Pinterest Challenge

Welcome back!  I wasn't sure if I was going to have anything to post this week - I really have to plan to make sure I actually accomplish something but then, I realized I had "accidentally" done quite a few things :-) 

The first idea is a simple one, it is just a printable from living locurto, aren't they adorable?

Several months ago, I won a chore chart for the boys which I really like but, honestly, they aren't  ready for it (or maybe I'm not HA!)  First, I think they need to master some basic skills on their own plus the 4 items in the routine shown above are on the chore chart as well.  I love that we can start with these and then it will be a natural transition into the larger chart.  So, I printed these and am working on a small reward system.  They currently love pennies so I'm thinking that for each item they complete in the morning, they will earn a penny and they can drop it into their piggy bank.  Plus pennies are easy on Mom and Dad too - I can almost guarantee that I have 50 pennies on hand each week - probably in the car somewhere :-)   I may also just start with one or two of the cards and then add another one once they have mastered the first two.  See? Easy, Peasy. 

The next few are recipes - between the Superbowl and testing out ideas for an upcoming shower, I ended up with several things I made all at once!  First up is a drink.  I've mentioned before that I'm always looking for a refreshing "mixed" drink - we do not drink alcohol at all so by mixed I just mean a mix of flavors instead of Crystal Light or Soda.  First, I will confess, unlike most of the world, I am not a Sonic Fan.  We've been twice and I really do not see what the excitement is about.  But, I saw this idea from The Little Brown House and thought it might be really good for a shower because you could serve it in a pitcher instead of punch bowl, which gets messy. 

I made this for our drink for Superbowl Sunday . It was good - nice tart flavor - but after drinking one glass, I was done.  I think my husband drank 1/2 glass and said he couldn't drink anymore. It is pretty acidic.  Maybe if you love Sonic's Cherry Limeade you will love this .. . I just felt like it was Sprite on Steroids :-)  It is pretty though :-)


We have a favorite Mexican Restaurant and one of the things I love to get is there Southwestern Egg rolls so when I saw this recipe from Cake and Allie, I knew I had to try them plus I thought they would be a great addition to the shower menu IF they were taste worthy. 

I used Wonton Wrappers because that is what I had and they worked fine.  But, I must admit, they didn't have a ton of flavor and neither did the dressing.  I was hoping for the same flavor as the ones I get at the restaurant and they weren't even close.  Probably not something I will make again unless I can refine the flavors more!

That's it for this week.  I do have some more simple things planned to get done before next Tuesday to share.  I feel like February is slipping away and I haven't done much yet - I think the fake spring we are having is just messing with me - I need SNOW to get stuff done in February HA!  Oh, and for the record, neither of my hopeful recipes (the egg rolls or the drink) will make it to the shower.  Don't worry thought I have tried and true things I plan on using - I'm just looking for that one special new thing to add though!

Too Cute Not to Toot!!

Ok, sorry again about the big old forgotten post last week - I've been trying to have posts ready 1-2 weeks in advance and completely forgot that I had never completed the Too Cute Not To Toot! post.  Oops!  As soon as I posted it last week, I started searching for ideas for this week to make up for it :-)

Here we go!

With Valentine's Day coming closer we are all looking for ideas to tell our sweety we love them - here's a great idea from How Does She.  I like this idea better then the 52 ideas because I only have to think of ten (not that I couldn't think of 52 but they would start to sound dorky after awhile!!)

I love party ideas - I think they are fun and who really knows when I'll need them!  I love this circus party idea from Vixen Made - I wonder if my niece would mind a Circus Themed Bridal Shower HA! (Just joking!!!)

These cookies from Sugar Bean Bakers are super cute and a very easy twist on the typical Peanut Butter Kiss cookies.

Sometime around this time of year last year I posted about Valentine's Pouches for the dining room chairs.  I went back to that post this year and was going to make them for the boys . . .until I read the instructions and realized I wasn't ready to sew that project so when I came across this idea from Oopsey Daisy I had to save it for future reference!  Such a cute and fairly simple idea!!

