SaratogaCountyMommies

Crafty Kids: DIY Shaving Cream Paint Creations #crafts #kids

2014-08-20T15:17:00.001-04:00

Crafty Kids: DIY Shaving Cream Paint Creations

Rheney Williams-Guest Blogger

For moms who grew up in the '80s like I did, you'll probably remember those spinning art toys that let you create splashes and spiral smears of paint. You know – there was a spinning platform with paper exposed underneath, you dropped dots of paint into the middle and the spinning motion and centrifugal force pulled the paint out to the edges of the circle and you were left with these crazy, tie-died-looking paintings?

Although the toys have changed over the years, a kid's (and kids at heart!) basic desire to see swirls of paint and crazy combinations of colors hasn't. And an old-school product is making new spiral innovations possible: Shaving cream! All you need are a few basic supplies and you and your kids can have hours of creative and colorful fun with a beautiful piece of artwork to show for it at the end of the day.

Gather the materials for your shaving cream paint projects. You'll need:

Foam Shaving Cream (not the gel)
Paints in an assortment of colors
Heavy card stock or construction paper
Spatula or ruler
Skewer or little fingers!
Large cookie sheet or use smaller individual trays, one for each child

Tip: To make clean-up a breeze (and avoid having to buy a disposable tray), line the cookie sheet with aluminum foil first. Then all you have to do is remove the foil and you're done!

1. Spray a few lines of shaving cream onto the sheet and use the spatula or ruler to spread out the shaving cream flat and in a square or rectangle about the size of the paper.

2. Add a few random dots of paint or food coloring around the shaving cream palette.

Tip: If you have leftover paint samples from the last time you painted a room, this is a great way to use those and ensure whatever masterpiece your kids come up with coordinates with the space!

3. Use the skewer to make swirls with the paint in free-flowing circles or waves and if you have little kids, just let them go nuts with their fingers.

4. Place the paper into the shaving cream with the right-side facing down so that when you pull the paper off, the paint is on the correct side.

5. Gently push the paper into the shaving cream so that all surfaces touch and allow it to sit for about 10 seconds before carefully peeling the paper off of the shaving cream.

6. Place the paper on a flat surface (in my case, I had another foil-lined sheet pan at the ready) and carefully scrape all of the shaving cream off of the paper to reveal the magical marbling below!

7. Set the paper aside to dry thoroughly and if the edges start to curl, place a glass or other heavy object on the corners to keep them down during drying.

From here, take some time to admire your work and see what imaginative images your kids can find! Can you spot the hidden smiley face that appeared in my swirls? In addition to your classic refrigerator pin-up, here are some other creative uses for your pint-sized Picasso's masterpiece:

Make DIY bookmarks to give as Christmas gifts to the readers you love
Use the brown paper bags from the grocery store in your shaving cream paint project and have unique book covers for school next year
Frame it so you always have a custom piece of art in your office or work space
A DIY puzzle: Cut it into a bunch of different pieces that your kids can put back together and learn about how shapes and patterns relate to each other

What other cool things can you and your kids come up with for shaving cream paint creations?

Rheney Williams is a prolific crafter with a background in theatre arts. Besides writing about projects for Home Depot, Rheney is currently putting her DIY expertise to work by remodeling her first home and experimenting with colors and textures in her home decor.

Amazon.com Widgets

Are you a Business Owner? Now Sponsorship is easier (and cheaper) than ever!!!!

2014-07-16T20:49:00.001-04:00

Every day, moms across the country are logging into their chapter of The Mommies Network, thanks in part to the support that we get from our sponsors... and our moms are returning the favor by finding out more about those businesses that support their chapter.

That could be you! Sponsorship is a really inexpensive option to marketing, and this week, it's even more affordable.

Now until July 23rd, we are offering 50% all Forum Sponsorship spots with a graphic and text. For as little as $10-$125, your business can be in front of our members for a whole year!!!!

And, we try to make it really easy for you.

Simply Click Here and select the 50% Forum Sponsorship Option. From there, select your chapter and how many spots you want and fill out all of the other information and your discount is instantly applied. Or, you can look around to see if one of our other options works better for you!

After submitting your sponsorship, you'll be taken to a secure PayPal page, and with that complete, we will have your sponsorship up and running within 24 hours!!

An entire year of presentation to our members for as little as $10.... how can you NOT afford to!

Click Here to order your sponsorship today.

WANNA CHANGE YOUR USERNAME? NOW IS YOUR CHANCE!!!!!

2014-05-29T13:02:00.001-04:00

We are in the last 48 hours of the Mommies Network May is for Mothers, and we are upping the perks for you to donate!!!

If you make a $25 donation before 11:59pm on May 31st, you can change your username by simply forwarding your donation receipt to heather@themommiesnetwork.org!

Yeah- it's really that easy!!!

Visit http://themommiesnetwork.causevox.com to make your donation right now!!!

Are you part of the 99%?

2014-05-08T11:19:00.001-04:00

How would you feel if I told you that less than 1% of the people around you cared about what you need?

Far too often, we feel the impact of standing alone and just wish that someone else would stand there with us, knowing that the journey would not be so hard if we just had a few extra people to help us along the way. This is apathy, and it's a big problem. I bet this is something you have experienced in your life. However, when the shoe is on the other foot and something out there in the world needs us, we tend to pass it right by.

The Mommies Network has over 20,000 members... moms who come to us for help and support and community. 20,000 moms just like you. Last year, less than 350 of those members donated to The Mommies Network during our May is for Mothers campaign. Look around you- do you think that only 350 of our members need support and community and the other 19,650 don't? And which one of those are you?

When we look at our chapters, that is not what we see. We see moms logging in day after day, sometimes 20 or 30 times a day. What we see is that almost all 20,000 of those members do need us and do use us, but that less than 1% of our membership helping burden the cost of the other 99% of us. Less than 1% of us are committed to what you need.

Forget the money, because it's not about the money. It's about apathy. The indifference of saying 'I don't need to do anything because someone else will take care of it and I'll still get what I need'. Do any of us really want to be that person?

Are you satisfied knowing that select few people are more invested in your support than you are?

This week, the conversation we are having on the forums is asking our members to make a commitment. We are asking one simple question:

"What will you do to make your community better?"

It doesn't have to be money! There are dozens of ways you can help... little things like signing up for Amazon Smiles and giving 0.5% of your purchases back to The Mommies Network, or asking a friend to join so that our community of support gets bigger, going to an event that one of our volunteers worked hard to provide to you, or even just not passing by a post without saying something.

Or you can give a few bucks and know for the next year that you were not a part of the 99% being cared for by 1%, if for not other reason than to know that a community cannot sustain itself like that and you know you use and need that community.

