Fast & Frugal Friday: Balsamic Marinade for Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

BlogHer was upon us and this mommy had tons to do so I needed a super quick and all in one kind of dinner. I relied on the old family favorite: some sort of marinade with balsamic vinegar. I have great balsamic raspberry recipe but I did not even want to stand at the stove so I threw this marinade together and let the chicken and vegetables sit while the oven warmed.



1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast
8 oz. Portabella Mushrooms
1 Zucchini

Marinade:
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced
2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
2 large cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon sea salt

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butterfly chicken breasts, place in a baking dish and drizzle with 1/2 of the marinade, toss to coat and set aside.

2. Cut the zucchini in half length wise and then cut at an angle into 1 inch pieces. I bought the mushrooms already sliced so I placed the vegetables in a dish, added remaining marinade and tossed.

3. I wandered off to fold some laundry and when I came back, the oven was ready and the food has been marinating about 10 minutes. I then placed the 2 baking dishes into the oven for 20 minutes, tossed and allowed to bake another 10 minutes or so.

4. Enjoy. Heads up: the chicken gets stained dark from the vinegar so be ready to see the reaction in the kids faces. We simply explained it was vinegar and they were fine.

An Ice Cream Float Social!

The joys of summer: sun, breeze, warmth, friends and ice cream! To wrap up this great series on Ice Cream (and celebrate the last day of the Social Challenge), we decided to have some of our lovely friends over to enjoy some ice cream floats.

Both real chocolate and vanilla ice cream were on hand as well as Hansen's Soda (we heart you Hansen's!) in vanilla, root beer and mandarin lime. The girls opted for chocolate while the boys went for the vanilla. The moms were standing by for whomever decided they choose the wrong combination and lucky for us, we had a volunteer give up his float for a plain bowl of ice cream.

I am not waiting for you to give me the spoon!

Bring it on Mom!

Forget the spoon


Talk about double fisting!

To enter this Ice Cream Social Challenge (cohosted by Tangled Noodle and Scotty Snacks) or simply learn more about it, please read this post or take a look at our pineapple sorbet and sandwiches.

Oh, did I mention that there are prizes??! Coupons for FREE Stonyfield organic ice cream/sorbets, A custom Etsy T-Shirt, A book!

OBJECTS IN THE MIRROR ARE CUTER THAN THEY APPEAR

The week before school started was a busy week and I realized there were so many things I planned on doing more of during the summer. One of them was plenty of time on the beach with daddy. So we went down one evening and while daddy and daughter romped in the water, Ben and I played in the sand.

First, we walked and marveled at our foot steps, his looking so small. It made me wish the water would take its time sweeping them away.

Second, he begged me to put sand all over him. This was an odd request because this boy gets upset when sand gets in his crocs.

After a good 30 minutes in the water, Isabel has a case of the chills that would not subside so I took her back to the van to bundle her up. Below is what resulted from our time alone waiting for the boys.

Wordless Wednesday: Sprinkler Joy

EatingWell Wednesday: Avocado & White Bean Wrap

Many of you may have seen my Emmy award nominated (not really but it should be right?) vlog on safely pitting an avocado. Well, I was then left with a cut avocado so besides my 'best dip ever', I was not sure what I was going to do with it. I turned to my reliable resource of EatingWell online and choose this creamy avocado & white bean wrap to take to the beach today.

I loved this recipe and the only deviations I made were as follows: to use sweet onion instead of red and the chili's I had were not chipotle. Also, since I was making this a few hours early, I did not use shredded cabbage but instead, used a leaf of romaine lettuce and placed the mash on top of it. I found the chili's perfect but I think the red onion would have given the perfect bite. My son also tried this wrap as he will try anything in a wrap.

I swear that I have not made one recipe from EatingWell yet that does not deserve an 'A'.

The Last Full Week of our Summer

This is the first year that I need to deal with the whole back to school 'thing' as my daughter is starting Kindergarten next week. Therefore, I wanted to make sure we fit in some daytrips and we began with a trip to Dinosaur Place in Oakland, CT.



