Keeping Life Creative

Thank you so much for the feedback on the magnetic chore chart! I’m pretty excited about it too.

So as promised, here are the details on how I made the magnets. . . . I found all the supplies at a local craft store, including the whiteboard (which I bought with a 50% off coupon, of course!) and put everything together in less than an hour. (The chore graphics were created in Photoshop using digitally scanned hand-cut felties.)

Supplies:

Chore Graphic Printout
1-inch circle punch
Clear Glass Pebbles
Mod Podge
Paint Brush
Hot Glue Gun
Strong Magnets

Start by printing out the chore chart graphics. I recommend printing on heavier paper such as cardstock, or my favorite, Epson Matte Presentation Paper. I like the matte paper because it’s sturdy like cardstock, but unlike cardstock (which tends to absorb and mute the color ink), the matte paper presents vibrant colors that are true to what you see on the computer screen.

Punch out each chore graphic using a 1-inch circle punch.

Then brush a thin coat of Mod Podge over each punched chore graphic.

{I’m using the “maid” graphic for “mom’s choice” or “mommy’s helper.”}

Firmly press the glass pebble (flat side down) onto the modge-podged chore punchout. Try to smooth out any bubbles by rubbing the back of the punchout. Don’t stress too much though, as the Mod Podge will dry clear.

Brush a thin layer of Mod Podge over the back of the cutout to seal.

Allow Mod Podge to fully dry, then hot glue a strong magnet to the back of each chore pebble.

Completed chore magnets:

If desired, laminate the “to do” and “done” strips for durability, and then place a magnet on the back as well.

Place the magnets on a white board or other magnetic surface, and introduce the chore chart to your kiddos!!

Filed Under: Crafty, Keeping Home, Tutorial

Never Ending Chores (and a chore chart I’m loving)

2011

12 Comments

One of my main challenges in this motherhood job is keeping the house clean. It’s not that I don’t try–it’s just that it seems like my efforts are always undone about 3.5 minutes later. Welcome to life with little kids.

In our discussions about housework, Jared is always supportive and helps out where he can, but most often our conversations lead to teaching the kids to clean up after themselves and helping with household chores. I do believe these are skills my kids need to learn–that part of my job as a mom is to teach them the things that will help them become responsible adults, and that starting with clean habits now will help in the long run. As with most things in this parenting job, I’m pretty sure the key to successfully teaching chores is consistancy, consitancy, consistancy. That’s why having a routine really helps my kids.

But sheesh, it’s hard sometimes, isn’t it?

So one of the most popular design requests I receive is for a chore chart. And while I’ve wanted to create one, my own personal challenge of staying consistant with my little ones and chores has left me conflicted. Because I wanted to be sure to create something I could feel good about using myself.

I tried sticker charts for a while but got tired of the maintenance of printing new charts and buying more stickers each week.

Then we started using weekly dry-erase checklist chore charts that I found at the dollar store. The kids loved them and the charts worked okay, but it was way too easy to leave the lids off the markers or leave them in reach of a two-year old sister.

We also tried drawing slips of paper for chores everyday. It worked okay, but they kept losing the slips of paper and I got tired of having to write new ones every day.

Finally, I think we’ve settled on a chore system I like.

It’s really simple, but I think that’s why it works for us. No more stickers to buy, marker messes to clean up, or daily recreation of chore slips, just a quick move of a magnet.

Basically, each child starts the day out with a column of chores that need to be done, and when they are finished they move their chore magnet to the “done” column. At the beginning of each day we can start fresh by easily sliding the magnets back to the appropriate column.

The colorful graphics make the chart fun and are easy for non-readers to understand. My kids seem to respond particularly well to the chart because they can visually see what they need to do, and then can “check” it off their “list” and see the progress they’ve made. With this chart I haven’t heard the complaints about having “too much to do” like I did with other systems we tried.

If this simple magnetic chart is one you think would work for your kids (or heck, even you!!), be sure to check back tomorrow for a detailed tutorial on creating the chore magnets.

Filed Under: Crafty, Keeping Home

Another Simple Meal Plan Monday

2011

There’s a certain amount of pressure I put on myself writing for a food blog and I’ve struggled over the past few months wondering if my meals are too simple, or if I should use fancier ingredients, because I do know HOW to cook. But the truth is, I’m just at this stage of life where simple is better. Maybe there will be time and money later on for more gourmet, but it’s not now.

Here are our dinner plans for the week:

Sunday: Potluck after church. . . I took Pasta Salad.

Monday: Sloppy Joes, oven fries, cinnamon apples

Tuesday: Spaghetti (add olives, mushrooms, and frozen tomatoes to jarred sauce), french bread, green salad with still-growing garden tomatoes

Wednesday: YOYO night (your on your own, AKA leftover night)

Thursday: Homemade Vegetable Beef Soup, grilled cheese sandwiches or biscuits

Friday {Pizza Night}: homemade or order out??

Saturday: Chicken Salsa Chili with tortilla chips, sour cream, and cheese

What’s on your menu this week?

Filed Under: Meal Plans

Feeding My Family on $60 a Week

2011

I’ve been getting a lot of requests to keep sharing couponing deals, so here are details on how I shopped this week:

CVS: $3.27 and earned $11 in ECB

The key to keeping the out-of-pocket cost low when shopping at CVS (as well as other drugstores like Rite Aid and Walgreens) is to purchase weekly deals that offer Extra Care Bucks (UP+ at Rite Aid and Register Rewards at Walgreens). Then on your next shopping trip, use the ECBs like cash and “roll” them into another product that is also producing Extra Care Bucks.

So here’s what I did this week: Huggies were on sale for $9 a package. I used three Huggies manufacter’s coupons, a CVS $4 off a $20 purchase coupon, and the ECBs I received from last week’s purchase. It brought my total way down, and then printed off a $10 ECB I can use on my next purchase.

The chocolate bars deal was similar…They were on sale for $0.99, I used a BOGO coupon, and it printed off a $1 ECB, so FREE chocolate! Yes, please.

Kroger: $40.42

We didn’t need much at Kroger so most of my total went to fresh produce, meat, milk and eggs. But thanks to couponing, I can do that!

Best Deals:

Yoplait Delights: $0.49/each
Bagged salad and spinach: $0.99/bag
Bacon: $1.99 (bought 4 pkgs.)
Kraft Salad Dressing: $0.99/bottle
Pepperage Farm cookies: $1.29/bag (after-kids-go-to-bed treat!)

Weekly Total: $43.69

I shopped at the beginning of the week and I’m thinking I’ll probably need to run back for another gallon of milk, some bread, and more fresh fruit to get us through the weekend, but I have a little bit of wiggle room to work with.

If you’re new to couponing, don’t get discouraged. I can only keep our total this low because I’ve been doing it for a while and can rely on my stockpiled pantry and freezer items. It does take a few months before you start seeing a drastic change in your budget. When you first start couponing you might not spend less at first, but you will start buying MORE food/supplies for that same amount. Then the next time you need ranch dressing (or whatever) you just go shopping in your pantry instead of having to pay full-price at the store.

Filed Under: Couponing, Saving Money

Upcycled Knick-Knack Shelf

2011

I worried Ryan was starting to be a hoarder. Every time I go into his room or empty his pockets for the laundry I find random piles of rocks, scraps of paper, stubs of crayon, Lego pieces, etc.

Jared assured me to a six-year-old boy it’s not called hoarding, it’s called collecting.

So I’d been trying to think of ways to help Ryan contain his “collections” and other random “must-have” knick-knacks when I found this old shelf at the flea market.

(As I’m uploading this, I’m just noticing there’s marker on the back of the couch. Ugh…)

Yeah, it’s ugly and outdated, but it’s solid so I knew it had good potential.

First thing to go, the cute little heart cutout piece. Cute maybe for my grandma’s house in 1985, but not so much for a little boy’s room. It popped off pretty easily when wedging a butter knife in between the crack.

Then we added a few coats of spray paint–red to match his room. I spread some old newspapers outside and let him help me paint. He loved the chance to be allowed to use the spray paint, and I think it helped him be more excited about about the shelf and take ownership. (Was pretty busy supervising the painting here, so no pictures!!)

After letting the paint dry overnight I distressed the edges a bit by lightly sanding them with a piece of fine sandpaper.

Then we hung the shelf and started adding treasures.

The little Ikea jars are for special rocks, marbles, and other random bits and I’m sure will be filled soon enough. Ryan’s especially excited to have a “safe” (read: out of little sister’s reach) place to display his Lego creations and train penny bank–which has already broken once.

The Route 66 sign also came from the flea market and made one Cars-loving six-year-old very happy.

Total cost for this upcycled flea-market find: about $6

Filed Under: Crafty, Thrifting, Tutorial

A Two-Scoop Day

2011

Since we are both very busy with work, community, and church responsibilities on top of our regular family priorities, Jared and I try to talk about our weekly schedule every Sunday night. When we do it helps us make plans and try to support each other in what’s going on. (*Try* being the keyword there.)

So as we talked this week, I realized it was going to be a particularly hectic week since we have something scheduled every night. Maybe that’s normal for most families, but for me, I’d rather spend the evenings quietly at home reading a book, scrapbooking, or watching Netflix re-runs and eating brownies with Jared. That not being the case this week, I knew I needed to make some plans help the week run smoother.

Since I’ve chosen to make blogging a priority–on weeks like this–I rely on the ability to schedule posts in advance. So on Monday afternoon during kiddo nap/quiet time I drafted out several posts– thoughts on happiness, a flea-market shelf makeover, a tutorial of a new chore chart, a cute Etsy shop to introduce, and an oooey-gooey sticky bread recipe. Having the drafts ready to go, I was feeling productive and warrior-ready to conquer the busy week.

Tuesday’s thoughts on happiness posted according to schedule as I made the breakfast oatmeal and helped Ryan get ready for school. But then actually practicing the happiness I committed to was immediately challenged with a hormonal arguement with Jared, an inrepairable shattered laptop screen, and Emmy’s experimental cheek-length mullet which she thought would solve the problem of her hair “blowing in the wind.”

