What Are You Having For Dinner?

Dinner is the last meal of the day and a time when families can get together and discuss their day. It is also a hectic meal for busy moms who are just getting off of work or who have been busy with other activities all day. If you are a busy mom or you know a busy mom, here are some menu planning tips to help make dinner meals easy and even fun.

1.    Schedule your meals a week in advance.  This is one of the most important planning tips for meals. Knowing what you are going to eat throughout the week means less chance that you will stop off at the closest fast food joint for a convenient, but unhealthy meal. Decide on the last day of the previous week (let’s say Saturday for the sake of argument) what the menu will be for the following week. Create your shopping list from the list of ingredients to avoid buying what you don’t need at the grocery store.

2.    Look for bargains. Clip coupons, read advertising circulars and the like to decide where the best grocery to shop is for your menu items. If one ingredient is a common denominator in many meals, consider buying in bulk to save money. Common staples like milk, eggs, bread and sugar can be bought in bulk as well. Some stores will have double or triple coupon days when you can save even more.

3.    Search online. After a while your family will get tired of chicken and rice every Thursday. You can get into a menu rut sometimes. Use the Internet to search for new and exciting recipes. Learn to put a twist on old recipes for a new taste.

4.    Have a leftover night. After preparing meals for five or six days, there is bound to be some food left over. Designate one night to be leftover night and let everyone mix and match for dinner. It saves mom from having to throw away any food.

5.    Cook your meals in advance. After deciding on a menu plan for the week, go ahead and fix as many meals as you can. Choose a day when the entire family can help like Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon. Each person can take one meal and fix it for the following week. Once everything has cooled, store it in sealed containers or casserole dishes to be frozen until the night it is needed.

6.    Do prep work in advance. All of the meals can’t be cooked at once. Some foods just taste better freshly prepared. For them, so as much prep work in advance as you can. Enlist your kids to help chop (give them the kitchen shears instead) vegetables, dice cooked meat and mix together dry ingredients. The night of the meal, all that is needed is to add the wet ingredients and bake.

Meal time doesn’t have to be all on mom. The entire family can help with dinner so it is a relaxing meal for everyone.

Busy Moms Need Relaxing Too!

It seems like there is no rest of the weary.  And, the weary person is usually mom.  Moms take care of family and home, but who takes care of her?  If you are a busy mom, learn to value yourself as a person and schedule personal time.

Personal time is a right of being a person.  Each of us has the capacity to nurture others but that type of care takes its toll.

A car is filled with gas to make it run.  Eventually the gas runs out and your car won’t move unless the car is replenished with fuel.  The same goes for you.  Emotional issues can develop when you don’t take the time to take care of your emotional well-being, not to mention the physical results of emotional neglect.

Mom time refuels the tank so that you can give to your family as well as yourself in equal measure.  Don’t be ashamed to sit for fifteen minutes doing nothing.  In the springtime, relaxing in a hammock under a tree is the perfect getaway from the pressures of the day.  Reading a book for 30 minutes can also seem like heaven to many moms.

Here are a few tips to help you fit in much needed “mom” time:

1. Get up early if you have to.  When you have kids, the day begins at a hurried pace.  Once you hit the ground running, there is no stopping you.  Waking 30 minutes to an hour ahead of time means quiet solitude to drink your coffee, read a book, meditate or listen to music.

2. Turn ordinary experiences into major events.  When you take a bath, add candles, bubble bath, quiet music and/or an inflatable bath pillow.  Your regular bath has now become a spa level experience.  If you watch a movie, turn out the lights, pop a bag of microwave popcorn and curl up on the couch.

3. Ask your significant other for help.  Kids love their mothers but time spent with dad is important too.  Let them bond with dad while you go shopping for a new outfit or root around in the garden.  Since the time is yours, do whatever you like.

4. Use the Boy Scout motto.  Always be prepared and you can spend more time in a relaxed mode.  Fix lunches the night before.  Iron clothes for the next day and place backpacks by the front door so kids can grab them on their way out.  The fewer things you have to do throughout the day, the calmer you will be with your family and not experience burnout.

