So I have recently seen and been asked about kids and chores. We are by no means perfect at this and my kids still fight us once in a while but for the most part this is a system that we have figured out and works for us. We have 3 kids that are old enough to do chores. So we have a 3 day room rotation. The calender is labeled a,b or c each day. They also have after dinner chore that goes with the same rotation.
Example:
A- Lainey: Bathroom
Lilly: Piano room
Gordon: Family room
B- Lainey: Piano Room
Lilly: Family Room
Gordon: Bathroom
C- Lainey: Family Room
Lilly: Bathroom
Gordon: Piano Room
Our kids are helped with the things they can't do by themselves. I also went through and made lists of what is expected for each room. We have a child that is very literal so having it written out for her and it doesn't change makes a big difference for her. When you first look at the list it may seem like a lot but with it being done everyday it makes things go quickly and they can get it done in about 5-10 minutes. Here is an example of what is expected in a room.
Family Room:
Everyday:
Pick up floor
dust off surfaces
take out garbage if needed
Tuesdays and Thursdays:
Vacuum
Saturdays:
Vacuum
Wipe down dirty spots on walls
Wipe down baseboards
Our kids are paid for their chores with dimes. Seems like not much but if they make their beds and do a few other things along with what is listed here they can earn about 3.50 a week. For a young kid that isn't bad.
Hope this gives you some ideas on how to get your kids to do their chores.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Thursday, August 8, 2013
So Sweet!!! and Sour
So my hubby and I worked in a restaurant when we were teenagers. It was kinda like an old fashion American food. Chicken Fried Stake, Liver and Onions sorta place. Years and years ago it was a Chinese food place and their sweet and sour sauce hung around. It was so good to dip chicken fingers in!! Tonight I made baked wontons. I wanted something to dip them in. In the past I have continually made the ketchup, pineapple juice version in variation hoping to get a sauce I liked but to no avail. Tonight I started thinking about the sauce that we had at the Emerald. My hubby was a cook so I asked him if he remember it. Nope. Sad face :(.... So I got on pintrest and searched most of what came up was the previously mentioned stuff. I saw 1 recipe that looked different but I didn't have all the ingredients. I found another that was promising but had a lot of ketchup. I took the 2 and picked the parts I thought I would like and this is what was born!!
Sweet and Sour Sauce
1/4-1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup white vinegar or rice wine
1/2 cup water
1 tbsp ketchup
1 tbsp cornstarch
1/4 tsp garlic powder
put pepper flakes in the bottom of the pan and heat till they become fragrant. Add sugar, vinegar, garlic and ketchup. Bring to boil. Mix cornstarch and water together and stir it in. Bring to a boil. If it doesn't thicken add a little more cornstarch and water.
This almost seemed like a mix of the sweet chili sauce at Iggy's and a sweet and sour!! I LOVE IT!!! This is not my picture mine is lighter in color. I should be packing for our trip not blogging so.....
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Faux.......
So our major trip for the summer is over and the kids start school in less than 2 weeks. I am in the middle of a major hutch redo for my brother in law and his new bride. I have kinda run into a little problem and I am trying to figure that out. So in the mean time I was going nuts without a project and reading way to many books. I needed something to do big time!! I have a whole bunch of antique windows that I have collected and they are just sitting around collecting all sorts of dust. When I had the idea of turning one into a faux stained glass window. I had this idea that I was going to use beach glass from the dollar store to do it. Alas there was now beach glass at the dollar store so I picked up 4 bags of the round pebblish looking ones. As I was driving home from the store I started thinking about it and wondering if I should try something else. So after looking at a whole bunch of ideas now I can't decide what I want to do. I always like feedback and opinions so I thought I would throw this up here. I have at least narrowed down my ideas, I think.... Here are a few things I was thinking about doing. Please feel free to leave a comment and tell me what you think. I am pretty sure the window has lead paint on it so I will be dawning a mask and gloves and giving them a sanding on Monday and then I can't wait to get started.
Here was kinda the original idea, but I was thinking of doing some sort of pattern
Here was kinda the original idea, but I was thinking of doing some sort of pattern
But then as I looked at a few other ideas I kinda liked some of these.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
A camping we will go...
My my my, it has been a LONG TIME!!! I have had the blog on my mind a lot lately and have actually wanted to post! Live has been crazy busy! The hubs and I each have a brother getting married. Today My M-I-L and Sister in laws did a shower for Rashelle. I was in charge of the food and the decorations and providing the space. Since we were doing a camping shower I decided to do dutch oven desserts. It was raining and the oven had some issues but in the end we ended up with some scrumptious treats! I was asked for the recipes for all 3 so I am gonna share them all here with you!
Pineapple Upside Down Cake
| Topping | Cake Batter | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Tbs. butter | 1 | yellow cake mix |
| 1 | cup brown sugar | 1 | cup pineapple juice |
| 8 | pineapple rings | 1/3 | cup water |
| 8 | maraschino cherries | 3 | eggs |
| 1/3 | cup oil |
| Prepare Cake Topping: Melt butter in bottom of a 12" Dutch oven. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over butter being careful not to touch the sugar once it has begun to dissolve into the butter. Carefully place pineapple rings on top of the brown sugar, 7 around the outside and 1 in the center. Place a maraschino cherry in the center of each pineapple ring. Prepare Cake Batter: In a mixing bowl combine cake mix, pineapple juice, water, eggs and oil; mix well. Spoon cake batter carefully over the top of pineapple rings. Spread batter evenly to edges. Bake: Cover Dutch oven and bake using 10-12 briquettes bottom and 14-16 briquettes top for 45 minutes or until top of cake springs back when touched. Let the cake cool for 10 minutes or so in the oven with the lid cracked. Next run a rubber spatula around the inside edge of the oven to loosen the cake. To turn the cake out, first lay a piece of parchment paper across the top of the oven so it lays flat and replace the lid so that it holds the paper in place. Make sure you have an available lid stand resting on your table for the next step. Using gloved hands place one hand on the lid and the other hand under the oven and carefully lift and flip the oven over so the cake falls onto the lid. Rest the oven upside down on the lid stand and tap the bottom and sides of the oven lightly with your hand to make sure the cake didn't stick. Then lift the oven off the lid. The cake will be resting on the parchment lined lid and can be cooled this way or slid off the lid using the parchment paper. Allow cake to cool slightly before service. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream as topping. Serves: 8-10 Chocolate Lovers Delight
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