Good morning reader friends! Yes it's already August and I've been running a little crazy. I've been making sure we have the gazillion books needed for our new curriculum and also getting ready for our trip to Florida. While we're there Disney World gets to rob us of $1200 and call it ‘two days admission for six people', OUCH! Oh well, I'm sure it'll be magical. Anyone have some “surviving Disney” tips for us? Or maybe some advice on how-to-not-kill-each-other-when-driving-from-Michigan-to-Florida? No really, I'm excited, and don't worry, I'll snap out of the sarcasm when it's closer and we'll have fun. 🙂
- A friend had me cracking up tonight when she told me that when she was little, her dad said if the ice cream truck was playing music, it meant they were sold out. I thought that was hilarious and had never heard it before. So I googled it, and apparently parents more wise than I have been using versions of this story forever. Another one I loved was this: “Due to my mother being a devout nutritionist, I used to believe that the ice cream truck that drove around the neighborhood in the summer was actually a music truck. When I asked my mother why kids would run up to the truck, she plainly stated, “They are requesting music.” Ha!!! How boring am I, because since I've smartened up about the ingredient labels on those disgusting brightly colored concoctions, all I ever came up with was, “Come on, let's go make our own!” Oh well, it may be boring, but it worked. Even if I had to throw in a few chocolate chips to make it more appealing, that was worth it and oh so much better than all those chemicals. What's your line when you hear ‘the music'?
This brain exercise program a friend told me about is making me hopeful that our 2nd year of homeschooling could go even better. I've only just started looking into it, but besides helping to repair connections in kids' brains with ADHD, I'd like to see if it just helps our kids focus better so it won't take them ALL day to finish their work. I'll do a whole post on it soon, but for now you can read more at their site and let me know if you know anyone who has tried it. (It's expensive, but the testimonials there are wild.)
- Speaking of disgusting… Test tube hamburger anyone?
- Do you save time when you're baking and make many batches all at once? Here's how I do that to save major time in the kitchen: How to easily make HUGE batches and freeze.
- Here's a shocker (but sadly, not really) from Kristen: Photographer arrested for taking pictures of feedlots…
- Remember a couple of weeks ago I was asking if any of you had any good solutions to the EMF issue? Here's an article I came across: 10 Ways to Reduce Your EMF Exposure.
- I loved this post from my blogging friend, Jen, who just had her 6th baby, especially the first picture of her kids with her mother-in-law: 21 Tips for Survival Mode.
- Our daughter loves being in the kitchen and lately she makes a lot of homemade lemonade, so this little stainless steel gadget has gotten a lot of use around here. It's actually a tea strainer, but it sits on the top of any cup and is a super handy way to keep the seeds out.
Don't forget to enter the Primal Pit Paste giveaway!!! It's an all natural deodorant that really works. “Kill your odor without killing your body.” Enter here.- THIS got me way riled up… Now it's not just makers of government-mandated vaccines who enjoy a liability shield: “In a 5 to 4 vote, the US Supreme Court has absolved pharmaceutical companies, and over 80 percent of all drugs prescribed in the US, of legal liability for a long list of ill deeds including fraud, mislabeling, side effects and accidental death.” Makers of generic drugs now have even less incentive to ensure the safety of their product and integrity of their companies. Read about it here.
- Local readers, have you ‘liked' our new Facebook page yet for our local Weston A. Price chapter? Also, find out about a fun potluck coming up at the beautiful Lubbers' Farm! (Please help us spread the word by sharing that event with your FB friends, thank you!)
- Did you catch all these sourdough recipes last week? Recipes for crackers, waffles/pancakes, english muffins, and pizza crust! Or Pin it for later.
- The kids asked me to make these cheesy potato boats again the other day – yum!!! Or you can Pin this one for later, too.
- Catch this Stieler family update over on my Facebook page! 🙂
- Have you tried this Unjunked candy yet? If not, you should, it's so yummy but without the crappy ingredients. (It's all the kids had in stockings and Easter Baskets last time.) We've purged the rotten stuff for good. It doesn't even taste right anymore anyway, you know? (If your palate isn't there yet, it will be, trust me.) Click here to Pin it.
Have a great week!
The Primalist says
Thanks for the link love! And that’s hilarious about the ice cream truck playing music when sold out – genius! 😛
jmr says
I love Disney World. I’m going in the fall. Have a wonderful time…you’ll feel better if you put the cost out of your mind and just enjoy. My favorite thing is the fireworks at Epcot, and I’m looking forward to eating at Boma since I read a post about it from thehealthyhomeeconomist.
KitchenKop says
I just looked that up, thanks for telling me about it, I want to eat there now! 🙂
Jen O says
2 days at Disney was perfect for us. C. will love Hollywood Studios. Did they have fast pass when you were there last time? Timing is everything for the Star Wars Jedi Training and the Toy Story Ride. You guys will have a blast!!!
Discounts are not to be found on 2 days trip. You need like 5 park days to start seeing them. Not worth it for us!!
Jean says
Hi Kelly:
Yes, good advice to pack and bring in snacks and drinks. We flew and stayed on the Disney property. We got up early with children, ate at the resort, rode the free bus to the park. Spent the morning and lunch there, went back to the resort for SWIMMING and some R & R. Then went back for the ALL the evening stuff going on. Have fun, take lots of pictures!!
Sarah says
Hi Kelly, I don’t know if I am the only one having trouble but it seems like the link for the Steiler family update is not working.
KitchenKop says
@Sarah, I just tried and it worked ok. It goes to my FB page where there’s a link to their page. (Sorry for the roundabout!)
Kel
susan b says
I second the app – it will tell you how long the waits are, and what times the fast passes are good for and if there are any left. We would get in line for one attraction, and DH would take our passes to the fast pass attraction, get passes for us and then get back to us in time to enter the non fast pass ride. There are web sites for disney food sites (google : best value for counter service) and you will find some relatively good values at the different parks.
Leah G says
We are pretty fortunate. My Husbands cousins work in some high up place @ Disney and we always got in for free. We used to take the family once or twice a yr when we lived in FL. My Poppop enjoyed it the most and he was in his 80’s. I dont know that we will take our own kids though. I’ve read too much about Disney being a giant DARPA lab. Anyhow, thank you for the potato recipe. Hubby has been asking about it. For the candy @ Easter, Heather “Mommypotamus” has great honey caramel taffy and peanut butter cups we make along with mini meringues.
KitchenKop says
What in the world is DARPA?? Ack, guess I’ll have to go google that one… Or maybe I shouldn’t ’til we’re back!
J in VA says
I know I’m the only one who will say this but I’m going to say it anyway.
We went to Disney about 11 years ago with dd and you could not PAY me to go back. It was the most over-rated trip I’ve ever taken.
We choose not to spend much on trips to popular destinations but I would spend money to go again to The Creation Museum in greater Cincinnati and highly recommend it.
KitchenKop says
You’re in good company here. We’ve taken the other kids before, and truly it’s not our most favorite spot either. Over-rated is a good description. But we wanted to go once more to take our youngest, since the others all got to go, and from now on it’s less commercialized vacations for us! (This vacation was the BEST: https://christianity101blog.com/2011/08/god-of-wonders/ )
Rochel says
We’ve driven from Florida to Michigan and back THREE times in the past 8 months…with a 2 year old and a 4 year old. Good times. We leave at 5 am and arrive at 2 am (oh yeah…we drive straight through) and my kids are awesome for 95% of the trip. You can do it! 🙂
By the way…I just got back from Michigan 2 weeks ago…you do know it’s REALLY hot here, right? I mean, compared to Michigan 🙂 Disney is totally worth it though!! I agree with Beth, the fireworks and projection show is AWESOME!
KitchenKop says
Yes, I know. I was just telling the kids yesterday to enjoy the nice cool breeze on our sunny Michigan days because soon it will be STIFLING hot in FL, yippee!!!
(But we do have a good reason to go this time of year, a reason that I’m not allowed to talk about because our oldest doesn’t want me to mention him here on my blog anymore…darn it.)
Kel
Audry says
Hi, we will be going Disney soon too. Just for your information. We have 5 adult price and two children price for 7 days for $1800. I agree with the app and make sure you use fastpasses. There is an unofficial guide to Walt Disney World that I highly recommend. Email me for more information.
Don’t try to see everything.
KitchenKop says
I’m choking right now…
How in the world did you get such a great deal?!
Beth says
Re: Disney, try to relax and have fun. It *is* expensive and the food options aren’t *fabulous* but they aren’t terrible either if you do your research; the fun the kids have makes it worth it. We pack tons of snacks in a lunch-bag style cooler pack for each day in the parks. Homemade jerky & fruit help pass the time waiting in line for rides and also help minimize the junk consumption. There is a Whole Foods in Orlando and we buy & freeze organic yogurt “tubes”. I never buy these so the kids think they are getting a treat and I am secretly getting some probiotics in during a trip. (For me, that makes the extra sugar in them a reasonable compromise since they might not get any otherwise) We always eat breakfast in our condo so at least one meal a day is relatively healthful. Mostly: stay for the fireworks and projection show at magic kingdom and you will forget all the stress….it is so pretty and so emotional.
Renee says
Kel, have you heard about the app that tells you how long the wait is on the attractions at Disney? I’ve heard it is a “must have” app.
Have fun!
KitchenKop says
Yes, I’m downloading now though so I don’t forget, thanks!
Kel
KitchenKop says
OK there are several, WHICH ONE?
(Thanks)
Nicole says
Hi Kell, I am really interested in hearing more about the brain exercise program. Did your friend use it?? Considering it’s so expensive ($120 postage to Australia!!!) I would want to hear some good testimonies first. I mean, not just testimonies on their own website (though I’m sure they are real!). Thanks!!
KitchenKop says
No, she heard about it from someone else, but I’m digging and will post when I know more. 🙂
Kelly