call, this one from the 14-almost 15- year old son, JJ, needing a ride home from the volleyball game. As soon as I hung up with him, the phone rang again (So much for the quiet, child/spouse-free time away for Mom. Lucky for them the meeting had just ended.) It was my husband this time, wanting to know how we acquired a kitten in the three days he had been out of town. I claimed innocence on this one and immediately sent texts to our two neighbors (and by neighbors I mean the people who live closest to us - but each are a mile away, at least). Between them they have about 20 cats/kittens and have been asking us, for months, if we needed cats (plural) at our house.

One of the neighbors texted right back and said it was her kitten and we could keep it if we want. She thinks two kittens hopped a ride on her husbands pickup yesterday morning and disembarked when he was passing by our house. (The other kitten is still missing.)

When I arrived home, I found my husband sitting on the porch swing, with a kitten on his lap, surrounded by three bouncing children. John had gone out to the porch to enjoy some quiet and the cat came up and sat on his lap. The kids all quickly followed him outside. Earlier, Kelly, 11-almost 12, had found the cat under the jeep on our driveway and coaxed him out so she could play with him. Kelly has always been our animal lover. As we all sat on the porch, she begged and pleaded and pleaded and begged until it was time to go in the house and get ready for bed. We left it at "we'll talk about it in the morning".

This morning, when we woke up at 5:00 to get the first kid off to school, the kitten meowed and meowed through the open window until John and JJ went out and played with him. When they left the kitten meowed and meowed through the open window until the other two finished getting ready for school and ran out to play with him. The way I see it, we have two choices... either give this one back, thereby inciting a kid riot, or give in and get a friend for this kitten, thereby giving me two more things that I'm responsible for keeping alive - UGH...there's a reason why I have silk plants in my house and why my kids learn to make their own sandwiches by age 3.

We'll probably go with the second option... I live in the real world and know when I'm outnumbered.

(By the way, my other neighbor texted this morning and said, "you can hardly say no if it was a prayer answered." Gee, thanks, Stephanie!)

Boredom Bottles

2013-05-24T11:06:00.003-07:00

Back in my craft show days (a whole seven years ago - haha!), one of my best sellers was "The Boredom Bottle". (The picture above is off the internet of a journal in a jar that looks like what I used because I don't have a picture of mine - they are pretty similar, though.) I bought a jar at the dollar store or WalMart (it doesn't have to be very big - a pint or smaller will work). I copied the activities on different colors of paper and cut them apart. I folded them up and put them in the jar. Wah-lah! A Boredom Bottle. (I also had a cute little label on the front of mine, but that's not necessary - just an advertising thing I did for the craft shows.)

Because it is summer and our kids are out of school, here is the list of activities in the Boredom Bottle. I tried to make the activities the kind that you could do without having to make a trip to the store. Low cost and high fun! You know my motto - Quick, Easy and CHEAP!!! I'm sure that with the advent of pinterest there are TONS more ideas out there, but these should get you started.

**Thumb wrestle
**Play charades
**Blow bubbles
**Juggle tennis balls
**Read a story
**Play hopscotch
**Make a paper bag puppet
**Bowling with a tennis ball and plastic bottles
**Write a letter to someone special
**Build a tower with toothpicks and marshmallows
**Sing along with your favorite songs
**Play “penny basketball” using your hands for the hoop
**Make a foil family
**Play dress up
**Make a vest out of a large paper bag
**Have a scavenger hunt (indoors or out)
**Finger paint with instant pudding
**Bake cookies
**Play “I Spy...”
**Play “Twenty Questions”
**Make a mural with sidewalk chalk.
**Make a dot-to-dot picture for someone to do.
**Play charades
**Take a walk.
**Play catch.
**Have a picnic (indoors or out).
**Have relay races.
**Have a water balloon fight.
**Put on a play.
**Make paper plate masks.
**Watercolor
**Bake cookies.
**Dance to your favorite music.
**Play “Hide and Seek”.
**Play “Red Light, Green Light”.
**Play Double Dutch with two jump ropes.
**Play hide the beanbag
**Play balloon volleyball.
**Try drawing a picture while blindfolded.
**Play Simon Says
**Make jewelry out of paper clips.
**Have a “bike wash” – it’s like a carwash but with bikes.
**Learn some magic tricks and put on a show.
**Make designs on a piece of paper using a hole punch.
**Make a Hacky-Sack-type ball and play the game – Use a funnel to fill a 7" balloon with dried beans or rice. When it’s nearly full, remove the funnel, tie the end and trim the excess. Stretch a second balloon over the first, tie the ends, making sure the knots are at opposite ends.
**Play “Froot Loop” Air Hockey – Draw a playing field (or big square) on a sheet of paper and place a Froot Loop (or any O-shaped cereal) in the center. Each child gets a drinking straw and tries to blow the cereal into the other’s goal box to score a point. The winner is the first to get five points!
**Make scratch-and-sniff water color paints – Just add 1 tablespoon water to one small envelope of unsweetened Kool-Aid and you’re ready to paint!
**Make homemade musical instruments with a comb and waxed paper or out of toilet paper rolls.
**Shine pennies – Fill a small container with vinegar. Place some unshiny pennies in the container so they are submerged. Pour some salt in and swish the pennies around. Wait about five minutes then take the pennies out. Rinse them with water and let them dry.
**Make pet rocks – Decorate a rock with paint, markers, and “googly” eyes.
**Make Ball Catchers – Using a clean, dry milk carton or laundry detergent bottle, cut the bottom off the container. Then cut a “U” shape under the handle (make sure you don’t cut into the handle). It will look like a scoop. Decorate with tape or paint markers.
**Make a mobile – Use shells, pine cones, buttons, chili peppers, whatever. Use string to make two dowels or sticks into an “X” shape. Tie the objects onto several different lengths of string. Tie the string with the objects to the dowels at all four corners and at different places along the dowels. You can also use a clothes hanger.
**Make flying saucers – Tape two paper plates together. Glue a paper bowl to the top to make a cabin for the crew. Decorate.
**Make “Glurch” – Mix ½ cup white glue and ¼ cup liquid starch in a disposable cup. Stir with a popsicle stick. Remove the Glurch from the cup and knead it until smooth. If it sticks to your hands, mix in 1 teaspoon starch. If it’s stringy, mix in ½ teaspoon glue. Store Glurch in a self-sealing plastic bag.
**Make mud bricks – Mix water in soil until it has a dough-like texture. (If soil is sandy, add one part flour to four parts soil.) Shape into rectangles and let set. Use a wet table knife to cut various size bricks. When stacking bricks, spread a fresh batch of “mortar” between the layers. Build walls, houses, cities.
**Make a piñata – Tape boxes together to make an animal. Decorate with crepe paper, feathers, leaves and tissue paper.
**Make an obstacle course (indoors or outdoors) – Crawl under chairs, through tunnels made out of boxes, walk along a curvy hose or dodge a sprinkler. Get creative!
**Make an underwater viewer – Cut the top and bottom off of a clean half-gallon milk carton. Stretch plastic wrap over the bottom and secure with a rubber band.
**Make an ocean in a bottle – Get a clean plastic soda or water bottle. Fill it halfway with water and add a few drops of food coloring. Add confetti or glitter, shells, small toys, etc. Using a funnel, fill the bottle the rest of the way with vegetable oil. Put a dab of glue around the threads on the bottle top and screw on the cap tightly.
**Make pinecone bird feeders – Cover a pinecone with peanut butter and then roll in bird seed.
**Say Tongue Twisters - try “Six slippery sliding snakes”; “Flat-fish fleets”; “This’ll sift the thistle sifter”; “She sells seashells by the seashore”.
**Go on a newspaper (or magazine) scavenger hunt – Look for things in the newspaper or magazine (such as a picture of a car, a picture of someone with brown eyes, a certain word, etc). After you’ve found the item, pass the magazine to someone else to see if they can find the same thing.
**Make Rainbow Crayons – Remove the wrappers from old crayons and put them ½ inch deep in an empty tuna cans (or a muffin tin lined with foil). Bake the crayons in a preheated 300° oven for 5-7 minutes. Watch them closely, because they melt quickly. Melt them just enough to blend the colors, but not so much that they completely liquefy and meld into one color. Carefully remove from oven and cool for about 30 minutes. When they are completely cool, remove crayons. They should pop out easily when you tap the cans with a knife. If you used the muffin tin, remove them from the tin and peel off the foil.
**See how many different shapes you can cut out of one piece of paper.
**Make Slimy Gunk – Mix equal parts cornstarch and water. If desired, add color. Have fun squishing it and watching it “melt”. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator. This can be messy, so cover your table or floor before you begin. TIP: Dilute greatly before it is flushed or washed down the drain.
**Make Peanut Butter Play Dough – Mix together 1 cup creamy peanut butter, ½ cup light corn syrup and ½ tablespoon vanilla. Gradually add 1 ¼ cup powdered sugar. Store covered at room temperature.
**Rain painting – After sprinkling a few drops of food coloring onto a plate, put on rain gear and go outside for just a minute, holding the plate in the rain. If you want to, you can use a white crayon to draw designs on the plate before you step outside.
**Snow Spray Paint – Make several pitchers of colored water (six drops of food coloring per container). Choose a variety of “applicators” to take outside (anything with a nozzle will do including a turkey baster and a watering can). Now, paint the snow.
**Make play dough – Mix 1 cup flour, ½ cup salt, ½ teaspoon cream of tarter, 1 cup water and 1 teaspoon vegetable oil in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until it holds together (keep mixing or it will stick to the bottom of the pan). When the clay is cool enough to touch, knead it on a floured surface, divide it into smaller balls, and add a different shade of food coloring to each ball. Store in an airtight container for weeks.
**Place a smooth board against a chair or couch to create a ramp to roll things down.
**Use masking tape on your floor or carpet to create an indoor roadway for small cars.
**Play indoor baseball with a balloon and an empty gift-wrap roll.
**Drown the penny – Place a paper towel over the water-filled glass. Wrap a rubber band around the top of the glass to hold the paper towel in place. Place the penny on the paper towel in the center of the glass. Take turns poking holes in the paper towel with a sharpened pencil. The game ends when someone drowns the penny by poking the hole that finally makes the penny sink to the bottom of the glass.
**Musical Glasses – Fill drinking glasses with different amounts of water. Lightly tap the glasses with a spoon. Try to play a song or make up your own melody.
**Try drawing a picture by holding a crayon with a clothespin instead of in your hand.
**Funny face – Look for pictures of faces in old magazines. Cut out as many eyes, noses, mouths, ears, and heads of hair as you can find. Mix them up and piece together a funny face then glue it onto a piece of paper.
**What’s for dinner? – Cut pictures of your favorite foods from old magazines. Glue them onto a paper plate.
**Make binoculars by taping two toilet paper rolls together (or a paper towel roll cut in half). Decorate them.
**Make a necklace by stringing macaroni noodles on a string. You can dye pasta by mixing ½ cup rubbing alcohol and food coloring in a bowl. Add small amounts of pasta to the liquid and gently mix. The larger the pasta, the longer it will take to absorb the color. Dry on newspapers covered with wax paper.
**Cut out a paper doll chain. Draw and color the clothes on each doll.
**Make homemade face paint. In a bowl, mix together 1 teaspoon corn starch and ½ teaspoon cold cream until well blended. Add ½ teaspoon water and stir. Add food coloring, one drop at a time until you get the desired color. Using a small paintbrush, paint designs on face. Remove with soap and water.
**Living Room Islands – Put pillows on the carpet for pretend islands. Imagine the carpet is the ocean. Jump from island to island without falling in the water.

