I love nothing more than lounging around in our backyard all summer long. I will do anything to stay outside with my kids and hibernate in our big backyard. Indiana winters are so long and our summers here are far too short. I really try to make the most of every moment of sunshine.

Wouldn't we all love to just lounge around in the backyard all day with our feet kicked up? While I can't say it will be possible every day, I want to share with you a few things we have been doing to make outdoor living a priority in our home.

Chores come first. We all love being outside and in order for me to be able to camp out with the kids in the backyard, we need to have our indoor chores accomplished. The short list for me is to unload the dishwasher, make the beds, and swipe the bathrooms. The kids have to eat their breakfast, get dressed, and tidy up their rooms and playroom. With the promise of fun and relaxation outside, we all are more motivated to do our chores inside.

For work-at-home moms, I try to get up an hour before the kids and tackle any work priorities and I do most of my work on the weekend mornings. I encourage you to read my post on finding balance to work priorities to assist with figuring out a good work-at-home schedule.


Get the dinner prep done. After I have finished the chores, it is time to get together whatever we will be eating for dinner in the evening. Slow cooker meals are a great alternative in the summer because they don't heat up the house and can be pulled together quickly. Likewise, marinating meats or preparing meat for the grill is another way to keep the house cool and keep one step ahead of the game in mealtime prep.

Of course, anything that you can do after your grocery shopping will also give you more time to enjoy being outside. Chop up veggies and fruits for snacking on throughout the week, cook pasta for pasta salads and keep it in a food storage bag to make a yummy cold pasta salad, bake chicken for the week to dice in tortilla wraps, for cold chicken salad sandwiches, or to toss into a pasta salad. I also love to wash and chop the lettuce for the week and use it on burgers or for a light lunch for myself or a side salad with our dinner.

Take the night off completely from dinner and roast your dinner on an outdoor fire pit instead. Children will love the novelty of cooking their foods over the fire and you will love having a night off from cooking. We try to do this a couple of times a month as a fun family night tradition.

Scale back those fancy dinners and keep things simple with grilled meats, fresh veggies, and fresh fruit. Summer is not meant to be spent in a hot kitchen so get acquainted with your grill or slow cooker so you can enjoy that beautiful weather outside.


Be prepared for outdoor excursions. The past couple of years, I have learned to become more prepared for those unexpected outdoor adventures. On our door hangs a beach bag that is ready to go for a fun outdoor getaway. I keep sunblock, bug spray, towels, bathing suits, and a water bottle in this bag.

In our car, we have a collapsible bag that is filled with activities for the park. I try to keep containers of bubbles, a ball, a waterproof blanket for sitting on, a Frisbee, and a lawn chair. These activities not only come in handy for when we take a trip to the park, but they also are invaluable when visiting friends who don't have activities/toys to keep little hands busy.


Revise your homemaking schedule with the weather. Check the forecast at the beginning of the week and try to format your schedule according to the weather. If it is raining on Thursday, make Thursday your day to clean the house. If it is sunny on Tuesday, use that day to accomplish the laundry day outside and hang your clothes on the line instead. If it is sunny all week long, then accomplish chores during your child's nap time or after they head to bed. By revising your homemaking schedule to fit the weather forecast, you can take advantage of as many beautiful days as you possibly can.


Make the outdoors fun. My children will play outside for the entire day, but each summer we make an investment into outdoor activities that will help keep the outdoors fun. Some of my favorite summer investments have been a sandbox, a small water table, sprinkler toys, a new set of chalk, and a batch of homemade bubbles.

My children also love to create so I also put out a bucket of water with paint brushes for them to paint the cement or to paint their chalk drawings. We also make a batch of sponge balls to play with in their water table or for fun water play outdoors. Nature journals can help them document the changing of the seasons and what they see in nature. Homemade play dough with some cookie cutters and a rolling pin can lead to fun creations, without the mess, on an outdoor table.

Don't forget that many activities that you can get your children to do outside can also help you. I have my kids use their water toys to water my garden. My children also love to help wash the cars and wash their own outdoor toys. Have them set their own table for lunch or help you clean up after an outdoor dinner.


Make easy evening routines. After a long day of playing outside, I bring the kids inside and we start tackling the baths. After the kids are bathed, they can have a small snack and watch a television show while I work on getting our dinner ready.

This usually leads to a little napping or general zoning out as they are usually so exhausted from playing outside. With this time, I tidy up and get our easy dinner together for us to dine outside. After that the kids play outside until bedtime and I am able to put them to bed earlier after all of their outdoor fun.

Outdoor chores are accomplished by my husband & I trading off the kids to get done what needs to get done. One of us mows in the front, while the other parent is playing with the kids in the back. As I have said before though, many of these chores are just done side by side with the kids while they are playing or helping.


Remember they are only young once. Each summer, I marvel at how much my children have grown and how quickly our time together seems to be passing. I am trying to savor these moments and for me, that means slowing down our summers. While we make big plans for summer activities, I can admit that I become selfish with my time with them in the summer. The school year will begin again and we will be back to the crazy grind of school days.

Savor these moments and revise your schedule so you can enjoy each moment of them. Seek a little shade with them. Create with them. Hop in the kiddie pool with them. Indulge in homemade slushies and popcorn every single day and blame it on "the kids" and "hydration." Be selfish with them and their time. Treasure them.

As my husband and I say after it takes two hours to put away all the outdoor toys and clean up after the dinner, "We are making memories."

How do you make outdoor living a priority in your family?

Labels: Family, Homemaking, Organizing

Labels: Giveaways

I love any dish that I can whip up in the summertime that doesn't require me to turn on the oven. I happened upon this great little side dish and we have been eating it about once a week since I added it to our dinner hour.

This side dish has big flavor so if you are not a fan of garlic, you can substitute it with garlic powder. If you are not a fan of lemon, you can cut the lemon juice back to half a tablespoon. It has a teaspoon of salt and that too can be adjusted to your family's taste. You may have to experiment with this one, but it will be worth it!

Our family embraces the bold flavors of this side and it has been a welcome addition to our dinner table. Pair this with a little grilled meat and my favorite brown rice and you have a perfectly balanced and delicious dinner!

Microwave Lemony Broccoli

1 (14 ounce) bag frozen broccoli florets, cleaned and cut into florets or 2 heads fresh broccoli, cleaned and cut into florets (I prefer fresh)
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice, bottled is fine
2 garlic cloves, minced or 1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
1 teaspoon salt, adjust to your liking

Microwave broccoli, minced garlic, and water in covered bowl on high for 6 minutes or til crisp tender. While it is cooking mix the rest of the ingredients together. Drain cooked broccoli. Pour lemon garlic mixture over broccoli and mix to coat.

Labels: Recipes

Happy Freebie Friday! We are happy to be sharing a load of freebies with our readers courtesy of Freebies 4 Mom! In case you missed it, Heather has an excellent article on how to save on vitamins and supplements for your family this week. You should also enter to win her Rookie Mom's Book giveaway. I know that is one book I would love to add to my own collection!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!


