Following In My Shoes | Texas Mom Blog

100 Ways to Have Summer Fun

2013-05-18T02:47:38Z

So, there I was … minding my own business. Drinking coffee. Looking outside at the Crepe Myrtle leaves swaying in the wind.

Then, a bolt of panicked lightening hit me: the Kidlets have one more week of school and then it’s SUMMER-TIME!!!!!

I don’t think this next bit of news will surprise anyone around here, but I am a planner. I geek out over meal planning. I like having a calendar. I like making lists.

(p.s. I don’t like surprises)

Having a plan — even a loose plan for the day — keeps me sane and happy. And, having a plan for the Kidlets keeps them happier and out of trouble.

Trust me … even though they are little, these three can get into trouble and into stuff faster than you can blink. You know — the whole “idle hands” mantra.

As is our tradition, the Kidlets and I started working on a Summer Fun List. We each took turns thinking of places to go, things to do, things to make, and stuff to eat. Are we going to cross off each thing off our 100 ways to have summer fun? Maybe. Maybe not.

But, we at least have ideas for the long hot days of summer. Ways to keep our minds engaged, learning, exploring, dreaming and creating.

And ways to keep our little preschool hands out of trouble.

P.S. (again) If you want even MORE help planning for the Summer, I came across two resources that look like they would fit the bill:

Do It Yourself Summer Camp, by Power of Moms
Camp Mom, from 20Moms

Go to the local Park
Go to the local Zoo
Go to the local Nursing Home and visit residents
Go Bowling (for FREE!)
Go to an Outdoor Concert (check your local calendar of events to find one in your area – they are very popular in the summer!)

Go to the local Children’s Museum
Go to the Children’s Movie each week (many communities host free or $1 movies during the summer; check with your local theater)
Go to the local Museum of Fine Arts (many museums do free events during the summer!)
Go to the Beach
Go to the Farmer’s Market

Go to the local Aquarium
Go to the local Pet Store to visit the Animals
Go to your local Animal Shelter and play with the Animals
Go Fishing
Go to a local Berry Farm and pick your own berries

Take Cookies to your local Fire Department (call ahead and see if your children can have a tour!)
Visit the local Swimming Pool or Splash Pad
Go to a friend’s house for a Play-Date (and exchange the invitation to your home)
Go on a “Staycation” — visit tourist destinations in your town/county.
Go Camping in a State Park (many state and national parks have “Free Days”; check to see if your favorite park is one of them)
Go to Grandma’s House (and give Mommy and Daddy a mini-vacation!)

Have a Hot Wheels Race in the driveway
Have an Indoor Beach Party
Read everyday with a Summer Reading Bucket List
Take Swimming Lessons
Attend VBS (always free — check with your local churches for details)

Work on Fine Motor Skills
Have a Slumber Party
Have a Water Balloon Fight
Mail a Hug to Grandparents
Have a Pajama & Movie Day (rainy day activity)

Make and Play Rock Dominoes
Have a Talent Show
Make a Hurricane Emergency Kit or similar Preparedness Kit tailored to your area’s weather
Build a Sandcastle
Swim in a Pool

Go on a Scavenger Hunt (printable picture list for pre-readers)
Play in the Sprinkler
Eat Lunch with Daddy
Paint with Frozen Water-colors
Have a Camp-out and make S’mores

Grow Flowers from Seeds
Build a Zoo
Experiment with Solar Energy by making Solar Power S’mores (these are edible!)
Play Outside with Bubbles (TONS of fantastic DIY bubble ideas here)
Color the Driveway with Chalk Art

Paint on the Table (mess-free!)
Donate Toys
Play with Bubble-wrap
Nature Walk/Bug Exploration
Play Outdoor Twister

Watch Fireworks
Play Hopscotch (indoors when hot)
Participate in a Summer Library Program
Four Words: Water-Balloon Target Practice
Be Super-Heroes with DIY Super-Hero Capes and DIY Super-Hero Masks (both “no sew”)

