Weekly Winnings Through December 29th

This week was a slow down compared to the last couple of weeks but that's ok! I will take it!

This week I won:

Hart of Dixie Season 2 DVD set :)

Weekly Menu December 30th to January 5th

Monday - Roast with veggies

Tuesday - New Years Eve Party

Wednesday - Potato Soup

Thursday - Chili and cinnamon rolls!

Friday - Beef Enchiladas

Saturday - Stuffed Shells

Sunday - Ham and Bean Soup and homemade corn bread

Merry Christmas!

We hope you have a 

Merry Christmas 

and a 

Happy New Year! 

Weekly Winnings This Week Through Sunday, December 22nd!

Wow, this week was just wonderful in winnings!! I couldn't believe how lucky I was and am so happy to be able to share some "gifts" with the family now!

• AC Airlines Night Buddies (remind me of a pillow pet but with glowing eyes!)
• Your Story Locket (with 5 charms!)
• Large Royal Bean Bag Sack

Now, I have to share a picture with the bean bag! I was in shock when I won it...I couldn't believe I won it and still can't! I have been entering different contests for bigger bean bags for my husband. This one takes the cake! I never expected it to be THIS HUGE!!!

All three of them can fit on it MOST of the time without fighting. My husband can sit in it and still have a kid next to him! I couldn't imagine a better gift for him and I know there would be no way I would have been able to get it for him other than entering giveaways! He says the best Christmas gift he could have ever gotten! And yes, I let him open it when it got here! I won it last Monday and it was to our house already on Thursday! It was so huge that he was the only one to be able to pick it up anyways and then he LOVED putting the REMOVABLE AND WASHABLE cover on!!!! Like I say, it's worth it to enter these contests, someone has to win and it could be you!!! 

Weekly Menu Plan December 23rd to December 29th

Monday - Stuffed Shells or Spaghetti

Tuesday - Christmas Eve Dinner

Wednesday - Christmas Day Dinner

Thursday - Leftovers

Friday - Eat Out

Saturday - Eat Out

Sunday - Small Group Christmas Party

Wordless Wednesday - A Favorite Pastime

Weekly Winnings Through December 16th

Well, after a few weeks of winning nothing, I finally got some great prizes!

• The Piano Guys CD
• Common Cold Plush from Giantmicrobes
• Free Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar
• $100 American Express Gift Card from Tom's of Maine

Frozen Secrets

Sometimes there are things you look for in certain movies that are shout out to fans. This is especially true in Sci-Fi and comic films anymore, but it's always fun to see them in other movies too. I didn't catch any of these myself when we went to see it in theaters but here are some Easter eggs from Disney's Frozen.

 

Remember this couple? Looks like they got invited to the coronation in Arendelle. Check out the guests in the bottom left below.

Check out the candies Anna and her sister love. Look kinda familiar?

That's right Sugar Rush candies from Wreck-It Ralph

Hidden Mickey :)

 And this little tidbit isn't so much a catch as a fun fact:
Artist Lisa Keene’s painting—completed during the development phase of “Tangled” and based on “The Swing” by Jean-Honoré Fragonard—made such an impression on “Frozen” filmmakers, it became part of Anna’s signature song, “For the First Time in Forever,” when she leaps into the air and mimics the painting’s pose.

Weekly Menu Plan For December 16th to December 22nd

Monday - Enchiladas

Tuesday - Stuffed Shells

Wednesday - Church Night

Thursday - Meeting Night

Friday - Chili and Cinnamon Rolls

Saturday - Pancakes and Bacon

Sunday - Southwest Soup

Wordless Wednesday - Sickness In The House/Reason I Haven't Blogged Lately

All 5 of us are sick with something and it won't leave the house! Hopefully I can get back to blogging soon! Until then, I hope all of you are doing well and don't get sick!

Wordless Wednesday - The Beginning of My Snowmen Army!

An Experiment....Conclusion....Hmmmm

If you remember back in September, the kids sent letters to their favorite Disney characters. I don't know if it has just gotten so popular because of Pinterest or what but at least they got something back. They each wrote to a different character: Ariel, Winnie the Pooh, and Lightning McQueen. Well, this is what they got back yesterday....

Very generic BUT the kids loved them. They were happy that they got mail from DISNEY! I was a bit disappointed but at least they weren't! It took 2 1/2 months but I think it was something fun we did together and we might try to do again! Have you tried to write a letter to a Disney character? How did it end for you?

