Roots of Simplicity

Chocolate Covered Banana Slices: An Easy Ice Cream Alternative

2012-01-17T17:25:00.000-06:00

Recently I've been trying to eliminate dairy from my diet (temporarily) because of MSPI. After watching the other four members of my family indulge in ice cream for dessert, I resolved to find something I could enjoy alongside them. The frozen chocolate-covered bananas that I used to order at Swensen's Ice Cream shop in Thailand were becoming quite an unfulfilled craving. How I wish Dairy Queen would carry them! But recently I found a bite-sized dairy-free version at Trader Joe's (imported from Thailand no less!). So I splurged and bought this box:

Then I made a more budget-friendly version at home, with the following results:

To make about 8 ounces of banana bites costs less than a dollar, versus $1.99 for the store-bought version. While the Ghiradhelli dark chocolate chips I melted are not entirely dairy-free (since they contain milk fat), vegan chocolate chips cost twice as much. Hopefully our fourth child will not notice any small trace of milk.

For more dairy-free ideas, I also have a list of 7 Surprisingly Good Ice Cream Alternatives.

I'm linking this post to Pennywise Platter and Try New Adventures Thursday.

Speckled Snowflake Cards

2012-01-14T08:00:00.000-06:00

Supplies Used:

White paper snowflakes
Tape
Cardstock
Blue paper
Purple Koolaid "spray paint"
Spray bottle
Watercolor brush
Watercolor paint set
Water
Glue stick

How we made the designs:

Fill a spray bottle with unsweetened colored Koolaid mix and water (or use food dye).
Lightly tape a snowflake onto cardstock.
Spray lightly with Koolaid dye.
Throughly wet a paint brush and use an index finger to flick a coordinating color of watercolor paint onto the snowflake and background, creating a splattered paint effect.
Allow snowflake to dry before removing it from the background.
Glue the snowflake onto a contrasting paper background.

This project was inspired by the following:

Find more fun ideas at Show & Share Saturday at I Can Teach My Child.

The Snowflake Stomp: A game to learn sight words and more!

2012-01-13T12:13:00.000-06:00

We developed this snowflake word game last winter. Today's frigid temperatures prompted me to set it up again for my 4-year-old son, who is now a pre-reader, and likes to move.

How to play:

Set up the snowflakes and secure with tape. Decide what version you'd like to play--sight words, letters, pictures or numbers.
Call out or say a phrase that includes one of the words/ targets. The child should step or stomp on that snowflake.

After he or she has stomped on all of the targets, ask the child to choose a target word/ letter/ number and stomp on it. Or the child can be a "caller" to instruct someone else where to stomp.

Helpful tips and options:

Tape page protectors lengthwise so that the opening is available to slide paper flashcards in and out.

If using zipper bags, tape around the edges except for the opening, so you can insert and remove what is inside.

Electrical tape or masking tape are probably superior to painters tape, which we used.

If your tape is not sticky enough, reinforce it with clear packing tape.

At first we wrote on the plastic with wet-erase overhead markers. The ink rubbed off after playing the game, so I switched the text to paper flashcards placed under the clear plastic.

We taped our plastic covered "snowflake quilt" onto a fleece blanket, which can be folded and reused, but you can also tape the snowflakes onto the floor/ carpet directly.

I'm linking this idea to Show & Share Saturday , Show and Tell and It's Playtime.

More snowflake-themed activities:

Snowflake Flying Disks
Snowflake Window Clings
Crystal Snowflake

A Time to Finish and Keep Things Simple

2012-01-10T14:21:00.002-06:00

0ur holiday travels ended last week and we are finally starting to get back to a more normal routine with school resuming again. Meanwhile, I'm wondering how much I can accomplish before baby number four arrives (later this month?)!

Being realistic is not a strength of mine, but goals do help me stay a little more focused. My main goals for this month (and beyond) are simple: to finish things that I've started and to let go of what is not essential. Here are 10 things this procrastinator needs (or wants) to do between now and whenever Baby Blueberry arrives:

Clean and declutter the whole house. Yes, it's an audacious goal, but it will make life so much better when it's done.
Pack my bag for the hospital.
Sort through the baby clothes I've been given. I am so thankful for generous friends who've stepped forward to meet that need!
Turn in hospital paperwork.
Finish putting away Christmas decorations.
Purchase and prepare supplies for MOPS creative activities this month and next.
Plan a dairy-free menu for the rest of the month. One of the midwives I saw advised me to cut out dairy now in an attempt to avoid another colicky baby with MSPI.
Finish several books I've started to read. I'll put them in my hospital bag in case I don't finish them all before arrival day.
Make breakfast foods ahead of time. On my list: granola, muffins, maybe waffles...
Cook a meal with my daughters. We will use recipes from a book I found at the library, Wrap-N-Bake Egg Rolls: And Other Chinese Dishes.

After making progress on these high-priority items, I'm looking forward to doing some fun things too, like scheduling some craft projects to do with my kids. And since the weather is supposed to get cold again soon, we can do several out-of-the-ordinary winter activities that we enjoyed last January.

I am linking this to Anti-Procrastination Tuesday.

No Baking Powder? 10 Recipes You Can Bake Anyway

2011-12-20T23:25:00.000-06:00

When we go to Canada in the summer, I enjoy using a spacious kitchen for a change. But since we can only stay for a couple of weeks at most, we try to stock the pantry very simply. This past summer I purposely did not buy baking powder, so as to curb my tendency to go overboard with baking projects. Another reason I chose to do without baking powder is that it is significantly more expensive up north than in the U.S. Still, I managed to find a number of new recipes to try. And while my husband was urging me to get outdoors and use my sketchpad, I was scheming which recipe to try next.

In everyday life, I do keep baking powder on hand. But if I happen to run out of it, I would rather not pile everyone into the minivan and make a special trip to the store. Instead I can opt to bake something that doesn't require baking powder.

Here are 10 kitchen-tested ideas:

1. Farmer Cupcakes
After a failed batch of yogurt, I was able to salvage and use the liquid whey in place of buttermilk. These were a delightful, not-too-heavy version of pound cake.

Cupcake Recipe:

1/2 c. unsalted butter
1 c. sugar
1-1/2 c. flour
2 eggs
3/4 cup liquid whey or buttermilk
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
To softened butter add sugar and eggs, blending well. Add vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix whey or buttermilk with baking soda. To egg mixture add 1/2 cup flour and salt, blend, then add part of whey/buttermilk; continue alternating additions and blending until all is added, ending with flour.

Pour batter into paper-lined muffin cups and bake for about 15 to 20 minutes, until cupcakes test done with a toothpick. After cupcakes have cooled, frost as desired or enjoy plain.

2. Date Squares
Widely available on the local menus of St. Joseph Island, my Canadian grandmother introduced me to her homemade version many years ago.

3. Banana Bread
I prefer plain yogurt instead of the sour cream that most recipes call for.

4. Gingerbread muffins
Loaded with mineral-rich molasses, these muffins are also a great way to use up sour milk.

5. Zucchini brownies (which can be made into Penguin Cakes)

6. Apple Crisp
Fruit crisps are among my husband's favorite desserts. And they're easier than pie!

7. Baked Rice Pudding
I like to eat this after it has cooled and chilled.

8. Oatmeal cookies
If I'm running low on butter (which is pricey up in Canada) and have plenty of almond butter, I substitute half almond butter for real butter.

9. Cinnamon Sugar Cookies
Also known at Snickerdoodles, this recipe only calls for baking soda. Furthermore, these are one of my husband's very favorite kinds of cookies.

10. Pumpkin Spice Snaps

Recent Christmas Crafts for Moms and Kids

2011-12-08T12:54:00.001-06:00

This fall I took on two new roles. First, I became the creative activities leader for our new MOPS group at our church. Second, my husband and I have been filling in to teach Sunday School to five-year-olds. I'm still learning and working on how to get the timing right when it comes to preparing and executing crafts for a group. But turning ideas into a finished product remains a fun and inspiring pursuit.

Here are some of the projects we've done so far:

`Seven Bean Soup and Gingerbread Cookie Mixes
(for MOPS moms)

We ate our soup last week, so I just have the cookie mix left to show. The soup recipe was adapted from this Lucky Bean Soup recipe from Taste of Home. I halved a gingerbread cookie recipe from Martha Stewart's website. We put the dry ingredients in plastic bags, then put that in paper sacks, and tied it up with a ribbon. Moms then had the option of giving the mixes as a gift to someone else, or keeping theirs to make with their family.

When it's time to make the cookies, one has to add butter and molasses. One of the moms said that the cookie dough turned out well, save needing a bit of extra butter. Soon I hope my kids and I can try making some gingerbread cookies of our own!

Paper Sleighs
(for MOPS moms)

The sleigh pattern came from About.com, though I made a few modifications. Below are the steps we followed.

WINTER SLEIGH ASSEMBLY

1. Trace and cut out 2 sides and bottom of sleigh.

2. Decorate edges of sides with metallic marker.

3. Fold tabs of sleigh bottom inward. Curve to follow the shape of sleigh.

4. Carefully glue tabs to insides of sleigh, holding until mostly dry.

5. Optional: Add seating.

6. Decorate with ribbon and fill with any of the following: nuts, small gingerbread people, photo cutouts of kids in winter attire, tea etc.

Christmas Birth Announcements
(for 5-year-olds to make)

My husband and I are delighted to be using the Children Desiring God kindergarten curriculum with the kids in our class on Sundays. The idea to make a birth announcement for Jesus was part of last week's lesson plan. Exactly how to create it was up to me. I needed more prep time than I allowed to make my sample announcement, but this was the eventual result:

I'm sharing this at Try New Adventures Thursday and A Handmade Christmas.

10 Ways to Enjoy Elderberry Syrup and Boost Our Immune Systems

2011-12-06T09:26:00.000-06:00

One big reason I am giving thanks is that I have not gotten sick lately. Everyone else in my family has come down with one minor illness or another in recent weeks. But I have been graciously spared, despite my undisciplined sleep habits. I have had people praying for my health and have been consuming elderberry syrup. I recommend both.

My kids don't mind the flavor of the syrup, but they dislike taking it straight, protesting that it's much too sweet and/or sticky. They also gag on liquid Tylenol for the same reasons.

So I've come up with ten ways to enjoy elderberry syrup mixed with other edible delights.

1. Elderberry apple cider.
This is my oldest daughter's favorite way to have elderberry syrup. I prefer cider without chemical preservatives, and I can find it at Trader Joe's.

2. Elderberry herbal tea.

3. Elderberry mixed with fruit spread.

Delicious on toast, it also works in a nut butter and jelly sandwich.

