Disheveled Mommy

Fives, Counting To and Counting By

2012-01-16T13:30:00.000-08:00

This week The Princess and I have been working on the number 5, as well as planting some basil for our kitchen window. We combined these two for a fun activity she loved. We're counting and learning about plants!

We went into the pantry, and grabbed some beans.

We used some pintos, chick peas, white beans, red beans, black beans and lentils. We also grabbed 3 paper towels and 6 snack-sized zip-lock bags. We cut the paper towels in half and the width was perfect for the bags. Folded into fourths, we lightly wet them and tucked them into the bags.

We counted together 5 of each bean, and put each group in a bag. We counted as we took them out of the container, into the bag, and as we lined them up in the bag. That was a lot of counting to 5.

Then, we hung them up and counted them in their bags- BY five. We talked about how each group of 5 added up to thirty, and how we saved time counting in fives.

We're also counting as we check them for sprouts and discuss how they are growing and the parts of the plant. This activity will last us weeks!


Lentils


Red beans


White beans


Chick peas


Pintos

Freezing Bacon

2012-01-12T14:16:00.000-08:00

Mmmmm.....bacon. Bacon on sale? DOUBLE Mmmm! A lot of the bacon we eat is chopped and used to flavor dishes, but we do enjoy the occasional fry up. I just snagged myself a 10 pound box of sliced bacon at 14.99. I didn't mind that some of it would probably end up ends and bits since we use a lot of that anyways. Even if it was 5 lbs of it, we would gladly use every bit! Many people avoid buying bacon in bulk because putting it up is such a hassle. You can't just throw the box into the freezer, it would be one giant clump. Here is how I put up our box of bacon.

First, you will need a box of waxed paper, your bacon, and about 15 minutes.
Start unrolling your waxed paper on a table or counter, fold over about 6-8 inches now, it will be a pain later.

Unroll a sizable amount, but do not tear off.

Start laying out slices of bacon at the crease. They don't have to be terribly far apart, but not touching.

When you get close to the roll of paper, you can begin folding, which will turn into rolling. Fold the flap you created earlier over those first couple slices. Fold the first slice over the second, and then fold again, then it will start to roll in on itself.

As you roll it up, unroll some fresh paper, keeping a continuous roll o'bacon. When you have rolled all your bacon, roll it in some more paper before you tear it off, tuck the ends (they'll kind of cover themselves...)and toss in the freezer. You can now use as little, or as much bacon as you wish from the roll. And hopefully, save money!

I also froze the bits and pieces, (NOT half the box surprisingly!)

I cut them up into bits with kitchen shears, and divided them up into snack-sized zip bags that I put into a labeled freezer bag. I also got a few bags of lovely snow-white fat to render. I see some bacon biscuits and cornbread in my near future! Yum!

Another Cute Find + a Mini Giveaway

2012-01-07T18:16:00.000-08:00

Remember when I blogged about finding some super cute shaped ice cube trays at Halloween time? This week I found another cute tray at Dollar General. Just in time for Valentine's day!

I got three...two for making ice...and one for crafts. They were a buck each, niiiice.

My first craft.....

Crayons!

I used my microwave to melt my crayon bits since I'm not really sure these cheapy trays are really silicone....I'd hate to melt them!

Each little "set" has a reds-pinks heart, an oranges-yellows heart, a greens heart, a blues heart, and a purples heart. They're a big hit at my house, and I can't wait to see what else I can make! (I'm thinking soaps!)

Followers of the Disheveled Mommy Facebook page may have noticed a new tab on the page. "Top Fans". Just a cute little way to acknowledge all the little comments and love you leave. This week, since I have an extra set of little heart crayons, I'm gonna pass them on! I'll check the "Top Fans" tab Saturday evening, and the follower who's sitting at #1 will be sent the set! (So, you must be following us on FB to participate...)

My Solution: Mini Glitter Jars

2012-01-04T19:03:00.000-08:00

My preschooler LOVES glitter. She also loves to glue glitter to paper. It's gorgeous, but because I don't want 7 jars of glitter on my floor, I have to dump it into piles of a manageable size for her. She hates that. She wants to shake it. I do not blame her.
Soooooo...I finally came up with a solution! Remember those make up jars I mentioned in the previous post? The ones I used for little watercolor pots? They were PERFECT for a bit of each colored glitter! And even better, they stacked up nicely in a little star-shaped bowl I had, so she can grab and put away this activity as needed. (Like when I'm cooking! Or scrubbing!) I put a little snap-shut container for glue in the bottom, that she can open, but it still shuts tight. The glue can be painted on the paper with a little brush, or q-tip. Now I'm thinking of other activities that can fit inside these bowls for her.

Homemade Fun: Watercolors

2012-01-02T21:43:00.000-08:00

She CAN blend!

Lately out little artist has fallen in love with watercolor painting. So, naturally, I googled to see if there was a way to make our own! TONS and TONS of hits. The most repeated recipe seems to be this one:

3 Tablespoons of baking soda
3 Tablespoons of corn starch
1 1/2 teaspoons corn syrup
3 Tablespoons white vinegar
Several drops of food coloring for each color made

Mix all but the coloring together. Wait for the fizzing to stop, and stir thoroughly. Poor into your chosen containers. I saw everything from ice cube trays, to plastic baby food cups, and craft-store mixing pallets. I chose to re-purpose some little jars I have washed for re-use that are from mineral make up I previously pressed into pallets. I've got several uses for these I'll be sharing as I remember to photograph them!

Next, have a little fun mixing in your colors. I noticed as mine dried that I should have taken into consideration that my containers were smaller than most others...and my extra drops of color rose to the top and impeded drying. I panicked for a quick moment, then ran and grabbed a few cotton balls. I barely touched them to the excess, and the wicked it right up! WHEW!

Let dry overnight, and enjoy.

And they even have handy lids! =-)

Freebie!: Red Bull 4 Pack

2012-01-02T17:59:00.000-08:00

Check out this link and fill out a couple forms (Declare your new years resolutions...) to get your free 4 pack of sugar free Red Bull. (YuM!)

Holidays on a Budget: Green and Frugal Wrappings

2011-12-13T10:30:00.000-08:00

Sometimes being frugal also means being green. When wrapping gifts this year, why not consider these eco and budget friendly ideas?

Newspapers. The old stand by. Black and white pages are chic, and comics are cute.
Maps. A great bonus if you use this colorful idea on a gift for someone you've traveled with. Those free maps at state welcome centers are great for this.
Scarves. Look in thrift stores and sales racks for a wrapping that will give twice.
Tote bags. They're totally cute and fashionable now-a-days, and the recipient gets a double-gift.
Paper bags. Unfold and use as-is, or get creative. The paper is a great canvas for stamps, paints, or even ink drawings.
Fabric. Same idea and wrapping style as the scarves, and thrift stores often have piles of it. What a cute way to wrap a gift for the crafter or seamstress in your life.

Holidays on a Budget: The Perfect Salt Dough

2011-12-12T13:50:00.000-08:00

Salt dough ornaments are great not only from a frugal standpoint, but they are a great activity for the kids.
There are many salt dough recipes out there, but this simple one, with no "weird" stuff added works wonders. The secret to a nice, smooth dough is remembering to knead it. Just because it isn't a dough you will be eating, many people overlook this step.

Mix together:

2 cups flour
1 cup table salt
1 cup (give or take a bit as needed) water

Knead until smooth an pliable. Cover and let sit for at least 10 minutes or until ready to use.

Roll to about 1/4th of an inch thick and cut with cookie cutters.

Bake on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a 200 degree oven (lowest setting) for a few hours or until dry.

Paint, let dry, and glue hangers to the back.

Holidays on a Budget: Holiday Card Holder

2011-12-11T13:28:00.000-08:00

Here is a simple wreath for displaying your holiday cards. You only need a few items to make it, and it makes a great busy project for an older kid.

Begin with cutting an eleven-inch circle from some sturdy cardboard. You will also need a five-inch hole out of the center.

Next, cover this in some wrapping paper. Be sure to cut slits or notches in around the edges of the paper so it will cover the curves nicely.

Next, you can paint your clothespins, or cover them with the same paper. A coordinating paper would be nice too. To cover the pins cleanly, apply your glue, and press to the backside of your paper. You'll want to use a piece of paper bigger than your clothespins, and let them dry thoroughly before trimming the paper down. You can also coat with some Modge-Podge or similar coating for protection.

Arrange your 12 clothespins around your wreath. Secure with hot glue. You can also add some ribbon to the center to make it more wreath-like. (We did...) By the time your pins are filled with cards around the outer edge, the ribbon in the middle will be a nice touch.

Holidays on a Budget: Bauble Snow-Globes (Anthro-Inspired)

2011-12-10T11:00:00.000-08:00

Silver-filled artsy snow-globes are all the rage this year. Simple but blingy, and can be used year-round. Ours don't feature jewelry, but instead good-quality silver spray paint gives trinkets a quirky touch.

First, you'll want to find a jar to use, size and shape is completely up to you. Just be sure to wash thoroughly and remove all traces of label. Don't forget the lid! I also spray painted the inside of the lid- but it was a waste of time, you cannot see it!

Gather your goodies. I saw some globes that had a bit of lace in them, so cute! I sprayed my lace with some clear coat to keep it stiff and in place under the water.I also used some mini-balls, a painted marble, a painted chess piece, and some painted twigs.

Start arranging your baubles on the inside of your lid. I used hot glue. Be sure to secure the bottoms and the tops of your balls so they stay in place when you add them to the jar. Especially the ones you "hang" from the twigs.

Fill your jar almost all the way with water, add a couple drops of glycerine, (optional, but it is supposed to make your glitter float better...) and your glitter of choice. Carefully lower your goodie-covered lid onto the jar. Glue with a waterproof glue before you screw it all the way on. Let cure. (I used a Goop-brand glue)

They even look cute upside down!

You can also cover the lid with some ribbon, it looks super-cute!

One thing is for sure, I need practice photographing them, but they are beautiful in real-life!

Holidays on a Budget: Saltine Toffee

2011-12-09T15:43:00.001-08:00

Here is another simple candy to share this Holiday Season.

Only 4 simple ingredients And you can find them all in your pantry, or on hand.

You will need:

a little more than 1 sleeve of saltine crackers
1 and 1/2 sticks of butter
1 and 1/2 cups of packed brown sugar
1 package chocolate chips

Line a half-sheet pan with foil and non-stick spray. I also like to add parchment paper, but I keep the foil to protect the sides of the pan. I just got a shiny new pan. I'd like it to stay that way. ;-)

Preheat your oven to 350.

Lay out your crackers.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt together the butter and the brown sugar. Let come to a boil.

Pour over your crackers and smooth out with a spatula.

Bake for 5-7 minutes until the whole thing is bubbling like crazy throughout.

Remove from the oven and let sit for about a minute. Sprinkle with the chips and let sit for another minute.

Spread with an offset spatula.

Chill in your fridge for about 45 minutes or until set. Break into chunks.

Holidays on a Budget: No Fail "Fudge"

2011-12-08T15:52:00.001-08:00

This is seriously the EASIEST candy recipe you will ever see. So tasty, and perfect for a choco-craving or a holiday gift.I like to toss a few pieces in my cookie tin gifts.

You will need

1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk!)
splash of vanilla
4 Tablespoons butter
any mix-ins you wish (Nuts, marshmallows, fruits, etc...)

Grease a square glass pan. Have all your ingredients ready. I like to have my butter chopped in little teeny-tiny cubes. I even dump the vanilla with it so it is ready to toss in.

In a double boiler or very carefully in a microwave, melt together the chips and the milk.

Stir in the vanilla, and the bits of butter.

Quickly fold in your mix-ins: I like WELL DRAINED halved maraschino cherries, marshmallows, and chopped almonds- Rocky Road! (What I have pictured is pecans, so my little nut-sensitive one can have some. She doesn't react to pecans =-)

Spread out into your prepared pan, chill until set, and EAT!

Holidays on a Budget: Christmas Popcorn Balls

2011-12-07T12:52:00.001-08:00

These are an easy, but cheery treat for the Holidays.

Take 1 cup of light corn syrup and 1/2 cup of sugar, bring to hard boil. Add to this 1 small (3 oz.) box of dry Jello powder, in any flavor that is red. Mix very well. Pour over 5 quarts of popped pop corn. This mixture will be VERY VERY HOT. Let cool slightly. After greasing your hands, form balls the size you like, then wrap each one in saran wrap to keep fresh and soft.

Try experimenting with different colors...make some red and green ones...make some blue-raspberry ones for Hanukkah...the possibilities are endless- and yummy!

Holidays on a Budget: DIY Plastic Wreaths

2011-12-06T15:12:00.001-08:00

Looking for an easy, but time consuming craft to keep the kids busy? Or maybe just one that's durable? Then grab a wire clothes hanger, a couple of white trash bags and some scissors.

Bend (or is it unbend?) your hanger into a circle. Some people like to leave the hook on for hanging, but I clip that sucker off. I also covered the part where I twisted it back together with a little tape so no one would get scratched. I also totally forgot to take a picture of this.

