Linky Follower Party Hop

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St. Patrick's Entryway Shelf

I am enjoying my entryway shelf, this is what I came up with for St. Patrick's Day.

I am so happy I learned to make bows : )

I love those rosettes.

I hope you wear your green and don't get pinched on March 17th.

Rhonda

Wow us Wednesday

Get your Craft on

52 Weeks to an Organized Home Challenge - Coupons and Meal Planning

I have not been blogging consistently lately because of the on going situation with my husbands parents.  They are still not home and grandpa has moved to a rehab/nursing home to get stronger and grandma is still spending the days with me.  I would appreciate prayer for their strength and ability to overcome.  I hope they will be able to go home soon, but, with grandpa's declining health, I just don't know.

Now, on to this week's organizing project.  I really want to keep on track with my 2012 Passion.  This week's Chicken Feed is just left out. With all that is going on, we just had hot dogs last night and tonight it looks like it will be Tuna on Toast.  I will shelter you from that.  I found this challenge over at Home Storage Solutions 101 (just click on the button on the side to join in).  If you are going to join in, please let me know so we can do it together.  I am just jumping in.  I actually did last weeks challenge which was Week 7: Coupons.  This week's challenge is Meal Planning/grocery shopping which in my world, goes together.

Week 7:  Coupons

This is my coupon book.  It is the smaller notebook (5 1/2 x 8 1/2).  I always find that if it's cute, I will use it.

Remember my Kitchen Island Organization?  I still use the wicker in & out boxes to keep my store ads and coupons that are ready to clip.  I just added my binder to the bottom tray.

When I am ready to clip, I have my calculator, scissors and extra tabs in a pencil holder in the from of my binder.  I like the post it tabs.  I can add a category when I need to, or simply take one away.  They are not permanent.

Next, I have a folder to keep coupons that I don't want to forget, especially if they expire soon.

My awesome post it tabs.

I like the smaller binder, but, it is hard to find accessories.  I did find some business card holders at Staples to fit the smaller binder, but, they are expensive.  I just cut down pages that my kids used to keep their baseball cards in.  I line it up and use a hole punch to add necessary holes.

That's how I do my coupons.

Week 8:  Meal planning/grocery shopping

I always clip coupons, check ads and make my meal plans on Sunday.  It only makes sense to include my menu planning and grocery lists at the back of my coupon binder.  That way, I can take my menu plan/grocery list to the store with me.

These are awesome little forms that I got for free here.  Simplify 101 also has a lot of organizing information. My favorite thing is that it is half sheets of paper and it includes a spot for my families activities.  That way,  I can plan dinner accordingly.

After the store, I take my menu plan and put it here.

I hope you find this useful, and, let me know what you do.

Happy shopping.

Rhonda

The Versatile Blogger Award

I am so very excited and honored to receive the Versatile Blogger Award from Jenny over at The NY Melrose Family.  I have been so blessed to know and visit her in blog land.  We have similar taste and every now and again, I find myself saying, she is really in my head.  Thank you Jenny for such a great honor.  

Now, The best part of receiving this award is that I get to pass it on to seven other bloggers that I feel deserve the honor.  Here they are:

1.  Kara @ Petals to Picots -- Crocheting and Friday Link Party

2.  Cori @ Created by Cori -- Great Paper Crafts and another Link Party Girl.
3.  Vicky @ Mess for Less -- A great blog for those with children.  Projects and great learning
                                       tools
4.  Terry @ These Peas Taste Funny -- Cooking, Crafting and a Great Thursday Link Party
5.  Tera Leigh @ Eccentric Leopard -- A little of Everything, Crafts and Photography
6.  Lori Morrison at Bleak to Unique -- Fun Fun Duct Tape Flowers
7.  A Day with Special K - A very Special Blog

Again to Jenny, thank you and I really want you to know how honored I am.  Now, I hope everybody takes a couple of minutes and check out these awesome blogs and the women who run them.  


Now I have to tell you seven things about me you don't know. 


1.  I love 80's music, especially Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac.
2.  Chocolate is a food group for me.
3.  I love the Twilight Saga.
4.  I drive slow - turtle, turtle
5.  I am a Control Freak
6.  In the morning, I love to sit alone and drink coffee in the dark.
7.  Beauty and The Beast is my favorite Children's Movie.


Rhonda

Pesto Tuna Melts and This Week's Chicken Feed

Wow, I know this is late, but, I have been a little crazy lately.  My father in law is still being hospitalized.  I know your prayers are helping, but, I don't know if will be going home as of yet.   My husband has been at the hospital almost every day until 9:00 p.m. for about a month now.   I really didn't think it would be an issue at all, however, I didn't realize how much he did help.  He takes and picks up Jean and Matthew from sports, he will sometimes stop for milk, bring me a coffee, and did I mention that the kids behave a little better when he is home.  I have been running my daycare business during the day (which begins at 6:30 a.m.) and then taking and picking my kids up from sports (which ends around 9:00 p.m.).  I make dinner either at lunch or in between taking/dropping my kids.  We eat really late, and, they have been a little naughty since dad is not here to "Keep the Peace".  I know I am whining a lot little, but, please somebody give me some cheese to go with this wine.............  I guess I am going to have to admit -- My dear sweet hubby does help me and A LOT.  I will be glad to get him back.  Now, a couple of pics of this weekends sports:

This is Jean.  She is 12 and a great softball player.  She catches and plays third.

