What To Expect The First Year Of An Interracial Marriage

I don’t think I ever could have anticipated all of the things that came out of my first year of my interracial marriage. I was so focused on getting through the wedding week itself, that I didn’t truly think through what was coming after.My husband and I were blessed and able to travel to the Bahamas for our honeymoon. The whole week was just a reprieve from the wedding. If you have planned a wedding you know just how crazy it is. There is so much that goes into a wedding that afterward your brain is literally fried. Thankfully I was crazy Young and my mother-in-law helped with more than I ever could’ve asked for during the wedding. In fact, I think she needed the biggest break of all afterward!Once we got back from the honeymoon, we were greeted with a house full of wedding gifts. We had just moved into our little apartment and for the very first time start living together. We were trying to figure out how to blend both of our tastes into one little apartment. Well, let’s be honest… We were trying to figure out how to afford anything to fit into our tiny little apartment!Everyone says the first year of marriage is hard. It’s no secret; they have movies about it, songs about it, and so much more. We get it. Marriage is tough work.Add in two completely different cultures, and you have a whole bunch of chaos on your hands.What can you expect your first year in an interracial marriage?Culture clash Dash I thought I did so much research before I got married. I wanted to learn everything there was about Indian culture. I asked my in-laws, my new family members, and my husband. Not to mention watch as many Bollywood movies I could fit into my day! However, nothing can truly prepare you for diving into another culture. There are so many moments throughout my first year of marriage that I collided with Indian culture and realized I had no clue what I was doing.

[Check out these culture clash stories!]

The best thing you can do to prepare for this is realizing from the get-go you don’t know what you’re doing. You can plan and research The hell out of it, but at the end of the day, you (in the words of my six-year-old son) are a noob.Don’t put the pressure on yourself to know it all because you never well. Let yourself make mistakes and remember it’s OK. The best thing you can do is to have grace for your spouse and for your spouse let yourself make mistakes and remember it’s OK. The best thing you can do is to have grace for your spouse and for your spouse to have grace for you in the situations. Always talk them through even if it’s uncomfortable.

Expectations of my interracial marriage:

I never realized just how different expectations can be in relationships. I just assumed they would be the same. Now, you’re probably laughing at me realizing just how crazy that is. They even go over this in pre-marriage counseling. Apparently I was distracted that day.Whether you and your spouse are from different cultures or simply different families, there will be different expectations. Whether it’s who cooks the meals, who takes out the trash, how to make the bed, or where someone’s freaking dirty socks go… Everyone has learned a different expectation, and getting married means you have to relearn expectations of each other.You can’t simply expect that someone is going to adopt your expectations because you’re To something. If that was the case, my husband would already love casseroles, drink iced coffee every day, put his dirty socks in the hamper, and do whatever I say. None of those things have happened. If that was the case, my husband would already love casseroles, drink iced coffee every day, put his dirty socks in the hamper, and do whatever I say. None of those things have happened in our ten years of marriage.

Family dynamic:

Everyone has a different family dynamic. I grew up with a single mom and then a mother and father once my mom got remarried. My husband grew up with parents who had had an arranged marriage. Needless to say, we grew up in extremely different families.Luckily for us, both of our families are incredibly close. This helped us a lot when we first got together because we were used to families who are very involved in our lives. This is not always the case in an interracial marriage.You may be used to a distant family like yours, and then marry into a family that comes over all the time. This could be extremely overwhelming when you’re still trying to figure out what your marriage is going to look like. Or you could be on the other end of the spectrum. You could’ve grown up with extremely close family and marry into a family that gives each other a lot of space.As you walk into this new family, you have to figure out how you best fit within their dynamic. You need to be aware of their cultural expectations and figure out what you were comfortable with. This took me years to figure out and same with my husband. It takes a lot of balancing in communication with your new family.

Becoming overwhelmed:

I don’t know about you, but change is not always easy for me. Sometimes it takes me a quick minute to get used to so many things in my life. The first year of an interracial marriage can be tricky. You may be moving overseas, you may be moving in with your in-laws, or you may just be experiencing all the new things that come with your first year of marriage. Either way that’s a whole lot of new things.You may even have times where your inner child comes out, and you want to go to your parents for dinner just to feel comfortable for a minute. That’s OK. It takes time to establish new routines and a new dynamic. You didn’t just get married; you created a brand new family with your spouse. That takes time to become comfortable.

Communication:

Did you grow up in a family of yeller‘s? Or did you grow up in a family full of passive aggressive people? Being in a relationship means you have to work on your communication constantly! You may have started to figure this out while you were dating, but nothing ramps it up like getting married.I found out I grew up in a family full of passive aggressive yeller‘s. Something makes us mad and that parentheses king parentheses temper comes right out at me. The crazy person in me wants my husband to yell right back with me. He won’t! How rude is that?!He waits for me to be done like a sane person and then talks to me. I just don’t get it. Even ten years later, this still bugs me.As you work on your communication with your spouse, you will start to figure out how to talk through tough topics like cultural expectations, balance, family, and so many more things that come up throughout your marriage.How was your first year of marriage? Did you experience some of the same things that my husband and I experienced here? Or were things much different for you? Share your experiences in the comments or tag me on Instagram. I can’t wait to hear your story!

How To Get You Picky Eaters To EAT!

Have you ever sat at a restaurant and I heard a kid losing their minds because their parents are trying to get them to try something new? Have you been that parent with a screaming child trying to convince them just to have one bite?I always promised I would never allow myself to have picky eaters. I thought somehow I could convince my children to do whatever I said.Let’s take a minute and laugh at Kid free, naïve Brittany. She had no clue what was coming to her.Three kids later and I realized picky eaters happen to the best of us. My kids have always grown up with an array of food choices.Typically, my husband and I make quite a few international dishes. One night we will have spaghetti, and the next will have chicken curry. My husband and I love food, and we are always up for trying new things. However, we found ourselves making the kids milder version of those things to get them to eat it. Problem number one.Then we would look at ourselves baffle trying to figure out why they were eating the salad we made for dinner one night. We had created monsters. Picky eating little monsters.Now, our kids eat crazy things like marrow curry, devour tongue curry, and try just about anything.What the heck did we do? How did we take our three picky eaters and get them to experience culture through food? Let me share a few of our tips.

The one-bite rule:

Our kids are expected to try everything at least once. They may not like it, they may never want us to make it again, but they are expected to try at least one bite.One of the biggest reasons kids refuse to try new things is the fear of it. They have no idea what it’s going to taste like so they opt-out. You know we’ve all done it. We’ve all looked in something that looked wild and said quotations no thanks I’m good. QuotationsOur kids do the exact same thing. Help your kids to realize that one bite will not kill them. They will be pleasantly surprised a lot of the time and find new things that they absolutely love.

Lead by example:

Are you a picky eater yourself? I can guarantee if your kids watch you were picky eating antics, they will follow suit. Show your kids that you are willing to try everything, and they will be more adventurous as well.One thing my family and I do when we go out to dinner is always try something new. My husband is a big foodie, so he is always looking for the most exotic thing on the menu. Most of the time, we love it; however, we’ve had those unfortunate moments where we realize something is absolutely disgusting. Either way, it doesn’t matter because we’ve tried something new and it’s made a very fun memory with her kids.

Don’t avoid foods:

For the longest time, I avoided making my kids salad. I love salads, and my husband hates them. I always avoided making them for my family because I assumed they wouldn’t like it. Which means I create a family didn’t like salad.For the longest time, I avoided making my kids salad. I love salads, and my husband hates them. I always avoided making them for my family because I assumed they wouldn’t like it. Which means I create a family didn’t like salad.My aunts and I were making dinner one night and decided to make taco salad. It’s delicious, and they basically have the same thing in a burrito all the time. They were so upset when I told them we were having a salad for dinner. They couldn’t believe I would actually torture them like that. Then they saw their cousins eating it and decided to try.My youngest realized he absolutely loves salads. My other two are not obsessed like I am, but they eat it every time I make it for dinner.If you avoid foods because you think your kids may not like it, you’re only cementing that truth into reality.

Go on adventurous family outings:

The next time you and your family are going to go out for dinner, look for a cuisine you haven’t tried before. Maybe it’s Ethiopian. Maybe it’s Indian. Or maybe it’s Greek. Find something new and make it a family adventure.You may even find a new family favorite!

