I'm back...I think.

So obviously I have taken a vacation from the blogosphere. I, however, am contemplating my return and this is my first step. I have many a clever thing to say right now, but it is 1 am and I am in desperate need of some winks. So...encouragement welcomed...I'll be back.

Home Again, Home Again! (I'm doing a jiggity jig!)

I don't know how it has been so long since my last post! The past month has been a blur with returning to work, but I'm officially in my last couple of hours as a government employ! At 3:00 I will be finished with the '08-'09 school year and on my way home to my family and there to stay! I can't begin to describe how excited I am to know that I don't just get two months at home with my children, but rather unlimited months! So I imagine that I will be better at keep up with this here blog, but we'll see...I'm so excited about the possibilities. Any advice for fun, cheap or free activities for the kids are welcomed!!!

Amoretti

Amoretti Go check out her blog! She is hilarious, insightful, and she gives away the coolest stuff! She is also the maker of some totally adorable and unique dresses and skirts for little gals--and-- "The Skirty!" Go find out what that is and win one!

Recipe Swap Wednesday: Southwestern Sloppy Joes

This is a Weight Watchers recipe and comes along with my weightwatchers.com recommendation! You can find so many fantastic recipes there and it really helps you to learn how to cook and flavor your food with things other than fat.
Ingredients:
1 Tbsp Canola Oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 medium garlic cloves, chopped
1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded, chopped
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp dried oregano
3/4 lbs lean ground turkey
7 oz can mexicorn, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cups salsa
1 Tbsp dark brown sugar, packed

Heat the oil in a large skillet then cook the onion, garlic, and jalapeno until soft (about 4-5 minutes). Add chili powder and oregano and cook about another minute. Add the turkey and corn and cook until the mixture in nearly dry, about 4 minutes. Stir in the salsa and sugar and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened and the turkey is cooked through (4-5 minutes).
We eat this on Arnold's Sandwich Thins with a little bit of sour cream on them!

Enjoy :)

Recipe Swap Wednesday (we'll see how long this lasts)

I've had a lot of recipes I've wanted to share lately but haven't...so I figured if I set aside Wednesdays to post them, maybe I will be able to keep up with myself...but...we'll see ;) Also, I would love it if you would leave a comment or a link to your blog with your favorite recipes!

This is my 'tweak' from the Neely's Easy Lemon Pasta with Chicken. Any time my husband grills chicken breast, I get him to grill a few extra pieces and then I slice them up and toss them with this pasta:
1 lb dried penne
5-6 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
3 Tbs Olive Oil
3 Tbs parsley, fresh, coarsely chopped
Salt and pepper
Juice of 2 lemons
1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Cook the Pasta, drain, set aside

Heat olive oil in a saute pan or dutch oven, add sliced garlic, red bell pepper, and red pepper flakes. Saute until fragrant and peppers begin to get a little soft. Add the cooked pasta and chicken to the saute pan or dutch oven and mix it all together. Pour mixture into a serving bowl (or you could leave it in your dutch oven). Pour on the lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste, and sprinkle the parsley on top (you could definitely use dried if you don't have fresh). Before serving top with Parmesan.
Serves 4-6

Enjoy!

Helpful Blogs

Our recent efforts to be better stewards of our money have been helped out by a few women who take the time each week to share the wisdom they have been given. Here are a few blogs I would recommend that you take a minute to look at.
Southernsavers.com (read her guides to shopping at Walgreens and CVS. If you have any questions about it feel free to email me!)
Faithfulprovisions.com (She lives in Nashville and has such an encouraging perspective on her roles within her family)
hip2save.blogspot.com (She finds just about every deal there is to be had each day)

I hope this helps you to navigate this crazy blogging world and that you find some helpful info!

He Works Hard for the Money...

...So I am going to work hard to spend it wisely and here is one of my most recent attempts. I am taking a cue from the Duggars of the TLC show "17 Kids and Counting". They have offered me a bit of inspiration lately. Not because we are planning to have 18 children, but I'm incredibly impressed by the way they have managed their money. So when I heard that they make their own baby wipes I decided I would try it out, because with 2 in diapers we go through a lot and this would just be a small way to save some money. I'm very pleased! I will certainly continue to do this. So here is the how to taken from the Duggars.
-One roll of Bounty paper towels
-One-gallon ice-cream bucket (or I used a cylindrical Rubbermade container)
-Two cups water
-Two tablespoons baby oil
-One tablespoon rubbing alcohol
-One tablespoon baby bath (optional, though I did use it)
Cut a whole roll of Bounty paper towels into thirds. (The Duggars found that Bounty is the only brand that works...I trust them. Use an electric knife for best results.)
Place one of the halved rolls vertically into an empty and thoroughly cleaned one-gallon ice cream bucket (or whatever container. You could probably use your wipes warmer if you have one, though I'm not positive because I haven't tried). In a large measuring pitcher, mix two cups water, two tablespoons baby oil, and one tablespoon rubbing alcohol. (and one tablespoon of baby bath if preferred.)
Pour the liquid over the halved roll of paper towels in the ice cream bucket, and soak for 30 minutes. Remove the cardboard center. Feed the top corner of the paper towels, starting in the center, through an X-shaped slit you've cut in the lid of the ice-cream bucket so you can pull out and tear off one "wipe" at a time.
My next endeavor, taken from the Duggars, is homemade laundry detergent. I'm thinking I will try this tomorrow so I will let you know!