Blueberries & Peanut Butter

Book Review: Ravens by George Dawes Green

2009-07-21T12:34:00.005-05:00

Here is the book description from the Hachette Book Group website:

"The Boatwrights just won 318 million dollars in the Georgia State lottery. It's going to be the worst day of their lives.

When Shaw McBride and Romeo Zderko pull up at a convenience store off I-95 in Georgia, their only thought is to fix a leaky tire and be on their way again to Florida-away from their dull Ohio tech-support jobs. But this happens to be the store from which a 318,000,000 million dollar Jackpot ticket has just been sold -- and when a pretty clerk accidentally reveals to Shaw the identity of the winning family, he hatches a ferociously audacious scheme: He and Romeo will squeeze the family for half their prize.

That night, he visits the Boatwright home and takes the family hostage, while Romeo patrols the streets nearby, prepared to murder the Boatwrights' loved ones at any sign of resistance. At first, the family offers none. But Shaw's plot depends on maintaining constant fear-merciless, unfaltering terror-and soon, under the pressure, everyone's sanity begins to unravel . . .

At once frightening, comic, and suspenseful, RAVENS is a wholly original and utterly compelling novel from one of our most talented writers."

I found "Ravens" to be a very unique novel and enjoyed Green's writing style. The book moves along at a great pace and is very entertaining. If you love psychological thrillers then I definitely recommend this book! This is the first of Green's books that I have read and it won't be the last.

Book Review: Swimsuit by James Patterson

2009-05-18T13:51:00.005-05:00

As stated in an earlier post, I am and always have been, a fan of James Patterson. I have always found his talent level to be consistent and really enjoy reading his books. His newest novel, SWIMSUIT (co-authored with Maxine Paetro) held up to my expectations.

Here is the book description from the Hachette Book Group website:

"Syd, a breathtakingly beautiful supermodel on a photo shoot in Hawaii, disappears. Fearing the worst, her parents travel to Hawaii to investigate for themselves, never expecting the horror that awaits them.

LA Times reporter Ben Hawkins is conducting his own research into the case, hoping to help the victim and get an idea for his next bestseller. With no leads and no closer to uncovering the kidnapper's identity than when he stepped off the plane, Ben gets a shocking visit that pushes him into an impossible-to-resist deal with the devil.

A heart-pounding story of fear and desire, SWIMSUIT transports readers to a chilling new territory where the collision of beauty and murder transforms paradise into a hell of unspeakable horrors."

In SWIMSUIT, we are told right away who the killer is. In this book, what we are reading to find out is why he did it and will he get caught. As always with James Patterson's novels the book is a fast-paced, page-turner! If you have not yet discovered Patterson, then this is a good book to start with as it is a stand-alone novel, not part of any of his previous series.

Look for it on June 29, 2009! You will not be disappointed!

Book Review- The Scarecrow

2009-04-22T12:54:00.005-05:00

It has been awhile since I have read a book by Michael Connelly and after reading his newest book, THE SCARECROW, I see that he hasn't lost his touch!

From the Hachette Book Group website:

"Forced out of the Los Angeles Times amid the latest budget cuts, newspaperman Jack McEvoy decides to go out with a bang, using his final days at the paper to write the definitive murder story of his career.

He focuses on Alonzo Winslow, a 16-year-old drug dealer in jail after confessing to a brutal murder. But as he delves into the story, Jack realizes that Winslow's so-called confession is bogus. The kid might actually be innocent.

Jack is soon running with his biggest story since The Poet made his career years ago. He is tracking a killer who operates completely below police radar--and with perfect knowledge of any move against him. Including Jack's."

THE SCARECROW like so many other of Connelly's books is full of action and is a fast ride from start to finish. Not only is the plot intriguing, the characters are also very interesting. I particularly enjoyed the look inside the mind of the Scarecrow. It is easy to see why Connelly is a best-selling author and fans of his work will definitely not be disappointed with his newest thriller!

Book Review- Undress Me In the Temple of Heaven

2009-03-15T14:44:00.006-05:00

Before I begin this review I just have to say that I absolutely LOVED this book!

To get started, here is a summary of UNDRESS ME IN THE TEMPLE OF HEAVEN from the Hachette Book Group website:

"They were young, brilliant, and bold. They set out to conquer the world. But the world had other plans for them.

Bestselling author Susan Jane Gilman's new memoir is a hilarious and harrowing journey, a modern heart of darkness filled with Communist operatives, backpackers, and pancakes.

In 1986, fresh out of college, Gilman and her friend Claire yearned to do something daring and original that did not involve getting a job. Inspired by a place mat at the International House of Pancakes, they decided to embark on an ambitious trip around the globe, starting in the People's Republic of China. At that point, China had been open to independent travelers for roughly ten minutes.

Armed only with the collected works of Nietzsche, an astrological love guide, and an arsenal of bravado, the two friends plunged into the dusty streets of Shanghai. Unsurprisingly, they quickly found themselves in over their heads. As they ventured off the map deep into Chinese territory, they were stripped of everything familiar and forced to confront their limitations amid culture shock and government surveillance. What began as a journey full of humor, eroticism, and enlightenment grew increasingly sinister-becoming a real-life international thriller that transformed them forever.

Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven is a flat-out page-turner, an astonishing true story of hubris and redemption told with Gilman's trademark compassion, lyricism, and wit."

I am a big fan of memoirs. I just enjoy reading about other people's lives, especially those who live very interesting ones! Susan Jane Gilman's memoir is very funny and one of the most engaging that I have read.

Her adventures traveling the world with her friend were extremly entertaining and expertly described. I could completely picture everything that was happening, even images that I would rather not see!

UNDRESS ME IN THE TEMPLE OF HEAVEN is a very memorable book and I wish that there were more out there like it!

Book Review: Galway Bay

2009-02-22T15:52:00.005-06:00

Here is a brief description of "Galway Bay" from the Hachette website:

“Here at last is one Irish family's epic journey, capturing the tragedy and triumph of the Irish-American experience. In a rousing tale that echoes the myths and legends of Ireland herself, young Honora Keeley and Michael Kelly wed and start a family, inhabiting a hidden Ireland where fishermen and tenant farmers find solace in their ancient faith, songs, stories, and communal celebrations. Selling both their catch--and their crops--to survive, these people subsist on the potato crop--their only staple food. But when blight destroys the potatoes three times in four years, a callous government and uncaring landlords turn a natural disaster into The Great Starvation that will kill one million. Honora and Michael vow their children will live. The family joins two million other Irish refugees in one of the greatest rescues in human history: the Irish Emigration to America. Danger and hardship await them there. Honora and her unconventional sister Maire watch their seven sons as they transform Chicago from a frontier town to the "City of the Century", fight the Civil War, and enlist in the cause of Ireland's freedom. The Kelly clan is victorious. This heroic story sheds brilliant light on the ancestors of today's 44 million Irish Americans.”

When the package first arrived with Mary Pat Kelly’s “Galway Bay” to review, I will admit that I found the sheer size of the book to be a little bit daunting. Encompassing 562 pages, the work is not something that you are going to breeze through in a day. However, once I started reading the book, I found that it was very difficult to put down and even wish that it would have been a little bit longer!

If you have any Irish heritage or are interested in historical novels, then I think you will find this book to be very interesting. Although it is a work of fiction, the events in the book are historically accurate. I completely enjoyed being transported back to a time long ago and I learned a lot about Irish history by reading the book, particularly of the potato famine. Kelly is extremely knowledgeable about the topic of which she writes which makes for a credible and intriguing novel!

Book Review: The Makedown

2009-02-05T15:43:00.006-06:00

When Anna Norton hit the age of ten, she went from average into a "steep descent into ugly." (p.3) She developed cystic acne, unruly eyebrows, greasy hair, and gained a lot of weight. This wreaked havoc on her self-esteem and thus her existence was not pleasant. She makes a move from Ohio to New York and aided by the guidance of her "Fairy Godmother" and employer she makes a remarkable transformation and snags herself a handsome boyfriend. This is where the Makedown part enters the picture. The word "makedown" is defined as " the lessening of external beauty and innate confidence as a means of leveling the playing field." Anna wants to try to change her boyfriend Ben from hot into not-so-hot to make the other women who are vying after him to go away. Is it worth it?

I really enjoyed the author Gitty Daneshvari's writing style. My favorite parts of the book were the descriptive passages in the beginning before Anna begins her 180 degree makeover. Everything is so detailed that I can vividly picture all of the situations in my mind.

"The Makedown" is a very fast and light read. It is absolutely hilarious! The story line is fun and unique and it is hard not to want to finish the book in one sitting. Daneshvari is a very talented author and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

Book Review: Wisconsin Dells- A Comprehensive Guide to Waterparks, Resorts, Tours, and More

2009-02-05T10:20:00.006-06:00

When I was asked to review "Wisconsin Dells- A Comprehensive Guide to Waterparks, Resorts, Tours, and More" I was excited because I have visited the Dells with my family at least once a year since I was very young. Now that I have my own children I have continued the once a year tradition. Whereas, my family and I visited in the summer, I have taken my children in the off-season winter months as they are young and it is a lot less crowded. The indoor waterparks are great and the resorts have a lot of fun activities for the young ones.

Vanderwilt's book begins with a history of the area and general facts about the Dells such as how to get there and the average temperatures for each month. He continues on to talk about the tours available, the waterparks, the different types of accomodations, attractions, and restaurants. I have been to almost all of the attractions listed in the book and think that the author does a wonderful job summing them up and providing the pertinent information.

One thing that I would have liked to see, and think that readers would have found helpful would have been some type of rating system. While we usually stay at one of the bigger resorts such as the Kalahari (which I would give 5 stars on a 1-5 scale with 5 being excellent), we unfortunately chose last time to stay at one of the smaller "waterpark resorts" and had a terrible experience. This smaller resort is listed in the book with an adequate description of the property but a star rating system would provide a more "real" description.

Overall though, this book would be helpful to those visiting the Dells for the first time or those who have visited but want to get the full Dells experience. Vanderwilt does an excellent job compiling everything into an easy-to-refer to guidebook!

Dinosaur Cookies

2009-01-21T16:44:00.005-06:00

My 4 year old is "Star of the Week" at preschool this week and along with that comes the duty of bringing a treat on Friday. Since they are studying dinosaurs this week and since my son loves dinosaurs, we decided on making dinosaur cookies. Apparently they do not sell just a single dinosaur cookie cutter anywhere in town so I am now the owner of a 101 piece cookie cutter set (was only 9.99 so that isn't too bad!).

I just used my Christmas cutout cookie recipe and here is how they turned out - my 4 year old is the one who decorated them. :)

Book Review- The Little Giant of Aberdeen County

2009-01-19T15:32:00.006-06:00

“The Little Giant of Aberdeen County” by Tiffany Baker focuses on the life of Truly Plaice who lives in the town of Aberdeen. When Truly’s mother was pregnant with her they knew that the baby was going to be on the rather large side. Bets were made as to just how large this boy was going to be. Unfortunately, Truly’s mother died during childbirth. While Truly was gigantic just as predicted, she was a girl, and not a boy, much to the town’s surprise.

As a young child there were no clothes to fit Truly so her father used one of his old shirts. Truly and her older sister, Serena Jane, could not have been more different. Serena Jane was dainty, blonde, and just seen as the ideal little girl. Once their father died, the sisters were placed into different homes, which further perpetuated the stereotypes that they had been cast as.

I enjoyed reading about Truly’s life in Aberdeen County and found the book to be very well written, especially considering that it is the author’s first novel. The only thing that was missing for me was an adequate description of just how huge she was. For instance, there were all of the bets as to how big she would be when born, but the actual weight was never revealed. Also, when she was sent to the doctor as a child, the same thing, the doctor said she was large, but once again, there was no number given. Towards the end there is a weight mentioned, but I found myself wanting to know at various stages throughout the book as well.

As I was reading the book I kept thinking that this book reminds of the type of book that would be named as an Oprah’s Book Club selection. All of the characters in the book are very well developed and most of all, they are interesting. You will find yourself really wanting to read more to find out further details about them. Truly’s life is anything but easy and definitely made for a good read. I really enjoyed “The Little Giant of Aberdeen County” and look forward to reading more novels from Tiffany Baker in the future.

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-22T13:12:00.002-06:00

Taking a little blogging break for the holidays- too many things going on! :)

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Homemade Ornaments

2008-12-17T07:21:00.000-06:00

The boys made ornaments on Sunday using most of the instructions that we got from Preschool Rock. They were super easy to make.

1. First, they took wooden craft sticks and glued 3 of them together in the middle.

2. Then they painted them, one red (my 2-year-old) and one blue (my 4-year-old).

3. Next they sprinkled glitter on the wet paint.

4. After they dried I glued a green pipecleaner onto the back to hang them on the tree.

Dirty foods

2008-12-16T07:36:00.003-06:00

I came across this article on Yahoo Shine Healthy Living about the 5 dirtiest foods by Sarah Jio, Vitamin G, Glamour Magazine.

Among the top 5 are pre-washed bagged salads which I buy ALL of the time and no I don't re-wash them. I may start now though.

