Adventures in all things food

Welcoming Home Elliott! The Baby Has Arrived.

2013-06-19T14:15:00.001-07:00

The lack of recipes, crafts and general posts have been all because of this little guy! We welcomed Elliott into the family (officially) last Thursday. Being the third baby in the the family and second boy, nothing much surprised me.

Well, except that, once again, despite what everyone guessed, he was not a 10 lb baby at all! He came in right at 8.1 lbs. A very respectable size, but still able to slip into all those newborn clothing I tempted fate by purchasing. He also is currently sporting a great head of hair, with a slight reddish tint just like his big brother.

The C-section went smoothly and I am back up on my feet and feeling better everyday. Even in the 4 short years since my daughter's birth much had changed about births. One I was most excited about was the choice for narcotics or not. There were pain relievers, but one nurse described my "hospital stay fog" perfectly. Now with lower doses of alternative pain medications I should remember more of those first few days. Okay, I thought it was just me and "Mommy brain" that made me forget so much!

My only issue, and also biggest fear, is over getting the IV and blood draws done. I was so good about following instructions not to eat or drink from midnight the day before that I was dehydrated and hard to poke by the afternoon. I think this time it took 5 pokes to get the job done. My arms look pretty worked over.

Another couple changes to note about hospital policies were the absence of pacifiers used, I didn't miss them, and the skin-to-skin stimulation so shortly after birth. With my son, he was wheeled away and I didn't see him for almost 2 hours. I still think that was the most horrible wait ever. With my daughter, she was cleaned and checked in a bassinet right next to the operating table. I could see and hear her as they stitched me up. But this time was amazing! They didn't even clean off the baby following birth. Sponge baths are available the following day, but the trends all seemed to be for a more natural and simple birth. I loved it.

Despite my original intentions to stay a few more days at the hospital, we ultimately decided to come home just short of 2 days because I wanted a full night's sleep. All the baby checks and blood pressure tests didn't allow me to sleep for more than 45 minutes at a time. I was just ready to come home and start to recover.

I am sure that little Mr. Elliott will be making regular appearances here on the blog. Stay tuned to watch him grow!

Until then, I am happy to be home with my family, itching to get back into the kitchen and working my way through some great reviews and posts that I plan to share with you over the next couple of days. Once we settle back into a routine I plan to resume all the kitchen fun, too. Currently my heart, and schedule, are running over.

Hazardous Material by Kurt Kamm - Book Tour Giveaway (ends 7/7)

2013-06-16T21:01:00.000-07:00

*Disclaimer - I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.

This fantastic giveaway has been brought to you by

author Kurt Kamm and Beck Valley Books

Open Worldwide

Ending on Sunday 7 July at 11.59pm EST

Bucky Dawson is a HazMat specialist with Los Angeles County Fire Department HazMat Task Force 103. His station is in Lancaster, CA--an area populated with meth labs and outlaw motorcycle gangs, as well as Edwards AFB, NASA, and top-secret aerospace facilities.
Bucky--divorced and lonely--struggles with painkiller addiction. One night Task Force 103 is toned out to support a Sheriff's raid on a meth lab. Bucky thinks he sees his sister at the door of a double- wide trailer in the Mojave Desert just before it explodes.

Bucky's life is in chaos. While he searches for answers to his sister's death, he is drawn into a conflict with the Vagos, who are selling drugs in the Mojave Desert. After a confrontation in which the Vagos nearly kill him, Bucky exacts an unusual revenge that only a HazMat firefighter could accomplish.

The novel twists and turns, bringing together firefighters, a sinister aerospace engineer, the Vagos -- led by the Dwarf, their seven foot tall Sergeant at Arms, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in a surprise ending you will not anticipate but you will certainly enjoy.

Enter Below and Good Luck !!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wilted Wings, by Shadow Stephens: Book Tour + Giveaway

2013-06-14T02:00:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer - I was provided a review copy from the Promotional Book Tours to facilitate my reviews.

All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links.

Wilted Wings

Power, greed, and envy fill Damon and Ilisha’s world. Their hope of settling into a life of peace and family remains out of grasp. Damon is kidnapped and forced to stand trial for the death of his father while a breed of hybrids designed to destroy all angels is set loose. With no choice but to leave her earthly mother and baby behind, Ilisha struggles in a world of high politics and family feuds. She must become an ultimate warrior to save her husband and both the worlds she loves.

Purchase Wilted Wings now on Amazon.

About Shadow Stephens

Avid Cleveland Browns fan, animal lover, and paranormal addict are just a few ways to describe Shadow Stephens. Shadow grew up in Ohio and West Virginia, which gave her a fear of snakes and the ability to fix anything with duct tape. She has been writing since childhood, but wrote her first novel three years ago. She now resides in Utah with a veritable menagerie of pets and a million ideas in her head just waiting to be put on paper. When she isn't ghost hunting, Shadow can be found writing paranormal romance and urban fantasy novels. This will be her first published book, with many more to follow.

Follow Shadow Stephens: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Watch out Video chat with author Shadow Stephens July 17th at 7PM EST on Literary Addicts
Take part in our Book Tour event on Facebook July 16 - 18 All Day Long for Amazon Gift Cards and ebooks!

Follow the Tour Shadow Stephens is giving away a $50 Amazon Giftcard, open Internationally. Fill out the form below to enter! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday Food Frenzy (6/14) - Happy Father's Day Weekend!

2013-06-13T22:00:00.000-07:00

Yes, Father's Day weekend is finally here! I hope you have some tasty plans and good company to share it with. Sadly my husband will have to fend for himself in a hospital cafeteria this year because we are going to be welcoming baby Elliott into the world. One more little mouth to expose to all the tastes and flavors in my kitchen. I did whip up a batch of banana bread to snack on in our hospital room. I just wish I could do more!

Okay, so let's get to the good stuff. Ready to link up your recipes? Ready to see what others have been up to? I can't wait to see and pin all your creations.

Outside of following the hostesses, we just love for you to link up a tried and true recipe of your choice. Each week we will feature one recipe so be sure to stick around and click on your favorite recipes. The featured recipe will also be pinned on our Friday Food Frenzy Pinterest Board. Be sure to tell your friends we are cooking up a storm this Friday and to join the party. Thanks again for stopping by and either sharing your recipe or viewing recipes from other talented cooks. Please visit the three recipes in the linky that are listed as HOST. We really appreciate your visit.

This week's Featured Recipe comes from Crafty Girl and Foodie. This was the most clicked on recipe last week and thought it was appropriate for anyone making Father's Day breakfast. Check out the most amazing Pancakes from her site. Crafty Girl and Foodie is a new blog so hop on over there and give her a warm welcome!

Enjoy Disney Planes Activities for Father's Day!

2013-06-13T21:20:00.000-07:00

I hope you have an amazing Father's Day on Sunday doting on the Dads in your life. This year is extra special for our family as we are welcoming new baby Elliott into the world. Yes, my husband is back in the role of chief diaper changer as I recover from my C-section.

One of the things he is looking forward to doing with our older children is taking them to watch Planes later this Summer. Cars 2 was actually the first movie my daughter saw in the theater and both children are huge Cars fans.

