A Busy Mommy

Sixpence & Sunshine - Review and Coupon Code

abusymommyonthego@gmail.com (A Busy Mommy) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:18:00 +0000

Every once in a while I'll get contacted by a company who wants me to review a girls item. Though I don't have any daughters, I do want to make sure that this site appeals to everyone. Parents of girls are looking for products too right? So usually what I do when reviewing a girly product is recruit my Sister In Law and her daughter.

Now, a few weeks back I had a company contact me about reviewing a handmade skirt. I asked my SIL if she would be interested, and she was...so I accepted the item. When it arrived at my door I was just a little jealous. But as I've said before, I don't think my boys would appreciate pictures of them in a skirt plastered over the internet.

Sixpence & Sunshine is a New Jersey based company that create fun and beautiful clothes for children. Their clothing line is designed and manufactured at their headquarters in Princeton, N.J. and are sold in the USA and England. A great attention to detail goes into their childrens' clothes, and as their company grows they have stayed dedicated to maintaining that same level of excellence.

We received Charlotte Peasant Skirt from Sixpence & Sunshine for "T" to review. As I said, when it first arrived I just had to check it out. It was very well made and just adorable! It consisted of 3 contrasting fabrics and 2 different fabric ribbons to separate them. It also had a built in slip, which gave the skirt body. It has a flat front and elastic waist in the back, making it easy to get on and take off. The skirt is 100% cotton and machine washable. I love low maintenance. What I really loved was the colors of this skirt. Perfect for Spring and it would make the perfect Easter Skirt!

I passed it along to my SIL who then gave it to her (almost) 4 year old daughter "T". "T"'s first reaction was that she loved it and was going to wear it when she danced like a ballerina. She wore it to an all girl birthday party over the weekend and got many compliments as well.

Buy It!

You can get the Charlotte Skirt, and see their entire Spring/Summer 2010 line on the Sixpence & Sunshine website. Use coupon code BUSYMOM10 to save 10% off your order!

Disclaimer: I received the Charlotte Skirt free of charge to review with my family. The opinions posted above are a collaboration of our opinions.

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Hand Me Downs

abusymommyonthego@gmail.com (A Busy Mommy) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:28:00 +0000

My house is furnished with Hand Me Downs...

I'm really not complaining, many of them are pieces of furniture that I grew up with. Things from my mothers' house that she has grown tired of, and things from my grandmothers' that needed to find homes after she passed.

I wouldn't part with any of them.

I have two favorites...The first is a corner shelf. It sits in my living room holding pictures of my Grandmother and the grandfather I never knew, though my son is named after. It holds a few great candles and a gift from a neighbor from years past. Though it is in need of some repair, the door handles are missing and it has a few stains, it still fits well in my home. We all need a little fixing up don't we?

My second favorite is a dresser, again from my Grandmothers' house. It is real wood! So much furniture is made from MDF and pressed wood now, I love having something REAL. It has a dark stain, and again, could use some fixing up. But it's mine, and I'll keep it forever.

I really can't think of any big furniture in my home that I bought new! My coffee table was my Moms. If you look on the underside you can see where my sister and I would write notes to each other. My kitchen table was my Moms as well. I have an old school TV stand (it think that's what it is) that is missing it's sliding doors. One of our desks belonged to my other Grandmother, a beautiful desk but again, needs some nobs and handles. Even our beds were given to us. I suppose, looking around there are a few things that we bought...a pressed wood bookshelf, pressed wood pantry. But they have no meaning...there are no memories attached to them.

There is something to be said about hand me downs, even if they're not in perfect shape anymore, they have heart and soul, and that can't be broken.

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Wordless Wednesday - The Broken Arm

abusymommyonthego@gmail.com (A Busy Mommy) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:01:00 +0000

Please Note, All the above pictures were taken while Ben had pain meds - later that night he wasn't quite so happy.

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Organize.com - Giveaway

abusymommyonthego@gmail.com (A Busy Mommy) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:54:00 +0000

Is your kitchen organized? Mine is not....not at all. Though I try do try, for some reason with hubby and kids going in and out of the cupboards all the time - they just don't keep it the way I want it. Hubby actually has 3 cupboard of his own for all his baking stuff - and I think he keeps those neater than the rest.

While I was scouring the ~~pots~~ internet looking for sites to feature during the Everything Kitchen event, I came across this site, Organize.com. I started looking at some of the products that they offer and about 2 hours later I was still looking. I realized they have everything. Ok, well maybe they don't have the kitchen sink - but they have a shelves and mats to accessorize it!

I contacted them to see if they would be interested in providing a few prizes for all my lovely readers and they thought that would be a great idea! So I have a giveaway for all of you!

One of you will be taking home a drawer organizer. I need these terribly. My drawers are a mess of gidgets and gadgets, from clothes pins to potato mashers (not in the same drawer). This would fit perfectly in my mess!

This drawer organizer is made by Progressive. It is customizable to suite your specific needs and measures 12" W x 16" L x 2.5" H. It has a cool removable charger caddy in it as well! Very neat for keeping all you charger cords in one place.

Buy It!

You can find this organizer, and SO MANY MORE at Organize.com

Win It!

Want to win this organizer to help you with your spring cleaning an organizing? Head over to Organize.com and look around. Don't get lost! Come back here and tell me in a comment of another organizational product you would like to have in your home!

Extra Entries:

Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link in a comment
Follow @abusymommy and tweet about this giveaway, can be done once per day
Subscribe to A Busy Mommy through Feedburner
Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter
Add the A Busy Mommy Button to your blog
We love social bookmarks, Stumble, Digg, Technorati ect (one entry each)
Add the Everything Kitchen Button to your blog
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The Fine Print

Contest ends on March 30th at 11:59 EST. Contest is open to Canadian and US Residents. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and contacted by email. Be sure to leave a valid email address in your entries...If I can't contact you, you can't win.

Disclaimer: I received no compensation for this post. Just the opportunity to give away something to help with your organization, and as a result, your sanity.

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Spring Is In The Air...

abusymommyonthego@gmail.com (A Busy Mommy) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:25:00 +0000

And the mud is everywhere!

Here in Nova Scotia we've had above normal temperatures! The snow is melting, the sun is shining and the dirt and mud is staining everything. I can't stand to look at the siding on my place, it was white last fall. Now, it's littered with specs of dirt, dried leaves and just basic gunk. Who has time to go clean it?

Absolutely not me.