Fish in the Bath-tub (rainy day activity)
Make a Random Acts of Kindness List and do one a week around our community
Work on our ABC’s
Begin working on age-appropriate Cooking and Kitchen Skills
Have a Tea-Party

Make Sidewalk Chalk Paint (and color/paint driveway)
Make a Bird Feeder
Make Mud Playdough
Make Crayons
Create Sensory Paintings

Make a Summer Memory Book (use Dollar Store notebook or a smashbook to record drawings, souvenirs, movie stubs, photographs, leaves, everything from the summer!)
Make Bathtub Puff Paint
Make I Spy Bottles
Create a Marshmallow Shooter
Decorate T-Shirts (puff paint or tie-dye)

Make Sandwich Faces (open faced sandwiches)
Make Rock Candy (also a science experiment)
Eat Edible Flowers (honeysuckle, pansies and more)
Make Ice Cream in a Bag
Make Frozen Yogurt Covered Fruit Kebobs

Make Individual Pizzas
Make Fruit Popsicles
Make Snow Cones
Make Chocolate-Banana Pops
Have Dessert for Dinner

Make Banana Split Bites
Make Banana & PB Dogs
Make Homemade Gummy Fruit Snacks
Make Dirt Pudding
Make Eggs in a Basket

For more Summer Fun Ideas, follow My “Kid Boards” on Pinterest:

What do you have planned for the Summer?

Rachel– Owner/Author Following In My Shoes

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Mommy Sleeps In: Make-Ahead School Lunches

2013-05-15T17:11:30Z

Last week, I took a new approach to my daily bento lunch prep … I made it all ahead of time.

Way, way, way ahead of time. No more getting up early each morning to fashion lunches. Nope, not for me. I had the majority of each lunch made Sunday night. My mornings were about sleeping in last week.

A whole thirty minutes extra, people.

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In This Lunch: Corn Dog Cupcakes, ketchup, cheese cubes, apples, peas.

In This Bento:– {I Heart Lunch}

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Instead of getting up and cutting out shaped sandwiches and the like, I utilized idea from the Momables* blog and their school lunch planning service. I’ve been a subscriber to both the Momables newsletter and the lunch planning service for several months now AND I recently joined the team as a contributing writer; I’ve discovered great snack and menu ideas and — thanks to one of the best newsletters I’ve ever seen — have fallen in love with the creator Laura’s tips and glimpses into amazingly organized personal meal plans.

And last week, I finally mustered up the strength to try something Laura has recommended time and time again: preparing the majority (if not all) of your week’s lunches on Sunday.

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I made and froze my version of the Momables’ Gluten-Free Piggy Cupcakes (aka Corn Dog Muffins), pulling them out to thaw for a no-fuss lunch.

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I experimented with apples and three different ways to keep them from browning, allowing me (on Sunday) to cut all of our apples for the week.

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Inspired by pasta dishes from the Momables lunch menus, I prepared tortellini and stored it in the fridge, ready to go with a small container of sauce for later in the week.

In This Lunch: Tortellini, Pasta Sauce, Cream-Cheese stuffed Pepper, Apples and Grapes, Annie’s Bunny Crackers

In This Bento:– {I Heart Lunch}

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Challenged by Laura’s mantra of saving time, I cut up cheese and sliced ham, making little kebobs and storing them (in air-tight bags) in the fridge for my own “30-Second Wow Lunch.”

In This Lunch: Cheese and Ham Kebobs, Pretzel Crisps, Homemade Ranch Dip (in the polka-dot container), Apples and Strawberries, Cherry Tomatoes.

In This Bento:– {I Heart Lunch}

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Each day last week, getting lunches ready simply meant pulling the bento box out of the fridge, where it waited (partially filled with the more stable items). Then, I added things like pretzels or crackers, tossed in the pre-sliced apples or threw in the stuffed pepper.

While I have always prepared some items at the beginning of the week, this was my first time to do the bulk of the lunch prep on a single day. It was easy, freed up a minimum of 30 minutes each morning, and definitely erased the stressful business of wondering “What Am I Going To Pack Today?”.

