Kid Friendly Meals

Every mom-friend I have has at some point asked, "What do you feed your kids?"  We all get burned out trying to find things that are healthy and that the kids will actually eat.  I try my best to get my kids to eat whatever I fix us for dinner but I also need ideas for breakfast, lunch, and the nights when I know our meal will be a no-go for them.  One of my friends reached out for some help a while back and she was brilliant enough to hold on to the list she compiled(thank you Stacy!).  She shared this email gold with me and I wanted to pass it on.  Hopefully you can get some new ideas and a little inspiration to keep trying new things with those picky eaters.

MEATLESS

-Mac and cheese
-Breakfast for dinner (scrambled eggs, pancakes (pumpkin, blueberry, etc), omelettes (can add chopped veggies))
-Homemade veggie pizza (on bread, bagel, english muffin, Boboli crust)

-Cheese quesadilla (can add black beans, salsa)
-Perogies (in freezer section -pasta with cheese potatoe in middle)
-Grilled cheese (can add thinly sliced tomato, or spinach)
-Ravioli

-Hummus or guacomole (dip veggies, pretzels, or tortillas in it)

-Sweet potato french fries (side idea)

-Trader Joe's veggie potstickers

-Dr. Praegers broccoli and spinach cakes

-a can of noodle soup with the liquid drained off-- makes for quick noodles

-Trader Joe's mini-pizzas

CHICKEN/TURKEY/BEEF

-Black bean & ground turkey/beef tacos or burritos

-Turkey sandwiches

-Turkey meatballs (in frozen or produce section of grocery)

-Rotisserie chicken

-Chicken/rice/broccoli casserole

-Quesadillas with Perdue precooked chicken, cheese, black beans, salsa

-Homemade pizza (same as meatless but add turkey or reg pepperoni)

 -Homemade chicken fried rice (left-over chicken, peas, corn, carrots and I scramble a few egg whites for added protein
-Chicken & broccoli calzones (use Trader Joe's pizza dough, pesto sauce, mozz cheese, left-over chicken & frozen broccoli)

-Chicken noodle soup with wide egg noodles

-Meatloaf (weight watchers has a great recipe that uses turkey, oatmeal and shredded carrots

-Shredded BBQ chicken or pork (homemade, or in produce section of grocery)

-Chicken salad

-Deli meat rolled up, with or without a tortilla or cheese

OTHER IDEAS

-Ham, egg, and cheese burritos

-Crumbled sausage (freezer section of grocery)

-Fish sticks

-Grilled ham/turkey and chz (can serve with soup to dip in)

-Pasta dishes (spagetti and meatballs, beef stroganoff, etc)

-Bagel bites

-Gerber pasta pickups

-Sloppy joe's (just the meat even)

-Pasta salad

What are your go-to kid-friendly meals?  Favorite easy recipes?  Share your suggestions! 

Healthy Snacks

I came across this article in the waiting room at the pediatrician's office.  More great healthy snack ideas!  Click on the picture for a larger, easier-to-read version.

www.levinechildrenshospital.org

FYE: 1/28/11 Surprise.....another giveaway!!!

Yeah you heard me right!  I have a bonus giveaway for this week.   I have 1 ticket to the Runway for the Ballet event on Feb, 5th.  Yes, only one because the show is nearly sold-out and they could only offer one.  But hey, thats one less that you have to buy!  This exclusive event is brought to you by The North Carolina Dance Theatre and Neiman Marcus.  Dancers will model upcoming looks for spring and perform dances from the Theatre's popular series Innovative Works.  The event has a couple of show times but the afternoon matinee is especially geared towards kids and families.  The matinee starts at 3:00 with a inviting pre-show, refreshments, and a twist!  


This is a great chance to have a some bonding time with your daughter or help your son appreciate the arts.  Or maybe a date with your hubby or a girlie day with a friend.  Either way its a great excuse to get out on a Saturday and see a great show and clothes!  Plus all the proceeds go to The NC Dance Theatre!  If you would like to win just leave a comment on the MOMSIE Facebook page letting me know that you want the ticket!  I will choose a winner at random and announce the name on Tuesday, Feb 1st.  Start calling a babysitter!


