Top Ten Reasons to Turn Off the Computer

I have agreed to an experiment.  Since I am prone to spend too much time online, we sometimes disable the wireless network in our home during the day.  So far, those have been my most productive, happiest days of the week. 


Here are the top reasons why shutting down my computer for most of the day is such a good idea:

1. I can enjoy more of the sunshine and fresh air, which invigorates my soul.
2. I can be more active and burn more calories when I am not sitting in front of a screen.
3. I can have a cleaner house.  Having the wireless network turned off for a couple of days last week proved this.
4. I can provide more clean clothes for my family.
5. I can focus on interacting with my children, who are the main reason I am staying at home!
6. I can focus on connecting with people face-to-face and by phone.  I finally called one of my longtime friends last week!
7. I can prepare more of our food from scratch, which I enjoy and which saves money.
8. I can get more sleep, knowing I've made the most of the opportunities during my waking hours.
9. I can have fun going out to enjoy the activities of the season--berry picking, local festivals, farmers markets, etc.
10. I can invite people into my home and look for ways to serve and reach out to others--volunteering, bringing meals, talking to my neighbors, etc.

This post is linked to Top Ten Tuesday at Oh Amanda and the 30-Minute Blog Challenge at Steady Mom.

Menu Plan for the Week of 6/28

We just finished hosting my parents-in-law and niece and nephew over the weekend. They were able to celebrate my son's third birthday with us, which included pinatas, a homemade ice cream cake, and bubbles in the backyard.

After all the birthday fun, now it's time to get back to a good meal and sleep routine.  Hopefully my husband can grill at least once this week.  It's been too long!  I'm also planning to attempt making a healthier version of the Summer Spice Ice Cream Sandwiches this week (after I get some almond meal).

-Monday-

• Broccoli ham stuffed sandwich
• Yellow squash (from the farmers market)
• Summer Spice Ice Cream Sandwiches

-Tuesday-

• Onion pancakes
• Shrimp and mussels
• Rice
• Kohlrabi (from the farmers market)

-Wednesday-

• Venison steaks (grilled?)
• Sweet potatoes
• Tossed salad

-Thursday-

• Waffles and bacon

-Friday-

• Veggie and turkey burgers

-Saturday-

• Slow Roasted Vietnamese Chicken
• Baby bok choy
• Cucumber and tomato salad
• Onion pancakes

Check out  Menu Plan Monday for hundreds of other menus for the week!

Fast and Easy Star Pinata

We are big fans of home birthday parties.  And I have made a pinata for almost every birthday party we have hosted in the last two years.  As a result of our experiences, I have learned a few things about homemade pinatas.

1. Paper mache is not necessary to make a pinata.  It will soon be broken, so the pinata doesn't have to be very sturdy.  In fact, it is better if the pinata breaks fairly easily rather than having to be assaulted with deadly force.  Especially when you have preschoolers as guests. 
2. Keep the finished pinatas out of reach of young children.  We learned this the hard way when my son destroyed a lovely pinata my daughter had made by herself.
3. Making a pinata usually takes a long time.  Start it at least several days before the party.

The traditional way of making pinatas takes days. We have avoided paper mache for the last few pinatas because it takes so long for them to dry before they can be decorated.  Interesting in saving time?  Check out my step-by-step tutorial on how to make a star pinata in under two hours over at Associated Content. 

The nice thing about star pinatas is that they work well for both boys and girls. Another pinata I made last year can be found in this post about my daughter's birthday party.  The versatile star pinata can also be used to add fun to a Fourth of July celebration or Christmas party.

 

Recipe: Summer Spice Ice Cream Sandwiches

Let's all give a cheer for the return of peach ice cream--the essence of summer!  At last I found the ice cream I was looking for, so I can finally share this easy delight of a dessert.  This recipe is simpler and perhaps more delicious than my submission to the Better Homes and Gardens recipe contest.  So get ready to enjoy these addictive creations as summer heats up.  I definitely am!

