Survivor: Mom Edition

What's For Dinner? 6/27

2011-06-27T11:56:00.000-07:00

Most ingredients are either found in your pantry or are currently on sale at your local grocery store.

Smoked Sausage and Zucchini Saute!

Sale ingredients:

2 Zucchini squashes, cut length wise, then in half (@Bi-Lo $1.28/lb)

1 lb Carolina Pride Smoked Sausage, cut into 1 inch pieces (@Bi-Lo $1.99)

Ingredients on hand:

1 tablespoon margarine
1 tablespoon instant minced onion
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tomatoes, chopped

Directions:

In a skillet over medium heat, brown the sausage. Remove sausage from skillet and set aside. Add margarine, zucchini, and onion to the skillet and cook until zucchini is crisp and tender. Return the browned sausage to the skillet and add garlic salt, oregano, and black pepper. Cook until all ingredients are hot. Add chopped tomatoes on top of the ingredients. Serve over rice.

And that's What's For Dinner! Did you try this recipe? Let me know how your family liked it!

What's For Lunch? 6/27

2011-06-27T11:24:00.000-07:00

I'll be doing a What's For Lunch? and What's For Dinner? blog for quick and easy lunches and dinners using ingredients you either have on hand or are currently on sale in the grocery stores. So, without further ado, What's For Lunch?

Bagel pizzas!

Ingredients currently on sale until 6/28:

-Lender's Bagels 6ct. (@Publix $1.09)

-Del Monte Tomato Sauce 8oz (@Publix, 32¢)

-Publix brand shredded cheese 16oz (@Publix $3.99)

Pizza Sauce

1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried basil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Combine all pizza sauce ingredients

Spread sauce on bagel halves

Top with fresh veggies, pepperoni, bacon, anything you have on hand.

Sprinkle cheese on top

Bake until cheese has melted, about 12-14 minutes

Enjoy!

What did YOU have for lunch?

Survival Tactics For June 27, 2011

2011-06-27T10:31:00.000-07:00

Good morning! Yes, I know it's technically afternoon, but my wonderful husband let me sleep in... with some convincing... and a knee in the back. Ok, not really, he went willingly. :)

It's a new day! And that's exactly how I'm going to look at it. Today I WILL let me children help, while making an even bigger mess. I WILL let them use the crayons, and pray extra hard it stays on the paper. I WILL let them stay up a little bit past their bedtime, because an early bedtime seems to be the highlight of my day lately. It's my responsibility to help mold these little creatures into becoming happy, healthy, successful adults one day, but it's also my responsibility to let them be kids for as long as I can.

So, how can I spend as much quality time with them, while still getting things done and making sure they have fun doing it? TURN OFF THE TV! I know it's so easy to rely on the tv for 20 minutes to get something done. Instead of the tv, try some music. Download some songs from your kids' favorite shows (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Wonder Pets, etc.), and some other kids' songs (Row, Row, Row Your Boat, Hokey Pokey, I'm A Little Tea Pot, etc) and let them play in the background. Try Pandora Radio for free kids' music--LOVE this site! Kids are prone to break out into random dance numbers, so it'll get them active as well! Time to clean up? Try The Pick-Up Game! Think "Musical Chairs". While the music is playing, instruct them to clean up as many toys as they can before you turn off the music. Once the music is stopped, everyone freezes until the music is started again. It may take a few tries to convince them they really do want to play, but it'll be worth it. And they'll love the personal time they get with you.

Now, who has some tips on kids folding laundry?? :)

And It Begins...

2011-06-26T12:23:00.000-07:00

6 a.m. - Wake up

6:30 - Wake up for real this time

6:45 - Make breakfast for kids

7 - Find random animated/talking animal tv show to occupy kids while I search for the lost sippy cup

7:15 - Still no sippy cup, so lets 2 year old drink from a regular cup

7:16 - Regrets giving 2 year old regular cup

7:17-noon - Complete blur

12:30 - NAP!!

12:30-2 - House work (well, making a list for tomorrow's housework)

2-5 - Make sure the kids don't kill themselves, or each other, outside.

5pm - Decide what least-unhealthy/expired stuff I have in the pantry and fridge to throw together for dinner

7 - An hour and a half into convincing my 2 year old that his green beans aren't poisoned, and that if I find them in the dresser drawer again I'm gonna chop his fingers off and make him drink the green beans through a straw.

8 - Bath time... "Let's try to keep the bath IN the tub this time, ok?"

8:30 - Stories, hugs, kisses, BEDTIME!

9 pm - Trip on lost sippy cup.

Ok, let's be honest. We've all had days like this. Once we fall into a rut it's hard to climb our way back out. Some of us stay home, while some of us juggle being a mom while also out in the work force. This is precisely why I've created this blog because we can all use a little boost from time to time. I'll be posting lots of great ideas we can ALL use around the house, such as things to do on a rainy day; recipes for quick healthy dinners with what you have on hand; how to get the most out of your grocery budget; random tips and advice; and ways to stay sane! So stay tuned, follow my blog, share it with friends, and let me know what YOU want to see!

Did you know: for those lost sippy cups, a quick temporary replacement could be a clean soda or water bottle (16-20 oz) with a hole in the center of the lid. Take a nail and hammer it into the lid. WARNING: Remove nail before handing to child, just in case it wasn't self-explanatory enough. Sure, it isn't spill proof, but it will drastically reduce any mess you have to clean up in comparison to a regular cup that's been knocked over.