At Home With Amanda August 5, 2008

I’m not really loyal to any one particular grocery store.  Sometimes I’ll go to Super Target, sometimes to Super Walmart and sometimes Publix.  Publix is definitely my favorite as far as atmosphere goes.  So, even though it’s a bit pricier than Walmart, if I have all 3 kids with me, I’ll choose to go there because it’s so calm and a lot less stressful than Walmart. 

I’m also not the best couponer.  I always have good intentions and sometimes I’ll be on a roll for a few weeks and use lots of coupons.  Then I’ll get lazy and not clip them or I’ll forget them at home.  I know, lame excuse.

I recently found this website that I wanted share with all you grocery shoppers out there who are looking to save a little bit of money.  You will find all of the Publix BOGO items for the week PLUS a link to a coupon (or sometimes 2) to save even more money.  And for those of you who aren’t avid couponers, on the BOGO items, you can use one coupon for each item (even the free one).  For example:

Betty Crocker Supreme Brownie Mix (19.8 to 22.5-oz box): $2.63

$.40/1: HERE

Price after (2) Coupons: $1.83 for 2

($.91/each – save 65%)

And who doesnt’ like brownies?!?

I love that all the links to the coupons are right there, just a click away.  Someone else has done all the work for me!  Now I can print them out and clip them right before my grocery trip.  This has become one of my favorite sites to refer to as a busy mom who is trying to save a little money for the family!  Hope it’s useful to some of you out there.  Happy shopping!

At Home with Amanda July 29, 2008

If any of you are like me, sometimes it’s a struggle to get out the door with all of the children dressed and ready in a decent amount of time.  This is what a typical morning at our house sounds like,

“What do you want for breakfast?”

“Go get dressed.”

“Have you brushed your teeth?”

“Don’t forget to brush your hair.”

You get the picture.  I’m constantly nagging gently reminding my children to remember all the things they have to do to be ready to walk out the door.

So, in an attempt to make our mornings go a little more smoothly, I borrowed this idea (along with some others!) from this website.  Emma, Ansley, and I made these job jars:

Each child has a jar (minus Jackson, but he will as soon as he’s old enough!).  They each chose a color…purple for Emma, pink for Ansley…and colored just the tip of a craft stick.  Then we thought of all the things that they can do on their own each morning.  (These may vary according to the ages of your children.)  Here are the ones we chose:

Make my bed.

Get dressed.

Eat breakfast.

Brush my hair.

Brush my teeth.

Mom and Dad’s choice.

We wrote one job on each craft stick.  Then we placed all the sticks in the jar, color side up.  Each morning when the girls wake up, they complete on job at a time, turning the stick over when it is complete.  When all the colors are facing down, they’re ready to walk out the door!  (And there’s not as much nagging  reminding!)

I knew Emma would love this (she’s such a rule follower!), but Ansley has really surprised us…she loves it also!  I wanted to start implementing this before school starts so they will be pros by the time August 18th rolls around.  I hope this helps some of your mornings go a little more smoothly!

At Home With Amanda July 22, 2008

I decided to bring back the “At Home With Amanda” posts from my previous blog.  Occasionally I will put on my Martha Stewart hat (ha ha!) and share tips for around the house (cooking, cleaning, organizing, etc.) that have worked well for me.  Almost all of my ideas are copied and I will try to give credit where credit is due.  

With three kids under the age of 6, I am all about finding shortcuts and inexpensive ways to make my house a home that is inviting, so most of these ideas will be simple and quick…nothing extravagant for me…we’ll leave that to Martha Stewart!  

Today I will share a dessert recipe that I love to bring to parties.  Everyone loves it and no one can ever guess what the ingredients are.  I got this recipe from Monica Hand several years ago and I have made it dozens of times…I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

TEXAS CRUNCH:

Saltine Crackers

1 cup butter (2 sticks)

1 cup light brown sugar

1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 1/2 bags peanut butter chips

• Heat oven to 350 degrees
• Spread foil on cookie sheet, cover with saltine crackers, side by side. 
• Bring butter and brown sugar to a boil.  Do not stir.  Let boil for 4 minutes.
• Pour mixture over crackers, bake for 6 minutes.
• Straighten crackers with a fork
• Pour chocolate and peanut butter chips on top of crackers.  
• Let sit for 15 minutes.  Swirl with a fork.  (If chips are not melted, you can put the cookie sheet back in the oven for a few minutes, but make sure the oven is just warm.)
• Refrigerate for 2 hours.
• Peel foil from back and break into pieces.