tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54753018104152108932024-03-13T04:59:23.125-07:00Cheap Green MommyCheap Green Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838396559181788855noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475301810415210893.post-78171273387891641102013-02-25T20:28:00.000-07:002013-02-25T20:28:25.739-07:00Consignment earn money for your kids' stuff and get stuff they need on the cheap!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Consignment is a GREAT way to score some awesome deals on the things your kids need! AND even BETTER, if you <b>sell</b> at the consignment sales, you can earn money, so you could net the stuff you need for FREE! I touched on how to save money on <a href="http://cheapgreenmommy.blogspot.com/2012/09/clothes-on-cheap.html">clothes</a> and <a href="http://cheapgreenmommy.blogspot.com/2012/09/toys-on-cheap.html">toys</a> a bit in the past, but I can't believe I completely forgot to mention consignment! </span><div>
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<a href="http://www.scottsdale.jbfsale.com/aboutUsView.jsp"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwXfI-ic8OJVQuivQjgcZPHELfqbsRoihxTmp-jozptaXAniMyIShPUNUXL4COrpk7Rh6SWZHNt2_-Zyq1jx_NIdAe2-3k69VP0fCk88w4etbGZ0I7YT5uWQkmm-NDHGSBoYBTuv6EZObC/s1600/jbf-logo.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That said, I was thrilled when Yvette from <a href="http://www.scottsdale.jbfsale.com/">Just Between Friends</a> contacted me about a consignment sale coming to Scottsdale in May. PERFECT excuse to bring this subject up to you all again :). AND there's something in it for you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">March 1 (THIS Friday) the website will open for sellers to sign up! The sellers price their own items and receive 65%-75% of the price of their items. <b>And for YOU GUYS ONLY as my readers, the seller fee is reduced 50% to $5!! Just mention that you are my readers when signing up :).</b> The fee is deducted from your check at the end of sale, and that check is sent out within 2 weeks of the end of sale.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The event is in Scottsdale at The Phoenix Elks Lodge (14424 N 32nd St). </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The 3 day sale starts with a presale on May 9 open to special groups starting at 3:30pm, strollers are not allowed, it'd be easier to leave the munchkins home anyways ;). "Special Groups" include volunteers who work a min of 4hrs, sellers, expectant moms, moms with new babies, teachers, foster and military families.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sellers make usually between $200-$300 (!!), and go to the website <a href="http://myjbftags.com/">myjbftags.com</a> to enter inventory. Then you print out the tags and pin or tape them to the clothes and you are all set! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Too busy for all that tagging? They can do it for you! It will reduce your net to 50% to 65%, but hey, if you're busy, it's a great option.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Volunteers are what make the event run smoothly. Volunteers earn 70% as sellers, and those who become team leaders earn 75%.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The event includes children's items, maternity wear, and even a Mommy's mart to sell something that you couldn't use that is new in pkg. There will also be a scrapbook corner in the Mommy Mart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Excited about this sale yet? But wait! There's more! The BEST part about this, they have teamed with 2 local non-profit organizations that will benefit in part from the sale. They are working with <a href="http://www.maggiesplace.org/">Maggie's Place</a>, which is a home where moms can live during their pregnancy and with their baby if they'd otherwise find themselves alone or homeless. And they are working with <a href="http://clothesforkeeps.org/about-us/">Clothes for Keeps</a>, an organization that provides clothing to foster families who take in a new child. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These organizations will benefit from the admission fee and will take donated items from sellers after the event. How awesome is that?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, my local peeps, start gathering your kids outgrown clothes, toys, and "stuff" and sign up to sell at this event! Check out their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JustBetweenFriendsScottsdale?fref=ts">facebook page</a> and shoot them a like too!</span></div>
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Cheap Green Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838396559181788855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475301810415210893.post-82331878931232820572013-02-11T06:00:00.000-07:002013-02-11T08:00:30.048-07:00*GIVEAWAY* Personalized Games for the Kiddos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rFH2iPTt1KEyuNlZweRqCQQ0agd7fh5Pyel_qeLzIReiz2Z235Tg3S6t5w-vjbY0tgwvWKfYzhdE3-_MJJLeBFmBQ9hTyCC4uetdWB3IS6Kb92MjGm8zF__kwLRyj5ZLKMC73AO63svp/s1600/iusb_760x100.7413443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="52" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rFH2iPTt1KEyuNlZweRqCQQ0agd7fh5Pyel_qeLzIReiz2Z235Tg3S6t5w-vjbY0tgwvWKfYzhdE3-_MJJLeBFmBQ9hTyCC4uetdWB3IS6Kb92MjGm8zF__kwLRyj5ZLKMC73AO63svp/s400/iusb_760x100.7413443.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kids LOVE personalized things. Zach loves anything with his name on it. And both boys LOVE looking at pictures, especially of themselves, of course ;). That's why I was sooo excited when my cousin Angela offered to do a giveaway for one of her AWESOME custom kids' games. Angela runs an Etsy shop called <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/angelasimages?ref=seller_info">Angela's Images</a>, where she has personalized games and items that are created using pictures you send her. She also has some handcrafted things like camera straps, and crayon rolls, and nursing covers. In short, she is spectacularly crafty :).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She is giving away reader's choice of EITHER her personalized <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/114116222/personalized-memory-game-28-rectangular">Memory game</a> or the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/114114742/personalized-domino-game-28-pieces">personalized dominoes</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is her description of the Memory Game:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KqQ8j_9ys8F5KAIpa_gT1YxcWTjPOts42acF9qKSEaQFopAYgfky0kmeY0WNIewUCtJIcKvGObb6aCDUFMBtr9VyVsG3sNrGtbwpwjMhyphenhyphenLQFGnl_jhzjYNDEYisVivAWCUx6pZ3E2v0S/s1600/memorygame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KqQ8j_9ys8F5KAIpa_gT1YxcWTjPOts42acF9qKSEaQFopAYgfky0kmeY0WNIewUCtJIcKvGObb6aCDUFMBtr9VyVsG3sNrGtbwpwjMhyphenhyphenLQFGnl_jhzjYNDEYisVivAWCUx6pZ3E2v0S/s320/memorygame.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 16px;">Make photos a part of your child's everyday fun! Create a "Memor-ME" game of your favorite photographs! A great way to introduce family members (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.) that children don't see often! Available in a 28 piece (1.25"x3" rectangular pieces) 30 or 40 piece game (2" square pieces), it's sure to be a hit around the household! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="line-height: 16px;">These Games make great gifts! Choose 14 photos and send them to me and I will create your very own Memory Game! 28 pieces, ages 3 and up. Kids love these games and play with them for hours! Made from photgraphs and wood, sealed with a non-toxic coating and packaged in its own vinyl pouch for storing with your very own customized label, these games are sure to be a hit with everyone who sees them!</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 15.989583969116211px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And here is the Domino Game:</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDGM_YOlkqRuqlXwYuhndukyoxxQjusSnSLq2CGdIWyfGQPPAFa7Pl0-JII1jNmNzZ2lbLJ7NSXM5cHLrWz5XluxElO40lcae8qbb6fYybb4t_4y8MC0608eSROUAN-Jil-9urQqPAlXj/s1600/dominogame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDGM_YOlkqRuqlXwYuhndukyoxxQjusSnSLq2CGdIWyfGQPPAFa7Pl0-JII1jNmNzZ2lbLJ7NSXM5cHLrWz5XluxElO40lcae8qbb6fYybb4t_4y8MC0608eSROUAN-Jil-9urQqPAlXj/s320/dominogame.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Make photos a part of your child's everyday fun! Create a Domino game of your favorite photographs! Available in a 28 piece game (1.25"x3" rectangular pieces), it's sure to be a hit around the household! </span><br style="line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="line-height: 16px;">These Games make great gifts! Choose 7 photos and send them to me and I will create your very own Domino Game! 28 pieces, ages 3 and up. Kids love these games and play with them for hours! Made from photgraphs and wood, sealed with a non-toxic coating and packaged in its own vinyl pouch for storing with your very own customized label, these games are sure to be a hit with everyone who sees them!</span></span><span style="line-height: 15.989583969116211px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Zach has the Memory game and he plays with it all the time. Not only does he love doing memory-type games, but he LOVES looking at all the old pictures of himself. He got it shortly after his first birthday, so they are all pictures of him when he was a baby. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How awesome would it be to give one of these games as a gift? Or even just keep it for your kiddo? Entering this giveaway is EASY. If you win you will get to choose which game you want. Shipping to the U.S. lower 48 is covered, but Canada, AK/HI are welcome to enter, you will just have to cover shipping. The winner MUST send pictures via email to Angela within 10 days of contest end.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*Disclaimer: I did not receive either of these games for this post. I did receive the Memory game as a gift a couple of years ago. All opinions are my own and not compensated. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Enter via Rafflecopter below:</span></div>
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/c57b452/" id="rc-c57b452" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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Cheap Green Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838396559181788855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475301810415210893.post-3277945434641883982013-02-01T09:53:00.001-07:002013-02-01T09:53:24.994-07:00*FREE* Youth Football Clinic<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm always on the look-out for cheap, fun things to do with the kiddos. So, when Ashley from the Fiesta Bowl contacted me to tell me about a *FREE* Youth Football clinic that they are putting on for boys and girls ages 9-14, I was more than happy to share it with you guys :).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is some information:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">As one of the Valley’s most exhilarating experiences in youth football, the Fiesta Bowl Youth Football Clinic promotes more than just the fundamentals of the game. Boys and girls, ages 9-14, are invited to participate in this free, non-contact clinic led by trained athletes and experienced coaches. Young competitors walk away with the perseverance, discipline and determination necessary to achieve their maximum potential both on and off the field. There will be two separate clinics to accommodate participants in both the East and West Valley.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The camps are from 9AM-1PM. Registration for either clinic is required, but again, it is completely free!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">More information:<br /><b>West Valley - February 16, 2013</b></span><u></u><u></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Glendale Youth Sports Complex</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">6221 N. 91st Ave., Glendale, AZ 85305</span><u></u><u></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Registration Link - <a href="http://www.fiestabowl.org/events/fiesta-bowl-youth-football-clinic/register-west-valley.php">http://www.fiestabowl.org/<wbr></wbr>events/fiesta-bowl-youth-<wbr></wbr>football-clinic/register-west-<wbr></wbr>valley.php</a></span><u></u><u></u></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">East Valley - February 17, 2013</span></b><u></u><u></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Benedict Sports Complex</span><u></u><u></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">490 W. Guadalupe Rd., Tempe, AZ 85283</span><u></u><u></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Registration Link - <a href="http://www.fiestabowl.org/events/fiesta-bowl-youth-football-clinic/register-east-valley.php" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.fiestabowl.org/<wbr></wbr>events/fiesta-bowl-youth-<wbr></wbr>football-clinic/register-east-<wbr></wbr>valley.php</a></span></div>
