With Easter celebrations on the horizon, you may wind up with a few hard boiled eggs that a need a place to go.  This mayonnaise recipe is the perfect place for those “left over” hard boiled eggs!

Hard Boiled Egg Mayonnaise

• 1 cup yogurt
• 1 TBSP lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp prepared mustard
• 1 hard boiled egg
• 1/4 tsp celery seed
• 1/2 tsp salt

1.  Put all ingredients in food processor and pulse until well blended and smooth. If you prefer, you can also just chop the boiled egg very small and blend ingredients together with a fork or whisk.

2.  Keep refrigerated in jar with tight lid.

*Be sure to chill thoroughly before use.

Steph from Adventures in Babywearing has been linking up to the Mama Loves Papa Small Style Link-Up the last few weeks.  I have been enjoying her posts and since Annika was wearing a cute outfit yesterday, and I happened to snap a few pics, I thought why not link up this week too!  (We’ll see, maybe I’ll even stick with it!) 

I purchased her outfit from Zulily, but I see there is one similar on Etsy too!  It’s something different and fun!

So there you have it – our first Small Style Link-Up.

A Guest Post by Tawra Kellam
http://www.LivingOnADime.com

A reader asks:

Got any inexpensive ideas for Easter gifts for the kids? Also, do you have any ideas that would focus on the real meaning of Easter and not just bunnies and eggs?

Easter is a great time of the year to celebrate, especially if you have the hope that comes from Jesus Christ and His resurrection. Here are some ideas for Easter gifts. Try some of them and if the creative juices start flowing, make up some of your own!

Easter Baskets:

You can find inexpensive Easter baskets at garage sales and thrift stores. I never spend more than .25 for one.

If you don’t have Easter baskets, you can also use:

• Plain wicker baskets
• Baskets spray painted an Easter color
• A cute straw hat
• A pail for the sandbox
• A bowl wrapped in tissue paper
• Paper sacks that the kids decorate. Cut out pictures from magazines or use stickers. Glue or stick them on and then paint or color around them.
• Any sort of plastic storage container. These often can be used later for storage.
• For a "family" Easter basket, set a nice plate on the table with Easter grass and goodies arranged on the plate or platter. This is great when you have older kids.

Fillers for Easter Baskets:

• Buy candy after Valentine’s Day at half price and keep to fill Easter baskets.
• Make Easter cookies in the shapes of bunnies, eggs, crosses or any other Easter shape that comes to mind and decorate.
• Popcorn Balls or Rice Krispie Treats colored in pastel colors.
• String Froot Loops onto yarn and tie to make a necklace.
• Don’t fill baskets. Instead put jelly beans and candy in plastic eggs so the kids can fill their own baskets. You can also put nickels, dimes, toy soldiers, bugs, stickers, barrettes or hair ribbons in the eggs. Hide them outside or in the house if you live in a climate where it’s usually cold on Easter.
• Make coupons for getting out of chores, staying up late one night, having a friend over for a sleep over or a special dinner that they like.
• Include like new books purchased at garage sales or thrift stores.
• Homemade slime, play dough, sidewalk chalk, bubbles or the ingredients for crystal gardens.
• Wacky crayons- Crayon pieces melted together in a muffin tin to make a "big" crayon.
• Flower seeds that the kids can grow
• Mini-stuffed animals purchased at garage sales or on clearance the year before.
• Paper dolls or coloring books. There are many available on the Internet that you can print yourself.
• For teenagers, put these items in baskets: lotions, soaps, suntan lotions, fingernail polish, movie tickets, tickets for getting out of a chore, ticket for $5 worth of car gas, clothes purchased on clearance and of course lots of candy!
• Leave a trail of jelly beans or candy kisses from their rooms to their Easter baskets.

• Easter Kisses

  Put some Hershey Kisses or chocolate chips in a plastic bag and attach the following poem:

  This cute little bunny has hopped all day
  Been delivering baskets for the holiday.
  His paws are so tired and his little nose itches.
  He left you something special-something to fill all your wishes.
  These cute little hugs and Easter kisses.

• Put 1 Pound Jelly Beans into a bag and attach this poem:

  RED is for the blood He gave.
  GREEN is for the grass He made.
  YELLOW is for the sun so bright.
  ORANGE is for the edge of night.
  BLACK is for the sins we made.
  WHITE is for the grace he gave.
  PURPLE is for His hour of sorrow.
  PINK is for our new tomorrow.
  A bag full of jelly beans colorful and sweet,
  Is a prayer, is a promise, is a special treat.

• Easter Carrot Treats

  Buy disposable plastic decorating bags and fill them with orange jellybeans or cheese balls. Then stick some green Easter grass in the top of the bag (leave some hanging out) and secure the bag with a rubber band and then ribbon so that it resembles a carrot.

Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam are frugal living experts and the authors of the Dining On A Dime Cookbook. Dining On A Dime will help you save money on groceries and get out of debt, by cooking quick and simple homemade meals. For free tips & recipes visit 
http://www.LivingOnADime.com

Hi there!  I hope you’re having a great day!  I wanted to let you know that I am starting a new recipe series on “The Menu Mom” Blog today.  Every Tue & Thur. new recipes will be posted (with fun pictures!)  You can see the first post here:  Fluffy Orange Pie Recipe .  ENJOY!

Christine

Wow, it has been awhile hasn’t it… It has been a struggle lately to balance life and work.  But that is why I work at home – so I can be there for my family.  That being said…  this little one is being a normal two-year old and demanding quite a bit of my attention (as any two year old should)!

