~Life is Nothing without Him~

Happy Friday! (Links for you!)

2012-01-20T20:46:00.001-06:00

I'm enjoying some quiet right now (it's really blissful!) and wanted to share a few links that I came across this week. I hope you enjoy!

~ Quiet Times for Desperate Mothers at Raising Homemakers. This post is written by Arabah Joy, one of my favorite bloggers (seriously, please check her blog out!)! I really love her thoughts on quiet times! She says, "Don’t underestimate the small things! You can take a passage, a phrase, or even a single word and meditate on it all day long. God changes our thinking and deepens our understanding through meditation. "

~ School ADD isn't Homeschool ADD - This is a fantastic article on a real life experience of a child labeled with ADD. It's fantastic, no matter what you're schooling choices are to see these kinds of perspectives! Every child is different and learns differently. Think outside the box!

~ Organized Simplicity (the kindle version) is FREE right now on Amazon. I got it and started reading it yesterday! I'm really loving it so far! It goes along perfectly with my goal to live a more simplified life!

~ What's the Answer to Anxiety? You all know my love for Ann Voskamp. I could post any of her posts here because they are all good but this was my favorite. Oh ok, and this one too.

Have a great weekend!

Homeschooling update - January 2012

2012-01-17T21:53:00.000-06:00

School started back for us 2 weeks ago. There are a few things that have changed this semester from last semester. Luke is doing well in all of his 'subjects'. He's doing great in his phonics but we've had some rough patches. I think we're on lesson 56 of 100. We could easily be finished if I pushed it, but that would be torture for both of us. I refuse to compare my child with anyone else and I refuse to 'make' my five year old do school just for the sake of doing it. I want him to love to learn and I want him to have fun (and me too!). So, all of these thoughts have brought about a little change. We are more loose with school this second half. I haven't thrown out the books or anything but our school hours aren't necessarily an hour and a half long. We always read our Bible.... sometimes we play a game, paint, draw or read... then we eat lunch. Then we may have a math lesson with Cheerio's. In fact today we did! He had to place the correct number of Cheerio's in the tens and ones place! We also played a thinking game by taking a few objects and putting them in a bowl. I'd remove one and the boys had to try and remember what was missing! That was fun and they kept playing even after we were 'finished'. Earlier in the day we spent time at the library where they had story time and made a snowman out of marshmallows with other kids! Tonight Luke read us a story out of his phonics book. The point: none of this was work.. it was fun and Luke enjoyed it. School has been much more relaxing and 'one piece'. I like it. And I'm pretty sure the boys do too. :)

I had been feeling the tug in this direction... and well, it's not really a big change. But when I read this , I thought, "YES!" I love Sally Clarkson and I'm completely jealous that Sarah Mae gets to chat with her but I'm so thankful that she shared the wealth! (Also, super thankful for Sally's blog and books... what a help to mama's like me!) I just love the advice that Sally shares and am incorporating it into our day. My most favorite thing that Sally shares is the advice about the TV. I don't know about you but my boys get so ill and whiny when they watch TV/play computer games. They are getting instant gratification that doesn't require them to think or imagine. So, when the tv is off, life doesn't do the same and they get frustrated. I really hate the TV. I don't watch much at all but they like a few shows. Poor Eli just loves his morning TV. He is not a morning person and needs a while to wake up so I don't think we'll ever cut it out completely (but maybe... any ideas?). I say all of this to say, we're slowly cutting back our TV time and that is a good thing.

Now, if I can just find a way to make housework more fun and relaxing.... Hmm..

Speaking of homeschooling, I saw this today and just had to share. I love this! My boys are little and we never hear anything like this but it's still so funny! And he dedicated it to his mom!

Menu Plan Monday, January 16

2012-01-16T22:33:00.003-06:00

New week, new menu! This one is going to be a little short because we had family in town this weekend and had our Christmas with them... well, Thankmas. That's what we call it! Thanksgiving and Christmas rolled into one.. get it? Anyways, we had dinner Friday and Saturday nights and then leftovers tonight (remember, my menus go from Fri-Thurs)! Yum! Tomorrow night we're having dinner at my parents! So, here's my plan:

Breakfasts:
Favorite Pancakes & fruit (x2)
Scrambled eggs, toast & fruit (x3)
Giant Breakfast Cookies & fruit(x2)

Lunch:
Mini Pizzas(these went over really well this week.. sandwich thins with pizza sauce & cheese) & carrots (x2)
PB&J & peas (x4)
Annie's Mac and Cheese (had a coupon) & Veggie
(Salads & leftovers for me!)

Dinner:
Italian Roast Wraps & green beans (didn't use my roast last week because I'm having crock pot issues, but hopefully I can resolve that this week. I made beef stew instead because I found a pack of stew meat.)
Vegetable Soup (w/ leftover roast) and corn muffins
Spaghetti, Salad

Snacks:
Yogurt
Raisins
Cheese
Pop Corn
Fruit
Chips and Salsa

Recipe Review: Last week I made this Chicken Lo Mein recipe. It was super easy and super good! I used whole wheat linguine noodles and a bag of frozen stir fry mix! Surprisingly, both of the boys liked it! It will definitely be made again in the near future! Also, I made Pioneer Woman's Dreamy Apple Pie for Thankmas and it was so good! I used a store bought crust.. one day I'll make my own!

Budget update: I went over my budget $14.57. I'm okay with that but am going to work hard at doing better next time! :)

Check out Orgjunkie for more menu planning ideas!

2012 Book List

2012-01-12T17:30:00.000-06:00

One of my goals for the new year is to read more. I really love to read but I let other things take the place of that. It's one thing to allow my children or hubby to come before reading a good book but too often I let less useful things take that place as well. I want to fill my mind with goodness. So, outside of my Bible I plan on reading much more this year! Here is my list of 20 or so books:

What Woman Fear: Walking in Faith that Transforms (almost finished with this one!!)

Pilgrim's Progress

Slave

Educating the Wholehearted Child

Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption

Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus

Adopted For Life

Mark of the Lion Series (3)

Grace for the Good Girl: Letting Go of the Try-Hard Life

Erasing Hell

Tramp for the Lord

Passionate Housewives Desperate for God

Loving the Little Years

The Meaning of Marriage

When I Don't Desire God: How to Fight for Joy

Blogger Behave: Make Your Blog Benefit Your Life, So You Can Love Both

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn

The Poisonwood Bible

Do you have any must read books? I'd love to add them to my ever growing list!

Menu Plan Monday, January 9th

2012-01-07T21:09:00.000-06:00

Over the holidays I wasn't very good at keeping up a menu. We got busy, we had different family get-togethers, ect. I also wasn't very good at sticking to my budget. So, I've resolved to be better at sticking to my budget, while eating as much real foods as possible. To help me do this, I've decided to make out a full menu. It's not restrictive but more of a guideline of the foods we'll have available.

Breakfasts:
Pancakes & fruit (x2)
Peanut Butter Banana Muffins & fruit (x2)
Cereal (x3)

Lunches:
PB&J Sandwiches (x3)
Tuna Sandwiches (for mom)
Homemade mini pizzas & Mango Smoothies
Leftovers

Dinners:
~Family outing to Chick Fil A (yay for giftcards!)
~Easy Garlic Chicken (new recipe) **I made this tonight and it was really good. I used 3 TBS sucanat in place of the brown sugar. I also cooked my chicken on about 375 until it was cooked through and then turned it on broil for a few minutes to make a glaze out of the topping!, Brown Rice, Peas and Cauliflower
~Out to dinner with family before Britt starts nursing school!
~Hot Dogs (all beef, no nitrates or nitraites) , chips and guacamole for the game... Roll Tide!
~Chicken Lo Mein (new recipe)
~Roast w/ Potatoes and Carrots
~Leftovers

Snacks and sides:
Carrot sticks
Fruit (apples, bananas, clementines)
Raisins
Yogurt
PB Crackers
Annie's Bunny Grahams (thanks to Mimi)
Pop Corn

I'll let you know next week how I've done on my budget. I'm a little over but I'm hoping that evens out this coming week since we went out to dinner unexpectedly this weekend and had to move a meal! FYI, my menu goes Friday-Thursday since that's how the Hubs paycheck falls.

Check out OrgJunkie for more menu planning ideas!

Happy 2012!

2012-01-02T21:31:00.000-06:00

It's been a while! I really have missed blogging! But I've been praying and seeking God. I truly want my place here in the blog world to honor Him, so I took a break. I'm not sure I'm ready to be back at it at full speed but there will be posts here and there. I just wanted to take a moment to wish you all a Happy New Year! I don't really do resolutions because I feel like they are made to be broken! I do think that the mark of a new year is a great time to look back at things in the past and learn from them. Here are some things (and there are many more) I plan on praying over for the new year. Be patient with me, I'm a work in progress! ;)

My tone towards my children~ I find myself speaking harshly to them more often than I'd like. I want my words to be gracious and loving (even in discipline and training).

Being more mindful of my time~ Oh me, I am queen of time wasting! So this is a biggy!

Sticking to our food budget better while still eating real food~ Plain and simple.

Eating well and exercising~ I feel so much better mentally and physically when I'm exercising and eating well. I can serve my family better when I'm healthy!

Simplify life- I want my home to be a place of simplicity, not chaos. Of course, I do have two boys!! But I want to focus on keeping our home more simplified. Less stuff, better organization.

Being filled with the Spirit~ I want to live the glorious in the seemingly mundane. May my sink be my sanctuary. I can meet Him in all places!

And lastly I'll leave you with the beautiful words of Ann Voskamp,

‎"Contentment isn’t a state of organization, a weight on the scale, a state of better: better kids, better marriage, better health, better house. Contentment is never a matter of circumstances; contentment is always a state of communion — a daily embracing of God."

Homemade Rinse Aid

2011-11-10T10:57:00.001-06:00

I know you're impressed by my fancy schmancy picture! A while back I was blog hopping and found this tip for rinse aid (I can't remember where I read it, but it's not my idea!). I've never been one to really use a rinse aid in my dishwasher, mainly because I saw it as an unnecessary expense, until I saw that you can use straight vinegar. I use vinegar for my everyday cleaning, it's inexpensive and not harmful! When you pour straight vinegar into the rinse aid compartment, it's difficult to see when it's gone. So, I read to add a few drops of food coloring to it to tint the vinegar. Now you can have an expensive rinse aid that will help clean your dishes well and you can tell when you need to refill! It works for me!

Linking up with WFMW and

Menu Plan Monday 11/7/11

2011-11-07T13:12:00.000-06:00

Are you ready for a new week? I sure am! And looky at the top ^, I figured out how to add pages! I'm still working on adding my recipes but hopefully in a few days you'll be able to find all of my recipes easier. I have a few more helpful pages in the works too! I mentioned last week that I've been feeling sluggish and just plain yucky. I think I'm in need of doing something about it! So, click over here and see what it is!

Creamy Chicken and Rice Casserole, Green Peas

Pancakes, Bacon, Baked Apples

Chili and Corn Bread

Italian Roast Wraps (I haven't looked but I'm praying there's a roast in the freezer!), Easy Garlic Broccoli, Honey Roasted Carrots

Beef and Noodles, Green Beans, Corn

The Spinach Chicken Pasta was great! Luke didn't touch it and Eli picked the noodles and pasta out! And that's about what I expected. I loved it and it was great the next day too! You might want to also check out my recipe for Sausage Balls that uses whole wheat flour!

Check out OrgJunkie for more menu planning and recipe ideas!

Sausage Balls (no Bisquick!)

2011-11-04T12:48:00.001-05:00

Over the next few weeks I'm going to be experimenting with some of our favorite holiday foods by making them healthier. And by healthy, I don't mean low fat or low calorie. I mean I'm going to be making these foods with real food ingredients. For the game Saturday night, my hubby asked for sausage balls. The last time I made sausage balls was a while ago and it was made using Bisquick, which is premade with white flour and partially hydrogenated oils. So, I found a recipe online to try! They turned out great! Not only are these great party food but they are great for quick breakfasts! And though I haven't tried it, I'm sure they freeze well! I'll let you know because I'm freezing some of these!

Sausage Balls

3 cups whole wheat flour (I use King Arthur's White Wheat Flour, which I can only find at Winn Dixie)

1 1/2 TBS baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

1 lb sausage*

8 oz cheddar cheese, grated (we like sharp cheddar)

water

Combine dry ingredients and mix well. Add cheddar and sausage and mix well with hands, it will be dry (and messy). At the end of mixing add in a few tablespoons of water to form a dough (you still want it to be fairly dry, not wet, just enough to form a ball). Form into 1 inch balls and bake at 375 for 20 minutes.

*I used local pork sausage but you could also use turkey sausage. Click here for a great recipe that I've used many times. If you choose to use turkey sausage, I would add some fat to the recipe. One website I found said to cut in 4 TBS of butter into the dry ingredients before you add the turkey sausage and cheese. Don't forget, butter is good for you! I used child mild sausage and it was VERY mild. I would prefer something with a little more spice. So next time, if I have to get child mild (it was all they had), I'll add some other spices.

What is one of your favorite holiday snacks?

Menu Plan Monday 10/31/11

2011-10-30T22:01:00.005-05:00

Our meals are in need of an overhaul! We have not been eating very well here lately. We have been so busy so I've just been sloppy! It's got to stop! So, it's time for me to be more mindful about what I am putting on the table (and in my mouth)! I've been feeling really sluggish and I know it's partly because of poor food choices! Here is our healthy menu for the week:

Veggie Soup and Corn Bread (at my mom's)

Stir Fried Rice w/ Chicken and Veggies

Spinach Chicken Pasta

Tuna Sandwiches and Spinach Salad

Meatloaf, Sweet Potatoes, Green Beans

I'm definitely upping our intake of veggies this week and planning on lots of salads for lunch! It is amazing how much diet effects us! I'm also going to be making some whole wheat quick breads... I just haven't decided what kind. I'm seriously thinking of a sugar detox... I'm just not brave enough to do it alone. Anyone want to join me?

Check out Orgjunkie for more menu planning and recipe ideas!

Fill my cup to the top...

2011-10-26T12:50:00.010-05:00

We're taking a little break between school and the boys are suppose to be cleaning their rooms! I just wanted to take a second to share what has been on my heart the past few days. This past Sunday our pastor, who's been preaching through Ephesians, taught on being filled with the Holy Spirit. It was a fantastic sermon (I'll include the link below) and really hit home for me. For some time I've had the Holy Spirit on my heart and mind. I've done some studying on the fruits of the Spirit and just the Holy Spirit in general. I daily battle my flesh. There are sins that I fight so often I wonder if I will ever find victory over them this side of heaven. I know we will always fight sin as long as were in these fleshly bodies but I know we can have victory over sin as well! So what is the answer to this? The Holy Spirit. He is the One promised to us by Christ! He sanctifies the believer! My pastor pointed out three things that come from being Spirit filled:

1. We will have joy in our salvation.

Acts tells us, 'the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.' (13:52)

2. We can have victory over besetting sin.

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

(Galatians 5:16-17)

3. We will have boldness in the proclamation of the gospel.

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7)

I don't know about you but I want all three, all the time!! So, the question is, how can we be filled with the Spirit? Take a look at Luke 11:5-13,

And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

I don't have time to go into all the ways these verses are twisted to make God seem like Santa Clause (that's an entirely different post)! But I do have time to tell you that the answer is to the question is to ASK! So simple, huh? This is a prayer that God will faithfully answer if we are as persistent as the man in the story who was asking his neighbor for food! Our sinful flesh quenches the Spirit in us, so this is something that we have to consistently seek God for. Child of God, plead with your Father to fill you and He will! This is when God will begin to work and do amazing things in His people for His glory!

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! Luke 11:13

If you'd like to listen to the sermon (and I highly recommend it), click HERE.

Menu Plan Monday 10/24

2011-10-23T21:51:00.008-05:00

Monday... WHAT? It's already Monday!? Last week was our fall break, so hubby took off! It was full of a lot of fun things... my sister came home, my hubby and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary, we had lots of family dinners, Luke had his last 'official' soccer game, we visited the pumpkin patch, sis and I went to the Kari Jobe concert, we celebrated my 30th birthday and the Hub's grandparents 60th wedding anniversary! We were busy but it was great! Tomorrow the Hubs goes back to work and we start back school! It will be nice to get back into a routine though. Tonight I could really tell the kids were just worn out! And I am too!

So, what are we eating this week?