To help share the excitement, here is a Father's Day Card from Disney Planes provided to my by Disney Pictures. Enjoy!

Enjoy these free printables from Disney, too:

“Like” Disney’s PLANES on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DisneyPlanes

"Follow" Disney’s PLANES on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DisneyPictures

Visit the website: www.disney.com/Planes

Summer Fashion: It's Just "Better Together"

2013-06-10T14:33:00.001-07:00

Disclosure: This post is part of a DailyBuzz Moms Tastemaker program with P&G. All opinions and experiences are my own.

Laundry.

Do we ever escape those constantly growing mountains of dirty laundry piled high in the laundry room? Well, considering I will be adding baby #3 to the mix later this week (EEEEKKK!!!) I don't see an end to my laundry duty anytime soon. As it is, living on a farm I have a massive amount of laundry to do daily.

Now, P&G laundry products are nothing new in our home, but we haven't used them for a while because we switched to all fragrance free formulas. Both my husband and son have very sensitive skin. I had no idea that Downy came in a "free" version until recently and thrilled to find Tide, Downy and Bounce 'Free' formulas - no dyes, no perfume - available at Target. Yay!

Just as every member of my family has their own Summer clothing preference, like my husband's non-cotton shirts and Carhart work jeans, or my daughter's light-up shoes, twirly skirt and bright tank top, the combination of Tide + Downy + bounce is just, "Better Together"!

Yes, after my family members find the perfect balance of cool, comfortable and their own personal style, it is my job to keep those clothes clean and looking their best. With a son who prefers digging in the dirt to being clean, and many hours of spit-up and baby messes in my own future this can be a real challenge.

To start with, I love that Tide is such a great stain fighter.

Downy helps to keep our clothing soft and I have been using bounce since I was a child to cut-down on static cling in the dryer. I will agree that these products are just better together!

This Summer I am all about vibrant colors paired with a long maxi shirt. I like to have a few jacket or light sweater options for cool evenings out. I also have those adorable little pearl peas-in-a-pod necklaces on my wish-list to celebrate each of my children. Add to the ensemble a big floppy hat, sunglasses and cute embellished sandals and I think I would be ready for just about any event or playdate.

This coral nursing top caught my eye, but with a new baby I will be sporting a fair amount of spit-up and constantly doing laundry. Usually that wreaks havoc on bright vivid colors, right?

My "Better Together" Summer Style by andrea-potter-kruse featuring motherhood maternity

Happily, I have been washing away the messes without washing out the colors of my favorite clothes. Add to that how affordable the prices are at Target and this Mom is a happy camper.

So, what is your go-to outfit this Summer season? And how do you keep them looking their best?

P&G Tide + Target Campaign Logo Code: P&G.

With Tide, Downy and Bounce, you can keep your summer fashions looking new up to 50% longer.* Text CLEAN to TARGET (827438) for mobile coupons.
Attribution Statement: This post is sponsored by
*vs. leading value detergent alone

Cascade #MyPlatinum - TLC for my Dishes, Dishwasher and Food

2013-06-09T23:19:00.001-07:00

*I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Cascade. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

I must admit, even though I own a dishwasher, I am a chronic pre-washer. Yes, I am a little overzealous about making sure our dishes are spot-free and clean.

But let me explain. Growing up we didn't always have a dishwasher. When we did, the dishwasher in our rental was often old or gutless. I grew up with the idea that a dishwasher just sanitizes the dishes, it can't remove food. So, I soak, I scrub and then I load the dishwasher. The whole process from sink to cupboard can take up to 3 hours. As a food blogger, and busy Mom, my dishes just pile up.

Lately my husband has been pitching in more around the house. The baby is coming this week and by the end of the day I am exhausted and ready to run and hide from our dinner dishes. The biggest problem is, I married someone who doesn't believe in pre-washing. Oh, the horror!

There is nothing worse than opening up the dishwasher the following morning to find the food is now "sterilized" onto the dishes. You know what I mean? The heat cycle has done it's magic and now that dried on food is going to be even harder to chip off the dishes than before? I might as well break out the sandpaper. Oh, yeah...

Each week I try to share my best recipe photos here on the blog. No one want to pin or recreate a meal that is presented on dirty, streaked or smudged dishware. I need my flatware to shine and my glasses to show off what is inside them, not stuck on them. All my tempting close-ups would be in vain without sparkling dishes.

So to cut down on my workload and put my best dishes forward, I tried Cascade Platinum Pacs. Usually I buy both dry dishwasher detergent and then a rinse aid to help keep my machine at it's best. Again, my old girl can use all the help she can get. These handy little packs cover both jobs.

No measuring, no pouring, just grab a pack and pop it into the detergent tray. Close the lid and run the dishwasher. It was simple and fast, and I am sure even while baby-sleep-deprived I will be able to do it. No more spilled detergent or overfilled trays is another bonus for me.

How did they stack up? Well, my dishes came out clean, spot-free and without any of the dried on food they went in with. I was also happy to just toss in a pack and turn on the machine. Simple is good, right?

Some other fun facts about the Cascade Platinum Pacs include:

Contains the Grease Fighting Power of Dawn
Fights Tea & Coffee Stains
Helps Prevent Hard Water Filming for a Sparkling Machine
Contains Tough Food Enzyme Action

Get Your Food Noticed

We eat with our eyes even before we can taste the food. This is evident on sites like Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. Even simple food's presentation can be enhanced with sparkling dishes and Cascade is partnering up with Gail Simmons, Top Chef judge and editor of Food+Wine Magazine, to discuss why this is important. Check out her tips from prep to plating and how Cascade Platinum can help. Learn more on the Cascade Facebook page and their Youtube page.

Enter the "My Platinum" Instagram Contest

I love taking food pics and Instagram has made sharing my culinary fun in the kitchen even easier. This month you can join in Cascade's "My Platinum" contest just by uploading photos related to their weekly themes. Register on the "My Platinum" contest site, then tag your photo with both #MyPlatinum and @MyCascade.

Each week, 2 lucky contestants will win a brand new Whirlpool Dishwasher, and one grand prize winner will get a Platinum kitchen makeover!

Here is the contest schedule:

Week 1: My Platinum Plate (Entry Period: 6/3-6/9) - Show your best dish styled from the sparkling plate up.
Week 2: My Platinum Bite (Entry Period: 6/10-6/16) - Show your best bite and most creative use of sparkling silverware.
Week 3: My Platinum Clink (Entry: 6/17-6/23) - Show how you serve up creative concoctions in sparkling glasses. Cheers.
Week 4: My Platinum Table (Entry Period: 6/24-6/30) - Show your sparkling tablescape for your most special celebrations.

So, are you a pre-washer? Want to change?

Friday Food Frenzy (6/7) - Gearing Up for Father's Day!

2013-06-06T22:00:00.000-07:00

Busy planning for Father's Day breakfast, brunch or dinner? What recipes do the guys in your life enjoy? Any food traditions your family continues each year?

We usually do family brunch, but this year I will be celebrating with my husband from my hospital room. If we are lucky, and I am discharged early from having baby #3, we might get the chance to see the rest of his family members. You could say that this year will be extra special for all of us. Though I am not going to volunteer to cook or bake anything this year, we will be celebrating all the great things my husband does for our family. Loved and appreciated, I can't wait to devote an entire day to him. Well, that and the new addition to our family.

