tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28759507751268436722024-03-13T23:56:01.802-07:00The Midwestern WifeJust a midwestern wife, making a way in the world the only way I know how, and sharing with others who might be interested in the way I do things. Hoping to make life a little easier and more fulfilling!<a href="http://pinterest.com/kdearhart/"><img src="http://passets-cdn.pinterest.com/images/about/buttons/follow-me-on-pinterest-button.png" width="169" height="28" alt="Follow Me on Pinterest"></a>Kara Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273533748436087022noreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875950775126843672.post-77230048559671701792013-02-25T06:43:00.002-08:002013-02-25T06:43:45.721-08:00A Fun Way to Make Some MoneyGood Morning Everyone!!! I don't know about you, but I enjoy making easy money every once in awhile. If you have been following me for awhile, you will remember that I once wrote a post about ways that I save money. One of those ways was adding some income and <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/Karebear1487">Swagbucks</a> is one way that I do this.<br />
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Swagbucks works by giving you "bucks" for different things you do on their website. For example, every day I go to the homepage and answer a daily poll question, and follow a No Obligation Special Offer trail where I click "No, Thanks" a few times and then I get some bucks!<br />
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So, every day I am guaranteed at least 3 bucks. Then I also use this website as a search engine instead of google which can randomly win bucks and also watching videos, doing surveys, clipping coupons, and many other things give you those bucks. If you are at all interested in signing up you can use the previous link or this <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/Karebear1487">link</a> which is a referral link. You can also refer your friends and family and you will be given your own link and can get bucks from them if they sign up. Let me know if you have any questions I would be more than happy to help. Also, the Swagbucks Facebook page is a great resource :)<br />
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Have a great day! <br />
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<br />Kara Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273533748436087022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875950775126843672.post-29603863887712893472013-02-11T06:56:00.000-08:002013-02-11T06:56:00.431-08:00Bringing Indian Food HomeHow many of you like Indian food out there? It seems to be very hit or miss, but in this household it is a very big hit! We love Indian food, and one of our favorite restaurants in the area is an Indian restaurant. We love it so much, we decided to try making it at home for a date night. It can get pretty expensive to eat it at a restaurant often, but the ingredients at home aren't so bad. For this particular meal we made a variety of recipes. We have chicken mukany, aloo gobi, naan, jasmine rice and dal. We usually wouldn't eat this much, but it was a date night and we wanted to go all out, then we had to try each dish so it looks like a lot.<br />
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We will start today with my personal favorite....Aloo Gobi! This is a tasty vegetarian dish made from cauliflower and potatoes. Pictured on the bottom left next to the naan and across from the rice if this seems completely foreign to you. I found this recipe on food.com!<br />
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Ingredients<br />
1/4 cup olive oil<br />
1 white onion, diced<br />
1 head of cauliflower<br />
3 potatoes<br />
1 15 oz can diced tomatoes<br />
1 tsp ginger<br />
2 cloves garlic, smashed<br />
1 tsp cumin<br />
2 tsp turmeric<br />
1 tsp salt<br />
2 tsp garam masala<br />
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Directions<br />
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Heat oil in an large pan. Add the onion and cumin to pan, stir until onions are golden. In the meantime, chop potatoes and cauliflower into large chunks. Then add turmeric and salt. Add tomatoes, ginger, and garlic and mix thoroughly. Then add the cauliflower and potatoes. Stir until fully coated in sauce.<br />
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Cover and simmer for 20 minutes for potatoes to fully cook. Then add garam masala. Let sit for awhile before serving, it really get the flavors mixed together.<br />
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This was a serious hit! I love aloo gobi and it's so easy to make at home :) Even the husband liked this veggie side dish!<br />
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<br />Kara Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273533748436087022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875950775126843672.post-20330183090751940082013-02-08T10:46:00.000-08:002013-02-08T10:46:00.120-08:00My First Try At Homemade BreadI know, I know. If you cook so much how on earth have you not tried bread before now? Well, let me clear this up. I have made bread. I've made some delicious zucchini bread, pumpkin bread, and any kind of bread with no yeast necessary, but I've always been so afraid of yeast! Silly, I know. Even sillier now that I know how easy it is to make bread on my own!! So, I tried making my very own sandwich bread, and let me tell you I hope I never have to go back to store bought. It is so tasty, easy, and so much less stuffed with words I can't pronounce that I can't imagine buying it again :) So, with that being said you should definitely try this out yourself!<br />
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I found this recipe on Pinterest from this <a href="http://penniesandpancakes.blogspot.com/2012/09/grandmas-country-white-bread.html#.URP0i2e54oI">Blog </a><br />
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Here is how mine turned out:<br />
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SUPER TASTY!!! Also, it made two loaves, so that is even more exciting :)<br />
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Ingredients<br />
3 cups luke warm water<br />
1 packet instant rise yeast <br />
1/4 cup sugar<br />
1/3 cup oil<br />
1 Tbsp salt<br />
6-7 cups flour<br />
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Directions<br />
To start, mix the water, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl. I let it sit about 10 minutes, if you use fast rise/instant yeast you probably don't need to let it sit, but I do anyway. Then add oil. Add all the dry ingredients together and mix until smooth.<br />
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Begin kneading dough until everything is well incorporated and smooth. If it feels too sticky, add a little more flour. The dough should be slightly sticky and should also pull away from the sides of the bowl. Then set in the oven covered with the light on until it rises to the top of the bowl.<br />
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Remove from oven, punch the dough down. Divide the dough into two loaf pans. Then let rise again until it reaches about an inch above the pans.<br />
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Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Let bake for 25 minutes until a nice golden color. Remove from oven, immediately remove from pans and place on cooling rack.<br />
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Eat when warm if you can bear to touch it ;) So tasty with some good whipped honey or jam! Yummo! Also, we used it as sandwich bread all week and it was such a hit with both myself and my husband all week long!<br />
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Have a great weekend!!!<br />
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<br />Kara Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273533748436087022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875950775126843672.post-9409777169995017062013-02-07T10:36:00.004-08:002013-02-07T10:47:31.020-08:00This Week's MenuHello! We were out of town all weekend which always gets me a little behind. Then today I had someone come in to evaluate my class, which is routine, but also pretty frightening. So, as much as I wanted to stay on top of this more, there will just be days that I miss between posts :) Today I am posting our weekly meal plan and what we are purchasing. If you don't remember we stay within $45 a week. It used to be $50, but with tax increases our budget has changed a bit. It has been interesting staying within these means with buying healthier food, but I haven't had a problem so far. So, here it is...<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tuesday:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Breakfast: smoothie</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lunch:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>rice and beans</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dinner:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>date night...Noodles & Co with our birthday coupon!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Dessert:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>chocolate muffins</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 89.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wednesday:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Breakfast:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>lime greek yogurt</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 105.75pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lunch:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>cheese sticks and kashi bar</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dinner:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>black beans, corn cakes</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thursday:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Breakfast:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>greek yogurt</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lunch:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>chili, cornbread</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dinner:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>chicken with sundried tomato basil sauce,
