Giveaways Going on Other Blogs (11/30)

Oh, yes! There are some great giveaways going on right now. Don't forget to enter my current giveaways, found on the right side of the blog.

Here is a selection of my favorite giveaway finds for the week.

First, head over to Take Time to Smell the Roses



There is a fabulous Accuquilt giveaway for a GO! Baby fabric cutter. This is a hand crank cutter to make those craft projects fast and easy. Of course, cutting fabric is the most tedious part of a fabric project and this little baby is a great way to cut out the monotony out of creativity. 
I just adore the GO! Airplanes cutter. This would be perfect for the little man in my life.

This GO! Baby Giveaway ends December 2nd.

3rd Times the Charm?

Okay, after having two kiddos my husband and I were ready to call it quits. He had all the reasons in the world for a family of 4... parents only have two arms, there are two of us, etc. The truth was there was a nagging feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach. Was my family complete? Was I going to regret not having one more child?

I have talked to many of our friends and most of them clearly fall on one side of the fence or the other, either they want to have more children or they don't. Each side seemed adamant about their decision. Okay, am I the only with doubts?

Probably not.

But maybe no one else wants to voice their questions and uncertainty publicly.

With new babies coming into our circle of friends I would have that little twinge. You know what I mean ladies? Yeah, it is the gentle sigh of my uterus. Yup.

Of course the desire does not make all things possible, so I finally got up the courage to bring the subject up to my husband. Let's just say I didn't think things would end well.

I made my case, blurting it all out without ever making eye-contact. I was braced for the eye-roll, the groan or complete shutdown. I knew his mind was made up.

...or so I thought.

So the discussion is open, the plans are being made. Oh, my! I have so much to do. Being a third time around so many baby and nursery items are either worn out or were given away. I will be making a list and preparing for another baby.

To do it all over, what do I want? Good nursery furniture is high on my list. I want to find pieces that will function well and grow with the child. The Storkcraft Custom Hoop Glider and Ottoman from Wayfair.com  would make those late night nursing marathons or rocking to sleep much more enjoyable. This mama knows what worked in the past, and what I wished I had. The 3rd time is definitely going to be a charm for our family.

I want to know, what would you get if you were to do it all over again? Any must have item you would recommend?

Hellmann's® Turkey Challenge & Sweepstakes

I hope you had a chance to catch Hellmann's Chicken Challenge. The winner was the Parmesan Crusted Chicken recipe. Well, now that turkey is making an appearance on our holiday tables, it is time to put it to the test with Hellmann's new Turkey Challenge!

This time Chef Bobby Flay is helping out with casseroles and other great leftover solutions. I am a huge fan of Bobby Flay's recipes and will checking these out to jazz up our boring bird.

How can you get involved? Well, besides all the mouth-watering recipe options on the Hellmann's site, you can also vote to enter the weekly sweepstakes  ...just cast your vote for your favorite to be entered into the sweepstakes for a chance to win one of four $250 grocery gift cards each week.** If there are more than 10,000 entries, the prize value doubles to a $500 grocery gift card! ** 


Be sure to spread the word! More votes means a bigger prize.


*Disclaimer -  I was entered for a chance to win a Hellmann's® prize package in exchange for this post.  No monetary exchange took place. All opinions are my own. 

Nutrisystem Week 2 Update - #NSNation

I hope everyone had a great holiday! This would have been posted earlier, but I had a severe phobia of the scale... and with all the dishes to clean it slipped my mind.

This second week on the Nutrisystem Blogger Program was a doozie!  Nothing like hitting a major food holiday with a new diet. I did go for the turkey and trimmings. But I also tried to manage the usual decadence with a few great tricks.

I am loving that even though I manage my eating with Nutrisystem in the comfort of my own home, I am not alone. The online community is there for support, the experts can answer questions and there are suggestions and helpful reminders to keep this train from being derailed by a pecan pie that is calling to me! I found a few of the suggestions to be what gave me the courage to brave the day.

Let's face it, I am not sure as my family was noshing on the bounty of the day that I would have been content with my usual Nutrisystem dinner. I didn't want to feel eating remorse. But, then again, I didn't want to pig out and feel guilty either. Okay, so even through Turkey day is behind us, we are entering the diet minefield known as Christmas Party Season. Between cookie exchanges, office parties and family gatherings this can be a tough month.