Bean and Cheese Quesadillas, Steamed Veggies

Chicken Pot Pie

Vegetable Soup and Corn Bread

Lasagna and Salad (dinner with family)

This week I'm only planning 4 meals because I think we may have something planned one night (kind of up in the air right now...). If not a good grilled cheese never hurt anyone! ;)

This weekend is Alabama's open week so we're having a big meal with some family and friends! I use this recipe for my lasagna. It's a little bit of work but it's really good stuff! Totally worth it for special occasions! I usually make this when I'm taking dinner to someone (add salad and bread) and it always get compliments! I love a good recipe!

I'm planning on doing some pumpkin bread this week too! Have a great week!

Check out orgjunkie.com for more menu planning ideas!

Menu Plan Monday 10/24

2011-10-23T21:51:00.005-05:00

So, what are we eating this week?

Bean and Cheese Quesadillas, Steamed Veggies

Chicken Pot Pie

Vegetable Soup and Corn Bread

Lasagna and Salad (dinner with family)

This week I'm only planning 4 meals because I think we may have something planned one night (kind of up in the air right now...). If not a good grilled cheese never hurt anyone! ;)

This weekend is Alabama's open week so we're having a big meals with some family and friends! I use this recipe. It's a little bit of work but it's really good stuff! Totally worth it for special occasions! I usually make this when I'm taking dinner to someone (add salad and bread) and it always get compliments! I love a good recipe!

I'm planning on doing some pumpkin bread this week too! Have a great week!

Check out orgjunkie.com for more menu planning ideas!

Ranch Parmesan Chicken

2011-10-14T20:06:00.008-05:00

(I didn't have time for any fancy photo because dinner was running late. Someone might have forgotten to turn the oven on. Food typically cooks better in an oven that has been turned on. Oh and something weird happened when I uploaded the pictures and this is underlined along with some other weird issues that obviously have to do with html. I don't know how to fix that kind of stuff!!)

This was a hit with the family! Well, minus Luke who doesn't like anything I cook unless it comes in the form of a baked good. I asked him several times what he didn't like about it and he couldn't give me an answer. I think he just chooses not to like it whether or not he likes it... does that make sense? I will definitely be making these again and again! I'm thinking about trying them as nuggets and I might could get Luke to eat them!

I used chicken tenderloins for this but you could also use chicken breast. Don't you love a good picture of raw chicken? Marinate chicken in dressing (have you tried making your own?) for at least 1/2 hour. I let mine go for about an hour.

Mix your breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and seasonings. I like to use my pie plate for things like this. It makes it easy to dredge! For my breadcrumbs, I used 4 slices of whole wheat bread that I toasted for about 5 minutes in the oven, then put in my little chopper thingy... you know what that is right?

Lay all of your chicken into a lightly greased 9 x 13 pan. Try not to let them touch, though that's not easy as you can see in my picture! The little bit of space between them helps them to get crispy on the bottom! Oh and don't forget to soak your hands in clorox and then scour them under hot water since you were handling raw chicken... and then clorox every surface of your kitchen! Just kidding....

Sort of.

Pop them into the oven and cook for about 25 minutes. They come out nice and crispy! So easy!

Ranch Parmesan Chicken (adapted from The Baking Beauties)

10-12 chicken tenderloins (or 4 chicken breast)

1 cup ranch dressing

1 and 1/4 cups bread crumbs

1/3 cup Parmesan Cheese

1 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp seasoning salt (I use Lowry's)

1/2 tsp pepper

Marinate chicken in ranch dressing for at least 1/2 hour. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and lightly grease a 9 x 13 in baking dish. Mix bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and seasonings together. Coat chicken in breadcrumb mixture, letting excess dressing drip off before dredging. Lay chicken down in a single layer, trying not to let the chicken touch. Bake at 400 for 25-35 minutes or until chicken is done (this will depend on whether or not you use tenders or breast).

Be encouraged!

2011-10-12T21:53:00.004-05:00

I have a love/hate relationship with facebook. I think I've mentioned this before. I could share a list of reasons why facebook gets on my nerves but today I'll share one reason why I love it. I got on fb earlier this morning and saw two people had posted this video. I'm a fan of John Piper and an even bigger fan of Matt Chandler, so I had to watch. And I just turned into a puddle of tears. A thankful, puddle of tears. It's so good to be reminded of His love, His grace, His goodness.. all of which is unmerited. So, believer, watch it and be encouraged.

Menu Plan Monday 10/3/11

2011-10-03T22:38:00.005-05:00

Better late than never, right? Here is our (rather boring) menu this wonderful fall week:

Sloppy Joes, Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes

Best Whole Chicken In A Crock Pot (I'll let you know if it is!), Peas, Whole Wheat Sweet Potato Biscuits (a recipe I'm working on!)

Toasted Ham and Cheese Sandwiches, Carrots and Ranch Dip

Spaghetti Bake, Salad

That's it! We had dinner with my mom tonight so these four dinners will last us until next week. If by chance it doesn't, I've got veggie soup in the freezer! :)

I bought a few cans of pumpkin to have on hand and I'm thinking about making these this week... Pumpkin and Cream Cheese Muffins... yum!

Check out Orgjunkie.com for more menu planning ideas!

WFMW: Gentle, Semi-Homemade Hand Soap

2011-09-28T09:31:00.003-05:00

Ok, so it's not really 'homemade' if you just add water. But it is economical and good for you!

A while back I bought Dr Bronners Baby Mild Soap at Target to use in my homemade disinfecting wipes. A friend of mine mentioned to me that she thought that the sulfates and parabens in her hand soap (and mine too!) were causing a rash on her hands. So, I set out to see what I could find on the internet about healthy hand soaps. Isn't the internet amazing!? Sometimes I hate it because it can suck up all your time but it is a wonderful wealth of resources as well!

As I was reading about the different methods and products others use I thought, "Dr. Bronners!" I first mixed some with water in a normal soap dispenser but it was watery and while I didn't mind, it did make a mess. So, I thought some more and then read somewhere about using a foaming soap dispenser for homemade soaps.

I went out and bought the cheap Wal*Mart foaming soap ($1.97) and dumped it down the drain (I know, wasteful!) I then replaced it with an ounce of Dr. Bronners (which is concentrated) and filled the rest up with water (totals 8 oz). It worked perfectly! The only downside that I have read about is that sometimes the oils in the soap will clog up the pump. I'm thinking that running hot water through the pump every once in a while may help with this!

I am soo pleased with this method. Here is the breakdown in pricing:

Dr. Bronners 32 oz @ $18 = $0.56 per bottle of soap ~ Target

If you ordered this on Amazon, the price right now is $16.49 and qualifies for free shipping (when you add $8.51 of other eligible items). I plan on doing this the next time I'm stocking up on coconut oil, maple syrup or rapadura. So, the price per bottle would be slightly less.

So, why is this so much better for you?

1. It doesn't contain parabens and sodium lauryl sulfates (click the links to read some of the concerns of these ingredients) .

2. It is NOT antibacterial.

"Numerous studies show that antibacterial soap is no more effective than ordinary soap in cleaning your hands. Either kind lifts off germ-laden dirt. But antibacterial soap kills helpful bacteria on the skin, freeing up valuable real estate so that harmful bacteria can move in later. " Read the full article here.

Check out this post about the evils of Triclosan which is in numerous antibacterial soaps.

3. This is a personal result that for some reason I didn't expect! I have terribly dry hands because I wash them often during the day! I can hardly believe how in just a few days of switching to this soap how good my hands look! I even made the Hubs feel them a few nights ago to see the difference! No more rough, cracking skin! It's smooth and soft!

So, if you're looking for a healthy, inexpensive hand soap... give this a try! It works for me!

Just a little side note: I know that articles you read on the internet can be swayed one way or the other (though several are not blog posts but medical journals). Either way, there are gray areas in some of the information available on these subjects. But obviously there is research out that that has caused some concern, so I choose to err on the side of caution until scientific evidence is fully established.

Menu Plan Monday 9/26/11

2011-09-25T21:36:00.003-05:00

We're eating out of the pantry, fridge and freezer this week! So, I've been going over what we have to come up with our meal plan! Here it is!

Chicken and Dumplin's, Peas (I've got several kind in the freezer), Corn Bread

Beef Soft Tacos, Corn

Cabbage and Navy Bean Soup, Leftover Corn Bread

Crockpot BBQ Chicken, Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes, Cheddar and Herb Biscuits (made with ww flour)

Chili & Fixins

I'm going to be doing a little baking too: Pumpkin Bread & Loaded Oatmeal Cookies (though now I make them with all whole wheat flour and only sucanat in place of the sugar)!

Check out OrgJunkie for more menu planning ideas!

Recipe Review: Tomato Bacon Egg Strata

2011-09-23T15:21:00.009-05:00

On days when my hubby is off I love to make hot, healthy breakfast for us! Egg based casseroles are one of our favorite and I tried a new one today from The Hour That Matters Most by Les and Leslie Parrott. (You can read my review on the book here)

I love trying new recipes and this was no exception! Of course I did change the recipe up a bit by substituting some of what we had on hand (and used more real foods). That is what is so great about this recipe, you can interchange some basics and have a whole new taste! So here is the recipe with my substitutions in parenthesis.

Tomato Bacon Egg Strata

4 cups cubed sourdough bread with crust

1/2 cup minced sun-dried tomatoes

1 cup diced tomatoes

1 tsp dried basil

2 Tbsp dried parsley

1 tsp chopped garlic (used 1 clove)

1 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/2 cup cooked bacon crumbles (used local sausage)

2 cups shredded Swiss or mozzarella cheese (mozzarella)

1 cup nonfat liquid egg product (4 large eggs)

2 cups non fat milk (2% milk)

Spray (I buttered) a 9x13 baking dish with non stick cooking spray. Layer first 10 ingredients in the order given. Pour egg and milk over the top and cover (I beat my eggs and mixed them with my milk and then poured). Refrigerate over night or freeze to use later.

If you've frozen the dish, thaw completely. Preheat oven to 350. Bake covered for 35 minutes; then remove cover and bake another 30-45 minutes until golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

*As you see I used sausage but it would be great with bacon or even ham as well. I also used real eggs and did not use skim milk.

This recipe would work well with a variety of vegetables. I think adding sauteed onions would be great! And to get in some green veggies a couple of handfuls of spinach would work well!

The flavor was great! My only downside was the egg/milk mixture. I feel like I needed more eggs, less milk. I like a more egg-y, dense base. The ratio of milk/egg in the recipe leaves the casserole more custard-y and I'm not a big fan of that texture. I think I would rather have maybe 6-8 eggs and 1 cup milk. I will definitely try that next time! It really is just a personal preference! All in all it's a great recipe to have and is great for weekend family meals! I will let you know if I try any other recipes from the book!

Book Review: The Hour That Matters Most

2011-09-21T21:08:00.005-05:00

I was recently given the opportunity to review the book, The Hour That Matters Most by Les and Leslie Parrott with Stephanie Allen and Tina Kuna.

The premise of the book is why the family meal is important and how to get the most out of that golden hour. We eat dinner as a family most every night. Of course, my boys are 5 and 3 so aside from soccer one night a week, our weeknights are free. Luke is homeschooled so all of our school work is finished early in the day, so no homework (Yes, lots of kindergartners I know have homework!), ect. Americans are too busy and the average Christian family is no exception. We spend too much time on extracurriculars, sports, practices, clubs thus neglecting family time. We are pulled in a million different directions and rarely spend any time as a whole family unit. And while these are huge soap boxes of mine, I understand that this book is not out to solve that problem. (Though I will admit that is all I could think about while reading the beginning of the book!)

So, what does the book actually attempt? To help you realize how important the family meal is and how to make the most of it. And I think it does a good job at this.

The book gives great statistics at the differences between families who have regular family meals and those who don't. Some of them really are surprising.

My favorite part of the book though would have to be the tips on conversation with your children. Drs Les and Leslie Parrot, practicing psychologists and family and marriage counselors, give numerous examples and ideas on how to engage with and relate to your children in conversation, as well as how to avoid unnecessary conflict! There is also a chapter on manners that I especially appreciated as sometimes I think that is a lost art! I know that these tips will definitely be useful in coming years as my children get older. For me, these tips will surpass the family table and will be helpful in all areas for my family.

I think this book would be a great read for anyone who is wanting to regain that time together at the family table. For those of us who already have regular meal times together, The Hour That Matters Most gives great advice on how to make the most of that time together.

At the end of each chapter there is a recipe and tomorrow night I'm trying out one! All of the recipes are simple to make and most of them are pretty healthy, although I'd have to make a few substitutions for a few of the ingredients! Check back for the review on Friday!

**I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange of my honest review.**

Menu Plan Monday 8/19/11

2011-09-18T21:53:00.004-05:00

Busy week means a late and rushed menu! Oh well! I hope you have a great week!

Beef Curry (I've never had curry.. but we're going to try it this week!), Sweet Potato Biscuits

Tomato Bacon and Egg Strata (recipe from the book I'm reviewing), Fruit

Cheesy Baked Stuffed Chicken Breasts, Easy Garlic Broccoli, Brown Rice (didn't get to this last week)

Beef Stew, Leftover Biscuits

Spaghetti, Salad

Other meals: leftovers, sandwiches, ect

I'm also planning on making some zucchini muffins! Tried anything new lately?

Check out orgjunkie.com for more menu plans and recipe ideas!

Skin Deep

2011-09-16T21:36:00.007-05:00

Pssstt... It was a CRAZY week! But God is good and I am thankful. So thankful. I mentioned a book review and it is coming... next week. I just did not get to it this week! :)

So, a friend of mine and I were talking a few weeks ago about body products and what we use. Over the past year or so I've began to be more and more cautious about what I put on my skin and what I put on my families skin. I've done more research on the subject just in the past few months and it really is amazing what companies are allowed to put into products these days. I'm thankful for the information that is available and I think it's wise to research to avoid ignorance on the subject. I've never been one to just take someones word for it (especially the governments!!). I like to know myself.

My only battle with finding good, clean, healthy skin care products is price. Sadly, just like food, the real, good stuff is typically going to cost more! The way I see it is, in life we have choices. We can ignore things and hope for the best or we can make sacrifices and do the best for our families. We (as in our personal family) can't do it all. We don't have the resources or finances to do that but we do what we can!

The numbers you see out beside each product is a rating from the Skin Deep website. They rate products according to the ingredients in them. Unsafe ingredients = higher rating. I like for my products to be 3 and under.. but that isn't always the case! I dare you to go check some of your products!! Double dog dare you! I haven't always used these products so I know what it's like to check and see a really bad rating!!

Some of these things I buy at WalMart/Target but most of them I get online. I keep up with them on Amazon and watch for deals.

So here is a list of the current healthier skin care products we use:

The Boys:

~Normally I use, Burt's Bee's Baby Bee Body Wash and Shampoo (1)....

~Although, I've been using Dr Bronner's Baby Mild Castile Soap (1), because a certain little boy emptied almost a WHOLE bottle of Burt's Bees in the tub (yes, I almost cried). Dr. Bronner's seems expensive but it is highly concentrated so a tiny amount goes a long way. I use it in my homemade disinfecting wipes for extra cleansing power but it's perfect and gentle for a body wash. I'm also thinking about using it as a hand soap, diluted of course. I'm learning that this soap can be used for TONS of stuff. Homemade dishwashing detergent even... hmm!

Me:

*Before I go into my products let me explain my skin. I have oily skin and lovely adult acne. It's plagued me since my early 20s and it's so annoying. I'm continuously on the search for the product that will cure it all, but I haven't found it yet. I had hoped that changing to more natural products would have helped but alas, it hasn't. So, my next thoughts are that it's hormones or dietary. Who knows? Here's what I'm using currently but some is subject to change!

~Kiss My Face Whenever Shampoo & Conditioner (I actually just bought this for the first time and like it. I got it on clearance at WalMart. Prior to this I had been using Suave and may go back to that if I can't find good deals. Shampoo/Conditioner is one of those areas where I have to be forgiving because of budget!).

~Dessert Essence Thoroughly Clean Face Wash (1): I use this as a body wash & face wash in the shower. I buy the refill bottles and it's a GREAT buy! This is another product where a tiny bit goes a long way. I actually read in the reviews where someone uses a small bottle to refill and uses a 50/50 solution of wash and water. I might have to try that!

~Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Facial Cleanser: I use this to take my make up off at night, right now. But I'm not impressed with it. I will probably go back to using the Dessert Essence face wash, day and night, when it's gone.

