Tomorrow the Fam and I are off to the Beach for 7 whole days of Sun and Sand! We are all so excited we can hardly stand it! Since I won't be around here to entertain you guys (I know, you are so, so, very sad) I decided to introduce you to some blogs I have discovered and because I am so sweet (and love you all so very much) I am giving you little linky's to click on! Miss me!
This girl is so funny! She made a New Years Resolution to use her Crock-Pot every single day for a year! Check out her recipes and get inspired! A Year of Crock Potting
This girl is doing the unthinkable! She is challenging herself to spend just $50 a week on groceries for her family of six! How do you feed a husband and 4 hungry kids on that little? Check it out! Grocery Cart Challenge
This girl has inspired me to make every meal beautiful (OK, inspiration is as far as I've gotten, but Rome wasn't built in a day people). She is living on a strict budget but still maintains a beautiful home and 2 very well dressed children. Check out her thrift store finds. Like Merchant Ships
This girl searches other peoples blogs for fabulous craft and home ideas! I spent like 2 hours looking at the posts on her sight! Run, don't walk to the Tip Junkie!
Want to get more organized? Go to the Org Junkie! Loads of tips on organization and keeping of the home. Org Junkie
Okay, big, huge families like the Duggars are fun, but that many kids is not for me. Neither is homeschooling. Having said that go check out the following blog just to see her header picture. Is that not the cutest family you've ever seen (aside from mine, of course)? Check out the little girl in the wellies and the dew rag! Ebeth
Want to get tips on decorating? Want some new recipes? Check out Blissfully Domestic.
This is not a new find. I used to go to this website all the time to look up recipes but somehow, I forgot about it. When I discovered "The Grocery Cart Challenge" I noticed that she was using links to this site to give you the recipes she is using. When I clicked on a few I realized that the nutritional info for almost every single recipe is on the page! No kidding! You could count fat, calories or Weight Watchers Points! Amazing! Recipe Zaar
So, that should keep you busy for the week. You all know I'll be getting up early every morning and running on the beach, right? (Bwaahaaahaaa)
See you soon!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Too Hot to Handle
NO! Get your pretty little minds out of the gutter! I mean the weather, not me! There is a heat advisory for the next couple of days around here! Yesterday the temp was 102! Yikes! And here in the deep south that's not just heat people, oh no, as if it weren't enough we've got the lovely humidity to deal with! The local weatherman calls it "The Air You Can Wear" and boy is he right!
I'm busy this week (is there ever a week that I don't say that?)! I've got somewhere I've got to be everyday this week and I am working on packing for the beach! Woo!Hoo!
I did manage to squeeze in a five mile run and some time to pray and read my Bible already this morning! Yeah! I call that productive even if I don't get anything else done! So here is my To-Do list, lets see what I can get done. I'm gonna edit this list throughout the day to try and keep my self accountable.
Run (done!)
Read Bible and Pray (done!) Make blueberry pancakes for kids breakfast (done!)
Unload dishwasher (done!)
Read to kids
Work with big sister in math workbook
Make beds (done!)
Finish putting away laundry(done!)
Make lunch (done!)
Make sandwiches for picnic tomorrow
Iron (done!) Start Packing
Meal plan for beach (we can't eat out every meal)
Address and mail Thank you notes (done!)
Make dinner
Clean bathrooms (done!)
Take kids to pool
Mop kitchen
Check back to see my progress!
Talk to you soon!
I'm busy this week (is there ever a week that I don't say that?)! I've got somewhere I've got to be everyday this week and I am working on packing for the beach! Woo!Hoo!
I did manage to squeeze in a five mile run and some time to pray and read my Bible already this morning! Yeah! I call that productive even if I don't get anything else done! So here is my To-Do list, lets see what I can get done. I'm gonna edit this list throughout the day to try and keep my self accountable.
Run (done!)
Read Bible and Pray (done!) Make blueberry pancakes for kids breakfast (done!)
Unload dishwasher (done!)
Read to kids
Work with big sister in math workbook
Make beds (done!)
