Every Woman Needs {iPhone apps}

I recently discovered the amazing thing called an iPhone! I have done some searching and I'm loving these apps!

Every women needs: {iPhone apps}

These are the Apps I have on my phone!

App #1 Facebook
Because it is great to see what's going on in the world of FACEBOOK
 

App #2 Pandora
My favorite station is Michael Buble and 80's Dance
 

App #3 Bible.is
I love this app, This actually has a feature that will read the bible to you! I put this on when I am in the car. Its a great app.

App #4 Dave Ramsey Budget
Amazing APP! Many people Like the app Mint but Dave Ramsey has a great system to keep you aware of what your spending!

App #5 Zoodles
This is for the moms who have young kids! Zoodles Is not only for IPhone but for Androids as well. It locks your phone and gives them Games, Videos and Actives. Amazing App! 

App #6 Ovia
I think this is a great App for moms who are and aren't trying to have more kids. Its simple to use. Has a lot of information that will educate you on what's going with your body and what to watch out for through out the month. Keeping track helps you stay on top of what, where or when you may need certain things.
 

App #7 My fitness pal
Every women needs this if they are trying to lose weight or trying to stay healthy!
 

App #8 Pinterest
Well, its Pinterest! Great to keep occupied when waiting at the doctors office.

App #9 Instagram
Keep in touch with your friends through pictures!

App #10 Tunein
Tune in, is for local radio stations all over the US and i believe UK as well, You can find any station you want on TuneIn. Favorite station is NGEN

App #11 Meijer or Kroger
Local Grocery store with all of its coupons!

App #12 YouTube
Honestly, this one is for my son... He loves watching reviews on Hot Wheels and Thomas the Train

  

Every Women Needs {stationary}

Recently, I have realized I am not reaching out to my friends and family as much as I should be. My grandmothers always send me letters of love, hope and encouragement. This always makes me smile. I know that I am loved. While I was at Michaels I went to their clearance section where they had bins and bins of stationary!!! I loved it!! I believe I spent about $8.00 on packages of cute blank cards. My plan is to send out love and encouragement to my friends and family. 

Every women & needs their own stationary set!

 

 

If you check out Brainy Quotes you could find some amazing things to write in these cards to your friends and family.

I've always been - you know, my personality is motivating and encouraging. And so I'm just being who God made me to be.

Joel Osteen

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/encouraging.html#jvSG3OYdEryBXu6r.99

 

Valentines Day: Teachers Presents

Christopher is now in PRE-K and I suppose now that the kid is in school I need to bless the teachers with gifts! Many parents spent some money to get them Christmas presents and I did make them cookies in the jar but that was several months ago. So, for this Valentines Day I decided while I was at the mall to stop off at Bath & Body Works! Here is what I got them!

  

A small bag of chocolates from Meijer And Hand soap, Hand sanitizer & hand lotion (bath and body works)  Total about $20.00 each. I don't know the teachers well but I tried to pick out smells they definitely would like, if not them, their kids!

Every Teacher needs to be appreciated

I hope they enjoyed  

Easy Playdough

I saw this recipe on http://discoverexplorelearn.com/worlds-easiest-play-dough/, This site is amazing! The things they come up with! Well we decided to try it!

Ours did not turn out exactly like theirs, i believe i added to much conditioner and not enough or startch, Any whooo... it was fun! smelt good and SUPER easy!

Here is our journey in making EASY PLAYDOUGH


Recipe:
1/2 Cup Hair conditioner
1 1/2 cups Corn Starch
food coloring/kool-aid

This was very easy, Very fun and my son enjoyed it soo much! Some of you may know that when adding corn startch to a liquid it can become "Alien Goo" or A solid & Liquid at the same time. This is sort of what happend to me, IT was solid but very very pliable. My son had fun trying to cut it in 1/2 (which was hard to do) grabbing peices out of it, which was also hard, but it was very easy to smoosh and move around the table. It looked liquid untill you touch it. SUPER FUN!

 

 

 

 

 

.:HAPPY MAKING:.

Toddler SunCatchers/ No-Mess Finger Paint!

This is a great idea for kids walking age to age 5+. Of course the younger kids will be more excited by this but it is for everyone and a great piece of art. 

Grab some 1 Gal zip lock bags. I made three.. (You cant just make one)

using washable crayola paints Place some globs in the bag. 

Pic Your Colors. Add Globbs of paint on the inside of the bag

I am using Crayola's Washable Finger Paint - $4.39 at Meijer for 6 colors

Seal the bag... let your kids start to move it around.

