Summer is a comin

So my son can count on small but fun things I plan at home for the last day of school before Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. I get a movie we have never seen, Root Beer Floats are a MUST, and a fun dinner. For us this year I am having to improvise since we have Pack Meeting for Boy Scouts and we won't be home until 8. I am so bummed we look forward to this every year. Pity Party Over!

However, I have 6 weeks (we are year round remember) to plan and keep my kids happy and distracted. The pool and the ever obvious Swim Team will keep us going. However, when we are what hose who gets them. I call Water Logged. I need more ideas. That is where Pinterest comes in. Now, we are all prone to a Pinterest Fail, myself is for sure a Mom who has had A LOT of those.

I am planning weekly trips to the library, science experiments (2 a week), cooking fun (I suggest doing this during different times of day for different meals). My son wants to help with dinner first, so he will be in charge of planning the menu. I will guide him for budget purposes, slicing if needed, etc. We are planning a few mother and son dates nights to talk about books we are reading.

I am super excited that Harkins does a summer movie program and I can get 10 movies for 5 bucks. That is a Friday thing so I can't wait. Check your local theater, at 10 AM they do a showing of a repeat kid's movie and the tickets are SUPER CHEAP. Great way to escape the heat for us (In AZ it will be a scorcher this summer)

What ideas do yo have for summer break. All mom's need help in this area because when you hit that wall, you need reinforcements!

Have a great eveing!

Plastic bags vs Containers in packing a lunch

My son's school is a year round school. We start in July so I am ahead of all the "Back to School" bargains that the stores offer. I made a promise to myself in the summer of 2013 to pack my son's lunch and see how far I could go before I caved and had him buy lunch at school. I am proud to say I only have 15 days left in this school year. I have packed lunches and breakfasts for him all year. This is a huge commitment, I wanted to pack fun meals that weren't just sandwiches every day.

After the 1st quarter we get a 3 week Fall Break. I began to get irritated at all the plastic bags in his lunch box after 2 weeks. So my research began on containers to pack his lunch in that I can wash and reuse. I decided to get the ziploc 3 compartment containers... those are now my "EMERGENCY" or "FIELD TRIP" go to. They gave up, where the line divider is on the width part, it gets and odd shape after you pull it off. Mine were done after a week, It couldn't latch on at all. So I began to look at what people call "Bento". 

I found Laptop Lunches due to their price $23.99 for their Bento Box!!!. I got my bento set the last day of school before break. I was super excited to see it in the mail box (fast fast shipping). I got up 3 weeks later and packed my son an awesome lunch in his new lunch container. I loved it and it paid itself off in 1 month compared to plastic bags. I was super sad to lose the container month later. So back to plastic bags for me and griping about the costs.

I decided to try a Planet box bento system next. This was an expense I wrestled with for a few months actually. I wanted the Rover Complete which is $59.95.  I had to do the math to justify the cost associated with it. The container came with a 5 year warranty which I was super excited to have

Here is my break down. 

Let's go off a 4 week month of 20 days of school. I bought the Target brand sandwich ziploc bags and 100 came to a box which were $2.64. I packed 4 bags a lunch (sandwich, fruit, veggie, and a small treat or snack) So I got 25 lunches a box and at 9 months a year (just lunches not anything extra and breakfasts it was getting costly) I kept losing track so then I just starting writing the dates on the boxes when I got them. I was getting a box every 1.5 weeks! So 2 a month, it was costing me $47.52 a school year ( 9 months and that doesn't include summer). 

So now that the boring stuff is over, I broke down and ordered the Rover from Planet Box. I am super happy with the container again like the Laptop Bento. I love each container for their own individual reasons, it really depends on the meal and the purpose I need it for.  I can say financially, there is major major advantages to using containers over plastic bags. If you follow me on Instagram with what I post for my son's lunches you can see sandwiches are there but not often. My son loves getting meals from home that he loves. Stir Fry is his favorite, macaroni and cheese, and Turkey Meatballs. His lunches are famous with a few of the teachers they have to see what he has. For me, I know what he is eating and he eats it all. 

There are a TON of lunch containers. Ziploc, Laptop Lunches, Planet Box, Yumbox, Easy Lunch Containers, Lunch Bots I haven't used all of these, but I have read reviews. I know tons of bloggers who use different containers. I am building my collection, it depends on your needs and wants. it also depends on your child's age. Some coordination is needed to open some of the containers, keep in mind if your school will help. (Yes, some won't help open a lunch container... shocking to me)

If you are on the fence on ordering containers, take into account your costs and number of kids. I only have 1 whom I pack lunch and breakfast for. Keep track in your own way for your budget. I am not a couponer so I can't get all the bags on sale. I don't have the patience with potty training of my toddler. Keep in mind what works for you and if you don't like it... there is Ebay or a friend who you can give it to. 

