Why So Quiet?

Hello out there....(knock, knock)  anyone still here? 

I realized to the bloggy world it seems that I dropped off the face of the earth.  But there's a story in there somewhere.

I started a part time job a little over a year ago that turned into full time and all of the sudden I blinked and found I went from a stay at home/homeschooling  mom to a full time working mom.  I've walked a mile in those shoes and let me tell you, those are some seriously tough shoes.  I loved the fact that my job combined my love for thrift stores and reselling with a nice little paycheck and the ability to help a worthy non-profit cause.  But working for a board of directors that contained a few people that were more interested in furthering their own agendas grew into a toxic environment.  So I am now, again, a stay at home mom. 

That's the short story. 

I learned a few things along the way though.

1. I learned I'm really good at appraising, reselling and displaying used items in a boutique atmosphere.  I love it and just saying that sentence sends a little thrill through me!  (It's spawned a much more family friendly business venture for my sister and I)
2. A working mom is a CRAZY tough job.  I constantly felt guilty for NOT being with my children.  I was exhausted all the time, barely home, and we ate out alot!  It does all kinds of things inside you emotionally when you are away from your children more than you are with them.  All those feelings for a job I loved.  Can you imagine moms who are forced to work a job they don't like? 
3. I LOVE being in my home.  I love feeding my family, making a cozy house, teaching my kids myself, all the conversations that come about just from being together.
4. Running a home is a full time job!  Holy moly!  I didn't realize how hard I worked at home until I wasn't in it.  Don't let anyone get away with assuming a stay at home mom has it easy.  My house was a mess even though hubby and kids were here most of the time.  The kids schedules and appointments were topsy turvy.  We very rarely ate a quality home cooked meal. It was chaos.
5. A mom (this mom) is the hub of a home.  I really am the glue that holds this family together and brings order to our lives.   Just being here makes everyone happier and more secure.  

I've been spending the last few weeks recovering from all that went down at my old job and re-discovering all that I love about being home.  I've been taking my new found passion and creating a way to fulfill that and earn a little money on the side.  All is well.

As for the blog...I'm ready for some changes here too.  I'm working on updating the site, I've got some new ideas up my sleeve, I'm getting my craftiness on again with several projects and of course I'm cooking up a storm.  So basically, I'm back!

And I'm loving it!

Menu Monday

It's been a busy few weeks at our house and I haven't had the time to come check in.   We knew the day was fast approaching that our oldest would get his license so we've been car shopping for a few months. The plan was to hand down our sturdy reliable Volvo to our driving kids and then Mama gets a new car!  Woohoo!  Our budget was super tight because we weren't going to go the traditional finance route.  But we finally found a great deal with low miles and the ability to seat all six of us if we need to.  It's the first car we've bought since 2001!  We like to use 'em up around here.  So now we are a family of three cars and three drivers.   

Our second oldest just started Drivers Ed this week too and by March we'll be a four driver family They will share the Volvo  to get them to work and college classes next fall. 

In the meantime we've been chopping wood and getting the house ready for winter.  We've also been working on our budget to incorporate increased expenses with another car and new drivers.  And of course working on fall menu plans. 


Here's what's cooking this week. 

Breakfasts:

Oatmeal, fruit, or  Crumb Topped Banana Muffins,


Dinners:

Easy Way Lasagna
TGIF's Black Bean Soup
Shepherds Pie
Meatloaf
Egg Salad Sandwiches
Stir Fry
Leftover Buffet

Menu Monday

I've been felling all domestic and nesty this week.  Fall seems to be postponing it's arrival around here so I've just decided to ignore the sun and start fall preparations anyway.  I drew the line when the kids asked if they could start a fire in the fireplace...even though I thought long and hard about it before I said no. 

So today we picked as many apples as we could reach from the trees in the backyard.  I even picked a few pears.    I baked cookies and pies and apple sauce.  I've got stews and roasts on the menu and school projects on the brain.  Christmas crafts and ideas are floating through my head and Halloween costumes are washed and ready to wear.   I've never been more ready for the rain. 

Here's what is cooking this week.

