tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76697947408779167852024-02-22T13:22:23.716-05:00Unfinished MomHe who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it (Phillipians 1:6)UnfinishedMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16720933312108165858noreply@blogger.comBlogger295125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669794740877916785.post-87831473679659487212010-08-11T15:05:00.000-04:002016-11-26T17:36:08.215-05:00How We Do School<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5wPKRLIiog_Gs7x1mQdXggkj1m23cy4BIe8FoikjqUnQGyafp3UgHqKkyRuJsYBg6ezl_5o0Q3-3m6DlbNcqH5h9ynVD3KM485MvUajL0yN2qE5c5Du3mvgZInLVO5stxUsme8jCD6MH/s1600/Graphic+-+How+We+Do+School.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5wPKRLIiog_Gs7x1mQdXggkj1m23cy4BIe8FoikjqUnQGyafp3UgHqKkyRuJsYBg6ezl_5o0Q3-3m6DlbNcqH5h9ynVD3KM485MvUajL0yN2qE5c5Du3mvgZInLVO5stxUsme8jCD6MH/s320/Graphic+-+How+We+Do+School.png" /></a></div>
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<i>Eventually every parent must make a choice, either conscious or not, about how their children receive an education. We chose public school. Today I'm guest posting over at <a href="http://lifeasmom.com/2010/08/how-we-do-school-a-guest-post-from-sharon.html">Life As Mom</a> discussing why. </i><br />
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<i>UPDATE on the linked post: As of January 2014, we started homeschooling. My husband had changed jobs and we lived 400 miles apart in two separate states for about 9 months. In order to see Dad occasionally, we needed a flexible school schedule - so we started homeschooling. We discovered we liked it, so we've stuck with it. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>UnfinishedMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16720933312108165858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669794740877916785.post-77549348264013249092010-08-10T19:05:00.004-04:002010-12-02T11:49:18.197-05:00Blueberries!After a friend alerted me that Blueberries were on sale at Aldi for $1.29/pint ... I just had to go out and buy some.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBEztr2B2eUcv5FKB1Pzt3Q-mHZxQy1xsTPCvNBdEQ7tmnr6Lvwic22UJ7BNTOcLHB6fc7HD15EDFisDXPy865Ajg0pkl-mOjUdyXdMM0b-icmgMXPiplB7zvRsumv9ZImsS6Fcd54Lrzk/s1600/Blueberries.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBEztr2B2eUcv5FKB1Pzt3Q-mHZxQy1xsTPCvNBdEQ7tmnr6Lvwic22UJ7BNTOcLHB6fc7HD15EDFisDXPy865Ajg0pkl-mOjUdyXdMM0b-icmgMXPiplB7zvRsumv9ZImsS6Fcd54Lrzk/s400/Blueberries.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I bought 24 pints! Blueberries are my very favorite fruit - can you tell?<br />
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When they are in season I like to pick many pounds of them, unfortunately my schedule and blueberry season had conflicts this year. I only managed to pick about 10 pounds - not enough. Most of them I will freeze so that in the Fall I can make <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2009/10/blueberry-applesauce.html">Blueberry Applesauce</a> for my daughter. I'll also use some in <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2009/08/purple-lava.html">Purple Lava.</a><br />
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But I've also got plans for blueberry jam, blueberry muffins, blueberry scones, blueberry cobbler, blueberry buckle, Blueberry Boy Bait... Hmmm ?? I'm sure more ideas will come to me.<br />
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Do you have a good recipe for blueberries you'd like to share? I'd love to add it to my collection.UnfinishedMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16720933312108165858noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669794740877916785.post-80116829000944133512010-08-05T20:05:00.010-04:002010-08-11T21:01:33.731-04:00Washing & Drying Plastic BaggiesSoon, if they haven't started already, moms all over the country will be packing lunches to send off with their children to school. Many of those lunch items will be packed in plastic baggies. Ever wondered how much money you spend on all those plastic baggies? Ever wondered if there's a cheaper way?<br />
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The year my son entered kindergarten, I figured I sent him to school each day with two plastic snack bags. Each box of 50 snack bags cost about $1.00. So each bag cost me $0.02. So over the course of the school year that's about $7.20. That's roughly the equivalent of 2 gallons of milk. Now I have 2 children in school, so fresh bags every day would cost about $14.50. Plus there are all the sandwich, quart, and gallon size bags I use. Some of them cannot be re-used (for instance, if they've had raw meat in them), and eventually they get holes in them and become sieves instead of containers.<br />
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But, you know what? You really can wash those <strike>buggers </strike> baggies out and re-use them.<br />
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But the problem is how to dry them? If they're not open as they dry, they tend to stick to themselves.<br />
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So, here's my solution:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmLhExorq7-7z9kP6AFmd448pEIwH3MfijfF3fIk-v0wYzPA2ASC07JQzhmKtMaxN2uC6Z7lBCCpLy06DUgWJfmq6xP60Z3bAuwaQ4NDC7qF4JiiGJqxHmwgNI5HguBqee6pfiu8h7L69/s1600-h/Plastic+Baggies+-+Drying.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmLhExorq7-7z9kP6AFmd448pEIwH3MfijfF3fIk-v0wYzPA2ASC07JQzhmKtMaxN2uC6Z7lBCCpLy06DUgWJfmq6xP60Z3bAuwaQ4NDC7qF4JiiGJqxHmwgNI5HguBqee6pfiu8h7L69/s320/Plastic+Baggies+-+Drying.JPG" /></a></div><br />
This rack hangs out in my basement. At the end of each day, when we wash up the dishes from dinner, we also wash the baggies. If we do them every day it only takes a minute or two and the task doesn't become overwhelming. Last year I figured out that washing out my plastic bags saved me about $50.00 over the course of the year. <br />
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Give it a try. You'll be surprised how easily you can save a little money.<br />
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*Keep in mind, I never re-use a bag that's held raw meat.<br />
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<i>This definitely <a href="http://wearethatfamily.com/2010/08/wfmw-teaching-kids-phone-numbers/">Works for Us</a>. For more ideas on how to save a little money, visit <a href="http://lifeasmom.com/2010/08/how-freezer-cooking-saves-me-money-frugal-friday.html">Frugal Friday</a>. </i>UnfinishedMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16720933312108165858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669794740877916785.post-82179129858532757472010-07-07T11:54:00.000-04:002010-07-07T11:54:07.237-04:00How to Exhaust a ChildWant to exhaust your children so they'll sleep well?<br />
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Take them to the <a href="http://www.nasm.si.edu/">National Air & Space Museum</a> on a day when it's 100+ degrees outside.<br />
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Mine slept for 12 hours straight after our visit yesterday.<br />
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Mind you - I slept for 9 hours straight too!UnfinishedMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16720933312108165858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669794740877916785.post-20010577896057951072010-06-22T12:38:00.002-04:002010-06-22T12:54:46.971-04:00Toy Story 3 ReviewHave you been to see the new Toy Story movie, yet? Are you planning to?<br />
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With free tickets and extra coupons in hand, we went to a matinee showing on Friday. We were really psyched. We've been anticipating this movie ever since the first trailer was released and the moment the release date was announced. June 18 was circled in red on our calendar.<br />
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Like many American families, Buzz Lightyear, Woody and the gang are almost family members. I recall seeing Toy Story 2 in the theater with my husband well before we had children of our own and sitting at dinner with my sister and her young daughter commenting about the Star Wars references. A few years later when we had our first child, Toy Story and Toy Story 2 were some of the first videos added to our collection. <br />
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When Joseph was young Buzz Lightyear was one of his favorites, before he could even say the name. And I admit to encouraging his interest. I much preferred Buzz Lightyear the clearly "good guy" as a super hero over the sinister Batman, Spiderman, and even Superman. At 3 and 4 years of age, I wanted to encourage doing the right thing for the right reasons. Buzz Lightyear and Woody were, usually, good examples for that goal.<br />
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Toy Story 3 continues that theme in many ways. It is certainly a family movie which most everyone in the family can enjoy. There is much playful imagination for the young ones and there are lines only adults will (or should) understand. The toys just want to be played with. Andy's going off to college and they're all in a dilemma of what to do. They want to bring comfort and joy to a child, they don't want to end up thrown out, unwanted in the trash heap. And that's a good goal for a toy.<br />
