Is it just me, or are toddlers always hungry? Although I seem to be fixing snacks all day I still find myself wondering (and worrying) that my son didn’t eat enough or didn’t eat the right kinds of foods. I’ve kicked those feelings to the curb and I’ve got some great ideas on how I keep my toddler healthy and happy at “meal times.” Want to know my secrets? Check out my newest post over at the Georgia Blueberry website this week!
Here’s a little late night snack that you are going to love! Chocolate Covered Banana Bonbons. Yum. Yum.
You know those chocolate covered bananas that you can buy at chocolate shops and ice cream parlors? Well this is better.
Why? Because you can make them to order. Add some chopped nuts or Biscoff spread and you’be got something special!
Here’s what I did:
Melt some chocolate chips in the microwave at half power or over a double boiler. Slice up a banana (or two or three).
For plain banana bonbons just dip the banana into the chocolate and then place on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Freeze until hard.
For biscoff and chocolate banana bonbons spread a dollop of Biscoff spread on the top of a banana slice. Dip into chocolate (I actually found it easier to drop a spoonful of chocolate on top and then spread it around rather than dipping). Place on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Freeze until hard.
Sprinkle either type with a few chopped almonds for a fancier look and for a little texture.
This is a great summer time treat you can pull out of the freezer. You can pull out just a few or a bunch depending on how many you/your guests want!
Can you think of other yummy variations?
*Disclosure: I am a Walmart Mom. This post is sponsored by Walmart. Walmart has provided me with product and/or compensation in exchange for my time and efforts in creating this post. My participation is voluntary. As always, my opinion is my own.
Are you particular about the food you feed your dog/cat like you are particular about the food you feed your family?
If you’ve kicked the processed foods from your own diet you might be looking to do the same for Fido and Kitty. I know our family pet, Chloe, a Jack Russell Terrier eats table food and since we eat natural and organic foods she does too. But, there are some nights when there are no left overs and/or there are no foods that she can have. So, we always keep a bag of dog food around for nights like this.
We decided to give Fresh Pet Select Meals a whirl. An alternative to feeding pets dry, processed foods, Fresh Pet Select Meals are natural and fresh from the fridge. It can be found in the Freshpet chiller or fridge in the pet food aisle at Walmart.
First off, and you may think this is silly, but, I thought that it smelled like REAL food. You know? Most dog foods (wet and dry) either don’t even remotely smell like the food I would want to eat, and some of it just stinks! I also noticed that it looked like REAL food… real meat, eggs, veggies, etc.
Our doggie really like the Fresh Pet dog food.
What do you think? Would you buy a dog food like this for your dog?
*Disclosure: I am a Walmart Mom. This post is sponsored by Walmart. Walmart has provided me with product and/or compensation in exchange for my time and efforts in creating this post. My participation is voluntary. As always, my opinion is my own.
I love cute flower pots but they usually cost an arm and a leg! I also like to make things match and look cute (I’m neurotic like that). So, when I saw all the cute flower pots on Pinterest, I had to try craft some up for myself.
What You’ll Need to Make Your Own:
First, wipe off or clean your pot if needed. You’ll want to start with a clean flower pot. Paint a small section of the flower pot with Modge Podge and start wrapping the fabric around the flower pot. Leave about 1/2 inch to an inch hanging over the top of the pot and the rest hanging off the bottom. Continue gluing and wrapping until the pot is covered all the way around.
Trim the fabric so that you have about an inch hanging past the top of the flower pot. Glue this part down inside the flower pot using the Modge Podge. Pleat the fabric as you go around to make it lay flat. Paint a layer of Modge Podge over the outside of the pot to seal it and allow it to dry.
Once this part is dry, flip the flower pot over and trim the bottom of the fabric so that you have an inch or so to glue down. Use the Modge Podge to glue the fabric to the bottom of the pot and then paint another thin layer over it to seal it. (Pleat the fabric as needed like stated for gluing the top down).
Allow the bottom to dry. Then, fill the finished flower pot with your favorite flowers!
These flower pots will do better on a covered porch or in doors. Do not allow them to sit in the rain as the Modge Podge will likely wash off and the fabric will come loose.
*Disclosure: I am a Walmart Mom. This post is sponsored by Walmart. Walmart has provided me with product and/or compensation in exchange for my time and efforts in creating this post. My participation is voluntary. As always, my opinion is my own.
Judah and I are blending up a sweet treat over at the Georgia Blueberry website today. This recipe is one of our new favorites so be sure to click here to get the recipe for our Blueberry Banana Dream. You’re going to want to whip up a batch of your own AND stash the recipe for later to make your very own healthy, low fat, frosty treats on one of those hot summer days coming soon!
The way I see it, there are two kinds of people. Those who love Mexican food and those that love Chinese food. I fall into the second camp. My husband falls into the first. Don’t get me wrong, I will gladly eat a plate full of Mexican food but given the choice I will always pick Chinese.
That said, there are not too many GOOD Chinese restaurants around my neck of the woods. So, sometimes when I get a real craving I have to whip up a pan of stir fry and it will do in a pinch.
I keep it pretty simple since my hubby is pretty particular when it comes to stir fry. I usually put in some fresh brocoli, baby bell peppers, and a small can of water chestnuts in addition to a good amount of boneless chicken breasts. Serve with lomein noodles or over rice and you’ve got a good American-Chinese dish that will please the masses.
2 boneless chicken breasts
1 head of fresh broccoli, chopped
3 small baby bell peppers (red, yellow, orange), sliced into rings
small can of sliced water chestnuts
3 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp Nakano rice wine vinegar with garlic
1/3 cup of Teriyaki sauce
1 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp corn starch
3 cloves garlic, minced
Mix the soy sauce, rice wine vinegar with garlic, teriyaki sauce, brown sugar, corn starch, and minced garlic in a small bowl or measuring cup.
Cut boneless chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Pour the marinade over the chicken.
Heat a large skillet on the stove top with a drizzle of olive oil.
Place broccoli into a pan of boiling water for 2 to 3 minutes then drain and add straight to the skillet along with bell peppers, chicken, water chestnuts, and all of the marinade. Saute for a few minutes. When marinade starts to gum up (before it burns!) add about a cup of water. The water and marinade will make a nice gravy like consistency that will coat the meat and veggies.
When the veggies are no longer crisp and the chicken is cooked through, the stir fry is ready. Serve over lomein or rice.
*Disclosure: This is a sponsored post due to my relationship with Mizkan. My participation is voluntary. As always, my opinion is my own.
Its another busy week in the Sawyer residence. I’m wrapping up my observations and meeting with student teachers this week. It will be good to check one BIG thing off my to do list. I also need to make a few trips to the grocery – on to Earth Fare and one to Walmart.
Besides the regular “have to do” list I have a whole list of “want to do’s” that I’m chomping at the bit to cross off my list, including baking a few things to sell for the kickoff to raising money for Light the Night – the annual Leukemia and Lymphoma Walk in Atlanta. DJ really wants to put together a big team this year. I also want to try a few new recipes this week – and share a few new recipes that we tried last week!
What’s on your “want to do list” this week?
Need a planner? Use my printable 2 week plan here}
:: Monday
Baked Fish with Blueberry and Mandarin Orange Salsa
Baked Mini Cheesy Zucchini Bites
Slightly Spiced Potatoes
::Tuesday
Pork Loin with Blueberry Sauce
Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Chickpeas
Green Veggies?
:: Wednesday
Chicken Paprika
Rice
Broccoli
::Thursday Meatless
Beans with Hambone
Cornbread
Squash
Spinach
::Friday
Turkey Burgers
Tater Tots
:: Saturday
Lasagna
Salad
:: Sunday
Grandma’s House
Are you familiar with Biscoff cookies? If you’ve flown in a plane anytime during the past few decades then you’ve had them. There those delicious little cinnamon cookies that were/are served to the passengers. They used to be a staple, now that airlines have cut their costs they aren’t a given. I remember the first time I had a pack of Biscoff cookies. I was pleaseantly suprised by how delicious they were. I thought they would be icky gingerbread cookies (I am not a fan) but they were delicious! I wished I had a few more!
Well now those delicious little cookies from Belgium can be found on the Walmart shelves along with a fantastic spread that tastes like (and is made from!) those delicious little cookies! The spread comes in two varieties: chunky and smooth – just like peanut butter. But, this is ANYTHING but peanut butter. Actually, it doesn’t even contain peanuts! It is a vegan product. And, while it isn’t a health food, it makes a delicious little treat spread on apples, pretzels, sliced pears, waffles, pancakes, and crepes (and this is just what we tried it on!).
It is also fabulous spread across theose little Biscoff cookies. The cookies come prepackaged with two cookies in a pack which makes them a great little lunchbox treat. {Portion control! I need it with these things!}
We used the Biscoff spread to make a little treat of our own: Chocolate covered Biscoff Pretzel Bites. Here’s our video how to:
A jar of Biscoff creamy spread
Some small pretzels (we used Snyders)
Melted Chocolate for dipping
Melt the chocolate over a double boiler or in the microwave. Spread the Biscoff spread over one pretzel and then snap another on top making a little pretzel sandwich. Dip one side of the pretzel sandwich in the chocolate and lay it on wax paper to dry. Viola! A tasty little late night treat! (:
*Disclosure: I am a Walmart Mom. This post is sponsored by Walmart. Walmart has provided me with product and/or compensation in exchange for my time and efforts in creating this post. My participation is voluntary. As always, my opinion is my own.
