Mama Manifesto

Spaghetti Carbonara

alibraylaughs@gmail.com (Ali) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

We recently discovered Nourish Network, an incredible new resource site for healthy eating developed by Lia Huber. Described as the "Facebook for Foodies", it is sure to be one of our new "go to" resources for healthy recipes for our families. They've got articles on everything from nutrition to eco-friendly eating, and all recipes fall under the 500 calorie mark. It is the perfect site to get lost in as you ponder that age old question: "What should I make for dinner?" Lia has been so kind to share one of her best recipes with us today. Enjoy...

Spaghetti Carbonara

I love this recipe because it embodies just how delectable simple food and sound nutrition (no diet crazes for us!) can be. Give this a try with whole wheat spaghetti and a generous green salad tossed with a great vinaigrette.

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 onion, minced
3 slices bacon, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch thick strips
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
3 egg yolks
2 tablespoons lowfat sour cream
2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
sea salt and freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup pasta water
2 tablespoons parsley, minced
1/2 pound whole wheat pasta

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.
2. Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat and add onion. Sauté for 2 minutes, add bacon, and cook another 8-10 minutes until bacon and onion are well-browned. Transfer mixture to a paper towel and let cool while pasta cooks.
3. Add pasta to water and cook according to package directions, reserving 1/4 cup of pasta water.
4. While pasta is cooking, whisk together cheese, egg yolks, sour cream, vinegar and onion mixture. In a separate small bowl, when pasta is nearly done, whisk together a tablespoon of the egg mixture with a tablespoon of pasta water and pour back into the egg mixture. Whisk remaining 3 tablespoons pasta water into the egg mixture.
5. Drain pasta and return it to the pot. Toss with the egg mixture and parsley and serve immediately.
Serves 4

Mama Love

alibraylaughs@gmail.com (Ali) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:04:00 +0000

... We are smitten by Sonya Style. Check out her idea for re-using an old sweater to make a super cute winter hat for your little kiddo. Or this circle canopy made from recycled leather skirts and cardboard.

... We love the website KidsEatFor, that lets you know of all of the restaurants in your zip code offering "kids eat free" specials. There is even an app for your iphone!

... We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the vision of Nuru International to empower 1,000 families living in poverty by the end of the year with their "I am Nuru" campaign. Take a moment and visit their site. You are sure to be inspired. If you ever had an interest in fighting against terrorism, take a look at this video. We love that they empower the poor with knowledge so that they can lift themselves and their community out of poverty.

... We love Christine's post about yelling, and how it just might not be the most effective parenting technique for our kids. A good reminder for all of us.

... We love ohdeedoh for design ideas and eye candy related to children's rooms. Be warned, though. A redecorating fever might seize you upon viewing!

FRIDAY GIVEAWAYS: tiny soles gift certificate

howertons@hotmail.com (Kristen {RAGE against the MINIVAN}) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:33:00 +0000

TinySoles is an online shoe store with a huge selection of kids' shoes from some of our favorite brands. TinySoles was started by three mothers on a mission to find quality, developmentally appropriate footwear for infants. With brands like Pediped, Keen, and Robeez, they really are a one-stop shoe source for baby, infant, toddler and kid shoes. With free shipping on orders over $20, it's also a convenient way for busy moms to shop for shoes from home. In addition to shoes, they also carry SmartWool socks, over 100 styles of BabyLegs, the Klean Kanteen line of stainless steel sippy cups, and lots of other great accesories for wee ones.

One lucky winner will receive a $30 gift card to tiny soles. To enter, leave a comment answering the following question:

If you had to choose your perfect year-round shoe, what would it be? Are you a sandals gal, a boots wearer, or a fan of the tennis shoe?

How to earn additional entries:

1.) Become a follower on our blog (publicly)and leave another comment (or let me know if you already are)

2.) Subscribe to the Mama Memo by clicking here and leave another comment (or let me know if you already are).

3.) Blog about this giveaway- with a link back to here. Post YOUR blog entry first and then the comment.

4.) Add the Mama Manifesto button to your sidebar.

5.) Follow me on Twitter AND Tweet about this giveaway- TWEET: "Win a tiny soles gift card from @MamaManifesto. Enter at mamamanifesto.com"

6.) Become a fan of Mama Manifesto on Facebook by clicking the button on the left!

[this giveaway will be closed on Thursday at 11 PM, & the winner will be announced next Friday!]

And now, for the winner of last week's skincare giveaway:
(((chlorinebrain)))

And the winner of the Ice Age DVD set:

(((lisaoxolove)))

Congratulations! Shoot us an email in the next seven days to mamagiveaways(at)gmail(dot)com with your prize in the subject line, and we will hook you up. Keep checking back for more great giveways!

the flu shot heard around the world

alibraylaughs@gmail.com (Ali) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Last week we asked a "talk back" question regarding flu prevention. It triggered some great dialogue regarding prevention, and we thought it warranted further discussion. You can hardly watch the news without hearing about "swine flu" or H1N1 virus these days. As the vaccine for the H1N1 virus rolls out this month, it seems to be the go-to conversation as mothers wait to pick up their children at schools across the nation. There are debates on the news and talk radio regarding whether or not the masses should get the flu shot.

