Simple Stroganoff

Simple Stroganoff
I promise it tastes better than this picture looks!

This is a family favorite in our house.  My sister-in-law, Lynnette gave me this recipe years and years ago and I am so thankful because it is easy, inexpensive and so yummy!!



Simple Stroganoff

Lynnette McMaster

1 pound ground beef

¼ cup chopped onion

Dash of garlic salt, salt and pepper

¼ cup milk

½ cup sour cream

1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce

1 can cream of celery soup

Brown meat with onion and garlic salt; drain.  Blend soup and milk; add to meat mixture and heat well.  Reduce heat and add rest of ingredients.  Serve with noodles or rice

In our house - we love this over those extra wide egg noodles :-)

Enjoy!

Today I am linking up over at:





April Tot Ideas

I'm doing better this month with planning ahead for our Tot Time.  I'm actually getting things prepared a week in advance (instead of a day late!) It is a very good feeling!!

To start preparing for April, though, I've already started searching for ideas.  Not only do I hope this post helps some of you with young kids, it also helps me keep things all in one place!  So enjoy these ideas :-)

Crafts by Amanda gives a video tutorial on how to make these adorable lambs . They are great for Easter but also would great for other Bible Story lessons or Vacation Bible School

And what's a holiday without a handprint?  This cute idea is also from Crafts by Amanda

Oopsey-Daisy has put together a "Z is for Zoo" packet.  She always does such a fabulous job with so many great ideas!

I never used the Resurrection eggs when I taught - the younger grades always used them - but now with little kids of my own I really love the concept.  Dukes and Duchessess gives this easy less on how to make them along with a printable with the meanings and scripture.

Mydeliciousambiguity gives a bunch of activities to do with Easter Eggs.

She also gives a Song and Fingerplay book

She also has a linky party called "The Idea Box" that is open for a month and this month's link is Easter/Spring ideas so keep checking back to see more ideas at the party.

Domesticgoddesque gives some really cute ideas for Easter crafts - one uses paint and bubble wrap.

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Handprint and Footprint Art shows a cute calendar craft to do with, what else? Footprints.

2 Teaching Mommies has created a Flower unit that you can get for a donation of $2.00.  The donation is being used to help them raise funds to go to a blog conference.  There are many sites that do units like this and sell them for between $2.00-$3.00 so I feel it is a fair price - the fact that it is a donation is just another way to give.

Itsy Bitsy Learners also has a unit for sale for $3.50 that is focused on Pirates. (Not sure how this fits into spring but I liked it so it's going on this page LOL)

I'm still digging for some more spring ideas - I think because Easter isn't until the end of April there hasn't been quite as much popping up yet.  That's ok - there are so many great ideas out there, I know I can fill up our calendar!  Come back next week for more ideas (because I know I'll find them!) as well as a link to our calendar as well. 

Happy planning :-) 

What I'm Loving Wednesday

I'm loving . . . that I got to scrapbook for 6 hours on Tuesday. (I don't love that I had to leave 5 hours early due to bad weather but this is supposed to be about loving right?)

 

I'm loving . . .  that my husband has told me I must start going scrapbooking more - he knows how much I love it.

I'm loving . . . my new stove.  Yes, I did a whole post on it last week but now that I've actually used, it, well, I love it.

I'm loving . . .  that my dad not only put handles on cabinets that were painted but drilled all of the other holes in the cabinets so they are ready for  handles once I paint them.

I'm loving . . . that my new wallet came in the mail on Tuesday.  I can't wait to fill it up with my stuff and my new envelopes for the envelope system! (I made them last week)

I'm loving . . . that my boys love to sing songs and love to do the hand motions.  It is just super cute. (Twinkle Twinkle with chubby little hands is just too cute)

I'm loving . . . that my husband is so successful at learning how to drive a big semi truck - he has surprised the instructors by how quickly he has picked it all up.



What are you loving this week?

Too Cute Not to Toot!!

We'll start off this week with this adorable skirt from Keeping it Simple.  Guess what?  It is made out of a tablecloth.  Seriously.

This one comes from a guest post over at Craftomaniac.  I really love this idea but I'm not sure if I could actually pull this one off.  Don't get me wrong, it is adorable . .. but as easy as she makes it sound . .. my brain screams HARD LOL

(FYI There will still be St. Patrick's Idea in this week's post because there were still some really cute things!!)  So, here's a cute framed piece from Organize and Decorate Everything

This is a super cute idea for Easter.  A Topiary tree made from Jellybeans by My garden of eden.  This would be really cute for a spring shower or girl birthday party too.

Remember how I've mentioned quiet books before?  Well, here's another cute idea from Thread and Feather. I didn't dig yet but my guess is if she has one page, she probably has more ideas on her blog too.