Health & Beauty
Food
Mars Free Chocolate Friday
White Castle Free Slider

Entertainment

JUNE
27- Lakeshore Free Kid Crafts party hat 11 to 3pm
27 - Lowes Build and Grow Kids make a pirate ship 10 to 11am
27&28 - Bass Pro Shops Family Summer Camp keychain Noon to 6pm
27&28 - The Home Depot Home Improver Workshops 5 different topics

JULY
4 - The Home Depot Kids Workshop make a picnic caddy 9 to noon
4 & 5 - Museums on Us (free admission for Bank of America customers)
10 - Chick-fil-A Cow Appreciation Day
11 - 7-Eleven Free Slurpee
18-19 - National Parks Fee Free Weekend

AUGUST
1 & 2 - Museums on Us (free admission for Bank of America customers)
15 & 16 - National Parks Fee Free Weekend

Labels: Freebies

Have you ever looked at your to-do list and just felt completely and utterly overwhelmed before you even start? My day was often looking like that and rarely did I actually ever complete all of the things off of the list. I would end my day defeated before the next day had ever begun. While the high of checking things off the list was there, the items left unchecked left me feeling less euphoric about what was actually accomplished.

For the past couple of months, I have had the great opportunity to work with a business coach to help make my business better. Charrise McCorey, from Emergence Business Coaching, has been working with me to help me reach my business goals. It has been such a unique experience for me because I am able to actually discover how valuable my time is, increase my productivity, and discover what can emerge from finding balance in my life.

The first thing on our project list was tackling my to-do list and my feelings of constantly being overwhelmed. I felt like I was juggling way too many balls in the air so I wasn't sleeping well, eating well, or feeling like a very good parent. I would start a project, abandon it or do a bad job on it, and then move on to the next thing.

The first thing we did was revamp what my to-do list looked like. Here is an example of what my to-do list looked like for my Monday routine- perhaps it looks like yours?

Amy's Monday To-Do List

Sweep Kitchen Floors
Unload dishwasher
Load dishwasher
Swipe both bathrooms
Make beds
One load of laundry
Clean bathtub
Empty upper level trash
Make grocery list and menu plan
Change sheets on all beds
Clean windows and mirrors on upper level
Dust upper level
Steam floors on upper level
Sweep upper level
Organize the bedrooms

Now those were just my home management goals, we aren't even tackling the business goals for the day. What ended up happening was that I would get a portion of the list done and then have to carry it over for Tuesday. Let's say I got three of those things done. Now we will move on to Tuesday's schedule and it will look like this:

Amy's Tuesday To-Do List

Swipe both bathrooms
Make beds
One load of laundry
Clean bathtub
Empty upper level trash
Make grocery list and menu plan
Change sheets on all beds
Clean windows and mirrors on upper level
Dust upper level
Steam floors on upper level
Sweep upper level
Organize the bedrooms
Dust main level
Sweep main level
Steam kitchen floors
Clean windows and mirrors
Run errands

And then, let's say I got five things done, then Wednesday would carry over to this:

Amy's Wednesday To-Do List

Make grocery list and menu plan
Change sheets on all beds
Clean windows and mirrors on upper level
Dust upper level
Steam floors on upper level
Sweep upper level
Organize the bedrooms
Dust main level
Sweep main level
Steam kitchen floors
Clean windows and mirrors
Run errands
Do one thing I hate
Catch Up on Everything

Usually by Friday, my list looked something like this:

Amy's Friday To-Do List

Clean windows and mirrors on upper level
Dust upper level
Steam floors on upper level
Sweep upper level
Organize the bedrooms
Dust main level
Sweep main level
Steam kitchen floors
Clean windows and mirrors
Run errands
Do one thing I hate
Catch Up on Everything
Empty lower level trash
Dust lower level
Sweep lower level
Clean windows and mirrors on lower level
Clean and organize the home office
Visit the library
Clean out car
Update our Quicken software
Mow lawn
Baking day
Hate myself for accomplishing absolutely nothing
Defeat
Defeat
Defeat

Oh, and did I mention I haven't tackled anything in my business? Obviously, this to-do list was just a running list of things I would never get to and I would hate myself for accomplishing nothing. In tears, I explained to Charrise that I often feel like a bad mom because I had to keep up with my business AND my house and neither was looking good at all. As Charrise says over and over again to me when I say negative things, "That is a story you like to tell yourself. You can change your story."


We decided to change my story. She advised completely revamping the to-do list. Instead of keeping a running list of things I would never do, why not make a shorter list that I could actually accomplish with great success? How would it feel if I could go to bed each night knowing that I had accomplished what was on my list? How would I sleep? Her advice was simple a list of only six things.

Make 3 Business Goals
Make 3 Personal Goals

Now my list looks something like this:

Amy's Revamped Monday To-Do List

1. Set up contests for Tuesday on the blog
2. Complete my to-do list entry
3. Conference Call with Kenmore
4. Play on the floor with the kids for one hour
5. One load of laundry- whites
6. Pay Bills

At night before I go to bed, I make my list of six and go to sleep. At the end of the day, I usually can check most of the things off of the list and if something doesn't get done, it just gets carried over to the next day. I have to say, it is a lot easier to carry over two things rather than twenty each day.

But, what about the bigger goals? I had so many things I needed to do on my list for the website and in my home, but I knew they would never fit on such a limited list.

This is where this comes into play:

Giant Wish List

Instead of adding these to my to-do list each day, take a piece of poster board and begin writing what your bigger goals are. She suggested writing down things you might be afraid to say out loud so that you can see your dreams come into fruition.

Amy's Giant Wish List

Podcast Radio Show With Huge Corporate Sponsorship
Food Network Television Show
Get Featured in Real Simple Magazine
Regular Column in Good Housekeeping
Book Deal
Meet Brad Pitt
Possibly Marry Him

When I think of things that I want to do in the future, I just jot it down on my giant wish list. It is there, I won't lose the idea or goal, but it isn't on my running list of six...yet.

Yes, one day I will have an opening on the list of six and when that happens maybe I might say, "Today is the day to meet Brad Pitt and possibly marry him." I will add it to the list of six and just maybe, I might accomplish it.

You might ask what happened to all the cleaning on the list? Well, instead of writing it down, I just try and do it when I get my goals accomplished for the day. I either make it my goal to clean one day of the week or I just clean when I need to clean. I don't hold myself to commitments about it. I know what needs to get done and when I need to do it, and I do the best I can.

It might not be perfect, but it doesn't keep me up at night anymore.

Simplify.

(photo credits: image 1- one pretty thing image 2-gamookie)


What does your to-do list look like? Could you simplify it? What would you put on a giant wish list?

Labels: Organizing, Work

Experiment: Can I craft a cool dad gift?

Experiment Taken From: Notebook Entry 06.24.09

Materials Needed: Please see The Idea Room for the full instructions on this task. I completed the sweet little soda bottle project and found all of the supplies at Target.

Results: I am planning to take my hubby out to see a movie and for dinner for Father's Day, but I really wanted to have something to give to him on the actual day. I ran across this sweet little Father's Day Craft and ran right over to the store to pick up the supplies.

I had a little trouble finding a six pack of soda at Target in the bottles, but did find a four-pack of Jones Soda (which is my absolute favorite soda in the world in any flavor really and truly!) and we drank three of the drinks to fill them with treats for dad.