Give today so you can receive tomorrow.

Get Support. Give Support. The Mommies Network.

I Don't Like Mothers Day

2014-05-06T10:44:00.001-04:00

Let me tell you why.

I don't want to sound ungrateful- I really don't! But, I could do without the store bought card. Flowers are always nice, but they will wilt ( and guess who is going to have to throw them out and wash out the gunky water from the vase?)

Honestly, one day a year, a $5 card and overpriced flowers do not make this job any easier. I'd rather get something I know that I need. Something that actually makes motherhood a little easier. Something that is personal. Something I use the whole year!

This year, I am asking the people I love to give me a community of friends and people who understand me. This year, I'm just asking the people who love me to skip the card and the flowers and make a donation to The Mommies Network instead.

The Mommies Network is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, which means that it can't continue to bring FREE support to moms without help.

It's super easy and takes just a second! Just click on the image you would prefer below and you can post it right to your Facebook Wall. Tag the people you know will be sending you a card and ask for this instead! Best of all, you actually are saving time (and money) of those people you love, because this takes just a minute. We will even be send out a personalized E-Card to you on Mothers Day to let you know that person has made a donation in your honor.

Give up the Mommy Myth that you can't ask for what you need, and tell the people that love you to skip the card... you'd prefer a circle of friends this Mothers Day!

Click here to Share this image on your Facebook Wall

Tales from our Supermoms

2014-05-03T11:41:00.001-04:00

Over the past two days, we asked for our moms to share their Mommy Myths, and the response has been overwhelming! Here are a just a few*...

" I had to learn it's okay to ask for help... My mom was very sick several years ago and was in and out of the hospital.... between taking care of my mom, going back and forth to the hospital... trying to keep some sort of normalcy for my family.... Dinner, homework, etc, I almost lost it. I felt like the world was on my shoulders and I was a moment away from losing it.

Thankfully several friends from this site would just send little notes of encouragement, offers to help with the kids, etc. I wouldn't have made it without them. I tear up just typing this because I will never be able to repay them for what they did during that time...."

"I'm not one who's afraid to lay it on the line.... For some reason however, it took me longer than usual to talk about (some) issues. I finally opened up last week and boy am I glad I did! It was like a weight was lifted. I don't want to talk about it on FB .... but I knew here I'd be safe. I got a ton of support and a wealth of information I would've had no clue about otherwise. I feel a lot better about my situation and I feel like I'm able to move forward not only more educated but also supported which means the world."

"When I started back at work after having my first daughter, I really depended on the MOTC forum for major support. I remember the feeling of missing the baby were so strong I felt like someone was ripping my heart strings out! I cried my first day back. The first few weeks were the hardest, and I went to the forum often for encouragement, understanding, advice, tips on how to balance working and being a new mom. It was so fantastic to get connected with other moms who knew exactly what I was feeling."

"I was talking to my MIL last night on the phone, and she asked me how I was coping... I said "Well, I am managing to feed the kids and keep them fairly clean, so we're doing okay." and she said "Well, I see you post smiling, happy pictures on FB and just think you are doing fine,....

Which is exactly why BM helps me. I don't post this stuff on FB because I don't want the whole world to know, but I can come here and talk, vent, ask for advice etc. I know that people here, other moms going through similar things will understand and give me support.

That's really such an amazing thing TMN provides, for their members to get and give support, for FREE! "

This is what just a few of our moms are saying when they are telling us why they need their chapter. We are not social media! We are a place where moms find support when the rest of the world expects them to just deal with what life throws at them. But we cannot do it alone.. just like these moms cannot do it alone.

We give this to our members for free because we don't believe that moms should have to pay to get this kind of support... but that doesn't mean that that it's cost free for us to provide it. We have moms who can't donate... and we understand that. We also have moms who already give their time to our organization, and we do not want to ask them to give more... they make your support possible! If you can give, give for yourself and another mom. Your donation means that these moms and tens of thousands of moms just like them can come here tomorrow and get the support they need!


Click here to donate now!

* Some of the details have been changed to protect the identity of our members and have been used with the permission of those members Our mission: 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, mothers and community leaders.

Lessons from a Stressed-Out Mommy!

2014-05-01T00:04:00.001-04:00

I've had it. The smile has disappeared from my face and I am in a twisty-twirly spiral of self-doubt and the words echo through my brain like a mantra I know too well.

I can't do it all....

Those aren't the words of the Mommy I show the rest of the world. To the rest of the world, I am a rock. A pillar. A foundation. But inside, I am crumbling. The dozens of masks I put on... complete parent to my children, loving partner to my spouse, absolute provider to my family, dedicated employee to my job, willing volunteer to the schools and clubs, kind and thoughtful neighbor, generous and loving daughter, giving and supportive friend... I'm exhausted and I'm sick of constantly sacrificing myself. I have to be these things- all of these things- and I don't know which one to let go of ( or even if I can let go of) without feeling like I've disappointed everyone. And in my mind, I spin.

...But I have to do it all.

This is where I have been. Tied up in knots. Caught in a race with myself. Unable to feel any satisfaction because everything I did, even if it was good, was never good enough. And the path out of my Stressed-Out Mommy Syndrome was simple. I just wanted someone else who understood it all.

There is a relief that comes with having someone who tells you that you are not alone. The reason is that within struggle lies a feeling of solitude..and not the good kind of solitude I get when the kids are in bed and I can have a moment of peace. The bad solitude... the lonely solitude. People, by nature, long for connection, especially in times of struggle. And during those times, the best connection is made by simply acknowledging that my struggle is hard. And that I am not alone in thinking that.

What lessons have I learned? Three simple things:

- Admit the struggle. Every time you think the world is depending on you, stop telling yourself that you can't show that to the rest of the world. Stop thinking that you don't deserve support, because you do. We all do.

- Don't underestimate the power of connection. Connecting with other people is key, and finding a place where you can let down the masks, and what you get back is that you are not alone; it's vital to overcoming struggle that you not feel like you are walking the path by yourself.

- You only get what you are willing to give. When we connect, we cannot simply expect to take and never give. Connection is about exchange.... others being there when we need them, and showing up when others need us. With this, we create our own safe space. Our own community of people we can turn to.

This is what we do at The Mommies Network. When we started, we didn't do it to get the latest slow-cooker recipe or to debate about the whether we return shopping carts or not. We did it because we recognized that connections matter, and that women ( and especially mothers!) find it difficult to connect in a meaningful way unless we have a place to be honest about our struggles. And nobody can understand the struggle of a mother like another mother. When I talk about the twisty-twirly spiral of self-doubt, that is a place that almost every other mother recognizes. When I say I can't do it all but I have to do it all, millions of other mothers know this feeling... because they feel it too.

