YorkCountyMommies

Learn a New Language During Cultural Awareness Month

2012-02-15T08:00:00.001-05:00

Bonjour! Ciao! Hola! Have you been checking the National Chapter and participating in Cultural Awareness Month? In our Multicultural Mommies forum, we’re talking about foreign languages and discovering fun facts about different cultures. Join the celebration, and add some new words and phrases to your linguistic repertoire!

Do you have something to add to the conversation? Share your knowledge with other moms who are learning a language with their children. Go global with TMN as we highlight the many languages and cultures that make our world wonderful!

February Is Cultural Awareness Month!

2012-02-01T11:32:00.001-05:00

February is Cultural Awareness Month at The Mommies Network, and we're thinking globally! Share a love for foreign language and different cultures with your child in our Multicultural Mommies forum on our National Chapter. Each week, we'll feature several languages and cultural tidbits. You may also participate and strengthen your language lingo in a special webinar. Additionally, our sponsor will provide information on how you can continue your language-learning experience after the month is over.

According to Associated Content, brain research shows that children are at an optimal age for language learning. Although language study is effective at any age, some studies suggest that the human brain is more open to learning a foreign language from birth to preadolescence. Fortunately, researchers have not found an age in which the language window closes completely, especially in the areas of grammar and vocabulary.

Take advantage of this opportunity to think globally, and join us as we learn about foreign languages and different ways of life during Cultural Awareness Month at TMN!

52 Week Challenge: Week 4 - Magic Wands

2012-01-23T16:09:00.005-05:00

So this week's recipe was another that I snagged off of Pinterest (did I mention I am obsessed!!). My little's 2nd birthday was last week (crazy) and we had her birthday party on Saturday. She got this super cute fairy wings and skirt at the Renaissance Festival this fall which she loves -

So we decided to have a fairy theme for her party. So off to the internets I went in search of fairy related items. I ran across this great site on Pinterest (http://www.whattoexpect.com/blogs/imamommywhatsyoursuperpower/toddler-birthday-party-food-fit-for-a-fairy) that had some party ideas including Marshmallow Magic Wands. And really, what could be more perfect for toddlers than a stick of 110% sugar, am I right?

Here's how to make these quick and yummy treats:

Supplies needed:

Full Sized Marshmallows
Assorted Sprinkles
White Chocolate Chips
Lolipop/Cookie Pop sticks

I bought a bag of 20 Cookie Pop sticks from Michaels. They also had 60 count, but I thought if I made 60 Marshmallow Wands for 3 toddlers I would probably go to jail although my hubby pointed out I would be a hero to the kids.

I melted the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl for 45 seconds stirring halfway through.

Pour the sprinkles into separate bowls.

Then put a Marshmallow on each stick -

And then dip the marshmallow in the melted chocolate about halfway in and then roll in the sprinkles. That is it! Here is the finished product -

Yum! Pure sugary goodness. To store before the party, I put the finished pops upside down on a plate and put in the freezer overnight. I took them out about an hour before the party and arranged in a glass tumbler.

I hate to say it, but I did not get any photos of the kiddies eating them during the party (as you can imagine, it is hard to host a toddler party and take photos at the same time.) but I did have a few left over and here is Jenna enjoying one after last night's dinner.

A few of the grownups also braved the high levels of sugar and said how cute and yummy they were. I consider these a success. Fun, cute and yummy. And we expect Jenna to come off her sugar high any day now :)

PS - we also had some snacks that were not 100% sugar. We also used the twigs and berries idea (pretzels and grapes) which the kids also loved.

Do You Have Flower Power?

2012-01-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

Are you looking for some curb appeal? Do you need to beautify your backyard? Spring planting season may be a few months away, but there's no better time than now to grow with YorkCountyMommies! We've partnered with Flower Power to bring you a fabulous fundraiser to help you plan the garden of your dreams.

Flower Power sells quality flower bulbs with a 100 percent money-back guarantee. Gorgeous geraniums, tantalizing tiger lilies, and beautiful begonias are just a few of the many bulbs available and ready to be shipped to your door. This fundraiser runs Jan. 22–March 20, 2012, and your bulbs will arrive in April and May, just in time for beautiful summer blooms.

So save some gas and the trip to your local nursery or big-box store, and plan your perfect garden from the comfort of your computer. Visit http://www.flowerpowerfundraising.com/i/t/240255/QEWzS0e8uA8s to view the enormous array of flower bulbs, and spring into Flower Power and YorkCountyMommies' fabulous fundraiser!

Special bonus: Spend $40 or more to receive a free bag of 10 Twilight gladiolus, a $10 value.

Grow with us!

Profits made through our fundraising link go toward our chapter's operating expenses.

Ring in the New Year with TMN

2012-01-20T08:00:00.001-05:00

The New Year's parties may have ended, but our sponsorship promotion hasn't! We're still ringing in the New Year at The Mommies Network with an incredible deal that will have you reaching for your noisemakers.

