Meal Planning and Tips for Today's Family

Chicken Spaghetti

2016-11-14T09:53:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I made Chicken Spaghetti, this is a recipe I found from the Pioneer Woman show on the Food Network. I have become very fond of her and her recipes. This one was a definite favorite for my family! Here's the recipe:

http://www.foodtv.com/2se3z

My eleven year old daughter, generally a very picky eater, ate all of it without saying a word.

Planning your meals for the week

2016-06-27T22:42:00.000-04:00

I'm always looking for healthy and delicious solutions for meals for my family. Preparation can be time consuming. Planning ahead can make a big difference. There are so many great recipes out there if you plan your meals and use fresh ingredients it can make a difference in the overall health of you and your family. Fresh food and knowing what is going into your meal planning is key.

I love the Food Network and was recently watching The Pioneer Woman. This is a great show about Ree Drummond who is a rancher's wife living on a beautiful ranch in Oklahoma with her hubby and 4 kids. She is a blogger (thepioneerwoman.com) as well and has some great recipes.

Recently, I saw an episode where Ree was preparing recipes for the week by cutting up ingredients and putting them in freezer bags and storing them in the freezer for the week until they are ready to be prepared. Great idea!

One recipe I tried for my family was stuffed peppers! MMMM, they were so good and my daughter (the pickiest eater) even ate them up!

What I like about her recipes is they are easy to prepare and there is not a lot added to them.

I feel like these days society has become to accustomed to quickie meals and driving through fast food restaurants. Seems like there are so many convenience foods out there that in a lot of homes meal preparation has become a thing of the past. What's wrong with taking the time to plan and prepare everything? This way you know what you are preparing and what is going into it.

New School Year!

2012-08-01T16:50:00.004-04:00

Can't believe how much my kids have grown! My son, Owen, will be attending Kindergarten in just 7 days! He is getting on the bus for the first time with his sister, Phoebe, who will be starting second grade. So excited for what is ahead of us for the rest of this year! I will be on my own during the day for the first time in a long time! I am currently persuing positions that I can work from home so I can meet the bus. Wish me luck!

I have been thinking a lot about this blog and what types of information I would like to include, starting good habits for snacking and meals. Would love to hear from you Mom's out there regarding your mealtime tips as well!

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

2010-03-17T12:21:00.000-04:00

Please join me in supporting Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution by going to www.jamieoliver.com/petition.

The following is a message from Jamie Oliver:

"I believe that every child in America has the right to fresh, nutritious school meals, and that every family deserves real, honest, wholesome food. Too many people are being affected by what they eat. It's time for a national revolution. America needs to stand up for better food!

You live in an amazing country full of inspirational people and you have the power to change things. With your help, we can get better food into homes, schools and communities all over America and give your kids a better future.

Sign the petition and be a part of the Food Revolution. It could be the most important thing you ever do for your family. America's health needs you now!"

Jamie will premier a show on ABC on Friday, March 26 at 9:00.

In the series, Jamie heads to Huntington, West Virginia - which has been called the unhealthiest city in America -- to start his new cooking initiative. He hopes to help get Huntington off that list and start a chain reaction of positive change across the country. Jamie says, "The time is right for people to rediscover the sense of pride, satisfaction and fun you can get from cooking for the people you love. There's an incredible community in Huntington, and I want this experience to be a celebration of what we can achieve when people come together. I want to prove that turning around the epidemic of obesity and bad health doesn't have to be boring or dull in the slightest. Wonderful stories will unfold in Huntington, and hopefully this will inspire the rest of the States."

OMG!! Food Lion saved me $22.00 on my last shopping trip!

2010-02-01T07:43:00.000-05:00

Food Lion saved me a ton of money! I joined the FoodLion.com MVP store specials, selected the products I wanted and printed the list! I had my husband pick up the items I selected and he was shocked to learn I saved our family $22.00!!

