Guest Blogger: Heather Wilson

We have a fantabulous Guest Blogger over here at Casa Camacho...!

I knew that would spark your attention...!

Her name is Heather Wilson from over at WonderWilson.

I actually grew up with her and her sisters so I knew that she needed to come give all of us some of her awesome tips...!

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I am totally thrilled to be guest blogging for Bobbi today!! She has so many great ideas that I steal all the time! I didn't know if I could come up with something to meet the bar (I wouldn't want to disappoint her readers), but I do have an idea that still impresses me, sometimes, when I manage to pull it off. So here it is:

ONE CHICKEN, THREE DINNERS!

Do you ever buy whole fryer chickens? They are a great deal if you're willing to put in a little effort to cut them apart yourself. That, in itself, can be a chore, but with a little practice and a really sharp knife, it can be very easy.

I like to buy whole fryer chickens for a couple of reasons: they're very inexpensive (usually around a dollar a pound), and they make for great versatility! Typically, I buy a five to six pound chicken for about $5 - $7. For my small family of four, one chicken can feed us for about three meals if I take the time to do a bit of careful planning and a little prep work. That's an average of $1.66- $2.33 per meal! I try to keep a least two whole chickens in my freezer at all times so I can get creative when money is tight or if I'm ever in a pinch.

The first thing I do is cut the chicken into 8 pieces - 2 wings, 2 thighs, 2 drumsticks, 2 breasts. Save the carcass! As well as anything that you may have found inside the bird (giblets, neck, etc.). I put those into a gallon size plastic bag and either freeze it for later use, or put it in the fridge if I know I'm going to use it within the next few days.

DINNER #1 - Bone-in Chicken

Cook up those wings, thighs, and drumsticks. Sometimes I make fried chicken, sometimes I bake it. Other good options are coq au vin (if you like to cook with wine, and I do!) or chicken and dumplings! My kids are only five and three, and they're both girls, so they don't eat too much. Six pieces of chicken is usually just enough for us for one meal, but if your family eats a little more, use up one of those chicken breasts, as well.

DINNER #2 - Casserole

Dice up the chicken breasts and brown them in a skillet, season them however you like. Use the cooked chicken in a casserole. Casseroles are great because you can get away with using less meat than you would a regular meal where protein is a major portion of the plate. Some of my favorite casseroles are Chicken Divan, Italian Chicken Casserole, lasagna (with chicken, of course), and enchiladas. Casseroles are also a great way to sneak in extra veggies or new veggies that the kiddos might be leery of if presented whole. There are countless other recipes out there, pick one that your family will love! Another way to use up the cooked, diced chicken breasts is to make a pot pie. That is one of my husband's all time favorites!

DINNER #3 - Soup

Remember that chicken carcass? Now is the time to get some good use out of it by making your own chicken stock as a base for your favorite soup recipe. In a large pot, boil the chicken bones and any other parts you may have saved (including any skin you may have removed from other chicken pieces) with some celery, carrots, onion, bay leaf, thyme, salt, and pepper. There are lots of different recipes out there for how to make chicken stock, but they all use the same basic ingredients. After simmering for 2-4 hours (depending on the recipe you used), strain all the solids out of the stock (don't throw them out yet!) and transfer the clear liquid to a large bowl and put it in the fridge for a few hours or overnight. This will allow the fat to rise to the top and solidify. Then, when you're ready to use it, gently remove the solid fat and you'll be left with a great soup base. I use mine to make chicken noodle soup, vegetable soup, pasta fagioli, and so many others.

About those solids I told you not to throw out... depending on how well I cut up my whole chicken, I'm usually left with several chunks of chicken meat on the backbone. After boiling it for the stock, I can often find as much as a whole cup of chicken meat still attached to the bone! I pick it right off and save it for something else. Maybe I can add it to the soup I'll be making later, maybe another casserole, or perhaps a little chicken salad or chicken salad sandwich. Hurray for bonus chicken!

I hope you can find a few recipes that your family will love from the above suggestions and save a little money in the process. If your family is larger than mine (or just eats more) you can always adapt this same idea to the use of two chickens... or maybe three? However you need to apply it to your family's needs, it will definitely help to save a few bucks at the dinner table.