Yeah. Definitely sold on this whole Momables way of doing lunch.

{I Heart Lunch}

Time to share your lunch! What fun lunch boxes have you been packing for your family?

You can link to any kid-lunch/bento or family-friendly recipe on a blog post or via flickr photos — this linky is for any kind of healthy school lunch and kid-food, regardless if it is Bento-style or not. I want to celebrate our efforts to provide good and enjoyable school lunches for our families!

My only request is that you either add a link back to this post or include the Lunch Graphic (which links back) to your post so others can get here to view the linked lunches too!

Link up your school lunches and bentos! Please use a permalink for your post rather than linking your general blog/flickr account URL — this will help people go directly to your fabulous lunch!

Now — link ‘em up!

*This post contains some affiliate links.

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Hello, Watermelon.

2013-05-15T17:10:34Z

Oh, the carnage. The red juice-bath that snaked rivers down arms and soaked innocent little shirts. The white shark teeth that plunged — without pity — into the tender flesh.

Welcome to Watermelon Season.

Ok, so maybe it’s still a wee bit early for the really GOOD Texas watermelons, but each time we pass the green pile of watermelons at the grocery store, all the Kidlets begin clamoring … pleading and wheedling for WA-TER-MEL-ON, WA-TER-MEL-ON, WA-TER-MEL-ON!

(their loud chants are only endearing to the chuckling customers who pass us, thankful this passel of screaming wanna-be fruitarians isn’t in their carts)

By the way, this might be my favorite Barney Kneeknuckles face ever. EVER.

To pacify the savages, I buy the asked for pale watermelons — full of juice but only slightly sweet. And like a swoop of vulturistic plunderers, they descend. Barely stopping to breathe. Biting and biting and biting. . . only stopping when they reach the white-green rind after Daddy makes them.

And, as they slurp and swallow, their little eyes are ever watchful. Wary. Heaven forbid another sibling get one more piece than they do.

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Favorite Photo Apps for Android

2013-05-14T02:47:31Z

So, every so often in my Pinterest stream, I’ll see an iPhone user who is pinning posts about iPhonography and iPhone photo/camera apps. Actually, I see it a lot … there are a BUNCH of posts on iPhones and iPhone apps. But …

I’m a Droid girl. I always have been and always will be.

Those iPhone posts? They don’t do me a whole lotta good; sometimes, the apps mentioned are also available for Androids but that’ isn’t always the case. And searching for blogs who write about Androids sometimes introduces me to a new and great app but the majority of the Android apps I know and love have been discovered through searching, trying things out, and learning new tricks.

Now, I can fully edit, touch up, add text layers, and even change the lighting right on my phone. Heck, I can even get rid of a spill on my counter or town paper in the floor … if it’s in a photo, that is. Makes it a whole lot easier to pretend I have a perfect house.

(like anyone is fooled… HELLO, three kids!)

So, in a kinda-sorta random order are my favorite photo apps for Android phones. Sure, I’ve downloaded a tried a whole bunch more than what is listed here, but these are the apps that have stayed on my Samsung Galaxy S3 phone and stolen a piece of my heart.

(yes, it’s serious like that)

12 Best Android Photo Apps

1. Instagram (free):

Obviously, as a blogger and social media junkie, I can’t have an app list and not include Instagram. (p.s. Go follow me)

I adore IG as an easy way to share pictures from every day life. It’s fast, easy and you have the option to send the final photo on to additional social media channels, such as Facebook and Twitter.

There are even online printing services for your Instagram photos, where you can upload photos for single printing or to have them bound as scrapbooks.

2. BeFunky (free):

If you like using PhotoShop or PhotoShop Elements on your computer, BeFunky will become your best friend. Like PS and PSE, it works in layers, allowing you to tweak each individual component of your photo, including fill light, saturation, sharpness, white balance, and more. Even as you start adding pre-set filter and lighting effects, you can adjust the opacity and add MORE as new layers, allowing for unique, artistic shots.

