Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

I figured today I would hook with one of the old favorites....Tempt my Tummy Tuesdays and Tasty Tuesdays! 

This is one of our very favorite breakfast recipes....and we do breakfast for dinner at least once every couple of weeks. YUM! Hope you enjoy it as well!

ORANGE PECAN FRENCH TOAST

* 1 cup packed brown sugar
* 1/3 cup butter, melted
* 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
* 1/3 cup chopped pecans
* 12 (3/4 inch thick) slices French bread
* 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
* 1 cup fresh orange juice
* 1/2 cup 2% milk
* 3 tablespoons white sugar
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 3 egg whites
* 2 eggs
* 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar for dusting


Directions

1. In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, melted butter, and corn syrup. Pour into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish, and spread evenly. Sprinkle pecans over the sugar mixture. Arrange the bread slices in the bottom of the dish so they are in a snug single layer. I often use leftover bread pieces--it works great.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the orange zest, orange juice, milk, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, egg whites, and eggs. Pour this mixture over the bread, pressing on the bread slices to help absorb the liquid. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour, or overnight.
3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C ). Remove the cover from the baking dish, and let stand for 20 minutes at room temperature.
4. Bake for 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown. Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving.

Join the others over at At The Well and Balancing Beauty and Bedlam for other terrific recipes!! Have a wonderful day!!

Cleaning....otherwise known as my prescription for anxiety....

Who else cleans like Martha Stewart when faced with a difficult decision?  Who else falls in love with Mr. Clean when life deals you a deck of crummy cards? 

You?

Definitely me.

I hate to admit it but I'm most effective at cleaning when I'm anxious.  Or mad.  Or both.

When I have a situation that looks bleak, my stainless steel is screaming bright!  I can accomplish more in 30 minutes when I have a difficult situation I'm facing than I can accomplish in 3 hours when life is easy peasy.  It's just the way it is.  Beats eating chocolate.

Except for the times when chocolate goes hand-in-hand with said cleaning.  Then it's just. not. pretty.

But my friend over at Thrifty Decor Chic is asking for cleaning tips.  Cleaning shortcuts.  Genius ideas for cleaning.

Mine?  Other than cleaning my house rather than taking a massive dose of Ativan? 

It's Playlist.com

Playlist is a free site that lets you build a playlist of your favorite songs and play them on your computer.  I have several lists.  One for massive amounts of cleaning.  One for relaxing when done cleaning.  Great kids music.  A really cool set of Christian music.  All I have to do is define my mood and hit play. 

Here is one of my favorite playlists right now.  Feel free to use it next time you gotta get something done.

Works for me.  Every time!

Join all those other creative peeps on over at TDC for more great cleaning tips!!

Works for me Wednesday

Need a tip on how to bathe your little ones?  What REALLY works?

I can't take credit for it.  My Super Hubs actually thought of this one.

We outfitted the boys' shower with this beauty:

Works like a dream!  I just pull it off the holder, spray them down, soap 'em up and rinse 'em off!!  Simple!  Easy!  Genuis!! 

Great idea HONEY!! 

Join some other genuis peoples on over at We Are THAT Family for more Works for Me Wednesday!  Have Fun!!

Before & After PARTAY!!!!!!!!!!

I promised and yes, I eventually deliver!!

I told you all about a little paintin' party fixin'-up Super Hubs & I took on, right?  Well..... HERE IT IS!!

I'll admit that most everyone is a better decorator than I.  But sometimes, just a few times, I really get it right.  And this time, I got it right.

A quick before:

Note the plain white backgrounds...

Kitchen area

Family Room

Kitchen

Our kitchenette office corner

Family Area

The gold color is Bungalow Gold and the darker color is Cayenne.  Both are from Valspar.  We did use the same primer for both, which was tinted with the gold color. 

Honestly, it is SO warm and inviting now!  I'm not sure if you can tell from the pictures but we have a very large open kitchen and family area.  The darker colors have helped to bring them together and it is very cozy. 

I did re-do the top of the entertainment center.  I just got the two vases, added some more greenery and dried arrangements.  I still don't like the clock next to the other round thing-y but it'll do for now.  And yes, I have a lot more decorating on the walls but it takes me FOREVER!  I hate to confess it but this is the first paint job in these rooms in SEVEN years!  It's been "custom builder rather flat off white" for years now folks....give me some time for those decorations huh?! 