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Cheap Green Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838396559181788855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475301810415210893.post-35987601471326107052013-01-29T06:00:00.000-07:002013-01-29T06:00:17.505-07:00Healthy, Delicious, Lentil Soup<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I LOVE the cold(er) weather months. I'm fully aware it doesn't *actually* get cold here in AZ, but I'll take what I can get. It's an excuse to wear long pants, long sleeved shirts, maybe even a jacket or sweater. At night we can cozy up under a blanket, maybe even around a fire pit if we're lucky. And it's a great excuse to make some soup!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Soups are the EASIEST, and CHEAPEST way to feed your family IMHO. AND they are healthy, assuming you don't pick the soups with loads of cream or cheese and no actual veggies. This post is about a pretty healthy soup I love to eat and make, and it's so very easy to do. You can make it vegetarian by withholding the pork products I mention, it will still be tasty, but the pork does make it extra delicious. I make mine veggie heavy, and hearty because Mr. G thang enjoys the veggies straight from the soup and he's not quite ready to feed himself with a spoon :). So, take inspiration from this recipe and tweak as necessary for your own needs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- 8 large carrots chopped approx. 1/4 inch thick pieces</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- 1 stalk of celery chopped, approx 1/4 inch pieces</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- 1 full bulb of garlic minced (it's a lot of soup and I like to taste the garlic, if you don't, then use less or none, it's up to you!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- 1 medium/large onion chopped</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- 1 bag of lentils</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- 1 bag of prewashed spinach leaves</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- <i>optional</i>, either ~6 slices of bacon, chopped or 1 ham bone you smartly threw in the freezer after Christmas dinner :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- olive oil, salt, pepper</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Get out your large stock pot, if you're like me, you don't know how to make a little bit of soup. Add some olive oil* to the bottom and saute up your garlic and onion until the onion is translucent. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQGrzVNS30Je3lRpNaQJeXxPtd1ZGyyyaCIIOxZNHi28sZ1O8dG-rJPZWxpLdZ0Foka7zb83JrHAtI7-tmfshWpCWEaZQr4rzZusPMvvlfVZRAjoM9Poodi57vtELOeB7IgyAqwHrxafc/s1600/lentil_garliconion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQGrzVNS30Je3lRpNaQJeXxPtd1ZGyyyaCIIOxZNHi28sZ1O8dG-rJPZWxpLdZ0Foka7zb83JrHAtI7-tmfshWpCWEaZQr4rzZusPMvvlfVZRAjoM9Poodi57vtELOeB7IgyAqwHrxafc/s400/lentil_garliconion.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">sauteing the garlic and onions</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Add your celery and carrots. Saute all that for about 5 minutes. Add your ham bone and lentils, salt and pepper as you see fit. Add water to coat the lentils. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xTrw_ctUQyGGaycS5y5fvlzwYPp9oLVOm4DmjwKKc08XC2gHHkCfgLUcRwH2dEVdFUzJLjSOTymED_QoKWacH9XkZ78mhy-th7EQ4TunVw5eoaWZia-A70UlCrUO1vRkMCowelKPkkUB/s1600/lentil_bubble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xTrw_ctUQyGGaycS5y5fvlzwYPp9oLVOm4DmjwKKc08XC2gHHkCfgLUcRwH2dEVdFUzJLjSOTymED_QoKWacH9XkZ78mhy-th7EQ4TunVw5eoaWZia-A70UlCrUO1vRkMCowelKPkkUB/s400/lentil_bubble.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the beginnings of a great soup</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bring to a boil and let that pot of yum simmer all afternoon, checking on it </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">frequently, adding more water if necessary, stopping when the lentils and carrots are tender. Throw in the spinach leaves at the very end and take out the ham bone. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglj8WYoKpjnzmOdlZeqbsQAuLztV07McscGCfxXvIGiaLyamTL-_rRF_Ep8FqEQxui9ZUpzLq9ZI9GpTD0rwqaqTcQYNZK_LAkUmy-pv5sizGDbyXCbUmlomueyZQ5oB0Jk8_RN750-34Y/s1600/lentil_done.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglj8WYoKpjnzmOdlZeqbsQAuLztV07McscGCfxXvIGiaLyamTL-_rRF_Ep8FqEQxui9ZUpzLq9ZI9GpTD0rwqaqTcQYNZK_LAkUmy-pv5sizGDbyXCbUmlomueyZQ5oB0Jk8_RN750-34Y/s400/lentil_done.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the finished product!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Scarf it down with some crusty bread and save the leftovers in the freezer for that day when you need an edible hug.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*If you go the bacon route, then cook up the bacon on your stock pot, remove the bacon, leave the delicious grease. Use the grease to saute your garlic and onion, put the bacon back in when you get to the part where you add the lentils</span>Cheap Green Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838396559181788855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475301810415210893.post-61707531396618143772013-01-26T09:46:00.001-07:002013-01-26T09:46:20.430-07:00Mickey Mouse 1st Birthday Party!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The last year went by insanely fast. Gavin has turned ONE already people! I have no idea how that happened. We decided to celebrate with a party because that's what we do around here when the kids have a birthday. We have a party, <a href="http://cheapgreenmommy.blogspot.com/2012/09/superheroes-like-to-save-money-too.html">the kids give mommy a theme</a> and mommy runs with said theme.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gavin is a HUGE fan of Mickey Mouse. He doesn't watch a lot of TV, just snippets of what Zach watches here and there, but apparently Mickey has a lot of charisma because he was saying "ICK-EEE!!" when he saw the mouse on TV at like 9 months old (he's an early talker, errr, chatterbox). So naturally, we went with a Mickey theme for his birthday party. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As with Zach, I tried to do some stuff DIY so it wasn't *all* matchy matchy party store deluxe. The only difference is, babies don't play a lot of party games, so it was pretty much just decorations and cake.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Use the googles people! I found some super cute Mickey/Disney themed fonts that I used the heck out of for party decorations. The banner was just super-sized "Mickey Ears" font and then I cut out circles and glued to some construction paper. I used one of the magazines that Gavin had "overly-loved" (aka torn most of the pages out of) and cut out some pictures of Mickey from that and glued them on. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-34Pj1ZCs1myx01ambHWG2cKVSsJurEstGi4pqQwMq63dFOTjRy7hJ5QWA2-5zLnTznrcWUAYgBnL2qc1n_tZjGXise4M9rtTpLJCevBdSFtwkyU1mX4v1twHRep0TkKFNDvkUHtLDG2z/s1600/happy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-34Pj1ZCs1myx01ambHWG2cKVSsJurEstGi4pqQwMq63dFOTjRy7hJ5QWA2-5zLnTznrcWUAYgBnL2qc1n_tZjGXise4M9rtTpLJCevBdSFtwkyU1mX4v1twHRep0TkKFNDvkUHtLDG2z/s400/happy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I made some signs and decorations for around the house with the fonts I downloaded and some Mickey pictures I found on the interwebs. Thoroughly using my recently discovered poster-printing abilities. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOQTkvqRr3TLdnsgEBunBq2hivYcgI2_DvWXHxAtViFmeJHZRYs0Uli20JSDEhyphenhyphennrHwxWQKbxEympmHTDUKag1AlO1Lk25IZm3EbCLuu-tnuFJBwZCFy5CJU9XGYegcAYZSX5B07n5LLM/s1600/welcome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOQTkvqRr3TLdnsgEBunBq2hivYcgI2_DvWXHxAtViFmeJHZRYs0Uli20JSDEhyphenhyphennrHwxWQKbxEympmHTDUKag1AlO1Lk25IZm3EbCLuu-tnuFJBwZCFy5CJU9XGYegcAYZSX5B07n5LLM/s400/welcome.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was on our front door welcoming the guests to the party</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Ed3Va6uIgsBrVJYUgxturF3E8wMxIXusdmNcXtGhk5Z_8b8Z779SV0UpdxfEzEZDScl4odCGGSBGHUAUnO9iKBcBXHhLJMKbmOFGIxLaXlabaFV8wsNYry1ccWKbY9TELLAgixhqA-3U/s1600/hbday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Ed3Va6uIgsBrVJYUgxturF3E8wMxIXusdmNcXtGhk5Z_8b8Z779SV0UpdxfEzEZDScl4odCGGSBGHUAUnO9iKBcBXHhLJMKbmOFGIxLaXlabaFV8wsNYry1ccWKbY9TELLAgixhqA-3U/s400/hbday.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Hj_7s91xVxi2Gb6pSFKixEne_Uz2PxndNT0pQYQWICPqcpTPtL3lQE7r3KJbsB4Ffgt_vCwOrBl-SCFd9tmOm9SzEEEDMP7NXgwHOxDc_zp8fTTGDcZ8lhF6NKavxwc-O2Q5q1XO5Vl2/s1600/thanks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Hj_7s91xVxi2Gb6pSFKixEne_Uz2PxndNT0pQYQWICPqcpTPtL3lQE7r3KJbsB4Ffgt_vCwOrBl-SCFd9tmOm9SzEEEDMP7NXgwHOxDc_zp8fTTGDcZ8lhF6NKavxwc-O2Q5q1XO5Vl2/s1600/thanks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Hj_7s91xVxi2Gb6pSFKixEne_Uz2PxndNT0pQYQWICPqcpTPtL3lQE7r3KJbsB4Ffgt_vCwOrBl-SCFd9tmOm9SzEEEDMP7NXgwHOxDc_zp8fTTGDcZ8lhF6NKavxwc-O2Q5q1XO5Vl2/s400/thanks.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NrOlRnpaf3_ZUPAzw3aSlBQwOl0QQxOrfuky3Y_pERaxgbBwbUlzK6ckljrQ2pnevUTEfoFNxHH2fk_51SizZlxp6A-K6NcTqVuFjeZOzdyQY-3f3Ng87uXWXqO0USYHtFoyA8pXsRvd/s1600/hotdiggity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NrOlRnpaf3_ZUPAzw3aSlBQwOl0QQxOrfuky3Y_pERaxgbBwbUlzK6ckljrQ2pnevUTEfoFNxHH2fk_51SizZlxp6A-K6NcTqVuFjeZOzdyQY-3f3Ng87uXWXqO0USYHtFoyA8pXsRvd/s400/hotdiggity.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Really proud of my cornball humor here, put this sign by the hot dogs we served :)</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmg4gdOOmqj-y35pmc_xIi1D61xk5hhhndBqovzwyk0RaALcFOsp1hFhLp9OSJ-J5wWbenqHdCMcB1Inqt6ijHndWLRYxnrjf6IlfjcxGG6tgJE-YAwWAGKKss46uSTCjf2ZuBN3pVuRo/s1600/mozadonald.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmg4gdOOmqj-y35pmc_xIi1D61xk5hhhndBqovzwyk0RaALcFOsp1hFhLp9OSJ-J5wWbenqHdCMcB1Inqt6ijHndWLRYxnrjf6IlfjcxGG6tgJE-YAwWAGKKss46uSTCjf2ZuBN3pVuRo/s400/mozadonald.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcqn1Fo5CcSQsLrbiHK2bho2tOHgnfnMdjGyulWcwq1E3KNvXF8JooNcKPKYrjj9UHJEJOUGugxCCNJ-i1u5pfHaoGeXPaTpcFEfOBbGrJ2-eVBMN-k8WBNoiF5O66t29_0fb_gR-97bi/s1600/potty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcqn1Fo5CcSQsLrbiHK2bho2tOHgnfnMdjGyulWcwq1E3KNvXF8JooNcKPKYrjj9UHJEJOUGugxCCNJ-i1u5pfHaoGeXPaTpcFEfOBbGrJ2-eVBMN-k8WBNoiF5O66t29_0fb_gR-97bi/s400/potty.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everybody always asks where the bathroom is so I labeled it :)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And what's a party without some goodie bags? I had the epiphany (because I forgot to order the bags for the goodie bags) that I could just print on some paper lunch sacks and get some customized goodie bags for super cheap!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lastly the cake and cupcakes. We all know I am NOT a baker by any stretch of the imagination. So, I got myself some boxed cake mix from Trader Joe's and used that to make cupcakes. Then I made a sheet-type cake and enlisted the help of my very talented friend/neighbor Rena to make the smash cake. She did a FANTASTIC job, and as she knows, she's now hired to decorate our birthday cakes ;).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The kids and babies had a blast, Gavin is still pointing at the decorations and saying "ICK-EEE!!!". So Imma call it a win :).</span>Cheap Green Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838396559181788855noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475301810415210893.post-65253339181023189932013-01-01T13:04:00.000-07:002013-01-01T13:04:20.136-07:00Resolutions 2013<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's a fresh, brand-new year again already! I can't believe how fast 2012 went by, a lot changed in our lives, and all for the better. I'm looking forward to making 2013 our best year yet as a family :). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course I have the obligatory resolutions, I prefer to think of them as "goals" for the year, mostly because resolutions sound so cliche! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1) Cut the crap. Meaning cut the crap out of our lives. Make a more concerted effort to NOT buy more STUFF. We don't need it, our family is very fortunate in that we want for nothing. We need to take several steps back and appreciate our good fortune and stop wanting and accumulating so much stuff. And it's a good lesson for the boys too, only get what you really need or want and then you value what you have more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2) Along the lines of cutting the crap, make more of an effort to re-use and re-purpose. If I need some storage I can use one of the thousand cardboard amazon boxes we have and gussy that up a bit with some modge podge or something. Or be more creative with artwork and frames. Just generally be more conscious of whether I can make something we already have work, rather than getting something new.