Family Night – Teaching Kids Their Words Matter! (she: Tonii)
| |

Family Night – Teaching Kids Their Words Matter! (she: Tonii)

ByTonii

Hello everyone, it’s Tonii again and I am so glad to be back with another fun and simple Family Night! This month, I felt inspired to talk to my kids all about the importance of WORDS. The words that we use, and the way that we use them. It’s so important to spend time teaching kids their words matter.

To get started I whipped up a simple printable with the words I say to my kids every day before they head off to school… Check it out!

toilet training

Toilet Training: Is Your Child Ready? (she: Heather)

ByHeather

Toilet training our children can be one of the most challenging things we have to do. One of the reasons it is so hard, is because we often start training our children before they are ready. Regardless of the method you choose to use when you train, knowing if your child is ready is the first step.
Remember, our goal shouldn’t just be to get our children to go to the bathroom in the toilet and not in their pants, but to teach our children to go to the bathroom in the toilet by themselves. Here are a few simple tests that can help you gauge if your child is ready to be toilet trained. Most children 20 months and older are capable of being toilet trained. But remember, every child will be different. Three simple tests (Bladder Control, Physical Development, and Instructional Readiness) can help you assess if your child is ready.

Personalized Initial Letter Art on www.orsoshesays.com. A fun project to do with (or without!) the kids. #initialart #letterart #lettering #homedecor #DIY #crafts
| |

Personalized Initial Letter Art (she: Darleen)

ByDarleen

I love anything with a personalized touch, and you can see that in many of the jewelry pieces I design. We recently moved, and I have slowly been decorating my youngest daughter’s bedroom–making the transition from crib to bed. I have wanted to add a little something to personalize her room. Usually for wall decor in my other children’s bedrooms, I have displayed a piece of their artwork in their room. So, since my youngest daughter is at that toddler’s age and she loves to make “messy” artwork, I thought it would be a fun project to create an abstract piece together using a large canvas initial letter.
This is just your basic painting project–paint brush, acrylic paint and canvas painting board. But the one who is making the personalized initial letter art is your child.

Blackberry Crumb Bars (she: Gina)
| |

Blackberry Crumb Bars (she: Gina)

ByGina Kleinworth

Happy Spring Everyone!! It’s Gina from Kleinworth & Co. again. Do you love spring?? I am so excited for the warmth to come back. I really enjoy this time of year when the days are longer, the sun shines more & there’s more fresh fruit available. I just feel better when I have an abundance of fresh fruit & vegetables stocked in the house. I know that I always have a healthy snack available whenever I want it. Plus – I love baking with fruit, especially berries. They are like little gems with those gorgeous, vibrant colors – they just make me happy.
I was so happy to do my usual stock up run for produce & my house is overflowing with colorful foods. I was looking forward to using some in some test recipes. Since we are on the countdown to Easter I am already planning my celebration meal. This means that I am making many test recipes to figure out what exactly will end up on the final menu. I created these Blackberry Crumb Bars as a little snack that guests can grab while chatting or would also work well topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I think they may just make an appearance on Easter day. They have just the right ratio of crumb & berry – so yummy.

Free, Customizable Spring Printable (she: Anne)
| | |

Free, Customizable Spring Printable (she: Anne)

ByAnne

It is hard to believe, especially with the snow still falling, blowing, drifting, and staying in WNY, that Spring is actually here. But it is and regardless of what is out my window, I am seeing bright and cheery days ahead. I just can’t wait to get out and start my spring planting, to see the roses start to bud, and to be able to get out of the house without layers on. Inspired by the coming Spring weather (it IS coming, right?), I decided to switch out some of my usual wall art up with something a little more fitting given my anticipation.
I made these fun prints using the Janda Flower Doodles Font. For a little bit of experimentation, I printed one on kraft card stock, one on plain white card stock, and one on vellum. Then I colored each with a different medium. I admit, sometimes I am not quite sure what I want until I try some things out.

Products to prevent and treat lice
|

Products to Prevent and Treat Lice (she: Rebecca)

ByRebecca

So, this is a post I thought I would never be qualified to write … at least I hoped I’d never become an expert at dealing with dreaded lice! But, I’m coming to you now as a seasoned veteran of the war against these horrible, nasty, persistent little pests.

