Its just my opinion.... growing up too soon!

I wrote this about 6 months ago. I guess I just forgot to post it :) My son is now in a toddler bed but I still liked the post. :)

My little boy is three and he still sleeps in his crib. Its not that I am against moving him to his big boy bed. Really. Its that he has never, not even one time, tried to get out. My little man doesn't like change and is happy as a clam to just call out " mama" when he would like to get up.


I have asked him several times over the last year if he wanted a "big boy bed". Each time he giggled, smiled and said nooooooo. That was just fine with me! I would gladly pack up his crib when he went away to college. I am sure his roommate wouldn't mind. It doesn't take up much room.


I recently had a friend who was determined to take away the binky before her little one turned 3. I asked "why?" She got a blank stare on her face and said because it was time. Whose time? Our kids get attached to little comfort items that do just that... comfort. I can totally understand if it was affecting her speech or teeth or you didn't want her walking around "plugged up" all day. This is just one mamas opinion, but what would it hurt to give it to her at nighttime? Have you ever seen a college graduate with a binky on a chain? They get rid of it when they are ready.


You see I am all about letting them be little when they are little. Because one day you will wake up and they won't be any longer. I don't rush my little ones to pronounce words correctly. ( I ask them to say it again and again b/c its so cute that I bend over in a fit of giggles.) Or to be more grown up then they need to be ( I am big on manners- make no mistake) or push them to learn more than they need to be learning at this point. I feel like in our quest to raise the most smart, athletic, grown up children we have somehow taken away some of the fun of just being little. I would rather see my little prince pretending and being creative than trying to learn skills that are 3 grades ahead of him. Because he will learn them and he won't want to rescue his mama (the queen, of course) from the tower any more.


One day, sooner rather than later, they will pronounce all their words correctly, know the periodical table and would rather spend the Friday family night in their room than with their family. It makes me sad.


So I will cherish the mud pies, gooey kisses, "Play with me mama's", bear hugs (complete with grrrrrrr's), mispronounced words, dancing wildly in the living room and collapsing in a fit of giggles, and sleeping in a crib as long as my little man wants to! He will be ready when he is ready and not a minute sooner. I am not about to mess with his time table.


Now... I have a tea party to attend with my 1 and 3 year old. Rumor has it that this is the most hoppin joint in town and I have reservations. Complete with a crib in the room, binky in my daughters mouth and a stinky, used to be green frog, on the chair beside me. And I wouldn't have it any other way!

Kids Craft: Thanksgiving Placemats

I want my kids to have thankful heart. I want them to grow up with the knowledge that all they have is a blessing. Not an expectation.

I try to do something "crafty" each week with my kids. It helps break the days up and it lets their creative juices get movin!

Since Thanksgiving is around the corner I thought that it would be a great idea to make Thankful place mats. They will look lovely and the kids will be proud as peacocks.... ooops I mean Turkeys.

You will need wax paper, scissors, an iron and then whatever your little ones can find :)

We started by going for a long walk. Well I walked... the little people took a monster truck.

We collected pretty leaves. (Good thing we had a big truck bed to haul with.)

When we got home they had a ball decorating their very own place mat. I also took an opportunity to talk about the things that we have been blessed with this year. ((Let me just tell you that some of the things my son came up with had me stifling fits of laughter.))

This is what you do:

Take one sheet of wax paper. Place whatever you wish to be in your place mat. For this project I used 3 of my leaves. I also took some construction paper and cut it with scapbooking scissors. I then placed a sticker that I found in my stash.

Place the other piece of wax paper directly on top of paper and iron with a warm setting.


Wahlah! It looks great on a tablecloth :)

Here are some helpful hints:

**Save trimming the edges until after you have ironed. This will save time.

** The more bulky the item in your place mat, the harder it will be to adhere. The more flat the better.

**You can use crayon shavings to really make your place mat colorful!

**You can also use photographs and or magazine cut outs. Have the kidlets go through magazines and cut out things that they are thankful for!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Menu Plan Monday.... on Tuesday

Well its happened. I had to go to the grocery store in the first time in 3 months. I was actually excited to start couponing and such since its been so long :) So I am back to official meal plans!

I am blessed to be a part of a small playgroup each month. We have a party once a month where the kids run-a-muck and we get to talk. (Well between breaking up sword fights and wiping boogies) I held the Thanksgiving party. I actually made a turkey breast that I got for $5 and it was so delicious!! It also provided enough for 3 meals this week!! I hope some of these recipes help with your turkey leftover. Happy Eating Y'all!!!