This week's Featured Recipe comes from Simple Living and Eating, Greek Salad. I just could not resist this recipe while I await my own garden to produce such amazing veggies. I love Greek Salad and have not perfected a dressing either, so this is a new recipe for myself too.

Fresh Strawberry and Cardamon Muffins Recipe

2013-06-05T22:45:00.000-07:00

This is the first year that my kitchen hasn't smelled like strawberry jam. Usually it the first thing I start when strawberries come on. This year though, the swollen ankles and tired back from pregnancy have me looking for easy strawberry recipes to try out. My desire for strawberries hasn't lessened, but my capacity to stand and stir has diminished. Muffins really are an overlooked treat, aren't they?

I know, as Jim Gaffigan would say, "...a muffin is a bald cupcake." Often overlooked because they don't sport a halo of creamy frosting, they can still be just as delicious. I like to fill and top mine with lots of fresh fruit pieces. I think that more than makes up for the lack of butter and sugar on top.

This recipe is fast, simple and delicious! The cardamon and orange zest are the perfect compliments to fresh, ripe strawberries.

So, shall we get baking? Grab your berries and in just 25 minutes (or less) you can have a pan full of soft, sweet muffins to enjoy.

Strawberry & Cardamon Muffins

You Will Need:

2 c. flour, divided
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cardamom
1 orange, zested
1 1/2 c. fresh strawberries, sliced + a handful more for topping the muffins
3/4 c. non-dairy creamer
1 egg
1/2 c. unsalted butter, melted
1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. Reserve 1/4 c. of flour. Set aside.

Toss the strawberries with the remaining flour. This is a neat trick to use with any fresh berries to keep them from just sinking to the bottom of your baked treat. I also do this with cane berries and blueberries.

Mix the wet ingredients in a small bowl. Then stir into the dry ingredients. Last, gently fold in the strawberries. Try not to over mix the berries or the batter will quickly become pink.

Divide between 12 lined muffin tins. I like to slice a handful of strawberries at the end and top my muffins with them. This way each muffin shows off the berries.

Bake for 17 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let them cool on a wire rack slightly before serving.

Enjoy!

Hazardous Material By Kurt Kamm : Book Review

2013-06-05T22:25:00.000-07:00

*Disclaimer - I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.

Bucky--divorced and lonely--struggles with painkiller addiction. One night Task Force 103 is toned out to support a Sheriff's raid on a meth lab. Bucky thinks he sees his sister at the door of a double- wide trailer in the Mojave Desert just before it explodes.

Bucky's life is in chaos. While he searches for answers to his sister's death, he is drawn into a conflict with the Vagos, who are selling drugs in the Mojave Desert. After a confrontation in which the Vagos nearly kill him, Bucky exacts an unusual revenge that only a HazMat firefighter could accomplish.

The novel twists and turns, bringing together firefighters, a sinister aerospace engineer, the Vagos -- led by the Dwarf, their seven foot tall Sergeant at Arms, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in a surprise ending you will not anticipate but you will certainly enjoy.

My opinion:

Overall I was very impressed with the research and complete, brutal honesty in this book. This wasn't fluffy chick-lit, or an emotional journey ... it was a dark and ugly look at the reality behind drugs and the brutality of biker gangs.

As someone who has never delved into those realms, the first chapter was hard to read. It was well written, clear and completely necessary to set-up the rest of the story. But, it was a reality I would have liked to turn away from.

Of course, the book took off from there. I liked that in this dark underbelly of the Mojave Desert, Bucky wasn't without his own flaws and addiction. He was also struggling, but through the book was able to get back on track and put both his sister and his own demons to rest.

Though I am not in need of being "scared straight", this book would do that. I was glad to read along and see the pieces of this mystery fall into place and applaud Kurt Kamm on his strong character development and fascinating look into a world I am glad to only glimpse in a book. I highly recommend giving both author Kurt Kamm and Hazardous Material a place on your Summer reading list.

Buy the Book from...

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.com

Barnes and Noble

About the Author

Malibu resident Kurt Kamm has used his contact with CalFire, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Ventura County Fire Department and the ATF, as well as his experience in several devastating local wildfires, to write fact-based firefighter mystery novels. He has attended classes at El Camino Fire Academy and trained in wildland firefighting, arson investigation and hazardous materials response. He is currently riding with Los Angeles County Fire Department’s famed urban search and rescue task force. He is a graduate of the ATF Citizen’s Academy.

One of the Malibu fires, the 60 mile-per-hour Santa Ana wind-driven Canyon Fire, burned to his front door and destroyed the homes of several neighbors. Kamm said the lessons he learned from the County Fire Department while writing his books helped him save his home.

Kurt Kamm has built an avid fan base among first responders. Each of his firefighter mysteries features a firefighter in a particular discipline (wildland, arson investigation, paramedic, hazardous material response, and search and rescue). His first novel, One Foot in the Black (2008) has become a favorite of firefighters. Subsequent novels, Red Flag Warning: A Serial Arson Mystery (Aberdeen Bay, 2010) and Code Blood (MCM Publishing, 2012) have won numerous fiction awards (see attached summary). Kamm’s latest book, Hazardous Material, has just been released. He is currently attending search & rescue training and working on his fifth novel.

Find the author on

printed book ebook version

*Disclaimer - I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.

Strawberry Rhubarb .... Crisp? The Perfect Recipe for Imperfect Fruit.

2013-06-04T19:53:00.000-07:00

Okay, I first have to ask... do you call it a crisp? A buckle? Or a cobbler?

I have always loved my baked fruit desserts topped with a mixture of flour, brown sugar, butter and oats. But, my absolute favorite is an apple crisp, or so we called it, created with tart and delicious Gravenstein Apples, a regional delicacy. Of course, it was made with more of a pie crust topping crumbled over the top, but since I have called it a 'crisp' since childhood, I don't think this gal will be changing her tune anytime soon.

The truth is, your topping of choice probably comes from your childhood exposure, too. When I search on the internet most sources say that a cobbler is more of a sweet biscuit style crust, where a crisp or crumble is just that... a mixture with nuts, oats or even cookie crumbs 'crumbled' over the fruit.

So, I have to ask, what would you call my little oat topped creation?

Strawberries are almost done in the field. In fact, the air is heavy with a strawberry-jam-like smell. Sweet and warm but marking the end of another glorious berry season. The strawberries we picked just this morning start to turn quickly on the counter. So what do you do with less than pristine fruit? Well, toss together a crisp, of course!

About the same time the strawberry epiphany hit me, I also noticed that my water-neglected rhubarb plants were almost done for the season. *sigh* There just haven't been enough hours in my day to tend to them as I like. Luckily, a good mulch and cover this Fall and they will be back next year. I did want to use them for something though, so again, throwing them in a fruit crisp sounded like the perfect solution.

I grew up loving rhubarb. My grandfather had some long standing plants and bequeathed starts to his 4 children. We moved around so much when I was younger that eventually my Mom lost her plants. I am sure that at least one aunt or uncle is still eating off of my grandfather's behemoth rhubarb descendants in the Midwest. Rhubarb was one of the first things I planted once I could have a real garden.

