Spartan Living

So long, farewell...

2010-12-08T16:15:00.000-05:00

Been wondering where I've been lately? Well, I AM still alive, I am well, family's well, life is...good.

I'm gonna do this the rip-off-the-band-aid-as-quickly-as-possible way and just say...

I'm saying goodbye to Spartan Living.

For lots of reasons. And I am at peace with this decision.

Life is a lot of work. Family is a lot of work. Marriage is a lot of work. You know, the good kind of "work". And blogging is a lot of work. Especially for one person.

So, I'm sharing the load and teaming up with a dear friend, Sharon, and we'll be gracing you with our crafty innovations over at Two Girls Being Crafty.

You see, I still want to write and share--but perhaps in a more manageable way--with a friend's help. Please, check it out if you're interested. And if you like what you see, why not be one of our first followers?

Thank you all for your constant feedback and support--you'll never know what it means to me!

(The Spartan Living site will remain up...for those of you who still need recipes, etc.)

Announcing Poinsettia Pillow Giveaway Winner! (and some other "stuff")

2010-11-13T21:48:00.000-05:00

We have a winner! It's a new follower named Hannah. She said:

"super cute!!! I see gifts in my future!"

Well, how 'bout an early Christmas gift in the form of a lovely handmade pillow delivered to your door?

Thank you Spartans for entering the giveaway, and thank you for following! There are now over 100 Spartans--I never imagined we'd increase so much!

I apologize for the lack of posts over the last week. I have some new projects I'm working on, and hey, I still haven't mastered time management. Have you? Boo-yah! (But seriously, has anyone mastered time management? Any great guides out there? I'm currently reading an e-book from a wonderful blog called Inspired to Action. Kat, the blogs writer is fantastic--worth checking it out.)

In other good news, the Poinsettia Pillow Tutorial was featured on One Pretty Thing, Craft Gossip, tweeted by The Lettered Cottage and was briefly mentioned on Prudent Baby along with a few other sites. Daaang. Awesome.

Spartan Living was also featured on 5 Dollar Dinners. I adapted this recipe shared on a guest post at Sew Homegrown and tallied the cost for a $5 Dollar Dinner. If you check out the recipe on the 5 Dollar Dinners blog you won't see that mentioned, but I included that information in the verbiage I initially sent in. So, you're reading it here now. Just trying to give credit where credit is due!

Anyhow, I'm excited to share a few new things with you here in the near future... Some new furniture in the Spartan house, some new craft-y things, and perhaps even a few other surprises up my sleeve! (I know my MIL will read this and think, hmm, new baby? Nope, sorry!)

Poinsettia Pillow Giveaway!

2010-11-02T08:40:00.001-04:00

I hope you enjoyed the Poinsettia Pillow tutorial. Maybe you'll make one of your own... or maybe you're thinking that you don't have time to make one this holiday season. Well, you're in for a treat! I'm happy to announce that I'll be giving away a Poinsettia Pillow handmade by yours truly!

Check this out...

By becoming a follower you'll be eligible to receive an ivory handstitched poinsettia on an evergreen damask 12"x16" pillow. The gold jingle bells in the center will be sure to bring music to your ears this holiday season!

All you have to do to be eligible to win this gorgeous poinsettia pillow is to become a follower (the icon is on the left side of the page.) Current followers are already eligible.

You can have a second chance at eligibility by simply leaving a comment on this post. That's it! Not too hard, huh?

Please be sure that I have an email address to contact you with--or else, I'll simply choose another winner... Thanks! The giveaway is open until midnight EST on Friday, November 12, 2010!

Winner will be announced on Saturday, November 13th.

Good luck!

My apologies, but this giveaway is available only to residents of the U.S.

Poinsettia Pillow Tutorial

2010-11-02T08:34:00.001-04:00

I cannot wait for Christmas. The music, the tree, the ornaments, the music, the food, the cookies, the music... Seriously, the music was worth mentioning three times. I love it. I am also excited for Christmas this year so I can legitimately display the Poinsettia Pillow I created for... $3. Yep. The inspiration came from a Pottery Barn pillow in the most recent catalogue. The PB pillow is $29, which in my opinion is expensive for something that can only be displayed for one month of the year.

Here's Pottery Barn's Poinsettia Pillow:

Anyhow, want to make your own Poinsettia Pillow? Here's how:

First of all, you'll need :

1/2 yard of ivory felt (from this cut 2 16"x16" squares)

1/2 yard of ruby felt

coordinating embroidery thread

5/8" hem tape (aka fabric tape, fabric fuse tape, etc.)

20 6mm bells

sewing machine (for sewing pillow)

pillow form or poly-fil

pattern

And before we get started, here are a few things I'd like to share. First of all, I did not include my pillow form in the cost of the project because it can be reused year round with other pillow covers. It's a multi-tasker. Second of all, I bought all items on sale at my fabric store or with coupons. Stores like Jo-Ann offer 40% coupons frequently and even allow you to use competitor's coupons in the same transaction. Lastly, the amount of fabric will be enough to complete two pillows, but in order to have enough height to cut the 16x16 pieces needed for the pillow "background" you have to buy at least 1/2 yard.

You'll need 10 small petals, 10 medium petals and 5 large petals.

Get a feel for how you want it to look--and appreciate how quickly the project is coming together!

Use Elmer's glue to adhere two small leaves to each other for some thickess. Do this with all of the small leaves so that the 10 you cut out turn into 5 thicker leaves. Do the same with the medium sized leaves.

Once the glued felt leaves are dry, use your embroidery floss to backstitch up the center of the petal for visual interest. I think you'll agree that this is a worthwhile step. It doesn't have to be perfectly straight--in fact it looks very charming with a little bit of veering off here and there.

Cut a 2" circle from your ruby felt and use a running stitch to affix it to the center of one of your 16x16 squares.

Lay out the first round of petals and adjust them to your liking.

When you're happy with the placement of your first later of petals, fuse the sides of the petals down with your hem tape. Leave the center of the petal free of hem tape to make embroidery easier. (It is next to impossible to stitch through the hem tape adhesive--I would avoid it at all cost!)

Now that you have fused the leaves to the ivory felt pillow front, use the same backstitch method that you used on the small and medium-sized petals to affix the petals to the pillow.

Next, use hem tape to affix second round of petals. Use a running stitch in the center to further affix the petals to the pillow front. Repeat step for the small petals, too. Then stitch bells into the center.

Sew pillow as you would any other pillow. (If you're new to pillow-making, check out HGTV's Pillow Making 101.)

Wasn't too hard, was it? Please let me know what you think! As always, your constructive comments and questions are sincerely appreciated.

Interested in having one of these handmade pillows made by yours truly? Click here for more information about a Poinsettia Pillow Giveaway!

Meal Plan for November

2010-11-01T13:51:00.002-04:00

Happy November Spartans! I am in shock that the month of November snuck up on me so quickly this year. I am SO excited for the holidays and know that they're creeping up rapidly, too. In fact, I have already started my holiday shopping and planning. Have you? Planning ahead helps me spread out the cost of the holidays and I am able to shop smarter, too.

You may remember that last month was the first time I planned a monthly menu. Prior to that I came up with weekly menus. Let me tell you that I think monthly planning is a GREAT way to go. It worked out very well for the Spartan household and I hope to fine-tune my tactics even more and share them with you. Let's just say it saved some time and money, though truthfully the time savings was most significant. Anyhow, on to what you came here for--November's Menu!

Monday 11/1 Broccoli-cheese baked potatoes, salad
Tuesday 11/2 Senate Bean Soup (in honor of Election Day), homemade bread, salad
Wednesday 11/3 Pepperoni Calzones, salad
Thursday 11/4 Huevos rancheros, homemade flour tortillas, homemade refried black beans

I'm trying to recreate the huevos rancheros I had on our vacation in Mexico this year--here's a pic I took of my plate... I think the above recipe may be a winner!
Friday 11/5 Popcorn shrimp (used coupons to buy a box... cheating, I know!), crudites, fruit
Saturday 11/6 Breakfast: Bacon, Egg and Cheese Biscuit Muffins, Dinner: Leftovers from the week

Sunday 11/7: Poppyseed chicken casserole, broccoli

Monday 11/8 White bean and kale soup, homemade bread

Tuesday 11/9 Leftover soup and tuna sandwiches
Wednesday 11/10 Ham and cheese quesadillas, sliced apples
Thursday 11/11 Ravioli bolognese, salad (I make a big batch of Bolognese and keep in in quart-sized portions in the freezer).
Friday 11/12 Cheeseburger soup, salad
Saturday 11/13 Breakfast: Belgian Waffles and homemade syrup, Dinner: Leftovers from the week

Sunday 11/14 We have a church potluck scheduled; I plan to make Hot Chicken Salad Casserole and a Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Monday 11/15 Curried vegetable pot pies, salad

Tuesday 11/16 Calico beef and beans, salad

Wednesday 11/17 Leftovers from Monday and Tuesday

Thursday 11/18 Oven-fried drumsticks, broccoli salad, fruit

Friday 11/19 Split-pea soup (from the freezer), leftover salad

Saturday 11/20 Breakfast: Blueberry muffins (boxed mix 'cause I keep it real and it's in the pantry already!), Dinner: I'm leaving this open for leftovers or a night out

Sunday 11/21 Slow-Cooker Carnitas, taco topping bar, homemade salsa and chips
Monday 11/22 Black bean and corn soup, zucchini hoecakes
Tuesday 11/23 Sweet and Sour Chicken, brown rice, broccoli

Wednesday 11/24 Bean and cheese quesadillas, fruit

Thursday 11/25 Thanksgiving (I won't be hosting, so I'll probably make some homemade potato rolls and my go-to Thanksgiving dessert--a delicious Pumpkin Ginger Cheesecake Pie.)

Friday 11/26 Turkey-noodle soup, leftovers we get sent home with ; )
Saturday 11/27 Breakfast: Pumpkin Pancakes, Dinner: Leftovers from the week/Thanksgiving

Sunday 11/28 Slow-cooker white chili, cornbread, sliced apples
Monday 11/29 Broccoli-cheese lasagne, salad, garlic bread
Tuesday 11/30 Country-fried steak with white gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans

**(I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that this is our dinner menu for the month. The only days you'll see a planned breakfast is on Saturdays. We generally eat small breakfasts--oatmeal or fruit--throughout the week. Lunches are simple, too--often they consist of leftovers. No food left behind, right? You'll also notice that there are several meat-free meals on our menu. Not only is this healthy, it's also a big money-saver. We're starting to participate in Meatless Mondays.)

Yumm! Can't wait for Thanksgiving--how about you? I hope you've found some inspiration for your menu however you plan it! There's no wrong way to make a menu--but you're missing out if you're not planning ahead!

Stay tuned this week for a tutorial on how to make this Poinsettia Pillow for $3 (for real!) and for information on a Poinsettia Pillow giveaway!

Beans, Beans...

2010-10-29T22:13:00.000-04:00

Beans, beans...
The magical fruit...
The more you eat 'em...
The more your body gets used to 'em... (i.e. less gassiness)

We had a delicious dinner last night of Great Northern Beans with ham and cornbread... Enough to serve 4 for a total of $3.42. That's $ .85 cents per delicious serving, folks. What a winner!

I made the Patterned Paper Wreath, too!

2010-10-26T14:48:00.000-04:00

So after Sharon shared her wonderful wreath tutorial last week, I just had to get supplies to make one of my own. I thought I'd do something with fall colors so I picked out these pieces of paper:

I used the technique and my end result was this bad boy:

Still needs a bow or something... We'll see if it happens!

My project total was the same as Sharon's--just under $5. But now I see that Hobby Lobby has their wreath forms on sale for 50% off this week, and scrapbook paper is discounted 50%, too. So, you could make this project for about $3ish if you buy your supplies at Hobby Lobby between now and Saturday!

When Christmas time rolls around (YAY!) I'll just pull the paper off of the form I bought and use new paper on the same form. It costs about $1 for 5 sheets of paper if you buy them on sale, so you can change out your wreath with the seasons for only a buck! Now that's what I'm talkin' about!

Custom framing is cuh-razay expensive!

2010-10-25T12:50:00.003-04:00

Have you ever had something custom framed? Man, it is cuh-razay expensive! If you've read even one of my posts, you'll know that there's no way I'd pay a small fortune to have something custom matted and framed. Nope. Not when I can do it myself!

Here's how it started...

About 5 or 6 years ago, my husband and I were living a pretty cool life. We had cool jobs and lived in a cool place and did cool things. While my husband was on a trip to Portugal, he bought some gorgeous hand embroidered placemats for me. I loved them and therefore could never eat on them. But because they were so special I knew I needed to do something neat to display them...

So a few years ago, I was inspired. I decided to get one of the placemats embroidered with our name and date of marriage, and have it framed. Great idea, right?

So this is what the finished placemat looks like. And after having the embroidery done, I went to have my placemat custom framed. I spoke to the clerk about how I wanted it double-matted and chose my frame material and mat colors. And the cost? Nearly $200. I'm sure you're not surprised to read that I took my placemat and ran. Fast. Then I tucked the placemat away and let my dream die...err, hibernate, rather.

Fast forward to present day.

I snagged the below print from my mom before she added it to her garage sale pile. Initially it was in Junebug's room, but oh, Spartans, this print has been repurposed.

I removed the print from the frame and custom cut some matting paper that I picked up from the craft store for $3. I kept the same cream colored mat that was included with the frame, but the backing mat I purchased is a light brown color. I used fabric tape to affix my placemat to the mat.