As the day continued on, rather than feeling “happy,” productive, and confident–as I wanted to feel as I prepared for the night’s PTA meeting, I was drained, emotional and frustrated. ”Acting the way I wanted to feel” is a lot harder than it sounds!

Days like this I call “two-scoop days.” Not that ice cream is the way to happiness, or that it’s a good idea to fill emotional needs with food, but sometimes, just sometimes, doesn’t it just make things seem a bit more manageable?

Thank goodness for tomorrow in which I’ll try again to make happiness a habit.

Filed Under: Mommy Moments

If You Chance to Meet a Frown

2011

I hate this thought–but maybe acknowledging it is the first step to changing it. . . .I’m a glass is half-empty kind of person.

There. I said it.

I don’t mean to be, and I don’t think or see myself that way. And certainly don’t want to be.

But recently I was informed–more than once (and not in in such a nice way)– that I am too negative. That I don’t smile enough. That I don’t seek out the positive. It hurts and it’s a hard truth for me to take in–especially when I thought I was doing okay “keeping it together.” But when I look past the defensiveness and truly look at myself, I can see that I do find it easier to grumble than to be grateful, to criticize rather than praise, and to argue rather than accept.

I was listening to Dr. Laura the other day and she said something that has been on my mind since:

It hit me in a way I needed, because I’d never really considered that being happy was a habit–just like brushing my teeth and making the bed and planning our weekly meals. And when I do consider happiness as a habit, it puts things into perspective–places the control and the responsibility for my bad attitude on me, and removes the blame from things that are going on around me. Whether I like it or not!

I’ve been reading The Happiness Project, where Gretchen says to “act the way you want to feel.” So today I’m remembering my happiness is a choice and that in order to make it a habit I need to act the way I want to feel. . .

. . . by turning that frown “upside down!”

If You Chance to Meet a Frown from Pam Odd on Vimeo.

Filed Under: Mommy Moments

Gloomy-day Meal Plan Monday

2011

Last week I mentioned that at seven months pregnant I’m beginning to feel like a squirrel saving up for winter with the amount of food I’ve been storing in the freezer in anticipation for the upcoming months (maybe even weeks) that I don’t want to cook. When (after opening the freezer and almost experiencing an avalanche) I repeated the comment to Jared he lovingly replied, “No honey, you’re much too big to be a squirrel. You’re more like a bear getting ready to hibernate!”

(Don’t worry, we had a good laugh.)

But grrrr. . . . I’m kind of feeling like a grouchy bear this Monday. Even though I know meal planning keeps me sane, for some reason I’m really dragging my feet about it this week so there’s nothing terribly exciting on the menu. Simple is good for me though. Even though it’s simple, preparing ahead of time and posting my meal plan continues to help me stay accountable and I know I’m less likely to run out and drown my gloomy, rainy-day mood in Panera’s Broccoli Cheese soup.

My dinner plans for the week:

Monday: Chicken Caesar Salad, garlic bread
Tuesday: Chicken and cheese Quesadillas, beans and rice
Wednesday: BLT wraps, potato salad
Thursday: Roast beef and gravy, potatoes (slow cooker), steamed carrots and broccoli
Friday: Friends over to order pizza and play Settler’s of Catan
Saturday: Chili, cornbread
Sunday: Pancakes, scrambled eggs

For more meal plans, visit OrgJunkie.

Filed Under: Meal Plans

Feeding My Family on $60 a Week

2011

Well, I overspent again this week, but justified it with scoring a great stock-up deal on ground beef which I cooked up, packaged, and froze. The freezer now has enough hamburger for at least 10 meals, so it was worth going over the weekly budget a bit. I also spent a lot more at CVS than usual, but got some things we were running low on.

CVS: $22.61

Best Deals:

Tampons: FREE plus overage
Ritz Crackers: FREE
Body Wash: FREE

Kroger: $49.55

Best Deals:

Pillsbury Biscuits: $0.17/can
Tucks: FREE plus overage
Cheerios: $0.99/box
BBQ Sauce: $0.60/bottle
Juice boxes: $1.29 (for school lunchboxes)
Manager’s Special 80/20 Ground Beef: $1.37/lb (stockup!!)
Reynolds Wrap (50 ft rolls): $1.14/box (I use this a lot with freezer cooking)

We’re still munching on lots of apples and applesauce from our trip to the farm, have plenty of other meats and veggies in the freezer, lots of tomatoes in our garden, and a stocked pantry so we’re eating well.

Total for the week: $72.16

Filed Under: Couponing, Saving Money

August Freezer Cooking Roundup

2011

Just a round-up of all the yummy (and freezer friendly!) dishes I shared at Once a Month Mom during August. . . .

{Creamy Mashed Potatoes}

{Hearty Beef Stew}

{Cream Cheese Chicken}

{Homemade Applesauce}

{Shepherd’s Pie}

Filed Under: Freezer Cooking

Be You.

2011

GOODNESS it’s been a busy week! My sister came to visit. During the day Jared was at work and Ryan was at school–then over the weekend the boys went on their annual “father and son’s campout” so we had plenty of big and little girl time with pizza, chocolate chip cookies, and movie nights; flea market shopping; a last swim in the lake for the season; going out to lunch; making birthday cupcakes; taking a hayride through the apple orchard; and lots of chatting. (Guess we’ll try getting back into routine next week!)

{Celebrating Serity’s 2nd birthday at The Cheesecake Factory}

This week had me thinking a lot about girls and women–dear friends, sisters, mothers, grandmothers, daughters. I’ve been thinking about myself, and about my daughters, and about this new baby girl growing inside of me.

If there is one thing I can teach my girls it’s to know that they are good enough. No matter what. And that the only opinion that matters is God’s. If we are truly doing what we believe to be right, and it pleases Him, then the other voices around us don’t matter.

It’s a message I missed out on as a child.

{Emery tries on hats while shopping}

Just be you.

A new art print now available in my Etsy shop.

Filed Under: Mommy Moments, My Designs

Eat-from-the-Freezer Meal Plan Monday

2011

At seven months pregnant I’m beginning to feel like a squirrel saving up for winter with the amount of food I’ve been storing in the freezer. Last week I bought 40 lbs of apples, corn on the cob, and peaches from a local farm and was busy prepping it for the freezer. I also froze tomatoes that have been abundantly producing in our garden. So besides the meals and meat I already had stored in there, it’s now officially stuffed. Like, the freezer door isn’t going to close if we don’t eat from there this week! Perhaps a deep freeze will be on the Christmas wish list?

Here’s what’s on the eat-from-the-freezer plan this week:

Monday:

Lunch: weekend leftovers
Dinner: {Happy Birthday} Dinner out

Tuesday:

Lunch: Carrot-Apple Muffins, grapes
Dinner: Ham and Bean Soup, biscuits with peach jam, homemade applesauce

Wednesday:

Lunch: Chef’s Salad
Dinner: Chicken Enchiladas, rice and beans, chips and salsa

Thursday:

Lunch: Nachos, leftover rice and beans
Dinner: Baked Spaghetti, corn

Friday:

Lunch: leftovers
Dinner {Pizza Night!}: Sausage pizza with homemade sauce, fresh veggies and ranch dip

Saturday:

Lunch: leftovers
Dinner: Chicken and Stuffing Bake, steamed veggies

Sunday:

Late Lunch/Dinner: Roast beef and gravy, potatoes (slow cooker), steamed carrots and broccoli

Filed Under: Meal Plans

Creativity Captured: Wild Olive

2011

Creativity Captured is a regular feature in which I spend some time introducing artists, crafters, and bloggers I look up to, am inspired by, and feel have “captured” creativity.”

Today I want to introduce you to Mollie, the creative mind behind Wild Olive. I asked her if I could share her work after I fell in love with her CUTE illustrations and printables. But she also creates embroidery patterns that are so adorable and modern I’m wishing I would have paid better attention when my mom tried to teach me to sew years ago. . . . Thankfully Mollie has a series of easy-to-follow embroidery basics for newbies (like me!!). I may need to start a new hobby as I’m especially loving this cuckoo clock pattern. It reminds me of all the times I ran to watch the cuckoo at my grandparents’ house as a child.

Tell a little about yourself.

This always feels like such a big question to answer! The basics are that I’m a single girl who lives with her big crazy family, loves Jesus more than anything, and enjoys creating all kinds of things all the time. The process of designing and making is the best part for me. In fact, when I’m not working on something new, I can’t handle it, because it’s such a part of me.

Where does your inspiration come from?

I’m definitely inspired by the many talented artists and bloggers that are out there. . .there are too many to list! But I also really like pulling out a notebook and pencil, looking around at the world, and seeing what comes.

What is your best selling product?

I sell a lot of embroidery patterns, but if I were to figure on one particular item, I’m pretty sure it would be my Food Friends Recipe Cards.

What do you like on your pizza?

We experiment with pizza at my house, but so far my favorite combo is ranch dressing (instead of red sauce), and buffalo chicken. Seriously amazing! {Pam here: That’s one of our favs too!!}

What’s on your bedroom walls?

My bedroom is more of a loft area, and one wall is solid bookshelves! I love it! I also have a print that belonged to a family member. It’s a man praying over his Bible, and it reminded Aunt Helen of her father. It means a lot for me to have it now that she has passed away.

What’s the best creative advice you’ve ever received?

My mom repeatedly told me that it’s about the process, not the product, and she was right! As a seller, I want my products to be well-designed, but if I don’t enjoy the process, then why am I even bothering? Enjoy the whole experience…you’ll be happier in the end!

Thank you so much, Mollie, for sharing with us!! Because Mollie is soooo generous, blog readers can enjoy a special 15% off discount from Wild Olive using coupon code: KLC15

Find more projects, printables, and even freebies (!) on Mollie’s blog, Wild Olive and in her etsy store.

