The Modern Day Mom

Freezing Strawberries

2013-06-18T18:04:00.000-07:00

It is strawberry season and I couldn’t be more excited. I love fresh strawberries and try to stock up on fresh strawberries when they are in season locally so that I can enjoy them all winter long while avoiding the ones from the supermarket. During strawberry season strawberries can be found at roadside stands, u-pick farms, and farmers markets for rock bottom prices. They are easy to preserve, so there is no reason not to stock up on them. Freezing strawberries is simple, and in fact will probably be the easiest fruit or vegetable you will preserve all summer. Here is how you freeze strawberries for use all year long.

The first step in freezing strawberries is to choose the strawberries that you want to preserve. Strawberries are very delicate and can go bad quickly so it is important to freeze them right away while they are at their freshest point. You will want to use strawberries that are perfect with no blemishes or mushiness, save the ones that are a little bruised or just not perfect for use in other recipes. After you have chosen the strawberries that you will be freezing it is time to move on to the next step, rinsing the strawberries. You will want to gently wash and dry the strawberries, paying close attention so as not to soak the berries in the water too long as it will result in a loss of the flavor.

After you have cleaned the strawberries now it is time to remove the stem and hull the berries. At this point you will also need to determine if you want to freeze them whole or slice them, or you can always do a little bit of both. If you decide to slice the strawberries now is the time to do so.

Next is another important decision, do you want to freeze them with sugar on them or not. Freezing the strawberries without sugar will allow them to be stored in the freezer without freezer burn for several months but freezing them with sugar on them will extend the storage life of your strawberries. Strawberries frozen in sugar will last longer as the sugar helps to prevent freezer burn, and also helps to preserve their color. If you choose to freeze your strawberries in sugar now is the time to cover them in a light dusting of sugar.

Now your strawberries are ready to go into the freezer. Now you will want to place your strawberries flat on a baking sheet, being careful that they do not touch one another, and place them in the freezer. Allow the strawberries to stay on the freezer pan until they are frozen solid. Once the strawberries have frozen solid you will want to remove them from the baking sheet to either a freezer bag or freezer container. Be sure to label your container and place it in the freezer. After you have placed your container in the freezer you are done.

Join us for Works For Me Wednesday at We Are That Family.

Menu Plan Monday (On Tuesday), June 17th to 23rd

2013-06-18T12:15:00.000-07:00

Join us for Menu Plan Monday at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

It's been a busy end of the school year for us. On May 19th we had my son's birthday, on May 21st we had our last day of homeschool co-op, on the 22nd we had our end of the year program for our homeschool co-op and on May 23rd my husband went into the hospital for a multi-level spinal fusion. I knew his surgery would keep me away from the blog for a while but he ended up with a post-surgery infection after he was released from the hospital and had to be readmitted. So needless to say a menu plan has not been on my mind lately. Now that we are at home things seem to be falling back into a routine, and I am missing my menu plan, so I am thrilled to be taking the time to plan one out for this week. If you don't menu plan you really should take the time to do it, it makes my life so much easier and makes grocery shopping a cinch.

Here's what I have planned for this week:

links to recipes are in red

Monday

Breakfast: Breakfast Pork Chops, Scrambled Eggs, Toast

Dinner: Low Fat Potato Soup Recipe

Tuesday

Lunch: Crab Cakes using Imitation Crab Meat, Sautéed Kale (from my garden!!!)

Dinner: Spaghetti with Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce, Frozen Garlic Bread (given to me by a friend during hubby's hospital stay)

Wednesday

Breakfast: Baked Oatmeal, Fresh Fruit

Dinner: Slow Cooker Classic Pot Roast (not a typical summer meal but I am trying to clean out my freezer and have a pot roast I need to get rid of)

Thursday

Breakfast: Turkey Bacon, Scrambled Eggs, Hashbrowns

Dinner: Taco Bell Copycat Bean Burritos, but I will be making my own refried beans instead of canned ones using this recipe, Easy Slow Cooker Refried Beans

Friday

Breakfast: Dad's Homemade Pancakes

Dinner: Busy Day Pork Chop Recipes, Mashed Potatoes, Corn

Saturday

Breakfast: Cereal

Dinner: Shrimp Egg Rolls (recipe to be posted next week), Rice

Sunday

Breakfast: Dad's Homemade Pancakes

Dinner: Turkey Pot Pie (using a mixture of recipes will post my completed recipe next week)

Menu Plan Monday, May 13th to 19th

2013-05-12T23:59:00.000-07:00

It's that time of the week again, Menu Plan Monday. I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day. My day was filled with homemade cards and goodies from my kids. I love the homemade cards, they are worth so much more to me than a store bought card.

This past week has been a pretty rough week around here as we have been passing a virus bug around the house, so a few of our meals got skipped. I ended up making some homemade chicken noodle soup because we all know that you can't get better unless you eat chicken noodle soup. I am trying to incorporate more real food into our diet, if you look at some of my menu items you may wonder how I can make that statement but we are working on it. It's hard to break old habits and change your eating practices all at once so we are doing baby steps around here. To make our homemade chicken noodle soup I turned to the Chicken Noodle Soup recipe from 100 Days of Real Food. For those of you who know I don't like to follow instructions I will have you know that I followed the recipe 100% for the soup. I started off on Saturday night by cooking the chicken in the crockpot, and then making the stock overnight in the crockpot. We didn't eat the chicken on Saturday night so I just pulled it off the bone and put it in the fridge for use later. Then on Sunday I made the chicken noodle soup adding in half of the cooked chicken and then I am using the rest of the chicken for our chicken pot pie this week. I will also be using the extra chicken stock in that recipe as well. It was a super easy to follow recipe and the whole family loved it.

This will be another busy week followed by the Little Man's 10th birthday party this Sunday. We will be having to eat out again a couple of times this week, even though I am not too happy about it.

Here's what I have planned for this week:

links to recipes are in red

Monday

Lunch: Slow Cooker Refried Beans, Pretzels, Crockpot Applesauce

Dinner: Italian Vegetable Soup

Tuesday

Lunch: Beef and Bean Burritos (skipped last week, recipe coming soon)

Dinner: Chicken Pot Pie

Wednesday

Lunch: Pork Chop Suey (also skipped from last week)

Dinner: Eating Out

Thursday

Lunch: Beef Fajitas, Slow Cooker Refried Beans

Dinner: Potato Soup

Friday

Brunch: Pumpkin Oatmeal

Dinner: Salmon Cakes I will be using this recipe this week instead of my recipe to see what the difference in taste is (skipped last week), Crashed Potatoes (recipe coming soon), Garlicky Mushrooms and Kale

Saturday

Brunch: Pumpkin Pancakes (because I have some pumpkin puree to use up)

Dinner: Eating Out

Sunday

Pulled Barbecue Chicken (Recipe Coming Soon)
Slow Cooker Baked Beans (Will share this recipe soon as well)
Homemade Potato Salad
Garlicky Mushrooms and Kale
My Grandmother's Green Beans
Stewed Tomatoes
Bacon Deviled Eggs
Cooked Apples
Sweet Peas

Must Plant Herbs for Your Medicinal Herb Garden

2013-05-08T12:34:00.001-07:00

I am enjoying this spring weather, and have been busy planning my garden for the upcoming season. One of the areas that I have really been focusing on is my herb garden. Did you know that herbs can be grown for more than just spicing up your food they can also be used for medicinal purposes? Here are six herbs that you might want to consider adding to your herb garden for medicinal use.

