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No, really, I’m still alive! I was only mostly dead. -lol- My family would say that is SLIGHTLY dramatic. I, on the other hand, am the one who takes care of everyone else when THEY get sick. I don’t actually do sick, myself. Puking was reserved for being pregnant and that hasn’t happened for more [...]
No, really, I’m still alive! I was only mostly dead. -lol- My family would say that is SLIGHTLY dramatic. I, on the other hand, am the one who takes care of everyone else when THEY get sick. I don’t actually do sick, myself. Puking was reserved for being pregnant and that hasn’t happened for more than ten years, so when this flu bug got a hold of me, over the holidays, I had myself a little pity party. But, it’s all good now and I’m back!
Well, I am way beyond the acceptable limit of wishing you a Merry Christmas! The end of December has rushed on past me, this year, and I unfortunately spent several days of it down with the flu. What a blessing that I shared a fabulous Christmas morning and day with my family, before falling prey to that bug, though. How truly and exceptionally blessed I am to get to be THEIR wife, mom and grandma! What an overwhelming and precious gift! I hope each of you experienced even a fraction of the love, memories, fun and excitement that we shared at our home, this year, because that will mean that you are filled to overflowing with all that is really important in life! May God continue to bless you into the coming new year!
I had hoped to share several more DIY gift projects with you, (some sneak peek pictures, below) before the end of December, but as that ship has definitely sailed, we’re going to enjoy them, anyway, over the next few days and use them to kick off a whole year of meeting 2012′s Gift-Giving Challenges with some fabulous, frugal and easy ideas for gifts that will have you prepared for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and even next Christmas. Spread the work and the cost over the next 12 months and you’ll enjoy a relaxing, fun and debt-free Christmas in 2012! We’ll complete projects every month that will allow you to be prepared for any occasion or unexpected gift need. It’s going to be a blast!
I made these magnet boards for the girls in my high school Bible Study. The buttons are the magnets and the bow is hot-glued. The lighting on this shot is not good, but the boards were adorable and inexpensive to make.
I etched these cocoa mugs with the girls' names and lots of snowflakes, then filled them with cocoa mix and candy canes.
I also made these quick, simple skirts and fabric flower hair clips for our granddaughters. We'll go through the how-to's on each of these projects, in the days ahead. 
And of course, there’ll be recipes! 2012 is going to be loaded with them – tasty ways to satisfy your hungry family on a limited budget. I can’t wait to share great recipes and ideas that will make your time in the kitchen worthwhile and fun.
I’m going to tackle some organizational projects, too. After a full year in our “new” house, I have a much better understanding of how we “live” in this house, what storage and organizational things have worked and which haven’t. We don’t have a huge budget for all kinds of fancy organizational systems and storage. As a matter of fact, we don’t have ANY budget for it! -lol- So, I’m going to get creative and I’ll share the journey. Also, part of getting organized will be DECLUTTERING. Oy! That will mean letting go of some things. Okay, specifically that will mean letting go of some books. Those of you who’ve been around awhile know that will NOT be an easy undertaking for me, but I recognize the problem and this is the year I’m resolved to getting a handle on it.
We’re going to do some of the redecorating, rearranging and “sprucing up” that will add our family’s own flair and personality to our home, too. We’ll be scouring garage sales and thrift stores, as well as our own garage and house for items to recycle and revamp on a frugal budget and put some personal style and decorating sense into our home, as we organize and prioritize what stays and what goes.
My goal is to share more of our homeschool experiences with you, as well. Homeschooling is a very personal topic and I have only allowed myself to interject a small number of posts about it into the blog. Part of that is because after being a very strong presence in homeschooling circles for many years, I recognize the time commitment it takes to field the questions and efficiently offer the help that will come from putting myself out there and also because the reasons for, and ways to, homeschool are as plentiful and varied as the families who undertake it. There is no one right or wrong answer. I never want someone to believe that my way is more valid than what they are doing or that our “results” are the reason that they should or should not plunge into this journey with their own family. God has a purpose and a plan for every family and if homeschooling is something He is calling you to, He will undoubtedly provide the resources, time, patience, etc., etc., etc., for you to do so, regardless of the latest popular trends in education or the “way I do it”. So, trying to keep that in mind and balance my own experience with a healthy dose of incredible possibilities and resources, my intention is to be a little more “out there” with what has worked, what hasn’t worked as well and what we’re doing now, in the continuing story of our more than two decades as a homeschooling family.
