So apparently my (Lindsi) obsession with organization has been quite a topic of conversation, especially when it comes to my handy dandy meal plan. I am going to dedicate this post to sharing my tips and tricks to creating a functional and year-long meal plan. Now don't get overwhelmed, it really IS easy to do. It will just take a little bit of determination on your part. The benefits are well worth it (less stressing about what to make for dinner, less impulse buying at the grocery store, more money in your pocket). So without further ado, here are the steps on how to make a meal plan for an entire year: Step 1: Print 12-15 copies of a blank calendar (or use a store bought calendar). I found my favorite meal planning calendar HERE. Step 2: Start with one month (or two if you are feeling really determined). Set aside time to plan the entire month out. You can fill in the days with family favorites and also some new meals you have found in books or on sites. These are a few of my … [Read more...]
Archives for 2011
Hairballs in the shower (I’m going bald!)
*Warning--some people may find this post gross, others may find it funny, most people will completely relate!* Admit it, we all have (or have had) them, and at one point in time we've looked at them and swore we were going bald! We're talking about hairballs in the shower. You can't be a woman, long haired man, or parent of a girl (or long haired boy) without having hair clumps somewhere in in the vicinity of where you wash your hair. Some people lose their hair without much notice. They go to clean their shower and find strands clogging up holes in the drain. No biggie, you simply pick up the glob and throw it away. If you are one of those people, you might not relate to this post. You, are lucky. (photo by SCA Svenska CellulosaAktiebolaget) If you are anything like me, your hair falls out in your hands as you wash it. You'll go to pick up the conditioner or body wash and your fingers are webbed in lovely locks. At that point in time, you roll your hands together until … [Read more...]
Coloring inside the cracks
So we have had this odd family tradition that dates back to when I was a little girl...some 15 oops I mean 17, 20+ years ago. One thing my grandma was known for was making something out of nothing much. She always had a HUGE bucket of chalk waiting for the grand kids to use up whenever we came over. She had this cement driveway that was broken and cracked in numerous places. One day we all sat on the driveway and started to fill in the cracked pieces of driveway with shapes. After just a little bit of time we came to find that what we were doing turned out to be kinda neat. Here is a fun activity for you to try out (oh yeah, include the kids too). Here is what you will need: A bucket of sidewalk chalk Cement walkway, driveway or step A little bit of time What's fun about this is that each person does their own design and it turns out really neat when you do a large area. Try it out with your family and share some photos with us too! Have fun! and just for … [Read more...]
Gimme Smore’s cookies
Who doesn't love a good old fashioned S'more? I know we do! In fact, they are a favorite at our house. And chocolate chip cookies? You'd have to be crazy not to love those. So why not mix the two together in an awesome, ooey, gooey S'more cookie? Here's what you need 1 1/2 cups flour 1 cup graham cracker crumbs (personally I like them with a few pieces in small chunks) 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 dash of cinnamon (in case you don't know what a dash is Websters Dictionary defines it as 1/8 of a teaspoon) 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened NOT melted 3/4 cup sugar 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 eggs 2 cups miniature chocolate chips (please note, you must use chocolate chips NOT chopped up chocolate bars) 1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows 2 chocolate bars, chopped Mix all but the mini mallows and the chocolate bar chunks in a bowl and drop a tablespoon amount on a cookie tray. Bake for approximately 8 minutes at 375 degrees. Remove … [Read more...]
Cloud Watching– An Easy, Free Activity!
"It's a turtle!" "No it's not, it's a elephant!" "You're both right, it looked like a turtle before it turned into an elephant." Do you need a super fun activity to do when you are tired but your kids are bored? Try cloud watching! It keeps the kids occupied, gets the imagination going, is free, and best of all, doesn't require a lot of activity from the adult supervising! It's a win/win situation! You'll need a partly cloudy day (preferably when the clouds are moving a little). If your kids don't mind getting dirty and up close with the bugs in the grass, you can simply lay down and start watching. If your kids are like my girls and squeal at the site of a bug, you may want to put a blanket on the grass before laying down. Now simply relax, look up at the sky, and let your imaginations run wild! What shapes, animals, or objects can you find in the clouds? How many clouds can you count? What other stuff do you see in the sky (i.e. planes, birds...)? Use cloud … [Read more...]
Fire Safety
I am sure that most of you remember way back from grade school how to "stop, drop, and roll." But have you taken the time to teach your children about fire safety and what to do if there is a fire? I mean, REALLY teach them (not just tell them "hey if there is a fire you want to get out"). My family and I recently moved into a home where our children are all on the top level of our home and we are a floor below them. I must say fire safety was one of the first things we focused on (in fact, the fire marshal was at our door the day we moved in to help us come up with a safety plan). Our local fire department was MORE THAN happy to help us out and I know they would be happy to help you and your family come up with some guidelines as well. For now, our fire department has shared the following very useful tips. FIRE SAFETY PLANS AND TIPS Have an escape plan – know 2 ways out of every room (this could be a window, door, hallway, etc) Check your smoke alarms every month – change … [Read more...]
