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2.27.2012

Chore Charts & Reward Jars

A while ago, my husband and I were talking about how we could get Mr. C more interested in helping around the house. I always felt like I was the one cleaning up toy after toy after toy with no help from him. Little miss is a bigger help than him. We decided that maybe we could have some sort of chore chart that would work for a 3 year old, with chores easy enough to complete and a chart that would keep him interested.
We decided on what "chores" we thought he could do and have him complete 4 in the morning and 4 in the evening. Using pictures, I made it easy for him to understand and a matching game too!

I found some metal plaques at Hobby Lobby on clearance. What I liked about these was 1.) the size, 2.) they were light weight, and 3.) they had picture hanging teeth on the back.
I tore off the paper from the front of the metal sheet. If I couldn't get all of it off, I sanded it so that when I covered it with modge podge and scrapbook paper, it would stick.
One of these plaques I covered with paper and the other I left plain. (Like I said, I made this up a while ago and it has received a lot of use.

Then I printed off the chore chart. I left the blank squares so that when a chore was completed, Mr. C could find the matching picture and put it next to it's match.
I cut off some of my magnet strip and attached it to the back of my chart, and then it attached to the metal plaque.
I printed out smaller versions of the pictures I used on the chart to make corresponding magnets using clear stones.
Mr. C is excited to put the matching magnet next to the chores each day. Usually he will carry around the magnet of the chore he is trying to complete. I try and tell him we don't need to take our magnets into the bathroom! Even little miss knows when it's chore time we go to the chart to see what needs to be done.
I like that I can update the chore chart as he gets older without having to remake a whole plaque. We just remove the 8.5 x 11 paper and replace it with the updated chart.

We also have found that time out doesn't work for when he chooses to ignore mommy and daddy and is mean to his sister. Money however is a little more effective.

So hanging above his chore chart is his money jar. Made in the same fashion as the chore chart, when he does something nice, listens to mommy and daddy and does his chores, he gets to put money in his jar. But when he doesn't listens or hits little miss, he gets money taken away. You would think life was ending when he gets money taken away!
At the end of the week he gets to go with mommy or daddy to the store and buy a "special" treat or he gets to earn a fun little present. We are still testing out the money jar, but so far it is helping. Eventually we will have to start using real money!
The first week I took him to the gas station looking for all the $.05 or $.10 candy areas, there were none to be found. Where did they all go? I was feeling old.

If you are interested in a copy of the chore chart, email me at lizziejanebaby@gmail.com.

All of the images for my chart and jars I found on photobucket.

Here is where I'm linking up this week:

2.22.2012

Pantry Pasta Fagioli

Yesterday was one of those days when 4:30 rolls around and you start to wonder, what am I going to make for dinner? If I was better organized, I wouldn't find myself in this mess. There are so many cute ideas on pinterest for menu planning boards. I just don't have space in my kitchen for one, so I have not made one yet.

Well I went to my pantry to see what I could put together. Soup is usually my go to meal on days like these. I saw the Campbell's tomato soup can and thought grilled cheese and tomato soup is always easy, but the hubs really doesn't like tomato soup, even with a yummy grilled cheese for dipping. So I came up with this version of a Pasta Fagioli soup. Basically macaroni and bean soup.
I grabbed a few things from the pantry and from my fridge. I always have chicken broth, canned veggies, and beans in my pantry. I usually just buy them when they are on sale, so I always have them in my pantry. I always have onions and carrots in my fridge too. I like celery in my soups but, it goes bad fast so I rarely have it on hand. (If it goes on sale, I will buy celery, chop it up and with some chopped up onions and carrots, I put them in freezer bags and freeze them for later. Then you can put them right into your soup from the freezer.)
I always have pasta in my pantry. I'm not too picky on they type of pasta I use for soups. I will use whatever I have.
Here is the recipe: Liz's Pantry Pasta Fagioli
1/2 onion chopped
handfull of baby carrots chopped
3 cans (14 oz) chicken broth/stock
2 cans white/cannillini beans
1 can diced tomato
1-2 cans mixed veggies or whatever you have (I like more veg in my soups)
3-4 handfulls of pasta
salt & pepper to taste
1/2 tsp of garlic powder
2 bay leaves
1 tsp. basil
dash or two of thyme