A garden — a lovely garden — there is also, DEFINITELY, going to be a lovely garden. – lol- I do hereby highly resolve to create a beautiful space where food and flowers and children can grow. Help me! My 2012 gardening adventure will be beginning before you know it. Better planning and preparation, means better yields and, in the long run, less work, later. I have a goal and a plan. Hopefully, saying that “out loud” to you will make me feel more accountable to follow through and expand on the meager start I made, last summer. For a family on a frugal budget, it really is an important part of eating healthy and saving money.
And as always, there will be product reviews and giveaways of things I feel are relevant to the lives of my family and yours – products that help us do our jobs and juggle all our “hats” more efficiently and allow us to share great fun and memories with the people we love most. As a matter of fact, January holds some great surprises! A gorgeous Brother sewing machine, a NuWave oven, a sturdy egg beater from OXO that you’ll find yourself reaching for on a daily basis, a kitchen composter and so much more are in the line-up to share with you.
I’m so excited for our 2012, together! Thank you for all you do to make Busy-at-Home grow and for sharing your wisdom and encouragement with me and all the busy women, wives and moms who visit here! 2012 is going to be a year of rocking a frugal budget, “making it fabulous” with our own hands and resources, finding a place for everything and putting everything in it’s place and sharing the ups and downs of being busy-at-home. I’m so glad you’ll be here!
It’s a puzzle. It’s a maze. It’s a hands-on study in gravitational pull. lol We love it and your family will, too. I get excited about educational toys and games – ones that stretch the mind and challenge my kids to strategize and think. When a company not only accomplishes that, but creates a game [...]
Family fun in a portable, compact package!
It’s a puzzle. It’s a maze. It’s a hands-on study in gravitational pull. lol We love it and your family will, too. I get excited about educational toys and games – ones that stretch the mind and challenge my kids to strategize and think. When a company not only accomplishes that, but creates a game that is addictingly fun, I call it like I see it. WIN! It’s no surprise to me that Perplexus Original has been nominated for the Toy of the Year Awards. (You can use that link to cast a vote for them, yourself.) It’s produced by the makers of the Plasma Car, so when I was given the opportunity to review and host a giveaway of this totally contained, no-tiny-pieces-to-swallow, lose, or end-up-in-the-vacuum game, I jumped at the chance! I’m so glad I did AND so is my family – young and old. They literally wait in line, (some patiently, others, not so much ) for a turn to solve the puzzle and once they get ahold of it, they’re reluctant to pass it on to someone else. I can envision tournaments where multiple players, each with their own Perplexus Original ball, speed through the bendy, gravity-defying puzzle/maze to reach the finish, first. We’re definitely going to need a couple more of these! lol The great thing is that they are less expensive than the average board game, and a huge savings over other toys and video games, at only $19.99 each!
An educational toy your kids won't want to put down! Perplexus is challenging and fun!
The list of reasons I love this game just goes on and on, not the least of which is that no batteries or electricity are required! It has it’s own stand, which gives it a place to be, instead of rolling about. Ours sits on the end table next to the couch and gets picked up and used several times a day. It’s portable (only 8″ in diameter) and would be great entertainment on long car trips. Kids will fine tune their motor skills and eye-hand coordination while stretching their brain and having a blast! It’s simple to understand, but challenging to complete. It requires some thought, problem solving, dexterity, perseverance and patience — fantastic skills for kids (and big “kids”) to acquire. How does a toy get better than that?
Now, because of the silly world we live in, I am compelled to say,”This toy contains a small metal marble. It is sealed inside the round plastic ball, but if your child is a diligent engineering marvel, who enjoys disassembling sealed objects, or someone who would likely place the ball on the floor and smash it with their foot or blunt objects, there IS the potential that said child COULD eventually crush the ball, sift through the rubble and place the marble in their mouth, in which case they would likely swallow it. So, as a parent, use good judgement and don’t leave children under 3 unsupervised with this toy.” I feel so much better, now, that you have been warned about the obvious and the ridiculous! lol It’s like all those little warnings they have to print on hair dryer packages. “Do not operate this appliance in the sink.” “Do not use the hair dryer in bed.” Seriously? It’s so sad that somewhere along the line, some foolish and irresponsible person made such warnings necessary, but they have, so, now consider yourself forewarned. lol
You’re totally going to LOVE this toy! You’re also going to get a kick out of the deeply focused looks of concentration on the faces of anyone playing it. It’s amazing how serious they get about solving this puzzle!
We’ve definitely cast our vote for Perplexus as the Educational Toy of the Year and I hope you’ll take a minute to cast your vote, as well! We are having a blast with Perplexus and I anticipate many more hours of fun and competition with it in our family! I’m so excited to be able to share a chance to own one with your family! Just use the easy entry form below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I received Perplexus in order to test it and conduct this review. No monetary compensation was received and a positive review was not required. As with all Busy-at-Home reviews, the views and opinions expressed are wholly my own.
