Lilac City Momma

Mommy Blog

5 Kids’ Lunch Ideas for Home and School

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Kids are very picky when it comes to food. If it were up to them, they would eat mac and cheese all day long and every day. However, a mother’s concern never goes away and that’s why most of them are always busy in the kitchen trying to whip up something good when those little monsters in the belly start screaming. Whether they are at school or at home, lunch time calls for something yummy that can be eaten quickly and is still fulfilling. So, here are 5 lunch ideas that you can try to please your kid’s palette:

Recipe 1

BBQ Chicken Sandwich with Pickled Cucumber

Ingredients

  • Small white onion: ¼ cup finely chopped
  • Small seedless cucumber: 1
  • Rice wine vinegar: ¼ cup
  • Rotisserie or boiled chicken: 1 bowl
  • Kosher salt: ¼ teaspoon
  • BBQ sauce: ½ cup
  • Country bread: 4 slices
  • Copious amount of ketchup (necessary)
  • Potato chips

Preparation

  • In a bowl, add rice vinegar and salt, and toss in the cucumber and onion.
  • Let it sit for 15 minutes, tossing it occasionally.
  • Meanwhile, shred the chicken.
  • Spread the BBQ sauce on the bread, place the chicken and toss the pickled cucumber and onion.

Note: If your kids like their sandwich with ketchup and crunchy, you can use any kind of potato chips.

Recipe 2

English Muffin Pizza

Ingredients

  • Whole grain English muffins: 2
  • Homemade or store bought tomato sauce: 1 cup
  • Slices of pepperoni: 4
  • Mozzarella slices: 4 (¼ inch thick)
  • Salt
  • Dried oregano

Preparation

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Toast the muffins for 4 minutes until they turn brown.
  • Spread tomato sauce and pepperoni on the muffin and then top it with the cheese slice.
  • Sprinkle some salt and oregano and place it in the oven.
  • Bake for 4 minutes until cheese has melted.

Recipe 3

Ham and Cheese Quesadillas

 

Ingredients

  • Whole wheat tortilla: 4
  • Jarlsberg cheese: 4 triangle slices, ¼ inch thick
  • Ham: 8 thin slices
  • Baby spinach leaves
  • Mayonnaise: 1 tablespoon
  • Mustard: 1 tablespoon

Preparation

  • Cut two tortillas into half and open them.
  • Mix mustard and mayonnaise together and spread it inside the tortilla.
  • Create two layers by placing one slice of cheese and two slices of ham.
  • Top with baby spinach leaves and fold it into a triangle.
  • Place it in a Panini press and cook it until the cheese melts and the tortilla turns golden.

Recipe 4

Peanut Butter and Jam Bars

Ingredients

  • All purpose flour: 3 cups
  • Large egg: 1
  • Butter: 1 cup
  • Sugar: 1 cup
  • Creamy peanut butter: ½ cup
  • Strawberry or grape jam: 1 cup
  • Salted roasted peanuts: 1 cup

Preparation

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • In a bowl, beat sugar and butter until fluffy and light.
  • On low speed, add in the egg and peanut butter.
  • Now, add the flour in small amounts until a dough forms.
  • Finally, mix in the peanuts.
  • Divide the dough equally and hand press one layer on a greased foil pan.
  • Spread the peanut butter and put the second layer of dough above.
  • Now, spread the jam.
  • Bake for 50 minutes and cool it on a wire rack.
  • Place it on a cutting board and cut into strips.

Recipe 5

Spiced Chocolate-Banana Muffins

Ingredients

  • Old-fashioned oats: 2 cups
  • Brown sugar: ½ cup
  • Whole wheat flour: 1¼ cups
  • Large beaten egg: 1
  • Baking powder: 2 teaspoon
  • Chia seeds: 2 tablespoon
  • Salt: ½ teaspoon
  • Ground ginger: ¼ teaspoon
  • Baking soda: ¾ teaspoon
  • Ground cinnamon: ½ teaspoon
  • Mashed banana: 1¼ cups
  • Bittersweet chocolate: 2 oz
  • Vegetable oil: 2 tablespoon
  • Low-fat buttermilk: 1 cup

Preparation

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  • In a bowl, beat sugar, oats, flour, baking soda, Chiaseeds, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and ginger.
  • In another bowl, stir buttermilk, egg, oil and mashed bananas.
  • Fold the banana mixture in the flour mixture.
  • Divide into the muffin tray and bake for 25 minutes.
  • Drizzle the top with chocolate when the muffins are hot.

You can pack these easy recipes in your kid’s lunch box, so that they can share it with their friends or you can serve them piping hot in the evening.

 

4 Pretty Hairstyles for Busy Moms

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When you are a wife and a mother, life is very busy. In the morning, you tend to your kids and then in the evening and then again, in the afternoon. After they arrive, pretty much your first 6 to 10 years are all about them. In the middle of this, when dropping them to school, going to Church or when attending your kid’s soccer game, you need to look at least socially passable. After all, you can’t go looking like a hag with messy hair and in Pj’s, and risk embarrassing your kid.

So, to help you look like the most attentive and put together mom, we bring you 4 hairstyles that are simple and pretty:

Hairstyle #1

Top Knot

You can never go wrong with a top knot. It’s every woman’s go-to hairstyle whether going out shopping or strolling. We are not talking about the messy bun but an elegant top knot that makes you look like a “mom”. Here’s how to make it:

  • Gather all your hair at the top of your head by throwing your head forward.
  • Use a thick black pony and tie your hair as high as possible.
  • Now, slowly circle the hair around the pony and create an open knot.
  • Secure the ends with pins.

Hairstyle #2

Topsy Tail

This hairstyle looks best on women with straight or natural loose curls. A great hairstyle for short hairs, it allows you to sweep every hair strand from your face and secure it in a unique ponytail. Here’s how to make it:

  • Tie you hair close to your neck.
  • Now, loosen the pony a little and insert two fingers under the pony to separate your hair from the head.
  • Flip your ponytail in this gap.
  • Make two flips to create visible twists.
  • If your hair is silky, apply some hair spray, so that the twists don’t open.

Hairstyle #3

The Blair Waldorf Look

Who can forget the iconic looks of Leighton Meester as Blair Waldorf in Gossip Girl? That girl had some taste and apparently a great hairstylist, who we never saw on the show. One of her best hairstyles in the show was the twist and turn pony tail. Here’s how to make up:

  • Take a lock of hair from the right side edge of your head, twist and turn it to the back, and tie it with a rubber band with a lock of hair from the middle.
  • Repeat this on the left side and then tie both the ponytails together.
  • Now, part your hair in threes, leaving the pony tail and bring two in front on either side.
  • Now twist and turn the parted hair, bring it back from above the ponytail and tie it.
  • Repeat it on the other side and secure all the ponytails with a thick black pony.

Hairstyle #4

Simple Chignon

The ultimate mom look that all kids have been guilty of mimicking to look like their rock star. This one’s pretty simple and elegant. Here’s how to do it:

  • Twist and turn a lock of hair from the right side, bring it to the back and secure it with a pin.
  • Repeat it on the left and remove the pin.
  • Tie your hair in a ponytail and part it in the middle from above.
  • Flip the ponytail inside and roll your hair inside the pony.
  • Secure the wayward strands with pins.

So, next time, even if you are taking a stroll in your neighborhood, try these hairstyles and be the cool mom on the block.

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.