PASS THE PROZAC

Talk To Your Baby And Build Their Language And Literacy Competency

2013-03-25T17:54:00.001-07:00

As crazy as it may sound, developing children's literacy skills actually begins during pregnancy. Yes, I'm serious. Many researchers believe that the first step in language development begins when mothers talk to their babies while they're still in their bellies. Most also believe that babies get used to the sound of their mother's voice and that when a baby is born, that familiarity lends itself to quicker recognition and a fast bond after birth.

Naturally, after a baby is born it is very helpful to them for their parents to continue speaking, not only around them, but TO them as well. Babies will start to recognize sounds and get to know gestures and facial expressions. Babies learn so much from the sights and sounds around them and will in time begin to try to imitate the sounds their parents make. This is all part of the process of babies figuring out how we, as humans, communicate with each other. They will start to recognize how we relay information to each other in narrative form and begin to learn how to do that themselves.

You'll start to see a child's story-telling skills emerge in their early speech/toddler days when they launch into those long, animated baby monologues. You can't help but listen intently to these stories they tell and do your best to follow along because the child is so excited in relaying the details to us. It is very much like watching a soap opera on the Spanish channel. If you watch it long enough, you begin to follow the story, even if you don't understand a word of it. That is the power of the narrative and the baby has learned that skill from watching us and listening to us.

Parents should use every opportunity throughout the day to talk to their baby about anything and everything. It's a great way to build up the babies' early literacy foundation. When washing the dishes or making dinner or cleaning up, parents can explain the tasks they are doing to their baby. Babies will begin to hear familiar words if the parents are in the habit of doing this frequently. And I'm not talking about "goo-goo-gah-gah" here. Actually speak real words to your child...like you would to any other person. "Baby talk" like that drives me crazy.

Experts suggest that parents speak properly to their children so that the child can have the most possible exposure to the correct sound of words. For example, if a child has their own "baby word" for banana, and the parent constantly uses that "baby word" back to the child, they are only reinforcing the incorrect pronunciation.

Even if a parent sometimes uses their babies' pronunciations of words (and seriously sometimes it's so darn cute, you can't help yourself!), the important point is that the child is being talked to frequently throughout their day. It is an essential building block of language, and therefore literacy, development.

And of course, IT IS NEVER TOO EARLY TO START READING TO YOUR CHILD!

Usborne Books and More (of which I am newly and Independent Consultant) has so many wonderful books for babies!

Please take some time to check out my site and also LIKE my Usborne page on Facebook - I'll be sharing literacy tips, book recommendations, sales, specials and giveaways!

MYO: Orange Vinegar Cleaner

2013-03-24T19:00:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago, a friend on Facebook (I don't remember who) posted a picture of a mason jar full of orange peels (I don't remember from where) with instructions on how to make Homemade Orange Vinegar Cleaner.

Just the day before a friend (I actually remember who) had given me a gigantic mason jar that I had high hopes of doing something cool with. We also had a huge bag of oranges in the refrigerator, so I knew that Homemade Orange Vinegar Cleaner and I were meant to be.

The instructions were simple: 1) Place orange peels in a jar. 2) Fill jar with white vinegar. 3) Put lid on jar. 4) Let jar sit for 20 days. 5) Pour liquid into bottle. 6) Clean with it.

So...that's just what I did.

I'm no stranger to cleaning with vinegar. I've been using it for years for a variety of things (Mental Note: Write post about the many uses of vinegar.). But this, adding orange peels to vinegar, was completely new to me.

20 days later I am pleased to report that my Homemade Orange Vinegar Cleaner is marvelous. It smells fantastic and works really, really well. I'm loving it!

We had a bunch of grapefruits that had been hanging out in the fridge for longer than I care to admit, so after I bottled my cleaner, I cleaned out my giant mason jar, filled it with grapefruit peels and vinegar and it's sitting on top of my kitchen cabinets waiting for it's day to come (which is April 11th, in case I forget).

Honey Bunches of Oats Tropical Blends Review + Giveaway

2013-03-12T07:46:00.001-07:00

My family is comprised of a bunch of cereal killers. As quickly as cereal comes in to this house, it is gone. Once a new box of cereal is opened, it doesn't stand a chance for more than 48 hours.