Whether or not to vaccine against the flu is a decision that each mother must research and weight out for her own family. There are certain demographics at higher risk of spiraling into worse illnesses if they contract the H1N1 virus or the seasonal flu (pregnant women, elderly, very young children, individuals who are asthmatic, etc). This, coupled with the fact that some children have passed away from the H1N1 virus, makes the vaccine so in-demand that doctors cannot provide it to everyone who is seeking it.

We are pretty passionate about raising awareness on vaccinations and making sure that we are all asking important questions and not just going with the status quo flow. It seems like the underlying question in regards to H1N1 is whether or not it is really just another form of the flu. With the seasonal flu, you get a fever, you feel miserable, you sip broth and you wait until you no longer feel like you were run over by a diesel truck. You fought off the virus, and now when the next virus comes that is slightly mutated from that previous one, you are more likely to fight it off quickly. Our immune systems were designed to defend us and to fight, and some suggest that if we never give them that chance, we creating a faux-immunity.

There is a lot of talk about the swine flu pandemic.. Doesn't "pandemic" sound incredibly serious and scary? A pandemic simply means that an infection has spread to many countries. And according to the World Health Organization director, so far, this swine flu has been less dangerous than the normal seasonal flu in terms of numbers of people impacted.

As parents weigh out the potential impact of H1N1 on their families, they also have to weigh out the potential risks of a relatively new and under-researched vaccine. The ingredients in the swine flu shot might not be completely safe. Here is what we do know about what is in the vaccine: The new H1N1 vaccine will be made in human retina cells and contain MF59, an oil-based adjuvant primarily composed of squalene, Tween 80 and Span85. In studies with rats, oil adjuvants have been found to be toxic, and in testing, rats developed an MS-like disease that left them crippled and dragging their limbs. When injected into humans, serious immune responses resulted (such as arthritis and lupus). Squalene has been linked to autoimmune disorders such as arthritis, MS, ALS, and Gulf War Syndrome. Certain strains of the flu vaccine also contain mercury - one of the chemicals at the heart of the autism debate.

Weighing out the risk vs. benefit of a vaccine is always a tricky venture when capitalism is involved in medicine. Vaccine makers and federal officials are immune from lawsuits for any harm that is related to the swine flu vaccine. The manufacturer of the H1N1 virus told the associated press that the vaccine will be administered before safety tests are concluded. And yet, the FDA put their stamp on rolling it out and has declared that the true safety test will be the "post marketing surveillance".

Utimately, whether or not to get this vaccine is a personal decision, and while we want moms to be informed, we certainly don't want to spread panic about the vaccine any more than we want to spread panic about the pandemic. We do, however, want to encourage you to do the research yourself.

Does anyone else feel a tad uneasy with regard to the FDA? Any Swine Flu victims out there that have recovered and can share how it measured up on the "flu meter"? Any moms with kids in the high-risk category want to share how this decision has been for you?

WFMW: green your kiddos artwork

alibraylaughs@gmail.com (Ali) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:54:00 +0000

We love this tip that came from MamaBite, a shoot off of Ideal Bite, one of our favorite resources for bringing a little more green into our world.

Recycling Our Kiddos' Artwork

Kiddos' drawings just hangin' around the house, collecting dust?

The Bite:
Give 'em a job to do: Show your kids how to reuse their old artwork as wrapping paper, greeting cards, or as part of their next masterpiece. You'll clear up piles of old projects, spark creative ideas, and get spent paper back to the grind.

The Benefits:

Giving trees some time off. Paper goods suck up at least 35% of the world's yearly commercial tree harvest. Reusing a coloring book page or flipping over a finger painting spares a few.
Relocating to a better home office. Recycling art helps clean the house out from under all the kid clutter, but without trashing any beloved pictures or adding to the waste stream.
Training on-the-job. Repurposing paper and crafts gets kids' imaginations going, and demonstrates the value of reuse.
Slashing expenses. Money saved on paper and crafts products can be put to better use...like, um, playdate cocktails.

Wanna Try:

Use larger art pieces for wrapping paper, and smaller pieces for thank-yous and birthday cards.
Collect old illustrations, then concoct and write a story to accompany them (with your kiddos' help if they can). Staple pictures and story together to make a book - voilá, a gift for grandparents.
Cut the pages of used coloring books into strips, and staple them together to make paper chains. Great as Christmas tree decorations - just wrap them around the tree like a popcorn string.
Paste drawings onto cardboard and cut them up to make puzzles.
Snip watercolor paintings into little pieces and glue them on another piece of paper or cardboard to make mosaics.

Bang For The Bite
If 10,000 bitty Biters reuse just one piece of paper a day for an art project instead of grabbing a new one, after a year they'll save 317 trees.

Do you recycle artwork? Got any other ideas on how to green up your kids' art inspiration?

Talk BACK: The Six O'Clock Scramble

alibraylaughs@gmail.com (Ali) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

We've all been there: it's a quarter to six, and somehow we've managed to completely forget about dinner. We've gotten lost in a book, or a blog, or a great episode of Oprah, and suddenly a young child breaks us from our comatose state and asks,

"MOMMY, WHAT'S FOR DINNER?"

Well??

What's your last-minute dinner solution? What do you typically do when you've failed to plan and need dinner in a hurry? Do you have a cupboard stand-by? Do you pack up the family and head to a restaurant? What is your Plan B when meal-planning goes wrong?

