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...

Apple~Bread

Mr. A. and I went to visit my sister and her family.We enjoyed the first meal from her new crock pot,watched a bit of her sons basketball practice,played rummy,watched football and visited.We had lots of laughs during the card game with her daughter getting a major case of the giggles.The time went way to  fast. Mr. A. and I were trying to beat the ice storm that was moving in as we had an hour and a half drive to get home.As we were leaving my sister gave me a recipe and 4 (2 c.) bags of grated apples.So whats a girl to do when armed with a recipe and the exact size bags of apples for the recipe.Make YUMMY apple~ bread of course! 

The taste tester approved...

and requested more....

Mr. A and I enjoyed his last day of his weeks vacation with a movie marathon....Seven Pounds,Journey To The Center Of The Earth,The Day The Earth Stood Still(we are not normally movie people and I can probably count on one hand the number of movies we watched all last year)we enjoyed the bonding time and a pot of Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup.(I am a bit stiff from sitting so long-we even took a walk after the first movie).I enjoyed the LAZY week with Mr. A. but it will be nice to get back to a schedule.

I aM rEaLlY tHaNkFuL fOr ThEm ThIs NeW yEaR aNd AlWaYs...

                                         cHiLdRen...

gRaNdChIlDrEn...

dAuGhTeR-iNlAw&sOn-iNlAw...

and of course I am Thankful for Mr.A and Sergeant V. the very lazy Schnauzer....and all my other family and friends...Looking forward to the upcoming year with you all!!!!