This week I am using up what we have in the fridge, freezer and pantry 
Monday – Crumbed Chicken, Oriental Rice and Salad
Tuesday – Curried Sausages and Vegetables
Wednesday – Hamburgers
Thursday – Sausages on hot dog buns
Friday – Homemade Pizzas
Saturday – Chicken Nuggets, Chips and Salad
Sunday – BBQ at Parents House
I heard about the hype that Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Series was getting in the US quite a few months ago and I remember thinking at the time that I couldn’t see what was so interesting about a vampire book for teens. Well I am eating my own words now, because my parents gave me all four novels in the series for Christmas. Eleven days later I had finished all four books and was totally addicted. I have even read Midnight Sun which was Stephenie’s fifth book in the series. Unfortunately a draft copy of the book was leaked on the internet so Stephenie decided to make it available to the public on her website.
I have seen the movie and even though I didn’t think it was nearly as good as the book, I still really enjoyed it and can’t wait til the DVD comes out. (The DVD will be released in the US on March 21st, but there is yet to be a release date here in Australia).
Because of my new found obsession I have created a new blog The Twilight Fansite and have created a Twilight Amazon Store. If you have read the books or seen the movie come over to the blog and leave me a comment
A safe and frugal way of keeping slugs and snails off your plants is to sprinkle eggshells around your plants. The eggshells will not harm pets and add nutrients to the soil.
Photo Source – Flickr – Photogirl7′s Photostream
After all the spending over the Christmas season it is time to start pulling back and rein in those finances. My aim is to cut our spending by $100 a week and build up our savings account.
Below are a few things that should help me achieve my goal:
I’ll be back next Wednesday to let you know how I went
Image source: Flikr – Jeremy Brooks’ Photostream
I have an obsession and my obsession is notebooks. My family know this and my children tease me about it! Open any cupboard or drawer in my home, look in any basket and you will find a notebook. At times I’ve been known to carry 3 or 4 in my handbag! See this really is an obsession!!!
Naturally every time I come across a cute notebook craft I bookmark it. So I thought today I would share some of my crafty notebook finds with you.
Notebook Cover Tutorial – Craft Blog
Patchwork Notebook Cover Tutorial
Photo Source: Flickr – Nuanc’s photostream
Here is our menu for the coming week.
Monday – Gotta Lotta Lasagne – The Sneaky Chef Cookbook (I didn’t make this last week)
Tuesday – Crumbed Chicken, Mashed Potatoes and Steamed Vegetables
Wednesday – Meatballs, Oriental Rice and Salad
Thursday – Curried Chicken and Rice
Friday – Homemade Ham and Pineapple Pizzas
Saturday – Take Away Night
Sunday – BBQ at my parents house
You may have noticed that my blog has had a makeover. It’s a new year so I thought a change was in order. Instead of going for the bright colours that I normally deck my blog out with I have gone with something much simpler and cleaner. What do you think? I quite like it, it’s not what I’m used to but I like it anyway
Everybody has a dream. Whether you know it or not, at one time you dreamed all the time. As children grow, their imaginations grow with them. Then they become adults, and the reality of the world sets in. Have you forgotten how to dream? Do you feel as if you have no time to breath, much less make your dreams reality? Then read on.
Time, energy, and money are chronically lacking in parents’ lives. They are too tired because their children keep them up at night; they are strapped for time between juggling work and family; and they spend all their resources on their kids, the house, the car, and the mortgage. Below are some simple solutions to these chronic problems:
Time
Make a list of priorities each week. Ask yourself: what do I want to achieve this week? Put the list in a place where you see it a lot, if not every day. When you have a roadmap, you can find out where you are going much more easily. Those scarce minutes will suddenly be there when you need them most. Check off the list as you manage each task.
Cancel your cable. Sound scary? It isn’t. Really. When my husband and I cancelled our cable right before we made an international move, we suddenly had three free hours at night. We could not believe how much time we suddenly had on our hands. Unless your dream is to watch four hours of TV each night, do it. You will find much more relaxing and fulfilling ways to spend your time.
