tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842317747802329105Tue, 29 May 2012 20:30:55 +0000cookingkindergartenwinnerdeclutteringresolutionscurriculumtime savingmagazineblog awardfunnybbqbooksorganizationgracehomeschoolpresidentsappetizersthanksgivingmagic school buschristmasenvironmentweb wowonline classesmilitarycrock potorganizingamy grantslow cookereasydealflashcardsspellingclogsgrammarpreschoolgreenlaundryclutterarbor daychoresmeal planninghomemade cleanerscenter activitiesmilspouserecipesblogsupdateworkboxessciencecontestblog hopreadingmathprintablesfreebiesmealspeacebreakfastcouponsscheduleprayerscupcakesholidaymini officelow fatmicroscopefaiththemescraftslunchsocial studiesspaghetti saucehome managementblog carnivalworksheetsfoodgiveawaygardeninghistorydesktidbitsbentofriday followEasterearly readerscleaninghealthyProving You CAN Do It All and Maintain Your Sanity - Most of It Anyway!http://neverjustahousewife.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (mom2ahrj)Blogger197125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842317747802329105.post-4981065578204790904Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:07:00 +00002010-08-31T09:07:28.983-04:00This weekend I was a cooking/baking fiend! I'm always looking for ways to give my kids some of the foods they love but in much healthier versions...and without it taking me all day in the kitchen! Here are two of my most recent successes: Homemade Cheese Crackers 1 1/3 cup pureed white beans (just take a can of your fave white beans, dump the entire can contents into your blender/food processorhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~3/lVTTFOqZPio/two-healthier-recipes-for-kid-faves.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mom2ahrj)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~4/lVTTFOqZPio" height="1" width="1"/>http://neverjustahousewife.blogspot.com/2010/08/two-healthier-recipes-for-kid-faves.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842317747802329105.post-8793290523499275638Sun, 29 Aug 2010 11:43:00 +00002010-08-29T07:43:28.978-04:00Okay, the die-hards out there won't like how I achieved my end result but I DID IT!!! If you read my post yesterday (and past ones about making laundry detergent) you know I wasn't happy with the consistency of the end result. I tried a few things yesterday evening but when I was heading to bed, it was already developing a skin on the top and looking like it was headed to it's usual gloopiness. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~3/JXv94P8iU8s/non-gloopy-homemade-liquid-laundry.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mom2ahrj)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~4/JXv94P8iU8s" height="1" width="1"/>http://neverjustahousewife.blogspot.com/2010/08/non-gloopy-homemade-liquid-laundry.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842317747802329105.post-7051476151082681222Sun, 29 Aug 2010 00:20:00 +00002010-08-28T20:20:53.063-04:00Okay, so I've been trying to get back to posting every weekday but it just isn't happening. I have soooo much going on right now: two kids who went from being homeschooled to enrolled in a local charter school, one daughter starting an online charter high school and one son about to return to preschool part time and part time being homeschooled...oh, not to mention my hubby being overseas! And http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~3/u8SJOLg_GYQ/i-give-upsort-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mom2ahrj)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~4/u8SJOLg_GYQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://neverjustahousewife.blogspot.com/2010/08/i-give-upsort-of.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842317747802329105.post-6556571759349421322Mon, 23 Aug 2010 11:21:00 +00002010-08-23T07:21:31.853-04:00One thing I've learned over the past few years is that it is so important to prioritize and make time for the things that matter most to you. Whether it's the cleaning you know will make your home feel the most clean (when you don't have time for anything else), moments with a child who is acting out (just to get your attention), or even just time for yourself. But, then, there are those times http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~3/88Re7OQHKJQ/managing-mayhem-monday-making-time.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mom2ahrj)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~4/88Re7OQHKJQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://neverjustahousewife.blogspot.com/2010/08/managing-mayhem-monday-making-time.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842317747802329105.post-2528985953075484678Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:25:00 +00002010-08-20T08:57:07.680-04:00So sorry I didn't get around to posting yesterday...it was just one of those days! Recently, my hubby bought me a bread maker and I have been in-love with it! Just one more way I can give my family healthier food for less money. I tried many many many different honey wheat bread recipes that weren't quite what we wanted until I stumbled onto this one. It's not exactly like the original because Ihttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~3/D1XXUeTp4hM/foodie-friday-yummy-homemade-honey.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mom2ahrj)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~4/D1XXUeTp4hM" height="1" width="1"/>http://neverjustahousewife.blogspot.com/2010/08/foodie-friday-yummy-homemade-honey.