We Get It

We've Been There

This month, The Mommies Network is launching in annual May is for Mothers campaign focused on one idea... the letting go of the Mommy Myth. The Mommy Myth is simply that we don't need help and support. What we do is give you a safe space to let go of your Mommy Myths. A place to come with your struggles and have a community of moms who understand why it's so hard who can rally around you and say the thing you need to hear... that you are not alone.

We are YOUR Community

We are asking for a donation- whatever you can afford- so that we can continue to keep "the lights on and the doors open", for you and for every other moms in our communities. If you have received support, or watched other moms benefit from simply having a place where they can be honest about their struggles, please make even a small donation. We want to keep doing this year after year, but we can't do it without your help.

Click on a mom YOU identify with to help us keep doing what we love.... supporting you!

Now Thru 3/31- earn $5 for The Mommies Network by purchasing from Amazon!!!!

2014-03-24T09:44:00.001-04:00

The Mommies Network

Now through 3/31, make an Amazon purchase through The Mommies Network Amazon Smiles page, and Amazon will donate $5 to the organization we love so dearly ( in addition to the 0.5% we receive regularly). If you are making a purchase from Amazon ( including Prime purchases), please use this link to earn TMN $5!!!

HOW EASY IS THAT!!!!

Click Banner to sign up now to start earning money by shopping at Amazon for The Mommies Network!

Check out our latest deals from our TMN Affiliates!

2014-02-12T22:06:00.001-05:00

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Pass It On Sale - Half-Price Day!

2013-10-13T01:15:00.001-04:00

Contact: Cathy Wood FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Email: passitonsale@aol.com

Pass It On Children’s Consignment Sale

Mark your calendars for the Pass It On Children’s Consignment Sale at The SportsPlex of Halfmoon/Clifton Park, 6 Corporate Drive.

Open to the Public Hours are listed below. Children are welcome at any of the Times below and there is NO entrance fee.

Saturday, October 12th 8am-8pm (Open Late!)

Open to the Public Half Price Day

Sunday, October 13th 8am-2pm

(Items marked No Discount will not be discounted.)

At Pass It On you will find clothing (sizes newborn to juniors) toys, books, videos, baby equipment (strollers, swings, etc.), sports equipment, children's furniture and more! Clothing is inspected to ensure the highest quality and our sales floor is extremely organized for the best shopping experience.

Highlights of the Fall/Winter sale will be the expansive selection Winter coats, Winter boots, Halloween Costumes & Toys (think Holiday or Birthday presents. In addition there will be various family friendly vendors available to enhance your pre-holiday shopping experience.

The ENTIRE SportsPlex will be filled (60,000 square feet!!!) by over 650+ Consignors.

This is our 11^th year of bringing the biggest and highest quality children’s consignment sale to the Capital District. This is a MUST attend event.

Please contact Cathy Wood at the address listed above for more information or for press opport

Once Upon A Time .... September's Book Drive Begins!

2013-09-01T21:44:00.000-04:00

September's Community Outreach Event

We Mommies all do our best to encourage reading. We swap, take out, purchase, and gift numerous books through out our little one's life. As much as we love those adventures and the seeds of knowledge they plant in their minds, we cannot ignore the overflowing and spill out from our bookshelves. It's inevitable and it happens to us all. We understand all those happy memories that are looming within the binds. We know those stories that their words emerged from. We can relate to the favorites that were read so much they are now apart of your memory.

Passing on our books is never easy but SaratogaCountyMommies hopes to make it a little less painless. Let us help you make room on your shelves for some new adventures and stories. Please consider donating your like new (good shape) books to our September Book Drive which is being held from September 1st - September 30th. The books will be donated to the Saratoga County Equal Opportunity Council (EOC) to be used in programs such as Headstart, given to children and siblings to encourage literacy, and used in the county's offices and programs. Preschool and Kindergarten aged books are high in need however all books for children are welcome.

Members ... please bring them to any event on our calendar throughout the month. You can also reply to the Book Drive Discussion to make other arrangements.

The community may also bring their book donations to any public event SaratogaCountyMommies hosts. Please visit our Facebook Event Listing or Message Us to inquire further. You may also Email Us to discuss convenient options for donating.

Our Current Public Events Are:

Meet & Greet at Tiny Tots Tea Room
Meet & Greet at the Burgess Kimball Playground (* The first 10 Kids with book donations earns themselves a FREE bowling pass!)

Please keep checking back or write to us. More events may be added soon.

Thank you for your consideration and support for our Book Drive!

Businesses and Members of the Community ...

We have a great promotional package available for your support with our Book Drive. If you are willing to host a box in your place of business or community center, Please email us at Promotions@SaratogaCountyMommies.com to let us know and to learn more about this opportunity.

Easy ReciPeasy - Zesty Crab Salad Cucumber Boats

2013-08-30T09:02:00.002-04:00

It's nice to see it is feeling like summer again and the temperatures are back in the 80's! Weather you like the heat or not, we can all agree finding some no-cook recipes is a great way to have dinner ready with out heating up the house with the stove on! I choose this week's recipe because of it's versatility. The Zesty Crab Salad Cucumber Boats are hearty enough to be a great dinner, lunch, snack, or appetizer. You can also change out the Crab Salad for Tuna or Chicken salad. Cucumber Boats are a refreshing and kids love them!

Zesty Crab Salad Cucumber Boats

Ingredients: 1/4 cup mayonnaise; 1/4 cup sour cream; 1 garlic clove, pressed; 1/8 tsp ground cayenne pepper; 1/8 tsp salt; 1 lime; 1 pkg imitation crabmeat, finely chopped; 1/4 cup grated carrot; 1 large English cucumber, scored; Fresh cilantro sprigs (optional)

Directions

1 In medium bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic, cayenne pepper and salt; mix well.
2 Zest lime to measure 1 tsp zest. Juice lime to measure 1 tsp juice. Add crabmeat, carrot, lime zest and juice to mayonnaise mixture; mix well.
3 Cut cucumber in half lengthwise using Forged Knife - Utility; scoop out seeds. Spoon crab mixture evenly into cucumber halves. Cut cucumber diagonally into 1-inch-thick pieces, discarding ends. Garnish with fresh cilantro sprigs, if desired. Serve immediately.

Yield:
24 servings of 1 appetizer
Nutrients per serving: Calories 35, Total Fat 2.5 g, Saturated Fat 0.5 g, Cholesterol 5 mg, Carbohydrate 1 g, Protein 1 g, Sodium 105 mg, Fiber 0 g

You can find more great recipes on my facebook page at www.facebook.com/cookwithcarrie

Birthday Bash 2013!

