hairspray now for more then hair

 Yesterday Evie and Milo where in my office at work for 2 min and managed to 

wright with pen all over the dry erase board.

Seriously Crappy of them.

At first I was afraid I would have to pay like $10 to buy a new one.

Demon children are always skimming my wallet.

But then I remembered this magic cleaning trick!!!!

All you need is hairspray!

Just spray it on, wipe off and presto it's all clean.

My $10 just gave me a high five.

Now I can spend it on something important like 10 Dr Peppers from McDonald's.

Sucker

Problem:  Who is going to pass out candy when we are taking the 3 younger kids trick or treating

and the 2 older boys are off and partying like it's 1999.

Solution: Leave the pumpkin in charge.

Here's a super fun and fast crafty way to leave candy on your porch while your off partying like its 1999, yes I am aware that 1999 was 14 years ago and yes I need a new partying song.

I am open for suggestions. 

Now this is tricky, poke a bunch of random holes in a pumpkin.

Let the holes dry out of a little while.  We don't want to give out slimy suckers.  Not cool.

After that comes the hard part, pimp out your pumpkin by putting suckers in the holes.

There you have it your.

PIMPKIN CANDY HOLDER!

Sorry.

PUMPKIN CANDY HOLDER!

Do you like my way to small Halloween Wreath?

I love how its off center and how the poor raven is completely lost in my black door.

The coolest thing about most of these pumpkins.

Two years ago we had a huge wind storm that blew down our beautiful hide the neighbor yard from my view pine trees.  As if to say sorry we have had pumpkins grow where one was for the past two Halloweens.  No one planted seeds they just grew and we love them, even if they can't fill the void where the trees used to be.

I would also like to take a moment and apologize to all the children who come by my home and think the are the luck ones who found a quarter.  Then realize that a punk 13 year old boy has super glued it to my porch.  My deepest apologies.  I am now heading over to pinterest to see if there is any way to get it off.  If I fail I will put a pimpkin pumpkin on top of it.

Update

As you know from here, I'm doing a 12 week challenge with my gym.

I have had great weeks and lame ones.

Honestly I have had more lame ones then great ones.

Seriously I think my kids have planned out how to get sick.

I get it kids, change is hard for all of us.

I'll still love you even if I have a rocking body.

So even with all this sabotage going on, I am down a size.

Can I get a hell ya Heck Ya!

On Saturday I ran to Gap Outlet to try and find some jeans that fit.

(I know poor me, I now have saggy butt jeans.)

Lets just say I found the sale of a life time.

That outfit I'm sporting cost right around $6.

No lie, just 6 macaroons for the jeans, sweater and jacket.

I only spent $30 for this bag of clothes.

I would show all of what I found but it's for Christmas, so I am bond by Christmas law and therefor 

can show nothing.

But here's a run down

4  pairs of pants

3 sweaters

2 dresses 

1 pair of sandals

1 jacket

1 plaid shirt.

When I was told the total, I may have done a fist pump with a yes! and the lady behind the counter may have looked at me like I needed mental help.

To which I grabbed my bag and gave a don't judge me I have 5 kids to clothe smile. 

Here's how I did it.  Gap was having a 50% off all clearance, I had a coupon for another 25% off

and lastly I had rewards from when I did my back to school shopping trip. 

Sweet Tangy Buffalo Chicken

When I make this meal for my kids, 

its high fives all a round.

They love it and to get all 5 kids to love something is a minor miracle. 

Sweet Tangy Buffalo Chicken 

Greek Seasoning 

2 LB Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Sprinkle Greek Seasoning over chicken (sorry I don't know exact amount, I just make sure each piece gets some, If I had to guess, I'd say 1/4 to 1/2 tsp for each thigh).  Cover and cook until done,  about 30 to 40 min.

Sauce

2 1/2 Tbs Butter

1/2 C Brown Sugar

1/2 C Franks Red Hot Original Sauce 

Mix altogether in a sauce pan over medium to medium high heat.

Cook until all the sugar is combined and smooth.

Half the sauce

Dip Chicken in one half of the Sauce and over med high heat quickly shear both sides of chicken.

I do this on our grill.  The sauce can take your breath away at this point so being outside is a huge plus, and I love the grill marks.

Serve with the other half of the sauce.  

I am not a great big fan of traditional Buffalo Chicken.  I think the Brown Sugar helps to

mellow it out and 5 out of 5 kids can't be wrong. 

As a bonus this meal is really reasonable, in the wallet area.

Menu Thursday

First thing I thought I would do a recap from my last menu.

We loved the sweet and sour chicken,  it takes a good while to make, but it is super easy.

