The Lent Experiment - Day 43

The Lent Experiment is on day 43 and we are close to the end of our experiment. As we enter the Easter weekend, please take some time to reflect on your participation in The Lent Experiment. Since many of us decided to participate in the experiment due to our decision to 'take up' something for lent as opposed to the usual 'give up', I think it only makes sense to ask if you grew in any way as a result of your participation? Just something to think about...

Your choices for today are:

1 - Take care of a sick friend or family member. There are many nasty bugs floating around out there, not to mention sinus infections and allergies. Purchase a box of tissues, orange juice, some chicken noodle soup, and a magazine. It's nice to feel looked after when you're not feeling well!

- or -

2 - Cancel a debt. Does someone owe you a coffee? Cancel the debt and turn it around...bring them another coffee.

Your Girlfriend,
Michelle

Wanna Make it Wednesday - More Easter Stuff!!

I'm not ready for Easter yet!! Can you believe that? I mean, I have blogged about things to make for friends and family for Easter, recipes to compliment your Easter ham, ideas for crafts to make with your littles for Easter, things to bake with your children to teach them the meaning of Easter, and of course, lots and lots of ideas for what to put in your children's Easter baskets! You would think with all of that, I would be prepared, but alas, I am not! So, instead of taking care of all the things I should be doing, I have decided to instead, blog. Here are a bunch of things that I want to do for Easter - with the exception of the last two items - all will have to wait until next year. Enjoy!!

How about a simple gift of peeps? Personally, not a favorite of mine, but so many of my friends love, love, love peeps. How about topping off a bag of peeps with an extremely cute Easter topper? Eighteen25 has the very cute topper available for download. Hop on over!!

I told you a week ago that I am all about wreaths. I found this super cute jelly bean wreath at Nikki's Nifty Knacks. It is made out of speckled jelly beans. Real jelly beans. The kind you eat. Too cute!! Hop on over to Nikki's site for directions!

One of my favorite things to make for my littles are cupcakes. You could say I am obsessed! If you are looking for a festive and fun way to dress up some cupcakes, check out Skip to My Lou. You can hop on over to Cindy's site and download her super cute cupcake toppers to jazz up some simple cupcakes!!

I told you I was a bit obsessed with cupcakes. These are the cupcakes I made last year. Simple cupcakes with icing, edible grass, and mini Cadbury eggs. I purchased the edible grass at Target. The photo and directions can be found at The Felt Mouse.

How cute are these 'carrots'? I love, love, love these!! My dear sweet daughter love, love, loves Cheetos. I will be making her two or three Cheeto 'carrots' to stick in her Easter basket. My son love, love, loves goldfish. He will get two or three of the goldfish 'carrots' in his basket. I like the fact that these are not candy and my little like the fact that they are not really carrots.

I hope you found something helpful here today!!

I will now 'hop to it' and get ready for Sunday!

Your Girlfriend,

Michelle

The Lent Experiment - Day 42

Today is day 42 of The Lent Experiment and while I am anxious to not have to keep up with this aspect of the blog, I will also miss having something special to do each day and knowing that others are out doing the same things. I will say, I think the experiment has had a positive impact on my outlook towards others. I will share more about that next week when I do The Lent Experiment wrap-up. :o) Until then...

Your choices for today are:

1 - Invite three people over to your house for pizza and a movie. Pick a goofy Disney movie designed for kids and laugh at all the parts that a child would never understand. (Aladin is a personal favorite!!)

- or -

2 - Leave someone a small surprise. A piece of chocolate in their make-up bag, a Hershey kiss on the seat of their car, a sheet of stickers under their bedroom door, or a ready-to-eat meal in their fridge. Be imaginative!!!!

Your Girlfriend,
Michelle

Kids in the Kitchen - Resurrection Rolls

Another way to share the Easter story with children is by making Resurrection Rolls. These are a great way to get children cooking in the kitchen while teaching them an important story about Jesus and His resurrection. They are yummy to eat too!!

