Mommy Minded

Looking back on January 2012

2012-01-28T15:04:00.000-06:00

Pinewood Derby

Bearded Husband.

Junie B Jones Play

Baby Niece's Birthday

Chinese New Year

Family Nights.

January 2012 Cravebox

2012-01-27T13:24:00.001-06:00

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

2012-01-26T18:07:00.001-06:00

My favorite thing this week was...

Chinese New Year.

In our homeschool this week...

Math: Review.

Science: About our Earth.

Social Studies: We finished out Social Studies for this year! :)

Language Arts: We put all of out time into reading this week.

Life Skills: This week has been all about the Pine Wood Derby.

The kids loved recces all week. It has been cold and rainy so they have been working it out with Just Dance 3 on the XBOX.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

We are going to see the Junie B Jones play!

The kids can not wait!

Things I’m working on…

Putting myself back in my schedule. I am taking an hour a day to get my workouts in and the kids are getting better about giving me my time. At first I felt pretty selfish but now that my energy levels are up, I know it is good for all of us. Plus, the kids get to watch PBS and play their leapsters for an hour so they don't mind it much anymore.

I’m grateful for…

The changes taking place in our home.

Just when I think that things cant get any better.

I am proven wrong.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Chinese New Year 2012

2012-01-21T18:40:00.000-06:00

Last week we covered cultural holidays.

Since Chinese New Year is here,

I decided to use it to add a fun lesson in.

We have a field trip, Cub Scouts, and

other lessons planned for Monday

so we did our lesson this weekend...

We went over all kinds of fun facts,

made dragon mask,

and had some fun work sheets.

The kids loved using chop sticks at dinner.

We had Lo Mein and fortune cookies.

We will watch Mulan in the morning

to finish off our weekend lesson.

Ninja's Black Eye

2012-01-21T07:48:00.001-06:00

Ninja got his first black eye last week.

He thinks he looks so cool and tough.

Brother accidental pulled his foot back while

Ninja was bending down behind him.

So they say.

Regardless, I had to document this for future reference.

This is his tough face. ;)

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

2012-01-19T16:44:00.000-06:00

In our homeschool this week…

Math- Addition and Subtraction
Science- Grouping Animals
LA- Different Sounds
History- Holidays
Art- Celery Stamping

Person of the Month:
Each month we will study about one interesting person.
Abraham Lincoln.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
We will go to a wildlife museum today and look at animal's teeth.
The kids will determine what foods they eat and graph it.

My favorite thing this week was…
Our park dates. It has been a beautiful week.

I’m reading…

Christy
By: Catherine Marshall

I’m grateful for…

All of our family time.

I’m praying for…
My family.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Asparagus Fries

2012-01-17T10:45:00.000-06:00

I have been working hard to get my body back in check. I have been making all different kinds of things for us to try on our journey.

Last night, I found this recipe for Asparagus Fries and they just looked SO GOOD! So today I made some my own way. Here is the down low.

I made HG onion rings with fiber twigs and I decided to use that same idea. I have high fiber cereal in the pantry so I tossed it into the food processor to make crumbs.

You need:

Asparagus, washed. Chop the dead ends off.

Crumbs of choice. (Panko, Traditional Bread Crumbs, Fiber Twigs...)

2 Egg Whites

Seasoning (Optional)

Preheat oven to 425. Place wire racks on baking sheet so that they will get super crispy!

Set up a work station. I added a little Dash seasoning to my crumbs.

Place asparagus in egg whites, then into the crumbs. Transfer them to baking sheet. Pop into oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown and crispy!

I planned on making a dip with greek yogurt and fiesta ranch seasoning but we used the yogurt for smoothies. :( I ended up being happy that I didn't make a dip because they were great with out it!

Hubby and I loved them and will for sure make them again!

January 2012 My Glam Bag

2012-01-14T11:29:00.000-06:00

I cancelled my Birchbox and went to MyGlam.

Was it worth it?

I say yes.

It is the same concept,

"Every month, you receive a brand new Glam Bag with 4 to 5 of our top beauty finds! These full-sized products or deluxe-sized samples are selected by our stylists for you to enjoy"

With Birchbox, I was not a fan of the perfume samples.

Although this month they are sending samples of the perfume I actually wear daily...

The shipping issues in December just did me in.

I love that MyGlam does large samples and full size products.

This month I got:

Wen. I have been using Wen since September and I really like it.

This is a small bottle so it will be AWESOME for traveling!

Freeman Mask. This is another product that my daughter and I already use. It's always nice to get a freebie of something that you know you like and will use! :) Plus, it's full size. Yay.

Shady Lady Eye Shadow. I am loving this. The packaging is too cute and I love the shade I got. Mine is called Shameless Shana. It is a dark brown so I will use it as a liner as well.

Sheer Cover Duo Concealer. I use Mineral make up and I don't have any concealer so yay for me! I got the right color for myself and I hope everyone else did too since we don't have personal preferences at MyGlam.

Overall, I am VERY happy with this months bag. The idea was to be natural and pure. I think that they did a great job. I will use EVERYTHING in my bag!

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

2012-01-13T08:34:00.000-06:00

In my life this week…

We have had a great week.

I am so surprised since it was our first

full week back on schedule!

In our homeschool this week…

We have been speding a lot more time out

side before it really turns into Winter around here.

Math- Fractions

Science- Animals

Social Studies- Maps, Globe, Compass Rose.

Reading- Kid's choice of books. Take test online.

Life Skills- The boys have been woking with the

bow and arrow and the BB gun.

Target practice is their favorite activity right now.

We also made special treats this week.

You can find that post here.

My favorite thing this week was…

Life Skills.

Cap and Ninja broke out the bow and arrow and the BB gun.

They both have serious aim.

Things I’m working on…

Getting us back on track.

Hub is going back to days so I have to change our routine up again.

I am so not complaining but it is a chore. ;)

I’m reading…

Now that the holidays are over, I am looking for more books for myself!

Anyone have any ideas or read anything great lately?

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Find it here.

Kirkland's Review and Giveaway

2012-01-12T19:55:00.000-06:00

I was so excited when I got the email to host a review and giveaway for Kirkland's!

Kirkland's is my go to store for gifts, holiday decor, and housewares! It is for sure one of my top 5 stores... EVER. The prices are great, the stores are always full, there is a huge variety of products. Sissy even loves it to decorate her room and the boys got the guitar pictures from them too!

I was sent the Seafoam Mosaic Ruffle Pillow to review.

I am all about ruffles right now so I knew I would like it. I also have pillow issues. If you see pictures of my house very often, you may notice that the throw pillows are almost always different. It came in the mail today and I LOVE it! It looks great with my new pillows I got for Christmas!