Next, fold your trash bag(s) in half lengthwise until you have a controllable width to cut. Cut into inch-ish sections.

That paint in my thumbnail will just NOT go away!

Then, cut each strip into pieces about six inches long. (I got 8 with each strip.)

Now we'll tie our strips to our wire form. A billion hitch knots... I believe this one is called a Cow Hitch. I'm not sure exactly what words can describe this best, so yay pictures!
Make a U shape, lay under the wire. (You can do this holding it, but I can't hold it and take pictures.)

Bring your tails up over the wire, and through the loop.

Pull taught, and repeat. Fill your form.

Add some decorations, (yay hot glue!) and you're done. Simple for all your kiddos to do, but will keep them ridiculously busy all afternoon. Lovely.

I'm thinking about trying it with a green cheapy vinyl tablecloth for a green one!

Holidays on a Budget: Two Easy Bows

2011-12-05T15:07:00.001-08:00

Here are my two go-to bows for decorating everything from hair accessories, to wreaths, to just for hanging on the wall.

First, grab some ribbon, wired or unwired (but wired is easier for your first few...), about 4 times as long as you wish your bow to be. Fold it into fourths to mark or you can eyeball it, and trim the ends up later. Lay your ribbon top-side-down, there should be 3 marks, splitting your ribbon in fourths. Fold the two on the ends to the middle. Glue with a tiny amount of glue. Tacky glue, or if you're very light handed, a glue gun works best.

When you turn it over, it should look like this...

Flip it back over and adjust your tails.

Holding your bow lengthwise, fold the edges to meet in the center-back.

Then back forward, gathering the center. Pinch and sparingly glue in place.

Take a couple inches of your ribbon and fold the edges in to meet in the middle.

Use this to cover the center of the bow. (Propping up on your glue gun is optional...)

To make an easy double bow, grab some ribbon, and fold into thirds- but not evenly. The top bow will be the smallest, using the ribbon in the middle, then a bigger bow an inch or so bigger, then the ends will be about the same as the first bow. I'm sure there is some sort of math for figuring out how much ribbon you'll need for what size bow, but this isn't the place to go if you want math. I just eyeball it.

Repeat the fold-to-the-middle like with the bow above, but repeat!

Pinch and wrap the middle, puff your bow, and there you go!

Holidays on a Budget: Children's Clay Menorah

2011-12-04T13:05:00.001-08:00

Your children will love this craft project. They get to play with dough, and have their own little menorah that uses inexpensive birthday candles.

First, you'll want to make some salt dough. (Equal part salt and flour, slowly add boiling water until it is the right consistency. Knead until smooth.) We knew ours was going to be blue, so we tinted our dough so we wouldn't have to use as many coats of paint. Totally optional.

Grab a half-mommy-sized handful, or a kiddo-sized handful of dough. Tear off about a thumb-sized piece and roll into a smooth ball. Press your ball into a stone-like shape. Set aside.

Take the rest of your dough and roll into a smooth snake, about six to eight inches long. We rounded our edges.

Carefully attach your stone shape to the middle. Then start laying out your holes. We started with the middle, then evenly spaced them working our way out. I marked the holes with a skewer, then widened them perfectly with a candle. (One in the center for the shamash, and four on each side.)

Let dry several days. We tried speeding it up with a low oven, but these pieces are so thick that they crack a little, use discretion.

Paint your little menorahs, and enjoy! I thought they looked a little like stone, very nice!

Holidays on a Budget: Cinnamon Votives

2011-12-03T12:17:00.001-08:00

I think I may be a little cinnamon-crazy this year. =-)

I've seen all sorts of stick-covered vases around the blog-world lately. Also little twig-covered votive holders. SO CUTE. But why not do that with cinnamon sticks? They're cheap if you grab a bag from the right section in the store. I got mine from the section with Mexican foods & spices, Tampico brand, but there are many brands. They were almost a dollar each, not too shabby. I grabbed two, but then I decided to cut my sticks in half so they'd lay flatter and release a lot of scent. So I ended up using one bag. Hmmmm...what to do with the other? (Cocoa?)

I gathered my supplies first so I wouldn't be running around with the hot glue gun plugged in. I had an audience, I didn't want curious hands to be tempted.

First, I trimmed the sticks to the right height with a small serrated knife. Hold firmly with your thumb, those suckers want to splinter. Save your splinters and ends to fill in any gaps.

I found the best way to halve the sticks was to slowly stab and prod down the length of them. On a magazine to protect your table, of course....

You don't have to halve them, but I liked the way they fitted. Plus it made my kitchen smell fantastic....

Start gluing and placing...

Oh no, a gap....

Gap?

If you get a little extra hanging on the bottom....or leave a lot to take a picture to show extra hanging on the bottom.... kitchen shears make easy work of trimming it.

Add a little ribbon, and clean up the extra glue....


Oops! missed some glue!

Holidays on a Budget: EASY Cardboard Snowflakes

2011-12-02T12:37:00.001-08:00

Cutting toilette paper tubes into rings is a quick and simple way for kids of all ages to whip up some quilling-like snowflakes for wall art or tree decoration. The finished product can be as simple, or as elaborate as you want.

Little ones can easily glue together some six-ringed flakes that are cute-as-a-button.

Try cutting the rings in half and bending them to make more interesting designs.

Glue them to the spaces between....

A little paint, maybe some glitter...and voila!

Holidays on a Budget: Cinnamon Ornaments

2011-12-01T11:28:00.000-08:00

Cinnamon ornaments are a classic Christmas activity. We've all made them in school, and I love making them at home. They fill the whole house with a seasonal scent even while kids are rolling and cutting out their precious works of art. If you use an oven to dry them out, even better!

To make the dough, start with a hefty amount of cinnamon. The 2 for $1.00 jars work great ;-)
Mix in spoonfuls of apple sauce until the dough is smooth, and thick enough to hold its shape. It should be a but firmer than cookie dough, kind of like pie dough.

Roll your dough out to 1/4 inch thick, and cut with cookie cutters.
Some helpful tips:

Dust with cinnamon to roll out, especially if a little sticky. Flour will lighten your ornaments/leave weird spots.
Lay down as many cutters as you can/will fit. Then use a spatula to help you transfer them to a cookie sheet to dry. This helps them keep their shape.

Too thick and they will take years to dry, too thin and they'll break like nothing. 1/4 inch seems to be just right.
You can dry in a VERY mild oven (lowest setting, or until your oven on light pops on), or air dry for a couple days.
If poking a hole in the top to hang, remember to do it before they start to dry!
Even though gingerpeople are the common shape for these because of their color and scent, other shapes are super cute too. We like stars too.

Let dry in the manner you prefer. Turn as needed, but try not to handle TOO much.
Decorate with white puffy paint "icing".

We like to glue our hangers on the back, rather than a ribbon through a hole. Both wire hangers and ribbons work nicely.

Holidays on a Budget: Advent Paper Chain

2011-11-30T11:20:00.001-08:00

Advent calendars are used in many households. I remember my Grandma bringing one candy-filled, beautifully illustrated calendar for each of us every year. She always bought them at the Exchange, and they were filled with tiny, delicious German chocolates. Mmmmmm.

Having a little one around, we've opted for a more visual countdown to Christmas, a paper chain. Easy to make, colorful, and economical. You can have each of the children make a chain for themselves, or like us, have one larger chain displayed. This year, instead of stapling our chain to the wall, I've made it look more like an intentional decoration. I whipped together an adorable "holder", that the chains can be hung on year after year, and gives them a bit of a more finished look.

First, I cut 3 bell shapes out of some thin cardboard. I used an empty cereal box. Recycling! Then I spray painted them with some gold paint. I only did the edges of the back two, and only just in case they peeked from behind the top layer. You can paint the brown, papery side for a flocked looking bell, and the smooth side that was the outside of the box for a shinier bell.
Then, I simply glued the layers together. Three seemed to be the perfect strength, as well as gave me the perfect arrangement for my ribbons. I hung one shorter length between the bottom and middle layers at the top. This was my hanging ribbon. Then, between the middle and the top layers, at the bottom, I glued a longer ribbon that the last link in the paper can be thread through before stapling shut. Placing the ribbons on different layers kept the cardboard from having a big gap, or big bulges.

Pecan Pie

2011-11-22T17:38:00.000-08:00

Recipe time again. Tonight I'm going to share with you our pecan pie, a favorite for Thanksgiving and any other special occasions. I've even been asked to make this instead of a birthday cake!

You will need:

3 eggs
1 C brown sugar. (The secret to a rich, crusty pie.)
1 C corn syrup. (The kind of corn syrup you use in your kitchen is not the same thing as HFCS, calm down. ;-) )
2 Tablespoons butter, melted. (NOT margarine, pie is not a time to count calories!)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 C total pecans, I like pieces because it will cut neater, but feel free to use whole for presentation if you wish.

Pre-heat oven to 350.
In a large mixing bowl, beat your 3 eggs. Then, mix in- in this order, the sugar, corn syrup, butter, vanilla, salt.
Fold in 1 1/2 C of pecans. Dump into your crust. TOP with the remaining 1/2 C pecans.

Bake for 1 hour, or until the center is juuuust set. If you need to, cover the edges of the crust with foil if they brown too fast.

That's it, super easy, super delicious pecan pie!

Daughter moves to "big city"

2011-11-22T16:47:00.001-08:00

Guest post written by my buddy Aldo Mays
My daughter is moving into the big city. Well, the South’s big city. Being from the rural part of Georgia, Atlanta feels like the biggest city in the world. Obviously there are a lot of bigger cities, but this is the biggest one close to my family. I am surprised she wanted to move there. In the country, there is always a feeling of peace and I have never felt in danger. The city seems like a completely different feel. I am worried about my daughter’s Atlanta Home Security. I worry about her house getting broken into or her coming home and someone being in the house. I am not a fan of this move and I am losing sleep over it. My little girl means the world to me and even though she is a grown adult and can make her own decisions, she will always be my little girl. I have always been there to protect her and now I am far away and helpless. I just wish she would not move there and I just wish she would stay close to home.

Liven Things Up With Houseplants

2011-11-21T11:34:00.001-08:00

Like so many homes during this gloomy-weather time of year, the Disheveled Household needs some livening up. What better way to brighten a room, or a whole house, than with house plants? A house plant can keep a little green, or a bit of color in your house when the skies outside are grey. The wind has ripped all the colorful leaves off the trees here already, so I was thinking bringing some colored plants inside would be nice. It'd also be a great way to keep your green thumb in shape while there's no plant tending to be done outside.

When choosing a houseplant, It is important to consider a lot of the same things you would when choosing a plant that will go outside. Your watering, location in the home you will put the plant, light, etc. You should always consult the plant's tagged information, the nursery/store employees, or do some research online, with an online plant guide. That is especially helpful if you live rural, like me, and are planning on possibly buying your plants online. I love the online option, not only for the convenience, but the wider variety it offers me. Many times you can find some very interesting plants that will thrive in your house that you just won't see locally.

Shout-Out Saturday: The Mama of Mojo

2011-11-19T17:36:00.001-08:00

This week, hop on over and visit my dear friend Kayla at The Mama of Mojo. From her make-up posts, to her updates on her ADORABLE boys, Kayla rocks my socks!

Thawing Out Your Turkey

2011-11-17T12:25:00.001-08:00

Here's a handy chart for approximate thawing times for turkey, by pound.
This is just a jumping off point, every bird, and refrigerator is different, and your times may slightly vary.


Times approximate

Remember to always store/thaw your raw meats on the bottom-most shelf, and in a protective container to prevent cross-contamination.

Pumpkin Pie Spice

2011-11-16T20:42:00.001-08:00

Tonight is when I take stock of everything I need for Thanksgiving in the pantry, so I can go to the store tomorrow and stock up on non-perishables. One thing I need, but DON'T buy is pumpkin pie spice. I use this delicious mix:

3 Tablespoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon allspice

Whisk together with a fork and store in a small jar.

Craft Tutorial: T-shirt Infinity Scarf

2011-11-13T00:37:00.000-08:00

Infinity scarfs are cute, versatile, and easily adapted to wear the ways you like. Even as a necklace! Here's how to throw one together, I made one for myself from one of Hubby's old torn up shirts, as well as one for The Princess from one of big brother's shirts WHILE I made dinner.

First grab your shirt. I totally didn't think about picture taking until I was a bit through the process, but you know what it looks like to grab a shirt. =-D You will want a soft t-shirt WITHOUT seams on the sides. It doesn't have to be a thick one either, thin under-shirts work just as well, as long as they have seam-less sides.

You are going to want to cut off the hem of the shirt, then chop it off about where the sleeves meet the trunk. The one I used from Hubby has a big hole that went a little below that, but cutting it that inch or so shorter didn't seem to matter.

