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how to make mom cry happy tears on mother’s day

May 4, 2015 by Abby

I conducted a poll on my Facebook page, asking my friends and followers what no- or low-cost gifts they would love to receive for Mother’s Day. The responses I received were creative and heart-warming, so I’m sharing my favorites here with you.

1. Write her a letter

Most moms, even those whose children are grown, feel unappreciated at times. One of the friends who commented on my post suggested something so sweet and simple that I wondered why I hadn’t thought of it yet myself: a handwritten letter.

Your letter could discuss any number of things: favorite memories, special lessons learned, hopes or plans for the future. If you’re a parent yourself, you could mention all the ways your mom has influenced your own parenting. If you don’t have kids, consider telling her all of the best parts of your childhood that you plan to incorporate into your own family.

Bonus points: continue the handwritten letter theme with these placemats.

2. Create a photo book

Photo albums are so 1999. These days, it’s much more efficient and fun to create a photo book online. Use your digital photos, or scan your old prints, to create a book that you can customize with text and templates. My favorite site to create photo books is Shutterfly <– (this is a referral link, but if you use it, you get a free 8 x 8 book).

Bonus points: rally your siblings and do something wild, like recreate photos from your childhood.

3. Take care of something she hates

Maybe mom loves having a clean, detailed car, but she hates washing it herself. Perhaps she’s been dreaming of repainting a room, but hasn’t yet found the time and effort. Maybe mom constantly reminisces about a memorable meal, but she lacks the skill or equipment to recreate it.

To really make Mother’s Day special for your mom, think about the projects or goals she has and how you can help her reach them. Often, the tasks she needs or wants done require more time than money, so this is an especially good option if you’re short on cash.

Bonus points: create something with your own two hands.

4. Gather everyone together

If you have siblings that are spread far and wide, gather everyone together to celebrate mom. Even if it can’t happen right on Mother’s Day, having all of her kids in one place will definitely induce happy tears. Most moms of grown children would tell you the greatest gift you can give is to get all of her babies in one place.

Bonus points: get professional photos taken while everyone is together.

5. Make it Mother’s Week

I remember wondering, when I was a kid, why there was a Mother’s Day and a Father’s Day, but no Kid’s Day. I didn’t really get it when my mom replied that “every day is Kid’s Day”.

I definitely get it now. Moms are incredibly underappreciated, so this year, fake her out by turning what she thinks is a Mother’s Day celebration into a week’s worth of love. Get her seven gifts to open, or plan seven special meals. The work you put into a weeklong show of appreciation will tell mom just how grateful you are for her.

Bonus points: create a theme for the week and center every gift, meal, or act of service around that.

Need Mother’s Day recipe inspiration? Check out these simple and tasty brunch recipes.

What Mother’s Day gift make syour mom cry happy tears?

(this post contains affiliate links; to learn more, see my disclosure policy)

3 easy, tasty breakfasts under 300 calories

April 6, 2015 by Abby

It’s three months into the new year. Maybe your weight loss resolutions aren’t going as well as planned. Or maybe they are, but you’re growing tired of the same boring, low-calorie options. Here are three winstead wandering-approved recipes to break you out of your breakfast rut without busting your resolutions.

egg sandwich from a cup of jo

This recipe is touted as “the best egg sandwich you’ll ever have. While I have to disagree (the breakfast sandwiches J. and I make, my mom’s recipe, are hands-down the best ever) this is likely the best for under 300 calories. The recipe is actually written by Deb of Smitten Kitchen, so you know right off that it’s a winner.

The recipe basically has you beat an egg and and pour it into a pan. You cook the egg a little, like a crepe, pile cheese in the middle, and wrap the egg up around the cheese. When you put the egg-wrapped cheese on a toasted English muffin, you have a delicious treasure chest of hot egg and gooey cheese, all wrapped up in a 270 calorie* package.

*calories are based on using a whole wheat English muffin and a slice of American cheese

[Read more…]

my 5 favorite toddler products under $10

March 30, 2015 by Abby

As a parent of two toddlers- G. is four and B. is two- the internet would have me belief that there are a ton of products out there that I have to have. As a mom who’s tried many of those products, I can attest that there are few worth spending money on. Here are my favorites.