Who can blame us? Cereal is the mother of all quick and easy hunger solutions, be it 7 o'clock in the morning or 7 o'clock at night...or any time before, between or after.

Seriously? Who doesn't love cereal?

I'm pleased to be able to introduce you to the newest member of the Honey Bunches of Oats Family, Tropical Blends:

Honey Bunches of Oats Tropical Blends Cereal is truly a unique taste bud experience with crispy mango flavored flakes, real coconut shavings and coconut flavored granola clusters. It has 10g of whole grain per serving and 9 essential vitamins and minerals, including 60% daily value of iron.

Here's the best part about this cereal: Most kids aren't gaga over coconut and mango (my own included) which means.......more for Mom!

I'd love for you to try New Honey Bunches of Oats Tropical Blends too! I'm giving away (2) coupons each for a FREE box of any Honey Bunches of Oats Cereal! Simply leave me a comment and tell me what your all-time favorite cereal is and you'll be entered to win! Be sure to include your email address so that I can contact you if you win.(Ends March 19th at noon)

LIKE HONEY BUNCHES OF OATS ON FACEBOOK

**I was provided with a free box of Honey Bunches of Oats Tropical Blends Cereal in order to review it. No monetary exchange took place. As always, all opinions expressed are my own.**

Purex Facebook Exclusive

2013-03-08T19:03:00.000-08:00

LIKE PUREX ON FACEBOOK and sign up for access to special savings PLUS get entered to win a FREE washer & dryer from Purex & Whirlpool!

Shop special savings on appliances from Whirlpool Corporation. Sign up between
March 4 - March 29, 2013 for access to exclusive promotions and special
appliance deals.

Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer of major household brands including Whirlpool®, KitchenAid®, Maytag®,
Jenn-Air®, Amana® and Gladiator Garageworks®.

PLUS everyone who signs up will be entered for a chance to win a free washer & dryer with pedestals!

Dry Idea Advanced Dry Review + Giveaway

2013-03-04T10:19:00.000-08:00

The secret to life? Never let them see you sweat. With New Dry Idea AdvancedDry brand antiperspirant and deodorant, they never will. Dry Idea AdvancedDry offers long-lasting odor protection for up to 72 hours and Pulse Activated Wetness Protection to keep you dry and feeling clean and confident all day long. And it's formulated with Vitamin E for silky smooth application.

Dry Idea provided me with a full size Fresh scented roll-on antiperspirant & deodorant to try and review. I'm always excited to try out a new product (especially when it's free!), but I have to be honest, I wasn't crazy about using a new deodorant. I really liked the deodorant I was already using...so much so that it's the same brand I've been using since high school AND I'd never used a roll-on deodorant before. I guess my antiperspirant attitude was "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Truthfully, it never occurred to me to even try another brand or even another type of antiperspirant & deodorant.

I figured my Dry Idea would arrive, I'd give it a try and use it for a day or two, write up an honest review of what I thought about it and then go right back to using the deodorant I've been using for years and years. This has not been the case. To my surprise, I really, REALLY like Dry Idea AdvancedDry. I loved how easy it went on, how fast drying it was and I really liked the Fresh scent. I also liked that it didn't leave unwanted gunky residue on me or my clothes. It's amazing how well you think a product works (my old stand-by deodorant) until you try something new.

I'm so glad I was able to try Dry Idea and I'd love to provide you with an opportunity to try it too!

I'm giving away (2) coupons for FREE Dry Idea AdvancedDry Antiperspirant & Deodorants...simply leave a comment below to be entered to win! (Ends 3/11.)

LIKE DRY IDEA ON FACEBOOK

Premam Prenatal Vitamin Drink Mix Review

2013-02-28T08:20:00.000-08:00

Prenatal vitamins, while crucial to a pregnancy, are less than desirable for a number of reasons. The worst of these is that they are twelve times the size of any pill you will ever take in your life, making them difficult, or for some, impossible to swallow. They can cause or contribute to nausea as well as constipation.

Say good-bye to those nasty horse pills and hello to Premama!

Premama Prenatal Vitamin Drink Mix is 100% natural, only 6 calories, easy to mix, easy to digest, flavorless,contains DHA and all of the vitamins and nutrients essential to a healthy Premama and her unborn child. Premama can be mixed with just about any drink (though it's not recommended for use in plain water, which is a bummer, carbonated drinks or warm beverages) and is virtually undetectable to your taste buds.