This next idea is a great tutorial for the 52 Reasons I love You project that I did not complete last month.  Paper Vine gives some great information on how to create this project - maybe I will try this one some other time this year!

I have a very specific reason for wanting to post this tutorial from Shindig Parties To Go . ... I needed to know how to make cupcake wrappers for an upcoming shower I'm helping with!  This will be awesome for that and for future birthday parties too!

Clean and Scentsible  shares a really cute card idea using one of my favorite things - the kids handprints!!

We love football and, as the boys get older, I look forward to some Sunday Football traditions so when I saw this table runner, I knew I had to save the idea from Everything has its wonders.  I for sure want to make this before this fall so we can use it for special games as decor.  :-)

And to go along with the football idea, this neat craft from Mom On Time out would be something fun to make next year on Superbowl

That's it for this week!  I'm really hoping to get some inspiration for March decor soon - I need some ideas for my "Mantel" and for a new wreath!! 

February Goals

On Monday, I recapped my January goals.  Today, I want to share my February goals.  Maybe this will inspire you or maybe it will bore you but I like to share these because I like to read others :-)  (I figure I can't be the only one!)

1. The Mantel:  Just put out the February decor - it is all made and I'll be posting pictures soon!

2. Holiday Celebrations: I would like to take the kids to a place called Play World; Mail the family birthday cards on time; Complete all of the printables that go with the birthday board I want to have created by October.

3. Date Night: Darryl's birthday is this month so my plan is to do something on the 25th.  I'm not sure if this will be a family date or not; my plans are not finalized.

4. Daily Something Special: Plan Special Activities around the Valentine's Theme - doing something daily doesn't seem to be working so I'd like to do at least 2 activities a week; Put together the February binder with all ideas I've collected; Plan our little Superbowl party with some decorations and special treats.

5. Pinterest Goals: I actually have 10 items I want to complete this month.  Four of them are recipes - three of which are for our Superbowl party.  The other 6 items are a mixture of some really quick and easy things like printing and framing something to actually sewing a few things.  Watch my weekly posts to see what I've completed and I will give a recap at months end.

6. Too Cute Ideas: I have 7 ideas from recent Too Cute posts.  Some are just printables, a few recipes, and then, again, some things I actually have to "make".  I know I won't complete them all but I couldn't narrow it down!!

7. Quite Book: This is a repeat from January - I would like to complete 2 pages in each book.

8. Celebrate Me:  I want to actually accomplish those discipline areas.  Also, after practicing for my niece's wedding, I realized how much I missed playing so my goal this month is to work on two songs and have them ready to play.

9. Misc Items: Work on my nephews books and get them sold; Design/create march Mantel items

10. House Items: Prime and Paint the kitchen!!!!!!

11. Scrapbooking: Complete 2011 Digitally; make sure everything is uploaded and ready to order when I can order it; Finish my "old" photos; Complete January 2012 Traditionally; Update the boys books; Finish Nate's baby book!

Yes, in case you are wondering, there is way more on this list then I can accomplish in one month but the variety allows me room to accomplish things that I want.  Sometimes, things that look good at the beginning of the month, lose their appeal by the middle of the month.  When I under plan, I tend to do nothing - I'm an over planner :-)

Something Fun to Read

I have some craft posts to put up but I just haven't had a chance to write them yet - this week seemed a little busy, odd I know for a stay at home mom but, some weeks just involve more things! 

So today, I'm going to share a link to a blog of a friend of mine, Betsy, over at The Thompson Family blog.

She wrote a post today called "You know you're a mom when . . ." which included 50 different line items and many of them made me laugh out loud.  I think you'll find some of them funny, relate to a few, and some you'll think, "people do that?" .  I thought about taking her list and only listing the ones that pertain to my life but that just didn't seem right so instead, just read click the link and enjoy a few minutes of humor :-)

Have a great Sunday  -  we are enjoy Football today!!

