Wordless Wednesday - It All Starts With One...

So, simple... long awaited... behold! Our first egg.

Ours is the smaller brown egg. Now, which chicken is responsible would be anyone's guess.

Have a great Wednesday everyone!

What We Have - Summer Book Review

How has your Summer reading been? I read some great ones this year, and recently had the chance to read WHAT WE HAVE: One Family’s Inspiring Story About Love, Loss and Survival - by Amy Boesky.

What would your outlook be if you knew women in your family died young... all from the same terrible killer.... ovarian cancer. How would life be with that looming over your everyday choices? Would you choose to live life to the fullest? Would you choose despair or love despite fear of fate?

Cancer recently touched my family so this book really hit home with me. My own Mother was quickly diagnosed and rushed for treatment/ surgery all in a whirlwind week. Though I do not have a long history of cancer in my family, her diagnosis made me think my own mortality and what I would do if my genes were against me. I have always wondered, as medicine makes giant strides in mapping and tracking genetic markers, if knowing you carry a marker for cancer would be a blessing and a curse all at the same time. This Memoir touched on just those questions as we share a journey to live and fight a terrible killer.

Since my daughter was

born I am drawn more and more to books that deal with the bonds between family... mothers and daughters as well as sisters. In this book cancer really makes an impact in all of those relationships as well as introducing heartbraking loss. But far from being a depressing read, which would be easy given the subject, I hung on every word and felt like a cheer leader waiting and hoping for all the best for Amy and her family.

I am not sure what I would do in a situation like this. I hope I would be brave enough to go ahead and seek the preventative surgery. This book brought up many questions and helped me to think about some of those scary what ifs. Does all this sound too deep? It is amazing how well this book was written. Amy Boesky makes it read like a novel with her readers hanging on every page. I was fascinated with the sisters and felt my heart break and swell along their journey.

I was warned that this c ould be a tear jerker... and yes, it felt good to cry in a few spots. I believe a good memoir should travel the full range of emotions. Be sure to have a box of kleenex at the ready!

Overall I would have to say I enjoyed it. I really loved the fact that I was thinking about the book long after I had set it down for the night. I have been recommending it to my friends and will also pass this title on to my book loving family members. Be sure to check it out in your local bookstore or order it on Amazon.com or Borders.

Amy Boesky teaches English literature and nonfiction writing at Boston College. For several years she was a principle ghost writer for the wildly popular Sweet Valley High series. That was a staple of my bookshelf during the 80's! She has also written other books for young adults and also children. You can visit WhatWeHave.org and learn more about her and this book.

Become a fan of WHAT WE HAVE on Facebook.

Happy 1st Birthday Princess!

Zoom! This first year raced by with so many fabulous moments jam-packed in there. I can't believe how completely I fell in love with my baby girl. Seems like she has always been part of our family and I barely remember a time without her. Haven't I always been carrying her around with me? To her I would like to say,



I dreamed of you before you were born. I wished, hoped and prayed for a little girl to share a part of me with. I would have loved you just as much if you had been born a boy, but I hoped for that connection a Mother can only have with her little girl. We worked pretty well together for those first 9 months... but I was dying to meet you!



You are hope and optimism packaged up in a smile that can melt me, and eyes that are so hungry to learn more about the world. I look forward to your open arms and the way you scrunch up your nose. You have almost grown out of your signature snort, but not completely. I hope you never loose it forever. It makes you unique. You have a determination that is both adorable and baffling. But I hope I can encourage you in all things you are interested in. (Even if it means biting off more than you can chew!)



Thank you for completing our family... and evening out the sides. Girls have to stick together. Thank you for melting your Daddy's heart and proving that girly girls can still look cute smeared with berries!

I see all the best in you. You have my Mother's eyes, my curls and your Daddy's gentle heart. Thank goodness you already dance better than your Daddy. I hope you have rhythm, voice and purpose. I have so many dreams for you, but I am sure you will constantly keep me guessing. I just can't wait to see what this coming year has in store for us.

I love you little girl. Have a fabulous first birthday and many more to come!

Giveaways on other Blogs!

It has been a while since I have shared giveaways with you... not because I don't want to... it has just not happened lately. After camp is over it should come back as a regular weekly post. I would love to know if there is a certain day when people are looking for giveaways? Is Monday the most convenient? Or is there a better day? I really like to keep my posts of other giveaways down to a post or two a week. That way you can look for all of them in one place, or skip over them entirely if you choose. Sound good?

...and on to the good stuff! First let's start with a doozie. Head over to:

Where Mom to Bed by 8 is sponsoring a

$100 Your Way Giveaway

Yup... that's right. There is a list of ways the winner can get their $100... would you like it with an Amazon Gift Card? Or how about Walmart? Or Cash. You decide. Just enter HERE. This giveaway ends 9/22.

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Then head over to:

Many of you might have discovered AppleCheeks diapers already, and if you have you will love this one. If you haven't, they are really worth adding to your fluffy stash. I love the fact they take little extra care, just toss the whole thing in the machine and the insert will agitate itself out! Easy!

In order to celebrate the arrival of their long-awaited Limited Edition Orange Zest, the folks at AppleCheeks™ will be giving away TWO Orange Zest Little Bundles (cover+insert)! Isn't that fabulous? Just go HERE. This giveaway ends 9/1.

