Monday, October 20, 2008

Tackle it Tuesday--CLR style



For this week's tackle I participated in the CLR challenge at 5 Minutes for Mom.  As part of the challenge, CLR provided full size bottles of their product to participants to be used in the kitchens and/or bathrooms.  Since the past several weeks have seen us running from one activity to another, our master bathroom has become quite neglected and in need of a thorough cleaning.  So while the kids played this morning, I whipped out my bottle of CLR and got to work.


(I'm having some technical difficulties, so pictures to come soon)

Our bathroom needed a cleaning from top to bottom.  The floor needed to be swept and mopped, the counter wiped down, the mirror cleaned, and general clutter needed to be put away.  So I started by picking up so that I could spray down the countertop.  The counter and faucet got some cleaner as did the toilet.  

Now before you say anything, no that is not pee in our toilet.  It's the water.  The house that we're renting has nasty water in the toilet.  It always looks like that and dirties the bowl rather quickly.  In a perfect world, I would need to clean it daily to keep it at bay, but we don't live in a perfect world.  So what you see is what you get.

After the clutter, counters were wiped down, toilet bowl and floor cleaned as well.  Finally finishing with the mirror.  I had just enough cleaner so I looked up a natural cleaning web site, naming vinegar as a great mirror cleaner for next time. 

I liked the CLR on my toilet.  It's a not easy to find something that makes my toilet look so sparkly pretty.  It didn't have a harsh smell which is always a concern with two little ones in tow.  It worked well.  Next time, I'd like to try it on the shower doors.  I didn't have time to use it this time, but that's always another challenge spot in our bathroom.  Stay tuned;  you may see that post soon.

To see what others are tackling this week, including the CLR challenge, check out 5 minutes for mom and Tackle it Tuesday.

Sample Menu


This is just a quick sample menu of a few of the meals we love in our home.  There are some super easy ideas and some more complicated, but all are great and things that we do over and over again.  Hope you gather a few ideas to incorporate into your own home.

Vegetarian Quesadillas
Grilled Cheese and tomato soup
Homemade Pizza

To see what others are planning this week, check out Organizing Junkie.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Menu Monday 10/20-10/26


I'm posting both this week's menu and a sample menu for next week.  Because why?  

WE'RE GOING TO DISNEYLAND!!!

We leave Saturday morning.  I'm so excited.  Ten hours in a car with a 3 year old and a 10 month old, but excited nonetheless.    I had planned on defrosting a turkey and eating off it for the week, but it didn't get defrosted today.  Dang.  So this week, we're relying on old standbys... things that we have a few items in the pantry.  And as always, sticking with the fall flavors that I'm so enjoying...

Breakfasts:
Blueberry Muffins
Cereal and Milk
Yogurt and fruit

Lunches:
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
Carrots and dip
Tomato Soup
Fruited Jello and Pudding

Dinners:
Monday: Potato Soup

Tuesday: Potluck: Pea soup and homemade bread



Friday: Out with Family

Saturday:  In Anaheim

Extras:

To see what others are planning this week, check out Organizing Junkie.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Super Easy Bean Dip

We had company over for dinner tonight and at the last minute, I thought, "Hey it would be nice to have something to snack on when they get here."  So I looked up this super easy Bean Dip from Martha Stewart.

The basic recipe is this:
1 can of cannellini beans
3 Tbsp olive oil
3 Tbsp lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste

Puree together.

To this basic recipe, I added:
Italian seasoning and garlic powder to taste

Next time I'd like to experiment with fresh minced garlic.  I think this would really add to the flavor.  Just adding the garlic powder made a huge difference.  We served it with tortilla chips, but it would go equally well with pita chips, cheese crackers, or wheat thins.  Super easy, super tasty!


Sunday, October 12, 2008

Menu Monday 10/13-10/19

Hum... Fall is here.  And with it a crazy schedule.  We are hardly at home all this month, hence my spotty blogging.  Sorry.  Nonetheless, we do still have to eat and there are some wonderful flavors that I am anxious to try out.  The flavors of fall: pumpkin, ginger, chai, soups and stews. A warm bowl of stew after a morning out or stacking wood.  

I think meal planning for me is such a joy because my kids are good eaters.  After making homemade chicken noodle soup last week, I discovered that my 9 month old's favorite part was the broth.  We piled noodles and veggies on her tray, but she kept clamoring for my husband and I to feed her broth.  We are so lucky.

So while both of the kids want soup, the men (my husband and our roommate) want hardy.  The balance is finding something hardy and tasty that doesn't require a lot of meat and is still healthy.  Our roommate also commented that he didn't think he'd ever like beans.  But with the variety that I've built into our meal planning, he's coming to appreciate them.  I guess it's that or starve as our menu last week included: Lentil Tacos, Chili and the hope of making Pea Soup, although I didn't get to it.

Let's hope this week's menu goes over as well.
 
Breakfasts:
Scrambled Eggs and Toast
Blueberry Muffins
Oatmeal
Cereal and Fruit

Lunches:
Egg Salad Sandwiches
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Fruited Jello
Steamed Veggies

Dinners:
Monday:  Mom's here... Pumpkin Patch... hum???  In N Out???
Tuesday: No Potluck this week:  Hum... Crockpot Moroccan Lentil Soup
Wednesday: Lentil Tacos
Friday: Baby Girl and I at a Women's Retreat
              Daddy and Big Boy at a wedding
Saturday:  Baby Girl and I at a Women's Retreat
                   Daddy and Big Boy will have Pancakes... Daddy's specialty
Sunday: Vietnam Fried Rice, steamed veggies
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