Just a sneak. Easter is beginning to arrive at our house.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
A Day in the Life of...
...simple old me. Woke to rain again today so decided to sneak in some extra spring straightening.
A craft cupboard for my youngest that was a disaster is now clean and orderly.
All done.
A straightened linen closet.
Breakfast dishes. Oh the dishes.
Little ones need to be fed.
Laundry to be washed with my homemade laundry soap.
Cleaning the bathroom.
My OLD dog sneaking in for an afternoon nap.
Exciting stuff I know. We also ran to Michael's today for my daughter's school project. Took my coupon of course. Now I am not much of a crafter and rarely go there, but that store overwhelms me. Anyone else feel that way about that store or am I just weird?
Chili Egg Casserole
Just in time for the weekend and just in time for Easter. This is served every year at our Easter brunch. Super easy and delicious. I will give you the original version of this recipe as given to me almost twenty years
ago and let you know my modifications too. Both ways are yummy.
Chili Egg Casserole
10 eggs
1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 c. butter melted (I use two tbl. spoons)
16 oz. small curd cottage cheese
1 lb. grated Jack cheese. (I use about half of this to cut the fat a little)
1/4 tsp. cumin
1/4 tsp. salt
2 4oz. cans of chopped green chilies
Preheat oven to 350. Grease two 8x8 pans or one 9x13. Beat eggs, add all ingredients except chilies stir well. Pour half into pan/pans, top with chilies and add the rest of the mixture. Bake approx. 30 mins. or until a knife in the center comes out clear. It will get nice and golden brown on the top.
Linking to:
My Romantic Home
Paisley Passions
Favorite Things Friday
Friday Favorites
Tidy Mom Bargain Hoot
Favorite Things Saturday
Sunday Blog Love Seasonal Sundays
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Simple Beauty
Sometimes without knowing it, we create beauty simply by living. Today, I was inspired by the basket of avocados and lemons from my in laws. The color was just beautiful. Yellow and green. Simple beauty tossed together in a basket. I was inspired.
Woe is me though. These are the last of their avocados. No more free guacamole.
Beauty in my breakfast. A yolk that will go to the dog. Lucky girl.
My breakfast of eggs, spinach and feta cheese. Did you know you can freeze feta. I do and just break off a chunk when I need it. It will thaw while cooking or take out a little earlier for salads.
Reseeded flowers. They come up here and there. Wherever they like.
Linking to:
I'm a Weather Junkie
I admit it. I am a nerd. A weather junkie I am. Maybe because we don't have much weather here in the SoCal region. My dad loved the weather, so maybe I inherited my love of it from him. Nothing stirs me more than a dark and brooding sky. We do have lots of sunshine here, so to me it is a treat to go indoors and snuggle up for a good rain storm. I love the Weather Channel and when they do big weather stories, I am watching. It fascinates me. It can be so damaging and beautiful at the same time. That is the power of mother nature.
Yesterday out my front windows.
But give me a little break in the rain and I am outside visiting my flowers. True I visit them at least once a day.
To see what's new and what might need a little pruning.
I really need to replant this pot to match its sister on my patio but I haven't had the heart to tear out this lovely snapdragon. Today is the day though. I will dig a huge amount of soil up and move her to the garden.
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Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Shades of Brown
I know it is spring and a time of color and pastels, but in my dining room, I will always have a place in my heart for the shades of cream and brown. I love the muted colors of primitives. The warmth and down home feeling of old crocks and dishware. No matter the season, I will always have my browns.
Stacked boxes are a favorite. They top an old piano that was used and abused by my husband's grandfather. He always left his coffee cups sans coasters and it still bares the rings. I just hide them with things.
Crocks and a jug found at the thrift store.
This lovely was a gift from my mother in law last Christmas.
This was always on my grandmother's dresser. She had very little, a woman of simple means, so I am happy that I have a few reminders of hers.
Transferware. I am always on the hunt for more.
Vintage Thingie Thursday
Between Naps on the Porch
Alphabe-Thursday
Show Off Your Stuff Party
Thrifty Thursday
My Romantic Home
Oh The Joys
Need I say more...
Thankfully, many hands make light work. Not what you want to see when you walk in the door.
All the Men in My Life
My husband has one passion in life, well besides me, and it is collecting, painting and displaying toy soldiers. He is more than a history buff. He is a walking set of encyclopedias. He has collected and painted soldiers since we met and now I live with over a thousand little men all OVER my house. It is a huge stress reliever for him and something he enjoys so I have generously given up wall space and display space for this man and his men.
