New Miso Lucky Kit at Peppermint Creative

You can pick up Miso Lucky Kit free with a $10 purchase until Tues, March 26th!
Here's a page I made with it!

Long time no post!

Has it really been a year since I last posted to this blog?

I really thought that once both kids were in school that I would have more free time and that did definitely not happen. I am going to college full-time and I'm pretty much a full-time PTA member (Treasurer this year and Vice President starting next year) at the kids school. It's amazing how much of my time both of those things take.

I am ready to work on getting this back up and running with scrapbook, crochet and menu updates. Let's get it started with a scrapbook update with Peppermint Creative products!

It's a start, hope to be back in a few days with a menu plan update!

2nd Progress Photos * Org Junkie’s 29 Day Organizational Challenge

2nd Progress Photos for Org Junkies 29 Day Organizational Challenge

Has it really already been a week?

I didn't really get everything I wanted done but there is progress! I've been recycling, donating and trashing stuff from the boxes in my craft table area. I also picked up a cube storage shelf to put my yarn a few days ago, so I'm slowing organizing that as well. 

Here are some pictures.

Still need to sort through on the left

New cubbie for my yarn, under the table I have bags, boxes and totes full of yarn to add.

Recycle, Goodwill Donations and Keep boxes on table

See you next week, if all works out I should have that area done!

1st Progress photos * Org Junkie’s 29 Day Organizational Challenge

It's already time for the first progress pictures for OrgJunkie Organizational Challenge, so here we go!

We moved our bed to the window. Added roman shades to the windows and picked up some cute lamp bases at Goodwill.

We pulled all of the boxes of misc from my closet floor, it's now near our table. I still need to organize the shelves and go through my clothes to donate things that don't fit anymore. My husband still needs to throw out the tv in his side of closet but he's on short term disability with a back injury and shouldn't be lifting right now so that will most likely be done at the end of the month.

And now we are back to the mess that I'm sorting through. Boxes I'm doing one at a time, the pile on the floor is misc fabric, boxes under table are still yarn (I want a nice system for this, looking for ideas), tv is in the same place but now on a bookshelf. 

So that is what has been done so far. Not quite as far as I wanted to be but there are still a few more weeks to turn this into the nice relaxing room that I'm wanting! Thanks for the encouragement from my last organization post and I can't wait to see what everyone else is doing with their rooms!

Menu Plan Monday 2/6/2012

• Hotdogs (kids choice)
• Sandwiches
• Spicy Turkey Lettuce Wraps
• Superbowl get together- Deli Tray with assorted breads, veggies with dip, chips with queso, salsa and guacamole. 
• Dinner out
• Fish Tacos
• Hamburgers (hubbies choice)

Pretty basic menu this week. Not trying anything new but I plan to this next week!

Check out more menu plans at Orgjunkie

Org Junkie’s 29 Day Organizational Challenge

This year I'm working on getting my house and my health in order. This post is focusing on some of the house issues. The worst place in my house has to be my bedroom, I spend little time in it other than sleeping and getting dressed in the morning. That's why it amazes me that it is our catchall.

First step of the PROCESS is to plan your project. She has some questions to ask yourself right here I'm going to think about it and answer these questions over the next few days.

For now, here are pictures and descriptions of the area...

Our bed and area surrounding both sides isn't perfect but it's not to bad. The bed is a platform bed with baskets that hold some of our clothes. I also have a cedar chest that holds some of our linens but mostly it's a catchall for my clothes.

I have a craft table in there that is "supposed" to hold my sewing machine/supplies, scrapbooking supplies, and my yarn. I no longer paper scrapbook so I rarely get things out unless I'm doing something . So this area needs to be decluttered majorly, it is an eyesore in my bedroom with various craft supplies, fabric and whatever else got tossed over there. The floor next to the table has boxes of yarn and stacks of cooking magazines that I swear I'm going to go through (straight to the recycle bin those need to go). So here is a picture of that area...

