Apple Danish

Last week I was looking through my recipe box for something simple I could make for the girls to go along with their cereal for breakfast. I make muffins often, so wanted something a bit different.

This recipe had been in my recipe box for quite awhile, but I had never tried it. It was originally for a cherry danish, but I was able to get apple pie filling for a great price, so tried that instead. You should be able to find the crescent rounds (by Pillsbury) right by the crescent rolls in the refrigerated section. If not, you could use a tube of breadsticks, separating them into sections but leaving them coiled, then placing on the baking sheet.

These were definitely a winner; my girls loved them! This recipe only makes eight danishes, but could easily be doubled to make more. You could certainly try different fillings for variety. I baked them on my pizza stone which kept them nice and soft.

Apple Danish

One tube Place & Bake Crescent Rounds
2 tbsp butter, melted
1 tbsp sugar
1/2 cup apple pie filling
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1 tsp milk

Separate crescent rounds (leaving them coiled) and place two inches apart on a lightly greased baking sheet. Brush generously with butter and sprinkle with sugar. Make an indentation in the top of each; fill with about 1 tbsp of pie filling. Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Combine confectioners sugar and milk; drizzle over warm rolls.

This post is linked to Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, Tasty Tuesday, Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap and Foodie Friday.

Our Final Farewell to Summer

On Friday afternoon, we got to take the trip to the beach that I was hoping to take last week before the rain overtook us.

We surprised the girls by picking them up from school with the car already packed with beach toys and bathing suits and headed straight to the beach. We could hardly believe how few people were there!

It was a beautiful day and the girls had a great time playing in the waves. As it got a bit cooler towards evening, they spent a lot of time digging, building and playing in the sand.



After three hours of fun, we rinsed off the sand and headed to our next stop, which is now a traditional part of each beach trip - eating supper at Five Guys Burgers and Fries. A drive home during a beautiful sunset ended a wonderful afternoon.

While it felt like summer ended three weeks ago when the girls started school, we got to have one last taste of it on Friday. Now we will wash and fold the beach towels for the last time this year; store the beach chairs in their designated section of the garage; move the bathing suits to the back of the drawer and put the sand toys in the bottom of the toy tub.

It's time for me to print all the pictures I took on Friday and savor all the wonderful memories of this terrific summer, all the while looking forward to what the coming fall will bring.

Another Stock-Up Trip at Publix

This week I stocked up on a few items at Publix. Now you must realize that for me, stocking up is buying two or three of a particular item, not ten. Especially when it comes to snack items, I have learned the hard way that too much of a good thing can go to waste. What may be my girls' favorite snack this week will be something they won't touch next week. Trust me when I say that this lesson was learned the hard way!

That being said, I bought two boxes of Cheerios for $1 apiece (B1G1 Free price of $2 each and used two $1 off coupons) and two packages of Ballpark beef hot dogs for $1.50 each (B1G1 Free price of $2 each and used one $1 off two coupon). Thomas' English Muffins (one of my favorite breakfast items) were B1G1 Free so I bought two - one to use now and one to freeze for later. My husband and I enjoy snacking on Emerald nuts, which are expensive, so I only buy them on sale. This week they were B1G1 free price of $2.90 each and I had a coupon for $1.50 off of two.

Pictured below are all the items I bought on this trip. I spent $33.24 and saved $36.69.

Another good week, although I missed not having a $5/$25 coupon like I did on the last several shopping trips. I did get to use a couple of Target coupons, though, so all wasn't lost!

Check back next week to see how I fare at Publix!

This post is linked to Friday Finals, Super Savings Saturday, Shopping Superstars, I Heart Publix, Super Savers and Grocery Cart Challenge.

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Give Me The World

As a five-year-old, my younger daughter made, what seemed to me, an unusual request. She started asking for a globe to keep in her room.

I'm not sure what prompted this request, but when we found an inexpensive one at a Goodwill store, I bought it for her. However, that one didn't last very long before it had to be discarded.

I thought the time for having a globe might have passed, but she would still mention from time to time that she wanted one. So my parents bought her this one last Christmas.

My daughter was thrilled when she opened the present! It sits atop one of the girls' bookcases in our hallway and has certainly come in handy. When we did our summer learning program, we used it to find the location of the countries we were studying.

It's also great for my older daughter who is currently learning about such things as the equator and the Prime Meridian in school. (It's amazing how much of that stuff comes back from my own school days as I look over her notes and help her study!)

Asking for a globe at such a young age still strikes me as a bit unconventional, but it fulfilled her desire. This globe, which should last for many years, will remind me of what unique individuals our children are.

Visit Show and Tell Friday at There's No Place Like Home to see what others are showcasing from their homes.

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Survey Says....

When you make a purchase at a store, do you ever get survey invitations on the bottom of your receipt? I often do and try to take advantage of any savings that I might get by participating in the survey.

Remember that pair of Stride Rite shoes that I bought for my younger daughter the week before school started? That would be the pair that fit perfectly in the store, but became uncomfortable after a few minutes of wearing them around the house.

When I returned those to the Stride Rite Outlet, I got a survey invitation on my returned merchandise receipt that offered $5 off of my next purchase if I completed the online survey within three days. I did so and was very glad as I ended up going the following week to buy shoes for my older daughter.

With my $5 off code, I was able to get this pair of shoes (already on sale) for only $14.99. (If they look a tad smudged, it's because she's been wearing them to school all week!)

As an added bonus, when I paid for these shoes, I got another survey invitation which will get me $5 off on my next purchase! Anything that lessens the impact on the pocketbook and allows me to keep more of our money is a good thing!

Find more ways to save money by visiting Frugal Friday hosted by Life as Mom. Visit Super Savings Saturday at Money Saving Mom to see great deals others got this week.

7 Tips To Teaching Good Handwriting

I must admit, whether as a teacher at school or a parent at home, I disliked teaching handwriting. To me, it was exciting to see the progress in reading or math skills, but penmanship just didn't interest me. However, since it had to be done, I did gather a few tips that I found to be useful.

1. Rather than beginning with a writing instrument, have them draw shapes, lines and letters with their finger in the air, in a box of sand, on a table top and on paper. One fun activity is allowing them to finger paint with chocolate pudding on a large piece of waxed paper.


2. Once they have grasped the idea of printing using their finger, start writing on paper with larger writing instruments such as crayons, markers or larger pencils. Practicing with chalk on the sidewalk or driveway is another option as is using a chalkboard or dry erase marker and white board.


3. Before teaching the process of writing actual letters, have them learn to draw straight and wavy lines as well as circles and other shapes.


4. As they learn to write their letters, concentrate mostly on the correct formation as opposed to proper size and spacing. The more their fine motor skills progress with age and practice, the easier it will be for them to place the letters properly.


5. Allow them to trace letters that you have written on paper or those on pre-printed worksheets for awhile before you have them try writing the letters on their own. Supervise their work until you are confident that they are forming the letters correctly.


6. From the beginning, teach them to hold their pencil properly. If they get used to holding their pencil incorrectly, it is difficult to correct at a later time.


7. Be patient. It will take lots of practice, but keep working at it. Your child's handwriting is another way for him to express himself and it's a skill he will use for the rest of his life.

Find other teaching ideas at Thirsty Thursday hosted by FiveJs.

Still A Stay-At-Home Mom

It was a relatively easy choice for me to become a stay-at-home mom when our first daughter was born. While I know that may not be the case for everyone, we had planned from the beginning of our marriage that once we had children, I would be at home with them. While there were times it may have been challenging, both personally and financially, I don't for one minute regret that decision.

However, now that both girls are in school for a good part of the day, I have been at loose ends as to how best to go on from here. My husband and I agree that a typical J-O-B will not work for me at this point. He has been so very patient with me as I struggle with how best to handle this stage of our lives. I want to be home with my girls during school breaks and summer vacation as well as be available to volunteer in their classrooms and accompany them on field trips; or, as happened yesterday, pick them up from school when they're not feeling well.

