Too Cute Not To Toot!

I want to start out with an idea that I actually asked a blogger about because she posted about it.  This is one of my favorite blogs to read called, Superchikk, and she shared an idea about creating a photo book for your child.  She gives one to her kids as a stocking stuffer each year that contain 100 photos from the year.  What a great little treasure for kids to hold on to and use as a reminder of people and things.

Oops!!  I started this last week and then forgot that I hadn't finished it so, I'm going to post this idea for today and try to remember to create this post the right way for next week!

Pinterest - Recap of my January Pinterest Goals

To begin with, I have one final item that I completed this month and that, of course, is a recipe.  Yes, recipes seemed to be the easy thing to do this month!  Even though I pinned this on Pinterest, it actually comes from a blog that I follow, Jenna's Journey, which gave me a little comfort since I've tried some of her recipes before and they turned out well.  This recipe was for a Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake.

I was sold on this for two reasons.  1) We love pumpkin and 2) We love Chocolate Chips.  Put the two together and they are perfect. 

So, first, to give you a good laugh before I even tell you anything else about this recipe, this is what mine looked liked.

Notice that it is in three big chunks and it isn't a nice round cake?  LOL  Before I go any further I will say that this cake tastes fantastic, I just made a "baker's" error.  Do you want to know what I did?  Very simply, I tried to flip it out of the pan before it was ready and it just fell apart.  That's all.  So when you make this recipe, WAIT the full 15 minutes the recipe suggest BEFORE turning it out of the pan.  By the way, the rest of the cake I just dumped into a bowl and we ate it with dinner just using forks.  It was too good to throw away.   I don't actually own an bundt pan so I used an Angel Food Cake Pan and had to cook it for about 1 hour and 10 minutes. 

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake

2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature

2 1/4 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground allspice

¼ teaspoon fresh nutmeg

1 teaspoon salt

1 - 15oz can of pumpkin puree

3/4 cup well-shaken buttermilk

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 1/4 cups granulated sugar

3 large eggs

2 cups of chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 10 inch bundt pan, then dust with flour, knocking out excess.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, fresh nutmeg, and salt in a bowl.

Separately, whisk together pumpkin, buttermilk, and vanilla in a bowl.

Cream butter and sugar in a mixer. Mix in eggs, one at a time. On low, add flour and pumpkin mixtures in batches. Mix just until combined, do not over mix. By hand, fold in the chocolate chunks.

Spoon cake batter into pan, smoothing top. Pound the pan on the counter to settle the batter. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean in the center of cake, about 1 hour. Cool the cake in the pan, on a rack, for 15 minutes. Invert rack over cake and re invert cake onto rack. Cool completely before serving. Dust with powdered sugar, if desired.

So, now to move on to my other ideas that I did not complete this month.

First up is an idea from Peppermint Creative and it was actually an idea I found prior to Pinterest but then ended up also pinning it.  It is the 52 Things Deck of Cards Album.

Now, this is a great idea, don't get me wrong.  But, after I had gathered my scrapbook paper from my collection, found a deck of cards, and starting thinking about this project I realized that for all of the work it would take, it would end up sitting on a table or shelf after my husband looked at it.  It would be two big to put in an album later so it would gather dust.  Why would I want to spend my time on something that will get dusty? :-)  So, in the end, I decided that I did not want to create this idea.  I think I can create a card for my husband for Valentine's Day that will express just as much but be something that I could actually keep in our scrapbook. 

Another idea that I still really like comes from Christina Williams and is for Canvas Silhouettes.  I think that this are classic and would actually really love to make them but I knew that it just wasn't going to happen this month or anytime soon. 

I actually had a 2 pack of 16x20 Canvas' in my cart at Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago but those just seemed so big; the difference in price to buy two 8x8 frames was pretty big. (The 2 pack was on special for $7.50 . .. verses $15.00 for a single 8x8) Plus, I would need to get some contact paper and blow up photos . . .it was becoming a very extensive project that I just didn't have the time or the money to do right now.  I think I need to print a couple 40% coupons one of these days and have my husband and I each pick up a canvas in the size I want - then go from there.  So, you may see this idea show up on my goals before the end of the year!

Finally, this idea comes from Diary of a Quilter but I've seen it so many other places as well and it is just for the simple homemade magnets.

