Learning Contractions

No. Not those contractions.  There is no real learning to those.  I am talking contractions related to grammar:

cannot = can't
is not = isn't
do not = don't

Isaac (6 years old) came home this week with his usual load of worksheets completed at school.  Most were busy work and just recycled.  This week, however, not only am I going to save a worksheet - but I will probably laminate it.

He was simply instructed to use the contraction don't in a sentence.  A typical first grader might say:

"Don't run in the halls."

"Don't forget to brush your teeth."

or even

"Don't pick your nose."

Nope.  Not my 2007 baby (year of the golden pig!)

This is what he chose to write:

Sound advice for us all.

Friday Night Pizza

So, now the cat is out of the bag, and you know that every Friday night is Pizza Night.  Please let me state, that - NO - we do not order out pizza every Friday night.  Sometimes we do, but I try to mix it up (totally no pun intended!) with frozen pizza, calzones, and homemade pizza.

My boys LOVE White Pizza.  Using Tastefully Simple's Artichoke & Spinach Warm Dip Mix, this is extremely EASY!  I usually just make up the dip as directed then spread it on a pre-made pizza crust or I will use pizza dough purchased from the store.  The next part is where getting the kids involved is the best!  They each get to add their own toppings:

PJ - my purist - loves cheese, cheese, and cheese
Isaac - Black Olives are his BFF!
Evelyn -  is LOVING pepperoni
Gary - (my fourth child) just like his first born - CHEESE

I, on the other hand, like to load it up with roasted red peppers, black olives, artichoke hearts, and sauteed chicken.  Below is recipe created by another Tastefully Simple lover!  Do you make your own pizza?  What is your favorite recipe?

found on www.tastefullysimple.com/web/cwhite6 

Meal Planning

Do you plan your families' meals ahead of time?  I do my best to, especially during the school year.  I work full time as a Speech-Language Pathologist and my husband is also a teacher.  With him and 3 children, I can't afford to not have an answer to that dreaded question, "Mom, what's for dinner?" at 4 pm.  In fact, I read a study that over 80% of parents, actually do not know the answer to that question at 4 pm each night!

I refuse to be a part of that statistic!

I started meal planning probably about 5 years ago when I started doing Weight Watchers.  I knew I wanted extra "points" at the end of the week to enjoy my fav foods, so I would plan my dinner points in anticipation of the weekend.  The added benefit to it, though, I found, was that our grocery shopping could be done completely in advance, so there were no last minute runs to the store, and I also was less stressed in the afternoon.

I also found that if I stick to a simple schedule of different types of meals, the planning is much easier!  Below is a general schedule I try to follow...

Now, I am realistic, and there are days/weeks where this schedule doesn't fit - Nights where there are Scouts, I am doing a Tastefully Simple party, or there other appointments.  But the beauty of this structure is that it is predictable and it narrows my choices immediately.

Do you meal plan?  Do you have a specific structure?  I would love to hear about it!  If you would like to see my weekly meal plans, check out my facebook business page!

#mealplanning #mealplanner

Mixing is the New Homemade

Did you know that "mixing" is the new homemade?  I have always loved baking.  As a kid, baking was my stress reliever.  Looking back, I wonder if it was because I was always the go and spontaneous and crazed!  Baking was structured.  It was calming and it provided me with a little sense of control.  

Now, as an adult, with a family, I have learned that cooking is a necessity for my family if they want to eat...

Enter, Tastefully Simple!  I first went to a party when I was pregnant with PJ, my oldest.  I took one bite of the Absolutely Almond Pound Cake and felt like I had just tasted a little slice of heaven!  Surely, it must have required some crazy baking skills...nope, just butter and water (now, I use applesauce to cut the calories!).  Four years later, after hosting many parties and enjoying how all the Tastefully Simple products were adding flavor to my cooking, I decided 30% off each product was a good thing!  Now as a Tastefully Simple consultant, I have gained so much more than 30% per product.  I am able to help people take back their dinner table.  I provide them with the MIXING SOLUTIONS to dinner.  I am the answer to, "Mom, What's for dinner?"  I love being a mealtime Superhero and I hope you will join me on my journey!