Growing Your Family

Some New Year's Parenting Tips

2012-01-06T10:44:00.000-08:00

Thoughtful parenting begins with the commitment to never stop learning new strategies to improve your parenting skills. What kind of parenting style you use is up to you, but every parenting style can be more effective with the addition of fresh ideas. Take a look at the practical advice below.

Often times it's easy to give a lot of attention to your kids when they are acting out. They demand attention through their negative behaviors at home and in public. In order to stem this trend of tantrums, start giving more energy to the positive moments. Feed into the desired behaviors instead of the discouraged behaviors, and watch your kids bask in the glow of confidence while their poor behavior subsides.

The best way to punish children is take away privileges. This will teach them that doing something they shouldn't do will cause them to have toys or maybe even the television taken away from them. Also, do not rule out putting your child in timeout. The general rule for timeout is one minute per age your child is.

TIP! To foster an environment where reading is encouraged, make sure a child is surrounded with books from a young age. For infants, have books with mirrors and textures that they can enjoy without language skills.

While having children will completely change your life it is important not to become obsessed with them. Most people will probably love your children as much as you do, but if your life starts to revolve around them you may find your friends become quite annoyed with you and your lack of attention.

Allow your child to share information with you free of interruption. Take the time to let your child talk to you in a quiet place, and always give your undivided attention. Encourage your child to come up with their own solutions to problems, but always be prepared to offer help if they need it. Once a child knows that their voice is heard, and their opinion matters, they will be much more likely to open up to you in difficult times.

Don't try to make your child grow up too early. There is a growing trend to allow little girls to wear makeup and provocative clothing from a young age, and this is encouraged in part by the entertainment industry. However, your daughter has many years ahead to be an adult so allow them to be a kid for as long as possible.

TIP! If your child is being bullied, talk to them about it. Have family members share their own experiences with bullying and how they handled it, and make sure to support them unconditionally.

If your child comes to you with a problem, help him think of some solutions instead of solving the problem for him. When you guide him in solving a problem, he will develop a very important skill which he will use again and again as he is growing up. Giving young children practice in solving their own problems will make them stronger individuals.

When reducing your child's television and video game time, make sure you are creating other fun activities to choose from. Play boardgames with your children; play outside with them; or go somewhere fun outside of the house, like a park or a play area. Whatever you do, make sure you provide options to your children.

When you are traveling with your baby, be sure to set up your room as soon as you arrive at your destination. The closer the set up is to your room at home, the more comfortable your baby will be. This will help keep things as calm as possible during your stay.

As mentioned above, no matter what parenting style you choose, you can make it more effective when you seek out new ideas. The key to thoughtful parenting is to recognize that you can always use fresh ideas to make sure your parenting skills are right for you and your child.

Making Christmas Memories

2011-12-20T07:30:00.001-08:00

One thing we love to do on Christmas Eve is go through the local coffee hut, turn on our Christmas music and drive around looking at the Christmas lights. It's such a simple tradition but our children look forward to it every year. From the time they were just little ones drinking cocoa we have oohed and awed over the lights together.

Another simple tradition we have is baking cookies. These are the famous Spritz cookies everyone we know talks about. A perfect shortbread sugar cookie that we decorate and pass out to all our neighbors and friends. We always bake a plate full of goodies, tie a ribbon around it and ring the doorbell. It's a simple gesture but one that gets our children in the Christmas spirit of giving.

Creating your own family traditions should not be tedious and overwhelming for anyone. Even if it's having a family game night complete with popcorn, Christmas music and finishing it off with a Christmas movie, creating an ongoing tradition will make the best memories for you and your children.

History of Thanksgiving for Kids

2011-11-23T07:39:00.000-08:00

I think one thing we miss nowadays is teaching our children the history behind the holiday we celebrate. Thanksgiving is one of those holidays.
Below I have included several links to websites I think are great for kids and parents who want to explore the true reason we remember on Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving - History. Com

What is Thanksgiving all about?

The First Thanksgiving

National Geographic Thanksgiving for Kids

Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids

What to do on a Fall Day

2011-11-08T07:03:00.001-08:00

It's easy, It's free and It will Build lasting Memories~

Grab some rakes, a few great friends and a picnic lunch. Don't forget the hot cocoa. Taking an afternoon break down at the local park during fall is a wonderful way to spend a crisp fall afternoon.
Our local park leaves the leaves down for several weeks before they remove them just so families can come down and jump in the piles. The crisp air, and smell of dried maple leaves with come with lasting memories.
Don't forget your camera, you will want to get these printed for sure.

Harvest Chili

2011-10-04T12:18:00.000-07:00

What is better on a cool fall day then a warm bowl of soup backed with all the flavors of fall. This is one of our families favorite fall dishes.

Harvest Chili

1 c onion chopped
1 c yellow bell pepper chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tsp. oregano
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp chili powder
2 15oz cans of black beans - rinsed
2 pounds chicken breasts, chopped
1 16oz can pure pumpkin
1 14oz can diced tomatoes
3 cups of chicken broth
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker. Cover and cook for 8 hours on low.

Recommended Side Dish - Crusty Garlic Bread and Apple Crisp

Shopping List
You will need, bell pepper, black beans, chicken, pumpkin, diced tomatoes, prepared crusty garlic bread and ingredients for apple crisp. You should have the other ingredients on hand.

Not sure about that secret ingredient? Pumpkin has such a mild flavor with is balanced beautifully in this chili. My children never even notice and its a great way to get some vitamin packed into this meal.

BBQ Short Ribs

2011-09-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

Yes you can still enjoy ribs without even touching the Barbeque. This is a family favorite and we always fill our crock pot to the rim with ribs.

BBQ Short Ribs

8 Tbls Flour
3 tsp Salt
1 tsp Pepper
10 pounds of beef short ribs (less if you do not think you will eat leftovers)
1/4 cup olive oil
2 onions sliced
1 bottle favorite BBQ sauce
1 Tbls liquid smoke

Usually we cut up the short ribs into 3 rib portions. Drudge them with the flour mixture. Add oil to the bottom of the crock pot and place ribs inside. Top with sliced onions. Take the bbq sauce and mix the liquid smoke into it. Pour on top of ribs and onions and cook on low 6-8 hours.

When you remove the spare ribs, use a little flour and water mixture, less then 1 Tbls each and thicken the sauce. Serve with ribs.

Serve With - Potato Salad or Potato wedges and Salad

Shopping List:
10 lbs Short Ribs
2 onions
BBQ Sauce

You should have flour, salt, pepper, olive oil and liquid smoke on hand. If not add these to your list.

Enjoy a summer favorite on a busy weeknight!

Pizza!

2011-09-14T12:55:00.000-07:00

Pizza in the Crockpot? Really? Oh yeah! It really is "almost" all in the crockpot. Ah yes, there is a little catch.

Here we are going to make all the topping for the pizza let it simmer and cook all day in the crock pot and then top our pre-made or home made pizza crust with it, top with cheese and pop it in the oven for 10-12 minutes. Not really a bad deal now is it?

Pizza

1 pound of ground beef
1 onion chopped
1 green pepper chopped
1 pkg of pepperoni chopped
1 pkg of mushrooms (I like fresh, but canned is fine)
1 jar of pizza sauce

2 pizza crusts - home made or pre-made
2 cups of shredded cheese, mozzarella or a mixture

Combine all ingredients in the crock pot except cheese and crusts. Cover and cook on low 4 hours.

When you are ready for dinner, take out the crusts and top each with 2-3 scoops of sauce. Top with cheese and bake for 10-12 minutes. Dinner is served!

Serve with - A Yummy Green Salad

Shopping List -
1 lb Ground beef
1 pkg of shredded cheese
1 pkg pepperoni
1 pkg mushrooms
1 green pepper
1 jar of pizza sauce
2 pre-made pizza crusts (if you are not making your own)

You should already have onions on hand.

Lemon Chicken

2011-09-13T12:41:00.000-07:00

It doesn't get a whole easier to feed your family a healthy dinner then this fantastic recipe.
Today it's all about Chicken~

I love to use a whole chicken because then I know we have at least three meals. Dinner, Lunch and a wonderful soup for another day. When you know you have a busy week ahead this one is a dinner winner!

Lemon Chicken

1 4-5 pound whole chicken
2 Lemons
Fresh Oregano

Yes, that is it! Put the chicken into the crock pot, slice lemons and place all around the chicken. Add 4 cups of water and lay the fresh oregano on top. Cook on medium or low for 8 hours. When you're ready to serve just cut off some wonderful white breast meat and season with salt and pepper if you like.

Serve With - Garlic Bread and a Green Salad

Shopping List:

4-5 pound chicken
2 lemons
fresh oregano
garlic bread
bagged salad
tomato
cucumber

It's a simple delicious dinner that will have you prepared for chicken sandwiches for lunch the next day and already made chicken broth just waiting for you to de-bone the rest of chicken and add some veggies for a warm homemade chicken soup. 3 for 1, not bad!

Island Pork Chops

2011-09-12T07:55:00.000-07:00

Today's recipe features a tropic get-a-way during your busy week.

Island Pork Chops

6 pork chops
1 cup of apple juice
1/2 cup of soy sauce
1 T. Oregano
1 can of pineapple crushed
2 roma tomatoes diced
1/2 cup flaked coconut

Place pork chops in the bottom of your slow cooker and add the rest of the ingredients. Cook on low 8 hours. After you remove the pork chops, take the remaining sauce and thicken with corn starch.

Serve With - Rice and Corn on the Cob

Shopping List:
6 pork chops
apple juice
crushed pineapple
2 roma tomatoes
flaked coconut
corn on the cob

You should have rice, soy sauce, oregano and corn starch on hand but add those to your shopping list if you need to.

Pork Flautas

2011-09-09T07:42:00.000-07:00

This is one of our family favorites. We love Mexican food, and this simple dish not only can be cooked in the crock pot, but makes you look like a gourmet cook too.

Come back daily for the recipe, side dishes and a shopping list.

Pork Flautas

1 lb pork roast tenderloin
2 stalks celery (sliced)
1 can (4oz) green chilis (optional if you don't like heat)
1 can of Rotel tomatoes or Mexican stewed tomatoes
1 can (16 oz) of prepared chili - any flavor

Mix all ingredients into the crock pot and cook on low 6-7 hours. When done fill flour tortillas as you would a burrito.

Serve with: Guacamole dip, salsa and shredded cabbage

Shopping List :
Pork roast
green chilies
rotel tomatoes
chili
flour tortillas
guacamole
salsa
cabbage

You should have onion already, but if not add it to your shopping list too.

Hope you enjoy this yummy simple after a hard day meal.

Susasge and Black Beans

2011-09-07T12:23:00.000-07:00

We will be featuring a fantastic crock pot recipe every day for thirty days to help you start off your fall schedule. Your family will enjoy a nice hot meal after a long day.

Come back daily for the recipe, side dishes and a shopping list.

Today's Crock Pot meal features the Kielbasa sausage. Adding black beans not only gives your meal a healthy edge but compliments the sausage beautifully.

3 (15oz) Cans of Black Beans - rinsed
1 Kielbasa sausage - sliced
1 Onion - chopped
4 sticks of celery - chopped
3 cloves of garlic - minced
1 (13oz) can of stewed tomatoes
1 (15oz) can of corn
2 Tbs - fresh oregano, or 2 tsp dried
1 cup of water

Mix all ingredients together and put in the slow cooker for 8 hours on low.

About an 30 minutes before you are ready to eat put the rice on to cook and steam the green beans.

Serve with Brown Rice and Fresh Green Beans

Shopping List :
3 cans black beans
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 can corn
1 onion
4 stalks of celery
1 Kielbasa sausage
1 pound Fresh Green beans

You should have garlic, oregano and rice already in your cupboards but if not add those to your list too.

Getting the New School Year Off to a Good Start

2011-08-31T07:55:00.000-07:00

Preparing myself and my children for the new upcoming school year I began searching for ideas that I could implement that would make the transition from summer to school easier. I ran across a website from the NASP sums up the different things we can do as parents to help the transition to be smooth.

Below is a portion of the article. Click on the link at the end to continue to their website and read more.

Back-to-School Transitions: Tips for Parents

By Ted Feinberg, EdD, NCSP, & Katherine C. Cowan
National Association of School Psychologists

Getting a new school year off to a good start can influence children’s attitude, confidence, and performance both socially and academically. The transition from August to September can be difficult for both children and parents. Even children who are eager to return to class must adjust to the greater levels of activity, structure, and, for some, pressures associated with school life.
The degree of adjustment depends on the child, but parents can help their children (and the rest of the family) manage the increased pace of life by planning ahead, being realistic, and maintaining a positive attitude. Here are a few suggestions to help ease the transition and promote a successful school experience.

Before School Starts

Good physical and mental health. Be sure your child is in good physical and mental health. Schedule doctor and dental checkups early. Discuss any concerns you have over your child’s emotional or psychological development with your pediatrician. Your doctor can help determine if your concerns are normal, age-appropriate issues or require further assessment. Your child will benefit if you can identify and begin addressing a potential issue before school starts. Schools appreciate the efforts of parents to remedy problems as soon as they are recognized.
Review all of the information. Review the material sent by the school as soon as it arrives. These packets include important information about your child’s teacher, room number, school supply requirements, sign ups for after-school sports and activities, school calendar dates, bus transportation, health and emergency forms, and volunteer opportunities.
Mark your calendar. Make a note of important dates, especially back-to-school nights. This is especially important if you have children in more than one school and need to juggle obligations. Arrange for a babysitter now, if necessary.
Make copies. Make copies of all your child’s health and emergency information for reference. Health forms are typically good for more than a year and can be used again for camps, extracurricular activities, and the following school year.
Buy school supplies early. Try to get the supplies as early as possible and fill the backpacks a week or two before school starts. Older children can help do this, but make sure they use a checklist that you can review. Some teachers require specific supplies, so save receipts for items that you may need to return later.
Re-establish the bedtime and mealtime routines. Plan to re-establish the bedtime and mealtime routines (especially breakfast) at least 1 week before school starts. Prepare your child for this change by talking with your child about the benefits of school routines in terms of not becoming over tired or overwhelmed by school work and activities. Include pre-bedtime reading and household chores if these were suspended during the summer.
Turn off the TV. Encourage your child to play quiet games, do puzzles, flash cards, color, or read as early morning activities instead of watching television. This will help ease your child into the learning process and school routine. If possible, maintain this practice throughout the school year. Television is distracting for many children, and your child will arrive at school better prepared to learn each morning if he or she has engaged in less passive activities.
Visit school with your child. If your child is young or in a new school, visit the school with your child. Meeting the teacher, locating their classroom, locker, lunchroom, etc., will help ease pre-school anxieties and also allow your child to ask questions about the new environment. Call ahead to make sure the teachers will be available to introduce themselves to your child.
Minimize clothes shopping woes. Buy only the essentials. Summer clothes are usually fine during the early fall, but be sure to have at least one pair of sturdy shoes. Check with your school to confirm dress code guidelines. Common concerns include extremely short skirts and shorts, low rise pants, bare midriffs, spaghetti strap or halter tops, exposed undergarments, and clothing that have antisocial messages.
Designate and clear a place to do homework. Older children should have the option of studying in their room or a quiet area of the house. Younger children usually need an area set aside in the family room or kitchen to facilitate adult monitoring, supervision, and encouragement.
Select a spot to keep backpacks and lunch boxes. Designate a spot for your children to place their school belongings as well as a place to put important notices and information sent home for you to see. Explain that emptying their backpack each evening is part of their responsibility, even for young children.
Freeze a few easy dinners. It will be much easier on you if you have dinner prepared so that meal preparation will not add to household tensions during the first week of school.

The First Week

Clear your own schedule. To the extent possible, postpone business trips, volunteer meetings, and extra projects. You want to be free to help your child acclimate to the school routine and overcome the confusion or anxiety that many children experience at the start of a new school year. To Read More Click Here

Back To School - Shaving Time off The Morning Rush

2011-08-13T07:47:00.000-07:00

Here are a few tips from seasoned moms that can help you shave a few minutes here and there off that morning routine and build in a few quality minutes with your children.

1. Pack your lunches the night before - put all shelf stable fruit and snacks out on the counter. Make sure all the sandwich ingredients are put together in the fridge and you will be ready to get those lunches all prepared

2. Know what your children are wearing for the week. Spend Sunday afternoon making sure everyone has all the clothes they need washed and set aside for school each day.

3. Have a hanging basket for each child's school work and back pack. This gives you a quick glance to see if anything is needing to be done.

4. Stay calm! A calm mom in the morning helps to keep tempers down and allow frustrations to be worked out in a reasonable manner.

5. If you love to cook, have breakfast ready. If you don't, it won't kill them to have cereal, fruit and toast. Simple and easy it will keep your kids blood sugar up and give them a great start to their day.

Back To School - The Day Before

2011-08-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

As you're gearing up for that first day back to school remember to allot some extra time in your schedule so there is no rushing that first week. Even though our kids have only been off a few weeks, it doesn't take long to get out of that morning routine. By waking the children 20 minutes early you can keep a small window of time that can handle the little meltdowns or spilled milk.
Kids no matter what grade or how long they have been going to the same school, all get the back to school jitters. Help calm them by keeping your morning routine stress free and take the extra time to talk, listen to music, and get them excited for their first day.

Back To School Sales

2011-08-11T07:42:00.000-07:00

Back to School sales are starting already. With less then three weeks before school arrives you and your children are sure to be preparing.
When picking up the great deals for your own family why not stock up on a few that you can bless your child's teacher with. Many times teachers buy from their own pocket the little things a class room needs. Not all children can bring in the required class supplies and not all parents take the time to find the lists and shop with their children. By picking up a few of those 20 cent scissors or 10 cent crayons you can bless your child's classroom and get the year started off on the right foot.

Coupon Mom on Cutting your Grocery Bill in Half

2011-08-04T08:21:00.001-07:00

Coupon Mom

2011-08-04T08:20:00.000-07:00

It can save you bucks, but just how do you do it? Coupon Mom goes on CBS and shows just how she does it. Check out her free website HERE

My Favorite Whole Foods Baby Food Products

2011-08-02T14:05:00.000-07:00

Having twins I had some favorites that helped me to make my own baby food that was wholesome and much cheaper then the store bought jars. While I used a simple food processor when making my children's food they now have the baby magic bullet, which I think would just be a great baby gift for anyone. Below are my top favorite products. All of them can be found on Amazon.com.

These two products are perfect for storing smaller amounts of pre made baby food in the freezer. One cooked squash can make at least 20 portions for a younger baby and at least 8 good portions for a toddler.

Vital Baby Press 'n' Pop Mini Freezer Pots,... by Vital Baby

Fresh N Freeze 2 oz. Reusable Baby Food Contain... by One Step Ahead

These fresh food feeders were a favorite when my twins were teething. I would freeze sliced strawberries or peaces inside the mesh netting and just screw on the top when I handed them over. They loved chewing on them and the cold felt good on their gums. I was happy because I didn't need to worry about them breaking off chunks that could choke them.

Munchkin Fresh Food Feeder 2 Pack ,Colors May Vary by Munchkin

While it's easy to just cook up all veggies until soft so that they will be smooth, this recipe book gives you great ideas for veggie combos as well as good fruit combos.

Cooking for Baby: Wholesome, Homemade,... by Lisa recipes by Barnes

We used this for at least a year with our children. Everything we ate we just ground up for them. Until my children had a good set of teeth I always made sure their food was as safe as possible to avoid any accidental choking.

KidCo Baby Steps Food Mill, with Carrying Case , 1 food... by KidCo

Mumi&Bubi Solids Starter Kit Premium Baby Food Freez... by Mumi&Bubi

While any blender will do, this one is just simply adorable and comes with freezer trays for baby food as well as a simple cookbook.

Magic Baby Bullet - As Seen on Tv by BABY BULLET

Never leave a baby unattended while eating!

Help for Reluctant Readers

2011-07-26T09:16:00.000-07:00

Do you have a reader who is reluctant to read? A beginning reader who loves to practice, or maybe not? Here is a little trick to get your struggling reader to spend more time reading. Have your child read to a pet. Dogs are great listeners. If you've ever had a bad day you know what I'm talking about. The beauty of dogs is that they love to be with you and doing whatever you're doing.
Having your child read to a dog helps them practice reading without any interruptions. And dogs just have this unique ability to look like they understand what your saying too.
In many after school programs they bring in dogs to sit with children as they read. Dogs help to bring down the anxiety for struggling readers and provide great pillows to lay on as the child practices reading.
If you have a struggling reader have them sit down and read aloud to the dog. Chances are they will love doing it and get the much needed practice they need to become a strong reader.
Online you will also find some great websites like Starfall that are free and interactive. Fun animations help kids learn their phonograms and sight words while practicing reading.

Enjoying the Simple Things

2011-07-21T07:55:00.000-07:00

A recent trip out of town landed us at the local King Kone. Boy were we in for a surprise. The cones were double fisters piled high with vanilla ice cream.
It's interesting to me that this has always been the one stop my husband wants to make whenever we visit this town. From what we remember it had been years and are kids had no memory of stopping here to enjoy a King Kone. A simple stop, very cheap ice cream cones, and it's all the kids and my husband talked about for the rest of our trip.
It has taught me one thing, we should spend more time enjoying the simple things around us, the wonder and awe of a massive too big to eat ice cream cone, or the simple beauty of a garden or local farmers market.
With money tight for most American families, making a day trip to a local town and visiting their park, their farmers market, or their little ice cream stand can make just as many wonderful memories for your children as a trip to Disneyland.

Simple Summer Lunch

2011-07-13T09:13:00.000-07:00

Lately the kids and I have fallen in love with these simple open faced sandwiches. I love using the tomatos from our home grown plants and making homemade bagels. YUM!

It's really quite simple, and yet even guests would be awed to be served this with a side of fruit.

All that is needed is one avocado for every two people and some vine ripened tomatoes from the garden. Mash the avocado with a few drops of time. This helps it to stay nice and green. Spread on your home made bagel, or favorite thick crusty bread. Slice the tomato and place on top. Salt and pepper to taste and your done! Yes it's that simple and so so so good. Not to mention your not using any artificial ingredients or bad for you foods. The only warning I can give is that these can become very addictive lunches, so stock up!

4th of July Safety

2011-06-30T08:43:00.000-07:00

We love to celebrate the 4th of July. Warm summer evenings spent outside with friends. Food from fabulous barbecues and staying up late to watch the fireworks. What could be better?

Every year however, there are terrible tradegies that could be avoided. 8,600 to be exact on July 4th 2010. Kids favorite sparklers burn at 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. That is a serious burn. Not to damper our celebratory spirit, but we are playing with fire and hot fire at that. Caution should be heeded for the safety of our children and our neighbors.

Here are a few safety tips to remember that will make your 4th July safe and fun.

1. An adult should always light fireworks. This adult should be responsible, sober and use proper safety gear like glasses.
2. If you light a firework but it does not seem to work, do not try to relight it. This is very dangerous. Fireworks are not 100% reliable and sometimes they can do the unexpected.
3. Have a source of water, ie a hose, near by. Fireworks are unpredicitable and water and lots of it should be available to douse them if needed.
4 .Have a bucket of water to soak all used fireworks in. Some fireworks can still be hot after 15-20 minutes. Never put fireworks that have just been used in a garbage can.
5. If your child does do sparklers, make sure they are wearing shoes and not flip flops. Most burns happen on the feet, so this gives you one extra layer of protection.
6. After your fireworks are done, clean up. Store used fireworks in your bucket of water, wash off the street or sidewalk with a hose and put away all your lighters. It never hurts to go a little overboard on safety.

One last thing I would like to add. Every year before we leave for the huge community fire work display, we turn our sprinklers on. Not only will this water out anything we missed, but it protects us from the neighbors fireworks too. Every year people shoot off illegal fireworks in our neighborhood and every year we are concerned our house will be hit by one of these stray roman candles. Having wet grass, and yes sometimes the roof, gives us that extra layer of precaution on a night that we all love to celebrate.

Have a Happy and Safe 4th of July

Fishing With Dad

2011-06-29T13:23:00.000-07:00

Summer time in our household means going down to the river and fishing with dad. Of course, when doing anything by a fast moving river, extra caution is needed. Hoping rocks to get to the best fishing spot is not uncommon and dad likes to get out there and look up and down the river for the good spots.

Once dad has checked out the best spots for each child, depending on their age, he gets them set up with their own poles and tackle.

Our youngest get the safest spot, near the river. Finding a calm spot in the water right before and right after fast moving water is a favorite hang out for fish.

This year Jeff taught our youngest how to fly fish. No more tricking her into sitting in one spot with a fake worm on her pole. She has watched the bigger kids and knows how to do it right.

The water does move very swiftly in the river, and while this part of the river is not catch and release, most of the fish caught go right back into the river.

Dad on the other hand spends most of his time fixing the flies, unsnagging the lures from rocks, trees and whatever is in the river that seems to snag them. Luckily for him I didn't come on this fishing trip. I'm worse then the kids. Usually I snag them all behind me on trees and bushes and never make them into the water. When I do, I'm very good at snagging logs. Surprisingly I have never found a fish in the trees.
Thankfully my husband loves seeing the kids happily fishing.

Fishing is not expensive, unless you're into the big boys. A little pole can be bought at Wal-mart or a garage sale for under 20.00. Flies tend to run more, but if your local river allows live bait, worms are the way to go.

The wild life down at the river is always on the move and is waiting to snag your catch away from you. Usually we see otters. They are such a curious little animal and will follow you up and down the river all day.

This otter turned out to be a beaver. My husband is sure he has never seen one on this stretch of the river before. He was not a bit scared of the kids or my husband. We are a bit unsure if he was just friendly or defending his territory. I thought maybe he was tired of waiting for them to lure in a fish and decided to come out and wait for one himself.

Taking your kids on a simple little fishing trip down to your local river is one way to spend the hot summer evenings. It builds wonderful memories that they will have forever, even if there is no catches. Our oldest daughter did catch 4 but she released them all.

Top Ten Foods You Should buy Organic

2011-06-24T09:26:00.000-07:00

Picture courtesy of FoxNews

This latest headline caught my eye, "Apples Receive Top Honor on Dirty Dozen". Interestingly enough the apple tops the list of foods that should buy Organic. Why? Can't you just wash them and peel them?
Here is an excerpt from the article:

The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit consumer advocacy group, recently released their annual “Dirty Dozen” list of pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables.

This year, for the first time, apples ascend to the top of the list as the most chemically-contaminated produce.

Everyone understands that a healthy diet is one that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables. But some produce contains more pesticide residue than others and limiting that exposure is vitally important.

Using government data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the EWG tested more than 700 apples and found pesticides on 98 percent of those sampled. Even after washing, 92 percent of the apples tested had two or more pesticide residues detected. You can’t wash away pesticides in the fruit. The fruit’s structure has been compromised, so even if you peel an apple or wash it, the pesticides are in the cellular structure because they have been grown in a poison environment.

“We think what’s happening to apples is more pesticides and fungicides are being applied after the harvest so the fruit can have a longer shelf life,” Sonya Lunder, EWG senior analyst told USA Today.

It got me thinking that is for sure. There are just some foods you should purchase organic and at least from a farmers market. Here is their top 10 list of foods you should consider purchasing organic.

1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Strawberries
4. Peaches
5. Spinach
6. Nectarines (imported)
7. Grapes (imported)
8. Sweet bell peppers
9. Potatoes
10. Blueberries (domestic)

If you have a limited budget, and who doesn't in these economic times, try and set aside enough money to at least get these foods from your Organic section at the supermarket, or better yet from your local organic farmer's market. Focus your budget on the top 5 products, and fill in where you can on the remaining items.

Having apples on the top surprised me. I had always heard that if you can peel the fruit you will be fine, looks like in this case "they" were wrong. Does this surprise you?

