Lilac City Momma

Mommy Blog

Tips on Back to School Shopping on a Budget

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When vacations are over, it’s that dreaded time of the year when your kids start bugging you for their back to school supplies. When we were young, all we needed was a bag pack, a book and a pencil. Today, a kid’s school supplies includes everything you can think of- pencil, eraser, sharpener, ruler, color pencils, markers, glue, paper clips, at least 3 binders in different colors, scissors, and the list goes on and on.

The problem with purchasing these back to school supplies is that they can be very expensive. Of course, before school starts, you will come across all kinds of sales that entice you to buy school supplies in bulk but not all of them are as good as they seem. This is the time you need to teach your kid the importance of budgeting or they will likely spend their allowance on things they don’t need.

Following are some tips that will help you shop under budget and save for the next year:

1. Make a List

No matter how appealing that sale looks, don’t go for it. If you want to shop under the budget then make a list of things that you “need” to buy. This way you can avoid buying things that your kid already has. Create a checklist and then proceed to the next step:

2. Start Your Shopping At Home

It’s time to go for a hunt – school supplies hunt! You have no idea how many rogue pencils, erasers, color pencils and other supplies you will find lying around in your house. Roam around and see. If you do find a handful of half-used supplies, then it’s time to do a little bit of recycling. Take out all the binders that you have in the house and see if you can tear some pages and make it as brand new.

Collect everything you find and cross the items from the checklist. Add the remaining items on the checklist that you missed and keep them in storage. Once you have an idea about what you need, you can now go shopping.

3. Shop in Office Supply Stores

School supply sales are quite deceiving. They can be expensive because you are forced to buy in bulk. To save money, shop instead in office supply stores, Costco or thrift stores that also sell in bulk, at a discounted price. You can find most of the school supplies here at fairly reasonable rates.

Say you are buying a simple binder in $0.50 and your kid insists that he wants the one with Captain America printed on it that costs $1.50. Instead of giving in to his demands, tell him to pay the extra $1 from his allowance. This way, not only will he learn to save, he will also understand that a generic binder serves the same purpose as a fancy one.

4. Go Online

While buying branded stationery can be quite expensive, you will find several coupon deals on Facebook and twitter when school returns. These deals are quite cheap and allow you to surprise your kid with new and high quality school supplies. The more loyal you are to these brands, the more chances you have of winning their gift coupons.

Kids can create quite a ruckus if their wants are not met. So, try these tips and you will be able to buy generic and branded school supplies, while staying in your budget.

 

The Benefits of Sports for Your Kids

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Numerous studies have proven that children who begin taking part in sports at a young age live a healthier and more active life as compared to those who do not play sports at all. There are tons of benefits of playing sports, whether you’re a kid or an adult. But of course, it’s always better to instill these values into the minds of your children when they’re young and active.

Outdoor activities promote a healthy body and a healthy mind. So, there’s absolutely no reason why you should be second-guessing whether you should encourage your kids to play sports or not. Regardless of what sport your child is interested in, the sooner they start the better it is for them. Here’s why:

Sports Strengthen Bones

Exercise, particular sports, is known to strengthen bones by increasing bone density. The stronger the bone is, the harder it is for your child to experience conditions such as osteoporosis. Not just the bones, the entire immune system gets stronger as a result of the vigorous training and exercising.

Boosted Self Esteem

Children who are encouraged to take part in sports at a younger age have a much better self esteem and are more confident even as adults. A pat on the back, a high five, praises from teammates, all contribute to a better self esteem.

Better Social Skills

In most sports, such as football, there are two teams. Your child will be a part of one team and will have all their support for the rest of their teammates. This helps improve their social skills because they’ll meet other kids of their age and interact with them. The teamwork that they learn at this age is imperative for them to become better individuals when they grow up.

Discipline & Patience

Outdoor activities are fun, but they do require a lot of determination, patience and discipline. When your child has a coach and a team to play with, they will be expected to follow a set of rules and regulations. These things will help them grow to understand discipline and patience even if they don’t know what those words mean right now.