Here is the finished project in all its glory. It's not exactly what I had imagined to begin with, but for a project total of $3, who am I to complain??

So I custom framed a piece of fabric--for $3 after "the professionals" quoted nearly $200. I showed them, huh? Spartans think outside the frame, so to speak.

One day I'll learn to take a straight photograph.

I can finally check this off my long decor "to do" list. My house will one day be a home!!

What's on your decor to-do list?

Sweet Treat of the Week: Unbirthday Cake

2010-10-23T09:00:00.013-04:00

I have a bit of buttermilk in the refrigerator that is quickly reaching its time of expiration so I pulled out my favorite Southern Living cake book for some inspiration to use it up. (No food left behind, right?) I chose to make a simple cake for which I had all the ingredients on hand. It's simply called "The Celebration Cake". In this case, since our cake was not truly a celebration cake, I left the cake in the pan I baked it in and frosted just the top. It's the lazy-woman's way to decorate a cake--what, are you gonna call the food police on me? But again, the cake wasn't for an actual occasion. Truthfully, it was purely a way to avoid throwing out the remainder of my buttermilk! And I say when life hands you buttermilk, you'd better bake a cake!

Since the cake is for "celebrations", I decided to make it a "merry unbirthday" cake for my husband. Hey, we all like to feel special every now and then, right? Why should that only happen on our birthdays?

If you have never made a cake from scratch before, this is a pretty straightforward and fool-proof one to make!

Southern Living's Celebration Cake

Prep: 25 min., Bake: 35 min., Cool: 55 min.
Yield: Makes 24 servings (In my house, it's more like 12 servings!)

Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
1 cup butter
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups cake flour*
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup buttermilk

Cream Cheese Frosting**

Preparation:

1. Beat sugar and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until yellow disappears after each addition. Beat in lemon juice and vanilla.

2. Combine flour and baking soda in a small bowl; add to sugar mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at medium speed just until blended after each addition. Pour batter into a greased and floured 13- x 9-inch pan.

3. Bake at 350° for 30 to 35 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 minutes. Remove cake from pan to wire rack, and cool 45 minutes or until completely cool. Place cake on a serving platter (or leave it in the pan if you're being a lazy bum like me!). Frost as desired.

*If you don't have cake flour in your pantry, don't fear! You can make some with this simple hint:
For each cup of cake flour use 7/8 cup all-purpose flour (1 cup minus 2 tablespoons) PLUS 2 tablespoons of corn starch. The addition of corn starch helps to make cakes light and tender.

**Use whatever recipe you like. The way I make it is basically a ratio- 1 8 oz. brick of cream cheese, 1 stick of butter and 3.5 cups of powdered sugar. If you're making a layer cake, just double the ingredients. Or triple, if you like a lot of frosting. I won't judge you!

...and a very merry unbirthday to you!

Edited: After reading this post, my mom shared a tip she read about freezing buttermilk (and bananas). Genius!

Spent $25 on groceries. Saved $40. Boo-yah!

2010-10-21T22:03:00.000-04:00

Today I spent $24.62 on these groceries.

I saved $40.05.

Yes, this is $64.67 worth of groceries for $24.62.

Can't believe it? Here's a scan of my receipt:

I took home:

2 half-gallons of Silk Almond Milk

2 large jars of Kraft Mayonnaise

4 Glade candles (I LOVE these--they're an economical choice if you like scented candles)

2 pouches of Bumble Bee Albacore Tuna

2 3-bar packs of soap

1 box of Playtex tampons

10 cans of Del Monte Tomatoes

1 8 oz. tub of Rondele spreadable gourmet cheese (YUM!)

Interested in saving money? Check out my Coupon Basics for more information!

P.S. Yes, I do buy produce, but not at my grocery store. I purchase produce at local produce markets because they often have a better selection and they always have better prices--hands down!

Speaking of falling leaves--how about drop-leaf tables?

2010-10-20T17:12:00.001-04:00

Do you have any pieces of furniture that have multiple uses? When I think of a multi-purpose piece of furniture I think of our little drop leaf table.

When we lived in our small 22nd floor apartment in Washington, DC this was our only dining area. This table should have fit 4 people at its capacity, but on many occasions we'd squeeze 6 or 7 people around its teeny circumference. Good times we had eating and chatting around this table. I can't even tell you how many pots of tea were served here!

Here's the table back in its glory days. I spray-painted those chairs on our snowy and cold balcony--this was after only the first coat--I just couldn't wait to take a picture. And a neighbor from the 23rd floor came down to ask me to remove whatever was making the whipping noises... it was the plastic drop cloths that I had taped around the entire balcony--it gets windy up high! I remember those days so well!

When we moved into our home in Melbourne, we upgraded and purchased a large dining table. But we never could bear to get rid of this workhorse of a table. It now sits out in our enclosed patio as a spare dining area--but it also frequently stands in as a serving area when we have company. It's also a craft table for me or project table when Mr. Spartan is working on his tech-y stuff. How untechnical did that make me sound?

Yeah, I'm messy when I craft. Wanna make something of it?

I imagine it will be around for years to come. It's Spartan, after all, to make use of what you have!

If you need a great starter table or need a nice spare, check out CSN's supply of dropleaf tables. You'll be surprised at the variety and the low prices they offer. Most of the tables offer free shipping as well--a definite bonus.

What about you--do you have any furniture you can't bear to part with?

Patterned Paper Wreath Tutorial

2010-10-19T12:32:00.001-04:00

Good day Spartans! Today I have the pleasure of sharing instructions for a beautiful patterned paper wreath that a dear friend of mine created. The creative genius behind this project is Sharon. Sharon is a newlywed who recently made the move with her husband to Melbourne and we have really enjoyed having them as part of our church family.

Sharon is a funny gal with a great eye for thrifty decor. She's super-sweet, slightly sassy, and fashionable to boot. Sharon shares my love of scrapbook paper--though neither of us are "scrapbookers". Are there any others of us out there? Sharon used scrapbook paper in an unconventional way to make this fabulous wreath for less than $5--you'll definitely want to give it a try!

Here's what you'll need:

5 12x12 sheets of scrapbook paper

Hot glue

14" wreath form

Ribbon or fabric for bow

Cut scrapbook paper into 2" x 4" strips. Being careful not to crease the paper, make a loop of each strip and secure the ends with hot glue.

Glue each loop to the wreath form, working your way down and around the entire form, covering the glued edges by overlapping the loops. (Picture explains this much better than I can!)

Once your wreath is covered in paper loops, add a pretty bow and hang on your door. Voila! How simple and fabulous is that? Not to mention, only a few inexpensive items needed--now that's how Spartans craft!

Thank you Sharon for "sharin'" your craftiness with us!

If you'd like to share a Spartan craft ($5 or less), please email me at tristinthespartan(at)gmail(dot)com. I'd love to see what you're creating!

As always, questions and comments are always greatly appreciated!

The Times, They Are A-Changin' Part II

2010-10-14T10:25:00.003-04:00

Last week I shared some ways that our Spartan family is trying to make better use of our time. This week, I'd like to share some changes that we've made to our budget over the last year and new ones that we are now implementing. Again, after some discussion, we have decided that I'll no longer work from home. Here are some of our basic budget changes:

1. Phone/Mobile. We have no home phone and a very basic cell phone package. Not having a home phone line saves us about $25 monthly. We take advantage of the fact that most of our family members use the same mobile network so the majority of our cell phone usage is free mobile-to-mobile minutes. We forgo expensive data plans and smart phones. They may be cool and convenient, but for us they're not worth the extra money. We pay about $60 monthly for our very basic cellular phone plan, and adding a basic data plan for each of us would more than double the monthly cost--not to mention we would have to purchase expensive phones rather than choosing from the freebies that our provider offers.

2. Cable. We just got rid of cable. It saves over $80 a month. Let's just say we listen to a lot more music now.

3. Grocery Budget. I am in the process of going back through our bank statements and determining exactly how much we have spent on groceries over the last three months. Then, I am going to take the average of the months, and cut it by 20%. And voila, that will be our new grocery budget--I'll let you know when I have a concrete number. Oh, and I'm going to use only cash for groceries so that I really stick to my budget. You may be seeing a lot more beans on our menu soon... (Couponing is of course a great way to make your dollar stretch--this week my best coupon deal was two packages of feta cheese for FREE! Greek salad, here we come!) Of course, we're not allowing food to go to waste either. No food left behind, right?!

4. Cars. Because my car is no longer a primary car since I no longer work outside of the home, we made some changes. Believe it or not, the changes we made allowed me to get my dream car--an old Volvo wagon. Seriously, this is the car I have wanted for years! A few years ago I was driving a brand-new SUV that cost over $400 a month and was not fuel efficient--when we bought it we lived in Washington, DC, we were both working and needed only one vehicle--and our SUV suited us perfectly. Times change, my friend. My Volvo is not exactly fuel efficient, but it packs a heck of a punch and we paid a little over $2,000 cash for it. Yep, folks, we even have the pink slip! Having a reliable but paid-in-full car makes a big difference in our budget.

5. Dining out. While I love to cook, I also love to dine out. Well, let me just say it like it is--I love to eat! But dining out really adds up--even a few cheap meals out here and there can easily turn into a few hundred bucks a month. Have you ever perused your bank statements and added up your dining out expenses? It can be shocking! We're taking more opportunities to entertain inexpensively from our home when we want to gather with friends. Truthfully, the time spent together is even better in a home versus at a restaurant. (Why not check out a few of my budget entertaining ideas?) I also have a well-stocked freezer in my arsenal, so the excuse "there's no food in the house" has become a moot point.

These are just a few of the budget changes we have implemented. Sometimes it's easy to look at our finances and say "we can't possibly cut back more". But the truth is, we need very little to truly sustain us--the rest is just extras that we're not entitled to.

We're not broke. We don't live paycheck to paycheck. We are still choosing to cut back though, for the greater good of our family. We have goals we want to accomplish. And I don't want to have to retire later than we desire because we spent frivolously on things that really don't matter.

Easy and Inexpensive Entertaining: Fall Chili-Tasting

2010-10-12T12:59:00.001-04:00

I have already mentioned how exciting Fall is for me--and though Florida does not provide the right nip in the air, we go about our business celebrating Fall as if the season is in full swing. Last Friday, the Spartan family hosted a chili dinner with our friends. We intended to have it outdoors in the crisp night air--but it was a bit warm and the mosquitoes were buzzing...so we compromised by staying in our enclosed patio!

Each family participating was asked to bring a crockpot full of their favorite chili. I also threw out a few suggestions for toppings and our friends each brought along some add-ons. In the end, we had a wide variety of chilis and some delicious toppings. It amazes me that the word "chili" means different things to different people based on region and background. We had a spicy and meaty chili, one with the addition of corn and jalapenos, a chicken chili and a very plain chili. (Admittedly the plain one was mine--I always make super-plain chili and this way little Junebug could participate in the eating, too!)

For the topping bar, we had:

Tortilla Chips
Oyster Crackers
Sour Cream
Chopped Onion
Cheese
Cilantro
Tabasco sauce and "Slap Ya Mama" Spice blend

I lined the serving tables with brown packing paper for the perfect Fall flair--you can purchase a large roll for $1 at Dollar Tree (I only used about a half a roll). We used styrofoam cups (again, from Dollar Tree) to eat out of so that each person could try the different types of chili in an untainted vessel. For the party "supplies" (spoons, cups, packing paper, napkins, dessert plates, etc.) I spent less than $10.

Chili is a frugal meal--so asking friends to bring chili keeps things inexpensive for everyone and all of our friends really enjoyed the fellowship that came from sharing this meal.

And of course, I have already shared dessert with you--but here's a reminder!

What kind of chili do you make--lots of beans, no beans, lots of meat, meatless...??

And a special thanks to Ray and Laura for bringing the Tums--we passed 'em around at the end!
Spartans, prepare for indigestion! (That was for you, Ray!)

Sweet Treat of the Week: Fall Favorites

2010-10-09T12:23:00.001-04:00

Last night we hosted a chili party and had a fabulous time! Rather than baking a cake for dessert, I opted for a few simple fall favorites. Here's what we had:

I had never heard of mixing candy corn and peanuts until this year, and now I see the combination everywhere! How was I so out of the loop? I'm not a fan of candy corn so I thought I may enjoy it with some salty roasted peanuts. The verdict? I still don't like candy corn. Yuck. But some of my friends do!

While I may not love candy corn, I do love hot apple cider and I'll find any excuse to make it.

I make hot apple cider by pouring a gallon of bottled apple cider into a crockpot and I add:

one cinnamon stick
5 cloves
a few slices of orange

Just keep your crockpot on the warm setting and keep the lid on until your guests arrive. Once your guests arrive, remove the lid so that your cider will be a more "drinkable" temperature. (I forgot to do that and we all had to wait on our cider to cool before we could sip it--no big deal of course!)

Caramel Apples were the "official" dessert of the evening...the quintessential fall treat!

It had been a while since I made these so I asked my mom how she makes them with her preschool class and it turns out that she uses the recipe from a bag of caramels. This is a great treat to make with a child--can't wait 'til my Junebug can get in the kitchen with me (and appreciate it)!

You'll need:

10 medium apples, washed, well dried

2 bags (11 oz.) KRAFT Caramel Bits

2 Tbsp. water

Sticks for the apples

INSERT one pop stick into stem end of each apple. Cover large plate with waxed paper; spray with cooking spray. Set aside.

