Thursday, September 26, 2013

chalkboard menu and my last co-host at Kids in the Kitchen

don't blink.
it's here. 
the trickortreathappyturkeydaymerrymerryhappyholiday season is here!

the time when everything runs together and 
the "i can't believe it's _______!" time.

the time for pumpkins and fall leaves and trick or treaters and turkeys and lit up trees and winter colds.

the time when bloggers are scrambling to post as many posts as they can to celebrate the holidays cuz you know, 
makers gotta make and bakers gotta bake.

but while all this is going on, 
the time that you don't wanna deal with is dinner time.

more specifically, the 
"what's for dinner?" time.
at least for me.

ugh. those dreaded words kill me every time.
i am just not a fan of cooking, so dinner is not exactly one of my favorite things to think about when it's me who has to do the cooking.

and with the holidays coming up lickety split time, 
i ain't got time for that dinner idea.

but we gotta eat right? so whatsa girl to do?
how about making this:
i almost passed this up, thinking why do i need another something? 
but when i got my idea, i was glad i didn't pass it up.

i dug around my craft stash and got these out:
then i got to work and eyeballed the next step.
i was gonna write directly on the board til i saw these labels and decided to use them instead.
i know my cardboard is small but it's all i had at the time so i went for it. it just makes the labels a little sturdier. 

oh, don't leave that "subject to change" line out.
it'll be much less stress on you. hehe
i hot glued the clothespins directly on the washi tape.
these were also in my craft sash from marshall's.
i know, i know, i have a HUGE craft stash! :>P
i also found a small canvas drawstring bag that came in handy. i wrote on it with sharpie and:


so there ya go.
i switch the labels here and there and change them if i plan on something else like fish or a special dish. 

using general options makes it a heckuva lot less stressful for me. cuz if pasta is the dish of the day, i can make spaghetti, fettuccine alfredo, lasagna, or whatever falls in the pasta category. 
and if it's pork, it can be pork chops, pork roast, sweet and sour pork, etc etc.
i think you get the picture right?

cuz, to be honest, i tried a specific dinner menu before and hardly ever stuck to it. our schedule was too busy, i was too lazy or tired to make it, i forgot to buy the ingredients for it, or we just plain were't in the mood for it. and oh yeah, it was another hassle erasing and changing it. so i am trying this way and so far it's working out pretty well. i just move the labels around so there's not so much erasing going on. but it's also a surprise to everyone to see what kinda beef or chicken dish i will make. 
my favorite option is still the "no clue???" one. 
come to think of it, i shoulda made all the labels that way!

anywho, before i go, there is ONE more link party that i am co-hosting for this month, so PLEASE link up and finish this wonderful opportunity with a HUUUUUGE bang!

Did you have fun in the “kitchen” this week? Did you try a new food or a new kid friendly restaurant? Did your littlest ones use their snacks to count to 10? We invite you to share your experiences, photos, stories or recipes that include your #kidsinthekitchen. 

This September, come join me and my co-hosts, Melinda at Look What Mom FoundPaula at Frosted Fingers and Sara at Sensibly Sara each week linking up a post, new or old, that feature the theme Kids in the Kitchen. It doesn’t matter what you are doing as long as you are doing it together, enjoying it and learning something along the way.

Don’t have a blog? Share an instagram photo or Facebook update. We just want to see what you are up to each week.

THANK YOU EVER SO MUCH!!!

#KidsintheKitchen Weekly Linky

27 comments:

  1. Of course I love this! And by the time I got 3/4 down and read your comment, I was thinking that my board would have ALL "no clue" tags too! I agree with you, who wants to give up crafting for day-to-day cooking? Not me!
    I also think if we combined our "stashes" we could open our own warehouse - but naw, I don't wanna give my stuff up and neither do you!
    Thanks for the cute link party!

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    1. and of course i love when you come by J! but you're right-i don't love giving up my craft stash which i guess is why it's a stash in the first place! :>P i vote "no clue" dinners all the way and have someone else take over! heehee thanks again and again!

