Pinspiration for Moms: Dinner Ideas

Are you stuck in a dinner rut? It happens to the best of us. The nice thing about Pinterest is that there are delicious looking recipes galore. The only problem is that you don’t know which ones will actually taste as good as they look, or which ones will be easy enough to pull off. Hopefully I can provide some help here. These are all Pinterest recipes that I have personally tried and have really enjoyed. I hope that you do too!

Chicken Enchilada Pasta – I’m going to go ahead and say that this is the best dinner recipe I have found on Pinterest so far. The flavors are absolutely amazing. If there’s one recipe you should try from this post, this would be it.

Source: Pearls, Handcuffs & Happy Hour

Chicken Tamale Pie – So I may be a fan of Mexican dishes. Don’t worry though, these won’t all be Mexican recipes. The best part of this dish is definitely the cornbread “crust” on the bottom. Mmmmm!

Source: Pinch of Yum

Buffalo Chicken Burgers – I am a huge fan of anything made with buffalo sauce. It’s a weakness of mine. These Buffalo Chicken Burgers are one of the best dinner recipes I have ever made with buffalo sauce. Top these babies with the Buffalo Wing Cheddar Spread from Wegmans and you have one tasty dish. I’m drooling just thinking about it.

Source: Tasty Kitchen

Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Braid – This may look way too fancy to be easy to make, but it’s so much easier than it looks. The best part? It tastes even better than it looks. You can make this with crescent rolls or a can of rolled pizza dough. Both are delicious options.

Source: Food, Family & Finds

Sweet Mozzarella Caprese Quinoa Salad – This is more of a side dish, but I had to put it in here. It’s just too good not to. If you like caprese salad, (and who doesn’t??) then you will love this recipe.

Source: Green Lite Bites

Crock Pot Honey Sesame Chicken – You have probably seen this one on Pinterest at some point. There’s a reason it was pinned so many times. This is easily one of my favorite Crock Pot recipes, and it doesn’t get much easier than the Crock Pot!

Source: Chef in Training

Southwest Black Bean Casserole – If you are looking for a delicious, healthy dinner option, then this recipe is for you! This has been making a pretty regular appearance in our dinner rotation. You won’t be disappointed by this one.

Source: Pinch of Yum

I hope you have found something new to try! I am very thankful that Pinterest has kept me out of a dinner rut, and so is my husband. 🙂

Kirsten is a Pinterest-loving mom from Chester County. You can read more about Kirsten’s Pinteresting adventures on her blog, 366 Days of Pinterest.

Pinspiration for Moms: Back to School

It’s that time of the year again! As a teacher, I can’t say that I look forward to this time of the year, but it’s here just as quickly as I knew it would be. Even though my little man isn’t old enough to head off to school just yet, I have already started pinning some fun ideas for when the time comes. I wanted to share some of them with those of you that find yourself preparing for back to school.

Back to School Crafts – Check out these craft ideas to get the kids excited about going back to school.

Source: Red Ted Art’s Blog

Back to School Breakfast – If you are looking to make an extra special breakfast before the big day, check out these super cute ideas!

Source: The Diary of Dave’s Wife

First Day of School Photos – I am in love with this photo idea. On the first day of school, have your little one write what they want to be when they grow up. Precious!

Source: Roots and Wings Co

Lunch Ideas – Don’t get stuck in a rut with lunches. Think past the sandwich and check out this pin.

Source: Easy Lunchboxes

Back to School Treats – These make great lunch box treats for your little smarty pants.

Source: Rook No. 17

Lunchbox Printables – These fun printables are great for the lunchbox too. Print these jokes or the blank templates where you can write your own message.

Source: All for the Boys

School Notes – Need to send a quick note to your child’s teacher? Make it look like you put more effort into it than you really did with these cute printables.

Source: Anything but Perfect

Back to School Ideas – This site has over 50 back to school ideas. If you haven’t found anything you like yet, check here!

