Free Time Frolics

5 week meal rotation calendar

By: Freetimefrolics

Ever ask yourself what should I make for
dinner??? I do, and it galls me. To understand my frustration let me start by
admitting I am not a Type A personality. My craft room has half-finished projects
scattered all over it, my house is not spotless or ordered, my children don’t
do their chores or homework without constant prodding, and my husband sometimes
comes home to a pile of unfolded laundry on the bed and front room full of toys.
I am, paradoxically, a prepper. Emergency
preparedness and food storage are right in my wheel house. I get a great deal
of satisfaction in seeing my storage shelves fill with food and having enough
water to fill a small pool should the need arise.
Because of my love of preparedness and my
complete disdain for coming up with a daily menu, I developed what I have named
my 5 Week Meal Rotation and made it part of my Command Center {here}. 


I started by compiling my families favorite recipes.  I asked my children and husband to tell me their favorite recipes. That gave me 12 recipes. Then after adding my favorite recipes I was up to 20. Then I added quick easy meals and a few new recipes I found on other blogs. In the end I had 35 meals my family would eat. I know 35 meals sounds crazy! In the beginning it takes some effort but in the end it will be worth it!
I either typed and printed these recipes or found them on the internet and printed them. I compiled them into a 3 ring binder and slide protectors in categories. I love using this method because you can always add more if you want.  I also use it to teach my sons to cook.  Each summer they pick a few recipes  from the binder and learn to make them.  Each year they will build there knowledge of cooking and be ready to head into the world at 18 they will know how to make more than Ramen noodles.
Next I decided on 7 meal categories
Sundays- Meals that take a little more preparation
Mondays- Chicken
Tuesdays- Soup or Salad depending on the season.
Wednesday-  Steak or Hamburger
Thursdays- Crockpot meals
Friday- eat with your hands, sandwiches/pizza
Saturday- Quick and easy.  Meals that if you go out to eat you do can
leave with a sitter or not worry about it. 

5 Week Meal Calendar Download {Here}
Down load the file above and add your own meals using Photoshop elements.

I also have a bread category and favorite treats section in my binder.  I often use bread for my meals as a side dish. I also bake homemade wheat bread each week for my family.

Some of the recipes I use are pretty simple and basic. Others require more effort and planning.  I keep many of these recipes in a cookbook on Recipe Magic.  A few are from other blogs.
Here is the link to my Cookbook on Recipe Magic.{Here}

Here are the recipes I use:

Whole Wheat Bread

Chicken Night (Monday)
Chicken Crescent Rolls
Chicken Pasta Casserole
Monterrey Chicken
Fetuccini Alfredo
Chicken Legs

Soup Night (Tuesday) In the Summer this will change to salads.
Taco Soup
Cheeseburger Soup
Broccoli Cheese Potato Soup or Vegetable Chowder
Tomato soup (Campbells)
Homemade Chicken Noodle

Meat Night (Wednesday)
Porcupine Meat Balls
Sweet & Sour Meatballs
Tacos
Cheeseburgers
Steaks

Crockpot meal (Thursday)
Poppy Seed Chicken
Italian Chicken
Pork Burritos
BBQ Chicken with rice
Beef Broccoli

Fun Night (Friday) These meals are ususally simple, quick or easy to leave with a babysiter for a date night.
Scones
Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich
Ham & Cheese Slider
Home made Pizza
Paninis

Leftover Night (Saturday)
These are easy meals that we can make.
Brinner
Hot Dogs
German Pancakes
Spaghetti  French Bread
Baked Potato Bar

Nice Meal (Sunday) Meals that take a little more time and effort.
Japanese Chicken & Ham Fried Rice
Pot Roast
Brisket
Chicken Cordon Blue
Parmesan Chicken

So I added my meals and printed my calendar.  From my meal plan I made a grocery list.  I buy everything I can at a Sam’s club or Costco for the month.Especially canned, boxed or frozen things. Then each week I head out to the store for basics like fresh fruit and veggies and milk. I usually spend about $50 a week for my family.