Chicken Raspberry Salad Wrap

noreply@blogger.com (The Mama's) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:44:00 +0000

This recipe is from ilunchbox.com, "healthy recipes for the speed of life". It's a great website devoted to busy moms who are looking to add a little more nutrition to their family meals. Check it out!

Note: A meal in a wrap is as easy as it gets. Use multigrain tortillas or flat breads for added flavor and nutrition. Wrap your wrap in parchment paper or aluminum foil to keep it neat, and don't forget to teach your kids how to eat a wrap so they don't loose their lunch. This is a tart and tangy chicken salad that can be served on it’s own, over lettuce or in a wrap or pita pocket. This will make about 4 servings.

Dressing:
Ingredients
1 cup nonfat plain yogurt
1/2 cup fresh raspberries, rinsed and drained
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar (or agave)

Directions:
In a blender combine all ingredients until smooth. Refrigerate dressing in a covered container for at least 1 hour before using.

Salad:
Ingredients:
2 cups cooked and cubed boneless, skinless chicken
3/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
1 cup celery, finely chopped
1 cup green bell pepper, diced
1/2 cup chopped almonds
4 cups fresh raspberries, rinsed, drained and divided

Directions
Combine the chicken with the onions celery, bell pepper and almonds and toss with the dressing until well combined.
Gently fold in the raspberries until well coated but not crushed.
Serve on its own or over lettuce or in a multigrain tortilla as a wrap.

Mama Love

howertons@hotmail.com (Kristen {RAGE against the MINIVAN}) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:49:00 +0000

Happy Halloween!

Today we are loving:

Land's End Skinny Jeans. Who knew Land's End could be so hip? Thanks to Petit Elefant for the tip. I ordered these with a pair of shoes, and they are so flattering and comfortable that I had to order a pair in another color. They have just the right support where a mama needs it, while still looking fashion-forward.

Salon's Post on Bad Fathering. They called out google because they did a search for “bad fathering” and got a “Did you mean: bad mothering?” Really, Google? REALLY?

Hooked on Phonics. We've all seen the commercials, and lately my son has shown so much interest in reading. I found a full set on Amazon for a third of the retail price, and a couple days later my son is really learning to read. It works for us!

Giggle.com. This website is like a clearinghouse for cool kid stuff. I loved their Ultimate Swaddle Blanket for my daughter, who is still a fan of the swaddle at five months and counting. It's big enough to keep her swaddled, and made of a fabric so cozy you'll wish they came in your size.

Man Cold. This hilarious youtube video hits a little too close to home . . .

Word World Happy Holidays DVD. I'm a big fan of Word World for helping kids learn the basics of reading, and they have a new holiday version that is both fun and educational. Although the characters ls are always learning how to spell words, they also learn some great life lessons, like giving is better than getting. Just don't try to say Word World three times fast.

Lifefactory Multisensory Silicone Teethers. These teethers for babies are so simple and yet so brilliant. They are BPA, phthalate, PVC, and latex free, and can be refrigerated or frozen to soothe aching gums. The various ribs and nubs are fun for baby to explore and help to develop oral motor skills, and they come in colors so fun that you might be tempted to sport one as a bracelet.

Leonidas Orangettes. Candied orange peel dipped in Dark Belgian chocolate. Do I need to say more?

Friday Giveaway: Kimberly Parry Organics skin care

howertons@hotmail.com (Kristen {RAGE against the MINIVAN}) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 05:29:00 +0000

We have an awesome double giveaway this week! Be sure to click back to our home page to enter the other giveaway - a just-released DVD box set of the Ice Age trilogy!

One lucky reader will receive a sample set from Kimberly Parry organics, including Smooth, an all-over body oil, and Soft, a hand and foot balm.

Kimberly Parry Organics offers a full-range of organic skin care products for body, face, hair, and mom & baby. Everything is made fresh to order, without the use of harsh chemicals, preservatives, additives, or animal products. The products are never tested on animals, and are packaged in BPA-free bottles and tubs. This sample set is a great splurge for a tired mama, and the smell is heavenly! We are big fans - Check out their line for babies, too!

To be entered in the Kimberly Parry giveaway, please leave us a comment answering the following question:

"What is one of your favorite smells?"

How to Get Extra Entries:

***When you enter an extra entry you must post a *separate comment* for each entry, sorry but we can’t keep track of extra entries unless you do this. ***

1. add our blog to your blogroll and leave a comment on this post with the link to your blog

2. become a "follower" of our blog by clicking here (or at the sidebar on the right)

3 join our facebook network by clicking here

4. Tweet about this giveaway by clicking above and linking back.

[this giveaway will be closed on Thursday at 11 PM, & the winner will be announced next Friday!]

Friday Giveaway:Ice Age DVD Trilogy

alibraylaughs@gmail.com (Ali) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0000

We have an awesome double giveaway this week! Be sure to click back to our home page to enter the other giveaway - a fabulous set of organic skincare from Kimberly Parry.

The popular Ice Age movies are about to be released in a box-set, and one lucky reader will get a preview just before it hits the shelves! The Ice Age Trilogy will include Ice Age 1, 2 and 3. Coming just in time for fall family movie nights - you can cuddle up and giggle as you watch that persistent squirrel chase the ever elusive nut!

