Family Balance Sheet

May 18 & 19 | FREE or Low Cost Events for Families

noreply@blogger.com (Family Balance Sheet) — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:35:00 +0000

Click the below links for more information about each event.

Bass Pro Shops

May 18 & 19, 25 & 26 | Go Outdoors Event & Sale - FREE Summer Fun Seminars, Kids' Seminars, Kids' Activities, Kids' Crafts, and More!

Michael's

Saturday, May 18, 10am - Noon, on the half hour | Kids Club: Celebrate Your Hero - Let your kids explore their creativity while you shop! Only $2 per child reserves 30 minutes for your creative kid. Sessions starting every half hour from 10:30am - 11:30am. See a store associate to join the fun!

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From Bravo to Books

noreply@blogger.com (Family Balance Sheet) — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:28:00 +0000

It has been 2.5 months since we canceled cable TV and the transition has gone quite smoothly. In fact, I'm watching less TV altogether and I'm reading more.

The girl who knew all of the names of every Real Housewife of the OC, New York City, New Jersey, Atlanta, and Beverly Hills, now can't be bothered by such toxic mean girl reality drama and is currently engrossed in the best seller, Gone Girl.

The girl who only read one novel a year while on her summer vacation is in the middle of her third novel since March 1.

The girl who used to leave a 24 hour news channel on all day when working from home is now content with my nightly shot of the news at 6:30 pm on a network channel. And she tends to get more work done during the day!

The only time in these two and half months that I wished we had cable was on the Friday after the Boston Marathon bombing. I used the internet and I survived.

As a family, we did miss a full season of Duck Dynasty, but we were able to watch a full episode online after a show aired. After a few days, the episode is then locked and you have to enter your cable provider. Oh well.

I still watch a little TV, but mostly I've been reading at night and I'm here to tell you that life without cable is just fine.

Have you given up cable TV? How are you handling it? Let us know in the comments.

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8 Tips to Help You Save Money While On Vacation

noreply@blogger.com (Family Balance Sheet) — Tue, 14 May 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The school year is winding down and I find myself day dreaming of sand, surf and our upcoming summer vacation. I'm usually jolted back to reality by the sound of the bus brakes as they squeak to a stop. Less than five more weeks of the mad morning dash to make it to the bus stop on time and then we'll start counting down the days until our summer vacation.

Our summer destination of choice is the beach. Every year, we split the rent on a beach condo with other family members to make a week away affordable for everyone involved. The good news is that we are usually still on speaking terms at the end of the week.

We look forward all year to our summer vacation, so the last thing that we want to do is stress about the money spent while on our trip.

A little up front planning will help you save money while on your trip, so that you can have the relaxed vacation that you've been waiting for.

8 Tips to Help You Save Money While On Vacation

1. Use Cash

Using only cash while on vacation will force you to question each purchase, especially when it comes to spending money on unnecessary souvenirs--you won't want to waste your cash. Do you really need another coffee mug or t-shirt? We also don’t want to come home to a credit card bill. I want to remember my vacation through our photos, not our receipts.

It's not too late to raise some spending money if you haven't been setting it aside. We plan on participating in our neighborhood's yard sale next month to raise our vacation funds. Also, have your kids save their own money for their souvenirs. We told our daughters that they could set up a lemonade stand at the yard sale to earn their spending money.

2. Make a list of expenditures.

Your planning starts with your destination. How long will your travel time be? Does your rental have a kitchen? Will you have laundry facilities? How much can you pack in your vehicle? Are there reliable grocery stores at your destination? Are their excursions and activities that you want to do, but will cost additional money?

Brainstorm all of the expenditures that you will have and make a list.

3. Create A Budget.

Everyone’s vacation destination and expectations will be different. Maybe you don’t want to cook at all during your vacation or maybe eating out for every meal is beyond what your budget can handle. What activities will be available where you are going?

Sit down with your family and brainstorm what everyone's expectations will be while on vacation.

4. Create a Meal Plan.

Food is usually our the biggest expenditure during our vacation and thankfully our beach condo will have a kitchen. We travel with my extended family, so my mom and I will sit down before the trip and talk about a meal plan.

Before your trip, calculate the number of meals during your trip and decide how many will be eaten in and how often you will dine out. Include breakfasts, lunches, dinners and even snacks in your planning. We will be gone for 7 days. We'll eat breakfast in our rental on 5 of those days and take turns the other two days picking up some freshly baked cinnamon rolls at a nearby bakery. Oh my, I can smell and taste them now!

For lunch, we usually pack a cooler with food each day that we are at the beach and eat out somewhere for lunch on the one day when we need a sun-break.

For dinner, we'll plan to eat in on 5 nights and eat out 2 nights. Everyone will have at least one night to cook for the entire crowd and the other nights, we'll collaborate on a meal. Usually there is enough leftovers for the last night to be a ‘clean out the fridge’ night.

We'll plan the menu weeks before we leave, so I can do most of my grocery shopping at home instead of our vacation spot where prices are more expensive. Also, by planning ahead I can take advantage of sales. Our beach condo has a grill so I usually grill chicken or burgers for my dinner night. In the past, I've made tacos, lasagna, or enchiladas. I just pack everything in coolers and the food holds up during our drive. For my side dishes, I have stopped at road side farms stands en route to the beach for corn on the cob, salad fixings and watermelon.

If you are traveling with other families, splitting the menu planning will help alleviate some of the meal planning on your part and save you money, but be sure to discuss each family’s food challenges.

5. What Are Your Non-Food Needs?

Being prepared ahead of time will save you money and time. Some things to consider:

Will you need to supply your own: toilet paper, bath towels, bed linens.
Will there be laundry facilities? Detergent is much cheaper when bought at home on sale.
Drinking water – where we stay, it is recommended to not drink the water out of the faucet, so we take a lot of water. We'll take our own reusable bottles and buy gallon jugs of spring water. Thank goodness our rental has recycling containers.
What will you need in the kitchen? dishwasher detergent, dish soap, paper towels, napkins
Will you need sunscreen, bug spray? – It is so much cheaper to buy at home than on vacation.
Extra batteries for the cameras and video equipment.

6. Plan your travel.

Plan Your Food: We have driven as far as 7 hours for a beach vacation (fortunately, it will only be 4 hours this year) and I make sure to pack a lot of snack foods and drinks to save money and avoid fast food binges.
Plan for Traffic, Gas, & Tolls: Use an app to help you navigate through traffic, such as Google Maps, Beat the Traffic, Trip Talk or Waze. Map out your trip before you leave so you can budget for any highway tolls.
Plan Your Fuel Costs: Find an online fuel cost calculator or app to help you plan your gas costs. http://fuelcostcalculator.aaa.com/
Plan for Parking: Will there be a fee for parking at your destination? Make sure you include it in your budget.

