Hi there, I need your help!  My in-laws are going to be here on Saturday, and I still have kids aprons and Kid Approved Meals binders overtaking my guest room.  I’m pretty sure they are going to want a bed to sleep on, so I need to get this stuff shipped out to homes that will enjoy them! 

I actually only have a handful of binders left – I didn’t go count yet exactly how many there are (I’ll go do that in a minute here), but I know I had cases and cases and cases of them; and now I’m down to around 1/2 a case.  These were limited edition, so if you want one – this is most likely your very last chance.

The aprons are designed to fit 2-7 year olds.  I have a few of each pattern left – some more than others.  They sell here http://www.flirtyaprons.com/kids-list.html for $24.95.  I have lowered my price to $10 each (which includes shipping) – that is a lot less that I bought them for wholesale – but I just need them out of here!  Buy some for birthday & Christmas gifts – get a couple different patterns for your little princess etc.  

First come, first serve – if I am sold out I will send you a refund of course. 

Order here:  (scroll down and click the "add to cart" button under the product you desire to order)
http://www.dinewithoutwhine.com/blog/aprons-kid-approved-meals-binder

Thanks for your help, it is much appreciated (and I’m sure my in-laws thank you as well)!

Christine Steendahl
"The Menu Mom"

 
My parents were here this week, and we went on a quick
weekend camping get-away.

 
       We did some of this… (look at those BLACK feet!) 

 
                                And some of this…

 
                                 And of course this…

We even threw in some shopping and sleeping and eating… 

                     Oh, and some fireworks watching

So how about you?  What were you up to this weekend?

Hello!  Can it already be the 4th of July almost?  Wowzers! 

My parents are visiting this week.  We only see them one week a year, so we’re trying to soak it up and do lots of fun things with the kids!  We’re heading out to go camping tomorrow for a couple days at Indiana Beach.  The kids are ecstatic!  Yesterday was a trip to Chuck E. Cheese, and inbetween all that we have been squeezing in swim team practice & meets and T-ball games.  Summer at its best!  

At any rate, I just wanted to check in with you briefly to say “hi” and to share what is happening at The Menu Mom Blog Frog Community that you might enjoy.

4th of July Food Ideas

Kids Bowl Free

What’s For Dinner

Favorite Company Recipes

Christine

I have a fun e-book for you today featuring 40 smoothie recipes.  Enjoy!

 Summer Smoothies Recipes

* For even more smoothie recipes visit www.smoothieblends.com

When I found this resource from Red Robin, I knew I had to share!  It is really good!  Included are of course some really fun recipes (created by kids) along with cooking with kids tips, and even stranger safety information to share with your kiddo’s.  This is a free resource you don’t want to miss!  

50 Gourmet Burger Creations From Kids Across the Country

Enjoy!

Christine

Here is my calendar for this month.  There are a couple days when I only have 2-3 things on it, but most days are packed!  Nothing unusual I guess.  I was thinking summer would slow down a little bit… and in a way it has – it’s just a different kind of busy.  A fun kind of busy!

School is out, so I have actually gotten to sleep in a few mornings!  That has been so nice!  Soccer has ended and t-ball and swim team are picking up where soccer left off.  This year we will pretty much have sports back to back all year I have a feeling! 

The garden is doing so-so.  I picked 8 pounds of strawberries last week – boy were my legs sore after 2 hours of squatting!  And tonight I picked again – I didn’t weigh yet, but I’m guessing about 5-6 pounds . The raspberries are starting to ripen as well – yum my favorite!  Everything else is mediocre looking.  Maybe a little fertilizer love will give them a pick my up.  It has been really wet, so we haven’t had a ton of opportunities to work out there.  The weeds are loving all the rain though!

We made a trip to the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry Monday (it is free week!) Wow that place is big and incredible!  We didn’t even get to see everything when we were there all day – it is huge! 

Today I spent the day making meals for my friend who just had a baby and one of my son’s Sunday School teachers who just had surgery.  I was in the kitchen the majority of the day, but I just love doing that!  I wish I made more time to just randomly bless people with meals.  I made Meatballs, Cheesy Potatoes (that recipe, but omitted the milk & cornflakes, and added double the cheese and bacon bits instead of chives), fruit salad (bananas, blueberries, strawberries, apples, grapes, fresh mandarin oranges & nectarines), rolls (just frozen yeast rolls I warmed up), homemade strawberry jam with strawberries from our garden (well that was already made, but I took it), stir-fried fresh green beans with minced garlic, and brownies (out of a box) with chocolate frosting and M&M’s on top. 

We did finally purchase a camper trailer. (a North Trail 31QBS for anyone who is interested)  We have had a couple nights out in it.  I think we are going to really enjoy having it!

Have you visited our community lately?  There are several discussions going on.  You can see the latest in the left side-bar here on the blog.  We’d love to have you join us! 

Also, if you aren’t a fan of our facebook page yet, now is the time!  (I guess you don’t “become a fan” anymore, you “like” our page)  At any rate, we are about 25 “likes” away from a big drawing for a lifetime Menu Planning Central or Dine Without Whine subscription.  Anyone who has “liked” our page is entered.

So what is on your plate so far this summer?

Christine
”The Menu Mom”

I know it has been awhile since I have blogged.  So sorry, and this is going to be short too.  It is 1:23 a.m. and I should be in bed…

Today was the last day of school – YEA!  Well, Friday is report card day, but that is only for an hour and a half.  I’m quite excited summer is finally here!  It was 104.4 on our back porch this afternoon though.  I could take it a bit cooler than that.  I need to make it back out to the garden sometime soon too!

