While I was resting...

While I was nursing myself back to health-
my mom decided to make the gift bag more utilitarian.

This is the note attached to the new draw-string bag:
This little bag is fun to use-
For toys, or clothes or pretty shoes.
At home, at church or on the run-
This bag provides you lots of fun.

Green Gift Wrapping

Despite the fact that I have a gaping hole in my neck and am surviving moment to moment on pain killers I am sticking to my New Year's resolution:  Go Green...Use no wrapping paper!
Tomorrow is a birthday party so here's how to wrap:

Sew a square bag and cut some ribbon...

Put the gift inside and close with ribbon.

On a side note- going green this way only works if the bag gets reused!!
Also, I have a wedding coming up and am totally stumped on how to wrap that gift...hmmm...better get to thinking.

Homemade Chili

These winter days make me want a warm bowl of chili. My Chili!! That means chili over spaghetti noodles smothered in cheese and sour cream...YUM!

 Chili Recipe:
1 lb ground beef
1/4 cup corn tortilla or white flour
1 Tbsp Chili powder (2 if you aren't sharing with children!)
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper (also if you aren't sharing with children)
2 tsp Cumin
1/4 small chopped onion (or 1 Tbsp dried minced onion)
1 clove minced garlic (or 1 tsp dried minced garlic)
1 Tbsp Sugar
2 tsp Salt
1 can kidney beans
1 can crushed tomatoes
2 small cans tomato sauce
Brown the ground beef in a 4 quart saucepan. Add the spices and stir to coat the meat. Add the cans of beans and tomato. Let simmer until beans are heated through.  Serve over spaghetti and top with cheese and sour cream.
If you want the sauce smoother you can blend the tomatoes first.

ENJOY!!

If you have a New Year's party...

If you have a New Year's party...you will have to cook a turkey. While you cook a turkey... the kids will spill cereal on the floor. While you sweep the cereal off the floor... your four year old will flood the upstairs bathroom. While you mop the flooded bathroom (plus your flooded bedroom)... your 23 month old will decide to clean the toilet and splash toilet water all over you. While you shower to clean off all the toilet water... your guests will arrive. While your guests arrive the turkey will be ready, and chances are if the kids see the turkey they will say they want cereal instead!