September Acres

The weather in my neck of the woods: Supposed to be sunny and 71 today. One of my simple pleasures: A cup of green tea. I like to have one everyday, first thing. If I don't have it, I feel 'off'. I am sure it's in my head but it works. On my bedside table: 'First Things First' by Kurt & Brenda Warner On my TV: Fox & Friends (news) On the menu for tonight : Quesadillas (we have hockey tonight so it's quick and easy) On my to do list: Jazzercise, grocery shop, change sheets, work, take LM to religion classes, take LM to hockey practice New recipe I tried last week: nothing In the craft basket: Christmas gift tags Looking forward to: Taking LM to see Santa on Saturday. We didn't make it when I wanted to go a couple of weeks ago, so it's on the agenda again. Homemaking tip for the week: If you buy anything like 'kid's cuisine', weight watchers meals,lean cuisines: When you are done with the containers wash them out and keep them fo...

The weather in my neck of the woods: Sunny, high of 85 One of my simple pleasures: Clean sheets On my bedside table: 'First things first' by Kurt & Brenda Warner On my TV: Good Morning America On the menu for tonight: leftovers from last night On my to do list: laundry, run to the grocery store for a few things, clean office New Recipe I tried last week: none In the craft basket: nothing Looking forward to: Wednesday - school's out for Veteran's Day Homemaking tip for this week: For a clean house, invite company over. We have had company for dinner for the past 2 weekends and my house has been clean, for the most part, the entire time. I can do it fast under pressure! Who shall we invite over this weekend to keep the streak going??? Favorite Blog post of the week (mine or other): This one which shows 2 very creative 'mini mudroom' ideas. Favorite photo of the week: Little Miss donating a Build a Bear to Toys for Tots on Saturday. Lesson lear...

The weather in my neck of the woods: Warming up again- supposed to be 89 today. On of my simple pleasures: a morning walk On my bedside table: 'Finding it' By Valerie Bertinelli (almost done!) On my TV: Fox Business channel On the menu for tonight: quesadillas On my to do list: Stamp club, pet smart (need dog food), change sheets New recipe I tried last week: none In the craft basket: nothing right now. Looking forward to: stamp club today, hopefully taking LM to see Santa on Saturday (we will be in Las Vegas to meet my husband who will be there for a Trade show most of the week & it's a good chance to hit the mall and beat the rush -I just hope Santa is there - he was last yr so I have my fingers crossed.) Homemaking tip of the week: If possible, I try to do all my housework during the week so I can relax on the weekend and not feel like I 'should' be doing this or that. Favorite blog post of the week: It was a good blog week with Halloween but I ...

The weather in my neck of the woods: Sunny, supposed to be about 79 today :) One of my simple pleasures: A day @ home with not much to do. On my bedside table: About half way through 'Finding it' by Valerie Bertinelli - so far so good! On my TV: nothing right now but am looking forward to CBS sitcoms tonight. On the menu for tonight: Probably soup and sandwiches since it is our first night of hockey. On my to do list: Jazzercise, clean (really clean) and purge LM's playroom, change/wash sheets New recipe I tried last week: none In the Craft basket: little treats for LM's classmates for Friday. Will post a picture when I have a few completed. Looking forward to: Halloween weekend. Carving pumpkins w/ friends on Friday night. Then the oh-so-fun trick or treating (can you hear the sarcasm? It's my husband & daughter's holiday - I go along for the good pictures I get to take which make good scrapbook pages.) Homemaking tip of the week: Not mine,...

Weather in my neck of the woods: Sunny in the 80's One of my simple pleasures: A quiet walk on the beach. On my bedside table: "First things first" by Kurt & Brenda Warner, "Finding it" by Valerie Bertinelli . I finally finished 'Twilight'. On my TV: nothing On the menu for tonight: steak kabobs, broccoli, salad On my to do list: change sheets, make reservations for the dog to go to the kennel this weekend, make appt to get oil changed, work in office New Recipe I tried last week: none In the craft basket: nothing right now Looking forward to: Going to Las Vegas this weekend. Homemaking tip of the week: Clean your microwave easily: put some water and white vinegar in a cup (microwave safe) and set the microwave for about 2-3 min. When you are done you should be able to wipe the inside clean. You can also use lemon juice/water or just plain water. Favorite Blog post of the week: This one about how Halloween has gone crazy! Favorite photo of ...