I'm halfway into this project - I've purchased the glass beads/marbles but need to get magnets still.  Then I can cut the scrapbook paper and I have plenty of letters to use as well.  These are great to use for learning letters or for doing all of the magnet worksheets.  I also want to pick up some inexpensive cookie sheets to use with these as well.  I do plan on finishing up this project in February. 

I did complete 4 items on my goal list (plus a few that weren't) but sadly, those 4 items were all recipes!!  Better luck next month :-)

Recapping my January Goals

At the beginning of January, I posted my Goals for the month (and yes, it was a funky post because I tried adding my spreadsheet into the post and well, it only kinda worked!)  I wanted to take time to recap those goals and let you know what I actually accomplished.  I am the first person to tell you that I know that I will mostly likely not complete every goal I plan but I try to work towards completing them; you know, just make progress. 

Here's the low down, real life truth:

1. Our Mantel: We do not have a true mantel but my goal for January was two fold.  1)To pick some place to do a little decorating each month for the holiday/season and 2)To decorate it for January using snowmen.  Well this one gets a great big Check for being done!  I decided to use our dining room table and the top of our refrigerator as our "mantel".  The refrigerator because it is what you see when you walk in the house and the table because, obviously, we eat there and can see the decorations.  Here are a few photos of what I did for January:

 I love these snowman and I love that I can keep them out from Christmas through January :-)  I'm also trying to use table clothes again - I love them and now the boys won't pull them off like they used to! 

2) Holiday Celebrations:  One of my goals was to get some cards out on time.  Well, I totally missed one anniversary and my niece's birthday was Friday and her card just went out today.   I had planned to head to Frankenmuth to see the Ice Sculptures but those plans didn't pan out so instead we spent some family time on Saturday the 28th.  Finally, we've decided to celebrate half-birthdays so I've been working the basics of those ideas (these will just be with our little family of 4 for something fun to do!) and also a birthday board to use for the real birthdays :-)

3) Date Night: This was an easy one this month - we went away for the weekend to our niece's wedding :-)  We had planned to stay over on Friday night thanks to points my husband had used and ended up staying a second night due to the awful weather conditions! 

4) Daily Something Special: Does having good intentions count?  I did create my January binder and printed off some great ideas.  I also make a calender with what I wanted to do and put everything in order.  We did a few things like baked some cookies and colored but then. . .well, that was it HA!  We still have some things I would like to do but those might now carry over into February :-)

5) Pinterest Challenge: Check back tomorrow (Tuesday) and you will see the updates on this part of my goals!

6) Too Cute Ideas: 1) I made lots of ideas for February decorations but you will have to wait to see those - I'll be doing some crafty posts over the next couple of weeks! 2)  I did not create the birthday board but I did make my notes on what to do!  3) I finished up the clip boards this past weekend as well as the growth chart.

7) Quiet Books: No matter how hard I try I just can't seem to get these going!  I'll try again in February :-)

8) Celebrate Me: Crash and burn on this one :-)  Lets try for round 2 in February. 

9) Misc Items: I finally brought my nephews books inside this past weekend . . .I still need to research the best ways to list them and sell them.  I did write out my scrapbooking goal (and am already ahead!!) but I have not started the February binder as of yet!

10) House Projects:  I did make a list of house projects and even wrote a post about it.  That is as far as I got. . . I did not paint the kitchen . . . and we cancelled the big room switch.  We are all staying put!

11) Vacation/Camping - We haven't secured any dates or set anything in stone yet but I have done some beginning stages of planning.

I FELT like I got a lot more done then it appears . . .I think I need to be a little more specific in February HA! 

Home School Haven

I've been on the look out for more ideas to post to use with kids - even if you don't officially home school, you may find some of this ideas useful on snow days or on those week long breaks from school.

This first idea I love because they did it in Florida . .. where there is no snow! This idea comes from Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas and she shares a totally awesome Snowman Experiment using giant ice balls.  I think that, here in Michigan, this would actually be fun to do in the middle of summer :-)

Homeschool Creations created some really neat printables to tie in with the book "The Mitten".  I love this story and look forward to using these with the boys.

This is another great science idea that uses TP Tubes and marbles :-)  The idea is shared over at So Here's My Life - such a great thinking idea for the whole family :-)

That's all for today - I ran out of time to search out tons of ideas :-)

Weekly Menu

Ya know, I'm really have a hard time accepting that fact that February begins this next week.  Searoulsy.  It seems like just yesterday it was New Years Day and now, the month is gone!  As I'm writing this post, I don't even have my February meal plan in place . . I'm not motivated for some odd reason.  I'll get there and will have it written by the end of next week but right now, I wish I had a chef who planned (and cooked) all of our meals HA! 

