This holiday season, Viva is all about encouraging families to get closer to their food by ditching the silverware and eating food with your hands. We surely eat a lot of foods that require using our hands, so this “challenge” was a peace of cake. One of our favorite foods to eat with our hands are homemade burgers. There’s nothing like a good ‘ol homemade burger with all of the fixins. My turkey burgers are made with ground turkey, caramelized onions, lettuce, pepperjack or American cheese and condiments of our choice. I like to top mine with ketchup and relish, Boogie eats whatever I like, and Greg likes mayo.

This week, I decided to do something a little different to take my usual homemade turkey burgers to another level. Instead of making burger patties, I made loose meat and ditched forgot the caramelized onions. Loose meat burgers are perfect for those times when you want a burger, but the meat is still frozen. They are messier, but so are sloppy joes. If you can survive a sloppy joe, then you can certainly survive a loose meat turkey burger.

This recipe makes about 5-6 burgers to be served on regular toasted sandwich bread.

1 1/2 lbs ground turkey
4 chopped green onions
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp seasoning salt
1 tbs vegetable oil

Brown ground turkey. Add green onions and spices when turkey is halfway brown. Drain when fully cooked and add vegetable oil. Continue cooking until meat starts to crisp. Serve on toasted sandwich bread (or buns) with your favorite toppings!

Finger licking good?

This post was sponsored by Viva Towels. For fun, fork-free recipes – including videos – and snappy entertaining ideas, get over to the VIVA® Diva Café!

• Viva Diva Girls’ Night Out

At our first play get together, I was worried that Boogie would behave differently by possibly clinging to me or playing too rough. He has never been aggressive, but kids are known to pull fast ones. To my surprise, my little snoodle walked on in, grabbed a toy and mingled well. He exchanged hugs and kisses too. He obviously wasn’t exhibiting traits from mommy’s side of the social genes. I just love how well the children play together, each child so warm and gentle. Here are some pictures from our second get together.

Now after looking at the pictures and seeing them all going every which way, you’d think I’d change the title of this post. Teeheehee.

{more on flickr}

• My Head. His Teeth.
• It’s about time.
• Batman and Bones
• Camera Dump 10/21/09: And 1 In The Yard
• Camera Dump 10/13/09: Just Hanging Out

Shopathome.com is my go to spot for saving money. I love that everything is there; a printable coupon database, coupon codes, free samples, cash back rewards, even a regularly updated blog powered by real people! There are many sites that either specialize in printable coupons, coupon codes, cash back rewards or free samples. It’s either one or the other, never all in one. I definitely appreciate only having to visit one site when I am looking for a good deal at shopathome.com.

Just in time for the Holidays, ShopAtHome.com has kicked off their Extra Cash Back Event, featuring over 50 retailers! This event will take place today through November 16, 2009. To take advantage of this mega-savings event and all that Shopathome.com’s got to offer, continue reading, there just may be a $100 Kohl’s gift card in it for ya !

{CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING}

• *OVER* Would You Like To SmartShop With DOLE Fruit Parfait Coupons?
• Get Free Samples and Coupons at Shop4Freebies!
• Shopping Frugally For The Holidays Or All Year ‘Round
• Store Discounts

On February 25th-ish, I tweeted that I had a secret. I had been let down a few times after being completely excited about something that winter, so I quickly pushed the hush button. It’s been 8 months, a move, and an installation. It’s time I spill…

We were chosen as a Panasonic Living In HD Family. I couldn’t believe my eyes as I read the letter. I still can’t believe them.

Wow, we are seriously living a dream and it goes beyond this moment.

• No Related Post

He’s been a Cranky McCrankers off and on for the last 3-4 days, randomly shrieking. He’s had a fever, no flu symptoms. His bottom canines have surfaced and they weren’t playing. And now all is well.

This post was written October 28th, 2009.

• Their togetherness makes my heart melt.
• Batman and Bones
• Camera Dump 10/21/09: And 1 In The Yard
• Camera Dump 10/13/09: Just Hanging Out
• My Pursuit of Happiness

Last Wednesday, Boogie and I went to hang out with some friends at Michelle’s. It was our first time getting together with other moms and their kids with the exception of going on the General Mills trip. It felt like home; cozy kick your shoes off, help yourself to the fridge, let the kids roam free home.

{more on flickr}

Today, we’re doing it again. I’m looking forward to seeing Jaymi (thanks for the nudge), Michelle, Carrington, Sheryl, and Toni (if she stops by) again, catching up with Steph and meeting Jen for the first time.

I’m glad to have them in this new chapter of my life.

• Their togetherness makes my heart melt.

One of my goals for next year is to participate in local events and entertainment. Boogie is older now and I think he’d really enjoy getting out and experiencing the whimsy. Banana Shpeel is coming here in Chicago and I’d love to go as a family. It is a hilarious unpredictable narrative fueled by eccentric dance and slapstick humor. Here’s a sneak peek:

An unpredictable narrative describes our lives exactly and sometimes some humor is thrown in the mix. Surprisingly enough, most of these family friendly humorous moments deal with poop or gas. Take the time Boogie pooped on me in public, but Daddy didn’t get off so easy and other poop chronicles we continue to journal.

Banana Shpeel is probably far more entertaining than our poop chronicles. It would certainly be refreshing to see and boy would I love to photograph the show. I can only imagine the expression that will light up Boogie’s face as he takes it all in. I think I’m going to look for a deal on tickets. I want to be close enough to get good pictures. My zoom lens doesn’t zoom that far, but I want to be frugal. I just may sacrifice photos for a good deal and maybe I can rent a good zoom lens? I shall come to some conclusion.

For tickets and touring info, visit the tickets & info page at the Cirque du Soleil Banana Shpeel website. If you catch a show, tell me how you like it!

• No Related Post

I think I was called to participate in this challenge. When we took the trash to the curb tonight, we noticed a red balloon sitting on our trash can. We thought nothing of it. I just bumped up on this week’s I Heart Faces challenge and low and behold, a balloon challenge.

I took this picture of Boogie and Greg at my cousin’s daughter’s 2nd birthday party back in August. It just may end up in our blog header.

• Batman and Bones
• Camera Dump 10/21/09: And 1 In The Yard
• Camera Dump 10/13/09: Just Hanging Out
• My Pursuit of Happiness
• Priceless Joy From a $3 Mesh Toy Box

Halloween has made it’s appearance and now it is slowly fading away. So what did you guys do today? Boogie’s great grandmother took him to a party they had going on at her school (she’s a teacher) and he had a blast running around and helping with the candy. I’m hoping to get pictures from that. Right now I’m thinking about cracking open the pumpkin and baking the seeds, maybe even snuggling up for a movie.

We’re now shopping around for next year’s Halloween costume so that we can luck up on a deal. This year it was either order a costume and pay shipping or review a costume and give up a year’s worth of sidebar advertising to a company. Um, yea right. Off to “our favorite store” we went. We gave Boogie a choice of costumes; Superman, Batman, and Spiderman. He grabbed Batman and Spiderman. So we held both costumes up and he grabbed Batman. Whatever makes the little man happy.

And now the cuteness…

{more on flickr}

• Camera Dump 10/21/09: And 1 In The Yard
• Camera Dump 10/13/09: Just Hanging Out
• My Pursuit of Happiness
• Santa Bring Me An External Flash, I’ve Been Good!
• Their togetherness makes my heart melt.

Hmm, I wonder what happens if…

This is my hooptie hehe.

I have a secret.

Mum mum, can I play in peace?

On a mission.

Big boys still cry.

{more on flickr}

• Batman and Bones
• Camera Dump 10/13/09: Just Hanging Out
• My Pursuit of Happiness
• Santa Bring Me An External Flash, I’ve Been Good!
• Their togetherness makes my heart melt.