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Homemaker

New Month, New Week, New Goals

January 31, 2010

February is here. I am happy to say I’ve finally put away all our Christmas decor and while it isn’t completely conquered, I have tamed the laundry beast and gotten somewhat of a grip on the house chores and school work.

For now

So, with this new month, I’ve set some goals for some things I’d like to get done around the house. And thanks to two different blogging friends, I have some accountability and inspiration. Thanks Andrea and Becky!!

Andrea is hosting a sew along. She’s been posting some adorable dresses and pants with pockets and all sorts of cute things she whips up in her “spare time.” I typically look at them, drool, and think, “if only” and “perhaps I should forward the link to my SIL or my mom, people who actually use their sewing machines!” But, then she introduced this concept of a sew along and I was intrigued.

This is her plan:

Week 1: Know your machine- This is for absolute beginners and for those who haven’t sewed in a while. This will require that you have a machine (yours or borrowed), the manual, some scrap fabric, scissors, a seam ripper, and thread.

Week 2: Gather your supplies- We’ll discuss pattern selection, notions, fabric, and tools. I’ll have suggestions for a few different patterns (adult and child) but you are free to use whatever pattern you want. Don’t be afraid to make something for yourself! I’ll be teaching using a basic dress pattern with a zipper.

Week 3: Cutting out your fabric- Learn about measuring and selecting the correct size as well as nap and grain and other fabric terms. You’ll also learn what all the symbols on a pattern are, how to prep your fabric, and how to cut out the pattern. I have a few tricks up my sleeve to show you.

Week 4: Begin sewing! We’ll take the plunge together and begin sewing. We’ll discuss the seam ripper and how to follow the pattern directions. We’ll learn about the different ways to finish seams as well as how to understitch, overstitch and other necessary garment sewing stitches.

Week 5: Finish it up! We’ll talk about zippers, buttons and hemming. The fun stuff! That’s right you’ll have a finished garment by the first week of March!

I know she talks about garments, but I have been wanting new curtains in our master bathroom for 6 years now, so I am starting there. (plus, no zippers are involved in the making of curtains)! And now that my husband is almost finished fixing the plumbing in our bathroom, we’ve made a goal to have our bathroom fully usable and even nicely decorated by the end of the month!

These were here when we moved and I have never liked them. Nor have I liked the fact that the rod sticks out inches beyond the window… that too shall be fixed by months end.

As if tackling a sewing project isn’t a big enough goal, I’ve also decided to join in Becky’s WOW Carnival. I’ve done this before…. remember when I finally got to weeding my flower beds last spring?… I owe it all to Becky. Basically, you set a goal for a project you’ve been wanting to get to, but keep putting on the back burner, and you tackle it within one week. This week I’d like to tackle our 2009 Family Scrapbook. (because truthfully, I want to get to our 2007 and 2008 books as well before baby number 4 arrives to the circus in a few months). I plan to make it digitally using shutterfly.com I am not sure if doing the whole book in one week is too lofty of a goal, perhaps I should say this week I’d like to organize all the pictures for our 2009 scrapbook. But, I am going to aim for getting a good chunk of the book done this week, and I’ll check in with you later this week to fill you in on the progress. Here’s hoping I make such great progress that I keep on scrapping 2 yrs more of memories!!

Feeling inspired? Feel free to join me in either or both endeavors. Becky is even offering a Starbucks gift card to one lucky WOW participant this week. Non bloggers are still welcome to participate, just leave her a comment letting her know your joining in the fun! And for those of you who have more talent and comfort than I do with a sewing machine, you may want to consider checking out Andrea’s other carnival.

I’d definitely appreciate the encouragement and support as I take on these two tasks. I promise to post updates on the progress.

{ 7 comments }

What’s Cooking at the Circus

January 17, 2010

in Meals, cooking, videos, recipes

I have found that by planning my meals for the month, I can drastically reduce our families grocery spending. It takes time and a whole lot of effort though. And to be honest the past several months I wasn’t so good about it. But, then Scott and I sat down and took a look at our spending. And we realized that we needed to be a whole lot better about sticking to our budget.

And so, the first thing I did at the beginning of the month is sit down with google calendar and plan out my meals. I made my grocery list based on this meal plan. Then I took a trip to Walmart to stock up on a months worth of groceries. I kid you not three separate people looked at me and my overflowing cart and one actually laughed at it.

Some may think planning your meals out for a month isn’t flexible enough. Basically, it is a rough estimate. I can still switch things up a bit, but I know that aside from milk and produce, I have everything I need for the months worth of meals. If I want to switch the meal from the 13 to the 27th, there is not rule saying I can’t. And I don’t have to wrack my tired brain at 5:00 each day trying to figure out what we’re having for dinner.

We’re half way through the month and so far we’re on pace for sticking with the January grocery budget! So, I thought I’d share what’s working for us at the circus as well as our meal plan for the week.

Sunday- breakfast for dinner: waffles

Monday- lasagna, rolls, green beans

Tuesday- dinner at a friends house, I’m bringing dessert… any suggestions? I am trying to make something without having to go out and buy any new ingredients…otherwise, I’d totally make this. Anyone have a yummy desert recipe I can make with ingredients you have on hand around the house?

Wednesday- Sarah’s Creamy Broccoli Cheese Soup, home made rolls

Thursday- I am going out for a girls night with my SIL and good friend… we’re eating at Chipotle, then watching this movie, and enjoying some “Gilmore Girls style” junk food.

The fam, however, will be eating pepperoni bread, applesauce, and corn.

Friday- chicken pot pie (or as my kids call it… vegetable pie…they are excited b/c it is sure to make their ears taste disgusting)

Saturday- French toast, sausage

You can check out org junkie for more menu planning ideas.

{ 7 comments }

Thanksgiving Recipes: Old and New

November 26, 2009

in holidays, recipes

This year the Thanksgiving menu held some old favs and some new favs as well. Thought I’d share the recipes so you could stick em in your box for next year, or for later this holiday season.

My mom’s apple pie is by far my most favorite apple pie in the world. In fact, I am an apple pie snob and won’t eat any other pie but her recipe. Because, once you’ve had this one, no others compare in my opinion. So this is a staple at Thanksgiving and anytime you want apple pie at the circus.

Apple Crumb Pie

2/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6-8 tart apples, pared, cored and sliced (6 cups)
1 9-inch unbaked pastry shell
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter

Combine first three ingredients; stir into apples. Turn into pastry shell. Combine remaining flour and sugar; cut in butter till crumbly. Sprinkle over apples. bake at 400 for 45-50 minutes or until done. If pie browns too quickly, cover edge with foil.

This year, we also tried two new recipes in addition to our old stand bys.

Last week we read Cranberry Thanksgiving for school thanks to the 5 in a Row curriculum. The book has a recipe in the back for Grandmother’s Famous Cranberry Bread. My son made it at his tutorial with his class last week and he decided that we must include it at our feast this year. So, he and Grandma made it Wednesday night. I must say, it is the best cranberry bread I’ve ever had and I think it will be a new Thanksgiving staple for the circus crew.

Grandmother’s Famous Cranberry Bread

2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup butter
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
3/4 cup orange juice
1 1/2 cups light raisins (we used crasins instead)
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped

Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda into a large bowl. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Add egg, orange peel, and orange juice all at once; stir just until mixture is evenly moist. Fold in raisins and cranberries.

Spoon into a greased 9×5x3-inch loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Remove from pan, cool on wire rack.

I also made Sarah’s Sweet Potato Casserole. It was delicious! And also deemed a repeat for future years. Or as Scott suggested, why wait till Thanksgiving, couldn’t we eat it other times throughout the year too? I say sure,why not?

As we sat down at the table filled with delicious food, my son declared, “We forgot something.” I couldn’t figure out what it was and he said, “We need to go around the table and say what we’re thankful for.” And you know what he was thankful for? School. Bless his heart, I love that boy.

How about you? What are you thankful for this year?

{ 2 comments }

Keeping Me Humble

November 22, 2009

in Darndest Things, Homemaker, Keeping it Real

I was feeling pretty good about myself this week. Got a little boost of energy with week 12 and began to tame this household which I had slacked off on over the first trimester. Finally, I can leave the guest bedroom door open as well as the master bed room. I even cleaned out the van which had reached its height of total messiness, threw away all that trash crammed in around the car seats and brought in the plethora of coats and shoes which were strewn all over the floor. This was also the week of the harvest party at our tutorial, which me and another mom were in charge of. I spent all day Wednesday at the tutorial setting up, running, and cleaning up after the harvest party. And yet I even got all, yes ALL, of the laundry washed and just two baskets left to fold and put away. And this was the week, Scott was out of town for 3 days/nights on business.

Yes, I was feeling pretty darn good about my week.

And then I picked my son up from Sunday School.

Funny how something so simple can take you down a notch or two.

The teacher greeted me with a smile on her face and said, “I have got to tell you what your son said today. He always says the funniest things.”

Uh-oh, I thought. I’ve worked with children enough to know that this will not end well for the parents.

“We asked the kids what their Moms and Dads did during the day and you son said that you lay on the couch and sleep and comment on other peoples blogs while he watches TV.”

Nice.

What I failed to mention is that last night I was feeling quite sick. Got home from the end of season soccer party with a killer headache and nausea. Scott had to go to the homeless ministry, so I sat on the couch with a bowl on my lap and let the kids watch cartoons as I dozed and snuggled with them.

How sad that a weeks worth of hard work can be completely forgotten because of one evening of slacking on the couch.

{ 9 comments }

Gana’s French Toast

September 8, 2009

in Meals, recipes

I love my husband’s Nana. She’s a remarkable lady. I loved her for years, just based on hearing about her from her grandson and reading her sweet letters. Then, I flew to California and met her. And I loved her as my own Nana!!

When I walked in her side door, I instantly felt at home. I sat down at her table and never wanted to leave again.

Gana (as my kids call her b/c she is their Great Nana) is famous for her quince jam, her tacos, and her French toast (among many other things).

Being a mother of three boys, she is used to making food in bulk. And her method of making French toast totally works for me!

I used to cook my French toast one at a time in oil in a frying pan. Not exactly healthy or quick. Then a few years ago my in laws gave me a large waffle iron. I squealed with delight, “Now I can make French toast like Nana!”

Yes, Gana’s secret for French toast is to cook it in one of those large waffle irons (not those tiny circular single serving Belgium waffles irons). The waffle iron seems to seal in the taste in the bread and I love the fact that I can cook 4 at a time.

It might not look like your average French toast… it def looks like a cross between a waffle and French toast. Call it waffle toast…or French waffles…or toasted waffles…whatever you call it, call it breakfast…because it is delicious! I’m telling you, it’s tasty, more healthy, and definitely quicker than my old method. It’s worth a try, I promise you!

{ 16 comments }

Camp Fire Donuts

August 17, 2009

in camping, recipes

This recipe for warm and gooey deliciousness is courtesy of Scott’s college room mate. It’s not as easy as popping a mallow on a stick and roasting it, but it is oh so worth the effort!

You must try camp fire donuts on your next over night camping trip…

First you take a can of Pillsbury breadsticks (or a generic equivalent)

Pop it open

Then you begin to wrap the bread dough around a stick

Next you get some chocolate…chips work best, (but I forgot to put the chips in a cooler so we had to opt for broken bits of Hersey bars b/c my mom put her chocolate in the cooler).

As you wrap the dough around the stick you add the chocolate and wrap the dough around it.

When you finish make sure you pinch and tuck the top and bottom.

Next you toast the “doughnut” over the fire

till it is golden brown.

You take the golden dough nut and rub it around in butter (ours was melted due to the extreme August heat, but melted just makes it all the better)

Roll the buttered, golden doughnut in brown sugar.

Slide it off the stick

and enjoy!

I have no idea why they are called doughnuts since they aren’t round and don’t have hole in the center. But, I do know they are fabulous (and messy (see Rules of Camping). Camp fire doughnuts definitely, work for me.

{ 16 comments }

Will the Real Crystal please stand up?

August 5, 2009

in Homemaker

If you’ve been following my tweets or facebook statuses over the past few weeks, then you know I have been crazy cleaning girl here lately. In addition to my late night bathroom scrubbing and Friday night painting parties, today I did something I’ve never done before.

I got a friend to watch my kids so I could do house work.

I’ve had a friend watch the kids so I could go to the OB, or to a school interview, even for some volunteering at the preschool, but for house work?

I am pretty sure those of you that know me well are turning your heads wondering what has come over Crystal. Since when did she go all OCD on us? What happened to the circus?

I assure the circus is still very much here… simply take a look inside my van… we’ve got fast food bags and at least 5 pairs of shoes plus a few strays, not to mention a toy or ten.

But I’ve made some goals for the summer. Some deep cleaning, house keeping goals. And I couldn’t come close to reaching them without some kid free time at the house.

Today I tackled the dark area behind our toy room. We have this big room downstairs. 3/4 of it is the toy room. Then we have a small wall and on the other side is kind of a make shift office/work out area. Only for the past 2 years it has really just been a place to stick stuff that I didn’t know what to do with.

