Labor Day "Laborings"

(Updated 09/6/10)

What are your plans for this upcoming Labor Day Weekend?  It always seems like Labor Day weekend is the last big push to get everything done outside that we can before fall sets in.  It is even more the case this year since we actually get (are you ready!!) a TWO day weekend!!  Yes, you read that right.  I know, you are thinking . .. but you should have three or even four days but Darryl will work Friday and Saturday giving us a full two days off!  Since January, he has worked two jobs, 6 days=80 hours a week so we haven't had a lot of time to do things around here.  We enjoy these "long" holiday weekends immensely!  Needless to say, I've been working on "our" to do list for about a month!  It keeps changing though so I finally had to nail it down this week so we could plan our supplies.  We will be working and playing - doing some projects around the house and taking some time out for family time as well.  So here's our list:

My husband will be:
1) Painting the outside of our garage - this is a project that we started LAST Labor day - but after labor day it rained every weekend and than got too cold to paint so there were two sides left undone.  This WILL be done this weekend . . .if it doesn't rain!  Completed 09/5/10
2) Re-hanging our front storm door - one of the terrible summer storms we had ripped our door off the house; it has remained in the garage all summer but has to get put up now that fall is coming so I can actually open the door and get a breeze! Completed 09/06/10
3) Pulling out two bushes - neither of us our outdoor people but I have made it my goal to do some minor landscaping over the next few years.  My project next summer is the bed near our main entrance - so to prep for spring, he is pulling out the two of the ugliest bushes I've ever seen.   On a side note - I got $25.00 worth of free bulbs from a flower company and I can't wait to plant them this fall!

I will be (or at least my goals are)
1) Finishing this years landscaping project - I started on the flower bed by our garage area and have been laying pavers ALL SUMMER LONG or so it seems!  I only have a a small section to finish plus some more major weeding.  I really need to lay some mulch down but that might have to wait for a few weeks Didn't even touch this - not enough good weather this weekend.
2) Finishing the inside organization of my garage - This started about a month ago while doing my garage sale.  So I need to get the last of the stuff to Good Will and Once upon a Child or on ebay; get rid of the trash that is left in there from our bathroom "re-do", and just make sure everything is picked up and organized so we can park in there again This is half done - everything from the garage sale was either taken to Good Will or moved to the basement.  The garbage is still in there though - that's up to my husband.
3) Vacuuming my living room - Don't get me wrong, I vacuum 3-4 times a week at least but it's just the "middles".  I can't move furniture while I vacuum because I have two little ones that are literally directly under my feet wanting to be part of what I'm doing.  So I will be taking time to move everything in my living room and vacuuming from baseboard to baseboard :-) (While my husband entertains the littles!)
4) Finish Deep Cleaning my Kitchen for the week - each week I deep clean one room (it isn't as bad as it sounds) but because of the heat this week and the fact that my kitchen is not Air Conditioned, I have not gotten through my list.  It is supposed to be very cool this weekend so this task will be easy and should be done in about 45 minutes tops! Completed 09/05/10

If we can get that all done it will be amazing!  There are only so many hours in a day :-)  Plus we plan on spending some family time out - not sure if we will go to Lake Michigan for the day or just to a local park but what ever we do we will have fun!

31 in 31 - Day 22

Ironically after having so much trouble yesterday getting a photo - I got one first thing this morning!  Josh goes into the kitchen with me when it is time to refill his drink cup.  It's something "special" since the gate blocks the kitchen from normal access.  Today, he walked to our door, pointed outside and told me in his own little language that he wanted to go outside, than he walked over and pointed at his shoes.  So, we gathered up Nate and went outside despite the hot, sticky weather (at least it was cloudy and there was a breeze!).  Than, as is the norm, we had to drag all of his toys outside (his outside toys that live in the garage) but today, we weren't done until we pulled the wagon out.  He than pointed at Nate, and started climbing in ready to go for a wagon ride.

So, off we went :-)  They enjoyed it soooo much!

31 in 31 day 21

I did take this picture yesterday but ended up without time last night to post it so I'm posting today.  Yesterday was a just a regular average day - I keep looking for picture ops and saw none so by 7:00 last night i knew I had to just start snapping!  So here it -

What is it?  My house just before bath time LOL  Notice my dog - she is saying "I used to have free reign of this house and now, I can't even get to the couch ;-)  Yes, we have fun, and hopefully it shows.  Don't worry - part of our bedtime routine is picking up all of those toys and Josh is a huge helper. 

Freebie! from Kashi

Check out this link: http://kashi.com/ to get a free snack!  There are three different chocies - I just ordered mine today and am looking forward to trying one of these Kashi bars.  I've never bought anything by Kashi and have wondered what their stuff tastes like.  Their commericials always make it look good and healthy!

Are you Ready for a Cooking Challenge?

I've been challenged by one of my new accountability partners to take part in her Christmas Baking Challenge - well she didn't actually challenge me, I just saw this on her blog and said to myself "Hey - you should do this!"  I thought I would share this with you as well - if you want link up - click on the "button" on the left side of my blog and it will lead you to the post where you fill in the "linky" info and be part of the whole deal!  Here's the basics (copied from her site):

Here are the finalized (and revised) details of the 12 Cookies of Christmas Baking Challenge. This is where the button will bring you if/when you post it on your blog.


To participate, please add yourself to the linky below (all the way below the post) with your post about the challenge and what level/goal you are setting for yourself. Be sure to steal my picture above to put on your blog post. And also add the button to your blog so we can get more participants! The more the merrier!