All types of wars are represented. The bad guys and the good guys.
American history...
See the precious wall space. I have even given up the cabinet that I used to display all my crystal in since it had such nice lighting for him to display in. I am not a crystal kind of gal and just put it up in the cupboard and bring it out for parties.
Ancient history...
Foreign wars....
This is just a smidgen of his collection but I didn't want to bore you to death. People do come to our house and find it fascinating to look through all the detail he puts into the scenes.
Linking to:
Frugal Challenge Update - Free Is For Me
With rising costs for EVERYTHING, there is still nothing like getting something for free. While killing time waiting for my daughter I hit a couple stores for some freebies. Target was ho-hum this week but I did snag a free pair of toddler socks for my youngest. Right now Target.com has a coupon for $1 off of a Circo item and the basic socks are a dollar so they were free. Just scroll down on the site and the coupon link is on the left. If you are heading to Target, why not get some free socks for a little one.
Next, I hit the Albertson's across the road. I won't drive around for deals as gas is too expensive, but I plan trips to save fuel. This is where I scored the most freebies. My total for the items above was $5.40 with tax. I had coupons for every item but I paid $0 for the soda, 2 boxes of catfood and the half gallon of juice. The other items were reduced by coupons. Even the checker was surprised. My total before the coupons was over $15. Again, I check hip2save.com several times a day for deals she has listed to request free coupons. That is how I got the juice coupon. A try me free deal. Just gave them my address and they send the coupon. There are so many sites out there but she is so on the ball and quick that she is my go to for deals. Yes, it does take a little of my time but I enjoy it and the thrill of the shop. I don't work any longer so I figure this is my job.
Linking to:
The Thrifty Home
Raising Homemakers
The Saved Quarter
Linking to:
The Thrifty Home
Raising Homemakers
The Saved Quarter
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
It's Official
I have become my mother. Now that is a great thing as I had a great mom. But I just never have my picture taken. She never wanted hers taken either and now that she is gone, I am sorry I indulged her. It is still a painful thing for me, to know I don't have a lot of photos of her. I am always avoiding getting in front of the camera. I tend to be the photographer.
The other day in an attempt to take a new picture for my blog as I hated the old one, I had my daughter snap some pics so I could choose one. It was so awkward. I think we women are so hard on ourselves. We critique all our photos and are quick to delete ones we don't like. The rest of the family doesn't do that. What message am I sending my daughters? That once you hit a certain age or weight, you are no longer lovely enough for a photo. This is something I must change. I want them to know women are beautiful at all ages. I thought my mom was beautiful until the day she died. So there you go. I placed the above picture of me with my mom's double chin thing going on, and I love it. Me and my flowers in a place I love. I won't fight it any
longer. Say cheese!
Raising Homemakers
Simple Spanish Rice
I grew up eating this side dish often. Now we eat it about once a week or whenever I make Mexican type dishes. The hubby and kids love it.
Simple Spanish Rice
1 1/2 c. uncooked white rice
2 Tbl. oil
2 Tbl. minced onion (more if you prefer but I don't)
2 1/2 c. water
1/2 c. tomato sauce
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. salt (You can add more but we try to keep sodium down.)
2 dashes chili powder
Brown rice and onion in oil until rice is lightly brown. Add liquids and spices. Stir and bring to a boil. Once boiling, place lid on and turn down to simmer for 15 mins. Set a timer and don't take lid off. After the 15 mins. turn off flame and let rice sit with lid on it for another 5 mins. Fluff and serve.
Linking to:
Rednesday
Tip Junkie Savvy Southern Style
Time Warp Wife
All Thingz Related
Anything Goes
Tutorials and Tips Tuesday
The Thrifty Home
Shabby Chic Cottage
Monday, March 21, 2011
Tea Anyone?
My little one is into tea parties right now. We are all her victims, oh I mean guests. When no human will take part then her stuffed buddies must fill in. I had to snap the little table all set up.
I'd love this table in my size please. It would look great in my 50s kitchen.
He seems to be smiling. He must be enjoying the tea. I asked my daughter what they were having and she said, "Girl Grey." Love it!
Linking to:
Don't you love Susan Branch? Her books and illustrations just scream spring and summer. So much color and life. Look at these pillows by S.B. and available at KMart. I found them looking online for pillows for my new sofa. How cute. Man I have to get into KMart one of these days.
And how cute is this cake? From her online shop.
Linking to:
Dittle Dattle
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