cauliflower steak</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Friday:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Breakfast:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>cereal</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lunch:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>cheese stick, granola bar</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dinner:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>chili, cornbread</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Saturday:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Breakfast:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>smoothie</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 199.5pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lunch:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>creamy avocado rice</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dinner:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>tacos</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sunday:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Breakfast: smoothie</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lunch: PBJ</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dinner: cauliflower gratin,
hamburgers</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Monday:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Breakfast: yogurt</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lunch: cheese sticks, granola
bar</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dinner:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on your own! leftovers from freezer</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Groceries: cheese sticks (2.49), kidney beans (.59), white
beans (.59), black beans (1.2), bananas (2.00), otis spunkmeyer (coupon),
atkins meal (coupon), avocado(.39), milk(1.49), cauliflower(1.69), greek yogurt (3.29), tortillas(1.69),
rice(1.79), lime juice (.99), frozen fruit(2.19), sugar (1.42), lunch meat (2.49), popcorn (1.88), orange juice-2 (1.88) rice cakes-2(2.6), shredded cheddar (2.99)<br />
<br />
Grand Total: 33.72...even some to spare! I may just have to use that for something fun for my hubs for valentine's day :)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You may notice some random items on the list, these are free coupons I have gotten in the mail and even though they aren't particularly healthy, an unhealthy snack from time to time isn't going to kill us, and in fact, it might even help us stay on the path to eating more healthy food without feeling burned out. Also, there are things we already have in our pantry like sundried tomatoes which I make myself, I will post on it someday probably. Also, I make my own bread now so I know what is in it, which is why we don't purchase any bread for sandwiches. Again, I know this is not perfect health wise, but we are trying to incorporate more real foods into our diet and decrease sugar and processed food. We can't afford all organic, but perhaps one day we will. For now, we have seen the changes just by eating normal portion sizes and eating less processed food!</div>
Kara Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273533748436087022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875950775126843672.post-20507067433756467412013-01-31T07:17:00.002-08:002013-01-31T07:17:38.692-08:00Flipping A HouseMy husband and I have been on this little adventure before...fixing up a house. Although last time it was much more work and he did most of it since I was still in graduate school. This time around, we fixed up a home for us to live in, not just sell. Being able to put down such a large down payment was thanks to our previous flip, and so all that hard work really was such a blessing. This time, the hard work is a blessing because we get to live there!!<br />
<br />
Let's take a look at that process. In September we closed on a little three bedroom ranch with a partially finished basement. It wasn't perfect, it wasn't our favorite house that we had looked at, and it didn't really have much character, but we looked past that at what it could become. Now, it has become so much more, and while we are still working on adding our own character to the house, it has come such a long way! It's almost time to hit up those thrift stores for the items we are missing. I don't want to sound materialistic because we have plenty of stuff, but since hospitality is one of my spiritual gifts and my husband is a youth pastor, we do have lots of people coming over all the time. That means while I like to keep it simple, we do want the basics like plenty of seating, a place for shoes/coats, and that sort of thing. We are working our way there as we speak. So, let's take a look! We will start with the guest bedroom on the main floor. It began as a purple and white room with PAINTED HARDWOOD FLOORS! I mean, that should just be illegal! Who paints gorgeous original oak flooring from the 40s?!?! So, the guest bedroom had to be primed, repainted, some window glass taken out and replaced, windows repainted, and floors refinished! In the end, I am super happy with it! You can't see it, but the wall across from the bed has a beautiful old book shelf and my wedding wall complete with an old windows used in the wedding with wedding pics, an E for our last name, a canvas pic from the wedding, and a shadow box with my leftover flowers, garter, hairpiece, programs, etc. Might be one of my favorite rooms!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T8MkTH-4pHU/UQqFoaCtT2I/AAAAAAAAAuU/0Wim4U7DZ8U/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="65" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T8MkTH-4pHU/UQqFoaCtT2I/AAAAAAAAAuU/0Wim4U7DZ8U/s320/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Then we have the bathroom. This is the room in the house (along with the kitchen) that adds the most value to your home. It is also the most work oftentimes :) This time around we gutted out that old, nasty tiling, ripped out the sliding door, plumbing, insulation, toilet, and sink. We put in new insulation (the old was original from the 40s made of cotton and like an inch thick..not real warm) We also changed out the window for a nice new one. We covered the insulation with hardy backer, then tile, then grout. We added in the plumbing, a new sink, and a new toilet. Also, a new floor. My poor hubby had to scrape up four layers of stick on tiles/old laminate/etc to get to the bottom where we could add in our new laminate. I have two collages for that so you can see the many different angles.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g6uCKkDced0/UQqFofwp7KI/AAAAAAAAAuY/yhniqTU7NSQ/s1600/bathroomredo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="94" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g6uCKkDced0/UQqFofwp7KI/AAAAAAAAAuY/yhniqTU7NSQ/s320/bathroomredo2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JEhNSglihxM/UQqFopCqu6I/AAAAAAAAAuc/tHWY7OQNM_Q/s1600/bathroomredo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="94" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JEhNSglihxM/UQqFopCqu6I/AAAAAAAAAuc/tHWY7OQNM_Q/s320/bathroomredo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
One of the more shocking rooms was our master bedroom. It was painted darkest gray and BLACK! All of it! The ceiling and floor were black, the walls were super dark gray, it was DARK! Not the comforting place meant to spend time with the love of your life. So, we ripped down the old, yellow blinds, primed the whole thing, scraped up the nasty stick on tiles off our hardwood floor and got to work! We repainted everything, refinished the floor, fixed up the windows and wah-la! A brand new room. Still using gray, but in a much friendlier, happy way :)<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FzJQ5XtpDQI/UQqFojyoTOI/AAAAAAAAAug/EIhMtVTaBXQ/s1600/masterbedroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="102" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FzJQ5XtpDQI/UQqFojyoTOI/AAAAAAAAAug/EIhMtVTaBXQ/s320/masterbedroom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
We also refinished our kitchen and dining room. The dining room was
mostly ripping out carpet and painting and the kitchen included new
appliances (there were none when we bought it), painting, and new
hardware for the cabinets. The hubs is going to build me some more