If you have a long drive ahead of you, it might a good idea to get your vehicle serviced. Is your vehicle due for an oil change? Are you tires in good condition? Do you have enough windshield wiper fluid?

7. Tourism Centers

Once you reach your destination and you're settled in, find the local tourism center to scout out any coupon books. Many local businesses have these books as well. The books usually include coupons for local restaurants, stores and activities.

8. Choose Your Indulgences Wisely.

It is our yearly vacation, so I believe a little indulgence is needed and deserved. Since we are heading to the beach, our preferred indulgence is seafood. I spend a lot of my time at home in the kitchen, so when I am on vacation, I want to eat some really good food, but have someone else prepare it for me. I don’t mind cooking easy meals and eating in a few nights so that we have some extra cash for a really good, quality meal.

We love crab legs and shrimp. In the past, we've found the best prices for seafood from a little road side seafood shack. There's always a long line, so we figured it had to be good.It was cheaper to buy in bulk at this shop than for all of us to order the food individually at a restaurant.

Only 4.5 weeks until summer--I am drooling now just thinking about those crab legs!

Are you headed on vacation this summer? Where are you going to? How do you save money while on vacation? Indulge us with your summer plans in the comments.

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5 Beauty & Fashion eBooks for Just $7.40

noreply@blogger.com (Family Balance Sheet) — Mon, 13 May 2013 20:19:00 +0000

Disclosure - This post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Family Balance Sheet! You can read the site's full disclosure here.

Beauty is more than skin deep, and this week's bundle is designed to help you feel beautiful from the inside out! Discover the secrets to jump starting your energy, inspiration to get your weight under control, and beauty and fashion tips to help you prioritize yourself even as you juggle your busy life -- all for 75% off, this week only!

Embracing Beauty by Trina Holden
In this candid and sometimes hilarious book, Trina shares her journey to embracing beauty in the season of motherhood. Every chapter is crammed with practical inspiration and tips for defining your style, choosing clothes and accessories that work for you, and combining it all into a look that will bring joy and confidence to your day.

The No Brainer Wardrobe by Hayley Morgan
The No Brainer Wardrobe is a book to help women learn to love the clothes they have, lose the clothes they hate, and shop for items to fill the gaps. Hayley offers images outlining outfit selections, tips for how to shop, and instructions for creating a lookbook plus encouragement to help you save time and money and feel great in what you wear.

Energy Explosion by Arabah Joy
Energy Explosion will give you the plan you need to regain your energy. In this 7-day guide, Arabah gives step-by-step instructions for jump starting your energy by addressing your body, mind and spirit, plus printable charts and checklists to track your progress!

Frumps to Pumps by Sarah Mae
Getting dressed in the morning often makes us more hospitable, more productive, more playful and more energized. In Frumps to Pumps, a one-month motivotional (motivation + devotional) from popular author Sarah Mae, you'll find encouragement and practical tips to help you get into the habit of getting dressed so you can love people (and yourself) well.

100 Pound Loser by Jessica Heights
Jessica's 100-pound weight loss story is inspiring, encouraging and motivating. In this short but candid ebook, she shares her story plus practical advice to help readers conquer their weight loss goals and appreciate their bodies, regardless of the numbers on the scale.

The Beauty & Fashion bundle is only available through 8am EST on Monday, 5/20. Get yours today:

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Our Weekend in Pittsburgh {2013}

noreply@blogger.com (Family Balance Sheet) — Thu, 09 May 2013 10:00:00 +0000

My family took a mini vacation last weekend to Pittsburgh for the half marathon. One reason why I ran the Pittsburgh half marathon again this year was because my family had such a wonderful weekend in 2012.

And we also had a hankering for a Primanti Bros. sandwich again. That beastly sandwich is packed with meat, fries, and cole slaw; it is a Pittsburgh landmark.

But the weekend wasn't all about the race and that sandwich. Saturday was a free day and we wanted to explore some different attractions that we didn't get to see last year.

Our first stop was the Senator John Heinz History Center, which conveniently was right across the street from our hotel. The center is the Smithsonian's home in Pittsburgh and there are six floors of exhibits that span over 250 years of Western PA's history.

Did you know that Lewis & Clark's expedition started in Pittsburgh? That is one fact from high school American History that I did not remember.

The exhibits at the center included:

Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation
Western PA Sports Museum
Discovery Place - hands-on exhibits for kids
Clash of Empires: The British, French & Indian War, 1754-1763
Rediscovering Lewis & Clark
From Slavery to Freedom
Glass: exploring Pittsburgh's reign as America's Glass City
Art of the Steelers
and many others

My favorite exhibit was 1968: The Year that Rocked America. The center's website describes it as an exhibition that "chronicles the pivotal year in U.S. history that saw assertions of Black Power at the Olympic Games, the national launch of Pittsburgh-produced "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," stardom for Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, the debut of locally made cult classic "Night of the Living Dead," and the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The year began with the Tet Offensive, the deadliest period of an increasingly divisive Vietnam War, and ended with hope for the future, as the Apollo 8 capsule beamed back images of "Earthrise" from the far side of the moon for the first time."

I didn't grow up in the 60's, so it never occurred to me that 1968 was such a pivotal year in our country's history. The exhibit was very enlightening, entertaining, and interactive. Our kids really enjoyed it too.

My favorite part of the 1968 exhibit was having a photo op with Mr. Rogers, who debuted in 1968. I grew up in the 70's and he was very much a part of my childhood and he happens to be a Western PA native.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the museum, my kids were a bit over it by the end. They are 7 & 5 and are not quite as interested in Western PA history as their parents.

So we took them for a little adventure: a trip up The Duquesne Incline.

The cable cars have been in operation since 1877. It's open everyday until 12:45 AM. Parking is free and the fare is $2.50 each way.

The view from the top is breathtaking.

The beautiful weather helped us see for miles.

On Sunday, I spent the morning running the half while my kids cheered me on.

As we were heading out of town later in the day, we stopped at a cute little donut shop in the strip district, Peace Love & Little Donuts.

To celebrate another awesome weekend in Pittsburgh, I picked up a dozen for the road and I promise you that I didn't eat ALL of these mini donuts.