Download electronic coupons to your grocery store savings card

2009-11-19T12:44:00.000-05:00

I have found a great website to download electronic coupons directly to selected grocery store savings cards. This is a free service. The website is Shortcuts.com. When you register on the site it will ask for your name, zip code, birthday, e-mail address, password and security question and answer. Next the registration lists the featured grocery store savings cards. The selected stores include Baker's, Carrs, City Market, Dillon's, Dominick's, Fry's, Fry's Marketplace, Genuardi's, Gerbes, Hilander, JayC, King Soopers, Kroger, Kroger Marketplace, Owen's, Pavilions, Pay Less, QFC, Ralph's, Randalls, Safeway, Smith's, Smith's Marketplace, Tom Thumb, and Vons. Select your card, enter the number. Follow the rest of the registation process and you are good to go. The site will list those electronic coupons featured for the card you choose. As you select the coupons to download a list updates on the screen so you can see how much savings you will receive. Also lists savings to date.

13 Easy Ways to Reduce your Food Budget

2009-10-22T13:32:00.001-04:00

I found this great article about cutting expenses, you can also go to the website at http://www.frugalfun.com/reduce-your-food-budget.html.

When trying to cut expenses, food is a great place to start because there are so many opportunities to save. One way to watch your savings pile up and be able to use it for a goal, such as a vacation, down payment on a home or paying off debt, is to put the cash you saved from any purchase into an envelope or a jar until you get enough to make a bank savings deposit. Make a strict rule to not use the money for anything else but your goal. Here are thirteeen easy ways to reduce your food budget that will help you achieve this:

1. If you don't want to stop going out to eat, check your local newspaper, the back of grocery receipts and junk mail flyers for restaurant coupons. A lot of restaurants offer "buy 1 meal get 1 free" on certain days of the week. If you want to cut back even more, cut back on the number of times you go out in a month or week.

2. Shop grocery outlets. Every major city has them. Ours is called *The Canned Food Warehouse*. Not every item in the store is a deal; you have to know normal food prices to compare, but when you do find a deal, it is usually a great one. You will find enough of these deals to make your trip worth it.

3. Be sure to comparison shop. Look at the sale tag on the item's shelf and see how much per pound, ounce or whatever the item is sold as. Compare that to the other products to determine which is the best deal.

4. Always check the weekly grocery ads for the good sales. If there is a really good deal on something, be sure to buy it in multiples. This will save you from paying full price later.

5. Use coupons for food products. I have found the best way to use them is combined with a sale. Most of the time, if you use a coupon without combining it with a sale, you will still be paying more than other brands, so be sure to watch for this.

6. Always use your leftovers. This saves a tremendous amount of money and time by extending your shopping trips. If you need ideas for using leftovers, check out *The Leftover Recipe E-book* that includes over 100 ideas and recipes for leftovers here: http://homemakersjournal.com/leftovers.htm

7. Grow as much produce as you can to eat fresh and/or preserve for later. To save as much money as possible, start plants from seed. This can really add up quick and you will know how your food was grown rather than wondering what chemicals may have been applied to the plants of the produce you purchase. If you purchase organic produce to relieve this worry, it can be quite expensive.

8. Stop buying junk food, sodas and prepared food. These are not only expensive, but unhealthy, therefore a waste of your hard-earned dollars.

9. Always shop with a grocery list and stick to it so you don't buy unnecessary or expensive items.

10. Never shop hungry! Have you ever gone grocery shopping hungry? I have and I wanted to buy everything in sight because everything looked delicious! I didn't buy everything in sight, but, I did increase our grocery bill that day! Also, because I was hungry, I didn't feel like shopping or making decisions so this added to the problem.

11. About Kids. It is good training for kids, if they are old enough, to comparison shop; I usually ask mine to go get the cheapest ketchup, or whatever is nearby so I can still see them, so they get hands-on experience (you'll need to supervise this in the beginning, then later you'll be able to trust they are making the right decisions). Kids have a tendency to ask for things in the store; the best way to handle this is to let them get something within a set price limit and keep this limit each time you go shopping. If your kids are younger, you may want to consider leaving them at home with a friend or relative; younger kids can tire and get difficult in the store spoiling your frugal efforts.

