Browsing Category

Kids/Family

FUN/DIY/ HOME/ How-Tos/ Kids/Family/ Seasonal/ Simplifying

A Casual, Un-Perfect Thanksgiving

Mary is Giving Up On Perfect this thanksgiving, and so am I!

I am hosting thanksgiving this year.  I’ve been in a very simple, take- it- easy kind of mood lately, and I am approaching Thanksgiving in the same kind of way.  I’m making plans, but not becoming a perfectionist about it.  I do not want to get pre-occupied with all the preparation and details, then the meaning of it all becomes an after- thought.  Really, it is a precious time to be together as a family and acknowledge the many blessing we have and thank our great God for His goodness.

Here are some of the ways I am planning on making it simple:

Paper Plates–

I’ve used paper plates in the past, and looking back at thanksgiving pictures,(above) it really is possible to create a nice table, even using paper plates.  I found the plates in the above picture on sale, they helped give color to the table. I set them on top of some silver chargers, rolled up paper napkins and made a pretty decent table. This year, I am going even more simple and casual.  We will be using disposable cups and utensils.  I rarely use disposable products, but sometimes it just has to be done.  I do not want to spend time washing dishes when my family is over, plus I do not have enough glasses and utensils for 15 people, so I really don’t have much choice.   I had a hard time finding disposable plates that were not cheesey or covered with picture of a turkey.  Maybe its just me, but I don’t want to lift a bite of turkey up to my mouth, look down, and discover I’ve uncovered part of the plate where the turkey is looking up at me as I eat him.  Appetite killer, for sure!:)

I am so happy I discovered the Solo Bare paper product line.  It caught my eye among all the paper plates with the typical patterns, flowers and bright, very un-fall colors. The color of the bare plates were so tasteful, warm, simple, boring and in my opinion, perfect.  Any type of napkin would match, and I quickly found (at Target) some printed fall napkins that will add color to the table. The bare cups are just plain and clear, so much better than bright yellow, red or blue!  I plan on making a cranberry punch so the cups will show off the beautiful color of the punch.  I am also keeping the eating utensils clear, since they are not that attractive I don’t want to draw attention to them, clear will disappear.
I have yet to mention the best features of the bare line,  they are renewable, compostable and recyclable!

Easy Beverages-
For the main beverage during dinner, I am making a simple Sparkling Cranberry Punch.  All you do is put equal portions of cranberry juice cocktail and sprite, then mix.   There are different types of bottled juice, you could do cranberry-raspberry cocktail, cranberry-grape cocktail, whatever.  Pour over ice.  So easy!
The rest of the day while we are hanging out and playing games, I will have soda and some Hot Apple Cider warming in a Crock-pot, ready for guest to help themselves.  Click Here for the Recipe.

Guests Bring a Dish
My family is great about everyone pitching in and bringing a dish.  My oldest sister, Julie, is a great cook.  I told her to bring whatever, and to let me know ahead of time what she was going to bring.   I am so lucky to have her as my sis, here is one reason why…check out this list of food she is bringing!!
Aunt Fannie’s Squash Casserole (we don’t have an Aunt Fannie, but I’m sure it is a great recipe!:))
Cranberry Meatball Appetizer
Jalepeno Popper Dip
Pumpkin Pie
Cherry Pie
Isn’t she great?  Don’t you wish she was YOUR sister?
My other sis is paying the Turkey, bringing Pop and Peanut Butter Pie. Yum. She rocks, too.  How generous to pay for the bird!
I have another sis who is bringing Stuffing and Broccoli Casserole.  Broccoli Casserole!! Oh how I love that stuff.  I could put my face in it right about now.  My baby sis is so great, that just bringing her cute self and her husband would be enough, but her cute self plus stuffing and casserole?  Oooh…its gonna be a good day!
My mommy always bring some kind of delish quick bread and is famous for her Cranberry Orange Muffins.  I try not to let her bring much, because she always comes early and peels the Potatoes, carves the Turkey, makes the Gravy and helps me with the last minute details.  I’m spoiled.
Not much left for me, huh?
I have some of this Harry and David Cranberry Relish Dip that I will serve over a block of cream
cheese w/ crackers to dip.  I will also make Rolls & Butta, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Corn Casserole, Velveeta Shells and Cheese (its for the kids, so why make it from scratch this time when Velvetta makes them smile?) some type of Jello Salad and some type of Chocolate Dessert.

Final Menu:
Appetizers
Cranberry Relish Dip W/ Crackers
Jalepeno Popper Dip
Sausage Appetizer Balls
Cranberry Meatballs
Main Meal
Turkey, Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Stuffing, Squash Casserole, Broccoli Casserole, Corn Casserole, Mac n Cheese, Rolls, Jello Salad
Sweets
Cranberry Orange Muffins
Pumpkin Pie
Cherry Pie
Peanut Butter Pie
Somethin’ Chocolate
Beverages
Sparkling Cranberry Punch
Hot Apple Cider
Pop
Wow-ie!  I’m ready to EAT! (as you can see, healthy eating in this family goes right out the window on a holiday, otherwise, it just would not feel like a holiday!!)