Filed Under: Creativity Captured

Feeding my Family on $60 a Week

2011

8 Comments

With all this talk about couponing, meal planning, and freezer cooking some asked to see an actual grocery shopping trip. This was a pretty “normal” week for me–shopping at CVS and Kroger with a few good coupon deals to stockpile, but mostly just stuff we needed.

Out of the ordinary was that I shopped at a local farm for produce this week and spent $21, which took me over the weekly budget. BUT, I bought a bushel of apples, lots of fresh corn on the cob, and peaches to freeze. I’ll plan to spend less on groceries next week to “balance” it out.

CVS Total: $1.43 The Carefree and the Milky Way were FREE after coupons. The Soft Scrub was $1 after coupon, and the ice cream was BOGO. I used ECB (extra care bucks) that I had earned last week to bring my out of pocket cost to $1.43.

Kroger Total: $48.52 Best Deals:

Powerade: FREE
Taco Seasoning: FREE
Dial Handsoap: $0.18 each
Gillette Shaving cream $0.26 each (donated to Ryan’s classroom for shaving cream spelling)
Gillette Fusion Shave Gel: $0.58 each
Pillsbury Biscuits $0.13 each
Toaster Strudels (total splurge): $1 each (and earned 25 Box Tops to donate to school)
Apples (farmer’s market) $0.30/lb (bought 40 pounds to make applesauce)
Corn (farmer’s market): $0.20 an ear
Watermelon (farmer’s market): $1
Tomatoes: FREE (from our garden)

Total for the week: $70.65

**Side note: This isn’t ALL we’ll be eating this week as the freezer is full of meat, and the pantry is stocked. Here is this week’s meal plan.**

Filed Under: Couponing, Saving Money

So many things to do. . .

2011

6 Comments

As I’ve been working on getting back into routine I’ve noticed a trend among many moms I admire and it’s that they set weekly goals. It’s more than just a “to do” list of things that need to be done. We all have a mile-long list of those–rather it’s thinking about all the responsibilities we have in our lives, breaking them down, and setting goals or baby steps to help make our lives more productive and intentional.

So often my life gets overwhelmingly busy and I feel like I’m running around in circles but nothing is getting done. But when I look back at what I actually did, I can see many things I accomplished. This week I’ve decided to focus on specific weekly goals rather than my to-do list. It seems like a good way to really evaluate how I’m doing and pull out the priorities. Then if those “other things” on the list don’t get finished, at least I know I was still productive.

Here are my goals for this week:

Personal:

Daily scripture study and prayer
Shower before kiddos wake up
Finish reading The Happiness Project

Mother:

Re-establish daily routine and chore charts
Make a “Lightening McQueen” birthday cake

Wife:

Arrange a babysitter for date night

Homemaker:

Slice apples and make applesauce for freezer
Make meatloaf and meatballs for the freezer
Shine the kitchen sink every night (Fly Lady)
Pack Ryan’s lunch the night before

Artist:

Create a new art print (by request)
Create a set of school-themed routine cards (by request)

Neighbor/Friend/Community Member:

Call a friend I’ve been thinking a lot about
Finish and deliver PTA flyers

Hoping for a productive week!! What’s on your list?

Filed Under: Goals

Getting Back into Routine

2011

I love, LOVE this time of year as the weather cools down, summer chaos comes to an end, and kids are ushered back to school with new clothes, new school supplies, new teachers, and new schedules. With all the newness at this time of year, I begin looking for a fresh start myself.

Over the summer our routine chart came down by accident and never made it back up. Then after having a bit of a stressed-out, overwhelmed meltdown this weekend I realized how badly we need to get back on routine!! My kids thrive on structure, and as much as I hate the word, it’s true that I function better when I have one too, and so those routine cards are going back up on our whiteboard wall.

The printable version of my routine cards are currently selling in my Etsy shop, but after a little bit of feedback, I’ve decided to go ahead and list a professionally-printed version as well. So if you’re like me, and ready for a fresh start at the beginning of this “parents’ new year,” consider these colorful, fun visuals for your kids.

This week, let’s make back to school time even sweeter with 30% off anything in my Etsy store, shall we? Just use coupon code: BACKTOSCHOOL. (Expires 9-11-11)

Filed Under: Goals

{DIY} Meal Planner

2011

Today I’m sharing my Monday Meal Plan at Once a Month Mom! Come visit and see what we’re eating this week!

A while back I made a meal-planner. I liked the original design and it was working for me for a while, but I haven’t needed to plan breakfast or lunches as consistently anymore so I decided to redesign the planner and just include space for the dinner plan.

I printed the planner and trimmed it to 8×10, then found an empty frame hanging out in my stash. (Collecting inexpensive frames from thrift shops and yard sales is a weakness of mine!)

Now instead of printing the the meal plan every week, it’s reusable. Write directly on the glass with a whiteboard marker, and wipe off to use again next week.

Weekly meal planning has become a priority to me. When I have a plan, it saves me from wondering what to make when that “evil dinner hour” hits. It helps me stay on budget because I like to plan my meals around sales and coupons, and when I have a plan we are less likely to grab a pizza or run through the drive-through on a busy night.

Interested in making your own reusable meal planner? The 8×10 printable is now available in my Etsy store.

Filed Under: Crafty, Meal Plans

{DIY} Creating a Coupon Binder

2011

39 Comments

Yesterday I explained my method of couponing and promised to share how I organize my coupons. Until recently I was leaving my coupon inserts whole until I knew I needed a specific coupon, but I’m now clipping them all. The reason for the switch is that I kept going to store with only a small stack of planned-to-use coupons, and then would {disappointedly} end up finding amazing manager specials or unadvertised deals that would match up coupons I knew I had at home. It’s kind of a pain to drag the whole binder to the store now, but when I have it with me I don’t kick myself for missing out on the deals quite as often.

Deciding to clip all the coupons meant I needed better organization though, so I created this coupon binder. I’m using a 1.5″ I already had at home, but I’m pretty sure a 3″ binder is best and I’ll eventually need to upgrade. I’m probably a weirdo, but if I have to lug this thing around, I wanted it to be cute and so I made myself a printable binder cover.

I have my coupons separated into different categories: Baby, Baking, Beauty, Beverages, Bread, Breakfast, Cereal, Cleaner, Condiments, Dairy, Frozen, Fruit, Hair Care, Hygiene, Ice Cream, Laundry, Meat, Medicine and First Aid, Office Supplies, Oral Care, Paper and Plastic, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Pets, Produce, Sides (rice, pasta, boxed potatoes, etc.), Snacks, Soup, and Veggies

Each category divider slips into an 8.5×11 sheet protector. I’m also using sheet protectors to organize the coupons. Baseball-card size are recommended, but I couldn’t find any locally so I ended up purchasing the smaller business-card size. They’re not perfect though, so if you can find baseball card protectors, definitely go with those. **UPDATE** I found some and the baseball card size work much better!! If the coupon is too big to fit in the business card slot, I fold it to fit, leaving the expiration date visible. I also purchased a couple packs of 4×6 photo sheet protectors to hold the larger coupons.

I keep an empty sheet protector in the front of my binder. When I’m preparing for my shopping trip I place the coupons I know I’m going to need in there. Then when I’m at the store and find other deals that match with coupons, I transfer those to the sheet protector as well. It helps keep things organized so I can easily hand them over to the cashier.

It’s still a bit early for me to tell if I’m going to LOVE this new coupon binder, but it does feel good to be better organized and it is MUCH easier to find coupons and prepare for my shopping trips now that I have them categorized. Overall, I’m happy with my decision to switch to a binder.

Are you interested in making your own coupon binder? Download and print the FREE binder cover and category printables from your home computer! These inserts come as 8.5×11 PDF files. My favorite paper for printing color projects is Epson Matte Presentation Paper. It’s thick and sturdy like cardstock, but unlike cardstock which tends to absorb and mute the color ink, the matte paper presents vibrant colors that are true to what you see on the computer screen.

UPDATE: These coupon binder printables are free (and will remain so!!) but you can now purchase a professionally printed version in my Etsy store!

Filed Under: Couponing, Freebie, Saving Money

How I Coupon

2011

26 Comments

So, I’ve been a couponer for about two-and-a-half years. I haven’t been one of these “extreme couponers” or shelf-clearers though. Sure, I get my deals and I have a nice stockpile, but have been fairly lazy and unorganized about my couponing “method.” That’s been fine though because couponing hasn’t really been common in my small town–until recently!

It’s AWESOME that the word is spreading and more people are getting into saving money. I love sharing a passion with others and it’s fun to pick out my fellow couponing friends with their gigantic binders taking the place of a baby in the front of their cart. But it’s also lit a fire under my bum because now I feel like I have some competition to go get those deals! I used to wait until Friday or Saturday to look through the ad or my favorite coupon blog, gather coupons and then go. But lately if I don’t prepare ahead of time and get to the store Monday morning, the deal is GONE. And there is nothing more disappointing to a couponer than empty shelves.

With this recent change, I’ve been evaluating my couponing method a bit. I’ve also had several friends wanting to know more about exactly how I coupon and how I feed my family of five on $250 a month. So this one is for them. . . .(and anyone else!)

First, I get the Sunday paper.

The best coupons can be found in the Sunday paper and I have four delivered to me every week. For a while (the lazy coupon days) I wasn’t buying any papers. I have a couple of friends that save their inserts for me and I was using printables from the internet. It all seemed to be working fine but getting a hold of those inserts wasn’t very consistent or organized and I was starting to miss a lot of deals so I decided to subscribe when the local newspaper called and offered a good deal. I pay about a dollar a week for each paper. My best advice for getting a good deal on the paper is to call and ask if they are offering any specials.

Next, I clip my coupons. . .

. . .all of them. This is a recent change for me. In the lazy days I left the inserts whole and only cut when I needed a coupon. But now I’m cutting them all and organizing them in a binder. I decided to make this change because there have been way too many times I’ve gone to store with my small stack of planned-to-use coupons only to find manager specials or unadvertised deals that would match up amazingly with coupons–if only I had them with me. (Tomorrow I’ll give some tips on quick coupon clipping and show you my binder.)

