Wordless Wednesday - Almost Two Going on Twelve

Wordless Wednesday is sponsored by GeneaBloggers,

but the main site for WW entries is here.

Wordless Wednesday - Almost Two Going on Twelve

Read more...

Crafty Tuesday - It's in the Mail!

Last night Miss. Bean came to me practically in tears asking me to make a mailbox for their class.  Apparently the students are going to write notes to one another and she really wanted to bring in the mailbox for them to use. She knew I could make one because it is what I made her last year for her Valentine's cards.   For that mailbox I used pretty Valentine paper.  For this mailbox I just used a pretty neutral paper, I didn't want any kids saying I'm not using that it's pink, ect. :)  If I had a little more time to make this I would have added some cute embellishments - like the word mail on the front, maybe decorate the flag a bit.  If you decide to make this for your little one go ahead and dress it up or better yet let the kids dress it up.

Also my mailbox isn't even close to being perfect. I have a template (that I will share with you) but of course both of my printers are out of ink; so I had to freehand the front and back flaps and the flag. If you use the template your's will likely turn out even better!

Here's how you can make a mailbox of your very own:

What you will need:

• 1 sheet of patterned or stamped paper 
• 1 or 2 sheets of coordinating card stock (8-½ x 11)
• Adhesive
• Ribbon
• Brads and eyelets
• Any embellishments you like
• Cropadile
• Paper cutter
• Template printed (I used the word document)

What you will need to do:

1. Cut your patterned paper to 8-½” x 11” if needed
2. Cut your base (bottom of the mailbox) card stock to 8-½” x 5-½” scored ½” in on both of the 8-½” lengths
3. Cut out flaps and flag on 2nd sheet of card stock from the printed template
4. Attach arched top to base
5. Attach back piece to box
6. Attach front piece to box
7. Attach flag with brad
8. Use cropadile and put eyelet in front piece and top of arched piece
9. Loop ribbon through eyelets and tie with a bow
10. Add any embellishments you like

I hope you enjoy this craft.  There are so many ways you can use this.  Not just for Valentine's Day but you could also make one for your child's bedroom and leave them little love notes or maybe be a conversation starter or journal entry ideas.  Use your imagination and have fun getting your craft on!

Crafty Tuesday - It's in the Mail!

Read more...

Menu Plan Monday - January 23 - 29

I'm back for another week of menu planning. I think this is the first time in awhile I haven't missed a week all month. Yay me! lol  So last week...last week was not a good food week for me.  I'm not sure what happened but I went way off with my menus.  Didn't eat as much raw food as I had planned, I did have some & regardless of it all, it was still healthier than I was eating before the holidays.  This week I want to do better though.  I am so sick of this roller coaster - one week good, the next not so much. Maybe I should spend some time figuring out why I do this?  One thing I am pretty sure of is that I am gluten sensitive.  I made bread twice last week and ate some of it.  I really suffered with a horrible stomach ache for a couple days after. I need to spend some time considering this, for sure.  I had planned to work on going gluten free but I was going to wait until I was really in a groove with my current plan.  Now I am not so sure.  I found a ning group last week that worked on transition to a raw diet. I think I need spend some time there, learning and asking questions. I must be missing some key ingredient or something.

I've also decided to change my "detox" day to Wednesday.  This will allow me a couple more days of meat-free suppers.  I'm trying to include two meat free meals for the whole family a week. If I can do a meal or two of raw foods at supper on opposite days that will be even better for me.

Anyhow on to this week's menu!

Raw Vegan Menu {Sunday - Saturday}

Breakfast:

• Sunday - Fruit Salad
• Monday - Purple Chocolate Green Smoothie
• Tuesday - Mono-meal of citrus
• Wednesday - Apple Salad Smoothie
• Thursday - Mono-meal of apples
• Friday - Berry Good Green Smoothie 
• Saturday - Pineapple Boat

Lunch:

• Sunday -  Veggie Salad 
• Monday - Tomato Cucumber Salad
• Tuesday - Romaine and Bell Pepper Salad
• Wednesday - Cool Green Banana Smoothie
• Thursday - Berry Good Green Smoothie
• Friday -  Guacamole Veggie Wraps
• Saturday - Veggie Salad (use up anything needing using before grocery shopping)

Supper: 

• Wednesday - Raw Chili

Toddler Menu {Monday - Friday}

Lunch: 

• Monday - Leftover Au Gratin Potatoes and Ham
• Tuesday - Baked Chicken nuggets & fries, fruit
• Wednesday - Healthy Baby's First Pizza
• Thursday - Quesadilla 
• Friday - Small Monkey Platter

Snacks:

• Monkey Platter
• Orange wedge & Almond milk
• Yogurt and Graham crackers
• Cinnamon Swirl bread and Almond Milk
• Bread sticks & Avocado Dip 

Regular Cooked Menu {Monday - Friday}

Please note - I use organic, local ingredients when possible. Also the recipes usually call for all- purpose flour. I usually use a mix of 1/2 whole wheat & 1/2 white or just all whole wheat. Remember a recipe is just something to go by, feel free to change them up for health/your family's tastes.