Finish putting away laundry(done!)
Make lunch (done!)
Make sandwiches for picnic tomorrow
Iron (done!) Start Packing
Meal plan for beach (we can't eat out every meal)
Address and mail Thank you notes (done!)
Make dinner
Clean bathrooms (done!)
Take kids to pool
Mop kitchen
Check back to see my progress!
Talk to you soon!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
100
Just so you know, this is post number 100 on this blog! I wish I had something totally fab to tell you or some great little story, but not today. I am so boring right now! Ha!
I ran with the running group for the first time this morning. I met them at 5 a.m. and we did 5.5 miles. They usually do more but 2 of the girls had to dash home to get ready to be somewhere, so they cut it short today. They usually do between 7-9 miles during the week and longer runs (10-14 miles) on the weekends. Most of the girls are training for a marathon. It was fun and I will definitely do it again!
I am compiling a post on some tips for saving money, so be looking for that. By the way, if you didn't read the comments on the last post, AR mentioned that Aldi has milk for $1.99 a gallon all summer. Wal-mart will not match this price since it is unadvertised so you just have to run into Aldi to get your milk. I really like Aldi anyhow so that's no problem. I shop their produce, meat, canned goods and frozen foods sections. I haven't found anything that we did not like. Here's the scoop though. Don't expect a flashy store. Its clean and organized but they don't go out of their way to attract your attention with signs and pretty things, that's how they save you money. Make sure you have a quarter ready. You have to have one to use their carts. You put the quarter in, use your cart and when you return it you get the quarter back. Why? That's another way they save you money. They don't have to pay some cart boys to go out to the parking lot to collect the carts, they don't have to constantly replace broken carts that have gotten damaged by the weather and by cars hitting them. Also, they don't give you bags. You can buy their bags (5cents for paper, 10 cents for plastic) or bring your own. If I am going there and I know I am just getting a few items I try to take my market tote like this one, or my Land's End canvas tote. If you are shopping there and you see an empty box, grab it for your groceries. I'd say you can get away with doing around 90% of your shopping there. They have just the basics and a few specialty items.
If you are looking for inexpensive meal ideas consider looking here. A friend told me about this site. I haven't joined yet but I downloaded the sample "Fugal moms" menu and everything on there my family will eat and it was very economical.
Here's my final tip. If you are a mom, don't allow yourself to be swayed by the tastes of your children and don't become a short-order cook. Now, I'm not advocating cooking spicy foods that you know your children aren't going to like, but cook as you normally would. The rule in our house is you have to at least "try" it. The bite size has to be approved by mom and dad and they have to chew and swallow said bite. Most kids are shocked to learn that they actually do like the food on their plates if they just give it a chance. My 7, 4, and 2 year olds love broccoli, potato salad and cole-slaw. If your kids won't eat what you've fixed, too bad. I cook one meal and one meal only and if they don't want to eat it they can go to bed hungry. Trust me, this won't hurt your kids or stunt their growth. It will only take a few nights of going hungry till they learn to eat what you've fixed. Also, one big cause of kids not eating during meal time is that they are allowed to "snack" too close to time. If dinner time is at 6 p.m. at your house don't allow your kids to eat or drink anything past 4. If they are thirsty give them water. Kids filled up with juice or milk won't eat when time. If they have a snack at 3:30 or 4 there is no reason they can't wait till 6 to eat. I also don't make my kids clean their plates. They have to have at least 3 bites of everything on their plate and if they are full they can get up. If they have food left on their plates, it is wrapped up and saved for later. Now, here's the deal, if my kids come to me an hour of after dinner saying they are starving (of course they are, they didn't eat during dinner) then they are offered their leftovers. The saying in our house is "if you are too full to eat dinner, you are too full for snacks or candy". I'm telling you, just a few nights of this and your child will change their tune about meal time. And any doctor will tell you that your kids won't go hungry my missing a few meals. But you have to stick to your guns and be firm. They will try to wear you down!
Okay, sorry about getting on my soap box, but I have heard loads of complaints from friends whose kids "won't eat".
