So then, what to write about? Well, for me it broke down like this:
1. Red = Love
2. Love is Amore
3. “When the moon hits your eye, like a big-a pizza pie, that’s amore…”

Quite obviously, I had to talk about pizza. Last week, I ordered a large pizza from a national chain, and after the tip, it cost me $24.00. A pizza costs the delivery chain roughly five dollars to make, so paying nearly five times that amount is ridiculous.

With that in mind, I am starting a “stop ordering pizza” campaign. Here is a recipe for pizza sauce that can be made ahead of time and refrigerated several days. Buy a premade pizza crust, whatever veggies and meats your family likes, and turn your kitchen into a pizzeria.

Quick Tip: I usually double the recipe, and use the extra to make mini pizza-dillas, or add some chopped veggies and put it over whole-wheat pasta later in the week for a really easy meal.

Once you have made the sauce, lay out your premade pizza crust on a cookie sheet or piece of foil, and top it however you would like. Here is how I like mine:

You can make your own crust, but with so many great premade options it’s not worth the extra work. Pick out your favorite style of crust and toppings. Get the kids to help you make it, then eat it in front of a movie with your family and I promise it will be delicious.

As always,
Stay hungry my friends.

photo istockphoto.com

Pack a picnic and head to a park or botanic garden. Be sure to stock a bag with balls, frisbees, books and anything else to keep the kiddos entertained. If your youngsters are older, pack some binoculars and/or a magnifying glass so they can watch nature … the birds, the detail of ladybugs, the patterns in a leaf.

Plan a movie night. Rent a $1 flick from Redbox or use the mail-order convenience of NetFlix. Then plan a fun meal to enjoy during the movie. It has become a tradition in our house to make homemade pizza once a week, and it pairs wonderfully with a good flick. Purchase a pre-made crust or make your own—it’s a cinch to make pizza crust from scratch, and it beats store-bought hands down—and then allow each family member the chance to assemble their own creation. Let everyone sample each pizza concoction and then snuggle in for the show.

Organize a game night. Like #2, plan a game night that brings the whole family into the living room. Solicit the kids’ input and ask them for their ideas regarding games to play. Plan a fun menu consisting of easy-to-prepare finger foods so the kiddos can assist in the kitchen before the games begin.

Become a member of your local zoo or children’s museum. Though the initial price of a family membership will be more than $10, we use our zoo and museum memberships so frequently that it averages out to mere dollars (sometimes even cents) per visit. Plus, many zoos and children’s museums will allow you to pack a picnic lunch, so you don’t have to fork over more money for food or drinks.

Organize a neighborhood block party. Neighborhood block parties may be fond memories of your childhood, but they needn’t be relegated to history. A block party will not only foster a sense of community and allow neighboring families the chance to get to know one another, but they’ll give your family the chance to show hospitality to others while getting you all outside together.

Go camping, hiking or biking. Head into the great outdoors and pitch a tent. Camping sites can often be had for dollars a day. If staying overnight in nature’s hotel isn’t your idea of a good time, check online for resources listing local trails and get the whole family outside for a bike ride or hike.

Plant a garden or small container garden. Coaxing herbs, vegetables and flowers out of the dirt is a rewarding endeavor that you and your children can enjoy immensely. Little tykes can help dig holes, plant and water, while older children can take full responsibility for plants of their own. Gardening teaches little ones to respect the miracle and beauty of nature, and provides a sense of personal satisfaction when they see the fruits of their labor. Start with one container and one plant to keep the initial cost under $10.

Visit a Pick-Your-Own farm. Some of my fondest memories are those times in my grandmother’s garden when I picked warm strawberries and ate them right off the plant. Now you can give your family similar experiences with a visit to a Pick-Your-Own farm (also called U-Pick or PYO farms). Crops vary based on the season and your location, but the experience will be rich no matter the bounty you bring home. Visit www.pickyourown.org to find local farms near you.