Third, I prepare for the store. . . .

I do this by looking at match-ups on my favorite couponing blogs, making a list, and gathering the necessary coupons.

I only buy with coupons if it’s actually a great deal. This means waiting for the item to be on sale, and then matching it up with a coupon. For example, say Crest toothpaste is normally $2.29 a tube. I can use my $1 off coupon and it will be $1.29, but I’d rather wait until it goes on sale for $1 a tube (and it does), and THEN use my coupon, making the toothpaste free.

And last, I go shopping!

Most weeks I shop at CVS and Kroger. Since I usually have kiddos with me I limit the shopping to one to two trips a week–preferably in the morning while Ryan is at school.

{total for this mini-trip was $4.70 thanks to coupons}

I stockpile when I can.

When canned tomatoes are $0.12 a can after the sale and coupon, I buy 20 cans instead of two. This way I have plenty of “stock” to get me through to the next sale. I don’t go insane on stockpiling 60 bottles of mustard or anything though. Remembering that food items expire and that I want to be a good steward over what we have, I only buy what we’ll be able to use before it expires. If we end up not being able to use it, we donate it. If the weekly budget allows, I typically buy enough to last my family at least 6 months (although my current goal is to work up to a year’s supply).

I plan our meals around the sales, seasonal items, and our stockpile.

Meat and produce take the biggest chunk of our grocery budget so I watch the sales and shop for seasonal produce. When boneless chicken breast is on sale for $1.88/lb but beef is $4.29/lb, we eat chicken that week. When apples are $0.99/lb but grapes are $2.88/lb, apples win. I “stockup” on meat and produce when possible by utilizing the freezer.

Each week I create a meal plan based on what meat and pantry staples we already have or that are on sale that week. We’re not always perfect about sticking to it, but it’s a good guideline, helps keep the grocery budget WAY down, and reins in the temptation to grab a pizza on a busy night.

{Unstuffed Pepper Bake}

We’re able to keep our food/toiletries budget to $60 a week thanks to couponing (and many weeks it’s much less!). I use cash envelopes to help limit my weekly spending. Using the cash envelopes has been a REALLY hard habit for me to get into and I’m not claiming to be great at it. But setting that boundary does help keep me in check and keeps me from overspending. And yes, our family of almost six eats well on $60 a week. I get a lot of gawking looks when I say this, but believe me, because of couponing, it can be done.

So that’s how I do it. It’s simple though I know it can be a bit overwhelming and seem like a lot of work at first. Once you’re hooked to the coupon-high though, if you’re like me, you’ll want to keep scoring deals and saving your money and wonder you’ll why you never shopped like this before.

Back tomorrow to show off my coupon binder. . . . Feel free to ask specific questions in the comments section if I missed something.

Filed Under: Couponing, Saving Money

Another Budget-tight Meal Planning Monday

2011

Jared and I don’t have it all together when it comes to our finances. We made some stupid student-loan and house-purchasing decisions early on in our marriage that we are still frustratedly paying for. We have months (like this one!) when unexpected expenses hit and we have to scale back and make sacrifices so that we have enough to keep our gas tank above empty until payday.

But we’re okay. We’re on the right path to financial freedom, and as long as we continue to communicate about our expenses and “live like no one else,” I know later on we’ll be able to “live like no one else.” (Love Dave Ramsey) There’s a peace that comes knowing that EVEN though we are tight right now, we don’t have to stress about whether we’ll eat this week. We have food in the freezer. We have food in the pantry.

On that note, it’s another budget-tight week for us and I’m anxiously waiting to refill the cash envelopes next week. BUT we have food!

Here’s what’s on the plan this week:

Dinners:

Sausage and Pepper Penne, garlic bread, corn
Spinach Artichoke Pasta with chicken, green salad
Coconut-Curried Lentils (inspired by) over quinoa, tomatoes (from the garden!)
Teriyaki Pork Stirfry with brown rice (inspired by), pineapple
Chicken and Wild Rice Soup, biscuits with peach jam
Black Bean Soup, homemade tortillas
Grilled Pork Chops, mashed potatoes, garlic-roasted broccoli

For more meal plan ideas, visit OrgJunkie.

Filed Under: Meal Plans

Why I Love Freezer Cooking

2011

{Jared’s favorite Southwest Chicken Salad}

In my childhood family, homecooked meals and sit-down family dinners were important to my mom and I grew up with the same hope and expectation for my future family. Jared and I married young (ahem, sophomores in college) and our newlywed days were crazy busy as we left for school and our part-time jobs in the morning and finished up with homework in the evenings. We did, however, try to make “family dinners”–no matter how small our family was– a priority and ate together when we got home (though the “homecooked” part was usually sacrificed for a can of chili and a grilled cheese sandwich).

My sweet husband was always gracious and appreciative of ANY meal, but it bothered me because I wanted to do better. I had grown up helping my mom prepare meals for our large family, and I knew how to cook. I just didn’t have time.

One day I was talking to an older, much wiser friend who mentioned freezer cooking. She talked about how she was able to prepare “homecooked meals” for her family, and how much time it saved her. It was a new-to-me idea, but an exciting solution and so I began to experiment.

{Ground turkey, cooked and ready for the freezer}

It started out very small scale. On the weekend I’d come home from the grocery store and take a few minutes to cook and portion the ground beef or chicken. Then when Jared and I came home from school and work, we could easily mix already-cooked hamburger with a jar of spaghetti sauce or top a bag of salad with cooked chicken and other chopped veggies. It took us as much time to prepare a meal as cooking a frozen pizza.

Eventually I became more confident with utilizing the freezer for meal prep. Instead of making one pan of enchiladas or Shepherd’s Pie, I’d make two, freezing one for later. The convenience of the freezer meals saved us on days I was tempted to go to the drive-thru. And that helped save our college-tight budget.

Ten years later, my freezer cooking experiments have paid off–though now for different reasons. Our food budget isn’t as tight as it used to be, and my days aren’t filled with college classes and homework. But my time with three little kids, PTA responsibilities, blogging commitments, and much more, is still–very limited.

Homecooked meals and family dinners are more important to me today than ever because sitting down at the table as a family is more than just filling our bellies. It’s the place we teach our kids lessons on manners, trying new foods, and being appreciative of what’s been provided for them. They learn social skills as they listen to conversation, respect the person speaking, and participate (and stay on topic) in that conversation. It’s a safe time of day to share our day, what made us happy (or sad), and talk about family plans and goals. Family dinners are our children’s first experience in being part of a community.

Do our family dinners always go smoothly? Absolutely not. Our kids are 5, 3, and 1. They are {often} picky eaters, talk with their mouths full, and drop copious food bombs under their chairs–to be swept up after dinner. They whine about being STARVING 20 minutes before dinner, only to refuse and even complain about what is set in front of them at mealtime.

{Chicken Enchiladas ready for the freezer or oven}

But since we’re working for an ideal here, I know giving up isn’t what is best for my family (no matter how much I want to some days!). And so to eliminate much of the stress that can accompany our family dinners, I freezer cook. If I can pull something out of the freezer in the morning and not have to think about what we’re eating later, my day always goes smoother. If I can be doing a project the kids, helping Ryan with homework, or reading a story the hour before dinner instead of preparing it, my evening always goes smoother.

And all those reasons, my friends, is why I love freezer cooking.

For tips, tricks, menus, and freezer-friendly recipes, be sure to visit Once A Month Mom where I have the privilege to contribute as the “traditional food” writer.

Filed Under: Freezer Cooking, Saving Money

Always

2011

A friend came over with her laptop and we scrapped. Just us, our hard drives, and a bowl of M&Ms. It’s all you need, really. It’s been so long since I made a page though, that I almost forgot how to get started and spent the majority of my time just looking through photos.

Then I had this inner-gasp moment when I looked at pictures of my baby girl, and realized she’s not such a baby anymore. Does this happen to you? I swear she was just born, that I was just sitting in the NICU stroking her hand and praying for her to come home soon. And now, soon, we’re going to have another little one! It’s so crazy how fast time goes.

You’ll always be my baby.

Filed Under: Mommy Moments, Scrapbooking

Lesson Learned from The Sneetches

2011

It’s no secret: I love children’s literature and frequently call upon storybooks when I want to teach my kids a lesson. There’s something about viewing the characters as they learn a lesson through good prose or art that can illustrate a teaching much better than I can. (Plus, is it just me, or do kids tend to tune out the lesson when it’s coming from mom?)

Last week we read Dr. Seuss’ classic “The Sneetches.”

In case you aren’t familiar, some of the “Sneetches” have stars on their bellies, while others do not. The stars become a mark of discrimination as the star-bellied Sneetches look down on the plain-bellied Sneetches. Then one day Sylvester McMonkey McBean comes to town with a machine which is able to add or remove stars. The plain-bellied Sneetches jump at the chance to mark themselves with a star, while the star-bellied Sneetches consider having their stars removed. Eventually everyone is running in to have their stars removed or replaced, and they become so mixed up on who is who that they are forced take a good look at themselves and their differences.

As the book was shared, Jared and I talked with the kids about how they would feel if others were making fun of them for looking different, etc. It was a good beginning lesson on discrimination and treating others fairly, and they came away with the simple message we hoped to share.

But now, here we are, a week later, and I still have “The Sneetches” on my mind. This time though, it’s a lesson is for me. . . .

I really like blogs. Every morning I look forward to checking my Google Reader and catching up with my favorite creative, witty, beautiful, talented, supermom heros. But besides reading blogs, I really like writing for my own blog. It’s exhilarating to share a project, recipe, thought, or story. Blogging gives me the creative outlet I crave and helps me think more inventively and intentionally about my everyday with my kids.