Then, you are going to want to cut slits, going around the shirt horizontally, across your belly if you were wearing it. BUT leave a 1/2-3/4 inch space of material. Like this:

Now, you want to hold that nice, uncut, sturdy bit in your hand and grab the looped strands with the other hand. Slowly, but firmly stretch the strands until they curl up into themselves. They will start to look quite lovely.

Now, we're going to want to do something about that sturdy bit holding it together. Get a needle and a fair amount of thread. If you have cheap needles and/or already tender fingertips, grab some pliers too- it helps with the layers! I was lazy, and used the dark thread that was already out, but it was ok because it wasn't seen by the end.

You're going to want to weave your needle in and out and do a rough running-stitch through the length of the uncut portion. Neatness doesn't matter, you're just wanting to tack this all together, and gather it up.

Pull and gather it all up. Turn your needle about and go through again, from the opposite side, then again from the first side for good measure.

I also ran the thread around my bunch before I tied it off.


These are all the same shirt...just sucky lighting

Next, take a scrap of your shirt, and cut off a 1 inch x 1 1/2-2 inch rectangle. Neatness doesn't matter. Length doesn't matter much, because you won't need it all, but that extra bit makes it easier to hold while you get it attached. You'll cut the extra off. Stretch this rectangle a bit to get it to start to curl, it will help it look tidier. Stitch it to your bunched up part to cover it, much like a bow.


Ignore the flower you see peeking out until the next step ;-)

This one is left plain

You can leave it like this, use it as a spot to add a broach, or other bit of decoration, or you can make and sew on a super-cute flower like this:

Take some of your t-shirt, and draw/cut out some simple flower shapes. I folder my material over so I had two of each size, small, medium, and large. I also cut out one tiny set of petals.

Next, you need to stack them all up, largest on the bottom. You can also give these a tiny bit of stretch to make them curl a bit.

Tack them together with a tiny X, but before tying off your thread, add a lovely little bead. Mine is nothing fancy, it is from a pack I found in the dollar bin at Dollar General. I also found it easier to STILL not tie-off and just sew the flower to the scarf now.

Shout-out Saturday

2011-11-12T16:14:00.001-08:00

This week I want to send a special shout-out to Kim, at One Nutty Mama.
We originally "met" because of Farmville, and she quickly became one of my most favorite mommy-blogger buddies! A real sweetheart, with adorable kiddos. She also sells Scentsy, and is the reason for my love of it! =-D

C & H 1001 Cookie Starter

2011-11-10T22:40:00.001-08:00

I came across this C & H website on one of my coupons recently. http://www.chsugar.com/cookiestarter/

What a great time saving idea, or for spur-of-the moment cookies!

They also have a Facebook, so fans can help them reach that 1001 recipes. There are 17 on the site to get you started though, so I think I'll whip up a batch of starter for my boys to experiment with!

Easy-Peasy Decorating

2011-11-09T19:56:00.000-08:00

Lately I've been seeing spray-painted jars for decorating crop up all over the place. And then, someone had the great idea to spray the INSIDES of the jars for a more polished look. I wanted to try this out, but also wanted a jar or two that I could use for multiple decorating uses. I decided to paint mine gold. Perfect for Autumn decorating, and can seamlessly move on into Christmas, then maybe even Valentine's and St. Patrick's with the right accessories.

I carefully, and very lightly, sprayed coats into my recycled pasta-sauce jar. I think I did about 3 or 4. VERY light ones.
I can't wait to try this with other shape/size jars and different colors!

Homemade Cocoa Mix

2011-11-07T14:43:00.000-08:00

We've adapted the "Hot Cocoa Mix" from HillbillyHousewife.com, and it is delicious, and handy to have this time of year.

The directions call for whisking together everything in a bowl, but I find my method dissolves much easier.

What you will need:

4 cups instant milk
2 cups of sugar (I also make a version for Hubby with Splenda...)
1 cup powdered creamer
1 cup cocoa powder (the kind used in baking)
1 box INSTANT vanilla pudding. It provides great flavor, and it has an additive that makes your mix dissolve easier. (I use a sugar-free box for Hubby's Splenda mix...)

First, dump 2 cups of the milk, and 1 cup of the sugar into a food processor. Whirl and pulse until the milk is very fine. This helps in the mix dissolving, and makes the dry mix look really nice. Gift-giving nice! Dump this first batch into a large miking bowl, and repeat with the second half of the milk and sugar. If you have a large enough food processor, you can do it all at once...but I have a large one & I still cannot. Whisk in the rest of the ingredients. Then whisk longer. Make sure it is mixed VERY, very well.

Store in a cool, dry place, preferably in an airtight container. I store part of mine in an empty creamer container for easy use, then refill from my airtight one. =-)

To use, a plop a couple big,. heaping spoonfuls into a mug and add boiling water. It is probably about 1/4 cup mix. The original recipe says to use 1/3, but my mix is finer. I also like a spoonful or two in a cup of coffee, YUM!

Thankful Tree

2011-11-06T13:10:00.000-08:00

My friend Shannon posted on her Facebook something she was doing with her brood. She's a home-schooler of many, and always has the best ideas. I told her I was going to steal this one!

We made a rough trunk out of recycling the brown paper that comes in the boxes that were shipped to us. We live ruraly, and order things we can't get locally, which is a lot. I save the paper for arts & crafts.

I wanted it to stay pretty well, but we rent so I couldn't use anything TOO semi-permanent... but masking tape carefully placed did just the trick.

We cut out leaf shapes in Autumn colors, and everyone's been writing what they're thankful for every evening, until Thanksgiving.

Our little Thankful Tree will grow and grow!

(& yes, as my smarty-pants tween pointed out, the leaves are falling ON TO the tree while the ones outside are falling off.... hahaha!)

A Special Shout-out For a Sweet Mommy

2011-11-04T12:59:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Stephine has a blog I'd like to share with you. DearSilas.org is dedicated to the loss and memory of her little angel, as well as the long road to healing her broken heart.

It was also going to be a bit of a TTC blog, with big brother Silas helping along the way, but Stephine just surprisingly, but excitedly announced they are expecting!

Make Your Own Taco Seasoning Mix

2011-11-03T15:55:00.000-07:00

Still waiting on my cord (of course...) so today here's a quick mix for homemade taco seasoning.
Whisk in a bowl:

1 Tablespoon dried minced onion
1 Tablespoon ground cumin. (Here at the DisheveledHousehold, we're cumin lovers, so I use 2)
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons chili powder, or to taste.
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander

Delicious!

NaBloPoMo 2011 Is Off to a Rocky Start

2011-11-02T17:49:00.000-07:00

Ok, a crappy start. =-(

I had some really pretty pictures, of some really pretty Autumn decorations on my laptop...but you know...my plug decided to quit working. The little-black-box-thingie decided it was done. D-O-N-E done.
We looked it up while trying to find one to order, and apparently this model kinda just goes when it gets older. Many people who own this laptop are on their 2nd-4th plug. Thanks Gateway. =-/

Thank goodness for Hubby's computer, his know-how, and the smarts to order me one as a customer of his company. I didn't think of that while I was freaking out about my lack of funds. Yay him. =-D So hopefully soon. (3-5 business days...) I will be back 100%- with pictures! Untill then, it'll be quick-tips, and whining about my computer. Whine, whine, whine....
Waaaait...I'm officially his client now, right? Can I complain if it takes too long? ;-)

Ok, so let me leave you with a quick-tip from this time last year. Probably my favorite, and most used tip ever. (I'm clumsy!)
Cleaning up a dropped egg.

NaBloPoMo 2011

2011-11-01T14:30:00.000-07:00

National Blog Posting Month is once again here. It begins slow and easy, with a cuppa on a lovely afternoon. Here we are recuperating from having Halloween on a school night and preparing for a possible Autumn snowstorm. Many of you are still stuck in the mess of a Nor'Easter snow storm last week. One of my closest friends is still without power, and freezing her buns off. Lots of warm thoughts go out to all of you, and wishes for power to return quickly. [For those of you charging phones and laptops in your cars like she is...the rest of you will see this later ;-)]

This Halloween we had a Ringwraith, a zombie (who stayed in character, it was adorable!), and a "sc-awy ghost", who loved to announce to everyone, and anyone what she was. She also wouldn't say "Trick-or-treat" for nothin'. But a sing-songy "thank you" melted everyone's hearts.

A corn-starch face is gentle on Eczema =-)


Homemade blood ALWAYS works best


He's gonna get that Hobbit ;-)

We only went to a handful of house, having a just-potty-trained little one made us nervous, and no one seemed to mind anyways. I think school wore them out. Plus we've been snacking on homemade treats all weekend, so the candy wasn't as lusted for.


There were also chocolate covered ones...and cookies!

Now we're settling down, waiting for the good moisture to come, and planning for our Thanksgiving festivities. Yeah, we love to eat here.

Super Cute & Cheap Find

2011-10-03T15:08:00.000-07:00

Today I was grabbing a few things at Dollar General, and decided to browse the Halloween section. They were still getting it up, but I saw these CUTE silicon, or maybe just silicon-ish, ice cube trays.

Jack-o-lanterns and skulls/crossbones....

And guess how much?

$1.00.

One stinking dollar each! I grabbed 2 of each (a splurge for me...LOL) If you live in my area, sorry that I grabbed both of the skull ones they had up. Ok, only slightly sorry, they're really adorable and will be restocked before you get there! =-D (They probably have tons "in the city" too! ;-])

Meatless Monday: Hearty Vegetarian Chili

2011-09-26T17:43:00.000-07:00

Chili is a common go-to dish for both autumn nights, and Meatless Mondays. Often vegetarian chili is made as a traditional recipe, but with the animal proteins omitted, leaving it bland and flavorless. This chili is hearty and fulfilling, and won't leave you yearning for it's meaty counterpart.

You will need:


sweating finely minced mirepoix

about 3/4 cup of FINELY minced mirepoix. I like to make mine a week's worth at a time as I am already turning my week's celery and carrots into sticks and chunks. I use a food processor to get it really fine.
About 2 tablespoons olive oil.
Half a white onion, roughly chopped.
About 2 cups each pinto beans, kidney beans, and white beans. (cooked) I make mine a double batch, then freeze half for later. You can also use canned if you wish.
1 can diced tomatoes. You can use plain for a more mild chili, or with green chilies to help add in more heat. Hold on to your can, you'll need 2 of them of water.
1 small (8oz)can tomato sauce. Again, I used the "Mexican Style" to add more heat, but use plain for mild.
1 package onion soup mix.
4 oz (1/2 cup) rinsed lentils.
Cumin, about a palm-full. And chili powder to taste. Salt to taste if you wish.


I've found this combination to feel the best in your mouth

Begin by sweating your mirepoix in the olive oil over medium-low heat. If you slowly let it get a bit brown it will had more richness. Turn your heat up to medium, add your chopped onion. The mirepoix will reduce and melt into the final chili, and help to create a richer, more substantial feel. The additional onion will provide the lovely bits of onion you're used to in your chili.
After your onion has cooked for about a minute or two, add your tomato, sauce, soup mix and the water (2 tomato cans). Stir in your beans, lentils and the spices. I find that the soup mix provides most of the salt needed, and often I don't need to add any more salt!
Let your chili come up to a soft boil, then reduce to a simmer and let simmer and thicken for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Your lentils will start to break down into the sauce, and also still provide a bit of chew.

Serve with your favorite toppings and sides.


Click for a bigger view

Tofu Thursday: "BBQ" Tofu

2011-09-21T21:13:00.000-07:00

Here in our Disheveled household, one way everyone enjoys healthy tofu is "barbecued", baked in the oven, and glaze with just a touch of delicious sauce. A crowd-pleaser for the grown ups and the children.

You will need for this quick, easy recipe:

A box of FIRM tofu from your grocer's produce section. Or FIRM tofu of your choice
McCormick Grill Mates "Mesquite" or a sprinkle-able woodsy spice mix of your own, or homemade.
Olive oil
Barbecue sauce, homemade or some from your stash from the 2/$1 sales this summer ;-)

First, as always, drain your tofu for about 20-30 minutes. While you're waiting, preheat your oven to 400 degrees and brush a foil-lined cookie sheet THINLY with olive oil.


Click any picture to enlarge

With a wide knife, slice the tofu into 1/4 inch slices along it's length. Sprinkle each side with the spices and place on the cookie sheet.

Dab on a teensy-tiny bit of olive oil. Bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until the edges of the bottom sides are crisping up.
Flip over and bake for about 10 minutes more.
Then, brush with a tiny bit of your barbecue sauce. Bake for about 5 minutes so the sauce gets a nice glaze, then brush/dab on a bit more. I ended up using only about 1/2 cup for the whole recipe- about 10 pieces. Bake for about 5 more minutes until that layer is glazed nicely as well.

Serve with delicious sides. I served it with Cucumber Salad, Broccoli Slaw, and pinto beans. It was a big hit. Even my picky eater gobbled it up!

Behavior Charts

2011-08-25T11:53:00.000-07:00

Like many families, we're once again trying a new system for encouraging our kiddos to "behave". We've tried all manner of charts, signs, points, etc, and none seemed to be a perfect fit for every member of our house. Then I thought about combining methods to create our perfect, or near-perfect system.

Our oldest does well with points, our second-oldest does well with the "color" system at school. He'll strive to "stay on green" mainly because he dislikes the colors orange and red. Hey, that's a good enough reason for me, it gets results! ;-)

So here is our newest chart:


You can click for a bigger/better view...

Instead of writing "BEHAVIOR-ALERT, BE CRABBY WITH MOM" [;-)] across the top, I simply provided a reminder. "How are you doing today?" There are clips for each member of the family, with their initials, to mark their progress. I used a foam-cutout letter for each initial. Show here are plastic clips I got in the dollar bin, I had clothes pins, but the little one kept stealing them. She likes to use them for crafts, but these plastic ones she's never used- so she doesn't want them. =-)

The system is easy to use. Helped your sister? Please move your marker up to green. Aren't doing your chores? Please more your marker to orange. It this one of those days I wonder if you're my child or a body-snatching alien? Dude, welcome to the black square.

When a member gets 25 points, they get to pick a prize from Mommy's lovely box of $1-and-under goodies.

I also like that you can make the colored places as big or as small as you need for your family. You can use a tiny index-card sized piece for 1 or 2 kiddos, or a whole sheet for several. I have a friend I adore who might need more than a sheet-sized place! The ones I have here are 3"x6". I also laminated them and attached them at the same time by putting them together with clear contact paper.

Homemade Fun: Finger Paint

2011-08-18T21:03:00.000-07:00


Yellow looks orange in the jar- but it's not!

Perfectly thick and glossy finger paints are easier to make at home than you may think.

In a medium sauce pan, heat over medium heat-
2 cups of water
1/4 cup of cornstarch
Stir or whisk constantly.

Remove from the heat immediately, and let cool until just warmed. (The food coloring spreads and mixes easier if it is still a little warm, but you can totally let it cool all the way without worries...)

Pour into separate containers with lids. Stir in several drops of food coloring. I chose to just make the primary colors so we can work on mixing colors. Let cool completely before using.

Two Ingredient Treats

2011-08-02T15:28:00.000-07:00

On Facebook I was reading some of the pages I follow, and Crystal from Suzie Homemaker had shared with us a link to some cakes with two ingredients from Hungry Girl. Being that I love, LOVE canned pumpkin, I decided to go with that one. With the little Princess in tow, I went about making one with a box of "spiced" cake mix and a can of pumpkin puree. THAT IS IT. It was so easy, that after I dumped the two in a bowl and started stirring, the three year old took over. She was super excited to be making a cake "by herself!" It was delicious! The spice and the pumpkin went together beautifully! I also didn't need to worry about all the tastes she snuck because there were no eggs! A great first cake.

Hungry Girl suggested to try it with a chocolate cake mix, and of course I love chocolate as much, if not more than pumpkin. So even if it still tasted like pumpkin, a total win! This time I made them into cupcakes, and put a few chocolate chips on top for some prettiness/extra chocolate. Is there such thing as too much chocolate!?
These treats are moist, delicious, and have a little extra fiber. I think I'll even try a few of the other ways to make them!

Ok, Let's Try This Again...

2011-07-30T18:41:00.000-07:00

I gave the announced winner of the Ferro Cosmetics giveaway 3+ days to contact me and never got an answer. So here we go let's pick a new one! =-)

And the winner iiiiiissssssss.....

Congratulations! Please contact us at admin(at)disheveledmommy(dot)com!

Ferro Giveaway Winner

2011-07-26T14:07:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone for entering! I wish I had more prizes for more people!
The winner this time is:

Please shoot me a message @ admin(at)disheveledmommy(dot)com

If the winner does not contact me within 3 days I will draw for a new one. =-)

UPDATE 7/30:

A new winner was announced here: http://www.disheveledmommy.com/2011/07/ok-lets-try-this-again.html

Homemade Fun: Bubbles

2011-07-16T13:06:00.000-07:00

Into a 64oz container, (I used an empty dish-soap bottle), add:

1 cup dish-soap. (The handwashing kind, not the machine kind.)
2 tablespoons glycerine or corn syrup. (I used glycerine.)
a couple drops of food coloring if your wish. Be careful if using indoors! (I added a couple to make my bubble not look like my dish-soap.)
Then fill with water and gently swirl to mix.

It works better if you let it sit with the lid popped open for a few days.

Giveaway Time: Ferro Cosmetics

2011-07-10T23:23:00.000-07:00

If you read this weekend's review of Ferro Cosmetics, you saw that they have graciously offered to sponsor a giveaway for my lovely readers.

Readers who enter will have a chance at a drawing for a $25.00 gift certificate to Ferro Cosmetics.

Here are the rules and how to enter:

You must be a subscriber/follower of Disheveled Mommy &/or Mommy's Make up Bag.
You must leave a comment on THIS POST saying how you follow and your name/user name used. (Google, Networked Blogs, etc.) You are welcome to follow the Disheveled Mommy twitter to keep updated, but only blog follows count as an entry.
Giveaway begins Monday, July 11th 2011.
Giveaway will end 12:00am on Monday, July 25th, 2011.
Winner will be drawn by Random.org and announced sometime shortly.

Thanks for reading, and good luck! xo

Review: Ferro Cosmetics

2011-07-09T17:31:00.000-07:00

Disheveled Mommy/Mommy's Make up Bag have recently had the privilege of reviewing for you some products from Ferro Cosmetics.

They arrived in a box, clean and cutely packaged:

I received a full-sized Ultimate Mineral Foundation in "Fairest Honey". Two mini blush/bronzers in "Glow Baby", and "Winter Kiss". One full-sized eyeshadow in "Pole Dancer", it is HUGE. As well as two "mini", or "miniature full size" eyeshadows. One is "Vegas Tan", the other is "Sultry Smoke". The full-sized eyeshadow jars are a 1 gram jar, making the .5 gram "minis" certainly smaller, but by no means as tiny as a sample.


You can click any picture for a better view!

The first product I tried was the foundation. I love mineral foundation because of its build-able but full coverage, and this one didn't let me down.
I also liked that had quite a deep sifter. I'm clumsy, and often in a hurry, and the jar made application easy and less messy.
It went on smooth, buffed in easily with my kabuki brush, and created a nice matte finish without looking fake or over done.
It covered my redness, but was weightless, even after building it up in my problem areas.
The color was perfect for my summer tone, but is the lightest they offer, so I won't be able to use it in the winter. It wore well, lasted throughout the day. Made it through hot prairie winds, and lots of sweat. It even stayed mostly on at the end of the day after a fair amount of toddler cuddles all over my face!

Of the blush/bronzers, I tried the bronzer "Winter Kiss" first. The web site says it is the lightest of their bronzers, and great for very light skin tones. Most of the time I cannot wear a bronzer, it just looks like I rubbed dirt on my face, way too much contrast in color. They were right about this bronzer, nice and light, sheer, but built up to a nice touch of color. It had a great feel to it too, blended nicely. Just a hint of shimmer.

Below is Winter Kiss swatched. The right is swatched as I would any color, like an eyeshadow, on the left is it blended out & into my skin a bit.


my wrist is MUCH lighter than my face- so you can SEE the color! =-)

Glow Baby is a lot like Winter Kiss, but pinker and a bit deeper. It applied and blended just as wonderfully.

If you've been around for a while, you know I LOVE mineral eye shadows/pigments. I was very excited to get to try some of Ferro's.
The large one, I received was Pole Dancer. I was very glad to get this one in the large, I am fond of greys and silvers, and this was a beautiful silver.

It was a bit more sheer than other silvers I own, but built up without getting clumpy. It shimmered and sparked like crazy. Beautiful color! I have a swatch of all three colors coming up.

I also enjoyed the shimmer and sparkle in Vegas Tan. It is a GREAT summer color. Golden and sheer. On a nice smooth base with lots of sheen. Not Charlie. ;-)

Sultry Smoke is a must-have color for green and hazel eyes. I didn't enjoy the texture/application as much. Not as smooth. But the color is worth the extra practice it takes to get it to behave. Some colors are just like that. Especially mattes, and colors like this that are more matte-like bases than others. The shimmers in this color pop out of the flat-ish background perfectly, and add just a bit of sparkle to a nice, smokey eye. It lives up to its name.


Sultry Smoke

Swatch time: in various lights and angles to try and show the sheen, shimmer, and sparkles.
From left to right: Sultry Smoke, Vegas Tan, & Pole Dancer

In all, I am very impressed with Ferro Cosmetics. I am in LOVE with having bronzers I can wear. I love the matte finish of the foundation. I'm already looking at the other eyeshadow colors so I can try some more!

YOU can have a chance to try some Ferro too! They have kindly offered to host a giveaway for a Gift Certificate for my lovely readers. I will post the giveaway sometime Monday, so be sure to get the word out. =-)

Disclaimer: I was given products of my choosing to review. I was not compensated in any other way for my review. No money was offered or given. These opinions are 100% my own and of my own thoughts and words. Ferro is also sponsoring an up-coming giveaway for my readers.

Impossibly Easy Peach Cobbler

2011-07-01T22:15:00.000-07:00

It's kinda like a dump cake...but not. Deliciously gooey and easy enough for a kid to make. (That seems to be my theme this summer, huh?)

Preheat your oven to 375.

Open 2 cans of sliced peaches (in heavy syrup), and remove about 1/4 a cup of the juice. Dump those suckers in a 9x13 pan. Sprinkle with a box of spiced cake mix. (You CAN use yellow cake mix if you want, but the spice is soooo much tastier!) Press the mix down a bit. Pour all over the mess a stick of melted butter. If you used a yellow mix, you can, and should, sprinkle a bit of cinnamon & sugar over the top. You seriously should.

Bake until browned & bubbly, about 45 minutes. Serve warm.

I LOVE This Stuff!

2011-06-30T12:03:00.000-07:00

I had read somewhere about people using Bar Keeper's Friend on their pots and pans that were getting old, or had some "heat damage" and wondered how well it would work on my cleaning nemesis.
My electric stove's drip pans.
I have tried EVERYTHING on those, but they never seem to get shiny again. It wasn't just the grease and gunk that stained them, but the heat of cooking that made them look grimy. Living in a rental, I was prepared to buy new drip pans to replace ours when we moved- or be charged more to have them replaced. Seems kind of sucky when the simple act of cooking is the biggest problem with their appearance. So, seeing as the Bar Keeper's Friend was cheap, easy to find, and promised great results, I gave it a try.

I grabbed a washed, but still sad looking drip pan. Wet it and gave it a sprinkling of Bar Keeper's Friend.


BEFORE- clean, but not

I let it sit for a few minutes, then grabbed a half a steel wool pad. I braced myself for a lot of scrubbing. I didn't need to. There was scrubbing, but not SCRUBBING like I had expected. It. Was. Awesome.
A quick rinse, and I was showing everyone in the house my shiny beautiful drip pan. They were not as excited as I was.


AFTER- I heard choirs of angels

I LOVE this stuff!

Homemade Fun: Play Dough

2011-06-26T15:43:00.000-07:00

Summer! We all need activities to keep the kids busy when we're this far into summer vacation. Here is the first of a few homemade supplies/activities to keep us going.
This play dough recipe is the EASIEST. And to make things even easier, I used the steaming hot water I keep on hand for tea, so my oldest can make this for the littler ones!

You will need:

1 C flour
1/2 C salt
1 pack of flavored drink mix (the kind without sugar!)

Mix these thoroughly into a large bowl. Then add:

3 Tablespoons oil
1 C boiling water

Mix and mix until your dough forms a ball and begins to cool. When cool enough to handle, knead until cool and cohesive.


Strawberry makes the prettiest pink!

Keep in a zippered plastic bag or plastic container.

The Easiest Bread- No Knead

2011-06-14T21:17:00.000-07:00

This bread is tasty, requires minimal effort, and is so easy my kids can do it. Seriously. All you need is a little planning because it takes time to slowly rise into delicious perfection.

It goes so quick and easily I didn't even get to take any pictures of the process...but you don't need them!

Non-ingredients you will need:

mixing bowl
a dutch oven or heavy casserole with a lid. (I use my camping cast iron dutch oven)
a bit of parchment paper

About 18-24 hours before you want to serve your bread, dump into a mixing bowl:

3 cups of flour (most recipes call for bread flour, but I find a nice, fluffy AP flour works just as well. I prefer Blue Bird.)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp yeast (most recipes call for 1/4...but I like it with 1/2, and it's my bread, so nah nah nah nah.)
1 1/2 c water

Mix...it will look like a shaggy, horrible mess. It will! It is SO-ooooo OK! cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 18-24 hours.