If you want to take it a step further you can times your grocery list by 3. This will give you a 3 months worth of dinners.

I decided that I would try my meal plan for 3 months.  After 3 months I can change the meals if we didn’t love it or to add something new to try.  I am also going to change my soup day to salad day in the summer.
So far it is going really well.  I have been doing it for 7 weeks.  Sometime I mix it up and trade days.  And that is okay because I have all my ingredients. Some days we go out so I just save that meal for another time.  Especially if it is a freezer meal.
I love this plan because it allows for all families to build  your meal plan the way you want it!

I am sure this is clear as mud.  If you have any questions please feel free to email me or leave a comment.  I would love to here what you have to say! I also shared this on my local TV station. Take a peek.

Over this last weekend I had the opportunity to attend the Build Your Blog Conference It was fantastic. The Six Sisters really know how to throw a great conference I was so excited to meet the them and a few of my other favorite bloggers.

So to help you build your family recipe book I have a wonderful giveaway for you!!

I keep many of my recipes on my blog as well as recipe magic. Recipe magic is a growing website  with all your favorite recipes from many established bloggers. The website is brought to you by the Six Sisters.

Sixsistersstuffnew5097495_detail

The Six Sisters have just come out with a new recipe book. Released today! I am so blessed to have the opportunity to give one away to one lucky reader!  And let me just say this book is amazing.  Easy recipes that use ingredients found in your home. Plus fun craft ideas, cleaning tips and list of activities for you to do.  I have loved looking through this book. I am trying to decide what I am going to do first.  I promise you will love it!

When I link you will find me Here!

Command Center {My Style}

By: Freetimefrolics

After a few crazy  unorganized months (not all bloggers are super organized), I decided it was time to jump on the command center bandwagon.  My schedule seems to have spun out of control. Sick kids, Holidays, sports and school activities.  So many things a mom must do to keep a happy family.  I have an amazing mudroom in my home.  iron board, floor to ceiling lockers for the kids, wash basin and 1/2 bath. I didn’t have a lot of wall space to work with and there are so many cool command centers out there.  This one seems to work best for me.  

For my clip board calendar I took a wood clip board and modge podged a piece of pretty paper onto it. This is a calendar just for my kids to document their reading for the month.  If they reach there goal they get a special outing with dad.
For the magnetic chalkboard I used this tutorial from My Sister’s Suitcase {Here}

Chore Cards

Paint chip calendar
What is your must have in a command center??
Stay tuned this week for tutorials o how I did it.  First up 5 week meal plan!


Check out the entire post on my blog www.freetimefrolics.com

Business Card Holder DIY

By: Freetimefrolics

This year I have the opportunity to attend 2 blog conferences. Build Your Blog with the  Six Sisters Stuff and Snap! In preparation to go I have made an adorable Business card holder.  I found a few online and they were not the right size so I made my own.

Here is what you need.
Fat Eight- 9×22 fabric
Iron on pellon
Button
Hair Elastic

Start by cutting (2) 9×5 inch pieces.
Cut from the 9×5 3 inches off the top.  Giving you (2) 6×5 rectangles and (2) 3 x 5 rectangles.
Fold over 1/8th inch along the longs side of the 3×5 inch pieces.
 Stitch them into place.
Pin your small rectangles to each end of your large rectangles.  Matching up corners.
Pin the second large rectangle on top of  the first. Stitch around the outside edge leaving an opening along one short end.
Turn right sides out. Be sure to push corners out. Press.
Pin hair elastic to the center of the card holder. Top stitch around the outside edge of the holder.  Be sure to back stitch over the elastic.
Mark where you want your button to go and hand stitch it into place.
All finished.
Here are a few more projects you can do with a fat eighth
Camera lens cap holder by: Peta Pixel
Tissue Pouch by: Craft me Not
Gadget Pouch by: Made by Petchy
Chapstick holder by: Madelynerush

