Monster Cookies

My little monsters and I made these yummy cookies the other day.  We ate some, shared some and froze some.  It makes quite a few cookies so be prepared.  The recipe is gluten free if you're needing to keep track. 

 

 

 

 

Aunt Barb's Monster Cookies

 

Ingredients:

 

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

*1/2 cup margarine, softened

3 beaten eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups of peanut butter

2 teaspoons baking soda

4 1/2 cup old fashioned oatmeal

2 cups chocolate chips

10 ounces of M&M's

 

Directions:

 

Cream brown sugar, white sugar and margarine until fluffy.

 

Add eggs, peanut butter and vanilla and mix well.

 

 

 

 

Add baking soda and oatmeal and mix well.

 

 

 

 

Fold in chocolate chips and M&M's.

 

Shape into balls of desired size and place on ungreased pan.

 

 

 

 

Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.

 

Let stand 2 minutes before removing on pan.

 

 

 

 

Weekly Goals- October 14, 2013

It was my first official week on layoff status.  Being a stay-at-home homeschooling mom and wife is my most favorite role in life but I'm trying to give myself a little time to re-adjust.  I went from working 45-60 hours a week, having a job description to follow and people who needed reports, to just me.  Well, me, my husband, our seven year old and our two/almost three year old. 

Giving myself a little grace as we all transition into this season is really important.

 It takes time to slow down, enjoy things more deeply and get into a comfortable routine.


Last week's goals and the progress I made on them...

Weekly Goals- October 7, 2013

Errands:

 

1) Pick Up Yarn For Christmas Gifts and Scarf Order  Not Completed

 

2) Post Office  Completed thanks to my wonderful neighbor and the handy little device called usps.com.

 

Homeschool:

 

1) Set Up Writing Center  Done

 

2) Bulletin Board for Children's Goals, Memory Verse, Chore List and Calendar  Started

 

3) Leaf Project  Done

 

4) Morning Devotions  Attempted.  Just need to find our groove.

 

5) Go For Walk x 3  Done

 

 

 

 

Personal:

 

1) Go For A Walk While Husband Can Watch the Boys x 2  Done

 

2) Begin reading "The Ministry of Motherhood"  Did not start yet

 

Marriage:

 

1) Complete Home Work for Dave Ramsey Class  Done

 

2) Set Goals for How To Use Extra Money  Not completed

 

 

 

Leaf Project,

Observing, Discussing, Sorting, Classifying,  and Identifying.

 

 

 

Weekly Goals- October 14, 2013

 

Errands:

 

1) Pick Up Yarn For Christmas Gifts and Scarf Order

 

Home Management

 

1) Make Liam's Costume

 

2) Make Laundry Soap

 

3) Make Chocolate Syrup

 

Homeschool:

 

1) Bulletin Board for Children's Goals, Memory Verse, Chore List and Calendar

 

2) Research Pumpkins, Take a Trip to the Pumpkin Patch and Carve Jack-o-lanterns

 

3) Morning Devotions

 

4) Go For Walk x 3

 

5) Spend, Save and Give Jars

 

Personal:

 

1) Go For A Walk While Husband Can Watch the Boys x 2

 

2) Begin reading "The Ministry of Motherhood"

 

Marriage:

 

1) Complete Home Work for Dave Ramsey Class

 

2) Set Goals for How To Use Extra Money

Week Six of the Spending Freeze Challenge

This was my first week off from work and in order to follow along with our Spending Freeze, I limited any activities that would involve spending money.

Here's a recap of our week...

I spent $96.01 on groceries and we totally ran out of food.  With me no longer eating at work and the boys not eating a majority of their meals at childcare, we just plain ran out.  I'm going to have to adjust some things and possibly put a little more money towards groceries. 

I read about people who spend $50 on average on weekly groceries for a family of four.  It makes me wonder, how do they do that?


The boys and I walked to a neighbor's home for a play-date, went on several walks, packed drinks and snacks for soccer practice and combined a trip to the library with grocery shopping.


An unschooling group that we are a part of organized a game day at a local coffee house.  It was a little bit of a drive but other than gas, didn't cost me anything.  Matthew and Liam chose to spend their own money to buy hot chocolate and I just hung out and played memory with Liam while Matt played Monopoly with friends.

My husband and I decided to go out to dinner with the boys this week.  We hadn't spent any money aside from groceries and gas and so we treated ourselves to dinner at Texas Roadhouse.  We went before 6:00 p.m. and got their early dinner specials and had coupons for two free kids meals from the summer reading program this past year.  We had water to drink and spent a total of $23.00, including the tip.


We have suspended our satellite account which is going to save us $85.00 per month.  I've been pushing, I mean, encouraging my husband to let us do without it for over a year now.  It finally hit home how much we can save compared to how much we actually watch.  Having 100's of shows available for the boys is not the direction I want to go and saving money was a great excuse.


We've doubled our savings from last week and it's a good feeling to be choosing to not spend money.  When we have no money, it feels a little like we're depriving ourselves of things.  We can't go there, we can't do that, we can't have that, etc.  We have money and as I so kindly remind my seven year old when he asks, we are choosing to save it instead of spend it.

To read more about our Spending Freeze Challenge, click this link: Frugal Living

Homemade Soft Pretzels

I just love the pretzels at the mall and when my sister told me about this recipe, I had to try it!  I've been making them for over two years now and they are a family favorite.  For the price of a mall pretzel, I can make 16 pretzels.  Plus, they are healthier and freeze great!