I dramatically changed my cleaning regimine about a year and half ago. My family had already made radical changes to the foods we were eating so changing the chemicals we put on our bodies and in our home was really just the next step. What pushed us to finally jump in with both feet was the diagnosis that my husband recieved, that he had leukemia. Now it has been over a year since his report of remission but our philosphy about the chemicals we bring into our home remains the same.
1. We do not use air fresheners or other products that have fragrance. That beautiful smell you have grown used to smelling could be toxic to you – there is nothing natural about it. So, we just say no to scented electrical air fresheners, canned air fresheners, scented candles, and scented wax burners. If I want to make the house smell good I bake something or boil some water with cinnamon and orange peels. (:
2.Speaking of fragrance, I also kicked the scented laundry detergent and fabric softener. I only use fragrance free laundry detergent. And, actually, there are only a few brands that I really trust and like the price: Seventh Generation, Earth Fare’s house brand, and ECOS.
3. I use only a few cleaners that I either make myself or purchase. I have really dwindled down the amount of products that I use. That was actually the first step I took to kicking the chemicals in my home. I realized I had a whole cabinet full of toxic chemicals that I used on my home and furniture on a regular basis. I then realized I could do the same cleaning with just a few products.
4. I purchase or make my own natural cleaners including multi-surface cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, floor cleaner, and glass cleaner. I use vinegar water for “floor cleaner,” and I use a mixture of water and castile soap for my toilet bowl with a sprinkle of baking soda. I like to purchase an all purpose/multi-surface cleaner like Seventh Generation’s because I know it disinfects and kills 99.99% of germs with only plant ingredients. I can use it safely on my kitchen counters, bathroom counters and other surfaces.
With a baby and a toddler at home it is important to me to use products that are safe and non-toxic while making my home clean enough for a baby who likes to put EVERYTHING in her mouth. I don’t need to smell my cleaners and they don’t need to burn my nose hairs for me to know my home is clean. On the contrary, I want cleaners that won’t cause an asthma attack!
After a swift run through the house to pick up and clean the bathrooms and kitchen (and attack that mountain-sized pile of laundry) I make a little time to do an art project, read a book, or play choo-choos with my son. He is good to help me pick up and help me carry the laundry and it feels good to end the day doing something HE wants to do. He has absolutely LOVED the story of the Lorax since SEventh Generation sent it for us to enjoy. He has asked me to read it daily (sometimes more than once) for the past two weeks. I really like the story too, the rhyme and rhythm is good for his preschool brain and I like that it teaches him about taking care of our Earth and using our resources wisely. He is the perfect age to begin learning about how to not waste things and to clean up after himself “just like the Lorax tells us too.” (:
*Disclosure: I am a Walmart Mom. This post is sponsored by Walmart. Walmart has provided me with product and/or compensation in exchange for my time and efforts in creating this post. My participation is voluntary. As always, my opinion is my own.
We recently received a new game to try out with our Xbox Kinect. It is called Rush and is a Disney/Pixar adventure game. DJ and Judah had to try it out right away! The graphics and adventures are so neat you feel like you are in one of the Disney/Pixar movies! You can choose to do an adventure as one of the Incredibles, a mouse from Ratatouille, a car in Cars, a toy in Toy Story, or a kid from Up.
Judah swimming in the Up adventure!
I love it because, like all of the Kinect games, you are the controller so your movements are what the character does. It is great for a little (or a lot!) of exercise. That makes this a fantastic activity for the cold months, a rainy day, or an evening indoors. Another reason why I love this game is that it is fun for the whole family. DJ and I enjoyed it as much as Judah and I can imagine that older children would love this even more than my son did. Judah is a little too small to play the game but he enjoys trying and copying the movements daddy makes. He also enjoyed watching the familiar characters on the screen.
I swear I wish I had videoed this instead of making pictures because Judah has no idea that he isn’t really playing (he doesn’t understand that he has to stand in one place and often makes his movements all over the living room). He was hysterical to watch as he was trying to play the game with daddy. His wild swimming movements and jogging around the couch had me in stitches. He was so in to it! He could “play” for hours – although daddy wore out a lot sooner than that. LOL. (Like I said, it is good for a little LOT of exercise).
*Disclosure: I am a Walmart Mom. This post is sponsored by Walmart. Walmart has provided me with product and/or compensation in exchange for my time and efforts in creating this post. My participation is voluntary. As always, my opinion is my own.