~Face Naturals Deoderant (0).... GEEZ. I just checked the prices and they've gone up! They work, smell good and don't feel goopy. But they are expensive. I ordered two sample sizes and they lasted me all summer. Can I be honest? I don't wear deodorant that often. I don't smell (at least I don't think I do?! Please someone tell me if I do!) and so I don't feel it's necessary unless I'm going to be somewhere where I'm going to sweat a lot. So, that's why the samples lasted all summer. And that's why I spent a little extra on them! :)

~Nutiva Coconut Oil: This is what I use on myself pretty much every day. A tiny bit will do you! It can be greasy if you use too much, so there is an art to it. It works AMAZING on feet, slather it on before bed with socks and you'll have super smooth feet! It's also what I used on the boys when they got sunburned this summer (only once!). I also use it on them in the winter for dry skin. It smells like coconut going on but the smell goes away. And FYI, I buy one jar for cooking and one for body use. ;)

~Say Yes to Carrots, Daily Facial Moisturizer: This is what I wear under my make up. It does a good job keeping me moisturized without being really oily.

~Yes To Cucumbers Soothing Eye Gel (1): I really love this! No, my eyes don't look much different after using it but I just like it. I've used it all over my face before if I'm out of moisturizer!

~Alba Botanical Very Emollient Body Lotion (3): I use this on my hands during the day. It's easier to use than the coconut oil, which I usually just use after the shower. I only buy it when I have the money. It's one of those extra things but I use it sparingly so when I can buy it, it lasts a while. The skin on my hands are extremely dry!! I'm a hand washer... and a dish washer and a kid washer and a toilet washer... well you get the picture. My hands need lots of help!

The Hubs:

*note the Hubs could care less what he uses. But I love him. So I do my best to budget in safe stuff for his skin too. He uses regular ol' deodorant and shampoo at the moment. He tried the 'fancy' deodorant and didn't like it. And if he ever needs lotion for dry skin he uses mine. :)

~Burt's Bees Men's Bar Soap (1) I get this most often!

Sunscreen for us all:

Tropical Sands All Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 (2)

So, what products do you use? Do you have any good quality, good priced all natural, healthy skin care products you'd like to share about? Have any homemade products that work for you? I want to know!

Banana Peanut Butter Oatmeal Muffins

2011-09-15T12:48:00.000-05:00

Ok, you get it... we like muffins. I like making lots of different kinds because I get tired of the same ol' thing! The boys really liked this one!

I found this recipe and adapted it to make it a little healthier. This muffin was really yummy and very filling! Perfect breakfast or snack!

Banana Peanut Butter Oatmeal Muffins

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup quick cooking oatmeal (I used 2 pkgs of instant oatmeal with flax seeds)

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 TBS melted butter

3/4 cup sugar (I used sucanat)

2 eggs

2 medium size bananas, mashed

1 cup buttermilk

6 TBS creamy peanut butter

Preheat oven to 375. Lightly grease 12 cup muffin tin (I made mini's). In a large bowl mix all dry ingredients together. In medium size bowl mix the wet ingredients well. Pour wet ingredients into dry and mix until no flour streaks remain.

Divide batter evenly into muffin tin, filling almost to the top. Bake 16-20 minutes until toothpick stuck in center comes out clean.
Cool a few minutes before moving to wire cooking rack.

Menu Plan Monday 9/12/11

2011-09-11T19:43:00.005-05:00

Last week was a busy week! No blogging time! Hopefully this week will be a little more relaxed. And I'm hoping to have a few posts up this week (including a book review!). Here is what we're eating this week:

Chicken Fried Steak Strips, Green Beans, Sauteed Squash & Onions

Cabbage Tomato Soup, Divine Breadsticks

Cheesy Basil Stuffed Chicken Breast (new recipe that sounds so yummy!), Easy Garlic Broccoli, Brown Rice

Homemade Pizza

Hot Ham and Swiss Sandwiches, Veggies and Ranch Dip

Last week I came up with a new muffin recipe (you're shocked, I know). They were really yummy. Hopefully I can share it this week, too. The ingredients included: bananas, peanut butter and chocolate chips!

I found a super good sale on Bob's Red Mill Organic Pancake Mix and picked up a package. I'm planning on trying the mix this week so we'll have pancakes & fruit for breakfast a few days. I love my favorite from scratch recipe but it will be nice for breakfast to have a mix. Other days will be cereal. :)

Lunch is totally boring around here... PB&J's or leftovers. :)

Homemade Snacks/Treats*:

Crunchy Granola Bars (we crush them up and make granola bites, which btw is yummy on yogurt or in milk as a cereal!)

And these healthier Peanut Butter Brownie Cups

*I do buy snacks as well... Kashi Fruit bars are a favorite around here... As well as Annie's snacks. I buy a few boxes when Target has them on sale to keep for quick snacks. And we usually have some kind of cracker, right now we have some Cheez Its and some Kashi Pita Crackers. And of course cheese, yogurt and fruit! I'm the mean mommy who makes their kid eat fruit or yogurt when I hear "I'm HUNGRY!!".. then if they're still hungry, they get something else.

Have a great week!

Check out OrgJunkie for more menu planning ideas and recipes!

Spiced Pear Muffins

2011-08-30T14:17:00.007-05:00

We were given some yummy pears a week ago and I thought they would go great in some muffins! We love muffins! So here is the recipe I came up with! The boys weren't crazy about these (they aren't big on nuts so if I make some more I'll do half without)... but I thought they were great! Perfect for these cooler mornings we're getting!

Spiced Pear Muffins

1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup sucanat (or sugar)

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground ginger

1/8 tsp nutmeg

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 egg

1/2 cup oil (I used coconut)

1/2 tsp vanilla

1-2 cups chopped pears*

1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking soda salt and spices together. In a smaller bowl mix eggs, buttermilk, oil and vanilla. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients. Fold in pears and pecans. Line muffin tin with paper baking cups. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely so that muffin doesn't stick to paper cups.

*I used 2 full cups of chopped pears and it was A LOT. They were good but you could definitely use less and they would still be good!

Happy Day!

2011-08-29T22:51:00.008-05:00

Today Eli turned three! Yes, you've heard it before but I'm going to say it... my baby is not a baby anymore. He's at the age where that baby face is turning into the face of a little boy. Oh me. Time is fleeting and may I relish every. single. moment.

Eli is such a fun little boy. He is mischievous, a sweetie, silly and a mamma's boy all rolled into one. He keeps us on our toes and keeps us laughing!

He requested a guitar cake for his birthday and he got one! He had so much fun! He loves to play his guitar and pretend to be a rock star! He's pretty good at it!

(Robby always asks me what I let them watch during the day when Eli plays his guitar. He's a little wild!)

He enjoys playing with his big brother! And they really play so well together. He is much better at sharing and 'letting things go' than his brother. Eli does like his alone time (don't we all!?) though and sometimes just wants to play by himself. We know he needs some time alone when he starts telling us "Luke is touching me!!!"But for the most part they love being with each other.. building towers for batman, playing police man and 'bad guy', pretending to go to school.. or the museum.. or to work!

Some of Eli's recent funnies:

~ Stripping down naked after we put him to bed and running out in the hall way grinning (or falling asleep with his brother!).

~ Spinning on the Sit -N- Spin while yelling, "My getting BIZZZZYYY!!"

~ Drawing all over the walls and being very proud of it!

~ Asking, "Did you hear that toot?"

~ Drawing mustaches on his face

~ Telling me to 'pretend' in situations where he doesn't want to do what I ask. For instance, Me: "Eli, go put on your shoes." ... Eli: "Just pretend they on!!"

Some of Eli's favorites:

~ Cheese!! He eats cheese every morning!

~ Hot Dogs on the "gill"

~ Being rocked to sleep by mommy (yes, he still wants to be rocked!)

~ Playing with his little trucks in my flower pots

~ Jumping off the end table to the couch! (no we don't allow it... but there is no telling how many times he's done it!)

~ Making messes

~ Helping mommy cook

~ Washing the car with Daddy

~ Playing with the "map" (iPad)

~ Cookies from Wright's Dairy

(result of a cookie from Wright's Dairy)

What a blessing and a joy Eli is to our family! And tonight I end this day praising God for my little guy....

"Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost."

Menu Plan Monday 8/29/11

2011-08-29T22:13:00.006-05:00

Happy Birthday to Eli!! (that post is coming soon... hopefully today on his actaual birthday.. but it IS 10:15 pm...)

Yes, I'm late with my menu. It's been a crazy weekend with the birthday party and all. I am so behind on EVERYTHING. Oh, when will I catch up. It really is depressing. So, let's not think about all that I have to do. Let's think about what we're going to eat this week!

Here are our simple suppers!

Hot Dogs, Tater Tots and Fruit (you know me.. this is not a typical dinner but it was Eli's choice tonight!)

Sloppy Joes, Easy Potatoes and Onions with Dill, Sauteed Squash (I've got some pretty and 'different' squash from my csa box that I'm excited to use! Round zucchini and a type yellow squash called zephyr that is two toned)

Easy Chicken Noodle Stir Fry (using this recipe to go by)

Sour Cream Waffles, Scrambled Eggs, Fruit (didn't get to this meal last week)

Nachos (made with beef instead of chicken)

Other nights: Leftovers/Sandwiches

Check out Orgjunkie.com for more menu ideas!

Menu Plan Monday 8/22/11

2011-08-21T16:00:00.002-05:00

**Edited to remove one of the meals since we're celebrating a certain little boy's 3rd birthday this weekend! My mom and I are getting together tonight to plan the menu. Probably sandwiches and finger foods!

Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Carrots and Ranch Dip (the only meal we didn't get to last week, boiling the chicken today... which means homemade broth!)

Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans

Baked Penne with Spinach and Sausage, Salad

Sour Cream Waffles, Scrambled Eggs, Fruit

Others- sandwiches/leftovers... and sometimes the boys and I eat with my parents when the Hubs has school! :)

I'm also going to make a batch of crunchy chocolate chip granola bars (except we make them into bites for snacking)! We're out of muffins too and according to my children that is just not acceptable. I'm really, really ready for fall so I think I might make pumpkin muffins! :)

Have a great week!

P.S. I have a book review coming soon! I'm really excited about it and I can't wait to share more! It's all about food and family! Two of my favorite things! :)

Check out Orgjunkie for more menu plans and recipes!

Who am I?

2011-08-19T20:00:00.001-05:00

I'm not perfect.

I am messy, especially when I cook.

I get frustrated with my children far too often than I'd like to think.

When I take pictures for my blog, I move the mess out of the way.

I fight my flesh everyday. Every. Second.

I fumble over my words in conversation.

I'm totally weird.

There are dirty dishes in my sink.

Sometimes my menu says chicken tacos. Sometimes that turns into rotisserie chicken from the grocery store pared with cheese rolled in a tortilla.

I battle fear almost every day.

But He loves me. And He chose me. And I am clothed in His righteousness. And I am His.

Let us not forget who we are... and who He is.

Taco Soup

2011-08-16T07:00:00.005-05:00

This recipe comes from a combination of several recipes I've looked at over the past few years. I really have a thing for soups. Sadly, my family doesn't like them much. The Hubs tolerates them but I think he'd rather eat something else. Anyway, when the fall hits, I'll be making a lot of soup (even if I'm the only one to eat it!) and taco soup is one of my favorites. Most recipes call for ranch dressing packets and taco seasoning packets and I don't use those because of the MSG and outrageous sodium content. Not to mention mixing up your own ranch mix and taco mix is healthier, super easy and frugal! So, here is the crazy, simple recipe that I love to use!

Taco Soup, serves 6-8

1 lb ground beef or turkey

1 large onion, chopped

16 oz can diced tomatoes, (can use rotel or Mexican style)

16 oz can black beans, drained

16 oz can red beans, drained

16 oz can kidney beans, drained

16 oz jar picante sauce

2 cups frozen corn

2-3 TBS taco seasoning mix

water

In skillet brown hamburger meat and cook onions. Drain meat. Combine all ingredients except corn and bring to a boil. I rinse the picante sauce jar out with water and add it to the soup. That would be about 2 cups of water added. After the soup comes to a boil add frozen corn and bring back to a boil. Stir and reduce heat to a simmer and let simmer for about 30 minutes. You can also combine in a slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours. Serve with shredded cheese and tortilla chips.

*Add more or less taco seasoning mix to taste. You can also adjust the heat depending on what type of picante sauce you use. You could also use drained, canned corn in place of the frozen. I'm trying to get away from canned goods and corn is one of the easier things to find frozen. Maybe this winter I'll try to cook more beans and keep them in the freezer for soups! Anyway, this is a very versitile recipe that you can change to suit your tastes.

Can I also encourage you once more to make your own taco seasoning mix!? And as you can see you don't even have to buy an extra jar, just wash out an old pickle jar! Please try it!!! It's so easy and healthy!

Menu Plan Monday 8/15/11

2011-08-14T17:06:00.003-05:00

Doesn't this look yummy?

This is the breakfast that I have after we have Easy Potatoes and Onions with Dill the night before. It's so good the next day with scrambled eggs! Sometimes I scramble my eggs with the potatoes but today I did them separate. So good!

We've got a busy week so I've got a few easy meals! I am trying a few new recipes this week too! Fun!

Hot Dogs (these nitrate and nitrite free ones) on the 'gill' as Eli says, Green Beans, Potatoes & Onions with Dill

Grilled Pineapple Chicken w/ Pineapple Salsa, Green Peas and Corn

Taco Salads, Cheesy Rice

Chicken Salad, Carrots and Ranch Dip

French Dip Sandwiches (Crock Pot), Creamy Pasta Salad with Celery

Others: Leftovers/Sandwiches

Check out orgjunkie for hundreds of menu plans and recipes! Later this week I'm sharing my recipe for Taco Soup!

Who's ready for fall!!?? ME!! Fall is my favorite... Alabama football, cooler weather, chili and soup, our 7th anniversary and I turn the big 3-0!

Have a great week!

Our days...

2011-08-10T21:30:00.006-05:00

Today we completed day three of our 'official' homeschool journey! How is it going? Pretty good! Honestly, it's not much different than normal around here. We did take a break for about 2 months for summer but other than that we're just a tad bit more 'scheduled' and we have 'official' books. You know, I don't even like that word.. schedule. I like the word 'rhythm' better. So, we have a better rhythm going. Here's what our day looks like (times are not exact... just a guideline!):

6:30-7 ~ Mommy up (I am not a morning person)

7am ~ Mommy exercise (Trying to do this daily!!!)

7:30am ~ Boys up (typically, I don't wake them up), I start breakfast.

8am ~ Breakfast and tv. Yes, my kids watch TV while eating breakfast! We have Netflix on demand so they watch a 30 minute episode of something while they eat off of the laptop at the table. This gives me time to eat my own breakfast, pray and read my Bible.

8:30am ~ Boys get dressed, chores (feed cat, brush teeth, make beds) and I shower and get dressed.

9am (ish) ~ School day begins! I'm using Little Hearts for His Glory so I just follow along in their program. We do calendar time first and then our Bible lesson then we start the rest... history, science, math, phonics, fine motor skills, handwriting and anything else we want! We don't go straight through, though. For instance, today we took a break to dance! I pulled up some Choo Choo Soul videos on Youtube and let the boys go to town. They love to break dance! It's hilarious! While they danced I unloaded the dishwasher!

I snapped this while they were dancing!

Then we moved on! We also take a break for snack and to play a few games. We do crafts, lots of activities and read!

Craft we did after reading that Jesus is the center of history!

11-11:30am ~ We're technically done.. but learning is never over and parenting is teaching, right? :)

So, then we do whatever.. For example... today we went outside for about an hour. We came in for lunch (the boys help clean off the table after lunch) and then afternoon chores, which today was a group effort to clean up the toy room! It was a mess! After that, we all raced Hot Wheels down the hallway. Luke ended up winning the most out of our races! I left them to continue racing and working on the crashed cars to load the dishwasher back up. While the boys continued to play, I washed a few pots and pans and vacuumed all the rooms in the house. I checked email, fed the kids a snack, then freshened up (which means I put my make up on) and did a little bit of straightening (which means grabbing a few things here and there and returning it to where it belongs) before the Hubs got home.

