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Meal Planning Tips- For Busy Families!

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Meal Planning Tips

If you are looking to save time and money each week on healthy meals for your family, then Meal Planning is the way to go!

I want all the Meal Planning Tips because it is something I work hard each week to do. It helps our family save money.

The following Meal Planning Tips provide suggestions for meal prepping and planning, while also giving you some ideas for freezer meals to enjoy on the busy days.

The start of Meal Planning is to write down a plan. I have a great post with a FREE Meal Planning Printable HERE!

After you grab that, come back here to read up on some more Meal Planning Tips!

So, this is a rough draft of Meal Planning:

  1. Write down a Plan.
  2. Write out a shopping list.
  3. Do shopping and chopping.
  4. Plan a prep and cook day.
  5. See what works and doesn’t.

Sign up for email updates with FREE printables and grab this Shopping List!

Meal Planning Tips- Shopping List

Get a Variety of Food Storage Containers

To start with, you will need some food storage containers that meet your needs. Do you need large containers with different compartments? Like these. Or would individual different size containers work better for you? Like these. to make the best out of Meal Planning the secret is a little trial and error. You have to figure out what works best for your needs and your family.

Food prepping and planning does require you to put some food items, chopped veggies, and prepared snacks into containers so you can store them in the refrigerator or freezer. Try to get more containers than you think you will need so you can use them for lunches, snacks, prepped ingredients, cooked meals, and leftovers throughout the week.

Set Aside a Day

The key to making meal planning work for your family before you even start is to set aside a day for the prep and cooking. (or just prep. I personally don’t cook any meat ahead of time.) You don’t have to do all the work for the week but just the harder more time consuming tasks. Cook your chicken or other meats to save time during the week or go as simple as just chop and dice your veggies. With time you will find out what works best for you. Also, consider that life gets in the way sometimes. Picking one day, or afternoon, a week will help you get through the week of prep and make sure you don’t overlook anything or become too stressed.

Chop All Your Veggies Beforehand

Meal prepping isn’t always about making entire meals and freezing them, but sometimes just about preparing the ingredients. I like to wash fruits and veggies for snacks and put in baggies for easy grab and go.  You can do this by getting vegetables washed and just chopping, slicing, and dicing them when you have time. Think about what meals they will be used in so you can cut them in the right form. You might have carrots that are used both for a stew and for slices to put in your kid lunches.

Try Main Dishes You Can Use For Multiple Meals

Another great way to save time is to meal plan to create a single main dish that can be used for multiple dishes. For example, if you roast a chicken, you can use it for so many different things. You can make chicken soup, shredded chicken tacos, chicken southwest burrito bowls, chicken fajitas, sandwiches, wraps, and so many other things with just this one ingredient. Roast your chicken, then pull it apart and put the chicken in containers either to be stored in the refrigerator or freezer. Having chicken on hand that has already been cooked is very helpful.

Examples of Good Freezer Meals

Now it is time to take a look at freezer meals. Consider the size of your freezer and the meals that your family likes week after week when deciding what meals would be good to freeze. Here are some things that are good to be used as freezer meals:

* Soup and chili (I have a great way to Freeze Soup HERE!)
* Casseroles
* Chicken and veggies
* Lasagna
* Pulled Pork
* Meatballs

When planning out your meals each week, think of freezer meals you can have for dinner, but also save for your freezer too!

Your Crock Pot can be a LIFESAVER.

I really mean it. If you are a Mom then you know all too well how life can be BUSY. My husband is not big on crockpot meals but I have a rule to use it at least 1 time a week to make my life easier. I use this one HERE because it has a timer and goes to warm when cooking time is finished. Also, I buy liners likeTHESE so there is no clean up, other than lifting the liner out of the crock pot and take to the trash. GAME CHANGER for busy moms!

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Kudo Banz- A Positive Parenting Tool

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Are you happy with the way you are Parenting?

 

 

I am not. I feel my patience running thin way too often. I raise my voice when I don’t want to and say things I  later realize was not the right thing to say.

 

I am not the perfect parent and I will never claim to be. But, I want to be a better parent to my children.

 

I have strong-willed little ones that test me daily. Do you know that feeling?

 

 

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Kudo Banz. All opinions are 100% my own.

 

Positive Parenting Tool

 

 

 

 

Kudo Banz is similar to a sticker chart reward system but it’s on your child’s wrist. And, I find that the best part is the flexibility of the program. It is a tool used to reward your child for good behavior and can be used anywhere you go because your child wears the bracelet.

Each and every child is different and that means that the parenting techniques used have to be different to best suit the child. And with Kudo Banz you are in total control of the way you use this system as a tool in your parenting routine.

