WIC Archives - as Jules is going

Refried Beans {Thoughtful Thursday Link-Up}

March 1, 2012 by Jules 12 Comments

Do you have anything thoughtful you 'd like to share this Thursday? Some little helpful hint? A fun recipe? A tool you love? Please share by linking up below and then posting the "Thoughtful Thursday" button to your post so other ladies can get lots of thoughtful helps! Consider visiting the link above yours and encouraging them through comments!

Here's my thoughtfulness for the week:

Any other WIC mamma's out there? Do you have those huge piles of beans in your pantry or cabinet building higher and higher every month? How 'bout cheese? Need something new to use up those cans of beans and blocks of cheeses? Here's my new WIC refried beans recipe:

Homemade Refried Beans

2 cans of pinto beans
2 tbl onion pwd
1 tbl onion salt
dash of regular salt
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese {for top}

In a medium sized sauce pan dump your 2 cans of beans {mainly drained} along with all of your seasonings and 1/4 cup cheese.

Begin to heat them stirring occasionally so it doesn't burn on the bottom of the pan. Lower the temp when it begins to boil as to let it just simmer.

Mash beans with a potato masher. I don't like big pieces of bean skin so I used a blender to puree' them even more {optional}.

After they're well mixed then I poured them into a serving dish and shredded the other 1/4 cup cheese over the top. I made mine a head of time to you can reheat the beans closer to time either in the microwave or in the oven.

This entire recipe only takes about 5 minutes. Hope you like!

Do you have any recipes to help use up some of those monthly WIC items?

Filed Under: The Ones about Link-Ups, The Ones about Post Series, The ones about the Rothacher Home, Thoughtful Thursdays Tagged With: cheap recipe, fast recipe, homemade recipe, no fry refried beans, refried beans, WIC

Advent {Day 9}: Sugar Cookies (Gift Ideas Series)

December 9, 2011 by Jules Leave a Comment

Today I want to focus on Teachers! School teachers, Sunday school teachers, nursery workers, daycare workers, AWANA teachers, dance teachers, coaches, etc.

SPOILER ALERT! Teacher's every where are just as ready as your children, if not more so, for Christmas break! Yep. It's true. They have worked so hard teaching out little ones and they are looking forward to a tiny break. I appreciate all that they do every week. They are reliable. And they aiding me by assisting in my education of my child. A great way to thank them for all their hard work is with a meaningful gift!

Wanna know How-To Decorating Cans? Click over HERE for step by step instructions.

Filling Cans

Shaped Cookies:

Make any shape cookies you enjoy (smaller than 3" around)
Place desired tissue paper inside
Add cookies
Place bow on top of the lid or printable tag (click lid tag STAR for free printable

These people in our lives love getting gifts {as simple as they may be} just to feel appreciated. Wouldn't you? Homemade adds that special touch as well.

Who make your life easier by serving you? How are you going to show you're thankful for them this season?

Filed Under: Gifts Ideas, Holidays, The Ones about Post Series Tagged With: Advent, Christmas, Cookie, homemade gifts, Printables, Teacher, WIC

Advent {Day 8}: UpCycle Gift Wrap

December 8, 2011 by Jules 1 Comment

Any WIC mamma's out there? Being a WIC mamma myself, I know we have to "buy" those tiny 12.5oz Imfamil Premium formula cans. I end up with piles of these adorable sized cans (7 a month to be exact). Anyone else out there enjoy finding fun new up-cycle crafts for them? I DO!

Last year these became our neighbor, mail carrier, and sanitation department gifts! This year they may even be teacher gifts for our Sunday school and Cubbie teachers as well as nursery workers.

I'd love to share with you several gifts that fit perfectly into these miniscule containers at minimal cost!

Decorating Cans

Always wash cans after emptying/using all the formula
Make sure to wash and save the scoop just in case
Let dry overnight
Choose paper according to your desired theme (scrap wrapping paper, construction paper, etc)
Measure, cut, tape
Add embellishments to the lid
(bows of any kind, your own homemade tag, or my printables are available in the post series: "Gift Ideas")

Other items you may be able to stock up on fast are baby food jars. If you have babies then they are going through possibly 3 or more jars of food a day(if you're not doing homemade, which we've done before). Those are another great idea for re-purposing!

Decorating Baby Food Jars

Always wash jar after emptying
Make sure to wash and save the lid as well
Let dry overnight
Add embellishments to the side of the jar. This helps cover the left over sticky from the former label and takes away from the fact that its baby food jar. Wrap it all the way around the jar or just make a small 1'' x 1.5'' label. I like using Mod Pog to glue the paper on but tap will work as well.
(you can make a simple homemade tag, or my printables are available in the post series: "Gift Ideas")
Fill the jar with gift before sealing lid off with embellishments.
Click HERE for ideas to fill your jars.
Choose paper according to your desired theme that will cover the lid.
(tissue paper seems to work the best but scrap wrapping paper, construction paper, etc will work as well)
Measure, cut, and strap the paper over the lid with ribbon
(curling ribbon works great and is cheap but any handy ribbon you have will work)