Perfectly Crazy, by Mitzi Penzes - Book #Review

What can go wrong from just one kiss?

Well, everything!

I had a chance to review Perfectly Crazy by Mitzi Penzes this past month. I was intrigued by the summary of the story and couldn't wait to dig right in.

The main character, Nell, has everything. She is stylish, successful and sensible, a perfect life from the outside. She even has a seemingly successful marriage, but a simple kiss throws that all up in the air.

She knows she shouldn't be falling in love with her long-term friend. He is married and his wife is pregnant, but love can make people "perfectly crazy" sometimes.

The themes explored are heavy, but the story is not. The action is fast-paced and reading it my mind kept going in one direction and another as the plot thickened and the author, Mitzi Penzes, took us around plot twist and turns.

Yes, as a read it was a wild ride. Bumpy, and windy but I held on with both hands till the end. I am not sure I would have survived a longer book. White-knuckled, I might not have withstood the suspense to see where all the characters ended up.

The book shows that after a life altering kiss, how can life ever keep going as before? Infedelity, death and love have a way of turning life upside down.

My only complaint is the characters didn't have as much dialogue with each other as long speeches. I am not sure those were anything that would come up between my husband and I or even with friends. I would have liked to see more interaction.

 Overall I enjoy this quick and gripping read. It was definitely a different perspective on some weighty life issues.

The Author behind the book:

Mitzi Penzes grew up in Hungary, where she trained and practiced as a neurologist. She has lived in the US for the last twenty-five years, where she pursued a career in lab management before becoming an entrepreneur. She lives with her son, husband, and cat in Napa, California.

You can visit her website at http://www.perfectlymitzi.com/.

*Disclaimer - I received a digital copy of this book for review purposes as part of Parent Reviewers. All opinions are my own.

Mediterranean Stuffed Peppers #Recipe

I love this time of year! The bell peppers are ready in the field and there are so many ways to serve them.

My absolute favorite way to enjoy a bell pepper is just chopped up with a small bowl of hummus or buttermilk ranch. But for dinner they make the perfect bowl to fill with any number of goodies. It is all up to your imagination.

I have several different stuffed bell pepper recipes up my sleeves, but I thought I would start out by posting my absolute favorite. This is so simple to make, goes in the crock pot and makes a wonderfully light vegetarian meal.

You Will Need: 

• 4 or 5 large bell peppers as will fit in your crock pot, assorted colors keep it pretty.
• 1 can (15 ounces) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 c. crumbled feta cheese
• 3/4 cup couscous
• 4 scallions, white and green parts separated, thinly sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• salt & pepper to taste
• Lemon wedges

Start by washing your peppers, cutting off the tops and de-seeding and de-ribbing the inside of the peppers. Add a little salt and pepper and set aside. Save the pepper tops to cut up and add to the filling.

In a large bowl combine all the ingredients except the lemon wedges.

Mix everything up and then stuff each pepper with as much filling as it will hold.

Place the peppers in your crock pot and squeeze a lemon wedge over the top of them.

Cook the peppers for 4 hours on high.

Don't worry, there is enough moisture in the pepper and tomatoes to cook the couscous. You don't need to add any additional water to the bottom of the crock pot. See? Wasn't that an easy recipe? Serve with lemon wedges and Enjoy!

Have you Checked out JustKidCostumes.com?

Choosing the right costume is never easy! Either it is hard to narrow it down to just one, or hard to track down a very specific request.

Well, JustKidCostumes.com has the largest selection of  children's costumes online at great prices. Over 3,000 costume choices and accessories, and all age appropriate. Since it is online, shop from the comfort of your home at any time.

Here is one of my favorites, Max from Where the Wild Things Are. 
Isn't it cute?

Be sure to check out their Dress-Up Room app. I haven't see this feature anywhere else. Upload a photo of your child and use it to see what your little one would look like dressed up in your favorite costumes. You can easily share your created pic on Facebook.

They also carry a selection of party supplies and offer flat rate shipping at $4.95!

And if 10% OFF would help sweeten the deal, just use BLOGGER10 at checkout.

