Tips on Making Dinner Easy

Yesterday I talked about the importance of gathering around the dinner table. The biggest reason people do not is because of time. They do not feel they have enough time to prepare a meal. There are lots of ways to cut time and effort, remember it is the time spent at the dinner table not the time preparing it.There is an entire industry dedicated to helping you create Meals in a hurry. (Ever heard of Rachel Ray? Her site not only provides you with the recipes but the grocery list itself) Here are some tips to help you save time on cooking so you can spend more time talking.

Make one grocery trip a week. Keep an ongoing list on the fridge. Once a week before going to the store, create your menu for the week, and list the items you need for those recipes. This means you will have the ingredients needed without having to run to the grocery store in the middle of the week. Saving time!

Crock Pot Recipes are great, it is done when you come home. Some great ones are Chili, Soups, I have even put chicken covered in Alfredo sauce in the crock pot. When I come home all I have to do is cook noodles, and voila Chicken Alfredo Pasta. You could even add some broccoli to it at the end, adding an easy vegetable. It is a big hit at my house.

Cook up casserole dishes, make double the recipe, and then freeze one to pull out for another night. When you do have that ballgame or practice you have to go to, you can simply pull it out that morning and pop it in the oven to cook. It is a quick frozen dinner that is homemade, and not full of all the preservatives.

If you are cooking rice, especially brown rice which takes longer to cook, cook twice as much. It will keep in the fridge for at least a week and you can use it again.

When you are slicing and dicing things you might use in other recipes, like onions, then go ahead and slice extra and save it, cutting out prep time later. My husbands grandmother gave us a slicer-dicer last Christmas, it has Glad containers with it, you slice and dice right into the storage container. So I can easily make extra, and it is quick, easy, and clean.

Do a left overs night once a week. (My mother in law taught me this) Come home, pull out all the left overs (maybe the night before you go to the grocery store) Heat them up and put it all on the table. You save money as well as time. Plus you clean out your fridge. The only clean up is the containers that held the food.

Dinner Diva, Leanne Ely, gives you healthy recipes and grocery lists for an entire week. (SavingDinner.com) They are quick and easy and some would be freezable.Any of my recipes I have listed on this site are also simple quick recipes. I do not spend a lot of time on prep. and cook, but I can still provide healthy and delicious.

Preparing For Back To School, Right Now.

Four more weeks until my daughter is back in school. I know it seems that you have plenty of time to get ready, but it surprisingly goes by so quickly. We have enjoyed our time off, but I am already thinking ahead and mentally preparing myself to begin the new school year on the right foot.

Here are some things I have done the last couple of summers in order to make that first day of school the smoothest transition:

1) About 2 weeks before school starts (no later than one week before) begin re-establishing bedtime routines, and wake up routines. Now while Emily gets up at 6:30 on school days, I only make her get up around 7 or 7:30. Still, the routine of getting up and getting dressed and starting the day in a timely manner is the most important habit to get into, even for me. 

2) I take the next few weeks to go through their clothes. Move things around in their closet, reorganize, try on the uniforms and school clothes from last year, see what works and what doesn’t. She/He may need some new tennis shoes, or their shirts may fit fine for now.

3) If you have not already been doing Summer Bridge Activities, begin doing at least one worksheet or activity that will help get their brain back in “thinking” mode. One website I recently discovered that is great both for Emily who is going into first grade, and Anna who is going into Preschool, is StarFall.com. The most user-friendly site I have seen and all educational activities! Also, in Target’s “Dollar Section” I picked up work books for both of the girls.

4) If you have the capabilities of getting your supplies list from your school, go ahead and begin collecting those items. i.e. - I know that I am going to need “treasure box” items for my girls classrooms, so I begin collecting in a bag the Mcdonald’s toys, dollar items, etc. This way I am ready to send those things in on the first day of school.

Getting Back to the Journey

It would appear that I have taken a long journey and decided not to include my friends at 1smartmom.  True, I have been “journeying”, but not without thinking of you.    So, with that said, I’ll bring you up to date on my journey and I will get back to talking with you on a more regular basis.  
According to Zach we have had a very ordinary Summer.  I suppose from a 10 year olds’ perspective that is a fair assumption.  As the Mom in the house, I see it a bit differently.

