New blog!!

I wanted to take a moment to let you Ll know that I have started up a new blog at www.lifeatthelichters.blogspot.com

Please come join me as I share our family adventures and other fun things!

...Shopping from the Ad...

I am a work in progress when it comes to meal planning. In reality, I am quite terrible at it, but I try! Some people prefer to plan from what they see in the weekly grocery ad, some make a menu and then shop for those items and some people are able to look at their pantry\freezer that day and make something fantastic minutes before supper time (that might be exaggerated, but I bet those individuals exist and I salute you!)

Personally, I prefer to base my meal plan on the weekly grocery ad, I think its the cheapest option.

A friend and fellow blogger, Betsy, at Life as a Med Student's Wife, has recently started a little blog series about frugality. She is fantastic and inspiring! I offered to share with her my humble attempts at planning from our weekly grocery ad and she was willing to share this on her blog! So wonderful!

This first post is a very vague (and word heavy, link light, I apologize). I envision sharing my entire grocery list for the week, including my coupon deals! But for today, I am only going to list my ideas\menu plan from one of the weekly ads as time escaped me this week and I wanted to have a post done today! I chose the Hy-Vee ad this week and the first meal was basically handed to me off the beginning pages!

In no particular order...

Meal One: NY Strip and Baked Asparagus
--I have never seen NY Strip at this price and I think Hy-Vee meat is fairly good as far as quality. Hubby makes a really great steak! I will coat the asparagus with olive oil and sprinkle with a bit of salt and parmesean cheese, then bake. I found the recipe on Pinterest and thought it was quite good!


Meal Two: Whole Chicken and Baked Potatoes
--Whole chickens are.79/lb this week! You can get a whole chicken CHEAPER than buying just the chicken breasts! No brainer, right? I like to make a whole chicken for supper and then de-bone the rest afterwards. Since there are three of us, we can usually get two more meals out of the rest. I might add the leftover chicken to soups, quesidillas, tacos, or a casserole. Really, the possibilities are ENDLESS! I snagged a 5#bag of potatoes last week for .88! Easy Peasy! And if I am really motivated, I may just make more chicken stock!

Meal Three: Casserole using leftover Chicken
--I always have pasta, vegetables, cream soups, etc on hand. Using the leftover chicken from Meal Two will make an easy supper dish!

Meal Four: CrockPot Roast w\ Vegetables
--It isn't the BEST deal this week for chuck roast, BUT the last time it was on sale, they were HUGE! I am going to check them out this week and if they are HUGE again, I may cut it in half. Make a roast with one half and then find a freezer meal recipe for the second half, perhaps a stew of some sort. Add the cheap potatoes and carrots I bought from last week and again, easy peasy!

Meal Five:  Pizza
--We LOVE pizza in this house! I am not seeing anything that is a steal of a deal for pizza topping this week, but we could easily make a buffalo chicken pizza with the left over chicken again. I am telling you, whole chickens are the way to go!

There you have it fellow readers! As always, menu plans are just plans and sometimes they change! But having a plan in place reduces the temptation to run to Subway for a last minute supper and homemade pizza beats ordering it to go!

I am really hoping to develop this idea of menu planning and getting the most for my dollar. Feel free to share your thoughts\ideas!

I am tossing around the idea of starting a new blog that will contain posts like these and general updates on our life for our friends\family who like to stay in touch and up to date on what is going on in life! Not sure if I will start it before or after baby, but we shall see! Stay tuned!

...Sweater Time...

If you remember last year, I challenged myself to knit my first sweater and to knit it in the month of February. Call me crazy, I did it. I may have been up until 2:00 a.m. the last day of February, but I finished it and wore it for my birthday!

I had so much fun doing it, I think I will do it again this year!

I am also joining Lisa with Knitting Blogcast  and her challenge of randomly chosing an item from our Ravelry queue to knit through in the month of February. The pattern Serra was randomly chosen and I am looking forward to casting on come February 1st!

I am going to be using some Patons Classic Wool in a gray color, forgot to look at the exact name.

Stay tuned for (hopefully) weekly updates on my Serra!

...Year of Projects Update...

I have been doing a TON of knitting lately, but of course, not much from my Year of Projects list! :) We have had some terribly cold days in MN and I finally took the time to make myself an ear warmer!