Tarp Soccer-A summer Sport

2011-06-23T10:06:00.000-07:00

Summer’s here. Whatever that means to you—sunshine, a break, or just a lot of fun—you know at one point or another, there’s that part of the summer where you feel dead tired and completely bored. You must admit that those are the times you wish you had something to do, especially if you’ve got whiny kids—you have my sympathy. I have a remedy that will at least engulf a few hours of you day. You are going to make a tarp soccer field!

All You Need:

· A tarp

· A few bottles of baby soap (so your kid’s eyes don’t get hurt.

· Some water, from a constant source (preferably), like a hose

· A ball, like a soccer ball or volleyball

· Somebody to play with it

Now I understand if you’ve already figured out what you’re supposed to do, but I will go in depth anyways…

1. Take tarp, lay it out on a flat and soft area—a patch of grass will do great, just make sure to clear away any big rocks that could hurt somebody when they slide.

2. Get the tarp slightly wet.

3. Dump baby soap from top to bottom, but save some for later, you’ll need to add some soap every once and a while,

4. Add more water, and let your kids go for it!

5. Repeat the process of adding more soap and water when needed.

6. You can add a sprinkler by the edge of the tarp for extra fun, or just spray the kids with the hose.

7. Mainly, just have fun with it!

You will be able to find baby soap and tarps nearly anywhere. This year we made a tarp soccer field for my brother’s party, they played soccer, raced, wrested, and played tag. You can have fun on these tarps by yourself or with friends. This is a great summer activity for parties, family reunions, or just for family fun. Please enjoy tarp soccer!

Fun at the Grower's Market

2011-06-20T10:38:00.000-07:00

The food you eat has a lot to do with where you live. No, not the type of food—but the freshness! Most people like fresh food; food that tastes like life, and looks like joy. Everyone has had that perfect strawberry or that perfect tomato at least once, but where can one indulge in the best of foods all times of the year? A grower’s market!

Whether yours is called a grower’s, farmer’s, or crafter’s market, it’s a place where the whole family can enjoy themselves. These markets are home to the local family owned farms and businesses, the food is great, the prices are fantastic, and it’s a great place to get away for an hour or two.

At a grower’s markets you’ll find the freshest fruits and vegetables for very good prices, pre-planted trees and bushes, and handcrafted –crafts (such as jewelry or candles), but that’s not all, you will also find the occasional juggler, musician, and thespian playing in the streets. There are plenty of different foods for lunch, or just a snack. Often, you’ll find great deals on a healthy delicious meal that has been made just a few hours before.

Silly Zak's is a local company that services those of us that are gluten free with tasty pastries.

One of the most important things to do (if you are shopping around for fruits and vegetables) is get there early! The best picks of the day will be gone if you dawdle. No fear though! If you miss the better picks that week, there is always the next.

At a grower’s market, one with meet plenty of interesting people, the whole experience is very personal. These people are locals, but they want you to buy from them, so they are business people. Don’t let sweet words ruin your chance for the best possible pick! My suggestion is if you have product that you know you will be returning for, the first time you go, get the product from several venders, this will give you variety, and an opportunity to know you preferred vender. When in doubt, follow the crowd, there is probably a reason that guy on the corner hasn’t sold a tomato yet. Just remember, not all farms are created equal!

HGTV - 10 Themed Bedrooms for Kids

2011-06-15T08:48:00.000-07:00

What could be more fun then a room full of legos? How about a room decorated with lego boards so that you can build all your own decor? This fun themed room as seen on HGTV's website is just one of the fun themes they have come up with. Your imagination is the limit as you decorate, play and create.

Picture Courtesy of HGTV

While this room may be the most unique, they also have a very cute Cowboys and Indians themed room as well as the cutest princess themed room I've seen in a long time.

Interactive Reward Chart for Kids

2011-06-03T15:18:00.000-07:00

Picture Courtesy of My Reward Board. Com

My Reward Board is fun and interactive and a huge motivator for children. I have had this program for years installed on every computer in our house. I've had three kids using it continuously for several years. My teens have learned consistency in chores from the time there were 6 and my now 9 year old still loves using it.

This simple interactive chore chart not only applauds when they do their chores, but they earn token dollars that they can spend on already approved activities or rewards that mom and dad program in. They can spend them all each week, or save up for that big reward that keeps spinning around.

You can try it free for 15 days, what is not to like about that, but it is only 19.95 once and forever. Use it for all your kiddos!

There is no compensation for my recommendation, It is honestly just one of our favorite things we have used ourselves for years.

Making Cloth Diapers

2011-06-01T12:30:00.000-07:00

My children are all out of diapers and the only think I remember about cloth diapers was they looked difficult to fold, pin and they leaked.
Recently I spend some time with a few friends who have newborns on up still in diapers. I offered to change one of the little ones and was instantly frozen with fear of how to change it. Laughter roared from the other room as I stuttered for help.
I see why they were laughing, the diaper was simple. Instead of throwing it away I placed it in a bucket. Done!

These same friends informed me as I oohed and awed over this amazing diaper that they made them by hand. Wow! What a great idea.

Dianna's Journal

So, here I am looking up how it was done and came across a fantastic blog that showed step by step how these little creations take form. Dianna's Journal shows each step in creating the pattern and your own diapers.
Of course if you don't want to go to the effort of creating them yourself, you can head over to Etsy and find some wonderful handmade ones for purchase.

Summer Sun Safety

2011-05-31T10:13:00.000-07:00

Summer is just around the corner, I promise! Here in the northwest it may seem like winter/spring will never be over. I call it winter spring, because it truly is a mixture of snow and rain here.
However, its not to early to start thinking of fun in the sun. With that comes the thought of protecting our children and ourselves from the powerful affects of the sun on our skin.
Here are a few tips to get you started.

1. Use Sunscreen Correctly - Most people use way to little sunscreen. To cover your face and arms you need at least 2 tablespoons. Have bear legs, you need at least 2 more. If you are going to be out in the sun for more then two hours, you will need to reapply. Swimming, re-apply every hour. If you do not use enough sunscreen, that SPF 30 you just applied sparingly will only be near SPF 10. Number 1 rule, slather it on nice and thick!

2. Protect your head and face with a broad rim hat. Stylish and cool these hats will for sure make a statement and remind others of the importance of their skin too.

3. Many kids can wear SPF enhanced swim wear. Remember though that after 10 washings there is no more protection left then a regular shirt. Rinse and air dry as often as possible to protect the SPF rating. Don't skimp on cute bathing suits and bikinis. Go for the shorts and t-shirts. You kids are more important then a full body tan.

4. Keep hydrated! Even if your playing in the water, or feel like your not sweating, you are loosing plenty of water out of your body. Keep hydrated with pure clean fresh water. Stay away from sodas and high sugar drinks that will just speed up the dehydration.

Enjoy your Summer!

The Language Rich Home

2011-05-25T14:50:00.000-07:00

Unless you've been living without TV, the internet or a library, you know the importance of reading to your child at a very young age. Here is something interesting you may not know. While simply reading to your child is beneficial, it does not necessarily make a great reader.
Recently I was reading a book by Ruth Beechick entitled The Language Wars. She describes a language rich environment as one where the parent and child interacts with the books they are reading. Looking at the pictures together and talking about what is happening in the picture. Maybe there is more going on in the picture then the story has said. Maybe you've read the book so many times you can stop mid sentence and your child can finish it. A child that can sit down and "read" you the story through their memory is developing necessary language skills and abilities to assist in decoding words.

Another important thing to remember when your child does begin reading is that it is okay if they spend a few years building fluency. Reading books that are easy will help them build confidence and flunecy. A child who is pushed to read at or above grade level will many times only get through a couple of pages. However a child who is allowed to choose easy readers and encouraged to read a lot of them can devour 20 pages or more in a sitting.
If you have a struggling reader this is a great book to lay out the facts. Bring joy back to reading. Enjoy the books. Read to your child. Discuss the books. Let your child read to you.
Need help taking that first step? Summer is approaching fast, check out your local library for their summer reading programs. Many offer prizes, free books and all the encouragement you and your child need to explore a world of learning.

Product Review - The Peanut Ball

2011-05-24T08:25:00.000-07:00

Strengthens core muscles, enhances balance and increases attention span not to mention how fun it is!

This peanut ball holds up to 750 pounds so mom and dad can enjoy "playing" with it too. Any exercise ball can do all of the above but because of it's unique shape the peanut ball can only roll forward or backwards making it safe for even the littlest ones in your family.

We found this one online at Discount School Supply and it seems to be the best price around at only 19.95.

How To Make A Friendship Bracelet

2011-05-20T09:06:00.000-07:00

Would you like to make a friendship bracelet for some of your friends? Or do you have a teenager who likes to try making crafts and gifts for friends. It is a fun easy gift to make and a good way to tell someone they are special to you. It is an easy and fun friendship gift.
　
You will need four colors of embroidery floss. They need to be 25 inches long. I like to buy my floss at the dollar store. You can usually find it there in all sorts of colors.
Your will also need Masking tape for your friendship gift.
Tie a knot about one inch from the top. Tape the knotted end to the back of a chair or table. Separate the stands of floss.
Start with string one and loop it over string two. Hold string two tight and pull the knot snug.
Do step one another time so you have a double knot
Now take string one and make double knots around each of the remaining strands
Now do the same thing again and this time start with the left strand
Tie knots left to right all the way across the collars
Keep going until the bracelet is as long as you like.
Gather the strings and tie a knot to secure
Why would your teen want to learn how to make friendship bracelets? Mostly because they are fun, but also because you can share friendship bracelets with friends - . Plus, the inexpensive threads come in every color of the rainbow - endless combinations of friendship bracelets are obtainable for very little cost!

Give yourself some time to learn the steps. It takes a lot of patience and practice but it's like riding a bike, once you make friendship bracelets, you’ll never forget how. Start with an easy pattern, but don't be too afraid to progress to the more difficult patterns once you know how to do the basic knot.
　

The Odyssey- Book Review

2011-05-11T12:35:00.000-07:00

Long tried Odysseus was far from home for more than two decades, 10 years fighting the Trojans and 10 more lost at sea. In Poseidon’s domain on his way homeward he faced many trials. Slaying a monstrous Cyclops, going to and escaping from the dreadful Hades and staying on the island of the nymph, graceful Calypso for 6 years. Homer’s work mainly describes the sorrows of royal Odysseus and his finding a surprise upon his homecoming.

The book begins with god-like Odysseus’s son powerful Telmacha getting information from Athena that his father is about to return home and that he should go and search for him. Wise Telmacha decides to go to Sparta from Ithaca. When he arrives he is showered by gifts from the king of Sparta. Going farther inland he receives no tiding of his father. Disappointed mighty Telmacha returns homeward but alas, the lowly suitors set up a wicked trap to slay heroic Telmacha. Only by the help of crafty Athena did great Telmacha get to Ithaca from harm.

Meanwhile sorrowful Odysseus was stuck on an island with the fair nymph Calypso without ship and without crew. Wise Athena decides it’s time to take matters into her own hands so she tells goodly Calypso to let Odysseus go free so Calypso tells god-like Odysseus to build a raft and leave the island, so Odysseus does as he is told and builds a goodly raft which will ride to waves well. But Poseidon was not through with Odysseus and crashed his vessel on the Phoenician shore. The king from this land graciously received him and had him tell his story.

Odysseus tells his story well and starts with his first trial, the Cyclops. Odysseus and his companions were traveling through the Mediterranean Sea when they saw an island. They decided to stop and gather supplies. While Odysseus and some of his men were scouting they came to the cave of the Cyclops. Odysseus and his companions tricked the monster and escape however Poseidon was not pleased.
Our hero’s next stop on his journey was the underworld where no man had ever come back alive from. Receiving information from a goddess Odysseus learned that he had to find someone in the underworld who could give him instruction on how he could return home. The spirit in question told Odysseus to go around Sicily and above all else not to eat the sun god Helios’s cattle which were found on an island on the way. Royal Odysseus thanked the spirit and left the realm unharmed.

As the ship of god-like Odysseus got close to the island of the sun god Odysseus’s men began to complain of fatigue so they docked on the island of Helios but not before Odysseus made them swear not to eat the cattle, the all made the proper oath and landed on the island. This is where things got ugly. The winds turned against the crew and their destination so the ship was forced to stay on the island. As supplies became low the crew became hungry, they decide to kill the cattle and eat them without Odysseus’s knowledge. Odysseus’s comrades had sealed their fate.

The sun god was furious and called on Zeus to deliver punishment to the ship that was already nearly home. The father of the gods sent a lightning bolt to strike the vessel but spared Odysseus because he had not eaten the cattle. The hero winded up on the shores of Calypso’s island and was held there for six years.

As Odysseus finished his story the Phoenician king took pity on him and showered him with gifts and goodly garments also giving him a ship and a crew to carry him to his homeland. Odysseus thanked the king with winged words and came from the king very rich.

Once the Phoenicians brought royal Odysseus back to his homeland the wise goddess Athena disguised him as an old man so that he might not be recognized. He introduced himself to the swineherd who was very loyal to him and showed his son Telmacha that he was his father. Father and son began to plot the demise of the suitors who courted Odysseus’s wife.

Meanwhile Penelope decided that enough was enough and made a contest that would determine her fate. She said that she would give her hand to whoever could bend Odysseus’s bow and shoot it through twelve axe heads. All 108 suitors tried and failed. Finally Odysseus disguised as an old beggar completed the task and then father and son proceeded to slay all of the 108 of the wicked suitors. Odysseus was once again king of Ithaca and had earned his wife’s hand through the trials that made Homer’s epic one of the most renowned books ever written.

How To Be A Great Guest

2011-04-29T13:04:00.000-07:00

Years ago my cousin and her family of 5 came to visit. This was back in the days where I cleaned for days, made lists of things to do to entertain guest, and planned out the perfect meals. We both had little kids and it was a blast. I spent a ton of time and work getting ready for our guests. Now, when special guests arrive I am much more relaxed and remember it is okay to wait and vacuum after they leave. Along the journey of life, having guest and raising kids I learned some valuable lessons. One important life lesson was taught by my dear cousin.

