Isn’t it just a delicious color?? We used Miss Mustard Seed’s milk paint in the kitchen scale color. I’ll give you the lowdown:

This is probably the most requested recipe in my whole recipe arsenal. I found it in a Taste of Home magazine when we were newly married, (13 years ago!) and it is still a favorite. It is super easy and hits the spot on a chilly evening. I buy freeze dried carrots, celery, and onion to keep on hand just for soups in the winter. Kids love it too!

*** printable version here ***

5-2/3 cups water

1 package (4.3 ounces) Rice a Roni-- long grain and wild rice mix (don’t use substitutes on this one!)

1 envelope chicken noodle soup mix ( I use the Lipton envelope soups found in the soup aisle, this one)

1 celery rib, chopped

1 medium carrot, chopped

1/3 cup chopped onion (optional)

1 can condensed cream of chicken soup (10 ¾ ounces )

1 cup cubed cooked chicken

1/2 tsp garlic powder

In a large saucepan, combine water, rice with contents of seasoning packet and soup mix. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the celery, carrot, and onion. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in chicken soup, chicken, and garlic powder. Cook 8 minutes longer or until the rice and vegetables are tender. Yield: 5-8 servings

*** printable version here ***

Happy Soup-ing!

Do you ever email yourself notes for the next year? I do all of the time on my Google calendar, and apparently, I was supposed to tell you to plant the grass 2 weeks before Easter for perfect timing and to keep soaking the wheat kernels until they begin to sprout. And I’m supposed to keep easter baskets simple.

I love getting notes from myself! :) Click here for the full tutorial~I updated it!

Happy March: Rabbit!

I am so ready for spring, how about you?? Mark your calendars because our semi-annual Under $10 Under 1 Hour party will be here on March 14~I can’t wait to see some of your goodbye winter, hell-ooo spring creations!

A few more random tidbits:

* we finished reading Where the Red Fern Grows with our 8 yr old son…can you believe I never read it as a child? I don’t think I have ever cried so much in a book, but it is now on my most favorite books of all time.

*my kids cannot handle this:I find this bird all over the house~they think I’m suffocating him and set him free any chance they get.

I haven’t shared thrifty treasures in forever, so it’s about time, wouldn’t you say? Now, keep in mind that these are from the past 6 months…it’s not like I just walked into a thrift store and found it all in one day. Wouldn’t that be nice?

A chair for Hailey’s desk. $5 oh, and a pegboard behind it to hang some odds and ends on. $3