Easy Breakfast Hack That Saves Time and Money

As a mom of 4, I'm always looking for ways to save time and money!

Feeding a family of 6 can be expensive and very time consuming! I go to the grocery store AT LEAST 3 days a week, and that includes the big weekly shopping trip.  The amount of food my kids consume in the summer is astounding!  

Let's talk time. Time? What's that?!? Most days it seems like I finish cleaning up from one meal and have to start all over again.  I always joke that I'm constantly feeding little humans! And just when I think I'm done for the day and can relax, someone needs a snack!

That's life in a big family, and although it can be stressful, I wouldn't trade it for anything!  However, I do have one little trick up my sleeve that saves time AND money!

Right after Lily was born, Dylan started first grade and Lexie started Pre-K.  Our mornings became rushed chaos, and I found myself shoving bowls of cereal and store-bought frozen waffles at them. One day, while I was making Sunday brunch, it hit me that I should make EXTRA pancakes, and freeze them for the week! 

Everyone in our family loved pancakes, and they could be reheated very quickly and even eaten on the go! I immediately started that method and it turned out to be the best breakfast hack!  

Making freezer pancakes has been a part of my weekly routine for almost 4 years. Now, I'll share my "secret" with you! 



EASY FREEZER PANCAKES

Ingredients:

• Boxed Pancake & Waffle Mix (Our favorite is an organic one, but it's almost always sold out. This whole wheat mix is the next best thing! If you want to step it up a notch, make your own homemade version!)
• Blueberries, Chocolate Chips, Strawberries, Bananas, Wheat Germ, Chia Seeds, and/or Granola. (My kids requested blueberry and chocolate chip pancakes this week!)
• Banana (or apple) Baby Food   

 

My "secret" ingredient is baby food.  Lexie refuses to eat most fruit, so I started sneaking in Lily's homemade purees for extra nutrition. It blended in well and gave the pancakes a bit more flavor.  Lexie had NO idea so I just kept doing it!  

Making the pancakes is so simple and quick, especially if you have an electric griddle!  It's an absolute must for a bigger family! (Seriously. I love ours!) The first step is to choose your ingredients and prepare the mix:

• Decide how many pancakes you want to make, then prepare the mix according to the directions.
• Mix in a large container of banana or apple baby food.
• Add your chopped fruit or other ingredients and stir. 

Once your mix is prepared, it's time to grease the griddle (I use olive oil) and decide if you want to make large pancakes, mini pancakes, or a combination of both! I always make mini pancakes, but I usually make a batch of large pancakes, too.  The mini pancakes are so easy for Lily to eat and Liam can just pick them up!

To make the mini pancakes, drop the mix onto the griddle using a 1/2 TBSP measuring spoon.  It works perfectly, and makes a lot at once! And, obviously, bigger spoon=bigger pancakes!



Give them a flip, allow them to cook on the other side, then stack them on a plate to cool! Repeat the process until all the mix is gone.



Once the pancakes cool down, put them in a freezer storage bag, label the bag, and add the date they were made.



I always make two varieties of pancakes, so I just repeat the process with the next batch!



It only takes about 15 minutes start to finish and the pancakes last the entire week! 

They're perfect for my entire family! They can be heated up in the microwave in just seconds. Grant doesn't have time for a meal before work, so he can heat one up and eat it in the car. (This also applies to me as I'm running out the door to take the kids somewhere!)  Dylan and Lexie know how to microwave them, so they can prepare their own breakfast if necessary.  The mini pancakes are the perfect size for Lily and Liam, and I don't have to cut them up.  



This method is a win for everybody!  It saves time, and, if you compare the cost to a box of store-bought pancakes, it saves money, too!

Oh, and of course, on the days I make the pancakes, we have them for breakfast!  




And on those busy mornings when there isn't much time to eat?  Quick AND easy!



What are your favorite breakfast hacks to save time and money?

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How To Create an Art Table and Art Supply Organization System for Kids

If you've been toying around with the idea of creating an arts and crafts area for your kids, now is the time!!!  

Back to School Supplies have taken over stores, which means all the things you need to complete the project are REALLY cheap right now!

Dylan, Lexie, and Lily love arts and crafts.  We had so many art supplies, but they were just tossed into storage totes in our hall closet.  The kids had to dig through them to find what they wanted. They eventually lost interest, and only used the items that were easily accessible.

When we started to turn our basement into a family room/playroom, I knew I wanted an arts and crafts area for our kids. I didn't want an in-depth project at the time.  I wanted a simple project that I could finish quickly, at very little cost!

I pulled out our well-loved (thanks to a Great Dane) antique farm table from storage, brought all the storage totes down to the basement, picked up a few items from the store, then started my project!

It only took about an hour of work, and the end result was SO worth it!



SUPPLIES:

• Table and chairs
• Shower Curtain Liner ($2/Walmart)
• Pails ($1 each/Target Dollar Spot)
• Paper Trays ($1 each/Target Dollar Spot)
• Sterilite Clear Storage Totes (84 cents/Target)
• Chalkboard Labels ($1 for 12/Target Dollar Spot
• Art Supplies (we already had them, but currently between 25 cents-$3)
  

The setup is so simple!