4. Elderberry lemonade.

5. Elderberry mixed fruit smoothie.

6. Elderberry mixed with blueberry kefir.

7. Elderberry oatmeal.

8. Elderberry applesauce.

I've once made elderberry applesauce from whole berries that we picked locally, but the syrup also blends nicely with homemade or store-bought applesauce.

9. Elderberry maple syrup.

10. Elderberry sparkling juice.

So far we've tried two different brands of elderberry syrup. One has added herbs besides elderberry (horehound and wild cherry bark) that make it unwise for me to take during pregnancy. Thus, I've been using plain elderberry syrup from Nature's Way.

Have you ever tasted elderberry syrup?

I'm sharing ideas this week at

Top Ten Tuesday, AP Tuesdays,
Hearth and Soul Blog Hop, and Pennywise Platter..

Books and Movies for Dolphin Lovers

2011-11-28T23:14:00.000-06:00

For my daughters and son, a trip to the library is much more exciting than going shopping; I think I was the same way at their ages. My son is mostly eager to borrow a new DVD each time, though he enjoys fresh books as well. My daughters also enjoy looking at the Scholastic monthly book catalogs that are sent home with them from school. And so we must still navigate the choices about what to buy versus what to borrow for free. (Well, library books are free in theory--our overdue fines now constitute a line item in our monthly budget.)

Anyhow, last month, my six and eight-year-old daughters went out to see the movie Dolphin Tale with me (not free). It only served to heighten their enthusiasm about these smooth-skinned mammals. At the Omaha zoo several months before, we got to see IMAX: Dolphins, which definitely captivated their interest and imaginations.

So guess what we've been reading this month...

1. Dolphins
2. Wild Marine Animals - Dolphins
3. Dolphins (In the Wild)
4. Dolphins (Early Bird Nature Books)
5. Face to Face with Dolphins (Face to Face with Animals)
6. Dolphins (Nature Watch)
7. Dolphins (World of Mammals)
8. Diving Dolphin (DK READERS)
9. Under the Sea (Usborne Lift-the-Flap)
10. Aquarium Guide: A Bible-Based Handbook to the Aquarium

The first seven titles my daughters pulled with eager hands from the public library shelves. The last three books that feature or include dolphins are ones that we already own. The dolphin mania continues.

As a girl, I watched Flipper re-runs and wished I could swim with dolphins one day. In college, I switched my focus to study aquatic invertebrates, but I still find all underwater creatures fascinating. I have eagerly explored beaches on both Pacific coasts (America and Asia), and gazed on ocean wonders while snorkeling in Vietnam and Thailand. In the Midwest, I've loved visiting aquariums in Omaha, Gretna, and Chicago.

Though we're currently landlocked, scuba diving remains on my list of hopes for the future. Meanwhile, books and videos offer a portal to explore the undersea places we have not yet been.

Do you or the children in your life have a favorite aquatic animal?
Was it influenced by a book, TV program or movie?

Thanksgiving Ideas + Menu Plan

2011-11-21T11:10:00.006-06:00

Does anyone else love pumpkin as much as I do? If so, the 10 pumpkin recipes I shared last week will not disappoint. Two of my very favorites on that list are savory dishes--pumpkin soup and pumpkin buns stuffed with leftover turkey. With canned pumpkin on sale at rock-bottom prices (69 cents a can!), I'm stocking up for the weeks ahead.

Thanksgiving weekend I plan to make some baked rice pudding and homemade cranberry sauce and have a mini-feast after gathering with friends on Thursday. Spending too much time in the kitchen is a temptation I shall try to resist. But there must be pie, right? And with all the delicious options --pumpkin, pecan, apple, cherry--it's hard to narrow down which one(s) I'll make.

Monday - Roast chicken, bean soup, rice
Tuesday - Birthday meal (from our favorite Chinese restaurant, Yang's)
Wednesday - Venison, rice, vegetable stir fry

Thursday - Thanksgiving dinner with friends (bringing a pie, pumpkin dinner rolls, and cider)
Friday - Leftovers
Saturday - Cornish game hens, salad, sweet potatoes, rice pudding, cranberry sauce

I hope my use of time this week reflects what it truly important. Certainly there is more to Thanksgiving than food and shopping, despite ads that say otherwise. While we try to cultivate a spirit of gratitude in our home every day, I appreciate that there is a designated time to focus on God's goodness to us. Giving thanks, sharing, and spending time with friends and family are what this season should be about. Ideas for slowing down during the holidays in this article at Simple Mom were helpful to my thinking.

Have you found a recipe for how to make Thanksgiving happy and meaningful?

On a Pumpkin Kick: 10 Keeper Recipes I'll Make Again and Again

2011-11-15T12:20:00.000-06:00

The versatility of pumpkin as an ingredient is fun to explore. Even though there have been pumpkin shortages elsewhere in recent years, I've always been able to find canned and fresh pumpkin here in Nebraska. Below are links to ten favorite pumpkin recipes, both sweet and savory. I hope you enjoy them as much as we have!

           1. Pumpkin Spice Snaps

           2. Pumpkin Granola* {I finally made this again yesterday!}

           3. Pumpkin Pear Waffles

           4. Pumpkin Corn Muffins

           5. Super Moist Pumpkin Cake*

           6. Pumpkin Rice Pudding

   7. Pumpkin Dinner Rolls

           8. Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

   9. Pumpkin Soup*

         10. Pumpkin Bao Buns {I'll be using onion instead of garlic
                                            next time; these buns are a terrific
                                            concept for leftover turkey!}

* Vegan recipes

I'm joining other bloggers sharing ideas this week at

Top Ten Tuesday , AP Tuesdays, and Pennywise Platter.

A Harvest of Green: Making Tomato Salsa Verde

2011-11-10T12:15:00.000-06:00

Our first wet snow fall here in Nebraska came last Wednesday. The next day, we uncovered the biggest tomato of all in our last harvest of the season. I decided to try making green tomato salsa with some of the tomatoes; the rest are ripening inside the kitchen.

Next year I hope to have more sun-ripened tomatoes by moving our little square-foot garden to a sunnier location in our yard. But in the meantime, it's nice to know that green tomatoes can be transformed into tangy salsa.

Recipe for Green Tomato Salsa
adapted from this recipe

1 cup fresh green tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup red tomatoes, diced
1 clove minced garlic
2 teaspoons lime juice
1/4 teaspoon salt (or more to taste)
chopped green onions (to taste)
chopped green bell pepper, optional
chopped cilantro, optional

Are you a fan of green tomatoes?

Linked to Try New Adventures Thursday

Nourishing the Soul: The Poetry of Christina Rossetti

2011-11-08T10:52:00.001-06:00

Image Source

Inspiration can be gathered in many ways--from nature, from stories, from music, from Scripture. I have felt hungry lately for more classical forms of expression--like hymns, baroque music, and poetry. Though flooded with breezy modern worship tunes, informational articles, and personal blog posts, these do not quite reach the deeper places of my heart, mind, and soul.

The poetry of Christina Rossetti was first introduced to me years ago with the song In the Bleak Midwinter. Not long after, I bought a book of her poems. After letting it sit on my shelf for many years, it was time to pick up her poetry again. The first poem in the book, "The Key Note," left me breathless. It starts:

Where are the songs I used to know.

where are the notes I used to sing?

I have forgotten everything

I used to know so long ago...

Ten of my favorite poems by Ms. Rossetti, which I read from my copy of Rossetti: Poems, can be found in the list below. One can also enjoy her poetry for free via Project Gutenburg and Google books (links below).

"The Key Note"
"A Wintry Sonnet"
"Son, Remember"
"Eve"
"Hope"
"What is Pink?"
"Who Has Seen the Wind?"
"Later Life: A Double Sonnet of Sonnets"
"Weary in Well-Doing"
"Lord, Thou Art Fullness"

This post is linked to Top Ten Tuesday and AP Tuesdays.

Pumpkin Pear Waffles

2011-11-03T20:16:00.000-05:00

Recipe for Pumpkin Pear Waffles

adapted from this recipe

4 cups flour
4 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
3 cups milk
2 cupscanned pumpkin (1 can) or cooked pumpkin puree
4 eggs
1/2 cup butter, melted

Topping:

pear slices
maple syrup
cinnamon to taste

Stir together dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, mix together milk, pumpkin, eggs, and butter with an electric mixer or rotary beater. Combine wet and dry ingredients, mixing for about 1 minute on high speed. Preheat waffle iron and coat with nonstick cooking spray or brush with oil. Add about 3/4 cup batter and bake according to waffle iron instructions.

Keep waffles warm until ready to serve. Top with pear slices, sprinkle with cinnamon, and drizzle with maple syrup. Makes about 8 servings. Freeze any extra waffles for future use.

I'm linking this recipe to Tuesday Talent Show
and Pennywise Platter Thursday.

This Week's Menu Plan (Plus Halloween Tips & Treats)

2011-10-31T11:14:00.001-05:00

We try to downplay Halloween in our family, though we're not completely opposed to the occasion. Our costumes are usually homemade, simple projects, and are basically a chance to play dress-up in public. Halloween night is one of the few opportunities we get to interact with our neighbors, who usually celebrate with big parties. Despite the scary decorations, I feel it is important for us to reach out and be friendly.

Tonight, in addition to visiting a couple of our neighbors, we're planning to head for the indoor comfort of the mall for trick-or-treating. Our busy street is not a popular spot for trick-or-treaters. Since we'll be out and about, the dinner plan is simple--chicken in the crockpot (see recipe link below) and steamed rice.

Will the Great Pumpkin appear tonight?

While we didn't get around to carving a pumpkin this year, I do have some quick and healthy Halloween snack and party food ideas over at AC. I didn't manage to stock up on candy alternatives to hand out either, but I do have lots of ideas beyond candy here. Also, if your kids bring home some chocolate loot, you might consider incorporating it into a semi-healthy breakfast in the days and weeks ahead!

Our menu plan for tonight and and the rest of the week:

Monday

Vietnamese Chicken in the Slow Cooker, steamed rice, vegetables, Asian cucumber and peanut salad

Tuesday

Broccoli Ham Stroganoff

Wednesday

Salmon Pot Pie

Thursday

Waffles, Bacon, Fruit Salad

Friday

Noodle Stir Fry

Saturday

Meatball Casserole (with lamb from the farm)

I'm linking up to MPM this week.

Acorn Hedgehogs: An Autumn Nature Craft

2011-10-26T14:56:00.003-05:00

Hedgehog, 2011, made by my 8-year-old

Last fall, my daughter and I created some miniature hedgehogs out of acorns. Though the wood glue made them fairly durable, they were not indestructible. So this month we started to make more.

