{Wordless Wednesday}

{Soap Cloud Experiment} Try-It Tuesday

Today's "Try-It" is a cool little experiment that I was skeptical of when I saw this picture.

The premise is that you can take a bar of Ivory Soap and place it in the microwave.  Start that baby up and the bar of soap will magically puff up into a cloud-like shape.

Supplies
Bar of Ivory Soap
Microwave

Instructions
Place bar of Ivory in the microwave.  Punch up 2 minutes on the timer.  Hit start and watch the magic.  Stop the timer once the "cloud" starts to fill the microwave.

I recommend placing the bar of Ivory on a big bed of paper towels.  This makes removal and clean-up much easier.

Does it work?  YES!!

My son thought this was so much fun.  My older nephews thought it was pretty cool too.  A word of caution.  The soap cloud is delicate and if you are not careful, you will get soap "crumbs" everywhere when you remove it from the microwave.  I put the cloud in a gallon zip bag for storage as you can still use the soap.

I call this one a win.

Thanks for stopping by,
Natosha

{Menu Plan Monday} 2/25/13

This week we are having:

Spaghetti Pie via Cinnamon Spice & Everything Nice.  Served with a green salad.

Skillet Ground Beef Stroganoff via Elly Says Opa!  Served with a green veggie.

Poppy Seed Chicken via Sew Caroline.  Served with green veggie or a salad.

Copy Cat California Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chicken Pizza. Recipe to come later this week. (ignore that odd looking section, it's plain cheese for my son.)

Pecan-Crusted Catfish via Cooking Light 2004 cookbook.  Recipe can be found here.  The original recipe is for tilapia, I just happened to have catfish.  If you are not familiar with catfish, it is very mild like tilapia.  We Southerners love some catfish.  I like to serve it with collard greens and cheese grits, but it would go well with another green veggie and rice.

We usually get takeout on Friday and have breakfast for dinner one night a week.  What are you eating this week?

Thanks for stopping by,

Natosha

P.S.  I'm linking up here today:

{My New Haircut and Style}

Hello and happy Saturday!  I FINALLY got my hair done yesterday.  I haven't had a really good haircut in like, umm, over 2 years, when I was still living in California.  Since moving back to Arkansas, I have been going to the local Beauty College and having a senior student cut it.  Well I sprung for a pricier salon and I. Love. It.

What do you think? (sorry, these are selfies)

I'm trying to grow out a perm so I kinda had Christmas tree hair.  Small on top and big at the base.  he used a flat iron to style it.  You can't tell in the pics, but there is all kind of texture.  I know I've said it, but I love it.  I have never used a flat iron.  My mom has one she never uses and said I could have it.  We will see.  

Oh, and I scored this bracelet (and a cool necklace that I don't have a picture of yet).  It was 75% off, so I really couldn't pass it up, right?

It's been a great day.  We went from rain/sleet/snow mix to sunny and about 60 degrees.  I installed mini blinds in my living room and kitchen and I made a yummy copy-cat California Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chicken Pizza.  I'll share the recipe soon.

I hope your weekend is awesome.  So, do you have any experience with flat irons?  Any advice?

Thanks for stopping by,

Natosha

{St Patrick's Day Inspiration}

I don't usually decorate for St. Patrick's Day, but my three year old has been enjoying all the recent holiday fun, so I figured I would just keep going.  So, today I am going to share some fun stuff that is inspiring me for St. Patrick's Day fun.

This free printable from eighteen25 is so bright and makes me long for Spring.  Go HERE to find it.




I'm hoping I can get Jaxon to eat green pancakes, like these from Thoughtfully Simple.




I love to pack holiday themed lunches for Jaxon.  I found a couple of super cute ones.  This one is from lisa storms.



This one is courtesy of Bento-ology.




And for the hubby and I, Dublin Coddle via Green Eggs & Spam. It looks so yummy!




As for fun activities or crafts for Jaxon, these ideas look fun.

