Here's the recipe for these sinful bars I like to bake and gift as Christmas goodies. Then I bake a batch just for me and snack on them out of the fridge because they are better cold. They rock.
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Christmas Baking: Heavenly Coconut Chocolate Bars
Here's the recipe for these sinful bars I like to bake and gift as Christmas goodies. Then I bake a batch just for me and snack on them out of the fridge because they are better cold. They rock.
Saturday, March 2, 2024
Cookbook Recipe: Fully Loaded Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
It's the age-old question: what's for dinner?
Problem solved!
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
12+ Ways You Can Save or Make Money Today
- Be a safe driver. Stop speeding and observe traffic rules and you won't have to worry about a costly ticket. I am being super careful on my errands today and when I am driving around town in general. You can even save money on your car insurance if you get an app that tracks your driving (probably something like Life360 where it can track your quick acceleration and hard braking).
- Buckle up and make sure your passengers are also properly buckled. This applies to making sure your kids are buckled properly in your vehicle. In my state, it can be $60 per ticket plus court costs if your kid is not in the proper booster or car seat so make sure you know the rules.
- Get the Ibotta app! You get cash back in the form of PayPal cash or gift cards when you buy specific products! I recently received a Pillsbury pie crust to bake a pie and take a survey and there was $15 in my account! Check out my post here.
Saturday, August 19, 2023
The Ultimate Guide to the Best Meal Prep Containers
Meal prepping is a great way to save time and money and can also help you eat healthier meals. However, you need the correct containers to prepare your meals effectively. With the market flooded with many types of meal prep containers, it can take time to get the best. Here's a guide on what to check when buying the containers.
Durable and Reusable
Buying durable and reusable meal prep containers is best for the environment because containers are a source of pollution. In addition, a GoodCook durable container is hard to break or crack, which can lead to food waste. In the long run, a durable container will save you money because you will not have to purchase containers frequently. Check out better containers and enjoy long-lasting meal prep containers.
Consider Size
Always consider the size and shape of the meal prep containers for convenience. You require containers that are easy to use and store. Big containers can be cumbersome and take up a lot of space in your freezer or fridge, depending on their size.
Sunday, July 9, 2023
2023 Chick-fil-A Cow Appreciation Day Dress Like a Cow Day Free Food!
Tuesday, July 11, 2017 is the day/night to go THIS YEAR ...
This year I took 8 kids plus my husband and myself and we spent $8.47 on fries only :-) |
Please check out the details here first ... they stop serving this free deal at 7 p.m. and you don't get an entire free meal anymore ...
Are you going? So easy to toss together an outfit that resembles a cow (just think black and white, brown and white, spots, ears, tail, nose -- they aren't too picky as long as you give it a shot). Now for the vintage 2012 photos I promised you!
July 11: Free Slurpees ALL DAY at 7-11
2020 Update: I'm wondering what Free Slurpee Day is going to look like with social distancing requirements in place all over the country. We moved in the fall of 2017, so I don't remember doing this in 2018, but last year we hit a couple of 7-11 stores in Grandview, Missouri and had a blast doing it.
ORIGINAL POST:
Today is July 11, 2012, and you can find my family at the local 7-11 convenience store filling cup after cup with FREE SLURPEES. We go before lunch then again before dinner! It's from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. So mark your calendar for July 11 = free Slurpees. Then July 12 = Chick-fil-A Cow Appreciation Day!
Monday, July 18, 2022
Reasons Why Seafoods Restaurants Are Popular
There are several reasons why seafood restaurants are popular: Creative menus, Sustainable certifications, Celebrities' visits, and the freshness of the seafood. If you're in the mood for a delicious seafood dinner. You might be pleasantly surprised! This article will give you an inside scoop on the seafood restaurants in San Francisco. So, why are they so popular? Read on and discover the reasons behind their success.
Sustainable seafood certifications
The sustainability of seafood has become an increasingly important issue for consumers, and food businesses are enacting mandatory sustainable seafood certifications. These certifications measure the practices of fisheries and their chain of custody against internationally recognized standards. These are given by accredited certifiers, which provide valuable assistance to fisheries and their chains of custody.
Sunday, November 21, 2021
4 Ways to a Less Stressful Thanksgiving at Your Home
Isn't Thanksgiving so great? It's one of the least stressful holidays for me personally.
Fourth of July finds me worrying about burns and blown-off fingers and how many people are in the swimming pool.
