Campfire Cake - yep, you read it right

Campfire Cake

Before preparing cake make a HOT fire to ensure you have a good bed of coals to cook your cake in.



 

Ingredients and needed supplies:
1 Box of yellow cake mix
Eggs (however many the cake mix directions tell you)
1 15 oz. can of sliced peaches, reserve the syrup/juice
Vegetable or Canola Oil
Flour
Large Iron Skillet
Tin Foil

Directions:
Grease and flour the iron skillet.  Remove the peaches from the can reserving the syrup/juice.  Place the peaches in a pattern onto the greased and floured skillet.  (See above)
Use the cake mixes box and add the called for amount of eggs, oil, and cake mix to a bowl.  Instead of the called for water use the reserved juice/syrup from peach can...add water only if you do not get the full measurement.

 Mix batter until well blended and pour over the peaches in the iron skillet being sure all the peaches are covered.  Cover the skillet tightly with tin foil.

 Place the cake in your fire pit making sure there are coals on all sides of the skillet.  Bake cake in fire pit until done about 20-30 minutes.
Loosen the cake on all side with a butter knife and flip the cake from skillet onto a platter or cookie sheet.  Serve and enjoy!

our beautiful desert baked right next to our hobo packs

Why I LOVE Layaway!

Okay summer is here, but whether we look forward to it or not school will be starting up before we know it.  One thing I always DO NOT look forward to is the back to school shopping.  My family is always on a tight budget and I'm not a huge fan of running around from store to store with an 8 year old, 6 year old, and YIKES a 1 year old.  My solution is layaway. 
I know to many people layaway has a stigma attached to it but over this past year I have begun to appreciate it.  Here where I live you can do layaway at both KMart and Toys R Us, both stores that carry clothing.  Yesterday I started my first layaway order.  Both of my girls need shoes and sports gear for start of the new school year, so I started with those first.  The thing I love most is the ease of  shopping online and placing my whole lay away order on the computer, I then pick the store I want to pick up from, and even make my payments online. 
The store actually gives me a full 8 weeks to pay off my layaway, but because my husband is paid on a weekly basis I actually pay each week so that I'm able to have the order paid off in 4 weeks, leaving me time to place another lay away before school starts if needed.  I love this because we can afford to pay $10-$15 week to pay for our payments, but it is much harder to pay $100 out of a week's check at once.
Benefits of Lay Away:
- shop for your order online
-make payments online
-no interest on the order (there is a one time fee of $5 associated with it though)
-receive the sale prices at time of lay away
-easier to make little bite size payments rather that one huge out of pocket expense
-forces you to plan ahead, planning ahead = savings and no impulse buying
-lots of selection, but no running from store to store.

I plan on using lay away starting in September to get ready for Christmas.  I look forward to having most of my Christmas shopping complete with no debt accrued by December.  Happy Lay Awaying!

My Favorite Quick Tips for Around the House

Here are some tips for house keeping in general that I like to use around my own home.

-Deodorize your carpet with baking soda.  Sprinkle the baking soda very liberally all over and let sit for 2 or 3 hours.  Then vacum up.  I like this because it can't hurt the baby or the dogs because it is natural and baking soda is a natural deodorizer. 

-No storage for your tupperware?  Use a plastic laundry basket to stack those bowls and lids.  They are all in one place and you can store the basket at the bottom of your pantry or a closet near the kitchen.

-Use a white board that sticks on your fridge.  Keep a monthly calendar on it to keep track of chores, also use it to list your weekly menu, upcoming event, and keep track of meats in the freezer.  A blank whiteboard is really inexpensive and you can make the calendar by hand.

-Don't let those garden weeds get a chance to take over your garden.  Pick a day every week that is your weeding day.  I like to do Friday mornings...if it is done on a weekly basis it should really only take 15-20 minutes weekly.  Tip:  Use a meat fork to loosen up soil around a stubborn weed.

-Do one big glass cleaning trip a week.  Starting on one side of the house start cleaning mirrors, picture frames, windows, tv's, and other glass (including bathroom mirrors)...dirties only one rag or paper towel and this chore really takes only minutes to complete once you start.

-Laundry...keep your laundry on a cycle.  In the morning pull the clothes out of the dryer, fold and put away.  Place a load in the wash, switch over to the dryer at lunch...start over the next day.