5. Take exercise breaks.  When you get a few minutes the last thing you want to do is exercise but getting a little physical activity in your day has far-reaching implications.  Exercise helps you to think clearly and stretches the muscles.  Also, stress will drain away as powerful endorphins are released into your system.  Do jumping jacks during a television commercial or jog to the bus stop to pick up the kids.

6. Laugh at regular intervals.  Keep a funny calendar cube on your desk or subscribe to a daily joke site.  Laughing releases stress and can lift your spirits significantly.  It also keeps the abs tight.

Moms, take care of you.  Your family would miss you if you were not around to love and care for them.  You owe it to yourself and you deserve a break from the daily hustle and bustle.

Munk Yourself!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Alvin and the Chipmunks. All opinions are 100% mine.

I absolutely love this! "Alvin and the Chipmunks" was one of my favorite cartoons as a child. I know, I just dated myself, but nevertheless, I loved those little chipmunk boys. Alvin was always getting into trouble and Dave was always shouting "Alvinnnnnn!" One of my first albums was the Chipmunks sing the Beatle's hits. I rocked out more than once in my bedroom to Alvin and the Chipmunks.

If you have not seen these movies with you kids you can now enjoy them in the comfort of you own living room. You can get the DVD, "Alvin and the Chipmucks: The Squeakqel on March 30th. You can also purchase the movie on Blu-ray or through digital download. Plus there is a double DVD Pack that includes "The Squeak Along" Bonus Disc. This disc lots of fun things for the the whole family. You can buy it now and your family can start enjoying the Chipmunks like I did as a child and continue to as an adult.

In addition, you can visit you http://www.munkyourself.com/us/ and choose a funny chipmunk that you can accessorize, add audio and have fun playing with the chipmunks. Hey, mommies, your kids will love it.

Nothing like More Munk Mayhem for a little extra fun! Check this out for some great family fun today!

Career or Family?

Without a doubt, family is and should always be more important. While a career can certainly be a rewarding experience, family, especially children should be the focal point. Working couples can find it very difficult to juggle career and family. It is by far better for one parent to stay home and raise the children.

Anyone who thinks career is more important than family probably should not have a family. In these modern times, people seem to have forgotten the importance of a parent teaching, nurturing and caring for children. Sure children seem to do ok when raised by other caregivers, but they will ultimately benefit from the love of a parent.

Having a parent at home not only makes for a stabilizing environment, but also provides security and love for all family members. When women choose to stay home, the house is not just simply a house, but a home. For some women the thought of leaving children to go have a career is unthinkable. Others decide that not using the hard-earned college education is unacceptable. Either way, family has to be the more important of the two.

Having a great family life is a rewarding experience that will continue forever even after retirement and beyond. People can never replace family events such as baby’s first steps, school events and other precious moments. No one should have to regret missing life’s special moments. Life goes by too fast and people should consider the future when deciding between career and raising a family.

Some would cite financial difficulty when considering having a parent stay at home. The answer should and can be to simply budget purchases and living within the family’s means. Families have and do get by on one car, cheaper housing and stretching the dollar. Preparing meals and finding alternatives to going out to expensive places for entertainment can help a family stay within budget.

Single parents do have to support families. There are ways for a single person to work but still be actively raising a family. For instance, the single parent might choose to live at home with his or her parents and work at night. Working from home is another option to explore. Sometimes life events make things difficult but many people manage to find solutions and then make those solutions work.

Choosing between career and family should not even be a question. Developing another human being is one of the most important jobs on earth. In America, people do have the freedom to choose between a career and family. People should give this issue some very serious thought before making a decision. It is important to remember that choices made early on can have profound effects in later life. Planning today can help yield a happier tomorrow.

The Wedding

Sorry I have not updated sooner. I have been busy taking care of Butterfly and getting her to and from school while Cinderella is on her honeymoon.

The wedding was awesome. Everyone looked great and Butterfly was a mini-me of Cinderella. And Cinderella was just that. The ceremony was perfect and the reception was so much fun. I enjoyed dancing with Corvette and spending time with my family and friends. My parents were the longest married couple there. 62 years and counting. My mother gave a wonderful speech about marriage and I watched my daughter dance with her father.

