Lori's Rambling

HUGE YARD SALE: Friday, May 27th and Saturday, May 28th from 7 am to 2 pm 101 N. Lancaster St., Jonestown, PA  17038 Lots of great deals!  Free hot dogs from 12-1 both days!  See below for detailed items - furniture , outside items (boats, etc.), household items, books, baby and kids items Paint Sprayer:   Professional Grade - Magnum XR7 - 5 gallon capacity Furniture: 2 - computer desks -- one is tall corner unit, other regular vertical unit Refrigerator -- great for second frig -- freezer on bottom -- checked by repair tech and is in working condition Dining room table - great condition Outdoor Items: Lots of water toys -- squirt guns, sprinklers, etc. Canoe -- Coleman 15 ft. - 3 seats -- great condition Gas Grill Kayak - older model Aerocraft - v-bottom boat w/Evinrude 40 HP motor -- project boat, w/trailer Aqua-Glide -- wind surfer, inflatable -- new in box Household Items: Large set of corelle dishes blue glass items ice cream make...

One of my friends got me started making jewelry about 2 years ago.  I tried selling necklaces and earrings at one point early on but discovered that making money by making jewelry is not the easiest thing in the world especially since it seems like eveyone is into making jewelry.  I still enjoy making jewelry, but I am getting overloaded with necklaces.  I mean really, a person can only wear so many necklaces.  So just recently I decided to expand my jewelry making into actually making the beads and pendants themselves.  On a recent trip to Michael's, our local craft store, I discovered Sculpey clay that can be baked in a regular oven.  I bought a DVD put out by Sculpey on different processes and steps to making certain types of items, jewelry, luggage tags, picture frames, etc.  It teaches the basic techniques to obtaining certain basic looks that can be expanded on to make more elaborate pieces.  I have been experimenting with it the last...

I first tasted this cookie when I was visiting a friend for a playdate for our daughters.  I found these cookies irrestistible then and still find them irrestistible now!  Thanks Tanya for a great cookies recipe!!!  This is a simple, tasty and filling cookie.  Even my picky 5 year old likes these cookies! I lightened the recipe up a little bit from the original and it came in at only 2 Weight Watchers points per cookie and tasted just as yummy. Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Cookie 1 cup whole wheat flour 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup sugar 2 Tbsp light margarine 1/4 cup egg beaters or egg substitute 1/2 cup reduced fat peanut butter 1 medium mashed banana 1 1/2 cups rolled oats (not instant) Mix all ingredient together thoroughly, then drop by spoonful onto a lightly sprayed cookie sheet. Makes about 2 dozen cookies. Very yummy -- great as a breakfast cookie on a morning when you ...

Image via Wikipedia Since I have been on Weight Watchers for the last six months, I have been looking for healthier versions of favorite foods. I recently tried an Oven Fish 'n' Chips recipe from the Taste of Home Guilt Free Cooking. It is a "breaded" fish with fries for only 5 Weight Watcher points per serving. My husband is not a big fan of seafood unless it has been breaded and fried. He tried this recipe and decided that it was really good and that I could make it again anytime. Success!!! Oven Fish 'n' Chips 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/4 teaspoon pepper 4 medium baking potatoes (1 pound), peeled Fish: 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1/4 cup egg substitute 2 tablespoons water 2/3 cup crushed cornflakes 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan Cheese 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 pound frozen haddock filets, thawed Tartar sauce, optional In a large bowl, combine oil and pepper.  Cut potatoes, lengthwise into 1/2 inch strips.  Add to oil...

Today my daughter and I spent about two hours doing the Go Logo Make Mosaic Masterpieces. Sometimes it is hard to find craft things that do not make a mess and that a 5 1/2 year old could do by herself. I am always on the look-out for simple, non-messy crafts that are age appropriate for a 5-6 year old little girl. This craft fits the bill -- although I do wish that they had included more small pictures (5 x 7) and less large pictures (8 x 10). The large pictures were a little overwhelming in size for my daughter, although she did great when we were working on it together. We did the apple tree, a butterfly with flowers, and an owl. After finishing 2 large and 1 small picture, she promptly took them to her bedroom to hang on her wall. The pictures turned out quite well and were very bright. This is a great craft for rainy days or times when you need to have your child occupied so you can finish something else up. I found this kit at Walmart , but most craft stores probably carry it. ...

