Wichita City Moms

Hurt and Forgiveness

2017-09-30T16:03:00.004-05:00

Hurting is hard. When someone we cared for, spent time with and put time, money and energy into us lets us down it can almost shatter our world. It's even harder to handle when it's you who has done the hurting.

I have, myself, gotten caught up into the spiral of a relationship in conflict. At times it was very difficult to see the lines of responsibility. This can make it almost impossible to get the relationship back on to the path of healing. Defensiveness has been my protection method. Something I have used in my past to deflect the hurt and responsibility for the hurt I may have caused. My sinful nature wants to point out all the instances of wrong the other person has done. Keeping record of every mistake or selfishness that has occurred, saving it for use in my arsenal to unleash when someone dares to call me wrong. (smh)

My patterns of this behavior have hurt my past relationships, building fortresses around me to keep them out, rather than breaking down those barriers to let them in. Funny how those patterns begin to be easier than doing the very things that could achieve the very things my heart desires: love, connection, peace, understanding and friendship.

Is there nothing fulfilling about admitting that you may have done something wrong? Can accepting your part and asking for forgiveness still make you feel right?

Our Creator says yes! You see he created us with these feelings, and some of us absolutely feel them more than others. This makes life pretty tricky when those feelings begin to trample and destroy any chances we have at peace and relationships. Feelings that get out of our range of control keep us trapped. Sometimes they are so far out from us that we can not even see them anymore. They are just out there ahead of us, like a blinking banner for all those that come near to stay back. We can operate with those banners for a very long time before we begin to realize that something is not right and we need to do something to change it. Our enemy the devil wants us to stay in that very position of hurt, wounded, and guarded so that we cannot have the things that God desires for us. Even going as far as antagonizing those relationships to keep us there. The bible states that we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12 NLT)

So how do we break these patterns of behavior and mend relationships? I think the first thing should always be prayer. If you are a praying person, and I hope that you are, it's as simple as asking for God to help you find your part. Then asking for Him to help you find the words. It's hard to hear that voice from God sometimes, but I still believe that if you can't hear Him He will show you. Pray for signs or clear answers. God loves a chance to prove that He's listening! Second, if you still feel stuck, journal. I am a big believer in journaling especially when emotions are high. Writing these thoughts down while in the middle of high emotion is an effective way to vent, to calm yourself, to gather your thoughts, and to help you let them go so that you can then gain perspective. You may end up later realizing you really don't feel the same way after you've calmed down some.

Next you would want to identify what your part is in the situation. Identifying where you have hurt someone and caused harm is called making amends. Write it down if needed. Be ready to confess you were not on your best behavior. Connect with another neutral person you trust for advice and replay the scenario being open to their perception and opinion. Sometimes an outside party can see what you cannot.

Be ready to forgive the other person for their part and do so before hand. Forgiveness is for you not for them. Being ready to move forward means putting the past behind and looking to what is ahead. Forgiving someone is letting them out of the debt for the grievances against you and does not mean that they have permission to do it again. This is where boundaries come into play and I could talk a whole lot more about that, but that's for another post. ;) Remember this is about mending the relationship, and moving forward. How many times should you need to forgive someone? Peter asked Jesus this very question and his answer was "seventy times seven". (Matthew 18:22) I'm not good at math but that's probably enough to not even question it.

Offering forgiveness and making amends is extremely healing and will help you to find peace and serenity in your life. I hope my tips from what I have learned will help someone else to get one step closer to finding healing in relationships. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they should be called children of God. (Matthew 5:9) I strive for myself and my family to live at peace at all times with everyone. Not because I can, but because as a Christian, I am called to it.

When we need strength to wait.

2016-01-09T11:01:00.002-06:00

I would not describe myself as "patient". But, no one can really tell as I am effective as "quietly impatient". I can put on a "good face" for those around me. Cool. Calm. Collected.
But inside, that' a different story. I am a wreck.

My SIL in the photo I took for their pregnancy

announcement. Her and my brother are

waiting for the most precious gift worth

waiting on.

I have gotten to learn a LOT about being patient the older I am. I think God has gotten a good chuckle on how I have had to learn patience over the years. I am pretty sure that every time I'm shopping I pick the slowest, longest check out line. I can be next, and there will be a manager's override, price check, multiple forms of payment, or technical issues. It is pretty hilarious after the 5th time it happens. It's so much easier to take a deep breath and just wait. The pressure and stress I can cause myself emotionally is much worse. So it's pretty ironic that at church one of our monthly lessons recently for our preschoolers was on "Patience". I don't know any child that doesn't need that lesson, and apparently I still need it too.

"Wait for the Lord. Be strong and don't lose hope. Wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:14.

Hmmm. I'm pretty sure there is a reason that God wanted us to hear "wait" twice in this verse.

"Wait" - as an act of obedience. Waiting on God to do what He's going to do rather than letting our fear and anxiety put the focus on us instead of Him. Our own needs to have control over our lives or arrogance that we might know better than God can be driven by impatience. I can think of many times I've been so nervous about something that my anxiety literally made me sick. Feeling sick from anxiety is not from God. Waiting, and then submitting to the Lord to guide me through is far smarter than the stress I create all by myself.

"Wait" - to grow our faith. How many people from Bible Scripture can you think of that were required to wait a really long time before they received the one thing their heart desired? I first think of Abraham and Sarah. Abraham was of "old age" when Sarah conceived Isaac. (Genesis 21:2) God was faithful in what he promised them both and to the time he promised. Sarah laughed when God spoke the promise to her. (She waited so long already, and a pregnancy at her age was unimagineable!) I think God seeks to strengthen our faith and our relationship with Him when we are made to wait.

