Looking for a quick simple lunch or after school snack for the kids? Or a simple recipe they can help you make? This is such a cute way to recreate a classic. My children love them! I mean let’s be real who doesn’t love a grilled cheese sandwich? I’m going to walk you through a plain grilled cheese but the possibilities of add-ins are endless: bacon, tomatoes, ham, avocado, onion, peppers…
So let’s get started. First you will need a few simple ingredients: bread, cheese, and butter.
Next you will need to roll out your bread and cut off the crusts so you have nice flat even rectangles.
After you’re done rolling out your bread, just put a slice of cheese on each piece and roll it up. Secure it with a toothpick on each end.
Melt a tablespoon of butter in a frying pan on medium low heat and fry until golden.
My children absolutely love these! And so do my husband and I. Make some tomato soup on the side and dip them right in! You could even cut these in half and keep the toothpicks in to serve them as an appetizer for a dinner party.
These delicious little treats are perfect for an after school treat for the kids, a game day snack, or even a breakfast. They are SOOOO SIMPLE to make! All you really need are three ingredients – cheese, ham, and refrigerated biscuit dough. If you want to get fancy you can brush the top of the dough balls with some melted butter after they are assembled and sprinkle some sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or my favorite – everything but the bagel seasoning!!
Let’s get started….
As, I said before to start off you’ll only need 3-4 ingredients. Dice your ham to make it easier to stuff inside the biscuit dough. Turn your oven on to 350 F and let it preheat.
Use a rolling pin, coffee mug, or your fingers to press the biscuits into flat discs and fill them with about 1 tablespoon each of ham and cheese – (although ratios are entirely up to your taste – just make sure they close entirely).
Next you need to pinch the edges of the dough together to form a ball. At this stage brush the top with butter and sprinkle with whatever seeds/topping you’d like. I used Everything but the Bagel Seasoning, but you can do sesame seeds, poppy seeds, a bit of flake salt, or even just some extra cheddar to bake into the biscuit.
Place them in your preheated oven for about 15 minutes until they are golden brown on the top and cooked through. (If the tops start to get too brown before the biscuit is cooked just cover them with some foil for a while).
Take them out of the oven and enjoy! For kids I suggest cutting them in half and letting them cool down for at least 5-10 minutes before serving.
Traveling with children- especially long-distance plane travel – is enough to make even the most seasoned, well-organized mother cringe. Do you have a trip planned? Nervous? Don’t be! Sure, it’s going to have its challenges, but if you just prepare yourself, it is nothing to worry about.
Let’s start with the airline reservations…
First, if you are booking with an infant don’t forget to call the airline to book your seats – as FAR IN ADVANCE as humanly possible. You want to make sure that you ask them for a seat equipped with a bassinet. Yes, if you haven’t traveled with a baby before airlines do generally offer this feature free of charge on a first come first served basis, so like I said BOOK NOW.
If, you don’t have an infant or aren’t interested in a bassinet seat, the next best option if you are flying on a large aircraft (the kind with 2 aisles) is to book three seats in the center row of the plane relatively far back (most people seem to want to book the seats close to the front, so if the flight isn’t full there will usually be empty seats back here. Now the key to booking it is to book the 2 aisles in the row and one middle seat. Leave the other middle seat open as most people will only book that seat as an absolute last resort. If it all works in your favor you have an extra seat. If not, as the person in that seat to switch with you so you can be next to your family – I’ve never seen someone say no.
Next let’s talk about carry on bags….
It’s important to make sure that you are well organized and have everything you need for the children on the plane. As some of you may know, I have 3 children – ages 6, 2, and under 1. I’m going to share what I pack for each of them for a plane ride so you have a god idea based on age.
My 6 year old’s carry on – he gets a backpack – that he is capable of carrying. Here’s what is in his backpack:
Snacks – Some cut up fruit and veggies, a small bag of chips.
Empty water bottle – so you can stop worrying about your 6 year old with that cup of juice on that flimsy tray table.
Tablet and over the ear headphones (you’ll thank yourself for not having to fix the flimsy earbuds provided by the airline 1000x)
3-4 books to read.
Crayons and coloring book.
OVERNIGHT FLIGHT….stuffed animal and neck pillow.
My 2 year old’s carry on – he also gets a backpack – that he is capable of carrying (but usually doesn’t). Here’s what is in his backpack:
Snacks – Some cut up fruit and veggies, a small bag of chips. (He gets the same as his brother – no need for fights over who has what on an airplane).
A water bottle/sippy cup
Tablet and over the ear headphones
3-4 small toys – little cars or dinosaurs have worked best for us.
OVERNIHGT FLIGHT….stuffed animal
My 9 month old’s carry on – aka diaper bag:
2 outfit changes – you never know!!!
Enough diapers to conservatively last you for 2 days – once again you never know and they really don’t take up that much space.
A brand new pack of wipes
Disposable diaper bags – these are great for dirty diapers, soiled clothing, and to collect all the trash from your other children to drop neatly in the bin as the stewardesses come around collecting trash — game changer….here are the ones I find the best for all purposes: Nuby Diaper Disposal Bags.
