Works for me Wednesday...FREE STUFF!

What works better than free stuff!!

Free Sample of Johnson's Baby Shampoo (USA)

Free Mary Kay Signature Ultimate Mascara Sample (USA)

Free Sample of Bear Naked Fruit & Nut Granola (USA)

Free Kashi Oatmeal Dark Chocolate Cookie (USA; 10/15/08)

Free Sample of Betty Crocker Creamy Butter Potatoes (11/30)

Free Betty Crocker Warm Delights Minis (12/31) (you will need to use a different email than the one used for the potatoes)

Free Fruit Roll-Up Sample (Expires 11/30/08)

John Freida Full Splendor Shampoo and Conditioner

Free Ice Cream Cone on B-day @ Marble Slab (12 & Under)

Free Crest Whitening Expressions toothpaste

Free Sample of Huggies Diapers

Free 'Barack Obama is a Pain in My Gas' Bumper Sticker

Free Mini Mr Clean MAGIC ERASER (USA)

Works for me Wednesday....easy ways to decorate your burp cloths!

Those that know me, know that I am a lover of all things consignment. If there is a sale somewhere, I am usually there!

Last fall, I went to a local consignment sale that had a couple bags of previously used burp cloths. You know, the old fashioned diapers. I snatched them up and saw that they were like new!

At that time, I didn't know if I was having a boy or a girl, but that didn't matter. All I knew was that I wanted to embellish them to make them just a little bit more decorative than the plain white that they were.

I finally got around to it last week! All I did was add some old vintage ric rac, ribbons and whatever I may have had to the edges, to create something new from something old. It didn't take very long and was very easy!

Here is the result:



Some of them have two or three stripes on one side, while others have one stripe on each edge. It makes them that much more special for my newest arrival!

Works for me Wednesday....5 Ingredient Edition! Stuffed Shells!

Today, at Rocks in My Dryer, she is hosting a FIVE ingredient edition of WFMW! Be sure to check it out....you might get some great meal ideas!!

I usually double this, so the recipe I'm giving is enough to make 2 lasagna pans full. I freeze half and have it on hand for one of those days when dinner is the last thing from my mind!

Stuffed Shells

2 boxes jumbo shells
32 ounces ricotta cheese
4-5 eggs
4- 16oz jars of Barilla Marinara Sauce
32 ounces of mozarella cheese (shredded)

8 oz parmesan cheese (shredded)- optional
italian seasoning- optional

Cook the shells until they are al dente. You will probably have to cook the shells in two batches. While you are filling the first batch, have the second box of shells cooking.

While the shells are cooking, empty the ricotta cheese into a large bowl. Add eggs and 8 ounces of mozarella cheese and mix.

Rinse the shells under cold water, so they are easy to handle.

In a lasagna pan (I use disposable...makes it easy to store and no cleaning!), spread some tomato sauce on the bottom of the pan to coat it. This will prevent sticking. Usually about half a jar.

Begin spooning the cheese mixture into the inside of the shells. Line them up in the pan so they are touching.

When the pan is filled, cover the shells with a jar and a half of the marinara sauce.

Top with the remaining half of the mozarella cheese. If you want, you can also top with a few handfuls of parmesan cheese as well. For added taste, sprinkle some italian seasoning.

Bake at 350 for about an hour (if it isn't frozen). If it has been frozen, it will take longer, so bake accordingly. I like to finish it off by broiling it. It gives the cheese a nice golden brown color.

Serve with a salad and garlic bread!

ENJOY!

Works for me Wednesday...Rhubarb Crisp!

Do you ever just sit around wondering...what should I do with all of this extra rhubarb?

I know I do!

I've got the recipe for you!! Everyone loves apple crisp, right? Well, what about rhubarb crisp? If you add just the right amount of topping, it cooks into the rhubarb and sweetens it up...and you are left with just the perfect amount of tartness!

Here's what you do....

Wash the rhubarb and get rid of the leaves (that is, if you hand picked it!)

