Atlanta's Frugal Mom

Explaining death to young children is never a particularly desirable subject, I find, as we wish to preserve their innocence and shield them from anything that may burst their fragile bubble, believing all is always well in their world.  However, death is inevitable.  Some folks lose loved ones later in life, while others experience death of a loved one at a tender, young age.  Following is my story, explaining death to my five-year-old daughter, Carol. My grandmother was fortunate enough to raise her five children, not only to see all eight of her grandchildren grow up, but also see her eight great-grandchildren, AND meet three great-great-grandchildren.  She lived for almost 18 years after my grandaddy passed away, and was the last of her twelve siblings to survive.  She lived through the great depression, and lost her own mother at a very young age.  She was, in every sense of the word, a good Southern woman.  She had the greenest thumb I’ve ever seen, able to revive even the l...

Do you really need reasons to read with your child???  Parents are told constantly to read to their children, or with their children – but perhaps having a little further explanation would help you understand WHY reading with your children is as essential as brushing your teeth twice a day.  This list is from the Georgia Preschool Association Newsletter. Reasons to Read with Your Child Build a lifelong interest in reading.  “Getting children actively involved in the process of reading and having them interact with adults is key in a lifelong interest in reading,” said BeAnn Younker, principal at Battle Ground Middle School in Indiana. Children whose parents read to them tend to become better readers and perform better in school , according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Reading to children helps them with language and speech development . Reading expands vocabulary and teachers pronunciation . Reading to toddlers prepares them for school , when th...

Atlanta.  A’lan-a.  The A-T-L.  “Hot-lanta” even…  If you’ve spent any significant amount of time in my fair city, you’ve heard it all.  And then some.  But what makes Atlantans stand out?  What makes us who we are?  Here’s my interpretation.  You can probably relate, whether you’re a true native, or a transplant – if you’ve spent time in Atlanta, you can relate to these. Signs You’re From Atlanta That second “t” is silent.  The city is called “Aht/lan/nna”.  Period.  Ok, depending on how far back you can trace your roots, you may also omit the first “t”. Speaking of pronunciation, it’s called “Co-Cola”.  And it umbrellas every brown carbonated beverage known to man.  But drinking anything else is sacrilegious ’round here.  That pesky “P” word may as well be a 4-letter-word… At least once, you’ve smugly told an out-of-towner to just follow 285, ...

In case anyone is wondering why schools in the South close down at the mere mention of snow, take today in Atlanta as an example. Students and faculty are spending the night in a handful schools across the metro area, emergency shelters are opening up to provide stranded motorists a place to stay after spending HOURS in standstill traffic (usually because they ran out of gas!), GADOT reports over 940 accidents today, folks are opening up their homes to others in need across the metro area: the city basically shut down . Why?

Vitamix. Chicken. Tortilla. Soup. Recipe.  Well, first, I have to brag.  My husband is -without a doubt- the luckiest sunnuvagun I know.  He was perusing through Goodwill a while ago, and found a variable speed Vitamix blender for just under nine bucks.  Yep.  A true-to-life Vitamix.  For nine bucks!! We immediately put it to use, playing around with different fruit and veggie combos.  And then we stumbled upon this recipe for Tortilla Soup.  The rest -as they say- is history.  I’ve been making -and thoroughly enjoying!- my mom’s chicken tortilla soup recipe for a few years, even though I know it’s more “comfort” than “healthy.” To be honest, when we first made this soup, I was skeptical.  But once it was made, I was hooked!  And my recipe for the baked tortilla strips compliment it nicely, too! “Vitamix Chicken Tortilla Soup” This is based heavily on  The Blender Lady’s  recipe for Tortilla Soup, but I had to tweak to make i...

Ok, just putting the words “chicken” and “tortilla” together make me salivate.  So, when I had the opportunity to create two different versions of chicken tortilla soup , it was like sensory overload, y’all! First, I wanted to share the recipe my mom has been making for a few years.  I’m not going to lie, it’s not the healthiest recipe, but OH-MY-GOODNESS!  Is it ever so delicious!  Talk about “comfort food” – this one is packed with “comforting” goodness in every bite! When you’re done with this one, check out my Vitamix recipe for chicken tortilla soup , too! “My Mom’s Chicken Tortilla Soup”

It’s been almost two and a half years since I potty trained my daughter in four days at 26 months.  Once we finished those four days, she never ever looked back!  With that total success, and with my son (22 mo) on the brink of being ready, I’ve devised and revised some of my favorite potty training tips for other parents. Here’s what I consider potty training essentials  and/or what I’d recommend when undergoing the process: Foam hand soap – it just makes hand washing more fun, and makes hand-washing easier.  You can always check for coupons to print before you head to purchase!  😉 Keep towels for drying hands on counter in reach , if your towel holder is too high; I still keep hand towels on the counter for my now 4.5 year old daughter. Potty seats for the big potty, as well as little portable potty chairs , because you never know what might interest him most!  When you’re on the go , consider a foldable potty seat. Step stools — for the ...