Our Weekly Menu System

I'm really trying to install some rhythm to our days, especially when it come to meal time.  I like cooking and baking but hate thinking of a meal idea on the spot or planning shopping lists.  (We're the "walk down the aisles at Trader Joe's grabbing what we typically buy and anything that interests us" types.)  I don't know how many times we've gone out for bar food because neither of us wanted to think of what to make or verify if we had all the right ingredients for something.  Since I work from home managing a small family child care, I'm making meals and snacks several times a day and I wanted to make it more automatic and easy.

Here's the system I put in place that seems to be working for us so far:

Basic Grocery " Healthy Shopping List"
Dry Erase "Weekly Menu Planner"
Homemade Family "Menu" with variation ideas
Stash of "Staple Recipes" in a DIY cookbook

I'll show you what mine look like and let you know how you can do variations on these to make it suit your family.  I'll include the blank printables so you can cater to your family.

We don't have a basic Grocery List on paper yet, we just cruise the aisles and grab things.  We've done our research so this is easy for us, but if you need a place to start, this Healthy Grocery Shopping List from Fit Body, Full Life will get you started.  Add you favorite items on the blank lines and save a copy.

Currently we use the paper system.  I have two magnetic shopping list notepads from the dollar store on the fridge.  One is a running shopping list that I add to whenever I use the last of something.  The other is a list of meals to make and other shopping such as Target.  When I see that I have the ingredients to make something, I jot it down on this list so I don't forget.  I use it for staple items like banana bread and applesauce as well as meals ides.

I used this Weekly Menu Panner template from Dancing with my Father to design a two week flexible menu for the family and child care kids.  In general, the dinner from the previous night is our lunch the next day.  I have toddlers so this is perfect portions for us.  I put in 3 eat out times that we can skip if we want to (Date night, Friends night out and weekend brunch.)  Each lunch or dinner has two similar options like Quiche or Brunch (both egg based) or Soup or Stew (both stovetop or crock-pot options).  This gives me the flexibility of choosing either or.  I try to rotate the choice between the two options each week but if on-hand ingredients don't allow, I don't sweat it.  Here is the blank template here.  And here is a copy with my meal idea prompts in each box.  This helps me when I look in the fridge and think " I should remember to use up 'that' this week.  I just throw it on the planner on the correct day.  Usually I just wing it though.

To add more variety, I made a Family Menu, a double sided and laminated piece of cardstock that I keep by my cookbook with all our favorite options for meal listed (like various kinds of pizzas, quiches or salads.)  We eat vegetarian so these ides are catered to us and often use tofu crumbles.  You can use the same ideas and easily add chicken or ground beef to any of these ideas if you wanna be more of a meat eater.

Note: I know the yellow Wednesday is hard to read but I wanted to use the Waldorf weekly rhythm colors.  It's just a reminder to me as we use a Montessori/Waldorf inspired curriculum, and it helps inspire my food and color choices that day.

My husband is vegetarian but the kids and I are not so sometimes I add sliced ham or chicken to our meals but most often I just get my dose of meat when we eat out.  I think that's a perfect amount of animal protein for me and I have been much slimmer and healthier (with the help of the gym as well) since we started eating like this.  Here is a copy of that menu with my meal ideas removed.  You can fill in the blanks with your own ideas.  It's a word document so you will have to play around with the format as you add things to it so the titles will end up where you want them.  Or just print a blank copy and fill it in with pencil.

Note: I got the images off of a google image search for crocheted food.  If this is you crochet work, please let me know and I will link to your website.  Thanks!

And last but not least, a big list of my favorite staple recipes!  I put them in alphabetical order for you here.  I'll link them if I can, but for now just find your favorite recipe online.  I'll add to this list if I think of new great ideas.  But I highly recommend The Starving Students' Cookbook and the Starving Students' Vegetarian Cookbook both by Dede Hall as well as the recipe index at 100 Days of Real Food which is where I found many of my recipes.

