Happy Homemaker Monday

Good Monday to everyone (: I am spending the day trying to get my home back after "hurricane Turner kids" came through! But I wanted to take a few moments to participate in Happy Homemaker Monday (:

Weather: BeAuTiFuL!! 75* and sunny with a nice breeze. I am lovin' it!

On my reading pile: I am reading the book, "The Proper Care and Good Feeding of Husbands" by Dr. Laura. I really like this book and I  re-read it when I need a reminder of what a loving wife should be. With my husband coming home soon, it is at the top of my to be read pile.

On my tv: Unfortunatley, my kids are watching the SpongeBob Movie.

On the menu for this week: I am going to take the lazy easy way out and simply link it to my meal plan post here

On my to do list: laundry, laundry, laundry

What I am creating: sadly...nothing :(

Homemaking tip: Something I am dealing with right now, cleaning up as you go is a lot easier than big clean up days! Washing a set of lunch dishes is a lot easier than washing 6 sets of lunch dishes at once!

Looking around the house: Lunch has been eaten, and now it is time for quiet relaxation time. Ahhh

From the camera: Cute kids playing at the pool. We hadn't gone to the pool once and then we went 4 times in one week (:

On my prayer list: my family. Always.

Scripture or devotional:


For more Happy Homemaker posts you can head over to Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

PB Banana Bread

Why is it that some times when I buy bananas, they are gone 30 seconds after they hit the fruit bowl? Then others, they sit on the counter and go brown?

Well, like most women, I refuse to throw them away and either put them into the freezer or turn them into banana bread or smoothies.

Everyone in my home loves plain, ol' banana bread, but I am always trying to find ways to change it up. My children do not like nuts :( and so I usually have to make it without my beloved walnuts.

I found this recipe and we all rrrreally enjoyed it!

**Peanut Butter Banana Bread **

Preheat oven to 325*

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 bananas, mashed ( I actually used 3 because that is what I had)
2 cups flour
1 tsp soda (which I totally forgot about, oops!)

In a large bowl, cream together butter & sugar. Add eggs, beat well. Stir in peanut butter, mashed bananas until well blended. Add flour and soda. Blend until combined. Grease loaf pan and bake for 70 minutes.
* My daughter really wanted chocolate chips thrown in so we added those as well*
**My oven usually tends to be slow, but 70 minutes was just a little too long for mine. So I would recommend you check for doneness after an hour**

This is my first time linking up to Make a Home over at Linda's Lunacy. If you are interested in joining in on the fun, head on over!

What's for lunch?

image from http://www.bentolunch.com/

strawberries, cookies, ham sandwich on a bagel thin, applesauce, fruit snacks

strawberries, cookies, cheese and leftover chicken & fried rice



ham sandwich on bagel w/cream cheese, cheese cubes, crackers, strawberries and cookies

 With the end of September coming up fast...I have realized something.

My kids lunches have been less than stellar. Seriously! I mean I still describe my lunches as "bento-ish" because I lack any skill but, I have at least been doing better.

Not this month though!

Hopefully October will help inspire me a bit...pumpkins, leaves, Halloween...

Here is a look at some of the lunches I have made this past month.

For some AmAzInG ideas, go to What's for Lunch! Her site is seriously amazing. She is talented and so are her readers!

Feelin' Feminine Friday

It is that time again! I am participating in The American Homemakers Feelin' Feminine Fridays! This is a great chance to share what makes you feel feminine! I have a house full of boys and so I know that I love to just think about being *girly* (:

In the LDS church we have a General Conference on the first weekend in October and the first weekend in April. This is a chance for members of the church (and non members!!) to listen to our church leaders & prophet and get messages for our day.

However, tomorrow, we have what is called the General Relief Society meeting. The Relief Society is the woman's organization in our church. This is a time when all messages are devoted to WOMEN!

What could be more feminine than that? I always make sure I have a journal, a pen, and lots of tissues!

Sorry, I couldn't get the picture to rotate! My journal that my friend Julie made me!

So while I really don't have pictures of this event, I wanted to share a quote. This is from the talk given in October 2007 by Julie B Beck... I keep this taped on my kitchen cabinet as a reminder to me of who I am and what I am here to do...

