What I Learned This Weekend

By on June 2, 2013 in Busy Mom Living The Dream, Eye Dream Gallery

Smiles are contagious. Bickering and grouchiness are too. The girls’ arguing was  a never-ending stream of “she called me stupid!” and “shut up!”, only to be interrupted with crying and pouting.

The constant snapping and shouting trickled down- or up, I should say- through the family. Conner yelled. Kevin snapped. I wanted a glass of wine.

I told the girls to get in the car. They had no idea where we were going, not that they noticed as they continued the circle of insults and hurt feelings.

I had no doubts that a plethora of parenting books, blogs and experts held the key to how I should have handled the situation. However, sometimes people can get caught in a temporary- and sometimes not so temporary- gray fog that even Dr. Phil couldn’t shine a beacon light on to guide them out.

As we left our gated community, I still didn’t know where we were going. I only knew that I needed to give Conner and Dad some peace and quiet. Five minutes later found me at Freddy’s Burgers drive-thru ordering ice cream sundaes. The girls looked confused.

Another five minutes found us in a nearby tranquil park eating ice cream, rolling down hills and playing.

Before anyone sends out any “bad mom” comments about my “negative reinforcement”, know this- it worked. Some might say I was rewarding bad behavior.

I might say that sometimes we just need a break.

park1 park2 park3 park4 park6 park7 park8

 

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Losing The Blogging Weight with Mangodrin

By on May 7, 2013 in Busy Mom Living The Dream, Sponsored, Survival Guide for Busy Moms

You’ve probably heard of women trying to lose the “baby weight”, and may have fought the battle yourself to shed extra pounds that stick around way too long after the birth of your youngest child.

Not me.

Losing the baby weight was easier for me than losing the blogging weight.  After giving birth to three babies in two years, the only time I ever sat still was to nurse or rock them to sleep.  I was regimented in my nighttime routine of bathing and getting the babies off to sleep by 7:00PM  before collapsing into bed myself by 9.  So even if I woke up for feedings at midnight, I still had a good three hours of sleep under my eyes.

When my baby girl turned four I began blogging, and that’s when the weight came on. Routine bedtime became a thing of the past for me while I stayed up writing until 2 in the morning with potato chips beckoning me from the pantry.

My constant state of motion turned sedentary and food companies began sending me samples of the latest products to review for my blog.

Although I may not be considered “obese”, at 127 pounds I’m well over my target weight of 115.  Fortunately, the ladies of RECESS are giving me a jump start on my plan to get lean for bikini season with their #MangoChallenge 30-Day Challenge to “lose the blogging weight”.  At a recent Blogger Event at our local GNC Store, I discovered that I’m not the only blogger with this problem.

African Mango

RECESS Blogger Event for Mangodrin at GNC

I heard about the African Mango first on the Dr. Oz Show and thought about trying it out.  Mangrodrin is an all-natural patented formula made by a local nutraceutical company truDERMA and promises that I’ll lose “up to 28 pounds in 10 weeks”.

I’m in.

Follow me during the month as I work towards 115 pounds with Mangodrin’s #MangoChallenge.  I’m one of about twelve bloggers participating in the weight loss challenge, so if you want to check in on their progress or read about their individual struggles, head over to RECESS.

Join The #MangoChallenge

I love it when businesses want to share discounts and coupons with my readers.  During my #MangoChallenge I’m passing on a special discount for 30% off your entire order of Mangodrin.  This is a great opportunity if you would like to join me and share your results along the way.  This promotion is for online sales only by using THANKYOU in the coupon code section during checkout.

African Mango Mangodrin

use coupon code THANKYOU during checkout for 30% off your entire purchase

 

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Leftover Corned Beef and Cabbage Pie

By on March 10, 2013 in Entrees Recipe, Holiday Recipes, Recipes

Corned Beef & Cabbage Pie Recipe

Corned beef and cabbage is the perfect example of a meal that is better than it’s original version when it’s reincarnated into something new.

Most suggestions I receive for leftover corned beef and cabbage is to make it into hash.  This year, I decided to make a pie, or reincarnate it into a pie.

Corned Beef & Cabbage Pie Recipe

Ingredients:

  1. Frozen puff pastry- 2 sheets
  2. cooked corned beef
  3. prepared mashed potatoes- 1 lb
  4. sauerkraut- 15 oz.
  5. shredded cheddar cheese- 8 oz.
  6. egg- 1

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  2. Line casserole dish with pastry sheet
  3. layer mashed potatoes, corned beef, then sauerkraut, topped with a layer of cheese
  4. Place second pastry sheet over the top and press the sides to the dish
  5. Brush top with an egg wash (one egg white mixed with a tablespoon of water)
  6. Bake until cooked thoroughly, approximately 35 minutes

 

 

For more festive corned beef recipes for your St. Patrick’s Day dinner, check out our “no-carb” dinner of Roasted Corned Beef, Sweet Potatoes & Swiss Chard!

Roasted Corned Beef, Sweet Potatoes & Swiss Chard

Happy St. Patrick's Day

 

 

 

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Shamrock Eggs

By on March 7, 2013 in Breakfast Recipes, Holiday Recipes, Recipes

St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast

 

St Patricks Breakfast recipe

Shamrock Eggs

 

Bring Green (not green) To Your St. Patty’s Day Breakfast Table

You don’t have to dye your eggs green with food coloring to bring some St. Patty’s Day fun to your breakfast table with this simple recipe.

Shamrock Eggs Ingredients

 

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Shamrock Eggs

Ingredients

  • large green bell pepper- sliced
  • eggs, small
  • butter or oil
  • Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. slice bell pepper into 1/2-inch whole slices lengthwise
  2. place in heated skillet with melted butter or oil
  3. crack egg in the center of bell pepper slice and cook until set, approximately 1 minute
  4. flip and cook on other side until achieved desired consistency
  5. garnish with shredded Parmesan cheese
  6. serve with fruit like green apples and grapes, and toast
http://tonispilsbury.com/st-patricks-breakfast-recipe/

 

slice bell pepper into whole slices

 

crack and fry egg in the center of each bell pepper slice

 

serve with toast and green apples or grapes

 

For more St. Patrick’s Day recipes, check out Roasted Corned Beef, Sweet Potatoes & Swiss Chard

Roasted Corned Beef, Sweet Potatoes & Swiss Chard

Roasted Corned Beef, Sweet Potatoes & Swiss Chard

 

 

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