Archive for » March, 2008 «

31
Mar 2008

Creative Cupcake Recipe

My husband came up with this recipe by combining some other cupcake recipes, and I must admit that these were awesome.  It kind of negated our healthy veggie stir fry dinner, but these M&M muffins are awesome!

  •  2 cups flour
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup  packed brown sugar
  • pinch of salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1  stick (1/2 cup) of melted butter
  • 2/3 cup milk
  • 2 eggs, slightly beaten
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla
  • 3/4 bag of small baking M&M’s

Preheat the oven to 400* and place 12 muffin liners in your muffin tin.  In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients and stir to combine.  In a seperate bowl combine the butter, milk, egg, and vanilla.  Create a well in the dry bowl, and pour the wet ingredients into it.  Stir until mixed.  Stir in the M&M’s and pour by the spoonful into the muffin liners.

Bake at 400* for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.  Remove the muffin tin and let cool on a rack for 5 minutes.  Remove from the tin and let it completely cool (or eat it warm with a little bit of butter). :)

Just so you know, these freeze really good.

Category: Meal Planning, Recipes  Leave a Comment
31
Mar 2008

Meal Plan Monday!

 

Since I just did my monthly grocery shopping trip, this week will consist of the most fresh veggies.  Yum Yum!

 

Monday – Vegetable stir fry

Tuesday – Venison stroganoff with steamed asparagus

Wednesday – Broiled salmon with pineapple salsa and couscous

Thursday – Blackened chicken salad in pitas with side salad or veggies to dip

Friday – Couscous paella

Saturday – Seafood platter, cheese and cracker tray, and veggie tray

Sunday – Sub sandwiches with chips

Category: Meal Planning  4 Comments
29
Mar 2008

Final Chapter – A New Earth

As I have mentioned previously, I am reading A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. Ahem, I *was* reading it. I am now finished! :)

The last chapter has really cleared up a lot for me about what he meant by a new earth and living in the now. The new earth part I will let you figure out on your own if you so choose to read the book, but I think these three modalities of awakened doing (as he calls them) are common knowledge for all of us.

In one chapter, he poses the question – “What is your relationship with the present moment?” It should be within one of these three modalities (the underlying energy frequency that flows into what you do and connects your actions with the awakened consciousness that is emerging into this world).

1. Acceptance. Accept the moment for what it is. Even if it’s something that you don’t want to do, accept that it is something you must do or choose to do. Once you accept it, you can be at peace with it.

2. Enjoyment. There is a sense of aliveness when you accept the moment and can thourougly enjoy it. You don’t have to wait for joy, but open up for it. Accepting the moment allows joy to flow in.

3. Enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is both the enjoyment of something with the element of a goal. It’s a point when you enjoy something so much and want to work hard to achieve something. Remember though, it’s all about the moment you are in and not just the finished product though.

The author then suggests, as a spiritual practice, to make a list of the things you do routinely. Then when you do them, use it as a reminder to be alert and present in the moment. Here is my list: feeding the animals, doing dishes, cleaning the kitty litter, taking out the trash, vacuuming, sorting/washing/folding clothes, cooking meals, and making the bed. Of course, there are others but this list is long enough! :)

I hope now that I am finished with this book, I won’t forget all of the lessons it has taught me. I am living on a New Earth, and I am loving it!

Category: Books, Spirituality  Tags: ,  Leave a Comment
28
Mar 2008

Frugal Friday — join a CSA

 

Join a CSA (community supported agriculture).  My mom and I just recently signed up together to a local farm.  We will get 9 weeks of fruits, veggies, and other items they make (like maple syrup) for a grand total of $4/week.  With that $4 a week, we will receive 5-6 pounds each.  I can’t imagine only spending that much at the store.

This is my first time in a CSA but I imagine that it will be cheaper, I will make healthier food choices throughout the week, and I am supporting my local farms, which has become very important to me since I have moved back to a more rural area.

Be frugal and friendly to your local farmers — join a CSA!

Category: Frugal  2 Comments
26
Mar 2008

My library

Nothing feels better than accomplishing something – especially something that has been in the works for awhile.

When we bought our 3 bedroom house this summer, the last thing on our mind was remodeling the third bedroom.  Well, we had thought about it.  We dreamed of having a “quiet room” where we could set up our library, and where I dreamed of meditating or doing yoga without the pets bothering me.

About a month ago, we completed the painting.  The color of the walls are called “jam session” so it’s a purplish color.  Just before we got the flu, we put in our own carpeting.  We bought padded carpet from Menard’s, the double-sided carpet tape, and a carpet cutter.  My DH was in charge of measuring and cutting, and I was in charge of putting down the double-sided sticky tape.  It actually wasn’t a huge feat to do the carpet.

[[Lapse in time to get the flu and recover.]]  :P

Today, we got finished trim from Menard’s, cut it, and nailed it with borrowed tools from my brother-in-law.  DH and I also put in all new outlets (because I accidentally painted them half purple) and a new light switch.  Once the floor was vacuumed, we moved the bookshelf upstairs and I organized all of the books into categories before putting them away.

Once I unplug myself from this laptop, I will go into the new library and read before bed. :)

Category: remodeling  Tags: , , ,  Leave a Comment
25
Mar 2008

Treasure Mapping and Decluttering

Oprah’s episode was about hoarders today, and it reminded me that I really should be decluttering to prepare for the Aries New Moon and the upcoming Treasure Mapping.

Many of you are probably wondering – what is treasure mapping?  If you have watched “The Secret,” you have heard of a vision board.  You put pictures, phrases, and clippings onto a board in the form of a collage to manifest the things you want in your life this coming year.  The Aries New Moon is a good time because it has an energy for a fresh start.  It’s also a great time to start your seeds for your garden (I will also be doing this).

