Meal Planning Monday - Aug 22

Reviews:

I made this tilapia recipe a couple of weeks ago and it was really good! I'm not a huge fish person, but I like it occasionally. This recipe has a dill sauce that goes over the top of the fish. I wasn't sure how it would be with the spices of the fish, so I didn't serve it on top of the fish. I did add it on mine to see how it was and I was pleasantly surprised by the flavor combination! I will definitely be trying this recipe again!

This week:

Monday: Smothered chicken (search for "smothered chicken" at bottom of page), rice, broccoli

Tuesday: Roast, potatoes, carrots

Wednesday: Stuffed peppers, salad

Thursday: Skillet tacos

Friday: Grilled chicken, grilled potatoes, salad

Saturday: Chili dogs or turkey club

Sunday: church - taco salad, vegetable; supper - to be decided


Find more great menu ideas here!

DIY Laundry Detergent

Thanks to my obsession with Pinterest, I recently discovered a tutorial for making your own liquid laundry detergent. I'm all about trying homemade recipes, learning new skills, and saving a penny, so I wanted to give this a shot. We go through tons of laundry detergent and the price always kills me. This gave me extra momentum to try this.

After checking out the tutorial, I set out to gather my supplies. Here's what I needed:

I had the bar of soap on hand, so all I had to buy was the Borax and Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soap. Those were easily procured at Wal-mart, for less than $6. (Just a note here: I detest going to Wal-mart. However, this particular experience was evidence of a miracle. I was able to get from my car, pick up 3 items, through the check-out, and back to my car in 6 minutes!!! 6 minutes, folks! I'm telling you, if they still had that Supermarket Sweep show, I would definitely win!)

Anyway, back to making the laundry detergent. I decided that since I only had 2 small containers saved up, I would make 1/2 the batch that the tutorial makes. It was super easy. It took me about 25 minutes, not including letting the detergent cool before putting it in the bottles.

Detergent mixture cooling and waiting to go into the bottles.

All finished and ready to be used! (I had a blonde moment while making the detergent. The directions called for adding 2 gallons of water to the mixture to make 2 gallons of detergent. Well, I was only making 1/2 the batch, but my containers weren't 1/2 gallon each. Not thinking, I added 1 gallon of water anyway, thus it wouldn't all fit into the bottles. Duh!)

I used my detergent today to do 3 loads of laundry: towels, sheets, and a vintage tablecloth. I am quite impressed with how well it cleaned. The vintage tablecloth had some set-in coffee stains on it, but when it came out of the wash it was spotless! It took me a while to get over the fact that it doesn't have a strong scent. I loved the scent of the store-bought laundry detergent I usually use, so it was a bit of a shock when I pulled the clothes out of the wash and they didn't have that scent. They definitely smelled clean though!

Since I only used 1/2 cup each of the Borax and washing soap, I have plenty to make more batches. I'm going to keep track of how many loads this current batch does, so I can better gauge the savings. I think I'm definitely sold on it and can't wait to use it more!

Photography Challenge: Week 4

Dinner is the subject for this week's Photography Challenge. At first, I was really excited about this assignment. I love cooking and I love taking pictures. So, what better than taking pictures of what I've cooked!?!? Come to find out, we have HORRIBLE lighting in our kitchen and I didn't want to fool around with trying to get a good picture when I'm starving! So, I took pictures of the food I took to a church fellowship supper Wednesday night. I carted everything into the laundry room, which has the best natural light, and went to town snapping away!

Mixed greens, strawberries, pecans

Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette

Stuffed Jalapeno Pepper Dip

Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries
(Half of the strawberries were left after church and I ate all of them today!)

Photography Challenge: Week 3

The assignment for the Photography Challenge this week is BOLD colors! This one was a bit challenging for me to think creatively. There aren't many bold colors this time of year in west Texas. Everything is brown, brown, brown!

1/750, F4.0

This is a lap quilt that a dear friend from church made when we got married. I love so many things about it. It's just the perfect size, I love the bright colors, some of the squares have Bible verses, and just thinking about the sweet sister who made it always brings a smile to my face.

Just another note about this picture....it's hard to tell, but the quilt is blowing in the breeze just a bit. At the time I was taking this picture, a little cold front was blowing through! The temperature dropped from about 102 to 97!! I could hear thunder in the distance! We're praying hard for some rain and cooler temperatures.

Crouse Family Vacation 2011

We went to the Metroplex this weekend to celebrate Chris' birthday and our 2nd annual Crouse Family Vacation. It was a busy, busy weekend and so much fun!

We arrived in Arlington around 4:30 Friday afternoon, got settled in our hotel room, and headed out to supper with the family. We enjoyed a nice steak dinner at Trail Dust Steakhouse and did some catching up with the family.