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Then one of my favorite childhood characters can be found over at:

I just loved Madeline as a child! Babee Love is giving away Madeline’s Halloween & Other Spooky Tales on DVD. Exciting, right? I have been collecting books and a doll for my daughter, and would love to add this DVD to our family collection. ...and I am pretty sure our son would enjoy it, too. ENTER HERE. This giveaway ends 9/1.

Party Like a Zhu Zhu!

Thanks to MomSelect, my family and our friends were able to party with the Zhu Zhu Wild Bunch. Have you seen these cute, lovable critters?

Rocco the Raccoon, Sweetie the Bunny, Stinker the Skunk, and Zu Zu the Hedgehog.

Cute, right? Well, if you have so far missed this craze, the original Zhu Zhu pets were the biggest selling toy of 2009. They are adorable pets without the hassle, feeding, cleaning (or even requiring a talk about death eventually) of a normal hamster. With unique personalities, the pets make individual noises, move and have quite the line of accessories! So, you can have your hamster city without the lingering odor of small animal.


My daughter chose Sweetie, while my son chose Zu Zu. All the the critters went fast! One toddler was just waking up from her nap when she arrived. When I mentioned that she could have her pick of the pets she woke right up and scrambled over to the pile at record speed. It was a lot of fun to see all the toys zooming around the floor talking up a storm.


The little party goers enjoyed racing them, comparing and just plain snuggling with them. Okay, how often do you see kids cuddling skunks?

These were the first Zhu Zhu pets for a few of the party goers, including my kiddos. I think we may be hooked. The kids are definitely drawn to all the movement and sounds, and the pets are a nice size for even the younger children to carry around with them. I like the fact that the pets are available for under $10. I may have to snag a few early for stocking stuffers!

I appreciate that the toys are labeled with a warning to keep them away from hair. There is a chance that they can become tangled. Of course, it is the same issue that can come up with any moving toy and long hair. Other than that, they are cute and lovable.

This year there have been several other additions to the Zhu Zhu family with Kung Zhu, the Rockstars and several new accessories. Be sure to check them out the next time you are in a store. Widely available, there is a pet to fit every child.

A big thanks again to Zhu Zhu Pets and MomSelect for the fabulous opportunity to share these great toys with all our friends. I know there is a new crew of happy Zhu Zhu owners here.

*Disclaimer - I was sent toys to give away to our friends and party ideas for throwing our Zhu Zhu party. I did not receive any monetary compensation and all opinions expressed are my own.

Off To a *Different* Camp Experience

This week I will be packing and preparing to go with my family to camp. We are not going camping... no, we are off to a camp. I know what you are thinking, but there will not be any smores or campfire songs. This is a camp for people and families with PKU. This metabolic disorder, or inborn error of metabolism, affects such a small portion of the population that this is often the only chance we have to meet other families living with the same issues.

Like camps for children living with diabetes or having survived cancer, this camp allows parents to share tips while children or adults with PKU, or other similar metabolic conditions, can be surrounded by people who understand. These 3 days will go by without anyone asking, "What is PKU?" or giving a second thought to the massive amounts of medical formula weighed & consumed. Food is seperate and safe. A table for all the PKUers... and a table for everyone else. Oh, and did I mention it is delicious? All of it.

I look forward to the cooking classes the most. Camp is the reason why I make things like tortillas. PKU has caused me to be more fearless in the kitchen. It is amazing what can be done with food. I really hope to come back with some new recipes up my sleeve!

I also am excited about the family time we will have. Maybe not the time spent driving to eastern Oregon with two small children (I am dreading this part already!), but the time we will all be together. Having everyone educated about he diet and lifestyle really makes things smoother.

My son? Well, he is looking forward to the pool. He is such a little water baby. He is also looking forward to learning more constellations with his Daddy. I just hope we can find some new great foods to add into our menus. He is such a picky little eater, and being on a restricted diet makes it that much more challenging!

I can't wait to share a little bit of camp with you. I hope you will indulge me a bit and let me teach you a bit about the world of metabolic disorders.

An Ode to Buttercream

So simple... there is really no magic behind buttercream frosting. A good glob of butter, powdered sugar and flavoring. Now, does it get mush easier than that?

I had multiple compliments and questions about what was on my cupcakes. Kids gobbled them up and parents were pleasantly surprised. No cans or cartons in my kitchen! Oh, no. The best part is buttercream frosting is super simple. I chose two simple ones, fudge buttercream & a fresh strawberry buttercream frosting.

First off, grab yourself a bunch of butter. Channel Paula Deen if you need to, just bring out a good amount of butter. This requires softened butter, not melted. Be sure to take it out about 30 minutes before you need to make the frosting. Don't try to cheat, it won't work. Melted butter won't hold up. So be sure to wait it out. I know, patience is not my strong suit either!

Let's start with the fudge buttercream:

You will need:

1 1/2 c. unsalted butter, (at room temp.)
4 1/2 c. powdered sugar
6 oz. unsweetened baking chocolate, melted & cooled
4-6 Tbs. whole milk
1 Tbs. vanilla extract

Grab your mixer. A stand mixer makes quicker work of this, but a hand mixer will work also. Cream up the butter and start adding in the powdered sugar. I like to add about half and then add in the wet ingredients. Then add in the rest of the powdered sugar to get it into the right consistency to frost.

I do have to admit, my secret weapon came from my Wilton Dessert Decorator Plus. Have you seen this tool? It made piping the icing a breeze. I just put on a star tip, loaded the cylinder and squeezed away.