Here is the information for additional tickets:

Date: Saturday, February 5, 2011

Early Show: 3:00 PM Reception/4:00 PM Show

VIP - $45, General - $30

Late Show: 7:30 PM Cocktails/8:00 PM Show/9:00 PM Reception

VIP - $55 SOLD OUT, General - $40

Location: Patricia McBride & Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux Center for Dance, 701 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte, N.C.

Tickets:  $30-$55; Order tickets from www.ncdance.org/runwayfortheballet or call 704.372.0101

Dancer Kara Wilkes photographed by Peter Zay 

momsie: STYLE

Every mom needs a hobby, something other than being a mom.  Not that we all have huge amounts of spare time or any at all but I just think it is so important to have an outlet.  It makes us happier and less stressed.  It makes us more interesting and content.  It helps us not become that psycho-obsessed mom who you see on Toddlers and Tiaras!!  This blog has been a great outlet for me and I hope that it will be for other moms as guest bloggers here.  I love the interaction I have with people outside of my house and it is a nice escape from my normal routine everyday.  In addition to the fun I get to have here, my escape has always been anything related to decorating, organizing, and making over.  Whether its organizing my closet, styling the decor in my house, or making over an old piece of furniture these are the things that put a smile on my face.  


It just so happens that I have this here little blog and an open day in which I need a fun topic, so Thursdays will now be dedicated to all the things I love.  I hope that there are plenty of you who love these things as much as me.  I am constantly drifting to sleep at night thinking about an idea for my house or how I could spruce up that old lamp and now I have a place to show the before-and-after shots.  I hope you all will contribute and enjoy these posts as much as I will! 

momsie: STYLE part 1

momsie: STYLE
1 piece, 2 looks

To kick off the new Thursday theme I am going to do a little project entitled: 1 piece, 2 looks.  This idea came to me at midnight (as always!) after a trip to West Elm.  I jokingly tell my husband all the time that I am going to get a part time job there because I love the store so much.  I want to literally move in the store because it is how I picture the decor in my dream home. There are so many times that I find things there, and other places, that I can totally envision in a room.  Problem is, is that this room usually doesn't exist in my house.  I have seriously tried to convince my husband that we should do a complete renovation of our kitchen based on one bowl.  Or that we should rip up all of the upstairs carpet to accommodate a rug.  Or that we should move altogether because we need an official guest room for the picture frame I just found.  Needless to say he has not jumped at my suggestions.  

Now I have devised the perfect plan: I convince him that we need the item for my blog.  I have to have it for a Thursday post, right?  Right.  Well it worked this time so we'll see how it goes.  I fell in love with these sequined bunnies and could just see them in a little girl's room.  Obviously with 2 sons this is not likely to be in my house so I've decided to pass the inspiration to someone who does actually have a daughter.  I started with 1 piece and created 2 rooms.  I need someone to fulfill my dreams and make one of these rooms happen.  And if you do please share a picture with me!  (If someone really does want the bunny bookends, I will be willing to part with them...shoot me an email!)

momsie: STYLE part 2

OR...

vintage bunny by MOMSIE featuring josmo shoes

JOSMO Kids' 6341 Crib Shoe
$27 - endless.com
Josmo shoes »

Shop Designer Crib Sheets for Baby Nursery | Serena & Lily
serenaandlily.com

Arabesque Pendant Nickel by Motif Designs
decorati.com

Privilege One Drawer Tall Farmhouse Nightstand in Vintage White |...
$130 - bedroomfurniture.com

10GL | Gilded Sunset Ready-Made Picture Frames | Picture Frames.com
$3.50 - pictureframes.com

Comfy And Stylish Chic Bedding & Pillows for Your Bedroom | Z Gallerie
$90 - zgallerie.com