12. Shop at the store's off-peak hours when you will be less rushed and can make better decisions.

13. Check out the *Fantastic Frugal Grocery Tips* E-book to learn even more ways of reducing your food budget. Among the many frugal grocery tips, you'll learn about freeze and stock foods, saving in rural areas, how to make a price book and more! Click here for more information: http://homemakersjournal.com/frugalgrocerytips.htm

Free Milk From Food Lion

2009-07-23T12:09:00.003-04:00

I don't know about you but our family goes through milk like it is going out of style! Especially my 2 year old, Owen!

I am a frequent shopper at Food Lion, they have a special promotion going on from July 22 through October 13, 2009. If you purchase 6 gallons of milk you will receive one free. I buy milk every other day, so this promotion is great! A friend of mine is an even bigger milk drinker...she buys 6 gallons at a time! Believe me she will be using this promotion! You need to have an MVP card for this promotion, which is very easy to obtain. After you have accumulated 6 milk credits you will receive a message at the bottom of your receipt that indicates when you have qualified for your Free Milk Coupon. To receive your Free Milk Coupon present your qualifying cash register receipt to your cashier.

It's Arby's Freebie Day!

2009-07-22T07:50:00.002-04:00

Today at Arby's if you purchase any size soft drink you will receive a FREE Roastburger.

My Sweet Phoebe

2009-07-16T12:14:00.002-04:00

Gotta share this cute story. My children and I were outside playing this morning, Phoebe got a little too aggressive with the toy she was playing with and fell down. She scraped her knees and hands and was crying. I brought her inside and gave her the TLC she needed (clean up, bandage, ointment, kiss the boo boo), then put her down for her nap (well, quiet time). She was still a little upset so I asked what else I could do to make it better, she said "well, going to the park would make it a lot better!" She is soo sweet!! Guess where we're going after naptime! The park! :-)

Great deals!!

2009-07-15T12:50:00.002-04:00

Today is freebie day at Arby's. If you purchase any size softdrink you will get a free regular size Arby's roast beef sandwich. Great deal!!

Food Lions popping up everywhere!

2009-07-08T12:41:00.006-04:00

I don't know what is happening to the town I live in, anytime you see any new construction it turns out to be a Food Lion! They just opened a gourmet one just near my house. I haven't been in to purchase any gourmet items, but the prices on traditional groceries seem reasonable. On another note, it almost seems like an oxymoron when you are walking down the ailes there are WIC signs on almost all items, then the next aisle is the gourmet food section. I guess they cater to all shoppers! I guess this make me realize how many American's are really suffering financially.

When Phoebe (4), Owen (2) and myself walked in the store there were the cutest little shopping carts just the right size for them! It was like we were on parade walking down each aisle first me, then Phoebe pushing her cart and Own taking up the rear grabbing anything he can and putting it in his cart just like Mommy! My kids are such a trip! Half the time I can't wait for my daughter to start PreK in August where she will be gone from 8:30 to 3! Then I get nostalgic and wish she was just a baby again! Time certainly does fly!!

Kroger Website

2009-06-26T13:22:00.004-04:00

If you have a Kroger Supermarket in your area there are some great deals you can electronically add to your card for savings the next time you shop. Just go to Kroger.com, select Plus Card, from there you can create your account by adding your Kroger Plus Card number, select your store, view your fuel points (this is a great deal, by the way if you spend a certain amount Kroger will take 10 cents off your gas purchase!!) and select the coupons for the week. They have some geat deals listed. Check it out go to www.kroger.com

Family Vacation???

2009-06-11T08:28:00.003-04:00

With the state of the economy I have to pose this question...are you are your family taking a summer vacation this year?

With the situation my family is in we are going to stay put not to mention gas prices on the rise and flying is totally out of the question!

There are so many inexpensive summer programs my kids and I can participate in like next week Phoebe will attend Vacation Bible School. Also, both Phoebe and Owen are participating in a reading program every week at the library.

Have a safe and happy summer!

Firehouse Subs - Eat free on your birthday!!

2009-06-09T21:16:00.003-04:00

If you have a Firehouse Subs near you they are offering a special promotion. Just got to this website http://www.firehousesubs.com/birthday/ and fill out the appropriate information! You will get a free sub on your birthday!!