After frosting I just sprinkled the top with some lime green sanding sugar. It looked fabulous against the brown frosting.
Then I tried a strawberry buttercream. This was especially for my little birthday girl who loves strawberries:

You will need:
1 c. unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 - 4 c. powdered sugar
1/4 c. smashed & drained strawberries

These beauties were some we picked earlier this year and frozen. I just put them into a strainer and drained off all the extra juice for a few hours... the dryer the berries are, the less chance you end up with a runny buttercream. I wanted the flavor, but not any soupy-ness.

Cream up the butter in your mixer and add the powdered sugar. When it is good and stiff, add a 1/4 c. of your strawberries. I lightly mashed mine knowing I wanted some texture and not completely liquefied. Now don't get too excited about the strawberries... less is better here. If you go overboard, it will be too runny. I promise, 1/4 c. is plenty for flavor, color and consistency.

Then frost away! I didn't have any fresh berries, but slices for the top might have been a nice touch. If I make these during season, I would try the slices and a mint leaf or two.

Okay, do you want the recipes for the chocolate & vanilla cupcakes? Stay tuned for another post with those fabulous recipes.

Proud Mama- 1st Birthday Party!

Woo~ Such a wild last couple of days planning and prepping for my little girl's big first birthday. We had friends, a few Zhu Zhu pets Wild Bunch (more on that to come!) and frosted cupcakes... nom, nom, nom!

The cupcakes were a hit! Nothing really complicated, just vanilla cupcakes with fudge butter cream and chocolate cupcakes with strawberry butter cream. My kiddos, of course, had special low-protein cupcakes with the strawberry frosting in different colored cupcake papers - for easy tracking! No one turned their noses up at my cupcakes, and I had many Moms asking for the directions. I think most people are surprised to find out how easy it actually is to make your own frosting. I will post the recipes shortly.

While her brother has never been fond of cake, my little girl grabbed it with both hands and dove right in! The adorable chicken bib is from Kitchen Clothesline.


She just loves dressing up. I always find her putting things on and over her. So, I got this adorable tutu and wings from My Fancy Princess. These were both on sale! So cute!


I think Daddy really enjoyed showing off his little birthday girl.


It was a great day, though I am glad birthdays only come once a year. Now I have 2 months to put together and throw my little man a fire truck-rific 3rd birthday bash. Wish me luck!

Calling all New Mamas & Soon To Be...

There is a fabulous event coming up on both Minnesota Mama, of Toddler Tuesday fame, and J. Leigh Designs. Their Bump 2 Baby event begins September 1st with a whole host of great prizes...


Just check out this Sleepy Safari Organic Crib Bedding. That would really rock my world!... or any one of my friends currently expecting a baby. For extra chances to win, make sure you snag their cute button, blog and post about the event on facebook. Good luck!

Woo-hoo? Where are you?

Tomorrow is my daughter's first birthday party and today I am busily prepping and baking my life away in the kitchen. I can't wait to post pics of the festivities, but until Sunday I will probably be MIA.

What are we eating tomorrow?

The kiddos and friends arrive around 3pm tomorrow... for them we are serving a bunch of snacks:

Salsa & Corn Chips
Hot Artichoke Dip with Crustini
Babaganoush with Crustini
Brushetta with Crustini
Homemade Buttermilk Ranch & a fresh veggie platter
Fruit platter

To drink we have our homemade strawberry lemonade or assorted Hansen's sodas (no high fructose corn syrup)

Finish off with two cupcake choices:
Vanilla with fudge butter cream
Chocolate with strawberry butter cream

....and dinner for the family afterward? They will be eating well also:

Flank Steak
Fresh Corn on the Cob
Caprese Salad
Seasonal (& local) Fruit Salad with peaches, nectarines, plums, melon & dressed with OJ & lemon juice. Yum!
Rosemary Butter Rolls

Okay? How does that sound? I will snap a bunch of pics and post the winning recipes here soon. Till then I will be celebrating the first year with my little girl. I can't wait!

Aloha Friday - #28

Aloha Everyone! In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that they take it easy and look forward to the weekend.Friday used to be my friend, but today it signals the end of another week... that went by too quickly! But, I survived the week, so to celebrate! Let's sit back, relax and enjoy a little blog hop. No heavy mental lifting today... just one simple little question...

Sleep or a Clean House?

So, I think the days are just flying by. No matter how early I wake up, or how late I go to bed my to-do list is never finished. I am curious, when do you throw in the towel each night? Do you have a set list you try to finish, a set time you head to bed or do you just wait till you collapse?

If you are looking for more Aloha Friday fun, go to An Island Life and check out the other posts on the Linky. Have a great weekend!

CSN Winner! Was it You?

I bet you are all waiting to hear who won the CSN Stores giveaway? the winning entry via random.org is #98

✿Heαther✿ said...

tweet 3
http://twitter.com/hell_0kitty/status/21455389729

August 17, 2010 7:39 PM

Congrats Heather! She claimed it right away and she should be contacted shortly by CSN with the GC code. I hope she puts aside some time to look around at all CSN Stores has to offer. Happy Shopping! And if you are bummed that you didn't win, check out Arizona Mama's blog for a $40 giveaway for CSN Stores going on right now. Good luck!