Start now:

Start your adventurous eating habits tonight for dinner! Try a new recipe that you’ve never tried before and tell your kids they better get ready for an adventure. Need an idea? Try out almond chicken curry.

Hyderabadi Upma Breakfast Recipe

There's something I need you to know about my son, Levi. He is completely obsessed with Indian food. If you have ever had a truly authentic Indian dish, you know why!It's absolutely freaking delicious.The problem I've always faced is that I hate Indian breakfast. I'm the sweet toothed girl that likes french toast every day of the week. Indian breakfasts tend to be on the savory end. My kids usually end up in the same boat as me.Not Levi.One morning, his nanama (grandma) made him upma. Think Indian grits and you have a good idea of what I'm talking about. This kid instantly became obsessed. We couldn't EVER talk about upma at home because he would freak out asking us to make it. The problem was that I had no clue how to make it or spell it to be honest...Over Labor day weekend, we ended up visiting my in-laws and something special happened the last day of our trip.Levi went up to his nanama (grandma) and his chinna-nanama (great aunt) and BEGGED them to teach mommy how to make it. After a lengthy contract... they agreed :)They wrote it all down for me and I was able to surprise him with a steaming bowl of Hyderabadi upma before school this morning.I saw the skepticism in his eyes the entire time I made it! He didn't believe I could make it as good as his nanamas and I agreed. I was terrified for him to take the first bite.. However, it was a raging success!!!!!!He devoured his bowl and asked for more!The only thing I would modify in the future is a bit less chilies. We're used to the spice, but we all agreed to do a bit milder next time.If you're looking for a yummy and quick breakfast this is it![amd-yrecipe-recipe:41]

Baby #4 Is On The Way!

Have you ever been sitting in your living room while your kids are bouncing from couch to couch screaming and fighting and thought to yourself hey… Let’s have one more kid!?

No? Just us?

Well that definitely happened for us and we decided let’s just add one more to the chaos. I guess life was getting a little too calm for us…

Now I’m sitting here a few months later over the hump of just about the worst morning sickness and all of the world thinking what the hell did I get myself into?

My kids are completely over the moon! They cannot wait for this new baby brother or sister to get here. They’re planning out all the things they’re going to do together and what their rooms will look like. I think we made their entire year with this new news.

My husband and I are just as excited as I was fourth time parent nerves kind of start to kick in.

On top of the counting down the days until I get a cuddle a squishy little baby, I’m sitting here trying to remember what the baby stage is like. I mean it’s been five years since our youngest was a baby. I know that doesn’t seem like long but in parenting years it’s like an entire lifetime away.

If you checked my Google search history you would see the wildest things already. How old do babies have to be to try solid foods? What is that weird poop thing that happens in the beginning with babies? How do you wipe a baby girl? How can I make sure I have a calm baby?

It’s like I forgot everything!

My friends swear up-and-down that it’s like riding a bike. Soon as that baby enters the world everything will come back to us.

I’m sure they’re right I mean we have done this three times already. That doesn’t mean it prevents me from Google searching anything crazy. I’m sure that will continue until this baby gets here… And if I’m really honest it’ll continue even after the baby is here. I love me some Google searches.

There’s one more thing with this whole fourth kid deal... i’ll never forget transitioning from 2 to 3 kids. The chaos was definitely adjustment but the hardest thing for me or simply the logistics. How do you grocery shop with three kids? How do you go anywhere with three kids? How can you squeeze three kids into a little car?

I swear I didn’t grocery shop alone for at least the first three months. Then I discovered the double carts at target and Costco. Not to mention an online grocery delivery that has literally saved my entire life.

I’ve talked to a few of my friends that have multiple kids and they tell me going from 3 to 4 is enough. You’ve already figured out the logistics of being out numbered so what’s one more?

I can do chaos. Heck I have three boys under the age of nine years old and we do chaos just fighting this house. What does it mean my neighbor so hear me screaming at my kids all the time… That’s a daily occurrence but hey they’re all still alive and so am I.

Now I’m trying to go through all the baby things that I have left over (which is hardly anything other than clothes because I swore to myself and my husband that I was done having kids after Lucas). I’m trying to look through the list of things we’ve actually used in the past versus things that were luxuries and stay in the box. You know what I’m talking about those things everyone swears you need as a parent but you don’t ever find useful in your own life.

As soon as I get an extra minute I’ll share a list of the things I actually think are useful when it comes to babies.

For now I said on my phone adding things to my Amazon registry and trying to figure out what this life with four kids will look like. Not to mention, if I have a girl my husband is in huge trouble. I have already skipped over so many little girl things that will of course be coming essentials for me if we have a boy it’ll be easy to buy new things. I’ve got the clothes, I’ve got the toys, and I just need to pick up a few essentials. If I have a girl, my very first girl in all of existence… Oh boy. This girl is in for it. Everything instantly becomes an essential and she will have stock and headbands, bows, leggings, dresses… I’m literally holding myself back from going on Amazon just to create a second Amazon registry for just in case it’s a girl.

Don’t get me wrong I’m going to be over the moon if we have a boy but I’ll probably lose my mind if I have a girl!

Moms and dads out there, what was it like for you adding a fourth baby? Did you survive? Are you still alive?

How To Keep Up With A Busy Family

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MilkMadeEasy #CollectiveBias

I always knew being a mom would be busy work; however, I don’t think I quite realize just how busy and chaotic it could become.I currently have three kids under the age of nine, now pregnant with baby number four, two dogs, have to juggle kids sports schedules, all while working at home. Let’s just say there are quite a few things crammed into my daily to do.Let’s be honest. This could make a mom go crazy. However, I have somehow found a way to juggle it all while staying sane.Do you wanna know my tips and tricks? Do you want to know the magic sauce behind how I can actually make all of these things feasible in one day?Well, let me take you through a few of the things that I’ve learned from moms and families around me.

Find people in your life that you can trust and get good advice from.

I don’t care what they told you, but being a mom does not mean you know everything right away. Take me, for example, I’m still googling things after my fourth pregnancy. This is exactly why it’s very important to me to fine moms another family that I can trust and look up to you. I have learned so much about being a good mom from watching moms around me.

Don’t over commit.

This is probably the hardest thing that I have battled throughout the years. I absolutely hate telling people now. My husband will tell you the same thing he’s always on my case to tell people now and stop feeling like I have to do everything in the world. Take a look at your schedule and your daily list of to do’s. Then go through that list and figure out what things you can take off. It might be letting your kids take the bus to school, so you get a little extra work done in the mornings. Or maybe it’s letting the kids by lunch from school, so you don’t have to make it each week. Maybe it’s Tuesday night book club for your kid. Honestly take a look and think through what is necessary for your family‘s life for the season.

Make a schedule.

Before you start stressing out take a deep breath I promise you can do this. You don’t have to be type A to create a schedule for your family. I love creating a family schedule on my phone to share with my husband. We add everything on there that applies to our whole family. This includes sports, family dinner, school events, doctors appointments, and date nights. It’s crucial for our big family to write everything down in one spot; otherwise we forget. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to football practice and realize I was snack mom for the week. Oops.Take time for yourself. As a work at home mom, I spent most of my days at the house. That can get pretty lonely and exactly why moms need to have a circle of friends that they can go and spend time with each week. Maybe it’s a Bible study with your neighbors, or a weekly friend date night, or a manicure once a week… Find something to do for yourself. Put it in your budget, so you’re not stressed about the finances and make it happen. You are worth it. Make time for yourself each week.

Make things simple.