I was sent several boxes of Premama to share and review the product. We tried Premama in orange juice, iced tea, Crystal Light and Fruit Punch. We all agreed that we either could not taste or did not mind the taste of these drinks with Premama added to them.

You can learn all about Premama on their website here. Be sure to like Premama on Facebook too!

**ALSO**

Get 15% off your purchase at www.drinkpremama.com when you use promotion code: Sweepstakes2013

I was sent Premama as part of a promotional partnership between Premama and MomSelect in exchange for reviewing and sharing the products. No monetary exchange took place and any and all opinions are my own.**

The Original Harlem Globetrotters Ticket Giveaway

2013-02-25T08:11:00.000-08:00

The Original Harlem Globetrotters are coming to the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia for two games, Friday March 8th at 7PM and Saturday, March 9th at 1PM!

We were treated to our first Harlem Globetrotters experience over the summer and our family absolutely loved the show and had an amazing time!

Known as innovators of the game of basketball for decades, the world famous Harlem Globetrotters are once again introducing something unparalleled in the history of sports and family entertainment, when they visit the Wells Fargo Center.

For the first time ever, fans will decide the rules for the game that could affect the final outcome. Possible rule changes could include playing with two basketballs at once or getting double the points for each basket made.

***Special Discount***

Click and use password HGMOM to save $7 off tickets!

Guess what? Thanks to the good folks at the Wells Fargo Center, I have a 4-pack of ticket vouchers to giveaway! They are for the 1PM game on Saturday, March 9th. You will need to turn the vouchers in at the box office for actual tickets.

Here's 3 easy ways to win: (You can do all 3 for 3 chances to win!)

1) Leave a comment on this post telling me about the first time you saw The Original Harlem Globetrotters. If you've never seen them, leave a comment telling me why you want to!

2) Subscribe to my blog! Then leave a comment telling me you've done so.

3) Share this post on your Facebook page and leave a comment to let me know you did.

Contest ends Sunday, March 3rd at noon. Winner will be notified by email and has 24 hours to respond or they forfeit their prize. Please be sure to include your email address in your comment so that I can contact you if you win. Good luck!

MYO: Playdough

2013-02-24T19:11:00.000-08:00

If you've never made homemade playdough with your kids, you're missing out on a good time. You can use your friend Google to find one of a million recipes to do so. The no cook methods are the easiest. We've tried several recipes and this one is my absolute favorite. It's super easy, you can your kids can whip up a batch in a few minutes and it will provide hours of entertainment. It also smells divine and is the perfect dough consistency.

Here's what you need:

1 cup of flour
1/2 cup of salt
2 tablespoons cream of tartar
1 or 2 packets of Kool-Aid drink mic
1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
1 cup boiling water

Here's what you do:

Combine all of your dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Next add the oil and boiling water and mix it with a spoon until it gets nice and firm. Once the dough cools down (it only takes a few minutes), you can dig in and mix it with your hands. If it comes out feeling a little too sticky, you can roll it out on wax paper and add a little more flour.

That's it! Super easy and so much fun!

Premama Prenatal Vitamin Giveaway

2013-02-21T10:40:00.000-08:00

My health was never so important to me as it was when I was a "pre-Mama". I think that's the case for most expectant mothers. Our first concern is the health of our unborn child and we're willing to do anything we can to ensure our babies get everything they need...including choking down a gigantic prenatal vitamin every day.

Now there's a better option. Prenatal vitamins that you can drink. Allow me to introduce you to Premama, a prenatal vitamin drink mix:

Premama is a prenatal vitamin powder drink mix with DHA. It is doctor recommended, 100% natural, is gluten-free, lactate-free, BPA free and contains all the nutrients that you and your growing baby need. You can learn more about Premama here.

Want to try it? Get 15% off your purchase at www.drinkpremama.com when you use promotion code: Sweepstakes2013

Thanks to the Mama's at Premama and MomSelect, I have a 30 day supply to giveaway ($25 value!) Simply leave a comment on this post to be entered to win. Ends 2/27.

Be sure to LIKE Premama on Facebook!

How To Make Oreo Cookie Balls

2013-02-21T09:38:00.001-08:00

These Oreo Cookie Balls are de.lic.ious. and so easy to make!

Here's what you need:

(1) package of Oreo Cookies (knock off brand works too)

(1) package of Cream Cheese (8 oz.), softened

(1) Block Melting Chocolate (I use Vanilla or Chocolate Almond Bark)

Here's what you do:

1) Crush the cookies up. I dump them in a gallon Ziploc bag, seal it and then crush them - cuts down on mess. Then dump the bag of crumbled cookies into a mixing bowl and add a package of softened cream cheese. Mix to combine completely.

2) Roll the mixture into small balls and place them on a cookie sheet covered with wax paper. Pop the cookie sheet in the freezer to firm them up for 10-15 minutes. This will help them to stay together when you plop them in the melted chocolate.

3) Melt chocolate according to directions on package. Dip cookie balls in chocolate and place on cookie sheet covered with wax paper. You can top your balls with additional crushed cookies or jimmies (aka sprinkles). Refrigerate and enjoy!

Daniel

2013-02-11T08:03:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that a month from today this baby, MY BABY, will be five years old.

He saves me every day.

A true testament to children being born with a certain special something. A gift. Something you can't quite put your finger on...something that doesn't have a name...but something all the same.

He intrigues and delights, both me and total strangers, with his unique perspective on the world around him. And his signature facial expressions.

He asked me this morning if he'll still be able to fart in Heaven and before I could answer, proclaimed, "Because I am NOT gonna die if I can't fart anymore!"

That's my Daniel. He calls the shots.

"Do I have school this day?" "Can we go to the park this day?" "There are none bread." "May you please make me chocolate milk?"

I love the way he speaks. Like he's waiting on his green card. It's so adorable that I don't dare correct him. I want it to last. Dear God, let it last...a few more weeks, a few more months, another year.

Keep him sweet. Keep him kind. Keep him good.

He feels the energy around him the way I do and soaks up everyone's feelings the way I do. He is smart and sensitive and he doesn't take anyone's shit.

He is his Mama's boy.

I worry about his heart since it mirrors my own.

Someday the world is going to demand more of him than he thinks he can give. I hope I can guide him to grow and know who he was meant to be.

I'm confident this boy is going to grow up and make the world a better place. He is destined for great things. I feel it in my bones and I've seen it in his eyes.

My little lovebug. It's going way too fast.

NEW Purex Crystals for Baby (A Review + Giveaway)

2013-02-07T19:52:00.000-08:00

Allow me to introduce you to the newest member of the Purex family:

Purex Crystals for Baby!

Purex Crystals for Baby adds a freshen to laundry specially formulated for baby's delicate skin without affecting the flame retardant properties in children's sleepwear. It is hypoallergenic, dye free and boasts an 87% natural formula.

If you're not familiar with Purex Crystals, they are tiny crystals that act as a fabric softener and freshener. Purex Crystals for Baby has a delicate, fresh scent. You can control the amount of fragrance based on how much you add to your load. They're designed for use in both traditional and HE washers.

I've been using Purex Crystals for over a year and love, love, love them! Especially for bedding and towels. I was recently sent a bottle of new Purex Crystals for Baby to try out and review and I really like the scent. I'd love for you to try it too! I'm givng away coupons for a FREE bottle to (2) lucky readers. Just leave a comment on this post to be entered to win! Winners will be selected and notified by email on Monday, February 11th.

Borax is my new best friend. (Review + Giveaway)

2013-02-04T08:17:00.000-08:00

Leave it to me to be late to the laundry party.

I'm no longer in the dark.

I have discovered............

20 Mule Team Borax.

I had seen it in the store, up on the top shelf, above the bleach, but I didn't really know what it was. The box says it's a detergent booster, but I figured the only laundry boost I needed was the motivation to get up and actually do the laundry.

I was recently sent a box of 20 Mule Team Borax to review and I can honestly say that it will be a permanent staple in my laundry room from here on out.

