2016 Advent Calendar

We don't have a true advent calendar, per say. However, I do like to make a calendar of daily activities beginning on the First of December and leading up until Christmas Day. I write the activity of the day on a piece of cardstock, and hide it somewhere on our 7.5 foot tree. The boys enjoy looking for the day's activity almost as much as they enjoy the activity itself. I like to mix in things to do, along with things to give. Here's what I have planned this year:

1. Write a letter to Santa.
2. Drink hot cocoa.
3. Zoo Lights.
4. Help pack meals for the hungry.
5. Read about Jesus' birth.
6. Christmas mad libs.
7. Make coffee filter snowflakes.
8. Make/mail Christmas cards to deployed service members.
9. Drive around the neighborhood looking for Christmas lights.
10. Make ornaments.
11. Family movie night: Watch a Christmas movie.
12. Play Christmas bingo.
13. Go Christmas shopping.
14. Make Christmas cards/gifts for teachers.
15. Make edible lumps of coal.
16. Visit a living nativity.
17. Build a gingerbread house.
18. Family movie night: Watch a Christmas movie.
19. Wrap Christmas gifts with mom.
20. Donate coats/outerwear to a charity.
21. Make Christmas cards for family members.
22. Donate canned goods to a local food bank.
23. Make Christmas cookies.
24. Put out cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer.
25. Merry Christmas! Visit family.

Happy (almost) December, y'all!

One Full Week of School Lunch Ideas!!!

I have three boys. That's a whole lot of lunch packing I have to do! No. 1 takes his lunch every single day (he is an extremely picky eater) while No. 2 and No. 3 purchase school lunch once a week and take their lunch the other four. They actually don't mind the cafeteria lunch, it's my wallet that does. Lunch in our elementary school costs $3. If I allowed both of them to buy every day it would cost us $30 a week! That's $120 a month! Umm... I'll pass.


Here are a whole week's worth of tried, tested, and most importantly KID APPROVED school lunch ideas!


Monday: DIY Nachos Lunchables

There's chips, salsa, and queso... what's not to like? Add a granola bar along with a side of your child's favorite fruit, and you're good to go!


Tuesday: Chicken Nuggets

My boys like the Purdue brand that you find in the refrigerated section. I heat them up in the oven-it makes them crispier. Throw in a mix of veggies, a couple of cookies, and a GoGo Squeez. McDonalds, who?


Wednesday: DIY Meat, Cheese, & Crackers Lunchables

All kids like the cracker lunchables, right? It's so easy, not to mention much more cost efficient to make them yourself! All you need is Ritz crackers and your child's cheese and meat of choice. I used colby jack and pepperoni this time. Pair it with mandarin oranges, a blueberry muffin, and a fruit strip. So much more nutritious and filling than the two cookies or piece of candy the store bought ones bring!



Thursday: Mini Hawaiian Roll Turkey Sandwiches

No. 3 LOVES Hawaiian bread. He also loves turkey. So putting both together was a no brainer. Send them alongside mixed fruit, popcorn, and homemade chocolate chip cookies and you've got a winner!


Friday: Good ole' PB&J Sandwich

When all else fails, there's always peanut butter and jelly. I'm pretty sure your mama use to pack it for you, and her mama use to pack it for her. It's an old school favorite. Pair it alongside some carrots, whole wheat goldfish crackers, and a fruit strip and I'm almost certain there won't be any leftovers.


Got any other tried, tested, and kid approved lunch ideas? I'd love to hear about them. I'm always on the hunt for new ones!








*** Click HERE for TWO weeks of crockpot dinner ideas!!!

Sports Mama Review: Boymom Designs

I finally gave in, mamas. After seeing and "liking" Boymom's posts on Facebook for the last couple of months, I had to have one (or two!) for myself.

I ordered two shirts via their website. I ordered the gray v-neck logo tee and the #outnumbered black s/s tee . Both retailed for $39.95 (which seemed a bit steep for cotton tees), but they were offering a 60% off coupon code. The coupon code is definitely what sold me on purchasing a second item. I even scored a free license plate holder with my purchase! However, when I was ready to check out I noticed that I was being charged shipping for the free item so I reached out to their online assistant with my disappointment and was given a new coupon code for 70% off. Talk about customer service!


I received my package about a week after ordering, which was pretty good with it being a Holiday week. Speaking of packaging, look how cute!

The tees themselves are awesome. Great quality, super soft, true to size... not to mention that they could not more accurately describe my life! I get compliments every time I wear them!

Boymom Designs doesn't just sell tees, they also sell hoodies, quarter-zips, accessories, jewelry, and home décor. I was tempted to go crazy, but with Christmas coming, I behaved.


Don't worry if you're not a boy mom, they offer "Girlmom" products as well!


I can't wait to order again!




*** Update 8/17/17 I've had the shirts for about 9 months now. While they continue to be some of my absolute favorites, the lettering is beginning to crack some. Other than that, they are holding up well- still super soft and not a bit of shrinkage after many, many washes. ***

Team Mama Idea: Football End of Season Party Ideas for CHAMPIONS!

The end of football season is always so bittersweet. I always try and make our end of season parties extra special for the team as the season is long and hard. And when you win the championship, you deserve nothing short of the best.


We sent our boys (and coaches!) out with a BANG! And best of all, it was all completely covered by our touchdown jar. We raised $570.60!!!


I was a co-team mama for No. 1's team, so I had extra hands to help me plan and set-up. So helpful! We reserved a private area at a local sports bar. The boys range in age from 9-13, so this worked out perfectly.


