Frozen Yogurt Bites

  I'm always trying to figure out ways to make healthy snacks my kids will eat.Joseph is picky and Gabriella will pretty much eat anything but can't eat just anything due to choking hazards and things like that.

  I noticed on the gogert box that it said you could freeze those little tubes of yogurt.Joseph likes those, but yogurt in those little cups just are not any fun I guess, cause he wont eat that kind.So,it hit me that maybe I could make it more fun and appealing to him.

  I decided to buy a large cup of yogurt and make frozen yogurt bites,which makes it a nice little finger food for Gabriella.I made some smaller ones for her.They turned out great and pretty much melt in your mouth quickly so I don't have to worry about Gabriella choking on them.

She gobbled hers right up! Joseph liked them but complained about them being cold.He is temperature and texture sensitive, so I kind of expected that comment.He eats ice cream in the Summer, so I'm thinking he will warm up to them and will make a great summer snack at some point.


  I just dropped a little on a cookie sheet which I lined with wax paper just to not have the extra mess.Put it in the freezer for about 20 minutes.As they got done I put them in a freezer bag until I got the container empty.
When they were all froze I wanted to be able to just dump them all in the original container for freezer storage.

  If your children like yogurt this might be a great option for summer time snack.Much healthier than ice cream.A toddler that is unable to use a spoon yet can actually feed themselves yogurt without quite the mess.
                                           
                                              Ready for the freezer

                                                  Comes right up with a spatula once froze

How To Keep Bananas From Ripening too Fast and How To Ripen Them Faster

  My kids love bananas and I used to feel like I could only buy a few at a time because some would go bad before they could get around to eating them all.I was constantly running out and Joseph telling me we needed more bananas.

  When I was working in a produce department at a local grocery store, I discovered a tip from a customer one day.She said just put them in the refrigerator and they will keep up to 2 weeks sometimes.I tried it and it worked like a charm! Instead of just buying a few at a time,I could buy a bunch to last the entire week or more.

  The only catch is the peel will turn brown and look like it is bad but when you open it up,you find a perfect banana.You will want to refrigerate them when the are ripe or however you prefer to eat them.If you like yours green(believe it or not some people do) refrigerate when it is green.

                                      This is a banana that has been refrigrtated about 4 days

Also, I will add if you need your green ones to ripen faster to make that pudding you are wanting asap,put it in a brown paper bag and it will ripen a day faster.

Making my baby clothes last longer

  I don't know about you but I never feel like I get enough use out of my daughters clothes before she grows out of them.I try to find deals at thrift shops and consignment but sometimes its hard to just find what you like or the right size.I have found a way to make her continue wearing her clothes long after she has out grown them and also have more to choose from in stores by being able to by them to small or too big.I just have to make a minor adjustment once I get them home.


    Below there is a pink sundress for a 12 month old.My daughter wears 24 mths now and this dress would not completely cover her diaper if she had it on.I'm pretty picky about the length of a skirt or dress even on a baby.
All I had to do was cut the straps off and there isn't even any sewing required.She now has an adorable skirt.

  The one next to it is an 18 mth but as you can tell would fit a bit shorter than the first would have.The way this one is made you cant just cut the straps so I just went down a bit below.This type will require a little sewing so it does not unravel the material, but it is something even I can do and I don't sew hardly at all.I like to find the ones like the pink one of course if I am actually purchasing it for this purpose in mind.Both of these I paid very little for at a thrift store.

  The other two I already had and she just grew out of them.The white one was the first one I did like this.She wore it last year as a dress and is still wearing it today almost a year later.You can also find the little long summer tops to do this with especially if they are a size or two bigger than what your little girl would wear.

                                        

Help In hard Times

  Todays economy have so many people discouraged and wondering how to make it from pay check to pay check.Just seems the dollar goes nowhere anymore and does not seem that its going to improve anytime soon.


  I admit there are times I am so overwhelmed while paying bills and have a list of 100 other things I truly can say I need,but dont see it happening.

  I know I am not alone in this and knowing God has always seen me through somehow has always been my strength and comfort.Also,I find a comfort in feeling like there are things I can do while being a stay at home mom to feel like I am doing anything to relieve the pressure while my husband drives his truck doing his best for his family.


  Couponing is always a help and if it were not for a few sites that focus on finding me coupons,I would have no idea where to begin at times.They have been such a help to me,so I would like to take time to say thankyou and also share them with you.They can all be found on Facebook,so if you want some great deals check them out.
     The Savvy Savin' Mama 
     WeUseCoupons.com
     Money Saving Mom
     Deal Wise Mommy
     Freebies 4 Mom
  These sites have helped save me on everything from food,diapers,household products and pictures.Since my daughter has been born I have gotten 2 free photo books and hundreds of free photos.

 Not only do they find me great deals but they provide me with encouaging and interesting topics I can relate to as a mom.I always do my best to look on the brightside when things seem tough, but its also nice to have some resources to help us out.We all feel better if we feel like there is something we can do instead of feeling helpless.

To potty train or not to potty train...That is the question??

   So I have been thinking a lot about potty training and honestly I am dreading it.I have read a lot of info about it and have already had the experience of potty training my son which is why I dread it.

  Sometimes I wonder if starting earlier would of made things go faster.It seemed like such a long drawn out process.Now days you read how most parents don't even think about it until age 2 or 3 but our parents and our grandparents started way earlier.Some were not even walking when they had their first sit on the potty.My own mother claims I was using the potty at 1 yr old.I look at my 1 yr.old and am terrified of the thought but the thought is also very inviting.

  I am not afraid to say,I hate diapers! You will hear the experts say not to push the issue and make sure your child is ready, but was I truly ready at 12 months? I guess I am wondering why things changed in potty training so much over the years when it seemed to work fine for the older generations before us.


   So with all this in mind I would like to hear from some of you who have not waited until age 2 or 3 to start the potty business and what was your experience? Those that waited are also welcome to share their experiences as well.      

                                                         My daughter,Gabriella 
                                                         Just meeting her potty

Im back

  Just as I was getting into the blogging somehow I could not access my google account which meant I could not access my blog.Finally go the issue resolved now.It has been so frustrating because I was thinking about so many things to write about and couldn't.

  Wouldn't you know it as of right now,I cant think of any of those things! Oh well,just glad that now when I get an inspiration I can now share it.Writing is such good therapy for me and I have so missed my blog no bigger than it is.

The Beginning of my weight loss.Day 1

  Well, today is the day I am going to get serious about weight loss.I have been very discouraged about it the past few months and had pretty much give up.After I had Gabriella, I really assumed it would come off as easy as it did with my son.Big mistake in thinking that!

 
  When she was 3 months old I began to realize it was probably going to take some effort on my part this go around, so I just began eating healthier foods and cutting back on junk.Thought it was going great when I lost 4 lbs, but then although I still was eating healthy, for some reason it came back.

  I joked about it with my hubby who had been doing the same trying to lose weight and was actually working for him.Deep down though,I felt really discouraged and beginning to feel depressed.

  For the most part, I have been 115 lbs since I was a teenager which is a good,healthy weight for someone that is only 5 ft tall.I need to lose 23 lbs to get back to that and I am pretty sure it will take some major exercise to do this.I have a plan in mind to make it more fun by making it more about play than work.Being my life is pretty much centered around my children it will include them.So we will see how it goes.This mornings work out was fun but I could tell I had a work out.Gabriella had a blast and thought I was the funniest thing she ever saw.I just want to feel better and get back into my clothes.

                        This is my most recent picture that really opened my eyes and has inspired me to give it another shot.

      Philippians 4:13   I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.