Aloe Vera

One of the most popular plants that is grown for medicinal purposes is the Aloe Vera Plant. Aloe Vera has antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory compounds that help make it perfect for use when it comes to wound healing. Simply break off one of the Aloe Vera plant’s stems and rub the gel found inside directly onto your wound, burn, or sunburn to take advantage of its natural healing properties.

Echinacea

Well known for its immune system building properties Echinacea is often used in the treatment of colds, flu, ear aches, and yeast infections. All parts of the Echinacea plant can be used, and it is most often used as a tea.

Lemon Balm

As a member of the mint family Lemon Balm is used for the treatment of headaches, skin infections, and digestive problems. Lemon Balm can be made into a tea, and has a distinct lemony scent.

Peppermint

Another member of the mint family Peppermint is often used in the treatment of digestive disorders or for calming an upset stomach. Peppermint can be used as a tea or added to dishes for peppermint flavoring.

Burdock

As a plant that grows naturally in the wild Burdock can also easily be incorporated into an herb garden. The leaves of the Burdock plant can be cooked up like spinach, while being used as a liver treatment, to stimulate the digestive system, and for soothing a cold or sore throat.

Plantain

While it is often considered a lawn weed plantain is actually a useful herb to grow in your garden. Plantain is excellent when it comes to relieving the pain of beestings or poison ivy. While some might not be able to get past how plantain is used in the treatment of beestings or poison ivy it is actually quite easy to use. You simply chew up the plantain leaves while keeping the saliva and the leaves in the front of your mouth. Once you have chewed up the leaves, place the chewed up leaves along with the saliva directly onto the affected area.

Join us for Works-for-Me Wednesday at We Are That Family.

Apple Pancakes with Apple Cider Pancake Syrup

2013-05-07T12:25:00.003-07:00

As I promised yesterday today I am posting my recipe for my Apple Pancakes with Apple Cider Syrup. This recipe came about when I had a couple of apples in our fruit bowl that desperately needed eating and after a busy day I needed a super simple supper. After searching online for a few apple pancake recipes I finally decided upon a mixture of a few recipes and came up with my own version.

Apple Pancake

Ingredients

2 cup all Purpose Flour

2 Tablespoons Baking Powder

2 Eggs

1/4 cup Brown Sugar

1 Teaspoon Salt

1/2 Cup Applesauce

1 cup Milk

1/4 cup Melted Butter

1 Tablespoon Cinnamon

2 small apples, peeled and diced

In a mixing bowl mix all ingredients in the order listed, and stir together by hand.

In a lightly oiled skillet over medium high heat drop 1 cup of pancake mix.

Flip pancakes when the mixture begins to bubble and cook until both sides are light golden.

Remove from heat and serve with pancake syrup. The Apple Cider Pancake Syrup is delicious!

Apple Cider Pancake Syrup

Ingredients

1 Tablespoon Butter

2 Cups Apple Cider

1 Cup Brown Sugar

2 Teaspoons Cinnamon

Directions

1. Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat.

2. When butter is melted add in remaining ingredients.

3. Continue to cook over medium heat until the mixture for fifteen minutes.

4. Remove from heat. Syrup will thicken as it cools off.

Join us for Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays at Blessed with Grace.

Menu Plan Monday, May 6th to 12th

2013-05-06T17:15:00.003-07:00

Join us for Menu Plan Monday at I'm an Organizing Junkie

It's finals week for this busy momma, which means a week full of studying and a huge need for simple meals. I can't wait for this semester to be over though because I am taking the summer semester off and it will be my first semester off in over a year. I am desperately in need of that break. With only two more weeks of homeschool co-op left, I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel for this school year.

Here's what I have planned for this week:

links to recipes are in red

Monday

Breakfast: Sausage and Biscuits, cooked on Sunday night

Lunch: Roast Beef Sandwiches (we made our own lunch meat and will be posting the recipe this week), pretzels, and oranges

Dinner: Chicken, mashed potatoes, lima beans

Tuesday

Breakfast: Apple Pancakes (Recipe will be posted on Tuesday) with Apple Cider Syrup

Dinner: Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches - I will be playing with a new recipe but for now here is the recipe for my Slow Cooker Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches

Wednesday

Lunch: Roast Beef and Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Bread Machine Bread (make two loaves - one for tomorrow's breakfast)

Dinner: Eating Out

Thursday

Breakfast: French Toast

Dinner: Homemade Bean and Beef Burritos (working on a new recipe)

Friday

Lunch: Pork Chop Suey

Dinner: Old Fashioned Beef Stew (left over from last week), cornbread

Saturday

Lunch: Seared Mahi Mahi with Zesty Basil Butter(left over from last week), wild rice

Dinner: Eating out

Sunday

Lunch: Salmon Cakes I will be using this recipe this week instead of my recipe to see what the difference in taste is, Cheesy Hot Potatoes

Dinner: Peppery Spiced Pork Chops, Mashed Potatoes, Cabbage

Tips for Eliminating Mosquitoes From Your Yard

2013-04-30T22:30:00.000-07:00

With the weather warming up, the mosquitoes will be coming out very soon, if they aren't already out in your area. Mosquitoes are not only a pest but can pass diseases with their bites. If you want to enjoy your outdoor area without having to constantly fight mosquitoes you might want to consider using one or more of these handy tips to help combat mosquitoes.

Eliminate Standing Water
The first thing you will want to do when it comes to combating mosquitoes in your yard is to eliminate any standing water that can be found in your yard. Standing, stagnant water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes, by having standing water in your yard you are inviting mosquitoes to breed there and by eliminating the standing water you are taking away their breeding grounds.

Lemon Balm and Lemon Grass
The lemon scent of Lemon Balm and Lemon Grass is said to repel mosquitoes. Planting Lemon Balm or Lemon Grass along the borders of your yard, in the flower beds next to your house, and near areas where you want to sit outside at night will help to keep the mosquitoes away.

Lavender
Essential Lavender Oil is a natural mosquito repellant that can be applied to skin before going outdoors to repel mosquitoes and keep them from biting you. You can make your own Essential Lavender oil from the Lavender plants in your yard.

Bat Houses
If the idea of having bats flying around your property at night doesn't bother you than you might want to consider installing a bat house (or two or three) on your property. Seventy percent of bat species are insectivores, therefore they feed solely on insects. By having bats on your property you will greatly reduce the amount of mosquitoes on your property, it has been reported that some bats can catch up to six hundred or more mosquitoes in an hour.

