Chicken and Mushroom Sandwich

A few weeks ago, I realized that my grocery budget needed a major overhaul. Summer is here and my expenses always double in the summer. From utilities to entertainment; gasoline and groceries. You name it, with my entire family home for 3 months, it is going to cost more!

Thanks to BFree for sending product to use in this recipe! Be Free offers wheat and gluten free options ranging from pita to bagels, breads and rolls.

This year, I want to enjoy having my son and husband home with Harper and I. Sometimes, money stress really hampers our summer fun. So, I began examining our expenses and finding ways to cut them where possible without sacrificing any standard of living... well lets be honest, standard of eating!

I made it my mission to uncover great meals for a family of 2 adults and 2 preschool-ish age kids that would cost us less than $7 total.

$7 seems like a cheap meal right? Originally I thought about doing $5 meals, but I doubted I could produce delicious and nutritious meals on such a tight budget. We are not big beans and rice eaters. The possibilities have been promising so far on this inexpensive gourmet mission. I incorporate sale items into my menu to maximize my savings and to get the best use of fresh ingredients.

Sandwiches are a great option for any meal. They are fun to eat and they tie so many good flavors together! There is no shortage of sandwiches you can make! If you can dream it, make it and eat it! This is another one of those incredibly yummy and easy recipes that you can create for under $7. I loved that it created minimal dirty dishes in the preparation process and that the sandwich was substantial enough to make a meal on its own.

Ingredients

1 pound of boneless skinless chicken breast sliced thin or diced into small chunks.

1 cup of sliced mushrooms

1/2 cup of shredded cheese

8 slices of your choice sandwich bread, I used BFree Brown Seeded Sandwich Bread
Spicy Brown Mustard

Directions

 Add 1 tablespoon of oil to a frying pan. Cook thinly sliced chicken breast thoroughly.

As your chicken is browning, saute sliced mushrooms until they are a golden color.

When your chicken is ready add the cheese and allow to melt.

Add spicy brown mustard to the bread. Add cheesy chicken to the bread and top with mushrooms.
Serve while hot.

Do you ever serve hot sandwiches for dinner? What is your favorite kind to prepare?

You might also like my Elvis Sandwich Recipe or My Peanut Butter Chicken recipe. 

minions puppets

This super simple popsicle stick craft brings the fun of the minions to your craft time! These are great for book-markers or as the star of a dramatic play session!

There is nothing like a toy you make yourself! On a rainy day a little imagination can go a very long way. We made these DIY minions puppets on a whim and had so much fun playing with them! I know your kids will like them too! They came together in a few moments time and kept the kids entertained for at least an hour!  

To make this easy Minions Puppet Craft you will need:

craft sticks

Blue and Yellow Paint

Craft Eyes

Instructions:

Paint the bottom half of the craft sticks blue.

Paint the top half yellow.

Add an eye and here you have easy minions puppets!

If you have an idea for handmade puppets for toddlers and preschoolers I would love to hear about it in a comment. 

EASY Apple Pie Cheesecake Parfaits

When time is short, but the craving for a treat is strong, you can't go with this EASY Apple Pie Cheesecake Parfait recipe!

This is one of those shortcut creations that has saved the day and dessert a few times for my family. It takes 3 easy ingredients and requires only about that many minutes to create!

I used canned apple pie filling, graham cracker crumbs and Philadelphia Cheesecake Filling. This is pre made and sold in a big tub. I always like to keep this on hand for last minute entertaining or indulging!

All you have to do to create this yummy parfait is to layer those 3 ingredients {apple pie filling, graham cracker crumbs and Philadelphia Cheesecake Filling} in a pretty glass and serve chilled!

The luscious cheesecake filling pairs well with juicy apples. The graham crackers add a nice texture to this mix! Of course you could use cherry pie filling, or any flavor you prefer in this recipe.

You might also like this Coconut Rice Krispie Treat Recipe. It is dairy free and delicious!!

DIY Pencil Pouch for Back to School

In a few weeks, we will begin running over supply lists and stocking up on essential items for the school year. This year, why not DIY a few supplies to save some cash and make your child's supplies stand out from the crowd?

I made a DIY pouch for my son to store his pokemon cards in earlier this week, and I knew that this would also be perfect for storing his pencils and markers during the school year. This was so easy to make! It is a perfect craft for kids of all ages, including teens!

You only need 2 materials for this DIY Pencil Pouch. You can buy them both at Dollar Tree if you don't already have them to make this a super economical craft!

All you need is a zipper seal baggie and printed duct tape. I used one gallon sized bags. As you can see in the video, I folded my baggie about 1/3 of the way up and taped it to hold that way, just to make the pouch a smaller size for smaller hands.

