Wednesday I needed to make tea for my husband and Colin LOVES to help with that so we went to work!  I told him we needed to fill the measuring up ‘to the 2′ and he told me when to turn the water off.  Then he pulled the tea bag container out of the pantry, got out the four packets we needed, opened them and put them in the measuring cup.

I asked him to put the measuring cup in the microwave, but he told me he couldn’t since it was glass.  (He’s a smart kid!)  I moved it over and he hit 2-3-0-start!

This is the point where I take over, but I am so glad I have a helper for at least half of the tea-making process!  Here’s my tea recipe!

Do you have a special tea blend you like best?

Did you have fun in the “kitchen” this week?  Did you try a new food or a new kid friendly restaurant?  Did your little ones use their snacks to count to 10?  We invite you to share your experiences, photos, stories or recipes that include your #kidsinthekitchen!

Come join me and my co-hosts, Melinda at Look What Mom Found and Paula at Frosted Fingers, each week by linking up a post, new or old, that features the theme Kids in the Kitchen.  It doesn’t matter what you are doing as long as you are doing it together, enjoying it and learning something along the way.

• preparing healthy snacks
• having a tea party
• counting skills with m&ms
• pouring from measuring cups
• discovering a local restaurant that your kids love
• creating new family friendly recipes

Don’t have a blog?  That’s ok!  Just share an Instagram photo or Facebook update.

People following the weight-loss portion of the Shaklee 180™ Program can expect to lose 1-2 pounds per week.

I’ve had my fair share of struggles this month.  This is ONE way I keep myself motivated.

How do you keep yourself motivated?

If you are interested in trying any of their products, you can order Shaklee online (affiliate link!).

I don’t know if I’ve officially announced it on here or not, but I am going to BlogHer this year!!!  In about 64 days, I’ll be in Chicago and I am all kinds of excited!!  But I am a little nervous about what to WEAR!  Luckily for me, Kohl’s has come to my rescue by sending the ELLE Petal Chiffon Top Set, the Jennifer Lopez Medallion Caftan Top and the ELLE Floral Surplice Mesh Dress. 

ELLE Petal Chiffon Top Set

I ADORE this top, but the sleeves are so tight I can’t lift my arms up.  The teal color is just gorgeous and matches my eyes nicely.  It also comes in Vanilla Ice (white).  My husband called this the “puzzle shirt” because I kept putting it on incorrectly.  However, if your arms aren’t flabby (like mine) I absolutely recommend this top!

Jennifer Lopez Medallion Caftan Top

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this top!!  The size I got is a little too big, but I feel SO GOOD in this top!  More than likely, I will order the same caftan with a scroll design!  I love that this caftan works with these hot pink shorts, but it could also work with capris or jeans.  I really need some cute brown shoes to wear with this one.

ELLE Floral Surplice Mesh Dress

This is probably my least favorite just because I feel like it doesn’t fit my body well.  I think it makes me look larger than I am and misshapes my breasts.  The material doesn’t feel bad and the flowers are such a great color.  It just isn’t the right dress for me.

Ok, I know these pictures are AWFUL!!  So sorry!  I had the hubs take them and he just clicks 20 times and says, “there has to be something that’ll work.”

Kohl’s has always been my favorite place to shop!  They have such great deals, cute clothes and amazing brands!

Have you shopped at Kohl’s?  What’s your favorite thing about the store?

Connect with Kohl’s on Facebook and Twitter!

A RHINO BEETLE!

My husband agreed to let James keep it … as long as it doesn’t get out, I guess I am semi-okay with it.

It does look REALLY cool, but still, it’s a BUG!

PS:  Sorry for the tiny pictures, I thought collages would be better.  I was wrong!

Happy Wednesday!

My last baby shower was well over four years ago – it was train-themed and SO CUTE!  I adored the train invitations and coordinating decorations but looking back, I am sure there are lots of other mom’s that had the same them since they were store-bought.  I’m done having babies (and therefore baby showers) now, though.

And, while my sister and her husband are waiting a bit longer to have kidlets, I CANNOT wait to throw her gender reveal parties and baby showers – the ideas are already swirling in my head!  Luckily for me, I can make practically anything I want at Tiny Prints!

If I needed invitations right now, I would have to decide between these two:

You can order beautiful & trendy Tiny Prints Baby Shower Invitations and Baby Announcements without much effort.  Tiny Prints also offers matching address labels, thank you cards & gift tags.

Pinning Party Alert!  Tiny Prints #TinyPrintsBaby Pinning Party™ with @ResourcefulMom on May 30^th at 8 PM ET.  RSVP & more info here.

