Vacation Time!!!

The last weekend of summer vacation is upon us!!!






The family and I are heading out Thursday morning and will be gone thru late Sunday night!! We were going to be gone thru Monday but getting the van "travel worthy" costed us more than expected! So we will settle for the four days of rest and relaxation rather than the five as originally planned.


Be looking for schooling tips and ideas along with the deals, recipes, and frugal tips around here when I return! Also look for posts and pictures of our adventure!

I decided to do a little game while I am gone!! I have put pictures in this post of the places we are going on our vacation! While I am gone...I want you to try to figure out by the pictures the places I will be visiting. I'll have something special for the one who comes the closest with their guesses when I return! Ohhhhh....I'll give you one hint...I will not be leaving my state to see these things! Actually, two hints...if you read my whole menu plan yesterday, I linked the places(however, I edited that post now so the links can't give it away!). Please leave a comment or email me(go to my profile for email addy) with your guesses!!

Kitchen Tip Tuesday--Breakfasts

I explained a couple of months ago why I plan breakfast meals so I thought today I would share our favorite simple, healthful, and frugal breakfast ideas.

One of my all time favorites is hot, buttermilk pancakes with butter and syrup or with homemade blueberry syrup. If I don't do up blueberry syrup then taking and putting chocolate chips in the batter is yummy too! Not sure on the healthy value of the pancakes with chocolate chips but they are good!

I usually end up making these at least once a week, sometimes more! The leftovers get put in the freezer for the kids to pull out for a quickie breakfast.

Here is my Buttermilk Pancake recipe(it makes a triple batch!)
3 eggs
3 ¾ cups buttermilk
6 tbsp. veggie or canola oil
3 ¾ cups flour(I usually use 1 3/4 cup whole wheat + 2 cups white)
3 tbsp. sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1 ½ tsp. baking soda
1 ½ tsp. salt

Mix altogether. Cook on griddle till light brown.
**these freeze very well!!*

Notes: sometimes I will add blueberries or chocolate chips to the batter for something different.

Just in case someone wants the recipe for blueberry syrup, here you go! I got it off Mr. Breakfast!

Blueberry Syrup(12 servings)
2 cups blueberries
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons lemon juice

In a 1 quart microwave-safe container, combine the sugar with the cornstarch. Stir in water, corn syrup and lemon juice. Add blueberries and stir.Microwave on full power for 5 minutes or until thickened (check after 4 minutes). Stores well in sealed container in refridgerator for a week. Best to reheat 45 seconds in microwave before using. This makes a great syrup. If you like it thicker or thinner adjust the amount of cornstarch by a teaspoon.

If you were to come and visit for the week other breakfasts that you might have at my house are....

Mom's McBiscuit/McMuffin Sandwich

Banana Bread

Kid friendly Muffins

French Toast

12 slices of bread (usually use Texas Toast)
4 eggs
1 cup milk
Mix eggs and milk together, dip bread slices in the mixture and put on a 350° griddle.

There would also be a couple of boxes of cereal to choose from as well since I get such great deals on them along with some fruit and milk!

For other kitchen tips or recipes, head over to Tammy's Recipes.


Orginally posted July, 2008

More Blog Awards!!!

Just when I thought that nobody was interested in my blog, I have gotten TONS(well maybe not tons but many) of awards to show me that people really are interested in reading things posted by lowly ol' me!

Last week, Melinda passed on to me TWO different awards! That I now want to take the time to recognize and pass on to others!! (Sorry Melinda I haven't done this sooner been a very busy week!!)

The first award...

The rules of this award are:

1. The winner can put the logo on her blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of those you’ve nominated.

The Second award...

Here are the rules:
1. The recipient must link back to the awards creator (it's right on the award)
2. You must post these rules if you receive the award.
3. You must choose 5 people to receive the award after receiving it yourself.
4. You must fit the characteristics of the recipient of the award (see below.)
5. You must post the characteristics of a recipient.
6. You must create a post sharing your win with others.
7. You must thank your giver.

Characteristics for the Smile Award:
1. Must display a cheerful attitude. (not necessarily at all times--we are all human).
2. Must love one another.
3. Must make mistakes.
4. Must learn from others.
5. Must be a positive contributor to blog world.
6. Must love life.
7. Must love kids.

