A little crafty fun today!

I really do like easy crafts!  I do!  :)  and this one was the SIMPLEST I have done!  :)  I was wandering through goodwill today and found 2!!! wire paper holders for the desk.  I immediately saw them on the wall with earrings hanging on them!  It's all about looking at things in a new and different way!  I thought that the drywall screws we had leftover would work well to hang it, so my total investment per jewlery hanger was $2.99 (too bad it wasn't the 1/2 price tag!  ;) )

Here's what I gathered to hang it:

Then it was a matter of just holding it up the wall where I wanted it, pushing with the screwdriver so I knew where to put the screws, then I put the hanger down, screwed in the screws- leaving about 1/2- 1/4" out so the hanger can catch on it, and then hang it up.  Total time?  5 min!  or less!

Final product?

Please disregard the beautiful pictures my daughter has drawn on the wall!  ;)   I WILL need to get some S hooks so we can hang the necklaces, and the closed hook earrings don't do well, but the plain post earrings can go on the edge so you can put the back on it, or just take it off the wall to put them on there... it's not that hard to put up and down.....

Thank you to my new obsession! LOL

Just wanted to give a shout out to my newest obsession that a DEAR Dear friend of mine (do you sense the sarcasam? This is such a good timewaster site!) introduced me to....Pinterest!  Oh MY is that site so much FUN!  If I do HALF the things I've pinned, my life is going to be WAY COOL!  :)  There are so  many crafts, recipes, organizational stuff, sayings, just tons of stuff on there!  :)

What crafts have I tried?  Infinity scarves with tshirsts, headbands with tshirts, some recipes (including breakfast this morning).  Yeah, not much right now, but I am in the "gathering" stage... gathering tons of ideas and then I will choose some to do weekly1  I really do want to try them, I pinned them afterall.... ;)

So, if you haven't gotten to Pinterest yet, go to www.pinterest.com and check it out.  Ask a friend to invite you, that's the easiest way to get on there quickly!

I do want to also direct you to my other blog I had for a long time, it has TONS of great information on it about living frugally!  :)  www.frugalmadre.blogspot.com  It has great tips, great sites I like for saving money and buying things cheap, and menus and recipes as well!

Swedish Nutmeg Cookies

So, they aren't QUITE like Grandma made them, but this is my easy peasy take on them......

The original recipe calls for adding 1/4-1/2 tsp nutmeg into sugar cookie dough as you are making it.  You can do this method.

However.....

If you get slice and bake or pre-made sugar cookies, you can get a similar effect by sprinkling nutmeg on top of the cookies.

The most important thing... DON'T forget to add sugar to the top of the cookie!  That's what makes it a sugar cookie!

My oldest came up with a great idea without even knowing it a while back..... we had bought glass salt and pepper shakers at Goodwill for $1, and when we got home, one of the lids was so corroded it had to be thrown away, so we had a lopsided set.  She had a friend stay the night and they were going to have coffee in the morning, so she put sugar in the remaining one for the coffee- it didn't work well.  BUT, the half filled sugar shaker has been hanging around my kitchen since then... waiting for a great job......

Today when I got my stove, it was pressed into duty!  I sprinkled some nutmeg on top of my cookies, then turned around and went "AH HA!"  Grabbed that half filled salt/sugar shaker, and MAN did it work like a CHARM!!!!

Yes, the two cookies look a bit darker, it is just shadow.....But the sugar worked out well!  You could do this with any color sugar you want!  I can't wait for Christmas!  I may go buy out some salt and pepper shakers now!  ;)

wow! what a year it has been!

SO So many changes went on this year, I could hardly keep up with myself!  :)  I decided right at the beginning of the year (February?) to go back to school, found a great program, had to take a couple CLEP Tests, a couple entrance tests, all the while working 40 hrs a week most weeks and doing all the things the kids needed to do!  So, I completely forgot about this blog!  :(

 I started back to school in September (BSIT, Bachelors of Science in IT - computers), and it has been a reall eye opener for the whole family.  I started a second job babysitting working in conjunction with substituting, but don't seem to be doing much of it this school year :(  We have been really tight financially, but know that in May 2013 I graduate and will be able to get a great job and be able to help out the family in a big way..... eye on the prize!

On a side note I discovered Pinterest!  :)  I have only been on it a week, but MAN has it gotten my old creative juices flowing again!  :)  So, you may see some things on here that I will pin so I don't forget that I did them!  (you know how that old memory works, right?)