Make a schedule. Similar to your list of priorities, you will want to organize your time according to events. If you have to work late one night, don’t expect yourself to go to the gym and help your child with his or her homework anyway. Rearrange the schedule as needed. Remember: being flexible is a part of being human.
Energy
Exercise is time well-spent. Three twenty-minute activities a week is all you need to stay relatively fit. Schedule a walk at lunch time with friends; swim at the local gym or run on the weekends. If you need a support system, ask a colleague to join you. Take a class that meets once a week and carpool with friends. Chances are you will go more often if you have someone honking at your sidewalk to take you along.
Sleep management for parents with very small children is one of the most challenging areas to handle. Make certain you get in a nap on the weekends to tank up your energy. Take occasional weekends away from the children if possible and ask a relative or trusted friend to watch the kids while you are gone. It will be good for your relationship with your partner as well as assuring you get the rest you need.
Nutrition is a well-neglected realm for busy people. Instead of swinging by the local fast food chain, bring smaller snacks with you until you get home. Not only will you have more energy by eating better, you will save money, too.
Money
Make a meal plan for the week. Create a list of food items needed at the grocery store. It will reduce the urge for impulse shopping and save you time later. Instead of standing in front of the refrigerator and asking, “What’s for dinner?” you will already know because you planned it in advance.
Coupon shopping can have its advantages. It may save you a few dollars, which can add up over time. Buyer beware, however. Frequently, coupons require you buy two of one item to qualify. Ask yourself if you really need two gallons or liters of juice before jumping at the sale. If you do bulk shopping at warehouse stores, calculate the price of the item before you buy it. Sometimes it is actually cheaper to buy smaller amounts at local grocery stores. Pay attention to Sunday circulars. You can use it as a basis for making your weekly meal plan. Whatever is on sale is what you eat that week.
Entertainment doesn’t have to be expensive. Libraries often have a good selection of videos you and the kids can watch. The loan time is usually one week, which saves you time from having to run back to the video store the very next day to avoid extra charges. The best benefit? Loaning from the library is free.
Maximizing your resources can free up the time, energy, and money you need to pursue what you really want in life. Instead of spinning your wheels, you will be further along in your journey to reach the dreams you imagined as a kid.
Christine Louise Hohlbaum, American author of Diary of a Mother (2003), SAHM I Am (2005), “American Housewife Abroad” (AnotherChapter.com), has been published in hundreds of publications and has appeared on numerous parenting radio shows. When she isn’t writing, leading toddler playgroups or instructing an on-line course in book promotion, she prefers to frolic in the Bavarian countryside near Munich where she lives with her husband and two children . Visit her Web site: www.diaryofamother.com
I decided when we moved into this house that I wouldn’t touch the gardens until after summer. I’ve had a bad track record with my summer gardens in the past and decided that it just wasn’t worth planting one yet. But I do really miss having a vegetable garden to potter around in and I miss going out and picking my own fresh vegetables.
The weather is meant to be a little cooler for the next couple of days so I am planning on getting out and cleaning up the gardens a little. Luckily we only have two little gardens here because I have neglected them since we moved in. So I need to do a little bit of weeding and remove some poor little plants that I have let die off.
Photo Source: Flickr – Chantal Foster’s Photostream
Ingredients
500g ground beef
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
500g pasta shells, cooked
6 cups mozzarella cheese
700g cottage cheese
2 eggs
1/3 cup parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons parsley
800g jar of spaghetti sauce
Directions
In a skillet, cook beef and onion until meat is no longer pink and onion is tender; drain. Sprinkle with salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; set aside.
In a large bowl, combine pasta, 3 cups of mozzarella cheese, cottage cheese, eggs, Parmesan cheese, parsley and remaining pepper; stir gently. Pour into a greased 13x9x2-inch baking dish.
Top with beef mixture and spaghetti sauce (dish will be VERY full).
Freeze. Cover tightly with foil. Seal additional cheese in package attached to pans.
To serve:.
Thaw all day in refrigerator.
Baking Instructions:.
Cover with new layer of foil and bake at 350ºF for 45 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella.
Bake, uncovered, 15 minutes longer or until the cheese is melted ad bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Serves 6 to 8
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