To a large stock pot add a TBL or 2 of olive oil, carrots and onions and saute until onions are transparent (I add my salt and pepper at this point, you can always add more later). Add chicken broth, basil, thyme, garlic powder and bay leaves and bring to a boil. Add cans of beans, tomatoes, and veggies (including the juices). Stir and bring it back up to a boil. Taste it and see if it needs more salt and pepper. Add pasta. Stir in the pasta, bring to a boil and then turn it to medium heat. Let it simmer on the stove for about 15 minutes or until the pasta is fully cooked. REMOVE the bay leaves!! Don't forget this step, you don't want anyone eating those. And it is ready to serve!
It turned out delicious! And with a couple of Rhodes warm n serve rolls, you can't beat that for dinner! The kids loved it too! I usually give them a bowl with just noodles, veggies, and beans and they can eat it themselves.
Soup is one of those things that you can kind of add whatever spices you like and it usually turns out. If you like oregano, you can add that to this soup and it would be great! If you don't have bay leaves, I'm sure it would be fine too.

Another thing that I have on hand in my pantry are bottles of canned meat that my SIL and I did last year. They are wonderful to have on hand and I use them quite often. If I didn't have white beans, I would've added some canned chicken and had chicken noodle soup. I use the hamburger and a couple cans of beans and tomatoes to make chili all the time. Also good for spaghetti. The beef is great for green chili burros and french dip sandwiches. They may not look very pretty, but the meat is tender and they taste good.

ENJOY!

Here is where I am linking up this week:


My entry to the appliances online crafty creations competition. You can enter too at Lil’luna!

2.15.2012

Lucky Boy & Lucky Girl

With Valentine's Day over, it is time to focus on the next upcoming holiday!! Although I'm not a huge fan of St. Patrick's day, I know a lot of people that are. I do like the idea of LUCK though. I LOVE horseshoes and I often find I'm telling myself how lucky I am. (Sometimes it's I'm so blessed and sometimes it's I'm so lucky.)

With that in mind, I made up these printables. Lucky Boy and Lucky Girl. I originally came up with them for my son's room and then decided to make a girl version as well. They come in a variety of colors and are made to print as 4x6, 5x7 or 8x10.

The Lucky Girl poster comes in 5 options because I made a 2 tone version, but the Lucky Boy poster comes in 4 options.
I hope they can find a spot in your home this coming month of March to celebrate the luck you feel. Maybe I should've made a Lucky MOM version!!

Here is where I am linking up this week:

2.14.2012

Cast off! Party!

The cast off party was a success! The only problem was that our sunny AZ weather decided to go on vacation today. It was overcast and cold. The kids didn't mind, but the moms were feelin it. Unfortunately I didn't get many pictures, Mr. C sure had a great time.

2.13.2012

Casts off!

He's free! And already teasing his sister. He's having trouble walking so hopefully he will be set to play at the park tomorrow.

2.09.2012

Blowing Kisses to YOU!

I wanted to make something fun for all the moms that are bringing their kids to the Casts off for Valentine's party we are having next week.
I've had these red gumballs sitting in a jar on my counter (they helped me with potty training), and I've been wanting to use them for something. I came across this cute pin on pinterest and had my inspiration.
I bought some cute bags from the store and filled them with gumballs and hershey kisses. I made up some printable tags to attach to the front. I folded the top down and attached my tags.
Last minute I decided to add a little extra to the hershey kisses. I've had these Avery labels sitting on my desk and finally figured out how to use them with my printer. It was super easy to download the template, type in my Xs and Os and print them off.
I think they turned out great and hope the moms like them. I even made enough for Mr. C's preschool teacher and the grandparents!

These printables will print out (20) 2" tags to a page. I used my 2" circle punch to cut them out (you will have a small ring of the outer design around the circle when you use a 2" punch). I added a little something extra with my 2.5" scallop circle punch for the outside.

Hoping you are all ready for LOVE day!!

2.06.2012

Wrap it up!

Do you remember this post I did about how much I LOVE to wrap presents? That maybe I'm, borderline, obsessed with wrapping paper and ribbon!?!? Well my handy husband gave me an early Valentine's present!

Even though he already made me a fancy (heavy duty) wrapping paper and ribbon station, I had more paper, bags, tissue paper and boxes filling up 2 shelves in our laundry room/office. We are trying to get organized around here and ditch the stuff we don't need anymore. We needed those precious shelves for other things, so he made me a SECOND wrapping paper holder!