I got a new stove today- I have been without an oven for 5 weeks now.... was looking for that "great deal" and finally found a "black friday" deal the sunday before..... It was supposed to be delivered yesterday from 2-6, and it got delivered today about 12:30/1pm!  UGH!  BUT it's here and now I can start making all those amazing dishes I have been pinning!  :)  First thing I made was simple stuff... a box cake and some nutmeg cookies... will post more about those in a few....  Let's just say, the cake said 32-36 min and it was done well before that!  :)

So, we have been busy around here, my 15 yo daughter's band went to nationals- they got 10th out of 20 overall, 2nd for music, and 3rd for drumline!  :)  I was so proud!    My 13 yo is in the Beta Club, and Student Council, etc.  She's a busy girl too!  My 11 yo is a busy girl too, but right now she doesn't do nearly as much as the others.....

Well, the natives are getting restless for me to bake some more!  :) 

3 days without posting!

Funny how getting back to school will derail some ideas, huh?  LOL I have been keeping up with the picture taking, though! 

It was a sweet surprise to wake up to a white yard and road... the roads are clear again, but snow was not predicted until monday.... LOL 

So, I have been working all morning on finding new recipes ( or old ones I have bookmarked and haven't used) to use and try.  Trying to work on getting my allergens out of my diet, especially gluten this year, so this takes a bit of work on my part.  No more easy grab and go stuff, make a menu, stick with it kinda stuff....

So, here's what I have come up with  (with links)  I just number the menu so I don't feel I have to do any certain recipe on a certain day, but rather have a choice of items to choose from.....

1. Slow cooked oriental Pork Chops ( www.food.com/17953 )

     serve with brown rice and broccoli

2. Yet another Chili (and Chili spice mix) (www.food.com/47393 )

    (I am going to nix the beans because I am allergic and add frozen corn instead, use corn starch instead of flour)

    serve with cornbread (family), veggies and dip

3.Country Salisbury Steak (www.food.com/285040 )
   ( will use homemade gravy using cornstarch or arrowroot to thicken)  Even though this uses stovetop, I am still going to use it until I can find a recipe and the guts to make gluten free bread.
    Serve with Mashed potatoes (and mashed sweet potatoes for me and whoever else wants them), and
    Harvard Beets ( www.food.com/119540 )

4. Taco taters (www.food.com/282554 )
    using Homemade taco seasoning packet replacement (www.food.com/154235 )

5. Stuart Anderson's Black Angus Baked Potato Soup (www.food.com/105920 )
   using cornstarch instead of flour for thickening, may use rice or soy milk instead of regular due to dairy allergy/intolerance

6.Bourbon Chicken Wings  ( www.food.com/148454 )
   Will make these as prescribed (no apple juice as I am allergic to apples)  will use with chicken breast instead of wings or pork chops
   Serve with Polenta and asparagus

7.  Ground Beef Curry( www.food.com/149440 )
      will not use the apricot jam- again, I'm allergic
      Serve with Brown Rice and Broccoli with butter and Parmesan (salt and pepper too)

8  Taco Party Wings (www.food.com/101794 )
     will use for chicken breasts
     Serve with Gluten free mac and cheese (homemade sauce, rice noodles) and greenbeans
     Will use taco seasoning recipe from earlier in the menu.....

A day for trying new things!

Doesn't it look Yummy?  It is baked Ravioli with homemade spaghetti sauce, and *the new thing* ground deer meat!  So, my middle daughter was excited to try it... knowing it was healthier and she loves to eat healthier foods.....and she just couldn't because of the "thought" of what it was....My youngest, I didn't tell her what meat it was, and she said it was great... no... "awesome".....LOL  and even licked the bowl!  Hubby liked it, then when I told him.... he seemed to slow down and not finish it.... my oldest had "already thankfully eaten at the skating rink" so she didn't try it... and I ate with hubby.... it was ok... I couldn't tell a difference... it was mostly in my head.... I had 3 portions leftover so I put them in the freezer (like all my leftovers) and gave one to the neighbor who gave us the meat, and maybe I will eat the rest.... LOL

Here's a link to my other blog where you can find my recipe for spaghetti sauce:  www.frugalmadre.blogspot.com  I made the sauce, added meat, put 3 cups in the bottom of the casserole, the cooked ravioli on top of that, then topped with more spaghetti sauce, topped with provolone and baked at 350 degrees for 20 minutes..... yummmmm

But that's what this year is all about... trying new things... trying to eat healthier, make better choices, smaller portions to lose weight, and eventually start working my allergens more out of my diet.... well a big one... gluten (which the ravioli obviously has in it! LOL)

Feeling sorta like I am finally coming down with what the rest of the family has been fighting, so I took vitamins, mucinex, magnezium, rooibos tea, headache meds, and water..... but now it's time for rest.....I'm just glad I tried something new!  :)

January 3.....a good lazy day

Well, it's been a busy, but lazy day..... I know that doesn't make sense....LOL  We (the girls and I ) have worked on the house upkeep- the boyfriend was coming over tonight, so we had to make sure it looked good (I'm beginning to like this boyfriend thing!  It is keeping us in a routine!) .....and we had dinner by 6:30... around the table!  LeighAnn (14) said how amazed she was that we were eating around the table more.... well, that was one of my goals for this year!  Of course it helps that the recliners that were in the dining room are gone, and the table is cleaned off, and the room feels more LIKE a dining room, right?  Decluttering is amazing, I highly recommend it to everyone... especially  www.flylady.net and www.cozi.com to help you out! I have used FlyLady for years, and have just started with Cozi.