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Thank YOU Heather for your Wonderful post...!

Go on over to WonderWilson and look at her site...word of advice....don't go when hungry...!

You will find yourself drooling. It's a highly addictive site.

New Bunny Money.

For those of you who haven't heard of our Bunny Money, here is the original post.

Basically, instead of putting candy in the plastic eggs...we put "Bunny Money" inside.

We then set up a "Bunny Store" which has little things for the kids to choose from and buy with their money.

For the past few years, we've done alot of pre-packaged snacks also at the store because our kids don't usually get that type of snack throughout the year so it's a big treat for them.

We made a NEW printable of Bunny Money.

After all these years, I noticed that Noe spelled Bunny wrong on the bills.

Here is our NEW version to download. 

Crown Of Thorns.

A few years ago, some friends and I from church would get together each month and do a Craft.

A woman from church would show us how to create the cutest crafts.

One month we made these Barbed Wire Wreaths.

I absolutely love how these turned out....! We decorate our home with them each year since....!

 You'll need:

Gloves

Spray Paint

Ribbon

Barbed Wire

Wire Cutters

Wire

Directions:

1. Put your Gloves on and Cut Barbed Wire with the Wire Cutters {We live in farm country with barbed wire accessible. Most people will give some to you for free if you just ask! If you're driving by a field, ask!}
2. Try to coil up your Barbed Wire into a wreath shape. Tie it with some wire in a few different places.
3. Spray paint your Crown of Thorns whatever color you like!
4. When dried, add a pretty ribbon and embellishments.

One of my friends made a bunch of these for Christmas gifts.

They serve as a reminder of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us....!

And they are oh so cute...!

Wall Decor.

I am in love with filling my walls up with cute decor...!

Every little bare space has a future project in  mind that I haven't gotten to yet.

I bought this Letter C at Hobby Lobby awhile back. It's just been sitting in my craft stuff waiting for me. Poor guy...! I was thinking of glueing {not knowing how to spell glueing is driving me crazy...all the online dictionaries say it could be written either way glueing or gluing}moss onto it for a nice Springy look. But when I saw this frame in my "Unfinished Projects" drawer,  that I had started to make an earring holder with.....I decided to put them together...!

 This was an old frame...yep, old. Hate to say it but I've hate it since I was a baby, so old. My Great Aunt crocheted a Precious Moments figure that looked like me and put it in this frame.

After my kids ruined the picture by drawing on it, I decided to use the frame still.

I love the curves on it. So pretty.

 I had painted it a cool turquoise color.

If you don't have any extra frames to refurbish, try Goodwill. Find the ugliest frame possible and spray paint it. {LOL} Seriously, the gaudiest frames usually have the neatest accents and when spray painted that perfect color, can really look nice.

 

 I just started at the end with my yarn and covered it all using hot glue spread throughout. Just put a dot of glue here and there because you can kind of see it.

This is one layer of yarn.

 I wanted to add an extra layer for thickness since I didn't paint the letter to begin with.

Plus, I thought it would be fun for texture, to criss-cross it in some places.

This is the second layer.

 My favorite part of course, embellishing...!

I added some twine onto the letter Cc in some places.

I then added some twine on the side of the frame.

The last thing I did was put some ribbon onto my trusted key {in the Dollar Bins at Michaels} and hot glue it onto the letter.

Hot glue everything in place...!

 I love it...!

I made it pretty plain which is what I was going for. I had flowers on stand-by and was thinking of doing some bunting across the top. Maybe in the future? For now, I'm liking it...!

Not bad for a couple of bucks? 

Noah Turbough.

It's the end of the school year. Just thought that I would brag on this boy.

My oldest. My only boy.

He's in 5th grade now. 5th grade...!

 

 

Noah is such a sweet boy.

He is just and fair....kind of like a Super Hero...!

He stands up for people when he doesn't think they are being treated fairly.

He isn't afraid to speak his mind when he thinks that someone is behaving wrongly. When I'm angry about something, he'll even tell me to be nice and talk kindly.

He walks away from a crowd when they are saying bad words or being crude.

