Hurry, Hurry! 24 Hour Giveaway - Old Navy

Hurry up or you will miss out on this fabulous giveaway on The Charmed Mom for a $50 off a $100 in-store purchase at Old Navy.

This is a great chance to stock-up or make-over your waredrobe! I would love to get some new clothes for my fast growing kiddos. This giveaway ends tomorrow (1/1) and the coupon is only good till 1/6. But with 9 winners, why not enter? Good luck.  ENTER HERE.

It's Coming... A Blogtastic Extravaganza

A Blogtastic Extravaganza is coming. Be sure to mark your calendar for January 18-22... over 100 blogs will be linked up with giveaways each totaling $50 or more!

Each blog will have a simple entry and also a Linky with all the other participating blogs. So just enter and move on down the list. I am excited to be a part of this and will have baby and children's items in a big ole' prize pack. My theme will be "Beautiful Baby". Great for expectant Mothers, or a great baby shower gift. So far I have:

Fisher Price - Rock-a-Stack Toy

Nuby - No Spill 10 oz. 2 pack

Bummas - 2 packs of reusable cloth wipes (20 wipes total!)

Bella Bee - Cooling Leg & Foot Cream

Belly Beautiful Workout DVD by Patricia Friberg

Hotslings - shawl style nursing cover

Halo Sleep Sack Swaddle for NB

Mam - NB pacifier & 9 oz. Mam baby bottle

Over $127 (ARV) Worth of Mom & Baby Goods

It is a great prize package and I am so excited! Be sure to come back on January 18th when the fun begins. If you subscribe to my blog via email you will get an update when the event begins, plus get all my other daily recipes and goodies. Subscribing is also one of my entry options for all giveaways, so subscribe today!

2010... We've Come a Long Way, Bay-bee!

It has been a great year! I hope it was for you. There were big changes here with our family. First off, the year began with my son's Poo-casso period. (not for the feint of heart!) As of now, my son is still not potty trained. Though my daughter more consistently uses our Boon Potty bench.

In February I hosted my first giveaway with CSN Stores. And thanks to all my great readers for entering to win the bakeware set. My DH took our daughter to their very first Father Daughter Dance, and will be making it an annual event. Maybe this year she will be able to stay awake for the whole thing.

Our big move came in March. Not only did we move into a house with a fenced yard, but we had many projects to get the place ready and my DH switched careers to take up farming. It was a great decision, and though scary, it has been a healthy change for all of us.

Then I explored our green side with cloth diapers, food storage , gardening, and making our own laundry detergent. This next year I hope to do even more! Every little bit helps whether you do it for the world or your wallet. It is a win-win.

And recipes? Well, there were some good ones! From Butternut Squash Risotto, Salmon Hash, to Home made Twix-like Cookies. It was a great culinary year. Of course, there are always new ideas floating around my head and there will be more great recipes to share.

Summer was great here! Besides all the strawberries the kids could eat, bake and preserve, we got our chicks and soon were up to our eyeballs in eggs. I really can't complain. Of course the use of eggs in cooking has been a running theme.

We celebrated 2 very important birthdays... Little Girl's first birthday, and Little Man's 3rd.
Then we added two more family members to complete our crazy crew. Chloe, a 6 year old cat and Cooper, our 10 month old Border Collie puppy. I couldn't imagine the place without them, though we are still adjusting to the hairballs and chewed up toys.

So, from all of us at Adventures in All Things Food, here is to a great year! Be sure to stay tuned because 2011 is going to be off the hook. Oh, yeah... so much to do, post and explore. Happy New Year and we will see you again once our New Year, and colds have worn off.

 

Aloha Friday #44

Welcome to Friday Everyone! In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that they take it easy and look forward to the weekend. I feel like I am experiencing the calm before the storm of the holiday. Let's sit back, relax and enjoy a little blog hop. No heavy mental lifting today... just one simple little question...

 

How do you Ring in the New Year?

As we sit on the eve of 2011, and I think we might cancel our big plans due to a house of colds and runny noses, I wonder... how do you celebrate this evening? Our family usually heads over to a friends house and we let the kiddos run wild. Don't worry, the little ones will probably crash long before the ball drops. It does give all the parents a chance to enjoy themselves and catch up on what everyone is up to. So, do you party with a group? Stay in and toast the New Year? Or do you head in early and feel refreshed for 2011?

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!

Wordless Wednesday - Sister's Toys

There is something so appealing about his little sister's toys. He just had to give her Olivia dress-up box a go...

Mamavation Monday... Ugh, are those my Toes?

Could also be titled, "Is this scale stuck?" or, "Why do I have Alien toes?"

I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas. Here is was pretty much a blur. All ending with today, which was my DH's birthday and annual shopping trip in the city. We don't go for Black Friday, or many sale days, but we always hit the after Christmas sales. Armed with Christmas money, we have a fun day together and pick up some treats for ourselves. This year I got a real bargain on the new EA Sports Active 2 for the Wii. Just 2 weeks ago I had priced it as $89 to $98, but today at Target it was $59.99! I was so excited. This version has a heart rate monitor and many new workout options. I feel as giddy as a kid right now. ...and it makes up for the fact my copy of Jillian's Shred still hasn't arrived.