Moms may have the greatest buying power, sharing business experiences and trends with one another. And since women make more than 80 percent of all purchasing decisions and control two thirds of the nation’s disposable income, targeting this group benefits your company. Resolve to reach this influenial portion of the population by taking advantage of this limited-time promotion.

With all new/renewed sponsorship agreements, your business will receive a complimentary blog feature (advertorial to include logo/product image and 500 words). Prepaid agreements receive a 5 percent discount and a complimentary two months on one sponsorship listing. Sponsors also receive 20 percent off event sponsorships. Offer expires Jan. 31, 2012.

The end of the month is just around the corner, so what are you waiting for? Celebrate with TMN by taking advantage of this amazing deal.

For more details on how your business can ring in the New Year with moms across the nation, please contact Jessica Van Dyke at Jessica.VanDyke@TheMommiesNetwork.org.

52 Week Challenge: Week 3 Braided Spaghetti Bread

2012-01-19T15:56:00.014-05:00

Wow, am I late this week!! Cannot believe it is Thursday already and I have yet to post. I am so so sorry. This week has been nuts for a variety of reasons, first and foremost, my little turned 2 yesterday! Such a big girl, it is killing me, but I digress...

So this week I turned to my ever growing stack of Pinterest pins for something yummy looking. Quick plug, Pinterest is like CRACK to me. I really need it to be taken away from me. I will surf it all day everyday if given the chance. I have found some SUPER awesome things from it though and have actually done a few crafts and obviously made at lease one recipe found there. But I digress...

So here is this week's recipe: http://rhodesbread.com/blog/blog/braided-spaghetti-bread found on the Rhodes Bread site via Pinterest. And spoiler alert, it was crazy easy and YUMMY!!

So let's get started show we.

First, my bread dough was frozen, so I thawed it in the fridge and then rolled it out best as I could and set it aside to come to room temp and then rolled it out again as best as I could to the 12 x 16 desired size. Here is the result -

Meanwhile, I boiled my spaghetti noodles and then when done, I went ahead and mixed the noodles and sauce together. I used the Southern Home brand sauce Garden Combo because there are lots of yummy veggies mixed in like carrots and zucchini and my toddler eats her veggies really well if she cannot see them as well.

And then I laid the spaghetti mix onto the bread dough -

Then I cut the edges of the dough and started to fold them over the mixture to "braid" it up. Here is a picture of that, but first, as I mentioned, I am committed to being honest on this blog, so you may have noticed, that I missed a big step. Don't worry, I figured it out... soon... So anyway, here is the "braiding"

and

Nice, right? Anyway, this is where I figured out I did not add any cheese, so I had to undo the braiding and add the cheese in. Sigh... At least I figured it out now and not after baking, right?

And then all back together again...

Not as pretty, but still not too bad. From here I put an egg white wash on the outside and then sprinkled on top the parmesan cheese. However, I also deviated from the original recipe and added some Italian Seasoning and some garlic on top as well.

Then I popped that bad boy into the oven and baked for a half hour and BAM, done!

I told you it was easy! Anyway, I sliced it for DH and myself and cut into little squares for DD and added some veggie chips to the plate and there ya go. Dinner done. Here how everything looked plated -

And the results. YUM!! DH said I could make it again any time and Jenna inhaled it. She was going crazy for it. Her preferred eating style was to open each piece, suck in the spaghetti and then eat the bread.

She cleaned her plate with the exception of a few of the chips and two small pieces of bread, however, she did eat several pieces off of my plate to make up for it (Side note, do your toddlers do that as well? I swear Jenna isn't happy unless she is eating my food, even if we are eating the exact same thing, but again, I digress... again).

Anyway, since it went over so well and because the dough I bought came in a 3 pack, I have already added it to next week's menu to make again. Yay!

TMN Weigh-In Challenge News

2012-01-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hello, and Happy New Year to everyone!

My name is Karen Skidmore, and I am the owner of Completely Fit, a personal training and fitness company located in Mount Airy, Md. I am a team leader for one of the groups in The Mommies Network Weigh-In Challenge.

All my team members have started off strong and are working very hard to accomplish their goals. They were asked to fill out a detailed questionnaire about their current nutritional and fitness habits, and answer questions about what changes they wanted to create. Based on that information, I have helped each person come up with a detailed action plan that will not only help to accomplish her goals, but more importantly, help to improve her lifestyle.

If you are looking to make a change in your life but are not a part of the Weigh-In Challenge, you too can do it with just a few small changes at a time.

If your nutrition is off track, start by taking away one unhealthy food once a week and replacing it with a healthy food.

If your exercise routine is off track, start by finding something you really enjoy doing — walking, biking, or swimming — and adding 10 minutes of that exercise to your day. Before you know it, exercise will have become a daily routine.