Admit it you’re just like me and you have scrolled through Pinterest trying to find the most creative snacks, most elaborate dinners, and fancy homemade desserts. Then what happened next? Did you get overwhelmed with all of the steps it would require to make that elaborate dish and ended up ordering pizza? It’s OK, I’m here with you. I do the same thing and have many many times. Stop the cycle and make things simple! You need to find quick and easy snacks and dinners.I have done my best at making freezer meals lately. These are a lifesaver because all you have to do is prep your meals on the weekends and on a busy night, pull a meal out. Super easy and I promise you’ll thank me.Another thing is the snacks. I hate having to stop at a grocery store while out and about to buy snacks to make heads or go to take out just because they’re hungry. Nope, instead, I always have a little cooler in my car with snacks and drinks. One of my kid's favorites is Hershey's® chocolate milk! It comes in a 12 pack case which is perfect for our family! I don't have to worry about putting them in a kid's cup because they come in individual 8 ounce containers! Score!If you are a meal planner like me, you will love to know these have a killer shelf life and can stay in your pantry up to 13 months! All you have to do is pop it in the fridge to get it cold to drink when you're ready. We love them for quick snacks at football practice, in the kid's school lunches, or even a wild Sunday morning breakfast. Another perk is no straw! I don't know about you, but I hate when these little drinks come with a straw because we somehow lose them every time! Instead of a straw they have a screw cap! Let me tell you, the caps actually screw on tight after each drink! Ready to try them out? We get ours from Publix. All you need to do is check out your local Publix and pick up a few boxes of Hershey's® 2% Chocolate Shelf Stable Milk! Don't forget to take advantage of Publix's load to card offers! You must be logged in with your Publix ID to view thisHershey's® load to card special offer. They take out the hard work of coupons and let you add them to your phone using their app! Head over to the Publix site now to check out what deals they have!

Spicy Chicken Chili Kebabs

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Tyson Foods, Inc. The opinions and text are all mine. #TurnUpSummerClick below on the item you want to try out for yourself!

We made it! We got through the last few weeks of school craziness, the early school drop-offs, the never-ending homework, and now it's SUMMER! Instead of planning hundreds of things to keep us busy, I'm keeping it simple.The kids are outside as we speak, jumping on the trampoline with the sprinkler under it! Admit it, you've tried that one and had a blast!?As parents, we over complicate things. We want our kids to have a blast, so we find dozens of things a day to keep them entertained. I don't know about you, but we kept things simple as a kid, and I had amazing summers! I was just happy to spend more time with my friends, go swimming, and grill all summer long.I don't think we cooked inside at all during the summer. Everything we made was on the grill. Heck, if we could have made breakfast on the grill, I bet we would have! My mom loved it because it meant no mess in the kitchen, and the food always tasted better!That is exactly what I'm doing this summer!We're starting off our grilling adventures with Ball Park® Hot Dogs and Ball Park® Hot Dog Buns! It's a summer rite of passage! How many times have you sat down and enjoyed a grilled hot dog?! Exactly!Hot dogs are my favorite because they take minutes on the grill AND my kids are obsessive! They can all top them with whatever they want to and make them their own. Anyone with multiple kids knows how hard it is to find a meal all the kids like! Hot dogs are a win-win for everyone! You can top it with ketchup, mustard, relish, chili, jalapeños, or just about anything else!Ok, maybe not ANYTHING! My kids got a little adventurous today and started to see what would work. Let's just say ketchup is a big yes and peanut butter is a BIG FAT NO! Kids...If you're going to whip up some hot dogs for the family this summer, be sure to use Ball Park® Beef Franks. They are made with 100% beef. They understand that ingredients are important and don't try to hide anything crazy inside. Plus the Ball Park® Hot Dog Buns are America's favorite hot dog bun!While you're at Walmart picking up your hot dogs and buns, don't forget the Chinet^®​ Classic White™ dinner plates! Momma doesn't want to waste my summer cleaning up! I'd rather pick up these bad boys and have more time to spend with the whole family!Now, I'm curious. What does your grilling experience look like? When my husband and I are outside grilling, we have the music turned up and the kids are outside playing. I love that it becomes a family affair! Plus, I'm not sure how it happens every time, but somehow the music gets louder and louder every time! Music and grilling just go together like peanut butter and jelly.This is exactly why Tyson Foods, Inc. and Cole Swindell are partnering together for a sweepstakes! You have a chance to win a VIP concert experience with Cole Swindell! All you need to do is purchase any 3 participating products from Walmart, save your receipt and upload it online at turnupsummer.com! If you do online grocery pickup like me, you can still upload your receipt!​The fun doesn't stop there! You can head over to your local Walmart and enjoy one of their Turn Up Summer Walmart Parking Lot Events! There you will be able to try samples of the Ball Park® Hot Dogs and Tyson® Chicken served on Chinet^® Classic White™ plates, hear live music (at Saturday events), and have fun at the photo booth. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. The Walmart Summer Grilling Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. & D.C., at least the legal age of majority in the state/territory in which they reside at the time of entry. Sweepstakes begins 12:00 a.m. ET 5/14/19 and ends 11:59 p.m. ET on 7/22/19. For a list of participating products and Official Rules, visit www.turnupsummer.com where prohibited. Sponsor: Tyson Foods, Inc., 2200 W. Don Tyson Pkwy., Springdale, AR 72762. ​​If you're still looking for a way to take your grilling up a level, you can pick up a bag of the Tyson® Individually Frozen Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts and whip up Spicy Chili Chicken Kebabs! I even through in some paneer to wow the fam!Before I threw the hot dogs on the grill, I took a few minutes to make up a quick dry rub. This dry rub is great because it can go on any of your meat or paneer! It's quick, simple, and easy to make!The exotic flavors of the chili powder and garam masala take your grilling to a whole new level!Throw your kebabs on the grill a few minutes before your hot dogs and get ready to impress the entire family! Watch out, though... As soon as your neighbors smell what's cooking, they may try to join you![amd-yrecipe-recipe:40]

How to care for biracial skin in the summer

Are you raising biracial children? Are you looking for ways to take care of biracial skin this summer? If so, I am here to help!All three of my boys have different skin types. One of my sons has what's considered "normal skin" and my other two kids have eczema. Even amongst the two with eczema, they vary in severity. It makes it tricky to find out what works best for all of them.I have spent hundreds of dollars trying to find the best skin care products for my biracial kids. Below are a few things that have worked for all of them!

How To Care For Biracial Skin This Summer

Less is more (space out baths)

Having a son with eczema has taught me that less is more. I used to think I needed to give him a bath every day to help with his breakouts. Instead of helping, it was only making it worse.I went to our family doctor, and she told me that daily baths aren't the right move. During the summer, space out your kid's baths with soap.Chlorine in pools can be tough on kid's skin. When they're finished swimming, you can rinse them off and put lotion on right away instead of a bath.

Moisturize

Summer activities tend to dry out kid's skin very fast. Get in the routine of lathering them up with lotion every day. This can be after the pool and before bed or any other routine that works for your family.We've tried quite a few lotions for our kids. We use Eucerin every day for all three boys. It's great for all of their skin types and does a great job trapping in all of the moisture!We also have Cortizone Eczema for my oldest, who suffers from eczema. It does have a smallamount of steroids in it, so I try only to use it for breakouts. I'd rather not use steroids, but for anyone with a child who suffers from eczema knows, you do what you have to do.

Go natural where you can

In addition to all of the great lotions out there, you can also try natural remedies. If you're looking for a natural moisturizer, you can use coconut oil. I love using it because it makes my boys smell amazing!I love it because it's natural AND has antibacterial properties. Which means it's just as good for my kids with normal skin types as it is for my son with eczema! I love anything that works for all of them!

Sunscreen

One of the biggest misconceptions is biracial kids don't need sunscreen... Whether your kids have a darker complexion or not, they still need sunscreen. It protects them from harmful UV rays while they're outside playing all summer.You can grab a sunscreen stick for their face and either the spray or lotion for the rest of their body. I love using the spray because it's way faster. Not to mention, it's easier to corral three boys and spray them than to wipe them all down one by one!

Troubleshooting

If your child is still dealing with skin issues after trying all of these tips, here are a few troubleshooting options.

Oatmeal Bath

If my son's skin gets too aggravated, I will blend up oatmeal to a fine powder. Then we sprinkle it into his bath. It's very mellow and soothing for skin.

Avoid Scented Soaps

When dealing with skin issues, it's best to avoid scented anything, especially soaps. Try to use unscented or even Johnson and Johnson's baby soap.

Diet

Oftentimes, diet can also be a source is skin irritation. Take a look at what your child is eating, and you can attempt to eliminate things like dairy for 30 days and see if it helps. Dairy was a trigger for my son.

Consult Your Family Doctor

The most important thing to do if your child is having skin issues is to consult their doctor. They may recommend the same things as above, or they may provide a stronger lotion/ointment.How do you care for your biracial child's skin all summer?