2013-08-26T22:51:00.000-04:00

It was a beautiful day for a birthday party...

Well, we did it! We celebrated our 4^th Birthday Party with a Bash, our first ever in the chapter. It was a great day. We met many new faces and businesses in our community. We had some fun and laughter and special visitors. We were able to raise some awareness and contributions to our two charities too. Thank you to everyone who took a bit of time out of their day to come out and show us, Bounce Around, Toys For Tots and the Greenfield Playground Project some love. It was so much fun celebrating our special day with you and your families.

BOUNCE AROUND

First and foremost the day could not have been possible if it weren't for the generosity and support from Bounce Around Indoor Family FunCenter. Bounce Around, from the very beginning were so enthusiastic and willing to help us put on this Bash. As luck would have it, they too were also celebrating four years inside the Clifton Park Center. What a great opportunity to celebrate to very special birthdays on one special day. They donated the use of their facility for our Bash and teamed up with us to help our two charities. We cannot begin to thank them for their efforts and time throughout the planning process and during the event itself. Every person in the BounceAround family contributed a bit of themselves that day and for this we extend our sincere gratitude. We could not have done this without you and we appreciate your willingness to work with us throughout the process, making time for us to pop in with questions and the like and for teaming up to provide such a family friendly and positive experience for our community. Please visit them, let the kids play, show them some love and kindness and tell them we sent you. It's not everyday we can find businesses that put our families first and allow them the opportunities to have some family fun. Thank you Bounce Around!

Please indulge us as we share our gratitude with the following ….

CAKE

Our cake was courtesy of Cakes by Joann. It was beautiful and so delicious! We were all in awe of the cake when it arrived that morning. We looked at one another and collectively expressed the remorse we were going to feel when having to cut into it. It was perfect in every cake way.

The design was inspired by a drawing from a little boy. Bounce Around hosted a contest this spring to design their 4^th Birthday Cake. Children in the community participated and the winner was selected based on social media votes. His winning drawing was used to create the design of the cake at our Bash with Bounce Around (in picture frame on the left). It was so neat to see the cake come to life! He was impressed, as were we all. Please check out Joann’s cakes on her Facebook page and/or her website. You will not be disappointed. Her albums are abundant with amazing talent and skill. I’m almost willing to bet that there is nothing she can’t create for your special occasion. If you happen to be in the Amsterdam area, pop into her new shop and take some treats home. Thank you Joann for supporting our Bash and your incredible donation to the event.

EVENT SPONSORS

Our Birthday Bash could not have been possible if it weren't for some very special Event Sponsors. We were very lucky and grateful to have them join us and to help us create a special experience for our guests. We appreciate your time in attending and all of your help leading up to the event, your donations and your promotions. It was a pleasure to work with you all and we hope to work with you again in the future! Please swing by and check out their sites by clicking on their links. Give them a high five for a job well done!

Thank you Michelle from Pampered Chef!

Thank you Denise from Snip Its of Clifton Park & Guilderland!

Thank you Britta from Baby Boot Camp of the Capital District and Karna Fitness!

Thank you Amanda from Mary Kay

Thank you June from Miche

GIVEAWAY SPONSORS

Thank you to these special sponsors that donated a giveaway to our guests. The giveaways were a total hit and so appreciated not only by us by each of the winners. Your generosity is heart-warming. In addition to our event sponsors: Pampered Chef, Miche, Mary Kay, Baby Boot Camp and Snip Its, we'd also like to thank the following ...

SPECIAL GUESTS

Thank you to Melissa Duell Photography for capturing some of our special moments in the day.

Thank you to the Happy Smile Monster for surprising us with a special appearance too! We appreciate you sharing a sliver of your vacation time and helping to add some great smiles to our bash. The children (and adults) were all so happy to see you! Thank you for sharing your albums with us too. What great moments you've both captured!

We would also like to thank NYLife Child ID’s that offered their time and services at the event. It was wonderful to meet you, work with you and have you share in the event. Our families greatly value the importance you place on keeping our children safe. We look forward to having you at our future events.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

As you know by now, our Birthday Bash was not just a bash to celebrate our joint birthdays but also a community outreach event that was near to our hearts. We were supporting ToysFor Tots and the Greenfield Playground Project. Thank you to everyone who donated a toy or money to both projects!

We had a solid turn out with toys which were in lieu of admission for the event. Thank you to Bounce Around for donating a portion of the pizza proceeds to the Greenfield Playground Project and waiving admission to play with the toy donations. We raised just over $17 for the Greenfield Playground Project and over 20 toys for Toys for Tots during the Bash!

We're looking forward to returning to the playground when they are ready and help them build the playground! If you'd like to join us, keep checking our facebook page for the announcements. The more the merrier!

SPECIAL THANKS

Before we close we’d like to say thank you to all of our family, friends and community members whom shared our event and posted flyers. Your support has meant the world to us. We’re in awe of the outpouring of support you have showed us. Thank you to Mamatoga, SaratogaMama, Adirondack Broadcasting , Carol Lawrence School of Dance, Let's Grow Sale and KidsOut and About for your kind articles on our event and sharing of our details with your readers. Thank you to Adirondack Appliance for helping us with donation bins for our event.

A special thanks goes out to Chelsea at Saratoga TodayNewspaper for taking time out of her busy day to speak with us and help tell our story to the community. You gave us a voice and for this we are beyond grateful and full of admiration. We look forward to working with you all in the future.

LAST BUT BY FAR LEAST

We must thank our dedicated and hard working Birthday Bash Committee and all of our volunteers and SaratogaCountyMommies. Events like these are never a one person show and they require great team work. We were lucky enough to have a strong team and supportive chapter that rallied together through all the roadblocks and celebrated all of the positives. It was a labor of love and seeing the event come together was an inspiring experience. Throughout this process, we've all had a hand in its success. Thank you for all of your time and hard work and support you've shared with us all. We truly couldn't have done it without you.

members in

SaratogaCountyMommies Proudly Presents ... Our Birthday Bash

Invitation to free new website that helps moms better manage their kids’ group activities

2013-08-26T11:08:00.002-04:00

Hello Mommies,

I am a fellow member of the Mommies Network and the creator of a new website called

Podanize, which helps moms, dads and group leaders better organize their kids'

group activities (e.g. soccer, scouts, school classes, etc.)

Kids today are overscheduled, and keeping up is a challenge:

• What day did I volunteer at school to go read with the kids?

• Who is driving to the scout meeting?

• When am I signed up to bring the team's snacks?

These are just a few of the many little details that busy parents have to keep straight.