I'm always looking for really neat, creative ideas for my home.  I also like things that are versatile for holidays as I'm slowly starting to move toward decorating for various holidays.  So, when I saw this idea from A Diamond in the Stuff for making a family plaque that can easily be exchanged for other holidays, I wanted to share it. 

I've seen ideas for Spicimen Art for each holiday.  I really like this one that A Diamond in the Stuff shares also.  A cute idea for an Easter/Spring decor.

Its sew for you shares a really cute idea for making your own serving tray. I've been looking for a really good tray to use to transport things to the dining room table and to use when we eat outside in the summer.  I like this concept.

Ok, I had to share this one because it is SOOO creative!  Yes, folks, you can decorate with duct tape and here is proof from Some Day Crafts

I love this simple tutorial for a felt play mat from over at While he was napping

Of course, what would Easter be without some Subway art?  This one is from Landee See Landee Do

That's all for this week :-)  Enjoy and get crafy!!

40 x 40 Update

I haven't posted an update on my 40 x 40 list so I guess it is about time:

1. (1)Complete a Rag Quilt that I bought a pattern for a few years ago - This is in process.  I'm participating in a Quilt swap to make an I Spy quilt for my boys and am going to do it in the "Rag" style. 

2. (4) Current on Scrapbooking - this is still in process.  This year, my Creative Memories Consultant is hosting 4 different Tuesday Crops from 10-10 and I plan on participating in all 4 of them for as many of those 12 hours as I can for the sole purpose of getting caught up!! 

3. (5) Finish my first quilt - I am about ( ) that far from finishing it - I just have one little section to sew.  I have to use my machine when Nate is sleeping because he likes to push the foot pedal and I don't want to sew a finger LOL

4. (6) Eat at the 1913 room - I knew there would be some tasks on my list that would be impossible to do and this is becoming one of them.  For one, the 1913 room has been purchased by a chain and two, I went online to read the menu thinking I would take Darryl there for his birthday and I must say, the food choices sounded icky!!  So this one is "done" by default  - check this one off LOL

5. (9) Read through the Bible in the year - I'm still working on this.  I got a little behind between Thanksgiving and Christmas but I'm working diligently to catch back up so I can finish on time.

6. (15) My kitchen - I took the first cabinet off this week and picked up the primer I needed so this is getting off to a start (slow start but a start!)

7. (21) Photography class - I am taking a class on March 11th!

8. (29) Cook clean for one week - Ok, this isn't happening LOL  I Checked out some books from the library and even tested a few recipes and this style is just not us.  Instead I've tried to make subtle changes like buying unbleached flour, trying to cook more fresh veggies and my next "project" is to make more salads - not just cut up lettuce but actual "salads".  So this one is check off as a default.

9. (31) Sole Sensations - Ok, I researched this and only found locations in Japan . . so this isn't happening unless someone knows some place in Michigan that does it. 

10. (32) Join a book club - Done.  I found an online book club and am reading One Thousand Gifts.  I was so excited to find this club!!

11. (33) Invite Lisa LaPlante over for dinner - I did this and I'm sure she thinks I'm a stalker since she never replied.  Since, I'm not a stalker, I did not keep bothering her.  Oh well, I tried.

12. (2) Belly Dance - no I haven't started this but I noticed a comment on my original post that said there are belly dance videos - I think I will check that out.  It would be fun exercise and I'm sure all three of my boys (yes, Darryl included) would get a good laugh too LOL

That's it - there are others that are completed - check out the left side bar to see those as well as some of these updates that are done/in progress.  I'm trying to focus more on these in order to accomplish some that are time sensitive.  I'm also making a list of other goals that come to mind to do after I accomplish this list!

Weekly Challenge #8 - Daily schedule and Finances (A Recap)

Weekly Challenge #8 - Daily Schedule

It is that time of week again!  Time to accept the weekly challenge from Toni at A Bowl Full of Lemons.  This week, she is challenging us to get our daily schedules in order.  For once I can say "This is done!!".  If you recall, this was on one of my first "Simplify" lists - to modify my daily/weekly to do lists so that they worked well.   I divided my tasks up that needed to get done each week and placed them on certain days:

Monday: Wash Towels; Weekly Home Blessing; Bake Bread

Tuesday: Wash my/Darryl's clothes; work on deep cleaning room

Wednesday: Changes sheets and Take out trash; Write Menu/Grocery list

Thursday: Wash kids clothes; updated budget/balance checkbook; pull coupons

Friday: Do wrong room rescue; wash my/Darryl's clothes; bake cookies; clean out the fridge

You may notice that I wash clothes every day but Wednesday - I tried washing clothes all on one day and found that I couldn't get everything done so by dividing it up over the week I only have to do one or two loads a day and it is easier to get done.  Plus, Wednesday gives me a free day or a day to catch up if I'm going to be gone on another day. 