Source: I Heart Nap Time

Good luck! I hope the back to school transition is a smooth one for everyone. I’ll be thinking of all of you that have to send your little ones off on the school bus for the first time. I already get heart palpitations just thinking about that day and my little guy is barely two!

Kirsten is a Pinterest-loving mom from Chester County. You can read more about Kirsten’s Pinteresting adventures on her blog, 366 Days of Pinterest.

Pinspirations for Moms: Time and Money Savers

Let’s face it, most of us don’t have any time or money to spare. If there’s one thing about Pinterest I’m really grateful for, it has to be all the time and money saving tips that I have come across. I wanted to share a few of my favorites with you, as well as some others that I’ve had my eye on to try soon.

Tub Cleaner: This is one of the best cleaning pins I have come across. It’s just Dawn and vinegar, but this stuff is magical. If you haven’t tried it yet, do it soon. I guarantee you won’t be buying tub cleaner anymore.

Source: Food.com

Cleaning Tub Toys: If you haven’t cleaned your kids’ tub toys before, you might not realize just how gross they are. I know I didn’t. I was appalled by the stuff that came out of them. I highly recommend this. Don’t buy new tub toys, just clean the ones you have.

Source: We Love Being Moms

Vinegar as Jet Dry: All I have to say is, I’m never buying Jet Dry again. This is such an awesome tip!

Source: Fake it Frugal

Spot Remover: If the tub cleaner is my favorite cleaning pin, this is a close second. Get ready to never buy another spot remover again. All you need is Dawn and hydrogen peroxide. Who knew?

Source: Glamour

Tomato Paste Saver: The next time you only need to use a tablespoon out of your entire can of tomato paste, use this tip for saving the rest.

Source: Martha Stewart

Cleaning Oven Grates: If you have a gas stove, you need to check this out. I was so sick of never being able to get my oven grates clean. I wasted so much time scrubbing those things, when all I needed to do was let them soak in ammonia overnight. And get this, no scrubbing! Talk about a sanity saver!

Source: Pinching Your Pennies

Gel Air Freshener: I haven’t tried making these yet, but it’s definitely on my list. I like using gel air fresheners in our bathrooms, so this should be a nice money saver.

Source: Instructables

Foaming Hand Soap: Did you know you can refill and reuse your foaming hand soap dispensers? I was really excited about this one. I love foaming hand soap but it can be so expensive. Not anymore!

Source: The Frugal Girls

Weed Killer: I’m not a fan of using harsh chemicals around the little man, and I’m sure most of you aren’t either. Did you know that vinegar makes a great weed killer? Score!

Source: All You

Refill Swiffer Wet Jet: The only reason I haven’t tried this yet is because my bottle of Wet Jet solution isn’t empty yet. After that, I’m all over this one. I can’t wait to add my own pet and kid friendly solution to the bottle!

Source: Lifehacker

I hope you have found some helpful tips and tricks that will save your purse as well as your sanity. Every little bit helps, right? 🙂

Kirsten is a Pinterest-loving mom from Chester County. You can read more about Kirsten’s Pinteresting adventures on her blog, 366 Days of Pinterest.

Pinspiration for Moms: Party Time!

My little man’s second birthday is fast approaching, so I have started pinning some really great party ideas to try and get a jump start on the festivities. I thought I would share a few of my fun finds for those of you looking for party inspiration. Even if you aren’t looking now, you are going to want to pin this list for when the time comes.

This blog is great! Search for different party resource by theme, and there are lots of them. How cute are these Sesame Street ideas?!

Source: Chickabug blog

This is another amazing blog with tons of themes to choose from. I could spend waaay too much time on this site.

Source: Hostess with the Mostess

If you still haven’t found what you are looking for, check here! The list of themes goes on and on and on…

Source: Kara’s Party Ideas

When it comes to decorations, I love keeping it simple. I can’t spend a ridiculous amount of time making elaborate decorations. Who can?! These look fun and easy to make.

