Kinder Keepsakes {Blog}

Smack in the Face

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Smith) — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 19:53:00 +0000

Some days when you are having a rough go of it little blessings just smack you in the face and make you realize just how lucky you are.

This morning I started my day with being on the phone for over an hour with the IRS. Sounds fun right? I know I had a smile on my face.

I was frustrated with a business tax form that I sent in over a month ago that apparently no one in the government can find. ARGH!! I was about to spit nails.

Then life decided to give me a little reminder about priorities...

Kinder Keepsakes LLC makes graduation gowns for even the tiniest of babies. Need a baby cap and gown, need an infant graduation outfit... no problem!

We have had many people send us pictures with their kids dressed in their caps and gowns, standing next to, or being held by, a graduating parent. There are many awwwwwwwwwwes said by Aly and I aswe are reminded how cool it is to be part of their day.

This week was different. I did not see the joy in my work. I let my own life get ahead of me and forgot how very blessed I am to have two happy healthy headstrong kids and a third one on the way. I forgot to say thank you for being part of a business that sends love in the form of soothing blankets and keepsake items to other families. I closed my eyes and thought only of what was dragging me down, stressing me out and making my days CRAZY.

Then we received an order from a returning customer.

This man is a NICU nurse that purchased our cap and gown for a family that he had grown close to. To celebrate a moment in life that deserved to be celebrated. A little one was moving on from a long stay in the NICU.

I am so thankful to have even the smallest, tiniest, most inconsequential part of their day. To know that they are going to be smiling when they receive their gown. That they are going to be celebrating life as I should every day.

Oh the things that I doubt that they take for granted....

So this is just a note to say thank you. To that customer. To that baby. To that family.

Thank you for letting us be a part of your joy and for handing me a large dose of perspective along the way.

Until Next Time,

A Budget Friendly Kid Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Smith) — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 13:24:00 +0000

So now that we are one day before Thanksgiving it is totally appropriate to start our Christmas blogging right? I can't deny that we had a little dance party to some of our Trans Siberian Orchestra Christmas favorites yesterday.

Every Year since our first child arrived in our life we have tried to make Christmas super special as a family. To give him at least some of the Christmas magic that both my husband and I enjoyed when we were children. I think this desire is mostly to benefit my children, but it is also somewhat selfish as I love to see the joy that is in my kids throughout the entire season as they feel the magic of this time of year.

My problem the first few years of parenthood was that I struggled with how to make all of this magic with my limited budget.

After years of trying here are a few simple ways to make Christmas more manageable for your pocketbook and still magic for your kids!

#1 - Decide who is getting gifts.

This sounds so simple but we often do not remember just how many people we would like to buy gifts for. When you are planning do not forget to factor in teachers, mail carriers, bus drivers, and adult friends. Factor in any parties you have to attend, any host gifts you have to give etc. Also, make sure you are clear with your relatives about who you are buying for. Are the adult siblings exchanging? Are you buying gifts for your parents? Is it better to just to buy gifts for the kids? Be clear so that you are not under-prepared and then scraping together your pennies at the end of the season to give an extra gift. Also, you would be surprised that having a simple conversation setting expectations can take the weight off of the other person as well. They may not be in a position to buy gifts for everyone but are not comfortable to say so. If you talk about it in an open and welcoming way it tends to just spread cheer rather than pressure.

#2 - Now take the list of all of the people that you have decided to buy gifts for and set a budget for each gift. This includes your kids!

Be realistic with what money you have to go around and make the decisions as to what each gift should cost before you go shopping. This way you are less tempted to have an impulse purchase that is outside of your budget. I also find it helpful to talk to my oldest child about what he wants this Christmas before I set my budget. It does not meant that he will get it =) but it at least give me an idea of what a more expensive gift may look like.
I find that this step allows me to be creative with my gifting. If I really want to give a gift to the bus driver but only have $5 budgeted then maybe I give a mason jar with a homemade hot cocoa mix, or a fresh baked loaf of bread. Something simple, heartfelt, and within budget.

If you are going to set a budget then set it and stick to it.

#3 - Teach your children the true Meaning of The Season.

For our kids we focus on the Christmas story so that they have a good understanding of why we celebrate Christmas and that Santa, while he is a super awesome and jolly fella he is not the reason we celebrate Christmas.

I love to make the kids an advent calendar that increases the anticipation for Christmas morning but also reinforces the reason for the season. We include acts of kindness in our advent that allow us to discuss what we can do for others during December and throughout the year. Check this one out....

My job is to teach my children the Joy of Christmas and teach them how to spread that joy to others. That is such a great part of watching your children have the magic of the season, and often this can be done with very little hit to a budget!

#3 - Utilize the resources around you.

Do your children have that one toy that they want this year? Is it out of your budget that we just set? Don't fret you may still be able to purchase it but you also have to be ok with not giving your children EVERYTHING.

Learn how to check on your favorite items on some of awesome deal and savings websites around. I have listed a few of my favorites to check out.

www.moneysavingmom.com
www.bargainstobounty.com
www.southernsavers.com

Also, I have found that the Facebook sites associated with these websites are great resources as well. For instance I checked yesterday and Money Saving Mom had an alert that Candy Land, Cooties, and Chutes and Ladders were only $1.35 each at Target with the proper coupons!! What a great deal for ages 6 and under! Use your friends and also fellow facebook followers. Post a question looking for a specific item and utilize many eyes to keep watch for the deal!

You may have to pull the trigger on a deal that you see quickly but it can save big money in the end.

