Recent Posts

For most families fruit snacks is a staple in the home.  Whether you’re still using a diaper bag or your kids have traded up to a backpack, chances are fruit snacks have been in them at one point or another.  I remember when Amber was much younger, it was always a safe snack to send to school for parties, most kids are able to eat them, and most kids like them too.

Which leads me to a question, what makes a fruit snack stand out more from any other one?

A couple of weeks ago I had shared that I was part of a Mom Central campaign testing out the new Crest Pro-Health Complete Rinse. 

I have been using the Complete Rinse each night after brushing and flossing and I love it!  What I really think makes it a stand out product is that it doesn’t have that sting of alcohol that other rinses use.

I shared in my previous post that I’ve never really used mouth wash or rinse, so this was a good experience for me.  My husband does on a regular basis though, and

I write the Switched-On Schoolhouse Series twice a month to share our family’s experience using this software based curriculum in our home.

If you spend much time using electronic devices, the internet or social networks of any kind, you know that ‘skinning’ is a pretty popular thing. 

For those of you I just lost, let me translate.  When you ‘skin’ a device, browser or social platform, you’re adding a personalized background image to overlay or underlay.  Making it an enjoyable place for you to visit, something visually appealing to your sense of sight.

When kids can personalize their ‘space’ it makes them

I love working with Tropical Traditions.  My family has had the chance to experience so many green and healthy products all of which we have been pleased with.  This time I was able to try their Organic Palm Shortening.  With Christmas baking just around the corner, this is a product that is sure to be used a lot in my kitchen.  I usually try and avoid recipes that have shortening in the ingredient list, but no more!  So, once again I was busy baking up a storm using the great Tropical Traditions products that I have on hand and I couldn’t be more pleased with the quality of them.

Palm shortening is derived from palm oil. In its natural state, palm oil is a mixture of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, with most of the unsaturated fat being monounsaturated fat. Palm shortening is

Ever have one of those nights where you just don’t feel like cooking?  Yeah, me too!  (I have a lot of those actually….)

A quick and fun way to get dinner on the table, and please most everyone at the same time, is to serve appetizers.  Mini versions of your favorite foods, pick a few of each, and you have a meal!

While at the grocery store, I picked up a bag of Farm Rich Mini Philly Cheese Steak.  Then at home, right before the peons start claiming they’re famished, and will surely starve to death if they don’t get fed in five minutes, I put said Mini Philly Cheese Steaks in the microwave.  Easy Peasy!  (Thank you Farm Rich!)

I love using my slow cooker especially during the winter months.  I can say after having used Fix-It and Forget-It Christmas Cookbook for a whole weeks worth of meals, that whether you’re just starting to use a slow cooker, or are a veteran with this small appliance, you will find hundreds of new favorite dishes to make in it.

The book begins with tips for using your slow cooker.  What to buy, learning it, maximizing its use, debunking the myths, safety and adapting recipes.

Tinker Bell, also known as “Tink”, is sassy, brave, and beautiful.  I like to think I’m a bit like her, I’m pixie sized, and pretty sassy myself!  That’s sort of where the resemblance ends though!  Being a ‘tinker’ fairy, she’s pretty creative and fixes things, me ….not so much.  Oh wait, she can be easily impatient and annoyed <– I’m pretty good at that!

The Disney Fairies franchise is a hit with girls, especially those in the 4 – 6 year old range (at least from what I’ve seen).  With the new movie that just hit the shelves (Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue), to dolls and apparel. 

The latest film is the third in a series, all set around a season, Tinker

Good Books, the publisher who created the phenomenally successful series of Fix-It and Forget It cookbooks, introduces the first-ever kids’ slow cooker cookbook.  Fix-It and Forget-It Kids’ Cookbook:  50 Favorite Recipes to Make in a Slow Cooker by Phyllis Pellman Good.

Each recipe in Fix-It and Forget-It Kids’ Cookbook includes a full-color photo of the finished dish and gives clear step-by-step instructions.  The book also includes a page on “Learning to Know Your Slow Cooker,” a conversion chart, cooking abbreviations, safety tips, a glossary and a “My Cookbook Diary” section.

I recently was given a chance to review TenMarks, an online math program for kids.  TenMarks is a math program that helps students refresh, learn, and master math concepts – in their own time, at their own pace.  Each child receives a personalized curriculum to help them master the concepts quickly.  4 worksheets are assigned each week, each with 10 questions.  One of the great tools that TenMarks has that I like seeing in an online program is: that hints and video lessons are available as help with step by step solutions to the concepts.  A couple of other things that I really like about the program are: