Saving Money in the Kitchen

I'm always looking for easy ways to save some money and there's a few of my new favorite ways that I want to share with you...

I don't know about you but with five kids (mine plus two I babysit) we go through a lot of granola bars!  And those things aren't cheap, even when you buy the generic brand.  So I hoped on Pinterest and found a recipe that I'm in love with.  It's pretty easy and really yummy!  Click here for recipe.

Here's all the ingredients

I used a rolling pin to flatten the mixture out and make it even in the pan.

May not be the prettiest granola bars ever but they are delicious!  I used a pizza cutter to cut out the granola bars...I found that to be easier than using a knife.

My bars were falling apart somewhat so I store them in a container in the fridge...solved that problem!

You know those little "Energy Bars/Cookies" you can purchase at the grocery store for $4.99 for a tiny container?  Love them but not paying those kind of prices when we would go through one container in a day!  So when my aunt made some delicious Energy Cookies, I told her I had to have her recipe. The recipe makes 2 1/2 dozen and they are "cookies" I don't mind feeding my children.  

 Here's the recipe: 

-Microwave 1/2 cup of butter at HIGH for 30-40 seconds or until butter is partially melted

-Whisk together partially melted butter, 1/4 cup + 3 Tbsp of honey, 1 tsp vanilla extract

-In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 3/4 cups white whole wheat flour, 1 tsp baking powder, and 1/4 tsp salt

-Stir in 1 1/2 cups uncooked regular oats, 1/2 cup milk chocolate morsels, 1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate morsels, 1/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar, 1/4 cup roasted/salted pumpkin seeds, 1/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries 

-Add flour mixture to butter mixture, stirring just until combined (Do not overmix)

-Shape dough into 2 inch balls and place 1 inch apart on parchment paper-lined baking sheets

-Bake 15 minutes or until edges are lightly browned at 350 degrees

Oatmeal...it's a staple in our pantry.  But there's a cheaper way to have the convenience of those packets that cook in a minute in the microwave. All you need is a big container of quick cook oats, brown sugar, and snack baggies.  Put a 1/4 cup of the oats in each baggie then add 1 tablespoon of brown sugar to each.  I made 40 "packets" of oatmeal for less than $4.  You can also add dried fruit, cinnamon or other things to the baggies if you want a variety.  Here's where I got this idea.  

If you have read my blog before you might know how much I L.O.V.E. this blog!  Not long ago she had such a simple but amazing tip for making your own pumpkin flavored coffee (it's fall and I'm all about pumpkin flavored everything!).  So simple, I had one of those, "Why didn't I think of that!?" moments.  All you do is sprinkle some pumpkin pie spice right on top of your coffee grounds and hit the brew button.  You can decide how strong you want the pumpkin flavor to be...Happy Fall Yall!

Anyone have any favorite ways to save money in the kitchen?

5 Cheap Organizing Ideas

As a single mom, I'm always looking for ways to save money.  As much as I could go crazy spending money on cute little things or organize my home with, I've learned a few ways to do it cheaply... 

Hangers:  Who doesn't have a few unused hangers in their closet??  I use them to organize my pocketbooks, belts, scarves, bras and bathing suits.  Sure you can make a pile of purses in your closet floor or stuff belts, scarves, bras and bathing suits in your dresser drawer (which I've tried before) but I can find what I need a lot faster since I started hanging all of those things up.

my purses, scarves and belts

Hooks:  I use hooks all over the place.  Since we are in a rental house and I don't want to leave any holes or permanent marks on the walls, that I'm going to have to repair later, I love the 3M Command Hooks.  I have used them to hang pictures as well as organize.  Here's how I used them to organize our school stuff.

I used scrapbook stickers to put each child's initial on their hook

Shoe Organizers:  You can buy these for a few dollars and use them to organize all kinds of small things.  My son has one on his closet door for shoes, hats, gloves, ties, etc.  My daughters share a closet but both have their own shoe organizer hanging on their side of the closet.  Putting their shoes in that, frees up a lot of floor space and allows them both to have room in the one shared closet.  We also have one hanging in the art supply closet.  It holds all kinds of small art things (paintbrushes, pipe cleaners, fabric, glue sticks, paint, art smocks, pencils, etc).

I just cleaned Archer's organizer out so it's got some pockets ready for this fall/winter season's stuff

Storage bins:  All of the plastic storage bins I have purchased have been on sale and I haven't paid over $3 for any of them.  I keep our pantry organized with these bins.  It keeps it looking good without much effort.  As you can see, we just throw things in the bins but since they are labeled, it makes it look nice and tidy.  This method has made it so much easier for my young kids to go in and get themselves breakfast, snack or help me pack their lunch.

I also used the plastic bins when I was organizing our school stuff.  I realized they needed more than just a hook to hang their backpack and coat on, so I got each child a bin to keep under their hook.  They throw things in there that they will need for school the next day (like shoes, socks, lunchbox, show and tell, library book, etc). 

Self Stick Tiles:  Great to use on wire shelving.  It creates a space for things you wouldn't otherwise be able to put on that type of shelf.  I used them on the top shelf in my pantry to store my cookbooks on, in the art closet to put coloring/activity books on, and even in my closet so my folded clothes wouldn't end up with those darn wire marks on them. 