If you have any questions please feel free to comment here or use the email me link. 

The RESET BUTTON and our Toddler

So, if you know me personally, you have heard the EPIC stories of my daughter. I love her with ever fiber of my being and that she is so spirited and wonderful. She by the time she hits kindergarten, will turn every hair on my head grey. My children are 6 years apart, and we always say my son is like having an old cat. He is easy going, chill, and has so much patience for his little sister. Which with our little princess, she is chaos bottled up 2.5 feet of girl. There is a saying "Let her sleep for when she wakes she will move mountains" which is so true.

The most recent case was when she robbed the Easter Bunny, she ate all 14 chocolate eggs, and shoved all the money in the oven of her play kitchen. She didn't know, but she did out the Easter Bunny to my son, I think he was teetering, but this pushed it all over the edge. I am so sad on this transition for my son and we have chatted about the Easter Bunny, Santa, and the Tooth Fairy. He still loves the idea and is now excited to help carry the tradition for his little sister. (IE, he can hide the Easter Eggs).

I am getting to a point, I promise!!!!!!!!

I realize, I got caught up in the madness of life when I looked at my planner and can't remember the last time I used it. I got a printable planner from The Handmade Home and I love love love it.  I just haven't actually used it in a month. It is amazing how a month can change your WHOLE SCHEDULE and the way your run your home. This generation of kids won't know a 9-5 job for their parents and weekends off. With technology especially there are many ways to connect to the office. I mismanaged everything and lost our structure so that means our schedule is FLAILING.

With our toddler who is challenging as it is, we like to have structure so she knows what is coming and it makes teaching behavior expectations so much better. I kept trying to figure out why the temper tantrums were coming more frequent and it hit on Tuesday evening. So now I have to tighten the ship and and press our RESET BUTTON.  This is going to be hard for me because she will defy it and the moment it is back on schedule Summer Break starts.

Time to start buying... SCHOOL SUPPLIES

Yes, you read the title right. Now before you start throwing stuff at the computer mad because summer is literally almost here. Hear me out on my thoughts, as a PTO/PTA mom and also the VP for now 5 years running, you get to know the teachers. By January and especially February, this is what I hear... "I am almost out of copy paper. " "I need sanitizer, I am on empty" and things of this nature. Before you go "I bought them supplies at the beginning of the school year" I want you to think long and hard about what some schools are able to pay their teachers. For my son's school, and we are 1 RURAL school. I know our school budget isn't much and they make do on so little. I know we grew up hearing "The schools have no money" and it was true then and even more now. Think about the rising costs of living and how little a teacher's salary has gone up. I am not trying to guilt any parent here. At the end of the school year think about how little they have to work with.

So, my solution. The 1st day of school comes every year, same time every year. You know your kid is going to school and supplies are needed.The supply lists come out at various times maybe the 1st day of schools like ours. Other schools may mail it with your teacher assignment a few weeks before school starts. I long ago decided to divide and conquer. There are specifics you can not get until the list is in your hands, paper, markers, number of folders, etc. So I start buying now what I KNOW I will need.

Here is my list I am literally stock piling for the teacher
Tissues
Sanitizer
Sanitizer wipes,
Box of copy paper (some schools demand teachers supply their own)
Colored copy paper (2 or 3 reams)
Pencils
Crayons
Dry Erase Markers
Pencil Sharpeners (for your kid)

These are items that you can get some good deals on slowly to stock up. If they can't use it, there is another teacher who can. Sharing is caring for them or they will be trading Kleenexes for Sanitizer.

I am also stock piling for myself AKA buying clothes on clearance. Plus we order our backpacks and lunch boxes from Amazon. It is their downtime, so I want to get a good deal. Our favorite sports teams are from our home town, so Amazon has the best deals for us.

My list,
Backpack (My son goes through these once a year, this year we had 2)
Lunchbox (Another one of those things that gets a lot of wear and tear)
Thermos (for drinks)
I am shopping for a new lunch box system to have a variety depending on the meals. (Another blog idea)
Wide Ruled Paper (homework)
Homework Box supplies (I will post on this later)
Clothes you know your child will need (Shorts, school uniform items, sweaters, etc)

Start a list on your planner or on your phone. Add things as you think of them, stuff like this you NEED. If you can get a bargain or stock up to help the teachers it is a Dollar well spent

Lunch Box Love and why I am so glad I ordered them

I have been following a lot of blogs for almost 9 months now about packing lunches and like myself they post pictures on various social media sites. I always see these little cards that are about the size of business cards, that have just a few wonderful notes on them.

