"Weather Week"

So this week Adley's learning "theme" is weather so we decided to make a weather chart that she could change daily. It turned out cute so I thought I'd share!

What you will need (you can modify with what materials you have or would rather use!)
Colored index cards
1/2 sheet of poser paper
Tape
Stick on Velcro (I found some for 1.49 at wal-mart by the command strips!)
Markers
Zip-loc bag

-write the days of the week on your index cards and tape them down the left side of the poster board

-make cards for each type of weather (we did rainy, sunny, windy, cloudy, stormy and snow) and let your child draw pictures on each card to represent the type of weather.

-place a piece of stick on velcro to the back of each weather card. Place a piece of the attachment velcro across from each day of the week.

-put a piece of the velcro on the back of the poster board and attach the attachment piece to the Ziploc bag. this can hold all of your extra weather cards!

-tape your finished poster by the back door, so that each morning your child can look outside and forecast the weather for the day, and place the correct card by that day of the week!

We are having fun with our weather chart! Hope you do too!

Preparation for Dinsey World

So excited to say that we will be journeying to Disney world with my sister and her family! I have been prep/packing for a few days now and have found some things useful that I thought i would share:

I cleared out my memory on my digital and video camera's to make sure i have plenty of room on my memory cards. I also have an extra memory card in case i need more space:)  I have fully charged the batteries on both camera's so they'll be ready to go for the "perfect picture" moment!

I had my aunt (who works at a print shop) print out autograph books for both Adley and my niece, Macey. They turned out super cute! Thank you Juju!

I put a couple of Adley's dress up princess gowns and crowns into freezer bags and put them in the bottom of her suitcase. That way, she has a princess gown if she needs it, without spending a fortune! (Im sure she will end up getting a couple in the parks anyway, but i still want to be prepared!) I also packed one of her light up toys to use at the night time events.

For the car (which we will be in 9+ hours) i packed a few dvd's and a couple empty toilet paper rolls and stickers. They can put the stickers on the rolls and be occupied for a little bit. Im so thankful that my sister has a dvd player for her car, too!

 

 



I have my shopping list for snacks, lunch and breakfast items written out. We are going to try and avoid paying park prices for food! Disney is one of the only parks that will let you bring in outside food and coolers!

I'm sure as the week progresses i will find more things that i need to do, but so far we are on the right track! Comment if you have any suggestions!

Excited For Spring

In our house we are strated to get excited for spring to arrive. In anticipation, Adley and I have been making some "spring" themed crafts. She has enjoyed it, so I thought i would share what we've done.

1-Rabbit Hole

 (This is more of an activity than a crat, but fun all the same)

 

what you need:

pipe cleaners

strainer

 

I told adley to connect one rabbit hole to the other using the pipe cleaners. she loved it!

2-Cupcake Liner Flowers

 

what you need:

pipe cleaners

cupcake liners

 

Let you child choose a few cupcake liners to string on the pipe cleaner. twist off the pipe cleaner at the top and fold the liners out to look like a flower! Super cute. Adley made a lot, so we made a "bouquet" out of them and put them on the mantle.

 

 

3-Finger Print Eggs

 

what you need:

paper (we used a piece of white cardboard)

finger paint

green marker

 

 

Before the craft, draw some spots of grass with the green marker. Let your child put a finger print on each spot of grass to make a hidden egg. I wrote happy easter along the top and displayed

it on the mantle.

 



 

 

We had so much fun doing these together, which also led into a discussion about the season of Spring! I'm sure we will have more fun spring, st. patricks day and easter ideas to come!

Wee Trade is here!

So if any of you live in Asheville or the surrounding areas you know about wee trade. It is seriously the biggest children's consignment event i have ever see, or heard of.

That being said, you should go see it for yourself and find some amazing deals while you're at it!

There are so many things you can find there. Clothing, baby gear, furniture, strollers, swings, toys, shoes. Anything you may need for a child, it's there! And the great thing is, everything (well mostly everything) is in great condition and cheap!

Go shop: February 16-17, 22-23. The 23 most things will be 50% off. It is at the Agg center off of Airport rd. Click here for more info.

This is the spring/summer sale. They have more throughout the year for other seasons.

