 Super Simple (3 Ingredient) Dinner By: Charissa Menu planning and dinner prep doesn’t have to be difficult. It can be as simple as 3 ingredients, yes 3! 3 ingredients: *Chicken breasts (I use about 3 for my family of 5.) *Salsa (Choose your favorite.) * Black beans  Directions: *Put all 3 ingredients in the crockpot. I don’t even drain and rinse the beans, but you could. *Set your crockpot on LOW for about 6 hours. The setting can be adjusted to suit your time frame and to take into account your specific crockpot. *When properly cooked, the chicken will be tender, and you can quickly shred it with a fork.  This tasty meal can be eaten as is or you can make some additions. Possible additions: *Eat with tortilla chips. *Place on tortilla wraps and roll them. *Top with sour cream or avocado. There you have it! It’s a simple dinner with tasty ingredients that your family will hopefully love! What’s your favorite simple dinner? Share it in the comments below!  Charissa was born and raised on Cape Cod. After 9 years away from the Cape, she and her husband returned home to start their family. A former 5th grade teacher, Charissa has spent the last 12 years at home with her 3 children while working various part-time jobs. Just about a year and a half ago she decided to pursue something she had been thinking about for many years; she started a blog! She loves sharing her passion for living a full life without all the busy over at http://www.thenotsobusymom.com/. You can follow her on Facebook and Instagram (@thenotsobusymom) to learn more.
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 Celebrate Springtime With These 3 Books By: Charissa Spring has arrived! It’s always fun to watch the changes that occur from season to season. Springtime brings with it so much new life and bright colors!
The 3 books are:and then it’s spring by Julie Fogliano When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes  It’s Spring by Linda Glaser  I would highly recommend swinging by your library and checking out these 3 spring books (or any others you might find) and spending a few sweet moments sharing a book with someone you love.   Charissa was born and raised on Cape Cod. After 9 years away from the Cape, she and her husband returned home to start their family. A former 5th grade teacher, Charissa has spent the last 12 years at home with her 3 children while working various part-time jobs. Just about a year and a half ago she decided to pursue something she had been thinking about for many years; she started a blog! She loves sharing her passion for living a full life without all the busy over at http://www.thenotsobusymom.com/. You can follow her on Facebook and Instagram (@thenotsobusymom) to learn more.
 An Easy Holiday DIY with 5 Dollar Tree Items By: Charissa If I am going to tackle a DIY project, I need it to be simple and inexpensive. I recently wanted to make a holiday decoration, and a quick stop at the Dollar Tree made my simple, frugal DIY possible! At the Dollar Tree I bought: a reindeer ornament, a picture display, thin ribbon, a package of bows, and a bag of pom poms. The only other item I needed was a glue gun which I already had on hand.
 Then I glued the reindeer, and bow making sure to cover the writing at the bottom. I ended by attaching some of the ribbon and pom poms to cover the rip that came when removing the clip. It was as simple as that! The Dollar Tree has a wide variety of ornaments, bows, ribbons, flowers, and more. It just takes a little time and creativity to make a festive holiday DIY.  Holiday decor doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated, so consider a quick stop at your local Dollar Tree and see what creative DIY you can make this December!  Charissa was born and raised on Cape Cod. After 9 years away from the Cape, she and her husband returned home to start their family. A former 5th grade teacher, Charissa has spent the last 12 years at home with her 3 children while working various part-time jobs. Just about a year and a half ago she decided to pursue something she had been thinking about for many years; she started a blog! She loves sharing her passion for living a full life without all the busy over at http://www.thenotsobusymom.com/. You can follow her on Facebook and Instagram (@thenotsobusymom) to learn more.