PLACE caramel bits in microwaveable bowl. Add water; cook in 1 minute intervals, stirring after each minute, until caramel is melted.
DIP apples into melted caramel until evenly coated, spooning caramel over apples if necessary. Allow excess caramel to drip off. Scrape bottoms of apples; place on prepared plate. Refrigerate at least 1 hour. Remove from refrigerator 15 min. before serving. Store any leftover apples in refrigerator.

How's that for some simple fall dessert ideas? Chili night was a hit--I'll be sharing about that soon!

What are your favorite fall treats?

The Times, They Are A-Changin'

2010-10-06T11:51:00.001-04:00

So, what are you up to this week? The Spartan household is implementing some new changes this week. As I briefly mentioned before, I am no longer working from home. The late night hours that I was working were becoming less and less profitable and the time commitment consequently became more and more burdensome. For about the last year, I have worked at nights until 11:30pm or midnight, and then I felt the need to stay up until 1 or 2am to "wind down". And mornings with Junebug always came too early, even though she sleeps in until 9am. (How blessed I am to have a good sleeper!)

Before I stopped working, James and I talked about ways we can trim back on our budget and how we can make better use of our time. Getting time back into your hands can be a lot like getting a lump sum of money--if you don't budget it properly ahead of time you'll nickel and dime it away and wonder where your fortune went. So, we instituted a bedtime for ourselves and created a daily routine. Today is day 3, and let me tell you, things are already looking up around here! There's more family time, more time allotted specifically for bible study, our house is much tidier, and I feel more like me. Ughh, now we need to get more exercise in the mix. One step at a time, right?

Our neglected home gym.

Having a distinct bedtime has made it much easier to have a predetermined wake-up time. And you know what? Just 3 days in I feel happier already. And closer to my family. Budgeting our time is truly as important as budgeting our money--neither resource feels stretched when you create an outline of how they're to be spent. And you know what they say--time is money.

While I've been focused on living well on a budget for a while, I am finding that budgeting my time is just as important.

What do you do to maximize your time?

I'll be writing about our budget changes later this week--so keep an eye out!

Going Nuts!

2010-10-05T17:05:00.000-04:00

Guess what I picked up at Aldi yesterday? A bag of slivered almonds...well, 3 bags of slivered almonds!

At Publix, they charge $1.99 for 1/3 cup of slivered almonds. Rounds out to $6 per cup of slivered almonds.

Aldi price? $1.79 for 1 & 1/2 cups of slivered almonds! Rounds out to $1.20 per cup of almonds.

By purchasing these almonds at Aldi, I saved 80%. They're a limited time item at Aldi, so if you use them for cooking and baking like I do, go stock up before they're gone!

Menu for the month of October

2010-10-02T17:21:00.002-04:00

Did you just read that correctly? Not just a menu for a week--a whole month? Yes. I'm planning ahead! Far ahead!

As the leaves on the trees are falling, I'm turning a few leaves of my own. Fo' real. For instance, last week was my last week of working from home. James and I have committed ourselves to more bible study, exercise, and a reasonable bedtime. We're turning off our cable. And that's just a few of the highlights of the new leaves. In a nutshell though, we want a better family life and a stronger marriage so we're trying to realign our priorities to accomplish it. (No, we're not in trouble--please don't infer that--we just don't want to ever get to that point so we are focusing on growth--together! Neither of us are satisfied with things just "working"--God had better intentions for marriage and families.)

Anyhow, my new leaves are your gain--because blogging is now on the upward trend in my priority list!

And without further adieu, here's what's in store for our dinners during the month of October:

Friday 10/1: Date night @ Carabbas (Gift Card)
Saturday 10/2: Homemade Corn Dogs and Spinach Salad (I know it's an odd combination, but it's an effort to have No Food Left Behind! Oh, and my previous menu showed that tonight would be Julia Child’s Boeuf Bourguignon. Let's just say that didn't happen!)

Sunday 10/3 ~~Taco Soup~~ ~~(from the freezer) and Taco Salad~~ Leftover Corn Dogs and Spinach Salad (I posted this menu only hours ago and am already editing... see the importance of remaining flexible?)
Monday 10/4 Zucchini-Sausage Cornbread and Black-eyed peas
Tuesday 10/5 Ricotta wrapped chicken and bacon, roasted potatoes and green beans
Wednesday 10/6 Muffaletta Sandwiches, fruit
Thursday 10/7 Sweet and sour chicken, steamed jasmine rice and broccoli
Friday 10/8 Chili night with friends (we're hosting)
Saturday 10/9 Leftover chili, I'm assuming!

Sunday 10/10 Roasted Tomato-Basil Soup (from the freezer) and grilled mozzarella sandwiches

Monday 10/11 Veggie fried rice, egg rolls
Tuesday 10/12 Sloppy Joes (from the freezer), chips and broccoli
Wednesday 10/13 Tuna Sandwiches, fruit and chips
Thursday 10/14 Spinach and cheese quiche (recipe will follow), fruit
Friday 10/15 Pending (We'll be going in a lot of directions this weekend--so we'll plan as needed)
Saturday 10/16 Pending

Sunday 10/17 Pending

Monday 10/18 Black bean tacos, green chile rice and sliced avocado
Tuesday 10/19 Shepherd's Pie, corn
Wednesday 10/20 Leftovers from the previous two nights
Thursday 10/21 Salmon with Lentils and Mustard-Herb Butter, roasted carrots
Friday 10/22 Toad in a hole, homemade applesauce
Saturday 10/23 Chicken curry stew, homemade bread

Sunday 10/24 Leftover chicken curry stew, homemade bread

Monday 10/25 Sausage and mushroom quiche (recipe will follow), poached pears
Tuesday 10/26 Salmon and tomato-saffron rice, sauteed kale or chard
Wednesday 10/27 Cuban sandwiches, chips and fruit
Thursday 10/28 Great northern beans and ham, cornbread
Friday 10/29 Green chile burros, refried beans and salad
Saturday 10/30 Leftovers from the previous nights

Sunday 10/31 Mummy dogs, broccoli salad and macaroni and cheese

The perfect Halloween food!

I'll continue to post the weekly menu on Sunday--basically though, this is the outline. I always have to remember to be flexible with my menu based on the produce selection I come across, sales, and special deals. I based this menu primarily around what I have stocked in my pantry and freezer, so I should only have to make a weekly stop to the produce market to do my grocery shopping. I'm crossing my fingers that is works!

How do you meal plan--daily? Weekly? Monthly? I'd like to hear what works for you!

Also, if you have any suggestions for the Sweet Treat of the Week I'd love to hear them! And if anyone is interested in posting a Sweet Treat of the Week guest post, just send your idea to tristinthespartan(at)gmail(dot)com.

This menu has been linked to Mommy's Kitchen Menu Plan Monthly.

Sweet Treat of the Week: Pumpkin Pie Mousse

2010-10-02T10:28:00.001-04:00

Regardless of the weather, the month of October requires hearty and spice-filled desserts. Apple pie, pecan pie, pumpkin pie... or how about some Pumpkin Pie Mousse? I'm not a pie person (ask my family!) so this is a great alternative to the classic pumpkin pie. It tastes light, but folks, a dessert like this can be pretty deceiving. I cringed as I poured 3 cups of heavy whipping cream into my mixer! Not only will this dessert stick to your ribs--it'll stick to your hips, thighs and butt, too. I'm just tellin' it like it is. But all things in moderation, right? Let's proceed.

Pumpkin Pie Mousse (Courtesy of one of my past Food Network faves, Dave Lieberman.)

Here's what you'll need:

1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin

3 cups heavy cream

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Combine pumpkin, 1 cup cream, sugar and spice in a medium saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes. Cool fully.

Whip remaining heavy cream and vanilla to soft peaks.

Fold whipped cream into cooled pumpkin mixture.

How easy was that??

Chill and use however you see fit! I piped the mousse into some homemade brownie cups. You can make a pumpkin pie parfait by layering the mousse with MORE whipped cream and crumbled ginger snaps. Or you could make a graham cracker crust and fill it with the pumpkin pie mousse for a twist on the traditional pumpkin pie. I guess you get the picture--the possibilities are endless. Enjoy!

Homemade Toddler Costume - Fit for a Little Ladybug!

2010-09-29T12:24:00.007-04:00

For all of us who aren't skilled seamstresses, the thought of a homemade Halloween costume can seem pretty daunting--but it certainly doesn't have to be. With a few items I already had on hand and a few others I picked up at the dollar store, I was able to create a unique and adorable costume for my little Junebug.

Here's what you'll need to make this adorable costume:

Supplies:

1. Red onesie or t-shirt (I had one already)

2. Black leggings (Purchased for $3.50 at WAL-Mart)

3. Black fabric paint

4. Antennae (purchased at the Dollar Tree for $1--I just clipped off the center decoration to turn these into quick and easy ladybug antennae!)

5. Red tights for recovering fairy wings

6. Fairy wings (Old, new, borrowed, blue--whatever you have or can get--we're just going to recover them anyhow! I had these already but you can purchase new ones at the Dollar Tree for $1.)

Supplies needed but not shown:

-Sticker Shipping Labels (optional)

-Rotary circle cutter (optional)

-Hot glue gun

-Sponge paint brush (one you're willing to throw away after use--they're like $ .25 at most craft stores)

-1 sheet each of red and black felt (if you'd like to make the Ladybug embellishment for the wings)

-Printable Felt Ladybug Pattern (again, this is if you'd like to make the Ladybug embellishment for the wings)

First, let's start with making the ladybug "abdomen" (or shirt--whatever you'd like to call it!).

I used a circle cutter to cut 1" circles onto sticky shipping labels and stuck the circle templates in a random pattern onto the front of the red onesie. Remember to place a piece of cardboard or cardstock behind the shirt's front so the paint does not seep through to the back.

Once you're happy with the placement of your circles, use your sponge brush to carefully sponge paint over the circle cutouts. If you do not have a circle-cutter or are not concerned with perfect circles, then just paint them on by hand--there are no rules!

It'll look funky for a minute...

But look what you have after you carefully remove the circle templates:

Perfect! Now you can set it aside to let it dry. Now let's move onto the wings!

First of all, you'll want to remove the covering of your fairy wings until you have a naked skeleton like this:

Then, cut the red stockings right where the legs begin.

Bunch the stockings up and slip them over the wing frame. Use one leg of the stockings for each wing and gather all the excess nylon in the center and tie it as tightly as you can, being careful not to cause a run in the nylon.

Using the same method as painting the shirt, prepare some circle templates and adhere them to the wings in the desired places. This time I used 2.5" and 2" circles in addition to some 1" circles. Make sure they are placed in a symmetrical pattern.

Cover your work surface with newspaper because things can get messy now! Carefully paint over the templates, being sure not to move the wings. (You see, the paint will go through the nylon stockings and color the opposite side as well, so if you move the wings on your work surface, you run the risk of smudging your paint--and at that point you'll have to start over from scratch since you can't really remove fabric paint from the delicate nylon.)

Now, remove the circle templates and proudly hang your ladybug wings on your chandelier or any other convenient place to dry. Pat yourself on the back--you're almost done!

(You may want to paint the reverse of the dots once your first set has dried. It's a personal preference, but I did and it made the black dots a lot stronger.)

I created a ladybug embellishment for the wings--using only some felt scraps, hot glue and fabric paint.

The printable pattern is available here. I didn't do step-by-step instructions for assembling the ladybug because once you cut the pieces, it becomes fairly obvious as to how the assembly works--especially if you take a peek at the end result pictured below.

Simply affix the embellishment to the wings with hot glue and you've got yourself a sew-free costume!

Now try it on your little one to see how it looks...

And smile, as you realize that your sweet little one strongly dislikes the costume you made her... At least we have some time between now and Halloween to acclimate her to wearing her wings. (And yes, this is the BEST picture I could get of her!)

In total, I spent exactly $5 plus tax on the items needed for this costume. I had many pieces already which was a driving factor for the theme of the costume. It's easy to go out and purchase a costume in a store, but there's something satisfying about creating one for your precious little one. And if you use inspiration from what you already have lying about your home, you can make a homemade costume at a fraction of the cost of purchasing one. How's that for keeping it Spartan?

Anyone else creating a Halloween costume for a little one? If so, what are you creating? As always, your feedback, questions and comments are greatly appreciated!

This post is included on Sherri's Family Crafts Blog at About.com.

Menu of the Week

2010-09-26T15:50:00.010-04:00

Hey folks! Are you enjoying the Autumn weather? It still doesn't feel like Autumn down here in Florida, but a girl can dream, right? I am already chomping at the bit to add all of the rich stews and soups that the season requires--I'll ignore the weather for now and just roll with it! Ready for a hearty fall menu? Here goes:

Sunday: Publix Deli Family Combo Meal (1 Rotisserie chicken OR 8-piece fried chicken, 2 family-sized deli sides, package of Hawaiian rolls, and this week they're throwing in a FREE gallon of Publix sweet tea--all for $9.99! A great alternative to going out. This meal deal feeds our family of 3 at least twice!)

Monday: Spinach-cheese manicotti and spinach salad

Tuesday: Cranberry Bean Pasta Fagioli (I'll be substituting red kidney beans for the cranberry beans) and garlic bread

Wednesday: Leftover soup

Thursday: Rigatoni with Braised Chicken and Saffron Cream and poached pears

Friday: Split pea soup (from the freezer) with homemade bread

Saturday: Julia Child’s Boeuf Bourguignon (My first time making it! SO excited...)