Why is it that most of us do not tell our mother's on a regular basis how much we love and appreciate them? I know that I am guilty of not letting my mom know how much I love her and that I appreciate everything that she has done for me. My mom didn't work outside of the home when my brother and I were little and only began working part-time after we were both in elementary school. I didn't realize at the time the sacrifices that my mom and dad made for my mom to be a stay-at-home mom. It is only since I have become a mom myself that I realize how difficult that must have been to make it work. Pinching pennies, looking for bargains, accepting hand-me-downs, and making it seem like we weren't lacking for anything. In reality, if you have love and family, you aren't lacking for anything, rather, you have everything that you could ever need. One thing my brother and I never doubted was that we were loved. My mom spent time reading to us, doing crafts with us, b...

I'm just sitting in my dining room helping Jaelyn put the alphabet in order, using the letters and pictures -- sounding out words to figure out what letter they start with. She is doing well, although losing steam toward the end of the alphabet. We need to work on this more, but at least she is having fun learning this. Next to run bath water for Jaelyn, then some relaxing time. I started this day with great intentions for sticking to Weight Watchers and made really good choices until dinner time. Jaelyn and I went to Infinitos Pizza Buffet with Bill and Lori Bertrand and the kids. It was sooo good, especially their cinnamon rolls and Chicken BBQ pizza. I seem to have such a hard time lately sticking to Weight Watchers -- it is discouraging. I have gained back about 7-8 pounds and really want to get back on track. I am working on some ideas to help me keep on track, but going to a restaurant like Infinitos definitely isn't the easiest place to go on Weight Watchers. ...

I am always looking for slow-cooker meals for days when I don't have time to be in the kitchen for long periods of time. This recipe fits the bill and comes with a high recommendation from my 5 year old daughter, "Mommy, you can make this again." Slow-Cooked Italian Chicken From the Taste of Home Comfort Food Diet Cookbook 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (4 oz) each 1 can (14 1/2 oz) reduced-sodium chicken broth 1 can (14 1/2 oz) stewed tomatoes, cut up 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce 1 medium green pepper, chopped 1 green onion, chopped 1 garlic clove, minced 3 teaspoons chili powder 1 teaspoon ground mustard 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup cold water Place chicken in a 3 qt. slow cooker. In a bowl, combine the broth, tomatoes, tomato sauce, green pepper, onion, garlic and seasonings; pour over chicken. Cover; cook on low for 4-5 hours or until a meat thermometer reads 1...

Taste of Home Guilt Free Cooking . A few days ago, I took a gamble, considering that I have a picky 5 year old. I made Tuna Noodle Casserole. Jaelyn doesn't like any fish that she has tried, so I took a leap and made this comfort food. I didn't tell Jaelyn what she was eating, so maybe that is the key to getting her to try more new foods. I omitted the pimientos as I did not have them on hand. Jaelyn ate every bite, except she picked out every single pea and did not eat them. Tuna Noodle Casserole 1 can (10 3/4 oz) reduced-fat reduced-sodium condensed cream of celery soup, undiluted 1/2 cup fat-free milk 2 cups cooked yolk-free wide noodles 1 cup frozen peas, thawed 1 can (6 oz) light water-packed tuna, drained and flaked 1 jar (2 oz) diced pimientos, drained 2 Tablespoons dry bread crumbs 1 Tablespoon butter, melted In a large bowl, combine soup and milk until smooth. Add the noodles, peas, tuna, and pimientos; mix well. Pour into a 1 1/2 qt. baking dis...

For those of you who live locally and are looking for good things cheap, we are having a mega-yard sale Friday and Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend. Scott and I have been accumulating and accumulating for the eleven years that we have been married. For the last nine months we have been clearing out and preparing for a yard sale. The more we get organized, the larger we realize this yard sale is going to be. We will be selling some furniture -- a dining room table, a love seat, etc., tons and tons of infant, toddler up to size 6 in girls clothing, a large amount of plus size women's clothing - 1X - 2X and 16W - 18W, baby and toddler toys, baby and toddler equipment -- exersaucers, art desk, etc, stuffed animals (smoke-free house), as well as many books -- lots of cookbooks (Taste of Home as well as others), and many, many other odds and ends. Scott and I are trying to simplify our lives and reduce the amount of stuff that we have -- stuff that we don't really need, but som...