The weather in my neck of the woods: Still over 100 degrees. It is fall,right?? One of my simple pleasures: An afternoon nap - :) On my bedside table: I am almost done with 'Twilight'. On my TV: news On the menu for tonight: spaghetti, salad On my to do list: laundry, take snack to church for LM's religion class today, work New recipe I tried last week: nothing In the craft basket: nothing Looking forward to: LM has fall break next week (already) Homemaking tip of the week: Don't forget to have the kids pitch in. They love to help and it really makes your job a bit smaller. Favorite Blog post of the week (mine or other): This one by the Entertaining Mom. Just a reminder to us all that if we cannot resist the temptation that we should leave our phones in the car when taking our kids to the playground. :) Favorite photo of the week: LM was taking Christmas card photos for her sextuplets. Never too early (wonder where she gets that). "It was crazy getting them ...

The weather in my neck of the woods: Hot and sunny. One of my simple pleasures: Taking a nap. On my bedside table: Still reading 'Twilight'. On my TV: nothing On the menu for tonight: hamburgers, salad, baked beans On my to do list: work, laundry, organize bedroom after newly painted dresser is dry. New Recipe I tried last week: nothing In the craft basket: nothing Looking forward to: Labor Day weekend at the (cool) mountains Homemaking tip of the week: Organize your flatware when putting it in the dishwasher - all knives in one slot, all spoons in one, etc. Makes it easier to put away. Favorite Blog post of the week: This one by Life as Mom. Favorite photo of the week: Little Miss playing dress up with the dog. That is a garter belt around his neck. I know he didn't sign up for this when he agreed to go home with us. :) Lesson learned the last few days: Just smile & nod. On my prayer list: My husband's friend, Bob, whose wife passed away last week...

The weather in my neck of the woods: Do I need to say it? Hot and sunny. Actually it is cooling down some - 'only' supposed to be 105 today! One of my simple pleasures: Reading the Sunday paper in one sitting (doesn't happen much anymore). On my bedside table: Still reading 'Twilight' - hope to finish it this week. On the menu for tonight: Quesadillas , salad On my to do list: clean up after the weekend, run to the bank, work a bit, maybe read a bit New recipe I tried last week: nothing In the craft basket: nothing right now but it will soon be time to start Christmas things so I am not overwhelmed in November! Looking forward to: Seeing David Cook this week in concert. Homemaking tip for this week: Keep a running list of groceries, toiletries & cleaning supplies you need when you go to the store. This helps you not forget to put it on your shopping list. I keep a list on the fridge - I have a magnetic notepad and I list things as I run out. If your kids are o...

The weather in my neck of the woods: Hot & sunny One of my simple pleasures: a ripe, fresh summer tomato (if I have already said this one week, I apologize. But is does bear repeating as it is THAT good!) On my bedside table: 'Twilight' by Stephanie Meyer On my TV: nothing On the menu for tonight: Spaghetti, salad On my to do list: work @ my husband's office New recipe I tried last week: Pineapple Bread posted by Laurie. YUM! In the craft basket: still nothing Looking forward to: my stamp club today (my husband has been kind enough to let me take off a couple of hours to attend!), scrapbooking w/ friends tomorrow. I haven't seen this group of friends expect to say 'hi' since school was out in May so it will be fun to catch up. Homemaking tip of the week: Get the kids to pitch in. Even the little ones can help you carry laundry, fold it, take off the sheets, dust lower levels, unbreakable items. They may not make it to the finish line with you but every li...

The weather in my neck of the woods: Hot and sunny One of my simple pleasures: morning coffee in the peace and quiet On my bedside Table: 'Twilight' by Stephanie Meyer On my TV: nothing On the menu for tonight: Quesadillas On my to do list: clean up from weekend (this should take all day-ugh), call vet to make appt for dog's first visit. New recipe I tried last week: Southwestern soup - 2 cans of tomatoes, 1 can black beans, 1 cup chicken stock/bouillon, 1 cup frozen corn, 1/2 cup chopped peppers (red, green, yellow, orange - one or all), half a package of onion soup mix. Combine all ingredients in pot, bring to boil. Garnish with cooked chicken, shrimp,steak, sour cream, avocado, crushed tortilla chips, grated cheese - whatever you have on hand. In the craft basket: nothing Looking forward to: pedicure this week , scrapbooking on Saturday w/ friends - all day! Homemaking tip for this week: With my house looking like this I have no business giving out tips. ...

The weather in my neck of the woods: Hot and sunny One of my simple pleasures: watching my daughter sleep On my bedside table: the latest issues of "O" & Coastal Living On my TV: nothing On the menu for tonight: Quesadillas On my To Do list: the usual: laundry, change sheets, mop, tidy up from the weekend. New recipe I tried last week : nothing In the craft basket: nothing Looking forward to: back to school shopping and lunch on Wednesday Homemaking tip of the week: Keep your bathroom cleaning supplies in a little (or big) plastic basket (like a rubbermaid kind of thing). And keep it in one of your bathrooms. I have one that I keep in our hall bath and I can just pick it up and take all the contents (sponges, cleaners, squeegees, paper towels, vinegar & water-for mirrors) to the master bath without leaving anything I will need behind. Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other): This one on Confessions of a Semi-slacker Mom. Love the idea of the 'car bag...

The weather in my neck of the woods: What else? Hot (about 115) and sunny. On of my simple pleasures: the quiet of the early morning. On my bedside table: Finishing up 'Queen Takes King' by Gigi Levanger Grazer. On the menu for tonight: Not sure, I haven't done my menu plan for the week yet. On my to do list: menu plan, grocery shop, laundry, bank, car wash New Recipe I tried last week: none In the craft basket: nothing Looking forward to: listening to my new Daughtry CD that my husband got for me & hopefully a quiet week with Little Miss before the rush of getting ready to go back to school. Homemaking tip of the week: We all try to keep our house clutter free - paper seems to be a big problem for many of us (whatever happened to the 'paperless society' we talked about years ago). Keep things under control by making sure the 'no-brainer' toss items get tossed ASAP. Things I pitch as soon as possible: junk mail (some people don't even b...

The weather in my neck of the woods: Hot (111), sunny One of my simple pleasures: Sitting outside during a full moon, quietly. On my bedside table: "Queen takes King" by Gigi Levangie Grazer. Thanks to Tickled Pink & Green for the tip on that. It's good so far! On my TV: Spongebob - keeping Little Miss busy while I do this. :) On the menu for tonight: Almond crusted chicken, sauteed mushrooms, corn on the cob, macaroni salad. On my to do list: Laundry & lots of it, errands (post office, library, bank, gas station, car wash), finish packing New recipe I tried last week: none In the craft basket: nothing Looking forward to: what I am calling "Utah Mountain Tour 2009". Leaving tomorrow for Park City to visit my sister then to Brian Head on the way home. Homemaking tip of the week: Before leaving on a trip get your house in order - trash emptied, beds made (get up extra early if you have to in order to get this done), dishwasher empty or with clean dishes ...

The weather in my neck of the woods: Partly cloudy, 110 One of my simple pleasures: A glass of wine before dinner. On my bedside table: 'In Praise of Stay at Home Moms' by Dr Laura Schlesinger. On the menu for tonight: I have no idea! Probably grilled chicken w/ brown rice and salad. On my to do list: laundry, work, vacuum, clean my office New Recipe I tried last week: none In the craft basket: cards I am making for a birthday gift. Looking forward to: Going to the mountains for the 4th of July. Homemaking tip of the week: Ditch the paper towels - use washclothes & towels instead. You will save money and produce less trash. Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other): 'How much sugar are you really consuming?' by Stephanie. Check it out -it's enlightening - and scary! Favorite photo of the week: LM and her friend J on after their last tennis lesson. Lesson learned the last few days: You can't do it all - at least not all at once! On my p...

The weather in my neck of the woods: Sunny, 104 degrees One of my simple pleasures: A ripe, juicy summer tomato. On my bedside table: 'In Praise of Stay at home moms' by Dr Laura Schlesinger. It's still there from last week because I started reading 'The Girls From Ames' by Jeffrey Zaslow. I just finished it this morning. It's a great book about friendship. On my TV: I hate to say it but I hear Spongebob. On the menu for tonight: Grilled Chicken, veggies, salad On my to do list: Laundry, work, go to library New Recipe I tried last week: Purple Potato Salad . I am not a huge potato salad fan but I had these purple potatoes and thought I would make a salad. Turned out pretty good. In the Craft Basket: nothing now Looking forward to: A much more relaxing week than last week. Little Miss has her last tennis lesson on Wed and that's the only thing we HAVE to do this week. It's going to be a hot one so we'll enjoy alot of time in the pool. Homemaking ti...

The weather in my neck of the woods: Partly sunny, 97 degrees. On of my simple pleasures: An early morning cup of coffee outside in the solitude before everyone else gets up. On my bedside table: 'In Praise of Stay-at-home Moms' by Dr Laura Schlessinger , the new issue of 'O'. On my TV: Nothing On my To Do list: Laundry (sheets, towels), Library, some work. New Recipe I tried last week: Cheese Roasted Potatoes from the Summer Book by Susan Branch. In the craft basket: Father's Day cards Looking forward to: The movie "The Proposal" w/ Sandra Bullock & Ryan Reynolds. We usually do not go see adult movies at the theatre but my husband loves Sandra Bullock and thinks we need to see this. :) Father's Day. Homemaking tip of the week: Make your bed everyday. It's quick and easy to do as soon as you get dressed (on the weekends it's a bit later for me as my husband sleeps in). If I do NOTHING else I try to make my bed. Get your kids in the habit ...

The weather in my neck of the woods: Cloudy, a high of 93 today :) Yippee! Our average this time of the year is about 105 so it's like spring time! One of my simple pleasures: Chopping the veggies for the salsa I made this week (link to recipe is below). Just being able to take the time and cut everything just so is very therapeutic. On my bedside table: 'Unplug your kids' by David Dutwin , Ph .D On my TV: Nothing On the menu for tonight: leftovers (we always have a big dinner on Sundays and usually have leftovers which I will make into tacos or quesadillas -it gets old after a while but I hate to waste food.) On my to do list: the usual (cleaning, laundry,etc). And it's movie day at the library. New recipe I tried last week: None, but I did make banana bread and salsa In the craft basket: nothing Looking forward to: Library day today. Hopefully going to the mountains this weekend (fingers crossed!) Homemaking tip of the week: Take baby steps. Sometimes I just look ...

On my bedside table: The G-free Diet by Elisabeth Hasselbeck On my TV: Nothing now. On the menu for tonight: We have an end of the year hockey cookout - burgers and hot dogs. Our team is bringing side dishes, I am bringing a fruit salad as our contribution. On my to do list: laundry, organize closets New Recipe I tried last week: Nothing (surprise!) In the craft basket: nothing now. Looking forward to: hockey cookout, Thursday's movie day (Madagascar 2 - I am dying to see it!) Homemaking tip for this week: Try to use your dryer less in the summer (I know this is not really a 'tip' but it's something I try to remember to do since it's warmer outside). Set up a clothes line if you can or use a rolling rack to hang what you can. Favorite Blog post of the week (mine or other): This one of Sandra's. It was a fun reminder of days gone by and also kind of sad to think our kids won't have the same type of summer memories that we did. But I like to thi...

On my bedside table : 'The G-free Diet' by Elisabeth Hasselbeck On my TV : ESPN (my husband is home today!) On the menu for tonight : Off the grill: steak, salmon, corn on the cob On my to do list : laundry, swimming w/ Little Miss New recipe I tried last week : Nothing new but I did make homemade pancakes (no mix!), banana bread and cake. See, I do cook! In the craft basket : nothing Looking forward to : the first full week of summer vacation - no schedules! :) Homemaking tip of the week : You can cook your corn on the cob in the microwave. Keep them in the husks and cook one piece for 5 minutes. Add more minutes for more ears. Last night I did 3 for about 10 minutes. Take the husks and silks off right before serving - use a potholder to keep from burning your hands. An added benefit: you save lots of water by not boiling them! Favorite Blog post of the week (mine or another): This one is great for all us moms out there! Lesson learned the last f...

On my bedside table: The new 'O' magazine. On my tv- nothing now On the menu for tonight: pork tenderloin On my to do list: I am working at my husband's office today so that's it. New Recipe I tried last week: None - no surprises there! In the craft basket: Nothing right now. Looking forward to: Thursday - it's the last day of school. 'No more pencils, no more books...' Homemaking tip of the week: Do not put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Favorite Blog post of the week: This one . Love money saving grocery ideas. And this one . Anyone who has had to deal with infertility will like this. Have a tissue close at hand for the video. Favorite Photo of the week: After our hockey games yesterday Little Miss & I went to Old Town Scottsdale and stumbled upon the 'Arizona Lucky Ducky Duck Derby'. The dads and boys went to the hockey store and lunch so LM and I had a girls afternoon. It was so fun and better than our original ...