Our closet, holds boxes of clothes and various other things that I'm sure need to be gone through but mostly thrown out. Old tv needs to be thrown out. My closet shelves need to be reorganized. This is where I keep my overstock for toiletries, my sweaters and extra comforters. I'm ok with what I have on the shelves, they are in a good spot for our house but I would like to have space in the closet to put the cedar chest. 

Now I am extremely embarrassed about showing how bad my bedroom is but that is why I'm doing this challenge, so I can be proud instead. Over the next month I will be giving updates on my progress and if you have a room that you would like to organize come over and participate too! http://bit.ly/ddpVMV

 Schedule:

Feb 1st ~ before picture link up and welcome

Feb 10th ~ 1st progress link up

Feb 17th ~ 2nd progress link up

Feb 24th ~ 3rd progress link up

Mar 1st ~ Reveal Day to link up both your before AND after pictures

Yarn Along 1/18/2012

Unfortunately my blanket hasn't been touched much since last week but I will be getting back to it soon. 

Right now I'm working on baby gifts for 2 of my cousins, one who is being induced today.

Baby boy set

Hat for baby girl

Matching shoe for baby girl

I need to finish up the second shoe and then get back to my afghan.

Right now I'm also reading Organized Simplicity on kindle, plus I'm a few pages into One True Love .

Yarn Along 1/11/2012

Remembered last minute to take a picture of the day and remembered it's yarn along day. Spring semester started for the hubs and I this week so my nose has been in school books and websites. I still try to fit in at least 30 mins to work on my afghan.

Tonight I also started a book series that I saw one of the coupon deal websites, Samantha Moon series for kindle, only $.99. It's a vampire for hire mystery series, I'm only on Chap 5 of the first book right now. So far it isn't a bad read.

Menu Plan Monday 1/9/2012

 

• Ranch Chicken Parmesan
• Sushi out with my girls
• Steak 'n Shake with my parents
• Lighter Chicken & Dumplings (delicious, Matt wants it in the rotation)
• Tosca's Keep-It-Tight Tilapia
• Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup (Saving Dinner Menu Mailer)
• Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup

It's whats for dinner at my house! Whats for dinner at your house or if you need some ideas check out Orgjunkie!

Yarn Along

This is my first time joining Ginny's Yarn Along 
Perfect since I love to read and crochet! Since the holidays I haven't stopped by the library to pick up any new books that aren't food or crochet/knit related but I have been crocheting here and there.

I showed my afhgan yesterday but here it is again. It's a simple feather and fan ripple from my The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet and is very similar to Attic 24's ripple that she is making but I am not sure if she is putting 3 dc or 4 dc inbetween, mine is 3. I did get the inspiration to to single single double and I'm loving it!

I also have been working on a this market bag on and off for the past few months. It's very repetitive and I get bored with it but I hope to have it finished by the end of the month.

I have a few projects I need to start for 2 of my cousins who are due in the next month. One boy and one girl. So I'll definitely be making a set of shoes and a hat, very similar to this.

So that is what I'm working on and hopefully will be much further along on all of them by next week!

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays

Which include Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Years! Wow I never realized that it's been 2 full months without a post!
I started several post over the past few months and got sidetracked each time.
It's a new year and time management is a major thing I'm working on this year. I have several things going on right now and I seriously need to budget my time better to accomplish my goals. It's a good thing I don't have a job outside the house!
Tally goes back to school tomorrow and spring semester starts on the 9th for the hubs and I. I am looking into opening an etsy shop for my crochet projects. I took a break after doing some hat/scarf orders right before Christmas for some local people who saw some hats my mom requested for gifts. It was nice to have a little extra income right before Christmas. I put the etsy shop as a goal by the end of February. I'm hoping to be finished with a very large afghan I'm working on by then, I measure it to be about 7 ft wide when I first started and I'm not totally sure how long I'm wanting it yet.

17 rows in Afghan

I am doing the digital version of Project Life, hoping it will kick me into gear with taking more pictures and getting back into scrapbooking on a regular basis.

So on Monday I will start posting my menu plan and posting a few more blog post in between of my crocheting, scrapbooking, or just life in general to be a little more blog active! As of right now I'm thinking that Sunday will be my project life update, I should have my double pagers done by then if life lets me!

