The Homemaking Party

We've all been having a blast with my mom---she's been here a week. Jamie took this picture of me and mom with all the kids...

And then she took one of all of us! Today we'll be meeting some cousins from Oklahoma who are driving over to see us. We've never met any of our family from there before---super excited!

Hope you're having a blessed week too! Thanks for stopping by the Homemaking Party!

Make Bake Create Party

Welcome to the Make Bake Create Party! 5 blogs-1 party-lots of fun!

Apple Sauce Chicken Recipe #FlavorofFall #shop #cbias

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FlavorofFall #CollectiveBias

It's beautiful, glorious, wonderful fall here in Northwest Arkansas and I'm taking advantage of every moment! I've got all kinds of plans this season: beautiful walks, cozy socks, and lots of tasty treats and Fall recipes for comfort foods too! Apple is my Flavor of Fall this year and I plan to use it in ways I'd never considered before. This Applesauce Chicken is a great start. I made a piece just for me the other day and it was so moist and flavorful! Stay tuned for the recipe later on down the post, as well as a great dessert idea featuring fall-colored M&M's®.

This is my yard in mid November. When it looks like this outside, how can I not be inspired? 

Last week I went to Walmart to stock up on delicious ingredients. They're all stocked up for autumn celebrations and have all the great M&M's flavors together in one spot. This year's featured flavor is Candy Apple. I found it on the top shelf in this aisle marked, "seasonal". Make sure to grab a coupon before you go:

$1 off any two (2) Mott's sauce or Mott's juice drink 

$1.50 off any two (2) M&M's brand chocolate candies 

I also grabbed a bag of plain M&M's with fall colors, as well as some Mott's applesauce and apple juice. I've enjoyed Mott's applesauce since I was in grade school and I always like to use their juice to make cider.

My husband has a favorite family recipe for Applesauce Chocolate Chip cookies. I changed it up a bit to include M&M's and they were yummy! I'd recommend mixing up the batter without the M&M's and then just adding a few to the top after you've scooped it out onto the pan. Otherwise, the moistness of the batter will cause the colors to run. 

Applesauce Chocolate Chip Cookies w/ M&M's

2 c. sugar

1 c. butter

4 eggs

1 1/2 c. applesauce

2 tsp. baking soda

4 c. sugar

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. salt

1 bag chocolate chips

1 bag M&M's

Mix sugar and butter until smooth, then mix in eggs. Mix in applesauce and baking soda. Then mix in the remaining dry ingredients. Stir in chocolate chips and scoop out onto a baking sheet. Add a few M&M's on top and press down. Bake at 400º for 10-12 minutes.

Finally, my Applesauce Chicken recipe. This is just such a moist and delicious way to make chicken. You won't be disappointed.

Applesauce Chicken

4 boneless chicken breasts

½ tsp. thyme

¼ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. pepper

2 Tb. oil

1/2 onion, thinly sliced

1c. applesauce

1 c. apple juice

Rub chicken with thyme, salt and pepper. Heat oil over medium high heat and fry chicken until brown on both sides, then transfer to a plate. Add onions to pan and cook until almost clear. Add applesauce and stir for a couple minutes. Then add apple juice and bring to a boil. Place chicken back in pan, cover, and cook five minutes on each side. Serve with as much or as little of the applesauce onion mixture as you'd like.

Don't forget your coupon!


Linking with:
Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Through Life
A Return to Loveliness @ A Delightsome Life 
Teach Me Tuesday @ Growing Home
Tutorial Tuesdays with Hope Studios
Women Helping Women @ Teaching What Is Good 
(Titus 2)s Days @ Time Warp Wife
The Scoop @Stone Gable

The Homemaking {& More!} Party

The day is finally here and we're all so excited! My mom is here for two weeks! Yay! Yay! 

I've just started up a new email subscription service and would love it if you'd sign up to receive my updates in your inbox. See the pink box in the sidebar to sign up.

Hope you all have a blessed week and weekend! 

