Several years ago our daughter arrived home from summer camp with an idea that would become an annual tradition with her friends — we call it The Annual Spaghetti Party!

Who would have though that a simple dinner at a camp could have such an impact on a young girl.  I remember pickup day and how excited Emmy was to share her spaghetti party tales with us - the blind fold, the crazy utensils and laugh-out-loud fun and an eagerness to host such a dinner with her own friends.  So, a few weeks later we called her friends and the tradition began.

Fast forward several years and I can honestly say that hosting an annual event or even an impromptu dinner is a great way to stay connected to your teen and her friends. I really like hosting dinners that take a little longer than eating a slice of pizza — one that requires you to be involved even if that means you are just popping in from time to time to offer seconds or clear dishes.  Listening to the girls talk about what is going on in their lives gives you an inside look at what they like and what is important to each of them.  If you listen closely, you’ll also hear about what might not be going well or struggles they have with their friends.  This can lead to great dialog between you and your teen after the party.

So, what is the party all about?  In a nutshell this party is really just a spaghetti and meatball dinner.  The fun comes when the girls discover they are not eating with a fork and knife/spoon, instead they are blind folded and they select a utensil from a big pot or bag.  A count of three means they can’t feel around and pick the best utensil - after three if they don’t have a utensil they don’t get one!  The dinner proceeds with everyone eating from their giant size kitchen utensils  — you’ll be amazed at how creative the kids get.

What you’ll need

• Spaghetti
• Meatballs (we like the large ones)
• Spaghetti sauce
• Parmesan cheese
• Garlic toast or buns
• Veggies & dip
• Drinks
• Dessert
• Blindfold
• Utensils (see below)
• Napkins (lots of them!)

Utensils

You can use just about anything you have in your kitchen, we’ve had fun with the following utensils:

• Soup ladle
• Chop Sticks
• Kitchen tongs
• Wooden spoon
• Slotted spoon
• Spatula
• Wisk

I have mentioned this little basket before but I thought it was worth mentioning again.

The feel better basket is really a first aid kit but I look at it as first aid for the heart. When my kids were little I liked to take the basket down (used to be high in my linen closet, now it is lower so we can all reach it) and stop what I was doing to really show them that I cared - no matter how big or small the hurt was.

From the photo you can see I have the usual band-aids, creams and thermometer but I also include some chocolate and bubblegum band-aids and some suckers too. I have a scanner on my printer so I cut the band-aid boxes up so I can scan the front (I like to have lots on hand, the regular and the character and colored ones) and print them onto sticker paper. The band-aids can be put into an envelope (see the brownish ones) and the sticker helps to show you what you have on hand. This makes it fun and easy to go through and the envelopes take up a lot less space than the boxes do.  If your kids grown out of a character, donate them to a friend with older kids and make space for a new design!

At this time of year, when bumps and scrapes are not as common - I try to keep a few cold/flu items in this basket to go along with my “sick-day basket” — a thermometer, coupon for a popsicle or freezie and cough drops.

By the way - my basket is starting to fall apart. If you have seen a cute basket that would make for a good replacement - please tell me where to pick one up!

I love labels!  The simple act of putting a label on a file folder, cuboard door or kitchen drawer makes me feel more organized!  Over the years I have used everything from hand written labels to hand held electronic label machines.  One thing I have discovered is that some labels stick better than others and my loyalty now sits with the Brother line of label machines.  I can depend on them to stick and the hand-held machines mean the kids can help me get organized. The replacement tapes are easy to find at our local office supply store.

My most recent addition to our label obsession, and my new favourite labeller is the P-touch: P-1230-PC.  This little machine plugs into your PC USB port and uses a built-in simple word processor, no downloading required.  You type in your label, hit print and the label comes out - simply hit the cutter button and your label is ready to go.

Why use the PC instead of the hand-held?  Well, I still love my hand-held for simple projects but the PC version allows me to change the font, add images and borders, making the labels more user-friendly and creative.  The machine fits in your hand so it is very portable and easy enough for the kids to use too!

If you have been reading along you’ll know that I am on a quest to find health via the Biggest Loser television show.  This past week I spent half of the week taking care of sick kids and the other half taking care of me.  I was able to get up off the couch and get some workouts in - let me just say that the Biggest Loser Yoga is not the kind of yoga I remember, but I was glad I pushed myself and finished.  I feel better for it.

On the food front I tried some new foods and actually ate breakfast everyday.  Doc’s Chili from the Biggest Loser 6 Week Jump Start book is amazing.  Our entire family loved it.  We also made our own hummus (really good) from the book.   My favourite breakfast of the week was an egg white omelet with some laughing cow cheese (just a little) and spicy salsa.   When a recipe didn’t appeal to me, or my schedule didn’t allow for stopping to cook a full recipe, I just did some smart food swapping.