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842317747802329105.post-6678334612064752863Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:52:00 +00002010-08-18T11:52:36.729-04:00My regular followers are probably asking, "what happened to 'Web Wow Wednesdays'?" Well, while taking my break, I decided to do things a little differently when I returned to posting. I'll be doing lots of creative things this year with my son's workbox preschool and packing healthy school lunches for my two daughters. I'd like to share lots of those ideas with you guys on Wednesdays so now we http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~3/-DHveurh0pU/whats-happening-this-week-wednesday.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mom2ahrj)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~4/-DHveurh0pU" height="1" width="1"/>http://neverjustahousewife.blogspot.com/2010/08/whats-happening-this-week-wednesday.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842317747802329105.post-4851369356624568229Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:39:00 +00002010-08-17T12:39:22.240-04:00If you are a parent trying to cook healthy meals for your kids, you have most likely heard of or even read two popular books on the market right now: Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food and The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals. Both books are based on the idea of making fruit and vegetable purees to hide in your http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~3/qnKAK2dAbrY/tidbit-tuesday-being-deceptively-delish.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mom2ahrj)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~4/qnKAK2dAbrY" height="1" width="1"/>http://neverjustahousewife.blogspot.com/2010/08/tidbit-tuesday-being-deceptively-delish.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842317747802329105.post-5369753875816681690Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:00:00 +00002010-08-16T08:00:20.884-04:00I'm so sorry it has taken me so long to get back to posting. The month of July was completely taken up with spending time with my hubby and then the last few weeks have been overtaken with getting ready for the school year. Speaking of school, this coming year will be quite interesting for my family. Last year we had one student doing "school-at-home" through a virtual charter school and then http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~3/lLTyWYl_wl8/im-back.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mom2ahrj)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~4/lLTyWYl_wl8" height="1" width="1"/>http://neverjustahousewife.blogspot.com/2010/08/im-back.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842317747802329105.post-7052960177385503541Sun, 04 Jul 2010 18:35:00 +00002010-07-04T14:35:18.385-04:00http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~3/u6mQLYnKzho/best-fireworks-ever-and-why-ive-been.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mom2ahrj)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~4/u6mQLYnKzho" height="1" width="1"/>http://neverjustahousewife.blogspot.com/2010/07/best-fireworks-ever-and-why-ive-been.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842317747802329105.post-4039462563776548881Wed, 23 Jun 2010 12:27:00 +00002010-06-23T08:27:51.759-04:00Using Random.org, the winner is..... ....comment #7, Sarah! I'll be emailing you shortly and congrats!!!http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~3/j2f4WqTfMz8/easy-lunchbox-giveaway-winner.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mom2ahrj)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~4/j2f4WqTfMz8" height="1" width="1"/>http://neverjustahousewife.blogspot.com/2010/06/easy-lunchbox-giveaway-winner.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842317747802329105.post-2360859065865275066Mon, 21 Jun 2010 11:12:00 +00002010-06-21T07:12:58.981-04:00Summer has always been a more relaxed time of year for me but it seems quite the opposite this summer. I'm not sure what changed to cause this but I know I've been busier lately than ever before for this time of year...and, unfortunately, it hasn't all been good. One thing I'm having to cut back on just to handle the chaos is posting to this blog. Rather than posting 5 days a week, I'm going to http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~3/4GDsn24-m5A/what-happened-to-summer-break.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mom2ahrj)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~4/4GDsn24-m5A" height="1" width="1"/>http://neverjustahousewife.blogspot.com/2010/06/what-happened-to-summer-break.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842317747802329105.post-3752642556421872099Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:05:00 +00002010-06-16T07:06:38.224-04:00blogscontestgiveawaySorry I didn't post yesterday but I was still dealing with some of the fallout from the weekend. Check out Monday's post below if you missed it and are wondering what "fallout" I'm referring to. And definitely check out my GIVEAWAY for a totally amazing reusable lunch container perfect for bentos! Only one week left to enter! In the midst of all that was going on yesterday, I received such a http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~3/wcGlBU0TGeY/web-wow-wednesday-overloaded-mommy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mom2ahrj)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~4/wcGlBU0TGeY" height="1" width="1"/>http://neverjustahousewife.blogspot.com/2010/06/web-wow-wednesday-overloaded-mommy.