Isaiah 40:31 says "But they who wait

for the Lord shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up

with wings like eagles; they shall run

and not be weary; they shall walk

and not faint" (ESV)

"Wait" - because waiting means there are more good things to come.
If it's not good. It's not over.

It doesn't take a preschool lesson to understand that God wants good things for us. If we are willing to use the strength only He can provide, and hold on to the hope that following Him provides, there is no need to fear. Our God is with us. He is for us and not against us. That makes waiting feel like a pretty good deal to wait for.

Busy Day Meal Time Savers

2016-01-09T10:42:00.001-06:00

Top 10 Meal Time Savers:

If you can’t already tell, we’re in the business of making you prepared and saving you time and money. As the nights are longer and days are shorter, check out the below list of items that you can “grab and go” throughout all of you store’s departments:

· Frozen Pie Crust – the crust is usually one of the hardest parts of pie assembly. Grab a pre-made crust so you can focus on the delicious filling and baking!

· Mirepoix & Pre-Cut Squash and Garlic – Mirepoix is the perfect “grab and go” item for your Crock Pot. And pre-cut squash and garlic will save you precious minuets of prep time in the kitchen.

· Frozen Rice in a Bag – makes rice cooking easy and worry-free, especially if you don’t have a rice cooker

· Frozen Rolls – fresh from the bakery department and frozen, so you can break these out and throw them in the oven when the dinner menu calls for rolls!

· Stuffed Cornish Game Hens – not only is all the work already done for you, but these hens are a wonderful alternative to turkey or ham for your holiday table

· Pre-made Appetizers – a wide variety of appetizers that are already plated and ready to serve can make attending a party while bringing something to share both easy and delicious

· Cocktail Shrimp Platters – again, ready to serve and be enjoyed!

· Instacart – depending on where you live, Instacart’s delivery on demand is the ultimate in stress-free shopping during the holidays

Crock Pot cooking on the cheap *Whole Foods Market post

2015-11-24T22:14:00.002-06:00

Oh how I love my slow cooker for cold weather meals for my family. Pinterest is my go-to place for recipes. Whole Foods for my bulk food purchases of quinoa, popcorn, dry beans and rice. With all the prep and mess of Thanksgiving, I think I'll take a break from cooking and use the slow cooker this week! Here's some ideas to save money using your slow cooker (or Crock Pot) from Whole Foods Market! *sponsored post

Check out WholeFoodsMarket.com for some great Thanksgiving meal ideas, including how to brine your bird, carve your turkey, breakfast ideas for morning guests, and showstopping dishes to impress.

source

Value Meats and the Return of the Crock Pot:

Every day, Whole Foods Market offers exceptional values, and during the holidays, who doesn’t want a quality cut of meat at an exceptional price? With the weather turning a bit cooler and the nights lasting longer, now is the perfect time for braising and roasting, and the perfect opportunity to return to our old friend, the Crock Pot! Below are 5 tips for Slow Cooking Success:

· Go budget-friendly – ingredients like beans, whole grains, and spices available in Whole Foods Market’s bulk section, let you buy the exact amount you need and experiment with many products at once for a great price

· Trim the fat – too much fat left on meat will give you an unpleasant texture, and having to skim lots of fat at the end of cooking is not enjoyable

· Think ahead – keep “kits” of chopped fresh veggies and meats in the freezer. That way, you’ll be ready to toss these ingredients in the Crock Pot in the morning in no time at all, with dinner ready by the time you come home!

· Stay on Trend – save money while staying trending! Cheaper cuts of meat are all the rage at the top rated restaurants right now, and a crock-pot is the perfect tool to master these cuts at home. Thighs, beef chuck, brisket, shin, shoulders, oxtail; when cooked nice and slow these can be the most delicious bites.

· Sear First – don’t forget to sear your meat first. Browned meat taste better, and the slow cooker does not get hot enough to get that done. For optimal taste, sear first then slow cook to lock in the moisture. (Except when it comes to chicken)

Recipes:

· Slow Cooker Classic Pot Roast

· Slow Cooker Pork and Cider Stew

· Braised Beef Ribs

Fire Safety for Kids

2015-11-23T09:29:00.000-06:00

There's always time to discuss fire safety with your kids. With the holidays come increased risk of accidents related to burns and fires. Here is a great info graphic brought to you by contractor quotes.us. You can find more tips and activities at their site here!

Black Friday Shopping tips

2015-11-10T20:47:00.001-06:00

Black Friday Shopping has started. Yes. Now. As soon as the ads have been leaked, it has started. If you are like me, and have little time and little money, this is kind of a big deal. In the past, my family has gotten about 80% of our Christmas shopping done on Black Friday. The rules and methods are changing now with some stores opening on Thanksgiving day. The addition of Cyber Monday, and sales starting even weeks before Black Friday, has made this a whole new game.

Here's a few tips based on tips I found over at LOZO.com. I'll break them down for you and add my "real life" input. (If you want their whole story, you can find it here.)

1. Start shopping online first. BF traditionally was about what was available in-store, but now you can find basically the same deals online. Starting early, like two weeks before Black Friday, will give you a good gauge on what's a deal and what's a usual discount. You need to see how low will they go pre-sales and then check them on Black Friday fliers and after. If that's too much documenting - check your prices online before you go to the store. (I'm known to actually search for the item when I'm there.) About everyone will price match to have your business. If they don't - have it ready to "add to cart" and check out online. Make sure your price takes into consideration shipping, as if it isn't free shipping that might be a reason a store would not match, but I have rarely, lately had anyone even ask anymore. It's kind of a given that if you find if for less somewhere else - they'll match it. I have gotten zero attitude about price matching at Target and Best Buy. These guys want your business. If you can bring a flyer or printed copy of the item and price - even better. Amazon, our go-to for almost everything we buy, is usually already at the lowest prices that Best Buy and Wal-Mart have so make sure you do your legwork and try to find other competitors that may have it listed less.
Amazon is still my top choice for online shopping, especially for gifts.