After the Hubs got home, the boys watched one of their favorite shows, Wild Kratts on PBS and I folded some laundry before getting dinner started. We had dinner and then the kids started going crazy... seriously! Are my kids the only one who gets a burst of energy right after dinner? As I was attempting to clean the kitchen they just went wild... Running up and down the halls, in and out of rooms... screaming... boys! ;) So finally, I put the kitchen aside and said, "Let's go outside!!" So we spent 30 minutes outside where they literally ran in circles for the first 5! We played, we drew with chalk, Eli skinned his knees and I got eaten up by mosquitoes! :)

Once I started wanting to rub my legs with sand paper, I got the boys in and ready for bath. Side note: mosquitoes REALLY like me. The boys didn't get ONE bite. I got NINE. So they played in the bath, got jammies on and had some yogurt! Brushed teeth, read a devotional, said prayers, lights out.

That's what a typical day will look like... for the most part. We'll have other activities, field trips, play dates, library days, museum days, ect.

What do I do after they get in bed? Well, you don't really care what I do, do you? Just in case you wanna know... I finished cleaning the kitchen, washed my face, got a glass of chocolate milk and sat down to write this. Typically, I finish up any chores (the main ones like dirty dishes, the rest.. well, I say they will be there tomorrow!) and then spend time with the Hubs! :)

Tonight I'm praying this verse over our days...

"Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me." Psalm 119:133

Menu Plan Monday 8-8-11

2011-08-08T11:53:00.003-05:00

A few meals didn't go as planned last week, so there are some repeats!

Favorite Pancakes, Eggs, Fruit

Chicken Soft Tacos, Cheesy Peas and Rice

Mini Meat Loafs, Black Eye Peas, Easy Potatoes and Onions with Dill

Taco Soup, Corn Bread

Homemade Pizza

Others: Leftovers, Sandwiches

Also on my cooking 'to-do' list is:

chocolate banana muffins
loaded oatmeal cookies (with some healthier modifications)

Check out OrgJunkie for more menu planning tips and recipes!

Easy Potatoes and Onions with Dill

2011-08-05T09:59:00.008-05:00

I love the combination of potatoes and onions. Nothing could be simpler or more delicious! Simple and delicious... two of my favorite words when it comes to cooking! This is a great side dish to grilled chicken, pork or beef!

Easy Potatoes and Onions with Dill

4 baking potatoes or about 8-10 red potatoes(I used red)

1 large onion, sliced

Oil (Olive oil and butter together is great!)

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 tsp dried dill

Salt and pepper

Heat oil in pan. Slice potatoes about 1/4 inch thick. Add potatoes and onion to pan and toss to coat with oil.

Cover and cook for about 10-15 minutes on medium heat, stirring occasionally. Stir in salt and pepper, dill and garlic.

Cook uncovered on medium for another 5-10 minutes, stirring every few, until potatoes are tender and starting to brown. Taste and season accordingly! Yum!

These are also great the next day for breakfast with a scrambled egg!

It's almost time! (Part 2 ~ Homeschooling)

2011-08-02T22:03:00.003-05:00

Today I'm going to share my second reason for deciding to homeschool Luke (& Eli). I shared last week Part 1, so if you missed it just click on over to read!

All reasons I have for choosing to homeschool flow from my desire to please God in raising my family. I'll say it again, right now, homeschooling just fits us.

From the very beginning of having children, every time I thought about school I just couldn't get past the fact that it starts at such a young age (age 5 or 6). I have never been able to actually see myself sending my babes off to school at the tender age of five. It honestly is a foreign concept to me! Five years old just seems too little. And now that I have a five year old, that fact is even greater! Luke is still such a little boy.

I read this quote that resonated with me,

"Parenthood is no longer lasting as long as childhood. We need to hold on to our children and help them hold on to us. We need to hold on to them until our work is done. We need to hold on, not to hold them back but so they can venture forth." Dr. Gordon Neufeld (Developmental Psychologist)

"Our children need parents to be intimately involved, moment-by-moment, not till they are only four years old and leave home for school and possible peer dependency, but they need us to be parents until they are fourteen years and older..." Ann Voskamp (expounding on the quote above)

When I read these quotes it further confirmed what my heart was telling me. Stay home. Be with your children. Be all there (I'm continually learning how to be all here.. even while I am here). And for us that means to homeschool.

I want to live and learn with my children. I want to teach them. I want Christ woven into their studies, their projects, their meals, their chores, their relationships. I want the Hubs and I to be the most influential people in our children's lives.

Remember, "Homeschooling is not a formula for perfection... "

My job as a mother though, is to train and teach the children I've been given... point them to Him, show them He is everything and in all things. And as we've sought Him, we feel homeschooling is the best way to live that out daily.

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night." Psalms 1:1-2

Homeschool Closet!

2011-08-02T14:43:00.006-05:00

Confession: I loathe organization. Ok, I would actually love to be organized but I loathe the process! My sister got the organizational gene! It's something I really should work at! As a mom, I'd much rather our home run orderly, not chaotic! Being organized helps that! So, I was thrilled when I finally got this closet of a mess:

to this organized homeschool closet:

We don't have an extra room for homeschooling. So all of our supplies will be stored here for easy access during the day. The hanging sweater organizers were inexpensive and allow books, ect to be right at our fingertips!

Look for my second "reason's why" homeschooling post later today!

Menu Plan Monday 8/1/11

2011-08-01T13:19:00.005-05:00

I have lots of yummy things from my Dad's garden... squash, eggplant, cucumbers, tomatoes! Yum! Here is our menu for the week:

Eggplant Parmesan, Salad

Sloppy Joes, Squash, Cucumbers/Carrots with Dip

Chicken Tacos, Cheesy Rice and Peas

Homemade Pizza

Favorite Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs, Fruit

Other: Leftovers, Sandwiches

A friend gave my dad some apples so I'm also going to be making some more apple pies! This time I'm going to mash the apple filling! I think the boys will like them more!

What's on your menu?

Check out orgjunkie.com for more menu ideas and recipes!

M.O.B Society Boy Mom BlogHop!

2011-07-28T16:52:00.007-05:00

Say that five times fast!

The M.O.B (Mothers of Boys) Society is hosting the first annual Boy Mom BlogHop and I decided to participate in the fun! So if you're visiting from the BlogHop, welcome!

For those of you visiting for the first time, let me introduce myself. I'm Crystal... 29 years old, for the next 3 months at least! I live in the great state of Alabama with my hubby (known on the blog as "The Hubs"). In October we will celebrate our 7th anniversary! We have two boys, Luke (5) and Eli (will turn 3 in August). I've been a stay at home mom since Luke was born! I love to cook and bake! I blog mostly about cooking, life happenings, homeschooling and my relationship with Christ. I will be a newbie homeschooler in just a little over a week! We did a lot of preK last year but this will be our first official year homeschooling! I am a little nervous but mostly excited!

A little about my boys...

Luke is my thinker. He loves building things and figuring out how things work! He's super smart and has a tender heart! He loves to ride his bike and play ball with his Daddy! He also likes to dance and sing!

Eli is my wild child! He is spunky and silly! He's also very much a Momma's boy (and I'm completely fine with that!). He loves his big brother! He has a fascination with weed eaters and lawn mowers! And he loves to play the guitar! Together they put on a pretty good show!

My boys love to read books. We try to get to the library as often as we can to read new books! Luke loves: "Gruffalo", "Duck Soup" and his Clifford books. Eli still loves to look at picture books. He also loves "Llama, Llama Red Pajama" and Blue's Clues books! We're also reading through The Jesus Storybook Bible during the day and God's Wisdom for Little Boys before bed!

Well, motherhood calls! Eli just came to me and excitedly said, "Come look at your new door!" He walked me into the den and said, "Tada!!" He's been washing the doors with a sponge dipped in his orange slushie. :)

Thanks so much for stopping by! I can't wait to hop around and 'meet' other boy mom bloggers! But I must first go wipe down my doors!

Sour Cream Waffles: Recipe Review

2011-07-28T10:02:00.004-05:00

As you can tell from my menu plans, we love pancakes around here! But every once in a while I like to switch things up and make waffles! I had tried a few recipes but when I found this one I knew it would be my go to recipe! I found this recipe from the same site that I found our favorite pancakes. They are so yummy! So, as long as I've got sour cream on hand (and we typically do!) I'm making these!

These waffles are rich (a stick of butter and 1/2 cup of sour cream, which by the way are good for you), so we all typically eat less of these than pancakes! I usually serve these with real maple syrup and fruit. And if we're blessed to have yummy nitrate free bacon, we'll have that as well! My boys love them cut into waffle sticks for dipping!

I hope you try Sour Cream Waffles! They are delicious and easy to whip up! Let me know if you try them!

It's almost time! (Part 1 ~ Homeschooling)

2011-07-26T13:29:00.010-05:00

It's almost time for school!! I am so excited (and a little nervous!)! We will start school in 2 weeks! Over the past few weeks I have been praying and meditating on why I want to homeschool. I've been praying that God will give me the right attitudes and the right heart. I know it's going to be fun and challenging all at the same time! So, as I thought and discussed it with the Hubs, I decided to do a series of post on homeschooling, particularly why we've chosen this route. I'm not sure how many there will be... maybe just two but maybe more. I know there may be some family and friends unsure as to why we would choose this. It may not make sense and even after I explain, it may still not make sense! And that's okay! I want to get my thoughts out there, share my heart and hopefully encourage some other homeschooling mommas!

The Hubs and I wanted a family soon after we were married. We shared the same desires, I'd stay at home with our children. I'm thankful we decided that early on (when we were engaged!). I don't remember when we first talked about homeschooling but I do know it was early as well, possibly before Luke was born. It just made sense to us. And even more so now, it just seems like the natural thing to do. Homeschooling fits our ideals, our wants and desires for our family.

Aside from it just seeming like the natural flow of our family life, our number one reason for choosing homeschooling is that we feel like God is calling us to homeschool. And isn't that the number one reason to do anything? I know God made me for motherhood. I fight it sometimes, but I know I am where He wants me to be! He's given me a great responsibility and I want to do my best to train my babes. He gave them to me, so I will teach them!

Before I move on to any of my other reasons, let me clarify something, we're not doing this because we believe if we homeschool our childre they'll be perfect and never make mistakes. A quote from Ann Voskamps says it best,

"Homeschooling is not a formula for perfection, nor is homeschooling a panacea for all the sin in this world. We're all messy and fallen and sin-scraped. We and our children are born sinners. Homeschooling will not fix any of that. Only Jesus and His grace can."

We are following the Father's leading for how to train and educate our children. We've prayed and we've researched. And prayed more. We trust that He will lead each family who seeks Him in the right path, whatever that may be.

And who wouldn't want to spend everyday with those sweet faces?

My boys are seriously cute.

"And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."
Deuteronomy 6:6-9

(I plan to end each post with some verses that I'll hold close in praying over our upcoming homeschool year!)

Menu Plan Monday 7/25/11

2011-07-25T10:51:00.005-05:00

Cheeseburger Soup, Corn Bread

Spaghetti with Yellow Squash, Garlic Broccoli

Cheesy Sausage Pizza, Cucumbers and Carrots with Ranch Dip (trying this crust)

Biscuits & Gravy, Scrambled Eggs, Cantaloupe (this biscuit recipe is one of the best whole wheat biscuit recipes I've ever tried! Since we're having it as a breakfasty meal, I'll just leave out the cheese!)

Bean and Cheese Burritos, Peas & Brown Rice

Other: Leftovers, sandwiches :)

These are our meals for the week! Soup is typically not a summertime meal but I have been craving soup, particularly potato! This soup is like a cheesy potato soup but with the addition of beef! Also, the boys will not eat bean and cheese burritoes so I will probably cook a little chicken for them and shred it! My hubby loves frozen bean burritos but I haven't bought them in a while because of all of the 'extra' ingredients. I'm hoping to try and freeze some so he will have quick snack to pull out of the freezer!

Linking to Orgjunkie.com ! Check it out for more menu and recipe ideas!

Chocolate Banana Muffin

2011-07-23T09:37:00.005-05:00

We love muffins around here! They are quick to put together and a good double batch will make us a few breakfasts and snacks! I had a few bananas that needed to be used but I really wanted something a little different than banana muffins/bread. So, I decided to use my Double Chocolate Cherry Muffin recipe and alter it a bit. Here is the yummy result!

Chocolate Banana Muffins

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup sucanat (unrefined sugar)
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup coconut oil (or melted butter)
2-3 smashed overripe bananas

Preheat oven to 375. Grease tins or line with paper liners. In a medium bowl whisk buttermilk, eggs and vanilla together. In a large bowl whisk together flour, rapadura, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt. With a spatula fold in wet ingredients and bananas until barely combined. Next mix in coconut oil. Spoon mixture into muffin tin and bake for 18-20 minutes. Toothpick in center should come out pretty clean with a few crumbs! These were super moist!

When I make this recipe, I make 12 regular muffins and 24 mini muffins! You could halve it easily and just make a dozen regular! They do freeze well so it's worth it to make the extra to me!

Menu Plan Monday 7/18/11

2011-07-18T09:05:00.005-05:00

We had some unexpected events come up this past week so some of my menu got thrown up in the air. That's how life works though, right!? I've got a decent stocked freezer and that's good because our budget is tight this week!

Salmon Patties, Green Beans, Corn on the Cobb, Whole Wheat Buttermilk Cheese Biscuits

Crock Pot Chicken and Broccoli, Brown Rice (one of the meals we didn't get to last week!)

Chicken, Potatoes and Eggplant/Squash (all on the grill and this will be my first time grilling egg plant! My daddy's is just now coming in! Yum!)

Favorite Pancakes, Bacon, Cantaloupe

Mexican Tortilla Pie

Others: Sandwiches, Leftovers, ETC

I find that when I plan and buy food for 7 meals, we never eat it all. So I usually plan 5 meals and we mostly get to them! :)

Today I'm making mini apple pies with the apples I picked from my dad's trees yesterday! Hopefully I can share the recipe!

What are you eating this week?

Check out Orgjunkie.com to find more menus and recipe ideas!

Links for you!

2011-07-15T09:00:00.000-05:00

Yes, you!! I have come across a few good links this week and wanted to pass on the goods!

Motherhood Is A Calling ... if you only read one, read this one. It is so good. I even printed it to re-read over and over! Here is an exerpt:

"Live the gospel in the things that no one sees. Sacrifice for your children in places that only they will know about. Put their value ahead of yours. Grow them up in the clean air of gospel living. Your testimony to the gospel in the little details of your life is more valuable to them than you can imagine. If you tell them the gospel, but live to yourself, they will never believe it. Give your life for theirs every day, joyfully. Lay down pettiness. Lay down fussiness. Lay down resentment about the dishes, about the laundry, about how no one knows how hard you work."

When You Get To The Root of Some of The Fears by Ann Voskamp. This spoke right to my heart. It stung because it pointed at my sin. But the grace and encouragement Ann gives was a balm to my soul ... "Humility births courage and is brother to the brave."

Laura at 10 Million Miles shares what she and her girls do for Morning Circle Time. I love her ideas and hope to implement some of them!

We had some friends over last night and I made "World's Best Lasagna". It's a recipe my mom uses all the time and it's great! It's a little work but I think it's worth it for a good homemade lasagna! The only thing is that it makes more sauce than you need! This is great for us because the boys do not eat lasagna, so I just boil them some noodles and use some of the leftover sauce for spaghetti. The rest of the sauce (which is almost 3 cups!) can go in the freezer for spaghetti or another pasta dish later down the road!

iPad, iPod, iPhone or The Great I AM is a wonderful post from Courtney on media and your walk with God. Honestly' this is something I struggle with and I am looking forward to reading the rest of Courtney's series on this. She lists four concerns of social media and each one of them gives you lots to think about.

"Media is a-moral. In and of itself – it is neither good nor evil. It is our use of it that determines it’s morality." Courtney @ Women Living Well

I hope you check these out! Let me know if any of them blessed you! Have a great weekend!

Menu Plan 7/11/11

2011-07-11T13:14:00.005-05:00

I have been slacking on menus because I felt they were all super boring, same old dinners over and over!! We have family favorites (which means the kids will actually eat them), so I cook them often! I've been searching for some quick(er) summer meals and even crock pot meals, so hopefully I'll get out of this rut! I've got two new recipes on the menu this week and hopefully I'll get to them!

Cheesy Black Bean Burgers, Potato Salad, Green Peas

BBQ Grilled Chicken, Potatoes and Squash Patties

Chicken Nachos, Corn on the Cobb (is that a weird combo or what? My kids like it though!)

Lasagna (using a recipe my mom uses and is so yummy!), Salad, Bread Sticks (friends coming over for dinner)

Crock Pot Chicken and Broccoli, Brown Rice

Other: Sandwiches, Leftovers!

Check out Orgjunkie.com for more menu ideas and recipes!

I may make a mountain out of a molehill....

