Friday Foto Fun with the Ewing Family

It's time for Carrie's Friday Foto Fun:-)

It's my 300th post and I was going to do a giveaway or something like that however, after my mom's catherization, she ended up in the ICU. No fun:-( She is going to be fine but I am just beat from running back and forth to the hospital and worrying.

So instead, I decided to dedicate this post to my husband's family.

That's my MiL on the right and Hubby in the gray and...

... the distinguished gentleman in the hat and the lovely lady in the white shirt were our hosts (they got that hostess gift I wrote about last week:-)

Last but not least, my FiL in the red hat:-)

They are so great and they read my blog (so you know that they are cool:-) They are the universe's way of evening out my life for me. They are always teaching me things. For example:

1. Did you know that Citibank is the only credit card with virtual account numbers? I had never heard of this. Apparently, it is for online purchases. They give you a temporary number that is hooked up to your account. It is a way to prevent theft. Very cool...I did not know that.

2. Did you know if you dig a hole next to a slug infested plant, put a plastic container in the hole and put an inch of beer in it plastic container, it will rid your plant of said slugs. (It cures what ales you...sorry...couldn't resist.) But isn't that cool? I did not know that.

3. And finally, my FiL's other brother and his wife were not caught on film however, I did get this great recipe from her:

Aunt Mary's Cheese Dip
Ingredients:
16 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1 Tbl green onions, chopped fine
1 Tbl minced garlic
1 1/2 cup Swiss cheese, shredded
2-8oz. package sliced almonds

Directions:
Combine all ingredients except for almonds in a bowl. Spread in 9 or 10-inch pie plate. Sprinkle with almonds. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Serve warm with crackers.

Enjoy:-)

You See This...

...this is a plan for our grapes.

After our harvest this year, we are tearing down the arbor and putting up a pergola:-) Yippee:-)

Rainy Reunion

Check out more stuff at Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom or Wordful Wednesday on SevEn cLoWn CirCus:-) And, I have added Mostly Wordless Wednesday over at Ordinary and Awesome to my list too!! Go check them all out:-)

The weather wasn't the greatest...






...but it didn't dappen the fun:-)

Tackling Unpacking

It's time for Tackle It Tuesday with 5 Minutes for Mom .

It's amazing how much unpacking is generated from just a weekend away. But, that is what I am tackling today.

Wish me luck because they doctors finally stopped fighting. Tomorrow they may actually do the catherization on my mom.

Menu with No Recipe

Check me out over at At Work, At Play or At Home All Day talking about girlie stuff:-)

Here, I am doing more menu planning with I'm an Organizing Junkie and finding more deals at Pick N Save for $5 Dinners .

Well, we are home after our trip however, there is no rest for the weary. Since we were out of town, we didn't go grocery shopping this week. In addition, my mom's cath is this week. So, once again, the menu is very sparse and unfortunately, I don't have a new recipe today. I hope my readers will cute me some slack this week:-)

Here is what I am serving:

Monday: Taco Night

Tuesday: Chicken and Pasta (Swim Class)

Wednesday: Leftover Buffet (Mom's Cath)

Thursday: Fish and Fries (Swim Class)

Friday: Eat Out

Friday Foto Fun with Hostess Gifts

Its time for Carrie's Friday Foto Fun:-)

As we speak, I am vacationing at a relative's home in Ohio for a family reunion. To show my appreciation for their hospitality, I put together this cute little package:


It includes a little bit of Wisconsin's best sausages and cheeses. I wrapped it up in a plastic box lined with a kitchen towel. Then, I adorned it with raffia and a wash cloth that I rolled into a rose:-) Cute, right?

No Gardening Today

No gardening today because we are traveling. I leave you with this cute little plaque I got from my MiL for my birthday.

Traveling with Kids

Check out more stuff at Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom or Wordful Wednesday on SevEn cLoWn CirCus:-) And, I have added Mostly Wordless Wednesday over at Ordinary and Awesome to my list too!! Go check them all out:-)

This week is going to be more Wordful than Wordless because I want to tell you about this beauty:

I love to being organized when I travel. With this binder, I can preplan and pack:

I can track mileage:

And, I can stay on budget:

Why did I title this post "Traveling with Kids"? Because in order to have a successful trip with your children you need to be prepared. With my checklists, I won't forget her favorite toys. I will remember to pack healthy snacks and things to do in the car. I will be on top of our schedule and leave plenty of time for potty breaks. And, by staying on top of our budget, we will be able to do the most without breaking the bank:-)

One of these days, I will learn how to publish spreadsheets in blog posts. If you are interested in any of my checklists, just email at sewing@wi.rr.com and I will be happy to send them to you. Happy Trails to you:-)

Tackling Vegan Cupcakes

It's time for Tackle It Tuesday with 5 Minutes for Mom . I tackled cupcakes for the Iron Cupcake: Milwaukee Vegan/Glutten-Free Challenge.

