Crock Pot Thursday: Cheesy Tortellini

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My family went crazy for this Crock Pot Cheesy Tortellini!

My 20th class reunion is this summer, so of course the first week I begin to truly focus on fitness and weight loss, I make this decadent dish. Did I exceed my calorie goal the day I made this? YOU KNOW I DID. It was worth it, though. The sausage and spices simmering in the tomato sauce all day made the flavors meld beautifully, and the five cheese tortellini I used held up perfectly, even the next day. I knew this Crock Pot Cheesy Tortellini would be a hit, but I didn’t anticipate my family fighting over the tiny bit … Continue reading →

Crock Pot Thursday: Hearty Beef Ragu

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Hearty Beef Ragu1

We do a good job of choosing family-friendly recipes here at Crock Pot Thursday, but sometimes we make something that knocks it out of the park. This Crock Pot Beef Ragu is one of those dishes. It is easy to assemble, looks beautiful, and tastes incredible. What more could one want? I didn’t actually make this on a Thursday like I usually do, but instead made this on a snowy Sunday. Snow days compel me to bake, so on this particular Sunday, I tried my hand at homemade noodles. It was more fun than folding the laundry that was waiting … Continue reading →

Tips for Taking Kids to Church

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Tips for taking kids to church

“I’ll go to church when the kids are older.” “I’m too busy keeping them quiet to get anything out of it anyway.” “People give us looks when we bring the kids.” These are all things I’ve heard friends say, and are thoughts I’ve had myself. I like taking my kids to church, but this hasn’t always been the case. In fact there are still some Sunday mornings when I wish ours was a church that whisked the little ones off at the beginning of the service and returned them at the closing hymn. Usually, though, I love celebrating my faith … Continue reading →

The Long Winter

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The Long Winter

We are halfway through February, and my kids have had it up to here with the weather. “Is winter almost over?” they ask hopefully. Every morning they come downstairs, rubbing their eyes and asking in scratchy, sleepy voices, “Is there school today?” and “Do we have a delay?” I try really hard to not complain about the choices our school district makes when it comes to weather-related closures. I’m not the one in close contact with the city and their plows, I haven’t consulted with the police department regarding the safety concerns of an entire fleet of school busses on … Continue reading →

Valentine’s Day Cards for Real Couples

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Hilarious Valentine's Day cards for real couples!

Happy Valentine’s Day! If you’re like me, you spent some time this week searching for the perfect card for those you love. You opened and closed countless cards that declared sentimental love in frilly writing on a floral background. If the cards don’t have fancy sentiments, they have sexual innuendos. I was looking for cards with my kids in tow, so my hunt ended around the time my seven-year-old asked, “Mom? Why does this card say ‘SEX?’” We needed to get out of there, and I grabbed one that had no flowers and was as plainspoken as one can expect … Continue reading →

Crock Pot Thursday: Zuppa Toscana

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Zuppa Toscana1

Valentine’s Day is this week, and everywhere you turn there is declarations of love. Not even on a blog post about soup are you free from Cupid’s influence, because I am here to tell you right now that I love this soup. If I could send a Valentine to this Crock Pot Zuppa Toscana, I would. I may buy it flowers. I’ll buy it chocolates and then eat the chocolates because what’s soup gonna do with chocolate? Now if you search for Zuppa Toscana on the world wide web, you’ll get a trillion recipes that claim to be copycat versions … Continue reading →

Crock Pot Thursday: Chicken Doritos Casserole

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Chicken Doritos Casserole1

I love Doritos. One time in college, I was chowing down on a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos and my neighbor offered to buy the crumbs from the bottom of the bag off of me. As I licked the Doritos dust off the tips of my fingers, I thought about her offer. Ultimately, I declined her proposition, because in that moment, no amount of money could be traded for the dregs at the bottom of that crinkly blue bag. That right there is a true testament of my affection for tasty tortilla chips. My friend Susan from Divine Secrets of a … Continue reading →

Crock Pot Thursday: Sausage and Peppers

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These Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers are delicious and super easy to make! | FunnyIsFamily.com |

