So this past weekend we went and visited Conklin Farms. They are a Certified Organic Farm in Central, Pa. The kids had a BLAST! We got to pet their baby chickens, feed the older ones and the kids learned so much about the veggies they had growing and got to see them in action! While they we got some kale and this recipe immediately popped into my head. My oldest daughter had 3 helpings my other two, who are very texture oriented, said it was good finished their first helping and asked for a sandwich. *sigh* such is my life! Of course the baby will have to wait a year or two to try it out and give me her opinion but she liked the sweet potatoes! This recipe is a favorite of mine because it's a one pot meal. Everything is cooked in the same pan and that means less clean up! This meal is … [Read more...]
Tips for Stressed Out Homeschooling Parents
Stress brings out the worst in parents. When we feel stressed, we can’t think straight, or do what needs to be done. That’s why feeling stressed out and homeschooling our kids, just does not work. There has to be a solution for stressed out homeschooling parents or else your child’s education could be in jeopardy. #1. Cut Yourself Some Slack Most adults wake up with a list a mile long of things that need accomplished before the sun goes down. If there is one way to reduce the amount of stress you feel while homeschooling your children, it is to cut yourself some slack. Everything you want to teach your child in those few precious hours of homeschooling might not get done. Do what you can and move on. #2. Join a CO-OP A lot of stress from homeschooling stems from trying to … [Read more...]
Summer Vacation Discounts for Military
I love that so many places offer a Military Discount, or even military freebies! So before you head out on a summer vacation, or family trip make sure to take full advantage of you military discounts! Check out some of the big ones this summer! Summer Vacation Discounts for Military One of the best discounts for military in my opinion is the Disney discounts and deals! You can score a 4 day park hopper pass from Disney for just $177 per person per day. That is $44 a day. Being that Magic Kingdom tickets start at over $100 a person this is a HUGE savings! Add to the huge savings Disney has a military resort located at Walt Disney World in Orlando. Shades of Green. This resort is exclusive to military families, including active duty, Reserve, Guard, retirees and families of … [Read more...]
Be a Military Spouse Advocate #ChevySalutes
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Chevrolet via MSB New Media. The opinions and text are all mine. With it being Military Appreciation Month I think we need to celebrate the Military Spouse Advocates in our community. Military spouses are strong, because they have to be! Not only do they raise their kids during deployment, keep the homefront going taking on all the responsibilities of their spouse, they have to find their new road to the everyday normal with their spouse gone but they have to be their spouse's biggest cheerleader while he is overseas as well. All while not falling apart like we feel like we are on the inside. This strength produces some of the most amazing Military Spouse Advocates. These women give their time and their resources to … [Read more...]
DIY Rustic Jewelry Hanger
I may just have a little diva or two in the family . There are a lot of pretty, sparkly, and girly necklaces and bracelets for church, dinners out, or important play dates hanging around. For awhile I had them tossed in a basket where they inevitably got tangled or we couldn't find the one we were searching for so I needed a better solution. One that was cute, easy, and of course FRUGAL! This Rustic Jewelry Hanger that I threw together was pretty much free- I had all the supplies at hand and even if you don’t you could gather them for just a few dollars. It is also easily done for a little girl or a grown woman- that means momma gets one next! DIY Rustic Jewelry Hanger You are going to need... a weathered board- mine is 6” x 22” but you can use any size clear push … [Read more...]
Stockpiling 101: Maintaining It
Now that you’ve started building your stockpile and you’re well on your way to building a solid one for your family, you’ll want to watch out for one big issue that a lot of stockpilers have. Waste. Stockpiling 101: Maintaining It There is no reason to stock something only to have it go to waste. Aside from the food waste, it’s also a waste of your hard earned money and I think I’m safe to say that wasting money is something none of us can afford. To avoid waste, you’ll need to maintain your stockpile in a way that cuts down on it. It may seem like a huge task, but I can assure you, it really isn’t. To start, make sure that you’re not buying anything that won’t be used. If you aren’t sure? Skip it until you know for certain. Buying items that you won’t use is a HUGE way to … [Read more...]