Source: Snap!

If you really want to make a statement, check out what you can do with some plastic tablecloths and balloons. Wow!

Source: Cafe Mom

Looking for some games for the kiddos? This is a good place to start.

Source: Stephmodo

This is a classic, “Why didn’t I think of that?” Frozen water balloons as ice in your drink buckets. How great is that?!

Source: Unknown

I hope you were able to find what you were looking for. I know I found way more than I was looking for! I’m glad I started looking for ideas two months in advance!

Kirsten is a Pinterest-loving mom from Chester County. You can read more about Kirsten’s Pinteresting adventures on her blog, 366 Days of Pinterest.

Pinspiration for Moms {Beat the Heat}

The sweltering heat of summer has arrived in the Philadelphia area! Today, I bring you Pinspiration to help you and your kids beat the summer heat.

Forget regular finger painting. How about frozen finger painting?!

Source: Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas

No sprinkler? No problem!

Source: Crafters Advisers

 
This one is too cool! Take advantage of that scorching sun and create a solar oven.

Source: Making Boys Men

Water balloons take time to fill and the fun is over way too fast. Make the party last longer with these great sponge bombs.

Source: Inner Child Fun

This one almost seems too good to be true. Could it really be this easy to make a giant water bag for the kids to bounce on? Seriously, how fun does this look?

Source: Go Kid Yourself

Forget the sprinkler. Check this out!

Source: Instructables

If you are really serious about building a backyard paradise for a hot summer day, you can’t beat this one. I would be right in there with the kids!

Source: The Cheapskate Mom

Did you know that you can make ice cream in a plastic bag? I know I didn’t. It totally works, though. The kids will enjoy making it just as much as they enjoy eating it.

Source: Pin Cookie

Don’t forget to keep yourself cool too! This is my new favorite summer drink. I have two words for you: Magical. Coffee.

Source: Food52

Stay cool, everyone!

Kirsten is a Pinterest-loving mom from Chester County. You can read more about Kirsten’s Pinteresting adventures on her blog, 366 Days of Pinterest.

Pinspiration for Moms {Father’s Day}

Father’s Day is right around the corner. If you are panicking right now because it somehow snuck up on you, have no fear! I bring you Pinspiration for Father’s Day. The best part? Most of these ideas are really easy to put together in a short time frame. Hopefully you will find something perfect for the dad in your life.

You can never go wrong with a photo gift. This one has been done various ways, but it’s always sure to please.

Source: Frugal Life Project

If you are looking for something a little more fun and lighthearted, check this out! It’s sure to be a kid pleaser as much as a dad pleaser.

Source: Katherine Marie Photography

Here’s one last photo idea. This site has super fun Father’s Day printables that the kiddos can use to strike a pose for Dad.

Source: Paper Coterie

Thinking of picking up a 6-pack for dear old dad? Here’s a fun way to spruce it up!

Source: The Idea Room

There’s always the ticket book too. Make it look like you spent extra time creating it by using these great printables.

Source: Nellie Design

I think this one has to be my favorite Father’s Day printable. Where was this on Mother’s Day?

Source: Seven Thirty Three

If you are looking for a new recipe to add to that room service list, you definitely want to try this…Peanut Butter and Banana Stuffed French Toast. Believe me, it’s as delicious as it looks.

Source: Tasty Comforts of North Georgia

If you still haven’t found what you are looking for, here’s a post with 28 different Father’s Day activities and homemade crafts.

Source: Tip Junkie

I hope you have found some Pinspiration for your Father’s Day! You can find these pins and more on the Philly Burb Moms Pinterest boards.

Kirsten is a Pinterest-loving mom from Chester County. You can read more about Kirsten’s Pinteresting adventures on her blog, 366 Days of Pinterest.