Easter S'mores

2013-03-11T14:06:00.002-07:00

I love Peeps. I've always loved Peeps. How can you miss with marshmallows covered in sugar? I love that stores always overbuy Peeps and then have a ton of them marked down to almost nothing the day after Easter. I always stock up. I just can't help it.

A couple of years ago I found this idea online somewhere and it spoke to me.....

MARSHMALLOW PEEP S'MORES

(Doesn't that just sound like the most yummy ever?)

We just had to try it. While our husbands were out of town, my cousin and I got our kids together for a BBQ and we had to try the Marshmallow Peep S'mores. They were a HUGE hit (of course, since six of the eight kids were boys, anything with fire is a guaranteed win!).

Some of the kids were surprised that we were sacrificing the Peeps to the great and powerful BBQ, but they all warmed up to it after a minute.

They kept coming back for more and more and more!

Man, this kid LOVED them!

NOTE: We used the E.L. Fudge Stripe cookies instead chocolate bars and graham crackers. It's just easier for kids to manage.

Can't wait to hear how this yummy twist on an old favorite works for you!

How to Move!

2013-02-26T13:32:00.004-08:00

I won’t say I’m an expert, but I have had a lot of practice. I’m in the middle of my 15^th move in 17 years. I say the middle because while we are living in the house (and I hope not to move for a very, very long time), the basement isn’t finished so we are still “camping” and have not even nearly unpacked. Since we have been married, my husband and I have lived in seven different states. Most of our moves have been cross-country moves. We have moved just the two of us, with one child, two children, three children and now four. My in-laws have helped us pull the trailers and we have done it ourselves in multiple trips. I definitely feel a little experienced when it comes to moving.

Throughout all of the moves I have developed a “system” with little tips and tricks that definitely make moving a lot less stressful for me. I hope they work for you, too.

NOTE: I have never had a moving company and I have never had to sell a house so I don’t have any tips for those two moving issues. I’d love to hear your tips and tricks for those to situations. Please post a comment.

1. Get a notebook. I have a favorite, pictured below. It is small enough to carry around but big enough to write lots of notes on one page. I prefer a Five Star notebook by Mead that I can get at Walmart. It is 9 ½” x 6 ¾” and I usually buy the most obnoxious color they have at the store. I don’t want it to blend in with other notebooks or stacks of stuff. I want to know where it is at all times – obnoxious color helps. There are two sections that are divided by a manila-colored pocket page. I write all the stuff for “here” in the front (lists of things I need to do, doctor information, school information, lists of things I need to turn off, address changes that need to be made, etc.). In the back half I write all the stuff for “there” (new school addresses, location of the church, new utility information, etc.). The notebook is also a good place to write reservation information if you will be staying in hotels along the way. I keep any papers I need to save in the pocket. I also keep my favorite pen in the spiral part so I am never with a pen when I need to write something down. It has gotten to the point that my husband, who often laughs at my crazy OCD-ness, asks me to write something down in my notebook so he won’t forget it during the move. Seriously, it has saved my brain more than once.

The front of my notebook. Yes, my two year old colored on it and no, it didn't change the usefulness of the notebook - haha!

