| on-the-go fun from your purse... keep 'em busy with a tissue * what's in here? wrap a tissue around a small object from your purse--a key, a lipstick---and see if you child can guess what it is from shape alone. * costume contest--Punch out a couple of eyeholes to turn you tissue into a mask. While your child gets his imagination in gear, you can guess what he is----a lion? a robber? * a lot of hot air---Wad up a tissue and let you kid see how far she can blow it across a table. Then crumple up another one and make it a race. * we have liftoff---Use your tissue as a trampoline to launch smaller objects, like a mint or a penny, into the air and catch them again. keep 'em busy with a mirror *fog machine--Breathe on a pocket mirror to steam it up, then use your finger to draw a shape or a letter. Once your child ID's it, give him a turn. * good day, sunshine--If you're outside or near a window, show your child how to reflect sunlight onto a nearby tree or the ground. By wiggling her hand, she can make the light dance. April 2009 Parenting Magazine _________________________________________________ A great website for toddler activities! Fun Bubble Play! We had a great time blowing bubbles with the help of Autumn, and Family Fun magazine. Using an empty water bottle, cut out the bottom and rubber band a wet washcloth to it. Dip the cloth in dish soap and blow on the bottle. This is what you get!  |
Monday, July 20, 2009
Tonights Show- Fun Fun!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
6/15 Show!
Please check out Tot School!
Colin and I are loving it! Here are a few photos of tot school at our house this week:
Basil Burgers- YUM!
Taken from Family Fun Magazine- July Edition
for the burgers:
1 1/2 pounds ground chicken/turkey
3/4 cup grated sharp cheddar or 1/2 cup parmesan
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 ground pepper
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 tbs pesto (store-bought or your own!)
6 burger rolls
lettuce
sliced tomatoes
oil for brushing the burgers
for the pesto may
1/2 cup mayo
2 tbs pesto
1. Line a baking sheet with plastic wrap, set aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine ground meat, cheese, salt, & pepper, gently toss together until blended.
2. In a small bowl, mix mayo & pesto, then add ground meat mixture and combine until evenly blended. Shape the meat into six 1/2 inch-thick patties, placing each on baking sheet, cover w/ plastic wrap in refrigerate for 30 minutes. (these patties will be softer than traditional hamburgers)
3.While the meat is chilling, prepare the grill and make the pesto mayo. Then brush one side of each of the burger with a little oil and place them on the grill, oiled side down. Lightly brush oil on the other side of the burgers and cook them for 5 minutes on each side, turning once, or until meat is to desired pinkness (or doness) inside. Serve burgers with roll and top with pesto mayo.
enjoy!
Grilled Bananas
For each, cut a banana crosswise into 1/2 inch wide slices and place the slices in the center of a 18 inch sheet of foil. sprinkle banana w/ 2 tsp of brown sugar, 1/2 tsp of lemon juice, and a dash of cinnamon. Dot the banana with 1/2 tbsp of butter cut into pieces. Bring the long edges of the foil together and fold them together. Crimp the short ends together above the packet to form a handle; make sure all seams closed tightly. Use a long stick to place on a warm grill or campfire. Let cook for 15 to 30 minutes. Remove packet from heat, place on plate, and carefully open. Let it cool. Top the banana with vanilla ice cream, if you like!
the disney coupon book (and several others) for dads:
http://family.go.com/entertainment/article-649252-disney-fathers-day-crafts-and-recipes-t/2/
Colin and I are loving it! Here are a few photos of tot school at our house this week:
Basil Burgers- YUM!
Taken from Family Fun Magazine- July Edition
for the burgers:
1 1/2 pounds ground chicken/turkey
3/4 cup grated sharp cheddar or 1/2 cup parmesan
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 ground pepper
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 tbs pesto (store-bought or your own!)
6 burger rolls
lettuce
sliced tomatoes
oil for brushing the burgers
for the pesto may
1/2 cup mayo
2 tbs pesto
1. Line a baking sheet with plastic wrap, set aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine ground meat, cheese, salt, & pepper, gently toss together until blended.
2. In a small bowl, mix mayo & pesto, then add ground meat mixture and combine until evenly blended. Shape the meat into six 1/2 inch-thick patties, placing each on baking sheet, cover w/ plastic wrap in refrigerate for 30 minutes. (these patties will be softer than traditional hamburgers)
3.While the meat is chilling, prepare the grill and make the pesto mayo. Then brush one side of each of the burger with a little oil and place them on the grill, oiled side down. Lightly brush oil on the other side of the burgers and cook them for 5 minutes on each side, turning once, or until meat is to desired pinkness (or doness) inside. Serve burgers with roll and top with pesto mayo.
enjoy!