I packed up plenty of water & snacks, brought lunch, swimsuits and towels for a fun filled adventure. We began by exploring the trails. They have a new area called the 'Maze' that concludes with sliding through a dinosaurs head. Naturally, we had to do that several times.

We continued on all the paths, reading signs about the dinosaurs and peeking into the little 'birdhouses' along the way. The birdhouses had some trivia and neat things to touch such as, teeth and eggs.

It was great to discover what my daughter remembered from our trip there over a year ago. It was also neat to see how what they were interested in versus last year. We then embarked onto the 'Splashpad' and had a blast.

After drying off and getting dressed, we spent plenty of time in the hot sun on their unique playground. Isabel was determined to concur this giant rope web and refused any help.

A visit with Nana & Hurricane Bill

We all know who our children love the most: the grandparents. They come over to play, sometimes bring gifts for no reason, let them eat junk and rarely scold them. Who wouldn't prefer that over parents? My mom was down for a week and a half and we had a blast.

The kids and grandma spent most of their time coloring and playing cars. We also spent plenty of quality time outdoors coloring, playing cars, enjoying the beach and picnics in the park.

We also went to the beach this past Saturday when Hurricane Bill was passing by to see what the waves looked like and to watch the surfers. When we arrived, we could see the ocean was quite swollen. We observed where the 'wet' line was on the sand so that we knew how far the waves were coming in and innocently walked to about a foot behind that area. The kids wanted to chase waves but we warned them.

We marveled at the angry ocean for about 2 minutes when we noted a powerful wave and quickly realized that this bad boy was coming in further than the others. As you can see in this video, we soon turned to run as fast as we could. You will hear me warn then to back up and then they turned to run. What you do not see, is me grabbing my daughter, my husband grabbing my son and then he grabbed my mom. She is mostly blind and has some physical limitations. This man, had a 3 year old in one arm and grabbed my mom and then we both got all three of them away from danger. That water ended up soaking them up to their waists and that was after we had gotten to the paths that lead to the beach.

Organic Duvet & Shams

We are in the midst of trying to de-clutter and simplify our house on a rather small budget. One of the main rooms that needs some TLC is the master bedroom. I decided to purchase a pin-tuck duvet in natural and will use some plain white sheets. This is also a great way to go as I have some paisley sheers from Target on the windows.

I have wanted the crowned cane set from Anthropologie for a long time but this Pin-Tuck version from West Elm is much cheaper (sans button work) and made of organic cotton. Score!

Also, to add some color/texture to the bed, I purchased this romantic pillow from Pier1 today that will be a great compliment to 2 pillows that I will use from the family room. I am loving some of the new pillows from Pier 1.

Safely Removing the pit from an Avocado

Do you know how to safely remove the pit from an avocado? It is time to learn so you can do it without losing a finger.

A Heart made from Markers

My lovely daughter has been obsessed with coloring with markers all summer. We have spent countless hours coloring together and I have spent many more secretly watching her color. She is so meticulous that it fascinates me.

We also shared a monumental moment when we boughht a 96-count box of crayola crayons a week and a half ago when her markers went dry. I did not expect the joy and fascination that resulted, when to me this was a simple mommy-daughter jaunt to CVS.

Today I was going to put away laundry and she yelled 'Do not come in here mommy, I am using my scissors'. uh-oh. 'What?' I said. 'No, I am making something for you so do not come in'. When she emerged, this was the result. I LOVE it. What really cracks me up is that she left any white space on the paper.

Camping under the stars and an Owl

For three weeks we have been anticipating a multi-family cookout and overnight camping soiree. We all know how hard it can be to get together with friends as much as we would like so this was a great opportunity to spend some quality time with kids and 'grown-ups'.



The children's ages ranges from 7 months to 5 years old with plenty of grown-ups to join in the fun. It was great to sit back, relax and enjoy the summer weather.



The Food: We started with some bruscetta with sauteed zucchini, olives and a lively tomato mixture. We then had BBQ'd ribs, burgers, hot dogs, vegetarian burgers, quinoa salad, chickpea salad, potato salad and a vegetable platter.

