Homemade Dressing, Seasoning Mix Recipes

Homemade Dressing, Seasoning Mix, Spice Mix Recipes

I don't like Blog post that put ads, make you sign up or join to get the recipes. So I will make this simple!  Below you will find the recipes and blank shopping list to help. Great thing about making your own mixes is YOU control what goes in. Yes it can be time consuming but in the long run its better for you and your family.

Click on the hyper link to find a PDF you can save, share and print if you wish

Mix Recipes HERE

Shopping List HERE

* Printables, Recipes and Shopping list are creations of $5 Dollar Mom , I purchased them from her. All Credit goes to her



Grab and Go Muffins Recipes

Back to School is right around the corner, so that means the scramble for a easy, quick breakfast is on!

Try these quick easy Muffin recipes to make breakfast that much easier. I meal plan on Sunday afternoons, including putting the weeks worth of clothes out. That includes jewelry, under garments, socks everything together. So that morning we are in a rush is easier, no thinking! Just grab and go!

Muffin Recipes (5 Recipes) HERE

Shopping List (Blank) HERE

*These Recipes, printables were purchased from $5 Dollar Mom, all credit goes to her



Monat - Honest Un Paid Review

I broke down and purchased Monat after trying a sample, I do have to say what prompted my order of the product was day after the sample I went back to my name brand salon shampoo and instantly hated my hair.
This Thread will serve as my 10 day, 30 day and 90 day review (Check back often!)


I have purchased these below products (the links do NOT take you to my page, its the corporate info page of each product. I DO NOT sell Monat, nor do I have a website for it)


Links only serve as info for you. I want you to know what products I used and what's in them.


Monat Black  Shampoo & Conditioner


Monat Revitalize Conditioner


Monat Blow Out Cream


Monat Curl Cream - For Some Reason this isn't on the website.....hmmmmmm interesting!


For Starters I have Oily, Frizzy, Wavy Hair. I have to shampoo twice, condition only the ends, use leave in spray conditioner, blow dry my hair and flat iron  to get it  to my crowning glory status. I have to wash my hair daily, in the summer twice daily! Oh and yes its true I color my hair.... have you met my kids? LOL They will give you gray hair too.


I am not too happy with the prices of the product BUT if it works I am willing to spend this much...well semi willing! LOL

Day 1 Review 

With using all but the Curl Cream (that's only on days where I am going curly)

I will say my scalp itched a lot, I am told this is normal BUT I only had to blow dry my hair. No need for flat iron. I also was still oily at end of the day. The shampoo has conditioner in it, so I think me using the Revitalizing Conditioner all over my hair wasn't the best idea to get non greasy hair.




10 Day Review
Itching stopped by day 2, I do feel my hair is cleaner than its ever been.
That being said....... the shampoo is stripping everything from my hair which means by 5pm its super oily. Even using the conditioner my hair lacks moisture that it has static cling.
When I don't use the conditioner my hair is soo dry because the shampoo (its actually a shampoo and conditioner) strips it of EVERYTHING! I cant get a brush through my hair with out the conditioner.
Day 1 was great by day 2 im back to using a flat iron. The blow out cream is a waste of your money. All it did was dry the ends of my hair out (contains alcohol) and I still had to use a flat iron. Even using the special brush they have.  Blow out cream is a joke and I would skip it.
My hair responds badly to alcohol, I had to get a hair cut to due to blow out cream ruining it.


So I got a hair cut, I go to a fancy salon that uses high end shampoo. When I left there my hair felt sooooo much better!!!


Also at Day 10 I am almost out of shampoo, I might have enough for another 10 days, Conditioner I might make it the month. I am using the super small amounts they told me to. I have thin hair but I have ALOT of it. Little irritated that the 85.00 didn't last me the month.
If I purchased the high end shampoo at my salon for 95.00 (Shampoo and Conditioner, separate bottles with a pump) I would have about half a gallon of each. Enough to last me 2-3 Months.


Monat reps keep telling me I need to just wait it out, wait the 90 days for my hair to detox so I can see the full benefits. Detox from what? One use of the shampoo stripped about 10 years of products off my head!! I only used high end shampoo and conditioner before, no other products and I had healthy hair. So what needs to Detox?


