GIVE-A-WAY EXTENDED!

Hi everyone! We've heard from a few of you that you've had some problems signing up on our blog to become a follower and as a result not being able to take part in the comment section of our posts. Our suggestion would be to create a google account - this way you don't have to create a new email account.

When posting a comment on our blog, you will be prompted to choose a "profile" to associate your comment, you would then choose "google account" and it will ask you to sign in. You will then be able to take part in our give-a-ways and take part in supporting other Moms in Surviving Motherhood! 

So, we'd like to extend our give-a-way until Sunday at NOON to give you a chance to take part in this great give-a-way! We have other great give-a-ways lined up that we don't want you to miss out on! Please send us an email if you're having any further issues or have other questions, we'd love to hear from you!

Batch & Freeze

I, like all of you, feel like I never have enough time in my day to get all the things I want to done. Since the addition of our son, one thing that seemed to take a lot of time and planning was cooking meals for our family. I started batch cooking Cody's lunches and what a time saver it has become!!! I am addicted!!!

I normally pick 4-5 meals for him and double the recipe for each. It takes me a full day (I split it into two half days) to make them all. It seems to last me about two months before I run low. It has been so easy to just take a meal out of the freezer the night before and by lunch the next day it is thawed and ready to be served!

The best way I have found to batch and freeze things like soups, casseroles, mac n cheese etc. in individual servings is the "Phantom" method described in Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron.  For example, today I made a double batch of healthy Mac & Cheese with Veggie Dogs and spooned them into individual cups ( the EASIEST thing to use is the Silicone Baking Cups- these are my favorite!!!). They fit right into a casserole baking dish which I then put a lid over and stick in the freezer overnight. By the next morning, I get them out, peel the silicone away from the food and stick all the servings in a freezer bag. You can then pull out individual servings when ready!

I also made tofu nuggets today (which Cody LOVES) and the easiest way to freeze those, chicken nuggets or fish nuggets is to place the nuggets in a pyrex or corningware dish, layering each row with foil so they don't stick together. Put your lid on your dish and stick in the freezer. In the morning, take them out and throw all in a freezer bag. You always have healthy, homemade nuggets on hand!

O.k. So this morning I made two meals:

Healthy Mac & Cheese with Veggie dogs which yielded 18 individual meals and Tofu Nuggets which yielded 60 nuggets!! You do the math... that is a lot of meals!

I steam a bunch of veggies for the week and keep in a pyrex bowl so I have a quick and easy side to meals.  Lunch has never been easier!

If you want either of the recipes listed above check out our "Recipe" tab.  I am still so new to the batch and freeze method so I would love to hear your tips/ tricks or good recipes for batch freezing!!! Saving time in the kitchen allows us more time with our families... what could be better than that!?

Jennie

OUR FIRST GIVE-A-WAY!

We are so excited to announce our first give-a-way!! Whether you're pregnant, a Mom, Grandmother, Aunt, or friend, this give-a-way is for YOU!

If You Say Sew has a great selection of personalized tees and onesies for kids! They are so adorable we know you'll love them as much as we do!

To be entered in the drawing for a FREE Tee or Onesie with personalization of your choice:

1. Leave us a comment on this post stating that you've become a follower on our blog

                                                   AND

2. Go to If You Say Sew and tell us which design is your favorite!

We will pick the winner through http://www.random.org/ on Friday, April 30th.

COMMENTS CLOSE FRIDAY AT NOON

*Get your name added for an extra entry by going to If You Say Sew and joining their mailing list!

What is FOOD, INC.???

How much do we really know about the food we buy at our local supermarkets and serve our families?

In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation’s food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government’s regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation’s food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won’t go bad, but we also have new strains of E. coli—the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults.
Featuring interviews with such experts as Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation), Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto) along with forward thinking social entrepreneurs like Stonyfield’s Gary Hirshberg and Polyface Farms’ Joel Salatin, Food, Inc. reveals surprising—and often shocking truths—about what we eat, how it’s produced, who we have become as a nation and where we are going from here.

Until April 29th you can watch it for free by clicking on the link below. 

PBS

There really is no excuse. We need to change the way our food is made for our children. Please take some time out of your day and watch this documentary. You won't be disappointed. 

Easy Home-Made Maracas!

Do you have left over easter eggs laying around? Here's a quick way to make a new fun toy for your kids!

Pour some rice into the eggs and seal them closed with a litte super glue and once dry, enjoy making new music with your kids! This is an especially great music maker for little ones as it's easier for them to grasp and shake. You can even get the kids invloved picking and choosing which colors they'd like to mix and match for their maracas!

Natural Remedies

Have you ever heard of Melaleuca Oil? It's also known as Tea Tree Oil and it has some great uses! Essential oils in general can be a great resource if you're looking to enhance your first aid kit.