Finding New Roads After Your Service Member Retires or Separates #ChevySalutes
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Chevrolet via MSB New Media. The opinions and text are all mine. When your service member retires or like my husband separates from the service things can be daunting! You have to find a new place to fit in. Many times this means yet another move and having to find your way around again and many new roads to travel down. Did you know May is Military Appreciation month? Yep! No more a day here or a day there Military gets a WHOLE MONTH! There is so much going on for the military it might make you head spin so I want to make sure you don't miss amazing offer! Did you know? During Military Appreciation Month Chevrolet has the best military discount program of any car company. True story. Yep your read that right. This … [Read more...]
Stockpiling 101 – The Budget
In the first post of our Stockpiling 101 series, I showed you how to prepare yourself and your home for getting ready to build a stockpile. Now, I want to show you how to maximize your savings while you stock up. Stocking up doesn’t have to be a budget buster, but it can become that very quickly if you let it, trust me I've made that mistake! Stockpiling 101 – The Budget When you sit down and do your grocery budget each month, try to account for a few extra dollars to use only for stocking up. If you don’t have that kind of play in your budget, that’s okay and you can still stock up. To start, sit down with the list you made from our last post and your grocery ads. Working from your list, add the items to your shopping list that are on sale. If you would normally buy 5 to make it … [Read more...]
Stockpiling 101: Getting Started
Stockpiling is one of the best ways that you can save money. It isn’t one that will save you immediately, but it will save you big in the long run. It doesn’t have to be some complicated event that forces you to go broke right from the start. That would defeat the purpose. Instead, follow the tips here in our Stockpiling 101 series this week and build yourself a nice, solid stockpile that stays within your grocery budget. Stockpiling 101: Getting Started To really be successful at stocking up, you need to understand why you’re doing it. Yes, some of you may have other reasons, but the biggest one is likely to save money. Now you need to understand how it saves you. The most basic explanation I can give you is this; by stocking up on things when they’re cheap, you can avoid having to … [Read more...]
Washington DC Homeschool Activity
Washington D.C. is an extremely kid friendly city, with a parade of sights, free museums, national monuments and plenty of parks for kids to run through. If you are planning on a family trip to our nation’s capitol, there are several things that kids will want to take note of. Try some of these fun activities with kids to get them excited about what they are going to be seeing and doing, and to learn more about Washington D.C. Wvwn if you aren't planning a trip anytime soon this makes a great learning activity and great addition to any curriculum. Learn About Washington D.C.’s Flag Washington D.C. is not a state capitol, but the capital of our country and therefore considered a District. The flag is actually based on George Washington’s family coat of arms with repeating red … [Read more...]
Tips for Homeschooling a House Full of Boys
If you have chosen to homeschool your house full of boys this school year, you are in for a wild but fun ride. I feel as though homeschooling a house full of boys is unlike anything you’ll ever experience in your lifetime. Here are some tips to help you along: #1. Mornings May be Best Keeping your boys focused may be one of the hardest parts of homeschooling. Try working on schoolwork in the morning, right after your boys have a chance to wake up. Their brains will be focused and ready to commit to schoolwork. You could also switch this around. If your boys work best in the afternoon, wait to homeschool until then. You know your kids they best and what makes them tick. #2. Rewards are Key You may have to do a lot of persuading and a lot of rewarding, when it … [Read more...]
Homemade Strawberry Lemonade
I love this time of year. Grilling out, watching kids play at night, and as things get warmer watching kids catch fire flying from the porch. All this is done with a nice refreshing drink in hand. One of our family favorites is Lemonade. I LOVE strawberry lemonade, I like it fresh and sometimes frozen. Here is my favorite recipe! Homemade Strawberry Lemonade This recipe is easy and refreshing, at the bottom I give you a few different ideas or add a twist to it! Strawberry Lemonade Beverage Ingredients - 2 C. of freshly squeezed lemon juice (approximately 15 lemons) 1 C. of strawberries, sliced or diced + a few extra for garnish 1 ½ C. sugar 5 C. cold water Directions - #1. Squeeze your lemons and set aside the lemon juice in a large pitcher. #2. Puree the 1 cup of fresh … [Read more...]