LivingLearningLoving

My Visual Homemaking Journal

2010-07-31T15:18:00.000-07:00

I've always been a sporadic journaler, mainly during a time of travel or intense learning do I consistently keep one. But every time I have skimmed through my past writings, I am amazed and reminded by the things the Lord had been teaching me at the time (and quite regularly I didn't realize it at the time!) and the incredible experience the Lord has given me the opportunity to have.

I've had several beautiful journals that I justified buying from Barnes and Noble because of the dignified reason of recording a trip or something, but really, my favorite journal is my current one, inspired by Ann from Holy Experience. A dear friend introduced me to the idea, and I immediately began searching for the perfect medium to create such a diary.

Here are a few shots of mine, but for a better explanation of how to accomplish something similar, there is a tutorial at Holy Experience.

Unfortunately, I could only find a basic, textured, black journal, but the pages were made for this and I'm alright with a boring outside, because I know what's inside. I use a rolling tape dispenser that is typically used for scrapbooking, and works well for this.

This helps, because one of my favorite things to do is tear out what I like from magazines so I don't have to keep the whole thing. I hope to post some other time what I like to do with the rest of my tear-outs. It's kind of fun. :-)

I record what's going on in our lives, pray, write verses, lists, goals, quotes and anything else that I may want to remember. It's a good way to save pictures of fun ideas too. There are no rules.

I've been tagged!

2010-02-25T17:55:00.000-08:00

Source

Thanks to Thoughts Caught on a Web for the tag! You brighten everyone's day. :-)

Here are the rules:
List 10 things that make you happy. (try to do one of those things TODAY!)
Tag 10 bloggers that brighten your day.
Make sure to link back to the person that tagged you!

10 Things That Make Me Happy

   1. The way God cares about the little things.
   2. Laughing with my sweet hubby.
   3. Making (and eating...) chocolate chip cookies.
   4. Holding a baby--especially when they fall asleep on your shoulder...
   5. Coffee dates.
   6. Cooking...anything.
   7. Road trips.
   8. Not having to clean my house because it's already clean. :-)
   9. Reading about healthier, more frugal ways to cook.
   10. Good music. That makes you want to dance. :-)

Bloggers that brighten my day...

The Pruitts

Here, There and Everywhere

Mr. & Mrs. Nathan Fries

The Life and Times of Tim and Faith

California Coates

The Adventures of Peter & Julia

Comfort Food: Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie

2010-02-07T21:54:00.000-08:00

Source

One of those meals that just makes your tummy happy. It's warm, comforting, yet has a unique blend of flavors that excites your taste buds. What started as a Rachael Ray creation, with a slight bit of tweaking has evolved into a favorite of our household!

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Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie

Ingredients:

2-1/2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes (the more the better in my opinion!)

Ground cloves*

Ground cinnamon*

Garlic Powder*

Old Bay's Seasoning*

Milk*

Salt

Extra-virgin olive oil (as needed)

2 pounds ground turkey (I use ground buffalo or ground moose, which leads me to believe it could be fine with beef, or any meat you have on hand)

1 large onion, chopped

2 large carrots, sliced

4 ribs celery, chopped

4 tablespoons butter

Pepper

2 tablespoons flour

2 cups turkey or chicken broth (I used beef broth)

A few dashes Worcestershire sauce

1/2 cup of frozen peas

* Unfortunately I didn't measure these ingredients. I just sprinkled, stirred and tasted. Don't underestimate yourself, you're the best judge of whether it has enough flavor. I tend to add until it tastes good...and then add a little more... :-)

Optional Ingredients:

2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

A few dashes hot pepper sauce

A few dashes of Worcestershire sauce

Directions:

In an appropriate sized pot, cover sweet potatoes with water. Bring to a boil (add salt if desired) and cook until tender--10-15 minutes. Drain and set aside.