I finally think I have a little something worthy of Sarah's Before & After Party over at Thrifty Decor Chick!  Join me and a bunch of other thrifty decorating chicks....just don't compare me with Sarah because that lady is a Decorating Goddess!! 

My new FAV-O-RITE product!!

Oh.  WOW!

Like....WOW!!!!!

I have a NEW favorite product, y'all!!  And YOU will love too!!!  I'm going back for more colors tomorrow....

It's Chalk Ink---

This fantastic new item is just what I used to write on my chalkboard painted door thingies....you know, those baskets.  And I LOVE IT!!  It goes on just like a magic marker.  Beautiful!! 

This stuff is wonderful!!  Smooth, easy and totally erases just like chalk.  Only better! 

I got mine at Michaels with a handy-dandy 40% off coupon.  Try them--I PROMISE you'll like  LOVE them too!!

Head on over to Kristen's for more WFMW tips and lovelies.  Always a great bunch of stuff over there!!  Enjoy!!!! 

Falling Into You

I spent the better part of Friday finally getting the house all glamourized for Fall. 

I really like LURVE (as my TDC friend says....) Fall!!  Except for the weather here in hot, steamy Florida!  It's still 92 degrees around here.....yes, at the END of September!  That's NUTS!  We are getting a 'cold front' soon...it'll be more like 83 degrees instead.  Sigh.

But at least in the house, it is all cozy, pretty and ready for the harvest.

Join us on Metamorphosis Monday over at Between Naps on the Porch  and Rhoda's Southern Hospitality for more wonderful Harvest specials!

Works for Me Wednesday

It's Wednesday and that means that we have WFMW over at Kristin's blog.

My little tidbit for today has to do with where we are going TOMORROW!

See....it's Big Boy's birthday on Saturday!!! Yes, my "baby" is turning 5 on September 12. Five years ago this little hurricane stormed into our world. And it's never been the same since! I'm so happy for him and honestly, kinda sad for me. As a mom, I'm overwhelmed all. the. time. with how much I love my guys. I'm equally proud that he is growing into such a wonderful young boy. But that's just it folks. He's a BOY now. No semblance of the baby I once birthed. He hardly fits in my lap, with his gangly limbs and pokey elbows and knees. He still tries. Just for a few moments here and there. For an "I love you Mama" and a quick kiss. Then off he goes.

Anyway...I'm diverging from the post of the day. It's WFMW right?

So we're headed off to a hotel stay for a couple of days and then a birthday celebration with this guy:


Because the guy up there will suck you dry of every penny in your savings account if you let him, we are going to pack up some things with us to make our trip...ummm, more frugal?! Is there such a thing? YES! We are making this trip as frugal as possible and this is how:

--Packing up food! We booked a hotel room that has a full kitchen. We're making all our food except for the day of the park. We'll take cereal and milk for breakfast, yummy deli meats/cheeses for lunch sandwiches, veggies and dip, fruit and dips, chips, etc... We are not planning on eating out at all with the exception of the park. I'm heading off to Sams today for drinks and other supplies so we'll be set.

--Hitting Walmart close to the Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom. I'm planning to stash some Disney related goodies for the boys. This will cut down on the amount of junk that we buy at the park. We'll have a few surprises so they can have trinkets and such and we don't spend $20 on a Tinkerbell slurpy cup! (BTW--the boys LOVE Tink! Sure hope we get to see that girl!!)

--We saved a few bucks already on the hotel because I have a friend who has a discount they shared with us. Thanks Karyn!!

--We'll have the cake and ice cream celebration at the pool, at the hotel. Because this birthday is such a big one, I didn't think a huge birthday cake celebration was necessary. So I'll head out to our fav bakery (thanks PUBLIX!)to grab a yummy little cake and we'll celebrate with a few friends by the hotel pool. Which leads me to my next point;

--Booked a hotel where we don't mind laying around for 2 days with no other plans necessary. That's because the hotel has all this:

Entertainment for two days...DONE!

What Works For Me is making memories...but not too huge of a dent in our budget plan for this year. We're pretty excited! We realized that this is not only Big Boy's birthday but honestly, the first family vacation with just the four of us that we've ever taken! We usually go to see family any time we have vacation. But this time...it's just us and The Mouse! YIPPEE!!

Storage boxes

Today over at We Are THAT Family, there are tons of brilliant minds giving you their best storage tips. What works. You know the drill....it's

Yeah Kristin!! Thanks for giving me a reason to sit here and just peruse your wonderful blog ALL. DAY. LONG!!! I love organizing but honestly, am always striving to get it together....just a bit more.