Here are some tips before you go:
-Bring a bag or basket to put your items in. Believe me, you dont want to try and carry everything you find!
-Know what you need and are looking for before you go.
-Set a spending limit before you get there! (they take cash and card!)
-Bring a friend if you can. Sometimes it's easier to tag team because there is SO much to look at!
-Leave your kids at home if you can. It is hard to look at evrything and tend to restless kids, too!

Hope you find some wee-tastic deals:)

Discipline Lovingly

Our church, Bitlmpore Baptist, has been doing an awesome series called My Crazy Family Life. Sundays sermon was devoted to parenting and I would like to share some of the things discussed. This really hits home for mommy's and daddy's, and even for those who will be parents in the future.

The lesson was based on the book of Proverbs, which is a great book of the bible as a source for parenting.

YOU are responsible for training your kids. Church programs are all good and well, but that is just an added bonus on top of what you are teaching your kids at home.

Three tips for training your kids up right and in the Lord:

1: START EARLY
Proverbs 22:6 says "train up a child in the way that he should go and when he is older he will not turn from it."
The earlier we start training our kids, the more likely they are to be succesful as teens and adults. A parent who prayers over their children, reads them bible stories, and teaches them daily about the Lord will see results as the child grows. The earlier they have knowledge of Christs love, the more likely it will stay with them as they get older.

2: DISCIPLINE LOVINGLY
I know there is much controversy over spanking a child. But, "the rod" is a source of discipline and is definitely neccessary at times.
Proverbs 22: 15 says "Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him." this is not an act of hatred or anger, but will rid foolishness (folly). Make sure it is something you do in love, not when your aggrivated or mad. There are 3 tools when it comes to discipline: 1-the rod: spanking is only for direct rebellion (not childishness). 2-Talk about it: explain what the child has done wrong, and make sure they understand why. 3-Restoration of Fellowship: remind your child how much you love them.

3: HONOR PARENTS
Make sure your child knows the value of parenthood. You, as an adult, also have to practice honoring your parents. This doesnt mean not making appropriate boundaries, but place great value on those relatinships.

Proverbs 3:11, 12 "My son, dont despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in."

Successful parenting begins and ends with your relationship with God. Take His word, and fabricate it into your life and the way you raise your child.
This sermon made me think, and want to put into practice all of these things (which mostly we already have done).

To watch the sermon click here.

Cabinet Creations

So, you know those nigts where you ask yourself "what do i have in the cabinet that i can use to make dinner?" Those are the dinners we call "Cabinet Creations."

Adley likes to help me explore through the cabinets to see what we can come up with to make a tastey meal.

Tonight was a cabinet dinner kind of night, and here's what we came up with:

tortilla chips
taco seasoning
canned chicken
diced tomatos
cream cheese
sour cream
shredded cheddar cheese
mexican style rice

now, we had all of the above in our cabinets waiting to be rescued and this is what we did with them:

we bolied/cooked the rice, and simmered the cream cheese, chicken, sour cream, diced tomatos and taco seasoning.

then, we mixed it all together.

we layered the bottom of a pan with crushed tortilla chips, then layered the mixture evenly on top. Lastly, we sprinkled and covered it with the shredded cheese.

we baked it for 15 minutes at 375.

It was delicious!So know we have a new recipe we all love, and used up some of the food/ingredients that we would have probably wasted (or went bad) otherwise!

Do you have any Cabinet Creations?

Continue to Date Your Man

My husband is the most important human bieng on this earth to me, followed very closely by my daughter. With that said, you cant let your spouse come last in your life.

God first, husband second, children thrid. That is the way God intended it to be. If you let your kids become all thats common between you and your spouse, you may lose them after the kids are gone and living their own life.

Continue to date your man. Let him know how important he is to you. Andrew and I try to make time at least once a month to just focus on each other and reconnect. Wether it be going to dinner and a movie, or just getting our parents to have Adley sleep over so that we can have the house to ourselves for an evening, any time is good time!