I did share a few with my family, but I ate about 4 or 5...okay...maybe I ate 6 or 7, but it was worth every mini bite!

Some related links:

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Week 10 & Race Day Success! | 10 Weeks to the Half Marathon

noreply@blogger.com (Family Balance Sheet) — Tue, 07 May 2013 10:00:00 +0000

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For 10 weeks between March and early May, I charted my progress as I trained for the Pittsburgh Half Marathon. I posted everything about my training from the actual distances to what I wear to how I stay hydrated, nourished and entertained while running. It's been a long 10 weeks and Race Day is finally here!

Week 10

My hard training is behind me and by week 10 I'm either prepared for the big race or I'm not. There is nothing I could do during week 10's training that will push me over the edge to being prepared. I did all of that work during that weeks 1 - 9.

My goals for week 10 were to get through my workouts, continue to nurse my left foot, get plenty of sleep, drink lots of water, and eat really well.

My Workouts for Week 10

Monday - 3 miles, easy pace
Wednesday - 6 miles, easy pace
Thursday - 3 miles, easy pace
Sunday - Race Day

Race Weekend

We live about 3.5 hours east of Pittsburgh, so race weekend was also a mini family vacation for my family. We stayed at the Hampton Inn in downtown Pittsburgh's Strip district. We stayed at this hotel during last year's race, so my kids were super excited to go back again. It has a pool and they serve cookies and popcorn in the afternoons, so my girls are pretty sure that we should live at this hotel...hmmm...someone else makes my bed, provides fresh bath towels daily, and prepares breakfast...I want to live there too.

We chose the Hampton Inn because it is super convenient. It has free parking, breakfast, & wifi, it's next door to the race expo and registration, and within walking distance to the race start & finish.

We headed over to the Expo after we arrived on Friday to pick up my race bib & bag and we spent Saturday sightseeing. Thankfully, we were all exhausted by Saturday night, so we fell asleep quickly.

Race Morning

My alarm was set for 5 AM on Sunday and I immediately went downstairs for breakfast.

My breakfast consisted of oatmeal, an English muffin with peanut butter, a banana, and an electrolyte drink. I ate this same breakfast for my first three half marathons and it worked well for me, so I wasn't about to try something different. My stomach was a bit queasy though, but 5 am is a queasy hour to begin with. I'm sure nerves had everything to do with it. Even though this was my fourth half marathon, running 13.1 miles is still a daunting task. My mind was racing with many thoughts: Will my foot last the entire time? Will I stay hydrated? Will I have to go to the bathroom during the race? Also, there were over 25,000 runners participating on Sunday in either the full marathon, half marathon, or the relay teams, so the sheer volume of people was intimidating.

I left my sleeping family at the hotel at 6:15 and headed to the race. My husband got the girls up and going after I left for the start and we caught up after the race.

The race start was 7 AM.

Runners are assigned to a corral based on by their expected finishing time. The corrals opened up at 5:00 am for the super motivated runners who want to be at the front of their assigned corral. I was assigned to corral D and I got there about 6:45. My queasy stomach caused me to make a final pit stop at a port-a-potty, which was surprisingly not stinky and disgusting. Because of my late arrival though I was towards the back of corral D where this next picture was taken from.

Someone sang a beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner during the opening ceremony. In light of recent events at the Boston marathon, 25,000+ runners in Pittsburgh erupted in cheers at "o'er the land of the free and home of the brave!" It was quite moving.

At 7am, the gun went off...but the running didn't start yet for me. Corrals A, B, & C had to proceed ahead of me and it took about 20 minutes to walk to the starting line. Even though the gun went off, my official time didn't start until I crossed the starting line. This next picture is corral D walking towards the starting line and if you look closely, you can see it in the distance.

The Race

At this point, my iPhone is attached to my arm, so I don't have any pictures during the race, which is a shame because much of the scenery through out the race was stunning. The weather at 7 am was perfect. It was chilly, but sunny and the temperatures were going to be in the mid to high 60's by mid-morning. I decided to wear my long sleeved Nike shirt and running capris, although I could have gotten away with wearing a short sleeved shirt and many runners were even it tank tops.

The beginning was very crowded as you can tell from the above pictures. Once you crossover the starting line, there is a lot of weaving going on for position and to move past slower runners. But honestly, there was never a time during the race where there weren't a lot of runners around me. I enjoyed the crowd. I got into a steady pace from the start of the race and I focused on runners ahead of me to try to pass them.

I took a swig of Gatorade followed by a gulp of water at every hydration station. Around mile 9, gummy bears & worms were being handed out. That quick shot of sugar hit the spot and gave me some needed energy.

Pittsburgh is notorious for being hilly. But there are only a few mild hills during the half marathon course until you get to mile 11. If you are familiar with Pittsburgh there is a brutal hill on Forbes Avenue around Duquesne University. It is long and steep and we hit this hill around mile 11. I tried desperately to keep my head up and focused on the top, but after 11 miles I was beat, tired, and cranky. There was a fair amount of cursing going on IN my head at that point. And I swore that I would never run the Pittsburgh Half again. But as soon as I got to the top, there was a little over a mile to go and the hill was quickly forgotten about and the finish line was on my mind.

My goal for this race was to run in under 2 hours. My best time to date was 2 hours and 3 minutes and I was convinced I could run under 2 hours as long as my foot could handle it.

My foot handled it just fine. And I sailed to the finish with an official time of 1:57:23. SUCCESS!

I was thrilled. I was beyond thrilled. I was ecstatic.

Running long distance races is like child birth. During the long hard miles, you swear that you will never do it again. You will never, ever, ever run a race again. BUT, when you get to the finish line, you have completely forgotten about the hard pain, the long miles, and the grueling hills and you relish in the gain...and the bagels and bananas...and of course, the medal!

I hope you enjoyed my 10 Weeks to a Half Marathon series. But now I would love to hear how your training is going? What race are you training for? Please let us know in the comments.

A note about my training plan: I am not a medical professional or a certified trainer, just an avid runner. Please consult a professional if you feel you need one. Also, the half marathon training plan that I follow is designed for beginners. Although, it is advised that you do not start using the 10 week training plan until you are able to run 6 miles. If you are new to running, start by training for a 5k. There is plenty of information online to help you with 5k training.

Read more:

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May 4 & 5 | FREE or Low Cost Events for the Whole Family

noreply@blogger.com (Family Balance Sheet) — Fri, 03 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Click the links below for more information at the respective web sites.

