A Rew Random Things

Sometimes, life happens and that is what happened this weekend. Oh, and it was good :-)  On Saturday, my husband worked (we would much rather have him home but . . .work is work) so it was just the boys and I during the day.  I decided to take on an adventure and take the boys to the grocery store with me.  Now, don't get me wrong, my boys are really, very well behaved but they are also very active boys!  I knew that they would love it - but I also love being able to just have some "quiet" time in the store and do my thing!  I will say though, that we had a blast.  The boys were great - they rode in the cart  . .. and go out every time I stopped so they could help :-)  Lots of people stopped to talk to them and just thought they were adorable.  It only took until half-way through the store before they started asking if we were done yet HA!  We got a treat for lunch (McDonald's!) before they helped me unload all of the bags and then headed out to play.  They really had a great day.  On Sunday, my husband took the day off so we had some family fun.  I actually let him sleep (yep, skipped church . . sorry Dad) since he was exhausted from getting up at 3:00 am for days on end and he slept until 10:00 so I guess he was tired.  After lunch, we went for a hike on a local trail and it was fun!!  The boys enjoyed the wagon and China, the dog, enjoyed the walk (I think she'll sleep for a week!!).  We finally blew up the Hoppers the boys got for Easter and they LOVED them.  So, lots of family and play time.


Why do I tell you all of that?  Because I don't have another post for today HA!  Hopefully I can get my normal Tuesday post up tonight!!

Have a great day :-)

Weekly Menu - April 14, 2012

I didn't post our weekly menu last week (and I'm sure you all missed it HA!) because I didn't even plan it until Monday.  We usually come home with food from my mom's house (leftovers) and I wasn't sure what would be left from the shower (nothing!!) so I wanted to wait.  Then, between leftovers and using up things we have in the house I was able to keep the grocery budget in check even with buying food for the shower over the weekend!  We've had pretty simple meals this week BUT I have found a meal we may eat every other week.  It was oven BBQed boneless chicken thighs, beefy noodles and corn.  Why? My three year old ate 2 1/2 chicken thighs plus some noodles and my two year old ate so many noodles I'm surprised he could walk (he loves "soup"!) It isn't often that I can find a meal that they literally inhale that is GOOD for them!  Plus it is easy and . . .well inexpensive :-) 

Now, next week, I finally obeyed my husband :-)  I started with the grocery store ad and wrote a grocery list that consisted of the best sale items and items we love.  (For example, pork loin is half off - one loin will normally give us 3 meals so it is an excellent buy).  Then, using those items, I built the menu and added in the odds and ends I would need.  I also took into consideration "cravings" - my husband told me he is craving Brats and I'm thinking one last pot of Chili before summer would be good. 

Saturday: The kids are going to have hot dogs and Darryl and I are ordering in tonight.

Sunday: Brats, Fried Zucchini (cooked on the stove with a little butter and onion), Three Bean Salad

Monday: Chili and Homemade bread

Tuesday: Dinner out tonight :-)  (Just for fun!)

Wednesday: Waffles and Bacon

Thursday: Pork Loin, Mac and Cheese, Green Beans and Rolls

Friday:  Chicken Nuggets and Fries for the boys (I'm planning on Scrapbooking!!)

I'm also trying to eat slightly healthier during the day.  My breakfast right now is Cream of Wheat - I love it and it is easy to make.  Then, for lunch, I'm enjoying things I love - Tomato Soup, Cheese and Crackers (The Laughing Cow French Onion Cheese Triangles - yummy!), and Veggies with Dill Dip.  It's easy and I really love it all.  

No sweets this week either!!  Well, actually we have Easter Candy and then I have graham crackers (which I also love!!). 

Food Friday - Crispy Orange Beef

This is one of those recipes that I hope I haven't posted before :-/  I'm a little behind on updating my recipe index but I don't recall posting this and it was a fast favorite so I want to share it!!  I'm sure that I've mentioned how much we love Chinese food in the past but I've struggled to recreate it at home.  I've found a couple of recipes that have turned out fantastic and this recipe is being added to the list.  It is almost too good . . . we couldn't stop eating it!

Crispy Orange Beef with Broccoli
adapted from Comfy in the Kitchen

This recipe is not over powering, it is easy, and it is so darn tasty!!  There really isn't much more to say because it was perfect just like the recipe showed. I did love the tip that white vinegar could be used - I don't like buying "speciality" ingredients in case I don't like the recipe.  I have since purchased a bottle of Rice Wine Vinegar since I have several good recipes that call for and, guess what?  It smells just like white Vinegar!!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds beef top sirloin, thinly sliced
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 1/3 cup rice wine vinegar (white vinegar will do)
• 2 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 2 teaspoons orange zest
• 3 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
• 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 8 broccoli florets, lightly steamed or blanched
• 1-1 1/2 cups oil for frying- use 1/4 cup at a time in batches

Instructions

1. Drain beef strips in a single layer on dish lined with paper towels.
2. In a small bowl, mix together the sugar, vinegar, orange juice concentrate, and soy sauce. Set aside.
3. Start making your rice per package directions.
4. Heat oil in a wok over medium-high heat.
5. Toss dried beef in cornstarch to coat.
6. Fry in the hot oil in small batches until crispy and golden brown; set aside.
7. Drain all of the oil from the wok except about 1 tablespoon.
8. Add orange zest, ginger and garlic to the remaining oil, and cook briefly.
9. Add the soy sauce mixture to the wok, bring to a boil, and cook until thick and syrupy, about 5 minutes.
10. Add beef, and heat through, stirring to coat.
11. Serve immediately over steamed rice, and garnish with broccoli

A Great Read

Every once in a while, I read another blog post that is just "it".  It puts things into perspective; helps shine a helpful light on daily life; offers encouragement.  This post from The Power of Moms nails it on the head.  Take a few minutes to read it - especially if you don't feel like you are "all that and bag of chips" when it comes to what everyone else out there seems to be doing.  I guarantee you it will encourage you.  The article is entitled "Your Children want YOU!" 

