Relishing the Dirt

Don't you love getting real mail?

2011-11-20T18:42:00.001-08:00

It's that time of year - Christmas Card Season. I love opening up the mailbox and actually getting mail that doesn't consist of bills, circulars, or other random items that are just "business." Maybe it's a side effect of having moved around a bit, but my heart just feels open wide to hear from friends in far away places. I'm especially tickled to get photos of families - another opportunity to see how everyone has grown.

Crafting our own card can start pretty early. As two of the most-photographed kids around, Daniel and Ethan are in stacks of pictures that I need to wade through. Luckily we have companies like Tiny Prints that can make the design phase easy. I prefer bold colors... and I can never seem to pick just one photo.

Has anyone come up with ingenious ways to display the cards you receive for the holiday season? Living in a condo, our space is at a premium. Last year I resorted to attaching them to the spare door in our living room that we never use. We enjoyed the expanding display so much that we left it up well into the New Year. I may do the same this year as long as I can keep everything high enough to keep toddler paws in check.

I'm off to shuffle through our reams of kid photos. If you too are on the lookout for a creative company to help you make your holiday cards this year, I recommend checking out Tiny Prints.

Tiny Prints provides simple, modern, and unique stationery from Christmas cards, New Years cards, party invitations, and address labels to thank you cards. Once the holidays have come and gone, Tiny Prints will still be there to fill your stationary needs with their exclusive designs from the nation’s top designers. All year round, you’ll find business cards, birth announcements and even custom wedding invitations. Come try the easy card personalization, a powerful preview engine and top-notch customer service and paper quality for yourself. With Tiny Prints by your side commemorating every holiday and momentous occasion is a cinch!

Pizza Anyone?

2011-10-23T20:15:00.000-07:00

Hey Y'all! So I was at a playgroup the other day and a Mom commented on how I must be loving having Daniel in full-day school/first grade. The idea, I suppose, being that I would have all this time. Huh. Truth is that stuff just expands to fill that available time. There's Cub Scouts and karate, church, and all the homework. Who would have thought that Fall could get this busy? Meals can get to be a scramble too, and one of the standbys that I can always count on my kids being willing to eat is pizza.

I was recently contacted by Freschetta, and as a part of the Fresh Connection Community they offered me a coupon to try their pizza. Crispy crust, yummy cheese... It was quite tasty! Even my picky eater proclaimed it good!

Through the end of this month Freschetta is presenting their Proud to Support Pink Program. When you purchase specially marked packages of Freschetta pizzas and Artisan Pizza Crusts you will be helping them reach their goal of a $50,000 donation to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Each package is printed with a code that you can enter at http://www.proudtosupportpink.com/. Each entry represents a $1 donation to this center to support breast cancer research (up to $50,000). There are places on the site to share your stories and provide (and find!) inspiration as well.

Win It!
Win a kit containing a coupon for a Freschetta pizza, and two pairs of Freschetta Proud to Support Pink earphones - one to keep, and one to give away.

Entry to this contest is fast and easy. Simply comment on this post. Deadline is Sunday, October 30th.

Good Luck!
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Freschetta pizza contacted me and provided products for me to review. My (and my family's) love of pizza is strictly my/our own.

Pretty and a Giveaway

2011-09-06T17:05:00.000-07:00

I love to read and I've finally reached a point where I can carve out tiny niches of time to actually do so again! When the folks at Global Influence asked if I'd like to read and review Jillian Lauren's debut novel titled Pretty, I jumped at the chance.

I'm not sure that Pretty is a title I would consider for a book that is anything but... It's the saga of Bebe Baker, a former stripper, former drug addict, former many things. A car accident has killed her boyfriend, leaving her scarred and adrift. We meet her while she is serving time in a halfway house and ticking down the hours to finish cosmetology school. I usually need a hook of some kind to get me interested in a book - compelling characters, compelling storytelling. The favorite books that stay with me have a character or characters that I can identify with, empathize with, feel for... and I found myself struggling to find that link with Bebe. She's lived and is living a hard and harsh existence. If she were a friend I'd want to shake her for some of the choices she's made!

And yet... her plain-spoken, in your face story began to draw me in. Bebe is surrounded by some fascinating characters. I wanted to see where their story would lead. This is a book that I might not have picked up on my own, but I am glad that I got a chance to read.

Win a copy!
I have the chance to give away a copy to one lucky reader. To enter: Tweet or Facebook post about this giveaway, including a link to the book Pretty. Example: Check out @jillylauren's new book, Pretty - http://amzn.to/prettybook

All entries should include the hashtag #PRETTYBOOK. Please leave a comment on this post with a link to your tweet or FB post. You may enter daily. Giveaway closes on 9/15/11.

Can't wait to read the book? The first 250 people to order Pretty on 9/7 from Amazon who email the receipt to pretty.the.book@gmail.com will receive a Limited Edition run of the "Pretty" necklace made by FairyTale Jewels.com.

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I received a copy of this book for the purposes of reviewing and hosting a giveaway. All opinions are my own.

Join the Little Miracle Mission

2011-05-23T10:32:00.000-07:00

Have you seen the commercials? The Pampers "Every Little Miracle" commercial never fails to bring tears to my eyes.

In 2005 I was a busy executive secretary. A Type-A personality and planner to the max, my hard work and attention to detail helped multiple division presidents of a b2b publishing company get the job done. And in the summer of 2005 all my research and ability to plan and be in control went out the window with the birth of my first son. While I loved (and love!) him dearly my world went upside down in an instant in ways none of the books could have prepared me for. I left the job that had consumed my time for 9.5 years of my life, and so very many of the day to day relationships that I had had went with it. Sleepless nights, feedings, teething... anyone who is a parent is familiar with what my routine became. And despite my beautiful baby boy and loving family I was feeling lost. And I struggled. I was so very lucky that someone pointed me in the direction of the local family network. There I found playgroups and activities that forced my tired self out of the house. And I found advice, a shoulder to lean on and friends that are still around to this day.

Why do I digress with my little story? Pampers has generously provided me with a $50 gift card as part of their Little Miracle Mission. It's a chance to pay it forward, and I have chosen to donate it to my area family network that provided me with so much support during my early days of motherhood. They have changed much in the last 5 - 6 years, in part due to the budget struggles that so many of these organizations have faced. (And I've changed myself, adding another son to my growing family!)

Join the Mission!
I have been offered a gift card for one of my lucky readers to give away as well. Simply reply to this post and let me know how you would pay it forward, should you win the $50 gift card.

This is going to be a fast one, as the deadline is set for Noon EST on Wednesday, May 25th. Reply ASAP.

Everyone can easily participate in a small way by "liking" Pampers Facebook page (facebook.com/pampers) and then going to the Miracle Missions tab and committing to Mission 1 by clicking "I want to pledge". You are automatically entered to win a years supply of diapers and wipes, which could help you or someone you know in a big way.

Hope to hear from you all soon!

Spring?

2011-03-17T05:25:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone! Been away from this blogging thing for too long. Spring seems to finally be here, and I'm taking a deep, refreshing breath.

We held our last giveaway, and I notified the winner. And it occurs to me that I needed to announce it here, and never did. Apologies and much-belated congratulations to Shelley!

Wising you all a fun, sun-filled day!

A Cook I Am Not, But...

2011-01-27T06:54:00.000-08:00

I think it was my brother who (half) jokingly asked if H knew what he was getting into when he proposed. I love good food, and I love to eat. I even skim the cooking shows and recipes and cookbooks from time to time. My patience for the whole process of meal preparation, though, is not very great.

Not long ago MyBlogSpark and Old El Paso reintroduced me to an old and easy favorite of mine. taco night! I remember loving the "taco bar" in college. We love tacos, and I plan to get Mexican fare back into my rotation of easy-peasy menu items. The Old El Paso lineup of products includes chiles, dinner kits, dips and sides, enchilada sauce, refried beans, seasoning mixes, shells, taco sauce and salsa. There are endless recipe variations you can play with, like easy fish tacos. Everyone can decorate their meal with fixin's to their liking.

Win a Prize Pack like mine! Old El Paso and MyBlogSpark were gracious enough to send me a prize package that includes a packet of Old El Paso taco seasoning, a Cactus Chip & Dip serving dish, a set of three Fiesta Chili Pepper serving dishes and a $10 gift card to purchase your taco fixings.

To enter: Leave a comment and tell me about your favorite Mexican fare. Or how you plan to make taco night special. Which night of the week will it be?

Bonus entry: Follow this blog, and leave a comment telling me that you do, or have done so.

Deadline: This will be a quick one. Winner to be picked on Monday, January 31st at Noon EST.

A Winner, and oh those best laid plans...

2010-07-21T07:33:00.000-07:00

Somehow I knew that as soon as I started up the reviews and giveaways portion of my blogging again, that would be my baby's cue to make his arrival a little bit early.

Congratulations to Hannah C, who won the copy of Heroes for My Son.

We are home from the hospital, and adjusting to our new family life as a foursome. More fun stuff to come, as baby Ethan's schedule permits!

heroes for my son - a book giveaway

2010-07-04T04:11:00.000-07:00

Who are your heroes? Who do Americans consider to be their real heroes? Author Brad Meltzer began pondering this question with the birth of his first son, and the telling of these stories has resulted in his first nonfiction book.

Fifty-two men and women, both familiar and unknown, are illustrated through black and white pictures and a page of narrative distilling their heroic story. From politicians to performers, activists to athletes to ordinary citizens - these are inspiring snippits. Roberto Clemente and Jackie Robinson are side by side with Jonas Salk and Jim Henson. Personal heroes such as Teri Meltzer (Brad's Mom) join Clara Hale, Anne Sullivan and Harper Lee. The list goes on...

As a Mom to one active little boy, and with another on the way any time now, I found much to think about in this little book. And it is certainly appropriate for girls as well as boys!

Win It!
I have an additional hardcover copy of this book for one lucky winner. To enter:

Main entry - Mention in the comments section why you would like to win a copy of this book. I'd be interested in hearing about one of your heroes too...

Extra entries - each of these counts as an extra entry, but you must leave a comment for each one.

- Subscribe to Relishing the Dirt.

- Follow us on Twitter under @Smittens05.

- Tweet about this giveaway.

- Grab our button for your sidebar.

- Mention this giveaway on your blog, with a link back here and to Heroes for My Son.

Deadline is Midnight EST on July 12th. Winner will be chosen by random.org, and will be contacted via email. Contest is open to US residents.

This post was written for Harper Books, who provided the item for review and giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary product.

Where in the world have I been?

2010-07-01T07:33:00.000-07:00

It was so not my intention to have this part of my blogging life be on such a hiatus. But then, well... there was this. And this. And on to this. And finally we're in the home stretch of this whole pregnancy thing, but ugh.

And even though I feel kinda horrible, there are actually a few giveaways lining up in the near future. I will be certainly following the rules that I set down in each of the giveaway posts. But at this point I reserve the right to have some minor delays in getting prizes out to the winners... My due date may be July 24th, but as with most kids who knows how this will all play out? Stay tuned!

Secret Santa

2009-12-17T04:19:00.000-08:00

It's no secret that people are feeling the pinch of the economy this season. One organization has dedicated itself to providing toys for children at Christmas since 1947 - the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Foundation.

1-800 Flowers.com is supporting this worthy cause by donating 10% of the net proceeds from product orders from its Toys for Tots Holiday Collection to the foundation. In addition, they have developed a Secret Santa free application accessible on their Facebook page. Send a warm fuzzy gift to a friend (they find out who it came from on Reveal Day, December 21st). You and the recipient will receive a 15% off discount code for sending or opening your gifts as well.

1-800 Flowers.com will donate $5,000 to Toys for Tots if the warm fuzzy Secret Santa gift is sent 10,000 times.

Lets get the word out, send some warm fuzzies and help this very worthy cause!

Out and About - with Kids

2009-12-05T05:18:00.000-08:00

Getting where you need to go with your kids can have all kinds of challenges - even just the car seat itself! We let the installation of our car seat go a little too long, and my hubby was faced with getting it properly in the car himself after Daniel was born. With half our extended family some 1,200 miles away we have busied ourselves with long car trips, as well as getting around town to our busy preschooler's many activities.

With the holiday season moving into full swing, families across the country are in the car and on the go. Whether you're driving across the country to visit family or across town to holiday shop, it is important that your child passengers are riding safely and that child safety seats are used correctly.

AAA estimates that 30 million people travelled this Thanksgiving holiday alone, and for many this is just the beginning of the holiday hustle and bustle. Now is the time to utilize the Child Car Safety tools provided by the US Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Ad Council to learn more about proper car seat use and installation. You will find informative resources that include instructional videos.

Have child passenger safety questions that you need answered before you travel over the river and through the woods to Grandma's? NHTSA is always available to answer your questions online through Facebook and Twitter. I wish I had found these resources years ago!

Ack! Where did my weekend go?

2009-11-23T05:59:00.000-08:00

I try not to make it so, but the close of the year has seemed to turn into a triathlon of sorts: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas. It has seemed especially pronounced this year when the Christmas stuff started appearing in stores nearly as soon as the Halloween stuff went on discount...

Random.org proclaimed haydensmommy05 the winner of our Nature Valley Granola Prize Pack. Congratulations!

In the meantime, I'm slowing down and giving thanks. Wishing you all many turkey cupcakes!

Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters - Win a Prize Pack!

2009-11-06T08:21:00.000-08:00

Hoo Boy! So first there was the email hacking, then various family illnesses including my (hacking) cough that tends to keep me up nights and rob me of sleep. We're finally straightening up some (thank you Daylight Savings, I did not need the help losing sleep courtesy of the preschooler's wonky schedule...). Onward!

The folks at MyBlogSpark and Nature Valley recently sent me a prize pack with a cool backpack, flashlight, binoculars and water bottle. This also included an assortment of the new Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters to sample. Yummy! My family can be real grazers when it comes to finding something to eat. H works long hours, and Daniel is an active and picky preschooler. Me, I expend tons of energy just to keep up with him! I quickly went through the Roasted Almond flavor (my particular favorite), and the rest of the family helped me polish off the others. Sweet/salty and crunchy, these granola bites come in a resealable pouch and make a delicious snack! MyBlogSpark has graciously offered one prize pack for a lucky Relishing the Dirt reader!

To Win:
1. Reply to this post and share some of your favorite elements of nature. I'm especially looking for this myself as the seasons change, and I'm trying very hard not to hibernate!

