Countdown to Christmas

Today's project is to either download a list or create your own Christmas Card list. Ok... I am working on mine!

Check out 100 Days to Christmas for more ideas and for the site to download the Christmas Card list free. Take part in her fabulous holiday giveaway!!!

Also, Check out I'm an Organizing Junkie for more websites and great ideas to get organized for Christmas!

"I love my human!" Wordless Wednesday

For more Wordless Wednesday, click here!

92 Days to Christmas and Counting!

Today is about Christmas cards. Have you ever had the good intentions to send out Cards only to run out of time? I have. So no matter if you are thinking about making your cards or purchasing now is the time to get your creative juices flowing. I organize a Christmas Card exchange for a recipe message board that I have been involved in for years! We send out cards along with a Christmas recipe that we want to share. So today I searched thru my recipes for the recipe that I want to send. I have checked thru my recipe card graphics and copied and pasted my recipe so that I am ready to print and laminate a little later in the game. :)

Click over HERE to see what all Debbie suggests today and to see what others are doing! And you leave a comment, you just MIGHT be a winner!

Procrastination with a CAPITAL P!

I guess that I am the QUEEN of procrastination! Marcia, from Organising Queen talked about decluttering our emails this week. I decided that I had better finally get that done. I had OVER 1700 emails! It is now down to under 30 but believe me it took time! Guess what now goes on a weekly to do list so that it never gets this bad again? Now I have 2 more emails to clean out. Our family one and my secret sister account! GOOD GRIEF!!

Want to see what all the procastination is about? Click HERE to see!

93 Days to Christmas

Today is all about the election. Make sure you are registered to vote! DO your homework on the candidates and be ready to cast your vote. There is a form on the 100 days to Christmas to down load and list your pros and cons on each candidate.

Ok. I am registered to vote and I cast my vote by mail so I am taken care of. I did download the form and will do some research on some local elections. My mind is made up in the bigger issues and candidates.

Check out 100 Days To Christmas and see what other great planning ideas are available to make this Christmas a smooth and organized Christmas!

Saucy Italian Pork Chops

I am so fortunate to have so many internet friends that are wonderful cooks. My friend, Val in Nebraska is one of those good friends. And it doesn't hurt that she is a #1 Husker Fan. Before, I share this recipe, I have to share something that Val did for me a few years ago. I shared with her that I used to live in Lincoln and gave her the address. One day when she and her husband were in Lincoln, they drove past my old family home and sent me some pics via email! That was so very special of her and I just appreciated that so much. Not only is Val a FANTASTIC cook but she is also a fellow crafter, so we have a lot in common! One day, one day when we get to return to Nebraska to see my old (VERY OLD) stomping grounds I am going to meet this amazing friend! But for now here is her recipe!

Saucy Italian Pork Chops

4 bone-in pork chops (1-1/2 lb.), 3/4-inch-thick

1 16 oz. pkg. frozen mixed vegetables

1 tsp. dried oregano leaves

1/4 cup KRAFT Light Balsamic Vinaigrette Reduced Fat Dressing

1 14-1/2 oz. can Italian-style diced tomatoes, undrained

1 cup KRAFT Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese

HEAT large skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium-high heat. Add chops and vegetables; cook 2 min. or until bottoms of chops are browned. Turn chops over.

SPRINKLE with oregano; drizzle with dressing. Cover with tomatoes. Bring to boil; cover. Reduce heat to low; simmer 12 min. or until chops are cooked through (160ºF); stirring occasionally.

SPRINKLE with cheese.

Ah - the Good Ol' Days!

Paula Deen's Caramel Apple Cheesecake

There is no question about it. I LOVE the majority of Paula's recipes. This one promises to be a great one! YUM!!