5 Ways to Enjoy Your Local Library By: Charissa The library has to be one of our family’s favorite places to visit. We try to go several times a week and usually come home with a good stack of books and other finds. If you haven’t been to the library in awhile or you’re looking for some new ideas to spark a new visit, read on! Here’s what I recommend you do:  Spend time simply browsing Let your children browse the sections and browse the rows. My son loves to sit on the floor and flip through various sports books. Sometimes we’ll grab a stack of books and then head to some comfy chairs. Sometimes I’ll read a new book to my youngest. The library visit doesn’t have to be a quick in and out. (Although that type of visit does have its time and place.) Rather, a slow hour or so of browsing and discovering new genres and books is a great way to spend part of your day!  Bring home a number of themed books Fall has arrived, so borrow a handful of fall-themed books from your library. Do you have a child that is interested in a certain time period? Pick out a bunch of books that share stories and people from that time. Choose a science topic to investigate, and grab the books that will offer you plenty of interesting information and facts. The themes are endless, and the books are numerous! Ask your child what they’re interested in, and take it from there!  Check out magazines & board games Our library has both magazines and board games that are available for borrowing. Check to see what unique items (beyond books) your library offers to its visitors.  Find a new favorite movie Speaking of items that aren’t books, movies are always a fun option when visiting the library. Our library has a large children’s movies section, and we have discovered some fun, family-friendly movies over the years. A couple years ago I borrowed Mary Poppins from our library, and I loved sharing this classic with my kids!  Discover awesome audio books Audio books are a big favorite in our home! Our library has a good-sized audio section, and we love discovering new books. We play audio books in the car, in the house, and the kids even check out individual players that make for easy bedtime listening. Some of our recent favorite audio books include: anything by Beverly Cleary, Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate , Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm, and The Report Card by Andrew Clements. We have enjoyed plenty of Cape Cod libraries over the years. Our favorite is the Brooks Free Library in Harwich. What’s yours?! Share in the comments below!  Charissa was born and raised on Cape Cod. After 9 years away from the Cape, she and her husband returned home to start their family. A former 5th grade teacher, Charissa has spent the last 12 years at home with her 3 children while working various part-time jobs. Just about a year and a half ago she decided to pursue something she had been thinking about for many years; she started a blog! She loves sharing her passion for living a full life without all the busy over at http://www.thenotsobusymom.com/. You can follow her on Facebook and Instagram (@thenotsobusymom) to learn more.
3 Simple and Tasty Breakfast Ideas By: Charissa Sometimes a family can get stuck in a breakfast rut. Sometimes we think we don’t have time to make a healthy breakfast, and sometimes we might even forgo breakfast all together. To hopefully encourage you and inspire your breakfast menu, today I’m sharing 3 simple and tasty ideas.  Oatmeal Oatmeal is such a great breakfast choice because of the wide-variety of ways you can embellish this tasty, hearty meal. My family often enjoys peanut butter and fruit in their oatmeal. Some other toppings and additions to consider are: honey, brown sugar, maple syrup, slivered almonds, canned pumpkin, and raisins. Preparing oatmeal in the microwave takes just a minute, so even in a time crunch, oatmeal is a simple option.  Egg Burrito Eggs are a great way to start the day, and adding them to a burrito makes them portable.To create the burrito just scramble a couple eggs, season as desired, and then wrap them in a tortilla shell. Some tasty additions to this burrito can include: avocado, salsa, cheese, and crumbled sausage.  Yogurt Parfait Does this sound too fancy? It’s not. It looks fancy, but it’s very easy and super delicious. Pick your favorite yogurt and dish it into a bowl or cup. Then add some fruit like blueberries and strawberries. Sprinkle some granola on top the fruit. You can even add a little honey for a sweet kick. I think any three of these breakfast choices will be crowd-pleasers in your family, so give 1 (or all) a try this week! Feel free to share your favorite breakfast options in the comments below! The more ideas the better!!  Charissa was born and raised on Cape Cod. After 9 years away from the Cape, she and her husband returned home to start their family. A former 5th grade teacher, Charissa has spent the last 12 years at home with her 3 children while working various part-time jobs. Just about a year and a half ago she decided to pursue something she had been thinking about for many years; she started a blog! She loves sharing her passion for living a full life without all the busy over at http://www.thenotsobusymom.com/. You can follow her on Facebook and Instagram (@thenotsobusymom) to learn more.