When you go back, it will look spongy, light and wet. Lightly flour your hands and surface, and gently form your mess of dough into a round loaf-ish shape. Set on some parchment paper and let rise for 30-45 minutes.
While your dough is rising, preheat your oven to 450, with your dutch oven inside. Let it heat the whole 2nd rising time so it gets piping hot.
Grab your dough filled parchment by the corners, and pop into your dutch oven. It doesn't have to look perfect- this is a very rustic loaf.
Bake for about 45-50 minutes with the lid on, then 15-20 with it off. Let cool on a rack.
Enjoy your super crusty outside, tender lovely inside. This bread is perfect for bruschetta and soup. And also for munching on way too much of it while you make dinner. Seriously. I may die of bread over-dose.

Easy DIY Gel Potpourri

2011-06-13T12:47:00.000-07:00

Gel potpourri, it's not cheap. There are recipes all over the internet that use unflavored gelatine to make lovely gel air fresheners using recycled home glass on the cheap. But, as these evaporate and release their fragrance into the air, they start to shrink, and start looking rubbery and well- not so pretty anymore.
Here is a great way to make a home air freshener CHEAPLY, recycle pretty glass containers, and use your favorite liquid potpourri with out a flame.

You will need:

Some liquid potpourri (anywhere from $1-3, I've even gotten it on clearance for .50 before)
Some water absorbing crystals. (Found online and in most craft stores. I recommend getting them online from feeding-insect suppliers. Cheaper.)
A pretty little glass jar. (I recycle my Glade candle jars for home purposes.)

Read the directions on your crystals. This bag I have (.99 for enough dry crystals to make a gallon wet.) says to use 1 tsp for 8 oz of liquid. I used 1/2 tsp in my jar.

Then, I poured in about 4 oz of my liquid potpourri. (I eyeballed it.)

Mmmmm...that looks delicious...I'd better make sure no one drinks it while it has it's 30 minute rest!

Plastic wrap over the top, a firm "DO NOT DRINK!" That should do it!
A-half-hour later, a lovely home fragrance.

The best part...as the crystals start to dry out- you just add a splash of liquid potpourri and they are revived! As beautiful as ever!
& I think I may need to remove some tea lights from some in-use jars and get some more made!

I am One of Zach's Friends

2011-06-12T12:43:00.000-07:00

Two months ago, my sweet friend, Melissa, lost her son.

On April 8th, 2011 our lives were forever changed when we lost our beloved son, Zachary.
Zachary was a funny, energetic, loving son...who also battled depression.
On April 8th Zachary ended his life.
While no one likes to talk about suicide, it's time we start talking and raising awareness. By educating ourselves and others we can start to recognize the warning signs and what we can do to help someone in need.
According to the CDC a life is lost to suicide every 15 minutes, that's approximately 95 lives EACH DAY! That statistic is astounding and is reason enough to start talking. We need to equip ourselves and our children with the right resources to help others.
Like most families walking the same path we are, we had no clue our son was going to end his life that day, however, we refuse to stay silent. We want to do everything we can to raise awareness.
In our efforts to raise awareness we had Friend of Zach bracelets created to help raise awareness about suicide prevention.
While we are not professionals, we hope that our story and our ambition to help others will be contagious and that people will wear their bracelets not only as a reminder of a wonderful young man who's life was cut too short, but a reminder that we can make a difference.
We can make a difference!
A common misconception is that "If I talk about suicide to my kids then I'll give them the idea to do it." That is simply not true. Suicide is portrayed in movies, on TV, and in the news...it's better for you to educate them rather than their friends or television.
We MUST talk to our kids about this...if for no other reason, so they know what to do if a situation arises with one of their friends.

In the weeks since our son passed we have handed out (at no charge to students, parents and communities) over 1,000 bracelets with daily requests for more.
Your help is sincerely appreciated!
Melissa Jones (Zach's Mom)

As her friend, I am heartbroken. As a mother, I am heartbroken. As a survivor, I am touched and in awe of the strength his mother has to carry on- and start a foundation to help others in need. ZachsFriends.org
Melissa also has bracelets, Zachlets, that she was kind enough to send every member of my family. In our family it has always been important to be honest with our children as a means to educate. Education is the BEST prevention.
BFTECosmetics has also started a new way to show support of their favorite causes. Beautiful Beneficence will give 50% of the sales of the Zach's Friends colors to Zachsfriends.org, and the buyer will receive a Zachlet. As the best friend of Melissa, this cause, and Zach, are very very dear to the BFTE heart.

Please take time to check out ZachsFriends.org. Pass it along. You never know would could benefit from some education, or a kind word.
You can also check out the BFTE Zach's Friends colors and show your support with some beautiful colors. "Erase the Stigma" and "Zach's Friend".

Making a Potty Training Bribe Better

2011-06-03T16:17:00.000-07:00

Potty training #3 is HARD. She has got to be the most stubborn child ever, we seem to have tried everything. I've finally broken down and tried bribing. I read somewhere about having a small container of small candies in the bathroom as rewards, what to put in there was a tough decision. People suggested M&Ms or Skittles because of their small size, but I didn't really feel comfortable in having unwrapped candies in the bathroom. So, I finally settled on tiny, wrapped packs of Sixlets.

While holding the pack to show her what'd she could get after using the potty, we came up with a few great ways to use them while waiting! They were a great distraction from her bored-wanting-to-get-off-the-potty-ness!
First, we counted the candies in the pack. Fun! Then, we named the colors in the pack. Super! Then, a little more difficult for her, and a great teaching tool, we counted how many of each color in the pack. Brilliant! She's had so much fun she's doing this with other things around the house! "There are 2 yellows. There is 1 blue." Now I can feel a little less guilty about bribing her! ;-)

Secondhand Shopping- The Next Genreation

2011-05-20T16:01:00.000-07:00

Our little three year-old and I walked down to our town's local secondhand shop today, and I found out she is quite the little shopper! For 2 bucks she got some great things.
First, she found a cute little her-sized basket, then a sweet little dress. She loves butterflies. (THIS WEEK!) Then she found a cute little blue wicker-like purse that she says we have to share, and she loves it because it looks like a basket. I guess she loves baskets this week too! She also found a Share Bear Care Bear! A lovely day for her, quite a great haul!

Part of her booty


Her lovely purse

Mommy got the usual kids' clothing, a few bits of fabric for sewing projects, a supercute tray-basket thing, AND some lovely 70's stacking Corelle cups! (Old Town Blue!)


My fantastic cups on my supercute tray

I also found a Presto microwave popcorn popper for a quarter! =-)

I think it was a taxing trip though...even at 11 in the morning, someone (I won't say who!) couldn't make it home:

Review: Cover Girl Nature Luxe (Via BzzAgent)

2011-05-17T19:21:00.000-07:00

I was recently privileged to participate in another BzzAgent campaign. I was sent a new Cover Girl Natureluxe Liquid Silk Foundation & a Natureluxe Gloss Balm. I'll go over the foundation first.

The first thing I noticed when I opened the tube, was the smell. Not the usual slightly-chemical-covered-in-perfume smell that most foundations have. (One of the reasons why I am a hard-core mineral makeup lover.) It smelled like...roses! I was pleasantly surprised, as I LOVE that smell. It sticks around a bit even after it dries, so if you're not a fan, I wouldn't recommend. (It is VERY light though...)
The texture is very smooth and hydrating. Even after drying the skin still feels supple. A nice touch, and even on my oily spots it wasn't overwhelming at all.
I only wore it indoors while trying it out, because we BzzAgents only had a few shades to pick from and mine wasn't available. (They have a very handy tool on their website to find your perfect shade, and a LOT of shades to choose from though!) So I'm not able to comment on the sunscreen in it- it says it is SPF 10. That is a super low amount of coverage, so I'd recommend using with another sunscreen anyways, as do many doctors.
I was also surprised by the coverage. It was a nice medium coverage. I expected it to be very light as it was gliding on, and it is still not as heavy as I like it with my ruddy complexion. I think, for summer though, it will be lovely! And nice enough even for those who prefer a light coverage. The weight on your face does not match the coverage you can see! (And maybe in the summer the color will match me better! ;-])
All-in-all I am fairly impressed with the Cover Girl Natureluxe Liquid Silk Foundation, and I am looking forward to trying it out this summer!

I absolutely loved the gloss balm though. It is a balm...but not really to the point of healing-super-chapped-lips-balm. It is nice and smooth, and not glossy feeling though- but it shines like a gloss.
The color was perfect, not super transparent, and I was able to layer for more color without the product getting gloppy and gloopy or making a huge mess on my lips. I got the one called "Spice" and even though it was warm, not overbearing to my coolish complexion.
It won't improve the texture/health of your lips in one use, but it DOES keep them from drying out/in non-drying, and your lips will look better than they would if you were using another gloss.
I think I'm going to snag me a couple more colors of this gloss, again for the summer. It's soft and easy and boasts an SPF of 15.

Experiments Around The House

2011-04-22T15:27:00.000-07:00

...kinda. Here's two things we have going on right now, can you guess what they are? (Just-for-funsies!)

Easy Sweet & Sour From Scratch

2011-04-16T10:16:00.000-07:00

Delicious Sweet & Sour pork or chicken, better than the bottled sauce, and without the nasty red dyes. This will make a big ~~huge~~ batch, family sized!

First prep your veggies so they're ready to go:

2 or 3 bell peppers, of any colors- chopped in 1 inch-ish pieces
1 whole onion, roughly diced in 1 inch-ish pieces
1 celery stalk, very thinly sliced on the bias

Then begin cooking your meat of choice and setting aside, keeping warm. Many like to batter & deep fry, some like to brown in a little olive oil to save calories, I do kind of an in-between and shallow fry in a wide shallow pan with a sprinkling of cornstarch. I made about 1 1/2 pounds for a big batch.

While cooking your meat, combine in a small mixing bowl:

The juice drained from a 15oz can of pineapple tidbits. You'll also use the pineapple later- so don't let grubby little hands steal it!
1/2 can frozen (but thawed) orange juice concentrate.
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 rice wine vinegar
grated ginger to taste, 1teaspoon or more. I use A LOT, it is delicious!
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
2 Tablespoons ketchup- I don't know why, but my sauce never worked until I added this odd ingredient!
2 Tablespoons cornstarch

If shallow frying, or browning with little oil, dump all but about 2 Tablespoons of oil out of the pot, or add oil if needed. If you deep fried, add about 2 Tablespoons oil to a wide, shallow pot. Toss in your veggies and stir often while scrapping the lovely brown bits off the bottom of the pan. When your celery is soft through, and your larger veggies are al dente, add back in your meat and the pineapple tidbits. stir to combine. Whisk the mixture in your bowl, then pour in. Lower your heat to medium, and stir until heated through and the sauce thickens. Serve on a bed of rice.

I Still Love You Sharpie, but I Also Have A New Love...

2011-04-15T12:08:00.000-07:00

At least when it comes to writing on plastic bottles and containers! I use a few spray bottles throughout the house, clearly marked with their contents (SAFETY FIRST!), for cleaning and such. Every couple-few weeks I'd whine and complain that the marker has rubbed, or been cleaned off, and re-write it. Why is that such a problem? Because it starts to look cloudy & gross. AND sometimes it comes off on my hands. (I'm going to go with it being my lotion, because I'm preeeeetty sure my hand aren't THAT greasy!)

I don't know WHY I didn't think about this earlier- it is like the greatest idea EVER!

Nail polish! Not any old nail polish though, my handy-dandy decoration-drawing L.A. Colors Art Deco polish. It has a long, thin brush that makes lettering look neat and tidy!

I got mine super cheap at Dollar General for $1 each. They don't have all the colors, but they often add a new one to the rotation, so I pick one up for my stash when I see them. Black obviously works for all purposes in container identification....but I'd imagine other colors would be cool for coordinating with your color schemes. Stay clear of the glitter ones (for containers- for nails they ROCK!) because you wouldn't be able to read them. I think I need to hop over to DG and grab a back-up bottle of black before I use it all up! =-)

Baking Soda In The Kitchen

2011-04-11T20:33:00.000-07:00

There are thousands, and thousands of ways to use baking soda around the house- here are a few handy ways to use this versatile powder in your kitchen.

An oldie, but a goody...to clean a clogged or stubborn drain the eco-friendly way, pour 1/4 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a pot of boiling water. Repeat as needed.
Baking soda will cut the grease on all sorts of pots, pans, and even the bottom of your oven. For extra easy oven cleaning, sprinkle baking soda on those pesky spill-overs, and when you're ready, lift up the whole mess with a spatula and wipe with a damp rag.
A damp sponge dipped in a little baking soda will quickly rub out stubborn stains on counter tops. Even fruit juice and coffee stains will disappear!
Cleaning microwave gunk and grime is easy if you mix two tablespoons of baking soda with a bowl of water, and run the microwave for about two minutes. Let the steam sit in the microwave for a few minutes longer, and the yuck will wipe out quickly and easily!
Adding a bit of baking soda to your homemade tomato sauces will cut out some of the acidic tastes.

Bonus tip: For cleaning around the house, I wash very well, and sanitize an old Parmesan cheese can for sprinkling baking soda with ease.