My cousin gave me a wonderful thank you gift when she visited us. It wasn’t a tangible thank you gift like you may think. It was a gift from her hands and heart. When she was at our home she gave me a thank you gift in the form of offering her gifts. She has the gift of organizing and I do not. She got into my cupboards, cleaned and scrubbed and helped my toss things I thought I needed. I was humbled and so grateful. It meant the world to me.

She then went onto label my cabinets. Yep, she placed titles on each cabinet so we would know what went where. It was awesome. This didn’t take all of our fun time. But it did bond us together, made me smile that they were there and helped our household function better.

Using your talents to bless the family you are visiting can not only be a surprise for them but it will make you feel good too. And it doesn’t have to stop with you. Maybe your son can mow the lawn, your husband change a light bulb or teach their kids how to throw a ball. No matter what it is a thank you gift in the form of the heart is the best kind of all.

Finally, when my cousin left and I went to wipe down the bathroom and clean the sheets I found not sheets at all. She had placed them in the wash. And when I went to scrub the bathroom down I arrived to the greatest thank you gift of all. A sparkling, shiny, spotless bathroom. I actually cried after they left. I didn’t feel worn out and tired. I just felt blessed.

How can you help a Family Cope with Moving?

2011-04-19T16:20:00.000-07:00

Dad came home and gave us all the news. He had been offered a job in someplace called “Flagstaff” Arizona. I remembered hearing a little bit about the state Arizona but knew nothing. After all, I was only in the third grade. But moving? It didn’t sound like an adventure. It sounded tragic. How could we leave our house? I had written my name in the concrete. It was ours. And we knew not only all of our neighbors but had many close friends I can’t remember living without. And what about school? My teacher surely couldn’t live without me or so I thought in my 9 year old mind. I helped her correct papers and I was waiting for the next year when I had hoped beyond hope to get to have Mr. Holgren as my very own teacher. We couldn’t move.
But we did. We no longer live in the era where families stay in one place. Often they are separated by many miles. And friends serve an even greater role. They can become just like one’s family. Moving is a major life change and is stressful for adults and kids alike. There are ways you can help make the transition easier.
Offer your support. Come help clean and pack. Packing can be never-ending. Help the family host a garage sale. Getting rid of stuff can be helpful. Offer the family a gift. More than a card you can give them a special gift to remember. A personalized gift can make all the difference in the world. A personalized frame, blanket with photos, or fresh towels. For the kids pack a fun gift basket full of treats for the trip ahead. Make a DVD of photos of all of you together.
Moving is life altering. It can be especially difficult for kids. Making new adjustments to a new place, new school, new friends, and a new home are all treacherous adjustments for the child experiencing them. Another fun idea is to send a gift basket to their new home. Just think how happy they will be arriving to a basket made of love. We all grow when we are stretched but having others walk us through hard times can make life a whole lot easier. So get moving, and put together a personalized gift for the people you love!

You Gotta Watch!!!

2011-04-01T11:12:00.001-07:00

Google, will you never end the great technological advances?

Watch Gmail Motion today!

Bless Someone Today With A Gift Basket

2011-03-16T13:45:00.000-07:00

I love to give gifts baskets. There is no better feeling for me than giving someone a little something to make life a little brighter. I don’t mean giving a gift basket when you are expected to, at holiday times or birthday celebration. I mean just because. No matter where we are in life the trials get harder and even everyday life can be difficult to manage. So what better way to make life better for someone else than giving them a surprise just because gift basket.
I like most people am on a tight budget, but every time run to Wal-Mart or Target I make sure I hit the clearance isles. I look for those little fun things that could make a family or friends day better with a surprise gift basket made with love.
It doesn’t take much. Candy is always fun gift basket filler, stationary, a little plant, new pencils and pens can all make a gift basket recipient feel loved and cared for. I collect items for several months. Sometimes I really score and find a cool item or two at the dollar store. Alone it may seem just okay but put it together with a theme gift basket and WA LAH you have a wonderful creation. Then I wait. I watch for when I hear a friend having a hard day.
I always keep a few gift baskets on hand. I can find them at garage sales and often they are like new and I always peruse the craft store as well. I put together the basket and write a little note that lets them know I appreciate them.
I love to send my daughter to the door, she rings the bell and we drive off quickly before anyone notices us. Our record is 13 seconds! Try and beat that. I will never know what the reaction is of the people we gave the gift basket was. But I do know one thing, the joy I had in making that basket makes me feel like I am the blessed one. It also helps me forget my own problems and somehow puts life into perspective.
So the next time you get a chance, pause and think of how to bless someone else. A gift basket is only one myriad of ways to make someone else’s day, and life that much better.

I want an iPad2 JUST FOR FUN!!!

2011-03-02T08:43:00.001-08:00

Out of The Box Valentine's Day Challenge

2011-02-11T14:06:00.000-08:00

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. What a wonderful day to celebrate those we love. For the significant person in our lives there may be a heartfelt card, a romantic dinner date, flowers and maybe even a beautiful gift basket full of things to pamper ourselves. This might also be the night where the evening ends with a marriage proposal.

School children will have their Valentine parties where they will exchange their cute Valentine cards. Heart shaped cards will be cut out , glue and glitter carefully placed, along with a special message written and proudly presented to their parents as they get home from school. What a special day!

It is easy to share our love with those closest to us. This Valentine’s Day I would like to challenge us to think a little outside the box. Not everyone feels all warm and fuzzy on this day. In fact, there are many people who find themselves feeling very isolated and lonely. If we take time to look for these people we will find them in all walks of life. You may find them sitting in a nursing home thinking about the loss of their loved one. It may be a spouse who has recently gone through a painful divorce . It may be that single person you know at church who has never found their life partner. It may be that child in your child’s school that just doesn’t quite fit in with the other kids. It may be the family in the house down the street who live in difficult circumstances.

So, my challenge this Valentine’s Day is to find one person who needs to know that someone notices them and thinks they are special. We can find creative ways to show them that we do think they are special. We could go to that nursing home and visit, helping someone to reminisce about their loved one who has passed. We could send a creative gift basket to the person we know will be home alone on Valentine’s Day. It may just be a special card that will make the person or child feel as though they have worth to someone. Maybe the family down the street could use a bag of groceries that has the makings of a special dinner.

Valentine’s Day is all about love. As we share our love with our families, this year let us share our love to just one more person. It may affect someone in ways we will never know.

A Furry Best Friend

2011-02-07T14:46:00.000-08:00

A Furry Best Friend

Our Guest Writer, Gretchen Bell, has written a fun recipe that you can use to share with your best friend. The furry ones, of course.

How Can I Say Thank You To Our Music Teacher?

2011-02-04T17:50:00.000-08:00

What to give your music teacher…………….

Music is a wonderful thing. Walking down Main Street at Disneyland would never be the same without the music playing. A parade would lose its magic without music. A funeral without music would lose its heart. Music shapes our world.

While some people are born with natural talent most of anyone who can play a musical instrument has learned the gift of music from a music teacher. Music teachers are people we all should thank because without music life would be so much different. Music teachers take the time to teach step by step piece by piece always moving a student forward. They inspire and add joy to the world one student at a time.

A music teacher must be patient, creative, and change their teaching style for each student they meet. So how can you thank these wonderful folks? Here are some great thank you gift ideas to give a music teacher.

thank you gift ideas for a music teacher

A biography of their favorite musician (You can find these books at your local book store)

Write a thank you letter pointing out all you appreciate about your teacher and make sure you point out how they have affected your life.

A themed Music Gift is a great thank you gift basket idea for a music teacher (You can find awesome gift baskets on the internet. They specialize in themed baskets and take all the hard work out of it for you. You can find a perfect basket for the musician and they will even deliver.

Write a letter to the editor at your school or local community. There is no greater thanks than announcing it publicly. This costs very little but will mean so much to your instructor. Letting others know what a neat teacher you have will resound over and over again and is one of the highest honors a teacher can receive from his/her student.

If you like to bake make music shaped sugar cookies. This is a great idea for little kids who are taking music lessons. You can find music shaped cookie cutters in almost any craft store. You can decorate them and attach a note saying how special and how much you appreciate your music teacher.

Every music teacher can use a music bag. They always have music and places to go. You can even personalize a music themed bag with your teacher’s name. You can get this done at Planet Gift Baskets as well.

It is a fun to thank your music teacher with a personalized gift or thank you gift basket. The important thing is to remember to say Thank You to those who serve you and your kids.

Saying Thank You To Your Child's Coach is Important

2011-02-01T10:39:00.001-08:00

It’s that time of year again. Summer is fading away, school will soon begin and before we know it the leaves will be falling and autumn will have arrived. I love this time of year. The air is crisp and cool and as the leaves change colors so a new season is determined to begin. It can be a beautiful but busy season for a family with kids.

No long can they sleep in till noon, play video games and chat on face book, endlessly. Pool days and summer time jobs will be replaced with homework and yep sports! Sports are a huge part of our American culture. Parents and grandparents, coaches, spectators, and the players themselves love the competition and work. But let’s face it. It’s not just the kids who work hard.

It’s the mom and dad the take and pick up, help buy shoes, find the perfect cleats, bring snacks on their turn, wash dirty uniforms that get placed in the laundry only hours before the big game and on and on.

So if it had to be said all parents should get a huge thank you gift basket delivered to their door for each season. But we all know if you are a parent, its part of the joy and work of being a mom or dad. But there are those coaches that people want to thank. You watch their dedication to your child and multiple others kids on the field. You know they are standing in the hot sun or cold field when they could be hitting balls or skiing on a mountain with their own family. But instead they are there, rooting, cheering, and training your son or daughter. Are they perfect? For sure not. There are times you know if you could just offer your advice it would go smoother or better? At least is seems that way. But overall you appreciate their dedication and the many hours they volunteer. But as the season ends everyone is tired, and even though you thought about doing something great for the coach you have run out of ideas. Everyone has signed a gifted ball before, given a gift certificate and signed a cared. You want to do something unique. Well, a thank you gift basket is the key. It can be filled with the coach’s favorite treats, a gift card for a night on the town, flavored coffee and even a personalized shirt. The possibilities are just endless. But just think how grateful he will feel long after the games are played when he sifts through the wonderful thank you gift basket that was filled with love and fun from his biggest fans-the parents!

Planet Gift Baskets- Green Ideas for the Planet: Is Working From Home A Greener Choice?

2011-01-13T12:41:00.000-08:00

Planet Gift Baskets- Green Ideas for the Planet: Is Working From Home A Greener Choice?: "A constant debate is going on, is working from home a greener choice? Is it the right choice? Here are few positives and negatives. I'm afra..."

Great 2011 Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for Kids!

2011-01-03T11:46:00.000-08:00

While Valentine's Day gifts for kids use to be cards they received in their school class exchange now a days it is a great opportunity for faraway grandparents or near moms and dads to let their kids know they are loved, appreciated and are extra special people. Why not?
Here are some great 2011 Valentine's Day gift ideas for Kids!
For mom and daughter (s) matching pajamas are a great gift idea. You can often find these on the web and even at your local department store if you are lucky. If you sew what a great project of love and what a fun surprise as well.
A Valentine making gift basket is a great gift for girls and boys alike. You can make your own full of red paper and pretty shaped scissors with glitter and foam art to make their very own beautiful and creative Valentines. Or you can purchase a Valentine making kit in stores or find endless ideas on the web
A really fun idea is to order RED m&m's on from Mars and print your child's name on the yummy candy. How fun and delighted they will be to open a jar full of candy with their very own name on it. It may make them last a little longer and truly melt in their mouths.
An easy and inexpensive idea is to write down all of their chores on tickets you make from card stock. Sign each one and let them know each is given with love. They can redeem these tickets (one at a time) on days when chores feel like too much or they would much rather go to their friends house than feed the much loved dog they begged for. What a fun way to model grace and serving your child. Don't forget to decorate them with red hearts and a bag of candy to go with it.
Make a heart shaped pizza for your kids. Decorate it with pepperoni in the shape of love. This will make dinner more fun and let them know how much you love them.
A great idea is to let your child plan a Valentine date. It needs to be planned in the month of February but let them know it is a parent kid's time. Give them a budget, time frame and let them know you want to spend time with them. Time speaks volumes to kids and will mean the world to them for years to come as well.
No matter what Valentine gift ideas you come up with for your kids remember to have fun and let them know not just on February 14th but each day that you love and cherish them.

Teens and the Perfect Valentine's Day Idea

2010-12-29T11:10:00.001-08:00

Now that the stores have ripped down the plastic snowflakes, retired the waving Santa robot to the warehouse, and replaced those ever so charming ‘sliver bells’ with gigantic half naked babies, you start to get the feeling Valentine’s day is nearing at a rapid pace.

It’s the day teens cower at the thought of handing over a rose or a box of chocolates to their ‘crush’, the day that separates the mice from the men and the girls from the women. Gear up, because every year millions of Americans are just waiting for you to give them a Valentine’s Day gift they can sink their teeth into.

If you’re anything like me that supply of Christmas candy Ol’ Saint Nick dropped into your stocking is long gone, and by this wonderful turn of events we discover a holiday to replenish out stocks of sugar. Whether you are a chocolate hog or a fruity maniac nearly everyone can be delighted with ample helpings of candy!

If you’re not one of those people who enjoy eating half their body weight in sugar, there is hope for you too. Gift baskets! If you have ever had the pleasure of receiving one of these bad-boys you are truly blessed, someone obviously likes you because every new discovery you make while opening these fantastic gifts is like a bit Christmas, or if you’re a bit of a scrooge it is like an entire birthday party in a basket. Love can’t be measure in physical gifts right? It’s the thought that counts… “Those 6 month old dollar store sweet tarts had a lot of thought behind them!”

Yeah… right…

Whether or not you are seething at my opinions, laughing at me, or cursing Aunt Alexis for those sweet tarts, the truth is this, love should be behind every gift you give, Valentines of not. Before you drive off to the mall, credit card in hand, think about who you are giving the gift to. If you have a friend who can’t stand those sweet tarts don’t get them! Expired of not! The thing is, the thought does count, and if you are still reluctant to put aside your favorite sweet and get what Earl’s tummy rumbles for, you don’t deserve the sugar coated happiness that comes on this day!