Noah always eats whatever I make and compliments me when I cook...!

His room is usually neat and cleaned and organized.

He can read an entire chapter book {like Harry Potter thick} in two days.

He loves soccer.

This year alone, he scored Advanced all on his tests.

He got straight A's all year round.

He got numerous awards and certificates.

He was Tiger of the Month for trait of Creative.

Noah plays the trumpet and went from beginner to intermediate within a year...!

He scored the highest reading level out of the entire school, reading at a second semester Freshman level.

I am bursting with joy and pride from this boy.

He makes me happy everyday.

I loved this speech his teacher wrote about him for the assembly.

Just thought that I would share.

"Since the first day of school, you've impressed me with many creative qualities.  You are very expressive in your writing. It comes alive and grabs the attention of the reader because of your ability to add creative elements.  The use of adjectives and adverbs in "My Favorite Foods" made my mouth water! I could almost taste the popcorn shrimp, chicken salad and strawberry swirled cheesecake!

You are also eager to share the creative ways you have found to solve many math problems.  You're creativity as well as critical thinking skills have provided opportunities for your group and the entire class to learn different strategies and techniques to be successful. 

Noah, you are also able to express yourself verbally in ways that indicate you have knowledge beyond your years.  You're intelligent, have a great sense of humor, and an imagintation that has shaped you into a creative and special young man. It is a pleasure to have you as my student!"

Baby Chicks...!

A simple, cost-effective project for the classroom at Spring Time would have to be Baby Chicks.

They're so sweet to create...!

I'm sure you have all seen some type of Chickie.

When I was gathering materials, a teacher next to me was checking how much yellow pom poms were to make this same project in her classroom. She said she usually uses cottonballs for it. I told her that I add feathers, so we walked to the feathers together and she picked up a bag as well.

I like to think the egg carton part is a nest which is why I had all the kids paint it brown. Everyone else thought it was a chick hatching from an egg...! So maybe paint it white or use white egg cartons if going in that direction? You can recycle, use whatever you have on hand and still be able to pull off a great craft. 

Spring Chickens are super cute...!

Exploring Easter Activities.

One evening I was reading my Focus On The Family Magazine and I came across this article called Exploring Easter.

Lately, it seems like I've seen or done it all in magazines or even online...and I've been feeling sort of un-inspired. I haven't been posting things we do around here because I feel like it's maybe something people have seen before as well....even when I think I come up with it.

This article however, brought me back to the Reason for Easter.

Normally, I would never copy an article and put it on here...but I don't want to change the wording too much. I want you to get the jest of the activities.

North Americans celebrate Easter in a variety of ways — treat-filled baskets, egg hunts, new Sunday clothes. Although there is nothing wrong with these traditions, Easter is so much bigger than dyed eggs and bunnies. As Christians, we celebrate Christ's resurrection and the new life He gives us.

To help you bring the Easter story to life for your children, the editors of Thriving Family have compiled a week of Christ-focused activities. They are not meant to replace your family's traditional Easter activities, but to help your children learn more about Jesus' sacrifice and victory over death at Easter.

Palm Sunday

In Jesus' time, palm branches were used in celebrations or to honor dignitaries. Read John 12:12-13. Have your kids make palm branches out of green construction paper and decorate the dinner table with their creations. Place extra "branches" on a path from the entryway to the table to mark a path of honor. Before dinner, discuss the meaning of Hosanna, which could have been an appeal for divine help or salvation, or a way to praise Jesus. Ask your children what they might shout if they saw Jesus coming down the road today.

Monday

Bake bread as a family, and discuss why Jesus called himself the Bread of Life. Point out that just as bread gives us nutrition and sustains us physically, Jesus offers us eternal life and sustains us spiritually. Put the bread in a basket. Then add some Easter goodies and at least one item that shares the Easter message, such as a bookmark, tract or Biblezine (for tweens). Deliver the basket to someone who may need an extra dose of kindness this week.

Tuesday

Make an Easter picture tree. Anchor a small branch in a pot. Have your kids look through magazines and cut out images that remind them of Jesus. Examples: A lamp because He is the Light of the World or a road because He is the one way to heaven. Glue pictures on card stock, attach short pieces of string, and hang the pictures on the branches.

