Back to school (and work) slow cooker cooking

Did your kids go back to school yet? Mine did. And along with them going back to school I went back to work. After being a stay-at-home mom for six years I'm not sure I was really prepared for what I was about to do. But I survived my first week and am looking forward to going back next week. I am the Director of Afternoons at my kids school. I get to be home with my little girls in the morning and then spend my afternoons with my big two and their classmates (and a bunch of other kids). So, since I needed a job this really is the best job possible for me and our family! 

If your family is anything like mine...they like to eat. And well, it's good to eat. We need energy in the form of food in order to function properly. When we eat the right food we function even better! So, it's important with me working now that I find a way for my family to eat well while being easy and simple to prepare. Enter the slow cooker!! We use the slow cooker a LOT around here and I'm so grateful for the many recipes floating around in the web-o-sphere. I'm also grateful for the Fix-It and Forget-It 5 ingredient favorites: Comforting slow cooker recipes book that a lady from church gave me. This book has been used many many times and I plan to keep using it until we decide to stop using the slow cooker to make dinner (and with me working that won't be anytime soon). To only need 5 ingredients saves me a ton of time and money. These recipes are easy to throw together in the morning when I'm hanging out with my little ladies before I head to work. Then when we get home all we have to do is fix a simple side, of which I plan to stock the fridge with on the weekends...like rice and noodles or whatever. If you haven't started using  your crock-pot as a way to save you time and money (you won't have to eat out as much) then let me encourage you to do so. It's really rather simple and doesn't take too much prep work.

Case in point, I was able to prepare 8 freezer slow cooker recipes this week in the mornings while I was home with my little girls. Granted I did have the help of grandma to watch the girls but still these meals are easy to put together and could be done on a Saturday or Sunday while someone is able to watch the kids, or get them involved with the chopping and throwing things into the bags if they're old enough. I love this freezer slow cooker cook book from Stephanie Cornais. The recipes that we've already tried were delicious and had lots of flavor. They are easy to prepare and it's SO nice to know that my freezer is stocked in case I forget to get things for one of my other slow cooker meals. It's also great to have on hand in case someone has a baby or if a family member is in the hospital, these would be easy to take for them as well. The other great thing is the Stephanie only uses whole REAL foods. No cans of cream of whatever in these recipes. I've even branched out and tried some new things because of this cookbook. I'm really excited to try to the Peanut Stew that I prepared last week!! Check out Stephanie's blog and she has a new mini eCookbook called Back to school slow cooker freezer recipes. She also has a gluten-free, grain-free dessert cookbook!!

We have three freezers...a little excessive, yeah maybe. But one is a chest freezer because we get a whole hog worth of meat each year. The other came with the house and we have ours that we purchased when we bought our first house. So now my hubby has his "beer" fridge in the garage which has lots of space for me to store my slow cooker freezer meals!!!

One little trick that I like to do (and feel I can do since this is just in the garage) is write what freezer meals are in the freezer with a white board erasable marker on the outside of the freezer. Then it's super easy to see what I have to put in my rotation when meal planning!!

Do you have a favorite slow cooker meal? I'd love to try it. You can also see more meals that I've found and pinned here. Enjoy your back to school time and prep some slow cooker meals so you don't have to worry about dinner!!

And just in case you were wondering how cute my kids looked on their first day of school...here you go ;)

 These first day of school printable came from Paper Coterie!!

Continue Reading ...

Tablets for Tots with Norman Fong

Tablets for Tots: How to Choose

Only a few years ago, buying a portable computer for a young child would seem preposterous, but with the rise of tablet computing and the intuitive touch-screen interface, your son or daughter can be computer savvy before they even learn to read.

You may remember the pre-mouse days of MS-DOS when knowing how to use a computer was more complicated than programming the clock on your VCR, but today's children are growing up in a world where computing is as much a part of life as using the telephone, and just as easy. And with the entry level of tablet computing becoming very affordable in the past couple years, there's no reason not to get your child started with his or her own tablet.