So what exactly is Borax anyway? 20 Mule Team Borax is 100% natural mineral from the earth. Once it's removed from the ground, it's washed, dried and then boxed. There is absolutely NOTHING added to it. No phosphates, no chlorine, no additive chemicals of ANY kind. Borax is actually the common name for sodium tetraborate. It's a naturally occuring substance produced by the perpetual evaporation of seasonal lakes. Pretty cool, right?

20 Team Mule Borax really is a laundry booster. By adding 1/2 cup to every load, it naturally softens hard water and improves your detergent's cleaning power. Over 85% of homes have "hard water". Hard water is water that contains both calcium and magnesium ions. When laundry detergent is added to hard water, some of the compounds attach to calcium and magnesium granules that settle on the bottle of your washing machine tub and head back down the drain without actually cleaning your clothes. Who can afford to waste detergent? Not this girl. 20 Mule Team Borax also keeps stains from being re-deposited back onto clothes AND it neutralizes odors. I wash a garbage man's clothes every day, remember? I know all about the importance of stain removal and odor neutralization.

You came to win a coupon...you had no idea you'd be getting such an education, did you?

I would LOVE for you to try 20 Mule Team Borax for yourself! Simply leave a comment on this post and you'll be entered to win. (2) winners will be chosen at random on Sunday, February 10th and will each win a coupon for a FREE box of 20 Mule Team Borax.

***Borax provided me with a box of their product in order for me to review it. My participation is voluntary and my opinions, naturally, are my own.***

Disney on Ice Presents Rockin' Ever After (Giveaway!)

2012-12-13T17:10:00.000-08:00

Christmas time in the Philadelphia area means...

Disney On Ice time!

Every year, right after Christmas, the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia is taken over by Disney On Ice. This year Disney On Ice presents Rockin' Ever After, which will run from Thursday, December 27th - Sunday, January 6th.

Click and use password "MOM" for $15 tickets!!!!

I'm giving away a 4-pack of ticket vouchers to see the show. The vouchers can be exchanged for tickets at the Wells Fargo Center Box Office for any weekday performance Monday - Friday, excluding Friday evenings.

Leave a comment on this post to be entered to win! Share this post on Facebook for an additional entry!

Ends Thursday, December 20th at noon. Winner to be announced Thursday night and notified by email. Winner has 24 hours to claim their prize or prize will be forfeited.

Let it foam, let it foam, let it foam...

2012-12-09T12:24:00.000-08:00

'Tis the season...

Dial Anitbacterial Foaming Hand Wash has released a line of fun, holiday themed bottles to help you spread the cheer...not the germs! Their antibacterial foaming formula kills 99.99% of germs, more than any other liquid hand soap. It's gentle enough to protect your entire family, even the smallest of elves. Dial Antibacterial Foaming Hand Wash smells great, works great and adds just one more festive touch to your home.

Dial sent me a few bottles of their Holiday Foaming Hand Soap so I could try them out and review them and I'm sharing the love...leave a comment on this post to be entered to win a bottle of your very own!

Comments close Thursday, December 13th at 11:59PM. Winner to be chosen and announced on Friday, December 14th. Winner has 48 hours to respond to email or they forfeit their prize.

Be sure to LIKE DIAL on Facebook!

And the winner is....

2012-11-27T17:01:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Heather Grey, the lucky winner of the Carrie Underwood ticket giveaway!

Thank you to everyone who entered, to the good folks at the Wells Fargo Center for providing me with tickets and to my buddy Daniel for choosing the winner! :)

Carrie Underwood at Wells Fargo Center 11/28 Super Last Minute Giveaway

2012-11-26T16:54:00.001-08:00

Carrie Underwood's "Blown Away Tour" (with special guest Hunter Hayes) is taking over the Wells Fargo Center in just TWO DAYS, Wednesday, November 28th!

It's not too late to get your tickets from Comcast Tix.

And speaking of tickets.........I have a 4-pack to giveaway!!!!!!

Simply leave a comment on this post to be entered to win. Winner will be chosen at random and will be announced tomorrow (11/27) at 1PM. Please be sure to include your email so that I can contact you if you're the lucky winner.

(Winning tickets can be picked up at the Will Call window at the Wells Fargo Center.)