Breakfast Smoothie

By: Freetimefrolics

Getting healthy always starts with a healthy breakfast and the past few weeks I have been participating in a Get Healthy 8 week challenge. I have teamed up with 15 other ladies. We have pledged to get healthy.
In starting the challenge I was worried about meeting all the requirements.  My number one worry was consuming enough fruits and vegetables.  I have terrible allergies to raw fruits and vegetables.  This makes meeting the requirements difficult.  So today I am sharing one way to get a serving of fruits and veggies in before lunch time.
Good morning sunshine breakfast smoothie www.freetimefrolics.com

Good Morning Sunshine Breakfast Smoothie

1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup milk
1 8 ounce yogurt ( I like Kroger’s carbmaster 9 grams of protien)
1/8 cup vanilla whey protein
1/2 cup fresh spinach
1/2 cup frozen berries
1/2 cup ice cubes
Opt 1 ripe banana , peeled
Blend in a blender until smooth.
Makes 4, 1 cup servings.
berry smoothie ingredients www.freetimefrolics.com
Layer your ingredients in order with the ice and berries on top. I have a Blendtec blender that I love! It has a smoothie feature. In 25 seconds my yummy drink is ready to serve.   Blend and serve.
I usually drink 2 servings after working out.  It give me a fruit and veggie serving plus protein to fuel my morning.  My kids love to drink these and ask for them every morning!
whey berry breakfast smoothie recipe www.freetimefrolics.com
Good Morning Sunshine!
Do you have a favorite smoothie I should try???
Save Print
Breakfast Smoothie
Author: 
Recipe type: Beverage/smoothie
Prep time: 
Total time: 
 
Ingredients
  • ½ cup orange juice
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 8 ounce yogurt ( I like Kroger's carbmaster 9 grams of protien)
  • ⅛ cup vanilla whey protein
  • ½ cup fresh spinach
  • ½ cup frozen berries
  • ½ cup ice cubes
  • Opt 1 ripe banana , peeled
Instructions
  1. Blend in a blender until smooth.
  2. Makes 4, 1 cup servings.

Cheeseburger Soup {Recipe}

By: Freetimefrolics

I love warm soup on a Cold snowy day. There is just something comforting about it. I try to have at least one dinner a week be soup.  This weeks recipe is one of my favorites, Cheeseburger Soup.  This creamy soup is packed full of flavor and veggies. Perfect for a cold winter day!

[Read more…]

Mini Anthropologie knock off skirt

By: Freetimefrolics

Anthropologie had this beautiful lace skirt at Christmas time.  But not in my budget and they didn’t make them for little girls. I though my little miss needed one too.

I thought for Christmas this olive Green would look beautiful matched with the black lace.
I added a white tuxedo shirt and black cropped cardigan and a few red accents to top it off.
My little just had to be in the action.  I made his matching bow tie from this bow tie tutorial.  I love to make them match.

The skirt tutorial is coming soon.
For the Poinsettia hair flower you can find the “DIY how to” here.

Skirt Extender DIY

By: Freetimefrolics

I love skirts. But as I get older it seems that skirts are getting shorter or I am getting taller.  I have a general rule that my skirts go to the knee.  Skirts that length that are modest can be hard to find. So when I saw a modest slip extender at a local boutique I just had to have one.  But at $30 a piece I decide I would have to wait.  So I went to my local Joanns.  They had a great selection of Lycra stretch fabric in lots of colors.  Here is what I bought:

1 yard Lycra fabric
2 yards coordinating lace
1/4 inch elastic enough for your waist.

To start measure your hips. take that measurement and add 1 inch.
Measure the length you want, from waist to knee or wherever you want it to go to.

Using a knit stitch, sew a seam the length of your skirt.

Make a casing for your waist band.

Thread your elastic through the casing.

Attach your lace.

Along the seam I used the extra lace and made a bustle like look for the kick pleat in my skirts. I started with a 4-5 inch piece and stitched it down.  Then a 3-4 inch piece and so on.. Go up maybe 6-8 inches high.  Enough to show lace when you kick pleat opens.