Extra Entries:
2. Follow this blog and post a reply letting me know that you have done so.

3. Follow me on Twitter at @Smittens05 and let me know that you are a follower. Extra entries for a tweet, but please let me know that you have done this as well by posting a link.

Contest ends Friday, November 20th - winner to be announced November 21st.

Trio - We have a winner!

2009-10-10T17:33:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Amanda, winner of the Trio building set giveaway. She enjoys legos around her house - I'm sure Trio will be a nice addition!

My apologies if things around here are a bit wonky or slow. I've been hacked. Not the website, thank goodness but the usual email address I use for everything sent out a random email to my entire address book awhile ago - one which most decidedly was not from me! It's quite aggravating, and embarrassing and Yahoo is being decidedly unhelpful at resolving anything. I am in the process of moving all my communications to a different email address but it is time consuming. Urgh! Something I certainly did not need to have on my to-do list.

Stay tuned for another give-away coming up soon!

Try a Trio

2009-09-24T20:41:00.000-07:00

Fisher Price has come out with a new building set called Trio. We got a chance recently to test drive a "starter set." Comprised of clickable bricks, sticks and panels the starter set also comes with a car, a little person, a tree shape, some triangle roof shapes and so on. Quite handy is the storage bin with a lid that can double as a building base. I'll be honest - any Mom's feet would be grateful to not be tripping over the bits of a building set. Yay storage bin!

I love toys that encourage creating and imagining and Daniel has returned to the Trio set countless times. I can see a whole "city" he built on the lid sitting over in the corner as I type this. The starter set is listed as being for 3-5 year olds. One thing I would encourage is strategically planning your Trio playtime. The click action building does take some getting used to and I encourage Daniel to play with the Trio set when he is fresh. Once he starts getting tired, his frustration level can build.

The folks at Fisher Price and MomSelect have graciously agreed to offer a Trio Starter Set to one lucky Relishing the Dirt reader.

To Enter: Comment on this post and tell me your favorite "creative plaything" that you do with your kids.

Extra Entries: Follow or subscribe to this blog and leave a comment letting me know that you have done so. Follow me on Twitter at @Smittens05 and leave a comment letting me know that you have done so. Additional credit for tweeting about this giveaway (please comment with a link).

Deadline: October 9th at Midnight EST.

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Note: We received this product free of charge as part of participating in the MomSelect review program.

Zhu Zhu Zhoom!

2009-09-24T20:35:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Natalie A. who won the Zhu Zhu pet giveaway here on Relishing the Dirt. A new furry friend is headed her way. And a new giveaway is coming up, straightaway!

Zhu Zhu Pets - Parties, A Review, A Giveaway

2009-09-14T21:26:00.000-07:00

As a family who lives in a condo, we're entirely cramped for space when it comes to having a pet. No dogs are allowed, and some days even a cat would feel like one live beast too many around here! When the good folks at MomSelect offered us a chance to explore and play with some Zhu Zhu Pets (and share with some friends) I said yes, please!

Our planned "hamster party" turned into hamster playdates again, due to lack of space issues. I couldn't see stuffing a slew of 4-year-olds into our house all at once - and each of them chasing their new furry friend. Each of the kids at our first playdate seemed quite entertained by the little critters. Daniel's buddy Murphy immediately put his down to watch it scamper off in the other direction. This is the best kind of pet (especially for us Moms) - one that doesn't make a mess, and no worries about feeding it! During one of my last phone calls with Marisa's Mom I had gotten the report that she was still playing with her Zhu Zhu pet quite often. And Murphy's Mom laughed that she had left the house with the Zhu Zhu pet chattering away in her purse.

There are assorted playsets like a hamster wheel and tunnel, a funhouse, an adventure ball and more. Build and rearrange these pieces and the Zhu Zhus have their own habitat to explore.

I would have liked to see some of the habitat pieces built a little more securely. The lid and doors to the hamstermobile and garage come off fairly easily, for example, which can lead to some kid frustration. The hamsters themselves don't really have an "off" switch - they do go into a "sleep" mode after a bit, but this can be a bit of a battery drain.

All in all the kids seem tickled with their new pets. We're planning a few more hamster playdates, and we'd like to have a virtual playdate with you!

The Giveaway: One hamster, and one habitat piece.

To enter: Stop by Zhu Zhu Pets online and tell me your favorite - your favorite hamster, habitrail piece, activity or game from the site - you get to pick.

Extra entries: Subscribe or follow this blog, and leave a comment telling me you have done so. Follow me on Twitter and again, leave a comment that you have done so.

Deadline: Contest closes Tuesday, September 22nd at midnight EST. Winner to be announced September 23rd.

And the Winner is...

2009-09-08T09:28:00.000-07:00

Congrats to debbielynne, the winner of the $10 Stop & Shop gift certificate! She says she aims to save 50% when she shops.

Stay tuned for more fun reviews and a giveaway or two!

Save at Stop & Shop - Quick Giveaway!

2009-09-04T06:20:00.000-07:00

For the first time I am preparing to send my kid to school! Eek! General Mills and Stop & Shop are teaming up this week to give families a great way to stock up and save, as they gear up for back to school. You should be shopping at Stop & Shop this week because:

There are some great sale prices on the participating General Mills brands: Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Reeses Puffs, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cookie Crisp Sprinkles, Cookie Crisp, Fruit Snacks, Old El Paso Dinner Kits, Pillsbury Strudel, Pillsbury Scrambles, Green Giant Boxed Vegetables, Yoplait Yo-plus Multi-pack, Fiber One Yogurt Multi-pack, Pillsbury Refrigerated Cookies, Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, Pillsbury Sweet Rolls and Yoplait Delights.

Additional savings for your or your school, depending on which Stop & Shop location you shop.

If your Stop & Shop store sells gas: Buy four (4) participating General Mills items and you'll automatically earn 100 points on your Stop & Shop card. For every 100 points earned you'll save 10 cents per gallon of gas. (Please note total discount cannot exceed price per gallon.) Just swipe your Stop & Shop card at the pump to redeem your gas rewards.

If your Stop & Shop doesn't sell gas - Don't worry! You're not left out of the savings. If you buy five (5) participating General Mills products you will receive 20 Bonus Box Tops for your school.

The wonderful people at General Mills and My Blog Spark sent me a $10 Stop & Shop gift card so that I can jump into some of these back to school savings. They also want to give one lucky Relishing the Dirt reader a $10 Stop & Shop gift card too!

To Enter: Leave a comment telling me how much you think you can save on your next shopping trip.

Deadline: Monday, September 7th at Midnight. This giveaway will only last a few days so that hopefully you will receive your gift card in time to use at the sale.

Culture Club

2009-09-02T22:07:00.000-07:00

I miss getting mail, don't you? I mean I love coasting the ins-and-outs of the Internet and discovering all the tools available to keep in touch. But there is something about Real Mail, not bills or junk mail or catalogues, but a lovely card / note from someone who is thinking about me.

Thanks to the folks at Momfluence, Paper Culture kindly sent me a sample of their work. Their eco-friendly stationery is created using paper that is: FSC certified as 100% post consumer recycled paper, Green-e and/or Green Seal certified, generated by wind power and elemental chlorine free. All envelopes and packaging are also made from recycled paper.

