Friday, September 28, 2012

Date Night Ideas on a Budget!


Good Morning! I am so excited to have my amazing friend over at Everyday Circus guest blogging for me today! She is an expert on date nights, party planning, and sewing the Boybarians favorite blankets. It's Friday and I am sure that most of us would love to go on a date with our man tonight. But if you are like me,  you think that there is just too much that goes into planning to steal away for 3 hours and there is no way it can all come together. Well, you can have date night tonight, and it will be a date night to remember! Take it away friend!
Hello! I am Kendra over at Everyday Circus.  I am a busy mom of four, wife to the love of my life, lover of anything sweet, and am ecstatic to be guest posting for my dear friend today on one of my favorite subjects:  Date Night.
Before we had kids we did not have to call it date night.  We called it going to dinner and the movies.  When you were dating every night was date night.  Now you are tired, money is tight and a good babysitter is hard to find. While all those are very reasonable obstacles, Date Night is worth fighting for.  Why you ask?  To reconnect with your best friend. Life gets busy and overwhelming and it is easy to go day in and day out and not connect. Also to keep your romance alive. When you come together for a set apart special time with the Love of your Life you remember why you fell in love and why your marriage is worth working for.  When your children move away, it is you and the man you married.  Make sure that he is still the “love of your life” and your “best friend”.  Never stop dating, you won’t regret it...I promise.  With all that said, I want to share with you some date night ideas that won’t drain your wallet and a few that don’t require a babysitter.  No more excuses.


1)      Dessert Date:  Dessert only Date!  Start your date a little later in the evening and eat dinner before you leave.  Go out for Dessert.  Desserts are cheaper and something that we usually don't splurge on when we go out.  Share a couple of different desserts and an espresso.

2)      Night at the Museum: Museums have a way of sparking conversation and many are free.

3)      Pizza and Beer: May seem simple, but I guarantee that if you put on some great jeans and fantastic heels it will be the best pizza date ever.  While you are there sit and reminisce about some of your very first dates, when all you could afford was Pizza and you were too young to have beer. 

4)      Pack a Picnic:  A bottle of wine, crackers, cheese and some fruit all packed in a pretty picnic basket during sunset the beach or a local park is a relaxing way to spend date night!  What is better than a sunset and a picnic with your love?

5)      Redneck Spa:  Fill a backyard baby pool in your backyard and enjoy a glass of wine.  Enjoy the laughs that are sure to happen and the starry night sky.

6)      Order Take Out and Set a Fancy Table: Pull out all the stops.  Make sure you put all the food in pretty serving dishes and light candles.  Dress up and put on Frank Sinatra. 

7)      Write Your Love Story: Get everything you need to make ice cream sundaes and then sit together and reminisce.  Write everything down in a journal.

8)      Bubble Bath and Massages:  Pampering one another will be a stay at home date that will not be soon forgotten. 

9)      Have a Staycation:  Wherever you want to go, steal away in your own living room.  Say Italy is your dream vacation.  Make a delicious Italian dinner, buy a bottle of Italian wine, set the table how you imagine an Italian CafĂ© to be set and watch “Life is Beautiful”

10)    Go Camping: In your living room.  Make a fort in your living room and make indoor s’mores over a candle.  And no electricity!!  Makes it a little more exciting!!

11)   Game Night:  Naughty or nice a little competition is always good for a relationship.

12)   See a game: Go to your local high school and watch a football game together. 

13)   Go to the bookstore: Grab some coffee and sit together at a local bookstore. For a fun game to play while you are there check out this link. 

14)   Play 20/20 for a Little Pillow Talk:  Prepare 20 questions for your spouse and have them prepare 20 questions to ask you.  Lie in bed and question away.

15)   Coffee Date: Remember the days when you had all the time in the world to sit at the coffee shop, sip your drink and talk? Sometimes it is the simplest pleasures in life that make us reconnect.

16)   People Watch: Go to a local park and take a walk.  As you walk past people create stories about them.  What super human power they might have.  Have fun with it!!

17)   Only $10: Here is the game.  Go to Target.  Each of you gets $10 to spend on the other.  Split up and purchase something for $10 that must be used that night!

18)   Read Out Loud: Start a book together and read to one another in front of a fire with some hot chocolate.

19)   Movie Night: Rent the first movie that you ever saw together and buy all your favorite movie snacks. 

20)   Create a Masterpiece:  Buy two canvases at your local craft store (Don’t forget your coupons) and paint a masterpiece to hang in your home. 



 Wow, Kendra! These are awesome! I can't wait to have a date with my hubby very soon!
 Hope you all have a great weekend!

Keep Calm and Count Your Blessings...and your Boybarians!

~Gillian

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Monday Memories...on Wednesday...

I once again have failed to keep up with my posts.  So, today "Monday Memories" will be "Witty Wednesdays".  I guess it work out this week, because the things the boys said this week, were pretty witty! :)  I will also catch-up on a few recipe reviews...so prepare for a lengthy post.

