Dittos for Kiddos

Last year, we heard about a consignment sale that was just down the road from us. Phillip and I went together and found some great buys. When I heard about Dittos for Kiddos in Abilene, I knew I wanted to go. My original list included cloth diapers, but I'm not sure anyone in Abilene uses cloth. At least no one took any to the sale. So, we moved on.

Mom & I found this great walking toy (can be used walking or riding!) that was just too adorable to pass up. 

Then, it was time to look at clothes. And, clothes they had!! I think I looked through 3 racks that were 12 month and 4 that were 6-12 month. Emily's pretty set with 9 month clothes (which she's still not wearing!), but she needed a few 12 month items. I couldn't believe all that I found (including one 18 month dress I just couldn't pass up!). No item (other than the toy) was over $5! Needless to say, I'll be back at the sale in October!

37 weeks

Recently, as Emily has become more mobile, she's helped me with household chores. Such as, sorting laundry...

...and choosing books. (Notice the shirt...it's actually a newborn dress!)

She's getting around everywhere she wants to go. She's cruised the couch a couple of times, but is still fairly uncertain about that. (Good for us!) It's always an adventure, though, to see what she goes after.

The Pantry Challenge, day 7

(See here for more info about The Pantry Challenge.)

Again, Emily and I are out of town, but I had leftovers at my parents' house...garlic spaghetti with chicken, salad, garlic bread, strawberries. All so yummy that I never thought to get the camera out! Phillip (at home) had leftovers as well...meatballs from Thursday night. Emily had oatmeal & homemade squash & peas.

The Pantry Challenge, day 6

(See here for more info about The Pantry Challenge.)


Today was more difficult because we're out of town and going to a dinner tonight, but I managed to find a way around it. This morning for breakfast, we had leftover brunch casserole and poppyseed bread.

The Pantry Challenge, day 5

(See here for more info about The Pantry Challenge.)

Since we'll be out of town tonight, I'm posting my lunch. Phillip had to stay at school, so it was just me. I used soudrough bread I had bought for the Monte Cristos and made me a grilled cheese sandwich. Paired with sweet pickles (no dill pickles for me!) and strawberry yogurt, it was a pretty tasty lunch. Emily had apples (applesauce) and oatmeal.

The Pantry Challenge, day 4

(See here for more info about The Pantry Challenge.)

Tonight we had BBQ meatballs, corn, and leftover Italian Style Biscuits. (I've been told my biscuits are akin to Red Lobster biscuits!). Emily had rice cereal and homemade squash.

Recipes:

BBQ Meatballs

1 lb ground meat

2 t dry chopped onion

1/4 C evaporated milk

1/6 t garlic powder

1/3 C oatmeal

2/3 t salt

1/3 C (11) saltine cracker crumbs

1/6 t pepper

1 egg white

2/3 t chili powder

Combine all ingredients; mixture will be soft. Shape into 2 T-sized balls for dinner; 1 T-sized for appetizers.

Sauce:

1 C ketchup

1/4 t liquid smoke

1/2 C brown sugar

1 1/2 T dry chopped onion

1/4 t garlic powder

Combine and stir until sugar dissolves.

To cook: Place meatballs in 8x8 pan. Pour on sauce. Bake at 350° for 20-30 minutes until bubbly.

Makes 20 large or 35 small

Italian Style Biscuits

1 C bisquick

1/2 C shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 C cold water

2 t butter, melted

1/4 t dried parsley

1/8 t garlic powder

1/8 t Italian seasoning

In a small bowl, combine the bisquick and cheese. Stir in water until a soft dough forms; stir 30 seconds more. Drop dough into six mounds 2 inches apart on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 450E for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.

In a small bowl, combine the butter, parsley, garlic powder and Italian seasoning. Brush over warm biscuits. Serve warm. Makes 6.

The Pantry Challenge, day 3

(See here for more info about The Pantry Challenge.)

Tonight we had ham and cheese omelets (using leftover ham from the Monte Cristos!) and Applesauce Puffs. (Emily had rice and homemade squash).

Here's the recipe for the Applesauce Puffs (so easy!).

Combine:

2 C bisquick (may include 1/2 C oat bran as part of the 2 C)

1/4 C sugar

1 t cinnamon

Combine:

2 egg whites

1/2 C applesauce

1/4 C milk

Stir together. Fill greased muffin pans 1/2 to 2/3 full. (You can use muffin papers, but you'll lose some of the yummy topping to the paper.) Bake at 400 for 12-15 minutes. Remove from pans and dip tops in melted butter then in cinnamon sugar. (Mini muffins give more yummy topping per muffin.) Makes 9-12 regular size muffins or about 36 minis.

36 weeks

Emily's starting to need distraction when we take pictures, so, today, it's her monkey from NYC. She babbles all the time and loves pulling off her socks!

The Pantry Challenge, day 2

(See here for more info about The Pantry Challenge.)