It is bigger than I thought it would be and that is a plus

for me since we have over sized couches!

This pillow is stuffed to the max so I don't see it getting plat and frumpy any time soon. The fabric is beautiful and the design is right up my alley! Do you like it? Do you want one?

You can buy it here at Kirkland's or win one here on Mommy Minded.

I was sent the product mentioned above for review. All opinions are my own and your may differ. No monetary compensation was received.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ice cream for breakfast!

2012-01-08T10:12:00.001-06:00

Okay, it there is no ice cream.
The kids have been really good so I decided

to make them a special treat for breakfast.

You could really just go crazy with this but here is how we do it.

Grab the goods:

VitaTops

Sliced Banana

Greek Yogurt

Flavored Yogurt

Mix equal parts Greek yogurt and flavored yogurt.

I use about 1/4 cup of each to make all 4 VitaTops.

I mix the flavored yogurt and Greek yogurt to cut the sugar,

pack in a little more protein, and to thicken the mixture so

that it holds up better while waiting on it to freeze.

Cut VitaTops in half.

Spoon yogurt on one side and cover with layer of sliced bananas.

Top with other half of VitaTop.

Pop into freezer until firm but not frozen.

It takes about 30-40 minutes in our freezer.

I cut them in half to eat better since the VitaTops are a little thin.

Enjoy.

Purex Crystals and Jockey Review and Giveaway

2012-01-08T08:26:00.003-06:00

You’re probably wondering,

“What’s the relationship between these two products?”

Here’s the scoop: Purex

Crystals are 92% natural crystals that infuse

long-lasting freshness into the fabric fibers of clothing

without harming garments

(like liquid softener products that use oils to soften).

This is especially important for activewear like Jockey®’s sports bras,

as liquid softeners can harm active wear’s moisture wicking ability.

Additionally, Purex Crystals work to create a continuous long-lasting freshness,

eliminating that all-too-common odor that gets embedded in workout clothing.

I have been wearing my Jockey sports bra for my work outs over the past couple of weeks and I always use my Purex Crystals when washing. My work out gear still smells fresh and tropical after being washed daily. I just have to say that I am LOVING this bra from Jockey. Not only does it have moisture wicking ability, there is a pocket for my key! It's the simple things that make this Momma so happy. :)

Purex Crystals infuse long-lasting freshness into fabric fibers

without oil so it is safe for all the laundry in your house!

The popular "Tropical Splash" crystals will be

back in stores in 2012 but you can win some now!

Purex and Jockey would like to give a Mommy Minded

reader a Jockey Sprorts Bra and the popular

Tropical Splash Purex Crystals.

Perfect timing for all the new resolutions to get healthy!

I was sent to products mentioned above for my review. All opinions are my own and yours may differ. No monetary compensation was received.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Centrum Review and Giveaway

2012-01-06T09:07:00.000-06:00

With the new year here and everyone starting fresh,

this opportunity could not have come at a better time.

Centrum has come out with a new line of products that

I am super excited to add to my daily Centrum routine.

I received each of the new products to check out and

I am most excited about the probiotics.

I have serious stomach issues and

I have to probiotics that are quite pricey.

The Centrum Pro Nutrients Probiotics come in single serving packages

so they are great to take on the go. You can sprinkle the

flavourless powder on any cold food or in any cold beverage.

I am going to just toss it into my smoothie.

This CAN BE taken along with your daily multi vitamin or with out.

More Info:

New ProNutrients Probiotic is a unique blended powder containing two of the most scientifically studied probiotics. The individually wrapped packets are designed to ensure the bacteria arrive active and ready to work in the digestive tract. ProNutrients Probiotic helps support immune health and digestive balance.* The retail value for the 14-unit package is $18.99, and the 28-unit package is $29.99.

You can save $5 by going here!

ProNutrients Fruit & Veggie each MiniTab of new harnesses

the power equal to a serving of a blend of fruits and vegetables.

It is 100 percent naturally sourced from grapes, blueberries, raspberries,

plums, carrots and tomatoes.

Each MiniTab helps support cell protection and general health.*

The retail value for the 50-unit package is $11.99,

and the 100-unit package is $19.99

These can be taken with or with out your daily multi vitamin.

You can save $5 by going here!

I already take omega3 and mine are double this size.

I was stoaked to see how small these are! These can be taken with your daily munti vitamin.

More Info:

New ProNutrients Omega-3 provides two of the most scientifically studied Omega-3s (according to Eicosapentaenoic Acid/EPA and Docosahexaenoic Acid/DHA standards) in an ultra-concentrated MiniGel. Since the MiniGels are smaller than the sizes of most brands’ softgels, they are easy to swallow. They help support heart health, brain structure and eye structure.* The retail value of the 50-unit package is $12.99, and the 100-unit package is $19.99.

You can save $5 by going here!

Who couldn't use a little more energy? Well, other than the kids...

I take a different Centrum Multi Vitamin but I am happy to try this one out.

This is not really a "new" product.

Centrum Specialist was previously known as Centrum Performance.

Here is the information on the changes:

Centrum Specialist

In addition to the ProNutrients launch, Centrum debuted Centrum Specialist™, a line of enhanced multivitamins that is aimed at specific health priorities adults want to target.

Centrum Specialist multivitamins with specific benefits includes Prenatal, Vision, Energy and Heart.

Only Centrum Specialist Vision and Centrum Specialist™ Prenatal are new offerings. Centrum Specialist™ Heart is formally known as Centrum Cardio.

Now that you have the lowdown, do you want to try them out?

You can save $5 by going here!

Centrum is also giving a Mommy Minded reader a ProNutrients product of your choice!

See the rules here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Asian Turkey Meatballs With Lime Sesame Dipping Sauce

2012-01-02T11:03:00.000-06:00

Every year Hubby and I love to find a handful

of new recipes that we like to add into our "regulars".

I decided to feature our favorite recipe each week.

Last week was the Asian Turkey Meatballs

with Lime Sesame Dipping Sauce.

This recipe is from Skinnytaste.com,

I followed it exactly, and loved it.

Here it is, right from Skinny Taste.

Asian Turkey Meatballs With Lime Sesame Dipping Sauce

Servings: 4 • Size: 3 meatballs

Calories: 229.1 • Fat: 11.1 g • Carbs: 8.5 g • Protein: 24.3 g

Meatballs

1/4 cup panko crumbs

1-1/4 lbs 93% lean ground turkey

1 egg

1 tbsp ginger, minced

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

3 scallions, chopped

1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce

2 tsp sesame oil

Dipping Sauce
4 tbsp low sodium soy sauce

2 tsp sesame oil

2 tbsp fresh lime juice

2 tbsp water

1 chopped fresh scallion

Preheat oven to 500°F.
Mix ground turkey, panko, egg, salt, scallions, ginger, cilantro, 1 tbsp soy sauce, and 2 tsp oil and mix with your hands until combined well. Shape 1/4 cup meat mixture into a ball and transfer to a baking dish. Repeat with remaining mixture. Bake until cooked through, about 15 minutes.

