Kellogg's & Scholastic Team up

With the purchase of any 2 pariticipationg Kellogg's products...you can get a FREE BOOK of your choice from Scholastic.  Visit The Scholastic Page HERE for details and list of products! 

Pork Roast = 3 Dinners !!!

I love a 3-in01 dinner!  I put a large, still frozen,  pork roast (4lb roast bought on sale for $9.87) in my crock pot.  I set in on a stool in my garage...YES, I am trying to keep the heat out of my kitchen!  It was almost 100 degrees today and the last thing I want is a crock putting out more heat in my house! 

#1 Dinner
Frozen roast in crock, salt, pepper, cup of water...done by 4pm. I usually cut up some potatoes, carrots, parsnips, and sometimes onions, drizzled with evoo, salt and garlic powder and roast at 400 degrees for approx. 20 minutes or until caramelized and soft.  But, this time, b/c I didn't want to heat up the oven, I steamed carrots and potatoes in my pampered chef microwave dish.  Add em all together and you have a classic roast.  You could do mashed potatoes instead!

#2 Dinner
Pulled pork BBQ sammies.  This meal just consists of heating up some of the pork, piling up on a wheat bun, and covering in your favorite sauce.  You can add a drop of liquid smoke to meat as you heat it up to add more BBQ flavor.  Don't add it to ALL of the meat though, there is still another night to change up for!  Serve with Kettle Chips, Slaw, or Baked Beans

#3 Dinner
Mexican Salsa Verde Burritos.   Season the pork roast with some cumin, chili powder, and garlic powder, reheat.  OR pour in a can/jar of Salsa Verde or green enchilada sauce.  Serve on top of wheat or regular flour tortillas with sliced avocados and cilantro.  You can add lime juice to Greek yogurt for a nice flavor in place of sour cream.  Add your favorite toppings and salsa.  I serve with a side of black beans and sometimes Mexican rice.  Enjoy! 

Time Saving Lunch Making

That sounds like a tongue-twister AND that's just how my brain felt making all these lunches and breakfasts first thing in the morning!!!  The first day of school threw me off...I try sooo hard to be organized and NOT stressed and yelling before school, but it never fails...I get down to the last few minutes and freak out!  Shoes?  Teeth brushed? Backpack? Lunch box?  Car keys?  Oh yeah, the kids loaded up for the haul to school! LOL!

Thinking about what to pack in lunches, making sandwiches, and preparing breakfast all at the same time BEFORE I have even taken a drink of my coffee IS NOT gonna work!  So, I took the advice of my dear friend, Karen, and packed the lunches the night before.  Morning came,  I had everything ready to pack, backpack by the door, clothes laid out, and all went smoothly!  I have to keep this schedule if I want to keep my sanity...I can't believe how my brain overloads so quickly!  If anyone has any tips to making life easier, please fill me in!!






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Healthy Breakfast for School Time

I am trying to think of healthy breakfasts that I can fix my son, before sending him out the door  to school...
I want to pack in some super nutritious foods, so that, in case he doesn't eat his lunch, he can make it through the day.  He's a slow eater, so I'm always afraid that he won't get all his lunch eaten by the time lunch ends...So far this is what I currently do:

scrambled eggs, whole wheat toast, fruit, and glass of milk

wheat toaster waffles spread w/peanut butter, a drizzle of syrup, fruit on the side, milk

whole wheat french toast (I really soak up the egg!!) , fruit, juice/milk

ham & cheese omelette w/wheat toast, fruit, milk/juice

cereal w/milk, juice

These are the same breakfasts that I have done for years, it's absolutely ALL I can think of...if you have suggestions, please help !!!   :)

Miracle for the Skin

My doctor recommended Aquaphor.  It is made by Eucerin and since I had a huge tub of cream already, I just decided to use what I already have...As it turns out, it really DOES need to be Aquaphor...my daughter has had a rash on her chin off and on for 6 months...she is allergic to sunscreen I think, but anyways, any time a skin issue is brought to my doctor's attention, she ALWAYS tells me to buy Aquaphor!!  Well, the last time we had to visit her, I ran to Walgreen's right after the appointment and bought a tube of the name brand Aquaphor...I was frustrated and felt ridiculous spending $6 bucks on a little tube of salve since I have 5 others at home...Thank goodness I did!! 

 It has proven to be a miracle skin ointment around my home...diaper rash, sunburn, bug bites, rashes, itchy bumps, dry skin, even scrapes/minor cuts heal almost immediately!    My elbows have NEVER been so soft!  When you apply it to irritated chafing, it immediately makes it feel better...it was the best money spent...and it has lasted so long b/c it only takes a tiny bit!!  Next time you need skin help, give this a try :)

Paying for Peace

My son HATES to try on clothes.  Before school starts, I always struggle with him to get him to try on a whole pile of clothes, it's like pulling teeth, so....I offered to pay him 10 cents / item tried on!  It was the best $2 ever spent!  I blogged about his reaction on My Family Blog.  Sometimes, it costs to have a little peace within a home full of children :)

Customize your school supplies

We bought generic plain old supplies and I let him decorate them with
his favorite stickers...LEGO !!!  He decorated the binder by sliding
a drawing down inside the clear cover..we can remove/replace
it later!