Anyhow, hope you all have a wonderful day! We are off to the pool!
I ran with the running group for the first time this morning. I met them at 5 a.m. and we did 5.5 miles. They usually do more but 2 of the girls had to dash home to get ready to be somewhere, so they cut it short today. They usually do between 7-9 miles during the week and longer runs (10-14 miles) on the weekends. Most of the girls are training for a marathon. It was fun and I will definitely do it again!
I am compiling a post on some tips for saving money, so be looking for that. By the way, if you didn't read the comments on the last post, AR mentioned that Aldi has milk for $1.99 a gallon all summer. Wal-mart will not match this price since it is unadvertised so you just have to run into Aldi to get your milk. I really like Aldi anyhow so that's no problem. I shop their produce, meat, canned goods and frozen foods sections. I haven't found anything that we did not like. Here's the scoop though. Don't expect a flashy store. Its clean and organized but they don't go out of their way to attract your attention with signs and pretty things, that's how they save you money. Make sure you have a quarter ready. You have to have one to use their carts. You put the quarter in, use your cart and when you return it you get the quarter back. Why? That's another way they save you money. They don't have to pay some cart boys to go out to the parking lot to collect the carts, they don't have to constantly replace broken carts that have gotten damaged by the weather and by cars hitting them. Also, they don't give you bags. You can buy their bags (5cents for paper, 10 cents for plastic) or bring your own. If I am going there and I know I am just getting a few items I try to take my market tote like this one, or my Land's End canvas tote. If you are shopping there and you see an empty box, grab it for your groceries. I'd say you can get away with doing around 90% of your shopping there. They have just the basics and a few specialty items.
If you are looking for inexpensive meal ideas consider looking here. A friend told me about this site. I haven't joined yet but I downloaded the sample "Fugal moms" menu and everything on there my family will eat and it was very economical.
Here's my final tip. If you are a mom, don't allow yourself to be swayed by the tastes of your children and don't become a short-order cook. Now, I'm not advocating cooking spicy foods that you know your children aren't going to like, but cook as you normally would. The rule in our house is you have to at least "try" it. The bite size has to be approved by mom and dad and they have to chew and swallow said bite. Most kids are shocked to learn that they actually do like the food on their plates if they just give it a chance. My 7, 4, and 2 year olds love broccoli, potato salad and cole-slaw. If your kids won't eat what you've fixed, too bad. I cook one meal and one meal only and if they don't want to eat it they can go to bed hungry. Trust me, this won't hurt your kids or stunt their growth. It will only take a few nights of going hungry till they learn to eat what you've fixed. Also, one big cause of kids not eating during meal time is that they are allowed to "snack" too close to time. If dinner time is at 6 p.m. at your house don't allow your kids to eat or drink anything past 4. If they are thirsty give them water. Kids filled up with juice or milk won't eat when time. If they have a snack at 3:30 or 4 there is no reason they can't wait till 6 to eat. I also don't make my kids clean their plates. They have to have at least 3 bites of everything on their plate and if they are full they can get up. If they have food left on their plates, it is wrapped up and saved for later. Now, here's the deal, if my kids come to me an hour of after dinner saying they are starving (of course they are, they didn't eat during dinner) then they are offered their leftovers. The saying in our house is "if you are too full to eat dinner, you are too full for snacks or candy". I'm telling you, just a few nights of this and your child will change their tune about meal time. And any doctor will tell you that your kids won't go hungry my missing a few meals. But you have to stick to your guns and be firm. They will try to wear you down!
Okay, sorry about getting on my soap box, but I have heard loads of complaints from friends whose kids "won't eat".
Anyhow, hope you all have a wonderful day! We are off to the pool!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Don't read this...
I'm just kidding. Please read this, then leave me comments and tell me how much you love me...or don't (no, no, please do!)! Anyhow. I've got lots of topics I could talk about today, but I'm not sure I've really got the time I need to do those topics justice.
