Before getting a cat.

There was only a year where I didn't have a cat growing up. But my grandparents still did. So I wanted to make a list of what people need to either plan or get during the process of becoming cat owners.

* First off you need to find out if you can afford a cat. I'm not talking the actual buying of the cat. I'm talking about the litter, food, vet expenses, toys, ect. Once you can say yes to expenses then you can move on.

* Secondly you gotta figure out where everything is going. Like litter box and food. If you have little kids or dogs you got to make sure it is out of reach. You also should figure out if the cat is going to be a pure inside cat or not.

* Third is who is taking responsibility. Someone needs to make sure that the cat is fed, water refilled, and litter is cleaned. If the cat has hairballs who is cleaning it up. If the cat not declawed who trimming the nails and teaching cat not to claw on furniture. Who is brushing the cat. Who is willing to give it a bath at least twice a year for ticks and flees. That last one is debatible. Some owners just do a collar others don't even worry about it.

Once you figured out all 3 then we can move on to items. Keep in mind all cats are different. But the main items stay the same.

* litter box ( rule of thumb one box for every cat)
* water bowl
* food bowl
* treats
* cat tower (Optional. I've done both. I say don't go long without one)
* scratching post (if clawed)
* nail clippers (again if clawed I like using actual nail clippers)
* soft paws (optional if clawed)
* cat brush
* toys (lazers, cat nip toys, birds that make sounds, fake mice, ect. There's so many toys for cats it's really a touch and go if they like it. Younger cats love more toys.)

Remember to spay and neuter your cats. So many cats are without homes. Also remember cats are a life long companions. They need to choose you as much as you choose them. They do grow up. Enjoy and love them. 

Grandpa casserole

So I know this isn't technically the right name for this meal. It is what I know it by. This became one of my grandpa's favorite meals before his passed away. Grandma even made this the day he passed. So to me this will always be grandpa's casserole. Note didn't have pasta shells when made this or green peppers.

Serves 4

Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1/2 c chopped green peppers
1 Tbs chilly powder
2 1/2 c small shells uncooked
1 c sliced onion
1 1/2 c tomato juice
1/2 tsp salt

Instructions
Brown ground beef, onions, and green peppers in a skillet; until onions are tender. Drain grease. Add tomato juice, chili powder, and salt. Mix thoroughly. Simmer uncovered 10 min. Cook small shells in boiling water until tender. Combine with meat mixture.
Enjoy!

Tatertot casserole

This is something I love to cook. My family loves it. Anyone I've cooked this for loves it. I've cooked it enough I have it memorized. It's also easy and cheep. So works on tight budget.  But I do say if feeding more then 4 make sure you have sides or make 2.

Ingredients
-1lb of hamburger
- 1 can of corn drained
- 1 can of sloppy joe sauce
- tater tots
- favorite shredded cheese

Instructions
1. Pre heat the oven according to directions for tater tots
2. Fry up the hamburger and drain the greese
3. Mix in the sloppy joe and follow the directions on the can
4. Mix in the corn
5. Put it in a 9x13 casserole dish
6. Put the tater tots on top
7. Sprinkle the desire amount of shredded cheese on top
8. Cook for how long the directions say for the tater tots
9. Enjoy :)

Cinnamon Oatmeal

Everytime I stay at my grandmother house my grandmother makes this oatmeal every morning. Last time I was there I got the recipe.

Recipe makes 2 servings

Ingredients
- 1 c water
- 1/4 c raisins
-1/2 c oats
- 1/4 t vanilla
- 1/2 t cinnamon
- 2 T sunflower or sesame seeds
- 1 T soy grits (optional)

In a 1 qt saucepan combined: water, and raisins. Bring to a boil and add slowly: oats, vanilla, cinnamon, sunflower or sesame seeds, and soy grits.

Cook 8 to 10 min

Also can add butter before eatting and more cinnamon. I personally love coconut butter with it.

Boy cartoons

As there is a lot of movies around for little girls. People with little boys have a hard time finding movies that are not so girly. So I wanted to make a list of all the cartoons I know of that little boys would love. I know new ones come out and I may have missed some but this is a good start. Enjoy movie hunting.