cabinets sometime soon to add more space because he loves me :)<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qLrnwMsdjis/UQqJ295DLAI/AAAAAAAAAvc/b1Yz5dVYkj0/s1600/diningroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="106" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qLrnwMsdjis/UQqJ295DLAI/AAAAAAAAAvc/b1Yz5dVYkj0/s320/diningroom.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T3o9qaeTnAI/UQqJ2t__b8I/AAAAAAAAAvY/3D-AIC4wXow/s1600/diningroomentryway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="80" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T3o9qaeTnAI/UQqJ2t__b8I/AAAAAAAAAvY/3D-AIC4wXow/s320/diningroomentryway.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I8qgKo3HFEg/UQqJ9-UlK6I/AAAAAAAAAvs/5Bqr0sCDJXA/s1600/IMG_1666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I8qgKo3HFEg/UQqJ9-UlK6I/AAAAAAAAAvs/5Bqr0sCDJXA/s320/IMG_1666.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rjg49RCQ5zk/UQqJ95VxcRI/AAAAAAAAAvo/SWe7NLzKMsg/s1600/kitchen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rjg49RCQ5zk/UQqJ95VxcRI/AAAAAAAAAvo/SWe7NLzKMsg/s320/kitchen.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>
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I am thinking about doing a post of how to refinish hardwood floors, but I didn't take many pictures since it was so dusty and you need to do most steps pretty quick. If you have any questions about our projects or if you'd like to see one featured on this blog just let me know! I'd be happy to share how we did anything in our home to help you!!<br />
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The basement will be coming along in the next few months, but we are going to Germany on our one year anniversary trip (two months after our anniversary because of work) but we are saving up money and busy planning so we might have to wait a bit to really finish down there which will include an office area, third bedroom (yes, it is legal), and our living area. Until then, happy flipping :)Kara Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273533748436087022noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875950775126843672.post-6797087832353766552013-01-30T18:16:00.004-08:002013-01-30T18:16:39.717-08:00The World is A Funny PlaceHello World!!! So, it has been awhile since I've been on here. In fact, it has been a very long while! Five months to be honest! I can't believe it myself, but in all reality life took over for awhile. I'm not sure how often I will be back on here, but I miss writing. So, thank you to those of you who have been faithful to my blog and thanks for stopping by in my absence. I am shocked how many people have viewed my blog even when I'm not taking care of it actively.<br />
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So, what's been going on....<br />
<br />
First, we bought a house, fixed her up, and finally moved in! We moved in the week after Thanksgiving and it has been such a blessing. Our next step is to finish our basement which is well on its way. We mostly just need to do some painting and carpet then filling it up! I will post some before and after pictures of the house in case you are interested in what we've been doing.<br />
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Second, I got a new job. I had been pretty stressed and unhappy with my job as a brain injury specialist and really wanted to take time to be with my husband more and to focus on church, our youth group, and the house. It has been working out great, but I was offered a position at a local community college to teach Intro to Psych. I have really been enjoying it and it is such few hours that it has worked perfectly for us!<br />
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Third, we are trying to eat much healthier than we were eating before, so you might see a change in my recipes...for the good :) Both the hubs and I have lost about 8 pounds since Christmas eating healthier and exercising a little more regularly. I am also trying very hard to up my protein intake since I am a vegetarian and I've noticed how much more full I feel even with less calories. Also, my skin looks better eating less processed food, I have more energy, and I just generally feel better. I started running again with this life change (because we have a gym I can use at the college, yeay perks!) and I am making an effort to drink more water! Overall, it has been going really well. I have been able to eat sweet stuff when necessary and I eat low fat, low processed treats with high protein like natural string cheese for snacks. Anyway, if you can't tell I am very excited about this change.<br />
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Well, I guess that is all for now. I am so glad to say that I will be seeing you soon! Let me know how you've all been doing lately :) Thanks for your allegiance!!Kara Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273533748436087022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875950775126843672.post-2732536942182308052012-08-11T07:06:00.001-07:002012-08-11T07:06:13.874-07:00Grocery List...but no meal planHello Everyone! Since I was gone most of last week and for the beginning of this week, I have gotten super behind on making meal plans. I feel like such a slacker, and I feel like without time to make real meals I have eaten terribly :( Oh well, it was just two weeks. So, I will go shopping again on Monday with a real shopping list and meal plan and I CANNOT WAIT! Although, I will only be around for a few days next week as well. Ok, since we were out of town this week with the jr. high youth group, I spent way under budget which is definitely happy! Check it out...<br />
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Eggs (1.48), banana (.68), pudding cups (.89), hot dogs (.99), peanut butter (4.49), fruit leather (1.99), shredded cheese (2.79), cream cheese (1.19), ground beef (4.35), tortilla chips (1.19), pickles (.99)<br />
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Grand Total: 21.03<br />
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I have made tacos, PB& banana sandwiches, and nachos for meals this week so far. Nothing stellar or particularly healthy, but that's what we got for now :)Kara Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273533748436087022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875950775126843672.post-12178864379359311722012-08-09T19:13:00.000-07:002012-08-11T07:06:13.869-07:00Life Happens SometimesHello Everyone!! I just wanted to say I am soo sorry that I have been MIA the past two weeks!! Life has been crazy. It has been crazy, wonderful, and fun..but crazy nonetheless. So many unexpected things have been happening, and so cooking, crafting, blogging, and the normally scheduled things have been put on the back burner. My new job is going well, but the scheduling is a little odd. Also, I was out of town visiting family, going to a wedding, and throwing a bridal shower for a long weekend. I finally got my schedule for this week at work on SUNDAY, and found out I was off the past two days which is when Josh was going on a trip with the jr. high. God works in mysterious and wonderful ways and so I was able to go, but it was so last minute I hardly had time to prepare considering we had one day to find a dog sitter and we both worked that day( and I ended up having to work an hour and a half longer than I expected) plus, we both needed to pack and unpack from my long weekend trip. Also, we bought a car last week! We love it, and it's really fun, but it is manual so we've tried to take some time for me to learn how to drive it. I know, I know, I ought to know how to drive a stick, but it's a process. I'm glad I'm learning on a new car now because it is much easier than I remember trying to learn at 16 on my dad's very old pick up truck. Anyway, in the end we finally got home late last night, woke up for work this morning, went grocery shopping, stopped by the library, and are finally getting back on track for a normalish schedule. I think we are both very ready to just be home and spend some time together and get back into a more stable schedule where we can go to work, make plans, and enjoy each other. That is until I leave for a wedding in Oregon next week....maybe after that? haha Does life ever really give us a break?<br />
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All this to say...I think I am going to get back on track this week and hopefully be a better blogger again. Try to be patient and stick with me as I get back on track!Kara Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273533748436087022noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875950775126843672.post-82154484618162400052012-07-28T14:53:00.000-07:002012-07-28T14:53:51.483-07:00Giveaway Winner!!Alright, sorry this is a little later than anticipated, but the winner of a new handmade chrisalis scarf is BLUE STRONG!!!! So, congratulations! Look for an email within the next 48 hours for more information :)<br />
<br />
Sorry I didn't have more to give away today, but keep an eye out for the next giveaway!! It will be something a little different! Have a great weekend! I know I will, my darling husband will finally be home tonight!!Kara Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273533748436087022noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875950775126843672.post-42370781621904536212012-07-28T04:41:00.000-07:002012-07-28T04:41:00.354-07:00Mushroom and Barley RisottoOKAY!!! The Winner of the <a href="http://midwesternwife.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-first-ever-giveaway.html">giveaway </a>will close a little later today, so keep your eyes peeled for the results!!<br />
<br />
I have yet another mushroom recipe. I hope you guys like mushrooms, I know they are a highly debated fungi :) Not always so popular, but I love them, and they are a great way to fill foods for vegetarians because they don't have many calories or fats or anything. Anyway, this recipe turned out really well! It's quite yummy if I may say so myself. I'm pairing it with some panko fried tofu, but really any protein or protein substitute would work well! Check out the original recipe at <a href="http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2011/05/20/mushroom-barley-risotto/">Brown Eyed Baker</a>.<br />