Materials used:

Acorns with tops removed = body
Long prickly seeds (from weeds or marigolds) = spines
Wood glue
Lentils = feet
Black sesame seeds (or draw dots with a permanent marker) = eyes

Tip: The prickly seeds and lentils are a little tricky to stick on properly. Try letting the wood glue get half-way dry (until tacky) and then attach the seeds.

At first I called these critters porcupines, but after looking at some photos of the real animals, I thought hedgehogs were better (and cuter). What do you think? Would you call these hedgehogs or porcupines?

I'm linking to Kids Get Crafty and Craft Schooling Sunday.

Visiting a Family Farm in Rural Nebraska

2011-10-20T09:42:00.060-05:00

Going to the source of our food is something I love to do with my kids. We are blessed to live in a town with an abundance of farmers markets; there we can meet hardworking folks who produce food for our table. One farming family we've gotten to know sells natural meats, with an emphasis on lamb. We've ordered half a lamb in autumns past, but we love to eat lamb so much that we ordered a whole lamb this year.

Although we've been wanting to see the farm where our lamb comes from, its location, two hours away from the city where we live, made it hard to get there. Yet providentially, we were going to be passing near the farm on our way back home from Kansas City this week. So we called up, got directions, and found ourselves tooling along a dusty gravel road until we reached the farmhouse and neighboring store. Here is the store:

It's an old country schoolhouse that's been moved and renovated by the owners of the farm. I found out during our visit that the farmer's grandmother had attended this one-room schoohouse back in her day.

Kittens galore!

A few minutes after we arrived, we were met by a couple of the children. They were clad in rubber work boots and chatted with us until their father made it up the hill. The two of them carried our meat out to our minivan and then showed us around the farmyard.

A working pitchfork


My children enjoyed feeding the pet lambs. The main flock was out in the pasture.


Geese and several other kinds of birds scooted away from us as we approached.

Teaching our children the importance of a good work ethic has been a big focus and challenge in our home lately. While they enjoyed the animals, I think it was even more valuable for them to see kids who were busy with lots of daily chore responsibilities.

We also want our children to understand and appreciate that what we eat takes a quite a bit of work to produce. It is not just a matter of plopping items into a grocery cart!

While we can't afford to buy the best of everything, certain items, like ethical meats, I believe are worth the extra cost. Furthermore, getting to see where our food comes from gives us both an education and greater peace of mind as we navigate the many choices involved in raising a family.

Asian Cucumber and Peanut Salad: What I Crave

2011-10-15T23:28:00.002-05:00

Since making it myself for the first time a couple of weeks ago, I cannot get enough of this Chinese salad. It is my attempt to replicate one of my favorite dishes at a restaurant I frequented during my two plus years in Jilin Province, China.

What is funny is that during my pregnancies in Asia, I had strong cravings for American food. This time I around, I've been craving authentic Asian food. Here I have found a perfect tangy-sweet-salty fix. Added bonus: it takes about 5 minutes to put it together.

Ingredients:
3-4 small seedless cucumbers, or 1 large English cucumber
1/4 cup Spanish peanuts
1 clove garlic, minced
2 teaspoons vinegar
1 teaspoon sweet chili sauce (or more to taste)
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:
1. Peel and quarter cucmbers. Cut into 2-inch pieces.
2. In a small bowl, sitr together garlic, vinegar, chili sauce, and oils.
3. Transfer cucumber to serving bowl and toss with dressing. Toss in peanuts just before serving.

Crafts from Family Nature Night

2011-10-06T10:48:00.003-05:00

For weeks, my daughters have been looking forward to their first Family Nature Night. This evening event was sponsored by the area Natural Resources Department and hosted in the gym of our elementary school.

The kids got make:

1. Beeswax candles

2. Fish with backbones

3. Shell and sand bracelets

4. TP roll binoculars

5. Butterfly wings

6. Soybean necklaces (not pictured since it was our last craft of the night)

My children were jazzed about all the craft and live animal demonstration stations. There was also a "fossil" dig and a hissing cockroach tractor pull. Here's one of the racers in action:

Overall the evening was a smashing success. I only wish they had more hands-on interaction with nature at school on a regular basis. The focus on achievement tests basically sidelines such pursuits--at least for first and second graders in our local public schools. Reading, writing, and arithmetic take up most of their school days, with only a few spare minutes for science and social studies.

Bad educational policy notwithstanding, my husband and I still have many opportunities to encourage our children to explore nature on their own, whether we're foraging for berries or interacting with insects in our own backyard. It's up to us, the parents, to make sure their education is well-rounded and help keep their love of learning alive.

Find other adventurers this week over at Try New Adventures Thursday.

10 Fall Projects that I Actually Expect to Finish

2011-10-04T13:40:00.023-05:00

It's a sobering thought: I have, most likely, about three more months to finish any projects before our next baby arrives. Yikes! So I need to get realistic about what I might truly be able to accomplish, despite my wishing to do more.

1. Make acorn critters with my kids.

2. Cover four chair seats with new fabric.

3. Set up and use my grandma's White sewing machine.

4. Sort my photos and scrapbooking supplies.

5. Finish Dallas Willard's book, Knowing Christ Today.

6. Complete 31 Days to Clean: Having a Mary House the Martha Way.

7. Make homemade marshmallows without corn syrup.

8. Bake homemade pumpkin granola.

9. Replace an old shower curtain liner.

10. Observe classrooms at local elementary school/s.

What's on your fall agenda?

I'm linking this to Top Ten Tuesday

and Anti-Procrastination Tuesdays.

Menu Plan for the Week of 10/3

2011-10-02T23:44:00.001-05:00

October is off to an action-packed start, with lots of extra events this week. We're headed to the Omaha zoo, hosting a former student for dinner, and having dinner with people from church the next evening. In addition, I'll be attending my weekly Bible study, taking the girls to art lessons and participating in a MOPS meeting. Hopefully the kitchen and meal timing will not be my downfall (as it was last month)!

Breakfasts
Crepes, eggs and toast, oatmeal, yogurt, cold cereal, fruit smoothies

Lunches
Noodle soup, hot dogs, pasta, leftovers, avocado sandwiches

Dinners

Monday: Vietnamese Chicken in the Slowcooker, Rice, Vegetable Stir Fry

Tuesday: Eggplant Itame, Russian Salad, Shrimp &Cabbage soup, Peanut & Cucumber Salad, Dumplings, Fruit

Wednesday: Invited out to dinner [bring a salad or dessert?]

Thursday: [Bring breakfast to MOPS!] Dinner = Waffles

Friday: Meatloaf

Saturday: Swai fish

Our First Nebraska Apple Orchard Trip

2011-09-30T00:30:00.012-05:00

The long-awaited opportunity came this week. My son's preschool class had a field trip to a local apple orchard. My daughters enjoyed their orchard visits when they were in preschool as well. However, I had other youngsters at home then, so I was not free to go--until now.

My son was thrilled to ride the bus that he had heard so much about from his sisters. Can you tell?

We selected a couple of apples to take home.

Stopping to pick and eat raspberries was delightful.

Each child also got to pick out a pumpkin.

And hay bales kept kids busy until lunch.

In all, we had a wonderful morning together. I was so glad to finally get the chance to experience the orchard with one of my children. And I brought home some fresh, cold apple cider to share with the whole family. A truly blissful day it was.

What field trips from your childhood do you recall with fondness?

This is linked to Try New Adventures Thursday, hosted by Alicia.

Elderberry Applesauce: An Experiment

2011-09-19T10:28:00.005-05:00

Elderberries in September

In Search of Elderberries

In March of this year, our family was hit hard with the flu. Wanting to strengthen our immune systems naturally, I thought of trying the elderberry-based herbal remedy, Sambucol. While I didn't find any at the pharmacy we frequent, the thought of finding and making my own elderberry extract remained appealing.

Picking Elderberries

In late summer, I spotted a bush with dark purple berries. I suspected they were elderberries, but wanted to be quite sure, so as to avoid a life-threatening mistake. I finally gained enough confidence last week to pick some berries, using the information I found to distinguish edible elderberries from a similar lookalike plant that is highly toxic.

Making Elderberry Applesauce

I decided to sweeten the elderberries with apples. So I peeled, cored, and cut up half a dozen apples, added some lemon juice, and tossed in what elderberries I had, which was about a handful. After letting the mixture simmer in the slow cooker on low overnight, I realized I needed to add water and more sweetener. I shook in some cinnamon as well, both for flavor and for its additional immune-boosting properties. Here is a list of all the ingredients used to make the elderberry applesauce:

Apple slices
Elderberries
Lemon juice
Maple syrup
Water
Cinnamon

Results and Resolutions

I certainly plan to make elderberry applesauce again--next year, since this was the end of the season. Next time I intend to pick the elderberries when they are juicier, rather than overripe. Also, I will not simmer the applesauce overnight, but rather keep an eye on the process, add more water, and stir it every once in a while so that the fruit cooks evenly. Also, I might try straining out the elderberry seeds. Nevertheless, I was happy with my first results, and hope that elderberries can help us stay healthier this fall and winter.

This week I'm linking to AP Tuesday, Try New Adventures and Pennywise Platter Thursday.

Menu Plan for the Week of 9/12 (with Winning Recipes)

2011-09-12T13:27:00.000-05:00

This month I am trying to get my home in better shape using an e-book that I won in a giveaway. It's called 31 Days to Clean: Having a Mary House the Martha Way, by Sarah Mae. I still have a ways to go toward setting better habits, especially in the kitchen. Executing my menu plan is one way I can keep the positive momentum going.

Here's what is scheduled for this week:

Sauteed Fish, Lentil Soup, Baked Potato Skins with Olives and Feta
Chicken Pot Pie or Chicken Kebabs
Lamb Chops, Tossed Salad, Baked Rice Pudding
Salmon, Tricolor Risotto
Pork Noodle Stir Fry
Taco Salad, Rice

Do you find that menu planning helps keep you on track in the kitchen?

10 Ways in Which a Chaotic Kitchen Costs Us More

2011-09-06T10:32:00.001-05:00

When I recently won something in a recipe contest, I had to laugh. Because if you looked at my kitchen on an average day, you would wonder how I manage to cook anything at all. Dishes are often covering every available surface; I often have to locate and wash things just prior to preparing a meal.

Our family would surely be better off if I got my chaotic kitchen under control. Since my husband is finishing up graduate school, we're still very much concerned with how we can reign in our costs. A recent spending check has revealed that we need to work a little harder at saving money in every way we can. A tidier kitchen will help.

