Blessed and Busy

Wordless Wednesday

2010-05-12T19:23:00.000-04:00

Pay It Forward

2010-05-09T10:39:00.000-04:00

I joined in the Pay It Forward fun from my friend Liz's beautiful blog, The Flowering Dogwood. I hope that three of you will join me in this fun adventure! Sorry, but I'm only opening this to readers in the USA at this time.

1. The first 3 people to visit my blog and leave a comment saying they want to participate will receive a handmade gift from me, within the next year... (Probably much sooner than that, but you are supposed give everyone a year, because sometimes life gets in the way!)

2. You MUST have a blog of your own to to participate in the PIF.

3. You must post about the PIF on your blog & offer the PIF challenge on your blog.

By accepting the Pay It Forward challenge, YOU agree to host a Pay It Forward to the first 3 people who sign up on your blog...you will then carry on the PIF by sending them a homemade gift within a year's time, and so it goes :)

I hope you will join me!

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T09:46:00.000-04:00

Prayer for Motherhood

Lovely Lady of La Leche, most loving mother of the Child Jesus, and my mother, listen to my humble prayer. Your motherly heart knows my every wish, my every need. To you only, His spotless Virgin Mother, has your Divine Son given to understand the sentiments which fill my soul. Yours was the sacred privilege of being the Mother of the Savior. Intercede with him now, my loving Mother, that, in accordance with His will, I may become the mother of other children of our heavenly Father. This I ask, O Lady of La Leche, in the Name of your Divine Son, My Lord and Redeemer. Amen.

Our Blessed Mother Display

2010-05-07T11:00:00.000-04:00

In honor of Our Blessed Mother during the month of May, we put together a lovely little display in our dining room to celebrate! I found many of these wonderful ideas at Catholic Icing.

I included the most beautiful depiction of Our Blessed Mother nursing the baby Jesus. This is a replica of Nuestra Senora de La Leche y buen parto (Our Lady of the Milk and Happy Delivery), Mission of Nombre de Dios, St. Augustine, Florida For more information about America's Oldest Marian Shrine, go here.

We wanted to personalize our display, so we made a spiritual bouquet, complete with handprints and photos. Does your family have any special traditions to honor Mary during the month of May?

Wordless Wednesday

2010-05-05T14:29:00.000-04:00

Our Budding Environmentalists

2010-04-30T16:24:00.001-04:00

After a nasty storm a few weeks ago, many people have begun to remove trees that were damaged. Earlier this week, our neighbors cut town two beautiful, old, large but damaged trees . . . and unfortunately every other tree in their backyard. This did not sit well with my girls. At one point, my older girls had our 21 month old chanting, "Don't cut down tree." This morning I found this:

I have always taught our girls to respect the Earth and our resources . . . I think they are listening!

Check out Kids Say the Darndest Things Friday at Mystical Rose Design!

Wordless Wednesday . . . Goodnight Moon

2010-04-28T15:57:00.000-04:00

An American Girl Tea Party

2010-04-26T20:54:00.001-04:00

My older girl s received these sweet American Girl cookbooks in their Easter baskets this year (found on the bargain shelf at Borders for $5.00!)

As soon as they flipped through them, they wanted to host a tea party. Their Grandma and Grandpa are visiting us this week, so this became a wonderful activity for them from the cooking to the decorating to the cleaning up!

We made chicken salad tea sandwiches:

We also made walnut and cream cheese tea sandwiches, cucumber and cream cheese tea sandwiches, fruited iced tea, and fresh strawberries with a Devonshire cream:

The girls set the table with table talkers and made the place cards:

They did a wonderful job and many great memories were made!

This post is linked to Making Memories Monday at Adventures in McQuill-land.

An Italian Pasta Salad Perfect for Spring

2010-04-21T16:04:00.000-04:00

I made this delicious Italian Pasta Salad last night for dinner and it was a big hit in our home. It was very easy to put together! This recipe is from the May issue of All You magazine.

1lb. short pasta (I used bow ties)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup rice vinegar
1/2 cup chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained (I used the whole jar)
3/4 cup sliced marinated artichoke hearts, drained (I used the whole jar)
8 oz. bocconcini, drained (these are small balls of fresh mozzarella - I used 2 containers because we LOVE fresh mozzarella!)
4 oz. salami
1/2 cup shredded fresh basil
Salt and pepper to taste

Cook pasta according to directions and drain. Rinse with cold water to cool noodles.
In a large bowl, add pasta and mix with oil.
Toss with vinegar, sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, mozzarella, salami, and basil
Season with salt and pepper.

Enjoy!

Menu Plan for the Week of 4/19/10

2010-04-20T14:26:00.000-04:00

It has been a busy few weeks at our home. I am really looking forward to the lazy days of summer! I created a simple menu this week with a lot of recipes from the May issue of All You. I hope everything tastes as good as it looks in the magazine!

Here is what you will find on our dinner table this week:

Sunday: Linguine with white clam sauce

Monday: Perogies and steamed mixed veges

Tuesday: Pizza pasta salad

Wednesday: Slow cooker Hoppin' John, steamed brocolli

Thursday: Polenta with mushroom and meat sauce, salad

Friday: Chicken Saltimbocca, mashed potatoes, steamed green beans

Saturday: Grilled chicken, steak, and vege kebobs, baked sweet potato chips, baked beans, salad, and something special for dessert. Any suggestions?

For more menus and recipes, check out Menu Plan Monday at I'm an Organizing Junkie!

Courageous Parents, Confident Kids: Free E-book (Limited Time Offer)

2010-04-19T09:32:00.000-04:00

I have been incredibly busy, and now I am preparing for a visit from Grandma and Grandpa. I will definitely be back to regular posting in the next few weeks. In the meantime, I wanted to share this great offer I found.

I received a free copy of Courageous Parents, Confident Kids, Letting Go So You Can Both Grow by Amy Tiemmann, Ph.D. It is available now as a FREE download from April 19th through April 21st. I have not had the opportunity to read it cover to cover but I was intrigued after glancing through it.

The book has been described as "powerful anthology featuring contributions from 14 nationally-recognized experts. The focus of the book is to help families avoid “helicopter parenting,” tune into their inner wisdom, stress less and create joyful independence in the nest and beyond."

The book is also available for purchase at Amazon. Enjoy!

Delicious Yogurt Parfaits

2010-04-09T14:16:00.000-04:00

Here is a healthy breakfast, lunch, or snack idea that I enjoy making for my girls :

1 cup milk
A pinch of salt
1/2 cup dry whole wheat couscous
Fresh cut fruit of your choice
Vanilla yogurt (We use Stonyfield Whole Milk French Vanilla Yogurt)
Granola

In a small saucepan, bring milk and salt to a boil. Stir in couscous. Remove from heat. Let stand, covered, for 5 minutes.

Divide couscous among 6 containers. I love to use these cute ice cream sundae dishes! Top with yogurt and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Top with fruit and granola.

Enjoy!

Menu Plan for the Week of 4/4/10

2010-04-05T17:35:00.000-04:00

I hope everytone had a beautiful and blessed Easter! As you can see, we did!

I spent most of today catching up from the weekend, but I made sure to menu plan so the rest of the week goes smoothly. Here is what you will find on our dinner table this week:

Sunday: Easter ham, mashed potatoes, steamed carrots and greenbeans, corn, rolls, coconut cream pie

Monday: School fundraising dinner

Tuesday: Sauted chicken in a white wine and lemon butter sauce, steamed broccoli

Wednesday: Pasta with turkey meatballs and fresh mozzerella

Thursday: Italian roast beef and pasta, steamed carrots

Friday: Crab cakes, baked sweet potatoes, salad

Saturday: Grilled chicken and vege kabobs, brown rice, salad

For more great menus and recipes, go to www.orgjunkie.com and check out Menu Plan Monday!

Beauty in the Small Things

2010-03-31T21:59:00.016-04:00

Our challenge this week for the Make Your Home a Haven series at The Homespun Heart was to add beauty to our homes. This was quite simple as I had just returned from Trader Joe's with two beautiful and inexpensive bouquets of spring flowers.

I had also just put out some of my spring decor:

I got to thinking about what truly makes a home beautiful. My definition of beauty is probably very different from yours.There are so many TV shows, magazines and blogs dedicated to "beautiful homes." Don't get me wrong - I watch them and read them in search of inspiration but I do not let them define what makes my home beautiful. You see, by modern standards, my home is incredibly small for 6 people. I am okay with that. Our furniture is old and quite worn out from the abuse of four children and many pets through the years. I am okay with that. The things I use to decorate with are very inexpensive. I am okay with that. Our house is lived in . . . it is quite used. I am okay with that. So, when thinking about the beauty in our home, I decided carry my camera thoughout the day to capture what I see as beauiful. You may or may not agree, but I am okay with that :)

My children had the day off and they built a fort, played with their dolls and made crafts in the living room. Do not get me wrong - I shudder when they start to pull everything out at once but they had FUN today. They barely argued for several hours and I was able to happily cook and bake for them. That is beauty in my home.

Later in the morning, we went out to play and enjoy the beautiful weather. I found my 3 year old proudly picking flowers . . . in her pink cowboy boots. That is beauty in my home.

The beds were made today. The rest of the room may have been messy but there is something about a made bed that makes things right. (And I am sure some will notice that the bedspread does not coordinate with the wall colors. I am okay with that.) That is beauty in my home.

When someone shows appreciation for something I did for them like making some yummy granola . That is beauty in my home.

Homemade birdfeeeders. That is beauty in my home.

My beautiful and favorite rosary beads at my bedside. That is beauty in my home.

Being forunate enough to be surrounded by good literature and people who appreciate it. That is beauty in my home.

Photographs and memories . . . and lots of them. That is beauty in my home.

And a few reminders of those incredibly special people who passed before us. That is is beauty in my home.

I am thankful for having the opportunity to reflect on my abundant blessings today. I am so grateful that I took the time to appreciate the beauty in this day . . . the day was calm and I was intentional. Where did you find beauty in your home today?

Don't forget to join Heavenly Homemakers every Tuesday for Gratituesday and count your blessings!

Menu Plan for the Week of 3/28/10

2010-03-29T08:00:00.017-04:00

Holy Week is upon us so I looked for some simple meals out of Cheap Fast Good. I love to use this cookbook when I have an unusually busy week. I want to spend Holy Week (which is also Spring Break for my girls) enjoying time with my family, attending Mass, and spending some quiet time in prayer. I have planned some crafts and recipes to coincide with each day of Holy Week. I saw some great ideas at Catholic Icing! In addition to our regular meals, we will be making soft pretzels, hot cross buns, crowns of thorns, and Resurrection rolls. Here is what you find on our dinner table this week:

Sunday: Steak, steamed broccoli

Monday: Garlic lime chicken, jasmati rice, raw vege tray

Tuesday: Swedish meatballs, baked apples

Wednesday: Mini ravioli soup, homemade dinner rolls

Thursday: Chicken and rice casserole, steamed broccoli

Friday: Wild rice soup, raw vege tray

Saturday: It is going to be a beautiful day BBQ: burgers, baked sweet potatoes, baked beans, pickles

Check out tons of great menus and recipes each week at Menu Plan Monday with the Organizing Junkie.

