Indoor Toddler Activities

Tinkergarten classes

Painting

Coloring

Indoor Playground

Reading Books

Flash Cards

Music and Singing

Crafts or visiting an art studio

Dance Class or create your own living room "dance party"

 

Puzzles

Visiting a library

Mommy and Me Style Yoga

10 ideas for finding time for fitness as a busy mom

1. Work out before your children wake up. Or try to some days :) Start with 3 days a week perhaps. Here is a 15 minute workout where you need no equipment.
2. Plan your meals ahead of time so you can watch what you eat. Consider meal prepping. 
3. Spend 30 minutes or an hour of their nap time to work out; even if it's 3-5 days a week only
4. Get rid of unhealthy foods in your fridge and cupboards. Replace them with healthy options.
5. Do activities with your family that involve movement and exercise. Take a walk together, go swimming, do a sport together or try a family-friendly fitness video to do together. Choose a few more activities throughout the week you can include yourself in. 
6. If you have older children that do sports after school for example; go to a gym during that time. If you can not afford a gym membership; walk around at a local mall or neighborhood. When I did cheerleading as a child; many moms would get together during their daughters practices and would walk together around the cheerleading gym I trained at. 
7. If you are not in the mood to get to a gym that day; do a work out at home. Invest in items such as a yoga mat to have your own home work outs. You can get many items for under $20 such as stability balls and resistance bands. No need for the pricier items!
8. When doing errands; park farther from the door so you have a longer walk and take the stairs when ever possible. If you work outside of the home; work out on your lunch hour and pack your own healthy lunch.
9. Many fitness centers offer childcare during their operating hours at an inexpensive rate. You may even enjoy the small break while you get a work out in. Your children will most likely love the social interaction and a new atmosphere. I have also found moms groups and other fun classes such as stroller work out clubs and more!
10. Walk when you are on the telephone and stand more when you doing errands such as folding laundry. 

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Simple Pork Chops and Stuffing

Ingredients:

• 4 Pork Chops
• 1/4 Cup of Water
• 1/2 Cup of Sour Cream
• 1 Can of Cream of Mushroom Soup
• 1 Box of Stove Top Stuffing Mix

Instructions:

1. Mix the water, cream of mushroom soup and sour cream together in a mixing bowl.
2. Place the pork chops in the crock pot and top with the dry stuffing mix. 
3. Pour the sour cream/water/cream of mushroom soup mix and cook on low for 4 hours or until meat is cooked through. Stir lightly before serving.

*Disclaimer: These are just meant to be quick meals for busy moms,college students and/or meals you can do on a budget. I am no chef so this is all just for fun! I only post recipes I actually enjoyed making and eating. 

Crock Pot French Onion Pork Chops

Ingredients

• 4 Boneless Center Cut Pork Loin Chops, thawed {approx. 1.5 - 2 lbs.}
• 1 can Chicken Broth {10.5 oz.}
• 1 can Campbell’s French Onion Soup {10.5 oz.}
• ½ cup Sour Cream

Directions

1. Pour the chicken broth into the crock pot
2. Add the pork chops, and cook on LOW for 3½ hours, covered.
3. After 3½ hours on low; drain juices from crock pot.
4. Mix together French Onion Soup and Sour Cream in small bowl, and stir well.
5. Pour mixture over pork chops; cook on LOW for 30 more minutes or until done.

BLACK+DECKER SC2007D Slow Cooker, 7 quart, Teal Wave

Hasselback Chicken Recipe

Ingredients: 

2 boneless chicken breasts or thighs

Sliced mozzarella cheese

Grape Tomatoes

Fresh basil leaves

2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning

Salt and pepper

2 teaspoons olive oil

Directions: 

Place chicken on a cutting board; using a sharp knife cut slits across the chicken about 3/4 of the way through being careful not to cut all the way through.

Depending on the size of the chicken breast or thigh; you're going to want around 6-8 slits per chicken breast/thigh. Stuff each slit with a slice of mozzarella cheese, half a grape tomato and a basil leaf.

Place the chicken breasts in a baking dish that has been coated with non-stick baking spray.

Brush each chicken breast/thigh with olive oil. Sprinkle each chicken breast with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. 

Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for about 30 minutes or until temperature of the chicken reaches 160 degrees.

Crock Pot Chicken and Gravy

Ingredients:

2 packets dry chicken gravy mix
1 (10.75 oz.) can of cream of chicken soup
2 cups of water
1 lb. boneless chicken breasts or thighs
Garlic powder
Salt & Pepper
1/2 cup of sour cream

Directions:

    In your slow cooker; whisk together the gravy packets, cream of chicken soup and water. Whisk until it is mostly smooth. Next; add the seasoned chicken and be sure to get them covered in gravy. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

    Once cooked; break chicken up into chunks using a fork. Stir in sour cream to add creaminess to this recipe. Serve over rice, mashed potatoes or noodles (optional). 

Crock-Pot 7-Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker | Stainless Steel (SCV700-S-BR)

Simple Meatloaf recipe

Simple Meatloaf recipe

Ingredients

This simple recipes makes 4 servings

1 lb lean ground beef
1 egg
Onion powder or chopped onion
1/2 cup Breadcrumbs or Oats
Garlic powder
Italian seasoning
Ketchup

Pre-heat over to 375 degrees.

Place the ground beef in medium size bowl; then add the one egg. Pour breadcrumbs or oats;then add seasonings to taste. Squeeze in 1/3 cup of ketchup. I also added black pepper,a pinch of salt and seasoned salt.

Mix all the ingredients thoroughly before forming the mixture into a loaf shape or round shape. Place in a loaf pan or baking dish. Make sure mixture is firm and smooth. Last, squeeze a zig-zag of ketchup on top before placing the loaf pan or baking dish into the oven.

Bake about 45 minutes for a one pound loaf. If you double the recipe;bake for about an hour. Meat should have no pink showing and should be cooked thoroughly. Let sit about 5 minutes before slicing into wedges to serve.

 McCormick Meat Loaf Seasoning Mix, 1.5 oz

Disclaimer: When I purchased ingredients; we had a very limited selection on products and stores. There were no natural grocery stores that I prefer.