When I was trying to think about what to post and what has been going on in our lives lately, I couldn’t think of anything.  Well, that’s not exactly true.  Plenty has been happening but not anything big or any overarching theme.  So, I decided to post a bunch of random things to show you all the craziness that has ensued at our house.

DIY Update:

I tried one new DIY project this month and a few new recipes.  They were almost all a success, which seems to never happen.  The first DIY project was to try using my own stuff to clean my smooth top oven.  While the cleaner for it isn’t that expensive, I have wondered if there was a cheaper, but still effective way.  I saw this link on Pinterest and decided to try it.  Check out the results for yourself (pictures are in order of before, during, and after).

My opinion:  It worked!!  While it does take longer than using the store-bought cleaner because you have to let it sit, it worked wonderfully and I have even done it since the first time!

Cream Cheese Chicken (in the crock pot)

Got this recipe courtesy of Becky Duffield (who, by the way, has given me quite a few good recipes so when she suggests one, I listen!….unless it is peanut butter, which I strongly dislike).  LOVE IT!!  Seriously one of the best in a while.  I didn’t want to stop eating even though I was full.  Sorry I didn’t take a picture…I need to get better about that.  To my defense, my family doesn’t like waiting around once it is done!

Sliced Baked Potatoes

Recipe courtesy of moneysavingmom.com.  I was really excited to try this one given that she says her family has used it for a long time.  My verdict:  I couldn’t cut the potatoes right, which meant the seasonings and cheese couldn’t melt inside properly and because of the cutting, all the slices didn’t cook through completely.  So, maybe if I had been able to get it cut right, it would have been better.  All in all, not trying this one again.

The Best Pot Roast Ever!

Verdict:  Not too bad.  My family (specifically my husband) aren’t big pot roast or carrots fans, so this recipe he could do without.  If I had a roast again, I would do it, but would cook it longer than I did this time.

Candy Corn and Pretzel Bark

I am going to tell you something really shocking.  Are you ready?  This was the recipe I was most excited to try.  The verdict?  It most definitely didn’t disappoint.  In fact, it may be the very reason I didn’t lose weight that week.  I left off the dried fruit, but lets be honest, the chocolate was what we were all really after.  YUMMY!!

Oven Fried Chicken

Another recipe by moneysavingmom.com.  Verdict?  Another success.  It was fluffy and not too fried, but just enough to season it and set it apart.  Another keeper!

And now for the other randoms:

I love our small town.  We get the benefit of doing small town things even though we are near a big city.  For instance, Halloween the businesses in town hand out candy to the kids dressed up, Christmas they have a tree lighting, free hot chocolate, and free sleigh rides for the children, and they do fun things like Fire Appreciation Day with jump houses and fire awareness.  Ed recently took Kinsley to one of the firehouses and she had a blast!

Emerson trying one of her birthday presents.  She loves riding on the back of daddy’s bike.

Kinsley and Emerson spinning in the office chair.  I was gone for a meeting and this is what Daddy did with them while I was gone.  It is seriously funny to see Emerson get so dizzy and not be able to walk.  Bad parenting to laugh at your kid while she is dizzy and falling?  Maybe.

Playdates with lots of fun friends.  Another thing we love about this place.  Our church and friends are awesome and it is great having “family” without our family actually being here.

And what do we do during the days?  Put our kids in boxes.