We’ve had long days roll out before us with nothing to do, but eat, maintain the house and enjoy each other’s company. (Sometimes broken up by time with friends and the back and forth to a couple of day camps.)  My treat this Summer has been to actually lay down for a bit of time each afternoon and put my feet up.  Gabe (20 month old) is now taking one 3 hour nap and that is bliss to me! 

While I’ve been journeying I have decided that cloning me would be optimal for my family because then each son would have the “mother type” they need.  Being a mom of a 10 year old, an almost 9 year old that lives in Romania, and a toddler can make this one woman a bit crazed at times.  I have a new healthy respect for all those moms who have and are parenting a wide age range of children.   Many days I find myself blowing bubbles for the toddler, while discussing the trajectory of the sprinkler with my 10 year old.  All the while wondering, if the 9 year old was home would it be any easier? 

Probably not, but we would be happy.

Aww, the days of Summer.  I haven’t read one good book yet and I am not my usual tan self, but I am feeling pretty rested.  SHHHH!  Don’t tell my husband.  School starts soon enough and this now “part time” home school mom is not ready to give up her naps! 

It’s good to be back!  I look forward to blogging with you for the rest of the year.

~Journey’ With Kelly

Today I celebrate six years with my husband Ben.

Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end. 1Corinthians 13

Today I celebrate six years with my husband Ben. It is amazing at how much we have been through in such a short time of marriage, and how much we have grown and changed.  I love the Message translation of the love chapter, there is not a characteristic of love listed that Ben has not shown me in our marriage.

I am so thankful to have found someone who has loved me through so many growing years. Seeing my heart even when I haven’t always produced the fruit, he has always seen the strength in me even when I could not see it in myself. He is the eternal optimist, and is always encouraging of anything I see in life, even when I can not see it for myself.  Where others see half a glass, he sees a glass that has room for more!

He has taught me so much. Like how sometimes silence is better than empty words, and actions speak the loudest. He has given me the freedom to be me, and I think that is what I admire the most about him. He has loved me where, and for who, I am. This has only made me want to be the best wife, mother, and friend I could be. It has also been a lesson I have learned to apply in every other relationship in my life.

I have seen him grow as well. I have watched  him go from someone who keeps to himself and hardly prayed in public, to stopping and praying with someone in the middle of his work day no matter how busy, because he doesn’t see the point in promising to do it later when he could do it right then. Ben is one of those you would say is a quiet mystery. A friend of mine says “when Ben talks, you better listen”. He has earned the respect of those who know him, but none more than myself and my girls.  I love you Ben, thank you for the past six years, and for many, many more!

Just a quick mom tip: Saving money on snacks

Right now between now and after Halloween Wal-mart is selling all kinds of candies, etc. In the Holiday section where all the trick-or-treat candies are sold they have Fun size snacks including goldfish, Teddy Grahams, Ritz-Bitz etc.

They are about half the size of the normal snack packs, so you can get 30 snack packs for about $2.50 - $3. While they have fall leaves and such they do not have witches and goblins on them, so last year my sister and I bought several bags and used them all year without them ever going bad.

Most kids, especially toddlers and preschoolers, do not need an entire snack pack. They either won’t eat it all, or they are eating too much. So this is the perfect size paired with a piece of fruit or other small healthy snack, it is even enough for my 7 year old. It gives them a little bit of what they want, and a little of what they need.

Hope this is a useful tip!

** Other places, Kroger, Target, etc. have them as well, but not quite as inexpensive.

Dijon Chicken

This is just a quick tip to spice up a grilled chicken breast:

I spread Dijon mustard and Garlic Salt on either side of a boneless skinless Chicken Breast and then cook with a tbs. of olive oil. The mustard crusts as it cooks, and it adds a little kick to your chicken with no added calories. This with a salad and some cous-cous, or quick side item like that, gets a great meal on the table in 15 minutes.

You can also try it with a honey mustard or Honey Dijon mustard for a milder, sweeter flavor.

A conversation with my mom was part of what inspired this site.

