Tag Archives: summer

We Are Anti Bucket Lists

Ahhh, skip rocks, dip toes in a babbling brook, get eaten by mosquitoes–the joys of slow parenting.

It’s no secret that we are summer girls so the whole slow parenting idea going around the internet piqued our interest. In theory, this is how we do this season—without shoes or schedules. But once we got talking, we realized that, of course as with all things with labels, the truth is not that neatly tied with a bow, even one as pretty and appealing as slow parenting.

For one thing, there are some downsides. Some people think the slow parenting movement is all about privilege and it’s hard not to concede that point at least a little. We are after all talking about the choices we make when we have all the choices to make.

For all the other things, you are going to have to listen to our conversation. We promise to poke fun at Erin’s sense of nostalgia with a graduating senior, discuss our own worries about the dangers of too much nostalgia, and help you feel good about your decision to send your kid to summer camp (especially one as fun as the Sisterhood Summer camp) or not. We even talk about launching our own parenting philosophy to take over the internet.

We Are Anti Bucket Lists

In any case, we are having a great discussion about parenting, summer, and asking the question: What’s your philosophy? If you can fit us in between dips in the pool and some summer refreshments, get over here already.

-Erin and Ellen

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DIY Picnic Table to Coffee Table Transformation

Settle in kids for a little DIY story time. This tale has it all: love, villains, triumph, and transformation. And contrived drama. Much contrived drama.

DIY Picnic Table to Coffee Table Transformation -- A tale of reusing, recycling, and rebirth with a touch of design. Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

Once upon a time, there was a family who needed a table and chairs for their deck that would not crash through their sliding glass doors when the occasional hurricane would blow through. This family knew they were abysmal at battening down the hatches, but that’s okay because there is beauty in self-realization. They searched high and they searched low, and when they found this solid beauty, it was love at first sight.

DIY Picnic Table to Coffee Table Transformation -- A tale of reusing, recycling, and rebirth with a touch of design. Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

The family and the table got along famously. For the table’s part, it stayed firmly rooted in its spot, and for the lackadaisical family’s part, they managed to powerwash and stain it every now and again. For over a decade the table saw sunshine and it saw rain. It was there for birthday parties, cookouts, and even wintertime fun.

DIY Picnic Table to Coffee Table Transformation -- A tale of reusing, recycling, and rebirth with a touch of design. Sisterhood of the Sensible MomsBut alas, even solid picnic tables can fall in with some questionable characters. Villains come in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes they even buzz.

DIY Picnic Table to Coffee Table Transformation -- A tale of reusing, recycling, and rebirth with a touch of design. Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

I guess the question really begs, is the table to blame for letting it happen or did I turn a blind eye to the warning signs and let the table be victimized? Either way, carpenter bees swarmed into our life and pegged the underbelly of our table as prime burrowing grounds.

But as with all good tales and truly, in life itself, our villains were not all evil. True, carpenter bees tunnel and weaken unfinished wood, but they are also helluva good pollinators. They earned my clemency, but as you will see, it was not without a price.

I put the pesticides away and opted to plug up the holes during the cold months, just like the internet told me to. However, like Lindsay Lohan with traffic court, the bees would not, could not, stay away. I knew it was time to say good-bye to my old friend when a section of benches basically just crumbled.

Our tale was about to take a dark turn because it was with a heavy heart and many tools that I . . . went to town dismantling the table. Evidently, my sentimentality runs shallow when faced with the prospect of demolishing with abandon. With only a whack of a rubber mallet, several more of the benches and supports crumbled. But then I noticed something; the table top itself was solid and untouched.

I could not sentence a perfectly good tabletop to scrap. I was going to create the patio coffee table of my dreams with the added glory of repurposing, recycling, and reusing! Cue the swelling heroic soundtrack and the spectacular shazam glow around my person! Du-du-duh!

In just a few minutes I removed the screws attaching the top to the base, lifted it off, and proceeded to saw off part of the supports to use for coffee table legs. This project was only going to cost me a can of stain! Score!

DIY Picnic Table to Coffee Table Transformation -- A tale of reusing, recycling, and rebirth with a touch of design. Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

See how I just used the crossbeam support as a cutting guide? It was pretty easy to just saw it off with the handsaw. HOWEVER, in my enthusiasm, I didn’t really test the wood that well for integrity, and while the first piece I cut was solid, one of the other potential legs was not. Wah, wah.

But I only had to buy one board costing seven bucks, and with the one leg I cut off as a guide, I was able to whip out four new table legs with my chop saw in under five minutes. I just went ahead and cut four new legs because I was afraid the new wood would take stain differently than the old wood.

