Summer Bucket List aka Sand Bucket List

As the weather warms up, my brain starts to go in to summer mode.  That means a more relaxed and laid back time for the family.  That is good after a busy spring of Bible Quizzing events and finishing up school. 

We start spending a larger amount of time outside and the activities we enjoy are more active.  I've been looking forward to that change for several months.  My energy seems to have returned from my cornea transplant in December.  Yeah!

We have a tradition in the Brush household.  For the last couple of years we have made "bucket lists" of things we want to do before the weather turns cold again.  We affectionately call it the Sand Bucket list since it is for Spring & Summer. 

Reasons to make a Summer Bucket List

• It's a great way to start the kids dreaming about what the next few months hold. 
• It helps me as a mom to not get so caught up in what I want to do. 
• Provides a loose structure of ideas too keep us from being to laid back.
• I can schedule some fun for the kids and it takes no creativity on my part to make them happy! 

Yesterday I asked the kids to write their lists up so we could start scheduling some of the things that they would like to do this year.  I'll share our lists once they get them filled out.

Here is the fun printable I made for them.  It's free and made me think of summer time things.

Summer Bucket List(click to download printable)

I'd love to hear what is on your summer bucket list.  It's fun to hear what other families are doing together!

Scheduled Free Style Menu #2

Well as of a week ago I'm back on the band wagon for scheduling my days by fuel type(week #1 menu). 

Though I haven't lost additional pounds, I'm still maintaining my 2 pound loss from doing this "tweek" of the Trim Healthy Mama plan. 

Last week wasn't a complete week for me because Joshua's birthday was Thursday so I might have had a couple of crossovers that night.(wink).  The menu below was my plan but hey I chucked the plan Thursday night. 

Day 1--Focus on Low Carb meals   

**I drink GGMS & Shrinker off and on all day

• Breakfast--Scrambled eggs, bacon, Light Bulletproof Tea
• Snack--Skinny Chocolate & Hormel lunch meat "sandwiched" in cucumber slices
• Lunch--Leafy green salad, Tuna Salad, Lemon Cake in Mug(pg. 379)
• Snack--Snickers Shake
• Supper--Grilled T-bone steaks, leafy green salad, steamed broccoli & cauliflower, olive oil
• Dessert--Skinny chocolate

Day 2--Focus on Low Carb meals

• Breakfast--Sausage patty, Cake in Mug(pg. 379) in a waffle maker, substitute protein powder for cocoa.  Add 1/2 tsp cinnamon to batter. You can sprinkle it with powdered homemade truvia
• Snack--Skinny chocolate & Hormel lunch meat wrapped in leafy lettuce
• Lunch--Crabby Patties(p. 338), green peppers, leafy green salad & olive oil
• Snack--Choco Pudding(p. 366)
• Supper--Egg Roll in a Bowl
• Dessert--Skinny chocolate

Day 3--Focus on Protein--light day

• Breakfast--Zucchini Fritter(just egg whites p. 217), egg white scramble, berries
• Snack--Berry Whey Smoothie with Spinach(p. 243)
• Lunch--Loaded Fotato Soup(p. 294), Joseph's Lavash bread with deli meat, lettuce & tomato
• Snack--Muffin in a Bowl (p 258)
• Supper--FP Salad p 301,  cottage cheese with Berry Syrup
• Dessert--Chia Tapioca Pudding(p. 234)

Day 4--Focus on Protein--light day

• Breakfast--Berry Smoothie(p. 243) with egg white scramble & turkey bacon
• Snack--Hormel lunch meat wrapped in leafy lettuce
• Lunch--Joseph's FP Pizza(p. 280) & leafy green salad
• Snack--cottage cheese with Berry Syrup
• Supper--Citrus Fish Bake(p. 286), Cauli Rice(p. 358) & carrots & a leafy green salad
• Dessert--Light Bulletproof Tea

Day 5 Focus on low-glycemic Carbs & Protein

(CARBS are SO important to loosing weight.  But be sure to choose low-glycemic ones!)

• Breakfast--THM Pancakes with Greek yogurt & berries
• Snack--Muffin in a Mug(E version) & piece of fruit
• Lunch--Mozzarella Turkey Toast p 239, green leafy salad & cottage cheese
• Snack--Orange and low fat cheese stick
• Supper--Chicken Stir Fry & rice
• Dessert--Light Bullet proof Tea, Josheph's Lavash with Laughing Cow cheese(aldi brand)

Weekends are crazy around here and I find it easier to just free style and switch it up.  Make sure to have AT LEAST one low-glycemic carb meal or snack each day!  As you can see I used recipes from the THM book and just basic foods.  Nothing crazy or special.

Many of these recipes are on my pinterest boards.

The recipes with page numbers are from the THM book.

Follow Day to Day Adventures Facebook page or sign up for email updates(sidebar) containing more scheduled free styling menus.

More THM help

Traveling with the Trim Healthy Mama Plan

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Traveling when you are trying diet or to eat a specific way can be challenging. 

How do you do it & not get off track while you are away from home?  Here are some tips & hints that are specifically for the Trim Healthy Mama plan but could help anyone to keep on track with diet guidelines while traveling.