For the dipping sauce mix together lime juice, water, soy sauce, and remaining 2 teaspoons of oil in a bowl. Add scallions.

Transfer meatballs to a serving dish. Stir sauce, then drizzle meatballs with 1 tablespoon sauce.

Serve meatballs with remaining sauce, about 1 tbsp per person. Chances are you won't use all the dipping sauce.

Makes 12 meatballs

What is Chia and why I love it.

2012-01-02T08:19:00.000-06:00

While I was looking up my top 11 from 2011,

I noticed how many questions I had about Chia.

I posted about it a little in my smoothie post.

You can read it here.

Here is some quick info that might help.

Where to buy:

I still can not find chia in big retailers. I buy it at a local health food store. Call ahead before driving all over the place. It is stored in the refrigerated section at my store.

Why I like it:

Chia is an evidence-based registered variety of Salvia hispanica L. and is nutritionally superior to flax and soy. Chia is the richest non-marine whole food source of Omega-3 and dietary fiber currently known to man.

Promotes Cardiovascular Health:

According to the American Heart Association, Omega-3 fatty acids can normalize blood pressure and bad cholesterol levels, while helping promote healthy heart and blood vessels.

Assists Joint Function & Mobility:

With six times more calcium than milk, and with greater amounts of high-quality protein than the one found in soy, Chia also helps strengthen muscles and bones.

Improves Digestion & Natural Detoxification:

Chia can absorb a whopping 12+ times its weight in water – flax seed only absorbs 6-8 times its weight. Chia´s insoluble fiber reduces digestive transit time and removes toxins as it passes through the digestive tract.

Supports Healthy Weight Loss:

Chia´s high fiber content and its ability to reduce blood sugar levels after meals inhibits the appetite, thus making it the perfect food for healthy, effective weight loss. Thanks to its neutral flavor and color, Chia integrates seamlessly into any healthy recipe.

This info came from getchia.com

Top 11 from 2011

2011-12-30T10:01:00.000-06:00

These are the most visited post from 2011.

Click on the title to view the post!

#1 The Homework Station

#2 My Favorite Things

#3 Our 2011 Christmas Cards

#4 Make Your Own Body Wash

#5 Lunch Ideas

#6 My Favorite Homemade Laundry Soap

#7 Ready Wall

#8 Heritage Wall

#9 Simple

#10 Our Homeschool Classroom

#11 Breakfast Ideas

Last Look at December 2011

2011-12-30T09:53:00.000-06:00

Zombie Brains...

Family Christmas

A Birthday Party for Jesus

Balloon Release for his Birthday!

Bonfires and Smores.

Christmas. :)

Back to simple.

2011-12-26T18:47:00.002-06:00

Taking the house back to simple and clean.

Loving my new white ruffle pillows! :)

Purex Triple Action Liquid Review

2011-12-21T16:29:00.001-06:00

I have always been a fan of Purex. I got an email with an opportunity to review the new Triple Action liquid and I thought that it would be great to try on my husbands uniforms.

Hubby get DIRTY at work so it was a perfect challenge. Once Fedex showed up at the door, it was laundry time!

Hubby and I were very happy with the outcome. I tried it with out my Purex Crystals and didn't have that strong great smell that I wanted but they were clean and didn't have that yucky smell that the fire-resistant uniforms seem to hold. The next time I used it, I tossed in my crystals too and they smelled better than ever!

I usually have to keep a bottle of expensive detergent on hand for him because my homemade detergent isn't strong enough for the nasty that he gets into. I will be keeping this on hand for now on. It worked great and the price tag is much better on my wallet. :)

More Info from the site:

New & Improved Formula

Purex is rolling out a new Triple Action formula across the entire liquid detergent line. This new and improved Triple Action formula delivers even better on Purex’s promise to leave your clothes bright, white, and clean, and as always, for half the price of the leading brand!

Same Great Value

Over the past year our R&D scientists have been working hard to create an even better Purex formula. And not just a better formula, but one that will continue to deliver the value that Purex stands for. We’re mindful of our consumers’ pocketbooks, and we’re committed to bringing them a great product at a great value. The new Purex Triple Action formula is just that. It’s an even better clean, for half the price of the leading brand.

Coming to a Store Near You

New Purex Triple Action leverages the best parts of our current formula, combined with new additions, to deliver great cleaning plus improved brightening power. This new formula will be rolled out across our liquid detergent line this fall, so you’ll soon ﬁnd it in your favorite variety!

Just like all of our current detergents, new Purex Triple Action has been specifically formulated to work in both traditional and High Efficiency (HE) washers. This ensures that Purex is always available to our consumers, no matter your type of washer.

Thank you Purex for the opportunity to try this product.

All opinions are my own and yours may differ.

No monetary compensation was received.

Birchbox December 2011

2011-12-20T11:40:00.002-06:00

I am actually loving everything in my box this month.

The lip gloss was questionable because it is bright pink in the tube but

I LOVE it on!

My favorite thing was the perfume and hair oil. I love the smell of the hair oil and I have used another product like this and loved it. I normally don't like perfume samples because I am picky but I do like the smell of this one so I will keep it in my purse!

This months box had had a lot of issues with shipping and will actually be my last BirchBox. I got a box with another persons shipping label under mine and I could see all the info very clear and the contents of my bag didnt match up with what my account said would be in my box... There were just several issues so I have switched to another company, MyGlam. I cant wait to tell you about it next month.

Christmas Round One.

2011-12-19T19:16:00.000-06:00

12 hours, 4 Christmas get togethers.

We had Christmas with "Nana and Pop", "Grandma and Grandpa",

"Pop and Cindy", and "the BIG family Christmas" all rolled into 12 hours.

Here are just a few photos of the day!

Silly Boys.

My favorite perfume!

Babies that love their cousin, Megan! :)

Fights. ;)

Fist Bumps?

Cravebox December 2011

2011-12-16T11:47:00.001-06:00

I am so excited to show you my newest CRAVE.

Unwrap 4-5 hand-selected products each month

Discover the most crave-worthy food, beauty & home products

Delivered to your door for one superbly low price

Free shipping

$10 a month.

This box was $10, the retail value of the lotion is $54.

Wow.

Mereadesso Beautiful Body Balm

I am loving the way that this is making my skin feel. I have very dry skin and I know how to really appreciate a good moisturizer. HOWEVER. I am not loving the smell. It is not awful but it reminds me of a lotion that my grandmother use to rub on her elbows...