I kept checking the website, but I thought "Ohh my son won't like them." (my son is 9 and you never know at this age how they feel about public displays of affection... of any kind) Finally I broke down and ordered them when they were having a HUGE SALE. I decided if he didn't like them I would give them to friends or save them for my daughter when she started school. My delivery got here the Saturday before our school was scheduled to start their state testing. PERFECT TIMING!!! The delivery was super fast, I had ordered them on Wednesday.

I opened them up and yes immediately read all my cards, there are over 100 and they give you a few extra in each pack to write your own note if you want. The cards also on the back have a fun random fact or a joke which I love. I packed one for the first day of the daunting test, which I didn't let him see me sneak it in. The result was amazing. He came home with a smile and said he loved it. He shared the fun fact which I pick the funniest one about a Japanese butterfly having it's eyes on it's butt. Seriously, potty humor applies to all 9 year olds.

I added a few pictures so you could read some of the notes.

In closing, I love this product. I like packing his lunch, but this gives a little something extra for him. If he had a bad 1st part of the day, he can read something that might cheer him up. When you get your mail and have a card or a note from a friend, it means the world to you right? Plus a funny note or a joke, that is even better. I also feel it can promote kindness and kids need kindness. Our children need to see us as parents giving kindness so they can learn from our example.  

Please go to Lunch Box Love and poke around on their site. They have lunch cards and other things you might just love. 

Disclaimer! Lunch Box Love owned by Say Please did not compensate me in any way for this review. I wrote this on my own and the views here are mine and of my own. All pictures are property of One Happy Momma of Two and @lunchesby1happymommao2 on Instagram. Please contact me to use any of the pictures provided. If you would like please feel free to email me here

The disappearing weekends

School is almost out for us and as a member of our PTO executive board... we celebrate as much as the teachers. Baseball is going on right now, swim starts the following weekend after school, and then there is this move we are trying to maneuver. With school starting up in mid-late July (year round schools here) the following Thursday after the swim championships.  Every single weekend is book solid with games, swim meets, and other social functions.

I have decided things are going to have to change. I can't do this every weekend booked solid run run run. It's not fair to my husband who is RUN RUN RUN at work all week he needs down time too. He is going to want to veg out on the couch and watch a baseball game or a movie. Plus in Southern Arizona, who wants to be run run run in the hot hot heat?

The disappearing weekend seems to happen more and more these days and for long stretches at a time. With families and kids, do they need down time? How often do you feel is needed? I feel Sunday is church and nothing else unless. We do a Sunday dinner, take walks, and maybe have guests over for dinner. I am horrible at going and going then all the sudden I piled on to much and break down. I at that point cancel the weekend and we have our jammies on Saturday Morning until we go to church.

 What do you do to handle your schedule and make sure your family gets down time outside of sleeping and church?

My love of reading... Cookbooks?

So, I have this weird thing, well for me because I don't know other people who do this. I love to read cookbooks. I am super super weird. I am not talking your Betty Crocker (No offense Betty, I do use your recipes). I read cookbooks written by people, who share why they came up with a recipe, what fun story or situation got the creative juices flowing. I also love love love those cookbooks churches or a PTA will do because mom's cook for scheduling around families. While I love Betty Crocker, Better Homes and Garden and so forth. I love a recipe a mom has tried and knows is a crowd pleaser on days when, there is school, homework, PTA meetings, soccer practice, and ballet. That isn't to say I don't like to cook a nice meal other than the major holidays. I just love knowing a recipe is a keeper is quick, easy, and will be a crowd pleaser.

I have a few that I am loving. You have heard me talk about Catherine the founder of Weelicious and she has written 2 books. I love them and use them weekly. I am currently reading Best Lunch Box Ever by Katie Sullivan Morford. 1/3 of the way in and it is a keeper for me. Another blog I follow Momables and the fabulous Laura Fuentes is currently working on her book.

When it comes to packing lunches, meals, anything with food. People have their tastes, some stick with what works other people want to change it up ever so often. I love these books and I have a huge respect for the moms who put work into them. I am trying to change up our whole family and what we eat. I like change and for me, I want to try something new. My husband is a man who loves to stick with what works, I agree to a point. When I am staring down the tortillas for tacos for the 5th time in a month, I need a change.

My kids are who I typically experiment on and lately my luck has been running pretty good. My son has expanded his palette. He has his dad in him and don't mess with the fruits and veggies, if you follow me on Instagram where I post pictures of my lunches, you see the theme. I am hoping that changes but for the most part I think he is stuck in what he likes there and won't change.

So let's hear it. Do you have a favorite cookbook or blog, if so what ones? Do you stick with the norm or change it up with your meal plans? How do you handle your picky eaters?