Here is some of the rest of the article:

"Eggs: While most eggs aren't going to make anyone sick, experts estimate that more than 2 million germy eggs (as in Salmonella infected) get into circulation each year, sickening 660,000 people each year and killing as many as 300. Um, maybe we should think twice about eating that cookie dough. How to buy cleaner eggs? Make sure the carton says they're pasteurized and never buy a dozen that contains any obvious cracks or leaks.

Peaches: They're pretty, but that's just skin-deep. Health experts warn that peach skins are doused in pesticides before they make it to grocery store to prevent blemishes. On average, a peach can contain as many as nine different pesticides, according to the USDA. This is one fruit you might want to buy organic (which may have blemishes, but won't have pesticides).

Pre-packaged salad mixes: Surprise! "Triple washed" doesn't mean germ-free say experts. Pathogens may still be lurking so be sure to wash your greens before tossing in your salad bowl.

Melons: Get ready to be grossed out. According to the article, "when the FDA sampled domestically grown cantaloupe, it found that 3.5 percent of the melons carried Salmonella and Shigella, the latter a bacteria normally passed person-to-person. Among imported cantaloupe, 7 percent tested positive for both bugs." Ewww. Your best bet: Scrub your melons with a little mild dish soap and warm water before slicing.

Scallions: Blamed for several recent outbreaks of Hepatitis A, and other bugs like the parasite Cryptosporidium, Shigella and Salmonella, scallions present a food safety problem because of the way they grow (in the dirt) and lack of proper washing. While you can't control what happens in restaurant kitchens, you can give them a super-duper washing at home before cooking with.
Other dirty foods in the article include chicken, ground beef and turkey, raw oysters, and cold cuts.

The bottom line: Don't be afraid to eat these foods, just be aware of the precautions you need to take before enjoying them."

Christmas Cookies are finally done!

2008-12-15T06:45:00.001-06:00

I finished my Christmas cookies the other day. I made my traditional cut-out cookies, chocolate truffles, and the Caramel Pecan cookies (recipe posted a few posts ago.) They are all so yummy- not the neatest looking cookies in the world but I had two little helpers helping to make them!

Here is the recipe for the truffles:

Ingredients:

2-1/2 pkg. (20 squares) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, divided
1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
decorations: chopped PLANTERS COCKTAIL Peanuts, multi-colored sprinkles

Directions:

MELT 8 chocolate squares. Beat cream cheese with mixer until creamy. Blend in melted chocolate. Refrigerate until firm.

SHAPE into 36 balls. Place on waxed paper-covered baking sheet.

MELT remaining chocolate. Use fork to dip truffles; return to baking sheet. Decorate, then refrigerate 1 hour.

Snowman

2008-12-14T08:32:00.004-06:00

The boys (and my husband) made their first snowman of the year yesterday with a snowman kit that I had for some time but hadn't used yet. It has a storybook about making the snowman and then has a scarf, carrot nose, hat, buttons, pipe, and eyes. At the end of the book it has a "My Friendly Snowman Birth Certificate" which you fill out and attach a picture :)

Unfortunately today it is raining and the snowman has already lost his nose and two buttons.

Winter Wonderland

2008-12-12T09:51:00.008-06:00

We went to the Winter Wonderland lights display last night and it was SO cold. Last year we went on a weekend and it was very crowded. This time, however, we only saw 2 other families there.

Pictures don't do it justice but there are hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights and light displays. Santa is there and on certain days they have reindeer as well. The kids were just in awe of all of the lights and absolutely loved it! There is a walk through part and also a part that you drive through. Admission is a voluntary food donation so the kids helped me pack a grocery bag full before we left the house.

Book Review: CROSS COUNTRY by James Patterson

2008-12-11T09:36:00.006-06:00

I have always enjoyed James Patterson’s books, although I have not read one for about the past year or so. When I was given the opportunity to review his newest book CROSS COUNTRY, I jumped at the chance. CROSS COUNTRY is Patterson’s 14th book featuring one of my favorite Patterson characters, Alex Cross. Since I had last read an Alex Cross novel there had been a few changes in his life, but after a few pages I was easily brought up to speed.

Here is the book description from the Hachette Book Group website:

“When the home of Alex Cross's oldest friend, Ellie Cox, is turned into the worst murder scene Alex has ever seen, the destruction leads him to believe that he's chasing a horrible new breed of killer. As Alex and his girlfriend, Brianna Stone, become entangled in the deadly Nigerian underworld of Washington D.C., what they discover is shocking: a stunningly organized gang of lethal teenagers headed by a powerful, diabolical man--the African warlord known as the Tiger. Just when the detectives think they're closing in on the elusive murderer, the Tiger disappears into thin air. Tracking him to Africa, Alex knows that he must follow. Alone.”

I found the premise of the book to be very interesting. I wasn’t too sure about Alex just hopping on a plane to go to Africa to track the Tiger. It just did not seem very believable. It is something that I don’t believe would ever happen in real life. However, the book is fiction and these things can happen in a fictional novel. Once I got past that part I did enjoy the fast-paced thriller!

I really enjoy reading about Alex Cross and his adventures. CROSS COUNTRY was a little different from the previous novels that I had read as most of the prior books were set in Washington D.C. where Cross is based. However, I did enjoy the change of venue as it mixed things up a little bit. This book also contains more than Patterson’s usual share of graphic violence, but he was using the events to illustrate points, such as the real-life current situation in Africa, and this he did very well.

Like Patterson's previous books, CROSS COUNTRY is an action-packed read with never a dull moment. I look forward to reading more of Patterson in the future and at the rate which he puts out books the wait shouldn’t be too long!

Member's Mark Spinach & Asiago Chicken Sausage

2008-12-10T06:45:00.002-06:00

At the "Holiday Taste of Sam's Club" a couple of weeks ago they had samples of their Member's Mark Spinach & Asiago Chicken Sausage. Surprisingly, at the event my children absolutely loved it and my 4 year old asked me to get some. They come in a package of 3 pounds (separated into 3 1-lb packages) so I was hoping they would still love it when I got it home! They, and I, after eating two of the 1-lb packages still love the flavor! (My husband not so much so though.)

They are so easy to make as they are already fully cooked so they work well for a fast lunch or dinner.

Here are the ingredients: skinless chicken thigh, spinach, asiago cheese, eater, and 2% or less of salt, roasted onions, corn syrup solids, spices, flavorings, parsley flakes, in a natural pork casing. Gluten-free.

So good!!

Why do we use evergreen trees as Christmas trees?

2008-12-09T06:24:00.004-06:00

Here is a fun activity that I found on Preschool Rock:

"It’s the holiday season and many preschoolers will be hanging ornaments on their Christmas tree. But has your preschooler asked why they can’t have the Maple tree from their backyard for a Christmas tree? If so, this Christmas tree botany lesson is for you.

What is an Evergreen Tree?

Simply put, an evergreen tree is a tree that does not lose its leaves, also called foliage, in winter. An evergreen tree’s leaves are called pine needles. They are long, dark green, and pointy. They do not look like deciduous tree leaves. A deciduous tree is a tree that loses its leaves in the winter to conserve energy so that it can live through the winter months that generally do not produce enough water to sustain the tree.

So why do evergreen trees live through the winter? Help your preschooler use his observation skills to understand why an evergreen tree lives all year long.

Step One: Observe
Pick up a deciduous leaf and an evergreen pine needle. Examine them both closely. What are the differences? What are the similarities?

The main difference you will find is that the pine needle is waxy and long while the deciduous leaf is flat and somewhat dry depending on the leaf type. The waxy layer of the evergreen needle serves to hold water in.

Step Two: Experiment
Take two plastic containers. Put them both outside on a sunny day, one with a lid and one without. At the end of the day which one has more water in it? The one with the lid should. This is just like the waxy cover of the Evergreen tree. It keeps the tree alive in the winter and thus makes a great Christmas tree!

Variations
If you don’t have evergreen trees nearby to observe a fake evergreen holiday decoration may serve just as well. The main idea of the observation is to see the waxy cover on the evergreen needle. Certainly a fake pine needle will feel waxy!"

Jar Mixes

2008-12-08T05:58:00.001-06:00

(photo credit: Philip Friedman for Studio D)

Jar mixes made great gifts! They are easy and inexpensive to make, they look nice, and they are a useful gift for the recipient. I think that this year these are what I am going to make for teachers, mailperson, etc. Christmas gifts.

Yummy Bar Mix (from Delish and Quick & Simple)

Mix Ingredients:

2 cup(s) biscuit mix
1 cup(s) brown sugar
1/2 cup(s) miniature candy-coated chocolate pieces (such as M&M's baking bits)
1/2 cup(s) quick-cooking oatmeal

Bar Ingredients:

1/2 cup(s) (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg
1 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Directions

1. Mix directions: Wash and thoroughly dry a 1-quart, wide-mouth canning jar. Layer the ingredients as level as possible in this order: 1 cup biscuit mix, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 cup biscuit mix, 1/2 cup brown sugar, the candies and the oatmeal. Secure the lid and decorate the jar as desired. Be sure to attach the instructions for making the bars.

2. Treats directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease an 8-inch square baking pan. Transfer all of the jar ingredients to a medium bowl and stir until well blended; set aside.
3. Cream butter, egg and vanilla in a large bowl with a wooden spoon, fork or an electric mixer set on low speed.
4. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until well combined.
5. Spread batter evenly in the prepared pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely in the pan before cutting into 16 squares. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Natural Remedies for Winter Sicknesses

2008-12-07T05:36:00.002-06:00

MSN Green has a great article (from The Daily Green) about using natural items to cure winter sicknesses. Of course there is the standard Vitamin C to prevent colds, but there are also some that I haven't yet tried like:

Thyme for a Cough

"Add three tablespoons of dried thyme to one pint of boiling water. Let cool, then add one cup of honey. Take one teaspoon every hour as needed. You can store the mix in the fridge for up to three months."

Honey Yogurt Lotion for Dry Skin

"If dry skin has already set in, set about soothing and restoring cracked, itchy spots with this natural salve:

2 tablespoons honey

1/2 cup plain regular yogurt

1 teaspoon grapefruit zest

1 cup iced black tea

Apply mixture of first three ingredients to skin and leave for 15 minutes. Splash off with the tea."

Carrots for Headaches

"If the foot traffic at the mall gives you a headache, fortify yourself ahead of time with this natural remedy: a simple salad.

Phytonutrients in fresh produce, like the beta-carotene in carrots, can reduce inflammation in the blood vessels of the brain. Eating two cups a day can help some people reduce headache incidence by 70 percent!"

Tomatoes for Burns

"A pellet or wood stove can be an efficient way to warm your home, but it can also leave you walking away with a burn.

For minor burns, slice a tomato and apply it to the burn, allowing the juice to fully dry. Tomatoes have nature's healthiest dose of lycopene, which is anti-inflammatory.

Also try a baking soda and water salve or St. John's wort oil."

Celery for Better Sleep

"Cold nights, the stress of the holiday season and the shifting hourglass sands brought on by the end of Daylight Savings can throw off your sleep pattern.

If all the usual non-medicinal remedies have failed you, try munching some celery for the sedative powers of the phthalides it contains.

Also try valerian root, chamomile tea, lemon balm or lavender"

Caramel Pecan Cookies

2008-12-06T06:33:00.000-06:00

So, we just get done with Thanksgiving and now it is time for Christmas . We started to put up some of our decorations but do not yet have a tree up. The majority of our neighborhood has all of their lights and displays up already, some even had them up the week BEFORE Thanksgiving. In my opinion, the week before Thanksgiving is just too early for Christmas decorations. One holiday at a time!

The notices are starting to come home from school requesting treats for the Christmas program, a gift for the holiday party, recipes for a Christmas recipe book they are making, etc.

I have always been very boring with my Christmas cookies. I usually just make the traditional cut-out cookies and frost and decorate them. This year, I am going to try some new recipes and I am going to start with these Caramel Pecan Cookies that I found on iVillage.

"Makes 2 dozen

Ingredients

For the Dough:

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 large egg yolk

1 cup sifted all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Caramel Filling:

24 small caramels, (1/2 pound) such as Kraft or Brach

3 tablespoons heavy cream

24 whole pecans

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Cream together butter, sugar, egg yolk and vanilla in the bowl of a standing mixer with a paddle attachment on medium speed. Reduce the speed to low and add the flour and salt; mix well. Roll into 1-inch balls. Place about 1 inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake 5 minutes. Remove from oven, quickly press thumb gently on top of each cookie to make an indentation. Return to oven and bake 8 to 10 minutes longer, until lightly golden. Cool completely on a rack.

3. Make the filling: In a small saucepan, combine the unwrapped caramels and the cream. Stir constantly Over low heat until smooth, about 4 to 6 minutes. With a small spoon, drizzle the warm caramel into each indentation, filling to the rim. Place one pecan on top. Cool completely before storing or serving. Store in a single layer in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Recipe by Rori Trovato; photo by Luca Trovato"

Dora & Diego at the mall

2008-12-05T11:33:00.003-06:00

Dora & Diego were at the local mall yesterday. Both of my boys were very excited to go! We went last year and stood in line for almost an hour and a half to see just Dora last year. The poor people waiting at the end didn't even get to see her because they were only there 2 hours.

