He did a great job of handling a dog more than 3 times his size! We now have one happy (and clean) Great Dane! This is his happy face :)! Isn't it precious?
June 30, 2011
Dog Wash
Kate has had a fever the past few days so we have been home nursing her back to health. Drew was asking for something to do, so I put him to work!
He did a great job of handling a dog more than 3 times his size! We now have one happy (and clean) Great Dane! This is his happy face :)! Isn't it precious?
He did a great job of handling a dog more than 3 times his size! We now have one happy (and clean) Great Dane! This is his happy face :)! Isn't it precious?
June 29, 2011
Recipe Storage
I blogged about my coupon storage a while back, and I have to report that I love it! I keep it in my car so I always have it with me and I update and clean it out every Sunday with the paper and some coffee! It has truly made me more organized and I am definitely saving money! Woo hoo!
Because I do love the organization the plastic bin provides, I decided to go ahead and clean out my recipe box and apply the same principle.
My recipe box was overflowing. I found myself throwing recipes in a cabinet, losing them, and they were getting damaged. I decided today that I was going to do something about it, so I picked up another bin this morning and got to work while the kids were napping.
This is the worn out recipe box that was driving me nuts!
This is during the purge and sort.
I did the same exact thing as I did for the coupons. I cut off the flap from several envelopes, wrote a header on top of an index card, filed the recipes according to several different catergories, and alphabetized.
Now, if I want to make cookies, I simply grab the "cookies" envelope and sift through my recipes. Before, all my desserts were lumped in together and it took me forever to find anything. This is obviously larger than my recipe box, so this will be stored in my pantry, where I have lots of extra space.
Here are the catergories I used in case you are interested:
appetizers
beef
breads/bars
breakfast
cake/cupcakes
casseroles
chicken
chocolate
cookies
misc. desserts
drinks
frosting
mexican
pasta
pie
pizza
pork
salads
sandwiches
seafood
side dishes
soups/stews
I cook a lot, but I have to admit that during the summer, I throw together easy recipes or we just throw something on the grill. This exercise has me motivated to try some new recipes that I just found! Happy organizing!
Because I do love the organization the plastic bin provides, I decided to go ahead and clean out my recipe box and apply the same principle.
My recipe box was overflowing. I found myself throwing recipes in a cabinet, losing them, and they were getting damaged. I decided today that I was going to do something about it, so I picked up another bin this morning and got to work while the kids were napping.
This is the worn out recipe box that was driving me nuts!
This is during the purge and sort.
This is organized bliss! This cost me $2.50 and took about 30 minutes.
I did the same exact thing as I did for the coupons. I cut off the flap from several envelopes, wrote a header on top of an index card, filed the recipes according to several different catergories, and alphabetized.
Now, if I want to make cookies, I simply grab the "cookies" envelope and sift through my recipes. Before, all my desserts were lumped in together and it took me forever to find anything. This is obviously larger than my recipe box, so this will be stored in my pantry, where I have lots of extra space.
Here are the catergories I used in case you are interested:
appetizers
beef
breads/bars
breakfast
cake/cupcakes
casseroles
chicken
chocolate
cookies
misc. desserts
drinks
frosting
mexican
pasta
pie
pizza
pork
salads
sandwiches
seafood
side dishes
soups/stews
I cook a lot, but I have to admit that during the summer, I throw together easy recipes or we just throw something on the grill. This exercise has me motivated to try some new recipes that I just found! Happy organizing!
June 28, 2011
More Visitors!
My parents came for a visit last week. We took a 2-day trip to Austin and did a lot of relaxing. My parents were soaking up the warm temps because it has been dreary and cold in Chicago! Thanks for coming and we miss you already!
We love our frozen yogurt!
Cooling off at Zilker Park in Austin, TX
Pool bums!
Wading at Zilker Park (great place if you are ever in the Austin area)
Chowing down on ribs!
Waiting to see the famous bats fly out at dusk
A view from the bridge where the bats live. This was truly as sight to see if you are ever in Austin. Close to a million bats fly out of one bridge every night at dusk and it is just amazing!
My parents will be back to watch the kids when Steve and I go on an adults only trip at the end of the summer. I told them to be sure to rest up for the next time they return! You forget how exhausting taking care of two toddlers can be!!