Christmas finds me frantically wrapping presents for days on end, holed up in the bedroom trying to hide what I'm doing, tossing a ring pop out the door now and then to keep my kids happy for a while.
Comparatively speaking, Thanksgiving is a walk in the holiday park! Here are some ideas for making it even less stressful that I have learned over the years (since moving into our bigger house where we host a lot of parties!).
BEFORE: Instead of purchasing GladWare, saving up plastic containers (whipped cream, sour cream, lunchmeat, etc.), or loaning out your favorite Tupperware, (hoping it will come back to you someday), ask guests to bring a few small containers of their own to take leftovers home in. If they forget, put out some aluminum foil and paper plates for them.
HOW THIS HELPS YOU: This puts the leftovers ball in their court and you can relax and enjoy the day while they are getting all packed up.
BEFORE: Put several extra empty trash bags at the bottom of your kitchen trash can.
HOW THIS HELPS YOU: When a wonderful guest offers to take out the trash for you, they won't have to ask you where more bags are. You're hosting a party and you're busy! Sometimes during a party my kitchen is so full I can't even wade through the people to get to the empty trash bags, so that eliminates that problem as well. (Also, I tend to get distracted easily and forget what I was doing before I was interrupted, so...)
BEFORE: Yes, I know it's bad for the environment and clogs up the landfills. Just buy sturdy and large paper plates, as well as plastic cups and silverware. Don't forget to also purchase small paper plates for desserts. Forget the soda for kids and just get Capri Sun juice pouches (you know they make purses out of the empty pouches, right?).
HOW THIS HELPS YOU: Obviously you won't have to do dishes if they are all in the trash. If you have a compost pile, even better.
BEFORE: Put a cloth or paper tablecloth on the main table.
HOW THIS HELPS YOU: If it's paper, just take it off after everyone leaves and throw it away. If it's cloth, toss it in the washing machine. This saves you time wiping down a very messy table and then probably also having to sweep the floor as well.
Now it's time to relax for the evening and watch Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Or check out my helpful post about How to Have a Happy Thanksgiving from 2015 :-)
Saturday, July 17, 2021
#WorldsofFun — the Perfect Family/Fun Day! Find Your Amazing!
So I initially titled this post "Perfect Summer Day" ... but we've been to WinterFest and it was a Perfect Winter Evening. How about The Haunt? That would be a Perfect Autumn Evening! Carnivale? The Perfect Summer Night! We are so fortunate to have Worlds of Fun here in Kansas City, and it's no wonder people come from all over the country in all seasons and in all types of weather to enjoy it!
All photographs you see in this post that are of my family on a ride were taken while others were still loading onto the rides. We did NOT take any photos while a ride was being operated. You are not allowed to do this, and we did not do it!
*I need to start by sharing how great the Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun park app is. It stored all of our tickets and passes, including meal and drink passes. It showed wait times of rides and had a map of the park. It also made it quick and easy to get into the park.
Saturday, May 1, 2021
River Market KCMO Date: Pigwich, Planter's, Lock up Your Love, Betty Rae's, Opera House, a Park
So when you've been with someone almost 26 years (we met in July of 1995, and here's our love story) and you have 5 kids together, it's easy to get into a routine of work, kids, busy, house projects, dishes, cooking, laundry, driving, errands, homeschooling, dentist, eye doctor, orthodontist, social stuff at home and other places, taxes, fishing, etc.
Maybe you try to carve out a day, put it on the calendar, but then something else comes up and you have to move the date to another time or maybe it just falls off the radar altogether. Also, with 5 kids coming and going, a couple driving, some with other plans, it becomes a homework assignment in rocket science to make it all work out. Not to mention you have to make sure there is plenty of food at home, and then you have to run down the ground rules again.
I'm happy to report that, although my husband and I didn't date much when the kids were younger (simply because we enjoyed being with them so dang much and also we had like 6 years together before we ever had kids), we are dating more now, when we can. Recently we went to Ronnie's Restaurant in Lenexa and it was fantastic!
I put this date on the calendar several weeks ago. It was originally supposed to be May 8, but I was consulted and agreed that a fishing trip with Mr. McLoughlin and Twin and 6 of the kids (4 of ours and 2 of Twin's) would be fine as long as we could move the date to May 1.
Look, I know the MALE is supposed to plan the date and all that. I get where you're coming from, and we teach our boys that THEY call the girls and not the other way around. And we teach our girls that they should expect to have doors opened for them, etc. They are very blessed to have many friends whose parents have similar values.