Here are some of our current extra costs that I aim to eliminate:

1. Frequent spills.

Limited counter space means I spill and waste more food and ingredients, especially if they are precariously balanced near the edge of the counter or shelf.

2. Spoilage.

In the fridge or the fruit bowl, not consuming food in a timely manner means we have to throw away food that could have been eaten otherwise.

3. Paper plates.

I think convenience items are a great plan B when life gets hectic or one is physically exhausted. But a messy kitchen encourages me to resort to disposable tableware more often than I should.

4. Breakage and other damage.

Cluttered counters and a full sink also increase the odds that I will crack or knock over a plate or glass. I have also melted many a plastic item on the stovetop or in the oven (my favorite place to stow messes quickly).

5. Eating out more.

Sometimes it's just logical not to cook on top of a mess, so we opt to eat out when we could have saved money by eating at home.

6. Buying duplicate groceries.

Ever thought you were out of something, only to find that very item lurking in the cabinet or back of the fridge?

7. Consuming more convenience foods.

I try to keep some quick food options on hand, like taquitos, frozen pizzas, etc. so that we're not forced to eat out as often. However, when I don't have room to make food from scratch, we run through these more costly items very quickly.

8. Less baking.

Though I enjoy baking, when the kitchen is a mess, I am prevented from making bread, muffins, and other treats from scratch. As a result I have to buy baked goods and pay more.

9. Unused ingredients.

Languishing in the recesses of the cupboards are numerous ingredients that have not been used in a very long time. Incorporating them into our menu (instead of letting them sit and possibly expire) would result in spending less at the grocery store.

10. Emotional energy.

While there's no shame in taking the easy road from time to time, walking into the kitchen should not be a continual source of discouragement for me and my husband. Devoting more time to keeping the oft-used kitchen tidy would be one of the best ways for me to contribute to our happiness and well-being as a family.

DIY Pick Up Sticks Game : Colored Chopsticks

2011-08-30T14:01:00.003-05:00

Classic games were a fun and important part of my childhood. My children love games as well, and we have enjoyed playing board games like Sorry and Chutes and Ladders together. But there are still many games I used to play that are still unknown to them. One of them was Pick Up Sticks. Instead of buying the game, I thought we could use what we have--bamboo chopsticks in this case. Before teaching my kids how to play, I needed to refresh my memory on the standard rules; I found a good description of the game here.

Even my youngest child (who is four) has really liked playing this simple game. I have discovered again how playing pick up sticks can be a fun way to hone our fine motor skills. It's definitely challenging for players of many ages, including parents!

Materials Used:

Bamboo chopsticks (new and/or reclaimed from takeout)
Unsweetened Koolaid packets
Water
Paintbrush
Old non-toxic markers

* Also pictured is cornstarch, to thicken the Koolaid paint, which I do not recommend. It made the chopsticks sticky. I had to rinse them off, which also removed some of the color.

How to make it:

Mix colored Koolaid powder with water to create paint. Paint each chopstick the desired color.
Dip old marker tips in water and color each chopstick.
Allow chopsticks to dry.
Decide how you will play the game, assigning a point value to each color, etc.

I'm sharing this project at Kids Get Crafty, Terrific Under Ten Tuesday, and Show and Share Saturday.

Garden on a Plate

2011-08-26T13:01:00.001-05:00

It's a good thing when life gets in the way of blogging, which is exactly what's been going on with our family. Before school started last week, we were enjoying our last remaining unstructured days. A helpful kind of resource this summer has been activity idea books for our kids. When we were staying in Canada last month, we enjoyed The Preschoolers Busy Book.

This month my 7-year-old consulted another book of things to make and do and decided to make a garden on a plate. I was pleased (and relieved) that she managed to do the project entirely on her own, including gathering the materials.

Black Cherry Berry Smoothie Recipe

2011-08-11T08:54:00.020-05:00

Needing to increase my fruit and vegetable intake, I've been wanting to try and perfect a green smoothie recipe. Alicia's example inspired me to take the plunge at last. Not one to measure ingredients, my first smoothie attempt had a definite spinach flavor. It was drinkable and nutritious, but not very appealing.

Enter my latest fruit discovery, black cherry juice. Adding the rich cherry flavor made the blended spinach totally undetectable. And completely delicious!

Ingredients:

1/2 banana
6 strawberries
3/4 cup frozen mixed berries (my blend had raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries)
1/4 cup 100% black cherry juice
1/4 cup sweet red juice (such as fresh watermelon, cranberry blend, or apple kiwi strawberry).
handful of baby spinach leaves, optional
a touch of maple syrup, optional

[All measurements are approximate.]

* The recipe above makes one large smoothie, but can be easily doubled or quadrupled for more servings.

* You can also add kefir or milk if you like.

I'm linking this to Try New Adventures and Pennywise Platter Thursday.

Peanut Butter Coconut Oatmeal: A Protein-Packed Breakfast Recipe

2011-08-08T13:03:00.002-05:00

Ingredients:

Old-fashioned or steel-cut oats
Ground flaxseed
Natural peanut butter
Coconut flakes (preferably unsweetened)
Maple syrup or honey, to taste

Directions:

Cook oatmeal with water and/or milk on stovetop as you normally would. Stir in flaxseed, peanut butter, coconut and sweetener. It's almost like eating warm cookie batter, but the peanut protein and flax oil make it quite nourishing!

Find more recipes at Tasty Tuesday and Pennywise Platter Thursday.

Tie Dye + Rescued Kids Clothing = Fun Art

2011-08-03T12:01:00.000-05:00

My daughters haven't learned to swim yet, but we did arrange for them to have weekly art lessons this summer. One of the final projects they did with their teacher was tie dyeing. Buried in the laundry room, I found some clothes to send along for them to dye. They brought home their wet handiwork in a bucket. The next day I un-banded, washed, and dried their rainbow creations. Above are some of the results.

I would like to find some more clothes to try this with at home, though school starts in a couple of weeks. We'll see. Have you ever tried tie-dyeing? Or does the mess intimidate you?

10 Goals and Reminders to Live Wisely in the Months Ahead

2011-07-12T14:16:00.012-05:00

Wife, mother, home-keeper, educator--these positions are what I currently hold in my family. In whatever roles are yours right now, do you ever feel like you are backtracking in your confidence or capabilities? I have felt that way lately. So it's time for me to look back and recall areas about which I have found wisdom and offered advice in the past. Ideas are easy for me, but putting them into action is what I need to make sure I do!

1. Cultivate patience at home and fight stress creatively.

2. Be prepared and avoid travel pitfalls on our upcoming trip north.

3. Start writing letters again.

4. Sketch the outdoors.

5. Plan simpler weekly menus.

6. Put into practice a daily list that includes caring for my body and soul.

7. Enjoy playing outside with my kids.

8. Find back-to-school clothes without spending a lot.

9. Keep kid gear simple and affordable.

10. Cut out dairy, but still enjoy dessert.

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"Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise."
-Ephesians 5:15 (NIV)
______________________________________________________

In what ways are you striving to live wisely?

Black Cherry Lemonade Mixer: A Healthy Drink Recipe

2011-07-07T11:32:00.005-05:00

For the first time ever, I bought some 100% black cherry juice. Intrigued by the health benefits of cherries, I tasted it and decided to find a way to mix it with other flavors to create something more drinkable. We still have a cut watermelon in our refrigerator from the 4th of July, so I used some of the juice to balance the strong black cherry flavor.

Here's what I mixed:

Black cherry juice
Fresh-squeezed lemon juice
Water (or seltzer water), chilled
Watermelon juice
Maple syrup

Directions:

Mix lemon juice, water, and maple syrup to taste, until you have a good lemonade. Add equal amounts of watermelon juice and black cherry juice. Stir and enjoy!

I'm also linking to Pennywise Platter Thursday at the Nourishing Gourmet.

10 Easy-to-Satisfy Summer Cravings

2011-07-05T16:29:00.000-05:00

1. Fresh lemonade

2. Playing in the sand

3. Freshly picked (foraged) berries

4. Picnics

5. Watermelon

6. Visits to farmers markets

7. Firefly watching at twilight

8. S'mores*

9. Ice cream

10. Locally grown corn on the cob*

* We're still looking forward to fulfilling these wishes, hopefully quite soon!

A Recipe Contest for Olive Lovers

2011-06-27T22:23:00.002-05:00

Give me a delicious ingredient and a challenge to use it well, and ideas usually spring forth. So I am entering this year's "Love This Recipe Contest", sponsored by Lindsay Olives. And you can too. The contest ends June 30, 2011, so head to the contest website and share your best recipes this month while there's still time!

Disclosure: As an entrant with a blog, the contest rules stated that I am expected to announce the contest. I was not compensated for writing this post.

Adding a Pet to Our Family: Introducing...Mocha!

2011-06-23T13:15:00.004-05:00

Exactly one month ago, we welcomed a beautiful addition to our family. She's a year old already, and her name is Mocha.

Though I was a little reluctant to have another body in the house to feed and care for, she's been a good fit for our family. As a young girl, I always wished for a cat of my own; as an adult I thought a pet would cost more money and energy than it was worth. I was wrong about that. My husband, who grew up with pets, knew she would be good for the kids. Though I won't ever be sending her to a pet spa, we're very glad she's become a part of our home and family.

Painting Themselves Silly

2011-06-16T08:19:00.004-05:00

On the week of my daughter's birthday, we decided it would be fun to take the family to a paint-your-own-pottery shop here in town. To save on the cost, we let the kids each pick out a piece of pottery and had fun watching their creativity in action. A week later, after the pieces were glazed and fired, we picked up our hand-painted ceramic pieces.

My husband and I are already planning to return on a date night so we can try painting for ourselves. Not that we get out that often, but still it's refreshing to have alternatives to dinner and a movie, isn't it?

Painted donut prior to firing

Final result: A glazed donut

I'm linking up with fellow adventurers at Try New Adventures Thursday this week!

Father's Day Idea: A Surprise Banner in the Car

2011-06-15T09:06:00.002-05:00

Since driving across Iowa is not my husband's favorite way to spend a day, I tried to think of how to add a little cheer to the start us off. I decided to adapt our Mosaic Birthday Banner, clipping each letter to the seat belt. Hopefully on the morning of Father's Day, the kids and I can manage to sneak out ahead of my husband to pull off this idea. Meanwhile, I'm storing the letters in the glove compartment. And thankfully he never reads this blog.

For more helpful tips and ideas, head to Works for Me Wednesday. This week's road trip tips are just what I need! You can also find more Father's Day ideas at Somewhat Simple's link party.