I got a call from a friend for a spontaneous lunch- which was great just to spend time with her because we haven't been able to connect much lately and I have surely been missing her much!  The best part is that I had already done my hair/makeup because I'm trying to get into that routine, so I could just run out without much notice!  It was so relaxing and nice!

For dinner we had porkchops (boneless) baked with a mix of cornflakes, flour, curry powder, and salt.  we didn't use much curry so it was just a great flavor!  yummmmm  We also had asparagus (steamed in the microwave with butter and salt) and whole wheat spaghetti noodles with butter, salt, a touch of garlic powder and a touch of co-jack cheese.  It was a simple dinner.. but yummy.  I had enough leftovers I put up a bunch in the freezer for when I am working..... this is one of my new resolutions too!  to cook more so I don't have to worry about lunches!

After dinner the boyfriend came over..... he was here for 4 hrs.... they watched tv and we talked for a few min after they were done before she walked him out to his truck....and she floated back in.... LOL  *shiver* being the mom of a teen dating is just too hard sometimes!  ;)  Now I am tired tired and ready for bed... I had a great day and enjoyed the fun I had!  Oh, both girls dressed up tonight- the 12 yo put powder on her face like "a vampire" but the picture didn't show... and the 10 yo was a ninja.. her pic was amazing!  The first picture is of my friend sitting across from me at lunch!  :) 

January 1, January 2 BANG! starts the new year!

Wow!  what a start to the new year!  LeighAnn's party was so much fun... we had about 10 people+, and wayyyyy too much food!  LOL better to have too much food, than not enough, in my book!  I was up until about 1:45 putting things away, and getting things in the dishwasher to start it.... I was sooo tired!  Then when I finally went to bed my brain wouldn't shut off, and didn't even BEGIN to try to sleep until 3ish... when the storms hit and Paige ended up in our room a couple times scared by the thunder and wind.  It always scares her any more since the flood.  Any rain - especially at night - and she is in our room, or better yet she and dad go watch the weather on tv.....  It was a definite BANG! to the beginning of the year.

LeighAnn (14 yo) is having a fun new year too!  Well, it is a learning time for all of us, I should say!  LOL  She is our oldest child.. a girl at that.... and a young man has decided he wants to date her.  Had he been a freshman as well, maybe it wouldn't have been so bad, but, he is a Junior, which is just so scary!  That brings a whole 'nuther dimension of things that can be done  (driving, going out dates, prom, etc).... and we are probably being WAY over protective, but that's what we are being right now......  He is welcome over here as much as he wants to be until we can "trust" him.... then... maybe BIG group dates, etc..... but.... geez!  So many emotions running through me right now, it's just insane!  I can't imagine what it's doing to HER!  Well, I guess we just work through it together, right?  We also told him (in hopes he would chicken out I think!) that he had to ask us if he could date our daughter.... it took him 2 full days to finally do it!  NYE, and then NYD!

Yes, I said New Years Day.... He left without asking NYE, but I told him he was welcome back any time, so the next day he asked if he could come over (or did she ask him... I don't know) but we said 3 pm, he asked for 5... so LeighAnn cooked dinner for him!  It was hysterical!  She is not my chef, but she made chicken casserole , green beans with bacon and brown sugar, and we bought rolls and cake....it wasn't horrible..... LOL  I look forward to more of those nights where I don't have to cook (or clean!  she cleaned the house because he was coming!  hmmmmm maybe this is a goooood thing afterall!  LOL)  He stayed until 10:45... and finally asked....so.... she has an official boyfriend to start off the new year!  wow.... LOL

Today (the 2nd) we skipped church (yeah, bad, our neighbor- Wayne- the minister of music at our church, called to make sure we were ok!  LOL) because we went to Scott's Cousin's house because their grandson was having a birthday party, and he just REALLY wanted to have the girls there... he just loves them to death....he's 9... girls are fun to play games with.....thing is... it's about 1.5 hrs away!  So... it was a long way....but not as long as I thought it was going to be.. and it was sooo worth it!  the company was just so much fun!  We had a BLAST!

We have been going and going and going for the last 4 days or so... so I finally was able to take down the tree tonight.....the corner looks soooo bare..... but it's nice to have open space for a while.....  We got the family room all cleaned out so it's ready for me to finish/paint the walls,  and for us to do the floors..... it was nice to get all of that out of the room too!  The kids had SO MUCH fun at the party using chalk on the walls and floors and made some great pictures for us to enjoy until we can get it finished.....