We arrived about an hour before the scheduled start time to decorate.


We ordered each player and coach a personalized t-shirt. The front had their picture on it and the back had the entire roster, including both names and jersey numbers.

We draped them on the back of the chairs. They loved them!


One of the other co-team mamas made each boy a bag of treats. Aren't they cute?

I ordered the trophies from Trophy Depot. They are quick and reliable. Our club actually paid for them since our boys made it as far as they did!

I also printed out a picture of each player with his family and the championship trophy. CVS offered the white border as an option, and I'm so glad I went with it. It definitely made them look extra special!

We all ate while watching the championship victory on the big screen! Coach also made a highlight reel of the entire season. The boys really enjoyed seeing themselves on t.v. They were clapping, and oohing and ahhing after each play!

I think it's pretty safe to say that they enjoyed their food! And then there was cake, because no party is complete without cake (or a cupcake cake!).

It was so funny to hear them talk about who "ate" who.

We allowed the boys to put their shirts on AFTER they finished eating. Ha! And paused to take a bunch of pictures, of course.

Then it was time for gifts. And boy did they get a bunch. In the words of their head coach, "this is more like Christmas than a football party". They deserved it all. Such an amazing group of players, coaches, and parents!

In addition to the shirts and trophies, they also received personalized Gatorade water bottles from one of their assistant coaches.

Such a cool and practical gift! What athlete can't use more water bottles?

And an 11 X 14 high resolution photo from their head coach. We will definitely be getting ours framed!

This photo totally screams, "Look ma, we're famous!" to me.

For coaches gifts, we collected money from the parents and purchased them each personalized footballs from Etsy which the boys autographed.

We also gave them gift cards purchased with the leftover money. So well deserved!

Everyone had a great time.

Including us mamas! Who may or may not have planned to dress alike...

The saying says, "Go big or go home". And that's exactly what we did. We love our boys. Go Admirals!

Now it's time to rest for a couple of weeks before our weekends are filled with basketball.

Until next season!

***Be sure to click on the links below to see some of my previous end of season party ideas:

End of Season Party Ideas

End of Season Party Ideas- II

CHAMPIONS!!!

"We are the champions, my friends. And we'll keep on fighting 'til the end."


WE DID IT! We avenged our one and ONLY loss of the season to become the 90lb Central CHAMPIONS! We beat the opposing team 20-6! Lots and lots of happy tears were left on the field that evening; from us parents, the coaches, and even our players. I am still smiling from ear to ear.


Here are a few of my favorite shots from our championship victory:

This is a season and team that I will never, ever forget.


Until next season. GO ADMIRALS!!!


*** Click HERE to see how we celebrated such an amazing season!

I Voted. Did you?

It's finally here. Election Day 2016!


No matter who you're voting for, just be sure to get out there and exercise your right!

Remember, "One person can make a difference, and everyone should try."- John F. Kennedy. That's the beauty of our Country.

One thing we are all sure to be happy about, regardless of the outcome... no more lopsided political campaign commercials. Thank God!


Happy voting day!

Soccer, A Football Party, & Playoffs!

Our weekends are always busy. Some more hectic than others. This weekend was no different. Super busy, but super fun! And the weather, the weather was absolutely AMAZING!


No. 3 had a soccer game. And we were ALL able to be there to cheer him on; myself, my hubby, No. 1, and No. 2. This is the first time that has happened all season!

He played extra hard. I'm sure having his papi and brothers there had a little something to with it. He looks up to them all!


We also went bowling for Coach Hubby and No. 2's football team's end of season party. Click here to read all about it.

So much fun!


And last but certainly not least, No. 1 and his teammates had 2 playoff games in 16.5 hours. (The first at 7:30pm on Saturday and the second at 12 noon today). And they won them both!

Confession: I may, or may not have, shed a few happy tears. They are going to the CHAMPIONSHIP, y'all!!!

Happy Sunday!

Team Mama Idea: Football End of Season Party- II

Football season has come and gone. At least for No. 2. Unfortunately, his team did not make the playoffs. They were bumped up into the American division this year (the toughest division of them all). They made a good run, but still fell a little short.


Here's what we did to celebrate a well fought season.


I booked our party at a local bowling alley. Two hours (one hour of bowling, one hour in a private party room) and your choice of pizza, burgers, or hot dogs with drinks for $16 a kid. Of course, I went with pizza. Almost every kid I know loves pizza. The cost was almost completely covered by our touchdown jar. If you don't know what a touchdown jar is, click HERE to find out. Our grand total came to $224.24, so all I had to collect was $3 per player! How awesome is that?

It also happened to be our quarterback's birthday, so his mama volunteered to bring the cake... and ice cream!

I just LOVE photo cakes.


Coach Hubby and I awarded the boys with personalized medals. I ordered them from Trophy Depot. They looked way better in person than they did online. I was even able to customize the neck ribbon to match our team colors! We also printed out a picture of each player which added even more of a personalized touch.

For coaches gifts, I began by sending out an email to our team requesting donations. I never specify a numeric amount, in fact I always indicate that no amount is too small (or too big!). I find that more people are willing to give, when the amount is left up to them.


I ordered each coach a 23oz. personalized beer glass. I found them on Etsy. Click HERE if you'd like to purchase one yourself. They have their name, the team name, and year on them in our team colors. I absolutely love how they turned out!

I also gave each coach a gift card which was purchased with the leftover donation money. Who needs a gift card holder when you can put them directly into the beer glass? Cheers!

The team had a blast.

Until next season. Go Admirals!


***Click HERE to read my most recent ideas and HERE to read some of my past ideas.