{Prize: One (1) $50 Tiny Prints promo code!!}

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GOOD LUCK!

Only one person per household/IP address may enter.  This giveaway is open to US residents only and will run through midnight CST on Monday, May 27, 2013.  The winner will be randomly chosen using random.org and an email will be sent.  The winner must respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen.  The giveaway item will be shipped directly to the winners from the sponsor.  NOTE:  The prize cannot be delivered to a P.O. Box.

I was so excited to be given the chance to review NoOodle.  Not only is the name awesome, but they only contain three ingredients.  Since I have started to become more and more aware of what I feed my family, I thought this would be a great fit.

I love the concept behind NoOodles.  An easy-to-make side with minimal ingredients.

About: 

For centuries, noodles derived from yam plants have been embraced by Asian cultures as a high fiber, low calorie dietary staple. Inspired by an on-going commitment to serving healthy cuisine, and in response to a growing customer demand for healthy menu items, restaurant owner and self-taught Chef Terri Rogers, began serving NoOodle™ at Lincolnshire Gourmet, her neighborhood gourmet bistro located in Highland Park, Illinois.

I read the nutritional facts & ingredients list.  Naively, I thought that the lime was the same festive green fruit I squeeze into my drink, but rather, it’s lime like a rock … calcium hydroxide.

Wait!  What?!  My NoOodles packge lists Filtered Water, Yam Flour and Lime.  (If you look at the nutrition facts on their website, it lists Calcium Hydroxide.)  I find the use of two names for one ingredient rather confusing and deceptive.  Maybe I got packages with an old label.

I made spaghetti & meatsauce for dinner one night and thought it would be the perfect opportunity to use the NoOodles.  I cut open the packaged and rinsed them off really well.  All the while, I was thinking, ‘This is SO WEIRD!’ … I couldn’t help but wonder if I was rinsing them enough.

Because we can be picky eaters, I also boiled “regular” noodles as my backup plan.  I made my kids’ plates  and they both wondered why their noodles looked “funny” and said they wouldn’t eat that!  I was right there with them.  I swapped out their plates and made mine with the back-up noodles.

I think my family is just too picky for the NoOodle, but I could see how it would be great for those on Gluten & low/no Carb diets!!

Would you (or have you) tried NoOodles??

Connect with NoOodle on facebook and twitter!

This week, my goal was to use what we already had in the house which meant I needed to get VERY creative to make our meals, but I did it!  (That also meant I only spent $25 on groceries!!)  Because I was making things up as I went, I didn’t want the boys to help.  But to let James get some time in the kitchen, I let him make his lunch (Turkey & Cheese Roll-Ups).  He doesn’t like much on them, so it’s just a tortilla, cheese and turkey.

James claims that the turkey & cheese roll-ups are better than regular sandwiches.  And really, if it’s healthy and he eats it, I am all for it!  I always pack some fruit & water to go with his lunch.

What do your kids love for lunch?

Did you have fun in the “kitchen” this week?  Did you try a new food or a new kid friendly restaurant?  Did your little ones use their snacks to count to 10?  We invite you to share your experiences, photos, stories or recipes that include your #kidsinthekitchen!

Come join me and my co-hosts, Melinda at Look What Mom Found and Paula at Frosted Fingers, each week by linking up a post, new or old, that features the theme Kids in the Kitchen.  It doesn’t matter what you are doing as long as you are doing it together, enjoying it and learning something along the way.

• preparing healthy snacks
• having a tea party
• counting skills with m&ms
• pouring from measuring cups
• discovering a local restaurant that your kids love
• creating new family friendly recipes

Don’t have a blog?  That’s ok!  Just share an Instagram photo or Facebook update.

If you look in my parent’s garage, you will see one side stacked (floor to ceiling) with coolers – most of them are Igloo.  If I need a cooler, I borrow one from Pop because if you come look in my garage, you will see two coolers – and neither of them are useful!  One is a soft-sided cooler bag and one is an OLD blue cooler and it doesn’t have a lid anymore (it came from Pop & my husband uses it to store ant bait).  It’s pathetic really!

Because my family and I are starting to spend more time outdoors (camping & whatnot), we really needed a cooler that would be conveniently located in OUR garage.  Igloo sent us the Yukon 150 to help solve our problems!

I an not sure what I was expecting, but I really had NO IDEA the Yukon 150 was going to be as HUGE as it is!

