Champagne, Pearls, Sippy Cups and Rubber Ducks

It is March, almost April and is still cold, oh wait, freezing in Kentucky. As much as this upsets me I decided to take advantage of the extended winter season and make a large pot of chili. Chili is definitely a seasonal food for me. I don't enjoy chili, or any soup for that matter, near as much when it's warm out.  My husband is typically the "chili maker" in our home. He rarely cooks, so when he volunteers to help out in the kitchen I gladly step aside. I wouldn't dare tread on what he has going on, so I make sure I create something that tastes and is made completely different than his chili. If you have checked out any of my earlier blogs you have probably gathered that I like putting my own twist on things anyhow. Ergo, my steakhouse slow cooker chili! This chili has a little twang, a little heat and is made in the crock pot. What's not to love? I start by cutting a few slices of thick bacon into bite size pieces. ...

  Surprised to finally see another post from me?  I did a great job keeping up with my blog throughout the end of the summer, but as the school year began it got harder and harder for me to find the time to write. Over the past few months many of you have contacted me and mentioned that you enjoyed reading my blog and were duplicating some of the recipes. THANK YOU!! You have no idea how happy that makes me because I truly enjoy writing this blog. I started blogging to help others learn how to create easy, healthy meals at home and it is about time I get back at it. So, here it goes. I'm back in the saddle again.   Daily preparing healthy meals has become a challenging task with a toddler at home! My sweet little Addison is into absolutely everything these days. I honestly never thought I would say it, but leftover night has become one of my favorites at home. Pasta dishes save very well and some would even argue that the leftovers are equal...

If you thought I couldn't get any geekier, than my friends, you were wrong!! I recently stumbled upon a blog called "Saving with Shelly." This blog is amazing and often shows you how to purchase items for great deals. I am not a "crazy coupon queen", but some of these deals are truly too good to pass up. I wanted to shared these deals with you so you can go and get these fabulous deals as well. If you aren't into a good deal then just ignore this blog and check back later this week because I am getting ready to post another fabulous week of meals! If you LOVE this blog entry then you should definitely consider joining Shelly's blog. I will post the link to her blog at the bottom of this entry. Deal #1 Up and Up Brand Aspirin (Target brand) I did this deal three times. One bottle for the house, one for the car and one for my desk! $.99 (use Target on-line coupon $1/1 Up and Up pain reliever coupon) = Free Aspirin http://coupons.target.com/#...

 Sundays have religiously been "pizza night" at our home since my husband and I moved in together. This was something we could easily afford while we were still living it up without a baby, but once our little bundle of joy came along it didn't seem practical to be spending a $100 a month on take-out pizzas. That being said, we were not willing to give up our Sunday night pies so I decided to try making our weekly pizza in-house. I quickly learned that I could save us money and calories by making our pizza at home. It is very easy, quick and just as tasty as ordering out! I know, I know...I used to frown at the thought of a homemade pizza too. Trust me, my homemade pizzas are like no Tombstone, Red Barons or DiGiorno that I have ever tasted. My pizzas are better!   Making a pizza at home is also a great way to include your kids in the kitchen. It's never too early to start showing your children how to cook. Use recipes like this one to teach your...

I have always enjoyed Italian meals. For that matter, Italian culture in it's entirety has always been interesting to me. I love that Italians all seem like they have these huge, close-knit families that eat home-cooked meals together every night. I also love that they seem to have the whole, "Mess with my family and I will hurt you" mentality. Too often in life we forget about family and how important it is to keep strong family bonds.  As a school teacher I ask my students each year the following question: How many times a week do you sit at the dinner table and eat a meal with all the members of your immediate family? In my three years of teaching very few students have said that they eat at home with their family every night of the week. Or, even 5 nights a week for that matter. 4 nights? Again, barely anyone takes claim there either. Most of my students claim that they eat at home with their family 3 or less times a week. A c...