Here's a hint for the Sweet Treat of the Week: It falls into the Autumn category, it's rich but tastes light, and you can serve it in many different ways. Any guesses?

So what's on your menu this week? Any Autumn favorites you'd like to share?

Sweet Treat of the Week: Chocolate Scotcheroos

2010-09-25T08:24:00.001-04:00

Ahh, butterscotch and chocolate combined with playful and unpretentious Rice Krispies. Does it get any better? These Chocolate Scotcheroos from the Rice Krispie website are a step up from the ordinary Rice Krispie Treats. And because I bought all of the ingredients at Aldi, I made a large pan for about four bucks. Not too bad for a delicious treat!

Chocolate Scotcheroos

1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup peanut butter
6 cups Rice Krispies®
1 package (6 oz., 1 cup) semi-sweet chocolate morsels
1 cup butterscotch chips

1. Place corn syrup and sugar into 3-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until sugar dissolves and mixture begins to boil. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter. Mix well. Add Rice Krispies cereal. Stir until well coated. Press mixture into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Set aside.

The swirling of the peanut butter into the corn syrup mixture is an artful experience.

2. Melt chocolate and butterscotch chips together in 1-quart saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Spread evenly over cereal mixture. Let stand until firm. Cut into 2 x 1-inch bars when cool.

And there you have it! An inexpensive, quick, crowd-pleasing dessert that travels well.

What more can a Spartan ask for?

Cost Analysis: Homemade Key Lime Pie vs. storebought

2010-09-24T10:03:00.003-04:00

Remember a few weeks ago when I posted about Key Lime Pie?

I want to share a cost analysis of a homemade Key Lime Pie versus a store bought one. It's a mind-blowing price difference!

Ingredients:
11 graham crackers, crushed with rolling pin or in food processor- $ .65
3 tablespoons granulated sugar $ .40
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted $ .56
1/2 cup fresh lime juice (12 to 15 key limes or 3 to 4 common limes) $ .75
4 teaspoons grated lime zest (included in above cost of limes)
4 egg yolks $ .40
1 - 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk $ .89
*Majority of items purchased while on sale or at Aldi

Total cost of a homemade Key Lime Pie: $3.65

Cost of a grocery store bakery Key Lime Pie : $7.99

Homemade is a considerable savings, huh? It's worth having a few go-to dessert recipes so that you don't have to spend an arm and a leg when you take dessert to a potluck or have friends over.

Now you can have your pie and save money, too!

Making the case for Aldi - Part 1

2010-09-22T11:50:00.002-04:00

Does your town have an Aldi yet? It seems like they're popping up all over the country. My local area went from having NO Aldi locations to having 3 within a relatively short distance! Wow! It's truly a sign of the times that a discount chain like Aldi is flourishing when many of the "big guys" are folding right and left.

Have you given Aldi a try?

Shopping at Aldi is a unique experience. First of all, it's a no-frills type setting. There aren't beautiful displays or end caps. Nope. There are pallets stacked with freight. There aren't multiple lanes with cashiers and baggers. You have to put in a quarter to receive a shopping cart and you have to bring your own bags for groceries or purchase them. You can read more about the Aldi difference here.

I researched the pricing of basic items at Aldi vs. our nearby Publix. Here's what I found:

If you bought all of the above items at Aldi, you'd spend about $10.30. If you purchased the name brand items at your local grocery store, you'd pay about $19.45. Aldi is just half the price!

Please keep in mind that I LOVE Publix--I'm not knocking the chain. Publix has fabulous sale prices, a great selection and the best customer service around. And Aldi is great, but they don't have a wide variety of foods, so if you need more specialized items you have to pick them up elsewhere.

The savings is pretty amazing, huh?

This is Part 1 of a series about shopping at Aldi. Check back next week for Part 2 where I'll be sharing price comparisons of baking staples.

Fellow Spartans, what's your take on Aldi? I'd love to hear your opinions and experiences--I greatly appreciate your comments!

This post is purely motivated by my desire to share options for saving on your grocery bill--it's not endorsed or sponsored by Aldi in any way!

A pitiful menu, excuses, and obsessions.

2010-09-21T00:06:00.000-04:00

Well, this week's menu is really going to rely heavily on my well-stocked freezer. Why? Well, there are many reasons. First of all, I'm busy getting goods ready to sell for a craft extravaganza in a few weeks--sewing my little heart out! Secondly, I have two weeknight engagements this week in addition to my regular nighttime work hours and Wednesday night church. Basically, tonight is the only night this week that we were able to sit down and enjoy dinner together. We had some delicious homemade egg rolls and egg drop soup. Yum!

However, my freezer is stocked for occasions such as this, and my pantry is stocked too, so never fear--we'll be eating well!

If you want some good inspiration for your menu, here are some blogs I like to visit:

Taste and Tell
5 Dollar Dinners
Mommy's Kitchen
My Kitchen Addiction

Or you can checkout a list of previous Spartan Living menus.

Please pardon my lack of posts these past few days. I have a new obsession. It's crocheting. Here are some granny squares I've made for a group project:

And here's a stack of burp cloths that I have been making for the craft extravaganza I referred to above:

I also cleaned my desk--it has had stacks of books and papers on it that were literally as tall as the printer. I can work that way 'cause I'm crazy like that, but clutter of that magnitude is not good for a marriage--to say the least. So, it only took a little while and it's clean! (Makes me wonder why I put off that chore for SO long!)

My office is not glamorous by any stretch of the imagination, but it works. Like all those cords? You won't see those on Thrifty Decor Chick or the Nesting Place, but here at Spartan Living we keep it real. Really real. Almost too real. Anyhow, I'm proud to be able to see the surface of my desk once again, so I'm sharing this accomplishment with you.

So, what's keeping you busy these days, fellow Spartans?

Announcing $35 CSN.com Giveaway Winner!

2010-09-16T00:22:00.001-04:00

Drum roll please....

The winner of the $35 CSN.com giveaway is Jared!

He's a personal friend and new blogger and you can visit his site about programming at codeShui. (Umm, it's way over my head, but thought I'd include the plug anyhow!)

Congratulations Jared--and please let us know what you purchase!
And a BIG THANK YOU to all the Spartans who participated in the Giveaway--there were 47 of you! My, how I appreciate each and every comment I receive.

Winner was chosen by the True Random Number Generator at Random.org. (Even though programmers like Jared say nothing is "random". As far as I'm concerned, it's random. So there.)

Last chance for $35 CSN.com Giveaway!

2010-09-15T13:29:00.001-04:00

Please remember that the $35 CSN.com giveaway is still going on until 11:59pm tonight! Only a few more hours! Please leave a comment on the original post to be eligible--you can click here to be directed to the post!

And you're welcome and encouraged to share this with friends and family members. The more the merrier!

Good luck!

Potato Pierogi With Sauteed Cabbage and Apples

2010-09-14T23:36:00.001-04:00

If you read the weekly menu that was posted this week then you're aware that the Spartan family had Potato Pierogi With Sauteed Cabbage and Apples for dinner this evening. (Well, really I snuck away and had dinner with some ladies from church at our "Crochet Boot Camp", but I made this dinner for my family before I left!) Anyhow, I picked up the ingredients at Aldi primarily, and WOW--what a frugal meal this is--and healthy and tasty, might I add!

Here's the rundown:

Potato Pierogi With Sauteed Cabbage and Apples from Real Simple magazine

Ingredients

1 16.9-ounce box frozen potato-and-cheddar pierogi ($1.79)

2 T butter ($ .16)

1 small yellow onion, cut into rings (Left this out because James dislikes onions)

1 crisp apple (such as Braeburn or Gala), cut into 1/2-inch pieces ($ .66)

1/4 small head green cabbage, shredded ($ .50)

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar ($ .5)

Kosher salt and black pepper (I consider these items to be free!)

Directions:

Cook the pierogi according to the package directions.
Meanwhile, heat the butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the apple and cook for 1 minute.
Add the cabbage, vinegar, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring, until the cabbage is slightly wilted but still crunchy, 2 to 3 minutes.
Divide the cabbage mixture among plates. Serve with the pierogi and sour cream on the side if desired.

The entire recipe cost $3.16 to make--that's $ .79 per serving! I'd say that's a steal.

I'll definitely make this satisfying and inexpensive meal again. Will any of you be adding it to your repertoire?

P.S. Sometimes I make my own pierogi with this recipe and store them in batches in the freezer. Other times I purchase them like I did for the recipe above. They're a delicious and convenient food to have on hand!

Menu and "Flying" Again

2010-09-12T23:49:00.000-04:00

Here's what we're having this week:

Sunday: BBQ Pork, Macaroni and Cheese, Cole Slaw, Deviled Eggs
Monday: Leftovers from Sunday
Tuesday: Potato Pierogi With Sauteed Cabbage and Apples
Wednesday: Taco Salad, fresh pineapple
Thursday: Asian Beef and Cabbage Salad, Sliced mango
Friday: Spinach and Cheese Manicotti, salad, garlic bread
Saturday: Breakfast will be Belgian Waffles with homemade blueberry sauce

What's on your menu? Thanks to the readers who helped me through my "lack of menu inspiration" last week! We made it through without a menu... but it is SO much easier to have a plan!

Speaking of having a plan... I'll be rejoining my friend the FlyLady for some much needed housekeeping scheduling and advice. I need to get back on her wonderful schedule. I was a terrible housekeeper when I first got married 6 years ago and have drastically improved, and FlyLady is part of what made me successful. But lately, I can barely scrape by with my housework--I'm just keeping my head above water. Our home is not a pigsty by any stretch of the imagination, but I definitely have higher standards than I have been achieving. (Toddlers are not conducive to a neat home, I'm convinced!)

You better believe I'll be starting the week with my Home Blessing Hour! Anyone care to join me?

Are there any other FlyLady success stories out there? And any advice on "keeping up" with the house?

Sweet Treat of the Week: Classic Key Lime Pie

2010-09-11T15:40:00.002-04:00

Ahh, Key Lime Pie. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways...

Well, folks, I have to admit a few things when it comes to making a "classic" Key Lime Pie. The "classic" version is made with key limes, which are the size of a kumquat and are a bear to squeeze. I have made the pie with real key limes before, but never again!

Let's examine the size of the lime to the key lime:

This photo is borrowed from the blog Taste and Tell. It's a blog I ran across and am in love with it!

Also, traditional key lime pies are not baked. The egg yolks are "cooked" by the acidity of the lime. I have made the "unbaked" version with success before, but much prefer to just pop the pie in the oven for a few minutes to let the custard set. Many foodies would say baking a key lime pie is a "no-no" but I say it gets you to the end product in a quicker and safer way, so let 'er rip!

So here's the classic Key Lime Pie recipe:

11 graham crackers, crushed with rolling pin or in food processor
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1/2 cup fresh lime juice (12 to 15 key limes or 3 to 4 common limes)

4 teaspoons grated lime zest
4 egg yolks
1 - 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk

Crust:
Preheat oven to 325.
Combine first three ingredients and press into a standard pie plate.
Bake crust 10-15 minutes, or until it appears to have become a cohesive crust.

Whisk the egg yolks and lime zest together in a bowl until tinted light green. This takes about 2 minutes. (Save your arms by doing this in your stand mixer!) Beat in condensed milk, then juice and set aside at room temperature till it thickens.

Pour the lime filling into crust, spread evenly, and then bake for 15 minutes until the center sets, but still wiggles when shaken. How's that for a technical term?
Remove from oven and cool to room temperature.
Refrigerate for at least three hours until well chilled.

Some people use the leftover egg whites to put a meringue on the top of the pie. I don't really prefer to do that but it is a good use of the egg whites. I'll probably turn the egg whites into an egg-white omelet for the little Junebug. A dollop of lightly sweetened freshly whipped cream is a great addition, though in my opinion it's totally unnecessary. I'm a minimalist.

And yes, I had Key Lime Pie for breakfast this morning. Watcha gonna do about it--call the food police?!

Another Giveaway!

2010-09-10T13:43:00.001-04:00

After a successful giveaway a few weeks ago, I am happy to report that Spartan Living Readers now have the opportunity to win again!

This time we have a $35 voucher to any of the fabulous CSN online stores!

How would you like some modern bedding? I LOVE the DwellStudio Peacock Citrine Duvet , though I'd never have the guts to put it in my home. Isn't that fabric fabulous?

I fell in love with these Salt and Pepper Shakers

and these ones are SO unique and perfect for Shark Week!

I think this bowl would compliment my Fiestaware well:

And there's lots of baby stuff including the stroller we own:

Phil and Ted's Classic Buggy Stroller which is the perfect all-purpose stroller! (Shopping, walking, rollerblading, you name it--I have only this one stroller and don't have a need for another. Also, you can buy the double kit if you have more than one child and easily turn it into a double stroller. Phil and Ted are brilliant I tell you!)

This current CSN giveaway is good for any of the CSN.com stores and is a voucher for $35!

All you have to do to be considered for this giveaway is to leave a comment on this post telling me what you need to "modernize" in your home!

And why not consider becoming a follower and becoming a fan on Facebook? The more followers and fans SL has, the more opportunities we will have for giveaways like this one!

The giveaway is valid for residents of the United States and Canada only. $35 voucher does not cover shipping costs, but don't worry-many products offer free shipping! Please be sure that I have an email address to contact you with if your email address is not linked to your profile!

Giveaway will be open until 11:59pm est on Wednesday 9/15/10!

Winner will be announced on Thursday 9/16/10.

Happy commenting and good luck!

