Toddler Time Thursday!

We have been trying to work on fine motor skills this week. But we don't have many toys that work on this, and I still can't find the kid sized pinching tongs I need for so many great fine motor skill activities.

So, we've been finding things to do around the house to work on this. Molly's favorite is trying to unlock the door with "real keys." She is getting really good at this, and it is definatly giving her something to practice. I am really trying to find other great things for her to work on, and am really excited to order her some lacing beads.

What is your favorite activity for working on fine motor skills?

Wordless Wednesday!

Um, yeah... So I HATE folding the laundry...

For more great "Wordless Wednesday" pictures, visit 5 minutes for mom.

Tip Tuesday!

Over at our house, we are all about fixing things and doing house hold project and repairs ourselves. This saves us a ton of money, and makes you feel great to do it yourself.

The absolutely BEST thing I found is the Fix It Club. It has links on how to repair almost everything!!!! Everything... from fan repair, doorbell repair, doll repair, carpet repair, CD player repair, and hundred of others. Go check it out, I promise it will help you fix something on your own!!!

Good luck!

Frugal Friday Update!

If you read my "Frugal Friday" post about Restaurants.com, now is the time to try it out. If you use the code LUCKY when you check out, you'll get 80% off!!! That means you'll get a $25 gift card for only $2. REALLY!!!

The way the site works is, every month each restaurant only gives a certain amount of gift cards for this special, and once their gone, that's it until the beginning of the next month. So, at the end of each month, they will give 80% off on the few that are left!!! Take advantage of these great prices, we sure do!

(Make sure to read all the info for each resturant, some have minimum purchases required)

Menu Monday!

Hope everyone has some great meals planned for the week. Here is what we are eating! If anyone has a good recipe for meatloaf without using stuffing, please let me know, I have been looking for a good one for awhile. Thanks!

Monday- Bubble pizza
Tuesday- Spaghetti and homemade garlic bread
Wednesday- Walking Tacos
Thursday- Quick and easy Stromboli
Friday- Fiesta Chicken Pasta
Saturday- Papa Murphy's

For more great Menu Plan ideas, visit orgjunkie.

Sunday's Spotlight!

Today is National Pretzel Day! Happy National Pretzel Day everyone!

To celebrate, Pretzel Time's and Pretzelmaker stores are giving away FREE original pretzels! YEAH!!! (The Pretzel Time in the Rivertown Mall is giving them away between 1pm-5pm today, for those living in West Michigan)

Also, check out the Pretzelmaker/Pretzeltime site for links on the history of a pretzel. I was shocked to learn how much info there is out there about the pretzel! Enjoy.

Sew Something Saturday!

I absolutely love how this weeks project turns out. Over at Sweet Figments, they give a great tutorial on how to make soft baby blocks. They really are adorable and pretty easy to make. It is a great way to use up some of your fabric scraps that are to cute to throw away! Happy Sewing!

Frugal Friday!

For this Friday's going out to eat, we actually decided to go to a real sit down restaurant! Usually we do Papa Murphy's, Subway, or something quick and easy. But I was in the mood to get out and enjoy a restaurant style meal. But being the frugal mama I am, I have to do it the cheaper way.

If you haven't already tried Restaurant.com, you need to check it out. You type in your zip code, and it gives you a list of restaurants with in 5-20 miles from your house that participate. Then you can buy a $25 gift certificate to that restaurant for only $10. This is a great deal! Some of the restaurants even sell $10 gift certificates for only $3. Hope you all get to enjoy a fun dinner out sometime soon.

Toddler Time Thursday!

I've been having a lot of people asking about what type of cloth diapers I use. My favorite and easiest for my lifestyle are definitely the BumGenius 3.0 They are easy, with minimal grossness. My family and friends who know me, know that I gross out easily, so if I can do cloth diapers, anyone can!

The nicest thing about this style, is you can get one size fits all, so you just adjust the snaps as your baby gets bigger. This saves a lot of money, since you don't have to buy different sizes. Also, the Velcro closure around the waist makes a great fit to any waist size. And a little added bonus, they come in great colors.

The only downside I have to this brand compared to some of the others I've tried is, if you need to use any diaper rash cream or such, you have to put a liner down so it doesn't get on the microfiber of the diaper. Also, you have to wash them in completely additive and fragrance free detergent, which can be hard to find in local stores.

