A Killer Yard Sale

In a couple of weeks, I've decided to have a yard sale.  The two rooms that used to be my kids' rooms are filled with boxes - boxes of clothes, shoes, books, Christmas trimmings, etc.  This morning I started sorting through the boxes.  I decided that if I want my yard sale to be successful, I have to plan.

My plans for a killer yard sale:

sort items by groups - books in one pile, shoes in another pile, and so forth

make sure electronics work

make sure items are clean

price items to SELL!

have plenty of bags and newspaper for wrapping fragile items

have plenty of change - I'm starting out with 2-10's, 4-5's, 25-1's, $30 in quarters, and $5 in dimes

put signs out the night before

advertise on craigslist

Budgets

As I've said before, I'm a big fan of setting up a monthly budget and keeping track of my spending.  Before I got my new computer, I used Microsoft money, but it isn't available anymore, so I've been looking for a new alternative.  Right now, I'm trying a couple of different programs.  I set up an account at www.mint.com.  It's FREE to set up an account and you can set up a budget or set up savings plans to reach your goals, such as paying off credit card debt or saving for retirement.  The other program that I'm using is called Checkbook Ease and you can download it to your computer for $8.95.  It's set up like a checkbook and you can also create a budget.  I like Checkbook Ease because I can track my daily expenditures easier than I can with Mint, but I like Mint because you can set goals and track your progress.

These two programs are just two of the many options available.  I still write my budget out every month on paper so that I always have it with me.  You can check out www.debtproofliving.com and www.crown.org for more ideas on how to set up your budget.  Believe me though - when you know where your money is going, it's a lot easier to save it.

Wedding Plans

My daughter Amber will be marrying a great guy, Chris, in March 2012.  There are lots of plans to make.  One of the most important decisions that a bride has to make is choosing her wedding dress.  My sister Mary came down from Virginia and we met Amber and Chris's sister, Jessie, at a local bridal shop.  Shopping for a wedding gown with my daughter was very special to me.  I've watched her grow into a beautiful accomplished young woman and Chris is a very special young man.  He loves my daughter and takes care of her - what more could a mom want for her only daughter?  She found THE DRESS!  And she looks beautiful in it.  And Chris is such a romantic; he won't see Amber in her dress until she walks down the aisle.

The Sweetest Gift

Valentine's Day is not one of those holidays that I pay much attention to.  I don't have a sweetheart of my own, so I tend to treat Valentine's Day as just another day.  It's one of those holidays that I don't even expect my kids to call me on.  But they both surprised me; my son, Troy, called me from Afghanistan to wish me a Happy Valentine's Day.  My daughter, Amber, called and left a message on my phone wishing me a Happy Valentine's Day and telling me that I taught her how to love.  I saved that message.  It validated me as a mom and as a person.  It was the best Valentine's gift that I've ever gotten.  Chocolate is nice; flowers are pretty; jewelry is bling - all nice gifts.  But I got the best gift of all - I got love.

The Perfect Hamburger

I am still on my quest of trying not to cook the same thing twice this year.  I'll be honest with you; last week was hectic and my sister and I survived on fish sticks, Anytizers, and tator tots - not exactly a culinary feast.

My sister, Debbie, gave me this recipe for "the perfect hamburger."  I think the recipe originally was featured in an issue of "Taste of Home."

The Perfect Hamburger

1 egg, lightly beaten

2 tbs. chili sauce

1 tsp. dried minced onion

1 tsp. prepared horseradish 

1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp. salt

1 lb. lean ground beef

4 hamburger buns

In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients (except buns).  Shape into four patties and cook over medium-high heat until done.  Serve on buns with desired toppings.

These burgers are really moist and delicious.  I served mine with mac & cheese and green beans - yum!

Pantry Storage

One of the websites that I like is http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net.  I've gotten some good ideas on how to organize my own pantry from this website.  One element of food storage that's discussed on their site is rotating can storage.  They have a pattern that you can download to make your own can rack.  When I looked at the pattern, I knew that I could make my own can rack a lot easier, so here's my version.

 First, I started saving the fridge boxes for soda pop.  I cut the top off (where the hand grips are) and reinforced the ends with clear packing tape.