Bank of America Museums on Us

Saturday & Sunday, May 4 & 5 | Each Bank of America or Merrill Lynch cardholder gets FREE general admission to 150 museums nationwide. Just present your credit or debit card along with photo ID. List of participating museums.

Home Depot

Saturday, May 4, 9 am - Noon | Build an herb planter.

Michael's

Saturday, May 4, 10am - Noon, on the half hour | Kids Club "Thanks for helping me grow" clay pot - Let your kids explore their creativity while you shop! Only $2 per child reserves 30 minutes for your creative kid. Sessions starting every half hour from 10:30am - 11:30am. See a store associate to join the fun!
Monday, May 6, 5-7 pm | Free Family Craft Time - Mother's Day Handprint Keepsake
Tuesday, May 7, 5-7 pm | Free Family Craft Time - Mother's Day Coupon book

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Prepping for the Big Day | Week 9 of 10 Weeks to a Half Marathon

noreply@blogger.com (Family Balance Sheet) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Every week between now and early May, I will be charting my progress as I train for my next half marathon in Pittsburgh. I'll post everything about my training from the actual distances to what I wear to how I stay hydrated, nourished and entertained while running.

I just completed week 9 and I'm now in the final week of my 10 week training. The good news is that my left foot is feeling much better. The time off I took from running last week helped along with ice, chiropractic care, and I ordered some new fitted orthotics. I waited too long to replace my old ones and my foot paid the price.

This final week is all about prepping for the race. My goal is to drink lots of water and eat well every day and get to bed before 10 pm every night. My training is down to a taper. At this point, either I'm ready to tackle 13.1 miles or I'm not. My left foot is still tender, so I might not make my goal time of less than 2 hours, but I'll put that off for a fall race and just focus on finishing this one.

I've made a list, so that I don't forget anything important. Last year, I forgot to pack a short sleeved shirt and race day turned out to be blazing. I ended up buying a shirt at the race expo and I paid a hefty price--at least it was a cute shirt.

My Workouts for Week 9

Wednesday - 3 easy miles
Thursday - 6 miles
Friday - 1 hour of yoga
Saturday - 10 miles

My Training Plan for Week 10

Monday - 3 miles
Wednesday - 5 miles
Thursday - 3 miles
Sunday - RACE DAY

I can't wait to update you next week about the race. Wish me luck!

Have you been training for a race? What distance are you training for? How's your training going? Let us know in the comments.

Read more:

A note about my training plan: I am not a medical professional or a certified trainer, just an avid runner. Please consult a professional if you feel you need one. Also, the half marathon training plan that I follow is designed for beginners. Although, it is advised that you do not start using the 10 week training plan until you are able to run 6 miles. If you are new to running, start by training for a 5k. There is plenty of information online to help you with 5k training.

Thanks for reading. If you would like to receive FREE updates of FBS, there are four ways to do so:

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5 Tech & Internet eBooks for Just $7.40

noreply@blogger.com (Family Balance Sheet) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 23:05:00 +0000

Learn how to use the technology in your life to your advantage with this week's collection of ebooks. You'll discover the secrets to beautiful iPhone photos, how to get organized using free apps and programs, the beauty of online friendships and more. But don't wait because this bundle is on sale for 70% off this week only!

Once Upon the Internet by Marla Taviano
Once Upon the Internet is the funny and touching memoir of the Tavianos' one-year quest to visit 52 zoos in 52 weeks -- and the online friends who helped make it possible. Through the course of their journey, they stayed with 31 different families, 17 of whom they'd never met in person (and countless others met them at zoos along the way), and today some of their dearest friends are ones they first met on the internet.

iPhone Photography by Alli Worthington
Alli's iPhone Photography: The Visual Guide is your go-to guide for the best iPhone photo editing apps. With plenty of full-color images, you'll find step-by-step tutorials to capture and create stunning images yourself as well as ideas for using iPhone photos to stay organized, save money and just be happier.

Pin-terpretation by Holley Gerth & Stephanie Bryant
Your Pinterest account and the images you pin say more about you than you might think, and the ladies at Squee! wrote Pin-terpretation to help you step back and really see yourself. Their goal is to help you see your Pinterest boards with fresh eyes -- to provide questions as well as insights into you, your personal brand & your blog. It's kind of like a Cosmo quiz for your Pinterest boards.

Paperless Home Organization by Mystie Winckler
Organize your life with a digital home management "binder" that you can take with you, doesn't use up extra space, works on every platform and doesn't cost anything. In Paperless Home Organization, Mystie shows you how to get organized using only free, web-based applications that sync with free apps on both Apple and Android devices.

Evernote for Moms by Lauren Rothlisberger
Lauren's specialty is providing tech tips for "non-geeks", and Evernote for Moms is the quick and easy guide to help you use Evernote to organize your ideas and information. It includes a quickstart guide, simple template files and step-by-step instractions for installing, launching and adding items to Evernote through your smartphone or computer.

The Tech & Internet bundle is only available through 8am EST on Monday, 5/6. Get yours today:

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Chicken, Spinach & Orzo Dinner Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Family Balance Sheet) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Chicken, Spinach & Orzo comes together quickly and is perfect for busy weeknights. Serve with a salad and homemade applesauce or fresh fruit.

Chicken, Spinach & Orzo Dinner

adapted from Cooking Light

Ingredients

1 lb skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
8 cups water
1 1/2 cups uncooked orzo
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
6 oz bag baby spinach
Parmesan (optional)

Instructions

1. In a large dutch oven, heat olive oil. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.

2. Add the chicken and brown until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside.

3. Add the water to the pan and bring to a boil. Add the orzo and cook for 8 minutes. Drain, but reserve 1/4 cup of the cooking water.

4. Add the 1/4 cup water, tomatoes, and Italian seasoning. Cook for 2 minutes. Add the chicken, orzo, and spinach. Stir well as the spinach wilts.

5. Sprinkle with Parmesan when serving.

Print recipe for Chicken, Spinach & Orzo Dinner.

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April 27 & 28 | FREE or Low Cost Events for the Whole Family

noreply@blogger.com (Family Balance Sheet) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Healthy Kids Day at the YMCA This is open to all members of the community, not just YMCA members.

Saturday, April 27 | On Saturday, April 27, the Y is celebrating YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day® with free community events across the country to inspire families to move, learn and live healthier. My kids look forward to this fun event every year. Find a local Y in your area that is participating.