Gutzy's Cool for Back To School

2012-08-29T21:31:00.036-07:00

Gutzy Gear is one of the hottest new trends for back to school! Haven't heard of it? Gutzy Gear is a cool way for kids to express themselves by customizing their backpacks! Gutzy Straps secure around the straps of a child's backpack with velcro, Gutzy patches then go on the Gutzy Straps. There are currently 56 Gutzies in a series, with new patches being added constantly, including licensed characters such as Spiderman, SpongeBob, The Avengers, Sonic and Monster High. You can never have too many Gutzies...they're so much fun to collect and trade!

Gutzy Gear is available online and now at nationwide retailers such as Toys R' Us, Walmart, K-mart and Office Depot.

Thanks to the good folks at Gutzy Gear, we were able to share the Gutzy love with 15 of our friends at our Back To School Bash Playdate today. The kids were so excited!

Be sure to LIKE Gutzy Gear on Facebook!

**In full disclosure, we were sent Gutzy Gear Straps and Patches in exchange for our honest review....and honestly, they're awesome!**

Creativity for Kids Playdate

2012-08-15T21:07:00.086-07:00

We host a playdate in our backyard every Wednesday with each gathering having a different theme. Our theme today was Creativity for Kids. The wonderful folks at Faber-Castell's Creativity for Kids sent us two huge boxes chock full of fun craft kits for our girls to use for our playdate.

We had kits to make Fashion Headbands, Fashion Bracelets, Stuck-On Fashion Totes and Pop-Art Necklaces.

We started with the Stuck-On Fashion Totes. They were a huge hit and great for all ages and ability levels. Each girl was able to decorate a super cute pink and white zebra striped tote bag with peel and press stickers.

The Fashion Headbands and Bracelets were a lot of fun. Each kit came complete with everything we needed to design and make our own unique accessories, including scissors, glue and an assortment of ribbons, rhinestones, flowers, feathers and more.

Nana and Isabelle making a headband...

Our friend Nellie showing off the bracelet she made.

The Pop-Art Necklaces were really simple, all the girls loved them...and so did the boys. We started with a plastic bottle cap, the kids could choose a sticker to place inside of it or color their own, pop in a plastic dome, then string it on a cord and add some beads.

Making Pop-Art Necklaces...

Both the Moms and the kids were thrilled with our experience with Creativity for Kids crafts. We loved that the kids were able to use their creativity to make their own unique pieces, we loved that the kits included absolutely everything we needed to complete our projects and we were impressed with the quality of all the products. Thumbs up all the way around!

Check out the website to view all of the products Creativity for Kids has to offer, you can also sign up for the Creativity Club. It's free to join, you'll receive activity downloads and special promotions.

Be sure to like Creativity for Kids on Facebook too!

Some of our Creativity for Kids Girls...

**In full disclosure: We were sent these craft kits in order for us to host a playdate and share our experience here. No monetary exchange took place. All opinions expressed are my own. We had an awesome time and the kits were so much fun!**

Balsamic Chicken & Onions

2012-08-08T20:40:00.027-07:00

I took out a package of boneless, skinless chicken breasts to thaw this morning, around came dinner time and I still had no idea what I was doing with it. I've mentioned my love of balsamic vinegar before, here's yet another delicious recipe using it: Balsamic Chicken & Onions!

Here's what you need:

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar (In hindsight, I feel like 1/4 cup each of oil and balsamic might have been enough.)

Salt and pepper, to taste (I used course ground sea salt and fresh ground black pepper)

(1) onion, sliced

Here's what you do:

1) Preheat oven to 400. Wash chicken, pat dry. Remove excess fat and funk. Season with salt and pepper as to your liking. Place chicken in a gallon size plastic bag.

2) Pour oil and vinegar into bag. Seal bag. Shake like crazy to mix and coat. Use tongs to remove chicken from bag, place chicken in a baking dish.

3) Scatter onion slices on top of chicken. Pour oil/vinegar mixture over top of chicken.

4) Bake for 20-60 minutes, depending on the thickness of the chicken.

Doesn't it look yumbly?

Pour a little extra juice on each piece of chicken as you serve it. :)

Fun & Functional - Make Yourself Some New Magnets from your Craft Stash

2012-08-05T23:12:00.005-07:00

We need some crafting up in here! This is a quick and easy project that you can do even if you think there's no crafty blood running through your veins.

