Tuesday Treats ~ Pizza Pasta

LOVE this quick meal! It's a winner with everyone in the family...and to easy to throw together, and get on the table simply!

First off I boil up some Penne Pasta. A whole box of it. I would think you could use just about any kind of pasta, though, yet Penne is the only I have used thus far.

Drain the pasta, mix in 1 can/jar of spaghetti sauce.

Pour into 13 x 9 casserole dish. Preheat oven to 350.




Start putting in the pepperoni...about 1/2 the package. Then a VERY thin layer of mozzarella cheese, shredded. I will then slightly mix this all together right in the casserole dish.

After the mixing, do another layer of pepperoni on top. And the rest of the mozzarella cheese to cover the top.




Pop it into the oven until the cheese on top is nice and melted. Serve some garlic bread or biscuits and a salad!

The Homeschool Mother's Journal ~ 1/27

http://www.thehomeschoolchick.com/about-the-homeschool-mothers-journal/

In my life this week...been feeling much better than I did last week! Still having some bad headaches though...not sure why or where these are coming from, but I really wish they would just go away!

In our homeschool this week...found out that our local libraries paid for a subscription to Universal Class. They offer online classes. They are not credited, but still...I'm hoping this is going to be a great resource for us! Arlee has picked out the 5 classes she wants to do: Algebra 101, Drawing, Adobe, Writing Improvement, and Haunted Places. Each class has an instructor that you can communicate with via email...you are given assignments and exams, and are graded! Best of all?? It's all FREE because of our local library!!

I found a great book at the library to use for "creative writing"! Arlee already got started...and I'm also hoping to do it with the boys as well! I will write more about this in a future blog post!

We started working with Zachary learning his multiplication...."officially". We've answered his questions when he would ask..."What is 3 x 1?"...and go on to explain to him anything times 1 is itself. And some other multiplying rules. But this week, the two of us got down on the floor and I showed him what multiplying LOOKS like! :) He is so smart...and picked up on it SOOOOO quick!!

Places we're going and people we're seeing...We very much stayed in our bubble this past week! Last Saturday was icy out...Arlee was suppose to go to a Girl Scout outing; bowling...but it got postponed. Boy Scouts Monday night for Frosty...they had a Webelo come in to visit. They made small sewing kits together. Zach had piano lessons on Wednesday. He did wonderful...as usual! :) Thursday Arlee had Writing Club at the library. She LOVES this!

My favorite thing this week was...Since I didn't get to post last week, I'm going to say my favorite thing was going out with friends last Friday night! Jason is my friend from high school...and thanks to facebook we have reconnected. We went out to celebrate his birthday with is girlfriend, Katrina, and some of their friends. We had a lot of fun...and was very happy to have been able to be there to watch Jason propose to Katrina!! :)

Danny brought home some farm eggs this week from one of his customers!! He says they don't live far from us, and they said they would LOVE for us to bring the kids out to see all the animals! I think this would be WONDERFUL! I'm hoping that we can take them up on their offer. Loved how excited the kids got to see not only white and brown eggs...but also green eggs! :)

Questions/thoughts I have... Saving money has been a HUGE thing on my mind lately. How to try and cut down on our already tight budget?? Always trying to be on the look out of how we can save a few more pennies.

I'm grateful for... for my amazing son Zach! And for all of his "special'ness" that he brings to our life! Most days are "typical"...we almost feel like we live a "normal" life...and then Zach reminds us of how life is like with a special needs child! It is VERY hard! Found myself hiding in my room one afternoon this week...and crying on the phone to my Husband. This boy has shown my that I can be more patient than I ever thought possible...and exactly what "unconditional love" really means. I'm so very grateful to be Zachary's mother! :)

A picture to share... Here is Zachary learning his multiplication. I have him all the GREEN triangles...because green is his FAVORITE color. I gave him the dice, and he had to roll them. Whatever numbers came up...he had to SHOW me the problem. He did SUCH an AMAZING job! I'm so very proud of him!!

Desperately Seeking Savings...

