• Thursday, April 12, 2007 - Finally an update!!!
| I suppose most of my friends out there have given up on me!! Here I am. Just don't have anything exciting to blog. SOOOO, my year of buying nothing new is going wonderfully. I have been following no impact man at noimpactman.com and ripped off a few ideas from him. What they are doing is extremely challenging and important. I just love reading about it. I have quit using paper towels and started using rags, saves money and garbage!! I have also turned off the TV all day, just use it to catch the news in the evening. It is such a brain and electricity drain. So unnecessary. So that's what's new! |
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• Saturday, February 10, 2007 - Saturday
| I am having a friend and her daughter over (my 7 year old's best friend and her mom) and we're going to make Valentines and have coffee. I got an espresso machine for Christmas from my MIL. It's fabulous I love it so much! We're just going to let the kids decide how to make them. They're both really creative and smart so they'll be cute. For lunch we're doing breakfast, bacon eggs and toast. Supper we'll have a special treat and use a restaurant gift card my husband got from his boss for Christmas. We can't wait. It's only -30 here today so we've got the heat cranked, the dogs inside and water boiling on the stove for more humidity. I have about 3 loads of laundry to do. I'm working on the plans for our new house too so I'll be busy today!
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• Sunday, February 4, 2007 - I almost gave up!!
| I almost gave up on this blog. I have another blog about my kids for family to look at pictures and I've been concentrating on that one. I have been keeping up on everyone else's blogs on here though. I just have such a difficult time with this one, I'm not tech savy enough I guess. Maybe I'll just stick to text. My homestead has been mentally preparing for the spring gardening project. We have to clear shrubs and small trees out of two side flower beds and then we'll plant more vegetables there. I hope the sun is better than the back garden. That has full, direct sun which is good for some things and not so good for others. I hope to have some shade on the side to plant some other vegetables and not to have to water three times a day when the temperatures hit 100 degrees. I am digging out rock garden to follow the front sidewalk that leads up to our house. I did one side when I was pregnant and that was all I could manage. I'll do the other side this spring, and add the rocks from the many we have in the backyard. My girls and my mom painted some rocks to look like houses, they are so cute!! They use colored wood filler to make a chimney on top and painted the rocks to look like little cottages. I'll definitely be making more of those to place here and there in the rock garden. Maybe this cold snap we're having, it was 30 below zero yesterday, is making me long for spring and getting outside to work in the soil. I love it so much!!
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• Wednesday, January 3, 2007 - help!!
• Wednesday, December 27, 2006 - The Aftermath
I love Christmas in the weeks beforehand. Getting the cookies baked, the house decorated and the presents wrapped. I always feel a sort of let-down on the big day and the days after. I really think my kids have picked up on it. They were just sort of blah about the presents and blah about the food, etc. So time to snap out of it MOM!! Now we're cleaning up and trying to find a place for all the bounty. My parents go WAY overboard. It's not healthy. I wish they wouldn't spoil my kids like they do but it's only once a year, right?!! My absolute favorite gift was from my in-laws. We got a really nice espresso machine, since my mil works at a kitchen supply store. I just love espresso drinks and our new machine is so easy to use and clean I am in heaven!!! My kids got way too many toys, some new clothes and some cool science type stuff since My Heart is the ultimate science geek. I love it. We have some rocks polishing right now!
I am actually excited for the upcoming year. For our family's buy nothing new year. It will be an interesting challenge especially when the novelty wears off. It's going to be great for the pocketbook and great for the soul. Thinking about what you need rather than wanting something just to have it, it's so important and vital for the planet. I can't wait!!
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• Friday, December 22, 2006 - Today...
We are opening our Christmas presents from my in-laws in Colorado today. We are going to my parent's house 2 hours away tomorrow and don't want to haul them there and back. The kids are so excited!! I'm making buffalo chicken strips, my fav, with blue cheese dressing, the full fat kind for our supper tonight. Love it. The day started out great with the younger two girls and I eating breakfast together and talking. The sky was pink and red at sunrise, about 7:30 this morning, it was beautiful. I spent the afternoon outside running the dogs, one of my favorite things to do. My dogs love to run!! I have to make hot chocolate and hot cider, I'm sure the kids will devour both. Nadia (3) would rather drink a beverage than eat any day. No contest. I'm making cinnamon rolls for my parents, sister and my family when we're on vacation. I found the best recipe on a blog. I'll post it later!!! Got to get ready for the Christmas party!!!!
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• Friday, December 22, 2006 - Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!!
My favorite breakfast is egg in a basket. I made it a couple times per week, with sausage and bacon if My Heart is home. I love it...