First I had a plan. I love the saying, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail". It works here. I moved dinner to our house as a small family so I could eat what I knew and prepared. Then we had dessert with the rest of the family. I went for a small piece of pie. Just one to be content but not overly guilty.

I kept water with me at all times. I am not a big drinker so it isn't a big problem for me, but I am still wary of drinking my calories. While I prepared our meal I kept my water glass full, I stayed hydrated during dinner and was sure to drink water through dessert.  It really did help me not feel hungry and not snack.

I also tried to be mindful of my portions. Getting to have some turkey was wonderful, a roll was divine and paired with some simple applesauce and baked squash was a good way to round out those protein & carbs.

After all that, I am happy to say I lost .6 lbs! Not too shabby. That brings my grand total to 3.8 lbs!! Okay, any loss during the week of Thanksgiving would make me smile.

I hope everyone had a great week. For my next update I want to introduce you all to some of the food I am eating. I will be tackling this via a vlog post. Maybe I can even turn on the "smell-o-vision" to go along with. If not you might just have to settle for me and some great food shots.

Want to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem? Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting http://www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog

*Disclaimer - Nutrisystem is providing me with 4 months of their program as part of the Nutrisystem Nation Blogger Program in exchange for writing about my experiences. All opinions and experiences are my own, your results may vary.

"F" is for Food & Friday (11/25)

Welcome back to another Pinterest installment. I am a Pinterest addict, yes I am!

 Pinterest is a great way to find new ideas, inspiration and aspirations. I have been looking for some recipes that are warm and hearty. It rains a lot in Oregon and we haven't seen the sun out for at least a week.

Are you pinning? I would love to check out your boards and see what caught your eye. Be sure to leave your info so I can swing by. Check out my boards HERE.

In honor of my pinning my life away this past week, I linked up with Finding Joy in My Kitchen's Friday Favorite Finds. Mmm... as always I found many new great ideas to try making.

These crockpot brisket tacos look like a nice, hearty way to end the day.

Source: jasonandshawnda.com via Andrea on Pinterest

I haven't tried broiling grapefruit yet, but it sounds like a great idea!

Source: running-foodie.com via Andrea on Pinterest

This mushroom and brown rice casserole also looks like a nice stick-to-your-ribs sorta side. I am very fond of rice.

Source: annies-eats.net via Andrea on Pinterest

 As for my sweet tooth? Well, I really want to try these cookies with my kiddos. I think a little Cool-Whip and fruit would be perfect.

Source: kristinscustomcakes.com via Andrea on Pinterest

Those are my favorite finds for the week.

For some other great pins be sure to check out Finding Joy in My Kitchen, and if you have been pinning this week be sure to link up. 

Happy Thanksgiving from the Muppets

The Muppets are in theaters now. Have a great day!

"Like" THE MUPPETS on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/muppets 


 

Power Wheels #Giveaway (Easy #Rafflecopter entry)

                                                             
      *Sticky Post. Scroll down for most current posts. This will stay 

on top till 11/23.                                       

Welcome to the Power Wheels Dune Racer Giveaway!

So excited you stopped by. We love to have fun here at 
Adventures in All Things Food, and great giveaways are 

always fun!

Happy Thanksgiving! Drive Safely & Take Care

With Turkey-Day upon us, it is time to eat, enjoy family and be thankful for everything and everyone who has touched our lives this year.

I am most thankful for my family. A wonderful husband and two small children who bring laughter and love into my days. I am also thankful for our continued health and safety.

Did you know, in 2009, there were 411 motor vehicle traffic fatalities on our nation’s highways during the Thanksgiving holiday? Such a sad and tragic ending to an otherwise joyous time of year.


The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Ad Council are reminding everyone that the best way to stay safe is to plan ahead and designate a sober driver before you head out for your festivities. This Thanksgiving, help spread the joy; give thanks to life by not driving impaired.


When I was given the opportunity to write and spread the word here about the dangers of drunk or buzzed driving, I jumped at the chance. Just this past week my husband lost a former coworker in a car accident. It had nothing to do with drinking, but my heart went out to the family this holiday. I wouldn't want that loss to touch any other family this week, especially not for something that could be prevented like impaired driving.