Get out your cutting board and start slicing that baby up! If you have a giant stalk, you might want to cut it down the middle before you slice it. It kind of cuts like celery.

I figure about 6-9 stalks of rhubarb to fill up an 8x11 dish. Take your sliced pieces and place in the dish. Add about 1/2 a cup of water.

Then put it aside.

For the topping, mix up:
1-1/2 cups of sugar
1-1/2 cups of brown sugar
3 tsp cinnamon
9 Tablespoons of flour
2-1/4 cups oatmeal
1-1/2 cups butter (I use soft margarine)

Mix this together and put on top of the rhubarb. Just spoon it over...it doesn't have to be completely smooth.

Put it in the oven at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour. You'll know it's done when it is a bit crispy on top and very bubbly.

ENJOY!!

I just made this a couple days ago...I should have taken a picture, but it disappeared too quickly!

Works for me Wednesday....tired of cold waffles, pancakes and french toast???

I don't know about you, but by the time I get done cutting up waffles, pancakes or french toast for my kids, they are about ice cold.

Maybe it has to do with the fact that I cut up four plates of food at a time...but seriously, I always feel a tiny bit guilty giving my children cold food.

Then I thought to use a pizza cutter to cut it up. In a few short cuts, things are all cut up and the food is still edible!

It makes preparing breakfast for your family actually fun!

This is something that you will share with everyone you know...and feel free to take complete credit for the idea!

Works for me Wednesday...rerun edition: Art Caddy

I first blogged this WFMW back in September! This week, Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer is asking us to look into our archives and share it again!

So here it is:

With 4 boys, I feel like my days are filled with cleaning up after them. To put it mildly, they are not delicate and dainty in their playing (friends can attest to this, lol). The same is true when it comes to art. I found myself shying away from art projects with them, because I was tired of the crayons being everywhere, the markers missing covers, scissors being unaccounted for, etc.

Then I got this idea. How about I use my old Pampered Chef tool turnabout as an art caddy. I can't tell you how great this has turned out. Now, I have all the crayons and markers color coded in their own spot! No more impatience as I try to fit the kids crayons into those flimsy cardboard boxes that fit into the crayon box....no more markers without covers! You can find the discontinued tool turnabouts on ebay.

Here is a picture...it is sooo convenient!

WFMW...How to clean your kitchen sink (and almost anything else!)

Last spring, we redid our kitchen. It came out lovely and the sink was just great...all nice and ivory and perfect. See for yourself:

(this picture was before it was even usable....see how clean?)


Then life happened.

A pan was left to soak in the pretty ivory sink and left a rust stain. Multiple stoneware dishes were cleaned in the pretty sink and left brown marks where it rubbed against the ivory.

There was no amount of scrubbing that could take away the marks.

Even when the lovely ivory sink was completely clean, it didn't really look it.

I was so sad....until I remembered!!

Duh...um, what about using a Magic Eraser???

I didn't even have to scrub...just a light wipe and all markings were gone. It was at that point that I noticed even the parts of the sink that I thought looked clean, really weren't.

But now they are...thanks to Mr Clean. I owe ya!

I was so excited, I wanted to scream it from the rooftop. Other moms know the feeling that I speak of!

Works for me Wednesday...backwards!

Here is my dilemma:

Our dining room is painted a light tannish color. Our dining room chairs have black legs and backs. When those chairs get pushed into the wall, they leave black marks on the wall.

I don't know how to get the marks off of the wall. I have tried the Magic Eraser, but all it started doing was taking the paint off the wall.

I really don't want to have to repaint the wall.

Is there any way to prevent this?

If I weren't tired and pregnant, I would have pictures to show you, but you'll just have to believe me. I would have nothing against putting up a chair rail...but a chair rail in black?? Not sure how that would look!

Comments? Suggestions? Ideas?

Works for me Wednesday....CVS Extra Care Rewards

Ok, I'm new at this, but stay with me. It has come to my attention that CVS has incredible deals and all we have to do is take advantage of them!

This is how I understand it:

Right now, they will give you $15 back on a $30 purchase...when you purchase specific things.