Chelsea Platform Bed & Armoire Set, Twin, Heirloom Green
$2,595 - pbteen.com

Cath Kidston - Oilcloth by the Metre
20 GBP - cathkidston.co.uk

millbrook iron crib - distressed white | distressed white |...
$799 - rhbabyandchild.com

Sea Blossom Knob, Mother-Of-Pearl
$10 - anthropologie.com

Etsy :: StephanieFizer :: Love Is Simple Print
etsy.com

Prestige Farms (*GIVE AWAY*)

*FREE 10 lb. bag of boneless, skinless chicken breasts*

*FREE 10 lb. bag of breaded chicken tenders*

How awesome would I be if I could give you a better version of a major dinner staple and save you money at the grocery store??  Well I can't take all the credit but I am so excited to bring you this give away from Wes and Karen Thompson who sell chicken from Prestige Farms!  Started many years ago in Charlotte, Prestige Farms is a wholesale poultry distributor that has served thousands of customers across the Southeast.  They have mainly distributed to hotels and restaurants such as, Blue, The Capital Grille, Bonterra, Firebirds, Cantina 1511 and Mac's Speedshop, and now you will have a chance to have their products delivered right to your door step!

Wes Thompson's grandfather started Prestige Farms many years ago and their family has enjoyed their products as well as taking small orders from friends and family.  Wes and Karen decided that they should start their own home delivery business by offering the same chicken Prestige Farms sells to their commercial customers.  The Thompson's have been happy to be able to share the love since they feel strongly that they are offering a better option than that which can be found in grocery stores.  Here are some words from Wes:

Florence Crittenton

Florence Crittenton on Facebook

http://www.fcsnc.org/

FCS Newsletter

Volunteering is something that a lot of people would like to do more of and some of you may have even named that one of your New Years resolutions.  I did!  The problem is, its hard to find the right place to lend your help and it can be even harder to find the time in which to do it.  I stumbled across a volunteering opportunity a couple of years ago and it has been the best experience.  I was looking for a place to donate a stroller and a friend told me about Florence Crittenton Services.  FCS is a comprehensive residential pregnancy program that provides a full range of services for single, pregnant adolescents.  These services include health and prenatal care, education, adoption programs, parenting skills, life skills, scholarships, counseling, and family planning.  In addition to these services FCS has expanded the program to include an on-site aftercare program, Sarah's House.  This is a program for single adolescent girls ages 14-18 who are in the custody of the Department of Social Services and parenting a child or children.  It provides numerous resources and support for these young mothers.  


Sarah's House is where I have volunteered specifically and I have been so impressed with the program as well as the mothers in which it is helping.  Both programs welcome volunteers whether it be as a one-time gig or an ongoing relationship.  This year they are really focusing their efforts to establishing long-term connections in the community.  They especially want to foster relationships between mothers.  What drew me to this place is

We have officially received 100 "likes" on Facebook.  Thanks to all of you who made that happen.  Now help me get to 200 by continuing to spread the word.  You all are AWESOME!

FREE THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK 1/25- 1/31

FABO (Myers Park)
Help Paint a Mural
Jan 29th and Feb 5th, 10:00 - 12:00
This great coffee shop/gallery is hosting a one-of-a-kind event for kids.  Artist, Carlleena Person will be painting an giraffe mural and kids can add their handprints!  While the kids paint you can browse the jewelry, paintings, desserts, and coffee.

"10 Things I Thought Motherhood Would Be" by: Adrienne Patterson

I am thrilled to bring you some words from another mom today.  I love to hear how things work in other households and I can always appreciate moms that keep it real.  Adrienne keeps it really real in this!  I laughed until I cried reading this because it is so true!  Some people may find it offensive but I feel pretty sure that most mothers will be able to relate.  I can assure everyone that as Adrienne's sister, I know she is a great mother and probably one of the ones that other moms look at and envy.  This just goes to show that we all have our doubts, fears, and frustrations!  Enjoy and stay tuned for more posts soon from Adrienne.  She is already working on her next post which she says she will try to sound a little more positive so people don't question her love for her kids!