Tart and distinct, rhubarb has a lovely flavor. My Mom used to reduce it down with sugar and serve it over ice cream for dessert. The last few years finding a few good stalks has been next to impossible in the grocery store. I assume people just don't buy it around here. So having my own plants (they are so easy to grow) is the best way to ensure I can enjoy rhubarb every year.

Rhubarb and strawberries are a match made in culinary heaven. I also love the mix in a jam, but encourage you to try this easy crisp recipe if you happen to find yourself with a little rhubarb and strawberries on hand.

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

You Will Need:

4 c. rhubarb, sliced in 1" pieces
4 c. strawberries, hulled and halved
1 c. sugar
1 orange, zested
2- 3 Tbsp. instant clearjel powder
1/2 c. fresh squeezed orange juice
1 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. brown sugar, packed
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. old fashioned oats
12 Tbsp. (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold and cubed

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, toss the fruit with 1/2 cup sugar. In a small bowl combine the remaining 1/2 cup sugar with the clearjel. Then mix with the fruit and orange zest. Place in a baking dish.

Make the topping by combining the flour, sugar, salt and oats in a medium bowl. Working quickly with your hands, or a pastry cutter, cut in the cold cubed butter to form a crumble. Spread evenly over the fruit.

Bake for 1 hour, until the fruit is bubbly and the topping is golden brown. Serve warm or cold.

Enjoy.

The Mermaid of Brooklyn by Amy Shearn: Book Review #SRC2013

2013-06-03T16:51:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer - I was provided a review copy from the publisher to facilitate my reviews.

All opinions are my own. This post contains an affiliate link.

It is time for my stop #4 for the 2013 BookSparksPR Summer Reading Road Trip. This week, I am excited to introduce Amy Shearn's The Mermaid of Brooklyn.

from the back cover:

SOMETIMES ALL YOU NEED IN LIFE IS A FABULOUS PAIR OF SHOES—AND A LITTLE HELP FROM A MERMAID. Formerly an up-and-coming magazine editor, Jenny Lipkin is now your average, stretched-too-thin Brooklyn mom, tackling the challenges of raising two children in a cramped Park Slope walk-up. All she really wants is to survive the sweltering New York summer with a shred of sanity intact. But when her husband, Harry, vanishes one evening, Jenny reaches her breaking point. And in a moment of despair, a split-second decision changes her life forever.

Pulled from the brink by an unexpected ally, Jenny is forced to rethink her ideas about success, motherhood, romance, and relationships. But confronting her inner demons is no easy task. . .

My opinion:

Wow! I am not sure I have read a book that so accurately and humanly portrays the thoughts, trials and struggles of motherhood -especially post-partum depression, as this book. The character of Jenny Lipkin seemed to embody my worst days as a Mom with two small children. While I can't relate to her shoes, her mermaid or standing on a bridge, I think all Moms have felt like they don't measure up and shuffle through at least a day or two with mixed emotions brought on by crying children and sleep deprivation.

Amy Shearn really has a way with words! Her imagery is humorous and heartbreaking all at the same time. What I loved the most was her characters were real. From the husband who leaves to the not-so-helpful but well-intentioned Mother-in-Law, none too flawed, all relateable on some level. But every character was gritty and real. I fell in love with the character of Jenny. Soft around the middle, beat-up by mother-hood and trying her best to be a good Mom. As a Mom who goes for natural toys, natural fibers and the best for my children, I loved Shearn's humorous observations,

I realized that all those responsibly crafted wooden toys from Sweden were just thinly disguised bludgeons... (pg. 84)

Am I the only one who has come to the same conclusion as siblings come to blows?

Then there is the clever character of the mermaid, the rusalka. With her arrival comes a rebirth in Jenny. She begins to take back control of her life and realizes that she doesn't have to be perfect or apologetic,

Let me share some wisdom, bubeleh, from the great beyond: It's true. Everyone has something. No matter how perfect their lives seem. Everyone. (pg. 111)

Overall, I fell in love with this story. It wasn't sugar-coated, and rang true, but at the same time was entertaining and enjoyable. From beginning to end you will want to know how it turns out and will enjoy every page along the journey.

Grab your own copy on Amazon

Be sure to join in on the fun with BookSparksPR Summer Reading on their Facebook page. I will be back next week with my next #SRC2013 read.

Sweet Strawberry Iced Tea - A Sweet, Cool Twist

2013-06-03T13:41:00.004-07:00

This past week I have been getting things in order for the baby. With 10 days and counting down my to-do list might be a little ambitious. Though I would love to bring the baby home to a spotless house, with food prepared in the freezer and the house clutter purged, it is time to accept the reality that resting might be a better choice for me right now.

Strawberry season came early to Oregon this year and I am trying to get as many of these sweet berries into my freezer as possible for the coming year. Normally I would be canning jams late into the night, but my feet are too swollen. I would be squeezing lemons and stocking our pantry with strawberry lemonade concentrate to enjoy all Winter, but I just can't stay up past 9pm.

But, I still have a few fresh baked good urges that need to be indulged and a chest freezer waiting to get stocked.

Today while a kind friend took my kids out to pick strawberries, I whipped up a batch of Sweet Strawberry Tea. A few years ago I made a Black Cherry Tea, that was amazing! So, why not enjoy one with strawberries as well?

This is my twist on a recipe I found for Sweet Southern Strawberry Iced Tea, but with a sugar reduction. Since our strawberries are straight from the farm field (sun-ripened and not transported), they tend to have a higher natural sugar content. I also am not a big sweet drink fan either, but this one was just sweet enough for a treat.

So grab some strawberries, tea bags and sugar and let's enjoy a glass of iced tea!

Sweet Strawberry Iced Tea
adapted from Deep South Dish

You Will Need:

5 black tea bags
4 c. hot water
1/3 c. sugar
1/3 c. water
2 c. strawberries, hulled

Steep your 4 tea bags in hot water for 5 minutes. Set aside and allow it to start to cool.

In a small saucepan create a simple syrup using 1/3 c. water and 1/3 c. sugar. Heat over medium until all the sugar has dissolved. Set aside to cool.

In a blender, puree up the 2 cups of strawberries. With a sieve, strain out the seeds. This might seem like an extra step, but it is so worth it to have a seedless and smooth tea.

Once the tea and simple syrup are cooled down enough to handle, mix together and combine with the strained strawberries. If the strawberries are added while the liquids are too hot, they will loose some of the vibrant red color. Add a few ice cubes or chill till cold. Stir right before serving.

Enjoy!

Friday Food Frenzy (5/31), Countdown to Baby

2013-05-30T21:21:00.001-07:00

I am in baby count-down mode here on Adventures in All Things Food. That means meals have been simple and I am freezing away food like a squirrel stashes nuts! From meatballs and sauce to waffles, I am trying to give my husband some easy options for keeping the kids fed. I have just under 2 weeks and think this week I might make some treats to hide in the freezer for late night nursing/snacking cravings. Be on the look-out for some good freezable cookie recipes, granola and more great bread machine bread recipe coming up soon.