Grilled Bananas
For each, cut a banana crosswise into 1/2 inch wide slices and place the slices in the center of a 18 inch sheet of foil. sprinkle banana w/ 2 tsp of brown sugar, 1/2 tsp of lemon juice, and a dash of cinnamon. Dot the banana with 1/2 tbsp of butter cut into pieces. Bring the long edges of the foil together and fold them together. Crimp the short ends together above the packet to form a handle; make sure all seams closed tightly. Use a long stick to place on a warm grill or campfire. Let cook for 15 to 30 minutes. Remove packet from heat, place on plate, and carefully open. Let it cool. Top the banana with vanilla ice cream, if you like!
the disney coupon book (and several others) for dads:
http://family.go.com/entertainment/article-649252-disney-fathers-day-crafts-and-recipes-t/2/
Monday, May 4, 2009
Project Restoration- Elizabeth Oates
We loved having Elizabeth Oates on the show tonight! Check out her website at http://www.projectrestorationministry.org/
Don't forget to look up her curriculum, Dealing With Divorce, published by Zondervan.
Don't forget to look up her curriculum, Dealing With Divorce, published by Zondervan.
Happy Cinco de Mayo!
Cinco de Mayo Recipes:
Patriot’s Favorite Guac
4 avocados (deep brown & yield slightly to pressure)
1 fresh lime (or orange, for a twist)
1-2 cloves of fresh garlic
1 fresh tomato (diced)
Salt & pepper to taste
Half avocados and remove fruit with a spoon in to a bowl (leave at least one pit in the guac to help prevent browning). Juice the lime (or ½ an orange:), dice the tomato and mince the garlic (or use a garlic press directly into bowl). Add the lime juice, garlic, and tomato---stir well with a fork to mash everything together. Add salt & pepper to taste. Stir again.
We serve tortilla strips or goldfish for our little one to ‘dip’ into his guacamole. Always a hit at our house:0)
enjoy!
Black Beans and Rice
4 standard sized cans of black beans
½ yellow onion
6 cloves of garlic
1 bunch of cilantro
8 oz. shredded Montery Jack Cheese
2 c. whole grain brown rice
2 avocados
1 jar salsa
1 c. sour cream
1 bag tortilla chips
Preheat oven to 350. Heat black beans in a pot over medium-high heat, keeping most of the juice. Chop onion and cilantro, mince garlic, and place all in a saucepan and sauté. After beans have heated for 20 minutes, stir the sautéed ingredients into the black beans. In a separate pot, begin preparing the brown rice (follow bag instructions). Pour black bean concoction into a 13x9 inch pan and add shredded cheese on top, covering extensively. Cover w/ aluminum foil and bake for 30 min at 325 degrees.
Serve black bean entrée over the brown rice, having a nice spread of chips, slices of avocado, salsa, extra shredded cheese and sour cream as toppings.
chicken enchiladas...
10 1/2 ounce can of "chicken a la king" (that's actually what it is called and it comes in a soup can size, at wal-mart it is usually by the canned chicken/tuna, but if they don't have it, then I have substituted just a can of chunk chicken, which actually gives you way more chicken, and then I just mix in about a half a can of cream of chicken soup)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon chili powder
1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
2 1/4 cups monterey jack cheese (I sometimes get the mexican blend of cheeses)
1/2 cup salad oil
8 corn tortillas
1/4 cup sour cream (I usually use way more)
In a bowl, combine the chicken, all the spices, 1 1/2 cups of cheese. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. When oil is hot, put each tortilla in the oil for a few seconds on each side. (i've tried to skip this step, and the tortillas break and come apart when you are trying to roll them up) Then fill each tortilla with filling, roll up and put in a baking dish. Then spread the sour cream on top and sprinkle with the rest of the cheese. Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes, or cheese is melted.
Patriot’s Favorite Guac
4 avocados (deep brown & yield slightly to pressure)
1 fresh lime (or orange, for a twist)
1-2 cloves of fresh garlic
1 fresh tomato (diced)
Salt & pepper to taste
Half avocados and remove fruit with a spoon in to a bowl (leave at least one pit in the guac to help prevent browning). Juice the lime (or ½ an orange:), dice the tomato and mince the garlic (or use a garlic press directly into bowl). Add the lime juice, garlic, and tomato---stir well with a fork to mash everything together. Add salt & pepper to taste. Stir again.