 So enjoy your friends, family... and enjoy your turkey with all the trimmings. But, leave the driving to someone responsible, sober and alert.


Oh, check out this great Facebook tab with 50 non-alcoholic party drink recipes, and if you need it, this Facebook tab with a list of nationwide alternative ride programs to get your home safely!


Stay safe!

Monday Meal Plan - Thanksgiving Edition

Turkey day is fast approaching and I finally have everything together. Okay, I started some prep today, my bird is in the fridge and I have the last of my ingredients.

Tomorrow I will begin posting recipes and pictures, but here is the final menu for 4 ... with lots of leftovers! You might notice we are going with a chicken this year since my DH isn't a fan of turkey. The "*" denotes 2 separate dishes for PKU and one regular.

• Brown Sugar & Mustard Glazed Chicken
• Apple & Sage Stuffing*
• Green Bean Casserole - from scratch*
• Orange Scented Cranberry Sauce
• Roasted Acorn Squash with Cinnamon Butter
• Homemade Applesauce
• Biscuits*

And for dessert we are trying a low protein Pumpkin Pie recipe from the Ener-G website.

Tonight I will be scrubbing down my counters and starting the food prep! Happy cooking.

Holiday Cash Bash #Giveaway

 Welcome to the Holiday Cash Bash! I know, we could all use a little extra cash around the Holidays, right? Well, I am participating in a group of 10 blogs to bring you this $100 Paypal giveaway. I know that can really help add a bit more sparkle to your upcoming merriment.

This even starts 12:01 a.m. on 11-21 and goes till 11/30 at 11:59 p.m.
Anyone can enter, they just need to have a Paypal account. This is a shared Rafflecopter widget between the 10 blogs, so you can only enter on 1 Site, don't enter on multiple blogs or you will be disqualified. Simple, simple! Good luck.

Sunday Smiles - First Bike

Do you remember your first bike? 

I clearly remember mine... yellow and green with a big ole' banana seat and curved handle bars. It was a hand me down from my Mom's coworker. I loved it.

Well, I am excited to say today we took my 4 year old son to get his first. We were at the bike shop a few months ago to check on sizes. Well, my son tested out a white bike and fell in love. He rode around the shop and after we left he talked, and talked about "his" bike.

Today went back in to finally buy one. Such a big milestone in his life, and ours. Of course, my son with the memory of an elephant was asking for his white bike.

*gulp*

I hoped it was still there. He wouldn't even sit on the grey one. He spotted the white, shiny bike on the wall and insisted we try that one. He only had eyes for that bike.

Thank goodness it was a good fit.

I don't think he has stopped smiling since we put it in the car. Tomorrow, regardless of the cold and dreary Oregon weather, we will be going out to test it. Of course my son has already asked when we are going to race.

I guess I'm in trouble!

...but, he is the happiest little guy in the world right now.

Squash Gratin #Recipe - Perfect for Fall

Fall makes me happy because squash hit the markets and stores. Healthy, simple and inexpensive it is a great choice for dinner.

This recipe was inspired from The Healthy Foodie. We have a lot of Delicata squash grown on the farm, and the size is very inviting for our family. Have you ever been intimidated by a huge squash? The Delicata is easy enough to slice with my knife, and I can split it between my DH and I.

Usually we just split one, bake it and top with a bit of butter and a sprinkle of brown sugar. So, simple... so creamy ...and delicious. But, there is so much more potential there. I think this squash gratin fits the bill.

You Will need:
1 Delicata squash
1 onion, chopped fine
2 celery stalks, chopped fine
1 small bell pepper, chopped fine
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. oregano
2 tsp. Spike Seasoning
2 bay leaves
1/2 c. red lentils
2 c. favorite tomato base (either plain tomato, marinara sauce, etc.)
2 c. chicken stock
2 large handfuls of fresh baby spinach
Parmesan Cheese
Smoked Cheddar
salt & pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 375. Grab your squash and cut it in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds and set aside. Take a baking dish, size doesn't matter... it should be large enough to hold your squash, and add an inch of water to the bottom. Put the squash in cut side up.