Michael's

Saturday, April 27, 1 - 3 PM | FREE DIY Chain Maille Earring Show IN Tell. Add a sleek, modern look to your attire with DIY simple Chain Maille earrings.
Saturday, April 27, 10 - 11:30 AM | Mother's Day Memory Frame. Let your kids explore their creativity while you shop! Only $2 per child reserves 30 minutes for your creative kid. Sessions starting every half hour from 10AM - 11:30AM

A.C.Moore

Saturday April 27, 1 - 3 PM | Demonstration - Mother's Day Glass Block with Plaid Gallery Glass

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Christmas Savings Club | April Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Family Balance Sheet) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

On the 25th of every month from January to November in 2013, I'm holding a virtual meeting for the Christmas Savings Club. The goal for this monthly accountability meeting is to give updates on our progress, motivate one another and help all of us save for a cash Christmas. Today is the fourth meeting, but anyone can join at any time.

If you are new, please read more about the Christmas Savings Club in the first post and join us. I'm still offering a FREE Christmas Gift & Spending Budget excel spreadsheet, click that link for more information.

On with the meeting...

How did I do in April?
Our monthly goal is $100. That number includes gifts for our kids, extended family members, teachers, friends, neighbors, bus drivers, service people, our Christmas cards, stamps, and our donations towards the Salvation Army's Adopt-a-Family program.

As I said in the March meeting, my husband and I are going through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University online course and we have never in our marriage sliced and diced our budget like we are as a result of this course. We have made gift giving a line item in our budget since it can be a budget buster unless it is planned for. I transferred $115 to our Christmas account in April. $15 was my shortfall from January & February and $100 was my April goal.

How did YOU do in April?
Did you reach your goal for April? Were you able to save more than you needed to get ahead? There is nothing wrong with that! Or were you short for the month? Please let us know in the comments.

May's Assignments:
1. If you have not done so, complete the Christmas Gift & Spending Budget worksheet.

2. If you have not done so, open up a separate checking account specifically for your Christmas Spending Savings.

3. Find your monthly savings goal for May and any shortfall that you have from January through April.

4. Start thinking about some handmade gifts that you can make for your friends and family for the holidays. Some projects might take some time, so it's better to start planning now.

Let us know how you're doing with your Christmas Savings Account in the comments. You don't need to leave specific numbers if you don't feel comfortable, but let us know if you did anything specific to save your goal.

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Dealing with an Injury | Week 8 of 10 Weeks to a Half Marathon

noreply@blogger.com (Family Balance Sheet) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

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Every week between now and early May, I will be charting my progress as I train for my next half marathon in Pittsburgh. I'll post everything about my training from the actual distances to what I wear to how I stay hydrated, nourished and entertained while running.

At the worst possible time, two weeks before the Pittsburgh half, I've been hit with an injury. During week 7's 10 mile run, I developed pain in my left foot.

I have been cruising along with my 10 week training for the Pittsburgh half marathon and feeling pretty good about my progress. I have missed very few workouts, I've been building up my mileage, and I was pleased with my pace, when all of the sudden I developed some pain in my left foot during the 10 miler. I had a sick feeling in my stomach that the pain was plantar fasciitis.

Plantar fasciitis occurs when you strain the long band of tissue that connects the heel bone and your toes. This tissue supports your arch and the arch of my left foot was killing me. I've had plantar fasciitis before, but it was about 8 years ago and I wasn't training for a specific race, so I took time off from running. I'm running a half marathon in two weeks, I can't take time off now!

When I got home from the run, I immediately iced the bottom of my foot and continued to ice through out the day for 20 minutes at a time.

When my alarm went off on Monday the next morning, there was no way I was going to be able to run my planned 3 miles. Plantar fasciitis pain is worse in the mornings, because your foot attempts to heal over night, but as soon as you put weight on it in the morning it feels like you're walking on glass.

Once I got moving that day, I made a trip to see my chiropractor (who also happens to be my husband). He not only adjusted my back and hips...

but also my feet.

I took Tuesday off from running as well, but continued to ice and I went for another chiropractic adjustment. By Wednesday, my foot felt much better, so I went for a 3 mile run. I ran very gingerly, if that is a word, but I tried to run as lightly as possible. I was afraid to put much stress on my foot. On Thursday, getting out of bed was a bit painful, so I iced and got another chiropractic adjustment.

On Friday, I needed to run 6 miles. I made it through 4 before I stopped from the pain. I'm not sure if the pain was something I could run through or if I was going to make the plantar fasciitis worse.

I iced all weekend and on Sunday, my plan was to run 12 miles, my longest run on the entire 10 week plan. I scratched it completely and decided that the best thing for my foot was to take a few more days off. I was a bit frazzled at the thought of not running my longest training run two weeks before a big race, but I surrendered. Anxiety will get me nowhere and the best thing for my recovery is to take some time off. I continued to ice and I got another chiropractic adjustment, so hopefully when I go out for the first time during week 9 my foot will be completely healed.

What I was supposed to run during week 8:

Monday - 3 miles, easy pace
Wednesday - 6 miles, tempo pace for 4 miles
Thursday - 3 miles, easy pace
Friday - 1 hour of yoga at the Y
Saturday - 12 miles at conversational pace

What I actually ran week 8:

Monday - My alarm went off at 6 am. As soon as I put my left foot on the floor and put weigh on it, I knew I wasn't going to be able to run, so I decided that I needed to take a couple of days off.
Wednesday - I ran 3 very easy miles at a gingerly pace. I was afraid to put to much stress on my left foot.
Friday - My goal was to run 6 miles. I needed to run 6 miles. But at mile 4 I stopped. My foot was in a lot of pain. I can usually work through pain, but I wasn't sure if this was the kind of pain that you can work through or if I would cause more damage trying to work through it.

My training plan for Week 9 (or at least what I should be running):

Monday - Run 3 miles
Wednesday - Run 6 miles
Thursday - Run 3 miles
Friday - 1 hour yoga at the Y
Saturday - Run 9 miles

Have you ever suffered from plantar fasciitis? How did you deal with it? Are you training for a race? How is your training going? Let us know in the comments.

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5 Gardening eBooks for Just $7.40

noreply@blogger.com (Family Balance Sheet) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 19:11:00 +0000

Whether you're a new or experienced gardener, this week's collection includes a variety of gardening tips for everyone! Learn how to garden without a big budget or a lot of space, discover tips for organic gardening and preserving your harvest, and get organized with custom printables. But don't wait because this bundle is on sale for 75% off this week only!

