Family Fun

  • Fresh & Healthy: School Lunchbox Meals

    School lunch goodies

    The girls enjoy a variety of fruits, vegetables and other goodies in their school lunches.  Along with the mix of character bags and containers their lunches usually have something different in it everyday.  I have found that the tube yogurts are very nice for the girls lunches because they are easy to use (no spoon is needed, especially since somehow they manage to lose those on the way to school).

    • Roast Beef and Cheese Sandwich
    • Fresh Green Grapes
    • Fresh Cherry Tomatoes
    • Fresh Apple Peel Confetti Crisps
    • Homemade Banana Bread
    • Yogurt Tube
    • Cars Marshmallows
    • Cherry & Lemon Jello
    • Pink Lemonade

    Fresh fruits and vegetables for lunch

  • Review & Giveaway: Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler

    I am thrilled to introduce you to the new Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler that I have recently received PLUS I will be giving away 1 of the Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler’s to one lucky reader (details below)!!!  It includes everything you need for your waste and recycling in one container for your kitchen.  Even though we have only been using it for a short time our family has enjoyed having a specific spot to put all our recycling materials.   The recycled items are contained within the Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler so we don’t even have to see them until we are ready to take them to recycle. I am very excited to be giving one of these great Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recyclers to one of my readers!

    Here are some of the benefits of the Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler:

    • Keeps recyclables off the counter by giving them a place to live in your kitchen
    • The bottom tilt out bin holds a standard 8-gallon trash bag AND features LinerLock™ bag management, so your bag stays put and does not slip
    • Both the top bin and bottom bin have convenient handles when needed to transport recyclables to wherever your recycling is stored for pick-up or transport
    • The 2-in-1 Recycler fits more recyclables while using 25% less floor space compared to typical divided containers
    • Made with recyclable materials and is recyclable

    The Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler has quickly become a hit with my family.  My favorite part about this great product is that it takes up less floor space and contains all the recycled material in one spot.  The recycled items are out of sight until it is time to take them and Rubbermaid has made it easy to transport the items with the handles.

    Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler details:

    • Two unit bin 2-in-1 Recycler
    • Contain trash and recyclables all in one location or sort your recyclables
    • Sleek design blends into kitchen décor
    • Features LinerLock™ bag management in lower bin
    • Removable lid
    • Fold-away handles
    • 5.8 gal sorting bin
    • 7.4 gal tilt out bin with Liner Lock™ handles
    • Total capacity = 13.2 gal
    • Perfect for multi-stream or single stream recycling
    • Suggested Retail Price is $39.99

    I encourage you to check out more information on Rubbermaid’s 2-in-1 Recycler if you are interested in finding a nice solution for your recycling needs.  These Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recyclers would make a great birthday or wedding gifts for family or friends!  The Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler can be purchased at Rubbermaid’s website or at your local Meijer store.

    Giveaway

    As a way to say thank you to my readers and to share Rubbermaid’s great 2-in-1 Recycler I am hosting a giveaway!

    The winner of this giveaway will receive:

    • 1 Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler (see picture and details above)

    Here’s how to enter the giveaway:

    1. Sign up to follow my blog (if you haven’t done so already) and leave a comment below telling us how you follow Blessings Multiplied.  You can sign up to receive Blessings Multiplied via email or like on Facebook.
    2. You can get a bonus entry into the drawing if you leave a separate comment below sharing your best recycling tip!

    All comments must be made by Monday, April 30, 2012 at 10:00 PM EST to be entered into the drawing.

    More information about Rubbermaid and the 2-in-1 Recycler can be found:

    *I was given this product for free to write an informed review.  The opinions expressed in this post are my own.  I was not paid to write this post.  A special thanks to Rubbermaid for providing this 2-in-1 Recycler to review and for the giveaway for my readers!

  • CONGRATULATIONS to Our “Wits & Wagers Family Game” Winner!