Don’t like what you just did? You don’t have to start over; you can remove layers as needed.

BeFunky is a fantastic, full-board editor for phone images.

3. Snapseed (free):

This was an app I first discovered from an iPhone user who raved about it. After finding it in the Google Play market, it didn’t take long to realize this is great for Android users too.

It doesn’t offer as much control as BeFunky, but you can still make individual adjustments (white balance, saturation, cropping, etc.) and you can make them quickly. I use Snapseed nearly every day for food and bento photos that I plan on uploading to IG or Facebook.

4. Cymera (free):

Cymera isn’t one of those “must haves” but it is really fun to play around with. In addition to an on-board board camera (with a few options like anti-shake, timer, and three collages), it has a ton of free filters, light overlays and textures, frames, AND the “beautify” section where you can add eyelashes, eye-sparkles, and blush. If you want to get really silly, you can add silly wigs, glasses, etc.

I don’t use it as my every day editor, but it does have unique light overlays that I like to use in outdoor shots and some of the artistic filters are different than what you can find on Instagram and other editing apps.

5. Camera ZOOM FX ($2.99):

This is an app highly recommended but, while fun, isn’t first on my list. First of all, it’s $2.99 and it isn’t as customizable and it doesn’t offer the user-control of BeFunky or even Snapseed. What IS cool about this app is the built-in camera.

Instead of just your single shot option, Camera ZOOM FX allows you to change the camera settings between single shot, stable shot, timed shot, voice activated shot, burst mode shots, time lapse shots, and even gives you the option to create a collage AS you are taking photos. You can also tweak the white balance, ISO, resolution, and a whole host of other options as you take shots. And, all of the editing options (filters, frames, etc) can be pre-set, allowing you to take “already edited” photos rather than adding all of those filters after you take the shot.

The camera options definitely rock this app.

6. Touch Retouch Pro ($.99):

This app rocked my world. It’s basically an app that works like the cloning and healing brushes in PS or PSE.

Trying to take a beautiful food shot and realize after the fact there’s a big crumb on the plate? No worries! With the Touch Retouch app, you can remove it instantly. I’ve also used it (when taking silly shots of the Kidlets) to “clean up” boogers or food on their faces. (I’m not ashamed.)

The only downside is that it isn’t a fast app. It takes it a few seconds to handle the cloning/healing.

7. AfterFocus Pro ($1.99):

When you use a DSLR, you have full control of things like aperture and can decide how much of the picture you want to be in focus. On a camera phone, that type of control isn’t automatic.

With the AfterFocus app, you can edit photos to create a shallow depth of field and give your pictures wonderful, blurry backgrounds. I love this for blurring out photobombing strangers (hey, it happens) or to highlight one single component of a photo.

There are also additional features where you can tweak the aperture, add filters, vignettes and sharpen the photo.

8. Phonto (free):

Ok, if you have always wondered how people write on their IG photos or add text frames, Phonto is the answer.

First of all, you can add normal text … and you can change the font, size, color, opacity, and even the tilt of the text.

BUT, what makes Phonto rock is that you can install fonts to the app. YES! So, all of those great dingbat fonts that you use for adding text backgrounds and frames can be installed and then you can use THOSE fonts in Phonto.

You can also add multiple text layers with Phonto but you can’t rotate the to the back or in front of other layers. So, if you want a cute frame or banner behind your main message, you’ll need to add it first and then layer your text message on top of that.

9. PicFrame (free):

This is my go-to app for creating photo collages on my phone. I’ve tried a slew of other ones but I haven’t found one that is as easy to use or offers as many collage options. PLUS, this app automatically sizes the photo or collages for Instagram. I use PicFrame nearly every time I’m going to upload something to IG because of this feature.

You can add a frame to a single photo or create a collage for up to five photos. The frame options are pretty basic: solid or a preset pattern, straight edges or rounded.

10. Shape’d (free):

This is a great app to use in conjunction with Instagram. You can crop your photos into a variety of shapes OR you can create a text image using a photo as the “fill” for the text. It’s fun if you’re into posting quotes, etc., on Instagram.