Dryer Sheets
Many people report that putting dryer sheets in your pockets when you are outdoors will help to keep mosquitoes away. They say that this works best with the stronger smelling dryer sheets, as mosquitoes do not like the smell of them.

Homemade Mosquito Traps
There are several Homemade Mosquito Traps that you can use to help reduce the amount of mosquitoes in your yard. Erin Ringwald, an Ehow Contributor, has step-by-step instructions for creating your own homemade mosquito trap using brown sugar. You can find Erin's homemade mosquito trap by visiting the Ehow website.

Join us for Works-for-Me Wednesday at We Are That Family.

Menu Plan Monday, April 29th - May 5th

2013-04-30T15:12:00.000-07:00

Join us for Menu Plan Monday at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Things have been kind of crazy at The Modern Day Mom house, as the end of most school years are. The good news is there is only a few more weeks left for the majority of it. Since the weather is warming up and we are so busy, I am in need of some majorly easy recipes to get me through the week. We don't eat much once the weather warms up so light meals are perfect for us. And yes, we are eating out way more than I want to this week. If I had to guess some of those eating out trips will become sandwiches on the go instead.

Here's what I have planned for this week:

links to recipes are in red

Monday

Lunch - Turkey wraps, pretzels, pineapple

Dinner - Eating Out

Tuesday

Lunch - Beef Stir Fry

Dinner - Mayo Clinic Beef Stroganoff

Wednesday

Lunch - Old Fashioned Beef Stew, Cornbread

Dinner - Eating out

Thursday

Lunch - Seared Mahi Mahi with Zesty Basil Butter, Wild Rice

Dinner - London Broil, mashed potatoes, lima beans, mushrooms

Friday

Lunch - Salt and Pepper Pork Chops, mashed potatoes, green beans

Dinner - Eating Out

Saturday

Lunch - Foil Pack Chicken Fajita Dinner, Easy Slow Cooker Refried Beans (making extra for tomorrow)

Dinner - Turkey Wraps, Fresh Fruit

Sunday

Lunch - Bean Burritos (Recipe to Come)

Dinner - Sausage (Make extra for Monday Morning), Omelets

Kenutcky Derby Party Menu Ideas

2013-04-19T16:16:00.000-07:00

With the Kentucky Derby just a few short weeks away now is the time to get busy planning your Derby Day party. One of the biggest parts of any party is the menu, and with the Kentucky Derby there are plenty of traditional Kentucky foods that you will want to incorporate. Here are some great ideas to keep in mind when planning the menu for your Kentucky Derby Party this Derby Day.

Kentucky Burgoo

A Kentucky Derby party would not be complete without Kentucky’s famous burgoo. For those who don’t know it is a stew that consists of a little bit of everything including rabbit, chicken, and ham. To find the recipe to make Traditional Kentucky Burgoo you can visit the Courier Journal Newspaper website.

Kentucky Derby Horse Shaped Cookies

These adorable Kentucky Derby horse shaped cookies are sure to be a hit at your Derby party. Do you want to know what the best part is? You don’t have to be a kitchen whiz to make them, in fact there is no baking involved. They are made using Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies, Mini Nilla Wafers, Tootsie Rolls, Red Licorice, and caramel. Find out how to make these horse cookies yourself by visiting the blog Party Pinching.

Kentucky Hot Brown Bites

While Kentucky Hot Browns are delicious they aren’t exactly a party friendly food, however these Kentucky Hot Brown Bites give you all the flavor of a Kentucky Hot Brown in a miniature party-friendly bite size. To find out how to make these Kentucky Hot Brown Bites made with refrigerated crescent rolls visit the website Plain Chicken.

Mint Julep

A Kentucky Derby party is just a party unless you are serving the official drink of the Kentucky Derby, the Mint Julep. This delicious bourbon based drink is a snap to make, with just bourbon, mint leaves, sugar, water, and some ice being all that you need. Find out how to mix up some Mint Juelps for your party by visiting the Babble website.

Mint Julep Cupcakes

If you would prefer to eat your Mint Julep instead of drink it than these Mint Julep Cupcakes from The Pink Peony is just for you. Learn how to make these “adult only” cupcakes by visiting The Pink Peony blog for the recipe.

Kentucky Derby Pie

While the official Kentucky Derby Pie recipe is said to be a well kept family secret there are plenty of recipes around claiming to be the best Kentucky Derby Pie recipe. The best recipe that I have found that most closely resembles the official Kentucky Derby Pie can be found by visiting the About.com Food website.

Kentucky Bourbon Ball Pops

If you have noticed we here in Kentucky love our Bourbon, and it is closely associated with all things Derby. These Kentucky Bourbon Ball Pops succulently display that great taste of Bourbon that says its Derby time like nothing else. You can find out how to make them by visiting the blog Mirabella Creations.

Maple Apple Crisp, Gluten Free, Sugar Free and Vegan Friendly

2013-02-19T17:59:00.003-08:00

Yesterday our fruit basket had three Granny Smith apples in it that were getting a little on the overripe side, and it was time to do something with them. My son has just recently started a gluten free and dairy free diet so I needed something that he could enjoy with us as well. After looking around online I found a few recipes that I thought would work but none of them seemed exactly like I was looking for so I made up my own recipe!

First, I peeled the apples, cored them, and sliced them paper thin.

With the apple slices I mixed in:

1/4 cup maple syrup

1 tablespoon gluten free flour

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

After the spices and apple slices had been mixed in I placed the apple slices in a deep dish pie pan.

For the topping I mixed together:

1 1/2 cups Old Fashioned Rolled Oats

1/2 cup Agave Nectar

1/3 cup gluten free flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

I sprinkled the topping over the apples and baked it in a 375 Degree oven for thirty minutes.

The apple crisp had a wonderful taste to it, and even my picky eaters loved it. This would be great with vanilla ice cream but of course we don't have any ice cream in the house since he is dairy free.

Join us for Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays at Blessed With Grace.

Menu Plan Monday, February 18th to 24th

2013-02-18T02:00:00.000-08:00

Join us for Menu Plan Monday at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

This past week was a very busy week for us. A few nights we opted for quick sandwiches or salads instead of a full blown meal which means we didn't get to some of the meals we had planned, so they will be showing up again this week. It is going to be another busy, busy week around here this week but I am not complaining, I love my busy lifestyle!

Here's what I have planned for this week:

links to recipes are in red

Monday

Breakfast - Crockpot Breakfast Casserole

Lunch - Turkey Wraps, Tortilla Chips with Salsa, Applesauce

Dinner - Whole Foods Slow Cooker Classic Pot Roast (New Recipe)

Tuesday

Breakfast - Bacon, Eggs, Easy Homemade Biscuits

Lunch - Salads

Dinner - Carraba's Copycat Chicken Marsala (New Recipe that we didn't get to last week)

Wednesday

Breakfast - Banana Bread Pancakes (Family Favorite)

Lunch - Turkey Wraps, Pretzels, Apples

Thursday

Breakfast - Cereal

Lunch - Italian Vegetable Soup

Dinner - Baked Swai, Wild Rice

Friday

Breakfast - Cereal

Lunch - Italian Vegetable Soup

Dinner - Mayo Clinic Beef Stroganoff

Saturday

Breakfast - Bacon, Eggs, Hashbrowns, Toast

Eating out

Sunday

Lunch - Eating Out after church

Dinner - Beef and Bean Chili

Menu Plan Monday, February 11th to 17th

2013-02-11T14:29:00.000-08:00

Join us for Menu Plan Monday at I am an Organizing Junkie.