    The name has been drawn for the giveaway!

    CONGRATULATIONS to

    Ashley Genovese

    for winning a copy of

    Wits & Wagers Family Game by North Star Games!

    Thanks for making a comment in honor of our Giveaway!

    An email has been sent to you with more information*

    Enjoy Playing Your New Game!

    Don’t forget to enter our next Giveaway (the next giveaway will be announced later this morning)!

    *Giveaway must be claimed within 5 business days of the prize being announced.  Failure to claim the prize within the allotted time frame means you forfeit the prize.

  • Book: “Swiss Family Robinson” by Johann Wyss

    Before I headed out on my India adventure I started reading one of my favorite books as a kid to the girls, Great Illustrated Classics The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss.  My Mom finished reading the book to the girls while I was away and then watched the movie with them.  Karlie was convinced that she was ready to live on an island in a tree house after reading the book and watching the movie (although she said it would be ok if the pirates didn’t come).

    It has been a lot of fun reading the girls some of my favorite books as a kid.  They love listening and enjoy the adventures the stories take us on.  This book is about the Robinson family that gets shipwrecked on an island.  The family learns to live off the land, build a home in the trees, and their journey.  It is full of great adventures as the family explores their new home.  If you have kids that love being read to this is a fun book for the whole family.  Plus after reading the book you can watch the movie which is always something great to look forward to as well.

  • No Eating Turtles…..Well Most of the Time!

    Mint Chocolate Chip Turtle

    Occasionally the girls have fun making little “creatures” with their food.  Recently, they decided to make turtles out of their mint chocolate chip pancakes.  They used peanut butter for the eyes and cheese sticks for the legs.  It is always neat seeing them get creative with their food especially when they eat all their breakfast!  Do your kids get creative with their food?

  • Fresh & Healthy: Lunch Box Meals

    School Lunch Box Meal

    The girls have a lot of fun helping put together their lunches for school.  Often they will pick out their favorite drink, containers, baggies and other goodies.  They enjoy eating homemade applesauce, jello, and more items that we make together.  The best part about making the fruits, cookies, and other food from scratch at home is you know exactly what goes into it.  You can make it with whole wheat, no sugar as well as adding other healthy ingredients.  Each meal the girls get a protein, fruit, vegetable, diary, drink and snack.  Everyday is a little different to add more variety to their lunches.

    Lunch Box Meal:

    • Peanut Butter & Homemade Strawberry Jam Sandwich
    • Homemade Cinnamon Applesauce
    • Peach or Vanilla Yogurt
    • Lemon or Raspberry Jello
    • Broccoli, Cabbage, & Carrots “Straws” (Broccoli Coleslaw Mix that the girls have renamed broccoli straws)
    • Chocolate Milk
    • BBQ Chips
    • Mint Solo Granola Bar
    • Homemade Cookies

    The rainbow sandwich container, candy corn baggie and princess baggie add a little more excitement to the lunch.

     

  • Book: “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett

    The girls and I just finished reading the Children’s Illustrated Classic The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.  They LOVED it!  It was a good story with enough of an adventure to keep them asking me to read “just one more chapter tonight, please Mom”!

    The story is about a little girl from India named Mary Lennox.  She was spoiled by everyone and had very little interaction with her parents.  When her parents died she was sent to live with her Uncle in England, Lord Craven.  Her Uncle was a sad man who was still mourning the death of his wife from 10 years ago and really did not want to have anything to do with Mary other then to make sure she had the food and necessities she needs.  Mary learns to love life in England and has grand adventures exploring the manor’s gardens.   As she continues to explore outside, learns how to garden, and meets new friends Mary was able to keep more then one hidden secret that took those living in the large manor by surprise.

    The girls really enjoyed having me read this book out loud to them.  The pictures and story really came alive for them as we processed on through the book.  If you have you girls (or boys) and you are looking for a good book to read to them you should check this one out!