Make Bake Create Party

Welcome to the Make Bake Create Party! 5 blogs-1 party-lots of fun!

5 Things You Might Not Know About Saving Campbell's Soup Labels #Labels4Edu #shop #cbias

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #Labels4Edu #CollectiveBias

In 1973, Campbell's Soup Company launched a program to help families improve their local schools. By saving the labels from soup cans, they gained points that schools could use for equipment and supplies. Since then, America's schools and organizations have earned over $114 million dollars worth of merchandise through the Labels For Education program. 

Anyone who has been involved with a public school probably gets that nagging feeling whenever they throw away a Campbell's can without slicing off the label first---even if they don't have a school to give it to. It's just one of those funny American culture things; and since I'm on the subject of culture, here's five things you might not know about saving Campbell's Soup labels... 

1. It's Not Just Soup. 

Labels for Education can be found on lots of products like beverages and cereal. There are over 2,500 products that carry an eligible label. You can check out this product list for all participating brands and items.

In fact, I found lots of products at Walmart that participate in the Labels For Education program. I bought some marinara sauce for my meatballs the other night and was happy to see the program info on the back of the jar. You can find coupons for participating items by visiting the site. 

2. It's Not Just For Public Schools.

Many people don't realize that the Labels For Education program also benefits homeschooling organizations, private schools, libraries, day care centers, and more. Check out the site's FAQ for a list of eligible organizations.

3. It's Not Just Labels.

While most products have you saving the UPC portion of the label, on other things, like beverages or sauce, it's the cap you'll hold on to. Just look for the orange Labels For Education logo on the label to see if it's eligible.

4. It's Not Just For People with Young Kids

Grandparents and friends can save labels too. Put a manila envelope somewhere for collecting and, once it's full, either give it to a kid you know or mail it in to your local school. You'll be able to track the school's progress, as well as see what they're wishing for, on the program's website. 

5. It's Not Just For Food.

Some non-food items, like Bic pens and highlighters, also carry the labels. Again, check the product list for a full line up of participating brands. Make sure to check out the Labels For Education sweepstakes where 1,000 schools will win $1,000!

Remember that meatball dinner I told you about? Well, it was delicious! Here's a recipe for Italian meatballs that go well with Prego marinara.

Italian Meatballs (makes about 40)

1 lb. ground beef
1 lb. ground Italian sausage
1/4 c. finely chopped onions
1/2 c. Italian bread crumbs
1 egg
1/2 c. water
1/4 c. grated Parmesan 
2 tsp. dried parsley flakes
2 tsp. dried basil
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 350º. Using your hands, mix all ingredients together in a large bowl and then form the mixture into a ball, cover, and refrigerate for one hour. Remove from fridge and form into golf-ball sized balls. Arrange them on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake 15-20 minutes, until done in the middle. Serve with marinara sauce and pasta. Yum!

#ad General Tso's 5 Minute Rice Bowl #GameTimeHero #shop #cbias

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GameTimeHero #shop #cbias

Jamie and I were checking out our September schedule last night and comparing it to our January calendar. Wow! We are so busy! With kids activities, church functions, and time spent with friends, we're hopping almost every night. I love to find new ideas for quick meals that my family will enjoy, and this 5 Minute Rice Bowl, using deli wings from Walmart, is a perfect meal-in-one for a busy night. 

The Walmart deli is the place to find good quality Tyson chicken when you want to put together a hot meal or pick up a snack for game day. Are you tailgating for the next big game? Grab some precooked wings, hot and ready, and you'll be set with a great snack to share.

Cainan, Michael, and I stopped in last weekend to attend a demo at our Walmart deli. The boys got to try out the hot wings and they thought they were pretty great. In addition to Bone-In Hot Wings, the deli also carries General Tso's Boneless wings. You can get them in a Pick 3 Bucket, a plated meal, or purchase by the pound.

It's always great to have something yummy to dip your chicken in and Kraft dressings are a good choice. We picked up both varieties of wings and some Kraft Ranch dressing to dip them in. If I give my family a choice of sauces, Ranch is always the winner.