11. Real Bokeh ($1.99):

Truly real bokeh is all about light and aperature, but with this app you can “fake” Real Bokeh, adding those pretty little prisms of light into your photos.

(not sure why the photo uploaded into the app horizontal — it isn’t that way in my photo gallery)

Out of all the bokeh apps I have tried, this one got to stay because it is the simplest to use and you can change the color, size, shape, and opacity of your bokeh.

This isn’t a “blanket” filter of bokeh that is added to your photo: you manually add each piece of light to your photo by touching your screen. You get to control where the bokeh displays on your image.

(I like being in charge)

12. LabelBox (free):

I don’t use Labelbox often because I find it doesn’t offer me real control of the free features (and, you have to pay to access more labels and fonts). BUT, if you enjoy the “masking tape” look and an easy “insta-font” type feature, then it’s great. I use it when I don’t have time for Phonto.

OBVIOUSLY … I’m a bit addicted! Any other apps I should consider adding to my repertoire? Let me know!

Rachel– Owner/Author Following In My Shoes

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Homemade Cool Ranch Tacos

2013-05-12T05:12:23Z

So, the Husband and I have a dark and dirty secret: we freaking adore Taco Bell.

When I was pregnant, a lot of my time was spent there ordering Bean Burritos and the Chicken Ranch Burritos.

Later, when the later item was removed from their menu, I cried. Ugly, hormonal tears.

Nowadays, Taco Bell doesn’t see me as much but the Husband continues to make lunch treks to the drive-through, paying for his new favorite indulgence: the Cool Ranch Doritos Taco. When I was asked to create a recipe for McCormick on the theme “Twisted Taco,” the Husband was quick to offer up his beloved Cool Ranch Taco for a little recipe experimentation.

McCormick spices account for nearly 95% of the spices and herbs in my cabinet: the Cocoa-Chili blend I use in my Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies, Italian Herb Blend that helps make my Perfect Wheat Pizza Crust, and let’s not forget my Homemade Taco Seasoning which is made from my red-lidded bottles of Cumin, Chili, and Oregano.

McCormick was the spice my Mother always used and I have followed suit, using those familiar flavors to create our family-friendly meals.

Now, in a twist on the normal Taco Tuesday we enjoy each week, our family now has the Cool Ranch Taco Recipe to change up our Tex-Mex routine. And the seasoning mix is versatile! Use it on corn or flour tortillas to make your own Homemade Cool Ranch Chips for a healthier snack than the bagged variety. Or, if you have leftovers from your Taco Night, present the leftovers as Cool Ranch Nachos; I did that with our leftovers and that pan of nachos were GONE in minutes.

This is a recipe your family will enjoy anyway you serve it!

Homemade Cool Ranch Tacos

Make your own Cool Ranch Tacos with spices from your cabinet! Preservative and MSG free!

Author: Rachel Lacy

Ingredients

Cool Ranch Seasoning Mix

¼ cup Powdered Buttermilk*
1 tablespoon Ground Parmesan Cheese or Nutritional Yeast**
1.5 tablespoons of Ranch Seasoning Mix (see below)
1 teaspoon Onion Powder
.5 teaspoon Garlic Powder
Salt to taste, if needed
Dash or two of Cayenne Pepper

Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix

1 teaspoon of Onion Powder
.5 teaspoon of Garlic Powder
2 teaspoons of Dried Dill
1 teaspoon of Dried Basil
.5 teaspoon of Dried Parsley
.5 teaspoon Salt (add more to taste if desired)

Taco Ingredients

1 pound of cooked and seasoned Ground Beef, Chicken or Turkey
8-12 Crispy Corn Taco Shells
Shredded Lettuce
Sour Cream
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Diced Tomatoes
Salsa
Cooking Oil Spray