But there is a danger in blogs–reading and writing. Embarrassingly, there are times throughout the day I find myself absorbed in thoughts like, “I wonder how so-and-so would have handled that tantrum just now?” Or “how would so-and-so repurpose this piece of junk?” Or “I wonder what so-and-so is having for dinner?” It can be so easy to step back from the computer and into the reality of my own imperfect life and compare myself, and think–I’m not as creative, beautiful, witty, organized, talented, etc. as that ~~star-bellied Sneetch~~ favorite blogger.

It’s easy to become insecure when I see the “star” someone else has–which I lack. And I often think I will never measure up.

There have been way too many times when I’ve thought, well, if I just had this new camera, computer program, craft supply, happier childhood, clothing budget, slimmer body, etc., THEN things will be better. And just about everywhere I look, there is a Sylvester McMonkey McBean ready to take my money and offer me a quick-fix.

But in the end, the quick-fix doesn’t change anything. It doesn’t make me happier or more successful. It even leaves me confused about who I am because I have not remained true to myself.

The most important thing–just as the Sneetches discovered–is that I need to be ME. I am a daughter of God. The gifts and talents He gave me ARE good enough and it’s how HE views me–not how I compare to others–that really matters.

Filed Under: My Story, Reading Fun

Note to Self: Change is Hard

2011

There’s a hard truth I’ve been learning lately, and that is, Change is Hard. Necessary, yes. Constant, yes. But hard. And when you’re in a leadership position and want to introduce a change, that is hard! I’m pretty sure wouldn’t make a good politician. (Hats off to them–whether I agree with their views–for taking a stand.)

A friend shared some much needed advice the other day: “Anytime that you want to make changes there will always be those who discourage you. Come armed with a specific plan of how you want to implement those changes, and I think you might be surprised how many of your doubters will become your biggest supporters.”

And thank you, Eleanor, for this reassurance:

Do what you feel in your heart to be right–for you’ll be criticized anyway.
Eleanor Roosevelt

Filed Under: PTA

Meal Planning {Clean out the Freezer} Monday

2011

This month we’ve been graced with some unexpected expenses which has put a bit of strain on the budget. However, thanks to couponing, a good stockpile, and a full freezer, I’m not too stressed about what we’ll eat. Except for possibly a quick produce run at the end of the week, I’m hoping to skip grocery shopping. Our meals may be a little hodge-podge and definitely won’t be glamorous, but I’m confident no one will starve.

After consulting the pantry and freezer, here’s the tentative plan:

Dinners:

Sweet and Sour Skewers (using cubed pork instead of meatballs), rice
Beef Fajitas, rice and black beans
Chicken Enchilada Lasagna, chips and salsa, corn
Grilled ham, baked potatoes, steamed broccoli
Happy Birthday to Jared (dinner out)
Buffalo Chicken French Bread Pizza, carrots and celery
Slow Cooked BBQ Pork, freezer mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli and carrots, homemade applesauce

For more meal plan ideas, visit OrgJunkie.

Filed Under: Meal Plans

Creativity Captured: A New Kid on the Block

2011

Creativity Captured is a regular feature in which I spend some time introducing artists, crafters, and bloggers I look up to, am inspired by, and feel have “captured” creativity.”

The “new kid?” It’s me. Is it weird that I decided to focus today’s “creativity captured” on myself? I know, shameless. But it is my blog, so I guess I make up the rules.

Here’s what’s really up though. . . .

I’ve been toying with the idea for a while now of opening an Etsy store, during which I’ve talked about it, thought about it, added a few products to it–basically everything except “announce” it. Because sometimes I feel like I’ve graduated only to enter 13th grade. I’ve set foot into independence, but I still have still those fears. I still wonder if anyone will sit with me at lunch or ask me to prom. It’s those silly–but real fears that have stopped me many times from just going forward with this Etsy thing.

But I won’t know until I try, right? So finally, finally, I decided to just take a breath and try–to follow the motto I’ve repeated to myself many, many times:

And so my new (though still small) Etsy shop is opening!

{Find Joy in Your Journey: Art Print}

{Home is Where Your Story Begins: Art Print}

{Celebration Notecards}

{Thinking of You Notecards}

{Just a Note Notecards}

{Printable Visual Routine Chart}

{Bookplates}

{Recipe Cards}

Will you come visit me? Will you pin me? Will you tell your friends about me?

Will you sit at lunch with me?

Filed Under: Creativity Captured

Toffee Apple Dip

2011

{CLICK image to download}

I LOVED reading all of your snack ideas! Thank you so much for the tips! What a challenge it is to keep these little bellies full. So in the spirit of snacks, I thought today I’d share one of our favorites. Although now that I think about it, it’s probably more of a treat than a healthy snack. . . . But hey, there’s fruit involved!

Toffee Apple Dip

8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/3 – 1/2 cup brown sugar (depends on how tart your apples are)
1/2 package Heath Toffee Bits

With a handmixer, beat cream cheese and brown sugar until smooth. Add toffee bits. Serve right away with sliced apples, or chill until ready to serve.

**My favorite way to serve is to let the dip sit for a few hours, even overnight because the toffee then starts to dissolve and the dip is creamier. Then I soak the apples in a bit of lemon juice immediately after cutting to keep them from turning brown, but also to add a little tartness, and eat! Yum, yum.

Linked to: Life as Mom

Filed Under: Yummy

{DIY} First Day of School Survival Kits

2011

24 Comments

Last week I kicked off my PTA duties by assembling 70+ “First Day Survival Kits” for the teachers at the elementary school. This was a super easy, inexpensive project that the teachers loved! But even if you don’t have kids in school, I think this “survival” themed project would be fun for anyone who could use a little pick-me-up.

Since the theme for the school year at the elementary is “Learning Safari, Destination Success” I thought the “survival” theme would work perfectly and created a safari-themed label which loosely mimics the “Survivor” logo.

Inside each bag was a variety of goodies. . .

. . . and a note which explained each item’s “meaning.”

Using a paper bag was my last choice, but I struggled to find a container/bag/box that was affordable, could be bought in bulk, AND looked cute. If I would have thought of it sooner I think I would have used plain Chinese takeout boxes. But in the end with my time crunch and lack of local resources–the paper lunch bags worked.

The day before school started I knew most of the teachers would be working in their classrooms so I loaded up our little red wagon with goodie bags and kids, and set out to make door-to-door classroom deliveries. The teachers were grateful for the gift and while it was a fairly small effort (and cost) on our end, it was a nice way for the PTA to show we care and are thinking about them as they kick off a new school year.

(BONUS: It was also a good way to teach my kids a social lesson on how to introduce themselves to new people, and they were pros by the time our deliveries were made!)

After I made the kits a few people asked about the cost of assembling them. . . . Since I was making so many I did some shopping around to find the best prices and take advantage of all the school supply sales. I also bought a few things in bulk at Sam’s Club and Staples. It ended up costing just under $2 per bag. The pack of gum was the most expensive part–about $0.70 of that $2.

If I was to do this project again and create just one bag instead of 70, I think I would have gotten a bit more generous–maybe by including the entire pack of highlighters, pens, Post-its, etc. instead of just one, or even a gift card for a pedicure or a favorite restaurant. Because some days a little break is the best way to “survive.” Maybe next year. For just one teacher .

Do you know a special teacher who deserves a “survival kit” of her own?

Or maybe a mommy friend who could use a pick-me-up? I’m pretty sure a “survival kit” filled with Diet Dr. Pepper and chocolate would help me on a day when my house feels like a zoo! (Though, admittedly, this is most days.)

Feel free to download the “label.” I’m including two versions in case you don’t want to use it as a first day of school gift. Click on the image to download and save it to your computer. From there you can print from home or for more vibrant colors, upload to a photo lab and print as a 4×6. Enjoy .

Version One:

Version Two:

{CLICK image to download}

Fine print: This project is for personal use only, please. If you love it, please send your friends on over this way!

Linked to: 733, My Girlish Whims, Fabric, Bows, and More, Someday Crafts, Lil’ Luna, Tidy Mom, Fingerprints on the Fridge, 30 Handmade Days, Blissful and Domestic, Delicate Construction, Happy Hour Projects, Small Fine Print, Family Ever After, Bear Rabbit Bear, Skip to my Lou, C.R.A.F.T, Making the World Cuter, Tip Junkie

Filed Under: Freebie, Gift Ideas

{DIY} Recycled Crayons

2011

{Check out Kelleigh’s Extreme Couponing series}

It’s either the teacher in me, or the artist in me, but I find myself getting giddy this time of year when stores stock school supplies for cheap. It’s the time of year I like to grab a few extra boxes/bottles/packages to keep on hand throughout the year. Besides, you never know when a new box of crayons will make your day!

This recycled crayon project is one my mom and I used to do to “use up” my old crayons. It’s a pretty popular project though–I’ve seen a few versions popping up around blogworld recently.

Since we just bought some new crayons, making “new ones” seemed like the perfect boredom buster and so I had my kids start by sorting through our old ones. . . . And then they loved having permission to peel the paper off!

Then we broke the crayons into small pieces, another thing they loved having permission to do. After they broke up the crayons I used a knife to chop them up a bit smaller, but I don’t know that this was necessary. . . . next time I’ll probably just let them go nuts and break and call it good.

(If you have a preschooler, this step would be a good activity to practice colors and sorting.)

Then we filled a mini muffin tin to the top with the broken bits. (Forgot to take a picture of this step, but you’ll want to fill the tins full as they melt down.) We kept some of the new crayons monochromatic (there’s an art word to teach your kids!), and others were a variety of colors.

Tip: Since I actually use this muffin tin, I lined the tins with mini muffin papers for easier clean-up. It would be fun to use different shaped tins or silicone molds for this project too!

Bake at 250F for about 15 minutes or until the bits of crayons have melted.

Allow to cool, then pop out of the tins, and have fun with your new crayons!!