Why it Works

Structure, awareness, immediate recognition. And all in a positive manner. That’s why Kudo Banz works. It involves and engages kids so they know what is expected, can keep it in mind, and are timely rewarded for exhibiting good behavior. Psychologists and parenting experts agree that this approach is one of the most effective means of creating lasting change.

 

How We have Started Our Journey With Kudo Banz. 

 

We chose 3 behaviors we wanted to change then we talked about how we would use the Kudo Banz to earn charms when my child showed great behavior. She understood the process and then we read the book together that explained it even more. 

For example: My 5-year-old can earn a charm for-

  1. Doing as I ask, as soon as I ask
  2. Eating all her food on her plate
  3. Controlling her emotions (not whining)

When she reaches 3 charms on her bracelet she gets to open the app on my phone, scan her last charm and spin the wheel to find out what reward she has earned. (You customize the rewards yourself on the app!)

She is really engaged with this tool which I am very happy with. You could use it for getting homework completed, bedtime routine, or any area you feel you want to work on with your child.


 

What exactly is Kudo Banz?

A fun charm bracelet used to reward good behavior with a fun themed charm. (My daughters favorites are the princess collection and cat collection!)  The bracelet is used to encourage a  Positive Behavior Support System in your home.

 

 

What do you get in your starter kit?

  • Storybook: The hardcover storybook gets kids excited about their new adventure and introduces Kudo Banz in a fun way. 


  • 4 Kudos Charms: Kudos motivate kids to become better listeners with positive reinforcement.


  • 2 Magical Kudos: Scan & watch them magically appear! Magical Kudos come to life with the Kudo Banz app.


  • 2 Banz: Kids can easily see their progress right on their wrists. The 1,2,3 on the bands keep them focused. 


  • FREE App: The app is a magical experience that even includes a customized reward wheel.


  • Carrying Pouch: To make it simple and convenient to use at home and on-the-go, we’ve included a carrying pouch too.


 

 

You may like: Positive Parenting- Why it is Important to LISTEN to your Child

 

 

How we have changed things up to work best with our family.

 

  • We leave the bracelet in the same place every day while she is at school and when she gets home she can choose to wear it or not. But, we know at all times how many charms she has and she understands when she can earn more. 

 

  • At school, the behavior chart is made to reflect the children’s choices during the day at school. So, they can move up 3 spots to outstanding leader or down 3 spots for making bad choices. Obviously, they get rewards for being at the top. And, since I cannot change the way the behavior chart is done at school I have decided to use our Kudo Banz in line with that system. Ex. Even though they do not advise to take away a charm for bad behavior my daughter assumed that’s how it worked since that’s the way it happens at school. 

 

  • In the app you download on your phone you get to customize the rewards you children get for earning all 3 charms. We added baking cookies since that is a fun thing we enjoy. 



Another great thing about using Kudo Banz is that you can choose when to use it and when to pack it away for when you need it again. Because Kudo Banz turns behaviors into habits.

 

I’m excited to see our progress on this system! Do you think this is something that may help with your parenting?

 

 

 

 

*I RECEIVED THE PRODUCTS MENTIONED ABOVE FOR FREE IN RETURN FOR AN UNBIASED REVIEW. I ONLY REVIEW AND RECOMMEND PRODUCTS OR SERVICES THAT I HAVE USED PERSONALLY.

Extended Breastfeeding- 3 Reasons I Chose to Continue Breastfeeding After 1 Year

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Extended Breastfeeding- 3 reasons I chose to continue breastfeeding after 1 year

Are you an extended breastfeeding mom?

When I went to the doctor for my yearly check-up, after I had my daughter I wasnʼt feeling all that great, tired and just run down. I was sure it was from being a mom but the doctor said that he sees it a lot with moms who are extended breastfeeders.

I just sat there and smiled. I didnʼt know that was a term until I got home and googled it. I just thought I was doing what I felt was RIGHT at the time and season of life I was in.

I never thought I would say that I am breastfeeding a 2-year-old.

But, here I am with a 26-month-old who still loves her “mulk” before she falls asleep.

Breastfeeding is an amazing feeling that I wish every mom had a chance to understand because no matter how hard I try to explain it, I could never come close to what it truly is.

Extended Breastfeeding

I’m going to back up to say that I have 2 daughters. The first was never breastfed, ever. The second is absolutely and ridiculously in love with her “mulk”. She has never in her life had a bottle in her mouth because she refuses it like crazy.