2011-07-10T20:00:00.000-05:00

But I'm probably not gonna die on that mountain.

I have lots of passions... from being a stay at home mom, to homeschooling, to breastfeeding, to eating real food. I talk often about those passions here.. in my space. My prayer is that I never come across as haughty or judgmental to those who may not share the same passions. My prayer is that I'll share with others the journey that I'm on, get others to thinking and most importantly see Jesus, whether we agree or not. My passions are deep, and most are even convictions I hold but they are not Scriptural laws. I try hard to not make them laws in my own life but that's hard for this former legalist to do. I continually fight that flesh and pursue living in the freedom that Christ brings. As Luke said the other night, "I'll punch that sin in the face!"

But there is one passion that supersedes all others and that is Jesus Christ and my faith in Him. He is everything and life is nothing without Him. I will not waiver on the truth set before in Scripture. I am dependent on everything He ever said and did and is.

So, readers, please know this, I'm human flesh who loves Jesus (and one day this flesh will be no more!!). And I sometimes make mountains out of molehills. I pray that any information that I ever share is useful in some way. I pray that ultimately my life (and there is much more to my life than what you read on this screen!) will encourage and make much of Jesus.

Summer Pasta Salad

2011-07-07T18:48:00.008-05:00

I made this pasta salad for the Fourth. I'm Not sure about everyone else but I loved it! I came up with dressing on my own in attempt to avoid unhealthy oils (soybean, vegetable, canola) that are in most pre made salad dressings. It would be a great addition to any summer cookout!

Pasta Salad

2 cups spiral pasta, uncooked
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cucumber, diced
1/2 cup red onion, chopped
2.5 oz can sliced black olives
1 cup feta cheese

Dressing

6 TBS olive oil
4 TBS red wine vinegar
2 TBS lemon juice
1 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp dried parsley
1 sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Boil pasta. While pasta is cooking, mix dressing ingredients together with a whisk and set aside. Be sure to whisk enough to dissolve salt and sugar. When pasta is cooked, drain and rinse in cold water. Drain well. In a large bowl add pasta, vegetables, cheese and olives. Pour dressing over pasta and toss well to coat. Refrigerate at least 1-2 hours before serving.

A great addition to this salad would be marinated artichokes!

Let me know if you try it! What is your favorite summer side dish?

Check out Janelle at Comfy In The Kitchen! She shares lots of great recipes and today is link up day where others are sharing their yummy recipes too!

Why Extreme Couponing Isn't For Me

2011-07-06T09:00:00.003-05:00

If you know anything about me, you know I love to save money. I feel it's part of my job as a homemaker to save my family money in the area of groceries and toiletries. About 2 or 3 years ago I had a little fling with extreme couponing. It was exciting and fun! But over the past year, I've realized couponing, or at least the extreme variety isn't for me. Here are my main two reasons:

1. Time and Energy

I have a hard time keeping the laundry up (who am I kidding, the laundry is never caught up around here). So, adding something into my schedule that takes up a good bit of time is just going to cause me to neglect something else. I have terrible time management skills and I know me. Something important would be neglected. I would rather spend my 'extra' time cooking a batch of homemade oatmeal cookies, making a double batch homemade muffins for the freezer, mixing up solution for homemade disinfecting wipes than clipping coupons and scouring through sale papers. Not forgetting to add in gas money and time driving to different stores. And you know what, all of those things I listed help me save money too.

Now for the most important...

2. Health

I find most coupons are not for real foods. Real foods consist of anything that doesn't come with a bar code or at the very least has 5 (real and known) ingredients or less. Once I started learning about real foods... things like produce, grass fed meats, cage free eggs, cheeses, milk and fruits I quickly realized that you can rarely find a coupon for any of these things. Even organic milk from the grocery store is highly processed, so local (shout out to Wright's Dairy) is best. I started reading real food blogs and learning a lot about natural sweeteners, healthy fats, whole wheat and cooking from scratch. It just made sense couponing and real food don't mesh well. Even organic or natural processed foods are still processed.

As far as non-food items go I do occasionally use a coupon for toilet paper/paper towels if I happen to come across one. I make my own disinfecting wipes. I use a half and half vinegar/water to clean just about everything. Add in some baking soda for my toilet bowls and tubs and that is the extent of my cleaning supplies. I've been doing research on what we put on our bodies and have slowly changed a few of our hygiene products (though not all). The boys use Baby Bee's by Burt's Bees and the Hubs uses the Burt's men's bar. I use Dessert Essence Tea Tree Oil for body wash and Alba Original Fragrance Free Lotion. Coupons for these items are hard to come by. We live on a very limited budget but we are able to purchase them by scrimping in other areas! I told someone recently that I'd rather buy a shirt at WalMart on clearance for $3 and spend $20 on organic produce than the other way around.

As I stated earlier, it's my job as homemaker to help my family save money in these areas. But it's also my job to see that I'm taking care of what goes in and on their bodies! Yes, we have freedom in Christ, but we also have brains and a vast amount of great information on how to take care of what God has given us!

We're not perfect. In fact, there are Cokes in our fridge right now and a gallon of Blue Bell in the freezer. Ok, so my mom bought them both but I do still allow those types of things. And we do eat packaged cereal but only because we get them on WIC. We are a work in progress. Hopefully, I'll share more about what we've kept in our diet and what we will hopefully be changing in the future. I'm not casting judgement, friends. I'm just sharing what works for our family and the journey we're on.

When the inserts in the paper start having $ off for fresh produce and free range chicken*, I'll have my scissors ready!

(*That is only a dream of mine, I can't find free range chickens anywhere!)

Meat and Potato Pot Pie

2011-07-01T09:51:00.004-05:00

This recipe is a combination of two recipes I found online! It was SO yummy! It's definitely more of a fall/winter dish but really it's worth heating up the kitchen! I had some local grass fed beef from the dairy and potatoes, onion and carrots from my CSA box. I started to do some online recipe searching and came up with this yummy, healthy dinner:

Meat and Potato Pot Pie

(adapted from Meat & Potato Pie)

1 lb ground beef
1 onion, diced
6-7 (1.5 lbs) new potatoes, diced small
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 tsp salt
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 3/4 cup water
1 TBS soy sauce
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1. Place potatoes, carrots and onions in a large skillet with a drizzle of olive oil. Cook on med-high heat until tender. In the mean time cook ground beef and drain.

2. When the veggies are tender add in the cooked ground beef and the garlic and stir for a minute or two. Add flour and cook another 2 minutes. Pour in water, soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a boil. Cook for 5-10 minutes until sauce has thickened.

3. Pour mixture into a buttered deep dish pie plate or a 2 quart pyrex dish. Place rolled biscuit topping over the meat mixture and bake for 20-25 minutes, until biscuit is golden brown on top!

I used Whole-Wheat Buttermilk Cheese Biscuits, from 100 Days of Real Food for this recipe. I followed the recipe exactly and they came out great! Check out the 100 Days of Real Food for more ideas & recipes on how to eat real food!

Linking with:

Homemade Disinfecting Wipes

2011-06-30T14:10:00.006-05:00

I have to admit, most of my 'green' lifestyle changes do not come about from a desire to be more environmentally conscious. Most of them come from wanting to save money, not save the planet! Although here recently, I've had lots of thoughts on the very subject of being 'green'. God has given us this beautiful earth to take care of. His creation is immaculate and breathtaking. So, I am all for taking care of the beauty God has given!

One of the 'convenience' cleaning items that I haven't been able to get rid of has been disinfecting wipes). How great is it to just be able to grab the container and wipe down your toilets and sinks!? I use vinegar and water for most of my general cleaning but a toilet to me just needs something extra, right? So, I started doing a search on homemade disinfecting wipes and found this blog post. I decided to make up some of my own! It {almost} worked great! I cleaned my toilets, sinks and counters with my homemade wipes yesterday. I think my only problem was that it left water spots on everything. I think I may have had them too wet. I'm going to try to use them next time by squeezing the excess solition out and see how that works.

Here is what you need:

Squares of cloth - I used one of the Hubs's t-shirts & got about 16 large wipes
water
castile soap
Tea Tree Oil*
white vinegar
some kind of container

To mix mine up, I used a cup of water. I added about a tsp castile soap, 1/8 tsp tea tree oil and 1/4 cup vinegar. I think this was a pretty good amount, though I might go easier on the soap and tea tree oil (literally just 3-4 drops) and add a 1/2 cup of vinegar. I think that might help with the spots too. I'll try to update on my next batch. It took me a whole maybe 5 minutes and that includes cutting up the t-shirt!

This is a much safer and more frugal way to disinfect!

Castile soap can be pricey, but it is highly concentrated. A little goes a long way! I can see my 32 oz bottle lasting a long time. I got the 'Unscented Baby-Mild Dr Bronner's" castile soap at Target but I have heard that you can get it cheaper on Amazon, so my next bottle will be bought with my other Amazon items! I've seen a lot of different things you can use castile soap for online so I'm excited to see what else I can use it for!

* Care should be taken when handling and storing tea tree oil, as with other cleaners. It can be toxic at full strength! It's safe when diluted and has great antibacterial and antiviral properties!

(This picture annoys me... because you can tell the lid isn't closed all the way. As you can also tell, I didn't fold them up fancy. I just dumped them in. Works for me!)

On my list next is homemade swiffer pads made from burp cloths! :)

Tasty Brussel Sprouts: Recipe Review

2011-06-22T22:26:00.006-05:00

My Daddy decided to grow Brussel sprouts for the first time this year! I think they are the cutest little vegetable! Brussel sprouts are one of 'those' veggies. You either love them or hate them! I happen to love them! And in my house, I'm the only one who loves them! I tried a recipe from Kitchen Stewardship from a post entitled "Tasty Brussel Sprouts People will Actually Enjoy Eating". Well... I guess that goes for everyone except those who live in my house! I got Eli and Luke to both lick one... yes, they licked a brussel sprout. The Hubs chewed them up and spit them out (thankfully, not in front of the children). His words were, "I'm sorry, I just can't do it!" At least he tried!

So, if you like brussel sprouts, this recipe is a good one. Even if you don't but want to... try it! You might just be surprised! The caramelization is key and gives the sprouts a sweet taste. Yum! Check out Kitchen Stewardship for a lot of great info on eating real food and natural living! One of my favorite posts is on chemical free suncreen!

Menu Plan 6/13/11

2011-06-13T10:00:00.002-05:00

I *almost* got back on track with my budget this week. I spent $110. My goal is 80-100. (note- that includes paper towels, toilet paper, and diapers!). I only used one coupon too! And $25 of that is produce from local CSA organic produce (kale, lettuces, onions, radishes, blueberries). I don't have time to break it all down but I'd like to start back doing that in the future. I was doing MUCH better on our grocery budget when I did! Here is what is on our menu:

Crockpot Apricot Chicken, Brown Rice, Steamed Broccoli

Tuna Sandwiches, Salad or Carrots with Ranch Dip

Favorite Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs with Homemade Turkey Sausage, Fruit

Beef Nachos w/ Black Beans and Corn, Side Salad

Last night we FINALLY ate the Apricot Herb Glazed Salmon. It was really good but the Hubs and I both agreed that we needed extra sauce to pour over everything! So, next time (um, hoping I can find wild caught salmon on sale!) I'll make double the sauce and save half for after they are finished. The boys and I are eating dinner one night with my mom while the Hubs is at class! And I haven't figured out what we're doing for Father's Day dinner yet! I've got kale coming from the CSA so I'll probably make Kale and Onion Breakfast Casserole FD morning since the Hubs enjoyed it so much. We'll probably be grilling something out!

Have a great week!

Check out Orgjunkie for more menu ideas!

Sausage Pasta Toss

2011-06-10T09:38:00.004-05:00

Last week I tried my hand at making homemade sausage and it turned out great! From my research, pork isn't great for you (do a google search!) so we've been staying away from it if we can. Also the nitrates and nitrites are carcinogens (cancer causing)! Turkey is a great alternative! I used the recipe to make 'ground turkey sausage'. The seasonings were great and I can't wait to make some patties up for sausage biscuits one day! I went ahead and made up a whole pound of it and now I have some sausage in the freezer that would be great mixed in with a breakfast casserole or scrambled eggs! It really was easy!

I used my homemade ground turkey sausage to make Kitchen Stewardship's Sausage Spinach Pasta Toss. Only, I didn't use spinach, I used kale! I'm sure I'll be making it with spinach in the future, if I don't have kale! It turned out great and made A LOT of food! We has this for lunch for a few days! Here is the recipe with my adaptations:

Sausage Kale Pasta Toss

2 cups uncooked short pasta
½ lb. turkey sausage
7 cups (6 oz.) chopped fresh kale
1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained (I used Miur Glen Organic, no bpa lining)
1 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp oregano
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, cook turkey sausage in pan until no longer pink. There wasn't much grease, so I just left what was there! (If you were to use pork sausage you'd need to drain it) Add spinach, tomatoes, garlic, basil and oregano. Cook until spinach is wilted and sauce has thickened a bit (5-10 minutes). Drain pasta and add to the meat mixture. Stir in mozzarella cheese. Serve with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese on top.

Linking with

Frugal Summer Fun: Chalk Paint

2011-06-08T13:09:00.009-05:00

So, I'm slacking in the 'fun' activity department these past few weeks! When I saw a facebook friend post about making sidewalk chalk paint on her blog, I knew we had to try it! We had everything we needed to make the paint in the pantry! We decided to just do red, yellow, green and blue. Next time I'm going to throw in a lesson in mixing colors!

Here is what you need:

Water (2 TBS), Corn Starch (2 TBS), food coloring (4-5 drops)

I was really surprised at how bright the colors were. One word of caution is that the corn starch kind of got stuck up in the sponge brushes that we were using. So an extra cup of water to rinse out every so often would be a good idea! It was so hot outside that our paint dried very quickly!

Here is Luke's rainbow and man under it:

And here is Eli making his big blob:

What are some of your frugal fun ideas for summer?

Linking up with:

Menu Plan Monday, 6/6/11

2011-06-06T13:21:00.007-05:00

After a great birthday weekend we need lots of good, healthy food to fuel us this week! We have a few roll overs from last week and I'm working from what we have here on hand too! Here's what we'll be eating this week:

Apricot Glazed Salmon, brown rice, sautéed green beans and onions

Roast with potatoes and carrots

French toast, scrambled eggs, cantaloupe

Tacos

Grilled chicken, easy garlic broccoli, corn (I get the Winn Dixie Organics brand of frozen corn, several when they go on sale!)

Extra (though I doubt we'll get to it): Spaghetti

I'm trying out this recipe for whole wheat snickerdoodles! Can you believe that in all of my baking I have never made snickerdoodles?

Looking forward to a great week!

Check out orgjunkie.com for more menus and recipe ideas!

Today You Are Five!!!

2011-06-05T20:30:00.002-05:00

Luke, today you are FIVE! A whole hand full of fingers! Time has flown and my heart is full! What a gift you are!

How I love that boy above.

Luke's Favorite Things:

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse first thing in the morning
M&M's
Imagination Movers
Riding his bike
Playing with friends
Building lairs for his super heroes to hide out in
Making up games and explaining them in detail (LOTS of detail!)
Pizza
Going to church to see his friends
Sleeping with his stuffed monkey
Drawing pictures and dictating the story line to me to make books
Mommy's Pancakes
Playing ball with Daddy
Family movie night with pop corn
Figuring out how things work
Getting up early! (much earlier than Eli!)

I can't believe it's time for Kindergarten! I'm so looking forward to our first year of home school! You are so smart and I can't wait to watch you learn more!

My prayer for you today and always, my dear, is that God would draw you near, that God will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you (Ezekiel 3:26). And may God give me strength (and always much grace) to show you that Christ is all... He is everything.

I love you, love you!

Mommy

Red Russian Kale & Onion Breakfast Casserole

2011-05-28T10:34:00.006-05:00

Last week I signed up for Moore Farms and Friends CSA. I love their program because you pay a yearly membership fee and then pay weekly for your produce. So, if you don't want to order (or can't) you don't have to! They send out emails to let you know what will be in your box (barring unexpected events) but the first week I didn't' know because I hadn't started receiving emails (and didn't take the time to check the website). They have a few different things you can choose from. I chose the Farmers Pick box. In it I received radishes, carrots, bok choy, onion, snow peas, and red Russian kale. I had no idea what to do with the bok choy or kale. So, I did some searching and found this great recipe! I had to adapt it to what I had but it came out great! The Hubs and I had it for breakfast. I got Luke to try a bite and am still working on Eli! What a great way to get veggies into your breakfast! Have you tried Kale? Let me know! This was my first time to cook or try it! It was great!