Also, have you thought about what you will be making for Father's Day? Have a favorite recipe or treat to make your Dad or Grad feel extra special? Be sure to link them up and share your delicious recipes.

Close to Home ,Mostly Food and Crafts and Adventures in All Things Food. welcome you to FRIDAY FOOD FRENZY where we come share your best recipes and browse others for some great and often easy recipes to try at home.

How many times do you hear "What's for dinner?", surprise them with a cookbook recipe you found on Friday Food Frenzy. Outside of following the hostesses, we just love for you to link up a tried and true recipe of your choice. Each week we will feature one recipe so be sure to stick around and click on your favorite recipes. The featured recipe will also be pinned on our Friday Food Frenzy Pinterest Board. Be sure to tell your friends we are cooking up a storm this Friday and to join the party.

Thanks again for stopping by and either sharing your recipe or viewing recipes from other talented cooks. Please visit the three recipes in the linky that are listed as HOST. We really appreciate your visit.

This week's Featured Recipe comes from Lori's Culinary Creations. Since BBQ season is officially here I thought her:
8 great BBQ recipes /a> would be a perfect start of summer post to share with everyone. I could use a sip right now:)

Thanks for stopping by and sharing those great and easy recipes. See you next week.

Is This Tomorrow by Caroline Leavitt: Book Review #SRC2013

2013-05-29T22:14:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer - I was provided a review copy from the publisher to facilitate my reviews.

All opinions are my own. This post contains an affiliate link.

It is time for stop #3 for the 2013 BookSparksPR Summer Reading Road Trip. This week, I am excited to introduce Caroline Leavitt's Is This Tomorrow.

from the back cover:

In 1956, Ava Lark rents a house with her twelve-year-old son, Lewis, in a desirable Boston suburb. Ava is beautiful, divorced, Jewish, and a working mom. She finds her neighbors less than welcoming. Lewis yearns for his absent father, befriending the only other fatherless kids: Jimmy and Rose. One afternoon, Jimmy goes missing. The neighborhood—in the throes of Cold War paranoia—seizes the opportunity to further ostracize Ava and her son.

Years later, when Lewis and Rose reunite to untangle the final pieces of the tragic puzzle, they must decide: Should you tell the truth even if it hurts those you love, or should some secrets remain buried?

My opinion:

Having changed schools several times as a child, I know a little about feeling like an outsider. Though, I can only imagine how hard it would have been to overcome the resentment and stereotypes of idealistic 1950's suburbia. Caroline Leavitt created such compelling characters, like Ava Lark, not only was she an outsider for being Jewish, but she was a beautiful divorce at a time when that wasn't acceptable. The author had me personally invested in all the characters right away. This book drew me in and didn't want me to put it down!

Of course the story, aftermath of the disappearance and mystery of what happened to Jimmy kept me turning the pages, and the ending and closure came as a complete surprise. I can't say many stories surprise me anymore.

This is a story of acceptance, love, guilt and distrust. Such raw human emotions are explored in vivid language and well-written characters. Caroline Leavitt is now one of my new favorite authors!

Grab your own copy on Amazon

Be sure to join in on the fun with BookSparksPR Summer Reading on their Facebook page. I will be back next week with my next #SRC2013 read.

#Ad - Stocking Up on June Dairy, with Safeway's #EverydayDairy Savings

2013-05-27T16:39:00.004-07:00

Last year I was excited to help share and promote Safeway's June Dairy Savings, #EverydayDairy, and this year it is back with another great promotion to help you stock up on your favorites and Buy $15, Save $5 all month long.

The days are finally getting warmer and my kids want to spend every waking moment playing outside. They are busy swinging, digging for dinosaur bones, helping me out in the garden and general yard exploring. All this activity sure does work up their appetites!

Of course, Memorial Day has ended up a little wetter and darker than we had hoped, but I know June will bring more warm weather soon. And the kids can't wait to get back outside and in the dirt.

Safeway's June Dairy Month promotion kicks off 5/29 and is good through 7/2. Save $5 when you spend $15 on participating products. And there are many great products on the list. Look for in-store participating product shelf tags to help you save. We stocked up and I will be back once the baby is born. Dairy rich snacks while nursing, like string cheese and yogurt, are my favorites to keep on hand.

This weekend I created some fast and easy snacks and treats for my family out of products that will be eligible for the promotion starting on Wednesday. I purchased: Kraft Natural Slices, Chobani Yogurt, Nestle Coffee-mate, Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese and Pillsbury Crescent Rolls. You can see my entire shopping trip in my Google+ album and see a few more participating products my family loves.

The first item I made was an Easy Cheese and Broccoli Roll. Finger foods are always a hit with my crew. These had fresh steamed broccoli, Swiss cheese as well as cream cheese in the filling. They were a big hit with my husband.

Easy Cheese and Broccoli Rolls

You Will Need:

1/4 c. steamed broccoli
1 egg
4 oz. Kraft Philadelphia Lite Cream Cheese, at room temperature
3 slices, Kraft Natural Cheese Swiss slices
1 can of Pillsbury Original Crescent Rolls
Garlic salt, to taste

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium bowl, mix together the broccoli, 1 egg and cream cheese. Unroll the crescent roll dough and slice a thin triangle of Swiss cheese to fit inside. I sliced three thin triangles from each piece of cheese. Place a tablespoon of broccoli filling at the widest part of the roll. Roll up as usual. Sprinkle the top with garlic salt. Bake for 16 - 19 minutes until the tops have browned.

Enjoy!

Fresh fruit is in abundance on the farm right now, so I combined our ripe strawberries with a kiwi, graham cracker crumbles and Non Fat, Honey Chobani Greek Yogurt. Layered in a parfait, it is as visually appealing as delicious! My kids always flip for parfaits.

Last, I made a cool treat for the kids, a Strawberries and Cream Popsicle utilizing the fresh berries we picked earlier this weekend and Nestle Coffee-mate. Check out my Vine video below to see how easy it was to whip up. If you have a Zuko Popsicle maker, it can be made in under 10 minutes. I love fresh and simple treats.

Non-Dairy Strawberries and Cream Popsicles

You Will Need:

1 c. strawberries, washed and hulled, + more for garnish
1/3 - 1/2 c. Coffee-mate Non-Dairy Creamer, Original, to taste
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Blend all the ingredients up in the blender, reserve a few strawberries to slice for garnish.

If using a Zoku maker, with a toothpick or spatula, add the sliced strawberries to the sides of the frozen mold and then fill as usual. For regular Popsicle molds, add the fruit slices to the bottom and fill as usual.

Chill or wait till frozen and then enjoy!

Okay, there are my ideas on what to make with our favorite dairy products. What will you stock up on during the June Dairy Savings at Safeway? What do you want to make?

Remember, this promotion runs 5/29 - 7/02/2013. Connect with Safeway on Twitter and let them know what you made.

The Emerald Tablet, by Joshua Silverman - Book Review

2013-05-26T21:49:00.001-07:00

Disclaimer - I was provided a review copy from the Promotional Book Tours to facilitate my reviews.

All opinions are my own. This post contains an affiliate link.

Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy

Leoros doesn't have many friends. The son of a scientist and archaeologist he is constantly on the move. But when his parents make a startling discovery in Egypt, Leoros' world is turned upside down.

Do you wish you could have the power of a god? Would you use it for good…or for evil?

When an archaeologist discovers the mythic Emerald Tablet buried beneath Egypt’s desert, her son decodes the ancient text leading him to a distant world.

On that world, a slave girl begins a journey towards a destiny she cannot imagine. But when an ancient foe rises from the ashes, they will be brought together by forces neither understands.

Leoros, who dreams of being like the heroes in the comic books, must fight to unlock the secrets of the universe to save a people he never knew existed.

Atlantia, whose bloody visions wake her in the night, senses the darkness coming.

Together they will face an enemy with the power of dark energy, lose a mentor to the assassin’s blade, and be betrayed by someone they trust. Their fight for the future is just beginning, and before it is over, a final sacrifice must be made. When the darkness comes, will they stand and fight or will they join it?

There is darkness in everyone.

Purchase the book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

My opinion:

I was excited to read Joshua Silverman's The Emerald Tablet, the first book in his Legends of Amun Ra series. It combined a few of my favorite things, history and legends of ancient Egypt as well as ancient Greece. Plus the story itself wove together elements of history, action, science fiction and mystery. I have devoured numerous science fiction and mystery novels on these subjects so I knew I would enjoy the topic.

The build-up for each character, back story and inner dialogue was a little long for my taste. I wanted to learn more about each distinct character through scenes and actions instead of monologues and flashbacks. Of course, there is so much going on in the story, and so much for the reader to understand that I can overlook some of the excessive build-up and get right to the concept and execution.

The plot was original and interesting, but felt overextended at times. For the start of a series it really needed to hook me. My interest was piqued, but I was also left a little confused at times. I really wanted to fall in love with this story, but I also wanted the scenes and concepts to flow a little smoother. I did find myself making notes on the different characters and relationships because they were often complex and I didn't remember them easily between reading sessions.

In full disclaimer, I was provided an advanced copy that had some formatting quirks. It happens. I have been told these are not present in the current Kindle version, so should no longer be an issue. I had a harder time getting into the story because of line breaks and tense changes, etc., but would still consider giving his next book in the series a try.

I really wanted to love this book. Instead I would give it a 3.5 stars out of 5. I was entertained, but was not staying up late at night to reach that last page.

The Guide To Baby Sleep Positions - A Hilarious Take on Co-Sleeping Antics (Review)

2013-05-26T16:23:00.004-07:00

*Disclaimer - I was sent a complimentary copy of this book from RM Media in order to write my review. Associated bloggers are not being compensated in any other way. All experiences and opinions are my own.

Ah, sleep. It is a beautiful thing, wouldn't you say?

I can't say that my nights are perfect right now. With two weeks and change to go before baby #3 is born, I am tossing and turning as well as padding down to the bathroom more often than I care to count each night. Of course, as a Mother of two older children I know that I better enjoy my rest while I can. Things are about to change.

We are a co-sleeping family. Whether you call it co-sleeping or room sharing, we do a bit of both. After trying many products and techniques with my first baby, we turned to a side sleeper for my daughter that attaches to my side of the bed. This is what I recommend to friends having their first child. It allows me to sleep right next to a newborn, nurse easily and we can all get some sleep. Once my children were past the newborn phase we transitioned them into our bed for bed sharing. Though both my children enjoyed this, and it helped us all to sleep more soundly, there are also some challenges to having a little person take over the sacred sleeping space.

My son was a 'toucher'. It didn't matter where he was, or if he was asleep, he had little fingers that would roam. I remember the feeling of his fingers making their way over my face and then in my ears or up my nose in the middle of the night. He was, of course, sound asleep. But, by that time I was usually wide awake and completely creeped out. Now my husband and I laugh about his wandering hands at night, but dare I say it, I kinda miss him being so close to me at night.

Well, Andy Herald and Charlie Capen, from HowToBeADad.com, have brought humor to the trials and tribulations of co-sleeping with a baby in their book about baby sleep positions. I had a great laugh to the point of tears a few times while thumbing through this quick little book. If you have ever woken up with a child in your bed, you can probably relate to at least one of these descriptions.

One of my favorites was The Superman. Yes, there were a few nights when both my spouse and I awoke to a random simultaneous assault from the bed's smallest occupant. Ah, there is nothing like a swift fist to the face to jar a poor unsuspecting parent awake!

Some of my other favorites include: Jazz Hands, The Booby Trap, and The Family Meeting.

Grab your own copy of The Guide to Baby Sleep Positions from Amazon or share with an expecting friend or family member. This book is sure to get passed around with laughs from everyone. Truly a parental bonding experience!

#Ad - Keeping it Fresh and Healthy this Memorial Day Weekend

2013-05-25T17:44:00.003-07:00

After such a dry Spring, we finally got some rain this past week, well a lot of it. Of course, it made me worry about how we would be celebrating our Memorial Day Weekend. I had visions of healthy eating outside, easy meals, the sprinkler running and going strawberry picking with the kids.

I am a homebody right now. With this baby coming in less than 3 weeks I just want to spend some quality time with my kids. I know that there will be big changes coming for the older kids soon and I wanted to make this weekend both fun and memorable for them. That means less time in the kitchen, but still eating well.

Armed with a favorable weather forecast for the weekend, and fingers crossed, I took the family grocery shopping to prepare. Okay, I hate to shop on a holiday weekend, so I planned to keep things as fresh and simple as possible. It was pouring and the kids were all bundled up and dressed in rain coats. It was pretty hard to think about fun and sun with that kind of weather. Of course my kids were just excited about all the rain puddles we would hit on the way into Walmart.

Our local Walmart had already been ransacked midweek by people who probably had the same idea I did. I have a feeling that by the end of the week a lot of the chips, dips and easy prepared foods would be running really low, if not out. Luckily my meals were going to be simple and I found everything I needed. But as the week wore on I was still pretty pessimistic that we would have a clear holiday.

Happily I was wrong. The sunshine came out and we were able to head to the strawberry field Saturday morning. My son loves strawberries, so is more than willing to help out with picking. It is a good thing, too, because bending over is getting more challenging for me the closer to my due date I get.

This is the first year my daughter hasn't just picked the green ones. Last year she claimed they were pretty. This year it is more about the taste.

With my husband busy cutting hay today and the kids and I being worn out from all the strawberries, we opted for a super easy and fast meal outside on the back porch. Our family-go-to-favorite during the warmer months is Taco Salad with homemade Catalina dressing.

I enlisted my best salad spinner to help while I prepped the chicken. We make our taco salad a number of ways, sometimes with meat and sometimes without. This time I wanted to cut down on cooking time by using the Tyson Grilled & Ready Chicken Breast Strips and heating them with just a little taco seasoning for added flavor.

I added just a 1/4 cup of water and let them heat through. It was much faster than slicing and browning all that chicken myself.

I even had time after prepping all the veggies to make a pitcher of whole juice strawberry lemonade. I thought it would be a fun treat for the kids after picking the berries. It is as simple as it sounds, just strawberries, lemons, sugar to taste and diluted with water and ice. Everything goes into the blender and it was garnished with some fresh sliced strawberries.