Baci Chocolate Truffles

Yum. The kids and I tried them today and they are delish. They are really the same as my mother's favorite candy. These would make GREAT stocking stuffers!

OPI Nic's Sticks

I am not the biggest fan of polish sticks. I like them for convenience but they will never take the place of my regular polish. This one is a dark blue and I think I will be passing it on to Sissy. She will love it.

BiC Pens

I have read several complaints about getting pens in our boxes but I have to say... I love them. I am all for using the free pens that I get from random companies but these are so pretty! I am putting them on my Scentsy order clip boards.

Perugina Chocolate Bars

I am poping this in Hub's stocking. I cant eat plain chocolate, it will hurt my stomach. I will let you know how much he enjoys it after the holidays.

Over all, I am really happy with my Cravebox. I will be sticking around.

There is currently a waiting list for cravebox but you can get on it.

Go here to find out more!

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

2011-12-16T10:34:00.000-06:00

In our homeschool this week…

This week we started a new online curriculum. Captain loves it because he loves to on the computer. I also gathered a bunch of books that he can test on. This week has been a little slow. We have really just been reviewing all the things that we have learned this year and he has taken a few test so that I can be sure he knows and understands everything before we move on.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing...

It is Christmas and this time of year is all about family time! I am so excited to go and see ALL of my family this weekend!

My favorite thing this week was…

Getting to see Ninja sing at the assisted living,

our Christmas party, and Family Nights!

Things I’m working on…

Lesson Plans and lots of them. :)

I’m grateful for…

All of our family being together.

I’m praying for…

Safe Travels

Christmas Family Fun Night

2011-12-16T10:13:00.000-06:00

This week we managed to work in 3 family fun nights!

Here is the lastest where we party hard with some best friends.

Thank you Susan for taking photos!

What we have been up to.

2011-12-13T19:51:00.000-06:00

December is always wild around here.

We have birthdays, family Christmas X5. So I have been all over the place.

I wish I could show you all of the Christmas gifts that I have made.

My family reads my blog so I cant share :(

Here is one of my favorite pins that I made last week!

Tonight was family movie night.

Kung Fu Panda 2, Lo Mein, Fortune Cookies... :)

Chippy has been keeping me busy with lots of extra cleaning up.

He got caught flying across the living room this morning.

We have got to see so much family. It has been great!

We had a night out with great friends. The boys got to play in the snow.

This could be as close as they get to snow the way this year is going.

Almost 70 degrees tomorrow! :(

I cant believe that I forgot to post my Homeschool Mother's Journal last week.

We just started a new curriculum this week and Cap loves it!

I just got out a HUGE Scentsy order and have more headed this way so my down time has been used to distribute product rather than to post on my blog.

It will slow down so much in a couple of weeks.

I have a couple of giveaways that will post after Christmas as well as the new Cravebox, Birchbox, and another "secret" box review. It's going to be fun! :)

Looking back on November 2011

2011-12-09T14:34:00.001-06:00

Random Pictures from November 2011

Power Surges and Shadow Puppets. lol

The Suessical.

Christmas Cards for the troops.

Unexpected purchases...

Field Trips.

Lunch Dates.

Easy Day Hair.

2011-12-05T20:38:00.001-06:00

So this is not my normal thing... but I have had numerous compliments on my hair from my Christmas cards and the mustache picture on my side bar. I have the easiest hair do... ever. So I decided to show you how easy.

I section my hair off in 4 different parts so that I can be sure to get all of it. One section at a time, I put a chunk of hair in my flat iron. I close the iron at the root and keeping enough pressure on the iron to keep my hair in there but not pull it out, I spin the iron around in circles until my my ends roll right out of the iron.

(Just like you would if you were trying to do spiral curls with a curling iron)

I have looked everywhere and cant find a video for you.

I do mine like this because I don't want it curly, just light waves.

It ends up looking like this.

After I am done, I run my fingers through it and spray it with a little hair spray.

Told you it was so simple. ;)

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

2011-12-02T07:12:00.000-06:00

Short and sweet this week.

We have a feild trip that the kids are ready to get to. ;)

In our homeschool this week…

Math- Continue in Subtraction

Language Arts- Familiar Stories

Chicken Little, Goldilocks and 3 Bears, Cinderella

Geography- Europe and Africa

Science- Extinction

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

Christmas Tree Farm Feild Trip!

We get to so see all of my family this weekend!

My favorite thing this week was…

The Christmas Parade last night.

(He is waving and yelling Merry Christmas!)

What’s working/not working for us…

I have got to the point where we stop for about 20 minutes between every subject. We go outside, pick up a room in the house, fold a load of laundry. It has just made it so much easier to stay on top of everything at home and gives him a break so when we sit back down, he is pumped and ready to go.

Things I’m working on…

Christmas Christmas Christmas.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

From Pinterest.

Another monthly surprise?

2011-12-01T10:07:00.002-06:00

I already get Birchbox but now I am trying another new monthly surprise box...

Cravebox is here!

(From My Email)

We’re excited to announce that Cravebox enrollment is now open!

Cravebox gives you the opportunity to try the best products without paying full price.
Unwrap four to five hand-selected products each month
Discover the most crave-worthy products including beauty, food, home goods and others
Delivered to your door for one superbly low price of $10/month - includes free shipping!
We’ve got some amazing products that we have hand-picked and lined up for your first Cravebox. With the holidays upon us, the timing could not be better. You’ll find your first Cravebox brimming with great products for you or someone special on your holiday shopping list.

Since this is a beta test, we have a limited number of Craveboxes, so be sure to secure yours quickly!

I cant wait to see how this goes. I will be sure to review it when it comes in so that you all can see what it is all about. I will also review my Birchbox this month as well since I have got a bunch of questions about that as well.

Sign Up For Cravebox here!

We had a visitor.

2011-12-01T09:50:00.000-06:00

We had a visitor stop by today while we were at the library...

Christmas Gift Guide. Scentsy.

2011-11-28T08:30:00.000-06:00

As we are getting closer and closer to Christmas,

the stores are getting more and more crowded!

There are great gifts for the whole family at Scentsy!

I love the Charity Warmer!

And this precious plug in called Taro.

Scentsy Buddies are awesome for the kids.

It is a stuffed toy that will make their room smell great!

If you are looking for a great way to make extra Christmas cash,
find out about selling Scentsy here.
Feel Free to contact me with any questions you may have at
mommyminded at gmail dot com

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

2011-11-25T19:36:00.000-06:00

In our homeschool this week…

Math-Subtraction

Language Arts- Familiar Stories.

*Chicken Little, Cinderella, and Goldilocks and the 3 bears*

Geography-Reading Maps and All about Asia.

Science- Extinct, wild, and domestic animals.