I filled the three empty soda bottles with Tootsie Rolls, gummy bears, and Peanut M&M's and then left one soda to drink with his treats. I spray painted the box black and then attached the Father's Day labels.

Instead of the label tags that are included in the printables that were highlighted, I used my own gift tags and labeled them with reasons (reason 1, reason 2, reason 3, reason 4). I then had my children share some of their reasons why they love their dad to make the gift about them as much as it was about the effort I put into it. These were then tied off with a little raffia and added the personal touch that I wanted in the gift for our favorite dad.

Conclusion: My husband was incredibly touched by these efforts and was so impressed at all the trouble we went to for this gift. I love this gift so much that I will be doing this for both of our dads next year. I think this also would make a sweet teachers gift with different images for the bottles.

A fantastic gift to give and to share!


********************

I am so excited to open our Notebook Experiments up to everyone and I hope that you will be able to participate this week or in weeks to come! I will be posting this each Thursday so please mark your calendars if you plan to participate. You can post your entries at any time throughout the week and then leave your entry in the links below.

We have this handy banner that you are more than welcome to use, but it is not a requirement! It is just something you can add to add a little sparkle to your entry.

Rules for Participation:

1. Choose anything from any of our notebook entries (past or present) to do with your family. We have hundreds of bookmarked links of crafts, ways to save money, and organizing ideas.
2. Complete an experiment from the notebook and share about it on your blog or website. We would love to see pictures of what you accomplished or a detailed description of how your projects turned out. Please include a link to this entry, a link to the original posting of the entry (at the original crafster's blog), and (to help us relocate the project) the date or link of the notebook entry where you found it. You can use the same formatting as our entries or you can just include that information in your post in your own unique way!
3. Post a link below. Please include your name or blog name & a fast description of your project. Example- MomAdvice (WHO bread)

I can't wait to see what you create and what you find inspiring!

Labels: Crafting, Gifts, Notebook Experiments

These firework cake toppers would be amazing for our Fourth of July bash (@ Wisdom of the Moon)

This Honey Teryaki Chicken looks like it would be a hit (@ Mad About Martha)

My kids would (literally) flip for these tin can stilts (@ zakka life)

These sunprint pictures inspired me to try this with my children (@ the light garden)

I love this bicycle bag to give as a gift (@ Giver's Log)

I was so inspired by this Ikea hack play kitchen (@ Mama Americana)

These kale chips sound like a perfectly healthy alternative to potato chips in the summer (@ house on hill road)

I am going to have to remember these really cute guy gifts for next year's Father's Day (@ The Idea Room)

These look like fun finger paints to do with the kids on those rainy days (@ Pepper Paints)

I love this cupcake pincushion pattern (@ Spud & Chloe)

I love this round-up of pasta salad recipes (@ Tip Nut)

I can't believe how beautiful this giant table turned out and I want to try this Heath Bar Cake too (@ Design Mom)

I want to make these chocolate chip cookie bowls (@ Michael Ruhlman)

This is such a sweet list of things that don't cost anything that you could do for Father's Day or for dad's birthday (@ ohdeedoh)

I need to figure out how to sew so I can make these child's travel pillow (@ maya made)

I want to make some of these sidewalk chalk stars for the Fourth of July (@ Alpha Mom)

This is a fantastic list of 75 ways to get your kids outdoors (@ DIY Life)

I needed some inspiration for summer lunches (@ Let's Explore)

I want to try this recipe for grilled pizza (@ Mix Magazine)

These zippy dogs would be a fun little treat to take to a playgroup or picnic (@ Big Red Kitchen)

I want to try this recipe for blue cheese cornbread (@ Baking Bites)

Labels: Favorites, Notebook

Labels: Giveaways

Labels: Entertainment, Parenting, Things To Do

We really put our blender to work in the summer and I wanted to share with you one of my kid's favorite treats for our homemade pizza night.

This is another fantastic recipe that I found on Hillbilly Housewife called, "Magic Milkshakes." To me, this recipe tastes just like a Wendy's Frosty with a fantastic balance of chocolate, creaminess, and the spoonable or sippable goodness that makes them one of my favorite summertime treats.

The magical component about them is that there is no ice cream in this yummy milkshake and that all the ingredients can be found in your cupboards. I adore recipes that can be whipped up as a fun surprise without the need to run to the store.

If you haven't tried this recipe before, do not let another summer pass you by without putting this into your rotation! These are inexpensive, delicious, and will score coolest mom every points!


Homemade Wendy's Frosty (The Magic Milkshake courtesy of Hillbilly Housewife)

1-1/2 to 2 cups ice water
1-1/2 cups nonfat dry milk powder
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 to 1-1/2 trays of ice cubes, as much as you can spare
2 tablespoons corn oil plus a 5-second squirt of non-stick spray for emulsification purpose (I substitute the corn oil with canola oil & you can read her notes on why you need that non-stick spray)

Place all of the ingredients into the blender, including the oil and the non-stick spray. Use less water for thicker milk shakes and more water for shakes that are easy on your blender motor. The blender should be about 3/4’s full. Place the lid on. Process for a full 2 minutes. Pour into cups and serve. Makes 4 - 12oz servings.

Related Links:

Homemade Slushies

Labels: Kid Recipes, Recipes

I hope everyone is having a great week! Please enjoy all of these fantastic freebies courtesy of Heather, from Freebies 4 Mom, to kick off a wonderful weekend. Don't forget to check her site for the latest round of coupons.

We are on our third week of the Water Way Challenge and I encourage you get your entry in for our $50 prize! We only have one more week to go in the challenge and each entry will get you closer towards those great prizes.

Happy Freebie Friday, everyone!


Health & Beauty
Food
Mars Free Chocolate Friday
Emeril's Original Essence

Entertainment

JUNE
19 - Orange Julius Free Light Smoothie Day
19 - A&W Float 2 to 8pm
20- Lakeshore Free Kid Crafts father's day tie11 to 3pm
20&21 - Bass Pro Shops Family Summer Camp paint a wooden lure Noon to 6pm
20&21 - The Home Depot Home Improver Workshops 5 different topics
20&21 - National Parks Fee Free Weekend
21 - TCBY Father's Day free cup or cone for dad
25 - Glidden National Paint Giveaway
27 - Lowes Build and Grow Kids make a pirate ship 10 to 11am

JULY
4 - The Home Depot Kids Workshop make a picnic caddy 9 to noon
4&5 - Museums on Us (free admission for Bank of America customers)
10 - Chick-fil-A Cow Appreciation Day
11 - 7-Eleven Free Slurpee
18-19 - National Parks Fee Free Weekend

AUGUST
1&2 - Museums on Us (free admission for Bank of America customers)
15-16 - National Parks Fee Free Weekend

Labels: Freebies

I wanted to bring back this entry because it really is the best showcase of all of our grocery saving advice on the site and on our blogs. If I could add only one tip, I would urge you to pull your fruit basket up so your child does not sink her teeth into each piece of fruit to stake her claim on it.

With grocery prices rising and package sizes shrinking, it can be difficult to stay within your grocery budget. Here are 35 steps towards improving your grocery budget and making the most of your money.

