Has it really been 17 days?

I am sorry, between the sickness that is still sort of plaguing us, the holiday bustle, and the holiday clean up. Here I am, I didn't abandon you at all!

So now becomes that lull between Christmas and New Years for us parents. We have been RUNNING on fumes pretty much since Thanksgiving. Baking, wrapping, and attending Winter Programs at our kids schools. My brain is mush, so I am doing some freezer cooking for school lunches :) Easy, doesn't require much thought, and you will be thankful in the coming week. The first day back to school hits you like a ton of bricks, you can prepare all you want. However, the moment that 6 AM alarm goes off, you get mad that you have to get up and go out in 20 degree weather to drive to school.

This week I am freezing. Click on the link to be taken to the source. Some of the Weelicious recipes are from her cookbooks. I will link to those below.

Weelicious Crispy Chicken Bites (Just video, recipe is in her cookbook

Weelicious Graham Crackers

Weelicious Polenta Cut Outs

Weelicious Breakfast Poltenta Cut Outs

For After School Snacks I can never ever go wrong with Momables DIY Frozen Uncrustables easy peasy for my almost 9 year old.

Also, to get you back into the running from school to activities Momables DIY Bistro Boxes will help make the adjustment easier

DIY Protein

Chicken & Hummus

Fruit and Cheese

Goat Cheese and Veggie


As I said above Weelicious which is owned by Catherine McCord has published 2 cookbooks. I own both and they are wonderful. Her first Weelicious Fast, Fresh, and Easy recipes and her most recent Weelicious Lunches I have them both on Kindle Edition and just love them.

Momables is another site I some how stumbled across in the past year and as you can see I love her site too. I am still finding new fun recipes each visit. Her philosophy is to pack the night before and spare the morning stress. I didn't always do this, but really it helps. She is in the beginning stages of her first cookbook which I am so excited and can't wait to read.

I believe the first week or three need to be easy and less stress for Parents and Kids is the BEST WAY TO GO

* Disclosure - Weelicious, Catherine McCord, Momables, and Amazon did not compensate me for this post. These are my own thoughts and views of each recipe and website. 

I am still here!

I am just starting to feel better and also getting caught up. I am looking for some feedback as far as school lunch ideas. Recipes? Packing ideas? Cost Effective ways? please let me know. Onehappymommaoftwo@gmail.com


Thanks

Sorry for my absence

I have been sick for 3 days. Hopefully a new post this weekend. I hope everyone is enjoying their week! I am getting the urge to bake. Any wonderful recipes?

Elf on the Shelf Re-appears

Now, before you go "I hate the Elf on the Shelf", my kids love his antics. My son is 8 years old who will be 9 in mid February and now a 2.5 year old daughter. My daughter does not get what is going on at all, she just get's excited with her brother. She loves the tree, the lights, and all that is pretty. She is so very young and next year, it will all click with her. I also DO NOT use the Elf as a Behavior tool. The Elf in our home does not report bad behavior... he does report good deeds, getting good grades on tests, or if one of the kids is sick, and things along those lines.

November 23rd an invitation appeared on our recently put up, but not decorated Christmas Tree. It was an Elf on the Shelf Breakfast for the arrival of our Elf who is named "Christmas" I found a adorable free Elf on the Shelf Party invitation printable on Pinterest from 505-Designs. If you click on the business name it will take you straight to her page to print them off. The best part is, you can customize them for your kids!

Here are the stuffed Elves that came with the invitation. The kids are loving them, they are with my kids all the time. 

Then it came time for the Breakfast, we did ours on a Saturday since. Sundays we have church, and I didn't want to rush the kids. I was up Friday night long after everyone was in bed setting up the breakfast.

It was super easy, I got most everything from Party City or Wal-Mart. I think the decorations cost like $7.00 and then the plates and cups were another $4.00. If you want, plan with another mom. Then switch cups, plates, and such for the following year. 

We just had Hostess Donettes :) Little elves didn't want to make a mess in the kitchen.

The kids had a blast!

They got Christmas PJ's in the Gift bags and a coloring book.

Best thing I planned, it wasn't a lot, but for them it was the BEST SATURDAY MORNING. 

I also have to add, "Christmas" our family elf brought a friend this year... a girl elf for my daughter. Whom I am having a hard time trying to talk my 2 year old out of naming the elf "Zombie" (Plants VS Zombies is huge in our home).  I might just do it and if she hate it in a few years renaming it. 

I hope everyone elves are behaving. Mine have already Tee-Peed the house so, we will see what else they do.

Megan