{STEP ONE} Find the perfect place for your table!  Make sure you put it in a room the kids will use.  Placing it near a storage spot is ideal!  When I started the project, I knew I wanted to make cleanup as easy as possible.  I positioned the table far away from the carpeting, so any paint spills could be wiped up easily.

{STEP TWO} Cover your table! My biggest tip is a simple one:  buy an inexpensive shower curtain liner (the dollar store carries them) and use it as a tablecloth! With a little bit of bleach spray and a quick wipe down, it looks like new.  If it rips, it's really inexpensive to replace! Just for the record, our table has been used every day for the past 4 weeks, and it still looks like new!

{STEP THREE} Decide which storage containers you want to use on your table. Target always carries mini-pails in the Dollar Spot.  I already used them in our Homework Caddy, so I knew they would be perfect for the Art Table! I was so excited to find some that had chalkboard labels on them! I also knew I wanted white paper and construction paper within easy reach, so I picked up some paper trays in the Target Dollar Spot.

{STEP FOUR}  Decide which art supplies you want to put in the containers, and group them together.  I chose to use 5 pails, and I filled them with the most used items: markers, crayons, colored pencils, paintbrushes and paint dabbers, and scissors/glue sticks/glitter glue. And paper, of course! You can certainly use as many containers as you'd like.  Fill the containers, and write on the labels!



Easy, right?!? 



If you're anything like us, you most likely have a LOT of arts and crafts supplies.  My goal was to organize all our supplies so the kids could easily find exactly what they were looking for!  

There are so many great art supply organization ideas, but I wanted simple, inexpensive, and functional! I opted for 12 Sterilite Clear Storage Totes and some cute chalkboard labels I found in the Target Dollar Spot. 

Filling the bins took the most time out of the entire project!  I sat down and separated our supplies into groups, and ended up filling twelve bins.  

Here's how I grouped the items: 

• School:  Pencils, Pens, Erasers, Sharpeners, Chalk, Rulers, and extra boxes of Crayons
• Markers
• Paint: Paint Tools and Brushes
• Paint: Paints
• Beads + Crafts: Pipe Cleaners, Craft Sticks, Pompoms, Googly Eyes, Ribbon, String/Rope, Jingle Bells, and Beads
• Glitter + Glue
• Stencils + Stamps: Stencils, Stamps, and Ink Pads
• Crayons
• Playdoh: Playdoh, Cookie Cutters, and Tools
• Stationary + Scrapbook:  All the items needed for writing letters and creating scrapbooks
• Stickers
• Foam Crafts 
  

Once I sorted everything, I filled the bins, labeled the bins, and stacked them on the shelves behind the Art Table. 



My system certainly isn't as pretty as glass jars filled with crayons and art supplies, but it works really well!  The kids can easily find what they're looking for and just as easily clean up after themselves when they're done with their projects!



I'm happy to report we've had almost a month of happy crafting and creating! The kids use the table every single day and the art projects are piling up!






I'm so glad I finally created an organized Arts and Crafts space for the kids!  They are actually choosing to craft and create over watching TV and playing with electronics.  It has quickly become one of the most used areas in our home!

What are you waiting for?!?  Happy Crafting!!!
 
Do you have an Arts and Crafts area?  What is your favorite tip when it comes to crafting?



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Milestones and Weekending

It's hard to believe we're already halfway through Summer vacation!!!

There are only 6 more weeks left until school starts. I know those weeks are going to fly by, so we're trying to make every moment count and enjoy summer to the fullest!

This week was very exciting, because Liam really took off with his walking! He went from just taking a few independent steps in a row to walking across rooms! He also started climbing on everything!

After Liam was born, I read so many statistics that said the average age for a child who has Down syndrome to walk is 2-4.  All I could picture was having a nonverbal 3 year old who wasn't strong enough to walk.  Liam loves to prove those statistics wrong!  As of last night, he's walking about 75% of the time! We're SO proud of him!




This weekend was MUCH needed after an overly busy week.  A lot of our time was spent at the library.  Dylan had science camp every day. One of those days, we were at the library for over 3 hours due to Theater Group following science camp! We LOVE our local library, but this week was excessive!



Our weekend officially kicked off on Friday!  I met up with my sister, brother-in-law, and nephews, so Dylan could go to New York with them for the weekend.  He was so excited!



While he was there, he got to see Niagara Falls for the first time, go on Maid in the Mist, and go to Rainforest Cafe! He had a GREAT weekend!



Meanwhile, back at home, we spent Friday visiting my parents.  Liam cooled off on the deck with his Papa, we had dinner together, my dad took the girls to visit family, then Lexie had a sleepover with her cousin, Aubrey.  I ended up having a quiet Friday night!



On Saturday, Liam turned 23 months old!  I can't believe he will be 2 next month!



Grant went to a friend's house that evening to celebrate his friend's birthday, so the girls, Liam, and I did some shopping.  A LOT of shopping.  I rewarded them for being good sports by taking them to Dairy Queen!