Trucks and cars make every party a hit!

Fresh air-popped popcorn at near midnight. A katydid joined and entertained us.

Smores for dessert! A lovely night with lovely people.

Oh, the owl you ask? The owl was in the tree just above our tent. Imagine our thrill when this creature decided to 'talk' at us at 5:15 am.

Kids Eating Healthy - The Crunch Game

I have many tricks up my sleeve when it comes to getting my youngest to try/eat healthy foods. Being three, he likes to 'act 3' when it comes to everything, eating included. We have found that one way to get him to eat something is to mention not including him.

Who wants to feel left out of a game? No one! So we take advantage of that by playing little games with our food sometimes. One of the kids favorites are 'Who can crunch the loudest?' sometimes titled 'Who can crunch like a horse?' See my example below. At first you think I am letting him simply skip trying the fresh cucumber from our garden but keep watching.



Maybe you can try this with your kids. Best of luck.

Garden Update - Lessons learned

I will say this a million times and you can choose whether to believe me BUT one way to get you kids into eating healthy foods is to get them involved. A fantastic way to do this is by having a garden. Involve them in the fun from the get go and also teach them lessons about being accountable.

The kids helped choose all of the herbs, vegetables and fruits, plant them, weed, water, harvest etc. So far we have only eaten one cucumber but it was a thrill and every day they look forward to looking for raspberries (they never make it into the house as they eat them) and to see if the tomatoes have turned orange yet.

I have also taught the kids about accountability today as I showed them how overgrown the cilantro was and how some of the leaves on the bottom are all yucky because mommy neglected her herbs this past week. They saw how much more work I had to do to trim them, pick weeds etc. and noted 'you need to do a better job mom'. Well said.

Do Looks Matter & The Dirty & Clean 15

Do looks matter? Why am I asking you this? Because as I was compiling this list of food below, it got me to thinking about this: I think that it is often not even the price that makes us avoid organics but the look. Sometimes the foods not treated with pesticides look so, let’s say, homely. They are not perfectly shiny, even colored and spotless. We all know that our society is obsessed with the physical appearance of people but it is also true for our food? I am not simply talking about how food is styled but the more natural look of foods.

What are your thoughts? Do you not purchase some organic foods because of their appearance?

Next topic: What are the most important foods to buy organic, in order to minimize your exposure to toxic pesticides? The daily green tells us:



The Dirty Dozen: Top 12 Foods to Eat Organic:
Meats
Milk
Coffee—and you should look for the fair trade label
Peaches
Apples
Sweet Bell Peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Kale
Leafy Greens
Grapes
Carrots
Pears
Potatoes* (just removed off this dirty dozen but so new that these folks keep on the list)
Tomatoes** just removed off this dirty dozen but so new that these folks keep on the list)

Funny part is their article says dirty dozen but there are 15 on the list....should I let them know?
The Clean 15: Foods You Don't Have to Buy Organic
Onions
Avocados
Sweet Corn
Pineapple
Mango
Asparagus
Sweet Peas
Kiwi
Cabbage
Eggplant
Papaya
Watermelon
Broccoli
Tomato
Sweet Potato


What other ones have you seen recommended for either list?

EatingWell Wednesday - -Shrimp with Watermelon and Pineapple Salsa

It's true, it is. There is one food that my kids swear they do not like and it is shrimp. They swear that can not stand it but I know that that is only true when it is naked. You know, when it is not covered in a batter. I do not necessarily mean fried as they eat my crunchy baked shrimp, but simply coated.

Taking this into consideration, I decided to do what I normally do not do: make 2 dinners. My hubby and I wanted to have a 'date night' but since my daughter had a fever, a sitter was out, so we dined in. The kids ate early and I gave 'Shrimp with Melon and Pineapple Salsa' from EatingWell a shot.

The only deviations I made are as follows: I used 51-60 shrimp as that is what I had in the freezer. For melon I used watermelon and I did not use mint as sorry but I still despise it. I said and I feel free.

If you are a person that is a huge fan of sweet balanced with spicy than you will love this! The freshness of the melon with the heat was really noticed by my husband and he does not usually comment on such things.