Here is the weekly sales ad. Pay close attention to the products you can purchase to add up to $30 to get your $15 back.

You can print out coupons for Huggies diapers here.

You can print out coupons for Colgate toothpaste here. Be sure to click back once the coupons have started printing, and they will let you print them out one more time.

You can print out this coupon for $4 off a CVS purchase of $20 or more here. There are 3 coupons, one is expired, but there are a couple more good for awhile.

To try to get an idea of how this works, visit Thrify Florida Mama. She gives a few examples of how this can really work for you.

Here is what I propose to do:

3 packs of Huggies...sale price $8.99= $26.97
2 boxes of Kleenex tissues...sale price 2 for $5= $5

Total before coupons= $31.97

I've got 2 Huggies coupons totaling $3.00 off
I've got $4 off a $20 purchase

$31.97-$7= $24.97

Now remember, because I purchased my $30, I get $15 worth of Extra Care Rewards to go towards my next transaction.

Let's say for my next transaction, I purchase:

5 Colgate Toothpaste...$2.99= $14.95
3 Children's chewable Aspirin...$1.79 x 3= $5.37

Total= $20.32 plus tax

I've got 2 Colgate coupons totaling $2.00 off.
I've got another $4 off a $20 purchase.

Totaling $6.00 in coupons...and I've got my $15 in extra care rewards...Which puts me at $21 off my purchase!

After this purchase, I get $2 worth of rewards for each tube of toothpaste, equaling $10. And I get the purchase price of the chewable Aspirin back...of $5.37. I get $15.37 back onto my card.

This can go on and on and on! Every month or so, I believe they have one week where you earn $15 back on $30 worth of participating products. You can find their circular online...Happy Shopping!!

If you have done this yourself and want to share....please do! I would love to hear about your great deals!

Works for me Wednesday...the best seasoning EVER!

A couple of years ago, my aunt did something peculiar. She wrapped up a seasoning and gave it to my mom on Christmas. My mom thought she was a little nuts...gift wrapping a seasoning? That was, until she used it!

I was blessed enough to get some in my stocking this year!

If this is the only seasoning you put in any of your dishes...you'll be fine! Last night for dinner, I made chicken sprinkled with this stuff. I cut potatoes into some wedges, sprinkled with this stuff...then had some green beans, you guessed it...sprinkled with this stuff!

Delicious!

Now, you can't find this in stores...only from a particular restaurant's website. I highly recommend everyone trying this out...people will compliment your cooking like never before!



Here is where you can purchase it Columbia Restaurant!

Enjoy! (and thanks mom!)

For more tips, head over to Rocks In My Dryer!

Works for me Wednesday....how to put on a bracelet one-handed!

For my birthday last year, John got me a beautiful necklace with a matching bracelet. I immediately put on the necklace, but was unable to get the bracelet on one-handed. John's fingers just could not open the tiny, delicate clasp.

So finally, a few months after the fact, I was able to get it on!

Here is what I did:
I took a large piece of clear packing tape and taped down the end of the bracelet to my wrist. I was then able to open the clasp with my left hand and hook it in...without the bracelet moving at all! I was so excited!

For more great tips, head over to Rocks In My Dryer!

Works for me Wednesday...easy breakfast idea! Cream Cheese Twists

2 boxes puff pastry sheets (17-1/4 oz)
8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
6 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla

1 tsp cinnamon, mixed with 1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 cup powdered sugar
1-2 tablespoons milk

As you open the boxes of puff pastry, you will see each sheet is folded into thirds. Lay each piece on a sheet of waxed paper to thaw before attempting to unfold the dough. This will take about 20-30 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the cream cheese, 6 Tablespoons sugar, egg, and vanilla. Mix until creamy and set aside.

Also take the time to mix powdered sugar and milk in a separate bowl, beating until smooth, to make a drizzly glaze.

Preheat oven to 400. After dough has thawed, gently unfold and cut each piece of dough where the fold lines are. Spread one piece of dough with the cream cheese mixture, spreading all the way to the edge. Lay one of the other pieces of dough on top of the cream cheese.

Not cut lengthwise through both layers of dough and cream cheese filling every 1/2 inch. Twist each strip and lay on a wax paper-lined cookie sheet. (I used a large baking stone instead). Repeat with remaining dough until all twists are lined up on the baking sheets. (If you only have one large baking sheet, do the first half and wait until the first batch is done cooking)

Sprinkle twists lightly with the cinnamon and sugar mixture.

Bake twists 14-16 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from baking sheets and place on cooling rack. Drizzle with glaze.


I made these for breakfast this past Sunday morning at church and got many compliments! They are very easy to make and look like something out of a bakery!

Check out Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer for more helpful hints and recipes!

Works for me Wednesday...backwards!

This is the installment of Works for me Wednesday with a different twist. Instead of giving a helpful hint, you ask a question and hopefully, with the amount of knowledge found in today's blogworld, you'll find a solution!

Here is my dilemma:

I have a duvet cover on my bed. It is the home to a king sized down comforter. It is impossible to keep the comforter fitting in the top and the sides of the duvet cover. It slides around in the duvet cover, so that the top of it is just the cover without the comforter up there. Or it slides to one side, so when John tries to pull the covers on top of himself, he is getting the end of an empty duvet cover.

Does anyone have a helpful way to keep the down comforter positioned inside the duvet cover, so I don't have to fix it on a daily basis???

WFMW.....How to nap when you have four little boys

It's time for Works for me Wednesday, when we all share what works for us! Here it is.....proof that a mommy of four can take a nap in the afternoon. The kids have eaten lunch and Jamison, my one year old, has been put down for a nap.

You make sure you have your phone near, a juice cup for each child, and the remote. NEVER FORGET THE REMOTE! Put on your child's favorite movie or show and relax!

This is what it looks like:



Happy Napping!

For other helpful tips, visit Rocks In My Dryer!

Works-For-Me-Wednesday...Quick and EASY fudge recipe!

It's Christmastime and if you are like me, you are scurrying around for last minute gift ideas. You can never go wrong when it comes to FOOD! If you make that food CHOCOLATE then you will be blessed many times over!

Here is a foolproof way to make creamy, indulgent chocolate fudge. You can also change the flavor by using different kinds of chips...vanilla, peanut butter, butterscotch...and can add whatever you want...walnuts, pecans, toffee chips, marshmallows, etc...the list goes on!

Wrap it up with a bow and you have got an easy, homemade gift to give!

Foolproof Fudge

8 ounces chocolate chips
14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
1-1/2 tsp vanilla

On low heat, melt chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla together. Once it is melted and smooth, remove from heat and add nuts (or whatever else you've got!...or nothing if you want plain), pour into a well-buttered/waxed 8x8 dish. (feel free to double the recipe and use a 9x13).

Put in fridge to chill.

Once it has solidified, cut it up!

Works For Me: What Do I Fix?

This week, it's all about simplicity in the kitchen. Now, there are nights when I say CEREAL is the quickest, easiest meal you could possibly 'make' for your kids. Am I right? or am I right???

But that isn't really cooking, so I figured you would want an actual idea. Here are a few meals I came up with. All quick and easy and can be done in large quantities to ensure leftovers!

1. Goulash (aka American Chop Suey)

2 pounds hamburger
1 small onion, chopped
1 pound elbow or some other kind of pasta
1 large can diced tomatoes
chili powder to taste
garlic powder to taste
salt and pepper to taste

Brown hamburger and onion together while boiling macaroni. Add remaining ingredients and simmer until hot.

Serve with buttered bread.

2. Homeade macaroni and cheese

1 pound of macaroni or any other kind of pasta
1 pound american cheese
3T butter
1/2 cup milk
1 large can of diced tomatoes

While mac is boiling, in a bowl, melt cheese, butter and milk in microwave. When mac is done, add cheese mixture until fully incorporated, then add tomatoes. Simmer until hot.