*Disclaimer - I did not receive any compensation for this post but was entered into a drawing for a JustKidCostumes shopping spree with MomSelect. ...and I will be getting that Max costume if I win! All opinions are my own.

Watching the Prune Harvest

Have you ever seen prunes harvested?

Probably not.

This was my first chance to see them harvested by machine.

 I know "prunes" are not so popular any more. I love snacking on the sweet dried fruit. They used to be more in demand. The market was better and my husband's family had more prune orchards.

This year the harvest was small. The weather was slow to change this Spring. But, there were still some harvest-able prunes on the trees.



My husband suggested I bring the kids down to watch how it all works. He has fond memories of watching his Dad harvesting prunes when he was young. Of course our son is so much like his Daddy and was mesmerized by everything.

The prune picker is an impressive machine. 2 halves make up the whole, driven by two different people.








One person drives the shaker which fits around the tree and shakes it. The prunes come raining down with many heavy thuds...

This is the two halves put together around one tree for harvesting.

The other side is the receiver. My husband was driving this today. The prunes come down and funnel into a track on the receiver which has a belt to put them in a bin at the back.

We did take the opportunity to sample a few...

It is fun to see how the prunes go from the tree to the dryer, which is the next stop for these bins of prunes. My kids loves seeing Daddy at work, and my son loved seeing the new big machines.


So prunes are now done for the year. We will have to wait another full year before we get to see the prune picker in action again. I am pretty sure my son will be counting the days.

The next time you buy dried fruit, why not grab a prune? Call it a prune or dried plum, it tastes just as sweet!

My 10 Best Tricks to Cut the Clutter from #WallTracks

I had no idea when I brought my brand new baby home from the hospital that little bundle of joy would be a "stuff" magnet. After the pacifiers, blankets, booties and army of creams & lotions came the toys...

We have dolls, cars, blocks, things that shoot, things that make noise in every color shape and size! On more than one occasion I have found myself the victim of a stray, and amazingly pokey, toy underfoot. My only recourse with toddlers has been fun and colorful organization. Okay, I don't claim that it is perfect, but we do a pretty good job of taming the toy hurricane in our house.

Shelves just don't make sense to toddlers, so we kept it simple! We have a variety of large plastic buckets, lidded bins and decorated oatmeal canisters. Yes, this is kid friendly and frugal.

1. You cant miss a big bucket! Up in the kids' playroom we got a set of garden tubs. They have thick rope handles and come in bright colors. These are in place of a toy box. The kids can easily throw assorted toys in the bins as we run around and sing "Pick up, pick up!" I think keeping it simple lets both of my children, almost 4 and 2 years old, be responsible for some of the clutter. Precision and sorting is not necessary. It is more of a grab and toss in action, and it works for us!

2. Keep them lidded. For smaller more specialized toys, like Legos, cars, trains and Zhu Zhu Pet toys, we use bins with locking lids. Because of my kiddos ages, keeping these toys separated from the general toy population is a little harder, but the lids help keep them from being scattered to the four corners of the house. The bonus is clear bins allow the kids to easily see what is inside, and they stack easily.

3. Get creative. Then for a DIY way to organize smaller items, I took oatmeal containers and wrapped a piece of construction paper around the outside. This allows the kids to find the container by color, or a picture can be drawn on the outside. We have these for our alphabet magnets and other items that are small, loose and need to be contained.

4. Bright and fun shelving. Another item I look forward to adding to our organization arsenal is a shelving unit with removable tubs. Again, brightly colored and easy for my kids to use I plan on adding one to our playroom around the holidays.

5. Spring clean... and Winter clean? Spring cleaning is a great time to declutter and assess what the kids can donate or do without. But, what about twice a year? Christmas and birthdays around here brings a new stack of "stuff". Before of after the new things arrive, pair down the playroom. After Christmas is a great time also because some of the new arrivals will be tossed aside and have lost the kids' interest.