Kinda Tutorial: Mini/Play Oven Mitts

2011-04-04T19:25:00.000-07:00

Here is a method, disguised as a tutorial, on how I threw together my little one's play oven mitts that will go with her new play kitchen she'll get for her birthday soon. That is one long sentence.

First, you'll want some fabric. Either enough of one color/pattern for your mitt, or mitts, or two coordinating fabrics. I used old baby clothes of hers. (I also turned her old favorite dresses into an apron, but that's another post...) You only need a bit, toddlers and pre-preschoolers are known for their awfully tiny hands. ;-)

I did an outline of her little hand, and added about an inch-ish all around to get a pattern to trace. I slip-stitched, so I needed very little seam allowance, but you may need to add an extra 1/4 inch if sewing by machine. I can also try to make a printable pattern if you all would like...

You'll want to trace on the wrong-side of the fabric, and be sure to flip the pattern over for the opposite hand. (If making a pair.) Match the pieces right-sides together. Hem the bottom edges if needed. I cut mine out against the hem of the shirts I used. Lazy never looked so lovely.

You're going to want to add a little loop for hanging (just like real mitts...) I used the straps off one of my shirts (that I cut the mitts out of...) for one, and bits of ruffled collar off an other for a second pair. You can used almost anything, ribbon, a bit of bias tape, hemmed scraps, etc...
You'll want to place you loop between your layers like so:

Pin or baste in place. (The lighting is wacky because I did this at night...lol)

Sew around, leaving the bottom open. (Hey, sometimes we need little reminders- MOMMY BRAINS!)

Turn right-side out and smooth the rounds on the inside with a chopstick.

I also made matching mini tea towels by sewing the edging off the cuffs of the shirts I used to some CHEAPY white washcloths. The kind that are about 18 for $3 and scrub so awesomely. You can also use ribbon, lace, bias tape, etc here as well, but the edges I cut off just fit perfectly and matched! I did the top & bottom of the washcloth. I may make some more when she's a bit older & more sophisticated, adding a bit of embroidery. =-)

A Giveaway- From One Nutty Mama

2011-04-04T13:05:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to let you all know that Kim from One Nutty Mama is having her first giveaway. You can win a cool Scentsy prize. Head on over for details: http://onenuttymama.com/2011/04/dont-miss-your-chance.html

Long Time, No See....

2011-04-04T12:26:00.000-07:00

If you follow on Facebook, you've seen that the past few ~~couple~~ few months we've had quite a lot of illness & ~~crap~~ busy-stuff at home. This all has put blogging on the back burner, but HOPEFULLY we're back!
Spring has brought allergies out the wazoo for the little Princess, but everyone else is full of health & vigor. I have a bit of a stockpile of pictures and such to post, maybe I can make up for the long hiatus.

One tutorial coming up- mini play oven mitts for play kitchens. The Princess is getting a shiny new play set for her upcoming birthday (shhhhh....don't tell her!) & Mommy isn't paying $30 for fake mitts and matching apron. I'm making a couple colorful, preschooler-sized sets (with coordinating tea towels...) to go with her new kitchen. I'm making them out of her old baby clothes...because I'm cheap like that....

So, I'll get back to work, & I'll see you all in a bit! =-)

Quick Tip: Cleaning With Citrus

2011-01-21T14:38:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had fruit sitting in the bowl...too gone for anyone to want to eat- but not yet rotting so you can't throw it out? Here's something you can do to use up lemons & grapefruits that are slightly past their prime.

Cut your fruit in half- dip the cut side in some salt...and scub-a-dub your tub and shower walls clean! Easy peasy! Dip in more salt as needed.

Weight Loss Wednesday: 2 and a Recipe

2011-01-19T13:39:00.000-08:00

Whew, 2 more down! A total of 10 lost these past few weeks. Slow & steady...niiiice & slow....
Trying to eat small snack-meals throughout the day, rather than just not eating b/c I'm not hungry enough to eat a meal- supposedly it will keep you metabolism going. Keeping the fridge stocked with ready-to-eat munchies, pre-cut all my veggies, stocked up on yogurt for a calcium kick. I also keep hummus handy, and been trying to eat 1-3 apples a day. Fiber is my friend!
I did ~~great~~ better with the water this week- THANKS LADIES! <3 I kept extra water around me at all times. Glub glub glub!

I also wanted to share a "healthy"/"dieting" recipe with you guys today. Hummus. Hummus is a great & fiber-filled alternative to other more fattening & nutrient-less dips. The chickpeas in it provide plenty of fiber & vitamins, garlic has great health benefits, and the olive oil contains heart healthy monounsaturated fats. BUT- the price of tahini- a sesame paste that is used in humus is astrofreakinnomical. Many people substitute peanut butter for the tahini to save on cost. Well I think hummus that tastes like peanuts tastes like horsepucky, and my youngest is allergic to peanuts- & she's my little snacking buddy. So, I experimented with a variety of pantry items to get a better-tasting-cheap hummus. Enjoy.

Better Tasting Cheapy Hummus: (peanut-free)

In your food-processor, pulse until mashed:

1 can of chickpeas/garbanzo beans or the equivalent of home-cooked (about 2 cups.)
about 3 cloves of minced garlic
2 hefty pinches of salt
1/4 cup lemon juice

Add & pulse until combined:

1/4 cup olive oil (you will add more later as needed...)
about 2 Tablespoons of sunflower seed spread (sometimes called sunflower seed butter- you can usually find it with the other nut butters or in a healthfood store...)
1/2 Tablespoon sesame oil (found with the Asian foods, or in a healthfood store.)

While running on low, drizzle olive oil through the chute until the proper/preferred consistency is reached. (Click pics to make bigger/see texture...)

A serving of hummus is about 1/4 cup. I store mine in 1/2 cup containers in the fridge because there is ~~usually~~ always people who want to share it. =-)

Meatless Monday: Chickpea Coconut Curry

2011-01-17T19:11:00.000-08:00

First of all, let me just say sorry so late in the evening... serious DRAMALLAMAS causing commotion at my house today. =-)

Next, let me just say- chickpeas are awesome. Plus their alias is fun to say. GARBANZO BEANS! Seriously, how fun is that!?

Ok, either begin with a can of chickpeas/garbanzo beans, or have your own cooked up from dried, about 2 cups.

You'll also want to medium-dice 2 potatoes and get them par-boiling while you sweat up the rest of the ingredients.

In 2 Tablespoons of olive oil, get going an onion (roughly chopped) 2 carrots (roughly chopped) and 2-5 cloves of garlic (minced.)

If your potatoes are half-done, drain them and add to the pot. Add 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric and stir. Adding the turmeric now makes the potatoes all pretty!

Add 1 can of coconut milk. (I like to use "lite".) Also add your chickpeas. Simmer on low until everything is soft, happy, and harmonious. You may add a spoonful of water as needed if it starts getting too thick or burning before soft.

ETA- Serve with rice! =-)

How to Mix Pizza Crust in a Food Processor

2011-01-15T13:26:00.000-08:00

Mixing doughs in a food processor can be a great time-saver, if you know the correct order to add the ingredients.(The amount for the recipe that I use will be in parentheses.)

Begin by pouring in your warm water. (1 cup)

Add your honey, or sugar depending on recipe, and salt. (2Tablespoons honey, 1/2 teaspoon salt) & run on low for about 5-15 seconds depending on the motor of your processor.

Add your yeast. (2 Tablespoons) Blend for another 10 second or so until dissolved.

Add 1 cup of your flour. (my recipe uses 3 1/2 c TOTAL) and blend for 10-20 second until thoroughly combined.

Add your (olive) oil, (1/4 cup of olive oil in mine), and process for about 10 more seconds until no more oil can be seen.

Add the rest of your flour. (The other 2 1/2 cups if using mine) Pulse until the dough just comes together in a ball. DO NOT over-process, your machine cannot handle kneading dough this thick. I don't care what the box says, I don't care if it came with a DOUGH BLADE. It is a BIG-FAT-LIAR. I promise. Your machine will hate you.

Knead your dough, with your hands...for about a minute or two, it will be stretchy, soft and smooth. Put your dough ball into a lightly greased bowl (olive oil) to rise for 45 minutes, covered with greased plastic wrap. (non-stick spray)

Dough hiney...45 minute rise

In about 45 minutes your dough will be about doubled in size, punch it down- then let rise for 1- 1 1/2 hours more. I usually make two batches. (One at a time...)

Dough abuse...


Ready to go 1 1/2 hours later

Two-year-olds make beautiful pizzas!

Weight Loss Wednesday: Arrg.

2011-01-12T14:32:00.000-08:00

Soooo... this morning was my first time weighing in since Ol' Aunt Flo paid her visit. I was expecting BAD. I nibbled on a Hershey bar throughout the week, and expected horrible news. I did however stay away from the chips. But- I had to listen to hubby whine about not having any chips. Yeah- I didn't trust my willpower this month, so I didn't even buy any!

The damage was a bit surprising...I gained...but only 1 pound. THANK GOODNESS! I have a feeling it had a lot to do with water consumption though as well... I totally ~~sucked at~~ didn't get enough water this week. Way lazy on my part, couldn't bother getting up & refiling my bottle as often as I should have. BUT- I know this now, so I can plan for it next month & have a crap-ton of bottles filled & ready for me.

My goals for this week:

No more not drinking water B.S.
Work more movement in...rigorous housecleaning isn't gonna cut it for much longer.
Plan ahead. I can see what's messing me up- I need to fix it now.

Real quick before I go...I just wanted to say a quick thanks. I was kinda "arrrg" before because I was so mad at myself for closing up a many-years-old blog that had hundreds of hits daily because of some dumbass person. Now- I am beyond happy for the FOLLOWERS I have now. The comments, love & camaraderie we have now is TONS better than "hits". Both here & Facebook. I appreciate you guys so much! Yep- to the point of being annoyingly CORNY in a weight loss post... <3

Homemade Convenience: Make Your Own Cornbread Mix

2011-01-07T18:00:00.000-08:00

Convenience foods are a great modern marvel for busy moms. A great convenience with a price to match. With barely a bit more time in the beginning of the month, you can make a batch of 4 dinners worth of cornbread mix to last you the month (if you use it once-a-week) or so.

My mix is like a lot of recipes all over the internet- I mean really, the proportions of the same ingredients is what makes it cornbread, right? But, I mix mine a bit differently to get the texture I like.

Begin by shifting together 4 C of flour, 1 TBS of salt, (woah, sounds like a lot until you remember it's for 4 pans!) and 1/4 C of baking powder.

Mix in 1 C of sugar.

Then, cut or "rub in" 1 C of shortening. You can use a pastry cutter, two forks, or your fingers. I prefer to use my fingers because you want this mixture to get MUCH finer than biscuits or such... more like sand texture than pea-sized bits of shortening.

Click photo so see larger & see texture

Now, THOROUGHLY mix in 4 C of cornmeal. Now it looks kinda like yellow Moon Sand. Too bad it doesn't behave like it though...that'd be a spiffy money-saving recipe!

Ditto...

You can keep the mix in an airtight container in the fridge, or separate your batch into four portions. (2 1/2 C each.) I like to use quart-sized bags.

There's 3 because the 4th is in a bowl getting made. Yum.

To use, take 2 1/2 C mix (or your portion), and mix with one egg and 1 1/4 C milk.

Bake at 425 until a toothpick in the center comes out clean.

Tofu Thursdays: Tof'jitas!

2011-01-06T17:55:00.000-08:00

Tofu Fajitas, yum.
I'm just gonna jump right to how I make mine =-)

First, get your FIRM tofu draining...

Then, in a quart-sized baggie mix together:

A palm-full of cumin
A 1/4 teaspoon (about...) of garlic powder
A 1/2 teaspoon (about...) of onion powder
As much chili-powder as your family likes

Then, mix in a couple glubs each of lemon juice & water. Glub is a VERY scientific measurement dude...

Next, cut your tofu into strips or cubes, depending on what you prefer. I like to cut it in strips, since I ALWAYS end up breaking it so much. By the time I bake it- it looks almost just like that pre-seasoned pre-cooked "chicken" strips you can buy in the frozen section. Have you read the ingredient list on those? =-/

Now add your strips/cubes to you awesome-smelling bag & let marinate AT LEAST 8 hours in the fridge. (I like to make it the night before I cook it.)

I've read lots of recipes that fry the tofu up, but I like to bake it because I am horrible at turning it & break it like crazy.
I begin by covering a rimmed sheet pan with foil & putting down a nice bit of olive oil. You could probably use any oil, but I like the flavor olive oil adds. Pre-heat your oven to 400.


Olive oil is so pretty...

Spread your marinated tofu out on the pan & drizzle a bit more oil...

While sauteing your veggies...

Bake until heated through & the excess seasonings start darkening on the pan...

Throw 'em together! Yum!

[You can click the pics to see them bigger...if you want...]

Weight Loss Wednesday?