1. Buy the least expensive ground beef and rinse the meat instead to reduce the fat content.
2. Stop buying baby carrots and chop the carrots yourself.
3. Milk your milk budget by using powdered milk when the milk prices are too high.
4. Try making your own coffee syrups and coffee creamers to help save on your coffee expenses.
5. Dispose of the disposable items and switch to cloth napkins, washcloths, and and microfiber cloths to replace your paper napkins and disposable wipes.
6. Try making your own bread using a bread machine or making bread the good old-fashioned way.
7. Start keeping a price book to cash in on the best deals (you can download a free one here).
8. Take advantage of grocery delivery services or free in-store shopping services to help avoid impulse shopping.
9. Give wholesale club shopping a try for items that you use frequently, just be sure to use your price book to compare the prices.
10. Start making your own homemade cleaners.
11. Learn the art of stockpiling and create a system for storing your stockpile that works for your family.
12. Create a series of menu plans that you can rotate so you can make your grocery shopping easier and keep yourself under budget.
13. Try using coupons and utilizing free coupon services to help you score the best deals for your money.
14. Start gardening with simple foods that are easy to grow like tomatoes, herbs, cucumbers, and squash.
15. Try canning items from your garden to help cut costs in the winter months.
16. Make your own baby food or find a way to buy it cheaper.
17. Give cloth diapering a shot! They have come a long way and can save you hundreds and hundreds of dollars.
18. Sign up for free samples of food and toiletry items. You will waste less money trying new items out and these samples can help get you by when times are more lean.
19. Make your own mixes instead of buying them.
20. Try shopping at a less expensive supermarket.
21. Bring your own grocery bags for a grocery bag credit at most supermarkets.
22. Shop at stores that will double your coupons.
23. Bring cash and a calculator instead of using your debit card. This will help you to stay on budget better.
24. Utilize a slow cooker so you can buy cheaper cuts of meats and use the slow cooker to tenderize them.
25. Try making your own condiments like pancake syrup, croutons, and salad dressings.
26. Take inventory in your fridge, pantry, and freezer before shopping to avoid buying repeat and unnecessary items.
27. Try replacing one evening meal with breakfast foods instead. Most brunch dishes are less expensive and you can omit or stretch meat in these dishes a lot further.
28. Instead of buying prepackaged bagged ingredients, try packaging your own ingredients once a week instead. It will help get dinner on the table faster and it will save you money in your grocery budget.
29. Make a homemade pizza instead of buying pizzas in the frozen section.
30. Schedule a day in your kitchen every week to make cooking easier and to help save on the cost of buying convenience foods.
31. Feed your freezer and/or give once-a-month cooking a try to save on time and money.
32. Eliminate meat or make one night a meat-free night.
33. Make snacks items convenient so you don't have to buy the prepackaged goodies.
34. Buy and prepare whole chickens instead of buying chicken breasts as a meal or shred this meat for your casseroles.
35. Buy your meat in bulk.

Am I missing a tip? Feel free to share the ways you reduce your family's grocery budget?

Labels: Budget, Grocery Shopping, Personal Finance

Labels: Wordless Wednesday

I apologize for all of our technical difficulties! As we are frantically trying to repair all that has been occurring, I share with you one of our favorite crafts. Now that my son is turning seven, I have a feeling that he would take great joy in creating some toys for future baths in our house. This is a quick and easy craft that brought many hours of enjoyment for my children.


Experiment: Can I Craft Some Bath Toys?

Experiment Taken From: Notebook Entry 06.26.08

Materials Needed: Please see plumpudding for the full instructions on this task. I hit our local dollar store and picked up a ten pack of craft foam to use for this project. The craft foam is thin enough that you can cut these with plain old scissors or you could break out your zig-zag scissors from your scrapbooking materials.


Results: I am not very good at free-hand drawing so I went ahead and looked for a template where I could stencil some really cute shapes out of my foam. I found this handy template from the Martha Stewart website and whipped up several fishes, flowers, and hearts for the kids. These were very easy to trace and took only a few minutes to whip up. My husband also put together some that he drew for the kids.

The kids absolutely loved these and didn't want to get out of the bathtub. I also saved a few sheets of foam for the kids to do finger-painting on. I am planning to use these foam sheets with some of our homemade pudding paints (with only enough water to make a finger-paint consistency instead of a water paint consistency) and then I will just rinse the sheets off when they are done so that they can make brand new creations!

I would recommend making sure to soak the foam before you begin sticking it on walls. The pink color did bleed onto the walls and left a pink shade that is going to take some serious scrubbing to get out. None of the other colors caused this problem, but giving them a good soaking first should prevent this problem.


Conclusion: One package of foam can keep my children entertained for many baths and I can't wait to whip up some more of these for them to play with. I am thinking that these would make excellent stocking stuffers this year and you can't beat the price! Thanks plumpudding for your creative idea!
********************

I am so excited to open our Notebook Experiments up to everyone and I hope that you will be able to participate this week or in weeks to come! I will be posting this each Thursday so please mark your calendars if you plan to participate. You can post your entries at any time throughout the week and then leave your entry in the links below.

We have this handy banner that you are more than welcome to use, but it is not a requirement! It is just something you can add to add a little sparkle to your entry.

Rules for Participation:

1. Choose anything from any of our notebook entries (past or present) to do with your family. We have hundreds of bookmarked links of crafts, ways to save money, and organizing ideas.
2. Complete an experiment from the notebook and share about it on your blog or website. We would love to see pictures of what you accomplished or a detailed description of how your projects turned out. Please include a link to this entry, a link to the original posting of the entry (at the original crafster's blog), and (to help us relocate the project) the date or link of the notebook entry where you found it. You can use the same formatting as our entries or you can just include that information in your post in your own unique way!
3. Post a link below. Please include your name or blog name & a fast description of your project. Example- MomAdvice (WHO bread)

I can't wait to see what you create and what you find inspiring!

Labels: Entertainment, Frugal, Kid Crafts, Notebook Experiments, Things To Do

This salted butter caramel ice cream looks so delicious (@ David Lebovitz)

This fabric table topper would be a fun addition to a playroom (@ ohdeedoh)

I love these terry cloth cases for the beach (@ Martha Stewart)

This painted brick home is stunning (@ chatting at the sky)

This summer wreath is absolutely adorable (@ paint, decorate, design on the cheap- hat tip to A Soft Place to Land)

One of these years I will actually make strawberry jam (@ Intimate Weddings Blog)

My kids would think making homemade rain was really cool (@ Salt and Chocolate)

I like this tutorial on how to blanch and freeze kale (@ not martha)

This banana birthday party looks like a fun and fantastic birthday theme (@ chica schmica)

I can't wait to flip through these projects in the summer issue of Knitty (@ Knitty)

These chocolate chip cookie s'mores look evil and delicious (@ Picky Palate)

My daughter would adore these pipe cleaner fairies (@ 5 Orange Potatoes)

I want to try these fruit-filled oatmeal bars (@ Erin Compton Design)

I love this idea for spray painting those hand-me-down outdoor toys (@ teach mama)

I want to try these banana cream smoothies this summer (@ Cooking Light)

Labels: Favorites, Notebook

My husband and I celebrated nine years of marriage last month. We wanted to celebrate our anniversary in a special way and so we decided to take a little trip to Traverse City, Michigan and enjoy a weekend getaway for just the two of us. My husband's family was kind of enough to take care of the little ones and we were off for two days of sightseeing, window shopping, and delicious eating.