And you know what? The designs are awesome! This would have been a perfect invitation to the Pirate Party that Daniel is attending next week. There are many wonderful choices for Birthday Party invitations, Baby Announcement and Shower invites, and life events like Moving Announcements, Baptism invitations and more. Give them a look before your next occasion!

A Voice Across the Miles

2009-08-23T04:34:00.000-07:00

I love where I live in New England - gorgeous small towns, rich in history. Since having Daniel I feel the miles between the East Coast and my parents in Wisconsin even more keenly, however. We work hard to stay in touch - weekly phone calls (OK, sometimes more!), and we invested in a webcam a year or so ago. We visit there, and they visit here as often as we can but 1,200 miles is no short hop for any of us.

In honor of Grandparents Day - September 13th will be the holiday's 30th anniversary - I'm showcasing the website Grandparents.com. While the wording across the site "speaks" to Grandparents, I think there are lots of helpful tidbits about families and keeping connected across the generations.

Daniel and I tested out a feature called YourVoice. Easy as anything you can dial the YourVoice phone number, record a message, and have it sent to the Grandparents (or, of course, Grandma and Grandpa back to the grandkids) over the computer where it can be played at any time. The steps were very easy - I think my main problem was Daniel is not a "phone talker kinda kid" at present.

Grandparents Day is coming up soon - whether you have a long distance to cover (one of Daniel's best buddies has a Grandma in Colombia), or your family is right next door - I highly recommend checking out this site. Everyone loves a special message just for them!

Hello Summer!

2009-08-17T10:52:00.000-07:00

Summer has landed here in New England. There was a haze to the air as I drove to the local farm stand to grab some sweet corn today. Online weather spots were making dire predictions about the heat index... it's mid-August, and I know it's supposed to be hot. We've just had a hugely mild (and overly rainy) Summer thus far. Wonder if we will have a warmer Fall to balance things out?

It was a magical birthday weekend, with a Princess party to attend on Saturday and Daniel's very own Knight party on Sunday. We are now getting back into the (hot, sticky) swing of things this week.

Congrats to Andrea, the winner of The Good Home Cookbook giveaway. I'm thinking we should all head over to her house for some homemade Pad Thai and pesto and cheese cannelloni!

The Good Home Cookbook - Giveaway!

2009-08-01T18:45:00.000-07:00

I think I've confessed this before, but I'll say it again: I'm a wannabe foodie. Love to eat and try new things. Some of my favorite blogs have a food component like Bakerella and The Pioneer Woman. I think I even indulged in a subscription to Cooking Light once upon a time. My actual skills in the kitchen - meh, not so much. I'm pretty sure I was engaged a very short time before someone started asking if H knew what he was in for when it came to my cooking.

Thank goodness for cookbooks. Follow a recipe, I can do. The Good Home Cookbook contains more than 1,000 classic American recipes and bills itself as the only cookbook entirely tested in home kitchens across America. This piqued my interest a bit, as Richard J. Perry states in his introduction: "What is a classic American recipe? ...a recipe that has been handed down from generation to generation in various forms, from cookbooks to menus - recipes that have withstood the test of time." Home cooking can mean so many things to so many people. Whether it's Grandma's pasta, or Dad's burgers on the grill.

I like the organization of this book. Chapters group the recipes by Breakfast, Lunch, Salads, Meat, Soups, Vegetables, Pies Cakes and Cookies, and more. I'm usually trying to wrap my brain around a particular meal, so I think this would be helpful. There are various appendices that get into more technical stuff such as canning and pickling, freezing and thawing and so forth.

Just a quick flip into the book has my taste buds dancing over a yummy-sounding breakfast frittata, which even has suggested variations of broccoli, spinach and herb, and goat cheese. Many recipes begin with a tiny paragraph (or less) describing the dish and sometimes it's origin, which tickles the storyteller in me as well.

I have one copy of The Good Home Cookbook to give away to a lucky reader!

1. Hot weather and a picky preschooler both challenge me in the kitchen these days. To enter, leave a comment and tell me your family's favorite home cooked dish.
2. For an additional entry, subscribe to this blog via email or reader and leave a comment telling me that you have done so.
3. For an additional entry, follow me on Twitter at @Smittens05.
4. Tweet about this contest for an additional entry. Be sure to include @Smittens05 so that I can see your tweet!

Contest ends on August 15th. Winner to be announced on Monday, August 17th.

From the Bookshelf...

2009-07-28T06:03:00.000-07:00

I've been in Mommy Survival Mode this week while H has been out of town. The please eat something besides string cheese and crackers struggles have been put aside for the challenge of just keeping up a familiar routine in the absence of Daddy. (Twenty four hours to go!) Thank goodness for playdates.

As Mom to a soon-to-be four year old, I can't help but wish that the book The Triumphant Child - a practical guide to raising two, three and four year olds had arrived just a bit sooner!

Chapter One - About Your Child breaks down information by year, outlining physical - gross and fine motor development, language speech and cognitive development, social and emotional development, practical tips and suggested books for each age. This chapter finishes with a list of recommended toys, and tips about toy safety. All valuable information, and a spot to scout for new ideas.

Further chapters are broken out by topics such as routines (morning, bedtime, mealtime), challenges (aggressive behavior, bath time battles, defiance, dressing challenges and more), and changes (moving, preparing for a new baby, starting school...). The book can be read straight through, or bit by bit as you find the most relevant topics for you and your child. Parent stories are sprinkled throughout for some nice illustrations about how some families cope with their challenges.

I hardly have time for a parenting book these days. Give me a practical book that can quickly impart information and it gets a special place on my nightstand.

Hideaway

2009-07-18T05:44:00.000-07:00

Daniel loves getting mail, and a few days ago the box at our front door was for him! We received a "Me-Too" Playtent made by Pacific Play tents ($34.95) courtesy of All Children's Furniture. Part of CSN Stores, All Children's Furniture carries a dizzying array of kids playtime items, furniture, bedroom furniture and decor. I love the one-stop shopping that lets me compare lots of different items without having to hop all over the web.

We've always been big on forts and hiding out around our house. Giggling under covers or trying to artfully drape blankets for a tent can provide loads of fun, although I must not be very good at the blanket thing as I seem to always be reconstructing my forts.

This roomy little play tent is designed for indoor and outdoor use, is durable, washable and set up in a snap. It comes with a carry bag and even survived a little (oops) thunderstorm last night. It's drying out on our deck today... It's a nice little getaway/space for Daniel in our condo, and even fits out on our deck. I wish I'd thought of it sooner!

Pretty!

2009-07-09T07:25:00.000-07:00

It feels ridiculous at times, but sometimes the littlest things give a charge to my day. I remember being quite tickled to find a perfectly pink day planner one year (I am a bit outnumbered by the testosterone crew here, after all, tripping over plastic soldiers all day...).

There is a new Softsoap Ensembles pump gracing my bathroom sink, and I kinda like seeing a touch of purple botanical flowers when I go to wash my hands for the umpteenth time a day. I have the Fresh Essence design pictured here, and there are several designs to choose from. Just save the pump and pop it into a new base for a refill. Less packaging is definitely a plus.

And I certainly love having something pretty to balance out the Spiderman toothbrush at my bathroom sink.

Small & Mighty Winners!

2009-06-23T06:03:00.000-07:00

Congrats to the winners of the all small & mighty laundry detergent giveaway!