PLEASE NOTE: GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!!!

Matzo Ball Soup

2010-09-08T15:06:00.000-04:00

Happy Rosh Hashanah!

Oh, what's that? You didn't know it was the Jewish new year already? Well, neither did I until I noticed it on my calendar this week. Let's celebrate with some delicious Matzo Ball Soup, shall we?

This recipe comes directly from the Streits Passover Matzo Meal box.

1 cup Matzo Meal

4 large eggs

1/4 cup oil or melted margarine (I am pretty sure this is for keeping it Kosher-but I used butter 'cause I'm a rebel like that!)

1/4 cup water

1 tsp. salt

Pinch of ground pepper

Step 1: Mix

Beat eggs well. Add water, oil, salt and pepper.

Mix well.

Add matzo meal and stir thoroughly.

Refrigerate for 1/2 to 1 hour.

Step 2: Form

Partially fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil.

Moisten palms with cold water.

Form mixture into balls about 1" in diameter.

Drop matzo balls into boiling water.

Step 3: Simmer

When all the matzo balls are in the pot, reduce heat to low.

Simmer, covered, for about 30 minutes or until done,

Remove with slotted spoon.

Simmer the matzo balls for 15 minutes in your favorite chicken soup before serving. (Why not use the Easiest Chicken Stock Ever?)

Serve with apples and honey! (Apples and honey are foods served on Rosh Hashanah that symbolize a sweet new year.)

I'm not Jewish, but I sure do like any reason to celebrate something out of the ordinary! Do you celebrate holidays like this, too?

Low Country Boil

2010-09-06T07:14:00.003-04:00

Last Thursday I went to our local farmer's market and got a great deal on some locally caught shrimp--$10 for 5 lbs. of shrimp! So I snatched 'em up and called some friends and on Friday night we had a Low Country Boil. Basically, it's shrimp, potatoes, corn and smoked sausage boiled together with Old Bay or a similar seasoning. Yum!

Low Country Boil is a great meal to entertain with because it's inexpensive and very simple to prepare. I won't bother explaining how to make it because there are SO many great articles already written. Here are a few links you may want to consider if you'd like to host a Low Country Boil:

Coastal Living's Low Country Boil

Paula Deen's Low Country Boil

HomeEc 101 Low Country Boil

Normally a Low Country Boil would be hosted outdoors with a pot over an open fire and the table would be lined with newspapers and the cooked food is simply dumped down the middle for serving. Well, we live in the 'burbs so we did a variation on tradition. Each person had a placemat of newspaper and the center of the table was covered in brown packing paper. I made bread and laid it directly on the table. Now that's unpretentious dining, huh?

The whole dinner cost under $40 for 10 adults--and there were leftovers that went home with our guests. Now that's a Spartan way to entertain!

And if you're curious--I had about 2 lbs of shrimp heads (YUCK!) left over after prepping the shrimp so I made 3 quarts of fish stock! And then I discarded the shrimp shells in my compost bin... No food left behind, right?!

Weekly Menu and a Confession

2010-09-05T00:01:00.001-04:00

Oh Spartans, I made a mistake. I should be eating catfish but instead I'm eating my words, with a side of crow.

You see, I bought the above gorgeous catfish at our local farmer's market on Thursday afternoon. He was $3 and he looked like "good eats" to me. But I never cooked him. And fresh fish needs to be either frozen or eaten very quickly. I did neither. So this little guy lost his life in vain and I tossed away three dollars.

That's food--left behind.

Spartan Living is about my journey toward simplification--a journey I'll be on for the rest of my life. I know I'll never have it perfected. I try hard on a daily basis to uphold the principles I write about but there are days that I fail miserably. So often on a blog we share only the best of ourselves--and leave out all those nagging imperfections. I know I do that. I move clutter and piled-up mail before taking pictures so you don't see the mess that sometimes lives on my counters. I write about not wasting food and then throw food away. I write about keeping a clean house and leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight and let the laundry pile up. Please don't misunderstand--Spartan Living is not a sham--I truly try to hold to the principles that I preach... but sometimes I fail. And I wanted you to know that.

And on that note, I simply cannot decide on a menu this week. I've written three but I don't like any of them.

So, can you help a girl out--what's on your menu this week? Please, inspire me! (Links will be most appreciated if you have them!)

Sweet Treat of the Week: Almost-Famous Mocha Frappes

2010-09-04T13:17:00.000-04:00

I am proud to say that it has been well over a year and a half since I last had Starbucks. Fo' real. I was pregnant when I last had Starbucks. And I have purchased one cup of Dunkin' Donuts coffee since Elliott was born 15 months ago. Uno. Why?

((Stepping onto my soapbox)) Well, $3 here and there adds up--especially when you consider that you can buy a pound of good quality coffee beans for a few dollars and brew it yourself for pennies. It takes little effort to create even coffee shop quality specialty drinks in your home--they're a much more frugal alternative. Besides, do you know how bad those coffee shop drinks are for you? Check out the Starbucks Nutritional Info. They're certainly not drinks that you should have on a daily basis. Bad for your body and bad for your budget. But a sweet treat of the week? Well, sure. Plus, I hate having to call small drinks "tall" or larges "venti". Come on people. Starbucks, if you're listening, I am not willing to pay 800% mark-up because you give your sizes fancy names. Sheesh. ((Sheepishly stepping down from soapbox with a red face from ranting))

This particular recipe is in Food Network Magazine this month (thanks to my MIL for the subscription--great gift). I'll bet you have all the ingredients in your home already!

Almost-Famous Mocha Frappes
Ingredients

For the coffee ice:

3 tablespoons sugar

2 cups warm strong coffee

For the chocolate syrup:

2/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 ounce milk chocolate, finely chopped

1 1/2 teaspoons honey

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the frappes:

1 cup reduced-fat milk

Whipped cream, for topping

Directions

Make the coffee ice: Stir the sugar into the coffee until dissolved, then let cool. Pour into a 16-cube ice-cube tray and freeze until solid, about 3 hours.

Make the chocolate syrup: Combine the sugar and cocoa powder in a saucepan and slowly whisk in 2/3 cup hot water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, whisking, until the sugar dissolves, 3 to 5 minutes; do not boil. Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate, honey and vanilla until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until cool.

Make the frappes: Puree 8 coffee ice cubes, 1/2 cup milk, 1/3 to 1/2 cup chocolate syrup and 1 cup plain ice in a blender until smooth. Pour into 2 glasses, then repeat to make 2 more drinks. Top with whipped cream and more chocolate syrup.

(I personally don't like whipped cream on top of my drinks, so I am omitting it. For me, it doesn't add enough flavor value for the calories it adds. To each his own!)

Added bonus of making these drinks at home? You're not selling out to "the man". Boo-yah!

So what's your take on Starbucks? Love 'em? Hate 'em? I want to hear your opinion!

Another Spartan Living First- Printable Recipes

2010-09-02T23:39:00.001-04:00

Hello fellow Spartans!

In an effort to make Spartan Living more user-friendly I have added some printable recipes--below is a taste of what's to come! Why not print these original Spartan Living recipes and add them to your recipe books?

There's also a new button (to the left of the posts) and tab (above the posts) where you can easily locate these printables. Be sure to check back for updates!

Here are the first of many printable recipes:

Roasted Tomato Soup

The Easiest Chicken Stock Ever

Bon Appetit!

No Food Left Behind

2010-09-01T17:22:00.003-04:00

Have you ever read the statistic that average American family throws away $500-$600 worth of food away each year? Wow! I don't believe everything I read, but I think this is a pretty accurate estimate based on my previous shameful habits and the habits of others I know. So what's a girl (or guy) to do?

My husband and I created the "No Food Left Behind Act" in our home a few years ago. (Yeah, the name is a spin-off of the controversial No Child Left Behind Act. But saving money is not quite as controversial as NCLB, is it?) Basically, No Food Left Behind (NFLB) is our effort to make sure that no food goes to waste in our home. Our "NFLB" is the equivalent of our grandparents' "waste not, want not".

Let's level here-I do throw out food sometimes. We're not perfect. But our waste is minimal compared to what it once was. It takes some effort--but once you adopt the NFLB mentality, it takes no time for it to become a natural instinct.

For instance, I bought some tomatoes a few days ago and they were beginning to get a bit "mushy". (You know, at the point that you'd be embarassed to put them in a salad... that's the state they were in.) I popped those bad boys in the oven with some salt, pepper and olive oil and roasted them for about an hour. (I actually did this while dinner was cooking in the oven--so SCORE on saving time and energy, too!) Here's what they looked like after roasting:

The tomatoes have now been saved from being thrown away because their natural decomposition was disrupted by the oven. These roasted tomatoes can be popped in the freezer for later use in any soup or chili recipe, or used right away. (Or how about the Spartan original recipe for Roasted Tomato Soup?) Once they're frozen, you're back in control of your budget since your tomatoes are not going to waste.

(For a quick and inexpensive dinner, toss your roasted tomatoes with some rinsed and drained cannellini beans, a dash of balsamic vinegar, olive oil and a handful of fresh basil. Then add some cooked whole-wheat pasta, and presto! You have an affordable, healthy and delicious dinner.)

My husband shared this article with me: Food Expiration Dates: What do they really mean? It's pretty interesting and is right on target with helping consumers save their hard-earned money.

Almost any leftover can be repurposed. Lots of things can be frozen. But you have to make it happen! So, make the effort to be proactive and stop wasting food! It's crazy to think of throwing dollar bills in the trash can, right? But if you're throwing food away, that's essentially what's happening.

If you need suggestions on what to do with your leftovers, feel free to shoot me an email listing the leftovers you need to use and I'll write you back with some suggestions. My email address is tristinthespartan@gmail.com or you can simply leave a comment. I'll get back to you with a solution!

What do you do to use up leftovers? Are you going to enact the No Food Left Behind Act in your home?

Announcing $40 Cookware.com Giveaway Winner!

2010-08-31T00:09:00.001-04:00

Drum roll please....

The winner of the Cookware.com $40 giveaway is Emily Dutton who said:

I would LOVE that coffee press! I LOVE this blog too (had to subscribe after reading a couple of the entries!) I LOVE the great ideas and cost savings you have made seem so easy to achieve, and you have inspired me to start using some of your ideas already!

Well, Emily, I hope you enjoy the french press and a few other goodies! And please be sure to check your email for the voucher!

Thanks to all of you who left a comment--34 comments is definitely a Spartan Living record--for now!

Winner was chosen by the True Random Number Generator at Random.org.

This week's menu

2010-08-29T23:38:00.000-04:00

Sunday: Leftover lasagna, green beans and fruit (thanks, mom!)

Monday: Hurst's 15 Bean Soup (made with Kielbasa) and Zucchini Cornbread cakes (Leftovers will go into the freezer--my frozen soup supply is running low!)

Tuesday: Brown sugar glazed pork with creme de brie sauce, roasted carrots, salad (I recently picked up some Alouette Creme de Brie for pennies at Publix--yay for coupons and sales!)

Wednesday: Chicken and dressing casserole (and in lieu of the canned "Cream of whatever" soup in the recipe I'll be using this homemade substitute), salad

Thursday: Taco vegetable soup, homemade bread

Friday: Smorgasbord of leftovers!

Saturday: Belgian waffles and homemade maple syrup (Shh, don't tell my husband--it's a surprise!)

What's on your menu this week?

Sweet Treat of the Week: Tiramisu

2010-08-28T09:14:00.000-04:00

Aren't vacations great? Sometimes don't you need a vacation to recuperate from your vacation? Well, more on that later--but we're back from a splendid and fun-filled week in St. George Island, FL. While we were away, I celebrated my twenty-____th year on earth with my husband's family. What a fun time we had!

When we arrived safely at home, we celebrated my "trip around the sun" with my side of the family--so my mom made my favorite birthday dessert and my dad played the Beatles' "Birthday" song--just like every year. Ahh, love it! Tiramisu is my new favorite birthday dessert--this is the 2nd year in a row I have requested it and, well, let's just say I'm already looking forward to next year! Thanks for sharing the recipe, Ma.

Ingredients:

40 Roland Lady Fingers (Italian SAVOIARDI)
8 large egg yolks*
¾ cup sugar
1 ½ lbs mascarpone cheese
4 large egg whites, beaten in a medium size bowl until stiff peaks form*
2 cups cold, strong espresso coffee
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1. Beat the egg yolks and sugar until thick. Fold mascarpone into eggs until smooth, then fold egg whites into the mascarpone mixture thoroughly.

2. Pour espresso into a shallow bowl. Dip ladyfingers quickly into the mixture one at a time and place a layer of them very close together in a 14x10 inch dish.

3. Spread half the mascarpone mixture over the ladyfingers and sprinkle with cocoa powder.

4. Make another layer of ladyfingers the same way and top with the remainder of the mascarpone cheese. Sprinkle with cocoa powder.

5. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours. Decorate with chocolate shavings if desired.

Makes 10-12 Servings

*With all of the egg recalls in effect right now, please be careful when choosing eggs to use for this recipe! And just to be on the safe side, don't let babies or the elderly or anyone with a weakened immune system consume uncooked eggs!

Just 5 more days for $40 Cookware.com giveaway!

2010-08-25T11:48:00.000-04:00

Just a quick reminder: The Cookware.com giveaway will end on Monday, August 30th.

The lucky winner will be posted on Tuesday, August 31st.

All comments left on the original post until Monday 8/30 11:59 pm E.S.T. will be eligible!

Click here to go leave your comment or click the yellow button on the left side of the page!