This year I got there at 12:20 (40 minutes before they were supposed to be there) and we were one of the first in line. We saw Dora and Diego, then went over to Santa (where there was no line because everyone was there for Dora and Diego) and were done and in our car by 1:10. When we walked past the line to leave it was ridiculous- it went from Center Court of the mall all of the way back to Sears and then looped around the other way. I am glad we got there early!

Window shopping at Dean & Deluca

2008-12-04T08:50:00.008-06:00

Although well out of my price range for a spice rack, I saw this on a Country Living blog post and thought it was so unique! It is from Dean & Deluca and is $150.00 for a large set.

I don't think I have ever browsed on the Dean & Deluca site before, but they definitely have some wonderful gifts that I would love to be the recipient of! Of course, all I will be doing is browsing because the items are VERY, VERY expensive. It is fun to look though!

For instance, how about the cheese of the month gift?

For $585 you can gift the gift of 9 months of cheese including:

"October: Amarello De Baixa, Munster and Pumpkin Jam; November: Pecorino Toscano, Brillat Savarin and Dried Fruit; December: Livarot, Gorgonzola Piccante and Pear & Cardamom Jam; January: Camembert, Bleu d'Auvergne and Strawberry Preserves; February: Classic Blue Log, Quicke's Cheddar and Plum Chutney; March: Banon, Blu del Moncenisio and Muju Dried Fruit; April: Bijou, Tomme Fermiere d'Alsace and Tomato Jam; May: Toma Maccagno, Piave and Farmhouse Olives; June: Cabecou Feuille, Garrotxa and Mixed Nuts; July: Constant Bliss, Smokey Oregon Blue and Orange Blossom Honey; August: Purple Haze, Roncal and Fig & Almond Cake"

Or the $250 Terrabianca Olive Oil Sampler:

"We've chosen four of the best extra-virgin olive oils from the hillsides of Chianti and tucked them into a beautiful silver-plated serving caddy. There's Rosemary Infused Oil, Basil Infused Oil, Chili Oil, perfect for dishes like stir fry, and an Extra-Virgin Olive Oil completes the set."

Or how about the Definitive Pantry at $1000?

"A fully stocked pantry is both a complete luxury and an absolute necessity for anyone who likes to cook (or eat). We've assembled everything no self-respecting pantry should be without so that you'll never have to wonder, "what's for dinner?" again. The ultimate housewarming gift.
Our Definitive Pantry includes:

Top Shelf: DEAN & DELUCA Sonoma Mix, Mixed Nuts and Pistachios; Sarabeth's Strawberry Raspberry and Peach Apricot Spreadable Fruit; DEAN & DELUCA Bensdorp Cocoa; Earl Grey and English Breakfast Tea; Pancake Mix; Balsamic and Red Wine Vinegars; Maple Syrup; Raw Honey

Second Shelf: DEAN & DELUCA Barbecue Rub and Jamaican Rub Tins; Salt Essentials Set; Rosmarino Pesto, Olives and Sun-dried Tomatoes; Carnaroli Rice; Rustichella Spaghetti; DEAN & DELUCA Marinara, Arrabiata, Puttanesca and Vodka Pasta Sauces

Third Shelf: Cracker Assortment; DEAN & DELUCA Truffle Salt; Black Truffle Barbecue Sauce; Wine Country Marinade; Ventresca Tuna; Sabatino Tartufi Black Truffle Oil; Capers in Brine; DEAN & DELUCA Dijon, Chile Dijon and Balsamic Shallot Mustards; Rustichella Penne; and Trofie Pasta

And More: DEAN & DELUCA SoHo, Breakfast, French Roast and House Blend Roast Coffees; 40 Tube Spice Rack; Laudemio, Yellingbo Gold and DEAN & DELUCA DOP Extra Virgin Olive Oils; DEAN & DELUCA Hardcover Cookbook, Dish Towel, Suede Potholders and Oven Mitts; four Spatulas, three Wooden Spoons, Chef's Apron and Signature Market Tote (not shown).

Cabinet for display only."

Gloves in a Bottle Reviewers Wanted

2008-12-02T13:35:00.005-06:00

Pete at Gloves in a Bottle just e-mailed me to let me know that he will send product to any other bloggers willing to post a review on their website.

If you are interested in doing this please leave a comment with your e-mail address and I will send you his e-mail contact info.

It really is a great product!! (see my review below!)

Christmas Pictures

2008-12-02T06:37:00.002-06:00

Taking the pictures for the Christmas Card is always quite a challenging experience! I always try to get the two children together and end up taking hundreds of pictures before I am able to get one that is even remotely decent. I just read in a magazine or somewhere about a mom who sent out a card with a collage of all of the not-so-great pictures.

I thought that was kind of a fun idea, but since I already did my cards for this year, maybe I will try it next year!

Gloves in a Bottle

2008-12-01T14:44:00.011-06:00

In the winter I have always had dry, cracked hands. Using regular hand lotion never seemed to help and always stung when I applied it. When I was offered the opportunity to try and review Gloves in a Bottle I jumped at the chance! Instead of a regular lotion which washes off when you wash your hands, Gloves in a Bottle is a shielding lotion which provides a protective barrier on your hands.

Here is more information from their website about how the product works:

"The outer layer of your skin consists of dead skin cells - it's a protective layer designed to protect the delicate living cells of the deeper layers of skin. This layer of skin needs to stay moisturized to protect the deeper layers of skin. In order to keep the moisture (water) from leaving the outer layer of skin, the skin produces natural oils. These oils also help keep irritants away from the deeper layers of skin. Regular washing with soap or exposure to chemicals can remove these natural oils.

When the natural oil is stripped from the outer layer of skin the moisture (water) quickly leaves the outer layer of skin leaving the skin dry, irritated, and itchy. Worse, the deeper layers of skin are left exposed to harsh damaging substances including detergents, solvents, cleaners, paint and thinners, gardening chemicals, dirt and grease, latex gloves and powder, etc.

This results in more dry, irritated, and itchy skin that becomes chapped, cracked and damaged.

Hand and skin lotions only replace natural oils with artificial ones. These offer temporary relief that does little to heal the skin. Regular use of lotions can actually cause the skin to produce less natural oils.

Gloves In A Bottle is a shielding lotion – it bonds with the outer layer of your skin and helps lock in your natural oils and moisture – the reason why dermatologists recommend Gloves as an effective dry skin treatment."

After using the product for a week I was so happy with the results! I love that it doesn't wash off and that it absorbs SO quickly. My hands look and feel so much better!

My 4 year old also has dry hands. They were very red and cracked in the parts between his fingers. This product worked wonders on him well! I always used to put lotion on his hands at night and he always complained that it stung. He also then didn't want to touch his covers because he didn't want to get greasy lotion all over everything. Then if he had to get up to go to the bathroom and wash his hands we had to reapply it because it would be washed off. Regular lotion never seemed to do anything to repair his skin.

With Gloves in a Bottle it is so different! It soaks in right away, doesn't sting, doesn't wash off, and most of all it actually improved his skin! His hands are not dry and cracked at all anymore!

I wish I had tried this product sooner and I recommend it to anyone who suffers from dry, cracked hands! It really DOES work!!

Brrrrr!!!

2008-12-01T09:27:00.004-06:00

Yesterday was the first day that it really felt like winter! We got some more snow last night and it is super windy today. It takes us about 10 minutes longer to get out of the house to preschool in the morning with all of the hats, mittens, boots, etc.!

Book Review: The Paper Bag Christmas

2008-11-26T10:16:00.013-06:00

THE PAPER BAG CHRISTMAS begins in the year 1980 with Molar Alan and his brother Aaron visiting Santa in the mall. Even though they thought they were too old to see Santa, their parents insisted that go anyway. While in line the boys noticed that Santa was not letting the children sit on his lap, instead they were just standing by him and handing him their Christmas wish lists. Right before it was their turn, the Santa visits closed for a two hour lunch. However, Santa allowed the two boys to come and talk to him. It turns out that he was Dr. Christopher K. Ringle, a friend of their family. He had lost both of his legs and had inflatables underneath so as not to scare the children, but that was the reason that the kids could not sit on his lap.

Molar and Aaron had spent their entire time waiting in line writing down every toy and material thing on their list that they could possibly think of. When Dr. Ringle saw the list he paused and said this to them: “The things on your list are nice, I suppose. And yet, they miss the mark entirely when it comes to true Christmas joy. Boys, would you like to get something for Christmas better than everything you’ve written down?”” (p. 19) Dr. Ringle gave Molar and Aaron an address to be at on Monday night and told them that they were going to be his elves and help him out. When Molar and Aaron arrive on Monday they find out that the address is a Children’s Hospital. Through the relationships that they build with the patients, they learn the true meaning of Christmas.

THE PAPER BAG CHRISTMAS is an extremely touching and moving book. Watching the two boys discover that there is more to Christmas than the latest toys and mountains of presents was very heartwarming and emotional. While the book is small in size, it is definitely full of substance. It is amazing to me that Kevin Alan Milne is a first time author as, in my opinion, he rates up there with the best of them! This book would make an excellent gift for anyone this holiday season!

For more information about the book and the author visit the Hachette website.

Thanksgiving Menu

2008-11-25T08:09:00.007-06:00

As mentioned in one of my earlier posts Thanksgiving will be at my house this year (on Saturday) with a grand total of 16 people family members. Everyone is bringing a dish or two so I really only have to clean the house and make a few things :)

Here is the final menu- the ones with links are the recipes that I am making:

Appetizers
Spinach Dip with Bread Bowl
Creamy Crab and Red Pepper Spread with Crackers

Main dish
Turkey/gravy

Salads
Coleslaw
Deviled Eggs
Pistachio Salad
Veggies & Dip

Sides
Squash
Dressing
Mashed Potatoes
Cranberry/Apple Sauce (pictured above)
Pea casserole
Bread
Sweet Potato Casserole
Corn
Dinner Rolls
Cranberry Sorbet

Dessert
Pecan Pie
Pumpkin Pie
Apple Crisp

Beverages
Milk
Water
Pepsi
Sierra Mist
Sierra Mist Free
Wine
Crock Pot Pumpkin Spiced Latte

Let's Say Thanks in Support of Our Troops

2008-11-22T07:04:00.006-06:00

A friend sent me this e-mail this morning:

"Something cool that Xerox is doing:

Go to this web site: www.LetsSayThanks.com

There you can pick out a thank you card andXerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq .

You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services. How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!!This is a great site.

Please send a card. It is FREE and it only takes a second. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these?

Whether you are for or against the war, our guys and gals over there need to know we are behind them... "

I checked it out on Snopes.com to make sure it was legit and it is! Apparently they have been doing this since 2006. What a great program!

Here is more info about the program directly from the Let's Say Thanks website:

"The mission of Let's Say Thanks is to provide a way for individuals across the country to recognize U.S. troops stationed overseas. By submitting a message through this site you have the opportunity to send a free personalized postcard greeting to deployed servicemen and women.

The postcards, depicting patriotic scenes and hometown images, were selected from a pool of entries from children across the country.

All you have to do is click on your favorite design and either select the message that best expresses your sentiment or draft a personal note. The postcards are then printed on the Xerox iGen3® Digital Production Press and mailed in care packages by military support organization Give2TheTroops®.To date, more than 12,000 postcards have been mailed to soldiers.

Xerox is committed to helping people across the nation express their gratitude to our troops overseas. The launch of this program is aimed at reminding them how much Americans appreciate their service."

Product Expiration Dates

2008-11-21T07:05:00.001-06:00

I actually don't remember how I came across this info but I somehow ended up on Real Simple's website on an article about product expiration dates.

They have compiled a list of 77 items with expiration dates that may surprise you.

Some of the ones that I found useful were:

Brown sugar: Indefinite shelf life, stored in a moistureproof container in a cool, dry place.

Frozen vegetables: Unopened: 18 to 24 months

Opened: 1 month

Juice, bottled (apple or cranberry): Unopened: 8 months from production date

Opened: 7 to 10 days

Peanut butter, natural: 9 months

Peanut butter, processed (Jif): Unopened: 2 years

Opened: 6 months; refrigerate after 3 months

Salad dressing, bottled: Unopened: 12 months after "best by" date

Opened: 9 months refrigerated

Batteries, alkaline: 7 years

Fire extinguisher, rechargeable: Service or replace every 6 years

Fire extinguisher, nonrechargeable: 12 years

Paint: Unopened: Up to 10 years

Opened: 2 to 5 years

There are many, many more listed which may be helpful at the Real Simple website!

Chlorine Filter in Shower

2008-11-20T11:46:00.006-06:00

Since I moved to our new house a little over a year ago I have experienced very dry skin. I think most of it is due to the fact that I now have chlorinated city water instead of well water like I was used to.

In iVillage's Green Your Routine newsletter today they present different ways to make your bathroom more eco-friendly and one of the items listed is a KDF Shower Filter. Apparently this filter "uses the patented KDF copper-zinc alloy (manufactured by KDF Fluid Treatment, Inc.), the most effective media there is to remove chlorine in high temperature shower water. KDF's performance actually improves the higher the water temperature, whereas carbon's (used by some) performance decreases! With this technology, our filter has been shown to effectively remove 97+% of this damaging chlorine, for up to 15 months (for 2 people) - 2 to 3 times longer than other filters. Treats about 18,000 gallons--get approximately 1800 five minute showers. KDF also removes iron and other heavy metals, sulfur, pesticides and it controls the mold and mildew in your shower."

