Saying Goodbye…

Yes, it’s true!  I’m leaving Her Family Blog.  But, hey!  Wipe the tear from your eye, because another Cindy is coming at you with awesome stuff, and I’ll still stop by and guest post from time to time!

My posts will run for a few more days, and then sprinkle around when Cin needs a day to relax, or new view on a topic.

So, where am I going?  I’m glad you asked!  You will be able to find me at Her Shopping Blog!  It’s not quite ready yet, so be patient, but I promise to give you great stuff there!

The podcast shows were short lived, but Cin has something in store you’ll love just as much.  So, welcome her to Her Family Blog, and the Blog Island Network with lots of love!

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As Moms, we have several important jobs for our children.  You are a chef, a maid, a friend, an authority, an encyclopedia of information and teacher, and a worry wart.  I am sure that all of you Moms reading this will think of things I missed… as the list is almost endless.  However, my point in listing all these is that regardless of how many jobs you really hold as a parent, they can all be encompassed into one:  your job as a parent is to keep your children well rounded, healthy, indiviudals.   

No parent is perfect, and no child will have the perfect upbringing. Since we all need that help, here are some tips to make sure you are doing right by your child, as best you can.  Because each family has different philosophies, and policies, I am not pushing any on you; but merely suggesting you give them a try.  Make adjustments where you see fit, as long as you stick to the basic idea.

Perhaps one of the best methods for making sure that you have healthy, well-rounded children is ensuring an open line of communication.  If you are the parent of a young child, always explain why you do things the way you do, and never ignore any question they ask.  They will talk as long as you listen, and this is a good habit to keep in place.  If they are teenagers who would rather eat sardines for a year than talk to you; try this.  Trust your child on a level that is dictated by his or her level of responsibility and respect.  If a child learns that he or she can come to you with anything honestly without fear of punishment, but to expect it, if necessary; this line of communication will be a valuable tool in ensuring their safety, and happiness.

Embrace all of your children’s desires, but not necessarily to the fullest immediately.  Let me explain.  If your five year old daughter says she wants to do ballet, but you know she’ll quit in three weeks, and /or you do not have the means to enroll in her classes—you can still embrace her desire, without wasting time and effort.  Buy her a pair of shoes, with a tutu, and let her practice with videos that you can rent. 

Too many times parents are guilty of preventing their children from doing something they want to do, without truly just reason.  My husband never got to play football as a kid, only because his Mom worried too much about him getting hurt.  He often comments that he wishes he could have, and didn’t understand the reason why he didn’t get to.  Her fear of his injury should not have dictated his life. If there is a desire you cannot embrace for whatever reason, offer alternatives; and explain the reason for your resistance. 

Get your child interested in a wide variety of activities from an early age.  Of course, stick to age appropriateness. The more he’s into now, the more likely he’ll maintain to some extent in adulthood.  My child has a compassion for handicapped or injured people, because it directly affects him.  I have cerebral palsy.  It is very mild, but he can still see I do not walk like everyone else.  Does this change me?  Not in his eyes.  His understanding of this (no matter how small), leads to compassion that will stick with him.  The same compassion I had for others, because I knew what it felt like to be teased; that many children my age did not share either.

Get him involved with family members who can encourage other interests.  This way, you are not the only teacher!  My son is interested in building projects, working on cars and computers, along with fishing, and even trying to play a couple instruments.  All of these are great things for a four year old to start building skill in, as these can take him any number of places in life.  I am not forcing anything, just sparking that interest.  If it doesn’t follow him throughout life, the knowledge of it will!  I tried the best I could; and that’s all that matters. The key to healthy, well rounded children is variety, and diversity; or, at least I believe that’s the easiest way to phrase it. 

What do you think?  Tell us about your children and the activities they enjoy!  How and why did you get them involved?  What resistance if any, was shown?  Have any suggestions for other Moms? 

With today’s fast paced lifestyle, where many families run on varying schedules which may only cross at dinner time; many mothers are concerned with cooking healthy meals.  Yet, sometimes, these healthy meals are very hard to come up with, because fast food, and frozen pizzas seem to satisfy the time constraint that we all live with.

Relax, healthy and easy family meals are possible.  And, they don’t need to be stressful.  Here are some great ideas for healthy meals that you and your family are guaranteed to enjoy. To make things even easier, at the end of this blog, you will see a shopping list that gets you everything you need.  Just print it, cross off the items you already have in your cupboards, and go!  The meals below were chosen from a wide variety of recipes on Kraft.com. 

