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I try to cook as much from scratch as possible so that I know what my family is eating. One thing that the kids love that is easy to make are these homemade spaghetti-o’s. Here is the recipe for the one we like (you can substitute however you want – there is no right or wrong for these!)…

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Ingredients
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1 lb. anellini pasta (you can also use anelletti or ditalini or whatever you want!)
3 cans of tomato soup (or equivalent homemade, see previous post)
1 C Water
1 C Milk (I like to use evaporated milk)
6 oz cheddar cheese (can substitute favorite cheese)
2 T butter
salt & pepper to taste
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Instructions
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Cook the pasta 3 minutes less than called for on package and drain. While cooking pasta, combine other ingredients in a large pot and simmer until cheese is melted. Stir in cooked pasta and simmer until heated through and thickened.
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This recipe can be frozen and reheated in a microwave later. Freeze in single serving sizes for convenience.
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I have been wanting an iPad for awhile, and my hubby finally bought me one at the beginning of the month. I LOVE IT and it has been a great organizing tool for my life! I wanted to share with you some of my favorite FREE apps (many of these also work for the iPhone) that I love to use. If you have some favorite free apps, please share with us!

1. Wunderlist.If you need an app to make lists and help you get organized, this is it. I can make several different lists, put the items on, and check them off once completed. Very easy to use and effective.

2. My Fitness Pal.This is a fabulous app….never has it been easier to keep track of your calories and exercise! I love the format, and I can see at a glance where I am at with my eating in terms of carbs, proteins, etc. My favorite part…you can even scan the barcode of the food you eat to make an instant log in of what you eat. There is a huge database of food, but if you cook a lot you can also add your own recipes and it calculates the calories. You can link up with friends too.

3. Behr Color Smart.This is a great tool for figuring out color! If you are doing any painting soon, this app is a must. You can even take a photo and color match. There is a paint calculator too. I can’t see this app staying free forever, it is too good.

4. Mint.com.Mint is the perfect way to keep your finances in check at a glance. You can always know where you are at, and it helps you start a budget.

5. Evernote.This is one of the best organizing tools out there. Evernote helps you keep everything together…articles you find online, photos, recipes, audio clips, notes from meetings, you name it. I love Evernote and have used it for a few years on my desktop. I love having it on my portable device!

6. Lowes’ Creative Ideas Magazine.If you have ever gotten this magazine for free in the mail, you know how great it is. Now you can read it for free on your iPad! It looks fantastic on the new iPad with retina display! There are very few totally free magazines out there for the iPad, so this is a great find.

7. Kindle.If you have a Kindle, the Kindle app for iPad is something you must get! The display and layout is easy on the eyes, and Kindle’s prices still can’t be beat!

An inexpensive way to create a floating bookshelf is to purchase some metal bookends. Each bookend will make a shelf so you get TWO bookshelves for a low cost. You will need to drill holes in the bookends so that you can screw them to the wall. Keep in mind that the first book on your shelf IS your shelf and will need to be a book from a thrift store or yard sale or a book you don’t care about because you will glue the cover of the book to the bookend. Such a simple way to create and a nice, clean, contemporary looking bookshelf!