Be sure to track your results, as we do much better when we can see our progress.

I am very excited to be a part of this group and team, and I look forward to reporting our successes back to you each month. — Karen Skidmore, Completely Fit

52 Week Challenge: Week 2 S'more Cups

2012-01-10T09:03:00.014-05:00

This week's recipe is a dessert recipe and spoiler alert - these S'more Cups were as easy as they were cute! I was in tasked with making dessert for a family meal with at my sister-in-law's house with us (DH and DD) SIL, BIL, MIL, FIL and my nephew who is just six weeks younger than Jenna. So I decided to bust out something that was cute and yummy so as to appeal to everyone, and of course it had to be easy, cause, well me and baking don't really mix. I am aware of my shortcoming and my main problem is that I don't have the subtlety that is required for baking. Baking is just too precise and when you figure in both my tendency towards spazziness and the fact that I am dyslexic, well, I don't stand a chance. Enter, my new favorite dessert cookbook.

Last year for Christmas, I got this awesome cookbook from my MIL that has tons of awesome and yummy looking things all made with refrigerated cookie dough as the base - All New Cookie Dough Fun: Using Refrigerated Cookie Doughs. This is my second thing I have made from this book (the first being the Chocolate Cherry Gems I made for the Rock Hill Area cookie exchange) and both were super easy and yummy. So anyway, back to the S'more Cups.

Here is what the picture in the cookbook, i.e.: the goal, looks like:

And here is the recipe.

Ingredients-

One package refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough
One cup of graham cracker crumbs
One and two-thirds cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips
One cup of whipping cream
Small package of mini marshmallows
Teddy Graham cookies

Steps -

First let the cookie dough sit at room temp to soften for 15 minutes. In the meantime, crunch up graham crackers into crumbs (or, you could buy them already in crumb form, but I had some graham crackers on hand already). Also preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together the cookie dough and the graham cracker crumbs and then press into the bottom and sides of a muffin pan like so:

Bake in the 350 oven for 12 to 15 minutes.

When you take them out of the oven, press down the centers with a spoon so you have a nice cup to pour the middle into later.

Let cups cool in the pan for 10 minutes and then take out to cool completely on a rack.

While the cups are cooling, pour the chocolate chips into a medium bowl.

Then, pour the whipping cream into a small sauce pan and bring to a boil over a medium heat on the range. When the whipping cream is boiling, take off the heat and pour into the bowl with the chocolate chips.

Stir chocolate and whipping cream until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.

A quick note here. You may notice that the background will change from here on out. Truth be told, I did the previous steps at home the night before and then finished these up at my sister-in-law's house because as easy as they are, they do not transport well. So, fast forward to the next day...

First, since I stored the mixture overnight in the fridge, I had to reheat the gooey chocolate yumminess for about 45 seconds in the microwave. Obviously, skip this step if you are doing it all at once.

Put the cups onto a cookie sheet.

Then pour the chocolate mixture into the cups

And then place about 7 or 8 marshmallows on top of each cup.

Then put in the oven and broil at 500 degrees for 30 seconds to brown the marshmallows. Then place a Teddy Graham on top of each one.

And here is the finished S'more Cup -

So cute!!

As you can imagine, they were a big hit. The kids and adults all loved them. In fact both my Mother-in-Law and Brother-in-Law ate two each! Here is Jenna eating the Teddy Graham off hers:

And here is my nephew happily making a mess out of himself as he chows down with a great big smile:

This Week with the Mommies

2012-01-06T09:00:00.000-05:00

We chat online in a private forum — discussing everything from the best photographers to the worst temper tantrums and all that lies between — and meet up regularly at member-driven events around town. Whether it's a late-night commiseration about a crying baby (there are 4 a.m. posts to prove it) or a Moms' Night Out, YorkCountyMommies provides what our members need, when and how they need it.

Click here to go directly to our calendar, and stay up-to-date on all of our events scheduled for this week.

Staying Healthy This Winter

2012-01-04T09:00:00.000-05:00

A runny nose, coughing, an aching body, and choking phlegm are just a few of the unattractive and uncomfortable symptoms related to the common cold and flu. During the chilly winter months, we find ourselves spending the majority of our time indoors, making it quite easy to send and receive those unwanted cold and flu cooties. Both the common cold and the flu are extremely contagious. Many of these germs are spread by hand-to-hand contact and are also airborne. It seems as though we are destined for some sort of sniffle each year. However, we have control to a certain extent! Give it your best shot this winter and beyond to avoid those pesky cold and flu critter invasions. Here are the top 10 tips for staying healthy during cold and flu season:

Sleep eight hours a night. Yes, lack of sleep can affect the immune system. While we sleep, our immune system releases proteins called cytokines. Cytokines are necessary for fighting infection.
Get stress levels under control. Stress can decrease immune system function. Research has found that cortisol and catecholamines, hormones that are released during times of stress, can turn down the effects of the immune system. The following link provides more info on the effects of stress: http://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2007/Januar ... res_01.htm.
Yoga, deep breathing, meditation, exercise, and getting yourself into the present moment are all ways to cope with stress.
Get outdoors every day. Spending too much time indoors, especially around people, can increase your chances of contracting those cold and flu cooties! In addition, getting sunlight for 15 minutes every day can improve your mood and Vitamin D levels.
Exercise! Indoors or outdoors, exercise has repeatedly been shown to strengthen not only our bodies but also our immune systems. For detailed information regarding exercise and immunity, check out this link: http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders ... ystem.aspx.
To review guidelines on physical activity, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website: http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/eve ... index.html.
Wash your hands!
Consume a balanced and nutritionally dense diet. Proper nutrition goes a long way! There is no better way to receive vitamins and minerals than through fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains. For the dairy lovers and meat eaters out there, choose the leanest options available. Vitamins and minerals provide our cells with the building blocks it needs to fight off disease! Excess sugar and fat can create a systemic inflammatory response, making it more difficult for our bodies to fight off disease and illness.
Hydrate! Water can flush toxins from the body and carry much-needed nutrients to our body’s cells and tissues. The dry winter months can cause insensible hydration losses that we are typically not aware of. In addition, mild dehydration can make you feel drained and more susceptible to the dreaded "C": constipation.
Rinse the nasal passages! A practice that many refer to as nasal flushing is a safe and effective way to clean out the nasal passages. During cold-weather months, the respiratory tract creates more mucus in an attempt to warm and moisten our airways. When that mucus spends too much time inside the body, germs can linger and proliferate. By flushing the mucus from your nose, you are removing some of those unwanted infestations. For more information, check out http://www.neilmed.com/usa/index.php.
Avoid the inevitable. It may be best to avoid situations where you know you will encounter individuals with the cold or flu. In many instances, this is not possible, or perhaps you are unaware of someone's pending illness. Nonetheless, take precautions by strengthening your own immune system and washing your hands postvisit. Also, remember to avoid putting your hands near your face until a thorough washing occurs.
Keep your living spaces clean and tidy. Keyboards, doorknobs, countertops, and fruits and vegetables can all be hosts and carriers of bacteria and viruses. Disinfect often!

For more tips regarding nutritional supplements and vitamins to complement the tips mentioned above, consult your health care provider.

And remember, an apple a day just may keep the doctor away! Best to you and your family for a safe and healthy holiday!

Post submitted by Marisa from The Mommies Network's Content Team

52 Recipe Challenge - Recipe #1

2012-01-03T13:55:00.016-05:00

So here we go with Week One. What I may failed to mention in my first post (but what you will soon realize on your own even if I did not mention it...) I am kind of a complete spaz. I was going to say "when it comes to the kitchen" but I am just gonna go ahead and leave it open ended. Feels more honest that way. So without further ado, here we go.

On Sunday I decided to make Quick Chicken A La King, a recipe that I snagged off of Pilsbury.com. What, you ask? You thought these would be gourmet recipes? I hope not. Another item that I may have failed to mention is that these will all be practical, easy and quick for real people to make with little cost all while a child (or children) runs around you yelling "Dinner, dinner, dinner" as my almost 2-year-old bottomless pit often does. So, after a quick check of what do I already have in my pantry/freezer, I settled on this one. Here is a link to the original recipe - http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/quick-chicken-a-la-king/3ca3b580-326d-4632-8e15-311304c32514/ which I will admit I jiggered the heck out of. For example, I used Cream of Chicken Soup instead of Cream of Mushroom as I am allergic to mushrooms. Also, I had frozen mini-biscuits already in my freezer so I used them instead of the tube ones. And I used a bag of frozen mixed veggies instead of the pepper and peas. So really, my ingredient list looked more like this -

9 mini frozen buttermilk biscuits
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cans (10 oz) Cream of Chicken Soup
16 oz bag of frozen mixed veggies
1 1/2cups cubed cooked chicken

Okay, full disclosure time. I had a bag of frozen chicken in my freezer already so on Sat, I just grabbed it and threw it in the fridge. On Sun as I started this endeavor, I realized after it was all nice and thawed and I was ready to go, the bag was actually herb and garlic chicken patties. Oops. Anyway, I had to go ahead and cook those since they were thawed and wrapped them up to use another day (I made Chicken Parm with them last night). My husband cheerfully supervised to cooking of these while I ran to the store to pick up some correct regular plain old chicken. I say cheerfully because he thinks it is funny/enduring when I do dumb things like this. He also reminded me to make sure I put this part in the blog. He insists it will make it easier for others to relate to me, not just laugh at me for being a spaz. Either way, it's all good to me :)

Finally, armed with all the (correct) ingredients, I began work. First, I put the biscuits in the oven and cooked as per the directions on the bag - 17 minutes.