1. baby food pouches

These pouches aren’t just for babies. In fact, as a mom of picky eaters, I plan to buy them for as long as my kids will eat them. With flavors like Spinach, Pea, Pear and Sweet Potato, Apple, Carrot, I feel zero guilt giving my kids one of these as a snack. The bonus is that they’re great for tossing in a diaper bag when we’re on the go.

These pouches can be purchased individually at the grocery store for anywhere from $1.00 to $1.75 each, depending on the the brand and the ingredients, but the best deals are on Amazon.

2. these sippy cups

We’ve owned a lot of sippy cups. A lot. I’ve chosen them based on price, reviews, characters. I’ve regretted some of the purchases I’ve made because, for one reason or another, the cups didn’t live up to expectations. After several false starts, I finally discovered our favorite sippy cup brand.

These Gerber Graduate Fun Grips cups are durable, leak-proof, and easy to clean. The lids are mix and match, so we don’t have to worry about keeping each cup with its lid.

[Read more…]

welcome

March 18, 2015 by Abby

Hi! Thanks for visiting Winstead Wandering. There’s plenty to see, but if you’re looking for somewhere to start, my about page is a good place.

This is one of my all-time most popular recipes; here’s the most difficult, personal post I’ve written.

I’m really glad you’re here! If you’d like to stay connected, you can find me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

what i’m loving wednesday

March 4, 2015 by Abby

What I’m loving most this week:

this radio station

I play music a lot during the school day, especially in my classes in which most of the work is computer-based. I play a variety of genres, from classic rock to country to praise to one-hit wonders. I enjoy introducing my students to songs and artists they aren’t familiar with.

A few weeks ago, I had a student request a Disney station. Disney? I love Disney songs, but it had never occurred to me to play that station. I wasn’t even sure it was a thing. But it is a thing, and it’s an awesome thing. Do yourself- and your kids- a favor and play it.

this chocolate bar

I’m all about dark chocolate. I’d take a few squares of the good stuff over an entire candy bar of milk chocolate. If those squares have sea salt, though, it’s harder for me to stop after just a few. This Lindt bar– the link takes you to a multipack, but I think most Walmart stores carry it, too- is my top choice.

this author

Have you read anything by Meg Cabot? She’s the author of the Princess Diaries, but she’s also written a ton of books for adults, too. My absolute favorite books by her is Heather Wells Mysteries series and I’m currently reading the fifth and final book in that series. I’ve read and reread everything Meg Cabot has written. Every book is hilariously real.

What are you loving this week?

(this post may contain affiliate link; for more information, see my disclosure policy)

3 ways I maximize my time on pinterest

February 27, 2015 by Abby

Pinterest is a beautiful thing. Thanks to the website, I make much more of my family’s food from scratch, I’ve discovered dozens of favorite new recipes, and the traffic on my own blog has seen a steady increase.

If I’m being honest, though, Pinterest can also be a major time suck. Something about it just draws me in, and I often find myself spending twenty minutes browsing when I only logged in to double check a recipe.

I might have to physically pull myself away sometimes, but when I do allow myself time to hang out on Pinterest, the following are the things I do to maximize my time spent there.

1. Look before you pin

Before pinning a new page, investigate the link. The reason for this is two-fold. First, it’s good to know that the link works. How frustrating is it to pin a mouthwatering new food photo, only to go back later and realize that the pin leads to a “page not found” message? Or to a photo that leads nowhere? Save yourself the heartache.

Second, by checking out the link you can decide if the page is right for you. If it’s a food recipe that includes ingredients your family doesn’t eat, or a DIY that’s too complicated for your skill level, you can skip pinning it. Sure, this takes a little extra time up front, but it will save you from wasting time later, and from counting on a pin that will ultimately be useless.

2. Pin to multiple boards

When you find something you want to pin, go ahead and pin it to every relevant board. For instance, I used to search and search for the recipe every single time I made crockpot refried beans. Was it on my homemade products board? My food board? My slow cooker board? Finally, I wised up and pinned it to every place I might go looking for it.

3. Make a board for your favorites

My food board has hundreds of pins, and that doesn’t count my separate boards for desserts, snacks and sides, or breads. Finally, I decided to create a board for recipes I’ve already made and loved. It’s the board I refer to most frequently when planning our monthly menus. I still use all my other food-related boards for inspiration, but now I have a board that I can go to for recipes I already know we like.

Do you have any tips for avoiding being sucked into the black hole that is Pinterest?