Summer Goals
Our summer has been wonderful, but I can't believe it is a third of the way over already! Both kids are finally at an age where I can take them anywhere and do most anything. We have made frequent trips to the library, movies, and pool in between entertaining our many guests! We are guest free this month and I want to be sure to sprinkle in a few new activities.
I came across a simple, but cute idea on a blog that I read. She sat down with her kids and they came up with a list of all the things they wanted to do this summer. I decided to do the same thing with my kids and our goals are proudly displayed on the fridge. Now, they can track our "fun progress"!
Thanks to www.thelarsonlingo.blogspot.com for your inspiration! You can guess who chose "play street hockey", right??
Along with these fun family goals, I also challenged Drew to two personal goals.
1. Be able to write your full name by your 4th birthday (end of August).
2. Swim underwater by the end of the summer.
Here is where he has gotten in one month's time. Can you see the makings of "Drew"?? It gets more and more legible every day!
He has also blown me away with going underwater. He is comfortable in the water and will swim for days with his float on and go down the waterslide, etc, but he was nervous to submerge is head underwater. This week, he decided to start swimming in the toddler pool and retrieving dive sticks! Hopefully by the end of the summer, he will move to the big pool and jump off the side. Exposure and practice is the name of the game!
Hope you are all getting to be as carefree as we are this summer!
I came across a simple, but cute idea on a blog that I read. She sat down with her kids and they came up with a list of all the things they wanted to do this summer. I decided to do the same thing with my kids and our goals are proudly displayed on the fridge. Now, they can track our "fun progress"!
Thanks to www.thelarsonlingo.blogspot.com for your inspiration! You can guess who chose "play street hockey", right??
Along with these fun family goals, I also challenged Drew to two personal goals.
1. Be able to write your full name by your 4th birthday (end of August).
2. Swim underwater by the end of the summer.
Here is where he has gotten in one month's time. Can you see the makings of "Drew"?? It gets more and more legible every day!
He has also blown me away with going underwater. He is comfortable in the water and will swim for days with his float on and go down the waterslide, etc, but he was nervous to submerge is head underwater. This week, he decided to start swimming in the toddler pool and retrieving dive sticks! Hopefully by the end of the summer, he will move to the big pool and jump off the side. Exposure and practice is the name of the game!
Hope you are all getting to be as carefree as we are this summer!
June 24, 2011
Striped Office Chair
I have been working on revamping our guest bedroom into a guest bedroom/work space. I already purchased a chair at Goodwill a while back, and just recently decided to spruce it up a bit. I decided to go with horizontal stripes for this one!
This chair was brand new from Target (still had the pricetag on it) when I purchased it at GW for $5.00! It was orginially blond wood and I painted it a neutral beige. This is the base (I used leftover paint I already had).
This chair was brand new from Target (still had the pricetag on it) when I purchased it at GW for $5.00! It was orginially blond wood and I painted it a neutral beige. This is the base (I used leftover paint I already had).
I used painters tape to mark where my stripes would be. I am lazy when it comes to meausring, so I just eyeballed. I am a really good "eyeballer"! Please excuse the dark pictures. I do a lot of stuff after dark when everyone else is asleep!
I think I painted 3 coats of a shade of white that I also had on hand.
I removed the tape immediately after the last coat (while the paint was still wet) to avoid any peeling. A few coats of spray polycrylic, and I have a new, happier, shinier, more interesting office chair!
Total cost for chair and paint: $5
I'll take it!
Linking up with:
June 22, 2011
Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Pancakes
I made these homemade pancakes last week, and wanted to share. We love breakfast for dinner at the Larson house! I got the original recipe from www.moneysavingmom.com. Everyone enjoyed them, and I have extras in the freezer for future breakfasts!
FYI: This is the original recipe, but I halved it and still had leftovers for the freezer.
Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Pancakes
5 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 cup oatmeal
3 Tablespoons baking powder
1 Tablespoon salt
5 1/4 cups milk
3/4 cup butter, melted
6 eggs, beaten
9 Tablespoons sugar
1 bag chocolate chips
Combine flour, oatmeal, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Beat milk, butter, eggs, and sugar together, separately.
Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour in the wet ingredients and mix together. Stir in the chocolate chips.
Spray skillet with cooking spray and cook until tiny bubbles appear on the surface. Flip and cook until brown.