Our family has been loyal Tyson customers for years. The meat is good quality and actually tastes like...meat! I like it that Tyson doesn't seem to add overpowering seasonings to the meat so the flavor comes through nicely. My husband, especially, was impressed with the flavor and quality of these wings.

Not only is my recipe for General Tso's 5 Minute Rice Bowl, quick---it's also super easy with only three products to pick up. Begin by grabbing half a pound of General Tso's Boneless Wings from the Walmart Deli. You'll also need an oriental flavored rice pouch and some broccoli. With just a couple prep steps, you'll create a fun and flavorful meal for a busy night or to serve to your game day guests.

General Tso's 5 Minute Rice Bowl 
1/2 lb. prepared General Tso's Boneless Chicken Wings
8.8 oz. Teriyaki flavored 90 second rice pouch
1 c. broccoli florets

Begin by boiling the broccoli in a pot of water. While it's cooking, prepare the rice pouch. Slice chicken and mix together in a bowl. Each rice pouch contains two servings, so multiply ingredients as needed!

Huggies® Little Snugglers for a Baby's Second Hug #MC #sponsored

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Huggies and Target. I received samples and a promotional item to facilitate my review.

I've had at least one baby in diapers every day for over 14 years. I've had a chance to try a lot of diapers! One brand I always love for my tiny babies is Huggies® Little Snugglers. Besides the soft material and snug but stretchy waistband, they've also got a built in wetness indicator that I can trust to help me keep the girls' skin dry and non-irritated. My favorite feature though, is the cut out in the waistband for a newborn's umbilical cord. Whenever we have a new baby, I always bring along a bag of newborn Little Snugglers for that reason. Funny thing is, every time I've gone, the hospital already has this brand ready for me. They must know how great they are too!

Who doesn't love to snuggle with soft baby skin? My hug is the first thing my babies feel after being born---skin-to-skin contact is so important for growing infants. The Little Snugglers fit just like a hug with a flexible waistband that is pocketed along the back to keep our babies leak free. They've been redesigned since the last time I used them and now have a new GentleAbsorb® liner for a pillowy layer of protection that helps keep any mess away from the skin.

I like to shop for diapers at Target as they've got these really big boxes. Our closest Target is over 30 minutes away so it's nice to be able to stock up when I go. Little Snugglers diapers can be found in stores nationwide and are available in five sizes, Preemie through Size 3. You can find them for about $11.99 for a Jumbo Pack and $22.99 for a Big Pack.

Are you or a friend expecting a baby? It's easy to create a baby registry at Target.com by clicking on the link at the top of the page that says, registries. Once you're there, make sure to add Huggies Little Snugglers and Natural Care wipes to your other wishes and then upload your list to the Huggies Register Your Wish website. When you do, you'll be entered into a drawing for a year's supply of free diapers!

Writing this post tonight has given me baby fever even more! I've been praying hard for another baby---I hope I do get the chance to have more. I love preparing sweet baby jammies, blankies, and tiny Little Snugglers for my new baby's comfort. Have you used Little Snugglers with your babies?

M&M's® Movie Night Snack Mix #HeroesEatMMs #shop #cbias

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #HeroesEatMMs #CollectiveBias

My mom is coming to visit in only four days and the kids are on pins and needles to see her! Trying to do school lessons has been pretty pointless, as no one (including me) can focus. So, to help pass the time, we planned a Marvel superheroes cartoon party, complete with a fun movie night snack. I love making these sweet and crunchy snack mixes with M&M's® because the kids can eat them in the living room without making a chocolatey mess!

These sillies were all set to watch an "old" Spiderman cartoon, featuring Captain America. To clarify, "old" was early 90s. Yeah. Moving on now... 

 Captain America is a family favorite and, since the kids aren't quite old enough for the movie version yet, we like to watch him on cartoon. Captain America: The Winter Soldier will be coming out on September 9th and M&M's are the perfect movie snack. In fact, there's a new site, HeroesEatMMs.com, that features special coupons, games and a contest with a chance to win one of 10 $100 Walmart gift cards. See the Rafflecopter giveaway at the end of this post to enter to win!

