How to Have Fun with your Kids While Travelling on Business Trips

Hi everyone! Hope you all had a great week and are getting ready for a fun filled weekend! Today, I thought I’d share with you the spontaneous idea my husband came up with when he went on his recent business trip. This is a great idea for really anyone who has to go away and leave the kids for a while!



Recently my husband Mark took a trip to a science conference in Minnesota. Planning the trip was relatively simple except for the part about breaking the news to our son Ethan. Ethan knew that Daddy was going on a trip but I really don’t think he grasped the duration that he would be gone for. Shortly before Mark left, Ethan grabbed a piece of an art project he used at school. This picture of him on a Popsicle stick was given to Mark so that Daddy wouldn’t forget Ethan. The picture was very cute. Mark stuffed it in his bag and promised Ethan that he would carry it with him everywhere. The day of the trip Mark apparently got inspired. He texted me saying that he had a great idea and to show Ethan a picture he was about to send. Needless to say, Mark took a picture of Ethan’s face next to places that he went. While sitting at the airport he sent a picture of Ethan next to a plane. Ethan was ecstatic.



This triggered a great adventure for Ethan to go on a trip with Daddy.







The best part about this whole idea was instead of hearing when is Daddy coming home I heard where is Daddy bringing me next. It gave Ethan something to look forward to every night and every morning. The nice part for Mark was that it was easy to do. The picture was small enough to carry in his pocket and everyone that asked Mark what he was doing said that was a fantastic idea. Phone calls, video chats, and text messages are great to keep in contact with family. Going that little extra distance to make your kids feel like they are always with you can help put a smile on their face from miles away!

Well, that’s it from here! Have you joined in the fun on our Facebook page? If not come join us! Also, don’t forget to sign up to receive our newsletter on the top right hand side of the page!

Have a great weekend everyone!!

~Nikki

Fun, Simple, and Easy Fleece Fringe Scarf Tutorial – Great for Presents!

Hello! Today I thought I’d share with you all a very quick and EASY sewing project that would make some great homemade Christmas presents!

I’ll start by saying I have very amateur sewing skills. I’m really great at straight lines, but that’s about it. My Mom and I have a little side crafting business and she is in charge of all the sewing. I started getting into it about 3 months ago when my Mom started teaching me how to make some pillowcase dresses for our store. I remember sewing back when I was in school when we took Home Economics. Do they even still teach that in school? Anyway, I was never very good at it. I remember sewing a purse and forgetting to sew the bottom. So when I tell you I wasn’t good, I’m not kidding!

Today, I’m actually taking an interest in sewing. When my Mom started showing me some tips and tricks and encouraging me I started to actually get excited about it and really enjoy it. Enjoy it so much that I got a sewing machine for my birthday! Yay! I’ve been trying little projects here and there and I’m really having fun.

So here’s the deal. Anyone can do this project. It’s very simple. I think from start to finish, this project took about 30-45 minutes.

Here we go!

Fleece Fringe Scarf Tutorial



Supplies Needed:

- ¼ yard of fleece (2-3 different kinds – any color or pattern that you like)

**NOTE: for my scarf, I used 2 different kinds. (1/4 yard pink zebra, ½ yard black) Looking back, I think I probably would have done ¼ yard pink zebra, ¼ yard pink, and ¼ yard black

- Really sharp scissors

- Measuring tape

- Sewing machine with coordinating thread



Instructions:

- Cut your fleece into 5 inch wide and 5 foot long pieces. If you are making the scarf for a child, I’d do 5 inches wide and 3 or 4 feet long.


- Layer the pieces together in an order that appeals to you.


- Sew down the middle of the fabric. No pinning needed! If you don’t have a steady hand, you could pin it, but perfection isn’t really needed here!


- Cut 1 inch slits down each side of the sewn scarf trying to get pretty close to the sewn line. Do not cut through it!


**Note: a trick that I did was line up the measuring tape over the part that is sewn so that I knew where to stop and where to cut. I can get a little over zealous!


- Once cut on both sides fluff it up and you are ready to go!



I’d love to hear if any of you try this so please let me know! For even more tips and tricks don’t forget to follow me on Facebook! Also, if you haven’t already, please sign up for my newsletter where I will be offering lots of great specials only for my readers and even more great news! (Sign up on the top right of the page)

Have a great day!

Nikki

Happy Belated Veterans Day!

Hi everyone!

Hope you all had a nice weekend! Ours was a little extended because there was no school for the kids yesterday!