HANDS ALL CLEAN!

SEE!!

"MOMMA THIS IS SOO MUCH FUN!"
Tape them to the window or sliding glass door. High enough so the smallest child can reach without falling over.

This is a great project for ALL ages. My cousin (21) thinks its awesome and sat for 20 mins making different designs in it as well as I.
A fun and Creative way to spend some time with your kids. Draw out some numbers or letters. ABC's & 123's. There is nothing wrong with learning while having fun!!


*Update: These lasted about 2-3 weeks! Super fun and we had a blast moving it around from window to window and catching the sun different ways. My son LOVES this and asks for it all the time! so its not just a spring, time thing. Great for ALL YEAR ROUND!

Shopping with Kids

Shopping with kids is a difficult task especially if you have more than one! I started this new FUN thing with Christopher. A day before we go when I have made my list, I make one for Christopher as well. Since my son is 4 and can not read yet, I grabbed pictures of what we are buying off google.I then put it in Word and if we are getting 3 or 4 of an item. Putting the number by it so he knows these are the items he is responsible for getting with mommy when we go shopping. It will keep him entertained and focused, "What isle is the Gramhcackers in?" Isle 6? "What do we need on the way to isle 6?"
Doing things like this will keep your kids from freaking out and having a temper tantrum in the middle of the store, making you yell and embarrassing, you as well as them. I have tested this on my VERY HYPER but VERY AMAZING little man, at night, when he was tired (but not hungry!) and it WORKS!  He LOVED helping mommy and loved being apart of something bigger, helping the family.

I created a regular list for my family.
Eggs
Bread x2
Milk
Smart Balance Milk
Star Bucks k cups x2
Blocked Cheese x4
Banana x7
Potato's
spinach
lettuce
Orange Juice
apple x4
pear x4
Yeast
Flour
Sugar
Pasta
Honey
V8 Splash x3
Peach Mango Welchs x3
Hamburger 3lbs
Chicken  5lbs
Eggo Waffles C.Chip x2

Now that you have created your list. Take a few items off of yours and put it on theirs. This is what your Child's list will look like:

Print it off and your good to go to the store!!! These are the items your child are responsible for and as you get them, cross them off. This will make them feel very accomplished and its taking pressure off of you, Making your shopping trip fun, exciting and a Character building experience.

Don't forget to make sure your kids get in on the couponing, I ALWAYS hand my coupons to my son and remind him though out the store "Hold on to the coupons!" at the check out, he is the one to hand the cashier the coupons, its a fun for him. Might be for your kids as well.

.: Happy Making:.

Stuffed Peppers with Rice

I love stuffed peppers and TODAY is Valentines day! Not the most Romantic dinner in the world but my husband loves it. So its a win-win dinner right here! This is a simple, easy and Delicious meal! I first learned about Stuffed Peppers back in 2009 when my mother in law Sandy was living with us. She tought me how to make this and i have since changed the recipe a bit but its basically the same.

Start cooking your rice- I have a rice cooker so i put 2 scoops of rice, water and press cook. Cook 2 servings of rice.

Grab a big pot of water, put it on the stove. Bring it to a boil

You are going to need 3-4 Green/Red/Orange/Yellow peppers. Either is okay

cut the tops off and take the seeds out.

Save the peppers from the top of them. Leave peppers whole and place in boiling water.

I chose to use one green, one red, and one yellow pepper. Each have a simmilar but different falvor. Its great to mix it up every once and  a while.

1 Lb of Hamburger. Start to cook on stove top!

While cooking, Add your spices
 Thyme, Black Pepper, Pepricka, oregino, basil (or Mrs. Dash) And Garlic, Minced Garlic, Garlic Salt or Garlic Powder. Just needs Garlic! 

By now your rice should be done! Add your rice to your hamburger after draining out grease!

Add your Tomato paste.

Once that is all mixed in. BE CAREFUL and take out your peppers from the Boiling water.

You dont HAVE to do this. I just dont like crunchy raw stuffed peppers.

Place your meat, rice, tomato paste, mixture together add 1 1/2 cans (tomato can) full and place in your slowcooker or 9x13 pan and stuff your peppers.

Place the remaining mixture around your peppers.

LOAD IT UP WITH CHEESE! Mozerella & Parmasan Cheese! no limit but 1/2-1lb is best :)

If going in oven Cover with foil

bake at 350 for 30-40 mins

If you have time: place in your slow cooker for 1-2 hours. Keep adding a mixing cheese as you go :)
 
 

.:Happy Making:.