#4 - Shop consignment and Facebook Deal sites

Especially for the youngest children you really do not need much, and the toys are often grown out of even before they are played with much. What is the old addage??... I bought my child the best toy and all they wanted was the bow and the box?? Well that is so true!! What does that mean? It means that often times our fellow parents have many toys that their kids have not played with, are like new, but need to find new homes. Search your facebook groups for swap sites, or for sale sites that are specifically targeted to kids! You can usually even find new clothing, or new toys on the site that people just do not have the need for and would rather have the cash to buy what their child wants!

Consignment stores are also a great way to cut down on the Christmas costs. For instance I just purchased Christmas shirts that were new with tags for my three year old at about 75% off the regular retail price. It is worth a stop in and a few minutes to sort through all of the items to find the best deals!

#5 - Do not pay for shipping. Many parents now have Amazon Prime and are spoiled by the free two day shipping but if you have not already purchased a membership it may not be the time to fit that into your budget. This does not mean that you have to pay for shipping though. Most sites offer a free shipping coupon code but it is just your job to find it. Check out for all of your coupon code needs!

#6 - Don't be afraid to say no.

If your child does not get the latest and greatest does that mean you have ruined Christmas? NO! If you graciously accept a gift from a random neighbor but are only able to return a plate of cookies instead of matching the dollar amount of the gift that is ok!! Listen... that is REALLY OK!! It does not make you cheap, it means you put time into making something with your hands and bakes a little love onto a plate.

#7 - plan for Christmas centered activities that do not cost anything. Pack the kids in the car with hot cocoa and go for trip to find the area's best Christmas lights. Attend local parades or check out what activities the library is hosting like holiday movie night, or breakfast with Santa.

Christmas is about making memories. About learning the reason for the Season. About instilling faith in things other than presents and gifts. This can all be done with things other than money.

Until Next Time,

Sesame Street's Debut

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Porter) — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 14:26:00 +0000

45 years ago, today, Sesame Street made it's debut. It's a wonderful show that teaches kids to be the best person they can be, as well as teaching them their numbers and letters, just to name a few. How can you not love those memorable characters like, Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster and of course--Oscar the grouch. My kids LOVE Sesame Street and it's nice to know that there are good shows out there to educate our kids and help them to learn! So in honor of Sesame Street enjoy this uplifting treat :)

What I Am!

Friendship

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Porter) — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 12:00:00 +0000

I won't really have to write much...the pictures will explain it all. All I have to say is this... It is such a blessing when you come across people in your life, that once you meet you know that you are going to be friends forever. That is how I feel about Jenn and her wonderful family! Our families are so blessed to have found each other and for one short year were able to make so many wonderful memories.

Even though we don't live close anymore I am still so grateful that we are able to work together as partners in Kinder Keepsakes. Cheers to many wonderful adventures we have ahead! It's going to be a wild ride!

We just love our kids! (In case you couldn't tell)

Cherish those special friendships. They don't come along every day!

Sight Word Ninja!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Smith) — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 11:21:00 +0000

My son is responsible for memorizing at least 50 words for his Kindergarten class. Every day after he completes his normal homework we review his sight words and add a word or two every few days. This means that every day after his main homework is done, we move on to the flashcards.

Well... now that we are several weeks into school he is bored. Do I blame him? Ummm... No!

This past week I was so frustrated with his attitude that it made our homework time just dreadful!

I want learning to be fun!

So while I know it is annoying him to see the same words every day I also know it is imperative that he has the repetition so that he is able to learn, and retain these words. These are his building blocks to reading.

Yesterday it was a new day... a Monday... a new week... a new start... so we would try a new thing.

I decided to play to my son's strengths. He is best when he is engaged. He can be active, moving, and learning at the same time. So my answer to our flashcard blues.... we shall play SIGHT WORD NINJA!

What do you need?

Sight word flashcards (CHECK !)
Tape
Nerf gun (CHECK! CHECK! CHECK!)

How do you play?

You pick walls that do not have anything breakable on them ;) and you tape the sight words all over the house. Slightly dangerous but it adds to the fun !

This is our family motto. Fitting right?!

I had a trusty assistant for this process which got her involved and we were able to talk about the letters we were using in the words. The great part is that this activity can be done with any subject. Learning your numbers? Letters? Addition? Subtraction? If you can put it on a flashcard you can be a ninja!

Then you ask the beginning reader to arm himself (or herself) with his Nerf gun of choice.

The shooter is to name the sight word and then shoot it. Simple. Yet Oh SO Satisfying.

We made the game that we would time how long it took him to make his rounds and then next time we would see if he could beat his time. Repetition people... repetition.

The best part of this whole exercise ... He said..." MOM?? You did this for me? This is awesome... this makes my words go by so fast!!!! "

Oh yes son... I did it for you... but your smile just did it for me =)

Until Next Time,

Pumpkin Dump Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Porter) — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 11:18:00 +0000

I found this recipe from http://www.lovebakesgoodcakes.com/ and it looked so good! And it is fast and easy. As a mom with three kids--I am all about easy and quick, and YUMMY too! So try this yummy Pumpkin Dump Cake, it's perfect for fall! Let me know how you like it!