Right now whats been on my mind is saving money. I've been watching a little too much CNN (thats whats always on at the gym) and I've been very worried about the economy. We are fine right now, but what if gas goes up to $5 a gallon. It's about $3.91 here but will probably be up to $4 by the weekend. So I've been researching ways that I can save our family money. I'm trying to cut our grocery bill. I'm not getting in the car and going places like I was. I'm thinking long and hard about unnecassary purchases before I make them. I'm trying to cook at home more instead of us eating out. So, how are you saving money? Does anyone have any tips they'd like to pass along?
Right now whats been on my mind is saving money. I've been watching a little too much CNN (thats whats always on at the gym) and I've been very worried about the economy. We are fine right now, but what if gas goes up to $5 a gallon. It's about $3.91 here but will probably be up to $4 by the weekend. So I've been researching ways that I can save our family money. I'm trying to cut our grocery bill. I'm not getting in the car and going places like I was. I'm thinking long and hard about unnecassary purchases before I make them. I'm trying to cook at home more instead of us eating out. So, how are you saving money? Does anyone have any tips they'd like to pass along?
Friday, July 11, 2008
I'm still running....
Rachael asked how the running is going and the answer is good...until this week. I had a great week last week. I was up to running 9 miles at a time and I did that 3 times that week with a 3 mile walk/run with AR when she came to visit. This week? not so much. I have only ran once and it was only 7 miles! I've just had a busy week and several late,late nights which made it impossible for me to get up early and run. I know you are thinking "Why doesn't she just run later in the day?" Well, its like 95 degrees here in the deep south right now with terrible humidity. So, I'm pretty much forced to run early in the morning. Anyhow, I have no doubt I will be ready for the half-marathon in September, its just that this week has been a bust! But, theres always next week!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Funny Little Guy
Let me set the scene for you. Our little man is 2.5. He can go up to 3 days without a nap but after that it is very apparent that he needs one. Yesterday would have been the day he needed one but we were so busy it just didn't happen. We were planning on going to Chuck E Cheese's that night and he fell asleep about an hour before we were planning on leaving. So, needless to say, he didn't get his nap out. What you hear is Hubs talking to him and little man's reaction to what he is saying. Trust me, this isn't usually the reaction we get when we tell him this! Enjoy!
Sunday, July 6, 2008
I know, I know...
Seriously? I rarely let this much time go by without posting on this blog (now, the private family blog is a different story). But what with the holiday and all that, well, I just haven't been bloggy. You understand, right?
AR and her family came to visit on Thursday and stayed 2 nights with us. It sort of has become our Fourth of July tradition. I have pictures, but right now I am just too relaxed and lazy to go get my camera and share them with you! Ha!
Anyhow, Saturday morning my mother came and got the kids! So, that means Camp Nana 2008 is in full swing! Yesterday I laid out at the pool (by myself!), went to see "Hancock" with Hubs (it was okay, not as good as I thought, and a little creepy), and went to the local Japanese steakhouse (yum!). Today we slept late and so far I have watched "27 Dresses" (cute) and "Tori and Dean Home Sweet Hollywood", made scrambled eggs for me and Hubs and well, that's about it! Lazy, I know! I plan on running later today and laying out at the pool and reading, because I can!
I hope all of you had a wonderful Fourth and a great weekend!
AR and her family came to visit on Thursday and stayed 2 nights with us. It sort of has become our Fourth of July tradition. I have pictures, but right now I am just too relaxed and lazy to go get my camera and share them with you! Ha!
Anyhow, Saturday morning my mother came and got the kids! So, that means Camp Nana 2008 is in full swing! Yesterday I laid out at the pool (by myself!), went to see "Hancock" with Hubs (it was okay, not as good as I thought, and a little creepy), and went to the local Japanese steakhouse (yum!). Today we slept late and so far I have watched "27 Dresses" (cute) and "Tori and Dean Home Sweet Hollywood", made scrambled eggs for me and Hubs and well, that's about it! Lazy, I know! I plan on running later today and laying out at the pool and reading, because I can!
I hope all of you had a wonderful Fourth and a great weekend!
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