At this point I will finish the products (with the exception of the blow out cream) but I will not repurchase them again. Its a joke...I can purchase all natural products with no harmful anything for much less and get the same results.


I am so foolish for falling for this trap.




I do realize that yes some people it does help, I am not one of those people. I have average, normal healthy hair that isn't over processed, not full of products so this product to me wasn't for me.


If you have average hair...skip this product line. If you have problem hair...I would say give it a try.




07/30/2017 *** UPDATE***
I tried to cancel the Flex Ship that was coming up in August because I was simply unhappy with my hair. My hair was getting very oily by 11am-2pm. I simply couldn't keep it "clean" as I had with my Redkin shampoo.


I couldn't figure out how to cancel the flex ship so I sent an email to the company. Below is the response I received. I get the feeling that Monat is like a gang...blood in blood out, Except its $19.00 In and $28.00 out if you don't send back the products in 30 days. WHILE I will get my money back...I can say I was a little disillusioned by all this. If I had kept up with the "90 day detox" I would have to pay $28.00 to stop the shipments but because I had simply inquired about stopping a flex ship I found out about it in time. I am sending the products back, with tracking and insurance. LOL I wanna make sure they get it.


*** I DID WHITE OUT OR MARK OUT MY PERSONAL INFO***

08/15/2017 **** UPDATE****
Packing was received on time, no word from the company so I sent a message. Apparently all refunds are issued AFTER the 15th day of each month and that is something I wasn't told in earlier messages.
Below is a picture of my tracking from USPS and my latest convo with them. As of 08/15/2017 at 1:33pm cst No refund has been received

08/20/2017 ***UPDATE***

In July I paid 129.80 for my membership and products, when they mentioned a refund I fully expected to get only like 75-85 dollars back. That was the base cost of the products.

Today and I have my refund at the tune of $127.30 I was surprised, they refunded everything!

Now an update on my hair, I use Pureology, Paul Mitchell, Redkin and BIG hair products normally, I can safely say my hair is finally back to normal AND my oiliness is back under control. I can actually go 24-30hrs with out it being noticeable. YAY! Monat was making it quite oily with in 4hrs of use.

While I understand this product works for a lot of people it simply didn't work for me, I have average type of hair so I would say for a great many of people I would skip this product.

I regret the time I spent trying this product honestly, I feel as if I hurt my hair in some way.

 

09/12/2017 Update

Well its been over 30 days since I stopped using Monat, I can say with out a doubt that my hair is healthier now than before. I got a good cut, purchased good shampoo and finally I have normal hair back! I do not think Monat helped me in any way.

 

I do still have frizzy oily hair but its my crowing glory right? So my hair is a little oily in the mornings...oh well. Frizzy? Well that's why we have a flat iron.  

1/2018 Update 

It took some time, few hair cuts with a style shorter than im use to get the Monat experience cut off my hair.  Yes my hair is still oily but only when I wake up in the AM, still frizzy but thats how I was made. 

2/2019 Final Update

Only thing I miss about Monat is the smell. Lol I'm guilty of buying shampoos for smell only. 

Hair is back to normal! Long, almost down to my rear. 

How did I grow this beautiful hair? Not Monat! Instead I put collegen in my morning coffee, Vitamin B complex, Vitamin D3 with K2. 

No I don't have a brand to mention, just visit your local store. 

Sometimes I will go back and try a MLM product again..lol not this one!! 

 

Red Pepper Chicken Pasta

Red Pepper Pasta!

Its June, the summer is heating up which means I am constantly looking for ways to keep the house cool. We have 980sqft house and the stove really heats it up!  I also have a diabetic kid, so we are always trying to unique ways to eat. This was surprisingly yummy! Original recipe called for Kraft Sun Dried Tomato Vinaigrette Dressing, I live in a small town with a grocery store that takes months to get in new products. I did find this Roasted Red Pepper Vinaigrette that was cheaper and in my opinion...AWESOME!! I don't think I will try with the Kraft product when it comes in, we are really loving this generic kind.