Yummy Kale! By the way, I desperately need a salad spinner!

Here is my adapted recipe:

Red Russian Kale and Onion Breakfast Casserole
(Makes 6 servings)

1 bunch Red Russian Kale, chopped, or use any other variety of kale
1/2 onion, chopped (I used vidalia)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. olive oil
1 tsp. soy sauce
1 cup grated cheese (I used a blend of medium cheddar and parmesan)
6 eggs, beaten well
1/2 tsp Lowry's Seasoning Salt
pepper
Splash of milk

Preheat oven to 350F. Cut off kale stems and discard, then wash kale leaves and dry well. Pile kale leave up and chop length wise and then width. Mine were about 1 inch squares.

Heat olive oil in large pan, add onions and saute a few minutes. Add garlic and kale, turning over as it wilts and sauteeing about 5 minutes, or until kale is wilted and softened.

Put sauteed vegetables into large bowl and add soy sauce, cheese, beaten eggs, splash of milk (2-3 TBS) and seasoning. Stir gently until ingredients are well mixed. Butter dish and pour in egg mixture. (I used a pan that's 11.5 X 7.5 inches but an 8x8 would work, probably would need more bake time to set up) Bake 20-25 minutes until eggs are well set and the top is lightly browned.

Menu Plan Monday 5/23

2011-05-22T23:24:00.004-05:00

Here's what we're having this week... along with a night or two of leftovers or sandwiches!

Italian Roast Wraps, Green Beans

Apricot Herbed Salmon, Brown Rice, Easy Garlic Broccoli

Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Pasta Primavera

Sausage Spinach Pasta Toss
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Sloppy Joes, Corn, Carrots and Cucumbers and Ranch Dressing

I've got blueberries for Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins and I'm also thinking about making some of these homemade cheese crackers. I LOVE Cheez Its... but rarely buy them. I'm hoping to find something healthy to satisfy my cheese cracker need!

Check out orgjunkie.com for more menu and recipe ideas!

Lightbulb moments...

2011-05-18T21:20:00.002-05:00

Nothing compares to when God sheds light on something that I really didn't even know I needed lit. I've been struggling with some things for several months now. Things I don't plan on sharing, but really what they are doesn't matter. What I'm learning is what matters. I've had a craving for answers, His Word, His movement, just Him. And I pray and I read and I pray some more. And nothing. I get nothing. It makes me doubt. I question. I read 1st John. I proclaim my belief in the One who died for my sins. And I continue to trust without feeling Him. I know He's there. Because He says He is. So, in this search, I read His word and the words of others who believe. Because those of us who believe are all in this together. We are all living life and trying to figure things out. Some are gifted and I need those in the body whom God has gifted. And this reading is not in vain, it's a genuine desire and He promises those who seek Him will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).

So, in this search, several weeks ago I felt a desire to go through the fruits of the Spirit. I started with love and I began studying what His word says about love (a lot, by the way). Then on a whim I picked up a book I had read half way on the Spirit and began reading, again. And surprisingly (or not) I just happened to be starting the chapter in Dug Down Deep on the Holy Spirit.

And as I read I felt the light... maybe I'm reading and I'm praying but it's all lifeless without His Spirit. You can read the Bible and it just be facts and nothing more. You can pray and it just be words. You can parent and you can be a wife and you can try to do right. But without His spirit it is just rules to follow, ceremonies to go through, tips to try. It can leave life dry.

It's not enough that we simply know truth. God wants us to feel it, to believe it, and to apprehend it in the deepest, most personal way. He wants us to be able to say, "The cross is for me. The empty tomb is for me. Forgiveness and adoption and redemption are mine because I am united with Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ loves me! Jesus is with me!" Joshua Harris, Dug Down Deep

For the believer the Spirit is our gift... the greatest gift we've been given! Christ says, "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you." (John 16:7) That is amazing! We are at an advantage because we have been given the Spirit! I don't just want knowledge or even belief (James 2:19). I want feeling and ownership of my faith. I want the confidence of being His child that comes through the Spirit (Romans 8:15-17).

"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you." John 16:13-15

There is much I don't know about the Spirit, but I do know that the Spirit's chief purpose is not for myself, but to glorify Christ. But we can't deny that He is for us! And His Spirit is proof of that!

So, my realization: I have forgotten the One He sent for me. I have neglected the Spirit and I have wanted control. So I will repent and refuse to settle for a dead, lifeless faith. He's promised much more.

I'm thankful for His work and as I hear Him(and have time), I will share.

His calling me... His wooing... oh, what a gift of mercy and grace.

Oat and Toffee Grahams

2011-05-13T15:29:00.009-05:00

My mom got me a great magazine for Mother's Day (along with some other cute suprises too!) and I've already made two recipes from it. It's a Better Homes and Gardens Potluck magazine... basically a cookbook magazine. It has 132 recipes in it! One of the dishes I made was dessert (I know, you're shocked!). My sister came home for a visit last weekend and I cooked dinner for the family one night and this was my dessert choice. It was great and everyone loved it!! I'm definitely keeping this one for Christmas!

Oat and Toffee Grahams

12 whole graham crackers (I didn't need this many)

1 1/2 cup rolled oats

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

3/4 cup white sugar

3 TBS all-purpose flour

2/3 cup butter, melted

1 egg, slightly beaten

1 tsp vanilla

1 12 ounce package (2 cups) semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup whole roasted almonds, coarsely chopped (I used salted which, I think, went well with the chocolate)

Preheat oven to 350. Line a 15x10x1 inch baking pan (I just used a 9x13 pan, which made my bars thicker, I think thinner would be better but I didn't have that size pan) with foil, extending foil over the edges of the pan. Arrange graham crackers in a single layer in prepared pan. In a large bowl stir together the oats, sugars and flour. Add melted butter, egg and vanilla; stir until well combined. Spoon oats mixture over graham crackers; spread evenly to edges of pan.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until oat mixture bubbles and is light brown on top. Remove from oven and sprinkle with chocolate chips. Return to oven for one minute. Spread melted chocolate evenly over top of pars. Sprinkle with almonds. Cool pan on a wire rack. Use foil to lift uncut bars. Cut or break into pieces. Makes 32 bars.

To Store: Layer bars between sheets of waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Chill for up to 3days or freeze for up to 3 months.

*Yes, I've been on a little bloggy break. I'm needing direction, motivation and material. I'm praying about it... but I did want to share this yummy recipe with you! http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Linking with:http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Women Living Well and Raising Homemakers

Counting....

2011-04-25T12:31:00.003-05:00

His goodness... His mercy... His grace... His love...

# 89-100

- Rain

- Gift cards= dinner out with my family!

- Listening to my hubby read about The Lords Supper

- The cross

- Making Resurrection cookies!

- Cadbury Eggs

- Being Called "Mommy"

- Resurrection = Hope!

- Watching my boys play with friends

- Late night movies with the Hubs

- Messy house after the holiday weekend

- Happy House noises: washing machine, dishwasher, pandora, boys playing...

(These two sweet faces call me "Mommy"... what blessings!)

Counting... 4/19/11

2011-04-19T15:08:00.007-05:00

I was going to skip this week because I was so busy yesterday... but after the day I've had I think it will be good to go back over what I wrote down this past week.

# 78-88

~ Finding a birds nest in the birdhouse that Luke and my Dad build... with eggs!

~ Walking (exercise!) while the boys play! Good for the body and soul!

~ Excitement of new beginnings

~ Eli's face when he learned how to blow a pin wheel

~ Early bedtimes

~ Choclate ice cream covered faces...

~ Big brother comforting little brother during the storm

~ Sunny Sunday Morning and my new favorite breakfast

~ Foot Rubs

~ Listening to my boys sing "Hosanna"

~ Grace

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Romans 3:23-24

Menu Plan Monday - 4/18

2011-04-18T08:47:00.005-05:00

I have a few repeats this week!

French Toast, Papa's Fruit Salad

Apricot Herb Glazed Salmon, Sauteed Spinach, Brown Rice

Taco Corn Fritters, Black Beans, Salsa

Italian Roast Wraps, Salad

Chicken Pot Pie with Savory Herb and Cheddar Crust, Green Beans

Breakfast: Oatmeal Blueberry Muffins (posting redo recipe this week), cereal, yogurt/cheese, fruit

Lunch: PB&J/honey, Cheese Quesadillas, Corn Dog Muffins, Veggies and Fruit for sides!

I have no idea what we're having for Easter! I've got to get with my mom so we can plan our meal! We typically have ham and lots of sides! I'm thinking of making a Pina Coloda cake.. the kind with coconut cream! Yum! Do you have any favorite Easter dishes? Care to share?

We Live Here

2011-04-16T08:37:00.005-05:00

My house is not a castle, pristine and fancy. It is not spotless or sterile. My house is a home. The home where two little boys live... where my husband and I laugh and love. God is here and it is holy. It is a beautiful place.

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever
you do, do it all for the glory of God"
-I Corinthians 10:31

Chicken Ranch Pasta

2011-04-15T09:34:00.006-05:00

This recipe is a made over recipe! It's a great quick weeknight meal!

Chicken Ranch Pasta
(serves 4-6)

2 large chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces
2 TBS butter
2 TBS flour
2 TBS ranch dressing mix
1 1/4 cup milk
1 cup green peas
cooked whole wheat pasta (I used about a half box, we like shells or the spiral-y kind)
Parmesan Cheese (optional)

Heat butter in pan, add chicken and cook through. Sprinkle chicken with flour and mix well. Add ranch dressing mix and stir. Add milk and peas and bring to a boil, stirring often. Turn heat down to simmer and let thicken. Once sauce is thickened, turn off heat and stir in drained pasta. Serve with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

**If you notice in my picture, I didn't add peas last night! I was in a hurry and didn't have time to dig in the freezer for them! So, you can leave them out but it's really best when they are in it! And I did add 4 slices of cooked crumbled bacon to mine. So the recipe can be flexible! I'm not a fan of the bacon because it makes it too salty (for me) but my hubby is a bacon fan! So, if I have some bacon I throw it in the pan, cook it and then let it drain on a paper towel while I'm cooking the chicken. Then I add it in at the end, to keep it from getting soggy. And typically I have the time to locate my bag of frozen peas! ;)

Extra tip: This recipe is yummy the next day but sometimes it can get a little dry (as with any cream sauce). My solution: add a little sour cream or milk to the pasta and stir, then reheat. Perfect leftovers!

I'm linking up with:

and Homemaking Link-Up Day at:

and these others: Old Fashion Recipe Exchange, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday,

Good To All... Counting

2011-04-11T09:00:00.001-05:00

God is so very sweet....

#67-76

- Listening to Luke tell stories as he plays

- Pancake Night

- Smiles around the table

- A tiny Pansy growing in the crack of the sidewalk

- Brotherly love

- Sweet prayers to God from Luke

- Popcorn popper from Mom

- Husband folding laundry

- Sunny, windy days.. perfect for flying and riding in the wind!

- Fresh flowers on my stove

- Friends in my home, talking... laughing

"The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made." Psalm 145: 8-9

,

Menu Plan Monday 4/11/11 (recipe review)

2011-04-10T21:38:00.007-05:00

I meant to post this review last week but I forgot! We love our pancakes around here and I have a very favorite recipe. But I saw a link for Peanut Butter Pancakes over at I'm an Organizing Junkie and thought I'd have to try it! And they were so yummy! My boys really enjoyed them! I don't think I'll be replacing my normal recipe but it will be a nice recipe to have for a change every now and then! Oh and I used all whole wheat flour and sucanat in this recipe, too. Now, here's what we're eating this week:

Chicken Fingers, Peas, Mashed Potatoes

Italian Roast Wraps, Sauteed Green Beans

Taco Corn Fritters with Salsa, Salad

Apricot Herb Glazed Salmon (new recipe), Steamed Broccoli, Brown Rice

Chicken Ranch Pasta (re-making a recipe), Salad

I didn't get to make Maple Pecan Muffins last week so I'm making them this week! I did make the granola though! It was soo good! I made it with 1/2 cup chopped dried cherries and 1/4 cup chocolate chips. I gave in a bought the boys a box of Chocolate Cheerios. That's as close as they get to 'junk' cereal. The box is gone though and it will be a while before I give in again. I've regained composure. ;) We get so much cereal on WIC that we usually have too much! I'm not a huge fan of boxed cereal because there are much healthier options but it's free so the boys get it sometimes for breakfast and occasional snacks. WIC cereal is healthier cereal (Cheerios, Multigrain Cheerios, Frosted Mini Wheats, Honey Bunches of Oats w/ Almonds, ect) So...

Breakfasts: Maple Pecan Muffins, Peanut Butter Pancakes (from freezer), Cereal, Fruit, Yogurt, Cheese, Scrambled Eggs

Lunch: PB&J/Honey, Cheese Quesadillas, Leftover Veggies from Dinner, Fruit (and we always have a bag of baby carrots for lunches too!)

Visit Menu Plan Monday at OrgJunkie for more recipes and menu ideas!

Digging

2011-04-08T22:31:00.000-05:00

If you've noticed here lately much of my posts have revolved around food. Why? Mainly because I love to cook. I'm no great cook but I'm hoping that with enough practice I will be remembered by my grand-kids for my yummy food! It's easy for me to write about food. I have a recipe, I share it. I make a menu, I share it. But I so want to share with you the amazing things God's doing in my heart. Can we just sit down and chat? There is so much He's doing and it's hard for me to get it out.

It's strange for me to say this but my walk with Him has been a struggle here lately. And what I mean by that is not that I'm struggling in whether or not I believe. I've been digging deep in His word, looking for answers and looking for Him. I've been going through some personal struggles (physically and emotionally) which has really just driven me to seek Him more. I know that's one reason why we go through things... to know Him greater and deeper. I've had questions and wondered. I've found His truth and it has been such a comfort to me. My desire has been to saturate myself with Him and His word. When you're grounded in absolute truth, The truth, there is such security. I'm striving to know deeper truth.

Though I've been a believer for 10 years, I feel like I'm really just now learning who I am in Christ.... really who I am. It's been amazing what I've learned so far and I can't wait for more. Digging into Gods word and studying Him is the only way for us to be sure of anything. And it's a promise He will keep.

"And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you." Psalm 9:10

"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." Hebrews 11:6

"My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding: yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding" Proverbs 2: 1-6

Chocolate Cake with Fudge Icing

2011-04-08T16:42:00.009-05:00

This cake is sinful. If you know me, I like healthy for everyday life. But special occasions call for special treats! And this cake is a special treat! The recipe came from a friend who got it from a friend. It's a tried and true one! It's not difficult but there is a little work to it! Believe me, it's WORTH it. I made this for my mom's birthday recently and thought I should share! (full recipe below)

Mix flour and sugar together (I'm using sucanat whole cane sugar here, which is why it's brown)

Boil water, oil, butter and cocoa and pour into flour mixture and mix until combined.

Add eggs and beat well.

Add buttermilk and vanilla. Beat well.

Pour into a greased and floured 9x13 in pan and bake in a 350 preheated oven for 25 minutes.

Bring butter, cocoa and buttermilk to a full boil.

Remove from heat. Mix in vanilla. Add sifted powdered sugar slowly, mixing well. (Add chopped pecans here if wanted. I did half with and half without.)

Pour onto warm cake. Let cool before serving. YUM! (Yes, this is a real life shot from a messy kitchen!)

Here is the recipe:

Chocolate Cake with Fudge Icing

2 cups sr flour
2 cups sugar
1 cup water
1/2 cup oil
1 stick butter
4 TBS cocoa
2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla

Mix together flour and sugar. Put water, butter, oil and cocoa onto stove and bring to a boil. Add cocoa mixture to flour mixture and mix to combine. Add 2 eggs, beat well. Add buttermilk and vanilla mix well. Pour into a greased and floured 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

Icing:

1 stick butter
4 TBS cocoa
6 TBS buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla
1 box powdered sugar, sifted
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Bring butter, cocoa and buttermilk to a full boil. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Stir in powdered sugar slowly, mixing well. Add nuts. Pour over warm cake. Let cool before serving.

This is seriously good. Enjoy!

I'm linking up with Comfy in the Kitchen: Feasting in Fellowship Friday

Raising Homemakers: Homemaking Link Up

and

and Don't Waste Your Homemaking:

The Great Things... Counting

2011-04-04T09:08:00.004-05:00

It's April! Bring on the warmth and sunshine! What a beautiful weekend we had! I'm, continuing my counting... and I pray that if you haven't you'll pick up One Thousand Gifts, read it and start counting!

Gifts... #58-66

~ Iron burns on the carpet, but not on Eli

~ Time alone to think and pray
~ Funny People
~ Sunshine after many cloudy days
~ Tiny tomato plants leaning toward the sun
~ Mom's birthday and chocolate cake to celebrate

~ Mary's song of praise (Luke 1)
~ Watching the boys eat cake at a birthday party
~ Friends

In the words of Mary, "for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name." Luke 1:49

Menu Plan Monday 4/4/11

2011-04-03T19:55:00.007-05:00

If you read my menu last week you're not going to find anything different! Our menu plan was pretty much thrown out the window this past week. We had leftovers one night, dinner for my mom's birthday one night, 'whatever you can find one night', my mom bought the boys dinner one night while I got out of the house for a while, birthday party Sat night... it was that kind of week. So the only difference is that we're not having the beef enchiladas.. that was the only meal I cooked!

Spaghetti, Salad

Roast with Potatoes & Carrots (using this new recipe for homemade onion soup mix on my roast)

Chicken Salad, Carrots and Ranch Dressing

Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs, Oranges

Chicken Fried Steak Strips (one of the few things I fry!), Broccoli, Mac and Cheese

Breakfasts: Pancakes, Maple Pecan Muffins, Cheerios... all those with yogurt/cheese & fruit, I'm also hoping to make some of these granola bars, although I just break them up and call them granola bites. They are great by themselves, on yogurt or in a little milk!

Lunches: Peanut Butter and Jelly/Honey, Tortilla Pizzas (with leftover spaghetti sauce), with leftover veggie sides from our dinners. I always have frozen corn/green peas in the freezer and carrots in the fridge, plus fruit!

Check out Orgjunkie.com for more menu planning and great recipe ideas!

Look for one or two recipes coming this week!

So, do you have weeks when your menu gets thrown out the window too?

Beef Enchiladas

2011-03-30T08:00:00.007-05:00

These are SO good! I use a method I got from Musings of a Housewife's Chicken Enchilada recipe, so of course you can use chicken in these as well! I have! This recipe turns out great and uses NO 'cream of' soups. We've gotten rid of those in our diets and you wouldn't believe how hard it is to find an enchilada casserole recipe without it! Try it!

Add taco seasoning and salsa to browned and drained ground beef. Simmer for 5 minutes.

Dip one tortilla into heavy cream. Next fill with beef mixture, roll and place in buttered dish. Having an assembly line makes things easier!

Top with cheese (here I used Colby, I also like Colby Jack and just regular Cheddar) and pour remaining cream over the enchiladas. (The recipe is for a larger 9x13 pan but in the pictures I was only making half the recipe)

Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes until cheese starts to brown. Yum!

Here is the recipe:

Beef Enchiladas

1 lb ground beef, browned & drained
1 cup salsa
2 TBS taco seasoning mix
8 whole wheat tortillas
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups shredded cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Butter 13x9 in baking dish. Once beef is browned and drained mix in 2 TBS (more or less, I like lots and it's okay because it's homemade, no MSG!) of taco seasoning mix and salsa. Simmer on low/med low for about 5 min, stirring often. Dip a tortilla into the heavy cream, fill with beef mixture (keep it small so they aren't stuffed and spilling out), roll and place in dish seam side down. Repeat with the remaining tortillas. Top with shredded cheese, pour remining cream over the top of the enchiladas and bake for 30 minutes or until cheese begins to brown. Sometimes I have extra beef left over, it all just depends on how much meat I brown, how full I stuff these, ect. The leftover meat is great in a quesadilla or on nachos the next day! Serve with a salad, beans, rice, sour cream, ect!

Linking up with {TITUS 2}SDAYS at

Old Fashioned Recipe Exchange at Little House on the Prairie Living

Raising Homemakers Homemaking Link Up:

and Comfy in the Kitchen

and

Counting... 3/28/11

2011-03-28T13:41:00.005-05:00

Counting the ways He loves...

38-57

~ Curious squirrels
~ The boys pretending
~ My heart - beating
~ Fingerprints on mirrors
~ Bananas
~ Eli cooking with me (see below)
~ Sink full of dishes
~ My church family
~ Planting flowers
~ Blue's Clues (when Eli wakes up on the wrong side of the bed!)
~ The peace of God
~ Being a mommy to Luke and Eli
~ Friendly faces
~ Lemons
~ Deep red cranberry juice
~ No condemnation in Christ
~ Jeans ringing up $0.97 cents at Old Navy
~ Being able to serve
~ The Body of Christ... colorful, different, beautiful, His

Menu Plan Monday 3/28

2011-03-28T08:25:00.004-05:00

Chicken Salad, Carrots and Ranch Dip

Beef Enchiladas (recipe coming this week), Corn

Cube Steak Fingers, Broccoli, Mac and Cheese

Spaghetti, Salad

Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs, Fruit

Roast w/ Veggies (Laura at Heavenly Homemakers just posted an Onion Soup Mix, so I'm going to try this out on my roast!)

Breakfasts: Banana Bread, Oatmeal Blueberry Muffins (using this recipe, but am going to modify it using real butter & sucanat), Pancakes, Cereal, Fruit, Yogurt, Cheese

Lunches: PB&J, PB&H, Chicken Nuggets, Cheese Quesadillas w/ Fruit, Broccoli, Corn

I do so much better when I plan lunches and breakfasts too! :)

Check out Orgjunkie.com for more recipe ideas! Oh and I won a copy of Laura's (from Orgjunkie) new book Clutter Rehab. I haven't started reading it yet but I know that's the kind of rehab I need! I'm hoping to find lots of tips I can put into practice! You might want to check it out!

Counting...

2011-03-14T21:05:00.009-05:00

I'm a day late but we were busy yesterday! The Hubs took off work and we had a fun time at the McWane Center! The past week was a difficult week for me. I have a lot of things going on, but I'm still counting. He is faithful. He is trustworthy.

# 21-37

~ Sweet cantaloupe in March
~ Husband reading the Word to our boys
~ Makeshift tents in the kitchen
~ A dandelion.. the first in our yard
~ Thunderstorms that aren't dangerous
~ Little boys waking up laughing
~ Eli in cowboy boots
~ Group of silvered hair ladies seeing a movie together
~ The hallway where little feet run up and down
~ The bed where Husband and I sleep
~ Messy rooms where my boys have play
~ A day with my family
~ My boys running
~ Laughter in our home
~ Eli's grin
~ Luke's big brown eyes
~ My husband, holding my hand

Here is the Hubs reading to the family... notice Eli's glasses. He was "reading" along too! So thankful...

Counting

2011-03-06T19:35:00.000-06:00

I started counting last week shortly after I began reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I've been counting the ways God loves me. And while, like Ann, at times I've felt foolish this counting has began to change me. Oh I am still here, still struggling. But it's true, what Ann says, "Count blessings and discover Who can be counted on."

Here is the beginning...

1. Warm shower water
2. Blowing bubbles and laughter
3. The gospel proclaimed
4. Eli laying on my chest- still my baby
5. Text messages from my hubby
6. Messy hands
7. Orange juice
8. Hand written notes from far away friends
9. Tiny finger pushing my cheek to 'look'
10. Warm sunlight shining through windows
11. Muffin crumbs
12. The Jesus Story Book Bible
13. Foreheads to kiss
14. Sunlight glistening on a roadside lake
15. Jesus interceding (Romans 8:34)
16. Holy Spirit - groanings too deep for words (Romans 8:26)
17. Yellow Pansies
18. Rain- steady rain
19. Hungry little boys
20. Goofy faces in Target mirrors

Menu Plan Monday 3/7/11

2011-03-06T18:31:00.005-06:00

I have some recipes and reviews to share this week... with the hopes that I can get the pictures I took off of my camera! We moved the desktop to storage right now, so we're working on the laptop. I haven't figured out how to get my pictures off my camera onto the laptop. It's so aggravating! You would think it would be so simple. Ha! Here is our menu this week:

Veggie Soup (freezer), Corn Bread

Italian Pasta Bake, Salad

Banana Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs

Chicken & Dumplings, Green Beans, Crowder Peas

Corn Dog Muffins, Carrots w/ Ranch Dip, Fruit

For review later this week:

Like a Bubbling Brook's Crunchy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Check out Orgjunkie.com for more menu planning and recipe ideas!

Menu Plan... Um, Tuesday

2011-03-01T16:43:00.002-06:00

Yep, I'm a day late! Yesterday was busy and I just wasn't at the computer much. I'm trying to keep that a common goal. The computer is my life sucker. And I want my life. So, in a quick and hurried fashion here is my menu:

Spaghetti (leftover from the weekend)

Chicken Noodle Soup, Corn Bread

Pork Chops, Green Peas, Sauteed Cabbage and Tomatoes

Beef Enchiladas (using this method) w/ Black Beans.. or maybe Beef and Black Bean Burritos

Ham and Swiss Melts, Broccoli Salad

I'm also going to be making up some banana muffins and we have Apple Walnut Pancakes in the freezer from a big batch I made last week! And I'm hoping to try these granola bars out.

The Ham & Swiss Melts and Pork Chop meals Luke picked (well he didn't pick the cabbage/tomato side but..). Luke really likes pork chops, though I'm not a huge fan. I just never manage to keep them from becoming dry. And it doesn't really seem to matter how I cook them. Occasionally, they will turn out pretty good... but it's really hit or miss. I usually bake them with some homemade bbq sauce, searing them first in a skillet. The ones I picked up today are boneless. Anyone have any tried and true recipes for tender chops?

Have a great week!

Saturday $ense

2011-02-27T08:00:00.002-06:00

I'm going to try to do this quickly! We had a super busy weekend and the computer was really the last thing on my mind! So here is how I spent my money this week. I'm not going to list individual prices, just total cost. If you don't really care what I bought but want to know what I spent just scroll down!

Walmart (Trip number 1)

Household Goods:

Paper Towels

Pantry:
Diced Tomatoes (yes, I bought cans for soup! Ugh.O
Diced Tomatoes and Okra
Lima Beans
Peas
Raw Honey
Olive Oil
Juice (WIC)

Produce:

Bananas
Onions
Organic Carrots
Green Cabbage

Dairy
Milk (WIC)

Total: $38.10

Walmart (trip number 2)

Household Goods:

Toothbrush
Bandages
Shaving Cream
Diapers

Pantry Items:

Pasta Sauce
Trail Mix
Teddy Grahams
Wheat Thins
Coffee
Sunflower Seeds
Juice Boxes
Black Beans (WIC)
Cereal (WIC)
Bread (WIC)

Dairy:

String Cheese
Milk (WIC)

Produce:

Organic Carrots
Organic Salad
Peaches (which were gross)
Tomatoes
Bananas

Extras- Diet Coke

Total: $53.08

Winn Dixie-

Frozen:

Organic Corn

Pantry:

Chicken Broth
Organic Green Beans

Total: $6.89

Grand Total: $98.07

Those are the groceries I bought for us! I did spend a little more than that for home-group:

Tea
Coffee To-Go Cups
Bowls
Plates
Spoons

Total $11.10

So, technically I spent $109.17, which is not bad. My mom did buy us a pound of hamburger meat. She was conveniently coming this way and I had her stop by the dairy! ;) Seriously though, that is a blessing! Alrighty, now to get going on this weeks menu!

Menu Plan Monday 2/21/11

2011-02-21T10:44:00.004-06:00

Here is our menu for the week! I'm trying several new recipes!

Veggie Soup & corn bread (leftovers from home group!)

Chicken Nachos, Black Beans

Baked Penne w/ Spinach and Sausage (from the freezer), Salad

Apple Walnut Pancakes (found a recipe and I'm going to see how it works with my favorite pancake recipe), scrambled eggs, fruit

Hamburger Steak & Gravy, Brown Rice, Cabbage and Tomato Saute

I didn't get a chance to make the homemade Olive Garden dressing recipe! This week I will and I'll let you know how it turns out! I had ranch dressing to use up last week! We're having dinner with my family this week, but I went ahead and planned 5 meals because most of these meals don't make leftovers like a big pot of soup or casserole.

The Cabbage and Tomato side is a new recipe I'm trying from one of my favorite food magazines, Everyday Food. I'm looking for ways to get more cruciferous vegetables in our diet! And cabbage is an inexpensive way! I'll try and review each of the new recipes as I can!

I've totally been slacking on my Saturday $ense posts, but I will get back to them this Saturday. I've stayed pretty much on budget, with the exception of last week. I'll get back to it this Saturday though!

Check out Orgjunkie.com for more recipe and menu planning ideas!

It's coming...

2011-02-17T21:14:00.003-06:00

Homeschooling, that is. Yes, Luke's first year is coming. I've been praying a lot over it here lately as I look over curriculum, ect. I'm anxious and nervous for different reasons. I want to lay out why the Hubs and I have chosen to homeschool... soon. But not now. I need some time to put my thoughts down. I want family and friends to hear our reasons as I know questions will come up. Until then I'd encourage you to check out a few links. They have encouraged me and share many of the same values that we have concerning our choice to homeschool right now.

Courtney, at Women Living Well just finished up a series of vlogs on homeschooling. I enjoyed them so much and they were so encouraging to me! Here is a link to her most recent posts on homeschooling, all of the videos are great!

I love this post by Laura at Heavenly Homemakers! She answers the question, "Am I Qualified to Teach?" I read this almost a year ago and it was so good to go back and find it again!

This post by Ann Voskamp is probably one that shares most what the desire of my heart is for our homeschooling. This one too, the Four Cornerstones of Simple Homeschooling at the bottom I love!

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 6: 5-7

Menu Plan Monday 2/14/11

2011-02-13T22:34:00.006-06:00

I bought a heart shaped pancake pan over the weekend and made some really cute Chocolate Chip Heart Pancakes for the boys and the Hubs today! Here is my all time favorite pancake recipe! They are so yummy!

So, onto this week... I feel like I'm in a rut!! I need some new ideas! Here is what we're having:

Angel Hair Pasta w/ Marinara, Salad (attempting an Olive Garden copy cat dressing recipe)

Biscuits with All Fruit Jelly, Eggs, Fruit

Southwestern Chicken & White Bean Soup, Corn Bread

Sloppy Joes, Green Beans, Honey Roasted Carrots

BBQ Chicken Pizza, Corn on the Cobb

The last two meals are roll overs. We had an impromptu pancake night last week and we had dinner out with the Hub's mom one night! Sat night the boys hung out with my parents and I had a tuna sandwich! I'm not even sure what the Hubs had! That's sad, huh? Anyways!

What are you having? Have you tried anything new that was really good? Let me know!

I'm heading to OrgJunkie.com to get some inspiration!

Easy Garlic Broccoli

2011-02-10T21:16:00.008-06:00

We love broccoli around this house! It's soo good for you and did you know that it's actually better for you cooked rather than raw? Yes! So steaming it for no longer than 5 minutes is best! And garlic is great for you too so this side dish will make you SUPER STRONG and HEALTHY... well, that's what I tell my kids! :)

It's so easy and simple! I hope you try it!

Easy Garlic Broccoli

2-3 Bunches of broccoli (I had 3 med size broccoli heads)
2 TBS Butter
3 cloves garlic, chopped

Trim broccoli florets and rinse. Bring about 1/2 c of water to boil and set steamer on top. Steam broccoli for no longer than 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. While broccoli is steaming, melt 2 TBS butter in small pan on med low. Add garlic to butter and saute for about a minute, stirring often remove from heat. Put broccoli in serving dish and pour butter/garlic over top. Stir and season with salt/pepper.

I'm linking up with Comfy In The Kitchen!

and

The Nourishing Gourmet's Pennywise Platter Thursday!

Preschool Letter P

2011-02-10T10:00:00.002-06:00

I'm having a hard time finding my Letter P pictures!! I must catch up with these so that it won't be so hard putting together the posts!! We are finished with the alphabet now, so I'll be coming up with some different activities for us to do and also incorporating the lower case letters although he is doing great at recognizing most of them!

Here is Luke doing his Homeschool Creations Letter P collage!

I think Luke was tired of pictures here! We made our P is for Penguin letter craft from Totally Tots!

He also colored and put together a Letter P Itsy Bitsy Book and a Hidden Image worksheet! He really loves these!

We made Pumpkin Chocolate Chip muffins! And I remember that I forgot to take pictures of the process but I did remember to snap their faces after they ate!