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There are wonderfully funny moments throughout the movie, some that even brought the crowd to cheering!<br />
Hubby and I thoroughly enjoyed it; laughing and, yes, even crying at several points. The kids loved it too. Cora, said it was a good movie and she loved the end the best. Joseph thoroughly enjoyed it and thought the best part was when Woody and Slinky are battling the monkeys. Hubby's favorite was the Monkey Bomb at the beginning. I loved the spunk and strength they wove into Barbie's character. She has far more depth in this movie than is typical for her.<br />
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Now for the practicalities ... If you haven't been to a movie in a while, be prepared for sticker shock. We went on Friday afternoon so that we could take advantage of matinee pricing. Even with two free tickets (up to $8.50), a discount on the second two tickets and matinee pricing - we still paid $25.00 for our 4 tickets. I wasn't thrilled. The extra cost was for the 3-D glasses. This was, in my opinion, a wasted expense. I would have enjoyed this movie just as much, maybe more, without the 3-D effects. My advice ... if you can find a showing without 3-D, take advantage of it.<br />
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Now if you haven't seen it, do not read any further ... <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: #cc0000;">***** SPOILER ALERT!! *****</b></span></div><br />
<div style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Do</b></div><div style="color: #cc0000;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #cc0000;"><b>NOT </b></div><div style="color: #cc0000;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #cc0000;"><b>read</b></div><div style="color: #cc0000;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #cc0000;"><b>further</b></div><div style="color: #cc0000;"><b><br />
</b></div><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">if you do not want a hint at the ending.</span></b><br />
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If you're planning to take very young children, you may want to reconsider. The line between good and evil characters becomes a bit fiuzzy in this movie. Some of the new characters are not so clearly good. While I think that's a good lesson to discuss with my 8 and 6 year olds; it's not a lesson I wanted to teach at 3 or 4. At that age it was more important to clearly identify, this is good; that is bad.<br />
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Another thing that concerned me about this movie was the level of peril. Near the end, Buzz, Woody and the gang are in real danger of being destroyed in an incinerator. This moment brought 3 of 4 members of my family to tears, especially our young Buzz Lightyear fan. We really thought the toys were going to die. I remember thinking, "Oh my goodness! Surely, they're not going to have them die? What will I tell my son?" In the end, everyone comes out fine and the very end is absolutely delightful (I won't divulge the final plot twist.) But, specifically because of that moment I almost think it deserved a PG rating instead of G.<br />
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Overall, I'd give it 4 ½ out of 5 stars. <br />
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<b>If you've seen the movie, I would love to hear your thoughts and comments. </b>UnfinishedMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16720933312108165858noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669794740877916785.post-34179664105363590122010-06-13T21:05:00.000-04:002010-06-14T21:29:25.828-04:00Menu Plan – June 13, 2010I went to retrieve something from my freezer this weekend and had a realization -- I have an abundance of food in my freezer at the moment. Some bits and pieces of this and that; more chicken than I realized. And so, I’m going to try and use up a bunch of it in June.<br />
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Hopefully this will help reduce my grocery budget, so that I can spend it on berries and jam making instead! The temperatures are going to be highly variable this week. Monday they’re in the 90s and Tuesday & Wednesday they’re supposed to be in the high 70s. So, I’ve planned our meals accordingly. Nothing in the oven on the hot days. Tuesday, since the temperatures will be cooler, I’m planning a big Freezer Cooking Day – mostly breakfast items. <br />
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Here’s the plan for the week:<br />
(with apologies for the funky formatting - Blogger has updated and I'm still learning how to adjust to the spacing issues) <br />
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<b>Sunday</b><br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 400px;"><tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="32">B - </td> <td valign="top" width="368">Cereal & Pop Tarts</td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="32">D - </td> <td valign="top" width="368">Hot Dogs, Mac & Cheese, watermelon</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<b>Monday</b><br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 402px;"><tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="32">B - </td> <td valign="top" width="368">Pancakes & eggs (Hubby & the girl have a Daddy Daughter Date for Doughnuts)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="32">D - </td> <td valign="top" width="368"><a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2010/06/i-made-it-shredded-beef-filling.html" target="_blank">Shredded Beef</a> Tacos & Watermelon with <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2009/08/summer-fruit-dip.html" target="_blank">Summer Fruit Dip</a></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<b>Tuesday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdEjFK1u2FxpOdLLVLaEThuRYych7CTpD3yDOyAqKk0wv8eT-UjklVdEwjSDfJizJVOQ8ggfcQUMDgqnlucd6asUmDIAvam-xb0opLXrN1yTo3xSXfrs3kBI5n3fkWcejuKpk711lEkoo/s1600-h/Chicken%20Stir%20Fry%5B13%5D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="Chicken Stir Fry" border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbHqAXGpH6sKvQnBghaOUBd-WImJXej2lL5v3s5DrCkDmFeVYw2PexFnxK32IEyNObrAMigaSykaUC8Dw1t9CSqXjB7IoicAghcajjT9zeq8vajCYUnl02DI89i9VjjcoavlQg72IB1-A/?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="Chicken Stir Fry" width="200" /></a></b><br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 296px;"><tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="32">B - </td> <td valign="top" width="262">Breakfast Burritos (a variation of <a href="http://amysfinerthings.com/breakfast-burritos" target="_blank">this recipe</a>)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="32">D - </td> <td valign="top" width="262"><a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2009/05/go-to-chicken-casserole.html" target="_blank">Chicken Casserole</a></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<b>Wednesday </b><br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 184px;"><tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="32">B - </td> <td valign="top" width="150"><a href="http://amysfinerthings.com/moms-cinnamon-rolls" target="_blank">Cinnamon Rolls</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="32">D - </td> <td valign="top" width="150"><a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2009/01/chicken-stir-fry.html" target="_blank">Chicken Stir Fry</a></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<b>Thursday</b><br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 402px;"><tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="32">B - </td> <td valign="top" width="368"><a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2009/02/whole-wheat-banana-chip-muffins.html" target="_blank">Whole Wheat Banana Chip Muffins</a> & Eggs</td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="32">D - </td> <td valign="top" width="368">Leftovers</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<b>Friday</b><br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 402px;"><tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="32">B - </td> <td valign="top" width="368">Cereal & Pop Tarts</td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="32">D - </td> <td valign="top" width="368">Twice Baked Potatoes, <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2009/05/asian-spinach.html" target="_blank">Asian Spinach</a></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<b>Saturday</b><br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 402px;"><tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="32">B - </td> <td valign="top" width="368"><a href="http://onceamonthmom.com/fruity-breakfast-burritos/" target="_blank">Fruity Burritos</a> (these are fantastic on hot summer days)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="32">D - </td> <td valign="top" width="368">?? Possibly attending a party</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Lunches this week will be sandwiches & smoothies – I <i>love</i> smoothies in the summer, especially <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2009/08/purple-lava.html" target="_blank">Purple Lava</a>. <br />
Snacks will be sliced cucumbers, trail mix, Popcorn, and Rice Krispie treats.<br />