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842317747802329105.post-3533643207714088116Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:41:00 +00002010-06-14T09:41:07.892-04:00Wow, what a weekend I had! Readers who have been with me for awhile may remember my struggle with a decision over my girls' education choice for the next school year. Our final choice was a new charter school due to open this fall. It sounded so wonderful and the school's staff and other families were so encouraging and supportive. Even when there were setbacks (big or small), the staff seemed tohttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~3/O5UmdcUHzEo/managing-mayhem-monday-guess-what.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mom2ahrj)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~4/O5UmdcUHzEo" height="1" width="1"/>http://neverjustahousewife.blogspot.com/2010/06/managing-mayhem-monday-guess-what.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842317747802329105.post-9054402598099129060Fri, 11 Jun 2010 10:49:00 +00002010-06-11T06:49:10.725-04:00blog hop I haven't done a blog hop in the past few weeks and this one looks fun! For my new visitors and followers, please be sure to check out the great giveaway I'm having! To join in the Friendly Friday celebration, include your link in our list, follow the hostesses in the first 3 spots and then start blog hopping! Visit other blogs on the list and comment to give them some blog love. Then take a http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~3/PQ7jPJ9Iwy8/friday-friendly-follow.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mom2ahrj)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~4/PQ7jPJ9Iwy8" height="1" width="1"/>http://neverjustahousewife.blogspot.com/2010/06/friday-friendly-follow.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842317747802329105.post-3079900865291546621Fri, 11 Jun 2010 09:59:00 +00002010-06-11T05:59:48.222-04:00cupcakesfood*** Don't forget to enter my giveaway for a free EasyLunchBox!*** Last week I told you I was on a mission to use my crock pot at least three times a week cooking at least one breakfast, one main dish and one dessert. Well, my first recipe was for french toast...it was awful! It didn't even smell good! Ugh! After that I had some unexpected things come up and just didn't have time (or motivation) http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~3/XWMhNC8PK6U/foodie-friday-healthier-caramel-apple.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mom2ahrj)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~4/XWMhNC8PK6U" height="1" width="1"/>http://neverjustahousewife.blogspot.com/2010/06/foodie-friday-healthier-caramel-apple.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842317747802329105.post-2235023730430177085Thu, 10 Jun 2010 10:10:00 +00002010-06-10T06:10:55.785-04:00workboxeshomeschoolorganization***Don't forget to check out my giveaway for a free lunch packing system!*** After being so excited while setting up our workbox system and then seeing how wonderfully it worked on the first day, my feelings are a little more realistic after a few more days of using the system. I've spent some time this past week looking at sites who are strong proponents of the system, those who have tweaked ithttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~3/shDlWEtZ49k/thoughtful-thursday-more-thoughts-about.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mom2ahrj)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~4/shDlWEtZ49k" height="1" width="1"/>http://neverjustahousewife.blogspot.com/2010/06/thoughtful-thursday-more-thoughts-about.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842317747802329105.post-4695566662842276754Wed, 09 Jun 2010 10:06:00 +00002010-06-09T13:03:54.862-04:00bentogiveawaylunchgreen*** I have not received any compensation for the following review and giveaway. I own one EasyLunchBox bag and three sets of containers that I purchased before being asked to participate in this promotional giveaway. Remarkable because of how I'm about to rave over this product but, still it's true! *** Loving your workboxes? What if I told you there was an affordable, green option for lunches http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~3/0r_9A6kD9bs/web-wow-wednesday-green-lunch-box.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mom2ahrj)18<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~4/0r_9A6kD9bs" height="1" width="1"/>http://neverjustahousewife.blogspot.com/2010/06/web-wow-wednesday-green-lunch-box.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842317747802329105.post-5620517402581065404Tue, 08 Jun 2010 11:46:00 +00002010-06-08T07:50:34.515-04:00workboxesThis is a little more than a "tidbit" but I wanted to share the idea after talking about it in my post yesterday. While setting up my son's workboxes and desk, I quickly realized that I needed a good system in place for storing and organizing all the stuff to go in the boxes. Without that, filling them would become difficult, time consuming and tiresome. So what you see in the pic above is what Ihttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~3/2jiY8XVwnvM/tidbit-tuesday-moms-workbox-station.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mom2ahrj)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~4/2jiY8XVwnvM" height="1" width="1"/>http://neverjustahousewife.blogspot.com/2010/06/tidbit-tuesday-moms-workbox-station.