Just a picture of the page where I listed all the phone numbers of the places I needed to change addresses - banks, cell phones, utility companies, etc.

All the old school information so the new school can request records.

A picture of my notes from my conversation with Dish Network. I included the name and operator number of the lady who helped me.

2. Get a colored tote/bin/box/storage container. Most of our stuff is packed in totes (had too many mice in the trailers and too many flooded basements to trust cardboard boxes anymore). We always buy the most inexpensive, silver totes that are made by Rubbermaid. I have one tote that is colored (mine is green) and it is one that I keep by my bed while we are in “getting-ready” mode. As I pack and come across things that I know we will need as soon as we arrive, I put them in the green tote. This is where I keep the medical information, birth certificates, social security cards, etc. I also put things that we will need during the trip in the tote, like books/magazines to read or movies and games I’ve purchased just for the trip. I also put in all the extra pacifiers that I found when we moved when our children were babies. It really helps when I can say, “Just put it in the green tote” or “It’s in the green tote”. Because it is a different color I can also say, “Don’t pack the green tote until the end! It needs to go in my van or at the back end of the trailer.” I usually also have another tote that has house stuff we’ll need when we arrive, like sheets, paper plates, cups and disposable silverware, a pot and pan, towels, etc. It makes it easier if I can just unload that the first night and know that we can live a day or two until we get everything else unloaded.

A picture of my green tote, surrounded by silver totes.

3. Get two plastic folders. I get the kind that have the string to wind around two circles to close it. I use one for school papers that I will need to get from the school here and take to the school there (transcripts, etc). The other folder has important papers – bills that will need to be paid, birth certificates, immunization records, social security cards, etc. Sometimes I put the birth certificates/immunization records/ss cards for the kids into the school folder because the school will need them for registration. I prefer for them to be a little see-through and different colors so I can tell them apart without opening them. Put these in the green box and fill them as needed.

4. Get your medical records from your current doctor and tell them that you are moving and they will be receiving a records request from your new doctor in your new town. This is very important for my family since there are several of us who have health issues that require establishing with a doctor soon after we arrive in our new town. It often takes weeks or months for medical records to be requested and sent to the new doctor. By carrying the medical records with us I can establish care and get the medication needed without having to wait for the requested records to be sent. Because we’ve had testing done to get the correct diagnosis and don’t want to repeat the testing, I always take the records with me to our first appointments so the doctors can see the diagnosis and what we’ve done to get to that diagnosis. This is especially important when I take my oldest son in because we went through many years of mis-diagnosis before we found out the real problem. In this case most of our doctors have been amazed at the correct diagnosis because it is unusual. I have all of the records organized in a binder with dividers for each member of the family. Most recent records on top.

5. Get a receipts envelope. If you are going to be able to claim your move on your taxes or if you are going to be reimbursed for the move by an employer, get an envelope for each car traveling to the new location. I like a 9x6 manila envelope. It’s simple and I can write all over it. I usually keep a pen inside the envelope so I can write on the receipts if I need to. Remember that some types of receipts fade after time. You can always write down the amount next to the printed amount if you think it’s going to fade. When the move is over, close the envelope with the clasp, label it “Move 2012” and put it with your tax stuff for future filing.

6. Label all boxes on top and on the side. Some people do different colored labels/papers/pens for each room in the house. I usually use a different color pen each time I move and just cross out the previous move information on the box. It works better for me. I also write directly on my plastic totes so I don’t have to fuss with tape and 3x5 cards. Just find what works for you but make sure you label both the top and side of the box and avoid vague labels like “miscellaneous”. (Funny note: One move when my inlaws were helping us pack, my mother-in-law labeled the boxes. She wrote little vignettes that were so fun to read later. She wrote things like, “The cute stuff that you kept in the kitchen hutch but were such a pain to dust.”

7. Get some Ziploc bags. They are my favorite things in the entire world! I buy them in all sizes from snack size to 2-gallon size. I love the large ones to keep things together like all the cell phone cords, camera cord, etc. Then they don’t get lost when I put them in my green tote.

I think that’s about it, but if I come up with some more I’m sure I’ll add it all later. Please comment with any tips and tricks you find helpful. I’ve said that we aren’t moving again for a long, long time but I’ve said that before... several times …

A picture of my friend, Jen's, cute daughter and Jen's interpretation of the moving tips. She's using the accordion file for her important papers and a small receipt envelope for her receipts. Good luck on your move, Jen!

Let it Snow... California Style!

2012-12-05T21:42:00.001-08:00

I grew up in Sacramento, California. Until I went to college in Utah, my idea of a white Christmas was when it was foggy on Christmas morning. My parents and four of my siblings still live in California and don't ever get a white Christmas... Until now!

My sister and my five year old niece, Annelise (mostly Annelise), made a snowy scene on their window. They took plastic wrap and stuck it to the window. Then Annelise glued cotton balls to the plastic wrap to make it look like it was snowing outside. So dang cute!!!

Thanks for sharing this great idea with me, Robyn!

Scrappy Quilted Potholders

2012-09-18T06:55:00.001-07:00

Christmas is coming... FAST. I love to make gifts and I love it even more if the gifts I make are inexpensive or even free. I love to make the quilted potholders out of scraps from my scrap bag. Even the "innards" are scraps. (I apologize, in advance, for the wonky pink color that shows up in some of the pictures. My camera was acting up. All the fabric for this tutorial is either white, black or gray.)

Materials Needed:

1. Scraps in the color scheme of your choice. (My husband HATES it when I buy "scraps". You know how it is, though... sometimes you just have to fill in a hole in your stash.)

2. Heavier fabric for the insides of the potholders. I love to use old towels, jeans, fabric that I no longer love... just about anything will work.

3. A piece of backing fabric (at least a 12x12" square)

4. Muslin or cotton broadcloth square (at least 9x9" square)

Directions:

1. Choose two pieces of fabric to start. Cut pieces that are smaller than your 9x9" piece of muslin.

2. Lay the two scraps , right (pretty) sides together, on top of the muslin. Make sure that one edge of each of the scraps match. Sew down the matched edges. I usually use a 1/4" seam.

3. Open up the scraps and press the seam down.

4. Choose another scrap. Lay it face down on top the other two scraps, making sure that you don't make it look like parallel stripes. Sew down the edge of the newest scrap.

5. Open up the new scrap and press down the seam.

6. If you can see back fabric through the new scrap, like with this white piece, trim the back scrap.

7. Choose a fourth scrap. I usually lay it down where I want it (above) and then fold it over so the right sides are together (bottom).

8. Sew down the side of the new scrap.

9. Open the newest scrap and press.

10. Continue choosing scraps, sewing, pressing, trimming around the muslin, .... until you have covered the muslin and you like the look.

11. Add another piece, press open and trim around the muslin fabric.

12. Trim to match the piece of muslin.

13. One more corner to cover ...

14. ....open, press ...

15. ... trim ...

15. Make sure all the muslin fabric is covered by scraps.

16. Square up the block. I usually use my 12 1/2" quilting square ruler to square my block to 8x8" square.

17. The finished block.

18. Layer the insides. I usually layer muslin, towel, muslin, towel, top piece. Pin all the layers together, making sure to keep the seams free of pins.

19. ABOVE: Sew along the seams through all the layers. It is also called "stitch in the ditch". Remove the pins and trim threads and fabric (if necessary).