Applesauce, crock pot and stovetop versions (100 Days of Real Food)

Banana Bread, whole wheat (modified from The Starving Students' Handbook)

Banana "Ice Cream"

Breakfast Cookies

Breakfast Burritos

Brownies, dark chocolate whole wheat

Donut Holes, whole wheat (100 Days of Real Food)

Eggs, hard boiled, scrambled, over easy,

Energy Bites, no bake (Gimme Some Oven)

French Toast

Fruit Crisp/Crumble

Gin Fizz

Granola, homemade

Chili, cheatin' (The Starving Student's Cookbook)

Chocolate, dark freezer chocolate

Chocolate Chip Cookies, whole wheat

Chocolate Mousse

Crepes, whole wheat (100 Days of Real Food)

Custard, vanilla (Pudding)

Hot Chocolate

Hot Toddy

Hummus (The Starving Students' Vegetarian Cookbook)

Iced Tea

Iced Mocha

Lemonade (The Starving Student's Cookbook)

Oatmeal, Homemade Instant Mix

Pancakes/Puffins, Homemade Mix

Pesto Sauce (The Starving Student's Cookbook)

Pizza Crust, whole wheat

Popcorn, cinnamon glazed (100 Days of Real Food)

Pumpkin Bread, whole wheat (100 Days of Real Food)

Salad Dressing, homemade vinaigrette

Savory Cake

Quiche Crust, whole wheat (100 Days of Real Food)

Quiche Base, Blender Version, no crust needed (The Starving Students' Cookbook)

Quiche Base, to use with crust 

Ratatouille

Risotto Base, stove top version (Betty Crocker)

Risotto Base, crock pot version (Stephanie O'Dea)

Savory Cake Base

Tortillas, whole wheat (100 Days of Real Food)

Vegetable Couscous

White Sauce (The Starving Student's Cookbook)

Wild Rice Soup, creamy (Betty Crocker)

Whisky Ginger

Yogurt Cake or Muffins

Yogurt, frozen

I have them printed or hand written on various recipe cards and taped into a DIY cookbook (a blank notebook with thick pages).  I keep this on a stand on the kitchen counter.  I don't have any other cookbooks out. If I find a great recipe in another cookbook, I  put a copy of it in here.  I DO have other cookbooks, but I don't keep them out.  Too much visual clutter.  I recommend doing this too.  If you have a lot of recipes, a recipe box might be easier.  You can file them alphabetically or by food type (pizza, stews and crock pots, salads...).  I think, now that my recipe collection has grown, that I would have preferred the alphabetical option.

Another great idea is a three ring binder and page protectors.  This idea is great if you print a lot of recipes from the internet.  You can move the pages around and use tab dividers to separate the sections.  I think this is the method I will go to next, divided alphabetically.  There's lots of cut binders out there now!  And it will keep my recipe cards clean while I'm cooking.  This can get a bit heavy though.  To save page space, you can print several recipes on a page or tape multiple recipe cards on the same sheet.

Perfect Gift Baskets for All: Part 1

There's so much great stuff at the dollar store!  That said, there's also so much junk there!  It can be tricky weeding out the good stuff from the bad.  Here's some tips and then some inspiration of different gift baskets you can make quickly and cheaply that will be things people want!

Tips for finding the good stuff:

Ask yourself:

-What is it made of?  Is it wood, metal, dishwasher safe plastic?  These are good buys!  Is it cheap dent-able plastic, super thin fabric, easily breakable?  These are buys that won't last long. Look at the seams, the joins and any moving parts.  Look for tight seal on lids.

-Can I get this for the same price or cheaper elsewhere?  Even if it comes in a different size.  Travel size toiletries are not always a deal if you can buy the big versions for a little more.  Same goes for toilet paper and paper towels.  Beware, just because it's in the dollar store, doesn't mean that $1 is the best price for this!  This is especially true for food products that are often 69 or 79 cents in the grocery store under a trusted name.

