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Archives for May 2012

Free Rainy Day Activities – Part 3 of 4

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As our garden gained a couple of inches of rain this week, I enjoyed watching my girls peeking out the windows to check on our tomatoes.

Just having a garden outside our window provides opportunity to watch the rain for a fun rainy day activity.

In this series on free rainy day activities, I have shared how we sometimes have an indoor picnic (part 1) and paint (part 2).

This week, I will share three more activities my children enjoy while the weather keeps them inside.

Bake Together

My children love to help in the kitchen, especially with desserts. When the weather is dreary and the temperatures cool our home, I am willing to turn on the oven, bake with them, and share in the end product.

My older daughter loves her Disney Princess Cool Bake Magic Oven. She enjoys making the little cakes and then sharing with her little sister. So sweet when they share!

Allowing my children to help with baking teaches skills in math (measurements), safety (hot, electricity, gas), and sequence (following directions). Though I can bake much quicker on my own, I choose to encourage my children to learn these skills while using time wisely baking together.

Make a Fort

Having a hideout or clubhouse is a special place to gather your toys and play. When he was younger, my son loved to hide behind our large recliner and called that place his clubhouse. My older daughter received a princess tent for a Christmas present, and she still loves to keep her special toys within those boundaries.

Besides these favorite hideouts, my children like to hide together. On these occasions, we pull out the sheets and blankets and create a space for all of them to share. Sometimes we build our fort in the living room or bonus room where they can hide and watch a movie or fall asleep.

Take a Nap

Speaking of falling asleep, my children beg to watch a movie in my bed where they usually fall asleep. Rainy days create the perfect nap environment for snuggling and getting some extra rest.

When the rain pours outside and you are looking for activities to keep little ones engaged, try to bake together, make a fort, and/or take a nap. With little ones, I find changing the routine or moving locations for meals, naps, etc. simulates their creativity. My children just need a little inspiration before they create new games for themselves.

On rainy days bring on the indoor fun. Once your children discover or remember these fun activities, you might find it difficult to get them back outside. 🙂 Happy playing!

Question: What activities do your children create on rainy days?

3 Quick Meals for Busy Weeks

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Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Fitting in meals around shopping trips, school obligations, and soccer games is a game in itself.

On these busy nights, I plan quick meals to feed my family. Sometimes finding 30 minutes to cook is tough, but with 10 minutes of preparation in the morning or afternoon, I can serve my family a healthy supper at the busy dinner hour.

To give you a peek into our household, here are three quick meals I make on busy weeks.

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Afternoon Prep

Since frozen meatballs only need about 3-4 hours to simmer, I start preparing this meal after lunch.

Taking about 5 minutes, I place the frozen meatballs in the crock pot, add a jar of spaghetti sauce, and sprinkle in the spices – oregano, basil, and parsley. I then stir the ingredients, turn the crock pot setting to low, and leave it until dinner time.

Dinner Prep

Within 15 minutes, I can boil the water and make the spaghetti noodles. While the pasta is cooking, I fix a bowl of salad and make the garlic bread.

For the garlic bread, I butter the bread, sprinkle with garlic powder, and toast in the toaster oven. Buttering the bread before toasting keeps the bread soft, so my children will eat the entire slice. 🙂

Marinated Grilled Chicken

Morning or Afternoon Prep

During my morning or afternoon routine, I defrost 3-4 chicken breasts for about 10 minutes in the microwave. When complete, I slice the chicken breasts in half (horizontally) which makes 6-8 thin chicken breasts.

I add a bottle of teriyaki marinade to a gallon-size Ziploc bag and add the chicken. After closing the bag, I place it in a bowl (to catch any leaks) and put it in the refrigerator.

Dinner Prep

When the grill master (my husband, Paul) preheats the grill, I start the stuffing on the stove top and the vegetables in the microwave. While the food is grilling and cooking, we set the table. Within 20 minutes, dinner is ready, and we sit down to eat.

Smoked Sausage with Sides

Morning Prep

Transfer the smoked sausage link(s) from the freezer to the refrigerator.

Dinner Prep

Start the pasta (parmesan linguine, mac and cheese, or alfredo rotini) and the frozen vegetables cooking. Then I slice the defrosted sausages and cook in a skillet on the stove top over medium-heat. Within 15 minutes, dinner is complete and ready to be devoured.

By feeding my family using quick meals like spaghetti and meatballs, marinated grilled chicken, and smoked sausage with sides, I can serve my family dinner on busy nights while using time wisely.