I shopped for M&M's and all my other snack mix supplies at Walmart. The left portion of this shot is almost all M&Ms! There's a bunch of varieties. I'm really looking forward to buying the fall-themed ones too. Don't forget to grab your coupon when you shop!

For this snack mix, I added graham cereal, marshmallows, and honey-roasted peanuts to the M&Ms. All together, they make a sort of peanut butter s'mores taste. Yummy, crunchy, sweetness!

Selah helped me put together the mix and hand it out. Here she is showing her Captain America spirit with appropriate color scheme. Ha!

Melts in your mouth, not in your hand, right? Kynthia loves having her snack in the living room with the big kids, and I love it that we don't have a sticky mess to clean up!

The kids all sat together sweet like this for about 15 minutes. Then the babies were done and wanted to play! Oh well...we make the most of it when we can! 

When you visit the new social hub, HeroesEatMMs.com, make sure to check out the fun quizzes like, “Which MARVEL® Super Here Are You?” and “Which M&M’s® Character Are You?”.

In the meantime, make yourself some snack mix and pop in a great movie. Do you have a fun way to change it up and make it unique to you?

Don't forget to enter to win one of 10 $100 Walmart gift cards on the Rafflecopter widget below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Linking with:

The Art of Homemaking

Inspiration Monday @ Your Homebased Mom

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Motivate Me Monday 

Modest Monday @ The Modest Mom 

Living Proverbs 31

Inspire Me Monday @ Create With Joy 

Masterpiece Monday @ BoogieBoard Cottage 

A Round Tuit @ Creating My Way to Success 

Monday Funday @ C.R.A.F.T. 

Making Your Home Sing Monday

The Homemaking Party

There's not a whole lot new going on around the Coller house this week. We're all anxiously awaiting the arrival of my mom---just a week from today! I can't wait!!! We haven't see her since March and it's going to be great to be able to hang out for a couple weeks.

I've been reading a lot---it's been so wonderful to just kick back and enjoy some good books!

On my literature blog, Belle's Library, I discussed the subject of madness in Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights and also had my first guest post from my friend, Mozette, who shared her tips on Finding and Caring for a First Edition Book.

I finished up my Austen in August reading challenge; finishing my final book in the early evening on August 31st. I read five Austen-related books, met a new-to-me author who is now a friend, and learned more about one of history's best--Jane Austen.

I'm enjoying my reading challenges and am now working on Simply Audra Marie's weekly challenges. I'm currently reading, Sweet Dreams at the Goodnight Motel by Curtiss Ann Matlock.

Here are my plans for Simply Audra Marie's Friday "It Begins with SUMMER" challenge:

S---Sweet Dreams at the Good Night Motel
U---Undone (will read in September)
M---Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart (done)
M---Motel of the Mysteries (done) This book also counts for Audra's Not Your Typical Genre challenge)
E---Emma, Mr. Knightley, and Chili Slaw Dogs (done)
R---Recipes for Easy Living (will read in September)

I'm considering reading Beverly Lewis' October Song for Audra's, A Reader Is Born challenge in September. I've still not picked for the Summer Title Waves challenge or the What's In A Name challenge.

Since August 1st, I've finished these books:
French Lessons by Peter Mayle
Persuasion, Captain Wentworth, and Cracklin' Cornbread by Mary Jane Hathaway
Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart by Beth Pattillo
Pride, Prejudice and Cheese Grits by Mary Jane Hathaway
Emma, Mr. Knightley and Chili-Slaw Dogs by Mary Jane Hathaway
Becoming Jane Austen by Jon Spence
Motel of the Mysteries by David Macaulay

What are you reading?

Make Bake Create Party

Welcome to the Make Bake Create Party! 5 blogs-1 party-lots of fun!