Wednesday

Send your children on an Easter scavenger hunt. Instruct them to find items that symbolize different parts of the Easter story. Examples: A rock (the tomb), two sticks (the Cross), something black (sin), something red (blood), something white (a clean heart), something green (growing in Christ). Older children can go on a digital scavenger hunt, taking photographs of items that remind them of Easter.

Thursday

1.Experience your own Maundy Thursday foot-washing ceremony. Fill a bucket with water. Grab a few towels, gather your family, and share the story found in John 13:1-17. Then take turns washing each other's feet and praying for one another.

2.Read Luke 22:39-46. Visit a garden or park and pray there. Chat about Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. Have your kids talk about what plans they have for tomorrow and what Jesus may have been thinking about for the next day.

3.Talk with your children about a time when a friend hurt their feelings. Read Matthew 26:14-16, 47-56. Then give your children a dollar bill. Ask if they would trade it for five nickels. Thirty pennies? Determine which has the most value. Discuss how Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 silver coins and what a poor trade he made. Ask your children how Jesus must have felt when His friend betrayed Him.

Friday

1.Make a cross out of wood scraps. Ask each family member to think of an attitude or action from the past week that they knew didn't make God happy. Have family members write their thoughts on a piece of paper, fold it and pin it to the cross. Talk about how Jesus suffered the punishment for all of our sins so that we would not have to.

2.Place a white carnation in a vase. Read 1 Peter 1:18-19. Discuss with your children what it meant that Jesus was a "lamb without blemish or defect." Add a dozen drops of red food coloring to the water. Watch what happens over the next two or three days. Use the red flower petals as a reminder that Jesus took our sins upon himself when He died on the Cross.

3.Have your kids take turns sharing stories about bullies from school or cyberbullies online. Talk about how people often treat others unkindly because they are hurting inside, and point out that they need forgiveness just like we do. Read the story about the repentant criminal who hung on the cross next to Jesus (Luke 23:39-43). Let your children tell how they may have acted unkind when they didn't take the thoughts or feelings of another into consideration. Lead them in prayer, confessing your failings in this area. Allow your kids time (but don't force them) to confess, also.

Saturday

1.Take a morning walk around your neighborhood. Talk about how spring reminds us of the new life Jesus gives us. Point out the signs of new life that are starting to appear.

2.Let your kids help you clean your windows. Talk about how much better they can see through them afterward. Read Luke 18:31-34. Explain that the disciples did not see clearly at first. They did not understand that Jesus had to die and rise from the dead — until He did!

3.That evening, decorate a plain white tablecloth with fabric markers or a disposable plastic one with Sharpies. Let your children illustrate the tablecloth with symbols of Easter. Use the tablecloth for Easter dinner the following day.

Easter Sunday

1.Read Matthew 27:57-61. Then ask your children for a volunteer. Wrap him or her in toilet paper, or "grave clothes." After your kids have stopped giggling, allow the volunteer to break free from the toilet paper. Talk about how sad the disciples must have felt and how happy they must have been when they saw that Jesus had conquered death.

2.Go to a park, search for an oversized boulder and try to move it. Read Matthew 27:62-66; 28:1-4. Discuss how a large stone couldn't keep Jesus in the tomb and how surprised the soldiers must have been when it was rolled away.

3.During Easter dinner, have cupcakes for dessert with one candle on each. Use trick candles to show how Jesus, the Light of the World, appeared to be extinguished but wasn't. Light the candles and together blow them out. When the candles relight themselves, talk about how everyone thought Jesus' light had disappeared, but it hadn't. He was and still is alive!

4.Take a night hike as a family. Observe how a flashlight ensures safe stepping. Remind your children how Jesus came into the world to guide our steps and show us the way to God.

Weren't these wonderful ideas?

Easter is one of my favorite times of year for traditions and making memories.

It reminds me that no matter what I am going through in life...God is good. He can get me through anything. I need to count my Blessings!

I am going to keep our regular family traditions and incorporate these into the week before Easter.

I hope this article inspires and benefits your Thriving Family!

The link for this article.

