Rules of the Wii

Learn basic tips from the older, wiser and more experienced

Be immune to all distractions
The right facial expressions make all the difference

Keep hydrated whenever possible

Always mimic your brother

Stay deeply focused

Wear your wrist strap at all times

When all else fails, just look really cute while you have a dity sock on and a suspicious smell about you....you'll win everytime!

A glimpse inside my husbands head

After I posted my thoughts on conserving energy in our home, I explained to Todd what we were doing and if he could please be on board with me on it. I told him it was going to take some team effort and a little getting used to but I was confident we could save a little money. He gave me his best "she's on another crazy tirade" look and said sure, alright..whatever. Later on in the evening, after having to remind everyone several times to "turn off the light, it doesn't need to be on" and unplug that please, your not using it" Todd made such a guy comment I could not believe it came out of his mouth.

"you know honey....unplugging the lights and small appliances won't make to much of a difference. And the tv in our bedroom doesn't use as much energy cuz its a LCD flat screen ...Not like the one in the living room which is a tube tv."

And that was all he said. Did you hear his real meaning behind the words?

He was actually trying to build a case that it would be more cost effective and energy efficient if we were to replace the living room TV with an LCD flat screen!

Only a guy I tell ya..only a guy! Its a good thing this family has me

Troubled Times

I don't know about you but I am feeling a little worried these days. I am finding it hard to feel hope. I am having a hard time seeing beyond tomorrow. How about you? Are you feeling the crunch too. Our income depends on people spending money. Well, we all know how THAT'S going these days! But so far we have made it through...one day at a time. God has helped us keep our house (this month at least) and I am thankful for that. God is in control and the only thing we can really do is try and be responsible with the income that we do have. Did anyone watch Oprah today? As soon as I heard that it was about budgeting and cutting corners as best you can...I was glued to the tv. It seems that's been obsession of mine these days because its the one thing I have control of in this situation. Doing the best with what I got.

So I want to ask you.....How are you "doing the best with what you have"? Are you trying to cut corners and if so what are you doing?

There was a guest on the show that decided she was going to try and cut her utility bill. Her plan was to unplug everything in the house that wasn't being used. Lights, toasters, tv etc. When you are done with it..unplug it. Seems pretty simple. How much did she save? Her bill went from $260 (which is a astronomical amount if you ask me) to $60. Wow! $200 of savings. Now my bill is no $260 but in the winter it can get to $180 every 2 months. So I have decided to take the challenge of unplugging what I don't need. I am really looking forward to seeing the savings. I'll let you know how it goes. Even though I won't be able to report till maybe December.

I am also looking to reduce our natural gas bill this winter. We are on a budget plan of $50 a month but I am looking to decrease that to $40. We have a new gas fireplace this year and I am really hoping its gonna save us money. Any ideas on saving on your water bill? I can't seem to get mine any lower. Its the same all year no matter what I do. its frustrating because it seems so high.

Does anyone out there use coupons?? I have not been a coupon person because I don't get the paper and so I don't know where to get the coupons. But I want to be a coupon person so I am going to start working on that. Another lady on the show showed how her grocery bill went from $127 to $37 because of coupons. Could you imagine?? I soooo want to be that person! Currently I spend about $400 a month on groceries. Is that alot for a family of 3 1/2? I refuse to be a hamburger helper cook. I don't do anything from a box except Mac & Cheese. I try to be somewhat healthy but still stay on a budget. I can't afford to be the organic queen but I do what I can for my family. So of course I am looking at ways to reduce my grocery budget. I went to Winco today and spent $150. This should last for AT LEAST 2 weeks. We have alot of food in the house and pantry so I am going to have to be good with what I have. I have made menus for the next 2 weeks and I am going to try really hard to stick to it. My goal is to get organized enough to do a monthly menu and shopping plan. I think you can save more money that way.

So I would like to hear your story. How do you try to save money? Got any ideas for me? How are you being affected by all that's going on around us? If there has ever been a time to comment....this is the time folks! Now is your chance. I know that this too shall pass but it seems we have been saying that for a long time! Until then I guess I'll just look at this picture to keep me smiling!

Kadens face is just priceless!

Dueling Desserts

It was a lazy Sunday afternoon and we felt the need for a little dessert. We did not have the same thing in mind though. Todd wanted homemade tapioca pudding (Barf!) and I wanted banana cream pie (Yum!) So we set out on our own and it quickly became the dueling desserts!

We were good sports and shared the stove in a civilized manner.

In this corner you have the Dashing Todd making his (icky) Tapioca Pudding

And this corner you have tired looking Andrea making Banana Cream Pie. I think the tired eyes may be cause of a few points deducted. (What is it about Sundays that make you so tired?)

And their off!!!!

Todd thinks putting on his sexy look look is going to earn him some brownie points

Hmmmm... he may be right! But having Kaden hang on him does not help his case.

Alright...here are the results!

I would have to say that presentation is seriously lacking

And might I add that I had to help him with a few things....like teaching him to separate the egg white and I added the vanilla for him. Its not looking good for him!