Five simple things you can do for your child to help keep their smiles healthy and bright

We are a family of four... and together we have a whole lot of teeth. Some big, some small... some baby teeth ... and they all contribute to a family of four with a lot of white smiles to go around. I think establishing a good foundation of oral hygiene is essential to them keeping those great smiles throughout their lifetime.


Did you know that each year, more than 51 million school hours are lost as a result of problems related to tooth decay, the most common chronic childhood disease in America [1]? In fact, tooth decay affects approximately half of all second graders and nearly 80 percent of 17-year-olds[2]. That’s why Trident® has partnered with Smiles Across America® to help underprivileged children get the dental care they need.

TwitterMoms & Trident have teamed up for a new blogging promotion. They are spreading the word about achieving healthy smiles.

Here are 5 things to keep in mind:

• Brush: Remind children to brush their teeth at least twice a day for two minutes each time. We usually brush after meals and the kiddos each get to pick out their toothbrush every other month at the store. They definitely know whos is whos... even the baby! We also brush as a family and the baby even had her toothbrush before she had teeth. I wanted it to be a normal routine for all of us.
  
• Eat: Nutritious foods are an important part of keeping children’s smiles healthy and their teeth strong. Harder vegetables and fruits like carrots and apples are great examples.
  
• Floss: Have children gently floss once a day to remove food that can get stuck between their teeth and sticky plaque that forms on their teeth. Brushing alone cannot reach all of the surfaces on a tooth. This can be tricky, but the individual floss sticks are easiest for younger children to maneuver.
  
• Avoid: Try to avoid overindulging in sticky and sugary foods. When kids do have a special treat, make sure they brush and floss afterward. This is the hardest for us to stick with!
  
• Routine: Remember to get regular dental check-ups. Have them visit a dentist twice a year to make sure that they are taking good care of their teeth and gums. Call your dentist to discuss when your children should start their check ups. We were told 2, but some want to an appointment as soon as teeth start to emerge.
  

And what about Trident? Well, Chewing for 20 minutes after a meal can help reduce cavities. It is easy because with 11 different flavors to choose from there is bound to be one for everyone. And Trident uses Xylitol, a sugar free sweetener which has been shown to loosen plaque. Not bad, huh?

For more information:

Visit Trident on Facebook and click our ‘Chew 4 Smiles’ tab

Visit the website

Check out the latest Trident commercials on YouTube

Get some Trident Gum Coupons!

Disclaimer: I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Trident blogging program, making me eligible to get a $25 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Footnotes:

[1] Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General, May 2000

[2] National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III

Flavorful Low-Sodium Family Meals

I love cooking at home... it allows me to really experiment with flavors and of course cut out all the other stuff we don't really need. Like all that excess sodium and sugar found in some prepared foods! ...and of course, I get to make the things I really love to eat!

My DH, a vegetable farmer, always likes to say that salt it a cheap way to provide flavor. If vegetables are picked at their peak, they don't need any cheap tricks. The problem of course comes from out of season foods, or foods that have been picked before they have vine ripened. Trying buying what your local farmers market has to offer, or look for local produce stands. I know, sometimes that is easier said than done.

So, how do I inject flavor without pulling a sodium shortcut? Real herbs & seasoning, of course! I tend to be a bit heavy handed with the garlic and love bringing in old favorites from my garden such as basil, thyme, oregano and chives. I tried to look at the herbs I used on a regular basis when planning my garden. All of the heavily used ones have a prominent spot in my backyard garden project. With a bit of weeding, water and compost, they pretty much take care of themselves. But before I had the room to garden and the time for even a window herb box, I did a lot of cooking with Mrs. Dash.

When I think of this kitchen staple, I still think of one flavor, the original. I remember people saying, "just add a bit of Mrs. Dash." I have used it on everything from my scrambled eggs to poached chicken. I even knew people who enjoyed it on their popcorn! But, have you seen all the flavors there are now?

"15 flavors of Mrs. Dash® Salt-Free Seasoning Blends add delicious taste to everything in your kitchen from seafood to salads, and always with no MSG. Each Mrs. Dash® Seasoning Blend is an all-natural blend of 14 natural herbs and spices and adds unique flavor to every dish." For inspiration, check out all the great Mrs. Dash products!

At the top of my list would be to try the Mrs. Dash® Italian Medley Seasoning Blend. Yum, doesn't that sound good? Sounds like the perfect addition to my pasta creations.

Well, if you are looking for some low-sodium meal inspiration, be sure to check out the Mrs. Dash website for a whole host of tips, ideas and great recipes. Wouldn't you like to try this delicious recipe tonight:

Baked Chicken Siciliano Recipe

Ingredients:

• 3 Tbsp. Mrs. Dash® Tomato Basil Seasoning
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 4 oz. can no-sodium tomato sauce
• 2 Tbsp. shredded low fat Parmesan cheese
• cooking spray

Directions:

1. Heat a large sauté pan to medium. Spray pan with cooking spray and sauté chicken breasts on each side for 2 minutes.
2. Combine tomato sauce with 2 Tbsp. of water and 2 Tbsp. Mrs. Dash® Tomato Basil Seasoning.
3. Add tomato mixture to chicken. Sprinkle evenly with remaining Mrs. Dash® Tomato Basil seasoning and Parmesan. Turn heat to simmer and cover. Cook an additional 2 minutes.
4. Remove from heat. Keep covered. Rest 2 minutes. Plate, spooning pan juices over each breast.
5. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until chicken reaches 170°F (77°C).