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<div>
Ingredients</div>
<div>
2 Tbl olive oil</div>
<div>
1 white onion</div>
<div>
8 oz mushrooms, sliced</div>
<div>
2 cloves garlic, crushed</div>
<div>
1 Tbl parsley</div>
<div>
1 Tbl Thyme</div>
<div>
1 cup barley</div>
<div>
6 cups vegetable broth</div>
<div>
1 Tbl butter</div>
<div>
goat cheese to top</div>
<div>
salt and pepper to taste</div>
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<div>
Directions</div>
<div>
Place saucepan over medium heat with olive oil. Slice onion and saute for approximately five minutes. Then add the mushrooms and let them cook until their juices are released. This takes about ten minutes. If the mushrooms stick, add a little water. I didn't have that problem, but it might depend on your cookware. Once the mushrooms are done, add the crushed garlic and herbs. Stir thoroughly and then add the barley and continue stirring. Add four cups of the broth and turn heat to high. Bring to a boil and continue boiling until most of the liquid has been absorbed. Then reduce heat to medium and add the remaining broth 1/2 cup at a time letting it absorb. One it is finished, add the butter and the cheese! Season with salt and pepper if desired.</div>
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Enjoy!<br />
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Ingredients<br />
1 pizza crust<br />
2 Tbl olvie oil<br />
2 cloves garlic<br />
1 leek<br />
1 container mushrooms<br />
1 Tbl pesto<br />
2 oz goat cheese<br />
1 cup mozzarella cheese<br />
3 fresh basil leaves<br />
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Directions<br />
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. I used a premade pizza crust for my pizza, so it was pretty easy and quick to make. Cut mushrooms and leeks to desired pizza size. Chop garlic. Place a medium sized skillet over medium heat and add olive oil. Saute the leeks and garlic for approximately five minutes and then add mushrooms. While they are sauteing, spread pesto over the pizza crust. Then cut goat cheese into pieces and sprinkle on crust. Chop basil. When the mushrooms begin to become darker in color and appear juicier, add to the top of the pizza. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top, then the basil. Bake for approximately 10 minutes or until cheese is nicely melted. Remove from oven, cool, then cut and serve!<br />
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<a class="pin-it-button" count-layout="horizontal" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/"><img border="0" src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/PinExt.png" title="Pin It" /></a><br />
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<center><a href="http://mandysrecipebox.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Mandy‘s Recipe Box" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_Zg_y0wIso/T9N4WV86vGI/AAAAAAAAEWs/vMQ3e2qKCdM/s1600/button.jpg" /></a></center> <a href="http://www.thischickcooks.net/"><img border="0" src="http://thischickcooks.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/wholefoodswednesdaybuttonforboth.jpg" /></a>Kara Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273533748436087022noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875950775126843672.post-43623475407358854682012-07-26T04:52:00.000-07:002012-07-28T05:40:57.389-07:00Homemade Fluffy PretzelsOk, when I found this recipe, I was sooo excited!! I love giant pretzels. There is something about them that is just so tasty! I especially like them with mustard, so when a friend of ours brought us some spicy mustard from their vacation, I knew it was time to finally try it! Josh doesn't like mustard, since he is gone I thought this would be a good time to try them. Plus, if they didn't turn out he'd never have to know about my mishap :)<br />
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Before we get to the goods...don't forget! We have a giveaway from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/karasknits">Kara's Knits</a> going on, and it ends on Saturday!! So get check out my first ever giveaway <a href="http://midwesternwife.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-first-ever-giveaway.html">here</a>!!!<br />
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Alright, here's some carb goodness! Makes 4 pretzels! Original recipe was for eight. You can find it at <a href="http://fifteenspatulas.com/2011/12/12/hot-buttered-fluffy-pretzels/">Fifteen Spatulas</a>.<br />
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Ingredients<br />
1 1/4 cup flour<br />
1/4 tsp salt<br />
1/2 tsp sugar<br />
1 1/8 tsp instant yeast (half of a packet)<br />
1/2 cup warm water<br />
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1/4 cup warm water<br />
1/2 Tbl baking soda<br />
salt for sprinkling pretzels<br />
cooking spray for baking sheet<br />
butter for spreading<br />
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Directions<br />
Mix together all of the dough ingredients (the first list) in a large bowl with a spoon. Then knead the dough for approximately two minutes by hand. You can use a stand mixer, but mine is packed away until we move into a house :( Anyway, the dough should be soft, but not sticky. Sprinkle it with flour lightly and place in a bag to rise for 30 minutes.<br />
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Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Remove dough from bag and place on baking mat. Cut into four pieces and let rest for five minutes. While waiting, make the baking soda wash. Mix together the warm water and baking soda and mix until mostly dissolved.<br />
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Roll each piece of dough into long ropes and shape into a pretzel! If you need help with that, I didn't take step by step pictures because I had to hurry a bit (had to go to work) but the original post does a great job showing how to do it, so check that out for help!<br />
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Once you have your pretzels, dip them into the baking soda mixture and place on your sprayed baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and bake for approximately 8-9 minutes. Keep an eye on them though because ovens can vary. When nice and brown, remove from oven and spread butter on top while they are still hot. YUM!<br />
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I enjoyed mine with the mustard, but they were amazing by themselves too!<br />
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<center><a href="http://mandysrecipebox.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Mandy‘s Recipe Box" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_Zg_y0wIso/T9N4WV86vGI/AAAAAAAAEWs/vMQ3e2qKCdM/s1600/button.jpg" /></a> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.cheeriosandlattes.com/"> <img alt="" src="http://www.cheeriosandlattes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/CLSatbutton2.png" width="200" /></a> </span></center>Kara Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273533748436087022noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875950775126843672.post-43272502365764086592012-07-24T04:11:00.000-07:002012-07-27T06:50:23.509-07:00Meal Plan 12<br />
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Hello! Ok, so this week is weird yet again! I am sorry for the inconsistency, but that is what life gives us, isn't it? This week is a little odd because I am only shopping for myself :( My wonderful husband is away being an amazing youth pastor in South Dakota on a missions trip. I am sooo proud of him and so happy that he is all mine, but I am sad to be cooking for myself all week.</div>
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Meal Plan 7/23-7/29</div>
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Monday:</div>
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Breakfast: PB/chocolate Greek
yogurt</div>
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Lunch: sandwich, dried fruit,
and sweet potato chips</div>
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Dinner: rice with black beans,
cilantro, lime & veggie taco, dried fruit</div>
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Dessert: <a href="http://midwesternwife.blogspot.com/2012/07/peanut-butter-graham-cracker-treats.html">PBgraham cracker balls</a></div>
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Tuesday:</div>
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Breakfast: yogurt blueberry bread</div>
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Lunch:
spinach, avocado, goat cheese grilled cheese</div>
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Dinner: <a href="http://midwesternwife.blogspot.com/2012/07/homemade-fluffy-pretzels.html">Soft Pretzels</a> with mustard and dried fruit</div>
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Wednesday:</div>
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Breakfast: yogurt blueberry
bread</div>
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Lunch: mushroom, barley risotto
and “chicken”</div>
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Dinner: leftover pretzels and fruit</div>
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Thursday:</div>
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Breakfast: blueberry bread</div>