2. Cash back sites will multiply your savings. I have done this in the past, and I am terrible at remembering, but it's a no-brainer. Sites like Ebates all have cash back rebates if you purchase through their sites. Plus it's a great place to find coupon codes and deals on the internet. It's free money to click the links on their page that take you to the sites you want to buy from. Sign up for an account now at Ebates and you'll get a $5 credit to your account after your first $25 purchase. Click here.

3. Make a list. You have to know what you need to buy or the impulse purchases will run over your budget as some of the deals out there are hard to pass up. Just a word from an experienced Black Friday Pro - this is the best time of year to find deals on outerwear: coats, hats, gloves, scarves; electronics. (LED T.V.'s, game consoles, games) Pajamas for the whole family. Toys. jewelry, and
clothing, and small appliances. I wait until Black Friday to buy my kids their winter coats if it is at all possible as until winter clearance rolls around it is the lowest they'll go.

4. Utilize your apps. Your smartphones have access to many apps that can help you find deals quickly. From scanning barcodes, and pictures, to having circulars listed all in one app, you can use your smartphone to shop smarter. If you have an Android, even Google goggles is a great resource for deals. If you have the Amazon shopping app there is a barcode option you can use to scan anything you may be looking at to check the price comparison, and Redlaser will scan a barcode and search other online sites for you for comparison. Check out a list of some good apps to have on iphone at appolicious.com

Here's a few Black Friday Ads some out today to get you started.
Kohl's
Target
Amazon

*This post may contain affiliate links.

Target Black Friday and FREE Shipping 2015

2015-11-10T12:50:00.000-06:00

*contains affiliate links* WCM's may receive a small commission for each purchase made through this site. Thanks for your support.

Target Black Friday deals are out. Start making your lists, and see the one-day deals coming up at this link.

And there's no shame in online shopping with free shipping for all orders now until December 25th, 2015!! That beats standing in lines and dealing with crowds hands down.

Save an extra 5% off holiday decor, 20% off Kitchenaid, cutlery, and tools and gadgets through 11/14, and it's Holiday Home Prep week all week with 20% off Home decor, furnishings and accessories. Save an extra $10 when you spend $50 or an extra $25 when you spend $100 with promo code HOME.

*affiliate links WCM may receive a small commission for each purchase made through this site. Thanks for your support.

Versona Store Now in New Market

2015-10-27T23:31:00.003-05:00

*The following post is a paid review. I was compensated with a gift card. All opinions are mine.

Fall is definitely here, and I'm shifting through my closet to pull out the scarves and sweaters. (but keeping the shorts handy for afternoon - it's a Kansas thing.)
Sadly, my fall clothing selection is quite the disappointment, and could use some updating.

Versona asked for Wichita City Moms to review the new location at New Market Square on the North West side of Wichita off of Maize Road. This is a little bit of a trip for me in Andover, but I was all for it, because I love accessories, shoes, and bags, and Versona is known for all of those.

You may have seen my previous post on the Versona that opened in Bradley Fair. This was the first Versona to land in Wichita, the New Market location is the second. (Read about it here.)

If you have never been in a Versona store before, don't be intimidated by the upscale, department store feel. I'm talking sparkling chandeliers and Marble floors. It is pretty. This west side location is no exception. It just glows from the front windows! The good news is that there are no chandelier, marble floor prices: just great quality, selection, helpful service and prices you will love! My favorite place hands down for sunglasses, and any time I need just the right piece(s) of jewelry for an outfit or occasion this is my go-to place. (I am still carrying the wallet I bought on my first visit! See it on my previous post.)

The obsessive-compulsive, neurotic freak that I am loves that the store is color grouped, meaning all items in the same color family are in sections together. The biggest decision is do I start with black? Or white?

They also have lots of cute home accessory items and accessories for your accessories. (Something for anyone on your Christmas shopping list.) Head over to the markdowns for even better deals, and see the great variety of scarves I think I've seen anywhere! From lightweight to wool!

I picked up a light weight aztec styled fringe sweater and plaid flannel infinity scarf. (Got the sweater in the mark down section for $19.99 cause that's how I roll). I went over my $25 budget by about $9 with tax. Thanks Versona for the opportunity to review the new location, and if you have a chance to check it out they are located in New Market Square off of 21st street West and Maize Road. The store is next to the Michael's just South of Target. See a mall directory here.

Can't make it to either store location? They now have online shopping available at their website. See that here, shopversona.com

*I received compensation for my review, all opinions and shopping selections are my own.

Whole Foods for Fall and Halloween treats (gluten free and Organic) *sponsorpost

2015-10-07T19:12:00.001-05:00

*sponsored post

Fall means pumpkins, the changing colors of leaves and one of our favorite holidays: Halloween! In the west, this is prime season for apple picking, delicious squash and, at Whole Foods Market, the arrival of delicious Icelandic lamb. Check out our ideas this month on how to make the most of what is many people’s favorite time of the year!

