Nanny to Mommy

It is closing in on the end of summer which comes just in time for back to school, back to daycare, back to LIFE and set schedules for many families. I have been preparing the kiddos lunches every day including personalized handwritten notes. I love making their lunch for multiple reasons;
1. I feel like I can make their lunches cheaper than buying it,
2. I can see what they are eating each day, and
3. I can make sure they are eating a balanced, no sugar added meal and they are teeth friendly lunch options as well.




What does "no sugar added" mean? In this case it means some of these foods still contain sugar naturally. Added sugar has been added to a food or product during the manufacturing process. To avoid added sugar, look for words on a food label such as glucose, sucrose, dextrose, high-fructose corn syrup, raw sugar, rice syrup, corn sweetener, fruit juice concentrate, brown sugar, corn syrup, can juice, can sugar, crystalline fructose, beet sugar, caramel, and barley malt.

I know in some places school hasn't started yet and you are trying to soak up every minute of summer. For us, we are actually in our second week! So if you are still preparing this back to school shopping lists, I have an idea for you that will want to check out.

I was recently contact about TVStoreOnline.com and showcasing some of their cool hoodies or shirts. From Costumes, Beanies, Accessories (and so much more), TVStoreOnline goes above and beyond to find merchandise featuring characters, logos, or catchphrases from your favorite TV shows, Movies, and cartoons. As the demand for rare pop culture merchandise has exponentially grown around the globe, so has TVStoreOnline. The founding members of TV Store Online still strive to generate the best selection of T-shirts, Costumes, and Accessories everyday.

I have been trying to find ways to save more money recently. My husband and I are focusing on paying off debt this year, so finding ways to cut back just goes hand in hand. One thing I have noticed since I have stopped extreme couponing, is that our grocery bill has gone way up. And this is simply because I have been purchasing convenience items. I prefer for my kids to have a hot breakfast. When they have a breakfast that is jam packed with sugar, they seem to get hungry a few minutes later. I started meal prepping my husband breakfast and lunches which got me thinking, I could make the same convenience items that I have been purchasing in store and save a bundle plus they will probably be better for them since they aren't overly saturated with preservatives.

I am a stay-at-home mom and the argument has always been, "well you have so much time on your hands that's why this is easier for you". This was the same thing I heard when I was couponing. Like anything else you want to do whether it's start going to the gym, craft, pick up a new hobby, etc., you have to make the time if you want it to work. I meal prep on Sundays because besides going to church in the morning, we don't have much else going on that day. Some people like to "relax" and watch TV, well bring the TV in the kitchen and watch your shows while you meal prep. I promise you can find the time if you want to make this work.

So now on to a few things that we have been making for the kid's breakfasts.

Buying a home is the single largest purchase a family will ever make. However, that isn’t the end of the matter. Studies show that the average homeowner spends two thousand dollars a year maintaining their home. This doesn’t include services like landscaping services and housekeeping that can add several hundred dollars more to the cost of maintaining your home. However, there are some things every homeowner can do to significantly reduce these costs. Here are a few tips on how to reduce maintenance costs on your new family home.