Cover with foil and bake for about 30 minutes. At 25 check the squash by piercing the flesh with a fork or knife. It should be soft.

While the squash bakes, chop the onion, celery and bell pepper. The pieces should be a similar size so they cook at the same time.







Put them in a pan with a little olive oil to soften. As they start to become translucent, add the minced garlic. It just just heat through.

Then add the seasoning, lentils, tomato base and stock. I went with a red lentil because they are so pretty. I have had some hanging around my pantry for a while. I was looking for the right time to pull them out. Any lentil will work though. Use what you have on hand.

I make a batch of tomato sauce weekly. It doubles for spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce and any other stand in sauce I need. It worked really well in this dish, but you could also add your own tomatoes, or a jar of your favorite sauce as well.

Simmer this for about 25 minutes, till the lentils are tender. Then add in the baby spinach just to wilt. If you don't have enough moisture add a dash or two of olive oil.

Okay, the filling is finished. The squash should be about done.

When it is cool enough to handle, scoop out the insides. I didn't scrape it all out, just a bit. I mashed the flesh in a bowl, seasoned it with salt and pepper and sprinkled Parmesan Cheese in the bottom of the skins.

Put your skins back into the dried and greased baking dish. Then add a layer of the lentil mixture. Top with some of the mashed squash, another handfull of grated Parmesan & Smoked Cheddar cheese and repeat as you like for as full of a squash as you can handle.

Top it with a bit more cheese and place it back into the oven for 15-20 minutes. The cheese should melt and even get a little bubbly on top. If you need more color, put it under the broiler for a minute or two.

Enjoy!

"F" is for Food & Friday (11/18)

Welcome back to another Pinterest installment. I am a Pinterest addict, yes I am!

 Pinterest is a great way to find new ideas, inspiration and aspirations. I have been looking for some recipes focused on the Holidays or seasonal food, well, and some fun looking treats! It has finally started to get cold here in Oregon, cold and rainy so comforting foods are at the top of my list. Here is what I found.

Are you pinning? I would love to check out your boards and see what caught your eye. Be sure to leave your info so I can swing by. Check out my boards HERE.

In honor of my pinning my life away this past week, I linked up with Finding Joy in My Kitchen's Friday Favorite Finds. Mmm... as always I found many new great ideas to try making.

This is a recipe I will be making tonight. It is a Delicata squash with lentil and spinach topping. It looks like the comfort food I am craving right now.

Source: thehealthyfoodie.net via Andrea on Pinterest

This is a Mexican style baked egg with beans and a garnish of avocado. This looks warm, filling and perfect for this weather.

Source: closetcooking.com via Andrea on Pinterest

With the holidays approaching, how about this 5 Layer Greek dip appetizer?

Source: thelovelycupboard.com via Andrea on Pinterest

For quick breakfast ideas, I want to make and freeze a batch of these Breakfast Burritos.

Source: momscrazycooking.blogspot.com via Andrea on Pinterest

 And for sweet treats? Well, I have a fudge challenge coming up and found these little beauties: Pumpkin Pie Fudge.

Source: annies-eats.net via Andrea on Pinterest

Or, perhaps Snicker's inspired Fudge?

Source: flickr.com via Andrea on Pinterest

So, those are my favorites for the week.

For some other great pins be sure to check out Finding Joy in My Kitchen, and if you have been pinning this week be sure to link up.

Another Co-Sleeping Rant...

This seems to be the week for shock-value advertising and though I have passed on commenting on other situations this one really saddened me.

This is Milwaukee's new anti-co-sleeping poster that shows co-sleeping as dangerous. The City of Milwaukee Health Department strongly advises parents NOT to share a bed with their infant. This is based on an American Academy of Pediatrics 2011 Policy Statement.

Really? After my initial shock, anger and sadness at what this poster is trying to do, I found it rather comical.

Co-sleeper, bed-sharers and parents practicing attached parenting that share a bed with their infant follow guidelines. First off, my babies usually wore pajamas with a sleep sack, an overnight cloth diaper, the sheets were fitted and flat, no pillows and of course, no meat cleaver!