Making a Unicorn Birthday Pinata

2011-06-14T07:26:00.005-05:00

A certain little person requested a unicorn as her pinata of choice for her birthday party this month. "How about a strawberry instead?", I suggested. No, she had her heart set on a unicorn. And I obliged, with a sigh. Here's what resulted:

The unicorn was inspired by the one in Goldalicious (part of the Pinkalicious book series). This creation wasn't as quite sturdy as other pinatas I've made and thus won't be making a return appearance. Still, taking the time to make it was a meaningful way to show my middle child how very special she is to me.

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Further Notes: I have a step-by-step tutorial of a star pinata which is much simpler to make, published at AC. Also, if you'd like to know more about the homemade banner in the background, see my Mosaic Birthday Banner post.

Vanilla Sprinkle Ice Cream Bites

2011-06-07T10:24:00.004-05:00

Ice cream sandwiches are the ideal summer treat in my world. They are cool, sweet, and easy to assemble. And they be eaten without a dish, which means less clean up!

All you need are these three ingredients:

Vanilla wafers or cookies
Vanilla ice cream
Candy sprinkles

These colorful bites may be tiny, but they are just as delicious as my other favorite, Summer Spice Ice Cream Sandwiches. Stay tuned for more ice cream variations in the weeks ahead. As my husband likes to say, "There's always room for ice cream!"

I am also sharing this at Tasty Tuesday.

Our Alphabet Hunt = Backyard Treasures + Sidewalk Chalk

2011-06-06T14:51:00.002-05:00

A few thoughts spring to mind when I think of spending the summer with my kids:

Anticipation of fun; apprehension about the change in routine
Books to read; boredom to battle
Creative outdoor activities; creepy crawlies to study up close...

Last summer we made up songs and had fun together, with a bit of structure thrown in to keep the time from slipping away too haphazardly. I intend to return to the summer activity calendars from Thriving Family again, but also am looking for more ways to spur fun and learning.

And happily, now I've got another resource in The We Teach: Summer Learning E-book. Join the We Teach forum and you can download it for free. Click on the button below if you would like to go and get it for yourself:

The e-book is brimming with 25+ ideas to get our summer off to a great start. Today I'll share our variation on an idea from the literacy section of the e-book. I loved Amy Mascott's idea to have a backyard alphabet hunt. We simply made our hunt paperless.

What we did:

1. Instead of a roll of paper we used pavement and sidewalk chalk. We made a grid to write in the 26 letters.

2. We filled in the grid with corresponding objects.

"R" is for rope,"V" is for vine, "W" is for wrapper, "S" is for stick...

Our "A" specimen was prone to wandering off the grid.

3. We took Amy's idea one step further and tried to see what words we could spell with just the filled letters. For a kinesthetic experience, we jumped on each letter square while spelling the word. Fun for all!

Find more inspiration at Show and Tell this week!

Mosaic Birthday Banner

2011-06-03T10:52:00.008-05:00

We've been experimenting with making mosaic crafts the past few months. With a daughter's birthday to celebrate this week, I decided to assemble a banner created from colorful paper scrap squares. This project requires an initial investment of time, but the results are sturdy and reusable. And this month we can use the banner again twice--for my son's birthday and Father's Day!

Here's what we did:

Cut out squares of colored paper. I used strips from colored paper in the recycle bin and text-free patterns from coupon inserts. Sort and group colors.
Cut out letters from scrap paperboard. I used a cracker box.
Glue squares onto the letters. Trim edges to make them straight.
Hang the letters on ribbon, approximately 5 feet in length. I taped paper clips so that I could clip them on and then rearrange the letters later for future occasions. If you are pressed for time, just tape them.

I am sharing this at Tip Me Tuesday, Friday Flair and Creative Bloggers Party & Hop.

Summertime Pursuits: Gardening and Sketching

2011-05-30T10:31:00.002-05:00

Nature’s rhapsodic effect on me is evident the moment I step outdoors. My anxiety level plummets almost instantly. When I return indoors, I may be inspired to write about the pleasures of gardening or the satisfaction gained by sitting and sketching a leaf. And I have, in truth, written about both. You will find my thoughts in these pieces at AC:

What Remains: A Gardening Poem

Sketching Nature as a Summer Hobby: The Art of Seeing

My version of outdoor living doesn’t require owning a cushy patio set. Blades of green grass beneath my feet are enough. Line drying my clothes in the warm breeze (preferably barefoot) and picking fresh berries are what I savor doing the summertime months. How about you? What are you looking forward to in these months ahead?

Summer Craft Ideas to Do Outside

2011-05-20T08:18:00.017-05:00

Summer is getting closer and closer, with Memorial Day serving as the kickoff in my way of thinking. In 2011, that weekend marks the end of school, at which point I will be back to spending all day with my three energetic children. Thankfully, we share some common loves, like crafting, nature, and berry picking. Ever since the weather warmed, for instance, my son cannot stop talking about summer and inquiring when the berries will be ready to pick.

When we are not picking strawberries, mulberries and raspberries, among other things, we will be doing some crafts in the summer months. Preferably we'll bring our materials outdoors, though some crafts are not compatible with the summer breezes. Choosing projects with materials that are less likely to be blown off the table is key.

Craft projects that, in my opinion, can be made outdoors:

Patriotic Pinwheel Bracelet

Spider Web Lacing
(a perfect compliment to The Very Busy Spider)

Ribbon Wrapped Ring Toss Game

Pistachio and Pasta Art

Bejeweled Boxes

Sandpaper Castles

Recycled Snack Boxes
(handy for our jaunts to nearby parks)

Gumball Bracelets
(a great way to use up parade candy)

We will surely be spending time indoors as well, and I hope to make more effective use of my "Jar O' Fun" idea this time around. My plan is to have the kids draw out ideas at the end of each week and then slot those activities into the coming week. That way we can create a workable schedule and make sure we are stocked with any necessary supplies.

How do you plan to spend your days this summer?

I am also linking to Friday Flair and Penny Pinching Party.

How I Created My First Blog Button with Blogger (the Easy Way)

2011-05-19T07:25:00.026-05:00

Though I have been posting online for two plus years now, many aspects of blogging I have yet to learn. My main purposes remain the same as when I started blogging: to share ideas that are compatible with simplicity, personal growth, and contentment. Meanwhile, I remain intrigued with how the blogosphere operates--partly because it is akin to learning a new language and culture.

Though I'm reluctant to make a button for this blog, I did want to learn how create buttons to share about events here. My graphic design skills are minimal at this point. But perhaps some of you are in the same boat. In the points below, I walk through how I made my first blog button as a novice blogger.

1. Information Gathering
First, I did a search for how to make a blog button. And I discovered that I would need a graphic for the button. Since I have no idea how to design a logo from scratch, I needed a photo.

2. Photo Selection
I went to my Blogger account and opened my Picasa album. I could have uploaded a new photo to my collection, but I wanted to keep things simple on my first attempt. I found a photo in my Picasa web album that I had uploaded for a blog post back in 2009. Here's the photo I picked:

3. Editing
Next, I needed to edit the photo to make it smaller. So I clicked on the "edit" button and a program called "picnik" opened up. I cropped and resized my photo until it was about 150 x200 pixels.

4. Adding Text
Then I clicked on the "create" tab to add text. Here's what resulted:

4. Finding the Photo Link
I clicked on the edited picture to find the link to the photo and copied that link. I would need the link to insert into my button code in the next step.

5. Inserting my Information & Adding my Button to the Blog
Finally, I used the code in a helpful how-to post at A Heart for Home to finish my button. I inserted the appropriate photo link and titles where indicated, and Voila! I had a button, which I added as a gadget in my sidebar.

Should you want to join our challenge and grab my first button, it is not too late. I am still working on the book challenge with my kids. Once we finish, I shall have to devise our next event--and make another button!

Do you have any tips about making blog buttons and/or graphics?

Class Field Trip: Going as a Parent for the First Time

2011-05-12T11:50:00.081-05:00

Last fall my husband offered to watch our youngest while I volunteered in our daughter's kindergarten class every other week. Getting to know her classmates and seeing her teacher and classroom in action has been invaluable. A few weeks ago, it was announced they were going on a field trip in May. I wondered if I should try to go.

There have been many class field trip opportunities for each of my daughters, especially when they were in preschool. They've visited apple orchards, pumpkin patches, museums and nature parks. But since younger siblings weren't allowed on the trips, I had never gone along as a chaperone. Until last Thursday. I decided to step out in faith and sign up to go with them to the farm.

If I went, however, I needed to find someone to watch my son for most of the day. Thankfully, a kind friend from church was willing and available to take him. This enabled me to go on my first field trip ever as parent! And it was a perfect day of sunny skies and adorable kindergarteners and animals. I am so glad I was there for it all!

Menu and Activity Plan {5/9-5/14}: Reality Check

2011-05-09T10:31:00.005-05:00

Plans were many, but what came to pass was not what I expected last week. I aimed to read all of our children's books (details here). I planned to use my slow cooker every night. Both of those plans are carrying over into this week. Several out-of-the-ordinary events, like a field trip, my daughter falling and getting a slight arm fracture, and our hot water heater going out temporarily, made for a challenging end to the week.

My version of Fish Rolls. So simple to make!
Check out more fish recipes at the Ultimate Recipe Swap!

Feeling the need for some stress relief, I opted to bake and watch The King's Speech. By lunchtime Saturday, I was at a loss for what to concoct with the few ingredients we had in the kitchen. Finally, the idea to make fish rolls came into my head. It was the perfect way to use up leftover Puxa Vida Tilapia we enjoyed two nights before.

I am holding loosely to my plans this week, though I still believe 'tis better to have planned and lost than never to have planned at all!

Plans for dinner:

Vietnamese Chicken
Lasagne
Slow Roasted Venison
Chalupas
Noodle Stir Fry
Roast Leg of Lamb

Plans for activities:

Finish our book challenge.
Feed some ducks all of our stale bread.
Visit the children's museum.
Help with MOPS registration.
Do a craft with my son.

Find more menu plans at Menu Plan Monday.

Kids Craft: Rough Skinned Sharks

2011-05-07T08:12:00.002-05:00

Though we live far from their natural habitat, we can study sharks at close range whenever our family visits the aquarium at the Omaha zoo. We also learn about sharks via books, such as Shark Attack! by Cathy East Dubowski. Since my daughters and son are so fascinated by sharks, why not make some? In doing so, we learned about different types of sharks and about the denticles on their skin. These tiny teeth-like structures cannot be easily seen, but we can imagine what they might feel like after creating textured sharks.