All of them are 500 calories per serving, or less.   The best thing:  From prep to on the table, you are looking at no more 35 minutes!  I have tried to compile a list that suites a variety of tastes, and gives you a glimpse at different types of cuisines.  Obviously, if you don’t like pork, you’ll need to find a substitute, so you may want to try some fish recipes, too!  Remember that all the name brands mentioned here belong to their respective companies, and are used for guidelines, only.

Monday

Creamy Chicken with Pasta and Vegetables

Total Time: 30 minutes

6 Servings of 2 cups each

Calories/Serving: 320

4 cups egg noodles, uncooked

1-1/2 lb.  boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch chunks

1/4 cup KRAFT Light Zesty Italian Reduced Fat Dressing

3-1/2 cups fresh broccoli florets

 1 large red pepper, cut into strips

 1 yellow squash

 Sliced 6 oz. VELVEETA Made With 2% Milk Reduced Fat Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product, cut up

 1 Tbsp.  fat-free milk

Start with 4 cups of egg noodles.  Cook according to the directions on the box.  In a large skillet, cook chicken 5-7 minutes, or until cooked through.  Add vegetables, and cook an additional five minutes until crisp tender.

In a small microwavable bowl, combine VELVETTA and milk.  Microwave 2-3 minutes until melted, stirring occasionally.  Combine chicken and vegetable mixture, and serve over pasta.  Mix well.

Tuesday

Oven Baked Buttermilk Chicken Meal

Total Time: 30 minutes

8 servings

Calories/Serving: 330

1 bag (16 oz.) coleslaw blend

3/4 cup  KRAFT Light Zesty Italian Reduced Fat Dressing

1 pkt. SHAKE ‘N BAKE Original Chicken Seasoned Coating Mix

1 tsp.  poultry seasoning

 1/2 tsp. ground red pepper (cayenne)

8 small  boneless skinless chicken breast halves (2 lb.)

 1/2 cup buttermilk

4 cups  hot mashed sweet potatoes

Preheat oven to 400˚ F. Empty coleslaw into bowl, add dressing, toss to coat.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Coat chicken with buttermilk on both sides, shaking off any excess.  Place one or two pieces in mix, shake and place on baking dish.  Repeat until all pieces of chicken are coated and ready to go in the oven.

Bake for 20 minutes, or until internal temperature of 170˚ has been reached.  Serve with slaw and potatoes.

Wednesday

Pepper Steak

Total Time: 35 minutes

4 servings

Calories/Serving: 330

1 green bell pepper, cut into strips

1 red bell pepper, cut into strips

1 yellow bell pepper, cut into strips

 1 small  onion, cut into strips

1 lb. well-trimmed boneless beef sirloin steak, cut into strips

 2 cloves  garlic, minced

1/2 tsp. black pepper

3 Tbsp.  lite soy sauce

1/2 cup KRAFT Original Barbecue Sauce

2 cups hot cooked brown rice

In a large heated skillet, add peppers and onions, cooking until vegetables are crisp tender.  Move to a small bowl, and keep warm.  Then, in same skillet, add meat, garlic, and pepper.  Cook 3 minutes.  Add soy sauce and cook until meat is cooked through.  Add barbecue, cook until heated through.

Toss meat with vegetables, serve over brown rice.

Thursday

Italian Pork Chop Dinner

Total Time: 30 Minutes

4 Servings

Calories/Serving: 480

2 cups instant brown rice, uncooked

 4 lean bone-in center-cut pork chops (1-1/2 lb.)  1/2 inch thick

1 tsp. dried oregano leaves, crushed

 1 each: green and red pepper, cut into strips

1/4 cup KRAFT Light Zesty Italian Reduced Fat Dressing

 1 can  (14-1/2 oz.) Italian-style diced tomatoes, undrained

1/2 cup KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Reduced Fat Mozzarella Cheese

Prepare rice as directed on package.  Heat skillet on high, add pork chops cooking two minutes until bottoms are browned.  Reduce heat and turn the chops.  Sprinkle with oregano, top with dressing, peppers, and tomatoes.  Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer 12 minutes.