A conversation with my mom was part of what inspired this site. She told me, “When I was raising you 4 kids, I didn’t have Dr. Phil, and Dr. Dobson, Dr.Kevin Leman, or anyone. I thought kids raised themselves, and when I started having to discipline I was lost.” She was also a mom in the “Pre-Oprah” generation that didn’t realize that taking time for yourself helps make you a better mother, and wife. The other part of inspiration was one of my best friends, Shay (Shalom Cubbison). She has always been my biggest fan, and trying out her “Life Coaching” skills, she really pushed me to follow my passion to help moms feel confident that they can be, and are being, the best moms they can be. So since my husband, Ben, is a website designer, what better place to start than here?

As a teenager, and an adult, the primary jobs I have held have been daycare worker, nanny, and now full time mom of 2. I really feel that I was in training as a nanny for the job I hold now. I was able to see completely different parenting techniques, see what seemed to work and what didn’t. I am still learning, call it an on the job training. But I am thankful for the people who have helped point me in the right direction. Long before I ever became a mom, I was introduced to a parenting technique called “baby wise” or “Let the children come…” . A friend I knew had used, and taught it. So when I found out I was pregnant, after the initial “oh my God’s”, I knew I had to call Kelly. Because whatever it was she did with her son, I knew I wanted to do with mine. It was amazing! My daughter was sleeping through the night at 8 weeks. And I did it! I felt like the most awesome mom! And that feeling remained she was the best baby in the world. No one could believe how easy it was to take care of her, you knew exactly what to expect when …

… Then she began to talk, and I was lost. What I have discovered since then is to roll with the punches. I have been on an avid search of reading and trial and error to find what works for Emily, and now with my second child I realize I need a totally different approach with her. While the first few months were pretty much the same, she is beginning to talk. She is a totally different kid. What worked with Emily does not always work with Anna … each one has her own personality and temperament! And they are only 18 months and 5!

As lost as I have felt at times as a mother, I found people asking me for advice. What I discovered is that we all feel inadequate at times, we all struggle with how to be a good mom. We all want to know how to balance motherhood, being a good wife, and finding time for yourself; and understanding that all 3 are connected.

While I do not have all the answers (and never will), my desire for this site is to give support to moms coming behind me, and maybe gain something from moms ahead of me who have something to offer. Because I love being a mom. Maybe it’s the smiles and hugs, weedy flowers, and “I love you’s. Or the fact that they think you really do know it all. I think it is that I know that I am a part of the greatest miracle in the world, and that they are my greatest accomplishment.

Thanks for visiting this site, and I hope you will return to visit, and share Your story. ~Angel Cope

Angel and her husband, Ben, and two daughters, Emily and Anna, live in Powder Springs, Georgia. They attend and are very active in their church, Trinity Chapel.

How I Got My New Ipod touch, without paying for it!

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

I have wanted an Ipod for awhile now. Being able to walk or work out to music is so much more fun. So I have been telling my husband that I wanted one for our anniversary. (The one that is coming down in price because the new one (the Ipod touch) has come out.)

As we approached our anniversary, where we had plenty of money the month before, we now were not able to afford the extra expense. I told him, don’t worry about it let’s just go out and enjoy our time, no kids, no gifts.

What he, or I, didn’t know was that one of his friends which Ben was promoting a product for, was offering a new Ipod touch to the first few affiliates to sell ten of his product. On our anniversary, Ben had sold ten! He called the guy, and had it engraved… “To the love of my life, Happy Anniversary 10/5/08″. I received it today.

Just another testimony of how God provides the desires of your heart! Believe today that God wants to bless you, abundantly, exceedingly, above all you can think or ask for! I did not even ask for the latest IPOD version, with internet access, and all kinds of extras, but I got it, because God blesses abundantly, exceedingly, above all we can think or ask.

** Just another note: My sister has also had an IPOD on her wishlist. The week before my anniversary she went to her husbands company picnic. They were giving door prizes, and she prayed that God would let her win something but she wouldlove the IPOD. Guess what, she won it!

Two different stories, same gift, God is no respector of persons only that you ask and you shall receive!

The definition of rich is not about how much money is in the bank account, but having what you need and desire when you need and desire it.

"Pokemon Go": 5 stories already unavoidable that will repeat

"Pokemon Go" keeps on talking to him. In just a few days, this game for smartphones has sparked dozens of news items, which should further multiply on the Web.

Since July 7, the world sees individuals walk, head deflected to their mobile phone. They are the hunters of Pokémon, who track the mythical creatures in parks, near rivers, and in the streets, or to remote locations via the mobile game "Pokemon Go." Faced with the exponential number of players who wish at all costs become the best trainer, many stories begin to proliferate on the web.