Taking Care of You

Okay, we are all guilty of taking care of everyone around us, but not ourselves.  We easily spend money on sports programs for our kids or agree on money being spent on our husband's hobbies, such as fishing...but what about us?  It is time to challenge ourselves to some self care.  What is self care?  Well when was the last time you had a hair cut or trim?  A pedicure/manicure?  How about finding time to excercise?  Yep, I don't remember the last time either.
Everyone has different needs and likes.  Some find the time for self maintenance but neglect their creative side.  While others manage to get out for their evening walk, but never seem to have the time to have time with the girls.  Below is a list of ideas to inspire you to take a little time out for yourself.  If you don't find the time no one will find it for you.
Appearance
-make yourself an appointment (finally) for your summer cut and/or color.  If money is tight check into cosmetology schools, they often give really good rates.  Also, you and a friend can help each other by taking turns coloring each others hair.
-put a movie on for the kids and hubby then lock yourself in your bedroom for a pedicure and manicure.  Soak your feet, dry them really well, lotion them up, and put a pretty nail polish on your toes.  The 99C Store has a good selection of manicure and pedicure goodies.
Health
-Join a mom's walking group.  You'd be surprised by the amount of moms that meet at parks and malls each morning to walk.  Many of them toting young ones and strollers.  Great opportunity to walk off calories and chat with some friends.
-Join a fitness club or class.  Fitness clubs offer lots of fun ways to exercise including the Zumba dance.  Some city recreation centers offer free fitness classes free or for really low prices.
-Join a sport you enjoy.  There are lots of softball, soccer, and volleyball leagues out there, its a fun way to exercise.
Social
-Look on social networks for groups with your interests to join locally.  In my area there is a mommies group which I enjoy.  We schedule meet-ups a couple of times a week.  The kids play and we chat.
-Check the library for a book club to join.
-I know this doesn't sound like much of a "me" thing but volunteer for your child's school or join their PTA.  This is a great opportunity to meet other women close to your age and helping others really can make you feel good.
Creative
-If you love to scrapbook but don't have the time, try registering online for digital scrap booking, like snapfish.com.  You can use your creativity to scrapbook, but you don't have to develop film or take the time to pull out all the scrapbooking stuff and then worry about the clean up.
-Register for an art class or photography at your local community college.  Its a chance for you to get away from the house and do something you enjoy at least once a week.
-Join a creative women's group (sometimes you can find a local one online on social networks).  These groups meet up a couple of times a week and craft together. 

Make it your goal to cut some time out for yourself.  If you don't take care of yourself who will.  I think by taking care of yourself, you are better able to care for those around you.

Meal Planning June 23-28

Time to take advantage of the crock pot and BBQ cause it is hot! 

Day 1 - Having company over so we are making a Grill Platter.
Grilling up thin chicken breasts, eggplant, onion, plum tomato halves, zucchini, and some thick slices of  bread.  Serving it with Cesar Salad, black olives and a Feta Vinaigrette.

Day 2 - Frizzled Egg Spinach Salad
This is a new recipe I'm trying, I'll let you know how it goes next week and post the recipe if it is good.

Day 3 - Chicken & Bean Stew

Day 4 - Hamburgers and Potato Salad

Day 5 - Grilled Hamsteaks, Green beans, & Mashed Potatoes

Day 6 - Pork Roast with veggies from the crockpot

Day 7 - Sausage Spaghetti and Cesar Salad

Pineapple/Mango Smoothie

 Wanting a cool treat?  Lately I've been noticing mangos on sale at 4/$1 so I've been stocking up.  What to do with so many mangos?  Smoothies of course!  Try this inexpensive recipe.  It's yummy and good for you too.

Ingredients:
1 15 oz. can of pineapple chunked in juice
3 ripe mango's
1 8 oz. container of peach yogurt (plain or vanilla is good too)
1 cup of ice

Directions:
Open can of pineapple chunks.  Remove chunks of pineapple place into a container and place in freezer for at least 3 hours.  Reserve juice from can and place in refrigerator.
In a blender place cut up mango, frozen pineapple chunks, pineapple juice, yogurt and ice.  Blend until smooth in blender.

Makes 2-3 large servings of smoothie...ENJOY!

Reuse Disposable Swimming Diapers

From The Frantic Woman's Guide to Life by Mary Jo Rulnick & Judith Burnett Schneider

Hidden Gem* If you have an infant or toddler who'll be getting in the water with you, chances are good that you'll be purchasing and packing some disposable swimming diapers.  But when you're swimming every day, doesn't the cost of their convenience just kill you -- especially when some babies are only in the water for such a short period of time?  And isn't it a shame that they come so few in a package?  Not really!  While these pants are labeled "disposable," you can actually wash them in the washer using hot water and your usual laundry detergent, dry them in the dryer, and reuse them several times -- provided the child only urinates in them.  When the material on the sides of the pants begins to show signs of thinning (usually after three to five washings), discard and start another pair.  Now, you can confidently change these disposable swimming pants on your toddler several times a day and not have to break your budget to do it.