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Lunch: <a href="http://midwesternwife.blogspot.com/2012/07/mushroom-and-leek-pizza.html">mushroom and leek pizza</a></div>
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Dinner: mushroom/barley risotto</div>
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Friday:</div>
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Breakfast: blueberry bread</div>
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Lunch: <span style="background-color: white;">Panko Crusted Tofu</span></div>
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Dinner: mushroom and leek pizza</div>
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Saturday:</div>
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Breakfast: bread or cereal</div>
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Lunch: mushroom pizza</div>
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Dinner: whatever Josh wants :) and cheesecake (his favorite)</div>
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Sunday:</div>
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Breakfast: cereal</div>
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Lunch: leftovers</div>
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Dinner: youth group...so frozen pizza probably</div>
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Groceries: avocado (.89), goat cheese (3.99), mushrooms (2 packages) (1.29),
garlic cloves (.89), coconut oil (5.98), veggie crumble (3.99), pizza crust (2 pack) (2.99), 3 leeks (2.48), mozzarella
cheese (2.99), apple cider vinegar (1.99), strawberries (1.29), cheesecake mix (2.49), gelatin (1.25), whipped topping (.89), ice cream (2.69)</div>
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<o:p> Grand Total: 37.68</o:p></div>
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<br /></div>Kara Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273533748436087022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875950775126843672.post-43831353588211417392012-07-23T04:12:00.000-07:002012-07-28T05:41:16.431-07:00Peanut Butter Graham Cracker TreatsDONT FORGET!!! My giveaway is going on this week....check it out <a href="http://midwesternwife.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-first-ever-giveaway.html">here </a>:) Now, on to the goods!<br />
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My husband is gone this week on a missions trip. I am super excited for him and the youth group because I am sure it will be a great trip, but super sad that I am unable to go. The good part is that I cannot go because I got a job, the sad part is that I will be away from my amazing husband for the first time since we got married. I am missing him dearly already. To quell my longing heart, I decided to make something tasty for myself. I know that Josh is not thrilled by peanut butter like I am, so I'm taking advantage by making peanut butter graham cracker balls!! They are similar to buckeyes in a lot of ways, but also different :) Check it out!<br />
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Ingredients<br />
1 cup peanut butter<br />
1 1/2 cup crushed graham cracker<br />
3 oz of chocolate bark<br />
Topping of your choosing (I used crushed oreo and different types of sprinkles)<br />
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Directions<br />
Mix together the peanut butter and crushed graham cracker until fairly dry. Roll into balls and place on a wax paper lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes. Using a double boiler, melt the chocolate and dip the chilled treats into the chocolate with a fork. Add any toppings! Chill and eat when completely dry! YUMMY!<br />
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I am keeping mine in the freezer so that I can just grab one from time to time when I want, but they won't go bad since I will be eating them by myself for the next few weeks until they are finally gone!<br />
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The original recipe can be found at <a href="http://blog.babygizmo.com/2012/06/peanut-butter-graham-cracker-balls/">Baby Gizmo</a>.</div>
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<center><a href="http://mandysrecipebox.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Mandy‘s Recipe Box" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_Zg_y0wIso/T9N4WV86vGI/AAAAAAAAEWs/vMQ3e2qKCdM/s1600/button.jpg" /></a> <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.cheeriosandlattes.com/"> <img alt="" src="http://www.cheeriosandlattes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/CLSatbutton2.png" width="200" /></a></span><span style="background-color: white;"></span></center> <a border="0" href="http://delightfullydowling.blogspot.com/p/mangia-mondays.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i52.tinypic.com/2z6hwjt.jpg" /></a> <span style="background-color: #f6efd7; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-center;"></span>Kara Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273533748436087022noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875950775126843672.post-67655553964346798372012-07-21T04:57:00.000-07:002012-07-21T04:57:00.424-07:00My First Ever Giveaway!!!Alright, it's FINALLY time! It's my 100th post and I am ready to do a giveaway :) It's not huge, but it's pretty and fun! Plus, it would make a great gift. So...here it is!<br />
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A beautiful <i>chrisalis scarf</i>!! These are really great for all seasons, they are nice and light for spring/summer evenings, but also a great covering in the fall and winter! They are fun and different, and I love making them! So, this first giveaway is from my shop Kara's Knits :) How to enter you ask. Well, there are a few ways.<br />
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<b>HOW TO ENTER</b><br />
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1) Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/karasknits">Kara's Knits</a>! (1 entry)<br />
2) Repin your favorite post from Midwestern Wife (1 entry)<br />
3) Follow me on <a href="http://pinterest.com/kdearhart/">Pinterest</a>! (1 entry)<br />
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Now, once you do any of those things, comment back here that you did them! It's as simple as pie! I will be keeping this entry open for ONE WEEK! So, check back here next week to see who the winner is. Also, don't forget to put your email address somewhere so that I can contact you if you're the winner :) Don't forget to tell your friends!!Kara Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273533748436087022noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875950775126843672.post-22442328187724095182012-07-20T06:30:00.000-07:002012-07-22T09:53:54.735-07:00Autumn WreathOk, so a few things today :)<br />
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First of all...tomorrow is my FIRST EVER GIVEAWAY!!!!! Make sure to stop by tomorrow morning to find out how you can enter and win my first giveaway!!!!<br />
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Second, I finally started a full time job this week! I've worked twice which has been nice, but it also means I may have less time for blogging. I'm one of those people who likes to plan ahead, so hopefully I can stay pretty regular with posts by getting prepared on my days off. I am terribly sorry if I start slacking, but as you might have seen in an earlier post, I don't make money from this blog, and while I do really enjoy having it, I also have to help my family pay the bills. I'm sure you can relate.<br />
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Alright, with that being said, today I am sharing something sort of random. It doesn't really fit with the season, BUT I've been on a big wreath kick on <a href="http://pinterest.com/kdearhart/wreath-love/">Pinterest</a>. You can check out my wreath board and leave me suggestions or links to other awesome wreaths, or wreaths you've done :) Anyway, the only wreath I've ever made was a nice fall one, so I am excited to get started making some inspired wreaths from Pinterest. It is surprisingly easy to make a wreath, so that is at least happy! Check it out!<br />
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So, you just need a wreath from the store. I'm not exactly sure what this kind is called, but it looks like it's made with twigs basically. The other items I got were dried flowers, raffia, and some decorative items from the fake flower section of Michaels.</div>
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I arranged the flowers and accent items in a way that I found appealing and then tied them all together in a nice loose arrangement. Then I glued that arrangement to the wreath itself. I then use the raffia to make a nice little bow which looks way nicer than string, and tied that around both the wreath base and the flowers.My last step was to glue the three flower heads onto the bow for a nice final touch.<br />
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I know we don't all have the same tastes, but I hope this can at least inspire you to get creative on a wreath for fall. It will be coming up before we know it! It's already almost time for school to start, so get a jump start on your fall decorating so you will be prepared when it actually gets here!!</div>
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Have a great day!</div>