We remained true to our budget through careful planning and research and I wanted to share with you a few ways we found to save on our memorable weekend getaway!

We Researched Hotel Rates- There were tons of great places to stay in Traverse City and I wanted the place that we stayed at to be close to the downtown shopping and a fun getaway for us. We checked Kayak for room rates and found the Grand Traverse Resort to be approximately the same price as the other hotels, but it had many amenities. The reviews on the hotel were great and we were thrilled to find a rate that saved us about $70 a night versus the hotel rates.

All of that being said, it seemed because we had booked this discount rate, we also got the discount room. Our room was the one without the view, on the ground floor, and smelled like a smoking room. We also had no idea that they would charge a resort fee of $9.95 a day for all of those amenities that we did not use.

We still did score a great rate, but realized that the amount of time we spent in our room was not worth the grandeur and we will find a less expensive place next time!

We Requested A Visitor Packet- While the visitor packet for this town lacked coupons, it did give us some ideas for neat places to visit and offered great historical information on the places we planned to visit. Through this packet of information, I was able to jot down some ideas for places to eat and see while we were in the town.

We Found the Best Places to Eat- I wanted to eat the coolest spots in town and we were able to do that with just a little research on my part. I hopped on Chow and checked through the forums for information on the town we were visiting. People offered honest opinions on the best spots in town and we decided to eat at two of the restaurants that had been recommended.

This first restaurant is called Trattoria Stella and was a fantastic Italian place in a renovated insane asylum. No, I am not joking! My husband, who watches many of those ghost-chasing shows, was thoroughly creeped out and it made for great conversation with our waiter. The food and wine choices relied heavily on local farmers and local wines which made for a fresh and delicious dinner.

The other recommendation was for Don's Drive-In, which was absolutely everything that I adore about diner food. Greasy burgers, giant shakes, and the best fried mushrooms ever. We took our shakes to go and drove near the water for a view. It was far too cold to sit too long, but we prided ourselves on making the most of our two day getaway!

We Talked to the Local Folk- When someone comes to my town, I love to be a local authority. Isn't it fun to share all of the hidden gems of your town? We talked to anyone who would chat with us and they shared their special places to eat, shop, and their favorite wineries to visit in town. People just love sharing about their home and that is how we were able to discover an out-of-the-way winery that was not listed on maps. It ended up closing before we arrived, but we were able to take some wonderful pictures of the view.


We Put Together Our Own Tours & Packages- The Grand Traverse Resort offered a room package that you could take to tour the local wineries. The package included a two night stay and a tour of three wineries. The price? A whopping $224.50 per person. They had the wineries listed where they would be touring and I jotted them down and we decided to do our own tour. The price for us to do our own wine tour? Gas plus $3-5 per tasting at the wineries. With the money saved, we were able to take home a bottle of wine from each of the three wineries as a memento of our special anniversary. The two highlights for us were Shady Lane & Black Star Farms.

We saved ourselves even more time and money by trying wines at the restaurant and even picking up a bottle at the gas station. We discovered what wineries were not worth visiting and which ones we could not wait to enjoy at their winery.


We Put Our GPS To Good Use- We had a gift certificate last year and we put it towards a little GPS unit for our car. It has saved us so much money in gas and an inevitable divorce because we always get lost. It has been one of the best investments for our family- I truly could go on and on!

If you have a GPS unit, program it with all of the places that you would like to go before heading on your trip. I visited all of the sites of the restaurants, our hotel, even the downtown shops that I wanted to hit so all of the information was right at our fingertips. We enjoyed a scenic view to the town and we were able to navigate our way around without any problems to all of the places we wanted to see.

If you don't have a GPS, print out maps for the places you would like to go and tuck them in a folder for your trip.

We Stuck To Window Shopping- I won't say we didn't make any purchases, but the majority of the day was just spent window shopping and picture-taking. I was able to take pictures of all the beautiful windows and antiques that we saw and that seemed to satisfy any urge I had to shop. We did enjoy oodles of free food samples downtown and shared a slice of pizza on a park bench to people watch over our lunch.

What a happy 9th anniversary that was and almost 15 years of being together!

Do you have any weekend getaways planned? What is your favorite way to save on your vacation travels? Please share!

Labels: Budget, Frugal, Marriage, Things To Do, Travel

You know something is good if it can't even be photographed before being devoured. These Cinnamon Whole Wheat Waffles are a new favorite Sunday brunch for our family and I love that they incorporate a bit of healthy in them to balance out the mounds of pancake syrup.

The first batch we made of these, I found that they were extremely dense and a little too heavy for my liking. I remembered the tip from my Notebook Experiment where you whip the egg whites to a stiff peak and fold them in and decided to give that a shot. This little step added a bit of airiness to the waffles and balanced out the heaviness of that whole wheat flavor.


Really, there is just nothing more to say except that we love these as our Sunday treat. This batch is enough to make 5 waffles in my waffle iron. You can make a double batch of these for some delicious leftovers.


Whole Wheat Cinnamon Waffles

1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup unbleached flour
1/4 cup toasted wheat germ (I substituted this with 1/4 cup rolled oats)
1/3 cup instant nonfat dry milk powder
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs (separate the egg whites from the egg yolks)
3 tablespoons canola oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups buttermilk (I used regular milk and then added 2 tablespoons of vinegar & let it stand for five minutes)

In a large bowl, combine the whole-wheat flour, unbleached flour, dry milk, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, wheat germ, and salt; mix well. Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites. In a medium bowl, mix the yolks, oil, buttermilk, and vanilla. Pour over the dry ingredients. In a small bowl beat egg whites until stiff peaks form (tips stand straight up). Gently fold egg whites into flour and egg yolk mixture, leaving a few fluffs of egg white, Do not overmix. Coat your waffle iron with vegetable cooking spray and preheat. Pour 1/2 cup of the batter into the center of the hot waffle iron and cook until the batter stops steaming, about 6 minutes. Cooking time varies according to the they type of waffle iron you have. Repeat with remainder of the dough, applying the cooking spray between waffles. Serve warm with your favorite syrup.

Labels: Kid Recipes, Recipes

Happy Freebie Friday, everyone! I hope you all are having a great week this week. I would like to thank Heather, from Freebies 4 Mom, for providing us with her great round-up of the best freebies of the week. Heather has a fantastic entry this week on word-of-mouth programs and what they offer. This is a definite must read for scoring additional free samples and products. If you missed Heather on the Tyra Banks Show, they are airing the episode again today. Be sure to visit Freebies 4 Mom for the scoop!

We have another $50 giveaway to offer for our Crystal Light Water Way Challenge. By participating in this challenge, we are able to help others have access to clean water. You can enter each Monday (four times in all). Our Apron Full of Giveaways will also offer access to more great contests on the web!