5 Fun, Frugal Activities from the Dollar Tree By: Charissa It’s August, and my kids have just about a month left of their summer break. We’ve enjoyed plenty of great weather, beach days, and time together! Some of our favorite things to do are simple activities, and one of my favorite places to find fun, frugal activities is the Dollar Tree. Today I’m sharing 5 activities you can find at your local Dollar Tree!  Bubbles Kids love bubbles, and you can easily pick them up at the Dollar Tree. Yesterday I saw at least 4 different sized and themed bottles of bubbles! They even had a couple multi-packs. Bubbles is a great activity for a wide variety of ages (including adults)!  Activity Books The amount of activity books at the Dollar Tree is endless. You can find coloring books, mazes, word searches, sticker books, educational activities, and more! These are particularly great for road trips, rainy days, and quiet time.  Baseball Game If you’re looking to get your young ones moving, grab a plastic bat and ball set! Take it to the beach or park. Better yet, invite your neighbors over for an evening ball game!  Letter writing You can get a small pack of 8 blank cards (with envelopes) for $1. While you’re at it, buy some pens and stickers, too. Write a letter and decorate it. Write just for fun or send out a letter to someone who could use a little cheering up!  Ice cream Treat Did you know that many of the Dollar Trees sell Blue Bunny ice cream ? My kids love when they can get an ice cream treat from the Dollar Tree. I’m happy to oblige because you can’t beat the price! If you live near a Dollar Tree, drop in this week, and see what fun, frugal ideas you can find! Happy August!! *You can find 3 Dollar Tree Stores on Cape Cod in Dennisport, South Yarmouth & Hyannis.  Charissa was born and raised on Cape Cod. After 9 years away from the Cape, she and her husband returned home to start their family. A former 5th grade teacher, Charissa has spent the last 12 years at home with her 3 children while working various part-time jobs. Just about a year and a half ago she decided to pursue something she had been thinking about for many years; she started a blog! She loves sharing her passion for living a full life without all the busy over at http://www.thenotsobusymom.com/. You can follow her on Facebook and Instagram (@thenotsobusymom) to learn more.
 Take the Pressure Off Your Summer By: Charissa It seems like just yesterday we were wearing heavy coats and hats. Now we’re enjoying warmer temperatures and the anticipation of fun days to come! Summertime, for many of us, is a nice change of pace. But it can also bring with it a large number of expectations. We think that summer has to be the high point of the year. We believe that it has to be filled with fun, fun, and more fun. We hope that it measures up to all that we hope and desire it to be. I’m here to encourage you to take some of the pressure off your summer. Yes, summer is a special time, but it doesn’t and shouldn’t be a creator of more stress. Here are a few points to remember as you consider the summer ahead:  Some of the most special moments are often the ordinary, unplanned ones. These are the moments you won’t necessarily find on Instagram. These are the moments that happen so unexpectedly that they sneak up on you and before you know it you’re smiling big and feeling so very thankful. Sometimes we spend so much time trying to concoct special, memorable moments that we find ourselves disappointed and weary. Your kids aren’t looking for spectacular. Cuddles on the couch, conversations in the car, and evening walks are extraordinarily ordinary ways to connect with the ones you love this summer.  There will be bad days and boring days. It’s easy to become discouraged when the day doesn’t go as planned or if you find your children uttering the dreaded phrase, “I’m bored!” over and over again. Don’t beat yourself up over these moments (or days). Not-so-great days are a part of life. If a day doesn’t go as planned, take a deep breath and prepare for a better day. If your kids say they’re bored, it’s okay. Boredom generally (and eventually) sparks creativity.  Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing. If you spend too much time on social media, you’ll eventually begin to think you’ve got it all wrong. It will look like everyone is doing everything, and somehow you’ve failed at this fun summer thing. Remember, you do it best when you do you! Make the choices that best fit in with your family’s priorities and hopes for the summer.  In the end, your kids want you. It’s true; they want you! Now this is not a statement that is supposed to add stress; it’s one that adds freedom. You don’t have to have 100 activities lined up, and you don’t have to spend every waking moment doting on your children. But when the activities fall through or you just feel like staying in, let go of the guilt. I promise your kids will prefer an ordinary summer with a happy mom more than an adventurous summer with a grumpy one. Squeeze your children and just enjoy being together. Your kids are so very happy just to have you! If your kids are going to camp this summer, great! If your kids are spending slow, unscheduled days at home, great! If you are spending a lot of time vacationing, fun! If your days look a lot like the rest of the year, good! If your summer looks like a combination of all of the above, terrific! Take a deep breath, and take that pressure off your summer! Enjoy your summer however it takes shape!  Charissa was born and raised on Cape Cod. After 9 years away from the Cape, she and her husband returned home to start their family. A former 5th grade teacher, Charissa has spent the last 12 years at home with her 3 children while working various part-time jobs. Just about a year and a half ago she decided to pursue something she had been thinking about for many years; she started a blog! She loves sharing her passion for living a full life without all the busy over at http://www.thenotsobusymom.com/. You can follow her on Facebook and Instagram (@thenotsobusymom) to learn more.