I wonder if this product would really help my dry skin?

Also iVillage says that "More importantly, a long, hot shower can be harmful to your health. At high temperatures, the chloroform evaporates into harmful vapors that in an enclosed bathroom space, you will be breathing in." This product would solve that problem as well.

Other tips they give for making your bathroom more "green" are switching to a non-toxic shower curtain, organic towels, and green cleaners and bath products.

Cheese pumpkins

2008-11-18T09:24:00.006-06:00

This cute idea was in the Betty Crocker newsletter today:

Cheese Pumpkins

8 tablespoons smoked Cheddar cold pack cheese food (from 8-oz container), well chilled
2 teaspoons finely chopped peanuts
4 butter-flavored pretzel spindles or sticks, broken in half
16 tiny pieces fresh parsley leaves

1. Line small serving plate with waxed paper. Roll each level tablespoon cold pack cheese food into a ball; place on waxed paper-lined serving plate. Refrigerate 10 to 15 minutes for easier handling.

2. With end of toothpick, draw ridges around balls to resemble pumpkins. Dip bottoms of cheese balls in chopped peanuts.

3. Just before serving, insert pretzel halves into cheese balls for pumpkin stems. Decorate with parsley for leaves. Store in refrigerator.

USDA's Food Guide Pyramid for Preschoolers

2008-11-17T06:45:00.003-06:00

I saw this on Preschool Rock and thought it was interesting:

"If you take the USDA's Food Guide Pyramid and apply it to preschoolers, you can see how much fruit, vegetable, grain, dairy and meat make up a healthy preschooler diet. Some recommendations might be easy to meet - dairy and grains for instance. Others, like vegetables, are notoriously difficult. Here is a quick list of recommended servings from each food group for preschoolers. How is your preschooler stacking up?

The Food Guide Pyramid is one eating plan for a healthy diet. Here are food guide pyramid serving recommendations for preschoolers, ages 3-5:

Fruits: 1 to 1 1/2 cups
Vegetables: 1 to 1 1/2 cups
Grains: 3-5 oz (half should be whole grains)
Meat/Protein: 2-4 oz
Dairy: 2 cups"

The only area that we fall short in is the vegetable area My youngest will only eat corn, nothing else. My oldest will eat dark green lettuce salads and corn but that is it.

The amounts listed above are the general amounts for preschoolers but if you go to MyPyramid you can input your child's age, sex, and activity level and it will generate a customized pyramid plan specifically for your child.

Snapfish Holiday Cards 1 cent each!

2008-11-16T09:42:00.006-06:00

Found this in my e-mail this morning:

Snapfish Holiday Cards 1 cent each!

Get your first set of 20 4" x 8" photo cards for just 20¢ -- that's only a penny each! Choose from over 100 holiday designs that are completely customizable.Just use coupon CARD08 at checkout to save big on your season's greetings. Hurry, this offer ends November 23!*

I just ordered :)

1 4x8 photo cards (set of 20)Multi Photo Snowflakesglossy 14.99
cost of photo card(s): 14.99
CARD08: -14.79
subtotal: 0.20
standard S&H: 2.99
WI Sales tax: 0.18
total: 3.37

Coinstar $10.00 Holiday Bonus!

2008-11-16T06:00:00.001-06:00

I never use the Coinstar machines because of the fees but right now they are running a special promotion where you put in $40.00 and you get $10.00 more free! No fees! Unforunately based on the info from the Coinstar site, the closest participating machine is an hour away from me so unless the ones near me join in on the promo I won't be taking advantage of this deal.

"Coinstar coin counting is FREE when you turn your coins into a gift card or eCert. Now through December 7th when you try our Free Coin Counting option and cash in $40 or more, we’ll send you a holiday bonus.

Find a Coinstar Center offering free coin counting near you:

Use the advanced machine locator to find a location near you, and which specific cards or eCertificates are offered. Just enter your zip code and choose "Prepaid Card" or "eCertificate" from the menu."

All of the instructions for how to get free coin counting and how to get the gift certificate bonus are on the Coinstar site :)

Always check Rx websites!

2008-11-15T06:32:00.002-06:00

My oldest son was prescribed Nasonex for allergies. With our prescription plan it is $15.00 copay for a 2 month supply. I went to the Nasonex website to look up more info about the medication and while I was there a usage survey came up which I filled out and received $5.00 to take (the check came in the mail yesterday).

ALSO, on the website I was able to print up a $10.00 off coupon which I used yesterday at the pharmacy. The website also says that you can print up the same coupon every time that you go in for a refill.

I have learned that it is definitely worth checking out the website of a drug that you are prescribed and that it could save you a lot of money in the long run if the drug manufacturer offers coupons or other incentives!

A few free samples

2008-11-14T14:04:00.016-06:00

Enter the No nonsense BETWEEN FRIENDS Contest and get 2 FREE pairs of No nonsense Breathable SOCKS

Dunhill London

Coupon book w/ $27 in savings

If you are a member of the US Armed Forces with an APO or FPO address-
The Carolina Sauce company- a free sauce gift box

Free sample of Fancy by Jessica Simpson

Vaseline Intensive Rescue Moisture Locking Lotion (member ID is not a required field)

Germs, germs, and more germs!

2008-11-14T08:00:00.007-06:00

For some reason I am always drawn to articles talking about where germs are found. I probably shouldn't read them because after I saw one about hotel rooms one time I was completely disgusted and still think about it to this day every time I am staying in a hotel.

Doorknobs and TV remotes are germ hotbeds
(found on Yahoo News this morning)

By MARILYNN MARCHIONE, AP Medical Writer Marilynn Marchione, Ap Medical Writer – Wed Oct 29, 1:52 am ET AP –

"WASHINGTON – Someone in your house have the sniffles? Watch out for the refrigerator door handle. The TV remote, too. A new study finds that cold sufferers often leave their germs there, where they can live for two days or longer.

Scientists at the University of Virginia, long known for its virology research, tested surfaces in the homes of people with colds and reported the results Tuesday at the nation's premier conference on infectious diseases.

Doctors don't know how often people catch colds from touching germy surfaces as opposed to, say, shaking a sick person's hand, said Dr. Birgit Winther, an ear, nose and throat specialist who helped conduct the study.

Two years ago, she and other doctors showed that germs survived in hotel rooms a day after guests left, waiting to be picked up by the next person checking in.

For the new study, researchers started with 30 adults showing early symptoms of colds. Sixteen tested positive for rhinovirus, which causes about half of all colds. They were asked to name 10 places in their homes they had touched in the preceding 18 hours, and researchers used DNA tests to hunt for rhinovirus.

"We found that commonly touched areas like refrigerator doors and handles were positive about 40 percent of the time" for cold germs, Winther said.

All three of the salt and pepper shakers they tested were contaminated. Other spots found to harbor the germ: 6 out of 18 doorknobs; 8 of 14 refrigerator handles; 3 of 13 light switches; 6 of 10 remote controls; 8 of 10 bathroom faucets; 4 of 7 phones, and 3 of 4 dishwasher handles.

Next, the researchers deliberately contaminated surfaces with participants' mucus and then tested to see whether rhinovirus stuck to their fingers when they turned on lights, answered the phone or did other common tasks. More than half of the participants got the virus on their fingertips 48 hours after the mucus was smeared.

The study was sponsored by Reckitt-Benckiser Inc., makers of Lysol, but no products were tested in the research. The study, designed by doctors with no ties to the company, was an effort to lay the groundwork for future research on germs and ways to get rid of them.

In a separate study, the university's Drs. Diane Pappas and Owen Hendley went germ-hunting on toys in the offices of five pediatricians in Fairfax, Va., three times during last year's cold and flu season.

Tests showed fragments of cold viruses on 20 percent of all toys tested — 20 percent of those in the "sick child" waiting room, 17 percent in the "well child" waiting room, and 30 percent in a sack of toys that kids are allowed to choose from after being good for a shot.

"Mamas know this," Hendley said. "They say, `We go to a doctor for a well-child checkup, the kids play with the toys and two days later they have a cold.'"

There is no proof that the remnants themselves can infect, but their presence suggests a risk, said Dr. Paul Auwaerter, an infectious-diseases specialist at Johns Hopkins University. He was familiar with the study but had no role in it.

Doctors have long advised frequent hand-washing to avoid spreading germs. Wearing surgical masks and using hand sanitizers also can help, a novel University of Michigan study found.

About 1,000 students who live in dorms tested these measures for six weeks during the 2006-07 flu season. They were divided into three groups: those who wore masks, those who wore masks and used hand sanitizer, and those who did neither.

The two groups who used masks reported 10 percent to 50 percent fewer cold symptoms — cough, fever, chills — than the group who used no prevention measures.

Researchers note that the study was not "blinded" — everyone knew who was doing what, and mask wearers may have been less likely to report cold symptoms later because they believed they were taking steps to reduce that possibility.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention paid for the study.

The conference was a joint meeting of the American Society for Microbiology and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. "

While I am not going to go around wearing a surgical mask, I knew there was a reason that I don't let my children play with the toys at the doctor, even in the "well child" waiting area :)

Free Photo Book at Snapfish (29.99 value!)

2008-11-13T20:03:00.009-06:00

As seen on Oprah.com:

"Overwhelmed by what to do with growing piles of your child's art projects? Peter has a great solution! "Take digital photos of their artwork, upload them to Snapfish.com, and they will send you back a beautiful, bound book of the kids' artwork. So, over time, you can build a library of your children's artwork—let the pieces go, but keep them in this form forever."

To help you get organized, Snapfish.com is offering The Oprah Winfrey Show viewers a free 8" x 11" custom-cover photo book!

*Create a Snapfish.com account now or log in to your existing account to receive this special offer. Get your free book!

* This offer is only good for one standard 20-page 8" x 11" custom-cover photo book per household. Coupon dispersal ends at 11:59 p.m. PST Friday, November 14, 2008. Free photo book must be redeemed by 11:59 p.m. PST Sunday, November 16, 2008. Offer does not include customary shipping and handling changes or additional pages. Offer applies only to mail-order delivery to U.S. customers. Offer cannot be combined with other coupon codes. Coupon cannot be resold or otherwise transferred and is void on the earlier of redemption or the offer end date.

Due to heavy demand, you may experience some slowness navigating to the website. Please be patient and try again later."

I already have all of my pictures on Snapfish so it was easy to make a nice book for the grandparents for Christmas. The site was a little slow from all of the traffic when I was previewing my finished book but other than that I didn't have any issues.

You do pay shipping on the book and sales tax:

1 8"x11" custom cover book(s): 29.99
FREE PHOTO BOOK: -29.99
subtotal: 0.00

standard S&H:
6.99

WI sales tax:
0.38

total:
7.37

10 Signs of a Great Preschool

2008-11-13T10:50:00.019-06:00

I found this article today while browsing on Education.com:

"If your child is between the ages of 3 and 6 and attends a child care center, preschool , or kindergarten program, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) suggests you look for these 10 signs to make sure your child is in a good classroom.

1. Children spend most of their playing and working with materials or other children. They do not wander aimlessly, and they are not expected to sit quietly for long periods of time.

2. Children have access to various activities throughout the day. Look for assorted building blocks and other construction materials, props for pretend play, picture books, paints and other art materials, and table toys such as matching games, pegboards, and puzzles. Children should not all be doing the same thing at the same time.

3. Teachers work with individual children, small groups, and the whole group at different times during the day. They do not spend all their time with the whole group.

4. The classroom is decorated with children's original artwork, their own writing with invented spelling, and stories dictated by children to teachers.

5. Children learn numbers and the alphabet in the context of their everyday experiences. The natural world of plants and animals and meaningful activities like cooking, taking attendance, or serving snack provide the basis for learning activities.

6. Children work on projects and have long periods of time (at least one hour) to play and explore. Worksheets are used little if at all.

7. Children have an opportunity to play outside every day. Outdoor play is never sacrificed for more instructional time.

8. Teachers read books to children individually or in small groups throughout the day, not just at group story time.

9. Curriculum is adapted for those who are ahead as well as those who need additional help. Teachers recognize that children's different background and experiences mean that they do not learn the same things at the same time in the same way.

10. Children and their parents look forward to school. Parents feel secure about sending their child to the program. Children are happy to attend; they do not cry regularly or complain of feeling sick. "

I was happy to see that my oldest son's preschool pretty much follows everything on this list. The only area in which they deviate in is #6. They do about 1-2 worksheets a day; however, they are optional worksheets and it is the child's choice whether or not he wishes to do them when he is at the certain station in the room.

Turkey Cookie Treats

2008-11-12T09:21:00.003-06:00

How cute are these??

My son's preschool is having a Thanksgiving celebration on the Monday before Thanksgiving and I think that these Turkey Cookie Treats from the Betty Crocker website would be the perfect treat to bring!