In the end no amount of candy, Valentine’s Day gifts, of baskets full of happiness can amount to what this day is really about, love for your family, friends, neighbors, and maybe even your special someone.

A Valentine's Day Poem

2010-12-14T12:03:00.001-08:00

It's is that time of the year again. Christmas is over and it is a new year and so now it is time for love to be in the air. Every year I want to do something special for my husband. Of course there are always the old stand buys. You know, the top five Valentines gift Ideas. The first has to be candy. Chocolate to be exact. What man does not love that? The cute little heart shaped boxes fill with enough sugar to please anyone's sweet tooth. Second on my list would be Valentines underwear. You see them in the store and you have to wonder how many men are walking around with little hearts all over their bottoms. Third place has to go to a romantic movie date and if you can afford it the biggest bag of popcorn. The romantic movie is really for you, but by adding the popcorn it makes it seem like it is all about him. The fourth best Valentines gift would have to some kind of sports tickets. And last but not least coming in at fifth would be a beautiful candle light dinner. What man would not love that? Well, don't forget to drop the kiddos off at grandmas or the romantic evening might not be the best idea.

Now all those ideas are great. I mean after all they are my top five favorites. But I use one of them every year, so this year I want to do something different. You see, we are a little tight this year and so I am thinking it is time for something creative. I have to admit that I am not all that poetic, but maybe writing a poem to express how I feel would be inexpensive and something we could share over the years to come.

So here is my first poetry try. Maybe you can do a better job, but what is important is that it is something from the heart. I mean after all isn't that what it is all about. Happy Valentine's Day.
Valentine's Day reminds me
Of the feelings I have
Every time I think of you,
The warms feeling I have
At the sound of your voice
Valentine's Day reminds me
Of the love and comfort I get
From knowing
You are in my life.
Everything wonderful about Valentine's Day
Reminds me of you.
Happy Valentine's Day!

We Love To Give Gift Baskets Just For Fun!

2010-12-07T11:25:00.000-08:00

I like most people am on a tight budget, but every time run to Wal-Mart or Target I make sure I hit the clearance isles. I look for those little fun things that could make a family or friends day better with a surprise gift basket made with love.

It doesn’t take much. Candy is always fun gift basket filler, stationary, a little plant, new pencils and pens can all make a gift basket recipient feel loved and cared for. I collect items for several months. Sometimes I really score and find a cool item or two at the dollar store. Alone it may seem just okay but put it together with a theme gift basket and WA LAH you have a wonderful creation. Then I wait. I watch for when I hear a friend having a hard day.

I always keep a few baskets on hand. I can find them at garage sales and often they are like new and I always peruse the craft store as well. I put together the basket and write a little note that lets them know I appreciate them.

I love to send my daughter to the door, she rings the bell and we drive off quickly before anyone notices us. Our record is 13 seconds! Try and beat that. I will never know what the reaction is of the people we gave the gift basket was. But I do know one thing, the joy I had in making that basket makes me feel like I am the blessed one. It also helps me forget my own problems and somehow puts life into perspective.

So the next time you get a chance, pause and think of how to bless someone else. A gift basket is only one myriad of ways to make someone else’s day, and life that much better.

Gluten Free and How it Affected my Family

2010-12-06T08:36:00.000-08:00

Growing up my sister and I always wanted kids. We would get the winter Sears catalogue and pick out our husbands and kids. It was so much fun dreaming as little girls about our future lives. Time passed and we grew up. Now as adults there are moments we both would relish being little girls again.

We both still love kids. I have 7 and she has 5. She and her husband adopted their last child. He is precious to all of us and maybe even loved in a more deep way because he came to our family in a unique manner. When she had him she received a baby gift basket from me. From the time he was little he had trouble digesting milk. He was slow to grow. Having had 4 other children my sister took this as normal. But as he grew and had other behavior issues and digesting issues she knew something was wrong. She tried giving him protein, taking him off of sugar; she tried everything that came to her own mind. It wasn’t until she saw a specialist who diagnosed my sweet nephew with food allergies. She told my sister their son was allergic to gluten. Laura was relieved and bewildered at once. Gluten-wasn’t it found in most everything? How could her son eat anything? How would they go to dinner or through the drive through after football practice and the gazillion other activities their family often has going on?

They belong to a strong church family. And word soon passed about their son’s food allergies. It was only a day later that a huge gluten free gift basket arrived at her door. It was like a breath of encouragement when she searched through the beautiful basket. It was the beginning of a long journey to understanding what her sons needs were. The best part is the behavioral change she saw in him. Not only did he feel better but his skin was clearer and his teachers commented on his behavior. I must say it is still an unknown daunting issue for me. It is a whole new way to live and eat. I am learning and listening to her and now another dear friend who is also gluten free. Even our kids point out items in the store now that say “gluten free”. I hope that one day I know enough to contribute to his health and give them my own gluten free gift baskets of love.

How To Deal With School Anxiety

2010-09-30T19:35:00.000-07:00

I’ll never forget that first day of school. My family had ripped me away from all my friends and a life that I cherished. Not only would I not know anyone, but I hadn’t even had time to check out the town or walk through my new neighborhood. This was not going to be fun.

I sat there in the third row waiting for the inevitable. It wasn’t like I hadn’t done this before. Every few years my dad would get a new job and away we would go. The sweat was already beading up on my brow. More kids were piling in and soon the teacher would make his appearance. There he was. A big man. This would make it even more unpleasant. Now he was using a ruler to get the attention of the class. Tap, tap, tap. It echoed through my head as I sat dreading the call of attendance. Why did they always have to do this? Why didn’t my parents help me out with this? Here it came. It never took very long since my last name was at the beginning of the alphabet. “Alexander Anderson?” Whew, that kid didn’t have the greatest name either. But, still, it was nothing like mine. Here it came. “Burrrrnnaarrdd?” The sound seemed to echo off the walls as the kids began to burst into laughter. I slumped in my seat. How small could I possibly get? I could hear my voice begin to squeak. “Its pronounce BurrNerd,” I croaked. This elicited another round of laughter and cat calls. “It was my uncle’s name. No one can say Bernard correctly, so you can call me Eric.” It didn’t help. The teacher was somehow taken aback as if the laughter was directed towards him. He wrapped the ruler again to regain attention. I could see him cross out my name and apparently make a note of my “new” name. I wondered what shade of red was on my face as I could feel the heat reflecting off my hands.

You can imagine the difficulty of finding a place to eat lunch after a morning like that. I decided I would try something new. I couldn’t be the only one that was new at this school. OK, I’m taller than most people here so I can get a good look around the cafeteria. There was a kid by himself at a table near the play ground door. He looked like he’d lost his best friend. I bet his parents had made him move too. I went over and sat down next to him. “Hi. My names’ Eric.” I held my head high, put on the biggest smile I could and made believe I was the most popular kid in school. As his head slowly lifted, I could see some color and a cautious smile crawl into his face. Victory, I thought to myself. I would never again think of myself as the lone kid. Instead, I now had the power to conquer the fear and loneliness in others just by being nice to them.

For More Information visit Planet Gift Baskets Resource Center

Massive Egg Recall - August 2010

2010-08-20T09:01:00.001-07:00

Dan Shapley Dan Shapley – Thu Aug 19, 7:14 pm ET

(Photo: FDA)

A massive egg recall by Write County Egg has sickened hundreds of people, and affected 13 retail brands that the egg factory packages. The culprit: Salmonella on egg shells. The egg brands affected by the recall include: Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph’s, Boomsma’s, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms, and Kemps.
Eggs are packed in 6- 12- or 18-egg cartons with Julian dates ranging from 136 to 225 and plant numbers 1026, 1413, and 1946.
Dates and codes can be found stamped on the end of the egg carton. The plant number begins with the letter P and then the number. The Julian date follows the plant number, for example: P-1946 223.
Consumers should not eat the eggs and should return recalled eggs to the store where they were purchased for a full refund.
Bacterial contamination on modern industrial-scale chicken farms (factories, really) is a growing problem. Cramped conditions are breeding grounds for disease. Widespread use of antibiotics is creating drug-resistant strains of bacteria.
One antidote to the problem is to choose locally sourced eggs from farms that allow their chickens to run free. Though be aware that the label "free range" doesn't mean what you might think.
Salmonella poisoning symptoms
Within 6-to-72 hours of eating an egg, you may experience lower abdominal cramps, diarrhea (sometimes bloody), vomiting, fever, chills, malaise, nausea or headache. Symptoms may persist for as long as a week. While most people recover without treatment, some patients require hospitalization.
Among the 21,244 cases of foodborne illness reported from tainted food-related outbreaks in the United States in 2007 (the last year for which data is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), salmonella was the No. 2 cause of illness, causing 27% of foodborne illness outbreaks, including 55% of multi-state outbreaks, and 81 illnesses attributed to salmonella in eggs; five deaths resulted from salmonella-contaminated food. The two biggest foodborne illness outbreaks that year were caused by salmonella, in hummus and frozen pot pies.

Back to School Sales - Make the Most of Them

2010-07-27T08:53:00.000-07:00

At our house we love back to school sales. It's the time where we get to feel like we are getting a great deal. The wonderful think about these sales, is not only will I fill the coffers for my own children's school year, but many times these supplies make great gifts for young children too. Here are my top ten items to stock up on.

Crayons, all sorts. Brand does not matter, anything $.25 cents and under is a major stock up price
Markers and Pencils. $.50 cents and under and we run to stock up.
Scissors, if your house is like mine, it likes to eat scissors and at .25 cents a pop it is worth getting 10
Spiral notebooks, any other time of year and they are well over $1.00 each. At $.15 a pop get 20
Construction paper - I don't think I even need to explain why this is a good buy.
Glue - Oh how much glue a preschooler can use. Add in any crafty prone children and it's a great buy.
Rulers - Cheap to purchase they make great straight lines when drawing.
Tape - So many uses, and children love to use tape on everything
Staplers, Removers and Hole punches, Oh my! It never hurts to have a few and some backups
Notebooks, if you don't buy a couple now, you will wish you did two months in when theirs is already destroyed.

Now how do these make great gifts? I love to buy the pencil boxes when they are under $.25 and fill them with markers, pencils, glue, tape and scissors. Attach to a big bag of construction paper and you have a simple and enjoyable gift for almost any young child. If your really awesome, you will stick in a bag of M&M's and some fancy little stickers. Your gift will be the hit of the party.

Outdoor Heat Beating Fun Ideas

2010-07-26T13:47:00.000-07:00

To beat the summer heat we here at Growing Your Family, sat down with our families and came up with a list of fun things to do that help you cool off. Hope you enjoy! Leave a comment with your favorite ways to cool off.

water balloon toss
water bucket relay
sprinkler dash - make an obstacle course in the back yard, while the sprinklers are running
spray bottle cup fill (have one child with a spray bottle and one with a cup. First group to fill their cup wins.
wash the car, or the neighbors, or the neighbors kids.
water gun wars
make Popsicles
frozen t-shirt relays - you may have to plan ahead, but freeze one t-shirt for every child, and a few for adults. First one to unstick the frozen folded t-shirt and puts it on wins.

We hope you enjoy this hot hot day and take a few minutes to cool off with these fun ideas.

A 10 Minute Break for Mom

2010-07-20T16:41:00.000-07:00

Face it, mom's need a break once in a while. While you may not get a whole hour nap in the afternoon, or even find a minute to use the rest room with the door closed, ALL THE WAY, you can carve out little 10 minute pampering sessions that can extend the wear and tear on your mental state. Here are just a few simple remedies to capture a few minutes of needed revival.

1. Peppermint Foot Soak - Have some fresh peppermint in the garden? Even several peppermint tea bags will work. Boil them for 10 minutes in 8 cups of water. Carry it outside and add another 8 cups of cool water. While the kids are playing, soak your feet in some cooling peppermint water

2. Put on your favorite music and dance with the kids around the living room for a few minutes. Happy music and laughter will serve your soul well.

3. Treat yourself to an outdoor hair washing. Yes, it's simple, and yes, it's very refreshing. A cool hose, on a hot day over just your hair and head will feel wonderful and invigorate your senses.

Potty Training - How does it work?

2010-07-19T14:29:00.000-07:00

Summer time was always my choice for potty training. Since it's summer time I thought I would share my story and how we made it work.
I have potty trained twins, a boy, girls a single baby and a dog. Okay, the dog is a little different but I did train him! For the twins we chose summer time because they could run around in the back yard without a diaper until I could see them pee. Funny thing is, they were just as amazed that they were peeing as I tried to be. One of the first things you need to know as a potty trainee, is what it feels like when you need to go. You can't learn that if you don't know your going. This is why summer time was our choice training time.
The second thing we started was potty charts with rewards. At first each child got a reward for sitting on the potty. Usually a sticker to go on a chart. After three stickers they were rewarded with a fruit snack. Not too many, as they will sit on the potty a lot to earn rewards. After a couple of days of sitting and getting rewards, we worked on peeing to get rewards. Even a dribble got praised and rewarded. It takes awhile, but making it fun to learn, giving rewards and lavishing a lot of praise will make it easier.

Home Made Vanilla Ice Cream

2010-07-16T08:58:00.001-07:00

Not only is ice cream a tasty way to cool off this summer, but making it can be just as fun. First off kids love to eat what they have had a hand in preparing. Secondly, you get to control the ingredients and feel better about what you are feeding your family.

All you need is a ice cream machine, be it electric or the old fashion hand crank. With some milk, heavy cream, egg yolks, sugar and vanilla extract or better yet, vanilla beans, you have the working ingredients for a delicious summer time treat.

Head over to Planet Gift Baskets to find out how to put these simple wholesome ingredients together to make ice cream.