Free tastic freebies

2009-06-07T13:08:00.001-04:00

Free tastic freebies

Shared via AddThis

Family Game Night Planning Blog

2009-06-07T12:14:00.004-04:00

I am venturing out from this blog to a new one for planning family game nights. I would love for this blog to be a resources for parents to come to for game ideas, snack ideas, etc... all in an effort to promote family togetherness. Please visit http://planyourfamilynight.blogspot.com/. I would love to get your comments and/or suggestions!!

Family game night planning

2009-06-04T20:31:00.004-04:00

Why is family game night such a good idea? First of all, it’s a fun way for families to spend time together. Games allow you to compete, show off skills and learn sportsmanship. They encourage family communication. Family game night is like a mini-vacation where everyone can enjoy each other’s company -- and make memories that will last forever.

Here’s how to make your game night something you look forward to all week:

Clear the books. Make this an important date. This sends a good message about family priorities, and it gives everyone something to anticipate.
Keep it to the family. You may want to make other game evenings when you invite guests, but for this night, make sure it’s all about your immediate family. This fosters communication, comfort and helps everyone build a strong sense of family identity.

No interruptions. Let the machine get phone calls, turn off your cell and PDA, and make sure all homework is done beforehand.

Choose the right game. Make sure that everyone can enjoy playing the game, and let different family members choose the game. In fact, you might share the duties of being “in charge” of the night so that everyone gets a turn to create the event. (Of course mom and dad can assist the youngest players.)

Vary the games you play. It doesn’t really matter what you play, as long as everyone can feel like a participant. But balance games of skill with games of luck so that everyone gets a chance to do something they’re good at -- and improve the odds of having a winning night.

Use this as a teaching time. Family game night is a great time to reinforce things like manners, being a good sport, taking turns and other social skills that children will need as they grow up and go out in the world. This can all be done with good humor in the context of the game play and the family, and it gives kids a chance to practice these positive behaviors.

Different Options for Different Ages
Well, the sky’s the limit. Bear in mind that all good games have a few things in common: they’re easy to understand, they’re different every time they’re played, and they take an appropriate amount of time. For younger kids, games that you can play several times in an evening are ideal. Older kids may enjoy a game of Monopoly that can take the whole evening. In all cases, make sure that everyone feels involved and engaged in the process. If you’re trying out a new game, you might want to have an old favorite as a back-up in case the new one isn’t right for your family.

Game Types for Every Family

Now, the fun part: playing! With over 5,000 games on the market at any time, the choice can by dizzying, but here are some ideas:

Classics The advantage to these is that everyone knows them, or almost -- and they’ve stood the test of time. Check age gradings, but some suggestions are: Monopoly, Clue, Sorry, Othello, Battleship, Boggle, Parcheesi, Operation, Chutes and Ladders, Candyland, Trouble, Sorry, Pictionary, Trivial Pursuit. Many of these have special interest editions now.

Strategy Games These games are great for families that like a little more substance to their games. Often story-based, one of the best we’ve seen this year is Parthenon from Z-Man Games where players race to build their civilizations.

Multi-Faceted Games These are games that combine different kinds of skills. Great for diverse families where everyone gets a chance to shine. For older kids and adults, check out Cranium. Cranium Family Fun, Hoopla and Whonu? work for the whole family.

DVD Games Definitely one of the hottest trends in the whole game business Our favorite is Scene It? from Mattel in different versions that cover movies, TV, music, sports and Harry Potter. Pop in the DVD and you simply play along. Choose the version that’s right for the group you’re playing with.

Skill and Action Games For when you just want to have some silly fun. Try Captain Bones Gold from Spin Master, and Ker-Plunk from Mattel. These are great for kids with tons of energy, and the different outcomes keep families engaged.

Have a fun and relaxing time together!

Great Board Games for Family Night In!