So, like with everything I do, I turn to the internet to try and find a way have it cleaned, but in such a way so that I don't have to do it! Ideally, I'd like it to be eco-friendly, and generally inexpensive. But I haven't found much in my area. I did come across a site for that would be great for any of you who live in Seattle though (lucky buggers). It is a Seattle Pressure Washing Company that goes by the name of Mr. Pressure Wash. I like the information that I found on their website. I was pleased to read that they Clean Green. By bringing their own water and reusing it, it significantly reduces the amount of water consumption. Read more here about how they clean green. You can even check out some of their work when you click here!

Now, If I can find a pressure washing company in my area that is green and reasonably priced who will come clean my walkway and siding I'll be smiling! In the mean time, if you drive by my house you might just find me outside with a pail and sponge, trying to clean the caked on mud off my walls.

Disclaimer: Yeah, I earned a few bucks for writing this post, but my house really does need the siding cleaned and I really don't want to do it.

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Tuesday's Tips - A Clean and Organized Kitchen

abusymommyonthego@gmail.com (A Busy Mommy) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:00:00 +0000

I know I've said it before, I am a Messy. I don't know why, or how it happened. I grew up in a clean house, was constantly gotten after to clean up behind myself, and am always willing to help clean up Other Peoples Houses (after dinner for example, not just for the sake of cleaning someone's house...I'm not crazy)

This is one of the things I am really trying to change about myself this year, going from a messy, to a not so messy...I know, it's not a huge jump, but at least it is something.

Here are a few of the things that I already do in my kitchen, this keeps it messy but not disgusting. I do hope to grow this list and my kitchen cleaning abilities.

Clean as you go - It is how my kitchen is not completely disgusting. When I start cooking, I fill my sink (I don't own a dishwasher) and I try to keep up with the dishes as I use them. It makes the job of cleaning up after dinner not quite so bad.
Cleaning Caddy - I've seen this tip around, everywhere. Put all your cleaning supplies in one little caddy, it makes for quick and easy clean up of spills and messes.
Clean your refrigerator the day before grocery shopping - If you family is anything like mine, you probably go grocery shopping on a regular basis. If you get in the habit of cleaning your fridge the night before the big shop, you'll see what products your low on (making grocery list building easier) and you'll be able to put your groceries away with much less frustration.
Assign Jobs - If you kids are old enough, give them a job to do. It makes you work just a little bit lighter and teaches them that these things must be done. It could be for an allowance if your really nice.
Once a month do a deep clean - the same goes for just about every room. But since the kitchen is the where the food is kept, cooked and eaten, you want to make sure that it's pretty clean. Wash your walls down, cupboard shelves, scrub and wax floors, and clean up any things that haven't found a home in the last 30 days. In our house it tends to be mail that has landed on top of the fridge.

Check back next Tuesday for more Kitchen Cleaning and Organizing Tips!

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Sixpence & Sunshine Promotional Code

abusymommyonthego@gmail.com (A Busy Mommy) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:00:00 +0000

Two weeks ago I received a Charlotte Peasant Skirt from Sixpence & Sunshine for my Niece "T" to review. Sixpence & Sunshine also wanted me to share with you a 10% off coupon code! With Easter coming up I"m sure many of you are looking for that perfect outfit, why not get it and save a few dollars too!

Save 10% off your order at Sixpence & Sunshine using coupon code BUSYMOM10

And be sure to come back on Wednesday to check out our review of the Charlotte Peasant Skirt!

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Bugalug...Review

abusymommyonthego@gmail.com (A Busy Mommy) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Sometimes I receive a product that makes me just a little envious...they make me wish that I had a daughter. Don't get me wrong, I love my boys like crazy, I just don't think they'd be to keen on me posting pictures of them in hair accessories and skirts on my website...especially come highschool time.

I the last little while I've received 2 separate products to review that made me yearn for a girl. Since that just isn't going to happen, my niece gets the honor of testing out the girly stuff. Below you'll find her modeling off some adorable hair accessories from Bugalug.

Bugalug sent me a bunch of adorable hair accessories for my niece "T" to try out. I wish I could have seen the look on her face when her Mommy showed them to her, she's such a girly girl that I bet she just lit right up! Tonight her Mom sent me pictures of "T" wearing the Bugalug hair pretties. Check them out...so adorable!

This is "T" wearing the Bugalug Barrettes. When I checked them out, I noticed that they were very well made, and they have a special silicone gel grip strip on the inside of the 'alligator clip' that keeps them from sliding around. This style of barrette is perfect for long hair, or that little bit of peach fuzz that babies have. At only $4 (sold individually) they are a steal!

The Pony Loops are too cute, and "T" wears it so well. A little harder to get a really good picture of, because it has a bit of a shine to it, but none the less, very cute. They come in so many different designs that you'll be sure to find one that matches her most adorable outfit! These are only $3.50!

Last, but certainly not least is the bugalug headband. Most definitely my favorite item of all that was sent. Made of a strong, high quality ribbon and featuring the most innovative toggle style clasp that allows this headband to fit just about anyone, infant to tween, right up to Mommy (26"). All the ladies at "T's" preschool though the toggle was ingenious, and I'd have to agree! The headbands are $8 and would be a perfect fit for her Easter Outfit!

Buy It!

You can order your bugalug products directly off their website at www.bugalugbaby.com bugalug is a Canadian based company. You can expect shipping within Canada to take 3-7 business days, In the US 7-10 business days.

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Mavea - Review & Giveaway

abusymommyonthego@gmail.com (A Busy Mommy) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:00:00 +0000

Water....

Fresh, Clean, Clear... My very favorite drink is a tall glass of Ice Cold water. But, most tap water just doesn't taste the way I think water should taste...it tastes...well...kinda gross.

My home is tied to the community water supply and the taste of chemicals stands out when you down a glass of my tap water. Even when kept cold in the fridge, you can still taste the chlorine. When we first moved in, (coming from a house with a well) we were buying 4L bottles of water from the grocery store. The cost .99 cents each, and came with a plastic bottle that then needed to be disposed of...though recycled, it still is unnecessary.

Shortly after we decided that buying water for drinking wasn't realistic, I started taking those bottles I had aquired to my mother's and filling them up with her well water. And though that did that wasn't a bad idea, I would run out at times, especially while I was hugely pregnant last summer and consuming close to 4L a day...yeah, that's a lot of water.

It was getting frustrating just how often I was filling up and lugging bottles of water around. Almost seemed like an endless cycle, and I often wondered how many times I could do this without the plastic bottles breaking down and leaching some crazy chemicals into my water.

The answer for me was a water filtration system. I was thrilled when Mavea agreed to be a part of the Everything Kitchen event here on A Busy Mommy. Since water is used daily in just about every home in Canada and the US...it's something we all relate to.