So, how do you make low-sodium meals for your family? I would love to hear your ideas and recipes.

Disclaimer: I wrote this blog post while participating in the Mrs. Dash and TwitterMoms blogging program for a chance to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Hungry for a BLT.... I mean, BBT!

So, what was for dinner last night? Well, BBT in pasta form! We just received some fresh butchered pork.... notice anything different about this bacon? It looks and smells very different from the average supermarket fare...


This stuff actually resembles bacon! And, yum...

My garden is overflowing with tomatoes of all shapes and sizes right now... and my basil is still going strong. So the B (acon) B (asil) T (omato) pasta was born. To the mix I threw in some capers - just love those salty and tart little guys! Also a few olives and lots of garlic, of course. Add a glug or two of olive oil and a bit of pasta water, toss and enjoy.

Have Peace of Mind with SafeSocial - Launched Today

My DH & I want to raise our children to be tech savvy, but with that a slight worry about who they will meet online and what they will be talking about. I have seen people say and do crazy stuff in cyberspace, things they wouldn't have done in real life. As a parent, I want my children to be safe and I am constantly on the look-out for products and programs that can help me with that.

Yes, my kiddos are still pretty young and just getting to know the computer, but before I know it they will be pre-teens and then teens! Kids are no longer just hanging out in the family room, no... htey are interacting with "friends" online. Hundreds of them! Many of whom they have never met in person. More than 50 million teens are interacting online worldwide. And with an average "friend" list of 130, I bet my kiddos will have even more.

SafeSocial, is a new product AOL launches today, and it can help you protect your children, , even if you aren't a social media expert. SafeSocial helps you:

· Find out where your child has online accounts
· Know who your child is "friends" with online
· Get notified if your child is in a conversation about violence, suicide or drugs
· See photos your child has posted online, and others' photos in which your child has been tagged

It also helps you monitor all this activity without being a "helicopter parent." Your child will have to agree to be monitored, but you won't need to connect with them on the social media accounts, or hover over their shoulders in person. You may see SafeSocial in action in the video below.

Guest Post:

By Regina Lewis, AOL Consumer Advisor

So, how can you realistically keep up with your child’s vast circle of “friends” and ongoing status and photo updates?

1. Become a “Friend” - For starters, you can become your child’s online. They’ll need to accept your friend request. This can be easier said than done. In some cases, you may get push back. It’s your call how strongly you press.

There are more private alternatives. A new product called SafeSocial lets you privately see everything you would as a “friend” and even more. Many kids prefer this route. Remember, you’re not “spying” on them; you’re simply doing your job as an informed and involved parent.

2. Curb the Comments - If your child is reluctant to accept you publicly as a “friend,” be sure not to push your luck by excessively commenting on their page once you are granted access. Grandparents can be over-commenting culprits, too. Often teens find this “embarrassing” and it may even lead to having them “un-friend” you. It happens all the time.

3. Get a Report Card - The new parenting tool SafeSocial offers a time-efficient and thorough way to keep tabs on your children’s social networking without being too intrusive. It delivers an easy-to-read report card providing a 360 degree view of their overall social networking— what they’re saying and doing and who their friends are.

This answers one of the biggest issues facing parents all over the country—feeling like you need to spend hours each week monitoring your child’s online activity and still not really being sure if you’re seeing everything (they can filter your view) or what you might be missing (what’s happening on their friends’ pages).

4. Watch the Friends - All friends are not created equal. Some your children may know well, some they may barely know at all. You can get a good feel for their entire list via SafeSocial’s Friend Engine, which takes an extensive look at your kids’ friends and checks them against more than 50 databases to see if they may not be who they say they are. You’ll be alerted when an adult becomes a friend of your child, when someone looks suspicious or has no or few other mutual friends with your child.

5. Loaded Language and Photos - Specific words that may come up in strings of conversation— sex, drugs, alcohol, suicide and so on and suggestive or violent language will be flagged, so you can hone in on the suspect dialog versus reading every post. This helps prevent missing something inadvertently.

You can even opt to be immediately notified via an email alert. This piece could prove priceless in protecting your children’s safety and managing their reputations.

While every conversation and image is archived, you can adjust the settings to simply view those that are called out. This lets you give kids more privacy as they mature. You will also see all photos, including those other people post of your child. Young people tend to push the envelope with photos and videos, so checking out this section of the report card is critical.

Overall, social networking is an integral part of many teenage lives and an opportunity for your kids to learn to express themselves in a creative and responsible fashion. It’s too big a trend to ignore. You can embrace it with these new tools on your side. For more information, visit www.safesocial.com, www.safety.aol.com and www.reginalewis.com.

AOL Consumer Advisor Regina Lewis (www.reginalewis.com) is a national TV and radio contributor and Internet trend expert. She knows the tips, tricks, secrets and shortcuts for making technology work for you.

Interested in trying it out? Get your free 30-day trial of SafeSocial here.

Disclosure: By writing about SafeSocial, I'm entered to win a gift card from Global Influence, who also provided all the necessary assets for this post.

Recalls - What Can I Eat?

Currently here in central Oregon we are in the midst of a few food recalls...