Pumpkin Dump Cake

by Jamie @ Love Bakes Good Cakes
Yield: (12 servings)

Ingredients

1 can (29 oz.) pure pumpkin
1 can (12 oz.) evaporated milk
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
3 tsp. cinnamon
1 box (15.25 oz.) yellow cake mix
1 cup chopped pecans
¾ cup melted butter

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan and set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, combine the pumpkin, milk, eggs, sugar, salt and cinnamon until well mixed. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the dry cake mix over the top of the batter. Sprinkle with pecans. Pour the melted butter over the top. Bake for 50 minutes. Allow to cool 10 minutes before serving.

Enjoy!

Here Comes Trouble!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Smith) — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 11:37:00 +0000

We have big news for the Kinder Keepsakes LLC Family! We are expecting a new member. In honor of Halloween we decided to make a themed announcement to let our friends in on the fun!

First off we have been singing the 5 little pumpkin rhyme for weeks now so we figured we would just roll with that!

5 Smith pumpkins sitting on a gate.

Mama pumpkin says 'oh my I think I'm late!'

Daddy pumpkin says 'there are babies in the air.'

Jacob pumpkin says' but we already have a spare'
Emma pumpkin says' this sure will be fun'
Baby boy pumpkin says 'in March I will be done'
Ooooo went the wind and out went the lights and our fifth little pumpkin came rolling into sight.

So how did you make your announcement?

Was it a surprise to your friends?

Until Next Time,

11 Free Reading Websites for Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Porter) — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 15:27:00 +0000

I'm so excited because I am teaching my kids how to spell, and my oldest who is in Kindergarten is learning how to read now too! I came across some great websites to help your children learn how to read and I wanted to share them with you.

Reading is such an important thing for your child to learn. Hopefully these websites can help!

1. http://www.storylineonline.net

Developed by The Screen Actors Guild Foundation, Storyline Online features accomplished actors and actresses reading some of their favorite children’s books. Each story comes with a free Activity Guide and can be viewed on YouTube or SchoolTube. Rainbow Fish, Wilfrid Gordon Macdonald Partridge, and To Be a Drum are just a few of the books available.

2. http://readtomelv.com/

Similar to Storyline Online, Read to Me features popular children’s books being read by famous performers. There are activity guides with hands-on ideas, discussion questions, and lesson plans that can easily be adapted to the Common Core State Standards. Entirely free, the site is colorful and engaging.

3. http://wegivebooks.org

A Pearson Foundation Initiative, We Give Books offers students a unique opportunity to read for social good. Each book that is read results in a book that is donated to a charity for children. While the books are not read aloud, they allow students to practice “Read to Self” with a good fit book during center time. There are books for children in preschool through fourth grade.

4. http://starfall.com

While some areas of Starfall are part of their premium service, they have many early reader stories available for free. Students can follow along as the story is read to them and can, in some instances, help create their own story. The website is highly engaging and a favorite of young readers.

5. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/online-storytime-books-toys/379003588/

From The Kissing Hand read by author Audrey Wood toPinkalicious read by Victoria Kann, Barnes and Noble’s Online Storytime has popular children’s books read out loud. While there are no supplemental materials to accompany the stories, this free site is perfect for “Listen to Reading” stations.

Note: The first story begins right away when the page opens so be sure that your volume is adjusted accordingly before clicking the link.

6. http://tumblebooks.com

TumbleBooks is a pay-for-use site that traditionally sells licenses to libraries and schools. Many public libraries, such as the Tell City, IN Public Library, offer free access to their TumbleBooks account. Students can follow along as the text is read them to help improve comprehension and fluency. Choose from picture books to chapter books.

7. http://en.childrenslibrary.org/

Discover books from around the world at the International Children’s Digital Library. The free site does not read the books aloud, but students can read them independently during Read to Self or free time. This is a great site for extension activities when learning about different regions of the world and can be used effectively into the middle school grades.

8. http://abcya.com/

Children can listen to short stories read aloud to them as they follow along with the highlighted text. ABCya! has a variety of educational games in addition to the featured stories. Free resources and materials are available for grades K through 5.

9. http://www.storynory.com/

Storynory features a collection of original, fairytale, and classic children’s audio stories. Students can follow along with the story as it is read to them, as the text is also included on the site. There are also some great features available that give you the option of downloading the audio to your computer, listening to “catch phrase” explanations, translating text into different languages (especially helpful for your ELL students!), and more.

10. http://ngexplorer.cengage.com/ngyoungexplorer/index.html

National Geographic Young Explorers is a magazine designed specifically for kindergarten and first grade students. Children can listen to the magazine being read to them as they follow along with the highlighted text. It is a great way to bring interesting non-fiction stories into reading center time.

11. http://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/

After registering for a free account, you have access to over 250 children’s audio books that can be used in the classroom. The book text is not part of the presentation, so students will not be able to follow along as it is read to them.

Happy Reading!!

Dinner-in-a-Pumpkin Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Porter) — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 13:00:00 +0000

Can I just tell you how much I love food. Especially around the holidays! Growing up my mom always made sure that every holiday was special. That usually meant that we got to eat something DELICIOUS! Well, Halloween was NO exception!

Our special meal that we would have every Halloween was called Dinner-in-a-Pumpkin! It is sooo yummy! I'm sure some of you have had it, but for those that haven't you don't want to miss out! So make this a fun Halloween tradition and EAT UP!!