Pennywise Persuasion who said: I am the primary laundry person in my home because my hubbie doesn't know how to separate darks from whites. He just throws them all in there together.

Secrets Custom Creations who said: I have a two year old, so I have a laundry adventure almost every day!!! I deal with stains that are almost impossible to get out, toys in pockets, marker, crayon, dirt and most recently potty training mishaps:) I could really use this!

Thanks everyone for visiting, and reminding me that I am not alone in my laundry challenges!

The Laundry Monstah

2009-06-15T07:58:00.001-07:00

I don't know about you, but my laundry fairly breeds on it's own in my washing machine. I'm challenged with a 3.5 year old boy who can create messes as only a 3.5 year old boy can.

Um, How did you get pizza sauce behind your shirt collar again?

I also am blessed with a guy who works hard all day, a good chunk of the time outside. Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow and all that. Although lately it has been on the rain, rain, rain side. Hello, pungent laundry!

The folks at MomSelect presented me with an opportunity to try all small & mighty Free Clear. The powerful 3x concentrated laundry detergent means they have been able to redesign a smaller bottle, offering the benefits of a bulk buy in a bottle that is easier to pour, store and carry. A formula 3x concentrated also means that I get to use less per wash, and a 96 oz. bottle should last me over three months.

I'm not a fragrance kind of gal, and so I'm enjoying that I can get the odors and stains out of my family laundry while using the Free Clear formula that contains no dyes, perfumes or enzymes. My clothes smell like, well clean clothes when I stuff them into the drawers and prepare for the next round of washing.

Try it Yourself - a Giveaway!
I have two coupons good for one free all small & mighty 3x concentrate (maximum value $6.50).

To Enter:
1. Comment on this post and tell us all about your best laundry adventure!

Bonus Entries:
2. Subscribe to Relishing the Dirt via feed or email and leave a comment letting me know that you have done so.
3. Follow Relishing the Dirt and leave a comment letting me know that you have done so.
4. Follow me on Twitter, and leave a comment letting me know.

Contest ends Monday, June 22nd - winners to be announced Tuesday, June 23rd.

Bakin' Bakin' Bakin'

2009-06-09T05:18:00.000-07:00

Confession time: I am a wannabe foodie. I love to eat, and even love poring over shows on the Food Network. (Currently It's Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Lots of yummy stuff, but it gives me cravings for road trips too...) There are some great foodie blogs out there as well. Ree at The Pioneer Woman posts wonderful tales of her life on the ranch, and the photos of her cooking are usually enough to set me drooling.

My own cooking skills - not so much. To be fair, life is complicated by H working twelve hour days (sometimes six days a week), and a preschooler who is still being intensely picky about what he eats. Our local Family Network recently hosted a one night class on "Dealing With Your Picky Eater." I signed right up for that one, to be sure! Out of lots of good advice, I got more tips for adding "good stuff" to recipes. With bread being very high on Daniel's list of Things I Will Eat, I made the leap to investing in a bread maker. Mmm! Warm toasty bread, made from my own ingredients!

This Sunbeam Breadmaker model 5891 came in at a reasonable price at just under $60. I've baked two loaves so far, a nice crusty white and a banana pecan.

Pros: Easy operating switches. Can make up to a 2lb. loaf. Select a light, medium or dark crust. There's even an ExpressBake option if you need bread quickly (usual cycle with all the kneading and rising is 3 hours).

Cons: The unit is on the large side. We are often pressed for counter space in our condo, so I am trying to find a balance between ease/frequency of use and taking up available counter space.

The class I took had some interesting ideas about adding items such as chia or flaxseed to boost nutrition. Anyone have any yummy bread recipes they would like to share?

***********
On a side note: What would we do without the Internet? I got to spend some time searching the web for a breadmaker that I felt would suit my needs, for a reasonable price. I was recently contacted by AllChildrensFurniture.com about doing a product review. They sell items as varied as kids bedroom furniture, decor and a multitude of playthings. They look like a good spot to do some hunting for that perfect item for your kid. I look forward to letting you know more about them soon!

Tickling Your Tastebuds

2009-05-11T07:21:00.000-07:00

Did you get pancakes for breakfast for Mother's Day? Did you know that Mrs. Butterworth has a first name?

There are oodles of contests and sweepstakes out there. This one tickled my fancy, though and I thought I would pass it along.

Stop by Mrs. Butterworth's website from now until July 17th and submit your guess for her first name. The person with the correct guess, and best reason why can win $500 cash and a year's supply of Mrs. Butterworth's syrup. A sweet deal!

Your Special Day

2009-04-30T05:50:00.000-07:00

I have a weakness for special jewelry and similar keepsakes. I can be absorbed for ages when the craft fairs come to town. And don't even get me started on Etsy, and some of the other fabulous artists I have found online!

Michele Esposito has a unique collection at Not Just Any Old Day. Her calendar charms are crafted from 100% pure sterling silver, and are personalized by picking a specific month with a special day marked by a swarovski crystal. Birthdays, anniversaries, wedding attendant gifts, first communion - these would be a wonderful way to commemorate any special date in your life. Prices start at $98, and pieces are varied. There are necklaces and bracelets, key chains and gifts such as a cake server, baby cup, baby spoon, business card case and more. All are able to be personalized with your special day on a calendar charm.

My key chain came in the mail recently. It's delicate, and pretty and honors my son Daniel's birthday. I'm thrilled to start using it. Now if I can just keep track of my keys...

********************
This review is posted as part of the Momfluence Mother's Day Gift Guide for 2009.

Thomas & Friends Live! On Stage

2009-04-25T04:44:00.000-07:00

Thanks to MomSelect, we recently received tickets to the Thomas & Friends Live! On Stage show - A Circus Comes to Town.

As H couldn't attend, I invited Daniel's buddy Murphy and Murphy's Mom to accompany us. Both boys were so excited they could hardly stand it! When I spoke with Darleen earlier in the day, Murphy had apparently told her that he was leaving his shoes on during his nap that afternoon - so he could be all ready to go!

Bursting with anticipation, the boys stayed out of their seats for most of the show. Our seats were a bit to the left, and sort of midway/to the back. This show is such a spectacle, it is hard to say that there was a bad seat in the house. The lights came down, and Daniel whirled around to Darleen and I to exclaim: This is so cool! I think a grin stayed on my face the rest of the night.

A group of engine drivers were in the audience, getting the crowd into it and we soon had Sir Topham Hatt introducing the engines themselves. The circus has come to Sodor, and Thomas must learn to work with his friends to ensure that the show goes on - without any "confusion and delay." There was a circus strongman, a trapeze artist and a clown who played pranks that Daniel still talks about: the clown jumped over the box. The performers had great voices, and the animatronic engine faces brought characters like Percy and Thomas to life on the stage. We were impressed by this quality production.

Thomas and his friends are still touring the country through August 1st. His next stop is April 28-29 in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Check here to see when he is coming to a town near you, and have a fun night out with your little ones!

Happy Friday!

2009-04-24T05:54:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone! It is due to be 70 degrees around here, with it leaping into the 80s the rest of the weekend. I'm off to find as many ways as possible to get out of my house.

Too bad grocery shopping must be one of them...

But one bit of business - the winner of the personalized box of My Fruit Roll-ups. Congrats to Andrea M.! Andrea, please get in touch to confirm your email contact address, so that I can send you your code.