Just the other day, I was talking with Danny on the phone...he was telling me about this customer that he met that day while working. This friendly guy gave Danny some great advice. He said to retire as soon as he possibly can...and spend the kids' inheritance on your own adventures! Looking back on his life now...at 80, and unable to use his legs like he used to...it was the best thing him and his wife ever did!

**I WANT THIS FOR US!!!**

Now to just figure out how to make it happen!!

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Desperately Seeking Savings...

I had an awesome opportunity to hang out with some fellow homeschooling moms at my favorite coffee shop. We met up to talk about our upcoming Project Linus get togethers, and Operation: Going Green/Saving Green.

While talking with my friends about what we did to recycle and save our pennies...I shared with them how frustrated I can get when trying to find "new" ways to spend less and save more. I go looking on websites and they give advice like:

**Cut out your DAILY latte {I'm LUCKY if, on average, I make it to my favorite coffee shop once a month, or even Speedway for a 1.29 cappuccino 1x a week}

**Cut back on eating out {Our "eating out" as a family happens MAYBE 1x a month...and it's the $16 chicken special at Wal Mart's Deli...brought home to enjoy}

**Wait longer in between hair cuts {again, I'm LUCKY if I get my own hair cut 1x a YEAR}.

I'm sure this advice would be helpful to some...but not really so much for our family. We've tried our best to be as thrifty as we can be for a long time now. So where does one have to go to find maybe a little more "hard core" thriftiness tips and ideas?

I have learned over time that the words you have to use in Google searches DOES matter. I've had to switch to words like "homesteading" and "self reliant" and "self-sufficient" to come up with some good ideas for spending less. Searching with "frugal" just isn't cutting it anymore.

Here are three GREAT links for some good sites that I would like to share. The first one is Mother Earth News...LOVE this magazine!! Many, many great articles on their website. The second is Path to Freedom...a VERY inspirational website! I would LOVE this lifestyle for MY family! The third is just a list of things to be more self sufficient...

LOVE this magazine and all the online articles it has...
http://www.motherearthnews.com/

Path to Freedom
http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/

One of many lists that you can find on "Things you can do to be more self sufficient..."
http://www.daycreek.com/dc/html/DC_ss_thingsyoucando.htm

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So What's Next???

A 12-year plan perhaps?? Liam is 6 now...so in 12 years we have the possibility to be "empty nesters". Where do we want to be at that point in our lives? We will be starting a whole new milestone in our marriage and life together. What do we want that life to look like?

I definitely want Danny to be AT LEAST to the point by then that he does not have to work overtime...or maybe even able to only work part time somewhere just for a little extra spending money. Our DREAM goal would be he would be retired, or soon ready to retire by then. I get just a HUGE smile on my face just thinking about my Husband being able to be at home with me everyday!! I would be so very happy!!

Trying to get Danny retired in 12 years is going to be a HUGE accomplishment...and we are going to have to put a lot of hard work into achieving this goal. First off starting to find new places in our budget to spend less and save more.

We could follow the instructions of Dave Ramsey....

*Build a $1000 Emergency Fund
*Pay off all debt
*3 to 6 months in Savings
*Invest 15% of household income into Roth IRS's & pretax retirement
*Pay home off early
*Build wealth & give

I've always thought this plan was GREAT. They say you should follow it EXACTLY in this order though...and who knows, they may be right...but I believe I will make up a list with these same type of things that we can do, but not in this exact order! You know what a rebel I am! :)

I will be looking into new ways to save on our budget, and hopefully work our way closer and closer to our goals. I will post in future journal entries what we've been doing....what we are trying...what is working...what wasn't working.

I will also be looking to put our 12 year plan down in "black and white". That way I can post it on our fridge so we can look at it EVERYday to help keep us moving forward AND on the right track!

Looking forward to beginning this journey!

Wordless Wednesday ~ 1/25

Tuesday Treats ~ Peanut Butter Pie

Best Peanut Butter Pie I've found...so far! Danny LOVES this stuff...well, we ALL do! It's SUPER easy to make...with sinfully delicious results!

