Mug Banana Bread

So one day, when I had nothing to do....yeah, right.  Truth...my youngest daughter wanted to watch Elmo on the computer.  So while she watched Elmo, I browsed through recipes to try on Pinterest.  ( you may find me here on Pinterest.) Not just any recipe,  I needed easy gluten free recipes.  (Gluten free?  Yes, I'll share the story another day, when I am bored, I mean, when I have a moment.)  I have had a few fails with some recipes, but I am not afraid to try.

I came across this Mug Banana Bread and thought it would be easy to substitute gluten free flour.   I also liked that it only used half of a banana.  I don't know about you, but in this house, all of the bananas get eaten except for the last one.  One!  What do I do with one banana besides make a smoothie or freeze it for later (which of course means it is forgotten about)?  I have the answer.  Try this recipe that I found here that links to Vittles and Bits .

Sorry, I forgot to get a picture of the bread in the mug...I guess that means I'll need to make it again.

Mug Banana Bread

3 T + 1 tsp all purpose gluten free flour

2 tsp sugar (or 1 packet stevia or sweetener of your choice equivalent to 2t sugar)

2 T brown sugar

1/8 tsp salt

1/8 tsp baking powder

1/8 baking soda

1 egg

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1 T vegetable oil

1 T lowfat milk

half a banana, mashed

cinnamon, for sprinkling (optional)

In a large microwaveable mug lightly misted with non-stick spray, blend flour, sugars, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.  Add egg and mix until all the dry ingredients are incorporated.  Stir in vanilla, oil, and milk, then mashed banana.  Microwave 1 1/2 to 3 minutes depending on your microwave.  (Mine took 2 1/2 minutes)

Enjoy!

Card Games...

Let's make homeschooling fun!  It is really easy to do and it is simple.  Many families already do this and may not realize that they are homeschooling.  What is this simple, easy trick?  Playing card games.  

This card game is called Story Smash Up.  In this game, you create sentences using word cards that feature your favorite scenes from Disney movies.  The more you play, the funnier the sentences.  It is a great way to talk about nouns, verbs, and sentence fragments.  You can even use them to answer the Who, Did What, Where questions.

Santa's Recycle Program

Have you heard of Elf on the Shelf?  (If no, go here.)

We have one named Percy.  This year, I wanted my kids to take a bigger part of cleaning out their room for the new stuff.  I came up with Santa's Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Program.  Santa sent an email to my kids about this program.  This email basically said that our Elf, Percy, will be bringing toys bags for broken and unwanted toys.  The Elf will take them back to the North Pole when he 'flies' back to give Santa the daily behavior report.  The unwanted toys will be passed on to other well behaved children.  The broken ones will be fixed and returned, if wanted, or passed on.

I have also decided that on Christmas Eve, Santa will also leave his presents in their bags, instead of wrapping them or putting them under a blanket.

I made a simple pull string bag.  What do you think?

No Hot Water

What do you do if you wake up and your husband tells you there is no hot water?  Did I mention that it is Saturday and many companies double their service rate just to come out to see what is wrong?  Don't even ask about the cost of the pieces to replace what is broken.  Oh, and your husband can't help because he has to go to Annual Training.  So what is a girl to do?  She calls her Dad and does some 'research' via the internet and a friend.

First thing, Electric tester.  I didn't have one so I borrowed one from my neighbor.  (similiar to this )  He explained how to use it.  No problem.  I knew where the elements are located on my water heater so I checked both of them.  The bottom one gave me a reading, but the top element did not.  So, next I called Lowe's to see if they would have replacement elements for my water heater.  Also, mentioned that I might need additional info on how to change them.  :)  

So I loaded up my kids and headed to Lowe's.  The gentleman that helped me was very helpful by finding me the correct elements and the tool.  He was a little surprised to learn that I knew to turn off the electricity  and water to the tank, drain the tank, and most importantly to not turn the electricity back on without water in the tank.  I did replace both elements since I had to drain the tank anyway.  

Armed with the tool and new element piece, I came home and turned off water and electricity to the water heater.  Then I hooked up a hose to drain the tank.  While waiting for the tank to drain, I disconnected the wires to the elements.  I then had to use a mini sledge to help loosen the old elements.  This is what one of the old elements looked like that I pulled out.  

Before putting in the new element, be sure to remove the old o-ring piece.

Place new o-ring on new element and place it into heater.  Tighten.  Do this for both elements. Turn on water, to refill tank. When tank if full, you may turn on electricity.  It may take a few minutes before you have hot water.  So don't worry, if it takes a while to warm up.  

Talk about savings?

Cost of pieces at Lowe's $25...

Cost of just service call (parts not included) from local Company $130

I SAVED over $105 by doing it myself.

Mission: Turn Basement into More Usable Space

Again, with the temperature outside in the 100s, we have been playing in our basement a lot.  I am tired of walking through the stuff.  I decided to again work on cleaning out the basement and turn it into a room for our homeschool.  (I did some things last year found here and here.)


Where to start?  Let's play what is in boxes?  I came across one box with 2 different labels...

What is really in it?  I knew that it wasn't anything corrosive or liquid, but it could be really light and easy to move if it had empty binders and folders....  Wrong again!

It was really filled with heavy hardback books.

Ever notice when you clean, you actually make a bigger mess to start?  

Notice all the stuff behind the kids...

Even the dog comes to hang out with us and to watch us play.   Really the dog is just another obstacle for me to work around when moving/sorting boxes.  

 I did most of the work when I had just my youngest little helper. 

My two older children went to Nana's house for a few days. Let's see what I can get done while they are gone.  Better yet, let's see what I can move out :)

Snow White

It seems like a lot of people are going to Disney.  

(We are not going to Disney any time soon...still working on paying off our debt. )

 Some friends have been asking me if I can make Disney dresses.  You may remember the Disney pillowcase dress/outfit that I made.  Another friend asked about a Snow White Dress.  

I was putting off making this dress for one reason...elastic thread.  There I said it.  I was afraid.  Turns out it was nothing to be afraid of.  :)  Now my 2 girls also want a Snow White Dress.    

If you would like to learn to use elastic thread, here is a tutorial.  

Hanging Organizer

I found a picture on  Pinterest  (find me here)  of this organizer being used in the car for books.   I thought it would work great when we travel.  A friend of mine also wanted one for her car and asked if I would make one for her.  

 There was not a 'how-to' for this one, but I thought how hard could it be?  It wasn't hard at all.  In fact, I'll be making a few more ...one for my car and some for our homeschool folders.  

Here is my little helper.  Isn't she cute?