Oh, boy, you guys! These Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers are so simple, and so good! I’m a huge fan of sandwiches the size of my head, and also love me an easy recipe, and this dish was a winner on both of those fronts. Some people like long walks on the beach; I like big ol’ sandwiches that are easy to make and messy to eat. I did struggle with this recipe, though. I knew I wanted sausage and peppers to be served on a hoagie, but I didn’t know if I should add marinara sauce to the slow … Continue reading →

Easy Homemade Stain Remover

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This simple homemade stain remover really works! | FunnyIsFamily.com |

Yesterday, both of my kids came downstairs dressed in white – a white tee for Graham, and all white for Lily. They looked like they were ready for a day on Nantucket, but all I could see were the future stains down their fronts. As I gave them morning hugs, I thought, “Dang, my kids have stinky breath,” and also “I need to make up a fresh batch of stain remover.” I’m turning into quite the homesteader, first by growing a few vegetables, next by creating homemade centerpieces, and now I’m mixing up homemade cleaners on occasion. If my husband would let me … Continue reading →

Crock Pot Thursday: Clam Chowder

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Clam Chowder3

Sometimes we choose a recipe for Crock Pot Thursday that is an all out winner. Everyone loves it, and even with a few modifications based on the whims of the individual cooks, the dish turns out fantastic. This Crock Pot clam chowder is one of those recipes. It’s crazy to me that in the more than two year history of weekly slow cooker recipes, this is the first clam chowder we’ve made. What an oversight! I love clam chowder. I love eating it on the docks in the summer, with the salty breeze on my cheeks and the sounds of … Continue reading →

Making the Case for New Year’s Resolutions

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Making the case for New Year's resolutions.

I think New Year’s resolutions get a bad rap. Sure most people don’t follow through with their plans, and sure I’m one of those people, but there is something wonderful about using the resetting of the calendar to attempt to reset our lives. About us collectively deciding as a society that January 1st is when we will all do that. I’m guessing the reason so many people abandon their goals early on is because those people weren’t ready to make changes in the first place. Like that time when I agreed to see a Batman movie with my husband, my … Continue reading →

Making Friends and Strangers Jealous in One Easy Step

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Zoolander says, "Buy The Big Book of Parenting Tweets!"

Do you like making people jealous? Of course you do! What if I told you that for just a few dollars you could make both friends and strangers green with envy? You’re interested, right? Imagine this: You’re at your neighborhood holiday party, and it’s time for the White Elephant gift exchange (or Yankee Swap, or whatever it’s called in your region). You are geared up to fight the guy up the street for the bottle of booze that’s in the pile, but when the gifts are opened, this hilarious book is one of the options. The Big Book of Parenting … Continue reading →

Crock Pot Thursday: Spaghetti and Meatballs

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Crock Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs that your family will love!

We’re big meatball fans around here. We frequently bring sweet and sour meatballs to potlucks, we like to hit up the Swedish meatballs at our local IKEA, and I actually like whipping up my own homemade meatballs to serve with spaghetti or on a meatball sub. Mmm, meatball subs. I love meatball subs so much, when my husband was in NYC a few years ago for a conference, the gifts he brought home were toys and t-shirts for the kids and a meatball sub from Carmine’s for me. He somehow managed to not eat it on the 90 minute train … Continue reading →

Crock Pot Thursday: Chex Mix

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Traditional Chex Mix in the Crock Pot!

With Thanksgiving behind us, you may be tempted to put your chubby pants away, but not so fast! We’ve got an entire month of holiday eating on our plates (see what I did there?), and nothing says “If calories are points I’m scoring big this month” like classic Chex mix. I love Chex mix. It reminds me of my childhood in a wonderfully nostalgic way, and it embodies all of the characteristics of my favorite snacks: crunchy, garlicky, salty, and buttery. This Crock Pot Chex mix tastes just like the original, and while I’m not sure it’s easier than that classic … Continue reading →

Crock Pot Thursday: Turkey Stock

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This Crock Pot Turkey or Chicken Stock will make your house smell incredible!