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3) Focus on healthy eating. I'd like to eat more vegetarian meals, less meat, and generally more healthy food. We've been doing ok on this, sometimes convenience gets the better of us lately, especially with the baby. But Gavin is eating "real" food now, so even more reason to make sure what we eat is healthy for everyone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4) Exercise regularly some how, some way. I was doing SO good with this, I would run in the morning and then shower during Gavin's morning nap and feel great. Then Gavin stopped napping in the morning and got very erratic with his afternoon naps, so I stopped running. I would LOVE to get back to this, I just need to be ok in my head with being a little sweaty all day after I run. I'd like to FINALLY run a 5k this year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5) Get our memories out of the damn digital world. We have LOADS of pictures on memory cards, in digital storage, lots of places we can't see them regularly. I want to do a family photo year book every year, it'd be a lot easier if I could gather pictures as we take them instead of one big undertaking at the end of the year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6) Focus on the people. This follows the same vein as the first two things. Life is about experiences you have with other people, not stuff. So let's focus more on people. Date nights with the hubs, even if it's a date night in of pizza, beer, and a dvd. Mommy-son dates with each of my boys to give them 1:1 time, even just to the park or zoo. And this is important too, cut the people that don't make me happy out of my life. I've made a good effort towards this last year, but I want a reminder for this year. Those friends that only call you when they want something, see-ya later! Those people that constantly bitch and are full of drama, don't let the door hitcha! I want positive people that make me smile around me, life's too short to waste it on anyone else.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7) And lastly, the cliche mom goal, focus more on me. Go out by myself 1x/month and get some coffee, use my (3 year old) gift certificates for a pedi. Browse a book store. Hell just go to Target by myself! And be ok with doing things for me, like reading, knitting, sewing, <b>BLOG</b>, all those things I never have time for even if it's just for an hour on a weekend.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They're goals, not entirely quantifiable, but still, good reminders of the way I'd like to live my life for the next year. What are your goals and how do you plan on achieving them?</span>Cheap Green Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838396559181788855noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475301810415210893.post-45127488967951807582012-12-15T18:22:00.002-07:002012-12-16T18:15:33.244-07:00Nothing like some Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today was cold (by AZ standards) and rainy. And after yesterday's events with the horrible tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary, it seemed like a good day to hunker down with the family and just enjoy each other. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love the colder weather, coming in from outside to some hot chocolate and eating some warm soup for dinner. Nothing says love and family like homemade chicken noodle soup. And since the kiddos have the sniffles (again!) it was the perfect meal for everyone. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is SOO easy to make and SO much better than that canned stuff. I'm sure everyone has their own special way of making it, here's mine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Get yourself a whole roasted chicken, either roast it yourself, like we did this time, or buy one of those roasters in the store if you're looking for a short cut. Enjoy 75% of the meat off of that bird, but SAVE THE BONES! And save a bit of meat to throw in the soup too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I tend to make A LOT of soup, some to eat now and some to stash away in the freezer for when we need some soup but have no time to make it.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYNjo9BMJXLoaIJW5q-DGybKIEfPe9VBa2VUP5pM42px7dYPWifUyQpIgGWP9589hALhLNN7BXFzFVBLSbf_-ByjwQvZqQVgNhm1FRs3YnkDklhBP9Z6r4DyVMF5mKHuk5y8kj98RE75L/s1600/soup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYNjo9BMJXLoaIJW5q-DGybKIEfPe9VBa2VUP5pM42px7dYPWifUyQpIgGWP9589hALhLNN7BXFzFVBLSbf_-ByjwQvZqQVgNhm1FRs3YnkDklhBP9Z6r4DyVMF5mKHuk5y8kj98RE75L/s400/soup.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 whole roasted chicken, 75% consumed, bones and last 25% of meat saved</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6-7 garlic cloves, minced</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 small shallots, minced</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 stalk of celery chopped, about 1/4 inch thick pieces</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">8 medium carrots chopped</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fresh parsley, chopped</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">olive oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">salt and pepper</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In a stock pot with the bottom coated in olive oil, saute the garlic and shallots until the shallots are tender. Add the carrots and celery, saute until the celery just starts to get tender. Add about 12 cups of water and the chicken bones, the best way I've found to do this is to get a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006O2F58U/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B006O2F58U&linkCode=as2&tag=poola-20">brewing bag</a> and throw the bones in that, and then put the bag in the water. This way you don't have to hunt for the bones when the soup is done. Tried this when the hubs was into brewing beer, it worked wonderfully :). Bring this all to a boil and let it cook for about 2-3 hours.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Taste the broth, add salt as needed. When you're satisfied with the broth, add the chicken pieces and some noodles. I use some </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001SAOB60/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001SAOB60&linkCode=as2&tag=poola-20"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">fideo noodles</span></a> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">my aunt sends from Spain, IMHO they *make* the soup, but some angel hair noodles broken up would work too. Throw in the chopped parsley at this point.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Eat with some crusty bread and freeze the leftovers. So easy, so cheap, and tastes like home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And do me a favor, hug your babies tight, and appreciate them. Even when they are exhausting and you are exhausted, you just never know.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">P.S. I know it's been AGES since my last post, I promise I didn't forget about you. My baby thinks napping is optional these days unless he does it in mama's lap after nursing. This does not lend itself to lots of mama time to be doing the blogging.</span>Cheap Green Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838396559181788855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475301810415210893.post-9383653775680362162012-11-13T07:52:00.000-07:002012-11-13T07:52:22.603-07:00Meal Planning: improvising when your plan doesn't work<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes, despite your best efforts, <a href="http://cheapgreenmommy.blogspot.com/2012/09/save-money-on-your-eats-with-little.html">meal planning</a> goes awry. It happened to me last week, and it inspired this post. It's always good to have some easy, tasty meals in your pocket for times like these.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last week in our meal plan I had breaded chicken, it's super yummy, next time I make it I'll take some pics and do a post. It's basically chicken breasts coated in breadcrumbs and seasonings and pan fried. When I went to make it last week I ran into one problem right away, turns out, we were out of bread crumbs. Well, crap, off to pinterest I go, I have a few standby recipes for regular chicken breasts, but I thought I'd try some of the chick-fil-a taste-a-like bites I saw on there. I get all my ingredients out and ready to go, and of course, another snag. Turns out the package of chicken breasts from Costco I defrosted are really chicken thighs. Damn those 3-packs from Costco that only label the MIDDLE pack, why the EFF can't you label all 3 so I know wtf I have in the freezer? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So now I have to think quickly. I want to make something I know Z will eat, and something easy because at this point I'm not in the mood to do a lot of prep work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I turn to my <b>easy bbq baked chicken</b> recipe. Defrost a package of boneless chicken thighs and put them in a 9x13 baking dish. Sprinkle some garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, mustard powder, salt and pepper on them. Use your favorite bbq sauce, I like the Trader Joe's all natural one, and paint it on top of the thighs. Get a bottle of beer, I use a darker malty beer like an oktoberfest, or a winter lager, any brown ale/lager will do. Pour 3/4 of the beer into the pan, this will make your chicken taste divine and will keep it moist. Bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Then NOM.</span></div>
Cheap Green Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838396559181788855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475301810415210893.post-43126074687287911912012-11-07T06:00:00.000-07:002012-11-07T06:00:02.381-07:00Easy Thanksgiving Turkey Kid Craft<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qaq3Qn5xpROh_bFuwyBR-n0LepoGGtKCT-gzs5IE5vFubLvLJsSH9xYSqwFcioqAB2DGrpxVyiNsAYe2TDCPNLbgjrs40OG6GxSl55OhYWXkx046lBRLxMhez-9EyhbbvOMeMKjMzJCQ/s1600/turkey1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qaq3Qn5xpROh_bFuwyBR-n0LepoGGtKCT-gzs5IE5vFubLvLJsSH9xYSqwFcioqAB2DGrpxVyiNsAYe2TDCPNLbgjrs40OG6GxSl55OhYWXkx046lBRLxMhez-9EyhbbvOMeMKjMzJCQ/s400/turkey1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You gots to respect the TURKEY people. I can't believe how early we saw Christmas stuff in the stores, I think it was after Labor Day. I love the Christmas season but that is just effing ridiculous. In all honestly, Thanksgiving is far from my favorite holiday. I'm not a fan of most of the food, and the day itself doesn't contain memories of anything fun and exciting for me as a kid. But nevertheless it *is* the holiday between Halloween and Christmas and it deserves respect as such. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since Z has been in the mood to do crafty things on his full days home with me I knew I was going to have to come up with something for him to do. He's VERY interested in all the holidays and things coming on the calendar lately. And he says he "LOVES turkey", so I went with a turkey craft. This one is all mine, inspired from a variety of posts on Pinterest, but I came up with this one on my own.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This, as usual, is super easy, and kid friendly. I used 2 toilet paper rolls, one whole one, for the body, and one I cut in half for the head. I had him paint them brown completely, mostly to keep him busy. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHjdl00BH-4399LgRBbZ_5y9ml4QaPsYxhWpji2kc0Lac1jWLnFXP9XArl-GWNJNXKCLpWliuqIbzfZrVhk2rHQeC6kGOJlCqPMf2zJv63DF43bH44E0kjh181tstgMm5NY8Sq9i3P2Ox/s1600/painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHjdl00BH-4399LgRBbZ_5y9ml4QaPsYxhWpji2kc0Lac1jWLnFXP9XArl-GWNJNXKCLpWliuqIbzfZrVhk2rHQeC6kGOJlCqPMf2zJv63DF43bH44E0kjh181tstgMm5NY8Sq9i3P2Ox/s320/painting.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then I took some rectangles of craft foam, I got these at the dollar store, you could use construction paper instead, whatever you have around the house. I traced Z's hands on the rectangles, we used orange, red, yellow, and green. We both cut out the hands (Z wanted to do it all himself and then after one hand declared it "too much work" and asked for help). By the time we got the hands cut out, I used 8 rectangles because Z's hands are kind of big, the paint was dry.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOcJLP4z03avX2iyBGzIjRxxKMd0s5zpX2zNKWk-uIgcDxDmS1eFj10AinzxNXXoNkuwxit9uTp9YmjICquf1RatswPJICWRyORAUAe_umatG6BxcXIYhUyX5eEcpUs_S32DyD8dE84dP-/s1600/hand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOcJLP4z03avX2iyBGzIjRxxKMd0s5zpX2zNKWk-uIgcDxDmS1eFj10AinzxNXXoNkuwxit9uTp9YmjICquf1RatswPJICWRyORAUAe_umatG6BxcXIYhUyX5eEcpUs_S32DyD8dE84dP-/s320/hand.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwlJn6lPoZHQznL7aIRQzat3m2oj-YkVnBB8IAC9cKSpo82aoNKTlV90vdmhcyZNf3EKVYFN2Yhwb6LqJBA903cjyWcxYBbML-RlEVvmF8oNnsnd5QJgFAo67CejHaGFoDJyaCZnWkyU0/s1600/cutting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwlJn6lPoZHQznL7aIRQzat3m2oj-YkVnBB8IAC9cKSpo82aoNKTlV90vdmhcyZNf3EKVYFN2Yhwb6LqJBA903cjyWcxYBbML-RlEVvmF8oNnsnd5QJgFAo67CejHaGFoDJyaCZnWkyU0/s320/cutting.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Z glued the hands on the back of the "body", kind of spread out to look like the turkey feathers. Then we used our jar of googly eye balls and glued a couple of those and a beak I cut out of yellow card stock to the "head". I saved a small strip of red craft foam to be the waddle of the turkey. And Z insisted that the turkey also have feet, so I used the yellow card stock and free hand cut out some feet.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrGEHDtgZZIOSLguPkajneKiWjcgODGi_uWDFMKwiencNu_tXIVlc78CHP7ijPti_fC1VBC03w87b8iVFMjOZf-iRX9jk03EoQ5ykU_bKHnGQesjTXoJXxunGGpZiMPSPsHTiO-gmJrCo/s1600/headeyesfeet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrGEHDtgZZIOSLguPkajneKiWjcgODGi_uWDFMKwiencNu_tXIVlc78CHP7ijPti_fC1VBC03w87b8iVFMjOZf-iRX9jk03EoQ5ykU_bKHnGQesjTXoJXxunGGpZiMPSPsHTiO-gmJrCo/s320/headeyesfeet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As soon as the glue was dry on those pieces we glued them together to complete the turkey. Super cute Thanksgiving decoration! Z is very proud of himself, and I am too, he did a great job!</span><br />
