Works for Me Wednesday-Snack Baskets

Sometimes (and not all that often) I come up with an idea that actually works and I stick to it! After weeks and weeks of my kids mindlessly snacking about all day I decided I need to do something about it. I mean my budget can only take so much mass consumption if know what I mean;) I had seen this idea some where...not pinterst though this is pinterest worthy...I think I actually saw this back in my Supper Nanny watching days. Anywho, You purchase a basket, box or some kind of container for each child. Either the night before or in the morning they choose their snacks for the day if you child attends school outside of the home school snacks don't get included. If they choose to eat all their snacks at once then no more for the day. Now of course I am not starving my children I am just trying to eliminate the mindless eating that has been going on around here. You know the I'm bored lets eat kind of thing.

So Monday I hit up my local Wal-Mart and purchased these. It was a 3 pack and only set my back around $1.50. I would really like to spiff them up but because of their size I am not sure how I am going to do it yet...but for sure they need to have each child's name on them or a ribbon to indicate who they belong to!

Here they are all lined up on my kitchen counter awaiting snacks. See what I mean they need some jazzing up. Someone craft please give me and idea or two!
Here they are all lined up and filled with snacks. Now this was taken later in the day and doesn't have a whole days worth of snacks. My general snack allotment is 2 morning snacks and 2 afternoon snacks. Not pictured is Coopers snack box he takes to Kiddie Kollege with him on the days he attends I let him select that snack on the mornings he attends and but it right in his pack. What kind of snacks do your kids enjoy? We are always looking for yummy ideas!

I am so proud of this idea. It has been a wonderful thing for both me and the kids. It really has helped us be mindful of what we are eating, when we are eating and most important why we are eating. Now onto trying to find a better chore system for us that we can actually stick to;)

Tastey Tuesday-Mexican EggRolls/Loaded Potato Bites

This year we decided to ring in the New Year with a little get together with our friends the Poole's. And to make it easy and fun we did appetizers/snacky food and not a sit down meal. I chose to make Mexican Egg Rolls and Loaded Potato Bites as 2 of my appetizer's. I wanted to share the recipe for Mexican Egg Rolls because every time I make them people RAVE on and on about how yummy they are! I seem to be famous for these. This time I documented the process which seems long but if you prep the chicken the day before or even have some shredded chicken in your freezer (I do this often) you can really cut down on your time it can also be completely prepped the day before and then rolled and fried or baked when ready!

Mexican Egg Roll
Veg. Oil 1-2 c. grated cheddar cheese
1 1/2 lbs. shredded chicken (cooked) 4 Tsp. picante sauce
1pkg. chili seasoning 1can of black beans
4 oz can green chilies 1sm onion chopped
1pkg egg roll wraps found in produce section near tofu
salt and pepper to taste

Heat oil until hot add chicken and onions. Stir until onions are translucent and tender. Drain and rinse black beans combine in a large mixing bowl with chicken, onions, chili seasoning (I only use half a package), picante sauce (I use more then called for), cheese, and drained chilies. Mix well.

This is my ingredients combined (well minus some).
These are the egg roll wraps we buy. Any brand is fine as long as it is the egg roll wrap.

Now that your ingredients are combined...spoon a heaping tablespoon of the mixture into each wrap and fold/roll following the "rolling directions" on your package. Here you see a plate of rolled wraps ready to fry. I don't have any picks of the frying process but it is easy...Just heat a small amount of oil in a frying pan, lay wraps in and allow to cook until golden on one side then flip and repeat. I will add here yes you can bake them I have never personally tried it but if you do please let me know how they turn out. I have been afraid to bake them for fear they wouldn't crisp up.

Finished product below

Since we were having these as an appetizer we just served them with sour cream. If it is a main course serve with sour cream salsa, and we do a side of rice with them. YUMMY FOR SURE!

READY FOR SERVING!

For this shindig I served them on the same platter as Loaded Potatoes Bites you see the sour cream in the middle. I got the idea for the Potato Bites on Pinterest but tweaked the process for myself. Recipe for those below:

Loaded Potato Bites

4 (or more depending on how many you plan to serve) baking or russet potatoes washed well not peeled

shredded cheddar cheese

real bacon pieces (I used the ones out of the salad section)

green onions

Slice potatoes about 1/2 an inch thick. Submerge in melted butter. Place on a sprayed or oiled cookie sheet. Bake for around 12 minutes on 350 flip and bake another 10-12 minutes or until just tender. Top with bacon, green onions and cheese. Serve warm with sour cream or ranch for dipping.

Declarations not Resolutions

So if you have read this blog for anytime or if you know us personally you know that 2011 wasn't the best year to date. We started the year with a job loss and things just seemed to get worse from there. We did have some great things happen we got a wonderful new home, our kids made it to the state swimming meet, started homeschooling, and then last but not least God rescued us from the enemy and continues to today. That being said when you make a list the bad seemed to out weigh the good. So after a very motivational sermon from my pastor on January 1 Michael and I decided we wouldn't make any resolutions but instead we would make declarations over our lives, marriage, family, home, finances, well over every area of our lives. God has promised much to those who follow Him we have tasted and seen and we want more. So here goes nothing we are putting all our eggs in one basket that is the "Jesus Basket" we have no fall back position and no amount of luck will ever see us through only Jesus will. This year will be good we will prosper and we will not fall victim to the lies of the enemy in our lives.

Crazy Christmas Weekend

Ready to head to church to celebrate the birth of our Savior! I think my new favorite day for Christmas is Sunday!