Happy Thanksgiving! I am writing this from my couch, with a full belly and an even fuller heart. The kids are singing show tunes from Annie, with Thanksgiving twists like “It’s a hard knock life, for turkey,” and “The sun’ll come out tomorrow (but not for the turkey),” and my husband is finishing up the dishes, humming the same songs, but probably not realizing he’s doing it. For the past five Thanksgivings, we’ve celebrated quietly, just the four of us. We set a nice table, but oftentimes never change out of our pajamas for the day, and we play games, … Continue reading →

Crock Pot Thursday: Steak and Gravy

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This Crock Pot Steak and Gravy only has three ingredients!

This Crock Pot Steak and Gravy recipe is for anyone who needs to be able to throw dinner together in the morning, and who only has about ten minutes to devote to that task. Don’t you just love knowing you can go about your day and not have to worry about what kind of meal you’re going to scrounge up at five o’clock? I really, really do. I also love coming home from work to a house that smells amazing. I seriously never get tired of walking through the door to a waft of yummy smells that Morning Me lovingly … Continue reading →

The Time I Almost Died on My Way to Target

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The Time I Almost Died on My Way to Target

The rain that was still falling had turned the roads dark and shiny, and the rush hour traffic was hitting the brake lights pretty hard. But that’s not how I almost died. The wind was howling, and busily freeing leaves from their branches and the branches from their trunks. The force of the weather was whipping the thick grey clouds into swirls that my kids mistook for tornadoes. “Hurry up and get in the car,” I barked. “Before a tree falls on us and turns us into people pancakes.” My brand of parenting that relies heavily on threats and bribes … Continue reading →

Crock Pot Thursday: Easy Beef Pot Roast

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Crock Pot Easy Beef Pot Roast

For how “meat and potatoes” our family is, we have very few pot roasts under our Crock Pot Thursday belt. Pot roast isn’t the sexiest of dishes, but really, it’s almost perfect. It is fairly inexpensive, is easy to prepare, and has meat, vegetables, and my favorite food group: gravy. Roasts are great for fall and winter. I love how a tough cut of meat can be transformed into fork-tender deliciousness with the magic of the slow cooker. The long cook time is ideal for those folks away from the house all day, and this one can even be cooked … Continue reading →

Recipes By Kids

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Hilarious recipes written by children.

Back in the spring, one of the preschool mothers compiled a cookbook of my daughter and her classmates’ favorite recipes. It was an adorable mix of real recipes and the kids’ versions of recipes, and it made the perfect parting gift for both the graduating kids and their kind, generous teachers. My girl shared her mac and cheese recipe, which I just recently realized she thought was “mackin’ cheese.” We’re having my daughter’s favorite dinner tonight: mackin’. As in, “Mom? I love mackin’, but it’s even better with the cheese.” — Amy Flory (@FunnyIsFamily) July 13, 2014 Here’s her recipe: … Continue reading →

Crock Pot Thursday: Stuffed Bell Pepper Soup

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Stuffed Bell Pepper Soup

It’s a beautiful time of year. The weather is crisp, I’m able to wear scarves without sweating, and all I can think about is soup. Slow cookers and soups are a match made in heaven, and I would choose a soup, stew, or chowder every Thursday for the entire season if the meat-and-potatoes menfolk in our families wouldn’t revolt. According to them, soup is fine as a side dish, but as the main event? Woman, please. I couldn’t help myself this week, though, so soup it is! Fall is also a perfect time for stuffed bell peppers, and the lure of … Continue reading →

Hurricanes and Snowstorms on Halloween? Oh, My!

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#PoweringSafety for Halloween with @FunnyIsFamily and @Energizer!

Halloween falls at a time of year that is known for wild, unpredictable weather for many parts of the country, and we need to be prepared for anything. Last year was pretty mild here in New England, but in 2012 we braved post-superstorm debris on October 31st, and in 2011 a nor’easter snowstorm tried to thwart our holiday begging. In addition to those extreme situations, our family’s Halloween has also been impacted by knee scrapes on two separate occasions due to over-exuberant children running in costumes, and probably the most dire situation of all, running out of candy to hand out to … Continue reading →

Crock Pot Thursday: Easy Crock Pot Applesauce

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Crock Pot Applesauce that is easy, sugar-free, and delicious!