This was my first time working with Berroco Ultra Alpaca and I think I am hooked!

Fresh Start!

It has been MONTHS since I logged into my blog! The end of the year is always super busy no matter how hard you try to coordinate things!

I've been knitting, some off my YOP list and others not and it seems like my list is ever-growing and never-ending!

I haven't looked at my Year of Projects lists in awhile, so let's recap! I removed two items and added two more...Finished half of my Christmas knitting...and am adding a new section for our baby girl who will be coming in May!!

Hopefully I will be able to concentrate more on my list now that the holidays are past!

...2012/2013 Year of Projects List...

WIPS: (2/4)
*AD's Tie Sweater
*Hat--Sister
*Garter Stitch Afghan--charity
*Giraffe
*DH Scarf (REMOVED)
*Afghan for our Room (REMOVED)

BABY KNITTING: 1/5
*Car Seat Blanket
*Coming Home Hat
*Kanoko Pants
*Puerpenium Cardi
*Snuggle Sack
*More Hats!

PROJECTS LIST:
*Cardigan\Sweater for Me
*Fingerless Mitts for Me
*Pair of Socks
*Sweater for DH (IN PROGRESS)
*Ear Warmer (ADDED)
*12 for Self List
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CHARITY KNITTING: (3/5)
*The Miranda Hat

CHRISTMAS KNITTING: ( Definitely NOT a complete list ) 5/10
*Bengals Tiger Hat--Brother
*Fingerless Mitts--Mom
*Earflap Hat--Brother
*Hat--DH
*Bulky Scarf--Friend
*Christmas Stocking--A
*Leg Warmers x 3  2/3
*Brother Hat

THE TALLY: 11/29

...Toddler Time...

I am a day late posting our latest Toddler Time activity!

Last week, my in-laws watched A and brought lots of fun things for him to do, including popping bubble wrap and painting pumpkins.

My FIL says he knew exactly what to do with the bubble wrap. He laid it on the floor and A started stomping on it. Lots of fun I am sure!

He and Grandma explored painting pumpkins! She said he had a good time doing it, not surprised at all!

Thanks for stopping by! What fun things did you do with your toddler this week?

...Sweet Zion Paperie...

While checking Facebook earlier this week, I saw that a page I like, Sweet Zion Paperie, was hosting a giveaway! While I know my chances of winning anything from a giveaway are usually nil, I tried anyways! We had to guess Sophie's, the designer of SZP, favorite Fall beverage from Starbucks. Like many Starbucks junkies, Fall = Pumpkin Spice Latte. Many of us were close, but there was one little bit we were missing. Yes, she does like Pumpkin Spice Lattes but with what else?

Hmm..stumped. But like any loyal 'The Office' fan, I knew Pam likes "a sprinkle of cinnamon". So, that was my logic with guessing the next element of her favorite drink. And I GOT IT! I couldn't believe it! I had won a set of her beautiful stationary complete with a monogram of choice! NO WAY!!

Sweet Zion Paperie specializes in custom invitations, stationary and paper goods and is very popular among the wedding vendors.

 Stationary complete with monogram and matching envelopes! 

The originator behind Sweet Zion Paperie is also a college classmate of mine! She received my request for my free set of stationary on Wednesday and it arrived on Friday! Talk about great customer service!

I received a generous set of 12 cards complete with matching envelopes. And a cute gel pen to address my envelopes with! I am really looking forward to sending these notes out!

Monogram

I am VERY happy with my gift from Sweet Zion Paperie and am planning on purchasing a set for a few friends for Christmas! Thanks Sophie!

...Toddler Time...

I have been collecting lids from various containers the past month (it's amazing how many lids that is!) and started creating a Lid Bucket for A.

Today was a great day to introduce it to him. He loved them! He likes to put the smaller ones in larger ones and put them back in the bucket.

An easy activity for sure!

...Year of Projects: September Recap...

Where did September go? I haven't posted a YOP update since the end of August and I wish I could say that is because I have been SO busy knitting away my list...but I can not.

(see that blurb up top? I started that LAST week!)