Easter . .. Lots of Pictures!

We had a great Easter weekend which started with a wonderful Bridal Shower for my niece (which I'll share more about later).  I thought I would share our Easter weekend fun with photos though!

 After the shower, Darryl and I colored eggs with the boys and they loved it!  What a difference a year makes for this fun tradition.  Nate still enjoyed dipping, cracking, and tie dying the paper towel but Josh really got into it this year!

 The boys Easter Baskets!!

 Our little men!!!  I just loved the suspenders and ties :-) 

 My Dad!!

 My Brother!  We had the privilege to attend the church that I grew up in - it is where my dad has been pastoring for almost my whole life and my brother now pastors.  What a great service it was!!

 The guy with the shaved head is my brother Kel and all of his nephews (and his son) love him!!

 My sister-in-law, Deb, put together an awesome Easter Egg hunt for all of the kids (From 2- 25!!)  It was so much fun watching them run!  Josh hung right with the big kids while Nate got lots of help from his cousins.  In the end, my boys ended up with out 90% of the eggs thanks to everyone re-hiding eggs for them :-)

 My brother Ken's thre kids :-)

 My brother Kel and his family (this is the sister-in-law who planned the hunt!)

 Don't you love the cake?  My parents dog quietly licked all of the frosting off the side while we all sat right next to her in the next room.  None of us had a clue!

 We like to do Easter Baskets in the afternoon and the boys just loved them.  They got a t-shirt, a pair of flip flops, a bath sponge, and some little toys (I found great stuff at Michael's!)  The best toy?  The marshmallow gun - my husband and I would shoot my mom while the boys chased the marshmallows and ate them HA!

Now, my boys had been gone from home for over a week and it was so fun to watch them come home.  Josh just wanted to help unload the truck but I watched Nate and he went looking for all of his toys - specifically his trucks, and lined them all up until he knew they were all there.  It was just so cute!

So that was our Easter in a nutshell!

Too Cute Not To Toot!

Just a reminder that I am hosting a Thirty-one catalog party and would appreciate any orders :-)  You can click on the link and it will send you to the original blog post which has all of the information as well as a link to the website to order from my party!  The party closes April 15th and yes, your order can be shipped directly to you!  My consultant is actually had baby number 6 on Monday and I'd love to "give" her a BIG party in celebration of that new baby boy!

Now, on to our party!  I missed last week due to working on projects!  I told my husband that the next time my kids go away for any amount of time, I'm not going to plan so many projects.  I feel like I need a break from my week "off" HA!  Do you know the worst part?  I didn't even get through my entire list and yet I worked like a crazy woman all week!!!   Well, enough of that - lets take a look at some great ideas that are out in blog land!!

I love this first idea from Positively Splendid and would really like to make this for my porch this summer.  I've discovered that with a dog and two boys, trying to plant flowers in a flower bed just isn't the best idea!

I love fresh herbs but don't like spending money on them so when I saw this idea from Gingersnap Crafts, I wanted to share it.  This would be easy to do even with the small pots, I would think, and then you could put them on a windowsill.

Ok, now I know what you were expecting, right?  LOADS of ideas since I didn't post last week.  Well, so did I but . . . most of the ideas in the places I search were still ALL Easter ideas and, as much as I love a good holiday, I'm tired of things made with Peeps and Plastic Eggs.  So . . .I only have two summery ideas for you!  I'm kinda curious what the next few weeks bring since Easter fell so early and the next "big" holiday isn't until the end of May (Memorial Day in case you are trying to figure that one out).  Personally, I'm even at a loss of what to hang on my door and what to put on my "mantel".  Maybe I'll be inspired next week after I recover from all of my craftiness from last week!





Camera Class #2

Welcome back!  Yes, last week as you know I kinda took the week off from blog posting.  I worked hard all day long and went to bed a little earlier than normal so it was kinda nice to not post but . . .I missed my little blog! 

I wanted to share first this week the latest project from my Photography class that I'm currently taking.  Last week we learned about how to make things blurry :-)  Really, the focus was on trying to focus on one item and then make everything else blurry so you really saw that one item.  Our homework was to take 100+ photos of one subject in 30 minutes or less.  I enlisted my husband to be my subject because I knew I needed someone who could stand still and do what I ask HA! 

Here are my favorite photos:

 This is by far my favorite photo manly because what I wanted to do WORKED!!!  I wanted the guitar to be the main focus and everything else, including my husband, to be slightly blurred - it turned out perfectly!!

So this week - I have lots to catch you up on . . .a wedding from a week ago, projects from this past week, a bridal shower I co-hosted, and, of course, Easter Sunday!  I also want to get a Too Cute Not to Toot post up this week and catch you up on what I'm reading!  And, I just realized that I have no more recipes set to post (I was 3 months ahead not long ago!) so I have to get some more recipes up! 

Looking forward to being back in the saddle and writing once again :-)