Ah, fall. The season for sunglasses and scarves, soccer and homework, and apple picking and slow cookers. I have a hard time picking a favorite season, but like having to choose a favorite child, the one that is the most charming at the moment usually wins out. Fall has given me my beloved boots back, and while I romanticize the changing leaves and the crisp morning air, I am full-on in love with autumn. For two years, the entire lifetime of Crock Pot Thursday, I’ve wanted to try Crock Pot applesauce. It took my sister-in-law Sarah to finally pull the … Continue reading →

Be Your Own Tree

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Be Your Own Tree by Funny Is Family

One of my favorite things about living in Connecticut is watching the leaves change color in the fall. The phenomenon is gorgeous, and an entire industry is built here in New England upon “leaf peepers,” or people travel for the express purpose of viewing the fall foliage. My favorite trees are the ones whose leaves turn a deep red color, but I love the yellows and the oranges, too. I adore the clean green tree that clings to its original hue when its neighbors are changing color all around, and the way the infrequent evergreens shine after all of the … Continue reading →

Crock Pot Thursday: Beef and Beer Stew with Bacon

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Crock Pot Beef and Beer Stew with Bacon

I’ve said it before, and it should come as no surprise, that I love preparing recipes that call for booze. The best ones ask for one cup of wine, or ½ bottle of beer, practically insisting that I pour myself a drink while I cook. This Crock Pot Beef and Beer Stew with Bacon is one such recipe, but it’s not as fun when the beer is opened at 9 am on a Crock Pot Thursday, because I’m not in college anymore, and the other half of that beer just got thrown away. Despite the beer-wasting aspect of this recipe … Continue reading →

The Time I Lost My Fitbit

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The Time I Lost My Fitbit

If you’ve noticed that I’ve gained some weight recently, thank you for keeping it to yourself, and no, I’m not pregnant. I’d just taken a break from worrying about the numbers on the scale, and until a few days ago, I hadn’t hopped on that scale in months. Here’s how it all started. Early last spring I had this conversation with myself: Summer’s coming. Dude. I know. You might want to think about getting things under control. What things? You’re going to make me say it? Okay, your gut is the biggest issue, but also your ass can barely fit … Continue reading →

Crock Pot Thursday: Orange Chicken

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It's hard to compete with food truck orange chicken.

  My kids love orange chicken, and I love it when they order orange chicken, because then I can sneak a bite or four. The crispy breaded chicken bites, smothered in tangy and sweet orange sauce is one of the best things Americanized Chinese food has to offer. This is not that recipe. One day, I will take the time to batter and fry tiny chicken chunks, and mix up the thick sauce that perfectly accompanies the chicken, but today I’m making ten minute Crock Pot Orange Chicken, and serving it over rice. The interesting thing is, it seems like … Continue reading →

Does Back to School for Kids Mean Back to School for Mom?

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American Public University

I have always loved to read and write. As a child, I devoured as many books as I could get my hands on, and I wrote my first opinion piece at age four, penning “I hat Brian” on my parents’ nightstand in permanent marker. I was pretty proud of that work, until I received my punishment, while at the same time learning that I had spelled “hate” incorrectly. That silent “e” was tricky. I no longer “hat” my brother, but I do still enjoy sharing my thoughts via written word. In middle and high school I did well in my … Continue reading →

Marital Squabbles and a myCharge Giveaway

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Enter to win one of 3 iPad minis or 40 portable chargers from myCharge!

All couples have those few consistent battlegrounds. In some households, it’s socks on the living room floor, and for others it’s whether or not putting dirty dishes in the sink means the dishes are “done.” Some husbands think the bed doesn’t need to be made, because “it’s going to get messed up in a few hours anyway,” and some wives let clean clothes sit in the basket so long the t-shirts have wrinkles as deep as the Grand Canyon. In our house, we fight over all of those things, but our biggest battle is over the phone charger. Every night, … Continue reading →

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies2

I’ve been holding out on you guys, and I really need to apologize. Every week I share a recipe with you, and all the while I’ve been keeping this perfect chocolate chip recipe close to the vest. My friend Laura served these delicious little suckers when we were at her house a couple years ago, and like I always do when Laura cooks, I ate way too much, and begged her for the recipe. Since that fateful day, I’ve been churning out chocolate chip cookies like it’s my job, and eating them like it’s my job, too. I always double … Continue reading →

Crock Pot Thursday: Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes without Foil

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Slow Cooked Baked Potatoes without Foil for perfectly cooked spuds!

