We’re trying to form our line up to get our picture taken! I love when people take candida with my phone and capture the chaos of what it takes for a one good picture!
My boys- they’re so handsome!
Such a classy looking couple!!
My Little Project
Trying to get back on track again!
We made homemade donuts for the first time today! This Christmas my sister gave my son all the things needed to make them and what a fun gift it was!
Because it was our first time it took a little longer than I expected. If we make them to have for breakfast it would be easiest to prepare the dough the night before.
The best part is how unique each one came out!
Sundays Are Best Spent With Family
ago
I can’t believe it’s January and there is no snow.. for the second year in a row.
Typically we are freezing and shoveling ourselves out, but instead we are heading into a week of 40 and 50 degree temperatures!
The best part is being able to open up the doors and windows and airing out the house!
I bought this lavender plant for the house two weeks ago instead of using oils. I can proudly say that after two weeks it is still alive. The only problem is that it isn’t very fragrant- but it is so beautiful!
Finally, I’ve started a new project! I’m ambitiously making a blanket which means it should be finished in about three years at the rate I make things!
Cozy January Sunday Night and a Frugally Planned Trip
I love Sundays in the winter when it’s freezing outside and the wind in unforgiving, yet I can hibernate inside with the people I love. Last night I made a pot sauce with meatballs and sausage using the new pot my grandma bought me. We ate and snuggled up to watch the Packers win! My youngest baked brownies and we had sundaes with the fire going in the fireplace.
As great as the night was, it actually wasn’t the original plan for the weekend because one of the kids wasn’t feeling well.
Last week when I was filling in calendar I realized that nearly all of us had the day free on Martin Luther King Day. We have a vacation jar started in which money from bottle returns, leftover change and any cash I have leftover from my gas budget goes in the jar.
I decided to try to surprise the kids something fun to do as a family and came up with the idea to go away overnight! I chose to go to Niagara Falls because it’s close by and they have never been there before. didn’t give them any clues other than to pack an overnight bag and a bathing suit and I planned on keeping them in suspense until we got there.
Of course we didn’t make it this weekend, but the silver lining is that we can continue to save for something for next time. Maybe it will be for a longer stay.
I am on a very tight budget right now and going away overnight is a very special treat. It’s not always fun to not be able to go shopping and buy whatever you want when you want it, or not to not go out to eat whenever you feel like it. But the weird thing is that the boundaries that are placed are a very freeing feeling.
This may seem contradicting, but in reality it’s not. It’s like eating healthy, If you give yourself permission to eat one dessert a day and eat balanced the rest of the day, then the dessert becomes a reward for eating well.
Same with your budget. If you pay all of your bills and keep yourself out of debt and give yourself a small spending allowance, then it becomes a treat!
We made the best of the weekend regardless… and as I have some great ideas for the next one that we plan!
My Weekend Retreat
Every weekend in the summertime I look forward to the little slice of heaven that I call my backyard! I pull out my books, turn on some good country music (a little Dierks does a soul a lot of good) and lick back in my adirondack chair.
My “neighbor” consists of fields full of soybeans and alfalfa. When the sun gets to hot I jump in the pool and get in my workout of swimming and walking. Yup I walk in my pool.
The only thing that I worry about are any clouds in the way of the sun. Up north we have too many cold days for to be concerned with cleaning on a sunny afternoon!
Day 8
Look how much my seeds have grown!
The cilantro is starting to poke through the dirt and the lettuce is almost ready to plant in the garden!
My (Healthy) Indulgence
These are my lifesavers in the afternoon! I don’t know about you, but I need a “pick me up” around 2:30 every day! I haven’t made these in a little while and so I’ve been eating chocolate- which isn’t bad- but I will eat waaayyy too much of it!
The best thing about these is you can add anything you like to them!
Here’s how I made these:
3 mashed bananas
1 1/2-2 cups of quick oats (I mix enough to get the consistency I like)
1 tsp honey
1 tsp flax seed
1 pinch salt
2 tsp peanut butter (all natural is best)
1/4 chocolate chips
Mix together, use a teaspoon to drop onto greased cookie sheets, and bake for 12-15 minutes in preheated oven at 375 degrees.
I have them with tea in the afternoon.. Yummmm!!
My Homebasics 