You will need:

• Peach ice cream
• Round ginger cookies (try this recipe or use a gingerbread mix)
• Ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice, optional

To assemble:
Place a scoop of peach ice cream between two ginger cookies (preferably soft ones).  Dust edges of ice cream lightly with cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice.  Bite in to enjoy a cool, spiced treat!  If you have any remaining, you can wrap and freeze them for a future indulgence.

Today I'm linking my recipe to Friday Food, Foodie Friday, and Food on Fridays.

Adventures, Lessons, and Lemonade

What counts as evidence of an adventurous spirit? Certainly not that we now, alas, drive a minivan. A new theme from Alicia, Try New Adventures Thursday, inspired me to consider and share what we've been up to this week that's different. Every new adventure involves risk, right? And for us, there were a couple of unfortunately typical misadventures along the way. Hopefully we're a little wiser through it all.

1. Fish and Sandcastles
Spending an afternoon with friends provided the impetus I needed to create a spur-of-the-moment fishing game. We also tried out a new craft idea I had--sandpaper castles.

2. Latin Sounds
We ventured out of doors in the middle of the day to listen to a free mini-concert of the Dali Quartet. Though I could have done without all the squirming, we still enjoyed the music and the introduction to the various string and percussion instruments we heard.

3. Museum Lessons
The next time this mother feels adventurous, she will make every effort to avoid the following errors:
Mistake #1: Bringing an almost 3-year-old inside an art museum without a stroller to restrain wandering hands and feet.
Mistake #2: Denying outdoor craft opportunity to young boy with no alternative activity direction.
Mistake #3: Thinking one can help daughters with said craft for a moment while son supposedly stays nearby.

4. Fresh Lemonade + Pool in the Backyard = All is Well

I'm linking up to Alicia's Try New Adventures Thursday blog hop and going to chill with the Company Girls at Home Sanctuary this week!

How to Make a Fishing Game in Five Minutes

Got 5 minutes?  This game kept my almost 3-year-old son busy all afternoon.  His older siblings and their friends enjoyed it too!  That's a pretty grand payoff for the minimal time and materials required to make it all.  Simple summer games certainly work for me and my kids.  I think this could also be a fun VBS or birthday party activity as well.

What we used:

• Wading pool (or other large container) with a bit of water 

          (indoor idea: bathtub)

• Styrofoam egg cartons (craft foam would also work)
• Shiny metal paper clips
• Scissors
• Ribbon (or string)
• Old fishing poles (or sticks)
• Magnet clip or magetic alphabet letter

Instructions:

1. Cut fish shapes out of the foam.  Clip on a paper clip over each fish head.
2. Tie a string to the fishing pole.  Instead of a hook, affix a magnet chip to the end of the line.
3. Release fish into pool of water.   Instruct child to drag the magnet on the line near the fish "mouths" until the magnet sticks to the paper clip.  
4. Count up how many fish get caught.

This idea is linked to Kiddos Create, Show and Tell, and...

Menu Plan for the Week of 6/14

We just finished hosting my parents over the weekend.  Some of the meals we enjoyed together included cashew noodle stir fry (delicious!), Swedish pancakes (a.k.a crepes), slow cooked venison, and chicken fajitas.  Now I am back to washing my own dishes and plotting when to eat all of the leftovers.

Meanwhile, since I mentioned wanting to make ice cream sandwiches weeks ago, I have been on a quest to find peach ice cream for sale.  I made some last summer and they were so simple and delicious.  Has anyone seen Breyer's peach ice cream for sale this summer?  Update: Found some today--recipe and photos are now forthcoming this week!

Dessert setbacks aside, I'm glad to be in the menu planning groove now.  It is also nice to have my husband home for supper more often.  He keeps asking when he can start grilling again.  However, my daughter is heading out to an evening art camp for the week, so it will likely have to wait until that is done.