Thanks everyone for playing!

Wow! Wow!

2009-04-22T04:36:00.000-07:00

Daniel is really into all things action figure-ish. Super heroes of all kinds, Transformers, Power Rangers, little plastic soldiers are constantly underfoot around our house. So I'm usually pretty tickled to find something he fancies that can take us in some new directions.

Sprightly little Wubbzy has a new video out. Wow Wow Wubbzy Pirate Treasure has 7 episodes full of adventures and silly songs. Wubbzy is joined by his friends Widget and Walden, as they search for buried pirate treasure. Other stories follow what happens when Wubbzy gets lost in the woods, we explore why Walden is afraid of the beach and more. A trip with the gang to the nearby town of Plaidville proves pretty interesting too.

Bubbly music, fun stories, silly characters have kept this DVD in some heavy rotation around our house recently. Thanks MomCentral for the opportunity to have a new peek into the land of Wubbzy!

"Mom? Can I Have a Snack?" (Giveaway)

2009-04-15T20:43:00.001-07:00

This is a phrase heard often around our house. Remember Fruit Roll-ups? I remember unrolling and peeling the fruity snacks when I was a kid. They have now landed on the web as My Fruit Roll-ups. With more than 400 graphics, or even the option of uploading your own photo, artwork or logo these are truly a customizable treat. Birthday designs, pirates, princesses, snowflakes, safari, Valentine's Day hearts, Luau, Graduation designs... there are loads of possibilities. These would make great party favors!

We had a chance to try out the website, and I found it very user-friendly to step through the ordering process. Daniel has had a Guitar Hero phase going on, and so I picked a design with guitars, music notes, and the word ROCK splashed across it. Adding his photo was the final touch. Our shipment arrived, and he and his friends were tickled with the fun snack.

Win It!
I have a code for one complimentary order of My Fruit Roll-ups to give away to one lucky reader. You have a chance to get four entries:
1. Visit the My Fruit Roll-ups site and come back here to leave a comment as to how you would design your roll-ups.
2. Subscribe to Relishing the Dirt and leave a comment letting me know that you have done so.
3. Follow me on Twitter, and leave a comment letting me know that you have done so.
4. Tweet about this giveaway, and leave a comment letting me know that you have done so.

Giveaway ends Thursday, April 23rd. Winner to be announced Friday, April 24th.

Happy Spa Friday!

2009-03-20T04:25:00.000-07:00

Take a deep breath everyone. It's Friday! It's almost Spring! And I'm here to announce the three winners of the Fiber One Spa Basket Giveaway. They are:

jburden
Laura
wehaf

Congratulations! Please check your email for a message from me. Thanks everyone for visiting!

Cheese-Heads Unite!

2009-03-13T13:20:00.000-07:00

Time's up folks! If I don't pick some winners now, this will not be out by the end of the day... The great random.org has spoken, and given back the numbers 19 and 49. The winners of a coupon for free Kraft Singles are:

Valerie2350, who cooks her grilled cheese in her mother's well-seasoned cast iron pan.

Mommyhood is Thankless, who likes to create a yummy-sounding turkey melt.

I will be in touch soon for your contact information. Congratulations!

And I'm happy to make the acquaintance of so many fellow cheese lovers! Stay tuned for another yummy giveaway coming soon!

Cheese - and a Quickie Giveaway

2009-03-10T06:49:00.000-07:00

I love cheese. Sometimes I think it must be in the DNA with my parents hailing from Wisconsin and all. Gooey on pizza, sprinkled over salads, a hunk of string cheese straight from the refrigerator - and a lovely bite of comfort food, a buttery, crispy-warm grilled cheese straight from the stove. Occasionally I change up the cheeses, or go for a little gourmet "glam" and add a thin slice of tomato to my grilled cheese sandwiches.

Plain ol' grilled cheese without the crust was a favorite of Daniel's early on. In true picky-eater fashion, he drifted from eating them for awhile. We recently tried Kraft American Singles, and an interesting thing happened. My carb-loving discriminating eater started peeling the bread apart to dig out the cheese! Not a total success, but I may start changing up the cheeses or breads, or cut them up into fun shapes or something to see if he will start eating them again.

Win It!
I have two coupons good for one free 12 ounce package of Kraft Singles (any variety). The expiration date is 3/31/2009, so this is going to be a quickie giveaway.

How to Enter:
1. Leave a comment on this post. If you feel inclined, tell me your favorite way to cook grilled cheese.
2. Follow this blog, or sign up via email or reader. (Please leave an additional comment telling me that you have done this.)

Two winners to be chosen the end of the day, Friday March 13th.

Join Me In A Time Out?

2009-03-05T07:39:00.000-08:00

Winter, it's safe to say, has been kicking my butt. We've had multiple household breakdowns, car breakdowns, a bout of family illnesses - all wrapped up in a neat bow with ice storms and snow, and rounds of cold. Spring can't get here fast enough for me.

It was lovely to have a nifty little gift basket arrive on my doorstep. Full of some chocolatey pampering delights: a bath pillow, some bath salts, scented soap and a fragrant tea light. It was also an opportunity to try new Fiber One chewy bars in chocolate mocha flavor. I love chocolate, but am not a coffee drinker so I was initially unsure about the flavor combination for my particular taste buds. There is a pretty good balance between the two, however making for a delicious, chewy sweet snack. Each bar provides 35% of the recommended daily fiber intake and also is a good source of calcium.

Did you know?
- Fiber can help you satisfy your appetite and manage your weight.
- Research suggests that people who have high fiber intakes tend to have healthier body weights.
- Fiber can help keep your digestive system on track.
- 9 out of 10 Americans aren’t getting the recommended amount of fiber.

Do you want to know if you are getting enough fiber? Check out the Fiber-O-Meter at: http://www.webmd.com/diet/healthtool-fiber-meter

Win It!

I have three gift baskets to give away to three lucky readers! (Please note that you will receive a coupon for a free box of Fiber One Chocolate Mocha Chewy Bars rather than the actual snack bars.)

How To Enter

1. Leave a reply to this post and tell me why you need a spa break!
2. Get an extra entry by doing any or all of the following: follow this blog, sign up via email or a reader. If you do this, please leave an extra comment indicating what you have done.

Contest ends Thursday, March 19th - winners to be announced March 20th.

Can't wait? Fiber One is now offering a $1.35 off downloadable coupon for one box of Fiber One Chewy Bars available at: http://bricks.coupons.com/bstart.asp?o=55392&ci=1&c=GM&p=4AbZ6NPX

And the Winner is!

2009-01-16T06:04:00.000-08:00

Colleen Jefferey of The Jefferey Family was checking out Holly Moose at the Build-A-Bear Workshop website. She had this to say:

"Holly Moose is adorable."

Colleen is the winner of the $10 in Bear Bucks/gift card to the Build-A-Bear Workshop.

Colleen, please get in touch with me via email/or the contact form on the website to provide your contact information - I will get your prize out to you ASAP. Congratulations!

Hello Hal!

2008-12-18T20:53:00.000-08:00

We had a new addition to our household yesterday. Hal Moose™, from the folks at Build-A-Bear Workshop®. What a treat! Plushy soft, he also hides a surprise. When your child squeezes his (paw? hoof?) the Christmas lights laced in his antlers light up! Hal arrived in his own decorated box "house" with a copy of Holly and Hal Moose: Our Uplifting Christmas Adventure - a debut storybook starring Hal and his sister Holly.