Rhino Toys Inc. Recall

2010-07-06T17:39:00.001-07:00

Keeping you informed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2010
Release #10-260

Firm's Recall Hotline: (877) 887-4433
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

Rhino Toys Inc. Recalls Bead Toy Due to Choking Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
Name of Product: Beado handheld bead play toys
Units: About 5,500
Importer: Rhino Toys Inc., of Santa Cruz, Calif.
Hazard: The toys' plastic wires can detach from the hubs due to insufficient adhesive, allowing the beads to slide off. The loose beads pose a choking hazard to young children.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: This recall involves the Beado hand-held beaded play toy with model number 1501 and date code 02910 04323A. The product measures six inches in diameter and is composed of four blue plastic "hubs", six white plastic "wires" and twelve multi-colored beads that slide along the wires. The model number and date code are printed on the bottom of the packaging and the date code is also inside of the blue hubs (see picture below). Beados that have a date code different than 02910 or have a date code of 02910 and an inspection sticker on the bottom of the packaging and a black mark by the date code inside the blue hub (see picture below) are not included in this recall.
Sold at: Specialty toy and juvenile retailers from March 2010 through May 2010 for about $12.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using this recalled toy and return it to the store where it was purchased to receive a full refund or a replacement Beado hand-held beaded toy.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, please contact Rhino Toys toll free at (877) 887-4433 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.rhinotoys.com

Healthy Oatmeal Cookies

2010-07-06T07:38:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for a food that can be easily transported, last under summer heat and fill the tummy of those little energy balls without spoiling their dinner? Here is our favorite healthy oatmeal cookie. Full of fiber, dried fruits and honey this little cookie will keep them happy until the BBQ is ready.

Healthy Oatmeal Cookies (with Honey)
Ingredients:
Dry ingredients

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups of Rolled Oats
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Nutmeg

Wet ingredients

1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup applesauce
1 Tablespoon Molasses
1 egg (beat with 1 Tbsp Water)
1 tsp Vanilla

Yummy ingredients

1/2 cup mixed dried fruit
1/2 cup walnuts

Preparation:

In a large bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together.
In a medium bowl, mix all the wet ingredients together.
Mix the wet stuff with the dry stuff. Add the raisins and walnuts and mix. If the mixture seems too wet, add a bit of flour. If it isn't binding together very well, you may wish to add an egg white.
COOL the mix for 20 minutes in the fridge. (This causes it to harden like a cookie dough)
Preheat the oven to 335 degrees (lower temperature due to the honey in the recipe which will burn more easily).
Drop by teaspoonfuls onto your baking sheet (I recommend lining the baking sheet with parchment paper). Press down with a fork to ensure even cooking.
Bake for about 15 - 20 minutes or until golden on the bottom of the cookie. The cookies freeze very well and make a great snack! Enjoy.

This recipe was taken from http://www.wholegraingourmet.com, and varied slightly. Our family loved this recipe!

Healthy Summer Pasta Salad

2010-07-05T14:27:00.000-07:00

Elaine Magee, MPH, RD from WebMD recently posted this amazing pasta salad. We tried it out and fell in love. It's a perfect compliment to a hot sunny day when you do not want to cook. Kids love the fresh cherry tomatoes and adults love the whole grain pasta and fresh veggies. Not only is this meal healthy, quick and tasty, it's also quite inexpensive. If you have tomatoes and basil growing in your back yard let the kids pick a few to add to the salad. We didn't have salami, but went ahead and chopped up some peperoni when we tried it. I think it would even taste wonderful without meat. Maybe adding in a few more veggies like broccoli or asparagus would be good too. Elaine did a great job reducing the fat and calories often associated with pasta salads and gave us a great base salad by which we can enjoy a different way each time we make it.

Insalata Caprese (Pasta Salad)

If you boil the pasta in the morning, drain, and let chill in the refrigerator, all you have to do is toss the ingredients together and dinner is served!

4 cups cooked whole-grain pasta blend, cooled
2 cups ripe cherry or grape tomatoes cut in half
8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/3 cup lightly packed fresh basil leaves, cut or torn into bite-size pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt to taste
Ground black pepper to taste
16 slices reduced-fat salami, quartered (optional)

Place all the ingredients in a medium serving bowl and toss to blend well.
Cover and chill in refrigerator until ready to serve.

The Cleaning Power of Baking Soda

2010-07-05T14:20:00.000-07:00

The last stop on our safe and effective cleaning products is baking soda. Soda is a great deodorizer, cleaner and gentle abrasive.

One of my favorite uses for baking soda is in the bathroom. Mix with just a little water to make a paste, and you have a soft abrasive cleaner without any hidden chemicals. It works great to polish sinks, deodorizer toilets and scrub the soap scum out of bathtubs. I also love it in the kitchen sink. Scrubbing the stainless steel or your porcelain sink has never been easier. When your done, run it down the garbage disposal with a lemon peel and your kitchen will smell wonderful.

You can also use baking soda to :

add a deodorizer to your cat litter
clean grout with baking soda and a scrub brush
polish silver
soak burnt on food by add baking soda to hot water
sprinkle over pet vomit after all the major items have been removed, let dry and vacuum.
use to remove crayon from walls and tables

Cleaning with Club Soda

2010-06-28T08:25:00.000-07:00

As part of our miracle cleaning solutions, we have club soda. Now I for one am new to using club soda. I always preferred the run around screaming stomping up the red kool aid with a towel method. Okay, well maybe I didn't prefer it, but that is what I did. Then one day a wise woman grabbed the bottle of club soda and started pouring. I was amazed to see the kool aid come right out. In fact I was so amazed, I took the bottle and started cleaning all the spots in the living room, while the party was still going on. Yes, the things you do when you find a cleaning product that works.

Here are some tips from the club soda pros who have known all about this secret weapon for years.

Don't be afraid to get your carpet really wet. It won't hurt it.
Blot up a spill easily by folding a rag and standing on it. The pressure will help the towel soak up the spill
The carbonation in the soda brings the spill to the top and the salt in the club soda keeps the stain from setting.
Using a dab of club soda works on clothing too, should you spill in a restaurant.

What does Lemon Juice Clean?

2010-06-23T15:32:00.000-07:00

Lemon juice is a natural bleach and disinfectant. Not only that, but it's safe and leaves a pleasant smell.
To make a cleaner in a easy to use spray bottle, you need 2 cups of water, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice 1 teaspoon of borax. You could always add a drop or two of dish soap if you find you need a more sudsy approach. This is an all purpose hard surface cleaning agent. Perfect to hand off to your kids to clean kitchen counters and bathrooms.

One of my favorite uses for lemon juice is cleaning stains off of kids hands. I wish I knew exactly why it works so well, but it does.

Here are a few other handy little tips for using easy to find and inexpensive lemon juice.

Using lemon juice and salt, you can scrub and shine all your pots and pans
Remove rust from clothing
Remove fruit based stains in clothing (a summer helper)
Perfect straight from the bottle as a toilet cleaner

The Wondrous Cleaning Power of Vinegar

2010-06-22T07:46:00.000-07:00

With all the latest "green" cleaning products on the market, and still the laborious task of deciphering exactly what is in those "green" cleaners, why not step back in a time just a little and look at the wonder products of your grandmothers day.

White Vinegar - A true wonder cleaner. Here are just a few things vinegar is good for when you are cleaning.

Spray on vinegar to showers, tubs and sinks. Let sit for 15 minutes. Removes even the toughest soap scum
Add 2-3 tablespoons of vinegar to hot water along with your regular dish washing liquid. Cuts grease on dishes and crystal
Add 1/4 cup vinegar to the washing machine during the final rinse to soften clothes and remove lint from dark clothes!
Apply undiluted vinegar to your skin and let dry. Bugs hate the taste of it and the scent disappears quickly.
Make window cleaner with 1/4 cup vinegar to 1 quart water.
Clean vinyl floors with 1/2 cup vinegar to 1 gallon hot water
1 cup of borax along with 1 cup vinegar in your toilet bowl will have those stains coming off. If you have a stubborn stain, pour vinegar over the spot, sprinkle with borax, and let sit for two hours. Swish and flush, it should be that easy.

Tomorrow the power of baking soda.....

Spending Time With Your Children At The Library

2010-06-22T07:35:00.000-07:00

Summer time is a great time to check out your local library. Many libraries have summer reading programs with prizes going to the family or child that reads the most books or reads out of the most categories. Many times the library will have childrens's programs for differing age groups including teen book groups. This summer grab a book from your local library and hit a nice shady park and read for a bit.

Talking to your Children About the Oil Spill

2010-06-22T07:33:00.000-07:00

This article deals will give you some ideas on how to talk to your child about the oil spill. While families living farther away from the oil spill may not have children who are constantly in contact with it, the news or local paper will catch their attention.

Erin Street wrote a great article on how and why you should talk with your children about it. It can be found at Sunset Magazine or by following this link. How To Talk To Your Kids About The Oil Spill

Five Cleaning Products You Should Never Run Out Of

2010-06-17T18:16:00.000-07:00

This summer with the kids at home running in and out with their friends, the pets running around and the general business of summer, you need these five cleaning products stocked up and ready to use. They are:

White Vinegar
Baking Soda
Lemon Juice
Club Soda
Spot Shot Instant Carpet Stain Remover

You won't have to worry about opening all the windows just to clean the house this summer. All of these products are safe and most importantly, cost effective. Over the next few days we will explore what each of the wonder products can do to help your house stay clean.

Summer Fun In Your Own Back Yard

2010-06-16T13:42:00.000-07:00

Sometimes its the simple things in life that are best. Kids remember a book better when it's read as a family. They enjoy vacation more if mom and dad are laughing and having fun instead of stressed about the next best thing to see and do. It's true about your own back yard too. While many times we go to great pains to save up for the latest and best back yard set, kids enjoy four boards thrown together with a blanket over it that they made better.

Here is a simple activity that you can do in your back yard that will not only keep your kids brains going this summer but is easy for anyone. It's called What is in a Square Foot?

Here is what you need:

4 Pieces of 12 inch string for each person
1 Ruler for each person
Magnifying Glass per person
Pencil and paper

Mark off a square foot by laying down your string in a square pattern. Use your ruler and magnifying glass to measure and see all the interesting things in your square foot. Draw and write about each item you found.
Many times you will find all sorts of bugs, mini plants, small pieces of trash or toys. When your done compare notes. Did anyone find something unusual? Did they find a lot?

It's a simple little activity, but opens the door to so much more. Take time this summer to enjoy your kids and nature.

Is Mom or Dad Addicted to Technology?

2010-06-15T15:43:00.000-07:00

It's a well known thought that pre-teens and teens are highly addicted to all the social media outlets. My Space, Facebook and Twitter are quickly out pacing plain old emails. Texting is a new way of communicating, even in the same room. Yes, that is very sad! Here comes the "but".....but, did you know parents are just as guilty of this addiction? With blackberries that can go anywhere, download email, update facebook and automatically tweet we have become information addicted. What happened to the days when the answering machine caught all your calls while you were out? Go back even farther, what happened when no one was home?
CBS recently covered this topic. Here is the video, that may just convict you. If it doesn't, either your doing a great job keeping your priorities in check or your listening to this video while your tweeting that your on the computer.

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Photo Scavenger Hunt is a Perfect Birthday Game for Teens

2010-06-11T09:23:00.000-07:00

Most of us have been part of a scavenger hunt at one time or another. It's fun and anyone can play. One of the biggest challenges we have as parents of teens and pre-teens is to throw a party with games that they enjoy. Pin the tail on the donkey just doesn't cut it for a 13 year old. Find a limb, a stone and a green item, well it doesn't cut it either.
So here is a new twist on the old scavenger hunt. It really can be done in one of two ways. The first way is to hand out disposable cameras, or have everyone bring a digital camera and have a list of things they need to take pictures of. This can be done in teams, one camera per team and should be done with-in walking distance of the object you want photographed. Here are some ideas:
church building
bell tower
playground
yellow house (or what ever is near)
field
horse
beetle
You get the idea. Customize it to items around your neighborhood.

The second idea will take some parent cooperation but is more memorable and fun. It's called a video scavenger hunt. With a parent driving, and someone recording on a digital camcorder you go around town doing required activities. Here are some examples:
walk through a drive through and order a hamburger
play Chinese fire drill at a red light
get everyone in your group in the shower and turn on the water(dressed of course)
unroll a roll of toilet paper
Get someone to unroll their window and offer them some grey poupon mustard
Order a hamburger with no meat or sauces, then eat it for the camera
Stuff an entire donut in your mouth
Everyone has to climb on a fence and smile for the camera
Run 1/4 mile on a school track, backwards

Have a time limit and when it is all done, everyone meets back for popcorn, or cake and ice cream and watches each teams videos. Everyone wins, because everyone had fun.

The Photo-shop Effect

2010-06-07T09:04:00.000-07:00

In this day and age having a healthy view of your body is important. Letting your children know that the perfection they see in magazines and on advertisements is not real or really even attainable. In the last few years the Hollywood secret has been let out. Every photo released is indeed photo shopped. Understanding this yourself, and imparting this to your children, will help them to have a real understanding of health and beauty. Don't be fooled by the perfect models in a magazine.

Thank you to Diet Health for putting out this video. If you are interested in more of what they have to say take a look at their website.

The Mozart Effect

2010-06-04T09:24:00.000-07:00

Dr. Glenn Wilson on the Mozart Effect. I appreciate Dr. Wilson's views on this subject. It has been well touted over recent years that by having your children listen to Mozart or any classical music you could create a genius child. The studies, while they show it does help, do not prove that to be so. After you watch this video, head over to his site and watch his entire speech. It's educational and easy to understand. Truth be told, enough research has not been complied to prove or disprove this theory. Listening to complex music is good for a child and for the adults too.

Product Recall - GE 12 Cup Coffee Makers

2010-06-01T07:30:00.000-07:00

We here at Growing Your Family feel the need to keep up on product news and recalls that can affect your life. Since we think a majority of our readers drink coffee or at least own a coffee maker we wanted to bring to your attention the latest recall. Here is an excerp from the Consumer Products Website :

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: General Electric®-branded 12-cup digital coffee makers
Units: About 900,000
Importer: Walmart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark.
Hazard: The coffee maker can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: Walmart has received 83 reports of overheating, smoking, melting, burning and fire, including three reports of minor burn injuries to consumer’s hands, feet and torso. Reports of property damage include a significant kitchen fire and damage to countertops, cabinets and a wall.
Description: This recall involves General Electric®-brand 12-cup coffee makers sold in white or black. The digital coffee maker has programmable functions and plastic housing. The GE logo is printed on the base of the coffee maker and the model number is printed on the bottom of the base.

