3.18.2012

keepin' busy

I can't believe it's only been one day since TJ left.... I'm not complaining. Just sayin'..... I have made a goal to stay busy and be productive. Hopefully this will make the time pass more quickly and keep the house and everything from becoming a disaster. Yesterday, my sister Michelle came over and hung out with Barrett and me. We went and bought an air popper to make yummy popcorn and then watched "Dispicable Me" and vegged out. I made sure to pick up the house before I went to bed. That is so hard for me! Today I even picked up during every nap! [Honestly, that will probably only last about a week ha!] I also made chicken tortilla soup yesterday! Oh man it is the best soup ever! No lie. I'll post the recipe soon.

Today, Barrett and I woke up early and hung out for a while. He's been pretty grumpy lately because he's got a runny nose and a baby cough. I can't complain about it this is really the first time he's even been "sick" and he's not even that sick. I really think all the fresh fruit and veggies that I make for him have built up his immune system! Anyway, after his nap we ran to wally world because I needed to get some calgon water softener. Barrett's cloth diapers have been more stinky lately and from what I've read online, that is normal with hard water. Unfortunately, the hard water cloth diaper detergent I had been using wasn't working hard enough to keep the funk away. So, with this wash, I did extra rinses using the calgon and they seem to smell much much much better! Thank goodness! I don't want to give that up!

Also, today I made Golden Yam Brownies! Talk about delish! :) MMMM :) And really they're super easy! I like them because they have lots of sweet potatoes in them so surely they're healthier than regular baked goods ya?!


They're not beautiful but seriously, they are amazing!

Golden Yam Brownies


  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cup flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 cups peeled and finely shredded yams
First, you combine the butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla. Then you add the dry ingredients. Then gently fold in the yams. See? Easy peasy. :) You bake it in a 9x13" pan for about 30 minutes at 350. To make the glaze, you just combine 1 cup of powdered sugar, 2 tbsp of melted butter, and 2 tbsp of milk. It isn't the prettiest but it is very yummy. :)



The other thing I did today was juice about 40 oranges. When we went to Cali for my birthday, we brought home a big box full of oranges and I still had a ton that I wouldn't be able to finish on my own. So I decided to make fresh squeezed OJ. Talk about a great decision! Anyway, after I was done with that, I had a bunch of orange peels and remembered that I had seen a great way to make a natural cleanser. You take the peels and put them in a jar and then cover them with vinegar and let it sit for a while and TA-DA! you have a great smelling, hardworking cleaner. Wherever I saw that suggested using gallon jars (I think.... whatever the really big ones are) but I only had a couple quart jars so I just used those.

Don't mind the aluminum foil, I only had rings and no lids... So this will have to do....


4 comments:

Melinda Ashby said...

Seriously, you have got me hooked on your great ideas! I use vinegar for EVERYTHING. (And, ALSO thanks to you, I'll now be blasting those weeds!) Although the smell dissipates quickly.....it stinks! Definitely time to buy some oranges.

missv said...

I agree! I love vinegar! :) I want them to "steep" in the vinegar for a few days at least though... I'm pretty sure it will smell great :) So what is your secret to amazing yummy carrots? Because my dad and I will be planting soon and I really want to grow some carrots! :)

Melinda Ashby said...

So, my secret carrot recipe involves totally messing up the first time around! :) I actually unknowingly started carrots inside last year, but when I planted them outside, I couldn't get the loooong roots straight into the soil. So my first carrots were all tangled and contorted and growing around each other. They were so hopeless, that I pulled them all and sowed more seeds directly into the ground. And for whatever reason, they came out great! I just gave them water and lots of sunshine.... Happy planting!

missv said...

Oh that's so funny! I would have never ever thought of that! I'm definitely going to plant some this year and I am so hopeful that they'll turn out great! :) Thanks for the tip :)

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