Prep Time: 1 hour 15 min
Total Time: 1 hour 15 min
Makes: 2 dozen cookies

1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
1 container (12 oz) Betty Crocker® Whipped chocolate frosting
Candy corn
1 tube (4.25 oz) Betty Crocker® yellow decorating icing
Miniature candy-coated semisweet chocolate baking bits
1 tube (0.68 oz) Betty Crocker® black decorating gel

1. Heat oven to 375°F. In medium bowl, stir cookie mix, butter and egg until soft dough forms. On ungreased cookie sheets, drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart.

2.Bake 11 to 14 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.

3. Frost and decorate 1 cookie at a time. After spreading frosting on cookie, add candy corn for feathers. Pipe yellow icing for beak and feet. Add baking bits for eyes; pipe black gel for center of each eye.

High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Decrease butter to 1/3 cup.

Fruit & Rice Cereal

2008-11-10T17:44:00.006-06:00

Other than baby food rice cereal when they were infants, I have never fed my children rice for breakfast. They love eating rice at dinner so I figure why not try it in the morning to give them a little variety? It has been super cold here lately so what better than a nice, warm breakfast to start our day!

Tomorrow morning this is what we are going to try-

I found this recipe at Meatless Monday for Fruit & Rice Cereal:
(Makes 2 servings)

1 1/2 cups water

1/8 tsp. salt

1 cup quick-cooking brown rice

1/2 cup lowfat milk or soymilk

1/2 cup mixed dried fruit bits or raisins

3 tbsp. brown sugar

Dash of ground nutmeg

In a large saucepan bring water and the salt to the boiling point. Add rice and dried fruit.

Cover and simmer 12-14 minutes or until the rice is tender and liquid is nearly all absorbed. Stir in milk and nutmeg.

Serve with brown sugar.

Nutritional Info per Serving520 calories, 3g total fat, less than 1g saturated, 0 mg cholesterol, 115g carbohydrate, 9g protein, 5g fiber, 180mg sodium

Using coffee grounds in a scrub and mayo in your hair?

2008-11-09T14:26:00.013-06:00

(image from Wikipedia)

When I was in high school I remember reading about how mayonnaise makes an excellent conditioner and I did try it once. The smell was not the greatest but I do remember that it made my hair look healthy and shiny. I just came across an article called Alternative Beauty: Make a Condiment into a Conditioner in which the Glamour Beauty author does the same thing and is very pleased with the results. Apparently they now even sell beauty products like Silk Elements Hair Mayonnaise Treatment (at Sally Beauty.) Obviously the plain old mayo straight out of the jar is a much cheaper alternative.

(image from Vision Magazine)

On that same note, Fiorella Valesolo, of Glamour Beauty, gives us a great recipe for a scrub using coffee grounds. When she was all out of her favorite coffee scented scrub she did a search online and came up with this one: room temperature coffee grounds, a pinch of sea salt, and a tablespoon of olive oil. She says that "worked wonders on my dry, scaly elbows and knees." What a great use for leftover coffee grounds!

Sam's Club Trade In and Recycle Program

2008-11-08T18:28:00.008-06:00

For Sam's Club members, there is a Trade In and Recycle Program where you can send your electronics and they give you a trade-in amount in Sam's Club gift cards. You can check online for the value of your items and it is a very simple process. If they value it at nothing you are still able to recycle it with them for free anyway. They even will pay the shipping to them (for a limited time). I know around here to get rid of computers and other items we have to pay $10.00 for a computer tower and $15.00 for a monitor.

Here is the info that they list on their site better explaining the program:

"The Sam's Club Trade-In and Recycle Program is available only to members of Sam's Club who elect to trade in or recycle any qualifying consumer electronic product currently offered by the program. The list of qualifying products is displayed on the trade-in platform home page. Based on the configuration and condition of your item, Sam's Club will offer to purchase your item at the value displayed by the trade-in value estimator. All trade-in valuations are subject to final evaluation by our technical staff. If your item does not qualify for any trade-in value, you will be offered the opportunity to recycle your item for free. Our recycling program employs a zero tolerance landfill policy meaning all of the material that is subject to recycling is disassembled by hand, carefully separated and eventually utilized as feedstock for various raw material extraction processes (including smelting and refining). Shipping for both trade-in and recycle items is free."

Late Night Snacks

2008-11-08T15:44:00.009-06:00

There is an interesting article on Yahoo Food called Late Night Snacks to Cure Every Distress. In the article they basically list certain foods to eat to deal with specific late night issues.

"If you're stressed to the max
Rich, sugary comfort foods actually do short-circuit stress, but they also contribute to belly fat. So try to resist the chocolate chip cookies and grab a handful of unsalted almonds instead. The satisfying crunch will help you work off your anxiety, while the B vitamins and magnesium help your brain make relaxing serotonin. And at only 160 calories for about 22 almonds, you won't add weight worries to your woes.

If you're just tossing and turning
Starchy carbs may help you nod off. Why? Foods that quickly raise your blood sugar also raise blood levels of the amino acid tryptophan, which the brain converts to mind-soothing serotonin. So unless you're a diabetic, microwave a potato, warm up some instant rice, pop an English muffin in the toaster, and wait for the Zs to happen.

If you're burning the midnight oil
You could mainline coffee to get your Powerpoint project done overnight, but that'll just leave you with a world-class case of jitters the next morning when it's time to run it by the boss. A better bet, believe it or not: a salad of dark greens and chopped veggies. Not only will the complex carbs in the veggies give you energy, they're full of folic acid, which new research suggests helps your brain work faster.

If you're on a diet or just plain hungry
Give that rumbling tummy a little bit of protein, like a low-fat cheese stick, some lean turkey, or even an egg-white omelet. Eating about a third of your daily calories in lean protein keeps you feeling full, and a there's new evidence that it may also help you burn a few extra calories while you sleep.

If you're pregnant
Forget the pickles, but have the ice cream. Extra calcium is excellent when you're eating for two.

Baby-and-Me Smoothie
½ cup fat-free vanilla ice cream (or 8 oz nonfat vanilla yogurt)
1 banana
1 cup frozen, unsweetened strawberries
1 Tbs. frozen orange juice concentrate.

Puree everything in a blender until creamy. Then put your feet up and enjoy every sip, knowing that you're getting about 340 mg of bone-building calcium -- more than 20% of your recommended daily value -- plus a bunch of vitamins and minerals, so the 373 calories are anything but empty. Even better: The milk protein and banana contain a bit of sleep-inducing tryptophan."

There are a lot of nights where I toss and turn. If I wake up at all in the middle of the night it is a good hour before I fall asleep again. I think next time I will pop an English muffin or a bagel in the toaster and see if it helps! I also thought that the part about eating a salad when having to stay up late was interesting!

TEASTA™ Free Samples

2008-11-06T18:04:00.011-06:00

TEASTA™ is offering two free samples of their teas- I just ordered the Papaya Ginger White Tea Sample and the Wild Blueberry Green Tea Sample - I can't wait to try these, they sound delicious!! They have so many great varieties to choose from. Thanks to Money Saving Mom where I originally saw this posted.

"If you want to taste one of our available premium teas before purchasing, simply add a maximum of two different sample blends to your cart. Then, use the coupon code below and we will deliver it to you FREE of cost. We will deliver the free tea samples anywhere in the U.S. Expected delivery time would be 7 to 14 business days, sometimes earlier. This offer is for a limited time only, while supplies last! Limit one (1) order per household. Due to the high volume of requests for samples, we reserve the right to hold or cancel any order. However, we will try to accommodate all orders placed. Thank you for your interest in TEASTA&trade Tea."

Put in Coupon Code: TRYME at checkout and the order is completely free! You do not have to put in any payment info at all. Hurry! This probably will not last long!

UPDATE: On other sites some are reporting that it is asking them for CC # when checking out, it DID NOT ask me for CC# and I had a $0.00 balance at check out.

Autumn Cookie Wreath

2008-11-06T13:14:00.007-06:00

Browsing through Shine on Yahoo I just came across this cute wreath originally posted on Country Living-

"STEP 1: Make enough dough for 48 three-inch cookies. Divide into four batches and tint each with food coloring. Create a multicolored patchwork by pressing pieces from each batch together on lightly floured parchment paper. Smooth with rolling pin. Chill for 15 minutes, then cut out cookies.

STEP 2: Create leaf veins with a toothpick, then sprinkle with sanding sugar, (available at candylandcrafts.com). And make extra cookies to snack on, in order to prevent "sampling" from the wreath while it's still on display.

STEP 3: Cut two wreath forms from sturdy cardboard and glue them together. Tie hanging wire around wreath, then "glue" on cookies with dollops of colored royal icing. Pour into zippered food bag; snip a corner to dispense. Let dry for several hours before hanging."

For more detailed photo instuctions click on one of the links above.

I think this wreath is SO cute, I just don't think it would last long as a decoration in this house unless I made it when the boys weren't home and they didn't know that it was made out of cookies :)

Philadelphia Caramel Pecan Cheesecake

2008-11-05T06:02:00.002-06:00

In the Kraft Food & Family newsletter that I just received there was a delicious looking recipe that I am definitely going to have to try! It has excellent reviews :)

PHILADELPHIA Caramel Pecan Cheesecake

Prep Time:
15 min

Total Time:
5 hr Makes:

16 servings

What You Need:

50 NILLA Wafers, crushed (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 cup chopped PLANTERS Pecans, divided
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
4 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream
3 Tbsp. flour
1 Tbsp. vanilla
4 eggs
1/4 cup caramel ice cream topping

Make It:

HEAT oven to 325°F. Line 13x9-inch pan with foil, with ends extending over sides. Mix crumbs, 1/2 cup nuts and butter; press onto bottom of pan. Refrigerate until ready to use.

BEAT cream cheese and sugar in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add sour cream, flour and vanilla; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over crust.

BAKE 45 min. or until center is almost set. Cool. Refrigerate 4 hours. Use foil handles to lift cheesecake from pan. Drizzle with topping; top with remaining nuts. Let stand until topping is set.

Remember to vote today!

2008-11-04T08:46:00.003-06:00

Slow down for kids!

2008-11-04T07:51:00.002-06:00

Yesterday, an American Family Insurance agent dropped off my "Slow Down for Kids!" yard sign :)

We are in a new subdivision and as more and more new houses get built, the traffic is increasing and seems like it is getting faster and faster. It is always nice to have a reminder to slow down and watch out for kids playing :)

I know they used to have the regular road signs reminding people to slow down for children, but our town said that they no longer put those up and are actually in the process of phasing them out.

In other areas, I had noticed these yard signs with the American Family logo on them and called an agent who just delivered one to my house! Hopefully it will make drivers more aware of the little ones!

Thanksgiving at my house!

2008-11-03T07:28:00.015-06:00

(image from http://www.thanksgiving-day.org/thanksgiving-day-pictures.html)

Since where we moved this past year is centrally located to all of my side of the family it was decided that we would have Thanksgiving dinner at our house.

The nice thing is everyone volunteered to bring certain dishes but they pretty much covered everything and I don't know what to make!

Here is what people already said they were bringing:

Turkey/gravy
Squash
Stuffing
Bread
Deviled Eggs
Coleslaw
Pistachio salad
Cranberry Sorbet
Pumpkin pie

Besides mashed potatoes I don't know what else is missing!

I think I am going to make Marilyn's recipe that she left on my blog giveaway (thanks Marilyn!):

Crock Pot Pumpkin Spiced Latte

Ingredients
2 cups milk (I use 2%)
2 tablespoons canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (or 1/4 tsp cinnamon, 1/8 tsp nutmeg, 1/8 tsp ground cloves, and tiny pinch of ground ginger)
3/4 cup strong brewed coffee (or 1/2 cup brewed espresso)
garnish with whipped topping

Add the coffee/espresso and milk to the crockpot. Whisk in the pumpkin, spices, sugar, and vanilla.
Cover and cook on high for 2 hours if everything is cold. Whisk again.
Ladle into mugs, and garnish with whipped cream and additional cinnamon.

But I am not sure what else I am going to make! I feel like I have to make at least a couple of dishes- it IS at my house!

At least I will have a decoration! I just was notified that I was the winner of this cute plaque:

from Kisses From The Father - Thank you Stacey :)

How to Maintain Your Brain

2008-11-02T12:59:00.011-06:00

Illustration from: http://www.medical-illustrations.ca

On the Yahoo main page today there was a link to an article called "12 simple ways to supercharge your brain." Being that I am a mother of two young boys my brain definitely on occasion feels as if it needs a recharge!

"Here are some things you can begin doing as soon as today to begin the great brain tune up:

Eat Almonds
Almond is believed to improve memory. If a combination of almond oil and milk is taken together before going to bed or after getting up at morning, it strengthens our memory power. Almond milk is prepared by crushing the almonds without the outer cover and adding water and sugar to it.

Drink Apple Juice
Research from the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML) indicates that apple juice increases the production of the essential neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain, resulting in an increased memory power.

Sleep well
Research indicates that the long-term memory is consolidated during sleep by replaying the images of the experiences of the day. These repeated playbacks program the subconscious mind to store these images and other related information.

Enjoy simple Pleasures
Stress drains our brainpower. A stress-ridden mind consumes much of our memory resources to leave us with a feeble mind. Make a habit to engage yourself in few simple pleasures everyday to dissolve stress from your mind. Some of these simple pleasures are good for your mind, body and soul.