The giveaway is valid for residents of the United States and Canada only. $40 voucher does not cover shipping costs, but don't worry-many products offer free shipping! Please be sure that your comments are left on the original post and that I have an email address to contact you with.

Simple and delicious pickles

2010-08-24T11:24:00.001-04:00

I love pickles and have yet to try my hand at canning pickles. In the meantime, how about some refreshing homemade refrigerator pickles? They're simple and you probably have most of the staple ingredients on hand. I saw this recipe in Real Simple this month, and after not being able to find one of the ingredients, dill seed, I picked up pickling spice and changed the recipe slightly.

Here's what you'll need:

4 Kirby cucumbers (about 1 pound), quartered lengthwise

3/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 small sweet onion (such as Vidalia or Walla Walla), thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, smashed
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons pickling spice
kosher salt

Directions:

Place the cucumbers in a 1-quart jar or some other container with a tight-fitting lid.

In a bowl, combine the vinegar, onion, garlic, sugar, pickling spice, 2 teaspoons salt, and ¾ cup hot tap water. Stir until the sugar dissolves.

Pour the vinegar mixture into the jar with the cucumbers, cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 day before serving. The pickles will last up to 1 week.

Pretty simple, huh? They're good, too!

My only compaint is that I am not loving the cinnamon/allspice flavor that came from the pickling spice and am still in search of "dill seed". I am usually pretty good at finding obscure items--but this one has me flustered. I mean, dill weed is easy to come by--but dill seed? Suggestions?

This week's menu

2010-08-22T13:48:00.004-04:00

Have you looked at the selection of plums in your local market lately? Right now must be the peak season because there are SO many delicious varieties available at a fabulous price. Be sure to add fresh plums to your grocery list this week--you'll be plum happy!

Here's what's on our menu this week:

Sunday: Bean and cheese quesadillas with sour cream for dipping, fresh plums

Monday: Broccoli-cheese stuffed chicken breasts, rosemary roasted potatoes, fresh fruit

Tuesday: Tomato soup and mozarella paninis

Wednesday: Spaghetti carbonara (one of my favorite pasta dishes!) and fruity spinach salad (My favorite fruity spinach salad is a bag of baby spinach, crumbled bacon, a can of drained mandarin oranges, dried cranberries and some toasted slivered almonds. I like it with ginger dressing while James prefers honey-mustard. Both dressings compliment it well.)

Thursday: Pork tenderloin and oven roasted vegetables

Friday: Spinach and feta quiche, cucumber salad, fresh plums

Saturday: We shall see!

Have you planned your menu for the week yet?

Sweet treat of the week: Cinnamon Rolls

2010-08-21T08:00:00.006-04:00

Homemade cinnamon rolls are amazing, and this recipe, from the book Miserly Moms: Living Well on Less in a Tough Economy is by far my favorite version. Let's get down to business. Pop on an apron and roll up your sleeves 'cause things are about to get messy.

Oh, and one more thing. This recipe requires quite a bit of butter. Please, use real butter! Julia Child loved butter and lived to be 91. Butter is best!

For the dough you'll need:

1 Tbsp. instant yeast (not active dry)

1 cup warm milk

1/3 cup white granulated sugar

1/2 cup (1 stick) melted butter

1 tsp. salt

2 eggs

4 to 5 cups all-purpose flour

Dissolve yeast in warm milk. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well (I use the dough hook on my trusty KitchenAid Artisan Mixer). Knead into a ball. Let rise until doubled in size, about 1 to 2 hours.

Here's the dough ball:

I took advantage of the hot Florida sun and let the dough rise in the sticky, moist heat outdoors (after wrapping tightly with plastic wrap, of course). The AC is running a lot to keep the house cool so there are cold drafts in the kitchen--which can really impede the rising process. Be sure to find a nice, warm, draft-free place for your dough to rise.

And here's what it looks like after rising:

But don't forget about your dough, or you'll come back to this:

Ooops! Luckily yeast dough is pretty forgiving!

Punch the dough down and turn it out onto a clean and dry floured surface.

Roll into a rectangle until dough is about 1/4 inch thick. You're ready for your filling now!

For the filling you'll need:

1/4 softened butter

1 cup brown sugar

3 Tbsp. cinnamon

Spread butter on dough evenly. Sprinkle sugar and cinnamon over dough evenly. Roll dough up. Slice roll into 1.5 inch slices. (I made a dozen rolls, and discarded the ends of the dough roll because they do not get very much of the cinnamon swirl throughout.)

Place in a greased 13x9 metal or glass baking pan.

Let rise again until doubled--this took about an hour for me.

Look how pretty they are when they're ready to bake:

Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes.

While the rolls are baking, you'll want to make the delicious frosting!

For the frosting you'll need:

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup cream cheese, softened (1/2 brick)

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Beat all ingredients together until fluffy. Set aside. Just after you remove the hot cinnamon rolls from the oven, you'll want to spread all that delicious frosting over the top.

Eat 'em as soon as they're not so hot that they'll burn your mouth.

Tip: You can make these the night before they're needed. Skip the final rising step and let rise overnight in the refrigerator. Bake as directed in the morning. What a way to impress overnight company!

So, who's gonna make cinnamon rolls this weekend??

The Easiest Chicken Stock Ever!

2010-08-18T16:33:00.001-04:00

Hello fellow Spartans!

I can't wait for Fall weather--can you? I am looking forward to Fall cooking, too--chili and soups and stews, and slow cooking. Ugh. I'm hungry already.

One of the things I like to do to make my dishes even more delicious is to make my own chicken stock. When whole chickens go on sale ($ .69/lb. or less is the bargain I look for) I buy several and roast them, and pick the meat and place it in portions in the freezer. Then, I take all those leftover chicken bones and make several gallons of chicken stock. It's an all day process that I enjoy, but I understand that not everyone has time for such a task--and not everyone would find the enjoyment in it either. But everyone likes homemade chicken stock, and so I am going to share my simplified version of homemade chicken stock with you! The best part? It starts with the bones leftover from a rotisserie chicken--so don't throw those bones away! I hope you'll give it a try.

What you'll need:

One leftover rotisserie chicken carcass, meat removed (weird to use the word carcass-but that's what it is!)

1 carrot, rinsed

1/2 onion, skin still on, rinsed

1 stalk celery, rinsed

1 bay leaf, 4 or 5 peppercorns, pinch of thyme (optional)

1 tsp salt, give or take

cold filtered water

Simply place all ingredients in a stock pot that accommodates all ingredients and fill with cold water until everything is covered. On your stove, bring the ingredients to a boil, and once you've reached a boil, reduce heat to a simmer. Let simmer for an hour or so, uncovered and you'll have gorgeous chicken stock. Much of the water will evaporate--this is what you want! (I normally end up with just at a quart of stock after simmering for an hour.) Strain your chicken stock through a sieve and discard of solids.

I like to refrigerate the stock so that I can remove the majority of the fat/impurities. Professional chefs would hover over their stock as they made it and skim the top to remove impurities. Well, I'm not a professional and with a baby toddling around, I have better things to do than to skim the surface of my stock--don't you? So, I refrigerate the stock for a few hours and let it "set up" and all of the fat and impurities rise to the top and congeal. Then you can easily remove it with a spoon-- ta da! (Your refrigerated stock will be the consistency of soft jell-o, don't let it scare you! That's how it's supposed to be.)

Refrigerated stock with fat and impurities:

Yuck!

Officially "skimmed"!

Not perfect, but much better looking, huh?

Now, go and use your homemade chicken stock for something delicious!

Soon I'll be sharing how I used my batch of the easiest chicken stock ever... but you'll have to come back to see! And please remember that the $40 Cookware.com giveaway is still available!

Oh and want a preview of the Saturday's sweet treat of the week?

It's my favorite homemade cinnamon rolls... Mmm, mmm...

A Spartan Living First- A $40 Giveaway to Cookware.com!!

2010-08-16T12:37:00.003-04:00

I am proud to share that Spartan Living has been contacted by an online retailer with a giveaway offer for my readers! What an exciting time it is for me--and you, my fellow Spartans!

How would you like to own fabulous Le Creuset Cookware?

I drool over this stuff all the time... and look forward to the day that I own some!

One lucky reader will receive a $40 gift card to use on a purchase at Cookware.com. $40 May not buy you a new Le Creuset hand cast dutch oven, but it will cover a few of my favorites, like:

Fiestaware

It's so fun to have multi-colored dishes to eat on!

or a Bodum French Press

This is the one I own and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

Circulon Non-stick Skillets

Circulon is my preference for non-stick pans.

This rolling pin is on my wishlist

Isn't it gorgeous?

Want to know how you can be eligible to win this coveted $40 gift card to Cookware.com?

All you have to do to win this $40 gift card is leave a comment on this post letting me know which product you would purchase with a $40 gift card from Cookware.com. That's it!

What are you waiting for? Go take a peek at the site and come back and comment on your findings!

(Please be sure that I have access to your email address in some form from your comment; if you do not have a google account that you comment from that links to your email or site, you may need to leave your email address in your comment! Did that make sense at all? Well, just make sure I can contact you!)

While you're at it, why not consider becoming a follower of Spartan Living? The more followers I have, the more opportunities there will be for nice giveaways like this! (How's that for shameless self-promotion?!)

Winner will be posted on Tuesday 8/31--all comments left on this post between today and Monday 8/30 11:59pm E.S.T. will be eligible!

Edited: THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Check out the winner!

This Week's Menu

2010-08-15T21:00:00.002-04:00

Here's what's on our menu for dinner this week!

Sunday: Chicken and bean tacos, homemade tortilla chips and salsa
Monday: Corn chowder (from the freezer), salad, Cuban bread
Tuesday: Meatball subs (recipe to follow later in the week), salad
Wednesday: Whole wheat spaghetti and leftover meatballs, salad
Thursday: Salmon fillets and veggie fried rice
Friday: Brinner (Breakfast for dinner) Belgian waffles, homemade maple syrup
Saturday: We shall see!

What are you having this week?

Sweet treat of the week: Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

2010-08-14T13:27:00.004-04:00

Doesn't everyone love chocolate chip cookies? I know I do! I like the thick and chewy kid--not the hard kind. And never the packaged kind. I'm picky like that! This recipe includes a few technical details, but baking is science and if you keep this in mind and follow the specific instructions, you're sure to be pleased with the results.

Here is my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe-courtesy of America's Test Kitchen.

Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

2 cups plus 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
12 Tbsp (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
1 c brown sugar, packed
1/2 c granulated sugar
1 large egg plus 1 yolk
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (I prefer Ghiradelli 60% dark chocolate chips)

Directions:

Adjust oven racks to upper & lower -middle positions and heat oven to 325. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. (Or if you have Silpat, this is the perfect time to use it).

Whisk dry ingredients together; set aside.

With electric mixer, or by hand, mix butter & sugars until thoroughly combined.

Beat in egg, yolk and vanilla until combined.

Add dry ingredients and beat at low speed just until combined. Stir in chips.

Roll 1 1/2 T dough into ball. Holding dough ball in fingertips of both hands, pull into 2 equal halves. Rotate halves 90 degrees and, with jagged surfaces facing up, place formed dough onto cookie sheet, leaving ample room between each ball. (This ensures that you'll have a bumpy, textured top, not the rounded tops where you can't see the chocolate chip goodness hiding below...)

Bake, reversing position of cookie sheets halfway through baking, until cookies are light golden brown and outer edges start to harden yet centers are still soft & puffy (about 13-14 minutes in my oven).

Cool cookies on sheets until able to lift without breaking and place on wire rack to cool.

Makes about 30 cookies. I normally make 18 cookies when I make the dough (two cookie sheets with 9 cookies each) and freeze enough dough for another dozen cookies to bake another day. Here's how:

Portion dough just as you would before baking and place on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Instead of baking, just pop those suckers in the freezer for as little as 2 hours or as long as overnight.

Once frozen, move the dough balls into a Ziploc bag, seal, and mark with baking instructions. (Baking instructions remain the same for the frozen dough but you'll want to add 2-3 extra minutes of baking time.)

The frozen dough will last up to 2 months in the freezer, but I can guarantee it won't stay in there that long!

My husband chops up the frozen cookie dough balls and adds it to vanilla ice cream for a homemade version on cookie-dough ice cream. Because the dough is frozen, there's no risk of food-borne illness due to raw egg. Personally, I don't understand the popularity of cookie-dough ice cream--it doesn't appeal to me--but plain ol' chocolate chip cookies? Oh yeah, I "get" it!

A "Shabby Chic" Nursery on a budget

2010-08-13T12:38:00.000-04:00

Yesterday the Nester had a guest post about decorating a nursery. I've never shared Elliott's nursery before and was inspired to do so today.

Please excuse the untouched photos. It would have taken me forever to edit each one and sheesh-I have a 14-month old and a busy life! There are cords in the photos and little imperfections-so please overlook them! Do you live in a perfect home with no cords and perfect lighting? I didn't think so. Let's be real, huh?

Let's skip the formalities--kick off your shoes and come on in and take a look!

Remember the mirrors? I love them.

The Jenny Lind crib and changing table were a Craigslist find--$35 for both pieces!

I got all 4 baskets on the changing table for less than $12 at Jo-Ann Fabric. Boo-yah! I chose the brown and white crib bumper and skirt because I like the gender neutrality of it. If ever we have another child and it's a boy, I'll add an apple-green fitted sheet in place of the pink one, stand back, smile, and move onto my next task!