Apples:

Smell that? The air is crisp, leaves crunch beneath your feet. It must be fall, which means it’s prime time for some of our favorite varieties of apples. Below are some tips to help you choose the best ones, whether at Whole Foods Market or your favorite local orchard:

· Don’t wash your apples until you are ready to eat them—unwashed apples store longer than washed ones

· Store your apples in a cool, dark place to extend their shelf life until you’re ready to use them

· While “one bad apple can spoil the bunch,” you can use bruised apples in delicious recipes, from applesauce and apple butter to smoothies and apple chips baked in the oven

Winter Squash:

Fall also heralds fresh squash season. With so many varieties, it can be intimidating to incorporate squash and pumpkins into your menu, but once you learn a few key techniques to cut and cook squash, you’ll want to add them into all your dishes through the New Year.

Exploring the wide variety of squash available at Whole Foods Market and farmer’s markets is one of the most rewarding culinary adventures you can take this fall. Butternut, Delicata, Spaghetti, Acorn, Kabocha, Hubbard, or Buttercup squash are just a few of the varieties to try, along with pie pumpkins. Most are grown locally in each state, so look for the local sign at your grocery to support farms near you.

Most people are intimidated by cutting squash—the key first step to preparing it for soups, casseroles, and entrees. These veggies can be large, unwieldy, and seem dangerous to the uninitiated! Here are some failsafe tips and techniques to get these cut down to size for use in your favorite dish:

· Choosing the right knife is key to getting the job done—it should be long, heavy and extremely sharp—a flimsy or dull knife can be dangerous when cutting squash because it can slip and cause cuts

· Stabilize the squash so it doesn’t roll out from under you and use the “claw” technique with your fingers to hold the veggie, should your knife slip (so no fingers are exposed to the blade)

· Cut off both ends of the squash from where the “neck” ends and the body begins

· Take the “body” of the squash in half from top to bottom and scoop out the seeds—you can dry or bake these for a delicious fall snack with a little sea salt later!

· Begin to cut rings in the squash in the size you want the cubes to be—similar to cutting a cantaloupe

· Cube out the remaining pieces around the same size (typically 1” or so)

Some people microwave their squash for 2 minutes prior to cutting to make it a little easier

Experimenting with fun varietals like Spaghetti Squash opens up great crock pot, oven and even microwave options to get vibrant fall fare on your table in a short amount of time.

Recipes:

· Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Herbs

· Creamy Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Cardamom

· Winter Squash and Apple Soup

· Raw Apple Crisp

· Sweet Potato Apple Cake

· Apple Cheddar Quesadillas

Squash Cooking Tutorials:

· Spaghetti Squash

· Butternut Squash

Also check out Whole Foods for gluten free and organic Halloween treats for your school and home parties. We love Annie's and Justin's product, get them now at Whole Foods.

*sponsored post

Aztec, Lace, Dots and Sequin Sweat Shirt! *affiliate post for Eleventh Avenue

2015-09-03T17:39:00.001-05:00

Top It Off Event!

Up to 80% Off blouses, tees, and tanks during the Top It Off Event at Eleventh Avenue! https://www.eleventhavenue.com/event/590-

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Arrows Relaxed Dolman - Up to 2XL!—11.99: Affiliate Link: Arrows Relaxed Dolman - Up to 2XL!

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Please feel free to reach out with any questions or additional opportunities to promote these deals.

Thank you,
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Back to school snacks and Eat local with Whole Foods Market *ambassador post

2015-08-25T22:07:00.000-05:00

*ambassador post

Back-to-School time: Kids are back in school and summer is on its way out the door! Whole Foods Market can be your easy and affordable resource for all things kids, food and healthy. Here are some of our favorite back-to-school tips that will keep kids smiling, without breaking the bank:

· Lighten up on refined sugar – Satisfy a sweet tooth with fresh or dried fruit. Try crispy apples and sweet pears from Colorado’s Western Slope. These fruits are in season and oh-so-tasty this time of year.

· Skip processed snacks – Prep raw fruits and veggies ahead and portion into reusable containers. Store in the front of the fridge, so they’re easy to find when hunger strikes.

· Trade in hydrogenated oils and trans fats – Instead, choose foods with better fats, including olives, nuts and nut butters, avocados, seeds, eggs and certain types of fish.

Eat local and in season: Lucky for you, local peaches and chilies from Hatch, NM and Pueblo, CO are in season now. These local and vibrantly flavorful treats won’t be around for long, so we recommend you start incorporating them in just about everything you can. Shopping tip: Whole Foods Markets near you are roasting these fresh daily—you can throw them into dishes with ease, or freeze them and enjoy later! Here are some of our favorite ways to enjoy them:

Peaches:

· Rum Butter Glazed Grilled Peaches are perfect over ice cream or pound cake

· This Arugula Salad with Peaches and Blue Cheese is flavored with extra-virgin olive oil, prosciutto and lemon.

· Try this Peach Coconut Freeze for an elegant and easy summer dessert.

Hatch & Pueblo roasted chilies:

· Chop up and add to mac and cheese

· Slice and add to a grilled burger, for extra flavor

· Bake into your favorite cornbread

And make sure to drop by for the monthly Farmer's Market Events in the parking lot of Whole Foods Market, Wichita to check out local food trucks and even more locally grown and made here in Kansas. The next Farmer's Market is Wednesday, August 26th at 5pm-8pm. Follow their Facebook page for even more events and updates on future Farmer's Markets!

facebook.com/wholefoodsmarketwichita

*ambassador post

Gordman's Friends and Family discount

2015-08-18T21:54:00.001-05:00

*affiliate post

It's friends and Family Days at Gordman's. Here's an exclusive coupon good for your entire purchase from 8/20-8/23.

I love to use coupons at Gordman's, it makes their low prices even lower! Time to snag jeans and jackets, shoes and bags!

You can also now shop online at their new website 24/7. You can use this discount online with promo code FAMILY.

Thanks Gordman's for sending this to share with our readers!