* If you would be so kind, you can click on my THM affiliate to purchase your THM goodies!  It doesn’t cost you a penny and it helps a tiny bit with my blogging costs.  You can click this THM link or the button on the right side of the blog. *

1.  Plan out your menu if you can. 

We recently went on a 6 day trip with our kids.  I had NO control over what we ate but I was able to find out before we left what the meal coordinator was planning.  With that information in mind I was able to bring things that would help me stay on plan. 

EXAMPLE   We were stopping at fast food for lunch.  I knew I could have a chicken salad or burger.  So I brought along Zevia soda & a Joseph's pita to make the burger doable for me.  Then I got a side salad with ranch dressing.  Not perfect but better than a soda, burger with a bun & fries.

Free Menu Planner(download)

2.  Plan snacks too. 

I made sure I had apples, strawberries, cake in a mug(premade), cheesesticks, & nuts.  Prepackage them in little snack size Ziplock bags so you can just grab one from the cooler & go.

Pin this to remember for later! 

3.  Pack a cooler. 

Check to see if there is a refrigerator &/or a microwave in your room.  If there isn't a refrigerator then just keep ice in gallon size Ziplock bags in your cooler.  Ice is usually free at a hotel.

For our trip we were packing food for Elizabeth, who has Celiac disease, soit was no big deal to add the things that I wanted as well. 

Cooler list: 

• Fruit
• veggies
• baked oatmeal
• cheese
• small container of cream for my tea
• triple zero yogurt
• almond milk
• egg cups
• prebaked MIM
• Joseph's pitas.

4.  Make a stash.  

HonestlyI didn't know what to call this.  Here's a picture of what I mean.

What's in my stash: 

• Defatted pb flour to add to yogurt
• Stevia extract, cayenne to make Shrinker
• Truvia packets, apple cider vinegar & caramel flavoring to make caramel apple GGMS
• My favorite Bigelow French Vanilla tea, protein powder & MCT oil for bulletproof tea(& fav mug)
• olive oil for salads
• Individual serving peanut butter to go on apples or top a chocolate MIM
• Measuring spoons
• Doonk for measuring cayenne & Stevia extract

All those nested nicely within my cold drink cup & hot tea mug.  All packed together in a toiletries bag.    **I found all the little containers at Dollar General & the Dollar Tree.

Was it extra work?  Yes.  Was it worth it?  YES!  I maintained my weight while on our trip and now I'm right back in to doing my scheduled free style menu. 

How do you pack for trips and what helps you keep "on plan?"  I would love some new tips for my next trip out-of-town!

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Where we were . . . 2002

It has been almost 13 years since we welcomed this high energy, loving, extrovert of a child in to our home. 

I'm not sure why God saved him for last but man he keeps me on my feet  (and gives me gray hair).  On the other hand he's easy to love and enjoys just hanging out with you no matter what you are doing.

He's also crazy.  He makes us laugh with his antics, noises, hugs, forgetfulness, & in your face, messy way of living.

Happy Birthday Joshua.  You make everyday an adventure. 

For all his craziness this is what I see Joshua doing the most(well besides playing Minecraft but who wants a picture of that?). 

3 Ways to sell Homeschool Curriculum

We've been homeschooling for going on 18 years.  That is a CRAZY amount of time!!!! 

Now I love books, especially a few good history books but as we wrapped up the elementary grades & headed in to middle school & now high school well . . . . I need to start purging the curriculum and books that we will not need again. 

I'll tell you a secret. 

I have some great new shelves around a window seat that Steve built but I do not want them totally filled up with books!  My plan is to have my scrapbook supplies and fabric for sewing stashed in some fun Ikea boxes.  That way everything is handy when I get a few minutes of free time!

1. Used Curriculum Sale at our local support group.  This spring I organized a sale by sending out a few emails to find out who was interested.  Lots of people had things to sell!  I'm hopeful that this will be come an annual event.

2. Use Facebook.  I found the most success here.  There are several groups that you can join to post your used curriculum and books.  I used Homeschool Curriculum Marketplace.  I'm sure there are others out there.  Just make sure to read the rules for each group before you post your curriculum.  Check the helpful hints below before you post on facebook!

3. Use Websites.  One is to sell books & one is to swap books.  Both have their uses.  .

Home School Classifieds--I used this when I need curriculum.  I've bought math, science and language arts curriculum on this website.  Just look through for what you want and contact the seller.  It is just as easy to list books.  Use the hints below to help you put your ad up.

Paper Back Swap--We read a lot!  Most books I'm after I can locate at our local library.  But if I cannot then I look here first.  I have listed books & swapped them for credits.  I can spend my credits to get a book someone else has listed.  Only money spent is on shipping.  Love this! 

I know that there are dozens of other websites out there.  These are two I've had success using.

Helpful Hints

• Take pictures of the the books you want to sell.  
• Look on Amazon for a description of your curriculum. 
• Decide how much you want to sell it for.
• Write a description(or copy the Amazon description)-
• be detailed and honest about the shape your curriculum is in. 
• Add on a few dollars for shipping(I just guessed)

Be sure to consider what kind of payment you will accept.  I accepted checks but I cashed them before I mailed the books.  Most people wanted to use Paypal and that worked great.  Remember when you list your books to add on the price of shipping.

One of my major organization goals this summer is to post more books & get them out of my house and on to someone else's shelves.  I will definitely be using Facebook & Home School Classifieds to make this happen.

What ways have you sold home school curriculum?  I'd love to try some new methods!

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