How To Hang Pictures

One of the more overwhelming parts of moving, at lease for me, is having all of the photos/decorations from the old house and trying to find a way to decorate the new place, while doing it in a hurry so they're not lying all over.  I found this idea on Pinterest, originally from Better Homes & Gardens, to cut paper to the size of your pictures and tape it on the wall before hanging them.  So I decided to try that for our living room family photo wall.  I was also partially incorporating this idea, originally from Martha Stewart, to line up one side of the frames and let the other sides vary.

I used two brown grocery bags, traced my pictures onto them, and cut them out.  I marked where the nails would go, and gave them appropriate names, such as "odd-shaped 4 frame" or "nieces and nephews".  Yes, those were really my names for some of them.  I taped them up, and used a level to get them mostly straight.  I may be a perfectionist in some things, but this is apparently not one of them.  The 2 longs pieces of blue tape were my level lines, and as long as everything else pretty much line up with those, it was fine.

I did that all during naptime, so then when the boys woke up, I just pounded all the nails in, ripped the paper down, and hung the pictures up.  The bag part of it took me around 45 minutes, and the actual hanging only took me about 5 minutes.

And here's the after shot.  Some of the pictures were a little crooked, because after I hung these, I was pounding on the other side of the wall in the boys' room.  But overall, it worked really well, and I didn't have any "oops" holes in the wall like I normally do when I hang things.

Cub and Walgreens Coupon Shopping

Our first stop was at Cub, and it was a small one, but a good one.

Essential Everyday Pasta: $1.00.  Used $1/1 Essential Everyday item (Cub Fresh Summertime booklet) = free! I plan on getting one of these each time I go there until the coupons expire, because we go through a lot of pasta in our house, and free is good!

Larabar: $2.19.  Used free coupon (up to $1.90) = paid $0.29.  With the tax on that it was $0.45 total.

Then on to Walgreens for a few things:

• Huggies Wipes (56 ct.): $1.99.  Used $1/1 (Walgreens July, took off $2) and two $0.50/1 (insert) = paid $0.98/2! I would have bought more, but that was all they had.
• Ivory 3 pack: $0.99.  Used $1/1 (P&G 7/1/12) = free! 
• Nice! Aluminum Foil: $0.79 (ad coupon)
• Hershey's Simple Pleasures: 2/$6.  Used $1.50/1 (Walgreens July, took off $3) and two $1/1 printables = paid $1/2! 
• Total with tax: $3.64.

We are going to try the experiment with the Ivory soap where you microwave it and then it becomes a dough you can play with.  I'll have to post with how that works out!

Menu Plan Monday and Corn Muffin Recipe

Lunches:

• Ham & Cheese Waffles (the boys and I thought these were okay when we had them, so we'll eat them for lunch)
• English Muffin Pizzas
• PB&J/Soups
• Turkey Sandwiches

I will make a batch of Veggie Tomato Soup and Creamy Tomato Soup for some of Jesse's and my lunches, while the boys will have other things.

Dinners:

Monday/Tuesday: Slow Cooker Red Bean Jamaican Stew, Mini Corn Muffins
Wednesday/Thursday: Cheesy Chicken Rice Casserole (the boys didn't do well with the wild rice last time, so we'll just be using brown rice this time)
Friday: Chicken Mushroom Tortilla Pizzas
Saturday/Sunday: Mini Turkey Loaves, Green Beans


Mini Corn Muffins (makes 24 mini muffins or 12 regular muffins)

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 cups flour (I use whole wheat)
• 2-1/4 tsp. baking powder
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 2 Tbsp. sugar
• 3/4 cups cornmeal
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup melted butter

Directions:

In microwave safe dish, melt butter.  Add milk and eggs.  (Important! Add milk first to cool down the butter, or your eggs will start to scramble.  I cannot tell you how many times I did that until I made a note of it on my recipe card.)  Add dry ingredients and stir to combine, just until moist.  Bake in greased muffin cups at 425 degrees for 10-12 minutes for mini muffins, or 22-25 minutes for regular muffins.

What I'm Reading...

We moved! We went on vacation!  Now to unpack, decorate, and get back into routines that got lost along the way.  And, during my coffee breaks, catch up on my blog reading...

6 Tips To Start Canning.  I would really like to learn how to can things.  I may start with a few jams, and hopefully some applesauce this year to see if I've got the basics down.  Once we are permanently settled somewhere and have a garden, I can do even more.  (Simple Organized Living)


6 Ways To Keep Your Home Organized (Organizing A Little Every Day).  This is especially important for me to remember as I find places for everything to go in the new house.  A little bit at a time... (Home Your Way)

Is There More Than Please And Thank You?  Teaching the meaning behind the principles will have a bigger and better effect. (Motherhood Your Way)


All You Need Are Two Words For A Better Marriage.  Love this.  (Simple Mom)

Having It All Part 1: In Defense Of Ordinary Life.  I haven't personally seen this magazine cover, but I like this post that talks about it, and I like my ordinary life.  (The Happiest Mom)

And finally, The Advent Calendar Project looks like tons of fun!  Basically, you make an ornament each week from now-ish (I think it started a week or two ago) until Christmas time, along with an Advent pocket calendar, and then the month of December you'll have a new ornament to put on the tree each day.  I might have to play catch-up on this one. (Just Crafty Enough)

Blog Break

For the next 2 weeks or so, I'll be living a lot more offline, and that means a break from blogging.  What I'm Reading, Menu Plan Monday, and the fun of craft projects and baking and everything else will return after that.  During the break, we'll also be celebrating the baptism of our new niece, and moving across town into a house!  I'm looking forward to the busy-ness, and I'm sure I'll enjoy the calm after everything settles down. 

Menu Plan Monday

Monday/Tuesday: Crockpot Bean and Sausage Stew, Homemade Bread
Wednesday: Chicken Broccoli Mushroom Alfredo
Thursday/Friday: Slow Cooker Jambalaya, Mini Corn Muffins
Saturday: Mexi-Beans and Rice
Sunday: Homemade Macaroni & Cheese

What I'm Reading...

Organize Your Weight Loss.  I'm such a list person and organization freak in other areas of my life, that maybe I just need to be more organized about weight loss.  (I'm An Organizing Junkie)


Maybe The Answer Is Owning Less.  I'm starting to agree with this more and more.  (Organizing Your Way)


Frugal Summer Fun From A To Z.  I only skimmed this list so far, but it looks like there are lots of fun things on it.  (Money Saving Mom)

And that's it!  I've been doing lots of reading offline lately - I'm re-reading the first three books in Christopher Paolini's Inheritance series, so I can finally read the last one, which I've had since last October.  I've also been doing lots of little projects around the house and enjoying being outside in the sun, so I haven't spent much time on the blogs.  I suggest you do the same!