a NeTfLiX GiFt

We recieved 6months of netflix for a christmas gift this year.  Let me tell you how great it is.  Mr.A and I are not usually movie people.  I think we have watched more movies in the past month then we ever have watched.  It was an excellent gift for these cold winter nights.  Also, it's like christmas all over again every time you go to your mailbox and take out another movie. We love the concept of netflix.  Such a simple neat idea.  I saw on The Booknut's blog that Avatar was one of his favorite movies.  I have to agree.  Mr.A and I just watched it 2 nights ago and it was great.  I highly recommend it and I don't usually like Sci-fi movies or shows.  Mr.A loves sci-fi and he loved it also.  I am more into romantic comedys, or scary movies.  So if you get the chance, watch this movie you won't regret it. 

Pasta Fagioli

I don't know where I found this recipe. I have had it for a few years and it is a good one.

Ingredients:

1 lbs. hamburger                                    1(12oz) can of v-8 juice

1 small onion (1 cup)                                    1 TBS white vinegar

1 large julienned carrot (1 cup)                                1 1/2 tsp salt

                 2 cloves of garlic minced          1 tsp oregano                              

2 (14.5oz.) can diced tomatoes                                    1 tsp basil

1(15oz) can red kidney beans(with liquid)               1/2tsp pepper

1(15oz) can great northern beans(with liquid)           1/2 tsp thyme

1(15oz) can tomato sauce                               1/2 pkg. ditali pasta

1.brown hamburger and drain off most of the fat

           2. Add onion, carrot, celery, and garlic, saute for 10 minutes

                 3. Add remaining ingredients (except pasta) simmer for 1 hour

4. About 50 minutes into simmer time, cook pasta

             5. Add pasta to pot of soup. simmer 5-10 minutes and then serve.

Enjoy yours it is delicious!

Fruit snacks

This is a very easy recipe I have to share. I saw this recipe on a blog called Not so Idle Hands. She is amazing. All the recipe calls for is 6 envelopes of unflavored gelatin and 6 0z of jello and candy molds or ice cube trays. All you do is use a little over 2/3 cup of cold water in a glass measuring cup and slowly add the gelatin and jello while mixing. Heat water to a boil and let mixture set for about 5 minutes. It will look really thick. add the whole measuring cup with mixture inside it into the boiling water and wait for it to melt down. It will be a lot thinner and foam will form on top. Scoop the foam off if there is a thick layer. Otherwise pour the hot mixture into molds and let them set in the fridge. Done just like that. Super easy and delicious. I found molds a pack of 9 for 9.47$ at walmart. It included numbers and letters which are great for teaching also. You have to try this it is amazing.

dOg gRoOmInG

I have been doing what I can to cut back on debt. Pet grooming was costing $40 bimonthly. So I decided to go out to pets mart and I purchased this pet grooming kit. It cost $65.  Which I hated to pay at the time. However, after I researched on the internet how to groom a schnauzer I gave them a try.  So glad I did because it payed for itself in 4 months(2 haircuts). It has saved me $$hundreds since then.  If you have a pet, I highly recommend doing the grooming on your own if your looking to save easy money. My directions were super easy to follow. This is the link I used. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CoFDCGxwIs This is the directions for a minature schnauzer.

 

                                                                    The Grooming set

His hair cut. Very camera shy.

cLeAnInG

             

Basket of cleaning supplies

Cleaning~supplies

Well there it is my one basket of cleaning supplies.It more then does the job.The Johnson Paste Wax and the Murphy's Oil Soap I use once in a great while.I have had these same two containers for years.The Oxi-clean

Is used for soaking grimy pots and pans overnight and for soaking Mr.A.'s Heavily soiled work clothes. The only item not in this cleaning bucket is the jug of laundry soap.For cleaning the glass,windows and mirrors I use 1cup of vinegar,1cup of water and 1 cup of rubbing alcohol.I use baking soda for a mild abrasive cleaner and a natural deodorizer such as scouring the tub,vanity and lime stains.I use straight  vinegar and a  pumice stone if needed for a lime ring in the toilet.To clean the wood furniture I mix 1 cup of olive oil and 1/2 cup lemon juice.This cleaning method works great for me and it saves us money. I don't like to use the harsh chemical cleaners.I love to clean and to have a clean house.I think a well kept home keeps an organized flow!  

This works Great....