With Valentines this week it is all about love at our house. Mostly though the love is from my kids because I am the super awesome mom who is letting them eat sweets right now! They love holidays because it means cupcakes, cake pops, chocolate covered marshmallows and CANDY! We had a Valentine's Day party on Saturday with our extended family, then on Monday we have a Valentine's Day party at our homeschool co-op, followed by a weekend trip to my grandmother's where we will have more birthday cake for her birthday. So this week we will all be sailing through it on a sugar high!

Here is what I have on the menu for the week besides sugar:

Monday

Breakfast: Sausage Biscuits

Lunch: Turkey Wraps, Pretzels, Applesauce

Dinner: Steaks, Sauteed Mushrooms, Grilled Bacon Wrapped Cabbage

Tuesday

Breakfast: Cinnamon Vanilla Freezer Pancakes

Lunch: Turkey Wraps, Apple

Dinner: Old Fashioned Pot Roast (New Recipe), Yummy Dinner Rolls

Wednesday

Breakfast: Ceeral

Lunch: Italian Vegetable Soup

Dinner: Copycat Carraba's Chicken Marsala (New Recipe)

Thursday

Breakfast: Bacon, Eggs, Easy Homemade Biscuits

Lunch: Turkey Wraps, Pretzels, apples

Dinner: Baked Swai, Wild Rce

Friday

Breakfast: Easy Homemade Biscuits, Sasage Gravy

Lunch: Italian Vegeatable Soup

Dinner: Eating Out

Saturday

Eating at Family

Sunday

Brunch: Crockpot Breakfast Casserole

Dinner: Mayo Clinic Beef Stroganoff

Valentine's Day Treats to Make

2013-02-06T22:00:00.000-08:00

I am a huge baker, and always go overboard. With so many sweet (literally and figuratively) treats to make this Valentine's Day I don't know where to start. Here is what I am planning on whipping up this Valentine's Day for my loves.

These heart shaped Rice Krispies are among the top on my list to make, after all Rice Krispies are a snap (I am just full of puns today) to make and the chocolate gives this kid's treat a grown up twist. You can find the recipe here at Cooking On The Side.

I can not wait to bake up these Marbled Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies. I am so into making them that I even ordered the EXACT jelly roll pan she uses from Amazon tonight. You can find the recipe for these here at The Novice Chef.

I am a gumdrop lover but until now I haven't attempted to make my own. I think these Homemade Gumdrops are the perfect ones to be my first try. You can get the recipe for them here at Melissa's Cuisine.

We are having our family's annual Red Party this Saturday and I am sure that these cute Strawberry Cupcakes in a Jar are going to still the show. You can find out how they are made and get the recipe here at Mini Baker.

I know that there is nothing fancy about these heart shaped shortbread cookies from Sugary Winzy but there is something about them that makes my heart sigh with joy. They are definetely going to be a part of my Valentine's Day treats and they get bonus points for being easy to make! You can find the recipe for them here.

I don't typically consider pancakes a treat but these Red Velvet Pancakes are definetly going to be a treat on Valentine's Day morning when they are served for breakfast. You can get the recipe for them here at Recipe Girl.

So what sweet treats do you have in mind for this Valentine's Day?

Apples to Oregon Unit Study

2013-02-05T23:55:00.000-08:00

We have returned to unit studies this semester for Little Man and Sunshine. We started out the year trying to take a more textbook approach for our science and history but quickly found out that it just wasn't us, and that they learned so much more by diving into unit studies. I think I am going to continue with interest based unit studies for a little while longer with the two of them. In addition to the unit study activities that I list here we also do additional Language Arts, Math, and free reading.

Our first unit study after Christmas Break was on the book Apples to Oregon by Deborah Hopkinson.

This book is absolutely the cutest book I have read in a while, and I loved it as much as my kids. We were able to dive into so many subjects off of this one book, and are now doing the Oregon Trail lapbook from In the Hands of a Child because of it.

We based our unit study off of the free one that is available here from Homeschool Share but added and changed a few things. We journaled our study using a notebook approach. Here is how our week played out. We attend a homechool co-op on Monday's so our school week at home is only four days.

Tuesday

Copywork and Weekly Bible Verse - "Keep me as the apple of your eyes, hide me under the shadow of your wings." Psalm 17:8

Read Apples to Oregon.

Social Studies/Geography - Color the Oregon Flag. I used a Printable One from ABC Teach that you can get here. Talk about the symbolism of the Orgeon flag as outlined in the Homeschool Share Unit Study.

Next we used the United States map from the "Where in the United States is Oregon?" lapbook piece in the Homeschool Share Unit Study. We cut just the map out, then colored in our state, Iowa (which is where the family left from), and Oregon. After coloring in the states we glued it to the bottom corner of our flag page.

Language Arts - Fruit Alliteration Worksheet included in the Homeschool Share Unit Study.

Wednesday

Copywork - Apples by Helen H. Moore

Apples, apples, what a treat,

Sweet and Tart and good to eat.

Apples green and apples red,

Hang from branches overhead,

And when they ripen,

Down they drop,

So we can taste our Apple Crop!

Language Arts - Write Book Report on Apples to Oregon.

Read Your Life as a Pioneer on the Oregon Trail. (My kids LOVED this book)

Social Studies/Geography - Color Oregon State Bird and Flower (found in Homeschool Share Unit Study)

Science - Density Experiment

I used the basic idea for the Density Experiment that was listed in Homeschool Share but instead of using the objects listed I let my kids pick five items each to test the density of. We had some interesting choices this way.

I drew a table on a piece of white copy paper, and let the kids record a guess before the experiment whether each item would float or sink. We then recorderded the actual results from the experiment and compared the two.

Language Arts - Personification: Choose an object and describe it as if it was a person.

Thursday

Copywork - "Any fool can count the seeds in an apple. Only God can count all the apples in one seed." Robert H. Schuller

History - Wagon Labeling (Found in Homeschool Share Unit Study)

Talk about Henderson Luelling.

Math - Graph the different varieties of fruit trees Mr. Luelling took with him from Salem, Iowa to Oregon.

Art - Discuss Symmetry and finish drawing the apple. (Worksheet found in Homeschool Share Unit Study)

Read Johnny Appleseed (Will be discussing Tall Tales tommorow)

Friday

Copywork - "An apple a day keeps the doctor away."

Read Paul Bunyan

Language Arts - Discuss Traits of a Tall Tale and have students write them down for their notebook.

Write your own Tall Tale.

Cooking/Math - Make an apple pie.