MY school binder

While at a friends house, I noticed that she had a binder for her son's school stuff...I HAD to have one!  I could not live without "MY school binder"  It actually has more than just school stuff inside, but it is centered around my son's school activities.  This binder keeps my head straight...ALL school papers have a place inside.

Of course, it's decorated with the MAIN subject!!

Inside pocket has items that need attention...(I still need to order an 8x10
from Blake's last year's pics!)   A zipper pocket keeps a pen,
bookmarks for Blake, and appointment cards, note paper to write
to the teacher when needed.

I print off FREE calendars to add in and help keep track of special events

This is the SCHOOL section, including school phone numbers, teacher's
directory, letter from his teacher about supplies, etc.

The HOMEWORK section still has Ziplocs filled with learning games from
last years class!  At least we still know where they are...lol!!

Other sections are for activities like, soccer, dance, church, and medical

Labeling School Supplies

There were several of Blake's school supplies that were tricky to write his name on.  He was supposed to label his 3 multi colored pens and the dry erase markers...I bought the generic brand of permanent marker (Sharpies haven't lasted long for me)  from Walmart...they had both, a fine point and regular point, and came in a 2 pack for ONLY $1 !!

These markers will write on ANYTHING, even metal and stays on!  If there is something that you DO NOT want to use permanent marker on, such as the inside of a coat, backpack , or lunchbox...(I don't write inside these items so that the next kid who gets them, won't have someone else's name in it! )  I used Johnson's & Johnson's medical tape.  It sticks well, but will come off if you choose to remove it, it is waterproof, and you can write on it with any pen! 

HAPPY LABELING !!!

Skip the sandwich bags...GO reusable !!

I pack my both my husband's and my son's lunch for school so I use alot of baggies.  I really wanted to get away from throwing so much plastic and money away, so, after an entire summer of reducing usage and testing out other options, I found one!!  I bought some  Ziploc divided containers with sealing lid.

 
You can buy a two pack for approx $2.40.  They are washable and reusable.  Mine have lasted more than 3 months without any leakage.  I pack my husband's lunch in them almost everyday.  The large section holds a large sandwich or entree, the side areas hold the pretzels or snack, and a fruit or yogurt.  They do not leak into each other as they seal around each individual compartment. 

I even bought Blake's lunchbox according to whether it would fit this container.  I found this lunch bag at TARGET for $12...it was the largest "back to school" purchase!  Hopefully worth it since you can carry it upright or sideways, it fits my reusable container, AND has a place for his thermos.  It even has an outer pouch for dry snacks or napkin and plastic wear.  It is made of an anti-microbial fabric. 

Calendar Corner

I used to have a really cute calendar that matched my kitchen.  These busy days of planning and organizing have made me change to a more practical one.  It is BIG, ugly, and plain.  It is large enough to write ALL our activities, appointments, and useful info.  It was only $4 in the school supply isle...And it's good for the next 18 months!

Today was the day that I got out the info that the school sent me to fill in the school year's calendar!  We have lots of extra days off and the school year is planning to end on May 17th this year!  I wrote in all the classroom party days, holidays, parent-teacher conferences, and PTO events...I am ready for this new school year and hopefully getting back on schedule!

Save on Back to School Supplies

I am always looking for ways to save on "Back to School" stuff!  A few ways that I save are...

*As soon as you have your child's supply list, make a copy and put it in your purse, so that you have it with you the next time you enter a store!

* BUT DON'T HEAD TO THE STORE YET...Always start at home...I shop my inventory at home before I even set foot in the school supply section of my local store.  If I walk through, I often get excited and buy stuff when it first comes out (I mean, wouldn't it be terrible if they "ran out" of crayons!?!??!)  It ALWAYS goes on sale a bit later and they NEVER run out!  lol!

*When you do see a great sale, like boxes of 24 crayons for 25 cents each, stock up!  You know that you will need a couple boxes next year, or maybe even throughout the school year!

*Check your local consignment shops/sales for the larger items, like backpacks, lunchboxes, clothing and such. 

*Shop the Tax-Free weekend for electronics and any higher-end, expensive items. 

*We buy generic or plain notebooks and folders and then let our son decorate them with his Lego stickers, he was excited to use a "personalized" one !!

*Sometimes a list calls for a single item, that can only be bought in a pack, such as 1 red pen...share with a friend or exchange items with each other.