The pot roast was also good, if I make it again I'll add the juice from an orange, not just the zest.

The Chili was way to sweet for my taste but I shared it with a couple of families (it made a ton),

and most of them liked it.

The Taco bowls are also really good, I used chili verde instead of red salsa.

Without further ado 

This Weeks Menu

(source)

I woke up this morning to a liking ceiling in my kitchen.
Super Lame!!!!
So with all the drama that that causes and not knowing how much it'll cost.
I am going to try and save as much as I can on groceries this week.
I went threw my fridge and cupboards and made a menu out of  mostly things I have on hand.

The Pioneer Woman Potato Soup

Mel's Kitchen Chili
I am on the hunt to find a great chili and this one my friend Danielle loves.

Hobo Dinners

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Spaghetti 

Chicken Tortilla Casserole 

Tortilla Crusted Tilapia 
This is from Costco and has been hanging out in my freezer due to the fact that Justin watch
a show on a Tilapia fish farm.


This weekend is General Conference, which for us means treats and bean dip.
Lucky I have stuff to make treats and mostly what I need for bean dip.

I love conference weekend.  I love being spiritually feed by the Lords Prophet.
If you want to learn more about General Conference click here.

Schultuete

My brother and his family just moved to Germany.

When I say just I mean like 3 weeks ago.

Right after they left I found out about the Schultuete (school cones).

Thank you pinterest.

They're a German back to school tradition that started in the 1800's.

Its basically a cone filled with school items.  Germany's make huge ones with

first day of school outfits, pens, markers, anything you could need for school really.

(source)

I new right away that I wanted to make some for my brothers kids heading off to a new school 

in a new country.  He only has 2 in school full time right now but I decided not to leave out the

little ones and made one for each.

Since I didn't have a lot of time on my hands and I wanted the schultues 

to reach them before they started school.  I used mostly what I had on hand.

I ran to Targets dollar spot it get the school supplies.

I also sent some Chic Fa La sauce for my brother and his wife.

Who doesn't love this sauce?

If you want to find out more about this fun back to school tradition go here.

If you want to find out how to make your own go here.

Uncontrollable

With the start of school, comes school lunch.

I mostly have my kids take a lunch. 

It's healthier and cost less, but is not without it's own down side.

My problems our as follows.
I have to make them lunch.

I have a small kitchen and treats are stored on top of my fridge. Ugly.
I have to make them lunch

The second I bring home snacks my five vultures eat all of them up.

I have to make them lunch.

I have solved 2 of those pesky problems.

I bought 2 metal bins from Walmart.

They fit perfectly on top of the fridge.  Ugly no more.

I spay painted a T and a S, then glued them onto the metal bin.

T stands for, if your a hungry little vulture you can take freely from me.

S stands for school lunch only.  

Don't even think of eating anything from here unless your butt is sitting in a school cafeteria.

Ugly before.

Nice and organized after.

I also packed a treat bin for the car.

This has come in so handy.

In fact it saved me today.

I had just done a super amazingly hard work out and didn't have time to go home

for my recovery snack before story time started at the library.

Never been so happy to have trail mix in my life.

I am pretty sure without it I would have died.

I'm not saying a treat bin in your car will save your life, but are you willing to take that chance?

I'm not and am alive today because of it.

Once Upon a Jacket

I have wanted a leather jacket since the fist time 

Emma Swan strolled across my TV in Once Upon a Time.

(Ok before that, but she really made me want one more).

(source)

So today when I was wandering round Zulily,  look what I found!

Some Kick Ars faux Leather Jackets.

Best Part of all, they're only $22.99 or less.

Amazingly fab, I know. 

(Did I just write amazingly fab?  I might have to kick my own ars.)

(source)

This black faux Leather is only $19.99

(source)

Don't you love the Olive Green.  I almost bought this one.

(source)

Classic Brown.  Love where it hits on the wast. 

Don't worry for those of you who are a little Mary Margaret,

I've got you cover for the same price.

(source)

Who doesn't love a Camel Hooded Toggle Jacket?

I love the detail around the pockets.

Are you maybe feeling a little Wicked?  Here's

my Regina inspired pick.

(source)

Okay this jacket I love.  The black with the grey color blocking.

With such an awesome price, well I see nothing wicked here.

If only I could have them all, but alas I live in a itty bitty home,

so I went with the black leather and the grey and black color blocking.

Which do you love?

Just to make you want fall a little more, here's a sneak peak at the new season.

Here's a new show.  Once Upon a Time in Wonderland.  Looks promising.