Life Skills- Make cookie dough.

Art- Modpodge letter for the classroom using coffee

and old torn up book pages. *This book was saved from

the garbage for crafts, we didn't just tear up a book. ;)*

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

Arkansas to see some family!

My favorite thing this week was…

The kids loved going to the musical.

I loved seeing long distance family.

I’m cooking…

All things Christmas

I’m grateful for…

My Family.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Another great one from Etsy.

Christmas time is here...

2011-11-25T18:52:00.001-06:00

Since we are cutting a tree this year, we have to wait to put a tree out.

After Hubs went out of town, the kids and I pulled out some of the Christmas totes.

We will just frame this from last year and put

it where the tree will go until we go get one. lol

Cap put out Grandma's nutcracker, Charles Dickens, and the welcome sign.

Then the boys decided to make a Christmas tree

with their sticks to surprise Daddy.

They used the tree skirt and all... ;)

Then they put up Daddy's Christmas Story Tree.

His Favorite.

Softlips Review

2011-11-23T13:23:00.002-06:00

I have always loved Softlips.

When I got the opportunity to review a few of their new scents,

I was so excited!

My favorite is the Sugar and Spice.

I am just in love with it. It smells like... the holidays.

I wear it everyday and will for sure purchase it again.

I also tried the Sugar Cookie that is FANTASTIC, and the Sugar Plum Berry that smells like my childhood favorite. The Winter Mint was sent with Hubby to work. We had some cold weather move in so I stuck it in his lunch box to keep his lips... perfect. ;) He loves the smell of it and it makes his lips so soft with out turning them pink and glossy.

I love that there are dual packs. I can keep one in the car, one in my purse,

one by my bed, and so on! I never have to go with out.

Now throughout the holiday/winter season, there will be select

dual-packs at stores such as Walmart, Target, and Rite Aid for $3.99.

There is also a Winter 5-Pack that’s available exclusively in the Softlips

online store, Softlips.com that offers all four winter flavors and a

bonus flavor of Mint with a Hint of Vanilla.

This set is packaged in a festive, blue sachet for $9.99

Softlips make great gift ideas.

Glamorous Stocking Stuffers:

Holiday stockings are an easy way to stash a variety of beauty goodies.

You can find a glittery stocking to fill with pretty presents that pamper such as

makeup brushes, shimmery jewelry, nail products for a manicure and Softlips lip balm.

Glamorous Stocking Stuffers:

Holiday stockings are an easy way to stash a variety of beauty goodies.

You can find a glittery stocking to fill with pretty presents that

pamper such as makeup brushes, shimmery jewelry,

nail products for a manicure and Softlips lip balm.

Stylish Gift Wrapping:

No matter what the gift is, with just a few simple steps you can transform an ordinary gift to an extraordinary gift. Add a touch of glam or beauty to your gift by attaching a pair of shimmery earrings or bangle bracelets to the ribbon or look for beauty products with peg holes in the card, like Softlips lip balm, and attach it to the ribbon on the gift bag or present.

Watch this video for some more great ideas!

I was sent the products mentioned above for my review.

All opinions are my own and yours may differ. No monetary compensation was received.

Holiday Gift Guide. Gourmet Gift Baskets. Help a Vet.

2011-11-23T08:16:00.000-06:00

Gourmet Gift Baskets has a ton of different options to meet the likes of anyone on your list!

We have reviewed for them before and the kids loved it!

This year I got an email from my contact about reviewing them again and they would send two wonderful care packages to injured war veterans at The Walter Reed Military Medical Centre in Bethesda, Maryland, in time for the holiday season!

Do you have a blog?

You can help too! If you go to Gourmetgiftbaskets.com and review a basket on your blog, come back here and leave a link. I will send it to my contact and they will send 2 more care packages per link!

See the care packages here.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Afternoon in Paris

How fun for an anniversary or date night?

An afternoon picnic with this Parisian gift basket is all one needs to experience the natural, classic delicacies of France. A generous offering of gourmet favorites almost all exclusively imported from France, sparkle in this non-alcoholic collection: sparkling cider, crepe cookies, sesame crackers, Orange preserves, chocolate truffles, almond macaroons, hot chocolate, croissant twists, cornichons, pate, caramels, paris tea, flower honey, pink champagne biscuits, green beans, and Dijon mustard. These favorites from the City of Lights will brighten up any day in a beautifully designedFrench Gift Basket.

Around the World Beer Gift Basket

I love this for the guys!

A fantastic gift basket for any beer lover, this version of our Around The World Beer Bucket™ delivers six imported beers from around the globe and a host of perfectly matched gourmet foods. Inside you'll find a bottle of Red Stripe from Jamaica, Stella from Belgium, Sapporo from Japan, New Castle from England, Guinness from Ireland, and Molson XXX from Canada. There is also an excellent variety of award-winning gourmet foods including crackers, smoked gouda, hot pepper cheese, smoked pepperoni, roasted peanuts, beef jerky, and mixed nuts. This design is one of our best selling imported beer gift baskets and is guaranteed to impress!

Ice Cream Gift Basket

I love this idea for a family gift. I know that we would love to receive something like this as a gift. We would for sure use it for our family fun nights!

Your sundae experience is about to get a seriously gourmet upgrade! The Ice Cream Smorgasbord™ packs tons of fun ice cream sauces, toppings and cones that are guaranteed to please everyone from amateurs to connoisseurs. With something for everyone including hot fudge, caramel sauce, fruit, nuts, candy, an ice cream Scooper and much more, the award-winning combinations in this ice cream gift are sure to delight!

Get Well Soon Basket

There’s no better way to send get well wishes than with our Get Well Soup Gift Basket! A delicious combination of chicken soup, tomato rice soup, saltine crackers, chamomile tea, pretzels, and crystallized ginger will make your loved one feel better instantly! The unique design of the Get Well Soup Gift Basket will put a smile on anyone’s face! This design is guaranteed to have them feeling better in no time flat and that is why it's one of our best-selling get well soon gift baskets!

Letter Art Project.

2011-11-22T13:20:00.001-06:00

Art- Modpodge letter for the classroom using coffee

and old torn up book pages.

Modpodge paper to the wood letter and then brush with coffee.
I blot it with a paper towel after to make it look "antique like".

Another personalized frugal gift idea.
Frame your letter with pretty scrapbook paper in the background.
Use ribbon to make a loop on the back so that it can be hung on the wall.
Add to a wreath.

*This book was saved from

the garbage for crafts, we didn't just tear up a book. ;)*

Dark Chocolate, Banana, Peanut Butter Cream Pie

2011-11-21T10:54:00.001-06:00

A couple of years ago, I was looking for a simple, quick,

go-to recipe that I could take to a get together.