Fly a kite. Need I say more? It’s such a simple activity, but it brings my two-year-old immense joy. I myself still have memories of kite-flying times when my dad would let the string out so far the kite was only a tiny speck in the vast sky.

Engineer a scavenger hunt. This one takes some foresight and planning, but older kids will love it! Plant clues around your home and backyard or in a public place that will allow the game. Divide your family into competing teams (if numbers allow) or have everyone collaborate together. Assist the kiddos as needed in solving the clues and then have a fun treat waiting at the end as a reward.

My mother grew up on a working farm in a little Kansas town. Several times a year, our family would return to the farm for holidays, family reunions or weekend get-togethers. As a kid, I loved it; as a teenager, I tolerated it; and as an adult, I’ve come full circle. I now relish our return trips … the chance to get outside and experience a bit of a simpler existence while passing the experiences onto my son. As I reflect on those years when I was younger, some of my sweetest memories include my grandmother’s garden. I still recall days in her garden, helping pick strawberries and the sweet treat of popping the ripe fruit, still warm from the sun, into my mouth.

My grandmother grew an abundance of flowers with heady perfumes, as well as fruits and vegetables. Nurturing seedlings as they grew into thriving plants was a passion of hers, and throughout the past couple years, it’s also become a love of mine (despite my tiny city yard). I love the chance to get outside, to get my hands in the dirt and tangibly connect with nature, and I especially love getting my two-year-old in on the action. Involving kids in gardening—no matter their age—is a great way to instill in them a love and respect for nature and a passion for the cultivation of living things. And no matter your space—a large garden plot or a small window box in the urban jungle—you can involve your children in planting something. So as spring heralds the planting season, follow these tips and let your kiddos dig in the dirt.

Relax! A garden tended to with help from kiddos will not be perfect, so don’t set unrealistic expectations. So what if your toddler dumps an entire watering can on one poor plant and drowns it. It’s the experience of the entire process that matters, not a picture-perfect garden.

Force plants indoors from seed. Allowing little ones to drop seed into a peat pot and watch as the seedling pokes through the soil will reap smiles and a sense of satisfaction for your child. You can then assist your child in transplanting the seedling outside.

Give kids their own plants. If your children are old enough, allow them to be responsible for a few plants. I potted several begonias for my two-year-old last summer, and they were all his to tend. He loved knowing they were his to water. And though he often drowned the poor things, he couldn’t kill them if he tried!

Choose plants that germinate quickly. Because tots can get impatient waiting for seedlings to sprout, plant quick-germinating plants. According to Martha Stewart, lettuce, radishes, tomatoes, calendula, marigolds, sunflowers and zinnias all germinate quickly.

Give kiddos their own tools. A pint-sized spade, rake and watering can will allow the little ones to fully take part in the gardening action and will further their sense of ownership.

Avoid chemicals. You want your little ones to be able to freely enjoy the garden. Use organic methods for their safety and your peace of mind. Check www.organicgardening.com for resources and information.

Let them pick! Once flowers bloom and vegetables and fruits produce a crop, let the kids get out and enjoy the fruits of their labor. Cutting flowers for fresh arrangements indoors and eating a fruit or veggie straight off the plant are rewards that can only be had in a garden.

photos istockphoto

We live in a multi-tasking world. It is impossible for us to do one thing at a time. Why accomplish only one thing, when we could tackle two or three things at once? I frequently find myself typing on my BlackBerry, listening to music, stirring a pot, pouring milk, averting disaster and conquering the world all at the same time. We drive while chatting on the phone, scanning the radio, handing snacks to our kids in the backseat, and yelling at the moron ahead of us on the highway. It’s a miracle we can fall asleep at night. If we could find a way to simultaneously sleep and send email, potty train our toddler, walk our dog and cure cancer, we would.

With my lofty goals and New Year’s resolutions already lying in tatters behind me, my newfound goal for the year is to embrace uni-tasking; to take a breath and take the time to be fully present in a moment, at least occasionally. I have no illusions about doing this constantly. I mean, please, let’s be realistic. If I can’t fold laundry and check my email while watching Yo Gabba Gabba with my son, when would anything get done?