Resurrection Rolls

1 package crescent rolls
melted butter
large marshmallows
cinnamon
sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Give each child a triangle of crescent rolls. The crescent roll represents the cloth that Jesus was wrapped in. Give each child a marshmallow. This represents Jesus and His purity. Have the child dip the marshmallow in melted butter and in the cinnamon and sugar. This represents the spices used to anoint the body. Then wrap up the coated marshmallow TIGHTLY in the crescent roll, not like a typical crescent roll-up, but instead bring the sides up & seal the marshmallow inside. This represents the wrapping of Jesus' body after death. Place in a 350 degree oven for ten to twelve minutes. The oven represents the tomb. Pretend like it was three days! When the rolls have cooled slightly, the children can open their rolls (cloth) and discover that Jesus is no longer there, HE IS RISEN! The marshmallow has melted and the crescent roll is puffed up, but empty.

Your Girlfriend,

Michelle

The Lent Experiment - Day 41

I don't know where you are reading this from, but here in Ohio it is a dreary, dismal kinda day. It is exactly the kind of weather that I think is so fitting for the days leading up to Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Thanks for sticking with The Lent Experiement... you have less than a week to make a difference to those around you.

Your choices for today are:

1 - Today is chivalry day! Get your politeness on by holding open doors, helping carry bags, letting people go in front of you, saying please and thank you, letting cars pull out in front of you. Let politeness know no boundaries!

- or -

2 - Make someone a card to let them know you love them, you appreciate their friendship, or that you are thankful they are in your life.

Your Girlfriend,
Michelle

PS - Yes, I am aware that 'kinda' is not a word.

Momsense Monday - What to put in Easter Baskets?

Easter is just days away and with that comes the task of filling Easter baskets for our little ones. Traditionally, Easter baskets have been all about candy, but with a new respect for teaching our children healthy eating habits, moms are looking for alternatives for their childrens baskets. Here is a long list of alternatives for you to consider...

Pre-School to Elementary Age
Sidewalk Chalk
Crayons, Markers, Paints, Glue Sticks
Coloring Books
Yo-Yo’s
Bubbles
Squirt Guns
Swim
Goggles
Blow-up Rafts, Swim Toys
Balls
Polly Pockets
Play-Doh, Silly Putty
Favorite Snacks
Gift cards - Movies, Ice Cream, McDonalds, Build-a-Bear
Action Figures
Barbie and Accessories
Webkinz
Frisbee
Cards/Small Games
Garden Tools
Doll Accessories
Trading Cards
Jump Rope
Books
Bubble Bath
Rubber Duckies/Bath Toys
Character Tooth Brush/Paste
CD’s
DVD’s
Flip Flops
Aqua Socks
Swim Suit
Hair-bows, Bands, Ribbons
Jewelry
Game Cartridges
Board Games
Book

Tweens/ Teens
Make-up
Lotions
Hair products
Gift Cards – Starbucks, McDonald’s, Borders, iTunes
Shaving Cream and Razor
Perfume/Cologne
T-shirts
Beverages - Jones Soda/Monster Drinks
Wallets
Jewelry
Flip Flops
Sunglasses
Swim Suit
Beach Towel
Nail Polish
Stationary/Note Cards
Movie Passes
Journal
Magazine/Book
Suntan Lotion
Toothbrushes/paste
Books
CD’s
DVD’s
Frisbee
Favorite snacks/cookies/chips

Helpful Hints:
* Think of items you will most likely have to buy for them over the next few months anyways, such as Swim Suit, Flip-Flops, Sunglasses etc. These make great Easter Basket fillers!

*What hobbies or interest does your child or teen have –

Reading, Sports, Crafts, Gardening, Music, etc…

*My Favorite places to shop for Easter fillers are Target, Wal-mart,

Dollar Tree, Dollar store, Craft stores, Sale and clearance items

*Think of unique ‘baskets’ – beach bucket, back-pack, gardening bucket, purse, tool box, etc…

Have fun finding fabulous things to put in your kids baskets! If you have more ideas, I would love to hear about them!!