Hacks To Save Money This Summer With The Kids

Well, guys, we did it. Another school year and another start to a new summer. The feelings are everywhere. Some of us are super excited to be done with early morning, and others of us are terrified trying to figure out how we’re gonna make it through the whole summer.I’m here to help. I’m still new to the summer break game as my kids are pretty young. However, I’ve learned a few things over the last few years that have made my summers way better. Today I’m gonna tell you a few hacks our family uses to save money during the summer and still have a blast doing it.I’ll give you one hint to start out with… Keep it simple. I think as parents, we tend to over complicate things. We think we have to make up these big extravagant plans for the whole family to keep them busy during the summer. The thing is they just wanna have fun. They don’t care if you spent hundreds of dollars on some big vacation or take a day trip to your local beach.Think through one big thing to do with the kids, A handful of medium-sized things, and a ton of free things. Then you can take some time to think through what you’re going to do and when you’ll do it.You can do this. You can make it through an entire summer and save money, earning extra cool points with your kids because they’ll have a blast, and  you will be stress-free… OK, maybe not be stress-free, but it’s more stress-free than you were last summer.

Get Water For The Kids

During the summer, this mama gets a little tired. I love to go out and grab an iced coffee on my way out to the park with the kids. The problem is everyone wants something as well. That could end up being about five bucks a kid. No thanks. Instead, I get the kids a grande water and have a little lemonade squeeze containers. All you need to do is put a couple squeezes into bigger water, and voilà, you have a minute. That right there saves me $15.Keep your freezer stocked: how many times do you have to hear from the kids, “I’m hungry. Can we stop for a snack?” Doesn’t matter if they just ate lunch or just snacking on tons of food, those kids are going to get hungry the second you leave the door. This is why I stock my freezer with sandwiches. On the way out the door at the kids just need to grab a sandwich on the go.About once or twice a week take an hour and whip up as many peanut butter and jelly or lunch meat and cheese sandwiches that you can. Put them each in a small sandwich baggie and pop it in the freezer. I like to keep mine on the top shelf of our freezer because my kids know right where to look for them.

Make a snack box

This one is very similar to freeze. Kids are constantly hungry and love to question you all day long on what they can have to eat. It ends up driving me completely bonkers. Instead of the guessing game, my kids know exactly what they could have for snacks each day.How do we do that?I have a box in my pantry full of snacks they can have. I even put one in my fridge. If my kids get hungry and want to snack, all they have to do is take a look in one of the snack boxes. You can have rules like two fridge snacks and one pantry snack a day or anything else that meets your fancy. I like to change things up every time I fill it up. My pantry snack box has things like crackers, granola bars, pre-popped popcorn, pretzels, or homemade trail mix. My fridge snack box has things like string cheese, applesauce, different kinds of fruit, and yogurt.

Meal plan

I know I know this one is always easier said than done. In fact, I am actually the worst of us. However, I will say every time I sit down and meal plan, I end up saving a ton of money. During the summer I even cheap By purchasing some pre-made meals like lasagna or pizzas. Another favorite of mine is to make two of every meal. When I make something for dinner, I’ll make enough for that night plus enough to freeze. I learned that from The blog fun cheap or free. Jordan page is fantastic at that, and I’ve been doing my best to do that on my own as well.Take your kids to the dollar movies: most towns have summer movies going on. They can range anywhere from 1 to 3 dollars and trust me they are worth it. Most of the movies are ones that have been out for a while, but the kids don’t care. They get to go out with their siblings and maybe even a few friends to see a movie in the theaters. Not to mention it’s a theater full of kids so nobody there expects them to be quiet. So I may have my oldest use it Siri wants to watch everything in the movie while my younger kids are talking to each other and giggling about the movie the whole time. Guess what… No one cares. Their kids are doing the exact same things.

Schedule play dates

Most of the time, your kids will be just as happy to go out somewhere crazy as they would be to have their friends over. You can have the kids over and put on a projector movie or take them to a local Splash Pad. Kids just like the change of routine, and they miss seeing their friends like they did in school all day. Ask your kids if you people that they want to see you during the summer and make it happen. You’ll gain extra cool points, and you even get some adult time with the mamas. Then you can talk about how your kids are driving you crazy over some coffee or sangria.

What are your summer money saving hacks?

You Know You're Biracial When...

As a mother of three biracial boys, I know they're going to experience some unique moments in their lives. There are going to be different times in their lives that only other people in a multiracial family can understand.

You're Used To Hearing Two Different Languages

You've grown accustomed to hearing two different languages all the time. Between your parents and your extended family members, people are always speaking a blend of different languages. So much so that you may not even notice it anymore.

You Find Yourself Constantly Explaining Your Ethnicity

One of the first things people ask you when you meet them is, "What are you?" It's not even a surprising question anymore. You know it's coming and then you have to figure out if you're going to be giving them the long answer or short answer. Are you going to try and explain your biracial heritage to them or are you going to do a short cut and pick one?

You Have To Convince People Your Parents Really Are Your Parents

When people see you walking down the street with your parents, they always assume you're not together. In their minds there's no way you could all be from one family. Then you have to try and convince them that they are indeed your parents.

You Never Know Which Box To Check On Forms

Standardized tests have always been a big pain. Now, you have the stress of figuring out which box to check when they ask you about your ethnicity. They're pushing you to choose a side and then you see both parents sitting on your shoulders, waiting to see which one you pick.

You're Expected To Be Bilingual

People are always assuming you speak both languages because you're biracial. While you probably understand a good portion of it, due to the constant scolding from your parents, speaking it is a whole different ball game. Some people even consider you "less than" because of this little fact and you just roll your eyes.

You're Feel Torn Between The Expectations From Both Cultures

Both cultures are telling you to behave a certain way and then you find yourself at the trivial fork in the road. Which culture do you listen to? It doesn't matter which one you pick because either way you end up with a family member in the background scolding you for your choices.

You Can Easily Spot Other Biracial People

You have this crazy radar where you can spot a biracial child or adult anywhere you go. They walk into a room and your spidey senses know they're there. You look around until you spot them and give them a little head nod in acknowledgement.

You Ate Fusion Food Before It Started Trending

Your home has always been full of fusion food. Mom will prepare a big dinner and then all the sides will be a jumble of both cultures in the house. Not to mention all the hot sauce!

You Always Get Looks When You Tell People Your Last Name

The second you tell people your last name, they immediately look at you sideways. "What kind of name is that?" Human. It's a human last name. I mean how are you supposed to answer that!?

You Know Some Of Your Family Members Still Give Your Parents The Stink Eye

Your parents broke the mold when they got together. While a lot of people had open minds and decided that love was enough, some people were stuck in the past. They looked at your parents relationship and saw something wrong. Even years later, you still find them giving you and your parents looks.

Fill in the blank. You Know You're Biracial When _______.....

Authentic Tandoori Chicken

One of the things I've learned over the years in Indian culture is how important it is to spend quality time with your family. It could be around a camp fire at night, playing family board games for hours, or just about anything that brings everyone together. One of the favorite ways to get everyone together is around the dinner table. I have had more meaningful conversations with my hubby and his family around the table than anywhere else.There's something about breaking bread with the people you love.This is exactly why I've gone out of my way to learn how to make Indian food with my in laws. I've always wanted them to know how important their culture is to me and I even saw my own love for Indian culture grow as I became more invested.Now, my husband and I find ourselves in our own kitchen teaching all of our friends how to make Indian food and having the time of our lives in the process!

Grilling Adventures

The good weather means we take the party outside.Of course our family has to take it up a notch and we look for Indian dishes we can grill!Tandoori chicken is always a family fav in our house because Joel does it all on his own! Well, he tries until the kids all go out to help! They're all turning into little grill connoisseurs. I love it because it means I get to sit outside and enjoy the sun while the boys slave away at dinner!Tandoori chicken is delicious and so simple to make. It marinates overnight and then you can pop it on the grill with some fresh veggies. We love to serve it with raita and basmati rice.We've even gotten my family hooked on grilled tandoori chicken![amd-yrecipe-recipe:39]

Mom's Famous Lamb Biryani Recipe

Mom's Famous Lamb Biryani

Ever since I met Joel, I have developed an uncanny obsession for all things Indian food. I've tried more than I ever imagined I would and I haven't found one I don't like yet!The problem has been deciding which one my favorite is.Every time I share a new recipe, I call it my favorite.... Then I share another one and it becomes my new favorite! Well, I'm back at it again today. Lamb biryani is by far one of my absolute favorites. It's the equivalent of the Thanksgiving turkey of meals. I've had it maybe a dozen times since I've been married to my husband for the last ten years.I look forward to it on every holiday and even my kids BEG for lam biryani!The problem is my mother in law lives a few hundred miles away and her lamb biryani is THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD. If there was an award for amazing biryani she would have it! Her biryani can cure illnesses, make the world go round, and give us world peace! Ok, maybe that's a little much but come on guys.Try it out and see what you think![amd-yrecipe-recipe:38]

Serve with raita or some delicious coconut green beans!