Tips from Cherry Doll Face

I really have been looking for a new way to "be me" and have a different look. I have always loved the 50's styles and now! Thanks to The Cherry Doll Face, i am going to start transform myself using her tips and videos. 

I have a wedding coming up this weekend and i went to Kohl's got this beautiful "Vintage Dream" dress by Lauren Conrad. I want to do my hair like this! 

This is a great tutorial on how to do your hair!

I will not be doing my make up EXACTLY this way. but this is the general idea i am going to be going for! I want to have more of a Vintage Glam, and less of a Pin up.

Okay soo i forgot to take a picture! Stinks... once i find one or do it again i will be sure to update it!!!

22 Rainy Day Activities :Updated!

ITS RAINING TODAY and I love rainy days. Not only does it water my yard and garden but I love the way it sounds, smells and how it seems to clean everything. Love it! The only thing I don't like about rainy days is that now that I have my son, who is now 3 1/2 years old seems the TV gets turned on. we have some pop corn and just have a lazy day... Well NOT TODAY! I feel like I need to turn off that TV - Turn off that computer and make a fort. Play, dance and be silly with my little man. He has so much at his fingertips and the TV isn't going to let him grow, learn and eventually not just reach for the stars but be a STAR!

- I threw this Blog together in about 45 mins. in between playing with my son and cleaning up the house, don't make excuses on why things cant get done. They will get done if you want them to. there's always options!!-- 

So if you haven't showered mom, do it now... or wait, BUT Get yourself ready to have some fun. 

Activity #1 : Singing in the Rain 
- Since it is already raining. go get your boots on... or take them off and go play in the puddles and mud with your kids! The temp. needs to be no cooler than 38 degrees F outside, So they don't freeze!!! Puddles and mud every kid likes. Don't let them not be silly and themselves just because you don't want them to get dirty. Join in the FUN! Sing, Dance, and play in the rain!

Activity #2: FORT
Its time to get your dinning room tables, pillows and blankets out for an amazing tent! Boys love it, Girls love it, moms and dads love it... so make it! Leave it up the entire day... clean it up when its dinner or bed time. FUN FUN. Do I really need to go into a tutorial?

Activity #3: Make a play city!
Grab some tape and tape roads and places onto the floor. Use your Cars and Blocks to build a city. Have a cool car rack you could pretend play. Super fun, Easy Clean up!

our Blocks :)

Activity #4: BLOCKS! 
Grab your kids blocks and build! This little "Game" catches my sons eye for about 45 mins. Longer if i play along. You can even make A play city with the blocks and put your match box cars in. It is fun and time consuming either way!

Activity #5 : Finger Painting
Finger painting on Paper Plates!

Activity #6: Coloring
Grab a coloring book and go to town, make one for every one you know and place it in a folder. When you see them, give it to them. Make your 3 year old very proud of his work.

Activity #7: Baking 
Make your own packages (recipe here) and Mix up some cookies with your kiddo. They love seeing and tasting the results (so does daddy). Again, this will  make your child very proud of his/her work that he has accomplished!

Activity #8: Cloud Dough
Cloud dough is so much fun! there are so many cool things about cloud dough, it feels cool. Smells cool. And if you keep it in a Gallon Zip lock baggie it lasts you a long time to use over and over! This will keep my son busy for about 30 minutes. Click this link here to get recipe. 

Activity #9:Play Dough
Making play dough is not only cheaper but it is a lot more fun to do at home! Making play dough is something your kids will love! they get to make the coolest thing in the world right in their kitchen! Click this link to get recipe. 

Activity #10: Cleaning games & fun
Okay. Fun cleaning games are not hard to find. Its all about mamma or baby sitters attitude towards the game. Grab a kitchen timer. set it for 3 minutes. Grab some cookies or some candy. Less that 10 more than 5. When the timer goes off and the floor is picked up give them all of the candies! If not subtract the candy to the amount of toys left on the floor. This will help motivate them to get their toys picked up and their room cleaned. My son really loves this game. 

Activity #11: Make Stamps!

Making stamps is really easy. All you need are some bottle tops, Foam sticky figures and shapes, stick them on the top of the bottle top and dip in paint. Super easy, super fun! Here for tutorial.

Activity #12: Dance PARTY!
Go to www.aol.com or www.klove.com and click the radio on the top right corner. Turn on some awesome free music! Turn off TV's put your hair all crazy and get them dancing! Moms always say "no running in the house" but in this case, chase each other and tickle. Even do a tango dance with your kiddo in your hands. 