$9.99 for a box of 25 tiles at Ollie's

I'm always looking for new and creative ideas so please share how you keep your home or car organized!!

First day of Preschool

Well that week between my oldest starting school and my middle smartie starting preschool sure went by super fast...sigh.  I do have to say, I'm not an emotional wreck like I was when my Harper started preschool.  And my middle smartie did go to preschool for half a year last year, so we aren't complete newbies to this.  But it's still hard to let go of one of your babies...whether it's the first or last or any in between!  

Here's how today went for us...

Got all three smarties up and dressed, their two cousins came over and they ate breakfast together and played while I cleaned up after breakfast.  Then we loaded the van up (not without snapping a few pics first) and headed to school.  Since it was Palmer's first day, I walked her in but from now on, she will get out at the traffic circle with her sister and cousins. 

She wanted to make her own First Day sign like her big sister did last week.  And even though it's hard to read, I went with her idea...I mean how cute is that!?

More photo opportunities...

 I am so excited about the year ahead of her.  She has such an amazing teacher.  Seriously, I have heard nothing but praise, praise and more praise about Mrs. Lyon.  I know one thing for sure, she knows how to decorate, huh!?

Preschool is over at 12, so little smartie and I picked Palmer up and head home for lunch and nap before we went back to pick up the big kids at 3.  Yep, it's a crazy, hectic day with lots of rushing around getting, everyone here and there but I wouldn't trade my life for anything! 

 She got a special first day of school treat after lunch.

Now that we have a new school routine down, we get to throw in soccer practice and dancing next week to add a little more craziness...I'll take any prayers (for my single mom sanity) that you're willing to give! :)

Palmer is a whole hand!

The way we have to do birthdays is different for us now...a hard to get used to kind of different.  When it hit me a couple of weeks ago that my middle smartie's birthday weekend fell on a weekend that she would be with her dad, I cried...cried my eyes out.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think I wouldn't be with my child on her birthday...the birthday where she would turn a "whole hand old."

  I prayed (a lot) and finally decided I could do this, I had to do this.  I had to let go and accept that birthdays and holidays would be different for us from now on.  But I would be lying if I told you, I didn't shed tears after watching the truck pull away with my smarties all buckled in and waving to me from the back window.  

With a knot in my stomach and an ache in my heart, I walked back in the house and prayed for my girl to have a wonderful 5th birthday.  As the weekend went on and I got texts and pics and phone calls, I felt better and that knot slowly went away.  I knew my little girl was having a great time on her special day.

When my smarties came back from their weekend away, we had a small family celebration for Palmer after her cousin's gymnastics party.  I realized one huge thing after making it through the first new way we have to do birthdays/holidays...my children don't need huge over the top, Pinterest inspired celebrations to make them feel important, all they need to know is that they are loved.  And that, my friends, is enough!

First Day of 1st Grade

So long summer, hello new school year.  I can't believe my oldest smartie started 1st grade today.  It was so much different than last year... with kindergarten, it was hard to let go and hold back tears.  Today was excitement and smiles.  She had everything ready to go and laid out last night...first day outfit, new shoes, backpack, and lunch.  So this morning it was pretty easy and we even left in plenty of time to take pictures and say hey to friends as we walked into school.  She is beyond blessed to be able to go to the school she does and I can leave her there knowing she is surrounded by loving teachers and friends.

 Yes, we did the first day of school sign but I decided to do it different than last year, from now on.  I let Harper write it herself.  One day we can look back at pictures and see how much her writing has changed as well as how much she has grown and changed.

 After school, I picked her and her two cousins up and we went back to their house for after school treat their mom got for all the kids to enjoy.  

Little smartie was not happy when he dropped his cupcake. haha

 Now it's only one more week until I have to send my middle smartie off to preschool....

First Day of School Teacher Gift

Last year, when my oldest started kindergarten, we found such a cute first day of school gift for her to take to her teacher. (found here at one of my all-time favorite blogs!) This year she wanted to do it for her first grade teacher and her little sister wanted to make one for her preschool teacher.  

Here's what we did:

 ~Got a couple of bags of M&M's -we chose the regular ones instead of the peanut ones since there are so many people allergic to peanuts

~Poured them into a couple of half pint mason jars -I try to keep these on hand because they can be used for some many crafts and ideas 

~Printed off the little poem-you can print it off onto cardstock or use regular printer paper and glue onto a piece of scrapbook or construction paper to keep it from being too flimsy

~Punched a hole into the paper with poem and attached it to the jar using string, twine, yarn, etc.

~You can also add a piece of cute paper or fabric on the top of the jar for more decoration

 Here's the poem:

Green is for the inspiration you will give me each day

Blue is for your patience in showing me the way

Orange is for your awesome first grade style

Yellow is for the way I know you will make me smile

Red is for my life that you will touch this year

You're a very special teacher just like this jar, that's clear

You place your knowledge into our hands

and melt into our hearts.

You're a “Magnificant” and “Marvelous” teacher...

Thank you for being my “M & M”.

Summer Fun 2013

As the school year fast approaches, the kids and I have had so much fun looking back on the many memories we got to create together this summer....from front yard lemonade stands, to splash pad fun, to the beach, to playdates with friends, to dancing in the rain, to family time, to many adventures in the mountains.  Here's to a great memory making, fun-filled, blessed summer we have had!