Monday: Roast Turkey breast, mashed potatoes, green beans

Tuesday: Beef tacos, Spanish rice, black beans

Wednesday: Turkey Tettrazinni, Broccoli, Rolls

Thursday: Grilled chicken breast w/ green peppers, onions and melted provolone, potato

cakes (made from leftover mashed potatoes) Mixed veggies

Friday: Pizza Night!

Saturday: Hot subs, baked fries ( GO BUCKS!! )

Sunday: Turkey Noodle Soup, French Bread

Join the Bob Evans Twitter Party Tonight!

Monday, Nov. 16 from 6-8 Bob Evans will be having a twitter party !!!

"Bob Evans New Single Serving Sides and Timesaving Holiday Helpers."

We'll be using the hashtag #BEFSingles to talk about everything from prepping for holiday meals and other fabulous timesavers.

We'll be giving away a coupon for free product every 5 minutes, at random, via use of the hashtag. It's redeemable at any grocery store. We'll also be sharing some great coupons with everyone.

I hope you can participate!

New Items from Bob Evans... and a giveaway!!

I recently have been given the opportunity to sample Bob Evans new single serve products. Read the review here.

Leave a comment and you may win free Bob Evans products!

Teacher Knows Best: Thanksgiving Books

I am blessed to live next to a elementary school teacher who loves my kids and we love her!! She has multiple education degrees and is the first person I run to when I am worried about speech, development or anything learning related!! She has agreed to write a weekly post for me on some common concerns involving little ones and just great tips! If you have a topic that you would like to see addressed, please e-mail me at everythingmom@live.com.

Thanksgiving Books

What am I thankful for? Books! There are some great books for Thanksgiving! Happy Reading!

P is for Pilgrim: A Thanksgiving Alphabet by Carol Crane

This is the Turkey by Abby Levine

‘Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey

The Night Before Thanksgiving by Natasha Wing

Thanksgiving Mice by Bethany Roberts

We Gather Together…Now Get Lost! By Diane de Groat

New Feature: Mama's Health and Beauty Friday's

I talk about alot of mama things on this blog. Recipes, crafts, household stuff. We are more than that though... right? Somewhere between dust bunnies and Crayola shavings we lose ourselves. Which just isn't healthy for anyone.... especially our family when we lose it. :) So...... after talking to my girlfriends I have decided to start featuring Mama's Friday. ( Well at least a couple times a month) These tips are just for Mama's and no one else. Well... except your hubby who will undoubtedly love the results!

My best friend since the age of 13 is a makeup genius. She used to be a Esthetician for one of the fancy salons around here. People traveled long distances to get her take on facials, waxing and makeup. Trust me when I say.... the girl knows what she is talking about. I have asked her to write some beauty insight and to my great delight she agreed!

Today’s Cosmetic Quickie

Alright ladies and gents let’s talk about eyebrows. Notice this info is not just for the ladies, most men need a little clean up also, it’s called grooming. And no, it does not mean that you are a metro sexual. There’s really no discussion when it comes to eyebrows, WAX them, TWEEZE them, or THREAD them, just do something.

If you don’t want to do anything else to your face, that’s fine, but this is a must. Not only will it define your eyes and show off those beauties, it will also make you look awake, polished, and clean (that’s right people, I said clean). If you have a hairy beast on your face people assume you don’t groom, shower etc.

Now, you might say, “but I don’t know how to shape my brows or know where to start,” that’s understandable, but it’s not an excuse. If you can afford it, seek out a professional. Start by looking at other people’s brows and ask them where they had theirs done. When I say professional, I mean someone who specializes in eyebrows. Some cosmetologists say that they can do eyebrows, but they can’t, you have to be careful. Most likely, you will be safe going to an Esthetician because they do it all the time, and have had extra training in shaping brows. I’ve also seen places popping up that only do brows, some of them are in malls now, those are also great places because their reputation is on the line.

Make sure when you sit down with the professional that you ask for a mirror. Discuss what you are thinking and ask them their opinion. People used to bring me pictures from magazines and they would have certain expectations of what they wanted. Truth is, everyone’s eyebrows are different, and everyone has a different face shape, and get this, even your own two eyebrows are different from each other. I used to tease my clients; after I would wax one eyebrow I would go to the other and say, “OK, now let’s see if we can match this one to the other one.”

Another tid bit of information that you want to tell the professional is if you are taking any type of medication or using any topical medication. The reason, some medications can thin your skin. When you wax your skin, you are taking off the first layer of skin along with the hair. If you are using any type of medication or exfoliant on your skin, and then wax, it is going to take off more than one layer and can almost look like a burn. Not fun for anyone. This does not mean that you can’t get waxed; it just means that the professional is going to have to use a different kind of wax that won’t adhere to the skin. Yes, there are different types of wax. I won’t bore you with all the types; it’s just a matter of preference for the professional. One type is not better than another in my opinion, but that’s just my opinion.