Activity #13: Rice Play
Rice is a great sensory play for kids. It is okay to eat, not always suggested but its obviously non toxic. Poor your rice into a cake pan with measuring cups and spoons. Make sure the kiddos know the rules but it is a cool fun game and it will really get their attention! 

Activity #14: Mommy gets a make over 
Since i have a boy, i don't always like it when he puts make up on. He LOVES my make up so... today I'm letting him put make up on me! Its a fun thing for him and a cool bonding experience for us and Maybe ill let him put some on too!  ... MAYBE

Activity #15: STORY TIME
Grab your books, get in your fort and start reading! 

Activity #16: Grocery Store
Make a trip the the dollar or grocery store. Make a short list. Make sure you have your deals from. www.couponmom.com and your coupons from www.coupons.com and go! But SAVE YOUR MONEY! don't just go and spend $50 on junk you don't need! Be smart moms!

Activity #17: Zip lock Painting
Fill a Gallon Zip lock bag with finger paint, let them go to town! Just no scratching the bag, it will break. Tape it to a sliding door or window. Let them play! Mess FREE! Tutorial Here

Activity #18: Car ride 
If the sun does or does not come out. GO FOR A DRIVE! These are fun to do. go down dirt roads, ways you have never taken before. Doesn't have to be long but just make a fun time!

Activity #19: Make a book!
Make up a story, write it down. have your kid draw pictures or scribble. Have them tell you what to put in the story.  Bind it together or staple it, give it to daddy and for others to see! 

Activity #20: Movie and Nap Time
 If all else fails, or you have done a few games/ projects on here, Cuddle up, pop in a movie, and take a NAP! 

WE HAD SO MUCH FUN! Rainy Days ROCK! SO EXCITED!

My son is now 4 years old. Its the rainy season again and I have a few NEW ideas!!!

Activity #21: Memory cards and puzzles! I have deifnately noticed as my son has gotten older i am not longer trying to push games on him that he is unable to do. He is chalk full of energy and everyone knows it! We need to chanel the energy into something positive. When your child is ready, start doing puzzles and memory cards with them! Sit down, set the timer for 5 mins see how many matchs you can get in that amount of time. Try to let your child be more independent as hes learning how to memorize. Just make life fun for them! No sence of them growing up when they are preschoolers and toddlers!

Activity #22: Let them make lunch!  Teach them how to make popcorn in the microwave and put peanut butter and jelly on their bread! They may not do it perfect but independence comes with responsibility and makng sure their momma eats is definately somewhere to start! 

Pumpkin Muffins

With fall around the corner I LOVE getting ready for it, I Love new recipes and things that remind me of fall. This recipe has been floating around pinterest for a while so I decided to try it! I love making and trying new things out all the time! Its a fun way to spice up your breakfasts for your kids and for every one else as well!

I call them pumpkin cupcakes because I don't think my 3 year old would eat them if I called them "muffins" but they technically are Muffins :)

The amazing thing I loved about this recipe is that there are only 2 ingredients!
- no egg
-no oil
-no butter

And for people who are looking to cut back on things like that, this is PERFECT! This is amazing for kids as well! Yumm. I guess this is a WEIGHT WATCHERS recipe! SUPER COOL!

VERY SIMPLE. Mix the two together. If you are using a mixer add your pumpkin first. But i did it by hand. You could also use - Vanilla cake, Chocolate Cake or Spice Cake

Put in muffin tins- Bake for 350 10-15 mins. Until they are golden brown-


REVIEW: My son loved them! He actually ate a entire muffin which is rare for him! Hes a very picky eater but he definitely loved this!!! I think it was very good, I could of added some cinnamon or spice and it would have made it taste like pumpkin pie. All in all, the pumpkin muffins/cupcakes  were a HIT and very healthy as well!!! It also got me thinking... hrm... I can do this with apple sauce, mashed banana's, maybe even pears or peach's, the possibilities are endless! 

The total price was $4.15   :/ I don't like that price, I did not use any of my coupons and I kind of made it last minute. So definitely wait till there is a 10 for 10 sale and get the items at a CHEEP PRICE - but if you look at it like- "I spend $7.00 on a breakfast for each person when we go out on Sunday mornings then this... is nothing for ya!" - Super easy, super yummy and great now that school has started. make these the night before, or if your up early enough the morning of, and send your kids off to school with these yummy muffins!