Place chops on bed of rice keeping warm.  Cook veggies on high in skillet for a few minutes until crisp tender and sauce thickens.  Remove from heat, serve over chops and top with cheese.

Friday

Shrimp, Tortellini, and Spinach

Total Time: 25 minutes

4 servings, 1 ½ cups each

Calories/Serving: 350

1 pkg. (9 oz.) refrigerated cheese tortellini

1/4 cup KRAFT Roasted Red Pepper Italian with Parmesan Dressing

 2 cloves garlic, minced

1 can (14-1/2 oz.) no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained

 3/4 lb. cooked cleaned medium shrimp

1 bag (6 oz.) baby spinach leaves

 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

 2 Tbsp.  KRAFT 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese

Cook tortellini in large (4-qt.) saucepan as directed on package. Drain and set aside. Heat dressing in same pan on medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook one minute.   Add tomatoes and shrimp; mix well. Bring just to boil. Stir in spinach; cover. Simmer 1 to 2 min. or until spinach is wilted, stirring occasionally.

Add in pasta and basil; simmer until sauce is thickened, top with cheese, and serve.

Saturday

Smart Pizza Supper

Total Time: 25 minutes

5 Servings

Calories/Serving: 310

1 pkg. (23.4 oz.) DI GIORNO Harvest Wheat Thin Crispy Crust Supreme Pizza

1 large cucumber, chopped

1 cup halved or quartered cherry tomatoes

1/4 cup finely chopped red onions

3 Tbsp. KRAFT Light Zesty Italian Reduced Fat Dressing

1 Tbsp.  chopped fresh basil

 2-1/2 cups raspberries

Bake pizza according to directions on box.  Mix all ingredients except raspberries. 

Serve pizza, salad, and raspberries.

Sunday

­Cheesy Beefy Burritos

Total Time: 20 Minutes

4 Servings 1 burrito, each.

Calories/Serving: 490

1/2 lb. extra lean ground beef

2 tsp.  chili powder

1 can (15 oz.) black beans, drained, rinsed

1/2 cup TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Thick ‘N Chunky Salsa

3/4 cup KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Reduced Fat Sharp Cheddar Cheese

 4 flour tortillas (10 inch)

 1/4 cup BREAKSTONE’S Reduced Fat or KNUDSEN Light Sour Cream

1 tomato, chopped

1 cup shredded romaine lettuce

Cook meat in skillet with chili powder until meat is no longer pink.  Add beans and salsa.  Remove from heat and stir in cheese.

Place meat mixture into the tortillas, top with lettuce, tomato and sour cream.  Roll up burrito style and serve.

**Shopping List**

3 ½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken

1 lb sirloin steak

1 ½ bone in pork chops

¾ lb medium cooked shrimp

½ lb extra lean ground beef

(23.4 oz.) DI GIORNO Harvest Wheat Thin Crispy Crust Supreme Pizza

1 lb egg noodles

9 ounces tortellini

 Small jar TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Thick ‘N Chunky Salsa

 8 oz. KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Reduced Fat Sharp Cheddar Cheese

8 oz. KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Reduced Fat Mozzarella Cheese

16 oz. BREAKSTONE’S Reduced Fat or KNUDSEN Light Sour Cream

 Small bottle KRAFT Light Zesty Italian Reduced Fat Dressing

Small bottle KRAFT Roasted Red Pepper Italian with Parmesan Dressing

 Small bottle KRAFT Original Barbecue Sauce

 KRAFT 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese

SHAKE ‘N BAKE Original Chicken Seasoned Coating Mix

Pint of buttermilk

Lite Soy Sauce

15 oz. can black beans

1 pkg. Flour tortillas

2 green bell peppers

2 red bell peppers

1 yellow bell pepper

 1 small white onion

1 small red onion

Basil

Oregano

Cayenne pepper

Black pepper

Poulty seasoning

Tomatoes, large and cherry

Lettuce

Cucumbers

Raspberries

Spinach Leaves

Garlic cloves (or a small jar or minced garlic)

½ lbs Sweet Potatoes

Do you have your keys yet?  List some other quick and easy meal ideas below.  Share links to recipes you love!

*Photo does not represent any recipe listed and is credit of pics.am

In light of the Memorial Day holiday today, I thought I would share some activities for you and your family to use in celebration of the holiday.  If you aren’t already on vacation and using the holiday your advantage that way, then here are some things you can do that will not only celebrate family togetherness, but to educate the family on Memorial Day.

