Videos

I have been blog hopping and found some videos that you just have to see. I apologize for the links. I would post the videos, but there's something wrong with my security settings (that would be my husband), so I'll post the links and trust that you'll go see them. ;)

Hat tips to Melanie at ChiliHead, and Jennifer at Gathering Grace for these.

Finnish Cover for YMCA
Pachelbel bedtime
Dove Real Beauty
[eta] Phenomenon

These are really fun videos. I hope you enjoy them. And one day soon, I'm going to figure out how to post a Blogger video or a YouTube video. Then you'll get to see some of the fun stuff my two angels have been up to.

Hugs,
Melinda

Works for Me Wednesday

And I'm running late again. My tip this week is one that was born out of frustration. I am blind as a bat without my glasses. It's even worse at night when all the lights are off. So, in order to find my way down the incredibaly dark hallway, and into my incredibaly dark bedroom and into my incredibaly dark bathroom, I needed a light. But something that wouldn't kill what little night vision I have. My solution?

Glow in the dark stickers. Stars happen to be our shape of choice. I put one on each lightswitch, on strategic places in the hallway, and on a dangerous dresser corner in my bedroom. And at 4:30 am this morning, I realized, hey, this REALLY works for me!

Hugs, Melinda

Baby Talk, pt 2

I was watching CNN.com, and a video clip of Gonzales popped up.

Little Bit's response: "He coot."
Sweet Pea's response: "You're too young! And he's too OLD!"

ROFLOL
Hugs,
Melinda

Menu Plan Monday

Do I have to? That's what I feel like today. My grocery budget has fallen far short of my actual meals left to plan. So, in an effort to stretch and make as much as I can with as little as possible, I present, my menus.

• Sunday: tuna fish, mac n cheese
• Monday: Jambalya, Potato Soup
• Tuesday: Spaghetti w/o meat, sandwiches
• Wednesday: Jambalya leftovers, tuna fish
• Thursday: bacon and eggs, pot pie
• Friday: hamburgers, chicken nuggets
• Saturday: mac n cheese, buttered rice

Do you want next week's incredible budget stretcher meals, too? Oh, alright. Since you asked so nicely.

• Sunday: chicken nuggets, PB & J
• Monday: Tuna Fish, grilled cheese
• Tuesday: Pancakes (making extra to freeze), hamburger helper
• Wednesday: sandwiches, homemade pizza
• Thursday: baked potatoes, chicken and rice
• Friday: Spaghetti with meat, mac n cheese
• Saturday: I haven't planned this yet, because Friday is also PAYDAY!

I must say on the plus side, though, Dale did promise that if we didn't bounce any checks this month, that he would take me out for a steak dinner. So far, we're looking good at going out. :p Applebee's here I come!

Hugs,
Melinda

Jello Update

It was almost as fun to eat as it was to make! :D *yummy*

Hugs,

Melinda

Happy Birthday Momma

My momma would have been 55 today. I miss her. Alot. I miss her wisdom, her hugs, her laughter, her smile, her voice.

Hug the ones you love. Let them know you care.

Hugs,

Melinda

WFMW

I'm almost late this week.

What works for me in one word: AQUADOODLE.

You would never believe it. I wasn't going to get one because it was too expensive, or it looked too complicated, or some other lame excuse. Sweet Pea got one for her second birthday, and man oh man! I love the sweet sound of silence when it comes out. And the best part about it: it's water, so it's NOT messy! :D

Hugs,
Melinda

Baby Talk

My Little Bit is growing up. I've always understood what she's saying, mainly because I've spent the most time with her. But I've noticed recently that she is saying actual words more. She's becoming more understandable to me.

And she's just so gosh dern cute!

I think one of the cutest things is when she sings. Does everyone know the Barney song that goes "Clean up, clean up, everybody, everywhere. Clean up, clean up, everbody do their share." Little Bit's version goes something like this: "Tean up, tean up, Body share."

And then there's Twinkle, twinkle little star (which everybody knows is also the alphabet song and baa-baa-black sheep). That one goes like this in her version: "Tickle stas, tickle stas."

I love the growing up years. :D

Hugs,
Melinda

Rainbow Jello

My Sweet Pea and I have been making "Rainbow Jello" the past few days, and it is FINALLY done! Now, don't ask me what we're going to do with all that Jello, cause I don't have a clue. I also know that my "rainbow" is ... well, backwards, but I had to start with Lemon, cause that was all I had at the time.

Hugs,
Melinda

Menu Plan Monday

Okay, it's time for Menu Plan Monday again. This is nice, because it helps me keep on track. If you haven't done this, check out all the different menus at Laura's.

Sunday: Chicken Nuggets, PB&J sandwiches
Monday: Pancakes, Buttered Rice
Tuesday: Spaghetti, Baked BBQ chicken thighs and mashed potatoes
Wednesday: Biscuits and Gravy, Bacon Cheeseburger Roll-up (off of Velveeta package)
Thursday: Sandwiches, Hamburgers
Friday: Leftovers, Potato Soup
Saturday: Mac N Cheese, Buttered Rice

Hugs,
Melinda

Wow.