Spring Cleaning and Dreaming of My Summer Garden

2010-03-28T19:06:00.000-04:00

It is been a while since my last post - I have been busy spring cleaning! I am really enjoying the reward of a less cluttered home since I have been participating in the 40 bags in 40 Days challenge at Faith and Family.

I also recently had the opportunity to attend our local Farm to Table Conference. It was a great day! I was able to find some great local and organic sources of meat, dairy, and whole grains. I attended a discussion on fermentation and I am looking forward to trying my hand at fermented saurkraut and carrots.

While browsing in the Exhibitor Hall, I met organic gardener and author, Doug Oster. I purchased his brand new book, Tomato Garlic Basil: The Simple Pleasures of Growing and Cooking Your Garden's Most Versatile Veges. I taste tasted his sauce recipe. . . unbelievable! He told me that while dining with his wife in Italy, she began to cry after tasting this sauce. It was exactly like that her grandmother used to make. He shares this recipe in the first chapter of this wonderful book filled wtih stories, tips, and recipes. I highly recommend it!

As the weather starts getting gradually warmer, I am dreaming of my summer garden. I like to plant lettuce tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and LOTS of herbs. I pulled out Mr. Oster's other book, Grow Organic: Over 250 Tips and Ideas for Growing Flowers, Veggies, Lawns and More, to get inspired. I am really looking forward to the warmth and ease of summer!

For now, I have to be happy with my small herb garden in my window . . . at least until May.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2010-03-17T15:39:00.004-04:00

The corned beef and cabbage have been cooking in the crock pot all day . . . I wish you could smell it . . . sooooo good! We took a break this afternoon and enjoyed a St. Patrick's fruit tray (I found this cute idea in Family Fun Magazine) filled with strawberries, clementines, green grapes, pineapple, blueberries, red grapes, and a pot of golden bananas:And a marshmallow cloud:
It did not last very long!

Decorating for St. Patrick's Day

2010-03-16T15:39:00.006-04:00

We are seeing a lot of green around here lately, and I am not just talking about the grass under the melting snow! St. Patrick's Day is one of my favorite holidays! Here is a peek at some of our decorations:

The Irish Blessing hangs by our front door year round:

I love to collect all things shamrock. Here is my Irish tea set:
A beautiful statue of the Blessed Mother adorned with shamrocks:
And my wedding veil with shamrock appliques. I did this in memory of my wonderful grandmother who was so very proud of her Irish heritage. I hope my girls will wear this veil some day!
We will be wearing lots of green and enjoying corned beef and cabbage, a rainbow fruit tray, and sweet shamrock pretzels tomorrow. How will you celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

Menu Plan for the Week of 3/14/10

2010-03-15T15:14:00.003-04:00

Spring is in the air and my menu is staring to lighten up a bit. We will have some fun with St. Patrick's Day this week with corned beef and cabbage, a rainbow fruit platter, and sweet shamrock pretzels. St. Pat's is one of my favorite holidays - it is a wonderful day to honor and remember my sweet Irish grandmother. Just like my "Bana" (as I always lovingly called her), I love to collect all things shamrock. I will post some our favorite shamrock decorations tomorrow!

Here is what you will find on our dinner table this week:

Sunday: Beef pasties, baked beans

Monday: Baked lemon chicken, herbed rice, steamed broccoli, chocolate bread pudding

Tuesday: Cheese tortellini soup, homemade dinner rolls

Wednesday: Crock pot corned beef and cabbage, rainbow fruit platter, sweet shamrock pretzels

Thursday: Peanutty sesame noodles

Friday: Spinach ricotta calzones, vegetable tray with dip

Saturday: Bacon wrapped chicken, baked sweet potatoes, steamed broccoli

**If you want the recipes to anything on my weekly menu, please leave me a comment :)

Join the Organizing Junkie at www.orgjunkie.com every Monday for Menu Plan Monday and lots of great recipes and ideas for your weekly menu plan!

An Enchanted Fairy Garden Birthday

2010-03-13T20:37:00.001-05:00

We recently celebrated our first baby's 7th birthday. All of a sudden she seems like such a big girl! That day, I made her classmates our favorite chocolate angel food cake cupcakes for her birthday snack. I promise to post the recipe soon!

We also celebrated as a family that evening starting with her favorite meatless dinner of stuffed shells and salad (it was a Friday night during Lent). I was searching for a while for an appropriate seven year old birthday theme when I received this month's issue of Family Fun. As soon as I saw the cake, I knew this would be perfect . . . An Enchanted Fairy Garden:

I knew she would love this theme because we really enjoyed painting and planting our Wee Enchanted Garden this past summer: I borrowed the gnome from the garden and he made an appearance on the cake. Otherwise, everything else was edible from the houses to the mushrooms! I chose to decorate the table with pink and green items I was able to find at the dollar store.

Topped off with some balloons (also from the dollar store): A great time was had by all, especially our sweet birthday girl!

Menu Plan for the Week of 3/07/10 - Cooking With Trader Joe's

2010-03-08T21:15:00.001-05:00

I am on the menu planning wagon after having some problems with my back last week. I am feeling much better so I am spring cleaning and cooking up a storm!

I recently ventured to Trader Joe's and created a about two weeks worth of menus. Everything has been really good! When I want to simplify my menu planning on a given week, I pull out ONE cookbook and create all of our meals from it. This really helps on particularly busy week. I used Cooking with All Things Trader Joe's by Deana Gunn and Wona Miniati to create some easy meals.

After a successful trip to T.J.'s, here is what I am cooking:

Italian Wedding Soup
Peanut Sesame Noodles
Creamy Lemony Linguine
Brown Rice Pasta Alla Checca
Spinach Ricotta Calzones
Blue Corn Taco Salads
Chicken and Eggplant Bake
Chocolate Bread Pudding

Join the Organizing Junkie at www.orgjunkie.com every Monday for Menu Plan Monday and lots of great ideas for your weekly menu plan!

A Great Lenten Meal: Angel Hair With Lemon and Creamy Spinach

2010-02-28T07:56:00.000-05:00

Are you looking for a easy but different meatless meal for Lent? I wanted to share this delicious and light dinner that we had this week. Our whole house loved it!

Angel Hair with Lemon and Creamy Spinach

1 package angel hair pasta
2 1/4 cups plain yogurt
1 1/2 Tbsp. flour
1 1/2 Tbsp. olive oil
3 tsp. minced garlic
3/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
4 1/2 cups fresh baby spinach
6 Tbsp. lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Cook pasta according to directions. Drain and return to pot.
Meanwhile, in a bowl, whisk yogurt and flour until smooth.
Heat oil in large skillet over medium low. Add garlic and red pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add yogurt mixture and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
Add spinach by the handful, stirring; continue to add more as the spinach in the pan becomes wilted. When all of the spinach has been added, add lemon juice and lemon zest to taste. Season with salt and pepper.
Add sauce to angel hair and gently toss to coat. Serve pasta generously sprinkled with Parmesan.

Enjoy!

This recipe was part of my subscription to Relish! Relish! is a weekly menu planning service that allows you to choose the dinners you would like to make and print out the grocery list and recipes. Monthly freezer meals and special menus are also included in your subscription. A Relish! subscription is $7 per month. I have subscribed to this service off and on for the last few years. The recipes are great and I love the flexibility that the menus provide.

Have you ever used an online menu planning service? Has it helped you better plan your family's meals?

Lenten Links and Resources

2010-02-27T12:40:00.001-05:00

With Lent in full swing, I wanted to share some links and resources that I use to make Lent more meaningful for myself and my family:

I have a number of things I will be doing during Lent to practice fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. I saw this great idea at Faith and Family Live. I will be using the 40 days of Lent to donate 40 bags of items from our home. I am not getting caught up with the type or size of bag that I am donating - my goal is to de-clutter my home, donate the things we no longer need or use, and bless someone else who does need it! I created a chart to help me keep track of how many bags I have donated. If you would like a copy, email me at Blessedandbusy@aol.com, and I would be happy to forward one to you.

The season of Lent obviously changes that way we eat and cook. Here are some resources to help you create simple Lenten meals:
Free Lenten cookbook by Rita Hanna
Catholic Cuisine

I have pulled a few cookbooks from my shelf that will help me plan menus filled with simple, nutritious, and sometimes meatless meals:
More With Less by Doris Janzen Longacre
Whole Foods for the Whole Family by La Leche League International
The Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters

Reading:
For my quiet time, I will be using The Magnificat Lenten Companion and a two beautiful books that I won from The Happy Little Homemaker. Thank you so much Jen! The Little Black Book and The Little White Book present six minute daily readings during Lent and Easter. You can find these at www.littlebooks.org.

I have chosen a few additional books that I will read during this season:
Grace and Gifted: Biblical Wisdom for the Homemakers Heart by Kimberly Hahn
Mitten Strings for God: Reflections for Mothers in a Hurry by Katrina Kenison
(Re-reading) A Mother's Rule of Life: How to Bring Order to Your Home and Peace to Your Soul by Holly Pierlot

I also recommend Ministry Of Moms Sharing (MOMS). MOMS is a ministry that helps mothers of all ages to gather and work on their spiritual and personal growth. I have been involved with a MOMS group for the last several years at a local parish. The following are a few articles you might enjoy from MOMS:

Fasting and Feasting

Family Spiritual Check-Up

Family Lenten Candle

Resources for Children:
Just as with Advent, we have chosen a theme for our girls to focus on. This year, they will be reading and learning about the lives of the Saints. My older girls will be reading from the Book of Saints by Amy Welborn. They also want to read a beautiful book called Journey to the Heart: Centering Prayer for Children by Frank X. Jelenek. I will be reading An Alphabet of Catholic Saints with our little girls.

Another great free resource is the Lenten Adventure for children found at www. HolyHeroes.com. Once you have signed up, you will receive a series of emails with videos, activities and links appropriate for school-aged children. We participated in the Summer Faith Adventure and the Advent Adventure. My kids really enjoy these programs!

I also highly recommend Catholic Icing, a wonderful blog filled with free activities, crafts, ideas, lesson plans, coloring pages, etc. for Catholic families. We have printed out the Children's Stations of the Cross and a Lenten calender for the kids to color and follow the 40 days of Lent. They also saw an idea that they wanted to do - they selected some of their favorite toys and placed them in a bin for storage. By "giving up" some toys, they have a better understanding of what fasting and sacrifice means. Our 7 year old feels sad when she cannot sleep with her favorite stuffed animal but she is determined to follow through on her fast. I am very proud of how my girls were anxious to participate in this!

I hope these suggestions and resources are helpful to you in making your Lent a blessed and peaceful time for you and your family. If any of these ideas strike your interest, just jump in and try them!

Do you have any Lenten ideas that you would like to share?

Making Your Home A Haven: Planning and Errands

2010-02-24T14:20:00.000-05:00

As I try to catch up with the Make Your Home A Haven series at The Homespun Heart, I will talk a little bit about planning and errands.