I chose to go vegan and my entry was a Vegan Chocolate Zucchini Cupcake with Vegan Chocolate frosting. I presented it as a bushel basket full of zucchinis coming straight from the farm to the farmers market.

And....I won the grand prize from the sponsor, Beans and Barley. I got a HUGE reusable shopping bag and a mug. Yeah me! I also got one a Taste of Home Cupcake Cookbook in the raffle. Double Yeah! Good night for me:-)

Tuna Pasta Salad

Check me out over at At Work, At Play or At Home All Day talking about girlie stuff:-)

Here, I am doing more menu planning with I'm an Organizing Junkie and finding more deals at Pick N Save for $5 Dinners .

Busy, busy week again. Iron Cupcake is tonight and we are traveling this week so, the menu is very sparse. However, tuna was on sale at Pick N Save so, I picked some up to make a great summer pasta salad. Check out the recipe below:-)

Here is what I am serving:

Monday: Semi-Homemade Spaghetti (Iron Cupcake)

Tuesday: Tuna Pasta Salad (See Recipe Below) (Swim Class)

Wednesday: Chicken and Pasta (Get Ready for Trip)

Thursday: Eat Out (Traveling)

Friday: Eat Out (Traveling)

Tuna Pasta Salad
Ingredients:
1/2 lb elbow macaroni
1 cup Frozen Peas
2 can (11 oz) Tuna
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tbs sweet pickle relish
Salt
Pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Prepare the macaroni per the package directions. At the last minute, add the peas. Rinse with cold water.

2. Mix the remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Toss the macaroni in the mayo mixture and serve.

3. I like to serve this on leaf lettuce surrounded by seasoned cucumbers.

Servings: 6

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1/6 of a recipe (5 ounces).
Percent daily values based on the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) for a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition information calculated from recipe ingredients.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 307.41
Calories From Fat (22%) 67.95
% Daily Value
Total Fat 7.72g 12%
Saturated Fat 1.2g 6%
Cholesterol 22.1mg 7%
Sodium 263.51mg 11%
Potassium 234.6mg 7%
Total Carbohydrates 37.97g 13%
Fiber 1.97g 8%
Sugar 3.39g
Protein 20.74g 41%

Recipe Type: Main Course, Seafood

Source
Author: Susan Ewing

Recipe Cost: $5.83
Serving Cost: $0.97

Friday Foto Fun with Craig's List

Its time for Carrie's Friday Foto Fun:-)

Because we have this:

We don't need this:

Or this:

So, I am selling them on Craig's List! Wish me luck:-)

My Boxes Behind the Lilies

Tackling Real Life

It's time for Tackle It Tuesday with 5 Minutes for Mom .

Sometimes, all you can do is just tackle the day-to-day stuff. Last week's tackle was rough and this week isn't looking any better so, the best I can do is the laundry.

Melon Salsa

Check me out over at At Work, At Play or At Home All Day talking about girlie stuff:-)

Here, I am doing more menu planning with I'm an Organizing Junkie and finding more deals at Pick N Save for $5 Dinners .

The saga with my mom continues this week and so, I need to keep it really, really simple. At Pick N Save, they are having a Melon Mania:-) All their melons are on sale 2 for $6 (normally 3.99/each). I picked some up and I am pairing it with grilled fish this week.

Here is what I am serving:

Monday: Semi-Homemade Spaghetti (Cleaning/Doctor Appointment)

Tuesday: Leftover Buffet (Doctor Appointment/Playdate/Swim Class)

Wednesday: Grilled Fish with Melon Salsa (Doctor Appointment) (See Recipe Below)

Thursday: Chicken and Pasta (Swim Class)

Friday: Eat Out

Melon Salsa
Ingredients
2 cucumber, seeded and finely diced
1/2 honeydew melon, peeled and finely diced
1 cantaloupe, peeled and finely diced
1 cup minced red onion
1/2 jalapeno pepper, minced
1/2 cup chopped fresh mint
3 Tbs fresh orange juice
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbs fresh lime juice

Directions:
1. In a large serving bowl, stir together the tomatoes, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, red onion, jalapeno and cilantro. Stir in the orange juice, almonds, salt and lime juice. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving for best flavor.