"Mothers who know are nurturers. This is their special assignment and role under the plan of happiness. ⁵ To nurture means to cultivate, care for, and make grow. Therefore, mothers who know create a climate for spiritual and temporal growth in their homes. Another word for nurturing is homemaking. Homemaking includes cooking, washing clothes and dishes, and keeping an orderly home. Home is where women have the most power and influence; therefore, Latter-day Saint women should be the best homemakers in the world. Working beside children in homemaking tasks creates opportunities to teach and model qualities children should emulate. Nurturing mothers are knowledgeable, but all the education women attain will avail them nothing if they do not have the skill to make a home that creates a climate for spiritual growth. Growth happens best in a “house of order,” and women should pattern their homes after the Lord’s house (see D&C 109). Nurturing requires organization, patience, love, and work. Helping growth occur through nurturing is truly a powerful and influential role bestowed on women."

Feelin' Feminine Friday

This week, I am participating in the American Homemakers blog carnival Feelin' Feminine Friday! If you are interested in participating, do it!

When my husband and I were dating, he came to visit me. As he held me for a hug, he said, "mmmm you smell good."

Knowing I wasn't wearing anything special, (perfume, body mist etc) I asked, "what do I smell like?"

He shrugged saying, "like GIRL". Too cute.

So here is a run down of my fun favorites that make me feel feminine and make me smell like a girl (:

1. Scented lotions. My current favorite (and one I wear everyday) is Bath & Body Works Japanese Cherry Blossom. I have the lotion, body wash, hand sanitizer  and body spray! I love it and sometimes even spray it on my pillow case!

2. Chapstick. Seriously I have 100's of sticks of chapstick. I want my lips to be kissable at all times!!

3. While I am not big on painting my fingernails, I always, always, always have my toes painted! It is an absolute must!

4. After I wash my face at night, my husband says, ' ugh you used that smelly stuff". I am not the best about washing my face...but I know it is important! Nothing says girl like soft, clean skin!

So how about you? What products do you like to use to make you feel feminine? I am always looking for new finds!

***All pictures taken from product sites or a google image search***

MPM *9/12

After a busy weekend, I am starting a very busy week. Why does school have to equal busy?! So I have to plan ahead if I am not going to go crazy...or as crazy (:

So here is what our family is going to be eating this week...

Monday:
B:cereal
L: Kids had lunchables (got them for .50 each over the weekend!) with a milk, granola bar and some crackers to go along with it. Hubby is going out to lunch.
D: roast (crockpot), mashed potatoes and vegi's

Tuesday:
B: leftover waffles for the weekend
D: breaded chicken sandwiches, french fries, jello salad

Wednesday (busiest night of my week!!)
B: kids choice
D: baked potatoes (cooked in the crockpot) with all the yummy toppings (ham, cheese, sour cream, green onions...) jello salad, rolls

Thursday (2nd busiest night!)
B:leftovers/kids choice
D: homemade beefaroni, corn, biscuits

Friday:
B: pancakes
D: boys have a pizza party at church, hubby & daughter are going on a date (:

Saturday:
spending the day at Six Flags with the family (: So b-fast will probably be granola bars or cereal bars, dry cereal etc.
lunch is in the park
dinner out on the way home

Sunday:
B-doughnuts
L: kids choice
D: chili pie casserole

For more great menus & meal plans & recipes, head on over to Org Junkie

Feelin' Feminine Friday

 

One of the first homemaking blogs I ever came across was The American Homemaker. While I have never met Angie, we seem to have a lot in common (: One of them being our love for military guys!!!

But seriously, she posts easy recipes that even I can follow, cute and inexpensive decorating ideas...and more. Seriously go and check out her blog when you have a chance!

She recently started a weekly blog carnival, called Feeling Feminine Friday. At our house it is 2 girls against 5 boys, so we are totally outnumbered. It can be hard to feel feminine & girly when we are surrounded by Legos, Star Wars, boxers, burps, wrestling...you get the picture. So I love this idea of sharing what makes me feel feminine!