First of all, let me say that if you have a picture frame lying around the house, this cute and simple project will likely be less than $2! I spent $5 on a frame, used a few cents-worth of Elmer’s Double-Sided Scrapbooking Tape and added a dry erase marker; so I spent a little under [...]
First of all, let me say that if you have a picture frame lying around the house, this cute and simple project will likely be less than $2! I spent $5 on a frame, used a few cents-worth of Elmer’s Double-Sided Scrapbooking Tape and added a dry erase marker; so I spent a little under $7. I also purchased a pair of X-ACTO Precision Scissors, but since they will be used over and over again for many projects, it didn’t seem right to factor them into my cost for the dry erase board. I love that I didn’t have to go anywhere but my local WalMart to find what I needed. No unscheduled trips to the craft store in the city. Another big savings! Whether you spend $2 or $7, this is definitely an inexpensive gift option for something that will be decorative, personalized AND functional. You will also be able to substitute fabrics, papers and design ideas that fit your existing craft stockpile and the decor and personality of the person you are gifting the dry erase board to. The possibilities are absolutely limitless! I definitely won’t be leaving any old frames behind at garage sales any more.
This is the cute DIY Dry Erase Board I made. It's simple, inexpensive and totally customizable.
I started with the frame I bought, fabric and scrapbooking paper from my craft stash, double-sided tape and scissors, plus my big tub of colored pencils and crayons. Later, I grabbed some satin ribbon from my sewing box to finish things off. I opted for the double-sided tape because I wanted an adhesive that would not bleed through my fabric background and would not create bumps or raised areas under the fabric. The Elmer’s Permanent Double-Sided Scrapbooking Tape worked perfectly!
The "ingredients" for my DIY dry erase board - a picture frame, scrap fabric to fit the frame, scissors, double-sided tape, scrapbook paper scraps, colored pencils, white glue.
I opened the tabs on the back of the picture frame and removed the cardboard insert. Then on the back side of my fabric, I traced around the cardboard to get the correct dimensions to cover the cardboard. The X-ACTO Precision scissors were perfect for cutting that out.
Rectangle cut to the size of the cardboard from the picture frame.
Then I put double-sided tape all around the perimeter of the cardboard insert from the photo frame.
Double-sided tape applied to the carboard insert from the picture frame.
The Elmer's Double-Sided tape was easy to apply and easy to peel the backing off of.
Once I had peeled off the backing and exposed the adhesive on the other side of the double-sided tape, I simply laid the fabric over the cardboard and pressed it snugly into place against the tape.
Fabric applied to the tape, covering the carboard insert.
Next I wanted to create a design for the board that wouldn’t interfere too much with the actual writing area, but would add some personalization and help to match it to the decor of the person receiving the gift. I hoped that by utilizing some of my scrapbooking papers and cardstock I would be able to make it appear somewhat dimensional. I started with a scrap of light-brown, textured paper and sketched out a birdhouse shape. As you can see, there was nothing precise or skilled about it.
Birdhouse shape, roughly sketched out.
I used the birdhouse shape I cut out to trace the roof line on a darker brown paper.
Then I cut out the roof, cutting just above and then just below the line I had traced. The tracing line will disappear into the “shading” that creates a faux wood grain.
I fit the pieces together to make sure it was going to fit well, before shading and taping it together.
Once I knew everything would fit well, I shaded the roof and birdhouse, adding some colored pencil lines to give the appearance of wood planks or wood grain. Then I cut a small strip of the double-sided tape in half and used it to attach the roof to the birdhouse.
Attaching the roof to the birdhouse, after doing a little shading with colored pencils.
To decorate the birdhouse and add more detail, I used scrapbook paper and cut some flowers, leaves and a yellow swirl, along with a dark circle for the birdhouse door. I used colored pencils to outline and shade the flowers and bent the petals slightly upward to add some dimension. Then I affixed all of them to the birdhouse with dots of Elmer’s White Glue.
I added flowers and other decorations to the birdhouse, but I felt like it still needed something.
I decided to add one more element to the birdhouse. I used another piece of scrapbook paper and sketched out a circle, a slightly larger oval and two skinny hearts.
I sketched out the pieces for a bluebird, cut them out and put them together with a few drops of white glue.
The blue bird was easy to assemble with a few drops of Elmer's White Glue.
The blue bird put the finishing touches on the birdhouse.
To attach the birdhouse to the fabric background of the dry erase board, I used one strip of double sided tape and pressed the house into place.