I get a kick of her because she is not afraid to get dirty and never cries when she gets hit with the ball or anything.  When she gets home, she watches America's Top Model and does the cat walk - hee hee.

Go batter.

On to this week's chicken feed.  Remember, you can always request a recipe to be highlighted next week.


        Monday          Pork Chops, roasted potatoes, asparagus and salad
        Tuesday          Macaroni and Cheese (my mom's recipe) and green beans
        Wednesday     Chicken Enchiladas, Salad with Salsa Ranch
        Thursday         Ground beef Stroganoff and mixed veggies
        Friday             Pizza
        Saturday         Sausage and German Potato Salad
        Sunday           Chicken Parmesan and Salad


This is a great quick fix to dress up regular tuna.  My family likes the white albacore the best.  I fixed this and it wasn't enough for all my family -- dad was home late so he just had a bologna sandwich - MY BAD.........

I used three cans of tuna, drained and put in a bowl.

I added some chopped red pepper, a couple of tablespoons of mayo, grated Parmesan and about 1/4 cup of pesto.  Salt and pepper to taste.

Mix it up.  I tried not to break it up too much.

Scoop it onto toasted rye bread (my son brought me some wonderful rye bread from The Bread Smith)and  top with Swiss cheese.  Broil for about 3 to 5 minuets until bubbly.

I served it with some fresh cut veggies and Sun chips.

I know it sounds weird, but, try it, it is really good.

Enjoy.

Rhonda

Menu Planning Monday

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

I will miss my craft this week.  I have been so busy with the daycare and Valentine's Day games and  party, that I have not had time.  However, I will be starting my organizing project tomorrow.  I hope you come back and start this exciting project with me.

I love this little hutch.  I got it at a garage sale when when I lived in Colorado.

These gorgeous flowers came from my niece, Hayden.

I made these little cups for my daycare kids.

They decorated cookies, passed out valentines, played games, and have had  big time.

XXX

OOO

Rhonda

Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta and This Week's Chicken Feed

I hope everybody had a great weekend.  I spent my time watching my oldest compete in a cheer competition.

They took 1st - yeah......

On to this week's Chicken Feed (as always, if you see something you would like featured as next week's recipe, let me know):

Monday:     Pesto Tuna Melts - Veggies and Ranch

Tuesday:     Lasagna, Garlic Bread, Salad

Wednesday:     Fish Tacos, Salsa Rice

Thursday:  Leftovers

Friday:  Upside Down Pizza, Salad (I will include this in next week's recipes)

Saturday:     Dad's Choice

Sunday:     Chicken Enchiladas, Red Rice

Now, here is a very easy weeknight meal that everybody will LOVE.

one bag (8 oz) pasta any shape.

1 lb. ground beef

6 bacon strips (I use a small bag of real bacon pieces) cooked and crumbled

1 can (10 oz) condensed tomato soup (undiluted)

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese or whatever cheese you like on your hamburger

Condiments:  Mustard, tomato, onion, pickles.

(I always double)

Brown your ground beef (I always drain, rinse and pat dry) add salt and pepper to taste.  Pour in soup and bacon, cook until heated through.  Add cheese to string and melt a little.

I like pickles and onions.

This is so easy and about 20 min. from start to finish.

Enjoy.

Rhonda

Menu Plan Monday

Blog Hop

Cheri at It's So Very Cheri is hosting this wonderful Blog Hop, you can get more information and follow her here.

Rules:

1. You must have the LINKY FOLLOWERS tool on your site to participate.

2. You must follow the person who has the party on their site as a thank you.

3.Just add your blog button to the Linky Party below.

4.Grab the Blog Hop code which is right under the Linky Party where it says "Get The Code Here".

5. Follow other bloggers (as many as you want) & leave each one of the blogs that you follow a comment letting them know you are following them, & ask them to follow you back.

Now, just click below to enter your blog & get the code!

This is a Blog Hop!

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Pinterest Inspiration

Happy Friday everybody.  I have been looking at these on Pinterest and HAD to make them.  They are so cute and do I need to add EASY.  I always make the turtle version for Christmas and special occasions, but, these are so cute for Valentines Day.  Really, it can be used for many occasions.  Go here to see the original post.  

They taste yummy too.  It was so hard to keep my kids out of them long enough to take a quick picture.

Easy Peasy - just put the melting disk on a pretzel in about a 300 oven and leave i for just about 3 - 4 min.  Put an M & M on while disk is soft and let cool.  That is it.........

I like the white ones the best.

They are almost too cute to eat.

It was just what my display needed to be complete.

Have a great weekend.

Rhonda

February Cards

It's time to make my February Cards.  I really don't have any birthdays or anniversaries this month, so, I made my family Valentine cards.

Michael's had all of these stickers on sale for .75.  I thought they were cute, and I didn't have to buy any new stamps.

I did have the "Kiss Me" stamp from last year.  

I love my glitter hearts.  I got those at Wal-Mart.  I think this my husbands...

This one is for my oldest daughter.  She has always liked black (even when she was very young - scary).

  

This one, I really like.  I just learned how to to make those pin wheels.  It took me a little time (and a you tube video) to figure it out.  I put it on a double folded card.

Love those "Semi - Homemade" cards - he he.

That was it.

Happy Crafting.

Rhonda

Wow us Wednesday

Penny Pinching Party