Pennant Bunting

I have  been in the process of redecorating Boo Boo's room for several months.  We have done it in stages, as money and time have allowed.  This has actually been beneficial as we did not have everything planned out and going slowly has allowed us to pick and choose items we wanted to add to the decor and figure out what will work in her room.

Several months ago we painted it her walls a lovely shade of lime green and purchased a comforter set in lime, blue and purple.  One of the decor items we decided upon was a pennant banner, similar to the one we made for the 4th of July.   We selected several fabrics in her decor colors and got to work.  Once again, I followed the wonderful tutorial I found at My Homebased Mom. 

I cut all the pieces

Stitched them together

Sewed them to the bias tape

And hung them in her room.  It added just the right pop of color and interest to her new decor.

Linking up to - 

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Weekend Wanderer



Meal Plan Monday - Jan. 9

I'm still participating in the Pantry Challenge and so far I have used a variety of items from my pantry.  Not stopping at the grocery store for a forgotten item made the first week back to school after the holiday a bit easier.  It also kept me from grabbing the phone and a take out menu when dinner time rolled around.  Check out my post on Making A Pantry Challenge Work For Me to see how I do it. 

Here's the plan for using what's in the freezer and pantry this week.

Some things I have in my refrigerator and pantry that need to be used -

fresh cranberries
sour cream
vanilla yogurt
cheddar cheese
tortillas
Beef tenderloin
couscous
chicken
dirty rice mix
lots of pasta
potatoes
carrots
onion

Sunday - Lunch leftovers
Monday - Beef Tenderloin, mashed potatoes, creamed corn
Tuesday - Dirty Rice with ground beef, salad
Wednesday - Meatball Subs, Chips, Fruit
Thursday - Buffalo Chicken Wraps, Chips, Fruit
Friday - Leftovers
Saturday -

Baking - Cranberry Muffins
Lunch - Chicken Salad


Linked to I'm an Organized Junkie

Counterfeit Kit - January 2012

Fall was soooo busy around here and then the holidays happened and one of my favorite things went by the wayside-- counterfeiting scrapbook kits with the Counterfeit Kit Challenge.  I was glad to find some time this weekend to pull together not one, but two of the Cocoa Daisy Kits selected for this month.   There were 5 kits to choose from.  Most were snow related, which I don't have much use for here in Atlanta, but one was Christmas inspired, so I pulled together two kits based on the Christmas colors and the shapes of the papers. 

Peppermint Holiday

 Kit includes -
3 shades of red cardstock
2 shades of green cardstock
white cardstock
black cardstock
11 patterned papers from a Christmas stack
2 ribbons
candy cane stamp
6 Christmas foam stickers
black, green and 2 red letter sticker sets
2 sets cardstock stickers
red and green brads

Kentucky Christmas

Kit includes -
1 red cardstock
1 white cardstock
1 blue cardstock
3 red, white, green and blue patterned pappers
green ribbon
winter letter stamp set
Calendar Cricut Cartridge
red and blue large brads
blue sequin stickers
grey tag

Visit the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog to see other interpretations of this month's kits.

How I Make a Pantry Challenge Work For Me

The idea behind a pantry challenge is to use what you have on hand first.  My 3 freezers, while not full, have plenty of variety to keep us happy for the month of January.  For some, the idea of a pantry challenge is overwhelming  Here is how I make it work of us.

Contents of my kitchen refrigerator

1/2 bag shredded hashbrowns
3 breaded tilapia filets
grilled chicken strips - 1 buffalo, 2 asian sesame
1 bag corn
1 frozen pizza
2 boxes chopped spinach
1/2 bag frozen peas
waffles and pancakes
cooked rice - 3 (1 cup) portions
bacon
bread crumbs
3 bags uncooked chicken breasts
pecans, chocolate chips, toffee bits

Here's what's might be on our weekly menu based on the above list -

Tilapia Sandwiches and Cheesy Hashbrowns
Italian Bean Soup
Corn, Bacon and Potato Chowder (add chopped cook bacon before serving)
Rice Bowls
Grilled Chicken Salad or Wraps
Spinach Rice Casserole (sub spinach for broccoli in my favorite broccoli casserole)
Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breasts 
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Toffee Pecan Bars

I can make all of the above by simply purchasing milk, lettuce, onion and buns at the store.  This would be enough for a week's worth of dinners with leftovers for lunch in addition to two desserts.  I will round out each meal with either salad or frozen vegetables, fruit and with the soups I will make cornbread or beer bread.  

How do you make the best use of what's in your freezer and pantry?

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Made By You Monday
Your Cozy Home
Beauty and Bedlam
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Delighful Order
Somewhat Simple
Fireflies and Jelly Beans
Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms

Meal Plan Monday - January 2

The first meal plan of the year!  When I look back on all the resolutions/goals I have set over the years, making meal planninga priority in 2010 was one of the most successful and has had the most positive impact on my family.

Sunday - Traditional Southern New Year's Day Meal -- Pork Loin, Black Eyed Peas, Collard Greens, Scallped Potatoes, Cornbread, Orange Slice Cake and Cream Cheese Pie
Monday - Pork Loin, Scalloped Potatoes, Lima Beans, Cupcakes
Tuesday - Kids eat at Nanny's house
Wednesday - Broccoli Cheese Soup, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Fruit
Thursday - Tilapia Filet Sandwiches, Cheesy Hashbrowns, Pineapple Waldorf Salad
Friday - Leftovers
Saturday - Corn, Bacon and Potato Chowder, Beer Bread

For more wonderful menu ideas, head over to I'm An Organized Junkie

Pantry Challenge 2012

For the third year in a row I am participating in the Pantry Challenge hosted by Jessica at Good Cheap Eats. 

A pantry challenge is NOT an abstinance from grocery shopping or eating beans and rice 3 meals a day for a week. 

It IS using what you have on hand FIRST, before running to the grocery store. 

It IS making the most of what you have. 

It IS leanring to be creative in the kitchen.  

My goals for the pantry challenge this year are -

1.  Spend less.

2.  Clean out my freezer and pantry.

3.  Add some new recipes to our menu rotation and revisit some old ones.

Visit Good Cheap Eats to share your pantry goals and be inspired by others.

2012 Kitchen Goals

It's that time, time for me to commit to 12 goals to accomplish in my kitchen this year.  Instead of resolutions, I set goals, one/month to better my skills, organization, variety and healthiness in the kitchen.  Take a look at my 2010 goals and my 2011 goals to see what I have accomplished. 

Here we go....

Goal 1 - Pantry Challenge in January (3rd year in a row participating)
Goal 2 - Clean out utensil drawers
Goal 3 - Limit dining out/take out/deliver to 2-3 times/month
Goal 4 - More vegetables in our menu plan
Goal 5 - Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day (3rd year to try this one....)
Goal 6 - Better utiliziation of garden produce - less waste
Goal 7 - Dehydrate and freeze more
Goal 8 - Update Family Favorites and Freezer Cookbook
Goal 9 - Learn to make and freeze creamed corn
Goal 10 - Create a list of family favorite salads
Goal 11 -  Eat at the table and not in front of the TV
Goal 12 - Let my kids cook more

I will select one or two goals per month to work on.  They say it takes 30 days to develop a new habit, so by the end of the year, I should develop several new habits to make my time in the kitchen easier.   Let's see how well I do this year!

Linking up to
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Delighful Order
Fireflies and Jelly Beans
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Tidy Mom