20. BELOW: Lay potholder on top of backing piece (12x12" square). Center as best you can. Roll one side so the raw edge is "inside" (think "rolled hem"). Put in a pin perpendicular to the potholder, catching the potholder int he pin.

Closeup (blurry) picture of pinning one side. I usually put a pin in the center and one about an inch from each corner.

21. Pin the opposite side exactly like you pinned the first side.

22. Pin the third and fourth sides.

23. ALERT: This is the trickiest part of the whole project. Clip each corner. If you clip too much off, you'll have a hard time making a faux mitered corner. Remember, you can always make the piece shorter but it's hard to make the piece longer.

Close up of the corner clipping.

Just a picture of the corner pieces clipped off.

24. Fold one side of the corner "in" to the corner.

25. Fold the other side of the corner over, hiding the raw edge. Kind of work it so it forms a line like a mitered corner.

26. Pin the corner in place and do the same to the other three corners. If you want to put hanging loops on the potholders, now's the time to do it. Pin it in one corner of the potholder and sew it in when you do the next step.

27. Sew around the edge/binding. I usually back stitch the corners to make sure they hold.

Some examples of ones I've made. The upper left set was for the story time librarian, made from bookworm fabric. The upper right set was made for a teacher...frogs were the school mascot. The bottom pair was made for a teacher whose favorite color was blue.

This pair is my one that I made to match my cow-themed kitchen. You can see the hanging loops I put on the corner. They usually hang from a magnet from the range hood and have been used a lot in the last seven years. I'm ready for a new pair but want to wait until we are in our new house and I figure out what colors I want in the kitchen. Right now I'm leaning towards a pale green and coral color but we'll see...

I love to make these from the leftover apron fabric and give them as gifts.

Happy sewing! Please let me know if any of this is unclear and I'll try to write clearer instructions.

First Timer: Mammograms

2012-08-28T16:32:00.004-07:00

Hi. I'm 40 and I'm a first timer.

It didn't take long for my primary care doctor to call me in for that "you just turned 40" physical. Not knowing what I was really in for, I arrived at her office on Friday, a few minutes before my scheduled appointment and filled out the necessary paperwork. When the nurse took me back to the examining room she rattled off the list of procedures I was going to have. I knew for sure I would have the Pap Smear and breast exam but I was taken by surprise when the nurse told me I needed a mammogram, too. I thought the first mammogram had to happen at 50, not 40. Oh well, I scheduled the mammogram for Monday morning. I was a little nervous, not knowing what to expect. I'd only heard negative things about mammograms so I was prepared for the worst...

After I checked in at the hospital's front desk and filled out the proper paperwork, this cute radiology tech took me back. Her name is April.

April introduced me to her new mammography machine... it's digital, just like the bigger hospitals. She handed me a gown and asked that I put it on with the opening to the front. (Good thing I left my dignity at the front door.) When April came back in she positioned me in front of the machine and took four x-rays, two on each side... one straight on and the other on the side. I was prepared for some serious squishing but it was nowhere near as bad as I had heard. Uncomfortable, yes, but not overly painful. It's not like going to the dentist for a filling or anything, just uncomfortable. The whole while April kept up pleasant chatter, answered my random questions about silicone implants and listened to my stories. It was over without much fanfare.

Two things I will remember for next time...
1) Shave my underarms. I had done it just a few days before so I wasn't a hairy gorilla, but I wish I would have remembered that morning.
2) Don't wear deodorant. I had asked the lady who helped me schedule my appointment but she said deodorant was fine, but don't wear any lotions or perfumes on the chest area. April had me wipe off my deodorant before the mammogram.

Really, no one is excited about getting a mammogram. It's like all those other annual tests we have to have that seem semi-violating. Suck it up, kiss the frog, whatever you want to say to get you through it, but schedule a mammogram. It's not that bad, really. And don't forget to pick your dignity up on your way out.

(This post is dedicated to my three friends who were diagnosed with breast cancer this past spring... SS, age 34, opted to have a double mastectomy; NW, age 50-something, opted to have a lumpectomy; and Sister Smith, age 60-something, who is still going through chemo. You are all inspirations of courage and being positive through trials. Hugs and prayers for you all.)

JOT Journal

2012-03-07T16:18:00.007-08:00

So, I'm in therapy. Yep, that's it ... I've said it. I've laid it all on the table. I see a therapist every Wednesday at 2 p.m. She's fabulous and she's helped me a lot in the past five or six weeks.

I started going because, in the past 10 months or so, I have developed some unhealthy eating habits. I won't go into detail but I will say this: I'm stressed and my way of de-stressing is some unhealthy eating habits. I'm working on those. We've also discovered that I have Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD). It's like OCD but a little less (look it up on wikipedia and read the part about signs and symptoms and obsession, but ignore the part about house cleanliness - that doesn't apply to me - I wish it did, but it doesn't). It means that I have certain ways I do things. I like the towels folded a special way. I am a big rule follower and have little tolerance for people who don't follow the rules. Many things are black or white to me. I have control issues, that's for sure. That's not why I'm writing this post, though....

I'm writing this post because of something Melinda and I discussed today. She said that I beat myself up and that causes me stress which makes me do my unhealthy eating habits in order to destress. Duh, of course I beat myself up about stuff. Don't we all do that? Isn't that just human nature? Isn't that a "mom" thing? I'm too fat, I'm too gray, I'm too mean, I was too lazy to put the grocery cart back into the cart return place, I wish I hadn't said that, I wish I was a better pianist, Mac-n-cheese for dinner again?... The list goes on and on. For each of us, I'm sure, the list is never-ending. So, what should I/we do about it? Well.... Melinda had me read an article by Dr. Rick Hanson called, "Don't Beat Yourself Up". (Dr. Hanson writes a blog of JOTs - Just One Thing.) While I don't subscribe to everything in the article, I do agree with two things he said. First, when you find a fault in yourself, give yourself an encouraging talk about it (not to encourage yourself to do it again, but encourage yourself to take appropriate action). Second, after your encouraging self-talk about your fault, name three virtues or good points about yourself. I've decided that I need to take this one step further for myself... I need to write down "Just One Thing" (JOT) that is positive about myself. I guess you could say that I'm going to start a JOT Journal of sorts.

Thanks for reading and happy "jot"ting.

(P.S. If you'd like to read his article - here's the link... http://www.rickhanson.net/inner-peace/dont-beat-yourself-up)

Picking Up a Penny and Hope

2012-02-21T08:32:00.006-08:00

For several weeks I've been nervous about some pains I've been having. I finally went to the doctor on Friday. She is a fabulous doctor whom I both respect and trust. She was stumped by these pains - they could either be caused by something serious or just be because I'm getting older. She ordered a test to be done at the hospital to rule out the more serious reasons. Needless to say, I was very anxious over the long weekend and arrived at the hospital for the test shortly after 8:00 this morning.

On my way into the hospital I found a quarter on the ground. I remembered a story that I had heard once...

A man and his wife were once invited out to dinner by the man's employer. This was going to be a very important affair for the couple because they felt honored about the invitation. This particular employer was enormously wealthy. His financial status soared far above that of the employee and his wife. In fact, the couple became more nervous about the occasion as it approached with each passing day.

When the day of the dinner-date finally arrived the employer met the couple near the entrance to one of the most exclusive restaurants in the area. Following a formal greeting, the three of them proceeded toward the door with the wealthy employer leading the way. After a few steps the employer stopped in his tracks and appeared to be quietly staring at the ground in front of him.