MIA From Weekly Winnings

It's not that I don't want to post what I have won.....it's that I have hit a dry spell!! Two weeks and not winning anything! Only good news is for Grey Thursday/Black Friday, I got some pretty awesome/amazing deals! Hopefully next week I can come back and say that I have won at least something!

Weekly Menu Plan For December 2nd - December 8th, 2013

Monday - On Our Own (Meetings in the evening so the hubby was left to do whatever!)

Tuesday - Pancakes and Sausage

Wednesday - Church Night

Thursday - Southwest Soup

Friday - Chicken Enchiladas

Saturday - Chili and Cinnamon Rolls

Sunday - Chili Dogs

Happy Thanksgiving!

From our family to yours, we hope you have a Blessed Thanksgiving Day!

Wordless Wednesday - Scarecrow Fun

MUPPETS MOST WANTED NEW TRAILER!!!! YAY!!!

Our family loves the muppets! I remember watching them when I was little and have tried to grow our kids up on them as they are a great family friendly show/movie. My kids love to watch the Ma-na-ma-na video OVER AND OVER AND OVER......they laugh every time and can of course sing it all together too! It's sad to think we have to wait until March 21, 2014 to see the movie! I am really happy they have started making them again!








Also, in celebration of the trailer release, each of the Muppets have also published their own "most wanted" guest blogs. Read them now:

·       KERMIT'S Most Wanted Trailer Cameos: http://di.sn/rJI 
·       MISS PIGGY'S Most Wanted Relationship Advice: http://di.sn/gPi 
·       MISS PIGGY'S Most Wanted Advice for Celebrities from a Screen Legend: http://di.sn/hQR
·       FOZZIE BEAR'S TV Shows He's Most Wanted to Guest Star On: http://di.sn/gPj
·       ANIMAL'S Most Wanted Drum Solos: http://di.sn/sJX
·       GONZO'S Most Wanted Disney Poultry: http://di.sn/ePl 
·       WALTER'S Most Wanted Moments from the New Trailer: http://di.sn/bPf 

Even More Great Information About Muppets Most Wanted!:

Disney’s “Muppets Most Wanted” is directed by James Bobin and produced by David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman. Bobin co-wrote the screenplay with Nicholas Stoller, who is also executive producer with John G. Scotti. Featuring music from Academy Award®-winning songwriter Bret McKenzie, “Muppets Most Wanted” hits the big screen March 21, 2014.

Starring Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell and Tina Fey, Disney’s “Muppets Most Wanted” takes the entire Muppets gang on a global tour where they find themselves unwittingly entangled in an international crime caper.

NOTES:
·         Director James Bobin returns to Muppets mania. For his work as Disney’s “The Muppets” director, Bobin was nominated for BAFTA (Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer). He co-created HBO’s “Flight of the Conchords," which he wrote, directed and exec produced.

·         Bret McKenzie, who won an Oscar® for best original song for “Man or Muppet,” returns to the Muppets stage as music supervisor. McKenzie created, co-wrote, executive produced and starred in the hit HBO television series “Flight of the Conchords,”

·         Ricky Gervais is the creator of “Derek” and the Golden Globe®- and Emmy®-winning series “The Office” and “Extras.”

·         Ty Burrell is an Emmy® Award winner for his role in TV’s “Modern Family.”

·         Tina Fey is a Golden Globe®-, Emmy®- and SAG Award®-winning actress and writer Tina Fey (“30 Rock,” “Mean Girls,” “Date Night”).

Monday Freezer Meal Recipe- Stuffed Shells

Last week I shared my spaghetti sauce recipe. This week, I will share Stuffed shells! I like making these together and usually double the recipe. In doubling, I can usually get 5 to 6 9X9 pans full of stuffed shells and 2 to 3 bags for spaghetti sauce.

Now for the wonderful pictures to make your mouth water, followed by the easy recipe!

Stuffed Shells
Adapted from Once A Month Cooking Family Favorites By Mimi Wilson and Mary Beth Lagerborg 

12 oz package jumbo shells (MANY to choose from, I like looking in the Italian section at Dillons as they seem to have less ingredients in them AND same price or even cheaper than the cheap ones!)
1 15-oz carton ricotta cheese (reason to double recipe is that usually cheaper to buy the 30oz)
1 16-oz carton small curds cottage cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tbl chopped fresh parsley (can be omitted)
2 eggs
Spaghetti Sauce from Last Week's Post
2 to 4 9X9 foil pans
Aluminium Foil

To Make:
1) Cook the shells according to the package
2) Combine all the remaining ingredients in a big bowl
3) When the shells are done, rinse them and cool them off so that they are easier to hold
4) Fill the shells with the cheese mixture. Can be done 2 ways. 1- take spoonful and put into shell. 2- put the mixture into a plastic bag and cut a corner off then squeeze it into the shells. I find the bag harder if done alone but if you have someone else helping, then it will make it go a bit faster.
5) Place each shell into your pan until full.
6) Put the spaghetti sauce on top to your liking.
7) Write on your foil what it is and the date (just in case you may forget or make a lot of different recipes!)
8) Put into freezer and clean up!