I also have a Morning, Afternoon and Evening routine which takes care of everything from picking up hotspots to preparing for the following day. 

I totally agree with the guest poster, routines are the key for success. I have a new organizational blog that I enjoy and it is Organizaing Made Fun.(the guest poster!)   I enjoyed her post today and enjoyed other posts she has written as well.  I appreciate her simple ideas and taking one task at a time.

 

Most of you also know that I am a big fan of Flylady.  If you are looking for a place to start - start with her baby steps.  At first, it seems a bit overwhelming but, if you really follow her system, it does work.  If you check it out and have questions of how I made it work for me, please ask!  I've been a "Flybaby" for years!

Check out Toni's challenge for this week and read the great ideas given!

Recap - Week 7 Challenge - Finances

Last weeks, weekly Challenge was to get our finances in order.  As we all know, it takes a lot longer than that but this weeks focus was making a system to help us get those in order.  Each day Toni, at A Bowl Full of Lemons, gave a challenge for all of us to work on.

Sunday

Track what you spend.

This seems easy, doesn't it?  I've done this on and off for years but it is really hard to remember to write down all the little things.  Sometimes I feel like I nag my husband at the end of the day when I ask if he bought anything today so I can write it down.  That is why I love this concept of the receipt tracker from Clean Mama Printables.  It is just a calendar of the month and I write in the squares.  It works for me - for the first time - it works.  I've done ledger books, excel spreadsheets, notebooks -every idea under the sun but it was always so cumbersome whereas this - just jot it down quickly and once a week I update that old budget sheet with the breakdowns.  Eeasy Peasy.

Monday

Create an Envelope System

I've been working on this and had come up with a great complicated system that really wasn't working.  I had picked up a couple of these coupon expanding files.

I was using one for my "weekly" things like grocery money, gas, eating out, and crafts/teaching.  It was ok but was bulky and really didn't fit will in my purse. The other I used for my HUGE number of accounts that we use - everything from clothes to vacation to pets.  Yes, I tend to make things really complicated.  Than I read Monday's post.

In reading the post on Monday I loved what Kelleigh Ratzlaff designs created for her wallet.  I pulled out some scrapbooking paper and created the envelopes this week.   I also have been on the lookout for a new wallet as mine is about 15 years old and is coming apart. everywhere.  It's help up well but it is on its last leg.  I picked out a great wallet from Thirty one - I've been drooling over that stuff for awhile and finally had a reason to order something.   I really want to make the envelopes work for us (me- I'm the spender . .. ) so that we can live within our budget but this is an ongoing process.  Not fun.  I like to spend (Did I mention that) and could $2.50 us to death easily.  Which, I will point out, that is where tracking spending and keeping a budget come in - it allows you to see what you are spending and what you regret spending.

Tuesday

A Budget Box

I don't have one but I like the concept.  Right now I keep bills and such in a drawer in the desk which I like.  I also have a file drawer in the desk which is being very under utilized so I think I'm going to morph her concept into the drawer/file.  I don't have room for a box anywhere - my concept is to simplify which means no more clutter too!!  I think the biggest thing to take from this idea is that you need one place for everything.  My drawer is great - I keep the calendar with the bills so I know what is due when, I have a calculator in the drawer too.  When the mail comes in there is a slot for the bills to get dropped into until I put them on the calendar.  I also use my home management notebook to keep my worksheets in as well.  So I guess I do have a system . . .maybe I am already set.  Wow, I surprised myself LOL

Wednesday

Creating a Debt Snowfall
This was another idea that I love.  We've been working on getting this rolling but it is slow going.  We hope to see more progress over the coming months.  I love the simplicity of this concept and the way Toni explained it, again, I tend to get complicated!!! 

Thursday and Friday
An Interview and Success Stories
The last two days of the challenge, Toni shared an interview she had with Dave Ramsey as well as some success stories.  Take time to read them to be inspired!

You can find all of these posts and more over at

Happenings in this House

Welcome to another installment of "Happenings in this House" - enjoy a walk through our week!

 We made applesauce this week - it is the first time Josh has cooked with me and he really enjoyed use the Apple peeler/corer/slicer. 

 For some odd reason, the swing has become the best thing in the world.  The boys fight over who gets to sit in it.  I use it for the little munchkin I watch so I guess the other two see him have fun and want the same thing.  They actually like it more now than they did when they are tiny!

 Of course, we removed the old stove and got a new one.

 And celebrated St Patrick's Day!!

Finally, we ended our week with a surprise Birthday Party for Grandpa Charlie who is turning 70.  Darryl was off in Bay City learning how to drive a big rig so the boys and I took off out of town for the party.  The boys were awesome and had so much fun with noisemakers and the other little kids at the party.  Charlie was very surprised which is always fun to see.

So, that's our week!  Hope you had a great week too!