Muffin Tin Monday {Easter Themed}

Over at Muffin Tin Mom's Blogsite the theme for this month is Easter/Spring.

So, we thought we'd go with an Easter Theme for our lunch today....a religious Easter Theme since Jesus is the reason we have Easter in the first place....!

Our Muffin Tin Lunch was:

Palm Leaves {lettuce for sandwich}

Cross {turkey sandwich}

Bread of Life {Hawaiian Roll}

Nails {carrots}

Spears {asparagus}

Stones {Rock Candy}

Royal Purple Cloth for the King of Kings {fruit leather}

For He has Risen...! He has Risen Indeed...!

Organizing Finances.

A Bowl Full Of Lemons Weekly Challenge: Finances

The most important thing to Organize, I believe... is Finances.

You can have the clean house, the expensive cars...but if you're drowning in debt...there really cannot be that sense of peace in your heart.

A Bowl Full Of Lemons will take you step-by-step in organizing finances.

The very first thing to do, is sit down with your spouse and make a Monthly Budget.

What we use are these Dave Ramsey's Forms, The Byrd's Nest has them all right on her blogsite instead of searching for them, I just bookmarked her page.

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Noe and I started off by filling out the Monthly Cash Flow Plan. Once we filled that out {make a ton of copies for each month} we used the Basic Quickie Budget Form.

I know it's alot of sitting and filling out, but doing it each month will really really benefit you, your marriage and your family...plus give you that sense of peace.

You can also do the bills like on the movie Confessions Of A Shopaholic with a shot of alcohol every time you open a bill {LOL!}

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Next, we have to fill out a Irregular Income Planning Form. Our family does this form because my husband takes home different amounts of money each check...which is one reason we had such a hard time budgeting and planning in the first place. Fill out the form if you are in the same boat as us with an Irregular Income.

Place your Budget somewhere...!

 Track ALL of your spending for 1 week and see where your money goes.

{Our family has actually tried doing it for a month to see how many times we eat out, etc. }

Keep all your receipts. We keep notepads with us to write down what we spent.

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Create an Envelope System.

{More about the Envelope System here}
Once you establish your budget, start paying cash for your things.
Most bills can be paid online and then you take out your cash from the bank to carry with you using an Envelope System.
When I was getting married 10 years ago, I had no clue about Dave Ramsey...but I used my own envelope system to pay for the wedding. It truly helped us. Over the years, when we noticed we were getting mixed up in our finances...we would revert back to a cash system. It helps to keep the debt down...for us.
This is our Envelope System. There are SO many cute ones out there and trust me, I've contemplated scrapbooking mine up...but my husband and I just share this...and it works for us.
Our envelope also has:
1. Food
2. Gasoline
3. Clothing
4. School Expenses
5. Entertainment

A rule of the Envelope System is once you have spent the budget for each category, you cannot take from another envelope. It defeats the purpose of budgeting.

The next step in the Challenge was to create a Budget Box or Budget Binder.

A Bowl Full Of Lemons goes into detail on the categories of the Budget Box here.

We have a Budget Filing System.

In our File Cabinet, we carry a box of Billing Supplies like Stamp, Envelopes, Calculator, Check Book, etc.

On our computer desk, for easy access, is our Budget Filing System.

{Got it at the Container Store}

It contains our Bills, Paid Bills, Savings Accounts, Dave Ramsey Forms, Receipts, etc.

It is so convenient for Noe and I to both know where everything is...!

The last step in Organizing Your Finances is to Create Your Debt Snowball.

Details of the Debt Snowball are here.

Use the Debt Snowball Form found here.

List your Debts in order from Smallest to Largest that you want to pay off. Follow the instructions on the form.

These are Dave Ramsey's Baby Steps...remember the key word...baby steps. You can be on step #2 paying of all your debt for years, but don't get discouraged. Keep at it...!

Dave Ramsey's 7 Baby Steps:

1. $1000 to start an Emergency Fund

2. Pay off all debt using the Debt Snowball

3. 3-6 months of expenses in savings

4. Invest 15% of income into Roth IRAs & pre-tax retirement

5. College fund for children

6. Pay off home early

7. Build wealth and give!

Finances are easy for some people...and difficult for others.