Here's are plan for this coming week:

Saturday:  More then likely, my husband and I will order dinner in which means the kids will have something simple like soup or grilled cheese.

Sunday: Chili and Cornbread (This Chili recipe is something that has been on the menu since SEPTEMBER but it just never gets made - I think in September it was too hot out HA!)

Monday: Overnight French Toast and Bacon

Tuesday: Chicken Fried Steak, Mashed Potatoes with Parsley gravy and fried corn

Wednesday: Crispy Orange Beef and Broccoli with Baked Brown Rice (This is a new recipe!)

Thursday: Chicken Caesar Sandwiches and Baked Onion Rings, Peas

Friday: Stuffed Shells, Salad and Garlic Bread (I made this in December but totally messed it up so I wanted to try it again to see if it really is as good as I THINK it is!) 

Food Friday - Coconut Chicken

I've made these wonderful little chicken bits of goodness twice and we have loved them both times.  I originally made them on a day I thought Darryl would be gone overnight because he doesn't usually like Coconut but, he happened to make it home and guess what?  He said these were GOOD!  I made them again recently and they were just as good the second time around. 

Coconut Chicken
adapted from Confessions of a Homeschooler

The recipe below calls for Chicken Thighs but both times I've made it, I only had chicken tenders on hand so I used them and think I always will.  I still cook them for 45 minutes though and they come out tender.  Because of the butter drizzled on top, they have a great flavor and don't get overly crispy either (and I don't cover mine with foil either).  I served mine with Savory Rice, Peas and Rolls but it really does go with anything that you love!

Ingredients:

• 4-6 chicken thighs
• 1/3 cup dry plain breadcrumbs
• 1/3 cup flaked coconut
• 1/4 cup butter, melted (can substitute olive oil)
• Salt & Pepper (to taste)
• Cooking Spray
• Optional: tin foil

Directions:
STEP 1: Season chicken with salt & pepper to taste.
STEP 2: In plate mix breadcrumbs and coconut together, and roll chicken thighs in breadcrumb mixture 1 at a time to coat well.
STEP 3: Place coated chicken in lightly sprayed baking dish and drizzle lightly with butter or olive oil.
STEP 4: Bake at 350 for 45-55 minutes until chicken is done.
Serve with baked potato and your favorite veggie!
TIP: Place foil over the chicken for the first half of baking just to keep the coconut from browning too much.

What I'm Reading

Hello!  Last week I was reading the book The Fence My Father Built on my Kindle.

I did finish it and just wanted to say that it did not have the twist I thought might happen.  It really was a good book - I did feel like, after a pretty long story, the last 1/4 of the book moved really quickly to wrap everything up and I actually got a little lost and had to "flip" back through a few pages sometimes to re-read it to see what I missed.  I have decided yet whether this is a read again book so for now, it is in the archives of my Kindle.  :-)

Currently I really have no rhyme or reason to what I pick on my Kindle to read next.  I have the books sorted by the date I received them but they are sorted by the newest added so I just pick the one on the top (I should probably reverse that and read the oldest stuff first???) So, the book I'm reading currently is called Always the Wedding Planner, Never the Bride.

This book currently sells on Amazon for $9.99 for the Kindle ($11.99 for the actual book).  I am glad that I picked this one up for free - I wouldn't have actually bought it.  The story is cute - about a wedding planner who meets the love of her life and gets engaged within a few weeks; and then they move to take new jobs and run into all kinds of snags.  One thing I don't like is that in between each chapter are "tips or recipes" like the Top 10 wedding Flowers, or Themed Wedding ideas.  I just skip over all of those sections to get to reading part.  This one is a pretty quick read - I'm enjoying it, but not enough to have paid full price for it :-)

I'm still working on learning my Kindle better.  I've found the "manage your Kindle" button on Amazon and I'm thinking that maybe I need to save some of the books somewhere other than my Kindle because now, with so many books loaded on it, it seems to move slower than it used to (Kind of like an overloaded computer) which is why I also think I probably will delete books that are not my true favorites after I read them (Like the one I'm reading now!) I wonder how much space the books would take up on my hard drive/external hard drive?  I'll have to research that process.  I also need to clean my screen on my Kindle HA! 

What are you reading?  Anything really good?  I'm willing to pay for a GOOD book - especially if it is something I want to save and re-read later :-)