Planning:
I am a planner at heart. From the time I was in high school, I loved to plan meetings, dances, events, etc. This has served me well as a mother! I am always thinking ahead to the next day, week, and year. I think about and start to plan birthdays, holidays, parties, and projects often months in advance. Of course, all of my day to day work as a mom needs a lot of planning as well.

For years, I have used a desk top planner. I would fall apart without my calender/planner! It is important for me to hand write things on my schedule rather than type them into a computer . . . dates and events seem to stick better in my brain when I have written them down. In my planner you will find activities, appointments, to do lists, grocery and shopping lists, menu plans, homework assignments, birthdays, holidays, milestones, phone numbers, ideas . . . pretty much EVERYTHING we do as a family. The key to my success of my planner is that I look at it SEVERAL times a day and it sits in a prominent place in my home. I keep my planner on my hutch in my dining room. This area has become my "Command Station." I keep my calender, a magnetic message board, a project basket filled with the books and activities we are working on, a notepad, and pens and pencils:

This year, I selected a hot pink Mom Agenda. While this is not my favorite planner I have ever purchased, it is very pretty! The best planners I have used in the past are week at a glance planners with large spaces to record activities and appointments with additional space for notes, lists and menus.

I always keep my planners in a special place when I am done with them for the year. They have become my diary and journal. Every so often I flip through them and look at what we were doing at that time. From the day I met my husband, to the day we found out we were pregnant, to the day one of our babies first said mama, I have a record of all our memories!

Errands:
Running errands has been increasingly difficult with every child we have added to our growing family. I often wish every store had a drive-thru! I am sure at one time or another every mother with little ones has cringed at the thought of strapping her babies into a car seat and dragging them through the grocery store, the post office, the bank, Target, Wal Mart . . . (fill in the blank here with all the places it is hard to take your little kids!) After baby #3, I finally smartened up and decided to hire a babysitter once a week. She watches my 2 younger girls while I volunteer at the school for an hour and then run almost all of my errands.

The key to running my errands is good planning. I always keep four separate running lists: one for the grocery store, one for Costco, one for Trader Joe's/Whole Foods, and one for Target or Wal Mart. I try to combine my errands as best I can. I often jot down a "road map" of where I need to go and what I need to do so I can save on time and gas!

How do you plan your days and run your errands?

Don't forget to visit The Homespun Heart for more ideas on how to make your home a haven!

Menu Plan for the Week of 2/21/10

2010-02-22T21:14:00.007-05:00

This week will busy in our home. We have doctor's appointments, a school meeting, a friend's birthday party, a Daisy Scout event, ice skating and dance . . . not to mention that our baby is turning 7 this weekend! With all the fun that lies ahead, I will be making several crock pot meals this week.

Here is what you will find on our dinner table this week:

Sunday: Leftovers

Monday: Crock pot chicken tetrazzini, salad

Tuesday: Angel hair with lemon and creamy spinach, crock pot rice pudding

Wednesday: Meatless Wednesday
Panko encrusted tilapia with lemon aioli, steamed broccoli

Thursday: Crock pot pepper steak, steamed carrots, jasmine rice

Friday: Meatless Friday
Grace's favorite stuffed shells, salad, and an enchanted garden birthday cake!

Saturday: Crock pot brown sugar chicken, salad

**If you want the recipes to anything on my weekly menu, please leave me a comment :)

Join the Organizing Junkie at www.orgjunkie.com every Monday for Menu Plan Monday and lots of great ideas for your weekly menu plan!

Beating Afternoon Hunger: Homemade Granola Bars

2010-02-21T08:31:00.000-05:00

When my older girls get home from school at 2:45 p.m., they are ravenous! I feed them a filling and nutritious breakfast at 7:15 a.m.. However, their lunch starts at 10:40 a.m. which it way too early. They eat a snack in the early afternoon. I include things like yogurt and granola, cottage cheese, cheese and crackers, a piece of fruit, or homemade bread or rolls with jam. As soon as they walk through the door after school, they are ready to eat! If I plan well, I have a snack prepared and on the table before they get home. Recently, I made homemade granola bars and they were a big hit!
Coupled with a tall glass of cold milk served in an old milk bottle, the granola bars filled their bellies and I had (mostly) happy children as I prepared dinner.

Granola Bars

14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
2 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 cup flaked coconut (I use an organic unsweetened flaked coconut that is delicious)
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup unsalted peanuts

*You can add also an additional 1 cup of nuts, seeds, or dried fruit of your liking.

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
Warm condensed milk. Mix ingredients together and add to warmed condensed milk.
Press into a greased 9 x 13 pan.
Bake for 1 hour. Cool and refrigerate.

Enjoy!

Do you have any healthy snacks that your kids love?

Family Game Night

2010-02-16T17:00:00.000-05:00

One of my goals this winter was to plan weekly family fun nights. Each Saturday evening, we plan something special like movie nights, craft nights, reading nights, etc. On family fun nights, I always make a special dinner, snack, or dessert. A few weeks ago, we pulled out some of the board games that the kids received as Christmas presents and we had a great time!

On Saturday afternoon, the girls began to "decorate":

We played:
Operation . . . The little girls played dominoes with Dad:The winner of the night was Aunt JoJo and she took the game night trophy for the week:
I made lots of yummy snacks including Monkey Munch:

Kettle corn in the Whirly Pop:
Buffalo Chicken Dip:
I also made a delicious Cherry Pretzel Salad:

Cherry Pretzel Salad

Crust:
2 cups crushed pretzels
3/4 cups butter, melted
3 tbsp. sugar

Center filling:
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1 (8 oz. ) container Cool Whip

Topping:
2 (3 oz.) packages cherry Jell-O
2 cups boiling water

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Stir together crushed pretzels, melted butter and sugar (3 tbsp.). Mix well and press into a 9x13 baking dish.
Bake 10 minutes until set. Cool.
Cream together cream cheese and 1 cup sugar. Fold in Cool Whip. Spread on top of cooled crust.
Mix Jell-O into boiling water. Allow to set until Jell-O has firmed up a bit. Pour and spread over center filling. Refrigerate until set.

Enjoy!

Menu Plan for the Week of 2/14/10

2010-02-15T15:15:00.006-05:00

The massive amounts of snow we received caused my menu plan to change a few times last week. Empty grocery store shelves, canceled activities, re-scheduled activities, and cabin fever threw me into a tailspin. Fortunately, things are just starting to get back to normal . . . except the 4-8 inches we are expecting tonight into tomorrow! I am moving some items from last week's menu to this week.

Here is what you will find on our dinner table this week:

Sunday: Father Daughter Girl Scout Dinner Dance (Leftovers)

Monday: Pasta with turkey meatballs and fresh mozzarella, salad

Tuesday: Chicken fiesta, black beans, Spanish rice, steamed broccoli, King Cake

Wednesday: Ash Wednesday
Spinach minestrone soup, homemade dinner rolls

Thursday: Taco bar, refried beans, steamed carrots

Friday: Meatless Friday, Family Fun Night: Olympic crafts
Homemade pizza, salad, homemade funnel cake

Saturday: Popcorn chicken, baked sweet potato chips, mixed vegetables

Batch Cooking:

Granola
Granola bars
Bagels
Whole wheat graham crackers
Refried beans
Chocolate whole wheat zucchini muffins

**If you want the recipes to anything on my weekly menu, please leave me a comment :)

Join the Organizing Junkie at www.orgjunkie.com every Monday for Menu Plan Monday and lots of great ideas for your weekly menu plan!

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T08:00:00.001-05:00

Make Your Home A Haven: Chores

2010-02-11T20:03:00.001-05:00

Chores . . . I really do not like that word. We often use the word chore to mean something we must do or something we are forced to do. I chose my vocation as as stay at home mom. My husband and I did not spend much time talking about it. We just knew that was what we wanted for our family. The work I do around my house is something I enjoy (most of the time). I complain, grumble, and sometimes whine about it, but homekeeping is my job and I love it. Housework is not a chore but a true labor of love.

I have mentioned before that I use the Fly Lady system. It has worked especially well for me. With 4 kids ages 6 and under, I do the best I can! When I am pregnant or have a baby under the age of one, I just do the minimum for survival. At the moment, I am not pregnant and my youngest baby is 19 months old so I seem to be getting a little more done these days. Here is a peek at my chore schedule:

The following are my morning, afternoon, and evening routines. These are the things I feel I must do DAILY in order to keep to keep our home tidy and running smoothly:

Morning Routine

1. Wake up at 6:30, pray, and read
2. Shower and dress to shoes
3. Swish and swipe bathroom
4. Make bed
5. Put apron on
6. Start load of laundry
7. Check calendar for day's activities
8. Start dinner preparation
9. Empty and reload dishwasher
10. Eat breakfast and take vitamins

AFTERNOON ROUTINE

1. Tidy living room
2. Vacuum
3. Continue dinner preparation
4. 15 minute declutter
5. Hot Spots
- Dining room hutch
- Stairs
6. Fold and put laundry away
7. Take 20-30 minutes to myself

Evening Routine

1. Lay out clothes for tomorrow
2. Check calendar for next day and review dinner plans
3. Spend 15 minutes clearing off Hot Spots
-Clear toys from living room
-Clear everything from steps
-Clear living room hutch
4. Shine the sink
5. Put breakfast items and vitamins out
6. Pack backpacks and lunchboxes
7. Wash face, moisturize, remove contacts, and brush teeth.
8. Read.
9. Go to bed no later than 11:00 p.m.

The following are my weekly chores. I do not do every item on the list for that day. I like to have a master list so I can chose jobs that need to be done at that particular time.

MONDAY

**Food shopping

**Clean Kitchen
- Empty frig/freezer
- Clean stainless steel
- Wipe down garbage can and lid
- Wipe down countertops/hutch
- Clean hutch glass
- Organize cabinets
- Sweep and mop floors
- Clean sink
- Clean stovetop
- Wipe down walls

TUESDAY

**Clean Bedrooms

- Change and wash sheets
- Dust
- Clean mirrors
- Sweep and mop floors
- Empty garbage
- Organize/declutter drawers and closet
- Organize hall closet
- Water plants

WEDNESDAY

**Clean Living Room
- Dust
- Clean TV/mirrors/pictures
- Organize toys/books
- Organize hall closet
- Clean carpets
-Clean couch covers
- Vacuum

**Clean Dining Room
- Clean mirror
- Organize cabinets
- Sweep & mop floors
- Wipe down table and chairs

**Front Entrance
-Clean front door
- Mop entrance

**Sweep & mop stairs

THURSDAY
Errand Day

**Run errands and volunteer at school

FRIDAY
Financial Friday

**Work on bills

**Balance checkbook and review budget

**Look for ways to reduce bills

SATURDAY
Family Fun Night and Date Night

**Clean bathroom

**Prepare and plan for Family Fun Night and Date Night

SUNDAY

**Plan menus for week

**Clip/organize coupons

**Plan grocery list

**Clean out refrigerator

** Review pantry and freezer

So tell me . . . what does your chore list look like?

Don't forget to visit The Homespun Heart for more ideas on how to make your home a haven!