Here's the skinny folks. I have been knitting, request-knitting, that is! I have worked up Hoot the Owl, a Gap-tastic cowl and a Potato Chip Scarf. Of course, I do not have any pictures taken yet. :0) Hopefully soon!

As for my Year of Projects list, not too much has changed. I have started my hubby's sweater and am doing a KAL with my buddy Lauren! She is a bit further than I am! This is also a KAL with Project: Stash! My plan is to dedicate October to this sweater! I've done a sweater in a month before, I hope I can do it again!

 

The Miranda Hat KAL is now over and I didn't quite meet my goal of 5 hats. However, 3 will be going to Project: Stash and perhaps I will get to making the other two later this fall.

Here is a recap!

2012-2013 Year of Projects

...2012/2013 Year of Projects List...

WIPS: (2/6)
*AD's Tie Sweater
*Hat--Sister
*Garter Stitch Afghan--charity
*Giraffe
*DH Scarf
*Afghan for our Room

CHARITY KNITTING: (3/5)
*The Miranda Hat

CHRISTMAS KNITTING: ( Definitely NOT a complete list )
*Bengals Tiger Hat--Brother
*Fingerless Mitts--Mom
*Earflap Hat--Brother
*Hat--DH
*Bulky Scarf--Friend
*Christmas Stocking--A
*Leg Warmers x 3 (maybe 6?) 1/6

PROJECTS LIST:
*Cardigan\Sweater for Me
*Fingerless Mitts for Me
*Pair of Socks
*Sweater for DH (IN PROGRESS)
*12 for Self List

THE TALLY: 8/24

...Toddler Time...

A is switching to one nap a day and there is a time before lunch when he starts to fuss and get bored. That is when we try a new activity that is low prep!

Today we threw pillows on the floor. Does it get any easier?! His favorite was being "pushed" into the pillows :) There were lots of giggles and energy used!

I am loving trying out new activities with our lil guy! It keeps the day interesting and hopefully helps him learn!

...Toddler Time...

We had some more fun this week! I dug out the baby food jars and stuck a few prizes inside (cars, colored tags, etc) and let him open them.

He had a really good time unscrewing the lids, taking out prizes, putting them back in and screwing the lids back on. He also liked to stack them!

I picked up a few more craft items this week. Looking forward to putting them together for Aiden!

Toddler Time: Guest Post!

After I posted our fun on Tuesday, a fellow blogger and friend, Lauren at Knitting at Lunch, was inspired to do a few things with her little girl. She wanted to share her fun with you:

Toddler Time: Flour activity

Hey everyone! I'm Lauren. Thanks for letting me crash Shateen's blog. I don't really blog about much besides knitting on my own blog (knittingatlunch.blogspot.com), and since she has started her new Toddler Time activities she has inspired me to try some with my kiddo! I have a daughter who is 23 months. Today I set up a few things while she was napping and when she finally got up, we got to playing!

I created the activity by putting some flour in a 9x13 pan (any pan with sides would be good) and set it on a towel on our kitchen floor. This is definitely not an activity to do on the carpet! I thought later that it would be a nice outdoor activity if it was warm enough.

My kiddo was pretty excited when she saw it and sat right down to play. I showed her how she could touch it and draw lines and shapes. I also included some plastic utensils because I thought we could draw in the flour with them, but you can leave them out if you don't trust your toddler with pointy things! She enjoyed both using her hand and using the utensils. We also enjoyed pressing our hands down flat onto the flour to make handprints... she thought that was very cool.

Not that it would matter, but she didn't try to eat the flour at all. It is nice to have a completely nontoxic substance for playing! She definitely got it all over her foot/pants/hands, but I was prepared for that to happen. She did pick up some flour and dump it on the towel and later the floor nearby, but I made sure to tell her we need to keep it in the pan and she complied for the most part. Cleanup was easy: I threw the towel in the wash and wiped up any spills on the floor with a wet paper towel!

Thanks for letting me share our activity! Shateen let me know if you try it out with your little dude!

Looked like you two had a lot of fun Lauren! Looking forward to trying this activity out someday!

...Toddler Time...

(posting from my phone, hopefully good quality!)

A seems to be easily bored these days. I decided it was time to put my Pinning to good use!