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You can find more menu inspiration at <a href="http://orgjunkie.com/2010/06/menu-plan-monday-june-14th.html"><i>Menu Plan Monday</i></a>.UnfinishedMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16720933312108165858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669794740877916785.post-8064533628551668712010-06-07T20:00:00.005-04:002010-06-08T09:20:59.741-04:00I Made It – Shredded Beef Filling<span style="font-size: small;"><i>I love it when my friends recommend recipes, because I can ask questions. Likewise, when I find a really good recipe I like to share it with you, too. Feel free to ask questions and find out if it will work for your family.</i></span><br />
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Have you ever come across a recipe that intrigued you just by looking at the ingredient list? <br />
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My first introduction to <a href="http://www.goodcheapeats.com/2009/06/shredded-beef-filling.html" target="_blank">this recipe</a> was when <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255, 255);">FishMama</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span>made it for one of her Freezer Cooking Days. She talked about how many different ways she could use it. That sounded like my kind of recipe. I like when I can work once and have several meals from it.<br />
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Then I looked at the recipe. It looked quite easy, but the ingredient list – chili powder and oregano? Really? Chili powder and oregano in the same recipe? I would never have dreamed of putting those together. But, as I recall Boneless Chuck Roasts were cheap that week, the slow cooker was sitting idle and I needed a few more meals ready to use in the freezer, so I decided to give it a try.<br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Shredded Beef Filling</b></span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHXOl83-UN_ed3Y3mS0lzzI92Q2ZMhtmWOsJNXlnDQA2EDXhEpCCr8JgC_StvTpHvi_-Qp-VlhJBS47xdg6Hq2zkiOxh7V1x31xXc5PyaVTjVIhGqFS-GmYF8-gLOg5hCG7ovu9vFCIO5/s1600-h/ShreddedBeefFilling9.jpg"><img alt="Shredded Beef Filling" border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoN3rY2Nyi7kfgmeHbwc71zmJ8_kRzaDkOjxDmd1ad_hMyITpO_ZFVzZXB3vIoa-TnWHMtB4GeGjbjEyaPde-aEbHRQkCI45D1Jm8tuSjhwx2Y-D-yynx-ezjqhtrLwIAv0Mn-3ByrTBg/?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Shredded Beef Filling" width="366" /></a> <br />
<h4>The Review:</h4>If you’ve been following for a while you know that this recipe shows up periodically in our Menu Plan. I’ve mentioned it a time or two, but it really is worthy of a whole post.<br />
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If your man is like mine -- one way to his heart is through his stomach. This is most definitely man pleasing food. When Shredded Beef Filling is cooking in the slow cooker the whole house smells delicious, my husband walks in and says, “Where’s my wife? I want my wife!” <br />
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No kidding.<br />
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This recipe will get his attention. <br />
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It’s absolutely delicious. My kids love it too. The first time I made it, I wasn’t too sure what their reaction would be – they can be <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2009/05/coping-with-picky-eaters-ten-ways.html" target="_blank">picky eaters</a>. But they finished off their small portions and then asked for more.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTEttioxzf1HnSiPYr2iHN_NmifDveVYyOkvcC8POQ-6iAT6njs9uQOEk5jcIqbcJrWAUAM-iu4Lyuu6b4vVcpV0j3z1GxoYsh2ywNivL_tE8nKeulGl49T6obOqjlmlzRB9QFBlhEnos/s1600-h/ShreddedBeefSoftTaco7.jpg"><img align="right" alt="Shredded Beef Soft Taco" border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7LUdxj0ZPl4LYJJm54yxgeb7uWVzT7sT5NzUaxlW8KqJ_Gj1SGPiS0KacJUGfeQmfum6qSyVTgBKrgAx_CmieW2jHIVtYyu5YuKI01jjND8ZpbR2HnlBCUAdFEw5PFzVX6eTI6UsO8B6/?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="Shredded Beef Soft Taco" width="202" /></a> Typically, when I make it, I use 2 large chuck roasts and we’ll eat part of it <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255, 255);">unshredded</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span>as roast beef on the day I make it. Then, after dinner I shred the rest and portion it into bags, about ¾ pound per bag. I add a bit of the drippings so that it stays moist when I reheat it, and then freeze it.<br />
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To reheat it, let it thaw in the fridge overnight and then heat it up in a skillet over medium heat. It stays wonderfully juicy. We’ve eaten it as shredded beef tacos, shredded beef sandwiches – with juice for dipping, and as BBQ beef sandwiches. We’ve even been known to steal a bite or two right out of the serving bowl! My whole family loves it. I still want to try it in enchiladas and <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255, 255);">taquitos</span>, but I’m a Mexican food neophyte and I need a recipe before I delve into those untested waters.<br />
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<b>We highly recommend Shredded Beef Filling.</b> You can find the recipe <a href="http://www.goodcheapeats.com/2009/06/shredded-beef-filling.html" target="_blank">here</a>. The next time Chuck Roast is on sale for less than $2.00/lb, go buy yourself some roasts and try this recipe. You won’t regret it.<br />
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Visit <a href="http://beautyandbedlam.com/whats-your-favorite-cookbook/">Tasty Tuesday</a> @ Beauty and Bedlam for more recipe ideas.UnfinishedMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16720933312108165858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669794740877916785.post-82397993034746448322010-06-03T20:00:00.001-04:002010-06-03T22:50:52.176-04:00Discount Grocers in Maryland<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWikMmZHv_SPgq2pe8KwhATQvIPzmd18r-44UTPS-sxYJmPLDVyEjyiuA-CQgW8BCY5TR2pGL_TzDmDNu23ZWoXxvpjyKi-IQktGE4MxkNw0CCCffYOzOVo5RCfkoqDrLGkKLgv7az8Ui/s1600-h/Shoppers%20051509%5B6%5D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="Shoppers 051509" border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNOs5jHr1IktILIHm-BohP5bnROSljWgqqfo8QYLOvD9ytJiTq5eaFPSLFgd4dzVJ0wk7jwpkJTsyzFDMMGMlvsdrhHv_0bazmoW_FB9n5iaJowJZ_Lb8EBRVqyA3dLrbr0VoBnbSWekl/?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="Shoppers 051509" width="240" /></a> Did you know there was such a thing as grocery stores that sell all their groceries for a discount (not just a few sale items?) I’ve never shopped at a discount grocer, but inspired by <a href="http://www.gettingfreedom.net/2009/11/shopping-discount-grocers.html" target="_blank">this post</a> from Getting Freedom I went in search of Discount Grocery stores in Maryland.<br />
<br />
Here's what I found:<br />
A <a href="http://www.andersonsmarket.info/directory" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">listing of discount grocers by state</a>. I found two in Maryland: 1 in Caroline County, the other in North East (Cecil County?).<br />
<br />
Then I found this discount grocery store chain which is affiliated with Food Lion: <a href="http://www.bottomdollarfood.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bottom Dollar Food</a> (they have stores in Gaithersburg, Frederick and Laurel).<br />
<br />
For Marylanders, if you're looking for cheaper groceries, and live in reasonable driving distance of these stores, it would certainly be worth the trip to check them out.<br />
<br />
For non-Marylanders, you should be able to find a discount grocer in your state at the list above.<br />
<br />
<b>Have you ever shopped at a discount grocer? What do you like or not like about them? Do you know of other Discount Grocery stores in Maryland? </b><br />
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<i></i><br />