Printable PDF Click HERE

Red Pepper Pasta

1 Box Veggie Pasta of your choice

1 Bottle Kroger’s Red Pepper Vingerette Dressing

( you will not use the entire bottle, just enough to coat and flavor)

Grilled Chicken Strips (I used the frozen kind) – You can omit this

1 Small can of sliced black olives

10- Green Olives Sliced

1 Red Bell Pepper cut into strips (Not pictured)

10-15 Small Cherry Tomato’s (optional)

Boil Pasta until done, drain and rince

Heat Chicken until down following instructions on bag or get real creative and use left over grilled

chicken

Place Pasta into bowl with, Chicken, Olives (both), Bell Peppers and toss

Add enough Dressing to coat & flavor

*Ronzoni Healthy Harvest or Garden Delight is a great alternative to the Regular Pasta

Calories : 390

Fat: 13

Carbs: 45

Sugars: 6

Protein: 31

Weight Watchers Points: 13

(sorry for the bad pic, was the only one I got. They all ate it so fast!!!)

 

Homemade Apple Sauce

My Middle child is a diabetic, so we are always looking for great alternatives to traditional comfort foods.  My youngest Mothers Day Out teacher posted on facebook about apple sauce and I thought..I can do that!


I made two batches, one just as recipe is written and one with out sugar by using other fruits.


This is not by far a diabetic friendly recipe BUT its a great alternative to store bought. She can have in moderation just not all the time.


Printable PDF Copy Click HERE

Homemade Apple Sauce

10-12 Honey Crips Apples – Peeled, Cored and Sliced

½ Cup Brown Sugar (you can substitute with Stevia Brown Sugar, Use ¼ cup. Or omit all together)

½ Tsp Vanilla Extract

¾ Tsp Cinnamon

1 tsp Lemon Juice

1 Cup Water

Place your apples in crock pot, add Brown Sugar, Vanilla, Lemon Juice and stir.

Add Water, Stir again

Low – 8 Hrs or High – 4 Hrs

Once apples have cooked, grab your blender and put contents of crock pot into blender.

Blend until desired thickness or Chunkyness (is that a word?? Lol) is reached. Emmerson blender can be used. (do this when apples are still hot)

Store in containers, Last two weeks in Fridge.

*1 Bag of frozen Strawberries or Peaches can be added frozen when you put apples in crockpot. Frozen  seem to have the best taste over fresh and they do better than fresh through cooking process. It gives a nice sweetness if you omit the sugar and unique flavor. If you chose to add these, reduce the amount of cinnamon.

This Recipe makes 4-5 Cups (depending on size of apples) This below pictures just shows over 3 cups - my little one demanded some so my picture shows a little less than recipe makes.

Last Time for Everything

There will come a time with everything you do that you will do it for the last time.

Play high school football, show a market pig for FFA, hold your grandmothers hand....there is a last time for everything.  Most of us don't get to realize it until its upon us or too late, for us it was our last stock show.

I grew up in FFA/4H and showing livestock to say I have a passion for it is an understatement. My children grew up showing as well, but last Saturday my middle child walked into the ring one last time.

Honestly the decision to quit showing was hers and one we should have made a year ago. I couldn't let her just let it all go so quickly, I mean why don't she love this as much as I do?

She has moved on to bigger and better things, so one thing had to go. Livestock

This past weekend made me realize that we should have made that decision a year ago.

Sigh...so for now I must sell the trailer, show supplies, put away memories/ribbons/trophies and move on.

LOL Guess my 4H Mom sticker needs to be replaced too

Kids / Family Ultimate Pack

A New Year is almost upon us, and with that come the resolutions. Instead of losing weight or saving money why don't we use this opportunity to make resolutions for our home and salvations.

Whats in our home and our salvation is the only two things that matter in this life. Our home/kids are the next generation we MUST raise them in the Lord and give them the best home life possible. 

I found this family pack from Not Consumed (lets give her all the thanks and credit) attached is my FAV parts of it....lets organize our home, our kids and our hearts this new year. Lets point them to the Lord in everything we do.

Click on the below to see the talented Kim S. show us how to serve Him and raise our kids right.

Laundry

Random Acts of Kindness

Laundry Room Signs

Time with God Kids Journal

Sermon Notes  Sermon Notes Jr.

Restaurant Scavenger Hunts

10 Things we need to know

Ask your Self

Family Chore Chart

Printable Advent Reading Plan

A few years ago I downloaded this as a free Printable from Not Consumed and while I have tried I simply cannot find this any ware any more. She has another similar advent reading plan with different design but not this one.

