Meal Planning 101: Keep Breakfasts and Lunches Simple

Most weeks when I post my menu, I hesitate to post breakfasts and lunches.  'Cause really those two meals in our house are simple, easy, and repeatable.  I tend to buy many of the same items for breakfast and lunch, making the planning and cooking of those meals very routine.

I've found that having a little variety, but keeping things simple is really what works for the earlier part of the day.  Everyone is busy with projects and we just want something that will satisfy.  So these are some of the items that repeat in our weeks:

Breakfasts:
Easy muffin recipes (make a double batch and freeze some)
Oatmeal
Yogurt
Cream of Wheat
Frozen Waffles (make extras on the weekend and freeze for weekday morning breakfasts)

Lunches:
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
Quesadillas
Veggie Wraps
Chicken Salad Sandwiches
Bacon Avocado on a Bagel
Mini Pizzas

Easy Additions to Lunches:
Cheese sticks
Yogurt
Wheat things
Trail Mix or Nuts
Any kind of fruit
Cherry tomatoes
Carrot sticks
Side Salad
Sliced Bell Peppers
Broccoli
Hummus and Ranch Dips

What do you feed your family for breakfasts and lunches?

While You're Waiting: Build Strong Relationships

(Image Credit: Jomphong)

*Recently I was thinking about all I would want my daughters to know before they get married.  Instead of wishing the days away until they walk down the aisle, how would I encourage them to live?  Living in the joy of who God created.  The practicalities and the dreaming.  What would I want to encourage... While they're waiting?  These are some of those thoughts.

During my college years, I built some of the strongest relationships of my life.  I was on my own, meeting new people, and deciding what I truly believed about God and the world.  I purposefully chose a Christian college so that I could be surrounded with professors of moral character who would challenge me in my beliefs.  And it was during this time that the Lord brought some of my dearest friends into my life to strengthen, encourage, and teach me more that I was even learning in the classroom.

Use your single years to build strong relationships.  Spend time with a variety of people: singles, married couples, the elderly.  Dig deep into their lives.  Gather all you can from the lessons they've learned over the years.  Ask the Lord to use your time together so that you both can grow closer to him.

Build these strong relationships 'cause some day, when you're a wife and a mother, you'll need those who can stand with you, encourage you, and help you to see where the Lord is working.  Don't forsake these relationships when you fall in love.  Your single years will be your best opportunity to nurture them, but don't drop them all together when you find yourself with the one the Lord has prepared for you.

These strong friendships will provide a foundation for many years to come.  They will be a part of your community, the community that will uphold your marriage and speak life into your walk with the Lord.  Use the bountiful time in your single years.  You won't ever regret investing in others and allowing them to invest in you.

14 Valentine Ideas

There are so many ideas out there right now for Valentine's Day.  I thought I'd share a few of my favorites with you:

Lighted Heart Garland

Fabric Valentine Fortune Cookie

Valentine Heart Paper Wreath

Felt Heart Wreath

Valentine Pencil

Valentine Printable

Love Bird Printable

Love Wall Plaque

Valentine Coupon Book

Be Mine Valentine Frame

Valentine Paint Chip Banner

Cake Batter Dip

Heart Funnel Cake

Valentine Neopolitan Cupcakes

Do-It-Yourself: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

I'm always looking for ways to cut our grocery budget and doing things myself significantly helps in that area.  So with three little ones, the next area I wanted to tackle was the dishwasher.  It seems like an unrelated area, but I'm continually amazed why how many bowls and spoons we can go through in a typical day.  And now bottles?  Wow!

I had read several times that you could make your own dishwasher detergent, but until recently we had an older model dishwasher and I was afraid to try it.  When we got a new one last fall, I determined we'd give it a try.  So my DIY Project for Jan was this detergent.  And it's so simple.  Especially since it uses the same ingredients as my Homemade Laundry Soap.

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
1 c. Washing Soda
1 c. Borax

Just mix together and store in an old yogurt container.

You can also use vinegar in your rinse compartment to reduce cloudy residue.  I haven't had a problem with the residue, but as I said, this is a new experiment for us so I may notice it later.

There you have it: super easy and super economical.  Hope you give it a try!

Monday Muddle

Hey Everyone,

How was your week?  What did you do?

Ours was full.  I guess you can't have three kids and not have a full life.  Volunteering in a second grade classroom, teaching letters to my preschooler, bonding with a 4 month old, and generally trying to be on time for appointments and failing miserably.  I don't think I'll ever be on time again.

Saturday was crazy.  The kids came down and helped clean the church before my hubby took Noah on the homeless outreach.  It's fun to hear how a six year old interprets reaching out to the homeless.  Everything is so mellow in Noah's world, but I can tell he's processing all the time.  Lydia had a birthday party that afternoon and we did family movie night.  Have you watched those old Disney movies with your kids yet?  We checked out Gus from the library for the second time and my kids love it!  They laugh constantly.

Sunday was normal, thankfully.  Homework, grocery shopping, church... normal family life.  I can handle that kind of crazy a lot better than being out of the house all the time.  The kids are growing up and sometimes it just feels like life is getting in the way of just being together.  Or it could be the fact that they take life at 100 mph.

I was reminded this week that I have to be more intentional with my preschooler.  She's the only girl, the quietest, and gets lost in the shuffle if I don't take special notice.  So I did a little planning last night and am going to try to do a specific activity with her each day.  So hard to believe she's already four.  And then again, when she opens her mouth, it's hard to believe she's only four.

So that's what's going on at our house.  What's going on in your world?

Breakfasts:
Oatmeal and fruit
Cold cereal
Frozen Waffles
Buttermilk Blueberry Breakfast Cake

Lunches:
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
Salad in a Jar
Quesadillas
Cucumber Wraps
Carrot sticks, string cheese, fruit

Dinners:
Monday: Pasta e fagoli, french bread
Tuesday: Date Night
Wednesday: Lentil Tacos
Thursday: Crockpot Orange Chicken, brown rice
Friday: Staff Meeting
Saturday: Homemade Pizza
Sunday: Hamburgers, Avocado Lime Pasta Salad

Extras:
Nutter Butter Truffle Cupcakes

Projects I'm working on this week:
Finish review book
Scrap t-ball photos
Work on Family Values Canvas

Posts coming up this week:
DIY Experiment--Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
Meal Planning 101: Lunches and Breakfasts
While You're Waiting
Valentine's Ideas