Materials:

Sandpaper
Scissors
Crayons
Paper (not thick)
Shark printables (we used coloring pages from the Georgia Aquarium)

Directions:

Print out or trace outlines of shark shapes onto regular copy paper.
Place rough sandpaper under the paper with the shark outline. Use the side of a crayon to color the shark, pressing down so that the texture of the top paper becomes rough.
Cut out the sharks, feel the rough skin, and display.

Additional resources:

If you are looking for further information or lesson ideas, the Seaworld website has a helpful downloadable resource for teachers (and parents I assume), Rough Rubbin' Sharks, which I consulted before we made our sharks.

Check out Kids Get Crafty for many more creative project ideas.
This idea is also linked to Show and Tell at ABC and 123.

Children's Book Week 2011: Progress Report

2011-05-05T18:14:00.000-05:00

Did you know that this week (May 2-8) is Children's Book Week? As a happy coincidence, I thought it would be fun to start reading through our entire collection of children's books. This would basically require our screen time and my cooking duties to be minimized. I thought several nights of slow cooking would help my chances of success. But I forgot to take into account all the extra activities we were doing this week. As a supposedly stay-at-home mom, I have not managed to stay home and read much. Every morning so far we've been out--shopping, caring for other children, attending our weekly Bible study, and then today I went on an all-day class field trip!

We're still on the first shelf!

Not surprisingly, we've read just 20 books out of an estimated 200 plus titles. Still, we will press on and enjoy reading together. I will be sure to report when we've accomplished our goal. I'm aiming for the middle of next week, which would extend our challenge to about 10 days (versus the idealistic one week goal that I set initially).

Want to join our reading challenge? It's not too late!

Simply comment over here and I will add your name to the list.

Celebrating Children's Book Week: The Count 'Em Up Book Challenge

2011-05-02T07:53:00.009-05:00

How many children's books do you own? Do you think you could read them all in one week? Or maybe in one month? Join me as we celebrate the joys of reading books with a challenge and work our way through the shelves together.

My goal is to read and count all of our children's books in one week*. Maybe you'd prefer to give yourself the whole month. The choice is yours.

Ready to start? Just leave a comment at the end of this post and I will add your name and web link to the list below. You are welcome to link back here or add the button on my side bar to let others know about the challenge (though it's not required). I'll post an update of my family's progress on Thursday. Then next week, stay tuned for the report on how we did with our book challenge.

Let's read and count 'em up!

Who's in:

1. Me @ Roots of Simplicity
2. Asian Treasures
3. Strasilo
4. Doris
5. B
6. [ You're next!]

* With our longer children's books, I may opt not to read them cover to cover. We'll look through them and choose certain parts or favorite stories in a collection. Whether or not we read every page, I'll count every book we manage to crack open.

I'm linking this to Anti-Procrastination Tuesday.

Kids Craft: Sandpaper Castles

2011-04-30T13:11:00.073-05:00

image credit

Sand and surf are icons of summer fun and relaxation. But if you are inlanders like us, regular beach trips just aren't possible. Though I have wistful memories of visits to the sandy shores of faraway places like Oregon, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Gulf Coast, my children unfortunately do not...yet. If you live near a lovely wave-swept beach, count yourself blessed!

Nevertheless, crafting with sandpaper is possible almost anywhere. These longer lasting sandpaper castles can be an outdoor or indoor craft. Either way, castle builders might enjoy sporting swimsuits during the construction process.

Teaching Point: Earth Science
Along with constructing and decorating the sand castles, kids can learn about how sand forms. Collect some different kinds of rocks and have kids rub two rocks together over a piece of paper. Bits of softer rock should fall onto the paper, demonstrating how grains of sand are formed over time. I know my kids enjoyed such a fun geology lesson, as will yours!

Materials:

Sandpaper sheets (we bought a variety pack for $1 at Dollar Tree)
Cups (washed and reused)
Cardboard beverage holder, optional
Cardboard tube from paper towels, optional
School glue or hot glue
Rubber bands, optional
Old scissors (since blades will get a little damaged from the sandpaper grit)
Decorations - such as shells, plastic gems, stones, foam stickers, etc.
Chalk, optional
Assorted rocks (preferably of varying hardnesses)
Paper

Directions:

Wrap sandpaper around cups and secure with glue and rubber band or hot glue. Allow glue to dry.
Trim sandpaper and cut decorative square borders if desired.
Decorate castles by gluing on shells, gems, and other found objects. Add more color and details with chalk if desired.
Optional: Show how sand grains are formed by rubbing various rocks together over paper.

DIY Spring Tune-up for the Lawnmower

2011-04-28T22:57:00.003-05:00

Maybe it's because I've always been a tomboy, but I love the idea of being able to fix things. But to know how to perform maintenance on an engine, even a small engine like a lawnmower, one has to be taught. And my husband is way too busy at the end of this semester to do that. This is why I offered to take our mower in to a shop for a spring tune-up.

Can you guess how much a lawnmower tune-up costs, though? I would think around $25 to $30 for a simple little engine would be fair. But I was wrong. Try double that. And that's just for labor, not parts! Oh, and there's a one to four week wait time. Well, while I've been procrastinating finding all this information out, our front yard has been drinking in lots of rain and sunshine and looks like this:

In another week, I am sure my girls would love to dress up and pretend they are Laura and Mary in Little House on the Prairie. But our neighbors and a city ordinance would likely object. It was past time for an intervention.

However, to get to this point, our little 148cc mower needed an oil change and a little TLC. So I sought expert advice from YouTube and Lowe's. (Later, I realized the guy in the video sounds just like Troy McClure in the Simpsons.) Anyway, with my confidence and knowledge boosted, I picked up the items I needed from the hardware store. Cost for oil and a spark plug: $6.98 plus tax.

And I am happy to report that after following "Troy's" instructions, I completed the tune-up and started the lawnmower on the second attempt. We now have a mowed front yard. And while it felt good to have gained a new skill, I still have to resist the temptation to covet a pollution-free reel mower.

Instead I simply need to want what I have.

After mowing the very thick front lawn, I breathe a sigh of relieved satisfaction.

Watercolor Cross Cards for Easter

2011-04-20T15:10:00.005-05:00

We enjoyed making these simple hand-painted cards
as we remember the cross of Jesus this week.

MATERIALS LIST:

Paper
Scissors
Painter's tape (or masking tape)
Paints (we used watercolors)
Paintbrushes

Directions:

Cut the tape and stick on the paper to form a cross.
Paint around the cross.
Remove tape carefully and allow paint to dry.

I'm sharing our project at Kids Get Crafty and the Strut Your Stuff Link Party this week.

Recycled Newspaper Easter Baskets

2011-04-14T15:29:00.006-05:00

If bowls can be made out of magazine pages, why not make baskets for Easter? Even kids can help fold the paper before an adult carefully glues the pieces together. The small version of these eco-friendly Easter baskets can be completed in less than an hour (not including drying time). Furthermore, it's the kind of simple project that can be done while you are watching T.V. or listening to a radio program.

MATERIALS LIST:

Newspaper inserts (e.g. uncut coupon inserts)
Hot glue gun
Hot glue sticks
Non-toxic paint, optional
Paint brushes or cotton swabs for painting, optional
Newspaper strips for paper mache, optional
Flour and water paper mache paste, optional

Directions:

1. Fold a single sheet of a newspaper insert in half lengthwise. Then continue to fold each side in half or thirds again until you have a symmetrically folded strip that is the width you desire. Most of our strips were about 1 centimeter wide.

2. Next, roll the strip up into tight concentric circles and secure with a thin line of hot glue as you go. Be extremely careful not to burn your fingers!

3. Continue to add and glue more folded strips until you form the desired size of bowl. Then, take another strip and glue on a handle. For larger baskets you will need to glue together two folded strips to make a handle. I also wrapped another couple of strips around the main handle for strength and a spiral decorative effect.

Bigger baskets take at least an hour to construct.


This smaller basket was made from 10 insert sheets.

4. OPTIONAL: Add paper mache and/or paint your baskets and let them dry. Add ribbons when finished if you like.

5. Fill baskets with eggs, candy, or healthy snacks (if you are anti-candy like me).

For more ideas on how to be resourceful with newspapers,

see this post at Money Saving Mom.

Going Local at Tastee Inn & Out

2011-04-14T10:25:00.004-05:00

Update: If you live locally, you can grab a Groupon deal for Tastee Inn today!

For the first year or so we lived in our neighborhood, I would pass by an old 50's-era drive-in restaurant with it's vintage sign unlit. The chipping paint seemed to indicate that the place had closed down years ago. But this was not so, a friend informed me. My foodie curiosity was piqued. Was this apparent dive actually a hidden local gem? I decided to be adventurous and find out.

It's not your average chain restaurant decor...

If you like onion rings, try the onion chips with creamy dip.


A Tastee sandwich is made from loose ground beef and comes with mustard and a pickle.

The "tastee" sandwiches we sampled were indeed unique. I would call them one-of-a-kind even. The sandwiches (but not the hot dogs) are clearly the reason this no frills establishment has stayed in business. I am already plotting when I might return for another taste.

Disclosure: This review was written before I knew about the Groupon deal today. All opinions are my own. This post contains referral links for Groupon. I will receive compensation if you purchase a Groupon through the links above.

Upcycled Milk Carton Organizer for Kids' Shoes

2011-04-07T19:52:00.006-05:00


Finally, a place for everything...

MATERIALS LIST:

Clean and dry milk and/or juice cartons (64-ounce size)
Sharp, sturdy scissors
Clear packing tape
Brown paper grocery sack
Assorted colors of child-safe paint
Assorted paint brushes
Fresh leaves, optional

STEP 1: Trim juice and milk cartons and tape together.

STEP 2: Cut, fold, and tape a brown paper grocery sack over the cartons.

STEP 3: Spread newspaper underneath (and remove shoes) before starting to paint.

STEP 4: Paint with a brush.

Or paint with a leaf.

{This was the biggest leaf we could find in early spring.}

Or paint with a sponge brush (which my three-year-old liked best).

Have fun mixing paint colors together.


After paint is dry, place shoes in slots. Secure dry paper with more tape if desired. Linking up to Kids Get Crafty, WFMW, and Link Party Thursday.

Can We Celebrate Easter without Loads of Candy?

2011-03-30T15:11:00.003-05:00

Except for my husband's undying affection for jelly beans, I would love to escape the holiday with little to no Easter candy. This means I will need to avoid the candy aisle and encourage grandparents to do the same. Instead, we can offer Easter treats that spare my children's bodies from unhealthy sugar. Here are twelve ideas for consideration, all of which aim to enrich their bodies, minds, and spirits.

