Japanese Curry with Beef

I have been in the mood for curry lately, but my kids really don't like it that much and I didn't want to take them to a restaurant.  Today I found a kit in the meat section of our grocery store.  Had everything in it, but also had the recipe so that I can make it again later. You'll need:

1 3.5 oz Golden curry sauce mix

1 1/2 lbs. lean meat- it can be chicken, beef, pork, etc. or none at all if you prefer. 

-trimmed and cut into bitesize pieces

1medium onion chopped

1 medium, carrot peeled and cut into bite sized pieces

1-2 medium ptatoes, cut into 1/2"dices

2 T vegetable oil

2 1/2 cups water

(You can also add any veggies you would like, depending on your preference)

Pour the oil into the pan, heat

then add the onions and beef cubes.  Cook until the meat is browned and the onions become translucent.

Add the potatos and carrots.

Add your water.

Bring to a boil, reduce heat, put lid on and let simmer for 10 minutes.

Or until potatos are tender.

Of course stir it every so often.

Break up your curry and mix it into pot, stirring until it is all disolved.

This is what it should look like.

 (I put mine into a crockpot to keep it warm until we were ready to eat.)

Make rice, then serve over rice.   Tastes just like you walked into a restaurant and ordered it. 

Enjoy!!!

Gift idea for Grandma's

I bought a few of these flat canvas's and decided to have each of my monsters paint something for my mom.  They had fun doing it.

Monster 3 used pretty much every color and then ended up with a hand print in the middle.

Monster 2 says this is an Owl.  Can you see it?

Monster 4 started out nice, but now it is a huge gray something.  I think I'll let it dry and have her add a few handprints tomorrow.

Monster 1 is my artist and painted a hummingbird with a flower.  My mom has a butterfly bush in her front yard and he loves to sit by the window and watch the hummingbirds flying in and out of it.

So just a quick fun idea for a gift for Grandma. :)

Recordable books at A story Before Bed

http://www.astorybeforebed.com/military

This is a wonderful site that I found.  You can pick a book, record yourself reading it and send it to someone.   They have specials for military members who are deployed so that they can record books for their families.   This one goes straight to the military part, but you can also pay for books to do on your own.   I am planning on doing a few for my kids and hoping that my husband will do some as well so they can see their daddy while he is away.

Mars Needs Moms movie review

Today I took my 4 little monsters to the movies. (It was cold outside, so the park and beach were out)  They have been wanting to see Mars Needs Moms.  I hadn't heard good reviews about it, but thought heck why not.   I actually liked it.  It was cute, didn't have any cuss words or sexual inuendos in it. (like Rango).  I didn't cringe once.   I thought the story was interesting, what I got from it was that you need families to teach love.  Anyway, if you have kids they'll enjoy this movie.   I also liked the fact that the Characters looked like the actors/actresses that were playing them, Joan Cusacks facial expressions for example. 

A Fun Suprise

My friend and her family just traveled stateside.  She brought me back a little something.  Some fun fabric.  I am so excited to make some stuff with these.  I so miss getting to walk into a fabric store and fondle the fabric.   There is one here, but it is a little overwhelming, they are super nice, but everything is in Japanese (duh :) ) and I hate going with my kids.  Hopefully I'll get a chance to go without them soon. 

How to Get a Few Free Books

My kids and I love to go to the library.  You can't beat "renting" movies and books for free.  Most libraries have a section of books that are free, this is where people can bring in books they no longer want, can get new ones, or where the library puts books they no longer want on the shelf or that were donated and they can't use.  I of course check out this section everytime we go.   This is what I found today.  I am so excited.  I love books, I love finding free stuff, so both together is even better. 

Now if you are military you can go to: http://www.militaryonesource.com/home.aspx?MRole=&Branch=&Component=

this is the Military One Source Website.  You can borrow books on tape for free, you download them straight to your computer.  They also have a program that you can get 10 free books a year.  You can either get books or playaway's.  Just in case you aren't sure what a playaway is you can look at this site.   http://www.playaway.com/.  I know that our library here has them to borrow as well, they are great when you want to listen to a book but don't want to have to take the time to import all the CD's onto your computer and then onto your MP3 player.   It is well worth the time to scan through the site to see what they offer.  