This weeks grocery list

so here is a glimpse into what my weekly grocery list looks like:

Dinner 1-Mini Chicken pot pie
-bisquick--coupon
-eggs
-can of chicken
-bag of frozen mixed veggies

Dinner 2-Burgers
-ground beef (shared with dinner 3)
-monteray jack cheese
-seasoned salt
-buns

Dinner 3-Nacho Cheeseburger Mac
-ground beef (whats left over from burgers)
-can of tomatoes
-taco seasoning --coupon
-mac noodles
-shredded cheddar
-tortilla chips

Dinner 4-Lasagna roll ups
-shredded mozzerella cheese
-ricotta cheese
-roma tomatoes

Dinner 5-Gourmet grilled cheese
-deli turkey
-tomato
-bacon

Dinner 6-Frozen Pizza
--free @ Target w/ coupon

Dinner 7-LEFTOVERS

Other:
-toilet paper
-paper towels
-laundry detergent
-string cheese--coupon
-lettuce (head of romain)
-crereal--coupon
-ritz cracker fulls--coupon
-chips
-canned gb's
-PB
-frozen rolls--coupon

After i write out my list I go through and estimate what each thing will cost, then add it up to have a good idea of what my trip will cost. Usually, i estimate over so im pleasently suprised when i get to the register!

On a side note, when i have something my dinner recipe calls for I just simply leave it off my list and create a new list with everything on it after i get back from the store! I also get most of my dinner ideas from pinterest! Throughout the week i will pin things, and then go back and look at them to make my grocery list!

Every Day Money Savings

Im sure everyone is aware of  how horrible our economic situation is. Living on a single income we definitely try and do every little thing we can to cut down on spending. These are a few things we like to try in our home to save a few bucks:

Buy Generic. I know name brand has the appeal of being the best, but truly most generic products are just as good. You can buy generic brand groceries and household items as well as switching perscriptions to the generic form.

Wash your clothes with cold water. Most machines, especially HE machines, will do just as good of a job on cold water washes tham warm/cold. Just make sure you buy HE detergent.

Turn your lights off. I have been bad to leave lights on in the house in rooms that i wasn't even in. Try to be aware, and turn off lights when you leave a room.

Make a weekly grocery list. This really works for us, and saves our budget. we have a set spending limit on grocerys and make one weekly trip for the tings we need. If its not on the list, we dont get it!I dont really need those chips anyway, right?!

Find coupons. I am not a couponer, by any means, but I do like to use coupons when and if I have them. You can go online and find coupons for almost anywhere. just do a quick google search before you do to your destination and print off a coupon that could be of use. Also, dont be quick to throw away thos Valpacks that come in the mail, they actually have some good coupons in them! Look through the coupons that are printed out with you reciepts. They always have something you can use.

Take unused items to a consignment shop. Take those clothing items, toys or household things you arent using and get some money out of it. Consignment shops are great because you just take your things and they sell them, and then you reap the proffit (a certain percentage, anway). Why hang onto those things that are just lying around anyways?

Get a bagless vaccum and a re-usable mop. You may not see savings right away, but througout the year you can save alot by switching to these products. I make my own mop cleaner by mixing hot water and lysol multi-surface cleaner. One bottle will last several months and it's less than $2, not to mention it kills 99% of bacteria.

Hopefully these things will help you!

Keeping the "I" in Family

As moms, it's hard to justify spending time on yourslef. With that said, to take care of your family you first have to take care of yourself.

Here are a few ways i find some "me time":

Wake up an hour or so earlier than your kid(s). Luckily, Adley sleeps most mornings until 830 or 9, so If i wake up at 8 I generally have time to prepare myself for the day. First I put a pot of coffee on:) If you know me, you know I'm a coffee-aholic. I need to get better about reading my Bible, but the mornings I do I notice my day is so much better. I sometimes check my email, or catch up on my DVR. For some mommies, waking up before your kiddos may not be an option, because they are the ones waking you up, so implement this at nap time instead!

Go to the store by yourself. Although a trip to ingles may not seem luxurious, it gives you the opportunity to shop without feeling rushed or guilty about making your child trudge to the store with you. I like to go to target in the evenings by myself, get a drink at Starbucks and just browse. This i a total rejuvination trip for me.

Go to the Gym. I love going to the gym, because exercise relives stress and always puts me in higher spirits. My husband and I alternate evenings to go so that we each have some one-on-one time with our daughter. Not to mention, time to ourselves.