As many of you know, I am applying to be a Mamavation Mom. An honor given to two Moms working hard to make real change in their life, striving to support the Mamavation sistahood, as well as logging and blogging about their progress and new found knowledge. We still have a week before finalists are announced and I need everyone's help. If you get the chance, please send the following tweet:

Hey @bookieboo! I want @notimeMom to be the next #Mamavation Mom. She has my support! http://bit.ly/zqUxa

Or,  post on the Mamavation Facebook Fan page   why I would be your choice. You would make this Mama really proud to openly and honestly share her weight loss journey with the Sistahood.

______________________________

 I survived the holidays, how about you? I say "survived", because with two small children that is the mode I am in. Purely survival. I ate more than I had hoped, but less than made me uncomfortable. I did enjoy making some goodies, but didn't have much available in the house to snack on. Luckily I didn't gain this week. That is in itself, a victory.

Okay, Goal Time!
Last Week's Goals :
I need to make movement a priority this week because of the holidays. My goal is to get at least 30 minutes of movement a day... dancing with a DVD, treadmill or outdoor walk pushing the stroller.
 - I am happy to say that be it cleaning or a DVD, I got my 30 minutes a day. I also didn't gain any extra weight. As I said, I could have titled this post "Is my scale stuck" because it is firmly at 191 lbs. Ugh. That REALLY needs to change!

This Week's Goals :

• Meal Plan for the Week & Keep a Food Journal
• Clean Eating ...with recipes? (stay tuned!)
• EA Sports Active 3x this week
• Get out in the Stroller 2x this week
• Pilates or Yoga every evening
• Drink 8 glasses of Water a Day

I would love, love, love to see the scale move down a pound. Shoot, I would even take a half pound this week. I hope my moving every day and watching what I put into my mouth more closely, this can happen. Okay, wish me luck!

As for my 2011 Healthy Resolutions? Well, I hope to drop three pant sizes... a 10 or smaller would be nice. I think that losing 40 lbs+ this year would help me to sleep better at night. Currently my weight is causing some sleep apnea, and leaving me extra tired in the morning. I also want to tackle my first organized run, a 5K would be a great place to start. These may be small goals, but the work necessary to complete each one will no doubt keep me busy all year. What are your goals for this coming year? Anything wild and crazy? I would love to hear all about them.

*No Mamavation TV this week, but I hope to see you all there the following week. Good luck and happy moving, everyone!

PS, anyone else take their scale pic and realize they have alien toes? The toes on my right foot seem to be trying to run away from the rest of my foot. I had to squeeze them really hard to get them semi close to my foot, and now they look scrunched. *sigh* I think I will go back to snapping the scale photo with socks on. Lol.

Merry Christmas!

I wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas from my family to yours.

Last night kicked off our festivities with one side of my DH's family, and Santa visited us last night. This is the first year little man is excited about Santa. After keeping a close watch on NORAD yesterday, my kiddos were blessed with many new fabulous new toys...

 A little Playmobile...

 Corolle & Manhatten Toy Company...

Little Tikes...

...and Melissa & Doug.

I think I was just as excited as the kiddos to go downstairs this morning! We still have more fun to come later today, and hope you all are having a great holiday, too!

Pair Savvy - Do You Dare to Pair?

I occasionally enjoy a glass of wine with my DH. Here in Oregon we are proud of the fact our wines are up and coming.. In our little valley, wineries are popping up everywhere and wine tours are a popular tourist activity. But, I have to admit, I am at a loss on how to serve wine to my friends.

I am much more comfortable with juice boxes and goldfish, but dream of a day when I am a more experienced wine enthusiast. I would love to know what to serve with each bottle of wine... I would love to know the perfect pairing. ...and that is where Pair Savvy comes in.

Pair Savvy is a user-friendly application that works on both iPhone and Android devices and allows users to search by cheese, wine or beer varieties based on personal preference. California cheesemakers make more than 250 varieties and styles of Real California Cheese, everything from bandage wrapped Cheddar to award-winning Brie.

Here’s how it works: 
Download Pair Savvy to your mobile device and you can select by cheese, wine or beer. If you don't have a compatible mobile device, users can still use the Pair Savvy site to find savvy pairings.

I typed in Pinot Noir

Pair Savvy will come up with a pairing that has a list of suggested cheeses, California cheesemakers and brand names they can purchase at retail.  So cool!

It gave me 5 pairing options: Camembert, Cheddar, Colby Jack, Feta & Manchego. Easy!

Some pairings even suggest fruit accompaniments, which is great when putting together a cheese plate or display.  Users can also save pairings and rate the pairings they have tried.  There’s even a “Surprise Pairing” option for the more daring at heart. 

I was impressed! A nice way to take some of the guess work out of entertaining. Though this is set up to highlight California cheeses, it still will work with any regions cheese. Here I can't take advantage of all the California cheese varieties, but I am still excited about the app. Normally I would have no idea what to serve with my beer or wine, but now I know a handy resource.