ENJOY

Play Dough $.17

There are SEVERAL Ways to make home made Play dough. For right now i am going to choose one and go with it. I saw this recipe here. Truth be told. I stay up late. Making crazy things so when we do it again tomorrow and my son is all excited, I make sure I do it right and DON'T disappoint him. So get a pen and paper. Your going to want to write this down! 

1 cup flour -1/2 cup salt -1/2 cut water - Cream of Tar Tar (optional, just for elasticity) food coloring

grab a medium size bowl. Add your Salt & Flour & Water

Mix Salt, Flour and water together and it will be a little crumbly but this is exactly what you want!

Add in your food coloring a little bit at a time and Kneed to mix. And to make sure its the right color you want keep adding a little bit at a time.

Add in your Cream of TAR TAR a little bit at a time. this helps to make it pliable.

Repeat and make more colors! Super fun! Super Easy!!! 

Add your food coloring and kneed your dough to mix the coloring in. Add more to make it more vibrant or less to make a subtle color.  It takes about 10 minutes and about $.17 WOW.. . only 17 cents compared to how much you pay to buy it at the store... No more store bought! Im sticking with this!

Bonding & Learning

As most of you all know, I have one little rambunctious 3 1/2 year old Boy. He is my WORLD! Sometimes I think that I am too nice on him, but one thing I have noticed is we aren't spending time together like we did when he was littler. So what can i do to fix that? Well hrm... I have had a few ideas but i needed to take action. We dont know eachother like i want. I dont always know what he likes, wants or feels. Why hes acting the way he is, thats because im not spending time with him! 

 Fun Ideas for you and your kids

Every morning in the ride to school I make up a story, a silly story and ask him questions

"Christopher?" -Yes momma?- "I don't think i can drive anymore.Can you drive yourself to school?" -NOOOOO... I cant do that- "WHAT!?!!?! WHY NOT! YOUR A BIG BOY!" - No momma, im to little!- "NOO WAY! What do you mean YOUR TOO LITTLE!?!?!" - Come one momma, YOU NUTS!- "hahahahaha yess momma is crazy! Hey do you see that farm there?" - Yes momma- "What if we lived on a farm with all of the pigs and cows?" - NOO... they smell!- "doesnt daddy smell?"- hehehehe-- --- By that time we are at school and we start to talk about all the fun we are going to have and how i cant wait to pick him up!

Let him help you with dinner. If i am making waffles or pancakes, noodles, or anything simple. I ALWAYS let him help, Especially Pizza! No matter what i let him help. He feels a sense of pride to know that i made dinner. and I Blame it all on him, good or bad :) hehehe  

Some kids have a hard time brushing their teeth and honestly he was one of those kids. It used to be a fight. Now "MOMMA DENTIST to the RESCUE!" After i brush his teeth, hes dentist Christopher and brushes mine! hehehe I always have to do it again but thats not the point. It makes him feel special. 

Play Dough. My son loves play dough. We have a few rules. None on the couches or Recliner but we can play in the kitchen. We roll it out and use our cookie cutters and mix them all together. We play for around 45 minutes + just with play dough. There is a recipe for home made play dough here 

Cloud Dough- Cloud do is an awesome activity to do with your little one. One thing you will ave to learn is "ITS OKAY IF THEY MAKE A MESS!"  Set the rules but when they are having fun don't ruin the time by yelling at them. Just clean it up later. Use my recipe to make your own Cloud Dough

Rice- Let them play with rice! Get out your measuring cups and poor it from cup to cup. Bowl to bowl. Play WITH THEM, laugh, giggle, and be silly. Make up stories, get their imagination going! Get them wondering about answers that they answer.

On a nice night after dinner. Grab some blankets and go out side in your back yard. Bring some pillows as well. Lay out on the grass and watch the stars, moon, clouds, planes and birds go by. Ask him what he sees, What he hears, make it a fun game. Bring some cool books for you two to read and just have fun. Nothing serious or strict and make him "dissapear" under the blanket, like you lost him. Laying out in the grass is FREE, Simple and my son loves it! We make up songs about what we see or hear and just laugh. Great bonding experience.

Make and play with the Toddler Sun Catchers Its is fun... SO do it!

If you do these simple little things, you will start to notice the difference in you and your child. Most of the time when kids wont "shut up" and wont stop screaming or hanging on to you, they want to spend time with you. they long for it.. So do it! Its your job not to raise a snot nose brat. TV doesn't teach that. People do. All of these Crafts and activities will help you not only bond but will help them learn! Learn how to pour, learn how to build and be creative, keep them thinking, keep them smart! When kids are bored is when they get in trouble the most.

If that doesnt look like fun i don't know what is!