Change Two

The second change we've made over the past few years is our food.  I used to get so excited over a sale on hamburger helper.  Then when I found Wal-Mart had their own brand of it for cheaper I thought I was the luckiest gal in the world!  Until I realized the luckiest gal in the world wouldn't be excited over the ingredient list on that package!  Even though we are still transforming we have come along way.  For 2011 the changes we'll be making will be slow, and come in phases.  For the first quarter of the year I have decided we will not purchase the following things:

Granola Bars- 
My husband loves these and eats one every day for breakfast.  the kids also love them, and I find them to be a quick snack for myself as well.  And that is why we won't be purchasing them.  they are not so terribly awful that I will never consume one again, but I am hoping to avoid the High fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, and artificial sweeteners.

Cakes-
 I love baking, but for some reason when a birthday rolls around I'm the first to say "lets go pick out your cake".  Store bought cakes will be taken off the list.  This will be super easy, since none of us have a birthday in the first quarter of the year anyway.  Man, I do love making a list that I can tackle easily!
Packaged pasta-  This one may be a big mistake.  I really have only made pasta once.  But i feel confident that I can do it and don't need to rely on Martha Gooch to do it for me.
Bottled water-This is a true sacrifice for me.  We'll see how this goes.  Without bottled water I drink less than a glass a  week.  I'm hopeful that I can make this change work.  Oh & I know water isn't unhealthy, but the plastic bottle it comes in IS.

Soda-We're pretty well stocked up right now, but if we run out before March 31st, we will get by without it.  My husband drinks a can a day.  I love him so very much and I know that this is something that will benefit him.  So I'll put up with whatever crap lines he gives me as to why he NEEDS soda and how its' actually healthy to have just one can a day...  moving on...

Fruit Snacks-  you know, the gummy little things in a package.  We have a couple boxes open right now, and a few in the pantry.  These things aren't even real fruit!  They have been a snack time staple in this house.  The youngest child here whines and cries for them and doesn't ever stop with just one package.  I usually feel like if I get one out for him i might as well have one too.  Then I'm in pain because the sugar crapola is stuck to my teeth and I wish I never heard of the things.

Suckers-Maybe if there is a great deal on organic suckers again.  Otherwise NO SUCKERS!  I don't care how cheap they are, or if my princess is offering to use her own money, no suckers!

Pancakes-
I decided since I don't know what all of these are:

Enriched Bleached Flour (Bleached Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Sugar, Leavening (Baking Soda, Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate), Dextrose, Soybean Oil, Salt, Egg Yolk, Natural And Artificial Flavor, Calcium Carbonate, Cornstarch, Egg White, Xanthan Gum. Allergy Warning: Contains Eggs And Wheat. May Contain Traces Of Milk, Walnuts, Peanuts And Soy.

That I'm just going to have to figure out how to make pancakes on my own, using ingredients that I know.  Like Flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, milk, egg & butter.  Wow, even typing that was easy, I bet making them will be just as simple!

A week ago I was actually having dreams about planting our garden and all of the wonderful vegetables we'll harvest.   Each year I am learning so much more and I feel like this year is going to be a great year for our garden! 

Change One

The first change our family has made and will continue to work on is following Jesus Christ.  It's not like we weren't believers before, but we really have a great passion for Him now.  Our main focus for 2011 is doing what He would like us to do.  Remember the old bracelets like this:

I could really use one of those for a constant reminder.  Or maybe a tattoo is in order.  Because I don't always act the way Jesus would, but I would love it if I did.
My head is so much clearer when I go to the Bible for the answers I need.  I am able to teach my children better when I'm teaching them from the Bible and not from my own understanding. 
My husband and I cannot always agree on everything, but we do agree that what is written in the Bible is the truth.

Changes

I'm a fan of change... All sorts of change.  Brett Favre leaving the Packers for the Vikings, Clothing, furniture placement, kitchen appliances & tools, table/drink ware, the places things are stored in the cupboards, and especially coins!  haha, get it, coins.. Because that's change too..

Okay, not nearly as funny as I thought it would be, but there is still hope this blog post will work out!

Our family has made so many changes in the past few years, mostly for the better.  I, I mean WE, have decided that there are a few really great things that are important to us, that weren't as important in the past.  I will highlight these changes in 3 posts, then I will try to update on them occasionally as well.  Be on the look out! 

I really love pumpkin

Yes, I REALLY do love pumpkin.  I think I could eat pumpkin muffins all day long.  I used a pumpkin bread recipe that I modified from my homemade cookbook.  It's actually just a 3 ring binder we had laying around.  My favorite aunt e-mailed me 9 e-mails full of attachments.  Each attatchment was a recipe of my grandma's.  So I printed these on card stock, hole punched them and snapped them in to what I now call my homemade cookbook.

Pumpkin Bread
ingredients:
1 3/4 C. Pumpkin (1can)
3 1/3 C. Flour
3 C. Sugar
2/3 C. Shortening
2/3 C. Water
4 Eggs
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
2 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Cinnamon

I have no patience for beating eggs, or separating dry ingredients from liquid.  So I just put everything into a bowl & mixed it.  With my fancy new kitchenaid mixer that I am in love with.
For bread, bake at 350 degrees for just under an hour.  This time I made 24 muffins and 1 loaf of bread, the muffins I took out after about 35 minutes, the bread I turned off after 45 minutes, but left in for another 15 minutes... so the timing isn't terribly important.  I'd say if you want a general rule- 350 for 40 minutes, then do the toothpick check.

For the frosting I used a recipe I found here.

¼ C. Softened Butter

4 ounces Cream Cheese (half a bric

½ pounds Powdered Sugar 

A Splash of Vanilla


Ps- A cute little story from my "childhood".  My grandmother used to make the BEST pumpkin pie.  I used to say Punky for pumpkin... As in, "I love grandma's punky pie".  It wasn't until about a year ago when my husband corrected me I realized that I was still saying this. 

Christmas Photo Cards

With Love Chartreuse Christmas 5x7 folded card

Make a statement with Shutterfly Christmas photo cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

The cards turned out wonderful this year!! I just can't wait to get them in the mail to all of my wonderful friends and family!