6. Rotate! My kids have so much stuff, but we don't always want to just get rid of it. Some sets are rotated so the kids can play with "new" items regularly. I keep the rotated items in lidded bins, non opaque but marked and stored in the attic or back room.

7. Don't forget the classic toybox. This one was hard for me. The thought of smooshed fingers and slamming of the lid kept me from buying a toybox for a long time. I finally found several that do not slam, and are very kid friendly. It looks good in our living room and is a quick place to stash the toys.

8. Don't overlook boxes. If you have diapers or even shop at a wholesale club, you probably have excess boxes. I know, this is pretty simple, but covered in craft wrap or wrapping paper and decorated, these can make a very simple and inexpensive storage container. Either fold in the top flaps or cut them off entirely. The kids will love personalizing their own storage container.

9. Keep messy toys out of reach. One of my biggest realizations was that I needed a safe place for some of my kids' favorite, yet very messy toys. We designated the top closet shelf for things like Play-Doh, Moon Dough, markers and crayons. This helps me keep my sanity and the kids can just ask when they want to play with them.

10. My biggest tip is to get the kids involved with organizing and cleaning up early! Yes, I have little ones, but with our Pick Up chant they spring into action and can help me get toys off the floor. I want them to be responsible for their own clutter in the house and so far it works pretty well. The do need to be reminded, but picking up before nap and bedtime is starting to be habit.

Okay, with little kiddos taming the toy mess can be a full-time job. Yes, they are going to make messes and I will still find things to trip over, but at least I can make clean-up time easy and kid friendly with my assortment of bins, tubs and recycled containers. So, how do you deal with the "stuff" your kids amass? Any fun tips to share?

*Disclaimer - I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Hot Wheels® blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Wordless Wednesday - Decorating My Way

We are getting ready to get our cookie on for Halloween.

Frosting was more a focus than decorating... the taste was mighty tempting.

Masterpiece complete!

Stay back, Mama. My cookie!

The Wilton candy eyes were the perfect final touch.

Happy Wordless Wednesday everyone.

Get ready for BlogMania with a Pre-BlogMania #Giveaway

*This is a Sticky Post and will remain at the top till it ends. Scroll down for new content.

Yes, it is almost time again for Blogmania! Mark your calendar for October 6th - 10th

I am excited to be bringing you over $200 worth of goodies in my "Keeping Mama Organized" themed giveaway.  I will have $100 GC to Infusion Design toward blog design, A pair of glasses from 39dollarglasses.com up to $75 value, Stationery, a $25 GC for Digital Scrapbooking and coupons for free fruit & veggies! 

But, I am not the only blogger with a great package.

 The 4th season of BlogMania will have 80 blogs!!! You will see a wide range of prize packages that you be able to enter to win. You can see some of the sponsor prizes HERE.  

For now, let's 'warm' up with a pre-BlogMania giveaway, okay?  Two Prizes, Two Winners from the participating blogs.

Mamavation Monday - The Little Things Add Up

How was your week?

I fought tooth and nail for some "me" time, and I would have loved more but it was an improvement. I think I should allow for this small victory. The walking felt good and I hope this week allows for even more time.

As for water? That was better, too. I tried to add a little more in everyday.

Will power? I have to be honest, when I feel run down my will power just isn't there. A lack of sleep combined with poor snacking choices becomes a vicious cycle. My planned meals were great, but I failed to compliment them with all the right snacks. Lesson learned. This week more will be mapped out and ready to go.

Here is my week's menu plan:

• Monday - Stuffed Peppers, salad &; sliced fruit.
• Tuesday- Baked Salmon, wild rice and seared patti-pans
• Wednesday- Crust-less Broccoli Quiche, pesto rolls & salad
• Thursday- Spaghetti & Meatballs, salad
• Friday- A Farm Fresh Dinner... whatever I can steam, boil or cook up straight from the field.
• Saturday- Fresh Pasta - with garden tomatoes, basil and lemon juice
• Sunday- Family Dinner - Tacos with fresh corn tortillas

As for working out? Well, a new #2weekchallenge begins tomorrow and I will be in. I am just trying to decide which DVD series to tackle this week. I just need to figure out what  kind of mood I am in, it might be a Top Trainers week for the variety.