No other models are included in this recall.
Sold exclusively at: Walmart stores nationwide from March 2008 through January 2010 for about $30.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled coffee makers and return the product to any Walmart for a full refund.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Walmart at (800) 925-6278 between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.walmart.com

Helping Your Child Understand History

2010-05-31T10:24:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day, Veterans Day, President's Day they all seem to come and go and many times all we enjoy is having the day off. Why is it that our nation observes these days? What is so important that even in our busy, hectic, never can get everything done, lives we take the day off for anything?

It's important to share with your children the historical reasons why these days are national holidays. Why young men and women still fight for our country and the freedoms we enjoy. Why we pause to honor those who have died for our rights, and who still fight for those rights.

While doing my own research for my children I came across an informative website that breaks information into age appropriate materials. With each idea they present an age appropriate activity to help explain the topics.

Here is one of their ideas taken from the Helping Your Child Learn History - No child left behind act.

Time to Celebrate
Grades 4–5
On quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies is written the phrase “E pluribus
unum,” which is Latin for “Out of many, one.” It is an appropriate phrase
to describe how our country has developed and the many different people
and groups who have made it so great.

What You Need
U.S. coins
Map of the world
Calendar

What to Do
Have your child look at U.S. coins for
the phrase “E pluribus unum.”
Explain that the phrase means “Out
of many, one,” and that it refers to
our country as one nation with many
peoples and cultures. Explain that it
isn’t our families’ ethnic heritages that bind us together as
Americans, but shared democratic values. With your child, talk about the following holidays that are celebrated
in the United States. Look at a calendar and add other holidays, if
you choose. Next to each holiday write (or have her write) when it’s
celebrated and what it celebrates.

New Year’s Day January 1 New beginning
Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday January 15 Birth of a leader
Presidents’ Day Third Monday of February Originally, honored
Presidents Lincoln and Washington; currently honors all U.S. presidents
Memorial Day Last Monday of May War dead
Independence Day July 4 Adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776
Labor Day First Monday of September Working people
Columbus Day Second Monday of October Landing of Columbus in the Bahamas in 1492
Veterans Day November 11 War veterans
Thanksgiving Day Fourth Thursday in November Day of thanks for divine goodness
Christmas Day December 25 Birth of Christ

Summer Fruit Salad with Spinach

2010-05-27T17:40:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things to eat during the summer is salad. After awhile though, a green salad can get kind of boring. With all the beautiful fresh fruits you can buy at your local farmers market, salads can take on a whole new dimension. Kids who won't touch a savory salad, will gulp down with delight the sweet fruits that adorn this salad.

Ingredients

4 cups baby spinach leaves - rinsed
1 cup sliced strawberries
1/2 cup sweet blueberries
1 mango, peeled and diced
2 kiwi, peeled and sliced

Mix the spinach and fruit with this amazing poppy seed dressing found on Planet Gift Baskets.

I hope you will enjoy this salad as much as we do!

Nature-Deficit Disorder

2010-05-24T14:34:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity recently to attend a seminar by Richard Louv. He was here in town talking about his recently published book Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. Louv has traveled around the country talking with parents, like myself, about the dangers of video games, computer time and watching too much T.V.

When I was growing up, we got about 3 channels, no vcr, dvd's, dvr's and the hottest game console was the Atari. I spent most of my waking hours playing outside with friends, my pets, or my imagination. Richard Louv and his research has confirmed that being outdoors is more stimulating then even the fastest game console or computer animation tools.

It doesn't require much effort to get your children outside playing with their friends. Just call the families and tell them to kick all the kids out for the afternoon. Let them sit around feeling sorry for themselves. It won't be long before someone picks up a stick and starts using their imagination. Your children will find much more satisfaction in their spare time and much less in their non interactive t.v. Get in to nature with your children by going camping, taking a walk with a park, or head to a national park where they can climb around on rocks, wade in the creek and explore nature for themselves.

You if want to learn more about Richard's book and his studies go to his site and read up on his research.

Father's Day Gifts

2010-05-22T21:32:00.000-07:00

Father's Day is fast approaching and it's time to think of gifts dad might enjoy. While no dad will turn down a day of non-stop game action, or golfing guilt free, why not put your heads together this year and see what kind of gift you can give dad that will be memorable.

Dad's love everything from food to hobbies. Why not try and combine both. Is dad a fisherman? Make him a gift basket full of gummy worms along with some new fancy flies. Add dad's favorite sports drink, some jerky and he will be ready for his next big trip.

Is your dad an avid huntsman? Find some jelly bean bullets, venison jerky, scent screen and a new camouflage hat. Add to a gift basket that can double as a carry all and see dad's eyes wide with excitement for the next big hunt.

If your still out of ideas, check out some of these gift baskets that give dad a reason to put his feet up and take the day off with his favorite kids.

Book Review - Clock without a Face

2010-05-18T08:29:00.000-07:00

This book is a family must have. Especially if you and your children enjoy treasure hunts. While Where's Waldo and Search Puzzle books all have meanings hidden within their pages, this book has clues to real life treasures. Sure it's a book for children, it appeals to children with it's features. However the authors hit it on the nail when they created this book because it has the adult world flocking to read it. Buried in twelve very real places are genuine emerald studded numbers. If you happen to be able to solve the puzzle and find one of these numbers you get to keep it. The only way to find them is to solve the problems in "The Clock without A Face".

Enjoy!

Gifts For Your Child's Teacher

2010-05-17T19:46:00.000-07:00

As the school year comes to an end you may be thinking about those thank you gifts you can give your child's teacher. While no teacher will turn down gift cards to their local coffee shop or supply center sometimes it's nice to give them something memorable. Here are a few unique and personalized gifts you can give.

Painted flower pot with herbs or flower

Handmade note cards with a book of stamps

Scrapbook of the activities and children in the class.

Gourmet snacks

Handwritten thank you note from you and your child

Photo key chains

A plant for their yard that will come back each year

Most teachers will tell you that a sincere thank you note is all they really want or need. Teachers give so much to our students every day and sometimes they just don't feel appreciated by their students or their parents. Take time this year, no matter what your budget, and write a little note thanking them for caring for your child.

Gluten Free Father's Day Gifts

2010-05-17T08:33:00.000-07:00

I know in our family sometimes it's hard to find gifts that dad can enjoy since he is sensitive to gluten. While we are getting better at making some great tasting food the whole family loves, we have also been able to find food gifts that he enjoys. Here are a few of our favorites.

This basket is filled with some great gluten free products and includes :

Lucy's Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate Wafer Cookies
Gluten Free Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Cary's Of Oregon English Chocolate Toffee Box
Honey & Chocolate Bar
Gluten Free Chocolate Truffle Brownie Mix

Dad will love this white chocolate pear sauce over his favorite fruits or gluten free desserts. The ingredients are simple and gluten free.

Premium Guittard White Chocolate
Pure Vanilla
Agave Nector
Chardonnay Grape Juice
Natural Pear Flavor
Sugar

The Wisconsin Morning Homemade Gluten Free Bakery Pack
is available on Amazon and is made in a gluten free certified bakery. You won't have to sacrifice on taste with these treats. Dad is sure to love them.

Product Review on Betty Crocker's Gluten Free Mixes

2010-05-14T08:18:00.000-07:00

Check out our sister blog for a review on Betty Crocker's Gluten Free Brownies. One of our moms recently made these brownies and her whole family was fooled. It goes to show that we have come a long way in producing products that are good for you, especially people with allergies, and yet the whole family enjoys.

While your there you might give her some feedback on your own samplings of gluten free foods.

Explore Your Children's Interests With Them

2010-05-12T20:07:00.000-07:00

A great way to spend quality time with your children is by taking an interest in the things they feel passionate about. For my children it is music. More specifically their stringed instruments. Just listening to my kids practice gives them such confidence. At times I interact with their instruments, much to their delight. They love seeing mom try to do something they do with ease. Since my kids are young taking them to the music store to see the more expensive instruments, asking questions and exploring the things they can add is a great way for me to get involved with their passion.

If you child loves animals, a trip to the shelter might encourage them. If your child enjoys cooking, finding a recipe and cooking it together will give you some good quality time together. What if your child finds that books are their enjoyment? Read the same book and have your own book club at home. It's fun to find a common ground with your kids and keep the lines of communication open.

Sneaking Veggies into Your Kids Favorite Foods

2010-05-11T14:11:00.000-07:00

Here are some great ways to hide those veggies for even the pickiest of our eaters.

1. Grate carrots into your child's favorite muffin recipe.

2. Chop zucchini, corn, carrots or cauliflower fine and add to spaghetti. Cover with marinara sauce.

3. Juice a carrot, stalk of celery and apples for a veggie juice drink.

4. Lots of veggies can hide in meatloaf. Chop finely and no one will no the difference.

If you are a lucky parent and your child loves salad, almost any fresh veggie can be chopped and added to the mix.
If your child loves to dip his apples, try giving him carrots, sugar snap peas, broccoli and cauliflower to dip in ranch instead.
Mac cheese is a favorite among the children in our family, by adding peas and chopped broccoli they will never notice the taste.

Birthday Gifts for Pre-Teens

2010-05-07T12:34:00.000-07:00

I used to think that buying gift for young kids was hard. Now that I have two pre-teens I see I was wrong. We just recently held a birthday party for our 12 year old twins. For weeks we begged, pleaded and hinted for them to give us gift ideas. When all else failed, I gave them money. They were sure they didn't want me picking out their clothes. They laughed at any thought of toys I considered.
I realize now, that I better start preparing for their next birthday. To my readers I ask, I plead, tell me what your pre-teens and teens love. Have you found something or someway of purchasing gifts for them they like? I know I used to be a teen, but I also know I enjoyed cash more then anything since as a teen your always in short supply.

Children's Medicine Recalled

2010-05-03T08:55:00.000-07:00

Children's cold, allergy medicine recalled

By the CNN Wire Staff

May 1, 2010 5:23 p.m. EDT

A child receives drops of Children's Tylenol after getting a vaccination.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Children's Motrin, Tylenol among drugs being recalled for failing to meet quality standards
Recall not based on adverse health effects, company says
Drugs were made in United States, distributed to other countries

(CNN) -- A voluntary recall has been issued for more than 40 over-the-counter drugs for children, including Tylenol and Motrin, because they don't meet quality standards.
"This recall is not being undertaken on the basis of adverse medical events," McNeil Consumer Healthcare said in a statement Friday. "However, as a precautionary measure, parents and caregivers should not administer these products to their children."
FDA commissioner Margaret Hamburg gave a similar recommendation in a statement Saturday, saying, "we want to be certain that consumers discontinue using these products," though she called the chance for serious health problems "remote."
"Some products in the recall may have a higher concentration of active ingredient than specified while others may have inactive ingredients that don't meet testing requirements, the company said.
The company said it issued the recall after consulting with the Food and Drug Administration. The affected brands include: Tylenol Infants' Drops, Children's Tylenol Suspensions, Children's Tylenol Plus Suspensions, Motrin Infant Drops, Children's Motrin Suspensions, Children's Zyrtec Liquids in Bottles and Children's Benadryl Allergy Liquids in Bottles.
The drugs were made in the United States and distributed to Canada, the Dominican Republic, Dubai, Fiji, Guam, Guatemala, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago and Kuwait.
"There are a number of other products on the market, including generic versions of the recalled products, which are intended for use in infants and children and are not affected by the recall," the FDA said Saturday in issuing guidance to parents.

More details are available by calling 1-888-222-6036 or visiting McNeil's website.

Warning Signs That Your Child is Being Bullied

2010-04-29T08:16:00.000-07:00

As parents it is our job to make sure our children feel safe and can grow in the environment they are in. Part of raising excellent children is knowing the different ways our children express themselves. Some children will openly tell you if something at school or church is bothering them. Others will internalize their emotions causing them to act out. It is our job, as hard as it is, to unlock their hearts and get them to feel comfortable opening up to us. There are signs that even your child may not really understand that let you know something is wrong. Today we will concentrate on bullying. What are the signs that your child may be being bullied?

1. They seem anxious or nervous to go to school. We are not talking about first day jitters or test anxiety here. This would be a child who enjoyed school, or looked forward to seeing friends at school that suddenly or over a short period of time becomes an anxious child. This should be a warning flag. If your child will not speak up, or maybe they don't understand themselves, it's time for you to talk with their teacher. Remember it's not always children who bully. If you get an answer you feel is weak, it's okay to go higher and talk to the principal.

2. Suddenly losing interest in school or activities. This child was always eager to get to school or church or after school activity. Now they waste time, start moving in slow motion or otherwise drag their feet, often arriving late. This should be a big warning sign. When a child's personality changes over a certain activity or all activities it's time to step in. Again if your child will not open up to you, you will have to either stay and observe or start talking to the adults in direct supervision of your child. This is not just becoming a teen and mismanagement of time, this is purposeful forgetting or stalling.

3. Eating inconsistencies should be another huge warning sign. This seems to happen over a short period of time where a child's eating habits show a significant change. Eating to sooth and comfort themselves, or not eating because they are nervous and nauseated. If left to itself it could turn into an eating disorder. If you are concerned talking to your family doctor may help. Children go through growth spurts and odd eating tendencies frequently. However, if your child's personality is also changing, or they seem consistently ill it's time to get it checked out.

4. Trouble sleeping or having nightmares should raise your flag again. These symptoms are often related to anxiousness and nervousness. This could be the result of bullying at school.

5. If your child starts becoming sick often or seems to have an unusual amount of headaches these should not be ignored. Sit down with your child and have a heart to heart. If your child will not open up to you, it is time to step up and look around. Talk to other adults in the child's life. If your child has a huge resistance to this it's time to put down an ultimatum. Either your child talks to you, or you will talk to friends and teachers to find answers.