A little preparation in the morning or afternoon eases the time constraints at the dinner hour. With a few quick meals, you, too, can survive busy nights while using time wisely. Happy cooking!

Question: What is a quick meal enjoyed by your family?

3 Tips to Overcoming Writer’s Block

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Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

As a blogger, I write often, and I enjoy it. Some bloggers struggle with writing (i.e., Blogging with Amy – love her site) but need to get the ideas on the page.

If you choose to write, then you have probably experienced writer’s block. It happens. During those times, I find helpful the following 3 tips to overcoming writer’s block.

Setting a Posting Schedule

At Using Time Wisely, I began the blog by setting a posting schedule. With seven days in the week, I chose six categories with a miscellaneous day for my daily posting schedule.

Knowing the category helps narrow the topics for my blog posts. Having a posting schedule framework can focus your thoughts to one category at a time.

Choosing Topics a Month in Advance

After setting a posting schedule, I plan by choosing topics a month in advance. I use this calendar to jot down my ideas for next month’s blog topics.

Keeping paper and pen handy allows me to jot down ideas as they arise. I get ideas while driving, chatting, cooking, cleaning, organizing, and even using the restroom. (Hey, it’s quiet in there, and usually I am alone. :-)) Focusing your attention on your planned topic will keep you on track and help in creating patterns, series, and/or chapters.

Writing on a Full Page

When I open up a blank document, I have a tendency to stare at the white space. I think, “Wow, I’ve got to fill up this space for my next post.” Not sure if this next tip is just psychological, but it works for me. I write on a full page of text.

When I need to start another blog post, I open up a previously written post and begin. Somehow seeing a full page of text does not overwhelm me with white space to fill. I just press the ENTER button a few times to give some space between the new and the old and begin.

Just making this slight change to writing has increased my productivity. I open up the document and start. I know the category and a chosen topic from my earlier planning. With a full page of text, I just add more text. When I complete my new post, I delete the rest of the previously used text and select SAVE AS to rename the new post. Ta da, my post is finished!

Since writer’s block is bound to occur, consider setting a posting schedule, choosing topics a month in advance, and writing on a full page. Even with these three tips, you may not deter writer’s block completely, but you can overcome the blank stare at a large white space. 🙂 Happy writing!

Question: What tip helps you in overcoming writer’s block?

Personalized, Handwritten Thank You Notes

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Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

In an era of texting, social media, and e-mail, the art of sending handwritten notes is fading.

With the passing my grandmother earlier this year, I treasure her handwritten birthday cards and notes of encouragement that I kept throughout the years.

No one else writes like my grandmother and seeing her handwriting brings back sweet memories. Her investment of time to handwrite those cards and notes continues to bless me today.

Learning the Skill

Writing thank you notes has been a part of my life. As an elementary-age girl, I still remember sitting at our kitchen table and writing my thank you notes after a birthday party or Christmas season. My mom taught me how to write personalized thank you notes that I continue to do today.

Expressing my gratitude with a handwritten note is more personal than shooting off an e-mail or Facebook post. Though there are times when I do send those messages, I value the personalized, handwritten notes for special occasions.

Practicing the Skill

Spending my time writing notes shows my gratitude for the recipient’s gift. After a party, event, or gathering, I write personalized, handwritten thank you notes expressing my appreciation to all the helpers. Without others’ assistance, these events would take more money, energy, and time.

In using time wisely, writing personalized, handwritten thank you notes is a small token of my appreciation for a job well done. Happy writing!

Question: How often do you write personalized thank you notes?

Rejoicing in a Messy House

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Steven Depolo)

All the work completed to declutter and clean my home has come full circle. Moving among soccer cleats, end-of-school projects, and totes of clothes make up my days at home.

In keeping my priorities, I have chosen to spend time with my family while my housework continues to grow.

The piles of laundry met my washing machine this past weekend. After 6 loads of clean clothes, I finally relaxed. Though the clothes are clean and folded, they have not moved from the basket. Yes, I need to hang up and place them in dressers, but the clothes are clean and available. 🙂

Between now and the end of the school year, I will be home here and there. We have yearbook distribution, one last field trip, field day, class party, and an awards ceremony. Whew! That’s just during school hours. We also spend lots of time on the soccer field throughout the week. May is a very taxing month, but June’s summer is just around the corner. 🙂

If you are finding this month exhausting, then relax. Keep your priorities straight. There will be other opportunities to clean the house. In using time wisely, I’m rejoicing in a messy house. Happy prioritizing!

Question: How do you handle an overly busy schedule?