This fun app is available for free download, just in time for holiday events.  A beautiful, perfectly paired selection of cheeses and beverages will make you the most celebrated host or hostess and the favorite guest at every party you attend. 

Real California Cheese Pair Savvy is available today to most smart phone users through their mobile browser: pairsavvy.realcaliforniamilk.com

• For the iPhone:  Visit the App Store, search for “Pair Savvy” then download for free (available soon).
• For Android users: Visit the Android Marketplace, search for “Pair Savvy” then download for free.
• Better yet, Pair Savvy is linked to RealCaliforniaMilk.com so the app will update automatically with no need to download future updated versions. 

Dairy products – including cheese – made with California milk can be identified by the Real California Milk and Real California Cheese seal, which certifies that the products are made exclusively with milk produced on California dairy farms.  Ninety-nine percent of California dairy farms are family-owned. California produces more fluid milk, butter, ice cream, yogurt and nonfat dry milk than any other state. The state is the second-largest producer of cheese, which is available nationally under the Real California Cheese seal.

*Disclaimer - I wrote this post as a member of the One2One Network. I was entered into a giveaway in exchange for posting. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions expressed are my own.

Wordless Wednesday - Begining to look a lot like...

...Christmas!

 Hand-made decorations for the Christmas tree allowed the kids to get in on the action.

This year we tried a Playmobile advent calendar. It was a huge hit.

And the simpler advent calendar - a family classic.

Sorry, not very wordless this week. But, wishing you and your family a Happy Holiday!

Giveaway - Always a Party with Chex Party Mixes

Count down folks! Christmas eve will be upon us and guests will arrive... and arrive hungry. Do you have all your snacks and appetizers planned out? How about a quick and tasty Chex Party Mix!

For decades, savvy home cooks have been serving crunchy Chex® cereal to satisfy their hungry friends and family. Many of the Chex® Party Mix recipes can be made in the microwave in 15 minutes and utilize simple ingredients you already have on hand. No matter how last minute, there is always time to make a Chex® Party Mix. Sweet or salty, Chex has a wide range of tastes covered.There are even four gluten-free varieties of Chex cereal to help with different dietary needs.

My mother made the classic Chex® Party Mix around the holidays, and I used to gobble it up! When I set out to make one this year I found out my DH didn't care for it. I know, shock! But, with all the great recipes available on Chex.com, I knew there had to be something to tempt him. I settled on the classic Muddy Buddies. Oh, yeah.

Start with just a few ingredients. I used Rice Chex, peanut butter, semi-sweet chocolate chips, butter vanilla and powdered sugar. Find the complete recipe HERE.

Very fast, easy and delicious! I bagged mine up in small portions right away to help me resist diving into the entire bowl. There are so many great looking recipes listed on their site, be sure to take a peak and see what's new.

Luckily, Kroger Family of Stores currently have Chex Cereals on sale to make stocking up and entertaining simple! This 3 week sale is almost up, but you still have until December 25th to get your Chex at their lowest prices of the year!

Don´t forget to visit Kroger and Chex on Facebook to"Like" their pages and keep up with recipes, news and their latest and greatest products. While you´re there, take a minute to share photos of your Chex creations

GIVEAWAY Time!

• Mandatory Entry Follow my Blog via Google Friend Connect (leave your GFC name, please.) (1 entry)
  
  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:

•  Head over to chex.com/Recipes and tell me which mix recipe you want to try! (1 entry)
• Subscribe by email via Feedburner (right hand side) You must confirm your subscription in your email for this to count. (2 entries) 
• Blog about this giveaway with a link to my site and a link to Chex.com (5 entries)
• Follow me on Twitter (@notimeMom) & tweet about this giveaway. (3x per day at least 2 hrs apart) Feel free to use: " #Win Chex & a $25 Kroger GC @notimeMom to spice up your party! http://bit.ly/fWvKdv :: ends 1/3 #giveaway Pls RT!" Please include the URL (1 entry per tweet)

Please leave each entry as a separate comment. Contest is open to US residents and will end at 12 am PST on January 3rd. Winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning e-mail or prize will be forfeited and a new winner will be drawn

*Disclaimer - I was provided a sample of  Chex cereal and a Kroger Gift Card through MyBlogSpark. They also provided me with information about the sale and the cereal. No other compensation was involved. All opinions expressed are my own.

All I Want for Christmas... not booty pop or a push-up bra

Okay, I will have no need for such silly things. Oh, no. This girl is trying to lose the pop, and push down the fat. I am excited to be applying to be part of the Mamavation Mom Campaign 7. It is going to be tough. There is a great group of Moms applying, and I know the 2 ladies selected will be a great inspiration for the whole group. In case you want to know more about me, I thought I would do a big share. I mean this is a time when honesty and personality should reign supreme.

