PARTY TIME!!!

Hello Peeps! All 7 of my beautiful followers!! :) 

So Alyssa will is turning 13 and we have been planning her party for about 3 weeks now.  I absolutely LOVE planning parties!!  Since she is becoming a teenager, we wanted do something special for her.  I came accross an AWESOME Groupon for a limo ride for VERY cheap so we had our theme... Celebrity!  The Limo will arrive at our house and pick up her and a few of her friends, (who will be decked out in semi-formal clothing) drive them around town for an hour, and bring them back to our house. There we will have a red carpet rolled out and a celebrity lounge waiting for them!! 

We have turned our garage into our "celebrity lounge" by putting up black plastic tablecloths to hide dad's tools and cutting glow sticks I picked up from the dollar store and splashing them on the new black walls to create a fun vibe!
(pics this weekend, promise!)

This is her invitation, I made it at vistaprint.com they are full color, front and back with a glossy finish for about $1 a piece and I bought 20, plus tax and shipping of course!!

I know you cant read it well, but this is as big as I could get it, sorry!!

Here is the tableware she picked out:

Black plastic table roll to cover tables and we have black organza overlays to put on top to add some pizazz!  We borrowed the overlays from a friend!



Cute Plates!

and Napkins!

She has pretty good taste I think, and we only spent $25 bucks!!

I also made this autograph book for her so she can have all of her guests sign it with a cute silver pen and she can add pictures to it later as a keepsake!

I made this with black constuction paper and a cd gift box I found at the dollar store and some fancy wavy design cutting scissors!

I also ordered a few thing from oriental trading to add to the celebrity theme!!

Large plastic backdrop for photo op!!

Of course we needed a red carpet!!

...and we needed a star for the door to the lounge!!

Ours will read "Alyssa's Celebrity Lounge"

I also found this yard sign to put out where the Limo will park and the parents/papparazzi will be lurking around!!

  I spent $30 at oriental trading including shipping and tax!

I can't wait to post pictures of the final product and the kids at the party!  We party on a budget so I am also anxious to add it all up and see how much we spent/saved on our little shindig!!

I'll post afterparty pics here this weekend!! comeback soon to check it out!!

Love Jenn!!

2011...Resolutions?

So it is the year 2011 and I will offically end my twenties and begin my thirties! I am actually pretty happy about that because although I had some great times in my twenties and met all the major life milestones like love, marriage, children, career, etc. ---so NOT in that order by the way...  I am ready to move on and begin a new chapter in my life. 

It took me a whole month to decide on my New Years Resolutions because who has time to think about that stuff in December?  Christmas is such a busy time of year that I just couldn't wrap my head around any new goals or "resolutions" just yet.  However, I though long and hard about it and I know what I need to do.  I will be losing weight... YES it took me a month to decide I was actually going to do it.  I have made excuses for so long...  "why lose the weight if I will gain it back when I get pregnant," "I'm pregnant, I NEED to eat," "I JUST had a baby."  Time is up, excuses are old.  I'm not having any more kids and I'm turning 30!!  So it's time to get serious about this but I have no idea how I am going to lose weight to be honest.  I have no plan, no trainer, no doctors involved.  Let's face it, healthy food is expensive and I live on a tight budget (5 kids, remember?) I cannot afford a gym membership or meal plans they mail to your house so I think I'm going to try something very different for me..... it's called "accountability" and I am really dreading this!! So starting February 1st I am going to start a new blog and post what I eat, when I work out and when I don't, when I indulge and when I behave.  This will be a year long blog, I think I have enough to lose to stretch it out for a full year if I do it slowly, as I am told this is the correct way to lose weight and keep it off!  I just want to say for the record, I just want to live healthier and be healthier and teach my children healthy habits.  I will set small goals to start, just committing to posting everyday will be a major goal!  Wish me luck!!

Jenn

The Race Against the Clock!

All moms have a few tricks up their sleeves, with 5 kids, I don't have enough sleeves for all the tricks I need!!!  Apart from being a busy mom, I also have a full-time job.  I have often found myself scrambling for a quick fix dinner between work and after school activities.  After all, pizza or the drive thru can really add up and I just dislike feeding my kids fast food too often, for nutritional reasons but also because they don't ask if it's not an option!!  Another area that tends to be a race against the clock is the morning scramble to get the kids to school on time!  My husband leaves for work at 3:30am everyday so it is up to me to get all the kids ready each morning, which is quite challenging!!  The 2 steps to our morning routine that always seem to get skipped or "forgot" when we are in a time crunch is Breakfast and brushing their teeth!!  Of course, once we are in the car on the way to school tummies start growling, the whining follows and then the bad breath becomes very evident!!  Don't fret though... I have found the solutions!!  So for all you moms out there in need of some new ideas, here are a few little "tricks" I have found to be helpful in the race against the clock... enjoy!!

