Back To School Dinner

Back in 2010, we started a new tradition in our family (that I totally copied from my friend Jenn). A day or two before school startes, we have a big back to school dinner for the kids. The kids get to pick what they want to eat (dinner and dessert), there's sparkling grape juice in fancy glasses, and we decorate the table up nicely. Not only is this dinner a time of celebration, but we take time to set goals, pray for the new school year and our teachers, and choose a special verse for the year. The kids love it and are already looking forward to the next one. (Is it really just around the corner?!)

I'm sure you can find tons of wonderful ways to decorate and make this your own. Here are some pics from our 2011 dinner.

I made placemats out of colored paper.

Saw a similar centerpiece idea on Pinterest and put my own spin on it.

The kids requested (for the second year in a row) that we have spaghetti and meatballs.

The kids write down things they want to accomplish this year...

and the things/people they'd like to pray for.

This has been a great new tradition that our family really enjoys. What does your family do to prepare for the new school year?

Good Reads [May 2012]

I haven't read near as much lately as I'd like, but here are a few of my recent reads that I loved!

• Jane Eyre - I downloaded this book free on my Kindle and had no idea what to expect, but I loved this book. It was a beautiful story, and I was riveted from beginning to end. You should read it. Especially if you enjoy books like Pride and Prejudice.
• Hunger Games Series - I know this is all the rage right now with the movie and all. I read this series a couple years ago, and then am reading them again this year along with my husband. I enjoyed them the first time through, but I have to say, I like them even more the second time. (We read Hunger Games on our recent trip to Florida, and Catching Fire on our next trip. Hoping to read Mockingjay on our summer trip to the coast.)

What books have you enjoyed reading so far this year?

Free (or Cheap) Summer Activities with Kids

As the end of the school year is upon us, I'm working on putting together a list of things that the kids and I can do over the summer to make it fun, educational, and memorable. I'll continue to add to this list, but I'd love to hear your plans too!


GETTING OUT OF THE HOUSE

• Public Library - I have to say that for a long time, I completely underestimated our public library. The past couple years the kids and I have really enjoyed visiting the library once every week or two for their weekly story times. Not only do they engage the kids with stories, but also music and craft time. They have different times for each age group so that your toddler isn't having to sit through an elementary age stories/activities, etc. In addition to these weekly activities, the library hosts several plays and other special events that are a blast. And FREE! 
• Bowling - Check Kids Bowl Free to see if a local alley near  you offers free bowling for kids during the summer. I signed up last week, and this week there are coupons for two free games per kid for every day of the week! There's still shoe rentals, but at just a couple bucks each, you could easily enjoy a fun afternoon bowling for around $5-10.
• Swimming - we are fortunate enough to have a neighborhood pool that I will be taking advantage of for much of the summer. It's free, it's a great way to cool off, and it totally wears my kids out!
• The Park (and Sonic Happy Hour) - There comes a point here in Texas where going to the park (unless it's early in the morning) is just too hot to go to the park. But for now, my kids love going to the playground and running around like crazy for a while. If Happy Hour is near, we'll stop by and pick up a drink or slushy to keep us cool. Love those half priced drinks!
• Movies - Most movie theaters offer free or $1 movies for kids and families on certain days of the week. Check out your local theater to see what deals they have going!

AT HOME

• Reading - now that my kids are getting older, they're enjoying reading more. Start a series together and make it fun! Also, sign your kids up for summer reading programs in your area so they can earn free books. My kids loved this last summer. Check out this post on 2012 reading programs.
• Imagination Box - I haven't done this with my kids yet, but right now I'm collecting completely random items in a shoe box to prepare for it (toilet paper rolls, ribbons, rubber bands, etc.). On days when the kids are saying "I'm bored!", I'll hand them the box and tell them to make/build/invent whatever they want with the items in the box. My eight year old daughter came across the box the other and said, "Ooooh, can I have this?!" I think it'll be a hit. Cost: FREE!
• Quiet Time Boxes - I came across these on Pinterest and thought they were the greatest idea (for younger and older kids), and I wish I had come across them sooner! Create several boxes with small toys, notepads, stickers, blocks, etc. so that your child can entertain himself for a while each day.
• Scavenger Hunt - I have not yet done this for my kids yet, but I remember my mom putting together scavenger hunts for my sister and I during the summer. She'd write up clues and hide them all over our back yard that ultimately led us to our "treasure". I have no recollection of what the treasure ever was, but we LOVED the adventure!
• Cooking - Why not get in the kitchen and teach your kids how to cook. Let them plan the menu for dinner and help make it. Or bake cookies and then deliver them to neighbors, nursing homes, or dad's office!
• Gardening - We started a garden this year, and I've been amazed how much my kids love it. They go out every morning to see what's growing.

What are your favorite affordable summer activities?