2011-01-05T19:06:00.000-08:00

Sooooo....the super-cool, mega-sweet, kick-ass-mama, Kayla over at The Mama of Mojo has kicked us all in the booties. But, only because she kicked herself in the booty, and she loves us. Kayla is documenting her weight loss journey in her blog, and encouraging us all to do the same. I'm gonna SUCK IT UP & go for it too. ~~Because I want to be awesome like Kayla~~ Because I need some accountability. Part of my "getting it together" is getting my ass back to normal.

She's much more braver than me...I'm not quite sure yet if I want to share my weight. I will however let y'all know I have a LOT left to loose. Like 91...yes, ninety-one-O-M-F-Gosh-pounds. BUT...having started a few weeks ago...I am down 8. (Wooot.) AND... I am still down 32 from my heaviest a few years ago. [PPD, 80 lbs gained in 3 months, long story...boo-hoo, pity party, table for one...]

I have been moving my butt with the Wii, (holy doodles it's been cold & icy out!) and looking for other activities to get me through the winter. I re-joined SparkPeople, (I'll totally add you as a friend, just message me...) and I'm trying to start a goal/thoughts/journey/milestones sort of journal. I joined a mini-goal thread in a group on SparkPeople too. To loose 5 pounds this month. Slow & steady wins the race...

New Toy!

2011-01-04T14:14:00.000-08:00

Here's my new toy, eerr... gadget, that I'll be trying out & "reporting" on.


The washer...not the cat

I read a boat-load of great things about it before I purchased, & bad things about the much-higher-priced name-almost-stealing "Wonder Washer"...basically, the "Wonder Washer" is said to be crap.
The two younger kids & I popped it into the bathtub to try it out AS SOON as Mr. UPS dropped it off. Well, handed it to me as I opened the door when I heard his truck. No, I wasn't waiting for it all day...who said that!?
We just tossed in some RANDOM things from the hamper, so later I'll do a few much more thought-out loads to show a measurable amount of what this baby can do. It looks like we threw in about 3 socks, 2 washcloths, a cleaning cloth, a pair of men's boxer-briefs, a mommy-sized shirt, a little boy's pj top, a daddy-sized t-shirt, and a daddy-sized pair of slacks. Wow, I love hyphenated words.


Yep 3 socks, and none match

I also tried to take a picture of the water draining out...because it was so yucky it was cool. Can you tell I have boys?


You can't really tell though...

Oh yeah.... by-the-way...

SCHOOL GOES BACK TOMORROW!

WHOOOOHOOO!

Ps... I'm not replacing normal washers (Oh Dear Heavens I have 3 children!) But to help me with those hand-washing ones I do between laundrymat visits. ("Mom I ran out of socks" "Mom, G threw up on her sheets" & the kitchen rags! =-)

Giveaway Winner!

2010-12-07T13:29:00.000-08:00

So, I numbered a list of all the Facebook fans, added the blog followers & pulled a number from Random.org. (Oh, & I removed Hubby, what the hell does he need with an apron?) ;-)

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand- the winner is:

You can click the pic to make it bigger =-)

#33! Kimberly Bryant! Congrats Kim, & email me at admin(at)disheveledmommy(dot)com with your shipping info! =-)

Thanks so much for your support guys! A bigger & better contest is being planned! Also, trying to gather Christmas cookie recipes to share. (& decipher them from Jenni-ese to something a normal human being can read!)

Dinner Doughnuts!?

2010-12-02T17:06:00.000-08:00

Tasty, comforting yummy goodness! Well, they're not really doughnuts, but they are based on my No Time Doughnuts.

Begin by taking a can of cheapy refrigerator biscuits. (They were on sale for like .30 a pop...) Slice them in half. I like to zip through them with a pizza cutter...

Then, while heating up your oil, (I like to use a cast iron pan...), mix together in a paper lunch sack your coating. I used 1/2 tsp each onion & garlic powder, a pinch each of salt & pepper, and a generous pinch each of dried parsley & dried oregano. I think some canned Parmesan cheese, or that fakey-powdered butter would be delicious with some pasta!

Fry, watch them, they go QUICK. Then let drain briefly on some paper towels.

Toss half of the batch into your paper sack & shake to cover. Repeat with the rest.

Not the healthiest of side choices, but for sure a kid-friendly, crowd-pleasing treat!

Also, don't forget about our Facebook fan giveaway & the Little Diva Tutus giveaway!

Little Diva Tutus Giveaway!

2010-12-01T13:57:00.000-08:00

No, not mine (yet, I'd LOVE to give one of these gorgeous tutus away someday!)
Little Diva Tutus is running a giveaway on their Facebook page. Details can be found here:

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=13818&post=62269&uid=113954616841#!/topic.php?uid=113954616841&topic=13818

Be sure to let her know if I sent you there ;-) (Yes, an extra entry would be lovely!)

Even though I do get an entry, I am posting because it is a suuuuuper sweet giveaway, and suuuuuuper awesome tutus. #3 owns two actually, even though one doesn't fit anymore...

And, even though she is this very moment insisting on running around the house in only a towel, I know that she would LOVE to have a new tutu every month- as would all of your little girls! So, go enter!

Turkey Time

2010-11-22T19:23:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick time-guide for your turkey roasting:

How long will that take?
Depending on the weight of your bird, heat of your oven, and how well the air circulates in your oven, you can expect your bird to be fully cooked anywhere from 3-7 hours. You can use this chart to estimate, but be SURE to double check with a thermometer.

These times are for UN STUFFED birds...just 'cause I don't stuff :P A stuffed bird will take longer.

When is it done?
Cook your bird until a thermometer in the thickest part of the thigh reads 185 degrees.

Weight of turkey	APPROXIMATE time to cook in a 325° oven
6-8	3 to 3 1/2 hours
8-12	3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours
12-16	4 1/2 to 5 1/2 hours
16-20	5 1/2 to 6 1/2 hours
20-24	6 1/2 to 7 hours

My Thanksgiving Countdown

2010-11-20T11:28:00.000-08:00

Everyone has a general time-line they like to follow leading to Turkey Day, this is my general flow:

1 week before (5-7 days before):

· Get turkey defrosting in fridge
· Organize pantry for ease & to double-check ingredients
· Buy all non-perishable ingredients
· Make a final shopping list of perishables & hang in the kitchen just-in-case something gets used (Such as cream, butter & other everyday items)
· Plan activities/get DVDs & stock up on arts& crafts items for the children’s break from school

The Monday before:

· Iron out cooking/baking schedule to allow for any changes (new guests/new requests/etc.)
· Finalize shopping list- you will be going tomorrow

The Tuesday before:

· Go shopping for perishables & missing items
· Cut veggies for snacks/appetizers (celery & carrot sticks, etc.)
· Cut any veggies you know you will be using a large amount of & stow in the fridge in lidded containers. (Onions, celery, etc.)
· If making dressing from cubed bread, cut & put in a large zip-lock bag
· If making any dishes that freeze/store well you should make them today. (Make-a-head mashed potatoes, some casseroles, etc.)
· Organize baking items/area for the big baking day tomorrow

Wednesday:

· Bake your booty off. If you are making your pies from scratch (I do, I’m picky) do them today. If you have rolls to make, get them done. I like to get my dough done and slow-rising in the fridge & bake them off on Thursday
· Make & pop in the fridge any dishes that do well storing overnight. (Things like Green Bean Casserole…) Pull out & defrost in the fridge any other dishes you may have frozen
· If making fresh- make your cranberry sauce
· Start any appetizers that will store well. (I begin my stuffed mushrooms)
· Put together your relish/crudités platter & tuck into the fridge

I'll post my Thursday checklist after I finalize it tomorrow! =-)

Double-Chocolate Chip Cookies

2010-11-19T18:36:00.000-08:00

These delicious cookies are always a hit at our house, nice and chocolaty, with just the right amount of chew & crisp.

Preheat oven to 375.
In a bowl, beat together 1 1/4Cpacked brown sugar, 3/4C butter-flavored shortening & 2 Tablespoons of milk. Beat until fluffy.
Beat in 1 egg and 1 Tablespoon vanilla.
In another bowl, sift together 1 1/4C flour, 1/2C cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon salt and 3/4 teaspoon baking soda.
Stir the powdered mix into the wet/creamed mixture. Stir in 1 1/2C milk chocolate chips. Sometimes I'll add half milk chocolate and half semi-sweet.
Use a cookie scoop, or drop rounded tablespoons of dough on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake 7-10 minutes until almost set. Let cool ON THE SHEET for about 3 or 4 minutes, then cool on a rack. These are also delicious with toasted pecans tossed in.

Also, don't forget to join our Facebook page for a giveaway! =-)

Facebook Giveaway!

2010-11-18T11:30:00.000-08:00

We're only about 20 "fans" on Facebook to our 50-"fan" goal for a giveaway. We'll use Random.org to pick a winner when we hit 50.
We'll be sending off this CUTE little winter apron:

Well, not this exact one...yours will be brand-spankin'-new-in-the-package. =-)

Wordless Wednesday

2010-11-17T22:38:00.000-08:00

Quick Meal: Pizza Pasta

2010-11-15T17:15:00.000-08:00

Moms like to have an arsenal of SUPER-quick go-to meals to throw together when the day is just too long, and bedtime is fast approaching. Tonight's "Crap-Mom's-not-home-until-5:30" meal was Pizza Pasta.

Take a box/bag of rotini or similar shaped/sized pasta. Boil it. Throw in a jar of spaghetti sauce. Mushroom or garden varieties make for a great pizza pasta meal. Dish up & sprinkle on some cheese & cut pepperoni. Sometimes when I have some ricotta to use up I toss that in- WAAAAAY delicious!

Disposable plates are the bomb-diggity

Refrigerator Drip Pans...Aka ZOMGoodness WTF is That Smell!?

2010-11-14T17:35:00.000-08:00

Until this morning I was blissfully unaware that my refrigerator had a drip pan. I mean, of course if you THINK about it...why wouldn't it? But why would I think about it!?

Soooo...about 5 days ago, the back corner of my kitchen had a faint whiff of socks. Noticed, of course, only after a full day...and the midnight hour quickly approaching. After a quick sniff-around of the area, we determined it was coming from the fridge. Did something die!? Did the kids spill something under it!? Is the cat hiding food? We can clean it in the morning...it's only a few hours away after all.

Sooooo...the next morning, after pulling out & cleaning under and behind the fridge. (By the way, Cat, I know where your toys are...) The wonderful aroma of bleach cleaner filled my kitchen & I was sure the smell had left.

Sooooo...the next day...I know, right? I smell socks-mixed-with-yogurt-mixed-with-butt. Is it IN the fridge? I clean the fridge...I pull out the veggie drawer. What's that little thingie? A drain. I bet that's nasty! I pulled it out & cleaned it. It was gross. I thought I was done.

Another day of sniffing...& wondering... I ran out of things to check & clean! It was stronger...not any worse of a smell...but stronger. More ass than butt now...
Is there something up in bottom? Is that possible? Should I...look!? Maybe I'll save it for Hubby...OMFGosh, no...it smells, I can't wait. But I have to, again it's like 1 in the morning, NOT a good time to try & take apart the fridge!

So glad I waited, with a few hours of sleep I was able to have a thought! I should totally LOOK UP on the internet HOW TO get in there first! Great idea, right? So I look it up..guess what...
I learned about drip pans!

Apparently, those little suckers not only collect the water that drips from the self-defrosting feature, but bits of food & junk as well. THEN the water mostly evaporates...leaving behind a sludge of bacteria, mess, and hell. And you're SUPPOSED to clean it. We've been here a year, never knew about it to clean it- & I doubt it's been cleaned before us. For reals...I pulled that sucker out...& THREW UP. I'm not pregnant, not weak-stomached...& I barfed like a model after Sizzler.

Sooooo....long story short...
Go, RIGHT NOW- find & clean your gosh-forsaken drip pans!

Ps...My kitchen smells lovely now, thank you.

Six Word Saturday

2010-11-13T20:20:00.000-08:00

Looking forward to some better days.

Can't Fail Brownies

2010-11-12T21:51:00.000-08:00

This is my go-to recipe for chewy, delicious brownies. I have never, ever- EVER had them come out wrong. I'm sure if you used spoiled butter, or burned the hell outta them they would...but they would surely smell delicious burning...

You will need:

1/2 C butter (1 stick)
1 C sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/3 C cocoa powder
1/2 C flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Preheat your oven to 350. Grease and lightly flour an 8inch square baking pan.
Grab a large saucepan, (yes saucepan,) and gently melt your butter.
Remove pan from heat & whisk in your sugar, followed by eggs and vanilla. (The sugar should cool the butter down just enough to not cook scrambled eggs into your brownies!)
Shift together the rest of the ingredients & beat in. Use a wooden spoon or a good spatula, not a mixer- you do not want a bunch of air.
Pour into pan and bake for 30 minutes. It will NOT look done when it is, it will have quite a bit of jiggle left in the middle. Let cool before cutting.

-Yep, that is a disposable pan...these were made for a bake sale! =-)

Day Off?