                           

pOt~HoLdErS

Mr.A. and I had company over for a meal...My sister was going to grab something hot out of the oven and she asked me for the potholders.At that very moment it hit me that I just had the one stained,thin,old,stuffing falling out of piece of shit. trash.I used this single potholder day in and day out never thinking twice about it, could I expect my company to use this? Was it safe to be grabbing a hot pan out of the oven with this because there was barely any stuffing left?I was embarrassed to pass this single potholder to her when she requested potholders.Ex specially in its shape.However this is what I had.

(sorry no picture of it as it went into the trash that very night before bed)

 The next day after the house was quiet, I went in to my extra room and begin going through any fabric in my measly supply to try and find something I could make potholders out of with limited sewing skills.This is what I came up with.They work great and cost $0.(all scraps I had)  



                                     

   

(just went crazy with the sewing machine)

                                 

mY~rIdE

                             

I HEART THIS BIKE......O' how I loved walking past this BEAUTY while it was on the rack at the store....DREAMING of the day it would be mine.Now I am on a QUEST for the perfect basket for it!I am finally in a position that I can ride it back and forth to work(YIPPEE)...Also for small errands here in town....However I am in a rural area so a big store is about an hour from here.Prices are lower and I can stock up on  sale items..If the fuel increases much more I may have to keep all my trading in town.I do like local trade but have trouble staying on budget with prices being so much higher and the local store will not accept competitor ads.So as soon as this layer of ice melts away I  can ride this BEAUTY to work.I don't mind the cold for a short distance however can't keep the bike upright on the ice.....

If any of you have a bike basket you recommend or a pattern or link....Please let me know as I am looking for a good basket for my bike.

bOtToMs~Up

 We don't eat out much here at the A's home, so these pots & pans get a great deal of use.The bottoms as you can see have been getting very grimy.After doing some reading & research around blog land, I seen several posts recommending this method of cleaning the bottoms.

 A.)Dirty pots & pans

           B.)Oxi Clean

 C.)sink full of very hot water(boiling)

                                  

                                                       

           D.)a good night's sleep                 

   E.)squeaky clean                                                                       

 

That's it and it works.So glad to have found this method.Now I am not so embarrassed when someone see my bottom's......

Back to work...

ArT...

This is one of my favorite prints in my home, it hangs on my back porch....It says,"It'll Cost Nothing to Dream & Everything Not to".....As people leave my home they stop on my back porch to put there shoes on before they leave out the porch door.I hope this gives them something to ponder on the drive home!

mAkInG~pLaYdOuGh

As I have mentioned, I left the commute and the 9-5 to be a NANNY....and I love it.I get to do all sorts of really fun great things and make a difference in two little boys lives,and not have to dress up...Yes, blue jeans all day!!!Today we made play dough, let me just say this recipe has stood the test of time as my three grown children have played with many batches of this stuff.One thing GREAT about making play dough is the kids can measure all the ingredients and do the mixing and who cares if its not perfect.The little guy today that measured  it is two and he did great and it turned out perfect....   

                               

Mix all ingredients, cook over medium heat until it pulls away from pan sides,color,enjoy...

it doubles as a hat...He wanted to make it right when he got out of bed.He didn't even take off  his P.J."s.I think he liked it!

We didn't even notice it was eleven degrees outside.We stayed busy with this most of the morning!

*I use to color this with a kool-aide packet but the dough smelled so good my kids were tempted to taste it,so I stopped using that method however it does work.

ThIs SoNg WaS WrOtE fOr mE...

Mr. A, I Love You....

Simple Goals....

After hibernating for a week with Mr. A. during our 10 days off and partaking in big meals shared with company, such as this........(& Ritz Crackers) 

(also had ranch,cheese,olives and croutons)

(plus real butter-ugghh)

( see the fat on this guy-prime rib)

(twice baked potato casserole-oh my)...

Also desert....So you can see why my jeans are becoming painful...So I decided today I need to set three SIMPLE goals for myself.1.)drink more water 2.)walk for a bit every night even in the cold 3.)spend most of my time in the store in the produce focusing on the outer perimeter of the store(while staying on budget) with these three SIMPLE goals I believe that my garden work in the summer heat will not be such a chore, I must get ready for the summer NOW...So I am embarking on these new goals not as a resolution, but as something that must be done...Happy Tuesday to you all...