While sweet potatoes are cooking, preheat oven to 425 Degrees. In a large skillet, cook the meat, breaking up with a spoon. Once cooked, add carrots, celery, onion, garlic powder, Old Bay's, salt and pepper. Cook until vegetables are tender, approximately 5 minutes.

In a small skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat, add flour and whisk for 1 minute. Next whisk in the stock and season to taste--garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper...use your creativity and taste it as you go! Allow to thicken, stirring constantly. Then add to the meat mixture.

Mash the sweet potatoes with butter, milk, garlic powder, cinnamon, cloves, salt, pepper and if desired, Worcestershire sauce and/or hot sauce. I think my favorite is including both with a little bit of shredded cheddar cheese mixed in.

Place meat mixture in an appropriate casserole dish and top with sweet potato mixture, smoothing it to cover the top completely. Sprinkle more cheese over top if desired. Bake until cheese is melted. Can be made ahead of time, just look for bubbling along the edges.

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Adapted from Rachael Ray's Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie--main changes: no banana (it just doesn't sound good...), the cheese isn't necessary, nor the hot sauce (but they are fun to experiment with for different flavor!) and I added the cloves, cinnamon, Old Bay's and garlic powder. The contrast is so interesting Who would have thought cinnamon, garlic and hot sauce could make such a delicious flavor!

Serve with a crisp salad and enjoy!
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Mod-Podge of Great Posts

2010-01-27T23:49:00.000-08:00

For lack of a better idea, and because I've been reading some great posts lately, I thought I would just link them for you to read as well!

Amy at The Finer Things in Life posted about cooking dried beans. She explains in full detail how much money it will save. When we first got married, I tried the 'quick-soak method' without much success. The beans were cooked...but not...Last week I tried the crock-pot style and found it to be quite simple. It took awhile in the sense of, you must plan ahead. Sometimes I am good at that...and then sometimes I don't know what happens! You can freeze the beans too, so my advice would be to cook the beans now, so that when you want them, you have them. I really should take a bit of my own advice there...

Beans in the Crock-Pot

Rinse and pick through the beans. You want to get any that are split and check for dirt clumps and rocks.
Place in crock-pot and cover with water about 2-3 inches above the beans. Add 1 Tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Let sit (not plugged in) for at least 6 hours (can be overnight). If you are in a pretty warm climate, you can place the pot in the fridge to keep anything bad from growing...
Next, rinse the beans, getting rid of the old water and add new water.
Turn the crock-pot on and let them cook for about 8 hours.
Eat and enjoy or freeze for later.

She also has a great post about making two when cooking. I should do that as well!

Next up, Simple Mom wrote about ORGANIZING--7 Organizing Myths Debunked. She addresses the cost and purpose of organizing. I know I can get distracted by all of the pretty organizing done in magazines like Real Simple, but it just comes down to the old saying, "Everything having a place and everything in it's place." Really makes a big difference! I really love to organize, but sometimes I just don't take the time. My deep, but narrow cabinets in my kitchen just have no hope...one day I'll have a real kitchen. :-)

I think even more than the organizing post, I really liked, Start Your Day by Eating a Frog. For one, the title really catches your eye, and maybe your stomach...I may just have to leave it at that and let your curiosity and mouse find out what that is about! Let me just say this, if I really applied it, I would be much more productive!

Pretty Organized Palace had a great post on Homemade Christmas Gifts. I know, it's January, meaning Christmas is barely behind us. But while I succeeded in making Homemade Body Scrub (thanks, V!), I hope to make more gifts for next Christmas and it would be much easier if I got a head start on this. Maybe not January, but at least I can think about it! Perhaps even use some of the ideas for Birthday presents. Here's another one from Make Room For Living.While on the subject of presents, you should also check out this brilliant use of paint samples that I always feel guilty about throwing away.

My goal this February is to try these recipes because every time I look at the posts, my mouth waters and my tummy rumbles. Tomato Sauce with Onion and Butter, Zuppa Tuscana Soup and Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day--using tips from House on Hill Road. Hubby bought me the book for Christmas, and I'm not sure what is holding me back! The bread looks AMAZING!

