Average Michigan Mom

The stage of Mud Pies has begun in my house, and I am slightly crying inside. Not for the reason of them growing, learning and reliving one of my favorite childhood past times. But because the Mom in me sees that they are a muddy mess and completely dreading the cleanup. They are also doing it way different than when I was little. When I was little, if we ran into the house for water - no way, running in and out of the house just wasn't a thing "In or Out!" I would hear over and over. We had to wait for those rainy days to fill up any and all containers we could find in the yard. We had to hunt for water to make our mud pies. My 4-year-old has learned when the rainwater wasn't enough - grab the watering can and take it inside for more water. Smart... But I cringe every time he runs his muddy self through the kitchen to the bathroom! Am I going to get after him and tell him to stay outside and that he is making a mess? Nope. Here is the thing - we are in one of tho...

Writing about mashed potatoes totally seems normal to me. I love them - we had a mashed potato bar at our wedding and it was by far one of my favorite parts. They are the perfect side to most dished - you can do a lot with mashed potatoes and 75% of my family loves to eat them. They are a good filling side, however, to make good homemade mashed potatoes takes a bit more time than I have sometimes. Not that they are hard but - between peeling, washing, boiling and mashing - it takes some time when you have to keep stopping to do something for the kids. On average mashed potatoes take me almost an hour from start to finish. (That may seem like a long time, but I get pulled away a lot during the peeling process and I might be a slow potato peeler) Today in Once A Month Meals - I can a crossed making them in bulk and freezing. Then reading the comments section, someone talked about making them into mashed potatoes scoops and flash freezing them. This would be an amazing idea f...

What is it about dinner time that the kids start to go crazy!?!? Seriously they could be just fine playing or doing something where they don't need me. The second I start to cook or while I am in the middle of cooking it all becomes chaos and they are throwing fits, at my feet crying or needing something from me. I struggle when my kids are crying or screaming. I can't think straight so therefor dinner doesn't go as planned: I burn something, I burn myself, or I miss a step and the meal is messed up. So a few months ago I was on a hunt for a better meal planning and process. I was having no luck finding something I wanted. I could visualize what I wanted but wasn't finding the right fit. Until I came a crossed Once a Month Meals. I love the idea of freezer meals, but I struggle with the hunt for recipes. As I look for a recipe and end up lost in the world on Pinterest, so easy to do - two hours later I have no recipe for dinner but a ton of home decor and organizing i...

I am slightly obsessed with rebate and cash back apps - they are a big part of my monthly budget, plus I find them fun - it is like a game to me. How many points can I earn?!?!?  Here is a breakdown of my favorites. I use about 7 of rebate type of apps - often before I make a purchase, I will take the time and compare all the apps before I decide which to use based on who will give me the most cash back. Then, I top it off with credit card rewards.  **Keep in mind this is 100% my own personal opinion** #1 Ebates: I love to use Ebates, I prefer to use it on my computer over the phone app. However, both work fine. I personally find using the Ebates chrome extension on my computer is much easier and I never forget! Plus it helps me find promo codes, I don't have to google search promo codes. They also have some choices for in-store cashback as well, as long as you have your card on file. If you are not familiar with Ebates - largely if you shop online - most p...