Caramel Apple Cheesecake

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons, divided
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Streusel topping, recipe follows
• 1/2 cup caramel topping

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a medium bowl, combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly.
3. Press evenly into a 13 by 9 by 2-inch baking pan lined with heavy-duty aluminum foil.
4. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
5. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with 1/2 cup sugar in an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth.
6. Then add eggs, 1 at a time, and vanilla. Stir to combine.
7. Pour over warm crust.
8. In a small bowl, stir together chopped apples, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
9. Spoon evenly over cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle evenly with Streusel topping.
10. Bake 30 minutes, or until filling is set. Drizzle with caramel topping.

Streusel Topping:
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients.

Yield: approximately 3 cups

Recipe courtesy of Foodnetwork.com

94 Days to Christmas!

FIRST of all, I want to thank Jennifer of 100 Days to Christmas! I was picked as a winner for the fantastic prize giveaway this past week. I have won a year's membership to List Plan It! I am so excited to get started! Thank you, Jennifer very much!!

Todays directive is to make a memory! Go take a walk in the leaves, do something to celebrate fall! Another great directive. Actually we need this at our house. My husband is getting very bored being home. (remember he is on strike from Boeing - deep sigh ) He spent the first week getting everything spruced and ready for fall and winter. Now he is bored and getting tired of being home. First I am going to make a loaf of Apple Praline Bread and then I think a nice walk would be a great thing for us to do tonight with our dog. Help get minds off our troubles and enjoy nature that God has created for our pleasure. We aren't into beautiful leaves yet but the smells in the air are definitely fall! My friend, Val from Nebraska, shared this, Glory of Autumn, with me this morning.

Want to read more about planning for Christmas? Click here and check it out! You may want to join in! This week's giveaway is a Harvest Candle by Yankee Candle! Bet that smells heavenly!

Menu Plan Monday!

Monday: Chili Dog Bake Tortillas
Tuesday: Crock pot Pot Roast - we didn't have last week as we needed to eat leftovers. I put my roast in the crock, pour over one can each of Cream of Chicken, Cream of Mushroom and French Onion soups and add one can of water. Put on lid and let it cook on low all day. :) I sometimes put my potatoes and veggies on top.***
Wednesday Taco Soup
Thursday: Crockpot Chicken Breasts
Friday Chicken & Noodles
Saturday: CRAFT DAY with the girls!!!!! Taco Salad
Sunday: Chicken Stew in crockpot


My Taco Soup: Taco Soup is a fast one for me.I just dump what I have!

I brown up 1 to 1.5 lbs of ground beef with a small onion. I add one taco seasoning packet, one ranch dressing mix, about 1/2 tsp. garlic powder, about 1/2 tsp cumin, couple cans of rotels tomatoes, a package of frozen corn, one can drained hominy, couple cans of black beans or pinto beans (or one of each) drained and rinsed, a small can of diced green chilies, some chicken stock. Top the bowls with cheese, chips and sour cream.

***Cream soups were on sale this week at Albertsons 20 for $10! So I did stock up on a few but here is a recipe for your own cream soups that works very well in casseroles!

Want to see what others have on the menu this week? Click here to find out!



edited to include pic of Taco Soup.

95 Days to Christmas

Todays direction is a good one I think! It really is not about Christmas but about NOW. So, I went out to the storage and got all my Autumn Decorations and began putting them around the house. I think this is very important. The whole idea of the this 100 Day countdown is to be organized and be able to enjoy the Christmas season when it comes up on us, not to hurry the season. One reader questioned me about this so let me try to explain.

As a Believer, I think that Christmas is a very important time. In raising my children, I have always tried to focus on Jesus being the reason for the season and not on receiving gifts but in giving. My family is large. I raised 5 children and there were always extras that found their way to our household. We also have a very large family of aunts and uncles and cousins. And now we have many grandchildren! So planning can become stressful if I waited till the last minute. I can't stand the day after Thanksgiving sales. Too many people. Too much commercialism so I have been most comfortable in giving gifts made with love from my heart. If I didn't plan in advance, I would be hard pressed to get my baking and cooking and planning and things done in a timely manner.