Tasty Tuesday: Southwestern Egg Rolls

I came across this recipe on the wonderful world of Pinterest.  What caught my eye? The words “Baked” and “Southwestern.”  Here in our house, we LOVE all flavors Southwestern. If it calls for Cumin or Chili Powder? We’re in.

But “baked” is what got me the most. Who doesn’t love Egg Rolls?  But let’s face it: they are deep fried pieces of fatty goodness. TOTALLY not part of a healthy diet.  I had NO idea that:

1) you could buy egg roll wrappers at the grocery store
2) that the actual egg roll wrappers were not bad for you – it is the frying that makes them unhealthy.
3) you can bake egg rolls instead of frying!

Reading this recipe was quite the learning experience for me.

Also? The recipe is meatless.  So you can serve them up to your vegetarian friends. But as one who eats meat, you’d never miss it!

The recipe comes from the inspiring food blog, Annie’s Eats.

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Baked Southwestern Eggrolls

(linked from Annie’s Eats)

2 cups of frozen corn, thawed

1 10oz pkg of frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

1 15oz can of black beans, drained

1 4oz can of chopped green chiles

4 green onions, chopped

2 cups of shredded cheese (Annie recommends a Mexican blend. I use low-fat Cheddar)

1 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp chili powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (I don’t add this, incase Little Chica wants to try some)

1 pkg eggroll wrappers (I like the Nasoya brand)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Lightly spray a cookie sheet (or cover with parchment paper).

In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients except the eggroll wrappers.

Take an eggroll wrapper, and place it on the counter in front of you so it looks like a diamond (one of the points facing down toward you). Place 2-4 TBS of the filling in the center (Annie says 1/4 cup, but if you want to spread it further, you can use a little less).  Bring the bottom tip of the egg roll up and over the filling and roll slightly.  Then bring in the 2 side tips into the center and continue rolling.  When you get to the top tip, dip your finger in water and brush the edge/tip.  Bring the moistened tip over the top and seal.  Repeat with the rest of the filling and wrappers. 

Place on greased cookie sheet, seam side down.

