I moved

To improve my blog content, I moved my blog to a new host site. To go to my new blog site, go to http://www.familyfoodfashion.com.

Thanks for following my blog! 😉

Off on a Family Hiking Trip

I am off on a family hiking trip this week at  Grand Gulch near Blanding, Utah. Grand Gulch is full of Anasazi Indian ruins. The ruins are between 700 to 2,000 years. I am so excited to get away and  spend time with my family without any outside distractions. Check back the first of next week and I will share pictures and tell you all about the fun we had. Have a Great Week! 🙂

 

Image provided by http://www.summitpost.org

My Fashion Sense #6

This is one of my favorite outfits for church. The zebra print cardigan is one of my most favorite pieces that I have. I have to be careful to not let myself wear it everyday because I love it so much. I love animal prints.

Top – DownEast, Cardigan – Kohl’s, Necklace – mark., Watch – Avon, Ring – Diva Girl Purse Party, Skirt – DownEast, Tights – Wal-Mart, Boots – Famous Footwear

 

 

meet mark

mark., by Avon, is one of my favorite places to find trendy jewelry and accessories. They also have trendy clothing, make up and bath and body products. The best part is that all of their products are affordable. They are always adding new products to their fashion line.

 Here are some of my favorite mark fashion products available right now.

 

Fierce Fedora – $16.00 – mark

Chic and Cozy Sweatshirt – $25.00 – mark

Pile It On Stretchy Bracelets – $15.00 – mark

Darling Denim Skirt – $26.00 – mark

In The Mix Stretch Bracelets – $14.00 – mark

In The Trenches Jacket – $40.00 – mark

Wild Things Clutch – $28.00 – mark

Rock Goddess Ring – $14.00 – mark

Time To Shine Necklace – $14.00 – mark

Squared Away Tote – $30.00 – mark

Heal Appeal Platforms – $36.00 – mark

 

Another Make Ahead Freezer Meal

This is another make ahead freezer meal that I found in my Taste of Home cookbook: Taste of Home: Dinner on a Dime: 403 Budget-Friendly Family Recipes. Like I said last week, I love these because I can keep my freezer stocked with them and use them on either a busy night or when I just want a break from cooking. I like that we don’t have to resort to expensive and unhealthy take out or fast food. The recipe I am going to share with you this week is Sausage Rice Casserole.

 

The original recipe calls for 2 boxes of rice pilaf, but to make it healthier, I use a recipe out of my book Centsible Meals. This way I can make the rice pilaf using brown rice instead of white rice. Plus, I thought the rice pilaf was just as easy to make as boxed rice pilaf is.

 

After preparing the ingredients for the make ahead freezer meal, you divide them equally between two baking dishes. One to eat now and one to freeze and save for another day. I use a disposable baking dish for the one that I freeze so that all my glass baking dishes aren’t all frozen in the freezer when I need to use one.

 

You will then cover both casseroles with foil. I like to cover the one going in the freezer with 2 layers of foil for extra protection against freezer burn. Then you will want to label and date it. The label is so you know which make ahead freezer meal it is just by looking at it and the date is so you know when you put it in the freezer. You should use your frozen one within 3 months. To be honest though, I have sometimes left them in for 4 months and they were just fine.

 

This is what you get when you are all done. My family loves this recipe. To view and print the recipe, click here.

 Taste of Home: Dinner on a Dime: 403 Budget-Friendly Family Recipes

Centsible Meals – Feed Your Family for Less Than $1.00/person/day

Cooking Rice Tip

Whenever I cook rice, I always refer to my Centsible Meals book. I think I am just a little obsessive compulsive. Rice is simple to make, but you want to make sure that you get your measurements just right. Too much water and the rice will be soupy, not enough and it will burn. I recommend giving brown rice a try instead of white. Brown rice has fiber so it is much healthier for you then white rice is.

Here are the directions for cooking rice from Centsible Meals: “Rice requires a 1:2 ratio with water. For example, one cup of rice needs to cook in two cups of water. You can feed one person with 1/3 cup of uncooked rice. Combine rice and water in a covered pot. Cook over high heat until boiling and then reduce heat to low. Simmer 20 minutes for white rice and 45 minutes for brown rice.”

Centsible Meals – Feed Your Family For Less

Watchin' The Rain

A few days ago we had a big rain storm come through. I noticed Camden and Peyton watchin’ the rain out the window. I thought that it was just so cute. So I hurried and grabbed my camera and snapped a picture.

Whenever there is even the slightest sign of a storm (which has been a lot lately), Peyton tells us “it’s noing, it’s noing, it’s noing” (it’s snowing). He is just too cute. I love the age he is at right now. Sometimes I wish I could just freeze time.

Watchin’ The Rain

A few days ago we had a big rain storm come through. I noticed Camden and Peyton watchin’ the rain out the window. I thought that it was just so cute. So I hurried and grabbed my camera and snapped a picture.

Whenever there is even the slightest sign of a storm (which has been a lot lately), Peyton tells us “it’s noing, it’s noing, it’s noing” (it’s snowing). He is just too cute. I love the age he is at right now. Sometimes I wish I could just freeze time.

Shoe Update

I want to give you a quick update on my Gladiator Sandals search. I decided on the MIA Ariel Sandal from DSW in the color black. I decided on them because I am really into the strappy look right now and I think they would be the most versatile. I am also excited that I was able to get a really good deal on them. DSW had them priced at $39.95. I had two DSW Rewards for $5.00 each and one for $10.00. I ended up paying $19.95 for them. What a great deal huh! I just ordered them tonight and they should be here in 4-7 days.

MIA Ariel Sandal – $39.95 – DSW

DSW

 

 

I also want to let you know that I think I found the perfect shoe from Kohl’s to go with 1920s Flapper style skirt that I told you I had  bought a few weeks ago. I think these shoes have a 1920s look to them with a modern twist. The color should match perfectly with pale pink color under the gray lace of the skirt. I also love the flower detail on the t-strap. I just ordered these too and got a Great deal on them also.  Kohl’s had the original price at $59.99, but they are on sale right now for $29.99. I got 30% off of that by using my Kohl’s card (I pay it off as-soon-as I use it). I ended up paying  just $20.99 for them. Yay!!! Can’t wait ’til they get here!

 

Peep-Toe Platform Heel - 59.99 - Kohls

 Kohl’s

 

My Fashion Sense #5

One good thing about having a cold spring is that it gives me one more chance to wear my leg warmers. Hello 80s!

I wasn’t sure about trying this fashion trend until Masha Kirilenko (married to Utah Jazz Player Andrei Kirilenko) demonstrated how to wear them on one of my favorite shows, The Daily Dish. I was sold. I just had to have a pair. It took me awhile, but I finally found a pair on sale at Payless Shoesource for just $3.00. What a steal. My only regret is that I bought just one pair. I sure hope their still in fashion next season so I can wear them again.

 

Top – Wal-Mart, Layer Tee – DownEast, Scarf – Diva Girl Purse Party, Ring – Diva Girl Purse Party, Watch – Avon, Jeans – DownEast, Leg Warmers – Payless ShoeSource, Shoes – Famous Footwear