After supper we headed to the Ranger's game. Now, I am a Cardinals fan at heart and always will be, but the Rangers are pretty high up there. I just love baseball and especially love going to games. I love the fans, the excitement of seeing and hearing the game first hand, and the smell of stadium food. We had amazing seats for the game and really had a good time.

The game was intense and exciting! The Rangers won in extra innings! Woohoo!

That's a winner! Rangers win!

We watched the firework show as we walked back to our hotel after the game.


Saturday morning we headed out to Hurricane Harbor. It was a good way to enjoy the 100+ degree temperatures we've been so thoroughly loving this summer! We all had a blast swimming and going on the water slides. I was excited that the whitest person in Texas didn't become the reddest person in Texas! I was diligent to apply lots of sunscreen throughout the day!

After spending most of the day at Hurricane Harbor, we all worked up an appetite and were ready for some good food before heading to the Ranger's game again. This time we enjoyed a seafood supper at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen. I tried fried calamari, frog legs, and fried alligator bites. I loved the calamari and alligator, but wasn't such a fan of the frog legs. The taste wasn't so bad, but when I picked it up off the plate it just dangled there. It was just like when I would pick up frogs as a kid, except the body and the rest of the legs weren't there. It totally weirded me out!

It was at Pappadeaux that I experienced one of the best meals I've ever eaten. I ordered the Jumbo Shrimp Brochette. It was jumbo shrimp stuffed with Monterrey jack cheese and jalapeno, then wrapped in bacon and grilled. Oh. my. heavens. We all know how much I love jalapenos, but cheese and bacon are two of my other favorite foods. I also had a loaded baked potato, which I love. I wasn't able to eat everything and it killed me! I wanted to keep stuffing my face, but knew I would face serious consequences. We were getting ready to sit out in the 104 degree weather watching a baseball game after all. Please do yourself a favor and find the nearest Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen and order the Jumbo Shrimp Brochette. It will change your life. Seriously.

My amazing meal....yummmmmmm!

After our lovely supper, we headed out to the game. We enjoyed the same seats that we had Friday night. Chris' dad and sister wanted shirts to celebrate our family vacation and I was assigned the job of shirt designer. I think some of the guys thought it was ridiculous, but I thought it was so much fun! There was no denying that we were together.

A Dad and his sons.

Rangers Ballpark in Arlington

At one point in the game, most of the family left to go get drinks or do some shopping. Chris' niece, Katelynn, and I were left to have fun together!

Katelynn and her foam finger.

Showing off the back of our shirts!

Showing my enthusiasm for Josh Hamilton!

Katelynn told me to have a serious face.

C+L=love (I know, I'm cheesy!)

Me and the Birthday Boy!

The game was exciting, but sadly the Rangers lost. It could have been a better ending to our weekend, but it was still a lot of fun!

Meal Planning Monday - Aug 8

Reviews:

Well, I didn't exactly follow our meal plan for last week. Not at all actually. I only made 2 of the meals I planned, and only 1 of those was on the right day. That's just how some weeks go!

Skillet chicken - - I still haven't found exactly where I got the recipe, but it's super easy. It was basically sauteeing vegetables (I used carrots, onion, green and red pepper), adding in chicken chunks and cooking until done, then dump in a can of crushed tomatoes and spices. I used garlic, basil, oregano, salt and pepper, but you could change the spices around to whatever flavors you would like.

We had a great time in the Metroplex for Chris' birthday and I ate one of the best meals of my life this weekend. But that will be another post.

This week's plan:

Monday: Crock-pot Lemon Chicken and noodles, carrots

Tuesday: Tilapia, rice, broccoli

Wednesday: Taco salad/tacos, guacamole

Thursday: Chicken tortellini, green beans

Friday: Spaghetti

Saturday: Brats, potatoes, vegetable

Sunday: Church - Chicken spaghetti, Oatmeal Butter Tart Squares; Supper - leftovers from church or burgers

***Check this page out for more meal ideas!***

Photography Challenge: Week 2

The topic for this week of the Photography Challenge over at A Step in the Journey is what makes you smile.

I'm thankful for many opportunities to smile throughout the day. I captured a few things that have made me smile throughout the week:

1/10,F4.0
Fresh strawberries for breakfast

1/500, F5.6
Pottery Barn catalogs...total eye candy!

1/180, F5.6
Laundry blowing in the breeze

1/10, F4.5
Beating my brother at Words with Friends :)

Crafty Weekend

Chris was out of town this weekend, which means I tried to stay busy working on a craft project. I've been wanting to make a new wreath for the front door for quite some time. I have a bit of an obsession with wreaths and would have a new one each week if I could! I knew I wanted this one to be summery, but also that could work for any time of the year. After getting some ideas from Pinterest, I set out to Hobby Lobby to gather my supplies.

Tada...