But cloth diapering is going great for our family!!! I am a cloth diaper addict! It was a learning experience, but has definitely saved us a ton of money, and is a greener option. Let me know if you have any questions or comments, I am always up for talking about my diapers. :)

If you are interesting in cloth diapering, this is my favorite info site, Pinstripes and Polka Dots.

Also, head over and check out the giveaway at Mom Dot Reviews, they are giving away 3 cloth diapers, from The Cloth Diaper Outlet!! WOW!!!

Wordless Wednesday!

Coolest drinking fountain EVER!!!

For more great "Wordless Wednesday" pictures, visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

Tip Tuesday!

A great tip I found this week, was ideas to do with leftover Easter Candy! We have so many peeps sitting in the cupboard. My favorite was from Create Studio, she shows the idea to make a Peeps Smore, with a peep in place of a marshmallow, and Easter bunny chocolate.

Another site that had me laughing out load was Cooking With Peeps. I was pretty much rolling on the ground when I saw the picture of the peeps on the grill!!! Anyone have any other great ideas to use your leftover Easter candy?

Menu Monday!

I am definitely ready for a new week on meals. We are having a couple of our favorites and trying a few new recipes this week.

Monday- Taco Soup old favorite
Tuesday- Bowtie Chicken Pasta new one this week
Wednesday- Hot dogs on the grill and baked beans
Thursday-Corn and Pepper Jack Quesadillas new one, on grill
Friday- Out to eat with the family night
Saturday- Santa Fe Grilled Chicken Salad Wrap old summer favorite

For more great menu planning ideas, visit orgjunkie.

Sunday's Spotlight!

I really never thought I liked pineapple until I tried it fresh! It was SO much better than the canned version I didn't enjoy. This week's "Sunday Spotlight" is the Vacu Vin Pineapple Slicer! It is my absolute favorite kitchen gadget.

It literally cores, and slices your pineapple in seconds and is easy and clean! It also keeps the pineapple shell intake to use as a fruit bowl. Very nice. You can find them for around $10-$15, and they are definitely worth it.

Sew Something Saturday!

This weeks project you actually don't sew, but it's related and I just love how cute it is and wanted to share it with you. At Create Studio, their is a great tutorial on how to make these really cute and easy pacifier clips. They are great for throwing in with baby shower gifts. I made this zebra striped one above, but the possibilities are endless. Have fun!

Frugal Friday!

On April 22 for Earth Day, The Disney Store is giving away a free gift if you bring in 3 plastic bottles! Check it out here. Free Disney=Happy Frugal Friday Tip!!!

Toddler Time Thursday!

This week Molly's favorite things to say are... "Me to" and "Molly do!" All she wants to do is everything everyone else is. So, we are trying are best to make it so she can do little "jobs" with us around the house.

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Today she washed the car with daddy, and she took it VERY seriously! Also, she insisted on blow drying her hair this morning (on cold setting of course). She has put away our shoes about a million times today, but is really enjoying acting like an "adult."

Wordless Wednesday!

That's right, it's NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK!!! For girls night this month, we went the the NKOTB concert. It was the "MOST FUN EVER!" Notice the gold jacket, and picture T-shirt! And they were singing on a platform that rose into the air, haha! For more great wordless Wednesday photos, visit 5 minutes for mom.

Tip Tuesday!

This tip is from Reclaiming My Pollyanna's blog. It is my favorite new way to sew letters onto my projects! It is so easy, and she gives you a step by step picture tutorial on how to do it. Their are so many fun possibilities you can do with this tip. Enjoy!

Menu Monday!

My husband did the grocery shopping for this week, since my daughter and I were not feeling good, but I was impressed! He came up with some really good meals, but I have to admit, it was hard giving up that control for the week.

Monday- Leftovers
Tuesday- Steaks on the grill w/potato and onion
Wednesday- Goulash
Thursday- Chicken Alfredo w/Bowtie pasta
Friday- Subway
Saturday- Chili dogs w/fries.

For more great menu plans, visit orgjunkie.com.

Sunday's Spotlight!

HAPPY EASTER!

Sew Something Saturday!

For this weeks "Sew Something Saturday" I didn't get a chance to make anything new. My daughter and I have both had the flu, so we are just trying to feel better.

So, I thought I would show you one of my favorite projects I've made recently. These are the Harry Potter Puppet Pals I made my husband for Christmas. If you haven't seen the Potter Puppet Pals on YouTube, you have to check them out, very funny.