10 Valentines for Classmates and Teachers

By: Freetimefrolics

Giving out Valentines has always been one of my favorite things.  So here are 10+ Handmade Valentines you can make with your kids for under $5. Free Printables’ Included!!! Just click, print, sign and send.  Add a fun treat or toy and you are ready to go.  These fun Valentines can be used for classmates, teachers, kiddos or friends. Enjoy!

Valentines for teachers and Classmates

twizzler valentine www.freetimefrolics.com
1. Twizzler Valentine
Ropin' you in valentine with a Nerd rope or jump rope www.freetimefrolics.com
2. Cowboy Valentine
Just add a Jump Rope, nerd rope, licorice rope or chinese jump rope
3. Wishing Wand Valentine

 

watch candy valentines for class mates www.freetimefrolics.com
4. Washi Tape Watch Valentine
                                                     Sweet treat valentine printable www.freetimefrolics.com
5. Sweet “Tweet” Valentine
sticker Valentines for classmates www.freetimefrolics.com

 

6. Let’s Stick Together Valentine
Just add stickers, band aids, a sticky hand or gum.
7. Out of this world Valentine
What kid doesn’t love a bouncy ball!
pirate3
8. Your Grrrrrreat {Valentine}
I am in love with this little valentine   Pirates, felt hearts, a little stitching.  They are perfect.  Head over and download your pirates.
Valentines doesn't suck this year water bottle valentine www.freetimefrolics.com
9. Teacher Valentine
Just add a cup or suckers
Pucker up lip gloss or chap stick valentines for friends and classmates www.freetimefrolics.com

10. Pucker Up Chapstick Lables


11. Heartbreaker Valentines by MADE
Okay so I decided to do 11. I just couldn’t resist. I love this adorable Valentine.  Just add a sweet treat and you are ready to go.  Which one is your favorite??

Here are 10 more fresh ideas for your kids and classrooms!

 

Twizzlers Make Mouth Happy {Valentine}

By: Freetimefrolics

twizzler Valentine www.freetimefrolics.com

Do you remember the Twizzlers logo from a while ago??  I always thought it was fun. “Twizzlers make mouths happy”  Then they used licorice to make a smile.  I love the good ole days. Licorice is one of my favorite treats.  Especially black licorice.

This year my friend put me up to a challenge. She had leftover bags of Twizzlers licorice from Halloween.  She didn’t want to spend more money on treats or bring any more into her house.  So she asked me to come up with something clever for her kids for Valentines using the Twizzlers.  Here is what I came up with.

I got my twizzlers at the dollar store.  18 individually wrapped for $1.

Just click on the link and print a page of 8 tags.  Have your kids write the to & from on the back of the tags. Staple them to the mini Twizzlers and you are ready to go.

So for $2 my kiddos were able to make Valentines for all their friends with a sweet yummy treat!

Only time will tell…Valentine Printable

By: Freetimefrolics

I found these cute candy watches the other day at the dollar store.  I loved these as a kid and begged my mom to buy me one at the store.  Do you remember them?? Candy necklaces, lipstick and bracelets. They were the best.  Well my little miss saw them and wanted them to.  And for only a buck who can say no?  So I came up with this sweet, easy valentine for her to help make. I used one of my favorite things… Washi Tape!

Here is what you need:
Candy watches (I found mine at the dollar store)
white cardstock
washi tape
glue or glue dots
free printable {Click the link below to get yours}

I started by printing the printable and cutting our each circle. Next I cut 1x 8.5 inch strips or paper.

(A full page will print giving you 12 watch faces)

Next I chose my washi tape.  I used some boy friendly colors too.  Who says Valentines has to be all red and pink?  Use a strip of washi tape down the center of the paper strips.  Cut your strips into 1 x 4 inch strips. Next I had my daughter write her name on the back of the strips.  So everyone would know who the Valentine was from.

Place a “watch face” in the center of your strip and glue down with a glue dot.

Staple a candy watch to the back of the watch and you are ready to go.

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