Peanut Butter Pie

8 oz pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/2 to cup peanut butter
1/2 cup milk
1 cup confectioners sugar
8oz container frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided
prepared graham cracker pie crust
1/4 cup chopped peanuts {optional}

1. Combine cream cheese, peanut butter, and milk.

2. Add confectioners sugar and mix well. Fold in 3/4 of the whipped topping {reserve the rest}.

3. Pour into graham cracker crust and freeze until firm.

4. Just before serving, edge the top of the pie with the remaining whipped topping. Sprinkle the peanuts in the center of pie.

Variation:

1. Instead of mild, use 12 oz jar marshmallow cream.

2. Instead of a graham cracker pie crust, use a chocolate graham cracker crust.

3. Spread 1/4 cup hot fudge sundae topping over the bottom of the pie crust before adding the rest of the pie filling.

****************************

My added notes:

Usually this makes more than what can fit into the prepared pie crusts that I buy...no biggie though, leaves plenty for the kids to share out of the bowl! :)

I just slather the Cool Whip all over the top...and I don't use the nuts because Frosty doesn't like nuts. I have taken chocolate syrup and drizzled across the top, and I've add chocolate chips to kinda dress up the top before.

YOU MUST KEEP THIS PIE CHILLED!! Once it starts heating up, it starts sorta getting a little too soft! I keep mine in the freezer until I start making dinner, then move it to the fridge.

ENJOY!

The Homeschool Mother’s Journal ~ 1/14

http://www.thehomeschoolchick.com/about-the-homeschool-mothers-journal/

In my life this week...has been really nice I must say! I know you all know that I'm trying my best to simplify in my life. Which also includes clearing a lot of our calendar! So far, this past week, I've been home with my family more than we've been out running! And it has been a wonderful change!

In our homeschool this week...we didn't do too much. We did Math drills and Math lessons. We read some. We watched a few DVD's..."Conquest", one about Pearl Harbor, the Pearl Harbor movie's bonus material about unsung heroes, and "A Nightmare at Jamestown". I think that was about it.

Places we're going and people we're seeing...Arlee to spend the night at a friend's house {who happened to also have ANOTHER friend there...bonus!} , Manga Library Program, Boy Scouts, Piano, Anime Club, Writing Club, Self Defense Program with Homeschool Girl Scouts, to InLaws for game night...and that was it!! When I write it out...it looks like a lot, but for our family...this was a VERY light week!!

My favorite thing this week was...finding out that my Husband was taking Thursday off work...which puts him here 3 days this weekend! Unfortunately, he chose to do this because he is not feeling well, and has lost his voice.

What's working/not working for us...Last week we did so well with our schedule...we fell off of it this week. But I *KNOW* it was because I wasn't able to take the time over the weekend to really prepare for the week ahead.

Things I'm working on...finishing up a scarf to donate...then I will begin working on some fingerless gloves that I will be selling! :)

Questions/thoughts I have...trying out doing all my planning on Thursdays for the next week. Planning to do it over the weekend, like on Saturday is just NOT working! It does NOT get done. Then I'm left with NO plan for the following week...and that right there spells out disaster for attempting to get to lessons.

Usually, Danny works on Thursdays...some Thursdays we have Scouts, or Writing Club, so we are in and out, and it makes it hard for a real productive day anyway with lessons. So I'm thinking that the kids can just have a "fun" day...educational videos, play doh, Legos, games, etc. All while I'm working on lessons for the next week. Getting our schedule together, papers printed out, websites together, etc.

I'm reading...no new books at the moment. Haven't had a chance really to read this week.

I'm grateful for...this unusual warm weather! Haven't had to use our heaters as much as we have at this point in winter before! But that all changed this week, too! It was SOOO cold in the last part of the week! Dropped from 50's to TEENS!! In a matter of 1 day!! Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

A quote to share..."Where you end up isn't the most important thing. It's the road you take to get there. The road you take is what you'll look back on and call your life." Tim Wiley

Wordless Wednesday

Okay...so...I know this is suppose to be "wordless"...but I just had to add a brief back story so that when you look at this pic...it doesn't really take words to catch the feeling within it. :)

This was Frosty's very first time going to Kings Island this past summer. This was the very first ride they rode...and was Frosty's very first ROLLER COASTER!! It is one that you go on a few loops and backwards and all....NOT one you would EVER catch ME on, that's for SURE!!!