Enjoy music you love
Play with your children
Appreciate others
Run few miles a day, bike or swim
Start a blog
Take a yoga class or Total Wellness routine

Exercise your mind
Just as physical exercise is essential for a strong body, mental exercise is equally essential for a sharp and agile mind. Have you noticed that children have far superior brainpower than an adult does? Children have playful minds. A playful mind exhibits superior memory power. Engage in some of the activities that require your mind to remain active and playful.

Play scrabble or crossword puzzle
Volunteer
Interact with others
Start a new hobby such as blogging, reading, painting, bird watching
Learn new skill or a foreign language
Practice Yoga or Meditation
Yoga or Meditation relives stress. Stress is a known memory buster. With less stress, lower blood pressure, slower respiration, slower metabolism, and released muscle tension follows. All of these factors contribute significantly towards increases in our brainpower.

Reduce Sugar intake
Sugar is a non-food. It’s a form of carbohydrate that offers illusionary energy, only to cause a downhill slump once the initial burst has been worn off. Excess intake of sugar results in neurotic symptoms. Excess sugar is known to cause claustrophobia, memory loss and other neurotic disorders. Eat food without adding sugar. Stay away from sweet drinks or excess consumption of caffeine with sugar.

Eat whole wheat
The whole wheat germs contain lecithin. Lecithin helps ease the problem of the hardening of the arteries, which often impairs brain functioning.

Eat a light meal at night
A heavy meal at night causes tossing and turning and a prolonged emotional stress while at sleep. It’s wise to eat heavy meal during the day when our body is in motion to consume the heavy in-take. Eating a light meal with some fruits allows us to sleep well. A good night sleep strengthens our brainpower.

Develop imagination
Greeks mastered the principle of imagination and association to memorize everything. This technique requires one to develop a vivid and colorful imagination that can be linked to a known object. If you involve all your senses - touching, feeling, smelling, hearing and seeing in the imagination process, you can remember greater details of the event.

Control your temper
Bleached food, excess of starch or excess of white bread can lead to nerve grating effect. This results in a violent and some time depressive behavior. Eat fresh vegetables. Drink lots of water and meditate or practice yoga to relieve these toxic emotions of temper and stressful mood swings.

Take Vitamin B-complex
Vitamin B-complex strengthens memory power. Eat food and vegetables high in Vitamin B-complex. Stay away from the starch food or white bread, which depletes the Vitamin B-complex necessary for a healthy mind.

Written by Shilpan Patel of Success Soul and cross-posted from Dumb Little Man, a web site that provides tips for life that will save you money, increase your productivity, or simply keep you sane."

Some of these things I already do but I think a lot of the other things would be easy to incorporate into my daily routine!

My Bloggy Giveaway Winner!

2008-11-01T17:57:00.005-05:00

Thank you to all who entered and shared with me your recipes! There are definitely some great ones that I can't wait to try!!

I used Random.org to choose the winner and the lucky commenter is ....

AmyG and her recipe for Easy Spicy, Bean Soup:

4 cans of Great Northern Beans

1 can of Dark Red Kidney Beans

1 can of Light Red Kidney Beans

1 can of Rotel Diced Tomatoes

1 medium onion, diced

4 cups of water

2 beef bouillon cubes

Pepper to taste

I just opened all the beans, rinsed & drained them, diced up the onion & threw it all in the pan. I lightly drained the tomatoes & tossed that in. Added the water & bouillon cubes & pepper. Put a lid on it & heated through until the onions & beans were tender. I think I had it on medium heat for about 45 mins.

Congrats AmyG! I have left a message for you on your blog!

Keeping Children from Getting Bored While on Outings

2008-11-01T09:45:00.001-05:00

Parenting has a great article up called 22 Boredom-Busting Games which provides games to keep your kids entertained on outings.

Some of my favorite ideas from this article are:

For the grocery store:

"Pick a letter and take turns naming items in the store that start with it. Get creative: "B" is for banana, but also for a box of cereal! 4 and up"

"Name three items your child can look for, like something that's bigger than his fist, something that's liquid, and something that's red. 3 and up"

"Choose a color for the day. Tell your child that her job is to watch and tell you every time you put something of that color in the cart. 2 and up"

For the restaurant:

"Arrange the silverware in a tic-tac-toe grid and use packages of sugar (white) and artificial sweetener (pink) as X's and O's. 4 and up"

"When your child gets antsy from coloring the kids' menu, use the crayons to make rubbings of the things you have on hand -- a fork, a penny, a rough table surface. Just put a paper menu over each item, rub with the side of the crayon, and watch the textures appear, in color! 2 and up"

I will definitely have to try some of these on our next trip to the store or out to eat! My children get easily bored at the grocery store and hopefully these ideas will entertain them (at least for a little bit)!

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T18:42:00.001-05:00

Trick or Treating and the preschool and playgroup Halloween parties are finally over! :)

Thomas the Train was very excited about his haul, whereas Bob the Builder was a little more reserved :)

Hope everyone had a safe and happy Halloween!

List of 100 Foods That Everyone Should Try Once in Their Life

2008-10-30T18:21:00.000-05:00

I originally saw this on Very Good Taste and thought it looked like fun!

"Here’s a chance for a little interactivity for all the bloggers out there. Below is a list of 100 things that I think every good omnivore should have tried at least once in their life. The list includes fine food, strange food, everyday food and even some pretty bad food - but a good omnivore should really try it all. Don’t worry if you haven’t, mind you; neither have I, though I’ll be sure to work on it. Don’t worry if you don’t recognize everything in the hundred, either; Wikipedia has the answers."

Here is what you are supposed to do:
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.

The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile (no, but I have eaten alligator!)
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

Organic, Fair-Trade Chocolate

2008-10-28T13:53:00.000-05:00

I subscribe to a number of blog's newsletters and feeds and today I received the Green Parent Daily Tip in my e-mail. In the e-mail she talks of Green Gratitude and one of the things that she lists as being thankful for is Organic, Fair-Trade Chocolate. Of this she says, "Honestly, I don’t know what it is that I have been eating my whole life…but it was not chocolate. It looked like chocolate and sometimes smelled like chocolate, but before I found organic chocolate I had never really tasted chocolate. Real chocolate. The kind of chocolate that could stop traffic. The kind of chocolate that makes your toes curl and your eyes water with sheer joy. Think I’m exaggerating? Then you haven’t tried it. I’m so grateful that the green movement has brough organic, fair-trade (ie guilt-free) chocolate in to my life. It has certainly made my life even sweeter!" (The Green Parent)

I have never had Organic, Fair-Trade Chocolate and this comment totally makes me want to give it a try! Does anyone have any suggestions on specific brands that are good?

Bloggy Giveaway time again!

2008-10-26T18:40:00.000-05:00

I love cooking with my slow cooker and my absolute FAVORITE slow cooker recipe is this one that I found awhile ago on Recipezaar:

Crockpot Roast:

1 beef roast, any kind
1 (1 1/4 ounce) package brown gravy mix, dry
1 (1 1/4 ounce) package dried Italian salad dressing mix
1 (1 1/4 ounce) package ranch dressing mix, dry
1/2 cup water

Directions
1 Place beef roast in crock pot.
2 Mix the dried mixes together in a bowl and sprinkle over the roast.
3 Pour the water around the roast.
4 Cook on low for 7-9 hours.

I also add carrots, potatoes, and onions to it.

It is so easy and so good!!

To go along with this theme, one of the best slow cooker cookbooks that I have found is:

Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook: Feasting with Your Slow Cooker

For this giveaway I am giving away a brand new copy of this book!

Here are the rules:

1. Leave a comment posting your best recipe (doesn't have to be a slow cooker recipe)

2. One entry per preson

3. Leave a valid email address so I am able to contact you if you win (if your profile is private or you do not have a blog)

4. US only

5. Ends November 1st, 2008 at 4:00PM CST

6. Winner will be selected at random and will have 48 hours to respond with shipping information

Crab Casserole

2008-10-26T17:28:00.000-05:00

I had a package of imitation crab in the freezer that I wanted to use up so I went in search of a recipe online for dinner tonight and here is what I came up with:
I found a recipe for
Pasta Crab Casserole on Recipezaar and modified it a little:

Ingredients

8 ounces uncooked shells pasta
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 lb fresh mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup butter or margarine
16 ounces imitation crabmeat, chopped
1/2 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

1 Cook pasta according to package directions.
2 Meanwhile, in a skillet, saute onions, mushrooms, green pepper and garlic in butter until crisp-tender.
3 Remove from heat.
4 Drain the pasta and add to the vegetable mix.
5 Stir in remaining ingredients.
6 Transfer into 13 x 9 inch greased baking dish
7 Sprinkle with cheese
8 Cover and bake at 350º for about 35 minutes or until warm through.
9 Uncover and bake for 5 minutes more.

My husband who doesn't normally like casseroles actually liked it! I thought it was pretty good but I think I would add more green peppers or veggies next time.

Saving Energy

2008-10-26T07:50:00.000-05:00

I am always looking for ways to cut my electric bill. We turn out lights when not in use, have switched to mainly CFL bulbs, keep our thermostat low in the winter, unplug small appliances when not in use, but the one thing I haven't been actively doing is turning a power strip off on computer and all devices used with computer and the TV, cable box, etc. I know that I should do it but on both my TV and computer ours are extremely hard to get to which just makes leaving it on sometimes easier.

I was looking at Home Construction Improvement and they have a post on Home Energy Saving Tips. One of the things that they recommend is the Smart Strip LCG3 Energy Saving With Autoswitching Technology.

From Amazon: "Ten outlets work together, autoswitching your devices on/off automatically, to save you money on your electric bills." So basically if you use it on your TV when you turn the TV off it automatically turns off power to all of the other connected devices. It is a little more costly than the standard power strip but the reviews look great!

Another interesting device that I saw while I was looking on Amazon is the Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor.

From the product description: "... you can cut down on costs and find out which machines are actually worth keeping plugged in. Simply connect your appliances to the Kill-a-Watt electricity usage monitor and it will assess how efficient they really are. The unit's large LCD display counts consumption by the kilowatt-hour, the same as your local utility. You can calculate your electrical expenses by the day, week, month, or year while also checking the quality of your power by monitoring voltage, line frequency, and power factor. Now you'll know if it's time for a new refrigerator or if that old air conditioner is saving you money."

I think it would be very interesting to plug in certain appliances and electronics in my house to see just how much energy they are using!

Microwave your toothbrush?

2008-10-25T16:35:00.000-05:00

On the Reader's Digest site they have an article about how to prevent yourself from getting sick and list 23 things to do to reduce your chance of getting ill. I found it to be a very interesting article!

Some tips are commmon things like washing your hands and using hand sanitizer.

However, there are some more unique ideas (to me anyway) like:

"Run your toothbrush through the microwave on high for 10 seconds to kill germs that can cause colds and other illnesses. You think it gets your teeth clean -- and it does. But once you're done brushing, your toothbrush is a breeding ground for germs. Sterilize it in the microwave before you use it, or store it in hydrogen peroxide (rinse well before using), or simply replace it every month when you change the page on your calendar and after you've had a cold."

and

"Leave the windows in your house open a crack in winter. Not all of them, but one or two in the rooms in which you spend the most time. This is particularly important if you live in a newer home, where fresh circulating air has been the victim of energy efficiency. A bit of fresh air will do wonders for chasing out germs."

and

"Inhale air from your blow-dryer. It sounds nuts, we know. But one study conducted at Harvard Hospital in England found that people who breathed heated air had half the cold symptoms of people who inhaled air at room temperature. Set the dryer on warm, not hot, and hold it at least 18 inches from your face. Breathe in the air through your nose for as long as you can -- 20 minutes is best."

and

"Take a garlic supplement every day. When 146 volunteers received either one garlic supplement a day or a placebo for 12 weeks between November and February, those taking the garlic were not only less likely to get a cold, but if they did catch one, their symptoms were less intense and they recovered faster."

and

"Eat a container of yogurt every day. A study from the University of California-Davis found that people who ate one cup of yogurt -- whether live culture or pasteurized -- had 25 percent fewer colds than non-yogurt eaters. Start your yogurt eating in the summer to build up your immunity before cold and flu season starts."

and

"Scrub under your fingernails every night. They're a great hiding place for germs. "

For the full article go HERE

Grab Bag Numbers - New Twist

2008-10-23T10:10:00.000-05:00

We tried a new twist on the grab bag numbers game (see previous post) this morning which required a little more thought on my son's part.

We used the same "pick a number out of the bag" idea except instead of using beads to count I had him make a tower with LEGOS with the number that he chose :) He enjoyed this version a little more than the other one, plus switching it up a little keeps him from getting bored!

Grab Bag Numbers

2008-10-22T13:11:00.000-05:00

I found this little Grab Bag Numbers math game at education.com and while my younger one was napping I played it with my 4 year old. We started with 1-20 and used beads as the objects to count. It held his interest for about an hour :) I think I will write out the actual words for the numbers next time as that would be much more challenging for him and help him to learn to read as well!

Here is the info:

"Want to help your preschooler get comfortable with math? Get out the grab bag! This hands-on game helps kids learn to associate numbers with sets of objects—a key early math skill. And all you need is a set of index cards, pennies, and a paper lunch sack.