Apparently he seems to think it tastes good

Here are the results of mine! Doesn't that look tempting? We won't mention the botched up pie crust that is thankfully covered by the pie filling. (Shhh I won't say anything if you won't)

All smiles here (but darn those tired eyes still)

Kyler votes for mine (it helped that I put chocolate chips on it)

Kaden votes for hot dog, cheese, bananas and milk all mixed together!

Whose would you vote for??? (Come on people...it's really easy to make a comment and vote! All you have to do is click on comment...its really pretty painless. Trust me)

Mystery Update

I have had a few people ask about an update on the exercise thing in our garage. Yes the mystery has been solved and yes as I had suspected, Kyler had everything to do with it. Apparently on the way home from school one day he saw it on the sidewalk with a free sign on it and drug it home. Yes you heard me right..He drug it home! That thing is not light. It took both Todd and I to bring it in the house. Kyler says he told me about it but I don't remember him saying anything. Which makes me wonder what else I haven't been hearing him say. And it makes me wonder what else he is going to be bringing home. First it was a stray cat and now this. One day it may be a girl....YIKES! (Well lets hope it a girl)

Whats For Dinner Mom?

If there's one thing that I detest, it's greasy fried food covered in goopy Chinese take-out sauce. Okay, so sometimes I like that stuff, but it usually those cravings come at 3 o'clock a.m. during a certain time of the month.

This recipe for Sweet and Sour Chicken doesn't deep fry, but instead uses a method for creating a delicate, smooth and succulent chicken that goes perfectly with a lighter sweet and sour sauce. The secret is in the chicken marinade, specifically using egg white and cornstarch, which creates a super-light coating all around the chicken. It won't be a crunchy, deep fried coating, but I think it's a nice alternative, both texture-wise and weight-wise!

1 lb boneless chicken breasts cut into 1" pieces
1 egg white
1/2 tp kosher salt
2 tp cornstarch

Combine everything in a bowl and let sit for AT LEAST 15 min. Its VERY important that the chicken gets to room temperature. If the chicken is still cold then it won't turn out right.

Whisk together...

1/2 cup pineapple juice (this is from the can of pineapple that you will be using later)
1/2 cup white wine vinegar
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 tp kosher salt
about 4 TB brown sugar ( if you want it more sweet then add more)

If you don't end up using as much veggies as I do then half the recipe for the sauce. It up to you how saucy you want it)

Set aside and cut all your veggies. We like carrots, red peppers, onions, pea pods, cucumbers and tomatoes.

Heat pan over high heat until a bead of water instantly sizzles and evaporates. (This is a very important step. If its not hot enough then the chicken will not cook right.) Pour 1TB of oil and swirl to coat the pan. Add chicken and spread out in one layer. let it fry for 1 min until bottom is brown. Flip and fry other side for 1 min. Take out of pan and reserve.

Turn pan to medium heat and add 1 tsp of oil. Add the veggies and 1 tp of grated ginger. Cook for about a minute. Add your can of pineapple and the sauce you previously whisked. Turn heat to med-high and when sauce starts to simmer then add chicken back in for a few more minutes until cooked through and sauce has thickened.

I tell ya this is sooo much better then the bottled stuff from the store. The vinegar is what gives it the sour taste and the ginger just adds that authentic taste to it. Oh and do you want a tip on how to peel the ginger before you grate it?......scrap it with the edge of a spoon. Its really quite simple. Have you even discovered the wonders of ginger?? I am just starting on that journey myself!

Again, proof that we like it! Todd eating dinner with us is a rare but special treat so I really needed to document it. I hope you try it and enjoy it as much as we do!

What is your favorite dinner?

Afternoon Treat

Todd just got home from a sugar run. What did he bring home??

That's alot of donuts but when you need to travel 20 min each way, you have to stock up!

This here is the blueberry cake and its making its way into my mouth right now!

Ooh look at this raspberry filled one....I think this will be good right now too!

And of course the original. Maybe just a nibble...

Jealous????

What I love and What I hate Wednesday

I love this picture

This is the bird room at the zoo. You can purchase seed sticks and feed the little hungry birds. Usually you have to coax the birds to get on your stick but this day they were especially hungry and aggressive. The birds were swarming us and I must have had 2-3 birds landing on my arm trying to get my seeds. Kaden of course wanted nothing to do with the birds and knowing that.....I still gave him a seed stick. As the birds were climbing all over me I watched Kaden standing there with his seed stick and I knew at any moment he was going to be surrounded! Why is it that even though we know its going to happen...we let it happen anyways. I knew I was going to get enjoyment watching the birds all over Kaden and also it came down to getting that perfect Kodak moment. Sometimes I love that part of being a parent. That part about just letting your kids experience something because you know its going to bring you pleasure in watching it. Is that mean of me? :) Unfortunately because I had birds all over me I couldn't get the picture I wanted but this one will do just fine!

I hate THAT time of the month! Need I say more??? Same time every month. Never late almost always early. Can't a girl have a break sometimes? Like say.....9 months would be fine with me.

What do you love? What do you hate?