So I snapped this shot right after they got off of it! What did he think of it??

You can for sure see that in the picture...no explanation required!

The Lost Art of Letter Writing

I'm sure we all know that letter writing has become one of the lost arts. We have made way for more "effective" and "efficient" ways of communicating. Which I do see as a wonderful progress, don't get me wrong...but we do need, I think, to keep this type of communication alive! It is a simple pleasure...one that we should not lose!

I stumbled upon this website a few weeks ago...

Wordsmithery ~ http://smallworldathome.blogspot.com/p/wordsmithery.html

LOVED IT!! This wonderful woman has written out what she has done for a Creative Writing class she taught for a homeschool co op. It's all written out, and divided up by weeks. Then ideas for a 4 day week of lessons. I'm excited to implement this into our school days!

While running this all thru my head...I decided before we jumped into the lessons...I wanted to start the kids off writing letters to friends. It's important to know how to compose a friendly letter. So we gathered up notebook paper and I brought up an example on the computer. After they finished writing what they wanted to...the majority of the letters were a little shorter than I had hoped, but my fingers are crossed over time, they may get a little longer...we did the envelopes.

I definitely can see how it is so much quicker and easier to just shoot someone an email. But I still don't think it compares to that feeling when you get something out of the mailbox with your name on it!! Especially when you are a kid and don't usually get stuff coming directly to you. Or, really, as an adult to find something pleasant instead of a bill or the useless junk mail!

It went fairly well this first time sitting down with all of them to work on this. I think the majority of them enjoyed doing this little something for someone else. 3 out of 4 of them drew something extra to put in with their letter for their friend. I'm going to be sure that we keep this up along with following the creative writing lessons!

And I'm not going to let the kids have all the fun! My wonderful brother & sister-in-law gave us these great stationary sets which I'm looking forward to be putting to good use this coming year!





Found this great online article. Made me want to grab a pen right away and start writing with great lines like...

"Because receiving a personal letter is so rare these days, it can feel like a gift. Handwritten letters are especially prized."

“If you write me a letter by hand, I know in a way that cannot be faked, that you put more effort into it...”

“The act of writing—narrowing your thoughts and double-checking them and getting them to say exactly what you want—is a wonderful intellectual exercise, and letter writing promotes that.”

http://indianapublicmedia.org/arts/letter-writing/

And then...let's also touch on good ole fashioned LOVE LETTERS!! If you are married, or have a "special someone"...when was the last time you WROTE down to them how special they are to YOU??

I remember back when Danny & I first reconnected, and first moved in together. While I was at work, when it was slow, I would spend time writing letters to him. Even if we were going home together that evening. I would write the obvious sappy stuff...hopes and dreams I had for us as a couple, or us as a family...things that might have been worrying me or bugging me...and just about "this and that" that was going on that particular day. I know Danny would totally own up to that he LOVED getting those letters! He got them quite frequently!

There for little while, I would pack a lunch for Danny to take to work. I would add it a little note to remind him that I would be thinking about him that day. Or how much I appreciated him working so hard for our family.

It's been way to long since the last time I've done this. How about you??

When was the last time you wrote a handwritten letter to a friend or loved one??

How about a love note to your "special someone"??

You Know You Want a Set of These...

Finished up a really cute pair of fingerless gloves!! Above in the pic is Arlee modeling them for me! She really likes them...and she is the connoisseur of fingerless gloves! :) {Of course she is JUST modeling these...she does NOT like pink herself...and will probably not be happy with me for posting a pic of her actually wearing pink!! :) } These ones have already been donated.

I've also decided to start selling my knitted creations:

Fingerless gloves...$3

Scarf...$3

Set...$5

AND...of whatever is purchased I will buy enough to make a matching set to be donated to Wrapping Clermont Together!

For anyone local...I can deliver them, or we can meet up. If you are more than say about 45 mins from Bethel...I would have to ship them, and charge a shipping charge as well. You would pay what I pay.

I'm very excited about this! I love knitting!! And I think this is going to keep me really busy with it!! The sets will take some time to make...and I will be making them all myself...so please be patient with me on getting them out to you!

Once you order...I will be on the lookout for the perfect color that you are looking for...and will get started making it as soon as I can.