A St. Patrick's Day themed bath treasure hunt!  OK, I may be late to the party, but I never thought of this.  Jaxon would have so much fun.  Go to Bath Activities for Kids to see some of the fun pictures.




Hand print leprechaun via elizabethlauren.  My son loves paint, so I know he would enjoy this one.




I love this hand print shamrock by Shelly Buck (Pinterest board, this is her image).




What is inspiring you for St. Patrick's Day this year?  I would love to hear all about it!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!
Natosha

P.S.  Today, I am linking up here:

{Easy BBQ Meatloaf}

I have more elaborate recipes for meatloaf, but this Easy BBQ Meatloaf recipe is great for those days you don't have a game-plan.  You should already have most of the ingredients on-hand.  If not, they are inexpensive and quick to find.

Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 cup BBQ sauce (your choice of flavor)
1 cup bread crumbs
2 tbs dried minced onion
1 tbs garlic powder
1 egg (slightly beaten)

Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.

Get your ground beef out of the fridge and let it warm up a bit.  (Don't worry, you aren't leaving it out for hours, you just don't want it to be super cold.  It's easier to mix when it's warmer.)

Meanwhile,  in a large bowl, mix BBQ sauce, bread crumbs, onion, garlic and egg until combined.  Add the ground beef.  Mix well.  I use my hands because it just gets everything incorporated better.

I usually just shape the meat into a loaf and bake on a jellyroll pan or cookie sheet that I have covered in foil.  However, you can also use a loaf pan.  Cook for 45-50 minutes, or until done.  Spread a little extra BBQ sauce on top and let sit for 5 minutes.

I have also made 4-6 mini meatloaves, reducing the cooking time to 20-25 minutes.

I like to serve with mashed potatoes and a green veggie.

Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!
Natosha

{Trying To Lose Weight? Me Too!}

I haven't been good at all regarding living a healthier lifestyle.  But better late than never, right?  Today I began on my goal to eat less processed foods and more home-made.  I cook all my meals from scratch already, but I do use processed foods.  I'm not starting all at once because that would be overwhelming and I would just end up quitting.

First, I've decided to curb my intake of processed carbs:  chips, crackers, breads, etc.  I am also not serving them to my 3 year old.  Man are we gonna miss the pretzels and Little Ceasar's bread sticks.  I pinned a couple of recipes for home-made cheese crackers a while back.  I plan on trying them soon and will let you know how they turn out.

My second goal is to drink water.  I hate water.  But I know it is good for me, so I'll drink it.

Third, I am going to eat breakfast, every day, at home.  I have developed a bad habit of leaving the house in a rush, dropping my son off at daycare and then heading to McDonald's.  I always get the large sweet iced tea and the $1 sausage breakfast burrito.  That's $2 per day ($40 per month) and 580 calories (280 from the tea) and 16 g of fat!  What I would rather spend $40 on:  jewelry, my son, savings.

Those are what I am starting with.  I downloaded the app for My Fitness Pal.  I use an Android device, but I am sure it's available for iPhone too.  There is also their website at:  www.myfitnesspal.com.  It is free to sign up.

I just really want to be healthy.  For myself and for my son and husband.  I am going to be 42 in May and I have a 3 year old.  I want to be around for him as long as possible.  I would like to see my grandchildren one day.

What are you doing to live a healthier lifestyle?  I would love to hear about it in the comments.

Thanks for stopping by,
Natosha

{Menu Monday} 2/18/13

Penne with Olive Garden (copy-cat) Alfredo Sauce with Chicken and Broccoli.

credit

Sourdough Waffles with Ham and Cheese and a side of scrambled eggs.


Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, garlic bread and a salad.


Easy BBQ Meatloaf with mashed potatoes, gravy and green peas.


Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup with crackers.


What are you having this week?

 I am linking up here today:







Thanks for stopping by,
Natosha

{Glade Expressions - A Review}

I was recently given the opportunity from BzzzAgent to try the new line by Glade - Glade Expressions.