(it's okay if this is a little loose when you first make it, the pasta will absorb some of the liquid in the fridge)

3. Crock Pot Pot Roast (I know that this one isn't last minute at 5:15...but it is something you can do quickly in the morning!)

1 large roast
a bunch of peeled and cut up potatoes
a bunch of peeled and cut up carrots
(fill up your crock pot until you can't fit in any more!)

Put roast in crock pot, surrounded by potatoes. Cover with water. Turn on crock pot...high at first to get to temp, then down low. Cook until everything is falling apart...about 6-8 hours.

Make a brown gravy from the packet.

Put some frozen rolls in the oven.

And you're done!


I hope these help! Check out the rest of the great ideas at Rocks In My Dryer!!!

Works for me Wednesday....Christmas tag idea

I don't know about you, but I never know what to do with all the Christmas cards I get every year. I hate to throw them out because they are so pretty, but don't really have a use for them. So I started doing what my mom does. She saves all her Christmas cards and when the season comes around again and it's time to wrap gifts, she pulls out last years Christmas cards. She cuts them into strips and uses them as tags on all the gifts!

You end up saving money and making neat little one-of-a-kind gift tags!

For more helpful hints visit WFMW at Rocks in My Dryer!

Works for me Wednesday....cleaning up the toys!

I don't know about you, but I feel like there is a never ending battle between my house and the kid's toys. On any given afternoon, if you were to stop by, you would find the living room and hallway littered with race cars, play food, abc buses, etc...the list goes on and on.

A couple of weeks ago, I had an epiphany! I started at one end of the house...the dining room. If there were toys on the floor, I took the broom and swept them into the kitchen. Then I swept all of those toys into the hallway. I started again in the living room and swept all of those toys into the hall. As they accumulated, they were all swept into the kid's rooms.

I know what you're thinking....that I'm a genius. I know, I've often thought the same thing! Within a matter of two minutes, your entire house can be free of toys!

Of course, the bedrooms leave much to be desired, but that is what the kids are for! What works best here is telling the kids to clean up their rooms to surprise daddy who is almost home from work. My boys are 5-1/2, 4, 2-1/2 and almost 1....so that works. I'm thinking that when they are teenagers, they won't really care if they surprise daddy with a clean room anymore, lol.

Try this and tell me how it goes! Head on over to Rocks in My Dryer for more helpful hints!

Next week, I will share a way to save some money on gift wrapping!

Works for me Wednesday....don't be afraid of the dentist!

Okay, I've never been afraid of the dentist. I used to go every year...like you are supposed to. Then I moved far from my dentist, got married and had kids. I figured that if it wasn't hurting then it was okay.

Then I chipped a tooth. I got that taken care of. That was when Gideon was a baby. The dentist told me that because of being pregnant and the vomiting that took place from the pregnancies, it took a toll on my back teeth.

Okay, I get that.

Fast forward two more babies and the pain came back with more chipping.

Thankfully I now have dental insurance to take care of my upcoming visits.

So, my helpful tip for Wednesday is:

DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOUR TEETH TO GO TO THE DENTIST!

Even if you don't have insurance, it's worth the extra money once or twice a year to get your teeth cleaned. This was also recommended to me:



Get yourself one and use it and it will strengthen your gums to prevent issues with your teeth.

You're welcome...cause you will thank me later!

And go check out Rocks In My Dryer for some more helpful hints!

Works-For-Me-Wednesday (picture hanging tip)

When we moved into our house earlier this year, I was very excited to be able to paint and to hang things up where I wanted and not have to worry about getting the landlord's approval...because I was the landlord! (ok, it's a joint effort between John and I) After we had all of the painting done, it was up to me to figure out where I wanted things hung, etc. It's quite a daunting task when you have a lot of pictures to hang up! Knowing that we weren't going to be moving any time soon made me that much more cautious before making holes in the walls.



We have a giant picture wall in our living room. (at least that's what I called it!) Here's my tip: Before I ever nailed/screwed anything in, I laid everything down on the floor. It is easy to see what works, what you might want to move around, etc....before doing anything permanent!



Here are some pictures of the end result!