All that said, that is why I liked todays directive. It focuses on now. It gives a bit of a break and it reminds us to enjoy the here and now. :)

Click HERE to see what others have to say about their Christmas countdown!

Carole King

96 days to Christmas

Todays project is to start a page for each person that you are giving a gift to and have them make a wish list for you or you collaberate together.

I already know what each person is going to get as I am making each gift so I used this day to gather the patterns and make a list of the materials that I need. I will be checking what materials I have on hand and writing where they are and how much I have on hand and then I will list what I need and where I will be purchasing those products and SOON I will need to get started on them one by one! :)

Want to see what others are saying about the Countdown to Christmas? Click here and join in!

ABM Garlic French Bread

Garlic Bread(ABM)
Source: FootsieBear TOH Recipe board

The aroma of this bread is to die for· Serve this bread warm. The flavor is definitely enhanced. This recipe can be made with the white, rapid
or delay bake cycles.

Line up the ingredients under the headings of Regular/Large/Extra large to work in your machine. :)


Regular Large Extra Large
Water
3/4 cup 1 1/8 cups 1 3/8 cups
Olive Oil
1 Tbsp. 2 Tbsp. 3 Tbsp.
Garlic, finely minced
1/2 tsp. 3/4 tsp. 1 tsp.
White Bread Flour
2 cups 3 cups 4 cups
Sugar
1 Tbsp. 2 Tbsp. 3 Tbsp.
Salt
1 tsp. 1 1/2 tsp. 2 tsp.
Parmesan, grated
2 Tbsp. 3 Tbsp. 1/4 cup
Sweet Basil
1/2 tsp. 3/4 tsp. 1 tsp.
Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp. 3/4 tsp. 1 tsp.
Chives, dried/chopped
1 Tbsp. 2 Tbsp. 3 Tbsp.
B lackPepper,course ground
1/2 tsp. 3/4 tsp. 1 tsp.
Yeast, fast rise
1 tsp. 2 tsp. 2 1/2 tsp.
Or
Yeast, active dry
1 1/2 tsp. 2 tsp, 3 tsp.

Time for this week's decluttering challenge!

I didn't declutter quite as much this week as in the past weeks. But this is a box of books that I decluttered from my bookshelf and sent to a blogger/crafting/recipe friend! :) I also "decluttered" my rose bush! I know it isn't the right time of year to trim it but it had to be! It has gone WILD this summer and took over the window and was branching out dangerously into the yard and against the house... so it is also a procrastination project because I have been putting it off since at least July! I can now see out my office window and Doug can mow the lawn without being attacked by thorns! lol Also have the usual paper clutter that builds and gets thrown. Although I still have more major clutter to conquer, I am very happy and comfortable with my decluttered areas! :) Makes life easier!

Want to join in this challenge and/or see what others are doing? Please visit the Organising Queen to see!

Countdown to Christmas

Today we are setting our budget. That is fairly simple to me. With 5 children, 15 grands and one set of parents, we have a limit of $20 to $25 for the grands. My children get something homemade and it may just be goodies. One year I made up a Recipe book for them and they loved it. I printed up some family favorites 4" x 6" and put them in the Plastic Photo Albums. I have made fleece scarves and blankets as gifts for all our family. It has always been important to me to keep Christmas Christ centered. And simple although I will admit that I can and do and have stressed out many times during the holidays! I am hoping that this organization will help eliminate that! :)

Click on over HERE to see more about Christmas organizing!

An Affair to Remember

Impossible Chicken Tamale Pie

This recipe and picture comes from my TOH board friend, Carol1229. This looks so yummy!