I found a basic peanut butter pie recipe and made it my own.

I warn you, it is delish and far from healthy.

This is why it only gets made once a year. ;)

You Need:

1/2 Cup Peanut Butter

(Cant use natural for this)

1/2 Cup Powder Sugar

6 oz. Cream Cheese, Softened

(No Fat Free, it messes with the texture)

4 oz. Cool Whip, Thawed

1/2 oz. Dark Chocolate

2 Tb Milk

Pie Crust of choice.

(We have made this with every pie crust out there and the Nilla is by far our favorite.)

Fist you need to shave your chocolate.

I use my handy dandy microplane.

Put this in the freezer and keep it there until you are ready for it.

I like it frozen so that it doesn't melt when you fold it into the pie filling.

In a large bowl, combine the milk, cream cheese, peanut butter, and sugar.

Fold in the cool whip and then the chocolate shavings.

(You can set some shavings aside to top the pie off if you would like.

Layer sliced bananas in the bottom of your pie crust. I keep mine sliced really thin and I use the whole banana.

(I couldn't do this today because we have a friend over with a banana allergy)

Then, spoon your filling over the bananas and smooth out.

Now you can top off with more chocolate shavings to make it look pretty. ;)

Pop in the fridge for at lease 2 hours. Over night is best.

Enjoy.

Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers with Pasta Review and Giveaway

2011-11-20T07:29:00.002-06:00

I am all about a quick fix during the holiday season.

Green Giant has steamable sides that you can load

up and pop in the microwave at your destination!

I keep these in my freezer all the time for last minute dinners!

Now Green Giant Valley has Fresh Steamers with Pasta!

I made the macaroni and cheese with broccoli for the kids with a baked chicken breast.

It was so fast and easy. Plus, Sissy and Cap loved it! Ninja wont eat anything that has meat products around it or anything green unless it is in a smoothie. :(

This is another fantastic option to keep around the house!

Now you can try them too!

Green Giant and Myblogspark want to offer a Mommy Minded

reader the same prize pack that I recieved!

2 Green Giant placemats

Broccoli stress reliever

32 oz. serving bowl

Surprise face serving spoon

A VIP coupon for the new Valley Fresh Steamers with Pasta

Enter on the raffelcopter form!
(Sometimes they take a minute to load)

Traveling with kids.

2011-11-19T13:30:00.000-06:00

Last year I posted about keeping blankets in the car and out just in case box.

You can find more on them here.

Blankets.

Just In Case Box.

This year I have found these great little totes at Dollar Tree.

My kids think that they need to pack the bedroom to go on

a trip so this is PERFECT for each kid to have their own.

They are allowed to bring one snack and drink, and a couple of toys that they choose but it MUST fit in the tote. This helps keep the car from being over loaded and the kids are compfy and happy so it makes for happy parents!

This is Captains box. He got granola bars, G2, his Leap Frog and headphones, a pen and clipboard for our scavenger hunt, and a small blanket.

The kids love when I make a scavenger hunt of things to look for on our trip.

I write things like:

*Water Tower

*Black Cow

*Windmill

*Red Truck

*Buffalo

...You get the idea. It keeps the kiddos busy.

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

2011-11-18T06:54:00.000-06:00

In my life this week...
This week has been a busy one. Fire Department Visit, Hair Appointments, Cub Scout Committee Meeting, Den Meeting, Fall Banquet, Musical Field Trip, Scentsy Party Planning, Fall Festival, Preschool program, Getting ready for Thanksgiving! Then... our fridge went out so we got to buy a new fridge at Christmas time. Thank goodness all the gifts and baking goods have been purchased already. :) I cant complain I am LOVING the new fridge.

In our homeschool this week…
Since we had such a busy week, our lesson plans were to the point.
Next week will be more fun. :)

Math:
Greater than and Less than.
I let him use 2 stick magnets to make the correct sign
between 2 numbers that I would write on the board.

Language Arts:
Rhymes and the story of Mother Goose.

Geography:

Learn about our world.

Science:

Plants and Animals.

What's the difference? How do plants and animals grow?

The food Chain. How to plant.

We are planting carrots in a 2 litter bottle so we did the glowing Mt. Dew science experiment to help empty out the bottle!
...kind of a disappointment to find out it is a hoax.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

We went to the fire department for a tour this week!
Today, we are going to a kid's musical. I can't wait!

My favorite thing this week was…

Going to our festival. This always kick starts the Christmas crafts in our house!

Captain's Cub Scout Banquet.

(Showing off his turkey)
I’m grateful for…

The wellness in our home.

I’m praying for…

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

I have had a very hard time keeping a happy heart this week.
My week has been full of negativity and personal attacks.
I try not to let the little things get to me but I am only human.
I want to forgive these people and move on but every time I try,
they come back with one more stab.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

From Lucius Art on Etsy.

From my Pinterest.

Our Thanksgiving Family Night

2011-11-14T22:14:00.000-06:00

Our Thanksgiving Family Fun Night

Tell the story of Thanksgiving.

Let the kids check out books from the library

about Thanksgiving and read them together.

Cook a Thanksgiving feast together.

In our house, each kid picks a side and dessert.

We normally make baked chicken with cranberry sauce

to go with all their food picks.

Make "I am thankful" cards with strips of paper.

The kids write what they are thankful for and why.

We have a secret plan for these. :)

You can use them to make a garland!

We used this printable this year.

From silverboxcreative.com

Kroger's Truly Awesome Cookies

2011-11-14T21:44:00.001-06:00

We got another BzzAgent package in the mail

today and it was full of the new Truly Awesome Cookies from Kroger!

My sister in law, nephew, husband, and kids and I all tried a cookie.

NOTE:

I DON'T LIKE TO GIVE A NEGATIVE REVIEW

BUT I HAVE PROMISED TO ALWAYS BE HONEST.

...They didn't hold up to the words on the box...

"truly awesome"

"home style"

They were very large so the kids were stoked but they were crunch and tasted very much like another well known store bought cookie. :(

These cookies are made with real butter, no preservatives added, and chocolate chips are the number 1 ingredient! They just didn't have the "home style taste".

I am a Buzz Agent and I received 2 boxes of the cookies mentioned above and coupons to share. All opinions are my own and your may differ. No monetary compensation was received.

Holiday Gift Guide #2

2011-11-14T19:30:00.001-06:00

I looked at my stats today and I have several people leaving my blog to visit the Etsy shops that I posted in the first Holiday Gift Guide! Yay! Here are a few more sites that have great gifts!

LuciusArt has tons and tons of art that I am in love with.

Rainbow Swirlz has great gift ideas for the girl in your life.

She has things that I would buy for my mom, myself, and my daughter!
As I am sure you have figured out, I am a huge bird fan. I am in love...

