Handmade Dolls

I LOVE these dolls from Warm Sugar.  I happened upon them by a link from another blog this evening.  I have never seen one in person, but still, they are adorable!  I love that they are handmade, using many re-puposed and vintage materials.  I was into dolls as a child and am hoping my daughter is, too.  So far, she seems to be.  At 3 years old, I think she might be a little young for these - I'd hate for something to happen to one.  But maybe someday I will be able to get her her own!

Menu Plan 11/29/10

Who wants to come cook for me this week?  I have no idea what to make at this moment.  I need to go shopping.  But first, I have to make a grocery list, which means it would help to make a menu plan in order to get started.  Ok, here we go.  Let's see what we come up with...

Breakfasts:
Baked Soaked Oatmeal  (I am trying to make this at least once a week since it is pretty good for you.  I don't add the fruit or raisins and use an 8x8 dish instead of 9x13.)
Cranberry Orange Muffins
Eggs and Toast
Cereal and Milk
Bananas

Lunches:
(A little on the dull side, but easy to pack and decent at keeping blood sugar in check for the little ones.)
Sandwiches
Carrots
Crispy Almonds
Cheese
Fruit

Dinners:
Monday - Baked Ziti (making to give 1/2 away), Green Beans
Tuesday - Leftovers
Wednesday - Rice Medley (Didn't have it over the weekend because we had salmon melts, instead.)
Thursday - Leftovers for the fam/Bible Study for me
Friday - Sticky Chicken Taco Salad
Saturday - BBQ Meatballs, Salad, Cheesy Potatoes (experiment with no cream soup)

Sunday - Leftovers

Over the weekend, I made some Oatmeal Raisin Cookies with chocolate chips added.  Yum!

Ok, I guess that menu came out pretty well after all.

Since December is so busy, I think I need to try to stick to easy (but of course healthy) meals, especially for weeknights.  Perhaps some throw-together soups and such?  I might need to keep brainstorming some menu ideas for the rest of the month while I'm at it...

Catch-Up

That is the plan for tomorrow.
I didn't do any shopping this week, aside from $4 on milk.  Didn't do any Black Friday shopping this year!  Haven't done anything on my To-Do List yet, either.

First....
Tomorrow is laundry and cleaning day.  I'm psyching myself up.  Maybe an errand or two, as well.  Since it is a holiday weekend and all, maybe I'll let myself drink some coffee to get going.

I like chocolate and mint, so I think I am going to make some of these Christmas Mint Brownies (minus the nuts) in a few weeks for our cookie exchange this year, even though they aren't technically cookies.  As long as they taste good, I don't think anyone will mind too much.  I hope.

I am not a knitter, and am a little envious of those who are.
Knitters and non-knitters, is anyone making anything fun for Christmas presents this year?
I want to make my daughter a fabric covered bulletin board for her room.  Basic.
I also got some small, colored, wooden beads at Hobby Lobby to make her an easy, cute bracelet and necklace.
Nothing that requires an indepth tutorial by any means...

I hope you had a happy Thanksgiving.  Anyone cry at any commercials?  I won't make fun of you if you did.

To-Do List

With Christmas shopping almost out of the way, my mind goes on to those "when I get free day" tasks, some of which I reserve for doing only once a year.  Amid the daily routine of working, cooking, cleaning (ha), laundry (haha), care-taking, etc., I'd like to also...

• Send Christmas cards
• Work on baby book
• Make gifts (a few stocking-stuffers for my daughter)
• Order pictures from 2010
• Read... for fun (that's my reward for doing the rest of these things)

It helps for me to assign time to work on these things.  The alternative is they just don't get done and that is not a good feeling, when reasonably I should be able to find time to do them... They can be special and enjoyable projects.

Organizing my time (when I can) - that's a good thing for me (and my family).

Menu Plan 11/22/10

I'm taking a break this week from a pre-planned menu, since more than half of the week is non-typical as far as the daily schedule goes.  I didn't buy much new at the stores last week, so we'll try to make our meals using up stuff we have.  Here are some of my dinner ideas:
Ravioli with Sauce
Rice Medley
Beef & Bean Chimichangas

We're supplying the bread on Thursday:
PW's Cinnamon Rolls (made at the party last week)
Crescent Rolls (on sale from Costco with coupon)

Happy Thanksgiving to you! :)

Groceries! and Christmas (it's coming...)