Your Girlfriend,

Michelle

The Lent Experiment - Day 40

Happy Sunday ya'll! Enjoy your day today, whether it be with friends, family, or all by yourself!

Your choices for today are:

1 - It's Sunday, the day of rest, so do something to help someone relax. (You thought I was going to tell you to take the day off – nice try!) Run them a nice bath, make them a cup of tea, buy them a nice magazine, give someone a massage, or pick up a movie of their choice and watch it together. Exhale and remember to relax!

- or -

2 - Tell your parents how much they mean to you. You can do this in person, over the phone, or in letter form. My brother-in-law wrote his father a poem reminiscing about his memories of his father. His father was blown away!

Your Girlfriend,
Michelle

The Lent Experiment - Day 39

Welcome to the weekend edition of The Lent Experiment!! I hope that as our experiment is coming to a close, that you take a few moments to reflect on all the kindness you have shared. As for the week we have left, let's continue the share and spread kindness and finish strong!!

Your choices for today are:

1 - How about a Litter Pick Day? Litter is ugly, you’re not. Grab some gloves and a trash bags and start picking up trash and make the world around us a little nicer.

- or -

2 - Make a 70’s, 80’s, or 90’s mix CD for a friend or family member. Songs from the time we were in high school or college always bring back fun memories. Do a few minutes of research to find out the top songs and download accordingly.

Your Girlfriend,
Michelle

The Lent Experiment - Day 38

Friday is here! Woo-hoo!! Have a great day making it great for someone else. Don't forget to stop by on Saturday and Sunday to get your choices for the weekend. We are in the final stretch!

Your choices for today are:

1 - Make or buy someone a smoothie or an orange julius. So healthy, so yummy, so good - and helps people on their way to five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Vitamins are good! Smoothies are great!

- or -

2 - Buy someone a small, but pretty, potted plant. Bring a little of the outdoors in. You could also buy someone a potted herb or a seedling for their summer garden. Spring is upon us!!


Your Girlfriend,
Michelle

Foodie Friday - Pineapple Souffle

Easter Sunday is a little more than a week away and you may be preparing your menu for Easter dinner. I am having family over after church and one of our favorite side dishes to serve with our traditional ham dinner is Pineapple Souffle. The sweet of the casserole goes well with the salty of the ham. I really like this recipe because it is easy to make, can be made the day ahead, and can be doubled or tripled as needed - all things that I appreciate when I am preparing my house for my large family and many friends.

Pineapple Souffle

1 stick of butter
4 eggs
1 cup sugar
5 pieces of white bread, cubed with crust
1 20 oz. can drained crushed pineapple

Cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs one at a time. Stir in pineapple and bread. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 - 60 minutes in a 7" x 11" casserole or baking dish until golden brown. Serve warm.

Your Girlfriend,
Michelle

Thrifty Thursday - Resurrection Eggs

We are gearing up for our annual family Easter Egg Hunt and while the Easter Egg Hunt is an annual tradition, we are adding something new this year. Resurrection Eggs! Last year, after Easter, I was fortunate to come across some Resurrection Eggs on sale! I bought them and put them away with the Easter stuff so I did not forget to use them this year!!


If you don't know what Resurrection Eggs are, they are a terrific way to share the Easter Story of Jesus' resurrection with your children. If you don't have Resurrection Eggs, you can easily, and frugally, make your own set at home? All you need is an egg carton, a dozen plastic eggs, some small slips of paper, pen, permanent marker, and your Bible. It is helpful to use twelve different colored eggs. If you don't use twelve different colored eggs, use the permanent marker and number each of the eggs one through twelve. Then, into the corresponding numbered egg, add the following item and the scripture referenced written or typed on a small slip of paper.