But sometimes you want to plan something nice for someone, you know? I chose a restaurant I knew he would like, a shopping experience I thought he would enjoy, and some exercise I knew he was craving. Then I got one more surprise idea. Here's our day in pictures! I hope it gives you some inspiration!
Friday, February 19, 2021
Helping Your Kids Through the Pandemic
We’re still in the midst of a pandemic and many of us are starting to consider how we can make this time as easy on our kids as possible. Here are a few suggestions that should help you to provide them with the best and to keep a smile on their faces!
Education
Many of us are finding that our main concern for our children during this pandemic is their education. At the end of the day, they’d usually be in school every weekday learning all the things they need to advance. But while many schools are closed, the responsibility of teaching has fallen harder on parents’ shoulders. While there may be video classes for little ones, many are finding that they want to educate their kids further. Try getting in touch with their school to find out the curriculum they would usually be studying or consider an online christian homeschool curriculum. Just make sure not to put pressure on yourself. All kids are in the same situation and all kids will be able to catch up together when schools reopen and teaching and learning recommence as usual.
Keeping Them Occupied
Of course, learning shouldn’t be the only thing your kids are doing at home. In usual times, they only spend a portion of their day at school. The rest of their days are usually filled with clubs, activities, and fun. Right now, hobbies and extracurricular activities are going to have to be home-based and away from others. So, you may find yourself looking for new things for your kids to do that they will enjoy. Here are a few suggestions that might help!
Arts and Crafts
The vast majority of kids love getting involved in arts and crafts. It helps them to express their creative side and - at the end of the day - is downright fun. Now, some ideas to get the ball rolling include helping them to make mosaics. Encouraging them to create sculptures with clay or plaster of Paris. Drawing. Supervised sewing or knitted. Painting. The list goes on. Simply provide them with the materials required to let their creative sides loose and they’ll be occupied for hours.
Baking
Another fun supervised activity for your kids is baking. So many little ones love getting involved in the kitchen and baking could be a fun and safe activity for you to all enjoy together. Plus, you all get a delicious treat at the end! Look up simple, child-friendly recipes or you could even consider pre-packaged and prepared baking kits specially targeted at kids. While you should take care of anything to do with the hob or oven, they can enjoy mixing, decorating, and all of the other fun and safe parts of the process.
Storybooks
When it comes to the evening, if you want to help your little ones wind down, try reading them a story. This will help them to drift off to sleep. You could also try out kids' audiobooks if you’re not great at reading out loud yourself.
Hopefully, some of this information will help to make the whole pandemic a little easier on you and your children. Each suggestion can really help to keep everyone engaged and occupied, bringing smiles to everyone’s faces on a daily basis!
Thursday, January 21, 2021
The Biggest Mom & Baby Trends Of 2021
2020 was a weird year for everyone, but for those of us that had a baby, or have a family to raise, it has been a wild ride. However, the good news is that you get ahead of the curve by checking out my guide to the biggest mom and baby trends of 2021, below.
More sustainable baby products
Sustainability is most definitely a watch-word in mom and baby trends this year. What that means is less of a focus on disposable items such as nappies, and wipes and more on good quality reusable ones that can be washed and used over and over again.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xs3WtSBvYvk" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
This focus on sustainability also means there will likely be a reduction in plastic toy use, and perhaps a move back to more traditional wooden toys. Something that fits well with the Montessori educational ethos.
Finally, when it comes to sustainability you can expect big changes in the Baby Food Industry as well. In particular, plant-based baby food is set to be big this year, not to mention packaging made from materials such as sugarcane pulp which can be recycled or composted as easily as any other biodegradable waste.
More gender-neutral clothing for baby
I know that gender reveals seem to be as popular as ever on social media, but 2021 may just be the year we see this trend start to shift. After all, there is a real conversation about gender going on right now, and many parents are reluctant to impose an identity onto their children that may not ring true for them as they get older.
With that in mind, expect to see more gender-neutral dressing and outfits in yellow, greens, and especially greys.
More deliberate screen time for the kids
2020 was the first year that many kids of all ages experienced online learning, and due to the constraints of the pandemic, we can largely expect this trend to continue.
Of course, this can be somewhat problematic to families that like to limit screen time. However, it is important to recognize that not all screen time is bad. Indeed, at the moment it is what is allowing our kids to maintain their friendships and their educational process.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cxyW12PjlW4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Having said that, will the necessary increase in deliberate screen time, it may be wise to encourage other non-screen-based activities as well, especially ones that involve outdoor activities and exercise.