Read about some of my past Gordman's shopping trips here, and here.

Also find this coupon at their site here.

Lace and Lemons 75% off fall accessories event

2015-08-06T17:19:00.002-05:00

Lace and Lemons Event!

Up to 75% off fall accessories during the Lace and Lemons Event at Eleventh Avenue! https://www.eleventhavenue.com/event/619

Little Lady Lace Boot Socks - 5 Colors!—$4.99: affiliate link: Little Lady Lace Boot Socks - 5 Colors!

Tassle Knit Infinity Scarf —$4.99: Affiliate Link: Tassle Knit Infinity Scarf

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So Fancy Faux Fur Vest —$15.99: Affiliate Link: So Fancy Faux Fur Vest

Navy Plaid Scarves—$4: Affiliate Link: Navy Plaid Scarves

Fall Button Boot Socks!—$6.99: Affiliate Link: Fall Button Boot Socks!

Top Sellers

Adorable Graphic Shirts & Onesies - 5 Styles!—$9.99: Affiliate Link: Adorable Graphic Shirts & Onesies - 5 Styles!

Sequin Sweat Shirt Tunic - 2 Colors! —$22.99: Affiliate Link: Sequin Sweat Shirt Tunic - 2 Colors!

Arrows Relaxed Dolman - Up to 2XL!—$11.99: Affiliate Link: Arrows Relaxed Dolman - Up to 2XL!

Polka Dot Top - 4 Colors! —$17.99: Affiliate Link: Polka Dot Top - 4 Colors!

Elsa and Disney Princesses for your party!

2015-08-03T14:42:00.000-05:00

Princess Pros Entertainment offers Princess visit parties, play dates, princess picnics in the park, and story times.

Wichita City Moms readers can get 10% off any party package (excluding add-ons), just mention

Wichita City Moms when booking to get your deal!

Check it out!

**Update**
Princess Pros Entertainment will also be at Watermark Books and Cafe doing a story time with The Ice Sisters, on September 26th.

Fish your family will devour (WFM ambassador post)

2015-07-27T23:59:00.001-05:00

This is an ambassador post for Whole Foods Market. I have received compensation for my post, all opinions are mine

Whole Foods Market sent me on a mission to buy and prepare in-season Swordfish currently available at my local Whole Foods Market. I had never tried swordfish before, so I was a bit apprehensive. The recipes on their website sounded delicious, and similar to another fish recipe I make for my family, that they love, so I was up for it.

Swordfish is a firmer fish and comes in steak like portions. There is not the "fishy" taste you get with other types of less expensive fish, the texture of the fish is more meaty and firmer than say Tilapia or Cod.

The link to the Whole Foods Recipe is here. But here is my go to version of the same, of which is in the photo above.

Olive oil (about 2 Tbl)
1 large tomato or 2 medium diced
2 small zucchini squash (or a yellow and a green zucchini)
2 cloves garlic
4/5 small white potatoes diced or quartered
kalamata olives, pitted and halved, approx 1/4 cup
sea salt
Sword fish 3/4- 1 lb or 3 tilapia filets
juice of 1/2 a lemon or a capful of bottled lemon juice

dice veggies, and potatoes and place in baking dish tossing with the salt and olive oil.
Bake in a 350 oven for approximately 12 min or until potatoes are tender crisp
Add fish and arrange on top of vegetables, adding more olive oil as needed
scatter olives and lemon juice over top of all
return to oven and continue to bake until fish is flaky and vegetables are tender
30 -45 minutes total.

*note: the picture above I cooked 3/4 lb sword fish cut in two and omitted the potatoes.
The sword fish did take a bit longer to cook to my liking because it is so much thicker than Tilapia.
I have even used Cod for this dish but the Swordfish was divine!! This would also prepare really well on a grill -swordfish grills well because it is denser, just cook the veggies in a foil pack and then mix your cooked components before serving.

Yes, I pared mine with mac 'n cheese, (mom life), but it was the Alfredo cheese flavor and it paired nicely with the fish and veggies. With potatoes added to this recipe it is a one dish meal! My kids always eat this well and it is a fast meal to prepare for a family!

You can find Swordfish for a limited time at your local Whole Foods Market. Find more recipes and tips for preparing Swordfish at the link here! Including 10 Recipes just for Summer.

This is an ambassador post for Whole Foods Market. I have received compensation for my post, all opinions are mine.

How to Eat out for Less

2015-07-13T09:17:00.000-05:00

Eating out in our family used to be a requirement of our busy lifestyle. Now that we have become a frugal family, and have more mouths to feed, eating out expenses are carefully fit into a budget and done only when absolutely necessary or as a splurge or special occasions. Oh yes, how I miss fine dining. I would love to be able to eat at some of my favorite mexican or italian places at least once a week. But the big picture of the other great activities and purchases we can make instead of spending it all on restaurants is worth it!

Here are my own personal tips on how to eat out for less. Hopefully, like for us, it saves you a few dollars at least, so you can enjoy your meal, without guilt about the budget.

1. Order water. This one I started doing just for health and diet reasons. And amazingly enough, the food tastes a lot better without all that sugary soda. Put some lemon wedges in it, and some sugar, and you have lemonade! Save the glass of wine for when you get home, as the cost of alcohol on a dining out bill can run as much as an entree!

2. Order an appetizer, or ask for lunch sized portions. Most places may not have lunch sized items listed on their dinner menu, but ask and you may be able to still get the lunch size portion at dinner.

3. Share an entree. Everything is still so super-sized that splitting a meal is usually enough food for two people. Think you are hungry enough to eat more? Order your own side salad. This is usually still cheaper than ordering your own entree. This also works really well with my older tween kids that are too hungry for a kids meal but can't yet eat their own adult meal.