Frugal Gardening 101 by Phoebe Hendricks
In Frugal Gardening 101: A Comprehensive Guide to Vegetable Gardening Without Breaking the Bank, Phoebe shares her passion for gardening and proves that vegetable gardening doesn't have to be expensive. It's a comprehensive guide that shows you how to garden organically for very little with tips for buying, starting and saving seeds, organic pest and weed control and more.

Apartment Gardening by Jami Balmet
If you've ever wondered whether it's possible to have a garden with limited space, Jami's ebook will show you how! Apartment Gardening: A Practical Guide to Growing Vegetables in Small Spaces is a beginner’s guide to everything you need to know about container gardening, including more than 100 pages of how-to advice to help you start your container garden today.

Simple Food {For Spring} by Shannon Stonger
Simple Food {For Spring} is more than just a cookbook. In addition to 28 grain-free recipes (complete with full-color photos!) highlighting spring produce, Shannon also encourages readers in sustainable and homegrown living through her introductions to cleansing, foraging, dehydrating greens and more.

Heavenly Homemaker’s Guide to Gardening and Preserving by Laura Coppinger
In Heavenly Homemaker's Guide to Gardening and Preserving, Laura shares her tips for a successful, organic garden, including how, what and when to plant. Beyond gardening, you'll also find her strategies for making the most of your farmer's market plus canning tutorials and recipes to help you preserve your harvest.

The Gardening Notebook by Angi Schneider
In addition to a how-to guide for gardening beginners, Angi has created the perfect spot for recording all of your notes and research for your garden. With more than 50 pages of printables, The Gardening Notebook is the perfect way to organize everything you need or want to remember for your garden!

The Gardening bundle is only available through 8am EST on Monday, 4/29. Get yours today:

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Chicken & Black Bean Enchiladas

noreply@blogger.com (Family Balance Sheet) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

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Chicken & Black Bean Enchiladas are in the top 10 of my favorite dinners for many reasons. It's a delicious dinner that my family loves. It's easy to prepare. And it's a great way to use leftover roast chicken. If you don't' have any cooked chicken on hand, quickly grill some chicken breasts in about 10 minutes.

Chicken & Black Bean Enchiladas

Ingredients

16 oz tomato sauce
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon oregano
1 1/2 cups homemade chicken stock
2 tablespoons flour
1/4 cup homemade chicken stock
2 cups chopped or shredded cooked chicken
1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed & drained
1 (4 oz) can diced green chilies
your favorite shredded cheddar cheese
8 (8 inch) flour tortillas

Instructions

1. In a large sauce pan, combine tomato sauce, chili powder, oregano, cumin and 1 1/2 cups chicken stock. Stir well and bring to a boil.

2. Stir together the flour and 1/4 cup of chicken stock until smooth. Add to the tomato mixture, stirring continuously until blended. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.

3. In a bowl, combine the chicken, black beans, and green chilies.

4. To assemble the enchiladas: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13 X 9 baking dish with non-stick spray. Spoon 1/3 cup of chicken mixture on each tortilla and top with about 1 tablespoon of cheese. Roll up and place the tortillas seam side down in the pan. Cover with the enchilada sauce and sprinkle with shredded cheese.

5. Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly.

6. Serve with sour cream, guacamole, and/or your favorite salsa.

Print recipe for Chicken & Black Bean Enchiladas.

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April 20 - 26 | FREE or Low Cost Events for the Whole Family

noreply@blogger.com (Family Balance Sheet) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

FREE Entrance Days at the National Parks

April 22 - 26 | Fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.

Michael's

Saturday, April 20, 1 - 3 PM | FREE eco-friendly t-shirt upcycling Show IN Tell - Celebrate Earth Day by learning how you can turn your old T-shirts into trendy and fashionable accessories.
Saturday, April 10 - 11: 30 AM | Earth Day: Trash to Treasure - Let your kids explore their creativity while you shop! Only $2 per child reserves 30 minutes for your creative kid. Sessions starting every half hour from 10AM - 11:30AM

A.C.Moore

Saturday, April 20, 1 - 3 PM | Make & Take: Easter Seals Act for Autism - Creative Hands Foam Name Sign

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Thrifty Finds: Brand Names, Dirt Cheap

noreply@blogger.com (Family Balance Sheet) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

I stopped by my two favorite thrift stores last week: Salvation Army & Community Aid, a local store. I only go on Wednesdays, because both stores offer an additional 50% off on almost everything.

I cleaned out our closets a couple of weekends ago and I found that we are in need of some spring & summer clothes. My oldest daughter has grown out of everything, thankfully, I can pass them on to my younger daughter, so at least she is set for spring and summer.

Finally, spring has arrived in central PA, so I carved out some time last Wednesday to hit the thrift stores. And as always they did not disappoint.

By far the best find of the day was the pair of Keen shoes (in the above picture) for my oldest daughter.

Do used shoes gross you out? Me too, but these Keen's were in great condition and were only $2.50, so I bought the shoes and simply washed them in hot water in the washing machine when I got home. These shoes retail for $49.95. No THANK YOU! I just can't justify that price for kids shoes; their feet grow like weeds.

Unfortunately, I didn't have much luck with finding any clothing for my daughter, but I did pretty well for myself. I found 2 pairs of shorts and a pair of brand new Gap denim capris. While I'm not brand loyal, there are brands that I like based on their quality and fit. So I was excited when I found Calvin Klein & Ralph Lauren shorts in like new condition. And they were $2 each after the 50% off sale.

I really liked the fit of the khaki Ralph Lauren shorts, so I was bummed when I noticed a missing button as I was trying them on.

Thankfully a spare was hidden inside the shorts. I'm no seamstress, but I can sew on a button.

My absolute favorite find for myself was an Athleta running skirt for $2. So mom made out well!

I also bought a Pyrex casserole dish with a lid. Unfortunately, it was excluded from the 50% off sale, but at $4.99, I bought it anyway. I rarely see Pyrex dishes WITH the lid. I love that I can avoid using aluminum foil or plastic wrap.

Do you shop at thrift stores? What great finds have you found lately? Let us know in the comments.

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Sauteed Boneless Taco Pork Chops

noreply@blogger.com (Family Balance Sheet) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

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Have I told you how much I love having homemade taco seasoning in my cupboards? It's so easy to grab to season food and it can be used for dishes other than tacos. These Sautéed Boneless Taco Pork Chop take about 20 minutes to prepare from start to finish. They make a delicious and quick dinner on those crazy busy weeknights.