When I got on the scale this morning I was surprised to see I was down 6.2 pounds.  I don’t expect to see big loses like that every week but it gives me that extra push I need to move on to week two where I am going to move more and drink more water!

Here’s to healthy moms everywhere!

Helen

I am fortunate enough to work from home, so a sick day can be as simple as setting the kids up with a pillow, blanket and a remote control.  Checking in on them with fluid and a thermometer from time to time gets us through the day.

So, in honour of the cold and flu season and the fact that I have already tested this out twice already this school year, I thought I would revisit our family’s Sick Bucket.  This handy plastic tote full of supplies means I am ready for a sick day.  Don’t assume your pantry or medicine cabinet will have what you need when you need it!

What goes inside?

It really depends on your family and the age of your kids.   First, I keep my bucket on a top shelve because I keep a small selection of cold medicine tucked inside.  I also keep gingerale, soda crackers, chicken soup, cough drops and jello.  My freezer has a bag where I hide a box of popsicles and freezies.   I also like to keep a few treats in the bin for the kids.  When they were small I had colouring books and crayons, now that they are both older I have books and word-search books.

Consider pulling together a few supplies so you are not caught when the kids wake up not feeling well.

I love things that make my life easier so in honour of my favourite newest discoveries and old standbys I am dedicating Fridays to My Favourite Things.  And because I love to organize my “things” — I’ll be keeping a master “My Favs ABC List” which is inspired by my friend Stacy Julian who has a very cool new website!

Pampered Chef Mini-Whipper

This may seem like a strange first pick but this little 5 dollars kitchen gadget is a mom’s best friend.  I first discovered this mini-whipper while visiting my mom who used it to mix my father’s protein shakes.  I was so impressed at how well it mixed the dry powder and instantly thought of the cool winter months and making hot chocolate for my kids. Not only does this tool work well for hot chocolate powder but I use it when I am mixing gravy, whipping potatoes — actually I find I reach for this little utensil instead of my whisk now.  Cheap - dishwasher safe - what more could you ask for!

My husband and I have a few favourite televisions shows that take up a bit of our evening time during the winter months.  And as much as we like reality tv, we haven’t really gotten into watching the Biggest Loser - at least until this season.  With the ME Project in mind, I decided to tune in weekly to see what I could learn and to see how it could help me be a more healthy mom.  The show is 2 hours in length so I am happy that I have a PVR to skip through the bits we don’t want to watch!

When I first started watching, I thought wow! - look at how unhealthy those people all are!  But just a few weeks ago I found myself not feeling very well and wondering if my lifestyle was going to push me towards an application to be on the Biggest Loser show!  I decided to take my casual watching of the show off the couch, away from the fridge and up on my feet.

I read a lot and know how to eat and exercise but the doing is a bit of a problem.  So, I have enlisted the help of the Biggest loser by picking up a copy of their Jump Start Book.  This book is a little like having the Biggest Loser trainers at your home and is packed full of tips and recipes. The thing I like the best is that the 30 days is broken into a step by step guide with a section for each day of the challenge including a suggested menu, and fitness plan - making it easy to focus on doing and not planning to do.

I just started today but feel like I am finally moving forward!  Got up early, ate breakfast!!!  and I did a workout.

If you are a biggest loser fan or are following along on the 30 day jump start plan I would love to hear how you are doing.

Here’s to a smaller and healthier me!

Today marks the beginning of a new school year and many more firsts.  This year is the last year of elementary school for my daughter, the first year on the “big” kid campus for my son (grade 5) and the first time I have felt like my kids are really growing up and preparing to move on.

I didn’t get this feeling from my daughter when she was in grade 5 but my son is more independent (in his own unique way)  - but this morning was different.  I didn’t take the same photos that I have for so many years (yes, I was the mom who took snapshots of the kids in their first day classrooms with their friends - love those photos!!) it just didnt’ seem like it was right.  I got a shot of Sam heading over to his new class and Emmy in the hall with one of her friends but that was it - I turned around and came home.

A few months ago I started to think a bit more about the time I devote to everyone and everthing other than myself and realized that if I don’t start to think more about ME, there will come a day when the kids don’t need me like they have for so long - and I will be the mom left standing behind wondering - what’s next!  Today was a sneak peak at what the future holds - yes they still need me but not as much as they once did.  They still want me around, but not as much as they use to.

Join me as I embark on Project.ME  A journey that will help me find the ME in Mommy - afterall, I don’t want to stop being a Mom - I just want to make sure that I am taking care of “ME” as well as I take care of everyone else.

Helen

Menu planning is a challenge for our family at the best of time - and in the summer I find it extra challenging because our weeks lack structure.  The kids are doing activities at odd times and the heat often changes our plans at the last minute.