So it is now my turn to nominate others for these awards!!! I am going to put the two awards together!! IMHO, each of these ladies display the characteristics for the "Smile Award"!! I love reading their blogs! There isn't a day that goes by when I visit these blogs that I don't find something to smile or laugh about or think about or find something useful to apply to my life/homeschooling. Thank you ladies for the hard work you do with your blog!

1. Momtofivekids--My Life & Homeschooling


2. Melissa--Lilliput Station


3. Mrs. Clark---Being Mrs. Clark
   
4. Big Binder
   
5. Kate--A Simple Walk
   
6. Toni--The Happy Housewife
   
7. Joy--Five J's

Menu Plan Monday 8/24-8/30

**Another week is upon us so that means it is time for another menu plan! This is just a plan and it could change on the cook’s whim!

Last week’s menus went off without too much trouble! I think I had one day where things didn’t go fully as planned but we ate and my freezer is getting VERY bare! That’s okay less food to lose if something happens while we are on vacation at the end of the week. I hope that everyone was able to hop over to Happy to be at Home last week to see my menu in action! The concert last Sunday was great. The garage sale this past weekend went well but I didn’t sell as much as I expected. The Metro Car Cruise according to the news was a success, we stayed home this year BUT we could still hear the revving of engines about 2 miles away!

This week’s grocery shopping was a light week! I spent less than $30 for everything I needed to make it thru till Wednesday when I’ll go to get a few things for our vacation!! Hubby and I (along with the munchkins) are planning on a little vacation over the Labor Day weekend so this week’s menu is a short, and sweet! I am not going to be cooking too much as we have several things in the fridge that need to get eaten as well before we leave.

Lunches listed are for the kids and me. Usually with our lunches I serve carrot sticks, and some kind of fruit along with juice or water to drink. Hubby usually takes dinner leftovers each day along with several items for snacks.

A special thanks to Laura-Organizing Junkie for hosting Menu Plan Monday! Need help with your menus; go check other delicious meal plans that have been linked at her blog! **

Sunday (8-24)
Breakfast: eggs, hash browns, sausage (steak for hubby), and chocolate donuts
Lunch: “potluck” meaning leftovers
Dinner: leftover pork loin & gravy, rice, and green beans
Snack: snack basket or popcorn

Monday (8-25)
Breakfast: cereal and leftover muffins or donuts
Lunch: chicken nuggets and leftover potatoes
Dinner: oven fried chicken (#5), mac & cheese, green beans, and homemade honey oatmeal rolls
Snack: snack basket or yogurt

Tuesday (8-26)
Breakfast: French toast and sausage
Lunch: sandwich and chips
Dinner: Saucy chicken, mashed potatoes, and peas or salad
Snack: snack basket or yogurt

Wednesday (8-27)

Breakfast: waffles & sausage
Lunch: pizza rolls
Dinner: chicken club sandwiches(#6), seasoned pan fries, and corn
Snack: snack basket or yogurt

Thursday (8-28)
Breakfast(before we leave): eggs, cinnamon rolls, sausage, and cereal
Lunch: “on the go picnic lunch”---deli meat sandwiches, chips, carrots, box drinks or water and cookies

Thursday- Monday(Labor Day) ---on vacation!! Taking the kids to see a bridge along with going to a few other places before heading down to see family for a reunion in Ohio. This is our last "hurrah" before getting started with our school year!

Singing Sunday

God With Us
by MercyMe

Who are we--- that You would be mindful of us?
What do You see--- that's worth looking our way?
We are free--- in ways that we never should be.
Sweet release--- from the grip of these chains.

Like hinges straining from the weight,
My heart no longer can keep from singing.

All that is within me cries
For You alone be glorified:
Emmanuel, God with us.

My heart sings a brand new song.
The debt is paid, these chains are gone.
Emmanuel, God with us.

Lord, You know--- our hearts don't deserve Your glory;
Still You show--- a love we cannot afford.

Like hinges straining from the weight,
My heart no longer can keep from singing.

All that is within me cries
For You alone be glorified:
Emmanuel, God with us.

My heart sings a brand new song.
The debt is paid, these chains are gone.
Emmanuel, God with us.

Such a tiny offering
Compared to Calvary;
Nevertheless,
We lay it at Your feet.

Such a tiny offering
Compared to Calvary;
Nevertheless,
We lay this at Your feet.

All that is within me cries
For You alone be glorified:
Emmanuel, God with us.

My heart sings a brand new song.
My debt is paid, these chains are gone.
Emmanuel, God with us.