Breakfast:

Bread Machine Cinnamon Buns, oatmeal and fruit

Dinners:

Chipotle Pork Roast
Browned Beef Stew (this recipe is THE BEST if you like thick stews)
Chinese Style Noodle and Pork Soup (using up leftover Pork Roast)
Spaghetti
Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
French Toast and Sausage (breakfast for dinner night)
Leftover Buffet

Menu Monday

Today was our oldest sons 17th birthday.   After a comical reenactment of his birth scene, which my husband and I could have won an Oscar for, we feasted on a breakfast full of meat (his favorite food group) and are now getting ready for dinner at Applebees.  Now that all our September birthdays are over, we are getting back into the school groove starting tomorrow.  Which means  I will be learning to juggle things as a homeschool mom that works.  It's a new and different season for us but luckily I've got a great hubby willing to share the work/school/kid load with me. 

After today's celebratory meals it's back to  home cooking for the rest of the week.  Here's what we'll be eating...

Breakfast:

Oatmeal, yogurt or waffles

Dinners:

Birthday dinner out!
Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Spaghetti
Lentil Veggie Soup
Grilled Cheese
Stir Fry
Leftover Buffet

Menu Monday

I've been lazy  the last few days.  Haven't menu-planned...haven't shopped...so I'm doing the last minute panic of not only throwing something together for dinner tonight off the cuff, but slapping together a quick menu for the rest of the week.    Oh, and we have the second of the September birthdays this week so we get to eat out!  Here's what is cooking...

Breakfasts:

Blueberry muffins, oatmeal or farina

Dinners:

Browned Buttered Egg Noodles with steamed veggies
Slow Cooker Herb Pork Roast, steamed potatoes and broccoli
Homemade Veggie Soup with Buttery Bread Machine Rolls
Birthday Dinner Out
Pasta with Roasted garlic and cherry tomatoes
Grilled cheese, veggies and dip
Leftover Buffet

Mini Frittatas for Lunch!

I was at the hairdresser today and ran across a great recipe.  I was tempted to pull it out of the magazine but figured I could remember it in my head.    So I came home and whipped up these yummy little mini frittatas for lunch.  It's a great way to use up leftover pieces of cheese, veggies or meat and they look fun enough that all the kids ate them.   You can get as creative as you want with these.  We served them with fruit and they were light and tasty. 

Mini Frittatas

6 eggs
1/2 cup milk
chopped veggies
leftover diced meat
salt
pepper
grated cheese (feta, Swiss, cheddar...whatever you have)

Beat the eggs and milk together in a bowl and add salt and pepper.   Spray muffins pans with cooking spray and fill half way with chopped veggies, meats and/or cheese.  Pour egg mixture in muffin cup 3/4 full.  Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. 

We used cheddar, broccoli, tomatoes and leftover roast chicken.  They were a big hit!

Enter to Win $1000 SpaFinder Gift Certificate from Dove!

I love getting packages in the mail. Dove sent me a new product and I got an opportunity this week to try their new conditioner. Dove Intensive Repair Daily Treatment Conditioner showed up on my doorstep.

So some background… I have really curly hair that is prone to frizz and dryness. PLUS, I color it because, well, the grays are winning… so my hair can get fried pretty easily. Conditioner is almost a religious experience for me since it’s my sole hair product in the shower. Shampoo dries me out so I just use thick creamy conditioner to massage dirt and oil from my scalp and I only rinse it out partially so my frizz can stay in control all day. I even use it on dry hair to tame the frizzys when I don’t have time to wet it all down. It’s taken me years to find the right combo of conditioners and other hair products to get the most from my curls. So I don’t take kindly to change in the hair department. But here’s what I found….

• It smelled good. Not to perfumey, just kind of fresh and light. 
• When I rubbed it between my fingers it was creamy like good lotion. That’s what I look for in a conditioner. 
• It went smoothly through my hair in the shower and left if feeling silky. 
• My husband had his nose buried in my head all day long and said he like the way my hair smelled. 

So if you’re interested, see below to find out how you can get a coupon so you can try it for yourself and the BIG news is you can also enter to win a $1000 Spafinder gift certificate.  To enter to win you'll need to have the  answer to this question:

How often do you wash your hair?