Keeping Your Family Healthy All Winter

I'm excited to partner with Kiddie Academy because, like me, Kiddie Academy encourages making healthy choices at a young age, from providing nutritious meals to maintaining personal habits every day.Winter time has always been a family-wide favorite around the world. Why? Well, winter time means a long list of things to kids. It means snow in some areas, cozy fires, hot chocolate, Christmas break, presents, and you even get to see family members who come home for the holidays.What's not to love!?Well, I can think of one thing. What is one thing that always manages to sneak up behind you during the winter time? It doesn't matter how hard you hide; it still finds you some way or another.

Winter colds.

I didn't realize just how much something as simple as a winter cold could devastate an entire family until I became a mom. It starts as a little germ. Typically, kids find their germy little friend at school. They probably got him off of some snot-nosed kid on the bus, by playing with a car in their preschool class, or rubbing up on the gym mats during P.E. It doesn't matter how they meet Mr. Germ, the fact is it's inevitable.We all know how it goes after that. One kid catches a cold, and then they come home to "share" it with the rest of the family. When you have a big family like ours, it's complete chaos!One of my boys will catch it first, and it doesn't matter how much I try and bribe keep them in their room, they find their way to their siblings and then it spreads!Then we as parents always end up going down! We're the ones that rub their little noses, rock them to sleep, rub their backs, make them soup, and help them get through the yucky days. A sick parent is never fun. We do the best we can to rest, but it's all just a big joke. Instead, we attempt to sleep and then realize little Jimmy is making water balloons in the bathroom and Johnny is making a peanut butter and ketchup sandwich in the kitchen.The best you can hope for is that mom and dad catch a cold at different times. Everything hits the fan when mom and dad both get sick at the same time.If the kids realize you're both down, it's only a matter of time until they gang up on you and take over the house. They know this is their time to do what they want and they live it up! The best moment is when they take a break from their anarchy to bring you a cup of water or make you something yummy, so you feel better. Only to be resumed by an epic battle of pillow fights in their bedroom.So, what do you do?

Is there any way to avoid the winter cold or should we all give in and let it happen?

Winter time is one of the biggest times of the year that kids get sick. Those germs will be all over your children's school no matter what you do. However, one thing you can do is help boost your and your children's immune systems so they can fight those bad boys off.

How To Stay Healthy During The Winter Season

Here are some of our family's go-to tips to stay healthy during the winter. We have been following these for years, and it's made a huge impact on how often our kids get sick!

Stay Hydrated

Make sure you keep your family hydrated. You can do whatever you need to do to get your kids to drink water. Make it a race to see who can drink all eight cups by the end of the day. Or add a few pieces of fruit to sweeten it up. It will help get all the toxins out of your kid's bodies!

Wash Your Hands

Kids are constantly touching germ-ridden things all day long. Get them into the habit of washing their hands frequently throughout the day, especially before they eat a meal! Help your family keep as many germs out of their body as possible!

Add Healthy Spices To Your Food

This is one of my favorite ways to keep my family healthy! We love to add healthy spices to our food to boost their immune systems. A few things we like to add include turmeric, garlic, and chili powder. All three of these are great for your immune system, and they taste great in just about anything!

No Sharing

You spend countless days teaching your kids to share, but during the winter times...just say no! This is how 99.99999% of all bugs have been passed around our house! Make sure to watch your kids to prevent them from sharing food, cups, or water bottles. You can find them special little cups of their own, write their names on their cups, or whatever you have to do.

Stock Up

The time will come eventually when one of your family members gets sick. The best thing you can do is to be prepared. Stock up on all of the things you may need. I like to have cough drops, fever medicine, lemon juice for their tea (warm water and lemon), wipes for their nose, and tissues. If you're doing all of the things on this list, chances are their cold will be quick, but it's always important to be prepared for a middle of the night sick kiddo.

Golden Milk

Nothing can beat a nice warm glass of milk when you're having a hard time falling asleep as a child. Our family takes this up a notch by making our kids golden milk when they don't feel good. It's a yummy mixture of warm almond milk, turmeric, peppercorns, and ghee. My kids love it, and it's full of antioxidants to help your kids feel better!

Cut Down On Sugar

People forget how important gut health is to the rest of the body. If you or your children's guts aren't doing well, they won't be able to fight off illnesses and germs around them. Cut down on the sugary foods and fill up on healthier foods this season.

Teach Your Children To Listen To Their Body

As adults, we know how to listen to our bodies and do what it needs. This season, take time to help your children learn how to as well. If they're feeling sleepy during the day, remind them it's okay to rest a bit. Help them listen to the little things their body is telling them. It may be trying to warn them it's coming down with a bug and needs a little extra TLC.I'm so excited to be partnering with Kiddie Academy today and sharing all of our go-to healthy advice with all of you! Your family's health is important to them as well! To show you just how important it is, they are offering a giveaway for a Winter Wellness Survival Kit! I don't know about all of you, but I know I need one of these this winter! It has everything you need this season!The Survival Kit contains a super soft blanket, natural saline wipes for stuffy noses, tea sampler, honey, hand sanitizer, digital thermometer, sore throat pops, lip balm, mineral bath salts, and an Amazon gift card!

Enter the giveaway today!

The giveaway is open until January 28th. Then the winner will be announced on my Instagram and Facebook page!Good luck!Contest by Rewards Fuel.

Turmeric Golden Milk Tea

Today on the blog, I'm sharing a simple to make golden milk recipe. This turmeric tea is full of antioxidants and perfect for your family.

Turmeric Golden Milk Tea Recipe

When you were little, did your mom ever make you a warm glass of milk to help you fall asleep? Mothers have been doing this for years. As little babies, we knew that warm glass would solve anything. Even to this day, my kids still love it.Although over the years, we've decided to take it up a notch. Instead of just making warm milk, we learned how to make golden milk. It's the perfect blend of cultures for our little multiracial family. We've been able to take something special from both of our childhoods and turn it into something special and delicious for our kids.Golden milk is a quick Indian turmeric tea that is full of health benefits. My kids love it before bed and I like to drink it as my Turmeric Latte in the mornings. It's great for the whole family!

Why Is Turmeric Good For You

I always laugh when I see people taking turmeric pills because there are so many ways to sneak it into your diet. You can add turmeric into your meals, drinks, and smoothies. It doesn't have much of a taste so it's easy to sneak it into just about anything.The turmeric craze is going on for good reasons. Turmeric has antioxidants, it's an anti-inflammatory, it's good for your joints, and it's great for your digestive system. This is one of so many reasons Indian families use it so often in their cooking.I was introduced to turmeric by my husband's family and I put it in everything now!Golden milk is such an easy way to have a great drink while getting in your daily turmeric.

Turmeric Golden Milk Recipe

[amd-yrecipe-recipe:37] One thing to keep in mind is that turmeric stains! Be careful when using the turmeric powder and be mindful where your children drink it.

Our Multiethnic Family's Christmas Bucket List

Since I was a little girl, Christmas has been my favorite holiday. The freshly fallen snow, cinnamon ornaments on the tree, Christmas music to drown out the Christmas Story movie, and snowmen all bring me to a very happy place. It reminds me of growing up and spending holidays with my family in Washington. I don't know what it is, but it just makes everything better.Now that my kids are getting older, they're beginning to get the Christmas fever like momma! They can't wait until we pull all the decorations out of storage and get our tree. They run around trying to find their favorite ornaments before their brothers so they can be the ones to put them up on the tree.My husband and I sit back and let them go wild. It doesn't matter that all of the ornaments are on one side of the tree and clustered together on the bottom. The look on their faces when they step back and admire their work makes our lopsided tree look like a magical piece of art.