This is so easy to make. You can have it finished in under 5 minutes for a sturdy, handy pouch you can use in so many ways. From storing pencils and pens to holding treasures like Pokemon cards or even makeup!

• Begin by tearing duct tape to fit the width of the baggie.
• Layer it from the bottom to the top.
• Fold the sides over then flip the bag over and continue to layer tape from bottom to top.
• Then stuff it with the contents of your choice.
• Now you have a super easy and economical back to school supply that will be a one of a kind!

You might also enjoy this post on how to save money on back to school clothes. 

Mermaid Tail Craft

This easy mermaid craft requires basic supplies and creates a cute craft in under 5 minutes. Your mermaid fans will flip a fin for this easy craft!

My 3 year old has recently discovered the Little Mermaid. Mermaids are a frequent topic of conversation, as are unicorns, kittens, and Minnie Mouse. I had an idea to make a fun little craft with Harper that would keep her day dreams flowing like the tide. We were thrilled with how cute it turned out and how easy it was to make.

I loved this craft for my preschooler because it used her fine motor skills, she got to use her scissor skills and it involved glitter glue! Who doesn't like glitter glue!?

Supplies:
3 craft sticks
1 triangle of construction paper in any color
A heart shape of green or blue construction paper
8-12 circles of blue and green paper
Glitter Glue

Instructions:
Glue the craft sticks into a triangle shape.
Glue the triangle shaped paper onto the craft sticks.
Begin layering the circles of paper on the triangle to form the scales.
Add the heart shaped paper with the point in.

This was such an easy craft that was a lot of fun for my 3 year old!  It was easy, but it offered a little challenge to her with the layering of the scales.

You might also like this glitter rain drop craft.

You can check out the Mermaid Tail video on youtube to see me make this craft.

#BringIt With BodyArmor

As a mom of a couple of busy kids, I have learned to always be prepared for what life is going to offer. From play dates to practices; from defeats to game-winning runs, and of course, the art of keeping the kids fueled for fun!

Keeping a great sports drink on hand is important for not only the comfort of my hot and thirsty little athletes but also to keep them on their A game! That is why I turn to BODYARMOR when it comes to my kids. BODYARMOR is a premium sports drink with potassium-packed electrolytes, coconut water and vitamins – and has no artificial flavors or sweeteners. That is super important to me as a mother. I want to offer my kids healthier alternatives to popular sports drinks because they have practically no nutritional values to benefit growing bodies.

This post is sponsored by BODYARMOR. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

BODYARMOR is really handy for moms; I love that I can pick up 15 packs at Sam's Club and keep my kids hydrated and satisfied all summer long, no matter what sport they are headed out for! From a practice or tournament, or even a pick up game with neighborhood kids, BODYARMOR helps me to offer a healthy snack to my busy kids. I consider that the win for this mom! Healthy snacks and happy kids are a combination like a game winning hit!

When I grab a 15 pack of BODYARMOR, I can share the flavor and fun with our teammates and friends, which always earns a smile. BODYARMOR is on sale $12.98 (save $3.00) till July 16th, making it a deal you won't want to miss!

Is your young athlete working to be the best? Check out how your athlete can become the next BODYARMOR athlete here: https://goo.gl/hRK7tC.

If you want to stock your cooler with BODYARMOR this summer. You are in luck! Someone is going to win an awesome cooler and a one year Sam's Club membership!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Strawberry Cheesecake Float

Strawberry Cheesecake has been a favorite treat for many years. I decided it would be fun to bring that decadent flavor to a refreshing drink, ice cream float style! The results? Completely mouth watering!!! Fresh fruit, luscious cheesecake, and smooth ice cream come together to create a completely gourmet ice cream float!

Ice Cream Floats are the perfect drink for summer. They can be as simple as a root beer float, or as gourmet as this Strawberry Cheesecake Float! While this one looks and tastes like a million bucks, it comes together in a few steps to create a luscious treat everyone will love.

This recipe is one you are going to want to bookmark or pin for later. The results are so decadent that you will want a second glass, guaranteed!

This is the perfect treat to make for a group of friends on a hot summer day. It is delicious, fancy and easy to make. Everyone loves a great ice cream float! This one is sure to become a favorite!

You might also like this Chocolate Cherry Dr. Pepper Float recipe or this Blackberry Cheesecake Float recipe.

Click through for the recipe.

Easy Butterfly Craft

This easy butterfly craft is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. It makes good use of common household items for a fun craft that really takes flight!

This post contains affiliate links.

Harper and I love to craft together! We try to make something every day. It is good for her development as a preschooler, and it is a great way to spend time together, expressing creativity.

This is one we came up with simple supplies that we had at home. I love crafts that don't need special supplies! This easy butterfly craft is a great example of gathering inspiration from the world around you.