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<a href="http://www.flamingotoes.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="150" src="http://www.flamingotoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/NewThinkPink_Button150.gif" width="150" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>Kara Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273533748436087022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875950775126843672.post-55529724816122751682012-07-18T04:32:00.000-07:002012-07-20T11:45:07.326-07:00Meal Plan #11<br />
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This week is a little different for grocery shopping. You may notice quite a few blank spaces on our meal plan this week. We have decided to fast for part of this week. This is not something we want to shout out to the world, but for one, I needed to explain why we had no food plans for a few days and two, I thought it would be an interesting topic to just discuss briefly. We have chosen to fast this week to focus on prayer. We want to pray for the house we are looking for, and for other more general things in our lives. Since I don't know any of you personally, I figured I could discuss this a little bit. I won't be telling anyone we know, we want it to be a personal thing for us. Anyway, if you've never fasted before, it is a great way to grow close with God. If you are like me, you spend a lot of time making meal plans, cooking, cleaning up dishes, etc. Without all of that you have hours extra for prayer and meditation. Let me know if you have any questions :)</div>
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Meal Plan 7/16-7/22</div>
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Monday:</div>
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Breakfast: cereal</div>
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Lunch: out with friends</div>
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Dinner: leftovers</div>
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Dessert: None</div>
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Tuesday:</div>
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Breakfast: cereal</div>
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Lunch:
hummus, veggies, fruit</div>
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Dinner: sloppy lentils</div>
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Wednesday:</div>
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Breakfast: </div>
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Lunch: </div>
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Thursday:</div>
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Breakfast: </div>
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Lunch: </div>
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Dinner: </div>
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Friday:</div>
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Breakfast: </div>
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Saturday:</div>
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Breakfast: </div>
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Lunch: sandwiches</div>
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Dinner: </div>
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Sunday:</div>
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Breakfast: cereal</div>
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Lunch: leftovers</div>
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Dinner: youth group, something quick and easy! Aka
frozen pizza or sandwiches<br />
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Groceries: peanut butter (2.29), shredded cheddar cheese (2.79), bread
(.99), greek yogurt (3.29), eggs (1.29), fruit (2.98), brown sugar (1.49), chocolate milk (3.38), orange juice (1.29), V8 (2.49), cocoa powder (3.99), frozen pizza (1.98), sliced cheddar (1.99), olive oil spray (1.79), balsamic dressing (1.29), ranch dressing (1.29), BBQ sauce (1.99), cranberry juice (1.79), applesauce (1.29), salsa (1.69), instant pudding (.55), tortillas (.99), sweet potato chips (1.99), tortilla chips (1.19), BBQ chips (1.49)</div>
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Grand Total: 47.69</div>
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<br /></div>Kara Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273533748436087022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875950775126843672.post-50818987363209427522012-07-17T04:43:00.000-07:002012-07-17T04:43:00.208-07:00July DateIt's date time again! Saturday was our official date day and boy, was it beautiful out! We were originally going to go on Friday since Josh took that as his day off during the week (he gets Saturday and one other day off since he is a pastor all day Sunday) but while I was running I got really sick. My vision started to get blurry and dark like I might pass out so I stopped running and walked thinking it would pass, but it just kept happening. So, I got freaked out and went home to relax. My vision finally cleared up, but by then I had a terrible headache and stomachache and ended up sleeping and watching movies with him all day instead. It worked out though! It ended up thunderstorming, so our date wouldn't have worked anyway.<br />
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The reason it would not have worked is because this month's date was a picnic! I planned July and chose for us to do a picnic in a fun place (a new park we'd never been to here), play card games, and make a together list! Check out how it turned out :)<br />
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All of the goods for the trip!</div>
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Our together list paper, card games (5 Crowns and Phase 10), and the books we are currently reading!</div>
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Lots of food...weren't sure how long we'd be gone. Cream cheese/jelly tortilla, yogurt, veggies/hummus, chips/salsa, fruit leather, snack bars, and oreos...we definitely didn't eat all this haha</div>
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Our lake view. We were on a little cliff, very fun!</div>
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We picked a nice shady spot since it was 90 out :)</div>
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To see the rest of our dates for the year, and to see how this whole thing started, check out my post on our <a href="http://midwesternwife.blogspot.com/2012/04/our-wedding-gift.html">wedding gift</a> to one another!Kara Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273533748436087022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875950775126843672.post-9328805126682731692012-07-16T03:58:00.000-07:002012-07-16T03:58:00.160-07:00How I Saved Money working at a Pet Store with a $700/mo loan paymentOk, I know this title is obnoxious, but I wanted it to grab your attention. When I graduated high school I went to undergrad at Purdue University and received lots of academic scholarships which helped with all my tuition, books, and school fees and I worked and used part of my savings to pay for living. When I graduated with my BA I continued on to graduate school for my PhD, knowing there was no way I'd keep from accruing loans, especially at a private grad school. I hated the idea of having debt, but really wanted to pursue my education. So, I only took out loans for my tuition. I used my savings and worked (which was stressful, but sooo worth it) to pay for my living. Now, that meant I had to live quite frugally to stay within my means, but I wasn't as stressed because I knew I didn't have too much of an option. Then I decided to graduate early with my MA. The program wasn't a great fit for me, I wanted my life to go in other directions, and lots of other random reasons. Either way, I left with much less debt than I would have with five years of school instead of two, but more debt than I ever wanted.<br />
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When I got home, I began the process of looking for a job. I lived pretty close to Chicago and began there and the surrounding suburbs, but couldn't find anything in my field. So, I finally began to look for any job I could find, knowing my loan payments were coming up quick. I applied everywhere I could in my hometown, but either didn't get called back or was told I was over qualified. Finally, I got hired. It was not my ideal job, nor was it what I imagined I'd be doing with a BA in Behavioral Neuroscience and an MA in Forensic Psychology. I would be working at a local pet store for minimum wage. I realized that it really didn't matter, God had put me there for a reason, and I needed to be thankful for any income at all. It stretched and grew me quite a bit, I knew that with a loan payment of $700 and only making about $900 a month I'd really be pushing it. Luckily, God blessed me with a free place to live during this time which meant that all I needed to pay for was groceries, gas, and my electric. I decided I didn't need anything extra and THIS is how I did that...<br />
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1) NO cable or internet, it's annoying, but libraries have internet for free and you can get movies/TV shows for free there. I saved almost $100 a month by cutting those expenses out of my life.<br />
2) My grocery budget was $12 a week when I first started working (I got a raise after 3 months and I moved my budget up to $15 a week) I only shopped at Aldi. I was a little worried because I liked to eat healthy, but had an advantage because as one person I was able to make food go far. I used soy milk instead of milk since it didn't spoil nearly as fast (more expensive for a family who goes through milk quickly), I planned my meals so nothing go wasted. I bought weekly to make sure I could get fresh things on sale. It worked somehow, and it helped me stay healthy. I was very careful about portion control so that I wasn't eating a lot of food, but still getting enough calories. I didn't snack when I wasn't hungry because I rarely had extra money for snacks. So, all in all it was good in a lot of senses.<br />