The weather may still be hovering near the 80s, but the air is beginning to feel crisp around the edges. Fall is coming, which means boots, and soups, and after school sports. I’ve been working more when the kids are in school, and the lazy days of summer are gone. We have homework this year. Evenings are rushed. I’m busier than I expected to be, and I’m falling in love with my Crock Pot all over again. I’m all about easy recipes that I can throw together in between making lunches and getting ready for work, and today’s recipe honestly … Continue reading →

Date Night

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Date night! Is it that time of year again?

Yesterday my husband and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary. It was on a Saturday, and friends had agreed to watch our kids for the evening, so yeah, I was pretty excited. I WAS GOING ON A DATE! After 15 years together, our anniversaries have evolved, or devolved, as it were. Back in the nineties, my beloved always received a card. Obviously. I would begin hunting for the perfect sentiment weeks before the big day, and would eventually settle on some humorously suggestive card that didn’t really say what I was feeling, and also that wasn’t that funny. Hallmark is … Continue reading →

Crock Pot Thursday: Grape Jelly Meatballs

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These Crock Pot Grape Jelly Meatballs are easy, delicious, and the perfect party appetizer!

Today I’m taking on a topic near and dear to my heart. It’s meatballs, people. I don’t remember a time when I didn’t love meatballs. I love them on pizza, in spaghetti, with mashed potatoes at Ikea, and straight out of the slow cooker. My first meatball love was my grandmother’s sweet and sour meatballs, a recipe I should share here sometime, and that love was strong and true. My mother-in-law has to make about 50 tons of her meatballs when we’re at her house for Christmas, and while I know it’s rude to inhale my weight in meatballs and … Continue reading →

How Was Your Day?

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Talking to kids about school, beyond "How was your day?"

Last week my kids went back to school. My son entered second grade, ready to learn “multiplication, division, and pretty much lots of math stuff.” He was hopeful that there would be ample time to read, and he was crossing his fingers that the rumors of hardly any free time were untrue. He got to play with Legos in kindergarten and first grade, so why should second grade be any different? His sister was embarking on her elementary school career as a kindergartner, and with the confidence of a young sibling who had spent two years occasionally roaming the halls … Continue reading →

Crock Pot Thursday: Red Thai Chicken Curry

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Crock Pot Red Thai Chicken Curry from @FunnyIsFamily.

If you have kids, do they like curry? Mine don’t. It’s” too spicy,” or it” tastes weird,” and I’m always kicking myself for dialing down the spice factor for their sake when they aren’t going to eat it anyway. When will I learn? This Crock Pot Red Thai Chicken Curry is one of those dishes. My husband loves, loves, loves curry, and slow cooked curry dishes always turn out well. I love that the basic formula is the same: coconut milk, curry paste, various spices, and meat or vegetables; and that often I can adapt a recipe to whatever I … Continue reading →

I Know My Kids

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I know my kids. I’m not telling you this because one of them has done something naughty, like taken someone’s lunch money or pantsed a kid on the bus, and I’m aghast that anyone would accuse my perfect angel of anything so bad. Isn’t that what parents of bratty kids always say? “It’s not possible that my son stole your car and bragged about it on Facebook. He wouldn’t do that. I know my boy. And besides, he can use my minivan whenever he wants. He doesn’t need your stupid Porsche.” My kids aren’t delinquents (yet), but I do know them. … Continue reading →

Exercise: What Not to Do

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One mom's hilarious attempt at exercising. From @FunnyIsFamily.

