Real life with Lar

Cleaning Hacks  (Budget Friendly too) Christmas is over; now time to get the house ready for 2018! The main reason why I started the Real Life with Lar blog was to help empower women with knowledge of how to make life a bit easier.  Providing tips and tricks to help make our homes into havens. A safe place for our loved ones to fall when this world is chaotic and crazy. One thing I love to try are cleaning hacks, especially if the products used are natural and budget friendly. I tried 3 that I've been considering. Now, I want to share these with you, and hope you will find them helpful as well as budget friendly. **Disclaimer this is my first time using my new camera so please forgive the pictures not being as good as I'd like. I am practicing to become better at it. ** Microwave In a microwavable bowl (I used a glass measuring cup) squeeze the juice of 2 lemons. Add cut up lemons and 2-3 cups of water Place in microwave and cook on high 6...

Lar's Best Thing Since Sliced Bread... Pudding When I was a little girl my dad and his sister (my Aunt Candy) would order bread pudding whenever it was on any restaurant menu.  They loved it. I, however, would think, “why would you want to eat soaked bread?!” After I grew up I realized bread pudding was so much more than just “soaked bread“.  It is an indulgent dessert that has the simplest ingredients yet feels like you spent a lot of time and money making it.  My bread pudding is a cross between French toast casserole and sticky, nutty cinnamon monkey bread.  It would make a great Holiday dessert. Whether it is the family Christmas dinner, neighborhood Christmas party, or New Years celebrations! What you will need... 2 c Granulated Sugar 6 lrg Eggs, beaten  1 3/4 c Whole Milk 2 tsp Vanilla Extract 1 1/2 tsp Cinnamon 1/2 tsp Nutmeg  1/2-3/4 c Raisins (optional)  1 Loaf Italian Bread, cubed,...

Stuffed Flank Steak 🎉🎉   Smokin Hot Hubby's Birthday Dinner   🎉🎉 Tomorrow is Smokin Hot Hubby’s birthday. I am so blessed to have such an amazing man in my life. We always go out for our birthdays but I also like to cook Smokin’s favorite foods the week of or before his birthday. This past week I made his very favorite dinner: Stuffed Flank Steak. I was first given the idea from my friend Dawn. She shared with me the concept and encouraged me to make it my own.   She and my friend Robyn are some of my best foodie mentors/inspirations.   I will link there blogs here: Dawn's blog:    http://1001meatballsserved.blogspot.com Robyn's blog:   http://housewifecooking.blogspot.com For the Stuffed Flank Steak you will need: Just these few ingredients make an amazing stuffing! Garlic powder not pictured 1        Flank steak, 1 ½ -2lbs  2        Shallots, minced ½c     F...

2017 Fall Home Decor Inspirational sayings are one of my favorite ways to decorate. The change of seasons; especially Summer to Fall is magical. I love when the temperatures cool, the apple cider is warming, and the coziness of Fall has taken over the house. It is also time for my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving. I love preparing for the feast and watching my family and friends enjoying the food and company. Found this pillow at Hobby Lobby. Little A LOVES trucks. The first thing I do to prepare for the season change is decorate my house. My Fall home décor is a relatively new thing for me.    I used to just decorate my kitchen table but now I like to put touches here and there, mostly in the common areas. You never know where you will find great decor. My cute scarecrows are from Rite Aid Drugstore.  When decorating, I have found 3 tips that make preparing my home for Fall much easier. Tip 1: Budget and Bargains The 'G...

Happy Grandparents Day ! Snuggle napping with my Great Grandpa aka 'Shand-Dad' Such a sweet & gentle soul! I loved all my grandparents. I was lucky  to have had some awesome ones. I learned so much from each of them. Although they have all passed on they are never far from my thoughts. I think of each one fondly, BUT my relationship with my GanGan (aka Gang) was a special bond. Gang & I during our last visit. I was trying to take a selfie with her. She wanted to just lay her head on my forehead.  GanGan was more than just my paternal grandmother. She was my mentor, my encourager, and my friend. She always had sound advice, great instinct and wisdom I always trusted.  Her laugh was amazing and we laughed A LOT. As a matter of fact, GanGan was so cool that as a teenager my friends looked forward to her weekend visits so we could 'hang out' with her .  BeeBee and I at Disneyland park, 1970. We loved our trips there I lost my matern...

Poodle Noodles (Name explained in the post😎) In the heart of Chinatown, in Washington DC, we found this awesome Chinese restaurant. It made the most  delicious noodle dish. It was a combination of fresh made noodles, fried garlic, shredded vegetables tossed in a sesame oil  and topped with chili sauce. For less than $5 each we could get a HUGE bowl of this amazing noodle dish. When we got home from our second vacation from Washington DC I decided to come up with my own version for the noodle dish. It was a hit. Whenever the girls requested the noodle dish my youngest girl (Who was obsessed with the Dr. Suess book "Fox in Socks") would say, 'Momma can you make some POODLE EATIN NOODLES'. This was her favorite page to read in the whole book and the name stuck. It's an easy, quick, tasty recipe. All you need is... 1    Bottle of House of Tsang Peanut sauce 1-2 Bags of Broccoli Slaw  1    Large Onion, thinly sliced 2T ...