Tuesday's TIP!

Y'all! I know I have been missing in action. I imagine most of you have moved on with your lives. In some respects, I have too:). I do love to blog but have found that moving to a new state for the 2nd time in less than 3 years has taken a lot of time and energy! After all, it's like dating again. DH (Dear Hubby) and I literally date other couples to find out who we mesh well with so that we can find our new friends. It is wonderful and tough all at the same time! Anyway, at our Swim Meet tonight, where I sweated away 5 pounds of body fat, I also enjoyed talking to some other women. I shared my TUESDAY'S TIP for the week. Run, do not walk,to your nearest Fresh Market this Tuesday and every other Tuesday in July. They have my favorite promotion for the month of July! Boneless, skinless, antibiotic free chicken breasts are $2.99 a pound, ground chuck is $2.99 a pound and RBST hormone free milk is $2.99 a galloon!!! WOOP WOOP! Last time they had this special, my sweet husband grilled all of the chicken and then I wrapped it as individual grilled chicken breasts and froze them in a ziploc bag. It has been so easy to thaw one in the fridge the night before we want to eat them the next day. They are moist and delicious! What a time saver! You are going to LOVE Mama Henley after you go to the Fresh Market! Just don't buy all of the chicken before I can get there!

Tuesday's Tip

I have not been hiding under a rock, though our new yard would certainly encourage me to do so! I hope to get back into blogging regularly, but life has taken us by the proverbial horns and proves to never be boring! As we are settling into a new home with more square footage, I am finding it more difficult to keep it clean. Therefore, I have implemented a new strategy. Normally I do not buy convenience foods or items because I know you pay more for the convenience of individually packaged bags of chips or crackers. However, in this case, I am going to encourage convenience.

How often do you learn of a last minute gathering at your home whether it be for playgroup or an impromptu Superbowl gathering like the one we hosted? It seems to happen to me enough that I have implemented a new system for keeping the house clean. I still regularly mop, vacuum, and disinfect and clean the bathrooms. I have always kept cleaning supplies under each bathroom sink. However, now I have added convenience Windex, pledge, and Lysol or Clorox wipes to my collection under the sink. When a friend announces her impending arrival, I quickly disinfect the toilet, sink, and all handles and faucets and then wipe off the mirror too. It gives us a quick clean when we are short on time! Certainly the Lysol or Clorox wipes also work well for cleaning up after a bevy of company. You can pop in each bathroom and make sure they are clean and disinfected without pulling out an arsenal of cleaning products!

Yes, you will pay more for the convenience, but since we do not have a housekeeper, I feel this splurge is justifiable! Happy Tuesday's tip!

Tuesday's Tip!!!!

It's that time of year where we sadly take down all of the joys of the Christmas season and pack them in boxes to be reused next year. While living in Tampa, we would merely switch our Christmas wreath for a Gasparilla wreath and the decorating of pirates and beads would commence. I am tempted to break out our pirate gear just for a little winter fun. Nonetheless, our company is gone and so is our tree.

I carefully packed away each ornament and admired them for the last time until next Christmas. Which are your favorite ornaments? Mine are the ones our children have made through the years, especially those with their sweet pictures on them. I treasure them!

When I pack away our ornaments, I pack them in the box labeled with the child's name on it. EACH child has his or her own box of ornaments. When we decorate the tree, they can put up their very own ornaments that they have made or been given through the years. One daughter's godparents give her a sterling ornament each year, so I write her name on the small ornament box along with the year and who gave it to her. This helps us remember her godparents each year and we are able to remember and pray for them:). Then the ornaments all go back in the large rubbermaid box at the end of the Christmas season. I have DH and my ornaments in their own box too. It keeps all of us happy and organized. Happy Tuesday's Tip!!!

Tuesday's Tip

Are you enjoying summer travels? I know we are!! It is great to get out and explore the country when your children do not have to be in school. Whether you work or stay at home with your children, many people travel during the summer. Favorite destinations include the beach and the mountains.

When we travel, we love to send postcards to family and special friends. I actually like going in the junky tourist shops so that I can buy 10 postcards for $1. In "shi shi" Martha's Vineyard, the postcards could not be found for a bargain. Once I find my postcards, I am very excited. I sit and write while waiting in restaurants or at night in our hotel room or house.



Then what do you do? How do you know everyone's address? How do you mail the postcards. Certainly smartphones have made life easier for us as addresses can be stored right in your phone. I take a copy of our Christmas address list with me when we travel. I also go to the post office in our hometown before we leave and buy a sheet or more of postcard stamps. Then, once I write the postcards, I can drop them in the mail! Therefore the postcards will have the cool postmark of whatever fun place we are visiting at the time rather than the postcard of our hometown. Don't you just love it?! Go out and buy your postcard stamps right now before your next trip! You can even keep them at the ready in your purse! Don't forget a favorite pen as well:). Happy Travels!