4. Eat dinner early so that you can order off the lunch menu. This is good for health as well, as we all know eating after 8pm when watching your weight is a no no. The other option if you must eat out is to eat out for lunch instead of dinner. (Gives you more time to digest!)

5. Buy an entertainment book or fundraiser card. Schools and group organizations start selling these usually in the fall for fundraising purposes. The benefit goes two ways.

6. Know the specials/discount days at your favorite places. Especially when dining out with the whole family. There are a lot of restaurants in town that offer kids eat free or discounts on the kids menu on certain nights of the week. Ask around or check the facebook pages of your favorite restaurants for specials, promotions, and kids-eat-free nights. I have found that Wednesday's are a popular night for deals.

7. Coupons. Check the Sunday coupon section, back of the phone book, or sign up for emails on the restaurant website. Sometimes just for signing up you get a great coupon for a visit. Don't forget snail mail, look out for the bulk mailers with coupons, make a stack and choose your dinner from your selection. Get familiar with some of the couponing, thrifty Mom bloggers out there. I like Money-Saving Mom, Wichita on the Cheap, Thrifty Wifey, and there's tons more. I have also found that websites for news and radio offer some sponsor deals as well. Check out fetchtoto.com for a listing of deals all in one place (provided by Wichita on the Cheap), There are some great deals to be found. Sign up for deal sites like Groupon, and Living Social, for 1/2 if not more savings. A lot of locally owned restaurants are now getting in on group deals.

8. Be open to freebies or deals in unusual places. My favorite freebie was a local dealership was offering a very nice gift card to a very expensive restaurant just for test driving a particular new car. Going through the whole sales spiel, and knowing what our reward would be at the end, (date night!!) was worth it. No commitment, and no stress. Just make sure you don't break down and come home with a new car too. ;)

9. Avoid restaurants where you have to tip. Rather than being a cheapskate and not tipping enough, just skip these places and save anywhere from 10-20% off your bill.

10. Make your favorite restaurant meals at home. Allrecipes.com is my favorite recipe site and there are thousands of recipes on there. Type in just a few of the ingredients and it will pull up all that match. You never know, it may actually turn out tasting better than the restaurant makes it.

11. Walk out if it doesn't fit the budget, or glance at the menu before you sit.

12. Plan ahead. If you fall into the trap of having to eat out because of a busy schedule, plan ahead and make up meals you can freeze and heat. You'll find that doesn't take any more time than the time it takes to decide, get there, and order. Our busy nights usually turn into our left over nights, or sandwich nights or grab and eat it nights. Check out makeaheadmeals.blogspot for 100 recipes that are all for making in advance. Money Saving Mom posts her menu list each week, and has freezer cooking days where she shares recipes and menus.

These tips have worked for our family, hope you can use some of them as well. If you're looking to save money, and cut back on your household expenses, this is one of the easier ways to do it.
Let me know, what has your family done to cut back on the eating out bill?
Check out these websites for more tips on saving on dining out:
Sheknows.com, and Sheknowschef.com,

3 Steps-3 Ingredients to Sparkling Windows [Inside and Outside]

2015-07-11T22:53:00.002-05:00

Spring cleaning started a little late this year at my house.
We have lived in my home now for 5 years and though I had cleaned the windows before, I had not done it in at least 2 years. (ick)

I have been getting some great cleaning tips from a friend who owns a cleaning business, One of the best, quick tips she taught me is for cleaning windows. I tried it out and it is spectacular. Great thing is -it uses things you have on hand.

Dawn dish soap
Wet Sponge
Squeegee

1. Suds up every inch of the glass with a LOT of Dawn dish soap on a wet sponge. Cover the entire area. It's important to make sure you get a very wet, very sudsy glass, as if the soap starts to dry before the next step, it will leave soap scum and streaks.

2. Squeegee that window clean!
Swipe and wipe the squeegee or squeegee in one continuous swipe. (easier on smaller windows).The trick with squeegeeing is to get the whole thing in one continuous motion. It takes a little practice but is easy once you get the hang of it.

3. Using an old t-shirt, an cloth diaper or your favorite rag for cleaning windows, dry off any remaining wetness or streaks.

That's it! Sparkling clean windows super fast and super cheap!

I especially love doing this on the inside and outside of my sliding glass patio door. Nothing makes your house look cleaner and brighter than clean windows, and the Dawn adds a nice, fresh scent that isn't as strong as most window cleaners!

and, I promise, after this, you won't deny that you do windows again! It's lots of fun!

Window scrubber (my next purchase as these things are great!), and squeegee. (affiliate link)

Whole Foods Market for July 4th - Good Grillin'

2015-06-30T13:04:00.000-05:00

*I am an ambassador for Whole Foods Market and may have received compensation for this post. All opinions are mine.

It's Grilling season! And with Independence Day around the corner, many of you may be making plans for Bar-B-Q's and Cookouts!

Whole Foods Market has a huge selection of fresh meat, produce and seafood. What makes Whole Foods different with their selection of meat, is they require 3rd-party animal-welfare inspections for the beef, pork, chicken and turkey farms and ranches that supply the fresh meat case. Whole Foods has over 100+ Animal Welfare standards. This means a more humane, natural environment for the animals being raised for your dinner table.
All seafood is the most sustainable, wild-caught seafood available, with 100% traceability for wild-caught seafood from the fisheries to our stores. The only national retailer that can say this!
Want to know more about the high quality standards and quality of all fresh produce, meat and seafood, go to www.wholefoodsmarket.com

All good grillin' starts with a good marinade.
- Marinade thicker cuts of meat overnight
-only marinade fish for 30 min or less
-set some marinade aside for drizzling on top of finished dish.