Meanwhile, I cooked the chicken through on the stovetop

And then cut into teeny tiny pieces -

Then, in a 4 qt sauce pan, I put in the olive oil and cooked the onions for about 4 or 5 min. When they were cooked through, I added the chicken, soups and veggies. To be honest, it looked a bit thick, so I also added a half cup of milk. I think this was a good call as the texture was much better when it was all mixed in. All that was left was to wait for it to get "hot and bubbly" which I cannot remember how long it took, but it wasn't long. Maybe 5 minutes.

That's it! All that was left was putting everything together on a single plate. For my DH and myself, I used 3 biscuits and spooned the mixture on top, DD got just two biscuits. Here is the finished product -

So, how did it taste. Pretty good if you ask me. I liked it and DH liked it. Jen on the other hand had different ideas. For example, here is an adorable picture of her shoving it away and saying "all done" without taking a single bite -

In my defense, I believe that her unwillingness to try it was more because she has a bit of a cold currently and I have been unable to convince her to eat much of anything lately. Last night I even made her favorite dinner and that was a no go either. So until she is feeling better, we have been allowing her to subsist of mainly yogurt, broccoli and cheese soup and whatever random things we can get her to eat. Perhaps not the best ever parenting, however, you have to pick your battles. She is normally is an amazing eater so I will give her these few days of frustration, but again, I digress...

So, overall, I call this dish a win. It was easy, quick, yummy and even a bit healthy. I would make it again for sure.

To Die For Blueberry Muffins

2012-01-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

I am not a morning person at all. When my daughter screams, "Mommy!" in the morning, all I want to do is hide under the covers for a few more minutes. So usually, I am not in the mood to make a huge breakfast, either. I like something that is good and quick.

Lately, Virginia has been on a blueberry kick. She loves her some blueberry waffles. When I was at the grocery store, I grabbed some fresh blueberries for her. Well, don't you know, my silly goose turned up her nose at the blueberries. I don't like to waste food, so I decided to make blueberry muffins. I usually use the store-bought muffin packs, but I ran across this To Die for Blueberry Muffin recipe on AllRecipes and decided to give it a shot.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease muffin cups, or line with muffin liners. I always like to put two liners in one muffin spot. Like my mother, I tell my family that the one that gets the double liner is going to have a lucky day. Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, salt, and baking powder.

Measure 1 cup of vegetable oil; add egg and enough milk to fill the cup. Mix this with flour mixture.

Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin cups to the top, and sprinkle with crumb-topping mixture.

To make crumb topping: Mix 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup butter, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Mix with fork, and sprinkle over muffins before baking.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven or until done.

Post originally submitted by Kathy (absolutelykathy) to the CentralPiedmontMommies blog on Sept. 8, 2011.

52 Week New Meal Challenge

2011-12-30T14:43:00.003-05:00

My name is Lissa and I am addicted to collecting recipes. There, I said it. I have scores and scores of cookbooks, clippings from magazines and print outs from the internet crammed in nooks all over my kitchen and dining room. I practically have to close my eyes when in the check out at the grocery store due to the amount of magazines and mini-cookbooks at the register. I even used to be in one of those monthly clubs where you would get mailed a packet of recipe cards each month.

I collect, make plans and even on occasion go so far as to purchase ingredients. And then that is where it all falls apart. The actual cooking of said dishes never ends up happening for one reason or the other. Life, as it tends to, seems to always get in the way.

How I envy those who have the time and skill to whip up elaborate meals and snacks for their families and present them in beautiful and creative ways. In my wildest fantasies I will think to myself, yeah, I could do that, but the reality of my life is that there is no way that I can in a consistent manner. Not with working 40 hours a week and raising a 2-year-old and getting done the other billion things that need to get done around the house. So, while I am good at cooking dinner each night rather than do take out, dinner tends to be one of like 5 or 6 go to dishes. And while my wonderful husband assures me that he doesn't care/notice, I know they deserve better.

So, as an effort to kill two birds with one stone, both actually cracking into some of those accumulated recipes and blogging more consistently in the up coming year, I've come up with a plan to cook at least one new recipe each week. And though that may not seem too ambitious, I do believe it is actually realistic and therefore, more likely to succeed. So here we go, call it a New Year's Resolution or whatever you like, but here's the plan:

In the coming year I will be trying out one recipe that I have never made before and documenting the results here for you all to witness my successes and failures. Each Monday I will post what I made along with the recipe, pictures and how we (Hubby, myself and my toddler) liked each dish. Feel free to try them out as well and post your results or give me advice on what I could have done differently or make recipe suggestions. Or just wish me luck, I am sure I will need it. Especially if baking is involved, lol. I am a mess when it comes to baking, but that is another story...