I started exercising again today. I’m bragging right now, because exercise, and also because I planned on recommitting to working out after the kids went back to school, and they don’t go back until Wednesday. I’m two days ahead of schedule! Easing back into a workout routine can be tough. I usually hit it hard the first day, which means I can barely move on day two, am still sore on day three, and by day four, when I’ve regained control of my limbs, I’ve lost interest. To avoid that trap, I told myself to take it easy today. Here’s how … Continue reading →

No White Flags

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#NoWhiteFlags

Are you weary of the Ice Bucket Challenge for ALS? I was. No one close to me has suffered from ALS, and how many times can I watch my Facebook friends dump water on their heads before I long for the days of bra color statuses posing as breast cancer activism? If I had ALS, would I care if a stranger soaked themselves with ice water in the name of my disease? Would that fund research? Would that ease my pain? Besides, no one had nominated me, and I was starting to get a complex. Unpopular much? To make myself feel … Continue reading →

Crock Pot Thursday: Very Best Crock Pot Recipes

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Best of Crock Pot Thursday Recipes

It has been two years since my family began selecting, making, and reviewing a weekly Crock Pot recipe, and in that time we have collected over 100 slow-cooked meals. Everyone has a favorite (or four) and today I’m sharing those all-star recipes with you. The timing couldn’t be better. School is starting, which means busy evenings for many families. I’ve already got the nervous sweats about having two kids in school, two kids with homework, and two kids with after school activities. Where am I going to find the time to make, prepare, and serve dinner? Someone hold me. Here’s … Continue reading →

Helping a Heart

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I have a friend. No really, I do! Tara and I became close in middle school, and our friendship remained strong through high school. We drifted apart in college, heading for different schools and living in different states, and we reconnected through the magic of Facebook years later. I still have some of the notes we passed in middle and high school, a fact that delights me. My kids’ baby books may be woefully sparse, but I still have shoeboxes full of the senseless ramblings of young girls. I can’t share those notes with you today, because even I couldn’t … Continue reading →

20 Things Overheard While Vacationing with Family

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20 Things You Hear When Vacationing with Family

Last week, we descended upon a cabin in the woods with my husband’s family. Our group of 30 took over the main cabin and guest house, and we spent six days swimming, snacking, laughing, and parenting each other’s children. We were celebrating my father-in-law’s 70th birthday, and boy did we celebrate. The week was equal parts relaxing and exhausting, and I left with a tired body and a full heart, the result of a bounty of quality time with loved ones. I can’t wait to do it again. Several phrases were heard over and over during our vacation, and I … Continue reading →

Crock Pot Thursday: Creamy Salsa Chicken

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This Crock Pot Creamy Salsa Chicken is incredibly easy to throw together, and tastes great!

I have something to tell you guys, and maybe you already know. School is starting soon, and the lazy days of summer are coming to an end. In the fall, evenings are going to be hectic, and you need to do yourself a favor and find a few favorite go-to Crock Pot recipes. This is one of those recipes, and I can’t believe I haven’t shared it yet! Or maybe I have, and I don’t remember. Our Crock Pot Thursday crew likes chicken recipes, and we’ve got sooo many of them. You like chicken, too, right? How about easy meals? Just … Continue reading →

MomAssembly is Saving Our Summer

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Tips to a calmer, easier, and happier way of parenting.

I love my kids. I like spending time with them, and they make me laugh every day. Those two also make me crazy, what with the way they ignore my direction, and how they bicker over the most ridiculous things. Between the rumbles over who is “breathing the best,” and they way I have to tell them four times and finally shout before they put on their shoes, our summer together had gotten a little heavy on the yelling. And no one was liking it. Then I learned about MomAssembly, an online video education site for moms that was co-founded by … Continue reading →

Crock Pot Thursday: Sweet and Sour Pork Wraps

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These Crock Pot Sweet and Sour Pork Wraps are incredible! From @FunnyIsFamily. #slowcooker #crockpotthursday

I have a confession. If you wrap anything in a tortilla, I’ll eat it with a smile. Many of our Crock Pot Thursday choices are a reflection of that love, like Pork Carnitas, Flank Steak Fajitas, Chicken Fajitas, and these Crock Pot Sweet and Sour Pork Wraps. Sure, my affection for rolled up dinners may have impacted my feelings about these wraps, but they deserve the accolades. The ingredients are simple, but the flavor comes together perfectly. I loved the way the crisp cabbage blended with the sweet and sour pork, and the cilantro brings it all home. When I … Continue reading →

20 Things I Say When Traveling with Kids

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This is exactly how it sounds to travel with kids! So funny!

