Mini Meatloaves

Mini Meat Loaves

1/2 cup ketchup
1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 pound ground sirloin
3/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Cooking spray
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400°.

Combine ketchup and mustard, stirring well with a whisk. Reserve 2 1/2 tablespoons ketchup mixture. Combine remaining ketchup mixture, beef, and next 6 ingredients (beef through egg) in a large bowl, stirring to combine.

Divide beef mixture into 4 equal portions. Shape each portion into a 4 x 2 1/2-inch loaf; place loaves on a jelly roll pan coated with cooking spray.

Spread about 2 teaspoons reserved ketchup mixture evenly over each loaf. Bake at 400° for 25 minutes or until done.







***** another great idea to do with these would be to form lil hearts out of them. This would be very fun for valentines day ******

Sox That Rock Etsy Shop Review and Giveaway

You all have been reading how I simply love Etsy shops and all they have to offer. The other day I was looking for a pretty pair of socks to complete a valentine outfit that I purchased for my LIL Princess. I am so delighted with those socks that I must show you what I bought her from the EtsyShop Sox That Rock

When I placed the order I could not decide between the conversation hearts and the red hearts. I am glad that I ordered both pairs though because while the conversation ones are great for Valentines day the red hearts can be worn any time. When I received the socks I was well pleased as they were put together great and looked great as well. Lynda from the Sox that Rock contacted me regarding posting a review post for this etsy shop. I could not resist and she sent me a beautiful boy that matched the conversation heart stockings as well as a white pair of lacy socks to review. Take a look at the beautiful bow

I have all ready decided that I will be purchasing some beautiful socks and bows for her again. I believe the next big thing (well it doesn't have to be too big) but the next thing is the super cute bow and socks for St. Patrick's day. With the great prices that Sox that Rock have I can not help myself.

Buy: The Etsy Shop Sox That Rock is a wonderful little place where you can buy socks, bows, cute shirts and outfits, booties, beanies, headbands and baby buntings

Win: Yes that is right Lynda from Sox That Rock contacted me wanting to host a giveaway and this is one terrific giveaway. There are three (3) winners and each of them will receive beautiful products.

Prize 1. a hair bow and matching crocheted beanie hat and headband with their choice of a brown or pink flower. The clip flowers on these beanies are on alligator clips which may easily be removed and wore either with or without the beanie. The beanie hat will fit toddlers to teens.





2. Choice of a pair of adorable crocheted baby booties...choose from blue tennis shoes, pink ballet slippers or pink slippers with crocheted ruffles sock cuffs.



3. Adorable pair of Easter double ruffle socks and a beautiful matching hair bow.

In order to enter this super giveaway you must visit the Sox that Rock etsy shop take a look around and come back here and let me know two of your favorite items that you would love to have.

after answering the mandatory entry you can gain extra entries:

• follow my blog
• favorite the etsy shop Sox that Rock
• visit monkeymommy08 and leave a comment on any blog (let me know which one in comment 1 entry per comment)
• follow my blog on twitter and tweet the giveaway ( 1 entry per tweet)
• subscribe to my blog
• grab my button ad let me know where you placed it (3 entries)
• blog about the giveaway linking to both my blog and Sox that Rock (5 entries)
• buy something from the blog Sox that Rock come back and let me know what you purchased (10 entries)
• comment on any post on this blog (1 entry per comment let me know which ones)

Giveaway starts now and runs through March 3, 2010. Good Luck You must have email on your blog or in comment

I did recieve a pair of sock and a hair bow in order to get an idea of what she offers but my thoughts and opinions were in no way paid for

D is for Dad

D is for Dad and here are a couple of great dads My hubby standing with his daughter and granddaughter and then my son in law with his daughter

Word Filled Wednesday hosted at All You Have To Give where you can find other great post

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. - Galatians 2:20

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. - Proverbs 8:17

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. - 1 John 4:16





God does want to be our valentine as he has loved us before we were ever born. If we follow him then he lives in us. The bible verse from the many books of the bible tell us how much he loves us. For if we seek his will, study his word, and live our lives by faith and how he would have us to then we show our love for him as well.



Happy Valentines Day!!!

Anyone need a Sweetheart

posted @ 5 minutes for mom
@ Jolly Mom

@GoGrahamGo

@MomStart

@Look What Mom Found

Super Cute Valentine Craft

This is adorable and I believe I may do it with my Sunday School Children. I found it on the blog Brimful Courosities who found the directions on the Silly Eagle books

Birthday Girl

For Special Exposure Wednesday i thought I would share with you the special person this week at home. This is my birthday girl this week and this is how I love to see her with a big smile on her face. Happy Birthday Mama's Girl (her nickname given to her by her siblings)

Kroger Gift Card Giveaway

I am not for sure about my readers but I love Kroger's. My daughter loves my Kroger's and Kroger's in general as she does not have one in her area. This is very sad as she knows she misses out on many great deals. If you love Kroger's as much as I do you will want to enter to win a Kroger gift card over on the blog Night Owl Mom

Get a REEL deal.

Great-tasting tuna doesn’t have to come wrapped in butcher paper…or cost a fin and a tail. While supplies last, save $1 on StarKist Creations™, which is sealed in a Flavor Fresh Pouch.

Little Miss Matched Review and Giveaway

When I was lining up sponsors for the Matters of the Heart giveaway celebrating valentines day and hosted by both my blog and MonkeyMommy08 I so wanted Little Miss Matched to be part of it. With all their fun wonderful designs and great variety of products I have fallen in love with Little Miss Matched. I have reviewed their wonderful socks in the past and you can read that review here This time around I was allowed even a more special item to review and perfect for valentines day. The little coin purse that resembles a little sock with a secure snap lock on top.

Little Miss Matched makes adorable products and the little coin purse is no different. Perfect for even the tinniest of purses or the tiniest of hands. The Little Miss Matched coin purse is created with care just like all the other products The Little Miss Matched company offers. The little coin purse is not the only valentine gift that Little Miss Matched sells though. Some of my other favorites include:

Peace Love Happy Water Bottle

Peace-Love-Happy Reversible Ruck Sack

Little Miss Matched would love to offer one of Annie's Home readers the chance to win the same little change purse that I received.

In order to enter the giveaway you must head over to the Little Miss Matched website and let me know two of your favorite products. They have so much available this may be hard to decide. In order to earn extra entries you must do this first.

Extra Entries:

• follow both mine and MonkeyMommy08 blog (2 entries)
• follow my blog on twitter
• follow Little Miss Matched on Facebook please let them know you stopped by from my blog
• follow me on twitter and tweet the giveaway (1 entry per tweet)
• blog about the giveaway (5 entries)
• enter any giveaway on the MonkeyMommy08 blog (2 entries) let me know which ones you entered
• leave a comment on any post on my blog (let me know which one in comment)

Giveaway starts now and will end on March 2, 2010. Email must be on blog or in comment. Good Luck

I received the little coin purse to review but it did not influence my thoughts or opinions which are strictly mine

Ready for barefoot weather

WOW

The first week I had certia goals that you can look back and see here. We were not able to look at the building for the new shop but all hope is not dashed. We just had to put this off because the guy who owns it is not ready to show it. The pantry shelves did get done and this week I want to get the rest of it completed.

What is your weekly plan? Head over to Every Day Becky and get involved

Top 10 Tips To Fun , Distract Free Family Vacation

Travel Tips for Moms & Families


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TwitterMoms has challenged the members to come up with 10 tips that help create wonderful distract free vacations. I believe that having a great trip starts before you go, continues while getting there and does not end until you get home where the memories can still stay conversation. Here are my top 10 tips:

Before the Vacation

• Family discussion is a major tool here. Has it all ready been decided where the family will be going to? Who decided? Why did you decide to go there? If the decision has not been made and you have tweens or teens as I do perhaps you would consider their input and thoughts as well. Planning a fun trip that all look forward to makes the trip a great one
• Research the location. Is it somewhere you have been before? Has anything new moved into the area since you visited last? Is it a place that you know little about? Research a little using online tools as well as word of mouth and decide what you would like to do and where you would like to visit while there. Researching before the trip will stop the discussion which halts or slows down the trip. Having a good idea of where you are going and what you will be doing allows the fun to continue on smoothly
• Plan what you will take with you as well as if you will stop along the way and where you will stop. Knowing what snacks you will take as well as a tentative schedule will help all run smoothly as well. If you are not going by car then having a plan for how to get to the airport, train station etc... should also be made as well