How did the scale treat me? Well, finally lost some of the bloat and excess retained water... but the little things and added effort this week did add up for a big loss:

- 2 lbs!!! Finally a loss.

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

BLOGGING CARNIVAL: This week’s blogging carnival is sponsored by Omron Fitness. Two blogging carnival participants will receive an Omron pedometer. Answer the following question in your blog post and link back to the Omron Fitness Facebook page. Link up your post here.

Question: Where are you planning for your feet to take you before 2011 ends? Any races or training plans?

I hope to take our family's feet back to the coast for an afternoon as well as a few toddler friendly hikes. September, before the Oregon rain arrives, is a great time to hike and avoid all those pesky mosquitoes. Personally I am still looking for a 5K and working towards that. I was side tracked this past month, and need to get refocused.

*Disclaimer - This post is sponsored by Omron Fitness and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway hosted by Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women.

Lamb Lasagna with The Secret Recipe Club - #Recipe

It is the end of September, and time for another great blog and recipe from The Secret Recipe Club!





What's the secret? Participants are assigned a blog, they can go through recipes, drool over posts and photos till a recipe can be chosen to try. The "Ta-dah!" reveal is kept secret until today.  Sound like fun? This is the brain-child of Amanda from Amanda’s Cookin’, and you can join up, see the other blogs involved and get all the deets at The Secret Recipe Club blog.

This is my 3rd month cooking with the Secret Recipe Club, and I was given Random Acts of Food to secretly peruse and cook from. Once I saw her Lamb & Eggplant Lasagna, I knew I had the recipe! My garden is still full of eggplant, and we enjoy using local lamb when I find a recipe for it.

Jamie, from Random Acts of Food, is an Italian girl with a love for food. She has a wide variety of pork chop recipes I was drooling over and good hearty dinner ideas. Oh, don't miss out on her dessert posts either.

 This recipe isn't as hard as it sounds, in fact lasagnas are pretty easy they just have many parts to them. So, let's get started, shall we?

You Will Need:
30 slices of eggplant (1/4-inch thick), about 3 lbs
2 cups flour
3 eggs beaten
3 cups fine bread crumbs
*Essence, recipe follows
1 cup vegetable oil
*Spicy Lamb Sauce, recipe follows
1 c. blanched and chopped kale
Lasagna noodles enough for 2 layers and a few spare in case of breakage
1 c. ricotta cheese
1 lb Feta cheese, crumbled
1 c. mozzarella cheese, shredded


Essence: 
2 1/2 Tbsp. paprika
2 Tbsp. salt
2 Tbsp. garlic powder
1 Tbsp. black pepper
1 Tbsp. onion powder
1 Tbsp. cayenne pepper
1 Tbsp. dried oregano
1 Tbsp. dried thyme

 Spicy Lamb Sauce: 
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 lb ground lamb
Salt to taste
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
2 c. finely chopped onions
1/2 c. finely chopped celery
1/2 c. finely chopped carrot
Freshly ground pepper
2 Tbsp chopped garlic
2 (28-ounce) cans of peeled, seeded and chopped tomatoes
1  can tomato paste
3 c. beef stock or water
2 sprigs of fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
2 tsp. dried oregano
2 tsp. dried basil
 
Okay, you can either start by breading and frying the eggplant, or making the meat sauce. I decided to start with the meat sauce.

Heat the oil and brown the meat. Add the crushed red pepper. After 4 minutes add the chopped veggies and cook till soft. Then add the garlic and tomatoes.

Add the paste, broth and herbs. Then set the sauce to simmer for 2 hours. Season to taste and set aside.

Now, grab your trusty mandoline, or a steady hand and sharp knife to cut your eggplant slices. Sprinkle the peices with a pinch of salt and set aside on a towel. Then get out your breading materials.

I like to set up my loaf pans and small casserole dishes in an assembly line. Flour on the rights, then egg wash and then the bread crumbs. Put a little essence into the breadcrumbs.