Now, if you can’t afford a professional, or are one of those do-it-yourselfers, stay tuned because next time I will be talking about how to shape your own brows. Please don’t start tweezing your brows until you have all the materials and information. If you have already tweezed your brows or gone to a professional and your brows have been what I call “botched” grow them back out and start over. It will take a while (hint, use Rogaine on the brows to speed up the growing process) but you will be happy you did.

Monica, Liscenced Esthetician

Do you have a questionm for Monica? Send it to me at everythingmoms@live.com !!!

Works for me Wednesday: Getting the Most from the Holidays

Since it gets cold and icy/rainy/snowy here in Ohio there is not much outdoor time. Which means crazy kids and even crazier looks in there eyes. I try to come up with fun things for them to do around here to keep the inmates from running the asylum.

Around Thanksgiving time I start to stock up on plain brown paper bags and plain white wrapping paper. ( I usually buy them from the $1 store.) I then get out my arsenal of craft supplies which includes but not limited to: Paint, stamps, brushes, foam cutouts, stickers etc. I then let them decorate wrapping paper and bags for their gifts to our family and friends.

We even go out and collect pine cones and little pine branches. We dip them in paint and decorate the paper. We also can paint the pine cones and dip them in glitter. Attach them to a string and you have a pretty decoration for your present!
Its economical, pretty and makes your little ones feel a part of the giving process! (If you are really really lucky it will keep them busy enough for you to pay a couple of bills or get crazy and use the potty by yourself.) And that works for this mama!

To see more great holiday help tips visit We are That Family!

Kroger bargain recipe of the week: Country Chicken Supper

I looovvveee recipes that happen all in one pan. That means only one dish to clean... woohoo!! With canned veggies being on sale this week, it also makes it very reasonable. ( Not to mention that I love seeing all those veggies enter my little peoples mouth.) Hope you guys have a yummy week!

I will not expense spices/oils since most of us have them on hand. W/C means with coupon.

3 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (On sale $1.89/lb) $2.83
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup chopped onion $.20
1 (15 ounce) can green beans (Del Monte Veggies on sale $.50) $.50
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes (On sale w/c $.59) $.59
1 (15 ounce) can carrots, drained (Del Monte on sale $.50) $.50
1 potato, peeled and diced (On sale B1G1) $.10
1 cup uncooked white rice $.50
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup water
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese $.40

Cut chicken into bite size pieces. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute onion and chicken for about 3 minutes.

Add green beans, tomatoes with liquids (not drained), carrots, potato, rice, salt and pepper to skillet. Mix gently.

Pour water over top of chicken mixture. Cover skillet and simmer over medium low heat, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes or until rice and potato are tender.

Sprinkle chicken mixture with cheese. Let stand covered for 5 minutes and serve.

Total Cost of Meal: $5.62

For more great bargain recipes click on the icon above!

Rite Rug Giveawy!!

My girlfriend over at Stretching a Buck is amazing me once again with an awesome giveaway!!! Rite Rug has agreed to giveaway a $199 gift card to one lucky person!!! Just leave a comment and you are entered.

Enter here for your chance to win $199 gift card to Rite rug!!

Teacher Knows Best: Parent Teacher Conferences

I am blessed to live next to a elementary school teacher who loves my kids and we love her!! She has multiple education degrees and is the first person I run to when I am worried about speech, development or anything learning related!! She has agreed to write a weekly post for me on some common concerns involving little ones and just great tips! If you have a topic that you would like to see addressed, please e-mail me at everythingmom@live.com.

Parent –Teacher Conferences

This is the season for parent-teacher conferences. The set up varies by school and teacher, but here’s a general idea of what to expect.

-The teacher will talk about how your child is doing and you will have an opportunity to ask any questions you have.

-The teacher should have work samples to share with you and be able to give you an idea of how your child is progressing academically and socially.

-If you have questions, ask! You might not be able to get an answer right then and there, especially for questions about special education or gifted services, etc.

-Take note of any areas your child may be struggling in and make a plan with the teacher to rectify the situation both in school and at home, whether it is reading more or running through addition flash cards.

- Remember that teachers are meeting with many parents in an evening and need to stay on time as a courtesy to everyone. If you have issues that you feel need more investigation, please set up an additional meeting for another time. Most teachers will be happy to accommodate you.