DIY Picnic Table to Coffee Table Transformation -- A tale of reusing, recycling, and rebirth with a touch of design. Sisterhood of the Sensible MomsI attached the legs through the original screw holes. Since I had some on hand, I used new deck screws. If you do opt for new fasteners, make sure they are rated for outside use so they can survive the elements. And speaking of the elements, make sure to use an outdoor stain like this Olympic Maximum that I had custom tinted to Cinder. It had great coverage, even with a foam brush.

DIY Picnic Table to Coffee Table Transformation -- A tale of reusing, recycling, and rebirth with a touch of design. Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

While indoor stains have a seductive rainbow of colors, they won’t last outdoors. I was satisfied with this gray because I just wanted some contrast and pop against the tan and red of my rug.

DIY Picnic Table to Coffee Table Transformation -- A tale of reusing, recycling, and rebirth with a touch of design. Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

I also made sure to stain the underside since the internet told me carpenter bees like unfinished wood. I can just here them buzzing, “Curses! Foiled again!”

DIY Picnic Table to Coffee Table Transformation -- A tale of reusing, recycling, and rebirth with a touch of design. Sisterhood of the Sensible MomsI finished up the look with some pillows I got from Lowe’s to tie the gray, red, and green together. It’s just so pretty and comfy out on my deck now. Don’t you just love a happy ending?

THE END

Afterword:

The hero admits her foible. I wish I had shopped around more for pillows–in particular these. I was hot to get this project done, and apparently two-day Prime shipping was just too long to wait. I am completely regretting my impulsive impatience. But you can get them on Amazon through this affiliate link here. They are SO CUTE!

-Ellen

pillows

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Turkey Burgers Are Sexy

This is for those times when your burger reminds you of . . . a catalog bound for the recycling bin.

Need some summer meal ideas? Check out these tasty turkey burgers! Delicious AND healthy recipe! Great for a party! Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

Erin: This is the time of year when my meal plan can safely be described as something akin to Hunter/Gather. “Forage anything edible from the fridge” seems a perfectly reasonable solution to the daily dinner question once I have taken my parenting poolside. So you can imagine my joy when my sister made these incredible turkey burgers for us at the beach. Not only did I get a delicious meal, but I now have a new summer meal plan: Grill tons of these turkey burgers. Repeat. ALL. SUMMER. LONG.

Ellen: Not to sound skeptical, but turkey burgers can be hard to do. They can get dried out.

Erin: Exactly! A lot of turkey burgers remind me of a Pottery Barn catalog . . .

Ellen: Why so specific? Why Pottery Barn over say, Ann Taylor?

Erin: I guess it’s the texture.

Ellen: Like a sisal rug?

Erin: Yeah! And also kinda like you’re supposed to like Pottery Barn, but it really isn’t all that. You know, like turkey burgers are supposed to be all sexy because they are healthy for you, but they taste like doormats. But not my sister’s, they definitely fall into the sexy category.

Ellen: On that note, behold Karen’s sexy, non-periodical tasting, amazing turkey burgers.

Sexiest, Most Delicious Turkey Burgers

 Sexiest, Most Delicious Turkey Burgers

INGREDIENTS

One pound lean ground turkey

4-6 white/cremini mushrooms (you can be creative here and use your favorite but you will need about 3 ounces) *diced very very fine

1/2 small white, yellow or red onion *diced very, very fine

2 Tablespoons Montreal Steak Seasoning

2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce

DIRECTIONS

Dice the mushrooms very, very fine.

Dice the onions very, very fine. You can go so far as to mince the onion but don't try to mince mushrooms. They get weird and pasty if you do that. If you haven't guessed, the dicing is the key to this recipe. You really want to infuse the flavor of the onion and the mushroom without making them take center stage. Their job here is mainly to help moisten the turkey burger AND give it full fat flavor and texture without the full fat of regular beef. If you are confused about the difference between mincing and dicing, mincing makes less uniform, smaller, more irregularly shaped pieces while dicing produces more uniform little cubes between 1/8 and 1/4 inch. Need a visual? Check out the great picture on this site.

Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl with your hands.

Pat into 4 patties. Unlike beef, you don't need to worry about over-handling because of all of the good stuff you added to the mix. Mix, pat, and you are good to go.

Cook over medium high heat, 4-5 minutes per side, until thoroughly cooked through. These are really great fried up in a cast-iron skillet, so if you have one of those, give that cooking method a try.

http://www.sisterhoodofthesensiblemoms.com/2015/06/turkey-burgers-are-sexy/

These are so delicious they are worth every second dicing and mincing. They will also help you fit into the bathing suits you bought at the beginning of the season by the end of it.