Melaleuca oil can be of great help to anyone with skin irritations including: poison ivy, skin eczema (including babies/children), chicken pox, etc. My mom had a poison ivy rash start on her arms and legs recently and when I gave her some of the oil the next day she noticed the itching had stopped and cleared the rash up quickly on its own! Now that Spring has sprung it might be a great resource for your family's medicine cabinet too! Other properties this oil has -

• Treats minor cuts, scrapes, bug bites, and burns  
• Gently soothes “ouches”
• Natural bacteria fighter
• Naturally penetrates and cleans  
• Jump-starts the healing process

No other essential oil is as versatile and beneficial as the oil of the Melaleuca alternifolia leaf. Valued for hundreds of years as a remedy for a variety of health concerns and many skin ailments, Melaleuca Oil has since been proven by research to be a powerful natural antiseptic, a soothing balm for minor wounds, insect bites, and minor burns, as well as a skin conditioner—and much, much more.

*Compliments of: http://www.melaleuca.com/

If you're interested in furter details about where you can get your own Melalauca oil or about its other beneficial uses please contact us directly or leave a comment and we'll get back with you!

The Learning Tower

Our product spotlight this week is a tried and tested favorite by a friend of ours for kids in the kitchen! Thanks Tricia!

The Learning Tower provides safety and versatility not found with traditional step stools. This is the only step stool on the market designed to meet the specific needs of young toddlers 18mos to 3 years old. This product meets safety standards for ASTM(F96-30) and Home Playground Equipment(F11-48-98C). It has been tested to hold up to 500lbs.


The benefits of The Learning Tower are to:

* Foster a positive self-image and a sense of independence in small children as they climb up and down without assistance

* Welcome the child as a helping participant alongside parents and siblings

* Nurture a child’s innate desire to be independent and inquisitive

* Provide adults the peace of mind to work freely knowing their little ones are safely at their side

Learning Tower Details

* Constructed from highest quality layered Birch

* Platform height adjust s quickly and easily to grow with your child from ages 18 months up to 6 years

* Four–sided railings provide support while your child climbs in and prevent falling when inside the Learning Tower

* Wide 15” X 18” platform lets your child move about without slipping off a step

* Fits flush against kitchen counters for safe access, allowing your child to get a drink of water, help with dishes and laundry, decorate cookies and join in with other family activities

* Carefully finished with durable, non-toxic, lead free finish

* Cleans easily with a damp cloth

The Learning Tower magically transforms into an imaginative playhouse or puppet theater by throwing a piece of fabric over the top and a Playhouse/Puppet Theater Accessory Kit is available for extended play.

Happy Earth Day!

Join us in celebrating Earth Day by doing your part to help save the environment!

Want to cut down on your paper towel bill?? Our Earth Day tip is to get yourself some terry cloth towels and use them in place of your paper towels! They work great for every day cleaning, wiping off your kids hands and faces, or washing the car. You can throw them right into the washing machine and use them again and again. If you are feeling spunky (!) you can buy fabric dye and color code them for your different uses! We have been using terry cloths for over a year now and have only had to buy two packs of paper towels the entire year!! Good for the environment and good on your pocketbook!!!

Viking 100% Cotton Terry Towel - 24 Pack

Save your ziploc bags and use these great re-usable fabric snack bags for your kids sandwiches or snacks. To celebrate Earth Day, they are offering you a 20% off coupon code- it's valid from April 19-April 23 (can't be used on specials).

You can get them here: Snack Taxi

Just enter EDAY2010 at checkout! And don't forget to check out the new fabrics and specials!

Check Out Two FREE Local Events!

This Weekend Local to Cincinnati -
Want to celebrate Earth Week in an informative, yet fun way?? This Saturday from 12-6p visit Marvin's Organic Gardens:

Visit Marvin's Organic Gardens to get all the details! Hope to see you there!!

Coming Soon:
Free seminars on Cutting Your Grocery Bill, Buying Cute Clothes on a Budget, and Staying In Shape without Breaking the Bank! Limited Space is Available so Register NOW!!!


Get more info and register at Mommy Snacks- Live Savings Summit 

Is Your Sunscreen Safe?

There are so many sunscreens/sunblocks on the market today specifically geared toward children. Please read the PSA below before you buy yours for the summer!

*Courtesy of: The Bump from The Knot by Skinnursemandee (Thank You Tiffany for your email on this!)

It seems everyday someone asks about sunscreen. So I thought I would give my 2 cents since well skin is my profession. I am a dermatology Nurse Practitioner and have been practicing dermatology for 12 years thus I see children and adults everyday in regards to skin, skin cancer etc and this includes being in the know in regards to the safety of sunscreen.