The rocker was a curbside find. James snatched it up and I had new foam cut and made slipcovers--all for under $40.

Elliott's dresser is my dresser from my childhood furniture. I have the matching canopy bed waiting in the garage for when she moves out of the crib and into a big-girl bed. Thanks Mom and Dad for buying me heirloom-quality furniture!

This lamp was one that James' grandfather had in his massive garage. It belonged to a family member, and now it adds charm and elegance to Elliott's room. I LOVE this lamp.

This lamp sits on Elliott's dresser. James' mom made the lampshade with brown and pink ribbon and I found the pink base at Big Lots for $7. Score!

This plate is actually a piece of Wedgwood China that I picked up at my favorite thrift store for 50 cents. Doesn't it look like it was made to be hung on a wall?

From what I hear, this canvas was in my Uncle's nursery when he was a baby over 50 years ago. It's called A Young Hare by Albrecht Durer. This was actually in a humanities book of mine in college because Albrecht Durer was one of the first artists whose art was reproduced for the masses back in the 16th century. This canvas is obviously a copy, but it's neat to have something in my daughter's nursery that my granny picked out for her child's nursery--and the fact that it's still around is pretty cool to me. James hates it and says it's creepy and possessed. I love it and say it's charming and timeless.

I picked up these teacups at a local thrift shop for $1 each. I bought the cups as one pink cup and two purple ones--and a few minutes after I got home from the thrift shop those two purple teacups were magically transformed into one cream and one brown cup with my trigger-finger and some spray paint. I learned from the Thrifty Decor Chick that you can spray paint anything. Even ceramics. So I did it, too. And it worked.

And what was Elliott doing while I took pictures of her room? Wrecking it, of course. I snapped this photo as she was looking over her mess and saying "uh-oh". Classic.

Bean and cheese quesadillas

2010-08-10T10:19:00.000-04:00

Yesterday afternoon James came home for lunch and I threw together a quick meal of bean and cheese quesadillas. As we ate, I told him "you know, this is a pretty inexpensive lunch". Of course, I wanted to know just how inexpensive it was, so I tallied up the cost--are you ready??

The recipe I created came to a grand total of $2.41 for 6 quesadillas--that's about 40 cents for each quesadilla. No joke!

Wanna make a cheap (and quick) lunch, too?

For 6 quesadillas you'll need:

1 can fat-free refried beans ($ .69/can at Aldi)
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese ($1.12 for this amount, 2.99 for 4-cup bag at Aldi)
6 8" flour tortillas ($ .99 cents for a 10-pack at Aldi, 10 cents each)
A spritz of non-stick cooking spray

On 1/2 of a flour tortilla, spread 1/4 cup refried beans and sprinkle 1/4 cup cheddar cheese. Fold tortilla over, creating a half-moon shape. Spritz each side of quesadilla with non-stick cooking spray. Cook over medium heat in a non-stick skillet for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until cheese is melted and tortilla is lightly browned.

If you add a generous 1 oz. scoop of sour cream for dipping, you add about 6 extra cents--assuming you buy your sour cream at Aldi like I do. Less than 50 cents for a filling lunch? Cool, huh? James and I each ate one quesadilla and were filled, and sweet Elliott ate 1/2 of a quesadilla alongside a juicy nectarine. There are even leftovers in the fridge for today's lunch--bonus!

Tip: Store any uneaten quesadillas in the refrigerator and reheat leftovers in a skillet for best texture. I would not recommend re-heating in the microwave if you like a crisp tortilla.

Please, leave a comment and share any inexpensive meals you create for yourself and your family--leave a link if you have one!

This Week's Menu

2010-08-08T22:54:00.000-04:00

All of my faithful readers are meal-planners by now, right? I hope so!

Here goes the dinner menu for this week:

Sunday: Quiznos (Just like last week- Click here for a coupon for a sandwich, drink and chips for only $2.99. Enjoy this deal and take advantage while it lasts!)

Monday: Breaded pork cutlets and fruity spinach salad (My favorite fruity spinach salad is a bag of baby spinach, crumbled bacon, a can of drained mandarin oranges, dried cranberries and some toasted slivered almonds. I like it with ginger dressing while James prefers honey-mustard. Both dressings compliment it well. How's that for a simple recipe?)

Tuesday: (Picnic at the park) Tuna salad sandwiches and some delicious plums and nectarines (It's the time of year to enjoy these fruits! Yum!)

Wednesday: Asian chicken salad (using rotisserie chicken) and cherries

Thursday: Chicken and bean burritos (using remainder of rotisserie chicken in lieu of the beef in the recipe) with Avocado and Grapefruit Salad

Friday: French bread pizza and salad (using a loaf of Cole's garlic bread that I got for $ .90 with coupons!)

Saturday: (Repeat of last week's Saturday menu because I didn't end up making this meal) Homemade corn dogs (you have to try this recipe!!), macaroni and cheese, baked beans (take it easy and pop open a can!)

**And remember to check back on Saturday for the new Sweet Treat of the Week!**

While it's important to be flexible with your dinner plans, it's also nice have a plan of attack so you can shop smart, save money and nourish your family!

Sweet treat of the week: Piña Colada Freeze

2010-08-07T22:17:00.001-04:00

From here on out, Saturdays will officially be the day that I share a "sweet treat of the week". So all you dessert lovers, mark it on your calendars--Saturday is now even sweeter!

Today, I am sharing a new favorite recipe that James found on the Sweet Sensations blog. Check it out for some extra inspiration. This recipe is a real keeper--it's simple, quick and delicious--making it the perfect frozen summer dessert!

Piña Colada Freeze

from Kraft Foods Food & Family (Summer 2010), kraftfoods.com

1 cup finely crushed pretzels
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter (melted)
1 pkg. (8 oz) Philadelphia Cream Cheese (softened)
2/3 cup sugar
2 cups thawed Cool Whip Whipped Topping (divided)
1 can (8 oz) Dole Crushed Pineapple in juice
1/4 cup toasted Baker's Angel Flake Coconut

1. Mix pretzel crumbs and butter. Press onto bottom of plastic wrap-lined 9-inch round pan. Freeze until ready to use. .

2. Beat cream cheese, sugar, pineapple and toasted coconut until well blended. Whisk in 1 1/2 cups Cool Whip; spoon over crust.

3. Freeze 4 hours. Use plastic wrap to remove dessert from pan. Top with remaining cool whip.

Enjoy! (And remember to check out Sweet Sensations for some more sweet ideas!)

Preview for next week's sweet treat of the week--my FAVORITE chocolate chip cookie recipe! So be sure you have your baking staples and chocolate chips on hand!

Raising a foodie

2010-08-05T11:54:00.002-04:00

I love food. It's my hobby, it's my interest, it's my passion. I love shopping for food, I love cooking food, I love looking at food and reading about food. One of the things I look forward to most as my daughter grows is cooking with her and sharing my love of food. I am taking steps now to mold her into a food-lover. We'll see if it works.

Elliott had her first sushi this weekend-don't freak out-it was only an avocado roll. She liked it though--but of course she loves avocado and rice, so, it was no surprise to me. Elliott has never refused any food I have put in front of her, but her favorite, hands-down, is any sort of fruit.

In keeping with sharing my love of food with my little one, I created a "foodie book" out of an unused small photo album I was given that was gathering dust. (I have seen similar small albums at the dollar store.)

Here's what you need:

a few old food magazines

small fabric-covered photo album

water-soluble pen

fabric paint

scissors

one 4x6 piece of card stock or photo (for tracing)

Mark your desired title on the front of your photo album with your water-soluble marker (you can use any kind of marker or do it free-hand but the water-soluble craft marker is great if you make mistakes like someone I know, *cough cough*). I chose "bon appetit" as my title since it's a great phrase and the name of my favorite food magazine.

Go over your marked title in fabric paint and let dry according to instructions on the bottle.

In the meantime, use your 4x6 piece of card stock or photo as a guide to trace and cut out uniform sized pieces of your magazine. I tried to choose photos where I would only have food pictures--no words. Choose colorful and visually stimulating pictures. Slide those clippings into your photo album and voila--a book is born!

Here's what the pages look like:

This is a quick, simple and cheap craft that your child will really enjoy--and you can customize it to suit your/their interests. If your interest is cars, make one about cars--indoctrinate your children with what you like as much as you can before they start thinking for themselves... and yes, I know how wrong that sounds--but we have a short window of time, so let's embrace it! ; )

Are you a coupon-clipper yet?

2010-08-02T12:49:00.002-04:00

Here's a good reason to be a coupon clipper:

The Cheerios were originally $4.99 a box. I paid $2.00 each.

The Cole's Garlic Bread was originally $1.79 each. I paid $ .80 each.

The Organic Valley Milk was originally $3.99. I paid $2.50. (Rarely do you get a break like that on milk!)

The Starbucks Ice Cream pints were originally $3.79 each. I paid $. 90 each.

The Chavrie Goat Cheese was $5.89. I got it for $ .39.

(FYI, I did my shopping trip at Publix--the best grocery store around!)

So are you interested in couponing yet? Are you letting deals slip away? "Couponing" takes about an hour a week or so, once you get the hang of it and get organized. I spent about 1/2 hour getting organized for this particular shopping trip. Would you say that a 1/2 hour investment is worth $20?

I'm a busy woman--I stay home with my active one-year-old, keep a (somewhat) clean house, have an active social life, go to church services 3x a week, I blog and work part-time in the evenings. But I have time to set aside for clipping coupons. Do you? You can do it while you watch your favorite TV show!

If you missed my "coupon primer" guest post on Sew Homegrown, here's what you missed:

I used to think that coupons are for suckers who will purchase a product they generally don't buy just for the sake of "saving money” and a company’s way of conning people into trying their new products. I have learned, however, that coupons can save consumers (yes, even ones like me) money if used correctly. What is correctly? Well, here are a few basic strategies to get the most out of your coupons.

1. Buy the Sunday paper. Not only are there great comics (which I am a sucker for), crossword puzzles, and of course news--it is chock-full of coupons.

2. Only use coupons for items that you actually use, or products that you are not brand-picky about. (For instance, if there's a great deal on dishwasher detergent but it's not the one you typically use--it may be worth trying the brand that you can get a deal on. Why not?)

3. Study the ads for your local store. I am not all about going from store to store in search of a deal, honestly, so I stick to just my favorite store--Publix. I know that they announce the weekly specials on Thursdays. I pull the ads up online and use my coupons in conjunction with the weekly specials.

4. Use printable online coupons. I use coupons.com and smartsource.com. Many grocery store websites offer printable coupons, and surprisingly the Target.com website always has a generous supply of coupons available.

5. Use coupons with your store's promotions. A few weeks ago, Bic Soleil razors (normally $3.99/4-pack) were BOGO at my local grocery store. I happened to have two $2.00 off coupons (you can apply one manufacturer’s coupon per item, regardless of a BOGO sale at your grocery store). So, because the razors were buy one get one free and I had $4 in coupons, I walked away with 2 4-packs of razors for free!

6. Stack those coupons! Stacking coupons is using multiple coupons per each item you purchase. Most stores will allow you to use a manufacturer’s coupon in conjunction with a store coupon—and some will even allow a competitor’s coupon, too! I have saved SO much money this way-I can easily save 50% on “big ticket” items like diapers by stacking coupons.

7. Don't feel like you're being cheap! If you can save money, save it! Think of all the other wonderful things your money can do for you and your family. People behind you in the grocery line may roll their eyes when they see your stack of coupons, but believe me, when they hear your final total they'll perk up and start asking questions!

Being the skeptic that I am, it took me a long time to come around to using coupons. However, the first time I made out a list and shopped according to the sales at Publix, I saved $29.07! The kicker? I only actually spent $26.51! For a bill that could have added up to $55.58, I paid less than half at the small amount of $26.51--and that was only my first coupon experience!

Recently I spent $22 on $60 worth of groceries! (In this purchase was a $20 case of diapers, too—so for only a little over the cost of the actual diapers I brought SO much more home!) Your savings will increase as you get used to “couponing”.

One bummer about "couponing" is that there are not many coupons for produce or meats, which I would estimate that I generally spend 70% of my grocery money on. However, you can still significantly save on produce and meats by shopping with the specials. If broccoli is on special, incorporate it into your meals for the week. If whole chickens are on sale, roast a chicken! Shop and cook with the specials! In addition, frequent your local farmer's markets, if they're available. Produce is much cheaper through these venues because of low overhead and minimal mark-up. And as a bonus, you can feel good about supporting the "little man" and your local economy.

Here are some of my favorite coupon websites:

Living rich with coupons

Money Saving Mom

the Krazy Coupon Lady

Have questions? Need help? Feel free to leave a comment or email me. I'd be happy to help you save money!

This week's menu and my love affair with Alton Brown

2010-08-01T23:51:00.000-04:00

Here's what we'll be having for dinner this week- hope it provides some inspiration!

Sunday: Quiznos (Click here for a coupon for a sandwich, drink and chips for only $2.99!)

Monday: Dill-Havarti stuffed chicken breast, spinach salad and prosciutto-wrapped nectarines

Tuesday: Brown sugar glazed pork tenderloin, buttery grilled corn (with the addition of chopped tomatoes and cilantro), leftover spinach salad

Wednesday: Quesadillas (using leftover pork and corn and tomatoes from the night before with the addition of some sharp cheddar cheese), fresh cherries and grapes

Thursday: Zucchini-sausage cornbread and black-eyed peas

Friday: Sockeye Salmon Fillet en Papillote with Julienne Vegetables, brown rice pilaf

Saturday: Homemade corn dogs (you have to try this recipe!!), macaroni and cheese, baked beans (take it easy and pop open a can!)