To be entered in the Ice Age Trilogy giveaway, please leave us a comment answering the following question:

"Do you have any Pumpkin Patch or Pumpkin decorating traditions? Do you dive into carving and let your kids get messy, or do you leave the pumpkins intact to admire as decoration?"

How to Get Extra Entries:

***When you enter an extra entry you must post a *separate comment* for each entry, sorry but we can’t keep track of extra entries unless you do this. ***

1. add our blog to your blogroll and leave a comment on this post with the link to your blog

2. become a "follower" of our blog by clicking here (or at the sidebar on the right)

3 join our facebook network by clicking here

4. tweet about this giveaway by clicking above and linking back.

[this giveaway will be closed on Thursday at 11 PM, & the winner will be announced next Friday!]

And now, for the winner of last week's Boppy giveaway:

(((Lo)))

Congratulations! Shoot us an email in the next two weeks and we will hook you up.

Healthier Halloween Treats

howertons@hotmail.com (Kristen {RAGE against the MINIVAN}) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:03:00 +0000

Wanting to pass out something reasonably healthy for Halloween this year? We have a few ideas:

Knudsen Organic Sensible Sippers - juice boxes might be an unconventional thing to pass out, but we think these small juice boxes are a perfect Halloween treat. They are certified USDA Organic are 50% organic juice and 50% water, reducing the amount of sugar in each serving without compromising taste.

Newman's Own Organic Raisin Boxes - raisins are the classic dried fruit snack, and Newman's version are organic and the perfect size for little hands.

Snack-Sized Pirate's Booty - we love that Pirate's Booty is available in smaller bags now! Pirate's Booty is all-natural, made with puffed rice, corn, and aged cheddar cheese. No sugar, and no transfats!

Kopali Organic Dried Fruit - these organic dried fruit bags have no sugar, oil, or sulfites. Made of 100% real fruits, which are fully ripened, picked by hand and dried right on site at the farm. Flavors include dried mango, pineapple, mulberries, goldenberries, and a "Superfood Mix".

Funky Monkey - this is the perfect fruit snack that kids and moms will love. Their fruit snacks are made with 100% organic fruit, and no sugar. They use a freeze-dried dehydration technique that makes the fruit sweet and crunchy.

Salba Smart’s Organic Tortilla Chips - treats don't have to be sweets. Salba's 100 calorie tortilla chips pack are packed full of whole salba grain - the superfood that provides three times more iron than spinach, 15 times more magnesium than broccoli, and six times more calcium than whole milk

How about a puzzle for a totally sugar-free Halloween treat? Hasbro has a"Halloween Bag of Mini Puzzles" that kids would love, featuring 50 piece puzzles of pets dressed up in halloween costumes.
(other big hits - stickers, tattoos, pencils, pennies...)

And now, how do we manage all of the sugary treats our kids come home with on Halloween? I am planning to let my kids each choose 5 treats to have for the next 5 days. I am also going to sneak out any potty-training friendly treats to use in my upcoming potty-training adventures (m&m's & skittles work well for me). I know that our dentist also does a "Candy Buy-Back" deal with kids...She pays a dollar per pound of candy. I would also consider bartering with my kids -- they could trade in their candy for a toy or fun outing.

What ideas do you have for rationing or reducing the acquired candy?

WFMW: Green Your Halloween

howertons@hotmail.com (Kristen {RAGE against the MINIVAN}) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:01:00 +0000

Is it possible to go green on Halloween? Trick-or-treating adds up to a lot of plastic masks, candy wrappers and fake tombstones that aren't great for the enivronment. Jodi Helmer, author of The Green Year, has given us some great tips for making the black and orange holiday a little more green:

Green the goodies: Think of all the candy wrappers that one little goblin throws in the trash – then multiply that number by the millions of trick-or-treaters who are happily gobbling up their stash. Offer organic apples from the farmers market or buy treats in bulk to minimize packaging waste.

Come up with a new costume: Skip the racks of colorful costumes at the mall (most of them are made of non-renewable materials like plastic) and check out the second-hand stores, or come up with a creative idea for a homemade costume. Add a bandana to a pair of jeans and a denim shirt for an instant cowboy costume or put on your wedding dress and go as the Bride of Frankenstein. Or, host a costume swap with the neighbors. The costumes their kids have outgrown might be the perfect fit for your little one.

Choose natural decorations: Bails of straw, colorful mums and a handful of gourds are great seasonal decorations that can be composted on November 1st. If scary witches hanging from the oak tree and plastic pumpkins on the front step are a must-have, scour secondhand stores.

TALK BACK: How do you "do" Halloween?

howertons@hotmail.com (Kristen {RAGE against the MINIVAN}) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Do you celebrate Halloween as a family? Do you trick or treat, or do you carnival? Do you ration your children's candy, or do you let them have free reign? Do you dress up via Target, WalMart or costume store OR do you go the handmade route? If you are a fan of the handmade costume vibe, you will love these links that Make & Take's shared today.

[photo from Colorfly Studio's Halloween Roundup]

Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

howertons@hotmail.com (Kristen {RAGE against the MINIVAN}) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:09:00 +0000

Are you planning to carve some pumpkins this Halloween season? Don't throw out those pumpkin seeds! Get your kids involved in this easy cooking project that yields a healthy, crunchy snack. The trick to good pumpkin seeds, though, is to do it in two steps, allowing the seeds to FULLY DRY before cooking them. It's all about getting that crunch!