The challenge will run from December 1-December 31st, 2010. The challenge is to bake a variety of types of Christmas cookies, choosing from the categories listed. You may join at the "Baker" level, or the "Pastry Chef" level.

Baker Level: 6 varieties of cookies, 1/2 (3 varieties) that you have never baked before.
Pastry Chef Level: 12 varieties of cookies, 1/2 ( 6 varieties) that you have never baked before.


Here are the Christmas Cookie Categories!
1. Classic
(1 freebie that doesn't fit the other categories)
2. Chocolate or fudgy based cookies
3. Spicy cookies
4. Bar Cookies
5. Red and Green Cookies
6. Minty Cookies
7.Cookies with a Story
(an heirloom recipe, or a cookies that are a tradition in another country)
8. Cut-Out Cookies
9. Difficult to make cookies
(involves several steps, mixes, processes, or complicated decorations)
10. Made by kids
(you only assist in dangerous steps, no cracking the eggs!)
11. Fruity cookies
12. No bake cookies


Everyone completing their goal will be entered into a drawing for a giveaway. Separate giveaway for Baker and Pastry Chef level participants.
Tune in December 1st for information on how to post your blogs detailing (recipes, photos) your creations for the Challenge. Your blog posts MUST be linked/posted by midnight on New Year's Eve in order to count for your entry for the giveaway.

Each week will have a different set of themes for cookies (taken from the list). Extra entries if your cookies for the week match the pre-picked themes.

This means that I will be completing the Pastry Chef level..baking all the categories.
Of course, as host, I will not be a part of the giveaway, but I will enjoy seeing all the cookies you guys come up with!
And, I'm afraid I would just embarrass everyone with my cookie awesomeness if I were just a regular participant...I mean, I DID make THESE cookies one year. *yawn* ha ha! Don't hate, it's all in fun!


Now it's time to start perusing recipes and gathering those one of kind ingredients!


If you have a website for resources you would like to share, please post it in the comments (not the linky) section of this post.


Happy Baking!

So - I haven't completly decided what level - I'm leaning toward the Pastry Chef level just because I bake cookies every week anyway and I had already planned to bake lots of Christmas cookies this year.  Feel free to link up or just watch my blog and you can "steal" my recipes and see pictures of what I bake!

And if you are thinking that it is too early to think about this . .. think again :-)  This give you lots of time to plan, grocery shop, and get ready!

Homemade Birthday Card

Here's my first "crafty" post.  This is really not that original but it's an idea that came to me a few weeks back when I needed to get my husband an anniversary card.  Instead of running to the store, I decide to create one and in doing so I decided that I would start getting a little more creative with cards.  Plus I found that I was seeing the same cards over and over again and probably bought someone the same card a few times in a row! 

Supplies:
1 package blank cards/envelopes
(or card stock cut to size and envelopes)
Markers
Stickers or other decor items
1 picture of that person
(or if it is a wedding card, sympathy card, an appropriate picture)

1.) Cut the picture to size and mat it, if you want, than attach it to the front of the card.

 2) Than decorate  - I just included the date of the picture since it was recent.

3) On the inside of the card, write a note or choose a saying and decorate as you wish. 

And yes, it is that simple!!

I found a website that has some inspiration if you have trouble thinking of things to write (like me!)

http://www.making-birthday-cards.com/birthday-card-sayings.html

I'm sure there are a million other resources out there to use too but this is the one I've used recently.

For this card (which was for my niece's recent birthday) I used a very current picture but you can also use old photos (how fun!) or use a photo from an event or some special time and include the story either on the front of the card or on the inside.  What a great memory!

And, as always, don't forget to fill the card with confetti before you mail it :-)

The cost of this is awesome:  I purchased a 25 pack of cards/envelopes for $5.00 which is only $0.20 a card plus the cost of getting the picture printed which is normally less than $0.20.  So $0.40 for a card is pretty good!

I personally tried doing stamping and could not make those creative cards like others send me - I don't know how they make them so beautiful with all those layers!  So I had to come up with something that worked for me!

Sweet and Sour Crockpot Pork

Yes, it is that time again - Monday!  Which means New Recipe day around here.  Thankfully, this weeks recipe was also a success!
Sweet and Sour Crockpot Pork

Serves 4-6

5 boneless pork chops
1 Tablespoon oil
1 can (15 oz) crushed pineapple (with juice)
1/2 cup green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 Tablespoons ketchup
1 Tablespoon quick-cooking Tapioca *
3 teaspoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
Hot, cooked rice

In a large skillet, brown pork chops in oil on both sides.  Drain fat.  Transfer to crock pot.  In a bowl combine remaining ingredients (except rice); mix well.  Pour over pork chops.  Cover and cook for 8-10 hours on low or 4-5 hours on high.  Serve over rice.

Yes, in the picture it looks really "saucy" but I found that it wasn't once we dug down into the rice. 

Notes:

* I did not use quick-cooking tapioca.  It is used in this recipe as a thickener but when I priced it at the store a box did not fit into my weekly budget.  I used cornstarch instead.  I have a feeling that the tapioca would have made the sauce even thicker but it seemed fine with the cornstarch.

* I love crock pot meals that require very little work - I'd prefer not to even have to brown meat (whats the point in using a crock pot if you have to cook first?) but find that I like pork browned first so you get that nice crust. 

** I served this is with freshly steamed broccoli and garlic bread - it was VERY yummy!!

** This tasted very similar to sweet and sour pork; Chinese style.  The difference is that the pork is not breaded.  I have another recipe that tastes exactly like Chinese food but it calls for a lot more sugar so I think I prefer this one!  You could lightly bread the chops in flour before browning them to give them more of that specific flavor.