Charcoal? or Propane?

Fresh fish! Ready for your grill!

Whole Foods has a beautiful selection of fresh fish...

Seasoned and pre-marinated meat and chicken...

...top cuts of flavorful steak, chops and ground beef.

May you have safe, and delicious Fourth of July celebrations!

Kids Garage Sale and Craftapalooza Sale - Wichita

2015-06-24T17:43:00.000-05:00

Two events coming up this weekend,
one is the Kids Only Garage Sale on
Saturday June 27, 2015, at the Bel Aire Rec Center 48th & Oliver 9 am - 1 pm
This is the 3rd Kid's only sale hosted by Trendy Tots at the Bel Aire Rec Center and is a chance for kids to buy, and sell their own items, making this a great life learning experience on how to run a business, handle money, and maybe even bargain and negotiate. This is kid to kid only.
See more info at the link http://www.snapretail.com/retailer/templaterenderer.aspx/Consumer/874144
and sign up for booth space.

It Crafts, Vintage, Retro and Junk is your thing, the Craftapalooza & Fabulous Vintage Market is SATURDAY ~ JUNE 27th, 2015

10AM TO 4PM

CENTURY II CENTER

NORTH ENTRANCE ~EXHIBITION HALL

This is the 10th event for Craftapalooza and features handmade, vintage, jewelry, home decor, repurposed and funky junk! Admission is $3 and 12 and under are free!

Check out more info at www.montagefestivals.com

Dad's Day gift ideas *Gordman's Giveaway!

2015-06-15T15:32:00.001-05:00

Gordman's has you covered when it comes to Father's Day this year. Find something for any type of Dad: the sporty dad, the fashion conscious, the retro hipster Dad, the Superhero, the grill master Dad and whatever category you put your Dad or children's Dad in.

A way to display his favorite memories.

Something for the "mancave".

Accessories like hats, ties, wallets and belts.

A way to display to everyone how you feel!

And maybe a way to relax by the pool, or a hammock in a bag for afternoon naps?

And there was also a great selection of bar-b-Que tools and accessories and their college team and sports section has something for every type of fan.

I have a $25 gift card available to a lucky winner. Just follow the instructions to comment and share.
Good luck!

Follow this link for a coupon for your shopping trip! COUPON

Staying in your budget with bulk buying at the new Costco Wichita

2015-06-02T22:34:00.002-05:00

*I may have received compensation for this post, all opinions are mine.

It was a packed house tonight at the V.I.P. Preview Party for the new East side Costco. This event was open by invitation and was the first opportunity to check out the newly constructed store. All the shelves were stocked, and piled high ready for their first day of business which is sure to be a
huge day for Costco company wide. I think Wichita is super excited about this store!

Along with getting to browse the aisles, there were unbelievable amounts of food to be sampled. Most of their Food Court menu, Deli foods, and specialty meat, pasta and bakery was out and ready to sample. Plates and plates full. It was a full on eating extravaganza of all foods Costco. These weren't just samples, these were per person meal servings. My family tried some of the sausages, the Deli pizza, and deli hot sandwiches, bakery cake and cookies. Everything was wonderful and seemed to carry through on the excellent taste and quality of all the products. (I highly recommend going to their V.I.P. event if another Costco opens in your area.)

I price compared in my head as much as I could and found that majority of all the items I checked were a much better deal at Costco, so I have my list ready of the items I will have to have from there.

I am planning on revisiting the eye wear department. It has a large selection and prices were much lower than many places I have been recently. I also saw great buys on good quality sheet sets, bath towels, socks and underwear for the whole family. Produce and the meat department prices per pound were right on to win my business.

The huge walk-through climate controlled freezer sections for produce and dairy are super cool (no pun intended) and were a bit shocking since we didn't expect it to actually be that cold.

Pre-prepared meal and snack foods were all reasonably priced.

You could quite easily spend an entire afternoon here, and judging the popularity so far, I would plan on it, and assume you'll be stopping for lunch or a snack at the Snack area.

Bulk buying doesn't have to break your budget and Costco could be a great option for fitting the foods and supplies your family needs into your finances. I know when my budget seemed to get tighter and tighter what with food prices going up, warehouse bulk buying was my first thing to cut.

With the grand opening of Wichita's first Costco this week, I did some research on how to make your money count when shopping for bulk items.

COMPARE. Compare your price per unit per item.
Know the prices of the items your buying at your usual store per unit and also their sale prices.
*You also can use coupons at warehouse stores, so you may consider the benefit of store only coupons (such as Dillon's register receipts or Target coupons), and whether it would be more efficient to use those on less. Remember to compare per unit or per ounce. Costco lists this on their price tags throughout as do most other stores. If they don't just get your calculator handy and you can figure it.

NO WASTE! It's easy to walk into Costco and immediately see things you know you need and can use, but, you gotta' make a list and stick to it. If you want to have a back stock of high use items, you can start your bulk storage a little at a time by focusing on what you are out of or almost out of now.

Not bulk for everything.
There are some items that are just obviously not good to buy in bulk, but consider the following:
spices
White Rice
Nuts (these are freezable)
Condiments (if used within 6 months)
Meats (freezable also)
Vegetables and Fruits (educate yourself on how to freeze veggies and what you can and can not freeze)
Paper Products
Pet supplies (dog/cat food, cat litter, dog treats) The few dollars more for the much bigger quantity makes this a must buy.
Baby items like diapers and wipes. (sometimes the store brand is just as good as the national brand and sometimes it's better)

Search for recipes that you can use to make make-ahead freezer recipes. Pinterest has tons, and All-Recipes has a recipe finder where you can enter the ingredients you want. This is especially great for fresh produce buys.