<i>You can find more tips for frugal living at Frugal Friday on </i><a href="http://lifeasmom.com/2010/06/frugal-friday-sell-something.html"><i>Life As Mom</i></a><i>.</i>UnfinishedMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16720933312108165858noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669794740877916785.post-44446608711804098242010-06-02T11:16:00.001-04:002010-06-02T11:16:28.872-04:00Hello, I’m Unfinished Mom. Remember Me?<p>Have you ever been through a season of life when things were just out of whack? </p> <p>If you’re a mom, you've been there before. Something happens, and the schedule gets off. Someone gets sick and it takes you a month to catch up. There are lots of reasons life gets out of whack - schedule changes, new milestones of life, new responsibilities – you know the list. The end result is that you just can't seem to find "normal". </p> <p>That's pretty much where I've been the last few months. There isn't really a good reason for it. No one’s been sick. No births; no deaths. Our schedule hasn’t really changed. There’s just been a confluence of events that sucked up time and energy. (Before you wonder, if this is goodbye – no it’s not!)</p> <p>And there’s been the introspective re-examination.</p> <p>It started several months ago - I don't know exactly when – this funk that has seeped into the crevices of my thoughts. I knew life could be better. I knew I could manage our home life better. I needed to figure out <em>how</em>. </p> <p>So, I questioned. </p> <p>I questioned the many tasks in my life. I wondered if I was doing too much (Um, yeah, that's an affirmative – still haven’t figured out what to stop doing). I felt overwhelmed with all of what needed to be done. I got up in the morning with my head whirling. I thought, "<em>If I could just stop the rest of the world, I could catch up!</em>"  I told my husband, “I really need to step back and regroup.” But there wasn't time. There was more to do. And examining the calendar didn’t reveal additional time either. </p> <p>So, that’s why I haven’t been around much over the last few months. </p> <p><strong>If you’ve visited in the last few months</strong>, and wondered where I’ve been, <em><strong>Thank You</strong></em>!  I appreciate your interest and encouragement. I’m still around. Sort of hiding out at home, re-examining my life, and trying to develop a <strike>new</strike> more Godly paradigm for who I am and what this blog will become. I have not figured it all out by any means, but the picture is becoming clearer.</p> <p>That’s where I am…</p> <p>How is 2010 shaping up for you? What have <em>you</em> been up to?</p> UnfinishedMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16720933312108165858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669794740877916785.post-14842536245875805532010-05-30T22:05:00.000-04:002010-06-02T15:31:23.338-04:00Menu Plan - May 30, 2010We went strawberry picking on Friday, so I spent much of the weekend making jam and we'll be enjoying some of the fruits of our labor as the week progresses. <br />
<br />
Here's the plan (I think).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mffhhDqnmKg/TAawp32xEaI/AAAAAAAAA4o/dwmDMFzDf2I/s1600/Chicken+Piccata+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mffhhDqnmKg/TAawp32xEaI/AAAAAAAAA4o/dwmDMFzDf2I/s320/Chicken+Piccata+2.JPG" /></a></div><b>Sunday</b><br />
B - Cereal<br />
D - A rare trip to KFC<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Monday</b><br />
B - French Toast with strawberries <br />
D - Leftover KFC, corn on the cob, watermelon<br />
<br />
<b>Tuesday </b><br />
B - Scrambled Eggs & Toast w/ homemade Strawberry Jam (yum!)<br />
D - <a href="http://amysfinerthings.com/sloppy-joes">Sloppy Joes</a> ala Amy, watermelon and oven fries <br />
<br />
<b>Wednesday </b><br />
B - <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-made-it-peanut-butter-baked-oatmeal.html">Banana Baked Oatmeal</a><br />
<br />
D - Crockpot chicken breasts with brown rice & green beans<br />
<br />
<b>Thursday</b><br />
B - Cereal with strawberries<br />
D - Grilled Cheese & soup <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Friday</b><br />
B - <a href="http://amysfinerthings.com/breakfast-burritos">Breakfast Burritos</a><br />
D - Hamburgers on the grill, peaches, <br />
<br />
<b>Saturday</b><br />
B - TBD<br />
D - Chicken Piccatta<br />
<br />
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What's on your menu, tonight?UnfinishedMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16720933312108165858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669794740877916785.post-27251698581308068972010-04-21T22:38:00.003-04:002010-04-22T07:43:22.235-04:0013 Things I Learned in the AtticAs <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2010/04/busy-week.html" target="_blank">I mentioned earlier</a> in the week, my siblings and I spent most of last week cleaning out the barn and attic at my father’s house. Along the way there are some things we have learned: <br />
<ol><li>Everything collects dust after 30 or 40 years. </li>
<li>Do NOT toss things out of a 30 year old attic – see #1. </li>
<li>Cardboard boxes disintegrate after 30 or 40 years. </li>
<li>Plastic garbage bags disintegrate after 15-20 years. </li>
<li>If you place different parts of something in different places – label where the other parts are. (Yeah. There’s a story behind that one.) </li>
<li>If it was tied together when it went up there, it might not be together anymore -- see #2 and #3. </li>
<li><i>Label the stuff you put up there, for goodness sake</i>! (If you are the only member of your family who knows why it went up there; don’t expect them to read your mind after you’re dead.) </li>
<li>Some things are trash. Do not put them in the attic. </li>
<li>The contents of any given box may not be the same as the graphics on the box indicate. </li>
<li>Wigs, hats and hairpieces that looked good 30 years ago, but that have been squashed under more boxes, don’t look good anymore. </li>
<li>Some stuffed animals will change color after 20 or 30 years. </li>
<li>It is not necessary to keep every piece of paper your children touched with a paintbrush. </li>
<li>Different people will always have different ideas of what is trash -- and what is not. </li>
</ol>UnfinishedMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16720933312108165858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669794740877916785.post-75771707457599085672010-04-19T10:53:00.001-04:002010-04-19T10:53:02.383-04:00A Busy Week<p>My apologies for the sudden quietness over the last few weeks and especially last week. In the last seven days we have: </p> <ul> <li>picked up my brother at the airport (He lives in Oklahoma) </li> <li>spent 4 days cleaning out the barn, shed, attic and other miscellaneous nooks and crannies at my Dad’s house </li> <li>visited and caught up on life with my brother </li> <li>found out my son’s best friend is moving away </li> <li>baked cookies and taken stuff (from Dad’s) to a Yard Sale to raise funds for a Youth Mission Trip </li> <li>moved my brother’s portion and some of our portion of Dad’s furniture out of the house </li> <li>celebrated the 65th anniversary with our home church (an hour away) at a concert in which my husband both sang and played piano </li> <li>visited with many past friends – both my friends and friends of my parents at the above concert </li> <li>received news of the crumbling marriage of friends </li> <li>attended the ordination service of a good friend who’s going to challenge the church in many awesome ways. </li> </ul> <p>There’s been a lot happening, but there’s not been much time available for cooking, couponing, deal hunting or blogging. There’s not been much time for thinking for that matter. </p> <p>The last few days are ripe with blog fodder. I’m sure I’ll be sharing some of it in the next week or so. In the meantime, for today, I need to spend some time with God figuring out what He has to say about all this. And then I need to spend some time catching up on the other daily tasks of Casa Unfinished Mom. </p> <p>I’ll be back when the unfinished to do list is a bit less unfinished – ‘cause you know it’s never going to be finished.</p> <p> </p> <p><em>PS: Don’t forget to enjoy a </em><a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2010/04/dairy-queen-blizzard-buy-one-get-one.html" target="_blank"><em>Blizzard at Dairy Queen</em></a><em> for $0.25 this week.</em></p> UnfinishedMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16720933312108165858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669794740877916785.post-89950314861775408002010-04-17T08:05:00.000-04:002010-04-17T08:05:00.427-04:00Linky Love<p>Every so often I like to share some of the articles and blog posts I’ve recently found interesting. Some of my recent finds….</p> <p> <a href="http://miscellaneousmusings-x.blogspot.com/2010/02/90-day-bible-update-week-5-womans-place.html">A Mother's Place of Influence</a> by Miscellaneous Musings of a 5x Mom</p> <div style="text-align: center"><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052748704820904575055392244583592-lMyQjAxMTAwMDEwMjExNDIyWj.html#dummy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Doing the Math on Coupons:</a> Are Coupons Worth the Time?</div> <div style="text-align: center">(Wall Street Journal)</div> <div style="text-align: center"> <br /><a href="http://www.wearethatfamily.com/2010/04/mean-people.html">Are you a Lion or a Buffalo</a>? by We Are THAT Family </div> <div style="text-align: center"> </div> <div style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.gettingfreedom.net/2010/04/apple-cinnamon-pizza.html" target="_blank">Apple Cinnamon Pizza</a> by Getting Freedom </div> <div style="text-align: center"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/2010/02/of-ending-of-beginnings-goodbye-to.html">When Beginnings End and Kids Grow Up</a> by Holy Experience</div> UnfinishedMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16720933312108165858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669794740877916785.post-83883862994951992992010-04-12T09:00:00.005-04:002010-04-12T09:12:05.558-04:00Menu Plan - April 11, 2010: Mom's Away, Dad's CookingThis is going to be an odd week at Casa Unfinished Mom. My siblings and I are planning several intense days of work at my Dad's house (an hour away from my home); so Hubby's going to be cooking several nights this week. He's not really a cook - grilled cheese and boil spaghetti noodles are more his speed. Whenever he's cooking, my biggest concern is, "Will there be a vegetable involved?" So in preparation for being away I spent most of Saturday prepping several different meals that he could heat and eat. Many of the meals I planned have veggies built into the main course or hidden amongst the many flavors, as in the sauce for spaghetti and Noodle Thing.<br />