First I butter the bread and cut out the holes with a biscuit cutter....
Then I just fry it in a non-stick skillet until done, flipping once...
Eat with a really vinegary hot sauce for best results!!
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• Thursday, December 21, 2006 - Menu
A little late in the game to post my weekly menu but I'll do the rest of the week.
Thursday lunch-leftover lasagne, corn, salad and garlic toast
supper-Buffalo chicken sandwiches (chicken breasts brushed with butter and hot sauce on a bun) carrot sticks, dip, tomato slices
Friday lunch-BLT's, mac & cheese, peas
Supper (our Christmas party for friends)-Buffalo chicken strips, plain chicken strips, home fries, carrot sticks, broccoli, celery and dip (bleu cheese and ranch), crackers and cheese, garlic stuffed olives, italian sodas, punch, Christmas cookies
We leave town Saturday for the holidays. Can't wait to be with my family and celebrate Christmas!!
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• Thursday, December 21, 2006 - Almost here.....New Year's plan.
| I am FINALLY done Christmas shopping. I had to get another present for my girls, and a present for the girls I do daycare for during the day. NOW I'M DONE!!! Whew... family just got a picture of my girls and a homemade card. Not too spendy. I hope to whittle down even further next year since I've decided to start the buy nothing new year on January 1. My family thinks I'm crazy. We are only allowed to buy new food, undergarments, toiletries and building supplies. I wish we had a salvage yard I could use here but since we are remodeling our house and only have building supply stores I will have to use new supplies. Drawback of living in a sparsely populated state!! Secondhand stores will be used some but I usually do the bulk of my shopping at garage sales, much better prices. It should be interesting and kinda difficult I would think. It's so easy to run to Wal-Mart for some milk and see that t-shirt on clearance and just pick it up. I just want to eliminate mindless spending from my life. I want to realize the difference between need and want. I want to reduce my consumption and my debt so that is what I'm doing for 2007. I'm kind of excited but trying to fight the "I better get that pair of jeans before the new year" syndrome.
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• Tuesday, December 19, 2006 - The Fam
About time to post some pics of the fam, it's nice to put a face to the stories!!!
that's me, extremely close up!!!!
My Heart......
 
Eve, age 7
Nadia, age 3
Ella, age 1
My Loves....
 
I can't leave out my girls, Lola (lab mix) and Buttercup (husky/greyhound mix)
Last but certainly not least...
Stella (on left) short for Stellaluna
and Pippi (Longstocking). Also girls....Poor Travis!!
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• Tuesday, December 19, 2006 - Christmas Decorations
I have my digital camera, got it for Christmas from My Heart, he gave it to me early and it's great!!!
Here is the shelf in my living room, I made four of them from an old door jam.
Here's the other three, along with some decorated branches. Done by Eve, my 7 year old.
I hung the stockings in the cut-out area between our living room and front entry, which has the computer and a bookshelf in it.
  
All the windows.......
Our tree...decorated by the kids as you can see..The tree topper has been legos since we were first married and couldn't afford an angel or a star. I love the tradition of it so we use them every year. Ella (1 year) has only opened one present so far. It was a puppet for her oldest sister Eve (7 years) but I quickly moved it to our bedroom closet and will re-wrap soon.
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• Friday, December 8, 2006 - Beautiful World!!
It is a beautiful day!! Almost 50 degrees out, with pure white snow crystals everywhere. We played outside all afternoon, the kids made snowballs and threw them at the shed. We went down the slide and landed in the snow, and the baby got to swing, she loves it!! Now the kitchen is in dire need of a mopping though. I am done with laundry and now need to mop, and figure out what's for supper. I am leaning toward a hamburger rice hotdish of some kind.I may have to invent something, I love to do that. Maybe some hamburger, cream of mushroom soup, rice and cheese with some seasonings. My husband and our girls love to spend time reading aloud as a family, now we are reading The Hobbit and hopefully my dh can make time for us to do it tonight. He is extremely busy, he is a college student (again) and also works full-time. Next week is finals week so it's crunch time for him. Have a great weekend everyone!! We are celebrating my Dad's birthday tomorrow, I'm sure it'll be Chinese (his fav) food with chocolate cake. He loves it. 