3) "Fun Money" was something I pretended didn't exist. I made sure that when I hung out with friends we did free things, I suggested we take walks, play with our pets, do crafts that we had at home, or go to parks, free events and that sort of thing. It worked well, no one really wants to spend money they don't have to, and who wants to get coffee and lunch with everyone they know every time they want to hang out. Doing free things causes you to get out and get creative, everyone appreciates doing something different :)<br />
4) Reuse things! One of the biggest ways I have saved money is reusing sandwich baggies. I know it may sound silly, but in all seriousness, there is no reason not to. Admittedly, a lot of baggies get destroyed depending on their content, but baggies that hold things like chips, pretzels, crackers, or veggies can definitely be reused. I always took some sort of grain with me in my lunch and used the same baggie for that, and I had a veggie baggie, and a sandwich one. I hardly ever buy baggies. I wash them and use them until they seem too old or get ripped or something along those lines. I also reuse plastic bags (like wal-mart/target), foil (sometimes), gift bags, jars, and containers with lids. Keeps from buying all these items which can add up quickly.<br />
5) Save on electricity!!! Easy to do...hang your laundry to dry, use natural light (no lamps/lights during daylight), and unplug EVERYTHING when you aren't using it. When I say everything, I mean it! Since I didn't have cable, I unplugged the TV and DVD player most of the time, only plugged in phone charger when using it, along with toaster, blender, and all other kitchen appliances. If you live in a house with rooms you don't use (we have a second bedroom that's mostly storage right now) unplug everything in there...lamps, clocks, everything. We only plug it in when people visit and stay in that bed. Keep the thermostat temperate. I only turn on the AC when I am like seriously uncomfortable, otherwise I embrace it. Same with the heat, I layer up like crazy, use blankets and open the oven door after I bake to let warmth out. Then when all else fails, use the heat. I also keep all blinds open in the winter to let as much sun in as possible and keep a lot of blinds closed in the summer to keep out the heat when I'm not home or when it's excruciating out (I'm thinking the past week's heat wave).<br />
6) Do things to make extra money for fun. When all else fails, try to find money in surprising places. This time period is when I did a garage sale, sold extra furniture on Craigslist, began my knitting sales, and began survey taking. It may seem like something little, but when you spend less than $50 a month on food, a little bit of money seems like A LOT! I was able to sell a few hundred dollars of knit goods during that time and in less than a year I've made $100 from surveys. I like <a href="https://www.globalopinionpanels.com/c/portal/layout?p_l_id=PUB.1008.1">Synovate</a>, but haven't tried anywhere else. That is like an extra month worth of funds without going to work! Just some suggestions :) I also use <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/">swagbucks </a>which doesn't make much money, but without trying I've made about $25 in gift cards so far and I signed up in October. Not as much as the surveys, but I also don't spend time using it. I just use it to search instead of google and if I remember I do the daily poll which takes a total of 5 seconds of my day. This program is great because you can get gift cards which come in handy to buy anything off amazon OR to have some fun money to go to coffee or lunch with friends :)<br />
7)Free Samples. Enough said. I LOVE free samples. They are so easy to get and can help you save a lot of money. I know it sounds silly, but it doesn't take long to sign up and it really can help. I can't even remember the last time I bought shampoo or conditioner because I get so many samples for it. I also get a lot of lotion samples and food. I know it sounds silly, but when you are almost out of cereal a free box of cereal or a free meal bar in the mail is the best!<br />
8) If you tithe, don't stop. I know it is really stressful to pay out money you feel like you don't have, but God blesses your obedience and I think it is well worth it for that alone.<br />
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After years of living frugally I am married and we are now able to buy a home, looking into purchasing a new to us car, and paying off my loan quickly. With that being said, it takes time to save up and be frugal and to yield results, but now we are in a great place. We still live frugally, and keep a tight budget for ourselves, but it is so nice to see what God has done with our obedience with his things.<br />
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Hope this can help. Let me know what you do to save money!!Kara Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273533748436087022noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875950775126843672.post-70600932088193153482012-07-15T04:44:00.000-07:002012-07-20T06:11:47.115-07:00Sweet Chili Lime TofuIf you haven't eaten tofu, or even ever tried it...for shame! :) Especially if you are a vegetarian. Just kidding, but seriously it is worth a try. It doesn't actually taste like much, but if you can make a yummy sauce for it, it's tasty!<br />
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This is a block of tofu...pretty boring and gross...scroll down for the goodness :)</div>
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Dry saute the tofu</div>
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Add yummy sauce</div>
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Cook until sauce thickens</div>
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Enjoy!</div>
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Ingredients</div>
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1/2 block of tofu, firm or extra firm</div>
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3 Tbl soy sauce</div>
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1 tsp red pepper flakes</div>
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1 clove garlic, crushed</div>
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3 Tbl sugar</div>
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1 Tbl lime juice</div>
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Directions<br />
Cut tofu into preferred shape (I like triangles) and place into skillet over high heat. As you saute, press down firmly on tofu with spatula to let natural juices release. While it is cooking, mix together the soy sauce, sugar, red pepper flakes, lime juice, and garlic thoroughly. Pour mixture into the skillet and cook until sauce thickens. Then serve! We served this with tortilla chips and a fruit salad!<br />
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<br />Kara Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273533748436087022noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875950775126843672.post-26597643783101037432012-07-14T09:50:00.000-07:002012-07-14T09:51:00.943-07:00UpdatesGood News!! I finally have a button!!! I had made the actual picture, but now you can grab it if need be :) So glad I finally figured it out. Also, made it easier to subscribe to my blog, so make sure you do that if you stop by regularly, or want to start! Thanks so much for all the support and patience as I update my page and attempt to make it better for my viewers. Let me know if you have any suggestions!<br />
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<span style="background-color: #bfb300; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://midwesternwife.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="http://midwesternwife.blogspot.com/" height="125" src="http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c46/Karebear1487/button.jpg" width="125" /></a></span>
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Thanks!<br />
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Oh, and don't forget, the giveaway will be coming soon! I changed what the first giveaway will be, so what i was advertising before will now be the second one :) We are working on some different things with the original one, but I just can't wait, so I thought I'd do a different one too so I can do it sooner! Keep an eye out!Kara Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273533748436087022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875950775126843672.post-66979340516681582382012-07-14T04:30:00.000-07:002012-07-17T05:25:29.817-07:00"Royal Red" BurgerMy husband and I enjoy Red Robin from time to time. It's a really yummy burger place. Plus, they substitute all sandwiches with a boca patty AND unlimited fries...be still my heart! Anyway, my husband happens to enjoy this burger I find very odd called the "Royal Red" its a burger with a fried egg on it. It couldn't sound less appealing to me, BUT he loves it, and I've heard good things from others who have tried it, so I attempted my own version of such a thing. Check it out...<br />
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Ingredients<br />