Special thanks to Erin’s sister Karen and brother-in-law Dan for cooking up a special turkey burger recipe that is the perfect combination of delicious and good-for-our-“bottom”-lines. It’s easy and inexpensive too. Enjoy!

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Best Gift Guide for Dads

We heard a rumor that gifts for dads can be a little tricky. We feel fortunate that there are two of us to brainstorm for some perfect gifts. You are lucky too, because we are sharing these gems of ideas with you. Here is our best gift guide for dads.

Father's Day Gift Guide for dads---Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

Rode VMGO Video Mic GO Lightweight On-Camera Microphone

This is the perfect gift for any proud Papa. The microphone works easily with DSLRs and mirrorless cameras alike. This mean that whether he’s recording baby’s first steps or a graduation ceremony,  Dad will have supersonic, crystal clear audio.

Father's Day Gift Guide: passive microphone to work with DSLR and mirrorless cameras--Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

Superhero Mug Dad is everybody’s hero, but mornings might be his Kryptonite. Make sure your superhero is ready for his day with a mug that reminds him just how special you think he is.

Father's Day Gift Idea: Superhero Dad mug---Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

R2D2 Trashcan Is there any other way to make a thankless chore this much fun? This one is a slam-dunk.

Father's Day Gift Idea: Star Wars R2D2 Trashcan--Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

Pulse Dimmable LED Light with Wireless Bluetooth Speakers (Pair), Powered by JBL How crazy are these? You screw them into any can or track lighting, and you have awesome Bluetooth speakers plus a light show. By downloading an app, you control it all from your smartphone. You seriously have to check them out to appreciate just how cool they are. LEDspeakers Photo Video Lighting Kit 3 Muslin Backdrop Background Stand And Lighting Kit Is Dad a budding photographer? Help him up his game with this awesome backdrop and lighting kit. Picture perfect Christmas card anyone? Well, maybe perfect is setting the bar a little high. but at least it will be nicely lit. backdrop Dad Is Fat by Jim Gaffigan This book is hilarious and Ellen approved! Just make sure Dad knows you’re providing him with the gift of laughter and not a big ol’ hint (unless you want it to be a hint to lay off the cheese fries, that is). dadisfat   Star Wars Expressions of Vader Men’s T-Shirt While we’re talking humor, why not check out this shirt? Ellen’s girls gave it to Frank  a couple of years ago and to this day, it’s one of his favorite gifts of all times. Can’t you tell from the expression on his face? Top row, middle Darth. darth   Hog Wild Toys Air Strike Catapult Got a father who is a kid at heart? He’ll love this economical and super awesome catapult. Just warn the cat or dog to take cover. catapult

Fujifilm Instax Share Smartphone Printer  This is all kinds of fun. Use the app to connect this printer to any smartphone. Simply choose a photo and it will create a small, instant Instax print of the photo. Lots of people can connect to it at once which makes it great for parties and a winner for any tech-y, photo-loving dad.

Father's Day Gift Idea: wireless smartphone printer--Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

Super Graphic: A Visual Guide to the Comic Book Universe This guide is THE book for the Dad who still loves his comics. There are cool infographics on every page visually representing the kind of minutiae that feeds the soul of a true fan. One of our favorites is a timeline of How Long Characters Stayed Dead. Erin’s kids gave this to Steve last year and it lives on his bedside table and remains a true favorite.supergraphic   Bond 50: The Complete 23 Film Collection with Skyfall [Blu-ray]  Unless this baby is already sitting in your permanent collection, it’s the perfect gift. Erin may or may not have this wrapped under the bed for the big day. james-bond-50th-anniversary-giveaway-1066474-flash Big Green Egg Mini Egg It’s no secret that boys love to barbecue. The Mac Daddy of grills is the Big Green Egg. This mini sized version is perfect for the man who loves to tailgate or camp. He can have his perfect burgers and take him with him too.mini-nest300x361   Fitbit Flex Wireless Activity + Sleep Wristband Nothing says “we love you” like a gift that helps Dad be his best, most healthy self. This Fit Bit tracks steps, calories, sleep, and helps keep your favorite guy on track so you can be celebrating Father’s Day with him for many years to come. accessories-4949a-450x350 WORX 5-Amp Electric JawSaw with Extension Handle Ellen gave this to her husband two years ago and it is one of the best investments she ever made. It is quick and easy to use (Ellen has no problem lifting or operating it, either). Part pruner, part chainsaw (but much safer) it cuts through branches up to four inches in diameter in seconds. The extension pole eliminates the need for a ladder much of the time. In a nutshell, this is worth the investment because of its ease and safety. worx   Poleish Sports Standard Game Set Looking for some new summer fun? This game combines elements of virtually all outdoor games and lawn sports. Throwing, catching, strategy, teamwork, offense, and defense are part of every toss in game play. You really need to check it out. It may or ay not be on its way to Ellen’s house as we speak. sports game   SKLZ Gold Flex Strength and Tempo Trainer Does your man like his games more traditional? How about this golf trainer? Even the best can be improved, but don’t tell him we said that. Golf Trainer