After nearly bumping into the man, the couple stopped short, wondering what may be wrong. After a few seconds the employer bent over, picking up a single penny which lay on the sidewalk. He brushed it off, placed it into his pocket, and continued toward the door. The group was quickly seated and their order was taken.

As they waited for the food to be served, and, in an attempt to relieve an obviously tense atmosphere, the wife of the employee jokingly made the following comment: "I noticed that you didn't walk past that penny on the ground outside. Is that how you have become so wealthy?"

The employer smiled kindly, reached into his pocket, and brought forth the redeemed penny, laying it on the table-top.

"Read what it says." He asked.

The couple leaned forward, reaching for the penny, and pulled it closer.

"In God We Trust." Said the wife.

Then the employer explained that he didn't become wealthy by picking up pennies. He picked up pennies, and any other lost coins because of those words. He explained that God's name is holy. (Remember the words to The Lord's Prayer?) If we shouldn't use it in vain we should also make sure that it is not walked upon by passers-by. But, he also explained another reason for pausing a short time before retrieving the penny from the ground.

"It is as if God has dropped a message into my pathway and He wants to remind me to keep my trust in Him." He told how he always said a short prayer of thanks, as a reply to God's loving message. The employer went on to explain, as they enjoyed the dinner and the evening together, that a single penny can become worth more than gold or silver in strengthening our relationship with our Heavily Father.

Of course, I picked up the quarter and looked at it. Needless to say, I read the words on the front "In God We Trust" and was comforted by those words because that is where my trust is and needs to be. So far, the preliminary results look good (or rather it looks like I just may be getting old - haha). But, even if the more detailed results come back pointing to scary things, I know that I can trust in God for my comfort and strength and for that of my family.

Thanks for reading.

Ayr Saline Nasal Gel

2012-01-31T09:47:00.000-08:00

Last December, my 18 month old had a yucky, runny nose and a cough. One grandma thought it was whooping cough. The other grandma thought it would turn into pneumonia. (I'm not dissing on the grandmas. I love that they are concerned about my kids!) I decided to take Leslie in to the doctor. Diagnosis? - just your garden variety winter cold. I asked the doctor about saline drops and she said those were fine but she really recommends the saline GEL. I had never heard of the gel so I ran to WalMart (because they have EVERYTHING) and bought Ayr Saline Nasal Gel. I think it was about $3. (It's non-medicated so I had no problem using it on my baby.)

I put it on (and a little bit in) Leslie's nose for a couple of days (especially before she went to sleep). I thought it would just keep her nose from crusting over like it usually does. It did that, but I think it also helped shorten her cold. I didn't fully decide that it shortened her cold because maybe we had started using it at the tail-end of the cold and it was just a coincidence.... until now.... Leslie has a cold again and once more we are using the Ayr Saline Nasal Gel. Once again it is helping keep the crusties off her nose (yay!) and once again I think it may be shortening her cold. She seems to be going through it a lot easier than before I started putting the gel on her nose. I think I'm in love!

(P.S. I've used this stuff on my nose, too, because my nose gets dry and bloody in the winter. It works for me, too!!!)

The Little Things and Grace

2011-02-17T15:32:00.001-08:00

The little things...

This morning I went to Wal-Mart. After paying for my items and loading the bags into the car I noticed a two-pack of baby socks that had been at the bottom of the cart, under the diaper bag. I hadn't paid for them so I quickly ran them back into the store and told the clerk what had happened.

I don't tell this little story to pat myself on the back. I tell it because it reminded me of an experience I had a while back. A few years ago, when we were getting ready to move from Fargo to Ririe, I stopped by the video store to see if we had any overdue charges that I needed to pay. The clerk looked at me funny and I explained that we were moving and I wanted to make sure my debts were paid before we left. I laughed a little and said, “I don't want to get to Heaven and then not be allowed in because of a $2 fine at the video store in Fargo, North Dakota.” The clerk remarked that he hoped we wouldn't be kept out of Heaven for something so small.

I don't want to start a religious debate, this isn't the proper forum for that (is there ever a proper forum for arguing about religion? Discussion, for sure, but never arguing, but that's another topic for another day). Anyway, I'll state my beliefs so you can know where I'm coming from … I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormons. I do believe in the saving grace of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is because of His grace that we will be saved and receive exaltation in the Kingdom of Heaven. Furthermore, I believe what it says in 2 Nephi 25:23, “For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.” After all we can do we are saved by grace. Picture a ladder that is only tall enough to get within several feet of the ceiling. I can climb the ladder but I will never get to the ceiling. That is where grace comes in. Grace is what gets us from the top rung of the ladder to the ceiling - after we have climbed the ladder.

I thought about it back in Fargo, I've thought about it since and I thought about it again this morning. What is going to keep me out of Heaven – or allow me to go in? I do truly believe that it is the little things. The clerk might have been right in that one little thing won't keep me out, but what about a lot of little things. There's a very slim chance that I will ever have millions of “extra” dollars with which I can open a school for girls in Africa (a la Oprah), rebuild half of New Orleans (a la Brad and Angelina), or even be rich enough to donate to a university to build a gymnasium or science center. Most days we don't even have enough "extra" cash to help an underprivileged Boy Scout go to Scout Camp

So what do I do? If I can't do big things, how about the little things? How about letting the person with two items go ahead of me in line at the grocery store? What about helping the sweet older lady pick up the change that fell out when she opened her wallet the wrong way? Picking up a piece of trash that blew across my path in the parking lot? Smiling to an elderly gentlemen who is sitting on a bench? Making my husband's favorite dessert? Taking a plate of cookies to the neighbor? Staying to visit for a minute when it seems like they want to talk? Holding a baby (screaming or not) for a mother so she can have a minute of quiet to listen during church? Entertaining a child on an airplane flight or in a meeting, even if I only have a watch, a piece of paper and a pen with which to entertain them? I think that all of these little things will add up, like rungs on the ladder, to help me do my part. It's just like little Hershey's kisses. Eat enough of them and the calorie total will be the same as a king sized Hershey's bar.

Mosiah 2:17 says, “And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” When I do any (all?) of these little things, I am not only serving those here on earth, I am serving God, too.

I've read and reread this post so many times that I don't know if it makes sense anymore. It's just what's been on my mind as I've cut, chopped and sauteed about a million bell peppers and onions for the chili that will be served at the blood drive tomorrow. (I hate bell peppers and onions so I had to keep my mind occupied - haha.) At the very least, it's something to think about....

On the Timer Today

2011-01-07T10:02:00.000-08:00

I have a lot to do today. It's not that I've been lazy this week, I've just been lazier than I could afford to be. We'll blame that on "the screamer" (a.k.a. "Drama Girl", a.k.a. the baby) and also on being a bit sick at the beginning of the week. Be that as it may, I'm "on the timer" today. I set the timer for 15 minutes and see how much I can get done on a particular task, room clean, etc. This morning I started doing 15 minutes in the boys' room (couldn't see the floor) and after the initial 15 minutes, then a break to feed the screamer and put her down for a nap, I went back and finished most of the job (I even went through their clothes). Now they can do the rest of it after school. I'm to the point, now, that I need to empty the large laundry basket full of stuff that does not belong in their room. I hate this task. I always have. I hate this task so much that there is a large laundry basket in the hallway that is FULL of stuff that I need to take care of - and it's been there for more than a month. So.... I'm setting my timer for 15 minutes. I *WILL* empty the laundry basket from the boys' room in that time and then I will allow myself a break (maybe only 15 minutes) before tackling the next laundry basket.

And no, I haven't found the spare cell phone that has been missing for a couple of weeks. It's out of battery or else I'd just call it. I want to send it with the 12 year old when he goes to Oklahoma City tomorrow. Maybe it's in that large laundry basket. It's possible.

And yes, the laundry is going because I am bound and determined to have a folding festival tonight with the kids.

What's Cooking? Wednesday

2011-01-05T06:34:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the ninth weekly edition of ....

I'm sorry I didn't do it last week. I just couldn't. Too much sickness, too much holiday, too many kids... too much of a good thing is still too much. But, I'm back this week and raring to go! Kind of.

During my college years I was known as "The Hamburger Helper Queen". That title continued through the early years of my marriage. Thankfully, I learned to experiment with cooking a little more and found some other types of things to cook that were quick, easy, and cheap. Having said all that, we still do have Hamburger Helper on occasion. It's quick, it's easy and it's cheap (especially if I have coupons). Two nights ago I went down to our food storage at the last minute to try to come up with something - anything - to eat that wouldn't make me ill (I'd been suffering from stress-induced "bathroom" issues all day long - I told you last week was bad). I found my stash of Hamburger Helper and remembered I had a pound of browned hamburger (instructions here). Frozen peas completed the meal (you've gotta have a protein, carb and a vegetable for a balanced meal, right?).

So, I guess that the menu "idea" for today is ... There's a time and a place for everything ... even Hamburger Helper!

(Next week I'll share my new favorite cookbook and maybe even have a guest review from my dear friend, Alice!)

(By the way, we made the oreo truffles for New Years. D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S!)

What are you cooking this week? (Please be sure to check the comments section as well as the links.)

What's Cooking? Wednesday

2010-12-22T11:49:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the eighth weekly edition of ...

The other day my college roommate, Jen, sent me this email...

"Okay, seriously... if you make these... you'll be best friends with whoever you give them to (so be careful in case you don't want to be best friends with someone). They are DIVINE. I promise. I've had them before - but my neighbor gave us some last night and it reminded me how gooooood they are! And check out the recipe... super easy to make! Only three ingredients! :)

Enjoy!

http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/easy-oreo-truffles-95085.aspx "

I clicked on the link and waa-laa. They look sooooo good! They look so good and easy that I'm debating ... do I take them to the Christmas Eve party on Friday night ... or the New Year's Eve party next Friday night ... both parties ... or just make them all in the middle of the night (so no one in the house will know) and eat them all myself??? That is the question. Either way, this is the recipe that I took off of http://sarahkoller.com/?p=1345. Her instructions are a little more idiot proof than the recipe on kraftrecipes.com.
Oreo Truffles

Makes approximately 4 dozen truffles (or maybe a little less, depending on how much of the filling you choose to sample)

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

1 pkg. (1 lb. 2 oz.) Oreos (You can also use a generic version to save a little cash; I've tried a few varieties, and they work just as well.)

2 pkg. (8 squares each) Baker's Semi-Sweet Chocolate, melted (You will most likely use closer to 1 1/2 packages. That's more chocolate for spatula-licking, right?)

1. Set aside 5 Oreos and throw the rest in a food processor until they are finely crumbled

2. Thorougly mix cookie crumbs with cream cheese.

3. Form crumb-and-cream-cheese mixture into balls, approximately 1-inch across each (but don't worry too much about being exact here. They will come out delicious no matter the size!) and place onto a cookie sheet that has previously been lined with wax paper.

4. For best results, pop the formed mixture into the fridge for at least 15 minutes to chill while you complete the next step. If you really don't have the time, the truffles will still taste delicious (so don't worry!), but they will be more difficult to handle and some of the coating with mix with the filling.

5. Melt the chocolate. There are many ways to do this. I don't have a double boiler, so I just throw my chocolate into a saucepan and heat it on low, stirring frequently, until it is completely melted.

6. Remove pot from heat.

7. Coat previously formed balls with chocolate and return to the lined cookie sheet.

8. Throw the remaining 5 cookies into the food processor.

9. Sprinkle some of those crumbs on top of the (still wet) truffles.

10. Refrigerate for one hour.

You are done! You are now free to package, freeze, and eat. (Of course, you were free to eat during the entire process.)

Variation: swap out regular Oreos for Golden Oreos (semi-sweet chocolate for white chocolate, if you like white chocolate). You will end up with a cheesecake-like truffle.

Adapted from Kraftfoods.com (It's true!)

What are you cooking this week? (Please be sure to check the comments section as well as the links.)

What's Cooking? Wednesday

2010-12-16T09:43:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the seventh weekly edition of ... Except that it's Thursday. Sorry. Life got completely out of control and I didn't get this done yesterday.

If you are having ham for Christmas dinner, you might want to try Ham Sauce. It's original name is Raisin Sauce, but no one in the family except me likes raisins so I don't always put them in and I call it Ham Sauce instead.
Raisin Sauce
1/3 cup raisins (optional :P)
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup jelly (any flavor, but I usually use grape)
1/2 cup orange juice
2 Tbs brown sugar
1 Tbs corn starch
Dash of allspice
Dash of salt

Mix raisins, water, jelly and orange juice in a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Mix brown sugar, corn starch, allspice and salt in a small bowl. Pour into sauce while stirring constantly. Serve with ham. Enjoy!

What are you cooking this week? (Please be sure to check the comments section as well as the links.)

What's Cooking? Wednesday

2010-12-08T08:06:00.001-08:00

Welcome to the sixth weekly edition of ...
Thoughts are at Christmas, this time of year. Most of my thoughts center around purchasing and wrapping gifts, but I am also starting to think about Christmas Dinner. If you are a Christmas Turkey kind of family, you will enjoy this recipe - Turkey Brine. It originated from Emeril Lagasse's television show. We changed his recipe because it called for beer. Here is our recipe....

Turkey Brine

3/4 gallon of water
2 cups apple juice (replaces the beer)
1 1/2 cup orange juice, the stronger the better
1 cup kosher salt (use kosher salt because the granules are bigger)
1 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup chopped fresh ginger (I just guess when I buy the ginger so I add it all)
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
4 fresh bay leaves
4 sprigs fresh thyme (dry works fine, too)

Combine all the ingredients in a container. We use a well scrubbed cooler. Stir to combine completely and to dissolve the sugar and salt. Put in your bird and let it soak for 12 to 24 hours. In some places you can just put it out in the garage because it is cold enough to keep the turkey. In warmed climates you may need to find room in the refrigerator.

What are you cooking this week? (Please be sure to check the comments section as well as the links.)

What's Cooking? Wednesday

2010-12-01T13:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the fifth weekly edition of....

I almost forgot to post today. We're having scream-yourself-to-sleep week at our house so we're all a little sleep deprived and ditzy - at least I am.

Do you still have leftover turkey? Here's a great recipe that can help you use it up! The recipe actually calls for chicken but you can substitute that leftover turkey that is in your freezer.

Easy Chicken Tetrazine

Medium onion, chopped
2-3 celery stocks, diced
1 pound spaghetti
2 cans cream of chicken
3 cups chicken broth

Brown medium onion and celery in a stock pot. Add spaghetti, broken in half, with 2 cans of cream of chicken and 3 cups chicken broth. Bring to boil and then add chicken pieces and allow to simmer until the broth is absorbed into the noodles. VERY EASY AND QUICK!

