Easy Peasy Cake Mix Cookies

 I wanted to surpise the boys with a special treat after school on Friday. Normally this would have been their Valentine's party but with Covid they were not allowed to do Valentine's exchanges at school and no treats for a party. They had a wonderful day anyways with virtual Valentine's exchanges and some special activities and then came home to a delightful treat! 

There are a ton of cake mix cookie recipes out there and for my first attempt I have to say I was impressed at how quick and easy they were, not to mention economical since I had previously grabbed the cake mix on sale for just 99cents. Can't wait to try some more variations!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup oil

2 eggs

1 box of cake mix 

Do not follow the directions on the box. Instead mix dry cake
mix with 2 large eggs and 1/2 cup of oil in a bowl. I didn't use a mixer just combined by hand. I then chilled the dough for a bit in the fridge before making 1 inch balls. For some I rolled the balls in icing sugar, for others I topped with red sprinkles before placing on a parchment lined or baking mat cookie sheet.

 Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes in a 350 degree farenheit oven. Let cookies sit for 4-5  minutes before removing from the tray. And that's it! Easy peasy!

Originally Written March 30, 2020: A Pandemic Journal Entry

I wrote this as a journal entry shortly after the pandemic began. I decided to share it with you as we approach the one year mark. It is my personal thoughts and reflections in that moment in time. 

Even though it was only 19 days ago March 11^th seems like it’s a lifetime ago. It was the day that the WHO declared a world pandemic and you know what, like many at the time it changed nothing about my day. I was at work, we were busy, we talked about it amongst ourselves a bit but otherwise discussed plans for the weekend and the upcoming March Break. The next day they announced that the schools would be closed for an additional 2 weeks after March Break. Makes sense right who knows what all the people travelling could bring back….better safe than sorry. The boys and I went out for dinner that night and it was packed. Life was normal. The following day the news was full of reports of people clearing the shelves of toilet paper and canned goods…hmm maybe I had better not wait to do groceries and at least plan to have a couple weeks worth of food at home. Brad was here for his tattoo and tax appointment, we just kept trucking but there was something a little more to talk about on the news. We got takeout and had a quiet night at home then went to his moms for dinner and cards the next day. When he left on Sunday we said see you soon. When I went to work on Sunday things were a bit uneasier, there was a note that schedules would change, there was nothing on the tables in the dining room so we could keep things extra clean, there were sanitizer stations out and we were reminded to wash our hands even more. It was quiet for a Sunday…..

Monday they announced they would be closing the restaurants for dine in service. I remember sitting there with the other girls looking at each other like what….well a couple weeks off won't be so bad. The kids are home and there is so much to do around the house. I just need to be careful with the food I have and the savings in the bank and I can get through.

I spent the next week on and off doing lots of crying as the reality of the situation sunk in. How the hell am I going to feed this kids? Pay my bills? I had to tell my poor baby as he bounced along on our daily walk that he would not be getting the big birthday present he wanted because mommy no longer had a job. He had already made the choice to have a bigger gift and no party. Now he gets neither but he was just like “its ok I understand”.

I cried and cried for my children who are trying to be brave but are disappointed that they didn’t get to go anywhere for March Break, that they have been stuck at home. Their dad and stepmom and I have been honest with them about what is going on in the world. To some degree they comprehend that something very big is going on but currently they are just enjoying their extra family time. They seem to get that the grownups in their lives are extra stressed out. This has been referred to as going to war and my children are going to be raised through this war. I drove to my parents to get boxes of food off their porch. I couldn’t hug them because I had still been out in public in the last 14 days. They are still taking care of me even though I am a grown up so that I can in turn take care of my own children.