Try as we might, something inevitably falls through the cracks. We all need a little help

to stay organized.

I’d like to invite you to join our brand new website. To join, just go to http://

www.podanize.com and click Get Started to create a "Pod" for any real-world group, or

even just your family for now. You can create a Pod if you’re a group leader or a group

member. It’s quick, easy and free. Then "get your Pod going" by adding discussions

or events, and inviting others to join your Pod. Podanize can also be accessed via a

mobile browser, and our mobile app will be available in late 2013.

Our mission at Podanize is to help ease the stress that comes with keeping our

kids active and involved. To this end, we welcome any feedback you have. Podanize

is for you and is built to get better over time by adding your suggestions – I’d love

to hear from you. Also, if you know of other moms (or dads) who might benefit from

Podanize, please share this with them.

Podanize is ideal for all extra-curricular activities: soccer, little league, playgroups, scout

troops, swim teams, theater groups, school classes, PTA, etc. The list is endless and

includes anything with a need for ongoing communication and coordination.

Again, just go to http://www.podanize.com to get started.

Best,

Nikki Sacks

Co-Founder of Podanize

nikki@podanize.com

Let's Grow Together Sale Opens TOMORROW!!

2013-08-23T10:30:00.000-04:00

OPENS TOMORROW!

Are you running out of room in your home with all of the items your children have outgrown? The Let’s Grow Together Children’s Consignment Sale is looking for consignors! Children grow so quickly leaving parents with items that seem barely used. Make room in your home and make some money too! Sign up to consign today and take advantage of the many benefits the sale offers (perks for consignors & volunteers, Refer A Friend program, New Parent Presale, Military Presale)! The sale is August 23-25 at Afrim’s Sports, Colonie Location. Visit www.letsgrowtogethersale.com for more information and like us on facebook www.facebook.com/letsgrowtogethersale.

The dates for our sale are as follows:

August 23rd - Volunteer, Consignor, New Parent Presale, Military Presale

August 24th - Public Sale

August 25th - 1/2 price day

Our website is: www.letsgrowtogethersale.com

Our facebook is: www.facebook.com/letsgrowtogethersale

Our twitter is: www.twitter.com/letsgrowsale

Let's Grow Together Sale - Military, New Parent, Consignor and Volunteer Presale Starts TOMORROW!

2013-08-22T12:00:00.000-04:00

Volunteer, Consignor, New Parent Presale, Military Presale Starts TOMORROW!

The dates for our sale are as follows:

August 23rd - Volunteer, Consignor, New Parent Presale, Military Presale

August 24th - Public Sale

August 25th - 1/2 price day

Our website is: www.letsgrowtogethersale.com

Our facebook is: www.facebook.com/letsgrowtogethersale

Our twitter is: www.twitter.com/letsgrowsale

Let's Grow Together Sale - ONE Week Away

2013-08-17T09:00:00.000-04:00

The dates for our sale are as follows:

August 23rd - Volunteer, Consignor, New Parent Presale, Military Presale

August 24th - Public Sale

August 25th - 1/2 price day

Our website is: www.letsgrowtogethersale.com

Our facebook is: www.facebook.com/letsgrowtogethersale

Our twitter is: www.twitter.com/letsgrowsale

Happy Birthday Bash - EVE ....

2013-08-16T07:30:00.000-04:00

The time has arrived to celebrate our fourth birthday! This little idea has grown into a reality and we have the support of our amazing chapter and its volunteers, the community and all of our family and friends to thank for that!

It's not too often in today's world that you can be left speechless by the kindness of those around you. The possibility is always there and if you're lucky, you get the chance to witness it. It's a real treat to have it happen to you. I'm full with such a sense of pride, respect and awe of our chapter, SaratogaCountyMommies and the community with which we reside. To say thank you doesn't seem like it could even do how we feel justice for the support we've received throughout this process. Whether it was helping to make some calls, making some copies, donating some wrapping paper, lending us glue or picture frames or donating your time and services ..... please know just how much it has meant to every single one of us. We've often wondered if we could create such an event for our community and thanks to every single one of you .... we now know we can! It was a true team effort in every way. Thank you for every second and ounce of energy you gave to help us achieve our goals for the Birthday Bash.

Saturday we will embark on our first official community wide event. This isn't just any event, this is a celebration of our chapter's foundation and the community we've grown to become. We're lucky enough to share this momentous occasion with our presenting sponsor, Bounce Around. They too are celebrating their fourth year inside the Clifton Park Center. Earlier this spring when we approached Mitch, the General Manager of Bounce Around about this idea we were tossing around he did not hesitate to hop aboard and help make this a reality. He too had thought about doing something to mark this occasion and what better way than to join together and have an amazing Bash for everyone to share in.

It didn't take us long to hit the ground running and in a blink of an eye, here we are on the eve of this exciting and anticipated event.

We hope you join us and share in our mutual celebrations. Bring your family, your friends or event just yourself and visit for a bit or the entire three hours. Have some cake, mingle with our guests and pick up some goodies. Don't forget to add your name to some of our awesome giveaways too. All are welcome to attend.

Most importantly, please bring a new toy donation for Toys for Tots and if you can, some loose change and your pizza appetite for Greenfield Playground Project. Help us reach our goal to provide these two worthy and deserving charities with donations they need to make some magic happen for the children in our community. Having them reach success on Saturday is all we could ever wish for as we blow out our candles.

We are looking forward to seeing you and yours on Saturday and we thank you ahead of time for spending the day with us. Please visit our story in Saratoga Today's Newspaper on SaratogaMama and MamaToga too! Thank you to each of them and everyone else who have helped us share our story and our event!

Event Details

Presented by SaratogaCountyMommies AND Bounce Around Indoor Family Fun Center
Benefiting Toys for Tots and Greenfield Playground Project
Cake provided by Cakes by Joann
$2 Pizza slices & beverages provided by Bounce Around with a portion of the proceeds to benefit the Greenfield Playground Project.
With special guests: Baby Boot Camp of the Capital District, Karna Fitness of the Capital District, Snip-Its Clifton Park & Guilderland, Miche, Pampered Chef and Mary Kay and promotional materials provided by Let's Grow Together Sale, Barefoot Books Upstate and Carol Lawrence School of Dance.
Child safe ID's provided by NY Life
Special appearance by Happy Smile Monster
Giveaways courtesy of Combs Automotive, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Barefoot Books Upstate, Pampered Chef, Mary Kay and Spare Time Bowling
Balloons courtesy of Baby Boot Camp and Karna Fitness of the Capital District
Coloring Station courtesy of SaratogaCountyMommies

Don't Forget ....The first 30 Children to bring a toy donation for Toys for Tots will receive a FREE Bowling Coupon courtesy of Spare Time in Clifton Park!

