"Just" a Stay At Home Mama: September 2011

Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Tips and tricks to a smooth school morning

Mornings can get crazy. It REALLY helps to have a set routine. I swear, it makes life SO much easier.

Here's our routine.

You can tweek it so it fits your family better if need be...

Make Bed

5 Minute Room Rescue

Get Dressed

Put PJs away

Eat

Take vitamin

Clear Breakfast dishes

Hair

Brush Teeth

Lunch Bag

Backpack

Coat/Shoes

______________________________________

*Make Bed* Do this right when they get out of it.
Great lifetime habit in my opinion!

*5 Minute Room Rescue* They do this for their evening routine, too, so their rooms never get out of hand. Set a timer.

*Get Dressed* All the way to their socks

*Put P.J.'s Away* I get them to put them on their pillow.

*Eat* I get their breakfast ready for them while they are getting dressed.

*Take vitamin* They take a Children's Multivitamin

*Clear Dish* Rinse and put beside sink.

*Hair* Kailey needs my help here.

*Brush teeth* They have toothbrushes that light up for two minutes. When it stops flashing, they have to finish up.

*Lunchbag* I usually pack it the night before, so it is generally ready to go in the fridge.

*Backpack* They bring it to the living room so they can grab and go (and I can double check for homework and library books)

*Coat/Shoes* In the spring/fall, they keep a jacket or sweater in their backpacks at all times, because you never know what the weather will do. I HATE being home worrying about them being cold at recess just because the sun didn't come out that day like expected. Now I don't have to worry and have mommy guilt! :)
In the winter, they put their coats/boots by their backpacks in the living room.

*Double check* They have to do a quick walk through the house and make sure they didn't forget anything.

___________________________________

For this system to work properly,

I have to make sure all things are accessible for them.

For example...

-they need clean clothes to get dressed into.

-they always know where their backpack is because we have designated spots for them.

-homework, library book and jacket always stay in the backpack so there is no last minute searching.

Prepping everything the night before is a MUST!

I hope this helps.

~Courtney~

Mini Banana Chocolate Chip muffins

Ingredients:

1 3/4 Cups Flour

3/4 Cup Sugar

1 tsp Baking Soda

1 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Salt

1 Egg

1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil

1/2 Cup Applesauce

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

1 Cup Mashed Ripe Bananas

3/4 Cup Chocolate Chips

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine Flour, Sugar, Baking Soda, Baking Powder, and Salt.

In another bowl, combine egg, oil, applesauce and vanilla.

Stir wet into dry until all moistened.

Fold in Bananas and Chocolate chips.

Fill Greased or lined muffin cups 2/3 full.

Bake at 350 Degrees for 15-17 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan, and transfer onto a wire rack.

*NOTE If using full size muffin tins, bake for 22-25 minutes.

Yield: 36 mini muffins
or
24 regular sized muffins

Thursday, September 01, 2011

Homemade Finger Paints

Ingredients:

3 Tbsp Sugar

1/2 tsp Salt

1/2 Cup Corn Starch

2 Cups water

Combine ingredients in saucepan. Warm on over medium heat until mixture thickens. Wisk frequently. Approx 5 minutes. Cool and pour into containers. Add food colouring to create desired colours.

________________________________________________________

Ingredients... plus food colouring.

Desired consistancy

Let cool

Create colours

It works!

~Courtney~

Homemade Play Dough

Ingredients

3 cups flour

1 cup cold water

1 cup salt

2 teaspoons oil

Food coloring

Mix it all together in a bowl…

keep kneading it until it’s just right.

That's it!

*Note: in my photos you will notice that the food colouring was added after. I got sidetracked by my lovely needy children during the process. Took alot of arm power but it worked this way too.

Enjoy!