BlackRapid 35″ Shot Camera Strap  Made from super-strong, orange nylon webbing, this camera strap attaches to the camera’s tripod socket. Hanging upside down at your side rather than around your neck and available in two versions, one that goes over your shoulder and another that goes across your body like a typical R-strap, this is a special gift for your photo-junkie papa. With this strap, he can make sure that he is camera-ready for all of the moments–big and small.

Father's Day Gift Idea: camera strap---Sisterhood of the Sensible MomsThis post contains affiliate links, which means we receive a small compensation from Amazon if you make a purchase using them. Thanks for shopping!

Of course, these gifts could also double for any teen guys or grads.

Just sayin’.

The Manly Gift Guide for all of the boys in your life. - Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

 -Erin and Ellen

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Hit it Out of the Ballpark With this Hot Dog Bar

People have strong opinions about serious things like hot dogs.

Erin’s husband Steve is a purist. He likes his hot dog boiled and then topped with yellow mustard and a little relish. If you can wrap it in foil and he can eat it in a ballpark watching his beloved Orioles play, all the better. This post is not for him.

It is,  however, most assuredly for you. Summer is approaching full swing now. Time to dust off your inner Donna Reed and get ready to play the hostess with the mostest.  Unfortunately, May is also about the time that your energy hits a brick wall because you have been running ragged to and from sports banquets/graduations/dances/concerts. And don’t forget it ’tis the season for outdoor maintenance. As if taking care of the inside and everyone in it isn’t job enough.

The Sisterhood is here to help, because we LOVE to party. Last Father’s Day, Erin’s mother-in-law set up a hot dog bar to feed the masses.  Nearly all the work for this one was on the front end which meant more time partying and less time prepping.   Even better, the minions LERVED it so much that nobody complained. This meant the adults could partake of some tasty beverages and indulge in uninterrupted chitchat. These hot dog recipes come together to create the ultimate party plan, we swear.

Reinvigorate your summer party plans with an easy, but delicious hot dog bar full of tasty surprises (and recipes). Pimiento cheese or blue cheese devil toppings anyone? | Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

 

1. Forget the grill. Fire up the crockpot.

Have you ever seen Erin pull up in front of your house? It’s like a clown car spewing a never-ending stream of kids from both minivan doors. Feed the herd or be trampled by it, we always say, so save yourself the hassle and some potential heat stroke by skipping the grill.

You can roast up to 60 hot dogs by placing them standing up in a crockpot and turning it on low for 2-3 hours. You DO NOT need to add water. It couldn’t be easier. Honestly.

You can rotate them around a little about halfway through but if you forget because you are too busy playing in the pool, everything will turn out just fine. If you are roasting about half that many hot dogs, you can lay them on their sides.

The crockpot means you have lots of hot dogs good and ready for all their fixins.

2. Set up the bar.

If your family is anything like ours, they can be a little slow on the uptake. Spell it out for them. Include directions on what kind of dogs you can make with each fixin’. You’ll appreciate the hundred questions you headed off at the pass. We added pictures to help with that whole slow-on-the-uptake issue, but you could use folded cards or little chalkboards with the recipes on them.

Reinvigorate your summer party plans with an easy, but delicious hot dog bar full of tasty surprises (and recipes). Pimiento cheese or blue cheese devil toppings anyone? | Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

Make sure you have rolls and traditional toppings like mustard and ketchup available too. We always offer a yellow mustard, a spicy mustard, and an atomic spicy mustard.

We also make sure there’s some cole slaw, pasta salad, and fruit salad to round out the bar. We always add a little of Aunt Ardell’s Blueberry Teacake to finish the meal.

Reinvigorate your summer party plans with an easy, but delicious hot dog bar full of tasty surprises (and recipes). Pimiento cheese or blue cheese devil toppings anyone? | Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

3. Prep each fixin’.

Blue Cheese Devil Topping

Reinvigorate your summer party plans with an easy, but delicious hot dog bar full of tasty surprises (and recipes). Pimiento cheese or blue cheese devil toppings anyone? | Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

Blue Cheese Devil Topping

To make the Blue Cheese Devil Topping (click here for the printable recipe):

1/2 cup mayo

1/2 cup blue cheese, crumbled

2 medium green onions, minced (yields about 2 Tablespoons)

1 Tablespoon Sriracha sauce

4 hard-boiled eggs, chopped

Mix well and serve.