• I often fall prey to chocolate and carbs. Though, I have often been a willing victim in the past.
• My highest weight was 214 lbs. I am currently 190. This yo-yo has also yo-yo'ed a time or two with weight.
• I love getting out with my jogging stroller. I have a Phil & Ted and it is awesome!
• I enjoy cheesy sayings.
• I love to drink water and mix it up with mint leaves, cucumber slices or lemon wedges.
• I have always wanted to complete a 5K, also have dreamed of a triathlon.
• I have climbed Mt. Fuji, Cycled across the state of Oregon (Idaho border to Pacific Ocean) and went scuba diving in Thailand.
• We raise our own eggs, I garden and my husband is a produce farmer.
• I love to cook from scratch
• Music, any music, makes me want to move.

Would you like to follow me along my weight loss adventure? I mean it is just another adventure in food, anyway. In order to be selected as a finalist I need support from all my friends, family and followers. Please tweet:

Hey @bookieboo! I want @notimeMom to be the next #Mamavation Mom. She has my support! http://bit.ly/zqUxa

  I would love to share my journey, and help motivate the next wave of weight shedding, moving and grooving mamavation sistas! Thanks everyone for your support so far. I just have another two weeks till finalists are announced, and then voting will begin.

Book Review - Aurora Fee, by Megan Barnes

When I was younger, I loved fantasy books. Nothing too crazy, but just different enough from my own reality to serve as an escape. I know when I was in junior high school, I would have loved Aurora Fee, by Megan Barnes.

Written by a teenager for teenagers, author Megan Barnes captured the heart and soul of every high school girl who dreams of being unique. I mean, finding out you are immortal is pretty special, but an immortal shape shifter is even better. Born an average human, her life was changed forever at 16. Aurora can change into a cat and back again triggered by her emotions. But, as all good fantasy is, this book also deals with the common issues teenagers face...Aurora must navigate high school, friends and even falling in love. If you think your teen years were difficult, just think about Aurora's complications!

"...even if I may have been human once, I'm not anymore."

Unlike the average high school girl, Aurora can't stay in one place for too long. Having kept her secret hidden for years, but a new move to a Manhattan school has her friends facing danger.

This was a fast read, and I am sure as a teenager I would have consumed it in one sitting. At 240 pages it is not a long read, but a perfect serving of feline adventure. I enjoyed that it was a great mixture between usual teen conflicts, and life and death action. It is a great story I would recommend for tween through teen readers, especially girls interested in paranormal fiction.

Find out more at http://www.aurorafee.com. Or purchase your copy on Amazon, also available for Kindle download.

*Disclaimer - I was provided a copy of Aurora Fee for a Parent Reviewer's blog tour. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions expressed are my own.

Review - Do You Entertain Like a Gentleman?

The holidays come with parties, food and decorating opportunities galore. But, are you a confident hostess? Want more ideas? Need a place to start?

No matter if you are a novice, or a pro, I have the perfect book for you! Entertain Like a Gentleman by David Harap runs the full array of party occasions, from brunch, to tailgating, and Oktoberfest. Chock full of scrumptious recipes, it will have you entertaining like a pro in no time.

Some of my top favorites included:

• Apple Gingerbread Pudding - Ch. 8 Oktoberfest
• Drunken Pineapple Rum Shrimp Ceviche - Ch. 6 Pool Party
• Pumpkin Muffins with Brown Sugar Creme Filling - Ch. 14 Brunch With the In-Laws
• Dinosaur Eggs -Ch. 9 Cooking with Kiddos

Mmm... all delicious recipes, and easy to make.  These simple, yet elegant ideas will have your guests singing your praises! Each chapter has a full menu of ideas, a shopping list and equipment list for each recipe. Some chapters even have added suggestions for making your gathering more enjoyable. This book helps to plan everything out for the host or hostess. I have to say that I am always looking for ways to make entertaining go more smoothly.

The first chapter is even a basic course of Entertaining 101, starting off with the 25 tenants for stress free entertaining , conversions and how to equip a kitchen. All important building blocks for any person who wants to entertain their friends or family.

My only problem is I would have enjoyed seeing photos of the different foods. The cover art is truly beautiful and drew me in, but I wanted to see more. Perhaps it is because I am more visual about my food.

You can find your own copy on Amazon. Why not add this to your holiday shopping list, or give it to a friend?

*Disclaimer - I was provided a copy of this book for a Parent Reviewer's blog tour. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions expressed are my own.

Mamavation Monday...Ongoing Quest to be a MM

Happy Monday everyone! Just one more week (okay, a bit less) till Christmas. How was your week?

I started strong. I felt like I had added motivation to really get movin' and a groovin'.

Despite my sore legs from the recent trips up to the snow, the scale showed a different outcome. 192 lbs... That is +2 since last week. Slightly frustrating as I enter into one of my biggest food temptation weeks of the year. I wish I was just tempted by sweet things, no. I am tempted by all the holiday foods. Even down to the humble mashed potato. I seem to be stuck at this 190 cycle, a little up or down each week, but no true progress in the right direction. I know I am not making enough changes to cause real weight loss.