An unexciting, fill-in-the-gaps week, food shopping wise.  A rather intense week, otherwise.  Hence the lack of creative posting.

-$15 on milk and eggs from the farm
-$7 at Aldi on bananas, fresh cranberries, pasta, and bread

Ugh, I am disillusioned on bread right now.  I can't find one we like for long term.  I had a kind we really liked from Costco, but it got stale really fast the last couple times.  Maybe I just need to keep switching it up so we don't get sick of one kind.   I really like to get bread at either Costco or Aldi since those are the places I shop most often.  I know it takes preservatives to keep the bread soft.  My husband wants squishy bread.  He eats enough easy PB&J sandwiches without complaining that I figure I can at least get him the bread he likes.  And he is happy with the 99 cents bread (with HFCS) from Aldi.  But what about the rest of us?  Maybe when we get a Trader Joes there will be bread I like there... Just a few more months!

-$10 at Walmart on Skippy natural peanut butter, clearanced Italian breads, and stain-fighter spray

I detest going to Walmart.  Target is a more pleasant experience, but Walmart is closer, so I occasionally choose it.

$377 out of $400 spent for November, so far.

The December calendar is filling up fast.  How are you doing on your Christmas shopping?  I am almost done, I think.  My goal was to be done by Thanksgiving.  Why?  Because I do almost all the shopping, all the time, with both my children in tow, often on my way home from work.  And doing that in December with the crowds is not fun.  They are still at the age where I can buy gifts with them around, get home and hide them, and they forget about them.  So that is what I've been doing.  Perhaps that's why the last few weeks have seemed so full.  Because I really have done all that Christmas shopping in the past month, starting in the last weeks of October.  It's not like we go overboard with the gift-giving at all, and it still seems like a lot.  There will still be a few giftcards to pick up after Thanksgiving, but I'm hoping that is it!!

Have a good weekend!

It's a Sickness, People...

I came home today, tired feet, husband not home for dinner, and decided to make:
Sherried Tomato Soup
It was delicious.
Then, after dinner, I made for tomorrow:
A double batch of PW's cinnamon roll dough (for our cinnamon roll making party)
Homemade macaroni and cheese
Ranch dressing
A batch of carrot-chocolate chip cookies
And started soaking oatmeal for breakfast.
I just finished the dishes.  Almost.
Now my feet are really sore and I can't even think straight.
Goodnight.
Oh, but there are 2 loads of laundry to fold, first.
Anyone want to take bets on if I will really fold them now?
Maybe I will surprise myself.

PS - I'm pretty sure I am using colons incorrectly, and I don't care right now :)
Also, this is not an example of living simply, exactly.  But there is something good and satisfying in it for me.    Otherwise, I would not spend my time and energy this way.

Menu Plan 11/15/10

Wow, can you believe it is the middle of the month already?

Last week I needed to use up some yogurt, so we made these Yogurt Coffee Cake Muffins (minus the topping) for breakfast a couple days.  As far as baking these days, it is mostly for other people.  Parties, church functions, work, cookie exchanges.  So I am going with conventional ingredients since they are on sale this time of year (white flour, white sugar, refined brown sugar, canola oil, etc.)  Just in case you were wondering why you were seeing those conventional items in my shopping trips and wondering if I had completely gone back to my old ways. Nope.  As for baking for our household, it is mostly breakfast items, and I am still sticking with the less refined sugars and coconut oil.

Breakfasts:
Baked (Soaked) Oatmeal minus the fruit and raisins, baked in 8x8 dish
Eggs and Toast
Kashi Autumn Wheat Cereal delicious! with Milk
Muffins
Bananas

Lunches:
Leftovers or Sandwiches
Carrots with Ranch plus dried chives
String Cheese
Apples

Dinners:
Monday - Sherried Tomato Soup the sherry is optional with Ciabatta Bread, Salad
Tuesday - Steak Stir Fry with Brown Rice
Wednesday - Egg Sandwiches, Salad
Thursday - Macaroni and Cheese, Salad
Friday - Grilled Chicken and Black Bean Wraps, Salad
Saturday - Salmon Melts, Apples
Sunday - Chili (from the freezer) and Cornbread

I'm off to fold some massive amounts of laundry!!!