Ingredients
One medium sized pumpkin
Salt
Olive oil

Day 1:

1. Cut open the pumpkin and use a strong metal spoon to scoop out the insides. Separate the seeds from the stringy core. Rinse the seeds.

2. In a small saucepan, add the seeds to water, about 2 cups of water to every half cup of seeds. Add a half tablespoon of salt for every cup of water (more if you like your seeds saltier). Bring to a boil. Let simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and drain.

3. Spread out on paper towels and allow to dry overnight

Day 2:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Spread about a tablespoon of olive oil over the bottom of a roasting pan. Spread the seeds out over the roasting pan, all in one layer. Bake on the top rack until the seeds begin to brown, 10-20 minutes.

3. When browned to your satisfaction, remove from the oven and let the pan cool on a rack. Let the seeds cool all the way down before eating. Either crack to remove the inner seed (a lot of work and in my opinion, unnecessary) or eat whole.

MAMA PICKS: best books for halloween

howertons@hotmail.com (Kristen {RAGE against the MINIVAN}) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:30:00 +0000

We know Halloween isn't every mama's thing, but if your kids are fans of all this ghoulish, here are some fun books to get them in the mood:

Trick or Treat? by Melanie Walsh (age 3 yrs - 5 yrs)Where is the bat, and what is the spider doing? What could be in the cauldron, or rattling in the closet -- or outside the door? For young children awaiting Halloween, here is the perfect board book, full of bright colors, bold illustrations, and ever-so-slightly spooky surprises waiting beneath sturdy flaps. Trick or treat!

Tucker's Spooky Halloween by Leslie McGuirk
(age 2 yrs - 5 yrs)Tucker’s owner always dresses him as something cute for Halloween, like a pumpkin with a little orange hat. But this year Tucker doesn’t want to be cute -- he wants to be spooky! Looks like it’s time for Tucker to put his paws to the cause and turn into something scary before the trick-or-treaters arrive! Little ones will laugh at this earnest pup’s efforts to make just the right statement on Halloween night.

Where's My Mummy? by Carolyn Crimi, illustrated by John Manders
(age 4 yrs - 7 yrs)

Little Baby Mummy wants just one more game of hide-and-shriek with Big Mama Mummy before bedtime. The night is deep and dark, full of friendly creatures that click their clacky teeth and whoosh past on flippy-floppy wings. But who will comfort Little Baby Mummy if a small, scritchy-scratchy someone gives him a scare? Big Mama Mummy, of course! Fresh, comical illustrations complement this ever-so-slightly suspenseful story with a satisfying ending.

And Then Comes Halloween by Tom Brenner, illustrated by Holly Meade

(age 4yrs - 7 yrs)
As soon as geese fly south, children take autumn's cue to start their preparations: it’s almost Halloween! With poetic language and vivid collage illustrations, Tom Brenner and Holly Meade follow all the familiar rituals, from hanging paper skeletons to carving pumpkins, from costume-making to trick-or-treating. Halloween lovers will be eager to grab a bag or bucket and join them on this lively and lyrical journey.

The Bag of Bones by Vivian French, illustrated by Ross Collins

(age 8 yrs - 12 yrs)
When the quill writes GO GO GO frantically on the wall, and the House of the Ancient Crones heaves Gracie Gillypot outside onto the path, it can mean only one thing: there’s Trouble in the Five Kingdoms. This time it’s in the form of a beady-eyed, green-tongued witch named Truda Hangnail, who with her banished Deep Magic has vowed to succeed Queen Bluebell on the throne. Will the strengths, smarts, and charms of a spunky trueheart, a sweet-natured orphan, a scruffy prince, a substantial troll, and two squabbling bats be enough to foil her insidious plot?

Mama Love

alibraylaughs@gmail.com (Ali) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0000

We love the new Veggie Tales DVD, Veggie Tales St. Nicholas. As we approach the season where our children are inundated with messages of the newer, better toys out there, this is a refreshing message of true joy coming from giving to others. We LOVE the idea of watching the movie as a family, and then putting together a Christmas box with your kids to donate to a great charity (i.e. Operation Christmas Child) so that they can experience first hand the joy of giving to others.

We love the hilarious blog Handmade Gone Wrong, that highlights the worst in home-ec ventures over the last century. Go have a laugh at some craft projects that shouldn't have been started!

We love the new portable cookbook for Trader's fans. As die hard Trader Joe's shoppers, we were immediate fans of the first cookbook Cooking With All Things Trader Joe's, so we were ecsatic to hear about The Trader Joe's Companion: A Portable Cookbook. It's filled with quick and easy recipes, time-saving tips, and entertaining ideas featuring Trader Joe's ingredients. We only wish we had thought of doing this first!

We love ABC to tha Diaz's recipe for Cajun Pork Chops over at Good Cookin'.

We love pumpkin season! For those Mama readers in the Southern California region, Fox’s Family Fun Days are happening this weekend (October 24 & 25) from 11-3PM. In honor of the Ice Age movie trilogy being released soon, Shawn’s Pumpkin Patch and Lopez Pumpkin Patch will be hosting a party with pumpkin carvers carving Ice Age-themed pumpkin carving stations, glowstick giveaways with a chance to win a DVD box set of the first two movies, and decorating tables to trick out pumpkins with googly eyes, stickers, glitter, sequins and more.