 

Pimiento Cheese Topping

Reinvigorate your summer party plans with an easy, but delicious hot dog bar full of tasty surprises (and recipes). Pimiento cheese or blue cheese devil toppings anyone? | Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

Pimiento Cheese Topping

To make the Pimiento Cheese topping (Click here for a printable recipe):

1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 cup minced pimientos

1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce

4 Tablespoons of mayo

Mix well and serve.

 

BLT Topping

Reinvigorate your summer party plans with an easy, but delicious hot dog bar full of tasty surprises (and recipes). Pimiento cheese or blue cheese devil toppings anyone? | Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

BLT Topping

 Our crew loves BLTs because duh. BLT topped hot dogs? Doggone good!

Just set up a tray with the mayo, bacon, lettuce, and tomato and, voila, instant favorite.

Sometimes you just want a little something new, something fresh, something a little exciting and different. Stop daydreaming about a cabana boy and start warming up to the idea of this hot dog bar. Whether you are whooping it up poolside, seaside, or out on the porch, patio, or lawn, this is a great way to get your party on, Sisterhood-style. We plan to follow our own advice and we hope you do too.

Erin and Ellen

 This post was originally published July, 2014.

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Ten Easy Ways to Keep Your Kids Healthy and Safe This Summer

Summer fun is a-coming and frankly nothing could make us happier. We are truly ourselves when the temperatures rise and footwear becomes optional. But we have kids so we know that the number one key to summer fun is keeping everyone out of the ER or sickbay. Here are the best ways to keep your kids healthy and safe to let the summer fun roll–with as few bumps and bruises as possible.

Want to keep your kids and family safe and healthy all summer long? We have 10 easy ideas | Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

1. Teach your kid to be safe around water.

Erin was a swim instructor and lifeguard for seven years. The very best thing you can do for your kids if you plan to even look at water this summer is make sure everyone can swim. Find a reputable place for some lessons and then commit the time and resources to get this one done.

But we have a caveat to this very sage advice: real lessons shouldn’t start until age 4. Swimming lessons are not a replacement for common  sense and they can give a false sense of security. By all means, have your kids take lessons as early and often as you are able, but know this truth: just because your child can swim a little and very young kids can swim, it does not mean they have enough stamina to swim out and then back to safety, a key marker of a competent swimmer.

Keep kids safe near water. This and 9 other tips for  keeping kids healthy and safe this summer--Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

Other ESSENTIAL water safety tips:

  • Make a hard and fast rule that no one enters ANY body of water (even backyard kiddie pools) without a buddy. Accidents happen even to great swimmers, even in inches of water.
  • No diving into unknown or shallow water. Period.
  • Teach them what to do when they are caught in a riptide. In this case, what you don’t know could most definitely kill you. The threat is real: on average, more people die from riptides than hurricanes or tornados. Lest we not forget that Anne Hathaway almost drowned in Hawaii last summer after getting caught in a riptide, but kids don’t need to be scared so much as prepared. You will never outswim a riptide, but you can outsmart it.
  • Never leave a swimming child unattended. We both have kids who have spent a season or five on a swim team and would easily qualify as strong swimmers. There is no way we would let any of our kids ever swim unattended. We’ll say it again: accidents happen even to great swimmers, even in inches of water.

2. Be sun safe.

Be sun safe. This and 9 other ideas to keep your kids healthy and safe this summer--Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

Barbecued kids are the exact opposite of fun. Unless you want to follow a fantastic day of fun in the sun with a rigid schedule of aloe applications and whining, heed this advice. Invest in copious amounts of sunscreen, purchase hats for everyone, and spend a small fortune on swim shirts if you plan to spend any decent time on a shore (and you should, you really, really should). Everyone knows pasty is the new black, and your kids’ future dermatologists will thank you.

3. Make sure they know their digits.

When Erin’s reformed wild child was younger, she was lost a lot—on beaches, at amusement parks, and in the neighborhood. Those moments when that cute little redhead was out of sight were terrifying and the only thing that tempered Erin’s fear was the knowledge that her daughter was fully prepared to give her parents’ names and phone numbers to any police officer, lifeguard, or kindly adult who found her first. Teach your child your proper full name and phone number. If you have an escape artist who can’t quite speak up yet, these Travel ID Bands are great when you are out and about.

4. Keep them hydrated.

We spend a lot of time hiking with our kids, and we have internalized this truth we stole from scouting: a dehydrated kid is a dead kid. Brains are 80% water, so not drinking enough water doesn’t just make you thirsty, it impairs your judgment. That’s when accidents happen. Make this a family rule: nobody walks anywhere without a water bottle.  Learn to recognize the signs of dehydration and get out of the sun and hydrated as soon as possible.