And...

If we're going, to be honest with each other, I put up the breakable ornaments as soon as they go to bed.My husband used to be a Grinch during the holidays. He ner4 understood why his wife became an eggnog drunk crazy person during December. He just sat back and watched.Not anymore!!!Something happened to him after we had kids. Our Christmas craze somehow rubbed off on him. Now, he's the one begging us to get our tree the day after Thanksgiving! I happily oblige and carefully convince him we need more decorations each year.

Every year around Christmas, our house looks like an elf puked Christmas cheer all over, and it couldn't make me happier.

The more our family has gotten into the holiday spirit, the more we try to cram in. We make a bit list of all the things we want to do and see how many we can check off our list.

Here is our Christmas Bucket List this year!

Watch Christmas Movies.

I don't think anything beats a good Christmas movie with a glass of hot cocoa. My boys and I live for it!This year we want to watch the classics like Santa Clause, The Polar Express, The Christmas Story, Snow Day, and so many more! We search through all the new holiday movies on Netflix and watch them all!Then we get distracted and start watching Bollywood family movies. I know they aren't usually Christmas themed, but come on... They're amazing! My oldest son is now old enough to watch them and read the English subtitles. Needless to say, I'm about to have a Bollywood movie marathon with him!

 AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT.

Our Elf On The Shelf lives wherever I can discretely throw him. The end. My boys still think he's the best thing in the world. I secretly hope my kids lose interest in the eld so I can toss him, but I'm pretty sure they'll keep it going until they're old enough to dangle him from precarious spots on their own.IN FACT...

This should be the new family tradition! Hide the Elf from the parents.

Who's with me?!

Convince my husband to put up Christmas lights.

As many of you know, hanging up Christmas lights is a huge task. My husband will buy us a tree, help us decorate inside, and even watch a few Christmas movies, but Christmas lights...He put them up two years ago, and it took him all weekend. Then during the move to North Carolina, we left all 3 BOXES of lights in Chicago. Since then the simple mention of Christmas lights brings an odd twitch to his eye.This year I plan on convincing, bribing, tricking, or even threatening to get said lights up on the house.Wish me luck.

Get a Christmas tree... CHECK

Pull the Christmas decorations out of storage and let the kids help set them up... Three broken ornaments and a wrestling match over the candy cane decorations... CHECK

Make jello salad.

Ok, this is probably the one Christmas tradition that is mine and mine alone. Growing up my family would make a yummy jello salad every year. It is amazing!When I was pregnant with Luke a few years ago, I made four jello salads in a two-week span. Don't judge. I'd blame the baby, but I probably would have done it anyway.The bad thing is my husband and ALL THREE OF MY BOYS hate it! They beg me not to make it and I just scoff. Like they could keep me from jello salad!

Go and look at Christmas lights with the kids.

My husband and I like to look up a fun neighborhood nearby and then we take the kids, with hot cocoa in hand, to check them out. We' have found neighborhoods that do fun Disney themes, have lights to "dance" around to music, and then the super-rich elaborately decorated houses.So fun!

Put together the kid's Christmas Eve box.

This is hands down, my favorite tradition every year. My grandma started this with my mom and aunts years ago. Every Christmas eve, we would open up a box with Christmas jammies! It was the only gift we could open before Christmas and then we'd all get into them and watch Christmas movies.Over the years, my hubby and I have tweaked it a bit. Now we add in slippers, a Christmas movie, and holiday-themed treats to go with the movie. I even put one together for Joel and I!

Start the Elf On The Shelf Shenanigan

The only thing I dread during the holidays is the f*&^*&^ Elf On The Shelf. My boys NEVER let us forget him. I always forget until I get the kids up for school and end up crazily running around trying to find a new spot for him to hide.Every year, I see the Pinterest parents putting together elaborate scenes with their eld, and I just laugh.

Somehow find a killer non-dairy, white hot chocolate cocoa recipe.

Hot cocoa is one of the biggest Christmas staples, but it brings up a bit of a problem in our house. My oldest and I are allergic to chocolate and recently discovered we can't have dairy.I refuse to give up hot cocoa, so I'm on the hunt for a non-dairy, white hot cocoa!If you know of one, please let me know!

Whip up a fusion feast fit for our multiethnic family!

Food is a big part of the holidays. Everyone is always thinking up what to make, pulling out family recipes, and eating way more than you thought possible.Our little family does the same thing, but with a twist. We make a BIG dinner on Christmas Eve! We make roast chicken, veggies, mashed potatoes... Oh yeah! We also make up Indian food to go with it! We make mine and my husband's childhood favorites! This year, we're even going to try our hand at biryani!

What are your family's holiday traditions?

Things I'll Be Doing INSTEAD of Going Black Friday Shopping

101 Things I'll Be Doing INSTEAD of Black Friday Shopping

Black Friday. I loved hearing all the crazy stories and I was always up for a good deal. The problem was every time I would bring it up, she would roll her eyes and walk away! She never took me!I had no idea how she could sleep through one of the best days of the year.As I got older, I started hearing more stories from friends that got a little too into the Black Friday spirit. My favorite story was from one of my friends in California. She and her family would sit down on Thanksgiving and plan out their strategy for Black Friday shopping. They knew how long it would take to get to each store, how long they could stay at each spot, and what they were looking for. There was no room for spontaneity... It was serious business. They would stay up all night because the first part of their strategy was to get as close to the beginning of the line at the first store as possible.Then the doors would open, everyone would start rushing in. Her family would split up with their walkie-talkies. That's right... Walkie. Talkies. Phones weren't enough because the service could be bad and then you'd have to revert back to Phoebe, Monica, and Rachel at the wedding dress sale... with whistles and all! (Please tell me you all know this reference and watched the episode!)I mean wow. That is a determined family if you ask me... I will say they always score and land some pretty amazing deals!

Why I Can't Stand Black Friday Shopping

I love the idea of Black Friday shopping. A day that offers things you things you already wanted to buy, but couldn't afford or didn't want to spend an arm and a leg, are now yours for a FRACTION of the price. However, Black Friday shopping isn't for the faint at heart.You have to drag you a%* out of bed before the sun comes up. I'm sorry but that right now means I'm out! I already have three kids that wake me up at irrational times of the morning. I've tried for 7 years to convince my kids that they should wake up when the sun comes out.NOPE.They don't care. This is why sleep has become SACRED in my house. You don't mess with my ability to get a few extra minutes of sleep and if you do, you better be ready to face the consequences...Not even Black Friday can tempt me to lose out on sleep. I'd rather stay at home, watching cartoons with my kids, and checking out whatever online deals I can find.That leads us to our second problem. Say you're insane and have somehow decided it would be worth your time to venture out on Black Friday. You probably have a list of things you want to look out for and get pumped. You go straight to the aisle where the first item is. Only.... there are about 500 other people doing the exact same thing. They woke up just as early and have no desire to let you get your hands on that item first.Then you have a choice. You either get fired up and try to get to it first or you take your defeat like a tough chick and run to the second thing.... ONLY THE PROBLEM IS PEOPLE ARE THERE TOO!!You may get lucky and get one or two things on your list and then you camp out in the line for the next 15 hours. It moves slower than the carpool line at your kid's school and you're now stuck for the rest of the day...Is it worth it?I considered it until online deals saved me just as much. Now, I just laugh when people ask me to join them.

Things I'd Rather Do Than Go Black Friday Shopping

Sleep the entire day...

Eat all the leftover Thanksgiving food.

Make a fool of myself and play hilarious games with the family.

Think about all the crazy people out there going Black Friday shopping.

Work on my magic skills.

Watch a Bollywood movie!

Listen to my son tell me all about Fortnite...

Drink my weight in coffee.

EAT LEFTOVER PIE.