For older students, I encourage students to lead their parents through the conference because it gives them ownership over their work and answers the questions parents always ask (“What are you doing in school?) and get the same answer to (“Nothing”).

Making costumes for less

When my son wanted to be a dump truck for beggars night my first thought was "yikes!". I wasn't sure how that would be possible or frugal. I just can't bring myself to buy really expensive costumes so I had to think outside the box. I thought I would share how I outfitted both kids for under what 1 costume would probably cost.

I took a box that I already had and spray painted it. ($2.50 JoAnn's spray paint) I then found some suspenders at a thrift store and spray painted those suckers as well. ($.99) The high beam lights I found at WalMart and can re-use in my pantry.~So I don't feel quite as bad about the cost. ~($5.00) Ad some scrap booking stickers I already had, along with some sweats turned inside out and whalah! A dump truck for under $7.

For little miss I found the cream dress at a second hand store for $3. I then bought some checkered material at 50% off. ($1.99) Add some cream ribbon (Around $.90) Sew that on the dress and pair with hose and shoes we had in the closet. I found this lovely Gymboree cape at the thrift store for $6. She can totally use this again so I think I got my moneys worth. Total costume: Under $12

ITS THE GREAT PUMPKIN CHARLIE BROWN

One thing I remember as a child is getting all geeked up about special holiday cartoons coming on tv. My mom would make BIG deal about it. We would be in our jams, popcorn made, giggling. We got to stay up later than normal and it was special!

I have kept the tradition with my kids and I almost get as excited as they do !!! This year I want to post reminders to y'all about any special kid friendly tv program on so here we go....

Its the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown: ABC Tuesday, Wednesday 8:00 EST

I will be posting Thanksgiving and Christmas specials so stay "tuned".

Teacher Knows best: Kids Memoirs

I am blessed to live next to a elementary school teacher who loves my kids and we love her!! She has multiple education degrees and is the first person I run to when I am worried about speech, development or anything learning related!! She has agreed to write a weekly post for me on some common concerns involving little ones and just great tips! If you have a topic that you would like to see addressed, please e-mail me at everythingmom@live.com.

Getting Kids to Write – Memoirs

We often ask kids to write memoirs, stories from their lives. Students are sometimes confused by what a teacher means when they say “memoir” so we use mentor texts, example books.

There are a ton of books that are memoirs but one of my favorite things to use is one I’ve written myself. So in honor of Halloween, here is one of my memoirs. Enjoy!

My brother and I, Halloween 1986

I was robbed.

It may have only been a neighborhood costume contest, but still…

We had recently moved to a brand new subdivision. Not all the lots were built yet, so the neighborhood was still small. The Civic Association decided to throw a Halloween party; there would be apple-bobbing, face painting, and costume judging.

It was 1986 and I was four. My mom had always made my little brother and I’s costume and that year I had begged and begged for a witch costume. She made the most fantastic costume: a long dress, a cape, and a hat all out of the same Halloween print material. Halloween couldn’t come fast enough!

Halloween was cold that year, so I had to wear a sweatshirt with my costume, but that didn’t dampen my spirits. I practically floated from house to house collecting candy. Finally it was time to head to the party. As we walked down the sidewalk, my parents told us of all that was in-store. My brother and I had never bobbed for apples, but we knew what face painting was and I was old enough to equate a costume contest with winning a prize.

After an hour or so of wet heads and painted cheeks, the sun had gone down and it was finally time for costume judging. I was pretty confident in my chances of winning seeing as I did have the best witch’s costume ever. They lined up kids by age group and we marched around in little circles to be judged. They pulled kids out of each circle until only two or three remained in each. In my circle, only two children were left: me, in my homemade witch’s costume, and another girl in a store-bought witch’s costume. The judges stood off to one side, just out of ear-shot, trying to make a decision while we danced around a little, trying to keep warm and fight off sleepiness. Finally they announced the other girl had won.

In my disbelief that someone had a costume better than the one my mom had lovingly made, I started to cry. I was crushed! Heartbroken! How could a chic who had bought her costume at a store beat my custom costume?! I cried the entire way home. Nothing my parents said could console me. My beautiful costume went into storage. Never to be seen again I hoped!

Many years later, I was a college freshman and my roommates and I were getting ready for Halloween. We were telling stories one evening and this tragic tale of woe came up. My roommates suggested that I seek costume contest revenge and dress up as a witch. I was a little hesitant at first, what with what had happened the last time, but even my mom thought it would be a good idea. She again made me a long, black dress and the most fantastic cape.

I proudly wore my second mom-made witch’s costume that Halloween and though I didn’t win any prizes, at least I wasn’t robbed by a store-bought witch.