First let me start by saying there is a big difference between Sunscreen and Sunblock

Suncreen is 100% NOT safe for infants under 6 months old. Honestly I would never put sunscreen on my child at any age Period. Sunscreen is a chemical blocker that use simply gets absorbed into the top of the skin in a chemical thus reflecting the suns rays and not allowing them to penetrate. These chemicals however are not safe for infants.

 Sunblock is a Physical sunblocker which is 100% safe from the day your child is born up to the very elderly. Sunblock is a product that literally creates a shield on the top of your skin and get absorbed and will block out the harmful rays.

Many companies Mislabel their products calling themselves sunscreen and sunblock interchangebly.  You need to look for the active ingredient.

 Avobenzont; Homosalate; Octisalate, Octocrylene  and Oxybenzone, : ARE CHEMICAL BLOCKERS aka Sunscreen. NEVER use this on your child this is what pediatricians do not want you to use on your children.

Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide as the active ingredients is a PHYSICAL BLOCKER and this is absolutely safe for your child at birth. As noted with the American Academy of Dermatology. THe active ingredients are actually pretty much the same as diaper rash paste.

The key is putting it on 30 minutes before going outside. Physical blockers need time to get absorbed into the top layers of the skin. ALso you must reapply every 2 hours of continuous sun exposure. Long sleeve shirts, wide brim hats and sunglasses are also recommended. They sell bathing suit coverups and bathing suits with a UV protection.

Recommended Sunblocks by the AAD are as Follows:

Neutrogena Sensitive Skin

Neutrogena Pure and Free

Blue Lizard

California Baby

That is pretty much it and its a short list. Most of the issue with sunscreen and babies originally came from PABA however that is rarely if ever used. The use of chemical sunscreens nowadays can cause your child to develop a contact allergy.

Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten?

Skills and Behaviors you can expect from most children at the beginning of kindergarten:

1. Emotional Development: follow simple rules and routines, express feelings/wants/needs and concern for other's feelings
2. Social Development: get along with others, share, participate in group activities, and follow simple instructions
3. Physical Development: run/jump/hop/climb, use pencils/crayons/scissors in some fashion, dress and meet toileting needs independently
4. Language/Vocab: try to write first name and recognize own name (see our Family Fun tab and read "Learning on the Go" for a fun way to teach them their name), hold a book correctly, recognize letters of the alphabet, listen to stories read to them, use 5-6 word sentences, recognize and say simple rhymes, and sing simple songs
5. Math: count to 10, sort objects by colors/shapes/size, understand simple concepts of time such as day/night/today/tomorrow/yesterday

What can you do to help them prepare? Begin instilling these habits and routines in your child early to help them succeed!

• Read books aloud every day
• Talk to your child about topics they are interested in
• Point out and read signs in their environment, such as stop signs, menus and grocery items
• Read books about feelings, help them label and talk about their feelings (see our Family Fun tab & follow the link to "Simple Songs" where you can print off free Emotion Picture Cards)
• Answer your child's questions
• Point at and discuss shapes and colors at home
• Cook together, have them measure the ingredients
• Identify and eat healthy foods
• Count throughout the day 
• Get a library card

What things have you done with your kids to help prepare them for school?

*Courtesy of: The NKU Readiness Committee   

For more info about kindergarten readiness contact your local school district. 

First Call to Poison Control!!!

Every parent knows it is impossible to keep an eye on your kids 24-7. Have you ever turned your back for 30 seconds and suddenly had a disaster on your hands??? On this day in particular, we were on the phone to each other and all of sudden, Luke comes walking over with an open tube of Desitin and a big white smile on his face! So Kim asks, "Should I call Poison Control?!" I reply, "I don't know, what does it say on the tube???!!" All of a sudden I hear, "Oh Crap...it says to call IMMEDIATELY if ingested." At the same time, I hear her hubby in the background asking what is going on out there?? Kim shouts back, "Every thing's fine, go back to work!!" (Busted!) So....Just in case you didn't know, Desitin is non-toxic even if your child eats the whole tube!!!

What was your first call to Poison Control?

Come IN, LAUGH much, Visit OFTEN

We are so excited to invite you to come in, relax, put your feet up and enjoy 5 minutes to yourself while you come together with other Moms to Survive Motherhood!

We are two women who before pregnancy, were strangers. We became united by the start of our journey through Motherhood. Since that day we have become a support system to one another. A year has passed, and through the tears, tantrums and triumphs we realized we needed to record our journey. What better way to do it than by blogging?! We love the support we get from one another and sharing our new resources about parenting. Our mission is to create that same support system among each other. We're always trying something new and hope to inspire you to do the same so we can learn from each other!

We hope you enjoyed your first visit with us! We look forward to sharing in many laughs with you and hope you come back and visit us soon.