One strip of the Elmer's Permanent Double-Sided Scrapbooking Tape held the birdhouse to the fabric background.
I found some satin ribbon in my sewing box and decided to “frame” the board with it. I used double-sided tape to attach it and tied a bow to add to the lower, left-hand corner.
I used double-sided tape to attach the ribbon to the board.
Once the ribbon frame and bow were attached, I inserted the entire board behind the glass in the frame and bent the tabs on the frame back in place to hold everything together. The layered paper and ribbon elements create dimension and a “3-d” effect and the glass keeps everything clean and protected. Plus, glass is a perfect surface for use with dry erase markers. I also discovered something called wet erase markers and I’m pleased to tell you that they work just as well. As a matter of fact, the wet erase markers don’t leave the gray residue film that is common with dry erase markers. Very cool! Now the finished board was ready to keep track of shopping lists, schedules or jot a note for family members. In this case, it’s ready for me to wrap and stick under the tree.
Easy, quick and affordable, plus a completely personalized gift idea - DIY Dry Erase Board!
This project has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias #ElmersHoliday #gluenglitter #collectivebias #cbias.
I don’t drink coffee -at all. I never have. So, of course it stands to reason that EVERY member of my family can’t get enough of it – my husband and ALL the kids. lol When I was given the opportunity to try the new International Delight Iced Coffees the excitement in our home was [...]
I don’t drink coffee -at all. I never have. So, of course it stands to reason that EVERY member of my family can’t get enough of it – my husband and ALL the kids. lol When I was given the opportunity to try the new International Delight Iced Coffees the excitement in our home was actually palpable. A shipping carton arrived at the door with three half-gallon cartons of the delicious beverages, nestled carefully inside a dry ice filled styrofoam cooler. My husband was still at work, so I had to monitor very closely to make sure he would get a chance to try some, too!
International Delight Iced Coffees - Original, Mocha and Vanilla
It may seem really silly, but I love the packaging! Something about it seems so festive and special. It almost looks like it should be an ice cream carton. I like the cool blue and white colors, and the product featured front and center in a very inviting presentation. If packaging can sell a product, this certainly can. I don’t even care for coffee and I wanted to try it.
We had to put a limit on our ten-year-old's consumption of International Delights Mocha Iced Coffee! She would gladly have polished off the entire carton!
Our son enjoying a refreshing International Delights Mocha Iced Coffee after a day of construction work at our new church building.
Each flavor of the International Delight Iced Coffees is creamy and smooth. To me, they immediately seemed like beverages to be served at a special dinner or a party, but they are a perfect refreshing treat, over ice, after a workout or a long day at work, too. My kids definitely picked Mocha as their favorite, with Vanilla running a close second, and my husband, our hard-core coffee drinker, preferred the original and said Vanilla was his second choice. So, is this non-coffee drinker a convert to these sweet, creamy versions of iced java? Not so much, but the Vanilla was definitely my favorite of the three. I’m still not a coffee drinker, but there is no doubt that for those who enjoy coffee, International Delight Iced Coffees are delicious treats that are perfect for everyday refreshment or for holidays and special gatherings! I have a sneaky suspicion that they would be amazing in several recipes that call for coffee, too. Imagine the Mocha in your favorite chocolate cake recipe or the Vanilla baked into tiramisu!
Delicious and festive.
This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias I received product samples in order to test them and write this review. A positive review was not required. The views and opinions expressed are wholly my own.
Our family loves to host movie nights with our friends and their families! We especially enjoy when the movie is something that old and young, alike, can enjoy together. Cars 2 fits that description perfectly! Combine that with some great gifts and educational material from Crest and Oral B and you have the makings of [...]
Our family loves to host movie nights with our friends and their families! We especially enjoy when the movie is something that old and young, alike, can enjoy together. Cars 2 fits that description perfectly! Combine that with some great gifts and educational material from Crest and Oral B and you have the makings of a fun get-together for everyone involved. We recently had the opportunity to do just that and share some of these fine products with our friends, as well as enjoying the antics of Mater and Lightening McQueen!
Oral B Stages has oral health care products and educational material for children from 4 months old up to 7 years old. The products are designed to make brushing and caring for teeth fun and feature characters the kids will recognize, like Disney Princesses and Toy Story or Cars 2 characters. Crest/Pro Health FOR ME products are for kids 8 to 12 and with their specific oral care needs in mind. Both sets of products encourage good oral care with products designed especially for the age group they serve. We had children of all ages at our party and their was much excitement over the generous gift bags!
