Kat's Adventure Book

Wahl Massage Review and Mom Relief Intiative Contest

2012-05-02T15:25:00.005-04:00

Keeping up with little man is hard work. When I put peanut down a night, I sigh a little relief. Unfortunately, it is only then that I remember the twenty other things I've put off during the day that I need to get done now that he's sleeping. The dishes, the lawn, the laundry... it never ends.
I am really looking forward to mother's day this year. I've been promised a relaxing chore free day.

Since not everyday can have the Mother's Day perks, I have never been happier to be offered such an awesome product to review! A few weeks ago, we received a Wahl Deep Tissue Massager. After an extra long day of lifting little man from trouble and toting laundry baskets, its so wonderful to just take a few moments to relax my back muscles. My husband also gives this product his vote of confidence. He's always had a notoriously bad back, which driving his 90 minute one way commute in a compact car only exacerbates. He's marveled that we've never tried such a product before--where has this Deep Tissue Massager been our whole lives.
The massage is percussive. I love that the speed is fully adjustable, up to an amazing 3350 pulses per minute! The speed adjust with a dial--not just a 3 speed setting, so you can find just the right massage for you.
There are four different interchangeable attachments to get the custom massage you want. I think my favorite is the rounded deep muscle attachment, which does great for an all around massage. There's also an accupoint attachment, so you can concentrate on those trouble spots. The four fingered attachment is meant to simulate the human touch of a conventional massage. The raised bumps attachment is also great all for an all over massage. The attachments screw on and are very easy to change.
I love how customizable this product is. I love that it is perfect for both men and women. But most of all, I love how relaxing just a few minutes can be. So even if every day isn't Mother's day, I can still take just a few moments to let go of all the daily stress.

Do you know a mom, grandma, wife or daughter who deserves to win fabulous Wahl Home Products for Mother's Day? Wahl Home is giving away 50 therapeutic massagers to 50 well deserving moms through their Mom Relief Initiative.

To enter, you must first like Wahl Home on Facebook.
Next post a comment on why the mom on your list could use some much needed relief. Entries will be judged based on their uniqueness and sincerity.
The contest runs from through May 13.

For more on the health benefits of massage and the full line of Wahl therapeutic massagers, make sure to visit wahlmassagers.com.

This is a MamaBuzz Media review. The product was provided by Wahl Home. I was provided this product free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion. I received no additional compensation for the content of this review. All opinions are 100% my own.

Book Review: Socialpunk

2012-05-01T15:53:00.005-04:00

As a high school librarian, I try to be well versed in the world of YA literature. That's why I leaped at a chance to preview Monica Leonelle's latest offering --Socialpunk, the first installment of her Socialpunk Trilogy.
Monica Leonelle is a digital media strategist. She is also the author of Silver Smoke and Tin Soldier from the Seven Halo's Series. She blogs at Prose on Fire (http://proseonfire.com) and shares her writing and social media knowledge with other bloggers and authors through her Free Writer Toolkit (http://proseonfire.com/free-writer-toolkit).
Her latest offering features Ima, the teen victim of an abusive father. Ima longs to be free from her father and from the Dome-- a futuristic Chicago with barriers because of the wasteland that surrounds it from the "Scorched Years. While partying with her crush, she is tricked in to following a hooded man who rescues her from the exploding party. She follows the stranger to a new future world, learns to thrive in the new world, and must decide if she wants to fight to save the old world.
Excerpt:

Prologue

After playing God for six years with the world he created, he couldn’t control any of his subjects, none at all. Over the years, he had watched them evolve and become the sum of their own choices rather than the sum of his; and for that, he regretted ever giving them life.

A small, blinking red light from just inside his eyelid reminded him of the news they sent him earlier that morning. The company had cancelled his funding and would shut down his project within three months. According to them, the project cost too much and took up too much space, and the inconclusive results couldn’t be published reputably, now or in the future.

Six years of his work, tens of thousands of lives at stake—and he could do nothing to save any of it. He bowed his head, letting his chin rest on the rim of his breakfast smoothie. The smoothie reeked of powder—crushed pills—but he supposed he had better get used to it. He wouldn’t be able to afford the luxury of real food after they canned him.

He closed his eyes and called up the camera view of one of his favorites, number 3281. She fascinated him; he couldn’t deny it. When he had designed her, her pre-teen rebelliousness lit fire in her eyes. A survivor, he’d thought. He’d meant for her to have it all—to grow up, to get married to the love of her life, and to have a beautiful family of her own someday.

But he had only given her sadness so far. Instead of creating a strict father, he had given her an abusive one. Instead of creating a loving boyfriend, he had given her a friend who could never love her. And instead of creating a strong, proud mother, he had given her a meek one, who watched the whole thing unfold and did nothing about it.

He looked at his last and final creation sitting in the chair across from him—his own son, not awakened yet. The law forbade him to have any children of his own, so this boy would substitute.

But he had done the unthinkable with this creation—he had bestowed on it his own thoughts, emotions, and decision-making processes. He’d given the boy his own mind, his own physical characteristics, his own wants and desires.

He had never done so with any of the others because of the dangers of investing too heavily in any one of his subjects. But who could he kid? He had not stayed objective thus far, watching some of his subjects more closely than others, wishing for the happiness of some at the expense of others. He had become an abomination, a monster of his own doing, who had created subjects only to watch them suffer.

He couldn’t forgive himself; not now, not ever. His eyes lingered on the vial that sat next to his breakfast smoothie, that he’d stowed away for the day when they destroyed all his work, his entire world. He would save it, tuck it away for now, for as long as he could protect them. When things spun out of his control, he would drink it and end himself the way he had ended them.

In the ancient stories, gods frequently gave their sons as gifts. Now, he would give his son as a gift to her, number 3281. So she could be happy in her last months on earth, before they destroyed her with the rest of them.

On the one hand, I was very inspired by Monica's writing. Coupled with reading Socialpunk, I was asked to also critique a student's magna opus--a superhero/fantasy YA the student wrote in her spare time. That's right, a student found the time to put 244 pages of story into the written word, which is more than most anyone I have ever known has composed on a single topic. Alas, the student's writing isn't quite publisher ready. I think my biggest critique for the student's story was her penchant for "telling" instead of showing the reader. I liked that I could point to Leonelle's work as a comparison for my student--it was very hard to put into words the difference in showing the reader verses telling the reader. So for this reason, I am in debt to Leonelle's more mature storytelling style.
That said, I think I am on futuristic YA distopia burn out. I've never been that crazy about futuristic/sci-fi novels but they seem to be this YA season's version of the vampire craze. I found Socialpunk's lead character a little to reminiscent of a Meyer's Bella. The multiple love triangles seem like they've been featured in every popular YA book my students' recommend. The story was a mix of the matrix and predictable YA cliches. While Leonelle attempts to create an original world, all of the "surprises" even up to the last lines of this novel, are easy for an astute reader to guess in advance. While I think my students will like this novel, it really was disappointingly not my cup of tea.
If you'd love to give Socialpunk a fair shake on your own, you can purchase your own copy here
Amazon: http://monicaleonelle.com/SocialpunkA
Barnes and Noble: http://monicaleonelle.com/SocialpunkB

Many thanks to Monica Leonelle for providing a copy of her book for my review in exchange for a fair and honest review. I received no additional compensation for my review. All opinions are 100% my own.

Get Earth Day Friendly with Roaring Spring Paper Products from #Shopletreviews

2012-04-23T21:57:00.000-04:00

I have again been blessed with another perfect selection of products from Shoplet.com This shipment included a bundle of great eco-friendly paper notebooks and note pads from Roaring Spring. Included were the College Ruled Landscape Format writing pad, a quad ruled landscape format writing pad, a one subject wire bound notebook in a delicious shade of pink, a 3 subject notebook in three different shades of paper, an environotes Sugarcane notebook, and an Elephant PooPoo Paper notebook.

Although I could sing the praises of all of these items, I ‘ve been asked to limit my comments to my three favorites.

I first tried the Wide Landscape format writing pad. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a landscape format notebook, let alone actually used one until now. Yet, I managed to find a perfect use for it. I am studying for a major test to become licensed as a school librarian. This weekend, I took a few practice tests. The landscape format was perfect for this task, as I could number columns 1-25, which really helped me pace my progress and not feel overwhelmed. I liked that I had plenty of room to get all columns on a single page, without flipping. For certain organizational tasks, like multiple lists and note taking efforts, I could definitely see how the landscape design would be useful.

The paper is super smooth and in my experience, did not show bleed through, even with my preferred felt-tip pens. The pages are perforated at the top, which is both incredibly durable, yet also allows for clean and easy paper removal.

Working in education, I’ve often got my eyes on “a better mousetrap.” I really like the Roaring Spring Wirebound three subject notebook. The front cover is a sturdy colorful vinyl, while the back cardboard cover is extra heavy/thick and durable. The inside paper comes from 30% post-consumer recycled paper. Although sometimes I’m not crazy about recycled papers—the can look dingy, feel gritty, or tear easily when an eraser is applied, none of these objections are a fault I find with this paper. I love the three bright cheerful colors of each section that help divide the notebook. I remember from my teaching days that there are students who do better with colored paper than white. If you could find less-traditional thinking teachers, the color coding would be a great way to help keep notes from different classes separate.

For my final review, I really need to say something about the Elephant PooPoo Paper. Yes, you read that right, its paper made from Elephant dung. Changing multiple cloth diapers on a daily basis quickly makes one an expert in PooPoo, and believe me, I was convinced there was nothing likable or cute about PooPoo, no matter what kind of cute name you give it. Or so I thought, until I met this notebook. Seriously, this notebook is made from post-elephant consumption fibers. If you’ve ever been to a zoo, you have no doubt that elephants are sufficiently equipped to produce tons of fiber-rich waste, perfect for paper making. Bragging that they” take the oo out of poo,” I’m actually very impressed with how ingenious this little notebook is.

First, let me clear any misconceptions that no, the notebook doesn’t stink. It doesn’t even have a mild fragrance. I love the cute little size. I love the blank pages inside which seem to invite me to write something heartfelt and creative. I love the handmade feeling texture of the paper. The notebook is just too cute. The whimsical flying elephant on the cover makes me smile. The novelty of its creation only adds to its overall charm.

Thank you once again to Shoplet for providing another amazing collection of products for review. If you'd love to give any of the products a whirl, shop online notebooks here!

All products were provided in exchange for my fair and honest reviews. I received no additional compensation than the products listed above. All opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

MMM.... Butter

2012-04-17T13:09:00.001-04:00

It's official. Peanut is his grandmother's grandson. His Paternal grandmother is a certified butter addict. At dinner, the woman can go through multiple packs of butter on a single dinner roll. Butter on steak, extra butter on the mashed potatoes... you get the idea. In all fairness, my own family members are strong proponents of the creamy light yellow pats of heavenly delight as well.
Little Man recently found two ways to express his fondness for this cholesterol inducing miracle food. Last week Jack learned to move and climb chairs. While I was out of the kitchen, he moved the chair, climbed to the table and acquired a spatula from the counter top. He proceeded to turn and attack the butter dish left on the table, which here to fore, had been beyond his grasp. Next thing I know, I return to the kitchen to find Jack licking butter by the spatula full.
Last night Jack and I visited my parents where we partook in some of the first sweet corn of the season, which was surprisingly delightful for being so early in the year. Anyway, Peanut doesn't do hot foods--so Grandpa gave him a half eaten half cob, that had previously been buttered and salted, while I pulled a hot cob to begin cooling. Little Man is absolutely mad about his corn--on the cob any way. He smashes in to the corn. I'm not sure exactly how much he actually gets in his mouth, but he has the best time using all of his amazing teeth. Anyway, when the second unflavored cob was cool, I offered it to Jack. After just a few bites, he handed it back to me--a very odd occurrence, given how much the kid loves his corn. Apparently his love of corn, is now second only to his love of butter, which he instantly began pointing at. Once I'd slathered a light coating over the cob, he ferociously attacked his cob with the zest of a true victor.
Unfortunately, not even butter will make him love broccoli.

Getting on the Move with Duck Tape Brand from Shoplet #shopletreviews

2012-03-28T14:21:00.000-04:00

For regular readers, you’ve probably noticed I’ve been a little absent lately. We’ve just had so much going on—more on that in another post. One of the million things happening is my parent’s recent selling of their own house and purchase of a new house. My parents have lived in this house since before I was born and they have tons of treasures which need to be boxed up and moved.
Even with the many moves we made from apartment to apartment in Savannah, I noticed how much “stuff” gathers in a short amount of time—and how much we typically weeded from our “stuff” collection with each move. My parents have 32 years of treasures subtracting zero moves. That means a whole whole lot of boxes.
You have no idea how elated I was to be approached by Shoplet.com to review duck brand duct tapes! Seriously, their timing could not have been better. Shoplet is an amazing online store that carries everything you could want for your office supply needs.

This weekend, I help my mother pack up the spare closets. We broke out some book boxes from job and I assembled them with the Duck EZ Start Premium Packaging Tape. The package I received contains 2 larger sized rolls with dispensers (60 yards) and an extra bonus roll (30 yards). In truth, in all my moves, we never used “Duck Tape Brand” duct tape. We always just bought some super cheap generic brand. I could instantly tell the difference. Duck brand is so much thicker and durable than the generic stuff. I used only one or two strips and really have no fear of the boxes opening.
The dispenser was super easy to use too. With the generic stuff, you don’t usually get a dispenser—which means keeping track of a pair of scissors too. If you do get a dispenser, it doesn’t usually work, or you spend so much time restarting the tape after each use. Not so with the Duck EZ Start Premium Packaging Tape dispensers. They have this unique feature that keeps your tape in place every time. What a time saver. The cut feature worked great too, and the tape didn’t peel apart or tear. I genuinely love this product.

Next I tried out the Duck EZ Start Premium Packaging Tape w/ Dispenser. Measuring in at 55 yards, and with a much smaller core I was afraid I wouldn’t find nearly as many uses for this roll. Of course, I soon discovered how wrong I could be. I loved that the smaller size made it easier for me to keep track of—in my large pockets sometimes. It was also faster to use and I could handle it with just one hand. The tape still maintained a high quality and the built in dispenser worked well. While I was afraid to use it on the big boxes, it was a perfect fit for the smaller ones. I also used small pieces to tape the edges of board games together and to bind bundles of miscellaneous junk.

The most exciting addition to the Duck Tape bundle I received was definitely the 10 yards of Zebra printed Duck Tape. I aspire to be a crafty genius, but sometimes lack the time. Never the less, I still marvel at all of the creative and crafty things I see my students do. My students love to top their pens with duct tape flowers, accessorize their crutches in cool duct tape wrappings, and even make wallets completely from the stuff (not like my dad who used to prolong the life of a faded wallet with duct tape repairs). Although I’ve never seen a duck tape dress personally, I know there’s a contest out there for designing your prom ensemble from the stuff. I love that duck tape comes in so many colors and patterns, that this no longer sounds as hopelessly ridiculous as I once thought. I love that the duct tape is extra durable, water resistant, and so easy to use. I look forward to getting fun and crafty.

Many, many thanks to Shoplet.com for providing the awesome products for this review.
I received the products mentioned above in exchange for my fair and honest review of the products. I received no additional compensation. All opinions are 100% my own.

Getting Ready for Day Care with Sticky Monkey Labels

2012-02-04T11:12:00.001-05:00

Talk about perfect timing. Before Christmas, the possibility of needing childcare was so far from my thoughts. After Christmas, things moved pretty quickly and Rich landed an awesome sports writing job. I'm still working, which means we've had to find child. So far we love where he's at. It's on the same campus I work on, which makes me a little more comfortable knowing he's right there if he needs me. His teachers seem super nice, and he's adjusting to their schedule pretty well.

For a first time day care participant, the amount of extra effort to get your child ready can some times be a little daunting. There was this huge packet of information we had to fill out, with tons of forms. There was also a long list of items we needed to pack. For example, several blankets, bippers, box of wipes, diapers (cloth in our case--which is super cool), wet bag, 2 shirts, pants, onsies, outdoor clothing (coats mittens....) you get the point. Lots of stuff, and it all needed to be labelled.

I am eternally grateful to have had the opportunity to review Sticky Monkey's Personalized labels. They really were a lifesaver as we were preparing peanut to leave our nest each day. The labels come in a good variety of designs for boys and girls of all ages. They'd be great for sending kids off to summer camp, or getting ready for school in the fall too. They even offer allergy and medical alert labels, which I think is neat and probably super helpful.

We picked the Monster Design and have been super happy with the amazing bright colors. The labels come in a great assortment of sizes. There are some small enough to fit on his pacifier, while other large labels stand out on his wipes box. The labels are waterproof, dishwasher and microwave safe, so we've added a few to his sippy cups with no problem. We've even tried a few clothing labels on his blankets and stuffed puppy for day care, and they hold up great in the laundry.

I think the labels I like the most are his shoe labels. You place the self-adhesive label on the inside of the shoe, then a clear coat label that is slightly larger over and around the edge of the personalized label. They hold up great and have been amazingly helpful since little man is the sort who is constantly taking his shoes off!

In short, Sticky Monkey Labels are a great time-saver, they are amazingly cute and they alleviate some of the getting ready for daycare stress. I'll be adding more to our collection as little man grows.

If you'd like to get your hands on a few Sticky Monkey Labels of your own you can shop their website: http://stickymonkeylabels.com

Follow on Facebook: www.facebook.com/StickyMonkeyLabels
Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/StickyMonkeyLbl
Read their Blog: http://stickymonkeylabels.blogspot.com/

Adventures in Day Care

2012-01-27T14:33:00.001-05:00

Oh goodness. People do this all the time. I keep telling myself that he will be perfectly fine. Thousands of kids go to daycare everyday. Thousands of mothers trust thousands of professionally trained, well-qualified people to watch their children everyday. It's still a big step for us. My husband has been blessed with finding a great job. While this means finally attaining financial stability, I can't help but feel a little guilty that we'll be leaving little man in the hands of strangers. Okay, they aren't complete strangers; I mean we did shop around for a child care we were comfortable with. The first place we saw was near home. It seemed okay at first, but upon visiting places closer to work, it the first looked dingy, dirty and definately not as friendly. The second place we visited was closer to my job. All and all, it was an okay daycare, and we probably could have been very happy there. The big down side: age restrictions. Due to corporate regulations, little man would have been placed in the infant room. We looked at those other infants in the infant room. Some were barely sitting up. Then there's little man, the bull in the china shop, curiously running from station to station. He was much more suited to the toddler room, but wouldn't be permitted there until he was 18 months to the day.This obviously wasn't an ideal fit. Final stop, a religiously sponsored day care on the campus of my school. All the parents and children we saw were so happy. Even though it was the end of a long day, the teachers still seemed very positive and upbeat. Sure we asked the obligatory questions, but more than anything, it felt very homelike. Peanut seemed to really fit in. So I know he'll be safe. I know he will have tons of fun playing with the other kids. And I'm hoping that he'll be glad to see me right after work. I don't understand why I then feel so anxious about his first day. I think I hope the teachers see him for the very brilliant little guy he is, and not the very super active mister doesn't-sit-still that someone who doesn't love him like we do might see. I hope he doesn't break anything, or hurt anyone. I hope he doesn't become too clingy or miss us too much. People do this everyday. He'll be fine. I'll be fine. It will all be okay. Wish us luck!

Safe Driving this Winter #Esurance

2012-01-26T10:10:00.000-05:00

It’s been a challenge getting around to writing lately. We’ve been on the road quite a bit. First it was holiday travel; we did Christmas with my family at my sister’s—two and half hours south of here. Then we did Christmas with my husband’s family, an hour and a half north of here. Then, because we hadn’t had a chance to spend time in my husband’s home town, we ventured 4 ½ hours north over the three day weekend. It didn’t help that it was the Friday of a three day weekend when we headed North, or that this was the first real snow they had gotten there this season, or that every snowmobiler in a 300 mile radius was headed that way too.

With all of our running, we’ve learned to observe several tips for staying safe while driving in winter conditions.

Slow Down.-- You aren’t really in that big of a hurry anyway. And you’d rather arrive safely.

Vehichle Upkeep.-- Before hitting the road on one of our adventures, we always make sure our tires are filled, oil is changed and all fluids (especially the windshield wiper fluids are full. In our case, we use windshield fluid with antifreeze included. In the winter, it makes a huge difference. On winter trip back from college in Tennessee, I learned the value of antifreeze in the wiper fluid. Salt and road grime gathered on my windshield because the regular stuff froze in the lines, yuck! Nothing can be worse than breaking down and having to change a tire in a blizzard.

Keep your eyes on the road—You will see much better if you plan to travel in daylight. I recommend a pair of sunglasses for that snow glare. Besides, you really don’t want to get stuck in a snow bank, with the kids in the car in the dark. Bring plenty of snacks and toys for the kids, so they can stay entertained and you can keep your eyes where they should be.

Safe distance—Keep some distance between you and the car in front of you. It’s easy to slip and slide in icy conditions, so give yourself plenty of space to slow down and stop.

Seatbelt—Always buckle up. Always make sure your kids are securely and properly buckled it.

Cell phone.—Have it on you and have it well charged in case of an emergency

Emergency kit—Things happen, so be prepared. Have blankets, water and food in your car. Don’t forget a simple first aide kit. When I first learned to drive, my father always had 50 lbs. bags of kitty litter or road salt over the rear axle. This helped keep the rear axle from fish tailing, but could also be used to help gain traction if I got stuck.

Take the time to warm and clear your car. Warming up your vehicle will both help your engine run smoother and will help keep you windows clear for better visibility.

All and all, we have been pretty blessed with a mild winter this year and I hope it lasts. I wish you all safe driving, where ever your adventures take you. If you have more suggestions for safe winter driving, be sure to share them on the esurance facebook page.

{I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Esurance blogging program for 8,000 My SocialMoms Rewards Points. For more information on how you can participate, click here.}

Going to See Santa

2011-12-15T08:51:00.003-05:00

We took Peanut to Santa this weekend and were less than impressed. Last year, we went as a family with my parents, my brother and his little girl who is just a few weeks older. We had such a great time last year and so thought we'd make the outing part of our annual holiday festivities. Last year, we arrived mid afternoon, but received a ticket that wouldn't let us in line until later that evening. We went shopping, had dinner, had a minimal wait and the photo came out great. Santa was really great with the two infants. We didn't feel rushed.
This year, not so much. We went to Bass Pro Shop for the free Santa photo like we did last year. We went earlier in the day, hoping to work around nap schedules. We arrived at 11:20 and were given 12:00 tickets. We were surprised when we arrived and realized we would only have a 20 minutes to wander the store, as we were told to get in line 15 minutes before our time--no problem.
We went and stood in line at the appropriate time. The kids are both now toddlers and don't like to sit still--so some of us would stand in line while the others took the kids to check out the cool activities the store had set up--no problem. 1/2 hour later, the natives are getting a little restless, but we finally make it to the front of the line. Except--there's a problem. At 12:15 exactly, Santa is going on break--right when we get to the front of the line. So we get to wait patiently at the front of the line while Santa goes to feed his reindeer. Because we are coralled in to position--there's no taking the kids to wander. There's just standing in place with two active toddlers and nothing to do but wait.
I get that Santa needs a break too, but couldn't they have put it in the schedule? The line backs up even further and gets twice as crowded, as the folks with 12:30 tickets have arrived right on schedule. Wouldn't it have made more sense to give Santa a break at 12:30 and instead skip the 12:30 crowd and go straight to 1? Instead I smile and pump peanut full of cherios and point out trains to try to keep him from crawling everywhere.
Santa returns, and it's painfully obvious he's either having a bad day, or just doesn't like kids. We place peanut on his lap and peanut instantly squirms. Santa does nothing to interest or entertain the kid, just says "I can't hold a child against his will" and lets peanut plop to the ground. After all that--we get no picture--I thought they had snapped one when they moved us on, but no such luck. What a waste. I know Peanut's not perfect--I get that it's hard to get him to sit still at times, but really, the whole experience rather soured my holiday. So maybe we won't be waiting forever at Bass Pro next year.

shutterfly!

2011-12-09T18:05:00.001-05:00

5x7 Folded Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Stay Safe this Holiday with Master Lock

2011-12-09T12:17:00.001-05:00

It seems so strange that at this most wonderful time of the year, people can be both at their best and at their worst. While dozens of people find ways to give toys and food for those in need, others find themselves desperate enough to take what isn't there's. Still others just find it a great time to take advantage of those of us who are too busy to be mindful of our surroundings.

There is also tons of travel during the holidays. We'll be going both north and south for family gatherings. It seems the weather doesn't always cooperate with that. All those wishes for a white Christmas can result in hazardous driving conditions. It seems that we have to leave home just a little earlier to avoid some great snow fall between home and Rich's family gathering in the great white north.

This year, Master Lock wants to help you avoid any pitfalls that come with the eventful season by taking proper precautions to ensure safety and security remain top-of-mind.

MasterLock makes the following recommendations:

• Travel Safely. Whether you’re planning a road trip or flight, be sure to take all the proper safety precautions. If driving to your destination, check tire pressure beforehand for optimal handling and traction and consider having your car winterized by your mechanic for added safety.

• Secure Your Home. During the holiday season, you’re likely to have guests coming and going from your home for a number of get-togethers. Be sure all entry points, including doors, windows and sliding glass doors, are locked before and after guests depart to help keep your family, home and valuables safe.

• Shop Smart. To stay safe while enjoying a fun holiday shopping trip to the local mall or shopping center, be aware of your surroundings. Park in well-lit areas

You can help Master Lock by sharing holiday safety and security tips and insights on the Master Lock Facebook wall. If you do so, you'll be entered into the Holiday Safety Sweepstakes. You could win one of four $50 VISA gift cards, one of two $100 VISA gift cards to help with holiday shopping or a Master Lock Holiday Safety Gift Pack.

• For more information on and to enter the Master Lock Holiday Safety Sweepstakes, visit: www.facebook.com/masterlock

• For more information on Master Lock and their products, visit Masterlock.com

I am a member of One2One Network.I wrote this blog as part of their promotional campaign. I received no monetary compensation for this post. All opinions are my own.

Hodgson Mills Grain Holiday Contest & Giveaway

2011-12-07T08:04:00.001-05:00

Hodgson Mill® is a family-owned company with more than 125 years’ experience producing all-natural, delicious, healthy, stone-ground whole grain and organic foods made from premium quality ingredients and milled in small batches to retain each grain’s nutritional benefits. Hodgson Mill® products include: flours, corn meals, gluten-free flours, baking mixes, pastas, cereals, and more. Since 1882, Hodgson Mill®’s family of employees has been stone-grinding 100% whole grain to create wholesome, naturally healthy food – with no artificial preservatives, additives or colorings.

This weekend was one of many cookie weekends for my family. From time in memorium, December means baking. We must go through multiple batches of at least 6 different varieties of cookies--and trust me, this is pared down from what we used to make. We used to make so many Christmas cookies, we had frozen cookies that would last well in to February.

This year, I'm trying to do something a little bit better. I'm trying to bake with more whole grains. I've had a few disasterous botches with whole wheat flour. I've learned that it doesn't work just right in Spatzles or in our crepe recipe. Inspired by the Hodgson Mill's "Have a Grain Holiday" Contest, I attempted to make cookie with Whole Wheat flour. Competing with 49 other bloggers, I've attempted to create a delicious and nutritious holiday recipe using Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat Flour and/or Hodgson Mill Best For Bread Flour. I'm competing for the chance to win exciting prizes including an iPad 2, gift certificates to Williams Sonoma, and gift certificates to the Hodgson Mill online store.

Here's my recipe. I was amazingly pleased with the results.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon Cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat Flour
2 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

1)Cream the sugar, butter, shortening, eggs and vanilla. Mix in Cinammon, baking soda, salt and flour until smooth. Stir in Oats, chocolate chips and walnuts. Works best if you allow dough to chill in fridge for a few hours or over night

2) Drop dough by the tablespoon onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in preheated 350 oven for 9-12 minutes until edges are slightly brown.

3) Cool slightly then remove from cookie sheet and place on cooling rack.
Makes about 4-5 dozen

Do you have lots of holiday baking to do? Wouldn't you love to give this recipe a try for yourself? If so, enter below for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate to the Hodgson Mill online store.

Until December 25th, you can also stop here: http://www.hodgsonmill.com/grainday-thank-you/ for a chance to win one of 50 Hodgson Mill gift packs containing $85 worth of Hodgson Mill products!

I received samples of Hodgson Mill products in exchange for my entry in "Have a Grain Holiday Contest." Official Contest Rules from Hodgson Mill can be found here: bit.ly/sWjRtv
I received no additional compensation in exchange for this review. All opinions expressed here in are my own.

Something about Silver Review and Giveaway

2011-12-06T08:20:00.001-05:00

I am so excited to be able to bring this opportunity to you! I recently had the good fortune to review a handmade necklace from Something About Silver. The necklace I received is from the "Little Gems" line. It is quite possibly the cutest silver necklace customized with Peanut's name and birthstone. It is a dainty 5/8th inch disc in diameter, which really works for me--anything much bigger would seem a little gaudy. We only have peanut, but you could add as many discs if you wanted to. It's absolutely gorgeous and I seriously love having a reminder of my little guy with me all day.

I'm very in to personalized gifts, and Something About Silver excels with personalization. For example, I love this one with a quote from "Guess How Much I love you?" Peanut has three copy of this book, one from my shower, one from his grandma, and one of those recordable hallmark books as read by my best friend. Anyway, a very sentimental choice that I'd love to add to my jewelry box.

Or how about a grandmother's necklace? I know my mother always wanted one--one with her kids, and her grand kids. This just might be the Christmas I finally get her one.

Speaking of Christmas, I absolutely LOVE this baby's first Christmas charm. I wish we had found this last year instead of settling for something that was a little generic. I love the little feet!

I know I showcased mostly necklaces, but they have bracelets and rings too---even a "something for him" category.

How much would you love your own "Something about Silver treasure?

Buy it: Visit www.somethingaboutsilver.com and use the coupon code kathrynmcgowan to earn 10% off your entire purchase.

Win it: Use the Rafflecopter form below for a chance to win a $40 gift code to customize your own special silver creation.

This product was provided by Something About Silver in exchange for my fair and honest review. No monetary compensation took place. All opinions are my own.

Something Sweet about the Holidays

2011-12-02T12:18:00.001-05:00

Listening to the radio on the way to work, I heard both inspiring and depressing news about those wonderfully sweet holiday favorites. They were running down a list of the holiday treats that are the absolute worst for you. Topping the list were my favorites egg nog and pecan pie.
Where's the upside? One of the radio co-hosts mentioned his personal philosophy for surviving the holidays. He made a pact to ignore calories from November 1-Jan 1. They simply don't count. That way he can enjoy the holidays. After that, it's back to health conscious business as usual.
I don't know that I need that excuse, but seriously, for my family, the holidays equal food and lots of it. I try to be good, but some of these food are only made once a year. So although I will probably hate myself in January, I don't think I'm going to be able to make it through the holidays without sampling my favorites. Perhaps portion control is a more realistic strategy? One cookie instead of three....

One of my all time favorites has always been pecan pie. It's so sweet a gooey and crunchy and wonderful. I only make it once a year, but it is sooooo good.
This is the recipe I follow:
1 cup light corn syryp
3 large eggs
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons soft butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups pecans
1 9 inch unbaked pie shell

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. In large bowl, mix corn syrup, eggs, sugar, butter vanilla, and salt. Fold in pecans. Pour filling into pie crust.
3. Place foil around crust edge to keep from burning. Bake for 60 to 70 minutes. Top should be golden and carmel color. Center should spring back slightly when touched. Cool before serving. Serve with a cup of hot coffee!

Do you have a favorite sweet recipe, especially one using Karo syrup? Would you love to win a trip to Chicago? If so, head over to their facebook page and enter the Karo Syrup "Tis the Season" sweepstakes by entering your favorite recipe. The winner and a guest will spend New Years eve at the Wit Hotel, dine at Mastro's Steakhouse and take a chocolate tour featuring Sarah's Pasteries and Candies.

Disclosure: I was entered for a chance to win a Karo Syrup prize package in exchange for this post. No monetary exchange took place. All opinions are my own.

Endorse!

2011-12-02T09:59:00.001-05:00

I've been trying Endorse! for well over a month. It sounds promising, and has potential, but I haven't seen it work well for me yet.

In case you don't know, Endorse is an application through Facebook that encourages you to shop at your normal stores and buy your favorite brands. In theory, they will pay you for it --anywhere from 2-10% back. If you share with your friends (the store or brand) and they follow along, you can earn even more. Once you reach $25 in your Endorse account, you’ll be mailed a check.

The way it works is you click the “endorse” button on your favorite things, buy them as you normally do in the real world, and then send in your receipts as your “proof of purchase.” (They provide a free return envelope!) I returned an envelope a month ago--and still nothing.

You can also get your endorsed and purchased products for FREE by getting 5 others to do the same. After you endorse a store, you can then share it to your friends. When they click on the link, endorse, and buy, you get the “credit” for their purchases. If 5 do so, you will be reimbursed for your ENTIRE trip.

However, when it sounds too good to be true, it likely is. I mean, what's in it for them? I sent in my receipts, but still no progress. I'm starting to worry that this is just some sort of scam. Maybe these stores feel that if they have our receipts, we won't be able to return holiday merchandise. That might be worth 2% to a store, right?

Has anyone actually tried this? Does it really work? I even thought maybe I should try endorsing other folks things, in hopes of building them up the magic five. I hope this helps someone, because I'm not as wowed and amazed as I hoped to be when I first signed up.

If you are still among the Endorse faithful or are interested in giving Endorse a try, simply follow the links below and “Endorse” the stores you regularly shop at:

If you'd like me to endorse any of your items, I'd be glad to reciprocate the favor.

Oral-B Stages Party! #OralBStages

2011-12-01T12:37:00.001-05:00

Kat's Adventure Book was super excited to get to host an Oral-B mommy (and daddy) party! We've hosted a sponsored house party before, but never a mommy party--so we were all super excited. We invited cousins, family, friends, and co-workers with little ones. There were tons of kids with there moms and some dads too. We had a blast.

The party kit provided the Winnie the Pooh DVD. Before the movie, we played a few games with the kids, especially a super fun flashcard game that helped get the kids excited for the movie and reinforced the idea of good oral hygiene. We talked about the toothbrush, and toothpaste, and even the dentist.

To their credit, some kids did watch the movie. Most, like my son, are super active kids. They alternated between video watching and game playing. The kids had the best time getting together to play. Having so many kids together, they were able to entertain themselves, which meant more time for the parents to talk.

As parents we talked brainstormed ideas for taking care of our kids teeth. Some said their pediatrician say they should see the dentist when the first tooth comes in, other said their dentist didn't want to see kids until they were at least 3. My cousin said that she was encouraged to bring her daughter to her cleanings, to help her get used to the dentist by seeing Mommy do it. We haven't yet taken peanut to the dentist, but we have used a clean wet cloth or finger brush to clean up after he eats (we should probably be more consistent than we are).

Lately we've been having trouble getting peanut to cooperate with brushing. I was relieved that some of the other parents had the same problem too. They recommended turning brushing time into a game. They sing special brushing songs. They also recommend modeling good brushing behavior by brushing with your kids. Finally, many agree that having age appropriate brushes like the Oral B stages with characters that their kids love helps to make the time a pleasurable activity and not a chore.

What movie would be complete without concessions. We had popcorn--which in no way came close to Cadillac 5 movie theatre popcorn, but we made due. We also had Rabbit's Favorite Carrot sticks, Piglet's Parfaits--yogurt and fresh sliced berries layered in clear cups, Pooh Bear's Bagel Pizzas and Peanut's favorite, Eeyor's Cheerios--served in paper cups with Eeyore stickers. In short, we all ate our fill and still had plenty of left overs!

When the movie ended, it was definately getting toward nap time for some of our youngest guests. Each kid received an amazing goodie bag to take home. I was so thankful I had taken the time to prepare the bags in advance. Each bag contained an Oral-B toothbrush (either Stage I or Stage II depending upon the child's age), a tube of Oral-B toothpaste featuring Disney Princesses or Pixar Cars or Toy Story characters, Winne the Pooh lavender scented baby wash, coupons, a fact sheet, and a balloon. The kids all seemed to really love these pre-Christmas presents!

Personally, our favorite item in the goody bag has been the bottle of Lavendar Disney Daily Renewal Baby Wash---it just smells so good. The first few days we used it, we couldn't stop sniffing peanut's hair. We also love the Stages toothbrush--it really is perfect for his small hands.

We all had a great time and would love to thank Oral B, Disney, and MomSelect and MommyParties for providing us with this wonderful opportunity!

Be sure to follow Oral-B on Facebook and twitter, and Crest on Twitter too to keep up with their latest news and updates!

If you would like to learn more about MommyParties, please visit their Facebook page.

*I was chosen by MomSelect and Oral-B to host this party. I received free products to keep and to distribute to my guests. All opinions expressed are honest and my own. They were not influence in anyway. No form of monetary compensation was provided.

Book Review: Forge

2011-12-01T12:34:00.001-05:00

Forge is the sequel to author Laurie Halse Anderson's acclaimed Chains and the second inThe Seeds of America trilogy. In Chains, we meet Isabel and Curzon, two slaves struggling for freedom. While Chains focuses on Isabel's tale, Forge is told through the eyes of Curzon. Set in Revolutionary America, we follow Curzon as he again finds himself a private in the continental army. Through battling the British at Saratoga, to fighting to survive the elements during the winter at Valley Forge, Curzon becomes a well-research character of historical fiction.

Compounding their struggles, the runaways Curzon and Isabel find themselves again under the ownership of Master Bellingham, providing a new meaning to the fight for independence. One must acknowledge that the tale of slavery during the revolutionary era is one that is sorely underrepresented in history and literature as a whole and especially true of works for younger audiences. Particularly compelling for young readers are the arguments between Curzon and his contemporaries as they debate the issues of race, and what a war for independence really means for all american patriots.

In her storytelling, Anderson strives for authenticity. The characters are careful to describe their living conditions, food, etc. One has the feeling that Anderson is writing a "living history" in disguise. Without patience, the reader is liable to become annoyed with the repetitive use of 1776 style slang. As a former history teacher, I find the concept good, but the execution contrived. Too often, the reader looses sight of the real drama behind the story the author is neglecting to tell when she focuses too much on the the history lecture. As a book that will tie in to historical studies of the revolutionary era, Forge outdoes itself. However, valued strictly for its enjoyability as an independent read, Forge fails to make its mark.
Overall Grade: B-

Making A Small Difference

2011-11-30T09:40:00.001-05:00

The holidays are about generosity and giving from the heart. It's about more than just presents, despite what society wants us to believe. Witnessing the news reports of black friday shoppers gone wild, I was abhored by the behavior of my fellow holiday shoppers. Seriously people? Seriously! We can do better.

Here's a short list of ways I'm going to try to be better this holiday season.

1) I will park in the back row of the mall and walk rather than cursing when someone takes "my" parking spot.

2) I will give any change I have to the salvation army whenever I enter a store with a bell ringer.

3) I will say thank you to my cashier, even if I had to wait in a really long line.

4) I will give thanks daily for my amazing family

5) I will try really hard not to stress myself or others if the holiday isn't "perfect."

Yes, I'm not going to change the world with this. But wouldn't the world be just a little bit nicer if we all made an effort to be just a little kinder, especially this month.

Looking for a super easy way to do something good for someone else this holiday season? Even better-- it won't cost you a thing.

Primrose Schools is announcing the return of their 2nd annual Cans for Fans virtual food drive. Now through December 31, Primrose Schools will donate one can of food for every new "like" they receive on their Facebook page. Not only that, they will donate two cans of food every time a fan "shares" the Cans for Fans status post. I did my part and you can too!

5x7 Folded Card

2011-11-18T15:49:00.001-05:00

Oh So Joyful Christmas Card

Shop Shutterfly for beautiful photo Christmas cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

5x7 Folded Card

2011-11-18T15:46:00.001-05:00

Peppermint Bliss Christmas Card

To view our unique Christmas card designs, click here.

View the entire collection of cards.

Drinking Green--week 1

2011-11-16T15:29:00.001-05:00

Smoothies that is.
Last Monday I began my effort to eat better. I have been inspired by my recent review of Beth Aldrich's Real Moms Love to Eat book. One challenge for week one is to drink green smoothies in place of your normal breakfast routine.
I've never been a morning shake kind of girl. On the surface, it sounds a little counter-intuitive. See, I usually ate cereal or toast, but I was starving by 10:00--not cool. Drinking a shake sounded crazy since how could a liquid fill me up--it has no crunch, no substanance. But you know me, I'm crazy enough to try anything once. I figured I could give it a week since I didn't really have anything to lose.

Green smoothies are more than just your typical fruit and juice in a blender combo. Per the recipe, I also add a scoop of protein powder (vanilla soy in my case) and green powder, and ground flax seed--all of which were purchased on a recent visit to my sister and the Whole Foods in Columbus. (Money saving tip on the flax seed-- I bought bulk whole flax seed at 2.99/lb and used my sister's coffee grinder to make ground flax seed for half the cost!)

Day 1) I forgot to look at the recipe, so I just kind of winged it. I added the fruit and the powders, but forgot the juice. This smoothie was so thick I could barely get it down. Seriously, it was the consistancy of mud. I made it with frozen bananas which was AMAZING. The bannana whips up really creamy

Day2) The lid debacle. So if you plan on drinking green smoothies for the first time I strongly recommend a solid cup--because it has a not quite too appealing appearance. I was in a hurry this morning and couldn't quite get it all together. I couldn't find the blender lid, so had to use the food processor. I did remember the juice this day. Things were going well until I forgot to close the lid on my insulated mug. Turning in to the parking the cup slips from the cup holder --Green smoothie spills all over the consul and back seat.

Day 3-5) Nothing too terribly catastrophic. I'm finding that I have more energy in the evening and I'm not starving at 10:00 am. I learn that a blender does the job much quicker and quieter than my huge food processor. I'm learning to like orange juice and bananas. I'm not jamming on the protein powder--It can be thick and chalky like at times

Day 6 & 7) Per our usual agreement--peanut and I spend morning breakfasts sharing a bowl of old fashioned oatmeal. No green smoothies on the weekend.

Week two--I'm experimenting with a little less protein--though I get hungry around lunch time--which I guess is okay. My energy level is still up. I think I want to try whey protein next, or maybe a cocoa flavored powder. I don't know if it will make a difference in the weight department--but I know I feel better--so that's a definite perk

My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Software Review and #Giveaway

2011-11-11T09:25:00.001-05:00

Kat's Adventure Book the blog earned it's title from my own personal scrapbook that I've nicknamed my adventure book. I started it around my senior year of high school. It's an old school scrapbook from my grandmother. You know, solid black construction like paper, funny long rectangle shape, very retro-green marble covers. Tied together with what might pass for a shoe string.
Despite it's outward hideousness, I love my adventure book. Within it's pages I have documented all of the amazing places I've been. There are pictures from studying abroad in France and pictures from our family vacation in Yellowstone. There are tons of pictures from fishing in Canada, or trips to the U.P.
I took tons of photos while we lived in Savannah, but since I left my scrapbook gear at home--I had planned to work on it when we moved back. Except now we have another adventure--Peanut. Scrapbooking is so time consuming it is probably the lowest of the low on my priority list. Another challenge is the organizational space factor. Our Red Room once was my personal craft room--this was ideal since I could leave a work in progress spread across the floor of the room, close the door and it would be fine.
Now with Peanut I sometimes feel that resentment an older sibling feels toward the younger sibling. I used to have my own craft room. Now I share it with the baby since the guest bed in that room has become his downstairs changing table. That means extra organization in the craft room and definitely no leaving anything out--ever. Please don't misunderstand me--I love my son. I only miss my personal craft space.

I think that's why I am most excited about My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Software. They contacted me to download and review a copy of their My Memories Suite Version 2.0, I admit, I was apprehensive at first. I wasn't sure exactly what digital scrapbooking was, how this package would work or even if I'd have time for it. To my delight, I have been completely amazed and impressed. I far surpassed my expectations and I definitely can find time.

No more pulling out those drawers of papers, special scissors, trimmers, sorting photos, spending hundreds on embellishments, making a complete mess of your craft room..... This software comes with everything you need.You will never "run out" of your favorite paper or find yourself one button shy of perfection. The step by step instructions make it super easy to use.

My Memories makes it easy to be as creative as you want--everything is fully customizable. Enlarge or shrink an embellishment to fit. Change photo shapes or mats with a click. For those with time constraints, preloaded album pages can help you finish an album in minutes--
These are some of my pages I literally created in just a few minutes.

I've used scrapbook like software online from companies like Shutterfly to create my photo books, but I found the My Memories suite far more intuitive. I also like that I own my pages and can print them out any time I like. Oh, and if you don't find what you want in the basic package, you can add on extra paper and embellishment kits to give you even more creative flexibility.

My Memories Suite Version 2.0 has applications beyond scrapbooks. I'm thinking of making my family calender and Christmas cards using this software. I've also updated my button--check it out. I'm working on a new cute banner too. Like I said--infinite possibilities. If you are super amazing with technology--you can even add audio and video clips too.

Want to get your own copy of the My Memories Suite Version 2.0?
You can buy it online from My Memories for 39.99

OR
You could be the winner of my giveaway. Just use the Rafflecopter form below. Contest ends at 12:01 AM on November 29th. Enter now! (You may need to select the "read more" link to view rafflecopter form)

The above mentioned software was provided free of charge in exchange for my fair and honest review. No other compensation was provided. All opinions are my own

Fall in Love with Food: Book Review-- Real Moms Love to Eat

2011-11-07T11:17:00.001-05:00

Fact: I need to eat better.
Fact: I want to eat better.
Fact: I make way to many excuses for why I don't eat better.

There was a time when I really loved to cook. I think this was especially true during the first year I moved into my own house. I did all of my shopping--my trick for avoiding bad snack choices was simple--I didn't buy them. This doesn't mean I didn't eat them, especially when going to my parents' house--but I didn't have them tempting me in my house. I ate good and I felt great--without working too hard, I dropped 3-4 sizes over about a year or two span. This was incredible for me, because I'd always been the same size since seventh grade no matter how much I tried to diet.

But I wasn't dieting, and I wasn't working out, I was just eating better. I loved food and I loved to cook too. I could spend an hour in Williams-Sonoma dreaming about new gourmet tools, drooling over their glossy colored recipe books and scheming excuses to make something new. I felt like I was destined for true culinary genius--and did I mention I felt great. I was fitting in to a new dress size for each major formal dance--which meant a regular rewarding shopping trip. I was finally able to have a selection of dresses that would fit to choose from--instead of settling for the lesser of two evils because it was all they had in my size.

I regret to report that whatever I was doing right faded away. It's hard to define the exact moment when things definitively began to take a turn for the worse. I think it all started when I became involved with some poor influences. I started dating a guy who insisted on eating out regand cooking decadent foods--hello pumpkin ice cream. My job became super stressful--the return of the anxious eating habits. The school I worked for closed and the idiot dumped me--more self-loathing and pity eating.
I moved in to an uninspiring apartment with a galley kitchen. To make it worse--it was an hour drive to the nearest Williams-Sonoma (oh the humanity). I worked late nights and was too tired to cook when I came home. Then I became pregnant and nothing sounded good or tasted good except Popsicle. Since the baby, I have felt so drained when I get home from work that we settle for the over processed boxed foods.... Oh how this downward spiral compounded with baby fat I never lost has brought me back to that dreaded size I was back in seventh grade and all through high school and college.

I did love to eat--but now food is just something to fill the empty. I've been so uninspired. I think that's why I'm pinning some hope on Beth Aldrich's new book Real Moms Love to Eat How to Conduct Love Affair with Food, Lose Weight and Feel Fabulous. This isn't some fly-by-night diet fad. It's really about returning that spark in your food romance by learning to fall in love with the right foods and lifestyle that will treat you like the person you know you want to be.

Divided in three levels of intensity and organized by multiple week by week chapters--Real Moms doesn't expect you to change your evil ways and poor choices overnight. Each week Aldrich presents five simple changes--one of which is often drink more water--so realistically, 4 changes you have to accomplish in a week. Four challenges aren't much--following her method seems so doable. I love that she doesn't ask you to give up the things you love most, but instead to make better choices. Some of her first weeks worth of activities ask you think about the foods you really love--again to reignite that love for good food. The final section of the book is chocked full of 21 menu days worth of really great sounding, really healthy foods. I'm starting to feel inspired.

I love that Aldrich really seems to speak my language. Her book reads like one girlfriend talking to another--or like a series of mom blog entries. Aldrich is very approachable, in a "Honey, I've been there too," kind of style. Don't get me wrong, she can be preachy enough to make her point--but not in a "holier-than though way," which I find extremely comforting. I love that she understands where busy moms are coming from--and offers advice on how to streamline the kitchen, so you get "from scratch" meals--without starting completely from scratch each night. I think more than anything, her book reminds me of the way I have always wanted to live in my kitchen when I first bought my house and of that lifestyle I hope I can find a way to slowly return to.

For me, it's going to have to be all about the small steps. We've been watching our budget so tightly for what feels like an eternity that the grocery store is a constant source of tension for me. When you are surviving on very limited funds (we're talking 3 people on $40-75 weekly) every penny counts. I feel seriously guilty about food because bills are constantly what they are and grocery is about the only part of the budget that has some "discretion" to it. --I seriously had a breakdown the last time we all went as a family.

However, this weekend I visited my sister and peanut and I made a shopping trip to Whole Foods--and it was a truly pleasurable experience. The entire store is filled with great things that appeal to all of the sense--I could fall in love with food in a store like that. I bought the fixings for green smoothies--one of the first week challenges. I also bought several odds and ends (like unprocessed sea salt) that I've been meaning to try anyway. I bought whole flaxseed and used my sister's grinder--now I think I need one of these too--(I'm excited about the kitchen again--that's the power of this book!)

I need to quit making economic excuses for why I don't eat well and just do it. I already do it for peanut, it's time I do it for myself too. This is especially true for peanut--He's ready for table food and he deserves better than hamburger helper and it's beyond belief sodium levels. If we can throw money away on a week for two bags of snack chips, why am I depriving myself the ingredients for things that will make me feel better and look better in the long run?

So week one--I'm trying to make a green smoothie each morning. I'll keep you posted on how that works out.

To learn more about the Real Moms Love to Eat or Beth Aldrich's Food Affialiate program, stop by her website. You can connect with Beth on Facebook and on Twitter @realmomsluv2eat.

Real Moms Love to Eat won't be available until January 3, but you can pre-order your book today on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indie Bound and on Books-a-Million. And if you preorder soon, you'll be eligible to enter a sweepstakes or other great prizes. Enter at

http://www.realmomslovetoeat.com/sweepstakes/

*Disclaimer: “I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Beth Aldrich - Real Moms Love to Eat blogging program, for a chance to get 3,000 My SocialMoms Rewards points. For more information on how you can participate, Click Here.” *

Lets Do Lunch #Review

2011-11-03T10:59:00.000-04:00

I have packed my lunch for just about as long as I can remember. In grade school, I could buy lunch, but only on special occasions. It was a big deal when I got the privileged of buying. In high school we were all too cool to buy the institutional school lunch--though I'd occasionally buy pizza or a bagel. Packed lunches have always been a part of my life--with little or no fanfare about it.

When I was younger I had cool lunch boxes. They featured Snoopy or Popples. That was one of the exciting parts of back to school shopping. As we get older, the joy of the lunch box fades. Colorful characters a slowly replaced by solid colors, then brown paper. In my "professional" years, in an attempt to be slightly more green I stopped purchasing disposable brown paper bags and began reusing plastic grocery bags. Economical, green and very uninspiring.

That's why I am so beyond elated to have the opportunity to review a Built Gourmet Getaway Large Insulated Lunch Bag, French Bull Series in shadow flower from ReUseIt.com. This is quite possibly the cutest lunch bag I've had in my life for a very, very long time. No more embarrassingly practical grocery bag for me!

The bright and colorful pattern is so charming. It's vivid pattern screams, "Lets relax and have fun--it's time for your student free 25 minutes of zen." The generous size of this lunch bag easily accommodates, today's lunch my sandwich, yogurt, granola, grapes, carrot sticks with room to spare for my huge hiking water bottle. (This lunch makes me sound oober healthy--which normally I'm not. However, since I know I won't be able to avoid eating some sweet treat left on the counter in the lunch room, I make an effort not to pack any additional goodies I shouldn't be eating anyway.--small steps). The zipper is super heavy duty and the stitching is nice--unlike my once a year kiddy lunch boxes, I have a feeling this one is durable enough to withstand many years of use. Oh, and did I mention, it's a insulated lunch bag-- so my yogurt stays cold? Because there is nothing worse than warm yogurt.

Reuseit.com offers a wide range of innovative reusable products to help you reduce your throw away habits. Wouldn't the world be a little bit better if we all started be just a little more green with our lunch. What a difference we could make if we too a small step. What if we did away with throw away lunch bags, plastic sandwich baggies, plastic water bottles...

If you're interested in going for a green lunch and less disposable lifestyle, be sure to check Reusit.com out.

Get your own Insulated Lunch Bag by checking out their huge selection here.

A huge thanks to ReUseIt.com for sponsoring this giveaway. They provided the above described product free of charge for the purpose of this review in exchange for my fair and honest opinions.

Award!

2011-11-02T15:29:00.000-04:00

I am absolutely honored that I have been awarded the Liebster Blog Award. Thank you to Cute Coconut for this award.

The Liebster Award spotlights up and coming bloggers who generally have less than 200 followers.

Upon receipt of the Liebster Award, there are a few very simple rules:

1. Copy and paste the award on your blog

2. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you

3. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.

4. Hope that your followers will spread the love to other bloggers.

Now I will pass this award on to 5 other blogs that are up and coming.

Arts Crafts n Hobbies http://artscraftsnhobbies.blogspot.com

Detroit Mom Reviews http://detroitmomandherviews.blogspot.com

Momma Made It http://mommamadeit.blogspot.com

Saga of the Surf Mommy http://surfmommie.com/

Working on a Project http://workingonaproject.blogspot.com/