Find a hobby that you enjoy. I love crafting, and it is a fun thing for me to sit and do on my own or with my sisters, mom or friends. Your hobby could be anything you enjoy doing. Make sure you dont put aside all the things you enjoy, do something for YOU!

There are so many things moms can do for themsleves, the first step is doing them. I know it's hard to put yourself first sometimes but you definitely deserve it!

Tip: Find Free Activities

I, myself, get stir crazy If I am in the house for up to or more than 24 hours. For those mommies who like to get out, without having to shell out cash, here are a few things Adley and I like to do that dont break the bank:

1-Story time at our local public library. most libraries have some sort of story time one day a week. Our local branch has theirs on wednesdays at 10am. This gives us a chance to get out, and also get some social interraction. Just check your libraries website, it should tell you all the details. After we go to story time we always go and look at the Children's Book section for half an hour or so.

2-Scavenger hunts throughout your home (in or out)or neighborhood. This activity is fun, especially if you live in a neighborhood or similar area. Before we go on our hunt I will make a list (with pictures) of things that I know we will see. You can plant some things to find if you are doing it inside. We bring a crayon and our list and check off things as we find them. This activity gets you out of the house, without really going "out". Plus, the kids love it!

3-Find a local park or playground. we have several fun playgrounds to choose from that also have large grassy areas to run around and have picnics. You can never fail with the park, it's a great "go-to" activity.

4-Playdates with friends. we are blessed to have several friends with kids we are able to have playdates with. We get together almost every day with our close friends and next door neighbors! I cannot tell you how important it is to you, as a mom, and to the child to create a good circle of freinds you can communicate and get together with often. Play dates give moms the opportunity to unwind, while the kids are socializing and playing.

5-Check out WNC parenting magazine. look through your local parenting magazine for fun, free local activities. There is always a free monthly issue at banks, libraries and doctors offices!

7- Go hang out at Barnes and Noble. most areas have a Barnes and Noble book store. We like to go and play with the train set and read some new books. Not to mention there's a Starbucks for mommy! This is agreat rainy or cold day activity.

I hope you find these useful! Please feel free to comment and add any ides!

This weeks $1 Target Finds

So.....I usually go to Target once a week, mainly to get out of the house and let Adley walk, well run, around. I always go through the dollar bins at the front of the store. Let's be honest, penny pinchers love that kind of stuff. Today, Adley and I totally scored! We found several learning tools by leapfrog. I have been teaching Adley phonics ever since I can remember, so these few things i found (did i mention they were a dollar?) are really going to come in handy for at-home teaching!

pictured above: -leapfrog success charts and stickers -leapfrog dry erase letter and math board -leapfrog Preschool language skills Thes were all three amazing items to find. Never underestimate the dollar section, they will have great tools for stay-at-home moms from time to time. Especially craft supplies! Today, after we got home from target I popped this dvd in:

......which goes along perfectly with the products i found. While Adley was watching (and participting) I cleaned the kitchen. After the dvd was over, we sat down and used the dry erase board to trace letters and make their sounds. The dvd is a fantstic pre-curser for phonics activities! --on a side not, I found the dvd at toys 'r' us for half price. Such a great way to spend some time with your litlle one(s) while teaching them valuable skills. Dont feel bad for letting them watch the dvd for a few moments either. Especially if it helps them learn. Hope these things helped you or even gave you a few ideas of your own. stay tuned.

what this is....

By the blessing of the amazing God we serve, I have been able to stay at home with my now two year old daughter, Adley. My husband, the bread winner, works hard so I am able to do so, Although it may seem like a luxury life it does take prayer, hardwork, dedication and major organization to be able to stay home and remain prosperos as a family. Over the past few years I have been able to find some useful tips and tricks to help make a succesful household on a single income, while continuing to cook meals every night, teach my daughter and keep a good hold on finances as well as keep a clean house! Yes, being a saty-at-home mommy is a 24/7 job and definitely is not easy, but with God's guidance, triumphs, failures and a love for family, it is the most rewarding job you will ever have! So, follow me as I take you on a weekly journey of how I keep my home organized and going as I stay at home. You will see grocery list posts, financial organization tips, learning tools and much more.....stay tuned:)