Heat your vegetable oil in a pan a few inches deep. Knock off excess in between dips to prevent getting excess bits falling off into the oil. Pan fry your breaded eggplant slices till they are golden brown. Then let them cool slightly on paper towels to absorb excess oil. Set these aside till you are ready to assemble your lasagna.

Boil the lasagna noodles as directed on the package. Set them aside in a colander. While the water is still boiling, blanch the kale, dry and mix with the ricotta cheese and 1/4 c. mozzarella cheese. Set aside.

Now preheat the oven to 375 degrees and spray a large casserole dish with non-stick spray.

Spread 1-1/2 c. of lamb sauce on the bottom of your pan. It should be thin, but enough to keep the noodles from sticking to the bottom. Then cover with a layer of noodles.

Add a layer of kale and cheese, approximately half of the bowl. Then add a layer of eggplant slices.

Sprinkle the feta cheese over the top and add another layer of sauce. Top with the last layer of noodles, then the other half of the kale mixture, remaining sauce and mozzarella cheese.

Now you are set to bake it. Bake covered for 30 minutes. Then remove foil and bake for another 10 minutes till it is bubbly and the top is starting to brown.

Enjoy!

Now check out the fabulous spread of culinary delights shared today with the Secret Recipe Club.

Del Monte Fresh Produces' "Teacher Monday" #Giveaway

Voting begins today,

September 26th

in the Del Monte Fresh Produce "Teacher Monday" online contest.

This is a great chance for parents and teachers alike!

Teachers have the chance to register on http://www.fruits.com/ to win $1,000 in cash for classrooms supplies and fresh fruit for healthy school snacks. They can submit an essay, photo and then get support to vote for them online. Each week the top teacher will also win a Del Monte Field Fresh Day where the entire school will be treated to an afternoon of fresh fruit, games and prizes.

 

Each week the votes are wiped clean so teachers have 6 weeks to try to win!

Parents can register to vote for their student's teacher, vote daily and like Del Monte Fresh Produce on Facebook for the chance to win their own fresh produce in weekly giveaways.

How about a little giveaway to get you all in the mood for this big promotional contest?  We want teachers to hear about this, so the name of the game is spreading the word and getting teachers to sign up.

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

I have 4 sets of Del Monte Fresh Produce coupons. Each pack totals $25!

Mandatory Entry : Follow my blog via GFC or subscribe via email (1 entry each)  Be sure to leave a way to contact you if you win (or have your profile public).

For optional extra entries, do any or all of the following and leave a comment letting me know after you do the mandatory entry mentioned above:

• Register on www.fruits.com & tell me if you are a teacher, or which teacher you support (1 entry)
• If you are a teacher, register & upload your profile. Leave your profile name  (5 entries)
• Refer a teacher to this contest, leave their name (1 entry each) 
• If you already like Del Monte Fresh Produce on Facebook & are entered in the weekly drawings (1 entry)
• Give me a +K on Klout (1 entry each)
• Tell me your favorite after school snack (1 entry)

• Follow me on twitter (@notimeMom)  & tweet about this giveaway. (limit 2 tweets a day at least 1 hour between tweets) Be sure to leave the tweet URL in your comment. (1 entry/tweet) Feel free to use: 

  Del Monte Fresh Produces' "Teacher Monday" online contest begins 9/26! #Win fresh produce @notimeMom http://bit.ly/p0sAol  (10/6) #Giveaway 

 
*Disclaimer -  This giveaway is sponsored by Del Monte Fresh Produce. I received coupons just like the winners.  All opinions are my own. Winner must be a resident of the US & be 18 years of age or older. Winner will be drawn via random.org and contacted by the email on your profile or left in the entry. Winner will have 48 hours to respond and claim their prize. If not, I will redraw a new winner. Giveaway ends 10/6 at 11:59 pm PST.  I am not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes. 

Quest For Zhu - Much Anticipated #Review #Giveaway

I have two little Zhu-niacs in the house! Both of my children love collecting Zhu-Zhu Pets and watching them interact in their ever-growing habitats as well as just roaming free around the kitchen floor.