When is the New Moon?  It starts late on Saturday, April 5th and ends on April 9th.  I will be having friends over for snacks and treasure mapping creation on April 8th.  I am very excited about this!

What do you do until then?  Declutter your home!  In order to allow new and better things into your life, you have to clear out the things that are just taking up space.  Maybe take a little bit of time each day until it’s the time for treasure mapping.  I will admit, I haven’t been busy decluttering, but I will be now.  I must prepare.

Since I’m still recovering from the flu and only have bursts of energy, I decided to declutter my wicker drawers in the dining room.  I put them all out on the living room floor with a trash bag.  I organized the drawers into:  1.  notepad, pens, and tape  2.  miscellanious/small junk drawer  3.  workout things – pedometers, heart rate monitors, and mp3 player  4.  paperwork for appliances  5.  pet supplies – grooming tools and leashes

In that little bit of decluttering,  I found an unused gift card from Christmas 2006 for $25 to Wal-Mart.  I really like this organizing thing!

Category: Decluttering  Tags: ,  Leave a Comment
24
Mar 2008

Why am I mad at the Easter Bunny?

For the past few years, my DH and I have lived away from our families. Traveling for holidays was just part of our lives (and I didn’t like it very much). This year, we are near our families and I was very excited to help my mom prepare an Easter meal. It was also exciting to only have to drive 15 miles to get there.

But… the Easter Bunny decided that instead of delivering a heaping basket of jellybeans, colored eggs, and chocolate bunnies that we would get the FLU instead. :(

It started on Saturday night, and DH got it first. I was at the grocery store at 1am buying him Pepto Bismol and Sprite. I think we fell asleep around 3am – him on the couch and me on the living room floor. I slept most of the day on Easter, but I thought it was just because I was exhausted from taking care of DH. I called my mom I wouldn’t come out to help her make food because I didn’t want to spread the germs, but I said I’d be there to eat.

I didn’t make it. At 3:30pm, the flu hit me. Luckily, we have some friends who were willing to bring us some supplies. If you get the flu, I recommend you get these things:

  • Sprite or clear Gatorade
  • Straws for sipping and not having to sit all the way up in bed
  • Saltines or cinnamon toast
  • Pepto Bismol for “stomach issues”
  • Advil Cold & Flu pills for the aches and pains
  • Chicken noodle or chicken dumpling soup

My MIL is on her way with the last bullet right now. Thank God I feel well enough to eat. Maybe if I’m lucky, she ran into the Easter Bunny for that candy he forgot to deliver.

Category: Day to day  Tags: , , , ,  2 Comments
24
Mar 2008

Meal Plan Monday

 

Monday: Chicken dumpling soup from the local deli (you’ll understand why if you read the next post)

Tuesday: Going to my parent’s house to eat

Wednesday: Venison fajitas

Thursday: Chicken pot pie

Friday: Spaghetti

Saturday: Leftovers

Sunday: Soup and grilled cheese or breakfast for dinner

Category: Meal Planning  Tags:  Leave a Comment
22
Mar 2008

First post! Introducing my family…

Me: My name is Jennifer, and I am in my mid-twenties. I have been married for 5 years to my high school sweetheart. I have wildly curly hair, blue eyes, and I really enjoy being athletic. Yoga is my favorite activity lately, and it was my saving grace during the “cabin fever” season. Not only did I take a one-on-one class with an instructor, but I took class at the YMCA and did videos at home. I also enjoy walking, weightlifting, and jogging. I love reading and learning – currently I am reading A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle and participating in Oprah’s webcast online. This book has taken me to a new level of living. I am awakening. :) I love to cook and experiment in the kitchen. Luckily, my husband is brave and will try anything once. I can’t say that all of my experiments have turned out so well over the years.

DH: My hubby is the same age as I am, and as stated above he was my high school sweet heart. He spends a lot of his time on the computer playing video games and working from home. He is also athletic – ranging from running to racquetball and biking to camping/hiking trips. He is the spontaneous type, and is always up for a challenge whether it be fixing something around the house or holding up his end of a discussion.

K: She is our Siamese cat that is a little tempermental. When we got her, all she did was hiss at us from the cage. For some reason, I thought that was charming and I felt bad for her. I figured no one else would want her. After a hard adjustment period, she has turned out to be a great cat.

W: He is our other Siamese cat. We chose him because out of all of his brothers and sisters he was the most active and sassy one. He continues to be that way today… always bothering his sister.

T: He is our 3-legged beagle. Long story short, my DH grew up with a beagle and always dreamed of having another. When I stumbled upon T, he made me go meet him and decide to take him or not. T had just had his amputation surgery and wasn’t very mobile, but now 3 years later he is healed and healthy. He runs and plays like any other dog.

L: She is our beagle and blue tick mix that we adopted from our local animal shelter this past summer. She was just a pup and 1 of 2 survivors of her litter. Somehow her mom didn’t make so all of her siblings needed to be syringe and bottle fed. She’s my little buddy, and a bundle of energy and terror. Since she is a high energy level dog, she needs a lot of attention and exercise. L helps keep me and DH on our toes.

House: We bought our house this past summer. It’s a 3 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath, ranch style home. It needed some updating, but otherwise it’s a great place. We love our backyard and the neighborhood is very quiet. There are still many small projects to be completed here, and I am sure you’ll be hearing about them soon.

Children: We don’t have any children at this point. We are TTC and on the fifth cycle. I didn’t expect it to take this long to conceive, but I believe a baby will be part of the picture when it’s the right time for us.

So that’s me and my family. I hope you stick around to hear about our crazy adventures!

Category: Day to day  Tags: , , , , , ,  Leave a Comment