Owen (6): As we were enjoying a family breakfast on Saturday in celebration of my Mr. Townsley's birthday, I was astonished that I have 5 boys! 5 boys! I was just looking at them and thinking "how on earth do I have 5 boys? If you know me at all, I am very girly and it is almost comical that I have 5 dirty, gross, loud, messy, barbaric boys. So, I said in a teasing sort of way, "I cannot believe we have 5 boys! Why, Why?" Owen then said in a very confident tone, "Mom, you know why, God gave them to you"...slight pause..."and you need to be thankful". We of course started laughing as it sounds like something I frequently say...then he kind of laughs at himself at his great accomplishment of erupting laughter from Mommy and Daddy, smiles, puffs up his chest and says "I'm a Smart Aleck!".  My stomach hurt from laughing so hard. He certainly is that and so much more. That boy cracks me up!

Asher (5): Can't think of anything in particular, but there was a moment in the car, where we was very sweet and kind to one of his brothers. That always warms my heart.

Knox (4): I can't believe he is 4! He always has this sweet, joyful smile and it just kills me! He also is constantly asking me for a drink or a snack...quite annoying...but then he smiles...and it's all ok. :)

Reichen (2): We are teaching our boys chatechisms and they are so good at it, it's crazy! We also try to do them with Reichen, but most of the time it just goes over his head. Well, I asked him, "Who made you?"...his response, "God". "Good job Reichen!,what else did God make?"..."ummm"..."Target!".  I guess I have a problem?!  Yep, I do.  If Costco and Target are your 2 year olds favorite places, you might too. :)

Paxton (2 months): He is just a love bug!!  I can't get enough of his sweet face!

Ok...on to recipes!!!  Here were the recipes from Pinterest that I still needed to review:

French Dip Crescents
Easy Creamy Enchiladas
Garlic and Lemon Chicken

French Dip Crescents: These were a snap to make. However, they were a bit mushy and salty for mty taste. The kids weren't thrilled with them either. I think if you were to try them, I would double up on the crescents, by pressing 2 triangles together. I would use a different cheese...maybe cheddar. I would add some type of spread...the recipe called for horseradish, but most children and some adults don't care for that. Maybe a mustard/mayo combo with some thyme? Or this yummy spread from Trader Joes...
http://www.amazon.com/Trader-Joes-Aioli-Garlic-Mustard/dp/B00714H77W/ref=sr_1_78?ie=UTF8&qid=1348679659&sr=8-78&keywords=trader+joes
Overall they were just ok.


Easy Creamy Enchiladas: These were fantastic! Full of flavor, easy to prepare, tons of leftovers, and taste better the second day!  I did add some Salsa Verde to the sauce for more flavor and it gave it the perfect zip. I use TJ's Salsa Verde.
http://pinterest.com/pin/20195898299840260/

Garlic and Lemon Chicken:
This was pretty easy and very flavorful. A quick, healthy weeknight meal.  I might marinate the chicken beforehand though, just to add a bit more flavor. But all in all, you can't go wrong with roasted chicken and veggies.
 
http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/pan-roasted-chicken-lemon-garlic-green-beans-10000000780291/index.html









That's it for now, but I have a few more recipe reviews, some beauty product tips and tricks, a guest blogger, and a really neat fall tutorial all in the works. So stay tuned! Until then...

Keep Calm and Count Your Blessings...and your Boybarians!

Monday, September 17, 2012

Monday Musings & Memories...

Well, I know that I am horribly overdue for a recipe review post and I promise I will get to it this week...I hope! :) With this week including homeschooling, 2 birthdays, wedding planning for a dear older lady in our church, and the normal everyday things that are required with 5 boys, blogging gets pushed back sometimes. Although, I so thoroughly enjoy it, so I will get to it...just not maybe as quickly as we all wish. And when I say "all" I am not sure if I am even talking to someone. I sometimes dream of my blog and a little group of loyal followers...followers, are you out there?! If you haven't followed me yet, make my blogging dreams come true, and do it! Follow me! Subscribe! Ok..my rant is over. On to more important things. :)

I decided to do a weekly post of the cute and memorable things that the Boybarians do and say. I think that in addition to recipes, tips, decorating tips, and the so many other ideas I have for my blog, that it is also a great way to remember my life at this time. I am so bad at writing down the cute things, but for some reason, "writing" here doesn't seem so daunting. I think it will also give my readers/followers...see the above for my crazy woman blogging dream.:)...a chance to get to know my family and by boys. So, without further ado:

Owen (6): This week, he went to his first Enrichment class at the charter school we are involved in. When I asked him if he had made any friends, he said yes, and that he told him jokes. I asked him what jokes he told...of course they were silly, boy jokes, so I told him that it wasn't appropriate to joke that way (potty humor :)). He said: "Oh, no Mom, it's ok...he (his friend) didn't think it was inappropriate, he laughed!" I of course laughed too, at the wittiness of my 6 year old. :)

Asher (5): When asked what he wanted to be when he grows up, he responded: " A Tiger!" :) This made me laugh SO hard! You would too...if you knew Asher and his "famous" voice! :)

Knox: (4...tomorrow!): He received some birthday gift cards today and when I told him how much he had to spend he said: "Wow! I can get the bottom shelf toys?!" So cute!