Did you know that the quality of the water that your using in your recipes can dramatically change the flavor of the out come? Try it sometime! Make a pie crust or pizza crust using regular tap water, then make another with water filtered through a system like Mavea...I noticed a difference when I did it! I even notice it in my Coffee. My Tassimo Coffee maker comes with its own Mavea Filtration System and when it's time to change the filter I don't need a reminder, I can taste it in the coffee. (I only just realized the connection between the two products the other day)

I've been using the Mavea Elemaris Water Pitcher now for about a month and a half. And does it ever make a difference. It has some really nice features to it that some other popular water filter pitchers don't have. The first I want to point out is it's size. It's slim design allows it to fit on the shelves of the fridge door. You also do not have to remove the cover to fill it up. It has a place in the lid specifically for pouring your water in, directly from the tap. But the best feature, in my opinion anyway is that you do not have to soak the filter...just give it a rinse and pop it in...within seconds you'll be drinking great tasting water. Below is a little bit of information about the Filtration System Mavea features...

MAVEA MAXTRA
MAVEA water filter cartridge with unique MAVEA MAXTRA filtration technology provides cleaner, great-tasting filtered water.

MAVEA water filter cartridge reduces:
Chlorine taste and odor and limescale for a great taste of hot and cold drinks,

Contaminants such as:

metals (like cadmium, copper, mercury),

organic impurities (such as benzene, MTBE and tetrchloroethylene)

pesticides (e.g atrazine or simazine) for your well being.

MAVEA water filter cartridge prolongs the lifetime of your domestic appliance by reducing limescale-build* up.

*Limescale reduction certified in internal tests, not certified by WQA

Have you ever had a filtration pitcher and when it came time to change the filter wondered what to do with it? Most of us would just throw in into the recycle bin and forget about it...At Mavea they want them back You can drop them off at participating store locations or send them back to Mavea....they'll even pay the postage!

Buy It!

You can purchase both the Mavea Pitcher and the replacement filters on Amazon.com

Win It!

I have the opportunity to give one of these awesome Mavea Elemaris Pitchers to one of you ever so lucky readers!

To Enter: Go to the Mavea website and browse around. Tell me about a feature or another product that interests you. Easy Peasy.

Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link in a comment
Follow @abusymommy and tweet about this giveaway, can be done once per day
Subscribe to A Busy Mommy through Feedburner
Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter
Add the A Busy Mommy Button to your blog
We love social bookmarks, Stumble, Digg, Technorati ect (one entry each)
Add the Everything Kitchen Button to your blog
Follow this blog through Google Friend Connect

The Fine Print

Contest ends on March 28th at 11:59 EST. Contest is open to Canadian and US Residents. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and contacted by email. Be sure to leave a valid email address in your entries...If I can't contact you, you can't win.

Disclaimer: I received a mavea water pitcher at no charge for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own and 100% honest. Individual results may vary.

The New Me.

abusymommyonthego@gmail.com (A Busy Mommy) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Burning the candle at both ends is what they call it - If there was a candle with three ends, they'd all be on fire! I am officially an unorganized chaotic freak show...ok, maybe not that bad. But, I have taken on a lot, and I love all of it. There isn't a chance in H.E. double hockey sticks that I'm giving any of it up, I just need to organize my life so it all kinda flows~~~~~~~(Is there such a thing?)

You see, in 6 weeks I need to go back to work - which means I need to go find a flippin job. Not my ideal thing to be doing with a baby well under 6 months. And, since he is so young, daycare isn't an option, so I need a job that will work around hubbies schedule and give me Christmas Off for our trip to Disney. Hmmm, think I'm asking a lot??

So in my everyday life I will have a home to take care of, 2 small children, hubby, my blog, other online commitments and find time in there to work 30+ hours a week. Ummmm I see a meltdown in my immanent future. On top of all that I have some personal goals...just for me.

I want to get healthy. I'm not sickly by any means, and I'd like to keep it that way. I need to change my regular diet...it's not too bad but could be better. I also want to lose 28lbs. I only have 8lbs of baby weight left, which I think is pretty awesome. The 20 is just for me - My average weight is around 160-165 (Since mommy hood began) I'd like to get it around 140. So with the nice weather starting I think it's time to get my butt moving and work on living an active lifestyle.

I took my first step yesterday at the grocery store. I bought Special K and decided I'm going to take the Special K Challenge. I'm designing my plan today, and will post every Monday how well I do. I love having someone to answer to :-)

So, I ask you to wish me luck...I've never ever tried to lose weight before...ever. And if you are doing something to help you lose a few extra pounds I'd love to hear it....especially that extra belly flab from pregnancy...

Here I go!!!

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Guest Post - The Bewitchin' Kitchen and her Boston Cream Pie recipe

abusymommyonthego@gmail.com (A Busy Mommy) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0000

Today we have our second guest post! Meet Randa from The Bewitchin' Kitchen and enjoy her yummy recipe!

My name is Randa and I am the woman behind The Bewitchin' Kitchen (http://bewitchinkitchen.blogspot.com). Over at The Bewicthin' Kitchen you will find out about my life. I am 21 years old and I LOVE to cook, bake (anything to do with an oven) I am also a scrapbooker and a mother. My son passed, he was a stillborn and instead of going to food to cope (like I started to) I, instead, lost 58 pounds! I have a bi weekly feature of "Weight Loss Wednesday" where I share my experience and tips. The alternating Wednesday is "Wedding Wednesday" because my fiancé and I (of almost six years together) are finally having my dream wedding this June. You can find that and more (recipes,reviews & giveaways included) over at The Bewitchin' Kitchen. I hope to see you all soon!

Boston Cream Pie
Pastry Cream:
1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated white sugar
3 large egg yolks
1/8 cup (20 grams) all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons (20 grams) cornstarch
1 1/4 cups (300 ml) milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Sponge Cake:
5 large eggs
3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated white sugar, divided
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup (60 grams) plain cake flour (not self-rising)
1/4 cup (35 grams) all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons (28 grams) unsalted butter
1/8 teaspoon cream of tarter
Chocolate Glaze:
4 ounces (120 grams) semisweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup (120 ml) heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon unsalted butter

