Monday, March 31, 2008

Recipe of the week

Instead of listing only one recipe this week I wanted to share a wonderful FREE resource for recipes and kitchen/cooking tips.


I just received my Spring 2008 issue of Kraft's Food and Family Magazine and as always it has some easy, family friendly and tasty recipes. The magazine comes 5 times a year (winter, spring, summer, fall & holiday) and I'm sure you will find many great recipes to add to your repertoire!

Get your free subscription by going online to kraftfoods.com/share or by calling 800-521-4403 and giving them your mailing info.


Friday, March 28, 2008

Craft Time with Kids

One thing parents tend to shy away from is crafts with their kids. While crafts can be messy, they can be lots of fun! By preparing supplies ahead of time for spur of the moment ideas, you and your kids can have a great time being creative. Preschool Activities Everyday has some great activities to do with your young children plus a craft checklist to keep items on hand so you can do a craft at any time. Family Fun also has some great crafts to choose from. Try not to be too stringent over messes so your children can enjoy the experience and not stress. It is important to allow them to get dirty, explore materials, and discover how things work together. Start planning your supply box so when those long summer days roll around, you will be prepared!

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Easter Egg Hunts

Although Easter was last Sunday and my kids are still wanting to hunt for eggs! In fact, we did four hunts on Sunday, three on Monday and one today. And while it's a pain to hide the eggs over and over again, at least they are having fun and are outside running around!

Just wondering how long this will last?!?!

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Easter Craft Idea


Happy Easter!! Can't believe that it's on Sunday. Where has the time gone?!?!


Here is a super cute Easter craft idea to do with your kiddos!




Monday, March 17, 2008

Recipe of the week

Tasty Chili

1 1/2 pounds ground round or beef
29 oz can tomato sauce
2, 16 oz can chili beans (pinto beans in chili sauce)
1 cup onion, diced
1-2 celery stalks, diced
2, 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes, undrained
1, 27 oz can dark kidney beans, undrained
2 tsp cumin
1 Tbsp chili powder (or more for spicy)
1 tsp pepper
2 tsp salt

Brown beef in large pot until cooked and crumbly - drain oil if needed.
Add remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer over low-med heat.
Simmer for 2-3 hours; stirring frequently.

Serve with rice, corn chips, cheese, sour cream, mustard and any toppings you like!

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Math Question For Fifth Graders! You try it!

I received this math question at work this week. It is suppose to be a question for fifth graders. You will see it is challenging, but doable. Post your answers if you dare!

There are 7 girls on a bus.
Each of the 7 girls has 7 backpacks.
In each pack there are 7 big cats.
For every big cat there are 7 smaller cats.

How many legs are on the bus (there is not a driver on the bus).

Having a question of the week makes for good conversations starters. At the end of the week, discuss your answers and see how they came up with the answer. You are challenging each other and making your children think!

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

St. Patrick's Day Craft


Here is a cute craft idea I found that would be fun to do with kids of all ages!!

Clay Pot Leprechaun

Monday, March 10, 2008

Recipe of the Week

This is a great casserole that you can prepare the night before, pop in the oven in the morning and enjoy the leftovers that are easy to reheat in the microwave!

Breakfast Casserole


1 bag shredded hash brown potatoes (Simply Potatoes is the brand I use)
1 1/2 pounds sausage (Jimmy Dean is the brand I use) You can do hot, med, mild or a mix.
1/2 onion, diced
9 eggs
1 cup milk
2 cups shredded SHARP cheddar cheese

Brown onions and sausage.
Stir eggs with milk.
In a baking dish layer your potatoes, sausage mixture, egg mixture and cheese.
Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes. Serve and enjoy!!

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Go to the Park

One thing most communities have is a park of some kind. Take advantage of the free entertainment for your children, especially as the weather improves. Parks offer great ways to explore, to exercise, and to interact with other children that are new friends. They are also great for parental interaction and some mommy or daddy time.

If you don't have a park nearby, it may be a worthwhile day trip to travel to the next closest city with a park. We have a city within an hour and a half that is actually a water park- for free. The city maintains a great location for kids to splash in the water. It is a bit of a drive, but it is free and hours of entertainment!

Find a park in your area and go exploring!

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

For Moms Needing A Laugh

I know this is not the typical post on the blog, but I just couldn't resist. Sometimes as moms, we just need a good laugh! So I hope you enjoy this and also realize just how much you do!!

THE NEXT SURVIVOR SERIES
Six married men will be dropped on an island with one car and 3 kids each for six weeks. Each kid will play two sports and either take music or dance classes. There is no fast food. Each man must take care of his 3 kids; keep his assigned house clean, correct all homework, and complete science projects, cook, do laundry, and pay a list of "pretend" bills with not enough money. In addition, each man will have to budget in money for groceries each week. Each man must remember the birthdays of all their friends and relatives, and send cards out on time. Each man must also take each child to a doctor's appointment, a dentist appointment and a haircut appointment. He must make one unscheduled and inconvenient visit per child to the Urgent
Care. He must also make cookies or cupcakes for a social function.

Each man will be responsible for decorating his own assigned house, planting flowers outside and keeping it presentable at all times. The men will only have access to television when the kids are asleep and all chores are done. The men must shave their legs, wear makeup daily, adorn himself with jewelry, wear uncomfortable yet stylish shoes, keep fingernailspolished and eyebrows groomed. During one of the six weeks, the men will have to endure severe abdominal cramps, back aches, and have extreme, unexplained mood swings but never once complain or slow down from other duties. They must attend weekly school meetings, church, and find time at least once to spend the afternoon at the park or a similar setting. They will need to read a book and then pray with the children each night and in the morning, feed them, dress them, brush their teeth and comb their hair by 7:00 am.

A test will be given at the end of the six weeks, and each father will be required to know all of the following information: each child's birthday, height, weight, shoe size, clothes size and doctor's name. Also the child's weight at birth, length, time of birth, and length of labor, each child's favorite color, middle name, favorite snack, favorite song, favorite drink, favorite toy, biggest fear and what they want to be when they grow up. The kids vote them off the island based on performance. The last man wins only if....he still has enough energy to be intimate with his spouse at a moment's notice.

If the last man does win, he can play the game over and over and over again for the next 18-25 years eventually earning the right to be called Mother!

Monday, March 3, 2008

Recipe of the Week

Marshmallow Delight

Super easy – Super quick – Super tasty!

2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 cup flaked coconut
2 (11oz) cans mandarin oranges, drained
1 (20oz) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 (8oz) carton low-fat or fat-free sour cream
1 (8oz) carton fat-free yogurt
½ cup (4oz) maraschino cherries, drained and chopped

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl; cover and chill.
ENJOY!!

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Online Activities- Virtual Frog Dissection

As the saying on this site goes, "Save A Frog- Do a Virtual Dissection Instead!"

I Am Bored.com has a lot of fun activities, but one I like the best is the virtual frog dissection.

You literally dissect the frog, just like in biology class.

Just try it to see.

I Am Bored has some great sites, but some are questionable for kids, so do not give them free reign. Plus the google ads may be a bit revealing. Make sure you stay by for the full dissection and then go on to another site!