DINNER-IN-A-PUMPKIN

INGREDIENTS

1 medium pumpkin (make sure it will fit in your oven)

1 large onion, chopped

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 1/2 pounds ground beef

2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 4 oz can sliced mushrooms, drained (optional)

1 can cream of chicken soup

3 cups cooked rice

1 8 oz can water chestnuts

DIRECTIONS

1. Cut off the top of pumpkin and clean out seeds and pulp.

2. Paint a face on front of pumpkin with permanent marker, if desired. Preheat oven to 350.

3. In large skillet saute onions in oil until tender. Add meat and brown. Drain.

4. Add soy sauce, brown sugar, mushrooms and soup. Simmer for 10 min, stirring occasionally.

5. Add cooked rice and water chestnuts.

6. Spoon mixture into pumpkin. Put the lid on the pumpkin. Place on a cookie sheet. Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes or until the inside meat of pumpkin is tender.

HAPPY EATING!

Applesauce Pumpkin Bread

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Smith) — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 13:55:00 +0000

I LOVE the fall. Everything about this season makes my heart sing. The color change, the weather change, the ability to rock a hooded sweatshirt, roll in the leaves, pick a pumpkin, do some baking, watch our favorite football teams, and pick apples are all things that make this time of year special for my family.

One of our favorite fall recipes that is perfect to accompany any warm delicious fall dinner is a loaf of Applesauce Pumpkin Bread. This stuff is super easy to make. It is moist and delicious!

Here is what my Great Aunt Wilma put in her recipe: PS>>> SHE WAS A SMART LADY

2/3 cup Margarine

2 2/3 cup Sugar

4 eggs

1 cup pumpkin

1 cup Applesauce

3 1/3 cup flour

2 t baking soda

1/2 t baking powder

1 t cinnamon

1/2 t nutmeg

2/3 cup apple juice

I add a little helper to my recipe as this bread is pretty hard to screw up. I love to have my daughter practice her numbers on this bread because if we are a hint off we have still managed to pull together a good finished product.

Here is how you put this together... super easy...

Preheat oven to 350F. Cream margarine and sugar. Add eggs one at a time beating after each egg is added. Stir in applesauce and pumpkin. Stir together dry ingredients and add alternately with apple juice. Place batter in two large greased loaf pans. Bake for one hour. Let cool before you remove from loaf pans.

How easy is that?

SUPER EASY!

Just give it a try... you won't regret it!

Until Next Time,

Take Some of the Scare out of Halloween for Allergy Families

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Smith) — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 17:30:00 +0000

My kids love Halloween. Nothing can stop their chubby little fingers from ringing doorbells and touching every piece of candy in the nice bowl that our neighbors put in front of them as they scream TRICK OR TREAT!!! Of course I stand on the sidewalk and laugh as they gleefully run from door to door trying to see what their next prize will be.

I love to see the joy on my kids' faces as they have the freedom to go ring the doorbell and choose the candy of their choice. I love this because my kids are free of allergies. My kids do not have to worry about what they choose, what they pick, what they touch, what doorbell they ring (outside of the creepy neighbor factor).

We are free to run, explore, sample, and have fun. Oh... and we do!

Are all kids free to do the same? No.

I learned this one year when trick or treating with a great little four year old peanut and tree nut allergy ambassador and his family. He still sprinted from house to house with the joy and enthusiasm of my kids but he would not be eating what he was received
I watched while this little one would kindly ask for a candy that did not have any peanuts in it. Some parents would laugh and look for a candy that was not a snickers, and send some other not peanut heavy chocolate item with him. Little did they know that those had been manufactured in a facility with peanuts and they would not be safe for him anyway. I guess at the time I appreciated the effort of those families that listened to him, but knowing that even those treats could send him to the hospital or worse made me think about how stressful this day can be for so many families.

It does not have to be this way though. Not at every house, and this year not at my house.

What if with very little effort you knew you could provide something for the child that was truly safe? Would you do it?

Would you want every child coming to your door to have the same joyful, youthful, fun loving Halloween that we took for granted as kids.

My answer it yes.

So how do you do this? Well check this out...

It is called the TEAL PUMPKIN PROJECT!

You put a teal colored pumpkin on your step to let allergy families know that you are allergy friendly. That you are providing a safe alternative for their child. A food free treat.

Now due to the fact that some people do not want to stop handing out candy ...what if I said that even that was still possible? Why not buy a bag of dum dums , or Wonka candy, that does not have an allergy warning on it? Why not pick up a bag of candy that does not say manufactured in a facility that processes PN /TN on the ingredient list? Why not put them in a separate bowl or just give out glow sticks and tattoos? Is that effort any different than buying three bags of snickers and throwing them in a bowl? I mean... hello dollar store!! Now to be fair those candies are just PN / TN free but do you have to give candy at all? Why not be creative with your handouts... give it a try... you might like it.

Do you want to know the coolest part about this for non-allergy families. You can take it as an opportunity to TEACH your kids. Your kids will learn empathy. Learn about the fact that you can make the world easier for others. You can acknowledge differences and celebrate together. As a side note - lets be honest ---your kids will also love painting a pumpkin and putting some teal glitter on it while they are learning a valuable lesson. Really my daughter would roll in teal glitter if she could. Make your pumpkin just as unique as the kids trick or treating at your house.

Allergies are not going away. If anything they are on the rise. This is something that our kids will deal with when we are not with them. How would you want your kid to react in a school setting when they have a friend that has an allergy. Do you want them to have empathy for that friend? Do you want them to show another person kindness? Would you want someone to show a little kindness to your child? Why not start at home on a holiday that can be much too scary for some.

If you want a list of safe items check out this link...
http://snacksafely.com/

Happy Halloween Everyone.

Have a safe and happy day.