PS: I know I said Monday, but my first post of this ambitious endeavor will be on Tuesday, Jan 3 as I will be out of town on Mon the 2nd, however, I will make my first dish this weekend. Wish me luck :)

This Week with the Mommies

2011-12-30T09:00:00.000-05:00

MOMics Comics - Installing a Carseat is Easy!

2011-12-28T09:00:00.000-05:00

Illustration by Rainey Niklawski from RichmondMommies.com, A3 for The Mommies Network

If you enjoy drawing or designing mom-centered comics of your own, consider contributing to our weekly "Momics" column! Send us an email at blogs@themommiesnetwork.org

Menu Monday: Kiss Me Chocolate Chip Cookies

2011-12-26T09:00:00.000-05:00

I am always making CCC a million different ways, just search Chocolate Chip Cookie/s on here and you'll get a few hits. Can't help it. These are chewy soft yummies. And I had a ton of chips I needed to use up. When a few cooled I took them on a plate to Pixie girl- she took one, walked away took a bite and came back towards me, I told DH, "yup she wants one in each hand..." NOPE. She came over, put her arms around me and kissed me... then took the other cookie. I love that little baby.

2 sticks melted butter

1/4 c sugar
1 1/4 c brown sugar (lightly packed)
2Tbs milk
2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs

2 Tbs sour cream

Sift-

2 1/4c bread flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt- I used kosher last night

1 cup oats
2 cups chocolate chips
1 cup nuts (optional)

Cream sugars and butter until light and fluffy. Add remaining wet ingredients. Beat well. Mix in flour mixture. Stir in oats, chocolate and nuts.

Chill dough thoroughly. I left this dough overnight in the fridge. I used a small cookie scoop for these cookies. I baked them on stoneware. Which took longer, than my standard parchment lined jelly roll pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 9-10 minutes depending on your oven.

You can also scoop the dough onto a cookie sheet, flash freeze the dough balls and put them in a Zip top bag and bake a few at a time.

OR roll the dough into logs and wrap in plastic wrap and slice and bake them also.

Post provided by the Please Give Peas a Chance Blog.

This Week With the Mommies

2011-12-23T09:15:00.001-05:00

Cloth Diapering Momics

2011-12-21T17:02:00.001-05:00

Illustration by Rainey Niklawski from RichmondMommies.com, A3 for The Mommies Network

If you enjoy drawing or designing mom-centered comics of your own, consider contributing to our weekly "Momics" column! Send us an email at blogs@themommiesnetwork.org

Menu Monday - Kettle Corn

2011-12-12T09:43:00.001-05:00

I was amazed at how easy and fast this was, I was more amazed at how easy the clean up is! I thought for sure with oil and sugar I'd be scrubbing a pot after I was done, but not at all! There was hardly a stuck on mess. This is such an inexpensive snack. Sure it isn't the most healthy but hot kettle corn with that caramelized sugar crunch is SO good fresh.

1/2 cup popping corn

1/4 cup vegetable oil- It seems like a lot but not in the end.

3 tablespoons sugar

kosher salt

two oven mitts or pot holders

a big pot with a lid (I used a 5 qt dutch oven and it was perfect)

Measure everything out and set it aside. Once you start it's hard to measure things, it moves quickly.

Add oil to the pot and heat it on medium high, make sure the oil get hot but not burning. Add the popcorn. SPRINKLE in the sugar over top (do not dump it in a big pile). Place the lid on top of the pot and start moving the pot around. The oven mitts help with the heat. The corn will start popping, once it slows down you are done. With a big metal serving spoon stir to bring up some of the sugar and coat the rest of the popcorn if needed. *I forgot to tell you to salt the popcorn at this point* SO good served right away.

Post provided by the Please Give Peas a Chance. Published to The Mommies Network blog July 2011.

Life as a Homeschooling Mom

2011-12-07T09:00:00.001-05:00

If I were to meet you on the street today, I would introduce myself as Heather, stay-at-home/homeschooling mom of my daughters who are six and three. You would ask me my thoughts on the public school system and about my choice to keep them home, then about my method of teaching, and the curriculum I use. I would smile and say all the right things. I would tell you just how much I love it, how passionate I am about being their teacher, and how confident I am that this is the right choice for my family.

But that wouldn't really be the truth.

You see, more often than not I have no idea what I am doing. I second guess every decision. Homeschooling was never something I imagined myself doing, so I wonder how I got to this point, and what I was thinking. And some days I allow myself to dream about that big yellow bus pulling up in front of my house and taking my children away for the next six hours.

I love my girls dearly, of course. But the days are long, and the weeks are hectic. And I rarely get a few minutes to think, let alone have a conversation with another adult. We have days that we wake up early, get dressed and into our school room right away. And then we have others where I realize we are still in our pajamas at noon and I haven't even opened a workbook, or answered a single question.