Check out our official event listing to learn more and to RSVP!

Easy-ReciPeasy ~ Cuban Chicken

2013-08-14T10:57:00.005-04:00

It is hard to believe the summer is coming to an end. But, on the other hand, I am looking forward to Fall! There is always a lot of great things to do in the Fall and I especially like changing gears in the kitchen by cooking up more "comfort" foods. Although, August is usually still hot & humid, this year it feels more like a colder lead into the Fall Season.

I wanted to choose a recipe that utilized a crock pot because this kitchen tool is a great way to prepare a hearty family dinner without spending very much time preparing and cleaning up after. Plus, you can always make a large recipe and freeze half for a future dinner or have lunch for the next day.

I have always loved finding new recipes to prepare in my crock pot, but only began using a pressure cooker a few years ago. A pressure cooker can cook anything in a fraction of the time it takes in the oven or in the crock pot. It is amazing, but also a bit tricky. I would highly recommend trying a pressure cooker, but make sure you follow the directions very carefully! Running out of water while cooking or opening up the pot before the pressure is completely released can cause a dangerous situation.

Cuban Chicken
(courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens)

Ingredients

3/4 cup chopped green sweet pepper (1 medium)
1/3 cup chopped onion (1 small)
1 fresh jalapeno pepper, stemmed, seeded, and finely chopped*
2 1/2 pounds skinless, bone-in chicken breast halves
1 14 1/2ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 cup frozen corn kernels
1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup pitted green olives, sliced
2 tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
10 8 inches whole grain tortillas, warmed**
3 1/2 cups hot cooked brown rice
1 lime, cut into wedges

Directions

1. In a 3 1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker combine sweet pepper, onion, and jalapeno pepper. Add chicken. In a medium bowl stir together tomatoes, frozen corn, broth, olives, tapioca, chili powder, garlic, salt, cumin, and black pepper. Pour over chicken in cooker.

2. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 5 to 6 hours. Transfer chicken to a cutting board, reserving cooking liquid in cooker. Remove meat from bones; discard bones. Using two forks pull chicken apart into shreds. Return chicken to cooker, stirring to combine.

3. Using a slotted spoon, serve chicken mixture with tortillas, brown rice, and lime wedges. Drizzle chicken with some of the cooking liquid.

From the Test Kitchen*

Because chile peppers contain volatile oils that can burn your skin and eyes, avoid direct contact with them as much as possible. When working with chile peppers, wear plastic or rubber gloves. If your bare hands do touch the peppers, wash your hands and nails well with soap and warm water.

**Tip:

To warm tortillas, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Stack tortillas and wrap tightly with foil. Heat about 10 minutes or until heated through.

Let's Grow Together Sale

2013-07-29T23:13:00.002-04:00

The dates for our sale are as follows:

August 23rd - Volunteer, Consignor, New Parent Presale, Military Presale

August 24th - Public Sale

August 25th - 1/2 price day

Our website is: www.letsgrowtogethersale.com

Our facebook is: www.facebook.com/letsgrowtogethersale

Our twitter is: www.twitter.com/letsgrowsale

SaratogaCountyMommies Present - The Boogie Wipes Giveaway!

2013-06-18T13:08:00.001-04:00

I've had the unique experience to review Boogie Wipes Products this week. I must say, personally I haven't had much experience with Boogie Wipes and really didn't know too much about them. I've seen them at SaratogaCountyMommies' events, but I haven't had the opportunity to open one up and check it out. When the opportunity came to review Boogie Wipes I was quite intrigued. I'm glad I was presented with this opportunity because I really like the concept.

I received two packs of Boogie Wipes. One came in "Fresh Scent" and the other came in "Grape."

Here is more on our experience with Boogie Wipes ......

First, let me tell you a bit about Boogie Wipes. They are this gentle, natural saline wipe made for stuffy noses. Not only do they clean but they also moisten the nose area. The unique moisturizing, Hypoallergenic & Alcohol Free wipe is moisturized with Vitamin E, Chamomile and Aloe. The unique formula dissolves mucus and it's gentle enough for all ages.

They are "Developed By Moms Tired of Chasing Runny Noses."
(I can completely relate to this!)

The package states that the common uses are
"For quick, effective clean-up and relief of stuck on boogies (mucus) caused by the common cold and allergies. Regular use helps prevent a dry, chapped nose."

It is recommended by pediatricians as a gentle alternative to dry tissue.

As a Mom of multiples, one with a chronic illness and another with seasonal allergies ... mucus is everywhere! I like the idea of having something gentle enough for them to use to help make those sick days a bit more bearable. Let's face it, even us adults hate having red, chapped noses when we're sick. Wouldn't these be a welcome relief when it's time to blow our own noses? I for one, as much as I can wait, I'm looking forward to trying these when I'm in a thick of my next sinus infection.

With that said, lets talk more about my new favorite "must have" ....

What I like most about the Boogie Wipes is their convenience. They are damp enough to really get the job done but not super saturated where there's a puddle left behind. My one Son in particular is quite picky about things touching his face. I knew I had to test them out on him first. The grape scent made it appealing upon approach and after stopping to smell it first, we wiped up the allergy yuckiness he's been fighting this month without resistance. He even giggled! At the risk of turning your stomachs, it made the crusties and goop vanish with one swift wipe of the cloth. The cloth itself looks like a tissue but it is thicker and durable. It didn't rip or shed lint during it's mission, which I also liked.
Another perk to the Boogie Wipes is their size. You can totally fit these in your diaper bag, purse, stroller, backpack or even in the car for when you're on the go. They are not bulky or clunky and they have a convenient flip lid that can open and close as you need a Boogie Wipe. The packaging is slightly transparent too so you'll know when it's time to hit up Target for more.

Overall I am quite pleased. These have found a permanent home on our shelf of "Musts" not only for sick days but every-days!

The grape scented Boogie Wipes smell so good and are my absolute favorite!

Boogie Wipes received 4 thumbs up from my Twins!

Keep reading to learn more on how ONE lucky reader can WIN a Boogie Wipes Prize Pack of (2) packs of 30-count wipes (fresh, grape, menthol, or unscented– combination varies).

Here’s ‘What’s Up’ at Boogie

NEW BOOGIE WIPES! Our new 45 count packs of FRESH scent Boogie Wipes are now available at Target stores nationwide! Our 90 count canisters are available now in most major retailers like Target, Walmart and BabiesRUs. And look for our newest product – Boogie Blasters – in a 12 count pack of Boogie Berry scented wipes, available at Walmart and Kroeger stores! We also have a new 10 count pack (Fresh and Grape) available at most major retailers in the US and Canada!