Orders will be made in order that they are placed.





These would make GREAT Christmas presents for next year!!

I'm so excited because I've already had a wonderful response to this!! I'm looking forward to making some really great sets for my friends!! :)

THANK YOU ALL!!!!

Sticky Buns

These Sticky Buns are mouth watering!! They are soooooo yummy...especially right out of the oven!

When I make mine...I make my dough in my bread maker...the same recipe I use when I make my pizza dough and hamburger bun dough. Guess that would make it my all purpose dough! I will have to post that one at another time...so for now, I will post the recipe right out of my cook book...

Sticky Buns

1/2 cup butter, divided
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp. cinnamon
2 loaves frozen bread dough, thawed

1. Melt 1/4 cup of butter on stovetop or in microwave. Stir in brown sugar and corn syrup until well blended. Pour into a 9 x13 baking pan.

2. Melt remaining half stick {1/4 cup} butter in microwave or on stovetop. Set aside.

3. In a small mixing bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon.

4. Break off golf-ball-sized pieces of bread dough, 12 per loaf. Dip each in melted butter and then roll in sugar-cinnamon mixture. Place coated balls in baking pan.

5. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours, or overnight.

6. Remove from refrigerator and let stand for 30 minutes before baking.

7. Bake uncovered at 325 for 35 minutes. Turn out of pan immediately onto serving platter.

{Variation: Add 1/2 - 3/4 cup chopped pecans to mixture in pan (step 1) }

ENJOY!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Making Life Simple: A Kitchen Cabinet

Day two following the MySimplerLife calendar to help our family get clutter free and more organized said to, "declutter the top of your cabinets and dust." Well, since my kitchen cabinets don't have a "top" to them...I decided to tackle a cabinet that I've been wanting to give a little extra attention to for some time. It's not horribly bad...cord hanging down, needs washed out desperately, and just general straightening up. As you can see...




Gosh...when I jumped up on a chair to wipe down the top shelf...it was pretty dusty!! Really glad I finally took the time to clean this cabinet up. It's the one that is used the most often in our kitchen.

Our First Tuesday of 2012...

Slow starting this morning. When the alarm went off at 8:30am...I *REALLY* didn't want to get up. It was pretty chilly, but knew I had to get our heater started or none of the kids would get out of bed either at 9am! I finally drug myself out from under my warm covers...but didn't stay away long! After getting the fire going in the kerosene heater, I headed back to my warm spot in the bed! Read today's entry in the Simple Abundance book. Then snuggled back down until 9am.

I've been having a hard time sleeping at night lately. Like last night. I was tired, but not sleepy...if that makes any sense at all. I knew I needed to go to bed, I knew I wanted to get some sleep...but I sat in the living room and knitted until early in the morning hours. I did finish 1 of the new set of fingerless gloves I'm making...so I was happy about that. I'm really hoping for a good night's sleep tonight.

At 9am, I woke up Arlee...then Frosty. Zach woke on his own. I started heating up the chocolate chip pancakes I had made on Sunday. Then woke Liam up by telling him I was going to eat his if he didn't hurry to the table! :)

It was a nice...pretty quick breakfast! I'm very glad that Arlee and I made some goodies ahead of time...what a HUGE help for our breakfast time meal! I also got a bunch of ideas from friends on facebook that I'm looking forward to trying out! Who knows...once we master the make ahead breakfasts...maybe we'll move on to lunches...and even dinners!!

After finishing eating, kids doing their chores, and me setting up for school to start...we jumped right into what we needed to do. Following our new schedule. We've found a couple little things that need to be tweaked, but nothing too major though. Maybe a little more time for Math...Frosty does pretty well getting thru what he needs to do, but Zach needs much more time for his lessons...and I think Arlee should add a little more to her time as well. Plus, I had all the way thru until bedtime scheduled...not a whole lot scheduled, just certain things...but I think I like it more where it is TOTALLY flexible...not on the schedule at all.

I was just so tired today...while I was trying to help Zach with his Math lessons...all I could think about was a nap!! My eyes were so heavy, and I could barely concentrate. So once all the major lessons were done...I asked Arlee if she could make lunch for everyone, and I went and laid down. Just could not take it any longer.