Make Cover for notebook and Assemble notebook.

Easy Substitutes for Buttermilk, Whipping Cream, and Cream of Tartar

2013-01-29T22:30:00.000-08:00

Join us for Works for Me Wednesday at We Are That Family.

One of my more popular posts is this one from September 13, 2009 No Buttermilk? No Problem! Easy Buttermilk Substitutes. Because of it's popularity I thought I would update that post and include additional substitutes for whipping cream, as well as cream of tartar.

Buttermilk

Lemon Juice - Add one tablespoon of lemon juice to one cup of milk. Stir and let sit for five minutes before using.
Vinegar - Vinegar works in the same way as the lemon juice, add one tablespoon of vinegar to one cup of milk. Stir and let sit for five minutes before using.
Cream of Tartar - To use cream of tartar as a substitute for buttermilk just add 1 3/4 teaspoons Cream of Tartar to one cup of milk.
Plain Yogurt - Use one cup of plain yogurt in place of every one cup of buttermilk called for.

Whipping Cream

One note to keep in mind when it comes to using substitutes for whipping cream is that the substitute may change the consistency or taste of the recipe. Be sure to choose the most appropriate substitute for your recipe.

Butter and Milk - For one cup of whipping cream, mix together 1/3 cup of softened butter with ¾ cup of milk using an electric mixer. You can use the electric mixer to beat the mixture until the desired consistency is reached. This substitute works best in baking or cooking recipes.
Chilled Evaporated Milk - Chill a thirteen ounce can of evaporated milk in the refrigerator for at least twelve hours and add in one teaspoon of lemon juice. Then beat with an electric mixer until it reaches the desired consistency.
Milk, Flour, and Cornstarch - Whisk together one cup of milk with two tablespoons of cornstarch. When they are combined, continue whisking and add in one tablespoon of flour. This substitute works best when the whipping cream is being used as a thickening agent.
Frozen Non-Dairy Topping - You can thaw out Cool-Whip or another frozen non-dairy topping and use it in place of whipping cream.
Half and Half - Half and Half can also be used in place of whipping cream.

Cream of Tartar

As with the whipping cream in recipes you need to determine the use of cream of tartar in recipes before choosing which substitute to use. Please choose your substitute depending on your use.

When Beating Egg Whites - When the recipe calls for cream of tartar to help with the beating of egg whites you can either omit the cream of tartar completely, or use an equal amount of either vinegar or lemon juice.
Frosting - When cream of tartar is called for in frosting you can skip the cream of tartar completely as no substitution is necessary.
Leavening Agent - When cream of tartar is called for in a recipe generally baking soda will be called for as well. When substituting cream of tartar in these recipes leave both the cream of tartar and baking soda out of the recipe and use baking powder in place of both. For example, if the recipe calls for 1/3 teaspoon of baking soda and 2/3 teaspoon of cream of tartar use one teaspoon of baking powder.

Valentine's Day Date Ideas For Couples on a Budget

2013-01-24T22:30:00.000-08:00

Valentine’s Day is a holiday that is all about love, but spending time with your sweetie on Valentine’s Day can be expensive. If you are celebrating the Valentine’s Day holiday on a budget and are looking for some inexpensive Valentine’s Day date ideas here are a few ideas.

Do Lunch Instead of Dinner

Almost all of your most popular restaurants offer lunch specials during the week, even on Valentine’s Day. Not only will you receive a discount on your meal by eating earlier in the day you will also avoid the crowds that night. If you decide to do a lunch date why not top it off with a Matinee movie, which will also be cheaper than evening prices?

Eat In Before Going Out

Not every date night has to include eating out. If you have plans to go to a concert, see a movie, or have some other sort of entertainment planned for the evening you can enjoy a meal at home before heading out for the evening instead of dining out at a restaurant. By saving money on food, you can spend more money on the entertainment portion of the date.

Choose a Date from The Dating Divas

The Dating Divas is a blog that is written by a group of friends who offer some great inexpensive (and sometimes FREE) date ideas each week. These are complete step-by-step ideas where you pretty much just have to show up at the chosen location and follow the date’s instructions. Almost all of these ideas would work great as a Valentine’s Day date. My favorite one is “The Bookstore Date” but there are a ton of ideas here. You can check them all out by visiting The Dating Divas blog.

Amazing Race Valentines Edition (Group Date)

Not all dates have to be just the two of you. Some of my favorite dates have been group dates, and this Amazing Race Valentines Edition group date would be an amazing time in my opinion. The ladies made up amazing matching tee-shirts, and created a fun scavenger hunt for the guy’s to complete while the ladies were cooking dinner for the men. If you do choose to do a group date, and need a babysitter hiring a babysitter to babysit for two or three of the families at the same time can save on childcare costs. You can find all the details for the Amazing Race Valentines Edition date by visiting the blog, My Insanity.

Celebrating Valentine's Day with Kids

2013-01-22T22:40:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is still a few weeks away but it's never too early to get started planning for it. Here at the Modern Day Mom Valentine's Day is all about the kids around here. My husband and I are not very lovey, dovey, mushy people so a holiday about love just isn't us. However a holiday about love that we can celebrate with our kids, that is a holiday we can get behind. Each year we try to do little things that make the holiday special for our kids, and we have several traditions that our kids look forward to each year.

Here are a few of the ways we make Valentine's Day special for our kids:

Heart Shaped Pancakes

These are a favorite tradition on Valentine’s Day around here. I have a silicone heart shape that I use to shape my pancakes but if you can't find one, just simply make your pancakes the regular way and use a large heart shaped cookie cutter to cut them into heart shapes. While our pancakes are always heart shaped we do add in variations from year to year. Sometimes we add red and pink sugar sprinkles to the batter to have pancakes with sprinkles in them, or we add red or pink food coloring to the batter to have red or pink colored pancakes.

Salt Dough Hearts
Last year we had a party for the kid’s friends for Valentine’s Day and had the kids paint Salt Dough Hearts as one of the crafts at the party. The day before the party I made a big batch of salt dough, rolled it out, and cut it into large hearts using a heart shaped cookie cutter. Before I baked them I took an ice pick and made a hole in the top of each heart to put a ribbon through. The next day at the party we painted them, added glitter and other goodies to decorate them, then ran red or pink ribbon through the hole so that they could be hung up.

Pink and Red Dinner
I know several families who do this each year as well. We set the dining room table with our fancy china, napkins, and decorate with plenty of hearts. Our dinner consists of items that are red and pink. Be creative when planning your meal, and don't forget you can use red or pink food coloring. Pastas are an easy main dish that incorporates red.

You're Special Hearts
Using red construction paper cut out a large red heart. You will need one heart for each member of your family. Decorate the middle of each heart with the name of a family member. What you are going to do is each family member will write why they think that person is special on their heart. Then at supper time everyone will read what the other family members have written about them.

Valentine’s Day Movie
Every year after our Pink and Red Dinner we all enjoy a family friendly Valentine’s Day movie. Be My Valentine Charlie Brown is one of our favorites.

