A Couple of Chores a Day then spend the rest with your KIDS to play!!

To clean or not to clean... That is definitely the question right now. Or maybe it's, When and where do I fit in time to clean AND be the best Mom I can be??

Finding the balance between being a great hands on, fully involved parent and having a clean house is H-A-R-D! I know some folks whose homes are spotless, who are also crazy because they can't find the middle road between cleaning and spending time with their kiddos. I also know a few folks whose homes have gone to you know where in a hand basket, BUT spend every waking moment with their children.

So, who do I agree with? Well, both. I think they are both somewhat insanely right and wrong. Am I judging either of them? Absolutely not. If you haven't already noticed, I am too trying to find this balance!

A single girlfriend, with no children, and I were talking the other day about this very topic. She, as I do, agreed, that being a Mom is much more important than having a perfectly clean home. BUT, being a good mom does also involve some cleanliness around the house, for reasons of which are very obvious.

My new motto is, "A couple of chores a day, then spend the rest of the time with your kids to play"!

Wherever you can squeeze them (the chores, not the kiddos) whatever works for you, is what you should do.

At the end of the day, OR, as a matter of fact, looking back at the end of your life... Are you really going to say to yourself, "Should I have cleaned my house more"? I don't think so! If anything, it will be, "I should have spent more time with my kiddos".

For now, I think I'll leave the playroom the way it is :-)

Tata,
Mama

Fall Whole Chicken Yuminess

Yummedy Yum Yum!

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375

Take one whole chicken (mine was 4-5 lbs), rinse, smother with butter, rosemary, lemon juice, salt, pepper and onion powder.

Cut up any hearty veggies such as, carrots, onion, green beans, potatoes, etc...

Place everything in oven pan
Cover and cook for about an hour and a half, then remove cover and cook another 15 minutes or so.

Thermometer check for 170 degrees.

Enjoy this fall yuminess!!!!

WINTER PILLOWCASE DRESS

Now that Winter is upon us...
These fun little pillowcase dresses can be worn in the winter with tights and a long sleeved shirt underneath!
SO easy to make!

"Please make it again" PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP BREAD

For that past three or so Fall seasons, I have been making THE BEST, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread. I finally decided it's too delicious not to share.
Try it. You'll LOVE it!

This particular recipe makes 3 large and 1 small loaves, which is perfect if you are planning to give some to friends or family. If not, simply cut it in half!

Ingredients:

Sift together:
3 and 1/2 cups of flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 and 1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsps. baking soda

Beat:
3 cups sugar (you can cut this to 2 or 2 and 1/2 if you'd like)
1 and 1/4 cup oil
4 eggs
2/3 cup water

Combine both bowls and add in 1 can of pumpkin (15oz.)
Stir in 1 bag of chocolate chips, **I love using dark chocolate chips**

Grease pans

Pour batter in pans and bake 1 hour at 350 degrees.

Enjoy!

Turkey Meatballs with Marinara

I know. Turkey Meatballs may not sound so splendid, but they are delish indeed!
This is a fast fix. You can make the meatballs two days or two minutes before you need them. Fast, healthy, and most importantly, the whole family will love them.
This is one of my 2 year old's favorites!

Turkey Meatballs
1 lb of Ground Turkey
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 to a 1/2 cup parm cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Mix all ingredients &
Roll into tablespoon sized balls
Place in a 9x9 (size of pan is optional)
Pour 2 cups of your favorite marinara sauce over the meatballs

Cook for 20 minutes.
Serve over your favorite pasta or by themselves as an appetizer.