Outside parenting support
Let’s face it, parenting is hard, and I'm pleased to see that we as a society are finally beginning to acknowledge this. Indeed, instead of getting on with the task of parenting the kids alone, there is now a lot more support for those of us having a bad day, or struggling with longer-term problems like poor mental health.
I often find that one of the best places to go for support is other mommy bloggers, as many are wonderfully honest about the downs as well as the ups of parenthood. Then there are text and video call therapy services and there are even subs like r/breakingmom on Reddit that are specifically designed to be non-judgmental places of support and encouragement.
Monday, January 4, 2021
Common Diets Explained
Photo by Trang Doan from Pexels
The new year is coming up and that means many of us are finishing the last of the festive food in preparation for detox in January. New Year's resolutions of getting fit are being made and you are probably wondering how to get there. You might have done some research and found that there is a myriad of diets out there that all seem a bit confusing. After all, you want to lose weight in a healthy way, you don’t want to lose too much too quickly or do something unattainable that means you get to your goal weight but can’t sustain it long term and end up right back where you started. There is a diet out there for everyone and it is up to you to decide on what is the best for you, your habits, and your lifestyle. As long as you are exercising, eating healthily, and are comfortable in yourself, then that is what is the most important thing in life. Make sure you don’t get too fixated on your weight and that you are sensible. Here are some of the most common diets explained so you can make an informed decision. And remember, if something doesn’t work for you, don’t be afraid to try something new!
Wednesday, December 30, 2020
3 Ways To Cut Back Spending And Bump Up Family Income
Extra money in any family's pocket or piggy bank is always a blessing. It allows parents to save for important events in their kids' future, such as funding driving lessons or paying for college. And it also gives them more room in the budget to spend on vacations and experiences to spend to build lasting memories.
Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels - CC0 Licence
Money has a whole host of benefits for you and your family. But if you feel like there's not much room in your budget right now, don't worry; there are three ways below, you can either cut back on spending or bump up your income.
Benefit Entitlement
Many people in America are unaware that they are entitled to some benefit to help with living expenses.
There is a range of circumstances that could qualify you for a bump in your income from the government. For instance, if you're on a low income, if you've recently lost a job or if you or someone you live with has a disability. You could be eligible for extra financial support.
And there's help on hand to help with your claims too. For example, if you're struggling to file a disability claim for benefits. The San Diego Disability Law Group can guide you through the process and help you get the funds you are entitled to.
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
My Life as a Homeschooling Door Dasher
I'm 49 years old, have five kids, and I usually have one or more of them with me helping out. We split the money we make 50/50 since they help grab the food and deliver it to the customers, and I just like the time spent driving around with my kids, teaching them the geography of our large city, math, economics, manners, reading, and more.
The excitement of Door Dashing
Our first Door Dash experience
Sam said it would be funny if someone did Door Dashing in a semi-truck. We also think it would be funny to do a movie like Dodgeball but it’s Door Dashing and so it’s like Julia versus the Mcloughlins and we are rivals trying to see who will make the most money that night and get the highest ratings. We picture a lot of high-speed chases and sliding into restaurant parking lots sideways to make good time.
Our first Dash was a pickup at McDonald's (just a McFlurry and a mocha), which we dropped off at a bar and grill to a guy who had been sitting outside on the patio. We got paid $3 from DD and were tipped $2 on the app.
Then we immediately accepted one for Hawaiian Brothers for $5.25 total. They didn't have the drink the customer wanted, so I was able to text the customer directly to ask what he wanted instead, which was convenient. Headed to Lee’s Summit about 20 minutes away with that order.
Got to the house and a teenage girl came out and gave Sam $20 cash for the tip! She said she tried to order from the one in Lee's Summit and didn’t realize I was coming from Belton and I said that’s fine because this is our time together we love doing it.
Next top was China Star, and I texted the customer to let them know the order was taking a little longer than expected. The delivery location was pretty close in a run-down trailer park. It was a great chance to talk to Sam about not judging people by what they look like, what they drive, or where they live. A tech millionaire could live in that trailer, while we are driving a fancy Buick tonight that we are borrowing from my step-dad because we can't afford to pay for our car repairs just yet.
Hawaiian Bros. again was our 4th Dash and $7 tip probably because we came so far.
