Just a Girl Who Can't Say No

Happy Sunday!

I'm in the depths of making not one, but TWO, baseball banners this weekend! The Little League Season is upon us and I got suckered into being team mom for BOTH of my boys' teams....its not as much work as it sounds (when you are doing it for one team, its not a big stretch to do it for two)..with the exception of the week leading up to Opening Day (which is next Sat.)  So, this weekend..in addition to a birthday party, 2 practices, a Lithuanian Celebration for V16 (Lithuania's Independence Day!) and general home "stuff"/errands...I'm buried in felt and glitter glue..will post pics of the final products as I finish them!  

Happy Sunday Everyone!!!!

~Bean

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

Our school is considered a "healthy" school and, along with the class list,  sends out notices to "please provide only healthy treats, i.e., no candy, per our school's healthy snacks policy" with valentines. 

What??? 

No sugary conversation hearts??

No yummy yummy cupcakes at the party??? 

No heart shaped lollipops??? 

WHAT IS A MOM TO DO???? 

Last year, I blew it off and...gasp!...sent out little bags of Fun Dip.  This year, however, out of respect and out of the fundamental need in me to not.break.the.rules, (nerd alert!) I came up with this...

 

 I stapled the boys' valentines to snack sized bags filled with a combination of: mini "hug" shaped pretzels, dried cranberries, strawberry yogurt covered cheerios and...white chocolate chips ( I couldn't resist a little something sweet...what is Valentine's Day without a little chocolate after all??)  I know, I'm a total rebel!

The kids seemed to love them....I felt good about following the rules...but guess what??  I was pretty excited this afternoon to see a bag or two of conversation hearts come home (yeehaw!!)  The best gift ever though?? NO HOMEWORK THIS WEEK!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

xoxo

~Bean

Menu Monday 2/13

Hi There!

T'was a busy weekend with funeral and family so I'm very happy to be getting back into a routine. Which, for me, on a Monday, means: Laundry and Menu planning! (ok, so I'll be honest, the plan actually happens on Sunday but all the prep/shopping happens on Monday once the Littles are dropped off at school!)

Kids clothes are currently in the wash so here is what we are having this week!

Monday:  Redneck Salad (I've posted this one before HERE but I'm switching it up by using THIS instead of my usual chicken stir fry method!)

Tuesday:  Carnitas Bar using a variation of THIS recipe, which I was introduced to by my friend Victoria!

Wednesday:  Split Pea Soup (which I meant to post in an earlier week but missed it!)

Thursday:  Much Ado About Mushrooms (which is a portabello mushroom fajita meal found in HERE)

Here's what I have:                                    vs.               What I need:

pork (in the freezer)                                                      tortillas

onion                                                                             celery

oregano/salt/pepper                                                       1 bag split peas

chicken (in the freezer)                                                 large red and green pepper (1 each)

greens                                                                            4 portabello mushroom caps

carrots                                                                            1 red onion

blue cheese crumbles (in the freezer)                            1 bunch fresh cilantro

ham (in the freezer)

wing sauce

ranch dressing mix

That's it friends!  Happy Eating!  Tomorrow I'm going to post the kids valentines..inspired by my favorite place on the web: PINTEREST!!  Yahoo!!!

xoxo

~Bean

Feels like Summer!

So I just had to share...because I love them so much.  Here are my feet...feels like summer here this weekend...strange, random, weather...I know a lot of you are socked in with snow....go to the store and get some of those Sally Hanson nail sticker thingies (I'm pretty sure that is their official name)...they will have you feeling like spring in no time (ok..10-15 minutes, depending on how coordinated you are and how well you can reach your feet!)

I'm actually coveting some Valentine Inspired ones I saw last week!

Happy Sunday everyone!

~Bean

Camping Party Preparations

Good Morning!

This day is a-busy with party preparations!  Diddle is turning 8 next week (yikes!!) and this year, he decided to forgo the big class party and, instead, chose 3 friends to spend the night.  Soo, right after school today, I'm taking 4 boys bowling, then to this awesome diner near our house for hotdogs, followed by a viewing of Ernest Goes to Camp and a camping inspired sleep over.   We are going to set the tent up in the living room and let them go wild (well, not too wild I hope).  Here are a few pics of some of the prep I've done so far...will post more pics of the final set up and celebration later this weekend.  

Some camping inspired snacks: 

The S'mores mix on the left is simply: Golden Graham cereal, chocolate chips and mini-marshmellows.  "Bait" (in the middle) is gummy worms and swedish fish.  Twigs and Berries on the right is a combo of:  pretzel sticks, dried cranberries and white chocolate chips.

Wouldn't want them to get dehydrated:

 I got these aluminum water bottles (BPA Free!) from the Dollar Store, of all places.  I personalized them with some stickers (had I been looking for longevity here I'd have used vinyl..but hey, they can do what they want with them after the party!).  

And finally, rather than serving a Birthday cake, I thought it would be fun to make them eat dirt instead:

Now, I'm not thrilled with this presentation...I looked everywhere for little metal buckets or something more fun..but it must be too early in the season for that because my local retailers are not carrying that stuff yet....now NEXT week, they'll be everywhere..and I will be a little miffed!!!

I think we'll also fire up the fire pit and make some s'mores (just in case they haven't had enough sugar).  Yipee!

Anyway, on a side note...my next door neighbor's teenage son has started taking trumpet lessons...ooof.

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

~Bean

Tarzan

Hi There.

I had plans today to go the fabric store today to choose a fabric for the Nugget's new bedroom.  Well, the Nugget is a little sick today...an on and off fever with a nasty cough...the trouble is..he feels FINE.  Sooo, I decided to take him out in public (sorry everyone...he did cough into his elbow...I'm a busy woman) and let him help me pick out his fabric.  Here's the thing...Mr. Nugget is pretty opinionated..BUT, clever Mommy that I am, I have been able to choose bedding, wall color etc. MYSELF and somehow make him THINK that they were all HIS idea (I actually have no idea how I've done this...maybe magic.)  Soooo, after several "special" choices (of his).. I gave him some parameters to look for (after seeing a couple of Mommy approved options).  The parameters he "chose" were:  white and gray.  This, my friends, is the fabric he chose for his new roman shade (which will be my Mother-in-law's project while she visits us for the next 3 weeks...yipee!!)

I'm sorry...I adore it.  Whimsical, yet boy-ish enough and best of all...He thinks he picked it himself, which makes him very proud and very excited!

I'll keep y'all posted on its progress!!!!

Hope you are all having a good week!!!!

~Bean