Instructions

Preheat your oven according to the instructions on the packaging of your taco shells.
Mix the Ranch Seasoning Mix ingredients, reserving 1.5 tablespoons of the mix for the Cool Ranch Recipe. (the remainder can be stored in an air-tight container)
In small bowl, blend all of the Cool Ranch Seasoning ingredients. If desired, you can blend or puree the ingredients in a blender or food processor to make everything very fine. (Set aside or store the seasoning in an air-tight container or shaker.)
Lightly spray the exterior of each taco shell with your cooking spray or olive oil mist, and the sprinkle the Cool Ranch Seasoning on each side. To keep a mess off your counters, do this over a large bowl (to catch the excess seasoning).
Line the prepared shells on a heavy-duty cookie sheet, standing them “upside down”, with the bottom of each shell facing up.
Carefully place the pan into your preheated oven and cook for 3-6 minutes — watch them carefully and do not let the seasoning burn.
Remove from the oven and fill the shells in the following order:
Cooked/Seasoned Meat, Sour Cream, Shredded Lettuce, Diced Tomatoes, Shredded Cheddar Cheese.
Serve immediately.

Notes

*Powdered Buttermilk can be found in your baking aisle at the grocery store; it is simply (as the name implies) dried buttermilk that can be used in dips or baking or seasoning blends that call for normal buttermilk.
**Nutritional Yeast is a non-dairy (and gluten-free) alternative to powdered cheese. It’s a natural substance that can be found at whole food stores or the “healthy/gluten-free/specialty food” aisles in grocery stores.
The Homemade Ranch Dressing Dry Mix can be made ahead of time and stored in an air-tight container.

This recipe will make enough Cool Ranch Seasoning mix for future use; it can be stored in an air-tight container (I used an old spice bottle).

Win a McCormick Spice Kit!

McCormick Spices are great for any meal (and if you need inspiration, check out their Pinterest Page!) and if your family is getting tired of the same ol’ tacos each week, McCormick Spices will definitely help “spice” things up!

(sorry, I just couldn’t resist)

McCormick is giving away 30 Spice Kits and I’m hoping one of you gets to win one!

Simple Entry:
Pin any taco recipe — like this one!! — using the hashtag #McCormickTacoNight and tag me (@rachellacy).

That’s it! And, good luck!!!!!

disclosure: I was provided a few new bottles of spices and compensated for my time to develop this recipe. Winners of the spice kit will be chosen by The Motherhood as representatives of McCormick.

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Following In My Shoes | Texas Mom Blog

100 Ways to Have Summer Fun

For more Summer Fun Ideas, follow My “Kid Boards” on Pinterest:

Rachel– Owner/Author Following In My Shoes

Mommy Sleeps In: Make-Ahead School Lunches

In This Bento:– {I Heart Lunch}

I made and froze my version of the Momables’ Gluten-Free Piggy Cupcakes (aka Corn Dog Muffins), pulling them out to thaw for a no-fuss lunch.

I experimented with apples and three different ways to keep them from browning, allowing me (on Sunday) to cut all of our apples for the week.

Inspired by pasta dishes from the Momables lunch menus, I prepared tortellini and stored it in the fridge, ready to go with a small container of sauce for later in the week.

In This Bento:– {I Heart Lunch}

Challenged by Laura’s mantra of saving time, I cut up cheese and sliced ham, making little kebobs and storing them (in air-tight bags) in the fridge for my own “30-Second Wow Lunch.”

In This Bento:– {I Heart Lunch}

{I Heart Lunch}

Now — link ‘em up!

Hello, Watermelon.

Welcome to Watermelon Season.

Favorite Photo Apps for Android

12 Best Android Photo Apps

1. Instagram (free):

2. BeFunky (free):

3. Snapseed (free):

4. Cymera (free):

5. Camera ZOOM FX ($2.99):

6. Touch Retouch Pro ($.99):

7. AfterFocus Pro ($1.99):

8. Phonto (free):

9. PicFrame (free):

10. Shape’d (free):

11. Real Bokeh ($1.99):

12. LabelBox (free):

Rachel– Owner/Author Following In My Shoes

Homemade Cool Ranch Tacos

Win a McCormick Spice Kit!