Breakfast:

• Monday - Oatmeal, juice or milk
• Tuesday - Waffles, juice or milk
• Wednesday - Homemade fruit bread, yogurt, juice or milk
• Thursday - Oatmeal, juice or milk
• Friday -  Scrambled egg sandwich, juice or milk

Lunch: 

• Monday - Tuna sandwich, crackers and cheese, Clementine, popcorn, juice & water
• Tuesday - Salad, strawberries, yogurt, juice & water
• Wednesday - Egg salad sandwich, apple slices, celery with cream cheese, juice & water
• Thursday - Salad, orange wedges, pretzels, fruit bread, juice & water
• Friday -  Bagel with cream cheese, yogurt, veggie sticks & pieces of fruit, juice & water

Supper:

• Sunday - Ham & Au Gratin Potatoes, Steamed Veggies (didn't have this last week) 
• Monday - American Goulash & Salad
• Tuesday - Panera's Cream Cheese Potato Soup in Bread Bowls, Salad 
• Wednesday - Garlicky Lemon Roast Chicken, Rice and Steamed Veggies
• Thursday - Grilled Cheese, Soup and Veggie Sticks
• Friday -  Take-out (usually pizza)

There we have another week of menus. Be sure to check back during the week if you want a recipe for something; I'll be posting the recipes as I make them.  You'll also be able to find them at my recipe blog To Cook or Not to Cook.

Need more menu planning ideas? Then head over to Laura's @ I'm an Organizing Junkie. Also if your interested in more vegetarian, flexitarian or whole foods menus please check out Jenna's Mindful Menus.

Menu Plan Monday - January 23 - 29

Read more...

Menu Plan Monday - January 17 - 22

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a fantastic week last week. I'm looking forward to having a great week this week.  Lots of ideas in my head, hopefully I can get some of it to become a reality. :)  This week's regular cooked menu is going to contain quite a few crock pot meals on it. Not because I have any big plans, it's just how it worked out when I planned the menu. :)  Hope you'll enjoy and leave some comment love if you try a recipe.

Raw Vegan Menu {Sunday - Saturday}

Breakfast:

• Sunday - Fruit salad
• Monday - Fresh Tropics Green Smoothie
• Tuesday - Blueberry Blues Green Smoothie
• Wednesday - Mono-meal of citrus fruit
• Thursday - Very Fruity Green Smoothie
• Friday -  Mono-meal of pears
• Saturday - Blueberry Jello

Lunch:

• Sunday -  Veggie Salad
• Monday - Lee's Pinky Green Smoothie
• Tuesday - Mono-meal of apples
• Wednesday - Romaine & Bell Pepper Salad
• Thursday - Mono-meal of Cantaloupe 
• Friday -  Guacamole Veggie Wraps
• Saturday - Veggie Salad (use up anything needing using before grocery shopping)

Supper:

• Monday -  Perfect Gazpacho 
• Thursday -  Raw Chili

Toddler Menu {Monday - Friday}

Lunch: 

• Monday - Leftover Lasagna 
• Tuesday - Baked Chicken nuggets & fries, fruit
• Wednesday - Healthy Baby's First Pizza
• Thursday - Quesadilla 
• Friday - Small Monkey Platter

Snacks:

• Monkey Platter
• Orange wedge & Almond milk
• Yogurt and Graham crackers
• Cinnamon Swirl bread and Almond Milk
• Bread sticks & Avocado Dip (hopefully avocado ripe enough this week)

Regular Cooked Menu {Monday - Friday}

Please note - I use organic, local ingredients when possible. Also the recipes usually call for all- purpose flour. I usually use a mix of 1/2 whole wheat & 1/2 white or just all whole wheat. Remember a recipe is just something to go by, feel free to change them up for health/your family's tastes.

Breakfast:

• Monday - Oatmeal, juice or milk
• Tuesday - Waffles, juice or milk
• Wednesday - Homemade fruit bread, yogurt, juice or milk
• Thursday - Oatmeal, juice or milk
• Friday -  Scrambled egg sandwich, juice or milk

Lunch: 

• Monday - Tuna sandwich, crackers and cheese, Clementine, popcorn, juice & water
• Tuesday - Salad, strawberries, yogurt, juice & water
• Wednesday - Egg salad sandwich, apple slices, celery with cream cheese, juice & water
• Thursday - Salad, orange wedges, pretzels, fruit bread, juice & water
• Friday -  Bagel with cream cheese, yogurt, veggie sticks & pieces of fruit, juice & water

Supper:

• Sunday - Crock Pot Lasagna, salad and slice of Amish White Bread
• Monday - Grilled cheese and soup (Meatless Monday)
• Tuesday -  Crock Pot French Dip on Homemade Baguettes, Creamy Coleslaw
• Wednesday - Crispy Baked Ravioli, Salad and Garlic Cheese Rolls
• Thursday - Ham and Au Gratin Potatoes
• Friday -  Take-out (usually pizza)

So that's it for this week. Be sure to check back during the week if you want a recipe for something; I'll be posting the recipes as I make them.  You'll also be able to find them at my recipe blog To Cook or Not to Cook.

Need more menu planning ideas? Then head over to Laura's @ I'm an Organizing Junkie. Also if your interested in more vegetarian, flexitarian or whole foods menus please check out Jenna's Mindful Menus.

Menu Plan Monday - January 17 - 22

Read more...