Many of the recipes I have linked to come from one of my favorite periodicals, Real Simple magazine. What a fabulous publication--I hope it's around for years to come.

Some of the recipes are from my favorite Food Network chef--Alton Brown!! I love his quirky show and the knowledge that he imparts on his viewers. He's a genius in SO many ways. And nice, too.

Did you know I met him a few years ago? James and I were first in line at a book signing of his in Washington, D.C., and I asked him over to our apartment for dinner-he told me he already had dinner plans--lol! I am still glad that I asked. Can you imagine if he had said "yes"? I still don't know what I would have made for dinner if he had said yes. Not a clue.

He wrote:

To Tristin

Bake Smart!

Leave a comment and let me know what you would make for dinner if Alton Brown came over!

And what's on your menu this week?

B.L.A.T. Pizza

2010-07-31T22:52:00.000-04:00

When my family and I lived in California, we used to go to a pizza restaurant called "Pepperoni's Pizza". One of the things we loved most at that establishment was the B.L.T. Pizza. I often make this simple pizza with a few shortcuts and with the addition of one of my favorites--avocado.

You need:

1 frozen or take-n-bake cheese pizza

About 6 strips of cooked bacon, chopped

1/2 cup tomato, diced

1/2 head of chopped iceberg or romaine lettuce

1/4 cup ranch dressing (just eyeball it--make sure it's not so much that it makes the lettuce soggy- yuck!)

1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced

Top pizza with bacon and tomato; bake the pizza according to package directions. While the pizza is baking, mix the lettuce and ranch. When the pizza comes out, spread the lettuce mixture evenly over it. Top each slice of pizza with a sliver or two of avocado. Dinner is served!

(If you're not anticipating eating the whole pizza in one sitting, then add the lettuce and avocado on each slice as it's served so that you can store the rest without soggy lettuce on top!)

Mirrors, mirrors, on the wall...

2010-07-29T10:36:00.000-04:00

Four or five years ago, I stumbled upon inspiration in a Pottery Barn catalogue. Well, I constantly find inspiration in their catalogues--but that particular time, I actually followed through. I clipped the page out of the book and set it aside for quite a while, and in the meantime, collected hand mirrors. Yes, I collected hand mirrors, because you see, the Pottery Barn catalogue page showed dozens of hand mirrors mounted on to a wall and I fell in love with the idea. I bought some mirrors at thrift stores and antique shops here and there, never paying more than $3 or $4 for each mirror. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law picked up several for me, too. Fancy pretty ones. Way nicer that the ones I bought.

After all that collecting, I didn't have the guts to put up hand mirrors anywhere on my walls. It just seemed way too feminine to have in my bedroom or our living rooms. So those beautiful mirrors sat aside and collected dust. But that inspiration stayed in the back of my mind.

So when I found out I was having a baby girl, I knew exactly what to do with those mirrors. Why, put them in my sweet Elliott's room, of course! I shuffled the mirrors around on a large sheet of mailing paper until I found the arrangement I wanted, traced the mirrors and then taped the "template" to the wall. My husband screwed holes where I had them marked according to the template. I used small plate hangers to attach the mirrors to the wall.

So with a few bucks and some inspiration, look what we accomplished:

Aren't they gorgeous? And isn't she gorgeous?

Top 6 Handmade Baby Gifts

2010-07-28T11:07:00.000-04:00

Shopping for babies is so much fun--way more fun than shopping with babies. And if you have the time, making gifts for babies can be a lot of fun, too. In the past I have made many baby gifts and even some things for my own little one. It's so special to give (and receive) handmade gifts so I am sharing my top 6 favorite handmade baby gifts with links to patterns, tutorials and instructions.

1. Nursing Cover - All moms who nurse need one of these. They're $30 at many stores, but you can make one for a fraction using fabric of your preference! (This is the only craft in this post that I have not made--but I do have one of these nursing covers and it was one of the most essential baby items I received!)

2. Diaper Cake - Perfect as a gorgeous gift or as a unique centerpiece at a baby shower.

My mom and I made this as a centerpiece for a baby shower. Well, she did all the work really, but I contributed. Isn't it awesome? We decorated the "cake" with crepe paper ornaments that I couldn't resist at an after-Christmas clearance at World Market.

3. Burp Cloths - This is a great sewing project for beginners and the results are professional and oh-sew-satisfying! (Forgive my pun...)

4. Appliqued Tie Onesies (or try my no-sew version)

5. Itty Bitty Baby Dress - A sewing project suitable for "advanced beginners". I made this one for my sweet little Elliott. She wore it once. Go figure.

6. Stardust Shoes - Cute little accessory! Use coordinating fabric from your tie applique onesies or itty bitty baby dress to make the perfect gift set for a little boy or girl.

Happy crafting!

How 'bout a warm welcome for Jessica from Sew Homegrown!

2010-07-26T10:30:00.000-04:00

Today I am so excited to have Jessica from Sew Homegrown here with a guest post. She is certainly a talented and creative individual who provides me with a lot of inspiration-hope you're inspired, too. So without further adieu...

Enchanted Forest Invitations Tutorial

Hello Spartan Living readers! This is Jessica from Sew Homegrown. I am so happy to be guest posting on Tristin’s lovely blog. Well, my daughter’s second birthday is just around the corner, so I am in full party planning mode here at my house. Today I wanted to share with you a free pattern + instructions on how to make these invitations that I created.

The theme for her party is “Enchanted Forest”. It is inspired by this lovely post in Hostess with the Mostess. We have recently moved to TN, and our home is literally in the middle of a forest - so it seemed that theme was fitting. Now, I will warn you - these invitations are addicting to make. Once you make one, you will begin a frenzy of toadstool crafting. Seriously, I can’t stop - they are so fun! AND so easy. Are you ready?
Ok here we go :)

You will need:
Crafting paper in various colors
Scissors
This free pattern
(the mossy hill needs about an inch added to the bottom - it got cut off...sorry)
Glue
Hole Punch

Begin by printing the pattern and cutting out the pieces.

(It might be nice to print it onto something sturdy, such as cardstock).

You can cut them out in whatever colors you like - this is what I did:

Be sure to cut the little slits in the bottom of the toadstools.

Next, if you are going to print text, now is the time to do it. That way you can glue your woodland scene around the text.

Begin with the mossy hill. Glue it along the bottom of your invitation.

Next, do the left tree.

Then the large toadstool.

Toadstool assembly:

Slip the “trunk” inside the front of the slit on the toadstool bottom.

Glue the bottom to the top. Now glue the toadstool to the paper.

Using a regular hole-punch, punch out lots of little circles from the paper you would like to use for the toadstool spots. Cut some in half, to be placed on the “edge” of the toadstool.

This makes them look realistic ;)

I attached the dots by pouring some glue into a bowl, and using tweezers, dipped each dot into the glue, and stuck it on the toadstool. That’s sounds very “Martha”, I know, but it actually doesn’t take long, and kept me from going insane trying to use my fingers.

Now the evergreen tree- stack the pieces in reverse order - 4 is the trunk, then 3,2,1

Lastly the small toadstool.

You are done. You can add some butterflies and bugs if you like.

How fun and easy was that?
Come see what else I'll be making for her party on
Sew Homegrown

Happy crafting! and Thanks to Tristin for having me on!

jessica

What a beautiful invitation. I believe an invitation really sets the tone for an event, and according to this invitation, Charlotte's 2nd birthday party is going to be fabulous! Please do check out Jessica's blog to see the great ideas she has in store-you're sure to be inspired!

I don't like to clean but I do like a clean home.

2010-07-24T13:04:00.002-04:00

Many of you know I have been attempting to make some of the cleaners that I use in my home. I like the fact that I can save plastic and money when I do so--but that doesn't mean that I don't purchase commercial cleaners. I do. I definitely do.

One of my favorite cleaners is Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day All-Purpose cleaner. I like the lavender scent, but there are several others to choose from. I buy it at World Market when they have coupons, but you can also purchase it at Target now. The cost for a 32 oz. bottle is about $8, which seems expensive initially but if you use it the way I do, then it actually works out to be quite inexpensive. (Please note that the Amazon link I have attached to the right is the cost for 6 32 oz. bottles.)

For an all-purpose cleaner, simply mix 2 tablespoons (1 oz.) of the concentrated all-purpose liquid with 16 oz. water in a plastic spray bottle (available at the dollar store). One 32 oz. bottle of concentrated liquid can be stretched into 32 16 oz. bottles of cleaner that way, making each spray-bottle of cleaner cost a quarter. A measly quarter. You can handle that, right?

I use this home-mixed spray to clean off our table after eating, on bathroom surfaces, kitchen surfaces, and basically in any type of situation where an all-purpose cleaner is needed.

Also, when you mop your floors you can use 2 tablespoons of Mrs. Meyer's All -Purpose cleaner per gallon of hot water to have sparkling and lightly scented floors. Ahh. How refreshing. Or, you can buy a steam mop like I did and never have to make mop water again. (I highly recommend this option! To the right, you can see the Shark Steam Pocket Mop--I have had mine for 6 months and this mop makes my most hated chore, mopping, a breeze. For all you other mop haters, this may be worth the money for you. I think it was worth every penny.)

One of the best parts about Mrs. Meyer's products is that they're pretty safe and environmentally friendly. Check out their Environmental and Safety Info to learn more.

I don't love to clean, but using products that I like makes the job a little easier.

Check out Sew Homegrown!

2010-07-22T16:24:00.000-04:00

Today I have exciting news--Jessica of Sew Homegrown is now having guest posts on her site on Thursdays and this week I had the pleasure of being her guest! I shared some tips on using coupons effectively that you may be interested in.

Please check out Jessica's fun blog about embracing the art of homemaking. She has great crafts, recipes, and homekeeping tips that you're sure to want to try. Oh, and try her cherry galette recipe--I did--and it was delicious!

"See" you tomorrow!

Plates. This post is about plates. Wanna make something of it?

2010-07-21T12:37:00.002-04:00

So, I wanted a cute play on words for my title--something like "Sliding into home plate" or something like that, but it seemed too cheesy--so I took the road less traveled. Wanna make something of it? Can you tell I'm feeling a bit sassy?

I learned from the Nester that practically anything can go on your walls. An old door. Plates. Shutters. Whatever. While I haven't been brave enough to ask James if we can tack a door onto the wall, I have added many plates to our bare and undecorated walls. I found a few at thrift shops and some in the clearance racks of my favorite stores. Putting plates on the wall is cheap, pretty, and unique--perfect for a Spartan like me.

Here are the cool plates I have added to our walls so far:

Everyone wants a cow with butcher markings on it in their kitchen, right?

This grouping is in my dining room, as are these:

These plates were $3.50 each at World Market and the plate rack was $3.99 at Goodwill. Boo-yah!

These plates were $1.25 each at a Marshalls going out-of-business sale. I have considered filling the inside square in with chalkboard paint like some plates I saw at Pottery Barn a long while ago, but we'll see if I ever get to that...

Have plates on your walls? Suggestions? Please leave a comment!

A no-sew 15-minute satisfying craft project!

2010-07-19T17:22:00.001-04:00

Have you seen the fabulous tie applique onesies that are on practically every crafter's blog?

If you haven't you must be living under a rock--or perhaps you're just not perusing enough crafting blogs! It seems as if every notable craft blog has a variation of the appliqued tie onesie. Well, maybe this isn't a craft blog but I now have my own quicker, simpler version. Forget pulling out the ol' sewing machine and fighting with the tension trying to get the right "zig-zag" for applique--let's keep it simple, ladies.

Here's what you need:

One plain white onesie, washed and dried
Small piece of fabric, washed and dried
Heat 'n' Bond (the no-sew kind)
Coordinating fabric paint
Tie Pattern (This is a link to a pdf created by Char @ Crap I've Made or of course you can make your own)

You'll also need an iron, some common sense and about 15 minutes.

Cut out tie pattern and set aside. Use heat 'n' bond instructions to create a piece of "sticky backed" fabric, and cut out tie shape by tracing pattern. Iron tie on to onesie using heat 'n' bond instructions. Carefully outline tie edges with coordinating fabric paint like so...

let it dry according to fabric paint directions... and... lookie what we have!

This craft takes less than 15 minutes, less than $5 and very little skill--so give it a whirl the next time you need a baby shower gift for a little boy.

This Week's Menu

2010-07-18T21:51:00.004-04:00

Without further adieu, here's what we will be eating for dinner this week!

Sunday: Split pea soup (from the freezer) and grilled cheese sandwiches

Monday: Chicken and broccoli stir-fry over jasmine rice (If you follow the link, please note that I am substituting chicken for the beef)

Tuesday: Linguine with white clam sauce and a spinach salad

Wednesday: Asian chicken salad and fresh pineapple slices

Thursday: Grilled salmon, baked sweet potatoes and sauteed sugar snap peas

Friday: Sausage and mushroom quiche and some fresh fruit (whatever looks good at the market)

Saturday: Who knows?!

Do you make a weekly menu? It's a great way to stay organized and beat the dinner rush (you know, when 6:00pm sneaks up and you still don't have a clue what's for dinner!) and also saves money. It only takes a little time, so go jot down a menu for this week. Maybe my menu will provide some inspiration!

Oh, and it's coupon cutting day--so get those scissors out and snip away!

Feel free to leave a comment to share what's on your menu this week...