1.  Quick Fix Dinner

Taco Mac
 (It's filling enough to keep you out of the drive through, cheap, but lacks a little on the nutritional side but it tastes good and I often get asked to make it even when we aren't in a hurry!)

2 boxes of Mac and cheese
1 lb of ground beef
1 packet of Taco Seasoning
1 can of corn

Prepare the mac & cheese as per directions on the box.  Brown the hamburger meat in a skillet, drain the fat,  add seasoning and corn.  Pour the contents of the skillet in the pot with the mac & cheese and enjoy!!  This dish typically costs me about $5-$6 and makes Plenty for all 7 of us and I keep all of these ingredients on hand at all times!  If I forget to take the meat out of the freezer, I make a quick dash to the grocery store for a thawed pack on my way home from work... for me it's easier and faster than waiting on defrosting meat!!

Grandma's Goulash
(My grandma made this dish for us a lot when she lived with us and we loved it!  My kids are now big fans and it doesn't take a lot of time.)

5-6 Large Potatoes
1 1/2 lb of ground beef (season with garlic salt)
2 cans of green beans
serve with tortillas or sliced bread (optional)

Cut the potatoes in cubes and prepare "country style" like you would for breakfast.  Brown the beef in a skillet and season.  Drain green beans and add to the meat once it is cooked, add cooked potatoes and enjoy!!  This dish also cost about $5-$6 and you'll be surprised at how much food it actually makes!

2.  Mom: "What is that smell?"
    Child: "I forgot to brush my teeth..."


I saw these commercials for "Colgate Wisps" and thought, "really? you can't just pop a mint or piece of gum like everyone else?"  Well, I was at the local dollar store and I saw them in a 4 pack for $1!!! Immediately I had an idea!! I bought several packs and threw them in my purse and the next time one of my little ones forgot to bush their teeth before we left for school , I pulled it out an handed it over!  At first the others were all jealous because they thought it was the coolest little thing!  I thought my plan backfired and that the next day I'd have a car full of dirty mouths begging for a Wisp!! However, they soon learned by their siblings reaction that those "cute" little brushes pack an unfavorable taste!  It was nothing like their bubble gum flavored children's toothpaste at home!! They have all had their turn with the wisps at some point and have vowed to remember to brush their teeth everyday!!

3.  No Time for Breakfast?

This one is pretty easy, kind of a no brainer but sometimes even those slip our minds!  I keep granola bars and trail mix in the car for snacks when the kids get fussy or forget their morning breakfast.

Feel free to share your ideas below! I'd love to hear them!!

A Penny Saved, is a Penny Earned!?

Ok, so I am a bit of a cheapskate.  However, when you have a family as large as mine you have to learn to be a cheapskate, even if you aren't naturally one.  I am a learned and practiced cheapskate, mostly out of neccesity.  Anyhow, I have decided to experiment in homemade cleaning supplies!!  Most of the recipes I have looked up require the same ingredients (baking soda or washing soda, borax and vinegar).  All of these ingredients are extremely inexpensive so I think it will be VERY beneficial to our budget if these recipes actually CLEAN!!  I am a little worried about the vinegar smell, so I think I'm going to get some essential oils to balance it out.  Let's hope this goes well!! This may even send my kids into a cleaning frenzy if I let them help me make the cleaners?  Hmmmmm?   Below are the recipes I've found on various websites, that I will be trying out.  I will update my results when I am done!!

UPDATE: I HAVE TRIED A FEW OF THE RECIPES AND I AM VERY PLEASED!!  THEY WERE VERY INEXPENSIVE AND SUPER EASY TO MAKE! I MADE EACH RECIPE IN 5 TO 10 MINUTES!

From a fellow blogger... (can't remember which one)
Homemade Bathroom & Tile Cleanser
(ONE OF MY FAVS, WORKED AS GOOD AS THE STORE BOUGHT STUFF, SMELLS CLEAN AND FRESH WITHOUT THE CHEMICAL SMELL)
1 cup Baking Soda

1/4 cup Borax

Mix together and store in a sugar shaker for easier sprinkling.



From ehow.com...
Homemade Multi-Surface Cleaner
(MY LEAST FAV PRODUCT SO FAR, BUT NOT BECAUSE IT DIDN'T WORK, IT DID WORK, BUT I'M NOT A FAN OF THE VINEGAR SMELL.  I THINK I'LL HAVE TO ADD A PUNGENT ESSENTIAL OIL TO BALANCE IT OUT.)
1 cup white vinegar

1 cup water

Mix together in a spray bottle, and you'll have your own multi-purpose cleaner. Most useful in the bathroom and kitchen on surfaces.


From thedollarstretcher.com...
Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
(LOVED THIS PRODUCT, I HAD SOME LEFTOVER STORE BOUGHT POWDER SO I USED THE SECOND RECIPE AND I LOVED IT!  I ALSO ADDED VINEGAR TO MY RINSE CYCLE AND DIDN'T NOTICE ANY SMELL.)

1 cup Borax
1 cup Baking soda

or (for best results I hear this recipe works better and stretches the store bought stuff further)

1 cup Borax
1 cup bakng soda
2 cups cascade or other brand of dishwasher detergent

Also, If you use 1 cup of white vinegar in your rinse compartment your dishes are supposed to be extra clean and sparkley!!

From the Duggar Family Website...
Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value
(BY FAR MY FAV, FAV PRODUCT!! WE USE SOOOO MUCH LAUNDRY SOAP WITH OUR LARGE FAMILY SO I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO TEST THIS ONE OUT!  I MADE THE POWDERED RECIPE SINCE MY LAUNDRY ROOM IS SMALL AND STORING A LARGE BUCKET POSED ISSUES.  I PREFER LIQUID LAUNDRY SOAP BUT AFTER USING THIS RECIPE I WON'T MIND THE POWDER AT ALL!  I DID USE A ZOTE BAR INSTEAD OF THE FELS NAPTHA BAR SINCE MY GROCER DIDN'T CARRY THAT BRAND.  I LIKED THE SMELL, IT WAS FRESH AND NOT TOO "PERFUME-Y".  ALSO, I TESTED IT ON A VERY DIRTY BIB AND WAS REALLY SURPRISED AT HOW WELL IT CAME OUT WITHOUT PRE-TREATING OR USING BLEACH, I WISH I WOULD HAVE TAKEN A BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURE!)  

(The hubby helped grate the Zote bar!)

4 Cups - hot tap water

1 Fels-Naptha soap bar (I used Zote)

1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*

½ Cup Borax

Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)


Powdered Laundry Detergent - Top load machine

1 Fels-Naptha soap bar (I used Zote)

2 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda

1 Cup Borax

Grate soap or break into pieces and process in a food processor until powdered. Mix all ingredients. For light load, use 1 Tablespoon. For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 Tablespoons. Yields: 6 Cups detergent. (Approx. 80 loads)

Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in stores or may be purchased online.  Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

Inexpensive Fabric Softener Recipes
(I HAVEN'T TRIED THESE RECIPES YET, BUT THEY ARE NEXT ON MY LIST!)
Recipe #1

1 Cup White Vinegar

Add vinegar to rinse cycle. Works great. Removes residue and odors. Also helps to keep washing machine and hoses fresh and clean too.

Recipe #2

1 Container of Name Brand Fabric Softener

4 Inexpensive sponges, cut in half

Pour entire container of softener into a 5 gallon bucket. Fill empty softener container with water twice. (2 parts water to 1 part softener) Add sponges to softener/water mixture. When ready to use wring out extra mixture from one sponge and add to the dryer as you would a dryer sheet.

I do not have a fancy front load machine so I won't be testing that recipe, however I listed it anyway for you lucky ducks that have them!!


Happy Cleaning!! :)

One of "Those" Days...

When I wake up each morning to the blaring sound of my alarm clock I always have the same 2 thoughts: 1. I have to pee like none other! 2.  I hope it's not one of "those" days!  It ALL begins in the shower...  I turn on the water hoping not to wake any little sleepy heads, ahhh the hot water feels so good in a silent house.  The moment I know that it is going to be one of "those" days is the instant I hear knocking on my bedroom door.  You see, I have my kids pretty well trained in at least one area of our morning routine, well kinda. They KNOW not to knock on my bedroom door in the mornings! It is the law in my house!  I even have a quote from "The Wizard of Oz" above my door that reads "No one gets in to see the wizard, not no one, not no how!"  I do not stay in my room all morning, nor do I keep my door closed all morning.  I come out often to check on the kids and deal with whatever issue that may be at hand, like the dreaded sock basket that eats 1 sock out of evey pair that we deposit in it's care.  I fix the cereal, force the kids into matching clothes and chase down my harbrush  but when it is closed that means peace and tranquility is in progress and you may not interrupt unless you are bleeding or very badly injured.  I am fully prepared each time I exit my room in the morning that there will be some disaster I will have to take care of, my suit of mom armour is on, if you will.  I am not expecting a peaceful morning each day.  I know my son will sing at the top of his lungs all morning and chase the dog and pester his sisters all before he has dressed himself or brushed his teeth.  I know my girls will cry for this shirt or that sweater and I am prepared to handle these issues when I exit my bedroom door.  Still, each time that alarm clock goes off, I think maybe today no one will knock?  Surely the lecture on obeying the rules, what is grounds for knocking in the morning and why it is important to look for all of your belongings BEFORE bedtime will sink in!  Sometimes it does and other times the urge to tattle overwhelms them and they justify "injury" as "hurt feelings" so they knock when they feel a gross injustice has just occured.  Today there was a knock and usually crying follows the knock and yelling follows the crying and fighting follows the yelling and I am instantly swept up in one of "those" days and there is no way to rewind and go back to my peaceful shower, my tranquil state of mind.  There is no turning back after the knock.  I just need more coffee.