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842317747802329105.post-7950185355918667215Mon, 07 Jun 2010 10:14:00 +00002010-06-07T06:14:36.806-04:00workboxesSo, I've been writing various posts lately about Sue Patrick's Workbox System and promising to show pics of our set up. I FINALLY have them ready! However, the pics are a bit blury...Sorry! The first one below is my son's work center. On the left is his desk and chair (table, $14; chair, $5) and schedule chart (rather than strips - I explain that below). On the far right is his easel for http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~3/ivoz_Hc7ZNQ/managing-mayhem-monday-our-workbox.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mom2ahrj)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~4/ivoz_Hc7ZNQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://neverjustahousewife.blogspot.com/2010/06/managing-mayhem-monday-our-workbox.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842317747802329105.post-7257117194304379504Fri, 04 Jun 2010 21:05:00 +00002010-06-04T17:05:10.958-04:00slow cookercrock potcookingrecipesSummer seems to have arrived early where I live and it has me not wanting to be in a hot kitchen so I've dragged out my crockpot and slow cooker cookbooks looking for recipes. Like most home cooks, I know how to make all the usual dishes like soups, pot roasts, pork loins and roast chicken but I want some different ideas. I watched a cooking show the other day where a cheesecake was made in a http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~3/BXkeH2Ncwq0/foodie-friday-on-mission.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mom2ahrj)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~4/BXkeH2Ncwq0" height="1" width="1"/>http://neverjustahousewife.blogspot.com/2010/06/foodie-friday-on-mission.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842317747802329105.post-4431370968884825573Thu, 03 Jun 2010 12:01:00 +00002010-06-03T08:01:29.137-04:00Another day when I was struggling to come up with a post then I received what follows in an email from my dad. I really hope this song spreads!http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~3/uh8xkzPBiHg/thoughtful-thursdays-soldier-tribute-by.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mom2ahrj)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~4/uh8xkzPBiHg" height="1" width="1"/>http://neverjustahousewife.blogspot.com/2010/06/thoughtful-thursdays-soldier-tribute-by.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842317747802329105.post-609573647873474556Wed, 02 Jun 2010 12:11:00 +00002010-06-02T08:11:47.463-04:00homeschoolkindergartenpreschoolI stumbled onto this site recently and it is amazing! Kids Learning Station has really nice preK and kindergarten worksheets to download/print for free!http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~3/qaeK5xCYVIo/web-wow-wednesday-dont-miss-this-prek-k.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mom2ahrj)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~4/qaeK5xCYVIo" height="1" width="1"/>http://neverjustahousewife.blogspot.com/2010/06/web-wow-wednesday-dont-miss-this-prek-k.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842317747802329105.post-4931861439376070090Tue, 01 Jun 2010 14:57:00 +00002010-06-01T10:57:41.790-04:00I was struggling to come up with a good post this morning then I got a great tip from The Mailbox.com. Here it is: "When your class needs a reminder to settle down, bring out a container of Quiet Dust! Tape over the holes on the inside lid of a shaker-style bottle of iridescent glitter. Cover the original label with a label that reads "Quiet Dust." Tell youngsters that this dust magically quietshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~3/w9T7koX_rS4/tidbit-tuesday-quiet-dust-borrowed-from.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mom2ahrj)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~4/w9T7koX_rS4" height="1" width="1"/>http://neverjustahousewife.blogspot.com/2010/06/tidbit-tuesday-quiet-dust-borrowed-from.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842317747802329105.post-2642765504938614478Mon, 31 May 2010 10:36:00 +00002010-05-31T06:36:22.294-04:00center activitiespreschoolAs you guys know, I've been working like crazy getting our workbox system in place. Setting up the actual workstation was a piece of cake but I think I've become file folder game and center activity obsessed! At least some great ideas are coming out of it! One activity I knew I wanted for my little boy was nuts & bolts he could put together. After looking around at several toy aisles and stores http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~3/AGR2Cwbx-Io/nuts-bolts-center-activity-ideas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mom2ahrj)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~4/AGR2Cwbx-Io" height="1" width="1"/>http://neverjustahousewife.blogspot.com/2010/05/nuts-bolts-center-activity-ideas.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842317747802329105.post-4078457126900427942Fri, 28 May 2010 11:05:00 +00002010-05-28T07:05:25.918-04:00workboxeshomeschoolpreschoolcookingAs a mom to four and a homeschooler, I have always been on the lookout for really fun snack ideas and have accumulated some great resources over the years. You might not think this is workbox related but and kid-friendly & hands on snack time is one activity I have included for my preschoolers workboxes each day. Cooking with kids teaches them so many things and why not incorporate something fun http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~3/5tRlaMCBUyo/incredible-snack-ideas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mom2ahrj)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NeverJustAHousewife/~4/5tRlaMCBUyo" height="1" width="1"/>http://neverjustahousewife.blogspot.com/2010/05/incredible-snack-ideas.html