There are too many pictures to post here so you can go to my shutterfly page to see them. They are not in the correct order and some were taken by Tango’s uncle so I will have to wait for the professional pictures to see our family picture.

Congratulations Cinderella and Tango, and may you live happily ever after!

Fun Inexpensive Family Entertainment for Tough Economic Times

In these tough economic times, families need to cut back on spending without compromising on family fun. Many families are becoming creative by finding inexpensive ways to have fun. With a little thought, most families are coming up with new ideas that are not only less expensive, but fun and exciting ways to spend time together.

Gardening has become not only a economical way to lower grocery bills, but families are finding planting, growing and harvesting their own food is a good way to spend the lazy days of summer. From planting seeds to weeding and watering, even small children can help in the care of a garden. Some families assign certain plants to each member of the family. That person is then in charge of their own plants from start to finish and even in the actual food preparation. Gardening is not only fun, it helps teach children important lessons like thriftiness and working together.

Packing a lunch and heading to the local park is always a lot of fun. Some parks have small lakes or ponds where children can fish or feed ducks. Running, jumping and climbing on park equipment is great exercise. Bringing along a kite is always a family pleaser and each member can takes turns flying the kite. Throwing a Frisbee, football or baseball also provides hours of fun and enjoyment. Getting out in the sunshine and fresh air is just one way to have family fun on a budget.

Instead of going out for pizza or ice cream families can make their own pizza and sundaes. Pizza can be made easily from homemade dough and adding fresh toppings. Vegetables added from the garden are not only a tasteful treat but also a healthier alternative to take out food. Some families make an investment in an ice cream maker and create their own inexpensive ice cream dishes.

Another great way to save money while not foregoing family fun is to have a movie and popcorn night. Renting movies is still a cheap form of entertainment. Watching a DVD that the family already owns is even better. Children love to watch their favorite movies repeatedly. Letting everyone pick his or her own favorite movie to watch can provide hours of entertainment. Add in homemade popcorn and families have all the ingredients for great home movie night.

Some families may consider a traditional family vacation a little out of the budget this year. Gas prices and hotel costs are making people think twice about vacation time. Many families are now considering camping as an alternative. Most people live close enough to either lakes, national parks or other recreation areas. It is far less expensive to pitch a tent and cook food brought along on the trip then to eat in restaurants and stay in hotels. Families can fish, hike and have a chance to experience nature while camping. Camping can create some very memorable experiences for all family members.

Whatever families decide to do, it is still possible to have fun and wonderful experiences even in today’s tough economic times. With just a little thought and planning, families can still find plenty of inexpensive and fun ways to spend time together.

How About a Winter Vacation?

Looking Forward to Saturday

This Saturday we will plant a tree for our Lolly Pop Kid. Our family and Tango’s family will gather at our home and together we will plant an orange tree for Lolly.

I prayed to God that the weather would be a little cooler since the temperature has been around 106 degrees. I mean I really prayed. I just want everyone to be comfortable.  However, I did not ask for a hurricane. We do not get full-force hurricanes where we live but we do get some nasty storms from them. So I am hoping the weather will be nice and not drench us with rain all day on Saturday.

I am happy about receiving this photo. There is a woman in Australia writes the names of Angel children in the sand on a beach. She then photos them at sunset and uploads them to her blog. The pictures are absolutely beautiful. I cried when I say Lolly’s photo. There appears to be a red halo over the sun. As I have said before, Lolly had wonderful flaming red hair. So everyone attending the tree planting will receive one of these photos. I think it will be a lovely addition.

Fingernails and Broccoli Salad: My Youngest Son’s Wedding

Reciting her vows. So beautiful and funny! I have a new daughter!

More vows and exchanging of the rings.

Lighting the Unity Candle.

You may kiss the Bride!

Introducing Mr. & Mrs. Hippie Guy!

The toast.

The Cake.

Oops, honey there is a fingernail in my mouth!

The Dance.

Let me just say that my son’s wedding was a wonderful, intimate affair. Everyone was so happy and we all had a great time. This was a very special day for Corvette and I.

Our hearts took many pictures.

Veterans’s Day