Finally, if you have a moment and could put in a vote for MomAdvice in the BlogLuxe Awards, I would greatly appreciate it. You can vote once daily and we have been nominated in the Cleanest Blog Category & Blogs You Learned The Most From. Thank you so much for your votes!

Enjoy the freebies!

Health & Beauty
Food
Mars Free Chocolate Friday
Godiva Chocolate Rewards
Metamucil Pink Lemonade and Berry Burst
True Lemon

Entertainment

JUNE
13 - Lakeshore Free Kid Crafts flip flop magnetic notepad 11 to 3pm
13 - Toys 'R Us Super Why Play Day 12 to 2pm
13 - Lowes Build and Grow Kids make a putting green 10 to 11am
13&14 - Bass Pro Shops Family Summer Camp paint a wooden lure Noon to 6pm
13&14 - The Home Depot Home Improver Workshops 5 different topics
15- Free Hot Dog on a Stick Day 5 to 8pm
19 - Orange Julius Free Light Smoothie Day
20-21 - National Parks Fee Free Weekend
21 - TCBY Father's Day free cup or cone for dad
27 - Lowes Build and Grow Kids make a pirate ship 10 to 11am

JULY
4 - The Home Depot Kids Workshop make a picnic caddy 9 to noon
10 - Chick-fil-A Cow Appreciation Day
11 - 7-Eleven Free Slurpee
18-19 - National Parks Fee Free Weekend

AUGUST
15-16 - National Parks Fee Free Weekend

Labels: Freebies

If you would have asked me I thought I could whip up some pitas for my family a few years ago, I would have told you no. I have had this recipe in my collection for so long that I don't even know where it originated from, but I decided to dust off the old recipe collection and see if these could come together for me. After all, if it was a complete failure...well, at least I tried!

This dough is incredibly easy to work with, especially for a novice! It is not too dry and it is not too wet so you don't have to use a lot of flour to roll these out.

These pitas are so yummy and the whole wheat flour adds a yummy dimension to the flavors. The kids loved these and my husband could not get over that I had made them because they looked just like the store-bought variety.

Now that I have made them though, there is no turning back. I will never buy these at the store again. In fact, I am whipping up my second batch for the week today! I hope your family will enjoy these as much as we have!

Pita Bread (for the Bread Machine)

1 1/3 cup water
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups bread flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons yeast

Put ingredients into the bread machine in order listed. Run the dough cycle on your machine. When the bread machine beeps, pull the dough out of the bread machine and divide the dough into ten pieces. Roll each piece into a six inch circle. Place these on a baking sheet (or your pizza stones) and let them rise for twenty minutes (I can fit about four rounds per pizza stone or three pitas per baking sheet). Bake at 500 degrees for three minutes. Using a spatula, flip the pitas and cook for another three to four minutes on the flip side.

Amy's Side Notes:

- When you pull the pitas off of your baking sheet, wrap them into a damp kitchen towel for a few minutes. This helps keep them from drying out. Once they are cool, you can store them in a food storage bag.

- Freeze extras for a rainy day! After the pitas have cooled, slip a piece of wax paper between them and store in a freezer bag. You can take out what you need...when you need it!

Labels: Recipes

I love this decoupaged window idea for some crafting inspiration (@ ohdeedoh)

This pocket pillowcase would be a great thing for keeping track of our beloved bunny (@ elsie marley)

I need to replace my French Press so I can make the perfect iced coffee (@ Small Notebook)

I like this idea for making a lunch puzzle (@ This Little Project)

I adore these flowered sandals and I know my daughter would love them too (@ Happy Together)

I will have to download these spaceship stickers for my little guy (@ GoodyBlog)

This is a great tutorial for making pie crust (@ Home Ec 101)

I love these sweet little flower pots with the house numbers on them (@ Evangeline's Vine)

This little spray painting craft would be a fun way to keep my kids entertained this summer (@ No Time for Flash Cards)

This graduation cap clock is a genius way to to showcase that graduation cap (@ Craftzine)

These tips for how to yard sale are so great (@ Nesting Place)

I am really inspired by this blouse refashion project (@ My Mama Made)

I love this resourceful post for making your own wool soakers (@ The Artful Parent)

Labels: Favorites, Notebook

Labels: Giveaways

It has been a tradition in our family to visit the fire station at Christmas and make special treats for the firefighters. This year our mom's group had it on the calendar to make a summer visit and the kids were so excited to visit the fire station again. I don't know why I had not thought to do this in the summer before!

I get a lot of promotional stuff from different companies and I had saved this tin (with a company logo on it) and recovered it with a bit of wallpaper from the thrift store and a little glue. Ethan worked hard on a thank you card for the firefighters and I whipped up a batch of chocolate chip cookie bars. We packaged it in tissue and we were off for our visit to the fire station.

Don't you love those orange fire engines? I was sucked into taking pictures of the fire station and completely was not paying attention to my kids. There were just so many cool things to see there that I had a hard time capturing all of it.



Thank you to the firefighters at Harris Township Fire Station #2 for sharing all about your job and how things work at the fire station. My children could not have enjoyed the day more and we are so thankful we have such great people protecting us!

I encourage you to read Michelle's post, at Leaving Excess, on how important our firefighters are and what you can do to show your thankfulness to them!

What are some ways you thank those that serve or care for your family? I would love to get some new ideas for teaching our children thankfulness!

Labels: Entertainment, Family, Frugal, Kid Crafts, Things To Do

Labels: MomAdvice News

Rice is truly one of my favorite side dishes. It goes perfectly with everything and it is frugal to boot! I love white rice, but have been working lately on adding more whole grains to our family's diet. The problem with my family is that they are really resisting the whole grain switch. It seems to be all about texture with them so it takes a really great recipe to get them on board with the changes.

These days, I have been working really hard to find a recipe for brown rice that my whole family would enjoy. You may remember my Notebook Experiment where I attempted cooking brown rice the same way as you cook pasta. My concern with that version was that I was boiling out the nutrients of the rice.

A couple of great people suggested trying Alton Brown's method of cooking brown rice and I am so glad they did! I had been on a search for the perfect brown rice and stumbled upon the same recommendation to try Alton Brown's recipe.

We have already eaten this brown rice four times in the last two weeks and I know that I will probably never make another version of brown rice again. It is perfectly fluffy, delicious without the grainy taste, and has been devoured by all in our family. My son has been begging for brown rice with our meals and that is how I know that this recipe will a repeat performer each week.

Alton Brown's Baked Brown Rice

1 1/2 cups brown rice, medium or short grain
2 1/2 cups water (we substituted this with chicken broth instead)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 teaspoon kosher salt

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Place the rice into an 8-inch square glass baking dish. Bring the water, butter, and salt just to a boil in a kettle or covered saucepan. Once the water boils, pour it over the rice, stir to combine, and cover the dish tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 1 hour. After 1 hour, remove cover and fluff the rice with a fork. Serve immediately.

Amy's Notes- When I package this up for leftovers, I add a tablespoon or two of water or chicken broth to the rice before storing it for later. This seems to help keep the rice more moist and helps it hold it's texture a little better.

Do you have any whole grain recipes your family enjoys or any creative ways of adding more whole grains to their diet? Please share!