Since I loved this one so much I am sharing it with you, I do have express permission to make copies and share this plan as per her original page of this down load.

All credit goes to Not Consumed blog and seriously you need to stop by there. So many free printable for  home, school, holiday ALL bible based and serving our Lord.

You can download the Free Christmas/ Advent Reading Plan HERE

Daily, Monthly, Weekly Yearly Bible Reading Plans

For the past year I have been posting monthly scripture reading plans by Sweet Blessings.  They have been quite popular, I get the feeling that you are searching for more. Needing something to fill you every day and maybe your like me, with out a plan to follow I do not know where to start or what to read.

So to Pinterest I went, I found several bible plans that required a membership or payment. I also found several other bloggers who created, listed or paid for plans to share with others. (I have permission to share these!)

Since no two people are created the same neither is a bible study plan, below are several different types of plans. Some run through the bible from Genesis to Revelations while others hop around, follow the bible Story, do a daily light reading, concentrate on specific topics.  Some are daily, monthly, weekly  but they are all yearly bible plans.

Sweet Blessing Month/Week  (Visit her blog HERE)
Free Printable that has a monthly/daily reading plan...Print here 
(this printable is of Sweet Blessings creation, all credit goes to her, its hers and hers alone)


52 Week Bible Reading Plan
Done by the week but provides a daily reading that skips around the Bible
Can be downloaded, saved or printed HERE

Bible Story Reading Plan - By Quarter
Set up by Yearly Quarters but have Daily reading that seems to hop around but mainly is Gen-Rev.
All four quarters can be downloaded, saved or printed HERE

Daily Light Reading Plan
New Testament with Psalms & Proverbs , done by the day.
Can be downloaded, saved or printed HERE

Old and New Testament Daily Bible Reading Plan
Daily Reading plan with Old AND New Testament Reading plan, some days have quite a bit of reading so this plan is not a light reading
Can be downloaded, Saved or printed HERE

Daily Reading Plan with Varied Topics
This plan is to read the Bible by years end, it is daily and the reading does not follow a particular path or chapter. Each day is something different with varied topics daily.
Can be downloaded, saved or printed HERE

Season Reading
This plan is done by the Seasons & Month
Can be downloaded, saved or printed HERE

Friendship Breakup

When I say break up the movie "The Breakup" comes to mind because no matter how civil you are it still hurts.

Some people in our lives are only meant for a season not life, and while those seasons are fun and we are not ready to give them up we must.

Today I am calling Breakup.

For years I had my kids, husband, livestock and friends. Things were idyllic, fun and I rarely sat at home with no invites.

In 2014 life changed for the better, I got pregnant with my 2nd child after 11years of trying. While all my friends were mothers I didn't expect to have the loneliness' that is felt by new moms because they are the first in their group to have a baby. 

So when a few friends became distant I figure it was because of my difficult pregnancy and all the time I was focusing on just getting my baby here. 

Then my son was born and those friends that I thought were just being polite and giving me my time to grow my son...didn't show up at the hospital or even after I got home, I was shocked.

Yes they all had some life changes too during that time, I was there for them each and every step of the way, I expected the same from them but I was met with nothingness.

Since the birth I have watched them move on with out a word to new friendships....all the while leaving me behind.

Yes it hurt, yes it still hurts, Yes I am lonely and yes I was even left out of being invited to a wedding. Which hurt most of all.

Over the course of the last 18 months my phone often stays silent, facebook don't have any notifications for me from them and in person conversations have become uncomfortable.

So I am making a decision for me.  I want to break up with you.
Yes you already broke up with me, by not saying a word and moving on but I am doing this for me.

Today I did something for me, I hit the delete button on social media in regards to you. I no longer follow you, you are restricted from my post and well I did the same for any mutual friends we may share that have become distant as well.

I honestly feel that having face book cuts out the "how are you" text and phone calls because well they can see how you are! They follow your post/pictures/rants/shares and there isn't anything that needs to be caught up on.

For some of them that were in this group of deletions, they had life changes that took them away from where they should be and now are surrounded by friends who support the lifestyle they wish to live. I guess me being close with our Heavenly Father has made you not want to be my friend?

So much I could say, so much hurt I could put into this post but if I did it would never end.  So here it is...I break up with you.

While we may be on a break up, I am still praying for you.