Eggs shipped to 17 different states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Nevada, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin could be tainted with Salmonella, and so far more than 1,300 people have reported getting sick from these tainted eggs. Cases of Salmonella have been reported in Arizona, California, Colorado, & as far as Minnesota, and Nevada, but most can’t be confirmed as related to the recalled eggs. How can you tell if your eggs have been recalled? Visit this site for more information.

Then on a smaller scale, our local dairy issued a voluntary recall of all their milk and orange juice due to Salmonella being found in the packaging machines.

So, after checking my eggs and dumping out my milk I wanted to clean out my whole fridge... I mean reading about Salmonella just gave me the desire to purge any possible expired or old food from our house. Honestly, the fridge needed a good clean out.

So, what is making everyone sick? Salmonella is one of the most common types of food poisoning and actually refers to a whole group of bacteria. food poisoning symptoms can start anytime from 8 hours after tainted food consumption to 2 days.. A person may start to experience mild to severe stomach pain or cramping, followed by diarrhea. Most people also suffer nausea and vomiting. This is usually accompanied by chills, fever and aches. The infection can last for 5 to 7 days. Yikes. Anyone who has experienced food poisoning knows it can be nasty!

Salmonella can be avoided by using good hygiene... hand washing as well as proper food handling. Not usually a problem in the home. I hope the recalls will be over soon and that you all enjoy some healthy and safe noshing!

Wordless Wednesday - Watch Your Fingers!

Nothing like an evening at the Duck Pond. Have a great Wednesday everyone!

Fracture - An Easy Decorating Solution

I hate decorating. Not because I don't want a polished and comfortable looking home. No. It is because I kinda stink at it. I love admiring homes in magazines, I assume decorated by professionals for a pretty price tag. But, little old me? Well, I need to do something simple and affordable.

So, I was excited to hear about Fracture on TwitterMoms. So what is it? Well, instead of the regular costly printing and framing needed to display your photography, Fracture lets you print your digital pictures right onto glass. No need for paper, film, a mat... etc. So the printing, framing and mounting is one simple process. Just upload your favorite photo to FractureMe.com ... then print it onto a shatter proof glass that has all sharp edges removed. Safe to handle and simple to deal with! Not a bad "one-stop complete photo decor solution".

Okay, would you like to see one? Well, so would I! If I am one of the lucky first 100 bloggers to blog about this, I will have the chance to try it out and post a review here for you. Sound good? Well, feel free to check out www.fractureme.com and come back to see if I am selected to review their product. I have my fingers crossed!


Disclaimer: I wrote this blog post in response to a TwitterMoms RAMBO alert, making me eligible to get a Fracture picture frame for review. You can learn more about Fracture at http://www.fratureme.com

Great Giveaways on other Blogs!

Curious Chef... I have talked about them before and get excited when I find another giveaway for their great products. Most of my blog posts where my son is helping out, look closely, you can see him using his Curious Chef tools. Just look for the green and white handles. Would you like to try them yourself?

Head on over to


and enter the Curious Chef Ice Cream scoop giveaway. This giveaway ends on 9/4.

Five of your favorite family time ideas.

We love to spend time as a family! That would be one of the reasons we decided to take this crazy adventure out here on the farm. It is a simpler life with everyone close by and time to ourselves in the evening. TwitterMoms & Lego Games are challenging bloggers to write about their family time ideas. So, how do we choose to spend our time?

First off, we love getting to know our food! Whether it is an afternoon of U-Pick in the strawberry patch, or an evening walk to the peach orchard, the kids really love seeing where their food comes from and then choosing their own!

We love to go on a family bike ride in the evening. Helmets on and we pedal away! We have a double bike carrier and the kids love to feel the wind in their hair and see the countryside from their sweet little ride.

Our third favorite activity? Well, getting down and dirty together in the kitchen. My kiddos are of the age that being with Mom and getting to mix the batter is the highlight of their day! I have made all sorts of things with the kids and even invested in some good child-sized and child-safe kitchen utensils to make it more fun. Apron up and let the fun begin!

Our fourth favorite family activity would be reading together. As a young family my DH & I are working hard to create life-long readers. It is fun to sit around on the bed, on the couch, or just plopped down on the floor with a good book. Sound effects and funny voices give it an added level of silliness.

And our fifth family time idea? Why, a good game of course! There are so many ways to play as a family... from a roaring and sweaty game of tag outdoors, to the Wii resort in our living room... and don't forget classic board games! They are a fabulous way to get everyone together and interacting! Currently our favorites include the starting games like the new farm animal UNO, and matching games. With my son's approaching birthday though, I think we are ready to break into Cooties or Barrel of Monkeys, too!

So, what about you? How does your family enjoy time together? If you want to join in on the TwitterMom fun, check out their discussion board for other great posts on this topic.

Join LEGO on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/LEGOGames

To learn more about Lego's game line, based on their world famous LEGO bricks visit,
LEGO Games Challenge: www.legogameschallenge.com


Disclaimer: I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Lego blogging program, making me eligible to get a prize pack. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

A Big Zhu Zhu "Happy Birthday Patches"

Have you caught the Zhu Zhu craze yet? Have your kids? On Saturday we will be celebrating my daughter's first birthday and also throwing a Zhu Zhu Wild Bunch bash. Since we are already in a festive mood here, we wanted to invite you to today's festivities!

Today, 8/24, in honor of our furry friend Patches, you can join in on the fun with @Zhuniverse on twitter

or catch the excitement when you "like" Zhuniverse on Facebook

So, check in all day August 24th, and wish Patches a, "Happy Birthday". There are great prizes being given away all day.