Apple may have unleashed the tablet on the world when it introduced the iPad in 2010, but since then, the options have increased exponentially, and narrowing your search down can be daunting. There are far too many tablets to list here, much less review, so here are a few questions to ask yourself and things to keep in mind when shopping for a tablet for your child:

• How long do you expect your child to use the tablet? When buying any kind of computer equipment, you run the risk of buying into technology that will be replaced by something better within the next year or so. When you add to that the fact that you're buying something that can easily be dropped, thrown, or simply lost, you also need to think about how well you think your child will treat it.
• How long will it be age-appropriate? Some children's tablets are specifically designed for certain age groups, so a tablet that's designed for a five-year-old who's just learning to read may be less interesting to him a year later.
• Is it worth it to buy a more expensive tablet? High-end tablets may not be designed to be kid-safe, but with the right case, can be made to be pretty accident resistant. It's possible that for a bit more money, you could buy a tablet that the kids can use during the day and the parents can use after the little ones are in bed.
• Do you need a camera? Most – but not all – tablets have cameras now, but not all cameras are equal. If you want your child to be able to take high-quality photographs or videos, pay close attention to the reviews and make that one of your points of comparison.
• Will you need to buy a case? Most kid-specific tablets have built-in shock resistance and sometimes even waterproofing, but if you're looking into a more versatile tablet for the long-term, you may need to invest in some protection. A quality shock-resistant tough skin or case can add to the price, so be sure to include that in your calculations.
• Read the expert and customer reviews. The best bet for real world experience with the products you're shopping for (unless you actually know someone who's used it) is to find a retail site that allows customers to review their purchases. Ideally there should be at least a dozen or so reviews to ensure a good sampling, and pay special attention to the bad reviews – but always take the good and the bad with a grain of salt, especially if they're excessively critical or glowing.

Again, there are too many tablets to list in this space, but here are a few you might consider:

For the kids and the adults:

Start by reading reviews and researching the types of apps that you want to use and which platform is best for them.

• Apple iPad and iPad Mini – Many people still think the original is the best, and with the most apps and accessories available, it's hard to argue.
• Android tablets – Android is a platform developed by Google and used by some of the top manufacturers. Some of the top picks include the Google Nexus, Samsung Galaxy, and Sony Xperia.
• Kindle and Nook – The e-readers from Amazon and Barnes & Noble have evolved into full-featured tablets, and may suit your needs well, especially if you have a child who loves to read.

Just for kids:

• LeapPad Ultra – LeapPad's latest tablet features front and rear-facing cameras, 8GB of internal storage and an integrated MP3 player. It also includes a child-safe browser.
• VTech InnoTab 3s – VTech's newest offering has a pivoting camera that can face front or rear, a kid-safe browser, the ability to communicate with other InnoTab tablets, as well as to send messages to you on your Android phone or iPhone.
• Fuhu NABI tablet – Fuhu's tablet bills this product as the first full-featured Android tablet for kids. The software allows varying levels of kid-safe protection, limiting younger children to safe apps and browsing while allowing it to be unlocked for a full internet experience for older children and parents.
• Ematic FunTab – The FunTab also runs on Android and features software that allows you to remotely read to your child via a webcam and the internet – a nice feature for parents who work on the road.

In the end, every child and every family is different and there is no single product that's perfect for all of them. The best you can do is to determine how your child will use the tablet and try to find one that will not only be engaging to them today, but also useful down the road.

Norman Fong is CEO and Co-Founder of BuyVia, an online and iOS App smart shopping service that finds high quality products at the best price available. Deals on popular products like tablet computers, including the iPad and Android tablets, can be sent automatically to users.

Thank you to Norman Fong for guest posting here today!

Continue Reading ...

One more simple activity to do with your kids before school starts!

If you are anything like me you are looking forward to the start of school. Each phase of time holds many great memories, new discoveries, learning adventures and growing physically, mentally and spiritually. I wasn't really looking forward to the school year ending in May but as the summer started I was very excited to have that unscheduled time with my kids. We had a great and busy summer filled with TONS of fun times and also some "boring" days. I'm at the point now though where I am excited about school starting again. I am excited for a little more structure. I am excited for my kids to learn new things, make new discoveries and for them to get to spend more time with their friends.

