Thrifty Thursday: Re-Use Plastic Lunch Meat Containers

Don't be so fast to recycle those plastic containers if you buy the ones that some lunch meats come in. Often they are the same quality as the Take Along variety that are sold in the "picnic" or "paper" products section of the grocery store. You will probably just need to remove the label & the adhesive used to attach the label on top, but that is easy enough.

These containers are great for sending home leftovers with guests or bringing along when traveling or camping since you don't need to worry if they are returned or ruined since they are free "Tupperware".

Some Chinese take-out places also use plastic containers that have be reused like this as well.

Wordless Wednesday: Snow Day!!!! with Linky

Try It Tuesday: Paper Plate Fish Craft

This is a fun & easy project for any kids. You just need 1 paper plate to make a fish, some paint (or something else to color it with), glue (or tape to attach the tail) and a googly eye (optional). My daughter wanted a glittery fish, so she sprinkled glitter on to the wet paint and it sticks pretty well.

This is just a picture of the basic supplies you need for this project.

I found that it is easiest if you have the child paint the paper plate first. Then allow to dry and cut out a triangle from one side to create the mouth and tape it to the back side to create a tail.

Your child may enjoy helping you tape the tail in to place, as well as glue a googly eye on.

This is my son's Nemo fish.

GIVEAWAY and Review: Little Angels Prayers for Every Day Book

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review Roma Downey's Little Angels Prayer for Every Day and to share it with my children. You can buy it from the Ideals Books website for $9.99 or on Amazon (for the same price, at the time of this post.)

My Thoughts
This is such a sweet board book. My 3 year old son seemed to enjoy the rhyming of the prayers. Rhyming is pleasing for kids to listen to and helps them to enjoy books more. They like the predictability's that rhyming offers.

The book features 50 different prayers that are easy to teach your children, especially the younger ones that might not be able to memorize a long prayer, as this is part of a series that is geared towards preschoolers. This was my first experience with this series by Roma Downey and I have to say that I am curious to read more of the Little Angels book with my son. I do like they there are short bible verses throughout the book, which helps them to become familiar with these verses that they will learn as they grow older.

The pictures are very vibrant and are of friendly wide-eyed children and animals. And I like that the book offers a wide variety of prayers to be said by the child throughout the day, so it is not just a naptime, bedtime, or storytime book. It is an anytime prayer book that you can pick up and read a prayer with them.

About the Book

Little Angels Prayers for Every Day features more than 50 simple rhyming prayers that cover a typical day and the typical worries of a young child. From waking in the morning to going to sleep at night, from thanking God for a meal to praying for His comfort when afraid, the prayers here will help little ones to see that any moment is a good moment to talk to God. Relevant Bible verses are scattered throughout the book as well!

You can find more information about Little Angels Prayers for Every Day online: 

Website

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Twitter

YouTube

 ONE LUCKY READER WILL WIN A COPY OF LITTLE ANGELS PAYERS FOR EVERY DAY

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 Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

Make It Monday: Slow Cooker Barley and Edamame Risotto

Slow Cooker Barley and Edamame Recipe

1 med onion, chopped 

1 1/4 C uncooked pearl barley

1/2 C shredded carrot

1 C broccoli slaw

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves

4 C  chicken broth (separated in to 3 C and 1 C)

1 cup frozen shelled edamame 

1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese 

Directions:

• Spray 3-4 quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In slow cooker mix everything except 1 C broth, edamame and cheese.
• Cook on low for 4-5 hours.
• In 2-cup microwavable measuring cup, microwave remaining 1 cup broth uncovered on High 2 to 3 minutes or until boiling. Stir thawed edamame and boiling broth into barley mixture in slow cooker. 
• Increase heat setting to High. Cover; cook 25 to 30 minutes longer or until edamame are tender. Stir in cheese.
• Enjoy!

GIVEAWAY and Review: Veggie Tales "The Little House That Stood"

I had the opportunity to review the newly released (March 5th!!!) Veggie Tales DVD titled "The Little House that Stood" with my children.You can buy this video on their website or on Amazon.

My Thoughts:
We own a handful of Veggie Tales DVDs and a couple of books, so my children are quite familiar with Veggie tales and were excited to help me review this new video. I had recently read my son our "Three Little Pigs" book, so the similar theme was already on his mind. Although, this DVD is a mixture of the fairy tale and the parable Jesus told of wise builders who built on rock and the foolish builders who built on sand. The movie brings the silly songs, including a new one, and mannerisms that are characteristic of Veggie Tales DVDs.
I love that this is another Veggie Tales DVD that helps spur on a conversation about how to be better neighbors and always offers several lessons for children to learn. They learned that it is OK to ask for help and you don't need to "do it myself" (as my son says right now!) for everything.

Wanna see for yourself what the DVD is like? Then check out the trailer below!

About The Little House That Stood

When the Three Little Pigs roll into Cabbageville looking to build some new houses, they meet one builder with a plan and two without a clue! Larry builds with hay, Mr. Lunt with bricks, but only Bob builds his houses on a firm foundation - following the wise plans from the Master Builder's Handbook! Will the Little Piggies make the right choices when it comes to building their houses - and their lives - on solid ground? Find out in this parable that shows kids when they follow God's blueprints, then can stand strong when the storms come!

You can find out more information about the Veggie Tales products online at:

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ONE LUCKY READER WILL WIN THEIR OWN COPY OF THE VEGGIE TALES DVD 
"THE HOUSE THAT STOOD STILL"
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"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." 

Disney on Ice "Worlds of Fantasy"

We had a wonderful time at Disney on Ice "Worlds of Fantasy", although due to needing for my husband's flight to get in we missed the first 15 minutes of the 2 hour show, which is when Cars was featured. So, be sure to not be late if that is one that you want to see, we did catch the last minutes of them being out.

Each of the 4 groups of characters reenacted the movies in which they play, Cars, The Little Mermaid, Tinkerbell and the Disney Fairies, and Toy Story (they appeared in that order.) They had the first 3 scenes over 1 1/4 hours and then we were given a 15 minute intermission and came back for Toy Story.

Last night was the first show! So you still have 3 more days of the show to catch it! This is the first time that the "Worlds of Fantasy" show has been in the Twin Cities, so you don't want to miss this. It was truly a spectacular show that you don't want to miss with your kids.

I was given free tickets to this show in order to help promote it on my blog through a giveaway and this review afterwards. I did not receive any monetary compensation.

This will be an event that the Little Ones in your life will never forget and will enjoy so much.

EVENT:	Disney on Ice: Worlds of Fantasy
	DATE:	Thursday, February 28 – Sunday, March 3
	TICKETS:	$15 / $22 / $42 / $65 – Opening Night Tickets Just $10!
	DETAILS:	Tickets are available at the Target Center Box Office, Ticketmaster Ticket Centers, by calling 800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. To charge by phone using Ticketmaster TDD/TTY, call 800-359-2525. Certain fees may apply. (Groups of 12+ can save $3 per ticket, call 612.673.1311 to get inquire.)

Don't delay! Buy tickets now to get the best seats possible! It is such a fun show. Be sure to allow time to find parking and walk through the skyway, buy snacks and souvenirs, and get back to your car after the show.

I have to mention that I bought popcorn from a show vendor and I was impressed with how fast he worked making change and getting everyone their items.

If you are trying to budget how much money to bring for souvenir & snack items, they sell large Mickey lollipops for $5 (cheapest item I saw) and $15 for a light up cup with a snow cone in it and all the other combo souvenir/food items are somewhere in between. They also sell a variety of toys. And there are some of the Target Center concessions open as well. And don't forget to budget for parking fees.