Menu Planning!

Monday - Baked Ziti
Tuesday - Sandwiches
Wednesday - Roast w/ Veggies (crockpot)
Thursday - Ribs, Green Beans
Friday - Leftovers
Saturday - Out
Sunday - Pork Loin, Sweet Potato Fries

Monday - Breaded Pork Chops
Tuesday - Brats
Wednesday - Chedder Baked Chicken
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - Breakfast for Dinner
Saturday - Out (birthday party)
Sunday - Grill something????

Some New Kids Ideas

Crayola makes these Window Crayons.  They are pretty neat and we have also used them in the car on a long road trip and recently I wrote a reminder to our 3 year old on the bathroom mirror about what needs to be done before bedtime...no more fussing about brushing teeth before bed!  I bought them at Target I don't exactly remember the cost but I know it wasn't more than $5.

Glow sticks, bracelets and necklaces (idea from playathomemom3.blogspot.com).  I found a pack of 15 glow stick bracelets at Michael's for $1 (I bought a couple).  So far we've only used them in the tub and turned off the lights, with lots of bubbles...pretty neat!  A friend also mentioned giving them to the kiddos while camping.

Or letting your kiddo fill up glasses with water to make music.  Use food coloring and do some color mixing.  Add a glow stick and turn off the lights.  playathomemom3.blogspot.com

Mary over at The Yellow Door gave me this idea for dress up clothes.  I think her daughter made it at VBS.  Anyway take an old t-shirt cut up the sides taking off the sleeves BUT don't cut the neck, keep that intact.  I also suggest using a bigger t-shirt than the size your kiddo wears.  Let the kiddos decorate, I used fabric markers but permanent markers work too and instant super hero cape with NO sewing.  I am always looking for dress up clothes for my boys!

Menu Planning

Okay so it has been awhile but I am finally getting back into a 'routine' if you can call anything a routine in the summer with 2 little ones in the house and a hubby who is home all summer (David, I am not complaining).  So here goes a menu starting from last Sunday.

Sunday ~ Chicken Kabobs (w/Yellow Squash, Onions, and Bell Peppers) marinated overnight in Kraft Italian Dressing
Monday ~ Tacos, Fruit Salad
Tuesday ~ Breaded Pork Chops,  (I used boneless pork chops, btw) Cheesy Potatoes, Green Beans, leftover Fruit Salad
Wednesday ~ Leftovers
Thursday ~ Creamy Potato Soup
Friday ~ Lasagna, Garlic Monkey Bread, Steamed Broccoli
Saturday ~ Breakfast for Dinner (Sausage, Eggs, Pancakes, Fruit)
Sunday ~ Probably out for Lunch, Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup for Dinner

SAHM and Budgeting

Going from working full time and 'bringing home the bacon' to a SAHM raising our two kiddos has been an adjustment to say the least.  I do love the opportunity and I am so blessed to be able to be with my boys while they are so young.  But, with this adjusting comes some more worries.  Instead of worrying about how many phone messages and emails I will have to answer in the morning when I get to work I now worry about putting together all three meals for us everyday and instead of worrying about the budget for a whole daycare I am FREAKING out about how to budget our money with one income. 
I have been asking friends who are also stay at home moms the same questions and searching the internet for effective budgeting, etc. and I think eventually we will get there.  I found this site tonight:
www.livingonadime.com

These are some ways I have come up with watching where our money goes so far:
1.  making a menu before I go grocery shopping
2.  buying generic when possible
3.  planning at least one meatless meal a week (I have kind of strayed away from this but plan on doing it again)

Things I want to try:
1. making homemade cleaners and detergent
2. finding an effective and less time consuming way to keep track of our spending

If anyone has some more ideas or suggestions please drop a comment!

Easter Treats

Here are some super simple treats to take along to an Easter egg hunt or put at the kiddie table for Easter.  Make rice crispies as the recipe on the cereal box directs you.  The little guy added some fun sprinkles to our mix too.  After you get all your ingredients together take a clean plastic Easter egg and stuff the mix inside, close it tight and open it up to find a yummy egg treat.  Enjoy!

Gift Bag: $0

Empty boxes

Wrapping Paper

Ribbon

Cut the tabs off the box and start wrapping your paper of choice.

With a hole punch, punch two holes of each side string your ribbon through and knot on the inside.

A gift box for any party and it cost $0. 

I am not sure the link is working but I shared the idea at: Full of Great Ideas: $0 Budget Party

Activity: Hammering

An easy activity to do with little ones and great practice for hand-eye coordination.

block of Styrofoam (the white kind doesn't crumble as easily but I already had this one on hand)

plastic/toy hammer

large head nails or golf tees (I would have normally used gold tees but couldn't find them)

Noah hammered away for quite awhile and there was very little mess or prep.  Pretty easy activity.  If you have older ones let them use a scrap of wood, nails and a small hammer.  Just watch out for those little fingers and you might not want them hammering on your dining room table.

If your little one has their own tool belt that would be a fun addition to role play a carpenter/handy man!