Recipes: Brown Sugar Meatloaf

Brown Sugar Meatloaf
1/2 C packed Brown Sugar
1/2 C ketchup
1 1/4 lb. lean ground beef
1 small onion
3/4 C ground up saltine crackers
2 eggs
3/4 C Milk
1 1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1/4 t ground ginger

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a bread pan and pack bottom with the brown sugar. Pour ketchup evenly over brown sugar and set aside.
Combine all other ingredients in a separate bowl. Once you have everything combined, pour on top ketchup. Shape into log or just make sure its pretty even all over.
Put in oven for 1 hr.
I served it with baked potatoes and corn.
DELISH!

Baby Room: Window Treatments

After brainstorming on what to do for the windows in the baby's room, I came across a couple of blog entries like this one and this one to make pelmet boxes. They looked so easy to make I had to give it a try.

This is what I had to buy:

2 42'' foam boards

duct tape

hot glue gun

batting

1.5 yards of fabric

exacto knife

First I cut the front of what the box would look like. These boxes I cut out are about 14'' long and about 42'' wide.

Then I cut out some pieces for the back of the box that will allow it to hang from the wall. The long ones are 3'' long and 42'' wide and the small ones are 3'' long and 14'' wide.

After I had everything cut out, I taped them with duct tape to make the shape of the box. I put the piece of board on top so that it can rest on the curtain rod and I don't have to screw anything to the wall.

Then I cut out the batting and fabric and laid it out under the box and started gluing it to the foam board with the hot glue gun.
After a lot of burnt fingers from the hot glue gun and a lot of creative pulling and tugging of the fabric, I came up with this final product. To make it stay up, I actually put a couple of drops of hot glue on the the ends of the curtain rod and pressed on the top of the foam board that goes directly above the rod to keep it in place. Tadahh! hope you liked it!

Recipe: Egg Casserole

Egg Casserole
26 oz. bag frozen hashbrowns
8 Eggs
1/2 C butter, melted
1/2 cup Milk
1/4 t salt
12 slices bacon
2 cups cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Spread hashbrowns in a greased 9X13 pan. Pour melted butter over the brownies and put in oven for 20 minutes.

While hashbrowns are cooking, cook bacon on skillet and combine eggs, milk and salt together.
Once hashbrowns are out, pour egg mixture over potatoes, crush bacon on top and cover with cheese. Put in oven for 35- 40 minutes.
Done!

We usually pair this with buscuits and fresh fruit.

Recipes: BBQ Chicken Pizza

BBQ Chicken Pizza

1 Chicken breast, cubed
10 Frozen Rhodes Rolls
BBQ sauce
1 Tomato
1/2 Green pepper
1/2 small red onion
Mozz Cheese
Italian herb seasoning
salt
garlic powder

In a greased cookie sheet, leave out frozen rolls for 4 hours (I have to do it for 8 because I work and its always fine) or until they rise, covered with greased plastic wrap.
Preheat oven to 350.
When rolls have raised, season chicken with salt garlic powder and Italian seasoning and cook in skillet in about 1/2 t olive oil until done. Set aside.
Combine all 10 rolls into a big ball and roll out into a circle. Top with BBQ sauce, a little more Italian seasoning, chicken, veggies and cheese on top. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until dough is golden and cheese is melted.

Recipes: Stuffed Potatoes

It's not really Chili...but still delicious.

Homemade Chili Stuffed Potatoes
4 Potatoes, Baked
1 lb Lean Ground Beef
1 C Corn
1/2 t Olive oil
1/2 Onion, Chopped
1 Green Pepper
1 Tomato, chopped
1 small can of tomato sauce, optional
Salt, Pepper, & Garlic Powder to taste
1 C Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Shredded

In a skillet, saute onions and green pepper until onion translucent in 1/2 t of olive oil. Add ground beef and season to taste. Cook until brown and drain fat. Return to stove, add tomatoes and corn and stir until everything warmed. (You can also add some tomato sauce to make it a little more saucy, it all depends on your taste)
Split already baked potatoes, add beef mixture, top with lots of cheese ...and Devour!

Super easy, quick and tasty!

Recipes: Chinese Rice

I wanted to let everyone know that the recipes

I put up yesterday are for the most part

SO

Easy.

I like to cook, but I don't like spending hours in the kitchen. This leads me to find recipes that I can usually get done in 30 minutes or less.
So... I was thinking I could share the recipes I shared with you yesterday.

I will start with Chinese Rice because it's completely my own recipe so I have it memorized! (and because Sarah asked :)
It is very versatile because you can use ham or chicken, you can add as many eggs as you want (or have), and as many veggies as sound good to you. I love love having so many choices!
Also, depending on how much time I have, I will either cook regular brown rice or minute brown rice. So whichever one works for you, works for this recipe!