Until Next Time,

5 Creative Ways to Organize Your Kids Crafts

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Porter) — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 18:00:00 +0000

I have been struggling to be able to organize my kids craft supplies. They are a mess ALL the time. And it is driving me CRAZY! I really want them to be creative and be able to do fun art projects, color and draw etc. but the organizational part is my hang up...so here are some really fun and creative ways to organize your kids craft area.

I will keep you posted when I have mine all finished!

SOURCE

Happy Organizing!

Bento Box? Is that a real thing?

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Smith) — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 11:07:00 +0000

I know that some people are super creative and show not only their creativity but also their love for their children through the design of their kid's lunches. I am not in this category. If I get all of his favorites into his lunch he is going to consider it a win. With that said, I am not above throwing a note or two into his lunch to keep it fun and just to give a smile, hug, or wave, to my kindergartner during the day!

The best part of this is that my son can't read so if I put a note in I need it to be eye catching and almost self explanatory because he can't read all of the words yet!

Problem solved... check these fun notes out that are super easy to print and throw in a lunch. Are you ready to be the cool mom yet? j/k

Have fun including a little wink to your little one.
PS- check out the blog that is linked to this... they have some super creative ideas!

http://todayscreativeblog.net/printable-lunchbox-notes/

Until Next Time,

Baked Sloppy Joe Cups

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Porter) — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 11:47:00 +0000

I am going through a phase with my middle daughter. She is becoming more and more picky. What I have learned through this frustration at dinner time is that she will be more likely to eat something if it is presented in a fun and new way. Even IF it is the same meal she had a few weeks before. So when I found this recipe I thought SCORE! And what kid doesn't LOVE Sloppy Joes right?? WIN WIN!

So this is what we are going to do for dinner one night this week! Let me know how you like it! And remember--it's all in the presentation!

Baked Sloppy Joe Cups

INGREDIENTS

1 pound ground beef or turkey (if you want to be a little healthier)
1/2 cup chopped yellow onion
1 can (15 oz each) Manwich® Original Sloppy Joe Sauce (Or whatever you like)
1 pkg (12 oz each) refrigerated Texas-style buttermilk biscuits
2/3 cup shredded Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese blend

NUTRITION INFORMATION*

Serving Size	5 servings (2 filled biscuits each)
Calories	446

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 400°F. Heat large skillet over medium-high heat; cook beef and onion 7 minutes or until beef is crumbled and no longer pink, stirring occasionally. Drain. Add Sloppy Joe sauce; cook 1 minute more or until hot.
Meanwhile, press 1 biscuit into bottom and up sides of each medium muffin cup, being careful not to tear dough. Place 1/4 cup meat mixture in each cup. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown.
Sprinkle cheese evenly over top of each cup. Let stand 1 minute or until cheese softens. Carefully remove from pan.

COOK'S TIPS

Save any remaining Sloppy Joe meat mixture and place on a bun to make a Sloppy Joe sandwich or eat with crackers for a snack.

ENJOY!

Until next time~

Warning... Loud Noises to Follow

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Smith) — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 21:39:00 +0000

I keep telling my kids they are not allowed to grow up but it seems they just are not listening to me. My son had his sixth birthday on Friday and oh boy did the number 6 seem so much bigger than the number five. It seems my 'little' boy is not so little anymore!
As a rule our family does not do large friend birthday parties every year. Last year we had a large gathering for his 5th birthday so this year was going to be a small family celebration with cake, ice
cream, and some gifts from the fam.

Even though our celebration would be smaller than last year I want to always make sure that my kids know that their birthday is still their special day and they are still going to celebrate in fine fashion!

This year was no exception to that rule. We came up with a fun way to surprise our big boy and give him a special moment to remember.

While he was off at Kindergarten for the day my husband and I took $6.00 worth of quarters and put them inside of 24 balloons. One quarter per balloon. We then blew up the balloons and spread them across my son's bedroom floor. We then blew up an additional 75 empty balloons and added them to the picture! It would now be my son's job to pop the balloons to find his birthday money! Crazy yet super noisy and fun.

The best part is that my son is starting to read. By read, I mean he has memorized about 24 sight words and we were able to make directions to post on his door with his safety pin so that he knew what to do before he entered! He felt awesome and old because he could read! He must really be a six year old!

Warning- this is obviously not a great idea to do with smaller kids. There are balloon pieces flying everywhere and the safety pin is a bit of a hazard but for 5 and up it is so fun. If you hate balloons popping you will hate it but your kids will love it.

What a memory for him to have. It is so fun to listen to him explain this to friends and his out of town family. He is proud of his moment and we are proud of him.

Until Next time,

Healthy & Fun Halloween Treats!

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Porter) — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 18:27:00 +0000

My kids and I have been trying to eat healthier lately. For snacks we will have an apple instead of fruit snacks or for dinner we will have fish instead of chicken nuggets. The hard part about that is the holidays are right around the corner and I want to still be able to eat healthy, but still be able to allow my kids to have fun! Well, here are some really cute and HEALTHY snacks you can do for Halloween! Some of them are really creative! (Now I just need to actually follow through and make them!)

Check out http://www.cleanandscentsible.com/ for other tips on how to stay organized too! :)

SOURCE

Super cute ideas huh?? See you can still have fun but be healthy at the same time! :)

Happy (& Healthy) Halloween this month!!

Until next time,

Family Recipe Book

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Smith) — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 10:51:00 +0000

Something must be in the water people.... EVERYONE IS PREGNANT!!! It is amazing! Must be this season in my life that all of my friends new or old seem to be having a spring baby. With that comes the inevitable meal train. I love doing this for friends and love it even more when a new fun twist is added! What is this new fun twist I am referring to?