We serve tortilla strips or goldfish for our little one to ‘dip’ into his guacamole. Always a hit at our house:0)
enjoy!
Black Beans and Rice
4 standard sized cans of black beans
½ yellow onion
6 cloves of garlic
1 bunch of cilantro
8 oz. shredded Montery Jack Cheese
2 c. whole grain brown rice
2 avocados
1 jar salsa
1 c. sour cream
1 bag tortilla chips
Preheat oven to 350. Heat black beans in a pot over medium-high heat, keeping most of the juice. Chop onion and cilantro, mince garlic, and place all in a saucepan and sauté. After beans have heated for 20 minutes, stir the sautéed ingredients into the black beans. In a separate pot, begin preparing the brown rice (follow bag instructions). Pour black bean concoction into a 13x9 inch pan and add shredded cheese on top, covering extensively. Cover w/ aluminum foil and bake for 30 min at 325 degrees.
Serve black bean entrée over the brown rice, having a nice spread of chips, slices of avocado, salsa, extra shredded cheese and sour cream as toppings.
chicken enchiladas...
10 1/2 ounce can of "chicken a la king" (that's actually what it is called and it comes in a soup can size, at wal-mart it is usually by the canned chicken/tuna, but if they don't have it, then I have substituted just a can of chunk chicken, which actually gives you way more chicken, and then I just mix in about a half a can of cream of chicken soup)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon chili powder
1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
2 1/4 cups monterey jack cheese (I sometimes get the mexican blend of cheeses)
1/2 cup salad oil
8 corn tortillas
1/4 cup sour cream (I usually use way more)
In a bowl, combine the chicken, all the spices, 1 1/2 cups of cheese. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. When oil is hot, put each tortilla in the oil for a few seconds on each side. (i've tried to skip this step, and the tortillas break and come apart when you are trying to roll them up) Then fill each tortilla with filling, roll up and put in a baking dish. Then spread the sour cream on top and sprinkle with the rest of the cheese. Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes, or cheese is melted.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Marriage Tips and Shrimp Scampi
Marriage Recommendations:
Plan a date night, weekly, monthly, whatever you can do.
Spend 20 minutes daily
Make a list of three things you need from each other, separately. Talk about how to implement those things.
Create a maintenance program: If you are seeing a therapist, go back to him/her every 3-6 months to make sure that the emotional clutter doesn't pile up again.
From the AP
1)Always show your appreciation for your partner/spouse. Saying "I love you" is good. But, showing your love is much better. Do this by giving her/him some things they like. It doesn't have to be pricey or extravagant. It just has to show that you care. For instance, my husband likes bottled water. I noticed that he was running low one day and while I was out, I got him a HUGE case for his desk. He smiled brightly and said thanks.
2) Talk about everything. When the channels of communication are open, the relationship thrives because there is nothing "off-limits" to talk about. From the smallest thing to big things, discuss everything. Never deem something insignificant.
3) Keep yourself up as much as possible. If you wore makeup and pretty clothes or worked out before you got married, it's just as important to do those things after you have been together for quite sometime. This applies to men just as much as women. Give them what they married, or at least close to it.
4) Keep a unified front at all times. This applies to children, in-laws, friends, family, neighbors, EVERYBODY! Never allow your marriage and personal business become the conversation of social functions. Keep the marriage business a private affair.
5) Treat each other with respect. This means verbal and non-verbal actions. Respect the person with their things, their space, their bodies. When you show them respect, they will show you respect.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
shrimp scampi recipe
by food network.com
Ingredients
* 1 1/2 pound jumbo shrimp, shelled and deveined
* Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
* 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
* 2 teaspoons minced garlic
* 1/4 cup dry white vermouth
* 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
* 2 teaspoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves
* 1/4 teaspoon grated lemon zest
Directions
Put the shrimp on a large pie pan or plate and pat them completely dry with a paper towel. Arrange the shrimp so they lay flat and are evenly spaced.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper. Add the butter to the skillet. When the foaming subsides, raise the heat to high, and invert the plate of shrimp over the pan so the shrimp fall into the pan all at once. Cook the shrimp, without moving them, for 1 minute. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Turn the shrimp over and cook for 2 minutes more. Transfer the shrimp to a bowl.