For the record, this post was quite simple because I have learned how to utilize my Google Reader. I still enjoy going directly to a few blogs, but I find that I am able to browse many more. And then all I have to do is *star* what I like. Such bliss....

Green Tortillas

2010-01-20T19:43:00.001-08:00

Yum! I'm just finishing up with Tammy's Spinach Tortilla recipe. They are pretty easy and very good. I am definitely not a perfectionist, so each one is shaped differently, but it doesn't bother me. :-) I used Pastry Berry Flour (but you could use all-purpose flour), fresh spinach and a few other ingredients that most have on hand. While waiting for them each to be done on the skillet, I melted some cheese in one and ate it for lunch. I love spinach, so the true test will be to see what my husband says about them...

I'm planning to store them in the fridge for a lunch later this week. I'm curious to see how long they keep and how they are for different recipes. Also, I didn't need to cook them 5 minutes on each side--I would say about 2 minutes or so.

I give them a 10!

The Wonderful World of Canning

2009-09-23T22:20:00.000-07:00

I'm now in the club. A friend and I made our first batch of strawberry jam! I loved every moment of it and can't wait to enjoy the yumminess for the next few months. Nor can I wait till the next canning day. My delightful friend Jen, from Hibby and Hubby posted photos and commentary of our splendid day and instead of attempting to write as well as she does, I thought I would just send you over there. Enjoy!

Back in and here to talk about soap nuts!

2009-08-02T16:45:00.000-07:00

I know, I've been gone awhile. Not really gone. I've been home, at work and whatnot, even on the computer...but blogging hasn't happened for awhile!

Good news though! One of my favorite blogs Passionate Homemaker is doing a soap nut liquid detergent giveaway. Yup, you read that right--soap nuts. For the questions running through your mind, you can check out her FAQ on soap nuts here. Lindsay has done all of the pricing and sampling, so her review is very helpful. I purchased a sample set awhile back and recently tried it on my load of whites while washing the rest of my laundry with normal detergent. There was no difference, my whites came out just as clean as the other loads of laundry. The soap nuts are scent free, but I did put a few drops of essential oil on the bag containing the nuts which added a nice subtle scent rather than the overpowering perfum-y detergent scent. I'm doing more laundry today and will try the soap nuts for washing my sheets and will blog about the results later.

For now, here is a quote from Lindsay at Passionate Homemaker about soap nuts:

"It is 100% safe and natural for the most sensitive skin. Soap nuts are the dried fruit of the Chinese Soapberry tree. They contain saponin, a natural cleaner. They are simply harvested, de-seeded, and then dried in the sun. Great for hard water and high efficiency machines. It is biodegradable, hypo-allergenic, brightens colors, low sudsing, and contains a natural fabric softener."

The giveaway is for a liquid version of the soap nuts that can be used for cleaning, laundry and the dishwasher--I'm all for true multi-purpose cleaners! It's going on now, so head on over to enter! Or if I have just piqued your interest you can shop online for soap nuts at NaturOli.

Don't Buy Stuff--from Heavenly Homemaker

2009-05-07T08:27:00.000-07:00

I just love the way she writes....

"When you buy stuff, you have to pay for it with money. And then you have to find a place to put it once you bring it home. And it won’t stay where you put it because someone will get it out and not put it away. And then it will get lost. Or broken. Or forgotten.

Buy food. You need to eat.

Splurge on toilet paper. It’s very useful.

Invest in soap…using soap is good.

But don’t buy stuff.

You’ll save a lot of money."

-Laura @ Heavenly Homemaker

I've got a lot of kisses...do you?

2009-05-06T23:48:00.000-07:00

Failed gift baskets with chocolate kisses ended in peanut butter cookies with kisses on top. Hubby is happy! My intent for these is our Bible study, but he was my taste tester and I believe he approves! They are very rich and oh so good! Found on Recipe Zaar-Peanut Butter Kisses.

I used Trader Joe's something, something healthy PB. Why do all of those brands add so much?? Mush up some peanuts and you have peanut butter. Yes, I know...it can be a challenge to work with, but is well worth the lack of preservatives and whatever else they put in that impostor peanut butter!

One thing I really liked about these cookies is that they don't spread in the oven. So you can make 20 on a medium size pan very easily. My kind of cookie when it's nearly midnight and you want to go to bed...:-)

Grab a glass of milk and let one of these melt in your mouth!

The Daily Struggles of the Domestic Un-Goddess: meal planning for the uninitiated

2009-05-05T15:41:00.000-07:00

An article on meal planning. I haven't tried any of her recipes yet, but she has a really interesting writing style and some good tips.
The Daily Struggles of the Domestic Un-Goddess: meal planning for the uninitiated

More Natural and Inexpenisive Cleaning Ideas

2009-05-05T07:20:00.000-07:00

I'm definitely going to try this soon. You can find hydrogen peroxide at Walmart--I believe in the first aid area (please correct me if I am wrong). I have used it for blood stains, but not much else. I was just thinking last night that I don't want to have so many cleaners. If all of these ideas work, then it definitely takes care of a few! You can even get two giant bottles at Sam's Club for a few dollars.

Here is the link from Passionate Homemaker:
Natural Stain Remover & Cleaning Agent: Hydrogen Peroxide!

Spaghetti With Broccoli and Lemon

2009-05-03T22:48:00.000-07:00

I love Real Simple. My hubby got me a subscription for my birthday and I anxiously anticipate every month for this brilliant magazine. I can't get enough of it!

Tonight's dinner was Spaghetti With Broccoli and Lemon. Yum! I would never have thought to put garlic, lemon and crushed red peppers together, but they all work together. This was a good way to slip some more veggies into our diet, which I am always trying to find a way to do! It didn't take long and I had everything on hand--I love recipes like that! Next time I want to add some cherry tomatoes, I had something similar at a friend's house and the tomatoes were a nice touch. I may try melting the cheese directly on the broccoli next time as well because the cheese didn't want to stick to the noodles. Another nice touch may be to try a bow-tie pasta or something fun like that. I love pasta--so many options! Oh, one other thing. I didn't serve this with anything else, we added chicken so I knew there would be enough of everything to serve as a full meal. Plus I was out of ideas for what else to put with it. Normally I would have added a salad, but we had a big one for lunch and I already knew I was already pushing it with the broccoli....

What would you have added with it?? Any comments would be much appreciated!

Roastin' Garlic

2009-04-20T00:22:00.000-07:00

Tonight I was making pizza and I wanted a strong garlic flavor. I found on Pioneer Woman how to roast garlic--very yummy! I roasted it, smashed it and put it on my partially cooked crust, then added the sauce and cheese and it was wonderful. Here is the link. I made some extra and froze it, explained here. Next I want to try it with some pasta. :-)

Yummy in my tummy!

2009-04-14T20:17:00.000-07:00

We tried a new chicken recipe at the last minute for dinner. I was thinking Chicken Caesar Salad, but my stomach wasn't completely convinced and then I started thinking about the potatoes that needed to be used up and well, somehow that led me to Pioneer Woman's recipe for Parmesan Crusted Chicken (that's her photo above). It sounded yummy and easy--my favorite combination! I had a few errands to run and the only thing I needed for the recipe was sun-dried tomatoes. I found them at the 99 cent store and they looked disgusting! I've only had them a few times and only liked them on one recipe (from a restaurant and I was afraid my cooking wouldn't be anything like it). I had hopes that they would look better in a real grocery store, so off I went. But no, they still looked gross. AND they were really expensive. I decided to give the recipe a try without. It was amazing! Here are the ingredients. Obviously I skipped the sun-dried tomatoes. :-)

Ingredients:
1/2 cup Hellman’s Mayonnaise
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese4 chicken fillets (or boneless, skinless chicken breasts)
2 sun-dried tomatoes, jarred
1 tsp Italian herbs
1 tsp basil
cayenne pepper

Crumbs:
2 tbsp breadcrumbs
Lawry’s garlic salt
1 tbsp Parmesan
1/2 oregano

That gives you an idea of what simple ingredients it calls for, I had most of this on hand or something similar. I encourage you to go to her link though she has incredible photos, not to mention many other great recipes. I cut everything in half since we were only doing two chicken breasts, used ground red pepper instead of cayenne (I think it's different...?), seasoned bread crumbs over plain, some other brand for garlic salt and dried herbs for everything else. It was awesome. And Hubby didn't even know it was mayo until I told him--the cheese makes it de-LISH. We had it with mashed potatoes, garlic bread and salad. So very satisfying!

Let me know if you give it a try!

Pantry List

2009-04-08T13:18:00.000-07:00

I don't want to be wasteful, but I'm not quite sure what to do with some of the things that have made their home in our pantry. Most of it, I can find a way to use it, but I thought I would add it to the list anyway to document what I have for next time I go to the store. I want to eat out of the pantry (don't even get me on the freezer yet...one thing at a time!) as much as we can. It only makes sense. Eat what you have before buying more...but sometimes things get lost no matter how organized I am. Or I'll buy something with a recipe in mind and then our schedule changes and I never make it, or it doesn't sound good anymore...I'm really bad about that one. So, my goal: use up the pantry! Sounds simple, but this is definitely going to take some creativity and diligence on my part. Most of this food was given to us, such a blessing, but I don't have a plan for how to use it. Here is the list:

1/2 package whole wheat rotini
3 boxes of Jell-O
1 box scone mix (I'm saving this one)
1 box brownie mix (necessary to just have)
1 bag dried chickpeas (ughhh, I do not want to soak these!)
1/2 bag dried pinto beans...
1 box Spanish rice
1 box lasagna noodles
1 package tortelloni *
1 bag lentils
1 can chicken noodle soup
3 can corn
2 can pinto beans
5 can cream of mushroom
1 can cream of chicken
1 can green chiles
1 can olives
2 can sweet peas
1 can bamboo shoots
1 can pumpkin (icky...)
1 can black beans
1 can coconut milk
1 can green beans
3 sweetened condensed milk
1 bottle liquid lecithin- glad to have it...but what is it?
Huge thing of Rosemary Garlic Seasoning
Huge bag of bay leaves
Huge bag of spaghetti noodles
1/2 can french fried onions
Canned tomato products of all sorts, but I use those all the time

Obviously most of this isn't going to go bad, but I want to use it up. The pasta is always a good thing to have on hand, as is some of the canned items. But some of it I just don't know where to begin...I'll keep you posted on what happens!

*Italics indicating what we've used up. :-)

I just found this post on Keeper of the Home. Pretty much what I'm trying to do. :-)

Homemade Cleaning Supplies!!!

2009-03-19T09:18:00.000-07:00

This gets me a little excited...you can MAKE your own cleaning supplies? And it's easy? Cool! I've yet to try these, we are in the middle of moving and cleaning isn't the priority yet. Moving stuff is. But I have been reading more and more about how simple cleaning products can be. Use some vinegar, baking soda, maybe some Borax, elbow grease and you've got it. Here is the link. Let me know if you try any!

Finding the ingredients:

Vinegar-easy, any store. If you want to go all out you could buy it in bulk at Sam's or Costco

Borax-I've found it at Walmart and Target. Wish other soaps, I believe the laundry soap.

Baking soda-easy, any store. Baking aisle.

Spray bottle-I've mentioned before, Walmart in the cleaning aisle or Michaels in the dollar section.

Castille soap-I've heard Dr. Bronners is a good brand. I've seen it at Trader Joe's, but also been told you can find it at Target.

Hydrogen peroxide-pharmacy section of Walmart or Target, near the first aid stuff.