I also go to our thrift shop here on base and pay 25 cents for books.  I like to collect them and send them to my husband when he is deployed, that way it gives him something new to read and he can leave them their to share with all the other guys, plus I don't care if he brings them back when I only pay 25 cents for them. 

Plus if you have it in your area, check out used book stores that take tradeins for money or trading for other books.  I know that sites like Powell's: http://www.powells.com/home.html?header=Logo  you can go on and sell your books to them.  I love Powell's it is a huge bookstore in Portland, OR.  I took my husband there on our honeymoon. (he is a bookworm too).  You can pretty much find any book you would ever want there.

What am I reading now?  The Secret Garden By Frances Hodgson Burnett 

So far there are little variations from the movies that I have seen.  I love it, even though it is hard to read some of the "dialect" that some of the people speak.  I am getting the hang of it though.

Craft Group

I started a craft group a few months ago.  It is something that I have been wanting to do and I figure that it will  keep my busy while my husband is deployed.  On thursday we had our 3 group.  The other times I only had 3 people come to, this one I had 13 women and there were about 20 kids here.  It was a little busy.  We made the signs with last names on the Canvas.  Everyone had fun learning how to use a cricket and they all went home wanting to buy one.     Next month we are making the plastic bag holders that I posted about earlier.   It's so fun to help others be "creative".  Is there anything you do to teach people your talents?

Quotes

I don't know about you, but I love a good quote.  The other night I was bored and decided to send my husband some love notes.  I found this site:
http://en.thinkexist.com/

and had a fun time looking through it and seeing all the wonderul quotes they have.  It is even the one that does my quote of the day at the top of my page.   I also like that you can print them up and there is also an ap to make it a bookmark.   I got  a little print happy, but I can never have too many bookmarks.   So if you are looking for some quotes, check it out.

Crochet Roll

I made this the other night.  It has enough room to hold all the little tools for my crocheting.  It rolls up into a nice little roll and stows neatly in my bag.  Made it the same way as my knitting one.

Great Crochet Site

I have been checking out different sites for crocheting, this one is one of my favorite ones.
http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/

Lots of great information! Check it out!

Roll for Your Knitting Needles

The other night I was getting ready for my new crocheting/knitting class and I realized that I didn't have anything to hold my knitting needles in.  My mom gave me this really neat case, but it is too small for most of the needles.   So I looked through my stash and found these hankerchiefs that I bought for 25 cents each  at the thrift shop here on base.   Figured if I messed up it wasn't a big deal. :)

I thought the purple and yellow would look nice together, I ironed them.

added some fusible iron on to one side.

Put right sides together, then sewed together 3 sides. Pulled off paper from the fusbile side, turned right sides out, and then ironed.

I folded over the top and sewed it down with a zig zag stitch.

I folded the bottom and used my needles to see where they needed to be.  then I made pockets so they could be seperated.  Also added a ribbon on one side so that I could roll it us and tie it together.

turned out pretty good.  The ladies at the group seemed to like it and each asked for one.  I might have to get working on that. :)

Learning to Crochet

My friend started a crocheting group, I was so excited because I have been wanting to learn, but hadn't really found anyone who could teach me.  In the picture is what we learned to do yesterday.  I am just hoping I can remember what all we did. LOL  It was really fun to do and I am so excited to learn more.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!

                                                  Or as my 4 yr old calls it, Buzzlightyear day,

                                      that's why everyone is wearing gree.

3 Wonderful Books- Must reads!!

I read these a few years ago and absolutely love them.  Jane Kirkpatrick is an amazing writer who keeps your interest without overdoing the specifics. 

It is an amazing story of Women who set out with their families to go west, on the way they are struck with sickness and all the men end up passing away.  These Women keep going on and helping each other. It is based on a true story.   I thoroughly enjoyed them and couldn't put the books down.  The series is definitely worth the read.

Another Burger Sign

Yesterday I took my oldest to lunch for his birthday and I saw this sign at the Chili's here on base.  Makes me laugh, I live in a house full of "Big Mouth Burgers"

Fat Quarter Plastic Bag Holder

Do you have this hanging around your house after a shopping trip?     I get so tired of trying to find a place to put my plastic bags, we reuse them for garbage bags in the bathrooms and for our recylcling, so it is a must to have a place to put them.