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Cheap Green Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838396559181788855noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475301810415210893.post-84445207847234050612012-11-05T06:00:00.000-07:002012-11-05T07:31:19.579-07:00Getting healthy clean floors<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am by no means a neat freak. You should see my bedroom, it's a disaster area. But I do like to keep the "common" areas of the house clean and presentable. It makes me twitchy when the rest of the house gets too far out of sorts. Especially, the floors. ESPECIALLY since Gavin is mobile and shoves EVERYTHING into his mouth. And by mobile I mean he rolls, literally rolls like a barrel all over the floors. So if our floors are overdue for a cleaning, it shows, all over my baby boy. GROSS, *cue eye twitching*. <br />The bottom floor of our house is what I would consider "common area". It's big, and 95% ceramic tile. So, out of necessity with a side of laziness, I vacuum the tile, and the area rugs that we have in the living room and playroom. Recently we decided to get a new vacuum because I was getting increasingly annoyed with our old one, it wasn't picking up dog hair on the area rugs, who knows what it was missing on the tile. The last straw was when B broke a wine glass on the tile and tried to use the vacuum to pick up the small pieces of glass, FAIL, it missed a ton. So we took the plunge and got a refurb Dyson. </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005FQMALQ/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005FQMALQ&linkCode=as2&tag=poola-20" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B005FQMALQ&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=poola-20" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They are super pricey, I will fully admit that. But that damn vacuum was one of the best investments we've made in a long time. The HORROR I felt looking at the full canister after vacuuming my "clean" floors. That thing sold me right away. Not a sponsored post, more a PSA for people who need clean floors. It picks up dog hair, and incredible amounts of dust/dirt. Technically it's also an investment in our health, hmmm I wonder if we could HSA it? ;). Zach has asthma, and the rest of us including him, have terrible allergies, so a vacuum that gets the yuck out is worth it on every level.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001LYFBHG/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001LYFBHG&linkCode=as2&tag=poola-20" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B001LYFBHG&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=poola-20" /></a></div>
<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=poola-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001LYFBHG" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ok so now that the suck-up-able dirt is gone from the floors I needed something better than the mop and bucket to do the welded on dirt. I had been using the standard method with vinegar and some lavender oil, and I *thought* that was doing an ok job. Until one day after some serious walker use from Mr. G thang, I noticed his little feet were BLACK. Like he had been running around outside black. I was so completely disgusted I turned to Amazon immediately for something better. We have, in the past, had a Shark steam mop. It seemed good at the time, however it was kind of clunky and it broke within an a year, so I knew I didn't want <i>that</i>. There are some fancy pants expensive options out there, but all the reviews indicated they would go the way of the Shark too. So, I decided on a cheap option, for under $50 I have a steam mop that is working quite nicely. Similar to the Dyson experience, I was horrified, although this time not as surprised to see how black the mop pad was after I did 1/3 of my floor. Now after a month usage or so, it only gets that black after doing the entire floor :/. What can I say, 2 little boys, a dog and a hubs, our floors get D-I-R-T-Y. So benefits to the steam mop: you just use water, so no chemicals; nothing to buy again, just water; can use to sanitize sections of the floor; picks up dirt waaaaay better because it's so hot. Completely worth $50, even if I have to spend it every year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*All links are affiliate links, mostly so I could get a picture to use without any issues.</span>Cheap Green Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838396559181788855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475301810415210893.post-45946334908610293592012-11-01T06:00:00.000-07:002012-11-01T06:00:08.521-07:00An Inspirational Movie - Little Red Wagon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7wNFaYSbng8FAW6SKxzXti386pyYzRtuEkZi5qynw9Wu3friPU71qyYySUT2Bh-NTevR30bVyKuOqXyp5ppSBlfV5eQQkEB_sDRWdkb9IaVCOwep_nX6UZrsDLX4neYxx6izHGx28YAp/s1600/300x250_LRW.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7wNFaYSbng8FAW6SKxzXti386pyYzRtuEkZi5qynw9Wu3friPU71qyYySUT2Bh-NTevR30bVyKuOqXyp5ppSBlfV5eQQkEB_sDRWdkb9IaVCOwep_nX6UZrsDLX4neYxx6izHGx28YAp/s1600/300x250_LRW.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I recently had the opportunity to watch a screener for an incredibly inspirational movie. It's called "Little Red Wagon" and here's a short synopsis:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">LITTLE RED WAGON is based on the inspirational true story of eight-year-old Zach Bonner on his quest to change the world with nothing more than his beat-up red wagon and a blazing spirit of philanthropy. When Zach sets out to help homeless children in America in the wake of Hurricane Charley, by walking from his house in Tampa, Florida to the White House, he must overcome bureaucrats and blisters, and capture the hearts of his fractured family and the entire nation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was very interested in watching this since I'm from Florida and my family lives in the Tampa area. I remember when Charley was approaching and they were right in the path. Thankfully as the movie shows, the storm veered, but it still had a huge impact on those it hit head-on. That impact was the inspiration for Zach (in the movie, not my kiddo ;)). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The movie sends such a great message. Anybody, at any age, can make a difference. It's a great movie to watch with your kids, it teaches them compassion for others, and the true spirit of philanthropy. And it's a real story that touches on the trials and tribulations that doing a work of this magnitude imposes on a family. Truly a feel-good type movie :).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you're looking for a great family movie that also teaches your kids a little something about caring for their fellow man, please check it out!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Locally Little Red Wagon opens in theaters this Friday, Nov 2 at the Harkins Superstition Springs in Me<span style="color: #222222;">sa. Check your listings for when it might play in your area!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Cheap Green Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838396559181788855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475301810415210893.post-17185572469324867812012-10-29T13:01:00.001-07:002012-10-29T13:01:47.090-07:00Wks 2 and 3 are done, with some challenges<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXivtjJDRksz_Z3F1ljMD94N-yNmHH5YygPTDTuc-t8jF3qfir4Ud1NDhaHqxJT-IYe-fm7ECtWPtvcFfkadmalFYXLITTjsK3AnsrtSO-l-XQSll5KuQhp-hBBmGA9-9VD_zhCOaD-isw/s1600/runbabyrun-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXivtjJDRksz_Z3F1ljMD94N-yNmHH5YygPTDTuc-t8jF3qfir4Ud1NDhaHqxJT-IYe-fm7ECtWPtvcFfkadmalFYXLITTjsK3AnsrtSO-l-XQSll5KuQhp-hBBmGA9-9VD_zhCOaD-isw/s320/runbabyrun-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whew! It took more than 2 weeks, but weeks 2 and 3 of <a href="http://cheapgreenmommy.blogspot.com/search/label/run%20baby%20run">c25k</a> are done. Week 2 went off fairly uneventful, I ran, sucked some wind the first couple of days, LOVED the third day without the stroller. Week 3 however was a different story. The first day was rough, running for 3 minutes straight is no joke. I was REALLY ready to hear Sheila by the 90 second mark, for the first 3 minute run. Week 3 consists of 4 runs, 90 sec, 3 min, 90 sec, 3 min. By the second 3 minute run I was in much better shape though. Maybe I just need some warm-up time to get into my groove?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I knew week 3 would be tough, but I was ready for it. I usually run on Tues and Thurs mornings, and then again on Sunday morning, so 3x/wk. This week Gavin had his 9 month check-up Thurs morning, so my plan was to run at night. And then our house got struck by a <a href="http://cheapgreenmommy.blogspot.com/2012/10/da-plague-has-hit.html">horrible plague</a>. So I went over a week between runs. I was bummed, but thankfully STILL motivated. Life happens. And after a week of being cooped up in the house with a bunch of sickies, I was MORE than ready to get out and run. I ran Thursday morning with G in the stroller, he promptly passed out, I'm guessing his little body was just exhausted from fighting the sickies all week. So I did my run, it kicked my ass, as expected. I sucked wind, tried to use the force to convince Sheila to talk to me sooner, but I did it, and I felt great afterward. And I got a lengthy cool-down session to let G catch some Z's as we strolled around the neighborhood.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunday morning it was nice and cool out, I went out mostly solo, I did take Reecey, but she's a good running companion. And it was AWESOME. I totally could have run longer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So the moral of the story? Shit happens, life gets in the way. But that is NOT an excuse to quit! Take time, do what you need to do to get yourself together, and then hop back on the running train. You know you'll feel better for it :).</span>Cheap Green Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838396559181788855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475301810415210893.post-89655684546115342582012-10-25T20:05:00.000-07:002012-10-25T20:05:13.747-07:00Da Plague has hit!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What.A.Week. It started Thursday. I picked Z up from school and Ms. Donna told me "He just wasn't himself today. He looked a little pale". Hmmm... this sounds bad I thought. We got home and he took a looong nap, very, very long for Z, 3+ hours. I thought maybe he was just growing or something because he seemed ok when we got home. We had dinner, he had been a little whiny since he woke up, and then it happened. The one thing I can absolutely NOT handle as a mommy, the pukes started. I high-tailed it away from Z as soon as that shiznit began because I'm a sympathetic puker in the WORST way, and Daddy really doesn't need that much to clean up. Evidently Z did it 3x poor kiddo. He also had a fever, lucky kid :p. He was down for 2 days, thankfully only once incident of puking.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then DOWN went the mama! No puking thank GAWD, but I had a fever for 2.5 days and the body aches, OMG the body aches, I was curled up in bed with my comforter pulled high over my shoulders, it was pathetic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It hit B too, but not as bad.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Worst of all, it hit poor little G. It hit him the absolute hardest :(. He had a fever from Saturday til yesterday mid-day. We took him in to the Dr because I was SURE at that point it had to be an ear infection or something, but no, poor little guy. So cranky, so clingy, little man just slept, screamed, nursed, slept. ONLY mama was allowed to hold him, feed him, or even look in his general direction, He was a HOT MESS. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The fever has broke for G, but the runny nose remains, and I'm pretty sure he's cutting two teeth, so he's not all sunshine and smiles, but we have happy little G back for the most part.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a HELLUVA week though. Hoping to get some more time to myself so I can get a couple of posts written that have been brewing in my head. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One is going to be discussing the idea of friendships as an adult, kind of inspired by <a href="http://thefeministbreeder.com/i-pick-the-wrong-friends/">this post</a> because holy HELL can I relate.. </span></div>
