Weekly Menu

My friend Tina comes up with a word or phrase of the year instead of writing down New Years resolutions. I didn't really do any resolutions this year, but if I had to pick a word for me it would be: FOCUS

I have good intentions to be organized, but sometimes I'm an all-or-nothing kind of gal. My hubbie can tell you about all of the elaborate menu systems and chore chart systems I have spent hours preparing only to abandon them after one week or less.

And sometimes I have good intentions to start something, but don't because I want to wait until it's perfect. Like my latest menu system was to write down all of the dinners we eat on a seperate card, and then pick from the cards for the weekly menu. But, then I get distracted and didn't finish writing down the meals and gave up.

So for me. Simpler is better. There is nothing wrong with a ripped out piece of paper from a notebook tacked to my fridge. It will still get meals made even though it is not in a fancy decorated box.

So, anyway, I made a menu for this week and next (I know the week is almost over). I love reading the weekly menu over at Sister Stuff and you have to check out This Week for Dinner. Not only do they post weekly menus and then people can add their own, they also post recipes and cooking tips.

Anyway, I analyzed all of the freezer meals I still have in my freezer from my freezer group and decided I better get those eaten.

So, here is my menu:
Wed: Brinner: French Toast and Cheesy Eggs
Thurs: Sloppy Joes
Fri: Honey Ribs from Freezer Group
Sat: Pizza Calzones
Sun: Crock Pot Italian Chicken
Mon: Mu Shu Chicken
Tues: Mexican Chicken and Rice Dinner
Wed: Tortilla Soup
Thurs: Sausage Pasta Dish
Fri-Papa Murphys
Sat-Hopefully date with my hubbie!

Freezer meals

We are collecting the recipes that we are doing for freezer meals and posting them on here for all to share. Please feel free to check it out, use the recipes or even submit your own.

My Wish List

Do you ever draw a blank when someone asks you what you want for your Birthday/Christmas? And then when neither of them are near, you can think of million things? Here is my current wish list. Not that I am coveting or anything....

1) A Serger. This Juno Serger by Janome will be on sale at the end of the month for $179 at Hancock. I would have to research if it's a good one, because I've heard they usually cost around $500-$600. Hmmm, Christmas maybe?
2) This I-Top Brad Maker. So cool! You can make your own brads out of paper, fabric or even photos. Online they are saling for $30, but maybe a Roberts or Michaels coupon would work.3) Pinking Shears. I have lots or projects that I could these for. Including a cute little Valentine banner.

4) Wii Fit: Not for any good reason besides I think it looks fun, and maybe I would work out a little more often.


5) Candy thermometer: I tried to make homemade marshmellows over Christmas and had to guess on the temperature. They failed miserably. I will blame it on not having a thermometer.

Anything on your wish list currently?

Great Online Job Chart Idea!

I was browsing around blogs today and came across a website with the cutest idea for a valentine wreath. But as I looked around her site she had a bunch of other ideas that were great too. As a mom I am always trying to come up with ideas to make my life easier and having chores for my kids sometimes makes it harder, don't you think??? If I was patient enough to wait it out I am positive in the long run it pays off. Anyway this link she had on her website looked like a great idea especially if you like to track stuff online and get reminders and stuff through email and on you mobile phone. Here is the website and its free!!!!!
Now she herself has some great ideas that are not web based and here is her site, at the bottom of this post are a couple other things for organizing kids and her reward system for chores. Just an idea for someone who's new years goal is to get your kids to work!!

Pillowcase dress and ribbon flower bows

Yesterdays project: Pillowcase Dress (Yes, I know I have the cutest cabbage patch baby ever)With matching ribbon flowers embellishment and hairbow.This was a really easy, project. One I actually completed from start to finish with one sitting.

Bakugan and Bakugan Card Holder Tutorial

If you have a house full of little boys (or some girls) you probably have Bakugans laying around your house. We do. And I never really have a place to put the weird little things. So, I came up with this:

I'm going to attempt to do a tutorial. It did give me a newfound respect for people who make easy to understand, detailed tutorials. I will do my best.

The final product will hold 24 Bakugans (2 in each pocket) and several cards

Supplies:

Heavy fabric (I used canvas) cut to 25 inches high x 18 wide (you might have to trim some off the bottom at the end)

Single fold bias tape (or make your own like I did-learn how here)

Fabric for pockets (I used a sheet remnant I had from making curtains years ago. It was nice to have one long piece of material, but not necessary)

Large Eyelets or grommets

Ribbon

Mounting Hook with command strips

Fabric paint (or acrylic paint and textile medium)

1) Cut your heavy fabric to 25x18 wide

2) Cut a long piece of fabric 4 inches tall by 48 inches long.

3) Fold over 1/2 inch piece 0f fabric from the top and iron it down.

4) Sew along the folded edge.
5) Cut this long strip into 4 inch lengths. ** If you don't have a long strip of fabric you can do steps 2-5 individually. It just saves some time to do it all at once. 6) Snip both corners of the bottom on each piece of fabric. Use the same corner as a guide so you can get equal corners.7) Fold each side (Except the top) over a half inch and iron each side. Repeat for all pockets.

8) Arrange and pin your pockets onto your canvas.

9) I bought a twin needle when I first got my sewing machine and haven't used it yet. I thought this would be a fun place to try it out so the pockets would look more authentic.

Sew around each pocket (leaving the top open). Read your manual to find out how to thread your twin needle. This is what the top of my machine looked like.

10) For the card pockets on the bottom do the same thing as the Bakugan pockets. Except cut the fabric to about 4 3/4 tall by 4 1/2 wide. And I made these plain rectangles without the snipped corners. You don't have to the extra space between the top pockets and the bottom pockets like me. Don't ask!

11) Cut any extra fabric off of the canvas.

12) Sew your bias tape into place around the edges.

13) For the BAKUGAN on top, I used the freezer paper stencil method found here. Only I found the coolest stuff you need to have in your supplies. It's called textile medium and it turns any acrylic paint into fabric paint (which is pricier than acrylic paint).

I found the logo online and copied it on my computer. Then in Photoshop I sized it to the size I wanted and printed it out for my outline on my stencil. I did a post earlier about using a Crystal Light canister. The little tubs can also be useful for things like mixing small paint projects.And plastic baby food jars can come in handy when storing the paint for the next coat.

14) Set your eyelets or grommets on the top. I used my Big Bite, but you can buy grommet setters at the fabric store if you don't have one. Then tie some ribbon through the holes. I hung it on the Command strips mounting hooks in my boys room.

Now, the Bakugans can be kept in one place. And I won't feel so guilty about my next 50 projects being for my daughter. If you make one of these, leave a link so I check it out. This could be adapted for any little toy like Polly Pockets etc.

Diary of a craftaholic Gift Exchange

Earlier this month I participated in a gift exchange from here. And Robin from here
sent me these adorable hand-stiched Christmas handtowels. Thanks! They are very cute and a fun addition to my Christmas decor.