For the body:

1. Fresh fruits and fruit juice
What could be healthier than a colorful medley of fresh fruit favorites?

2. Fruit and nut bars
I like to give snack bars that are naturally sweetened with dates (versus corn syrup). Larabar offers fun flavors like apple pie and gingerbread cookie, which are healthier alternatives to candy bars.

3. Whole wheat cheddar bunnies and chicks
No sugar is necessary to enjoy cute bunnies if I opt for whole grain snack crackers by Annie's. I recently also found some adorable Market Pantry brand chickadee crackers at Target. Making and cutting out our own crackers is another option.

4. Flying disk (a.k.a. Frisbee)
Why not encourage the kids to get moving and have fun throwing, chasing, and catching a flying disc?

5. Jump rope
I could tuck in a traditional rope with handles, or give an elastic Chinese jump rope, which can be used outside or indoors on rainy days.

6. Binoculars
These could help spark a love of the outdoors when my kids are in the backyard or we could take the binoculars along on a nature walk.

For the mind:

7. Puppets
Puppets are great for imaginative play and for adding an interactive element to stories. Buying or making finger or hand puppets can provide hours of fun storytelling.

8. Magnifying glass
My kids are always excited to study the natural specimens they find outdoors; rocks, bugs, leaves, flowers, and more natural treasures await their inquisitive eyes.

9. Craft kit
We love to do crafts in our house. I am all for encouraging creativity and the development of fine motor skills with an appealing project kit appropriate each child's age.

10. Markers or paint set
From oldest to youngest, I know my children will enjoy a fresh infusion of art supplies.

For the spirit:

11. Bible or Bible story book
What better occasion than Easter go to the Book and find the story of the first Resurrection Sunday?

12. Resurrection eggs
My children are always captivated by the 12 object lessons that illustrate the story of the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus.

There are a few more ideas for holiday gift and candy alternatives in these articles:

Simple Holiday Gift Ideas for Families with Kids
Beyond Candy...

Menu Plan for the Week (with Angel Food)

2011-03-28T07:18:00.006-05:00

Keeping our food expenses low while my husband labors as a graduate student is a high priority for me. A few years ago, a friend suggested I try Angel Food as a way to save money. Before ordering though, I calculate what I would likely pay at the store for each item. Most times, buying similar items on sale at the grocery store ends up being a little cheaper. However, this month Angel Food was a better value. Also, perhaps because of Lent, there was more chicken and seafood (and less beef) in the March signature box, which was a plus.

This week's menu includes ideas for five dinners made from the pork, chicken, ground beef, ground chicken, fish, and frozen vegetables in the $31 signature box.

Pork noodle stir fry
Chicken pot pie
Meatloaf, green beans, rice
Chicken tacos, rice
Fish, corn muffins, pea salad
Venison steaks (not Angel food; from our freezer stash), tossed salad

_____________________________________________________

Have you heard of Angel Food or tried it before?

Low Drama Haircut

2011-03-24T15:19:00.004-05:00

The last time I cut my boy's hair, he wailed so much that my husband could not bear to let me try again. Apparently my son is not alone in his aversion to clippers. My friend's son seems to hate haircuts almost as much as mine does (-- you can see some of their ordeal here).

To change things up, we decided to take our little guy to the same place Daddy goes for haircuts. My daughters went along and got haircuts to show their brother how smoothly getting one's locks trimmed can go. And then it was his turn.

He started out quite calm. Though he squirmed away from the clippers, he stayed quiet for the most part. Toward the end he got irritated with the little hair pieces that fell on his face and neck. Still, it was far less drama than when Mama has cut his hair. So now we're wondering if we should keep taking him out for $5 haircuts. Or maybe we could invest in a wrap-around apron to mimic the recent lower-stress haircut experience. In either case, he will now expect a lollipop at the end.

What would you do?

Seven Simple Swaps to Green Your Home

2011-03-18T12:33:00.009-05:00

Some days I long for the simple choices that my grandparents probably had at the general store on the Canadian prairie. These days, something as straightforward as a buying groceries means I could be bringing home items that may harm our health or the environment. Certain chemicals pose risks to the very air we breathe. Other compounds lurk in products we might put on our skin and into our bodies. Fortunately, it is fairly simple to make the switch to more wholesome alternatives.

Replace ultra soft bathroom tissue with recycled toilet tissue.

The revelation that ultra soft luxury comes at the expense of old-growth trees was very troubling to me. I now prefer to buy recycled toilet paper to lessen our environmental impact. Admittedly, some green brands perform better than others.

Instead of anti-bacterial soap, use plain soap.

Regular liquid soap works just as well and doesn't dry out our skin as much. Also, I don't have to fret about washing my hands with triclosan, which is considered by the EPA to be a pesticide.

Ditch fabric softener for natural softeners.

Adding borax to the wash cycle and vinegar in the rinse cycle is a fine alternative for us. Some people make their own dryer sheets as well.

Leave artificial colors out; put natural tints in.

My son seems to have noticeable reactions to Red No. 40. Now we try to use natural coloring sources like beets. And encouragingly, an increasing number of ready-to-eat foods, like yogurt and goldfish crackers, are being colored with vegetable extracts instead of artificial dyes.

Cupcake with Beet-Tinted Frosting

Instead of high VOC paint and sealers, buy low-VOC equivalents

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are bad news for indoor air quality, according to the EPA.

Avoid PVC products and opt for eco-friendly polymers instead

There are good reasons why new shower curtains give people headaches --VOCs. Fortunately, there are now several less toxic alternatives, like PEVA and nylon.

Don't use chemical air fresheners; use natural fragrances.

Instead of buying expensive air fresheners that contain harmful phthalates (see this report from the NRDC), we create own aromas from edible ingredients.

Were any of these concerns new to you?

Join us at Heavenly Homemakers for the little Green Project!

___________________________________________________________

You can also learn more about Eco-Friendly Alternatives to 10 Common but Dangerous Products in the Home at Associated Content.

Green Mashed Potatoes

2011-03-16T12:29:00.003-05:00

I like to add color to my potatoes. To potato salad, I often add peas and carrots. More color means more nutrients. So why not add peas to mashed potatoes? I did. My husband and I liked it. Our kids ate their servings with the help of some ranch dressing.

This side dish was fairly simple to make. Basically it involved combining mashed potatoes and cooked peas. I smashed the peas with a potato masher (or a fork would also work) and then placed about half of the peas into the blender to puree. Then I mixed the pea puree and smashed peas into the mashed potatoes until an even green color was achieved.

Whatever you are celebrating--Spring, St. Patrick's Day, or healthier eating--peas make a lovely addition to the plate. So tell me, are you a fan of peas?

I'm adding this idea to the list at WFMW.
Also, join us at Heavenly Homemakers for the little Green Project!

DIY Grape Lollipops

2011-03-15T12:51:00.002-05:00

After-school snacks are a regular part of our week. Freshly baked cookies and muffins would be nice, but I am not prepared to bake that often. Yesterday, my seven-year-old washed some grapes for everyone to share. I also offered her some honey wheat sticks (a new product by Nabisco). She soon came up with the grape lollipop combination, which was a big hit!

These lollipops are fun to assemble, filling, and healthier than their corn syrup-laced predecessors. A new tradition is born. (And if you don't have honey wheat sticks, you could use pretzel sticks, so long as they
are thin enough to poke the grape.)

A preschooler-approved..

...easy-to-make snack!

I'll be linking this idea to AP Tuesdays and WFMW.

Green Snacks for St. Pat's, Plus a Menu Plan

2011-03-14T12:11:00.000-05:00

Green Grape Crostini with Ricotta

Last year in anticipation of St. Patrick's Day, we made our pudding green by mixing it with candy. Since I am trying to phase out artificial colors from our food, I am opting for a natural approach this year. I am finding that there are still ways to eat green without resorting to food dye. Green grapes, pesto, peas, avocados and other wholesome ingredients provide healthy options for making food that looks green and tastes great.

You can find a slideshow with more green food ideas at Associated Content.

This Week's Menu Plan:

Fish & Green Mashed Potatoes (recipe to come)

Chicken Fajitas

Waffles

Chili (at school)

Noodle Stir Fry with Chicken

Venison Burgers

________________________________________________

Do you plan to eat anything green this week
to celebrate the Emerald Isle?

Find more menu ideas at Menu Plan Monday.

Amen-Worthy Posts

2011-03-11T23:17:00.002-06:00

Our whole family has been occupied with resting and visiting the doctor this week, so I will point you in the direction of what others have said so well.

Why It's Really Okay: You Need to Slow Down @ A Holy Experience

How to Be a More Patient Mom in Just 24 Hours @ Inspired to Action

Time Management without a Schedule @ Life as Mom

Bono Interview: Grace over Karma @ The Poached Egg

My accomplishments this week are few, but pondering these truths and ideas has left me inspired for when my energy returns. And it shall; Spring is nearly here!

I'm linking this list of favorite posts to Saturday Stumbles this week.

Gumball Bracelets

2011-03-05T11:12:00.004-06:00

When I saw the idea to make gumball jewelry earlier this year, my middle daughter latched onto it and asked for many weeks if we could make our own. It took a while to locate gumballs in a box, but I found some at Target for $1.00. Today I finally collected the rest of the components and tools. We certainly enjoyed putting together these colorful bracelets at last!

Piercing tools

Assembling color patterns

Our cheerful results

I'm linking this project to Saturday is Crafty Day.

10 Ways to Celebrate Dr. Seuss this Month

2011-03-01T07:03:00.002-06:00

1. Make green eggs and ham.

2. Read several Dr. Seuss stories.
     Some of my favorites are:

3. Download a free, fun Seuss unit.
     Choose your favorite age-appropriate activities to do.

4. See if you can find a local production of the musical Seussical.
     My daughter and I enjoyed a high school production of this a couple of years ago.

5. Dress up as a character from one of the Seuss books.

6. Watch one of the vintage Dr. Seuss story cartoons on video.
     [Sorry, I'm not a fan of the new TV spinoff series.]

7. Count up how many of the Dr. Seuss books you have ever read.

8. Do a favorite Seuss book roundtable.
     Each person shares which is their favorite book and why.

9. Color and cut out Seuss characters to decorate a door or other area.

10. Create your own puzzle from a Seussville printable.

How about you?

What's your favorite book by Seuss?

Which of these 10 ideas would you like to try?

Trains, trains, trains!

2011-02-24T07:00:00.005-06:00

Can anyone guess what we did last weekend?

And can you tell who enjoyed it the most?

For more out of the ordinary moments, head over to Try New Adventures Thursday.