Chinese Rice (4-6 servings)
4 cups cooked rice (brown or white)
1 1/2 C ham cubes (or 1 1/2 cups diced cooked chicken)
6 eggs
1/4 C milk
1/4 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1 t olive oil
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
1 tomato, chopped
1/2 cup frozen peas
soy sauce

In a bowl combine eggs, milk, salt and pepper and beat. put aside.
Heat a wok or large skillet over high heat with 1 t of olive oil. Saute onions, green pepper, and tomato until onion is translucent. Poor egg mixture into the skillet and start scrambling the eggs.
Add ham and peas and cook until eggs have a firm consistency (but not all the way done). Add rice one cup at a time and mix with egg mixture. Stir fry, stirring constantly, cutting up any big chunks of egg. Add soy sauce to taste (I usually do like 6 shakes on top of the rice) and mix well.
I usually serve this with a side of carrots or broccoli so we get as many veggies in as possible.

This should only take about 20 minutes or less to prepare if you have the rice cooked (and chicken, if you're not using ham) . Hope you enjoy it!

2 Week Menu

I know all I talk about these days is my pregnancy and things having to do with this new baby coming our way, but can you blame me? I am a first time mother. SUE ME.

Today I'm talking about FOOD.
I've been doing pretty good with menus since last year,
when I made a resolution to keep 2 week menus
and go grocery shopping only for the menu that I made
so that we could save some money on our food intake.

Well, I was doing really well until about a month or so ago
when all of a sudden doing anything that takes energy at the time I get home,
seems like the most awful task.
So there has been a lot of unplanned buying
and needless spending because of my laziness.

To that I say, NO MORE!
First because every time we eat out I feel like garbage
and wish I would have sucked it up and cooked
and second, because the money is disappearing before
our very eyes and that's not what you want to see
when you have a baby on the way.

So here is my menu for the upcoming two weeks.
Hopefully posting it here will make me actually cook it
and stick to it so I won't try and get out of making meals.

2 Week Menu
Brown Sugar Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Corn
Homemade Chili Stuffed Potatoes
Egg Casserole, Buscuits and Fruit
Tuna Lime Tostadas
Lentils & Rice
Mandarin Chicken & Rice
Salmon Loaf & Broccoli
Chinese Rice
Ravioli & Salad
Bean Burritos
BBQ Chicken Pizza
Chile Verde Tostadas
*There's only 12 meals because we go out to eat one night on weekends and Sundays are spent eating dinner at our parents' house.

I dont assign a certain day for any of them, because I dont like being tied down to only one choice. When I just get to look at the list, I can choose what sounds good that day and since I have all the ingredients at hand, it is much more enjoyable to make and eat!
Also, I usually make enough to have left overs for lunch the next day so these all serve as lunch and dinner.
Breakfasts are always a mix of cereal, oatmeal, or granola bars & fruit.

*If you have any questions on recipes, or tips for making menus, let me know!

YAY

Christmas is here and so are my fuzzy-picture-taking skills.

Before and After

Before

After

The curtains were a tease because I really wanted to show

you guys the whole living room.

We changed up our collage wall to something a little more uniform.

We loved our large collection of pictures,

but thought maybe no one wants to see

all of our lovey dovey pictures every time they come to our house.

So.. what do you think?

I am personally head over heels over this room right now.

It feels so cozy and welcoming.

Oh, and you see the tiny black and white painting of the pot of flowers?

I did it in 30 seconds.
If you're interested, let me know,

I'll sell them super cheap in sets or alone.

Yearning for Change

I remember moving at least 15 times throughout my life.

This is just off the top of my head, by the way; there might have been more.

And I guess that has completely accustomed me to change.
Even in the places we stayed at for longer than 6 months,

my mom would rearrange the furniture constantly

and every couple of months it was like coming home to a new place.

I loved it, I think. Or maybe I just got used to it?

So used to it, actually, that I find myself yearning for change when change doesn't come.

Whether this be in a home, life, education, etc.
We have lived in our home for almost a year (!)

and I have already changed the living room three times.

Master bedroom twice.
and I'm always finding ways to add something to the kitchen.

And that's where these come in:

I want to paint my cabinets cream and antique them and make them look this miraculous. And you know what would look great with cream cabinets? a back splash of greens, blues, creams and browns.

If only I could convince James that this is a good idea...

which I can guarantee you will NOT happen. But a girl can dream right?

Decisions I need YOU to make for us.

Guys.

We're having a dilemma.