We love this article from Welcome to the Dollhouse, about being the "annoying parent" at school. Can anyone else relate?

FRIDAY GIVEWAWAY: boppy pillow

howertons@hotmail.com (Kristen {RAGE against the MINIVAN}) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:14:00 +0000

Our giveaway this week is a new mom must-have - the classic Boppy® Feeding and Infant Support Pillow. The Boppy has been named the number one baby product for the seventh time by American Baby magazine readers, and with good reason. The Boppy is a great pillow for feeding or nursing a baby, but also the perfect support for little ones who are learning to sit up on their own! Our giveaway includes one Boppy and one Boppy Baby Infant Tee.

To be entered in the Boppy giveaway, please leave us a comment answering the following question:

"What is your most pressing item on your to-do list for the weekend?"

2. become a "follower" of our blog by clicking here (or at the sidebar on the right)

3 join our facebook network by clicking here

4. tweet this giveaway by clicking on the "tweet this" icon above

[this giveaway will be closed on Thursday at 11 PM, & the winner will be announced next Friday!]

And now, for the winner of last week's giveaway:

(((Corey)))

Congratulations! Shoot us an email in the next two weeks and we will hook you up.

drama (you give me fever)

howertons@hotmail.com (Kristen {RAGE against the MINIVAN}) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:03:00 +0000

My kid (as most kids do) use some vocabulary that is uniquely their own. The funniest to me by far is the way Jafta refers to Karis's frequent spit-up as "drama". I have no idea how he picked this up, but he actually thinks this is the correct term for it. Of course I don't correct him, because it cracks me up. Nearly every day I hear him say "Uh-oh, Karis is having some drama right now". Or "There's some drama on the floor over there." Or "Burp her so there won't be any drama." Hilarious, right? I mean, why would I want to correct that hilarity?

India, on the other hand, says that she is "spitting up" any time she actually pukes. I know this, because she throws up quite a lot. She is my little carsick sweetie. A couple enthusiastic pushes on the swingset, and she is sure to lose her lunch. It's so bad that I actually have a technique for protecting her clothing on airplane rides, that involves tucking a blanket into her shirt and then suspending the other end from the seatback tray. Pretty effective.

Another of Jafta's unique colloquialisms is that he claims to have a fever any time something hurts. I'm sure it's based on hearing me say that he had a fever when he was sick. But now, any time he hurts himself, he will hold his head or stomach or knee and say "I have a fever! I'm getting a fever right now!"

Last night, we managed to have a perfect storm of drama, fever, and spitting up. India took her usual nap around 2pm. She had a rough morning, but I didn't suspect anything. I've been so focused on trying to keep the asthmatic and the infant healthy that India kind of slipped under the radar. When she was still sleeping at 4pm, I thought it was kinda nice. At 5pm, it seemed a bit curious. At 6pm, I actually started to worry a little bit. I went in to check on her, and she was burning up with a fever.

She obviously had some sort of flu bug, and when I woke her up she told me she had "spit up". Which she had, all over her bed. Which Jafta discovered and called "drama".

India then proceeded to have "drama" about seven more times last night, all over the house. Despite the puke bowl we hovered under her chin for the better part of the night, she managed to catch us unawares and spew her "drama" on every square inch of the house.

DRAMA.

Fortunately, this morning she is back to her usual self, evidenced by the fact that she made five costume changes by lunch, and then kept lunch down. But Jafta - Jafta has been pointing to his tummy and saying he has a fever, which might actually be correct. And I woke up with the scratchy throat, sour stomach, and body aches that seem to hallmark half of the winter when living with kids in preschool.

Hmmm . . . must be flu season.

WFMW: multi-tasking kitchen tools

alibraylaughs@gmail.com (Ali) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Don't you love when you find a new use for an old tool? We have shared our love for the pizza cutter before. We have also discovered that you can use a turkey baster to prevent cupcake batter from dripping all over the pan. You can also use a turkey baster to measure out pancake batter.

What are your "go to" tools in the kitchen?

TALK BACK: flu prevention

howertons@hotmail.com (Kristen {RAGE against the MINIVAN}) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:37:00 +0000

It seems like everyone is concerned about the flu this season, especially with the additional threat of H1N1. What steps are you taking as a mom to try to avoid the flu? Do you usually get the flu shot? Do your kids? How about the H1N1 vaccine . . . will your kids be getting it? How did you come to that decision?

Zesty Chicken in a Crock Pot

alibraylaughs@gmail.com (Ali) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0000

So, seriously, this is a recipe that takes about 3 minutes to prepare! And, it is quite healthy! Who could ask for anything more?! It is a part of my meal planning that allows me to do double duty dinners...one night with this Chicken in tacos or burritos, and another night (or two, depending on how much you make) with Easy Mexican Lasagna (see other recipe posts), stuffed quesadillas, fajitas, taco salad, etc... Try to use meat without hormones or antibiotics to kick up the healthiness factor a notch (Yay for Trader Joe's). :)

Ingredients:

6 (or more) chicken breasts (i don't even thaw mine)
1 jar of salsa of choice

1. Place your chicken breasts in the bottom of your crock pot
2. Pour salsa over the chicken and cook on high for about 4 hours or until the chicken is totally done
3. When the chicken is cooked through, take 2 forks and just shred the chicken inside the crock pot until it is in small enough pieces to use for your recipe. I sometimes add some black beans to this and call it "Chili".
4. Do a happy dance because making dinner was soooo easy!