Linked to: Tip Junkie, Craft-O-Maniac, Quirky Mom, Line Across My Face, Family Ever After, Homemaker on a Dime, Delicate Construction, Today’s Creative Blog, Someday Crafts, Lil’ Luna,

Filed Under: Crafting with Kids, Saving Money

Monday “Snack Attack” Meal Plan

2011

14 Comments

So I’m not sure if these kids are just growing and I’m in denial, or if they’re bored, because it seems like all they want to do lately is eat! Serity’s favorite word lately is “nack!” and Ryan has been coming home from school “STARVING” so I thought I would try to add some extra snacks into the meal plan. Because the worst part about meal time for me is trying to think of what to make!

Thankfully for the grocery budget, it’s a good shopping week at Kroger–I love their Mega Sale weeks. To help stretch the budget a bit further, the good people at Kroger, General Mills, and My Blog Spark sent me a $25 Kroger gift card to giveaway!! This is going to be a super quick giveaway, it will end tomorrow, Tuesday, Aug. 16th. To enter, just leave me a comment in this post. I’d especially love comments about healthy/filling snack ideas for the kiddos. My brain is running out of ideas!!

And now onto this week’s meal plan. . .

Monday:

Kiddie Lunch: Pizza Bubbles, blueberries, jello
Snack: Popcorn, apple slices
Dinner: Roast beef and gravy, potatoes and carrots (in the slow cooker)

Tuesday:

Kiddie Lunch: Quesadillas, baby carrots, apple slices
Snack: Breakfast Cookies, milk
Dinner: Hot Pastrami and Swiss sandwiches, chips, sliced cucumbers and tomatoes

Wednesday:

Kiddie Lunch: Spaghettios, bread and butter, peaches
Snack: Granola Bars, blueberry smoothies
Dinner: Beef Pot Pie (leftovers from Monday), salad

Thursday:

Kiddie Lunch: Pasta salad with veggies, pineapple
Snack: Cream of Wheat Muffins, milk
Dinner: Lemon Chicken, freezer mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli

{Cream of Wheat Muffins}

Friday:

Kiddie Lunch: Hot dogs, mac and cheese, baby carrots
Snack: toasted English muffin, fruit
Dinner {Pizza Night!}: Order a pizza

Saturday:

Lunch: leftovers
Dinner: Date Night

Sunday:

Late Lunch/Dinner: Garlic Balsamic Pork (except cook in slow cooker), rice, spinach salad

For more meal plan ideas, visit OrgJunkie.

Filed Under: Meal Plans

Creativity Captured: Kelleigh Ratzlaff {cash queen}

2011

3 Comments

Creativity Captured is a regular feature in which I spend some time introducing artists, crafters, and bloggers I look up to, am inspired by, and feel have “captured” creativity.”

Two years ago I drastically changed the way we shop and became one of “those” people–a couponer–you know, the ones you dread being stuck behind in the grocery line. At first it was out of necessity but now it’s become a habit, and I’m not sure I would ever go back to my previous shopping habits, even if our income was significantly higher. For me, couponing and savvy shopping just makes sense, is a way I feel I can help support my family and be a good steward over what we have been given, and gives us more money to do other things! And who wouldn’t want that?

Last week I scored this for 49 cents (plus tax):

That’s four tubes of toothpaste, four bottles of body wash, two sippy cups, two floss, pantyliners, and razor refills!

For this week’s “creativity captured” I wanted to feature my online friend and fellow couponer, Kelleigh Ratzlaff. Kelleigh and I “met” when we were selling our digital scrapbooking designs at the same store, but have continued to connect through our frugal adventures. She is much more dedicated than me, and is someone I look to for inspiration when I’m feeling couponed out. She’s also extremely creative, makes amazing papercrafting templates, and has been very successful selling budget-friendly “cash envelopes” in her Etsy store. In fact, she’s celebrating her 150th Etsy sale on her adorable cash envelopes!

Here’s a little bit more about Kelleigh:

Tell a bit about yourself.

I’ve been married to the love of my life for 13 years, and we have two amazing little boys, ages 7 and 4. I love reading, strategic couponing, creating 3-dimensional papercraft templates, digital scrapbooking, garage sales, and crafty pursuits. I love trying out new things, so this past year I have become a runner, read through the entire Bible (in 88 days), started making my own yogurt, perfect artisan breadmaking (which is actually super easy!), and opened up an Etsy shop!

What inspires you?

Oh, the answer to this question varies quite a bit!! First, my Heavenly Father inspires me to love the way he first loved me. I’m working on it, but it’s not as easy as it sounds! My husband inspires me to keep pursuing new and unexplored areas of growth in my life. My children inspire me to sit down and give it a rest and appreciate the snuggle. Plus, they are so stinkin’ handsome that I just HAVE to take pictures and record memories, so they certainly inspire me to do that!!

{Easy, Inexpensive, and Classy Photo Gift Tutorial}

As for creative stuff, I love looking at a 3-dimensional shape and trying to break it down in my head and transfer the design to a piece of paper. It’s weird, I know. It’s a challenge that helps me hold on to my brain cells, I suppose! I wonder if I will be keeping this up when I’m in my 80s?!

Also, I’m inspired by fabric (ooh-la-la!), pretty crafts, home decor and so much more! I love pretty things, but I’m terribly cheap, so I’m usually a window shopper. Hello TJ Maxx!

What’s in your purse?

I suppose I should go clean it out first, huh? {sigh} Okay, a couple of grocery store and drug store ads and a pile of random coupons (did I mention that I’m a couponer?), empty gum wrappers, 3 handmade clutch/purses (because I just HAD to show them off to friends), hand sanitizer, a ceramic airplane shaped piggy bank, 3 cars, lipstick (never leave home without it!), 2 pairs of sunglasses (because the preschooler always wants to wear mine when I put them on), socks (don’t ask), my wallet containing my cash envelopes, a notebook, my B90 Bible, a baggie filled with pens and pencils (my attempt at organization), a baggie filled with a little first aid kit we put together at MOPS and lotion. I’m totally just sparing you, because there is actually more than that in there, but we could go on for days.

{Kelleigh’s super cute cash envelope system keeps her on budget.}

If you could be invisible for a day, where would you go, or what would you do?

Oooh! I never thought about that! I suppose I would love to see what my older son is up to at school. Who is he spending the most time with, are they good friends, does he pay attention in class, is he kind to others, etc. I know what other people tell me, but I’d like to see for myself! He’s such a great kid, but he is 7 years old! Yikes!

What was the last thing you purchased?

A zipper. I discovered a new sewing pattern (which is why I have 3 clutches in my purse), and I want to make another one. Oh, and Little Noses Saline Solution . . . because it was free at Rite Aid. (Couponer! Shameless.)

Find more of Kelleigh on her blog, Facebook, or in her Etsy store!

Filed Under: Couponing, Creativity Captured

Embracing Me (and the camera!)

2011

6 Comments

Recently a super sweet family asked me to take their pictures. I woke up the morning of needing to puke. But I’m not sure if it was leftover morning sickness or that I was so.darn.nervous. Way too many negative thoughts went through my head. . .it’s a lot of pressure, my camera isn’t great, I’ve never done this for anyone but my own kids, what props should I take, will they like them?

Jared recognized I was on the verge of breakdown and as I was leaving he gave me the advice to just keep it simple, and have fun. And so that’s what we did.

After giving them a sneak peek some of my favorite shots, I nervously asked Laura (the mom) how she liked the photos. She loved them. And then she said, “I wish my hair would have cooperated better, but I guess it’s okay, because that’s what I look like! I’m just glad to have pictures of us all together.”

I LOVED her answer and it brought me to reality. I am a mom. I DO attempt to shower, get dressed (in something besides yoga pants) and put on a little mascara almost every day because it makes me feel better and more productive. But I rarely feel “camera ready.” I usually the one behind the camera, and it feels most comfortable there.

But Laura’s comment reminded me that it really doesn’t matter because the point is capturing the memory of us together, not that we look model perfect. Since this is real life I’d like to put my faith on the idea that years from now my kids will look at pictures of us and won’t care that I still had a few pregnancy pounds to lose or that my hair wasn’t flat-ironed, rather they will love that we were together.

I’m linking with Emily and Capturing Motherhood and lots of other moms who are also “embracing the camera,” imperfection and all.

Filed Under: Mommy Moments

Lessons Learned from Weeding

2011

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For the first time in I-can’t-remember-how-long I woke up and didn’t feel the urge to puke so after a quick cereal-and-fruit breakfast the kids and I headed out to weed our somewhat neglected garden. I take that back. . . it’s not really been neglected, it’s just that my enthusiasm (and therefore the kids’s) for this little garden has waned as it’s become so hot and humid.

In any case, we headed out to the garden for another much needed weeding session. The kids stayed beside me for a bit–digging with their little shovels and pulling out the unwanted sprouts, but they lost interest quickly and found the trampoline much more entertaining.

I never thought this would be true, but as I listened to them play, I actually found weeding alone to be kind of relaxing. The mindless monotony of the chore created space for me to think, and as I did, my thoughts started forming analogies about weeds and raising plants, and raising kids. Just a few of my thoughts. . . .

1. It takes time, patience, and care.

From what I’m learning about this first little gardening experience of ours, growing crops takes a lot of time, a lot of patience, and a lot of care. It’s probably true that I could have planted my seeds and then just left the sprouts alone to see if they would grow, thrive, and produce. But if I want to have a beautiful, full harvest, or eventually be the kind of gardener like my admirable neighbor down the street, I have to put more effort into my crop.

Isn’t parenting the same? Just as the act of planting a few seeds doesn’t make me a gardener, the act of having a baby (or four!) doesn’t really make me a mom. Or at least not a good one. If I expect these sprouts of mine to thrive and mature, they need that same time, patience, and care.

2. I must weed.

Even though I weeded the garden recently, I must do so again. And again. And again. Similarly, as a parent, there is a need for me to constantly pull those uninvited worldly weeds that keep creeping into our lives.

