michelle July 2nd, 2009
Our family loves Hamburger Helper, and for a long time now I have been wanting to find a healthier, homemade version. I looked online, but couldn’t find a recipe that I liked. So, for Father’s Day, I just made one up on the spot. And it was delicious! My hubby literally ate almost half of it by himself, and Punky even ate the ground meat, which he never does!
Homemade Hamburger Helper
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground meat (beef, chicken or turkey)
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2-4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1-2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 Tbsp crushed red pepper
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- salt, to taste
- 1/2 lb elbow macaroni
- 2 cups cheese (I used a Mexican mix of shredded cheese)
- 1/4 cup milk
Directions:
- Cook elbow macaroni according to box (al dente)
- Saute onion and garlic with a little bit of water
- Add beef and spices to the onion and garlic mixture. Brown the meat.
- Add cheese and milk.
- Drain pasta and add to meat and cheese mixture.
- Combine until mixture thoroughly.
You can even freeze the leftovers. Enjoy!
michelle July 1st, 2009
I found this dress at Goodwill one day. I looked at the name of the designer and immediately knew it was an expensive dress. When I got home, I googled it and found out that the dress went for $125 retail.
And I paid TWENTY-FIVE CENTS!
Spunky saying “I’m pretty!” and talking on her “pone”
michelle June 30th, 2009
My hubby is being sent on business to London, and I am going with him!
I had to wait until after my 30 week check-up to make sure I was allowed to go.
I went this morning, and everything looks great:
- BP- 120/72
- Weight- gained less than a 1 pound since two weeks ago
- Baby Measuring- 32 weeks (apparently, for the last two months, he has been measuring two weeks ahead. We’ll see if he is going to be early or just a big boy)
- Cervix- outside partially dilated, but not on the inside- which means I am allowed to fly
- Baby is not head down yet- I think that is because he is constantly doing somersaults!
- As for the anemia, my iron supplements were making me throw up; so I am going to try to just eat a more iron-rich diet and then they are going to check my blood at my next appointment
I have to be careful when I fly to make sure I am hydrated and not swelling. My midwife warned me that I will have contractions, but not to worry too much about them unless they are severe. I’ve already been having contractions for weeks; so this shouldn’t be much different than what I am already going through.
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We are bringing to kids to my parents’ house for a couple of weeks while we take our first vacation (and business trip) away from the kids. I have never left Spunky, and the last time I left Punky was when Spunky was born (two years ago); so this is a big deal for ME. I know the kids will be fine, which helps a lot. I am so looking forward to just enjoying time with my wonderful husband.
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Not only is this a special trip for us, but we are going to be staying in style!
Our hotel in downtown London is a luxury hotel! The first part of the trip (before my hubby starts working) will be paid for with lots of hotel points. We basically just have to pay for my meals, flights, and whatever attractions we go to see.
I am SO excited!!
michelle June 30th, 2009
Niecey has started Tot Talk Tuesday. Jump over to Niecey’s blog for the rules and a Mr. Linky.
Click here to join in
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This week’s quote:
I had just turned on the air conditioning in the car when Punky said,
“Mommy! Why are you blowing me off?!”
I tried to figure out if I was ignoring him or something, but then I realized that he doesn’t know what that phrase means and he was just complaining about the air conditioning.
michelle June 29th, 2009
Punky set this up for the kids on the floor over the weekend.
They cuddled together and watched a movie.
We are so blessed to have children who get along so well
and love each other as much as Punky and Spunky do.
michelle June 29th, 2009
My mom spent the entire day at the hospital today getting a blood transfusion. She received two units of platelets and two of red blood cells. This should make her feel much better very soon.
Please continue to pray for her as she heals for her most recent chemo.
michelle June 29th, 2009
I have been searching for a safe, non-toxic, eco-friendly laundry detergent for a long time now. I’ve tried many different brands, but was never completely happy with the results.
I had heard many good things about Charlie’s Soap; so I contacted the company and they sent me a full size sample (80 loads) of their Laundry Powder as well as a full size bottle of their All-Purpose Cleaner.
CLEAN - GREEN - SAFE
“Rinses Residue Free, Flame Retardent, Nontoxic, Great for Stain Removal, Certified Safe for Food Preparation, Biodegradable, and Environmentally Safe”
Laundry Powder
The three pound bag of laundry powder can do up to 80 full wash loads because you only need one tablespoon per large washload. It is hypoallergenic and leaves no residue. It is perfect for babies, like mine, who have sensitive skin. It is also HE compatible.
- Fragrance-Free: One of my favorite things about the Laundry Power is that it is not scented, but still leaves your laundry smelling fresh and clean.
- Cloth Diapers: since the detergent contains no ingredients or additives that are designed to bind to fabrics and contain no antibacterial agents, Charlie’s Soap is residue free. However, even though the detergent does remove a lot of bacteria, it is important also include a disinfectant of some sort to your load- a little bit of vinegar works perfectly or contact the diaper manufacturer for other options.
- Hard Water: If you have hard water and would like to use Charlie’s Soap, please go to the website to view the section on Hard Water under the Frequently Asked Questions.
All-Purpose Cleaner: “Cleans Everything from False Teeth to Diesel Engines”
The slogan on the bottle had me from the start. I’ve mainly used the All-Purpose Cleaner for wiping down counter tops or cleaning up messes on the floor. But here are many other ways that it can be used:
- A Variety of Strengths: either full strength, half strength or quarter strength by diluting the product to fit your needs– great way to save money!
- Pet Baths: just lather and rinse.
- Carpets: clean just one spot at a time or use your carpet cleaning machine. It works both ways.
- Hardwood Floors: A few sprays directly on the wood and a clean, wet mop do the trick. You can also spray directly on the mop for intensive cleaning.
- Tools and Greasy Hands: safely removes pitch, tar and grease from machinery, tools and hands.
- Cars: 1 cup and a 5 gallon bucket of water makes for a clean car.
michelle June 29th, 2009
Trish
with this creative answer:
“My husband deserves them because he is hot and because our little boy loves anything with wheels.”
Enjoy your TWO Hot Wheels Color Shifters!
michelle June 28th, 2009
Ma Torg is hosting a Vegan Recipe Swap, and this week’s theme is Grains.
Here is my submission:
Spanakorizo
Ingredients:
* 2 1/4 pounds of fresh spinach, chopped, washed, drained
* 1 spring onion, chopped
* 1/3 cups of olive oil
* 1 1/3 cup of water
* 1 1/3 cups of long-grain rice
* 5 1/4 cups of water
* sea salt
* freshly ground pepper
* juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
Preparation:
In a stock pot, sauté the chopped spring onion in the oil over medium heat for 8-10 minutes. Add spinach and 1 1/3 cups of water and cook until the spinach wilts, about 5-7 minutes. Add rice and 5 1/4 cups of water, bring to a boil, and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in lemon juice and salt, cook for another 5 minutes and remove from heat. Stir, cover, and let sit for 20 minutes until the dish “melds.”
Serve with wedges of lemon and freshly ground pepper.
I don’t have a photo, but this is delicious and works as a main dish OR a side dish.
michelle June 26th, 2009
I was sent two Hot Wheels Color Shifters to give away as a belated Father’s Day gift to one lucky dad and his child or children.
HOT WHEELS® COLOR SHIFTERS™
Kids’ imaginations can run all spectrums of the rainbow with new Hot Wheels® Color Shifters™ – die-cast cars that change color in warm and icy water. Color Shifters™ color memory technology allows the cars to hold their color at room temperature. With 60 different vehicles and various paint schemes – classic to flames, off-road to camo, city to rescue and much more – the color shifting never ends!
ARP: $2.99 each Age: 3+ Available: Now
How to Win:
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Leave a comment and in one sentence tell us why the father of your children deserves these Hot Wheels Color Shifters
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For another entry, link back to this giveaway from your blog
This contest will end on Sunday, June 28th at midnight.
The winner will be revealed on Monday morning.
Good luck!