-Monday-

• Chicken Pot Pie

-Tuesday-

• Scallop and Shrimp Risotto

This post includes a description of how I make a frugal version of seafood risotto, without Arborio rice.

-Wednesday-

• Slow Roasted Vietnamese Chicken

-Thursday-

• Venison Burgers

-Friday-

• Salmon Spaghetti Pie

-Saturday-

• Waffles, Bacon, Fruit Salad

Check out  Menu Plan Monday for hundreds of other menus for the week!

Kids Craft: Bejeweled Boxes

Normally I try to use materials from around the house to create our crafts, but birthdays can be an exception, especially when we celebrate simply in the backyard. These were a last-minute dollar store inspiration. Disappointed with the bead selection for jewelry making, we found sparkly plastic jewels to stick on wooden boxes instead. We bought 5 wooden boxes, 2 packs of jewels, 2 acrylic paint sets, and a 6-count package of glitter glue.

The girls at my daughter's party had a fun time painting and decorating their individual boxes. The only setback was that the demand for pink paint was greater than the supply. I could have anticipated this and had more pink and more paint brushes available. Overall though, the craft project was a hit with the kids, and I would definitely do them again.

Supplies:

• wooden boxes
• acrylic paints
• glitter glue
• paint brushes (can supplement with Q-tips)
• plastic jewels
• disposable cups (to hold water for rinsing brushes)
• disposable bowls or plates (to contain finished boxes with wet paint)
• paint smocks (we cut paper grocery sacks to make smocks)

Note: Before the glue and paint dry, it would be wise to open the lid slightly and insert a piece of waxed paper. Otherwise, the box may get glued or painted shut.

DIY Chocolate Cupcakes: Her Birthday Wish

Cakes from a mix always seem to turn out better for me than making a cake from scratch.  So on the day of my daughter's birthday party, I had a choice to make.  Risk attempting a chocolate cake from scratch or pull out the trusty Pillsbury mix that I had stocked in my cupboard the month before.  Easy choice, right?  Except my daughter expressly requested chocolate cupcakes, and I had only yellow cake mix on hand.  So I decided to improvise with the cake mix.

Here was the happy result:

We let each guest decorate her own cupcake.  

Here I chose chocolate frosting with coconut.

And here's how to do it:

1.  Heat one cup of water to a boil and stir in 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder until dissolved.
2.  Cool the dissolved cocoa mixture in a pan of cold water.  Place in the freezer to speed cooling.
3.  Meanwhile, grease or line a muffin tin.  In a large mixing bowl, pour yellow cake mix, eggs, oil, and cooled cocoa and water mixture.  Blend batter and bake cakes according to package instructions.

This idea is linked to Works For Me Wednesday at We Are That Family.

Summer Travel Tips to Keep Us (and the Kids) Sane

                                                                      Photo by kevinspencer

Have you ever had a travel tale that featured multiple mishaps and regrets? While they make for interesting "war stories" later, I'd rather forgo the drama. Lately I have noticed a number of helpful posts and articles on preparing for smoother family trips. We are planning a huge road trip to Ohio and Canada in July, and I want to be well prepared. Here are some of the most helpful tips I've found or written:


1. Quirky Momma amazes again with this essential collection of more than 40 travel tips for families with toddlers and preschoolers.


2. Our family has endured road trips in the past year that did not go well.  After last summer's misadventures, I was compelled to share 8 travel pitfalls to avoid. Trust me, you don't want to repeat our mistakes!


3. Tiffany at Simply Modern Mom had a great travel series this spring. Check out her advice for international travel , domestic plane trips, and going on the road; you will become a more travel savvy family as a result.


4. As for handy travel contraptions to keep kids occupied,  I loved this homemade clippy toy and this travel art case .  Will I actually get out my mini-sewing machine and attempt to make either of them before July?   Or is it mere wishful thinking?   

If you have any more tips, please share them in the comments. 

And if you have a travel tip post, do tell!