They squeak, they talk and they go off on wild travels. Love them.

Last year we were able to throw a Wild Bunch Birthday Party and the kids had a blast. This year we were able to watch the movie, Quest for Zhu before it releases later this week on September 27th.

"When Pipsqueak magically travels to the land of Zhu, she finds a whole world filled with colorful and friendly Zhus! Mr.Squiggles, Num Nums, Chunk, and Stinker join Pipsqueak on an exciting adventure in her quest to find her way back home! With the help of the Great Wizard ZhuFu, the Zhus learn the value of friendship, cooperation, and hamster power! "

This was a great chance to see 4 of our original favorites, Pipsqueak, Chunk, Mr. Squiggles and Num Nums, in action.

Who is your child's favorite? My son loves Pipsqueak in the movie. I was so excited when our movie package arrived there was a little limited edition Quest for Zhu Pipsqueak figurine included! Talk about good luck. 

To Do it All Over? My Tips for Preparing for Baby #SeventhGeneration

My "babies" are getting older, one has entered those notoriously terrible two's, and the other is a little boy now starting to be so grown up. All around me friends have little babies, and oh, I don't envy them the planning, preparation and decisions that go into planning the perfect nursery and getting ready for that new arrival!

Thank goodness pregnancy lasts for 9 months. I had a lot of time to plan before my first was born. I have to admit that I over thought and over spent on most of it. So, I would love to share some tips to get ready and save some money along the way.

1. Decide between cloth, disposable, or a combination as early as you can. This question alone can seem overwhelming! But, don't worry...  Check at local boutiques that sell cloth for their advice, talk to friends and family also. Think about if you have a local daycare that will cloth diaper your baby, or if you will be staying home to do it. New cloth diapers need to be washed several times before their first use, so it helps to get that out of the way early. I did a combination of cloth diapers, but we found traveling was easiest with disposables. If you decide to cloth diaper it can affect the size of clothing you buy (think of those fluffy tushies!) as well as other items you will use.

2. Borrow or buy used clothing. Okay, I was a total clothes horse with my first baby. The truth is I could have saved a lot of money by finding one or two cute sets and either borrowing from friends or buying used items. Newborns grow fast and are pooping, spit-up machines! Outfits quickly discolor or are only worn for a short period before they need to be changed. And where exactly would your newborn wear that jeans mini? It quickly became apparent that comfort was key to a happy baby and mommy. I stocked up on footed jumpers for my second.

3. Talk to everyone and glean good advice. Everyone will have their two or twenty cents to throw in on your new baby and what you need. The truth is, in all that well meaning advice, there are pearls of wisdom. I tell new parents to skip the baby bath. Ours was used 3 times, my son hated it and it was the first piece of baby gear to go. I always see them in resale stores. For friends that insist on them, I say get one from a friend or disinfect a used model. This is my favorite tip, take it or leave it. I am sure all parents have some gem similar to this.  Everyone has their own experiences and your parenting style will be your own, but you don't have to make the same mistakes.

4. Stock the pantry for yourself. All your friends and family will be bringing food and treats when they first see the baby, but with so much to do and learn, in between casseroles it is nice to not worry about food. Either ask family and friends as a registry item to provide a meal or two, or start putting things away yourself. I had soups, frozen home made meals and easy crock pot ideas ready to go. 2 months is a great amount of time to prepare for. This will allow you to focus on your baby and your own health. While you stock the pantry, don't forget about easy to grab breastfeeding snacks. I had fresh fruit, milk, low-fat cheese, nuts and dried fruit to snack on while I nursed. Be prepared to cut down on those last minute, late night food runs!

5. Get Cleaning. A great way to use some of that nesting energy is to do a good cleaning of the house. Don't worry about going overboard, but it will be nice to come home to a clean place with the new baby. The last thing you want to worry about is picking up the house while the baby is fussing. If you can swing it, try to find a temporary cleaning service to help once a week or so. Other ideas are to enlist the help of friends and family, with a promise to reciprocate... or ask help from your partner. If they are not used to doing house hold chores, you might want to clue them in on a few things before the baby arrives. Have all your cleaners marked and ready to go. My husband was a champ at pitching in, and I couldn't have done it without his help.

6. Never to Early to Baby Proof. We started baby proofing early and I didn't regret it. Covering outlets, looking for falling or climbing hazards and getting rid of poisoness plants can start right away. You will discover more hazards in your house after the baby comes home, but that little bundle will be mobile before you know it.

7. Look at Sprays, Wipes and Cleaners. Having a baby will cause you to look at things differently. I became more aware of what was sprayed in the air or wiped on a surface. Babies will put anything they grab into their mouths. We chose to get rid of toxic cleaners and safely store questionable items.  I do like things clean, but I also wanted them to be safe for my baby. Thank goodness there are many safe products on the market. We chose to go dye and perfume free ourselves, but of course that is a personal choice.

8. Get the Car seat Checked. Local Fire stations will check, or watch for car seat safety clinics in your community. The greatest part is these services are free, take little time and can protect your baby. Enough said, right?

9. Have an Emergency Kit Handy. I kept all my medical necessities in one place for my new babies. My kit contained baby nail clippers, a nail file for baby, gauze, a Temporal thermometer & regular thermometer, extra pair of socks, diaper rash cream and infant drops. My biggest problem came from small cuts self-inflicted by tiny nails. I liked to keep an extra pair of socks hand to put on tiny hands, but being able to clip a jagged nail was also important. I swear by two thermometers because the temporal style is so quick and easy to use. If that shows a high temperature then I would also use the standard style either under the arm, or in the bottom.

10. Don't forget to arrange for that maternity or paternity leave. I love that dads can take time also! What a fabulous chance to bond with the new family member. Now pulling off maternity leave can be tricky. Babies are not inexpensive, but planning ahead and setting aside funds can make the time home more enjoyable. Look at how much you need to live on, see if you can pare your budget down and start saving. A small sacrifice can give you an amazing opportunity to enjoy being a parent. Take advantage of it.

Okay, even if you don't agree with all 10 of my tips, I hope it gave you something to think about. It can seem overwhelming going into new baby territory, but many people have gone before you ... and did fine!  Enjoy your baby and know that you can never be fully prepared for everything, just remain flexible and it will all work out.

A big thanks to Seventh Generation for sponsoring this topic : More info on Seventh Generation: http://www.seventhgeneration.com/

*Disclaimer - I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Seventh Generation blogging program, for a gift card worth $50. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Aloha Friday - #66 Do You Preserve?

Welcome to Friday Everyone! In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that they take it easy and look forward to the weekend. The days are heating up, so let's sit back, relax and enjoy a little blog hop. No heavy mental lifting today... just one simple little question...

  Will You be (or have been) Canning Anything This Year?

  

Our growing season was late here in Oregon, so I am really just getting into canning. Of course a few batches of jam were made earlier in the season, and I did manage to get a batch of bread and butter pickles done, but now is the busy time. I am rushing to get tomatoes and tomato products (ketchup, paste, sauce, etc.), green beans and peaches all put away for Winter. So have you broken out the mason jars yet this year? What do you like to preserve?

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!

Getting Outside with the Family #C2Play2Day

Outside?

I think my toddlers would spend every waking hour outside if they could. There is something magical about just playing outside as a kid.

 I used to spend hours in the backyard climbing the trees, investigating under rocks and picking the blackberries and raspberries in the yard. I have very fond memories of those afternoons outside.

I knew I wanted the same for my children. I have two toddlers and they just love to feel the squish of mud between their toys, sand between their fingers and water from the sprinkler on their head.

We have a swing set and a sandbox but the most important thing outside is imagination. But even without special toys there is so much to do and explore. Just chasing the dog around can be fun. Our dog, Cooper, is always a very willing participant. Occasionally even an unsuspecting chicken ventures into a game of chase, but not too often.

Dirt?

Toddlers are attracted to it. I think it is part of their genetic blueprint.