So my plan of attack is to stay armed with my water bottle, plan some high fiber lunches and breakfasts (I was thinking split pea soup or lentils), and portion out my sweet treats. I just did a review for Chex and made Muddy Buddies. Instead of leaving them all in a big bowl for mindless noshing, I portioned them out into 100 cal. servings. Enough for a sweet treat, but not enough to derail my goals.

As for activities this past week? Well, Sunday we went back up to the mountains for some family fun time. It was a blustery day...

...but, beautiful. It snowed most of the day, and while we were at the resort about 2 inches fell. It was a short day, since the kiddos got cold quickly. We were able to take refuge in the ski school.

Little man was able to warm up and play for a little while. Baby girl is currently teething, at least 3 molars and one front tooth is coming in, so she was cranky. This means most of my day focused on taking care of her. I was disappointed that I didn't get more ski time, but my DH and I are thinking of some ways to get us some more time on the slopes. Next weekend we won't be getting outside as a family because of the holiday - Yay! Christmas!, but the following week we will be off on another family adventure. I am voting for Cross Country skiing next time. I can keep up the activity for a longer period of time, but am just as sore the next day.

If you didn't know already, I have applied to be a Mamavation Mom. You can catch my announcement post and vlog application HERE. I would be honored to be chosen. Of course I would love access to the resources Mamavation Moms are provided, but I would also love to support all of you. I am just a busy stay at home Mom. I rush this way and that helping everyone around me, but this is my turn to ask for help. As a Mamavation Sista I am supported by my peers, and have the chance to help others going through similar situations. It is an amazing to be in such a supportive group. If blogging through the good, the bad and the downright sweaty, could inspire another Mom to lead a healthier lifestyle, then it is worth it. I would love to be an example... and have my behind kicked by bookieboo! I need family and reader support to make this happen. Just tweet:

Hey @bookieboo! I want @notimeMom to be the next #Mamavation Mom. She has my support! http://bit.ly/zqUxa

Or, let her know on facebook that you support me. Just post on the Mamavation Facebook Fan page   why I would be your choice.

Okay, Goal Time!
Last Week's Goals: Shred- Workout 2x this week  -DVD hasn't arrived yet. Have only tried a bit of the online preview. Need to spend some time on Monday.
Pilates - 3x this week - Ran out of time this week, only did it 2x. Next week I will go for 3x.
Food Challenge - Bean recipes this week - Made a rockin' Chili recipe that my DH loved!
Hydration - 10 glasses a day! - Check! Start a Food/Exercise Journal - log and record - Need to be more consistent with logging my food intake.

New Goals :
I need to make movement a priority this week because of the holidays. My goal is to get at least 30 minutes of movement a day... dancing with a DVD, treadmill or outdoor walk pushing the stroller. If the weather stays stormy, I will postpone the outdoor walks. I don't want to freeze the kiddos!

Is anyone else nervous about the holidays? I just don't want to have another gain. I am trying not to get too stressed about the whole situation since that will make my snacking worse. I am really looking forward to this week's Mamavation TV. This week's special guest sounds great, and the DVD sounds like fun. I look forward to chatting with all my Mamavation Sistas. Not a part of the Sistahood? Go here for more information.

_______________________________________

MAMAVATION TV: Join us Monday night at 7pm PST/10pm EST on Mingle Media TV

 Special Guest: Suzanne Forbes-Vierling, PhD (@tribalenergy4u)

BLOGGING CARNIVAL: This week’s blogging carnival is sponsored by @tribalenergy4u. Two winners of the carnival will win a Tribal Energy Cardio DVD. Mention Tribal Energy Cardio, and link back to their site in your post. Then

 link up to the Mamavation Blogging Carnival here to enter.

Winners, Winners. Calling for some Winners!

My two last Holiday Gift Guide winners have been drawn. The luck folks were selected with random.org and are:

For the Butter Bell Crock, out of 111 entries (one was not valid) the winner was #12
 Dina said...

listed 4

December 3, 2010 6:56 AM

For the Visa Gift Card Giveaway, out of 423 entries the winner was #416

MissMom said...

I follow

December 15, 2010 10:11 PM

Congrats folks! I have emailed you both and hope to hear back from you by Monday (a little more time due to the holidays) or I will draw a new winner. If today was not your lucky day, take heart! I have 2 more giveaways ...both food related... to post later this week. Also, stay tuned as I will be participating in both Blogmania and Blogtastic Extravaganza giveaways in 2011.

Why Not Roast Those Beets? (recipe)

This is a great time of year to embrace the root vegetables in season. Yeah, we all know about the spud... in his many shapes, sizes and colors... but what about the beet?

If you are about to move on to another article, just give me a minute of your time. I think you might enjoy the humble beet. He has so much to offer you!

• One cup has only 58 calories!
• Beets are used for their detoxifying properties
• They are great source of folate, which is so necessary for healthy fetal development and for a healthy cardiovascular system. 

My grandfather used to eat by the color palate. He instilled in me a great love of a colorful dinner plate of food, and as colorful foods go... beets are on the top of the heap!

You are probably thinking, canned beets... blech! Well, unless it is the homemade pickled variety, I am right there with ya. My all time favorite way to serve beets is simply roasted. This method is both simple and really brings out the natural flavor and sugar of the vegetable.