We also baked cookies, with my son supervising the kitchen and helping to bake the yummy movie snacks with the children. The kids were so excited to see everything included in their gift bags! There were toothbrushes, flossers, toothpaste, gummy vitamins, fluoride rinse and balloons! We also received some excellent educational material about kids’ oral health. It was fabulous fun to get together with friends and to share some fine products with them at the same time.
Thank you to Oral B Stages and to Crest/Pro Health FOR ME for sponsoring this fun and educational event with a Cars 2 DVD and full-size product samples for the guests!
Sloppy Joes make a perfect quick supper that is filling and generally enjoyed by most people. It’s a staple in most kitchens and easy to fall back on in a pinch. The canned sauce varieties offer an even quicker alternative when I’m in a hurry to get a meal on the table, but my husband [...]
Sloppy Joes make a perfect quick supper that is filling and generally enjoyed by most people. It’s a staple in most kitchens and easy to fall back on in a pinch. The canned sauce varieties offer an even quicker alternative when I’m in a hurry to get a meal on the table, but my husband is not a fan of those. He prefers my homemade version. I recently came up with a compromise version that he liked and got me out the door to AWANA and Jr. High Youth Group in plenty of time. All I did was start with a base of an inexpensive canned sloppy joe sauce and then added the extra zip necessary to satisfy David’s discerning palate.
Spicy Sloppy Joe with Smoked Gouda Cheese
Fortunately, we’ve been testing some delicious products from Country Bob’s that added the perfect “kick” to our sloppy joe supper. The gift pack I reviewed contained a cookbook, Country Bob’s Seasoning Salt (which my daughter now has to have each evening when we make popcorn), Country Bob’s Barbecue Sauce (It was absolutely delicious on chicken.), Country Bob’s All Purpose Original Sauce (already one of our family favorites for burgers, steaks, chicken and pork), Country Bob’s Apple Chipotle Sauce and Country Bob’s Honey Habanero Sauce. We have loved Country Bob’s for years, but this was our first opportunity to try the seasoning salt and the two spicy sauces. We’re hooked ! They truly are “all purpose” sauces with so many possible uses in everything from meat, poultry, and casseroles to soups and stews.
I reviewed this awesome Country Bob's Gift pack.
Seasoning Salt, an assortment of sauces and a cookbook!
Fast, easy and satisfying with a spicy kick to turn same-old, same-old into something special!
Ingredients
- 3 lbs ground beef, browned and drained
- 1 (26.5 oz) can of sloppy joe sauce
- 1/3 cup Country Bob's Honey Habanero Sauce
- 1/3 cup Country Bob's Apple Chipotle Sauce
- 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 Tablespoon yellow mustard
Instructions
- Heat beef and all ingredients over medium low heat, until sugar is melted and all ingredients are blended and heated through.
- Serve on hamburger buns with sliced cheese and your favorite burger toppings. I love these with some thinly sliced smoked Gouda. Yum!
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You and your family will have the chance to try a couple of these yummy sauces for yourself, if you win our Country Bob’s giveaway. Country Bob’s has generously agreed to send our winner TWO bottles of All Purpose Sauce! Register, below, to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I received a Country Bob’s Gift Pack in order to test the product and write this review. no monetary compensation was received and a positive review was not required. As with all Busy-at-Home reviews, the views and opinions expressed are wholly my own.
Okay, it’s finally going to happen, because I’ve promised it so many times, but you have to know this is a little intimidating to a “cook by feel and looking at it” kind of cook. -lol- You know what I mean. I use recipes, but for the ones I use most often, the ones I [...]
Okay, it’s finally going to happen, because I’ve promised it so many times, but you have to know this is a little intimidating to a “cook by feel and looking at it” kind of cook. -lol- You know what I mean. I use recipes, but for the ones I use most often, the ones I have made tens or even hundreds of times, I “just know” how it should look coming together or how the dough should feel to have the right texture and moisture content. At that point, it is less about measuring and more about “when it’s right”. Homemade noodles are one of those things for me. People ask for the recipe and I have never actually written down a precise formula, so I can’t give them specific details. I’m happy to tell you that I made myself measure what I did as I went, last weekend, just for you! So, now I can show you the steps to what is actually a very simple process. Once you make noodles from scratch, it’s going to be hard to accept something from the pasta aisle, again, and the timing couldn’t be better, since you’ll be able to use them to make a FABULOUS turkey and noodle soup after the holidays.
Easy homemade noodles - ready to be used in your favorite dishes - in my case, amazing chicken and noodles over mashed potatoes. Heavenly!