So, since I never breastfed my first child I never thought that I would still be nursing my second past 12 months. Although, my breastfed baby has only been on antibiotics 1 time in her 2 years of life and I call that a win because my first child who was not breastfed was on antibiotics constantly as a baby.

I believe that every child is different and that means that every child must be fed differently.

3 reasons I chose to continue breastfeeding after 1 year.

1. It felt right. I didnʼt feel like my picky eater was drinking or eating enough. I couldnʼt get her to drink regular milk from a cup or eat baby food of any kind at 1 year. She still is a picky eater and most of her disliking foods is a texture thing. She never liked baby food and I tried them all. I even made homemade baby food with our Baby Bullet from fresh veggies from our garden. She was not having it. With my first child, she ate baby food fine and by 10 months was eating what I made for dinner, just smashed a bit. Not my second child.

2. Health benefits of breastmilk don’t just disappear after 1 year. Not to mention the meltdowns. My daughter would have crying fits if I refused to allow her to nurse. Like lay on the floor, and withhold from eating kind of meltdown fits. It stressed me out beyond measure and she was definitely stressed out.

3. I realized that not every child is the same and that 1 year of breastfeeding is just a SUGGESTION. I guess I felt pressured from people around me to stop breastfeeding at 1 year because they thought thatʼs what you are supposed to do.

But, I forgot that as her mother I knew what was best for her. After all, Iʼm the one who fed her every meal she has had to nourish her growing and healthy body while in my arms since the day she was born.

How could anyone else know her and our breastfeeding relationship any better?

You may like Positive Parenting- Why it is Important to LISTEN to your Child

I know that a lot of people have different views on nursing their children and that is totally okay. Because as moms we more often than we recognize, know what is best for our children.

Every child is different and requires different approaches to parenting. No one knows that my daughter is still nursing because I donʼt allow her to nurse in public. Not because Iʼm afraid of what people will say, but simply because that is not my thing.

So, we will continue with extended breastfeeding until I feel the time has come to stop or she tells me. And. I feel it coming very soon.

I will try to savor these last times as much as possible.

Mama Inspiration for the Amazing Moms!

Are you an extended breastfeeding mama? Tell us about your journey in the comments below!

Are you looking to make life less stressful, Mama? Click below to get my FREE Mama Happiness Workbook!

The Mama Happiness Workbook

Easy Halloween Costumes- for Kids on Amazon!

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Easy Halloween Costumes!

 

As a mom of 2 small little ones, I know that sometimes we are just tired and need some easiness in our lives. Don’t you wish there was an easy way for everything? I know I do. And, that’s probably how you found this post. Because if you are like me, you looked for Easy Halloween Costumes on Pinterest!

 

But, what makes these costumes great is that they are on AMAZON! and, since I have Prime Membership I get FREE 2-day shipping right to my door.

So, as a mom I love Amazon. I don’t have to get kids ready and in the car. I just order what I need (and they have EVERYTHING.) Then, it is at my door in no time! I love it.

 

This post has affiliate links. This simply means sometimes I recommend a product or service, and if you choose to purchase that product or service via my recommendation, I will get a small referral commission. Of course, this is at no extra cost to you but it does help keep Simply Happy Mama. I truly appreciate your support in this way. Thank you.

 

 

There are so many bonuses to being a Prime member! If you would like to try it out FREE yourself here is the link.

Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easy Halloween Costumes

 

 

 

I love everything Fall. With that, I want you to know that I am not a huge fan of Halloween. I love “Fall” festivals and the time of year but I am just not a “scary things” type of girl. I have never been. I never watched scary movies growing up and not because I wasn’t allowed just simply because I didn’t want to. And, I still don’t want to. If that is your thing though I will not like you any less 🙂

 

So, you probably won’t find an idea for a “scary” costume on Simply Happy Mama. Sorry! 🙂

 



 

Here are a few Easy Halloween Costumes for GIRLS.

 

 

 

                           

 

 

 

 

 

These are Easy Halloween Costumes for the BOYS.

 

 

                                   

 

 

More Halloween Fun on Simply Happy Mama:

 

FREE Halloween Printables!

 

FREE Printable Treat Bag Toppers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What are your Easy Halloween Costume Ideas?

 

 

 



 

Quality Time- Make it Count with Your Child!

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Quality Time with our kids is probably one of every parent’s top priorities.

 I know it is mine.

 

My kids ARE my LIFE. I have a job to teach and love them. And, I do NOT take it lightly. I try so hard to carve out Quality Time with each of them even though there is so much to be done.

 

 

Quality Time

 

 

In today’s busy world, work, household chores, and social activities all put a strain on time with our children. But as we all know, it’s important that we spend quality time together. It helps strengthen the bond between parent and child and lets our child know that we can be trusted and counted on.