Today was the day for tackling the stuff I have been putting off for a year or two… or five…

I sorted through the stuff behind the wall. Making piles for donated, piles for trash, piles that had homes other places in the house…. and a few piles for Scott to sort through. I have no idea what to do with wires, and spare computer parts… those are entirely his domain. But at least now his domain is tidy and we can deal with that another ~~day~~ year.

With this job done, I went upstairs to organize the kids book shelf. Some books needed to be weeded out b/c they’ve been damaged. Others are too young for them. The rest just needed to be organized. I love the way it looks now.

From there I set off to tackle the toy box.

You would not believe the stuff that made its way to the bottom of the toy box.

Things like, oh, a new toilet flapper, 3 bags of tea, measuring spoons, magnets, bath toys, socks, diapers (clean), and of course toys. But the toys were all disheveled. Lincoln logs, legos, little people, doll clothes, army men, light sabers….you get the picture.

I threw tons away, put things in their proper place, and lightened the upstairs toys quite a bit. We have a toy room downstairs and that is where 95% of our toys reside. But, we have some upstairs toys as well. However, throughout the year, many of the toys mysteriously make their way out of the toy room, up the stairs and into the toy box, never to be seen or played with again.

With an hour to go till it was time to head back for my kids, I was able to put everything away which I had sorted out, and even tackle the closet in the kids room!

(I forgot how much one could do when left alone).

The kids closet is not really the kids closet at all. Technically, it is in the kids bedroom, but they are forbidden to open it and I don’t think anything in there belongs to them. It is another one of those places we stick stuff that has no home. Much like the island of lost toys, it holds a hodge podge of items.. my wedding dress, prom dresses, bridesmaid dresses, leaf for our dining room table, 3 floor lamps, boxes for all of our cameras, cds, board games…

I got rid of quite a few dresses….for years now I have held onto the thought that maybe some day I’d fit into those dresses again and wear them on a cruise. Today I realized that even if I did fit into those dresses, I doubt I’d want to wear them now. It’s not like I shop in the junior department these days. (OK, I will confess I did keep a few…with the hope that maybe, someday they’d fit again and really, I think they are classic pieces). Perhaps next year I’ll have another reality check and get rid of those last few… but still I made huge progress in clearing out the dark abyss of the closet.

I am flying high on the deep cleaning and organizing going on here at the circus. My to do list still has much to do, but I think it will all be manageable during naptimes and stolen moments when the kids are playing nicely together. My plan is to get the list tackled before Labor Day. We also have two weekends away planned in that time. After our annual labor day extravaganza, it will be school time here at the circus. I can hardly wait!!!

{ 17 comments }

Tackling the Entry Way

August 3, 2009

in Homemaker

Recently I decided the entry way to our home needed a face lift. For the past 6 years I’ve had a narrow card table covered with a table cloth and some seasonal decor on the top. Sounds classy huh?

Well last month I decided my table had to go.

This left me with a bare white wall.

Nothing says “home sweet home” like a big empty wall of blah.

So, Friday night my dear friend and I painted the town red. Or my entry “leather bond.”

I did a second coat on Saturday morning, but after further inspection, it’s been decided that it could use one more coat. I was going to put off the post until I could give you a photo without the lovely blue tape borders, but we’re not there yet.

I’m still not sure what to do with the space. I’ve thought of perhaps getting a bench to put in there. Though part of me likes the extra space as you come in the door and go up the stairs. Sometimes the circus crew needs space, ya know? And I am hesitant to give us something to deposit our junk on when we walk in the door.

I’m toying with what to put on the wall. My current thought is to go with a vinyl wall decor. If I went this route, I don’t know what to choose….something sappy, a Bible verse, something silly, our name… any thoughts? I’m stumped.

I am open to something else entirely, so if you see this wall and have a bright idea, or any idea really, of something, ~~cheap~~ inexpensive that would make it look homey, please share your thoughts.

And click here, if you’re interested in seeing what others are tackling this week.

{ 14 comments }

I am Not Sure What Has Come Over Me

July 23, 2009

in Homemaker

Something strange must be in the air here at the circus,b/c this week I’ve been cleaning like I haven’t cleaned since I was nesting. Seriously, last night at 9:00 Scott came home from sailing to find me scrubbing the baseboards of our bathroom with a toothbrush. If he hadn’t heard the kids screaming for him from their bedroom, I am sure he’d have thought he went into the wrong house!

I know I have been negligent on the blog front, but let me tell you on the home front I have scrubbed the walls and baseboards, cleaned the bathroom top to bottom (including the itty bitty corner behind the potty), washed the dog, stayed on top of laundry, cleaned and organized the toy room, cleaned (and dusted) my bedroom, gone grocery shopping, grated a zucchini, and baked some zucchini bread and muffins. Still on today’s to do list is to mop the entry way and kitchen floors, finish my dad’s father’s day gift (ya know since it’ll be August next week and all), order some pics to be printed to update my frames, and finish putting away laundry. Tonight we have a double date with some friends to see the new Transformers movie. Then tomorrow I just gotta scrub my sink and stove, clean off my counter top, and bake and decorate my daughter’s birthday cake… oh and buy the last minute food for her party on Sat.

I am not sure the exact motivation for this deep clean, but I am taking full advantage of it while the mood is here. My son asked me yesterday why I cleaned the dog for his sister’s party and never for his birthday. I tried to explain that all this cleaning isn’t just b/c of her party. Her party is my deadline b/c I need self-induced deadlines. I have a whole list of stuff to accomplish in August so I can feel like my entire house is spic and span and organized so I can home school in the fall. Yea, b/c somewhere in the state requirements for homeschooling it says you must start the year with a clean and organized home…(note rare use of sarcasm by the circus mom)

Whatever the reason, I am happy with the result and hopeful we can maintain the new state of cleanliness here at the circus! (I’ve always been an optimist)!

PS: Have no fear, for those of you that have missed my regularity in blogging and commenting, I have plans for getting back on top of that soon… already know what I want to write about for Fri and my weekend thought for Saturday. Incase you were wondering!

{ 9 comments }

Working Hard (or hardly working)

July 21, 2009

in Darndest Things, Homemaker, Motherhood

My son is quite the little entrepreneur. The other night after dinner my husband was reading the girls a book and I sat on the couch to read a little myself. I looked over to see what my son was up to and discovered he had put all the dishes in the sink, and was scrubbing the dining room table. He even asked where the sandwich bags where so he could bag up the leftovers and put them in the fridge. Needless to say, I praised him for his hard work and the big help he was to me. As I sat down reading my book, I thought to myself how I could really get used to this. Then my son piped up, “Mom, I’m doing this b/c I want to make some money.” So much for being motivated to serve out of his love and devotion to dear old mom. I promised him that this week Dad and I would talk about allowances and chores.

Of course the next day when I asked him to clean the table up after breakfast, he complained that he wished he had never told me it was fun and he didn’t want this to be his job anymore. He then wanted to know if he could “take my flute and a hat and go play for money so he could pay someone else to clean the table.”

Looks like Dad and I definitely have to sit down this week and talk about chores and allowances. We gotta set some rules and standards here soon. He’s obviously old enough to work and I think he’s old enough to have some money of his own as well. We just gotta decide how the two relate to one another.

{ 7 comments }

The Sweet Taste of Success

July 20, 2009

in Gardening, recipes

Those of you that have been part of the circus for awhile, know that I seriously lack a green thumb.

I guess you could call me naive, but this spring I decided to try again. Much like peach picking, my goal in gardening is to teach my kids. So, I didn’t go for huge garden with hopes of providing a summer’s worth of produce. Instead, I opted for a few plants that we could watch grow and hopefully taste the fruits of our labor.

Last night I took a look at the garden. Now I know a seasoned gardener would have been checking up on her plants all along. But you all know I am not a seasoned gardener.

We’ve got some tomatoes and peppers that should be ripe soon!

But we don’t have to wait any longer to enjoy one of our sweet successes!

Check this bad boy out!

I was delightfully surprised when I uncovered this zucchini!

The kids and I will be baking some home made zucchini bread tomorrow using my mom’s recipe. Every time I make it, I laugh. In high school, my good friend Jami came over and we devoured an entire loaf of bread. At that time, my mom used to make tons of low fat recipes from weight watchers, and I assumed that this one was low fat as well. I told my friend it was fat free so we could just keep eating and eating. Years later when I made it myself, I realized I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Not exactly low fat, but it is delicious!!

Mom’s Zucchini Bread

makes 2 loaves

Ingredients:

3 eggs                                                       1 cup oil

2 cups sugar                                           3 tsp vanilla

2 cups grated, unpeeled zucchini

3 cups flour                                            1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder                       1 tsp salt

3 tsp cinnamon                                      1/2 cup walnuts

1/2 cup chocolate chips (technically optional) But, I say they are a must!

Beat eggs slightly; add oil, sugar and vanilla. Mix well. Stir in zucchini. Add dry ingredients. Mix well and pour into two greased loaf pans.

Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until bread test done in center with a toothpick.

Makes a very moist bread!!

{ 7 comments }

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