Tuesday's Tip!

I sure have missed you all. Prayerfully I can get back in the swing of things! I have learned quite a few tips from others this summer. As we were leaving Raleigh recently for yet another 12 hour drive, my friend,Nancy, had a great recommendation for us. She said that they always visit their local Redbox prior to trips and rent a few movies. At just $1 each, you can rent several movies for an upcoming trip. The best part is that Nancy said she simply returns them along the way because Redbox locations are now so abundant! Do you not just LOVE that?! The best part is that it lessens the clutter in your car because you can actually RETURN THEM before you embark on your journey home. You can also decide to rent "just one more!"

Tuesday's Tip

Can you believe summer is just around the corner?! I know we can't believe it at Mama Henley's house. Before we know it, we'll be headed back to Camp Greystone! Oh, how we love that place! I love helping give first-time camp mamas some helpful hints. One thing I always try to remember to do on Opening Day is to carry a Sharpie black marker in my pocket or pocketbook. You never know when you'll need to put a name on a book, pillow case, or new pair of socks that you inadvertently forgot to mark. Plus,you may go to the Shoppe and buy your little darling a camp blanket or water bottle, and she'll need her name on those too! So, as you prepare to embark on your little one's camp journey, pack a Sharpie marker in your purse!

Tuesday's Tip!

This week's tip can be used for both sad and happy times. When a baby is born or there is a death in the family, it is often a time when loved ones send flowers. Many times one receives a plethora of beautiful arrangements. The occasion itself may overwhelm one enough that you cannot remember which flowers were given to you by which friend.

Therefore, Mama Henley has a system that helps. Years ago after a sudden hospitalization, I received flowers. I took a picture of each arrangement. It is helpful to either have a separate written log with a description of the flowers and who sent them, or to simply photograph the card and the flowers together. This way, when write your notes of appreciation, you can mention what made the flowers special or which flower in the arrangement was most fragrant or your favorite. In fact, you may want to include a picture of the arrangement in your envelope. It pleases the giver to be able to see that his or her arrangement was indeed as beautiful as he or she hoped!

When we lost my sweet father in law, I took pictures of every arrangement, including the casket spray. We were overcome with grief and were not able to fully enjoy the flowers at their finest. However, we have been able to look at the pictures to see the pretty flowers and to remember how loved we felt. Happy Tuesday's Tip!!!

Tuesday's Tip

It is Tuesday and I have missed giving my tips! We have been road warriors as of late. It is no easy task to drive 12 hours with a family of seven! It is definitely not for the weak of heart. I have many tips that I employ on our trips. I always carry a cooler filled with fruit, yogurt, and cheese for healthier snack options. However, my favorite tip is to carry refillable water bottles with you whenever you travel. It makes SUCH a difference! I fill each child's water bottle with ice and water and place it in a cup holder near each of their seats. Then, whenever they are thirsty, they have fresh water available. We often stop at Zaxby's because they have drink stations. Many McDonald's do as well. We use the bathroom and then refill our water bottles with water and ice. I've even asked for a cup of ice to add to our cooler. We patronize the restaurant in some way by buying a drink or meal. Having the water bottles handle saves us on soft drinks and allows the children to stay hydrated. We will sometimes have a sprite as a treat or sometimes I carry lemonade in the cooler.
The triplets were given a fantastic new water bottle for their tenth birthday! Our dear friend gave them Bobble water bottles. Bobbles are great because they come with a built-in filter so that your little one's water is always fresh and filtered. We love our Bobbles!

Tuesday's Tip

At Mama Henley's house, we love to take our children out to eat. We don't do it as often as I would like, but whenever we do visit local restaurants, we try to arrive prepared. The best thing you can do for your children in ANY situation is to explain what they should expect. Our conversations are similar to this:

Mama Henley: "Children, we are going to visit a restaurant tonight for dinner. This is a big treat as Daddy is going to treat us and Mama Henley will not have to cook. It is very expensive to go out to eat, so you need to be careful when you order so that you will eat every bite. In fact, you may want to split a meal with your brother or sister.

We are going to walk in the restaurant and it will probably be fairly quiet. Do you think we should walk in the restaurant and talk loudly?"

Children: "NO!!! We should use our quiet inside voices."

Mama Henley: "That's exactly right. Now a hostess is going to seat us at our table and she will give each of us a menu. What do you tell her when she gives you a menu?"

Children: "We will tell her, 'thank you'."

Mama Henley: "Good! If the server asks you what you would like to drink, you will respond, 'Water please'. I will happily give you something else to drink at home, but unless the child's meal comes with a drink, you will drink water."

