First Post...

of 2009!

Welcome to the new year! I've been lazy. The kids have gone back to school, and I don't have preschool starting until next week, so I've been kickin back not doing much of anything. Plenty that I've THOUGHT about doing (like planning out the remainder of the preschool year, finishing my 2009 Calenders, writing letters, meal planning...). I've just been reading and relaxing and trying to stay warm. This wet snowy cold weather doesn't help me feel motivated!

My little sister had her 4th bambino on Monday (a little boy), named Joshua Brian. So cute! The sad and depressing thing is, they have the flu going around her family. Last I heard two of the kids have it, and she does as well! Can you imagine barfing right after giving birth?! And none of us can help with her barfing kids because we don't want to get our families in barfing mode either... I'm hoping to stay well so I can be a big help to her once she gets home. It's sad and I'm sure very discouraging for her and her hubby!

I really don't want to get sick. I commented about this today on Facebook, and not 1 hour later the school calls to tell me Meg has pink eye. Yay. Of course, here we are in a new deductible year, and I get to pay the $100 to take her in to get the $65 drugs to clear up her eye. At least I'll have enough medicine left for the next kid that gets it! Yikes... one week earlier and I wouldn't have had to pay a cent!

So, while I've been wasting time, and fighting off bugs, I have come across a few blogs/sites that I'm excited about!!

First one: Preparedness Matters - she's got anything from food storage recipes to financial preparedness... check out her label list! So much stuff! What a great resource this is!

Second (this was featured on Creative Homemaker today), is a new site called, Fun With Food Storage they are just launching this site (which is a combination of three others) and having a bunch of great giveaways! Check them out!

And lastly, just after I cleaned up the instant oatmeal dinner that we had (yup, I'm lacking motivation and inspiration), I come across this blog that was featured on Tip Junkie today! You're going to love Meal Planning Mommies! They post pictures of ingredients too! I don't know why, but this makes things seem less intimidating to me... to actually see it prepared makes me feel like I CAN DO THIS!!!

Now I've just got to sit down and make a plan....

I Just Have To Share...

OK - you know I am now a bonafide blog jogger (love that term I learned!). I just have to share a couple of things that I'm so excited about! Note: right click on the links and "open in new window" so you can keep reading this post and leave a comment at the end.

First off, to make a long story short, we had a yard sale last Saturday. To get ready for this, Roman pulled a bunch of boxes out of the garage for us to sort through (I found things I haven't seen since we moved in! But that is a whole other story). We found a bunch of our books, so we decided we need a bookshelf to store/display them on - and we have a nice empty corner in our living room that would work for this. Since we are trying to use all extra cash for food storage, I decided to look for a used one on craigslist. One day later, there is this cool post on one of the blogs I subscribe to! Check it out!!! If you don't use Google Reader - YOU MUST! (I'll have to post a tutorial on that another day). But this combines the awesome power of Google Reader with the craigslist search function. It is so cool! From beingfrugal.net.

You know how I struggle with cooking/menu planning - well, this awesome mommy from simplemom.net combines good ol fashion planning, with technology to form a wonderful system for menu planning! It is just for me! Of course I haven't had time to sit down and set it up yet, but that is OK - I will next week!

I have also recently converted to the Firefox browser. Now, I was a HUGE internet explorer fan, until I learned about this cool (and free) tool Firefox has that will block banner ads! I've been fed up lately with all the skin showing to *advertise* for anything from weight loss to shoes! Then I found this great tutorial from a dude on Facebook (who was tired of looking at the ads on Facebook). It took me a few days to get used to Firefox, but now I love it, and I love the fact that I don't have to worry about my kids seeing these inappropriate advertisements! Switch over - you'll be happy you did! Here is the tute (copied from the dude from Facebook):

• If you have Mozilla Firefox, skip to step 2
• Step 1. Go to www.getfirefox.com and download the best browser, mozilla firefox.
• Step 2. go to addons.mozilla.com and search for Ad Block Plus. It is listed in top apps, pop apps, and what not. or click this: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1865
• Step 3. Install Ad Block Plus
• Step 4. Download Adblock filterset.g updater, https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1136
• Step 5. restart firefox, and you will not see any more banner ads!!

One last thing (for now anyway, I can hardly contain myself!). Check out this blog - this fun lovin momma is so funny. She's got this cute and *chic* little house apron you can make in 20 minutes with $4. I don't sew. I hate to sew. And I don't wear aprons, but these little suckers are so cute and just might make me feel like a hot mama if I wear it and have my toenails painted too! I just may try this one (note: no sewing machine required - SWEET!).

So have fun and tell me what your most favorite tip is and if you do anything with this info.

A New Record for ME!!

My family should be happy about my new blog addiction. I've found so many great things while browsing from one blog to another (all while sitting in my rocker). I have "cooked" dinner 6 out of the past 8 days! One night was my date night, the other we fed the kids chicken nuggets and Roman made a Panda run. Here is what I did (I'm so proud of myself!):

1. Sun - threw Marinaded Pork Chops on the grill, boiled pots (potatoes) & asparagus (all kids loved the green stuff, except Roman).
2. Mon - "hacos" (tacos)
3. Tues - BBQ chix on the "bawbie"
4. Thur - a *casserole* (I never make casseroles!) that I got from my friend Monica that has sour cream, cream of chix soup, poppy seeds and shredded chicken with crushed Ritz crackers (mixed with melted butter) on top. It was a hit (and easy shmeezy)! Every last morsel was eaten and Roman wished there were leftovers for lunch (I'll have to make this one again!).
5. Sat - Boogers, I mean burgers on the BBQ. Threw some fries in the oven, and made Homemade Vanilla Ice cream (this recipe was a bit too rich for Roman and Haley).
6. Sun - German Pancakes - but these were fun because you bake them in cupcake tins!

A few other things I've been making - all from my new favorite cooking blog, Picky Palate. We did Pizza Roll ups for lunch one day, and I've made Chocolate Chip Oreo Cookies, Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Bars,and Cookies and Cream Swirled Brownies with Chocolate Peanut Butter Ganache.

Not doing so hot loosing the extra 20.

BUT, I did find a cool website where I can watch parts of and full segments of exercise videos! Just need to start doing them now!

~you may now pat me on the back~

MEAL IDEAS!!

We're in our 3rd week of summer right? And I'm already sick of lunch choices... not to mention thinking about what to make for dinner. So here is my plea - share with me your favorite thing to make for lunch and/or for dinner. But please don't say tacos, spaghetti, or pancakes... because my family is sooo sick of those!!