I am having a major scarf obsesh this year and I about died when I found JANNY'S GIRL.

These lace scarves take my breath away!

Operation Christmas Child

2011-11-13T08:22:00.000-06:00

Operation Christmas Child is such a great opportunity to teach your child to give.

We did ours for our life skills class this week.

I originally had one of the kids shoe boxes but my sister in law brought me one of hers that she got from church that is bigger and deeper. I suggest calling a local church to see if they have any of the actual "operation Christmas Child" boxes on hand. It made it much easier to fit everything in. :)

My boys get to pick everything out themselves. This year they gave things like crayons, notebooks, play dough, soap, a funny stuffed toy that they thought would make the child smile (they are so stinking sweet!), suckers, and stickers... You do not have to spend a fortune to give a child a Christmas gift! :)

I love the way the monster thing looks in the box. It cracks me up.

Click here to find all the info you need and lables!

We do our $7 dontation on line so that we know where the gift ends up. The boys are so excited to see what country it goes to. We will take that opportunity to learn about the country at "school".

Learn more about that here.

This week is national collection week. November 14-21. Find out where you can drop a box off by going here!

Holiday Gift Guide #1

2011-11-12T18:44:00.000-06:00

I am getting so many different ideas from so many blogs for Christmas.

I decided to start featuring some of my favorite etsy shops this month to

give you some ideas that have been a hit for me!

Mama runs with scissors has arm warmers that my boys love.

Ninja will wear his everyday, all fall and winter!

These would make great stocking stuffers for boys!

You can see a post about them here!

Bubblewrappd has all kinds of

sweet signs that would make anyone's day!

I love this one! I say this to my kids ALL THE TIME.

This one is in my living room!

SafferyMoore makes these travel car mats that my boys have been playing with since before last Christmas... for anyone that has kids, a year is a long time to still be playing with a particular toy. :) I try to keep them in the car but they always manage to sneek them back in the house. Another great stocking stuffer idea for kids!

I will be showing off a few more later this week!

Simple homemade personal gift.

2011-11-11T06:19:00.002-06:00

I got an awesome new shower curtain last night so I had to change some things in the bathroom to make it all flow. I am going through this "script" phase with my script curtains and scrip scarf... I thought I would just make something quick to hand on a bare spot on the wall.

I came up with this super simple idea to type up the lyrics to my kid's song, over and over and over and over... until it covered the whole page. I put it in script font and I really love it. You can't read every single word because of the mat but all of the family knows exactly what it says.

I framed it and added some fabric flowers and I really love it.

It got me thinking that this could be a very simple and frugal gift idea.

For weddings, you could frame the couple's song and all wedding flowers to the frame. For baby showers, you could frame a lullaby and add all kinds of cute little thing to make it super adorable.... The list goes on!

As we are getting closer and closer to Christmas,

the stores are getting more and more crowded!

There are great gifts for the whole family at Scentsy!

I love the Charity Warmer!

And this precious plug in called Taro.

Scentsy Buddies are awesome for the kids.

It is a stuffed toy that will make their room smell great!

If you are looking for a great way to make extra Christmas cash,
find out about selling Scentsy here.
Feel Free to contact me with any questions you may have.

mommyminded at gmail dot com

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

2011-11-10T23:00:00.006-06:00

In our homeschool this week…

Our lesson plan post for this week is here.

My favorite thing this week was…

Our art and science projects.

I also loved the virtual field trip!

Homeschool is very Pinteresting.

2011-11-09T06:56:00.001-06:00

It is very obvious to see by all the growing members on Pinterest that we all love it.

I get so many ideas for crafts and home decor. I had no idea how much it would help on my new journey with Captain. I have found so many science and art projects, homeschooling blogs, math center ideas, history lessons, and so much more!

What have you pinned lately?

First Grade Homeschool Lesson Plan. Week 1

2011-11-08T18:07:00.003-06:00

Math:

Learn to tell time.

Review lessons 3-10 from Saxon math curriculum.
Work on addition.

History:

History of Thanksgiving.

Virtual Field Trip: Tour Pilgrim Village

Read: Turkeys, Pilgrims, and Indian Corn by E. Barth

Project: Turkey Craft with pine cones.

Science:

Leaves and Autumn

Read:

Autumn by G. Smith

What Happens In The Autumn by: S. Venion

Leaves In The Fall by: M. Rustad

Animals In The Fall by: M. Rustad

Science Project:

Spectrum of Colors

Maybelline gave me soft lips and great lashes!

2011-11-07T17:08:00.002-06:00

Heads up, it is not easy taking make up pictures... ;)

I got a very, very, very generous buzz kit in from Bzz Agent and Maybelline today!

It was loaded down with Maybelline's new Baby Lips and Lots of Lashes. I was so excited about it that I decided to try it out tonight before our scout meeting!

Baby Lips is a renew formula that offers 8 hours

of hydration for visibly renewed lips in 4 weeks.

They come in bright colors like Cherry Me, Peach Kiss, Pink Punch, and Grape Vine. It also comes in Quenched and Peppermint that are color free!

Cherry Me was my favorite!

It is not super dark like a lipstick. It makes my lips feel silky smooth and the color looks natural and has a bit of a shine. I LOVE this lip balm!

The pink punch will be for Sissy. She has just started wearing make up. Just gloss and mascara. Pink Punch is a sweet pink that will not make her look loaded down with make up!

Like Maybelline on facebook to get $1.00 off of baby lips!

I also broke out the mascara!

The small applicator makes it easy to get the look you want. You can add as many coats as you would like to achieve your look with out having to wait on it to dry in between!

Seeing these bottles with the hot pink and green took me back to when I started wearing make up. I don't know of any girl who has never owned Maybelline great lash mascara! It was my first!

This is another great option for Sissy and any other girl just starting to wear make up. The small brush will help keep them from getting mascara all over the place and to get all of their lashes!

I am just so excited about these new products!

To find out more visit Maybelline New York by clicking here.

I received several products to conduct this review from Bzz Agent and Maybelline.

No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are my own and yours may differ.

Shutterfly Christmas Cards

2011-11-07T12:18:00.003-06:00

I am so excited to be done with the kid's Christmas gifts!
Today I decided to mark another thing off my Christmas to do list...

Christmas Cards!

This year I used Shutterfly because I always use photo cards and they have so many to choose from.

This year I decided to keep it a little simple since we did a "serious" funny card. I picked the family name card for our "Mustache themed Christmas". The cover is simple with our monogram and last name.

I love this very merry moments card too!

There are a ton of cards to choose from. There are layouts that will hold anywhere from one to twelve photos. I really like that several of the cards give me the option to put photos on the inside as well. I added our "bloopers" from our photo shoot to the inside. When designing your card, you have access to change all your fonts and colors as well.