Egg #1. (Bread) Matthew 26:26 - While they were eating Jesus took a piece of bread, gave a prayer of thanks, broke it, and gave it to His disciples. "Take and eat it," He said, "This is My body."

Egg #2. (Coins) Matthew 26: 14-15 - Then one of the twelve disciples, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and asked, "What will you give me if I betray Jesus to you?" They counted out thirty silver coins and gave them to him.

Egg #3. (Purple cloth, representing a purple robe) Mark 15:17a - They put a purple robe on Jesus

Egg #4. (Thorns, like on a rose stem) Matthew 27:29 - Then they made a crown out of thorny branches and placed it on His head, and put a stick on His right hand; then they knelt before Him and made fun of Him. "Long live the King, of the Jews!" they said.

Egg #5. (Scourge-a small piece of rope or thick string) Mark 15:15 - Pilate wanted to please the crowd, so he set Barabbas free for them. Then he had Jesus whipped and handed Him over to be crucified.

Egg #6. (A small cross) John 19: 17-18a - He went out, carrying His cross, and came to "The Place of the Skull," as it is called. (In Hebrew it is called "Galgotha.") There they crucified Him.

Egg #7. (Nails) John 20:25b - Thomas said to them, "Unless I see the scars of the nails in His hands and put my finger on those scars and my hand in His side, I will not believe."

Egg #8. (Sign saying "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.") Luke 23:38 - Above Him were written these words: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Egg #9. (Small piece of sponge) Matthew 27:48 - One of them ran up at once, took a sponge, soaked it in sour wine, put it on the end of a stick, and tried to make Him drink it.

Egg #10. (Something representing a spear (i.e. a toothpick)) John 19:34 - One of the soldiers plunged his spear into Jesus' side, and at once blood and water poured out.

Egg #11. (Rock) Matthew 27:59-60 - Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a new linen sheet, and placed it in his own new tomb, which he had just recently dugout of solid rock. Then he rolled a large stone across the entrance to the tomb and went away.

Egg #12. (Empty) Matthew 28:6 - He is not here! He has risen, just as He said.


I hope you are able to make yourself some Resurrection Eggs and include them as part of your Easter holiday!!


Your Girlfriend,
Michelle

The Lent Experiment - Day 37

The Lent Experiment was started to make a difference in our communities, and today's choices reflect that. It is important that we reach out to new people and that we exude kindness to all.

Your choices for today are:

1 - Make an effort to talk to and be nice to someone you dont usually like or get on with very well. Be the bigger person.

- or -

2 - If you see someone alone in a cafe/lecture/bar go and see if they'd like you to sit with them. Make a new friend!!


Your Girlfriend,
Michelle

The Lent Experiment - Day 36

Today is Day 36 of The Lent Experiment and the first day of our sixth week. I am running out of new choices, so if you see some 'green' or 'recycled' choices, don't be too surprised!! If you would like to suggest some choices, I would love to hear them and share them with the rest of The Lent Experiment Team.

Your choices for today are:

1 - Give others around you some compliments. They must be genuine compliments and no lying allowed. Give compliments to your friends, your family, your co-workers, or work-put buddies. Look for something positive to say in each encounter.

- or -

2 - The weather is getting colder again, so make someone a nice, hot drink when they come in out of the cold from work or from running errands. Think yummy hot chocolate, think sugary coffee, or think healhty green tea. If you are thinking of me, think grande soy chai latte, no water, no foam. :o) Make or buy one for yourself and have some quality chat time over your drinks.

Your Girlfriend,
Michelle

Wanna Make It Wednesday!! Easter Stuff!!

In honor of spring and the impending Easter holiday, I have scoured many of my favorite blogs to come up with some fun ideas. There are some decorating ideas and I even threw in a craft idea that you can do with your kiddies!! Enjoy!!