$45 for two hours of work sounds pretty good, but then we also have to consider gas and wear and tear on the car. I drive so much anyway that I hardly notice plus gas prices are amazing right now.
How to Stock Your Freezer With Meals
Photo by Ella Olsson from Pexels |
Stocking up on meals takes me to a happy place in my own mind and saves me frustration, money, and time. If you have meals already prepared and frozen, ready to pop in the oven, you won’t be seeing the pizza guy on a weekly basis or going out for fast food when you’ve resolved to feed your family more healthy meals.
I don't think we've ever had to call appliance repair on this commercial freezer in over 15 years (but we have had plenty of other appliances that didn't even last a year before needing some work). |
Monday, December 28, 2020
7 Things You Can do When You're in a Funk
Photo by Inzmam Khan from Pexels |
Thursday, December 17, 2020
The Entertaining Disasters To Avoid This Season
https://unsplash.com/photos/O4i1SVvckII
At this time of the year, stresses can be high. Even without a pandemic on our hands, Christmas and the holiday season can be busy and quite chaotic. When you’re trying to get everything done and make it perfect, please everyone, and enjoy yourself, tensions always run high. But that’s not really what you want to happen. Because the more stressed you are, the more likely it is that things are going to go wrong. And when you want to be able to make sure that things run seamlessly, it’s also a great idea for you to be aware of some of the disasters that could potentially take place so you can avoid them. If ever you’re able to stop anything stressful from happening, it’s a great idea, right? So let’s take a look at what you should avoid and how.
Running Out Of Food
Now, one of the very first blunders that you’ll want to avoid is most certainly going to be centred around food. When you have plans with others and you know that you have a set amount of meals to make for a range of people, you’ll always want there to be enough food. So this is when you need to be able to plan ahead and work out exactly how much you need to buy.
Unexpected Guests
From there, you may also then find that you end up having unexpected guests. Of course, you can find that this is less likely to happen this year compared to others. But, should that happen, you’ll then want to make sure that you have nibbles and drinks ready to go – even if it’s something in the freezer.
https://unsplash.com/photos/0hAdietsUrE
Spillages
As much as you’d like to hope that your home is going to be able to stay safe, you may also be at risk of spillage, stains, and broken pieces of crockery or glassware. Ideally, this isn’t going to happen – but are you prepared if it does? If one of your guests’ skills wine around the house, you’ll want to know your upholstery cleaning options to save things pretty quickly. It’s best to be prepared, just in case.
Guests Clashing
When you have a range of people over for dinner, it could be that they won’t always get along. This can be fine in some circumstances, but if you are worried that they might clash and it causes an atmosphere, strategic seating has to happen. That way, you can avoid any unwanted awkwardness.
Messed-Up Meals
Finally, it could be that you’re worried about some of the meals being a little bit messed up. Do you worry about ruining Christmas dinner? Are you afraid of burning something or overcooking something? It could be that you’ve never made something in particular before and you’re a bit worried about that? When that’s the case, it could be that you want to do a trial run or really allow yourself enough time to do all of the prep work so that you’re not in a rush and the risk of things getting messed up is low.
Tuesday, December 1, 2020
Gift Guide: Universal Yums Subscription Box
Universal Yums makes a fantastic gift! |
Do you worry that your grandchildren are not learning enough about the world in school? Is it hard to find a snack that's interesting and fun? Are you unable to board an airplane flight to anywhere in the world? Are you concerned because your kids seem to be sitting around the house staring at the ceiling tiles, bored out of their minds?
Universal Yums can solve all of those problems! (and, yes, if you click on the link, we each get a special deal)
Back in May 2020, I bit the bullet, plunked down 39 bucks, and got a massive box of snacks from United Kingdom (June 2020 Universal Yums box) for my family to sample. Here are some photos of the snacks we received. (FYI: you can pause anytime you like and restart your subscription box, change the size, etc.)
I apologize for some of the sideways photos!
Interesting! |
LOVED these! |
The Yum Scoreboard helps you keep track of your favorite snacks! |
I'm going to order the Germany box for my dad and mom when it comes around because they lived there for a while (it's where I was born, in fact) and might think that's a pretty cool gift to get in the mail. Also, if there's ever a Kuwait, Dubai, or Middle East gift box, we gotta have it since my husband travels there quite a bit for work and it would be fun for the kids to sample some snacks from that region of the world.
What country or region would you like to try snacks from?