I like both of these cribs.

A lot. And so does James.

But, obviously, we can only buy one.

I like the first one because of its clean and simple lines.

I like the second one because it has a lot of dimension and it is unique.

They are both unique.

I love the combination of the white and the expresso because

we are planning on refinishing the other pieces for the room this way.

And now I am at a blank.

James already told me which one he liked, and I kind of like the other

but I won't tell you so you won't be biased.

Anyway. Help me.

Pretty please.

You have until about 4:00 pm today.

Then I'm taking the plunge!

But please. help.

Love you,

Us.

Making a list and checking it twice.

I've been working on my list.
And have gotten 3 completely checked off.
One half way, mostly because I cleaned my house but my vaccum is broken and I couldnt vaccum it. So I can't give myself total credit since its not ALL done.

So I feel really good that I'm getting things done. It usually takes me a while.
It must be this whole writing it down and having the word wide web look at it.
The lists are SLOWLY diminishing, but it's hard to break old habits.

Anyway, tonight I'm playing the Relief Society member and taking my best friend some dinner since she's still getting used to having a tiny human being to take care of. And I get to play mom for a while... until she starts crying....it really is a win win situation.

Happy Hump Day!

I am known for procrastinating...

July List

1. Work on the scrapbook I started months ago and only have about 3 pages actually completed.
2. Finish a painting I was so excited to make about 3 months ago and haven't touched since.
3. Use the antique hand painted fabric I bought at an estate sale a couple of weeks ago (I have to show you how nice it is). Maybe make an oversized pillow? ...wait, maybe I should learn how to sew first.
4. Organize and get rid of the millions of clothes sitting in my closet that I have not touched in 3 years and I am emotionally attached to but cannot for the life of me get rid of because I could all of a sudden decide I want to wear it next week. And then, what would I do?!
5. Put away all of the turtle necks and pants in my closet... I have 3 months to wear the crap out of capris, shorts and t-shirts.
6. Deep clean my house. Not that it's dirty. It's really clean. But ask me where anything is and I will pretend you didnt ask and make you look for it yourself.
7. Organize my garage, since it's starting to resemble a storage unit instead of the place designated for a car to go in.

So there. 7 things, and I have already gotten started on a couple. Let's hope it doesnt take me 3 months to do some of these...because if it takes me that long to put my winter clothes away just to have to get them out again I might stab myself with a pen.

What is your July list?

Habits: Lists

I was reading this post by Naomi and it spoke to me.
Mostly because I really think that I need some more hours in a day too!
I get home every day and think of all the things I need or would like to get done and there is never enough time!
And I have lists.
I have lists EVERYWHERE.
Lists of the things I need to do, would like to learn how to do, things I should be doing, etc.
Lists that I see when I am laying down in bed to go to sleep and keep me awake.
Lists that show up when I open drawers in the kitchen.
Lists.
So I am making a goal. A goal to make ONE list at a time.
and not make any other lists until that list is all checked off.
Should I share my first list with you?
ok.
Let me make one that I can actually keep and I will share with you tomorrow.
And I will give myself a due date.

And we will deal with the time issue....

one
list
at
a
time.

Who doesnt love a before and after!?

I wanted to show you guys one of the small projects going on in our house at this time. I am pretty sure there will be a couple more changes, like some small shelves over the toilet instead of the picture, but this is what we have for now and we love it.

BEFORE

AFTER

This bathroom was fun to do. Most of the stuff in it we already had, but even if we count everything as new, it only cost $50 to do this bathroom, including the paint, accesories and towels (excluding the mirror which was a wedding gift). If we only count new things we bought, it only cost us about $20. Nice huh?! Mostly everything was either on sale or bought with a coupon :)
Anyway, if you'd like to know where we got any of the things above, just let me know!

Planting a Little Love in Our Front Yard.

This weekend we went on a lunch date and bought flowers.

We then proceeded to pretend to know how to plant them.

We got our hands and knees dirty, and they look funny.

But I think we already love them.

I might have even talked to them a little;

rule #1 for having pretty flowers in my book.

...

And I can't make you any promises yet,

but they seemed to really like the sound of my voice.

Happy Monday!

Bookcase

I have folders and folders of inspiration on my computer and I had completely forgotten about this picture. I don't recall where I found it, but some day I wish to have a bookcase like this in our home.

I sure hope that day comes soon. Along with a wall.

I dont know if any of you have ever lacked a washer and a dryer, but we have.

For a year and a half we have been doing the laundry at our in-laws on sundays. And for the first time in our married life, we can wash clothes on any other day of the week just because we feel like it.

Oh yeah, we're living the life.