I have to warn you that this is the recipe for the noodles only. I forgot to get any pictures of the finished dish, which is one of David’s all-time favorite meals – homemade chicken and noodles over mashed potatoes. So, I will snap a few shots the next time I make this dish and post the recipe of how I use these noodles in a favorite meal that has been passed down for generations in our family. In the meantime, you can use these noodles in any of your favorite dishes, boiling them and using them just as you would store-bought noodles. You can also make them, dry them and flash freeze them in a single layer on cookie sheets. Then transfer them to ziptop bags and keep them handy in the freezer for whenever you want one serving or a dozen.
Ingredients
- 7 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 6 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 2 teaspoons of salt
Instructions
- Beat the eggs, milk and salt together. You can do this by hand or if you have a mixer with a dough hook, this recipe just got even easier for you.
- Add the flour and mix until thoroughly combined and a ball of dough is formed. It's a soft dough, but not sticky at all. It will clean the sides of your mixing bowl and come together as one mass.
- Dust your counter with flour and place the raggedy ball of dough in the center.
- Knead for 3 to 4 minutes by hand and form a smooth, round ball.
- Cover the dough with a piece of plastic wrap and let it rest for about 15 minutes, after kneading, to allow the gluten to relax and make it easier to roll out.
- Use a rolling pin to roll the dough to about 1/8' thickness or even a little thinner. This will make a GIANT sheet of dough, but you don't want it to be to thick. The noodles will swell as they are cooked and end up thicker than they are on your counter. You'll end up with dumplings instead of noodles if you leave them too thick.
- At this point, I generally let the noodles dry on my counter for at least one hour, more if I am storing them. If I'm going to be using them right away, an hour is enough. They don't need to be 100% dry. If I were going to freeze them to use another time, I would completely dry them, before cutting them and then flash-freeze them in a single layers on cookie sheets. Then, once frozen, I transfer to zip top bags so I can pull out just a few or a really large batch, when I next need them.
- For this particular cooking session, I was making a big pot of chicken and noodles for a get-together with friends, so after a couple hours, we pulled out my pizza cutter to slice up the noodles. You can be very precise and even if you like, but part of the beauty of homemade noodles is the rustic non-uniformity in size and shape. I try not to make them too wide, but that is a matter of personal preference. I just like them to be about 1/2" or less. This was my 10-year-olds first time helping me with noodle making and she loved buzzing across the dough with the pizza wheel.
- As the pizza wheel whizzes across the dough, your lines won't always be perfectly straight or the same distance apart. I generally cut all one direction first, so I have a counter top full of long strips and then I cut them cross-wise to get the short noodle lengths for the dish I am making. If you have a crank pasta cutter, you could definitely feed sheets of this dough through it to get very precise noodles and that would work well when you want a specific shape, like spaghetti or fettuccine. For my homemade chicken and noodles, quick rustic cuts are perfect!
- Once the noodles are cut, I scoop them all into a pile, bringing the flour from the counter along with them. I toss the noodles with the flour, making sure they are completely coated. This helps with the drying process, too.
- Add your noodles to boiling water or stock, for whatever recipe you are using. Use them just as you would any noodles you have bought from the store. Cook them until they are tender and serve them with your favorite sauces or in casseroles and soups.
- For this particular meal, I made sure my noodles were heavily coated with the flour from the counter and even added any excess flour to my chicken stock, because my husband's favorite way to eat my chicken and noodles is over mashed potatoes. So, rather than being soup, with a thin broth, this batch of chicken and noodles was thickened more like a sauce or gravy. I actually add butter and whole milk to my homemade chicken stock, bring it to a boil. I add the noodles, bring it back to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. The noodles cook up tender and lovely and the broth becomes deliciously chicken-y and thickened. When the noodles are done, a scoop of mashed potatoes in the bottom of a bowl smothered with the delicious chicken and noodles is David's idea of perfection. It is classic comfort food at it's best. Pure heaven! (I promise to get you the recipe and pictures for that yummy supper, very soon!)
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Have you ever had one of those days where you are busy, busy, busy – doing, doing, doing; and at the end of it you feel as though not much has gotten done? Have you ever been at the weary end of one of those days and been faced with putting a tasty meal on [...]
Have you ever had one of those days where you are busy, busy, busy – doing, doing, doing; and at the end of it you feel as though not much has gotten done? Have you ever been at the weary end of one of those days and been faced with putting a tasty meal on the table for your family, but not having anything prepared? Fortunately, that isn’t a frequent occurrence around here, but when it does happen, it is definitely unsettling. I have several go-to recipes to get the main dish/meat on the table in a hurry, but I am often challenged to come up with quick side dishes that will satisfy my meat and potatoes guy. Peeling, boiling and mashing potatoes for our crew definitely takes some time and doesn’t really fit with the idea of getting a “quick” meal on the table. Bob Evans Original Mashed Potatoes are a great option to have in the fridge for those hectic evenings.