What are the ways that you make Valentine's Day special for your kids?

Join us for Works For Me Wednesday at We Are That Family.

Homemade Spaghetti and Pizza Sauce with Canning Instructions

2013-01-21T22:30:00.000-08:00

Join us for Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays at Blessed with Grace.

This is an updated recipe from a post I made in July of 2009, the original post can be found here. I have updated the canning instructions for this recipe.

I discovered this lovely pizza sauce recipe when I was trying to perfect my homemade pizzas. All of the sauces I had tried had just fallen short of what I wanted. Once I found this basic recipe, and of course made a few adjustments, I knew it was a keeper. After taste testing it, my husband and I agreed not only was it the perfect pizza sauce but it made an awesome spaghetti sauce. When I make it I usually make extras and can them so that I continuously have it on hand for those days when I need a meal in a hurry. I can them in different size jars, with larger jars for spaghetti sauce and smaller jelly size jars for pizza sauce.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon butter

1 cup onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 (8 Ounce) Cans Tomato Sauce

2 (6 Ounce) Cans Tomato Paste

4 tablespoons grated Parmesan Cheese

2 teaspoons dried basil

2 teaspoons dried oregano

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 bay leaf

2 teaspoons fennel seed

Directions

In a large pan add the butter and olive oil. When the butter has melted and the oil is warm, add in the onion and garlic, sautéing until they are soft.
Add in tomato sauce and tomato paste, stirring until smooth.
Add remaining ingredients and bring to a slow simmer. Continue to simmer for forty-five minutes.
Remove the bay leaf and you are ready to serve.

Canning Instructions

You can add meat to the spaghetti sauce before canning it if you wish, (I do not do this) if you do be sure to drain all fat from the hamburger before mixing it into the sauce. Since you are putting hot sauce into the canning jars, you will want to heat the jars. You can do this in one of two ways, by warming the jars in a water bath canner, or you can heat them in my dishwasher on the sanitize cycle. I prefer to heat them in my dishwasher.

When your jars are hot you can use your wide mouth funnel to help put the sauce into the jars. Be sure to leave about an inch and a half of headspace in each jar.

Now it is time to put your lids on your jars. You will want to wipe down the outside rims of the jar, and place a clean lid on each jar, using the ring to secure it.

After the lids are on the jars you are ready to put the sauce into the pressure cooker. You will want to add about two to three inches of water to the bottom of your pressure cooker before putting your jars in. After you have the water in your pressure cooker it is time to add the jars. Once you have added the jars, tighten the lid on your pressure cooker and you are ready to go.

To process the jars you will want to eleven pounds of pressure in the pressure cooker. Once you have reached this point, you will want to continue to process the jars for an additional fifteen minutes.

Once the jars have been processed in the pressure cooker, it is time to carefully remove them to the counter to cool. I do this by using a jar lift, and placing them on a heavy towel so that they do not damage my cabinet. Once the jars have cooled you will want to check to make sure that all of the lids sealed tightly, if any jars did not seal either use immediately or reprocess.

Even More Ways to Organize Recipes Online

2013-01-15T22:00:00.000-08:00

Almost three years ago, back in March of 2010, I wrote the post Organizing Recipes That You Find Online that contained ideas for saving recipes that you find online like printing them out to go in a recipe binder, saving them as a word document, and organizing them in your Favorites Menu. This has been a popular post and with new technology (think Pinterest) the way that I have organized my recipes online has changed a little. Here are a few more ideas that you can use to save the recipes that you find online.

Pinterest

Probably one of the most popular ways, and one of my favorite ways, to save online recipes is by pinning them to Pinterest. I have created Pinterest boards to organize my recipes into categories; I have them organized by Chicken Recipes, Beef Recipes, Hamburger Recipes, Seafood Recipes, Bread Recipes, Cookie Recipes, Pie Recipes, etc. I also have recipes organized by holidays and seasons like Summer Menu for light summery foods, Winter Soups, Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and even set up boards for events like Birthdays or special parties. There are endless possibilities for organizing recipes on Pinterest and everyone on Pinterest seems to have their own way of doing it. You can sign up for Pinterest and visit my Pinterest page here.

Google Docs

Saving a recipe on Google Docs is an easy way to organize and save recipes that you want to keep. Not only can you organize them easily and can easily make notes or changes to the recipe but you can also have access to your recipes no matter where you are or if something happens to your hard drive.
File Folders

Recipes can be easily accessed when saved in File Folders, the real ones, not the virtual ones. If you like to have a real recipe in your hand to hold and don’t want to have to rely on a computer, a tablet, or your phone to read your recipe this is a great way to organize your recipes. Print out any recipes that you want to keep, and place them in file folders in your kitchen. You can organize recipes by categories, and have a folder for recipes that you want to try.

All Recipes Recipe Box

Al l Recipes has a feature called Recipe Box that allows you to save all of your recipes that can be found online in one place. It is free to register for All Recipes Recipe Box feature and by using it you can have access to all of your recipes from any Internet connection. Sign up for All Recipes Recipe Box here.

Apple My Recipe Book App

Apple offers the My Recipe Book App for Apple users. The App costs $1.99 and allows users to organize recipes easily. Recipes can be imported directly from the website, sorted by keywords or categories, allows users to adjust serving sizes, and create a grocery list. The best part there is no Internet Connection needed to view recipes that you have saved using this App. You can find out more about Apple’s My Recipe Book App by visiting the ITunes store.

How do you organize the recipes that you find online?

Hearty Turkey Chili

2013-01-14T22:30:00.000-08:00

My husband found out in April that he had some heart problems and we have had to change the way that we eat. So I have been using ground turkey in place of ground beef in every recipe that I can. Many of the ground turkey recipes for chili that I found were nowhere near as hearty as the ground beef version. So this chili is the result of the mixture of several recipes to create a hearty chili recipe that uses ground turkey and will make everyone happy.

I served the chili over spaghetti noodles and with cheddar cheese for the majority of our family, but my husband he choose to eat his without the noodles or cheese and the chili was perfect as a stand alone as well.

Ingredients:

One Pound Ground Turkey
Two Tablespoons Olive Oil
One Small Onion, Chopped
1 Cup Diced Green Peppers
2 Cups Water
28 Ounce Can Whole Tomatoes (I like whole tomatoes but you can use diced instead)
16 Ounce Can Dark Kidney Beans
(2) 16 Ounce Cans Chili Beans
(2) 6 Ounce Cans Tomato Paste
2 Tablespoons Garlic Powder (Divided)
2 Tablespoons Chili Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Paprika
1/2 Teaspoon Oregano Leaves
1/2 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cumin
1/2 Teaspoon Salt (I used Sea Salt but regular salt is fine)
1 Teaspoon Black Pepper

Directions:

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Place the ground turkey, onions, and green peppers in the pot. Sprinkle ground turkey with 1 Tablespoon of Garlic Powder. Cook until ground turkey is evenly browned, and the vegetables are tender.
Add in water, tomatoes, beans, and tomato paste.
Stir in remaining spices.
Cook over medium high heat until mixture reaches a boil. Reduce to low heat, and simmer for an additional two hours, stirring frequently.