Buttery Soft Pretzels

Ingredients:

4 teaspoons active dry yeast 1 teaspoon white sugar 1 1/4 cups warm water 4 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup white sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1 tablespoon vegetable oil   For the Pretzel Wash 1/2 cup baking soda 4 cups hot water 1/4 cup kosher salt, for topping

Directions:

1.	In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
2.	In a large bowl, mix together flour, 1/2 cup sugar, and salt. Make a well in the center; add the oil and yeast mixture. Mix and form into a dough. If the mixture is dry, add one or two tablespoons of water. Knead the dough until smooth, about 7 to 8 minutes by hand or 3 minutes if using a Kitchen Aid. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
3.	Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). In a large bowl, dissolve baking soda in hot water.
4.	When risen, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 16 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope and twist into a pretzel shape. Once all of the dough is all shaped, wash each pretzel into the baking soda solution and place on a greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with kosher salt.
5.	Bake in preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, until browned. Original Buttery Soft Pretzel Recipe from AllRecipes *Don't skip the pretzel wash.  I tried doing without it once and the pretzels tasted like ordinary white bread.*

Weekly Goals, October 7, 2013

Last week flew by! I had taken a couple of days off from work which made my last week go by super quick.  I'm done for the year and it's like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

Last week's goals...

September 30, 2013

1) Create New Goal Outline Check

 

2) Walk 3 Times Not done

 

3) Clean off Patio  Partially Complete

 

 

 

 

Goals for the Week of October 7, 2013

 

Home:

 

1) Go to Bed With A Clean Kitchen Every Night

 

2) One Load Of Laundry A Day

 

3) Clean and Organize Den

 

Errands:

 

1) Pick Up Yarn For Christmas Gifts and Scarf Order

 

2) Post Office

 

Homeschool:

 

1) Set Up Writing Center

 

2) Bulletin Board for Children's Goals, Memory Verse, Chore List and Calendar

 

3) Leaf Project

 

4) Morning Devotions

 

5) Go For Walk x 3

 

Personal:

 

1) Go For A Walk While Husband Can Watch the Boys x 2

 

2) Begin reading "The Ministry of Motherhood"

 

Marriage:

 

1) Complete Home Work for Dave Ramsey Class

 

2) Set Goals for How To Use Extra Money

Week Five of the Spending Freeze Challenge

We did it.  We conquered and overcame an entire month of spending no extra money and keeping expenses to a minimum.  Although my husband and I had different ideas on how to handle any extra money that came our way, we stopped using our paychecks for things that we could totally live without.

 

Plan ahead.

 

The children are going to get hungry and thirsty.  By planning ahead and bringing simple snacks and water, we avoided the $3-$5 purchases at gas stations and fast food places.  Don't forget about yourself.  You're going to get hungry and thirsty, too and it's so easy to spend when you're not thinking clearly.

 

 

Eat dinner before you go.

 

I met some friends this week for an informal get together.  While their salads and frappes looked yummy, I was able to stick with my plan because I had eaten before I left.  I even remembered to bring a bottle of water.

 

 

Find simple and inexpensive ways to treat yourself.

 

It was our last week of work and I typically purchase a meal out every day at these times.  (When we have students, meals are provided for the teachers so we can eat with the students but our last day of school was the week before.)  I used a coupon for a free sandwich with the purchase of a drink for Monday and used the change I found in my van to pay for that.  I brought my lunch from home on Tuesday and then a friend ended up taking me out.  Wednesday and Thursday I had off and Friday I treated myself to a meal with my co-workers.  I got water and the lunch special and only spent $10, including the tip.

 

In my family, it is a HUGE deal to be allowed to eat dinner in front of the t.v.  I rented a $1.28 movie from red box, picked up a frozen pizza for $3.33 and made homemade hot chocolate.  The boys really enjoy the special treat and I feel like we're still having fun without having to spend the $50 for dinner at a restaurant and a movie at the theatre.

 

 

We spent $100.82 on groceries this week.  The extra 82 cents was due to a meal flop.  I had made homemade bread one evening for grilled cheese sandwiches and found out that Almond Milk can not be used as a substitute for cow's milk.  Had to switch things around and picked up an extra item at the store.

This week we paid all the bills due and those coming up and were able to put a small chunk of money in to savings. 

We're making huge progress...

To read more about our Spending Freeze challenge, click on this link: Frugal Living

The Woman Who Fears the Lord #10

The Woman Who Fears the Lord

 

A Study of Proverbs 31

Verse 19

 

"In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers."

 

I had no idea what a distaff was.  Good thing we live in an age where Goggle helps answer our questions.  Thanks to Disney, I knew what a spindle was. 

 

 

 

Our dear friend, Mrs. Proverbs, took care of her household in everyway.  She was a jack of all trades.  If she had a resume it would include the skill of using a staff (which holds the wool, flax, etc. without letting it get tangled) and a spindle (which spins the wool, flax, etc. into thread, yarn, etc.)

 

Before factories, Walmart, Kohls and JoAnn Fabrics you had to make your own material for clothes, curtains, tablecloths, towels, etc. 

 

Thank goodness we live in the 21st century.  I can't see my husband herding and sheering sheep while I wait for him at home with my distaff and spindle. 

The mental picture makes me laugh.

 

How then, can we use this verse to strengthen and encourage us?

 

 

Clothing my family is hard work.

 

Although it may seem easy to go out and purchase what we need at the store instead of starting from scratch like our friend, Mrs. Proverbs, we do have our own challenges to face.

 

My current challenge is how to get the clothes we need and still keep within our budget.

 

My husband has needed to replace his holey shirts and pants for while now.

 

I noticed both of our son's pants were looking a little short the other day.

 

And me?  I'm still trying to figure out where my clothes are going to fit.

 

For now, I'm going to focus on them and pray that the answer comes to me.

 

 

Things in the 21st century can be just as complicated as when King Solomon wrote Proverbs 31.

 

Not staff and spindle complicated, but still complicated indeed.

 

 

 

 

A link to the series "The Woman Who Fears the Lord"