Being bullied by a teacher, adult or child is not acceptable. Just because it was in school when you were, or the saying "there is always a bully deal with it" does not make it okay. Yes, bullies have always and will always be around. Bullies have problems too. They should be looked upon with sympathy and helped too. This however does not give them a free ticket to hurt other children so that they may feel better about themselves. If your child will not open up to you, you must step up and take measures to find out what is going on. It is your duty as a parent to let your child learn and grow in a healthy environment. Nothing is ever perfect, but an ongoing issue should be addressed quickly.

Bedroom Makeovers in No Time

2010-04-28T08:58:00.000-07:00

Do your kids hate cleaning their rooms? Do you find it difficult to be inspired in your own room? One day a month take some family time to clean each others rooms. There are two ways to go about this. Every one pitches in and cleans every ones bedroom. Together go to the bedroom needing help and every one has a job. Change sheets, Make Bed and Arrange stuffed animals. Put all toys away in proper places, and wipe down furniture. Hang up clothes, take down dirty laundry. Garbage duty, pick up garbage and empty garbage cans. Vacuum and dust. Before you know it every ones room will be clean and you will have worked together to achieve this.
The second way to go about this, if your rooms are too small or you just would like to change it up is to have every one in the family clean someone else's room. Meaning, mom and dad, one of the kids cleans yours. Now you can have rules that say beds, toys, garbage only. This keeps older kids from feeling their personal items, clothing and desks will be taken out of their unique way of sorting things. Sometimes it's easier to clean someone else's room then your own.

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

2010-04-26T09:11:00.001-07:00

If this doesn't effect you, I don't know what will. This generation of children we are raising is on it's way to becoming the first generation of children that will not live as long as their parents. Pretty scary thought if you ask me. Why is it? With the U.S becoming number one in highest percentages of heart disease, obesity and diabetes our diet is destroying us.
Jamie Oliver is well known for many things, but his number one goal was to change the way children in Britain ate. He succeeded and now he has come to the U.S to take on the school lunch programs and the towns restaurants and homes.. He has started with Huntington, West Virginia - which has been called the unhealthiest city in America. Jamie's show Food Revolution will take you behind the scenes of our school breakfast and lunch programs to see what we are really feeding our children. It will open your eyes, break you heart, and hopefully cause you to stand up and make a difference. He has a petition you can sign on his website that says "I support the Food Revolution. America's kids need better food at school and better health prospects. We need to keep cooking skills alive." Show your support here. If you need more information watch Jamie Oliver's Trailer here.

National No TV Week April 21-26th

2010-04-21T18:26:00.000-07:00

A great event that wasn't running when I was a kid is National turn off your TV week. Of course maybe when I was a kid I wasn't watching as much tv as kids today either. So, why do we have a national no tv week? In todays information overload and technologically rich society many adults forget that they didn't grow up with all the screen time. There were no computers, video games, and endless cartoon networks. If you got up early on Saturday you might be lucky to catch a few cartoons, and then you were off to run around the neighborhood or entertain yourself with your imaginary army. When everyone sits in front of the TV to be entertained it cuts in to social interaction with family members and friends. Now, movies once in a while are fine, but they should be a treat, not the norm. National No TV Week is doing just that. Helping today's families see that there are many things you can do with your family and friends that do not involve the TV.

Will you participate?

Check out some great ideas at the Screen Time - Turnoff Week website. This website also several different links to some pretty hard to swallow data. Check out the Screens and Young Children article. While this site seems to be a little outdated, the forums are still going strong so check them out while you are then and chat with other parents about No Tv Week ideas.

Target Stores Working On Making A Greener Place for You to Shop

2010-04-19T08:24:00.000-07:00

In honor of Earth Day, many store have been publishing what they are doing to go green. Our recent find was Target. Here are a few things they are doing to lessen their carbon footprint.

Reduction of overhead lighting from 4 lamps to two in over 500 stores.
LED lights are now being used in store signs resulting in a 40% improvement per case.
20 Million miles and 3 million gallons of fuel were saved in 2009 by loading the Target trucks smarter
21 stores in California and Hawaii have solar panels that generate 15-20% of the store's energy needs.

When it comes to conserving water, Target is right there leading the way.

By using ultra low flow hand washing faucets in their new stores they are using 80% less water.
Using Smart Irrigation reduces the amount of water needed to maintain landscape
270 acres of storm water retention ponds have been created to capture the runoff from their stores nationwide.

Also be in line this week to receive a free reusable bag at Target stores. 1.5 million will be given away. Not able to get to the stores? Send in 5 target plastic bags and receive a coupon for $1.00 off a reusable bag making it less then $.50 cents.

Head over to Target.Com/Eco-friendly to find out more about Targets bid to go green.

Free Starbucks today April 15th 2010

2010-04-15T06:57:00.000-07:00

Join the movement. On April 15th, bring a reusable travel mug into your local Starbucks and get a free brewed coffee.

One person can save trees, together we can save forests.

For the good of the planet, Starbucks is encouraging everyone to switch from paper cups to reusable travel mugs. One day in March thousands of New Yorkers made the switch. Join them now by taking a pledge to do the same.

Check out Starbucks Website Here The Big Picture and see what you can do to make a difference.

Slider or Zipper? What food storage bag is better?

2010-04-14T20:07:00.000-07:00

It's no secret people have their favorites. Depending on what you use your food storage bag for, I bet you have your favorite brand too. While I have used many different brands the only difference I have found was how well the seal worked. I have used my food storage bags to seal up cheese, store spaghetti sauce or hold messy berries.
I love food storage bags for other things too. In our craft drawer I have little googly eyes, ribbons, stickers and patches stored in them. I even have used them to store my sewing notions in instead of letting them float around my sewing basket. While it doesn't really matter what brand or style I choose for things like this, I have found that the zipper bags work much better then the slider version. In many name brand and store brands I have broke many sliders before I even got anything in the bag.
Another non-food way of using the storage bags is for traveling. I love knowing that if my perfume spills, it won't get all over my toothbrush. On the same hand, if my toothbrush is not dry, it won't make all the make up containers wet. Just recently we packed some liquid benadryl for the kids along with a few other medicines. The lid was not tight enough and leaked all over the other contents. Thankfully it was in a separate bag and didn't get all over the clothing. I love my zipper bags. What have you used yours for?

New BPA warning for Families

2010-04-14T13:03:00.000-07:00

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) recently updated their position on Bisphenol A widely known as BPA, which is used in clear plastic bottles and in many linings of food and beverage cans. They now say their may be reason for concern about the health risks BPA poses to unborn children as well as infants and young children.
Consumer Reports resident toxicologist Urvashi Ranagan Ph.D. believes they have enough proof to ban all products that use BPA.
So if your a cautious mom or dad, what bottles and drink containers are safe? Evenflo makes glass bottles that have never contained BPA and are easy to find in many stores. Gerber also makes a clear plastic bottle that is made out of polypropylene, which is BPA free. For yourself and your older children check out this article from Good Housekeeping. They tested 32 water bottles and brought you the results. It available on line here.
I found the article helpful. Not only do they give you the pros and cons of all bottles but choose bottles in all price ranges. When your on a budget, and who isn't nowadays, having these helpful reviews gives you the knowledge you need to purchase the safest and most functional bottle for your family.

Spending Quality Time with Your Children

2010-04-08T08:28:00.000-07:00

A great way to carve out some time with your children is to start a garden with them. This garden does not need to be huge in any sense. A small 3x3 raised garden bed planted with tomatoes, strawberries, carrots and squash will provide hours of enjoyment for both you and your child. All of these items are easy to grow and with the exception of carrots can be found at your local gardening center already started and ready to plant.
Teaching your child to pull out the weeds that can choke out your growing plants is a great lesson in protecting their own growth from things that can hurt them. Depending on the age of the child you can include talks about how drugs or smoking can damage your body in a way such as a weed takes away from the plant that bears fruit.
If you set aside one hour a week to spend with your child in the garden, you will instill a love of nurturing a plant and of continued communication between yourselves.

Get Paid To Recycle

2010-04-06T15:06:00.000-07:00

I ran across an article in the paper about a company that gave money incentives to their garbage customers that recycled more. I ran off to the Internet to Google this company and find out if they were in our area. After all who couldn't use a few more dollars in this economy.

Recycle Bank is not available in my town, but it may be in yours. News is they are expanding every day. Bad news for me, they started on the East coast and I am on the West. Good news, they pay you in points to redeem for gift cards to Starbucks, ACME, Target, Petco, Bed Bath & Beyond and smaller business in your community. The more you recycle the more you get paid. A special monitoring system on your personal recycling can measures how much you have recycled. They don't stop there, shop greener and earn even more points. Choosing greener products for your home will boost your point levels even higher.

Check out the website and put in your request. Maybe soon it will be here so I can use it too. I know it would encourage me to be more conscientious in recycling.

Easter Recipes

2010-04-03T10:12:00.000-07:00

Do you need to gain 10 pounds? I didn't think so. I stumbled across this awesome website from Duncan Hines. Full of amazing dessert recipes and baking tips and even a club that will save you money you can't go wrong checking this out. Just looking at this site caused me to gain some weight.

My favorite I found here was their Extreme Fudgy Peanut Butter Brownies.

Ingredients Baking Instructions

* 1 box Duncan Hines® Milk Chocolate Brownie Mix
* 2 large eggs
* 1/4 cup water
* 1/2 cup vegetable oil
* 1 cup milk chocolate chips
* 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
* 3/4 cup peanut butter
* 1/4 cup butter, softened
* 2-4 tablespoons cream
* 1 tub Duncan Hines® Creamy Home-Style Milk Chocolate Frosting

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 13x9 inch baking pan; set aside.
2. Prepare brownie mix as described on box using eggs, water and oil. Fold in 1 cup of milk chocolate chips. Spread evenly into prepared pan.
3. Bake in center of oven for 25 to 28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out almost clean. Place on wire rack.
4. Add peanut butter and butter in a mixing bowl and mix thoroughly until combined and smooth. Note: You will get a much taller filling if you whip this with an electric mixture to incorporate lots of air.
5. Slowly add powdered sugar, mixture will be a bit crumbly.
6. Blend in cream until mixture is fluffy and reaches desired spreading consistency.
7. Spread evenly over warm brownie.
8. Melt Duncan Hines Milk Chocolate Frosting for 30 seconds in the microwave. Stir and put back in for another 10 – 15 second. Pour over peanut butter spread on the brownies. Use a knife to spread the chocolate evenly.
9. Put in refrigerator for an hour to set.
10. Take out and let the brownie sit in room temperature for about 15 minutes before serving.

Ideas for Spending Quality Time With Your Kids

2010-04-02T23:21:00.000-07:00

I realize that when I was a child we always sat at the dinner table together. Mom was always working away in the kitchen late in the afternoon. We knew it was time for dad to be home when our mom asked us to set the table. My children today have no idea what setting the table really means. Back in my childhood, setting the table required table clothes, centerpieces, proper table settings, plates and salad bowls. Such a far cry from what I require of my children. We're lucky to get forks all the same size. It's a really good day if they remember the paper napkins plopped down in the middle of the table.

A year ago I got very "susie homemakerish", yes I know that is not a word. I decided that we should teach our children how to set a proper table, and enjoy it. Wow, what an eye opener for all of us. It took us a good hour to prepare the table, put all the food into dishes and find a center piece worthy of the 1940's. All of that preparation and we were done in less then 15 minutes. Another hour to clean up and I wasn't sure I appreciated doing all that work.

One thing I did learn, is that spending time with my children to build those family dinner memories is worth the effort. My table may not be a Better Homes and Garden cover page, but you can bet we will try to bring back dinners together, where we talk and listen and enjoy each other.

Easter Activities with your Family

2010-04-01T23:53:00.000-07:00

I got my Family Fun Magazine in the mail the other day. I always love this magazine because it is full of great looking families spending time together doing everything from reading, biking to creating.

With Easter just around the corner, how about checking out their website http://familyfun.go.com/easter/ for some great Easter crafts, games and foods. Spend some time hanging out with your kids this year. Remember it's not about being able to get tons of candy. It's about spring and growth and also a perfect time to share your creations with the neighbors.

Easter Desserts Gallery
Hop to it with this collection of cakes, cupcakes, and other sweet treats that will make the Easter Bunny proud.
View the Gallery

Spending Time with your Children

2010-03-29T14:03:00.000-07:00

Have you ever asked your children what they dream of becoming? Have you ever sat and listened to their dreams? Do they want to become a doctor, an astronaut, a mom? Many times my children will come to me and out of the blue will say, "mom someday I'm going to be a scientist." Usually I nod my head and mutter an approval. However one day I decided to sit down and really listen to what my kids had to say about what they wanted to do when they got older. After all many a great man had the dream to do something wonderful when they were little and encouraged to follow that dream.
Take an hour today and listen to your children's dreams. If they don't have a dream, imagine one with them. Tell them what you dreamed of being when you were little. What stopped you. How did your dreams change. Support, encourage and take an hour to dream with your children.

Quality Time with your kids one hour at a time -3

2010-03-24T11:33:00.000-07:00

If you have girls, it's time to have a tea party. No fancy dresses needed, just a happy attitude, tea or water and cookies. Crackers or cheerios will do in a pinch. We going for some good quality interaction here. Teach your little one how to have a fun tea party, complete with British accents, gossip and clean up time.

If you have boys or a mixture sometimes they will go for the whole tea party thing, and sometimes you will just have to have hot wheel races across the kitchen floor.

Spending an hour at your child's level will give them a sense that mom or dad is never to busy to hang out with me. Let your child know you enjoy them.

Spending Time with Your Family - 2

2010-03-23T09:34:00.000-07:00

To find an hour to spend with your child can be forever a rewarding gift given to them. Each hour you invest in your child will give you one more cord in the bond between you. Today find that hour and take your child to the play ground. Instead of chatting with friends or sitting on the side, get involved. Run around playing tag. Do you know that most playgrounds have treasure hunts. Find out if your play equipment has one, and participate with your child.
If your children are older, play a game of basketball. If your like me and not so hot at hoops, play around the world or HORSE.
If your kids are teens and can't imagine being seen with their parents, offer to take them to the mall and shop with them. Remember, your trying to spend at least one hour of one on one time with your child. No matter what you do, the one on one interaction will be good quality.