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  2. Colossal! Stupenous! Brilliant! Fabulous! Fantastic! Super-duper! Chalky! Smart! Typically YOU! Wonderful! Cute! Useful! Easy! (and Peasy!) Colorful! Fun! Well done! OK...that's it. You have done it again, girl!! I LOVE IT! Your BBFF, Dona

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    1. Sweet! Nice! Thoughtful! Awesome! Funny! Heart warming! Clever! Terrific! Smile worthy! Worth the wait! yup. that's YOU when you come and visit me, as i ALWAYS look forward to your comments. keep 'em coming girl! you have done it again (make me smile, that is, my BBFF) thank you ever ever soooo much Dona! :>D

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  3. This is such a great idea! With the wasabi tape! Great job!

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    1. oh thank you Amberly! i figure i better start using some more of my craft stash. it is totally outta hand and the holidays are coming which means i will probably get more! YIKES i'm outta control! heehee :>O

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  4. What a fun way to plan dinner, however, I'm just like you - don't really like to cook - not much fun in slicing and dicing! , so I could really use the no clue one!!

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    1. i actually look forward to the "no clue" ones Kim, as i hope my hubby takes it as dinner reservations! LOL :)

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    2. oh goodness i must thank you SOOO much for linking up your awesomely cool cauldrons too! they're like the most perfect cauldrons ever-they'd make any witch cook 24/7! :)

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  5. The chalkboard was a great find! Love the menu board ... I'd be swapping days back and forth ... I'm the cook, so I should be allowed to change my mind ;) Thank you for hosting such a fun party!

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    1. you are SO right Brenda! i have switched them back and forth a few times already-great minds think alike! :) but like you, i would rather put sweet stuff on it everyday! now THAT i wouldn't mind a bit! :>D

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    2. your pb bats can come live in my belfry any day, not that i have one but i'll build one just for them! heehee thanks for the link up!

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  6. I LOVE your chalkboard! I would just love to stare at it if it was hanging in my house:) It's a work of art!

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    1. oh my goodness Sue! i have a huge grin on my face after i read your comment! :>D i might just have to print it out and stare at it all day! and you linked up too!?! thank you thank you thank you!!!!!

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    2. blimey those ARE perfect pirate patch pretties for a pirate party! :>D

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  7. First, that chalkboard is SUPER cute. Second, I think the way you have this menu set up and how you decorated it, is by far the cutest chalkboard menu I have seen so far. You did a fabulous job on it and I love your handwriting. I need to do something like this instead of writing it on boring ol' paper. Thanks for sharing how you made it.

    I’d love it if you linked this up over at Living Well Spending Less for Thrifty Thursday this week! http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/category/thrifty-thursday/

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    1. holy schmoly thank you Ruth!!! i've seen a lot of chalkboard menus myself too and i always wondered, do they really stick to that menu? it;s waay too hard for me! LOL anywho, i linked up to your awesome blog and can't wait to have myself a look around :)

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  8. This is super cute! I need one because "What's for dinner?" gets asked about 15 times a day at my house! I love your little illustrations!
    Krista @ Far From Normal

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    1. oh thank you Krista! those 3 words put together give me hives! HAHA at least if you make these it narrows down your options and makes it easier to think what exactly you're gonna cook. well, at least for me and i need all the help i can get! LOL

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  9. Oh, Love your menu board Lisa! Hope your having a good week! thanks for sharing at the party @dearcreatives hope to see you again soon! Theresa ;)

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    1. thank you thank you Theresa! i love that i can share it at your party! :)

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  10. Thanks for the party!! Have a great weekend. Linda

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    1. hooray you linked up a bunch! thank you Linda thank you! gonna go check them out now. :)

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  11. Your chalkboard menu turned out really cute! Love it!

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    1. and your comment made me smile Ritchil! thank YOU! :>D

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here's wishing for a stuffed comment box... :>D