-Is this unique, fun or one-of-a-kind? Often I happen across a tiny single item that I just think is too cool to pass up!  It's funny or clever and can serve as a gift for anyone anytime.  Like a chocolate bar wrapped up like a $100 bill, a sumo wrestler stress ball or a pack of Garbage Pail Kids trading cards (child of the 80's) These items make great present toppers, stocking stuffers, and add ons.  Resist the urge to stock up but a few on hand can be handy in your gift wrapping supplies!

-If I got this, would I use it often?  A happy birthday wine glass looks cool, but it sits on your shelf for most of the year.  Not a good buy.  But an elegant Martini glass filled with confetti and select candy serves the same purpose and has more life span.

-Consumables can be good!  Not everyone wants to load up on "stuff" each holiday or celebration.  In that case, things that get used up can be the best route.  Think meal baskets, planting kits or craft kits.  At the end, you use it up and there's noting to store!  Get clever with disposables, plastic cups and a ping pong ball=party drink game, a pack of toilet paper or two makes a fun bridal shower or halloween game.

-Does this go back to basics or serve a purpose? Sometimes the simplest things are the easiest to overlook.  Perfect gift for a new mom?  bubbles!  You may not think of it right away but it's hours of fun for mom and baby.  How about baking soda, vinegar and spray bottles paired with homemade cleaning recipes.  Practical and simple!

Now!  Browse the aisles!  Take your time.  Go up and down each aisle including the food aisles.  Look at everything and think what else you could do with that or what it would go well with.  If you find something too awesome to pass up, try to build a basket of things around it.  Keep in mind that most of the plastic bins or woven baskets at the dollar store are cheap or ugly.  Would you want that hanging around after the gift is unwrapped?  Look for practical containers like flower pots, plates, dish pans, tote bags, oven mitts, etc.  You can simply bag a bunch of stuff on a cardboard circle in a basket bag.  Presentation is everything so assemble it so you can see all items right away without taking anything out.  Add a bag, bow or stuffing/ shred if desired.

Have fun!

2013 Oscar Nominee Round-up

The Oscars are coming!  

The Oscars are coming!

The Oscars are coming Sunday February 24th (also my birthday : ) For cheapskates like me, here's where you can watch the 2013 Oscar Nominees for cheap or free as of Jan 25th:

Netflix Streaming 
(We don't have the DVD option and they would probably take too long to get anyways...)

1. Costume Design: Mirror, Mirror
2. Documentary Feature: 5 Broken Cameras
3. Documentary Feature: How to Survive a Plague
4. Documentary Feature: The Invisible War

Redbox

1. Best Picture Nominee & Actress: The Beasts of the Southern Wild
2. Animated Feature Film: Frankenweenie
3. Animated Feature Film: Brave
4. Animated Feature Film: ParaNorman
5. Animated Feature Film: The Pirates! Band of Misfits
6. Costume Design & Visual Effects: Snow White and the Huntsman
7. Visual Effects: Prometheus
8. Documentary Feature: Searching for Sugar Man
9. Original Song: "Everybody Needs a Best Friend" from Ted
10. Writing- Original Screenplay: Moonrise Kingdom

You Tube 

1. Animated Short: Fresh Guacamole:

And here's some other 2013 Oscar goodies:

• Free Party Printables from Hostess with the Mostess (Updated from previous years for the 2013 Oscars)

• Free 2013 Printable Ballot from Moviefone

Did I miss anything good?  Please leave a comment!

Miniature Christmas Village

You may remember my September post on my Harry Potter Halloween Miniature Village?

My goal with my color choices was to be able to use the same little houses for a Christmas village after Halloween. Here's what I came up with:

I chose baby blue and bright red to compliment the navy blue for a retro Christmas feel.

I scattered mini green pine trees, people figurines and other architectural elements amongst the houses.

You can string a strand of white twinkle lights amongst the houses to light them up. (The Dollar Tree houses need a little poking in the window holes with a wooden skewer to open them up a bit more.)

I used a sheet of white glitter cotton batting as a base and used books and other random objects as risers.

Variations:

Gnome Village: I love these plush mushroom ornaments at Target last year! Imagine a tiny Christmas gnome village with these mushrooms scattered amongst the houses. Those green mossy rocks from the Dollar Tree would be great additions. Lay a couple of twiggy branches in the background and add a couple of red cardinals form the Dollar Tree to the branches and tops of the little houses. Use boxes wrapped in birch wood scrapbook paper as risers topped with moss sheets or wood print paper. Sprinkle the rest of the risers and table top with flakey fake snow. For fun, add a few miniature garden tools, shoes or other gnome accessories as if the gnomes were just away for the moment from their homes on holiday errands.

Candy Land: Use flakey fake snow or glittered scrapbook paper as a base. Use some fake candy canes and lollipops stuck in lumps of modeling clay as a picket fence. Scatter other candy and cookie ornaments amongst the houses as decoration. Make paths with contrasting paper edged in real or decorative gumdrops. Use cookie tins as risers. Use real or ornament gingerbread men as village inhabitants. For fun, play homage to the the witch from Hanzel and Gretel by placing a small broom outside one of the houses edged by a fence of gingerbread men.

Fairy Christmas Village: Place the houses on glittered batting sheets or a scattering of flakey fake snow. Tuck silver or glittered Poinsettia blooms amongst the houses. Use foam cones or paper cones covered in pastel or white feathers to make feather 'pine' trees. have a few feather butterflies sitting on the trees or houses. If you have fairy ornaments. scatter them as village inhabitants. You can also make your own like these ones here. You can dangle glittered snowfakes ornaments above the village on fishing line.

Valentine Village: Use just the red houses (3 will do). Use white serving dishes like stemmed bowls, cake plates, etc as risers. Top them with fabric doilies from the Dollar Tree. Drape the risers with strings of pearls, white fluffy feathers and sparkly jewelry for a romantic look. You can also just place the three houses on inverted wine glasses with red roses placed underneath as a table centerpiece over a few overlapping doilies.

St Patrick's day Village: Use just the navy blue houses on sheets of green moss. Scatter mossy rocks amongst the houses. print a large rainbow and ticky tack to the wall behind the houses. Use little black cauldrons from halloween favors or black salsa dishes from Dollar Tree and fill them with plastic or chocolate gold coins. Use paper wrapped canisters as tall risers and prop tall little ladders made of hot glued twigs up to the houses. Spray paint a few stones or glass rocks gold and make a pile or two. Just for fun, fill one couldron with lucky charms (leprechaun food).

Skull Guest Soaps

I was inspired to make these little guest soaps from Dollar Store Crafts last year when the silicone skull ice cube trays came out.

I took my mold this year and a bar of Pears glycerin soap from the dollar store and got to work. It was super easy to do!

I placed a small glass bowl inside a pot of boiling water and using a knife, cut the bar of soap into small pieces. then stirred it continuously until it all melted.

Then using a pot holder, I quickly poured the melted soap into the mold. (The 1 bar filled the whole tray!) hen I popped the tray in to freezer to cool and then popped the skulls out of the mold. I broke off the little bits of extra around the edges. You can also smooth them with a wet finger.

Here they all are piled on a plate in my bathroom.

The clean-up was easy too. I just filled the bowl with water and let it sit in the sink overnight to loosed the soap residue.

I wanted to go one step further with my soaps with a cute container. I fount these printable coffins on this great site featuring printable Halloween toys, Ravensblight.

I assembled a few and put three soaps in each. You can label them as soap just so they don't get confused with all the candy boxes around this time of year!

I'm planning on leaving them out during the Halloween party and sending any unused ones home with guests.

Wedding Shower Bridal Book Game

A fun Wedding shower or Bridal Shower game that is very interactive, and is a great ice breaker.  To play the game, the Bride or Groom starts by reading the first page and passing it to the appropriate person.  Each person passes it on each page and the last one holding the book is the winner!