To make this cute craft you will need:
Scissors
A Paper Plate
Glue
Paint {We used Kwik Stix }
An empty toilet paper roll
2 squiggly eyes

Have your child cut the paper plate to become wings. Use scissors your child is comfortable with. They are never too young to develop scissor skills which are so super important when it comes time for school!

Next paint the toilet paper roll as a body. We used Kwik Stix because they are easy to handle and clean up. They are also super fast drying!

Paint the paper plate.

Glue the painted toilet paper roll in the center.

Add the eyes and paint on a small smile.

This was easy and fun to make with Harper. She liked getting to cut the wings and paint. I helped with the hearts at her request.

You might also enjoy this easy paper plate lion craft.

Family Fun at Kalahari Resorts and a New Water-Slide!

We have a unique situation in the summer, all 4 of us are home together, free from the responsibilities of work and school. Making the months of summer stretch into the kind of fun that turns into memories to cherish forever, takes some careful budgeting and planning.

Planning a visit to an Indoor Waterpark is one way to make a splash with the kids. Lucky for us, Sandusky is just a few miles north and we can hit up Kalahari Resorts for family vacations in OH. Kalahari is nothing short of amazing. There are so many things to do at Kalahari Resorts that the entire family will have an unforgettable time.

Being in the Midwest, we are too far from the ocean to make a comfortable drive to the beach. Kalahari offers the solution for my family hands down. Let me tell you why:

While Kalahari is famous for its awesome waterslides, they offer so much more! From mini golf to an adventurers club, an arcade and a spa, shopping, and dining to name a few of the options for family fun in one location.

That is so appealing to me as a mom, the last thing I want to do on any given day is head out to relax and end up running all over town! At Kalahari Resorts you get to the resort, check in and explore without the car. This results in relaxed parents and happy kids!

There is a new waterslide at the Sandusky location this year, so make sure you head over to learn all about it and all of the fun that awaits your family under one roof!

Make sure you check out the See Sara Go page to check out some of our other adventures.

In the Carrot Patch Activity

This easy activity for kids is fun and it uses their fine motor skills!

My kids are too cute. In the warm months, they attack my flowers with the cutest dramatic play sessions. The flowers are carrots and they are farmers, anxious to share their crops!

With that kind of imagination, it is hard to get irritated over it. I thought maybe we could keep the carrot patch fun going, long after they had picked every stem.

This activity comes together fast! All you need is a box, some orange and green cardstock and some glue. A utility knife or box cutter will be handy as well.

Cut carrot shapes from the orange paper.

Glue green bits to the top, to resemble a fresh carrot.

Cut slits in the box, making them a tiny little bit wider than the carrot shape.

Slip the carrots into the slits and let the kids pick them and plant them.

This is great for fine motor and dramatic play, and it just might save the flowers, but I am not counting on it!

Throw Together Chili Recipe with Farmer's Pantry Cornbread Crisps

Throw Together Chili with Farmer's Pantry Cornbread Crisps
This post was sponsored.

It is May.... my furnace is still kicking on in the mornings and again throughout the evening! One day last week I felt that a pot of chili was in order, but I was ill prepared to make it. I had very limited ingredients. I didn't let that stop me and I made a quick pot of Throw Together Chili. This was an economical and delicious dinner- and it was easy! Best of all, this made 2 dinners!

Before we get to the recipe for Throw Together Chili let me tell you a little more about Farmer's Pantry Cornbread Crisps.

Farmer’s Pantry Cornbread Crisps, available in Original and Jalapeno flavors, are a crispy, savory snack that tastes as mouth-wateringly delicious as the first bite of a slice of corn bread or corn muffin. Made from fresh corn and other whole grains grown on American farms, these crisps are sure to appeal to discriminating snackers across the country.

Throw Together Chili

A quick chili made with simple ingredients.

Ingredients

• 4 cans Condensed Tomato Soup
• 1/2 pound lean ground beef
• 2 1/2 cups water
• 1 1/2 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 bag Farmer's Pantry Cornbread Crisps

Instructions

Cook lean ground beef until browned and cooked thoroughly. 
Drain any fat.
Break beef into small pieces.
Place beef into a soup pot.
Add onion and saute.
Add 4 cans of tomato soup to the beef and onion mix.
Add 2 1/2 cups of water to the soup. 
Add the chili powder and ground red pepper.
Stir well.
Heat on medium heat for about 20 minutes, stirring regularly.
Serve topped with shredded cheese and Farmer's Pantry Cornbread Crisps.

Details

Prep time: 15 mins Cook time: 20 mins Total time: 35 mins Yield: 8 servings

You might also enjoy this Hungry Girl's Sweet and Spicy Tuna Taco Recipe.

