diy - So Easy Being Green

Gardening With Kids: 8 Ideas to Get Your Child Involved

I was inspired to write this post as Sophia, Moreaya, and I have connected over our garden this year. I'm thankful for this opportunity to share with my children as a part of a project with The Home Depot. This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Home Depot. We've always had a garden - since the first Spring that we moved into our house. The first year our garden was great, but we were just learning. The second year, I was 8 months pregnant, so I didn't help Rob much. After Sophia was born, I really didn't help much - someone else kept me a little busy. Last year, our third with a garden, I had an almost 2 year old and a 4 month old... still not a ton of time to devote to raising more living things! This year, oh this year, we have enjoyed our garden to the … [Read more...]

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Lindsey

Filed Under: children, crafts, diy, family, gardening, Green, learning, sitsgirls · 22 Comments

Spring Butterfly Craft

I was inspired to write about a fun Spring Butterfly Craft that Sophia and I made while participating in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Elmer’s. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating. There are some days that I miss working in child care. Not that I miss kids, because obviously I have two that keep me busy, but I miss the crafts. As the Director, I made sure that my staff and the children had a ton of craft supplies at their fingertips every day. Crafting is so important to kids. They feel a sense of accomplishment when they've created something. Not to mention the joy they get with spending time actually making it. So, lately I've been making Crafts at Home a priority - like it … [Read more...]

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Lindsey

Filed Under: children, crafts, diy, Green, learning, momcentral · 4 Comments

Thinking on My Toes: Creative Lunch Ideas and My Buffalo Chicken Fries Wrap

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. I was inspired to write this post on Creative Lunch Ideas as a part of this shop that has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® and Tyson #cbias #SocialFabric Moms are always thinking on our toes, right? We deal with two year old tantrums in the grocery store, diaper explosions {cloth or not}, and the lunch time rush. I really don't know which of those three is more stressful. It's like I just get done cleaning up breakfast and I look at the clock and it's already time to start thinking about what's for lunch!? So, this Mom {thumbs point at myself} decided to get creative with lunch the other day. Ok, actually I was just thinking on my toes, like any Mom does, … [Read more...]

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Lindsey

Filed Under: cbias, parenting, recipes · 6 Comments

Grilled Corn on the Cob {in Husk}

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Sunshine Sweet Corn. I received a gift card to purchase a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating. I'm getting ready to share with you, a recipe that is quite possibly the easiest recipe you've ever read. So easy, in fact, that you'll probably never cook your fresh, sweet corn in any other way. So delicious that it doesn't matter how easy it is! How do you prepare Fresh Corn? Do you boil it? Oh, no no no. If you do, please don't anymore! All of that sweet deliciousness is being left right in your boiling water! Do you microwave it? Oh, Paula and Martha should be pounding on your door! I don't care how many … [Read more...]

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Lindsey

Filed Under: momcentral, recipes · Leave a Comment

Snack Ideas – Toddler Sushi

I'm constantly challenged when it comes to snack time ideas for my girls. It's so easy to just grab a pre-packaged snack, but the girls love when I get creative with their meals! I ran across this idea when I first started browsing Pinterest. While we were enjoying a delicious Sushi lunch this weekend, Sophia wanted so bad to try the sushi, but just hasn't gotten up the nerve yet. She's VERY particular about her choice of foods. So, I told Rob about my idea for making her some Toddler Sushi and he said "I want some too!". Toddler Sushi It only takes three super simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. Rice Krispies Cereal {or any crushed cereal would work} Banana Peanut Butter Spread … [Read more...]

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Lindsey

Filed Under: children, learning, recipes · 11 Comments

Cooking with Coconut Oil – Semi Homeade Orange Chicken

Semi Homemade is my favorite way to do anything. Honestly, I guess this recipe is more homemade than not - since I totally do the dish the way I want, but instead of trying to perfect my own perfect orange sauce... I take a short cut. A SECRET short cut that you're going to love {if you can find it in a grocer near you}! Actually, there are 2 secrets to this recipe and I'm sharing them with you! I've been using my Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil for oil pulling, but I decided to try one of it's other most popular uses - cooking with coconut oil! I haven't tried any baking with it yet, although I hear it's incredible to bake with. I've simply been susbstituing my normal uses of olive oil with the coconut oil and have been very pleased with the … [Read more...]