First get a note book, photo brag book or mini scrap book like this one that I got at the Dollar Tree below.  I actually bought two of them for extra pages and added the pages from one into the other.  You will need 12 full spread pages.   

On one side of each page, place one of the following romance novel couples pictures, full page.  (Save your favorite for the cover.) 

On the other side you're going to place a portion of this poem below.   (I also added a little fun fact about the lucky couple on the bottom of each page for later.  You'll see why in a bit.)  I altered the poem for a co-ed Wedding shower.  The original was made just for ladies.  You can find that version and my inspiration here.

Page 1:  This page will read "This game is really easy and we hope that you have fun, no one can tell who the winner will be until the game is done".

Page 2:  Each page of rhymes will tell you exactly what to do. They will lead you to the winner, perhaps it will be you.

Page 3:  Roses are red, violets are blue. Now please pass this book to the person who is just left of you.

Page 4:  (Bride) and (Groom) are counting down to their special day. We're all excited for them, it's not really that far away. Now pass this book on to the person with the most recent birthday.

Page 5:  The bride is still preparing, for there are still things left to do. Now please pass this book to the person with the eyes of brightest blue. But if there are no blue eyes to be completely fair you must give this book to the person who has the darkest hair.

Page 6:  (Bride and Groom) are alter bound, we’re sure their love will thrive. Now please pass this book on to the person who was the last one to arrive.

Page 7:  Wedding bells will be ring real soon, and  "I do's" we'll hear them say. Now please pass this book to the person wearing the most red today.

Page 8: There are many binds in marriage; faith and love are the strongest. Now please pass this on to the man who has been married the longest.

Page 9:  (Street) in (City) is where they will reside. Now please pass this book to the lady who is the newest bride.

Page 10:  Family and friends come here today from places near and far. Now please pass this book on to the person who came furthest in their car.

Page 11:  This game is nearly over. It’s a shame it’s done so soon!  Please pass this book to the person who is the youngest in the room.

Page 12:  (Bride) will be a gorgeous bride and (Groom) will look good too!  The winner of the prize today is the guest to the right of you!  (Please pass this book back to the Lucky Couple.)

I was working up to the last minute so I didn't get a photo of the finished book. 

Give a prize to the last person holding the book.  The book is now a memento for the couple!  Now pass out paper and pencils to everyone and quiz them on the fun facts on the bottom of each page.  Whoever gets the most correct wins another prize!  

Make sure to have extra gifts on hand for ties.  You can do a tie breaker or give out two prizes.  If you have extra gifts at the end, make sure you give one to the runners up on the last game of the day.

Wedding Party and Family Badges

For the co-ed Wedding Shower I am hosting, I wanted the out-of-town family and wedding party to all be acknowledged and recognized at the Wedding Shower and the Rehearsal dinner.  I was inspired by these wedding party badges on Etsy here.

I created my own using these reusable buttons from Dollar Tree.

You can also find these at Michaels in packs of 5.  I used this template to design my buttons using the buttons above as my inspiration.

I used simple fonts, Webdings and Wingdings on black and white backgrounds.  Here's the cheat sheet for those Webdings and Wingdings.

I used Gimp to edit my designs.  It's a free software like Photoshop.

If you don't have Photoshop, you can download Gimp here.  Here are my finished designs based on who was invited to the wedding.

I left space around each design on purpose.  If you use a Badge-a-Minit instead of the reusable buttons, you will need a little extra paper around the edges of your designs that get folded back into the finished button.

To make the Bride's buttons a little more fancy, I took apart a silk rose, cut the petals off individually and rubber cemented them to the back of her button around the pin to make a rosette style button.

Then I added a scrap of book page, v-cut, to the back of both the Bride and Groom's.

You can finish the button further by glueing a piece of felt to the back to cover the glue mess.  Just be sure to cut a slit for the pin back.

These not only helped the staff at the venue for the wedding shower and rehearsal, but that made for great conversation starters at the events and the bachelor and bachelorette parties.  The Bride and Groom can add theirs to their memory box after the event.