<br />
So here's what the plan is for the week:<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Sunday</b><br />
B - Quick favorites (Pop-tarts, cereal)<br />
D - Mac & Cheese and Hot Dogs with fruit<br />
<br />
<b>Monday</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>B - <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-made-it-peanut-butter-baked-oatmeal.html">Baked Banana Oatmea</a>l<br />
D - Hamburgers, Roasted Potatoes, Cucumber slices<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1kAmQtG5J4BrXrpYyA_0Rwjfwu9e9yBeqB70MOEzwq-erAwZrVFVv7O8Wm3WQmzzXJ0bj3-8VZGv74mKsA1ePuFh-BzLTejfAX3zLHHS5suQvETaOZ2mXgTqd4wQdwutWAjfDwDzchReT/s1600/Chicken+%26+Dumplings.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1kAmQtG5J4BrXrpYyA_0Rwjfwu9e9yBeqB70MOEzwq-erAwZrVFVv7O8Wm3WQmzzXJ0bj3-8VZGv74mKsA1ePuFh-BzLTejfAX3zLHHS5suQvETaOZ2mXgTqd4wQdwutWAjfDwDzchReT/s200/Chicken+%26+Dumplings.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<b>Tuesday - Hubby cooking dinner</b><br />
B - Ham or Sausage <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Buttermilk-Biscuits-I/Detail.aspx" rel="”nofollow”">Biscuits</a><br />
D - <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2009/05/go-to-chicken-casserole.html">Go To Chicken Casserole (currently in the freezer )</a><br />
<br />
<b>Wednesday - Hubby cooking all day</b><br />
B - <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/basic-waffle-recipe2/index.html" rel="”nofollow”">Whole Wheat Waffles</a><br />
D - Spaghetti (w/ extra mushrooms and shredded zucchini snuck into the sauce)<br />
<br />
<b>Thursday - Hubby cooking in the morning</b><br />
B - <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2010/01/whole-wheat-banana-muffins.html">Whole Wheat Banana Muffins</a><br />
D - <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2009/12/chicken-dumplings.html">Chicken and Dumplings</a><br />
<br />
<b>Friday - Hubby probably cooking dinner</b><br />
B - Cereal<br />
D - Noodle Thing (Pasta, spaghetti sauce & mozzarella baked in a casserole)<br />
<br />
<b>Saturday</b><br />
B - TBD - probably Muffins or Waffles (above)<br />
D - TBD (the whole family are attending a concert across town; dinner is yet to be determined)<br />
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<br />
<i>As always, I am so honored that you came to visit. I hope you found something to help make make your life a bit easier. If you're looking for more menu ideas, visit <a href="http://orgjunkie.com/2010/04/menu-plan-monday-april-12th.html">Organizing Junkie</a>.</i>UnfinishedMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16720933312108165858noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669794740877916785.post-78687357056697225972010-04-10T11:32:00.001-04:002010-04-10T11:32:20.403-04:006 Year old Logic<p>Cora: “I’m making a tea party for <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2010/01/boy-v-girl-with-bionicle-box.html">Scruffy’s</a> half-birthday”</p> <p>Hubby: “Oh! Is today his half birthday?”</p> <p>Cora: “Yes!”</p> <p>Hubby: “Wait, I thought his birthday was on Easter?”</p> <p>Cora: “I changed it!”</p> <p>I guess if we can celebrate her birthday in June, then she can celebrate Scruffy’s birthday whenever she pleases!</p> UnfinishedMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16720933312108165858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669794740877916785.post-57404805603078588652010-04-09T08:05:00.005-04:002010-05-26T12:17:49.055-04:00It’s Party Time!<i>Welcome fellow party goers.</i> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9_YJO3tmUzwT0-Al45DKb3KTe_QR6X9a-OptpaY_iDRMkp8x-LfU1nlhpvg3gskSM7MDW84XwBSaGTa4cE9kTEQoLk_OYPPlhCS0aUTWk8z-JtUNd_le2HNnq-3MptErYrcT_9f_f2kU/s1600-h/Applesauce%20Cake%20-%20slice%5B8%5D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="Applesauce Cake - slice" border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiJYemWlnj74kZFAhOilt3-XeIEfec-kcPw87yKF7IY0cgge_6eDyUAsKbHcf1QO-1uNCKzVdE3a8JijlzoL4T2ysnaU_vxON12W2R3tgNZVSj7h4X4OlwSr5RYC7QxbAB6eu2zp-XrrZ6/?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="Applesauce Cake - slice" width="203" /></a><br />
Come on in. Have a slice of my Mommom’s <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2009/10/mommoms-applesauce-cake.html" target="_blank">Applesauce Cake</a>:<br />
Oh wait. Some of you may not know about the party. This week is party week at 5 Minutes for Mom. It’s my second <a href="http://www.5minutesformom.com/19667/ultimate-blog-party-2010/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ultimate Blog Party</a>. Last year was so much fun; I had the chance to meet a whole bunch of neat bloggers. I hope you’re having fun meeting some new folks too.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6os4Ip3IbIaBkksoFuAGt1aaT2abMIZstzDKSZsUXRnb9JMwg5ylqW8FwL-oDlXl0k_yNx32AvEyY3u3M8bWzGC7LGidHS4A2EVoJLr8TMSY4diJPmRGTCAIAoeOOWs7jaZgpBSQSFD8o/s1600-h/Apple%20Raisin%20Fr%20Toast%20Casserole%5B8%5D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Apple Raisin Fr Toast Casserole" border="0" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMijVosFc1VR1C8l3OKat3LvFUEex91Oil4CkXAHTjVwehhDF8jy4Af7wTuRTzeqUHjQvtXtD_zarQlpHfMveyDNdXZrzyPUSm9AKPEkAftl_rgP1a_XXNtGNMeoxyzXW7JygK5jZ_7o-N/?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="Apple Raisin Fr Toast Casserole" width="176" /></a>If you’ve stopped by in the morning, well, the cake is wonderful for breakfast too – toast it with a bit of butter. Yumm. But, if you’d prefer, you could try some of this delicious <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2009/10/apple-riasin-french-toast-casserole.html" target="_blank">Apple Raisin French Toast</a><br />
<br />
While you’re here, let’s chat and get to know each other a bit.<br />
<u><b>A bit about Unfinished Mom:</b></u><br />
<br />
I live in Maryland with my two great kids and fantastic hubby. As you can tell from the name of my blog – I’m not finished. Like many stay-at-home moms -- I’m not an expert, but <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/search/label/I%20Made%20It" target="_blank">when I come across a good recipe</a> or idea I like to share it. I’ve shared tips I’ve learned about <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2009/09/keep-barrettes-in-fine-hair.html" target="_blank">keeping barrettes in fine hair</a> and <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2009/05/coping-with-picky-eaters-ten-ways.html" target="_blank">how we cope with picky eaters</a> at our house. I love to find (and share) new ways to <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/search/label/Frugal%20Living" target="_blank">save money and live frugally</a>, too.<br />
<br />
There’s so much to learn when you’re a mom. I <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2009/12/why-you-should-clean-your-oven.html" target="_blank">certainly don’t have it all figured out</a>. Sometimes I’m not sure which is the harder part of being Mom – keeping the household organized or <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2009/05/how-do-you-train-up-child.html" target="_blank">teaching my kids</a> to be the people God wants them to be. It’s all a work in progress. What’s the hardest part of being a mom, for you?<br />
<br />
In the next few weeks I’m planning to share some more great recipes I’ve found and a few things I learned when our kids were infants and toddlers.<br />
<br />
<b>What are you learning about being a Mom?</b> I’d love to hear what you’ve learned. Introduce your blog or yourself and share your thoughts in the comments.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Oh! Don’t forget – there are some <a href="http://www.5minutesformom.com/ultimate-blog-party-2010-prizes/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">great prizes at this party</a>. I really like the Collected Recipe Cookbook Binder (US27), but of course any of the Amazon gift cards would be cool too. But, my first choice would be a blog design (INTL 8); UnfinishedMom is due for a little redecorating.</span>UnfinishedMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16720933312108165858noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669794740877916785.post-29490042065052043472010-04-07T07:05:00.004-04:002010-04-07T11:26:14.151-04:00Grief – It Comes Out of Nowhere<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PKzH63cXPuS-y0kTb4YTVDRJoHe8Hetku6vYfZdnNbgVlr7ovGXmFUbprDhpuv_A-1I_ndCkiksxiidUX7Xhtjuy0s0cze7qrvwJAG767-IhW0DWtyaxandlZWOu_1OcqcdcpTt2hAw3/s1600-h/Wave%20on%20sand%5B10%5D.jpg"><img alt="Wave on sand" border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNe01ag3FgkIft2dgOlVbhsdSpr7u0gQz9nS7zzxDTT3kuIB_COtZ536oSylwcU7codWFvYZEo4xAt7ORSQzngknl8jXGAtfzdNopPpvXMP4w7vtdNdkg2PAmncep530etMRfnA0wtCFN/?imgmax=800" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Wave on sand" width="244" /></a> It comes out of nowhere. You’re going along with your normal every day tasks, and you come across something common. Usually something extremely common. It could be an email address. It could be an old photo or an old note long forgotten. Or maybe, as it was for a friend recently, a bottle of A1 Steak Sauce!<br />