My sweet little lady and I are going to make some jelly bean bracelets this weekend. If you would like to make some jelly bean bracelets to give as gifts, you need to check out Gourmet Mom on the Go and her jelly bean bracelet toppers.

Jennwa from Ramblings of a Crazy Woman shows you how to decorate your home using inexpensive plastic eggs! Check out her blog for the photo above and a few other ideas!

I really, really, really like this wreath! I like its' natural look and the eggs look like they are made of chocolate. It looks delicious!! Jaime at Paint Til You Faint was inspired by a wreath she found at Pottery Barn and decided to make it herself.

Isn't this a fun wreat? Cindi at This is My Life... invited a group of girlfriends over and they each created their own wreath using plastic eggs! This would be a fun and inexpensive craft for a girls night out. Any takers? This Friday perhaps? Call me...

I love, love, love these!! If a friend of mine out in blogger land decided to make some of these, I would not be upset. I am not even sure why I love these because I hate, hate, hate peeps!! Of course, they only think I might like better than a yellow peeps garland would be...

a pink peeps garland!

Dana from Made designed the peeps bunting! Brilliant!! The directions for making the peeps garland can be found at V & Co.

Your Girlfriend,

Michelle

The Lent Experiment - Day 35

Do you know what today is? It is Tuesday and Day 35 of the Lent Experiment, which means we have been spreading kindness for five weeks! Wow!! I am giving us all three cheers for niceness!!

Your choices for today are:

1 - Buy someone a present from a charity shop. This helps the charity + someone gets a present = double the niceness!
- or -

2 - Say "please" and "thank you" consistently today - and smile while you say it.

Your Girlfriend,
Michelle

Kids in the Kitchen - Resurrection Cookies

Would you like a wonderful way to explore and share the true meaning of Easter? Baking Resurrection Cookies is great fun for the whole family and the cookies really are delicious. Read the whole recipe before beginning, then try to make them together Saturday night before Easter Sunday.

Resurrection Cookies

Ingredients
1 cup whole pecans
3 egg whites
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vinegar
1 pinch of salt

You will need
Mixing Bowl
Wooden Spoon
Bible
Zipper Baggie
Wax Paper
Cookie Sheet
Wooden Spoon
Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

1. Place pecans in the baggy and let the children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read: John 19:1-3.

2. Let children smell the vinegar. Put one teaspoon of vinegar into the mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read: John 19:28-30.

3. Add egg whites to the vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life for our life. Read: John 10:10-11.

4. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand let them taste it then brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that salt represents the salty tears shed by Jesus followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read: Luke 23:27.

5. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of this story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read: Psalm 34:8 & John 3:16.

6. Beat with mixer on high speed for 11-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read: Isaiah 1:18 & John 3:1-3.

7. Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoon onto waxed paper-covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus body was laid. Read: Matt. 27:65-66.

8. Put cookies sheet in the oven. Close door and turn oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the door. Explain that Jesus tomb was sealed. Read: Matt. 27:65-66.

9. Go to bed! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read: John 16:20 & 22.

10. On Resurrection Morning open the oven and give everyone a cookie! Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Resurrection Day Jesus followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read: Matthew 28:1-9.

He Has Risen! He Has Risen Indeed!

Your Girlfriend,

Michelle

The Lent Experiment - Day 34

Happy Monday ya'll!! Welcome to the beginning of a fresh, new week and day 34 of The Lent Experiment! Can you believe you have been participating for thirty-four days? Are you losing steam? Take a few seconds to think about all the smiles you have put on peoples faces over the past few weeks. That should keep you motivated for just a few more days!!

Your choices for today are:

1 - Going green again – try to save electricity! Make an effort to turn off everything, instead of leaving them on stand by. Turn lights off when you leave a room and don't have your phone charger plugged in and on if you're not using it!

- or -

2 - Got plans for the weekend? Well, you do now... make a meal for your friends, even if it’s just a massive pasta bake, and invite them over to eat and talk. Your house doesn’t have to be Martha Stewart clean or Martha Stewart decorated, just clear a space to eat and enjoy your food, friends, and conversation.