About: 

Rugged and ice cold, Yukon™ Cold Lockers deliver serious performance for the serious outdoorsman in the most extreme outdoor environments. Yukon™ outhauls, outchills and outlasts anyone.

Igloo Products Corp., the nation’s largest cooler manufacturer, has introduced a series of four new performance “Cold Lockers” that promise ultimate performance for the serious outdoorsman. The new roto-molded series, Yukon™, comes in 50, 70, 150 and 250 quart sizes and was designed by and for hunting and fishing enthusiasts.

Features of the Yukon 150: 

• Dual reversible, skid/anti-skid pads
• Rugged, wide grip, integrated handles accommodate large gloved hands, and double as tie-down loops
• Insulated with 3” foam in gasketed lid and 2” foam in the body
• Boasts 10-day ice retention at 90°F*
• Cool Riser Technology™ offers an elevated design to promote airflow underneath for improved cooling performance
• UV inhibitors and infrared technology   protect cooler against sun damage
• All stainless steel hinge pins and hardware
• Flexible yet durable rubber latches with finger grips
• Integrated fish keeper scale measuring tool on lid
• Constructed of ultra durable rotational-molded polyethylene
• Raised, textured work surface on lid
• Dual oversized tethered drain plugs for easy draining and cleaning
• Dual lid locks for maximum security

All four Yukon models are white and include a fully foamed lid with an integrated fish measurement ruler, UV inhibitors to guard against sun damage and infrared technology to reflect the sun’s rays on the body and lid. The MSRP for the 50-quart is $329.99. The MSRP for the 70-quart is $389.99. The MSRP for the 150-quart is $569.99 and the MSRP for the 250-quart is $639.99.

Our Thoughts: 

• I love that the Yukon 150 can hold ice for TEN days!  We only used it for 3 days and had no problems.  (We were camping with friends and their ice was gone by the end of the first day, so we made space in the Yukon.)
• The locks are super (they keep my kids out!) but can be difficult to open.  Although, now that I’m thinking about it, you probably WANT locks that are tight so that animals can’t get in your cooler!
• Additionally, on either side of the cooler there are lid locks which help keep your food safe.  You could also use these locks to chain the cooler down in the bed of your truck.
• There is a large drain on both sides of the cooler, which is great!  They make it very easy to clean & drain your cooler.
• I really need a TRUCK (not an SUV) for the Yukon 150, but the back end of my car closes, so in my opinion, it fits!
• The handles on the cooler are so COOL – they are long and wide and don’t move when you do.
• My favorite feature is that it’s made in the USA!
• There is a 5-year warranty on the Yukon 150.  I like that it’s longer than a 1-year, but I’d like to see a 10 or 15 year warranty.
• The cooler comes with a large sticker on top (you can kind of see it under my kid in the photo above) which I liked at first because it gave you all the information you’d need.  But when we took it off, it left a HUGE sticky residue which I have had a ton of trouble removing.

All in all, I’d say the Yukon 150 is an excellent product and I’d recommend it!  (Though, I’d say go with the 50 if you don’t have much space in your vehicle!)

What would you use the Igloo Yukon Cooler for?

Connect with Igloo on facebook and twitter!  (Make sure to watch for giveaways on both!!)

When I heard about the Get Up & Glow 5K, I knew I wanted to be a part of it!  And not just for me, but for my kids, and maybe my parents, as well!  My husband agreed after I told him we could put Colin in the stroller and my Mom even said yes!  (I am still trying to talk my Dad into it!)  I cannot wait!! 

Here’s the info you’ll need to get yourself (and your family) registered:

Saturday, May 25, 2013

8:30 pm

1 Retama Parkway, Selma, TX

Early registration is $20 per person through May 17th.  ($25 per person May18th through race day.)

All participants will receive glow in the dark t-shirts and a finisher award.  There will be GLOW STATIONS along the route to add to your luminescence as you run along the 5k route.  The post-race will include good eats, great music and free door prizes!

Register NOW!

Pick up your packet at Soler’s Sports (2589 Jackson Keller – 210-366-3701) Friday, May 24, 2013 from 4:00 – 7:00 pm or before the race starting at 7:30 pm.

About the race:

• Race begins in Lot #4 at Retama Park
• 1.5 mile out and back – two loops (view the route)
• Water & electrolyte at 0.75 and 2.25 mi
• Minimal traffic and lots of glowing
• Simple route is perfect for kids

**Note: This is NOT a chip-timed event!

**All proceeds from this event support local gymnasts competing at Aerial Athletics through the AA Parents’ Association.

We went camping last weekend!

Happy Wednesday!!!