Sushi making

Yesterday a friend and I made sushi to celebrate the beginning of summer. She has made it a few times, and it's delicious and way less expensive! Could even be a cute date night after the kiddos go to bed. I will warn it is quite messy. But you could premake it and clean up before serving or do a date of making it together.

Anyway here is the process:

You will need:

Seaweed (found in most grocery stores now, I got mine at Meijer) 

Sticky rice made in rice cooker

Imitation crab in stalks-1pack

Cucumber-1 

Avacados-2 

Seasoned rice vinger 

Soy sauce 

Wasabi sauce (bought at miejer) 

Rolling mat covered in plastic wrap you can buy here: Amazon.com: BambooMN Brand - Sushi Rolling Kit - 2x rolling mats, 1x rice paddle, 1x spreader - combo: Kitchen & Dining

The directions: 

Pour a bowl of rice vinger to dip knife in while cutting sushi so it cuts clean

Cut up all veggies in stalk form 

Place a piece of sushi down and spread rice thinly all over sushi place a stalk of each ingredient in the seaweed

Begin to roll it tightly. Keeping the plasic wrap and rolling mat out of your roll. 

Roll tightly seal with rice vinger on edge of sea weed to connect the roll.

Time to cut! Dip your knife in the rice vinger. 

I like to dip mine in soy sauce and wasabi 

You can also choose to make a batter and fry them. To do so, roll them inside out and use your favorite batter. I prefer the unfried version.  

Enjoy :)

End of year teacher gifts on a dime

This year I happened to be the chair of the teacher appreciation committee and the Vice President of the home and school organization (PTA).  I really tried to find inexpensive ways to appericate our teachers throughout the year, I will post about that later.

Today I want to share what we personally did to show my daughter teachers she made a huge impact on our lives. But I didn't want to spend a ton of money. I found this all about my teacher printout (link below) and laminated it for a keep sake. Then purchased some Chapstick with a cute saying ( see below). I really try to make gifts or anything I give to others useful and/or meaningful without breaking the bank. I hope this inspires you that you can be meaningful without spending a ton :).

All about my teacher link: http://www.wheelchairmommy.com/2013/end-of-year-teacher-gift/

Birthdays for adults on a budget

This past week was my husband's birthday. My husband and I have never been ones to spend a ton of money on each other. I just hate that feeling of having to come up with this amazing and often super expensive gift for my husband.  In light of that and having no clue what to get him since he says he wants nothing all the time. I decided to do a little fun activity with my 5 year old daughter. We decided to race around the dollar store and find 5 items for dad, here is what she picked out:
1. Starburst
2. deodorant ("because daddy needs this" lol)
3. Pack of pens
4. a flashlight
5. Worlds best dad mug

My daughter really enjoyed it and so did my husband. It was meaningful and my daughter really enjoyed giving him the gift. Not to mention it was very inexpensive.

Also in keeping of my theme of  being a revolutionist about expensive spouse birthday gifts. We had dinner at home of Lenny's favorite meal..tacos (super easy favorite meal, just sayin') and our traditional ice cream cake dessert we get from Meijer.

I have to say it was one of our favorite birthday celebrates so far :).

End of the year sleep over

So today was the last day of my daughters kindergarten. To celebrate she is having her BFF over for a sleepover. We first made make your own pizzas and then we made these adorable invitations for a upcoming tea party we are hosting with grandparents. This super easy and adorable invite was a hit. Can not wait until grandparents get it in the mail. Off to watch frozen with the girls, seems to be the only movie kids want to watch these days and have warm brownie Sundays for a treat!

It's so wonderful to celebrate things in a fun yet not overly expensive way!! The girls are happy as clams. 

Ice cream brownie sundaes!!! 

DIY chalkboard toy labels

It's been a busy weekend here. We spent the weekend running all over for soccer, visiting family, baby shower, organizing toys, gardening, church. After attending a baby shower with many handmade gifts, I got the crafty bug. I came home and made these DIY chalkboard toy labels I have been meaning to do forever ago. 

Here is how to make them. 

You need:

Wood labels I got a pack like this ( although I forgot to take the one I used so these are from my Christmas stash) I bought it at hobby lobby 

Chalkboard paint ( got from hobby lobby)

Craft paint sponge

Some yarn. Twine or ribbon

Hot glue gun

Paint your labels with the sponge brush (and the sides) 

After they dry hot glue twine or ribbon ( I used twine) 

Then tie them around your basket or canvas. Here's some pics of ours! Super easy and cute!! 

My First Post

Today I am starting a new blog and believe me I am not professional writer. I am just living life and writing about it. I am focusing on Motherhood. That word is a loaded word. What is it exactly? It means so much. Its defined by each Mom out there. In my house there is not much I do not do. I am the consoler, the cook, the house keeper, the CEO of the home, the investor, the banker, the playmate, the friend, the planner, the police officer  and the educator. This list could go on and on. The purpose of my blog is to experiment things with my family and share it with all you.  I am in no way a expert on anything. I am working each and every day to better myself, my faith and my family. Some days I can have a wonderful feeling that I have it all together while the next day, I could completely fall apart. So This blog will be filled with the ups and downs of my life.


Now, about me. I am a Wife, Mother of two (5 and 1) and a stay at home Mom.  I enjoy many things. I love to read books, do crafts, try new things, play sports, play with my kids, socialize, knit, DIY, cook, drink coffee, update my home, budget (yes I like this)  and even watch TV.  This past year my first kid began school. Through her being in school I joined many leadership roles to enhance her learning. I may have over extended a bit :). This year I was the Vice President of the HSO (PTA), a girl scout leader and AWANA leader. So with my background in trying everything I decided to become a blogger lol.


I hope you enjoy this blog and I hope I can gain many new friendships through it.