To Serve:
1) Thaw a pan overnight in the fridge
2) Preheat oven to 350
3) Place pan covered in oven for 45 mins
4) Take the foil off and bake for an additional 15 mins.
5) Pull out and serve!

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS!

My poor husband came home to this yesterday. That's right, I dug out some of the Christmas decorations! Yesterday was in the 60s, today is 20s and 30s with icy/snow/rain/yucky stuff. I thought I would be nice and get it all started for him and he could finish. I even took the kiddos to Lowe's and got him some light clip things. Well, this is as far as it got. He says he is fine doing it in the cold and rain and snow so we will see. All  I know is, I'm so ready for the Holiday season!!!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Geek Dad In Action

Disney's Frozen Activity Sheets!

I am really getting excited about Disney's new movie Frozen! The good news is that it comes out IN 8 DAYS!! It has been a while since any movies have come out that I have wanted to see. AND that I can take the kids to makes it a big plus!

Allied Shirts Review

I received an email the other day asking me if I would like to try Allied Shirts.com and to write a review. I just had to jump on it! Allied Shirts is a company that makes custom T-Shirts, Sweatshirts, and Hoodies. I love customized shirts but have never thought about getting my own because I thought they would be too expensive and cheaply made. Not true!! 

The process to make the shirt was easy from start to finish! I got to pick the text and clip art. I got to design the shirt all by myself! The nice thing too is if there is anything wrong with the design or if it might not work, they will email you and let you know! 

The shipping was fast too! I ordered on November 5th and it was here in the mail November 12th! When I opened it, I was just so impressed!

The colors are so bright! It looking at it, I'm not afraid of washing it and the letters coming off.

 (Please excuse the mess,  I have kids!!!)

I got an XL shirt and I was impressed how well it fit. Yes, I am still currently working on losing weight so I will look even better in the shirt in a few more pounds, but the fact it fit was nice. It also is a preshrunk cotton shirt, so I know that it will continue to fit even after I wash it!

I definitely recommend Allied Shirts.com to anyone looking to make a customized shirt! Right now they are also having a HUGE sale! All T-shirts are 30% off! The discount will automatically be taken off at checkout. You will have to hurry because it ends November 28, 2013 at 11:59PM Central time!

*Disclaimer: I received a free Custom Gildan Tee from AlliedShirts.com in return for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Allied Shirts Recommends:

BuildASign.com and Printcopia

Maleficent Teaser Trailer Released!

I don't know about you, but I love movies. I especially love Disney movies, hardly any that I don't like. I am enjoying lately that producers and directors are coming and making stories from the "other" side. Mirror, Mirror starring Julia Roberts and Lily Collins last year was amazing! Next year on May 30, 2014, Maleficent will get to tell her side of the tale from Sleeping Beauty! It will star Angelina Jolie as Maleficent and Elle Fanning (Dakota Fanning's younger sister) as Princess Aurora. It will tell the tale from Maleficent's side, which will show how she became the way she was. I can't wait to see how they accomplish this!

OFFICIAL BOILERPLATE:

From Disney comes “Maleficent”—the untold story of Disney’s most iconicvillain from the 1959 classic “Sleeping Beauty.” A beautiful, pure-hearted young woman, Maleficent has an idyllic life growing up in a peaceable forest kingdom, until one day when an invading army threatens the harmony of the land. Maleficent rises to be the land’s fiercest protector, but she ultimately suffers a ruthless betrayal—an act that begins to turn her pure heart to stone. Bent on revenge, Maleficent faces an epic battle with the invading king’s successor and, as a result, places a curse upon his newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Maleficent realizes that Aurora holds the key to peace in the kingdom—and perhaps to Maleficent’s true happiness as well.

The film stars Angelina Jolie as Maleficent, Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple and Lesley Manville.

“Maleficent” is produced by Joe Roth and directed by Robert Stromberg, with Angelina Jolie, Don Hahn, Matt Smith, Palak Patel and Sarah Bradshaw serving as executive producers. Linda Woolverton wrote the screenplay. “Maleficent” opens in theaters on May 30, 2014.