I tried the Lavender and Juniper Berry Fragrance Mist and the Pineapple and Mangosteen Oil Diffuser.  The mist smells fresh and works for quite a long time.  I have been using it mainly in the bathroom with the kitty litter box and it really helps it to smell better.  It's not overly sweet or fake smelling.

I have been using the oil difusser at work.  I LOVE the pineapple and mangosteen scent.

I love the bamboo diffuser.  It is very stylish.  I have a small office, so the scent is almost overwhelming.  I am planning on taking it home and using it in the living/kitchen area.  I have had several people comment on the scent and ask me what I was eating.

A cool feature to both of these products is the ability to refill them both.

I have 7 $2.00 coupons for  the mist starter kit and 7 $4.00 coupons for the diffuser kit.  They expire On April 30, 2013.  If you would like to have one, leave me a message in the comments with your email.

{I was provided coupons for free product.  I was not compensated.  All opinions are 100% mine.}

Thanks for stopping by,
Natosha

{The Vocabulary of a Three Year Old}

My son, Jaxon (pronounced Jackson), turned three on Thanksgiving.  He started talking late, but once he did - whew, that kid talks non-stop.  Lately he's been using words that we don't use at our house.  They aren't necessarily "bad" words.  We are just surprised to hear them.

Jaxon's new words:

Hate - He said "I hate (insert friend's name)."  This one got me a little upset.  I asked him where he learned that word.  He just kept saying it.  I told him that is a strong word.  Strong in a bad way and he shouldn't use it.  His response:  ignoring me.  I dropped it and just hope it doesn't come up again in the near future.

Girlfriend - He said something about someone having a girlfriend.  He's in preschool.  Do they talk about girlfriends?  Maybe one of his teachers is someone's girlfriend.  I don't know.

Little Lady - I was sitting in our bedroom floor waiting to play with him.  Jaxon walks up to me and hands me a toy, saying "Here you go little lady."  I just about fell over laughing.

Butt - He is obsessed with this word.  We try to say bottom or behind.  I know we slip every once in a while.  This past Sunday, we went to Quizno's to eat before doing our grocery shopping.  He stood up in his chair and started singing and dancing.  What was he singing?  "Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle your butt.  Butt. Butt.  Wiggle, wiggle."  All the while, he was wiggling his butt.  I have to admit I really did want to laugh, because he's pretty darn cute wiggling, but I'm not sure he should have been singing about his butt that loud in public.

What are your kids saying that makes you laugh or cringe?  I would love to hear your stories in the comments.

Thanks for stopping by,

Natosha

A Lovely Weekend and the Winner of the Treat Valentine's Day Cards

Whew!  Can I first just say I am SO glad the week is over.  Sheesh!

And the winner of the Treat Valentine's Day Cards is:

Lauren

2 

Random numbers generated Jan 31 2013 at 16:38:21 by www.psychicscience.org  

Free educational resources for parapsychology, psychical research & mind magic.

Lauren, I will be notifying Treat that you are the winner and they will credit your account!

Stay tuned for another giveaway when I reach 100 followers!

Now, about my lovely last weekend . . . . .

On Friday and Saturday night, we had a huge bonfire.  We love to sit around the fire and have a glass of wine and watch Jaxon play in the dark.

On Saturday, we drove for about 45 minutes out into the country and visited the Swans.

Sunday, we ate lunch with my in-laws and did a little grocery shopping.  No pictures of that, although I really do need to take new pics of Mike's parents with Jaxon.  That will be the mission this weekend, if we see them.  I do have cute pics of Jaxon making pancakes by himself (sorta) and then adding chocolate syrup and eating them!  ;)

I hope you all have a great weekend and hopefully I will be able to post a recipe or two next week.  Plus I have Jaxon's Valentines to make and a printable.

I'm linking up here:

Thanks for stopping by,
Natosha