Reichen (2): He does or says something cute on a daily basis. Lately he loves to pray. So, he prays in a mumbly, sweet way. He also will "pray" when someone else is. So, while one is praying, Reichen is mumbling in the background usually just saying..."Dear Gawd, "mumble, mumble" Amen". It is VERY charismatic of him...and cracks me up!

Paxton (2 months): He is starting to coo and smiles all the time. His sweet little face lights the room and melts my heart.

I am so thankful for the blessings of my memory makers! 

Friday, September 7, 2012

The Arrival of Autumn

Autumn...my favorite season! Although it is not here yet, it is September, and in my house that means we begin the preparations that usher in the beauty that is Fall. Yesterday it was overcast and drizzly and even though it was still 88 degrees outside, it felt like Fall inside. So, I got the hankering for Pumpkin Bread. Pumpkin Bread is one of my favorite things to eat in the Autumn. It is yummy for breakfast paired with a warm cup of cinnamon coffee. Perfect in the afternoon with a hot cup of tea...best enjoyed with a book and napping children! And one of my favorite ways is for dessert smothered with my buttercream frosting! The problem that I have come across with most pumpkin breads is they are too dry, too bland, and don't scream Pumpkin! So, after a few tries I have come up with what I think is THE BEST Pumpkin Bread ever! It has the perfect balance of sweetness, pumpkin flavor and is perfectly moist. This is achieved from using a mix of butter and oil and a good amount of pumpkin. The spices are not overwhelming but accentuate the pumpkin flavor nicely. Citrus peel adds depth while the cinnamon adds heat. It is like eating a slice of Autumn! So start the season off right with a big slice of this and a cup of hot cider! Enjoy!

Gillian's Pumpkin Bread

3 1/2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. Trader Joes Pumpkin Pie Spice (their version has citrus peel, which is key!)
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp. salt (don't skip this step because it's a sweet item! It adds flavor!)
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup canola oil
1 tsp. vanilla
2/3 cup water
2 1/4 cups pumpkin
1 cup nuts...optional (I did not use nuts this time)

Preheat oven to 350*. Stir together the flour, sugars, soda, and spices. Mix in the eggs, butter, oil, vanilla and water. Stir in the pumpkin (and nuts if using). Pour into 2 greased loaf pans. Bake for 60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Buttercream Frosting

1 cup butter softened
2-3 cups Powdered Sugar
1 Tbsp. 1/2 and 1/2
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. salt

Whip the butter until creamy. Add in powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Beat in the 1/2 and 1/2, vanilla, and salt. Spread on cooled, sliced pumpkin bread.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Meals Continued...

Ok, so it took me a bit longer to get back on here to update my meals from last week. Due to an unexpected visit to my parents over the weekend, I didn't end up preparing what I had planned...which was so nice, because my Dad made an amazing dinner of Fried Pork Chops, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, and Green Beans! Yum! My Dad sure knows how to make me smile...Gravy! So for now as I salivate in remembrance of Saturday night dinner, I will update you about the Forgotten Chicken and the Creamy Tomato Pasta.

The Forgotten Chicken was just ok. It ended up being a bit dry and bland. The dryness could entirely be my fault as I left it in the warm oven a little longer than planned...but then again, that's why it's called Forgotten Chicken...right? :) I think that I am going to attempt it again with the following changes:

Add an extra can of soup...Cream of Chicken
Add 1/2 can more liquid...I will use milk this time
Mix in and extra packet of onion soup to the rice mixture
Drizzle the top with some butter
Turn the chicken 1/2 way through
Make sure to not "forget" it!

Here is the recipe:
http://www.darlingdoodlesdesign.com/2012/04/forgotten-chicken.html

The Creamy Tomato Pasta was delicious! My Mr. Townsley (what I affectionately call my husband...well one name anyway), loved it and said it was "a make again" item! He said it tasted like Olive Garden (in a good way), which I concur...although fresher. The preparing of the tomatoes for the sauce, and making 2 separate sauces was a little much for a regular weeknight rotation, but once in awhile it will be in the mix of dinners! It was even better the next day! I think you could use the leftover sauce and bake it with some chicken, throw on some parmesan and basil and that would be a yummy leftover dinner too!  Here is the recipe:

http://kitchentrialanderror.blogspot.com/2010/08/creamy-tomato-pasta.html

Here is what is on the Menu for this week:

French Dip Crescents
Easy Creamy Enchiladas
Garlic and Lemon Chicken
Beef Stroganoff

Stay Tuned.....