Pork Chops with 1 minute Salsa Verde

Getting ready for BlogHer is taking me more time and energy than I anticipated and so I am in need for my meal prep to be even quicker than usual. I knew I had purchased pork chops for Monday's dinner but that is it. No more thought had gone into sides and prep.

I opened the fridge doors and saw a field of green: parsley and cilantro from the garden, a lime, half a jalapeno, a tomatillo and off to the side, the greens on the head of cauliflower I had bought Friday....I also noted a scallion that would soon turn green if I did not use it soon. Okay, plan was made in seconds. I would roast the cauliflower and the chops simultaneously. The minute before removal, a green salsa would be created by a mini-chopper. Oh, what for a starch? I had some leftover multi-grain penne.

Picture this: I noted that 2 minutes were left on the oven timer so I grabbed all the items noted above plus some garlic and oil and went to work. Now, this is a rough salsa verde, what do I mean? well, you could nicely chop and mince all the ingredients together and gently stir them in a bowl but here is the 'Momma has lots to do method':

Peel the tomatillo, cut in half, toss into mini-chopper bowl (use a green pepper istead if u wish)

Rip the leaves off of the herbs (I would say 2 hand fulls of each) and toss them in.

Cut the sides off of the jalapeno (did not want the rib and seeds as hottest parts), toss in.

Cut a lime in half and squeeze the life out of it (seeds did not go in: say about 2 tablespoons of juice)

Grab 2 cloves of garlic, skin them and threw them in the bowl

Poured about a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil into the bowl

Tossed in the half scallion

Pulsed a number of times until I thought it was good enough.



What do you think? Not precise enough? well, sometimes you have to wing it so relax and heck, it may not have be the prettiest but gosh, it was fast, easy and tasted great!!

Since my daughter ate all of the cauliflower except for 3 pieces the rest of us shared, I have no photo and will share the recipe another time.

UPDATES: There is still time to enter the Ice Cream Social Challenge ,this is the last day to enter Mamavation and tomorrow ends the Summer Fun Giveaway!

By the way, BlogHer: keep a look out for me: the smiley one with a bunch of sweet pamphlets & coupons from Earth's Best. Can't find me: tweet me @savorthethyme and I will let you in on my locale.

Lunch Box Yummies - Earth's Best

I have been asked by many of my friends and followers on Twitter (@savorthethyme), "What are you going to put in your daughter' lunch box?" or 'Do you have any healthy ideas for lunch boxes?" Well, yes, I have many and thought I would break it down into segments. Today I am starting with the healthy snacks.



Some of our favorite products are from the company 'Earth's Best'. We first started using their baby food products when each child was an infant (baby food, cereal and teething biscuits). Once we progressed from the baby foods, we found that the kids were crazy for the Sesame Street line of products. Here is a great example where marketing can be a positive as my kids see those boxes and get excited. I am happy to oblige.

Back to lunch boxes: In my daughter's lunch box, you will be seeing many of the sesame line of products including the sunny days bars, smileys snacks, crunchin grahams (they now have chocolate!) , and crunchin crackers. Yesterday I was thrilled to find the new, and conveniently packaged, snackin fruit hearts*.



I am looking forward to finding more of their KIDZ line soon. We love the milk (regular and chocolate) and hope to try the apple sauces and whole grain bars by the time school starts.

So, why do I feel so great about placing these products in my daughter's lunch box? Because of the Earth's Best Difference:
*Organic ingredients are grown in soil without potentially harmful pesticides
*No Genetically Engineered Ingredients (GEI).
*No Hydrogenated oils (trans fat) that can contribute to poor cholesterol.
*Iron to help transport oxygen throughout your body.
*Zinc to boosts your body's ability to fight infection.
*B Vitamins to unlock energy in carbohydrates.
*Calcium to lengthen & strengthen bones.
*No artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.
*Made with Whole Grains

Their website is also a favorite or mine to visit as it is an amazing resource: There are coupons (often on their boxes as well), links to their great line of baby foods, frozen foods, a growth chart, games, and you can even order gift sets. I am also thrilled that they are have now expanded their product line to baby body care products and chlorine free diapers and wipes.