That TV show/video game/computer program/etc. is not appropriate for our family. {Pull.}
Those are not kind words. {Pull.}
I know some kids do, but in our family, we . . . {Pull.}

Some days are backbreakingly exhausting but I know if we want our sprouts to keep growing toward The Sun we–their earthly gardeners–have to stay vigilant and consistent in providing the kind of positive atmosphere they will thrive in.

3. There is a season for everything.

This summer we have continually weeded and watered and fertilized, but despite our efforts, the broccoli is dying. I wasn’t sure why. . . everything else seemed to be growing fine. But then a friend and fellow gardener informed me that it’s dying because I planted it in the wrong season.

This concept of everything having a season has been a lesson I’ve struggled to learn over and over. When Jared and I were dating we knew we wanted kids, so once we were married and started “trying” we assumed it would be easy. But for us it wasn’t the right “season” and it ended up taking a few years longer and a bit more “fertilizer” than we expected. It was emotionally draining and I wasn’t always patient, but looking back, I’m grateful we had that “waiting” time to grow as a couple. We were able to graduate from college, begin careers, buy our first home, and in a sense–prepare the soil for the planting season of our future family.

When that first little sprout finally did come, my season of school teaching ended and the season of motherhood began. We had always planned for me to be a stay-at-home mom if the time came. I was and am thrilled that I am able to experience this season of life, but will also be the first to admit that this mommy-stuff isn’t always an easy season! Some days I would gladly trade the tantrums, messes, and bed-wetted sheets for that career. But because I believe there is a time and season for everything, I feel that for my family, being the full-time gardener is the best choice right now.

Parenting and gardening are hard, hard jobs. I’m learning how to do both. I have so far to go, but pray every day that our efforts will be enough to produce.

For more gardening adventures, visit The Inadvertent Farmer.

Filed Under: Gardening, Mommy Moments

{DIY} Making Flubber

2011

Making “flubber” is, in my opinion, one of the funnest (and simplest!) projects to do with kids. And this time of year when school supplies go on sale for CHEAP, it’s a good excuse to stock-up on glue to make this gooey stuff year-round.

Supplies: 1 cup white glue, 2 tsp. Borax, food coloring, warm water

Pour glue in a bowl.

Add 3/4 cup warm water and food coloring (to your liking!), and stir.

In another bowl, mix 2 tsp. Borax (find this in the laundry section) and 1/2 cup warm water. Add this mixture to the glue mixture. Then, watch the mixtures glob together. Reach in, pull out globs, and work it with your hands until all is combined.

Play, play, play!

For more sensory fun, also try Kool-Aid Playdough or Shaving Cream Painting!

Filed Under: Crafting with Kids

Answering the Call

2011

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Several months ago I had a dream in which I was involved in PTA (Parent Teacher Association). I woke up confused, because at that point we’d made the decision to homeschool and things were going well and I was content. But if I’ve learned anything about life it’s that the only thing that’s constant is change. After that dream I couldn’t stop thinking about the need to become more involved in our community–PTA specifically–and so began our prayerful journey to enroll Ryan in kindergarten mid-year.

After he started school I excitedly joined the PTA, having no idea what I was jumping into or what was even involved. I just KNEW I needed to be part. I anticipated joining a large parent group and planned to volunteer my time photocopying flyers or coloring file folder games, so imagine my surprise when I was excitedly welcomed as one of only three parents at that first meeting. I quickly realized in a gigantic school (about 1,200 kids) there was a desperate need for parent support.

I started helping in any way I could–serving nachos at Family Literacy Night, assembling goodie bags and pricing donuts for teacher appreciation week, and stapling handouts while Jared and I watched TV in the evening.

While I only spent minutes of my own time serving, I knew (from being a pre-mommy teacher myself) that the small acts were a great relief to an overworked teacher, yet the reward was mine as being involved made me happy.

And then much quicker than I imagined, the call for more responsibility came. I had terrible morning sickness at the time and was using my last bit of energy just to get my kids a snack or take a shower, but something inside me said–DO IT. And so overwhelmed and humbled, but so incredibly excited, I’m looking into this new school year with great possibility as the new PTA president.

Filed Under: PTA

July Freezer Cooking Roundup

2011

{Southwest Chicken Salad}

Wrapping up this sweaty month of July! Haven’t wanted to be in the kitchen much, but cooking for Once a Month Mom and having summer guests has kept me going. Here’s this month’s roundup of all the freezer-friendly recipes I’ve been sharing. Maybe you’ll find one you like too!

{Unstuffed Pepper Bake}

{Sausage and Pepper Penne}

{Spicy Stuffed BBQ Chicken}

{Maple Oat Scones}

Filed Under: Freezer Cooking

Monday Meal Plan

2011

I feel like this should be called the “crazy week edition” as this week is already looking very busy. It’s the last full week of “summer” for my kids as school starts next week. Mixed feelings there. . . .I’ve really loved spending the extra time with them working on our summer bucket list. So besides doctor appointments and PTA responsibilities I think we’ll be cramming in as many activities as we can which means I want to be thinking about cooking as little as possible. We’re eating from our freezer a lot this week, gearing up to re-fill the freezer with the soon-to-come OAMM August menu. What about you?

Monday:

Kiddie Lunch: Turkey and cheese pinwheels, baby carrots
Dinner: Shepherd’s Pie, fruit salad

Tuesday:

Kiddie Lunch: Spaghettios, fruit kabobs
Dinner {Mexican Night}: Salsa Chicken over rice, corn on the cob

Wednesday:

Kiddie Lunch: Hardboiled eggs, Breakfast Cookies, frozen blueberries
Dinner: Chicken and Cheese Lasagna Roll-ups, garlic bread, green salad

Thursday:

Kiddie Lunch: Pigs in a Blanket, frozen Go-gurt
Dinner: Unstuffed Pepper Bake, strawberry jello, green salad

Unstuffed Pepper Bake

Friday:

Kiddie Lunch: Homemade “Lunchables” (crackers, cheese, lunchmeat), applesauce
Dinner {Pizza Night!}: Buffalo Chicken Pizza

Saturday:

Lunch: leftovers
Dinner: Date Night

Sunday:

Late Lunch/Dinner: Grilled Garlic Balsamic Pork, pasta salad

For more meal plan ideas, visit OrgJunkie.

Filed Under: Yummy

Preserving Memories (and making peach jam)

2011

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This week we took a trip to a local farm to fulfill one of our summer bucket list activities: pick peaches. Although with the midwest heat and humidity we’ve been graced with, I opted to alter the summer goal and buy pre-picked peaches. Call me a wimp, but sweating my guts out while chasing three kids through an orchard, carrying (what’s starting to feel like) a watermelon AND picking peaches didn’t sound too fun to me. Maybe next year?

They were sure tasty though.

Though we skipped the picking, the summer heat must have gotten to me still. Or maybe it was that mommy brain kicking back in, because I got a bit ambitious and brought home three pecks. Which I soon realized was a lot considering they were tree-ripe (versus being picked green and shipped across the country) and needed to be used or eaten quickly. Canning intimidates me, but freezing–now that’s something I can do, and so I made freezer jam with the majority of the peaches.

If you’ve never made freezer jam before, let me encourage you! It’s really easy, and {I think} tastes much better and fresher than store-bought. And since you store it in the freezer, there’s no need to worry about boiling jars, or getting botulism, or having the perfect timing, etc. that you deal with when canning. Sigh. Maybe I’ll get brave one day.

Packaged cute, and the jam becomes an impressive neighbor gift!

Want to make some? You’ll need peaches. Yep.

First, you peel the peaches. Of course you could get out your paring knife and start to whiddle away, but I suggest an easier way if you are going to peel more than one or two. My mother-in-law taught me this trick a couple of years ago, and I swore she was a genius.

1. Boil a pot of water and fill a large bowl (or the kitchen sink) with cold water and lots of ice.

2. Place your peaches in the boiling water about 30 seconds, then strain.

3. Immediately place boiled peaches in the ice water.

4. When the peaches have cooled in the ice water, gently rub the skin. It should peel right off.

Save the manicure for after this job

Perfectly peeled peach

5. I didn’t take a picture of this step, but use a knife–or better yet, if your peaches are ripe, your hands–to half the peach and pull out the pit. Then place the peeled peaches in a bowl and mash them. I like my jam chunky, so I just squished with my hands until I got the consistency I liked. It’s kind of therapeutic, actually. Feel free to mash with a potato masher or food processor if you prefer.

6. This next step may vary a bit depending on what brand of kind of pectin you use. Just make sure it’s the freezer jam type, and then follow the directions and measurements for mashed fruit versus sugar as directed.

7. Place in freezer containers or jars. In my opinion, the flat containers fit better in the freezer, but if you’re giving away the jam, jars are cuter. Especially when decorated .

To decorate the jars I placed a rough cut square of burlap on top of the lid and tied it on tight with a piece of twine. Then I made the labels using two different sized circle punches.

Store jam in the freezer for up to a year, or in the fridge for three weeks.

Filed Under: Yummy

Free Fun in a Fort

2011

A couple of weeks ago some friends were moving into a new house and thoughtfully saved the large appliance boxes for our kids. Although I’ll admit to grumbling a few times about how the boxes pretty much fill up all the walking space in our living room, my kids LOVE the boxes and watching them use their creativity to make forts/caves/tents/jails/hide-and-seek spaces/boats/etc. is worth the cramped living room space for now.

A bit of quiet-time privacy:

No more rained out tea parties.

In a box, microwave popcorn and a Netflix movie are as good as the drive-in theater.

But this–this is my favorite and almost makes me want to find a permanent space in our home for the boxes.

Such a cozy, comfy reading space.

If you’re interested in making your own cardboard box forts, try visiting an appliance or home-improvement store and ask if they’ll save a box or two for you. Most places just recycle the boxes, and don’t have a problem giving them away.

Filed Under: Keeping Life Creative, Reading Fun

Errands with kids

2011

So yesterday as naptime ended, and I looked at the clock.