What to Make for Lunch Besides a Sandwich

2011-02-22T16:35:00.006-06:00

Recently, I decided to make homemade bread so I would not have to run out and buy more sliced bread. While it is a noble and thrifty goal, getting myself to carve out three plus hours to make bread is an uncommon feat. Especially since I lost the paddle to my bread machine more than a year ago.

So for the past week, my daily lunch dilemma has had the added difficulty of no sliced bread option. This makes packing my husband's lunch quite challenging, since he usually takes an almond butter and jelly or some other kind of sandwich.

Nevertheless, I came up with a collection of lunch alternatives.

10 Lunches That Don't Require a Typical Loaf of Bread

1. Tortilla pizzas - We had these pizzas for lunch today. Yes, I used homemade tortillas, but store-bought tortillas are fine too.

2. Fish tacos - We ate these tacos yesterday, using a leftover fish fillet.

3. Pasta salad - Another great way to combine whatever veggies and protein we happen to have.

4. Stuffed avocados - These are gluten free and delicious!

5. English muffin or pita sandwiches -
I like to keep English muffins in the freezer as a backup.

6. Crepes (also known as Swedish Pancakes) - Fill these with ham and cheese for a savory option.

7. Taco Salad - My cousin used to eat this almost every day--in peace, after her kids had their lunch.

8. DIY "Lunch-ables" - I make ours with cheese, meat, and crackers. Avocado is a nice addition too.

9. Lettuce or cabbage wraps - I use a large leaf to wrap up whatever protein I have in the fridge.

10. Baked sloppy joes - This went into my husband's lunch bag today while it was still warm.

Though not as effortless as a sandwich, sometimes I would rather avoid the hassle of going out to buy bread ( I use mayonnaise when we're out of milk for the same reason). And these lunches are not too messy to pack up for my husband or for me and my kid(s) if we're on the go.

If you were out of bread for the week,
what would you make for lunch?

Linked to Top Ten Tuesday

Five Happy Moments

2011-02-18T10:55:00.001-06:00

What Came on Monday

What We Got Tuesday

Armed with cardboard and instructions, two young scientists are ready to begin their projects for the Science Fair next month.

What I Needed to Hear on Wednesday

See that book? It's actually a love letter. And the words come from the One who is love. That's why He can love me, in spite of all that wearies Him, just like he loves the people described in chapters 42 and 43 of Isaiah.

What the Kids Configured Thursday

I thought this was an ingenious way to resolve the longstanding conflict over who gets the two swings. Now all three can!

And before we had a swing set, they devised this simple setup, which they continue to enjoy in addition to the big wooden play set (that grandparents and great grandparents sponsored).

What Remained on Friday

What moments from your week are you savoring with a thankful heart?

I'm linking up with the Company Girls and Boys in Motion today.

Unabashed Aluminum Can Collecting

2011-02-17T14:39:00.002-06:00

Our Adventure

Sunny skies, melted snow, and no lawns being mowed yet meant there were plenty of empty cans along our street route today. All those shiny recyclables beckoned me to gather them. So, after a nice long bike ride, I decided to be bold and pick up cans I spotted instead of hurrying home; I let my son pick up a few as well. We counted our stash upon returning. The boy: 7, Momma: 17. Then we washed our hands thoroughly as soon as we went inside.

Our Reasons

While we are never going to make a lot of money doing this, collecting aluminum cans has several important benefits:

it reduces litter
it conserves natural resources through recycling
it teaches children that earning money is hard work

I can also think of other educational opportunities that can collecting offers me and my kids. We can:

calculate how many cans or bags of cans it takes to make a pound.
calculate how much each can is worth, depending on the current price of aluminum.
discuss how much energy is saved by recycling versus using raw materials.

Mighty Good Molasses Muffins

2011-02-10T23:27:00.001-06:00

Rich in calcium, iron, and aromatic spices, molasses muffins are a perfect sweet-but-not-too-sweet snack that works most any time of day.

"They taste like pioneer bread," according my husband. Thanks to a hearty portion of molasses, these muffins are packed with flavor and nutrition. Our whole family liked these cinnamon and ginger spiked morsels.

Ingredients:

2 cups unbleached flour
1/4 cup whole wheat graham flour (or regular whole wheat flour)
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 and 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1 cup sour milk or buttermilk
3/4 cup molasses*
2 eggs, beaten
1/3 cup melted butter or oil
1/4 cup brown sugar

unsweetened coconut flakes, optional

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C). Cream together melted butter or oil and brown sugar. Stir in molasses, milk, and eggs. Beat until smooth.
In a separate bowl, mix together flour, spices, baking soda, and salt. Add to wet ingredients and blend just until batter becomes fairly smooth.
Spoon batter into greased or paper-lined muffin cups. Bake for 18 to 25 minutes, until middle springs back when touched.
Allow to cool slightly and spread additional butter on top if desired. To decorate with coconut flakes, cut a stencil from wax paper before pouring coconut on top. Serve warm or at room temperature.

* Applesauce can be substituted for up to half the molasses if needed. For example, if you empty your bottle of molasses and realize you don't have enough to make 3/4 cup. This happened to me the first time I made these muffins.

Makes about 18 muffins.

This recipe is linked to Pennywise Platter Thursday.

Valentine Crayon Rubbings

2011-02-09T16:17:00.001-06:00

Getting my three-and-a-half-year-old to draw is not easy. "You do it" is his usual response to my invitation to color. Since he sees his sisters drawing elaborate pictures every day, he doesn't like his own rudimentary attempts at art. However, crayon rubbings proved a magical method for him to get pleasing results. All I had to do was set him up for success. My daughters enjoyed learning a new art technique as well.

Materials:

Crayons, paper wrapping removed
Paper
Scissors
Cardboard (thin, like from a cereal box)


These cardboard shapes were used under the paper.

Directions:

Cut out desired shapes and letters from cardboard.
Position shapes under paper.
Use the side of a crayon to rub over the shape.

I'm linking this activity to Kids Get Crafty.

Homemade Fish Crackers, Art, and Math Pedagogy

2011-02-08T15:04:00.003-06:00

Snacks as Math and Art

Our fish crackers were inspired by the masterful art of M.C. Escher. The fish shapes show the beauty and efficiency of wave patterns and curves. That math can be beautiful is something I learned too late; I want my children to be introduced to that truth early in their school years.

Learning math was usually a struggle for me. Reading this critique of the way mathematics is taught clarified some of the reasons why. I can only guess how a passionate mathematician like Paul Lockhart teaches math to young students.
Not until I took geometry in high school did I start looking forward to math class.

It is my hope that hands-on learning opportunities like these fish will help my children discover that visual patterns and math are wonderfully and inextricably linked. And we ponder such intricacies, we can have fun fitting the little fish back together as a puzzle.

Quick and Easy Fish Crackers : Tortillas as a Medium

First, cut the tortillas into symmetrical wavy strips.

Then trim the tortillas to form fish shapes.

Finally, after cutting the fish shapes, bake at 200 degrees F for about 20 minutes to make them into crisp crackers. Enjoy plain or serve with guacamole and/or cream cheese.

Menu and Activity Plan for the Week {2/7 - 2/12}

2011-02-07T10:36:00.000-06:00

Due to the wintry weather, I did not get out to the Asian market to replenish my ingredients for Chinese or Vietnamese cuisine last week. So we made a Chinese jump rope from yarn and a bit of elastic--that was the extent of our Lunar New Year activities. I did have fun experimenting in the kitchen with crepes and fruit, in anticipation of Valentine's Day next week.

Today I shall head to the Asian market so I can finally cook some semi-authentic ethnic dishes. Happily, my daughter's kindergarten class is learning about Chinese New Year this week, so we can at least be coordinated, albeit a few days late.

In the activity realm, I am planning to post some simple Valentine's Day craft ideas soon. So come on back this week to see what we produce. In the mean time, you might see if any of these DIY game ideas strike your fancy. Have a lovely week!

DINNERS:

Leftovers & Tossed Salad
Noodle Stir Fry & Vietnamese Pumpkin Wraps
Waffles, Bacon, & Fruit Salad
Lasagna Roll Ups & Tossed Salad
Chicken or Duck, Sticky Rice, & Cucumber Salad
Salmon Pot Pie

ACTIVITIES:

Yarn measuring, make rock candy
Ice suncatchers, make valentines
Indoor hopscotch, Chinese jump rope

For more menu ideas, head to Menu Plan Monday.

Chinese Jump Rope and the Lunar New Year

2011-02-02T16:05:00.006-06:00

Happy Lunar New Year!

Chuc Mung Nam Moi!

Xin Nian Kuai Le!

Across the Pacific, it's already February 3rd, and the Vietnamese and Chinese are busy ushering in the year of the rabbit for the next several days. So I thought why not celebrate by hopping around a little? The inspiration to do Chinese jump rope struck me this week as I contemplated what to do with my three energetic kiddos. We've been snowed in for two days.

Years ago, my best friend and I would play Chinese jump rope together. In my twenties, I was in China and got to see the real thing. Now that I have kids, I thought it would be fun to teach them the simple version I learned as a girl. Here we are, practicing our moves:

Out

On!

"Yi, er, san!"

The simple chant of instructions we followed:
One, two, three*,
One, two, three*,
In, out, in, stretch,
In, out, on!

*We introduced saying the Chinese numbers "yi", "er", "san" instead.

To hear them pronounced, go to the Ting guide.

For rubber band skipping in authentic Asian contexts, take a look at the video slide show and brief YouTube clip below. Enjoy!

<p><p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9CTpBo7DKRc" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/iframe&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p></p>

Linking this to WFMW and Show and Tell.

Green Bay Packers Crackers

2011-02-01T16:37:00.004-06:00

Though I am not really into pro football, my husband has been a Packers fan from birth. So I made these green Packers crackers to show my support. He was amused. Hopefully he will get to watch his team play in the Superbowl on Sunday, though he'll have to find a screen somewhere else. We have neither a TV antenna nor cable at home. And on most days, that's the way we like it.

Ingredients:

Spinach tortillas (buy some like me or make using Tammy's recipe)
Cream cheese, softened
Turmeric, paprika, cumin, and taco sauce
Salsa verde, optional

To make them:

Cut tortillas into football shapes. Place on baking tray. Bake at 200 degrees F until they become crisp, about 20 minutes. Allow to cool.
Mix together cream cheese, turmeric, and other spices until desired color and flavor is reached.
Place yellow cheese mixture in a plastic bag. Cut a tiny hole and carefully squeeze out cheese to form the lines of the football lacing.
If desired, serve the crackers with salsa verde for dipping.

If you have kids who would be interesting in learning a little more about football, check out Mrs. Perry's Superbowl unit.

Linking this to Works for Me Wednesday