A Family (and friend) Recipe Book!

How does this work? The idea is that everyone that is giving a meal or has a recipe that is perfect for a new or growing family sends a recipe card to be included in the Family Recipe Book.

The first person who drops a meal off to the family also drops off the cookbook. A fun and unique gift for the family with no pressure to cook anything. All the new family's meals will still be provided but now at least the recipients have the recipe for the meal that their friend or family member sent! If the card does not get included in the book the giver of the meal just attaches the card to the food when they drop it off! As my daughter says... easy peezy Lemon Squeezy!

Can I tell you how unoriginal I felt when I had my first two kids? I could never decide on anything that would be fun and easy to feed my family when I was running after one toddler, feeding a baby, and really not sleeping. My family recipe book was a savior. I was able to open it up and use other people's brains for a bit!

Here's to helping!

Until Next Time,

I'm Enough

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Smith) — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 11:08:00 +0000

You would think that after almost 6 years of parenting I would realize that you are going to have a few rough days but apparently this was news to me yesterday. Thus particular day seemed to come out of the blue and smack me between the eyes. Just when you think you have it all together... your routine is established, kids are behaving, you volunteer where you are needed, after school activities are signed up for, story-times are attended, soccer schedule is properly planned out.... this is when these days will hit.

One if not both of my kids seemingly get a giant memo that says Mom thinks she has her stuff together time to flip this script. My littlest (who rarely gets into trouble) went into timeout after arguing with her preschool friend about a toy at school and my son decided he wants to play during learning time in Kindergarten and got a note home from his teacher. Both minor offenses, but when that is coupled with lack of listening and disrespect at home oh boy do you add up to a frustrating day for this mom. Due to the fact that I stay home with my kids I usually take their bad behavior to be a direct reflection of the job that I am doing as mother. While I can say that I completely understand how irrational that is as I am not 100 % responsible for every choice made by these little hooligans I can't seem to get my emotions to react in a logical way. Thus, yesterday I was sad. Sad that my kids were struggling, and sad that they were not acting in a manner matching their potential.

I was sad and I felt like a bad mom.

I don't think that we talk about these days as moms. I think we talk about how tired we are, and then we gloss over the rough days with happy facebook pictures and instagram shots of our amazingly awesome fall-craft-making-kids.

Don't get me wrong... I can pump out an amazing fall craft and let my kids cover themselves with glitter and leaves but we also need to talk about the flip side of life!

We need to support each other and reassure our mom friends that we are enough. That we are beautiful human beings trying to do the best job we can. Kids are going to give us a few challenges, or million challenges and it is not always going to be sunshine and rainbows. The kicker is that you will get a few days of just sunshine and those will make the clouds worth it.

Basically I just wanted to write this so that I reassure myself that I am enough and I am just what my children need.

Done and Done

You need more evidence that we all struggle? Check this out. I saw this yesterday night and knew instantly that I needed to see this. Maybe you need to see it too =)

Until Next Time,
Here is to seeing some rainbows =)

Post 300 & Our Family Fun Jar

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Porter) — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 04:01:00 +0000

I can't believe that we made it to our 300th post on our blog!! Yay! I know for some of you bloggers out there it may not seem like a lot, but for me this is huge. Every little milestone leads us to the bigger milestones and that is how we move forward. Baby steps...

These past two weeks I am sure that you have noticed that we have been little sparse in our posts. We have always made it known that before anything else, our families come first. Even before business. Because of that we have not been as engaged on facebook, blog, twitter etc. But we just wanted to let you know that we still love ya'll and really appreciate your support. I'm not gunna lie, some days I feel like I am going to spin out of control and other days I feel like I am conquering the world! So we just take it one day at a time. I like to think of it as an ebb and flow relationship. But through it all, we manage; and we are happy.

I wanted to re-connect with my kids and actually have fun with them. Give them something to look forward to each day where they would have my full undivided attention for 30-60 minutes. I was searching pinterest and of course I found all kinds of really cool things that I could do with them. But after about 45 minutes of searching and pinning and getting really excited, I realized that it doesn't have to be this perfect, pulled together, blow your socks off kind of fun. It can just be the regular simple things that make a difference.

I love pinterest for all the ideas, and I will still be pinning all day long, but I just decided to do the best I could with what I had, and make memories my way.

Making my FAMILY FUN JAR

I got an old Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate can. (Yes, I do drink hot chocolate in the 90 degree heat in the summer...I know I'm weird. But there is just something about drinking hot chocolate that makes me happy. So I do. Even in the summer.) Ok, I digress...

I covered the Swiss Miss can with purple construction paper and wrote on the can "Family Fun Jar." (I know it's a can, but jar sounded better...so jar it is.)

The I proceeded to write down 31 fun things that I could do with my kids. Not on cute little Popsicle sticks, or pretty paper or anything cutesy. I chose bright neon orange and green index cards. (because that is what I had on hand to work with.) And no, I did not type it up. Each index card was handwritten, bad handwriting in all it's glory.

You know, when it comes right down to it, my kids won't care if I spent 5 hours or 5 minutes making our "Family Fun Jar." What matters to them, is each day we will be able to pick out one of our special bright orange or green index cards, read the horrible handwriting and then make precious memories together. They will remember the time spent together, not how cute the jar was. So if you have 5 hours, go for it! But for me a "Family Fun Jar" made in 5 minutes is just as special.