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• Monday, November 27, 2006 - This week
This week's menu:
Monday-Beef Roast, Potatoes and Carrots, Buns
Tuesday-Shredded Beef Tacos with all the fixin's, refried beans
Wednesday-Baked Salmon, Baked Potatoes, Lettuce Salad, Dinner Rolls
Thursday-Chicken Caesar Wraps (sliced chicken breast, romaine lettuce, caesar dressing), Spanish Rice and Sliced Apples with dip for dessert
Friday-Homemade pizza and breadsticks, lettuce salad, frosted fudge brownies
I also plan out breakfast and lunch, but it's just the usual kinds of things. Oatmeal, cereal, pancakes and such for breakfast. Turkey sandwiches, soup, noodles and things for lunch. I had been organizing my cleaning schedule but I do better just winging it and follow the flylady for the room to deep clean for the week.
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• Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - My house today
| Laundry as always. I only have a load or two, but tons to put away. I am heating leftover pancakes that I froze last week for breakfast. Lunch will be ham and cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. I put a can of crushed tomatoes, some chicken broth and some cream together and it makes wonderful tomato soup. Supper is going to be marinated chicken breasts. I'll throw together a marinade soon, maybe some orange juice, soy sauce and brown sugar. I'll make corn on the cob and rice for side dishes. My day will consist of trying to organize the master bedroom. I spent about 15 minutes organizing my closets yesterday. Today I will vacuum, dust and wash the bedding and mattress. If I'm feeling really ambitious I will go through the baby's clothes and store the too small items. I'll also clean the glass and sort magazines. It sounds like a lot but I just spend 15 minutes on a task and it usually gets done. It's not so hard to find a 15 minute chunk of time. It seems the rest of my house fall to pieces when I'm spending all my time in one room. I'll maybe do a 15 minute chunck of whole house cleaning. We'll see what the kids allow me to do today!!
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• Monday, November 20, 2006 - Today Today
| I started the laundry early this morning and still have about 4 loads to go. Just can't seem to stay on top of things. I have found a great blog at www.upsaid.com/parah and just read the whole thing, archives and all. It's great and I urge everyone to check it out. Today for breakfast we're having shortcakes with blackberry jam, and yogurt. Lunch will be egg salad on whole wheat, bananas, and corn. I think for supper I'll bake a chicken with some potatoes and carrots, and have some dinner rolls with butter. Sounds good. My middle daughter is itching to get started reading already, It's only 8:15 am, but we're reading Sleeping Beauty and she loves it so better get started!!
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• Thursday, November 9, 2006 - First Birthday Party
| My baby is turning one on Tuesday!!! We are having her party on Saturday, just with family. I making a small cake for her to play with, and a big one for the rest of us. I am using a mix, I know I know, but since I am just getting over the stomach flute (as my middle girl calls it) and I just can't stand the thought of baking-YUCK. Usually it's my way to relax, but today-YUCK!! I'm hoping to get my husband to make it. I wanted to make a lasagne, but it might be takeout pizza instead. My girls are playing with their kitchen stuff this morning. It is always a fight to keep them off the computer and away from the TV. I would love to get rid of them, but my husband is a computer geek and actually makes his living, and ours, that way. He needs to keep on top of the tech stuff so the computer is here to stay. My girls seem to be their father's children and took to the computer like fish to water. Hopefully they get his math skills too. I say thank god for cell phone calculators!! |
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• Tuesday, November 7, 2006 - Coughing
• Tuesday, November 7, 2006 - Egg bake
| I love reading and trying recipes so I thought I'd include a family fav. Put a bunch of tater tots, or grated leftover potatoes in the bottom of a greased 9 x 13 baking pan. Then I add various things, depending on what we have, today it was sausage, green pepper, onion and sharp cheddar cheese. Then I add between 5 and 8 eggs, depending on what we have, and enough milk to make the egg mix 3-4 cups. I just crack them into the measuring cup and add the milk. Whisk them until combined and pour on the tater tot, sausage and cheese. Then I cover with foil and refrigerate overnight. I pop it in the oven in the morning at 350 for around 1 hour, or until set. It's so simple and soooo good!!! |
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• Wednesday, November 1, 2006 - Tips
| I got the greatest tip from a friend, who likes to say she works smarter, not harder. She uses stainless steel safety pins to pin socks together before putting them in the hamper, that way you don't have to match socks when folding clothes. It's genius, I've seen the plastic things but thought it a waste of money, but pins are so cheap you can't go wrong. I am reading a great book that I can't put down, it's called My Sister's Keeper, it's easy reading and sooooo goooood!! So far at least, I'm only halfway through.
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• Wednesday, November 1, 2006 - Up and at 'em
| I got up at 5:30 this morning, something I am trying to make a habit. Today I had to start cleaning up the Halloween aftermath before the kids and DH got up and made an even bigger mess. The bathroom is done a load of laundry folded and in the wash and the living room somewhat picked up. It's a start. The cat just puked on the carpet though.
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