To Freeze Extras:
Cool pancakes and lay on cookie sheet and flash freeze for 1 hour. Put in a freezer bag, remove air, and seal. Freeze. Reheat in mircrowave for 30 seconds-1 minute or heat in oven at 350 for 5-10 minutes.
FYI: This is the original recipe, but I halved it and still had leftovers for the freezer.
Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Pancakes
5 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 cup oatmeal
3 Tablespoons baking powder
1 Tablespoon salt
5 1/4 cups milk
3/4 cup butter, melted
6 eggs, beaten
9 Tablespoons sugar
1 bag chocolate chips
Combine flour, oatmeal, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Beat milk, butter, eggs, and sugar together, separately.
Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour in the wet ingredients and mix together. Stir in the chocolate chips.
Spray skillet with cooking spray and cook until tiny bubbles appear on the surface. Flip and cook until brown.
To Freeze Extras:
Cool pancakes and lay on cookie sheet and flash freeze for 1 hour. Put in a freezer bag, remove air, and seal. Freeze. Reheat in mircrowave for 30 seconds-1 minute or heat in oven at 350 for 5-10 minutes.
June 21, 2011
Big Girl Bed
This little gal recently moved into a big girl bed. She transitioned like a champ and wants to tell anyone who will listen that she sleeps in a "big girl bed" now. She has been every bit a "big girl" since she was very little, so now it all fits!
You do know what this all means though? No more crib. No more baby stuff. Just a big girl in a princess dress and cowboy boots...
You do know what this all means though? No more crib. No more baby stuff. Just a big girl in a princess dress and cowboy boots...
Amidst all the company we have had over the last 6 weeks, I have been slowly changing Kate's room around and piecing things together. I have a few DIY projects to post about soon, but in the meantime, this is her "big girl" twin headboard. My friend found it for me at Goodwill for $9.99! I love the shape and detail-perfect for Miss Kate.
Pics of the finished room and bed to come! Let's just hope it takes her a few years to catch on to the fact that her brother sleeps in a queen bed :). . .
June 18, 2011
More Visitors=More Fun!
Our sweet friends from SC came to visit recently. It was so nice of my friend to make, or brave her first trip with two toddlers on her own! They did great, and the boys picked up right where they left off (first best friends). Our girls are just 2 days apart, so we had a lot of action and a lot of fun! The time flew by because we were on the go so much. Stacey and I tried to go see a movie on the last night, but we could barely keep our eyes open at 9pm. Four toddlers have a lot of energy!
We made it to Sea World, the zoo, the pool, the Riverwalk, and the Alamo. Stacey got to try some breakfast tacos (our favorite), and we managed to sneak in a few margaritas!
We made it to Sea World, the zoo, the pool, the Riverwalk, and the Alamo. Stacey got to try some breakfast tacos (our favorite), and we managed to sneak in a few margaritas!
Two sassy two year olds!! :)
Our friends at the Alamo
Two sweet friends
Always wanting to hold hands...
Taking an Icee break! Did I mention it is just a little hot here?!
Riding the Shamu roller coaster all by themselves!
I got roped into one of the rides!
I absolutely cannot believe that Stacey and Jackson got Drew to go on this ride! I was so proud of him for taking a leap of faith!
Fro Yo-I think this was their dinner one night!
At the Riverwalk...
Checking out the dolphins at Sea World
Loving the splash pad!
Lost Lagoon was a hit!
Feeding the dolphins-what a treat for them!
Getting ready to watch Azul...
This pic pretty much sums up our week! We had a great time and a huge thanks to our friends for making the trip to visit us! Until next time...
Recent Happenings...
We spend a lot of our time at the pool...I think he is having just a little bit of fun :).
Someone got a haircut! She was fighting me on brushing it after baths and the pool, so I cut it myself and I couldn't be happier! Easy and adorable!
Our new library opened, so we have been meeting friends for storytime and attended a magic show.
We recently did a toy and book purge. The kids understand that these will be donated to kids who don't have a lot of books and toys, so they are pretty willing to get rid of stuff. It always feels so good to get rid of clutter!
We have a theater that offers $1 kids movies in the summer. This was only their second movie at the theater, so they were loving it!
Pool fun with one of his besties!
Sweet hubby brought home these fab flowers!
I heart summer!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