Quality Toys for Preschoolers

I appreciated and enjoyed Sarah's round-up of toys her family likes... especially since she has 5 children and knows what will stand the test of time across the age ranges.

I have shared about a few particular toy items before:

Green Toys Tea Party Set

Radio Flyer Tiny Trike

Here are a few more thoughts on quality toys...

Last year for Christmas we got our daughter (then 2 years old, now 3) this Schwinn Roadster.  It did not disappoint!  It was a little big and heavy for her at first, but now she has learned to pedal and can manage it just fine.  It looks so fun and fast (and very shiny and retro, too) - I wish they made them in my size :)  I am hoping for several more years of use out of it for her, and our little boy, too.

This year, I would like to get them a good snow sled or saucer, so I have been scouting things out in this area...

Ok, now to backtrack a little bit.  When my daughter was 18 months, I asked co-workers for recommendation on toys for Christmas that would stand the test of time.  One suggestion that we listened to was a play shopping cart.  I had originally wanted a classic metal or wooden version, but in the end, I am glad we have a plastic Little Tikes one because it has run into the walls many times!  My kids both seem to love push toys, so a shopping cart is a good gender neutral one.

A no-brainer item that both my children like is play food!  The younger one just likes to take the pieces in and out of bins, while my older one likes to take my order and make me lunch with them.  We have a couple differenct sets that people have gotten for us - my favorites are the wooden ones with non-toxic paint.  My 3 year old loves the slice-able kind, but we have to watch the little pieces with my 1 year old, so this is a special toy we get out for when she wants to play with it at the kitchen table.

As far as books, we love the P.K. Hallinan books as well as I am a Bunny (a family favorite).

What recommendations do you have?

If you write a related post, be sure to link up over at the end of Sarah's original post... it will be up and running for awhile.

My High Cholesterol Doesn't Bother Me

Major nerd alert.  You have been warned.
Here we go...

A sample of my personal a-typical dietary evolution:

• Switching from skim milk to whole raw milk
• Eating more red grassfed meat than white meat
• Avoiding vegetable/canola oil in favor of unrefined coconut oil
• Shunning HFCS in most situations
• Consuming butter, not margarine
• Eating cheese in abundance, and eggs, too
• Paying NO attention to calories or "points"

In addition to these changes, after having a newborn, I got back on track with a regular workout - either strength training at home, or running or biking.

Ok, I got the results of my health screening this past week.

The good news: In one year, my LDL dropped more than 60 points with no medication.
The bad news: My LDL is still high on the charts.
The bad news: My high cholesterol is hereditary, and has always been high, so there is likely only so much I can do.
The good news: I don't care.
The good news: My HDL rose 20 points!
The good news: My cholesterol ratio is now decently normal.
The good news: My fasting glucose and triglyceride levels are normal.
The good news: My bodyfat percentage is in the healthy range (on the upper end, but still there).  My waist circumference is healthy, too.
The good news: My blood pressure is normal.  (This improved when I changed jobs when I had kids.)
The good news: I don't have metabolic syndrome.

I am not the picture of perfect health; there are lots of things I can do better.  There are lots of things that are already deteriorating and will continue to deteriorate as I age (a little depressing, huh?)  Also, I realize that ulitmately, our health and lives are not in our own hands.  This stuff just fascinates me at times, so I'm sharing.  Humor me.

Back to the cholesterol issue - the main issue of mine...
My curiosity makes me wish I knew whether the majority of my LDL was the fluffy (harmless) kind, or the dense (harmful) kind, but the screening I had didn't test for that.

I think I shared this before, but this video pairing is quick and informative, and worth watching if you have cholesterol concerns, so here it is again.  I highly recommend it.

Part I

Part II


What do you think??

Here's what I have to say...
I love you, saturated fat! :)

I will get screened again in the spring.  Hoping for good results, again.

Groceries!

I was dragging majorly this morning.  Just a long, but OK week.  I went grocery shopping among other things with the kids in the rain, and then thankfully managed a short nap this afternoon.

Today we went to Costco and Aldi.