We got home just before dusk, so the kids cruised through the backyard while I put away groceries.




Sunday was REALLY hot and humid.  We couldn't think of anything better to do than go swimming with friends!







Liam's confidence from walking gave him the confidence to attempt to get into the pool on his own!  Lily was NOT happy about this!



He did it anyway!



It was scorching outside, but we ended up having a great afternoon swimming with our friends!




Of course, swimming almost always results in a nap!  Lily and Liam fell asleep on the way home, and my nap was migraine-induced.  Luckily, we all woke up happier!



We finished up our outdoor fun with another cruise through our yard.  After that, it was time for dinner and time to pick up Dylan!  We only got to see him for 20 short minutes before he was off to another (already planned) sleepover! 




Liam was out of sorts all day, which is so unlike him. I knew he was teething, but I checked his mouth Sunday morning, and there wasn't anything new. That evening, I discovered that teeth 9 and 10 were through his gums, and 11 and 12 seemed to be following close behind!  Liam definitely likes to do everything at once.  He became an almost full-time walker, a crazy climber, and got two more teeth in just one short week! 



Life is forever changed!

We all had a wonderful weekend, and we're gearing up for a busy week ahead!  How was your weekend? 

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Liam at 22 Months

Liam Dayne
22 Months
21 lbs (estimate)
31 inches (estimate)



Milestones:  Walking more, standing longer, climbing on EVERYTHING, and saying more words. Huge developmental leaps this month!!! I think he's going to be walking full-time when he turns 2 next month!




Tooth Count:  Still just 8!



Eating:  3 self-fed meals a day plus 2-3 small snacks.  Drinks out of a straw cup and nurses a few nights a week for just a few minutes.  He's almost completely weaned and he's doing it on his own!




Favorite Foods:  Bananas, Watermelon, Cereal Bars, Yogurt, Pasta with Marinara or Alfredo Sauce, Macaroni and Cheese, Cornbread, Macaroni and Cheese, Yogurt Melts, Applesauce, and Tapioca Pudding.



Sleeping:  He's a wonderful sleeper!  He sleeps 12-14 hours a night and takes a nap every afternoon for 1-2 hours. I almost feel guilty when other moms ask how he's sleeping! Almost.



Words/Signs:  Liam repeats a lot of words, but he regularly says Mama, Dada, Papa, Dyl (Dylan), Lexie, Lily, Dog, No, Stop, Door, Open, Up, Down, Hat, Bubbles, Book, Hi, Bye, and All Done. I mentioned before that his speech isn't as clear as "typical" kids his age, but he actually does really well. I was so afraid he would be nonverbal, but he's very chatty and very receptive to learning.  He loves speech therapy! He regularly signs eat and more, waves hi and bye, claps, and he loves to sing and dance!



Likes:  Climbing, singing, dancing, spinning in circles on his bum, pushing furniture through the house, chasing after Dylan's remote-controlled cars, playing outside, splashing in his baby pool, swinging, exploring the library, taking baths, eating, snuggling, giving hugs and kisses, grabbing glasses off people's face, making messes, looking through books, speech therapy sessions, pulling stuff out of kitchen cabinets, playing with the edge pieces on his foam mat, and hanging out with family and friends.



Dislikes:  Waiting for food, getting his face wiped, being cold, getting his hair washed, and getting his diaper changed. These never seem to change!



Favorite Toys and Games: {links provided on most} Step2 Neat & Tidy Cottage, Cozy Coupe, Sandbox, Cars/Trucks, baby pool, Leapfrog Cook and Play Potsy, Play Kitchen and accessories, Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Puppy's Activity Home, books, Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Crawl Around Car, bristle blocks, vtech sit-to-stand learning walker, and his foam letter playmat.



Favorite Toddler Items: {links provided}Re-Play divided plates, Moccs by Olly Oaks, Aden and Anais Dream Blanket, Ergo baby carrier, Halo SleepSack, Ikea Bibs, Infantino shopping cart/highchair cover,  Munchkin Click Lock Weighted Flexi-Straw Cup, NeatCheeks face wipes, Nuby No-Spill Easy Grip Cup with Super Straw.  and Baby Trend Expedition FX Jogging Stroller.



Nicknames:  Miam, SuperLiam, Little Dude, and buddy.



Health:  100% healthy! He doesn't have any of the health issues associated with Down syndrome.



Early Intervention:  Liam receives one hour each of Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech Therapy in our home every week.  I can't stress enough the importance of starting speech therapy at 12-14 months, even if you're told it's too early.  IT'S NOT!



Wearing:  Liam mostly wears 6-9 month clothing and some 9-12 month items.  Some 0-3 month onesies and some 3-6 month items still fit, thanks to his short torso and small waist/hips/bum!  He wears size 3 shoes (he moved up!) and size 3 diapers.



Personality:  He is full of beauty, joy, love, and innocence.  I've never met a child as loving and happy as he is! We are SMITTEN with our sweet boy!

 

{Liam's Bowtie: Lolly Lu Designs // Liam's Moccs: Olly Oaks}


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