Monday Freezer Meal Recipe- Spaghetti Sauce

I have been trying to think of ways to get myself to keep getting posts up. One thought is to have a post scheduled for a certain day of the week and then hopefully I will keep up with it. I have decided that I am going to try and do Freezer Meal recipe on Monday! I like making freezer meals and I think it would help me to make one once a week so that way we would have food in the freezer so it would be less likely for me to make the excuse to go out to eat!

Hopefully I will be able to take the pictures and process all out for you too but it depends on 1) If I remember and 2) If I don't have complete help from all three of my kiddos! This week, I am going to share one that can be used and made very easily, Spaghetti Sauce! I love using it to make stuffed shells, which I will share next week!

First the wonderful pictures, THEN I'll tell you how to do it all :)

Spaghetti Sauce
Adapted from Once A Month Cooking Family Favorites By Mimi Wilson and Mary Beth Lagerborg

1 onion, chopped
1 lb mild Italian Sausage
1 6-oz can tomato paste, then fill half full with warm water, stir then dump it in
1 28-oz crushed tomato in puree
1 cup tomato sauce (if you don't have any or forget it, just add a bit extra water)
2 tsp chopped or minced garlic (add more if you like the flavor!)
2 bay leaves (I crush them up so that they are harder to find when eating if you don't take them out)
1 tbl sugar
2 tsp fennel seeds
1-3 tsp Italian seasoning
2 tbl fresh parsley, finely chopped (this can be omitted too if you don't have it or forget)
1 tsp salt
2-4 1-quart freezer bags

To Make:
1) Start by browning the sausage in a large pot.
2) While it's cooking, chop up the onion, then add it to the sausage
3) When done, drain then put back on stove
4) Add in all the other ingredients and stir.
5) Bring to a boil.
6) Lower the heat and simmer for 30 mins while partly covered.
7) Allow the sauce to cool.
8) LABEL your 1 quart freezer bags.
9) Fill the bags as full as you think you will need
10) Put into the freezer

To Thaw:
Put a 1 quart bag of spaghetti sauce in the fridge overnight.
Heat thoroughly and serve!

Weekly Menu Through November 24th

It's going to be another busy week! Hopefully we are able to follow through on our menu this week as we have been seeming to lack or I just get lazy and decide to order pizza! It's so much better when we eat at home, that's for sure!

Monday: Out to eat (The oldest wrote to 100 on her paper, so we went to celebrate!)

Tuesday: Stuffed Shells

Wednesday: Church Night

Thursday: Potato Soup

Friday: Beef Enchiladas

Saturday: BBQ Pork Sandwiches

Sunday: Southwest Soup

Weekly Winnings Through November 17th

This week I won:

* Care Bears The Great Giving Holiday DVD

Wordless Wednesday

I decided to start in on the craze of Wordless Wednesday. I figure this way I KNOW I will have to blog at least once a week :) I'm sure you all will enjoy the random pictures, too! I'm a couple weeks late, but Happy Halloween!

Weekly Menu for November 11-November 17th

Monday: Chili and Cinnamon Rolls

Tuesday: Potato Soup

Wednesday: Church Night

Thursday: Mentor Meeting Night

Friday: Chicken Enchiladas

Saturday: Out to Eat

Sunday: Frozen Pizza

Weekly Winnings Through November 11, 2013

In the last week, I have won......

* Dove Self Esteem giveaway package
*Funbites and other goodies

Weekly Winnings Through November 4, 2013

This week I have won:

• Flatten Me personalized Book
• Fold And Go Tablet Stand

Weekly Menu November 4 - November 10, 2013

Monday: Eat Out

Tuesday: Pancakes and Bacon

Wednesday: Church Night

Thursday: Chili and Cinnamon Rolls

Friday: Chicken Enchiladas

Saturday: Potato Soup

Sunday: Small Group Meal

Playing Catch Up

I apologize for the lack of posts again. Between life and everyone getting sick, its been a busy time in our family! We had a wonderful Halloween! Our kids got to do our church's Fall Festival and then we went around some of the neighborhoods in town so they could get that experience too. Of course they were cold and tired so not much of that was done, so I'm sure next year they will be fine with just the festival part!

We had a wonderful game night at our house over the weekend. I had fun making lots of snacks including BBQ pork sandwiches and Cheesy hamburger dip. It was only 8 of us and 2 of the guys got stuck on child care duty BUT still a lot of fun! We decided next time we need to find a sitter or some unsuspecting teenager to take care of our 8 kids so the guys could be included! The Game Night was from House Party. It is where you can go and apply to host parties. I have done some in the past, but this game night was by far the best ever! I am hoping we can turn this into a monthly girl's night or monthly's family night!