Essential oil-I have a little bottle from The Body Shop of the green tea scent. I'm going to try that once I get around to making these, I will let you know how that works. I've seen essential oils in health food stores.

True Hospitality

2009-03-17T07:18:00.000-07:00

"...True hospitality doesn’t wear us out or make us feel pressured; life-sharing is not entertaining in our own strength. It flows from a heart full of love for others. Christ’s love, which doesn’t come from our own self-effort, is a work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The love of Christ is what draws people to God. This loves transforms a party or other event into true hospitality. Hospitality, then, is not an event; it is genuine concern for another’s well-being.” ~Vonette Bright

A quote that stood out to me while reading through the Passionate Homemaker's summary of Practicing Hospitality: The Joy of Serving Others by Pat Ennis and Lisa Tatlock. Sounds like a great book that I hope to one day read. For now, I'm learning quite a bit just from her summary. I thought I would pass on the quote, as it really challenged and reminded me...once again...to not lean on my own strength, but the Father's. He calls me to be faithful, but the details are up to Him. Mmm...I am so glad for that!

Pizza Time :-)

2009-03-10T21:33:00.000-07:00

Yummy in our tummies. Here is the link for the pizza I made tonight. I've tried a few recipes and I just haven't been satisfied yet. But this was DELICIOUS!!! And so very, very eassssy. I used 1 cup whole wheat flour and the rest white flour. I love whole wheat anything, but it may take some getting used to if you haven't cooked with whole wheat much. White flour will do you just fine...just won't be very good for you...I followed the directions by sprinkling the pizza with oregano, basil, S&P. I think it made a big difference.

Now for the sauce. This has been the main part I haven't found the perfect recipe for. But I loved the sauce I made tonight. Prepare yourself...it's really, really simple. I sort of looked at her (Tammy) recipe, which doesn't sound all that simple (plus it required a lot of tomatoes--5lbs! For canning, which I'm not ready to try). I just picked the herbs and spices out of her recipe and then used the canned tomatoes I had a on hand. I used a big can of crushed tomatoes and one small can of tomato paste. I plopped everything in the pan and let it simmer for a little bit. This is the part I followed from Tammy's recipe: Add some sugar (1.5 T), salt (1/2 t), oregano (1/2 t), black pepper, and basil (1/4 t). Those measurements are all approximate... just taste and alter as you wish. I think this would be a good way to use up the tomatoes that are wasting away on the counter, if you can't think of how to use them. I just didn't have any on hand and the canned tomatoes worked just fine for me.

I love garlic. So, I cook with a lot of fresh garlic. I love the way it tastes, plus I know it's really good for you. When a recipe calls for 2 cloves of garlic, I'll definitely add 4...or 5... In the past, every red sauce I've made, I just assumed garlic to be a staple. But recently my husband has been experiencing some heartburn and I was thinking it could be from the garlic. I restrained myself from adding it to this sauce, in hopes that it would solve the problem, yet still taste good. The result? Tasted wonderful. Unfortunately it still gave hubby heart burn...still searching for that solution...

The other part that I followed was one of the comments (Pizza Tips Baking Thicker Crusts) about Tammy's pizza. It recommended putting your pizza stone in the oven at 450 degrees before putting the pizza on it. I tried that and it worked fine. I obviously haven't tried it without, so I can't say if it made a huge difference. Although, in the past I have always pre-baked the crust before adding the toppings, but it saved me from that step. So I guess it worked well! I pulled out the pizza stone and put it on top of the stove to add the crust and topping. As long as you are careful to not touch, it works just fine. Then I put it in for 10 minutes. Thankfully I checked it after 9 and half minutes, because it was done. It maybe could have been taken out at 9 minutes, but it wasn't burnt. Just close. Oh, I just remembered. I did turn off the oven, cracked the door and let it sit there for another 5 minutes or so. I'm not convinced that part is necessary, but it is handy if you aren't ready to serve it immediately. Don't get me wrong, I love cold pizza. But not when It could have been hot and fresh from the oven, but just missed it.