I set up our salad bar outside on the table. My kids prefer to have a hand in fixing their own salads. Even if I dished up the exact same ingredients and portions for them, it just wouldn't be the same. Our salad bar included items that were either rinsed and sliced, thawed or from a can, so prep time was around 10 minutes total.

The salads were a big hit and so was the fresh air outside. It was the perfect way to kick off our Memorial Day Weekend. I was very pleased with the simple addition of the chicken in our salad, as well. It was moist and tasty. A great little added protein boost to our fresh and hearty salad. Who wants a heavy or complicated meal on a such a beautiful day?

The Kruse Family's Favorite Taco Salad

You Will Need:

Tyson Grilled & Ready Chicken Breast Strips
Taco seasoning
1/4 c. water
iceberg lettuce
tomatoes
sliced olives
kidney beans
sweet corn
avocado
sharp cheddar cheese
Catalina Dressing
Tortilla Chips

Heat the Tyson Grilled & Ready Chicken Breast Strips in a pan over medium heat. Sprinkle with taco seasoning to taste and then add 1/4 cup water to the pan and let them simmer for 3 to 5 minutes, until the chicken is warmed through.

We like to set up all our ingredients in salad bar fashion and let everyone help themselves. Build as you like and then top with Catalina dressing. This is such a fresh and easy dinner. Enjoy!

Have a great Memorial Day Weekend!

Connect with Tyson on Twitter and Club Tyson on Facebook to stay up-to-date with products, promotions and announcements.

Friday Food Frenzy (5/24): Ready for Memorial Day?

2013-05-24T07:23:00.001-07:00

Ready for Memorial Day? Have a family-tested recipe you plan to use this weekend?

Share your recipes and discover some new ones here at this week's recipe linky. Strawberries are ripe in the field so we will be out picking and I have a few treats to whip up for the family. I am slowing down and getting excited for the new baby. This weekend for me will be all about spending time with my family and a few good dishes. What are your plans?

Close to Home ,Mostly Food and Crafts and Adventures in All Things Food. welcome you to FRIDAY FOOD FRENZY where we come share your best recipes and browse others for some great and often easy recipes to try at home.

How many times do you hear "What's for dinner?", surprise them with a cookbook recipe you found on Friday Food Frenzy. Outside of following the hostesses, we just love for you to link up a tried and true recipe of your choice.

Each week we will feature one recipe so be sure to stick around and click on your favorite recipes. The featured recipe will also be pinned on our Friday Food Frenzy Pinterest Board. Be sure to tell your friends we are cooking up a storm this Friday and to join the party. Thanks again for stopping by and either sharing your recipe or viewing recipes from other talented cooks. Please visit the three recipes in the linky that are listed as HOST. We really appreciate your visit.

This week's Featured Recipe comes from Cooking with Curls and I thought her Watermelon Margaritas would be a perfect Memorial Day recipe or really for any summer BBQ. I could use a sip right now:) Thanks for stopping by and sharing those great Memorial Day recipes. See you next week.

The Emerald Tablet, by Joshua Silverman - Book Tour

2013-05-23T22:30:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer - I was provided a review copy from the Promotional Book Tours to facilitate my reviews.

All opinions are my own. This post contains an affiliate link.

Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy

Leoros doesn't have many friends. The son of a scientist and archaeologist he is constantly on the move. But when his parents make a startling discovery in Egypt, Leoros' world is turned upside down.

Do you wish you could have the power of a god? Would you use it for good…or for evil?

When an archaeologist discovers the mythic Emerald Tablet buried beneath Egypt’s desert, her son decodes the ancient text leading him to a distant world.

On that world, a slave girl begins a journey towards a destiny she cannot imagine. But when an ancient foe rises from the ashes, they will be brought together by forces neither understands.

Leoros, who dreams of being like the heroes in the comic books, must fight to unlock the secrets of the universe to save a people he never knew existed.

Atlantia, whose bloody visions wake her in the night, senses the darkness coming.

There is darkness in everyone.

Purchase the book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

*Stay tuned for my review of this book coming next week!

About Joshua Silverman

Joshua Silverman was born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Orange County, California. While attending California State University, Fullerton and studying Criminal Justice, Joshua was introduced to a creative writing class where he wrote a series of paranormal stories. As a child, he has always been an amateur historian, focusing on ancient Egypt, Greece, and Roman civilizations. Since working in the legal environment, he has combined his passion for creative writing with his love of ancient history by penning his debut novel, The Emerald Tablet, the first of seven in the Legends of Amun Ra series.

Follow Joshua Silverman: Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads
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Ready for a New Twist on an Arby's Favorite? + Sweepstakes

2013-05-23T12:00:00.001-07:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Arby's for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I remember getting Arby's Roast Beef Sandwiches as a kid. Thin, tasty slices of roast beef that went perfectly with their selection of sauces. It was my first experience with horseradish and I was in love.

Well, Arby's is tweaking the recipe a bit. They have just introduced TWO NEW KING'S HAWAIIAN sandwiches! Yes, that would be an Arby’s KING’S HAWAIIAN roast beef sandwich. Now, if you know me, I love Hawaiian rolls and KING'S HAWAIIAN is the brand I grew up loving. Soft, fluffy with a deliciously sweet pineapple taste. Marry that to Arby's classic roast beef, in fact an extra helping of said roast beef, and I may have a new favorite.

The other sandwich is a King's HAWAIIAN roast beef and Swiss. It boasts the same extra helping of mouth-watering roast beef on a King's HAWAIIAN bun with Swiss cheese, crunchy pickles and creamy dijion spread. Yum!

Both of these sandwiches are only available for a limitted time, so be sure to grab your bite of Roast-Beef-atopia while they last.

In celebration of this great pairing, Arby's is hosting a Hawaiian Getaway Sweepstakes. The grand prize winner will be able to surf in paradise with a round trip for two with four night's stay in Honolulu, HI, with a premium group lesson at Hawaiian Fire - one of the island's premier surf schools. Time is running out to enter, but there is still time to get your entry in before May 26th for the Arby’s Hawaiian Getaway Sweepstakes.

Ready to take the plunge? Grab your sandwich and enter for your chance to win. Good luck!

#Ad Rod Stewart is back with Time (Album Review)

2013-05-22T22:39:00.001-07:00

Disclaimer - I participated in this campaign for One2One Network. I received a free copy of the CD to write this review. By posting, I'm eligible for incentives. All opinions & experiences are my own.

As a child of the 80's and 90's, I grew up listening to Rod Stewart on the radio. I am sure we all have our favorite song he sang. I mean, he has been writing and singing for so long it is hard not to have a favorite. I could easily sing along to Maggie May (1971), or Forever Young (1988), but All For Love, written for the movie The Three Musketeers, was one I remember playing over and over in my room.

Yes, it has been 4 decades of music and Rod Stewart is still going strong. Yes, same hair, same tight pants. Time is his first release with new material in almost 20 years. Released earlier this month, 11 out of the 12 tracks were written and produced by him.