Next, I traced the side and end of the soda box on a cardboard box.  I wanted two side pieces and two end pieces to further reinforce the soda box.  I cut out the pieces using a box cutter and trimmed the pieces to fit snugly with scissors.

 

 I covered the exterior of the box with leftover wallpaper.  I used Elmer's glue and clear packing tape to attach the wallpaper to the soda box.

 Here are pictures of the finished box.  The box holds ten cans of vegetables and is very sturdy.

Here's a picture of a can storage box that I covered with Fabric Craft Peel N Stick Fabric.

 

A Wintery Picnic

I heard on the news today that Florida is the only state that doesn't have snow on the ground - wow!  By Florida standards, it was cold today, in the 50's.  I know, I know, I don't have any right to complain.  But I still was cautious when my friend Kathleen invited me and my sister to a picnic at a local park.  Altogether, there were six of us; we all brought something to share and we just had the best time eating and talking. 

On the left side of the table, front to back - Sherry, me, Melissa

On the right side of the table, front to back - Debbie (my sis), Kathleen, Calvetta

Sherry had a cool picnic backpack like this one from Amazon, and it was all  just too too elegant (lol) -

 

Guilty Pleasures

I have a confession.  I love chocolate; one of my favorites is chocolate covered popcorn from Peterbrooke Chocolatier - ooh!  It's one of my guilty pleasures.  Here are my top ten guilty pleasures (in no particular order).

1. chocolate covered popcorn - check it out at www.peterbrooke.com
2. movie theater popcorn - I rarely go to the theater to watch a movie, so I always splurge on popcorn when I go
3. bubble baths
4. white chocolate milkshakes
5. trying on shoes - funny considering that, in my closet, are one pair of sneakers, a pair of black pumps, black sandals, and some really ugly pink flip flops
6. Kilwin's
7. "Steel Magnolias" - this is such a chick flick
8. "Resident Evil" - I own all of the RE movies, except for the newest one - I love these movies!
9. facials
10. back rubs - there's nothing more relaxing than a back massage.

Stash Baskets

I love baskets.  They make great decorative pieces and they're great for storage.  I found a really easy pattern to crochet a stash basket on www.favecrafts.com.  This is a wonderful website to find all types of crafts.

Materials:

• Lily® Sugar’n Cream (70.9 g / 2.5 oz)
• SMALL: #00001 (White) or #00062 (Emerald) 2 balls
• MEDIUM: #00095 (Red) 3 balls
• Size 3.5 mm (U.S. E or 4) crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge.
• Fabric stiffener.

Measurements:

Small: Approx 5 x 5 x 6 ins 12.5 x 12.5 x 15 cm, with top unfolded.
Medium: Approx 5 x 10 x 6 ins 12.5 x 25.5 x 15 cm, with top unfolded.

Gauge: 18 sc and 20 rows = 4 ins 10 cm.

SIDES

Ch 28.
1st row: (RS). 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook. 1 sc in each ch to end of ch. Turn. 27 sc.
2nd row: Ch 1. 1 sc in each sc across. Turn.
Rep last row until work from beg measures 5 ins [12.5 cm], ending with a WS row.
 

Small Basket only: **Next row: (RS). (Fold line). Ch 1. Working through back loops only, 1 sc in each sc across. Turn.
Next row: Ch 1. Working through both loops, 1 sc in each sc across. Turn.
Rep last row until work from beg measures 5 ins [12.5 cm], ending with a WS row.**
Rep from ** to ** twice more.
Next row: (RS). (Joining row).
Place foundation ch behind last row with WS of work tog. Ch 1. Working through both thicknesses, 1 sc in each sc across. Fasten off.

Medium Basket only: Next row: (RS). (Fold line). Ch 1. Working through back loops only, 1 sc in each sc across. Turn.
***Next row: Ch 1. Working through both loops, 1 sc in each sc across. Turn.
Rep last row until work from last fold line measures 10 ins [25.5 cm], ending with a WS row.***
Next row: (RS). (Fold line). Ch 1. Working through back loops only, 1 sc in each sc across. Turn.
Next row: Ch 1. Working through both loops, 1 sc in each sc across. Turn.
Rep last row until work from last fold line measures 5 ins [12.5 cm], ending with a WS row.
Rep from *** to *** once more.
Next row: (RS). (Joining row).
Place foundation ch behind last row. Working through both thicknesses, 1 sc in each sc across. Fasten off.

