Banana Split

One of my daughter’s current favorites to find in her workbox folders is Banana Split from All About Learning Press.  The game is designed to practice compound words with four levels of reading.  Game play is basically Go Fish! with players asking for matching ice cream scoops from another player and then Scoop! (our phrase) from the pile if no match is found in the other player’s hand.  When a matching pair is found, they are placed on the player’s ice cream dish and the two scoops together form a compound word.

 

If you use one set of cards, the game is 5-10 minute play.  We will sometimes use two sets of cards for more fun.

We are in the early part of All About Spelling Level 2 and she has mastered the Level 1 and Level 2 game cards.  Time to print out Level 3!
Sign up for All About Learning’s great newsletter and receive this game.

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Spring Cleaning Challenge, Day 2

Day two and I’m feeling motivated despite a busy morning and busy evening.

Scrub out trashcan. (K)
Scrub out recycling can. (K)
Scrub bottom cabinets. (K)
Scrub top cabinets. (K)
Wipe light. (K)
Clean window & windowsill. (K)
Wipe inside of dishwasher. (K)
Clean windows in and out. (DR)
Wipe out windowsills. (DR)
Wipe blinds. (DR)
Clean out entryway drawers, put away winter items. (OA)
Three items off upstairs cleaning list…just not sure what yet!

Don’t miss out on this fun challenge including a chance to win a new washer and dryer, among other great prizes!

I’m joining iDreamofClean and 9 other bloggers in the Spring Cleaning Challenge for a chance to win some incredible prizes! 

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Chicken Satay

What was left when I went back to take a picture. Quicker next time!

Last night I had a girls’ night out.  Yay for adult girl time!  After considering 723 (approxiamately) other appetizers, I decided on toasted ravioli and chicken satay.  But I committed the unpardonable sin…I took a dish I had never before prepared.  Even worse, I had never even HAD it before.  The satay was delicious and got rave reviews.  I’m not sure what I was expecting it to taste like…but it wasn’t it. Sever

al people asked for the recipe and were surprised that peanut butter was on the list.  It doesn’t taste like it!  I think I can even get my PB-avoiding husband to eat this.  Its going on the menu plan next week!

Chicken Satay
Serves 4-6

4 tablespoons peanut butter
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup lime juice, fresh if you can (lemon juice can also be used)
2-3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon curry powder
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon hot sauce
4-6 chicken breasts (whole, cubed, skewered, your choice)

Combine marinade ingredients and pour over chicken.  Marinate at least two hours.  I cooked mine in a skillet about 10 minutes but you could cook in the oven or, if you have large enough pieces, grill it (5-7 minutes per side).

Food for my Freezer: I would freeze the raw chicken and mariande together.  Thaw overnight in the fridge and then cook as usual.

Adapated from this recipe on Allrecipes.
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Spring Cleaning Challenge, Day 1

Today’s accomplishments:

  • Pulled up living room rugs; swept & mopped underneath.
  • Moved the couch, cleaned out under it and then swept.
  • Took all the books off the bookshelves, dusted and reogranized the books.
  • Cleaned all the downstairs window sills (we had a dust storm Sunday) and windows.
  • Finished moving miscellaneous items out of the baking cabinet AND into their new homes (MAJOR accomplishment for me!).  Reorganized it.

Listed like that, it doesn’t look like much.  But I spent the better part of the afternoon on it.   Our local Sonic Drive-In is offering B1G1F milkshakes today in honor of spring, so that is my treat tonight for a good first day!

Hopefully I will remember to take pictures tomorrow.

I’m joining iDreamofClean and 9 other bloggers in the Spring Cleaning Challenge for a chance to win some incredible prizes! 

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Spring Cleaning Challenge, Master List

Master Bathroom
Buy three crates  (hair, body, nail) and place items inside.
Straighten remaining items on my shelf.
Move cleaning items to all one shelf.
Go through medicine totes–toss expired, note what needs refilled.
Straighten towel shelf.
Scrub shower stall.
Hand mopping job throughout.
Clean out trash can.