(There's no reason why you can't use bone-in pork chops; I just happened to have boneless in my freezer.)

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 1 inch boneless thick pork chops
½ cup flour
1-2 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning

Instructions

1. Combine the flour and the taco seasoning. Dredge the pork chops in the flour mixture.

2. In a large saute pan, heat the butter and oil over medium heat. When butter is sizzling and fragrant, add the pork chops. Heat on one side until golden browned, about 5 minutes. Turn over and brown the other side for another 4 minutes or until pork chops are cooked through.

Serve with your favorite salsa.

Print recipe for Sautéed Boneless Taco Pork Chops.

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5 Simple Living eBooks for Just $7.40

noreply@blogger.com (Family Balance Sheet) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:22:00 +0000

Is simple living just a pipe dream in today's fast-paced, always-on, more-is-better culture? With this week's collection, you'll discover the secrets to living simply from five authors who are living intentionally and inspiring others to do the same! But don't wait because this bundle is on sale for 90% off this week only.

25 Intentional Days by AndHeDrew
Laid out in an easy-to-follow format, 25 Intentional Days will take you step by step through setting effective long-term and short-term goals, finding time you didn't know you had, tracking your progress and creating the life you've dreamed of.

Simple Ways to Be More with Less by Courtney Carver
In Simple Ways to Be More with Less, Courtney shows you how to simplify your life and live each day more purposefully. This book will challenge you, brighten your day, and if you let it, change your world.

Inside-Out Simplicity by Joshua Becker
Living simply starts on the inside, and in Inside-Out Simplicity, Joshua shares why healthy relationships are essential to a simplified life. You'll discover how to live intentionally by embracing contentment, gratitude, and humility and making generosity, kindness, service, and forgiveness a hallmark of all of your relationships.

ClutterFree by Leo Babauta & Courtney Carver
With the tools in ClutterFree, you'll learn how to eliminate the clutter and create more time and space in your home and life. Leo and Courtney walk you through understanding why we have clutter, learning how to get rid of it and enjoying a clutter-free life.

Flying by the Seat of My Soul by Tess Marshall
Through personal stories, profound lessons, uplifting quotes and stories of others, Tess inspires you to live more passionately and pursue your heart’s desire with more conviction. Flying By The Seat Of My Soul will empower you to move toward inner change, let go of the past, follow your dreams and fly!

The Simple Living bundle is only available through 8am EST on Monday, 4/22. Get yours today:

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My Favorite Running App | Weeks 6 & 7 of 10 Weeks to a Half Marathon

noreply@blogger.com (Family Balance Sheet) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 21:00:00 +0000

Every week between now and early May, I will be charting my progress as I train for my next half marathon in Pittsburgh. I'll post everything about my training from the actual distances to what I wear to how I stay hydrated, nourished and entertained while running.

I've owned an iPhone since May 2012, but it's taken me almost a year to use a running app. I hate to call myself lazy, but I don't know how else to explain it.

Anyway, I love the Nike+ running app. It tracks my pace, distance, workouts. It stores my personal records, such as fastest mile, fastest 5k, longest run in distance, and longest workout in duration. You also can assign an emoticon and write some notes about each run. So in a few weeks when I look back on yesterday's run, I'll know why my pace was somewhat slow. My foot was throbbing and I had to go to the bathroom really, really bad the last mile. Really bad!

At the end of your run, the app syncs with your Nike + account and stores all of your information for you to over-analyze or ignore.

To get your own Nike + running app, log into Nike.com on your phone and click download app to join the Nike+ running community. Create a profile and then download the app to your iPhone or Android. It's a FREE app

And then start running!

My Workouts for Week 6

Monday - 3 miles, easy pace
Wednesday - 4 miles, easy pace
Thursday - 3 miles, easy pace
Friday - 1 hour yoga at the Y
Saturday 6 miles, run at conversational pace

My Workouts for Week 7

Monday - 3 miles, easy pace
Wednesday - 4 miles, tempo pace for two miles
Thursday - 6 miles, easy pace
Friday - 1 hours yoga at the Y
Sunday - 10 miles, run at conversational pace

My Training Plan for upcoming Week 8

This is the hardest week before the race, because of the 12 mile long run. I was really nervous about this workout when I was training for my first half. I had never run that far before. I remember feeling victory when I turned the corner towards my house on that first 12 miler. My husband and kids were waiting for me on the sidewalk to cheer me home. It was because of that 12 mile run that I felt confident on my first race day that I could finish the half marathon.

Monday - 3 miles, easy pace
Wednesday - 6 miles, tempo pace for 4 miles
Thursday - 3 miles, easy pace
Friday - 1 hour of yoga at the Y
Saturday - 12 miles at conversational pace

Do you use a running app to track your workouts? Which one do you use? Also, how did your training go this week? Let us know in the comments.

Read more:

A note about my training plan: I am not a medical professional or a certified trainer, just an avid runner. Please consult a professional if you feel you need one. Also, the half marathon training plan that I follow is designed for beginners. Although, it is advised that you do not start using the 10 week training plan until you are able to run 6 miles. If you are new to running, start by training for a 5k. There is plenty of information online to help you with 5k training.

This post is linked to Motivation Monday at Life in Balance.

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Our History with Credit Cards & Switching to Cash

noreply@blogger.com (Family Balance Sheet) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

"Debt is Dumb, Cash is King" - Dave Ramsey

Dave Ramsey has built quite a business around that quote. He has successfully inspired thousands of people to a life free of credit cards and debt.

My husband and I always thought we were different.

It just seemed easier to us to carry and use credit cards versus cash. We used them for everything, from groceries and restaurants to gas and clothing and everything in between. And we always paid the entire balance at the end of the month. We were using the cards to earn cash back on purchases that we needed to buy any way, so we were being smart about our spending. Right? Or so we thought.

But Dave Ramsey and Financial Peace University challenged us to think about credit cards & cash differently.

According to Dave, you actually spend 12-18% less when using cash. That caught my attention. If we could reduce our spending by 12-18%, we could put that money towards our debt. In 2012, we spent almost $8000 on groceries and 12% of that is $960. The most cash back we've received from our visa has been $250 a year. We have the potential to save almost 4 times that just by using cash instead of our visa.

So in March, we started using cash or our debit card for 3 spending categories: groceries, restaurants, clothes.

This has been a huge adjustment for us. We've been handing over our visa for most of our purchases for our entire marriage. We didn't even have ATM cards at the beginning of March, so I had to order them.