These are two of my FAV products for putting junk...err...important stuff away in our house:

I bought this wrapping storage center a couple of years ago after Christmas for next to nothing...less than $10! I absolutely love how it stores all my wrapping needs and I just grab it and head to the kitchen table to do my work. It can slide under the bed but we have no room so this is where I put mine:



This is why I have NO room under the guest bed!! We keep these storage containers full of everything from extra (dusty! jeez honey?! shouldn't you be taking care of that???) computer equipment, and extra sheets, pillowcases and out of season clothing:


I absolutely LOVE how they slide underneath, out of sight! That would explain why they are dusty....out of sight, obviously out of mind!!

I gotta say I almost love this solution as much as THIS one!! Check it out!

What are you FAV storage solutions??? These are mine!

Kid Friendly Friday!

I'm SO excited about starting the homeschool routine with the boys!! We start Monday, bright and NOT-too-early!!

I wanted to share our plans and outline our schedule for our school week. It's a work in progress, though. I do plan that it will change....frequently. That is the main reason we're so excited about homeschooling. It will be something we can mold into our daily lives and when it changes, all the better.

Here is our outline:

Monday: Letter of the week introduction (we will be doing the entire alphabet this year).

Calendar time

Weather time

Art activity related to the letter of the week

Reading time

Shape of the week introduction

Tuesday: Memorization games and activities

Color of the week introduction

Cooking activity

Reading time
Calendar time

Weather time

Wednesday: Story time at the Library

Outside activity or playgroup date

Letter of the week review
Calendar time

Weather time

Thursday: Math games

Manipulative play time

Reading time

Science activity
Calendar time

Weather time

Friday: Fun Friday!! This will include a review of letter and colors but be a very fun end to the week!! We'll plan lots of playdates on this day as well.

Letter of the week: This is rather easy as there are 26 letters and it'll take us quite a time to get through the alphabet.

Shape of the week: This will be lots of review obviously as there aren't that many shapes to get us through the entire year.

Color of the week: We'll cover basic colors, as well as color mixing and other fun little science experiments related to colors. We will be creating a color wheel as well.

Reading time: We've already started this but reading time includes an adult reading to them, as well as the boys spending 15 minutes a day "reading" to themselves. Right now, the time is mostly spent with picture books, magazines, etc... They are really starting to enjoy their reading time.

Science time: We're planting a garden this fall (we live in Florida folks...September is planting time!!!). The boys are super excited to grow some of their own food!!

Math/manipulatives: We'll do lots of work with manipulatives, beads, sorting, etc... Big Boy has gotten pretty good with his counting. Little Guy has a long way to go.

Again--lots of playdates because I really think at this age, the boys need as much social outlet and play skill practicing. We're taking a rather Montessori, eclectic, dare I say "unschooling" approach to this year. I can't wait to see where the year leads us.

In addition, we have a friend who is really excited to teach our children Spanish so we will be adding that into the mix as well. How cool is that?!!

So what are you doing for your preschooler this year? Anyone else homeschooling this age group? Have you decided to follow a curriculum or to create your own? Do tell friends!!!

Works for Me Wednesday!

We don't have junk mail in this house.

Well...almost...no junk mail.

Because when something interesting comes in...not interesting to me but interesting to the Little Man, it gets used up in his reading time. He loves to look through catalogs, pointing out colors, numbers or pictures he recognizes.

I don't care if it gets roughed up. Heck, I don't even care if it gets torn to shreds. Which sometimes it does. Because sometimes junk mail is the perfect "victim" to his scissor-practice sessions.

Today, he's in Superhero heaven! He found the catalog we got yesterday with all the newest Halloween costumes coming out this year. He ran screaming to his room to wake his brother to let him know that BumbleBee was on the cover! And when he found Superman? The world erupted...

Now if I can find a way to make these horribly expensive costumes for 95% less than what these outrageous companies charge....

Head on over to We Are That Family to look for more great hints to help you get through life.

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday!

Hey y'all! What's cookin' this week?

As fall sets in at our house and the lazy days of summer come to an end, we start spending a bit more time making dinner. Most summer evenings we're looking for the grill or something quick. I get a little....just a little...more domesticated as fall comes around and start cooking more.