Guilt and fear are par for the course in motherhood, but in my life they are exacerbated by being primarily responsible for my children's education. I believe that right now they learn so much through play, and have a natural curiosity to explore the world around them. But secretly, I worry that I am not smart enough to teach them all they need to know. I question whether my methods really are the best. And I'm afraid that I am doing them a huge disservice by not exposing them to a more structured learning environment.

As I start asking myself questions, I become riddled with the fear that while homeschooling is what I want for my girls, I might not be cut out for it.
But then...something miraculous happens.

My youngest daughter will count to twenty, correctly read the letters off a sign as we pass by, and ask for her mountain of books at bedtime. My oldest daughter will flawlessly name the planets, sound out letters, and proudly find Italy on the world map. They will ask for more rhyming games, and sight words. They will demand just one more sheet of school work. They will run to their dad when he walks through the door, eager to tell them what they learned about that day. And they will beg to have school on Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays.

And in those moments, I realize that something is working!

So a more accurate representation of the truth is that I am a stay-at-home/homeschooling mom of two. It is harder than I expected it to be. I don't know if I am making the right choices all the time. But my children are learning! And they are loving it!! And that hunger for knowledge is exactly what I wanted to instill in them all along.

Written by Heather (imarriedrich) from UnionCountyMommies. Originally submitted to The Mommies Network Blog on 04/15/2011

Ring in the New Year with TMN!

2011-12-05T08:59:00.001-05:00

Ring in the New Year by reaching moms across the nation!

Women make more than 80 percent of all purchasing decisions and control two thirds of the nation’s disposable income. And moms may have the greatest buying power. What mom doesn’t share the latest trends or personal experiences with a business that has provided products or services for her family or herself?

To help you start the New Year with a bang, The Mommies Network is offering the following:
With all new/renewed sponsorship agreements, your business will receive a complimentary blog feature (advertorial to include logo/product image and 500 words). Prepaid agreements receive a 5 percent discount and a complimentary two months on one sponsorship listing. Sponsors also receive 20 percent off event sponsorships. Offer expires Jan. 31, 2012.

The Mommies Network can help your business reach moms across the nation or in your community. We are a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide a safe, secure, free place for mothers to find support and encouragement from other mothers and to empower them to be better women, parents, and community leaders. Through our online forums, our chapters connect local mothers, enabling them to ask questions, seek support, offer encouragement, find volunteer opportunities, and grow as leaders as they volunteer their time with our site. Our organization provides a valuable service to a portion of the population that is nearly always overlooked, overworked, and taken for granted: moms!

For more details on how your business can ring in the New Year with moms across the nation, please contact Jessica Van Dyke at Jessica.VanDyke@TheMommiesNetwork.org.

How are you reaching the greatest buying power in our nation?

Budget Friendly Dates

2011-11-30T12:11:00.001-05:00

I strongly believe it is important for every couple to have time together without children underfoot. Like a garden, a marriage needs to be tended. Both need to be fed and watered and given attention. The weeds need to be pulled and the disagreements worked out. If either is ignored, they will suffer and eventually perish.
You can reconnect with your partner without spending a massive amount of money. Think outside the box. A date does not have to be dinner at an expensive restaurant.

At Home Dates
You can spend little to no money by having a date at home with that special someone. Put the kids to bed early and the two of you can be all alone.

-Spread out a blanket on the living room floor and have a picnic inside. Turn the lights down low, light some candles, play some soft music and talk to your sweetie.

-Have movie night at home. Get a movie from Red Box or Blockbuster Express for $1 (or free if you have a code). If you have a Netflix membership, order a movie in advance or watch an instant Netflix movie. If none of these options are available to you, many libraries also loan out movies to their patrons for no charge. Pop some popcorn and snuggle with your loved one.

-Break out the games. If you and your significant other enjoy board games, gather a few of your favorite games and have your own mini-tournament at the dining room table. My husband and I like to quiz each other using the Trivial Pursuit cards without playing the entire game. Make up your own rules. You can – you are a grown-up!

-Plan a spa night. Run a bubble bath. Pour a sparkly beverage. Bring out the body lotion and give each other massages.

-Play 20 questions. Whether you are newlyweds or have been together for decades, chances are there is something you do not know about each other. Take time to think about the questions and write them down ahead of time. Sit down together and listen, really listen, as you ask each other the questions aloud.

Out on the Town Dates
You can have a date out of the house without spending too much money. Many people spend the majority of their date money on babysitting, so send the kids off to Grandma’s house or organize a baby-sitting swap with a friend.

-Go to a bookstore and browse the books and magazines. Sit in the café and sip a drink. Maybe even share a dessert together.

-Plan your date for the afternoon. Take a walk in the park, while you hold hands and talk. You will spend nothing, get some exercise and breathe in some fresh air. Studies show that talking while walking side by side enhances communication because the conversation is viewed as more casual and less threatening.

-Plan a late night date after dinner and go out for drinks and dessert. You still get to treat yourselves, but you will spend less than if you were to go out for dinner.