Tomato Basil Pizza

I love pizza. It's one of my go-to meals after a long day. And while I love the convenience of picking up a pizza from Domino's, I've realized that putting together my own pizza is not really that much more time consuming AND (depending on the toppings) it feeds our family of four for around $3. Can't beat that! The possibilities are endless with the toppings too. It seems I can always find something to throw on top of a pizza, whether it's leftover chicken or pepperoni. This is my favorite pizza recipe from the Pioneer Woman's Cookbook, only I've been using whole wheat flour (which surprisingly, our family likes better).

FOR THE CRUST (MAKES TWO CRUSTS):

• 1 teaspoon Active Dry Or Instant Yeast 

• 4 cups Whole Wheat Flour 

• 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt 

• 1/3 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

FOR THE TOPPING:

• Pesto (to taste. I usually use 1/2 small jar)

• 2-3 Roma Tomatoes

• 6-8 oz. Fresh Mozzarella (the shredded stuff works fine too)
• Chicken, cooked (optional)

• Fresh Basil leaves (optional)

Drizzle olive oil on a large baking sheet and use fingers to coat thoroughly. Remove HALF the pizza dough from the bowl. Stretch pizza dough into a large rectangle, pressing with fingers to finish forming. Dough will be very thin.

TO MAKE THE CRUST:

Sprinkle yeast over 1 1/2 cups warm (not lukewarm) water. In a mixer, combine flour and salt. With the mixer running on low speed (with paddle attachment), drizzle in olive oil until combined with flour. Next, pour in yeast/water mixture and mix until just combined.

Coat a separate mixing bowl with a light drizzle of olive oil, and form the dough into a ball. Toss to coat dough in olive oil, then cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and store in the fridge until you need it. 

TO MAKE THE PIZZA:

Preheat oven to 500. 

Lightly drizzle a little olive oil on the dough and use fingers to spread on baking sheet/stone. Spread pesto over the surface of the crust. Thinly slice tomatoes and layer on top of the pesto, then cover with cheese (and basil, if you like).

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly. Remove from pan and slice with a pizza cutter. Serve immediately! (A little freshly grated parmesan will also kick this up a notch!)

Good Reads [February 2012]

I've really begun to enjoy reading over the past couple of years. I'm not as good about sitting down with a book as I'd like to be, but I'm working on it. I'm currently reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, but am always looking for my next book, so I'd love your recommendations!

In the mean time, here are a few recommendations for you!

• A Homemade Life (Molly Wizenburg)
  This is a memoir + cookbook. If you love food, family, and travel, you'll think this is a delightful read.
• The Glass Castle (Jeannette Walls)
  Jeanette Walls tells the story of her family and her growing up. This book is hard to sum up, but deeply moving. 
• Half Broke Horses (Jeannette Walls)
  Another great book by Walls. In it, she tells the story of her grandmother -- a strong, hard-working woman. Fantastic book.
• Travels with Charley (John Steinbeck)
  It's John Steinbeck. Need I say more? Alright, well... this is his account of his journey across the United States. Short, quick read.
• The Love Dare (Stephen Kendrick)
  If you're married, I highly recommend going through this book.

For other books I've read, check out my list at GoodReads... And please share you favorite reads with me!

Watering Pots [Texas Gardening]

Last year was my first year to plant a fruit and vegetable garden. We built a raised bed (learning from this tutorial from the Pioneer Woman) It makes me feel old to say it, but I enjoyed it. A lot. That is until  my dog trampled half of my plants and then the blazing Texas heat came and scorched all that was left. (It was really hot, y'all.) So July was pretty much the end of my garden.

I'm excited for a new year, though. I feel like I probably learned a few things that I can do differently this go-round. (I have the feeling that I still have a whole lot to learn, yet.) One thing I'm going to try is watering pots.

As I was perusing a gardening book handed down to me by my mother (1,112 Down-to-Earth Garden Secrets), someone suggested burying terra cotta pots near the plants in your garden. Then, when its watering time, you just fill the pots with water, allowing the water to slowly seep into the soil and go directly to the roots. Last year, I had to stand over the garden for-ev-er to water it and even then, the water would pool up in certain places and not disperse evenly. Hopefully these "watering pots" are the perfect solution to my problem (primarily the problem of having to stand in 110 degree heat for longer than two minutes).

Also, we'll be building a little greenhouse over our raised bed... but more on that later.

Do you enjoy gardening? Got any tips to share with a newbie like me?

Tips for Affordable Family Vacations [Travel]

This photo was taken at Caddo Lake State Park on one of our vacations in 2010.

I love to travel. I mean LOVE. However, our family has spent the last number of years working on becoming debt free, saving, and being responsible, leaving little room for extravagant vacations. For me, though, because of what great memories I have of many family vacations growing up, skipping vacations altogether is just not an option, so I do my best to plan super fun vacations on a budget. Right now, I am working on planning a week long trip for a family of four from Texas to Florida for under $1000. Yep, you heard right. And I think we'll be able to do it with a little room to spare. I'll share our trip plans soon, but I wanted to share a few of my favorite money-saving tips so that you can begin your plans for your own affordable Spring Break vacation!