Your Girlfriend,
Michelle

Make It Monday - Easter Bunny S'mores in a Jar

The kids and I had fun this weekend making a bunch of Bunny S'mores in a jar. We are giving these to friends and family as Easter gifts. They are a fun gift and they taste yummy too!








Easter Bunny S'mores in a Jar

Ingredients:
1 sleeve graham cracker crumbs
8 marshmallow bunnies (or peeps)
1-1/4 cups Easter M&M's
1/3 cup brown sugar

Instructions:
1. Crush 1 sleeve graham crackers into crumbs
2. Layer 2/3 of the crumbs in a 1 quart jar.
3. Place 8 marshmallow bunnies or peeps standing up, facing out around the inside of the jar.
4. Press them up against the glass, but don't squash them.
5. Carefully spoon remaining crumbs in the center of the jar to support the bunnies, pressing down to keep them snug.
6. On top of this pour 1 1/4 Easter M&M's
7. Spoon 1/3 cup brown sugar into the center of M&M's. Press brown sugar down gently with a spoon.

*Optional - leave the bunnies whole, combining remaining ingredients, and place the whole bunnies on top. Bake as directed.

Attach a gift tag to say:
Easter Bunny S'mores
*Empty the jar contents into a bowl. Snip the bunnies into bits with kitchen shears or cut up with a knife. Return the bunny bits to the mixture. Mix well.
*Melt 1/2 cup butter and add 1 tsp. vanilla. Pour this over the dry ingredients and mix well. Pat into a greased 9" square pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Cool and cut into bars.

Enjoy!!

Your Girlfriend,
Michelle

The Lent Experiment - Day 33

The Lent Experiment continues and we are focusing on memories - remembering the ones we have made and making new ones too! We all have relatives and friends that we rarely or never see. Let's make an effort to reconnect. You may be the best thing they have going in their lives.

Your choices for today are:

1 - Give that relative or old friend who you never speak to a call or email. An email is super easy to do, but the conversation is one-sided. Make the effort to make a phone call so you can really listen to what is going on at their end.

- or -

2 - Arrange an extended family get together over Easter. This can be a lunch get-together the Saturday before Easter or family dinner on Easter Sunday. Make it easy on yourself and remember to KISS, Keep It Super Simple. Send out your invites and focus on cleaning your house. Take care of the main dish (usually a ham) and have everyone else bring a dish to share.

Your Girlfriend,
Michelle

The Lent Experiment - Day 32

Welcome to the weekend edition of The Lent Experiment! Today is all about memories! One of my favorite things to do with my family and friends is to talk about fun moments from our past. I am hoping your choices today help you and an important other think about great moments from your past.

Your choices for today are:

1 - Get nostalgic! Write someone a short note to remind them of a really nice memory you have of them. You could share a memory with a friend about a time you both laughed until you cried, share a memory with your significant other about how you felt the first time you met or the first time you held hands, or a family member about a funny vacation memory.

- or -

2 - Gift purchase someone a song on iTunes. Everyone's got iTunes these days, but we only buy songs for ourselves normally! Gift a friend a song they'll like or a song they've been singing recently. Its super easy to do and only costs about a dollar. Better yet, buy a song for someone that reminds them of a time together.

Your Girlfriend,
Michelle

The Lent Experiment - Day 31

Happy Friday my Lenten Lads and Ladies!! I am so excited for this weekend!! My brunch was cancelled last weekend due to illness, but it is ON this weekend. So excited to have time with family! I am also sending out my Easter Egg hunt invites. So excited to have fun with a bunch of kids! On top of all that, I get to celebrate the arrival of baby Chandler with a bunch of girlfriends. So excited to be with friends! I hope your weekend is filled with this much fun, friends, and excitement!!