·         Host a Barbecue:  With Summer on its way, there is no better time to embrace the nice weather than to host a family get together with food, fun, and music.  Grill burgers, hot dogs, or whatever else you enjoy, and spend the time socializing in the warm sun.  If bad weather strikes you today, try doing an indoor version of this same thing.

·         Make Patriotic Crafts:  The possibilities here are pretty much limited by whatever you want it to be.  Take a trip to your local craft or discount store, and gather items like construction paper, glitter, yarn, and wood sticks.  You can make pinwheels, windsocks, flags, and more.  For some craft ideas, along with the step by step instructions, check out this website: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/memorialday/   (there is something about a subscription fee, but you don’t need to worry with that!)·         Take a Look at Your Family History:  As it is a time to honor those fallen in battle for our country, you should take time to look at your family history see if there are any soldiers you can honor.  Of course, as some may be closer to you than others, you may already know of a family member or two that you can honor here.  You can make cards, look at photos, visit their graves, or whatever you see fit.

What do you do with your family on Memorial Day?  Share your celebrations with all of us below.  Many times, Memorial Day is a holiday that we use to relax, and forget about what it is really for.  What do you do to honor the fallen heroes of our country?

Photo credit of: USFlag.org

Family togetherness doesn’t have to be reminiscent of years past. It is something that you can foster now to create bonds that will last in the future. Family night is one way to build a solid family relationship that will weather any situation no matter how big or small. Here is how you can create a family night program for your family:

Set a specific time each week
Find a night that will work for your family to meet together each week. Perhaps Monday nights will work for your family. Make this time a dedicated time that everyone in your family will set aside in their busy schedules. Do not change the night each week. Be consistent and everyone in your family will know what to expect. Everyone should know when family night occurs each and every week.

Gather the entire family together
Make sure that each and every family member is in attendance. If you have a family member who must be away from the family due to a business trip or school trip, then include them by calling them and using the speaker function of your phone. This will help them to feel included and keep your family close.

Discuss
This is a great time to discuss the many different schedules and plans of each family member and coordinate your schedules in order to support each other. Family night is also a great time to have an open forum for any concerns you might have. Be sure to listen to each family member. Everyone should feel that their opinion and view is important. Take this opportunity to discuss together your family values.

Have fun
Play a game together or do some sort of activity each week. This will help you build and foster relationships within the family. This also will help to open the doors of communication with each other.

Have a treat
Make cookies or a cake. Have rice crispy treats. Make donuts together. Perhaps you would rather have a sundae bar or simply just share a bowl of popcorn. This is a fun ending to your family night. It will be something that everyone will look forward to each week. It will also help get those members of the family there in attendance that might otherwise be hesitant to attend.

Don’t get discouraged
The most important thing is to not get discouraged if things don’t always go the way you plan. It will perhaps take time to make family night become a priority within your family. It will take time to develop the habit each week. Don’t give up. The benefits will far outweigh the obstacles that may be in your way.

Family night is a great way to build memories together as a family. What are some of your ideas for a great family night?

Submitted by Brenda

As the mother to a preschool aged child, Noggin is both a blessing and a curse. It is the better television for my child to be watching. Let’s face it, though I do not let the TV babysit my child, there are just times when I have to get work done, and nothing else occupies him because he’s spilled the paint, and broken all the crayons, for the 75th time!

So today, I thought I would see if I was the only one! The video below is the March Critter song that played a gazillon times a day that I know by heart.

Is Noggin taking over the world? What do you think?

This week’s podcast interview with Joe has been cancelled.  I say this because he’s not been feeling too well lately, and I just cannot get him to cooperate with me this week.  In lieu of the show, I thought I’d post a video to keep you happy. 

Here’s a clip from an episode of Kid’s Say the Darndest Things.  It has given me some ideas for next week’s podcast!

In the spirit of time and out of a desire to add something new to the blog, today I am tracking back to a post I wrote in my since retired Tips for a Frugal Mom blog; back in January.  You can read it here.

Since that post was written, I have fallen even more in love with V-Tech’s products for children.  I recently purchased a Nitro Learning Laptop for Joe, so that he can work on his computer and “homework”, while I do my work.  It keeps him entertained and we share the experience of  “working from home”.  

