Mommy Octopus

We can all use a few more hands

What’s Up With Me?

By 1 Comment
By clicking my links, I may earn a small commission to support this blog. Please see our Disclosure Policy.

I got a couple emails today wondering about Meal Plan Monday and other normal blog posts.  And why the heck am I so behind?  The answer?  I’m losing my mind!  Okay, not quite, but we’re preparing for a cross country road trip, leaving at 3am Friday morning!  I’ve been scrambling to pack for 6 people, make sure we’ve got our house and pet sitter ready with instructions, moving everything back in from storage (house didn’t sell, so staying put right now), and everything else.

So the answer?  There is no meal plan!  Eating leftovers, stuff from our bountiful basket, and anything else that may go bad while we’re gone.  Although, I suppose I could leave some of that for our house sitter….

Anyways, we’re gearing up to spend 2 days in Hershey and Lancaster, PA.  Then on to Buffalo New York!  Any readers out that way?

Never fear though, I have a great assistant who is going to be doing some blogging for me and I’ll try to blog some as well when I’m not trapped in the van with 4 kids and a hubby.  Pray for my sanity on our adventure… and that I don’t freeze going from the warmth of the south (70s here today!) to the north.  I shiver just thinking about it.  I will be back in a week or 2 to defrost and then we’ll be back to business as usual.  Or not so usual since it will be crazy until after Christmas.  Nevertheless, I shall return!

Let Swagbucks Pay For Your Holidays!

By Leave a Comment
By clicking my links, I may earn a small commission to support this blog. Please see our Disclosure Policy.

Swagbucks has a new promotion!  If you complete a wish list, you’ll be entered to win $2,500 in Amazon giftcards!

Here’s how to enter:

– Complete your Wishlist (1 Entry) – Wishlist can be found here.
– Share your Wishlist on either Facebook or Twitter using our Share buttons (1 entry per day you share). These shares act as a special referral link.
– Have a new user register for Swagbucks through your Wishlist share (1 entry)
– Have that user complete and share their own Wishlist (4 additional entries)
In addition to the grand prize, they are giving away prizes every week day on the Facebook wall, Twitter account, and in the Blog.
Not a Swagbucks member?  You’re missing out!  Here are a few questions most people have about Swagbucks:
What is Swagbucks?
Swagbucks is a search engine, where you can search for website and randomly win Swagbucks.  Save up these Swagbucks for prizes such as Amazon Giftcards, Starbucks Giftcards, and many more!  You can earn more Swagbucks by taking surveys, watching videos, voting in polls, and keeping an eye out for random swagcodes.
How long does it take to earn prizes?
This depends on if you use Swagbucks as your main search engine and how active you are.  Many people earn several giftcards a month with very little effort!
Is it legit?
Absolutely!  I’ve been with them almost 3 years and LOVE it!  I love earning FREE giftcards!
Okay, I want to sign up!  Now What?
Just click here and sign up!  If you enter code SBPAYSFORME when you register before 11/18, you’ll start with 110 swagbucks instead of the usual 30!  This means you’re well on your way toward an Amazon giftcard!  Then start searching!  Today is Friday, so that also means it’s Mega Swagbucks Day, when you can win really large amounts of swagbucks using the search feature!  Let me know if you win anything big!

LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet and Tag System Review!

By Leave a Comment
By clicking my links, I may earn a small commission to support this blog. Please see our Disclosure Policy.

This morning I hosted a toy testing party with a few friends and their children.  We received a LeapFrog Tag Reading System, books, and map to try out along with the new Leapfrog LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet.

 

LeapFrog Tag Reading System: 

First off, I was very impressed with this product.  I had seen the Tag Reading System before but had never played with it.  It was very easy for the kids to use and they all were really surprised that it could read the books to them and also the maps.  I was super excited about the map and think it will come in handy with our homeschool lessons.  It was a hit with all of the kids and the moms as well.  I love LeapFrog products since I know my kids are learning when they are using them.  I plan to use the LeapFrog Tag Reading System frequently with my almost  5 year old as he starts learning to read.