2009-06-04T12:34:00.003-04:00

I was in Target the other day in the game section and remembered all of the games I used to play when I was a child. This reemphasises the fact that families need to have a time when they can get together for "family time". In my opinion this is not just meal times! So many of us get bogged down with extracurricular activities, or just sit down and engross ourselves in television. I think if a family sets aside a time for the family to get together for "game night" or any other planned activity as a family unit, it can grow your family bond so much more! Gives each of you something to look forward to!

There are so many great games out there like Clue (they even have Clue, Jr), Scrabble and Scrabble for kids, Monopoly, Chutes and Ladders, Don't Spill the Beans just to name a few! What a great world we live in that we can show our kids and play with the games we used to play and share special moments!!

Do you think sports builds character in kids?

2009-05-28T13:56:00.004-04:00

I have added this poll to my blog and would love to get your views. I think most people have different views. My childhood did not consist of sports, in my later adult years I regret that sports was not a part of my life. However, my husband Allen participated in a lot of sports and still does. I do and have always believed that yes, sports does build character in kids AND playing sports promotes teamwork in kids. I believe teamwork is crucial in most organizations! If you have one bad seed trying to bring everyone down it can spread quickly. I have seen this many, many times! The more positive an individual can be, the more it can be contageous! In this encomomy with so many companies barely getting by, those organizations that are surviving need positive influences amongst the employees.

Get to know your neighbors

2009-05-28T09:17:00.006-04:00

I was talking to a my friend Pam this morning, she was telling me there is a neighbor of hers that wanted to start a Bunko group for some girls in her neighborhood. I thought this was great!

This also prompted me to write something about it! :-) I believe it is so crucial to know your neighbors. So many times people can just stay to themselves and are fearful or just not willing to get out there. Our neighborhood has gone through a wonderful transformation! I have a 4 year old and 2 year old, a lot of the kids in our area vary in age (anywhere from 2 to 9 years old) but they all enjoy playing with each other. And, look out for each other! They make up games, ride their bikes, play all sorts of games and just enjoy each other. The adults just hang out at whoever's house and chat or just chill! My suggestion to you, organize a block party in your neighborhood, building, etc.... Get to know your neighbors, you'll be glad you did!

I blogged earlier also about Edy's Ice Cream and how they are having a contest giving away a free block party for up to 100 of your friends and neighbors, all you have to do is write 350 words about why your neighborhood is the best! I have to hand it to Edy's for coming up with such a great campaign! In these time of stress, it is nice to know you have friends and neighbors who care!

Longhorn Steakhouse offer

2009-05-26T15:42:00.004-04:00

If there is a Longhorn Steakhouse in your area then you need to visit their website, www.longhornsteakhouse.com. They are offering $5.50 off your purchase of $25.00 or more. Visit the website to find your nearest location.

Why 2-year-olds throw tantrums

2009-05-26T15:34:00.003-04:00

As I mentioned in a previous blog, I am trying to teach my 2 year old, Owen, sign language with Baby Signing Time. This is all in an effort to avoid tantrums. Below is an article I found on Babycenter.com regarding tantrums and why they happen.

A temper tantrum is the emotional equivalent of a summer storm — sudden and sometimes fierce, but often over as quickly as it starts. One minute you and your child are enjoying your dinner in a restaurant, the next she's whimpering, whining, and then screaming to go home. Two-year-olds are especially prone to such episodes.

Though you may worry that you're raising a tyrant, take heart — at this age, it's unlikely that your child is throwing a fit to be manipulative. More likely, she's having a meltdown in response to frustration. Often, your 2-year-old's language skills — or lack thereof — are to blame. "Two-year-olds are beginning to understand more and more of the words they hear, yet their ability to articulate their feelings and needs is limited," says Claire B. Kopp, professor of applied developmental psychology at California's Claremont Graduate University. As a result, frustration builds when your child can't express how she feels.

What to do when your 2-year-old pitches a fit
Don't lose your cool. A tantrum isn't a pretty sight. In addition to kicking, screaming, or pounding the floor, your child's repertoire may include throwing things, hitting, and even holding her breath until she turns blue (don't worry; she'll eventually come up for air). When your child is swept up in a tantrum, she's unable to listen to reason, though she will respond — negatively — to your yelling or threatening. "The more I shouted at Brandon to stop, the wilder he would get," says one mother. What worked instead, she discovered, was to just sit down and be with him while he raged.