I had my first birth with a doula client Monday – Tue.  I was gone for 30 hours and discovered I could stay awake still (haven’t done that since I was a teenager I don’t think) for 33 hours straight!  Phew!  I was quite tired when I got home, (imagine that!) but I was also amazed how good my husband took care of things.  He even looked at my calendar to see what was on it, and took care of everything on there!  (that included a 18 month check-up for my daughter and 3 sports physicals for the boys) WOW! 

We have also been driving all over the place looking at camper trailers.  I think we at least have it narrowed down now – as far as what we like…  Now we just have to decide if we for sure are going to purchase one.  We have been working on this decision for a few weeks now, and it has occupied quite a bit of our time as we drove to various dealers in all different directions (None that are less than an hour away). 

At any rate, between school, sports, trailer shopping etc. I just haven’t been home much! 

I’m looking forward to hopefully a bit more relaxation in the coming weeks!

C-

Wow life just keeps moving at our house!  I always think maybe in a couple weeks things will slow down… but it never seems to be the case!  I’m sure a lot of you can relate. 

We have been working hard at getting our garden going, but temperatures keep dropping (we had frost the other night) and it keeps raining, so it is a mud hole out there.  We did go out – in the mud – and plant grapes and blueberries last night.  I had ordered them from Burpee, and I didn’t want them to die before I got them in the ground.  (Even though they look half dead already.  I always joke that I am planting sticks in the ground when I get dormant plants shipped to me.)  We’ll see if they actually grow.  We don’t have the best drainage out there, which is what those two things need, so I’m not sure if they’ll thrive or not.  We added a bunch of mulch, so we’ll see!  I have six rose bushes sitting in our garage waiting to go somewhere (where I was planning on putting them is not going to work out after all) and several seed packets.  Matt planted a few things tonight.  Of course now it is supposed to rain 2-3 inches between tonight and tomorrow so those poor little seeds will probably be floating. 

I continue to work on my doula training.  I’m taking another class in June for post-partum stuff, so I have lots of reading and work to do!  I’m working with my local friend who is taking classes with me on designing a web-site for that as well.

There are 9 1/2 days plus report card day left of school.  YEA!  SOOOO Excited for summer break!  I’ll still be working with Christian on reading, but it will be so nice to not have to rush out the door every morning and deal with homework every night. 

Soccer season is coming to an end (two more weeks I think) and T-ball and soon swimming are picking up. 

We are contemplating purchasing a travel trailer.  The one we thought we wanted turned out to be a piece of junk when we went to look at it (a brand new piece of junk – it was not used…) So we have a couple other models we want to look at, and then I guess we will have to make a decision!  I go back and forth.  I think it would be fun to just be able to easily go camp several times throughout the summer.  On the other hand that is soooo big to pull down the road!  With our Suburban and the trailer we would be over 50 feet!  I also like staying in hotels on vacation and we could stay in a lot of hotels for the price of a trailer…  We’ll see…  My husband is pretty gung-ho about the whole thing!  (It was his idea and he’s trying to make it grow on me.  ) 

I have a few things to do and then I’m off to bed!  Just thought I would check in for a couple minutes.

Take Care!

Christine
”The Menu Mom”

Hey mommies, this resource if for you to pass off to dad!   Print it off and let him pamper you! 

http://www.dinewithoutwhine.com/mother-day.pdf 

Included are simple crafts he can do with the kids, and very simple recipes he can make with the kids for your special day.  Make it easy for dad to take over and let you have a break on Sunday!  If dad isn’t around, these are fun things you can do with your kids and make it easy on yourself with some easy recipes for the day. 

From one mom to another, I wish you a very wonderful weekend!  I’m not positive what we are doing yet.  Church in the morning, then I think we may go look at camper trailers (we’re thinking of maybe getting one at some point) and maybe to a big nursery towards Chicago that some friends recommended.  I guess it is quite the place!  I’ll have to check and see if they are open on Sundays.  Do you have any fun plans?

Christine
”The Menu Mom”

This is one of my absolute favorite desserts!  I was asked to bring dessert for our school teacher appreciation lunch on Thursday and I was wracking my brain on what to bring.  Something special but fairly easy…  and all of the sudden I remembered this one!  I don’t make it much in the winter, as strawberries aren’t in season, but now the timing is perfect – YEA!  Here’s the recipe (from Betty Crocker):

Crust
1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg

Filling
1 cup white vanilla baking chips (6 oz)
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
Topping
4 cups sliced fresh strawberries
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/3 cup water
10 to 12 drops red food color, if desired

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom only of 15×10x1- or 13×9-inch pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter and egg until soft dough forms. Press evenly in bottom of pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

2. In small microwavable bowl, microwave baking chips uncovered on High 45 to 60 seconds or until chips are melted and can be stirred smooth. In medium bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Stir in melted chips until blended. Spread mixture over crust. Refrigerate while making topping.

3. In small bowl, crush 1 cup of the strawberries. In 2-quart saucepan, mix sugar and cornstarch. Stir in crushed strawberries and 1/3 cup water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils and thickens. Stir in food color. Cool 10 minutes. Gently stir in remaining 3 cups strawberries. Spoon topping over filling. Refrigerate 1 hour or until set; serve within 4 hours. Store covered in refrigerator.

Nutrition Information:
1 Serving: Calories 270 (Calories from Fat 120); Total Fat 13g (Saturated Fat 8g, Trans Fat 1g); Cholesterol 35mg; Sodium 150mg; Total Carbohydrate 34g (Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars 24g); Protein 3g