Here are the 31 things I put in our jar. But you can customize them to fit your family however you like.

1. Visit the park
2. Dance party!
3. Make your own home videos, and then watch them together
4. Draw a picture or write a letter and send it to a friend of family member.
5. Spa day (hair, make-up, painting nails)
6. FREE CARD (the person whose turn it is, gets to decide what we are doing.)
7. Make a craft
8. Make your own fashion show
9. Play with play-dough (or make your own)
10. Treasure hunt
11. Go on a nature walk
12. Sensory activity (water table, rice bins, sandbox, bubbles etc.)
13. Cleaning helper (pick a job and you all work on it together)
14. Build a fort
15. Cook something together
16. Read a book
17. Play a board game
18. Create and color your own book

19. Paint
20. Library
21. Go for a photo walk (take your camera with you and take pictures of things you see)
22. Do puzzles together
23. Go to the zoo
24. Play date with siblings or friends
25. De-clutter a room in your house and donate what you don't need anymore
26. Visit the pet store
27. Do a science experiment
28. Mini movie marathon
29. Make an obstacle course
30. Put on a puppet show (even if it is just with some old socks)
31. Play restaurant

So here is to putting family first and to being able to juggle it all and be happy in the process!

Until next time!

Our KICKSTARTER Project Debut!

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Porter) — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 16:13:00 +0000

I know that we have been a little MIA lately. Well now we can tell you why! We have been hard at work and today is a big day!

We are excited to announce that we have just launched our first Kickstarter Project! I'm sure many of you have heard of Kickstarter before and for those of you who haven't, let me tell you what it is all about.

1. Kickstarter is a new way to fund creative projects.

We’re a home for everything from films, games, and music to art, design, and technology. Kickstarter is full of projects, big and small, that are brought to life through the direct support of people like you. Since our launch in 2009, 7 million people have pledged $1 billion, funding 69,000 creative projects. Thousands of creative projects are raising funds on Kickstarter right now.

2. Each project is independently created.

The filmmakers, musicians, artists, and designers you see on Kickstarter have complete control over and responsibility for their projects. Kickstarter is a platform and a resource; we’re not involved in the development of the projects themselves. Anyone can launch a project on Kickstarter as long as it meets our guidelines.

3. Together, creators and backers make projects happen.

Project creators set a funding goal and deadline. If people like a project, they can pledge money to make it happen. Funding on Kickstarter is all-or-nothing — projects must reach their funding goals to receive any money. All-or-nothing funding might seem scary, but it’s amazingly effective in creating momentum and rallying people around an idea. To date, an impressive 44% of projects have reached their funding goals.

4. Creators keep 100% ownership of their work.

Backers are supporting projects to help them come to life, not to profit financially. Instead, project creators offer rewards to thank backers for their support. Backers of an effort to make a book or film, for example, often get a copy of the finished work. A bigger pledge to a film project might get you into the premiere — or a private screening for you and your friends. One artist raised funds to create a wall installation, then gave pieces of it to her backers when the exhibit ended.

5. Creative works were funded this way for centuries.

Mozart, Beethoven, Whitman, Twain, and other artists funded works in similar ways — not just with help from large patrons, but by soliciting money from smaller patrons, often called subscribers. In return for their support, these subscribers might have received an early copy or special edition of the work. Kickstarter is an extension of this model, turbocharged by the web.

6. Backing a project is more than just giving someone money.

It’s supporting their dream to create something that they want to see exist in the world. People rally around their friends’ projects, fans support people they admire, and others simply come to Kickstarter to be inspired by new ideas. Some projects take longer than anticipated, but creators who are transparent about issues and delays usually find their backers to be understanding.

7. Our mission is to help bring creative projects to life.

We’re an independent company of 90 people based in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. We spend our time making Kickstarter a little bit better every day, answering questions from backers and creators, and finding new projects to share. If a project is successfully funded, we apply a 5% fee to the funds collected.

We believe that creative projects make for a better world, and we’re thrilled to help support new ones. Building a community of backers around an idea is an amazing way to make something new.

Now that you know a little bit about KICKSTARTER and what it's goal is, we would love share with our Project.

The time has come...we are wanting to expand Kinder Keepsakes, LLC, and we need your help! We are wanting to design our own animals for our Luvi Blankets! We have started a kickstarter project in hopes of getting pledges to be able to earn the money to design, manufacture and mass produce these plushies. Please help either by pledging or sharing! We have 29 days left to earn the full amount or we get nothing. Also, for every pledge you give you will receive a reward as a token of our appreciation.

So again, thanks for your support! Whether you pledge or just share this with everyone you know, we are forever grateful! Help us be able to bring this dream of designing our own high quality animals from a dream to a reality! So check out the video! Enjoy!

Here is the direct link to our project:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1766791806/animal-luvi-blankets-handmade-with-your-child-in-m

HUGE BLOWOUT LUVI SALE!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Smith) — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 10:41:00 +0000

Kinder Keepsakes LLC has teamed up with JANE to create an awesome sale. We are offering select Luvi Blankets for only $29.99 a piece!! That is the lowest cost we have ever offered!

Check it out quickly before this deal is over!

Just Click the Adorable Blue Doggy below!

Until Next Time,

Moms are Funny

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Smith) — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 10:51:00 +0000

So this week has been CRAAAAAAAZZZYY! I have been just running around doing errand after errand, getting kids ready for school, having them start school, start soccer, start more new things, and then back to doing more errands. The crazy part is that we have not even made it to Friday yet!