First, I put pipe cleaners into a colander. Which he thought was super fun!! I think we need more colors and a colander with larger holes would be good as well. He seemed to want to put them back in but couldn't quite get it.

Then, we created a ribbon jar. I have sooo much ribbon that I rarely use so this was the perfect task! I cut up strips of ribbon and placed them in a (clean) Ragu jar. He has been playing with this for 10 min so far!! He unscrews the lid, pulls a few out, puts them back in, lid back on. Easy peasy!!!!

Hoping to have another Toddler Time post soon!!

... Year of Projects: Week Eight and August Recap...

This week's update is minimal, as things have been b u s y!!!

I am still putzing away on a third Miranda Hat and I add a row or two to one of my Wonder Blankets, but that is about ALL I have done this week!

I did decide NOT to do the craft show this year but have a plan for the few craft show items I did knit. :) 

Here is the list update for August: 7/24...though it could be 8 if I finish that hat!!


...2012/2013 Year of Projects List...

WIPS: (2/6)
*AD's Tie Sweater
*Hat--Sister
*Garter Stitch Afghan--charity
*Giraffe
*DH Scarf
*Afghan for our Room

CHARITY KNITTING: (2/5)
*The Miranda Hat
       This pattern is by Project: Stash and she is hosting a KAL through September. PLEASE JOIN US!!!


CHRISTMAS KNITTING: ( Definitely NOT a complete list )
*Bengals Tiger Hat--Brother
*Fingerless Mitts--Mom
*Hat--DH
*Bulky Scarf--Friend
*Christmas Stocking--A
*Leg Warmers x 3 (maybe 6?) 1/6

PROJECTS LIST:
*Cardigan\Sweater for Me
*Fingerless Mitts for Me
*Pair of Socks
*Sweater for DH
*12 for Self List

THE TALLY: 7/24

...Year of Projects: Week 7...

I cannot remember for sure, but I don't think I blogged for 7 straight (ish) weeks last year when Year of Projects started, I guess I'm still feeling pretty motivated!

Last week I mentioned that this would likely be a week of hats. And it was.

I started with knitting a Fall hat for A:

Basic Toddler Hat

Then it led to making DH's Hat, which is a part of my Christmas knitting. I was gifted this skein of Araucania, which is made in Chile. Immediately, DH said he wanted a hat in that. No problem.

I thought about making the Ribbed Watchman's Hat but switched to stockinette after about 1.5 inches. I thought maybe the colors would "show" better that way.

I'm not sure if its the yarn itself, the colorway, or lack of pattern followed, maybe the sizing, but something doesn't seem right about it. I really don't like it.  Maybe this yarn isn't meant for this type of hat, I don't know. It does, however, remind me of Fall. So I let DH have it early and I hope I can get around to making him a better one. He was a good sport though and said he did like it. :)

I also have a third Miranda Hat going and am about half way done. My goal was to have 5 knitted by the end of September, so still feeling pretty good about that goal!

Projects Completed: 7/26

Thank you for stopping by and be sure to check out other Year of Project Posts!

...A Hat for A...

BRR! This past weekend was incredibly cool, fall weather could be around the corner! Which got me thinking, A is going to need a hat! So I whipped up the Basic Toddler Hat and love the outcome!

 He wasn't the most cooperative model this time around :0) Hoping this hat will get us through Fall and then i will whip up another one!

...Year of Projects: Week 6...

I think I might post on time this week!

VERY happy to have both my DH and son back home again! It was too quiet and lonely without them here!

As I look through my blog post list, I realize all I ever write is a Year of Projects update. Wow...boring right? Maybe after summer slows down (and my toddler slows down?) I will be able to write about something other than YOP!

This week I knit a pair of leg warmers for either a niece or a friend's dtr...not sure who will get them yet. They were big on my 14 month old (sorry buddy!) so I think they will fit the recipient perfectly!

I also added another item to the craft show knitting, bringing the total to: 9/30...Really going to have to step this up here pretty soon.

 And I worked on my Wonder Blanket a bit this afternoon, might post about that on Tuesday. Not sure what I will work on this week...I'm thinking hats might be the focus!

This Week's Totals:
Craft Show Knitting: 9/30
YOP: 6/24

...Year of Projects: Week 5...

