Keeping It Simple: Lunch

 If I've learned anything in almost 11 years of mothering and 6 of homeschooling it's that simplicity is key. If something is just not working for me or our family, then something has to change. On the other hand, if something IS working then I stick with it. Don't fix it if it ain't broke people.

Over the last year or so I've been much better at creating supper menus for a couple weeks at a time. This served me well when it came to the daily 'what's for supper?' routine. I would make my menu, jot down my grocery list and stock the cupboards as needed. Taking the time for this seemingly small task from start to finish has really saved me time (and money) in the long run every few weeks.

The thing I've struggled with off and on is lunch and snack time. I seemed to find myself on the cusp of each of these daily events without a clue as to what I was serving. When summer neared its end, I knew I had to figure out a new way.

I sat down with the plan to write a month worth of lunch menu ideas and I did it! I started with our favorite choices, scoured Pinterest a bit and created a simple calendar in Word. It has changed my days immensely. It's like "real" school where the menu is there for the student to look at and no need to ask what we're eating. It also assists a kitchen helper to know what to get ready/how to help mom as well. Depending on what's on hand, I'll add fruit, veggies or other items to go with the main item that's on the menu. (click the picture to see it in more detail)

So far, I really like it. After creating the menu calendar (you'll notice I have a couple 'free' days yet to add any new favorites), I then made up a two week grocery list. List #1 is for weeks 1 and 2 and List #2 is for weeks 3 and 4. I did this in the event I don't do monthly shopping for lunch, but want to be ready to go every two weeks. I can just print up the list, check the cupboards and head to the store.

Here are a few links if you are looking at my menu wondering what they are:

PB Banana Granola Wraps

Pancake Bites

These are mine, which I just use my favorite pancake recipe for the batter and then add the fillers.

Homemade Mini Corn Dogs

Ham And Cheese Pockets

Now, if only I could come up with more snack options as it seems my kids are always hungry lately and desiring food intake. 

Tell me, what kinds of things do you serve or make for snack time at your house? 

I'd appreciate some inspiration.

I Won't Be Quitting My Day Job

I enjoy taking photos and of course my kids are my favorite victims subjects.

But you just never know what you're going to get when you set out for a Saturday morning photo shoot.

Oh heck, their cute. Just not perfect and easy to tease with the camera.

Two year old photo shoot Gianna style :

She was real eager to please, can't you tell? Stinker.

I wanted to try just a couple with the necklaces, but wouldn't you know she would not let me take them off. Of course.

Click, click, point, shoot, click, click. Maybe I'll get something that will work.

One of these may do it. 

Suddenly she's almost two going on seventeen. Good grief, what is it with these photos? 

Maybe it was the clean hair, the hair clip or maybe the necklaces.

My 'blonde-ish', blue eyed girl just grew up right in front of my camera.

I almost wept.

So I moved on to trying my hand at the one year old with a pretty puffy pink dress.

You can tell she *loved* that idea.

Every photo was caught with her and the TV remote in her hand. It was the lure to get her to have her photos, but of course we couldn't pry it out of her hands after that.

*sigh*

I don't think I'll worry about my photography business taking off any time soon.

I better just stick to the Mommy gig instead.

*Note: I promise one day you'll stop by here and not see a gratuitous photo post of my little girls. I really do have more things going on in my brain to write about, it's just that those posts take longer to compose. And again, lest you worry I've shipped my big kids off to college, they still live here. They just get a little more tired of me taking their pictures.

Chocolate How I Love Thee

While I am not a self proclaimed chocoholic (I am however the child of one), I do enjoy most every piece of chocolate I have. Unless of course it has a lot of nuts in it.

Imagine my delight when Lily pulled this off the shelf at the store and chose it for her treat:



I nearly squealed when she shared (albeit just a bite or two) with me. The fluffy, airy taste of the Three Musketeers bar combined with the crunch and the look of my favorite, Twix. I was hooked. *yum*



See, doesn't that look yummy? It's the first time I've seen the Three Musketeers Truffle Crisp in the store in my area, but maybe it's already been out for a bit. So maybe you've already tried it. If not, I highly recommend this little number.


Thank You, Mars Inc. for creating yet another fine piece of chocolate for me to enjoy.