Find beets that are relatively uniform in size. I prefer the smaller ones, because I think they have a deeper flavor. Just give them a little scrub, but don't remove the stem or root. If the greens are still attached, feel free to separate them for another purpose. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Make yourself a little foil pouch and put the beets inside in a single layer. Drizzle with a few Tbs of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt. Toss the beets to coat. Start checking your beets at 30 minutes. Your fork should easily go into the largest beet. Baking time will vary, but they will be finished before the hour mark.

Now the messy part! Beets stain, so prepare your work area. If you have plastic cutting boards, cover it with plastic wrap and a paper towel. I like to cut the tops and bottoms off my beets and then use a paper towel to rub the skin off. Easy! The skin should come off easily where you cut the top and bottom.

Now the topping... I enjoy drizzling a little low fat plain yogurt. I have so far made two I enjoy. One had mint and thyme mixed into the yogurt, and the other contains a more complex mix of flavors. I use a splash of lemon juice, 1/4 tsp. each of cinnamon, nutmeg, cumin, and cardamom. It has a very aromatic and savory flavor.


Okay, now that is a good way to enjoy beets!

Aloha Friday #43

Welcome to Friday Everyone! In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that they take it easy and look forward to the weekend. I feel like I am experiencing the calm before the storm of the holiday. Let's sit back, relax and enjoy a little blog hop. No heavy mental lifting today... just one simple little question...

 

What is the best deal you found this Season?

Yes, I have to agree... it is an insane deal when the regular price is the same as the sale price! Lol. Sadly, this was not the only sign like this in our little department store. It is a small town, but not that small. But, really, have you snagged any good deals lately?

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!

Applying for Mamavation Mom - Campaign 7

...and with a deep breath, I want to announce that I am applying to be a Mamavation Mom for campaign 7. Yikes! What does this mean? It means that I want to put myself into bookieboo and several other professionals' capable hands to work on some serious weight loss. Cause we can all use a little help from our friends...

Here is my video application:


Here are the dates for this campaign:

Applications: December 15th to January 5th
Voting: January 10th to January 17th
Mamavation Moms announced at Mamavation Launch Party: January 17th from 5-7pm PST/8-10pm EST
Campaign #7: January 17th to March 4th

In order to become a Mamavation Mom I need the support of my family, friends and followers. If you wouldn't mind sending out a tweet to show your support,

Hey @bookieboo! I want @notimeMom to be the next #Mamavation Mom. She has my support! http://bit.ly/zqUxa

Or, let her know on facebook that you support me. Just post on the Mamavation Facebook Fan page      why I would be your choice.

Any support would be appreciated. I am nervous about applying for this. I think the added help and guidance could really be the added push I need. I also look forward to sharing some great food tips and recipes with the Sistahood. Wouldn't you love some new dinner ideas? Thank you so much for any help.

The Season of Giving & GiveBack.org

In the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping, baking and party preparations it is important to remember the spirit of the holidays. The spirit of giving can be forgotten under all the tinsel, lights and various red and green decorations. As a mother, it is my job to instill a love of charitable giving with my children. Every year we donate new, unwrapped toys for children in need in our community. Sometimes it is hard to find time to fit this activity into our busy schedule. Luckily I learned about GiveBack.org.

At GiveBack, you can create your own foundation. Then you can easily manage and keep track of your charitable giving all online. Donate or shop at over 400 online stores and up to 15% of your purchases will go directly to your foundation account. Search for any charity registered with the IRS, and rest assured that your entire donation goes directly to the intended recipient. Overhead for GiveBack.org is covered by sponsors.

Did I mention it is easy? It only took a minute to set up my foundation, and then as long as I want to search for charities. There is a wide assortment of charities listed, but I was interested in a very specific type. I did a search for PKU charities, since my children both have Phenylketonuria. It is an inborn error of metabolism that requires lifetime treatment.  I was pleasantly surprised to find:

• National PKU News
• Children's PKU Network

...among many others! PKU is very rare, so I was surprised to find many options listed. I am impressed.

As for the shopping available? Well, it was a great list of shops participating. I found LEGO Shop at Home, where you can earn 2% , and also The Land of Nod where you can earn 5% of your purchase for your foundation. I think this is such a clever and easy way to donate.

And if you are feeling lucky? Share the story behind your created foundation. Did you set it up in honor of anyone in particular? Why are you driven to give? Each week MISSION Co-Founders Steve Nash and Serena Williams will choose one story and award a $1,000 M Award to that member’s foundation. 

I hope you and your family will consider giving back this holiday. If you are looking to donate money, I hope you will take a look at the convenience GiveBack.org has to offer.

*Disclaimer - I am a member of the One2One Network and blogged about GiveBack.org as part of a voluntary campaign. All opinions expressed are my own. By blogging I am eligible to win a BlissDom'11 package in their giveaway. No monetary compensation was received.