Checking out the Leapfrog Tag Reading System Map

"Reading" a book with Tag

LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet 

The LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet was by far a HUGE hit with the kids.  Think of it as an iPad for kids!  The setup is great, having the games loaded on the tablet so that you can select which game/application to play.  It has a built in camera to take photos and record video.  The kids had a blast with that along with editing the photos and making silly pictures.  The LeapPad allows kids to take more than 30,000 photos or shoot 120 minutes of video!  Not only was the Learning Tablet extremely fun for the kids, with so many endless possibilities, it was also educational.  When you sign onto the LeapPad, you select your child’s grade and then it will adjust the games to be more on your child’s level.  The LeapPad is geared toward age 4-9, but I think out of all the kids at the party, my friend’s 3 year old had the most fun with it.  Every single one of the kids that left the party were asking for their own LeapPad Learning Tablet, so I’m pretty sure this is going to be one of the hot ticket items this Christmas.

Loving the LeapPad Learning Tablet

Taking Turns with the LeapPad Learning Tablet

What great products these were and we had such a blast trying them out.  I would definitely recommend both as you start trying to figure out what Christmas presents to get this upcoming holiday season.  I know I will be getting a few to give as gifts!

Disclaimer: I received these products in exchange for my unbiased review.

Tasty Tuesday: Make An Apple Ring Cake!

By 2 Comments
By clicking my links, I may earn a small commission to support this blog. Please see our Disclosure Policy.

Yes, I know it’s not really Tuesday.  However, I was really sick on Tuesday and whenever I’m sick, it seems like that day is just erased from memory.  So for my sake, let’s pretend it’s Tuesday.  For Tasty Tuesday this week, we’re going to make an Apple Ring Cake!  We went to the apple orchard this past weekend and had a blast picking fresh apples from the trees.

Some apples were too high up so we had to use double the effort….

Even the baby thought they were great to gnaw on….

Nevertheless, we left there with an enormous bag of apples.  It was fun to pick, but now what should I do with all of these apples?

I dug up my recipe books and nothing sounded perfect.  Then I remembered a recipe that a friend of mine had sent me a while back.  Of course, I had to do my own tweaking to the recipe, so here goes:

Ingredients:

  • 5 Apples
  • 3 Sticks Butter
  • Sugar
  • Vanilla
  • 2 Large Eggs
  • 2/3 Cup Sour Cream
  • 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2/3 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.  Melt 2 sticks of butter in a 9 inch cast iron skillet over medium heat.

While it’s melting, whip out your apple corer/slicer/peeler.  Core, slice, and peel your apples.

Once the butter is melted, stir in 3/4 cup sugar to the pan and stir.  Place rings of 4 apples into the sugary butter, overlaying as necessary.  Save 1 peeled/cored/sliced apple for later.

Let the apple rings cook while you make the cake.

Mix 1 stick of softened butter, 2/3 cup sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla together with a hand mixer.  Add in the 2 eggs and sour cream.  When it’s well mixed, add in your flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.  Mix well until dough is formed.  Chop the remaining apple into small pieces and add to the mixture.

When your apples are nice and tender in the pan, remove from heat and gently cover them with your dough mixture.  Place your cast iron skillet right into the oven.

Bake for 25 minutes or until cake is golden brown.

Allow the cake to cool for 5-10 minutes and then flip it over onto a sheet pan or other solid dish.  Best served with homemade ice cream 🙂

Sorry for the bad pic – I messed it up a little when I flipped it.  This cake was so good it didn’t even last 24 hours in our house.  Hubby is already demanding another!  The kids loved it and I can’t wait to make it again.

 

Saving For Christmas, One Survey At A Time!

By Leave a Comment
By clicking my links, I may earn a small commission to support this blog. Please see our Disclosure Policy.

Last year, we paid for our entire Christmas by using money earned online from survey sites.  I’m sure you’ve all seen the different ads where you can earn money by doing online surveys.  I was always very skeptical, but on a recommendation from a good friend, I got started.