Wins & Losses

Even if your child regularly plays sports, there will be days when they simply lose. In case they do lose, help them focus on winning the next match so they aren’t down about it for too long. All these factors that go into sports promote a better individual with a healthier mindset. These things also teach them to accept defeat like a winner.

You Can Play Sports With Them Too!

Parents who get involved with their children and play sports with them from time to time develop a bond that is special and unique. Your child will learn to rely on you and will see the fun side to you as well. Taking out an hour or more to play sports with your kids will not only strengthen the bond you share, but they’ll also look up to you and remember these things in later life.

5 Crock Pot Meals for Busy Moms

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Some people say that motherhood mellows them out. The “partying out late at night”, “getting drunk” and indulging into other shenanigans gets replaced with filling milk bottles, cleaning nappies and trying to shush a crying baby, while trying to sleep. It’s funny how life changes in a matter of days.

While a crying baby is hard to handle, a five year old who runs away every time you set the table is even harder. As a working mom, the struggle is real. Recently, the USDA changed their food pyramid and introduced MyPlate. This plate says that every meal should include veggies, fruits, a grain and protein. There goes your hope of trying to feed your kid. The moment you put some veggies on their plate, you will hear only one word, “yuck”! So, if you don’t have time in your hectic schedule to whip up something fancy, go for these five easy crock pot meals that we assure you your kids will love:

Recipe #1

Mac & Cheese

What is the one combination that kids love? Macaroni + Cheese. This recipe takes just one hour and doesn’t require you to check on it constantly.

Ingredients

  • Cheddar cheese soup: 1 can
  • Milk: 1 ½ cups
  • Macaroni elbows: 8 oz (1/2 bag)
  • Shredded cheddar cheese: 2 cups
  • Sour cream: 1 ½ cups

Preparation

  • Boil macaroni for 3 minutes.
  • Drain macaroni and add it to the crock pot along with cheddar cheese soup, shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream.
  • Cook for 30 mins.
  • Add milk and then cook for 30 mins more.
  • Your crock pot mac and cheese is ready.

Recipe #2

Slow-Cooker Lasagna

Here’s another gooey cheesy delight that your kids will gobble down in minutes and ask for more. This recipe makes 10 servings and takes about 4 hours to cook.

Ingredients

  • Uncooked lasagna strips: 6
  • Ground beef: 1 lb
  • Diced white onion: 1 cup
  • Pastas sauce: 1 jar
  • Water: 1 cup
  • Minced garlic: 1 teaspoon
  • Ricotta cheese: 15 oz
  • Mozzarella cheese: 2 cups
  • Grated parmesan cheese: ¼ cup
  • Egg: 1
  • Fresh parsley: 2 tablespoons

Preparation

  • In a skillet, add onion and beef. Let it cook until the color turns brown. Add garlic for taste and let it simmer for one more minute.
  • Add water and spaghetti sauce and cook for 5 minutes.
  • Mix ricotta, 2 tablespoons parmesan, 1 ½ cups mozzarella, parsley and egg.
  • Create layers with the lasagna strips by alternating between the cheese sauce and the spaghetti meat sauce.
  • Let it cook for 4 hours. Sprinkle the remaining parmesan and mozzarella and let it melt. Serve after ten minutes.

Recipe #3

3 Ingredient Meatballs

 

Ingredients

  • Frozen meatballs: 2 lb
  • Grape jam: 12 oz
  • BBQ sauce: 12 oz

Preparation

  • Place the meatballs in the crock pot.
  • Mix together BBQ sauce and grape jelly and pour it over the meatballs.
  • Cook for 2 to 4 hours.
  • Serve it with dinner rolls, rice or mashed potatoes.

