Paperwork

I have not blogged all week due to PAPERWORK! I decided to spend the snow days of this week, catching up on paperwork. I had school papers to sort and file, bookkeeping, and a scholarship packet to assemble with my daughter. Paperwork is not my favorite thing, yet a necessary one. Have a wonderful weekend and I hope to be blogging more next week.

Frugal Friday

Our grandmothers and great-grandmothers were frugal out of necessity. I just believe it makes good sense! At our house, we have what I call "feature meat". This means that whatever meats are on sale at the grocery each week is what I stock up on and work with in our menus. This week's feature meat was pork tenderloin. It was by far cheaper than sandwich meat. I love it when I can serve my family of five a good meal for around $10.00. This recipe is one of my favorite's of all time. I cook the pork tenderloin in the slow cooker for several hours. Remove from the cooker and place in a casserole or baking dish. Mix 2 Tablespoons mustard (any flavor you like) and 3 Tablespoons of honey. Put over the top of tenderloin and put in a 375 degree oven for about 15 minutes or until the top begins to brown. This is delicious!!!! I served it with baked beans, macaroni and cheese and cream corn from our garden last summer. Cost of meal: Tenderloin $6.50, baked beans $1.19, Mac and Cheese dinner $1.00 (on sale this week also), corn from our garden a few pennies. Under $10.00

B.T.W. I have been blessed by knowing and enjoying both my grandmothers and two of my great-grandmothers!

Penguin Jumper

Since the weather here resembles Antarctica, how about a penguin? And a happy one at that! This jumper is made of turqoise colored corduroy. It is fully lined with bleached muslin. The shoulders have covered button closures with decorative bows, of black with white polka dots, sewn into place. The penguin is of quality fleece and is appliqued into place. The same ribbon that adorns the shoulders is also on the bottom of the jumper. Machine wash and dry (however, I like to let mine hang to dry).
It is a size 4 and is looking for a home. Handmade right here at Ribbons-n-Rags boutique! $35.00 with FREE shipping in the U.S.

HOW TO MAKE a new ironing board cover

One snowy afternoon this week, I made a new ironing board cover. My old cover was, well "pitiful", so much so that I am NOT including a photo. I iron a great deal and it was ready for retirement. So, I chose some fabric from my stash, bias tape, and elastic and made a new one. Here is how:
-trace pattern (use old cover to trace)
-cut out the new pattern on new fabric
-attach double sided bias tape all the way around (this makes a simple, fast casing for the elastic and finishes the edges)*leave the beginning and ending point open for running the elastic
-run elastic through the casing
-place cover on ironing board
-adjust elastic to fit
-tie elastic in a knot and tuck under cover

SIMPLE. EASY. FAST (around 30 minutes). CHEAP (I used supplies I already had)

As for the brown camo.......let's just say it will make for adventurous ironing.

The Aspiring Baker

My eight year old is an aspiring baker. She dreams of having her own cupcake shop. I am all for that!! While snowed in she has been practicing her baking. She made chocolate chip cookies.

While practicing breaking eggs, I heard her say, "You have to become one with the egg". TOOOO Funny!!! She strives for perfection, even when breaking eggs.

The cookies were delicious and BTW, there were none left by bedtime.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

We have been semi snowed in this week. But we have pretended as if we are totally snowed in. Staying home, sleeping late, eating, reading and all those things that you do when you are housebound. I enjoy these days. It seems almost as if time stands still for a bit and I can capture moments with my children without rushing places and meeting deadlines. They grow so quickly and as I reminisce, I wonder where it all goes and what on earth will I do when they have all left home?

Growing up

While I enjoy watching my children grow up, there are those sad moments when you wish they were still really small. This was one of those moments. Remember when they would get in the tub and play and talk until their skin shriveled and they shivered because the water was cold. I looked at the "bath tub" toys and well, they had not been played with in a really long time. So I gathered them up to put away in storage. When my youngest, who is 8, saw me she quickly protested to the putting away of these toys. When I reminded her that they had not been played with and I thought that she had outgrown them, she asked that I leave them out "just in case". And I did!

Socks

Please tell me that I am not only one in the world with socks that do not have a partner. I have collected over a period of time, this basket of socks that have come through the laundry and have no partners when I fold everything. Where do these socks go? I made an executive decision and tossed them in the garbage. No more clutter in this basket!

HAPPY NEW YEAR---I want to be a LOSER

       As I ponder my New Year's Resolutions, I thought it would be great this year to be a LOSER.   Yes, you heard correctly, I want to be a LOSER of the following things?
            1.  15 pounds ( we always have to think of that at New Year's)
            2.  any negative attitudes or feelings
            3.  any bitterness I have harbored
            4. any desires to exist in any way other than God's will
            5. clutter (both in my home and in my mind)

Have a Wonderful New Year and may you prosper and feel God's love in 2011.