How To Feed A Big Family On A Budget

I remember finding out I was having my third little boy. We had been so excited to be pregnant again and just assumed it would be a girl. I mean statistics had to be on our side after two boys... right?My husband was out of town traveling for work and I couldn't wait for him to get back to hear the results of the ultrasound. I asked the ultrasound tech to write it on a piece of paper for me so I could FaceTime Joel and find out together.He was so excited when I called him. He couldn't wait to hear what I was about to tell him.I slowly opened the envelope, giving myself two full seconds before I could look at the paper. When I looked down, I couldn't believe what I was reading.BOY.Don't get me wrong. I would have been happy for a boy or a girl, I just couldn't believe it. I was so convinced the little baby growing inside of my belly was a boy. It hadn't even occurred to us that we could be having a boy. We even had a girl name picked out!I started to think maybe they were wrong. Maybe her little arm or foot was between her legs....Well, a few months later, I was greeted with one of the most beautiful little boys. They were right! It's funny to think back on because I can't imagine my little family any other way than it is now. I absolutely love having all boys! I love the chaos, the sword fighting, and even their wiggly nature.There is one thing, however, that everyone warned me about. It was always at the front of their minds when I told them I had three boys...

THEY'RE GOING TO EAT YOU OUT OF HOUSE AND HOME...

It was always in my mind, but they ease you into it first. When they were little, they were just little scavengers. They would see Joel and I eating, then sneak over to pick things off our plates. Then they started asking for snacks. Then they wanted seconds on meals...I've watched our grocery budget slowly get higher... and higher... and higher...Here's the deal. There's no way my kids were going to start eating less, so I knew I needed to do something. If I didn't, I was going to end up with three kids in high school and a grocery bill the size of my house payment!After enough complaining, my friends started telling me their tricks and tips for feeding their big families!

How To Feed A Big Family On A Budget

Meal plan.

Meal planning has been all the rage for years... but have you ever jumped on the bandwagon? I didn't until I started seeing our groceries fly off the pantry shelves, freezer, and fridge. Now, I'm seeing just how necessary it is.Necessary or not, meal planning can be HARD!If you don't do it right, it becomes a bigger pain in the a*$ than the grocery bill itself! This is why you need to start small. Write down a list of meals for the week. Then do your best to keep with it.I typically write ours on our fridge. Then the kids and hubby can look at it in the morning and see if it sounds good. Most of the time they start switching meals around, but it still works! The main goal behind meal planning is to use what you have at home instead of going to the store for last minute little trips. I don't know about you but those last minute trips get us every time!

------START MEAL PLANNING BY MAKING ALMOND CHICKEN CURRY ------

Buy in bulk.

Take a look around the house for a week or so and make a list of things you go through quickly. This might be paper goods, meat, bread, milk, etc. Then start buying those items in bulk at the beginning of the month.Now, rule number one when buying in bulk is to stick with things you KNOW you go through fast. Otherwise, you'll become a mild hoarder and have an endless trove of mustard and cheese instead of what you really need.We get most of our bulk items from Costco. It tends to be cheaper than anywhere else and the quality is great. You can also price check to other stores like Walmart and see which ones are cheaper.

Make freezer meals.

One of my favorite tricks in our house it to make a double batch for dinner. I make one for the day of and another portion to throw in a tin foil pan to keep for later. You're already going through the work of making one so why not throw in a few more ingredients to make more.These are amazing for busy school nights or end of the paycheck nights! It helps make your groceries last and takes some of the extra work out of it.

-----START PREPARING FREEZER MEALS AND MAKE PAV BHAJI-----

Prepare your own individual school snacks.

There was a brief time in my kid's life where I completely got rid of snacks. I was over this routine of spending hours in the kitchen making dinner and then being greeted with kids who weren't hungry.Over. It.Then I went "overboard mom" and got rid of all the snacks in the house. I decided it was better for the kids not to have them and eat all of their meals. The problem was we started sports and school. Snacks became a necessity once again.The problem with kid's snacks are they're freaking expensive! They make us believe pre-portioned snacks are worth the extra cost. Nope. We started buying snacks in bulk and them splitting them up into little snack bags ourselves. Way cheaper!

Shop online when you can.

I'm not sure if your kids are like mine, but the second they walk into a grocery store the "I want's" and the "Can't I have's" start up! They don't stop until they decide to give up the demands for the whining.All of this went away when I discovered online grocery! More and more grocery stores are offering the ability to order your groceries online and either pick up in front of the store or have them deliver it to you.Watch out for the hidden prices and fees. Some places offer it for free and others charge a pretty hefty price. Walmart grocery online pick up is free, but they charge for delivery. Costco offers a free delivery service through Insta-cart which is heavenly!Look around and see what your local grocery stores offer.

Get organized.

As you buy in bulk, you can start to lose track of what you have. Do your best to keep your freezer, fridge, and pantry organized. You can develop a system so you know where to look as well as clean it out often.I like to keep a freezer list. If you have a deep freezer like we do, it's hard to know what's at the very bottom. Keep an up to date list to help you figure out the best meal plan.

DON'T SHOP HUNGRY.

Last, but not least... This is the most important rule of all. Do not ever go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. You'll end up coming home with french bread, cinnamon toast crunch, donuts, and ice cream.While it might be nice the night you get home, shopping hungry always ends badly. Eat a big meal, make your meal plan, and then go shopping. This way you stick to your budget and your bank will thank you!

How do you keep up with your big family and keep costs down?

Introducing Your Baby To Indian Food

One thing I've learned about parenting is there are so many ways to do it. While we all think our way is best, it's not always the case. If you were to visit moms from around the world, you would see just how differently they raise their little ones. If you look a little closer to home, you'll still see big differences in parenting styles.What about food?A lot of moms think the only way to feed your kids is to start with the bottle, then rice cereal proceeded by vegetables, and ending up with table food. What if I told you that you could change it up a bit and make it more interesting and healthier for your kids?I introduced my children to Indian spices right away. When they were in the adorable squishy stage (you know the stage I'm talking about), I started them off with rice and butter. I added about 2 extra cups of water to the rice, so it soaked it all in and turned into more of a paste. Adding butter is a great way to sneak in dozens of vitamins and anti-oxidants into your child's diet.As they get a little older, we start adding in steamed vegetables and spices. Getting them used to different spices at a young age helps to get their palate used to it. Not to mention all of the health benefits them.

Turmeric

Turmeric is used in every single Indian dish. It's added to the base to add a rich color and people are becoming obsessed about it. A lot of health gurus are even recommending turmeric pills. Which of course my in-laws always laugh over and say people should all just start eating Indian food!Why is it so good for you? It's full of antioxidants, it's an anti-inflammatory, it helps reduce cholesterol, it's full of vitamin B, and has been said to help prevent cancer cells from growing.

Chili Powder

Before you skip over this section thinking I'm crazy, hear me out. Chili powder is full of antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin A, helps to detoxify the body, enhances your metabolism, rich in potassium, and adds delicious flavor!We started adding chili powder at a young age. We started extremely small and increased as they got older. Now, they eat dinner with the rest of us. While we may still make our meals a little milder, they love it and have a great pallet for spicy food. You could even add a little yogurt as well and counteract the heat, but keep all of the health benefits.

Yogurt

Yogurt is the number one item I recommend to all parents. Especially homemade yogurt because it's full of healthy bacteria your body needs to build up its defenses against infections. Often times, our kids end up on antibiotics frequently which kills off a lot of good bacteria. This helps them get it all back. It's also full of vitamin D, vitamin B, helps prevent high blood pressure, and helps build strong bones.

Here are a few recipes you can try out and see what your kids think!

Carrot and Pea Curry

1/2 cup of peas1/2 cup of carrots1/4 tsp curry powderpinch of cinnamonCook your peas and carrots in about an inch of water until they are tender. When they are done spoon your vegetables into a blender. Add in your spices and pour a small amount of the water in from the saucepan until it almost covers the vegetables. Blend until everything is well combined and no chunks are remaining. If you would like to to be thinner, add 1/4 cup of water at a time.

Chicken Biryani

Pinch of cinnamonPinch garam masalaPinch of chili powder1/4 cup cooked chicken1/4 cup cooked rice1/2 cup chicken brothAdd the chicken, chicken broth, and spices together in a blender. Blend until the chicken is there are no chunks of chicken left. Add in your rice. Give the blender a few quick pulses, just enough to break the rice down a bit. You still want rice chunks in the baby food.What was the first solid food you gave your kids?

How To Raise Bilingual Kids

One thing many multiethnic families are trying to figure out is how to teach their child multiple languages. Sometimes, it seems too hard, so parents drop a language. Most of the parents I've talked to that have done so regret it. They wish they would have taught their child to be bilingual from the very beginning.