Children who spend quality time with their parents often do better in school and shine in extracurricular activities, hobbies or sports. And though it can be ‘scheduled’ to a degree, Quality Time is something that happens when you least expect it. So, it’s important that you do spend as much time as possible with your child in a relaxed way as often as you busy life allows.

I know life is busy. I also know the need for more than 24 hours in each day for us moms but with a little creativity, I know you can come up with a plan. Prioritizing is the key.

 

 

Here are some helpful suggestions on how to make the most of your time and find a quality time where you least expect it.

 

  • Look at your household chore list and decide which ones can be left undone or be done imperfectly in order to make more family time. You might also want to consider leaving certain things until after your child has gone to bed to make the most of your time together.

 

  • Turn some of your everyday routines into time together and make them count. Sing some favorite silly songs on the way to daycare, or make that drive to and from school a great opportunity to discuss what’s happening in your child’s life.

 

  • If you have more than one child, realize that each of them needs your individual attention. You may really have to juggle things around to make this happen, but try to be flexible and creative when spending time with each of your kids. And no matter what, don’t skip those individual times with each child. By doing so you show them they’re lower down on the priority list than the cleaning or the grocery shopping.

 

  • Children thrive on stability and routines, so plan your quality times so that they can take place regularly. Maybe you can walk the dog together on weekend morning, take a shopping excursion together, have a scheduled night each week for a sit-down dinner together, or make a trip to the park.

 

 

Even though we all know chores, cooking, and cleaning have to be done in order to live without chaos we still have to make quality time for the little ones. It’s not just about having them fed, clean, and smart. Sometimes, it’s about the memories we make with them and the connection we have.

 

 

Things I do with my Girls.

  • I like to make grocery shopping fun and include my girls in the process. It is a fun Mommy and Daughter adventure planning and shopping for things we will be cooking in the kitchen together.

 

  • I know my favorite time to really talk and listen to my children is on our 25-minute drive to school and home from school each day. It is a time when we have little distractions.

 

 

You may also like:

Why it is Important to LISTEN to your Child.

 

So, sit down and think about how you want to intentionally make sure you have quality time with your little ones each day. It will make your heart happy!

 

Here are some great books to check out.

 

 

 

 

Weekly Reflection for Mom Printable!

 

 

Weekly Reflection for Mom

 

Grab Yours by signing up for the weekly Newsletter, Mama!

Positive Parenting- Why it is Important to LISTEN to your Child

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Positive Parenting

There are many definitions for Positive Parenting and I just want to say that I want to practice Positive Parenting. I also want to make it clear that I am NOT a perfect parent. I make mistakes daily and I try to learn from them.

This post is about Communication with your child and why It is important. I hope you enjoy the read 🙂

 

Positive Parenting

 

 

 

Communicating with our children can be a difficult task at times. We feel like they’re not listening to us; they feel like we’re not listening to them. Good listening and communications skills are essential to parenting. Your child’s feelings, views, and opinions have worth, and you should make sure you take the time to sit down and listen openly and discuss them honestly. Now, with that said I also know that not ALL of their thoughts and feelings can be discussed because we only have 24 hours in each day. Right, Mama? But, I do believe that as parents we can pick out those important feelings, and opinions each day and have a “teaching moment” with our children.

By being sensitive to our child’s feelings and emotions we are showing them love and understanding. And, allowing them to express themselves openly and honestly without fear of repercussion from us is key to creating a great communication relationship. By reacting negatively to our child’s feelings, we send our child the message that their feelings and opinions don’t matter. But by responding and asking questions about why our child feels that way, it opens a dialog that allows us to discuss their feelings further and allows you a better understanding of where they’re coming from. Responding also gives you an opportunity to work out a solution or a plan of action with your child that perhaps they would not have come up with on their own. Your child will also appreciate the fact that maybe you do indeed understand how they feel.

It’s crucial in these situations to give your child your full and undivided attention. Put down your newspaper, stop doing dishes, or turn off the television so you can hear the full situation and make eye contact with your child. Keep calm, be interested, and afterward offer potential solutions to the problem.

Don’t discourage your child from feeling upset, angry, or frustrated. Our initial instinct may be to say or do something to steer our child away from it, but this can be a detrimental tactic. Again, listen to your child, ask questions to find out why they are feeling that way, and then offer potential solutions to alleviate the bad feeling.

Just as we do, our children have feelings and experience difficult situations. By actively listening and participating with our child as they talk about it, it demonstrates to them that we do care, we want to help and we have similar experiences of our own that they can learn from.

Here are a few books about communication and listening.