COMING SOON! Cotton Candy scented Boogie Blasters. Boogie Mist – saline mist with a twist! Snot Your Average Kid contest winners to be featured on our 90 count Canisters, which will also include a 90 count Simply Unscented canister – coming Spring 2013!

TEACHER KITS: Perfect for classroom boogies! This kit contains 2 – 90 count canisters (1 Grape, 1 Fresh), 2 – 30 count packs (Grape, Fresh), 1 classroom poster, 50 samples, and 50 Boogie coupons. It is available, exclusively, for schools, daycares, and professional facilities. For purchase information please visit: LittleBusyBodies.com .

Please follow us on Facebook & Twitter. Here are our links: FACEBOOK and TWITTER. Also you can visit our website at www.boogiewipes.com and also join our Boogie Bunch here -http://www.boogiewipes.com/index.php?id=67.

The Boogie Wipes Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

That's not all .... 9 random comments below will also win a trial size pack (see picture)!

The giveaway is open to readers in the US, Canada and Australia

Birthday Bash News: The Greenfield Playground Project ....

2013-06-08T14:59:00.000-04:00

SaratogaCountyMommies is pleased to announce our newest Community Outreach Event, The Greenfield Playground Project. We are looking forward to help raise funds and awareness about this amazing community wide effort to create a pretty spectacular playground in Greenfield. They will be one of two charities highlighted at our 4th Birthday Bash coming up on July 20th. Please join us in supporting this project by "Liking" their Facebook Page, telling your friends and family, and joining in the fun with a donation and support to help feed the dragon!

Learn more about this fun-tastic project by visiting their site, The Greenfield Playground Project.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 6, 2013

CONTACTS: Tina Davis, principal, Greenfield Elementary School, (518) 893-7402

Tina_Davis@saratogaschools.org

Mary Yuhasz, Greenfield HSA President,

(518) 366-4813

mey2may@yahoo.com

GREENFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DELAYS NEW PLAYGROUND BUILD BUT STILL PUSHING FULL-STEAM AHEAD WITH FUNDRAISING EFFORTS

5K Race, Golf Tournament and Summer Dance Party Dates Announced

GREENFIELD, N.Y. – Saratoga Springs School District’s Greenfield Elementary School continues to fundraise for the building of its new state-of-the-art and accessible playground but has rescheduled its build date for spring of 2014. The parent-led fundraising team has raised a total of $65,000 to date and hopes to meets its goal of $150,000 by early next year. The Greenfield Elementary Home School Association (HSA) and Playground is a 501 (c) 3 organization. Donations can be made at www.greenfieldplayground.com or by calling (518) 893-7402.

“This effort is one of the largest fundraising projects our school has ever attempted and we are pleased with the positive response from the community,” said Greenfield HSA President Mary Yuhasz. “Our parents and students have worked tirelessly towards this project but there is still much work to do.” The project is still looking for a partner sponsor of $25,000.

The committee will next host its Fifth Annual Greenfield Dragon 5K race June 15 at 9 a.m. The race, which attracted nearly 200 runners from around the region and state last year, starts and finishes at the school. Runners can preregister at www.greenfielddragon5K.com. Runners will receive tee-shirts and cash prizes will be awarded to the top 3 females and male finishers in each age category.

A Fore the Dragon Golf Tournament will be held June 29 at Brookhaven Golf Course in Porter Corners. Registration at www.greenfieldplayground.comincludes green time, cart, continental breakfast, awards luncheon and a swag bag. Awards include cash prizes, gift certificates and a chance at a hole in one prize of a 2013 Subaru Cross Trek

donated by Carbone Auto Group. The tournament begins at 8 a.m. and it costs $75 per person.

Students are expected to flock to the school’s Summer Dance party, scheduled for June 19 at 6-8 at the elementary school. No advance registration necessary but community sponsorships are available.

The parents of Greenfield Elementary, a rural school in the Saratoga Springs District, boldly embarked upon one of the largest recent projects of its kind last June. Its parent teacher organization, the Home School Association (HSA), and its “Feed the Dragon” campaign has sponsored loads of events throughout the school year including the school’s 50th birthday celebration, Giffy BBQ events, a “dragon” cookbook sale, dance parties, tile workshops, raffles, a community gala, car washes and even a haircut-a-thon sponsored by Greenfield Hairport. The project has been the recipient of multiple grants to date from such organizations as Chlorox, Stewart’s Corporation, The Christopher Dailey Foundation, Hannaford, and The Charles Wood Foundation.

Many area businesses have supported the project including Adirondack Appliance, Adirondack Mechanical Services, Adirondack Taekwondo, Adirondack Trust, Cornell’s Used Autoparts, DA Collins, Mann Wireless, Ndakinna, Price Chopper, The Saratogian, Walmart and dozens of others. A full list of sponsors can be found at www.greenfieldplayground.com.

Annual district safety checks have proven that the existing playground, funded and built more than 25 years ago in the same community-build fashion, has outlived its projected use by more than five years. The historic fortress-style playground has steadily been losing its character as various portions of the playground are disassembled each year due to safety and costly maintenance issues. More importantly, the new playground will meet current state requirements for accessibility for students with special needs. The new playground will be built from plastic composite lumber and arsenic-free treated wood and will feature such components as an Adirondack castle, Native American longhouse, pirate ship, dragon’s tale twisty slide, HabiTrail maze, mutineer’s plank, fire pole and a rocket ship. The design of the new playground was developed with the children of Greenfield Elementary School. The committee selected Ithaca, N.Y. based Leathers & Associates, a nationally known community-build playground project company with experience in projects of this kind throughout the country.

# ## #

Easy Recipeasy - Lemonade Shortcake Cups

2013-06-05T17:12:00.000-04:00

Easy Recipeasy

Hello! I made this AMAZING recipe for Strawberry Lemonade Shortcake Cups this past weekend for a little family get-together and I cannot stop passing it around. Trust me!! Once you give it a try, you are going to love, love, love it! Super easy & delicious.

Sometimes you just find a connection with a recipe that brings you back to a memory. And these little cups remind me of my childhood summers. I know that sounds deep, but actually it is more of a happy feeling I get when I eat them. They are fresh, light and zesty...basically summer all wrapped up in a cute little bite size dessert!

Try ‘em, you’re going to LOVE ‘EM!