Isn't it obvious to you why I sought these folks out for a sponsorship to BlogHer? I am truly proud to blog and talk about this amazing company and line of products.



*She just tried their new Snackin' Fruit Hearts in Blueberry

National Ice Cream Day - Ice Cream Sandwiches

Oh Happy Day! A day where you can celebrate ice cream and feel the need to have some, in the name of celebrating. I mean, you must show some love and respect by eating some right? So we did that by making ice cream sandwiches. Oh, by the way, did you know about the ice cream social challenge going on? Read more about it.



I choose carefully when acquiring the items for our outdoor indulgence by buying some soft organic double fudge cookies and some yummy Stonyfield Vanilla frozen yogurt. My intention was to buy their 'Gotta Have Vanilla' ice cream but when scooping, I saw that I had bought the 'Gotta Have Vanilla' frozen yogurt which saved us many calories and was so tasty. I also want to throw out some more love to Stonyfield as they are awarding the winners of our contest with coupons for free pints of their frozen goodness. Also, there are other prizes as well, such as, a great T-shirt from Etsy.



In addition, I would be choosing Stonyfield whether there were coupons involved or not. Why? Here is the reason directly from their website: "Our rich and creamy ice cream and frozen yogurt are crafted with the freshest all natural and organic ingredients. They are also produced without the use of antibiotics, synthetic growth hormones or toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers."

Do not forget to enter and tweet about it so all your friends know using the #icsocial (@savorthethyme @scottysnacks @tanglednoodle)!

Here is a little snippet showing the love of the ice cream sandwich.

EatingWell Wednesday - Sugar Snap Pea Salad

I admit it, I am getting used to certain foods in their raw state as simple snacks on the go. Sugar snap peas are one of them. The kids love them crunchy out of the bag so the idea of a boil was not appealing however, I saw that EatingWell was only instructing a 2 minute boil and then a quick cool off so I was willing.

This also seemed like such a quick, easy and cheap side dish to make but would come out looking impressive so I made it in less than 5 minutes and we all like it....yes, all four of us. Therefore, the Sugar Snap Pea Salad is going to be filed under 'entertaining' as it looked tasted as good as it looked.



I know, you do not believe me: I simply told the five year old that it contained snap peas, red pepper and vinegar and she took a fork full as she likes each of those individually. The three year old, yes, more of a task. He ran from me. In response, I simply turned my back and walked away stating that I was glad he would not eat any because I could have it all to myself. He came running after me and sat at the table. He then proceeded to grab the fork, flip some off the plate while trying to stab some and then ate, smiled and told me he did not like it....and then ate the rest. Stinker.

The Science Behind Picky Eaters @ The Motherhood

Do you have a child who is a picky eater? Most of us do and wonder why. Well, I am pleased to announce that The Motherhood will have Dr. Mennella to talk about the science of picky eaters today, Wednesday, July 15th at 3:30 EST. She will be answering our questions about how taste develops in babies, how a mom's diet effects her baby's taste buds, and ways to get kids to accept fruits and vegetables.


Courtesy of parenting.com

Dr. Mennella's research program focuses on the development of food and flavor preferences and the effects of alcohol and tobacco on women’s health and infant development. Her research includes: 1) how a mother's diet changes her milk and affects her children's food preferences; 2) ways to get infants and kids to eat fruits and vegetables; 3) how alcohol consumption affects breastfeeding; 4) how genes, experience and medical history affect individual taste and smell. Please read this excellent newsletter and learn more about where this research is taking place.

In addition, on July 21, NOVA scienceNow will air "The Science of Picky Eaters" on PBS stations around the country. This shows asks and tries to answer "Why is it that some kids will eat broccoli while others won´t even take a bite? It turns out it has a lot to do with their genes. Host Neil deGrasse Tyson sets out to find out more about the science behind our sense of taste. Along the way he finds out that you can´t understand taste without also getting into smell - the two senses go hand in hand when we eat - and both have pathways that lead directly to the brain. Just when Neil thinks he´s got it, he is thrown a curve ball, with the new discovery that receptors on taste cells are turning up in parts of the body no one ever imagined finding them!