I mad this holder out of a fat quarter.  I ironed it, folded it in half right sides together and sew the long side and one short side.  (I like sewing up the bottom, I have an old one that there was an opening on both ends, drove me crazy when the bags started falling out the other side).  Now take the top and fold over about 1/2 inch and sew around the top edge.  Next take your elastic, pin the end of the elastic to where you want to start, as you are sewing, pull tightly on the elastic.  I added a loop of ribbon to the top so that I could hang it on the back of our door in the kitchen.  Turn rightsides out and push out ends at the bottom.

Now it looks nice and neat on the back of the door, and doesn't take my much needed space under the sink.

I have been sewing and ironing like a mad women.  I should be finished tomorrow and can't wait to share what I have been up too. 

It has been a busy and strange weekend for us.  We live in Japan, but on an island way below mainland.   So we have had lots of sirens and warnings to stay away from the beach and mainly just to be careful.  I am so thankful that we were spared.   I will be gathering some things tomorrow to take to our church so that some kits can be made and sent to the people who have been affected by everything going on in Mainland Japan.    Please keep them in your prayers. 

Captain Kangaroo

Today while I was out showing a visiting friend around we stumbled on this little restaurant. I love the name. Mostly because my mom would tell us about watching Captian Kangaroo as a kid.   I'm going to have to go back and try it.  I took the picture for my mom, and also for my brother.  He takes all kinds of wonderful pictures and made me a calendar of pictures from different Burger joints.  (my married last name is Burger).

Jane Goes Batty

I have to say, I am a total sucker for books.  I got this from my mom and dad, they are both usually reading something, whether it is a book or a pattern.  We always had books around us growing up, even now if you look in my purse, I usually have a book in there, hey you never know when you are gonna need a little entertainment.  Needless to say that when I go into a bookstore I am sucked in, I love the smell of the books, the feel of them.  I love the look of joy on my kids faces when they get a new book to read.  That makes me super happy.  Last week I went in looking for a book for a friend who was about to make the long journey back to the states.  I came across this book:

I didn't realize there was a first book, so I started reading, even without having read the first one it was an intriguing book.  Basically Jane Austen was turned into a Vampire, and it is about her in modern times and what she is doing.   I know, I know there are tons of vampire books out there now, but I liked this one.   It kept me entertained and interested, which is what I need.  With 4 kids I have tons to do and if I don't find a book interesting, I have a hard time getting back to it.    I just ordered the first book on Amazon, I guess I did that a little backwards, and there is a 3 one coming.   I can't wait to read both of those.  Unfortunately, the base bookstore doesn't carry everything, and I have no big book store to go to, guess I'll have to find something else to read for the next week until I got my Amazon order.

Happy Reading Everyone!

basket time

Last night I went to our spouses group for my husband's squardron.  They have these once a month, which is nice when these guys are gone so much.  We do an activity, eat yummy food and they have child care so that I can actually go.   Last nigths activity was this cute little basket.  They were so much fun to learn how to make and not as hard as I thought it would be.   I can't wait to make some more.

Jewlery/ Key Holder Tutorial

Today I made 2 of these Jewlery/key holders.  This done is for my girls room. 

First you find a board that you like.  I actually found this one at our Thrift Shop here on base.

Take a piece of felt and glue it to the front.

it'll look something like this.

Lay felt side to fabric and cut to where you'll have enough to overlap on the back.

You'll probably need a ruler and a rotary cutter. 

I cut about 2 inches extra, just to give myself wiggle room.

Next you staple it to the back, make sure you pull it tight so that it lays flat on the front.

Next I put a ribbon across the front , gives it a little extra fun and plus you can put pictures there or hairclips.



This is what the back should look like.

I like to put a piece of felt over the back.  It just finishes it off, makes it look nice and helps to not scratch your wall.  (I didn't take a picture, but I did put a wall hanger on the back of this)

I had this rope flower in my supplies and thought it looked nice with the peace sign theme.

Last I put hooks on the bottom so that you can hang your things there. 

All in all this took about 30 minutes to do, of course that was with a 2 and 4 year old helping.