Enter to win a $1,000 Spafinder gift certificate!

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY

COMMENTS TO THIS POST ARE NOT SWEEPSTAKES ENTRIES. PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR ENTRY METHODS FOR THIS SWEEPSTAKES.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Follow this link, and provide your email address and your response to the Promotion prompt

b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: "#SweepstakesEntry"; and then visit this link to provide your email address and the URL to that Tweet.

c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and then visit this link to provide your email address and the URL to that post.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. Winners will have 72 hours to claim the prize, or an alternative winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 9/4/2012 - 9/30/2012

Be sure to visit Dove^®Hair.com to get a coupon for $1.50 off Dove Hair Therapy products.

Menu Monday

I'm so ready for fall.  I like cozy sweaters, that nippy chill in the air, fires in the fireplace, and scarves.  I really love scarves.  So I'm happy about September.  It also happens to be a major birthday month around here.  All three of my boys are born in September.  I know, poor planning on my part.   September through December just costs a lot around here with all the holidays and birthdays and sports and school stuff.    So this weeks menu includes a day off for a Birthday because around here, we eat out for birthdays.   Here's what's cooking. 

 (My youngest, Gabe, who turned 9 and got a GIANT cinnamon roll from a local restaurant.)

Breakfasts:

Oatmeal, muffins, eggs or fruit

Dinners:

Birthday meal out
Spaghetti
Herb Baked Eggs with Fruit Salad
Asian Pasta Salad (add chicken)
Club Wraps
Party with friends
Leftover Buffet

GCC Shopping Trip

Scrimping till payday.  Here's what I got to supplement the ground beef and chicken in my fridge and rice, beans and pasta in my cupboards. 

And does anyone else think cooking with cream of "something" soup is gross?  I still do it occasionally but if feels like such a cheat.  (random thought inspired by recent recipe research)


Win-co

Soy sauce $1.15
2 yogurts $3.96
6 cans tuna $3.00
4 loaves of bread $3.80
milk $2.49
2 mac and cheese $.96
18 eggs $2.04
broccoli $3.98
bananas $2.62
salad mix $2.48
clementines $3.98
tomatoes $1.61
grapes $3.55
cheddar $3.98
strawberries $3.88

Total $43.48

Menu Monday

It's payday at the end of the week so we are being creative again.  I found a mystery casserole in my freezer that I forgot to label so I have no idea what it is.  But we're about to find out tonight.  Here's what is cooking at our house this week. 

Breakfast:

Amish Baked Oatmeal, eggs or fruit. 

Dinner:

Mom's Surprise (I think it's enchiladas...)
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup with Rolls
Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry
Quesadillas
Grilled Burgers a la Hubby
Egg Salad Sandwiches
Leftover Buffet

Working Lunchbuster Ideas!

The average American doesn't take a lunch to work but instead opts to eat out everyday.  That adds up to a lot of extra money each week.  For the most part, when I'm at work I pack my own lunch.  I usually take leftovers and fruit and lots of water.  But there are days when I work longer than expected or I just couldn't get it together in time to pack something to take with me.  On those days I have to grab food when I'm out and about.  Unfortunately that can add up really fast.  It's easy to spend $6 to $8 dollars (or more) on a fast lunch.  But here are a few lunchbuster ideas that can keep your budget lower when you need something on the go.

• If you must hit the fast food, stick to places that have a $1 menu.  I can usually get a burger, fries and a free water for less than $3. 

• The grocery store is a great place.  Remember that any work you do yourself, saves money.  Instead of buying a ready made sandwich for $5,   I get a fresh baked roll from the bakery for 50 cents, two slices of cheese and meat from the deli for less than $1 and build my own sandwich.  Add in a banana and a bottle of water and I've spent  about $2.50 on a healthy, quick lunch.  

If you're normally spending $6 a day on lunch, after 5 work days you've just put a dent in your budget to the tune of $30.  If you follow these tips you can knock it down to $15, cutting it in half.  Add in a few brown bag lunches each week and you're easily on the way to saving big during your lunch hour.

What are some ways that you save during working lunches?