2010-11-11T19:20:00.000-08:00

It is a federal holiday after all...so surely & can skip NaBloWriMO tonight? ;-)

I've spent the day in horrible back pain....trying to work through it so it doesn't lock up. So...working on making cookies for the Scouts to sell Saturday morning to help with their fund raising. I made it through 1 friggin' batch. Oh...being old is hard...

Wordless Wednesday: Let's Start November

2010-11-10T12:41:00.000-08:00

Boxed Mixes Save Time

2010-11-09T19:22:00.000-08:00

Nothing is better than something fresh from the oven, but many of us often settle for pre-made-grab-from-the-grocery-store-bakery-counter-fare. Wow, that's a lotta hyphens!

You don't have to settle for less than fantastic cake to save time, cake mixes have a bad wrap for not being homemade, and not being tasty enough- but is it really any worse then the preservative filled items you pick up at the store? Fresh beats pre-made any day, and a few tips can make those boxed mixes and frosting tastes like Grandma's.

My favorite cake "hacks":

- Add a few drops of vanilla or other flavorings to mixes or frosting to give a deeper, rounder flavor- almond is nice, peppermint is great in the winter
- Don't try to pipe frosting from the can, stir in a bit of powdered sugar, small amounts at a time, until it is a good piping constancy- this is especially important if you have added liquid food coloring as it thins it out
- Be extra careful to not over bake, a dried out cake is yucky-no matter where the batter came from
- Try replacing the oil called for with margarine (not butter) for a moist, slightly buttery taste
- A box of INSTANT pudding to the mix will add richness and flavor
- Remember to use room temperature eggs for the best texture
- Try adding preserves to your frosting for a fruity treat
- Sour cream added to the mix makes a great moist, rich, fluffy cake (about 3/4-1 cup)

Quick Tip: Uses for Petroleum Jelly

2010-11-08T17:16:00.000-08:00

Here are some awesome uses for petroleum jelly, also known to some as Vaseline.

In the house:

Remove tapered candles from their holders easily, and quickly by rubbing a small amount into the holder before you insert the candle.
Rubbing a bit along the inside of that super glue lid will ease the pain of opening it the next time you want to use it.
Outdoor light bulbs sure can be tough to get out of their sockets when they need changing. If you rub some petroleum jelly to the threads before you put it in, it will prevent the corrosion that happens- and makes it stick.
Rub some jelly into leather items, to condition and restore. Jackets, baseball gloves...
Here's a tip that is handy- and fun! Sick of squirrels stealing your bird feed? Install your feeders on top of metal fencing poles. Then, coat with petroleum jelly. Sit back, enjoy the bird watching...and laugh at the silly squirrels who will slide off the greasy pole. A backyard entertainment two-fer!

100 Ways to Get Your Pumpkin On

2010-11-07T13:37:00.000-08:00

I came across this site...& I am drooling far too much to write anything else today...

Go...looooook.... enjoy that Autumn is here!

http://www.endlesssimmer.com/2010/10/14/100-ways-to-cook-a-pumpkin/

Basic Biscuits

2010-11-06T13:38:00.000-07:00

Biscuits are a staple in our home. Very versatile, biscuits can be a delicious addition to any breakfast, lunch or dinner. You simply start with the basic dough, then add any variety of herbs, seasonings, or toppings to create the perfect side.

Basic Biscuits:
Preheat oven to 450
Stir 2 cups flour with 1 Tablespoon baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a bowl. (Or, if you wish you can just dump 2 cups of self-rising flour into a bowl.)
Cut in 1/3 cup shortening with your fingers until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs. You must use shortening, butter in this instance will not do.
Dump in 3/4 cup milk and mix until moist.

You can lightly knead on a floured surface (about 10 times), or use a large bowl & knead up against the sides of the bowl. That's what I do...I'm a bit lazy. Also, instead of adding a 3/4 cup of milk you can add 1 whole cup & make drop biscuits, and not knead at all.
Pat dough out to 1/2 inch thick and cut with a biscuit cutter, a glass, or even make squared biscuits with a pizza cutter. (Again...I'm a bit lazy...)
Place slightly touching (to help rise) on an un-greased sheet-pan until golden and lovely. (About 10-12 minutes.)

In addition to making drop biscuits, you can also use this dough to add things such at a teaspoon or garlic powder & some shredded cheese for delicious cheddar-biscuits. Or sprinkle in some herbs for a savory treat. Or rock them for dessert by brushing with some melted butter when almost done & topping with cinnamon sugar! The sky is the limit- you can get pretty creative with this forgiving dough.

Less Than Three Weeks

2010-11-05T15:18:00.000-07:00

There's less than three weeks to go until Thanksgiving Day. Have you started your prepping checklists & shopping lists? I like to do mine a couple weeks ahead so I have more than ample time to grab anything forgotten before the crowds hit. I also like to make sure everything has time to thaw that needs to. A large turkey can take up to a week to thaw-out!

What are your Thanksgiving planning rituals, or tips & tricks?

Keep in Touch!

2010-11-03T23:33:00.000-07:00

Or, just communicate I guess...
Disheveled Mommy also has a Twitter- http://twitter.com/DisheveledMommy
& a Facebook page. You'll have to search for the page by "Disheveled Mommy" for now, until we get enough "likers" to get a link. All proper like...

Quick Tip: Cleaning up Egg Mess

2010-11-02T20:49:00.000-07:00

I am ~~super~~ clumsy. So clumsy in fact that I am always looking for quick ways to clean up the various things I drop, spill, smear, etc....

Next time you drop an egg on the floor, don't smear it around wiping it up. Instead dump a nice thickish layer of regular table salt over the egg & let sit for a couple minutes. Perhaps while to attend to your batter or pan... Then simply lift the now easy-to-clean clump with a spatula & toss. Then wipe away any leftover salt or white.

NaBloPoMo

2010-11-01T22:07:00.000-07:00

National Blog Posting Month. Yep. Like NaNoWriMo, only shorter...& with more recipes. ;-)

So, yeah, I thought I'd challenge myself this year & hop on that NaBloPoMo train. I almost didn't make the first day though! (Hey, it's only 11:00 here- & don't judge!) So here I sit, propped up against the wall, trying to ~~bargain with~~ sit with a toddler ~~who hates me~~ doesn't want to sleep, trying to figure out what the hell to write about. I imagine I'll have quite a few nights like this in November. I also imagine you all will get sick of my rambling life posts. (Like, I dunno...right this moment?)

Review: Elmer's & X-acto Crafers (Via BzzAgent)

2010-10-20T16:03:00.000-07:00

As I've said before, I am very fortunate to be part of BzzAgent.com and I occasionally receive awesome kits to use and review. The past few weeks I've been lucky enough to get to play with the BzzKit from Elmer's and Xacto.

I received the items pictured-
An Elmer's tape runner, glue spots, glue pen, and a glue stick. From X-acto I got two pairs of decorative scissors and a nifty corner-rounder.

The adhesive products are what you'd expect from Elmer's, great consistency & easy of use. The "tape" runner is pretty much a glue-tape hybrid of sorts, and so handy & fun to use. I also love the little tape dots- I've never used them before and I have big plans for some 3D-ish holiday cards now!

As for the tools, they were a dream as well, sharp and comfortable on my hands. I do have to admit though...that corner-rounder...way addictive. I have rounded the corners on almost EVERY notepad in the house. (It can do 3-5 pages at a time easy.) It's amazing how much just a simple little shape change can make anything look a million times nicer. Really, I have the coolest shopping lists ever now. I'm thinking some spiffed up notepads would make a nice addition to gifts.

Cons with these products-
The glue stick is a little smellier than other sticks. Not so much that it's bothersome though. The corner-rounder-puncher is tough- but I kinda wish it would punch through ribbon. That'd be awesome. Also I ~~want~~ need the rounds-cutter. A compass & cutter in one? I'd have every paper in the house in circles.

Just a reminder- I received these products from BzzAgent, but I am NOT told what to say, required to only say good/nice things, or nor do I even HAVE to say anything on my blog at all. I HAVE left a product off my blog I DIDN'T like. =-)

No Time Doughnuts

2010-10-09T13:32:00.000-07:00

Doughnuts, donuts, doh-nuts, whatever. They're yummy.
As a quick dessert, treat, snack, or if you're so inclined- breakfast, try these super quick doughnuts made from canned biscuit dough.

First, begin by heating about an inch of oil in a very heavy skillet-I prefer cast iron.

While your oil is heating pop open a can of biscuits & flatten each SLIGHTLY with the palm of your hand & cut out the middle with something like the lid to a soda bottle. I use an old scoop from formula with the handle cut off. Set these aside to puff back up while the oil continues to heat. Oh, the holes too. They're lovely little bites of awesome.

When your oil's hot & your dough is puffed up slightly, gently slide 4-5 doughnuts into the oil. Be careful, but quick. By the time you place the last one in, the first one will be ready to turn over. Seriously, it only takes a few seconds. Another great reason to chose these- they cook so quick they don't have time to absorb much grease. Carefully flip over with a wide spatula & cook until the other side is also golden brown and delicious. (Thanks AB.)

Then, you'll want to drain & let cool slightly on some paper towels. I like to use a cake pan, so the little holes can't ~~escape~~ roll away. During this time you can put some powdered sugar, or cinnamon sugar into brown paper lunch bags. Or both. You need to let the doughnuts sit for a brief bit or the coatings will melt too much an make a big mess, instead of adding to the yumminess. Plus they'll look like crap if you don't. Sorry.

Put a few doughnuts/holes in a bag & shake to coat. There. Done. Yum.

Friends, and Crock-pots are Awesome

2010-10-07T19:03:00.000-07:00

Like, super-dooper awesome. Really.

Even though I am a WAHM, I often have to leave the house for various appointments, or to meet with clients. For those days, Crock-pots are amazing. Last night I pulled out some of the pre-rolled meatballs I made & stashed from the freezer & popped them in the fridge to defrost. Today I tossed them into the slow cooker with a can of diced tomatoes and a jar of spaghetti sauce. Near-instant dinner for when we get home!
While everyone clambered in & got settled I boiled some noodles & heated some store-bought bread up in the oven. (On 400 for the time it takes to boil noodles.)

What really made supper super- some FRESH herbs straight from our ~~good~~ awesome friend's GIANT basil, oregano & thyme plants. It's totally a BUSH of basil now. It's pretty freakin' awesome looking, and smells sooooooo good! I just tossed some chopped herbs in while the noodles & bread finished up. DELICIOUS!

Quick Tip: Freezing Items Flat

2010-09-28T10:08:00.000-07:00

Freezer bags certainly make stocking your freezer and dealing with leftovers much easier. You want them to be nice and flat for stacking and space-saving, but sometimes they can be a pain to get to stay flat. I happened to grab a square cake pan one day to help support a saucy bag, and it fit perfectly and worked so well! Now I use one to freeze all my bags. It provided enough support that items freeze flat, but fits in the freezer better than sheet pans. Sheet pans don't even fit in our tiny freezer...unless I empty it!
So, that's how I fit enough in our little hobbit-freezer for a family of 5.


The ones on the far right- no cake pan! A83GRHTU6QF5

Bathroom Wishlists

2010-09-28T10:07:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, because I'm terribly impatient, I often make little wish-lists of things I want when we have a house again. Sometimes daydreaming makes apartment living a little more bearable.

Next to the yard and garden, the kitchen and bathroom are the most thought of rooms. Always at the top of my list is an awesome double shower head. I miss a good, relaxing shower. Shower heads are so fancy these days. Massaging, rain-like, ones that move up and down. I'd need a seat in there so I could spend the day! A nice big shower stool.

I supposed for now I'll have to scratch my decorating itch with things I can do in an apartment. Swapping shower curtains and towels, maybe a decal or two. Maybe something really flowery and girly. Some big, puffy floral bath towels and roses on the walls. It may drive the boys nuts, but at least it'd feel like mine. =-)

Easy Cheesy Corndog Cups

2010-09-23T20:56:00.000-07:00

These corndog muffins are tasty and simple, with very few ingredients.

Here are the ingredients and the process:
- Start with your favorite store bought, homemade, or recipe for corn bread/muffins
I make my own mix, found HERE
- Add an extra egg to the batter when mixing
- Mix in a handful or 2 of shredded cheddar or cheddar-jack cheese (1/2 to 1 cup or so)
- Generously grease you muffin pan with non-stick spray
- fill your cups just shy of 2/3 full
- Take about an inch wide slice of Velveeta, or other processed cheese product, and cut into 12 chunks
- Cut 3 or 4 hot dogs into chunks, the amount will vary depending on your preference
The pieces should be about 1 to 1 1/4 inches long, and no more than 3 will fit in each cup
- Place cheese chunks in the middle of each cup
They will be sticking out slightly, but the batter will rise over them as it bakes
- Then plunk the hot dog pieces in around the cheesy centers
- Bake in a 425 degree oven until slightly golden brown on the tops
- Let cool for 5-8 minutes then remove from muffin pan so that they don't stick inside it