The Pampered Chef ^®
Lemonade Shortcake Cups
Recipe

1 small pkg (9 oz) white cake mix (see Cook's Tip)

1/3 cup (75 mL) flour

2 oz (60 g) cream cheese, softened

4 tbsp (60 mL) butter (1/2 stick), melted

1 1/4 cups (300 mL) thawed frozen whipped topping

3/4 cup (175 mL) prepared lemon curd, divided

6 small whole strawberries, hulled

1 tbsp (15 mL) water

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
Spray cups of Deluxe Mini-Muffin Pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Combine cake mix, flour, cream cheese and butter in Classic Batter Bowl; mix until a soft dough forms using Small Mix ‘N Scraper®.

Spoon about 1 tbsp (15 mL) of the dough into each cup of pan. Bake 11-13 minutes or until cups are light golden brown.

For filling, in clean batter bowl, mix whipped topping and 1/2 cup (125 mL) of the lemon curd until well blended. Add filling to large resealable plastic bag (see Cook's Tip).

Slice strawberries into quarters using Utility Knife.

Remove pan from oven to Stackable Cooling Rack. Immediately press down on cups using Mini-Tart Shaper to form indentations. Let stand 5 minutes.

Grasp edges of each cup and twist gently to loosen. Remove cups from pan to cooling rack.

Mix remaining 1/4 cup (50 mL) lemon curd and water in (1-cup/250-mL) Prep Bowl until blended.

Squeeze filling evenly into cups. Spoon lemon curd over filling. Top each cup with one strawberry quarter.

Yield: 24

Nutrients per serving: (1 shortcake cup): Calories 120, Total Fat 5 g, Saturated Fat 3 g, Cholesterol 15 mg, Sodium 100 mg, Carbohydrate 16 g, Fiber 0 g, Protein 1 g

Cook's Tip: If you can't find a small package of cake mix, 1 2/3 cups (400 mL) of white cake mix from a regular-size package can be used.

To easily fill large resealable plastic bag with filling

Easy Recipeasy - White Chocolate Cheesecake Strawberries

2013-05-18T20:48:00.002-04:00

Easy Recipeasy...

Is anyone else confused as to how winter just made a quick comeback? I just started humming Christmas Carols while sketching out the plants in my garden…I have to stop and think, these two things don’t go together! That said, at least the cold nip hit after Mother’s Day! I hope you all enjoyed your weekend and took the day to appreciate your children and your sacrifices as a Mom. It is a hard job without much credit or recognition, but it is the backbone of every family and I can bear witness to how exhausting it can be!

I chose this weeks recipe because it is a little taste of summer & a bit comfort food…and completely easy & delicious! You aren't going to want to share these little belly bombers, but you won’t have a choice!

White Chocolate Cheesecake Strawberries
Courtesy of Pampered Chef

	Ingredients:
16-20	medium fresh strawberries
1/3	cup white chocolate morsels
4	oz low-fat cream cheese softened
1	tsp Vanilla Extract
1/2	cup thawed frozen whipped topping
1	graham cracker square
1/4	cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels (see Cook’s Tip)

Directions:
Stem and hull strawberries. Cut a very thin slice off pointed end of strawberries to form a flat base. Place strawberries on paper-towel-lined Cookie Sheet.
Place white chocolate morsels in a Small Microwave-Safe Bowl. Microwave, uncovered, on HIGH 45-60 seconds or until almost melted; stir until smooth.
Add cream cheese and Vanilla to bowl. Whisk until smooth; stir in whipped topping. Spoon filling into Piping Bag fitted with open star tip.
Coarsely chop graham cracker.
Place semi-sweet chocolate morsels into a Small Microwave-Safe Bowl. Microwave, uncovered, on HIGH 45-60 seconds or until almost melted; stir until smooth. Spoon chocolate into small resealable plastic bag; trim the corner.
Pipe filling evenly into each strawberry. Sprinkle with chopped graham cracker; drizzle with melted chocolate.
Yield: 16

Nutrients per serving: Calories 70, Total Fat 4 g, Saturated Fat 2.5 g, Cholesterol 5 mg, Sodium 30 mg, Carbohydrate 7 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 1 g

Cook's Tips: Any crispy cookie can be substituted for the graham cracker, if desired. In Step 5, white chocolate morsels can be substituted for the semi-sweet chocolate morsels, if desired.

For more great recipes & tips, visit my website at
www.facebook.com/cookwithcarrie.

Easy Recipeasy! - Grilled BBQ Chicken Pizza

2013-05-08T09:35:00.000-04:00

Easy Recipeasy!

Wow! The weather out this weekend definitely screams “SUMMER”! So, I thought this week’s recipe should be something on the grill! If you love pizza, you are going to have to give this a try!

This Recipe is originally from a Pampered Chef Recipe, but I made a few changes. If you don’t have a BBQ Pizza Pan, you can put the pizza directly onto the grill, but be careful! It can be a bit tricky to handle and it can char very easily, so watch the size of the flame.

This is a fast dinner that is perfect for during the week! It is only about 215 calories per slice depending on the BBQ Sauce you use and costs about $10 - $15 to make! You should have enough left over ingredients to easily make a second pizza…so make sure to pick up two pizza doughs! If you don’t want to eat the second pizza the same night, just prepare it & freeze it for another time. It only takes an hour to defrost & you can just throw it on the grill!

Grilled BBQ Chicken Pizza

Ingredients:

1 small red onion

2 garlic cloves, chopped

2 cups shredded cooked rotisserie chicken

1 cup of your Favorite Barbecue Sauce, divided (I <3 Sweet Baby Ray’s, Sweet & Spicy)

Cornmeal & Flour for dusting

1 pizza dough (frozen or fresh from your local pizzeria)

6 oz marbled cheddar cheese

Directions:

Prepare grill for indirect cooking over medium-high heat. Slice onion crosswise into rings. Combine chicken & 1/2 cup of the BBQ Sauce in a small bowl; toss to coat.

Grease a BBQ Pizza Pan & dust with Corn Meal.

Generously sprinkle your counter & dough with flour so it doesn’t stick to everything! Use a Rolling Pin or your hands to shape dough into a 12-in. circle. Place dough onto a BBQ Pizza Pan, gently stretching to cover bottom.

Spread remaining 1/2 cup of BBQ Sauce evenly over crust to within 1/2 in. of edge. Top with chicken mixture, garlic and onion; sprinkle with cheese.

Place pizza pan on grid of grill. Grill, covered, 18-22 minutes or until crust is deep golden brown, carefully rotating pan occasionally. Remove pizza pan from grill & Serve Hot!

For more great recipes & tips, visit my page at:www.facebook.com/cookwithcarrie

___________________________________________

Carrie is our new Guest Blogger and Member with SaratogaCountyMommies. She'll be popping in regularly to tickle our taste buds with her delightful recipes! Thank you Carrie for supporting the Moms in your Community!