Tonight we had leftover corndogs I had made a couple weeks ago along with chips & peaches. (Emily had oatmeal and homemade peas.)

Here's the recipe for the corndogs.

1 C flour

1/2 t dry mustard, optional

3/4 C yellow corn meal

1/4 C sugar

1/2 t salt

4 t baking powder

1 egg (or 2 whites)

1/4 C oil

1/4 C milk (add a little at a time)

1 lb frankfurters

Combine dry ingredients. Add oil, egg, milk.  Stir well mixed and about like biscuit dough; roll out (between parchment or on cornmeal covered cabinet) to rectangles slightly longer than frankfurters and wide enough to go all the way around.  Lay frank on cough & roll up; seal ends and edge.  Lay on parchment-lined pan or stone. Bake at 425° for about 20 min. till golden.

The Pantry Challenge, day 1

(See here for more info about The Pantry Challenge.)

When I planned out meals, I thought we'd be in Abilene for a dinner tonight so I didn't plan dinner. Therefore, I really did have to find stuff in our pantry for dinner tonight! We had Low-Fat Monte Cristos. Yummy! (While we ate that, Emily had carrots and oatmeal.)

For all you Monte Cristo connoisseurs, this isn't fried, but sure does taste almost as good as the fried version. Besides, it's pretty easy.

Here's the recipe.

bread (french or sourdough)

egg white (2 per 2 sandwiches)

milk (1/2-5/8 C per 2 sandwiches)

vanilla (1/8-1/4 t per 2 sandwiches)

turkey ham

turkey

mozzarella cheese

red raspberry jam

Mix together egg, milk & vanilla. Soak both sides of bread. Put on lightly greased griddle until bubbles come through to top. Flip bread and cook till brown (~8 minutes).

Remove from grill and make sandwiches with turkey, ham & mozzarella.

Put back on griddle until chees melts (about 4-5 minutes per side). Top with red raspberry jam and/or powdered sugar and/or syrup.

Tune in tomorrow to see what's for dinner!

Precious

The Pantry Challenge

The Motherhood is hosting the Pantry Challenge giveaway coming up on MONDAY!

Here's the idea.  For one week, prepare meals using only the food you already have in your pantry, cabinets, fridge and freezer.   Tap your inner frugal girl, get creative -- and win prizes for yourself and your local food bank in the process. 

For the week, purchase only whatever perishables you NEED to get you through an ordinary week: milk, lunchmeat, etc. The point is to get creative with what you have. Not feeling creative? Check out Mealtime.org  for recipes.

Each night, post a picture of the meal you made in the Pantry Challenge Circle. If you can't post a picture, post the recipe or a description of what you cooked.

Then, next Monday, February 23, the first TEN people who participated all week who post in this circle that they completed the challenge will win a great prize from the Canned Food Alliance: a bunch of food to restock their now-trim pantries, a recipe collection, AND a donation of canned food to their local food bank! What a way to celebrate Canned Food Month (you didn't know it was canned food month, did you? Now you do!)  

The contest starts February 16. Post to The Pantry Challenge Circle that you're planning to participate. 

Get ready and tell your friends. There are ten prizes so there's a good chance of winning.  And even if you don't win, you still saved a bundle of money on groceries this week, and got your pantry cleaned out at the same time!

(from an email from The Motherhood)

35 weeks & 8 months

I haven't blogged well this week. I've had lots of posts running around in my head, but they've never made it to the computer. Oh well.

Today, I submit this beauty. She's learned lots of new things in the last few weeks, including pulling up to standing, crawling (on hands and knees) and saying "mama." Yes, that's right, last night she said, "mama" while we were sitting at the dinner table. I'm not sure she knows that "mama" is me, but she did clearly say it! Phillip and I were so excited!

Tonight was the Valentine dance at school. Emily and I went up for a while to visit Phillip and we got this picture.

Oh, and Aunt Jenni, thanks for the love bug!

34 weeks

While I did get a smiling picture, I liked this one better because it better reflects what we see so much! As you saw yesterday, Emily can now pull herself to standing (and kneeling, her preference most of the time). We have to be really careful now!

The ultimate if...then... statement

If...

Then...

(bumpers have been removed)

(No, this wasn't staged. This is how I found Emily when I went to check on her during her "nap" time. Yes, she's crying...she wasn't ready for her nap yet. She'd been down for about 30 minutes, but never went to sleep, so she took a little later nap. I wish she hadn't figured out how to move her nap time!)

Population: 1

Saturday, to get out of the house, Phillip took me on the bus route he usually drives. (He's a sub, but this is the only route he's subbed on.) It took about an hour and that was without dropping off kids or going down a couple of the roads to the driveways. Normally, it takes about an hour and a half. On the way, there is this sign:

Whether or not this is an "official" sign is up for debate, but it's interesting nonetheless.

And, lastly, we have our cutie sporting a mohawk and side curls. I'm going to have to work on getting a better picture of this, because it is so cute!!