$50 Visa Gift Card Giveaway from ConAgra Foods!

I have a great new site for you guys to check out. ConAgra, makers of probably half the food in your pantry, has a site called The Dish. It’s a place for bloggers to get inspired about food posts, new products, recipes, money saving tips and so much more. For Food bloggers this can be a lifesaver when you’re in a foodie rut and your creative juices have dried up. Anyone, not just bloggers, can go check out their user friendly site and great articles.

For Bloggers, this site is a wealth of information. Not only do they have a list of panelists that you can personally contact with questions you have about building your blog, cooking advice, and kitchen tips, but when you become a member at their First Look, First Taste section, you have access to some great information. You will be able to get exclusive coupons, hear about new products before they even arrive at your grocery store, order samples for review on your blog, and more.

In the Seasonal Spotlight section you’ll be filled in on current food trends and so you can tell your readers about relevant products and foods that change with the seasons. In the Recipe Resource Section you’ll find access to top rated recipes using ConAgra products. If you want to build traffic to your blog, learn to maximize your social media networks or learn to create a paycheck from your love of blogging, you can visit the Ask Our Team section where you’ll find a panel of experts ready to respond to your questions.

So head on over to The Dish and sign up to be a new member and start requesting some product samples to check out. You can also follow them on Twitter @ConAgraDish. And check out this great article I came across from their May issue on snacks that can keep your kids happy. It will give you some good ideas for healthy treats for the kids during these last few weeks of summer.

But that’s not all I have to tell you. Here’s the kicker. Blogger or not, you have the chance to win a $50 Visa gift card from ConAgra Foods. It’s quick and easy and there are no strings attached. Here’s how you can enter to win - just tell me what section of The Dish you think is most useful.

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

b) Tweet about this promotion with hash tag #sweepstakes and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 8/22/2012-9/8/2012.

Be sure to visit ConAgra Foods' brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

Shopping Trip

I dropped of the oldest kiddo at his job, (so weird to say that) and the youngest and I had some quality time at the grocery store this morning.  Here's what we got...


Win-co

4 cans tuna $6.00
TP $5.29
Coffee $7.54
2 gallons milk $4.98
shredded cheese $1.74
mayo $2.19
2 refried beans $1.76
bulk oats $.76
2 lbs carrots $.98
canned pinapple $.98
2 packs mushrooms $3.56
4 ears of corn $1.52
baby carrots $2.28
salad mix $2.48
5lbs red potatoes $1.98
clementines $3.98
pearl onions $3.48
banans $1.36
tomatos on the vine $1.39
cherry tomatoes $1.68
grapes $4.41
strawberries $3.88

Grand Total $53.64

Menu Monday

Our grocery budget was short this month so I'm digging deep into the recesses of my cupboards.  It's shameful how much food I really have when I think I'm out of groceries.   But my cupboards are always full of beans, rice and pasta and I've always got a couple random chicken breasts or hamburger hidden in the back of the freezer.    Oddly enough it's weeks like these where we end up eating healthier than on the weeks when the grocery budget is full.   Here's what is cooking this week.

Breakfasts:

Oatmeal, eggs or fruit

Dinners:

Lentil Burrittos with salsa, sour cream, cheese and onions in Whole Wheat Tortillas
White Bean Croquettes and green salad
Whole Roasted Chicken with baby red potatoes and green beans
Leftover Chicken Quesadillas
Hubs Cooking- Grilled Corn on the Cob and Burgers
Shish Kabobs : Marinated Teriyaki Chicken, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, pineapple and pearl onion with a pasta salad on the side
Leftover Buffet

Don't miss Wednesdays post!

I've got a giveaway worth a $50 visa gift card in the works.

Recipe Swap: Lemon Cream Cheese Scones

We often have scones for breakfast simply because they are easy to throw together and a sweet treat with a little jam on top.   This is a yummy recipe that even the kiddos can throw together.  And just for fun every once in a while, we'll put on a pot of tea and pull out the teacups to go with it. 