There are people out there doing amazing things right now. Teaching art and music online, organizing virtual concerts, setting up virtual events for kids. There are people who are still going to work to keep the shelves stocked and the population fed. There are nurses and doctors working on the frontlines of this war against a virus and my heart breaks for them and what they must be going through. People I know are being so productive and getting their houses cleaned and projects finished up. I feel like I need to be doing something extra but I am both paralyzed with fear to even leave my house and torn with what is best for my kids. I need to keep them safe. I need to keep them happy and have them come through this with the least amount of trauma possible. My house is not extra clean, I have not gotten to any extra projects, I have spent a lot of time binge watching tv and crying. And that’s ok! Everyone deals with things in their own way and now is the not the time for me to be hard on myself or compare my actions to what others are doing. I have been asked to do my part and stay home and that’s what I am doing. I am doing my part and that’s enough.

 We have done lots of walking and had extra family time. We have played board games and worked on art projects and attempted  a few extra school lessons. But in their down time the kids have created games of their own. They are using their imagination, being kids. They have always been super close with each other but I am so thankful that they have each other to get through this.  I have talked on the phone a ton, something I haven’t done since I was a teenager. Friends have reached out to me and I have reached out to friends.   I had extra time to cook lots (and I have no choice I have to make the food and money last). You know what, I don’t hate it as much as I thought now that life isn’t a constant race against the clock.  I took the time to cut their peanut butter sandwiches into hearts. I hope these are things they take away from this. I guess it won't be remembered by the world but hopefully it is remembered by my kids in their little world.

2 weeks ago today was my last day of work. I am now thankful to be safe at home. I am terrified to go out in the world. Even as my heart breaks for the world there are moments of humanity that warm my soul. I see communities coming together, families coming together. Hopefully this brings the world together and finally makes us take a step back and enjoy the little things that we have all forgotten how to enjoy. Sitting at the dinner table together, reading a book, taking a walk. Maybe its time we all took a step back and looked at how we are living life and what is important. 

Cheap Eats: 3 Ingredient Beef Stroganoff

 I don't know about you but having growing boys is like having a pair of garbage disposals. They are ALWAYS hungry and now that they are both preteens they eat as much as a small army. This easy 3 ingredient take on beef stroganoff is a hearty meal for the 4 of us that is easy on the wallet. I try to stock up on these items when they are on sale so that they are on hand when I am having an "I don't know what to make for dinner moment." While meal planning is a fantastic way to save money I haven't quite mastered sitting down to make a two week plan at a time but I do find having my basic staples on hand for recipes I make frequently takes alot of the guess work out of meal time.

Keep in mind that my version of this dish is meant to feed myself, my hard working other half, and two boys that eat like men. You could easily make this with one pound of ground beef, one can of soup and half a package of noodles if your family are small eaters. 

To get started brown 2 pounds of ground beef in a large pan. It doesn't matter if you use lean or medium ground beef, whichever happens to be on sale when you buy it.  Once your beef is browned drain and set aside until your noodles are ready, you can season with pepper or garlic should you desire. As ground beef is browning get your water boiling for your noodles. Cook entire package to specifications, drain and rinse. My family likes the extra broad egg noodles but you can also use the regular, both of them have a great consistency for soaking up the sauce! Combine your noodles with your ground beef and 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup. Need a bit more sauce? You can also add in a bit of milk or top this dish with cheese (which would technically make this a 4 ingredient dish but its optitional). 

Cost breakdown for this cheap eats meal:

• 2 lbs ground beef $6.80
• 2 cans cream of mushroom soup $1.78
• package of broad egg noodles $1.00

Total cost of the dish: $ 9.58. That works out to $2.40 per person. Add in a salad, green beans or veggie medley on the side or a nice bread to stretch this meal even further. In our case we had green beans that night. 

On a cold winter's evening this is a stick to your bones kind of meal and one that everyone enjoys, although my youngest could do without the veggies if you asked him! Be sure to visit some of my othr cheap and easy eats here. 