Currently Holly and Hal Moose™ are being offered together, for a price of $24 and you receive the storybook for free ($15.99 value, while quantities last.) Individual Moose are $12. Just a quick turn around their website shows store locations, an online shop and a virtual community at buildabearville.com™. A dizzying array of options are on display from choosing just the right furry friend for an occasion, to dressing them up with clothes, accessories and even sounds.

Daniel, like most kids around this time of year, is quite tickled with all things Christmas. Hal currently has a place of honor tucked in with him in his race car bed.

Win it!
I have a gift card of $10 in Bear Buck$ to give away to some lucky reader.

The Rules:
1. Stop by the Build-A-Bear Workshop website and take a look around. Come back here to this post and tell me your favorite stuffed animal. Maybe it's Hal? Chilly Cheeks Penguin?

2. Extra Credit: Get another entry into this giveaway by subscribing to Relishing the Dirt.

3. Winner to be determined by the Random Number Generator at Random.org.

Contest Ends: January 15th; winner announced January 16th.

Willy Wonka I Am Not

2008-10-22T09:32:00.000-07:00

I do not cook. Oh, I try and my family gets fed, but I am certainly not known for my cooking. I indulge in foodie blogs, and have grand ambitions sometimes... But my longtime favorite has always been baking. For an absolutely yummilicious blog check out Bakerella.

H adores homemade caramels. We visit my parents, and there is usually a basketful at the checkout of the local market. I purchase a couple, and usually find out that he has been making detours on his own to the market and nabbing some more on the sly...

Last weekend I made a first attempt at candy-making with the Better Homes and Gardens recipe for shortcut caramels. They taste quite yummy, but I have discovered that handling them isn't the easiest. Despite buttering everything (pan, foil, knife, my hands) I couldn't seem to get them to not stick to everything in sight. So - lots of good-tasting caramel, uh blops to eat. Any recommendations from any candy makers out there? I'd like them to look a little prettier, as well as be easier to deal with. Recipe is below:

Ingredients
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1 cup butter
1 16-ounce package (2-1/4 cups) packed brown sugar
2 cups half-and-half or light cream
1 cup light-colored corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions
1. Line an 8x8x2- or 9x9x2-inch baking pan with foil, extending foil over edges of pan. Butter the foil. If desired, sprinkle walnuts onto bottom of pan. Set pan aside.

2. In a heavy 3-quart saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add brown sugar, half-and-half or cream, and corn syrup; mix well. Cook and stir over medium-high heat till mixture boils. Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the pan. Reduce heat to medium; continue boiling at a moderate, steady rate, stirring frequently, till the thermometer registers 248 degree F, firm-ball stage (45 to 60 minutes).

3. Remove saucepan from heat; remove thermometer. Stir in vanilla. Quickly pour the mixture into the prepared pan. When caramel mixture is firm, use foil to lift it out of pan. Use a buttered knife to cut into 1-inch squares. Wrap each piece in plastic wrap. Makes about 2 pounds (64 pieces).

Shortcut Caramels: Prepare as above, except substitute one 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk for the cream. This mixture will take less time to reach 248 degree F (about 15 to 20 minutes instead of 45 to 60 minutes).

We have a Winner!

2008-10-17T04:54:00.001-07:00

After consulting the great Random.org, the winner of the Yoplait Prize Pack from my first giveaway is #36, Kelly Roncas.

She had this great tip: I like to cut my kids sandwiches in shapes. Dinosaurs are a huge favorite!! For the holidays, we have holiday themed sandwiches. They love peanut butter, so I sprinkle wheat germ on it. They don't know!! It gives them an extra iron boost. I also serve carrots and ranch dip and fruit on the table BEFORE our dinner. Usually, they are starving by dinner time and will pick at whatever is out, just to eat. It works out for both of us: the kids get a snack before dinner to stave off the hungries and I know they got a serving of fruit and a serving of vegetables!

Thank you all for joining in!

Christmas in, well October?

2008-10-15T19:09:00.000-07:00

While I lament every year the earlier and earlier appearance of the Christmas stuff in stores, (There is an aisle of tinsel-bedecked items hanging out already next to the pumpkins and goblins in my local department store.) it does serve the purpose of kick-starting my hunt for holiday deals and goodness. I will go on record as saying that I can't stand the stores the closer we get to Christmas. The crowds and the jostling and the circling for parking just make me twitchy.

I've already written about great websites like Etsy, and hope to support independent artists again this year to find some unique gifts for those on my list. The site 5 Minutes for Mom, which is just chock-full of resources also lists some interesting Mom-owned stores. Isn't this the best pedal car/fire truck? Daniel still has a thing for fire trucks... My grandparents had a pedal car for us kids when we came to visit in Wisconsin. Nothing so fancy (this one actually pumps water?!) - but we spent endless amounts of time cranking that thing up and down the sidewalks in front of their house. I'll have to see if I can find it - there's a great picture of me sitting in the thing in nothing but a diaper with blond curls flying.

As we swing full force into the Holidays, I'll continue to post websites and deals that I think might be interesting. I'm always on the quest for the perfect gift. And I love recommendations too!

Last Call!

2008-10-15T19:03:00.000-07:00

Win a yoplait kids prize pack! Contest ends tomorrow, October 16th at 5pm EST.

My First Giveaway!

2008-09-25T06:57:00.000-07:00

We are still deep in "picky preschooler" territory around our house. This can range from what to wear each day (the season changes are killers - how late can one wear "summer" crocs around outside?) to the inevitable food battles. We're eating a lot of peanut butter and mac-n-cheese. Daniel does OK with the standard fruits like bananas and apples and grapes, but tends to turn up his nose at anything too exotic. And a vegetable would cry for some recognition around here. I make sure he gets a multivitamin, and try not to stress too much about it.

So when Yoplait offered a chance to try their kids yogurt, I was definitely on board. Yoplait Kids Yogurt provides:

- 16 mg. of naturally sourced Omega-3 DHA per serving
- Excellent souce of calcium
- No artificial sweeteners or flavors
- Good source of vitamins A and D
- With protein
- 25 percent less sugar than the leading kid's yogurt

My guy who is a picky eater will drink lots of things, and he dove into the Mixed Berry yogurt drink with gusto. He also found a picture of the yogurt I had lying around on our computer desk and came running saying: "I want this."

I need to get back to the grocery store!

I am also excited to present my very first giveaway! Win a prize pack from Yoplait: A cooler, a coupon for Yoplait Kids Yogurt and a Brain Quest game.

The rules:
1) Leave a comment on this post to enter. (Make sure I have an email, or some way to get in touch!) Just say hi, or just for fun leave me a tip that helped your picky eater get on with eating.
2) Visit my blog Dirt Makes Fat and subscribe to get an extra entry. Tabs at the top will keep you in touch with us here at Relishing the Dirt as well.

Contest ends October 16th.

Where's that instruction manual?

2008-09-22T19:16:00.000-07:00

Lorilee Craker’s book The Wide-Eyed Wonder Years: A Mommy Guide to Preschool Daze couldn’t have arrived at a better time for me and my just-turned-three-year-old son. Daniel has been existing on a diet of peanut-butter crackers and macaroni and cheese. On the good days I can get an occasional banana, or a cup of yogurt in there. Daniel has boundless energy, and can usually be found bouncing on my bed or somersaulting from the couch. I try not to fret about it.

