Our Top 5 Crockpot Recipes

I have become somewhat of a Crockpot Queen this year. I work late on Mondays and Thursdays so it makes my life way easier if on those days, I throw something in the crockpot for dinner. My husband has dinner when he comes home (our kids are super picky) and then I do too! Everyone (except the picky kids) wins!!

Here are our top five favorite recipes (all images are from the respective linked websites):


#5 Easy Crockpot Pulled Pork
We aren't BBQ fans so we just don't add the sauce. It is fantastic on it's own!!! SO GOOD.




#4 Easiest Slow Cooker Pork Chops
So delicious!! I try to mix it up from just chicken, and when we get bored I always make these. Our oldest (M) will actually eat these as well.




#3 Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos
My favorite thing to do with this chicken is to put it in a tortilla, spray the tortilla with some spray butter and then bake it in the oven with the cheese inside already for a few minutes. It makes the tortilla just a little bit crunchy which I love!!



#2 Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie Soup
Due to diet restrictions for my husband, we don't eat a lot of carbs or breads around here. So I made this soup and it's perfect. No extra bread or anything like that and it's delicious. It's like having just the filling of a chicken pot pie!




#1 Slow Cooker Everything Chicken
We use this chicken on sandwiches and wraps mostly. It is so good!! Super easy to throw together too.




Share your favorite crock pot recipes with me below!! I'd love to try some new things!!

School Supply Shopping On A Budget

Tis the season!! It's time to get those school supplies again. How did we get to the end of the summer already?!

As the mom/step-mom, I'm always the one that buys all three kids' school supplies in our house. Sometimes I have to ask for help because some years it gets a little ridiculous ($$$). This year, it turns out that it's not too bad, but let's be honest we are all on some sort of budget.

Here are my top tips for school supply shopping on a budget:

1. Shop early!
The early bird gets the worm. I started my school shopping a few weeks after the supplies were out, but about 6 weeks before school started. This means you get first pick of ALL supplies because no one else is shopping yet. When I went to Target, there was only one other Mom in the whole school supply section. Get out there, y'all!!!

2. Cartwheel!
I used the Target Cartwheel app this year to get some good deals also. I took advantage of a coupon they had where if you purchased $25 in supplies, you got a $5 gift card!

3. Check the ads! This seems like a no-brainer, I know, BUT you have to check the ads weekly. Some stores have better deals than others on different weeks. If you are seriously on a budget, you have to check the ads. I know it seems like a lot of work (ain't nobody got time for all of that!! at least I don't), but I was able to get Crayola crayons for 50% off at Dollar General recently by doing this. And when you have three kids to purchase for, these savings really add up!!

4. Dollar stores aren't always best.
This goes along with the above - the dollar stores don't always have the best deals! Some products are a steal for a dollar, but I actually had more success shopping at Walmart or Target. I found the supplies there were normally way under a dollar (except for pencil pouches).

5. Make sure the school supply list is right. 
This is kind of joking, but also kind of true. I had my step-son's school supplies completely purchased... OR SO I THOUGHT!!! Until a teacher let me know via Facebook that we had the wrong list. Well, that was the list they sent with the registration information so I figured it was accurate but apparently not. Real life?!!!!

What is the best school supply shopping tip you have??

Snow Day

Yesterday, Cam's school had a snow day. I had heard that he would be having school so I picked him up yesterday evening after work. I couldn't get a hold of his dad or grandma, so I had to stay home with him. It was probably for the best though, I think we both needed a day of rest.

We did puzzles.

 

We were silly.

We watched shows and movies (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and several Veggie Tales shows).

We even got a little crafty and I made this Cardinal for him. (Earlier in the week, M made a duck but Cam decided he wanted a Cardinal when he saw her bird.)

It was a good day. I always enjoy spending time with him, but also I really did need to work. It's such a struggle being a working mom. I was ahead on my bills and due to the snow now I probably won't be. I also feel guilty when I have to call in. I just have to step back and be thankful for the time we got together today and that maybe we both just needed it. We don't get many days together like this anymore.