Organizing Tip : Clothing

I am an avid fan of yard sales and thrift shops and often find items for my grand-babies. There are times that I find something that will not fit them now but is just one size up. Do I buy it yes but then I often misplace it. This great idea allows you to know exactly where you put it because you simply place a clothes basket labeled like in their closet or somewhere you know where it is. Each time an item is purchased that will not fit them now or is for the season that comes next you place it in the basket. That way you are always prepared.


source here

Family Movie Night and Chex Mix Giveaway

Our family loves chex mix. So many variety of mixes out there. Recently I entered a giveaway on the blog Three Loud Kids The giveaway introduced the new Minion Mix to me and allowed me to enter the giveaway where the lucky winner will get

Enter to win all of the awesome stuff below:
• (1) Box Honey Nut Chex
• (1) Box Chocolate Chex
• (1) Box Banana Nut Cheerios
• (1) Despicable Me 2 DVD
• (1) Minion USB


You want to have your chance to win this prizepack? Then head over to

Blog hosting giveaway Three Loud Kids
Giveaway ends January 16, 2014

Top Post 2013

The top post on my blog this year came at Christmas Time. It is the recipe for Colorful Slice and Bake Cookies. This delicious , great looking and fun Christmas cookie recipe was picked up and passed around with Pinterest and easily became the top post on my blog. I believe that I will try it for other holidays as well. Enjoy 

 

 

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Good Bye Phil

Phil Everly one of the brothers from the duo the Everly Brothers passed away yesterday January 3, 2013. He was born into a musical family having a musician father and growing up performing music with his brother Don.  The Everly Brothers recorded numerous hits including "Wake Up Little Suzie" "Cathy's Clown" and "All I Have To DO Is Dream" The Brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986  In 1997 the pair was graced with the Lifetime Achievement Grammy.
     I used to sing this song of theirs years ago when my "Little Suzie" was a little girl. Sometimes it was to wake her up, sometimes it was to make her smile but mostly it was to let her know I loved her .

Gonna Get Cold Out There

Keep warm out there if you are in a area where the big winter storm is happening. The next few days here lots of snow and lots of cold weather. Our elderly neighbors may need a bit more care offer to go over there check on them see if they need anything. Remember our pets are just like us they live and breathe and while they have fur not really capable of taking care of their selves in the extreme cold weather. Bring them in or offer them some extra help for warmth. Have you had your pipes wrapped? If not be sure to take some cautions like leaving them to drip or else you may have a big problem. We tired of pipes freezing and put them all on the inside took some time, money and effort but as long as house is warm pipes will not bust. Remember to dress in layers, wear your gloves, hat and scarf (three things that grand-daughter asked for from nana for Christmas and got) While many may use space heaters to help supplement the heat in the house to stay warm remember to be careful spaceheaters can get hot as well and may be dangerous. Good idea to just be aware of your surroundings and what is going on. Good Day and Stay warm

Is It Snowing

What do you do when You get a bunch of snow???
 

 
You Make Snow Cream
 




1 cup half and half or milk
1/3 to 1/2 cup granulated sugar (adjust to your taste)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 to 6 cups clean, freshly fallen snow


In a large bowl combine half and half, vanilla extract and sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Stir in snow, a cup at a time, until the ice cream magically forms! Freeze for several minutes if desired before serving.

Valentines Day Wreath

Make this cute valentine day wreath. Even little hands can help. Create whatever message you want on the little hearts making this a fun and creative craft for the day of love.

9" dinner plate or paper plate
Recycled cereal box or other thin cardboard
Pencil
Scissors
Heart pattern
Construction paper: pink, purple, red, and blue
Markers, crayons or paint pens
Glue sticks
Yarn for hanger (optional) 

Trace around the 9" plate onto the cardboard.  Use your pen or pencil to draw another circle inside that one, about an inch away from the outside circle. Cut out the circle and the center of the circle to create a cardboard wreath base. Fold a piece of scrap paper in half. Using the heart pattern line up the fold line of the scrap paper with the dotted line of the pattern. Cut out the shape so that when you open it, you have a heart shape. Fold the short end of a piece of construction paper up about 3 inches. Place the folded heart around the folded paper and trace the half heart shape into the paper. You should be able to fit three hearts on the paper. Repeat this step for each colored piece of paper; you will have a total of 12 hearts. Cut out all the hearts and flatten out the creases so that the hearts lay flat. Using markers, crayons, or paint pens, write conversation candy phrases on the hearts such as "LOVE", "HUBBA HUBBA", "SWEET", "LOVE", "BE MINE", "KISS" and "PAL".

craft source Kaboose shared at
happiness is homemade

Organizational Tip - Keeping Track of Papers

Are you like most moms and find yourself with lots of paper clutter? You don't want to get rid of them but you are not sure what to do with others? Here is a great idea from Pink and Green Mama Keeping those ideas, recipes and papers that we don't want to get rid of filed and neat on a shelf looks better than a lot of paper clutter

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funky junk interiors

Italian Cookies

While its cold outside I wanted to share with those I love a bit of fun. The anise seed shared in these cookies is simply fun to say and the sprinkles make them fun to look at. Not sure what anise is?

 

Anise /ˈænɪs/,^[1] Pimpinella anisum, also called aniseed, is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae native to the eastern Mediterranean region and Southwest Asia. Its flavor has similarities with some other spices, such as star anise, fennel, and liquorice.

 

Grown in nature you may find it like this

 

 

Anise makes these Italian cookies really taste

 

 

YIELD: 3 dozen cookies!!!

1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon anise extract
1 teaspoon lemon extract (see substitutions below)
3 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg

Glaze Ingredients:

1 cup powdered sugar
milk
colored sprinkles

Pre-heat oven to 350 F.
Beat together butter and sugar until creamy. Stir in anise and lemon Add dry ingredients - blend together. Add eggs. Blend.  Form dough into 1-inch balls and place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 15 minutes. Cool and glaze.

First Snow 2014

Princess and Sir Gage Playing in the snow looks like they love it. Now while not really in the picture but there is a bit of blue here can you find it??

Frugal Recipe - Chess Pie (bit of history as well)

Chess pies are a southern favorite and my mother in law could whip up some of the best. Very simple ingredients including eggs, sugar, butter and a small amount of flour makes up a sweet filling. Many times my mother in law would have little in her kitchen but the staples and could still whip a delicious dessert. Some chess pies include vinegar and others include cornmeal. I do not think that my mother in law made her pie the same way every time. She never followed a recipe and had learned how to make chess pies since she was a young girl. Some pies also included flavorings such as vanilla, lemon juice or chocolate which are simply added to the basic recipe. I do not remember my mil ever adding any flavoring to her pie. The truth is the taste of her pie could stand alone and you did not desire anything else. 

One bit of folklore to help explain the name of this pie is that the word "chest" was said with a southern drawl and was used to describe these pies that were baked with so much sugar they could be stored in a pie chest rather than be refrigerated.

One of the oldest recipes shared for chess pie was
1877 - Estelle Woods Wilcox's 1877 cookbook called Buckeye Cookery, she includes a recipe for Chess Pie:

Chess PieThree eggs, two-thirds cup sugar, half cup butter (half cup milk may be added if not wanted so rich); beat butter to a cream, than add yolks and sugar beaten to a froth with the flavoring; stir all together rapidly, and bake in a nice crust. When done, spread with the beaten whites, and three table-spoons sugar and a little flavoring. Return to oven and brown slightly. this makes one pie, which should be served immediately.

Since my mother in law never used a recipe I decided to share one that I found that was  close to hers.

2 cups Sugar
2 Tablespoons Flour
5 whole Eggs
1 cup Melted Butter
1 cup Sweetened, Condensed Milk
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 whole 9 Inch Unbaked Pie Crust

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F In a large bowl, combine sugar and flour. Beat in the eggs until blended. Stir in the melted butter, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla. Pour filling into the pie crust. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until filling is set.

shared at Thrifty Things Foodtastic Friday Just Us Four Weekend Potluck and Tickled Pink as well as at

Our Special Day

Today I celebrate 27 years of marriage with my wonderful hubby. We have seen many ups and downs together. Celebrated the birth of six children, mourned the death of two parents and our grandparents. We have always had a strong bond one of best friends. We have stuck by each other through everything.

Stages of Marriage

With many of my friends getting married and my daughter's wedding anniversary approaching I thought I might summary the 5 stages of marriage as described by Womans day.

1. The first stage they state is the Honeymoon Heaven - I say that if you don't start out in heaven then the marriage is doomed from the beginning. This is the start when you first move in together. This is the bliss that is in your heart and the reason you got married. This is the time period when you should decide major decisions such as what your future will be. I have heard couples speak of the honeymoon period being short lived and yet others as it going for the entire length of their marriage. Happiness is what you make of it.
2. The second stage is referred to by Dr. DeMaria as the realization stage - you realize you really did get married and the person your married has many aspects you may not have been aware of both good and bad. This is the stage that takes work so that both of you will find your goals together as a couple. This is where team work will set in or not. Without teamwork there is sure to be problems.
3. Step 3 is the level of family central where the marriage encompasses the family by buying a house, building careers, and all the business that comes with family life. In this stage it is very important to have date night and couple time. marriage is a process that is in need of constant work and if you ignore it a problem may arise.
4. The "empty nest stage The stage I am with my marriage as my kids begin to go to college and get ready to move out. It is funny that I have started to spend more time with my hubby and we are finding things out about each other again some that we had forgot about and others that had developed and we are not aware of. Sometimes problems occur here but if you celebrate being together it will be new reunion.
5. In your golden years you can look back and over your accomplishments and say "We Did IT"

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home sweet home
Friday Follow Along Party

Organizing TIp #2 === Cleaning Fridge and Freezer

Keeping your fridge and freezer clean will help you out in several different ways. One it will help you cut down time in meal prep by being able find ingredients quickly and easily. It may also cut down on your grocery bill by not over buying products you all ready have or wasting products that you don't know you have.

To start you need to find out what is in the fridge or freezer to do this you need to take inventory. Discard items that are out of date as well as items that you will not use.

If your fridge has adjustable shelves and drawers be sure to get the most use from them Organize food items by size which will allow you to function for each shelf and make it much easier to locate your small, hard to see items. One good tip is to store jars and bottles in the fridge door and bagged items in the freezer door.   Keep the most often used items in front for easy access.

To help control odors keep an open box of baking soda in the back corner. Vanilla extract on a cotton ball or paper towel and placed on a paper plate can help add freshness to the fridge. When the ball is dry remove it.

Add the chore of cleaning out the fridge and freezer once a month to the list of chores.  

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the Scoop

Southern Style Deviled Eggs

January is national egg month. Now I am not sure why but I can put my own spin on it

I simply wonder if January is egg month because it is the first month of the year and the egg comes before the hen. I don't know call me silly. One thing I do know is that I was a little girl I have always loved delicious deviled eggs. You can check these out

 

 

 

1 dozen hard-boiled eggs, peeled

2 tablespoons, sweet pickle relish or chopped bread and butter pickles

2 tablespoons bread and butter pickle or sweet relish juice

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

pinch of cayenne pepper

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

paprika, for garnish

 

Slice eggs lengthwise and pop out the yolks, being careful to keep your egg white intact In a medium-sized bowl, mash yolks with relish, pickle juice, mustard, cayenne and mayonnaise. Season with salt and pepper. Fill each egg and then dust with a little paprika. Chill (overnight is best) until ready to serve.

this particular recipe was found here

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Weekend Retreat
 

Getting Organized in 2014

 

My main goal for 2014 is to get organized. While 2013 was unforgettable and made up for the year before (2012) it was very unorganized. There is so much work to do or at least there seems like there is the truth is that if it was only organized it would not be so much. So in the year 2014 I plan to organize my life in all aspects time, financial, house and storage. More time with family, financially I have all ready got a good start with a new budget, the house is not bad but could be oh so much better if it was only a bit more organized. Storage is another issue with an attic and 2 buildings full there is lots to be done there.

 

What is your goal or word for 2014? Link up with me and many others at 5 minutes for mom

Enter to win $10 Little Caesars $10 gift card

One of our easy nights when we have to much to do is to send out for pizza. Our local Little Caesars have pick ups and gos for $5 each. Yummy!!! Want a chance to win a $10 gift card to get pizza, bread, soda or anything else they sell? Head over to the giveaway and enter to win.

Foam Flowers

The drinking straw that many of use quite often was patented in 1888. Drawing on this event in history we searched out a great craft that may help brighten your cold winter day

Foam Flowers

Drinking straws

Craft foam flowers

Hole Punch (standard size)

Craft foam flowers can be purchased in buckets or in smaller packages at your local craft store. If you prefer you can cut some out of craft foam sheets.

Choose two or three flowers in different sizes for each straw. Punch a hole in the middle of each flower.  If the hole punch doesn't reach the center of the flower, fold the flower in half and slip the center into the hole punch but only half way.  Squeeze to make your hole.  When you open the flower back up, it will have a whole hole. Slide the flower shapes onto the straw so that the smallest is at the top of the straw and the largest flowers are at the bottom.

 

craft source here

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Organizing Tip

This is an awesome idea. If you are like me you are tired of finding a big enough area to keep all of your cleaning items. Under the sink no longer works because it gets filled up quite easily and with little ones around you must be careful of where you put certain items. By using a old shoe holder that hangs on the wall you can place high enough so that little hands can not reach and yes there is plenty of room for it all.

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Happy New Year

Last Night Of The New Year

How do you measure your year? Good times, bad times, the year continues on so tonight on the last night of the year celebrate just a bit. Go ahead give that one that you love a hug and wish them a happy new year. Enter the new year, a new season of life, with hope and love

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Friendship Friday

Jalapeno Cheese Corn Bread

Soon we will be preparing our delicious bowl of ham and beans for New Years Day. Whether you will be partaking in a traditional bowl of beans or perhaps trying a new recipe like black eyed peas soup you will need a bit of crumb to enjoy. The recipe I share today will also provide a bit of heat. Hope you enjoy

Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread
Source:  Barefoot Contessa at Home, by Ina Garten

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons baking powder
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 cups milk
3 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted, plus extra to grease the pan
8 ounces aged extra-sharp Cheddar, grated, divided
1/3 cup chopped scallions, white and green parts, plus extra for garnish, 3 scallions
3 tablespoons seeded and minced fresh jalapeno peppers


Combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the milk, eggs, and butter. With a wooden spoon, stir the wet ingredients into the dry until most of the lumps are dissolved. Don't overmix! Mix in 2 cups of the grated Cheddar, the scallions and jalapenos, and allow the mixture to sit at room temperature for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9 by 13 by 2-inch baking pan. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top, and sprinkle with the remaining grated Cheddar and extra chopped scallions. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool and cut into large squares. Serve warm or at room temperature.

shared at Share Your Stuff Tuesday
Inspire Me Tuesday

Feed Your Feathered Friends

Remember our feathered friends this winter and create them a special treat. This is a fun way for both adult and child whether it be mom and child or grandparent and grandchild or any combination to get together and do some good. Food source for our feathered friends has been limited with the frozen ground and they may need a little help. This easy to make bird feeder will allow you to do just that.

All you will need is a pinecone. Perhaps a walk under the pines like I did many time as a child at my grandparents or a trip to the local craft store where they can be easily found. A pine cone is not a need for this craft though you can use a small piece of wood or an empty toilet paper roll. Peanut butter is the perfect texture if your child has a nut allergy you can also use honey. Smear the peanut butter or honey on the pinecone or other surface you choose to use. On top sprinkle bird seed (it may help to hold the surface piece over a bag or bowl) To make a hanger you can use string, yarn, or anything to make a knot so that it can hang on the garden tree branch, fence, clothes line. Best if it can be seen through the window where it will provide entertainment to the children.

shared at Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Enter Win $50 Walmart Gift Card

Did you get that special gift that you wanted for Christmas?  Do you have that special outfit that you want to wear in the new year? Whatever it is that you may want you could very well find it at Wal-Mart. Lucky you could enter the $50 Walmart gift card

Blog Hosting giveaway Lauren Paints
Giveaway ends January 4, 2014

New Years Eve Drink Even Kids Will Love

2 small boxes Berry Blue Jell-O

1 carton rainbow sherbet

1 liter chilled Sprite or 7up

1 large can chilled pineapple juice

1 cup diced strawberries (optional)

 

Mix Jell-O according to package directions, and pour into individual clear cups about 1 inch high. Refrigerate until set. In a large punch bowl, add Sprite or 7up, pineapple juice and scoops of sherbet. Let flavors mesh for 10 minutes. Spoon punch and scoop sherbet into each cup. Sprinkle strawberries for garnish, and top off with a bubble tea straw. Enjoy! Note: if you have leftovers, place in pitcher and refrigerate. It tastes just as delicious the next day.

recipe source here

 

 

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Enter To WIn Laica

Great way to start the new year off right

Blog Hosting Giveaway 2 Wired 2 Tired

Giveaway Ends January 4, 2014

Spongebob Wii Game Giveaway

Enter to win this game

Blog Hosting Giveaway : Mom Does Reviews
giveaway ends : January 1, 2014

Coach Wristlet Giveaway

Enter to win a Coach wristlet.

Enter at the blog Detroit Mom and Her Views

Giveaway ends 12/31/2013