Soup!

The girls helped me make dinner tonight.  I was looking for something that would be super easy for them to help me with, and came up with vegetable soup.  It helped me use up some leftovers, and it was an easy thing for them to help with...basically dump and stir!

We used leftover corn, black beans, ground beef, and zucchini.  We added fresh celery and carrots as well as canned tomatoes, beef broth, pasta, lentils and flax seeds.  Of course we also added spices (basil, parsley, garlic, bay leaf, etc.).  Served with bread and butter and some fruit....it was pretty yummy and very easy for the girls to help with!

Yay Freecycle!

So, I saw a post on Freecycle yesterday for two little girls' princess dresses.  The post had been out there for almost a day so I assumed they had long since been picked up...but I gave it a shot anyway.  The lady wrote back within 30 seconds and said they were mine!  So I went and picked up this dress (Princess and the Pauper) and a very nice Snow White dress.  Freecycle is great!  I have gotten rid of so much clutter and received so many things from others for free (DVD player, food dehydrator, kids clothes, shoes etc). Yaaaayyy Freecycle!

Routine/Chore Charts

In my constant effort to get organized and 'get it together' (especially with the school year drawing nearer) I have made routine and chore charts with the girls' help and input. 

We made night time routine charts:

This one is Anna's.  Macy's is the same except she does not yet pick out her own clothes for the next day.  And yes, right now we only do baths on Wednesday's and Sunday's.  My girl's both have extremely dry skin, so bathing too much irritates it. 

Here is Anna with both of her charts.  The girls got to help hang them up in their rooms.  Anna's chores are to pick up her toys (Ha!), put away her clean laundry (something she is meticulous about), and feed the dog.  Macy's chores are to pick up her toys (again with the 'Ha!'), and put the silverware on the table for dinner.  I didn't do morning routine charts, because I have tried those before and really everything on them was pretty common sense and the girls basically did them anyway, without the chart.   Hopefully these charts will help to keep us on track and get us a little more neat and organized.

Welcome Home Daddy!

Curtis has been away at a band director's convention for a few days.  So the girls and I made him a sign to welcome him home.

Fly Lady

In case any of you out in Cyberland have not heard of her, I thought I'd throw out a link to The Fly Lady. 
This website is awesome for getting your life organized and on track.  You have to do a little exploring on the site to really get the gist of it, but it has worked for me...a few times....I fall off of the horse quite often!  But it really does have some helpful tips if you are as disorganized and messy as I am. 
She helps you to avoid C.H.A.O.S. which she defines as Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome....a disease I often suffer from!!
www.flylady.net



She starts you with 'babysteps' which is adding a new element to your routine everyday.  I am way too impatient for one little step a day...I want bigger, better, faster, more results!  So I did A BUNCH of steps a day for like three days and got myself into it.  I am currently 'off of the horse' but planning to get back on and try to get myself ready for the new school year ahead.  Ugh! School!

(Oh, and yes, for those who caught it, I did just reference a 4 Non Blondes album....*hangs head in shame*)

Bento: The humble beginnings

So, I've been interested in bento for a while now.  I packed myself a few bento style lunches for work last year, but I have really been anticipating this year as my oldest daughter will be beginning pre-k this year.  I am excited about packing her bento style lunches to take to school.  I don't exactly have a lot of money to invest in supplies at the moment so I am starting with the basics. 

 The yellow two tier box I've had for a while, but the green two tier and the pink strawberry box are newly acquired for Anna.  I also have some basic picks.  I want some of the cuter ones, but they'll have to wait as our local Japanese shop does not carry them and I don't want to pay shipping costs at the moment.  The two egg molds I have also had for a while.  If you have never seen an egg mold they are kinda cool.  I'll post some pics later.

These two are not traditional bento boxes.  They are actually containers purchased from the baby section at Target but they work very well for bento.

If you have never heard of bento and are wondering what the heck I am talking about....here are some links to check out:

These are links to "normal-people-who-have-lives-outside-of-making-lunches" bento.  Something I could actually see myself doing each day for Anna.

www.lunchinabox.net
www.bentolunch.net
www.aibento.net

And a few pictures of some really elaborate bento that I'd never have the patience for!!

 

Sidewalk Paint

The girls had a blast yesterday painting our driveway with sidewalk paint that we made ourselves.  It is easy, and best of all, super cheap!!

 You just mix equal parts of cornstarch and water and add a little food coloring of your desired color and you are ready to paint!  I have a few of my 'not so nice' paintbrushes that I dedicate for sidewalk painting.

 When you first paint it on the colors are dull but as it dries they brighten.  It just washes off like regular sidewalk chalk.  Yay for cheap entertainment!!