Menu Plan, January 14th to 20th

2013-01-13T23:38:00.000-08:00

Join us for Menu Plan Monday at I'm An Organizing Junkie.

It is going to be one busy week for us this week. We are back to school and co-op, our weekly bible studies start back up, and we have our monthly Keepers at Home meeting this week. Which means simple meals are absolutely necessary this week! It is probably going to take us a week or two to get back into the groove of things.

Here is what I have planned for this week:

links to recipes are in red

Monday

Breakfast: Allergy Free Granola Bars (will add in some raisins and chocolate chips)

Lunch: Ham Roll Ups, Pretzels, Grapes, Super Easy Peanut Butter Cookies

Dinner: Spaghetti with Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce (missed last week), Garlic Bread

Snack: Fruit Cocktail

Tuesday

Breakfast: Dad's Homemade Pancakes

Lunch: Leftover Spaghetti

Dinner: Brown Sugar Ham Steaks, Crashed Potatoes (recipe coming soon), Corn, Bread Machine Bread

Snack: Fake Betty Crocker Brownie Mix

Wednesday

Breakfast: Easy Homemade Biscuits, Sausage Gravy

Lunch: Pasta and Peas

Dinner: Sandwiches before church

Snack: Pudding

Thursday

Breakfast: Cinnamon Vanilla Freezer Pancakes

Dinner: Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Corn

Snack: Top Secret Chocolate Cookies

Friday

Breakfast: Cereal

Lunch: Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Dinner: Pork Loin Roast with Vegetables and Gravy (missed two weeks ago - recipe coming soon), Bread Machine Bread

Snack: Pumpkin Crunch Cake

Saturday

Breakfast: Dad's Homemade Pancakes

Eating Out Before Church

Sunday

Breakfast: Cereal

Lunch: Leftover Pork Loin and Vegetables

Dinner: Crab Cakes Using Imitation Crab Meat, Baked Beans, Mini Pommes Anna

Snack: Marshmallow Caramel Popcorn

Questions To Ask When Considering The Purchase of a New House

2013-01-12T04:00:00.000-08:00

Buying a new house can be scary. There are so many things to consider when looking at a potential new house, and one missed step or one question that goes unasked can turn out to be a major disaster.
When we purchased our current home we asked everything we could think of, we looked at it three times before making an offer, and visited it at different times of the day making sure to check out the area each time. Here are some of the questions that you should ask the seller before considering making an offer on any house.

The Roof
You will want to ask how old the roof currently is, along with how many layers of shingles there are currently on the roof, and if there is any leaks. Not only will this let you know if you are going to be needing to repair or replace the roof in the near future but your insurance company will ask these questions when you try to get insurance on the home. If the roof is too old or has too many layers of shingles on the roof it can cause the insurance company to not offer you insurance coverage on the home or may cause them to not fully cover the roof if a disaster strikes.

Pests
Are there any current pest issues or is there any evidence of past pest issues? This includes insects, termites, and rodents. If there is currently a pest issue how long has it been going on, and what steps have been taken to rid it. If there was a past issue be sure to find out what it was, and when it occurred.

Water and Sewer
You will want to find out if the home is on city water or on a well system. If the home is on a well you may have a hard time finding financing for the home, as FHA will not allow you to purchase a home on a well. You will also want to know if the home is hooked up to the city sewer system or is on a septic tank. If it is on the sewer system you will want to find out how the sewer bill is figured, and how much it typically costs the home owner each month. If the home is on a septic tank you will want to find out if there have been any issues with the septic tank and how often it has been serviced. You will also want to make sure that you find the location of the septic tank.

Neighbors
Great neighbors can make a house a great place to be, while horrible neighbors will make you dread coming home each day. Make sure that you ask the current homeowners about the neighbors. Are there loud parties in the area, does the next door neighbor have teenagers running in and out of their house all day? Also be sure to ask what type of pets they have. Do they have a rooster that crows in the morning, a large Saint Bernard that barks at everything that it sees and the neighbors are scared of? You will also want to check your local sex offender registry and crime reports of the area, both of these can generally be found online or you can get them at your local sheriff’s office.

Does everything stay?
Having the conversation about what stays before making an offer on the house can prevent a lot of misunderstanding later. Make sure that you put into the contract everything that will stay. This includes everything from the hot tub and/or pool to the dog kennel and stove.

Heating and Air System
Be sure to ask about the heating and air system. You will want to know how old it is, whether or not it is gas or electric, along with how much it typically costs to heat and cool the house each year. You will also want to ask how often it has been serviced, when the last repairs were made and what they were, along with who repaired it.

Repairs
While we are on the subject of repairs, you will want to inquire about recent repairs that were made to the house, and who did them. Was a licensed repairman used, or was it a do it yourself project? If the repairs were done by the homeowners themselves you will want to have them checked out, as someone who is not licensed may not have done them correctly, which could cost you more to have them repaired correctly.

Hot Water Heater
As with the heating and air system you will want to inquire about the age of the hot water heater, along with whether or not it is gas or electric. You will also want to know what the size of it is, and compare that to the size of the house. You will want to make sure that the hot water heater is an appropriate size in comparison to the size of the house.

Why are they moving?
Believe it or not this might just be the most important question that you ask. Are they moving because the commute to their work is brutal, and you work in the same area? Is the upkeep on the house just too much? There answer here could be a key to whether or not the house will work for you.

Tips For Saving Money During Baby's First Year

2013-01-10T22:00:00.000-08:00

Raising a new born baby can be expensive. It is reported that raising a baby can cost anywhere from $7,000 to $14,000 in the first year alone, and that by the time a child reaches age seventeen they will have cost the parents about $250,000 . That doesn’t even include the cost of college! With figures that high, saving money can be a high priority for parents. Here are some great ways to help you save money during your baby’s first year.

Buy a Convertible Car Seat

An infant car seat can be convenient, as it can be removed from the car while baby is in it and can often be attached to a stroller. However, an infant car seat can only be used until the baby reaches twenty to thirty pounds, at which point a bigger car seat must be purchased. A convertible car seat is a car seat that can be either rear or forward facing, and will accommodate an infant that weighs anywhere between five to forty or more pounds. This will allow you to get a much longer use out of just one car seat.

Breastfeeding

While breastfeeding is not only healthier for your baby, it can also save you a ton of cash. Formula can cost $1,000 or more for that first year, and breastfeeding is significantly lower. There will be costs associated with breastfeeding, which include breastfeeding bras, nursing wear, ointments, and possibly a breast pump, but those costs will be nowhere near what the cost of formula would be.

Buy Store Brand Formula

This is one place where buying the store brand is honestly the same as buying name brand. The FDA requires that all store brand formulas meet the same nutritional requirements as the brand name. This can save as much as fifty percent on formula costs.