Hanging on the door! (My sister informed me that I need a few more small rosettes on the top portion of the flower section.)
I am fully aware that the "C" is crooked. I haven't decided if that bothers me or not. I kind of like it, but them sometimes it really drives me crazy. I might pull it off and glue it back on there straight.

Meal Planning Monday - Aug 1

Reviews:

Drunken Rosemary Chicken - - This was pretty good. It wasn't very bold in flavor, but that might be because I didn't measure my spices. I like a lot of flavor in my food, so I will probably add more spices next time I make it. I threw some frozen broccoli in at the same time I put the rice in, then let it cook on HIGH for about 25 minutes. One dish meal!

Creamy Bacon and Avocado Pasta Salad - - I really enjoyed this pasta salad. It was refreshing, different, and fairly easy to put together. If I make it again, I will probably add in some dry ranch mix.

Cake Batter Rice Crispy Treats - - First, let me say that I HATE making rice crispy treats. They're so hard to stir, they're sticky, and they often turn out hard. I was excited to make this recipe, because I love all things cake batter flavored! The recipe only calls for 1/4 cup of dry cake mix, but I added about 1/3 cup. Still, I couldn't taste the cake flavor. They still turned out pretty good and the sprinkles add a nice little crunch!

I did have one little incident while making the rice crispy treats:


This week's plan:

Monday: Skillet chicken (I have a recipe, but I can't figure out where I got it from to link it up.), carrots, salad

Tuesday: Tilapia, rice, broccoli

Wednesday: Smothered Chicken, egg noodles, green beans

Thursday: Chris' Birthday Supper!!!! - - Ribeyes, baked potatoes, salad

Friday: Out of town - - Ranger's game!

Saturday: Out of town to celebrate Chris' birthday - - Hurricane Harbor and Ranger's game!

Sunday: Not taking anything to church because we will be going there straight from Dallas; Supper - - Chicken tortellini

Find more menu ideas here!

Photography Challenge: Week 1

I came across a new blog, A Step in the Journey, earlier this week and was excited to see the idea for a Photography Challenge. I've seen this on other blogs and have always thought it was a good idea. It's fun to mess around with my camera and I can always use more practice! So here we go....

This week's challenge was to do a self-portrait.


I have a Pentax K2000. I set it on manual and had my settings at: 1/30, F8.0. Then I a little editing and made it black and white.

Book Review - Same Kind of Different As Me

Synopsis from official website:

"It begins outside a burning plantation hut in Louisiana... and an East Texas honky-tonk... and, without a doubt, in the heart of God. It unfolds in a Hollywood hacienda... an upscale New York Gallery... a downtown dumpster... a Texas ranch. Gritty with pain and betrayal and brutality, it also shines with an unexpected, life-changing love."

My Thoughts:

I could go on and on about this book, but I will try to keep my thoughts short.

This book is wonderfully inspiring and moving. I've read a lot of books that have convicted me, caused me to spend much time in deep thought, or brought tears to my eyes. Same Kind of Different as Me had such an effect, but to a greater degree than any book before. What a wonderful story of love, grace, mercy, and God's mysterious ways. My heart was touched by the testimony of committing a marriage to the Lord. I was convicted by the example of love and grace shown to someone the world would see as unworthy. Tears filled my eyes as I read of the struggles of life overcome by the unfailing mercy shown by our Lord. The best part about the book? It's a true story. Unlike novels I've read before which have left me speechless, I know that this isn't just a made-up story to please readers. It's real. The fact that it is a true story broke my heart at times while reading, yet filled me with comfort and joy at other times.

Written by two men from polar opposite backgrounds, Same Kind of Different as Me is a unique read. I loved the contrasting language and manner of writing between Ron Hall and Denver Moore. Both men were able to write in such a way that I felt as if I were in the story. I could see the cotton fields and feel the loneliness of Denver's homeless life. I could feel the pain and despair of Ron going through losing his best friend. I laughed, cried, and lifted up praise right along with the storytellers.

Please do yourself a favor and read this book. You will not be disappointed. Then when you're finished, recommend it to a friend. Spread the news of abounding grace, unconditional love, and unfailing mercy.

Meal Planning Monday - July 25

It's been a while since I've posted about our menu for the week. You haven't missed much. Last week I did attempt to make a brisket for the first time. It turned out alright, but still needs some tweaking. It didn't taste nearly as good as my Dad's!

This week's menu:

Monday: Drunken Rosemary Chicken with rice

Tuesday: Grilled pork chops, grilled potatoes (sweet and regular), corn on the cob

Wednesday: Chicken Caesar Wraps and Creamy Bacon and Avocado Pasta Salad

Thursday: Chicken Fried Steak, mashed potatoes, green beans

Friday: Chris out of town - Leftovers

Saturday: Chris out of town - Leftovers/sandwiches/scrounge

Sunday: Church - Roasted potatoes, meat dish (to be decided), Cake Batter Rice Krispies

Just a side note...here is a collection of healthy(er) crock pot recipes someone put together. I've looked through it and found several really good recipes. Just thought I would share!