Cheap Green Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838396559181788855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475301810415210893.post-44463938158098280882012-10-19T06:00:00.000-07:002012-10-19T06:00:01.337-07:005 little pumpkins... Halloween craft for the kiddos<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I apologize in advance if you have an aversion to scissors, glue, and cuteness. You're just going to have to look away for a bit. Zach has been insistent on making stuff for Halloween lately. So I've been pressed to come up with things for him to do. This time I was *not* inspired by Pinterest, but by the Halloween book we've been reading at bedtime lately. It's the five little pumpkins rhyme:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>5 little pumpkins sitting on a gate</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The first one said "oh my it's getting late"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The second one said "there are witches in the air"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The third one said "but we don't care!"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The fourth one said let's run and run and run"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The fifth one said "We're ready for some fun!"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>ooooooo when the wind! And OUT went the light!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All caught up now? I decided what more festive thing to do than to have him make the five little pumpkins sitting on a gate? I have a bag of popsicle sticks, I cut 5 of them in half and used that to make the gate. Zach glued it on some blue background paper.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then I cut out five little pumpkins for him to decorate and glue on the gate. Easy peasy. He LOVED it, and embellished with a "spooky spider" and other scary(?) drawings.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTo9vkwgKWQV8_t8OwcgRCj-qJo8TmmOlaLumA4vEhOxS-rosIdQWBd7BQrqAkTG6bcV3S_daL4MJQJEzZVmuovwXHz0NNwehNJhCZ4WroPqF6pzyFUwcsSh9JdlgJ77KRoICCHHl1fkNL/s1600/pumpkin1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTo9vkwgKWQV8_t8OwcgRCj-qJo8TmmOlaLumA4vEhOxS-rosIdQWBd7BQrqAkTG6bcV3S_daL4MJQJEzZVmuovwXHz0NNwehNJhCZ4WroPqF6pzyFUwcsSh9JdlgJ77KRoICCHHl1fkNL/s320/pumpkin1.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cutting out eyes and mouths for the pumpkins</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6BMyCWMJoTJcLsJXEnJkRMwAbSBCm_Y1RotqWjLXzv4yK8YRaPv2gNc8fgAUW3Eatr3jaoj8xWDuWMtCpkiJCvDF8y0kW-vXc9TQFocI_VCT6628KfhS9MYEdlzIj1aAPNOjA9SN_7nuq/s1600/pumpkin2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6BMyCWMJoTJcLsJXEnJkRMwAbSBCm_Y1RotqWjLXzv4yK8YRaPv2gNc8fgAUW3Eatr3jaoj8xWDuWMtCpkiJCvDF8y0kW-vXc9TQFocI_VCT6628KfhS9MYEdlzIj1aAPNOjA9SN_7nuq/s320/pumpkin2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Using excessive amounts of glue to secure the pumpkin faces</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKH47GucI_byq97j5Kfp6_FHTJeBzZVdvuGS2NYS0zM-s7I2M2KO1By9IjzH_UfWe6INY7GSTyKAewVdWh7H8126PB8Z9TH2OMpEgFSgwg9HUOav03RzdWfsWbg5O8Ku4a2obB4KL7tEA7/s1600/pumpkin3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKH47GucI_byq97j5Kfp6_FHTJeBzZVdvuGS2NYS0zM-s7I2M2KO1By9IjzH_UfWe6INY7GSTyKAewVdWh7H8126PB8Z9TH2OMpEgFSgwg9HUOav03RzdWfsWbg5O8Ku4a2obB4KL7tEA7/s400/pumpkin3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">TA-DA! The finished product</span></td></tr>
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Cheap Green Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838396559181788855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475301810415210893.post-83834581351488499252012-10-15T21:00:00.002-07:002012-10-15T21:00:11.123-07:00A day in the life<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today I decided to do something a bit different. A while ago I saw a post from Jill of <a href="http://www.babyrabies.com/">Baby Rabies</a>, where she took a picture every hour to document an "<a href="http://www.babyrabies.com/2012/06/another-ordinary-day-in-our-life-in-pictures/">ordinary day</a>". I thought it'd be interesting to see what a day actually looks like for us, it usually goes by so fast without having any idea what we actually did. I took a picture every hour from 8am to 8pm. I'm nowhere near the photographer she is, but it still gives a pretty good picture of our lives.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlizx7GsuCMJAwhOXYEDJEuzzA6p4UtaXnJvtSIAT1_av95QORNEQuqcxp8uObACirl_1Hp9TwA0z9tKQlEdEU2bNNtnvsJVbDj9saYn8j33mhULBcnKpH57hqB5Zcsc2-llcEqIZHXWIL/s1600/eightam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlizx7GsuCMJAwhOXYEDJEuzzA6p4UtaXnJvtSIAT1_av95QORNEQuqcxp8uObACirl_1Hp9TwA0z9tKQlEdEU2bNNtnvsJVbDj9saYn8j33mhULBcnKpH57hqB5Zcsc2-llcEqIZHXWIL/s400/eightam.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>8am -</i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> the boys are playing in their playroom. Formerly the adult gameroom that used to house a pool table, kegerator, and arcade, now houses legos, a batcave and a jumperoo. Z is STILL in his jammies, G is dressed. Z up since 6, G since 630, both have had breakfast. It's morning chill time.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQWMBPeI-aq7iGaTxfpkby8QLMOmf736lYWX-flyodgGhJQcnFCYxnJ-FjW9HR-jGihxc1tBoEuyE0egO9kbka4RgL1L4D7Q4BbXgkiY383pRfyPCgKiGp-Fq9CvloQ9Dd3N8Hv2ojeV11/s1600/nineam2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQWMBPeI-aq7iGaTxfpkby8QLMOmf736lYWX-flyodgGhJQcnFCYxnJ-FjW9HR-jGihxc1tBoEuyE0egO9kbka4RgL1L4D7Q4BbXgkiY383pRfyPCgKiGp-Fq9CvloQ9Dd3N8Hv2ojeV11/s320/nineam2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNNvjLDrbnlT07qnze6K0SeP9DDM5wkRZrSMZKeuqPF4NGiEY80lONh2tq1wK2fuognWcJTsnNnFXYj62IKlP0Dv-ZwQpONPTkV5EFV2lpl8s7wsSyxHpWzZxz7hVWLMADZ-uHikaOGFQ/s1600/nineam1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNNvjLDrbnlT07qnze6K0SeP9DDM5wkRZrSMZKeuqPF4NGiEY80lONh2tq1wK2fuognWcJTsnNnFXYj62IKlP0Dv-ZwQpONPTkV5EFV2lpl8s7wsSyxHpWzZxz7hVWLMADZ-uHikaOGFQ/s320/nineam1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>9am -</i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> G is getting angsty, getting ready to feed him and put him down for morning nap. Z took our pic, he is going to play spiderman game on the computer. G falls asleep nursing covering his face with the blanket.</span><br />
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">10am - </i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just finished steam mopping the floors. Z is hanging on the couch playing with some duplos. G is napping.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>11am</i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Headed to the park to burn off some energy in hopes for good afternoon naps from both boys.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>12pm</i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - lunch time, Z is feasting on mickey nuggets and apples, G is having peas, squash, pears, and puffs. G just had an epic ear-splitting meltdown</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>1pm</i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Z is napping. G is having the time of his life emptying the laundry basket full of clean diapers.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>2pm</i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - G is napping. Z's turn for a meltdown. He woke up with a cramp in his calf.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>3pm</i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Everybody's awake! Snack time :). Z is watching Phineas and Ferb on the ipad, G is apparently looking on as well.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>4pm</i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Decided to spend time in the backyard since Z's calf still hurts. G is not in favor of this, he really should have napped longer this afternoon. Zach is showing me "acorns" he brought home from the playground at school, yay?</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>5pm</i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Making dinner, I was going to make a brown rice stir-fry type thing, but I forgot to start brown rice earlier, so rice noodles it is! Z loves to help in the kitchen.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>6pm</i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Winding down in the playroom before bedtime. Z got a new magazine in the mail. G is obsessed with all sports balls.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>7pm</i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Getting ready for bath time, G is soooo tired and cranky from teething.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>8pm</i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - Kids are asleep, settling down for some picture editing at the computer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, I learned we're not very exciting. But that wasn't the point of this exercise. This is an ordinary day in our lives. The good, the bad, the ugly. Sometimes we are having fun and sometimes we... are not. </span>Cheap Green Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838396559181788855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475301810415210893.post-18984866348194745982012-10-12T06:00:00.000-07:002012-10-12T06:00:01.938-07:00Monster Mash! Another easy Halloween craft for the kiddos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have been <a href="http://cheapgreenmommy.blogspot.com/2012/10/boo-another-easy-halloween-decoration.html">cutting</a> and <a href="http://cheapgreenmommy.blogspot.com/2012/09/im-turning-into-crafty-witch.html">gluing</a> and baking and MORE over here. Did I mention I love fall? Here is another EASY Halloween craft for the kiddos, with a small amount of prep from you. I took inspiration from one I saw on <a href="http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2009/09/messy-monster-craft.html">Pinteres</a>t via <a href="http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/">No time for Flash Cards</a>, but she used easter grass (holy MESS batman!) and did suggest using tissue paper.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cut out a large oval in green construction paper. Draw and cut out some hands/legs for the monster in green. Use some white paper and cut out an oval eye, and some horns while you're at it. Give your kiddo the glue and let them slap that down on some background purple paper.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While they're doing that, tear up some tissue paper, I used green and blue, into smallish pieces, maybe 2x2inches?, show your kiddo how to crumple them up, and then glue down the crumpled up paper to be the monster's fur. Go for good coverage on the fur, it'll look cute AND it will keep them very busy, double bonus!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When they are done with the fur have them glue on the horns. And now the eye, Zach is enamored with googly eyes right now, <a href="http://cheapgreenmommy.blogspot.com/2012/09/im-turning-into-crafty-witch.html">in case you couldn't tell</a>, so he used a bunch of those on the white oval to make the monster eye. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let the glue dry. Hang the beautiful and festive creation in a proper frame to adorn your home with DIY Halloween decorations.</span></div>
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Cheap Green Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838396559181788855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475301810415210893.post-64559125510527805282012-10-10T11:19:00.001-07:002012-10-10T11:19:45.920-07:00Ditch the plastic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG77uR_5O4Gpt0LC7C84FkRDo8qJM2wBdt_VomN6_uuch5gye1QidLMuDpnO788DDl5DKGfkUWuLAQP-O67g2RHQVm96mlNid9eDI3fxNiJRISMAnyyc0UNrAzieAGN0ETdOgKnWboa3VW/s1600/no+plastic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG77uR_5O4Gpt0LC7C84FkRDo8qJM2wBdt_VomN6_uuch5gye1QidLMuDpnO788DDl5DKGfkUWuLAQP-O67g2RHQVm96mlNid9eDI3fxNiJRISMAnyyc0UNrAzieAGN0ETdOgKnWboa3VW/s1600/no+plastic.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ditching the plastic in your life isn't just about going green, it's about doing your body a favor too. I touched on it some in my post about </span><a href="http://cheapgreenmommy.blogspot.com/2012/07/reduce-reuse.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">reusable water bottles</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, but the topic deserves some elaboration. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let me summarize, plastic is some nasty shiz, avoid it when possible.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Want more details? Plastic is chemical-laden, carcinogenic, and endocrine disrupting. Nevermind, terrible for the environment, makes your food taste funny, melts, and stinks. So avoid it like the plague whenever possible. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A couple of years ago we decided to ditch all our plastic containers and replace them with Pyrex glass containers. We also rarely drink out of plastic cups and try to buy products in containers other than plastic whenever possible. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not ready for those drastic measures yet? Understandable, there are some easy things you can do to cut down on the nasty effects of plastic. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1) Do NOT microwave it, put your food on a plate or in a glass container to microwave. Yes, there are some plastics that claim to be microwave safe, but do you really want to remember which ones those are? Just take the food out of the plastic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2) When you need to buy a new container, buy glass instead of plastic. You can gradually replace that way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3) Avoid any extreme temperatures for plastic, don't heat it or freeze it, that's when the max chemical leakage occurs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4) Avoid plastic wrap touching your food</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5) Avoid using plastic baggies for your food, there are some great r<a href="http://www.reuseit.com/store/Sandwich+%26+Snack+Bags-c-248_250.html">eusuable alternatives</a> out there!