Shutterfly has all kinds of photo products for the picture lovers in your family!

These photo mugs would make great Christmas gifts!

Sissy's birthday is in December so I started looking around at the photo invitations while I was there. Since Sissy is going to be 12, it gets really hard to find things that are not to childish for her taste. Here are a few of my favorite photo invites for teen girls.

I cant wait to figure out what I am going to do for her this year!

I cant wait to get our cards in this year! Have you ordered yours yet?

-Megan

I was given a promo code for 25 free cards to post an honest review of Shutterfly. All opinions are my own and yours may differ.

The Homeschool Classroom.

2011-11-04T09:34:00.002-05:00

We have had so many changes in our household this year.

Sissy moving in full time, Hubby taking a job where he is gone some nights, Ninja starting

pre-school, I guess I should have known that it was Captain's turn for change. ;)

Captain has just not been digging school this year. I thought that this was going to be a great year for him and it has been quite the opposite. He wanted to homeschool since last summer but I asked that he give school a good chance this year to be sure that it is what he wanted. I asked him to give it 6 weeks and we would talk about it more if we needed to. The first six weeks has come and gone and things haven't changed.

So... I am going to pull him out today.

I spent all night making sure that I had all of his curriculum and a solid "classroom" set up so that we could jump right into this. I will be blogging about our weekly lessons to share with my readers and to serve as a log for myself.

What better place to start blogging about this than the classroom?

I am using our dinning room since we don't have an

extra room in the house and there are no distractions in here.

The chalkboard table is perfect for "scratch paper".

It gives us a big place to work and for him to use his computer.

I moved the tower back in here to store everything in one place.

I added a curtain rod so that is doesn't look junky

and distracting when we are working or not using it.

I framed our daily list and weekly list.

It looks tidy and we can mark off what we have done as we go along

with a dry erase marker so that we can keep track of what we have left for the day.

I also framed matching construction paper for his weekly spelling

words and sight words to avoid using so much paper and printing.

I will use my dry erase markers to write out his list and then at

the end of the week I can wipe it clean and put the new list up.

That is about it for now. I wanted to keep it clean and simple.

I would love to hear any comments or ideas that you

think might help us on our new journey!

WAT-AAH Challange

2011-11-01T09:13:00.000-05:00

The Low- Down:

Put out several options to drink, including WAT-AAH.

See what your child picks.

I put out milk, juice, and a favorite flavored water.

The kids picked WAT-AAH!

Captain thought that it was a funny picture so of course he had to play along.

My kids love water anyways but the cute picture and bright writing on these bottles make water look cool. ;) My kids took them in their lunch to school and passed out WAT-AAH stickers to friends. I hope that this will encourage other parents to pack water rather than some of the other options that I have seen at the school!

Looking Back on October 2011

2011-10-30T20:35:00.001-05:00

Random photos from October 2011

Fall Festivals, Pumpkin Patches, Cub Scouts, Camping.

Family Card Night.

Dances.

Six Flags

...No he didn't...

Making Hubby's dreams come true... lol

Fun.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-30T19:35:00.001-05:00

Our kids are so excited about tomorrow.

It cracks me up that they are most excited to see what they are getting for lunch.

Unfortunately we didn't make it to the store since we

spent all weekend out of town and slept in until after 8:00 this morning!

Record breaking in this house!

I made due with what we had.

I made them banana pudding with 1/2 Greek yogurt and 1 teaspoon nutella. I layered it with thin almond crips cookies and bananas. Topped it with sprinkles and an eyeball.

I hope they like it. Hubby decorated their sandwiches!

We packed all this with Halloween napkins and skull spoons. I threw in a couple of plastic spiders and a Halloween chex mix! They picked WAT-AAH to drink!

I hope that you all have a super fun and safe Halloween tomorrow!

Just because I am so excited, I had to share that I got all the Christmas shopping and wrapping for all the kiddos!

Birds and Blue

2011-10-30T11:53:00.000-05:00

We have been so busy that I have not had a chance to do my crafts or recipe post. My decor post went great last month so I decided to do another one since they are so fast!

I love birds. So much so, it was my first tattoo...

We have random little birds, nest, branches and birdcages all over.

Here are a few.

Bird in my heritage wall, by my Grandma Birdie.

See more on this project here.

My custom vinyl from Dali. They did such a great job!

BOO!

2011-10-26T20:44:00.000-05:00

I am so upset with my favorite neighbor!
She booed us first! Then Hubby got to scare "Monkey " first!

He pulled up to see someone sprinting away from the house after dark...

...don't worry, she made it away safely... for the most part. :)

We did our booing tonight!

Monkey had to try a warhead before I left. ;)

At least other people's kids think I am funny... :)

Happy Halloween my dear bloggy family!

Family Card Night!

2011-10-26T19:51:00.000-05:00

Of course we love our family fun nights. Most of all,

we love our super duper random family fun nights...

Tonight was Italian Card Night?

Hub took pictures for me because he knows that I haven't posted anything all week.

OMG. He is so awesome. lol

Spaghetti...

Cannoli Parfaits

(Ricotta, Honey, Dark Chocolate Chips, Almond Cookies!)

Slap Jack and Go Fish!

I took the phone away from Hubs so that I could snag

a pic but he was laughing the whole time! lol love.

We had to finish up with a favorite!

YOU GUESSED IT!

Who guessed that there would end up being a funny pic of me?

I love watching my kids laugh at me...

Family Establishment.

2011-10-22T14:36:00.001-05:00

I am so excited about the plate stand that I got from an awesome garage sale!

Hubs broke my old one on accident one day so I have had my establishment sign put away until I got another one!

It was gold and I don't do gold.

I shot it with black and it looks perfect!

I have had questions before about my sign so I decided to tell you about it really quick.

You can find family establishment signs everywhere now.

I didn't want to pay a fortune for mine so I bought a floor tile from Lowed for less than $2.00 and had vinyl cut in the font and colors that I liked. I paid $12.00 for everything about 5 years ago so I am sure that it is even cheaper now! ;) The tile is light so it works better than heavy wood or metal on my stand.

Best fruit dip evah.

2011-10-20T10:31:00.000-05:00

Today I am helping my sister in law start up her new blog and learn how to use pinterest.

We came across this awesome, super simple, simple delish fruit dip.

Thank you so much One Ordinary Day for sharing this!

All you do is mix 2:1 Greek yogurt to nutella.

Yum!

We had it with crunchy apples!

The Christmas Card for 2011

2011-10-18T18:27:00.001-05:00

"We mustache you to have a very merry Christmas!"

I am so in love with them. Thank you so much Susan for taking them for me!

Here are a few other favorites from the night.