1.  I thought I would like to play with my kids….it really isn’t that fun.  Truth is I have very little imagination and what I do have isn’t geared towards games like “House”…isn’t imagination supposed to be an escape from reality?!  As for my visions of rainy days playing board games and doing puzzles the reality is more that they spend more time knocking the puzzle pieces off the table and moving the game pieces in all the wrong directions.  If you are type A like me this is just absolute torture…GAME OVER!

2.  I thought I would have more sweet moments.  I envisioned them sitting in my lap while I read to them, sweet prayers before bed and putting them to bed with a cute bedtime routine of tucking in and kisses and hugs……well it seems that books are more interesting when pages are torn out and you flip to the end as quickly as possible.  Kids are unable to sit still for longer than 5 seconds and their attention span and focus is pretty much non existent.  By the time bedtime rolls around the only prayer I am uttering is “God please let them go to bed now before I kill them” and the bedtime routine is multiple warnings and threats of what will happen if they wet the bed, get out of bed or come in my room during the night.

3.  I thought they would be more interesting and I would cherish sweet conversations in the car and precious questions as I modeled motherhood…more like annoying and persistent. Sure there are the cute, funny comments here and there but for the most part the questions are dumb, repetitive and make no sense.  I don’t know how to tell a 3 year old what a cell phone tower is for, I am not sure why a dog has four legs and I really don’t care about answering the question you are asking me in your new made up cat language!  Truth is I would prefer silence a lot of the time, just some damn peace and quiet with my own thoughts!

4.  I thought that if I taught them properly and gave good explanations they would be obedient….nope, not even close!  I don’t care how you approach it or what you do you aren’t going to prevent your 2 year old from pitching an all out tantrum when you don’t produce juice the instant they ask for it, you won’t get your 4 year old to quit peeing the bed at night and your 6 year old is not going to eat green beans!  Their brains are hard wired for irrational behavior and levels of persistence that would test Jesus himself.  They are selfish and impatient, inconsiderate and unpredictable.  You think you are in charge but really they rule your world and more often than not you will find yourself giving them whatever they want so they will just leave you alone or go away!

5.  I thought teaching and learning would be fun….wrong again!  It is more of a reminder of how small their brains really are and how little compassion I do have!  I mean how hard is it to figure out a puzzle with 5 pieces and do you really think that you can get dressed if you put your cowboy boots on before your pants?  I want to be patient as I explain yet again that you cannot put your cup on the edge of the table but when the 4^th drink of the night is spilled I just want to slap them…USE YOUR BRAIN!!! But alas their brain is small and great patience is required to teach them…

6.  I thought I would feel more fulfilled and rewarded as a mom…truthfully I feel like I have been beaten and abused by small demons at the end of most days.  They suck the life out of you with their thousands of needs and demands with no regard to your needs whatsoever.  I clean up and serve meals and meet their every other small need in between.  Locating blankets, fixing sippy cups of chocolate milk, breaking up fights, fixing broken toys, dry endless tears, wipe butts and noses, and clean up vomit.  My every moment is dedicated to their needs while mine don’t even make it to the back burner they just get thrown out the window.

7.  I thought I would keep up with my looks and my youthful energy…how sad to get in the car, run errands and return home only to find that you wore two different shoes and you had spit up covering the back of your left shoulder!  Equally as sad to tell your 1^st grader that while she may be scared to be dropped off in car line you cannot walk her in b/c you have left the house with no bra and are wearing your maternity yoga pants and dad’s holey undershirt!  Caffeine is my best friend and I fall asleep most nights before I can even tell my husband good night (or he can ask for sex!).  Hard to find times when I’m NOT tired!

