Fall

During the Summer I always get impatient for the cooler weather. There is something about the crisp air, spicy smells, warm home that gives me a good feeling in my heart. I think because most of our bigger family gatherings tend to be Thanksgiving and Christmas time that it just brings the family closer. I do enjoy summer but I long for the closeness fall tends to bring. Today I was looking through old pictures and seeing all of us at christmas and thanksgiving and it just made me really long for it. I can remember the 1st day of School for us was always a chilly day, never was it warm enough to wear shorts and it seems now when the kids go back its still blazing hot out!

Maybe the older we get the less tolerant we get for uncomfortable weather, I'm not sure but I am much more happier when its cooler out. I can't wait to start baking lots of pies and big family dinners when it cools down. Its also nice to take the kids for a nice walk and look at the leaves changing colors. Such a pretty time of year and I love to admire Gods wonderful work.

Old Puzzles

How many of you have old puzzles that are missing pieces for the kids? I know I have a ton!! I decided to use chalk paint and make chalkboards for each one of the kids. Worked out perfect and keeps them busy. Plus, you get to save the wood that is still in good shape!!!

Teaching kids colors and other rewarding things

I love to come up with ideas on how to teach the kids things and not always have it be so boring. Most of you know with little kids its not easy to keep them occupied for any length of time but if you have some table mats and m&ms you may be able to do it! I bought these table mats at Target but the Dollar store always has a bunch of different kinds with lots of colors and they are cheap! I let the kids take some m&ms out of a bowl, I monitor how many, and if they can match them up to the right colors they can have them to eat. I also use these to teach them how to count as well. Since we are homeschoolers there are a lot of ways that you can learn to use everyday things in your home to teach the kids. This was just one of the many that we have done.

Really?!?!?!?!

Ok, I usually don't post or blog about this sort of thing but in doing some research into the 30s and 40s I came across this picture of a Lysol Ad and douching. They are 2 words that should NEVER be used together! It amazes me the way people would think back then. With no internet, google, Facebook or any other type of information at hand people took to advertisements as true and acceptable ways to do things. Thank GOD that we now live in a time where there is the ability to research things ourselves to make the choice if its right or wrong, however, I'm pretty sure this would be something I would NEVER do! I find it mind boggling that any woman would think that this is ok?? Really?? Maybe I am missing something, I don't know or maybe its my years of being in Nursing but to me this just isn't ok even if its printed! At first I thought this was a hoax, unfortunately its not. I love the "Retro" era, clothing, styles, music, family values ect...but I don't love the lack of knowledge a lot of people lacked! I am so very thankful today that we live in a time where while we are still learning new things, especially about woman's health, we are moving forward and not stuck with a naive mentality. Who agrees?

Jello Lego Molds

I'm always looking for neat things to do with the kids and this is something they all loved! Most kids love Legos and what kid doesn't like Jello? Great combination!! Make your jello and pour into the bigger Lego blocks, I think these are called Duplo. I let them help stir the jello and I poured. Kids are always eager to eat things that they help to prepare. This will be there desert today with some cool whip. Great summer snack.....Enjoy!

Olive Garden Style Breadsticks

Another copy cat recipe for you guys. My kiddies loved this one. Who doesn't love a good breadstick with some spaghetti dinner?! I do!! Here is what you will need.
Dough mixture:
1 1/2 cups warm water (between 110 - 120 degrees F)
1 package active dry yeast
4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon salt 


Add the sugar and yeast to the warm water about 10 min until it dissolves
sift flour and add salt, use mixer if you have one and add the dry then wet ingredients and knead until dough forms ball, remove and cover in warm spot for 45 min. Once its risen a little bit take pieces of the dough and form your own long breadsticks, place on a cookie sheet and bake at 400 for about 5 min, take out and brush with butter, garlic powder and salt mixture then place back in oven for another 10 min or until brown.

Topping:

Melted Butter

Garlic powder

salt

These were really good. My kids liked them and next time I think I will make Marinara Sauce and top them with cheese...Enjoy

Chick Fil A style nuggets

Ok, I will be the first to admit failure when trying a recipe, especially a copy cat one. I must say that this one was a HIT at my house! They disappeared as fast as I made them. We love Chick Fil A like most people do, however, with 3 kids its not always feasible to go there and order nuggets by the pound! While on Pinterest one day I seen a copy cat recipe for their nuggets and thought I would give it a try. Well, today we did and its awesome! I am going to share it with you.
3 pounds Boneless skinless chicken breast cut up into pieces, 1 cup of milk, 1 egg, 2 tbs of pickle juice, yes thats right pickle juice, mix together then marinate for about 3 hours in fridge!
In another ziploc bag put 1 cup of flour, 1/4 cup powdered sugar, tbs salt, and a tbs of pepper. Add the chicken and shake.
I use Canola oil to fry the chicken in, add the chicken but don't over crowd. Fry on each side about 3 min a piece then flip until juices are clear. Drain on a paper towel then serve. We use Ranch to dip and Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce. These are so good. I love the copy cat recipe since we can't always get out to the actual restaurants to eat their food. Enjoy :)

Tip for keeping meats moist

If you have leftovers I learned a little trick years ago in the Nursing home I worked at. Take some wet paper towels and cover your meat when microwaving them and it seals in the moisture and will not dry out. I hate that leftovers never taste good when its meat because usually they dry out, this will save that. Just keep an eye on it and put the microwave on low.

New tip

I am a total freak when it comes to cleaning and laundry, I love the smell of the home when everything is neat and tidy, almost to a fault! We use Downey for our fabric softer and Gain dryer sheets, we love the smell of our clothes so much that I took a squirt bottle put half water and half downey and shook it then sprayed, Mmmmm, smells so good and it softens everything you spray! Be careful to spray to close just incase it stains, I usually just spray our dark curtains, the rugs in the kitchen and give the linens a squirt. You can use any kind but this is our favorite.

Quick and Easy Banana Nut Bread/Cake

This was so easy and it tasted so good. It won't last long in my house, whenever I make something like this it should be called "vanishing" banana nut bread! Hope you enjoy, I'm always looking for the recipes that cut the baking time or preparation time down. With being a homeschool mom and having 2 of my 3 kids under 3 it gets a little crazy here and I'm either playing referee or making sure someone is alive! I think I may mix this up a bit and add blueberries next, what do you think? Hope you enjoy let me know if you do.

Fried Zucchini

This was so good! I used pancake batter, a little flour, creole seasoning, and heated the oil and cut up peeled zucchini and fried. Let it drain good because the grease tends to hold a lot in it so you really need to let it sit a few minutes. No need to add anything else to it, no salt or pepper and it has a nice taste and a good kick to it! We loved it!! ENJOY!

Lunch Time

Kids always want a different spin on their lunches, I am a total sucker because I always try to fix them something crafty. Today they wanted "Hot Dog Mummies" well all I did was whip up some biscuit mix and rolled it around the hot dogs and baked them. I used the Red Lobster Cheddar Bay biscuit recipe and they were really good! I found myself snacking on them too.
Red Lobster Bay Biscuit:
2 1/4 cup bisquick
garlic powder
oregano
2/3 cup of milk
1 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese shredded
Hot dogs
Mix together and then roll around the hot dog, bake at 400 degrees for about 15 min....I pretty much don't measure the spices added, I just wing it. Its really yummy. Enjoy, oh and this is really good for Halloween, not Summer, I have some silly kids :)

Our Flag

I've said so many times before that Monday's are a drag! Its either the truth or its in our heads but Monday always comes with dread of the long week ahead. I have really tried to program my way of thinking that is a blessing to even see a Monday. God knows I'm thankful just to be here another day. So with this Monday we will be doing some 4th of July crafts and learning activities and talk about how we are thankful for our independence and our freedom. Some cool things we learned about our flag are ; George Washington originally wanted to flag to have 6 point stars until Betsy Ross sewed a 5 point and then they changed their minds, Originally the colors of the flag were the British Kings colors, then it was changed to Red White and Blue which Red represents Victory, White Purity, and Blue means Loyalty. How nice to know the meaning behind things, even though its simple things like a 6 point star changed to a 5 it helps you to understand how much thought was given into our Flag. Sometimes things that have most meaning are in the little details. I think its awesome that a woman was the one who changed the Presidents mind. Gives me a better appreciation for Betsy Ross. Also, Katherine Lee Bates wrote America the Beautiful which was later turned into music. Again, another woman who had a hand in the history of our Country, I just love it and it inspires me. Just some little fun facts about our Flag and our Country.