Tonite I made this lovely staple and wow, the boys just ate like there would not be another meal later! I was shocked because they finished their plates with zero complaints and not a morsel left. So whenever you have to get "back to basics", try this recipe. Works every time!!

MEATLOAF WITH FRIED ONIONS AND RANCH
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup ketchup
3/4 cup herb-seasoned dry bread stuffing mix
1/2 (1 ounce) package dry Ranch-style dressing mix
1 (6 ounce) can French-fried onions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a large bowl, combine meat, eggs, ketchup, stuffing mix, ranch dressing mix and fried onions.
Shape into loaf and fit into 9 x 5 inch loaf pan.
Bake, covered loosely with foil, at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 50 to 60 minutes, or until meat is thoroughly cooked.

Enjoy this great meal and find lots of other goodies over at Blessed With Grace or Balancing Beauty & Bedlam.

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday!!

Here is one of our favorite new recipes. We made these last week and oh yeah, they definitely make it on the weekly menu! YUMMY!!

BUFFALO CHICKEN TENDERS

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into finger-sized pieces
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup bread crumbs
2 egg whites, beaten
1 tablespoon water
1/2 cup Frank's Hot Sauce
1/2 cup melted butter
ANOTHER 1/2 cup Frank's hot sauce

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Coat a baking sheet with a nonstick spray.
Soak chicken pieces in 1/2 cup of the hot sauce--just put it all in a Ziploc bag and marinate for about an hour. In a shallow bowl, mix together flour, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. On a plate, mix the bread crumbs with the rest of the garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and salt.
Take marinated chicken out of the hot sauce. Dip and cover the chicken pieces with the seasoned flour. Beat egg whites with 1 tablespoon water, and place egg mixture in a shallow dish or bowl. Dip seasoned chicken in egg mixture, then roll in the seasoned bread crumb mixture. Place on prepared baking sheet.
Bake for about 8 minutes in the preheated oven. Use tongs to turn pieces over. Bake 8 minutes longer, or until chicken juices run clear.

IF YOU LIKE IT REALLY SPICY, coat again in the other 1/2 cup of hot sauce and put back into the oven for about 5 minutes.

My friend over at Blessed With Grace has SO many more wonderful recipes for you to enjoy today!!

Have a blessed day my friends!

Thrifty Finds

OK everyone....I've kinda tricked you here.

I don't have a thrifty treasure today, for Rhoda's great blog on thrifty finds.

But I'm looking for a thrifty treasure and where better to get that than all my REALLY creative thrifty friends???

This is where we are going in three week for Big Boy's 5th birthday:



I need your BEST tips, tricks and thrifty ideas on how to enjoy the day at Walt Disney World!!! We're blessed to live within driving distance of The Mouse so we are taking advantage of the "get in free on your birthday" option. We're taking Big Boy for his 5th birthday---FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!!!

Don't know about the kid but jeez, this Mama is OVER THE TOP excited!!!

But because I'm not made of money, and so far, the marry-a-sugar-daddy plan in life didn't quite work out that way, I need tips on how to save a few dollars. We plan to stay in a local hotel, just for the fun of it for a couple of nights and then hit WDW on his birthday.

So hit me with your best shot....err, tips!

And then head on over to Rhoda's Southern Hospitality because THOSE ladies really know how to find a great bargain!!

Kid Friendly Friday!

We're getting back into the groove with Kid Friendly Friday!

I went to the homeschool meeting last evening and really think this will work for us! I have a friend who has a preschooler and decided to join with us. For a nominal fee ($20/yr) we have access to their website, a forum with about 140 other HSing families and open invitation to their weekly structured field trips. There are other opportunities as our children age, such as Kindergarten graduation ceremonies, Boy Scouts, educational forums, parent meetings, Scholastic book ordering, and on and on! I really think this will be helpful in our journey. I appreciate that there are SO many families in the group. Certainly we will find someone in the group to connect with.

My only concern at this point is there was seemingly a lack of ethnic diversity at the meeting last night. There was only one couple of mixed color in the group and that was my friend!! I usually don't get too worked up about that but honestly, it does make a difference for us. We want our boys to grow up in an environment where there are many different cultures and races among the members. It is very important to us that they see that the world is made of diversity and not everyone is the same. They are not, obviously. We want that reflected in the world that surrounds them. I am hoping that this is available to us, despite the lack of that appearance last night. Granted, there were less than 40 new members last night so it was not a complete showing of the group.

