Pumpkins

I am not the best seamstress at all, but these pumpkins were so easy to make. Here are the directions.
1. Cut your fabric in whatever shape you want your pumpkin. Place right sides together.

2. Sew all the way around the outside, but leave an opening at the top to put your stem in.

3. Now feed the bottom through your opening at the top to get the fabric to the front side. Then add dried beans to the bottom so that it will stand up.

4. Use pillow stuffing and fill your pumpkin.
5. Make a stem by cutting fabric in a rectangle and sewing all but the bottom part. Flip the right side out by using scissors if you need to.

6. Then hold the stem in place at the top and tuck in the ends so it is smooth and then just sew across to secure it.

Then you have your finished product!

1st day of school

Mommy with her babies!

Daddy and his babies!

Wednesday was a day filled with many emotions. Our baby was starting kindergarten! Where had the time gone.  I had been at home with a child for over 10 years and now in a moment life was changing. Carson was thrilled to be going to school just like Savannah and Connor. Thank goodness my wonderful husband took the day off to spend with me or I think I would have been a huge puddle in the school parking lot.

We are all looking forward to this new stage of life we are starting.

Bruschetta

What to do with all of the tomatoes? I love, love, love tomatoes. I had a friends say on facebook that she was making bruschetta which I love but have never made. She shared the recipe with me yesterday so we made this for dinner tonight.  Let me just say it was fabulous!! My kids could not get enough of this.  So I know now what I will be making a lot of now. I hope she doesn't care that I shared. Thanks Heather!

2-3 seeded & chopped tomatoes


3 TBSP chopped fresh basil


1 TBSP balsamic vinegar


2 TBSP olive oil


Finely chopped clove of garlic


Salt & pepper to taste


~Mix all of these ingredients and refrigerate for a few hours


~Slice a French baguette and butter slices (you could use a garlic spread instead of butter); broil until golden brown


~Top with the tomato mixture and sprinkle with fresh Parmesan (I like to stick it back under the broiler for another minute)

Couponing 101

                                                                   My coupon book

This is my second coupon book.  A few weeks ago I must have left mine in a cart at a store, when I realized it was gone I started checking stores I go to and there was no sign of it.  Somebody must have hit the jackpot because it was FULL of coupons! I keep trying to remind myself not to get mad about losing it, someone may have needed it more than me. A very sweet friend surprised me and made me a new one. She even decorated it for me with my family pictures. This time I put my business card at the top and taped it in so it is easier to see. I carry this book everywhere that I shop.  You may know this but you can combine a store coupon with a manufactures coupon at most places.  Take advantage of this. Go through your adds such as Walgreens on Sunday and see what coupons you can stack. This can really save lots!
I use a plain notebook and baseball card holders. I have each section divided into categories such as pantry, dairy, freezer, cereal, toiletries, cleaners,produce.

I put each coupon in one of the card slots so I can see each one of them.  I think this makes it easier to see what I have coupons for when I am shopping.

 I know you are thinking this is a lot of work.  I promise you it is worth it for the money that you can save just by taking the time to sort your coupons.
Here are a few websites I use a lot to help me.
Hip2save.com
couponingtodisney.com
southernsavers.com
shesaved.com
Saveathomemommy.com
If you have any questions about any of this please let me know. 

Waiting...

I cannot wait to cut a tomato up from my garden. Hopefully not too much longer!

DC Trip

Last week our family headed up to DC for a few days.  My husband's brother and his family live near there so it was a time to visit family.  We decided to go into downtown DC for a tour.  We went on the DC Duck tour. This is an amphibious vehicle that tour you around all over DC then turns into a boat and you float down the Potomac River.

We were able to see all the sights in DC. With a total of 6 children this is the way to go.  Our next visit we will go to a museum, but this was a good way to break them in to all there was to see.

                                                                      Union Station

                                                                          Capital

                                                                      White House

                                                                        Lincoln Memorial 

                                                              Washington Monument 

The yellow things in the boys mouths they called "quackers" These make duck sounds that will drive you up a wall but the kids loved them!

                                              The kids had a wonderful time with their cousins! 

Homemade Ice Cream

4th of July would not be complete without homemade ice cream! Here is a wonderful recipe a friend shared with me.
2 cans evaporated milk
1 pint whipping cream
2 1/4 cups sugar
dash salt
3 tsp vanilla
4 eggs
Combine all ingredients and cook on medium heat on the stove.  I cook it until it is warm about 10 minutes.  Pour through a stainer into a large bowl to make sure there are no cooked eggs floating around in it. Refrigerate overnight.( If you want fruit in your ice cream add 1 cup of chopped fruit before putting in your ice cream freezer.) Add the mixture to your ice cream freezer and fill will whole milk about 1 inch from the top. (Usually there is a fill line in the freezer) Follow the manufactures directions for your freezer and then enjoy your homemade ice cream!