Oh, and on Friday we have a 12 hour car ride in front of us. So in light of our crazy week I figured it was the perfect opportunity to share some funny mom moments. I mean when you watch this you will know that you have said, or probably will say these things.... and maybe even say them as fast as she does...

Happy Thursday folks... and remember... it is ALMOST FRIDAY!

Until Next Time,

I Knew You Could

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Smith) — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 11:19:00 +0000

This is the week when my son starts Kindergarten! Woohooo!

We are all excited but this mom is a little nervous about being in the right place at the right time. I just think that we will figure it all out together! In order to celebrate the beginning of the school year we read a great book that I highly recommend to all young parents with kids starting new phases of life.

The book is I Knew You Could! and we received this little treasure originally from my son's favorite preschool teachers. I am forever grateful for this simple gift!

This is a wonderful book that gives encouragement and support for your little ones in an easy to read, rhyming, rythm. The description from scholastic reads

With inspiring and enlightening words of wisdom, this sweetly nostalgic book is perfect for graduates of all ages as they make the transition from one phase of life to the next. From "I think I can" to "I knew I could," The Little Engine That Could helps us remember that anything is possible if you put your mind to it!

This is So True! It is a wonderful way to acknowledge a transition, and celebrate it at the same time!

Here is an excerpt.

I knew you could! And you knew it too-

That you'd come out on top after all you've been through.

And from here you'll go farther and see brand-new sights.

You'll face brand-new hills that rise to new heights.

So here is to tackling these new challenges and to starting our new adventures this week!

Until Next Time,

Wings to Fly

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Porter) — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 11:30:00 +0000

Jenn and I really appreciate all the comments made on the "Am I a Bad Mom?" blog post. It really is so wonderful to have such a great support group of moms who feel the same way we do. Of course everyone is allowed to their opinions. That is just how we feel.

This week has been a very special one for me as well. My oldest daughter started Kindergarten on Monday. I too did NOT cry, but felt overwhelming joy as my daughter walked into school. I did help her to her class the first day, but the next day her daddy dropped her off and she insisted she wanted to go in by herself. He said that she didn't just walk into school...she strutted into school! Like she owned the place. And she is only in Kindergarten!! He said she looked at the other kids that had parents with them and turned back to her daddy and smiled. She got to go in by herself! The confidence she has is so endearing. I hope she continues on that path. Being humble and kind to others, but having good self-esteem and confidence, that others love to be around her. Our little girl is growing up, and even though it is hard to let her go sometimes, I know in the end it will be so worth it!

My girl also enjoys riding the bus home every day too. And even though there are scary things out there, I can't protect her forever. I just need to teach her the correct principles and guide her as much as possible. She needs to get out there and learn to make decisions and choose the right for herself. Just like my mom did for me. I personally think, that that is the best thing we can do for our kids.

I came across this poem and thought I would share, it fit so perfectly!

Wings to Fly

You came to me on a sunny Fall day.

You were so precious to hold in my arms to stay.

At first it was hard, you would hurt and cry.

I loved you so much, you touched my heart inside.

You are growing bigger every day.

I know I must let you walk away.

Down in my heart from here to the sky.

You are taking steps with wings to fly.

I am so proud of all that you are.

You will always be my shining star.

Your first day of Kindergarten is finally here.

I know you are excited that is perfectly clear.

Mommy will walk with you and kiss you goodbye.

Spread your wings precious girl it's time to fly.

~Heather J. Wiswell

My little girl is growing up!

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

Until next time~

Am I a Bad Mom?

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Smith) — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 11:06:00 +0000

Does it make me a bad mom that I will not shed a tear when my son has his first day of Kindergarten? Please don't get me wrong, I will love this day. I will love watching him take on a new challenge. Love watching him make new friends. Love watching him get excited about something that is truly his own. His sister will not be part of his new world. His mom will only be a supportive part of his new world. This new world is his own. Does this make me cry? Not really. Does that make me a bad mom?

I get it though, I really do. I understand that there is something so grown up about it. That your baby is not such a baby anymore. That understanding is not lost on me. I do appreciate how final it is. How big and amazing the first few steps into a 'real' school are. I also understand however, how awesome it is that my child is at that point.

Hopefully the training that I have attempted to give him over the last five years has been enough to give him a good push in the right direction. Hopefully he will step into this world with a solid foundation. He will know that his family believes he can do this, believes he is ready to do this, and believes that he will succeed. Hopefully he will make good choices and he will make friends. I know, however that I do not have the control anymore. That he is in control of what he does. I have confidence in the fact that he can come home and discuss the good, bad, and ugly of his day. That I will hear only what he wants to tell me, or can verbalize, and I will cherish what he gives me... but I will not cry.

I have learned to enjoy this stage. To take pleasure in his independence. Not because I do not want to help him, (I DO) but because I see him light up when he can help himself. To take pleasure in his starting a new challenge. I want to see him read, to write stories independently, to start math, to have a world outside of mine.

He has given me his entire self for the last five years and it is time for me to share this little joy with the world. So, my boy, go and do. Go and be yourself. Go and be the little boy that shares your joy with others. Go and try. I understand you may fail at things, that you may succeed at others. That some days you will not let me into your world, but others you will want me to be a big part of it. Just know I am proud of you moving into this world. That I am happy to see you become the little boy you are. I am so happy for you to enjoy your next step. I don't see a reason to cry for that.

Until next time,