With the weather changing and school in session, the kids have been bringing home the crud. I have never heard so much coughing in the house! The noses are running like faucets and the voices are all raspy. I can hardly wait for this to be out of the house. Luckily the hubby does not have it this go around so he can take care of all us sickies.

I am hoping this week will be great and full of many blessings for everyone! Have a great week!

Weekly Menu for October 21st to October 27th

Monday: Pancakes and sausage

Tuesday: Stuffed Shells

Wednesday: Church night

Thursday: Patty Melts

Friday: Chicken Enchiladas

Saturday: Southwest Soup

Sunday: BBQ Pork Sandwiches

Weekly Winnings

This week has been a busy one so I apologize for not keeping up on it again!

 Since I last posted, I have won:

• Undaunted book
• Renuzits coupon for a free one
• Thomas and Friends King of the Railway DVD (perfect to check off another Christmas gift!)

Weekly Winnings

This week I was lucky enough to win:

• Little Mermaid BluRay/DVD/Digital copy bundle
• Bravest Warriors - Tote bag and T-shirt

Weekly Menu for October 7th-October 13th

Monday: Spaghetti

Tuesday: Crockpot Potato Soup

Wednesday: Church Night!

Thursday: Pancakes and Sausage

Friday: Enchiladas

Saturday: Southwest Soup

Sunday: Stuffed Shells

Weekly Winnings

This week I have won:

• Luvs Size 5 diaper pack
• Homemaker's Friend 2014 Daily Planner (which comes in handy so I don't have to buy a new one!)
• Free Seattle Frozen Blend Coffee Coupon 
• Free Jamba Smoothie Coupon
• Recess Monkey Desert Island CD
• $10 Digital Gift Card from Macy's Match and Win Game (Go HERE to get in on the action!)

As I always say, someone has to win a giveaway so why not me?!?

Dinner Menu For The Week of September 30th to October 6th

First off, how did it become October already?!?!?! Also, why are we still in the 80s?! What weird weather but the weird thing is why do I think its weird as it always seems to be like this! ANYWAYS! I used to post a menu every week and it usually helped me keep track and know what we were going to eat. I fell out of that habit and OF COURSE then screwed it all up then because I didn't have a clue what I was going to make and then would use that as an excuse to go out to eat. Well, for that reason I am starting a weekly menu again!!!! I will be at a conference Friday and Saturday so I will leave them to do what they want, otherwise here is what we are planning on dinner for this week!!



Monday: Waffles and Bacon

Tuesday: Stuffed Shells

Wednesday: Chicken Roll Ups

Thursday: BBQ pork sandwiches

Friday: On their own!

Saturday: Southwest Soup

Sunday: Spaghetti

Any Interest In Freezer Meals Recipes/How Tos?

So, I have been doing Freezer Meals. I made about 20 meals this last time. They are so easy to do and then during the week I just have to make sure I put what I want in the fridge the night before, then pop it in the oven and about an hour later, we have a wonderful cooked meal. 

These are Stuffed Shells 

My question is, is there any interest from anyone for me to show you and tell you the recipes that I make? I am planning on another freezer meal day soon so I could take more detailed pictures and post recipes as I go along so that you would be able to make them yourself. If I get enough feedback, I will definitely make sure to document and share! Thanks!

Homemade Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches

So, my hubby and I tried this awesome Philly sandwich at a meeting and we both really liked it. Issue? It was in the frozen section and about $15! So, we decided instead that we would spend that money to make our own from scratch. Better for us as we know all the ingredients that went into it and knew they were fresh and just so good and so hard to not keep eating!

Ingredients You Need:

Arm Steak

Green Peppers

Onions

French Loaf

Butter

Pepperjack Cheese Slices

First, when you buy your Arm Steak, you can hand it to the meat/deli clerk and ask them to cut it as thin sliced as they can.

As it is cooking, the hubby cut and chopped it up even more. Of course, he had fun doing this!

Then he cut up the green peppers we got from the farmer's market.

Then I took the French Loaf bread.......

And I cut it in half. Then I buttered both sides....YUM!

At that time, the meat was about done..........

So the hubby put the meat in a bowl so that he could put the peppers and onions on the grill.

When they were grilled up to his liking, he toasted the bread, then put the HUGE sandwich together!

Let me tell you, it was AMAZING! We made a huge mess everywhere but it was worth it! Not something we will make to eat very often because it was a bit expensive, but for a splurge every once in a while, it is definitely worth it! We ate this for dinner and the next 2-3 lunches!