Your choices for today are:

1 - Why is it that we always complain about bad stuff and never praise the good stuff? Reward good people today and this weekend by telling a shop manager how helpful one of their staff members were to you or a restaurant manager how good of care a waitress gave you.

- or -

2 - Buy someone a DVD you think they'd like. Knowing what film someone would like says how much you know them so whether it's picking up a Disney film they liked as a child or finding a rare concert documentary or a band they like, show them you know them!

Your Girlfriend,
Michelle

Foodie Friday- Kids in the Kitchen

Aidan has been learning about eating healthy and making good food choices. Although he is pretty good with this, I decided to have him look through some cookbooks and help make a menu. He decided that he wanted to make dinner for the family the other night. Aidan had a great time looking through the cookbooks, making his menu choices, and he had fun helping me get the things from the store. His menu was unique, and his meal was yummy!

Menu:
BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
Popcorn with light butter and salt
Sliced Apples with Vanilla Yogurt
Sliced Red Peppers
Water to drink








Brooke chopping peppers.








Aidan popping popcorn.








Chicken before sauce.








Time to eat!

Here is the recipe for the Chicken!

BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
8 chicken drumsticks
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
3 Tbsp. BBQ Rub
1/2 cup apple jelly
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tsp. cider vinegar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Rinse chicken drumsticks and pat dry. Brush all sides of the drumsticks with oil. Rub the BBQ rub all over drumstick. Place in a greased 9x13 pan. Bake for 40 minutes. Mix jelly, ketchup and vinegar. Microwave about 1 1/2 minutes until smooth when stirred. Cover chicken with sauce and bake 20 minutes more.

Enjoy!

Your Girlfriend,
Melinda

The Lent Experiment - Day 30

Today is Thursday and it is Day 30 of The Lent Experiment! I hope you have a great day!! Your choices for today are:

1 - Write someone a list of the reasons you love them - "How do I love thee, let me count the ways" - as Shakespeare said.

- or -

2 - Going Green, again! If you don’t already, start recycling today! Glass jars and bottles, paper, magazines, tin, etc… Make a place in your garage to keep the recyclables separate and take a monthly trip to the recycling center. If you recycle at home, try starting some recycling initiatives at your workplace.

Your Girlfriend,
Michelle

Happy Belated Birthday Dr. Seuss!

One of the greatest things you can do with your children is to spend time reading together. They are never to young to start this great pastime. I started reading to Aidan before he was even born. Some of our favorite books were written by the one and only Dr. Seuss! What fun books to read. You can't help smiling when you start reading Green Eggs and Ham and Yertle the Turtle.

Children can learn so much from reading and being read to. Dr. Seuss is a master of rhyme, and rhyming is a very important skill for pre-readers to master. When children read, they learn new words, spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Reading with your children is one of the most important things you can do for your children. More importantly, when children see us reading, they are more likely to pick up a book and start reading. If that isn't encouragement to read, I don't know what is!

To celebrate Dr. Seuss' Birthday, I thought I would share some great books by Dr. Seuss to share with your children. Dr. Seuss had a whimsical way of making the ordinary (red fish and blue fish or a rainy day) seem extraordinary. I encourage all of you to go to the library and check out a few books by him. You will find that your mouth and tongue will make the story telling memorable. Many of the stories will require practice before reading to children! I pride myself in being able to read at least five Dr. Seuss books straight through without fumbling! Careful though, this takes years of practice!

Some favorites:
The Cat in the Hat
The Cat in the Hat Comes Back!
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish
Green Eggs and Ham
Hop on Pop
Dr. Seuss's ABC
Fox in Socks
Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!
Please Try to Remember the First of Octember
And to Think That I saw it on Mulberry Street
Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now!
There's a Wocket in My Pocket!
Horton Hears a Who!
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories
The Sneetches and Other Stories
I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew

For more ideas and Seussical fun, check out the Seussville website.

So hop on up and pop into the library. Don't wait for a rainy day! Read, Read, Read!