8.  I thought I would stay organized…for awhile you can hang on to that but it will not last!  First baby had fully decorated nursery, stocked diaper bin, clothes neatly folded, my bed was never left unmade regardless of the mess during the day when I went to bed everything was in it’s place!  Baby number 3…nursery is a hodgepodge and the Diaper Genie constantly stinks.  I don’t know if I even have diapers and I confess to wiping her more than once with sanitizing hand wipes b/c yet again I have run out of wipes in the car!  My bed is never made and the laundry room has become the family closet!  I am late most everywhere I go and if we happen to be on time then I have probably punished all 3 kids and said enough awful stuff to put them in therapy the rest of their life to make it there!

9.    I thought I would really appreciate moms from all walks of life, after all we were comrades traveling this weary road together right?  WRONG!  Moms can be really weird and just plain annoying!  There is the “healthy nut” mom who cooks super organic healthy meals every night and her kids eat everything she prepares. You are embarrassed to hear your kids having to explain to her kids which fast food restaurant serves free kids meals which night of the week!  What about “natural” mom who has long nasty hair, wears Birkenstocks with long peasant skirts and tries to really sell you on the environmental advantages to cloth diapers and making your own baby food…please!  There is “strict” mom who doesn’t let her kids watch any TV, they can read at a 5^th grade level in kindergarten and they are totally obedient…lots of fun on a play date while my kids are running around like wild dogs, begging for Nick Jr. and can’t seem to count to 10 playing Hide N Seek!  And then there is the WORST kind of mom, “super patient/actually seems to enjoy her kids” mom.  She can barely carry on a conversation w/ you b/c she is so into her kids and seems to want to answer their every question and hear all their stories.  Meanwhile I am telling mine to go find a toy and as I pinch the back of their arm I whisper violently in their ear that I will spank them till they can’t sit down if they don’t quit begging me for a treat!  

10.  I thought this would be lots more fun….but it is A LOT of work!  Even the “fun” is hard work. Just to go get ice cream involves dressing them, brushing hair, finding shoes, rounding them all up and into the car only to find that one is missing her blanket and the other has pooped in her diaper.  You finally get in and on the road and they fight all the way there about who orders first or who sits by who.  You get there and before the last cone is served one has dropped hers and is hysterically crying.  The mess is cleaned and another cone ordered just in time to observe that most of the double dark fudge one ordered has stained her outfit and completely ruined it AND it is somehow all over the back of her head.  500 napkins later you have cleaned it up and now two of them need to go to the bathroom where they proceed to touch everything in the nasty public restroom.  Hands are washed and as you go to dry their hands with the hand dryer you realize too late it’s one of those that is made with a jet engine that is so loud and strong that the kids are screaming and terrified.  Back to the car where an all out war rages over who gets to sit in the middle seat and the ride home is filled with crying b/c despite a “fun” night of ice cream we didn’t get to rent a movie.  Fun? Not nearly as much as I thought!!

Getting Fit Tips...

January is coming to a close and I am curious to know who is still sticking to their New Years resolutions??  I have been doing pretty well on some but there are a few that I haven't even begun to tackle.  Working out is on the top of that list.  This cold weather and the list of all my other excuses keeps getting in the way.  Today I am going to introduce you all to a local personal trainer who has some great tips for all of us mommas who are trying to get fit.  Although changing a crib sheet is a cardio workout in itself, I really think its time I stepped it up a notch.  Here is some great input and advice from Ben Hunley of Balance Fitness Studio:

I am alive...

I should have put up an "under construction" sign this week.  I am alive and working on some fun and exciting things for MOMSIE.  I am sure all of you moms can relate to having a full plate and thats exactly what I have had this week (er, since I had kids).  I am hoping this weekend will provide lots of productive time.  Next week I will be back with more frequent posts and some great stuff, including a new theme for Thursdays!!  I also have some great giveaways in the works!  In the meantime please send me an email if you are interested in guest blogging on here.  I am open to any and all ideas!

Queen's Feast going on this week!