Valentine's Day Decorating

2010-02-10T12:59:00.003-05:00

Even though all we can see are mountains of snow outside our windows, we feel very cozy inside our home. We were very lucky that we did not lose electricity this week! Our house is all decked out for Valentine's Day. While we have a busy weekend of activities planned, we will enjoy a family Valentine party on Saturday. Here is a peek at our decorations:

Happy Valentine's Day!

Menu Plan for the Week of 1/7/10

2010-02-09T15:27:00.007-05:00

We are SNOWED IN! 21 + inches of snow over the weekend and 6-10 more coming between tonight and Thursday. I am ready for Spring!! The grocery store was a madhouse this week so I grabbed what I could find! Here is what you will find on our dinner table this week (I also included some pictures at the end of this post to show what fun 21 inches of snow can be! :)

Sunday: Superbowl beer brat sandwiches, vegetable tray, taco dip, crescent dogs, brownies

Monday: Linguine and clam sauce, salad

Tuesday: Chicken fiesta, black beans, yellow rice

Wednesday: Mushroom roast beef in the crock pot, steamed broccoli, chocolate marshmallow pie

Thursday: Taco bar, brown rice, refried beans

Friday: Homemade pizza, salad

Saturday: Valentine Party (still not sure what we are eating . . . I will figure it out after the roads are clear again!)

**If you want the recipes to anything on my weekly menu, please leave me a comment :)

Join the Organizing Junkie at www.orgjunkie.com every Monday for Menu Plan Monday and lots of great ideas for your weekly menu plan!

I had difficulty getting the front door open on Saturday morning. . . .

Who wouldn't want to be snowed in with a face like that?

Our favorite Super Bowl Snack: Buffalo Chicken Dip

2010-02-05T20:34:00.000-05:00

Even though the Steelers are not in the big game this year, I will still be preparing some yummy appetizers and snacks on Sunday. If you are looking for something quick and delicious for your crock, check out my post on Italian Sausage Sandwiches.

One of our favorite appetizers is Buffalo Chicken Dip. I am a huge fan of hot sauce so I usually go a little heavier on it than the recipe calls for. Enjoy!

Buffalo Chicken Dip

8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup blue cheese or ranch salad dressing

1/2 cup Louisiana hot sauce

1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese

2 cans (12.5 oz. each) chicken breast in water, drained

Heat oven to 350°F. Place cream cheese into baking dish and stir until smooth.

Mix in salad dressing, buffalo sauce, cheese, and chicken.

Bake 20 min. or until mixture is heated through; stir. Garnish as desired. Serve with tortilla chips.

Make Your Home a Haven: Morning Routine

2010-02-04T21:05:00.000-05:00

What do you do in your home to create a haven for your family? I am looking forward to sharing what I do to make our home more peaceful and beautiful as I participate in the Make Your Home a Haven weekly series from The Homespun Heart. I encourage you to leave me a comment and let me know what you are doing in your homes to make it place of peace and serenity!

Last week the focus was on a morning routine. (I am a little behind on the series and plan to catch up!) I have always had a morning routine but once I put it down in writing, it seemed to work much better for me . I use a FlyLady Control Journal (CJ), and I place my routines and goals in the very front. There are definitely times I put my CJ aside but I always seem to come back to it when life seems a little unbalanced.

Here is my morning routine and/or what I strive to accomplish:

6:30 a.m. Wake, quiet time: read and Rosary, make bed.

7:00 a.m. Girls wake, get dressed

7:15 a.m. Make breakfast and smoothies, vitamins

7:30 a.m. Make school lunches and snack

7:45 a.m. Empty and reload dishwasher, start laundry
Girls brush teeth, hair

8:15 a.m. Drop girls off at school

8:30a.m. Tidy living room, dining room, and kitchen,
Start dinner and plan after school snack.
Shower

10:00 a.m. Start schooling: reading and activities

This schedule changes often but it has been working well for me lately. I am not an early riser so it is something I constantly struggle with. When I do wake early and start my day with some quiet time and prayer, my day is so much better and I am a much better mom. Because I am nursing my toddler and co-sleeping (often with both my toddler and preschooler), it is difficult to keep the little ones asleep when I get up. I often just stay in bed and read and pray the Rosary with a small book light.

If you are struggling with your morning routine, I recommend looking at www.flylady.net and the book, Sink Reflections by Fly Lady, Marla Cilley. I also recently found a free e-book called Maximize Your Mornings at www.inspiredtoaction.com. It is a great blog and resource to help you start intentionally using your mornings to jump start your day.

So what type of morning routine do you have?

Menu Plan for the Week of 1/31/10

2010-02-01T10:19:00.003-05:00

I did not plan my menus last week so I was a bit more stressed than usual! This week is a very busy week for us. I am volunteering to help with activities for Catholic Schools Week, 100th day of school, and Daisy Scouts. I am planning some easy dinners and using my crock pot as much as possible. I spent much of last week cleaning and decluttering, so I plan to do some batch cooking this week to stock up my freezer.

Here is what you find on our dinner table this week:

Sunday: Leftovers

Monday: Crockpot chicken, steamed broccoli, Italian bread, sweet potato pie

Tuesday: Stuffed shells, salad

Wednesday: Crockpot chicken, rice and vegetable soup, homemade dinner rolls

Thursday: Crockpot sundried tomato and feta tri-tip, salad, brown rice

Friday: Homemade pizza, vegetable tray with dip

Saturday: Family Fun Night: Bingo
Hot dogs, baked beans, sweet potato baked chips
Homemade funnel cakes and popcorn

Batch Cooking:
2 whole chickens in crock
chicken broth
whole wheat waffles
whole wheat banana pancakes
granola bars
sour cream muffins
apple sauce
chocolate chip cookies

Join the Organizing Junkie at www.orgjunkie.com every Monday for Menu Plan Monday and lots of great ideas for your weekly menu plan!

Herb Braised Chicken Thighs

2010-01-31T21:50:00.000-05:00

I am not sure if I have mentioned it before but I absolutely love the Saving Dinner series of cookbooks, e-books, podcasts, website, etc. by Leanne Ely. I signed up to get daily articles and recipes sent to my email for free. When I received this recipe recently, I knew it was something I wanted to try. Our family loved it! I have a subscription to the Saving Dinner Menu Mailer and it has been a great help getting my weekly menu plan and grocery list together. Check out the website and enjoy the recipe!

Herb Braised Chicken Thighs
Serves 6

3 tablespoons flour
3 teaspoons paprika
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
3/4 teaspoon black pepper
12 skinless chicken thighs
1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
2 cups (2-inch-thick) sliced carrots
2 large onions, cut into wedges
2 1/4 cups low sodium chicken broth
3/4 cup dry white wine
2 1/4 pounds small red potatoes, quartered

Combine first 6 ingredients (flour through pepper) in a large zip-top plastic bag. Add chicken; seal bag, shaking to coat.

Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium heat. Add chicken and remaining flour mixture to pan; cook 3 minutes on each side or until lightly brown. Add carrot and onion; cook 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
Add broth, wine, and potatoes; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 35 minutes or until chicken is done and vegetables are tender.

A New Twist on Classic Lasagna

2010-01-19T08:44:00.004-05:00

I sampled this recipe at our local supermarket and had to try it for myself. It was delicious and my kids loved it! Enjoy!

1 tbsp. olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, diced
1 lb. ground beef
Salt and pepper, as needed
1 jar tomato sauce
2 packages gnocchi
12 oz. ricotta cheese
6 oz. parmesan, grated
4 cups mozzarella, shredded
Fresh basil, chopped

Heat oil in a saute' pan. Add onions and garlic and cook for 5 minutes until translucent. Add ground beef and brown. Season to taste. In the meantime, boil gnocchi according to package.

Layer sauce, beef, gnocchi, and cheese in baking dish. Repeat. Top with remainder of mozzarella and finish with basil.

Cover with foil and bake for 35-40 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking until cheese starts to lightly brown.

Menu Plan for the Week of 1/17/10

2010-01-17T20:59:00.003-05:00

While I love to have a menu plan in place each week, I do not always enjoy planning the menu and grocery list. This week, I started thinking about the coming weeks. Every time I saw a recipe or a meal that I knew I wanted to serve, I jotted it down. Before I knew it, I had almost two weeks of menus and grocery lists done! It is a very simple solution, and it saved me about an hour of planning on Saturday.

Here is our plan for the week:

Sunday: Chicken noodle soup, dinner rolls

Monday: Gnocchi lasagna, salad

Tuesday: Chick-fil-A Family Night

Wednesday: Herb braised chicken thighs, steamed broccoli, whole wheat couscous

Thursday: Crab cakes, baked sweet potatoes, salad

Friday: Chicken piccata, steamed brussel sprouts, brown rice

Saturday: Family Game Night: Swedish meatballs over noodles, salad
Fun snacks: kettle popcorn, monkey munch, buffalo chicken dip with tortilla chips and vege tray with dip

Join the Organizing Junkie at www.orgjunkie.com every Monday for Menu Plan Monday and lots of great ideas for your weekly menu plan!

Family Fun Night : UP

2010-01-15T15:25:00.009-05:00

One of my goals for the long winter ahead was to plan weekly Family Fun Nights. This past weekend, we were looking forward to watching the movie UP that the girls received as a gift for Christmas. We started the night by making homemade pizza. This is a huge hit in our house! The girls each made their own individual pizza. Apparently, they made Carl and Russell shaped pizzas.
There were almost no leftovers!
After dinner, we watched UP. We laughed and cried. This was definitely one of Pixar's best movies. The highlight of the night were the UPcakes we made. I made a dozen cupcakes and some icing:

I found this idea in the November 2009 issue of Family Fun. I downloaded this template and made Carl's house:
I added some ribbons and . . . .
We had lots of fun! My little sister is staying with us for a few weeks so she got in on the fun, too.
The UPcakes were super yummy!

We are looking forward to this weekend's Family Fun Night . . . Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

2010-01-14T15:15:00.002-05:00

Have you ever made your own laundry detergent?

A friend was looking for a recipe so I dug this one up from my files, and I thought I would share it. I do not remember where I found this. I use a HE washing machine so I have never tried making my own detergent:

Homemade Laundry Detergent

1/3 bar Fels Naptha, Ivory Soap or homemade goat milk soap

½ cup washing soda

½ cup borax powder

*You should be able to find the Fels Naptha, washing soda, and borax in the laundry aisle.

You will also need a small bucket, about 2 gallon size

Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan. Add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts. Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into the bucket. Now add your soap mixture and stir. Now add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir. Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel. You use ½ cup per load.

Does anyone have a laundry detergent recipe that is appropriate for a HE washer?

A Healthy and Quick Dinner to Start the New Year

2010-01-05T15:29:00.002-05:00

I am sure many people have made a New Years resolution to feed their families more nutritiously. I always strive to cook in a healthy and nutritious way. One of our family's favorite meals is Lemony Chicken with Vegetables and Parmesan from the Mom-a-licious cookbook from Domenica Catelli. Not only are the recipes wonderful but the cookbook is a beautiful read!