Your Girlfriends,
Melinda & Michelle

The Lent Experiment - Day 29

Today is the first day of our fourth week of The Lent Experiment. Can you believe we have been at this for one month? Hard to believe. We still have two-and-a-half weeks to go, so until then, keep up the good work and go get your lenten kindness on!!

Your choices for today are:

1 - Break out your planner again and decide when to hold an Easter Egg hunt for your children, your neighbors, your family, and friends. Be creative with what you put in your eggs so you don’t overload the kids with candy. Animal crackers, pretzels, and pennies make good egg fillers.

- or -

2 - Stop being a lurker on your favorite blog and tell them how much you love or appreciate their work. A well done blog is hard work and time-consuming.

Your Girlfriend,
Michelle

Wednesday - An Ordinary Day?

I was talking with a friend of mine a few days ago and she was sharing a few of the things going on in her life. Her main concerns were for her children who are causing her many gray hairs.

As our conversation came to an end, she said she was counting down the days until her children went off to college. She was kidding, but when she said it, I was reminded of a video I have seen many times and have shown at many different women's events.

The video is of Katrina Kenison sharing from her book The Gift of An Ordinary Day. I love the video because it reminds me that the Joy is in the Journey. Our children will always give us reasons to be frustrated with them, but if we remind ourselves that our time to raise, shape, and mold them into the people that we hope and pray they will become, we will appreciate those moments of frustration so much more.

Your Girlfriend,

Michelle

The Lent Experiment - Day 28

Today marks the end of our fourth week of The Lent Experiment - Day 28. That is so hard to believe!! Our premise from yesterday, making others feel better, went very well for me. So, I decided to stick with it again today.

Your choices for today are:

1 - Leave a nice note in a book when you take it back to the library. Wish them happy reading and give some other suggestions for good reads. Chances are if you both picked this book, you probably have similar taste.

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2 - "How do I love thee, let me count the ways" as Shakespeare said. Write a list of reasons why you love someone – dig deep – then give it to them.

Drop notes, not bombs!

Your Girlfriend,
Michelle

The Lent Experiment - Day 27

It is Monday, the first day of a fresh, new week! Shake the Mondays from yourself and from someone else!

Your choices for today are:

1 - Leave a note for postal carrier or garbage collector thanking them for their hard work. Maybe even leave a little treat for them. Both jobs are often thankless, so let’s shower them with thanks!

- or -

2 - Be inclusive! Invite someone new over, chat to the lonely girl in class, include everyone in your conversation, and don't talk about something that excludes other people (like an obscure indie band or nuclear physics). Everyone likes to feel included.

Your Girlfriend,
Michelle

Make It Monday: Packing a Bento

The past few weeks we have been talking about being more green. One way to do this is to pack bento lunches for you and your children. What is a bento, you ask? Bento is a single-portion takeout or home-packed meal common in Japanese Cuisine. Moms in the United States thought they were cool, and have been reinventing them. Bento lunches are designed to be 'greener' with less trash or waste - such as baggies, foil drink pouches, or saran wrap.

You can purchase fancy containers to pack your bentos in. When I pack mine I use plastic containers I bought at the dollar store. I then use silicone cupcake holders to keep the food separated. (I bought these at Joanne's with a 50% off coupon) It is a fun way to try new ways of packing a lunch. I have listed a few fun ideas below. We use our bentos for lunches as well as snacks. They are very handy in the car. I just hand the kids their box, and it keeps the food all contained. bentos are also a great way to make sure you are getting all the food groups and offering healthy choices. (Even if the healthy choices are not always eaten!)








Japanese Bento












































A Few Fun Blogs:

What's For Lunch at Our House

My Bento Lunch

Lunch in a Box

You may think the above lunches are too complicated, so make yours simpler. The coolest thing about bento lunches - kids love them. The best thing about bento lunches - the are better for the environment!

Your Girlfriend,
Melinda