With that excitement comes some relief, timidity, and nervousness because of some changes that are happening on this home front...namely, me going back to work after not working "for pay" in over 6 years (besides the photography sessions). I will be working as the Director of Afternoons at the school where my kids attend. I am very excited about this opportunity and also a little nervous. I feel that I have no idea what I'm getting myself into and let's face it, I love being a stay-at-home mom (especially during the school year ;)). The good thing is, I will be able to be home with the little girls in the morning and then I'll be at the school with my kids in the afternoons, while the little girls get cared for by my parents. The struggle will be getting home at 5:30 and the rush to get things done before having to go to bed and start all over again the next day. I know that I have a great support system in place and I wouldn't trade that for the world...but I'm just nervous about working outside of my home again. This whole situation has God's hands all over it, from how the job came about to the groundwork that was laid prior to me even knowing I would need to find work. God is good and His provisions are AMAZING!!

So, we'll see how things go. We'll learn as we go. We will learn patience. We will learn how to make tons of crock-pot meals. We will learn to show more grace and love to each other. We will all learn new things about ourselves through this process and we will learn more about God and his faithfulness and love as well.

With summer winding down I am starting to get into my homebody mood, I don't want to go anywhere anymore. I don't want to leave my house or get out of yoga pants! I don't want to be social (just for a little bit) but my kids feel the opposite way. They want to hang out with their friends (who can blame 'em). They want to go out to eat and to the park and they ask everyday where they can go or who they can invite over. I love their desire to be hospitable but I just need a little down time. 

One morning this week I decided to try and get some intentional down time and do something with the kids that they've been asking to do but I keep putting off. You know...that project that seems so big or too messy. That thing they keep bugging you to do but you keep saying "not today". Well, I decided to stop saying that and say yes to their pleading. So, I printed some fine art for them to see and got out my paints and some canvas boards. Instead of just letting them paint whatever struck their fancy I wanted to introduce them to some great artists. I started with Van Gogh and plan to do at least one more artist before school starts. I had them "replicate" the famous painting however they wanted too. I tried to not give too much direction or be too critical (which was harder than I hoped it would be). In the end after a rough start we had a good time and the kids learned to appreciate Van Gogh a little bit. 

This is a very easy craft / project that you can do with your kids for little to no money. Just find an art piece that you love, print it, get some canvas board and some paint and you're all set. Maybe you're not like me and you don't have a crazy stock pile of canvas boards...just use the inside of a cereal box!! Get a few basic paint colors and you've got yourself a painting party with a little art lesson weaved in! Easy!

Hannah (2.5) and I decided to do Starry Starry Night and Micah (5) and Naomi (6.5) replicated Sunflowers!

They loved doing the paintings but I think they love showing them off even more. They have a little "art gallery" now and are so proud of their work! Project done, esteem boosted!!

Continue Reading ...

House of Cards - TECH-Free Time

I've been trying to come up with ideas and activities to keep my kids busy. Something other than technology! I admit, my kids all have their own iPods, they have video games, a computer and a tv. I fell into the tech trap! While I do think there are many great things about having access all this technology, I also believe that we need a break! So I decided to start sharing some TECH-Free activities for you and your kids to do. Some can be done alone and other together. 

Today I am sharing "House of Cards"! This is so quick and fun. All you need is an old deck of cards (yes those are casino cards. I got them for free and didn't want to cut up cards I bought.) a ruler, sharpie and some scissors. 

Using your ruler and sharpie....measure 3/4" in on all corner of the card, trace 1/2-3/4" and cut them with your scissors.   If your kids are old enough and can use scissors, let them help.  All that's left to do is to start building. When you're done, just put them back into the box the cards came in, container or baggie and tuck away for another day. 

Here are some more shots of my "House of Cards" I can't wait to give these to my kids! I'll be sure to update some photos later of them using them!

Please Check Out My Other Links Below

I would love to have you like, follow, connect and chat with you more!

 

 

Continue Reading ...

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day...here are four of my greatest blessings.

I am so blessed that these four people call me mom. I wouldn't want my life any other way. I am also SO incredibly blessed that I am able to live close to my mother. She's such a tremendous help to me with my kids and it's just great to be able to see her regularly and live life with her nearby.

My sweet six year old filled this out for me at school. I LOVE these little things and they make me so happy and they make me laugh! I love that she thinks I'm as pretty as a horse...that's not usually a compliment but I know how much she loves horses. I also thinks it's great that she thinks I'm smart because I know math. I can do kindergarten math but that's about it. We'll leave the math up to her dad when she gets a little bigger!