This time we made it a little deeper, to hold the rolls of ribbon better, and added a shelf at the top to store all those bags, boxes and tissue paper.
As you can see, something else found a home up on that shelf. Hub's remote control helicopter. Out of sight, out of mind for Mr. C.
I think it turned out great and there is a ton more space to add even MORE RIBBON!!! My husband is very excited about all the ribbon I'm sure to add! ;)

So now I have a whole gift wrapping corner in my office and it is beautiful! One holds birthday paper and the other holds Christmas/any day paper. Who has a birthday coming up?

2.03.2012

Zebra stripes

Check out this cute burp rag set my mother in law made! My cousin is having her first baby and her shower is this weekend. She loves animal print and hot pink. You can't go wrong with that! I hope she loves them. I know I would!

2.02.2012

Valentine's Printables

While the kids and I have been sick at home, I've been spending way too much on pinterest and blogs. I decided it would be fun to make the kids valentines to give away. There are so many cute ideas out there! Since we are spending all this time at home, I thought that the store bought cards just weren't enough this year. (I'm sure I will feel differently when I have more than 8 to make!) I got my inspiration for these valentines from this blog post.

I came up with my own printables and had the kids help me get them put together to give to their friends at our CASTS OFF!! party!

Here are the two free printables.

I cut out a bunch of cape shapes from construction paper, got out the stickers and let Mr. C just have fun decorating.
I cut thin strips of construction paper and fed them through my xyron machine and made stickers that I could roll around the blow pops for the masks. Using a sharpie I added eyes to the mask. Punch out some small holes on the card and one on the cape and it all came together.
I'm going to let Mr. C "write" his name on the bottom of the card. For little miss' valentines, I put gummy bears in a ziploc snack bag, folded the card in half and stapled it to the top.
I really wanted to use cinnamon bears, I've been craving them lately, but I thought they might be too much for little kids.

It sure was fun to make these and it's my very first time doing free printables! Hopefully they work for you!

Making the most of it

Since December it seems like one or both of my kids have been sick with something. We've been at home a little more than usual, which is good for the kids, but can be bad for momma.

It started off with little miss going to the emergency room with a possible case of pneumonia. They took x-rays and monitored her oxygen levels, gave her a breathing treatment and a few hours and a couple hundred dollars later, we were able to go home. She did not have pneumonia!! (BLESSING!)

We've been having to give her at least 2 breathing treatments a day, if not more. She is always game for the breathing treatment for the first 2 minutes, but the next 10 minutes are not so fun. She was getting better and then it got bad again. Then started the breathing treatments every 4 hours.

Even though she wasn't feeling good and was coughing and had a runny nose, she was still such a fun pleasant baby. Finally this week she started doing so much better.

Then 2 weeks ago while we were running errands, Mr. C fell out of the car. After I got little miss out of her carseat, he was getting out of his and came down to the door, my back was turned and the next thing I know he was on the ground in the parking lot. He had no scraps on his body, but wanted a band aid on his foot. Once we got home, I noticed he was walking funny and if he had to go up on his tip toes he would start crying.

2 Dr. offices later, we had a brand new blue cast on his foot. We had a rough night that first night with all the awkwardness. Plus he started running a fever and not really wanting to eat.
The next day I knew that he too was getting sick with the same thing as little miss. That day Mr. C couldn't make it to the toilet fast enough, and so we now had a cast soaked with, yes that's right, pee. That happened not just once, but twice!! No amount of blow drying was going to change the fact that he would be walking around with a pee cast for 3 weeks. Well that wasn't going to work for me. So we had to schedule him to get a replacement cast.

We also had to take him to the pediatrician because he had a fever off and on all day and night, coughing and then saying his mouth hurt. Luckily he didn't have strep. Just a cold, but sometimes that can be worse. There is absolutely nothing to do for a kid with a cold.

Here he is leaving the Dr. office with his new cast. As you can see, it doesn't seem to bother him too much!So now our whole house has either had THE COLD or is now getting over THE COLD. Time to Lysol the entire house and get it out of here. I am SO SICK OF SICKNESS!

But while we've been stuck at home, we've made some fun crafts and we're working on sharing with our baby sis.

Since I'm trying to keep that cast as clean as possible, we haven't been able to enjoy the outside like we should be at this time of year in AZ. I was talking to a friend who came to visit and we wanted to set up a play date at the park for when the cast comes off. (FEB. 13th!!!!) I thought that is a great idea! Let's do something fun for the boy who has been cooped up with mom and sis all day lately. So I decided to make it into a party!

Now we have something to look forward too!!

It just goes to show you, you can have a party for anything!! It helps that it's Valentine's Day!