Now I know none of us need another item on our "to do" list, so let’s find the built-in moments to breathe. Here are just a few of my ideas on how to uni-task this summer. Let me know what other ideas you have!

• - Take a breath and just wait while your coffee brews or your water boils.
• - Enjoy the free moment to sit and wait while your computer boots up.
• - Have breakfast or dinner with your kids and just talk with them.
• - Calmly wait in line at the grocery store, without counting the number of items in the person’s basket in front of you.
• - Catch up with your spouse at the end of the day – no TV, no phone, no email, no BlackBerry.
  – Do part of your next workout without your book, magazine or headphones.
• - Once a week, just eat lunch without doing anything else. Really enjoy it, without checking Facebook, paying bills, or making a grocery list.

photo istockphoto.com

New beginnings are one of my favorite things! For me, there seems to be something magical about the concept of a clean slate, as if the fresh start gives me the freedom to be creative in my new endeavors. I know that I am not alone in my affinity for do-overs. Especially this time of year, I hear people talking about resolutions and goals with the hope that their plan for change shifts their life in a new direction. The wonderful thing about these opportunities is that they have the capacity to have a positive impact on every area of our lives, and these are also the moments that grant us mercy when we have allowed areas of our lives to unravel or become unhealthy.

For me, one of the best ways for me to feel like I have a clean slate is create a clean home. Studies actually show that removing clutter from our environment can reveal anxiety and reduce tension in our bodies. As we wrap up our time with Laura Noles, I thought it would be great to see how she tackles the task of cleaning, and hopefully be inspired to take on the dust bunnies in our own homes!

• Set the tone in your home by declaring January cleanout month. If you have friends who are making the same declaration, pick moments throughout the month to celebrate the small victories along the way, like a clean shelf or closet.

• Start by picking a spot that’s been bugging you, and make that your first project.

• Make it fun!! Put on your favorite soft clothes, dance around to some great music, make a pot of your favorite coffee, or grab diet coke with lime…whatever it takes to add that extra smile!

• If you have a hard time starting, try the Mount Vernon approach. Martha Washington would choose a corner of the house and would clean every drawer or shelf spanning from that point.

• Remember: trash bags are your friends! Don’t be afraid to toss.

• Donate items you can’t bear to throw away. Have a box in your trunk and load these items straight into your car; don’t make another pile in your home.

• Get the kids involved! When cleaning out the sock drawer, let your kids can make puppets from worn socks. Draw eyes and a mouth on an old sock and tell your kiddo that this kind of puppet eats dust and is starving. They can then dust the house while you clean.

• Plan easy meals on cleaning days. Celebrate by eating out if you can.

• Celebrate the victories, whether big or small. Be thrilled with what did get done and don’t fixate on how much there is left to do.

What are some of the fun and effective ways you tackle cleaning?

photo marthastewart.com

1.  Keep calm and carry on.  In the midst of staring at the pile of clean, folded laundry for two weeks (yes, you read that correctly) and by choosing to ignore it and instead engage in holiday memory-making, I resolve to keep that same spirit throughout the rest of the year.  All the items in the household WILL get cleaned up at some point.  So, I will take a deep breath, let the junk be, and go spend some quality time with the ones I love.  After all, they love me more than the mismatched socks.

2.  Just paint it.  While my dream counters will have to wait a few years due to an unexpected tonsil and adenoid/dental surgery on our four-year-old, I realized I could still achieve at least part of the look I am after by going ahead and painting the cabinets.  This summer, I tested the perfect gray paint color on the island, so there are really no more excuses awaiting me.  I hate hearing the professional design folks tell you that paint is the cheapest and highest-impact thing you can do to a room.  But, it really is.

3.  Backyard oasis.  My family loves to be outdoors.  The only problem?  We have the world’s smallest backyard.  With neighbors so close you can touch.  Not ideal.  However, I resolve this year to be grateful for the few blades of grass I have, the fotinas that have grown high enough to fully cover our back fence and give us privacy, and the new firepit that my brother-in-law and his beautiful wife snagged for us at 4am on Black Friday.