These potatoes were creamy, smooth and buttery and ready to put on the table in 6 minutes! That’s speedy and though my sweet (and incredibly intelligent) guy says they’re not quite as good as my homemade 
, I noticed that he enjoyed seconds. They were a perfect accompaniment to my crispy baked chicken and spaghetti squash.
One lucky Busy-at-Home reader will get to experience the Bob Evans convenience for themselves! They will receive two coupons for a FREE Bob Evans product (up to $5 each). That means the winner can select any two from the Bob Evans line of refrigerated or frozen products at their local grocer - Mashed Potatoes, Macaroni and Cheese, Sausage Egg and Cheese Burritos, Sausage Links, Ground Sausage or Sausage Patties or one of the other fabulous Bob Evans products! It’s as easy as entering the giveaway, below. You just may win a “quick-fix” dinner surprise of your own!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I received Bob Evans Original Mashed Potatoes, through BFPR, in order to test the product and write this review. No monetary compensation was received and a positive review was not required. As with all Busy-at-Home reviews, the views and opinions expressed are wholly my own.
Guess what? You can create some inexpensive, and yet very personalized gifts, for Christmas. Yes, you can! It’s super simple. Think positive! I just made three adorable pillowcases for our grandkids, in a little over an hour, and THAT included stopping to take pictures and to start some rye bread rising! Here’s all you’ll [...]
One-yard pieces of 45" fabric, some thread, straight pins, scissors and your sewing machine are the main necessities for this simple project.
Guess what? You can create some inexpensive, and yet very personalized gifts, for Christmas. Yes, you can! It’s super simple. Think positive! I just made three adorable pillowcases for our grandkids, in a little over an hour, and THAT included stopping to take pictures and to start some rye bread rising! Here’s all you’ll need to get started on your DIY pillowcase project:
- a sewing machine, of course
- 1 yard of 44/45″ wide fabric, choose a print or pattern that fits the personality of the person who will receive it
- thread, choose whether you want it to match your fabric or to be a contrasting color
- straight pins
- scissors
- ironing board and iron
Fold the yard of fabric in half, right-sides-together, so that it will measure about 22″ x 36″. Pin the long edge and the short edge that will be the bottom of your pillowcase, to hold them in place while you are stitching.
Right-sides-together means your fabric will be folded inside out. Pin the long edge and one short edge. The short edge will be the bottom of your pillowcase.
Start sewing the 5/8″ seam at the folded corner on the bottom edge of your pillowcase. Be sure to back-stitch to lock your stitches in place.
Run the pinned edge of your fabric along the 5/8" guide on your sewing machine to create the seam, being sure to back-stitch to lock your seam .
When you are 5/8″ from the long edge of your fabric, leave the needle of your machine down in the fabric, lift the presser foot and pivot the fabric, so that the unstitched edge is now ready to be stitched on your machine at the 5/8″ guide mark. This will create a perfectly sharp corner.
Pivoting the fabric so I can stitch down the long edge and create a sharp corner. Note that the sewing machine needle is down, holding the fabric in place, while the presser foot is up.
Now stitch the long edge of your pillowcase and back stitch to lock the seam when you reach the end.
Backstitch to lock your seam and keep your stitching from unraveling.
If you have a serger or a newer machine than mine, finish your edges in the way that works best for you, but I zigzag my seams to help keep them from raveling when the pillowcase is laundered. Run the presser foot along the stitching in the seam you just made, to zigzag the edge of the seam.
The arrow is pointing to the zig-zagged stitches on the outside of the regular seam.
Trim the seam, as close as possible to the zig-zag stitches, without cutting the stitches. Trimming the seam removes extra bulk and gives a nice finished edge. If you have a pair of pinking shears, even better. Mine are so dull they wouldn’t cut hot butter. Definitely time for a new pair!
Trim the seam close to the zig-zag stitching.
Using a steam iron, press under 1/2″ on the unfinished top edge of the pillowcase. Turn the fabric toward the inside of the pillowcase. Press the 1/2″ hem around the full-circumference of the pillowcase top.
Press 1/2" hem toward the inside of the case at top edge of pillowcase.
The 1/2″ inch you already pressed under has created a nice clean edge at the top of your case. Now, you need to fold it over one more time to create the final finished 3″ hem. Press the hem in all the way around the top of the case using a steam iron.
Fold over three inches to create the finished hem and press it in with a steam iron.
Now, line the edge of your presser foot up with the folded under edge of the hem you created and stitch around the circumference. Be sure to overstitch the seam when you get to the end or back-stitch to lock the seam.