I have so many thoughts about motherhood swirling in my head but rather than try to get them out in a way that you'd understand I'd like you to read a blog post that pretty much sums up how I feel about motherhood! I hope you'll take a moment to read Why Mother's Day is for the birds...

Happy Mother's Day!! I hope you are treated like the queen you are.

Continue Reading ...

Child's Drawing Embroidered

My kids love to draw. And they draw me LOTS of pictures. Some I keep. Some I toss while they are sleeping  (I don't want to break their little hearts...but they don't remember them anyway). Some of them I frame. And the REALLY REALLY special ones get another treatment.

Micah drew this picture for me while I was pregnant with Abi. It is one of the first drawings he ever did with people in it (well, people that look like people anyway). It is so special to me because I just asked him to draw a picture of our family and LOVE how he drew Abi too.

I wanted to make sure this picture got a special place in Abi's room so I decided instead of just framing it I'd do something else. I decided to embroider this drawing onto some fabric.

I just taped the drawing to a window then taped up the fabric and traced the drawing with a pencil onto the fabric. Then I got to stitching and soon had an embroidered drawing to put in Abi's room. Idid take a few creative licenses and took a few of the extra things out and changed one color but it didn't "change" the drawing really. I still need to frame this but I'm so excited that I finally finished it....because I started working on this before Abi was born. It feels good to do something for our family and to put Micah's artwork in a permanent state. I hope to do one soon of some of Naomi's art because that girl can draw!

Continue Reading ...

Chalkboard Paint Project

I had some fun with Chalkboard Paint the other day! I made quite a few things. I wanted to share them with you today. I won't go into much detail because its pretty self explanatory. Paint on, Dry and Use. LOL

I made this little chalkboard for this wreath. My mom over at Pine Creek Style made this wreath! ;) Thanks mom! Make sure you go by and say hi. She has a yummy "Chocolate Covered Bacon" recipe that she just shared.

I started out with these signs that I picked up at second hand store. I wasn't sure what to do with them when I first bought them, but knew I wanted them for something! Glad I bought them!

I covered them with the chalkboard paint. I used the sponge brush to add the paint and a roller to spread it out evenly.

I bought some dry erase crayons to use on the boards. They work perfectly for color and brightness.  However they do not come off as easily as chalk. So just use a wipe to clean it off. Easy really, just wanted you to know how to easily clean with those crayons.

And the finished board hung up! I love it!

Here are some more pics of things we made so far....

The little girls wanted to copy my menu board. LOL So I made sure I put them in the photo too!

I found a paper horse at goodwill and thought it would be fun to add paint too. And I repurposed the sign in this photo too!

I have a few more Chalkboard Paint ideas and the paint goes far. So I will be making more things for sure! ;)

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

Continue Reading ...

The Elephant Project

So my little one got her new bedding a couple days ago and she was so excited. She loves elephants and when I saw this set, I knew I had to get it for her. As soon as we opened it up it was on her bed and she was all giggles. She had no idea I had ordered it so it was a complete surprise!

And the elephant project has begun! We made a template of an elephant from one of the new pillow shams and started working!

I have to apologize, I don't have a pic of the template or that process, sorry. But we made the template out of card stock and traced it out on scrapbook paper. Cut a bunch of designs out and set them aside. I wasn't sure what patterns I wanted just yet.

Next, I had an old sign that was damaged and decided to use it as my base.

I painted it pink. It did take a few layers because of the original image, but it didn't take too long.

Next, I wanted to add some sort of background to it and grabbed my stamps. Once the paint was dry, I just used the stamp on the whole board not worrying about overlapping.

I played with different patterns and these three were my favorite. Lastly, I just used Mod Podge to seal the elephants on and to give it a nice finish.

One "Elephant Project" down! She helped me pick a place to hang it in her room.  Right by her closet so she could see it when she lays in bed! LOL

What do you think? Cute, right? We think so! I have a few more elephant projects in mind and will be sharing them on here too! I can't wait to finish her room and share the whole room! Slowly getting there. ;)

Continue Reading ...