4.  Haven.  I think my hubby has waited long enough.  I have yet to finish "decorating" our bedroom.  Now, I have the bedding settled, but I am still uncertain about the wall color.  I have lost sleep over it.  Do I go dark and romantic, or light and relaxing?  I resolve to decide on a paint color and finally finish the room–on a very tight budget (like only a bucket of paint), due to the surgery aforementioned.

5.  Take it from seldom to often.  I have found fewer things more pleasurable than taking a half hour to cuddle up on the loveseat in our formal living room and read a good book.  This room was virtually non-existent in our lives until I took up this hobby.  I resolve to take a good look at the seldom-used places around my abode and see what other purposes they could fulfill in our family. 

Do you have any decorating resolutions?  Leave a comment to enter our awesome giveaway!  Details below.

photos Domino, Molly Fey, Robert Hursthouse, Woodson and Rummerfield, Sarah Richardson

Today, I ran into one of my students and her mom. After we exchanged the traditional pleasantries, I asked my student if she was ready to return to school, to which her mom quickly replied with an adamant “YES!” Even though vacations from school are absolutely wonderful, having the break in the normal routine can sometimes present a challenge when trying to occupy your youngsters.

When talking with Laura Noles about fun activities she has done with her kiddos, one of most fun ideas was having a traditional snowball fight. Since Texas weather very rarely provides the necessary supplies for a snowball fight, Laura suggests utilizing a substitute for snow…marshmallows! Most grocery stores carry the large roasting marshmallows, and these sweet treats can double as perfect little snowballs! Everyone gets their own bag of ammo, and the fun can last without any fear of melting or bruising.

Making your own pinecone bird feeder is another great option for a hands-on activity safe for any age.

What you’ll need:

• Pine cone

• Paper plate

• Butter knife

• Smooth peanut butter

• Birdseed

• Ribbon or yarn

• Scissors

How to make it:

1. Cut a long length of yarn or ribbon to hang the bird feeder.

2. Tie the ribbon in a knot around the pine cone near the top (about 3 sections down).

3. Tie a knot in the end of the ribbon.

4. Use the knife to get a large clump of peanut butter on the paper plate.

5. Use the knife to spread peanut butter inside the pine cone and around the edges.

6. Sprinkle the birdseed over the pine cone.

7. Roll the pine cone in the birdseed that is on the plate.

8. Hang the bird feeder on the tree.

9. Enjoy watching the birds eat their treat!

What are a few of the fun ways you are filling the last few days of Christmas vacation?  Don’t forget — our contest starts today!!

photo boysalmanac.com, makeandtakes.com

I am one of those people who rarely makes resolutions for New Year’s. I know myself too well. I always vow to work out more consistently, eat better, write thank you notes on time, practice patience, et cetera, et cetera. And by the last week of January, I am beating myself up about not doing whatever I had on my list. I have recently started to do something in the past few weeks as a favor to myself. My resolution is to learn how to say “no” more often to things that are not necessary.

While that seems like a possibly rude resolution, let me explain.

My family started off 2010 with a lot of bad news (several deaths in the family, a close friend killed in a car accident and another diagnosed with cancer). Then we had to deal with financial stress from having a house on the market for months and months. By the end of the year, I was so stressed out because I was over-scheduled from too many commitments, from work to church to friends. My revelation was that I can say no and it will not be the end of the world. Committees will still run, lists will eventually be completed and patients can be rescheduled.

And by saying no to the outside stuff, I am saying “yes” to these things: growing my faith, family and relationships with true friends. I have already scheduled myself off for three little staycations and vacations with my family in the first half of the month. I plan to Skype more and have more coffee dates and text less. I also want to be less concerned with being put-together and more concerned with being real.

What about you? Have you learned to say no? What has that allowed you to do?

photo istockphoto.com