We also did some fall Planting together! The boys helped me plant Pansys! And you wouldn't believe the success I've had with them! I STILL have yellow blooms on them! They were planted in October and I have the blackest thumb around!!

We also made a Pumpkin to help decorate the house for fall!

And we visited a local Pumpkin Patch!! The boys had fun running through the pumpkins, petting the anmials, riding the hayride and especially playing in the corn crib!

Our memory verse for the week was:

"Be patient with everyone." 1 Thessalonians 5:14

That concludes our letter P week!

Cabbage Tomato Soup

2011-02-09T08:00:00.002-06:00

This soup is really good, especially if you like tomato soup, and so healthy! Cabbage is super good for you! It was actually better on day 2 & 3 than the first! It was yummy with Divine Breadsticks the first night and a grilled cheese the next! It makes a lot of soup!

Cabbage Tomato Soup

2 TBS butter
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
4 cups chicken broth
4 cups V8 juice
1 cup chunky tomato sauce (or a can of diced Italian tomatoes)
1 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp Italian seasoning
pinch of thyme
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 bag of cabbage slaw (or about 1/2 large head cored and sliced, they did not have whole cabbage the day I went for my ingredients)

In stock pot melt butter and cook onions until soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic at the last minute or two of cooking the onions. Add broth, V8 juice, tomatoes, and seasonings. Bring to a boil, simmer about 10 minutes uncovered. Add cabbage and cook another 15-20 minutes, uncovered, stirring here and there. (Remember to taste and season again after you add the cabbage. I had to add a little more salt.)

I'm still planning on posting about why I'm avoiding canned tomatoes! Forgive me for not getting around to it! That's why I used the pasta sauce. As I was looking through recipes, I thought I'd just used jarred chunky pasta sauce instead of diced tomatoes. It worked great and gave the soup good flavor. If you want to use jarred sauces for things like this you can buy a jar and freeze what you don't use in freezer bags. That way you aren't wasting!

Also, I've been attempting to eat a clove of raw garlic a day (although I've missed a few days here lately) but a clove of raw garlic cut up and put into this soup was yummy! The spicy-ness of the raw garlic was a great addition!

I'm linking up with the Homemaking Link-up at Raising Homemakers!

and

Menu Plan Monday 2/7/11

2011-02-06T22:14:00.004-06:00

This is going to be quick! I've got at least one recipe for this week to post which will be coming later! So, here is our dinner menu:

Biscuit Topped Chicken Pot Pie

Sloppy Joes, Green Beans, Corn

Italian Roast Wraps, Steamed Garlic Broccoli

Veggie Soup (w/ leftover beef from roast), Corn Bread

BBQ Chicken Pizza, Carrots & Ranch Dip

And these meals will probably give us a leftover night or two! If not we'll have sandwiches or pancakes!

We did have a great new meal, Baked Penne with Sausage and Spinach. I came up with my own recipe after getting some inspiration from another (which I can't find) and it was soo yummy! Great for leftovers and I was able to freeze enough for us to have in the next week or two!

I didn't get to the baked oatmeal but I do plan on making it this week for breakfast! (I've got buttermilk that has to be used up!) I'm sure there will be some other baking going on for snacks! Last week we made oatmeal cookies with cranberries and pecans!

Oh and I did find organic frozen corn at Winn Dixie!! No GMO's! It was 2.19 for about a 10 oz bag and that's more than I like to pay (since I was getting the 12 oz bag for $0.98). I had a $5 off coupon, so I reasoned that the $2.19 was part of what I got free. :) And I'll feel good feeding my boys one of their favorite veggies.. or grains... whatever you want to call it!

Saturday $ense

2011-02-05T14:08:00.006-06:00

So, this week.. I didn't do so great. Here is my menu so you can see what meals I had planned. I did have to buy meat this week and I didn't find great deals on meat. I'm not sure if we're going to be having one of the meals on the menu. It all depends on our plans tomorrow. So, one meal could be a roll over meal. Here are the things I had on hand to complete my meals/snacks:

Tuna
Ranch Dip
Flour
Butter
Annie's White Cheddar Bunnies
Pretzels
Crackers

(Again, we have more stocked. This is just what I remember off the top of my head that I didn't have to buy to complete meals and for snacks)

I shopped at WalMart and Winn Dixie this week.

WalMart:

Household Items:

Chalk 1.00
Ivory Soap (3) 0.75
Quart Storage Bags 1.64
Imodium AD 4.00
Wipes 1.78

Dairy:

String Cheese 2.98
Parmesan Cheese 2.18
Sour cream 8oz 0.88
Provolone slices 2.36
Danimal Yogurt 2.00
Cage Free Eggs: 2.27
2% Milk 2 gallons WIC

Pantry:

Wing Sauce 1.47
Rolled Oats 2.24
JFG Mayonnaise 2.68
Penne Whole Wheat 1.08
Classico Pasta Sauce 2.28
Organic Chicken Broth 2.63
WW Tortillas 2.00
Kettle Chips 2.98
V8 Juice 2.58
Cranberry & Nut Mix 2.88
Nutra Grain Fruit Bars 2.50
Bread WIC
Peanut Butter WIC
Honey Bunches of Oats WIC
Cheerios WIC
Juicy Juice WIC

Produce:

Organic Spinach 4.88
Coleslaw 1.50
Clementines 3 lb 3.75
Onions 1.64
Bananas 0.97
Organic Carrots 0.97
Organic Garlic 1.68
Pears 1.78

Meat:

Italian Turkey Sausage 2.98

Extra:

Diet Sunkist 1.48

Total 74.71

Winn Dixie (mid wk)

Household:
Angel Soft 5.00
Sparkle Paper Towels 5.00

Pantry:
Natures Own Bread 2.59
Apple Juice 2.49

Produce:
Bananas 1.66

Meat:
Sirloin Tip Roast 8.85
Boneless Chicken Breast 6.05

Total 34.35

Grand Total 109.06

Yes, technically that is over for the week. But if you remember last week I only spent $90.24. So, for the pay period I spent a total of $199.30 out of our $200.00 budget. I sure know how to just barely make it, huh!? I'm a little frustrated with it because I was hoping to save a little. But I did my best, minus that Diet Sunkist! I did use two coupons, one for the pasta sauce (-1.00) and one for the string cheese (-0.55). I'm just going to have to be more resourceful and thrifty! So, time to start planning next week!

Baked Penne with Spinach & Sausage

2011-02-03T21:00:00.001-06:00

This was super good and easy! Try it!

Baked Penne with Spinach and Sausage

10 oz whole wheat penne (or ziti noodles), cooked and drained
1 lb sausage (I used sweet Italian turkey sausage)
1/2 cup onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 jar of pasta sauce (I used onion/garlic flavor)
3/4-1 cup of V8 Juice
4 cups (or handfuls) of spinach
1 cup mozzarella, shredded
1 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded

Preheat oven to 350. Crumble and cook sausage and onions together, until sausage is no longer pink. Add garlic and cook about a minute. (Drain, if needed. I actually had to add about a TBS of butter to the pan because of the turkey sausage) Add pasta sauce and V8 juice (I added about 1/2 cup at first). Simmer about 10 minutes, uncovered, for sauce to thicken a bit. When sauce is almost ready, combine noodles spinach, mozzarella and about 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese. Mix pasta mixture in with the sausage mixture. (This is where I added about 1/4 cup more of V8 juice to make it a little more saucy and it was perfect! Pour into greased 9x13 pan, sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese. Bake for about 30 minutes until bubbly and cheese is melted!

So good!

Coming soon: why I'm avoiding canned tomato products! Come on grocery stores!!! Get with it and start providing tomatoes in glass jars and boxes!!!

I'm linking up with Feasting in Fellowship Friday at Comfy in the Kitchen!

and

My Thorn: Part 3

2011-02-01T08:02:00.003-06:00

I mentioned in my last thorn post that I had found the Girl Talk Blog fear series and it has been so good for me to read!! Last time I was reminded to not listen to the lies of my fears but to listen to the truth of God's Word!

Here is an excerpt of the most recent post I've been reading over and thinking about:

"Our fears are due to our failure to stir up--failure to think, failure to take ourselves in hand. You find yourself looking to the future and then you begin to imagine things and you say: 'I wonder what is going to happen?' And then, your imagination runs away with you. You are gripped by the thing...this thing overwhelms you and down you go. Now the first thing you have to do is to take a firm grip of yourself, to pull yourself up, to stir up yourself, to take yourself in hand and to speak to yourself." Dr Lloyd Jones

Even before reading this I have found myself putting this into practice. I talk to myself OFTEN! And it is really a helpful tip! So, what do I say to myself? Well, lot of what I say is straight from God's Word.

Philippians 4:6-7 ~ "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

The above verses I put to memory a long time ago. I can't tell you how many times I've been up in the middle of the night repeating those words over and over and over.

Sometimes I remind myself,

"I am free. I am not a slave to sin anymore. Christ came to set me free! There is freedom in Christ"

And I repeat that with Galatians 5:1 in the back of my mind,

"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."

and

"for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." 1 Timothy 2:7

And you know, sometimes I just say,

"Crystal, get yourself together!! You are being ridiculous! Take a deep breath and calm down!"

Then I follow with a verse to remind myself why I'm being ridiculous! Like,

"And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?" Matthew 6:27

Remembering, meditating, and praying God's Word can really do wonders with anxiety and fear! I pray for you and for myself that we can be like the Proverbs 31 woman:

"Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come." Proverbs 31:25

Need to catch up? Here are the first two posts in this series:

Part 1
Part 2

I'm linking this post up with Time Warp Wife's {TITUS 2}SDAYS.

Menu Plan Monday 1/31/11

2011-01-31T08:13:00.005-06:00

Menu Plan Monday

Baked Ziti w/ Spinach and Turkey Sausage, Homemade Bread sticks

Italian Roast Wraps, Salad

Buffalo Chicken Sliders, Carrots and Ranch Dip

Cabbage Soup, Bread sticks

Tuna Melts, Kettle Chips

For breakfast I'm going to be making a baked oatmeal. I'm looking for a particular recipe that I found one day last week and I cand find it... yet. The link I have is for a different recipe, but similar. I'll try it if I can't find the other one! We'll also have cereal and pancakes with the usual yogurt/cheese/fruit options!

Last week I promised a review of my sister's Chicken Pesto Pizza!! It was really yummy and I'm sure I'll make it again! Here it is!

Anyone else totally freaked out about the dangers of GMO's? I am!!! SO, I'm making small changes to get rid of them! One of the biggest percentage of genetically modified food is corn! And we eat a lot of frozen corn and tortilla chips.. so that is where I'm starting! The way to avoid GMO's in your corn products is to buy organic. Yes, it's more expensive so my plan is to eat less corn/tortilla chips (wow, that last one will be hard! We love chips and salsa!) and when I do buy them I'll buy organic. I've said it before but I have to watch myself to not go crazy and feel horrible that I can't change everything! But I can make small changes that will work with out budget! It's my job to feed my family well!

I'm linking up with Orgjunkie.com!

Saturday $ense...

2011-01-29T10:27:00.006-06:00

Clever, huh? Ok, maybe not.

So, are you wondering how I did with my grocery shopping? Here is my menu, so you can see what meals I had planned for this trip. I spent a total of $90.24 this week of my $100. Below is how it was all spent. I did have a pretty large expense that you'll see in the "household" section. Here are the items that we already had on hand that helped complete our meals*:

3 large chicken breast (freezer)
organic blueberries (freezer)
salsa
sour cream
Colby jack cheese
eggs
butter
flour
pasta
frozen spinach
ricotta cheese
black beans
Snacks: granola bars, Cheerios, string cheese, raisins, Annie's Bunny Grahams, crackers

*We do have more food in our pantry than this. I'm just showing what we already had on hand that helped me plan my meals, before I grocery shopped.

Here is the breakdown of what I was able to purchase. Over all I am please with my trip. My goal is to feed my family as healthy as I can. Healthy meaning, as little junk, mostly from scratch, real foods. Our resources are somewhat slim around here as far as produce and meat goes and at this point in our lives we take advantage of WIC and that helps greatly.

WalMart

Household Items:
Dish washing Detergent ~ 2.74
Trash bags ~ 3.34
Baking Soda ~ 1.00
Vinegar (Gallon) ~ 2.32
Razor Cartridges (4) ~ 15.97 (the Hubby likes the good stuff. I get these about once every 2-3 months)

Produce:
Tangerines (6) 1.68
Apples (3#) 3.67
Ice burg Lettuce Salad 1.50
Spring Mix Organic Salad 2.78
Onions (WIC)
Bananas (WIC)
Organic Baby Carrots (WIC)
Broccoli Crown (WIC)

Pantry Items:
Sugar 2.08
Whole Wheat Tortillas 2.00
Sun Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil 3.64
Bertolli Basil Pesto 1.98
Pasta Sauce 1.33
Community Coffee 4.50
Polaners All Fruit Grape Jelly 1.93
Sara Lee WW Bread (WIC)
Juicy Juice Apple Juice (WIC)

Dairy:
Dannon Yogurt Drinks 2.46
Oikos Organic Yogurt (4 pk) 3.98
Disney Cheese 1.78
Dried Pineapple snack (2) - 1.56
Gal 2% Milk (WIC)
16 OZ Mozzarella Cheese (WIC)
Barbers Whole Buttermilk (WIC)

Frozen:
Broccoli, Cauliflower, Carrot Mix 1.58

Total: $71.77

Local Dairy

Local Honey (20 oz) 6.50
Ground Beef (primarily grass fed) 4.00
3 candies 0.90

Total $12.42

Winn Dixie

Organic Tortilla Chips 1.99
Bananas 1.67
Bimbo WW Bread 1.89

Total- $6.05

Grand Total- $90.24

So, do you have any tips for me? The only coupon I used was for the coffee. I bought Community Coffee @ $5.50 with a $1 off coupon. Because I don't buy many processed food items, I don't use many coupons. I know that I need to get back at my bread making attempts. The boys and the Hubs eat a lot of sandwiches. And even though we get a loaf on WIC, I had to buy an extra at my mid week trip (Winn Dixie). I'd love to hear any tips or thoughts on ways to cut this down!

Chicken Pesto Pizza

2011-01-28T09:56:00.007-06:00

I mentioned on my menu plan Monday that I was going to be trying a new recipe that I got from my sister! I made it Wednesday night and it was soo good! Here are the measurements I used (it's really a non recipe and more of a method!).

Chicken Pesto Pizza

2 chicken breast, cut into strips
4 whole wheat tortillas (I used 8 inch)
1/2 onion, sliced
8 TBS pesto (a little more than 1/4 cup)
1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes, sliced
1 cup mozzarella, shredded

Preheat oven to 400. Cook chicken in butter (or olive oil) with a little salt and pepper and cook through. Remove chicken and saute onions in pan with chicken drippings for about 5 minutes. While onions are cooking, place tortillas onto cookie sheet (can brush pan with a little olive oil, I didn't) and spread a thin layer, about 2 TBS, of pesto onto each tortilla leaving about an inch around the outside of the tortilla. When onions are cooked, mix onions, tomatoes, and chicken (I shredded mine further) together and top evenly on each tortilla. Top each pizza with cheese. Bake at 400 for 10 minutes or until edges are crisp and turning brown.

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These were so tasty!!

My sister also used asparagus and broccoli on her pizza but I (as you can see) didn't. I actually had broccoli but was in a hurry and didn't want to chop and wash the broccoli (so we're having steamed broccoli tonight). I would just use small florets and chop the asparagus and add to the chicken mixture. You really could add any kind of veggies. I think some spinach would be great!

I'm linking up with Feasting in Fellowship Friday at Comfy in the Kitchen!

and

Works for Me: January 26, 2011

2011-01-26T10:24:00.004-06:00

Ok, so this topic may seem gross but I wanted to share! I have horrible sinuses. I typically have several sinus infections per year. I'm certain they all stem from allergies gone bad! So, back during the fall decided to try to be proactive about it! So, I went to my local drugstore and looked at the different types of sinus cleansing products. I decided to stay away from anything that looked like a tea pot! I picked this up (pictured above) and have been really pleased with it! It was around $8-10.

I don't use it everyday, although I probably should. I start using it when I first feel the signs of sinus trouble. Like, ahem, right now. My husband is not a fan, though. He tried it and said he tasted salt water all day! I haven't had that problem. It's easy to use although, the first time you use it, it's pretty strange!

A while back I found the comments in this Raising Homemakers post on home remedies to be really helpful!

I'm linking up with Works for Me Wednesday at