Pastry Cream: In a medium-sized stainless steel bowl, mix the sugar and egg yolks. (Do not let this mixture sit too long or you will get pieces of egg forming.) Sift the flour and cornstarch together and then add to the egg mixture, mixing until you get a smooth paste. Set aside.
Meanwhile in a small saucepan, bring the milk just to a boil over medium heat. (Watch carefully and remove from heat just as the milk starts to foam up.) Pour the milk slowly into the egg mixture, whisking constantly to prevent curdling. (If you get a few pieces of egg (curdling) in the mixture, pour through a strainer.)
Place the egg mixture into a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat until boiling, whisking constantly. When it boils, continue to whisk constantly for another 30 - 60 seconds until it becomes thick.
Remove from heat and whisk in the vanilla extract. Pour into a clean bowl and immediately cover the surface with plastic wrap to prevent a crust from forming. Let the cream cool in the refrigerator for a few hours.
Sponge Cake: Preheat to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven. Butter and line the bottoms of two - 8 inch (23 cm) round cake pans with parchment paper.
While the eggs are still cold separate three of the eggs, placing the yolks in one large mixing bowl and the whites in another bowl. To the yolks, add the two remaining eggs. Cover the two bowls with plastic wrap and allow the eggs to come to room temperature before using (about 30 minutes).
Meanwhile, in a small bowl whisk together the flours, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
Place the milk and butter in a small saucepan, over low heat, and warm until the butter melts. Remove from heat, cover, and keep warm.
In your electric mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, (or with a hand mixer) beat the whole eggs and yolks and 6 tablespoons (75 grams) of the sugar on high speed for about five minutes, or until they are thick, fluffy and light colored (when you slowly raise the beaters the batter will fall back into the bowl in a slow ribbon). Beat in the vanilla
In another clean mixing bowl, with the whisk attachment, (or with a hand mixer) beat the egg whites and cream of tartar, at low speed, until foamy. Increase the speed to medium-high and gradually add the remaining sugar, beating until soft, moist peaks form. Gently fold a little of the whites into the batter to lighten it, and then add the rest of the whites folding just until incorporated. Sift half of the flour mixture over the top of the batter and gently fold through with a rubber spatula or whisk. Sift the remaining flour over the batter and fold in. Do not over mix.
Make a well on one side of the batter and pour the melted butter/milk mixture into the bowl. Gently but thoroughly fold the butter mixture into the batter. Do not over mix.

Divide the batter between the two prepared pans, smoothing the tops, and bake for about 18-20 minutes or until light brown and springy to the touch. (A toothpick inserted in the middle will come out clean.) Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool. Immediately run a spatula or sharp knife around the inside of the pans and then invert the cakes onto a wire rack. Remove parchment paper and re-invert. Cool completely.
When the cakes have cooled and you are ready to assemble the Boston Cream Pie, make the
Chocolate Glaze: Place the chopped chocolate in a small heatproof bowl. Bring the cream and butter just to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat. Immediately pour the boiling cream over the chocolate and allow to stand for a 3-5 minutes. Gently stir until smooth. Set aside for a few minutes until it has thickened to pouring consistency.

To Assemble: Place one cake layer on your serving plate bottom side facing up. Spoon the pastry cream onto the cake, spreading to make an even layer. Place the second cake layer (bottom side up) onto the filling. Pour the glaze onto the center of the cake and carefully spread the glaze, with an offset spatula, to the edges of the cake, allowing the glaze to drip down the sides. Let the cake sit until the glaze sets, about one hour. Serve. This cake is best eaten the same day it is made. Cover and refrigerate any leftovers.

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The Best Of Chef At Home - Giveaway

abusymommyonthego@gmail.com (A Busy Mommy) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:17:00 +0000

OK, so I am totally a wannbe foodie, and hubby is taking his "wannabeness" to the next level and teaching himself to cook. And I blame it all on Chef Michael Smith.

If you are a Canadian, and have The Food Network included in your cable package, then you know who this tall hansom man is. (OK, I'm allowed to crush a little right?) He is the host of Chef At Home, and Chef Abroad.

We have our DVR set to record both of his shows, every day. And we watch them every day. He has taught us a lot, about using the right flavors, spices, making sauces, and oh how I would love to have a pantry like his. It's funny how you can learn to cook by watching a TV show daily...but our dinner menu has grown so much since we started.

I wrote a review for his newest cookbook, The Best Of Chef At Home a few months back, you can see that here. Understand that this book is the most widely used cookbook in my house. Looked at daily I dare to admit. Even my mother comes to steal a peek at it once in a while, and my favorite food to eat is her cooking.

In Canada you can watch Chef At Home on The Food Network at 10am and 4pm est. You can follow Chef Michael Smith on Twitter, or check out his blog http://www.chefmichaelsmith.ca

Buy It!
Get a copy of the The Best Of Chef At Home from Amazon.

Win It!
I have one copy of The Best Of Chef At Home to give away to one of my Canadian Readers. Yes, canucks, it's your turn.

To Enter:
Tell me in a comment below why you want this book. Are you a budding food artist or need severe help in the kitchen. What ever your reason is, I wanna know!

Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link in a comment
Follow @abusymommy and tweet about this giveaway, can be done once per day
Subscribe to A Busy Mommy through Feedburner
Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter
Add the A Busy Mommy Button to your blog
We love social bookmarks, Stumble, Digg, Technorati ect (one entry each)
Add the Everything Kitchen Button to your blog
Follow this blog through Google Friend Connect

The Fine Print

Contest ends on March 25th at 11:59 EST. Contest is open to Canadian Residents. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and contacted by email. Be sure to leave a valid email address in your entries...If I can't contact you, you can't win.

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of The Best of Chef at home last year to review. I requested a copy to giveaway for my Canadian Readers and it was given.

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The Best Peanut Butter Cookies

abusymommyonthego@gmail.com (A Busy Mommy) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:29:00 +0000

This is my very favorite peanut butter cookie recipe. Do them up special by adding chocolate chips, butterscotch chips or even mini M&M's. They're always a hit in my house.

Ingredients

1 1/4 C Flour Sifted before measuring
1/2 tsp Salt
1 tsp     Baking Powder
1/2 C   Shortening
1    C   Peanut Butter
1/2 C   Granulated Sugar
1/2 C   Lt Brown Sugar, packed
1/2 tsp Vanilla
1          Egg

Instructions
Sift together flour, salt & baking powder, set aside. Cream shortening, peanut butter and sugars; beat in vanilla and egg. Stir in flour mixture blending well. Shape mixture into 3/4 inch balls and roll in sugar. Place on greased baking sheets. Flatten each cookie with the tines of a fork. Dip fork in flour periodically to keep it from sticking. Bake at 375 F for 10-12 min (10 minutes for softer cookies, 12 for crunchy)

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Wordless Wednesday

abusymommyonthego@gmail.com (A Busy Mommy) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:53:00 +0000

Ben

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A Mother's Dream Come True...

abusymommyonthego@gmail.com (A Busy Mommy) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:06:00 +0000

Yes, It's true. William is a Mother's Dream Come True. Why? Well, because he sleeps all night. It's not a fluke, it doesn't happen once in a while. Every night he sleeps anywhere between 7 to 11 hours, at only 2 1/2 months old. Lets all hope I'm not jinxing myself here.