Enter Ms. Craker’s book. Written in an engaging, easy to read style reminiscent of gabbing with your Mommy group about raising kids - she tackles issues like picky eaters and more. This book can be read cover to cover, or there are fifteen chapters with amusing titles such as: "I Can’t Believe He Said That!"(kids say anything and everything, usually at the most inconvenient time) and "If You’re Going to Kill Each Other, Do It in the Basement!"(what to do about sibling squabbles). So if you like, you can jump to a particular area of interest.

Each chapter is liberally sprinkled with anecdotes from her "preschool panel" as well as stories from her own life, and examples as to what some Moms did when their little one, say, wanted to wear shorts in January. It was also nice to see a few chapters devoted to Moms such as: "Mom and Dad Got It Goin’ On" and "Mommy Minispas" to name a few.

On those days when your best buds aren’t around, this book is a nice portable way to remind yourself about the wonders of raising our little ones.

Think Pink

2008-07-22T05:09:00.000-07:00

My household occasionally feels like testosterone city. I spend my time stepping on matchbox cars and Spiderman or Batman action figures, and it’s not unusual to see H striding through the living room with Daniel firmly attached to his back - upside down. So the girly side of me gave a little squee of delight when I opened the package from 24/7 Moms with a lovely pink MomAgenda to test-drive.

I have a slight addiction to planners. It usually strikes sometime in the fall as the year is winding to a close, and visions of a better-organized me tiptoe ahead of me sprinkling flowers in my path.

MomAgenda is wonderful! Wide pages leave lots of space for information, and I can block in my week up top, and start a schedule for Daniel in the slots for kids below. (My friend Kim with five kids might have to squeeze a bit... but it’s loads of room for me.) I like the idea of planning dinners for the week, but I am rarely so organized. We’ll have to see if this new available space gives me some inspiration.

The front is chock-full of useful information such as: online resources, toll-free numbers, lists of holidays. The rear follows up with advance calendar planning into the coming year and many, many blank pages for planning/making notes with titles such as: books, movies, music, fashion, restaurants, wines, health, fitness... There are pages for entertaining and party planning, vacation ideas and planning, and just blank pages to scribble on to your heart’s desire. The final address book is removable, thank goodness as I spend far too much time transferring numbers when I get a new one.

I’m enjoying having useful information in one neat, pretty package.

Found Money

2008-01-11T11:12:00.000-08:00

Even before the baby I would find myself suddenly complaining that the purse I was carrying around (and afterwards the diaper bag) would after awhile come to feel like I had a secret stash of bricks inside. I'd fuss, and fume and harrumph. And when the bag was finally turned upside down about a pound and a half of change would fall out.

I started stashing the stuff. We've managed to keep the coins out of the couch cushions, but they turn up on counters, tables, in the laundry. I even found Daniel stooped over in the parking lot of the library the other day, and when I asked him what he was looking at he nonchalantly replied: Money, while poking in the dirt with his finger. Sure enough it was a penny. When I heft the piggy bank, and it starts to feel a little, um, hefty, I tote the thing to the grocery store with me and plunk the contents in the Coinstar counting machine. Invariably I can get between $10-$20 off our groceries this way.

Awhile back I saw an ad for a credit card that pretty much wanted to do this same thing for you. They said that they would round your purchases up to the nearest dollar and stick the difference into a savings account. I remember scoffing to myself, and thinking: Why do I need you to do that?? I can do that myself. It's found money that would just be junking up my car or weighing down my diaper bag - it's amazing!

The Cupcake Conspiracy

2008-01-08T10:42:00.000-08:00

On the technical side of the conspiracy going on around my house lately: I LOVE the muffin tin. I did load it into the oven by placing it on a cookie sheet... I just wasn't sure how bendy the silicone could potentially get after being in the oven. The cup sizes are a little different, and so the blueberry muffins ran over a little - but that can be adjusted. And something I never even considered until I tried them... the muffins were all uniformly cooked! My old metal tin would leave them darker in spots, especially directly on the bottoms, but these tasted even yummier. Give some silicone bakeware a try!

Next up:

Mommy Jewelry

2008-01-01T10:59:00.000-08:00

I love silver jewelry, and was excited to find Beth at Heart on Your Wrist. I actually purchased a few items this past year, getting a necklace for each of the "Grandmas" for Mother's Day, and even splurging on something for little ol' me.

Beautiful pieces, speedy professional service - I highly recommend giving Beth a try if this is something you are looking for. Her website has been updated with new designs - or create your own - and even fun words to wear.

Crafty

2007-09-20T03:11:00.000-07:00

I have a weakness for craft fairs. I just love strolling the booths, looking at one-of-a-kind items... jewelry, clothing, art, you name it. While there isn't the same ambiance as getting to personally stroll and examine the items, I just love Etsy.

Artists sell their work at this online store. The site is very searchable... I recently bought some Star Wars photo artwork cards as a birthday present for a friend. Take a look, click around, type in something off-the-wall... you might be surprised at what you find.

Yum

2007-09-07T16:41:00.000-07:00

For a little while now I have been receiving in the mail the hard copy of Kraft Foods & Family. Pictures are always scrumptious, and I like that most recipes seem fairly straightforward, simple, in plain English and use everyday ingredients I am more likely to have or acquire. The website has the added benefit of being searchable.

Even though we have been 90+ degrees today, I have Fall on my mind. I can't wait to try this recipe.

Pumpkin Spice Frosted Snack Cake

Enjoy the delicious flavor of pumpkin pie in this sweet and perfectly spiced cake. Each bite is lusciously moist thanks to a helping hand from Miracle Whip Dressing.

Prep: 20 min. / Total: 55 min.

1 pkg. (2-layer size) spice cake mix
1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin
1 cup Miracle Whip Dressing
3 eggs
1 pkg. (8 oz.) Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened
2 Tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 pkg. (16 oz.) powdered sugar (about 4 cups)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 13x9-inch baking pan; set aside. Beat cake mix, pumpkin, dressing and eggs in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until blended. Pour into prepared pan.

Bake 32 to 35 min. or until wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on wire rack.

Beat cream cheese, butter, milk and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Gradually add sugar, beating after each addition until well blended. Spread over cooled cake. Cut into pieces to serve. Store any leftovers in refrigerator.

Makes 2 doz. or 24 servings, 1 piece each.

See the website for variations, as well as other tasty recipes. Or sign up for your own copy of the magazine!

Baby Cheapskate

2007-09-05T04:16:00.001-07:00

I love tapping into sites that do some legwork for me. One of my recent favorites is Baby Cheapskate. Check them out for peeks at deals and sales on just about everything from shoes to strollers to baby proofing items to those things we all need. Especially interesting is all the price comparisons on diapers and wipes and where to get the best deals/cost per diaper.

A Unique Kid's Booster

2007-09-01T18:08:00.000-07:00

I am anxiously awaiting this product. My son is two, and has decided he will not stay in a high chair and dislikes traditional boosters immensely. The cool thing is to sit like the big people. Kaboost consists of "spring-loaded" arms that sit under the legs of a chair to raise the chair itself to the proper height of the table. It looks very portable, and so could even be toted to restaurants. What a great idea!