Related Links:

Presto Pesto Rice
Yummy Mexican Rice
Lemony Rice Pilaf

Labels: Recipes

Happy Freebie Friday, everyone! A huge thanks to Heather, from Freebies 4 Mom, for rounding up all the latest & greatest freebies for our readers each week. I love Heather's Money 4 Mom entries and she has a good one this week on the Pinecone Research Panel. Thanks, Heather, for all you do!

Don't forget to enter our $50 giveaway each week (for the next four weeks) sponsored by Crystal Light. You can also visit An Apron Full of Giveaways to find out all about the great contests on the web each Tuesday.

Health & Beauty
Food

Mars Free Chocolate Friday

Entertainment

JUNE
5 - Krispy Kreme Free Donut
6 - Friendly's Free Ice Cream Day Noon to 5pm
6 - The Home Depot Kids Workshop make a hardware sorter 9 to noon
6&7 The Home Depot Home Improver Workshops - 5 different topics
6&7 Bass Pro Shops Family Summer Camp - make leather keychain noon to 6pm
7 - Toys 'R Us Starfy Event - free giveaways 12 to 2pm
13 - Lowes Build and Grow Kids make a putting green 10 to 11am
19 - Orange Julius Free Light Smoothie Day
20-21 - National Parks Fee Free Weekend
21 - TCBY Father's Day - free cup or cone for dad
27 - Lowes Build and Grow Kids make a pirate ship 10 to 11am

JULY
4 - The Home Depot Kids Workshop make a picnic caddy 9 to noon
10 - Chick-fil-A Cow Appreciation Day
11 - 7-Eleven Free Slurpee
18-19 - National Parks Fee Free Weekend

AUGUST
15-16 - National Parks Fee Free Weekend

Labels: Freebies

I was so excited and honored to be asked to guest blog for Kimba at, "A Soft Place to Land." Kimba is one of my favorite blogging friends and she has been contemplating taking on a No Spend Challenge of her own. She asked me to share my thoughts on our family's No Spend Challenge to share with her readers today.

I am so thankful for the opportunity and I hope you can explore her beautiful blog today. It is a treasure to me!

Labels: Guest Posts

I like to keep a little dish by my sink to put my jewelry in while I am doing the dishes. I also love to thrift shop so I put my love for thrift and my little dish together and came up with this cute little idea.

I use a thrifted candle holder to put my jewels in. They look so pretty and, if the edge has a nice lip on it, it is a safe way to keep your jewels out of harms way. It also makes your jewelry a pretty display while you are scrubbing your little heart out and cursing your family for not helping you... or praying- whatever you happen to do while washing the dishes.

And, if you so choose, you could also be cleaning your jewelry while scrubbing your heart (as you curse your family or pray).

Here are two handy little recipes to keep tucked away for that special day!

Homemade Silver Jewelry Cleaner:

In a bowl, place strips of aluminum foil in and place your silver jewelry on top of them. Cover the silver with boiling water and then add three tablespoons of baking soda and soak for ten minutes. Mix remaining hot water and a drop of liquid soap into another glass bowl. Place your silver in the soapy water and wash. Rinse with clean water and polish dry your pieces with a soft cotton cloth. Please take care, some solutions that are great for some metals and stones may damage others.

(Side Note- I use this solution for cleaning all my silver jewelry and have never had any problems. This works like a dream!)

Homemade Gold Jewelry Cleaner:

Fill a small bowl with warm water and a drop of liquid dish soap. Allow this to soak for approximately ten minutes. Proceed to brush the pieces with an eyebrow brush (or a similar substation such as a toothbrush) while they are being soaked. Then you should transfer the gold jewelry to a strainer and then proceed to rinsing it off with warm water. Finish by drying with a soft cotton cloth.

Labels: Cleaning, Cleaning Recipes

This notebook experiment is a lovely little repeat and I plan to do this again with my son this summer. It is a handy little rainy day activity to keep in your back pocket!

Experiment: Can a few printed out zoo maps keep my child busy for an afternoon?

Experiment Taken From: Notebook Entry 06.19.08

Materials Needed: Please see Let's Explore for specific directions on how to complete this experiment. I printed out the zoo maps that Let's Explore had suggested along with maps from our own local zoos for my son to look at. I wished we had a color printer to print these out, but Ethan still was able to visualize where all the animals were in the zoo.

Results: I planned this activity the day after we went to the zoo so all of the exhibits were fresh in his mind. At first he copied the maps and used those as a template for his own map. I then asked him to make a map of his very own imaginary zoo and he filled this with the traditional zoo animals. I challenged him a little and asked where the dinosaur exhibit was and he looked at me like I had two heads, "Um, mom...dinosaurs are extincted." This is when I stressed that it was an imaginary zoo and he could fill it with whatever he wanted. That is when he really let loose on his map and created some interesting exhibits like a squid exhibit, a special T-Rex exhibit, and some animals that I can't even pronounce.

Just like our grocery store experiment, we also wrote the zoo words out and I had him practice on his writing. I am trying to encourage this as much as I can so he will have a great start to his first year at elementary school.

Once we completed this, I told Ethan that he could build a zoo out of the Little People sets that we had. He was very quiet for an hour while I worked and then told me that I could come downstairs. "Ticket please, ma'am." Every toy in the world was out and lined up for an exhibit. I applaud the effort, and silently cringed as I saw every toy bin dumped to build the masterpiece.

Conclusion: This was a wonderful activity to foster creativity, build our writing skills, and also kept my son relatively quiet for an afternoon. I did have some clean-up on my hands, but building a zoo can sometimes create a bit of a mess. Many thanks to Let's Explore for inspiring me as a parent!

********************

I am so excited to open our Notebook Experiments up to everyone and I hope that you will be able to participate this week or in weeks to come! I will be posting this each Thursday so please mark your calendars if you plan to participate. You can post your entries at any time throughout the week and then leave your entry in the links below.

We have this handy banner that you are more than welcome to use, but it is not a requirement! It is just something you can add to add a little sparkle to your entry.

Rules for Participation:

1. Choose anything from any of our notebook entries (past or present) to do with your family. We have hundreds of bookmarked links of crafts, ways to save money, and organizing ideas.
2. Complete an experiment from the notebook and share about it on your blog or website. We would love to see pictures of what you accomplished or a detailed description of how your projects turned out. Please include a link to this entry, a link to the original posting of the entry (at the original crafster's blog), and (to help us relocate the project) the date or link of the notebook entry where you found it. You can use the same formatting as our entries or you can just include that information in your post in your own unique way!
3. Post a link below. Please include your name or blog name & a fast description of your project. Example- MomAdvice (WHO bread)

I can't wait to see what you create and what you find inspiring!