Using surveys, you won’t “get rich quick”, but it will be a nice extra that builds slowly over time.  I do the surveys that I’m sent and then slowly, bit by bit, it ads up over the year into something that I can cash out for a great Christmas present.  Maybe of the survey sites allow you to redeem for Amazon giftcards, Paypal, Check, or other various giftcards.  I’m going to highlight a few of my favorite survey sites below.

Already, I have over $100 in our Christmas fund from just Opinion Outpost. Opinion Outpost pays cash for surveys that you complete.  The money adds up quickly and painlessly!  I can usually do the surveys during naptime or in the evening after I’ve put the kids to bed.  Some of the surveys even ask for my kids input!  There are many as well that offer in home product testing and that is always a blast!  We’ve tested things from baby wipes and diapers, to food products, toothpaste, dog treats, and more!

Here are some survey sites that I recommend joining.  You don’t have to join all of them, but the more you join, the more surveys you receive and the more cash adds up!

Opinion Outpost

SayNation

My Surveys

Surveys.com 

Valued Opinions

My View

Mindfield

Survey Savvy

I am also huge on Swagbucks. Swagbucks is a fantastic program. You earn swagbucks from searches that you do using Swagbucks as a search engine. I’ve earned countless Amazon giftcards, iTunes Giftcards, Starbucks Giftcards, and more, with little effort! Then, I wait until Amazon has something fantastic on sale. You can earn more swagbucks, too, by referring your friends. When you refer someone, each swagbuck that they earn, you also earn, so your points will accumulate very fast!

When you save all year on your survey sites, buy giftcards with your swagbucks, and wait for great sales, you’ll find yourself being able to afford a lot more than you thought was possible. There’s still several months, so start today and see if you can afford a great Christmas without paying anything!

Tasty Tuesday: Freezer Biscuits!

By 2 Comments
By clicking my links, I may earn a small commission to support this blog. Please see our Disclosure Policy.

I love making homemade biscuits, however with as busy as I am, I don’t have time to make fresh biscuits every morning.  To solve this problem, I’ll make a big batch of biscuits, freeze them, and then pull out what I need.  It helps prevent waste and overeating as well by just pulling out the number I need.  Here’s how to make your own freezer biscuits:

First, gather the following ingredients:

  • 5 cups self rising flour
  • 3 teaspoons sugar
  • 1 cup butter or shortening
  • 1 3/4 cup buttermilk or milk

Add everything into the bowl and stir well until the dough has formed.  If it seems too sticky, add in a little extra flour as needed.

Roll the dough out to about 1/2 inch and use a cup or a cookie cutter to form the biscuits.

Place the biscuits on a pan.  It’s okay to have them super close together since they will not be rising.  If you have more than one layer, be sure and place wax paper in between the layers so they do not stick together.

Immediately put the biscuits into the freezer, making sure that they stay flat.

After a few hours when they are frozen, remove them from the pan and place in a freezer safe bag and return the bag of biscuits to the freezer.

Pull biscuits from bag as needed and bake at 425 for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown on top.  Yum!  Give it a try and see what you think!

Tasty Tuesday: Let’s Make A Smoothie!

By 3 Comments
By clicking my links, I may earn a small commission to support this blog. Please see our Disclosure Policy.

Although it’s hard to imagine wanting a smoothie on this cool, crisp day here in the south, it makes for a quick, easy, and healthy snack!  Normally I’d be loving 66 degree weather but after months of 90 degree weather, I may have to go grab a winter coat! 🙂

On to smoothie making!

First gather up your ingredients.  I like to use Simply Orange Juice, Trader Joe’s Berry Medley, whatever yogurt we have on hand, and also a banana.  Don’t forget that there is a $1 off Simply Orange Juice coupon available!

Throw your ingredients in your blender, or in my case, I use the Magic Bullet.  I got this a couple months ago from some of my facebook fans recommendation.  I have been really pleased!  I purchased the Magic Bullet MBR-1701 17-Piece Express Mixing Set and we use it all the time!