Valentine's Day Door

Valentine's Day is right around the corner and I know many mamas like me are running out of fresh celebration ideas after this crazy year! Here's another fun and frugal idea to make the day (or month) special for your little one or significant other. Last year I decorated my boys doors with a ton of hearts and 14 reasons why I love them. While I did all the decorating for that day you could do a heart a day leading up to Valentine's Day. My boys actually still have their hearts on their doors (minus the treats). I incorporated some candy treats on some of their hearts where I could come up with a phrase and candy that matched. Here are just a few examples:

• You're a Smartie (with a box of Smarties)
• You can be a bit of a NERD (box of Nerds)
• You're such a Sweet Heart (Sweet Tarts) 

This is a fun take on the idea of candy birthday boards and can be adapted to any holiday with a bit of creativity and a couple of sweet treats. Sure to bring smiles to your Valentine's faces! Be sure to visit my previous post about my Valentine's Day Scavenger Hunt!

Valentine's Day Scavenger Hunt for the Kiddos

Every holiday seems to be a little bit different these days and I'm sure Valentine's Day is going to be no exception. I thought this would be a great time to share a post from a couple of years ago that I did on my Kawartha Beads blog  about a scavenger hunt that I created for my kiddos. This would still be a completely doable option even if you are currently in a lockdown. It helps to break up the day, is extremely economical and gives the kids a treat at the end! 

 I got the idea from this post then adjusted it for my own hunt. I found these foam hearts at the dollar store then just used a sharpie to write my clues right on the hearts. Inexpensive and festive! I've listed the clues below (answers in brackets). For your own hunt you can mix them up however you like. I made sure to hide one downstairs then the next clue would lead them upstairs so they can hopefully burn off a bit of energy! I gave them the first clue in the van when they got home from school. Of course there was a delicious prize at the end too💗💗💗

• To find your Valentine's gift you'll have to follow the clues. Your first one can be found
  
  
   where we keep the shoes! (in one of the boots on the boot mat)
• It's loaded with paper and filled with ink. It isn't a book so you'll have to think! (on the printer tray)
• For this next clue, you'll have to rush. Search in the place you keep your toothbrush! (the basket where the toothbrushes are kept)
• In here is where we keep the food cold. Open it up before you get old! (the fridge)
• Don't be slow, be quick as a wink. Go look under the kitchen sink! (under the sink)
• Don't give up, you're almost there! Go look under a kitchen chair! (taped under one of the kitchen chairs)
• This one's easy, just take a look....you'll find your next clue with all the books! (on my oldest's bookshelf)
• You haven't finished, don't get uptight. Look where mommy sleeps at night. (under my pillow)
• The hunt is almost over but before you can relax...check the place where you can find delicious snacks (the pantry cupboard)
• We come in different styles. You'll find us in a drawer. You use us as a tool...Just another BITE more! (the silverware drawer)
• You found the prize and solved the clues-but the treasure I LOVE MOST is you! Happy Valentine's Day! 
  
  
  

Back in 2021 with plenty to share

 Hello readers! Needless to say that I have been absent from this page for some time while I worked on my Kawartha Beads business, the kids grew like weeds before my eyes, and the entire world changed! Although I may not have been writing it was certainly a year for introspection, finding creative ways to stay entertained at home and SAVE MONEY! Like many people out there I went to work for my lunch shift on a Monday in March 2020 and by the time I came back for my dinner shift was told that I would be "temporarily" laid off. While I wish that writing and crafting paid the bills they are not my actual day (evening) job. Crafter by day, waitress at night, the food service industry was one that was hard hit and as I write this post servers are once again "temporarily" laid off. I will go into more details in subsequent posts about getting through these times.   As you know I am a saver, live frugally and have often expressed the importance of saving for a rainy day but I definitely did not feel prepared for the potential for no paycheque for an undetermined amount of time with mouths at home to feed. I recently decided that now was the time to revisit this blog, I could feel the itch to write, and maybe its my therapy for this troubling time in history. So welcome back and I hope you will find a tip or two for your own family along the way!