Labels: Notebook Experiments, Things To Do

I am going to have to try making these sweet little felt flower hair clips (@ koala brain)

I have been inspired to make some homemade Pop-Tarts today (@ The Idea Room)

I like this list of things to pack when traveling with kids (@ Make & Takes)

These strawberry butter looks like a delicious summer treat (@ The Kitchn)

I have a feeling I could polish off a couple of these stuffed grilled portobello mushrooms (@ Annie's Eats)

This is a great idea for putting cleaning agendas in each room (@ Parent Hacks)

This green space travel case made me giggle and inspired (@ design sponge)

I love this refashioned picnic basket for the summer season (@ Oilcloth Addict)

These breaded & baked chicken drumsticks look like they would make delicious picnic food (@ Simply Recipes)

I want to add some of these ideas to our summer list (@ two straight lines)

I love this idea for stocking a family store (@ Like Merchant Ships)

I love these DIY craft organizers (@ Ashley Ann Photography)

These twine covered Mason jars are beautiful (@ Vickie Howell)

This kitchen stool makeover is adorable (@ A Soft Place to Land)

I am dying to try this chocolate ice cream cake (@ Omnomicon)

I like these ten tips for being a more light-hearted parent (@ The Happiness Project)

Labels: Favorites, Notebook

Pattern: Ruffled Shawl by Gail Tanquary

Needle Size: US 10 Needles

Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton-Ease in Violet (5 skeins)

Notes: I could not wait to show you my latest knitted project. I am so proud of this, in fact, that I carry it around in a tote bag with me to showcase to anyone who will talk to me. This truly is my proudest knitting moment to date and I would like to introduce you to my new summer shawl!

The shawl itself was very easy and straightforward. The shawl started with only two stitches and then increased as you went along and grew from that tiny point into the shawl. You then decreased back down until you had a single stitch left on your needles. At this point, you picked up the edge again and knit back into it to create the bell-shaped ruffle. I had no idea how to "pick up" stitches so this required a great deal of assistance from my sweet mother-in-law.

The ruffled edge was a true challenge for me though and each row, on the ruffle, took approximately an hour to complete. I should have used longer circular needles than I had, as the stitches were so bunched on the needles I had no idea if I was doing anything right at all. The ruffle itself took a full three weeks for me to finish and three hours to cast off.

Once I cast off the ruffle though, I quickly realized that this shawl is not intended for a petite girl. The length of this shawl came to my toes. It was intended to be thrown over your shoulder, but my frame is narrow and I could have easily wrapped it three times. I knew if I left it this way, I would never wear it. After that much work, some modifications had to be made.

Pictured here is my modification to the pattern. I folded each side of the corners of the shawl in sixteen inches on each side and seamed it to the top of the neckline. This created a pocket that I can tuck my hands into when I am cold and created a sizing more appropriate to my body type.

I absolutely am in love with this shawl! I chose cotton yarn so that it could be enjoyed during any season and I wouldn’t get too hot. This shawl will be well-traveled and loved. I have pictured myself in it on so many occasions already.

This project was a true challenge, but I am convinced if I can make this, I can do pretty much anything!

Below is a video that explains the process of picking up stitches that you can use for reference if you haven't done this before.

Labels: Crafting

It occurred to me this past week that never in the history of An Apron Full of Giveaways have I actually shown you any from my own collection. A collector of aprons, a showing of none! What in the world is wrong with me?

When I went to California last year, the only thing that I came home with were two aprons and a set of measuring spoons from Anthropologie. If I had a million dollars, it is where I would most likely spend every single dime. Pictured here is one of those aprons to go along with our list of of giveaways this week!

This week we have a giveaway that will be ending tonight at 8PM EST. We are offering you a chance to win the new Aurora Photo Editing Software. If you are looking for a new photo editing software alternative, this is a contest you will definitely want to check out.

Our new giveaway this week is a $50 giveaway in conjunction with the Crystal Light Water Way Challenge. We will be offering $50 to one lucky winner each week that we participate (four weeks in all). Be sure to enter each week to increase those chances of winning! We are talking about staying hydrated and I can think of nothing more frugal than drinking water!

Follow the links below to find out how to enter to win these fabulous giveaways!

Below are the contest links-if you are hosting a contest please link it up below. Sorry, we aren't giving away the aprons just showcasing them! Please put your site name and then what type of contest you are hosting. For example, "MomAdvice (Children's Movies)."

Please let me know if you have any questions and good luck to each of you!

Labels: Giveaways

I think the best part about the summer season is all of the outdoor eating and grilling. I can admit, we are still getting the hang of grilling and learning about all of the fun things we can eat out on our grill. I am determined to try new marinades, sides, and even grilling some pizza this year. We have a full summer of learning ahead of us!

One thing that has been helping me get the hang of grilling is a remote digital thermometer to monitor the meat temperature. We were taking our food off too soon or too late and this gadget helps us get the perfect steak or piece of chicken every single time.

My girlfriend was the one who shared this gadget with me and I found a very inexpensive one at Walmart over in the grilling supplies that was about $16. I can't seem to locate what I bought, but this Taylor Weekend Warrior Digital Thermometer ($15.98) is the same price and does the same exact thing. Mine was a no-name brand that has worked just as good as the fancy models and has saved us from nuking our meat in the microwave after grilling. If you are looking for a handy gadget for Father's Day, this is a thoughtful gift to give with an oven mitt or a book of new barbeque recipes.

We tried a new marinade recipe that is so delicious and offers a great deal of flavor to our chicken. I throw this marinade together and then let the chicken marinate all day in the refrigerator. This makes the most juicy and tender chicken. Serve with some yummy lemon rice and my roasted green beans for the perfect summer dinner.

Zesty Chicken Marinade

(Marinade for 12 pieces of chicken, halve this recipe for four to six pieces)

1 cup oil
1/2 cup vinegar
2 tablespoons Miracle Whip or Miracle Whip light
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon salt (to taste)
1 tablespoon pepper
2 tablespoons thyme
1 tablespoon garlic salt

Whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl. Use to marinate chicken pieces at least 30 minutes and then to baste the meat as it cooks in the oven or over hot coals.

Do you have a favorite grilling recipe to share? Please share here!

Labels: Recipes

I just want to say a special thank you to each of you for visiting my website and sharing it with your friends, family, and your own readers. We had another great month and it is all thanks to you. I hope to continue offering support through our site, lots of giveaways for our readers, and a place where you feel valued and cared for. If there is anything you would like to see on here, please contact me (amy@momadvice.com) and let me know what you would like to see in the upcoming year.

Don't forget, you can subscribe to my feeds and never miss another thing on our site again! We have a landing page where it makes it easy to subscribe to our blogs and you can even subscribe to my article feed.

This month's top referrers were:

1. Freebies 4 Mom
2. Money Saving Mom
3. Twitter
4. Deal Seeking Mom
5. A Soft Place To Land
6. Facebook
7. Swagbucks
8. The Inspired Room
9. Feels Like Home
10. Sparkle Power

Please take some time this month to check out each of their sites. They are amazing at what they do and we are thankful that we have such great supporters!

This month's top articles & entries were:

1. 7 Tips for Leading a Balanced Blogger Life
2. Notebook Experiments: Can I Make a Pretty Wreath for Our Door?
3. World's Greatest Homemade Slushies
4. The Mother's Day Notebook Edition
5. The Only Corn on the Cob I Will Ever Make Again
6. A Simple & Easy Basic Pizza Dough
7. All Knitted Up: Sweet Baby Blankets
8. A Real Review of Restaurant.com
9. Notebook Experiments: Can I Make Wall Art?
10. An Elegant Strawberry Salad

Labels: Monthly Recaps