I have really neglected this blog lately. But I have a great excuse...I have been enjoying my family this Christmas season. Our holiday hop as I nicknamed it this year started on Thursday when we loaded up and traveled 1 hour north to stay a couple days with my in-laws.

On the first night of our visit we made our way to Santa's Village. We aren't huge Santa people but this is a fun experience for the kids and my father-in-law joined us making it even more fun. I am so glad we went. Even though we don't do Santa at our house Cooper is amazed by him so it was a great experience for him since it was his first time to go. Fun was had by all that is for sure!

Everyone thought a picture in front of the post office would be fun...Until sneaky Cooper stuck his hand inside and pulled out a random kids letter to Santa!

Yeah almost no-body is looking anyone else with multiple children experience that?!?!?

Pictures with Santa. Cooper was amazed and really didn't talk. Duece asked for a dog! And Jesse proclaimed the best gift would be if we got a dog and send Dueces cat Joey to a new home...only my kids!

Duece really wanted Wuggle Pets...he was really excited to find those under the tree.

Look mom and dad "boom drums". Mom and dad now wonder what they were thinking of course it was the ONLY thing he asked for!

Jesse opening her knitting looms. Those made her day since she couldn't use her new pogo stick in the rain. I am waiting for her to create me something great.

I love our traditions and wouldn't change the way we do Christmas morning for anything. I love how appreciative our kids were and are. I am so proud of who they are becoming. But honestly the stress created by our hopping from family to family I could do without. Next year...we think we might go and serve meals at a soup kitchen instead!

Pinterest Finds

I don't know about you but I LOVE pinterest. It is my new obsession. I have found more craft, decorating, sewing and cooking ideas then one person can ever do;) But I can't help myself. My very favorite thing I have found on there are little treasures that save money. Because nothing is better then an idea or tip that puts money BACK in my pocket. So I decided to try a couple of my finds and see what I thought. So far I have made 3 different pinterest products. I thought I might share them with you so you can see what you think.

Fist I was out of lotion. Being prone to severally dry skin this time of year I use a ton of lotion and I have to by some rather expensive brands to get good smooth skin and results that last. This is the link I found on pinterest and the instructions I followed. For this I bought the following: 1 bottle baby lotion $1.50 Vaseline $2.50 Vitamin E Cream $4.20 Total:$8.20

I got a large bowl combined all the ingredients and mixed until the consistency of icing. The only thing that I had to measure was the Vaseline because the only tub of it I could find was 16 oz and you only need 8. It made a ton I refilled my empty lotion bottle, the vitamin e containers, and half the baby lotion bottle. I might get a nice big bottle to keep it in next time. My only tip not included in the above link is you might need a funnel to aide in filling you bottles but if you use a container with a lid no need for the funnel. I believe this should last a good long time. I am really enjoying using it and my skin is really soft!

Next I made these ice packs. It was really easy I use the cheap Dawn and snack size bags I already had here. It was really easy I just squirted the Dawn into the Ziploc removed all the air and double bagged it. Placed in the freezer and DONE! Since I used the left over Dawn from another project this one was FREE! We haven't needed them yet so you will have to check back to see what we think.

Last but not least I was out of scrubbing bubbles and it was for sure time to clean the bathrooms so I thought I might try these tub and shower spray I found. It was really easy and worked out to be rather cheap. I spent $1.28 on Dawn and $2.00 on a gallon of Vinegar. Total $3.28 but actually less when you consider that I can use the vinegar in other cleaners or to mop or as a rinse aid in my dishwasher and since I only used 8 oz of the Dawn I was able to make the ice packs. The only thing I did different from the recipe was I only used 8 oz of each since my bottle I had was small. I am going to clean the tub as soon as I post this so I will have to update on how well it does. **Update I tried it cleaned the kids bathroom and it worked wonders on the tub/shower I sprayed it on didn't really let it sit and wiped it off with a magic eraser**

So what have you found on pinterest lately that you have done?!? I would love to know.

Birthday Shout Out

Today I have to give a birthday shout out to my wonderful husband Michael. He is the best this makes 12 birthdays of his we have celebrated together. Back when we celebrated his 19th birthday by attending our town Christmas parade I would have never guessed 12 years later we would still be celebrating together. But God made us for each other to travel the road of life together. I could not have asked for a better partner. Michael is an amazing husband and father. He stops at nothing to make sure we all have what we need and want as of late working 7 days a week.

Michael I couldn't think of another person in this world to spend my life with. Happy Birthday praying we get many more together!

Music Therapy Christmas edition

Woot Woot it is here! My FAVORITE holiday...Christmas. To those who know me know that I love this season. I love my house decorated, I love spending time with the ones we love so dear and I love love love celebrating my saviors birth. I have shared before that the pain of loosing my mom so close to Christmas has caused a black cloud to loom during this time for me in years past. This year I waged war against that cloud and I am so excited about Christmas...my children are happy but since I even went as far as to decorate our cabinet doors the hubs thinks I have LOST IT!

As I mentioned I love celebrating my saviors birth. To me no matter what this is the true "reason for the season" I celebrate His very humble birth and the hope that His resurrection embodies that He will come again. Since I am now addicted to pandora (and pinterest but that is a post for another time) I created a station for Contemporary Christian Christmas songs. While listening to my newly created station I found this song by Third Day. It is GREAT and one of my newest Christmas music favs. Since I have so many I might have to do music therapy twice a week;) Enjoy the Christmas edition of MTT...and be sure to visit Lindsey for her Christmas countdown!