Because I love her so much, but also because I love my job and it is getting kind of hard to balance the two… I have decided to hire a friend to watch her for two mornings a week – just 8 hours a week – that will hopefully bring me some balance and peace.  That leaves me with 8 solid hours to work (plus evenings and nap time a few days a week) to get some work done!  Balancing working at home is never an easy thing!

So now that I have a bit of time to think… tell me what you want to hear about!

- The cooking swap I started with some local friends
- The Letter we got from Elias, our Compassion Child
- My daughters sudden fear of “choo-choo trains”
- My 8 year old’s dyslexia therapy
- The weather here
- Our summer plans
- Something Else?

Christine

UPDATE:  Our winners according to random.org are commenters 10 & 13 – Dawn & Sara P.  CONGRATS!

I have two coupons for 50% off Easy LunchBoxes to give away today.  I LOVE these!  They are affordable, super easy to use and work great!  If you would like to be entered, simply post in the comments below sharing why you would like one. 

For bonus entries:
- Post a link to a picture of your (or your child’s) current lunch box
- Share this opportunity on Facebook
- Share this opportunity on Twitter
- Share this opportunity on your Blog

For each of the above, please leave a separate comment.  Winners will be drawn randomly on Wednesday Feb. 23rd. 

Mamapedia has a fun deal today!  I ordered some for my kiddo’s for Valentine’s Day!  Chocolate Covered Strawberries (or other goodie of your choice) $30 worth of product for $15!  Click here to grab this deal – it is only good for 2 more day! 

In case I haven’t told you before… we live in the middle of no-where!  Therefore, it is a good 20 min. trip (each way) just to Wal-Mart (not a very nice one) to grab the basics. 

So when I find a website like soap.com I am in LOVE!  All the basics – plus!  (it’s not just soap…  go take a look around!)  And… they generally deliver the next day – FREE (with a $25 order)!  And even better, their prices are about the same as my local store.  The PERFECT solution for me! 

If you are interested in trying them out, I have a 15% off coupon for you! 

use code MENU7673

shop for all your home essentials: Gillette Razors, Dove Soap, Moroccan Oil

check out probiotics

Not valid for existing Diapers.com, Soap.com or BeautyBar.com customers. Some restrictions apply.

Happy shopping, and here’s to making life just a tad bit easier! 

UPDATE:  Use coupon code BABIES10 through Jan 31st for $10 off a $30 purchase!

Have you ever checked out Zulily?  It is one of my recent new addictions…  Basically, they have special deals only available for a few days – generally on boutique type items. 

Here are my current favorites from today’s deals: 
(Remember, deals are only good for a day or two!  Then they will have something new and exciting up!)

Celebrate Coir Mat – $9.99

Set of Two Party Dish Towels – $4.99

Set of Two Party Cookie Presses – $4.99

Pink Personalized Birdie Tee – Infant & Toddler – $21.99

Butterfly Canteen Caddy – $6.49

Happy Shopping!

Christine

I recently organized a meal swap between five other friends and myself.  This is our first week, and so far so good!  Basically once a week we cook for two other families and two other nights a week we receive meals.  It has worked out great for me so far!  I enjoyed my cooking day, and we swap right after school at 3:15, so that meant I had our family’s dinner ready to go early as well!  So essentially 3 nights a week I don’t have the dinner hour chaos!  I can just focus on my kiddo’s (and their homework).  It has been soooo nice!  Anyway, I thought I would share what I made on my first cooking day.

Corn Chowder
Serves 8  (I tripled it for the swap)

1 1/2 c. sliced carrots
1 c. chopped celery
1 c. chopped onion (I just used a bit of dried minced onion since one family I was cooking for did not care for onions)
1/4 t. garlic salt
3 beef bouillon cubes
6 c. water
1 c. diced potatoes
1 lb. ground beef
1/2 t. pepper
2 cans cream style corn
1 can evaporated milk

PREP:  Chop carrots, celery, onion & potatoes.  Shape hamburger into mini bite-size meatballs. 

1.  Combine in a large kettle:  Carrots, Celery, Onion, Garlic Salt, Bouillon Cubes, and Water – Bring to a boil and simmer 30 min.

2.  After 30 min. add potatoes, mini-meatballs, & pepper.  Cook for 30 min. more.

3.  After the potatoes and meatballs have cooked, add the creamed corn and evaporated milk.  Cook for approx. 10 more minutes or until completely warm.  Do not boil once the corn and milk has been added.

Lemon Pudding Cake
This was a new recipe for me.  I still haven’t tried it, but was told it was yummy.

3 T. butter – room temperature
1 c. sugar
4 eggs
1/2 c. lemon juice
1/4 t. salt
3 T. all-purpose flour
1 c. milk
Powdered Sugar (optional)

1.  Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Lightly grease a 6 cup casserole dish or 8×8 pan.

2.  Beat butter and sugar until fluffy.  Separate egg yolks and whites.  Add the yolks to the butter mixture and beat well.  Set aside the egg whites.

3.  Add the lemon juice, salt and flour to the mixture.  Beat well.  Add the milk and mix until blended.

4.  Beat egg whites until stiff.  Gently fold into lemon mixture.  Pour batter into prepared pan.  Bake 50 minutes, covering last 10 minutes with foil if the top begins to brown too much.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired.  Serve warm or chilled.  Should be stored in the refrigerator 

Finally I also just bought some frozen yeast rolls at Sam’s Club that just needed to be warmed up.

Made for a great meal!

Christine