Though this is wonderful. It truly is. I can get a full nights sleep. But I have one complaint. Well, two. First of all I wake up with the most rock hard boobs ever! They hurt so much it almost brings tears to my eyes I wish they could be that perky all the time, but as soon as Wil has his breakfast they're on their way back to my knees...but that's another story. The real reason why I"m sharing this with you is that Wil will not sleep during the day. He wakes up at 6:45, gets changed, eats, plays...sleeps for 30 minutes, then the cycles starts all over again. I cannot get this child to nap for more than 30 to 45 minutes at a time. And he only does that about 5 times a day.

Many would say that's a fair trade off for a full night sleep, but I haven't been able to get anything done...my house goes unvacuumed, the dishes are piling up, and the laundry...oh, don't even talk about the laundry.

Now, if you know me in real life, you would say, but Jen - that's what your house always looks like (It's true, I'm a messy by nature) but I had changed...or at least tried. I was getting house work done on more of a schedule...I even, at one point, had my laundry completely caught up. (Thanks to my mother for all her help) But now, with only five 30min breaks throughout the day, I'm lucky if I can pee twice a day. And poor Ben. He's craving attention so bad. He needs some serious mommy time. (insert mommy guilt here)

So, I would love love love any suggestions you may have for getting William to sleep longer during the day, doing a ton of housework done in a little amount of time, and finding time daily for Ben. I'm needing some Expert Mommy Advice.

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Uprinting Poster Giveaway.

abusymommyonthego@gmail.com (A Busy Mommy) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:49:00 +0000

Do you have a favorite picture. One that you took on a whim, not focusing, not trying...but it turned out absolutely beautiful? We all have one or two of those. I've got a couple pictures like that, but I've never really done anything with them. I could frame them, have them printed onto a canvas, or even try out some poster printing!

Uprinting offers everything you need in promotional printing, but it's not just for businesses. Want to surprise your kid on his birthday, take a picture of one of his most favorite times and blow it up into a poster. Did he score the winning goal, or did she do the perfect back flip (or visa versa) and you snapped a pic...what a perfect way to boost their self esteem but with a poster of themselves hanging in their room!

Uprinting has given me the opportunity to give offer one lucky reader an 18X24 Poster Printing on Semi Gloss or High Gloss paper stock.

To Enter: Go to Uprinting and check out all the printing products that they offer, come back here and let me know in a comment of another product you would like to try out.

Extra Entries:

Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link in a comment
Follow @abusymommy and tweet about this giveaway, can be done once per day
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The Fine Print

Contest ends on March 22nd at 11:59 EST. Contest is open to US residents. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and contacted by email. Be sure to leave a valid email address in your entries...If I can't contact you, you can't win.

Disclaimer: No compensation was received for this post.

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LAS FOTOS - Proud To Be Canadian

abusymommyonthego@gmail.com (A Busy Mommy) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 04:07:00 +0000

Joining in on a Meme here that you can find on Our Ordinary Life. The rules are simple, the picture has to mean something. My picture is of my two boys. I have always been a proud Canadian, I love my country and the freedoms that we have. I wouldn't give it up for anything. For Valentines' Day, my sister sent my two boys these outfits. It just so happened that they arrived late, and showed up half way through the Olympics. Kinda worked out perfect, Eh!

I love this photo so much that I've ordered a canvas print of it as well, and as soon as the boys outgrow the outfits I am having them framed.

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Xtrema Cookware by Cremacor - Review & Giveaway.

abusymommyonthego@gmail.com (A Busy Mommy) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 01:26:00 +0000

When it comes to cooking, you need two things...the first being skill (not much, just a little) and the second, good cookware. Having good cookware (and knowing how to use it) can make an OK meal into an extraordinary one.

In the last few months, I have really focused on my kitchen. I wanted to make sure that I was using top quality cookware. When you buy a good quality frying pan, and treat it right it will last you a lifetime. I have a few staple items in my kitchen that belonged to my grandmother. And they're just as good today as they were 20 years ago. It also reduces waste when you get the good stuff. Because it never sees a landfill.

I was thrilled when the folks at Cremacor agreed to send me a sample of their High Quality Ceramic Cookware to review here during the Everything Kitchen event. First let me share with you a little bit about Xtrema.

Xtrema Cookware is known as "The Healthiest Cookware on the Planet" Why? Well, because it is so environmentally friendly. It is made from the Earths' minerals and water. It is hand crafted by artisans and completely non-toxic. Check out the 22 day process of making Xtrema here. Even they're packaging contains only 10% styrofoam, 90% cardboard.

Xtrema lives up to its name as well. You can use this cookware anywhere....from the cook top, to the oven, the freezer to the kitchen table. Completely versatile! Saving you time. (It's always nice when you can reduce the number of dishes you have to wash) Not only that, this cookware can handle the heat. It can withstand temperatures up to 2700 F! Your old steel pan would have long since melted at these temperatures!!

I think my favorite feature is that It cannot be scratched! Metal utensils, steel wool, chore boys...try them all. The natural non stick enamel can take it all!

Check out more features of the Xtrema Cookware Line Here.

I was sent the 10" Ceramic Braiser pan with cover for the purpose of this review, and this pan has quickly moved to the front of the line of products I use daily. And boy do I love it! I figured the first time I used it, I was going to give it the big test. Baked Goulash with melted Cheese over the top. This recipe is yummy, but clean up is usually horrible due to the baked on melted cheese.

Now, I had to wait a little while after dinner before I could wash this pan up. It held on to it's heat for a long time. (Makes it wonderful for pot luck dinners!) Once it did cool down and I divided up the left-overs for future quick meals it was time to see just how well this pan cleaned up. I was very surprised at how well it lived up to its claims. Since the coating on it is naturally non stick, I was able to wipe most of it clean with just soap, water and dish cloth....there were a few spots where the cheese had baked on that I had to use my scrubby, and when I dried the pan, there wasn't a scratch to be found.

I am thrilled to have this pan in my kitchen, and hope that you will enjoy it as much as I do.

Check back next week for my video of a Pork Loin Recipe using the Xtrema Braiser Pan.

Buy It!
You can find the entire Xtrema line on their website. They even offer Free Shipping in the US!

Win It!

I have an Xtrema 10" Skillet to giveaway! The folks at Xtrema wanted one of you to enjoy their product just as much as I do! To enter, go to the Xtrema Website and have a look around. Come back here and leave me a comment telling me about another piece of cookware that you would love to own. (Please chose something other than the skillet or braiser pan).

Extra Entries:

Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link in a comment
Follow @abusymommy and tweet about this giveaway, can be done once per day
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Add the Everything Kitchen Button to your blog
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The Fine Print

Contest ends on March 21st at 11:59 EST. Contest is open to US residents. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and contacted by email. Be sure to leave a valid email address in your entries...If I can't contact you, you can't win.

Disclaimer: I received the braiser pan that I reviewed free of charge from Cremacor for the purpose of this review. All opinions are honest and 100% my own. Individual results may vary.

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Guest Post - The Tsunami Mommy and Kitchen Tips

abusymommyonthego@gmail.com (A Busy Mommy) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 19:03:00 +0000

When I decided to do a kitchen feature throughout March, I asked on Twitter if anyone was interested in doing any guest posts. I did have a few responses. Here is our first Guest Post from Stephanie Lee, AKA The Tsunami Mommy. Be sure to go check out her blog as well!

I’m a smart woman. I mean, I’m a really smart woman.

But something happened when I had my baby. Somehow, someway, I lost a few brain cells.

Sound familiar? I bet it does. I know I’m not the only one - not the only new mom with total Baby Brain. We were high-functioning, successful individuals that had everything under control. Our households were in order, (and clean!), we cooked dinner every night (and it was healthy!), we showered every day (and even shaved our legs!)

And then we welcomed a new person into our lives.

And so it began.

Well, let me save you a few ~~hours~~ ~~days~~ ~~weeks~~ months of lost time and massive frustration by sharing a few handy and quick tips to keep your life flowing, food on the table, and coffee in your hand after baby comes. After all...happy mom, happy baby!
(And perhaps the most important!) COFFEE. Take people up on their offer to bring you something when they’re coming over to visit. Craving Starbucks? Place your order! Nothing like a Starbuck’s to help a sleepy mom. Also? Use the program option on your machine. This might seen blatantly obvious, yet it took me TEN MONTHS to figure out...I try to remember to get it all ready before I go to bed each night so all I have to do is turn on the machine in the morning and we’re good to go. I know, I know, they come with the option to set an alarm, but really? Your little one is on his own time. He wakes up when he wants and it’s not always the same time each day. Simply turn it on and you’ll find you have a bit of extra time to play with your baby, throw in a load of laundry, feed the dog, clean the kitty litter, or GASP, wash your face and brush your teeth! Those 5-10 minutes can help out in SO many ways.

Buy pre-washed/ pre-sliced/pre-packaged everything! Seriously. Don’t question me. I found that by the time I entered the kitchen to even turn on the oven; my mind was already something new. Add diapers to the grocery list. Make a doctor’s appointment. Register for a mom-meet-up group, write thank you notes, throw laundry in, buy new bibs, the list goes on (and on and on and on...). Not only did I usually forget to turn the oven on, I more times than not, forgot to take something out to thaw. By the time I remembered it was usually too late, so take-out it was, or the horrendous frozen pizza. What really helped me was to buy pre-washed, packaged items like cooked, cubed/shredded chicken, pre-washed lettuce, those little packages of diced celery, onions, peppers, etc or better yet, FROZEN veggies (they’re already washed, chopped and blanched!) And another fave? Pre-washed & chopped fruit! Go to your local Costco or favourite grocery store and pick up a fruit tray! This way you’ll have handy (and nutritious) bits to snack on during the day. Trust me, I know that it’s easier to grab a cookie than to peel and chop fruit, so just DO THIS.

Cook as much as you can to freeze before baby comes. Make family size and also single servings, just for you. Believe it or not, when you have a new little one at home, first baby or not, cooking dinner might overwhelm you – especially when you’re going on little or no sleep from feeding all night. Having something on hand that you can quickly heat up will save you tremendous stress. And worry. And TIME. I found that in the last month or so of my pregnancy, I’d pretty much finished most of our prepping for baby, and yet I didn’t prepare any food in advance. My husband took a month off work and so I totally just counted on that. He’d be making lunches and suppers so I could focus on our new little one. But something dreadful happened: after a month, he went back to work. All of a sudden I had to get my act together. I had to PLAN. And it didn’t work out very well, lol! It took me SIX MONTHS to get dinner going at a normal time, and that was only because our son started solids so supper was now a family affair once again. Boy oh boy, I wish I had of gotten into more of a structured routine from the get go! Thank god for frozen pizzas and supermarket lasagnas. As awful as they are, they totally saved my bacon.

I hope these few tips can help out other new moms out there.... from groceries to playdate locations, it was surprising to me how convenience ended up ranking so high on my list of priorities. Gone are the days of leisurely preparing dinner, let alone driving across town for a certain item on my shopping list.

*Sigh*.

About the author: Stephanie Lee is a first time mom to one-year-old Oscar. She thought she knew it all until having him, at which time she realized she knew absolutely nothing at all. That pretty much sums up her first year as a new mom. Join her trying to make sense of motherhood, wifedom and family at www.TheTsunamiMommy.com and http://twitter.com/TheTsunamiMommy. She can also be found at www.ScratchpadSecretaries.com.
Maybe in year two things will start to make sense again. Perhaps she’ll even discover the secret to getting a little one to sleep....

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My Battle With Acne - Proactiv Review

abusymommyonthego@gmail.com (A Busy Mommy) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 04:07:00 +0000

I was nine when I got my first pimple...I remember it clearly because my Dad was proud. I was visiting him for the first time in years, but that is another story. I've now been battling acne for 20 years. I grew up with horrible nick names like Pizza Face, and Zit Face, you know...kids can be cruel. Those names only hurt for a short while, I quickly learned that those people didn't really matter. So I went through grade school, high school, and most of my young adulthood with an acne riddled face.

It didn't take long for me to learn that my acne really didn't matter to my friends. I always had a group of people who could look me in the eye, and talk to me like I was normal...because really, I was. I was still young enough that Acne was understandable.

I was a server for my whole life...essentially the front person for more than a few restaurants. My acne didn't stop me from getting jobs, (I must have one heck of a personality) it didn't make me shy or self conscious. I had no problems looking my guests in the eye, and putting my best face forward...or at least the best I had. Many people actually said that once they got to know me they didn't even see it anymore. Every once and a while a customer would ask about it. And although rude (at least I found it rude) I always smiled and humored them with the best answers I could give. I got questions like "Can't you take anything for that?" and "Doesn't it hurt?" I always answered, "Yes, it does hurt" and "I have...I haven't found anything that works for me." It was true, I hadn't. I had taken antibiotics, every over the counter acne product out there, I even tried accutane for a little while. Little kids used to ask me all the time...they'd say "What's wrong with your face" kids are honest...they're not trying to be mean, just inquisitive. They're parents would quickly hush them, and seem embarrassed. Those kids never bothered me. I would just tell them I had something called acne and that hopefully someday it will go away. I always assured the parents that I wasn't offended.

It wasn't until I hit 25 and was pregnant with Ben that I knew It wasn't going to get any better. Throughout my entire pregnancy my acne flared up...and there wasn't anything I could do about it. I had it on my face, neck, arms, back and chest...it was everywhere. Being pregnant I was scared to try anything new. At the end of my pregnancy my inlaws gave me a present. They had ordered the acne medicine that was on TV...you know, Proactiv.

2004 - Before I found Proactiv

I had always wanted to try it, just for some reason or another I never ordered it. I was skeptical...I thought since I had tried everything else, there is no way it would work. I was wrong.

Within days of trying Proactiv, I noticed a change. The hard cysts under my skin were getting smaller, less painful. The pimples on top of the skin were healing...fading away to nothing. I was excited. At that point I hadn't had a single day of clear skin in 15 years. Within a week, my skin looked better than it had ever looked before...Ever! I had never felt so free, so light, so unburdened. I was shocked...and mad! I was mad at myself for spending so much time watching those late night infomercials, for years I watched so many celebrities tell me that it worked...but never ordered. I am now, and forever will be a Proactiv customer, and success story!

2009 - Using Proactiv Daily

When I came across the opportunity to review Proactivs' new enhanced formula, I jumped at it. When I have real confidence in a product I just love to share it! And this one I knew I loved. The new Proactiv contains Micro-Crystal Benzoyl Peroxide acne medicine, which is designed to get into pores fast. I've used this New Proactiv now for a little over a week, and I am completely satisfied! My skin is under control...and the odd little flare up that I do get is taken care of with the refining mask. I truly believe that if you or your teen is fighting the acne battle right now, you should try this. I can't guarantee that it will work for you, we're all made just a little bit different. But I know that I had horrible acne for 20 years, and it works for me.

Katy Perry is now adding herself the the long list of Celebs that share their acne stories with Proactiv

I agree with Katy, It is hard to put yourself out there, especially online because you can't see me most of the time. But, if one teenager sees this post, and finds a product that works for them because of it...It's worth it for me to tell my story!

Disclaimer: This story is mine...completely. I have truly suffered from acne for over 20 years, and I do use Proactve as my daily skincare regiment to keep my acne controlled. It works for me. I was given Proactivs' new formula for review free of charge in exchange for a review. I found the opportunity on The Product Review Place

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This Weeks Winners!

abusymommyonthego@gmail.com (A Busy Mommy) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:53:00 +0000

It's Friday!

Today I get to make a few people day by announcing the winners of the contests that ended throughout the week!

Princess & Pirate Potty Book Giveaway!

There is three prizes for this giveaway! The Grand Prize was a copy of both books and a $30 Target gift card. And the winner is....

The two first place winners each will receive both copies of the book, and the winners are...

Glamourmom Nursing Tank Giveaway

Baby Ddrops Giveaways

Two winners, One US and One Canadian

Canadian Winner

US Winner

Shabby Apple 90WPM Dress

That's It for this weeks winners! Congratulations to all those who won and be sure to enter all of our Current Giveaways!

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Just A Little Update.

abusymommyonthego@gmail.com (A Busy Mommy) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 03:13:00 +0000

First of all, I have to say I AM TIRED! I can't believe just how much having two kids wears you out! Ben and Wil are the center of my day, every day...and by the time I get them both to bed I am ready to flop out myself. But alas, my love for my bloggy world will not let me do that.

But I will say I find myself getting lost, sidetracked...not accomplishing as much as I need to. So I'm taking this weekend off..Just so you know. I'll work my butt off tomorrow to get some posts scheduled for the weekend and I'll be MIA. (actually you'll find me cleaning my bathroom, scrubbing floors and knee high in laundry) Either way...I have some housework to catch up on, and I need a bloggy break. Rest assured I'll be back to work on Monday with my game in check and some awesome posts, reviews, recipes, giveaways and even a few guest posts for you! It'll be an exciting week!

I have to say, I'm a pretty lucky Momma. As many of you know, I just had my ~~Dirty~~ 30th birthday this past week and my boys were wonderful to me. DH Stayed up all night making me a cake (I'll update later with a pic, batteries are dead in my camera) It had rolled fondant, a rose and leaves...it was really pretty. He is becoming quite the cake maker. Move over Charm City Cakes!! The night before my Birthday, William slept all night! He's done this a few times now, but I'm always thrilled when it happens. It feels so good to get a good night sleep. My my ~~boobs~~ breasts aren't liking it. They're getting very sore in the mornings...good thing he wakes up hungry!

And he's a growing boy! William is 9.1/2 weeks old and already a whopping 16lbs!!! Can you believe it! I know he came out with quite the head start but he is huge! He looks like a 4 or 5 month old version of Ben. Almost Identical at that. I'm hoping he slows down a bit soon or else he'll outgrow his car seat carrier way too early. (Not that I can carry it well, he's heavy)

Ben is doing very well too! He's a gamer, and comes of it honestly. I'm a gamer too! Just wish I had more time to play them. He's very good at most Mario Games, and pretty much anything at a 10 year old level...not bad for only being 5. He's very excited to be starting school in the fall, though I am still a bit nervous. I don't want to let him go, but I know the break will be nice.

Anyway, that's my little up to date post. I'll get some batteries for my crappy camera soon and share some pics with you!

Have a great weekend!!!

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5 Dollar Dinners Q&A and a Giveaway

abusymommyonthego@gmail.com (A Busy Mommy) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:15:00 +0000

Times are tough, they always are, and we always find ourselves looking for ways to save money..to tighten the purse strings so they say. One of the first places that we cut our budget when those tough times come around is the the Grocery Store.

My family spends close to $500 on our monthly grocery bill, and there is only 4 of us. Two adults, Ben (almost 5) and Wil (2 months). I think our food bill is insanely high, and went looking for ways to bring it down. That's when I came across a popular twitterer (is that a word?) @5dollardinners, owned by Erin Chase. Author of the New Book, The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook!

Erin graciously agreed to answer a few questions for us, to help us get to know her and her book just a little bit better!

Question 1: Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
My name is Erin Chase, and I have a little problem. I can no longer make dinner for more than $5! It's a good kind of problem to have, don't you think?!? I live in SW Ohio with my husband and 3 little men. Busy would be an understatement. When I'm not feeding my hungry brood, I enjoy running and being outdoors.

Question 2: What prompted you to write the book, 5 Dollar Dinners?
The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook was born from my website, www.5dollardinners.com. The website was born out of necessity, as our family budget was stretched to the max during the summer of 2008. We decided to reduce our grocery budget to offset the skyrocketing gasoline prices. A challenge ensued and the website was born.

Question 3: On your website you post many coupons...would you say these are a key factor in grocery store savings?
I use coupons in 99% of my shopping trips. I use a variety of coupons, both from the internet and the newspaper, to help reduce my overall grocery bill as much as possible.

Question 4: Is there one product that you believe is essential to every families kitchen?
There are too many really, but if I had to narrow it down, I'd say a slow cooker. Love how it just takes a few minutes to load up with ingredients, and then it does all the hard work for you...not to mention how fabulous your home smells when you walk in from a long day at the office or a busy afternoon running errands!

Question 5: Do you have any tips that you would like to share with out readers?
When it comes to reducing your grocery spending, take baby steps. Don't try every strategy out there at once. Choose one that works for you and start there.

Buy It!
You can get this book at these fine retailers...

Win It!

I have one cope of The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook to giveaway to one you! To enter tell me in a comment why you would like to win this book! And don't forget to check out The $5 Dinners Website!

Extra Entries:

Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link in a comment
Follow @abusymommy and @5dollardinners and tweet about this giveaway, can be done once per day
Become a Fan of $5 Dollar Dinners on Facebook
Subscribe to A Busy Mommy through Feedburner
Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter
Add the A Busy Mommy Button to your blog
We love social bookmarks, Stumble, Digg, Technorati ect (one entry each)
Add the Everything Kitchen Button to your blog
Follow this blog through Google Friend Connect

The Fine Print

Contest ends on March 18th at 11:59 EST. Contest is open to Canadian and US residents. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and contacted by email. Be sure to leave a valid email address in your entries...If I can't contact you, you can't win.

Disclaimer: This was not a compensated post. Just some great information that I wanted to share.

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Flirty Aprons Review & Giveaway

abusymommyonthego@gmail.com (A Busy Mommy) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:37:00 +0000

Suck in the kitchen? I am too, all the time. Between breakfast, lunch and dinner, I feel like I never get to leave. Not always a bad thing, But I know I'm preparing good, healthy food for my family and the alternative would be buying pre-made food and nuking it. Yeah, not so much.

So while I'm attached to my stove at the hip, and don't get out much. It makes me feel really good to at look good. But there are downfalls. When your in the kitchen, wearing your Sunday best, you tend to get dirty...try cooking curry chicken while wearing a white top...not a good combination. So, an apron is in order. My Mom actually got me into aprons. She wears them all the time, and loves a stylish apron. Not just a Plain Jane. So when I was given the chance to try out Flirty Aprons I was thrilled.

I received the Scalloped Sassy Red apron, and I LOVE it. Number 1, Red is my favorite color. I love it...I think it's because it stands out so well against a white background. It is so attractive that I almost want to wear an apron over it, so I don't get it dirty either! Not only does it look great, it is functional too. It has two pockets that rest close to my upper thighs gives me a place to store those little things I don't want to lose. Like a binky for baby, or matches for the range. It has two separate ties, one around the neck, and another around the waist. These allow it to be one size fits all, and those ties are nice and long. I wrap the waist tie around once, and tie it in the front.

I'm looking forward to picking out a new apron for Mom this Mother's Day. I just know she'll love them as much as I do!

Buy It!

You can purchase these gorgeous aprons on their website, http://www.flirtyaprons.com/
You can save 30% by using coupon code 30Coupon - This expires March 4th at Midnight, so HURRY!

Win It!

Flirty Aprons have allowed me to offer one of my fabulous readers an apron of their choice! To enter, please go to the Flirty Aprons website and have a peek around. Come back here and leave me a comment telling me what your favorite design is. Easy Peasy!

Extra Entries:

Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link in a comment
Follow @abusymommy and tweet about this giveaway, can be done once per day
Subscribe to A Busy Mommy through Feedburner
Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter
Add the A Busy Mommy Button to your blog
We love social bookmarks, Stumble, Digg, Technorati ect (one entry each)
Add the Everything Kitchen Button to your blog
Follow this blog through Google Friend Connect

The Fine Print

Contest ends on March 17th at 11:59 EST. Contest is open to Canadian and US residents. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and contacted by email. Be sure to leave a valid email address in your entries...If I can't contact you, you can't win.

Disclaimer: I received the apron that I reviewed free of charge from Flirty Aprons for the purpose of this review. All opinions are honest and 100% my own. Individual results may vary.

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Recipe - Twice Baked Potato

abusymommyonthego@gmail.com (A Busy Mommy) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:02:00 +0000

Jens' Twice Baked Potato

I am a huge potato fan. I could eat them all the time, every day. Be it Mashed, Smashed, Baked, Boiled. It doesn't matter, I LOVE THEM! They are the perfect side dish to just about any protein. And they fill you up! Here is one of my favorite recipes, the twice baked potato. I find this recipe works best with russets, just because of their long shape. White potatoes hold up well too. But use what ever works best for you...The kitchen is just like a science lab...full of experiments.

What You'll Need.

1 potato for every person being served
1 clove garlic for each potato
1 Large Onion
1 Cup sliced mushrooms
1 Cup Grated Cheddar Cheese
Sour Cream

Chives

Bacon Bits

What To Do
First of all, you need to make potato boats. This is a great time to use up those left over baked potatoes. But if you don't have leftovers, just bake some fresh ones (I cheat...I microwave them for about 20 minutes) Either way, start out with Baked Potatoes. Cut them down the middle lengthwise and scoop the potato out of the shell. Leave enough potato around the sides to give the shell some strength. Save the potato that you scoop out though, your going to use that for your filling mix. Once you've made your boats, just set them aside.

Next you need to make your filling. Add some butter or oil to a non stick frying pan, and heat it up. Diced Onion and Garlic go in next. Let those cook until the onions start to brown, but be sure not to let them burn. Once they've softened add your mushrooms and the potato that you set aside earlier. Cook that until the mushrooms start to shrink, and the potatoes start to brown slightly...again don't burn. Just before you take it off the heat, add your cheese.

Take your filling and stuff the potato boats as full as you can...heap it up on top if you'd like. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 min, or until top starts to lightly brown. Plate and top with Sour Cream, Chives and Bacon Bits! ENJOY

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