Materials
index cards
markers
scissors
1 paper lunch bag
20 – 30 pennies, buttons, or small blocks

Directions:

Prepare: Gather 10 index cards and write a different number, from 1-10, on each. Get your child’s help on this part. When each card has a number, fold it in half and throw it into the lunch bag.

Play: Give your child some pennies to use as counters. (Buttons or small blocks also work well, if your piggie bank is looking a little slim!) Ask your child to close her eyes and pick a card from the grab bag. Once she’s chosen a card, she should open it up, look at the number, and then use her counters to show the quantity written on the card. For example, if your child picks the number 5 from the grab bag, she should place five pennies next to the numeral card.

This activity may seem very basic. But it’s actually a pretty big leap for young children to move from simply naming the numbers, to associating them with objects in the physical world. This game makes a perfect independent activity when you’ve got a few minutes to fill, and it reinforces one-to-one correspondence, which is just a fancy term for being able to match numeral symbols to their appropriate quantities.

As your child matures, up the grab bag ante with larger numbers, such as 11 to 20. And as she takes her first steps towards reading, make a set of cards that uses the number words along with the number symbols."

French Honey Bread

2008-10-21T17:24:00.000-05:00

Colder weather again today so I decided to make a nice, warm loaf of bread with dinner tonight. This time I tried the "French Honey Bread" and it was very yummy! It was slighty sweet but not too sweet!

Here is the breadmaker recipe for a medium loaf:

3/4 C water
2 tsp honey
2 tsp olive oil

2/3 tsp salt
2/3 tsp sugar
2 C bread flour (I used 1 1/2 C bread flour and 1/2 C whole wheat flour)
1 1/2 tsp yeast

Cake Wrecks

2008-10-17T13:40:00.000-05:00

I don’t make “fancy” decorated cakes – ever. Despite my lack of interest in that area I have become very drawn to the Cake Wrecks blog! It is absolutely hilarious! (be sure to read the commentary and not just look at the pictures!) There are also some amazing cakes on there like this Lego Batman Cake created by Elisa Straus over at Confetti Cakes - WOW!

I would love to try to make cute cakes for my boys, obviously I will never ever be at the skill level to make the Batman cake, but I see that she Elisa has a new book that looks very inspiring. It is called "Confetti Cakes For Kids: Delightful Cookies, Cakes, and Cupcakes from New York City's Famed Bakery"

Here is what the product description says at Amazon:

“Elisa Strauss of Confetti Cakes has created confections as elaborate as a platter of sushi, a wine bottle in a crate, and a designer handbag. Now she focuses her talents on her younger fans with this enchanting collection of cakes, cookies, and cupcakes for kids. Strauss starts readers off with 20 delicious recipes and all the basic techniques needed to complete any project in the book. Then she offers step-by-step instructions for 24 jaw-dropping designs that can become the centerpiece of any celebration. Projects span the imagination--from a charming sock monkey, to an MP3 player, to playful hula gingerbread girls and boys--and will appeal to anyone looking for the perfect way to thrill a child with a delectable, spectacular creation.”

1 Bag, 5 Dinners

2008-10-14T19:35:00.000-05:00

I get the Kraft Food & Family newsletter e-mails and went to their site to look around today for some good recipes when I saw their "1 Bag, 5 Dinners" section where they basically give you a list of items that fit in one grocery bag that will give you 5 meals.

They all look super easy to make and some look pretty tasty! There are a few different "bag" choices depending on what you like. For instance you can choose Chicken & Seafood, Beef & Pork, etc. You click on the last part and they give you a shopping list and all of the recipes to print out at once. I may try it one of these days. I think I will start with "Bag 3" - chicken and beef - looks good! Just an idea for when I am feeling too lazy to meal plan on my own!

Crafty Saturday

2008-10-13T14:54:00.000-05:00

I attended a crafting day at a local church this past Saturday and had a great time making lots of cute things.

Here are two of the things that we made:

Tile Coasters ( I love these!)

Decorated Paint Can w/ advent calendar in it

Most Haunted Live

2008-10-10T13:06:00.001-05:00

I love October because it is the month when The Travel Channel and other various channels focus on shows about hauntings! I love watching about, reading about, and visiting places that are rumored to be haunted. I especially love watching shows about places that I have been. For instance, when I visited Louisiana we went to many of the plantations in the area that were said to be haunted, like The Myrtles plantation which was just featured on a show a couple of days ago.

Tonight on The Travel Channel they are going to have Most Haunted Live:

"Join the Most Haunted team on Friday, Oct. 10, for the first-ever live broadcast from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the most haunted town in America.

Starting at 8 p.m. ET, The investigative team will begin an extraordinary seven-hour LIVE paranormal investigation of some of the most historically significant locations and landmarks in and around Gettysburg.

For three long days in 1863, the South and the North faced off in the deadliest clash of the Civil War: The Battle of Gettysburg. Every two seconds a man was shot, the streets ran red with the blood of the dead, and nearly every dwelling served as a makeshift morgue or hospital.

Viewers at home will be able to take part in this interactive investigation by monitoring live webcams and communicating with the team via the message boards, text messaging and psychic art.

Join Yvette Fielding and the rest of the Most Haunted team as they scour the streets of Gettysburg in search of the spirits left behind."

OK, so there is no way that I will watch all seven hours of this but it does sounds a little interesting. I love things like this!

No-Bake Clay

2008-10-09T10:07:00.000-05:00

I was looking for a fun craft idea for my children this morning and came across a recipe for "No- Bake Clay" at education.com. So far my children haven't decided what they want to make with it to keep and have been just having fun making things and then smashing them up and making something else :)

No-Bake Clay Recipe

1 cup corn starch

2 cups baking soda

1 1/4 cups cold water

several bowls

Food coloring

Saucepan

Paper plate

Small towel or cloth

Newspaper

Directions:

Mix a few drops of food coloring into the water and stir until combined. Then put the water, baking soda, and cornstarch into a saucepan and cook over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, until the mixture feels like cooked mashed potatoes. Remove from heat, put it onto a paper plate, and cover with a damp towel until cool. Repeat this process for any additional colors you'd like to use.

When the mixtures are cool, knead them until the clay feels smooth and pliable. Then cover the kitchen table with newspaper, sit your child down, and give him a go! Depending on the time of year, he can sculpt something with a holiday theme (like a snowman, a pumpkin, a ghost, or a flag) or he can just use his imagination and create something with nothing to do with the holidays (fruit, shapes, a car). Whatever he creates, let it dry overnight. In the morning, it will be ready for final paint and decorations

Chicken Casserole

2008-10-07T07:22:00.000-05:00

Looking through my recipes and trying to come up with meal ideas I just realized that I haven't made my favorite Chicken Casserole in forever! With his chilly weather that we have been having lately it would be the perfect meal! It is SO good!

Chicken Casserole

1 can (10 3/4 oz) condensed Cream of Chicken soup
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 T lemon juice
2 C cooked chicken
1 sm onion, chopped
1/4 C green pepper, chopped
1/4 C red pepper, chopped
1 C shredded Monterey Jack, divided
1 C shredded Cheddar, divided
12 oz egg noodles, cooked and drained

Combine soup, mayo, lemon juice.
Add chicken, onion, peppers, 1/2 C Monterey Jack, 1/2 C cheddar.
Mix well.
Add noodles and toss to coat.
Transfer to greased baking dish.
Bake uncovered at 350 for 30-35 minutes.
Sprinkle with remaining cheeses.
Bake 10 minutes longer or until veggies are tender and cheese is melted.

Crayola Triangular Crayons

2008-10-03T09:15:00.000-05:00

While my oldest was in preschool the other day I went shopping at Target. While at Target I always have to check out the clearance sections and in the school supplies area I found Crayola Triangular Crayons marked down to .74. I don't know why I had never heard of these before but on the box it says that they "promote proper writing grip" because of the triangular shape. Since it has been a struggle for me to get my children to consistently hold writing utensils correctly I decided to give them a try. I love them! They really "make" your child hold in the correct spots! I only wish I had bought more than one package!

Grape Nut (Nutty Nuggets) Bread

2008-10-01T13:54:00.000-05:00

My husband requests Grape Nuts cereal. I do not buy cereal unless it is on sale so instead I bought Roundy's store brand version called Nutty Nuggets. My husband decides after a bowl of them that he does not like Nutty Nuggets. Wonderful - so now I have a nearly full box of Nutty Nuggets and what do I do with them??

While I was going through "The Bread Machine Cookbook" what do I come across but noneother than a recipe for "Grape Nut Bread!"

Not sure if I, or anyone in the family, will like it, I decide to make it. Actually I let my 4 year old make it :) My husband, while he didn't like the Nutty Nuggets plain, LOVED them in the bread! My children both gobbled it right down too!

For a medium loaf, the recipe is:

1 C water
2 T vegetable oil
1 T sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 C Grape Nuts cereal (as stated I used Nutty Nuggets! :) )
2 C bread flour
1 1/2 tsp yeast

Lots of great vitamins and minerals in the cereal!

Dill Bread

2008-09-30T08:55:00.000-05:00

I pulled the breadmaker out of the crawlspace and have been on a breadmaking kick lately! My oldest son loves fresh, homemade bread and would probably eat just that if I would let him!

Yesterday I had some cottage cheese in the fridge that I wanted to use up so I found a recipe in "The Bread Machine Cookbook" for Dill Bread which used cottage cheese and it was delicious!!

I would have taken a picture but the whole loaf was eaten up at dinner before I had a chance :)

The breadmaker recipe for a Medium loaf is:

1 C cottage cheese
2 eggs
2 T sugar
1 T dill weed
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 1/2 C bread flour
1 1/2 tsp yeast

Throw it all in and let the bread machine do it's thing! So good!!!

Touch of Avalon

2008-09-27T19:25:00.000-05:00

Touch of Avalon is offering the first 25 bloggers to write a blog post about their site a $10 Gift Certificate.

They have a lot of great bracelets, necklaces, and other jewelry at very affordable prices.

I love Scrabble tile pendants and they carry these for only $7.00 a piece.

Shipping in the U.S. is a flat rate of $3!

Definitely a site worth checking out!

Happy Fall!

2008-09-26T10:22:00.000-05:00

I finally started putting up some Fall decorations, not Halloween yet, just Fall. The Halloween ones we will wait for another couple of weeks.

It is supposed to be 80 degrees here today so it doesn't feel like Fall weather though! I am ready for it to be cooler. I already packed away most of the kid's summer clothes and put the winter ones in their dressers.

Slowly my walls will get decorated!

2008-09-15T16:47:00.000-05:00

Since I am all about the Dollar Tree frames right now, I decided to sit down a the table with my children today and create more art to decorate with. I framed my artwork this time instead of theirs :) I haven't hung them yet though.

Stir-Fried Green Beans

2008-09-13T18:59:00.000-05:00

I made my first recipe out of my More-with-Less Cookbook! For those of you who haven't heard of it, it is a great resource for healthy, cost-effective recipes.

Here is more info from amazon, lots of great reviews:

http://www.amazon.com/More-Less-Cookbook-Janzen-Longacre/dp/083619103X

It is a very interesting book- with a copyright of 1977 some things are a little dated (like the costs of food in the beginning), but a huge majority of the recipes in the book use a lot of common ingredients that I already have on hand. I love this because there is no running out to the store to have to get that one ingredient that you don't have!

Tonight for dinner, since I had a pound of fresh green beans that I bought at the Farmer's Market, I made:

Stir-Fried Green Beans

Peanut Soup

The Stir-Fried Green Beans were a hit with my family - I added leftover rotisserie chicken, served over brown rice, and it was delicious! The peanut soup was not as good. I have always wanted to try it and it was easy to make but just not our thing. My youngest loved it but he was the only one. Since there is a lot left over he will be eating peanut soup for the next couple of days with his lunch!

My little artists

2008-09-11T14:07:00.000-05:00

I remember reading somewhere awhile ago that a creative way to decorate your home was to frame your children's artwork. So, the other day I sat my 2 year old and 4 year old down with a box of crayons and had them create some masterpieces.

My 2 year old just used the scribble technique:

Whereas my 4 year old opted for holding a few crayons at once and turning them in circles on the paper:

I then went to Dollar Tree and purchased 4 frames that had matting with and hung my children's art. So for $4.00 I have 4 wonderful pieces of artwork- I think they turned out super cute!

Sweet corn!

2008-09-11T07:57:00.000-05:00

My youngest and I went to the Farmer's Market today while my older son was at preschool. After a summer full of tasteless or just not-very-good tasting sweet corn, we have finally found the perfect corn-on-the-cob! Not only does this corn look pretty on the outside, the inside is flawless as well! It is SO sweet! It was such good corn that you didn't even have to pick through it to try to find good pieces. My youngest (just turned 2) picked out the whole dozen by himself and he did an excellent job! I just have to remember the vendor that we bought it from so I can get the same kind next time. The sign by the corn said "Honey Dipped." I am not sure what this means - I was thinking maybe it was a variety of corn but I don't see it anywhere online. Maybe it is just the vendor's synonym for "super sweet!" Whatever it means it is excellent!