(I've made a few changes to make this fit my family - no celery and a little dry minced onion. Large skillet instead of a stock pot, and pasta works just as well as spaghetti without clumping together. If I need to make more then I just add another can of cream of chicken soup and a little more chicken broth. My kids love it!)

What are you cooking this week? (Please be sure to check the comments section as well as the links.)

What's Cooking? Wednesday

2010-11-23T20:46:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the fourth, weekly edition of

Thanksgiving is tomorrow and no doubt you are cooking up a storm for your Thanksgiving Dinner that will probably happen some time between noon and 6 P.M. If your house is like mine, though, the kids will be hungry long before the turkey (or ham, in our case) comes out of the oven. With permission of my sweet cousin, Sally, here is a recipe for delicious muffins. Sally calls them LOVE MUFFINS. The best part, they are quick, easy, and I can almost guarantee that you have all the ingredients in your cupboards already. Make them tonight and they will still be perfect in the morning. In fact, I double or triple the recipe, put three or four muffins in each ziploc bag and throw them in the freezer for my husband to grab as he's walking out the door in the mornings.

(I'm not a baker or a photographer so this picture does not do these LOVE MUFFINS justice!)

LOVE MUFFINS
3 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 Tbs baking powder
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup milk
2/3 cup melted butter or margarine
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup sugar

Stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt. In a small bowl, mix beaten eggs, milk and melted butter. Stir into dry ingredients, JUST until moistened. Pour into greased muffin tins or use liners. Bake at 350* for 20-25 minutes. While warm, rub a stick of butter or margarine on top of muffins and dip in cinnamon/sugar mixture. (We have a shaker for cinnamon/sugar because we put it on toast all the time. I've found that it's easier for me to shake the cinnamon/sugar than to dip a muffin in a bowl.)

What are you cooking this week? (Please be sure to check the comments section as well as the links.)

What's Cooking? Wednesday

2010-11-17T05:23:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the third, weekly edition of

Thanksgiving is next week! Holy Cow!!! I know that you are all getting you menus ready for the big day. One of my favorite Thanksgiving foods is pumpkin pie. I love it but don't really like to make a crust. My cousin, Tammy, sent me this recipe for pumpkin pie cake and it has been a staple at our house ever since! You'll notice that the crumb topping has picked off most of the cake in the picture ... that's because the kids love it so much. They kept sneaking pieces until most of the topping was gone.

Pumpkin Pie Cake

Crust:
1 package white or yellow cake mix (set aside 1 cup for topping)
1/2 cup margarine or butter
1 egg (optional)

Mix ingredients together. Pat into a 9x13 pan. Real butter will make the crust very flaky. Add the egg for a cake-like crust.

Filling:
1 large can pumpkin
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp ginger
(or 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice to replace cloves and ginger)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 to 1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2/3 cup evaporated milk

Mix ingredients together. Spread over crust.

Topping:
1 cup cake mix
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter or margarine (softened, not melted)

Mix until crumbly and sprinkle over cake.

Bake at 350* for 45-50 minutes or until knife comes out clean. Serve with whipped cream.

What are you cooking this week? (Please be sure to check the comments section as well as the links.)

What's Cooking? Wednesday

2010-11-10T05:30:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the second, weekly edition of....

My kids love this recipe. The original name is Barbecue Meatballs but I've changed the recipe just a bit and we call it just "Meatballs and Rice". (And yes, it's pictured on a paper plate because some days I don't want to do dishes. And... It's a full meal with only three things - protein, carbohydrate and vegetable. Most days I'm lazy like that.)

Barbecue Meatballs

36 meatballs (either frozen or from your favorite meatball recipe)
1 cup barbecue sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
2 Tbs brown sugar
cornstarch

Put meatballs, barbecue sauce, ketchup and brown sugar in a saucepan. Heat to boiling. Sprinkle in cornstarch while stirring until sauce thickens. Serve over rice.

(In place of the barbecue sauce, I use Yoshida's Marinade from Sam's Club. My kids love it more than with the barbecue sauce, although they love the barbecue sauce variety, too. It's just a little more sweet with Yoshida's.)

What is your "quick, easy and cheap" (and yummy) recipe this week?

Headbands & Flowers

2010-11-05T11:42:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking about Christmas... When you are working with a budget, like most of us are, it's never too early to get started. In fact, I'm probably getting a late start. Be that as it may, I'm working away.

About a year ago I saw the daughter of a friend wearing a cute headband. It was made of ribbons in the school colors and it was darling. My friend told me she had made it and referred me to the internet. I found this website: http://www.scribd.com/doc/3276459/Ribbon-Woven-Headband-Instructions
Then I ordered some headbands from here: http://www.craftersvision.com/product-p/hp-hb25.htm

I made these headbands for my nieces. My favorites are the red one and turquoise ones. I think they are prettier if you only use three different kinds of ribbon - one for the outside triangles and two different ones for the inside diamonds. The green one was done with four different ribbons and is a little crazy for my taste.
I also made flowers and butterflies to clip onto the headbands. They were very easy to do - just glue a ribbon around an alligator clip and glue the flower/butterfly on top of the ribbon. This makes it easy to change the accessory on top of the headband.

My daughter, Kelly, modeling two of the headbands.

What's Cooking? Wednesdays

2010-11-02T20:37:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the 1st weekly edition of...

I say that I really don't like to cook but that's only partly true. I don't like to decide what to fix and I don't usually like putting it together (although that's the best part) and I REALLY don't like the clean up afterwards. Because of this I have focused my cooking efforts on easy recipes. I've even compiled my own cookbook entitled If You Are What You Eat, I'm Quick, Easy and Cheap!"

Please post your favorite recipe. Ideally it should be a recipe that fits into two of the categories - quick, easy or cheap. However, if it especially yummy, please post!!!

Chicken Poppyseed Casserole

2 tubes smashed Ritz-type crackers
1/2 cup melted butter
1 lb cooked, shredded chicken
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
2 Tbs poppyseeds

In a bowl, combine crackers and melted butter. Set aside. In another bowl, mix chicken, soups, sour cream and poppyseeds. In a 9x13 pan, layer half the cracker mixture, all of the chicken mixture and the other half of the cracker mixture. Bake, uncovered, at 350* for 30 minutes or until sides bubble. You can also cover in plastic wrap and microwave for about 10 minutes. Serve over rice.

Please share your favorite recipe.

Couponing #2

2010-02-17T06:27:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry I didn't get this posted yesterday. I had two drop in visitors and spent four hours at the school. My schedule was not my own yesterday. I'll try to get the rest typed and scheduled for posting....

Regional Websites & Where to Find Coupons

Abbreviations you might see...
These are some of the abbreviations you'll come across.
*RP = Red Plum (newspaper insert)
*SS = SmartSource (newspaper insert)
*P&G = Proctor & Gamble (newspaper insert and loadable onto your shopper discount card)
*IE = Internet Explorer (click this one if this is your web browser)
*FF = Firefox (click this one if this is your web browser)
*Cellfire = (Coupon site that loads coupons directly to your preferred shopper discount card)
*Shortcuts = (Coupon site that loads coupons directly to your preferred shopper discount card)
*Coupons.com

Regional Websites...
Philidelphia- http://www.momsneedtoknow.com/
Click on “Grocery Deals” at the very top. The links to online coupons are in red.
Acme, Genuardi’s, Giant of PA, Giant Eagle, Kroger, Meijer, ShopRite, SuperFresh (coming soon), Wegmans (coming soon)

Mid-west/Southern US - http://www.southernsavers.com/
Click on the grocery store link underneath her name logo.
Kroger (Dillon’s), harris Teeter, Food Lion, Harvey’s, Ingles, Piggly Wiggly, Winn Dixie, Publix, Bi-Lo

(This is the website I use for my Dillon’s store. I have to remember that the sales she lists go from Sunday through Saturday. My sales go from that Wednesday through Tuesday. Also, the prices she lists are usually between 30 and 50 cents cheaper than at my local Dillon’s.)