So...that is my Kid Friendly Friday post. For my fellow homeschoolers, I fully recommend finding a support group to connect with. We're really looking forward to the opportunities and learning experiences the group will offer. I'm looking forward to meeting new friends....errr...the boys meeting new friends?! Oh heck! We want new friends too!

Head on over to my friend Sarah at I Blame Mom for more Kid Friendly tidbits. And in the meantime, don't forget to breath in the chaos of getting ready to go back to school!!

Back to the Bloggin' World

Hello Friends!

I'm sorry for such sad notes last week and then a disappearance. The sadness lingers and is slowing ebbing it's grip off my heart.

For my friend, of course, it still envelopes her entire soul.

I find myself worried that it may never subside.

I know it will.

I trust that God will ease her pain. I trust that Our God will restore her spirit. With time. We have faith.

It is still, so very sad and so. very. difficult.

However, I've been tossed back into REAL LIFE.

UGH! I've picked up lots of hours to work. I've got a class syllabus and lectures to prep for. I've got homeschool planning to complete. And the boys are back into swim classes again next week. JEESH! I'm tired.

But I had to show you a little rehab that I hope to work on soon. Something to get me back into the groove. Whatever that is....

Here is another new project!

Aren't they positively tacky? Yes, they are.... So these will be part of a re-do as well.

As I get myself together this week...that is the plan, ya know?! IF I get it together, I'll have a reveal ready for you by the end of the week.

I got the spray paint just screamin' my name!!!

In the meantime, head on over to Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for more great treasures!!!

And the countdown begins!

One of the most USEFUL tips I have in the parenting world? Countdowns!

You know when your kids have optionally chosen to listen to Yo Gabba Gabba's advice on saying please, but chosen to completely IGNORE your request to turn the TV off and get ready for dinner? Or when they swear they didn't hear you tell them to stop beating their brother with parts of their Thomas the Train tracks? Yours don't do that?

Oh....sorry.

Ours do.

And when I can't get their attention, I count. Firmly. 1--2--3--4--5. The boys have learned quickly....or maybe not so quickly....I've been using this techniques for a couple of years now.....that when we get to 5, a time-out or something much more drastic is coming. We rarely get to 5 anymore. It helps them to make a decision and focus on our request. It gives them parameters on their choices...either they act before we get to 5 or they have a time-out. Easy enough.

Very effective. Super parenting tips. That's what I'm giving you this week. Use it at your beck and call!

And head on over to We are THAT Family for more great life-saving tips!

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

I've been in a funk lately, cooking wise. Not too inspired, am I....but evidently I like Star Wars characters? Not really...

But I did manage to make some cookies the other day with the boys. And these were DELISH! I found the peppermint chips around the holidays and stuck 'em in the freezer for such a wonderful treat. And they are.

Think Christmas in July, via cookie flavors...

Andes Peppermint Stick Cookies

1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. vanilla (use the real stuff people--it is SO worth it!!)
2 eggs
1 pkg. Andes Peppermint crunch baking chips
2 2/3 cups sifted all purpose flour
1 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional).

Blend butter, sugars, soda, baking powder, vanilla and eggs until smooth and creamy. Stir in baking chips, then flour. Add oatmeal and pecans. Drop round spoonfuls onto baking sheet. I ALWAYS use parchment paper and then there is virtually NO clean up! Bake at 300 degrees for approximately 12 minutes. They will be soft with just a bit of crunch to the outer edges but they do not get very brown.

Careful not to overbake because then they are only good crumbled up into vanilla ice cream (hmmmm....wonder how I figured that one out?!)

If you don't eat them all before they cool, they make a great treat for a swim party! Enjoy!!

Head on over to Grace's Mom for more wonderful TMTT treats!!

Thrifty Treasures

Gotta brag about some wonderful thrifty finds--other than the Veggie Tales movie!! Check these out!!

I love this little side table! Gonna paint it a creamy white and stress it out a bit. Come back and see it!

I'm SO excited! Look at this chalkboard I found for the boy's room. A fresh coat of chalkboard paint. The little container will be painted and home to fresh new chalk!

Got this tripod for a steal at $3! Hubs thinks he can use it and if not, it will resale easily.

For our lawn care! SH is still really giving me a hard time because I sold our last one in a yard sale because I didn't think we needed it....ummm...we need it! Not bad for $3.

These clothes for Big Boy? FREE!! WOOT!

Head on over to more great thrifty finds at Southern Hospitality! Good luck on your thrifty finds this week!