I am trying to use my time at home wisely, planning and preparing meals ahead of time and keeping up with household chores. There is time to run errands and get necessary shopping done so that I can come home and attend to the girls when they are finished with school. (And trust me, they appreciate me not dragging them from store to store on the way home!)

I'm even finding, in the extra moments of quiet, additional time to pray for my husband and daughters. While I'm not lacking in things to keep me busy during the day, I have really struggled with wanting to make a monetary contribution to the family. Human though it may be, there is also the wish for self-fulfillment and the desire not to miss some opportunity that God may have for me.

For any of you in this same stage of life, or those who expect to face it one day soon, I think you would find this post at Amy's blog as helpful as I did. It encouraged me and helped me remember to consider what is best for our family as we move forward. I would still like to find some way to bring in a bit of extra income, but am trying to be patient and realize the value and responsibility of the role I have in being a full-time, stay-at-home wife and mother.

Using Baskets for Organization

I have a thing about organization. My life in general seems to run much more smoothly if things are organized.

One of my greatest tools for keeping groups of things organized is baskets. I use them in all shapes and sizes and, lest you doubt that this is true, I went around the house yesterday snapping pictures of some of my baskets.

This one is on top of our desk in the office area and keeps computer games organized.



This basket in the living area is full of dvd's and videos.


This one is on a shelf near the bottom of the pantry and holds batteries.


In the girls' playroom, various baskets hold horses, dolls, doll accessories and dollhouse paraphernalia.

Library books are kept in this basket which is beside one of the girls' beds.

By the other bed is a basket that holds their cd's and cassette tapes.

Under the sink in the girls' bathroom is this basket that holds nail polish, lip gloss and other "beauty" products (which, at their current ages, they are only allowed to wear when they play dress up).

There are a few other baskets throughout the house, but I think you get the drift! : ) Baskets are attractive containers, can be easily moved around and make it simple for me to keep similar objects grouped together.

For more organizational tips, visit Works For Me Wednesday at We Are That Family. While I'm hooked on baskets, you can see what others are hooked on at Hooked on Friday hosted by Hooked on Houses.

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10 Things My Children Do That Make Me Smile

While I often write about the sweet and happy times around our house, I don't want you to think that life around here is always that way! We each have our moments when we're not at our best, as spouses, parents and children.

Along those lines, today I was planning to share with you a list of ten things my kids do that drive me crazy. However, as I began typing out the list, I thought about how my girls would feel should they read it. That's not likely, as they are rarely on the computer except to play approved games. Yet I think they may not appreciate their failings being shared with others (who of us would). Though they be only six and eight-year-olds, I still respect them and would never purposely do something that might hurt them.

So instead, I'm going to write a list of ten things my children do that make me smile. Should they come across this post, I hope it will make them smile, too.

Ten Things My Children Do That Make Me Smile

1. Playing "hide and seek" with the Dustbuster. I don't know how this particular game started, but whenever they use the Dustbuster to clean up a mess, they take it and hide it somewhere very unusual such as the laundry basket or one of the dresser drawers in our bedroom.


2. Reading books. They read and read and then read some more. They love to read and I am thrilled that they have a passion for something that will benefit them all their lives.


3. Using their imagination. I mentioned how they spent time over the weekend creating their own library. They also are constantly pretending to be various characters from books they've read.


4. Telling me every night, "You're the best mommy in the whole world," to which I reply, "You're the best six/eight-year-old in the whole world."


5. Playing in the rain. They love going out and playing, with or without their umbrellas, in the rain, splashing and jumping in puddles.


6. Asking questions about the meaning of words. They are quite curious about words they read in books and are quick to ask for an explanation.


7. Singing in the shower. I have one daughter who does this more than the other, but it's so sweet to hear their young voices singing a favorite song while they're getting clean.


8. Loving their family. They get so excited about going to visit grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins or about having them come here to visit us.


9. Doing a task without being asked. It doesn't happen often, but it's a sweet moment when it does!


10. Blowing me kisses on the way out the door to play.

The daily parenting struggles are real, but how much greater are the blessings our children bring into our lives.

Visit Oh Amanda to read others Top Ten Tuesday lists.