First Book Review is Pending

In two days, I've read 3 books, and am currently on a fourth. I've read the first 3 books in the "Time Quartet" by Madeline L'Engle. These are A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door, and A Swiftly Tilting Planet. I'm currently working on Many Waters. I think I will wait to give my review of them until I have completed this one.

My problem with reading books is the same problem I have with reading different blogs (like BooMama and Rocks In My Dryer) and online forums (like Family Life), or watching a TV series (like "Mad About You") on DVD, or to some extent, quilting even. I get so involved in the characters and the plots that it consumes me. I have to read it, I have to see the end.

The problem is, things like laundry and dishes get ignored. Does anyone else suffer from this obsession to the point of oblivion? How do you focus on many things instead of one thing?

Hugs,
Melinda

P.S. Have I mentioned how much I dislike computers, but how grateful I am for the "autosave" feature in Blogger?

Too much time, too much fun

I've been playing tonight. Many people ask me what it is exactly that Dale does. I don't know specifically, because it's technical and over my head. I do know that his company helped develop the SimpsonizeMe website and that they host the servers (where all the computer stuff and information is).

So tonight, I have a little too much time on my hands, and I decided to play with the site. LOL Here's my family.....

Hugs,

Melinda

Grocery Bag Holder

Okay, my Works-For-Me Wednesday comes from a desire to control the plastic grocery bags that were overwhelming my house, and a lack of money to purchase anything to control them. I don't even remember where I actually got the tip from, but I'm using it.

Take an empty Kleenex box, and put your grocery bags in it. It works just as well as those fancy holders that you can purchase. Pictures follow for your enjoyment. :D I use one in the kitchen and one near the diaper pail (for the extremely stinky ones).

This is what "Works For Me!" Check out Shannon's for more tips.

Hugs, Melinda

Menu

Morning. So I'm trying for a second week at Menu Plan Monday. And after this, I'm going to try actually posting regular posts again. LOL Again, I post lunches first, then dinner.
Monday: Fishsticks, Sandwiches
Tuesday: French Toast, Chicken Alfredo
Wednesday: Hamburger Helper, Cornbread Casserole
Thursday: Sandwiches, Chicken Soup Casserole
Friday: Leftovers, Grilled Cheese
Saturday: Mac&Cheese, Buttered Rice

So, there are a couple of recipes I need to post. The first is for Cornbread Casserole, a recipe my mom got from my grandpa. The second is for what we call Chicken Soup Casserole. It's a combination of 2 recipes that my SIL gave me, that I had to combine when my BIL came for a visit. Feel free to make these. Let me know if you enjoy them.

Cornbread Casserole
1 pound (or so) of browned ground beef (I also add a teaspoon or so of chopped garlic to the meat while I'm cooking it.)
1 jar of spaghetti sauce or 1 can of tomato sauce and 1 can of tomato paste
1 can of corn (OPTIONAL)
velveeta, cubed (add as much or as little as you want)
chili seasoning to taste (OPTIONAL)
1 box cornbread mix, made according to directions (I prefer Jiffy brand)

Mix the meat, sauce, corn, cheese, seasoning and put in casserole dish. Add cornbread to top of meat mixture. Cook at temperature on cornbread directions until cornbread is dark golden brown, approximately 30 minutes.

Chicken Soup Casserole
4-6 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked, and shredded into bite size pieces
1 stick butter or margarine
1 8oz carton of sour cream
1 8oz package of cream cheese
1 can of cream of chicken soup (could use cream of mushroom)
1 teaspoon of garlic (optional)
1 tube of refrigerated crescent rolls
1 stick of butter/margarine
1 stack of Ritz crackers, crushed

Melt the 1st stick of butter, sour cream, cream cheese, soup, and garlic in a saucepan on medium heat and stir together. Place chicken in a largish casserole dish (I use a 15x11 (?) Pampered Chef dish.) Pour the soup mixture over the chicken. Layer the crescent rolls over the soup/chicken. Melt second stick of butter in saucepan (I use the same one) and add crushed Ritz crackers. Once the crackers are all coated, spread on top of crescent rolls. Cook at temperature of crescent rolls package (350 usually) until rolls are dark golden brown (approximately 30-40 minutes).

Obviously, this one is loaded with calories. We try to have this only when we have company over or for taking to a potluck. I know it can be adapted, you know low calorie butter, no fat cream cheese, etc, but I like this version. Feel free to make it your own, though. I have even added a layer of frozen peas under the crescent rolls. :D

I hope you like these recipes. Enjoy.
Hugs,
Melinda

Menus, pt. 2

Okay, so I FINALLY got to finish my menu planning that I've been working on since Sunday. This is my first time to link to Menu Plan Monday at Laura's site. I list Lunch first, then Dinner.