<br />
Whatever the trigger – suddenly you’re hit by a wave. A wave of thoughts. A wave of memories. A wave of sadness. Sometimes the wave contains just a hint of comfort, sometimes it contains enough comfort to make you smile.<br />
<br />
I was hit by one of these waves a few days ago. It was an every day task – I was searching for an email address of a family member I hadn’t contacted in a while. While I was searching I saw my Dad’s name. There in my address book. One name among many.<br />
<br />
And suddenly, before I could stop it, there was a flood of memories. Memories of Dad, well into his 60s struggling to learn to use a computer. And in his 70s learning to use email. The memory of the day he called my husband to ask the ultimate “newbie” question: “Is the enter key the same as the return key?”<br />
<br />
And then it turned to comfort, even pride. Dad never stopped learning. Well, into his 60s and 70s he was still learning to do new things. He did learn to use email. He did learn to use his computer – at least well enough to send a Christmas letter each year. A number certainly wasn’t going to stop him. Even as I type this. I am flooded with memories of Dad reading incessantly. Reading to learn more. He never felt he’d mastered anything.<br />
<br />
Always he was reading.<br />
<br />
Always he was learning.<br />
<br />
There is pain and there is comfort in those memories. Pain that he’s not here to talk to anymore. Pain that I can’t ask his perspective on issues I’m currently facing.<br />
<br />
But, there is comfort too. Because in some ways I know what his answer would be. I’m pretty sure he’d have his own perspective and opinion. But, he would say “Read about it. Read what the Bible says. Read what biblical scholars say.” And of course, he’d also probably recommend a book or two.<br />
<br />
And there is comfort in knowing that answer.<br />
<br />
It comes out of nowhere – the pain <i>and</i> the comfort.<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Source: Vama Veche @ </span></i><a href="http://www.sxc.hu/photo/781937" title="http://www.sxc.hu/photo/781937"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://www.sxc.hu/photo/781937</span></i></a>UnfinishedMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16720933312108165858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669794740877916785.post-41401238299854178982010-04-04T06:05:00.002-04:002010-04-04T08:04:19.242-04:00He Lives<div style="text-align: center;">It's not about the bunnies.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's not about the eggs.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's not even about family.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's about the price He paid.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And His power over death.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglf1xREo877RnWuIg6LtCkwvuZ3CgdCrEfRrRuxaIszB2H0aKurl2pM95Z5FPYCeic4ygoJXLpy1PUm8ZoCP-AXSkSV5mMBuH1tqVvQAf3ITs70waDziKfPWTwPYdbKB0w0-FMBY7fqcR5/s1600/Cross+-+w+sunlight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglf1xREo877RnWuIg6LtCkwvuZ3CgdCrEfRrRuxaIszB2H0aKurl2pM95Z5FPYCeic4ygoJXLpy1PUm8ZoCP-AXSkSV5mMBuH1tqVvQAf3ITs70waDziKfPWTwPYdbKB0w0-FMBY7fqcR5/s400/Cross+-+w+sunlight.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>He lives!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Jesus Lives!</span></b></div>UnfinishedMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16720933312108165858noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669794740877916785.post-13794173570558384162010-03-31T15:05:00.006-04:002010-03-31T18:35:08.780-04:00FREE Kids' Workshop at Home Depot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WBhXwkfjBdlST6pC_Lp1fKnXC0J6sB9a6d1RdPTgBkRnZL3x0MIC8dcoMgod7Ujs_u5NgbzUStVGy5cdkkdqxYhqLmFanF2DAsiexOIzG5xfGzVnvXh0tjlsuoNocoLaDJzWehp6avOu/s1600-h/Home+Depot+Kids+Workshop.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="”nofollow”" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WBhXwkfjBdlST6pC_Lp1fKnXC0J6sB9a6d1RdPTgBkRnZL3x0MIC8dcoMgod7Ujs_u5NgbzUStVGy5cdkkdqxYhqLmFanF2DAsiexOIzG5xfGzVnvXh0tjlsuoNocoLaDJzWehp6avOu/s200/Home+Depot+Kids+Workshop.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Saturday, April 3, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm is the next <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContentView?pn=Kids_Workshops&langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053&navFlow=3&searchRedirect=kids%20workshop&cm_sp=searchredirect-_-kids_workshop_lp-_-x-_-x" rel="”nofollow”">Free Kids' Workshop at Home Depot</a>.<br />
<br />
My kids have thoroughly enjoyed these workshops. We just started going this year and so far my daughter made a rain gauge (which she painted pink and purple, of course), my son made a car display and they've each made a perpetual calendar. This is a whole lotta free family fun!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKydV-BdOFF4ftc_cW5bBjRa06U-yyEtWFJJnlL5Ny5aKgQ9yjQ93IoxiJYz6PhyphenhyphenAKTw3L7Tks48dBj39fQ_vRIrjV3TbXEGJLlhbT0WfP7U2gcHtXIpLKInH6BOwd_2_bB1hKP0mnJekh/s1600-h/Butterfly+House.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="”nofollow”" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKydV-BdOFF4ftc_cW5bBjRa06U-yyEtWFJJnlL5Ny5aKgQ9yjQ93IoxiJYz6PhyphenhyphenAKTw3L7Tks48dBj39fQ_vRIrjV3TbXEGJLlhbT0WfP7U2gcHtXIpLKInH6BOwd_2_bB1hKP0mnJekh/s200/Butterfly+House.jpg" width="155" /></a></div>This month they'll be making a butterfly house. Perfect for those Fancy Nancy lovers out there!<br />
<br />
Our local store does not require pre-registration, but some stores do, so as always, check with <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreFinderView?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.homedepot.com%2Fwebapp%2Fwcs%2Fstores%2Fservlet%2FContentView%3Fpn%3DKids_Workshops%26langId%3D-1%26storeId%3D10051%26catalogId%3D10053%26navFlow%3D3%26searchRedirect%3Dkids%2520workshop%26cm_sp%3Dsearchredirect-_-kids_workshop_lp-_-x-_-x" rel="”nofollow”">your store</a> to be sure they're participating.UnfinishedMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16720933312108165858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669794740877916785.post-28385435544076237152010-03-28T22:15:00.001-04:002010-03-29T10:24:39.334-04:00Menu Plan - March 28, 2010: Planning for a Busy WeekSpring has sprung in this neck of the woods. At the moment it's chilly, raining cats and dogs and I'm craving chocolate. (Hmmm, I wonder if that will affect how I change the menu over the next several days?) But, later in the week the temperatures are supposed to get into the 70s. Oh, I am so looking forward to being warm again!<br />
<br />
Anyway, I actually wrote this menu plan on Friday as I was prepping for a trip to various grocery stores. The flour sales at every grocery store in town are making me want to bake, but it's shaping up to be a very busy week, so I'm thinking that probably won't happen much this week.<br />
<br />
Many of my recipe links this week are from other blogs and sites. The internet is a wonderful source for delicious new recipes. I hope you'll try out some of these. This week <b>I'll be researching ham recipes</b>. I have a 10 pound bone-in ham in my freezer which I want to cook for Easter, but a<i>bsolutely no idea how to cook the thing</i>! Seriously, <b>if you've got a good ham recipe, please leave a recipe or link in the comments</b>.<br />
<br />
Without futher ado, here's our plan for the week...<br />
<br />
<b>Sunday</b><br />
B - Quick favorites (Pop-tarts, grits, toast)<br />
D - Leftover Buffet (we cleaned out 6 different containers tonight!)<br />
<br />
<b>Monday</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPTspIFeNmzJ94VZg5RuGotIh52lQ0s_DpQPXdeXMT1YLpTzXD_V_nzSfO3_-WYOTftsS-1PamZk8e6kUBjjaThcCWHa4yC6MsaX8ntRoBpyQfSh-218YygObJbWdnzdlVAOKP_ETucwK7/s1600/Asian+Spinach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPTspIFeNmzJ94VZg5RuGotIh52lQ0s_DpQPXdeXMT1YLpTzXD_V_nzSfO3_-WYOTftsS-1PamZk8e6kUBjjaThcCWHa4yC6MsaX8ntRoBpyQfSh-218YygObJbWdnzdlVAOKP_ETucwK7/s200/Asian+Spinach.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>B - Baked Oatmeal<br />
D - <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pollo-Fajitas/Detail.aspx" rel="”nofollow”">Chicken Fajitas</a><br />
<br />
<b>Tuesday</b><br />
B - Chocolate Chip Muffins (I'd give you a link, but I'm not fond of the particular recipe I used) <br />
D - Hamburgers, <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2009/05/asian-spinach.html">Asian Spinach</a>, corn, cucumber slices<br />
<br />
<b>Wednesday</b><br />
B - Waffles<br />
D - Crockpot Sweet Vidalia Onion Chicken, brown rice, Green beans, corn<br />
<br />
<b>Thursday</b><br />
B - <a href="http://thehappyhousewife.com/bulls-eyes/">Egg in a Hole</a>, Smoothies<br />
D - Spaghetti (Hubby's cooking)<br />
<br />
<b>Friday</b><br />
B - Cereal<br />
D - Leftover buffet<br />
<br />
<b>Saturday</b><br />
B - TBD<br />