So, why not have fun as a family? I started my garden this year with the kids. It got us outside, in the dirt and... dare I say it? It was educational. Best of all it is an activity we can all do together. The side benefit is we can enjoy eating our food now that Summer is coming to an end.

Getting outside as a family is so easy. We love bike rides together. I am the Mama huffing and puffing on the bike as the kiddos watch the scenery from their very comfy double trailer. They like to tell me all the things they see along the way.

Or what about those evening at the park together? I love that parks are free and fun. My son has to be a good boy for such a treat and we go till sundown after Dad comes home from work. Getting the chance to play chase and burn off extra energy is another bonus.

In honor of September 24th, the Worldwide Day of Play, Clorox currently has a Clorox2 Play2 Day Pledge (http://clorox2play2day.com). Because I know getting my kids outside is important and healthy for them, I took the pledge. We are going to aim for 3 hours outside every day. I figured with our walk and morning playtime in the backyard, that should be a breeze!

Take the  Clorox2® Play 2Day pledge to play outside!

 Did I mention that you will be entered to win some cool prizes? Well, take the pledge, turn off the TV and go play! ...It is good for Mamas too.

*Disclaimer - I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Clorox2® blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Drowning in Tomatoes? Rustic Tart #Recipe

This year the conditions were just right for my tomatoes to take off. Usually they well, but I have never had them get so large and full that they break my large metal cages! They have been loaded  and there are far too many for the usual drying and daily eating. When I came upon a rustic tart recipe I thought, why not?

That being said, I have never eaten a rustic tart before. My tart experience has never been on the savory end. They usually involve some pastry cream, fruit or the like. But, I am always willing to branch out and stretch my taste buds.

You Will Need:

•  Fresh tomatoes (about 1 1/2 lbs) - I used a mixture of cherry, grape and heirloom tomatoes
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided
• 1 cup fresh corn kernels (about 2 ears)
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons fat-free sour cream
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1/4 cup chilled butter, cut into small pieces
• 1 tablespoon yellow cornmeal
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced fresh basil, divided
• 1/3 cup shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese mixed
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper

First slice your tomatoes. I sliced my cherry tomatoes in half and sliced my large tomatoes in 1/2 inch slices. Then salt the tomatoes with 1/2 tsp. of salt. Put a towel underneath to absorb the moisture given off. These should sit for about 20 minutes.

Then combine the corn, sour cream and lemon juice in the food processor. Process until it is smooth. I pulsed mine several times and then scraped down the sides and pulsed some more.

In a separate bowl combine 1 1/2 c. of the flour, 1/4 c. of cornmeal  and 1/2 tsp. salt. Whisk to combine.

Cut in your butter with two knives or a pastry cutter. As a child we didn't have a pasty cutter and learned how to proficient with two knives in a criss-cross pattern. Either works fine. You should come up with a coarse meal.

Add the corn mixture and gently knead a few turns till you have dough.

Now put down 2 overlapped pieces of saran wrap or wax paper. Overlapping them allows for the dough to stretch. Press the dough into a 6 inch circle. It doesn't have to be perfect.

Now cover with an additional 2 pieces of overlapped cling wrap or wax paper. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough out to 14 inches. Then place this wrapped on a baking dish and put in the freezer.

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

Now it is time to create the filling! In a medium bowl combine the cheese, basil, oregano, 2 Tbsp. of flour and 1/2 tsp. salt. Mix.

Once your dough has chilled for 10 minutes, take it out and place it on a baking sheet. Be sure to put down a handful of cornmeal underneath. Remove the plastic.

Now spread the filling over the dough. Leave a 2 inch gap free around the edge. Give the mixture a light dusting of flour. Then start arranging a layer of tomatoes.

I laid down a base of large tomatoes first. Then dusted with my remaining flour. On top I arranged the smaller tomatoes in a pleasant arrangement.

Then start turning up the edges around your tart. I sprinkled the top of mine with a bit more parmesan cheese.

Bake for 35 minutes or until the crust starts to turn golden brown. Let it rest for 10 minutes before cutting into it. Enjoy!