Monday: Quiche, leftovers

Tuesday: McDonald's, Homemade Pizza

Wednesday: Tuna Fish Sandwiches, Hamburgers

Thursday: Chicken Nuggets and Chicken Pot Pie, Hamburger Helper

Friday: Spaghetti, Potato Soup

Saturday: PB&J, Buttered Rice

Sunday: Mac & Cheese, Chicken Nuggets

I know, it's not all that healthy, and it's very kid friendly. I'm also trying to save money by using up what we have. And when my husband works nights, he likes to have a "dinner" at lunch. Hopefully, my menus will look more like "normal" when school starts in 2 weeks. :D

Hugs,

Melinda

How to Menu Plan

Someone has asked me how to plan menus. I can't say this is how everyone does it, but this is What Works For Me. It really has saved us a lot of money over the past few months. **Click on any picture to make it larger.** I'm also trying to get my menus up for Menu Plan Monday over at Organizing Junkie. And I'm also using this post for "Works for Me Wednesday" over at Rocks in My Dryer. That is an EXCELLENT blog, and if you ever get a chance, you should go read it.

I start with a blank weekly calendar. I got this one out of my Microsoft Excell Templates. Notice how it has breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and every day of the week.

Then I take this meal list that Dale and I made up a year or so ago. It has the names of all the meals that we like to make or can make. It also has divisions. The breakfast category, things that are fast and easy to make (basically throw them in an oven for 10 minutes or so), and then the more complicated dinners to make. When you are looking at this, please remember, I have an 8 year old, and a 2 year old.

Then I fill in the blanks. This is an "in-progress" week. We only planned through payday, which you can see written above Tuesday. (As you can see, we are treating the girls on payday. After we wear them out on the McD's playground, we're going grocery shopping.) I date everything. I do have some abbreviations that might be hard to understand. "D-mwm" stands for when Dale is at work, and he will either take leftovers or a "microwave meal." Those days are easy to plan for the girls and I. They will eat just rice or just macaroni. Sometimes, I feel like Dale wants meat at every meal.
This is a completed week. Last week in fact. You can barely see that I mark the meal off when we make it. You can also see where I make corrections, like when I crossed out potato soup and wrote in leftovers (we had a LOT of leftovers). Once my menu is complete, I make my grocery list, which you can see to the right side of the menu.
I double check (or try to) to make sure I don't have the ingredients already on hand. This helps cut out duplications. When my list is done, I transfer it to a different paper and go grocery shoping.

And that's how *I* plan my menus. Now, I'm off to finish this week, and see about the next two weeks after that.

Hugs,

Melinda

Hug your child

You need to read this post from 5 Minutes For Mom. Then you need to sign up for a CPR course. I'm putting it in the budget, but this is a necessary, not a want.

Hugs,
Melinda

Updates

I've been working on some updates to my blog tonight. I've updated my blog roll. I've also added my list of books to read, as well as some of my favorite authors. I'm going to try to read these books sometime within the next year (I hope). Are ya'll interested in book reviews, or not your thing?

Hugs,
Melinda

On another note.....

I inherited this from my mom...... I don't really want to use it as a spice rack. Any other suggestions? Right now, it's living on my kitchen counter. One of the jars has my mom's collection of pressed pennies in it. Sweet Pea and I have determined to keep adding to it. But what do I put in the other 4 jars?

Hugs,

Melinda

New Flip Flops

I just finished a new project for me and my girls. You take a (cheap) pair of flip flops and two balls of Lion brand Fun Fur (or something similar), and a size K crochet hook. Then you basically just single crochet around the strap. The reason for two balls of Fun Fur is that you use two threads. You start at the toe, and crochet down to the heel area. If you want a very furry look, then keep scrunching the threads down towards the toe. You finish it off just like with any other crochet project.

I did the white ones for Sweet Pea first.

Then she told me that I needed a pair. Wal-Mart didn't have white in my size, so she said pink was okay.

Then Little Bit wanted some. Would you believe that I couldn't find a pair of flip flops for toddlers? So we took her "mock" crocs, and I did the crochet around the strap part.

And then Sweet Pea's best friend had to have a pair, of course, but I didn't get a picture of hers.

It was so much fun and I love being able to "match" my girls. We get so many compliments on them when we wear them together. (I even threatened to do my crocs that Dale wears so he could "match" too.)

And it was CHEAP! Flip flops are on sale right now, cause it's the end of the season, and I already had the fun fur. I highly recommend this fast fashion flip flop project.

Hugs,

Melinda

"I've got your nose!"

The difference in my children never ceases to amaze me. When Sweet Pea was a baby, we would play "I've got your nose" with her, and she would immediately start crying and trying to "take" her nose back.

Little Bit.... well, she will GIVE you her nose if you ask.

I love them both.

Hugs,
Melinda