Oh Old Friend, I Missed You

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 1 Comment

I have fallen back in love with my crock-pot.  I know there are some of you who just stopped breathing for a minute, wondering how someone as busy as me, forgot about her crock-pot.  I know it’s crazy, but it was always “too much trouble” before.  Oh how wrong I was.

Since our recent financial issues–owing the IRS a few arms and legs and our recent commitment to living on a cash only basis–we have been eating at home every night.  EVERY. NIGHT.  We have made it all month with one splurge on a recent date night–we ordered pizza from our local pizza place and picked it up ($17 bucks for the best pizza ever) and a stop at our local frozen custard (HEAVEN).  One of the things that has helped with this has been the crock-pot.  For the past 5 or 6 Sundays I have made something in there, that give us left overs for lunch for almost the entire week.  I can’t believe that I let this amazing and easy appliance, toil in my dark urban basement.

I’ve made Turkey chili–which was amazing, beef stew–also great, pulled pork (so good),  turkey soup, machaca and pulled pork again (that’s how much we liked it).  My life has gotten just a little easier and less stressful.  We are also all eating healthier and aren’t spending money eating out.

So ladies, what are your favorite crock-pot recipes/dishes?

Mother Nature You’re Such A Tease

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / Leave a comment

So it’s been spring weather here for the past 4 days.  It’s been a bit odd as until late yesterday there was still ice and snow on the ground in many places.  Spring fever is in full swing here and I know it isn’t here to stay.  It’ll be 28 in the morning Tuesday with a high around 40.  I know there are many of you laughing at my complaints about 40 degree weather (Hi Steph) but today it was 76.  It is just down right cruel to go from summer back to winter in a span of 4 days.  Just cruel.

We have been enjoying the warm weather and the kids don’t think winter should come any more.

Letters

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 3 Comments

Noah’s class is doing a unit on letters. The kids are fascinated with letters and write notes (draw pictures) in class and put them in each others mailboxes.

They recently write letters to pen pals at a neighboring school. It’s cute.

I love letters. I shared with Noah that I have all my letters/notes from high school. While he can’t read them noelr should he, we talked how special letters and communicating in writing is. Maybe he’ll be a letter writer for life.

You’re Going To Catch A Cold, From The Ice Inside Your Soul

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / Leave a comment

This line from Christina Perri’s song “Jar of Hearts” is delightful when a 3-year-old sings it.  “Jar of Hearts” is Zoë’s favorite song.  She asks to listen to it at the babysitter’s (that is who introduced her to the song).  She now listens to it on my iPhone and sings along.  Zoë is a music girl and know what she likes.  She is just now able to sing the whole chorus or the refrain (I don’t know what it’s called–the part that is repeated between each verse).  It’s adorable.