Once, I took a trip alone. It was glorious. I only had to pack for myself, I was able to nap and read, and I didn’t once have to worry about anyone else’s potty schedule. Usually, though, I am traveling with a shorty entourage, and I’m a sweaty mix between a pack mule and shepherd. I haul luggage, boarding passes, and pillow pets, and I am constantly redirecting my kids to ensure they aren’t wandering off or touching nasty garbage they find on the ground. My son and daughter are great travelers, but they are still kids. Here’s what I sound like … Continue reading →

Crock Pot Thursday: Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas

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These Crock Pot Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas will be gobbled up! From @FunnyIsFamily's #crockpotthursday.

I like to share recipes that are pretty much “Dump stuff in the Crock Pot. Turn it on. Come back later and eat the deliciousness.” These Crock Pot Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas aren’t that simple. They involve layers, and multiple instructions, and paying attention. Still, though, they are much easier than my regular enchilada recipe, and they tasted great! My kids wouldn’t touch this meal, but don’t let that deter you. If they would have given it a chance, they would have liked it. Kids can be jerks like that, and it’s actually a good thing they didn’t eat it, … Continue reading →

Were you at da’ club? No, those are Sunscreen Bands!

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Sunscreen bands are inexpensive and they work!

Raise your hand if you’re spending more time outside now that it’s summer! Raise your hand if you want to make sure your family’s skin is protected from the sun! Raise your hand if you forget to reapply sunscreen pretty much every day! You know what? This isn’t working. I can’t see your hands. I’m going to assume that many of you are like me. You lather up yourself and your kids before going to the beach or the park, and you pack extra sunscreen for later. You have every intention of reapplying after a few hours, and rarely do … Continue reading →

A Rookie Gardener Greens Her Thumb

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A rookie gardener greens her thumb. By @FunnyIsFamily.

Not to brag, but I have (so far) been successful in growing two kids without major incident. I have protected them from the elements, fed and watered them, and resisted the temptation to eat them. They have not broken any limbs from being run over by dogs chasing after balls, they have not been nibbled on by beetles, and no one needs to pee around their perimeter to keep them safe from predators. My track record for keeping plants alive has not been so great. I drown my indoor plants by over-watering them, a nod to my loving too hard, … Continue reading →

Crock Pot Thursday: Little Smokies

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Crock Pot Little Smokies

My husband is a good cook. I’ve shared a few of his recipes on here, but every time I do, he gets annoyed. He hates the million questions I have, like “How long does it cook?” and “What are the ingredients?” I think those details are kind of important, but his answers are more along the lines of “Grilled meat is done by feel, not by time,” and “I use enough spice to coat it.” I understand that measurements don’t have to be completely precise, but throw me a bone, man. Are we talking five minutes, or a half hour? … Continue reading →

Frozen Giveaway!

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Enter to win $120 worth of Frozen toys!

Yesterday, my kids and I took a day trip to Boston with one of my oldest and dearest friends and her family. Near the end of our day, the four children in our group were sweaty and tired, and we adults were ready to pay up on our vague bribes for “a treat later.” You know, “Walk like a big girl and you can have a treat later,” or “Eat at least three bites of the $10 chicken fingers you ordered, or you won’t be getting a treat later,” or “No jumping over ancient headstones. Seriously, get off the grass, … Continue reading →

Crock Pot Thursday: Bacon Cheeseburgers

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Bacon Cheeseburgers in the Crock Pot? Yes, please! From @FunnyIsFamily

You guys should have seen my husband’s face when I told him our Crock Pot Thursday recipe was Crock Pot Bacon Cheeseburgers. He was like, “You can’t make cheeseburgers in the Crock Pot!” He’s kind of right. Technically, these aren’t your traditional bacon cheeseburger, they’re more like a Sloppy Joe, which I love, by the way. He became a believer when two little burgers of deliciousness landed on his plate, though. These bad boys aren’t fancy. They are quick, and easy, and can also be made on the stovetop. I threw ours together before heading to the library, and they … Continue reading →