5. Know the basics of first aid.

Fun doesn’t have a dark underbelly, so much as an inconvenient truth: doing awesome fun stuff sometimes means kids are going to get hurt. Good moms and dads know when a boo-boo needs 911. It also helps to make your family a traveling First Aid Kit and leave it in the minivan for all your on-the-go medical needs.

First aid is a big part of staying safe in the summer. Know when to call 911---Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

Dr. Ellen is never really off duty, even when on vacation.

First Aid can also get crafty. We are big fans of the homemade flexible ice-gel pack. All you need is a half-cup of water and a half-cup of alcohol in a sealable bag. Freeze for 2 hours. You are good to go for all your ice packing needs.

6. Protect them properly.

Make sure your kids are safely outfitted for whatever they are doing. If they are biking, make sure they have helmets that fit. If they are hiking, make sure that they have shoes that fit. Make sure they are properly padded and all equipment is in working order before they hit the surf, sand, or pavement.

7.  Know your local critters.

There’s a story behind that snake bite kit Ellen carries, but it doesn’t hurt to remember that knowing your way around your great outdoors before you wander into it is a smart move.

  • Teach kids to identify some local foliage especially poison ivy, oak, and sumac to avoid spending a small fortune on calamine lotion.
  • But also check to see if your area has any venomous snakes or spiders.
  • It also bears noting that smaller critters can pack a punch. Mosquitos and ticks are notorious suckers of summer fun because of the diseases they carry. Learn to recognize the signs for  West Nile virusRocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Lyme’s disease. Three of Erin’s family members have had Lyme and only one of them presented with the rash. Keep an eye out for flu-like symptoms in summer months and ask for a simple blood test to rule out the possibility.

It’s the wild animal world, and we’re all just traipsing through it. Keep you and yours out of harm’s way by knowing which critters need a little wider berth.

Know your local critters. This and 9 other ideas to keep your kids healthy and safe this summer--Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

You never know who might want to share the beach with you.

8. Never leave a kid in a car.

This seems ridiculous to have to say out loud, but every summer we both are astounded by the number of cases we read about in the paper. Never do this. Ever. That is all.

9. Teach the buddy system.

Better than “no man gets left behind”, this is “no man goes it alone.” Kids and adults are safer traveling in twos . . . or fours or a whole herd. In any case, teach your kids to bring a friend not just for the memories and extra fun but for safety’s sake.

Always bring a buddy. This and 9 other ideas to keep your kids healthy and safe this summer--Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

10. Fire up the old library card.

This is for their protection and your sanity. Video games all day is a surefire way to make everyone teeter on the edge of family dysfunction. A trip to the library won’t just engage their minds, but it might inspire projects that will keep them quiet for hours. This should give you a little time to catch up on your own reading, a just reward for all your awesome and safe summer funning.

Have a safe, healthy, and super fun summer!

Erin and Ellen

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Ellen’s Famous Peaches and Cream Pie

My general philosophy: If it’s not chocolate, it’s not worth the calories . . . EXCEPT when it comes to this peaches and cream pie. But as good as this pie is, it only makes an appearance once a year because I am a stickler about using fresh peaches. But by one appearance, I really mean I make it three to five times during August and September. Hmm, I probably should call it a seasonal favorite.

As the years pass, what I become less of a stickler about is the pie crust. Since Anna from My Life and Kids posted this recipe last year, I have been using it as my go-to crust. So easy. But you know what is even easier? Using Pillsbury Readymade Refrigerated Pie Crust. When I am pressed for time, I use it AND NO ONE EVER KNOWS THE DIFFERENCE. Maybe I just bake for non-discerning people, but I know I make this pie more often when I don’t have to hunt for my rolling pin.

Ellen's Famous Peaches and Cream Pie - So good you'll pass over chocolate for it! -- Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

Ingredients

9 inch pie crust, unbaked: My Life & Kids recipe or Pillsbury Readymade refrigerated crust
3 cups peeled, pitted and chopped peaches. (At least 6 to 7 large.)
3/4 cups granulated sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 egg beaten
2 egg whites beaten or 1/3 cup liquid egg whites beaten
1/2 cup nonfat sour cream

TOPPING:
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons butter, room temperature

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Roll out pie crust and press into a 9 inch pie plate.
Spoon peaches into the crust.
In a small bowl, combine 3/4 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour and the salt.
Add egg, egg whites, and sour cream to the bowl, stirring until well blended.
Spoon mixture over peaches.

FOR THE TOPPING: In another small bowl, combine 1/3 cup sugar and 1/3 cup flour.
With pastry blender or two knives, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse meal.
Sprinkle mixture evenly over pie.
Bake for about 1 hour, but start checking on it at 50 minutes. The crumb topping should just have a hint of golden brown.

Ellen’s Famous Peaches and Cream Pie

Ellen’s Famous Peaches and Cream Pie

INGREDIENTS

9 inch pie crust. Either use a Pillsbury ReadyMade refrigerated pie crust or the recipe from My Life and Kids.

3 cups peeled, pitted and chopped peaches. (At least 6 to 7 large.)

3/4 cups granulated sugar

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 egg beaten

2 egg whites beaten or 1/3 cup liquid egg whites beaten

1/2 cup nonfat sour cream

Topping:

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

4 tablespoons butter, room temperature

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Roll out pie crust and press into a 9 inch pie plate.

Spoon peaches into the crust.

In a small bowl, combine 3/4 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour and the salt.

Add egg, egg whites, and sour cream to the bowl, stirring until well blended.

Spoon mixture over peaches.

For the Topping:

In another small bowl, combine 1/3 cup sugar and 1/3 cup flour.

With pastry blender or two knives, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse meal.

Sprinkle mixture evenly over pie.

Bake for about 1 hour, but start checking on it at 50 minutes. The crumb topping should just have a hint of golden brown.

Notes

Best served warm. Ice cream or whipped cream is a nice addition.

http://www.sisterhoodofthesensiblemoms.com/2014/09/ellens-famous-peaches-cream-pie/


 

Ellen's Famous Peaches and Cream Pie - Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms - So yummy warm!

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Hold Onto Summer Book List

 

Need a great easy read? Check out this beach booklist sure to take you from summer to fall. Heck, they would even be good for a snow day.---Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

Pumpkins may be pushing pool noodles from the shelves, but there is still summer to be had! The sun is still blazing, our legs are still sticking to the car seats, and more importantly, there are still some great beach reads to be devoured.

Now when we say “Beach Reads” we are not talking about bare chested studs astride white stallions. We’re talking about novels that are easy to get lost in—the ones that leave you wanting the next page and sad when they are over. They are easy, enjoyable reads with interesting stories and rich character development.

Actually, they’re just good, solid books perfect for any time, but why not use a last hurrah to summer as the perfect excuse to load up your Kindle or pile up your nightstand?

 

A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams

While the intrigue may not be so deep that you are profoundly shocked, this sweeping saga still pulls you through the pages and leaves you deliciously wondering from time to time. But the real charm of this novel lies in its richly sculpted characters and relationships. Williams examines class standing, prejudice, and the complicated nature of female relationships in a truly satisfying way. Set in the socialite scene of the 1930s, this novel is as glamorous as it is gritty as it plunges into the treachery of family secrets and true love.

The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner

This is the perfect Hollywood success story with the gilt of perfection delightfully rubbed bare in a number of places. You’ll love the quirky main character, Ruthie, the screenwriter with the tragic back story, whose real heart and soul inspire you to cheer for her from the very first page. How can you not love a character whose grandmother will follow her across the country to help her realize her dream? This book has it all–love, betrayal, and a delightful comeuppance. This peek behind the Hollywood curtain will have you missing 30 Rock a little less.

Beautiful Day by Elin Hildebrand

This is the story of planning a wedding day, a real wedding day rife with disasters, not the stuff of princess dreams. Money is no object, so everything should be falling into place, but everything is actually starting to unravel. At the heart of the story is The Notebook, the instruction manual the bride-to-be’s mother wrote for her before she died. This tale is at times wistful and sometimes heartbreaking, but it is written with a light touch and is always entertaining. At first it seems like each character has his or her own side story going on, but it soon becomes apparent that each tale is part of the messy tapestry woven when two families join through marriage. It is the multiple points of view that make this novel as tasty as a slice of wedding cake.

Defending Jacob by William Landay

This book was so popular among Erin’s family and friends LAST summer that it took us a year to track it down.

Totally worth the wait.

A legal thriller that would feel right at home next to your favorite Grishams and Turows, this one will keep you guessing and turning pages until the end.  Landay may delve into some of the fears and insecurities of modern parenting and he may write very believable, relatable characters, but ultimately you will devour this one because it’s a good old-fashioned whodunit and that’s always a good read.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Who’s looking for some book crack?

We found it!

Erin laughed, cried, and ignored her kids for three days to finish this one in the big, sloppy gulps it demands. You know from the beginning that there has been a terrible tragedy at the local school’s Trivia Night, because Moriarty leaves little crumbs at the end of each chapter. But that’s not the story here. This is NOT another legal thriller.

A big, sprawling character study of modern moms, it may be. An ironic, funny take on modern parenting, it definitely is! It’s also a rollicking good time. You’ll laugh and cringe at just how right Moriarty gets all the characters hanging out in the school parking lot. A great read to get you ready for back-to-school while still soaking up that last joyful moment of summer indulgence.

Enjoy this summer book list and your last few days of summer!

 Erin and Ellen

 

 

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Our Dirty Little Back To School Secret

Are you jumping for joy for Back to School? Find out "Our Dirty Little Back To School Secret" - Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

We have a dirty little secret . . .

Come a little closer . . .

Closer . . .

WE HATE THAT OUR KIDS ARE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL!

Erin: Whoa, I just felt pitchforks clanking and hackles raising through the WiFi waves!

Ellen: Don’t kick us off of the island! We honor your fist bumping and heel clicking, really we do. Those of you whooping it up, may we quote that great philosopher, Garth of Wayne’s World fame, and say, “Party on!”

Erin: Yes. What it really boils down to is we are a little selfish. The stone cold truth is that summer is our time to just be. No lunches to pack, no carpools to drive, no sports teams to tolerate, and no calendars to check . . .

Ellen: And re-check and then check again and then still mess things up. Dammit.

Erin: It means that we have time with our kids . . .

Ellen: Who we adore so much it hurts.

Erin: But we also have time for us. Books that sit all year on that bedside table finally get read when the only thing on the agenda is dipping our toes in the pool or hanging out on the dock.

Ellen: Oh, aren’t you sounding so erudite. Um, a good chunk of our time was spent goofing around like this:

Our Dirty Little Back to School Secret - Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

Erin flipped the script and finally got her revenge on Ellen for her (more than occasional) crabbiness.

 

And swinging around like this:

Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms: Our Dirty Little Back To School Secret. Does it involve swinging? Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't.

Okay now. This is the only “swinging” that takes place in The Sisterhood. Geez.

 

And fangirling like this:

Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms - Our Dirty Little Back To School Secret: Let's go crazy, crazy, crazy!

One Direction 4EVER! What? Cougars love 1D too.

 

Erin:  It’s just that summer gives me time to really remember myself–not Queen-of-the-Crockpot Erin, not Homework-Task-Master-Erin, not Supreme Champion of Scheduling Erin, just Erin. Summer means time lost in pages of favorite books or spent paddling into sunsets on favorite waters or playing lazy long games. It’s exploring favorite trails and visiting special friends . . .

Ellen: Wait, whose summer are we talking about? When did you have all this time?

Erin: What!? I read. I paddled. I played.

Ellen: Yes, but the picture you’re painting makes me envision you sitting on a porch swing while a ceiling fan lazily turns above you, cooling you just enough. I picture you sipping lemonade as a single drop of condensation slides down the side of your crystal goblet. Oh, and there is a rainbow, definitely a rainbow. With a unicorn. And no bugs. Oh, and what else is absent from this picture? Let’s see. Oh, no kids asking you questions every 15 seconds.

Every time I have talked to you on the phone or been in your presence you have been shushing kids and saying, “JUST GIVE ME A MINUTE!!”

Erin: Weeellllll, summer does also mean a houseful. Not all of the kids I’m shooing away are even mine. It’s like a clown car when I slide back the minivan doors at the community pool. The lifeguard must think I have ten kids.

Ellen: And nothing adds to a mom’s feelings of peace and tranquility like a visit to a community pool.

Erin: Okay, the chaos is still there, but at least I don’t have to get kids to two different schools, make sure everyone has their homework done, and keep my lesson plans on track. The buzzing around me does increase by about twenty-fold, but there is just more space in my head.

Ellen: Okay. THAT I can accept. You were starting to sound like a crazy person.

Erin: <sigh> Maybe it really is time to go back to school.

Ellen: Now I feel like I was too hard on you. We will really miss the fun times with our kids. There was a huge chunk that was pretty darn Instagram-worthy. Like this:

Our Dirty Little Back To School Secret - Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

And this:

Our Dirty Little Back To School Secret - Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

And this:

Our Dirty Little Back To School Secret - Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

Ellen: We sure did a lot of jumping.

Erin: On that note, it really is time for us to “jump” back into school again too. Dirty little secret or no, the moment has come to exchange the boogie boards for the backpacks whether we like it or not.

Ellen: Well, I’m trading in my “jumping” for kicking and screaming. I don’t wanna start the routine again. Okay, maybe, I’ll just quietly kick and whine in my head. Being a good example for the kids and all of that nonsense.

Erin: We really have to go back to school. Right?

Ellen: <sigh> We really do.

 

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