Weekly Menu - Did you see the Beef Prices?

Just to keep it real - I don't have a menu planned yet.  Well, I did, and I even went to the store on Friday night but the store was HOT and BUSY and my list was long . . too long.  I hate it when I do that so instead of trying to recreate the wheel menu while standing in an aisle, I left and came home.  I'll try again today. 

Ideas for meals? Probably Teryiaki Chicken Thighs, Spaghetti, and breakfast for dinner.  Plus we will have some fun stuff on Sunday - just need to narrow it down . . . I had way too much stuff planned!!


That's it for today :-)

Food Friday - Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

Yes, I realize that you don't really need to make Sloppy Joes in the Crock-pot but that slow cooking really helps the flavors blend well plus, it sure is nice to put dinner together earlier in the day and forget about it!

Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
adapted from Real Mom Kitchen

I have been searching for a Sloppy Joe Recipe for a long time.  My mom always just "threw" hers together and no matter how many times I try to make them like she does, they do not turn out.  When I saw this recipe it really appealed to me because I love Worcestershire Sauce :-)  Now, I knew when I taste tested this recipe earlier in the day I knew exactly what my husband would say - that it was too sweet and guess what?  That was his one complaint!  This is a very sweet recipe but the nice part is that you can use mustard on it without it being over powering.  Granted, next time I am going to cut the brown sugar in half and see how it goes.  Also, if I was serving this at a party, would add an additional 1-2 pounds of beef without increasing the sauce - this is a very saucy recipe :-)

Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

 

• 2 lb. ground beef
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 (8 oz) cans tomato sauce
• 1 (10 3/4 oz) can condensed tomato soup
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/8 cup ketchup
• 1 1/2 Tbsp worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 Tbsp dry mustard
• 1/2 Tbsp prepared mustard
• 3/4 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 16 hamburger buns
• 16 slices of cheese, optional (we like american or provolone)

1. In a skillet, brown ground beef and onion together until beef is cooked. Drain off fat.
2. Place beef in the slow cooker and add remaining ingredients.
3. Stir until well combined.
4. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours.
5. Serve on buns with a slice of cheese on each bun.

And here is how my family looked while they were eating !!

 Can you tell he liked it?  Just look at the sauce all over his mouth!!!

Show Us Your Life Fridays - Singles!

I haven't done a "Show us your life" Friday post in a long time because . . .. the topics did not pertain to me.  Well, this weeks does so I am linking up over at Kellys Korner.  It is showing off your singles . . and well. . .. I'm . . .NOT single HA!!  You were all a little worried, weren't you?  So why am I doing this?  Because my niece Marisa IS single so I want to link up with all the other single posts to maybe find her someone wonderful!

Some simple facts about Marisa:

19 years old

A missionary kid - she has spent a good portion of her growing up years in Brazil

She is great with kids - and currently works at a day care while her family is back in the states.

She is the third of 4 kids and is a total 3rd child - an extrovert to a tee.

She is short (well, she is! - we tease her that she probably needs to sit in a booster seat - but she is really over 5 feet tall . .. ok . . or maybe just under 5 feet tall but she is soooo close!)

She has a great talent for photography that she is just now really starting to experiment with and learn.

Currently she is planning to return to Brazil and work in an orphanage there (but I would love for her to stay in the states .. just saying!!)

Marisa is a Christian and loves the Lord - she is seeking what He would have her do right now (and as her favorite Aunt, I'm praying really hard too!!) She has recently completed a counseling class and is also taking a class related to teaching English as a second language. 

Marisa enjoys music very much and yes, she can sing :-)  At family gatherings, she provides comic relief (or maybe we just all enjoy laughing at with her!) and really is so much fun!! 

Marisa is "my sweet Marisa" and has been since she was born.  I love her to death - she has a tender heart, a sweet spirit and is fun!!! 

Feel free to leave a comment on this post to contact Marisa - I'll be sure to forward the information on to her.