Talk about a CrAzY week! Hubby is out of town for work, my son is at Grandma's house and I am working Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday (not a normal schedule)! This is the first time I have sat down at my computer since Sunday!

Ah, I finally have some progress on my YOP list again!

After posting about my hibernating WIPs, I knew I had to work on them this week. I FINISHED, yes, FINISHED the Garter Stitch Afghan I started almost two years ago!

Denny the Dino (as I like to call him) and Justus our Husky

I somehow messed up the first two sections of cream when I started this. I am not sure if I held the yarn or needles wrong or what, but, it looks funky. Then there is the one nice section of Garter Stitch that I just finished. Oh well! It is done!

And here is a  picture of the Owlie I finished last week.

Not the prettiest picture

I also added another item to my craft show knitting and am halfway done with a pair of legwarmers for a niece of mine. That brings the count to...5/24!

...Year of Projects: Week 4 and Recap...

I cannot believe we are at the end of the first month of the second round of Year of Projects! It has been a great first month and I have enjoyed seeing everyone's progress and lists!

I have no update this week as my focus was on the Owlie Snuggle Sack...which I did finish, even though I have been distracted by the Olympics! I am unsure which project I will tackle next..I feel motivated to work on my hibernating WIPs, though I am itching to start a cardigan for this Fall!

Check out other's progress here: 

Here is my progress for July:

...2012/2013 Year of Projects List...

WIPS: (1/6)
*AD's Tie Sweater
*Hat--Sister
*Garter Stitch Afghan--charity
*Giraffe
*DH Scarf
*Afghan for our Room

CHARITY KNITTING: (2/5)
*The Miranda Hat
       This pattern is by Project: Stash and she is hosting a KAL through September. PLEASE JOIN US!!!

CRAFT SHOW KNITTING: (7/30)
*Not entirely sure on WHAT I will be knitting, but I am shooting for 30 items. Will keep a tally here.

CHRISTMAS KNITTING: ( Definitely NOT a complete list )
*Bengals Tiger Hat--Brother
*Fingerless Mitts--Mom
*Earflap Hat--Brother
*Hat--DH
*Bulky Scarf--Friend
*Christmas Stocking--A
*Leg Warmers x 3 (maybe 6?)

PROJECTS LIST:
*Cardigan\Sweater for Me
*Fingerless Mitts for Me
*Pair of Socks
*Sweater for DH
*12 for Self List

THE TALLY: 4/24 
 

...Works in Progress, More like Hibernation...

Earlier this week, I promised I would share my Outstanding WIPs with you. I guess I think that if I share them with all who read this, I will be embarrassed enough to finish them!

In order from most recent:

1. A's Tie Sweater: I started this in May and got this far...and as you can see, I am going to run out of yarn...barely. I have been searching everywhere for this DISCONTINUED yarn, messaged various members of Ravelry and am having NO luck. So, if you have Hobby Lobby's I Love This Cotton in Washed Denim, I will forever love you.

2. DH's Scarf: I started this...in March I think. And then the weather turned incredibly hot. So it sits in the drawer. As you can see from the dinosaur, I didn't get too far. ;)

3. Garter Stitch Afghan: I started this while in CA...about 1 1/2 years ago. Moved back home and lost interest in working on it. My plan is to knit this for charity.

4. Giraffe (or as I call it, Creepy Gremlin Thing): I received this kit from my SIL for my birthday and was really excited to try it. I think I failed. He is supposed to be a Giraffe, but his ears are funky and I am terrible at seaming. But really, all I need to do is stitch on a face. That's it. And then Creepy Gremlin Thing will be done. (I am so sorry E that I failed at this, but it was a perfect gift. I will do better next time)

5. Broomstick Lace (?): Before we left for CA, I worked in a nursing home facility in the Activity and Social Services Dept. A lady there LOVED to crochet and I asked her to teach me something. She said this was Broomstick Lace and was teaching me out to make a pillowcase cover. When I looked at this today, I am in the process of BINDING OFF. How on earth did I NOT finish this? She has since passed away and I really feel I need to finish this. I think some pretty fabric behind it will work nicely.

And there you have it friends, these are the hibernating WIPS that take up an entire dresser drawer.  After I finish this Owlie Snuggle Sack, I think I will dedicate a week to these.