Lemony Chicken with Vegetables and Parmesan

1 pound chicken tenderloins or breasts (cut into one inch strips)
2-3 tbsp. garlic, minced
2-3 cups of vegetables of your choice. I use carrots, celery, mushrooms, and broccoli.
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 lemon, juiced
2 tbsp. Parmesan cheese, grated
A pinch of salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Place chicken, garlic, and vegetables in a baking dish.
Drizzle with lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Top with the Parmesan cheese and bake for 15-20 minutes. (I bake for at least 40 minutes.)

Enjoy!

Menu Plan for the Week of 1/03/09

2010-01-04T14:03:00.003-05:00

I am so happy that our schedule is getting back to normal. I have a frig and freezer full of food and I am looking forward to making some delicious and healthy meals!

Here is what you will find on our dinner table this week:

Sunday: Lobster Bisque

Monday: Shell Macaroni with broccoli and mushrooms, salad

Tuesday: Crock Cabbage Rolls, salad

Wednesday: Happy Family Sesame Chicken, stir fry veges, brown rice

Thursday: Soup from freezer, salad, homemade dinner rolls

Friday: Family Night Movie - Up
Homemade pizza and salad
Cupcake Balloons

Saturday: Chick-fil-A Calf's birthday party- free meals with coupons!

Join the Organizing Junkie at www.orgjunkie.com every Monday for Menu Plan Monday and lots of great ideas for your weekly menu plan!

Preparing for the New Year

2010-01-03T21:04:00.000-05:00

In the final weeks of December, I decided to take some time away from the computer. We had an absolutely wonderful and peaceful Christmas and New Year. We relaxed at home for the holidays and then traveled to visit family last week. While the holidays were great, I am looking forward to getting back to our routine. However, I am slowly easing back into reality . . . it took me three days just to complete this post!

As I contemplate the new year, I realize that I am not one to make resolutions. However, at the beginning of every season, I set personal, home, and family goals. I print them out and keep them in the front of my Fly Lady Control Journal. I glance at them every time I open my journal!

For 2010, I plan to focus on my personal discipline. When my discipline is strong, everything seems to fall into place - my home, my time management skills, my prayer time, my relationships with my family, my energy level, etc. I am happier, healthier, and much more content when I practice self discipline.

Here are my goals for Winter 2010:

Personal:
1. Schedule daily quiet time for prayer and recitation of the Rosary. I also want to attend Eucharistic Adoration a few times a month.

2. Schedule more time to read for pleasure. Additionally, I need to schedule/limit time spent on the computer, television, and phone. They waste my precious time!

3. Spend more time on self-care. When I take care of myself, I am a much better wife and mother. I need to make sure I am getting more sleep, not skipping meals, getting showers . . .

Family:

1. Start a weekly family night - movie nights, game nights, special dinner/dessert nights, reading nights.

2. Start bedtime routine earlier so we have enough time to read with the girls each night.

Home:

1. Menu plan for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I also plan to work very hard to reduce our grocery bill. Over the last few weeks, I have been reading some great frugal cookbooks. I am excited to give some new recipes a try!

2. Declutter with an emphasis on our bedrooms. I want to create more of a haven in our bedroom, as well as in our girls' room, so it is a place we want to spend time in during the cold winter months.

What are your goals for the coming year? I would love to hear them!

Preparing Our Hearts and Homes for Christmas, Part 5, Decking the Halls

2009-12-15T15:36:00.008-05:00

Decking the Halls

I had most of my Christmas decorating done during Thanksgiving vacation. I wanted to enjoy every minute of the tree and all of the lights and decorations that make our home so cozy during the season. I am , however, not a talented decorator. Thankfully, my kids and husband do not mind a bit. Here are some images of our cozy Christmas home.

My absolute favorite, and the most important, of our Christmas decorations is our beautiful nativity set. It was a gift from my mother-in-law a few years ago. She has the knack for choosing the most perfect and elegant gifts. Our nativity adorns our mantle with some greenery and small white lights. Did you notice the small shamrocks? I love anything with shamrocks - it was something my Grandmother collected and used to decorate her home. I think of her everytime I look at this nativity set. I was not able to get a picture of the full set but I think this picture shows its beauty:

Our Christmas tree. The picture is complete with our little one pulling some decorations off!

I picked up these adorable cups and dessert plates through a school fundraiser. They make me want to sit down every so often and relax with a cup of tea . . . and some cookies.
A craft show find for $10:
I found this on sale after Christmas for $3.00!I hope you enjoyed my little Christmas Home Tour!

The Best Birthday Ever

2009-12-14T19:39:00.004-05:00

I celebrated my birthday this week at a Chris Botti concert. He is an incredibly talented jazz trumpeter whom I have been listening to for the last several years. Last February, we saw him on a PBS special and found out he was coming to our area for a concert on my birthday! We had such a wonderful time! This was the third time I have seen him live and it was the best yet. After every concert, he signs autographs and takes pictures with fans. I felt a little nerdy but I was thrilled to get an autograph and picture:
I felt nerdy because I brought a copy of the picture I had from his last concert when I was just days from giving birth to our fourth daughter and HUGE:

He smiled and signed it, and I had probably the best birthday ever!

Enjoying the Holiday Craft Shows

2009-12-08T09:23:00.004-05:00

I have always enjoyed going to craft shows at our local churches. It is a great way to support the church as well as local crafters and artists. It is also an inexpensive and unique way to decorate your home. Here are some decorations I found recently at a craft show:

Old thread spools . . . the possibilities are endless!
A beautiful Christmas candle:
Handmade candles made from a repurposed tea cup and creamer:
Handmade ornaments made from ribbon boxes and a toy tea set:
Another handmade candle made with an old tin measuring cup:

Preparing Our Hearts and Homes for Christmas: Part 4, Making Advent Meaningful

2009-12-05T21:03:00.001-05:00

Preparing Our Hearts and Homes for Christmas
Making Advent More Meaningful

Do you have any plans to make Advent more meaningful? In years past, I have had no plan on how to celebrate Advent. As a result, the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas went so fast that we really did nothing to actually to celebrate the season.

As I mentioned in past posts, I decided to chose a theme for Advent this year so I could have some activities for myself and my little ones to focus on. Our theme this year is Fruit of the Spirit. I will be reading A Mother's Harvest: A Devotional for Moms Based on The Fruit of the Spirit. I found many books and CDs on Amazon that could be used with children of all ages to learn more about Galatians 5:22-23 . I also found this sweet sticker chart to to reinforce what my girls are learning and encourage them to practice love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control . I also plan to use some handmade coloring sheets and the lesson plan for preschoolers found on this blog.

I am also hoping to make dinner a little more special each Sunday evening as we light the candles on our simple Advent Wreath.

Here are a few other resources you may enjoy:

For some great activities for the kids, check out Holy Heroes. Once you sign up, you will receive daily educational online videos and activities for school-aged children. It is not too late to join Advent Adventure. My girls participated in the Summer Faith Adventure which was a fun home vacation bible school. They really learned a lot. I believe they also offer a free Lenten Adventure.

I have been reading Kitchen Stewardship's Advent Daily Dose here.

Here is a nice article about Advent from Faith and Family Live. The Faith and Family Live website is filled with great articles and activities for the Catholic family.

I also liked the following articles on preparing for Jesus while waiting for Santa and ways to strengthen your family during Advent:

http://www.stpaulsmonastery.org/6-moms/whatisadvent11-09.pdf

http://www.stpaulsmonastery.org/6-moms/waystostrengthenfamilythisadvent11-09.2.pdf

I hope these resources help you and your family take some time to truly celebrate Advent this year!

Menu Plan for the Week of 11/29/09

2009-11-30T16:32:00.006-05:00

I am a little tired after the Thanksgiving holiday, so I tried to keep my menu plan simple this week. Here is what I have planned:

Sunday: Spicy turkey chili and turkey noodle soup for the kids

Monday: Tacos, refried beans, Spanish rice

Tuesday: Balsamic skirt steak, polenta, roasted tomatoes

Wednesday: Stuffed shells, salad

Thursday: Pierogis, edamonme

Friday: Lemon chicken, steamed carrots, brown rice

Saturday: Make your own pizza night, salad - I meant to do this last week but we were busy. This makes a great Family Fun Night meal!

Join the Organizing Junkie at www.orgjunkie.com every Monday for Menu Plan Monday and lots of great ideas for your weekly menu plan!

Pumpkin Pie Play Dough Recipe

2009-11-25T09:50:00.003-05:00

I have been trying to put together a few holiday crafts and activities for my girls since they will be home for 5 days and it looks weather is going to turn a little ugly this week.

We love to make our own play dough. It is not messy like the stuff you buy in the store. I found this recipe at this lovely blog. I am sure I will have to remind my little ones that this is not really edible!

Pumpkin Pie Play Dough

5 1/2 cups flour
2 cups salt
8 tsp. cream of tartar
3/4 cup oil
1 1/2 oz. pumpkin pie spice
orange food coloring (2 parts yellow, 1 part red)
4 cups water

Mix all ingredients together. Cook and stir over medium heat until all lumps disappear. Knead the dough on a floured surface until smooth. Store in airtight container.

Gratituesday

2009-11-24T09:29:00.005-05:00

While I try to count my blessings every single day, it is especially nice to focus on all that I am thankful for throughout this holiday season.

I have been a little stressed lately thinking about our finances. But every time I send a bill or look at our checking account, I am reminded of the times where we had almost no money. Early in our marriage, we had a period of unemployment. It was a struggle getting food on the table. But I am thankful for that time. We are where we are because of that time. We work even harder now because we remember where we were.

So, for the tough times, I am grateful!

Menu Plan for the Week of 11/22/09

2009-11-24T09:15:00.004-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving! I planned an easy week of menus because I feel like I am vacation this week. We will not be traveling and nobody will be visiting over the holiday, but I love the break in our weekly schedule! Here is what will be on our kitchen table this week:

Sunday: We treated the kids to Boston Market. They have great deal every weekend (through the end of January, I think). For every adult meal of $7.00 or more, you get 2 free kids meals. We paid about $12 to feed the six of us. We even had a $2 manager discount given because the order took a while.

Monday: Rigatoni with homemade meatballs and dinner rolls

Tuesday: Crock Cream Cheese Chicken and steamed broccoli

Wednesday: Cheese Tortellini Soup and salad

Thursday: Happy Thanksgiving! We are having all the usual stuff!

Friday: Make your own pizza night and salad. This was a big hit in our house last week so we are doing it again. Even our 16 month old had fun kneading and stretching her dough!

Saturday: Steak, baked sweet potatoes, and steamed baby carrots

Join the Organizing Junkie at www.orgjunkie.com every Monday for Menu Plan Monday and lots of great ideas for your weekly menu plan!

Preparing Our Hearts and Homes for Christmas: Part 3: Christmas Cards

2009-11-21T19:05:00.006-05:00

Preparing Our Hearts and Homes for Christmas
Part 3: Christmas Cards

I love to send and receive Christmas cards. Every year since my husband and I became engaged, I have sent a photo card to family and friends. I am not very good at sending pictures throughout the year. With our schedule, I have rarely have time to call or even email all those special people in our lives. Thankfully, they understand! However, I love to be able to send a card with pictures of our growing family as a way to reconnect with those we do not have a chance to talk to very often. And, I know our family and close friends appreciate the pictures they receive each year, as well.

