Pool Noodle Tent Markers

For my first official post since coming back to the land of blog living, I'd like to share an awesome camping hack we tried two summers ago in 2015.  Reason being is I posted my picture on Pinterest and it has been pinned and shared like crazy, but doesn't really have a home if that makes sense.  You may have seen this picture, and even pinned it yourself, but now you know it started with me!

Both Hubs I grew up enjoying camping and knew that we wanted to take our kids camping to share the love.  Well our first camping trip was a disaster to say the least.  Goose was maybe 2 or 3, and had a blast when we got to the campsite. Loved hiking around the trees, getting dirty, loved the adventure, was the happiest girl in the world... up until she realized we were sleeping there.  Long story short, we only stayed one night, because it was one very l..o..n..g night.  It was so bad we refused to take her again. 

Fast forward to 2015... Goose was older and now had Verdicle whom we also wanted to try camping with, so we decided to give it a go.  This time though we picked a campsite that was much closer to home, one with a bathroom, and more importantly a playground!  I packed their favorite blankets and stuffies, and planned activities in case they board.  I searched Pinterest for the best tips for camping with kids.

We are tent campers, but one of the pins I came across was THIS pin for RV camping Hacks, posting a picture with the title Foam Pool Noodles For Awning Pole.  What an amazing idea!  I grew up always tripping over the tent wire, so I knew I wanted to incorporate this into our camping adventure!

It worked out great! There was no tripping and best part is it was ridiculously easy and only $1!  I definitely recommend a brighter color because it was easy to see even in the dark.  No special tools needed... I just used my bread knife from the kitchen.  You can obviously cut yours longer like the one in the RV photo, but I cut my pool noodle in half, then cut one half into 4 pieces.

The other half of the noodle I cut into piece to use for other camping hack ideas I found on Pinterest.  Like these covers for our roasting sticks.  Also made some for the cooking knives we keep in are camping gear!

Here are some other great Pool Noodle Camping Ideas, some we've tried and some we plan on trying either this summer or next:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/189995678009521553/

Insert a pool noodle between the canopy fabric and frame to keep water from collecting during a rainstorm.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/293648838193915573/

A pool noodle table toe/foot protector!  Great for if you RV camp, or even if you like to wear flip flops around the picnic table.  =0)

We haven't tried this camping, but at home it works great, especially for the little ones!

Have you used pool noodles when you've gone camping?  I know there are many more ideas/hacks out there, but what are your favorite?

Hello, I'm MamaGoose!

Life has literally swept me off my feet and I'd forgotten completely about this blog... awful right?! Well a few years after my last post, here I am to re-introduce myself.  Please read my Welcome at the top of my blog if you haven't already!  And I am in the middle of updated my blog and giving it a new look, so forgive my mess!

Boy does time fly... It's March 2013 already! 

First I'd like to appologize for going MIA for the past 7 months!  I guess I have alot of catching up to do because alot has happened in those 7 months... I won't load everything all into this post, though, so don't worry!  =0) 

This post I will dedicate to my hardest and greatest project last year... my baby boy! 

Handsome was born December 19, 2012 at 1:43am, weighing 8lb 5oz and measuring 21.5" long!

I have to say it was a long pregnancy for me.  We didn't have any complications, but I was sick more with him than I was with Goose, and I was very stressed and anxious throughout the whole pregnancy.  Lets just say that I am extremely happy to have him here with now!

He is such a good baby, has the most adorable little smile, and best of all he is a Mama's boy and loves to snuggle!  (Goose was always Daddy's girl and would rather be up looking at the world than snuggled in anyone's arms!) 

We love him so much!

Yummy Meat & Potato Casserole

I just wanted to share one of our favorite dinners!  (A recipe I found on cooks.com a year or two ago.)We haven't had it in awhile so I decided to make it last night for dinner.  I had forgotten how good it really was!  =0)

The original recipe says to use lamb stew meat, which I've tried since lamb is DaddyGoose's favorite, but since I'm not a fan of lamb I've also tried making it with beef stew meat and chicken, and it's just as tasy!  Also, the recipe says to use a large casserole dish, which to me means 9x13, but I've found that it fits best in either a glass 8x8 or a 2.5qt round dish (as pictured). And I wanted to mention that it says 4 servings, but DaddyGoose and I can easily eat the whole thing in one dinner.  So if you are feeding more than 2, I would reccommend doubling the recipe!

And now the moment you've been waiting for... the recipe!

Meat & Potato Casserole

Servings: 4
Prep Time: 30min (give or take a few)
Cook Time: 2 hours

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp. Vegetable Oil
• 1 1/2 lbs. Stew Meat (lamb, beef, chicken, other?)
• 1 Onion, sliced or chopped
• 2 Carrots, sliced
• 1 Tbsp. Flour, all-purpose
• 1/2 c. White Wine (sub w/ White Grape Juice, Apple Juice or Chicken Broth)
• 1 c. Beef Stock
• 1 Tbsp. Tomato Paste
• 1 Tbsp. Brown Sugar
• Salt
• Pepper
• 1 tsp. Dill Weed
• 4 c. Potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced (about 1/2 a med potato)
• 1 Tbsp. Butter, melted

Directions:
~ Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease casserole dish.
~ Heat oil in skillet over med heat.  Add meat and saute until browned.  With slotted spoon transfer meat to casserole dish.
~ Add onions and carrots to fat remaining in skillet, and saute 2 min.  Stir in flour and cook 1 min.  Gradually stir in wine and stock.  Bring mixture to a boil, stirring frequently.  Remove from heat.
~ Stir in tomato paste and sugar.  Season with salt and pepper.  Spoon mixture over meat in dish, then stir in dill weed.
~ Arrange sliced potatoes over contents of casserole (in single layer).  Brush with melted butter, then cover with foil or lid.
~ Bake for 1 1/2 hours.
~ Increase ove heat to 400 degrees, remove lid, and bake 30 more minutes until potatoes are tender and golden.

It is a VERY time consuming dish, so it's best for the weekend or a day when you don't have plans, but it is worth the wait!  I promise!

A Pillow for My Kindle

 

 

Just wanted to share the Kindle Pillow I made myself!  I got the idea from Kim at A Sewing Bloggery.  Her tutorial is for an iPod, but I really wanted one for my Kindle so I just made her pattern bigger!  Instead of using 5", I used 9"... which by the way means a LOT more rice!  It turned out great though and works great for when my Kindle is charging (no pic but the pillow is the same width as the Kindle so it fits on its side or upright), or when I'm reading in bed!  Daddy Goose was even impressed and asked if I could make one for his iPad!