Each Day is a New Chance To Shine! ...my aspirations & dreams

Dreams keep us going. Could you imagine facing each day with no goal? No purpose? I know the end of the year is fast approaching, but really each new day is another chance to dream and reach for our goals! As a young girl, I kept my goals hidden safely away in my beloved diary. As a teenager, fueled by ambition and college applications, I kept a notebook with my short and long term goals. It kept me on track and helped me to do the traveling and participate in programs I had always wanted to.

Now I rarely have time to jot down goals. I am far too busy as a SAHM chasing my children, cooking, cleaning and crashing into my chair at the end of the day. But, I do remember that great sense of accomplishment when I crossed an item off my list, so perhaps it is time to jot a few down for the coming year. Thankfully, TwitterMoms & OprahWinfrey's OWN Network motivated me to think about and write down my aspirations. Okay, they are not terribly glamorous... but, they are a few of my short-term and long-term goals.

My Home: We moved in last spring, and still have a long list of repairs and upgrades to make. It seems like when we got the boxes in the front door, all our progress stopped. But, here are my top 5.

1. Landscape our front yard - We need to pull out the old and dying bushes and replant. I also want to add some bulbs and more color to the front.
2. Paint our bedroom - We only did the downstairs and the kids room, but my bedroom needs a facelift and color.
3. Add knobs & Handles to our kitchen cabinets and drawers
4. Fence off my Garden - It is getting beat up from our new puppy and my chickens!
5. Build a new Chicken Coop - We need an upgrade for our girls! I love my eggs, but hate trying to reach in and clean their coop. I hope my DH can fashion something a bit more convenient.

Myself: This is an ongoing theme on this blog, I want to "build a better me". Don't worry! No plastic surgery. Just a bit of a diet and lifestyle changes.

1. I want to achieve my goal weight of 135 lbs - This will require many changes and steps to do. I need to get moving!
2. Find a new Haircut - Any other Moms out there sporting a 24/7 ponytail? I am in need of an update.
3. Run a 5 K - This is pretty ambitious but it has been on my list for many years. It would be awesome to finally cross off!
4. Try a new recipe a Week - I love to cook, but get into a rut sometimes. I want to try and force myself to mix things up.

So, how is that for a start? I don't usually write down New Year's resolutions, but I think I might have my start already this year. I know that 2011 is going to be a great year for my family. It would be even better if I could achieve some of these goals. I guess you will have to check back in the coming year to see how I am doing.

What are your goals or dreams for this coming year?

*Disclaimer - “I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network blogging program, for a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Pet Bloggers - Enter to Win a GC

Sometimes I come across opportunities on other blogs I want to share with you. If you are a pet owner, and blogger, this is a great opportunity for you! 

Have you heard of Pet Food Talk 

 They list info about different pet food brands, monitor FDA recalls and other general info about different food choices.

This weekend they will be holding a drawing for a Gift Certificate to either PetCo, Petsmart, or a Visa Gift Card. If they have at least 5 blogs participating and posting a link to their Dog Food Blog, http://petfoodtalk.com/dogfoodreviews/ , they will hold the drawing on Saturday.

I took a peek at the site and thought they had some good general information about dog food. I looked up the brand of dog food I feed our pup and saw they listed things like past recalls, consumer complaints and company information. Seems like good info to know before you buy.

Anyone else have any experience with this site? If you enter their giveaway, good luck!

The Best Gift I Ever Gave - & SWAGG

At this time of giving, what was the best gift you ever gave? Was it expensive? Was it an inside joke? Or did it bring a tear to the receiver's eye?

After all these 30 plus years, I think the most memorable gift I gave was also the most humble. In first and second grade my elementary school set up a small shop where students could buy gifts for their parents and friends. I was so excited to save my change to get something special, and most importantly a surprise, for my parents. Children have few chances to truly surprise their parents with gifts. Over two days of recesses I poured over the table of odds and ends. I was so driven to find the perfect item for my parents.

My father worked maintenance, so I chose a mini keychain screwdriver set for him. For my mother, I picked out a Santa candle. I am sure that I was beaming when I went home from school that day. I wrapped each gift up myself and set them under our tree.

Unfortunately our cat wasn't content to wait for Christmas... Before Christmas she chewed part of Frosty's top hat off! I remember being so disappointed. Today I still don't know what possessed our cat to gnaw on a candle??!! My Mom quickly got out black paint and "fixed" the hat.

Every year after that, my Mom put out the candle with all the other decorations, and my Dad's mini screw drivers had a special place in our utility drawer. I don't think I ever achieved that level of holiday gift giving since. It has always reminded me that it really is the thought and time put into a present that counts.

This holiday season, Clever Girls Collective and SWAGG GIFTS want to help you find a memorable gift... or at least help you keep track of yours! What is SWAGG?
 SWAGG is a free mobile app (download here) that lets you shop smarter using your mobile phone. Buy, send or swap SWAGG GIFTS and organize your old school plastic gift cards.
I don't know about you, but my wallet would love to be thinner! I have signed up to help manage all those cards I already have, and hope to receive this holiday season.

