Food | Lauras Choice

Homework Tip That’s a Real HIT!

March 12, 2015 by Laura Kubicki 6 Comments

Many of you know I’m completely smitten with boys. Mine especially :o). I love girls too – I just don’t have any…

…except Dixie – but that’s a different story…

$Nerf Math Facts$

So in a never ending quest to find the best ways to grow, motivate, teach, and shape my boys into the amazing men I know they’ll be in the future, I, like you, am always on the lookout for great ideas to help me…

And I found one today.

If your little boys are like mine – ACTIVE, ACTIVE, CRAZY ACTIVE – they resist (and flat out resent) dull, repetitive, boring, homework – like practicing math facts, spelling words and the like – especially after sitting for nearly seven hours under school duress.

Frankly for my squirmy, basketball playing, tree climbing, pogo stick jumping, bathroom noise making, Lego building, wrestling, ants in your pants type of boys – any homework of this type can just be a total grind! Especially as we move into spring…

So we’ve tried racing challenges, contests, verbal quizzing en route to school to use up our car ride time, and frankly we’re running low on interest…

So if your boys (kids) are feeling like mine, I found a great tool that helped change it up a bit in our house that I thought could work for you too – at least til April or so… :o) :o) :o).

And here it is…

Thanks to my FB friends, I was made aware of a great resource for parents with boys called BuildingBoys.net. On this blog by Jennifer Fink, I found a plethora of great ideas and discussions on, well…boys.

THANK YOU JENNIFER!

One of these ideas was NERF GUN MATH FACTS and man has it been a HIT (get it?) in our house!

I just used a write on/wipe off board, wrote various math facts on it, along with four answer choices. The boys stood with their loaded NERF guns in hand behind a line. I read out the math facts one at a time along with the answer choices and then my 1st grader enthusiastically scc–reamed out the answer and shot at the target!

Voila!

Fun Boy (kid) Math Fact Practice. And, I’m sure there are other great ways to execute this (SPELLING WORDS come to mind)…

…and maybe for girls they’d like to dress up as their favorite princess and HIT it with a magic wand spell or something??? Honestly when I comes to girls I have no idea (sigh), but maybe it’s worth a try….

Anyway, we “practiced” in a variety of ways…slowly, quickly, in order, mixed up, and we made new number sentences, and the best thing is – they ASKED when we can do it again. Ah Ha!

Did I say THANK YOU JENNIFER!

So let me know what you think! Do you like this idea? Would you do it any differently? Any other great ideas for helping our kids with their homework pressures as we move closer and closer to the coveted summer break??

And as always…thanks for visiting Laura’s Choice!

Come back soon! Come back often! Come back, come back……come back!

Smooch!

Open Faced Refried Bean Sandwiches

March 10, 2015 by Laura Kubicki Leave a Comment

Ok. So you just had Burritos. YUM!

Now what to do with the refried beans and filling leftovers…

Sure I could make another burrito… and what the heck would be wrong with that????

But…if you’re in the mood to try another fun, quick lunch idea with refried beans instead (and you’ll want to use up your beans quickly as you know they only last a day or two in the fridge before they really start to stink to high heaven), here’s a great option for you (and me :o)). Refried Bean Sandwiches!!!

It’s so easy and gooey, warm and delicious, is a great protein source, is fun to eat, and is another surprisingly quick alternative to turkey and PB&J! See what you think! I’m pretty sure they’ll make you smile…

Open Faced Bean Sandwiches

From: Recipe Adapted from Beth Mochnick (thanks Mom!).

Ingredients:

Fat Free Refried Beans
4 Slices of whole wheat bread, toasted
A sprinkle of shredded cheddar
A sprinkle of shredded lettuce (iceberg gives a great crunch, romaine or other leafy lettuces deliver better nutrition – take your pick!)
Finely diced fresh tomatoes (optional – I have a hard time eating anything without tomatoes…)
Dash hot sauce (also optional)

Directions:

Toast bread slices. Spread beans liberally (about 2 TBS) over toast.
Sprinkle with cheese and broil for 2 minutes or until cheese is melted and beans are warmed.
Remove promptly from broiler, place on serving plate, and sprinkle shredded lettuce to taste on top.
Serve with a side of fruit. Hot sauce optional.

Comet The Cog

March 6, 2015 by Laura Kubicki 2 Comments

Ok. I just gotta share this.

I know, I know. There are hundreds of funny animal videos all over the internet and FB. They pop up practically every day…

Sigh.

Well my friends, yes. I. Have. One. Too.

Many of you know our cat Comet. He’s nothing short of hysterical. Everyone loves him – even cat haters like this cat. Promise. I tell you no lie!

Today he’s a big, fat, 14 year old, friendly, luv-ie, laaazzzy, lap baby. Wouldn’t hurt a thing (or move a muscle) – unless you’re a lizard, mole, or bird on a beautiful spring day…

But I digress. We now return to our regularly scheduled programming…

Jason shot this with our family cam nearly 14 YEARS ago. But with all the other videos out there – we just had to share this one. It’ll explain why we fondly refer to him as our “COG” (half cat/half dog). Boy has he made us laugh over the years…and keep your eyes peeled ’cause you just may see him from time to time wander into our food videos!

Til then, (drumroll) “hhhhheeeerrrrrrreeeessssss” Comet!

Hope you enjoyed and please share if you feel like it! Luv ya – really.