Children: "Yes, m'am."

Mama Henley: "You may then read your menu to determine what you would like to eat. They probably have chicken fingers, salad, macaroni and cheese, pasta with red sauce, or a hot dog or hamburger. They may have pizza. How many of you would like chicken fingers? " (I then go through the menu and determine what everyone would like to order. We try to share plates because our 5 usually cannot eat an entire meal by themselves.

Mama Henley: "Once you have ordered, you may sit quietly while we wait for our food to be served. Remember to keep your napkin and hands in your lap. When you eat, use one hand to hold your fork and be sure to chew with your mouth closed. When I was a child, we were told to thank the server up to three times throughout the meal. You do not have to thank your server every time he brings you something, but you should smile politely."

I let the children know behavioral expectations in advance. I also inform them if they are allowed to have dessert. We rarely have dessert unless it is included. In fact, I rarely serve dessert at home.

Our dinners are usually better if I have clearly outlined my expectations. When children understand that eating out is special, they are more likely to respect it and behave accordingly:).

I also try to bring crayons and paper into a restaurant. We have bought Doodle Menus and I keep a case of markers, crayons, and colored pencils in my car. What do you do when you take your children out to eat?

Tuesday's Tip

I just love to cook!!! It is almost 10pm and I realized I am supposed to have dessert for one of the preschool teachers tomorrow. The 2 vegetable dishes will have to be taken care of in the morning, but I pulled together my supplies and just made 2 chocolate chess pies. Thank goodness I had one can of evaporated milk!!!

When baking cakes and pies, you will sometimes fill the pan too full. As the pie cooks or the cake rises, sometimes batter will roll down the side and onto your oven. I have had this happen one too many times. Now I make my pies and place the pans on a cookie sheet and then slide the cookie sheet inside the oven. Any spills will now drip onto the cookie sheet, and not my clean oven! Happy Tuesday's Tip!

Tuesday's Tip

Honey, do you remember when we talked about rotisserie chickens? Well, I have another tip for you! Not only is it easier to pick your chickens while they're hot, but you'll be even happier if you do it with GLOVES covering your pretty hands! My friend, Wendy, is so smart. She bought a box of surgical gloves. Whenever she is deboning a chicken, she puts on a pair of these gloves. At first it may seem wasteful, but it is so smart. Wearing the gloves protects your hands and it keeps it more sanitary. When you are finished deboning the chicken, you simply throw away the gloves! Don't you feel smart now?! I know I do!

Tuesday's Tip

I was honored recently to be asked to help a friend in the kitchen at a ladies' luncheon. I had nothing to do with preparing the food, rather, I helped her plate it so that 84 ladies could be fed in an easy fashion. The plates held quiche, green salad, pasta salad, and a muffin. I was not in my own kitchen, so it was difficult to know where utensils were located in this kitchen. It was time to scoop the pasta salad on the plates, so I looked around for a spoon. I did not find one, however, I DID find a one cup measuring spoon. It was the PERFECT size! I scooped 1 cup servings of pasta salad onto each plate. It was the perfect amount of food and looked delightful on the plates!

Tuesday's Tip

Good Morning! Can you believe the rising gas prices?! I cannot!!! One day it jumped 14 cents a gallon, and then it has jumped another 7 cents per gallon in the past few days. Unbelievable! I am a little bit fanatic about not having an empty gas tank. My rule of thumb is to fill the tank whenever I hit half a tank of gas. I can't tell you how many times this has saved us from having to stop for gas when an unexpected trip comes along. We're able to hop in the car and GO! Unfortunately, now more than ever you want to keep your tank full because the prices are going UP every day! So, stop and take the time to fill your car with gas and you'll be glad you did!

Tuesday's Tip

At Mama Henley's house, we love going to Disney. We have annual passes and Orlando is a whopping 73 miles away. We can go to the park for the day and sleep in our own beds! It is wonderful! As you can imagine, we are becoming real pros! One way that Disney sort of tricks you is with their kids' meals. When you visit a restaurant, it lists a child's meal with appetizer, entree, sides, and dessert. Most children under age 9 cannot eat all of that food. The cost is $8.59 and up per child, which really adds up when you have 5 children like Mama Henley does.
Well, guess what?! Even in special restaurants, they usually offer some "children's standard meals" such as chicken nuggets and fries, pasta with sauce, or a hamburger. These meals are around $5 and come with fries. Depending on the restaurant, drinks may not be included, but your little one needs lots of water to stay hydrated anyway. This allows you to feed your child more affordably when you want to splurge on better food for Mama and Daddy.
Of course Mama Henley always packs a huge bag full of snacks too, so often our children do not need a meal because they have been eating pb&j sandwiches, cheese sticks, frozen gogurts, fruit, pretzels, chips, apples, etc.. This is another way we save money at meal time. Our 4 year old eats so little that when I do order her a meal it is often wasted. So, I have resorted to feeding her from my bag of tricks.
Let us know if you'll be at Disney as we would LOVE to see you there!