Lemon Cream Cheese Scones

2 1/4 cups flour 

1/4 cup sugar 

1 tablespoon grated lemon zest 

2 teaspoons baking powder 

1/4 teaspoon salt 

1/3 cup butter 

3 ounces cream cheese, softened 

1 egg 

1/3 cup milk 

lemon juice, for brushing 

sugar 

Preheat the oven to 400*F.  Mix the flour, 1/4 cup sugar, lemon zest, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender until crumbly.  Mix the cream cheese and egg in a bowl until smooth. Add the milk gradually, stirring constantly. Stir into the flour mixture until the mixture forms a ball and leaves the side of the bowl.  Drop by spoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto an ungreased baking sheet. Brush with lemon juice and sprinkle with sugar.  Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until golden brown. Remove immediately from the baking sheet and serve warm.

Do you have a recipe you'd like to share?  Please link directly to your post, not your homepage, and please include a link back here to the Grocery Cart Challenge.

Shopping Trip

Didn't need much protein this week which was nice on the budget.  Here's what I got.

Franz Bread Store

Total $11

Win-co

Bananas $1.21
sliced olives $1.19
TP $5.00
Pesto $3.98
2 tubs yogurt $3.36
2 cans sweetened condensed milk $3.08
almond milk $2.58
Mozzarella $3.15
2 packs hot dogs $1.16
tomatoes on the vine $1.30
ravioli $2.98
2 jars artichoke hearts $3.24
dish soap $.88
sliced almonds $2.11
feta $3.48
cheddar $4.98
apples $3.26
2 packs grape tomatoes $1.96

Grand Total  $59.90

Menu Monday

Ahh.  We had a wonderful vacation, just the hubby and I.  We hot tubbed, sat on the beach, took a dip in the chilly Pacific and soaked up the sun.  It was a nice little getaway and I'm already planning another one.  Maybe we'll take the kids next time...or not.  

It's still quite hot here in the Pacific Northwest.  Uncomfortably Hot.  So most of my cooking is going to be done early in the morning and we'll be eating lots of summery foods.  Here's what is cooking at our house this week.

Breakfasts:

Yogurt, fruit, or Muesli (warm weather oatmeal)

Dinners:

Grilled Burgers
Broccoli Salad with Gouda and French Bread
Hot Dogs and Macaroni Salad
Greek Rice Salad
Easy Tortellini Pesto Salad
Egg Salad Sandwiches, veggies with dip
Leftover Buffet

GCC Recipe Swap

We drink lots of iced tea around here during the summer  Normally I make it on the stove top  and cool it in the fridge.  But recently I picked up one of these little doohickies and now I'm in tea heaven.  I really thought, "Tea's easy to make, why the heck would anybody use one of these things?"  But Ican't even believe how fast and easy it is.  I've been making about three pitchers a week since I got it and I've been using up the awesome drawer full of loose leaf teas I had stashed away.

So here is one of our favorite iced tea recipes.  It can be made with or without the tea maker so have fun!

Strawberry Iced Tea

2 cups whole frozen strawberries 

32 fluid ounces brewed tea, that has been cooled 

1/4-1/2 cup white sugar (depending on how sweet you want the tea) 

1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice 

Directions: Take 5 strawberries out of the bag and set aside. With the remaining berries, blend in a blender or food processor until smooth. Strain the pureed berries, discard seeds. Mix together pureed strawberries, tea, lemon juice, and desired amount of sugar. Chill until ready to serve. Serve with ice and reserved berries as garnishes.

Do you have a recipe you'd like to share?  Please link directly to your post, not your homepage, and please include a link back here to the Grocery Cart Challenge.

Homemade Sanitizing Wipes

It just amazes me that we can make pretty much anything that we can get at the store.   Without the fancy packaging and name brand, we can save lots of money by doing it ourselves.  So here's a great recipe for those germ killing wipes we all know and love.  

Homemade Sanitizing Wipes

Smelly Clothes Washers

Recently I've noticed that my laundry room has had a strange smell.  Not the dirty sock, stinky boy smell that I'm used to.  I realized it was my machine.  So I'm happy to dig this post out of the archives.  It works great to get any mildewy smells out of your washer and freshen up your machine.

How to Clean your Washing Machine!