Kids’ Bathroom
Wash shower curtains.
Clean tub & shower walls.
Soak bath toys in cleaner.
Scrub toilet base.
Wipe down walls.
Straighten towel cabinet.
Hand mop throughout.
Clean out trash can.
Towel hooks–paint, decorate, hang.

Downstairs Half-Bathroom
Clean underneath sink.
Find a cup for toothbrushes & toothpastes.
Restock toilet paper.
Hand mop throughout.
Clean out trash can.

Living Room
Pull up rugs to sweep & mop.
Move couch–put away random items, sweep, mop.
Clean off mantel–put away items, dust.
Dust TV stand well.
Remove books from bookshelves, dust, reorganize.
Wipe blinds.
Clean windows well including window sills.
Wipe baseboards.
Find curtains and hang?
Wipe ceiling fan & light.
Install cord-hiders.

Kitchen
Clean out fridge, wipe down.
Clean out freezer, wipe down.
Take everything off fridge, wipe down, rehang only important items.
Wipe out pantry shelves.
Move “junk” cabinet out of baking cabinet, organize.
Straighten baking cabinet.
Wipe light.
Clean window & windowsill.
Wipe inside of dishwasher.
Clean out under sink cabinet.
Go through plastic-wares cabinet (toss out items without mates, straighten).
Clean oven.
Clean stovetop.
Scrub out trashcan.
Scrub out recycling can.
Hand mop throughout.

Dining Room
Clean table WELL.
Put new tablecloth on it.
Clean chairs WELL.
Clean windows in and out.
Wipe out windowsills.
Wipe blinds.
Hang picture.
Wipe baseboards.
Move table & chairs and mop underneath.
Wipe down walls.

Office/school area
Clean desk off entirely.  Replace only important items.
Wipe down desk, chair, monitor and computer stuff.
Go through kids’ paper/sticker drawers, clean out.
Clean off school shelves.
Move table and mop.
Move computer and mop.
Clean out entryway drawers, put away winter items.
Move entryway drawers and mop.
Clean out school tote.
Pull unwanted curriculum out to sell.
Clean off side table; decorate.

Master bedroom
Take books off bookshelf & dust.
Take remaining donation items out; donate.
Clean off dresser top.
Vacuum WELL.
Wipe window sills.
Clean windows.

Boys’ bedroom
Vacuum WELL.
Put away miscellaneous items.
Sort out too-small baby clothes for donations.
Rid closet of at least one box.
Pack up winter clothes.

E’s bedroom
Rid closet of at least one box.
Vacuum WELL.
Go through toy storage and help her sort out unwanted items.
Clean under bed.
Wash bedding.

Upstairs closet
Condense towel shelves.
Pull out items that don’t belong; put them away.
Gather cleaning items and put together.
Wipe shelves.

Master bedroom closet
Put away everything on floor.
Straighten my shelves.
Sort through clothes for donations.

Garage
??? Need to consult SoldierBoy.

Whew.  That is WAY more than I thought it would be.

I’m joining iDreamofClean and 9 other bloggers in the Spring Cleaning Challenge for a chance to win some incredible prizes! 

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Spring Cleaning

 

 

 

 

I needed motivation to do some spring cleaning.

And I needed something to spur me back here.

Then I saw this spring cleaning challenge posted on iDreamofClean.  Perfect!

I have been keeping to the bare minimum cleaning these days, mostly out of winter blahness (combined with homeschooling, SoldierBoy out playing soldier for many weeks on end and a messie with three small kids).  And my home is desperately showing it!

I took my free spring cleaning checklist and started filling it out today.  If you want one already filled out, I found this one and this one that look good.

If you use Cozi, they have a spring starter list and a spring cleaning list for kids you can import into your calendar.

Master list is finished…and I think I bit off more than I can chew!!

Spring Cleaning Challenge Posts
Spring Cleaning, Master List
Spring Cleaning, Day 1
Spring Cleaning, Day 2
Spring Cleaning, Days 3-6
Spring Cleaning, Days 7-11

I’m joining iDreamofClean and 9 other bloggers in the Spring Cleaning Challenge for a chance to win some incredible prizes! 

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