It was a bit pricy at $50, and is recommended for children age 5-11; but Joe’s got it down just fine.  It has a few flaws in that the screen is small, and is difficult for him to open, but I really can’t complain.  It also works with the V-Smile power adapter, so I’m pleased. 

Check out some V-Tech products here.

What do you think of V-Tech’s products for children?  Share your experiences with all of us!

Photo Credit: Amazon.com provided courtesy of V-Tech.

Have you ever wondered what the birth order of your children can tell you about them?  Well, of course, there is no scientific proof behind birth order and what it means for your children and family; but, it is an interesting subject to learn about, nonetheless, so today I wanted to take a look at some resources on the topic and pass the information on to you!

Before we get started with personality traits you can try this quiz that will try to predict your birth order based on information you enter about your personality. 

After you read through the information I provide here, I will post the results to my quiz, as well as the validity of its prediction.

The First Born Child:  These children are likely to be leaders, a bit more intelligent than their siblings, and are likely to earn more money.  This is because they are nurtured more than their siblings, perhaps because there was no competition in the beginning.  They become leaders because they are often given responsibility toward their siblings.

The Middle Child:  These children are often the peace keepers of the family.  They are difficult to define, as they are no longer the youngest, but become an older child to another sibling.  They may spend their life in competition with the oldest child, and may be less attached to the family because they have a hard time finding their place in it.

The Youngest Child:  These children are often the most outgoing, and sometimes the most financially irresponsible of all the children.  Likely to be more daring than their siblings, they may grow up to become comedians.  They will be more spoiled than their siblings, and are the most likely to be babied.  They will likely expect others to make decisions for them, and behave like the Only Child.

The Only Child:  In competition with no one, these children are likely to be self-centered, spoiled, and rely on others to do things for them.

The Twin:  These children will likely have trouble identifying themselves, and finding their place.  One will be dominant over the other, and parents will likely deem one the Older Child.

Now that you have digested all of that information, it’s time to tell you if the Birth Order Predictor Quiz  was correct.  And, yes, when it told me I was likely a first born, it was correct.  I am a first born child! I have a half sister 6 years younger than me, a step-sister 9 years younger, and a half-sister 15.5 years younger!  The results are below, and are astonishingly just about right on the nail.

“You Are Likely a First Born

At your darkest moments, you feel guilty.
At work and school, you do best when you’re researching.
When you love someone, you tend to agree with them often.
In friendship, you are considerate and compromising.
Your ideal careers are: business, research, counseling, promotion, and speaking.
You will leave your mark on the world with discoveries, new information, and teaching people to dream.”

I’m surprised it worked that well off of five questions.  For more information about Birth Order, check out this article.

Stay tuned for more on Birth Order, as we will tackle some parenting advice for each child based on their place in the family tree soon.

If you take the quiz, which I suggest you do, let me know with a comment if the results were right!  :)  

There are few things in life as important as the family dinner. Too many times we rush from one thing to the next and miss what is perhaps one of the most fundamental experiences of family togetherness. It becomes too easy to eat separately and on our own. However, studies have proven that the family who eats together will stay together. So what can eating together around the table each night do for your family?

Foster Better Family Relationships
One of the primary reasons that eating together is so important is that this will help your family to feel closer. The relationship between family members will improve and bonds will be created that will last forever.

Open the Doorway to Communication
This is perhaps one of the most important reasons your family should eat together. This is a perfect opportunity to find out how each person’s day went. It is a great time to discuss personal triumphs and celebrate them. It is a great opportunity to strengthen each other through the times which are tough. The family is able to support each other and buoy each other up in the storms of life.

This is a time to get to really know your family. Studies have shown that kids who eat with their family several times each week are less likely to participate in drugs. Children are more likely to feel comfortable in speaking and confiding in their parents if they are used to communicating with them over a meal. This is a great time to really learn what is going on in your child’s life.

Encourage Healthy Eating
It is no secret that there is an epidemic of obesity in the United States. Children are not immune and too often they are used to reaching for the fast food choices and unhealthy snacks that are so prevalent in the world today. This is a great time to practice making healthy choices together as a family. The healthy eating habits that will be established will help them to make good choices on their own. This will help to encourage health and strength in the family both physically as well as mentally.

So gather your family ‘round the table for your next meal. You will find more reasons to eat together than apart. What are some other reasons you can think of for eating together as a family?

Submitted By: Brenda