Bake at 425 degrees for 15-17 minutes (until lightly brown), turning once.

~~~~~

We eat these as a main meal. My portion is usually about 3, with a side of corn chips and salsa.  Serve this up with some salsa and sour cream, although they need no doctoring because they taste so good!  I’ve also made some of this chicken, and shredded it up and added it to the egg rolls.  

If you aren’t sure where to find egg rolls in your grocery store, check by the tofu in the produce section.  In my store, it’s in the organic aisle.  In other stores, it is in with the fresh fruit and vegetables.  

Once your imagination gets going, you find there are so many things you can stuff in egg rolls wrappers and bake. Next week I’ll bring you a recipe for Breakfast Egg Rolls!

Have a good week!

You can read more about Steph’s life and recipes at her blog, Confessions of a Stay-at-Home Mom.

{Review and Giveaway} Pinterest for Dummies by Kelby Carr

We here at the Philly Burb Moms sites LOVE Pinterest. LOVE Love love it.  What’s not to be crazy about?  Pretty pictures, craft and cooking inspiration, fashion trends, and tips that make your life so much easier.  I would be lying if I said that I haven’t, from time to time, completely lost track of time (possibly for several hours) as I followed the Pinterest deer paths all over the internet.

As Pinterest is becoming quite the exciting new website, it’s good to get learned on how to use it.  Enter Kelby Carr’s new book, Pinterest for Dummies.

Seriously? This book is AMAZING.

Kelby takes you through the basics: what IS Pinterest, how to set up an account, how to add boards, and how to follow and get followed. There are more advanced ideas on how to market products and get your posts seen.

Her book will totally make you PINDOMINABLE!

As one who is an avid pinner, it was great to learn how to go about using Pinterest correctly.  Did you know that you are limited in how much you self-promote?  Are you very careful about crediting your sources?  All things we’ve all seen done poorly on Pinterest.  I’m often confused on how to understand my  statistics (there are numbers about how many people follow me, but those numbers differ from how many people follow my specific boards).  I loved that Kelby’s book shed great light on this!

If you are interested in learning more about Pinterest, you can buy the book or win one here!  We are giving away one copy of Pinterest for Dummies!  Please fill out the form below for your chance to win!


Giveaway will run until Monday, June 11 at noon.


Good luck!  Happy winning!


Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of Pinterest For Dummies for my review.

Get Pinspired: Mother’s Day

Now, I know most of you reading this ARE mothers, and therefore should not have to lift a finger for planning Mother’s Day. I hope all the loved ones in your lives are feverishly planning all the ways to celebrate and pamper you this Sunday with lots of love!

We still have mother’s in our lives to celebrate, though. Moms, step-Moms, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, friends, mothers-to-be…and those special women in our lives who may have no genetics in common with us, but had a special hand in nurturing us in motherly ways.

We must celebrate those women.

 We must celebrate ALL mother’s!

 So I turned to Pinterest for Mother’s Day inspiration, and I found a great many pins to get me excited about Sunday’s celebrations!

Pinspirations: 

Mother’s Day

Gifts

There are lots of fun gifts to give to the special Mom’s in your life. I love love LOVE this necklace. I’d want 2 little blue eggs – one for each of my girls.

Source: etsy.com via PhillyBurbMoms on Pinterest

Kids Crafts

Kids don’t have to be left out!  There are quite a few gifts they can make on their own. And, really, is there anything better than a homemade craft from a child you love?

Source: hummingbirded.com via PhillyBurbMoms on Pinterest

Brunch

A brunch is a fantastic and fancy way to celebrate Mom’s.  Keep it light, but tasty.  I love these Muffin Tin Eggs.

Source: marthastewart.com via PhillyBurbMoms on Pinterest

And Baked French Toast? YES PLEASE.

Source: nutritionfor.us via PhillyBurbMoms on Pinterest

What is brunch without Mimosas?

Source: tastebook.com via PhillyBurbMoms on Pinterest

What to Wear?

If I could show up to Mother’s Day brunch wearing this dress, I’d be in heaven!

Source: goo.gl via PhillyBurbMoms on Pinterest

I’ll most likely don something more along these lines, though.

Source: blogs.babble.com via PhillyBurbMoms on Pinterest

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How are you planning on celebrating Mother’s Day?  Have you found any good pins to get you started?  Make sure to share them with us by leaving a comment or heading over and sharing on our Facebook Page!

Find more Pinspirations by following us on Pinterest and checking out our Mother’s Day Board.

Get Pinspired: Spring-to-Summer Fashion

Now, I am not what one would call “style savvy.”

But I’m loving all the style ideas I find on Pinterest.  

With such a mild Winter, I feel like I never got the most out of my cold-weather wardrobe.  Now that Spring is creeping in on Summer, I feel ready to breathe new life into my closet!  Here are some of the great pins of inspiration I have found recently…

Pinterest: Spring-to-Summer Fashion

As I work on my post-child body, I love clothes that are loose, cool and flowy.

Source: store.alloy.com via PhillyBurbMoms on Pinterest

I’m seeing a lot of this coral color – which I particularly love with navy and white striped contrast.

Source: bodenusa.com via PhillyBurbMoms on Pinterest

Until it gets super hot, I think it’s smart to use leggings under Summer dresses!

Source: perfectlypreppyinpink.tumblr.com via PhillyBurbMoms on Pinterest

Note to self: Get a few sundresses into the rotation. They are easily worn casual OR dressed up.

Source: fashionworship.com via PhillyBurbMoms on Pinterest

See more in our Philly Burb Moms Style Board!

What pins are inspiring your Spring-to-Summer wardrobe?  What pieces are you excited to incorporate into your closet this season?  We want to hear from you – so leave your comments (and pins!) below!

Read more about Chesco Mom Steph at her blog, Confessions of a Stay-at-Home Mom.