Empowering moms for success – while making lunches kid’s will eat.

Click Link Below for Lunch & Snack Ideas:

Kid’s Lunch Ideas

I’ve received a lot of tips, tricks and ideas over the years, regarding school lunches and thought I’d share them with you.  Too often, I was the ill-prepared mom who couldn’t find 2 pieces of bread the morning of, to make a simple sandwich.

Providing a variety of healthy meals your kids will actually eat – is not easy.  At the beginning of the week, the kids and I collaborate on menu ideas:  criteria is based on healthy, tasty, do-able lunches.

I typically marinade and grill all my chicken on Sunday afternoon, and place them in sealed containers.  I’ll go ahead and cut part of the chicken into stripes or nuggets, for the kids lunches and set them aside in different zip locks, for the week.

I wash all the fruit and divide them into zip lock bags also.  I do the same with cookies / crackers – making the vanilla wafers with peanut butter, cutting the cheese, and dividing them into enough zip locks to handle 4 kids for the week.

I also make lunches for the little ones who stay at home.  This way, when they’re hungry, they just go pick up their lunch box out of the fridge and no one misses a beat.  If we’re running errands, I just grab their lunches and they can eat on the way.

After school, my older kids read the menu and grab the pre-made lunches already divided up – and place them in their lunch box.

It’s not easy being a mom.  Let’s stick together girls.  I’d love to hear your ideas.

Here’s to empowering moms for success – and lunches kid’s will eat.  : )

Over the years, there have been several organizations, ideas, blogs, products and services that have changed my life for the better.  Here’s what has worked for me and I’d like to pass it along to you.

I have a “Great Ideas” file and whenever I hear a great idea, slogan, quote, brand of perfume, website, blog, business strategy, song, commercial, something funny the kid’s said, brand of shoes, mom tip, newspaper article or book idea, I write it down for a day I may need it.  It may not work for me now, but it may later.

iPod with Favorite Music:

Find that special place, whether the park, the local running track or just in your neighborhood.  When you feel good and listen to upbeat music, you’ll walk faster, get your heart rate up, work out issues that weigh heavily on your mind.  You may forget you’re working out.

Helping Others:

http://www.410bridge.org

Partner with an organization, where you connect with non-profits that utilize your gifts to serve others.  Bring fresh water to African nations by giving your money, your time to build wells for clean water:  Help identify and implement solutions to physical and spiritual needs in their community. It’s nice to drink clean water.

Athletics:

Pull out the old Tennis Racquet and build a healthier you:  It doesn’t matter whether you are good or if you even know the rules – who cares.  You’re moving.  You can’t take care of others, if you’re in a mess yourself.  There’s a free public tennis court on every corner.  Put on cute gym clothes.  Statics show, if you look good, you feel good and it makes you want to take care of yourself . . . or maybe you’ll feel guilty if you don’t work out.  : )

Blog:

http://www.dancepartyforone.blogspot.com/

This is a blog about finding YOU again, after having kids, weight gain, being pulled in every direction, till you can’t find YOU anymore.  It offers encouraging articles and videos about finding that “Sexy You” again and creating a dream list of things you’d like to accomplish for yourself.

http://www.franklinmom.com

Nashville mom that shares great recipes, grocery lists, ideas for kids, after school activities, etc).

Books – A Good Read:

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

Boundaries by Henry Cloud

In reading these books, I discovered that “NO” is a complete sentence.  You have to take control of your life, or others will do it for you.  An organized house can bring peace to the soul and paying for items in cash can truly keep you out of debt.

I came from the old school:  If you have a check, you’ve got money.  If you have money, spend it.  If you don’t have to pay until 2012 for furniture, don’t.  Wrong Answer!  I never thought I’d pay cash for a vehicle, but that’s the only way we pay for them now.  We buy a 1 or 2 year old car for 1/2 the price with 10K miles on it and enjoy it till it pants it’s last breath.  If you save for something, there is a great sense of accomplishment, that you’ve truly earned it and No One can take it from you.

Flavored Coffee (My favorite):  It’s a hug in a mug and we all need a reward!

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Toffee Mocha Latte

(here’s a tip: soy milk with no whip, takes 100 calories off a grande size drink)

Free Phone App – RunKeeper

Keeps track of distance:  how far I walk or run:  shows calories burned, average miles per minute, current pace, shows GPS Map of your walking pattern, and will post to Facebook, if you choose.

Mac Laptop

Apple provides an amazing assortment of programs and applications to allow your creative spirit to soar; designing your own home movies, writing a blog or book, burning dvd’s, downloading your favorite itunes, cropping and editing pictures for a fun slideshow and the list goes on .

Old Navy – Vanilla Mint Lip Balm (sold at the counter)

When I’m out and about, without makeup, there is something refreshing about putting on a fun, minty lip balm to soften those lips and give you an extra kick in your step.  You almost get an attitude.  : )

Shoes:

http://www.lulus.com

http://www.lulus.com/categories/179/shoes.html&wtid=8449c9b3e4abf08ec7c943d046d1e77e

An amazing assortment of sassy ladies’ shoes that you don’t always find at the local shoe store.  It may even spark an “out of the ordinary – let’s try a new look.”  Hey, can’t hurt to shake things up a little.

I hope some of these ideas help you kick start a New You. Here’s to Shakin’ it Up! Would love to hear your ideas.

When I was little, I hated taking baths.  When it was time for one, I would throw soap into the water, let it turn gray and make a few swishes to keep any listeners at bay.

But it was the smell of NOT taking a bath for a week – that told on me.

Turns out, my little ones have the same gene.  Often times, after playing outside for a couple of hours, my kids get that “dirty stinky school bus smell.”  They beg me not to have to take a bath.  They have turned out to be quiet the negotiators.  They should do well as salesman in their later years.

So as an incentive, after dinner I tell them they can have dessert -IN THE TUB!  You have never seen a child run so fast, jump in the tub and take a bath.  The power of a popsicle or jello cup is incredible.

For me it’s a Win Win. They are getting a bath and my kitchen is not sticky from dripping popsicles.  So when the tub is drained, I just have them drop the popsicle sticks and jello cups in the trash and everyone is happy and sparkling clean.

Here’s to a clean kitchen and clean little bodies.  : )

Ava and Mom at Target.

When my little girl was not sitting up on her own, I would haul her (car seat and all) to the grocery store and place her in the cart. If I put her inside the cart, it filled up the entire area; no room for groceries. If I placed her car seat in the front, it always looked unstable, so here is a solution I found that worked quiet nicely.

Put your “little one” in one of those Bumbo Seats, like the one pictured here. It’s sturdy, wipeable and supports their back. Ava began using it around 3 months of age.  You can find Bumbo Seats for around $39.95 at Target, Babies R Us or online. Place the seat inside the large area of the cart, sit them down in it, and VIOLA, your infant will be amazed at the new view around them, plus they won’t be sucking on those nasty handle bars they tend to lean on.

Your baby will get tons of oohs and aahhhs and they will be happy that they’re not lying on their back, like business as usual. Necessity is the Mother of Invention. Happy Shopping!