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are lots of articles out there going into more details on why plastic is dangerous, here are a few:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/update0706a.shtml">Microwaving food in plastic: Dangerous or not?</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ecologycenter.org/factsheets/plastichealtheffects.html">Adverse health effects of Plastic</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/plastic/article.htm">Plastic</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Plastic is virtually unavoidable with kids, especially little kids, but do what you can. Buy wood toys and silicone teethers. Give them stainless cups for their drinks. And set an example for them in the future by using glass containers and avoiding buying plastic when possible. It's all about the shade of green you want to be :).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Cheap Green Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838396559181788855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475301810415210893.post-57286510295956300952012-10-08T06:00:00.000-07:002012-10-08T06:00:13.139-07:00Week 1 down, run mama, run!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtslB7fOs2P2FIH5Z0XIIpDMZ3MqzdRu58_eS28q9LI5UvU6F-7Uhfyi3SxgVgI8d69oSmQihmgDA3Kmt-MtHN2KwfCPuRlcdcacBPIToBPvoATuJqIbt1Otzd-FsfPnLm-HxLU9e4Iw1a/s1600/runbabyrun-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtslB7fOs2P2FIH5Z0XIIpDMZ3MqzdRu58_eS28q9LI5UvU6F-7Uhfyi3SxgVgI8d69oSmQihmgDA3Kmt-MtHN2KwfCPuRlcdcacBPIToBPvoATuJqIbt1Otzd-FsfPnLm-HxLU9e4Iw1a/s320/runbabyrun-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Week 1 of my <a href="http://www.c25k.com/">c25k</a> reboot is done. I feel GREAT, and I've learned (and been reminded of) some things. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First I wanted to elaborate a little on what c25k is all about. I am NOT being sponsored in any way for doing this program (although I wouldn't mind if I was *wink, wink*). It's a slow start to running, it stands for couch-to-5k. Designed to get you off the couch and into running. It eases you into running, upping the amount of running you're doing slowly so you keep doing it. For instance, this week, my runs consisted of a 5 minute warm-up, run for 60 seconds, walk for 90 seconds, repeat the run/walk for 20 minutes, running 8 times. And then a 5 minute walk to cool down. So, basically, the first week, you only have to run for one minute at a time. ONE MINUTE. Focus on that goal, the amount of time you are running. Don't worry about distance, don't worry about speed. Just keep running for one minute. Even if it's a sad, slow, wind-sucking run, ANYBODY can run for one minute. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This week went fairly well. My first run went better than expected, and I even pushed Gavin in the jogging stroller which definitely adds to the workout. The first 5 run segments went fine, I felt ok, by the 6th, well, I was looking forward to the voice from my phone app to tell me it was time to walk, I'm going to call her Sheila for no other reason than I feel she sounds like a Sheila. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That's the good, I try to be completely honest with you, so here's the bad. My shins hurt, bad afterwards and my knees were a little sore. (TMI alert) Nursing boobs need a smaller sports bra, the girls were bouncing around waayyyy too much. And I was reminded that I have the world's most sensitive feet. I got a dime sized blister on the back of my heel, OUCH!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two days later I ran again, I try to run every other day so I have a recovery day. That day I decided to run on a gravel/dirt trail near my house to see if my shins and knees felt better afterwards. OMG what a difference running surface makes! If you can find a nice non-concrete/asphalt trail to run on, DEFINITELY do it! Everything felt so much better after that run. Except the blister, that shiz hurt like a moh-foh because it popped on my run, I had a band-aid over it just in case, good thing :p. I still wanted Sheila to speak up sooner by the 6th segment, but I wasn't sucking wind nearly as bad.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Three days later I ran again, this time without the jogging stroller and with Reecey. That run was AWESOME, I don't know if it was because I didn't have the stroller, or because it was day 3 of running, but I felt GREAT. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When Sheila told me to stop and walk I was like "already?". </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I could have run longer, but I will NOT push it. Stick with the program people, don't try to get all crazy, you will regret it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The weather has been GORGEOUS so I am looking forward to more running next week! How is your running going? I'd love to hear about it in the comments :).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't forget if you're local, there's the <a href="http://cheapgreenmommy.blogspot.com/2012/10/crazy-colorful-running.html">Color Me Rad</a> run coming Nov 3 in Peoria, I'm giving away entries, and there's a promo-code to save you money!</span>Cheap Green Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838396559181788855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475301810415210893.post-28457136528791187782012-10-07T10:54:00.000-07:002012-10-07T11:22:37.485-07:00Crazy, Colorful, Running<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Calling all of my local Phoenix metro area peeps! If you are a runner, or if you have <a href="http://cheapgreenmommy.blogspot.com/search/label/run%20baby%20run">just started running like me</a>, or even if you just like to walk 5k distances and get covered in color there is a race coming to the Valley that looks like a ton of fun. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The <a href="http://www.colormerad.com/races/phoenix.html">Color Me Rad 5k</a> is on Nov 3, starting at 8am at the Peoria Sports Complex benefiting the Ronald McDonald House of Phoenix.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is some more info from their site about the <a href="http://www.colormerad.com/about.html">Color Me Rad</a> race:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">When Zoloft and balloon animals can't seem to raise your spirits, the best way to brighten your life is to run <a href="http://www.colormerad.com/race.html" style="color: yellow; font-weight: bold;"><strong>Color Me Rad 5K</strong></a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">Historically, running has only been acceptable when trying to escape the law, personal responsibility, the truth, and grizzly bears. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">Instead of running FROM something, get ready to run FOR something at this year’s Color Me Rad. Run for the Hell of it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://www.colormerad.com/race.html" style="color: yellow; font-weight: bold;"><strong>Color Me Rad</strong></a> is coming to a <a href="http://www.colormerad.com/race.html" style="color: yellow; font-weight: bold;">town near you</a> with a tsunami of color that'll make colored tears of joy run down your cheeks and will renew your will to live.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">After <strong>5K of color bombardment</strong>, we guarantee your outlook will be brighter, your boyfriend will be more affectionate, your girlfriend will be less needy, the hair on your head will grow back and the hair on your back will fall out, your black and white TV will turn into 720p HD (I know you were hoping for 1080, but we organize races, we're not miracle workers), and your gray outlook will turn green like a spring morning.<br /><br />You’ll start off with a shirt as pure and white as your grandpa's dentures and you'll soak up enough color while running to change your skin tone forever. You'll wind up looking like a pack of skittles – just make sure not to “taste the rainbow.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">So cast your DYE and get red in the face from <strong>Color Me Rad</strong>, and not from the embarrassment of passing up on the run of a lifetime.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>How it works:</strong><br /><br />Start out as clean as a newborn babe, and throughout the run, you'll coat your chaffing thighs with Color Bombs of <span style="color: blue;"><strong>blue</strong></span>, <span style="color: green;"><strong>green</strong></span>, <span style="color: #ff66ff;"><strong>pink</strong></span>, <span style="color: purple;"><strong>purple</strong></span>, and <span style="color: yellow;"><strong>yellow</strong></span> until your face, shirt, and body come out silkscreened like a tie-dyed hippy on the other side.<br /><br />Each section of the run adds a new explosion of color to your clean, painter’s palate until you cross the finish line into a final blitzkrieg of color. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>What is the “color” in Color Me Rad?</strong><br /><br />You’re probably asking yourselves, “Is this really color being thrown at us or are the rainbows we’re seeing just God’s signal that it’ll never flood again?”<br /><br />Well I’m glad you asked. This isn’t just smoke and mirrors. This is non-toxic, non-rash-inducing, Kroger branded, colored corn-starch. Subsidized by the government and processed in the good ol’ US of A, these blasts of starch will change your color, and your demeanor, but never your level of wellness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, who wants to do it?!? The Color Me Rad folks are awesomely providing me with FIVE free passes and while I would <b>LOVE</b> to do it, it is just highly unlikely that I will be getting myself from the SE valley to the NW valley by 8am in time to race. So my loss is your benefit!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't want to enter the giveaway? You can still save money on your entry fee! Use the code <b>CHEAPGREEN15</b> to save 15% on your registration at <a href="http://colormerad.com/">colormerad.com</a></span><br />
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/c57b451/" id="rc-c57b451" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>Cheap Green Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838396559181788855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475301810415210893.post-9106502147022168502012-10-04T06:00:00.000-07:002012-10-04T06:00:13.881-07:00BOO! Another easy Halloween decoration craft<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have been <a href="http://cheapgreenmommy.blogspot.com/2012/09/im-turning-into-crafty-witch.html">busy making Halloween decorations</a> over here. I have no idea what has come over me but we have the cutest, cheapest, and easiest decorations now :). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This one I actually did see a variation of on Pinterest. But with most things Pinterest, I took inspiration from the picture and didn't actually read the instructions. If you haven't guessed by now, I'm a very visual person with somewhat of a photographic memory. So I see it, remember it, do it. The point of all that explanation is, I have no idea what pin I got this idea from, so if it's yours let me know so I can give credit where it's due.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anywho, I wanted some more inside decorations for Halloween to make us feel all festive and since the crafty bug already bit me I decided to go with it. I got 3 paper mache letters, B-O-O, from Jo-Ann's, they were on sale for $2 a piece. I also bought some black acrylic paint, I have a few things in mind I want to do with that besides this project, so it was a good buy, and use a coupon when you can! I happened to notice in Target they had packs of themed scrapbook paper for $1 each, so I snagged a couple of Halloween ones, at the time having no idea what I would do with them, but I knew I would do *something* with them :).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Paint your letters with the black paint, completely, even in the insides, and tops/bottoms. Let the paint dry.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Trace the outline of the letters on the scrapbook paper like so:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwTQ9x0LZZBbh3yDetVMG05u-EveyUqS-_eBB5rruHtQD0G59klPI5whvOupGV4Phgi4j2ukTO_06sHahVSxXbNQX_XaU1q2zbSqec86bf10f1WB9Bxl_XrDCGfXM13R8C9HCFC5jDWgc/s1600/BOO5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwTQ9x0LZZBbh3yDetVMG05u-EveyUqS-_eBB5rruHtQD0G59klPI5whvOupGV4Phgi4j2ukTO_06sHahVSxXbNQX_XaU1q2zbSqec86bf10f1WB9Bxl_XrDCGfXM13R8C9HCFC5jDWgc/s400/BOO5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I did both sides of the letters with scrapbook paper, because you can see both sides of the letters where I display them, your craft, your call. Cut out the letters from the scrapbook paper, glue them on with Mod Podge. Let the glue dry. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4TFccSoynm4XSBFYnkmxnJq9EYmnmYKCPw_BS4WNkeMQcheCjeGw4ouSrFggoAAGAOcxJlK4uzrlZDMGF5YMW5PJqUiF2JfBwo7N6ogRT0MRz5KgioBacRA6YAEullML_gBE9NC2zD_h7/s1600/BOO4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4TFccSoynm4XSBFYnkmxnJq9EYmnmYKCPw_BS4WNkeMQcheCjeGw4ouSrFggoAAGAOcxJlK4uzrlZDMGF5YMW5PJqUiF2JfBwo7N6ogRT0MRz5KgioBacRA6YAEullML_gBE9NC2zD_h7/s400/BOO4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now Mod Podge (yes I'm verbing that bad boy) over the paper and coat the whole letter (do this in parts so the glue doesn't stick to whatever you put it on to dry). Repeat said coating, so you have 2 coats. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthAtRqfo9k7JN6mFfJ65layz0bN-106La7EFlGFjxq0gMwGN9eOiH2qJ8C9b83er_JbRg3yHvIDDq1ExwTODp1s03DuGE-SN8lhSIzWXKcH59QWEosVVvlOXJ2mkb146sDpB-BBbjlMVR/s1600/BOO2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthAtRqfo9k7JN6mFfJ65layz0bN-106La7EFlGFjxq0gMwGN9eOiH2qJ8C9b83er_JbRg3yHvIDDq1ExwTODp1s03DuGE-SN8lhSIzWXKcH59QWEosVVvlOXJ2mkb146sDpB-BBbjlMVR/s400/BOO2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Marvel at your crafty-ness. Display with some stuff you find in your box of Halloween decorations like so:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCSDDoHgQwddGWypPb6TtlSx2HoLDrN9kuXRBiQWYIu50_C8AeG7WGQZaxwdQUi6C1_CHp7BbDKtiJB9Fr_hMez-mHCYbZKDBOXoz7iShWNXhHbdj3Q0TdvGJISIdNDcLJAK56NyKKoram/s1600/BOO1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCSDDoHgQwddGWypPb6TtlSx2HoLDrN9kuXRBiQWYIu50_C8AeG7WGQZaxwdQUi6C1_CHp7BbDKtiJB9Fr_hMez-mHCYbZKDBOXoz7iShWNXhHbdj3Q0TdvGJISIdNDcLJAK56NyKKoram/s400/BOO1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Cheap Green Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838396559181788855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475301810415210893.post-11929910417204276472012-10-02T09:13:00.000-07:002012-10-02T09:13:49.772-07:00Run baby, run<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtslB7fOs2P2FIH5Z0XIIpDMZ3MqzdRu58_eS28q9LI5UvU6F-7Uhfyi3SxgVgI8d69oSmQihmgDA3Kmt-MtHN2KwfCPuRlcdcacBPIToBPvoATuJqIbt1Otzd-FsfPnLm-HxLU9e4Iw1a/s1600/runbabyrun-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtslB7fOs2P2FIH5Z0XIIpDMZ3MqzdRu58_eS28q9LI5UvU6F-7Uhfyi3SxgVgI8d69oSmQihmgDA3Kmt-MtHN2KwfCPuRlcdcacBPIToBPvoATuJqIbt1Otzd-FsfPnLm-HxLU9e4Iw1a/s400/runbabyrun-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Early last year, we're talking 2011 here, I decided to start running. At the time our family was just Zach, the hubs, and me. Gavin wasn't even in mah belly yet. I had done boot camp exercise before, I LOVED it, but holy HELL is it expensive. I tried doing some of the exercises on my own for a while, but that wasn't working motivation-wise. I needed something that could push myself and that I couldn't easily opt-out of or stop halfway through. So I turned to running. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am NO runner, so I needed some kind of way to ease into it. There are a few slow start methods out there, I happened to choose <a href="http://www.c25k.com/">c25k</a>. Mostly because it was available foh free as an app on my phone, and I knew a few other people doing it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have to say, that app, that program, it made me actually, kind of, sort of, <i>like</i> running. I was shocked, I was actually running for a half hour STRAIGHT, no stopping, no sucking wind, just running, it was awesome. Now, I wasn't covering much ground because I am sloooowwww but, my intention was to work on that, first distance and endurance, then speed. And it was all going so well! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Until I got knocked up, I tried to keep running since my body was used to it, and I was doing ok for a month or so. And then the temps started heating up, it was early May in AZ, so between the temps, and being freshly knocked up, I got dizzy on one run and decided to put up my running shoes for a while. I still walked and exercised some while preggers, just no more running.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fast forward to now. Gavin is 8 months old, the temps have FINALLY started cooling down here, and my butt is not getting any smaller doing nothing. Well, actually it is, it's amazing how much not being sedentary staring at a computer screen helps your body, one more benefit to taking a break from the nerd-life. But I digress, I'm ready to start exercising regularly again, and am looking forward to getting out in the fresh air.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This week I'm starting week 1. I'm buckling Gavin up in the jogging stroller, considering taking Reecey with us, and hitting the gravel with my running shoes. And I'm going to write about it regularly. Nothing like the interwebs for some accountability!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If *I* can do it, ANYBODY can, so who's going to do it with me?</span>Cheap Green Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838396559181788855noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475301810415210893.post-42554819549875367852012-09-30T17:13:00.000-07:002012-09-30T17:13:14.806-07:00Save money on your eats with a little planning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Meal planning is something we've done in this house since before we even got married 10+ years ago. We started doing it initially to try to eat healthier, less take-out, less frozen meals, more home-cooked deliciousness. It has since taken on an added purpose in that it saves us some serious coin too. I've had a few people ask me what I do to meal plan, how I go about it, and if I have any tips. To be honest, I really had to think about it, we've been doing it so long I'm not sure I know another way. I figured this is probably a common dilemma that families/moms have. How to get dinner on the table, and what to serve. So here's what we do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First some rules to follow. Do <b>NOT</b> make more than one trip to each store/place you buy food at per week. Let's face it, every time you go in the grocery store you come out with more than you went in there for, and if you don't, you may be the freakish exception. So, don't go in there more than you have to! We buy food at SuperTarget and the farmer's market. I usually go to Target on Thursday when it's just G and me in the morning so it's easier. The farmer's market is on Saturday mornings, the hubs usually heads there solo. I keep a list on our bulletin board for both places, throughout the week as we realize we need something, it gets added to the list. Before my hubs heads to the market, we do a little meal planning and figure out what we're having for the next week, dinners AND lunches. Don't forget lunches! The ingredients for those plans get added to the list. STICK.TO.THE.LIST. as much as possible, if they don't have something a quick swap out may be needed. But don't buy things because they look good or because you think you may eat them. You're just wasting money and wasting all the time you spent on your awesome planning!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuldmVM5Tp8JJKFzRWrUvBlN8_qGuBZ9hMftO4MKDoe6RAK-6IXeZV6JbfiINcahvBfuUiYpbEP5Kv8KJsbmnFSbfs-_rpWDf2aaTwZBxuXUKyvzRfBby32m_ifidfdeaoi8PjCDtTTZK0/s1600/IMG_4449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuldmVM5Tp8JJKFzRWrUvBlN8_qGuBZ9hMftO4MKDoe6RAK-6IXeZV6JbfiINcahvBfuUiYpbEP5Kv8KJsbmnFSbfs-_rpWDf2aaTwZBxuXUKyvzRfBby32m_ifidfdeaoi8PjCDtTTZK0/s400/IMG_4449.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">our lovely model Z holds up our plan for the week</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now the meal planning itself. If you're not already, become okay with leftovers, they can be just as tasty as the first time around, and they really make your life a lot easier. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For lunches we do a lot of leftovers, I usually make a big batch of something on Sunday, or we get all the fixings ready for salad. Rice dishes like beans and rice, or pasta dishes work great for lunches to pack. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dinners are cooked fresh more often. We tend to make 2-3 things per week for dinners and eat leftovers in alternating patterns. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cook Monday and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday have leftovers, cook Friday, and cook either Saturday or Sunday, leftovers the other day. When you're coming up with what to eat, be creative! Get inspiration from all the fresh foods available at the market! And think of how to get the most mileage for what you make. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUx_6w5UHx8YfK05x74eYXeUEEvwXZ1u62Yw8DFmrjVhx0TwrVptfiKcAgrPAqW36C9LNy9upxtq0JLnFPmKQ8x35tu6Qk2PBMYd6IGy6VTIYbTYRIl54NIb2rHhglFCq3JpanP0FwtHo/s1600/IMG_4302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUx_6w5UHx8YfK05x74eYXeUEEvwXZ1u62Yw8DFmrjVhx0TwrVptfiKcAgrPAqW36C9LNy9upxtq0JLnFPmKQ8x35tu6Qk2PBMYd6IGy6VTIYbTYRIl54NIb2rHhglFCq3JpanP0FwtHo/s320/IMG_4302.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the first part of a base, I added bitesize chicken breast pieces, one night it was over brown rice with soy sauce and sriracha, the other night it was in a tortilla with salsa verde</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One thing that has served me well is making a "base" that can work for multiple, different meals. For instance, I may cook up some ground beef with minced garlic and onions on Monday, and save half of it in that form for a meal on Wednesday. On Monday, I'll take that ground beef and make what I call "deconstructed stuffed peppers" by adding some tomato paste and rough chopped peppers. Pair with some brown rice and top with </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">mozzarella</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> cheese, BOOM, you've got a tasty meal! On Wednesday I'll use the other half of that ground beef, heat it up with some cumin and chili powder and put it in a tortilla and some taco fixings, easy, tasty, different dinner. And there are lots of things that work like this too. Or there are often times where I just make enough of a meal on Monday to feed us the exact same thing on Wednesday, no big deal, because we have found our happy place with leftovers. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWzIXLBQNMS8kXY41RSRPqQCyqQQIKeQcIXQUdRhFUekYNwyFPc030dDFIc4NjpNNtYYIZPtg2hZNAONefiqE14cKC2LqE3ZLE-XkmdNIOE_aUNssz6RDthmpYIBEECoc0q54U_7GD9iw/s1600/IMG_4451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWzIXLBQNMS8kXY41RSRPqQCyqQQIKeQcIXQUdRhFUekYNwyFPc030dDFIc4NjpNNtYYIZPtg2hZNAONefiqE14cKC2LqE3ZLE-XkmdNIOE_aUNssz6RDthmpYIBEECoc0q54U_7GD9iw/s320/IMG_4451.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">zucchini lasagna made on a Sunday afternoon, make a double batch of sauce and freeze it!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Also, in the winter, we tend to do a lot of soups, stews, baked pasta dishes. I usually make a HUGE batch of this on Sunday afternoon, and freeze half of it to have on hand for those weeks that cooking just isn't going to happen at all. It's nice to have good food to fall back on rather than calling for pizza or using a store-bought frozen meal. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU10itVPu5cmyPSUaZ8m5TEdbpZ94UmXTw5sfpDidu1xDU281Kqp2IImhjWIwpxdgFgxdgvsoHbsbmDMXAHYISs3HxjGz5nPHJg94G4CFjmn_wY_xmuR-8f8QIJ0DEMhX9dInHUP9Xg4Nw/s1600/IMG_3033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU10itVPu5cmyPSUaZ8m5TEdbpZ94UmXTw5sfpDidu1xDU281Kqp2IImhjWIwpxdgFgxdgvsoHbsbmDMXAHYISs3HxjGz5nPHJg94G4CFjmn_wY_xmuR-8f8QIJ0DEMhX9dInHUP9Xg4Nw/s320/IMG_3033.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">quick meal thrown together, tomatoes, zucchini, onions, garlic, used to top corkscrew pasta</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes the plan doesn't work, don't let this discourage you! There are times when Zach is super hungry and all of the sudden the food won't stretch for 2 days. That's OK. That's what your staples are for. There are things I *always* have on hand and can make a meal out of quick and easy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Pasta noodles of some sort, corkscrew, macaroni, angel hair, penne, whatever your favorite is. Always have a box on hand in the pantry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Every week I ask my husband to get garlic, onions, and tomatoes from the market, I can use those in a pinch and I always use them in my meals anyways. Throw that together with your pasta and you have a meal!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Eggs, an omelet will feed you in a pinch any day of the week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. Cheese. Enough said? We LOVE cheese, and we can do so much with it, quesadillas, omelets, grilled cheese, pizzas, the possibilities are endless.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. Tortillas, I usually get frozen ones from Costco, you throw them in a dry skillet to cook them and you can do tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas. WAY better than the preservative laden ones next to the bread on the shelf. Ideally we'd make our own, but that's a different blog post ;).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm no Rachel Ray, but nothing I make for dinner takes more than a half hour if I do it day-of. Something like lasagna or a soup definitely does, it simmers all afternoon on a Sunday but it requires very little attention from me after the initial prep. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Making only one trip to the store, having a list, and eating in will definitely save you money, especially if you have a budget you stick to for food. It's also healthier to eat your fresh homemade food instead of eating out, getting take-out, or eating frozen store-bought meals. AND you're being green and supporting your local economy by eating fresh from the farmer's market. Win, win, win!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love to get new ideas! What are your favorite meals and ways to save money?</span></div>