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Lindsey

Filed Under: recipes · 7 Comments

Easy Snack Solution – Kids Trail Mix

We've been going on quite a few walks lately and it never fails that the daughter that can vocalize her wants... always wants a snack while we're walking. And the one that doesn't quite vocalize herself, well at least with words yet, still lets me know that she would like something to! We have quite a few cannister of Earth's Best Organic snacks in our pantry that the girls love, but tire of by themselves sometimes. So, I've been putting together a quick and easy snack solution for them to chomp on while we're on the road sidewalk. You can get really creative in your ingredients! Raisins Marshmallows Earth's Best Happy Snax Dried Blueberries Dark Chocolate Chips Earth's Best … [Read more...]

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Lindsey

Filed Under: children, recipes · 2 Comments

How Does She Sleep!? DIY Stuffed Animals Storage

Seriously - How does she sleep in there!? Before Sophia was born, I had an unspoken rule - no stuffed toys. From my experience in a childcare setting, I just knew what a breeding ground of germs they are. But then Miss Sophia fell in love with Mickey and she got the set from the Disney store. Then her Papaw got her a special dog on Valentine's Day. Then she got another that "I just love, Mama!" then another... and another. We've had to implement a new rule. Only 3 stuffed animals in Sophia's bed at bedtime. The rule gets broken, oh, I don't know every other night, but we're limiting that's for sure. So, I started scouring Pinterest for ideas on how to control the animals that aren't in her bed instead of having them thrown all over the … [Read more...]

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Lindsey

Filed Under: children, diy · 1 Comment

Wordless Wednesday: Handmade Easter Dresses

The girls on Easter in their Handmade Easter Dresses... by ME! Aren't they BEAUTIFUL!? Oh yeah, the dresses turned out cute too! ;) … [Read more...]

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Lindsey

Filed Under: family, sewing · 7 Comments

Gourmet Smokey Steakhouse Grilled Pesto Chicken Sandwich

Ahhhh... it's Spring here in east Tennessee! The weather is getting warmer, the sun is shining, people are mowing their yards... it's finally here! There are so many things I love about this season and we enjoyed a few of them this weekend, including grilling! I'm not sure why, but there's just something fun about cooking your food outdoors! We don't reserve the grill only for entertaining, though. We probably cook our dinner, by grilling, at least 2-3 times per week. Whether it's steak, chicken, burgers, or even veggies - we love to make it smell yummy in the neighborhood! One part of grilling that I struggle with, though, is the fact that sometimes my foods lose flavor. For a good marinade, I know the meats should soak for a few hours and that's a problem … [Read more...]

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Lindsey

Filed Under: cbias, recipes · 2 Comments

Quick, Easy, Sweet Snack for Moms {without the Guilt!}

When I found out that I was chosen to host a party for the DOLE Fruit Crisps snacks, I couldn't wait! When the packaged arrived at the door with all the yummy flavors, I was even more excited. When Sophia found the beautifully packaged box of red, crinkled paper protecting those yummy snacks, well, I wasn't so excited. But then when I read that one bowl only contained 160 calories - I got excited again! These are the perfect snack for Moms and just a few calories, so no guilt! I struggle with snacking, but especially at two times during the day. The afternoon nap time, slump and after dinner. While the girls are napping, it's quiet and I always want to reach for a little sweet something to keep me awake. After Dinner, I love to have a sweet treat to finish the day, buuuuttt... that … [Read more...]

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Lindsey

Filed Under: momcentral, parenting, recipes, Review · Leave a Comment

Why, Hello Fresh Produce at My Door!

What if there was a way to get fresh produce, meat, and every other ingredient that goes into a gourmet meal delivered right to your door... fresh. Too good to be true, right? Think Again! Hello Fresh does just that. This brown box arrived on my doorstep and I could smell the faintness of deliciousness. When I opened the box, I was so excited to see fresh produce that looked like it had just been picked out of boxes at the Farmers Market. I am all about fresh and easy. Trying to entertain the girls while I'm preparing dinner is hard enough, but trying to entertain them while I'm making a grocery list and shopping - ha! Hello Fresh gave me the opportunity to take it easy this week - no grocery list or shopping for 3 dinners. The best part? We didn't skimp by on PB&J … [Read more...]

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Lindsey

Filed Under: getting fit, recipes, Review · 12 Comments