So, why am I sad? And why am I posting about something so many others have been covering? Well, I worry either parents will stop bed sharing or feel bad and guilty about doing so. This is a topic I would love to hear many voices unite on. Don't tell me not to do the natural thing. Have we not learned anything from the great formula push of the 1950's and 1960's?

Nutrisystem Week 1 Update - #NSNation

I have completed my first full week on the Nutrisystem Blogger Program. Woo-hoo! This is what showed up on my front porch...

Yes, that is a double layered box of pantry food! It included Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Dessert or Snack. Impressive, right? I also received a water bottle - cause hydration is so important in weight loss! And I got my packet with all the information about support, the plan and meal diary. Oh, wait. The next evening, just after dinner, we had another delivery...

This time is was the giant box of frozen food items. Again, options for every meal. It was a good thing I made room in our chest freezer. Feeling overwhelmed by the selection, I am keeping a log of what I have and what I thought of each item.

I am not a picky eater, so I asked for a good assortment of items. Really, when looking at the lists of food I had no idea how to choose! I do appreciate that next time I order I can customize the menu items with my favorites. So far I loved the Glazed Chicken Tenders and the Peppermint Cookie Patty. They will be going on my reorder list.

I wasn't as excited about some of the pantry items. I haven't worked in an office setting for 4 years, and am just not used to the taste of heat and eat food items. I used to heat up some soup or a frozen entree and that was lunch... eaten quickly before I dashed back to my desk. Ugh. I don't miss those deadlines! Now, I make more fresh or simple lunch foods. The frozen entrees were more appealing, and actually very good. I still have only scratched the surface of what Nutrisystem offers on the menu, so I will just keep trying new things until I find the best selections for my taste.

I was working so hard on my eating this first week that exercise wasn't as consistent as I would like. That is the goal for this week, move... move and move some more! The treadmill is ready, I have a new stash of workout DVDs and of course some new tunes to dance to. I am ready.

Overall it was a good week. The scale showed a 3.2 lb loss and I am so thrilled! I haven't had movement down on the scale like that for a few months. Now I am putting my head down and planning for the holiday. I am happy that I have some support numbers and the Nutrisystem online support community to help me navigate the gravy boat and pumpkin pie this season.

Next week I will be vlogging about a meal. Want to see what I am eating? Stay tuned.

Want to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem? Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting http://www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog

*Disclaimer - Nutrisystem is providing me with 4 months of their program as part of the Nutrisystem Nation Blogger Program in exchange for writing about my experiences. All opinions and experiences are my own, your results may vary.

Kroger Promo (Nov 13 - 26) + $25 Kroger GC #Giveaway #MyBlogSpark

Buy 4 General Mills Products, Get FREE Milk at Kroger 
for a Limited Time!
 

I get so excited to save money for my family. Especially if I can also stock up on some of our favorites at the same time! Our small community has a Kroger Co. Family store, Fred Meyers.

From now until November 26th, with the purchase of any four participating General Mills products at Kroger, you will either receive free milk (up to $3; limit of 2) or receive $3 off your shopping order. 

Look for some of your favorite participating General Mills products like Cheerios, Pillsbury Ready to Bake Cookies, Nature Valley Bars and Fiber One Bars. 

Road trip Game! - Courtesy of the Muppets

The Holidays and coming and this is one fun game to keep the whole family busy during those long road trips to see family. THE MUPPETS Road Trip Game is a new twist on the beloved driving game. Maybe it will even keep your kids from uttering the words, "Are we there, yet?" Have fun and don't forget,   

 THE MUPPETS opens in theaters everywhere on November 23^rd!

In THE MUPPETS, Kermit joins Walter, Gary (Jason Segel), Mary (Amy Adams) and—eventually—the whole Muppet gang in the car for a trip of their own, as they endeavor to save Muppet Studios from evil oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper). So don’t despair. The Muppets can help keep kids busy and happy with…DISNEY’S “THE MUPPETS” ROAD TRIP GAME!!!

