A New Diet

So, since Laurie is beguiling us all with tempting visions of decadent deliciousnesses, I thought I would share a food-related tidbit to balance it out. I am beginning a new diet! I don't know if any of the other readers of this blog are working on those post-baby pounds, but for me, in my "pre-diabetic condition", food has become a daily struggle and concern. I need fast, easy food that fits my low-glycemic diet and can serve the needs of the rest of my family as well. Enter Anne Collins! She is a dietician who runs an online diet support program with about 15 different diets to cater to different needs and metabolisms. The site includes a 24-hour hotline, support forums, complete meal plans and (veeery important to me) shopping lists based on the meal plan for the week.

I found Ms Collins when I was dieting after weaning Sofi and her plan helped me lose 25 lbs-- back to my wedding weight! (and that's after giving birth to a 9lb baby!) I have great hopes that her low glycemic index plan will do me just as well. I'll let you know how it goes!

Turkey and Dumplings...

Wondering what to do with all that leftover Thanksgiving/Easter/special occasion turkey? Wonder no longer!! I used a "slow cooker chicken and dumplings" recipe with some left over turkey and it was great!! I read lots of the member reviews and seasoned the soup with.... paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, seasoned salt....I think that's it. I added 2 cans of vegetables, 1 of peas and 1 of mixed veggies. (I would normally go fresh or frozen, not being a huge fan of veggies from cans, but I think those are better for soups and stews). I didn't use a slow cooker since the turkey was already cooked, just heated everything up in a big stockpot. Then made the dumplings...the fun part!

So this recipe is unique because you use refrigerated biscuit dough for your dumplings. It's not alot of work but it tastes like you went to alot of trouble (the best kind of recipe!). I used 1 can which was plenty for 2 of us. You can make them as doughy or as done as you like. My husband usually ends up begging for big doughy goo-balls.
There is actual soup underneath those dumplings! (Here they are cooking)
Mmmmm!

Baked Ziti

And it was gooooooood.

4 Layer Strawberry Cake

An in-process...

Finished
Cut
Enjoyed.

Arbonne

Yeah for your first post Becky!  Now maybe if we can get something out of Laura..... (hint hint) we can go public ;-)

Well I really understand the feeling of wanting to contribute to the family finances.  I'll be thinking of you and keeping an eye out for opportunities, but just for info I found the link for Arbonne baby products.  Their stuff looks really nice!  If you don't have to make a financial investment, then... why not??  

So everyone....check out the website for Arbonne!  

What do you think?

So as a SAHM, I am constantly trying to find little things I can do to not only save money but potentially make some money on the side. At this time I still do the bookwork for the local grain elevator and watch my neighbor in the afternoon after preschool. And as much as I absolutly love being a SAHM and would not trade it for the world, I feel like I should find some way to help out financially as well as meet some of my own goals. But what can I do to accomplish this. I have been asking myself this questions for months. I think that is why I started making the taggie blankets, hoping that maybe it would be something I could do and succeed at. But I don't know if I have the skills or opprotunities to do it. And recently I started using Arbonne baby products on Eve and love love love them. A Christian woman I met approached me about praying about joining the company part time and I am so torn about it. That is why I am writing this post and putting it out there to get some imput. I have always talked secretly of having my own business, but selling things scares me to death. I really like the products, but they can be kind of expensive and I don't want my friends to feel like I am pushing things on them. So if you know anything about the company or have any advise PLEASE share. Thanks and yeah for my first post!
**Becky**

Babyfood!!

I am having a great time making baby food!! I can't believe how much money it saves and I really enjoy doing it. It's nice to know that my son is eating something that I made. Making it, has been a learning experience though, mostly in the area of quantity. These pictures include the first things I made, peas and carrots, but I've branched out a lot since then.

This picture is to give an idea of quantity. That jar is .79 and the amount of peas in the homemade food cost about $2.00. Bon Apetit!