Baby food pouches – squeeze right into the mouth, no mess no fuss.
If you are formula feeding – make two bottles before you go to the airport – you may be surprised what a new environment does to your baby. They’ll probably drink more than you expect. Bring the powered formula with you (in the travel pouches like these is even better: Enfamil Travel Formula Pouches) and just ask the stewardesses for water if you need it. Or buy a big water bottle once you get past security if you don’t like bothering the stewardesses.
2 or 3 little baby toys – a good teether and a rattler or two.
Pacifier if your baby uses one.
Mommy’s Carry On – Large Tote Purse
Special Snacks – Fruit Snacks, Lollipops – it’s always good to have a few really enticing snacks for your kids, but YOU control them, they don’t go in their bags.
Wallet – If you are travelling internationally bring at least some of the destination country’s currency with you.
Everyone’s passports and boarding passes – you hold them all – you are in charge.
Cell Phone and charger
Chewing Gum – for takeoff and landing
With everything you’ve done above you have had a successful flight!! Safe Travels…….
Ever walk into someone’s house and think “WOW, I wish my house smelled this good!” Here are the tips and tricks I use to keep my house smelling great all the time…
Essential Oils
I LOVE LOVE LOVE essential oils. I use them for everything. I could probably write an entire post about ways to use essential oils — maybe I will. But for now I’ll leave you with these two ways to utilize them to keep your home smelling fresh and clean.
Mix some of your favorite essential oils into baking soda and sprinkle it on your carpets/rugs. Let the mixture sit for about 10-15 minutes and vacuum it up. Just take about a cup of baking soda and add about 6-7 drops of your favorite oil (or mix a few). One of my favorites for a clean calming scent is mixing lavender and eucalyptus oil. I’ve also used a combination of lemon and orange oils for a bright citrusy note.
Get yourself a diffuser. Just a few drops of whatever oil you love and the diffuser will keep your home smelling great. I have this one: Truky Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser. If you need oils here’s a link for a good starter kit: Cilganic Essential Oils.
Dryer Sheets
Who doesn’t love the smell of dryer sheets? They have a clean freshly laundered scent. I leave some in my dresser drawers to keep my clothes smelling fresh at all times. However, dryer sheets aren’t just for clothes. Want your house to smell like you just ran it through a washing machine? Take a dryer sheet and wipe down all your upholstery.
Plants
Plants not only look amazing and give your house a very put together look. They are also great for purifying the air. They help eliminate toxins and provide clean fresh air. Start out with some easy to care for plants like spider and snake plants, succulents, perhaps a eucalyptus plant that can double as an awesome shower bundle when it’s time to prune it.
Gain Scent Boosters
Who doesn’t love the smell of Gain laundry detergent? Get yourself a spray bottle and put some Gain Scent Boosters in with a bit of water. Shake it up and leave it for a while to really give the beads a chance to dissolve. Next….spray it everywhere!! On your curtains, on your carpet, on your sofa. Your whole house will smell like it came out of the washing machine!!!
Who doesn’t love a good bath? Even better – who doesn’t love a good Epsom salts bath? I swear by Dr. Teal’s Epsom Salt Mineral Soaks. Hands down this is the best one I’ve found. It’s soothing, relaxing, and smells AMAZING! I love both the Pink Himalayan Soak as a nice pick me up and the Lavender Soak as an amazing soothing retreat before bed.
Because the kids aren’t the only ones who deserve a bubble bath! Once again, I’m going to suggest Dr. Teal’s Foaming Bath. It comes in all the same scent combinations as the Epsom salts. You can even buy both together here and mix them because when it comes to bubble baths THERE ARE NO RULES!
Not a bath person? That’s OK, but then you have to try these shower steamers. You’ll feel like you’re in a spa. And everyone knows that every mom could use a good spa day but we always are just too busy to make time for it.
I finally invested in an oil diffuser and I LOVE IT! Nothing relaxes you more than cuddling up with a nice book after all the cleaning is done and the kids are in bed and just soaking in the silence with all the amazing scents and benefits of this oil diffuser. Essential oils have been used around the globe for years to promote relaxation and healing. Why? Because they work! JUST DO IT!
Congrats mama! You did it! That perfect little angel is here and the snuggles are real! But that beautiful little bundle of joy has left you with some not so glamorous things on your mind. So now it’s time to talk about the not so glamorous part of the birthing process. What do you really need now that you’ve given birth?
Yes I said it DIAPERS and no not for baby, for YOU! After you give birth you will bleed A LOT! Constantly worrying about whether or not you are leaking is no fun at all. The solution—adult diapers. I’ve recommend Always Discreet Boutique because they are comfortable and don’t feel like a diaper but other brands such as Depends also make similar styles that will work for you.
If you are breastfeeding you will need to invest in a breast pump. Most insurances actually cover a breast pump so be sure to call up your provider and ask. However, they will only cover certain models. This is the one I used and it was great: Medela Pump in Style. The one thing that was hard about this was that even though it was “portable” it wasn’t as portable as I needed it to be. Especially if you have other children you need full mobility and being attached to a breast pump makes life hard. If I could go back and do it all over again I’d go with a fully portable version like the Willow Wearable Pump.