That's my plan at least and we'll see if I need to change it!

Menu Plan Monday 10/24/2011

• Zuppa Toscana
• Spicy Turkey Lettuce Wraps
• Oktoberfest (Turkey legs and Potato Pancakes w/ applesauce)
• Corn Chowder with Shrimp (AllYou Oct 2011)
• Brown Bag Burritos (leftovers for hubbies lunch)
• Slow Cooker Classic Minestrone (AllYou Oct 2011)
• Stephanies Goulash

That's what is for dinner at our house this week! Check out more menu plans at Orgjunkie

Menu Plan Monday 10/10/2011 and a little crochet

• Free Dominos Artisan Pizza off facebook
• Zuppa Toscana
• Smoked Sausage and Mac n cheese
• Breakfast for dinner Rolled Oven Omelet
• Soft Tacos
• Sweet Chicken Nuggets (Can't wait to try this copycat recipe for a certain chains chicken nuggets)
• Healthy Mams's BBQ Chicken (freezer/crockpot recipe)

I also tried a new breakfast recipe and love it! Baked Banana Oatmeal , I did use walnuts in place of the chocolate chips and next time I'm going to cut the brown sugar down to 1/3 C.

Check out more menu plans at Orgjunkie!

Now for a little crochet...

 

This cute little butterfly beanie I found the free pattern for on Ravelry (love this site)

This little unicorn pattern is in Amigurumi Toy Box

Menu Plan Monday 10/3/2011

 

Had a few time issues last week with my husbands job and a relative was in the hospital that we were helping with her teenage daughter so a few meals from last week are back on here to make.

• Italian Beef Sandwiches (Crockpot recipe below)
• Breakfast for dinner (Buttermilk Pancakes, Cinnamon Syrup, Scrambled Eggs & Bacon)
• Stephanie's Goulash (Crockpot recipe)
• Roasted Chicken Thighs with Root Vegetables
• Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
• Met a friend for dinner one night and then fair food another night

Check out more menu plans at Orgjunkie

Italian beef sandwich

3-4 lb. beef roast (any cut - cheapest is best because it gets so tender anyway)

1 pk. dry Italian dressing mix

1 pk. au jus mix

1 can beef broth - reduced sodium/fat free is great in this recipe

1 jar of sliced pepperocini's

cheese - any kind

Crusty rolls

Put roast in crock pot (frozen is ok) pour in 2 mix packages and broth.  Add 1/2 jar pepperocini's with juice. Cook on Low for 12-18 hours.

Put crusty rolls in 350 degree oven - uncovered for 8 minutes before serving.  Put cheese on rolls and shred beef with 2 forks.  If too much juice you can save some and freeze to use with next batch in place of beef broth.  Put hot beef on top of cheese and eat

Menu Plan Monday 9/26/2011

• Subway (sickies in the house, I wasn't cooking)
• Taco Soup
• Papa Murphy's Pizza
• Roasted Chicken and Homemade Mac n cheese
• Healthy Mama BBQ Chicken (slow cooker)
• Stephanie's Goulash (slow cooker)
• Roasted Chicken Thighs with Root Veggies

Check out Orgjunkie for more meal plans!

I promise that I am still alive!

I have no real reason for not posting for so long. I started to several times and got side tracked, very easy to do these days. So here is a quick recap of the past few months.

• Devlin turned 4 and is potty trained.
• Both kids started school. Tally 1st grade and Devlin Pre-k. Pre-k was a rough week and half before we decided to pull Devlin because he was regressing on his potty training. He wanted to stay home with me and we decided it was best considering he turned 4 the weekend before school started and if his birthday was just a week and half later he would have had to wait another year anyway. 
• Matt and I are both taking college courses. Matt's been doing it for a few years now and I'm just starting after a 10 yr break ;)
• Tally has lost her 3rd tooth.(picture to the right)
• I've taken up crocheting. (pictures below)
• Our neighbors condo flooded recently, we are in the process of shopping and installing new floors due to the damage.