Serve as chili, soft tacos (aim to use whole wheat or brown rice tortillas to make it extra healthy) with some cheese and sour cream. Save the left overs and throw them into a salad with some black beans, shredded cheese, diced avocado and a few crushed tortilla chips for a super yummy Taco Salad (note: the taco salad is better when the chicken has cooled down, so it is perfect for a Day Two option)!

Mama Love

howertons@hotmail.com (Kristen {RAGE against the MINIVAN}) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:19:00 +0000

We love . . .

. . . the PureBarre workout DVD, for using ballet bar moves to create a killer 40-minute workout at home. You will feel it in your butt!

. . . the Didymos Wrap, a fabulous baby carrier from Europe that is about as flexible as we've seen for babies of all sizes.

. . . seeing one of our favorite bloggers, Stephanie Neilson, on Oprah, talking about her recovery and reminding us to cherish our kids and every moment we get with them.

. . . blogger Liana's description of being the "annoying mom" in the classroom. I can relate!

. . . the aden + anais muslin swaddle blanket being sold at TARGET! My five-month-old daughter still loves to be wrapped in it every night, and I use it as a nursing cover duing the day. It's light and so pretty, and can be used for anything.

. . . blogger Whitaker Woman's ideas for family fun night. Search through her archives for some inspiration!

. . . reader Heather's story of what happens when mommy gets creative and then tries to get the perfect shot. Classic!

Friday Giveaways: Edible Gifts Plus $35 Gift Certificate

howertons@hotmail.com (Kristen {RAGE against the MINIVAN}) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:30:00 +0000

We have a sweet giveaway this week! It is for a $35 gift certificate to Edible Gifts Plus - an online source for source for unique and delicious edibles gifts. They have everything from cookies, chocolates, dipped fruits, pretzels, and popcorn, and they have many fun custom options for the perfect gift. And if sweets aren't your thing, they have have spa gifts, personalized mugs, wine baskets, and coffee items! One of my favorite things about Edible Gifts Plus is that you can personalize many of their products

To enter this giveaway, leave a comment and answer the following question:

What do you prefer: candy or chocolate?

How to earn additional entries:

2.) Become a follower on our blog (publicly)and leave another comment (or let me know if you already are)

3.) Favorite us on Technorati by clicking here. Leave a comment.

4.) Subscribe to the Mama Memo by clicking here and leave another comment (or let me know if you already are).

5.) Blog about this giveaway- with a link back to here. Post YOUR blog entry first and then the comment.

[this giveaway will be closed on Thursday at 11 PM, & he winner will be announced next Friday!]

And now, for the winner of last week's giveaway:
(((dolls123)))

Congratulations! Shoot us an email in the next two weeks and we will hook you up.

make it work

howertons@hotmail.com (Kristen {RAGE against the MINIVAN}) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:05:00 +0000

Jafta is my crafty little kid. He is always coming up with creative solutions for the things he wants, and this often involves dressing up like someone else. Like when he was watching football with Mark, and he suddenly bolted out of the room and re-emerged with two rolls of toilet paper under his shirt, declaring himself a "USC football guy":

And then, a few days later, he came up with a better solution, using his skateboard pads on his shoulders:

He has also been asking for an ipod so he could "go on a run" like I do. I found a little flash drive at Target that plays MP3's through earbuds. It was $9.99, and holds 40 songs. I loaded it with High School Musical and Ozomatli, and he is convinced it's an ipod just like mine. The problem was, the earbuds wouldn't stay in his little ears. I bought him an old-school set of headphones, but he wasn't having that. He ran to his room, and came out with a sweatband that would go around his ears and hold the earbuds in. And then he went on that run.

My little problem-solver.

He has also been begging me - BEGGING ME - for a Robin Hood costume. He and Mark have been reading the book, and he is a little obsessed with Robin Hood right now. (By the way, in case you were interested, the actual book of Robin Hood is NOT the same plot as the cartoon movie, and completely inappropriate for small children, as we discovered upon reading aloud. Which is probably why he loves it.)

I've had a little trouble finding a Robin Hood costume (more on that later), so he has taken it upon himself to create his own Robin Hood costume. In his mind, this involves three elements:
1) a skirt
2) a hat
3) an arrow coming out of the hat

His first attempt involved finding a sunhat that a relative left at our house. Then, when India went to the bathroom, he seized his opportunity and stole her skirt. He ran into the living room declaring himself to be Robin Hood, and India ran into the living room screaming about her stolen skirt. I scolded him, but not before snapping a picture of the debacle. It's a little fuzzy, but that's the best I could do. Notice the skirtless, angry India in the corner:

His second attempt was less violating, but not much closer to looking authentic. This time, he used his blanket as the skirt and a swimcap as his hat (with compulsory arrow, of course). He was pretty pleased with himself:

I was fine with this get-up until we had a costume event to attend. I tried to get Jafta to wear one of the store-bought superhero costumes he owns, but he was dead-set on being Robin Hood. He even laid out his swimcap and blanket before the event. Now, I am all for encouraging Jafta to think outside the box, but I was not gonna have my son show up to a party wearing a blanket skirt and a swimcap. Nooo. Lucky for me, I had some extra fabric laying around, and so I crafted it into a tunic and belt, and then I found an online tutorial and made him a Robin Hood hat:

I know you are reading this and marveling at my sewing abilities and general craftiness. And I know what you are thinking: I could totally go on Project Runway and win. I know. I am amazing.