Mutsy Facebook Giveaway

There is currently a fabulous giveaway going on over on Mutsy's Facebook page. All you have to do is like them on facebook... then click on the ENTER GIVEAWAY tab at the top of their page... wait till the end of the explanation and then click enter.

And why should you do this?

Well, you can win fabulous prizes from

Mutsy, Kushies, pediped and kokopax.

...need I say more? And if you don't think you can win a huge giveaway like this one? (I thought that too until...) I recently won a big facebook giveaway from Proactiv. I am excited to post about my new cruiser bike arriving shortly. Winning is definitely the cool thing to do. ...and you can, too!

Ever Wondered About... The Wonder Hanger?

I have seen my share of infomercials, and Wonder Hangers have always caught my eye. Who wouldn't want a simple and affordable way to organize an out of control closet? I mean, that is more room for shopping, right?

I was fortunate enough to be selected for a Wonder Hangers Blog Tour through Parent Reviewers. So this was my chance to get my closet in order. Since we recently moved into this house the closets have been a low priority to organize. They are one of the few things no one sees. But, I have to use our shared closet space and it really bugs me!

The box contained 8 wonder hangers that will hold 5 garments or hangers each. So, 40 garments can be organized for just $9.99. That isn't bad. In the box were the hooks and the rings. After snapping them together I headed to our entryway closet. This isn't terrible, but I would love more room for company to hang their coats. This was our before...


And here is the after. See how much room it freed up? This seems like a fabulous way to store all of our coats. I want to get our other coats out of storage and put them in the closet, too. We finally have the room for all of them to be in there at the same time!


So my opinion of Wonder Hangers? I am impressed. So simple, and it works. The coats won't fall off, and they are still easy to see and find. That to me is priceless!

Some suggestions for using the Wonder Hangers include organizing by season, color, or putting together outfits. An easy way to keep things from wrinkling, and keep people from "losing" clothes in their closet. This product can be found online at www.wonderhanger.com or at major retail chains including Walmart, Target, Bed Bath and Beyond and CVS.

So, do you have a closet to organize?

Giveaway - Tropical Traditions Powdered Laundry Detergent

In this house we know dirt. We are surrounded by it, we work in it and it follows everyone into my house. The worst culprit is my DH... though, as a farmer, he really can't help it. I see a lot of dirt get carried into my laundry room in the clothes he was wearing and laundry takes up a large part of my day. Okay, almost all of my day... everyday!

I was really exited to try out Tropical Traditions Powdered Laundry Detergent on my DH's dirty grimy work clothes. I am not sure there is a better test for it! Along with the dirt, there is grease from working on equipment and probably a bit of fertilizer and ... who knows?

So, let's jump right in... here are 3 pairs of pants as I got them from the hamper. They smell like gasoline and dirt. Yum.

And the after? Well, after a nice long soak in hot water and the detergent, then a warm wash this is the result.

Impressive, isn't it? Worried there are still stains? These are not new pants, mind you. These are worked in and worn pants. I am just impressed. And the smell was far better than gasoline.

Over the past 2 weeks I have used this detergent on our regular clothes as well as my cloth diaper stash and have been happy with how well it worked. I enjoy that it washes clean, does not irritate our skin and does not leave a fragrance residue. Because both my DH and son are very sensitive, we are a fragrance free household. It also Powdered Laundry Detergent contains no dyes, perfumes, fillers or phosphates. Just cleaning power!

I have enjoyed working with this company in the past. Do you remember the Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil I reviewed? Or the Coconut Peanut Butter? I was impressed with both products and still recommend them to friends and readers alike. If you want to learn more about their coconut products you can watch, “How We Discovered Virgin Coconut Oil - An Interview with Brian Shilhavy, CEO Tropical Traditions” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h6eycjf29M

Would you like to try this detergent out for yourself? Of course. Be sure to check them out on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tropical-Traditions/21958449446 Here is your chance to win your very own jar of Tropical Traditions Powdered Laundry Detergent.

GIVEAWAY!

• Mandatory Entry Subscribe by email via Feedburner (right hand side)
  
  For extra entries, do any or all of the following and leave a comment letting me know after you do the mandatory entry mentioned above:
  
  
• Follow my Blog via Google Friend Connect (1 entry)
• Subscribe to Tropical Traditions' Sales Newsletter (1 entry)
  
• Follow Tropical Traditions on twitter (@Troptraditions) (1 entry)
• Blog about this giveaway with a link to my site (5 entries)
• Enter any other current giveaway (1 entry each)
  
• Enter this on a Giveaway Linky & leave a link (5 entries for each Linky!)
• Follow me on Twitter (@notimeMom) & tweet about this giveaway. (3x per day at least 2 hrs apart) Feel free to use: " Win @Troptraditions Powdered Laundry Detergent @notimeMom http://bit.ly/9azb7K :: ends 9/7 #giveaway Pls RT!" Please include the URL (1 entry per tweet)
• Is there another product you would like to try? (Tropical Traditions)
• Comment on any of my other blog posts. Just let me know where you commented (1 entry per comment, 5 entries max.)

Open to the US and Canada. Please leave a separate comment for each entry to get full credit. Giveaway ends on September 7th at 11:59 pm PST. A winner will be chosen on the 8th via Random.org. and will be emailed. They will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

*Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

Pasta... It's So Easy!