After my nap, the kids and I watched "Conquest of America"...it's our History Lesson. So far this week we've learned about how the Spanish conquered the Southwest & Southeast America. It's from The History Channel...and pretty interesting. Much better than reading this all out of a book for sure!! When we were done watching it...lessons were DONE for the day...well...officially.

I worked with Arlee for a bit to reteach her how to knit. She's making a purple scarf for herself as her first project. My hope is that she will be able to help me over the year with making scarves and fingerless gloves to donate. The deal was that if she learns how to knit, I have to learn how to crochet. I think it will be fun to learn along with Arlee.

While we were knitting we watched "Pearl Harbor"...the movie with Ben Affleck. I love that movie...always brings me to tears though...a few times during the movie. I wanted her to watch it. She will be submitting a writing project to the Air Force Museum, I believe it was, about the Doolittle Raid. So I thought this movie might be a good starting point. I also have another dvd about Pearl Harbor, and the Doolittle Raid...plus books for her to get info from for her paper.


It's Taco Night tonight...and I'm pretty excited! LOVE tacos at home! They are SOOO much better than what you get out somewhere! At least I think so!

Do you prefer hard taco shells or soft taco shells??

What are YOUR favorite toppings on a taco??

Mine are...Soft taco shells with taco seasoned meat, shredded cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, jalapenos, salsa, and sour cream.

We all get REALLY excited about Taco Tuesdays!! :)

First Day of Lessons 2012

Welcome 2012!! Looking forward to some great things to come from this year. Although Day 1 did not really go they way I had planned...but it's only going to get better from here, right?

Today, to help work on getting our family clutter free & more organized I set up a donation station. It's nothing too fancy at all...two simple cardboard boxes...one for Goodwill, and one for Wrapping Clermont Together.

Day one done on the MySimplerLife calendar . That was EASY!!





Started using our new schedule today. So far so good. Arlee did her own schedule, fitting what she needs to do around all the boys. Below is Frosty's...which, Zach's is very similar to his.

9am....Everyone up/dressed/chores
10am...Read to Self
10:15...Math Drills
10:20...Khan Academy/Worksheets
10:50...Break
11am...Mango Languages OR Typing {we alternate days}
11:20...Spelling City OR Composition {we alternate days}
11:50...FREE TIME
12pm...Start Lunch...Frosty reads out loud to me
12:30...Eat lunch
1pm...History OR Science
2pm...Creative Writing {only 4 days each week}

After they finish with their writing...they have free time until 5:15pm when we would have our Quick Clean Up. At 6pm I will start dinner, while Zach reads outloud to me. I'm shooting to have dinner around 7pm. Family story time by 8:45pm. And the younger two boys in bed by 9pm, and 10pm for the two older kids.

Here are Frosty and Zach working on their Math worksheets this morning...





Liam's schedule looks like this...

10am...Word study with Mom
10:15...Table Time...this is where I put different activities around the table for Liam to work on on his own. Some he will do, and leave for me to check them...if they are correct, he will get 1 M&M for it. He LOVES this! :) Can't blame him...I would too!
11am...Workbook work with Mom
11:20...Hand writing
11:30...Educational video

The rest is the same as everyone else's.

Here is a pic of Liam's "Table Time"...which worked out pretty well. It took too long though, so maybe next time LESS on the amount of activities for him to do. BUT, it did keep him busy so that I could go back and forth between Zach and Frost.





Here is Liam's "robot" he made with his shapes...





Working on handwriting...




Overall...I think it's been a really good first day of lessons in this new year. I'm sure I'll be doing quite a bit of tweaking over this upcoming week...adding some of the other things I'd like to have in there, but didn't want to overdo it our first week back...before I print out next week's schedule to post...but it's a good base to start from.

Arlee is working on a picture that she will be mailing to a friend...Frosty is outdoors shooting his crossbow with a friend...Zach just finished up his hour of playing Xbox...Liam is playing on the DS...and I'm working here on my blog, about ready to go work on some laundry! Only about 1/2 an hour until we do our Quick Clean Up before starting dinner and getting ready for Danny to arrive home...can't wait!! :)