Soooo....I hope that wasn't as confusing as it was writing it. My hubby started singing a song of what I was writing, and that kind of distracted me for a bit. He likes to add music to random words...oh the joys of being married to him. :-) By the way, he thinks the pizza is worth the potential heart burn. That's not such a good way to end this post...Just remember it is yummy and easy.

Mmm...I've got to try this.

2009-03-07T21:57:00.000-08:00

I found a homemade breakfast hot pocket recipe. Easy, cheap and freezable. My favorite. Our freezer is veeerrry full right now (thankfully), so we'll have to do some serious eating before I can try this. But I thought I would post it anyway, then I can find the recipe when I need it. And maybe someone else will try it! I'm going to brainstorm of how to make it a little lower in calories and a little more in good stuff (veggies, anyone?). We shall see....

Menu Planning

2009-03-07T12:39:00.000-08:00

This is going to take awhile. I'm still in the process of figuring out how to do it myself, but I thought I would share what I do know, what I've tried and what works for me.

First off, menu planning saves time, money, stress and I really enjoy doing it! Well, when I don't let myself get overwhelmed that is. I love, love, love searching for new recipes. Books from the library, Recipe Zaar, other blogs and not to mention cookbooks. I'm new at being a wife (well, a year this coming May...wow.) and a cook of my own kitchen. I tried things growing up and could make some basics, but it wasn't until I had my own kitchen that I started to truly cook. All that to say, I am constantly trying new recipes. Most meals begin with "It's an experiment, Honey!" Thankfully he doesn't mind. While I think I will always be the type to try at least one new thing a week, I hope to one day have a long list of ole' standbys.

I'm still in the process of making this a routine and it is not law, I change what we are eating that night depending on what sounds good. :-)

Some links that have helped me:

FlyLady
Heavenly Homemaker- how she sets up her menu plan, along with many great recipes

And someday I will take some pictures of what I use and what works for me. :-)

Wash that produce!

2009-03-07T12:22:00.000-08:00

Here is a simple homemade produce wash. You probably have all of the ingredients on hand. You can find a spray bottle at Wal Mart for under a dollar (look in the cleaning aisle-mops, soap, brooms, ect.) or I found a cool looking yellow one at Michaels in the dollar section. I also found it located in the wreath making aisle on the bottom shelf--little odd.

Anyway, here is the link for the wash.

Lemonicious Poppy Seed Scones

2009-03-07T11:04:00.000-08:00

Eleven o’clock at night and I was surfing for recipes. I just purchased a bottle of poppy seeds (for a salad dressing I will try later this week) and I was so excited about them that I had to try something. I found a simple scone recipe and went to work on it. Very easy, very yummy. I loved them! I have wanted to try some scones for quite some time, and these were just perfect. I poked one to see if it was completely cooked inside...I'm new at this!

I'll give it a try...

2009-03-07T10:11:00.000-08:00

I have been told…ahem…encouraged to have a blog. I've been putting it off, nervous of my writing abilities. But it was suggested to me that I post what I've been finding, learning and trying.

This dear friend is a blogger herself, and I couldn’t help but post what she had to say:

"And another thing. I've concluded that you must make yourself a blog. Now hear me out... It could be a very maintainable blog...where all you would need to post were internet "finds" of yours - directing people to a good recipe you found to be made easily/cheaply...or cute projects like this... Then you could, optionally, include a picture of your own end result, etc. You're really good at finding fun little nooks
and crannies of the internet. It'd be fun!!" ~Hibby

I have found some amazing blogs, recipes, tips, crafts...ect. I decided it really would be a good way to share what works for me from my searching. I love spreading good ideas and most of all, finding easier, more frugal, fun ways of doing anything and everything.
She convinced me! So here goes...

P.s. the credit for finding the project listed above goes to Thoughts Caught on a Web.

*Living*Learning*Loving*