Fargo - http://fmcheapskate.blogspot.com/

Utah - http://thekrazycouponlady.com/ (Albertson’s, Smiths)

Utah, Idaho, Washington, California, Arizona - www.pinchingyourpennies.com

Sacramento - www.krazycouponlady.blogspot.com
Type in the grocery store you want to search (i.e., Raleys) in the search box on the left side.

General - http://www.frugalcouponliving.com/ (Click on store deals - right side of link banner across the top)
- www.fabulesslyfrugal.blogspot.com (general Walgreens/Target, etc. PLUS Idaho)

Other Ways to Get Coupons...
I usually go to my favorite website for this area (www.southernsavers.com) and click on the coupon links that are embedded in the grocery ads they have listed. (Remember that most coupons can be printed TWICE from each computer.) I also get coupons this way (*NOTE* - I do not pay for any of my coupons) -

*www.couponmom.com
*www.redplum.com (internet copy of the Sunday insert)
*www.smartsource.com (internet copy of the Sunday insert)
*Product websites (like Nestle or Bar-S) frequently have coupons. It's often worth a check.
*Free product samples usually come with coupons
*Recycling Center - Our recycling center saves out inserts and will give me a stack that's an inch high every time I go in. If yours doesn't do that ask if you can search through the bin they have for the high gloss newspaper recycling. It usually isn't very dirty because people take in a stack of newspapers and don't mix them in with their garbage.
*College Newspapers - When we lived in Idaho we discovered that the college there included the newspaper inserts (Albertson's ads and coupons) on the day before we got them in the regular paper. I usually drove to the school and ran into one of the buildings where I knew they had a newspaper box. Right next to the newspaper box there was a recycling bin. You'd be amazed at how many ads I could pick up out of the recycling bin. It was fabulous!!!
*Schools - Many schools use newspapers in their classrooms (I did when I taught in Utah). Check with your child's teacher to see if they do and if they have any inserts they'd be able to share with you.
*Libraries - Our library here in Pratt has a little box for coupons that they get from their copies of the Sunday paper. I regularly sort through those for the coupons I know I'll use.
*Neighbors, friends, family members, Church members - If you know people who aren't sold on couponing but still get the paper, ask them if you can have their inserts.

You can also BUY coupons on ebay and www.thecouponclippers.com. (It is illegal to sell coupons so they charge a small handling fee. I've never actually purchased coupons from either of these sites - I don't know why, I just haven't - but I have a couple of friends who have and love it! Turn around time is very quick. The coupon clippers are located in Florida so take that in consideration when you are totally up shipping time.)

Couponing #1

2010-02-15T09:00:00.000-08:00

This is the first of five (or six or seven or....) posts about couponing.

General Couponing Information

I love to coupon. I started couponing when we lived in Idaho and I could attend a group in the next town over. The group leaders would go through the grocery ads and tell us what the best deals were, where to find coupons, etc. It was definitely my style... no-brainer couponing! When we moved to Kansas this past May I couldn't find a couponing group like the one I'd left in Idaho. Then I attended a Church event that was attended by women from surrounding towns. During the course of a conversation I had with a lady I discovered that she was a supreme couponer. We exchanged emails and I've since learned how to coupon here in Kansas. The leaders of our Church strongly discourage debt. Since we move a lot we have a hard time getting rid of the debt we incur every time we move. For the past couple of months I've felt like getting rid of our debt needs to be a main focus for us. I looked into going back to teaching (first as a sub and then applying for jobs for next year) but since I'm four months pregnant and have a three year old that didn't seem like a viable option right now. I decided that if I could save enough using coupons then I wouldn't have to go to work. That's when I started actively couponing again. (Sometimes I use my "extra" food budget money to help amass a year supply of food - another suggestion from our Church leaders.)

I've come to the belief that it is possible to coupon (and save major money) anywhere you live. I've done a little research using the areas of the country where I have lived or have siblings living and have found websites that offer the same help as my couponing group in Idaho. Over the next week or so I'm hoping to be able to detail the things I've learned here because there are some who stop me in the grocery store (after they've watched me save 50% or more) and ask how I do it. I'd like to be able to refer them to this blog as an easy "how-to".

Before you get started, there are a couple of things to know...

1) It will take about three months before you really see results. The first month you'll be excited that you have a year's supply of cake mixes and salt. The second month you'll feel unbalanced and be frustrated that you only have a year supply of cake mixes, salt and cold cereal. The third month things will start to even out and you'll notice a difference. (For example, my normal food budget is $200 every two weeks. This week I was able to only spend $80 on groceries for the next two weeks. This is because I have a stockpile of staples like cream soup, pasta, spaghetti sauce and vegetables that I have purchased in bulk over the past few months.)

2) I was told to use half of my monthly out-to-eat budget to start couponing with (to use on the great sale/coupon deals). I don't have an out-to-eat budget. We live in a small town that doesn't have a lot of restaurants. Also, IF we go out to eat it's a drive-thru experience on our way to another town to do shopping or something. I decided that I could spare $30 a month (or sometimes a pay period) to use on the smoking deals.

3) Know that about once every quarter (3 months) every item in the grocery store will be at it's highest price and at it's lowest. If you know (about) what the "usual" price is then you can be aware when the prices hit bottom. The key to getting the biggest bang for your buck (or the most stuff for your buck) is to use the coupons when the items are on sale.

4) There are many websites out there that give tips and tricks to super-size your couponing. The two I like the best are It's Hip 2 Save and Pinching Your Pennies. Both sites list lots of offers and great deals. If you subscribe they will send you emails every evening telling you of the deals they found that day. Also, on Hip 2 Save she has a lot of great how-to videos (look on the right sidebar of her blog). I highly - HIGHLY - recommend watching those videos. They are about 10 minutes each.

5) Use your coupons on sale items to get the biggest bang for your buck. Stores will allow you to use a manufacturer’s coupon AND a store coupon on the same item. That is called stacking. For example.... Say I am going to buy a box of Cheerios that usually costs $4 but is on sale for $2. I have a $1 manufacturer’s coupon that I got out of the newspaper insert (or printed online). I also have a 50 cent coupon that I cut out of the grocery store ad (store coupon). I get the $4 box of Cheerios for only 50 cents!!! That’s a savings of 75%.

Kissable Lips

2010-02-12T06:31:00.000-08:00

In honor of Valentine's Day, here's my tip.....

In order to have your lipstick stay on all day (and I mean ALL DAY) here's what you do...
1. Apply lipstick
2. Apply a thin layer of face powder
3. Reapply lipstick
4. Blot

I'm serious, this really works. Your lipstick will stay on all day and all night!

(I really do have plans to keep this blog updated and have many posts "in progress". Because of pregnancy issues, illnesses, vacation and overall exhaustion, they just haven't made it to the "publish post" stage yet. Stay tuned....)