Buffet Style

No passing the turkey around here!  I like the table without the clutter of food, and it is just easier for everyone to help themselves.  The kitchen becomes our buffet.  I have counter space and a glass table, which is plenty of room to hold all the food. We start with prayer, then the mom’s help the kids get their food, then its our turn!  It  is so smooth, and you don’t get interrupted while you eat with “please pass the…”

Casual Clothes
I am going to encourage my family to come comfotable and cozy.  Fuzzy socks are welcome!  I don’t want added pressure to have my girls all dressed to kill, just so they can stain their nice clothes with Sparkling Cranberry Punch. They will look decent, but I am so NOT about to go out and buy special outfits just for one day.  Looking perfect is not what the day is about, my kids don’t need to look like a gap commercial.  Its about being thankful for what we have, not spending money on things we really do not need

Simple Decor

I have a lot of fall decorations, (remember this post?). For my table decor, I am simply going to grab from what I have.  Maybe these brown paper pumpkins from my sunroom windowsill, a few fake leaves sprinkled about and some candles.  My plates have an earthy, organic feel, so these would keep with that theme.
The kid table is always fun.  I love to get on Familyfun.com and get new ideas.  I used these cute ice cream cone cornucopias a couple years back.

The kids just loved them!  This year, my girls have made little toilet paper roll people.  They so very cute!  I will label them with the kids names, and set them on their plate so they know where to sit.  I thought about doing the same for the adults, but they are smart enough to know they are made from toilet paper rolls, which may be another appetite killer!


“Good Enough” House Cleaning
My house will be picked up and clean enough.  NOT carpets steam cleaned, windows washed, tile grout scrubbed, floors hand cleaned, “perfect” clean!!  Just toilets cleaned, sinks wiped, rooms vacuumed in the middles, quick dust, quick sweep, quick mop, “no- sweat” kinda clean!!  There will 15 people here, so the floors will be un-perfect within minutes, and we are not eating off the carpets so they don’t need to be steamed!  Nobody’s perfect, why try to fool each other into thinking we are?  Especially family, who knows we are DEFINITELY not!:)


Easy Fun
It doesn’t take much for my family to have fun and entertain ourselves. All it took one year was a camera and each individual willing to make a turkey out of themselves by making a crazy face for an individual portrait.
Some years I will have an organized craft for the kids to do, and  sometimes I have lots of game ideas.  This year, I’m not really going to plan anything.  We have a ton of board games, we will have our annual 1,000 piece Christmas puzzle sitting out to be worked on, and we can just sit and enjoy each other.
We may have to pull out the turkey feather game.  The kids love it, because they get to play it with adults and see adults act like dorks,  and adults love it because we get to watch the kids excitement, and join in on the fun.
 How to play:  You’ll need  a turkey feather (any feather) and everyone in the same room.  Send the “finder” out of the room to count to 30.  When they are gone, hide the feather somewhere in the room.  When the ‘finder’ comes back in, help them find it by saying hot or cold.  Or, you can take it up a notch like we do, and make very annoying beeping sounds as a group, getting louder and faster as the finder gets closer, and slower and quieter when they turn away from where it is located.  It’s quite funny! (at least we think so, but remember, it doesn’t take much…)
Happy Thanksgiving!

Well there you have it, my Casual Thanksgiving plan. I so look forward to seeing my un-perfect family in my un-perfect house, hanging out in our fuzzy socks drinking hot apple cider, beeping annoyingly in a chorus for the hide-the-feather game, and just simply being… thankful!


10
Kids/Family

Fall Break Fun

My girls have a week off of school for fall break.  Today was the first day, and after chores were done this morning, it only took about an hour until I heard the words “Mom…I’m bored!” When I think of all the awesome things my sweet but spoiled girls have to keep them busy, I was pretty surprised to hear those words so soon into our break!

I know a list helps keep me focused and on track with the flow of my day, so I thought maybe it would help them, too.  I grabbed a pen and paper, called my girls into the living room and made them pop a squat on the living room floor right in front of my feet.  Then I asked them to help me make a list of all the fun things they can do to keep themselves busy during break.  They really got into it and we were able to come up with a whole bunch of fun stuff to do!  As we brain stormed, it was neat how they were able to think of things they have not done in awhile, like lincoln logs and making paper snowflakes.