2. Serve over grilled fish.

Servings: 8

Cooking Times
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Inactive Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours and 10 minutes

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1/8 of a recipe (6.6 ounces).
Percent daily values based on the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) for a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition information calculated from recipe ingredients.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 59.23
Calories From Fat (4%) 2.58
% Daily Value
Total Fat 0.3g <1%>

Friday Foto Fun with Frustration

Its time for Carrie's Friday Foto Fun:-) This is how I feel today:

Why?

My mom didn't have her catherization procedure.

Why?

Her platelets were low and now her doctors are doing this:

Would somebody please just fix my mom???

Happy Lily

Since the critters are eating my beans in my veggie garden, I am posting a picture of my lily because it give me hope:-)

New Toy

Check out more stuff at Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom or Wordful Wednesday on SevEn cLoWn CirCus:-) And, I have added Mostly Wordless Wednesday over at Ordinary and Awesome to my list too!! Go check them all out:-)

This is my new toy:

Ipod Touch!!

I love it!! It is an Ipod but, I can also check my calendar and cruise the internet with it!! So today while I am sitting through my mom's cath, I can blog!! I really needed something to distract me...cool distraction, right?

Tackling Heart Disease

It's time for Tackle It Tuesday with 5 Minutes for Mom .

Today, I am tackling heart disease. My mom had an abnormal stress test that has resulted in a echocardiogram today and a catherization Wednesday. So, needless to say, my creativity is at a low right now. But, if you send me some positive energy, I will be sure to be back up and running full force next week:-)

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Check me out over at At Work, At Play or At Home All Day talking about girlie stuff:-)

Here, I am doing more menu planning with I'm an Organizing Junkie and finding more deals at Pick N Save for $5 Dinners .

At Pick N Save, ground beef was on sale for $1.89/lb., chicken was on sale for $2.99/lb. and so were brats again. We had a little bit of everything this weekend for the 4th of July which is a good thing because I have a lot of need for leftovers this week. I did manage to squeeze one new recipe out among the chaos:-)

Here is what I am serving this week:

Monday: Semi-Homemade Spaghetti (Swim Class Tonight)

Tuesday: Leftover Buffet (Echo/Playdate)

Wednesday: Leftover Buffet (Cath, Meeting and Swim Class:-)

Thursday: Sweet and Sour Chicken (See recipe below)

Friday: Eat Out

Sweet and Sour Chicken
Ingredients:
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 lb chicken
1 lb carrots
1 can Pineapple chunks; canned (head's up, reserve the juice for the sauce)
2 Tbs cornstarch
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup pineapple juice
2 tsp soy sauce
1/4 cup water
2 cup rice

Directions:
1. Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer gently 5 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, cook rice per package directions.

3. While that's cooking, sauté chicken until golden brown and delicious. Add carrots and cook aldente. Add pineapples. Add sauce. Serve over rice.

Servings: 6

Cooking Times
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 serving.
Percent daily values based on the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) for a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition information calculated from recipe ingredients.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 393.4
Calories From Fat (10%) 39.85
% Daily Value
Total Fat 4.5g 7%
Saturated Fat 0.87g 4%
Cholesterol 87.7mg 29%
Sodium 210.98mg 9%
Potassium 724.12mg 21%
Total Carbohydrates 49.87g 17%
Fiber 2.72g 11%
Sugar 27.55g
Protein 37.34g 75%

Recipe Type: Chicken, Chinese, Main Course

Source
Author: Susan Ewing

Recipe: $7.41
Serving: $1.24

Friday Foto Fun with Lilies

Its time for Carrie's Friday Foto Fun:-)

A couple days ago, Janice at 5 Minutes for Mom said goodbye to June . Today, I want to say hello to July with this:

The lilies are in bloom in July and this is a beautiful sample from my garden! Happy July Everyone:-)

It's Back!!

Remember my dying rose from last week? Well, I took some of your advice and look at it now:

It's coming back!! My Grandma's roses are back! Thanks everyone for the tips because I think it is going to make it:-)

Don't Try This At Home

Check out more stuff at Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom or Wordful Wednesday on SevEn cLoWn CirCus:-) And, I have added Mostly Wordless Wednesday over at Ordinary and Awesome to my list too!! Go check them all out:-)

Deep Fried Watermelon is NOT good!! I found this recipe and thought it sounded really interesting and really outside the box. Well it's outside the box alright...outside the box of good flavor!! Warm watermelon:-(They can't all be masterpieces but this one is nasty!

You know I love to bake but, I would much rather order cookies or brownies or cakes before I make these again!! Yucko:-(