1/4 cup ground turkey (shh..don't tell my husband it's not beef)<br />
1 egg<br />
1 slice cheese (your choice)<br />
1 bun (or 2 slices of bread if you're us)<br />
ketchup<br />
lettuce<br />
any other burger toppings you fancy<br />
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Directions<br />
Shape ground turkey into a patty shape and using a glass, punch out the middle of the patty and add to the edges of the burger. Place onto skillet and begin to brown. Crack egg into the middle of the burger and cook until cooked all the way through. Place on bun, add condiments and enjoy!<br />
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Finished burgers! Husband loooved them :)</div>
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Also, I'd just like to say that I am a big advocate of making things the way you like them! Get crazy and add other weird toppings, this blog is just a way to get our family favorites out there so that you can be inspired to create your own version, and hopefully, it's a hit for you too!!<br />
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<a href="http://chef-in-training.com/" title="Chef In Training"><img alt="Chef In Training" src="http://chef-in-training.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/chef_button_talent_125.jpg?9d7bd4" style="border: none;" title="Chef In Training" /></a> <a href="http://beyerbeware.net/hunk-of-meat-monday"><img src="http://beyerbeware.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/hunkofmeatmondays.png" /></a>Kara Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273533748436087022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875950775126843672.post-58337470982709332832012-07-13T06:31:00.002-07:002012-07-17T05:26:00.741-07:00Strawberry Yogurt BreadIf you're like me, strawberries (and all berries in general) scream summer! Now that the heat wave is over, baking is definitely back in full swing! Today I made strawberry yogurt bread...let's just say YUM! I'm a big fan of bread, and zucchini used to be my summer staple, but perhaps this is the new one! Anyway, this recipe involves some of my favorite things...greek yogurt, strawberries, and bread, what more could a girl want? I found the recipe <a href="http://aspicyperspective.com/2010/05/farmstand-fresh.html">here</a>. I'll keep you from waiting and show you the goods...<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Ingredients</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">2 sticks of butter</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">2 cups sugar</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">3 eggs</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">1 Tbl lemon juice</span><br />
2 1/2 cup flour<br />
1/2 tsp baking soda<br />
1/2 tsp salt<br />
8 oz greek yogurt<br />
12 oz strawberries</div>
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Directions</div>
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Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cream together the softened butter and sugar. Then add and mix in eggs one at a time. Stir in lemon juice. In a separate bowl mix together 2 1/4 cup flour, baking powder, and salt. Then slowly add in flour mixture and yogurt alternately. (I did 3 parts of flour and 2 parts of yogurt) In a small bowl mix together chopped strawberries and remaining 1/4 cup flour. Fold strawberry mixture into the batter. Pour the mixture into two separate, greased bread pans and bake for 1 hour.<br />
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Remove from oven, let cool, enjoy!</div>
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I'm pretty sure this bread would be amazing with any berry really :) The greek yogurt gives it so much moisture and goodness!</div>
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<br /></div>Kara Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273533748436087022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875950775126843672.post-90841037681255465752012-07-12T13:06:00.002-07:002012-07-12T13:06:46.384-07:00Ad Space and Blog RevampHello! So, I've recently been contemplating doing ad space. I love blogging for fun, but let's face it...it takes a lot of time and living off of one income while attempting to buy a house and pay off school loans is not exactly the situation I imagined myself to be in when going into graduate school. I am so very thankful for a God who provides and for a husband who is a wonderful man of God and has a great job! I've been doing my best to make money on the side by doing surveys for trusted companies and selling my knitted goods (check out <a href="https://www.facebook.com/karasknits">Kara's Knits</a> if you are interested...sorry for the shameless plug), but neither of those is really raking in too much money. The little bit I do make is such a blessing, but I'm also doing my best to be a good wife, and help with our household income :)<br />
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With that being said, I am attempting to gussy up my blog a bit (see my attempt a button on the side bar...and have yet to figure out how the heck to get the html code thingy to work) and have been getting more and more views each week, and thought it would be a good time to start doing ads for people! I know I am still new to this, but I would love to advertise for others who are pretty new at this too, and can't afford to pay for expensive ad space with their blog money yet. (I know I can't afford to pay for any space since I don't make anything off of my blog yet) Anyway, let me know what you think of this. I was thinking of doing it for as low as $5 a month for space on my side bar.<br />
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On a few other notes...I love doing recipes and DIY stuff (which there hasn't been much of with living in an apartment that we aren't really planning to stay in and don't want to waste money on things that might not work in whichever house we might get one day) but I'd really like to know what you guys love to read about! What are your favorite posts of mine, what would you like to see from me. Any suggestions, constructive criticism, tips, etc are greatly appreciated! I've been doing a lot of research this week to help really make my blog better, and am slowly attempting to get there!<br />
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The other new thing I am doing is a giveaway! I actually have two in mind right now, but am waiting for my 100th post :) Keep an eye out for it once it comes though! Nothing too fancy, but fun none the less.<br />
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Alright, talk to you again tomorrow!!Kara Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273533748436087022noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2875950775126843672.post-41919187932548563472012-07-12T05:02:00.000-07:002012-07-13T06:11:52.176-07:00Stuffed ZucchiniWe love zucchini, but I have to take a break from time to time because we need a change of pace. Well, we are finally back to a week of zucchini! Tonight I decided to try the <a href="http://www.kayotic.nl/blog/stuffed-zucchini">stuffed zucchini </a>on my Pinterest!<br />
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We changed, as usual, to our liking just a bit! So check out this yummy (and healthy) goodness!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-98s7AnH4AU0/T_zDjdpQlFI/AAAAAAAAAkk/G9SGCdKRurA/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-98s7AnH4AU0/T_zDjdpQlFI/AAAAAAAAAkk/G9SGCdKRurA/s320/photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ingredients<br />
2 zucchinis<br />
1 tsp olive oil<br />
1 small white onion<br />
1/2 tomato, chopped<br />
1 tsp thyme<br />
1/2 tsp salt<br />
1/2 tsp garlic powder (or use one clove chopped garlic, will do next time!)<br />
pinch of pepper<br />
1 Tbl greek yogurt<br />
Parmesan cheese to your liking<br />
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Directions<br />
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut zucchini in half, lengthwise. Scrape out the middle of zucchini, leaving about 1/2 an inch of zucchini "wall" to create a type of boat. Place the insides of the zucchini in a separate bowl and mash.<br />
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Chop the onion and tomato. Place a skillet over medium heat and add olive oil and the chopped onion. Cook until lightly brown and add to the bowl with zucchini. Then add in tomato, thyme, salt, garlic powder, pepper, and greek yogurt. Stir until mixed well, and spoon into zucchini boats.<br />
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Sprinkle with cheese, place on a cooking sheet and put into the oven. Let cook for 20 minutes. Remove<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">from oven and enjoy!</span><br />
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I paired this with a caprese grilled cheese! Yummy pair :)<br />
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<a href="http://www.notyourordinaryrecipes.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.voiceboks.com/community/public/admin/Foodie Friday.jpg" /></a> <a border="0" href="http://craftionary.net/" target="_blank"><img height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JFWzh4JKVWI/T0hWM9zlcEI/AAAAAAAADms/GZLhQ_6L_C4/s1600/friday+fun+party+button.png" width="150" /></a> <a href="http://answerischocolate.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff511/AnswerIsChoco/TAICOpenHouseButton.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Kara Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273533748436087022noreply@blogger.com2