Dismissed for trying to play Pokemon Go

An Australian working in Singapore was fired by his company on July 11 after a rant on social networks against the absence of the game in the country. Hired as a consultant for one week by real estate website 99.co Sonny Truyen complained on his Facebook account will not find in this "p ... countries" this very popular video game, tells "Mahable " .

His comments provoked strong reactions in Singapore, where many foreigners have already lost their jobs for posting on social networks deemed derogatory comments from people in the Asian archipelago. The site boss, Darius Cheung, who dismissed Mr. Truyen and apologized for the behavior of the Australian, Singaporean called his countrymen in a blog to stop spreading messages of hatred and division, following of the incident. "It was a dirty trick on my part and a great error of judgment that label negatively entire country about Pokémon. It was very wrong of me to rage in this way, "said the Australian.

A man sees his house turn into Pokémon arena

In the game, since that is level 5, it is possible to go fight other trainers in dedicated arenas. These are mainly found in public places such as parks, monuments and railway stations for example. However, Niantic developed algorithm is not perfect. Boon Sheridan, an American owner of a deconsecrated church in Holyoke (Massachusetts), has understood. His housing was inadvertently identified as such by the publisher of the game.

On Twitter, he said humorously: "I just realized that all people and cars passing by, that linger and leave that could easily suggest that this place is like a drug dealer's house. I officially stopped counting after more than 30 people and so many cars are stopped for a few minutes. "

A woman looks for Pokémon she comes across a corpse

To inflate its inventory of Pokémon (called "Pokédex" in the game) and find virtual creatures like water, Shayla Wiggins, an American originally from the State of Wyoming, decided to go to the river the day before Riverton working. Unfortunately, badaude 19 years made ​​an unexpected discovery July 8: that of a corpse lying on the ground. "I do not know what to do," she expressed to local news site KCWY13 adding: "I was really scared, I told myself -Do I call 911. So I contacted them and they told me to stay on the road waiting for an officer. "

This macabre discovery did not prevent the US to return this place. "Yes, it may be that I go to capture a water-type Pokémon. I'll try, "she further said.

Thugs use Pokémon Go to extort money from people

Team Rocket is real. A O'Fallen, Missouri (USA), a group of armed robbers used the game to attract people and strip them July 11, reports the "Guardian" . "The thugs were able to find the whereabouts of their victims and determine if they were isolated," it said.

With the GPS system, four young people aged 16 to 18 years have indeed been trapped for their players steal money. They used assembly areas (called "Pokéstop" in the game) to anticipate the arrival of the players.

Two players dropped from a cliff

Like the selfie, hunting Pokémon can be dangerous or fatal. On July 14, in San Diego County, two men in their twenties were near death. "A man fell from 22 to 30 meters. When firefighters have rescued, they found the unconscious second 15 meters down, "says the fire chief of the city of Encinitas Robbie Ford, quoted by the" Los Angles Times " .

According to the US daily, the men crossed a security fence to "try to capture the characters." "I think people need to realize that this is a game. It is not worth your life," said the fireman. Both players were taken to the hospital and suffer from "moderate" injuries.

I’ve slept with 900 men – so what?

Victoria Betteridge, an Oxford graduate, is a woman who knows exactly what she wants. Sex – and lots of it. Be afraid, guys...

 As Victoria Betteridge takes a final drag of her cigarette, she stretches in bed and rolls over to examine the man lying next to her. He's not really her type, but she doesn't care - the sex was worth it.

The sheets are twisted around him from their energetic session the night before and their clothes lie strewn over the carpet. Victoria climbs out of bed and prods him with her finger. It's time for him to leave. When he offers to take her number, she shrugs and tells him there's no need. Last night was no-strings sex. She doesn't want to see him again.

He's just another one-night stand to join the hundreds of others. Victoria, a 28-year-old Oxford graduate, confesses she's slept with 900 men in nine years... Yes, really.

"People presume I've been promiscuous from day one, but that couldn't be further from the truth," says Victoria defiantly.

In fact, the PA from Hertfordshire had a very sheltered upbringing. Her parents are devout Catholics. An only child, she was sent to a private girls' boarding school.