 10 Ways to Encourage Your Kids To Read More This Summer By: Charissa Summer brings about new routines and rhythms. It brings lazy mornings and long evenings. Summer brings children who are excited to have a break from school and all the hard work that goes along with being a student. My children will be out of school in a few weeks. We know that our children are usually asked to and/or often required to read throughout the summer. It’s a good and important request as we understand the many benefits of reading, but getting kids to read in the summer can be a struggle.  How can we encourage our children to read during their summer break? I have 10 ideas that might just help our reluctant readers keep their noses in the books this summer. 1) Head to your local library. My children are usually very happy to go to the library, and even on a grumpy day with a reluctant child, things somehow get better when we walk into the library. “I don’t like books!” quickly becomes, “Mom, check out this book!!” This summer my children and I are attempting to visit a different library each week checking out the various children’s rooms and books available in the different locations. 2) Listen to audio books. While you’re at the library, check out a few audio books. We love listening to audio books while we’re in the car. We also love audio books on a rainy (summer) day. We have found that a narrator can really make or break the experience of listening, so doing a quick preview or reading reviews beforehand can be helpful. Audio books are a great way to “read” even more this summer. 3) Sign up for reading programs. Your local library most likely has a reading program as do numerous book stores, restaurants, banks, and various organizations. Do a Google search for “summer reading programs”, and see what turns up! 4) Read to them. Read to your kids. If your children aren’t readers, read to them. If your children are readers, read to them. Some of the most special moments with my children have happened as we shared a story together. 5) Read with them. Grab a book and sit down next to your child while they read. Throw a bunch of pillows on the floor and cuddle up together with a stack of books. You will get some reading done, and so will your children. Telling your kids to read is a good idea, but showing them that you, too, are a reader is inspiring.  6) Introduce a new genre. Children often gravitate to the same genres. This summer introduce them to something new. Are they fiction-lovers? Find them some intriguing non-fiction. Are they sports’ fans who eat up all the non-fiction football books? Find some page-turning sports’ themed fiction. Bring home poetry, biographies, mysteries, and historical fiction. Give them the opportunity to explore and reach for something new! 7) Take your books outside. Warmer weather provides the perfect opportunity to take your books outside. Grab a large blanket, some pillows, or beach chairs, and head out to your yard or park. My kids love to read in their tree house. There's just something about digging into a good book while outside that encourages even more reading. 8) Create an incentive. Reading programs have various incentives, so create your own family incentive. Make a chart, set a goal, and celebrate when your children have attained it. Simple celebratory options could include: ice cream sundaes, a camp-out in the backyard, or dinner at your favorite restaurant. 9) Throw a book party. Looking for a reason to throw a party? Consider throwing a book party. Have your child invite friends over and celebrate reading. Choose one book and use that book as the theme or just celebrate books, in general. Have a simple snack table, throw down a blanket, a stack of books, and let the kids read together or to one another. You could also have a dress up station or an art table. The ideas and fun are endless! 10) Have a screen free week. When screens aren’t an option, books and other entertainment suddenly seem more enjoyable. Choose one week this summer to go screen free, and take an extra trip to the library or bookstore. Inspire an environment of reading by eliminating screens. We plan on doing our week in August! For many children reading might not be number 1 on their summer bucket list. Hopefully, with a little encouragement from you, you may find them reaching for a book just a little more often.  Charissa was born and raised on Cape Cod. After 9 years away from the Cape, she and her husband returned home to start their family. A former 5th grade teacher, Charissa has spent the last 12 years at home with her 3 children while working various part-time jobs. Just about a year and a half ago she decided to pursue something she had been thinking about for many years; she started a blog! She loves sharing her passion for living a full life without all the busy over at http://www.thenotsobusymom.com/. You can follow her on Facebook and Instagram (@thenotsobusymom) to learn more.
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