That's pretty much been our Aug/Sept. I'm ready for Oct and cooler temps and getting my house back in order, including menu planning and blogging regularly.
Two of my crochet projects I've completed in the past month.

Menu Plan Monday 7/25/2011

• Oven Fried Chicken Breast (Robin Millers Quick Fix Meals) and sauteed zucchini & tomatoes
• PW's Perfect Pot Roast and Mashed Potatoes
• Grilled Boneless Country Pork Ribs with a spicy rub and roasted potatoes
• Moroccan Chicken with Tomatoes & Zucchini (Robin Millers Quick Fix Meals) and Brown Rice
• Chicken Taco Salad with Cilantro Ranch Dressing (Robin Millers Quick Fix Meals)
• Chicken Tostadas (Robin Millers Quick Fix Meals)
• Leftovers or I'll throw something together from the pantry

Check out more menu plans at Orgjunkie

I have a lot of cookbooks around the house and this week I decided to focus on Quick Fix Meals trying to use some of the things I already had in the pantry. 

Next week I am going to try a pantry menu plan to save a little money.

Menu Plan Monday 7/18/2011

• Sandwiches
• Night out with the girls so Sushi for me and Spaghetti for the family
• BBQ Pork Ribs (Hubby cooked in the oven with a spice rub and then smoked on the grill with Mesquite)
• BBQ Chicken and Thighs (Spice Rubbed and smoked on the grill with Mesquite)
• Mexican Pizza
• Homemade Pizzas
• Chipotle Chicken & Rice

Matt is trying things with his grill more, it's nice to have a few nights off this week!

Check out more menu plans at Orgjunkie!

Menu Plan Monday 7/11/11

• Barbeque Pork Chops (sauce was leftover from my IL’s visit last week wish I had the recipe but she changes it )  with Potato Salad
• Hamburger Stew
• Dinner out at the Fish Shack with my parents
• Grilled Hamburgers & Hot Dogs with Potato Salad, Broccoli Bacon Salad and Taboulli (New theme night, excuse for hubby to use the grill regularly and me to have a semi night off during summer)
• Breakfast for dinner Waffles or Pancakes, Eggs, Fruit and of course Bacon
• Chicken Fingers with leftover sides (Tally’s pick for the week, going to let her help me since it was one of my favorite things to make as a girl)
• Turkey Bacon Avocado Sandwiches with Veggie Tray

Not a lot of specific recipes this week, most is stuff that I add this and that to and changes each time I make it. Also trying to use up potatoes and leftovers.

Check out more menu plans at Orgjunkie!

Have I really not posted in 3 months?!?

I'm not sure how I let it go 3 months of not posting. I'm sure I started a post a few times and got side tracked, then forgot. Summer definitely has me off of a schedule. We only have one car and with gas prices I've only been taking Matt to work once a week. So we've had lots of boring stuck in the house days.

Tally has been sick and missed her last week of school, she had strep and then found out she had fifths during the same time. Luckily none of us got it.

I have had chest pains on and off for almost a year. At first the doctor was thinking I needed muscle relaxers and after them continuing for months she decided we needed to do some heart testing. I had an EKG and Stress test earlier this month. Both came back normal. Now she wants me to get into a chiropractor for a curve in by back that she thinks could be causing the chest pains. The pains are something I can live through, I mostly just want to know whats causing them and make sure it's nothing serious.

We are potty training Devlin. We've tried here and there in the past and it was extremely frustrating because he had no desire to sit on the potty. His pediatrician told us to not rush it so we haven't pressed it but I think he is finally getting it. I want him day trained before school starts in the fall so he can go to pre-k. It's only been a week in and for the most part #1 is making it to the toilet but we're still working on #2, hopefully it can be mastered by the end of August. He really wants to go to school with sissy.

I stepped down from Peppermint Creative for a few months and decided to go back last month. So I'll show some recent pages with new kits!

So that's all I have for now, I'll be back with a separate Menu Plan soon. Blogging will be on my new schedule so that it doesn't go 3 months again ;)