Check out I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu ideas!

Baking Failure

So, I got up early this morning to bake some cookies for church tomorrow. I wanted to get it done before it got too hot in the house. I was going to try this new recipe for Peanut Butter Banana cookies. It sounded simple, few ingredients, and I love the combination of peanut butter & banana.

I should have known it wasn't going to turn out so great when the ingredients were: peanut butter, banana, egg, sugar, brown, sugar, baking powder, and chocolate chips. How does those ingredients make a cookie!?!? I had the brilliant idea of adding some oats in, hoping the cookies would have more uumph.

I got busy whipping up the batter, which only took about 3 minutes. The batter was thin and the recipe recommended leaving room for the cookies to spread. I was a good girl and followed the directions, only putting 6 cookies on each baking sheet. Feeling somewhat skeptical, I popped them in the oven.

10 minutes later....


Uh, I'm pretty sure they're not supposed to look like that.

After scraping and prying the "cookies" off the baking sheet, I'm left with this mess...

That went really well. The sad part is that they don't even taste good!

Book Review - Change of Heart

Synopsis from Jodi Picoult's official website:

"Shay Bourne - New Hampshire’s first death row prisoner in 69 years – has only one last request: to donate his heart post-execution to the sister of his victim, who is looking for a transplant. Bourne says it’s the only way he can redeem himself…but with lethal injection as his form of execution, this is medically impossible."

My thoughts:

I enjoy reading some of Jodi Picoult's work, simply because she usually has an interesting spin on a controversial subject. This was the second book of hers that I've read this year. The first being, House Rules. That being said, what I don't enjoy about her writing is the amount of foul language and some inappropriate content. Change of Heart was no exception in that regard.

Change of Heart was also an interesting read for me, because religion is a main focus. Without giving too many details away, Picoult explores the idea of how "religion" is defined and who is the authority to say if someone is right or wrong in what they believe. I felt that she got a little blasphemous at certain times, which made me uncomfortable. Judaism, Atheism, Gnosticism, Catholicism, and mainline Christian philosophies are each addressed in the book.

Overall, Change of Heart was an interesting read. I'm still deciding whether I enjoyed it, but I'm glad I read it. There are certainly a lot of twists and turns throughout the book and the ending holds a wonderful lesson in forgiveness. But, like I said, I found myself with an uneasy feeling several times throughout the book.

Just a few of my thoughts about one of my latest reads...

Dallas and Florida Trip

Chris had an appointment to preach in Florida this past weekend. Since our flight was to leave out of Dallas at 10AM Saturday morning, we decided to spend the Friday enjoying some sites in the city. My husband is so wonderful to take the whole day off work and spend it together. We shopped, ate lunch together, did some sight-seeing, shopped some more, and enjoyed a relaxing night at the hotel.

One of our stops for the day was the Dallas World Aquarium. Not only did it have aquatic animals, but also some animals from the rain forest and other environments. As with most tourist attractions, it was WAY overpriced, but still a good way to spend some time out of the heat. Chris was a good sport to endure it to make me happy!

This pictures is really dark and hard to see, but it's the tiniest monkey I've ever seen. Sadly, I can't remember the name of it. It was adorable though!

Flamingos! They really are gross birds, but I've always liked them.

The jaguar was taking a nap when we stopped by to visit.

Supper anyone? These were some GIANT catfish!

The cute little otters getting fed.

Thanks to Priceline, we were able to score an awesome deal on a hotel room. We stayed at the Hilton Anatole in downtown Dallas. What an amazing hotel! We loved walking around the grounds and admiring the beautiful artwork, architecture, and outdoor areas. The hotel had the Nana Restaurant on the 27th floor. We treated ourselves to a luxurious supper, which was a lot of fun!

[source]

Beautiful room!

Saturday morning we left for Tampa, FL. I was really excited for this trip and the opportunity to meet blogging friends in real life! It was also a lot of fun for Chris and I to finally get to fly together. We both fly quite frequently, but we had never flown together. I'm sure he didn't find it as exciting as I did! :)

Our time in Florida was wonderful. We enjoyed great fellowship with the members at Little Union and a good time of worship. I loved meeting everyone and quickly forming new friendships. It is always great to travel to a new place, yet instantly feel like you're at home. That's exactly how I felt this weekend.

I had intended to take a lot of pictures while in Florida, but only have theseof Chris and his buddy, Brady, sporting their matching cowboy hats and boots.


All in all, it was just a great weekend. It's been hard to get back into the swing of things this week. I had a hard time with Chris being at work on Tuesday after spending the last 4 days together. We needed a weekend like that!