Next week I will be back with a new project, but I hope you like this one, it's one of my favorites. What is your favorite sewing project you've made?


Snape, Snape, Severous Snape, DUMBLEDORE!

Toddler Time Thursday!

I have been having a blast reading so many different blogs and getting some GREAT ideas on ideas to do with toddlers. This week, I thought I would list some of my absolute favorite kid blogs and sites so you can check them out for yourself. I have a million, but I will list my top 3 of each, so it's not so overwhelming.

Toddler Time Blogs:
ABC and 123 (Great teaching ideas and plans)
No Time For Flashcards (Amazing ideas walked through step by step)
1+1+1=1 TotSchool (links families tot school activities each week)

Websites and Activities:
Ziggity Zoom (has read aloud online books)
Family Fun (an all time favorite)

PBS Kids (Molly loves the characters for her books and TV)

Wordless Wednesday!

Ah, yeah! This tantrum made it into the empty cupboard! She was NOT happy to be getting ready for bed... but was VERY tired!

For more great "Wordless Wednesday" pictures, visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

Tip Tuesday!

This weeks "Tip Tuesday" tip is from Creative Holiday Gift Ideas! It is a jar of Easter Bunny Smores, I made for Molly to give her story time teacher and nursery leader.

I thought this was such a cute idea, and very festive. You actually mix them up with a few wet ingredients to make brownies. YUM!

Menu Monday!

Happy Spring Break Week! Hope you all have lots of fun activities and meals this week. We don't have much different going on, but we are excited for dinner at the baseball game on Thursday!

Monday- Breakfast for dinner, French Toast and eggs

Tuesday- Crock pot Lasagna

Wednesday- Speedy Salsa Chicken Quesadillas

Thursday- Dinner at the Whitecaps game

Friday- Friends over for dinner, Papa Murphys

Saturday- Quick-Fix Beef Burrito Skillet

Sunday- Easter dinner here, Roast with carrots and potatoes

For more great menu planning ideas, visit Orgjunkie.com

Sunday's Spotlight!

This week I am spotlighting the West Michigan Whitecaps baseball team. It is their opening day this week, and we can't wait to get out and enjoy the game and fun activities that go along with a Whitecaps game.

If you are planning on going to a game, check out the upcoming promotions list to find out what is going on the night you are there. This Thursday is the Farm Bureau Insurance Fireworks, free Fifth Third Bank fleece baseball hats to the first 1,000 fans, College Night and Altogas Thrifty Thursday (which means you can get 2 hot dogs for $2, as well as pop, beer and pretzels for $2 as well.) We are always excited for a great deal!

If you live in West Michigan, check out the Whitecaps Schedule. Batters up!

Sew Something Saturday!

This week I made a really fun kitchen "Apron in an Hour" I found at Stop Staring and Start Sewing. The tutorial is wonderful, and she even has it set up into a downloadable pdf file with big step by step pictures, so you can print it off and easily follow the instructions.

Make sure to take a look at her cute picture of the apron as well. I was home alone when I finished making it, so I wasn't able to take a picture of me wearing the apron, these pictures are the best I could do. But this project really only takes an hour and is fun to make. Happy Sewing!

Frugal Friday!

For this weeks "Frugal Friday" tip, I have to thank my mom. She started ripping dryer sheets in half when I was little, since I had such sensitive skin, it would be less irritating.

Now, we always rip our dryer sheets in half. It does just as good a job as a full sheet, and you get double your money since you get 2 halves out of every sheet. This is a very easy tip we use everyday to save money.

Toddler Time Thursday!

This week I was working on painting some cupboard doors in our house, and Molly got very excited, and wanted to try painting. I am still a little nervous about her painting in the house, but I came up with the idea to paint without paint.

Instead of using paint, I gave her a little dish of water and some brushes. She had a blast "painting" a cut open brown paper bag. The wet "painted" parts showed up like she had painted them. She loved doing this, and I loved hardly having to clean it up.

We are looking forward to projects using real paint soon. If anyone has a good washable kids paint recommendations, let me know. Thanks!

Wordless Wednesday!

Fun making Peeps Dioramas! Harry Peeper, and Sarah made Twilight starring Robert Peeperson!

For more great "Wordless Wednesday" pictures, visit 5 Minutes For Mom.