Let me start from the beginning. I have a first grader with long, thick, thick, thick (Did I mention her hair is thick?!?) gorgeous hair. At the end of the Christmas break, she started complaining about her head itching, so I casually checked her head only to find the tell-tale white nits buried deep in there. I was horrified! I cancelled all our plans, called any friends we’d been in recent contact with, loaded the three kids in the car and headed straight for the drug store. I bought everything I could find, spent a fortune and went home to begin the war!

spaghetti sauce recipe
| | |

Killer Spaghetti Sauce Recipe (Make a Lot, Freeze the Rest) (she: Jamie)

ByJamie S.

This spaghetti sauce recipe kills the competition!

I know that’s a bold statement since I’m sure your Grandma has a great recipe too, but this is beyond delicious and has been known to turn people into spaghetti addicts! It’s one of the reasons I added this spaghetti sauce to my Food Storage Plan first, because if I had live on it for a year that wouldn’t bother me one bit!

The best part is this recipe makes a ton – so you can freeze the extra, can it for storage, give some to neighbors, or eat spaghetti sauce for a straight week (or a year, depending on how much you make)!

lemon-coconut quick bread
| |

Lemon-Coconut Quick Bread (she: Cathy)

Bycathy

Hi there, friends! I’m so happy to be back here with you today, sharing this yummy Lemon-Coconut Quick Bread recipe! We love quick breads, especially for breakfast, and this one is just perfect for spring. It’s packed full of zesty lemon and toasted coconut and topped with a citrus honey butter that’s to-die-for. And best of all, my kids can’t get enough of it!
I find that homemade breakfast options usually go over better than packaged, which I guess is a good thing. The only problem is that I never know what be a favorite and what will be a flop! What I do know is that this bread was a FAVORITE! Not only did all three kids like it, they couldn’t get enough of it…..meaning it’s been gone for a while now. And I definitely need to make more of it!

minion lollipop
| |

Simple Jolly Rancher Minion Lollipop Tutorial … all you need is 10 minutes! (she: Adelle)

ByAdelle Belnap

One of the cutest little creatures created for the big screen are the Minions from Despicable Me. They are so silly and likable! My kids love them. We are really excited to visit the new Minion Mayhem attraction and Super Silly Fun Land at Universal Studios Hollywood that opens April 10. I hear you get to become a Minion and can play in a carnival made just for Minions! Fun, right? In the meantime, you can bring some Minion Mayhem into your home by making these tasty Jolly Rancher Minion lollipops. This project is so easy – even little kids can do it! And, it only takes about 10 minutes from start to finish.

birthday calendar printable
| | |

Birthday Calendar Printable Download (she: Sharon)

Bysharon

Hi! It is Sharon from Lemon Squeezy! This month I have a free printable birthday calendar. I am super forgetful and I always feel bad missing a birthday. This birthday calendar printable is perfect for hanging by your computer so you (and the whole family) can remember the birthdays coming up. All you need to do is download the pdf, print on 8.5 x 11 card-stock, fill in, and hang. And, bonus, it will add some fun personality to your computer space/fridge/wall!

caramel brulee latte cupcakes
| |

Caramel Brulée Latte Cupcakes (she: Zainab)

ByZainab

Hi everyone!! This is Zainab from Blahnik Baker again. I’m very excited to be back here sharing another recipe with you. Happy Spring!! Is it Spring where you are yet? I am in Upstate NY, meaning it’s going to be a few more weeks before we get there. But that is not stopping me from enjoying everything lemon already.

I love making cupcakes and experimenting with new flavors. Today, I brought with me my new favorite cupcakes; caramel brulée latte cupcakes!! I’m sure most of you are familiar with the Starbucks holiday favorite Caramel Brulée Latte. Like many people, I really look forward to its arrival and it is one of my favorite holiday drinks (the peppermint mocha holds first place!). However, these lattes are only here for a few short weeks. It’s been my mission to recreate them into cupcakes so I can enjoy them year round. I shared my peppermint mocha cupcakes a few months ago and today I’ve created a cupcake with all the delicious flavors that make the caramel brulee latte everyone’s favorite.

Panera Bread Broccoli Cheese Soup (copycat) www.orsoshesays.com #panerabread #broccolicheesesoup #recipe #copycatrecipe
|

Copycat Panera Bread Broccoli Cheese Soup (she: Ruthie)

Byruthie

Hello to all my friends at Or so she Says!

It’s Ruthie from Whats Cooking with Ruthie and I’m so happy to be back… I love sharing some of the yummy cooking that comes out of my kitchen with y’all each month.

Spring is that crazy time of year when the weather can flip from a warm sunny days a to cold and wintery one without a moments notice! At least in my neck of the woods 🙂 Soooo, there’s no better way than a little Panera Bread Broccoli Cheese Soup (copycat) to help stay warm and cozy even on those chilly days!