Sunday, January 15, 2012

Baking.....

 Yesterday I made some Muffins.
I used the recipe my Momma printed up for me for my hope chest. I have it taped to my kitchen cabinet so I can use it over and over again with out having to flip through so many pages of my cook book.
 The recipe called for 1/4 C. Oil, but I had heard that you can substitute apple sauce for oil. So I gave it a try....


I used a can of Home Made Apple Sauce that I got from Momma's kitchen.....


Put it in a measuring cup and gave it a little mush and plopped it in the batter.... Mixed it all up and put about a Table Spoon of batter in to each Mini Pan Cup......  


They Baked so nice!! Only 10 minutes and they were done to perfection. 


I loved how they rose out of the cups. So neat...


The batter made about 42 Muffins... (the ones with the brown spots...That's cinnamon!!)


I like making mini muffins because they are just the right size for snacking,


And they are soooooo Yummy!!!!


Well that was my baking adventure for the day. I'll be taking the muffins to work with me to snack on and maybe have a few for breakfast with my coffee.

 Many Warm Thoughts and Blessings.
~*Caitlynn

Wednesday, January 04, 2012

When Things Go Bad, Do Something Good!

 Well sense it's the new year, I've decided to do a little self challenge.
Last month I was hit pretty hard when I looked at my bank statement and saw that I had an over draft! I was so upset with myself. All that money and not much to show for it!! An outrage!!!!!
 So as soon as I could I set up an Excel sheet to keep track of my spending, a page for my Checking (to see when, where, and how much is coming from checking) a page for Savings, and a page for Spending in general.
 So far so good. I really needed some food this month so I went shopping for only stuff I could make then freeze or keep eating on all week. Something momma taught me to help save money! I've not had a chance to make anything yet, but as soon as I do I'll keep a record of that too.
 So my challenge is.....
Only Spend Money On:

  1. Food
  2. Gas
  3. Rent/Bills
  4. Personal Stuff. (Bathroom things, cleaning supplies and the like)
for the next 3-4 months. 

 I want to see if I can make a habit for myself. See if, after the deadline, I can walk in to a store and only buy what I need. 
  I have a budget for myself as well. Only $70.-$80 a month for the 1, 2 & 4 items listed. I will try to not go over that. Once I can master my spending a bit more then I'll take my budget down to $60-$70 a month. I'm leaving the Rent/Bills out of my budget for now until I see how much my bills average. Then I'll take the highest amount I've paid and then make a budget for that as well! That's something else my momma told/taught me!!
 This will also help so much with the Wedding planing. I'll make another page in my budget excel for the Wedding!
 Oh.... Life can be so hard sometimes, but you know...... If not for the hard times, we wouldn't know how the Thank God for the good times. We can't have good with out the bad.  I know sometimes my family and I feel like we have more bad times than good, but I think if we look at it this way, if we didn't have the bad times we wouldn't know what works and what doesn't around the house and farm, then we would just be one big ol' mess!!!
 So I'll keep you posted on how I'm doing. :) Happy New Year and Many Blessings.
~*Caitlynn
 

Monday, January 02, 2012

2012...

 Happy New Year!!!
I pray God Blesses you in all that you do this New Year!


Not much has been going on here with me. I came home Christmas Eve to be with my family. Christmas Eve dinner at my Older sisters was nice. We opened some presents and ate yummy food. Then just hung out. Christmas Day was simple, sweet, and very wonderful. Though we did not have much under the tree this year, we did get what we needed and then some. Dad, my little sister and I split the cost of a new Kitchen Aid Mixer for Momma, she has been wanting one for so long. So we got it. Dad got me a nice little Tablet e Reader. It's pretty cool. Sis got a nice digital Camera. And daddy got some stuff he needed to help him fix the cars and a new wallet. :)
 It was a pretty sweet and simple Christmas. I hope for more of those to come.
My darling came over Christmas day around noon. Momma and daddy got him some tools he needed, and I got him a new wallet as well as a hand made (still in the making) Christmas Tree ordainment. He got me two very pretty Christmas Tree ordainment's, a glass swan and a crystal snow flake.
 After supper with my grandparents, my darling and I went to his families house for Christmas Dinner. There we all, his five siblings, mom, step dad, his step dad's niece and nephew with their husband and girlfriend, my darling and I, sat in the living room and opened more gifts. I made all the girls in his family some rice neck warmers out of fuzzy socks and hand knitted all the boys a new hat. 
 Then we had a big dinner and played games and talked and had a nice dessert. Around 11:30pm my darling drove me home.
 It was a nice Christmas.


 Now we are in the New Year. Time to make some list's and check them off!
My New Years Restitution's are to just live healthy and stay happy and follow God where ever He may lead me.

 I do have a job now!! I work in a nice little town about 10-15 mins away from my apartment. We sell little nick-nacks in one store, and in the other some very pretty and dressy clothes. I love working there. The people I work with are so nice and welcoming, and helpful. I go back to work Wednesday.


 Tomorrow evening, my darling is coming over to install the internet in my apartment. I can't wait. Then I can blog more and keep better track of my finances. What a relief it would be. Sense I've been home with my family I've not done much cooking, momma takes care of that. But as soon as I get back to the apartment I'll start my Fix it and Forget it cooking so I will always have meals on the fly!!
 I'm thinking of planing a friends get together at my place in the next few weeks. Just a small one. Everyone bring their favorite side dish and I'll provide the main and just hanging out and talking. It will be fun.


 Well not much more to say other than it's snowing now.


Many Warm Blessings, Thoughts and Prayers.
 ~*Caitlynn