Hopefully someone will read this post and just forward me straight to Fashion Week.

WFMW: birthday on a budget

howertons@hotmail.com (Kristen {RAGE against the MINIVAN}) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:06:00 +0000

My daughter’s third birthday was this week, and we wanted to throw her a fun, simple party with a few of her friends. Our budget was a little tight this year, so we had to get creative, but we ended up having a blast without breaking the bank.

The theme for her party was High School Musical. Now, some of you may be reading this and thinking that High School Musical does not seem appropriate for a three-year-old. And to you, I would say: you are correct. However, my darling daughter has had her mind set on a “High School Musical Birthday” since she turned two. Truly, she has been talking for a year about her desires for this party. No amount of talking or reframing was going to sway her into choosing something preschool-appropriate like Dora or Backyardigans. She is three going on thirteen, and she loves Troy Bolton in a big way.

For invitations, we sent an evite. The days of cute, homemade invitations on colorful cardstock are over for this tired mama. If that kind of thing floats your boat, you go on with your bad self and your glue stick. Not for me. Besides, it is so much easier to keep track of the guest list on evite.

I love when I can incorporate the party favors into the décor and activities. We decorated the tables with pom-poms, microphones, basketballs, and stickers, which were all used at the party, which the kids then got to take home. I ordered them bulk from Oriental Trading Company. I also set up some of India’s other HSM paraphernalia on the other tables. The only decorations I had to purchase were the tablecloths and paper plates.

We had the party right at lunchtime. Choosing the time for a party is always a challenge, and typically I like to try to avoid having a party during a meal. However, some of her friends are older and had games in the morning, and some of her friends still nap. So we were pressed into the lunch window, which meant providing lunch for all the kids, and the parents. It’s also always interesting trying to provide healthy food that kids will actually eat. We decided to keep it simple, and offered a large chicken nugget tray from Chik-fil-A. Their chicken is cooked in healthy oils and natural chicken instead of processed, meat, and a great staple to build on. I also served huge bowls of grapes, carrots, salad, and whole-grain goldfish. Previously I have spent a lot of money on fruit and veggie trays, but for younger kids keeping it simple worked to my favor.

I went for some fun beverages for the grown-ups, since the food was geared for the kids. I wanted to serve something adult, without actually serving adult beverages, if you know what I mean. There is a fun new drink called Sparkling Essence that is basically sparkling water with a hint of fun flavors like cucumber and mint. I also served some bottles of Natural Brew, who makes the best Vanilla Crème Soda and Ginger Ale you have ever tested. For the kids, I served Sensible Sippers – my favorite juice box because they are 100% organic juice and contain more water than the average juice box.

For dessert, my sister-in-law made cupcakes. Let me share this tip: find a friend or family member who is willing to swap this responsibility with you. Sarah had the idea that we make the cupcakes for each other’s birthday events, and it has been such a lifesaver, since it is one less thing to think about when you are planning a party. It’s fun for me to get creative for my niece and nephew on their birthdays, and I love the stuff Sarah comes up with for my kids. I think I’ve gotten the better end of the bargain with her cupcake skills, though. Look at what she made!

When hosting a party, it’s always a delicate balance between letting the kids freely play and offering some structured activities. Too much free play means they get bored, but too much structure means I become the shrill, controlling mom ordering kids to follow rules when they just came to have fun. I wanted to keep the activities simple and allow for things that would be fun for both genders and all ages. We had _ activities during the party:

1) Banner Project – as the kids arrived, I invited them to choose a letter or two on the banner to decorate. I put out crayons, markers, and stickers. The banner was just several sheets of white paper with a letter on each page to spell out “High School Muscial”. I downloaded the HSM font and typed it onto a word doc, and then printed it from my printer and strung it on a piece of ribbon. Uber-cheap and easy, and it kept the kids occupied for a while. Once it was complete we hung it up on the “stage”.

1) Sing-A-Long – after eating, we invited kids “backstage” and then played scenes from the movie. We passed out the microphones and pom-poms and the kids were invited to sing and dance while the parents watched. The stage was basically an area in front of some chairs where I hung two king-sized red curtains from IKEA for $7 each. They covered a large area and cost much less than if I had purchased fabric by the yard. Some of the kids took the performance very seriously. Some of them just stood and watched the movie scenes. It engaged them for a good chunk of time.

1) Cupcakes & Tattoos – we set up the cupcakes at the table while the kids were dancing. After singing happy birthday, a couple parents went around and helped give the kids some HSM tattoos we found at Target.

After getting their tattoos, we had India open her gifts, and then most of the kids ended up jumping on the trampoline. It was a really fun party for not a lot of moolah, and most importantly I think India felt very honored.