Mornings in most households are a little like attending a NASCAR event. It's intense. Lots of noise. You've got people moving at varying speeds. And in the end, you're hoping everyone gets across the finish line (out the door) without a major catastrophe. Ever wonder what your day would be like for yourself and your kids if the morning was more like a symphony? …
[Read more...] about Breakfast Routine Upended by China, Heart-Shaped Pancakes
It has been said that we don't remember days, we remember moments. I like to call these moments "scenes." Like how there are certain scenes in certain movies that stand out as truly memorable... …
[Read more...] about Michigan Mom Creates a Scene with Spaghetti
You can spend a lot of money stocking up on candy to distribute to all the little trick-or-treaters who will be ringing your doorbell. If funds are tight, don't forget about the dollar stores that often have great deals on good candy. But whatever you do, don't make the costly mistake discussed in the following video. [flv:http://www.kimandjason.dreamhosters.com/clubkj_stuff/misc_videos/psa/Popcorn_Balls_PSA.flv 450 338] We're here to serve. iPod Version (12.5 MB) …
Halloween is the time of year when kids and adults alike exercise their creativity and imagination, often in the form of being gross, creepy, and scary. If this isn’t a childlike holiday, we don’t know what is! It’s no surprise that Halloween has become the favorite holiday of many adults. Hey, no gifts to wrap, cards to send, or birds to cook. It’s simply about having fun. Now you may be a bit too tall for trick-or-treating, but that doesn’t mean you have to eat healthy (boring) grown-up food at your Halloween party. Have some fun getting creative with your menu. From Boogers on a Stick to …
Jason and I (and Lucy) were recently in New Jersey for some speaking programs. During our visit, we happened to pass a home that was all decked out for Halloween. Now, I'm not talking about a simple jack-o-lantern and a ghost hanging in the tree. They may have put a second mortgage on their home to finance this yard project. (Don't lose your home this Halloween!) We're talking at least 35 stand-up characters: Hannibal Lecter, Freddy Krueger, Chucky, and dozens of witches, mummies, and overall scary fellows. They had smoke machines, spooky lighting, and cobwebs. It looked more impressive than …
[Read more...] about How to Make This the Best Halloween Since You Were a Kid
Nothing goes together quite like movies and popcorn -- one wouldn't be complete without the other. There's just something that feels right about chomping down on the buttery fluffy stuff while watching a big-budget summer blockbuster. Buttered popcorn is an undeniable classic, but as they say, variety is the spice of life. So here are a few alternative popcorn recipes that can put a fresh spin on your next movie night. You might even want to choose your recipe based on the theme of the movie! [Hat tip to recipegoldmine.com for the awesome recipes.] Bacon Cheese Popcorn 4 quarts popped …
[Read more...] about Beyond Butter: 12 Alternative Popcorn Recipes
After a speaking program in Witchita, Kansas, a woman shared with me a little tradition her family has around the dinner table. About once a month, they have a meal together in which good manners are strictly forbidden. That's right, forbidden. One dinner a month in which anything goes. Elbows on the table. Napkins optional. Burping welcome. Slurping your spaghetti. Talking with a mouthful of meatballs. Rudely demanding for the peas to be passed pronto. …
According to its website, Grace Before Meals is centered on one fundamental concept: the simple act of creating and sharing a meal can strengthen all kinds of relationships. Founded by Fr. Leo Patalinghug in 2003, Grace Before Meals has grown from a simple idea to a worldwide movement, producing a book, blog and even a pilot for a TV show endorsed by PBS. Research shows that having frequent family dinners can reduce the susceptibility of teens to risks like teen pregnancy, smoking, drug use and depression. And these benefits don’t just apply to traditional families or people with kids. …
[Read more...] about Grace Before Meals: Interview with Fr. Leo Patalinghug
In the the last hundred years or so, we’ve seen technology bring about more advancements than the rest of human history combined. We’ve come a long way, baby. For the most part, these advancements have served us well. We’re able to produce more food, travel longer distances in less time, eradicate once-deadly diseases, and improve the length and quality of our lives. Some negative consequences, such as increased pollution and more dangerous weapons, have been ushered in as well. But I think the most dangerous side effect is that we find the promise of what the future holds so compelling, …
These days we're busier than ever. Unfortunately, all this busyness tends to pull us away from regular family dinners, which are terribly important to the health and happiness of your family. You may be one of the scores of people who are struggling to find the time (and the money) to cook good, easy meals for your family. I'm happy to share with you a brand new web site called BudgetFriendlyCooking.com. Katie is an everyday chef who cooks on a budget. She shares recipes and demonstrates her technique in a series of weekly videos. She even posts how much each meal costs per …