I am thrilled to be a part of this discussion at The Motherhood and hope that you will all tune in, interact in the chat area and understand more about our little picky eaters.

Simple Summer Meals - An Ambassador for GNO on Twitter

What in the world is GNO? It stands for Girls Night Out and uses the hashtag #GNO on Twitter. I am starting tonight as an ambassador and you can follow me @savorthethyme. Girls Night Out was started by Mom It Forward. The Mom It Forward community is the perfect mommy gathering place—both on and offline—to talk about something moms have in common—our passion for making a difference.

Tonight's topic is Simple Summer Meals and if that is not enough, there will be a gift basket including a FLIP camera provided by Campbell’s. Intrigued? Good, create an account in Twitter and join us tonight at Tues 9-11 ET. RSVP.

Lil Kids in the Kitchen - Beach Eats Snack Mix

Summer has finally arrived and it looks as if it is here to stay so we are hitting the beach each week. It also leads to choosing foods that are not sticky or perishable. I mean, I do not know anyone (minus 1 yr. olds) that enjoy sand in their food so while thinking about snacks to pack, I came up with a make your own snack mix.

I tossed some items out on the table and let them place what they wanted into a snack bag. The overall favorite was the combination provided below.

2/3 cup organic multigrain square cereal

2/3 cup organic honey nut O's

2/3 cup organic raisins

1/3 cup salted sesame seeds

Toss well and munch.

Try putting these out as well: almonds (sliced or whole), dried cranberries, peanuts, mini chocolate chips, pretzels, cheese crackers....my, we have lots of experimenting to do.

Mamavation is here and I am a cheerleader!

I know many of my readers may not be checking out my site as a weight lose guide but I do know that you are interested in healthy food and lifestyle. Therefore, I wanted to let you know about a great new venture that I am a part of called Mamavation. This newest venture from the creator of Bookieboo.com of which I am a contributor.

Mamavation is a social experiment and weight loss campaign on Twitter. Mamavation is an opportunity for one mom to change her life and create a healthy lifestyle for her family.

The Mamavation Mom will be selected from Twitter. The one other requirement is that she have a blog, but the primary focus will be the impact the campaign will have using Twitter as its primary medium. Moms on Twitter will have constant access to the Mamavation Mom’s progress by monitoring the hashtag #mamavation. Supporters can talk about the program, talk to the Mamavation Mom, listen to her on the radio, watch her live on Tinychat during coaching sessions and interact with her on Bookieboo.com. Anyone can sign in and get the same information she will have.



The Mamavation Mom will be supplied with a free team of personal trainers, coaches and a cheerleading squad comprised of fit moms that know what it takes to lead a healthy lifestyle. They will all be members of Bookieboo.com. She will be challenged and encouraged for two months to make lasting changes in her life. After the two months are over and if her goals are met, she will receive a bevy of prizes and become the first official Mamavation Mom.

The Mamavation Mom’s story will unfold:
· On Mamavation’s official website (http://www.mamavation.com/)
· Daily encouragement and training on Bookieboo.com in blog posts and groups.
· Making her first appearance on the MomActive Radio Station on July 31st at 11am
PST/2pm EST
· With three appearances on MomTV
· Tweeting live on Twitter everyday using #mamavation
· With live coaching on TinyChat with her team for all to hear
· On over 100 widgets on other mommy blogger sites with her bi-weekly “confessional”
vlogs

Doesn't this sound fantastic? If you or someone you know may be interested, start the application process right now at Mamavation!

Ice Cream Social - Pineapple Sorbet with Agave Nectar and Surprises!

As I mentioned in the original post, I would try to find ways to make a healthier dessert/snack and one way is to make a sorbet. How is it healthier? well, there is no cream/milk, usually less sugar and some fruit puree. Since I wanted to make this fun for the kids and try something new, I decided on pineapple for the sorbet, as I have never, yes never, cut up a whole pineapple. I do not know why I felt intimidated in the past, but I went for it and had so much fun. It was so juicy and easy that this is now my favorite way to have pineapple.