When we were done, I copied the list onto a large piece of paper and hung it on our dining room wall.  I made a place for each of them to initial beside each idea, so they can keep track of what they have done.
They played with playdoh for the first time in a very long time today, it kept them quite busy!  They are all excited to wake up tomorrow and decide what they are going to do next. I think we were able to come up with enough things to make this fall break very fun!

Here is what we came up with:
Legos, Art, Twister Dance, Karaoke, Sidewalk Chalk, Play-Doh, Nintendo DSi, Pop Beads, Computer, Hullabaloo, Puzzibits, KEVA Planks, Pop Beads, Beads, Paper Snowflakes, Doll House, Babies, Dress-Up, Barbies, Marker Board(Dry Erase Board), Hullabaloo, Scooters/Bikes, Lincoln Logs, Sticks, Crossword Puzzles, Piano, Basketball, Hide n Seek, Sardines, Trace Cookie Cutters, Bake/Cook, Doctor/Nurse, Beauty Shop, Lite Brit, Puppets, Puzzles, Tea Party, Tinker Toy, School, Play Food, Coloring Pages, Polish Nails/Toes, Boochie, Life, Battleship, Circus Game, Drawing Game, Parcheesi, Visit Library, Play At Park, Go For A Hike!  Whew!

FAMILY/ Kids/Family/ Love/ Marriage/ Spiritual

Real Commitment

Com.mit.ment 

-noun
1.  the act of commiting 
2.  the state of being committed
3.  the act of committing, pledging, or engaging oneself
4.  a pledge or promise;obligation
5.  engagement; involvement

Our ancestors viewed marriage as a vow before God, a vow to be taken very seriously.  They knew the meaning of commitment.  Today, we live in a culture steeped in immorality, pornography, alcohol and drug abuse and selfishness.  All of these factors have contributed to broken marriages, and a key element that is missing is real commitment.  Look at the words above that define commitment; a pledging; engaging oneself; a promise; involvement.   Whoa.  It makes me pause and ask myself… Am I practicing these things?   Am I involving myself in my husbands life?  Am I fulfilling those promises I made on my wedding day?  Am I participating in his world?  Am I aware of the importance of prioritizing these things?



I remember the night I became engaged, it was such a magical time.  I remember being in awe that this amazing man put a symbol of commitment on my finger.  I knew that it represented his commitment to me above all others, and that felt like such a beautiful compliment!  I love my ring, it helps me to remember to treasure commitment, and to be on guard for things that threaten to steal it.  When I look at it, it reminds me how important it is to check myself periodically, to be purposeful in nurturing my marriage relationship, and to remember how important real commitment is.

2
Frugal/ HOME/ Kids/Family/ Seasonal

How To Go To The Pumpkin Patch On A Budget

My family had an amazing, very full day at the pumpkin patch yesterday.  We have a beautiful pumpkin patch here in Nebraska called Vala’s Pumpkin Patch.  It was started by the Vala family, and after 25 years they have grown to employ over 500!  They now have parents who came as kids bringing their own kids, and it has become a yearly tradition for many families, including ours! We have been going every year now for at least 8 years, I have picture of my 10 year old climbing over a pile of pumpkins with her diaper hanging out her pants when she was barely able to walk.  Every year it gets better, because they add new attractions.  We just love going!
This year, we were not sure if we should still go because we are in the middle of a “no spend challenge” (which I really AM going to blog about one of these days!)  We decided family traditions are important, and our girls had already been talking about going this year, so after a little research and thinking, we came up with a plan we both felt good about, that would enable us to go at a price we were comfortable with.  These are ways to make it more affordable:

-Go on days that have discounts.  We went on a Wednesday.  At Vala’s, if you go on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, the admission price is $9.00 instead of the usual $12.00.  (saved $15.00 for a family of 5)

-Skip the attractions that cost extra.   For about $5.00/person, you can ride a train at Vala’s.  We decided not to ride it this year, which was not a big deal because there were so many other fun, free things to do.  There is also a “Mining for Gems” area which my girls love, but you have to purchase a bag of stones to mine.  They were about the same price as the train ride, we skipped that, too.  (saved about $25.00 on the train, and about $15.00 on the mining)

-Bring a back pack filled with hearty snacks and candy.  This was a huge money saver. There are so many great smelling and great looking foods at a pumpkin patch.  Kettle Corn, Funnel Cakes, Roasted Corn and Turkey Legs, Caramel Apples… just to name a few!  By making sure our tummys were full with our own snacks, we were able to walk past the snack areas keeping our wallet tucked safely away in the backpack. We snacked on granola bars, apples, chips, and candy.  We had fun biting into our Twix candy bar, then quickly biting into an apple to make our own version of a Chocolate Caramel Apple! (you must try this, so good!)  The kids did not feel deprived at all, and they loved all the little treats in our backpack. (I’m sure this saved us at least $20.00, if not more)