D - <a href="http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/chicken_piccata/">Chicken Piccatta</a> over linguine noodles, other veggies TBD<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>As always, thanks for visiting. If you're looking for more menu ideas, visit <a href="http://orgjunkie.com/2010/03/menu-plan-monday-march-29th-easter-week.html">Organizing Junkie</a>.</i>UnfinishedMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16720933312108165858noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669794740877916785.post-2659135774027557122010-03-23T22:13:00.001-04:002010-03-24T07:43:12.566-04:00Why You Should Keep Your Sippy Cups<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9MwJglpiQtEN8xYwxs7O9snWJV3_xsq6b2FzcgPyjyNX2UyyyTsOxPLiUHEIQWywurR-aj5Ujz59YmqcqA3teXN2gvAYbpSmF5hhghnqgLV26OpkCNCyaur6GfNRtR6njmyBTAAlQQWm/s1600-h/Sippy+cups.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9MwJglpiQtEN8xYwxs7O9snWJV3_xsq6b2FzcgPyjyNX2UyyyTsOxPLiUHEIQWywurR-aj5Ujz59YmqcqA3teXN2gvAYbpSmF5hhghnqgLV26OpkCNCyaur6GfNRtR6njmyBTAAlQQWm/s400/Sippy+cups.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Those of you who have been reading my blog for awhile have to be wondering...<br />
<br />
<i>"Why does she still have sippy cups? Her youngest child is 6 years old. Why can't the kids drink from a real cup? How lame is that?"</i><br />
<br />
As I sit here writing this post, my daughter is upstairs simultaneously sniffling and hacking and trying to sleep at the same time. Spring has sprung in Maryland and every year it brings with it the sniffles and stuffy noses of allergy season. I'm fairly confident, at some point tonight Cora will want to soothe her throat and calm her cough with a drink of water. However, this momma is never thrilled by the 1:00 AM cry, "Moooommmyy!?"<br />
<br />
Enter the sippy cup.<br />
<br />
I will fill a sippy cup with cold water, maybe add an ice cube. This can stay beside her bed where she can easily reach it and take a drink when needed. I don't have to worry about it spilling. I don't have to get up or even wake up in the middle of the night.<br />
<br />
With the aid of the sippy cup my daughter can be self-sufficient in caring for her own need of a drink.<br />
<br />
Keeping a few sippy cups around long after my children have learned to drink from a cup, definitely <a href="http://www.wearethatfamily.com/2010/03/wfmw-making-easter-story-eggs.html">works for me</a>!UnfinishedMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16720933312108165858noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669794740877916785.post-44304892255812422902010-03-21T21:55:00.005-04:002010-03-22T12:52:38.664-04:00Menu Plan - March 21, 2010: Reworking the PlanThis week's menu plan was changed before I'd ever written it!<br />
<br />
Hubby came home tonight with a whole leftover cheese pizza. I figured I better include it in the plan pretty quickly. So Monday, we'll be having pizza along with the various leftover veggies and fruit that are hanging out in my fridge. And I pushed the sweet and sour chicken to the next night. (Good thing I hadn't taken it out of the freezer yet!) Some weeks menu planning goes like that. The best laid plans get changed because life happens!<br />
<br />
Here's what's on the plan for this week: <br />
<br />
<b>Sunday</b><br />
B - cereal<a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2009/07/blueberry-boy-bait/"></a><br />
D - mac & cheese with hot dogs (no hubby tonight)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZ6ydd6jJ5fGOsaBlZr9AnSetBTvEOB3zZZnyQjDrdOoyk-W9EO-bNbLc0UMlTBmQQ8DL66pj6USFEnsJdhPp5RhKnl5BVu98irHpwO4hTUYZwdoe3XKvAUxb4RuOuspeUqQoS9g6HjeU/s1600-h/Lemon+Pepper+Drumsticks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZ6ydd6jJ5fGOsaBlZr9AnSetBTvEOB3zZZnyQjDrdOoyk-W9EO-bNbLc0UMlTBmQQ8DL66pj6USFEnsJdhPp5RhKnl5BVu98irHpwO4hTUYZwdoe3XKvAUxb4RuOuspeUqQoS9g6HjeU/s200/Lemon+Pepper+Drumsticks.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><b>Monday</b><br />
B - Breakfast leftovers (muffins, grits, other miscellanea)<a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-made-it-peanut-butter-baked-oatmeal.html"></a><br />
D - leftover pizza, leftover veggies<br />
<br />
<b>Tuesday</b><br />
B - Whole Wheat Waffles<br />
D - <a href="http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/sweet_and_sour_chicken/">Sweet & Sour Chicken</a> (holdover from last week)<br />
<br />
<b>Wednesday</b><br />
B - oatmeal (probably <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-made-it-peanut-butter-baked-oatmeal.html">baked</a>)<br />
D - Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken (a variation of <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2009/09/lemon-pepper-chicken-drumsticks.html">this recipe</a>)<br />
<br />
<b>Thursday</b><br />
B - Muffins & scrambled eggs<br />
D - Grilled Cheese & soup (hubby's cooking) <br />
<br />
<b>Friday</b><br />
B - cereal<br />
D - grilled steak, green beans, onion roasted potatoes<br />
<br />
<b>Saturday</b><br />
B - Breakfast leftover buffet<br />
D - ?? out of town for the day, eating somewhere<br />
<br />
What's on the menu at your house this week?<br />
<br />
<i>Looking for more menu ideas? <a href="http://orgjunkie.com/2010/03/menu-plan-monday-march-22nd.html">Menu Plan Monda</a>y has more than 300 for inspiratio</i>n.UnfinishedMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16720933312108165858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669794740877916785.post-29089978462288596002010-03-14T20:56:00.001-04:002010-03-14T23:25:54.301-04:00Menu Plan - March 14, 2010: Family FavoritesThis week will be a busy week at our house. Hubby will be working 5 of 7 evenings this week and we have 6 extra adults coming in for a few nights. We'll also have two preschoolers spending the night on Friday. Just thinking about having that many extra folks in my house can make my head spin. So as I planned out this week's menu I decided to stick with main dishes that are family favorites and sure to please everyone. They're also predominantly meals I've cooked so many times I can nearly fix them in my sleep.<br />
<br />
Here's what's on the plan for this week: <br />
<br />
<b>Sunday</b><br />
B - pancake breakfast at church, I took <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2009/07/blueberry-boy-bait/">Blueberry Boy Bait</a><br />
D - soup leftovers<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qBDGh3XaBFbvnzAeJXLcx2NLDF2yYib3skVlw0oPQ08cR3AW1-8Rc7x9Ol7hRNMf8qxa2E7VvAAL3l_tUgPnkZFUH-D4vmQpBNdXnbre6geffc0CtCOwCyXMS2nUutWuzyJKKiNE5DDM/s1600-h/Honey+Garlic+Chicken.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qBDGh3XaBFbvnzAeJXLcx2NLDF2yYib3skVlw0oPQ08cR3AW1-8Rc7x9Ol7hRNMf8qxa2E7VvAAL3l_tUgPnkZFUH-D4vmQpBNdXnbre6geffc0CtCOwCyXMS2nUutWuzyJKKiNE5DDM/s200/Honey+Garlic+Chicken.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<b>Monday</b><br />
B - <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-made-it-peanut-butter-baked-oatmeal.html">Baked Banana Oatmeal</a> (from this recipe) <br />
D - <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2009/01/honey-garlic-chicken.html">Honey Garlic Chicken</a>, <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2009/07/glazed-carrots.html">Glazed Carrots</a>, Green Beans<br />
<br />
<b>Tuesday</b><br />
B - Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins<br />
D - Hamburgers, cucumber slices, <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2009/10/fried-apples.html">fried apples</a><br />
<br />
<b>Wednesday</b><br />
B - Whole Wheat Waffles<br />
D - Vidalia Onion Chicken in the Crockpot, Brown Rice, <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2009/04/what-to-do-with-10-pounds-of-sweet.html">Mashed Sweet Potatoes</a>, ?Green Veggie<br />
<br />
<b>Thursday</b><br />
B - Fruit, <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2009/02/whole-wheat-banana-chip-muffins.html">Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins</a>, Scrambled Eggs<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMzvLk5cR_cBoyAp__k08lqO9_Js4YHQbvFFRgbI3td0RJGpInrluoohkgk4L_obXgwKa-35LLIPEBEdFIwp5JsA2TAichefyd61oAw5qWb8TqYf2iCranyuoQKhGRJf355hS5vcyMVhy0/s1600-h/Banana+Chip+Muffins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMzvLk5cR_cBoyAp__k08lqO9_Js4YHQbvFFRgbI3td0RJGpInrluoohkgk4L_obXgwKa-35LLIPEBEdFIwp5JsA2TAichefyd61oAw5qWb8TqYf2iCranyuoQKhGRJf355hS5vcyMVhy0/s200/Banana+Chip+Muffins.jpg" width="200" /></a>D - Leftovers<br />
<br />
<b>Friday</b><br />
B - Fruit, Toast, Scrambled Eggs<br />
D - Spaghetti, Garlic Bread<br />
<br />
<b>Saturday</b><br />
B - Whole Wheat Pancakes<br />
D - <a href="http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/sweet_and_sour_chicken/">Sweet & Sour Chicken</a><br />
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<b>What do you fix when your schedule is busy and you want a guaranteed hit with your family?</b><br />
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<i>Looking for more menu ideas? <a href="http://orgjunkie.com/2010/03/menu-plan-monday-march-15th-giveaway.html">Menu Plan Monday</a> has more than 300 for inspiratio</i>n.UnfinishedMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16720933312108165858noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669794740877916785.post-14421214564389823112010-03-09T13:32:00.001-05:002010-03-09T13:42:25.372-05:00Booking It in 2010: March Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8BWfzGKJWrOTcPoxyqxzdHk80mM4BrYL8FB0Eg8T0Uzt50C6yiCU65-ROYVw7CdhqRXbCMy9h8F96Gks6k7JO69Fv5yyQlc_XS0p8coSh490DDhtgFgy0NDhur097UuoIKEmtkxIJHqX/s1600-h/Graphic+-+Bookin+It.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8BWfzGKJWrOTcPoxyqxzdHk80mM4BrYL8FB0Eg8T0Uzt50C6yiCU65-ROYVw7CdhqRXbCMy9h8F96Gks6k7JO69Fv5yyQlc_XS0p8coSh490DDhtgFgy0NDhur097UuoIKEmtkxIJHqX/s200/Graphic+-+Bookin+It.png" width="200" /></a></div>Remember back at the beginning of the year - you know - <i>January</i>! Did you join the rest of the American culture and set a few resolutions or goals? It seemed like every blog I looked at the first few weeks of January had goals or resolutions posted.<br />