And lastly consider sharing your bulk food purchases with a family member or friend. I love to do this with my parents, as they like the quality at Warehouse stores but can't always use the quantity. It sometimes make more sense to split up some items versus others.

Visit the new Wichita Costco today and take advantage of this shopping experience you'll go back to again and again!
*I may have received compensation for this post, all opinions are mine.

sources:
http://premeditatedleftovers.com/deals-money-saving-tips/the-dos-and-donts-of-buying-in-bulk/
http://funcheaporfree.com/2010/07/saving-craving-savings-tip-of-day_19/

Summer Activities and Whole Foods Market

2015-05-31T20:24:00.004-05:00

*The following is a sponsored post by Whole Foods Market in my affiliation as an ambassador blogger. All opinions are my own.
Summer is officially here in this area, and a week in and I've already heard, "Mom, I'm soo bored."

Whole Foods Market has a Kids Club that has weekly events and story times. Bring your kiddos in for "Story time with Sarah". Each week is a different theme, and usually includes a healthy snack for Kids and Mom or Dad. The schedule for June is up, and looks like tons of fun and a great, inexpensive way to get out and socialize.

Kids Club Events include a craft your kids can make and keep. This month they will be making Kites and Caterpillars.

Don't have kids or just need to get away from them? There are classes for adults as well.

Check out cooking classes that happen regularly, and this month there is Yoga and Zumba on the patio on the schedule. There will also be a visit by a Certified Holistic APRN who will take you on a tour of the store and discusses the benefits of organic food. There will be a $5 gift card for all who attend this tour - great opportunity!!

You can find out more details about all the upcoming events at the local Wichita Whole Foods Market by following them on Facebook here. And then click on the "Events" Tab just under the page's cover photo. This will take you to a calendar listing of all events available. Most all are free but make sure to read the descriptions thoroughly prior to attending for all costs and reservation requirements.

*This was a sponsored post by Whole Foods Market in my affiliation as an ambassador blogger. All opinions are my own.

Baby Boutique Event at Eleventh Avenue

2015-05-27T20:17:00.000-05:00

*affiliate links

Yeah Baby! Event featuring Kids Graphic Tees, Super Hero Masks and Capes, Cardigan Onesie & Bow Tie and so much more: https://www.eleventhavenue.com/event/524

Event Best Sellers

Kids Graphic Tees—$9.99 (67% off): $9.99 | Kids Graphic Tees

Cardigan Onesie & Bow Tie—$22.99 (49% off): $22.99 | Cardigan Onesie & Bow Tie

Dude Kids Trucker/Snap Back Hats—$14.99 (32% off):$14.99 | Dude Kids Trucker/Snap Back Hats

Genuine Leather Baby Mocs—$12.99 (57% off): $12.99 | Genuine Leather Baby Mocs

Girl's Patriotic Outfits—$19.99 (50% off):$19.99 | Girl's Patriotic Outfits

Where the Wild Things Are Reclaimed Wood Sign—$10.99 (39% off): $10.99 | Where the Wild Things Are Reclaimed Wood Sign

Kids Room Wall Decals—$9.99 (50% off): $9.99 | Kids Room Wall Decals

And don't forget to check out all the hot new home decor, accessories and clothing for summer as well!

*affiliate links.

Breakfast with Frozen

2015-05-13T16:02:00.001-05:00

Breakfast with the stars of Frozen!
Saturday May 16th at All Star Adventures East
Add $3 per person for 2 hours unlimited Amusement Rides.
Online Reservation required at allstarwichita.com

Costco Give Away Week 2

2015-05-13T14:35:00.001-05:00

We are about three weeks away now from the grand opening of the new shiny Costco at Kellogg and Greenwich, (or Grin-itch if you ain't from around here.)

You may have seen those Costco Membership tents pop up around town lately? Word on the street is that you sign up for your membership early and you'll get access to the V.I.P. Preview Shopping night on June 2nd, the night before the grand opening, (I'll be there with my family!) If you are super excited and can't wait one extra day, this would be worth it to track a tent down for.

Plus. the VIP night will have lots and lots of samples and free goodies! (gotta love that!)

Costco has sent me lots of products to try the last month, and I am getting super spoiled on how great they are. The quality is apparent in the taste. The Kirkland Signature Mixed Nuts have huge, whole cashews, peanuts, almonds, brazil nuts, pecans and macadamia nuts. There is such a good balance of the "best" nuts, and not just tons of peanuts. (I hate that.) And who can hate on Milk Chocolate covered Almonds? As you can see, we are a family who likes nuts, apparently more than I thought because I couldn't even get a picture of a full container in time to do this post!!

You have no idea the excitement of getting to try the Kirkland Signature Columbian Coffee! I'm one of those "don't talk to me until I've had my coffee" people, (in the morning and in the afternoon) So I appreciate a good coffee. I'm not a huge fan of Starbucks though, and honestly this is wayyyy better in my opinion due to the smooth, rich taste that is not acidic or too nutty. It doesn't take a lot to get a good, medium strength brew, so I appreciate that I have 3 pounds of this to use up, as I am sure it will last me quite a while! Yay!

Now for the giveaway!

I have a "Cooking In Style the Costco Way" Cookbook. A beautiful, soft cover cookbook with full color photographs, and recipes all with ingredients sold at Costco stores. There are appetizers through desserts in here and they look to be family friendly, and some health conscious as well.

Just comment below that you want it and I'll choose a winner in one week from today!

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway