Do-Over!

I know, I know.  I disappeared for a couple of weeks.  I have a whole list of excuses for why I haven't blogged in so long.  Conner got RSV.  We were getting ready for vacation, then we left for vacation.  We came back from vacation early, which meant Brad was home, which meant I was hanging out with him and just being a little lazy.  Don't think I haven't thought about blogging, though.  I think I just needed things to be back to normal so I could get back into the groove.  So now Brad is back at work and I'm trying to clean up my house from the last couple of weeks.  I have so much sewing I want to do and cleaning I need to do.  I have a whole pile of new recipes I want to try, too.  And I want to share it all with you!  I just have to get my head back where it needs to be. 

So here's my plan:  I am going to try and clean something every day.  Doing laundry counts.  Vacuuming the floor counts.  Major cleaning, of course, counts.  Organizing something can work, too.  I am also going to try to make something every day.  Make a card, sew on my latest project, sew on a new project.  I'm even going to try and think about gifts I might need in the next months and work on that if my current project is boring me.  I even think trying a new recipe could be my 'make' project for the day if I haven't gotten to something else.  I've been trying to make my meal plan for the weekdays and grocery list for those meals on the weekend, so I'll try to continue that.  And I'll share the recipes I make with you - new or old.  Really, these goals are just going to make my life easier and that will make everyone happier.  I'll keep track of what my weekly plans are on my weekly to-do list that I got at Michael's for $1.  Here's a picture of that if you want to look for one like it.  You can find them anywhere. 

As a family, we have committed to a couple of new goals, too.  Among them, being more active as a family.  We'll take a walk or go outside and play.  With the weather getting nicer and time changing soon, these will be easier and more fun for us.  Also, we're going to start having a Bible study or story every night.  And not so much TV!!  We made a list for Cidney of our expectations for her, so she knows what she needs to do without us harping on her.  Isn't it nice to try and better yourself?  I know we'll fall off the wagon at times or we'll get busy and our routine will be off, but we'll try to jump back on and do what we have been doing because we know it will make us all happier.  If you have a busy family like we do, this may be worth a try.  It definitely keeps the stress level down.  Let me know if you try it and maybe along the way we can compare notes. 

On another subject, I've been wanting to share these sweet Valentine cards that my mom made for us.  She sent them along with some yummy Valentine cookies, but sadly, I can't show you pictures of those because, well, we ate them.  That same day.  Oh, cookies.  How I love you.  But I can't have you anymore because I'm too fat and I'm trying to take care of that, too.  Anyway, here's the cards:

Don't you love them?  She's so awesome.  She's my inspiration for many things.

Ok, tonight's dinner recipe coming up.  Lots of veggies in it because we're trying to lose weight.  But even when we weren't trying, it's sooooo good.  Usually we have it with cornbread, but you know, we're fat, so no cornbread for us.  Here are recipes for both:

  

             

Hamburger Soup

1 lb. ground beef

1 c. chopped onion

1 (15 oz.) can kidney beans

1 c. sliced carrots

1 c. sliced celery

1/4 c. uncooked regular rice

2 (18 oz.) cans stewed tomatoes

3 1/2 c. water

5 beef boullion cubes

1 T. parsley flakes

1 t. salt

1/4 t. dried basil

1/8 t. pepper

1 c. green beans

Cook ground beef and onions in large saucepan until beef is browned.  Drain off fat.  Add remaining ingredients except for green beans.  Bring to a boil.  Simmer covered for 40 minutes.  Add green beans and simmer another 10 minutes.

Cornbread

1 c. flour

1 c. corn meal

1/4 c. vegetable oil

1/4 c. sugar

1 c. milk

2 eggs

4 t. baking powder

1 t. salt

Mix all ingredients together.  Pour in greased 9" cake pan and bake at 400 for 20 minutes.

There you go!  For the soup this time, I used ground turkey and lots more vegetables than the recipe calls for, thus more water and beef boullion.  I've become the cook that doesn't measure much unless I'm baking, so I couldn't tell you how much of anything I put in.  Just use your best judgment based on your preferences.  We like more hearty than broth-y soups, so that's what I make and I usually make enough for us to have leftovers at least one night.  The cornbread is the best I've ever had and is so easy, you won't miss using a store-bought mix.  Just try it and you'll never go back to cornbread in a box.

Happy Monday!