Also, instead of sugar, I used agave nectar and only 1 tablespoon at that. After making this sorbet with simply using fresh pineapple, water, lime juice and agave nectar, I am convinced more than ever that we add way to much sugar to everything. I should also state that this sorbet was on the icier side since pineapple has such a high water content.



Before I divulge my recipe, please remember to tweet about this using the hashtag #icsocial - thanks!

Ingredients:
1 pineapple, peeled, cored and roughly chopped
1 tablespoon line juice
water, I used ~1/3 cup as an aid while pureeing the fruit
1 tablespoon agave nectar

I placed the pineapple chunks and lime juice into the blender and pulsed. I intermittently added water to aid in blending and to get the consistency I wanted. Finally, I added the agave nectar, pulsed a few times and placed all into my electric ice cream maker.

SURPRISES! I know, you want to know about the prizes...well, here is what we are going to reveal for now: We are pleased to announce that winners will receive coupons from Stonyfield Farm Organic for their line of frozen yogurts and ice creams. What makes me enjoy their frozen products so much is that they are made as real ice cream should be made using organic cream, milk and sugar. Real Ice Cream made by a company with a real code of ethics. By the way, you can get some coupons from them right now by going to their website.



Then, one lucky winner will receive a hand-printed t-shirt featuring a design created especially for our Ice Cream Social event! I'm so very proud to tell you about its creator: the sister of co-host Tangled Noodle! Her sister Penelope has her own shop through Etsy. It is an amazing on-line marketplace of unique handmade crafts and gifts. Her 'eco-eclectic boutique', neenacreates, reflects her personal dedication to an eco-friendly lifestyle and offers clothing, accessories and artwork using organic and recycled materials for everything from baby onesies to one-of-a-kind illustrations. For our event, Penelope has created an ice cream-themed graphic that will be custom silk-screened onto an organic cotton t-shirt from Alternative Apparel, sized to the winner's request.

To see more of Penelope's creations, please visit neenacreates, where she is offering 10% off any items to those who use the purchase code #icsocial on their order.

And do not forget to head over to my co-hosts' sites to get the latest on their ice cream social treats:
Scotty's Snacks: Sugar Cookie & Ice Cream
Tangled Noodle: Time to Social-ice! Calamansi - Basil Sorbet and Prizes!

The Landfill & Animal Shelter- Our Saturday Tradition

Prior to children, my husband and I emptied the garbage cans and refrigerator every Saturday morning, went to the landfill and then out to breakfast and a drive. While pregnant, I brought up the topic of a garbage service and my husband took his stance: 'I want my children to see the amount of garbage we make and be responsible for taking care of it.' Besides, he thought of a garage service as a waste of money.

The new tradition began. It used to be that my hubby moved our daughter's car seat into his beat up old truck and headed to the landfill. As she grew, they began visiting to the doggies adjacent to the recycle center at the landfill. Then they began going inside and visiting all of the animals. Followed by a stop at the coffee shop for some non-mom approved sugary items.



Once our son came along, he joined in the fun. They now began taking the mini-van and it has become 'their' thing. I stay at home and do cleaning while the three of them are off learning about garbage disposal, recycling, the reasons why animals are at the shelter and how they can share love with them. "Why are they here?" they ask. Well, some 'mommies' and 'daddies' have to move and the animals can not move to the new place, but most are there because people do not take care of them or they let their animals have litters and then dump them off. They enjoy going there to let the animals know they are loved. They also rejoice when an animal is not there and know they now have a loving home (no kill shelter).



Well, the shelter was a tiny dilapidated building and the town desperately needed a new one. After years of hard work and fundraising, the new shelter became a reality. We were so happy to be a part of the grand opening and were thrilled to see the new and spacious habitat the animals now have as their temporary home.


I love that my husband uses every Saturday to teach them about life & love and they enjoy the entire trip, including the sugary snack they share afterwards (and then hide the evidence of from mom).