-Pack a lunch.  Every year, as part of our tradition, we “kidnap” our kids from school to take them to the pumpkin patch. (yes, we let them skip school for a day of fun)  This year, we did not want to be rushed and wanted to get home at a decent time, so we decided to leave earlier than usual.   Our surprise went like this: we all got ready for school and I packed their lunches just like they were going to school.  We piled in the car (including Dad b/c for some reason his jeep would not start and he needed a ride to work.  Yes, we lied.) with backpacks on and lunch boxes in hand, and a bunch stuff we needed that I snuck to the trunk.  We drove a couple blocks to the school and instead of stopping we drove right past the school.  My oldest, who is all about getting to school on time and who tends to be a bit dramatic,  did not disappoint with her drama in reacting to us driving past the school.  “DAD!  “We are going to be late!”  “DAD!”  When I saw her tearing up, I decided it was time to tell them that it was ok to be late because we were GOING TO THE PUMPKIN PATCH!!  I love seeing a kids tears turn to laughter so suddenly.  Surprises are so fun!  Ok, back to the lunches.  They ate their packed lunches in the car (a bit early, we had a couple stops before arriving at the pumpkin patch) and we didn’t have to worry about another meal until dinner time.  (Saved at least $25.00-$30.00 by not eating at the patch, or about $15.00 by not stopping to get fast food)

-Water bottles!!!  This is a must.  Drinks add up so fast and with all the walking we did the girls got so thirsty! (not sure how much this would save, but even if we all bought 1 drink @$2.00 each that would be $10.00)

-Dinner.  I have admit this is the area we decided to splurge a bit.  There are a few ways we could have cut costs here.   Usually, we would not purchase kids meals (and would not have if we still had chips left in the backpack) because my girls usually prefer water even if they have the option of soda, and we often  share a large french fry or chips as a family because we just don’t need our own bag of fries, we end up wasting them.   We were all very hungry by dinner time, (that corn maze burned a lot of calories and we were ready to EAT,!) so we splurged and bought them each a kids meal.  Todd got a Chili Dog, and I got a meal and shared my side and drink with him.
(We spent about $30.00, it could have been about $20.00 if we had skipped the full kids meals and my chips and drink)

-No pumpkin, or maybe just one instead of 5!  Just because you are at a pumpkin patch does not mean you have to load your car full of pumpkins, or even purchase one.  I did look longingly at a beautiful white, perfectly shaped pumpkin among all the orange ones, but tore my eyes away and looked at my beautiful kids instead:)  We are blessed to have a grandma who has a super fun tradition picking pumpkins with the girls, then they decoupage them!  The pumpkins sit on my front steps looking pretty, and the night before halloween, we carve them.  So, as you can see, I have no need to buy any more! (This saved anywhere from $5-$15.00.)

-Just Say No.  You are the parent, so say no and mean no.  When you get a whine, use it as an opportunity to teach thankfulness.   My youngest learned a big lesson in thankfulness sitting on a bench in timeout while her sisters got to walk through the haunted graveyard without her!  Boy, was she MAD but she learned an important lesson, and after sitting long enough she was able to get herself under control and enjoy the rest of the day.

 It was a very full day.  7 fun-filled hours at the pumpkin patch! (I had a friend ask me on facebook how is it possible to spend 7 hours at a pumpkin patch, I’ll share my response below:))
We left with full hearts, full tummies and camera full of captured, precious memories.

***Status on Facebook “Amy spent 7 HOURS at the pumpkin patch. I’M BEAT!”


Friend Katie’s Comment “Holy cow, how is that possible?” 🙂 (I love the holy cow part)


My Comment Back to Katie   *note, I don’t edit my facebook comments so ignore all the typos!
 “Well, Katie, first take 3 girls who have to use the restroom every hour and who refuse to go in porta potties and will only go all the way across the patch to get to the real pottys, then get lost in the huge cornfield maze for awhile, then go on the jumpy things 5 times, bury each other in corn kernels for at least 45 minutes, make 1 girl who is being ungrateful sit with you on bench for 15 minutes to teach her to be grateful, stop to tie jackets around the waste every time the sun peaks out from behind a cloud(at least 23 times) watch pig races and pumpkins shooting out cannon type things, walk through 2 haunted houses, a haunted graveyard, storybook land, and mum maze. Feed goats and stare at drooling camel. Play glow golf. Stop to eat snacks, lunch and dinner. Stop to tie shoes about 50 times(note that will not include the times they take them off to go on the bouncy things), walk all the way back to nice pottys to fill up water bottles at the drinking fountains about 4 times, stop to take pictures to capture all the craziness, roast marshmallows and make smores, and on and on and on…:) Maybe this should be a blog post about the ups and downs of yearly family traditions. hmmm..

1
Top