Okay, I have a secret to share with you... it's about pasta. Guess what? Making your own is simple. So simple, it's kinda silly. Really. I promise.

What I don't understand is, there has been a homemade bread movement for a while. People all over, including myself, have learned it isn't so tough. It takes a bit of practice, but the pay off of that aromatic loaf of fresh warm bread to eat is worth it. Then I learned how to make yogurt... even easier! Mozzarella? kinda fun to pull. But, why are people so intimidated by pasta? My Mom made pasta for chicken noodle soup once. That was it. I remember it was so yummy, but I don't think she ever attempted it again. I on the other hand have fallen in love with home made pasta. The box stuff just doesn't compare!

The ingredients? 3... I bet you have them right now. 2 c. Flour? Check. 2 Eggs? Check. Um... a splash or two of water? Check. Now flour is up to you. AP will work fine, but you can get as fancy shmancy as you want. Semolina is nice... so is Italian 00 flour, or experiment with wheat or other stuff.

Put the first two in a food processor for easy pulsing, or make a well of flour on your counter and drop your eggs in the middle. Pulse until you get a fine meal. Then add a Tbsp of water and pulse again. It should clump a little and be climbing the sides of your bowl. Take a bit between your fingers and it should hold form, but not be sticky. Go slowly. For the counter method, incorporate slowly then add water till it all comes together.


Grab a clump about the size of an egg. Flatten it a bit to make it easier to feed into the press. If you are using a rolling pin work with 1/4 of the dough. Keep the rest of the dough covered tightly so it won't dry out. I feed it through, fold then again about 5-6 times. Then I change the dial so it will start rolling thinner. One go through till it reaches the thickness you want is fine. For tonight I went for the thinnest setting, but if I was making filled pasta (ravioli, tortelinni, etc. ) I would use a thicker setting.

Okay, so far so good? Now is the hardest part. Choose your pasta! I roll mine with an Imperia press, but a roller and knife will work, too. My MIL has her Kitchen Aid attachment which we have used in the past. Our family really likes fettuccine size noodles, but let your imagination...or stomach decide.
Racks are convenient for drying the pasta, but not essential. You can cut then dry the pasta and keep it in an airtight container for a couple of days. Remember this stuff is devoid of preservatives so it has a shorter shelf life. I like to hang mine as I finish rolling the rest and make sauce. This helps it not clump, but dusting with extra flour will work too. You can also use a clothes drying rack... or in a pinch, plastic (and washed) laundry hangers. Cool, huh?



Then add your creation to your salted boiling water. 3 minutes is all it takes to cook! Easy.

Yippee! I'm Part of the Growing Tree Toys Blog Network!

I am so excited to share with you something that I hope everyone will enjoy. I am now part of Growing Tree Toys' Blog Network. Woo-hoo! I know parents spend a lot of time trying to find the best toys for their children... something that will last, be well loved and well, educational to boot! Growing Tree Toys has a great selection of toys to fit any child.

My son's birthday is coming up in November and shopping for him is difficult. I like the selection that Growing Tree Toys has of Toddler Toys. My son is not old enough for things with small parts, but he does need toys that will keep him engaged and encourage his imagination. You can shop by age on the site, which is especially nice for gift giving. I think he might enjoy the Simple Words Puzzle Pairs Set or any of the Playmobile sets (they have everything from fire & rescue to constuction sets). I remember loving Playmobile when I was a child.

So, as part of the blog network I hope to bring your updates on the hot new toys for this coming holiday season as well as info about their blog and reviews. Be sure to stay tuned for all kinds of great tid bits from Growing Tree Toys.

Aloha Friday - #27

Aloha Everyone! In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that they take it easy and look forward to the weekend.Friday used to be my friend, but today it signals the end of another week... that went by too quickly! But, I survived the week, so to celebrate! Let's sit back, relax and enjoy a little blog hop. No heavy mental lifting today... just one simple little question...

How Elaborate Should Goodie Bags Be For Birthday Party?

When I was a child, the fun of going to a birthday party was eating cake and playing games. I don't remember taking anything home with me. Now trends have changed and everywhere I turn there are instructions for what to put in a goodie bag for the young guests to take home. I guess I am torn. As a busy Mom, already tripping over clutter in our home, I don't want any more small trinkets for the kids. Dime Store style toys either brake easily or have small parts that pose a choking hazard for my youngest. Usually I throw them away when the kids aren't looking.

So that leaves me with the upcoming birthday party for my little girl. I am thinking of just giving away two toys for each guest. The guests will all be older than the birthday girl, but I still don't want their moms packing home a gob of junk. I have felt fortune cookies for each child to choose and take home... and a Zhu Zhu Pet as part of a home party promotion. Is this enough?

What do you expect from a party, or furnish in your goodie bags? Toys? Trinkets? Candy? I would love to hear what the consensus is.

If you are looking for more Aloha Friday fun, go to An Island Life and check out the other posts on the Linky. Have a great weekend!

Decking Out My New Droid

We just got the new Droid 2 phones and my DH is loving the camera apps. Hopefully this will be a big help for blogging since I won't be able to forget my camera again.



These apps, called Camera 360 & Retro Camera, gives the photos an antique quality. Definitely fun to play around with.


I am not normally app crazy, but with a new phone there are many new possibilities. What apps do you love? Help me pimp my phone.