What about you?

Are you teaching your child multiple languages? Are you nervous how to do it? Do you want some advice? If so, here are some tips to help your family raise bilingual children.

 

Tips For Raising Bilingual Children

Start Young

Start talking to your child in both languages right away. People tend to think it will create confusion, but statistics are showing that children are more successful in learning both languages when they start young.

Family Agreement

You and your spouse need to be on the same page. It will be much more challenging to teach your child to be native in both languages if one of you wants to teach your child a second language and the other doesn't. When you're both on the same page, you'll be more proactive in teaching them.

Make A Plan

After you've made the decision, you need to make a plan. Every bilingual family looks different. While your child will be able to speak multiple languages, they could be dominant in one. You need to decide what your family wants. If you want your child to be native in both languages, your lifestyle will need to reflect this.

This could mean you ask family members to only speak their native language to your child and have them respond in the same language. Think about how you can make it happen and make a plan your whole family can follow.

Don't Panic

Take a deep breath and don't panic. Teaching your child to be bilingual takes time. They might start to mix languages or take a little longer, but it's ok. Encourage them as they go and don't rush them.

Learn your stuff

Read up on bilingual families. Look on Amazon or your local library to find resources and hear from other families just like yours. The more you can educate yourself on what to do, the more successful your child will be.

Make it fun

The worse thing to do is make it all a big chore. If you can make it fun for your children to learn both languages, they'll be more willing to put in the work. You can buy games in both languages, listen to music, get apps, and play memory games. Show them how fun it can be to learn!

Talk to your kids

One of the best ways to teach your child a language is to talk to them in it! You can go for a walk, go outside, or sit down over dinner and talk. Make sure you and your spouse plan times throughout your day to sit and chat.

It doesn't matter if you and your family members are big talkers or not, it's important to be intentional in increasing how much you talk with your child in both languages throughout the day.

Read out loud

Kids love when you take the time to sit and read with them. Regardless of how old they are read multiple books out loud to them every day. There are even bilingual book companies that want to help you! The top is English, and the bottom is the language you choose.

Do you have any questions or advice about how you can teach your bilingual children? If so, please comment and share with us!

 

How To Make KILLER Indian Food At Home

It's no secret to many of you that my poor husband had to deal with some pretty horrible meals when we first got married. We were young and I had no clue what I was doing. Sure, he could have picked up the slack and made up for my bad dinners, but he was a worse cook than I was!He could hardly boil water let alone teach me how to make an authentic Indian dish!It's one of the curses of getting married young. The positive part of it was that we ended up having to learn how to do it together! Almost ten years later and we've definitely made some progress. A few years ago, we hosted our own Thanksgiving where my husband made the most delicious turkey I've ever tasted!!!!! We've even started a new tradition where we have our friends over for authentic Indian feasts! Guess who the cook is...? ME!I never could have imaged my husband and I learning how to cook, let alone loving it! Ladies, do you know how hot it is when your husband makes your family a home-cooked meal?!One of our favorite things to cook together is Indian food. It took us quite a while to get the hang of it, but we did it! We got sick of trying out new Indian food restaurants only to find out they were a waste of time. Joel was dying to get some good, authentic Indian food in his life and my new found obsession demanded it!

Check out the tips we learned to make killer Indian food at home!

Always rinse your rice!

I don't know about you, but I had no idea you were supposed to rinse rice! Am I alone on this one? You're supposed to rinse the rice until the water is clear. It helps remove some of the extra starch from the rice and it ends up tasting much better!

Be patient.

Good food takes time. You can't try to rush it all along to fit your schedule or to quiet the hungry kids in your kitchen. You need to put the rush work in beforehand by prepping your ingredients and then let your food cook slowly. Let the spices blend together, and your dish simmer to perfection. While your hungry family may be getting on your last nerve, they'll more than forgive you when they taste the delicious dinner!

Don't skimp on spices.

What do you think one of the biggest misconceptions about Indian food is? Everyone always thinks it's all too spicy. Then they end up skimping on the spices only to find a bland dish.I promise you'll always regret skimping. Instead, add in what the recipe calls for and slowly add in the chili powder. Making it less spicy is one thing, but taking out other spices in fear of what it could be is only going to make you wish you spent the time going through drive-through instead.

Learn a thing or two from family recipes.

We ended up learning most of our cooking skills from our family! Joel's family taught us how to make a curry base, how to roast fresh spices, and how to temper our sauce so it didn't curdle.Don't rely on yourself to figure out all the cooking tricks. Instead, ask people that have been doing it for much longer than yourself. We learned tips and tricks that had been passed down through generations!

Always use fresh ingredients when possible.

A simple mistake when cutting costs is to buy cheap spices or packaged products. Do everything you can to use fresh ingredients when possible. You will definitely taste the difference. You can also buy fresh ingredients in bulk and then freeze them until you need them.It helps you cut costs without losing out on taste.What tips and tricks have you learned while cooking? Did you have someone in your life that taught you or did you figure it out on your own?Are you ready to try out a few recipes on your own? Check out my favorite Indian dishes below!

High Protein Snacks For Athletic Boys

I never realized just how much a little boy could eat.

Mom, can I have something to eat?Yeah, go and grab a piece of fruit from the fridge.MOM! I mean a snack!That is a snack.Not a good one! Please?! I'm starving!Fine! Go grab some crackers.Thanks mom... (10 minutes later) Mom. I'm hungry.)(#*)#*I've always known boys could eat their fair share of food. However, I didn't have the slightest clue to just how much freaking food one boy could put down.And I have THREE boys!It started out slow. Nursing here and there. Then they would go through stages where all they wanted to do was nurse. We ended up starting solid foods earlier and earlier with our kids because they were always hungry. That should have been the first sign to what big eaters I had on my hands.Now, I have a 3, 5, and 7 years old. Not to mention, they're all three in sports.

All. They. Do. Is. Eat.

With how much food they put down, they should each be about 1000 pounds. Instead, they run around constantly whether it be at home playing tag or on the sports fields. They never stop moving.At a recent check-up, my doctor even had the audacity to tell me one of my kids was getting lower on the growth chart. After I picked up my jaw from the floor I asked how that was even humanly possible.Obviously, I don't starve my kids. If anything I allow them to lead gluttonous lives! She told me I needed to look at what they were eating and try to up their protein. Things like crackers and bready foods may temper their hunger in the moment, but it's short-lived. They end up hungry within the hour searching the pantry like ravenous animals.I knew they would only get hungrier as the new sports seasons started up. It's caused me to take a long look at the foods I bring into the home. Granted, we're only looking at what the boys eat. I still have my hidden oreo gems stashed away where they'll never find them...The kid's food needed an upgrade. However, if your kids are anything like mine, you know getting them to eat anything healthy is a crock...If they even smell the health aspects of their snack, they flip out and lose their freaking minds. As the good parent I am, I trick them. I make a huge deal about the delicious snacks I let my kids have and keep the truth to myself.Here are some of the kid-approved, high protein snacks.

High Protein Snacks For Athletic Boys

CheesePepperoniPeanut ButterLunch MeatYogurtPeanut Butter SpoonsHard Boiled EggsTrail MixKeema and ChipsApples and Peanut ButterChips and GuacamoleCarrots and HummusSamosa HandpiesProtein ShakeChocolate MilkEnergy BallsBeef JerkeyFrozen Fruit Dipped in Greek YogurtMango Chia PuddingAvocado ToastHomemade LarabarsYogurt ParfaitMeatballs and BBQ Sauce

These are all the high protein snacks my sport's kids love and approve of.

I don't know how I convinced them to like avocado toast... I think they assume it's guac on toast and I'm taking COMPLETE advantage while they like it!You can't just offer nuts because they will suspect you're trying to give them something healthy. Add some chocolate chips to it and they think it's a big party!You simply need to find little ways to get them to eat yummy protein snacks. Another way my kids love it is when they make their own little bistro lunches or snacks. They load up their bistro box with different things and they LOVE it.Your kids will learn to eat what you have around. If you fill your home with crackers and junk food, they'll eat it... Just like I do every day. However, if you limit those to once and a while snacks, they will find things you have available.Make it fun!