I could eat it for every meal which wouldn't be a bad thing since there are a lot of health benefits associated with corn!:

From oohoi.com:

"Corn is High in Nutrients

One of the benefits of corn is that it is high in nutrients.

A few of these important nutrients are:

Thiamin (vitamin B1) which is used in the metabolism of carbohydrates.

Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) which helps with physiological functions.

Folate which helps the generation of new cells � especially important before and during pregnancy.

Vitamin C which fights against diseases.

Corn is a Good Source of Fiber

One cup of corn provides 18.4% of the daily recommendation of fiber. Its high fiber content is one of the biggest benefits of corn. Fiber has been shown to help lower cholesterol levels and help reduce the risk of colon cancer. Fiber is also useful in helping to lower blood sugar levels in diabetics."

YUM!!

1st week of Preschool

2008-09-07T09:03:00.000-05:00

My oldest son had his first week of preschool this week and absolutely loved it! We had gone to his Open House the week before and ever since that night he had kept asking when it was going to be Wednesday because that is the day that Preschool began.

This past Tuesday, the night before his first day, he decided ON HIS OWN (!) to go to bed at 6:30 pm because he wanted to be rested for school :) He actually fell asleep within 10 minutes too! He did the same thing, but at 7:00 this time, for the next day! I am liking this preschool thing!! Now if only I could get my other one to go to sleep at the same time! Wouldn't that be nice??

I've been tagged!

2008-08-25T18:37:00.000-05:00

I was tagged a couple of days ago by Thunderclouds and a Furrowed Brow and here are the "rules":

* Share 7 facts about yourself on your Blog, some random, some weird.

*Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.

*Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their Blog.

My 7 facts:

1. I love eating Feta cheese crumbles straight out of the container.

2. I won the Spelling Bee in 8th grade.

3. I love reality TV shows, especially Survivor and The Apprentice.

4. Black olives are among my least favorite foods, but I love liver and onions.

5. I love trying new recipes, especially crockpot ones!

6. Our dog is named Lit'l Ann from the book "Where the Red Fern Grows."

7. I collect the old Nancy Drew books.

The 7 people I am tagging are:

doodlerooskie

2sistersandme

Terra Garden

Centsible Mommy

Good & Crazy People

Baseballs & Bows

Life's Sweet Passions

Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce Review

2008-08-18T08:22:00.001-05:00

Country Bob's contacted me and asked me if I would be interested in trying their All-Purpose Sauce and reviewing it for them. Since I have tried Country Bob's All-Purpose Sauce in the past and absolutely loved it, I jumped at the chance to "officially" review this great product!

For those of you who have never heard of Country Bob's, here is a brief history taken from their website:

"In 1968 Country Bob perfected the sauce of his dreams. After years of giving the sauce to friends and family he began to sell it in 1977. The reaction was overwhelming just as it is today. Almost everyone who tries Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce becomes a lifelong user. And why not, it is the perfect complement to practically any meal set on your table.

It was actually October of 1982 when Country Bob, Inc. became the company, which remains today. Bob Edson, Terry Edson, Al Malekovic and Reed Malekovic formed a corporation with equal ownership. Since that time Country Bob's distribution has magnified regionally in all directions from our corporate office located in Centralia, Illinois. Even with the tremendous growth we have not forgotten where we came from, continuing in our relentless pursuit of product excellence. "

"It would be nice if we could claim responsibility for the success of the company, however, credit must be given where credit is due. Proverbs 16:3 says, "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." We have placed true ownership of Country Bob, Inc. in the hands of God. "Christ is our CEO" and He is an Awesome Boss!"

When my family had used Country Bob's in the past, we had never tried it in an actual recipe. The only way that we had used it was a dipping sauce for steak and pork chops. Until receiving my review bottles and the accompanying recipe brochure I really had never thought of other uses for the sauce.

According to their website:

"Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce is in a class by itself. It is more than a steak sauce, because of its unique flavor and the variety of uses. You can grill, cook, and marinate with it, or put it in your soups, stews, baked beans, and your other favorite dishes. Experience the Taste!
Use our All Purpose Sauce on:

•Steak
•Chicken
•Barbeque
•Fries
•Hamburger
•Fish"

Their website also lists tons of recipes to use the sauce in. I chose to prepare the Country Bob's Meatloaf. It is basically the same meatloaf recipe that I normally use, but instead of using ketchup you use Country Bob's All-Purpose Sauce. The sauce added a great, unique flavor to what is normally a somewhat bland meatloaf. The flavor was great!

I also see that on the website that Country Bob's has expanded their line of products to include Spicy All-Purpose Sauce, Seasoning Salt, and Barbeque Sauce. They say that Country Bob's Spicy Hot can also be used in the meatloaf which I bet would give it an incredible taste as well! I think for my children though the original Country Bob's sauce is probably better suited to their palates but the Spicy version is definitely one that I would love to try. I bet the barbeque sauce is excellent as well!

They said in the quote above that most who try the sauce will become lifelong users and I can attest that this is true in our case! Before I reviewed the product we were already loyal users but after reading the materials that came with it and reading the website I found so many more uses than I ever imagined! We will definitely be using more Country Bob's All-Purpose Sauce in the future!

For those wondering where to buy the product, it is available at most Wal-mart SuperCenters. You can input your zip code at http://countrybobs.com/locator/ to find the store nearest you.

ALSO, just for visiting their website you can get a free bottle of Country Bob's All-Purpose Sauce of your own to try!

Soap Nuts

2008-08-17T08:34:00.000-05:00

During the Bloggy Carnival I was lucky enough to win a sample of an interesting product called Soap Nuts.

Here is the information about them from : http://www.laundrytree.com/

"Did you know that there’s a FRUIT you can throw in your wash that will get your laundry clean? It’s true! Soapnuts are the fruit of a tree (Sapindus Mukorossi), found primarily in India, Indonesia, and Nepal. They are harvested, de-seeded, and then dried in the sun — and that’s it — the soapnuts are ready for you to use in your wash!

How do soapnuts work?

The outer shell of the soapnut contains saponin, a natural substance known for its ability to cleanse and wash. (That’s what makes them so GREAT for cleaning your laundry!) In fact, soapnuts have been used to clean all kinds of fabric for centuries, but they are just recently gaining popularity in the Americas and Europe as a natural alternative to modern chemical detergents.

Soap nuts are an amazing, 100% natural cleaning product.They are organically grown and are chemical-free, and they are incredibly gentle on clothes AND skin. They are especially great for those with sensitive skin — including babies and those that suffer from allergies, eczema, and psoriasis! They’re totally biodegradeable, so they’re better for the environment than regular detergent, and they’re antimicrobial, so they’re even good for septic and greywater systems!"

I thought that this would be a great product as my oldest son has very sensitive skin. All you do is put 3-4 in a reusable bag and throw it in the washing machine. I put in 4 and was able to get 3 loads out of them before they got crumbly. So, I was able to try 6 loads of laundry using this product and as far as I can tell they worked well to clean our clothes. The only thing that I didn't really like is that the Saponin (the natural soap compound in soapnuts) is only released in higher temperature water and I usually wash almost everything in cold water in order to conserve. I do admit that I only washed darks with them because I was a little nervous about putting them in with my whites.

I also do like scent in my laundry and I see that they offer some Essential Oils and Fragrant Oils that can be used in conjunction with the Soap Nuts. There are some interesting ones listed that I would love to try like Energy, Ocean Breeze, Baby Powder, Citrus Mist and Plumeria! Definitely an interesting product!

Bloggy Giveaway- $15 Amazon Gift Certificate

2008-07-28T12:11:00.001-05:00

********THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED*********

Random.org picked:

Lydia said...
I would use it to help buy the camera equipment I need.delightfulconfection[at]gmail[dot]com

Congrats Lydia! I am sending you an e-mail to verify your e-mail addy :)

It is Bloggy Giveaways Quarterly Carnival from today July 28 through August 1! There are tons of great giveaways going on!!

I am participating and giving away a $15.00 gift certificate to one of my favorite stores: http://www.amazon.com/

Here are the rules:

1. Leave a comment telling me what you would buy at Amazon with the GC
2. One entry per person
3. You must leave an e-mail to contact you
4. Giveaway ends August 1 at 5pm CST
5. Winner will have 24 hours to confirm after I send the winning e-mail
6. Gift certificate will be e-mailed to the winner upon confirmation of valid e-mail address

Great sale at JcPenney!

2008-07-23T17:57:00.000-05:00

Since the kids are gone for a couple of days camping with dad and visiting grandma and grandpa I decided to go shopping today and found some GREAT deals at JcPenney! I bought my oldest son's whole summer wardrobe for next year (12 shirts, 7 pairs of shorts, and 1 pair of swimming trunks) for $38.55. They have an excellent clearance sale going on in the Baby/Toddler section, up to 5T!

Farmer's Market

2008-07-23T17:52:00.000-05:00

I love the Farmer's Market but I just don't go often since it is way on the other side of town and takes about 40 minutes round trip to get there. I went today though since I was in that area anyway and got lots of veggies that I am sure my children will be thrilled about (neither one of them are big veggie lovers).

Menu Plan Monday

2008-07-22T11:58:00.000-05:00

I ran across the "Menu Plan Monday" idea on the I'm An Organizing Junkie blog. Looking at the various menu plans has given me a lot of great dinner ideas!

http://orgjunkie.com/2008/07/menu-plan-monday-july-14th.html

In MOPS a couple of years ago we made Weekly Menu/Shopping List boards to hang on the fridge. I use the shopping list part of it but haven't used the menu part in some time. Lately I have been a last minute meal maker which doesn't always result in the best dinners! My family is gone camping this week but next week I would love to plan ahead and fill my menu board.

Learning to Read

2008-07-21T17:36:00.000-05:00

My oldest son has been very interested in learning how to read and I have been looking for some fun ways to help to teach him. While browsing on http://www.education.com/ I came across the idea of labeling things in your house. This sounds like a fun way to teach everyday words!

Here is the full article from http://www.education.com/activity/article/labels_preschool/:

"Have you ever heard someone read aloud and it sounds very choppy? When readers pause to sound out each word, they lack fluency. Building fluency is the key to learning to read smoothly, and learning sight words can help. This activity lets you and your child go label crazy! You’ll pick a set of words to work with, and then play a series of games to help your child remember what they look like.

What You Need:

construction paper
markers
tape

What to Do:Put your kid in the driver’s seat. Ask him to point to a set of ten items around the house that he’d like to learn to “read”. Or, if you’d rather start with a set of suggested sight words, here are a few to consider: dog, bed, eyes, clothes, water, ball, boy, book, food, fire, window, door, tree, desk, table, toys.

Write each word with your child’s help. Talk about the words, by pointing out the letters as you write them. You can also discuss the shape of the words and their letters.

Stick a piece of tape on each of your words and ask your child to help you label the house. Once the words are in place, try these games:

Listen Up!: Say a word and ask your child to hunt for its label. Be sure to emphasize the different sounds that make up the word, to make spotting it easier.

Can You Guess?: This time, instead of just saying a word like “bed” and asking your child to find the corresponding word, give clues to help lead them to the answer. For example, “I’m thinking of a thing you sleep on and it starts with the “buh” sound.”

Rhyme Time: One of the best ways to give kids a boost towards reading is to give them practice rhyming. For this game, instead of saying the word, or giving a clue like the one above, say a word that rhymes with the clue in question. For example for bed, you might say, “This word rhymes with red.” For table you might say, “Try to find me. I rhyme with label!”
Once your child can recognize all then words by sight (without seeing the object attached), add more words to your list. And remember, when it comes to sight words, you can never have too many labels!"

Homemade Pasta

2008-07-18T20:17:00.000-05:00

On Freecycle the other day someone had listed a Marcato Atlas 150 Pasta Maker (http://www.marcato.net/cambialingua-eng.phtml) still in the box. I have always wanted to try making homemade pasta so I went to pick it up.

I made homemade Fettuccine tonight and it was SO good! Of course my sheets of pasta weren't near as neat looking as the ones in this picture, so my fettuccine noodles weren't the most perfect strips, but it all tastes the same anyway. I don't think that I will ever go back to dry pasta in a box again! This was so much better!

2008-07-18T09:28:00.000-05:00

I found a fun giveaway today that I would love to win for my bug obsessed children :) What a great teaching tool!

*** Discount Home School Supplies is holding a contest to give away a microscope. You can choose between one of the three following miscroscopes from my website, an MSK-01 Microscope, an MFL-06 microscope, or a SMD-04 Microscope. Just blog about the contest and link back to Tami's Blog. ***One winner will be chosen at random sometime on July 23, 2008. This will give me time to complete order processing from my sale. I will announce the winner here on my blog sometime on July 23, 2008, Lord willing!

You can enter here:
http://www.tamifox.com/2008/07/anniversary-sale-and-microscope.html

Good luck, but keeping fingers crossed that I win! :)

My Very First Blog Post!

2008-07-17T17:47:00.001-05:00

So I have finally decided to join the blog craze with my very own blog! I read so many others on a regular basis and always had thought about starting my own but just never got around to it- until now. The name of my blog comes from my two sons' favorite foods- blueberries and peanut butter. Anytime you ask them what they want for lunch they will always answer "peanut butter" and for dessert they will never pass up blueberries.