So in honour of getting our family back on track I am dedicated Monday as Menu Monday.  I actually plan my menus in advance, so I can get groceries before today but just typing the words may just get dinner on the table more often

If you are looking for menu planning help or ideas for dinnertime I would recommend dropping into the CPO message boards.  You’ll find  the Cooking, Recipes & Mealtime board.  I spent a bit of time yesterday planning out some back to school lunch and snack ideas, if you are looking for ideas or have some to share drop by the Back to School Board and share away!

On our menu this week:

Monday: BBQ Chicken with 100 mile salad & corn on the cob

Tuesday: Slow Cooker Mac & Cheese (It is going to be a busy on-the-go day which makes this recipe a good choice!) with veggies & dip

Wednesday: Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken (My son loves lemon chicken) with Rice & Veggies

Thursday: BBQ Pizza (We cook our homemade dough on the grill and top it with whatever we have in the fridge)  with 100 Mile Salad.

Friday: No Cook Day (Dinner @ Friends)

Saturday: Family BBQ - Burgers & Dogs and salads (I’m making: Carrot Salad, Potato Salad & 100 Mile Green Salad)

Sunday: Sunday Roast - 30 Minute Chicken (I am testing out a Microwave recipe this week -if it doesn’t work then I will do Blasted Chicken which takes about 45 minutes)

I wish I could take full credit for this idea, but I can’t.  Part of this idea is something we have been doing every summer for several years but it was not until my friend Stacy Julian shared her Summertime Bingo idea that I was able to really expand on our idea, one that has become a huge hit with our kids!  In a nutshell, Summer BINGO is a little game the kids play each day/week of the summer.  The Bingo cards are made on the computer and printed, a new card each week.  The boxes are filled with fun activities to make their days pass while Mom gets to tuck in some learning, exploring and other interesting things along the way. The cover is made up of card stock but you could use just about anything you have around the house.  I used some rings and punched a hole but you could use a clip from your office drawer.  I took a photo of the kids and stuck it on the front so they could see whose card what whose and I hung them on the fridge.

Because I was strapped for time, I took Stacy’s template and modified it to make it our own (you can find a link on this page) and I am glad I did.  Not only did it save me time, her card has so many great ideas - good for most families!    To give you an idea, I kept some of Stacy’s ideas (she has so many) and I added a few of my own and they include: Ask Jeeves, “What Causes Hiccups?” - Make brownies for the family - Try a science experiment from your Xmas kit - Go on MSN for 1 hour - Spend the afternoon at the Library and Pick a chore from the Chore Jar.  As you can see some of the tasks are about learning or helping around the house and others are just for fun.  One in particular my daughter liked was, Soak and paint your toenails.  To her, it is fun and to me it is clean feet (have you seen summer feet when they run around in crocs?!)

I have been keeping a master list of ideas when they come to me and will add new ideas each week as we move through the summer.  Some things will be a staple on the card (like reading, smart computer program time, pages in our Summer workbooks) but I will change it up enough to keep them interested (that was the problem with our old system.  It got boring as the summer went on).  If you want more ideas there is a facebook group where you can find ideas for kids of all ages - do a search for Summer Bingo!

One other thing I should mention is the basic rules Stacy setup work really well but you can modify them to work for each of your children.   My kids have to make their bed, play on their instrument (piano and guitar) and do their morning chores, eat and get dressed before they can play Bingo.  And for rewards, I kept what Stacy had as they are great and simple.  Each row earns a ticket and tickets can be traded in for more Wii/Computer time, sleepover, ice cream etc…   I am using dollar store stickers but you could use a stamp, check mark or intial the square when the kids are done each task.

I love this idea and encourage you to try it if you want to keep the kids busy and direct their energy a little.  By the end of the summer our kids will have learned things they wouldn’t have considered, helped more around the house, and possibly played togehter more (some squares have them helping each other with a task or playing games together).

Oh, one last thing.  I made up a bingo card for myself, it is a bit of a creative “todo” list.  I put things like Exercise: Treadmill, Read a Novel, Write a note to a friend, Call Mom - all the things I should be doing but find time gets in the way.  I am not earning ice cream but I know as I cross each off (or have the kids put the stickers on my squares) that I will feel a sense of accomplishment and I will have made time for some of the things that really matter!

And one last summer fun idea - Cheater S’mores!  My son had an end of school party last week.  Considering it was a gang of boys I was looking for some quick and easy food and snack ideas and lucky for me while I was watching the Barefoot Contessa on the Food Network the night before the party, I found the perfect solution to S’mores!  All you need for each smore is a roasted marshmallow and two chocolate sided biscuits.  Put the chocolate side in and squish the marshmallow in the middle and you are done!  The kids loved them and I am pretty sure this is our new family S’more solution.  So much easier than graham wafers, chocolate and marshmallows.

Have fun playing Summer Bingo and eating Cheater S’mores!