Recipe #4

Beef Stew

 

Ingredients

  • Beef chuck roast: 5 pounds
  • Chopped potatoes: 1 cup
  • Diced white onion: 1
  • Sliced carrots: 4
  • Frozen corn: 1 cup
  • Sliced mushrooms: 8 ounces
  • Condensed cream of mushroom soup: 1 can
  • Onion soup mix: 1 packet

Preparation

  • Line the bottom of the crock pot with the roast.
  • Add in mushrooms, frozen corn, carrots, potatoes and onions.
  • Cover the vegetables with the condensed cream of mushroom soup.
  • Sprinkle onion soup mix on top.
  • Let it cook for 7 to 8 hours.
  • Stir before serving.

Recipe #5

Taco Chicken Bowls

 

Ingredients

  • Chicken breasts: 1½ lbs
  • Salsa: 16 oz jar
  • Drained black beans: 15 oz can
  • Frozen corn: ½ lb
  • Chili powder: 1 Tbsp
  • Cumin: ½ Tbsp
  • Minced garlic: ½ Tbsp
  • Dried oregano: ½ tsp
  • Cayenne pepper: ¼ tsp
  • Salt and pepper: ¼ tsp
  • Dry ice: 2 cups
  • Shredded cheddar: 8 oz
  • Boiled rice: 1 dish

Preparation

  • Add everything in the crock pot with ¼ cup water except for cheese and rice.
  • Cook for 8 hours.
  • Shred chicken with a fork in the pot
  • Place some rice in a bowl, top it with the taco mix and sprinkle some cheese on the top.

Try these easy recipes at home without slaving hours near the stove. Just sit back and relax until those hours are up and it’s time to serve.

 

5 Cleaning Items to Make Your Life Easier

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Whoever said cleaning’s a breeze should be convicted because when you are a mom to two seven year olds, the world doesn’t give you a break. It’s all about washing clothes, explaining to them why it’s not right to draw on the wall or running after them with a plate of food. Such is the life of a mom!

With rambunctious children in the house, you always need to be prepared to clean any kind of mess. Therefore, we bring you 5 cleaning products that will make your life easy:

1. Sprayway Glass Cleaner

 

Go to the market and you will find numerous glass cleaners. What’s so special about this glass cleaner? Well, for one, it does not drip and second, it does not require a scoring pad to scrub the dirt away. Sprayway glass cleaner is a foam spray that penetrates days old dirt and removes it within minutes. Say goodbye to sticky finger signs on the TV or dried out food on the table.

2. OXO Any Angle Broom

 

What might look like an ordinary broom is actually a pretty special one. Tired of not being able to reach dust and spider webs in the corners? Well, this angle broom can be twisted all around to reach between the furniture and those pesky corners. You will find all kinds of unique dusters and brooms at OXO that will make your everyday living easier.

3. The Grime Fighter by Baby Ganics

 

You no longer need to create different spray bottles and label them for cleaning. The Grime Fighter spray and wipes are the all-rounder when it comes to cleaning – absolutely anything. From countertops to table tops, chairs and cabinets – everything can be wiped squeaky clean. The spray is plant-based and non-toxic, so no worry there. You can buy the spray for $6.99 and the wipes for $7.99.

4. Cordless Handstick Vacuum Cleaner

 

There are some days when you are just too lazy to get up and lug around your vacuum cleaner. The thought of dragging that monstrosity from room to room and hoping that the extension stretches far to clean everything in one go, is just too much to handle. So, why not go for a handstick vacuum cleaner? The Rowenta Handstick Vacuum Cleaner is the cleaning machine of every mom’s dreams. The thin body of the cleaner allows you to clean those hard to reach surfaces and suck up those rogue crumbs. With this, vacuuming becomes a fun chore.

5. Brava Mopping Robot

Just for $200, this robot gives you plenty of free time to do your other chores while Brava mop’s the floor for you. The robot has its own navigation system and performs three functions: Dry sweep, damp sweep and wet mop. All you need to do is relax and supervise the mopping.

These five items should definitely be on your next month’s shopping list. With cleaning items such as these in your house, you no longer have to bend backwards to clean anything.