I have a huge collection of assorted crafty crap includes a bunch of old, gaudy costume jewelry and buttons. I have big, cool plans for them, but have never gotten around to making them a reality. While I had the glue gun out for something else, I decided to turn some of them into fun and functional magnets for the fridge.

You'll need:

Old and preferably fairly ugly costume jewelry, big buttons or really anything lying around you'd like to make into a magnet

A hot glue gun and glue sticks

Magnets

Simply squirt a little hot glue onto your magnet-to-be and stick a magnet in the glue.

See that? You ARE crafty!

Missed me, missed me, now you gotta' kiss me!

2012-08-04T19:43:00.025-07:00

You did miss me, right?

It's been two months to the date since my last post. It's been a busy, busy, busy 8 weeks. I knew I'd be fairly absent from my little slice of the world wide web this summer, but I had planned to post AT LEAST once a week. As you can see, that didn't happen. We've been busy learning about birds and bugs and science and so many other fun things. There's just a few short weeks of summer left and so many things left on the Summer 2012 Bucket List that we haven't been able to cross off yet.

Are you ready to ship your kids back off to school? Or are you crazy like me and wish you could keep them at home forever? I hope your summer's been eventful, happy and healthy so far. xx

let it burn

2012-06-04T11:58:00.000-07:00

there's just so much
that goes unsaid
so many words

i wish you could understand
feel them with your fingers
maybe then i could
wrap my mind around them
and force them through
my pursed lips
and your deaf ears

so many
times
i've cried so hard
my flesh burns
and my bones ache
and the thought of another
day
another year
another
moment
is enough to
drive me mad

some days are so dark
i have to wonder
if my eyes are even open
if they ever will be
if they ever were...

Super Simple Burger Recipes

2012-05-24T22:48:00.014-07:00

Memorial Day Weekend is this weekend. It's the kick off to the summer here at the Jersey Shore! And with summer comes barbeques! There's nothing better than a hot, juicy burger fresh off the grill! Unless you're a vegetarian...then I guess there is something better.

At any rate, here are (2) super simple recipes for making easy, delicious burgers!

Your Signature Burger

My longest and most favorite burger recipe of all time.

Original Ranch Burgers

The most recent new burger recipe I've tried, it's quickly become a favorite.

Mayonnaise Murdered Chicken

2012-05-23T21:34:00.045-07:00

This morning I pulled a pack of thin cut, boneless, skinless chicken breast out of the freezer and popped it into the fridge with no plan as to what I was going to do with it. As of 4:30 this afternoon I still had no idea. I dug around in the back of the fridge, looking for inspiration and found a half empty jar of mayonnaise. Beings that I really needed another jar to collect change in anyway, I decided this mayonnaise was destined to be a part of dinner. Right next to the mayonnaise was a container of Parmesan cheese that at first glace I thought was empty, but low and behold, about a 1/2 a cup of cheese remained. Yep, I knew I had to use up that Parmesan too.

And so, Mayonnaise Murdered Chicken was born. And it was good. Really good.

Here's what you need:

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Mayonnaise
Parmesan cheese
Garlic powder
Dried Parsley (only because the mix looked dumb without a little color, totally not necessary)
Bread crumbs ( I used Italian style Panko. I love, love, love Panko! If you're not familiar with it, it's a Japanese bread crumb that's big and crunchy. When I first started using it, they had just one kind at the grocery store. Now several brands make it in several varieties and you see it on Menus in many restaurants. Try it, you'll love it. I seldom use traditional bread crumbs anymore.)

Here's what you do:

1. Defunk your chicken breasts, rinse and pat dry. In a bowl, combine mayonnaise (I scraped what was left out of the jar, it was about a cup full), Parmesan cheese (about a 1/2 a cup), garlic powder (1 teaspoon) and parsley (a few pinches), mix well. Place bread crumbs in another bowl. Line a cookie sheet with foil and preheat your oven to 400.

2. It's Mayonnaise Murdered Chicken because you smother the chicken in the mayonnaise mix. Stick each piece in the bowl and cover it completely. Then cover it in bread crumbs and slap it down on the cookie sheet.

It'll look something like this. Bake for 20-25 minutes, depending on the thickness of the chicken. I served it with scalloped potatoes and broccoli. Delish. :)