BASE
Ch 23 (46).
1st row: (RS). 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook. 1 sc in each ch to end of ch. Turn. 22 (45) sc.
2nd row: Ch 1. 1 sc in each sc across. Turn.
Rep last row until work from beg measures 5 ins [12.5 cm], ending with a WS row. Do not fasten off.

Join Base to Sides: Place lower edge of Sides behind Base with WS of work tog, aligning corners of Base with fold lines and joining row of Sides.
Next rnd: (RS). Ch 1. Working through both thicknesses, work 1 rnd of sc around all 4 sides of Base. Join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.

FINISHING
Apply fabric stiffener to Baskets following manufacturer’s directions. Fold top edge to RS.

I made a small stash basket out of some leftover brown yarn that I had and I made a medium basket out of plarn (plastic yarn).  I'm pretty happy with the way that they turned out.

Baskets & Bowls in Crochet

Rainy Day Cooking

Today was one of those gray, dismal, rainy days.  It's the kind of day where you just want to crawl under a blanket and take a nap.  I decided to cook.  I didn't have any place special to go, and I needed to bake some cookies to send to our military next week.  Before I started baking, I made doughnuts in my Dazey doughnut maker - yum!  And I juiced some oranges that my friend Crystal had given me.

I made pudding chip cookies for the soldiers; it's one of my favorite recipes.  I got the recipe from the "All New Bake Sale Cookbook."

Pudding Chip Cookies

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 package (4-serving size) Jello Instant Pudding and Pie Filling*

1 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 pkg. (12-ounces) semi-sweet chocolate chips**

1 cup chopped nuts

*butter pecan, chocolate, milk chocolate, chocolate fudge, french vanilla, vanilla, or butterscotch (my favorite)

**I use different flavors of chips too; butterscotch chips with butterscotch pudding or chocolate chips with vanilla pudding or white chocolate chips with chocolate pudding - feel free to mix it up.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.  Beat butter, sugars, pudding mix, and vanilla in large bowl until smooth and creamy.  Beat in eggs.  Gradually add flour and baking soda.  Stir in chips and nuts (dough will be stiff).  Drop by teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.  

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned.  Remove from cookie sheets and cool on racks.

 

Superbowl Snacks

I love watching football.  I watch college football on Saturdays and the NFL on Sunday.  I look forward to football season every year.  I have been a fan of the Dallas Cowboys since I was a kid and I have a Roger Staubach trading card - my hero!  So of course I'm looking forward to the Super Bowl this weekend and I'll be rooting for the Packers - I attended college at the University of WI - Stevens Point.  And what's a football game without snacks?  My  two favorites are Dijon Bacon Dip and Chili Cheese Dip (Queso to my daughter).  

Dijon Bacon Dip

1 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup dijon mustard

1/4 cup real bacon bits

1 tbs. prepared horseradish

Blend all ingredients; refrigerate until game time.  Serve with Fritos scoopers.

Chili Cheese Dip or Amber's Queso

1 8-oz. block of cream cheese

1 can of hot chili

1 cup shredded cheddar

Put the cream cheese in a microwave safe bowl and cover with the chili.  Place shredded cheddar over the chili.  Cover and microwave for 3 minutes.  Stir and microwave for additional 3 minutes.  Serve with tortilla chips.

There you have it - my two favorite football snacks.

The Best Meatloaf Ever!

This week has been kind of hectic with a lot going on at work and at home.  It's Wednesday, the middle of the week, the weather has been gray, and I just wanted something really tasty, but easy, to fix.  Meatloaf is comfort food to me and I love how easy it is to fix.  There must be a hundred different ways to fix meatloaf, but this recipe is the best.  I've made it since my kids were little and even my mom liked it!  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Best Meatloaf Ever

1 lb. ground beef

2 slices of bread, torn into small pieces

1 envelope of onion soup mix

1 egg

1/3 cup BBQ sauce

Mix all together and place in a loaf pan.  Spread BBQ on top and bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.

Serve with homemade mashed potatoes and wow - it's so good!