Our weekend was filled with lots of Veterans Day activities. For those of you who don’t know me too well yet, I have a soft spot in my heart for our military. My father served in the Army where he fought in the Vietnam War, my husband served in the Navy, and my brother served in the Army where he was severely wounded in Iraq back in 2008. The military has been around me my entire life. The stories and the pictures have changed my views on many things even in my own life. The respect and admiration that I have for those who serve is very strong. 

On Sunday we went to a Veterans Day memorial service where my brother Matt spoke about his time in the Army and his long road to recovery after he hit an IED in Iraq. Matt went through 44 surgeries and 3 years of recovery from the blast that day. He is one of the strongest men I know. Watching what he went through was one of the hardest things I have ever had to endure so far even in my own life. There were some days I really wasn’t sure if he’d ever be the same person that we saw walk out the door to join the Army. While he may still not be able to do things that everyone can do, I can proudly say that he is recovered, working full time, a homeowner, and a proud Daddy to his puppy Brutus.



Here is the clip from his speech. Sorry about the camera shaking…..I was holding my daughter at the same time!

 

On a little bit of a lighter note, I’m working on some great posts for you all! This time of year is my most favorite time. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, I love them all! Stay tuned for a 12 days of cookie series where I will be sharing my family’s favorite cookie recipes, I’ll also be posting a great stocking stuffer post where I will share my list of 100 easy stocking stuffers, and I’ll also be sharing some great handmade shops where you can get some really unique gifts for your loved ones this year! If you have a handmade shop, (Etsy, Storenvy, etc.) don’t forget to stop by our Facebook page and share your shop! You never know, you may just be featured here!

Have a great day!

Nikki

Homemade Fall Apple Crisp

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Today I thought I’d share with you the first recipe I baked when I found out I was diagnosed with Celiac. It’s been about 3 months now since having to change my lifestyle and while I haven’t completely changed everything, I’m getting there! I absolutely love baked goods! Cupcakes, cake, pies, crisps, I could take them all any day! So when I found out I had Celiac Disease, this was the first thing that came to my mind. After some research, I found that I can still enjoy my old “go to” recipes with just a few minor changes!


This recipe is not only gluten friendly, but easy to make and will be a hit at your table for years to come!


Enjoy!


 

Ingredients: 

10 McIntosh apples (Peeled and thinly sliced)
1 cup sugar
1 cup + 1 tablespoon all purpose gluten free flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ cup water
1 cup gluten free quick cooking oats
1 cup brown sugar (packed)
¼ teaspoon baking powder and ¼ teaspoon baking soda
1 stick butter (melted)


Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350°


Place your peeled apples in a 9x13 inch baking dish.
 

Mix up the sugar, 1 tablespoon flour, and the cinnamon together.
 

Pour over the apples and mix together. Once mixed, pour the ½ cup water over the apples.
 

Combine the oats, 1 cup flour, 1 cup brown sugar, melted butter, and the baking soda and powder together.
 

Crumble over the apple mixture.
 

Bake for about 45 minutes or until browned.
 

**NOTE** While I made this recipe gluten free, this recipe can also be made normally. Just substitute regular all purpose flour and regular quick cooking oats.

For more recipes like this and great discussions please like my Facebook page!

~Nikki

Halloween Safety Tips

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Happy Monday everyone! I thought my first official article back should focus on our kids. Halloween is slowly creeping up on us and I thought I’d go over a few tips to stay safe this Halloween. Sometimes a few helpful reminders never hurt right?



- Be sure your kids know how to properly cross a street. All kids should know how to use a cross walk if there is one in your neighborhood and they should definitely know when it is safe to cross. I know in my neighborhood there aren’t any cross walks and I can’t even begin to count how many times driving home on Halloween all the kids just darting out into the street to get to the next house. Very scary!

- Teach your kids about “Stranger Danger”. Try to simply explain to them that some adults are bad and want to hurt children and that they should never go into a house that they don't know, get into a car, or go anywhere with a stranger. I always tell my son if a stranger approaches him and tries to get him to go in his car or house to scream as loud as he can to try to attract attention from someone around him and run to a place that is safe. Unfortunately, you never know these days.

- Eat dinner before going out to Trick or Treat. Filling those little bellies before going out to trick or treat will stop the temptation of the kids eating the candy before you get home to check it.

- Make sure your child is carrying some kind flashlight, reflective tape, or glow stick when walking around. With all the dark colored costumes out there, it’s always safe to carry a flashlight or anything that glows so people can see the little ones while driving.

- Plan a safe route. If your child goes out trick or treating with their friends, it’s best to make sure you sit down with your child and plan a safe route so you’ll know where your child is at all times. It’s also a good idea to set a time when they should be home. If they are going out alone, have them carry a cell phone for emergencies.

- Check your child’s candy before eating! Checking what comes home with your child is a great habit to get into for a number of reasons. First, I’m sure you’ve heard all the sick scary stories of what some disturbed people do to the candy on Halloween. Second, if you’re child has an allergy (peanuts, chocolate, etc.) you’ll want to be sure that you get rid of anything that could pose a problem.


So that’s it! Hopefully these little reminders will make your Halloween planning a little easier! For more great tips and helpful advice make sure you follow me on Facebook! I hope everyone has a great time on Wednesday!

Talk to you all soon!

Nikki

Why Yes! I'm Still Alive!

Hi everyone…..Sorry about the lack of posts around here.  Life has taken some major twists and turns and blogging had to hit the back burner for a while.  I’ve sure missed the time I spend blogging so I’m here to say I’m back, and I’m not going anywhere!  With that being said, I’m looking for some ideas from you, my readers on what you’d like to see on the blog.  I have my thoughts, but I’d like to hear yours as well! 

When I first started blogging, I could honestly say I didn’t know what my focus would be.  I had just left my job, started working for Shaklee, just had a baby, there were just so many new things happening.  Now that I’m “in the groove” a little here at home I can finally say I think I know where I want to focus. 

The title of my blog “Mommy & the Monsters” is just that.  I’m just a regular ole Mommy trying to get through the day with my monsters.  I’m not a fancy shamancy kind of girl I’m just “me”.  My ideas are very basic, but that’s what works for me.  I love to cook so I think you’ll be seeing a ton more recipes on here.  Recipes that are easy, quick, healthy, and kid friendly.  I also am working to improve my health.  I was just recently diagnosed with Celiac Disease and the whole “gluten free lifestyle” has been a bit of a challenge for me.  I’m hoping to use blogging as a sounding board to maybe get me through the tough days.  The last thing I’m hoping to focus more on is my Shaklee business.  Shaklee has been a lifesaver in my home.  I’ve seen some major improvements already in the health of myself and my family and I want to share that with you!  You are truly missing out!

With all that being said, I’m going to make it a POINT to reach out at least 3-4 times a week.  That is my commitment to you! 

Stay tuned!  Have a great day everyone! 

Thank you for your continued support!  J

|Nikki

Cha Cha Cha Changes…..

Wow, I’m so full of emotion lately.  So many things have been happening I don’t even know where to start!  I wasn’t sure if I was going to talk about this on the blog, but I’m hoping I can get support from you, my readers. 

First, my son is starting 1^st grade.  I don’t know why, but the thought of him gone all day has me in tears!  I hate watching him grow so fast.  It’s harder than I EVER thought it would be.  I remember when he was born everyone saying it will go by fast and boy were they right!  I remember wanting him to talk, walk, etc., and now I just want to go back. 

Then most recently I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease.  I haven’t been feeling good for quite a while.  After pleading with the doctor to figure this out, Celiac was the answer.  I’m quite emotional about this.  Everything I know now is different.  If you aren’t familiar with Celiac, in a nutshell I have an intolerance to gluten.  It affects everything.  I get headaches, stomach aches, I’m exhausted, and it’s just plain awful.  Since cutting out gluten I’ve actually been feeling a lot better.  I’m just having a hard time accepting that this is something I’m going to have to worry about for the rest of my life. 

 

With these changes come some new goals for me though!  First, since I’m going to have a little more time on my hands with my son in school all day, I’ll be expanding my team of awesome Shaklee distributors.  Shaklee has completely changed my life.  I’m so grateful that I took the chance and became a distributor.  I’ll be writing about why I’ve decided to work from home and more about the company in the next week or so.  If you want some information I’m always available to talk!  Second, I’m going to start the Cinch plan!  Not only is Cinch gluten free (which makes my life easier), it is also a weight loss plan I have seen work on many of my friends right before my eyes!  I’m considering starting an accountability group next month or so for 5 people looking to change their life with me!  I could use all the support I can get, plus, losing weight is so much easier if you have some help and guidance along with way! 

Have a great day everyone! 

Follow me on Facebook for up to the minute discussions and advice!

|Nikki