Tuesday's Tip

I have some very wise friends who also happen to be great cooks! As our little ones were playing recently, we began discussing recipes. Specifically we talked about the value of the roasted chicken that you can buy at Sam's Costco, Publix, Harris Teeter, or the Fresh Market. Here in South Tampa, our Sam's Club has great chickens. They are juicy, big, and affordable. Never mind that our youngest will not eat it because it says, "bock" and lives on a farm. Oh well. I have started copying my friends and use the meat for tortilla soup, casseroles, salads, and as our entree. It makes life cheap and easy. Just don't call me that!

Anyway, one of my friends explained that she debones her chickens the minute she brings them in the house. The meat is much easier to pull off the bone when it is warm than when it is cold. Lesson learned. I removed cold chicken last night and I think she may have a point. So, try it next time you buy a roasted chicken!

You should not try what I did tonight for dinner. Between filling out tedious forms online, calling out spelling words, giving our youngest some "homework", assisting with piano, and cooking dinner simultaneously, I foolishly put the chicken in its STORE container in the oven to warm it. Folks, plastic + heat = melting. You know I would never be that foolish and distracted. Oh no. Not me. Never. Learn from my mistakes!

Tuesday's Tip

A few months ago I discussed problems we were having with our dishwasher. My dear friend, Karlyn, and sweet husband both came to the rescue. Karlyn knocked on our door one night and brought us some Lemishine! You put some in your dishwasher and it literally removes the white scum. DH bought Finish and it cleans like our old detergents used to do! We are so happy at Mama Henley's house! Hurry out and buy some Lemishine, honey! You need some Finish too.

Tuesday's Tip!

Happy Tuesday! I have a nightly tradition that I rarely miss. When we were first married, I read lots of books about marriage. One of the books suggested a hot bath every night before bed. Therefore, I started taking baths when we were first married. Now I just love to have a hot bath every single night! Sweet DH knows how I love Molton Brown heavenly gingerlilly. I am so excited because he just gave me a new bottle after he returned from his recent business trip.
This week's tip is that if you don't take baths, you should try! It is amazing how it relaxes you and you fall into bed tired, warm, and ready to sleep.... I'm off to take a bath!

Tuesday's Tip!

This is a fun time of year where you may be going to Gasparilla to see the fireworks, or a trip to Disney may be on your bucket list for early 2011. If so, this Tuesday's Tip will help YOU! Whenever we are going to be somewhere fun at night with the children, I go to the Dollar Store and buy the neon glow-in-the-dark bracelets and necklaces. They even have glow in the dark princess wands and guns! If you're at the circus, the fair, a parade or Disney, people will be selling fun glow-in-the-dark toys that will break tomorrow. Your little one will BEG for one! If your bag is filled with fun neon necklaces, then you can just whip them out and your child will be thrilled, while your wallet stays full!
Happy Tuesday's Tip!

Tuesday's Tip... Gasparilla Pirate's Rum Punch!

Aaargh... Maties!
It's that time again! Tampa will be invaded by pirates this Saturday, January 22, 2011 for the Children's Parade! Are you mateys ready? Just in time is a Gasparilla Pirate's Punch Recipe! Those who don't want the bang can enjoy Hawaiian Tropic's red punch with sprite!

Gasparilla Pirate's Rum Punch

1 part rum (Bacardi rum works just fine)
1 part cranberry juice (50 ounce bottle)
2 parts orange juice... the best kind is Tropicana with pulp
Mix all of the ingredients together and serve! I also like to add some Coco Lopez to it or use a little coconut rum to make it taste very island-y!

Cheers!!!

Tuesday's Tip!

You know, you always need to listen to Mama. And MY Mama says that sponges are huge breeders of germs. She noted that a recent study found that sponges often have MORE germs than the toilet seat they are trying to clean. Can we say a collective, "EWWWWWW!!!!". Yuckers. Anyhoo, Mama has the perfect solution to kill those germs. Wet your sponge and ring it out so that it is damp. You do not want it to be dripping wet. Place the damp sponge in your microwave and put it on high for 2 minutes. This kills all of the germs on your sponge. You should do this DAILY. Once you open your microwave, you will find that any dirt in the microwave has been loosened because the damp sponge becomes a sauna of sorts for your microwave. The loosened food spots are now easier to clean and you have a damp sponge in hand that is is disinfected and ready to do more dirty work! Isn't Mama smart?!
Happy 1/11/11!!!!!!!