This year, as with most families, our holiday budget is very tight. I considered not sending cards this year but I knew I could find a way to keep up this tradition while staying within budget. I received a deal from Shutterfly for $10 off and free shipping on orders of $30 or more, good through 11/30/09. If anybody would like the code, please let me know and I would be happy to email it to you. It is listed as a "unique code" so I do not know if it can be used more than once.

But wait . . . .

As I was about to place my Shutterfly order, I came across the DEAL OF THE CENTURY on photo cards. On www.freebies4mom.blogspot.com, there is a deal for 50 FREE 4x8 photo cards and FREE shipping from www.seehere.com by Fugi Film. You can find the code here.

I ordered my cards last Tuesday night and I had them by Friday morning! Absolutely free! They turned out very well! They also sent me an email offering an additional 100 free prints.

Hurry, this deal ends November 30, 2009! I will be addressing my cards tonight, and I will be ready to send them out for the first week of December. What a great feeling to have this done so early in the season.

In my next installment, I will talk more about our family's Advent theme and activities that I have been preparing.

Preparing Our Hearts and Home for Christmas, Part 2: Pre-Planning and Organization

2009-11-20T21:03:00.000-05:00

Preparing Our Hearts and Homes For Christmas

Because the Christmas season is a busy time of year, I started planning early (as in early October) in order to stay organized, peaceful, and calm. Planning ahead and lowering expectations will make this a wonderful season for our family! At the end of October, I created a free Christmas Countdown Holiday Planner which can be found here. Having everything in one binder allows me to avoid all the notes and lists on tiny scraps of paper, missing receipts, lost addresses, etc.

Here is my Holiday Organizer:

First and foremost, my planner includes a Holiday Values Worksheet. I am using this to remember what is truly important to our family during the season. This is the first page of my planner so it is the first thing I see every time I open the book!

Next, I have a series of printouts to record gifts, stocking stuffers, a to do list, a shopping list, cleaning list, Christmas card planner, baking list, cooking ideas, weekly menu plans through New Years, traditions, and a full section for the kids with ideas on activities, crafts, and some baking of their own. I also have an envelope to hold all receipts.

Also included in my binder is the Heavenly Homemaker's Guide to Holiday Hospitality and the Heavenly Homemaker's Guide to Holiday Hospitality for Kids which both can be found here. These e-books are full of biblical inspiration, ideas, tips, recipes, crafts, lists, etc. I absolutely love the Heavenly Homemakers website and all of Laura's e-books! Check it out!

FlyLady also has many holiday resources including a free Holiday Control Journal here.

I have been purchasing gifts here and there throughout the last few months using sales and coupons. I have not purchased anything that has not been on sale or that I was not able to use a coupon for. At this point, I have almost completed my shopping, and I can start wrapping this weekend. Shopping early has kept me on budget. If something I previously purchased gets drastically marked down between now and Christmas, I will return it and buy it again on sale. I will share some of our favorite toys and gifts later this month.

I have started my holiday baking by making and freezing some dough each week so when I need some sweets to give or enjoy, I am ready.

One of the most important things I have done is to menu plan for the coming weeks. I think it is important during this often indulgent season, to make sure I am cooking healthy meals for my family in the midst of all the cookies and candy.

In my next installment, I will discuss Christmas cards and include a link with a GREAT FREE deal on photo cards. Stay tuned!

Gratituesday

2009-11-17T22:24:00.004-05:00

I had a rough day today. I took my "petite" toddler to the pediatrician today for a weight check and found out we should have "further testing." I was notified by our credit card company that our interest rate was jumping through roof despite the fact that we ALWAYS pay on time. We had a bill that we paid in a timely fashion returned because we accidentally put our own address in the envelope window . . . which cost us a big late fee. The kids were antsy and a little crabby in the afternoon . . . and the evening. I have have a dentist appointment tomorrow . . . and I scheduled my three year old's FIRST dentist appointment . . . at the same time.

Day is almost over but I am still GRATEFUL. I may not be able to articulate what I am grateful for at the moment but at I am GRATEFUL!

Chocolate Banana Muffins

2009-11-16T20:21:00.003-05:00

I made these muffins for my daughter's Daisy Scout Troop last week. The girls were making homemade butter during their meeting. I wanted bake something for snack so they could use the butter that they had worked so hard at making. They were very simple and yummy!
Enjoy!

Chocolate Banana Muffins
4 tbsp. butter
6 tbsp. cocoa
4 tbsp. hot water
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tbsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
2/3 cup milk
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla
2 mashed bananas
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Melt butter. Combine cocoa and hot water with melted butter. Cool slightly.

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a small bowl, beat the milk, egg, and vanilla blending well.

Mash bananas and add them to the milk mixture and the cooled chocolate mixture.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring until blended. Stir in chocolate chips.

Pour into greased muffin tins and bake for 22-25 minutes.

Makes 12 muffins.

Menu Plan for the Week of 11/15/09

2009-11-15T20:43:00.004-05:00

I planned my menu this week based upon what I had in the freezer and pantry so that I would have a light grocery shopping trip. I am happy with this week's menus. It should be a tasty week!

Sunday: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Crock Pot Cabbage Soup

Monday: Lemony Chicken with Vegetables and Parmesan
Buttered Orzo

Tuesday: French Dip Sandwiches
Sweet Potato Baked Chips

Wednesday: Crock Broccoli and Cheese Soup
Dinner Rolls

Thursday: Creamy Ranch Chicken
Steamed Broccoli

Friday: Baked Tomatoes with Orzo and Olives
Crusty Bread

Saturday: Make Your Own Pizza Night
Salad
Crock Rocky Road Candy

Join the Organizing Junkie at www.orgjunkie.com every Monday for Menu Plan Monday and lots of great ideas for your weekly menu plan!

Gratituesday - Beautiful Warm Days and Ice Cream

2009-11-10T09:51:00.005-05:00

This week I am so grateful for the beautiful, sunny 70 degree weather we have been experiencing in Western Pennsylvania. As winter is knocking at our door, I really appreciate a few days of perfect weather!

This weekend, we took advantage of the warm temperatures and got the remainder of our yard work done. As a treat, we took the kids to our favorite ice cream parlor:
How could that not put a smile on your face :)!

Menu Plan for the Week of 11/08/09

2009-11-09T17:32:00.010-05:00

Last week, I was busy with Halloween and school activities so I did not plan and shop from my weekly menu plan. While I got most meals to the table each night, we somehow ended having McDonalds for dinner one night. Yuck! I learned my lesson. Here is my plan for the week:

Sunday: Udon noodles

Monday: Go Steelers!!
Crock Pot Hot Italian Sausage Sandwiches, Meatball Sandwiches for the kids
Vegetable Tray with Dip, Chocolate Banana Muffins for dessert

Tuesday: Homemade Vegetable Soup and dinner rolls

Wednesday: Chicken Piccata, salad

Thursday: A Simple Autumn "Homespun Meal"
Crock Pot Sesame Pork Roast, Butterhead Lettuce with Parmesan and Fresh Mushrooms, Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Green Beans

Friday: Date Night Out At a REAL Restaurant . . . we have family visiting so we have babysitters!!

Saturday: Scallops in Lemon Butter Sauce, Baked Potatoes, Steamed Broccoli. A special treat from my little sister visiting from college!

Join the Organizing Junkie at www.orgjunkie.com every Monday for Menu Plan Monday and lots of great ideas for your weekly menu plan!

Linguini with White Clam Sauce

2009-11-06T12:44:00.002-05:00

I made this meal last night and had a few requests for the recipe. It is very easy, very quick (30 minutes), and very yummy. I tweaked this recipe a bit from one of my favorite cookbooks, Saving Dinner Basics from Leanne Ely which can be found here.

Enjoy!

1 pound linguini
4 (6 oz.) cans chopped clams, undrained
1 (14.5 oz.) can low sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
4 cloves garlic, pressed
2 tbsp. flour
1/4 tsp. dried thyme
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Juice of one lemon
Salt and pepper to taste

Prepare pasta according to directions. Drain.
While pasta is cooking, melt butter over medium-high heat and saute' garlic.
Stir in flour.
Cook on low for a minute or two, stirring constantly.
Gradually stir in the juice from the four cans of clams, chicken broth, and thyme.
Bring to a boil and simmer for a minute or two.
Stir in clams, parsley, lemon juice and heat through.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Serve over hot linguini.

Preparing Our Hearts and Home For Christmas, Part 1: Keeping Christmas Centered on Christ

2009-11-03T20:53:00.009-05:00

Preparing Our Hearts and Homes For Christmas

As I looked at the calender today, I was a bit giddy noticing that Advent and Christmas will be upon us so soon. It is such a beautiful season. I have many plans this year to prepare our hearts and our home for Christmas. Over the next several weeks, I would like to share some of the celebrations, activities, prayers, projects, gifts, and food that I hope will make this season very memorable for our family. I will also include Thanksgiving in this series because I think having a thankful heart is a wonderful way to begin the season of Advent. We, as a family, want the days and weeks leading up to Christmas to be a time of reflection, prayer, calm, joy, peace , love, tradition, fun, and organization.

I have spent some time over the past few weeks thinking about how to celebrate and use tradition to keep our Christmas centered on Jesus.

I have made a commitment this year to make Advent something really special for my family each and every day before Christmas. We will have an Advent Wreath on our dining room table and have a few minutes of prayer each week as we light a candle.

Our theme for Advent will be The Fruit of the Spirit. The girls and I will be studying, reading, and doing activities to practice love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

We, of course, will attend weekly Mass as a family. I will also take my girls to Eucharistic Adoration a few times during the season. A few churches in the area have weekly Pray and Play Adoration where families with children can attend and a little noise is expected!

The girls will be reading and doing activities from Magnifikid. I will also be praying and studying with my Magnifica t.

We will also participate together in a few service projects including making Thanksgiving placemats for the local soup kitchen, making a box for Operation Shoebox, purchasing a gift for a child from our church's Angel Tree, and Christmas caroling and visiting with residents of our local assisted living facility.

I am sure there will be a few more religious activities and outings in the coming weeks that I will share. I want to keep our celebrations and traditions simple and age-appropriate. Stay tuned for Part 2 of Preparing Our Hearts and Homes for Christmas: Organization!

November Gratitude Challenge

2009-11-03T13:37:00.003-05:00

I have so many things to be grateful for! Here are a few things that have been on my mind and in my heart lately:

1. My healthy family.
2. My husband's job affording me the privilege to stay home with my children.
3. Good, no, really good friends.
4. Always having just enough. Not too much and not too little.
5. The love of my husband and children even when I am not a great wife and mother.
6. And as I sit here writing this - sleeping babies and the rare sound of silence!

What are you grateful for this week?