*Just a friendly reminder to get a babysitter and head out to dinner.  Visit this website to see your options!*

Discovery Place 1/17/11 - 1/23/11

This week there are a lot of cool things happening at Discovery Place.  Most events are re-occurring but always check their website before to make sure!  

Pre schools, play schools, and wee schools oh my!

Its that time of year when mothers go into a panic.  There is a lot of talk about applying, tuition rates, and hoping your child gets in.  No, not college.  We are talking about pre school!  I was one of the idiots who just figured I'd start calling around in the summer to see which place had openings for that fall.  Little did I know that applying to pre schools is a lot like trying to get into a coveted college.  After several places basically laughed at me I was fortunate enough to find a spot is a great program.  Since then I have learned that finding a pre school starts in January-February and if you need to do any research do it now!  Many places have already opened registration to current students and will open it to the public starting within the next couple of weeks.  Most programs offer tours so that you can come see how you like the place.  Charlotte has so many great options but its time to pick one!  Here is just a short list of some great programs around town:

FYE (For Your Entertainment): 1/14/11

Today's FYE post goes right along with our attempts at getting organized this week.  I hope that you got a little excited this week about getting your house in order and these sites will help you carry the organizing bug into your weekend!  Enjoy...

Winner of the Designing for the Soul Give Away

Congratulations *Beverly Starkey*, winner of the Designing For The Soul gift set.  You are going to be organizing in style this year!  Send me a quick email or Facebook message with your contact info so Caroline can get in touch.  Thanks to everyone who became a follower or sent someone new my way!

Are you a lefty or a righty?

When organizing or decorating it is important to know your personality.  This helps you find a style that works for you.  If a system or decor does not flow with your personality type chances are it won't last or you'll end up hating it.  Take this quiz from Real Simple magazine to see if you are a left-brainer or a right-brainer.  This should get you one step closer to a more appealing home.  *Click on the picture for a larger, easier-to-read version.

DIY: Bulletin Board

Since Thursday is my free-for-all day I wanted to switch gears a little bit.  This week I have been trying to pass along some tips for getting organized and I hope that you all are starting to make some changes.  By doing so you will make your days run smoother and will hopefully teach your kids some healthy habits.  

Guest bloggers

So, I could not be happier about the fact that people actually read this blog and take the time to email feedback.  I feel so grateful every time I see a new follower has been added or a new "like" on Facebook.  I wanted MOMSIE to be helpful and fun and so far I feel like it has been thanks to your nice words.  I still have so many things I would like to do here and I hope to always be able to bring you tips and advice you can use in real life.

Make this calendar during the 2 hour delay...

Here's a project that you could work on with the kids while they are home for the 97th 4th morning in a row.  It comes from good ole Martha and looks pretty simple.  *Click on the picture and it will bring up a larger version that is easier to read.

Because of...

Because of the snow my husband had off work.  That gave us time to sit down and devise a budget.  In doing so we found that we could save a little on some of our bills.  Because of that I called our phone service and requested a new bundling package.  Because of that I received a huge box in the mail with instructions for activating a new phone line.  Since technology is the devil I ended up with a pile of cords, a non-working phone, and the urge to kick something.  That was even after a repairman stopped by.


Because of the snow I have been stuck inside.  Without a phone.  Because of the snow my older son has also been home all week going stir crazy.  Because of the snow I wasn't able to go buy diapers when I saw the stash getting low.  

Designing For The Soul (*GIVE AWAY*)

www.carolinesimas.blogspot.com

*UPDATE: all links to Caroline's website and blog have been corrected on here.  They should now link up!
Back in December, which seems like a loooong time ago, I mentioned a really creative Charlotte artist named Caroline Simas.  

Organizing in the New Year

This week we are going to start to tackle my very favorite resolution: ORGANIZATION!  If I had to list my hobbies organizing would be one of them.  For me it is therapy.  My life can be chaotic with 2 kids so small things like, an organized utensil drawer or a color coded closet makes me feel a little more in control.  I also just love to look at things when they are in bins, baskets, and compartments.  Throw in some labels and I am smitten!
*I will be adding organization projects to this post as the week progresses so look out of more tips!