Switching to cash definitely will take more communication and coordination between the two of us so we don't overdraw an account. We are trying to figure out a system for when my husband needs to make a purchase. I do most of the shopping for groceries and household purchases, but what if he needs to pick something up on the way home from work or he needs to stop at Lowe's for a household item? He will now need to bring me receipts immediately after a purchase rather than wait until the credit card bill was due.

After one month, we both like the feeling of paying with cash. We felt like our purchases were more intentional and less impulsive, but there were some hiccups in March. I did use my credit card for a few things that I knew I could find the cash for by the time the payment will be due. And I could hear Dave Ramsey barking in my ear each time. My credit card is like a security blanket that I'm not ready to give up.

We took the first step to cash in March and each month should get easier, because "debt is dumb and cash is king."

Do you use credit cards or cash? Let us know in the comments.

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April 13 & 14 | FREE or Low Cost Events for the Whole Family

noreply@blogger.com (Family Balance Sheet) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Lowe's Build & Grow

Saturday, April 13, 10 AM | Your child will build a plantar and decorate it with creatures & characters from The Croods.

Michael's

Saturday, April 13, 10-11:30 AM | Earth Friendly Fox - Let your kids explore their creativity while you shop! Only $2 per child reserves 30 minutes for your creative kid. Sessions starting every half hour from 10AM - 11:30AM

A.C. Moore

Saturday, April 13, 1 - 3 PM | Wilton Treat Pops Demonstration

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5 Pregnancy & Baby eBooks for Just $7.40

noreply@blogger.com (Family Balance Sheet) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Pregnancy, childbirth and welcoming a new baby can be overwhelming, but this week's bundle is a collection of resources to help you make informed decisions about each. With a bent toward natural living, this collection includes real food recipes for pregnancy and beyond, plus tips for breastfeeding, natural birth and simple living with a baby. This week only, get all 5 ebooks for just $7.40 (a savings of more than 80%)!

Healthy Pregnancy Super Foods by Kate Tietje
In Healthy Pregnancy Super Foods, Kate simplifies pregnancy nutrition with just two rules: 1) Don’t eat junk food and 2) Eat super foods. This ebook includes details about the super foods you should be eating (and a basic list of what you should avoid), what pregnant women’s nutritional needs are, and offers more than 30 super food recipes.

Fearless Birth by Kristen Burgess
Fear of giving birth is a very real thing, but through the Fearless Birth workbook and bonus tools, Kristen helps you understand the source of your fears, create positive images of birth, let go of fear and approach labor and birth with confidence and peace of mind.

Unbound Birth by Jennifer Yarbrough
Unbound Birth: How to Have a Natural Birth in the Hospital is an inspiring collection of natural hospital birth stories. With determination, information, preparation, and support, Jennifer offers women hope for the beauty of a natural birth within a hospital setting.

The Minimalist Mom's Guide to Baby's First Year by Rachel Jonat
Parenting is a demanding job, and the first year with a new baby is exciting, ever so tiring and filled to the brim with baby toys, gadgets and gizmos. In The Minimalist Mom's Guide to the Baby's First Year, Rachel shares her own journey into motherhood and the lessons she learned about avoiding the clutter trap of too much baby stuff, slowing down to enjoy the early months with your new baby, saving money, creating a peaceful home and finding more time in your day for things like sleep!

Breast to Bib by Kate Tietje
If you’ve ever wondered how to get a baby started with real food, this is your go-to guide. In Breast to Bib, Kate offers help with breastfeeding and discusses low milk supply and homemade formula options as well as how and when to introduce solids and tips for handling picky toddlers. Plus you'll find 27 healthy, family-friendly recipes to get you started!

The Pregnancy & Baby bundle is only available through 8am EST on Monday, 4/15. Get yours today:

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20 Ways to Cook Asparagus

noreply@blogger.com (Family Balance Sheet) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 01:15:00 +0000

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There are so many reasons to love spring and the fact that asparagus is in season in one of them. This is the best time of year to buy & eat asparagus, so I take full advantage of the season. The price is usually fairly cheap too as I often find it on sale for $1.49/pound at this time of year.

20 Ways to Cook Asparagus

Lemony Chicken Asparagus Stir Fry at Family Balance Sheet
Ham & Asparagus Frittata at Family Balance Sheet
Ham & Asparagus Risotto at Family Balance Sheet
Asparagus & Basil Pesto at Simple Awesome Cooking
Asparagus Hummus at Cookin' Canuck
Cherry Tomato & Asparagus Salad at Sunset
Curried Quinoa & Asparagus Salad at the Clever Carrot
Martha Stewart's Asparagus Custard Tart (Reduced Calorie) at Virtually Homemade
Bacon Asparagus Strata at Key Ingredient
Beer Battered Asparagus at Epicurious
Cauliflower Asparagus Semolina Cakes at Haniela's
Cream of Asparagus Soup at Aunt Clara's Kitchen
Crustless Asparagus Quiche at Skinny MS.
Herbed Cheese Asparagus Crostini at Home Cooking Memories
Linguine with Asparagus & Egg at Martha Stewart
Meyer Lemon Garlic Shrimp & Asparagus with Brown Rice at Daily Dish Recipes
Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan at Family Balance Sheet
Roasted New Potatoes & Asparagus at Cinnamon Spice & Everything Nice
Scrambled Eggs with Asparagus at What Should I Eat for Breakfast Today
Slow Cooker Cheddar Potato & Asparagus Soup at Little Kitchen, Big Bites

What's your favorite way to cook (and eat) asparagus? Let us know in the comments.

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April 6 & 7 | FREE or Low Cost Events for the Whole Family

noreply@blogger.com (Family Balance Sheet) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Click the links below for more information at the respective web sites.

Bank of America Museums on Us

Saturday & Sunday, April 6 & 7 | Each Bank of America or Merrill Lynch cardholder gets FREE general admission to 150 museums nationwide. Just present your credit or debit card along with photo ID. List of participating museums.

Home Depot - FREE Kids Workshops

Saturday, April 6, 9 am - Noon | Build a Bird Feeder

Michael's Kids Club

Saturday, April 6, 10 - 11:30 AM | Earth Day Celebration - Let your kids explore their creativity while you shop! Only $2 per child reserves 30 minutes for your creative kid. Sessions starting every half hour from 10AM - 11:30AM.

A.C. Moore

Saturday, April 6, 1 - 3 PM | Deco Mesh Wreath Form Demonstration

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