Funtainers.... how fun!

Lunches from home have always been well... boring.. at our house, it always is sandwich, chips, fruit and a snack. Because I tend to lack in the creativity dept. we have let the kids buy their lunches from school. That really was not a problem, our school lunch offered choices and they were healthy choices, the problem is that now with three of our four children in school, buying lunch everyday is rather expensive! There is a mommys board that I frquent and everyone kept talking about funtainers and how their child took leftover spaghetti, soup and other things that would need to be heated up to eat. Apparently, these funtainers will keep hot food hot for 5 hours and cold food cold for 7 hours! I was so excited because I could get them each one and that would help solve the lunches from home problem, especially Ethan because he does not like sandwiches at all! They are pricey... $16 each, but fortunately I found them 50% off at Target tonight in their back to school section. The kids are taking leftover spaghetti tomorrow. I am anxious for them to report back to me if their food indeed was still warm at lunch time.

Here is a pic of what one looks like...Ethan has this one, Transformers of course!

All You...

I cannot believe that I haven't stumbled across this website or this magazine before today, it is called All You. It has all kinds of tips on saving, couponing, organizing ( this is where I really struggle) etc. Right now you can sign up for a free trial of their magazine, if after the first two issues you don't want to continue, just write CANCEL on the bill and send it back. However, judging by the website, I can't imagine not loving the magazine. You can check it out here.

Consumer Testing

I signed up a while back to test product for McCormick Spices and Seasonings. I am so excited, I just received an e-mail asking to test a new product - I am not sure what it is yet, but they will send me the product sometime next week, I will cook with it, submit my evaluation and they will in turn compensate me!! I will post what it is, what I cook with it and if it gets a thumbs up or down as soon as I can.

Menu Plan Monday....

Yesterday the kids were kind enough to share with me what they would like to eat this week so here is what our menu for the week is looking like....

Monday - Filled jumbo pasta shells, salad, bread & grapes.
Tuesday - Tacos or taco salad
Wednesday - Either leftovers from the past couple of nights or spaghetti
Thursday - Homemade chicken strips, corn on cob, mac n cheese & salad
Friday - French bread pizza
Sat - Dinner @ mom's
Sun - Dinner @ mom's

This weekend my sister is coming in, which means the majority of the time will be spent at my moms, which is why I do not have to be concerned with cooking dinner at home Sat. or Sun.

Along with each meal, we will have either fresh fruit or veggies with ranch dressing (pretty much the only way the kiddos will eat them)

Also, I apparently will be making banana bread - this has been requested by three of my children! Fortunately, when I went to the grocery store, I came at the right time (which seems to never happen) and was able to get a huge bag of bananas for just pennies a pound because they had been marked down due to them being very ripe. I brought them home, cut them up, put the slices on a baking sheet and threw them in the freezer, once frozen I will put them in baggies. They will be nice to have when I make banana bread or muffins in the future.

As I have stated before, eating out will be a thing of the past for us soon so I am looking for new recipes, especially kid friendly recipes. If you have one please do share.. you can leave it in the comments!

Our Bathroom Floor is Done!!!

That is our old subflooring (I think that is what it is called) we **think** that may have been mold growing on it - Y.U.C.K









This is what is under the sub flooring
























New sub flooring = no mold!
















Ceramic tile laid..













Ceramic tile, laid, grouted... toilet in! Now we just have to get new baseboard in there!











A close up of the new tile!