Stomping out of the room — tempting as that may be — can make your child feel abandoned. The storm of emotion she's feeling can be frightening to her, and she needs to know you're nearby. Rather than leave her thrashing on the floor, go to her. If she's not flailing too much, pick her up and hold her. Chances are she'll find your embrace comforting, and will calm down more quickly.

Remember that you're the adult. No matter how long the tantrum goes on, don't give in to unreasonable demands or negotiate with your screaming child. It's especially tempting in public to cave in as a way of ending the episode. Try not to worry about what others think — anyone who's a parent has been there before. By conceding, you'll only be teaching your child that pitching a fit is the way to get what she wants, and setting the stage for future behavior problems. What's more, a tantrum is frightening enough for your child without her feeling that you're not in control, either.

If your 2-year-old's outburst escalates to the point where she's hitting people or pets, throwing things, or screaming nonstop, pick her up and carry her to a safe place, such as her bedroom, where she can't harm herself. Tell her why she's there ("because you hit your sister"), and let her know that you'll stay with her until she calms down. If you're in a public place — a common breeding ground for tantrums — be prepared to leave with your child until she gets a grip.

"My daughter had an absolute fit at a restaurant because the plain spaghetti she ordered arrived with chopped parsley on it," another mother recalls. "Although I realized why she was upset, I wasn't about to let her disrupt everyone's dinner. I took her outside until she calmed down."

Talk it over afterward. When the storm subsides, hold your child close and talk about what happened. Acknowledge her frustration, and help her put her feelings into words, saying something like, "You were very angry because your food wasn't the way you wanted it," Kopp suggests. Let her see that once she expresses herself in words, she'll get better results. Say with a smile, "I'm sorry I didn't understand you. Now that you're not screaming, I can find out what you want."

Try to head off tantrum-triggering situations. Pay attention to what pushes your child's buttons and plan accordingly. If she falls apart when she's hungry, carry snacks with you. If she has trouble making a transition from one activity to the next, give her a gentle heads-up before a change. Alerting her to the fact that you're about to leave the playground or sit down to dinner ("We're going to eat when you and Daddy are done with your story") gives her a chance to adjust instead of react.

Your child is grappling with independence, so offer her choices when you can. No one likes being told what to do all the time. Saying, "Would you like corn or carrots?" rather than "Eat your corn!" will give her a sense of control. Monitor how often you're saying no, too. If you find you're rattling it off routinely, you're probably putting unnecessary stress on both of you. Ease up and choose your battles — after all, would it really wreck your schedule to spend an extra five minutes at the playground?

Watch for signs of overstress. Though daily tantrums are a perfectly normal part of the terrible twos, you do need to keep an eye out for possible problems brewing. Has there been upheaval in the family? An extremely busy or harried period? Tension between you and your partner? All of these can provoke tantrums. If after the age of 2 1/2 your child is still having major tantrums every day, talk to her pediatrician. If she's younger than 2 1/2 but has three or four tantrums a day and isn't cooperating with any routines, such as getting dressed or picking up toys, you also may want to seek help. The pediatrician can make sure that a physical or psychological condition isn't contributing to the problem, and suggest ways to deal with the outbursts

Inspirational quote

2009-05-26T15:11:00.003-04:00

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

Boomerang from Cartoon Network

2009-05-26T12:54:00.003-04:00

I don't know if all cable companies subscribe to Boomerang from Cartoon Network, I have DirecTV, it comes with our basic cable. Anyway, I came upon this channel when my daughter, Phoebe and I were channel surfing one Saturday afternoon. Before we knew it we were watching old (original) episodes of The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Tom and Jerry, The Smurfs basically a lot of the old Hanna Barbera cartoons I grew up with. Phoebe loved all of them. Cartoons and a lot of the kids shows these days are so much different than shows we grew up with! My husband Allen, walked in and got a laugh out of it, before you knew it he was sitting down enjoying the shows as well. It turned out to be a new adventure for Phoebe and a stroll down memory lane for Allen and I.