See if you can spot:

• 5 Kermit green cars
• 1 Person who looks like a relative of Gonzo’s
• 3 People who look like they just stepped off the Electric Mayhem Band bus
• 4 of Miss Piggy’s biggest fans. How can you tell? Easy, they could be

a)    Singing to themselves

b)    Fixing their hair in the mirror

c)    Blowing kisses to you through the window

d)    Blowing kisses to themselves in the mirror

• 2 Bumper stickers that are so funny, Fozzie Bear would add them to his act
• 4 People wearing suits they stole from Statler and Waldorf
• 3 Cars that are so patriotic, Sam the Eagle just might be driving them

Bonus:

• Sing the chorus of “Mahna Mahna” or “Rainbow Connection” at a red light or while driving through a tunnel
• Find a license plate from Smalltown, USA (or at least one that is red, white and blue)
• Find the letters of Disney’s “The Muppets” in license plates

*Disclaimer - this post info was provided by Walt Disney Studios. Opinions are my own. No compensation was received. 

Wordless Wednesday - Pass me the Wrench, Mom

I love seeing what my creative 4-year old will come up with next. Using the FisherPrice Alligator to prop up the back end, and Trio blocks for a front jack, he was working hard to get his Bruder Cement Mixer running again. Yes, the little fork lift was for supplies.

Not a tractor, but it's a start!

Keeping Promises

As a child, life was simple. People made promises and in my heart I knew they should keep them.

Black and white right?

As a parent my views haven't really changed, but sometimes things aren't that simple.

Leading up to my son's birthday we talked about the things he wanted to do. Not just presents, but special activities we could all enjoy together. It was just as important to me that he had a great birthday party, as we had some family bonding. What did he ask for? He wanted to go camping.

Now, Oregon is not a great place for late Fall camping. Right now it is wet, muddy and rather gloomy. Instead of the traditional outdoor camping trip I came up with the idea to camp/sleep out in the living room. We could pitch his play tent, drag out the sleeping bags and fire up the flashlights. He was so excited about the plan.

Fast forward almost 2 weeks. I survived the LEGO cake, birthday parties and kids getting sick. I was pretty proud that I made it through. Maybe just barely, but I thought I made my son happy.

Tonight he came to my chair with his head hung low and asked if we were ever going to put the tent up. After a minute of confusion it hit me. I committed the ultimate parental foul. I broke my promise to my son.

Maybe that seems like a simple thing. I was really busy, I forgot, it was an accident, right?

Well, it meant a lot to my son.

I remember how much those promises meant when I was four.

As parents, we need to remember that promises mean the world to our children. A simple mistake still warrants an apology and explanation.

In order to make it up to my son, yes, tonight we are going to camp out in the living room. Nothing means more to me than the trust of my son. Tonight I am going to make it up to him. It should be the perfect night for our little "camp in".

So, have your broken your word with your children? How did you handle it?

#Mamavation Monday - Raising Outdoor Enthusiasts

Happy Monday everyone!

I am so excited for Mamavation TV tonight. Erica Lineberry (@Cragmama) will be joining us tonight and we are going to be talking about getting outdoors with our little ones.

This is something I am also passionate about. When my son was just tiny we started taking him out in the ski trailer with us when we went cross country skiing. Then at 3 we got him his own snowshoes and skiis.  This year my daughter will be big enough to get more involved also. It is stacking up to be a great Winter!

My husband has always been the driving force behind getting us outside and active. I grew up in a family that didn't encourage sports or physical activity. This is a bad habit I am still trying to break. Luckily I can set my children up to live active and exciting lives enjoying the Oregon outdoors.

I don't push my children. Amazingly, all it takes is seeing their parents having fun outside to want to join in. If they see us on a bike or skis, they want to try it too. Start early, have fun and try new things. This is what I have learned from my little ones.

This was my first full week with Nutrisystem. My weigh-in is tomorrow, but I am already working to get rid of some of my bad eating habits. Having a plan is an important tool for weight loss, and this program is giving me a clear plan of attack for all my eating. My exercise hasn't been as big of a focus as it should, so I will be stepping that up this week. My goal is for 1 hr a day... mixed up, broken up and as fun as I can make it. My favorite activities include:

• Walking the loop around our "neighborhood" - I live surrounded by farmland. Lol.
• Zumbu for the Wii
• Just Dance 2
• Ellen Barrett's Yogini DVD (that is a hardcore 45 minutes!)
• Jillian Michael's Ripped in 30 DVD
• Tracey Mallett's The Booty Barre DVD (I just got this one.)