My Little Halloweenies

2009-11-02T13:50:00.006-05:00

After a very busy but fun weekend, I am spending today playing catch-up. Cleaning, menu planning, food shopping . . . Here are a few images of our Halloween fun:

Our Halloween dinner : Mummy dogs, brussel sprout brains, and sweet potato witches:

Here is our stash of candy at the end of the night. I am taking everything, well, almost everything, to a local toy store to donate. They are giving out $1 coupons for every 1 pound of candy. Our bag of candy weighs more than our 15 month old.

Organized or insane?

I hope you, too, had a great Halloween. Now bring on Thanksgiving!

Pumpkin Patch Fun

2009-10-31T10:20:00.005-04:00

It has been a very busy week with school parties, Halloween activities, and our annual trip to the pumpkin patch. Like almost every other holiday, Halloween has become a week long event. Lots of fun for the little ones but often tiring for moms! I may be exhausted, but here are some images of the fun we had at the pumpkin patch. We were blessed with 70 degree weather, too!

I love this yearly picture, and it shows a little bit about each of my girls' personalities.

We enjoyed fresh apples and apple cider:

We picked a huge pumpkin to carve.

We decorated little pumpkins:

Erin grew a mustache:
We played in the corn crib:

And the hay jump:

We had a wonderful day! Happy Halloween!

Just a reminder that Christmas is right around the corner. I have been busy getting organized so I can have a relaxing holiday season. Does anybody else have an organization plan for the upcoming holidays?

Easy Halloween Craft for Kids: Pumpkin Planter

2009-10-28T16:20:00.004-04:00

My kids bring home a lot of crafts from school, the library, and pretty much everything else they do. And they love it. I obviously cannot keep everything. I have a folder for each of my girls with projects that are special to me. I also save some art for family members. Everything else ends up in the recycling bin or garbage. Every so often they do an activity or create a craft that it . . well, a little useful.

My three year old made this Pumpkin Planter at Harvest Class:
She really enjoyed cleaning out the pumpkin, decorating it, and planting the little plant. We also brought the pumpkin seeds home to bake. By the way, we put the plant in a yogurt container so it is easier to water. It is a nice addition to my autumn decor!

Crock Pot Chocolate Slop

2009-10-27T21:37:00.003-04:00

I do not remember where this recipe came from but it is always a hit when served with ice cream:

Chocolate Slop:
1 box chocolate cake mix
1 small box chocolate instant pudding
1 pint sour cream
3/4 cup oil
4 eggs
1 cup water
6 oz. chocolate chips

Spray crock with non-stick spray. Mix all ingredients and place in crock. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Enjoy!

A Glimpse of the Past

2009-10-26T20:43:00.001-04:00

I recently started reading the Little House series with my older girls. They are really enjoying just listening to the simple stories of Pa, Ma, Laura, Mary and Carrie. The books have very few illustrations so the girls must listen very intently to understand what is going on in the story. The simple lives of this family intrigues their young minds.

One Fall afternoon, I was thrilled to be able to take the girls to a local working pioneer homestead. They were amazed to watch and participate in many of the activities that the Ingalls family did in order to survive.

They played dress-up in handmade pioneer clothing.

We churned butter.
We made church babies. Little girls made these dolls to quietly occupy themselves at Sunday services.

I fell in love with the kitchen!
And the pantry . . .
And the oven. They were making applesauce cakes . . .yum!

The day was so much fun and so educational. We are planning to learn more about the pioneer lifestyle by creating a Little House Story Study Lapbook found here. This year, Santa may be surprising the girls with little baskets recreating Laura's favorite Christmas gifts - red mittens, a red and white peppermint stick, and a rag doll (which they will probably name Charlotte!)

Menu Plan for the Week of 10/25/09

2009-10-25T20:25:00.004-04:00

I am working on batch cooking this week. Tonight I made about 100 meatballs for the freezer and about 12 jars of strawberry jam. I hope to make a big batch of waffles, muffins, cabbage soup, and yogurt throughout the rest of the week. I am already tired just thinking about it . . . .

Here is my menu plan for the week:

Sunday: Swedish meatballs with broccoli and noodles

Monday: Stuffed shells, salad

Tuesday: Crunchy Ranch Chicken, brown rice, and broccoli

Wednesday: Roast Beef, oven fries, parmesan green beans

Thursday: Hoagies (from school fundraiser), vegetable tray with dip

Friday: Crock Pasta E Fagioli soup and Pizza (from school fundraiser)

Saturday: Halloween Menu:
Mini Mummy Dogs
Baked Sweet Potato Witches
Brussel Sprout Brains
Halloween Cupcakes

As always, I am trying to cut down my weekly grocery bill. Even though we are a family of six, we try to eat as organically and locally as possible. I realize that this does increase my weekly bill but it is definitely worth the investment in my family's health. Nevertheless, I am sure there are ways to cut back.

I cook from scratch where I can, I plan my menus and strictly shop from my list, I shop at Costco for those things that I truly use in bulk, I cook from "frugal" cookbooks, I batch cook and freeze when items are on sale, I try to incorporate at least two meatless meals a week, etc. I use coupons when I can, but it is very hard to find coupons for most things I buy. And unfortunately, farmer's markets and CSAs are done for the year in my neck of the woods :(

Does anybody have any suggestions on how to further cut my grocery bill? My wallet is begging you for help!

Join the Organizing Junkie at www.orgjunkie.com every Monday for Menu Plan Monday and lots of great ideas for your weekly menu plan!

Hot Soup on a Cold Day

2009-10-23T11:07:00.002-04:00

I have been making soup once or twice a week this Fall. It is one of those meals that I know ALL of my family will eat. I always double my batch to freeze, and I also save some for lunch the next day. I made the following recipe for my Autumn Mother's Night Out. It was a huge hit!

Delicious Cheese Tortellini Soup

1 onion, chopped
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
2 Tbsp. butter
1 box Pomi chopped tomatoes, undrained (You can also use a large can of diced tomatoes.)
32 oz. chicken broth
1-2 pounds frozen cheese tortellini
2 boxes frozen spinach

Saute onion and garlic in butter in a large soup pot.

Add chicken broth and tomatoes. Simmer 30 minutes.

Cook tortellini and spinach according to directions on package.

Add tortellini and spinach to soup and cook for additional 10 minutes. Add some additional chicken broth or water if needed.

Serve and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Enjoy!

Moments of True Bliss

2009-10-21T17:44:00.002-04:00

Indian Summer and cloth diapers sunning on the line. Such sweetness!

Sunday Football Favorite Crockpot Recipe

2009-10-21T09:48:00.009-04:00

I love love love my crock pot. It treats me like a queen, it does what I ask, it is very flexible and forgiving, it makes my life easy, it does not talk back . . . you get the picture.

Why do I love it so? Let me count the ways:

1. As I write this, I am nursing my sick baby. I also have a sick 3 year old. By 5:00 p.m., I will have two sick, cranky little girls not to mention two tired, hungry school girls.
With dinner in the crock, I can tend to everybody's needs and still have a hot, nutritious dinner on the table.

2. Thursdays. My two older girls have dance class on Thursday. How else can I feed them early and still have a hot meal ready for my husband and two little ones while we are gone?

3. Summer. Hot meal, cool kitchen. Enough said.

While I can go on and on, here is my Steeler Sunday Football Favorite Crock Pot Recipe (not the most nutritious but darn is it sooooooo good!) By the way, this is not exactly a "recipe" so feel free to add and delete ingredients for your own taste.

Crock Italian Sausage Sandwiches:

Brown a package of Italian Sausage in a skillet with a little water. I prefer Extra Hot Sausage!
Throw sausage in the crock with:
One box of Pomi Chopped Tomatoes. Do not drain.
One large can of tomato sauce
One chopped onion
One chopped green pepper

Cook on low for 4-6 hours.

Serve on soft hoagie rolls.

These sandwiches are so delicious especially as the juice soaks into the bun. Now the key to my sandwiches is the crock I choose to cook them in:
On another crock pot note, I was very excited to receive my copy of Make It Fast, Cook It Slow. The Big Book of Everyday Slow Cooking by Stephanie O'Dea , founder of http://crockpot365.blogspot.com. While I have not had a chance to make any recipes from the book yet, it really looks promising. It has recipes for beverages to desserts and everything in between. Check it out!
Pictured here is my everyday crock that I purchased last year at Target for $15. While I love it, I am interested in investing in another crock pot with automatic settings and all the bells and whistles.

Does anybody have any recommendations?

Autumn Crafting with Glitter Pumpkins

2009-10-17T13:18:00.008-04:00

I have been inspired to make some new decorations for the house as the weather has gotten drastically colder in the past week and the daylight is getting shorter. I saw the following idea on one of my favorite blogs, http://thehomespunheart.blogspot.com a long time ago. And then this week I received a Martha Stewart daily craft idea in my email that included these lovely glitter pumpkins. I knew it was time to make them!
I purchased (using the weekly sale and a coupon, of course!) five craft pumpkins, some sponge paint brushes, Martha Stewart Glitter Glue, and Martha Stewart Glitter in red, orange and brown. I poured a glass of red wine, put on some jazz, and got to work.
I glittered the stem with brown. If I were to do this again, I would have just painted the stem brown for ease.I worked a little at a time, allowing the glue to dry.I think the end result turned out very well! I placed them on our red hutch in our dining room. My girls were so thrilled when they woke up the next morning - they love anything that sparkles! This was such an easy and relaxing project. I plan to do some more glitter projects for Christmas. The Martha Stewart glitter was so nice to work with. It is definitely not your children's glitter. It had a rich creaminess about it - I could not resist running my fingers through it:

Menu Plan for the Week of 10/18/09

2009-10-17T13:01:00.005-04:00

This week, I am hosting an Autumn Mom's Night Out at my home. I have been busy cleaning, crafting, and decorating! Here is my plan for the week:

Sunday: Mom's Night Out
Sliced apples with caramel dipping sauce
Cheese tortellini soup
Homemade dinner rolls
Hot fudge brownie sundaes

Wine
Apple cider with mulling spices
Iced tea

Monday: Crock pot macaroni and cheese casserole
Steamed broccoli
Vege tray with baby carrots, grape tomatoes and celery

Tuesday: Lasagna with homemade noodles
Salad

Wednesday: Saucy Beef and Broccoli
Brown rice

Thursday: Lemon chicken/Garlic Lime Chicken
Buttered orzo
Steamed green beans

Friday: Creamy Wild Rice Soup
Salad
Bread

Saturday: Date night/Movie Night for kids

Join the Organizing Junkie at www.orgjunkie.com every Monday for Menu Plan Monday and lots of great ideas for your weekly menu plan!

Little Girls and Fairy Tales

2009-10-14T12:18:00.004-04:00

We have been reading almost daily from our wonderful books from the Sonlight Curriculum. I have been asking Mary what she wants to read and she always responds, "Fairy Tales." Today, we chose The Princess and the Pea from Hans Christian Anderson's Fairy Tales. Mary put on her favorite princess dress and crown:

After reading the story, we played our Sleepy Princess and the Pea game from Haba:

The game was fun and we got some extra practice with colors, shapes and patterns. For lunch, I will serve peas. Later, I will make some homemade play dough to recreate peas, mattresses and pillows!