“Hurry! We have 30 minutes to get to the post office before it closes!”

I triple checked the kids. . .

Faces washed.

Shoes on.

Clean {enough} clothes.

Hair acceptable.

Shoes BACK on.

Carseats buckled.

10 minutes into town (but not yet to the post office) I realized, I HAVE A CAKE IN THE OVEN!

Sigh. Honesty, some days I wonder where my brain is, and if I can REALLY handle four kids. Especially on days I need to go to the post office.

But the cake– that was good.

Filed Under: Mommy Moments

The long overdue Monday Meal plan

2011

I think finally, FINALLY, I am over the worst of the morning all-day sickness. . . At 19 weeks. The sickness with my other babies wasn’t this bad and didn’t last this long so I’ve been a bit worried! But the doctor does say everything looks good so far.

As I’ve been so sick, food has become my enemy and as much as I’d like to have been vigilant about couponing, budgeting, and planning our weekly meal plans, those goals have pretty much flopped. Every “meal plan” I have attempted has been thrown out come dinnertime ’cause it just doesn’t sound good to me. And I think all food rights (but not necessarily responsibilities!) should go to the one who is attempting not to puke. It’s fair, right?

I should insert here that my family has been pretty patient with my lack of meal enthusiasm, and have adapted fairly well to dinners of cold cereal, frozen meals, and yes, the drive-thru. But last week Jared (who has become a master pancake-and-scrambled-egg maker and resident dishwasher) sweetly requested we start eating a bit healthier again. And so, this week’s meal plan is dedicated to my patient husband. And to keep my sanity, I thought it best to plan out the kids’ lunches as well.

Monday:

Kiddie Lunch: Fish Sticks, watermelon
Dinner: Bacon and Tomato Frittata, Banana Blueberry Muffins, fresh fruit salad

Tuesday:

Kiddie Lunch: Pancakes (freeze extra for breakfasts!), blueberries
Dinner {“Mexican Night”}: Hard-shell tacos, homemade refried beans

{homemade black refried beans}

Wednesday:

Kiddie Lunch: Cheese Quesadillas, cherry tomatoes
Dinner: “Frito Bandito” (chili over Fritos, topped with cheese, onions, sour cream, etc.)

Thursday:

Kiddie Lunch: Mac and Cheese, applesauce
Dinner: Crockpot BBQ Chicken, corn on the cob, coleslaw

Friday:

Kiddie Lunch: Corn dog muffins, canned pineapple
Dinner: {Pizza Night!} BBQ Chicken Calzones (using leftover chicken from Thur), green salad

Saturday:

Lunch: leftovers
Dinner: Grilled Chicken, pasta tossed with homemade pesto (my basil is growing so well!!)

Sunday:

Late Lunch/Dinner: Beef Stew (to cook in Crockpot while we’re at church), biscuits and jam

For more meal plan ideas, visit OrgJunkie.

Filed Under: Meal Plans

Summer Bucket List

2011

Towards the beginning of the summer we had a family meeting to discuss some things we wanted to make sure to do this summer. Last summer we took a 5-week road trip to visit our far away families, but this year we decided to spend our summer staying close, so it’s been fun to work on our list (though we need to hurry as our “summer” ends soon with school starting in just a few weeks!).

{Get snowcones}

Working on our “bucket list” has been a good motivation for me to fight the homesickness (which seems to have gotten much worse with this pregnancy) by finding little gems nearby and celebrating where we live.

{Go to the beach}

It’s also a good push for me to practice being a fun/silly mommy and spend more purposeful time with my kids. I recently read an article that talked about love being a four-letter word: T-I-M-E. It’s always good to have a reminder to spend more time WITH my kids (not just in the same room while I do my own thing, but actually playing with them) as daily life can get so busy.

What about you? Did you make a summer to-do list? It’s not too late!!

Filed Under: Goals, Keeping Life Creative

Why I Blog

2011

6 Comments

Blogging has obviously taken a high backshelf for me lately, and as with many things I procrastinate, the longer I stay away, the easier it is to stay away. As I’ve been “away,” still all-day pregnancy sick (whoever named it morning sickness never had it, I think!), I’ve had plenty of time to think about the direction I want to go with this blog.

Blogging has been an interesting “journey” for me. It started as a purely personal blog, then I moved to business (designing) blogging, then to a combination. I’ve loved it. I’ve dreaded it. I’ve met new friends. I’ve compared myself to others and been discouraged. I’ve found a creative outlet. I’ve discovered new sides of myself.

I strive to be authentic in my writing. I love creating projects and sharing tips that work for our family. But there are definitely pieces that get edited. I certainly don’t have it all figured out, and there are days–like when I’m working on my OAMM cooking assignments, where my freezer may be full and my plate may look pretty, but my sink is likely full of dishes and my kids may or may not have watched too many movies on our milk-stained couch.

As I’ve taken this break from blogging, I’ve tried to figure out exactly why I’m so drawn to blogging and I’ve realized that recording the process of our everyday lives, documenting them, and pushing myself to make the mundane more creative motivates me and makes me happy. And when I do I feel more purposeful as a wife and mom.

And so–for now–that’s why I blog.

Filed Under: My Story

June Freezer Cooking Roundup

2011

{Blueberry Banana Muffins}

We’re finishing out another month, which means time for a round-up of all the yummy freezer-friendly meals I’ve been sharing at Once a Month Mom. Come visit if you need a recipe or two!!

{Fried Rice}

{Chocolate Chip Cookies}

{Sweet and Sour Meatball Skewers}

{Garlic Balsamic Pork}

{Summer Tortellini Pasta Salad}

Filed Under: Freezer Cooking, Yummy

Vintage School Chairs

2011

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I’ve looked forward to the weekend since I heard about it last summer–the weekend of Kentucky’s famous 400-mile yard sale. While there are definitely lots of garage sales all through the spring and summer, this sale is the one people seem to save up for.

It was supposed to be a hot day so we took off in the morning and just stayed out a couple of hours. It was fun browsing, but I have to admit, I started to get a bit disappointed at how much JUNK there was. Not even good junk either, truly, just trash. But then, PULL OVER! Even from a distance the they jumped out at me and my heart started racing as we approached. Yes, that is slighty embarrassing to admit considering I once saw an episode of Hoarders where a man described the same feeling he gets as he dumpster dives. {ahem}

I really love the industrial look to the old school chairs, and they’re super sturdy–just right for my kids. We’re always needing more seating for gatherings, so besides being cool decor, I knew they would come in handy.

No price tag made me nervous, so I casually asked what they were going for.

$1 each

Woohooo. And at that price I quickly became the proud mama to four more babies.

Filed Under: Decor, Thrifting, Vintage

Gardening and Dirt Pudding

2011

12 Comments

Now that everything is planted, it seems the initial waiting will be the hardest part. Every day Ryan and Emmy have been going out to check on the garden, but are a bit disappointed that it looks the same as the day before.

{watering is their favorite part}

So to help them stay excited we took them on a “field trip” to the produce stand of a local farmer. He brings a truckload of fresh produce into town a couple days a week and I was so excited to randomly discover him this year because his fruits and veggies super fresh, great quality, AND cheaper than the grocery store. The kids were just as excited to pick out a variety of goodies.

After our “field trip” we munched on some of our fresh veg and chatted about all the hard work and time it took to grow these fruits and veggies. And then checked on our little plants for the 46th time to see that they still needed much more time to grow.

{the zucchini is definitely growing!}

We’ve also been learning more by reading lots of books about plants.

{The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle}

And in the spirit of all our gardening adventures, Dirt Pudding seemed like a perfect afternoon snack for my dirt-loving, worm-loving littles.

Ingredients:

instant chocolate pudding mix
milk
chocolate cookies (Oreos, chocolate graham crackers, etc.)
gummy worms
“flower pot” serving containers

1. Prepare the pudding (“mud”) according to package directions.

2. Crush the cookies (“dirt”).

3. Layer “dirt” and “mud” in “pots.” (We used cleaned-out yogurt cups.)

4. Add worms and enjoy!

Visit The Inadvertent Farmer for more KinderGarden adventures.

Filed Under: Crafting with Kids, Gardening, Yummy

Growing Healthy

2011

8 Comments

On most grocery shopping trips I have at least one (or three) kids with me and some of our recent outings have triggered discussions on where food comes from. At least they think bananas come from “bushes” rather than just from Kroger. It’s a start, right? And when I told them white milk comes from white cows and chocolate milk comes from brown cows the eyes of a certain 5- and 3-year-old rolled in disbelief. MOMMY!

Talking about food’s origination has inspired me to consider planting a garden to really illustrate food production. Thankfully I have good examples to glean from as my in-laws have an amazing garden. I’ve admired my father-in-law’s nurturing dedication throughout the summer as his plants grow from bitty seeds to fresh produce. And how my mother-in-law then takes over during the harvest months, generously sharing their bounty with friends and neighbors, as well as freezing and canning their crop.

But gardening really intimidates me. I mean, my Mother’s Day plant died a few days after it was gifted (what? those things need water?), and I’m worried trying to grow vegetables is a bit overzealous.

What if nothing grows?

I hope it’s not too late in the year.

Are you SURE this dirt is good enough?

(I’m really good at worrying.) But I’m also in love with the values I think can be taught through this project, and want my kids to see the process of growing (and then eating!) “real food.” I’m hoping as they participate in the hard work they will become more grateful for and excited about healthy foods. Because lately it feels like every meal I serve is a fight. I mean, how can celery and apple wedges possibly compete with fast food french fries, or the junk food snacks all the OTHER moms (apparently) buy? And (don’t get me started on this soapbox) school lunch?!

And so despite my fears about our garden attempts failing, we’re going for it (albeit small).

No fears here!

“Mommy, I want to keep it as a pet! It likes me.”

I’m finding lots of great gardening inspiration (and hand-holding!) over at The Inadvertent Farmer.

Filed Under: Gardening

May Freezer Cooking Round-up

2011