How to Create a Perfect Smile with Thurman Orthodontics

When Kevin was growing up braces weren't in his family's budget even though he had very crooked teeth.  As a young adult he did get veneers on his top teeth to help with the appearance of his smile but his teeth always bothered him despite the slight fix.  We've been talking about Invisalign for years and recently we finally pulled the trigger.  We decided to visit Thurman Orthodontics to explore options.

How to Create a Cute Construction Birthday Party

Adorable Halloween Costume Ideas

When Emily was the only child dressing her up for Halloween was fun but everything went to another level when I could coordinate sisters and then last year with Jack we made it a family affair.  So for several years I've loved planning costumes and to be honest with you I frequently coordinate their costumes with Emily's birthday parties since her birthday is one week after Halloween.  This way I'm killing two birds with one stone.

My kids are still at an age where I can "gently sway" them into costumes that I like or approve.  I start planting seeds and so far I've been very lucky and they've gone with my ideas.  I fear my days are numbered but I'm hanging on as long as I can.  Now that we have 2 girls and 1 boy it makes it a tad harder to come up with sibling costumes.  But, last year was our first year of doing so and we went as the Incredibles because it was just so natural as a family of five and we had our own Jack Jack.  I can't wait to share this years costumes but in the meantime here is what I've put together over the years.

How to Make Simple Pudding Pops

If you know me or if you've followed me for awhile you know that I am all about simple.  Yes I love to be creative, to decorate and set up fun activities but at the end of the day I'm only tackling simple tasks.  I'm not sure if that's a little lazy or survival but it's the truth of this mom life.  We love to make homemade popsicles but I like using ingredients that are on hand and recipes that aren't tedious.  This pudding pop recipe couldn't get any easier; it took us less than five minutes from start to freezer.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz box of Vanilla Instant Pudding
• 3 cups of Producer's Dairy Milk

Directions:

Stir pudding mix and milk as per instructions on box.  Once soft set pour into popsicle molds and place in freezer.  After one hour place sticks into each popsicle and let freeze overnight.  Run warm water over mold for 60 seconds and then pull popsicles out of mold.  Enjoy!


These are the simplest of simple, a great way to include my girls in an activity and so delicious to enjoy together.

How to Throw the Best Back to School Breakfast

For birthdays, milestones and holidays I like to celebrate in some way.  It doesn't always have to be big or over the top but I don't want the day to go by without showing the girls that it's an important day and that we like to celebrate the special days in our lives.  

Luckily I created this BTS Breakfast last year so I still had all the printables.  So keep that in mind that the first year it does take some time to print and cut everything but if you store it, subsequent years are super easy.  I only had to buy red paper plates, green apples and make the pencil waffles.  The waffles are super easy to create.  Make waffles as usual and then cut into a rectangle.  Cut a piece of toast into a small triangle and top with a chocolate chip.  At the top of the "pencil" place 2-3 raspberries.  Breakfast was completed with Producer's milk that we dyed yellow.  In addition to the printables I used a mason jar filled with alphabet letters and colored pencils.

Here is where I found the free printables:

Let's Learn Banner

Back to School Place Setting

Back to School Subway Art

How to Make Healthy and Delicious Yogurt Popsicles

We have a tradition of making popsicles every Summer and I usually try and keep them "healthy-ish."  When the girls received flamingo popsicles molds we knew it was the perfect time to keep our tradition alive.  They were so excited to make them and it was a fun and easy project to do together.  This recipe couldn't be easier and it's quite healthy compared to any store bought popsicles.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Producer's Dairy Strawberry Yogurt
• 1/2 cup Fresh Strawberries 
• 1/4 cup Sugar

Directions:

Chop strawberries very small and place in a mixing bowl.  Add sugar and yogurt and mix.  Pour into molds and freeze overnight.  Run warm water over the molds for about 60 seconds, then carefully pop out the popsicles from the mold.  Store in a ziplock bag in the freezer.

How to Make Back to School Simple but Exciting

My girls are still at the age where back to school is lots of fun.  I dread the day they dread going back to school.  Although my girls are very excited about school I have mixed feelings.  I'm excited to have them out of the house but I'm not looking forward to having to be up and at of the house by 7:45 every morning.  It's not that I ever sleep in but it's just a lot to get four people (self included) all ready by that time.  I also wish I lived in a world where Summer lasted all year round.  I love the warm weather, the play dates, the trips and all that Summer brings (minus the darn mosquito's).

So I have one hand tightly holding onto Summer and the other busily preparing for Back to School.  I saw a meme that other day that said there are 5 seasons in a year: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall and Back to School.  It made me laugh and it's so true.  There is so much hype around back to school and so much to check off the to-do list.  There are subscriptions for just about everything now a days so why can't there be a biannual subscription for school supplies.  Delivery would be in August and January to replenish all that has broken, gotten lost, etc.  I'm going off on a tangent but maybe this is something I need to invent.  Because it's a pain to online shop and run to several stores to get everything you need for your kids to be ready to go.

Until I invent a one stop shop for Back to School shopping you are left with the current situation.  Since that's not the easiest and most convenient I've tried to make it much simpler for you and round up everything I think your children need and what is the best (all while staying affordable because that's my mantra).