The first item, is my birthday gift from my hubby. My old ihome has been on the fritz lately and likes to short out on me. So I fell in love with this PINK ihome that was of course on clearance (:

The 2nd is, this past week I started taking a cake decorating  class through Michaels. This was the first class and we practiced making stars. We then decorated cookies to practice. So these are some that I made. Obviously I have a lot of work to do (lol) but wearing an apron, baking cookies and then decorating them definatley makes me feel feminine!

If you would like to participate also, you can go to Angie's website The American Homemaker!

**Sorry about the funky picture layout**

Happy Homemaker Monday

Trying to get updated on all of my posting! Here we go...

Weather in my neck of the woods: hot! Sunny and blue skies

One of my simple pleasures: sweet I love you's whispered from my kids

What is on my bedside table: "Praise for the Stay at Home Mom" by Dr. Laura, scriptures, kleenex

What is on my tv: LDS General Conference

What is on my menu for tonight: I have (big shocker) lots of ham and eggs! So we are having breakfast for dinner and eating scrambeled eggs w/ ham, hashbrowns, sliced oranges

On my to do list: that pesky never ending laundry, packing, decluttering

New recipe I tried this week: I tried a Taquito casserole from the Semi-Homemade magazine. I will be posting the recipe on this blog later!

In my craft basket: I am putting scrapbooking kits together for the group of girls I work with through church. We are teaching them about keeping their personal histories.

Looking forward to: SPRING BREAK!

Homemaking tip for this week:It is easier to pick up a little bit every day, instead of huge cleaning once a week! Clean as you go!

Favorite blog post from this week: I really haven't visited too many blogs this week!

Favorite photo from last week: at the top!

Lesson learned this week: This was actually a really hard lesson. I have had a rough past couple of weeks. I had really let things get out of hand. My home, laundry, meals etc. Well I have a son who is on the Autsim spectrum. His behavior has been very hard to deal with these past couple of weeks. And I realized that his "bad" behavior started once things got out of hand around here. I learned that as the Mother I set the tone and example in my home. My kids are going to follow my example whether good...or bad!

On my prayer list: family & friends, military overseas

Scripture, devotional or other spiritual thought: I have been reading and listening to so many that I have to many to share!

Sundays

Every Sunday, after finishing dinner, our family sits down for a family council. Although this may sound "very official" it really isn't. (:

The first thing we do is take the calender down, and look at what we are doing for the week. Who has what and when. So that we all know what we are doing.

We then ask each of our children if they want to talk about anything. From chores they didn't like, or a rule that they don't think is fair etc. So far the only complaint is over video games! (:

We then read scriptures and top it off with...

a dessert. We like to refer to it as "Sunday Sweets".

This week was Easter candy! (:

I would like to start a weekly blog carnival, where readers can link up and share a favorite dessert/recipe. Unfortunatley, I am not the most uhm...tech savvy, and have no idea how to make a blog button. I also am unsure of how to do a Mr. Linky.

If anyone could help me out, or just point me in the right direction, I would really appreciate it, thanks!

For now, feel free to leave a comment about what your favorite recipe/dessert to make for your family is!

Potluck Sunday & a GIVEAWAY

One of my all time favorite place to go for recipes is Mommy's Kitche She recently started a fun blog carnival called Potluck Sunday. Who doesn't love a good pot luck? So I decided to participate!

So I know that Tater tot casserole is not new. But we made a little change to it last night and it was delish. I knew I had to share.

My husband has a theory that EVERYTHING tastes better with bacon. He has been testing this theory out and we have had some awesome results.

Last night I made a typical tater tot casserole using:
2 lbs. of lean ground beef, browned
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of celery soup
1 bag of Tater tots
2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
Directions:
1. Brown hamburger, draining grease
2. Mix hamburger with soups
3. Layer on the bottom of a greased pan
4. Layer your tater tots on top
5. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 55 min.
6. Take out of the oven and cover with cheese and either bacon bits (or bacon that you have cooked up and cut into small pieces)
7. Put back in te oven for 5 more minutes until the cheese is ooey gooey!

It turned out to be very yummy. My daughter DEVOURED 3 helpings and told me she was too full for dessert! (: All of my kids enjoyed this...even my most picky.

Now my husband is just waiting for bacon flavored ice cream!

** If you are new here, I am having a GIVEAWAY! Please feel free to enter here