Pantry Taco Soup

Don't you just love a meal that is budget friendly,  super easy, and lick your bowl clean good?

Then you my friend are in luck!

I first had this Taco Soup a few years ago at a home warming luncheon. 

It became a fast favorite.

So when a friend of mine had her 3rd little boy,  it was a no brainer what to make.

Pantry Taco Soup

Ingredients

1 can Tomato Sauce

1 can Diced Tomatoes 

1 can Corn

1 can Chili 

(I do 2 cans Chili)

1 can Black Beans

2 T Taco Seasoning 

(you can add more or less if you like)

Dump all cans with liquid in to your crockpot, add Taco Seasoning and stir.

Cook on low 6 hrs or high for 4 hrs.

So easy but yet so good.

Sometimes or all the time you have a 3 yr old, who the second you start cooking or anything, needs you to stop everything and be her minion.

So as the great mom you are, you snap a somewhat fuzzy picture of her prefect patheticness.  

Because no meal is complete with out desert.

Apple Crisp 

Ingredients

1 can Apple Pie Filling.

Or make your favorite Apple Filling.

1/2 stick Butter, soften 

1/2 C Brown Sugar 

1/2 C Oats

Cinnamon to taste.

Poor apples into a greased backing pan.

Mix butter, brown sugar, oats and cinnamon together.

Sprinkle mixture over apples.  Cover with foil.

Place in a 350 oven until bubbling, around 30 min.

Altogether I brought 

Taco Soup

Watermelon

French Bread

Apple Crisp

Vanilla Ice cream 

Almost everything I had on hand, so this meal fits in prefect with the save $100 challenge, I am doing.

Just goes to show you don't have to spend a lot to make a wonderful meal.

A great way to save some mullah when taking a meal to someone is to team up.

This what I usually do.  Sometimes I bring the main dish, sometimes the sides.

Why not share the work and the joy of serving with a friend.

The best laid plans

Breakfast for dinner, one of the best ideas

mankind has ever had.

Needless to say I love it and I had planned an

amazingly yummy one for dinner the other night.

French Toast made out of sweet Challah Bread

Orange  Julius 

(I have the best recipe for this, will share)

Super Fresh Mellon

 Scramble Eggs

Fresh Strawberry Syrup! 

Wait no fresh strawberry syrup?

The kids had eaten all but 2 strawberries.

By kids I mean Milo.

My first thought was to run off to the store and by more and curse the

little Devils for ruining my amazing breakfast for dinner.

Then I remembered the fcf $100 challenge. 

This was the perfect way to save money.

I have syrup and I am trying hard to not run to

to the store everyday for little things that I really don't need.

I am so bad at going to the store almost daily for things that I should have planned for.

I tell myself its not lack of planning, its just I am European at heart.

This also what I tell myself when I don't shower everyday.

Thank you little devils for helping me out with 2 of my goals, you rock.

Mi!o gets an invite

Milo went to his first birthday party..

Wait for it....

All by himself.

No little sister, no big sister

and no big brothers. 

Us walking to his friends house.

(Milo says his hair is magic because its both light and dark)

Wish I had magic hair.

Milo and his friend.

Milo's gift. 

As you know from here, I am doing the FCF $100 challenge.

Here's how I was able to rock the challenge birthday party style.

We usually have a $5 - $15 friend birthday budget.

Older kid stuff just cost more so we give our teens more to spend.

Back to what I spent and what I saved.

Milo would usually have right around $5, but

Target had a bunch of toys on sale for 70% off.

(Thank you Megan for the Call)

Which made it so we didn't sacrifice on the quality of gift, but

still only spend slightly less then $2.

The raping paper is actually scrape booking paper that

we already had.  So no money spent.

Which means I was able to save $3.

You only have to save $3.25 a day to make it to your goal.

Easy Peesy 

Why not save $100 smackaroos in August?

Why not save $100 smackaroos in August?

I love this challenge and also Fun Cheap or Free blog.

I have gotten so many great ideas from Jordan, 

and this is perfect timing with my 3 oldest starting school.

I am jumping into this challenge with both feet.

 Why? You ask.

Because I seem to bleed money!!!!

I don't mean to. I have great plans but for some reason I find myself

completely ignoring my budget.

I am trying hard to be more of a planner.

I am naturally a go by the seat of your pants and hope everything works out kinda gal.

Not so anymore.  I have finely realized that I have to make my life

what I want it to be. 

Putting our house on the market taught me this.  

(I'll go more into this later on).

I am going to try and post all about my ups and downs with this challenge and I'll

post thing related on my Instagram.

This will be fun!!!

21 days to break a carefree are you still a child habit.