As for my weight this week? I am down 1lb exactly.  Not, bad. I hope with more activity I can get closer to 2lbs for next week. You know me, always shooting for the stars.


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. Two blogging carnival participants will each receive an Omron pedometer. To be eligible answer the following blogging carnival question in your weekly Mamavation blog post and mention Omron with a link back to their site. Link up your post here.

What kind of activities have you done with a pedometer on?

 Since being a Mamavation Mom, I have been wearing my Omron pedometer almost every day. I have worn it while cycling, walking, running, doing DVDs, dancing and skiing. As long as I am not gussied up, I am probably wearing it.

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

Giveaways on Other Blogs (11/14)

There are some fabulous baby giveaways going on right now and I will be adding to this list throughout the day.

First off, the Bump 2 Baby event is still going on Baby Loving Mama.
I truth, I have drooled over all their giveaways, but one of my favorites is the Kolcraft 3 in 1 Wooden Bassinet.

We are co-sleeping parents with a shrinking bed. I currently have 2 toddlers (think fists of furry!) and would love a bassinet for near the bed. We borrowed a co-sleeper that attached to my side and I loved it. I had piece of mind that no one would disturb a sleeping baby.

I love that there is a Moses basket that comes out of the bassinet and it has lots of storage options underneath. Who wants to scramble for baby supplies in the middle of the night? I also love the Kolcraft company for great, quality baby items.

This giveaway ends 11/14/11 at 11:59 pm CST, so hurry!

Also check out the  Peg Perego Giveaway on Baby Loving Mama while you are there. I know, just the name Peg Perego would be enough to get me to enter... their items are high end and convenient, but the Peg Perego Skate System is also quite clever!

Compatible with their car seat, it works as a bassinet, stroller and comes with storage, cup holder and a large rain cover. Doesn't it look cozy?

 Any baby would be lucky to be strolling around in this set-up. This giveaway ends 11/28.

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

Also, today is the final day to enter the Baby Bump Giveaway - worth $450
over at My Four Monkeys.


This prize package has it all! From A Baby Bjorn carrier, to feeding options and a Boppy pillow, there are so many great items.

I am especially interested in the Boppy Newborn Lounger. I haven't tried one of these, but it looks even better than propping up a little one with a nursing pillow. I also think the chewbeads would be a hit with our friends.

Many ways to enter, so don't wait. This giveaway will end 11:59 PM EST on November 14th. (That's tonight!)

Spanish Style Quinoa with The Secret Recipe Club - #Recipe

It's November, and time for another great blog and recipe from The Secret Recipe Club!




So, what's the big secret?

SRC members are assigned a participating blog. They can go through recipes, drool over posts and photos till they find a recipe 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 month I was assigned Vivian's blog Let's Try These. She is also a Stay-at-home Mom and shares my love of cooking, baking and canning. I love browsing recipes and when I say this recipe for  Spanish Style Quinoa , I knew it was "the one". I have 3 well used quinoa recipes and this would be a nice addition to my rotation. I also love that this is a very simple recipe and a great healthy side dish option.

You will need:

2 tablespoons vegetable oil 

1 cup uncooked quinoa 

1 medium onion, finely chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced 

1 small green bell pepper, chopped

1 (8 ounce) can tomato paste * (I changed this from sauce)

2 1/2 cups water * (I used stock here)

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin 




Chop the onion and green pepper and place them in a pot with oil. I like to add just a pinch of salt to get them to sweat a little.

Cook till just softened and add in the minced garlic to warm through and quinoa to toast. 

 Then I added my paste. Warm it till fragrant then add in the chicken stock (or plain water if you prefer).

 Add the seasoning and then bring the pot up to a boil. Reduce it to a simmer, cover and let it cook for about 30 minutes. The liquid should be absorbed the quinoa will be tender.

Oh, boy did it make the house smell good! 


We enjoyed ours along with a quick quesadilla for a delicious lunch. I packed up and froze the leftover to use later this month when I make enchiladas. Thanks for the recipe Vivian!

...and if you thought that looked good, be sure to check out the Linky full of SRC members and their chosen dishes. The real question is, what will you pin or make first?