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Cheap Green Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838396559181788855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475301810415210893.post-32117680334384711142012-09-28T06:00:00.000-07:002012-09-28T06:00:03.150-07:00I'm turning into a crafty witch <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fall is my FAVORITE time of the year. Not only does it (in theory) cool down, we were UNDER 100 today people! But all the holidays and festivities come. Pumpkin Spice Lattes are at Starbucks, everybody's house smells like cinnamon and apples, and people are mostly in a good mood. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This year, since I'm now home with the boys I'm even more excited about it. I will have time to do crafty things with Zach for decorating the house, you know while balancing Gavin on my leg while he lunges for everything in sight to shove in his mouth, nice, relaxing, crafts. So obviously with this baby/preschooler chaos I'm keeping the crafts simple. This week we worked on a Halloween wreath for the front door, and some decorations for inside the house. Both of which, could have been done in one afternoon if I was not juggling manic children. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First up the wreath, you will laugh at how easy this is, and for once I did NOT get this from Pinterest, I thought it up in my own head mostly because I had a ton of googly eyeballs laying around. Get yourself a 12 inch foam wreath from Jo-Ann's, do NOT forget your 50% off coupon from their app!. Pick up a spool of 1.5inch black ribbon while you're at it and a bag of googly eyeballs, don't waste money on those self-stick ones though, you have glue at home. That was the hard part, no joke. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, wrap the wreath in the black ribbon, covering the foam and giving yourself a nice black base, like so:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't forget to give yourself some ribbon to hang it up with when you're done. I had some orange ribbon from Gavin's crib bumper project, so I used that, attach that now, before you do the eyeballs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now find your nearest 4 year old, they are qualified to handle this part. Give them a bottle of glue and a bowl of googly eye balls. Let them randomly place the googly eyeballs all over the wreath. Trust me, a 4 year old will guarantee randomness. When they are done, check it over for any glaring gaps, and fill those in yourself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let the glue dry. Hang it on your door. Enjoy your spoooooooky wreath :). Happy Halloween!!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvgGI0MLfSUukwKF47zrcgXoE6HTcJGiSA5OPWKxHDUcAJ57xBR73Dfs7VqJG0D8Ot8l_p1Kq6rzDYdQWkv9LPXW-GuE-nZRU4Ah9Tk1TQlaAJ8LYlfc5txIB7sy1BkX5uY1Tovyi9jxT/s1600/IMG_4436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvgGI0MLfSUukwKF47zrcgXoE6HTcJGiSA5OPWKxHDUcAJ57xBR73Dfs7VqJG0D8Ot8l_p1Kq6rzDYdQWkv9LPXW-GuE-nZRU4Ah9Tk1TQlaAJ8LYlfc5txIB7sy1BkX5uY1Tovyi9jxT/s320/IMG_4436.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Coming soon, a post on the inside decorations we made this week. What's your favorite part about this time of year?</span>Cheap Green Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838396559181788855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475301810415210893.post-6278333838847506682012-09-26T06:00:00.000-07:002012-09-26T07:18:56.121-07:00clothes on the cheap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In <a href="http://cheapgreenmommy.blogspot.com/2012/09/toys-on-cheap.html">my last post</a> I wrote about how to score toys on the cheap. I touched on getting great deals on clothes too, so I thought I would elaborate some here. Same as before I'll talk about new and used clothes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First new clothes. Kids go through clothes unbelievably fast, especially if you have giant children like I do that grow alarmingly fast, Z was in 2T by his first birthday, and it looks like his brother is definitely following in his ENORMOUS footsteps. Repeat after me "I will never, ever, ever, pay full price for kids clothes". </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is no reason to! Buying ahead and stocking up is the easiest, most money saving way to go. Especially after your kiddo starts growing more predictably and you can take an educated guess as to what size they will be in for the next year. Every year I try to pay attention to when the stores are having their "end-of-season" sales and stock up majorly then. Especially since the national chain stores seem to think the end of summer is in August, bwahahahahaha, ahem, excuse me, it's just that it's Sept 23rd and it's supposed to be 105 today here, yet there are sweaters for sale in the stores. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last month I stocked up on shorts for Zach for next summer. My 4 year old giant is easily in size 5 now, so I picked up some size 6 shorts from my favorite store for him, <a href="http://www.childrensplace.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/home_10001_10001_-1">Children's Place</a>. I paid under $6 each for nice cargo shorts for him that are regularly the astronomical price of $17, I shopped their sale, don't forget to look online if you can't find what you want in-store! Children's Place in particular regularly offers free shipping on any order, so I always check their site then, PLUS you add on a 20% off coupon, which if you sign up for their mailing list you will always have on hand. <a href="http://www.gymboree.com/index.jsp?ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395917465&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374303003787&bmUID=1348417423951">Gymboree</a> works very similarly, and you can always find one of their coupons in a magazine geared towards parents, although their clothes tend to be more expensive to begin with, although sometimes better quality, so it's a judgement call there. <a href="http://www.kohls.com/">Kohl's</a> is also one of my very favorite stores for shopping for the boys. I scored CRAZY deals shopping end-of-season sales there for Gavin. We re-use as many clothes as possible from Zach, but Gavin prefers to be in footie jammies year-round where Zach wanted to sleep in as few clothes as possible, so there are a few things we have to get for him. I found <a href="http://www.carters.com/">Carter's </a>footie jammies for $5 each at Kohl's, add on a 30%off coupon and I got jammies for Gavin for $3.50. Kohl's also regularly runs promotions to get Kohl's cash, for every $50 you spend, you get $10 in Kohl's cash. A gimmick for sure, but not if you know how to use it. Say for instance, I spend $50 stocking up on an end-of-season sale for stuff for the boys. I get $10 in Kohl's cash, Zach needs new shoes for his rapidly expanding feet. I take my $10 in Kohl's cash, my 30% off coupon, and score new Nike shoes for Zach for under $15. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And just like I said for toys, ALWAYS check the clearance racks, even if you're not looking for something specific, check a size or two up from where your kids are now and get stuff super cheap to put away in a box in their closets to use for next year, or even the next! Zach has a bin of next size clothes in his closet, when he starts growing out of the ones he's wearing I put those away for G and pull out the next size up from the box.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And that's just NEW clothes. Same as for toys, if you're ok with used clothes you can save a bundle too! Hit the garage sales in the fancy pants neighborhoods and score awesome, barely worn clothes for super cheap. I have scored Gymboree and baby Gap with the tags on for $1 or less each. Ask your friends with older kids to tell you before they have a yard sale so you can go through their stuff! Check out the <a href="http://kidtokid.com/">used kid stuff stores</a>, again you can find great deals for like-new stuff, it will be more than a yard sale but not as much as new. Just make sure you keep in mind the price you can score on clearance to make sure you're getting a deal. Check Craigslist, and facebook, same as <a href="http://cheapgreenmommy.blogspot.com/2012/09/toys-on-cheap.html">I recommended for toys</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What's your favorite way to save money on clothes?</span>Cheap Green Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838396559181788855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5475301810415210893.post-31239640598052494992012-09-23T09:09:00.002-07:002012-09-26T07:15:15.750-07:00toys on the cheap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a crazy busy time of year for us. It starts of with Zach's bday in mid September, which seems to kick off a series of bday parties for us, and then of course Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Lots of gift giving occasions foh sho. Being *cheap* I </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">refuse</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> to pay full price whenever I can possibly avoid it. Kids go through toys and clothes so very fast it doesn't make sense to shell out big bucks for either. There will be a post in the very near future about how to save money on clothes, this one is about toys. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll start with the most obvious approach, shop.the.clearance. Those fabulous little red stickers at Target are like little homing beacons to me. Here's a tip you may not have thought of though. Always check out the clearance, whether or not you have a fast-approaching gift-giving holiday. I swing buy and check it out every time I'm in Target. If I find something the boys might like, or one of their friends for that matter, I snag it and put it away in a closet until the next bday, bday party, or gift exchange. I love being able to whip out something from the closet that is an awesome gift I know I got for like 70% off. PLUS that means I'm not making a last second trip to Target on the way to the party for a gift.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now if you're not set on always buying new toys, there are tons of other options. My rule of thumb is to new toys are for gifts for other people, but I'm totally fine with used toys for my boys. That's probably the Southern deb in me though, I'd find it tacky to be gifted a used toy. I know, I know, not very green of me :/. For my boys I hit up any and every source for used toys and even other stuff we might need. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Garage sales are awesome for that! I'd recommend scoping out the most fancy pants neighborhood in your area and hitting those garage sales STAT. Those people buy *nice* toys and get rid of them on the regular. Not to mention their clothes are always the most pricey, you'll be grinning ear to ear when you score Gymboree clothes with the tags still on for $1 each. I digress, this is not about the clothes, this is about the toys. Maybe you're like "hollah! I'm all about the cheap toys" OR maybe you're like "oh.my.gawd. that is nasty, used toys are full of germs and other nastiness!". I'm a little of both frankly, so my solution is to scrub those bad boys down with some diluted bleach or other germ/nasty killing stuff before the boys play with them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Garage sales aren't the only places to score these goodies either. Check your local consignment shop, or even google for secondhand stores near you. Besides places like Goodwill, there might be stores that specialize in used kids stuff in your area. In my area there is <a href="http://kidtokid.com/">Kid-to-Kid</a>, they buy and sell used kids stuff. I'm getting ready to take a load of stuff up there to sell very soon, all the baby stuff that Gavin is already done with *sniff*. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you're looking for something specific, Craigslist is also a fabulous place to score used stuff on the cheap. Some people will sell awesome new, or like-new stuff for crazy low prices. Again, just clean the stuff thoroughly first and you're good to go. A little elbow grease is definitely worth the insane savings.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One place you may not have thought of to score awesome stuff is Facebook groups. I didn't think about it until recently, but a girl from one of my playgroups sent out a link to a group page and I have already scored some awesome stuff :). Look for "used kid stuff" groups or something like that, ask the moms in your groups or peruse Facebook yourself. People put up what they want to sell and everybody jumps on it. I scored 2 brand new bean bag chairs for the playroom for $10 each. And I happened upon a group where a lady that owns an online toy store is trying to get rid of some extra inventory in time for the holidays. I scored brand new baby toys for $5 each that on Amazon retail for $16.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is no reason to bust your budget on new toys, you can be cheap, green, or both! What's your best tip to save money on toys?</span>Cheap Green Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838396559181788855noreply@blogger.com0