Throw your ingredients in.  I have never really measured, but I use a half of a banana, a bit of the frozen fruit, couple scoops of yogurt, and then fill in the gaps with orange juice.  Make sure they you leave room at the top for everything to move around and it mixes.  Blend away and enjoy!

What do you like to put in your smoothies?

Tasty Tuesday: Make Your Own Granola!

By Leave a Comment
By clicking my links, I may earn a small commission to support this blog. Please see our Disclosure Policy.

This past week, I’ve been struggling to find things that I can give my son.  Most boxes cereals have soy as an ingredient.  My son LOVES cereal and would eat it all day long if I’d let him.  After a very frustrating trip to the grocery store, and purchasing a tiny $4.99 box of granola, I decided to take matters in my own hands.  I thought it would be hard to make granola but it was surprisingly very easy!  I even had all the ingredients in my pantry!  Let’s make some granola!

Ingredients:

  • 4 Cups Rolled Oats
  • 3/4 cup pecans
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup raisins

First things first, grab your strongest kid and put them to work smashing the pecans!  I like to put the pecans in a baggie and then give my son a meat tenderizer to hammer them out.

While your kid is happily pounding away, bring the oil, honey, cinnamon, and brown sugar to a boil in a saucepan, stirring to make sure all ingredients are well dissolved and blended.  Remove from heat and add the vanilla extract.

Combine the oats and pecans in a large bowl and pour the brown sugar mixture over the oats and pecans.  Stir well to coat.

Pour out the oats on a pan in a single layer and cook for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees.  Stir after 10 minutes.

Cool completely before adding the raisins.  Store in an airtight container.

Have you made granola before?  What’s your favorite recipe?

Tasty Tuesday: Make Your Own Sandwich Rolls

By Leave a Comment
By clicking my links, I may earn a small commission to support this blog. Please see our Disclosure Policy.

Welcome to the new Mommy Octopus weekly feature: Tasty Tuesday!  I will be showing all of you different recipes that I make with my kids.  First up this week is making your own sandwich rolls from scratch.  I promise that these are easy to make, super yummy, and much better than anything you can buy in the store.  And SOOO soft in the middle!

I like to keep things simple and less messy, so I use my bread machine on the dough cycle to make the dough.  If you’re looking for a good bread machine, I highly recommend mine, the Breadman TR2500BC Ultimate Plus 2-Pound Stainless-Steel Convection Breadmaker.

Let’s gather the ingredients that we need:

  • 1 1/4 cup warm milk
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 2 tablespoons softened butter
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 3/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 1/4 teaspoon yeast

Put the ingredients in your bread machine in order and then set for the dough cycle.

When the dough is ready, place it on a lightly floured surface and then roll it out to about 3/4 inch thick.  (My kids got a little carried away with the flour!)

Use a cookie cutter, or in our case, a large cup to cut your rolls.  It’s a great time to grab those kiddos with clean hands to come help.

Lay the rolls out on a greased cookie sheet, allowing room in between for the rolls to rise.

Cover and let rise for about an hour until they have doubled in size.

Bake at 350 for about 12 minutes or until a nice light brown.

Then ENJOY!  We used a few of them for Cheesesteak sandwiches yesterday.  So delish!

There you have it!  Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Make Your Own Popsicles!

By Leave a Comment
By clicking my links, I may earn a small commission to support this blog. Please see our Disclosure Policy.

One thing that my kiddos enjoy during these hot summer months is a good popsicle.  Unfortunately, not all popsicles are good for them and the ones that are, aren’t very friendly on the wallet.  I’ve gone to making our own popsicles using an ice pop maker.  You can find the Back to Basics Lickety Sip Ice Pop Maker for just $3.99 on Amazon (ships free with Amazon prime – you can get a free Amazon Prime membership through Amazon Mom, which is free to join.).  Amazon has tons of other ice pop molds as well. Good investment that can be used over and over again and the kids can pick which flavor they want to make.  All you do is just pour in the juice and freeze.  I’ve even put smoothie ingredients in them before (already blended of course) and it makes a wonderful frozen fruit bar.

What creations have you made using ice pop molds?

Privacy Policy | Disclosure