Here is our recipe:

Combine:
1/2 cup salt
2 cups flour
2 tbsp. oil
2 tbsp. cream of tartar
2 cups water

Cook on low heat, stirring continuously until ingredients form a ball. Remove from heat and let cool until mixture can be handled, then knead well. Cool completely. Store in airtight container and it keeps for a long time!

You can color with food coloring or powdered tempura. I sometimes add a few drop of essential oil to give it a pleasant smell.

Enjoy creating!

Autumn Day at the Farm

2009-10-13T12:49:00.006-04:00

As promised, we returned to our favorite farm to see how many things have changed since we last visited at the end of summer. It still amazes me that just a few short weeks ago it was warm and everything was alive and green! While I miss the warm, relaxing days of summer, the beauty of autumn in Western Pennsylvania is such a blessing! Here are some images of a beautiful day spent with friends and family:

Mary making leaf angels

Mary was so excited to see "her" horses. Here, she is looking for her favorite horse, Buttercup.

Anne loves to make leaf angels, too!

Mary's favorite animals are her "lampies." Here, she is yelling, "Look, this is my Lampie!"

Running through the leaves was the best part of the day!
Autumn Blessings!

Menu Plan for the Week of 10/11/09

2009-10-12T17:22:00.003-04:00

This week I "shopped" out of my freezer and pantry to put together our weekly menu . . . money is a little tight until our next paycheck! Here is what I came up with:

Sunday: Pierogies, edamame, fresh mozzarella with tomatoes

Monday: Crock Pot Roast, steamed broccoli, homemade dinner rolls

Tuesday: Parmesan Crusted Chicken, quinoa with mushrooms, garlic and onions

Wednesday: Chicken Tortilla Soup, cornbread

Thursday: Pasta with Homemade Sauce, salad, garlic rolls

Friday: Scallops with Lemon Sauce, red potatoes, brussel sprouts

Saturday: Date Night : Steak, veges, oven fries

Other cooking projects for the week:
coconut milk yogurt
strawberry jam
sour cream muffins

Join the Organizing Junkie at www.orgjunkie.com every Monday for Menu Plan Monday and lots of great ideas for your weekly menu plan!

More Organizational Projects

2009-10-11T20:38:00.003-04:00

I have been in an organizing mood over the last few months. Its like I am nesting again but I am not pregnant. Maybe it is the approaching cold weather. Maybe it is the knowing that we will be inside our home so much more in the coming months. Whatever the reason, I always enjoy organizing! One issue we had was with the storage of book bags, lunch boxes, shoes, coats, homeschooling books, etc. We took a trip to Ikea and found some shelves that we installed in our dining room. Here is the end result:

For our homeschooling and reading materials, I found these nice sturdy baskets at a yard sale for a few dollars each. I found the larger containers at Lowes. Each girl has an assigned container for their items such as dance shoes, soccer equipment, and library books.

Mary's container has her homeschooling materials:

My next project? My "Command Station:"
This is where I keep my calender, my control journal, school papers, lists, books we are working on, and just about everything I need to keep our schedule running smoothly. I have not quite decided what needs to be done here, but something needs to be done quickly! Any ideas?

Too Much to Read, Too Little Time

2009-10-10T18:21:00.006-04:00

I love to read. Lately (more specifically in the last 6 1/2 years), I have struggled to find the time to read with my little ones running around. I rely on magazines and books with short chapters to satisfy my need to read. Unfortunately, I end up with stacks of books and magazines in places where I can sit for a few minutes uninterrupted. Here is my pile in the living room:

"The Pile" drives my husband nuts, and frankly, it drives me nuts. So, I found a small book rack at the thrift store for $5. It was a little beaten up, so I decided to give it some color:

A very inexpensive solution to "The Pile" and my living room looks much more tidy!

Do you have any easy and inexpensive solutions to life's little piles?

Menu Plan for the Week of 10/4/09

2009-10-05T13:00:00.004-04:00

I love to plan my weekly menus. It gives me such a sense of control over my week. When I plan and shop on Sunday, the week seems to go so smoothly. I do not always follow my plan exactly because so many things happen during the week that can sidetrack me. However, with a good plan, I cook a "delicious and nutritious" meal most nights of the week. I do not specifically "plan" breakfast and lunch, but it is one of my goals for the fall. Here is my plan for the week:

Sunday: Chicken Piccata and steamed carrots.

Monday: Beef Stew with Noodles and homemade dinner rolls.

Tuesday: Jambalaya and homemade birthday cake to celebrate Dan's birthday.

Wednesday: Lemon Chicken for the kids and Garlic Lime Chicken for me (Dan will be home late), brown rice, and steamed broccoli.

Thursday: Dance classes - Spinach Minestrone Soup and homemade dinner rolls.

Friday: Cheeseburger Macaroni and a vegetable

Saturday: Date night - steak, rice and veges for the kids, fresh mozzarella and tomatoes with olive oil, prosciutto, and Italian bread for us.

Join the Organizing Junkie at www.orgjunkie.com every Monday for Menu Plan Monday and lots of great ideas for your weekly menu plan!

Apple Picking

2009-09-29T19:13:00.002-04:00

I took our little ones to a local farm to pick apples on a very warm day in September. We met some good friends in the orchard and picked 1/2 bushel of apples. There were a lot of bees, but thankfully, nobody was stung. The market was so beautiful with the flowers, pumpkins, gourds, and scarecrows. When we got home, we made LOTS of applesauce and a caramel apple crisp for dessert. And, there were plenty of apples left to snack on!

Fall Decorating

2009-09-19T13:05:00.003-04:00

Autumn is my favorite time of year. In Western Pennsylvania, the changing trees, crisp air, and farm fresh foods and flowers make these few months so magical. I started my fall decorating on the day after Labor Day. I do not like to decorate for Halloween but my fall decorations make the house so cozy. Pumpkins, autumn leaves, wreaths and candles set the tone in our home. Here is a little peak at what I have been up to.

Back to School In Style

2009-09-19T11:58:00.004-04:00

As school is back in full swing, I wanted to share some of our favorite "green" school accessories. We absolutely love our Laptop Lunchboxes from www.laptoplunches.com. These bento-style boxes allow me to pack a waste-free, colorful, and nutritious lunch. They include four individual containers with two lids, a dip container with lid, utensils, and a drink bottle. I also pack a cloth napkin. To let the girls know that I think about them all day, I always try to pack a little note of love and encouragement. The girls usually finish most of their lunches, and if they do not, I can always see what they actually ate. Often times, they finish whatever is left in their lunches as soon as they get home because their lunch period is so early - 10:40 a.m.! We also love reusable sacks in lieu of plastic snack bags. I got these cute sacks on www.etsy.com through Kathi's Kreations. They are large enough to hold snacks or sandwiches. The top is secured with a generous strip of velcro so nothing slips out. We also chose these cute personalized backpacks from Land's End. With a coupon and free shipping, I was able to get these for about the same price as the backpacks at Target. The start of the school year has been great so far. Grace and Erin have started soccer with Coach Dan/Dad teaching them new skills. They are also starting Daisy Scouts soon. Grace chose to take a cheer/gymnastics class, and Erin chose a tap class. Mary and I have started homeschooling using some Sonlight curriculum and some Catholic Heritage curriculum. We have really enjoyed the reading and snuggling, the crafts and activities, and the field trips. The Fall will be busy but we are having a great time!

First Day Of School Celebration

2009-08-27T21:13:00.004-04:00

Grace started First Grade this morning and was filled with excitement. Erin starts Kindergarten next week and is very anxious to get started. After Labor Day, I will start working with Mary as she begins her homeschool preschool. I wanted to do something special in the morning, but like most mornings, we were just struggling to get everyone in the car and out the door. Luckily today was my day with my babysitter. Last year, I started hiring our WONDERFUL babysitter to come weekly so I could run errands, clean, relax, or have a lunch date with Dan. While the baby always comes with me, it is still so much easier than bringing all the girls with me on errands. Anyway, I took this opportunity to prepare a special First Day of School dinner celebration. The girls love Chinese take-out but I always cringe when I order it because I have a feeling it is not the healthiest meal on earth. I decided to make Happy Family Sesame Chicken from the Dinner Diva, Leanne Ely, at www.savingdinner.com. I added some brown rice and mandarin vegetables. The girls enjoyed using their kids chopsticks. Of course, we needed fortune cookies to top off the meal. I also made a tray of brownies with frosting as an extra treat.

I wanted to get the girls a small gift to commemorate the start of school. In a "Chinese take-out container", I placed a prayer card with a prayer for students, a pin of the Blessed Mother, and a small cross to wear with their uniforms. I gave Mary a small puzzle that she and I can work on together. Everyone loved their meal and gift. This was a wonderful yet simple idea that the girls will remember for a long time!

Our Day at the Farm

2009-08-26T16:49:00.006-04:00

We spent this beautiful day at a local working farm/county park. We are so lucky to have such great places to go in Western Pennsylvania. This park is open year round with so many animals to see. Admission is free and you can roam at your leisure. We packed a picnic lunch with some good friends and the kids played for a long time at the playground. We then walked around observing (and petting) the horses, chickens, sheep, bunnies, cows, and the donkey. Erin thought the donkey looked sad. Mary love her "lambies." Even Annie squealed with excitement when she saw the cows. Grace must have tucked her sketch pad in her bag when I wasn't looking. It was fun to see sketching the animals! We agreed that we would return in autumn when the leaves change color. It will be so beautiful!

Summer is Slipping Away . . .

2009-08-25T20:40:00.004-04:00

The minutes of summer are slipping away quickly. As my older girls are preparing to start school in the next few weeks, we are trying to pack in as much fun as possible. Trips to the community pool, the farmer's market, the local working farm, as well as a picnic in the park are all things we did this week knowing that the busyness of the school year and cooler weather will change the relaxed schedule that we have grown accustomed to. There is a lot of excitement for the start of first grade, kindergarten, homeschooling our preschooler, dance classes and soccer. But I am not quite ready yet. I enjoy having complete control over the day. Sometimes we were lazy and sometimes we were busy. But the thought of cool nights, sweaters and pumpkins do give me reason to smile!

2009-08-24T10:58:00.009-04:00

Time in our home is flying. Just eight short years ago, Dan and I married. Less than a year later, we learned we were pregnant with our first daughter. Grace arrived in early 2003. Fifteen months later, Erin joined our small family. Two years later, Mary was born. Two years and one day after that, Anne joined our much larger family. We truly are Blessed and Busy. I have been thinking for the last few years about how to document our family life. I do not take very good or very many pictures . . . nor do I find the time to actually print the pictures. I rarely remember to pull out the video camera. And just forget about scrapbooking. I find that lately, I have been using a social networking site as a way to share thoughts and pictures of our family with our extended family and friends who live all over the country and all over the world. Something did not feel right about sharing our memories in that way. So I decided to start this blog to document our family memories and photos through everyday stories of parenting, Catholicism, cooking, baking, homekeeping, gardening, crafting, decorating, schooling, reading, and volunteering. And hopefully along the way, someone will stumble across our blog and maybe learn a little something new!