Banana Split Brownies #AddCoolWhip #shop #cbias

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #AddCoolWhip #shop #cbias

I have been making these for our family for almost 14 years and they're always a hit! My husband loves them, especially, and even cheered when I told him the other day that I was making them for this post. My family regularly thanks me for being a foodie blogger, since that means they always get to try out delicious recipes! 

When I was in grade school, my mom liked to make my brother and I after school snacks. Often times, there would be brownies waiting for us. Other times, there was Jell-O with Cool Whip. Since my kids stay home for school, I don't always have an after school snack for them---but we often have evening desserts with Daddy.

These Banana Split Brownies are a fun choice for either after school or evening dessert time, as they can be made ahead and refrigerated until time to serve. With just a couple seconds of prep before serving, they're a pretty treat to serve any time! They incorporate two of my favorite after school dessert ingredients: Jell-O and Cool Whip, and they're easy to prepare.

I bought my ingredients at Walmart last Sunday afternoon. The Cool Whip was easy to find here in the freezer aisle marked, "Desserts & Toppings".

The dessert starts with a brownie base. I just use whatever boxed brownie mix is on sale. Make sure to get the 13x9 pan size.

Then you add sliced bananas. I like to use an egg slicer to quickly and evenly slice them. Then add the Cool Whip/pudding mix. I love to mix Cool Whip with pudding for several kinds of desserts. It creates a nice mousse when mixed with chocolate.

With a spoonful of Cool Whip and a strawberry on top, you've got a pretty and fun treat for your family--even on the busiest of days. 

Banana Split Brownies

1 pkg. brownie mix (plus ingredients to make them) 

3 bananas 

1 1/4 c. milk 

3.4 oz. pkg. vanilla instant pudding 

16 oz. Cool Whip 

strawberries to garnish

Bake brownies according to package instructions. Cool completely. Slice bananas and spread out in one layer over the brownie. Whisk pudding mix and milk together in a bowl, just until mixture begins to thicken. Fold in 2 1/2 c. of the Cool Whip and spread over the bananas. Refrigerate for at least an hour and serve with more Cool Whip and sliced strawberries.

Secrets of Sloane House by Shelley Gray -- Giveaway and Book Review

I received a copy of this book from Family Christian, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Book Description: Against the backdrop of the 1893 World's Fair, a young woman finds employment with an illustrious Chicago family--a family who may guard the secret of her sister's happiness.

I'm the first to admit that I'm picky about my tastes in historical fiction, but with a Mount TBR the size of mine, I can't waste my time on less than the best. I can handle a few fact discrepancies, ill-chosen words, or underdeveloped characters, here and there, but when the novel is so saturated that I find myself tripping over them, that's when I'm ready to call it quits.

I was put off from the very beginning by the context of the story's beginning. It starts right in the middle of a scene with little back story or character development. I was still lost on the relationship between Reid and the Sloanes at the third chapter and finding myself having to reread the first two chapters because I thought they were step-siblings.  The lack of character development was a theme throughout and made the story very difficult to follow.

Another distraction was that the author, unfortunately, chose to use uncommon words in odd places. The staff's accents were also inconsistent and irritating. It was very frustrating to read over them. I much rather prefer when an author alludes to the accent but writes it legibly, using terms like, "he drawled" or "she answered in her clipped way of speaking".

Finally, it's very difficult to take a historical story seriously when the history is glaringly off. The hymn, How Great Thou Art, is referenced as an "old hymn" and "dear to her heart". However, the very first English version of the hymn was not published until 1925! Also, the term "pipe dream" wasn't even used for the first time until just three years before this, and a young girl of limited means had likely never heard it by 1893. In addition, since the book is marketed as centered around the World's Fair, (a fact that should make it unique among other historicals) it would have been nice to find more details and curiosities about the Fair, rather than surface allusions.

All in all, I was disappointed in the story and remain a bit embarrassed for the author. However, you've got a chance to read it for yourself and see what you think. Family Christian is giving away one copy to a US reader. Enter to win on the Rafflecopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway