Monday, January 6, 2014

It's been forever since I've posted a menu here, but rest assured I've been planning every week. It makes everything so much easier when there's a plan in place. Occasionally I have to be flexible (especially if I go to the store and find an awesome deal on something), but for the most part I'm able to keep pretty close to what I've planned. Lately though, I have strayed from more vintage menus and I'm trying to work on getting back on track with them. I think they allow for a nice variety, plus open us up to trying new foods. Here's this week's menu, slightly adapted from my Modern Family Cookbook (1943).

Monday-Corned beef hash, eggs, baked squash, bread and butter, whipped gelatine

Tuesday-Indian butter chicken, baked potatoes, carrots

Wednesday-Pan fried pork chops, mashed potatoes, peas, butterscotch pudding

Thursday-Scalloped potatoes and ham, butter beans, carrots, apple dumplings

Friday-Chicken a la king, cottage potatoes, spinach

Saturday-Date Night

Sunday-Chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, cocoa puff

Do you menu plan? For loads of menu ideas, visit orgjunkie.com!


Edit-I could have sworn I posted this yesterday!

Saturday, January 4, 2014

A Christmas Wish Come True

As I've mentioned previously, my camera is not the best. I was really hoping for a new, better one for Christmas and I got one! I love it, though I'm still getting used to all the things it does. Here are a few of the fun things I can now do:

 This one is "toy camera" and is supposed to give the illusion of being taken with a toy camera.

 This one is supposed to make it look like the subject is miniature. I really like it!

 I forget the name of this one, but it's supposed to give a fairy tale quality to the picture.
 This one is soft focus. Obviously, it gives a fuzzy quality to the picture!

 This one is really cool. I have it for red, yellow, blue, orange, green, and purple. It picks up whatever color you choose and the rest is black and white. Neat, huh?

And the last is a panoramic view. Looking forward to using this one when we go to Disney again.

So happy to have a camera that actually takes a decent picture the very first time I try and take one! I will definitely be taking and posting more pictures!

Friday, January 3, 2014

A Fun Friday

According to several weather reports, we were supposed to have some nasty, rainy weather last night and then freezing temperatures. We were also supposed to have a dusting of snow. All we got was rain. However, since I didn't know what the weather was going to be like and it was supposed to be bitterly cold today with high winds (which it was), I decided to let the kids stay home. Boy were they happy!

They slept in, lounged around in their pj's all day, and just generally had a nice, lazy day at home. As an added bonus, I made a fun breakfast for them: pancake muffins. Now, I had seen this idea on facebook (which I think came from Pinterest), and I was intrigued by it. It looked like something they would enjoy. But when I made them, they puffed up like muffins (like these) instead of sinking into cups. The kids loved them, though next time they request that the chocolate chips be stirred into the batter. Here's how I made them:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease your muffin tin (I used spray)
2. Make your pancake batter (I use the Trader Joe's mix)
3. Scoop into your prepared pan and sprinkle on toppings
4. Bake 15-20 minutes

 Before baking
After baking

Thursday, January 2, 2014

New Year...New Goals

I don't usually make New Year resolutions. I make New Year goals. I think that sounds so much better, don't you? It makes me feel better, too, if I can at least make an effort in obtaining my goals than making a half hearted attempt at keeping resolutions. Here are my goals for this year:

Build a better wardrobe
Knit more
Lose weight (I've become very serious about my weight loss. I've lost 12 pounds since December 9!)
Make a detailed cleaning routine and *stick with it*
Finally make a household binder
Do regular blogging
Purchase gifts throughout the year so I'm not spending too much at Christmastime
Have raised beds in place in time to plant a fall garden
Take better care of myself (i.e. dress better, regularly do hair and make up)
Start the dollar a week plus savings plan
Give at least one homemade gift per gift giving occasion
Craft more

Some of these go hand in hand. The building a better wardrobe goes with knit more (and I should have put down sew more). I have finally decided on core colors for myself...red, navy, and grey. 

The regular blogging...hoping to really stick with that. It's a fresh month so I hope I can continue to post every day.

The cleaning routine and household binder more or less go together, too. I've been scouring my 1940's Homekeeping Book in an effort to find the best cleaning routine for our new house. It's slowly coming together.

I have already started a gift for a friend's birthday this month.

I will try and remember to update as things are done!

Do you make resolutions or goals? What are they?

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Happy New Year!

So, the house has been eating up quite a bit of time. However, a lot has been accomplished and I anticipate having more time to blog. To that end, I have joined Nablopomo for January, committing myself to posting every day. The theme for January is Pressure which immediately made me think of my pressure cooker. My husband uses it more than I, but I think that will have to change. I will have to drag it out and see what I can do with it!

Back tomorrow with my list of New Year's Goals!