If you’re breastfeeding you will need this. Trust me you will not get through more than a day or two in the beginning without this miracle cream. You will love that baby more than life itself but you will not love what they do to your nipples. Take care of them!
Everyone dreads the first post-baby poop. It isn’t pleasant, it hurts. Just do yourself a favor and take these for the first few days. It can only help you.
I went through my fair share of nursing/pumping bras and this one was by far the most comfortable and useful one I had purchased. It comes in all different colors.
There are so many different baby items out there that it can be completely and totally overwhelming for any mom when trying to decide what she actually needs for her new bundle of joy! In this post I’m going to break it down and let you know the items that I couldn’t have lived without with each of my children.
When my first child was born I scoured different websites/stores for the perfect car seat. I looked at all the latest on trend (aka EXPENSIVE) models and after taking into consideration safety requirements, reviews, and cost, I settled on the very affordable Graco SnugRide SnugLock.
Not only is it stylish and comes in various color schemes, but it is also extremely practical. The single best feature – that I didn’t even realize was important until I saw other moms with different car seats – is the single button in the center that allows you to move the handle. As a mom, anything you can do with ONE HAND is a WIN!!!
Every baby needs a stroller. But considering that every baby already has a car seat, why would you even think of moving them from a car seat to a stroller and then back again – HELLO YOU COULD WAKE THEM UP!!!! No mama needs that!
Oh what was that? Your fancy travel system stroller has a feature that allows the carseat to snap in? TRUE! But if you’re not using the stroller seat portion of it why on earth are you lugging it around with you? Don’t you already have enough stuff to lug around with you.
Get yourself a stroller base that is compatible with your car seat and you can just pop it in and go. This is the one I used it’s so lightweight, folds up really small, is perfect for travel (hello 2 for 1 – stroller and carseat gate checked free on the airline). And there is a simple strap in the middle that you just pull up on and the whole thing folds up in a second. Once again, you only need one hand to open and close this!! WIN AGAIN!!!
I know I know – you’re sitting there saying that much money on a swing? Really? Is it worth it? Well the answer is a resounding – YESSSS!!!!! Now don’t get me wrong there are other models that lovely as well. I used a swing similar to this Fisher Price Snuggapuppy Swing with my first son and he loved it – he practically lived in it! However, for my second I sprung for the Mamaroo and never looked back. It’s sleek design took up much less space and it has stood the test of time. My son used it until he was almost 1 year old (I know crazy) and now my daughter is 6 months old and it’s still going strong. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this product. It is worth it!
Baby needs a crib. This crib is adorable, affordable, and the added storage for the extra sheets you’re going to need is a bonus. Some parents go with a co-sleeper or a bassinet in their bedroom in the beginning, and yes they have their positive points. Yes, it is easier to feed baby in the middle of the night when they are right next to you. However, from my own experience, your future self will thank you for establishing a separate room and a routine for baby from the beginning.
Piggybacking off the last item in my list, you should invest in a good crib mobile. Bedtime for babies is all about routine and cues. My mom told me that with my first but I didn’t listen and I regret it. My second and third child I listened to my mom and boy am I grateful. They both went to bed no problem at all and slept through the night. The key, the crib mobile. Turn it on when you lay them in their crib, after a few days they will make the association – laying in the crib and hearing music equals time to sleep.
Anywhere there is a diaper there is the potential for diaper rash. It’s just reality! There are a ton of diaper rash creams on the market and I’ve used them all. I was always partial to Desitin but my husband introduced me to Sudocrem and it changed my world. It is the most amazing rash cream I’ve ever seen. I love it (and heck I’ve even used it on myself)! Try it! You will not regret it!
You will need diapers. Two important things to note:
Do not buy newborn size. They will grow out of them within days. Just go with Size 1.
Don’t think you have to get Pampers or Huggies. I started using Luvs with my third child. They are half the price and just as good. She is 6 months old and I’ve never had a leak. I even switched my 2 year old son to them. They work.
Okay. Let’s be real. Wipes are wipes. Buy whatever kind you like just make sure you have a lot of them. I stand by Huggies wipes – in my opinion they clean better than Pampers. The Pampers wipes are smoother and glide across the mess while Huggies seem to actually clean it. Also, ordering the big box of them is key because you will forever be running out of wipes for the next several years so buying in bulk cuts down on the frustration.
Lots of dirty diapers need a place to go. You can’t throw them in your regular garbage unless you plan on emptying the garbage immediately. You need a diaper pail. This particular one is a bit more expensive than other well known models like the Diaper Genie but it doesn’t require special bags. That’s the biggest plus. You will save money in the long run. Also, check out how many cool colors and patterns it comes in.
My first son was extremely colicky and suffered from acid reflux. This was the only bottle I could use for him that he wouldn’t spit the whole thing back up in a second. I didn’t even think twice about using them for my second and third. They are a little bit harder to clean because of the inserts but they are worth it.
Just Another Mom 