Save more with E-VIC...

If you have not signed up to receive e-VIC specials through Harris Teeter's website head over and do it now.  Harris Teeter now allows you to add coupons to your VIC card online so they are stored there for your next visit.  You will also receive special deals and coupons just for becoming an e-VIC member!

FREE THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK 1/11 - 1/17

I am back with all kinds of activities for you and the fam!  The holidays are over but there are still plenty of things to do for free or really cheap.  There are also some plan-ahead things coming up and a chance for an inexpensive date night so get out your calendars!

Advertising

If you notice to the left and right of my posts their are some ads for some of the wonderful people that have been featured here on MOMSIE.  Just by clicking on their image you are linked to their own sites and I hope that you all have done just that.  Anyone who I have mentioned offers something that I think, and hopefully you do too, is worthwhile and unique.  If you have a service, product, some hidden talent and would like to be featured here please send me a quick email.  I am open to whatever you can bring to the table as long as it can be used by moms, dads, kids, families, etc.  I would love to continue focusing on local people and businesses so please contact me at momsiecharlotte@gmail.com so I can help spread the word.  Ads run on a monthly basis and rates are really reasonable.

SNOW DAY

So in preparation for tomorrow (Monday) I am posting some ideas on things to do in case of a snow day.  Here are some things that will hopefully keep kiddies busy and entertained.

FYE (For Your Entertainment): 1/7/11

My very first FYE post...YAY!  I want to leave you with a smile on Fridays so that you go into the weekend on a positive note.  We all know that 2 solid days with everyone home can be overwhelming at times (read: you wish everyone could go back to school and work) so I hope that I can help you start it off right.  We all know the saying, "happy wife, happy life" and music makes me happy so hopefully it will make you happy too.  

Winner of the Thirty-One Gifts tote

Congratulations Karen Thompson, winner of the Thirty-One Gifts giveaway.  

Consider Consigning...

One of the best ways to get the most of your money is to consider consignment.  Consigning has become the way to get the most our of your belongings.  Of course there are times to pay it forward and donate items to Goodwill or other charities but sometimes we need to recycle our dollars to get through the expenses of raising children.  Charlotte has several great consignment stores that will pay you for everything from your couch to your child's old shoes.

Budget Help from a Financial Advisor

I am not afraid to ask favors from people around me, especially if it could bring some good to the readers here.  My husband is not safe from my requests either and this week he had a giant bulls-eye on his back.  Just so happens that I am married to a financial advisor and he has earned himself the nickname "the human calculator" by me.  Truly opposites do attract!

Thirty-One Gifts (*GIVE AWAY*)

I am not sure what is in the female DNA that makes us like bags but there must be something.  A purse or tote bag gene or something.  All I know is that I, and most women I know love a good bag.  After I had kids this little fetish grew even more mostly out of necessity because I realized that traveling with children requires a lot of stuff!  My diaper bag became my purse, my purse became a lunch box, and the days of a clutch were laughable.  Now I have kids and they need bags!

Coupon Guru...

One of the main places that I see my money flying out of my wallet is at the grocery store.  Even with in-store specials I can't seem to get out without spending a small fortune.  I often leave thinking how great it would be to drop money at Nordstrom like I do at the grocery store.

FREE Dinners for a Week...

No you did not read that wrong my friends...you really can feed your kids for free (or for really, really cheap) for a whole week, every week, this year.  I have compiled a list of restaurants that run a "kids-eat-free" night and organized it by day so you can have it on hand.

A little side note about posts...

In one of my blog resolutions I want to keep things organized.  This is for you my sanity.  So, going forward I will somewhat stick to this format:

Buh bye 2010

Happy 2011!  I for one am excited that it is January already and Christmas is over.  Bitter, party of one? No, not the case at all.  I had a wonderful Christmas that for once didn't go by too quickly.