"Suddenly ideas for lyrics were piling up in my head," he says. "Next thing I knew, I had a song called 'It's Over' about divorce and separation. And now I was getting up in the middle of the night and scrambling for a pen to write things down, which has never happened to me. I finished seven or eight songs very quickly and I still wasn't done, and it became apparent that I would eventually have a whole album of material to record."

My favorite song off the new album was definitely She Makes Me Happy. Upbeat and fun, it is a great reminder of how good falling in love feels.

Here is the complete list of album tracks:

1. She Makes Me Happy
2. Can’t Stop Me Now
3. It’s Over
4. Brighton Beach
5. Beautiful Morning
6. Live The Life
7. Finest Woman
8. Time
9. Picture In A Frame
10. Sexual Religion
11. Make Love To Me Tonight
12. Pure Love

Download your favorite tracks or the entire album on iTunes or Amazon.

#Ad - Nighttime Accidents Are Normal. Getting Help from #WhiteCloudSleepPants

2013-05-22T14:43:00.001-07:00

Disclaimer - This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of White Cloud Sleep Pants. All thoughts and experiences are my own.

Mom Confession: Starting my day with a pile of wet bedding puts this Mom in a grumpy mood. Also, a child woken up in the middle of the night from a wet bed is also in a pretty grumpy mood in the morning.

I have an almost 4 and 5 1/2-year old. They are finally potty trained. *Whew!* But, that doesn't mean all our nights are dry. In fact, lately I have become a laundromat for all the nighttime "oops" and "I'm sorry"s. Though people openly talk about the trials and tribulations of potty training, no one really discusses what goes on afterwards.

Even the most competent child can experience bedwetting. As a Mom I was surprised to discover it is quite common, even in older children. I know, no one talks about it, do they? Bedwetting can affect a child's self esteem and they can be reluctant to discuss it with their parents. My son knows I dislike the added laundry, but I have tried to stress to him that it happens and we just need to take care of it and move on. It's just a developmental stage for him and his younger sister. They don't always wake up in time to make it down to the bathroom, but for some children it can also be caused by a medical condition. Whatever the reasons behind a bedwetting situation, it can be frustrating for everyone in the family.

My husband and I try to be proactive with our kids. They know that drinks are limited after dinnertime and either my husband or I wake them up to use the restroom when we come to bed. Luckily since I am pregnant, I wake up all through the night so it is easy to remind them to use the bathroom then.

Because the laundry was really stacking up and no one likes the wafting smell of pee-stained bedding first thing in the morning, we tried out the White Cloud Sleep Pants available exclusively from Walmart. These are cost-effective, gender neutral sleep pants designed for older children. We tried out the S/M size, for kids between 45 and 65 lbs.

Thinner than a regular diaper, they are surprisingly absorbent. With stretchy sides, they go on like regular underwear and have a soft inner, hypoallergenic liner that is treated with vitamin E and aloe to be gentle on their skin. My children are very proud of wearing 'big kid' underwear so I didn't want to take a step backwards at night. My daughter liked that they didn't make noise when she wore them in the bed. I have previously tried other nighttime solutions that woke her up throughout the night because they crinkled so much.

The designs are bright and colorful, which is always important to attracting my kids to use something. Since I have two at the same stage I was grateful that I only needed one bag and didn't have to get each child's favorite character or theme.

These are a little large (long?) on my daughter. They fit my son better, but both of my kids are at the bottom of the weight range. Truth be known, they are also pretty low on the growth chart, so I wasn't surprised. They did fit well enough to provide the protection we needed though. I was very impressed with the price per pant. It really can't be beat!

I just want my kids to get a good night's sleep and not worry about whether they will wet the bed. There are so many other things to think about in childhood. This stage too, will pass. I am just glad that White Cloud Sleep Pants can also cause my mornings to be a little brighter and no longer overshadowed with added piles of laundry.

Did you know that over 5 million kids a year experience bedwetting and it is one of the most common experiences during childhood development?

White Cloud Sleep Pants have been developed to provide exceptional comfort and leakage protection while looking like underwear. White Cloud Sleep Pants offer thin, discrete absorbent protection for your child. They have soft, stretchy sides that fit like real underwear, plus leak guards to help protect against leaks. The soft inner liner is hypoallergenic and treated with vitamin E and aloe for skin protection.

Each bag contains two unisex graphic designs and at $7.75, White Cloud offers exceptional value.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of White Cloud Sleep Pants.

Easy Hawaiian Roll Recipe, in the Bread Machine

2013-05-22T14:09:00.001-07:00

Counting down the final weeks to the baby's arrival has not left me with much time left to linger in my kitchen. Eating lately has been more practical, fast and not too special. There is just too much left to do! I do have some strawberry recipes to share soon since our local season has just begun.

Recently I was wanting a good barbecue dinner. The kind of simple pleasure that we could all enjoy outside on a nice, warm evening. Besides grilling up a few pieces of chicken basted in a tasty sauce, I wanted to break out the traditional macaroni salad from Cook's Illustrated and some Hawaiian rolls. Of course, I had the perfect recipe tucked away to try.

These rolls call for pineapple juice and a little coconut extract. A nice, fluffy dinner roll that we could enjoy with chicken leftovers the next day. Now, rolls don't last long in our home. The homemade variety is usually gobbled up within a 24-hour period. I didn't mind though, because I let my trusty bread machine do most of the work. They still need to be hand formed and baked in the oven, but I didn't have to knead them myself or fuss over them for the afternoon.

When using my bread machine, I like to get out all the ingredients, measure them out and then dump in as I double check my recipe. It makes it go so quickly.

I have a Zojirushi bread maker and really love using it to make my dough. I do like the act of kneading bread by hand, but lately I can't even get close enough to the counters, thanks to my expanding pregnancy waist, to really get leverage. Not too mention that with swelling ankles I would rather put my feet up than be standing in the kitchen right now.

After a rise in the machine, I can separate out my rolls and place them in a casserole baking dish that has been sprayed with non-stick spray.

Place these little beauties in a warm spot and cover with a tea towel for 45 minutes to an hour. They puff up nicely and will be ready to bake at 350 degrees.

I wait till they are evenly golden brown on top and then brush them with a little butter as they cool. Warm, fresh rolls are such a simple pleasure.

Ready to try them yourself?

Easy Hawaiian Rolls

You Will Need:

1 c. pineapple juice
1 large egg, beaten
1/3 c. milk
4 Tbsp. butter, unsalted and cubed (+ more for brushing the tops)
1 tsp. coconut extract
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. salt
1/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. instant potato flakes
3 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. bread flour
2 1/4 tsp. active dry yeast

Bring all the wet ingredients to room temperature. You can skip this step if your bead machine has a warming stage in the beginning.

Add the ingredients as called for by your bread machine. Mine calls for wet ingredients, then dry and yeast last. Run your bread machine on the dough cycle.

Spray a 9"x13" baking dish with non-stick spray. When the dough cycle has finished and the dough has proofed, divide the dough into 12- 15 rolls and place evenly in your baking dish. Cover with a tea towel or flour sack cloth and let rise for another 45 minutes to an hour in a warm place.

Towards the end of the rise, preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Bake the rolls for about 25 minutes, until the tops are golden brown. Remove from the oven and brush the tops with butter. Let them cool slightly before serving.

Enjoy!