[ ] Aladdin
[ ] American tail
[ ] Angry birds
[ ] Ants
[ ] Area 51
[ ] Arthur and the invisibles
[ ] ASTRO boy
[ ] Atlantis
[ ] Balto
[ ] Bambie
[ ] Big hero 6
[ ] Box trolls
[ ] Brave little toaster
[ ] Brother bear
[ ] Bugs life
[ ] Cars
[ ] Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
[ ] Chicken little
[ ] Despicable Me
[ ] Dumbo
[ ] Emperor's New Groove
[ ] Everyone's hero
[ ] Finding nemo
[ ] Flushed away
[ ] Fox and the Hound
[ ] The good dinosaur
[ ] Goofy movie
[ ] Happy feet
[ ] Hercules
[ ] Horton Hears a Who
[ ] How to train your dragon
[ ] Ice age
[ ] Incredibles
[ ] iron giant
[ ] Jimmy neutron
[ ] Jungle book
[ ] Kung Fu Panda
[ ] Land before time
[ ] Lego movie
[ ] Lion king
[ ] Lorax
[ ] Madagascar
[ ] Meet the Robinsons
[ ] Megamind
[ ] Minions
[ ] Monster inc
[ ] Monsters vs aliens
[ ] Mr Peabody and Sherman
[ ] Oliver & Company
[ ] Plains
[ ] Prince of Egypt
[ ] Puss in boots
[ ] Ratatouille
[ ] Road to El Dorado
[ ] Rise of the Guardians
[ ] Robots
[ ] Secret life of pets
[ ] Scooby doo
[ ] Shark tale
[ ] Shrek
[ ] Space chimps
[ ] Spirit
[ ] Sword in the stone
[ ] Tarzan
[ ] Toy story
[ ] Treasure planet
[ ] Turbo
[ ] We're back
[ ] Wreck it Ralph
[ ] Up

Lasagna

So this is something I seem to always get reviews about when I make it. It's a great dinner when having company. It does take a little bit more effort then most of the meals I post. The picture is of the first time I did gluten-free noodles. So it's a little different then I'm used to. This also has the recipe for non oven ready pasta. It does work either way.

Ingredients
- 13 lasagna noodles
- 2 lbs spaghetti sauce
- 1lb or one cube of shredded cheese
- 1 onion
- 2 lbs cottage cheese
- 2 lbs ground beef

Instructions
- preheat oven to 350°
- fry up hamburger and onion together
- boil lasagna noodles if using non oven ready
- in a bowl mix most of the cheese with the cottage cheese
- once hamburger is cooked drain the greese
- mix the speghitti sauce with the hamburger
- sprinkle a little cheese on the bottom of the pan
- layer noddles, hamburger sauce mix and cheese mix
- repeat until reach the top of the pan (if using oven ready do not put noodles near the top. It will not cook probably.
- sprinkle some cheese on top
- cook for 30 min basically until cheese is melted
- enjoy!

Easter ideas for year old

Lot of mom's wonder at easter time what to get there little ones on there 1st or 2nd Easter. This is what I did. Plus some other ideas. 

-puzzles-

No matter how young the kid is they will grow to play and learn with puzzles. It's good to do wood so not have to worry about choking. 

-books-

Books are always great for kids of every age. Even if it's just something for them to feel or to look at pictures. Around holidays the stores always have books around to help kids learn about the holiday or just have a story for that time of year.

-basket-

To me baskets are a tradition. If it's just the first I would do something a little cheeper. My first kid I did one that would fit everything inside. This kid I just did a one small enough to hold 12 small plastic eggs. And he loved the basket.

-plastic eggs-

The eggs don't really work if they are only a few months old. But for someone close or over a year old to me is a must. Besides just being tradition they work for learning colors, making a game to find them, working with hand coronation, and just something fun. I did plastic cars instead of eggs because they work the same and it brought more fun after easter.

-stuffed animal-

Who doesn't love a stuff animal? As long as you remove the tag it is safe around young babies for the most part. If they are really young just get one that has the year on it or one that says first easter. It's great to look back on. Also great for pictures.

-chalk-

Okay I'm going to admit this is the first time I did this one. I figure it's getting warmer and if old enough it's a good way to start coloring. 

-clothes-

All kids need clothes and having easter clothes is just nice. Yes I went with nice. It's also useful. You can do anything from full outfits to just parts. Like a hat. It also works with any age.

-odds and ends-

This is stuff like washcloth, plates, cups, and utensils. Stuff that is useful but basically filler items seeing as to young for sweets. 

- memorials-

Like the wooden egg to put a first easter foot print, stuff to do a wall foot print, first easter picure frame. Ect.