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I clearly remember deciding at the time I was not going to make resolutions. I was going to set goals - something I would work toward.<br />
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One of the goals I set was to be more deliberate in what I read on a regular basis. First, I determined I was going to <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2009/12/90-day-challenge-accepted.html">Read the Bible in 90 Days</a>. Reality has set into my lofty goals and I've realized I'm not going to finish reading the whole Bible in 90 days. However, I AM GOING TO FINISH THE WHOLE BIBLE! I am quite determined not to give up. I will not take the lazy way out. I will do the hard (for me) thing and read the whole Bible cover to cover. You can check on my ongoing progress in my sidebar or by <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/search/label/Bible%20in%2090%20Days">clicking here</a>.<br />
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Another goal was also <a href="http://unfinishedmom.blogspot.com/2010/02/bookin-it-in-2010-plan.html">to read a fiction book each month</a> as well as several non-fiction books once I'm finished reading the Bible. I love climbing in bed and curling up with a good fiction book. Sometimes I only read a few pages, sometimes I read several chapters. Either way, I always fall asleep easier having taken my brain to another place and time for a few minutes.<br />
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<b>The Lumby Series </b>by Gail Fraser <br />
Back in early February I finished reading The Promise of Lumby by Gail Fraser, but I never posted a review. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this series. I think I started reading it in 2008. I was looking for a good series of books, akin to the Mitford series by Jan Karon. I love to read book series because, once I get to know a character I like living with them for a while. I also much prefer series whose characters live morally - not necessarily a moral to the story. I'm not fond of books where the characters behave amorally on a consistent basis. The Promise of Lumby is the fourth installment of the series and I enjoyed it just as much as the first. <br />
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Lumby is a quaint little town set in the Northwest U.S. That in itself piqued my interest, as the farthest west I've ever been is Wyoming. It's also a town filled with an array of eclectic good-hearted, but sometimes confused characters. Each book in the series reveals a problem facing the town and its residents, introduces a newbie to the town, and sparks a romance between two characters. It's fun. It's relaxing. It's light romance. It is not Pride and Prejudice. If you're looking for a serious romance novel, this probably isn't your style.<br />
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However, if you're looking for a good series with good clean fun and funny characters who will let you escape into another place for a while, this is a great book and a great series to read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am really looking forward to the next book in the series, due out in July 2010.<br />
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<b>Prairie Tale</b> by Melissa Gilbert<br />
The next book I read in February was by Melissa Gilbert - you know "Half Pint" from the Little House on the Prairie TV series of the 1970s. I picked it up somewhat absent-mindedly at the library because the other books on my to-read list were all checked out at the time. This is an autobiographical book. She describes various events of her life from before she became "Laura Ingalls" through her current situation. It was an easy read and I finished it more quickly than I'd expected. Unfortunately, I can't recommend it.<br />
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If you were a huge Melissa Gilbert fan and you're dying to know what her life was like during and after the show, sure pick it up and read it. But don't expect it to be more than it is. Melissa Gilbert is not Laura Ingalls. Ms. Gilbert was raised with very different values than her TV character. And the choices she made throughout her life reflect those values. <br />
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<b>Yada Yada Prayer Group Series </b>by Neta Jackson<br />
I'm currently reading Book 6 of 7 from this series. I'm always drawn into these books very quickly. I've only had this one a few days and I'm already nearly half finished. I'll tell you my thoughts on the series next month.<br />
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<b>So what are you reading these days? What do you look for when choosing a good fiction book?</b><br />
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Looking for more good reads? Visit Life as Mom as we're <a href="http://lifeasmom.com/2010/03/bookin-it-in-2010-the-march-update.html">Booking it in 2010</a>.UnfinishedMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16720933312108165858noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7669794740877916785.post-75548765848818095732010-03-08T15:07:00.000-05:002010-03-08T15:07:20.783-05:00I Made It - Homemade PizzaIf you're anything like most American families, pizza is on the menu several times a month. It's a wonderfully versatile one-dish meal. If your family loves veggies you can make an all veggie pizza, if you love meats, you can make an all meat pizza, or mix it up. The options are endless.<br />
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<b>The Back Story</b><br />
My family, just like yours, loves pizza too. Back in our DINK (dual income, no kids) days, Hubby and I would order a pizza to be delivered and rent a movie from Blockbuster nearly every Friday night. It was a great stay-at-home date night. Now that we're living on one income with 2 kids, we still love pizza. But the price of ordering out? Not so much.<br />
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Thus began my quest for finding a less expensive alternative. The first recipe I found for the dough was a Food Network recipe that involved letting the dough rise. I tried it a few times, but found that it required too much time letting the dough rise. I didn't usually have dinner in the works far enough in advance to make that dough.<br />
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Then about a year or so ago I came across <a href="http://moneysavingmom.com/2009/02/homemade-pizza-in-less-than-30-minutes-needs-editing.html">this recipe</a> form MoneySavingMom.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4gROjD9wjgVsCbqzN2QK8mSXuXGPP78xtAqXVT_iYecGqJje6b1JjjXu1d0t3tXH2dFWvbhTroR-mp-u25_wwMTKN-4h2ieObiGoX44to056Na0GAXAxd5-E_s-9nea51byBmElx7CP0/s1600-h/Pizza+-+Homemade.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4gROjD9wjgVsCbqzN2QK8mSXuXGPP78xtAqXVT_iYecGqJje6b1JjjXu1d0t3tXH2dFWvbhTroR-mp-u25_wwMTKN-4h2ieObiGoX44to056Na0GAXAxd5-E_s-9nea51byBmElx7CP0/s320/Pizza+-+Homemade.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<b>The Review:</b><br />
I love that I can pull this dough together in less than 15 minutes. It goes together incredibly easily. Basically you dump the ingredients in a bowl, mix it all up, knead it a bit and you're good to go. You can make it even easier by kneading it in your Mixer, Food Processor or Bread Machine. If you don't have any of those, kneading it by hand is not very difficult. It's a very forgiving dough and thus, perfect for this yeast-challenged cook. Slap on some toppings and you've got pizza in the oven in less than 25 minutes. It also freezes very well.<br />
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One of the reasons I like making homemade pizza so much is that I can adapt it to what we have on hand and my family's personal tastes so easily. My daughter prefers just cheese pizza. The rest of us have other favorite toppings. The pizza in the picture is 1/3 cheese, 1/3 ham and pineapple (my son's favorites), and 1/3 ham, pineapple and I added a bit of red pepper that I needed to use up.<br />
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<b>Why We Love It:</b><br />
I love this recipe because I can serve pizza to my family and not break our family budget. And since I usually use whole wheat flour when I make the dough, I don't feel so guilty about all the extra carbs. My kids love it because we can have pizza more often than we used to. Last week, when I was stumped for a dinner idea, pizza was one suggestion. Thanks to this recipe I can indulge my kids' request and not be the stingy mom-that-always-says-no.<br />
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I've also found a great recipe for home made pizza sauce. That review will be coming soon.<br />
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<b>What's your favorite topping for pizza?</b>UnfinishedMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16720933312108165858noreply@blogger.com1