Stitching the pillowcase hem.
Turn your finished pillowcase, right-side-out and press out any wrinkles. You’re finished! It’s that simple!
The finished pillowcase.
Perfect fit!
I finished these three in about an hour. They were simple and inexpensive, but I know my grandkids will be thrilled with them!
So, are you done with your Christmas projects? What’s left to do? I still need to sew a couple skirts, plus some aprons and hotpads. I already have published a simple DIY Christmas stocking tutorial, so I hope you’ll keep stopping back at Busy-at-Home, now and again, for a visit and to check out my new projects and recipes or to enter a giveaway or two. Have a blessing-filled Christmas!
If you own a Cricut Craft Cutter, I hope you realize how versatile it really is and the fabulous things you can do with it beyond just designing and cutting beautiful greeting cards. I am making a lot of our Christmas gifts, this year, and my Cricut is an indispensable tool when it comes to [...]
If you own a Cricut Craft Cutter, I hope you realize how versatile it really is and the fabulous things you can do with it beyond just designing and cutting beautiful greeting cards. I am making a lot of our Christmas gifts, this year, and my Cricut is an indispensable tool when it comes to creating custom, etched glass projects. The candle holder I finished, today, took about 30 minutes to complete, once I decided on the personalization and designs I wanted to use. Applying the vinyl stencils “straight” on the rounded surface was the most time consuming part.
Etched Glass Candle Holder that I personalized using my Cricut Craft Cutter and glass etching cream.
Using my Cricut, I cut the letters and designs from self-stick vinyl and then, instead of applying the letters and designs, I used the sheets they were popped out of, to create a design on the outside of a clear, glass candle holder.
I nearly forgot to take pictures of these projects at all. The etching cream is already on the glass, but you can see, from this picture, how the vinyl stencils I created on my Cricut were applied to the glass.
I used the etching compound inside the open spaces of the vinyl designs I had placed on the glass, applying it with a small paint brush.
The etching cream I used for this project is called Armour Etch. It's easy to work with and fast. I just applied it with a tiny paint brush, to the inside of the stencil.
The etching compound only needs to sit on the glass for 5-10 minutes, before rinsing it away with cool water.
Once the etching compound is rinsed away, simply remove the vinyl sticker to reveal the beautiful design etched into your glass project.
Etched with her name and some pretty designs, all I need to add is the candle and this will be a great gift for my friend.
I have used this technique to personalize mugs, pie plates, salad bowls, cookie/candy jars and cake pans. You could also make beautiful vases or plates. The possibilities are really only limited by your imagination and what would have been an expensive custom gift if you purchased it at the store, becomes a frugal way to give gorgeous gifts that will be appreciated for years to come. Be sure to explore all the possibilities that your Cricut craft cutter offers for your Christmas gift needs.
The next simple gift I made, this afternoon, was a magnet board. I had seen a couple different pictures on Pinterest and decided I would try to create my own. Never having made one before, I sort of went into it blind, but with a general idea swirling in my head. They can be made to hang on the wall as a sort of message center or to sit on the counter to hold recipe cards while you bake.
My finished magnet board. The buttons and the fabric heart are magnets, made by attaching self-stick magnet strips to the backs.
I learned several things, in making this first board, that I will change up as I make the next ones. I covered this board (a 97¢ aluminum cookie sheet purchased at WalMart) with fabric, which is cute, but tricky and time consuming. Plus, the extra layers of fabric, make it harder for the magnets to be strong enough. Next time, I plan to spray paint the cookie sheet and then decoupage either fabric or scrapbook paper to it for the designs and decorations. That will cut down on bulk and make a nice finish on the outside of the board. I will also use button-type magnets, instead of the little cut and stick strip magnets. Button magnets will be more powerful. And finally, note to self, creating a recipe card from heavy scrapbook paper and then laminating it, front and back, means that the strip magnets will not be strong enough to power through the layers of laminate and cardstock, PLUS fabric to stick to the aluminum sheet tray. I was a little over-zealous about protecting that recipe card, but I’m going to see if the paint and paper method and using the button magnets might remedy the situation. Plain, unlaminated cards had no problem being held up by the strip magnets, but I would prefer them to be laminated for easy clean-up. So, I will experiment with that a little bit on my next boards and let you know what happens. Even with all the changes I expect to make in future projects, I still think this board turned out really cute.
The board with recipe card attached. For the time being, the card has a magnet on the back, to be able to hold it up. Once I try the new method for covering the sheet tray and use the stronger button-type magnets, I'm guessing the decorative button magnets I make will hold even a laminated card. I'll let you know.