Recipe for Savory Bratwurst Stew

Since my husband and I like brats, but my children are not big fans, I was looking for a way to incorporate them into another dish. I have used leftover brats in this corn chowder recipe , but I didn't have any natural ham or bacon to liven things up. So I tried my own variation of  bratwurst stew (from Johnsonville) with turkey bratwurst instead of beef. The resulting stew was delicious and lower in fat because of the turkey. It would taste even better with lamb brats, which are available at our local farmers market. 

Ingredients:

4 cups beef or chicken broth
2 tomatoes, halved and sliced
1 package turkey bratwurst, browned and sliced
4 red potatoes, eyed and chopped into bite-sized cubes
1/2 onion, chopped
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped cabbage
1 cup green beans, cut into 1-inch lengths
3 Tablespoons corn starch
1/4 cup cold water

Bring broth to a boil and add tomatoes, potatoes, carrots and onion. After about 5 minutes, add bratwurst slices and green beans. Turn heat down to medium-low and simmer until vegetables are cooked through.
Whisk together corn starch and cold water and add to thicken stew, cooking for another 2 minutes.

Crock pot instructions: Add first eight ingredients to slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours. Whisk together cornstarch and water; add to stew and cook for 30 minutes or until thickened.

This dish is linked to Just Something I Whipped Up at the Girl Creative.

Summer Begins!

School's out!  Summer vacation for my 6-year-old starts today.  While I am looking forward to spending more time with her, managing all those hours together is a daunting challenge.  That's why I was delighted to find some spectacular ideas for "No More Summer Mush Mind " over at How Does She?  Basically, it seems like a morning homeschool plan, which is lovely way for my kids and I to spend the next couple of months.


With our current schooling setup, I think I get the best of both worlds.  Fall, winter and spring, I am partnering with the public school to teach my children; then in the summer months I get to do "funschooling" with my three kids!  Plus we can focus more intentionally on Christian discipleship, starting with the user-friendly summer calendar I mentioned last week.  Now it's time to get my head out of the clouds and actually implement all these ideas!


Here are some of the "field trips" and other fun outings I hope we can attempt this month:


1. Strawberry Picking
We did a spur-of-the-moment outing last year on my other daughter's birthday; we all hope to enjoy an outing to the farm again this year.
 



2.  "The Mammoth Museum" 
Morrill Hall offers free Thursday nights all summer long; my kids had a blast exploring the place last July. 

3.  Jazz in June and/or International Festival
I have always wanted to go to these downtown events but still haven't made it after two summers.  Third time's a charm I hope!

4.  The Farmer's Market
We made it to the market twice already this season; it has become a Saturday morning tradition for us.  Even my 2-year-old son looks forward to going, especially since there are trains.  He adores trains.  I love the personal interactions with the farmers; it reminds me of the daily open-air markets in our neighborhoods when we lived in Asia.

The Reality: Honestly, it's been a tough week.  Fun events and happy feelings are not what will encourage me at the deepest levels.  In order to feed my children spiritual truth, I need to return to the Source of true strength and wisdom.  From my recent study of John, there are so many lessons and insights that I have noticed but not fully applied to life yet.  That is probably my most important summer project. 


Big or small plans, what's on your list this month?

Living on Less: 17 Strategies We Use to Save Money

The goal that my husband and I set still seems impossible--to finish five years of graduate study without adding any debt. After all, I stay at home with our three children while my husband studies full-time and works several jobs to support our family. Amazingly, we have remained close to reaching our no-debt goal, thanks to God's provision through generous relatives and friends, my husband's hard work, and all of us striving to live simply....

.   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .

To continue reading and to find out the 17 strategies that work for us, head over to Alicia's Homemaking to read my guest post, "Together on the Path of Less."   Today's post is part of her intriguing new series, The Less Project .  Alicia also shares many other inspiring tips and insights for living well on less.

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This post is also linked to Penny Pinching Party Wednesdays at The Thrifty Home.