Return the skillet to the heat and pour in the vermouth and lemon juice. Boil the liquid until slightly thickened, about 30 seconds. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Stir the zest and parsley into the sauce. Pour the sauce over the shrimp, season with salt and pepper to taste and toss to combine.
Divide the shrimp among 4 plates or arrange on a platter and serve.
Plan a date night, weekly, monthly, whatever you can do.
Spend 20 minutes daily
Make a list of three things you need from each other, separately. Talk about how to implement those things.
Create a maintenance program: If you are seeing a therapist, go back to him/her every 3-6 months to make sure that the emotional clutter doesn't pile up again.
From the AP
1)Always show your appreciation for your partner/spouse. Saying "I love you" is good. But, showing your love is much better. Do this by giving her/him some things they like. It doesn't have to be pricey or extravagant. It just has to show that you care. For instance, my husband likes bottled water. I noticed that he was running low one day and while I was out, I got him a HUGE case for his desk. He smiled brightly and said thanks.
2) Talk about everything. When the channels of communication are open, the relationship thrives because there is nothing "off-limits" to talk about. From the smallest thing to big things, discuss everything. Never deem something insignificant.
3) Keep yourself up as much as possible. If you wore makeup and pretty clothes or worked out before you got married, it's just as important to do those things after you have been together for quite sometime. This applies to men just as much as women. Give them what they married, or at least close to it.
4) Keep a unified front at all times. This applies to children, in-laws, friends, family, neighbors, EVERYBODY! Never allow your marriage and personal business become the conversation of social functions. Keep the marriage business a private affair.
5) Treat each other with respect. This means verbal and non-verbal actions. Respect the person with their things, their space, their bodies. When you show them respect, they will show you respect.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
shrimp scampi recipe
by food network.com
Ingredients
* 1 1/2 pound jumbo shrimp, shelled and deveined
* Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
* 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
* 2 teaspoons minced garlic
* 1/4 cup dry white vermouth
* 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
* 2 teaspoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves
* 1/4 teaspoon grated lemon zest
Directions
Put the shrimp on a large pie pan or plate and pat them completely dry with a paper towel. Arrange the shrimp so they lay flat and are evenly spaced.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper. Add the butter to the skillet. When the foaming subsides, raise the heat to high, and invert the plate of shrimp over the pan so the shrimp fall into the pan all at once. Cook the shrimp, without moving them, for 1 minute. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Turn the shrimp over and cook for 2 minutes more. Transfer the shrimp to a bowl.
Return the skillet to the heat and pour in the vermouth and lemon juice. Boil the liquid until slightly thickened, about 30 seconds. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Stir the zest and parsley into the sauce. Pour the sauce over the shrimp, season with salt and pepper to taste and toss to combine.
Divide the shrimp among 4 plates or arrange on a platter and serve.
Steals and deals and coupons!
Check out Artscow.com for lots and lots of photo freebies, hooray!
Babies R Us coupon codes, per babycheapskate.com
* 15% off all car seats: use code 927670
* 15% off all crib bedding sets: use code 927672
* 15% off all strollers and travel systems: use code 927671
* 15% off all breast pumps: use code 927665
* 15% off all high chairs, bassinets, play yards or infant swings: use code 927669
* 15% off all bouncers: use code 927664
* 15% off all carriers and slings: use code 927663
Babies R Us coupon codes, per babycheapskate.com
* 15% off all car seats: use code 927670
* 15% off all crib bedding sets: use code 927672
* 15% off all strollers and travel systems: use code 927671
* 15% off all breast pumps: use code 927665
* 15% off all high chairs, bassinets, play yards or infant swings: use code 927669
* 15% off all bouncers: use code 927664
* 15% off all carriers and slings: use code 927663
Monday, April 6, 2009
Tonights Show, Basket Liners and Easter Babies!
Dunstan's Baby Language:
And please don't forget to check out Etsy's store, Noodles and Milk.
To order burp cloths, 2/10, click here
Look at Patriot's adorable basket liners!
And our little ones from last Easter. Have they come a long way or what?
Neh- hungry
Owh- sleepy
Heh- change me
Eh- Burp Me
Eairh- Gas
Check out the website and watch examples on youtube.com. The Dunstan video system is 39.99, and gets great reviews!And please don't forget to check out Etsy's store, Noodles and Milk.
To order burp cloths, 2/10, click here
Look at Patriot's adorable basket liners!
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