How I was raised is completely different than how my husband was raised. So, we've budded heads many times over the years about this subject. We're still learning. I'm still learning.

We're almost debt free. Almost...! No loans or credit cards or anything like that. I finally paid off my doctor bills after 2 years from surgeries...and if you've noticed from previous posts my daughter was recently sick and in the hospital. Now we have doctors, hospital and ambulance bills again.

I recommend to pray first. Really truly pray about your finances. Be on the same page as the Lord and as your husband...!

I'll pray blessings on my readers families as well....!

Peeps...!

Can you believe that I never liked Peeps when I was little?

Poor innocent Peeps.

I gave them a second chance as I got older and you know what...they are pretty darn good....!

This little guy and I are friends...!

For Family Night, we made some Peep S'Mores.

 Peep Bars are delicious...!

{BTW...whatever you do....don't Google Peep Bars. LOL Big Mistake on my part!}

 

 If you downloaded my Monthly Home Evening Lessons for April, there are some cute recipes on there....Resurrection Rolls and Bunny S'mores in a jar {I wish I found my jar picture from last year to put on here, but Google S'more in a jar and you'll get the idea!}

These Bunny Peep Bars in a jar are great gifts for teachers, family, friends and neighbors.

If you're making them at home:

Combine 11/2 cups of Crushed Graham Crakers {1 sleeve}

1 1/2 cups of Marshmallows or 8 Peeps

1 1/12 cups of M&M's or Chocolate Chips

1/3 cup Brown Sugar

Mix all together and add 1/2 cup Melted Butter and 1 tsp Vanilla.

Press into a baking pan.

If you're using Peeps, put them on top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Give these babies another chance if you haven't already....!

Kitchen Organization...!

A Bowl Full Of Lemons Weekly Challenge: Kitchen Organization...!

I got busy trying to organize the kitchen as inexpensive and space saavy as I could right now.

Here is my little place that it seems like I spend all day in....!

{Click on pictures to make bigger}

 I needed my coffee this morning...!

 I have a ton of Baking Stuff. 

This is actually really organized. When I pulled it all out, I was thinking how in the world I get an entire baking aisle in one cupboard space?

Although, my MIL saw my pans and showed me how to scrub them correctly! {LOL} I guess I needed the lesson. Seriously! It's better than buying new stuff.

 To be honest, my Kitchen was pretty organized already. I did take everything out of the cupboards...wipe them all down...and rearrange some...which is why it took me so long.

 This contact paper was from the Dollar Tree.

Isn't it pretty?!

Containers and everything from Dollar Tree as well.

 This is under the Kitchen Sink.

I had to show my stove. This baby took 2 days to scrub down.

I did the trick with the grates where you stick them in a storage sized plastic bag with ammonia overnight. The stuff came off easier. I still had to scrub, let me tell you...but not as much as I was before.

Thanks for visiting Our Heart Of The Home...!

Spring Cleaning {Refrigerator}

We're Spring Cleaning around here and the kitchen was the first thing that needed to be scrubbed...!

Despite, Noe protesting posting these embarrassing pictures...I decided to...we're all human right? Nobody is perfect. Certaintly not my fridge!

The contractor who built our house, for some reason put our fridge in by the window and then built the ledge of the window sill. So, we cannot pull the refrigerator out or in and cannot open the fridge door all the way. Makes no sense! I haven't been able to clean my fridge for 4 years now. Yep, 4 years of crude on the bottom!

I was determined to inch that fridge out little by little....I almost took a saw and cut my window sill off to be able to open the fridge door all the way!

Noe got them out after a whole lotta trying...!

Here are my before pictures....

Shaking my head in horror....

 Eeewww.....

 Now......

 It's so white and sparkly, almost blinding...!

Smells great...!

 I almost hated filling it back up.

These are the kids snack buckets. Each time we go grocery shopping, we fill them up.

 It's so much better.

*Ya....we usually don't have two gigantic Ranch Dressings. LOL We had a potluck and some friends left the Costco sized one.

 We cleaned the freezer also...!

Isn't it amazing how good a little elbow grease and organization can give some butterflies?!