Easy Rain Drop Craft

Spring is here and we have been trying to make the best of the rainy days that comes with the season. Harper and I thought a raindrop craft would be the perfect way to spend the last rainy day we had. This was perfect for my 3 year old. Oh, who are we kidding?! I had a lot of fun with it too. I mean, there is glitter involved!

This craft was so easy, yet so engaging!

All you need is:

A pair of scissors

A few sheets of blue paper

glue

glitter

Begin by cutting a drop shape 

Next have your toddler or preschooler liberally apply glue to the paper.

Next, invite the child to shake some glitter on the drop!

And there you have a way to add a little sparkle to any rainy day, regardless of the season!

This was a 5 minute craft, it took very little time to assemble, but it completely engaged my little one! We love easy paper crafts for those hey, let's make a craft moments.

Easy Dipped Shortbread Fingers

Spring is here and that means it is time to pack dinner into a picnic basket as often as possible and head out for an al fresco meal with the kids! We usually take cookies along on these occasions for dessert, but last week, I wanted to take that to the next level of delicious.

This post is part of a sponsored collaboration with Walker's Shortbread.

Walker's Shortbread is the natural choice for my family, we love the buttery flavor of shortbread, but spring days require something super special; after all, we are celebrating the return of feathered friends, the sunshine, and shorts, and we are sending our bulky coats back to the closet from which they came!


Within a few moments time, I took our favorite shortbread to new heights with 3 simple ingredients and very little effort! To make our picnic a nutty sweet affair after the meal had ended I offered my family Walker's Shortbread dipped and drizzled with white and dark chocolate and coated in crunchy walnuts. This was maybe the best ending to a meal that I have ever whipped up in under 3 minutes!

To begin, I laid out parchment paper and spread my shortbread fingers on it.

Next, I melted a fine brand of  White Chocolate and a decadent brand of dark chocolate. I drizzled the melted goodness directly on to my shortbread.

Next, I sprinkled on chunks of raw walnuts and followed up with the dark chocolate.

Allow this to cool and harden for about 30 minutes. If you are in a rush, pop the cookies in the freezer for 10 minutes.

Serve or store in a sealed container for up to 4 days.

If you like cookies, don't miss this awesome collection of cookie recipes.

Making Motherhood Less Messy With Dyson

I was compensated to write this feature with a sample from the manufacturer. 

As a busy mom of 2 kids, 2 dogs, a cat and a few small animals, let me tell you that life can get busy and messy! Having the right tools on hand to clean up all of the aftermath of family life is important to me because it makes the job easier and it helps me to stay stress free.

We are a crafting family so, scraps, sprinkles and sparkles are frequently an issue to contend with. Not to mention general dirt, ever present pet hair and kid schmutz.

My husband often comments that in my hands, a vacuum stands no chance at survival. I will work it to death in record time. He isn't joking either. With a herd of goblins in tow, things get out of control fast here. My vacuum is put to work 2 times a day, at least!

The number of vacuums I have worked to death over the years is at about 10. With a track record like that and knowing in my heart, if it can suck up dirt, I will push it to the cleaning limits, I am a hard sell on any vacuum retailing at over $200.

Then I got to try the Dyson Animal Ball. This vacuum is priced much higher than my cut off of $200. I had never used a Dyson, so I wasn't sure how I would feel about this unit. I know this is the brand my peers all cheer for so it had a point in its favor with me.

The vacuum was easy to assemble. My husband had it together in a few minutes time. He reported the instructions were easy to follow.

When I turned it on to start my daily cleaning, I was immediately taken by the power of this unit. This vacuum really sucks. And it sucks up dirt you didn't know was there, left behind by my old vacuum! Pet hair? Where? I can't find any on my floors after running this.

It is easy to clean with, easy to empty and has a whole lot of power. No matter how much dirt the family tracks in, they can rest assured I am nearby with my Dyson Animal Ball in hand.

I tested this unit for a full 4 months. I wanted to form a complete opinion on how it preformed compared to the cost. First, the vacuum looks good. The purple color is appealing. The canister is easy to see, making it obvious when to empty.

The unit has a lot of power. It really sucks up well, but I have found that on occasion I need to release hair and small debris that might become lodged inside the vacuum. This has been easy enough to do, but is a problem I haven't encountered with other vacuums. I love how much hair and dirt it can suck up quickly, making cleaning time less time consuming for me.

I like the lightweight features of the Dyson Animal Ball. It is easy to push and carry as needed. It is compact enough to easily store in a small closet when not in use, which is another bonus for me.

Overall, I liked this vacuum very much. It is one of the best ones I have used in terms of cleaning power and durability. I think it is well worth the price and would happily recommend the Dyson Animal Ball to other parents looking to make clean up time a breeze!