Getting there

• Depending on the mode of transportation you will want to make sure you take all you will need on the vacation. Packing certain bags with snacks, bottles as well as other needs will make the trip easier. Making sure all are comfortable will make the trip seem shorter and mods will stay brighter
• If traveling by car why not leave the dvd player at home and play scenic games or other car games that gets the family to talking.
• Remember that car trips with long rides need to be broke down for the younger and older guest on the trip. While making these short stops why not find great places to stop such as parks, memorial sites or attractions along the way. Memories will be built and fun will be had making the trip more enjoyable

Destination

• Vacations do not be expensive. There are many things that you can do that can be fun and make great memories where ever you decide to visit. For instance take walks, visit buildings that are important at the destination and spend time investigating the area as a family
• While you may have a plan of what you want to visit, see on your vacation take time to do fun things that are free as well. In some hotels you can get free soft drinks, popcorn, meals, swim time free. Allowing the parents to relax and know that they are saving money and the children to have fun.
• Be sure to take lots of pictures to create special memories. As hard as it may sound allow your self to relax. Leave the laptop and phone at home or make time to work on that while the rest of the time is set aside for family.
• Each evening one thing that we like to do is have a family discussion. We take the time and relax and discuss what it was that we thought was great during that day of the trip. This can also continue at home. Family discussions can often be great fun.

Prepare a Fresh Pineapple

How To Prepare a Fresh Pineapple

When selecting your pineapple you want one that is tan in color you do not want it green as this is not yet ripe and therefore is not ready to use and you do not want it to be too dark in color as this means it is over ripe.

lay the pineapple on its side and slice off the top and bottom of the pineapple.

Then after it has been topped slice the pineapple in 1/2 then each 1/2 in 1/2 so that you end up with a quartered pineapple.

Trim the bark off of the pieces and slice as you need to use.

listed at Kitchen Tip Tuesday

Heart Monster Craft for todlers and preschoolers

This is a fun project for you to do with your tiddler and preschooler.

Heart Monster

•Pink, red, and white paper
•Scissors
•Glue stick
•Markers or crayons
Directions

Cut out various sized hearts from the pink, white and red paper (do this for toddlers and younger preschoolers)
At least one large heart for a head
◦5+ small hearts for eyes, nose, ears, horns...
◦5+ medium hearts for hands, feets, mouth
2.Cut several strips of each color of paper
◦Younger preschoolers can practice their cutting skills by helping (draw lines for them to follow across a sheet of paper)
Allow your child to be creative while creating her “monster”
◦Show her how to fold the strips of paper back and forth to make accordion arms and legs
◦Talk about what body parts “monsters” might have that we don’t

We made these when my children were younger and they were so much fun. It is a good idea to have the parts ready for the younger ones to glue on. While the older children can simply cut out their own shapes by their selves. This new meme will be on Tuesdays and is called Try and Tell and is hosted by Kim @ Mom Tried It

Tuckered out

Kotex free sample

free sample pack of Kotex. Simpy go here and sign up to get yours

thanks St. Louis Mommies for letting us all know

Super Cool Calendar Idea

I love this calendar idea I found over at the blog Sweet Greens. Just take a look I can see this as part of my teens room with all the different colors or make it in shades of pink and it would be perfect for princess room Best of all it is cheap to make, easy to use and fun.

Taking A Time our For New Recipes

I attended a cooking class of sorts last night. One of my dear friends (the owner of a famous restaurant in our area) held a salsa night. My kids love to eat her cooking so you know I had to head over and see just how she made certain recipes. We received a few different recipes, she prepared all in front of us and then we had a taste test party. All was delicious. It is always great to get new recipes and inner mix them with the ones you have. My family will be pleased and the best part is they were all very economical recipes. I shared one last night and will be sharing more in future pot.

Free Berts Bees Toothpaste Sample

You can now get a free sample of Berts Bees Toothpaste. Simply go here and get yours.

thanks stretching a buck for the heads up