 I have downloaded my SWAGG app for my Android. Why not give it a try?   For every download of the app between now and Dec. 31, 2010, SWAGG will donate $1 to Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) , up to $125,000. For more info about this great cause, visit http://www.standup2cancer.org/  You can go to the Apple iTunes Store, Android Marketplace or www.SWAGG.com to download and register today!

If that wasn't reason enough to check out SWAGG, how about a sweepstakes? If you like movies or the Sundance Film Festival, check this out:
 Clever Girls Collective and SWAGG are sending a pair of movie fans to the Sundance Film Festival! Download the SWAGG app and then visit the Ultimate SWAGG Getaway Sweepstakes site to enter to win a trip for two to the Sundance Film Festival. Entry deadline is January 3, 2011, 11:59pm, PST.

Check out SWAGG, and come back and let me know what you think. I am just starting to add my loyalty cards and gift cards now. I want to post a review in the near future to let you guys know what I think about the app.

Learn more about the coolest new app that revolutionizes the whole shopping, gifting, and gift card-organizing experience and Download the SWAGG app to your iPhone or Droid. I was selected for this sponsorship by Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity.

Giveaways on Other Blogs! - Still Time For Christmas

There are still some great giveaways to mention as the holidays draw closer. A little of this, and a little of that... but, here is the best of the best I have compiled.

First off, Head over to The Mommy-Files




I just love Nestle products and would love to win this prize pack, complete with coupons and a $25 Visa Gift Card. I would use these to help make our New Year's treats. What would you do? ENTER HERE. This giveaway ends 12/17.

Then head over to the Not-So-Blog's Experimental Mommy

She has a great giveaway for all the weight conscious mommies like myself. She is giveaway a Mama Wants Her Body Back™  DVD set. Wow, right? I know this mom wants it back. What about you? ENTER HERE. This giveaway ends tonight at 11:59 CST. So hurry!

And for another great giveaway to give yourself this holiday season, Check out The Life of Rylie & Bryce, too!

One of my great wishes, since I have small children, is to have my own pair of footed pajamas! I even tried buying a pair at Target last year... only to discover that it was a YM size and too short for me. Grrr... Our floors in this house are cold and these would be perfect for making breakfast early in the morning, or blogging late into the night. I would choose the monkey ninja set! For a chance to win your own pair, ENTER HERE. This giveaway ends 12/24.

Review - Dairy Queen Blizzard Maker from SpinMaster

 I love getting my kids involved in the kitchen! So, when SpinMaster Toys gave me the opportunity to try out their Dairy Queen Blizzard Maker, I was excited. I mean, who doesn't love a Blizzard treat?

The Blizzard Maker went together simply, and after washing the parts we were off to make our treats! We didn't have any crushed ice, so we improvised by bashing a baggie of large cubes from our freezer. I think my son loved this part.

With our crushed ice ready, we salted it in the machine and then mixed our ice cream powder with milk (in our case, we used a dairy substitute). Then we started turning. The intended age for this product is 4, and I think part of that is due to the time and muscle involved in turning. My arm was a little sore after several minutes and it would have been the perfect thing to keep my two kiddos busy - if they had been a little older. I didn't mind since it was our activity for the evening. My son was very  impatient to try his Blizzard.

The product came with candy topping packs, but my son thought the popping candy was too sour. So we decided to mix in his favorites... Nerds. Isn't that the beauty of the Blizzard? The mix made enough ice cream for both of the small cups provided. I was so happy the portions were small. I would rather the kids have a small treat instead of over indulging. I have to commend SpinMaster for designing it like this.

I was very pleased with the Dairy Queen Blizzard Maker!  - Can you tell? I loved everything about it. From the portion sizes, mix flavor down to the Dairy Queen spoons included. Did I also mention that the parts are dishwasher safe? So clean-up was fast and easy enough for even small children to help with. I know my son will want to use this over and over!

 I have to say that because this "toy" actually produces a delicious product and will keep kids entertained for at least a half an hour for set-up and creation, this is my favorite toy of the season. I will be recommending this for friends and will be stocking up on refill packs for our family.

Suggested Retail is: $29.99  
Ages 4+

Find out more at www.spinmaster.com

Check your local stores. I have found this product in the toy section at Toys R Us, Target, Walmart and on Amazon to name a few.


I have to admit my children have never had a Blizzard from Dairy Queen before. Neither of them can have dairy products because of their PKU. After the Blizzard Maker arrived, the first thing I did was check the nutritional information. Luckily, it didn't seem to include any dairy since that is what the consumer adds to the powder. (I am not making any nutritional claims, this was my own decision to let my children try it) I substituted Rich's Whipped Topping (we buy the liquid) in place of both the milk and cream. It worked wonderfully! The flavor was spot on with the restaurant. And my kids were so excited to enjoy their own creation.

Thanks to SpinMaster for bringing this product to my attention and making it easy for my non-dairy kiddos to enjoy my favorite cool treat in the comfort of our own home.

*Disclaimer - I was sent a product sample in order to post an honest review. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Wordless Wednesday - Hitting the Slopes

With his sister looking on, my 3 year old had his first experience skiing! Have a great week everyone.