-If you and your honey are sports fans, check out a local high school game or minor league event. You get the excitement that comes with watching live action at a fraction of the cost.

-Go to the mall. Before you go, vow not to buy anything and stick to it. (Skip this one if you do not have the willpower. ) My husband and I like to play the hat game in the department stores. We try silly hats on each other and model them. We get a good laugh and it costs nothing. You can sample the perfumes and colognes while there too.

-Check out local Open Houses. Dress up in your best outfits and check the realty section. Spend the day giggling at stranger’s decorating choices and find new ideas for your own abode.

-If you and your loved one are wine fans, take a tour of a local winery. Many offer tours and tastings for free and throw in advice as well.

Whatever you chose to do, whether it is at home or out on the town, have fun with it. Rejoice in spending time with your loved one. The morning will come soon enough and life will return to its normal crazy state.

Article written by Melissa from TriangleMommies. Originally submitted to The Mommies Network Blog on 07/22/2011

Menu Monday - Mini Salsa Meatloaves

2011-11-28T12:35:00.001-05:00

Mini Salsa Meatloaves

This is a super-fast meal that your kids will love.

You'll need...

2 large egg whites

1/3 cup quick-cooking oats

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons chipotle salsa, divided

1/4 cup ketchup, divided

1 pound ground beef, extra lean

Cooking spray

Green beans, steamed

To make...

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. Combine egg whites in a large bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Stir in oats, 1/2 cup salsa, and 2 tablespoons ketchup. Add beef; mix well by hand. Divide beef mixture into 4 equal portions, shaping each into an oval-shaped loaf. Coat a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Place loaves on prepared pan.

3. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until done.

4. Combine remaining 2 tablespoons salsa and remaining 2 tablespoons ketchup in a small bowl; spread mixture evenly over loaves.

5. Serve with green beans.

ENJOY!

Nutrition-

190 calories. 6g fat. 10.9g carb

Recipe submitted by Becka (MomTo4) from SaratogaCountyMommies

Don't Forget: Santa Letters!

2011-11-25T10:15:00.001-05:00

The elves are busy coordinating delivery of Santa letters to boys and girls across the United States. Is your letter in the bunch? If you haven't yet ordered your letter(s), don't delay! Place your order by Nov. 30 to ensure delivery before Christmas.

Remember, Your first custom letter is only $6. If you purchase more than one, you will receive a 10 percent discount on the entire order. Use coupon code SANTA at checkout to receive 10 percent off the total.

You will be asked a few questions about your child during the ordering process. Your answers will assist Santa in creating a unique letter for your child. Letters will be printed on Santa's special stationery, signed by the jolly fellow himself, and with the help of a special elf, shipped in bulk to North Pole, Alaska, in time for your little one to receive a special letter before the holidays.

Reserve your letter(s) before Nov. 30 to ensure delivery before Christmas. We hope you'll take advantage of this terrific treat from the North Pole. Place your order now! http://www.themommiesnetwork.org/santa.html

The proceeds of this fundraiser will support The Mommies Network and your local chapter. Please mention your chapter's name to ensure they receive credit for your purchase.

We Have a Winner!

2011-11-23T11:51:00.001-05:00

From Oct. 17 through Nov. 17, five chapters in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area participated in the Charlotte Area Dishwasher Giveaway. Members nominated who they felt were the most deserving mommies to win a Frigidaire Professional 24-inch Built-In Dishwasher from Plaza Appliance Mart. Sixteen nominees were chosen from the following chapters: CentralPiedmontMommies, CharlotteMommies, LakeNormanMommies, UnionCountyMommies, and YorkCountyMommies. We at The Mommies Network enjoyed reading the various stories and thank all who submitted nominations!

The stories that were submitted were all quite moving. However, there can be only one winner, and the mommies have spoken. By a landslide, Mommy_009 is the winner of the Frigidaire Professional 24-inch Built-In Dishwasher from Plaza Appliance Mart!

Mommy_009's daughter was born with a rare birth defect that has affected her esophagus and her digestive system. As a result, she is 95 percent tube-fed and 5 percent mouth-fed with Stage 1 baby food.

Here's what Mommy_009 had to say about the giveaway:

We would love to have the opportunity to possibly win the new dishwasher. We have needed a new one for the past few years for various reasons:

1. For the safety and sanity of our child's feeding/medical supplies.

2. We have well water (and a water softener that doesn’t help), which causes hard-water buildup in our dishwasher.

3. The top rack is bent.

4. The dishes appear dirty even after being run on the heavy-soiled cycle. So after equipment and supplies are run through the dishwasher, we also have to boil them in hot water on the stove.

Congratulations, Mommy_009, on winning the Charlotte Area Dishwasher Giveaway!

Thank you again to all who participated in this contest! And if you're in the market for a new dishwasher or other product for the home, be sure to like Plaza Appliance Mart on Facebook, or visit its website.