I was so tired when we got home (and everyone was hungry for lunch), so I wasn't motivated to take a bunch of pictures.  We mostly got the usual stuff at Costco.  The new things were some crescent rolls (<$1/tube with coupon, 4 tubes in the package) to take to Thanksgiving dinner, and some ciabatta bread for with soups this next week.

Costco: $82

As for Aldi, I took a quick picture:

Aldi: $51

I am going to see what their diapers are like on my 15 month old, for when we are out of the house (cloth at home).  We've never tried them before.  I should have gotten the milk at Costco, but I forgot.  It is for some baking projects this week.  So are a bunch of other things (butter, brown sugar, cocoa, oil).  Right now, butter is cheaper at Aldi than at Costco.  They seem to go back and forth.  As you may know, I have really been trying to stick with organic fruit and vegetables, but these apples are too good of a price to pass up.  Especially since I know the budget will be tight at the end of the month.  Three 3 lb. bags for $1.29 each - that's 9 lbs. of fruit for less than $4.

A the beginning of this week, we spent $9 at Whole Foods on organic bartlett pears, $6 at the local grocery store on orange juice (sale) and fruit, and $15 on milk and eggs from the farm.

I am OK with going a little over the grocery budget this month because we are making a lot of food for other people, but I want to do the best we can to stay close to it.

So far, $345 out of $400 spent for the month of November.

Coming soon, I might share my reflections on my recent cholesterol screening... some fascinating weekend reading for ya ;)

Menu Plan 11/8/10

It is a week of trying to use what we have...

Breakfasts:
Baked Soaked Oatmeal
Cereal with Milk
Eggs & Toast
Orange Juice

Lunches:
PB&J or Tuna Sandwiches
Cheese/Yogurt/Almonds/ Carrots
Pears

Dinners:
Monday - Cheesy Bow Ties with Spinach
Tuesday - Sloppy Joes on Rolls, Summer Vegetables
Wednesday - Leftovers
Thursday - Ravioli, Peas
Friday - Fish Sticks, Mixed Vegetables
Saturday - Broccoli Chicken Noodle Soup
Sunday - Leftovers

Groceries!

I don't have a photo of my shopping for this week.  It was a light week, compared to last week.

$10 at Whole Foods on 10 lbs. of organic apples and pears
$9 at Target on odds and ends among other things (peanut butter, baggies, small bottle for dish soap)
$13 on milk, eggs, and yogurt from the farm
$27 at Price Chopper on baking supplies (gonna have a cinnamon roll making party with my Bible Study), frozen veggies, cottage cheese, and toiletries (most everything on sale).

Total for November so far: $182 out of $400

How you doin'?

Un-Green Confession

I like wrapping paper.  I like using wrapping paper to wrap presents.

Now, sometimes I am feeling thrifty and I like to reuse materials we already have, like brown paper from brown paper bags that have been cut to lay flat.  And then I tie up the package with yarn.  Hey, "Brown paper packages tied up with string... These are a few of my favorite things!"  Sorry, I couldn't resist.

And sometimes, I think of doing things like making some reusable Santa Sacks.

But other times, I am not so thrifty or earth-friendly.

Today, I was at Hobby Lobby today on a work related errand, and I perused the aisle of Christmas wrapping paper.  Where have I been?  The have the most gorgeous wrapping paper!  I wanted some, badly.  One $8 roll has 100 square feet of potential.  (Call that a $5 roll if you print off one of the 40% off coupons from their website.)  They have the most enticing patterns, from playful, to modern, to sophisticated, you name it.  All in clean, crisp patterns.  Some I wanted for wallpaper!  I was kicking myself for already picking up 4 little rolls of wrapping paper from the Target dollar spot a few days ago.  One roll from Hobby Lobby would probably take care of everything I need to wrap this Christmas.  Seriously, if you like cool patterns, go check it out and get you some.

PS - After I inquired, the random Hobby Lobby worker dude said he thought it would probably go on sale in the next few weeks.  I might go back :)  Maybe I should have a gift wrapping business...

Yep

Quick FYI. I'm doing it again. Starting tomorrow. No desserts or chocolate or anything that I have trouble using self control when eating. For two weeks, at least. Right now, I have a stomach ache from eating candy. And I have a cold. This is not good. I don't like this feeling. My body needs good food, not junk. The end.

PS - I don't want to go wash the dishes in my sink.