Impossible Chicken Tamale Pie

IMPOSSIBLE CHICKEN TAMALE PIE

1 1/2 c. cut-up cooked chicken
1 c. frozen corn, thawed and drained (I used fresh cooked corn on the cob, cut off the cob)
1 (1 1/4 oz.) envelope taco seasoning mix (I used the lower sodium mix)
1 (4 oz.) can chopped green chilies, drained
1 c. shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (4 oz.)
1 1/4 c. milk (I used fat-free)
3 eggs
3/4 c. Bisquick (I used the reduced fat Bisquick)

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 10x1 1/2" pie plate.
Mix chicken, corn and taco seasoning mix; spread in pie plate. Sprinkle with chilies and cheese.
Beat milk, eggs and Bisquick in blender on high speed, about 15 seconds, or with a wire whisk or hand beater about 1 minute, until smooth. Pour into pie plate.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until knife inserted halfway between center and edge comes out clean. Serve with sour cream and shredded lettuce if desired. Refrigerate any remaining pie. 6-8 servings.

Her notes say that next time she will add a can of black beans and some cilantro.

The original recipe comes from a cookbooklet: "Bisquick Made Easy" :)

First Day of School (kindergarten) - Wordless Wednesday

To see what others are posting click here!

White Christmas - goes with the next post!

Christmas List! -

I am SO going to double dip (NO - wait!) TRIPLE dip on this one! lol. I have been putting off my Christmas list for my grandkids. I have had in my mind what I wanted to make for them but hadn't gotten it down and organized. Earlier today I was reminded that it was 100 days to Christmas.. or there abouts.. I had just said a few weeks ago that I needed to quit procrastinating and get planning. With making homemade gifts it takes time to plan, get materials ready and make them!!! So I printed out some gift list forms and said I gotta get this done. Then I visited my friends blog. Here again, Diane reminded us that it is getting close. Ok... stress level going up. Checked out another website, 100 Days to Christmas, and decided to linkup. You know when you hear it once that is important, but when you are reminded a second time, you better sit up and pay attention! Hence, I did my Christmas list for the Grandchildren! I am getting materials collected to get a Christmas organizer going so that this year, I don't get behind with the unexpected! I am getting the patterns/instructions gathered to go in the notebook with these lists so that everything stays together and I don't have to go hunting each time I start/work on a project!

So how am I triple dipping? I did a "Tackle it Tuesday" (my first), crossed off a project from my procrastination list, and joined 100 Days to Christmas! WAHOO! Now that feels good!


Want to see what others have/are doing for these challenges? Click on the buttons above or on the highlighted areas in my post and check them out. All are GREAT websites!

Ninja Cat - Too cute!

Chicken Tenders Dinner

Chicken Tenders Dinner

1 can (10 3/4 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup

1 can (14.75 oz) Green Giant® cream-style corn - I use a small bag of frozen corn

1 bag (1 lb) frozen broccoli/cauliflower combinationn(or other combination)

1 can (2.8 oz) French-fried onions

3/4 cup Original Bisquick mix

1/2 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning

2 tablespoons water

1 package (about 1 1/4 lb) chicken breast tenders (not breaded) - I use 3 to 4 chicken breasts cut in strips

2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted

1. Heat oven to 400°F. In ungreased 13x9-inch pan, mix soup, corn and vegetables. Bake 10 minutes.

2. Crush 1/2 cup of the onions. In shallow dish, mix crushed onions, Bisquick mix and lemon-pepper seasoning. In another shallow dish, place water. Dip chicken into water, then coat with Bisquick mixture. Place chicken on corn mixture. Drizzle melted butter over chicken.

3. Bake 20 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining onions. Bake 10 to 15 minutes longer or until onions are golden and chicken is no longer pink in center.

Menu Plan Monday!

I love to plan my menu. The beauty of menu planning is that you can change things and still feel confident and organized. Today when we went to the store, Doug was with me. He asked me if Tacos was on the menu this week. I thought about 45 seconds as I thought about weather and plans and said, it wasn't but it is now! So even in my mind, it was an easy change. The weather is suppose to be nice the first half of the week and then rain and fall the end. Also, now my hours are being cut so with Doug on strike and my hours being cut, I have to think carefully about my meals! There will probably be more soups and stew types as I tighten up an already tight budget!!!

Monday - Tacos
Tuesday - Taco Salad (there will have been some leftovers from last night)
Wednesday- Chicken tender Dinner
Thursday - meat loaf
Friday Speedy Chili Mac
Saturday - Meat Loaf
Sunday - Crockpot Roast (my favorite way to cook is put pot roast in crock. Add one can each - cream of mushroom, cream of chicken and french onion and one can of water - cook all day long!) this makes a yummy gravy. I always use the healthy request soups from Campbells.

I have to try to remember to take pics of my recipes so that I can keep them posted with the recipes.

Want to see what others are planning this week? Be watching the week of Sept. 22 to be family favorites! I have some family favorites this week, tacos, meat loaf (my hubby's favorite) and Chili Mac! Click here to visit I'm an Organizing Junkie to see!

The Cat in the Pt Cruiser

You might get a kick at who you see in this little video clip - check out the "car salesman!" lol

Procrastination Project #6

I have had these little decorative plates since July. I bought them on sale at Joann's just after the 4th. They have been sitting around waiting to be put up above my kitchen window. Another that you can't see is to the left of the window. I have a pig cutting board that used to be my mothers. I remember using it and her using it way back to our Lincoln, Nebraska days. It has been stripped and retired but I wanted to keep it and now it has it's place of honor in my kitchen!

Little or big, what have you been procrastinating doing? Click here to see what others are doing in this challenge!

Procrastination project #5 - Family pictures!

I am not good at hanging or arranging pictures. I have been putting this off and putting this off. This is as far as I can go at the moment as I need two updated pics but these are finally up and out of the way! YAHOO! Another procrastination project crossed off the list!

Click here to find out what others are crossing off their list!!

Happy Birthday to my oldest!!

My oldest has a birthday today! We always love our children equally but there is a special bond with your first born. Poor kid gets to be our guinea pig! I thank God for my son. He is a peacemaker, bless his heart. He has a heart that desires to serve God and it shows in his life and work. He is a loving and gentle husband and a nurturing and loving daddy. It often surprises me how although this young man has so many work commitments with owning his own business, that he strives to be a vital part of his childrens lives. He is very helpful to his wife. God has blessed me so much. Happy Birthday, Mark!

Also want to note that the blanket he is on in the first pic was made by his great grandma. She was a special lady!

Procrastination Project #4 - The radio/cd/tape player!

Underneath the table you will notice that the "black" glob is gone. That black glob was a radio/cd/tape player. Many moons ago, my husband switched this player out for one that someone had given us. I really didn't like the other one as well. This one has lurked under the table bugging me and bugging me. It was out of sight in a way but it didn't belong there. It nagged at me. Finally I got him to take the other one out to his garage for him to groove to out there and we put this one back up in the family room so that I can finally play music again!! Such a simple little project! YAHOO! Another procrastination project attacked and completed!

Edited to add this comment because it is SO true!:

Debbie (Virtually Organized) said...

Whether it's something HUGE, or just a small, annoying task you've been putting off, isn't it a great feeling to cross things off your "To Do" list!

Do you have a project that you have been procrastinating about? Want to see what others are doing? Click HERE and maybe you will join in!!!

Decluttering Challenge Week 2 of September!

I am still decluttering! It is amazing how stuff just collects over time if you don't stay on it! The cookbooks.... yes, another bunch of them; given away. A wastebasket full of paper work and such from the office. Then I cleaned off my Dresser in the bedroom and got rid of and took care of the stuff on it. I cleaned the corner next to my hutch. These boxes had been there WAY too long. And do you see the radio/cd/tape player under the table in this pic. It was decluttered. DH had put this here several months ago and put a different system where this had been. I put this one back and he took the other one out to his rockin' garage!

Simplify 101 has an excellent article on decluttering, organizing and storage today! Check it out!

All of these projects feel so good!!! What have you decluttered this week? Want to see what others are decluttering, visit the Organising Queen and see!