Are your kids eating all the snacks?

I am sure with children home from school, you are finding that just like in the summer they are eating all the snacks in the house.

Share your ideas on how to stop this! We all want to know, lol! Here are a few that come to mind but please feel free to comment with what works for you!

1. Try and keep a normal schedule.

2. Pre-package snacks and write times on them.

3. Make a basket or some kind of container up each night for each child. Set it out in the mornings and let them know that it is all the snacks for them for the day so to choose wisely.

Monkey Bread

This is one of my families favorite recipes and I fix it every Christmas Morning.

Monkey Bread

4 cans refrigerated biscuits (4 pack)
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp Cinnamon
3/4 cup butter or margarine
pecans/raisins (optional)

Preheat oven to 350. Cut biscuits into quarters and coat with some extra cinnamon and sugar.  Melt remaining  ingredients in a saucepan. Place half of biscuit quarters in a bundt pan and sprinkle with chopped pecans or raisins if you'd like. Pour 1.2 of butter mixture on top. Repeat with remaining biscuits and butter.

Bake for 30-40 minutes

What is Self Care?

Self care has always been a very important part of life that you should practice daily. However, given what is going on right now it is even more important.  Do you know what self care is? Do you practice it?  What are some of the things you do to promote self care in your life?

What is self-care?
Self-care is any activity that we do deliberately in order to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health. Although it’s a simple concept in theory, it’s something we very often overlook. Good self-care is key to improved mood and reduced anxiety. It’s also key to a good relationship with oneself and others.

Set up a daily routine that consist of at least 15 minutes of self care. Something you deliberately do for yourself. See some of the examples below.

Take a nice relaxing bath with bath salts (add some candlelight)

     Calming Bath Salts
    1/2 cup sea salt
    1/2 cup Epsom Salts
    10 drops lavender essential oil
    contents of 1 green tea bag
  Mix together and store in a jar or container

Here are some links with a lot of good ideas.
https://www.developgoodhabits.com/self-care-ideas/
https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/134-activities-to-add-to-your-self-care-plan/

Non- Drying Hand Sanitizer

One of my favorite authors is Merissa A. Alink and I love her book "Little House Living"  I will be sharing some of her recipes with you all and hope that you like them as much as I do!

Non-Drying Hand Sanitizer

4 Tbsp Witch Hazel
6 TBSP Aloe Vera Gel
5 Drops Tea Tree Essential Oil
5 Drops Lavender Essential Oil

Mix all together in a small bowl or container. Store in travel size shampoo bottle or something similar.
Tea Tree Oil and Lavender are both antibacterials and will help stop germs from spreading.

Fruit Leather

I had some strawberries that were going to go bad so instead of wasting them we decided to make fruit leather. Washed, sliced, blended and then put in the dehydrator.

Want to make your own? Here is a link with some really yummy recipes that don't require a dehydrator.

https://homemaderecipes.com/14-fruit-roll-ups-recipes/

Poor Man Donuts

I used to make these a lot when my kids were younger and we all loved them! Still a special treat today and cheaper than buying donuts in the store. Not to mention how much fun the kids have topping their own donut with their favorite topping.

Donuts
Refrigerated canned biscuits (the 4 pack kind, any brand)
deep fryer or pan with oil

Take a biscuit and use a small round object to make a donut hole in the middle. Put biscuit into hot oil and turn when nicely browned. Remove from oil immediately and repeat with the donut holes.

Top with favorite toppings.

Bowls or baggies with powdered sugar AND/OR
                                     cinnamon and sugar
OR frost using store bought frosting or make your own.

Vanilla Icing
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
2-3 tbsp milk

Chocolate Icing
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
3 tbsp oil
3 tbsp cocoa powder
3 tbsp water

Waffle Recipe

Waffles

1 3/4 cup flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 cup milk
1/3 cup oil
2 eggs

Preheat waffle iron. In large bowl with slotted spoon mix first 4 ingredients and beat until well blended.

Adding slightly more oil will increase the crispiness of the waffles.