Works for Me Wednesday

Its time again for another WFMW over at Rocks in my Dryer!

Picture this....leaving your house with a purse, diaper bag, 3 ring Household Notebook binder, water bottle, and baby in your arms! All I can say is what an armload! LOL

Several years ago, my hubby decided that I needed to lighten my load a bit so he got me a used/like new Palm Pilot to use and store in my purse. I could then leave my household notebook at home and it helped to lighten my load going out the door with baby in arms. My Palm Pilot was "my brain" some days because I stored my grocery list, datebook, and notes(like what kool-aid flavors every one likes or that recipe that I would find in a magazine sitting in a doctor's waiting room that I just had to try).

After a few years of constant use, my Palm Pilot died! Money was tight at the time so the likelihood of me getting a replacement was slim. So I resorted back to the big arm load of things or just carried a writing tablet with all my info in it. Well the writing table didn't hold up too well from constant use! Also the writing tablet wasn't very good at keeping dates in for appointments.

Fast forward to a couple of months ago, hubby is looking through some computer classified ads at one of the "computer geek forums" that he frequents and he finds that someone is selling their like new Ipaq! He decides to snag it as a gift for me for Valentine's day! I know not your typical Valentine's gift! LOL I am one that is a bit on the practical side when it comes to getting gifts. I would rather get something that I can use instead of something that just sits on a shelf and/or takes up a lot of space. I just love having my Ipaq!

I can now store my grocery lists, calendar, and lists of notes all in one place again without having to waste a bunch of paper or tablets! I can slip it into my purse and take it with me to the doctor's office or the grocery store or where ever and have everything I need to make it through! I can even make appointments for the kids and not double book them!

So having an Ipaq/Palm Pilot is what works for me in getting thru the daily grind! For other tips, resources, and ideas of things that works for others that just might work for you, head over to Rocks in my Dryer.

Weblink Wednesday

First off I want to thank all the ladies for their warm welcome thru the comments left last week. You were such an encouragement to me! I also found that you posted sites that I hadn't seen before!

Now on to the links for today! We are going green! With St. Patrick's Day around the corner, I thought I would share the links that I plan on using for our unit study.

Easy Fun School --I love how many different unit studies you can find on this site. They are so throurgh with their resources.

St Patrick's Day Unit Study --a week long study about the history of the day, geography of Ireland and even an Irish recipe to try!

St. Patrick's Day Lapbook --this is a link to the lapbook resources over at Homeschool Helper(one of the sites that I shared last week!).

Irish Theme --lots of links to resources all about St. Patrick's day and Ireland. There is even a link to listen to midis of bagpipes!

For more links to resources, head over to Homeschooling with Encouragement!!

Kitchen Tip Tuesdays

I love finding ways to use up leftovers so the food doesn't go to waste. Other than just reheating the leftovers again to eat or making them into soup here is some ways that I use them.


1. Roasted Chicken and Gravy can become several different things. I shred the chicken and add it to the gravy and make "Stewed Chicken Sandwiches". OR I combine the two and add leftover veggies to it and make Chicken Veggie Stew/Soup or Chicken Pot Pie or Chicken Noodle Soup.

2. Boiled or Baked Potatoes become Seasoned pan fries.

3. Roast, carrots and potatoes meal becames Veggie Stew. Or I take the leftover roast and add bq sauce to it for sandwiches. The leftover potatoes I cut up and make Cubed hashbrowns.

4. Chicken and Rice Casserole leftovers make a good base for homemade Chicken rice soup.

5. Roasted Pork Loin gets bq sauce add to it for BQ Pork sandwiches. OR I make up some chicken gravy and heat up the pork in the gravy for Pork and Gravy.

6. Spaghetti sauce gets used for Pizza Sauce on homemade pizzas.

7. Mashed Potatoes get put in a skillet with a pad of margarine and seasoned with seasoned salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder for some seasoned potato cakes.

8. Taco meat(beef or chicken) gets made into taco salad, or put on top of a plate of nacho chips, or gets used in making quesadillas.

9. Extra noodles(spaghetti, egg, elbow macaroni, etc) gets made into a pasta salad.

10. Burgers make into Salisbury Steak OR break them up and make hamburger gravy or use in spaghetti, chili, or goulash.

For other kitchen tips and ideas head over to Tammy's Recipes!

Menu Plan Monday

**This is just a plan and plans have the ability to change at the cook's discretion!
Despite having a menu plan last week, there was several changes due to the menu not sounding very good. Do you ever get tired of eating?? That basically was what happened around here! Plenty of food in the house but nothing sounded very good to eat! We dined out once but the rest of the time I did my best to fix things that it had been awhile since we had eaten it just to help with a variety of things.

This week’s plans are kid-friendly meals!

Lunches listed are for the kids and I as hubby usually takes dinner leftovers each day.

A special thanks to Laura-Organizing Junkie for hosting Menu Plan Monday! Need help with your menus, go check others out at her site!**

Sunday(3-9)
Breakfast: eggs, hashbrowns, sausage links/steak, and cinnamon rolls
Lunch: chicken tenders and fries
Dinner: beef gravy over noodles or rice*, peas or salad, and bread
Snack: sandwiches(before evening church)

Monday(3-10)
Breakfast: eggs, sausage, leftover cinnamon rolls
Lunch: Mickey D’s
Dinner: sloppy joes(recipe below), fries, and corn
Snack: snack basket

Tuesday(3-11)
Breakfast: cereal and toast
Lunch: leftovers
Dinner: chicken nuggets, mac & cheese, and carrots or salad
Snack: snack basket

Wednesday(3-12)
Breakfast: waffles
Lunch: sandwich and chips
Dinner: biscuit pizzas, breadsticks, and salad
Snack: “mystery snack”= going to do some baking and kids can have samples for snack

Thursday(3-13)
Breakfast: bagels and yogurt
Lunch: leftovers or soup
Dinner: chicken club sandwiches, pan fries, and green beans
Snack: snack basket

Friday(3-14)
Breakfast: French toast and bacon
Lunch: pizza rolls
Dinner: lemon pepper pork chops, rice and peas
Snack: ice cream

Saturday(3-15)
Breakfast: “Cook’s Choice”
Lunch: ?????(it’s the weekend anything goes!)
Dinner: smoked turkey, mashed potatoes & gravy, green beans, and bread
Snack: popcorn


*Note on the Beef Gravy---I made my own gravy with beef broth rather than using a mix.

**Sloppy Joe Recipe
1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained
1 can tomato soup
¼ tsp. yellow mustard
1 ½ tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. garlic powder
2-3 tsp. minced onion

Stir all together. Simmer till heated through. Serve on hamburger buns.

Singing Sunday

My Everything
by Scott Krippayne

When the moon shines bright on a sleepless night
I call Your name
When the sun’s first rays offer up their praise
I do the same
For Your mercy is new every morning
And Your presence will light up the dark

(chorus)
You’re the air that I breathe
You’re the strength that I need
You’re my everything
You’re the hope that I find
Everywhere, all the time
You’re my everything

When I’m reaching out
You break through the doubt
That clouds my heart
When I’m lost and confused
You carry me through
To where You are
Oh, You offer life everlasting
And a love that is one of a kind

chorus

All the joy and the peace I have known
Oh, it comes from Your hands alone

chorus