1. Drive, don't fly. Airfare can add up in a hurry when travelling with kids in tow. Hop in the car instead! Not only will you spend a fraction of the cost, but you will see so much on your way! As a kid, the drive itself was one of my favorite parts of the trip, and it was great getting to sample the culture, food, and things to do along the way! Expect to save somewhere around 60-80% on transportation costs this way depending on the size of your family.
2. Book hotels online. Get online and check out sites like Priceline, Hotels.com, and Hotwire before your trip. We've scored some major savings (30-60%) by booking this way. (Note: Sign up with a program like Ebates or MyPoints, then shop travel sites through their referral links to earn points and cash back rewards.)
3. Free Breakfasts. Many hotels (especially the ones geared towards families) offer free hot breakfasts.  Make sure when booking that the hotel you book offers this service to save your family $20-30/day.
4. Cook your own meals. Not all of them, of course (part of the fun of vacation is getting to try all the good restaurants), but as much as you're able depending on your destination. Search for a hotel or condo ahead of time that has a small kitchen and buy groceries. Planning to eat out once every 1-2 days will save TONS of money, and it'll make it a eating out feel like a real treat.
5. Camping. Okay, I realize not everyone is cut out for camping, but I grew up camping a lot, and it's a very affordable way to see the country. If you have a tent or a pop up camper (or know someone who does), load it up and head out! Typically, the cost of a camp site in a state or national park will be about 10-20% of the cost of a hotel. I also love that there's always tons of stuff to do for the kids. They can ride bikes, explore, swim, and more... for free! Find a park that's located near the city/area you want to visit, and voila -- affordable lodging at a fraction of the price!
6. Look for free things to do. I've been amazed our last couple trips to the coast how many really cool free things there were to do. Some highlights were riding the ferry at no cost and watching the dolphins as we rode. (Dolphin tours were going for around $25/person, and this was just as good!) We also found out that there was a marine life rehab center/sanctuary that was open to the public for free. Get online and see what you can find. 
7. Read reviews before you visit restaurants, attractions, etc. It's easy to get sucked into all the tourist traps and flashy looking restaurants, but use online sites or apps like TripAdvisor, Yahoo! Travel, UrbanSpoon, and Yelp to read user reviews first. You may find that the $50 you were going to pay to go to the local aquarium may not be worth it. Or you might discover that the beach front seafood hut you were thinking of going to is expensive and average-tasting, and that the best seafood can really be found at a little dive up the street where all the locals go (and it doesn't have touristy price tags).

These are just a few of the things I try and do when planning a trip. Do you have any tips or advice for affordable family vacations?

Holey Jeans

Boys play hard. At least my boy does. He is forever jumping, falling, sitting, and sliding on his knees, and it shows. Anytime I buy him new jeans, they only last about a month before the knees (particularly the right one) of his jeans totally give out.

Needless to say, this gets expensive.

So the other day his newest pair ripped, and I'd had it. I got online in search of some sort of solution (because trying to get a five year old not to be so hard on his knees is next to impossible). Luckily, I came upon this idea from The Frugal Girls, and yesterday I decided to give it a try. I bought two sets of patches (just over $1 each) and two pairs of jeans. I ironed the patches onto the inside of the jeans, and behold, we have jeans with reinforced knees! If this works, I am STOKED.

When I posted about his jeans on Facebook, I guessed by all the comments that this is a pretty widespread problem. Do you have any tricks to extend the life of your kids' jeans?

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentines Day! I just got the kids off to school a while ago with their giddy hearts and bags of treats. Typically for Valentines Day, the kids and I stop at Target one afternoon so they can pick their box-o-Valentines. But this year, (inspired by this that I found on Pinterest) I decided we'd make our own Valentine cards, and (even with me putting it off until 5:00pm on February 13th) it was pretty easy!

1. Grab your camera and head go outside with the kids. Find a nice backdrop and have them pose with their fists out towards the camera. (Full disclosure: this portion took me the longest. My kids were being total goofballs and couldn't stand still!)
2. Go download your photos and pick the best of each kid. Using Photoshop or something similar, add text and/or decorations to the photo.
3. Send to your favorite photo lab (I like MPix, but in this case since I procrastinated so long, I sent them to CVS 1-hour photo).
4. While waiting on the prints to be ready, go pick up whatever treats you'd like to attach. We opted for pencils, since no candy was allowed, but suckers and such could work equally well.
5. Once you have the pics in hand, sit down with a pair of scissors or a pen knife, and carefully cut slits at the top and bottom of the kids' hands.
6. Put the pencil (or sucker) through, and you're done! I promise you'll have very happy kids!