Get Those Coupons

Almost all of your major baby goods manufacturers will offer mailing lists that you can sign up for to receive coupons on everything from diapers, to formula, to wipes, and toys. It has also been reported that checking “Planning to Breastfeed” instead of “Planning to Use Formula” will get you better coupons and more samples from formula manufacturers.

Skip the Baby Detergent

When manufacturers of laundry detergent offered lines of detergent that were solely filled with fragrances and/or dyes buying laundry detergent specifically for babies was important. However, now that you can purchase regular laundry detergent that is dye and fragrance free you can skip the baby detergent and buy the regular laundry detergent that is just as safe for baby’s delicate skin.

Make Your Own Baby Food

Once your baby is eating solids, making your own baby food can be a great way to save on baby food. Not only is it less expensive but it is much fresher. With just a food processor you can use bananas, sweet potatoes, broccoli, and more to make healthy baby food for your baby.

Buy Unisex Colors

Sure those pink onesies, crib sheets, and socks are adorable for your little girl but believe me she won’t wear them out before she outgrows them which means they can be used again when her little brother or sister comes along. By buying unisex colors like mint green, yellow, or brown you can use those cute little items a second time around regardless of whether your second child is a boy or girl.

Skip the Personalization

Just like the colors having everything personalized with baby’s name makes it harder to use that second time around. Instead of personalizing blankets, diaper bags, and burp cloths with baby’s name opt for the first letter of your last name or skip the personalization all the way around.

How to Paint Stripes on Walls

2013-01-09T13:46:00.000-08:00

Join us for the Clever Chicks Blog Hop at The Chicken Chick.

I have been getting a lot of questions about my striped walls in my Christmas pictures and I thought I would share how it was done. Luckily as we were doing them I took a lot of pictures because I am trying to document the remodeling of our house.

My husband is on disability from injuries he sustained in a car wreck in 2008. Since that time our income has drastically changed. When he first had his wreck we had bought a lovely five bedroom home on ten acres with plenty of land and woods. Quess what? With a husband who doesn't always feel up to work it was too much for us. Luckily we were able to sell and moved into a rental house until we could find the "right" place for us. We stayed at the rental house for a year and nine months.

In September we found the house that we are currently in. The house was a great price (as in we will have it paid off in SIX years - that's right six years) but needed some work. Nothing was wrong with the house structurally but it had been empty for three years. The hallway was an ugly olive green with textured paint, the carpets were stained, the back deck was gone off the house, but when we walked through it we knew we could fix everything that was wrong with it. It is amazing what some paint will do to a room!

The house is somewhat in the country, we still have neighbors close by but we can enjoy country living here. The house is open, and airy feeling. I tried to keep this in mind when picking paint colors and really wanted to pick colors that were bright, cheery, and would make you feel welcome. I have never had a yellow room and wanted to paint my living room yellow. We looked at several yellows and finally decided on one. It didn't turn out quite like I expected.....

It was suppose to be much lighter, and I was sick as soon as I started painting it. I was ready to scrap it all, and go get a new paint color. However, my husband and I started trying to come up with ways we could save it. My daughters had been wanting wall stripes in their room, and I thought "You know, that just might work in here." And if it didn't work, no big deal because we are going to have to repaint anyways!

So I started researching how to paint stripes on walls. All of the tutorials I found suggested painting the entire room with a flat base coat before striping. Well, I had used semi-gloss instead of flat but I decided to do it anyhow. I went to Lowes and choose a lighter color yellow off of the same color swatch that the current yellow was from. I bought it in flat so that the two shades would have the different texture.

When I stripe the girls room I will paint the entire room in flat first, and then stripe with a semi-gloss but since I had the semi-gloss on the wall first this time I did it backwards.

To make the striping easier I decided to make my stripes the same width as my paint roller. I believe it was nine inches.

We started taping off the wall with masking tape to stripe the walls. Here is a secret...we had some of the expensive blue painters tape and some of the cheaper masking tape becausse we didn't have enough of the blue to do the whole room. The cheaper masking tape actually worked better!

As I looked at the tape stripes I was overwhelmed, and worried that I would forget which tape lines I was suppose to paint between.

So I decided to label them.

It is hard to tell in this photo but I took a pencil and marked the stripes I was to paint by putting a "P" and an arrow pointing to the side of the tape I was to paint on each piece of tape.

Then I started painting.

It is important to take the tape off while the paint is still wet. If you let it dry it will allow the paint to soak through the tape and run.

And here is the finished product!

It really didn't take too much time to paint the stripes. From the time we started putting up tape until the time we finished painting the stripes it was about three hours. Our base coat on the wall had been drying for about a day when we applied the stripes.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions about striping the walls. I highly encourage you to give it a try, it really is not as hard as it looks and gives the room a great look. Everyone who sees it loves it.

Getting Your Kids To Eat More Veggies

2013-01-08T22:00:00.000-08:00

Join us for Works-for-Me Wednesday at We Are That Family.

Getting my kids to eat their vegetables is a never ending battle around my house. I know there are several cookbooks on the market that advocate hiding vegetables in everyday foods that your kids will eat regularly but for me that is not the point of getting my kids to eat their vegetables. I don’t want to be sneaky about it because I want my kids to know they are eating vegetables, and start a lifelong habit of eating healthy. A lot of the ideas below will only help get your kid to eat only one or two new vegetables at a time but the key is to get them use to eating vegetables, once your child has begun eating vegetables it is easier to get them to try new ones. The key to getting them to eat more vegetables is baby steps; you can’t expect a complete change overnight. So if you are like me and would like to get your kids to eat their vegetables here are some creative ways to get that to happen.

Peas in a Pop

When I first heard of Peas in a Pop I was a bit appalled, but after the initial shock wore off I realized that this really wasn’t a bad idea. If you don’t know what Peas in a Pop is it is peas in a popsicle form. Kids love it, and it is a fun way to get kids to eat their peas. You simply take frozen peas and place them in popsicle molds. Fill the molds to the top with peas, and then cover with cold water. Place the popsicle molds in the freezer, and let sit for three hours. Once they have frozen completely they are ready to be served.

Let Them Grow It

Letting your kids grow vegetables will help encourage them to eat their vegetables. After all what kid can resist eating the fruits (or vegetables in this case) of their labor? If you don’t have room for a conventional garden you can try a small container garden or participating in a community garden.

Visit a Farmer’s Market

Farmer’s Markets are becoming more popular and it is easier than ever before to find one near you. Take your child to visit the farmer’s market and let them pick out vegetables that they want to try. So what if they want to try eggplant and you have no idea how to cook it. Buy the eggplant, find a new recipe, and cook it together.

Get the Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables Movie

For younger kids (think two to five year olds) there is the Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables Movie. The movie features twelve minute segments that show kids eating fruits and vegetables that include bell pepper, bananas, oranges, carrots, strawberries, avocado, raspberries, tomatoes, apples, broccoli, and blueberries. Just simply fill up a plate with the vegetables featured in the movie, turn the movie on, and watch your kids copy the kids in the movie by eating the vegetables on their own plate.