Camerons Open-Fire Pit Grill Review and Great Pit Grilling Tips for the 4th of July!

I received the Camerons Open-Fire Pit Grill free to facilitate this review. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.


10 Great Pit Grilling Tips...

1. Check to make sure fire pits are permitted wherever you are before starting a fire.
2. Make sure the fire is properly enclosed by rocks, bricks or other flame-resistant material.
3. Use only dry, seasoned wood for cooking over a fire pit. Green wood will not burn well and produces too much smoke. Dead wood is better for a clean-burning, high-temperature fire. Using charcoal briquettes for your grill’s heat? Then light the coals about 30 minutes before cooking.
4. Want a great grill that is portable to take with you camping, fishing, etc., get Camerons Open-Fire Pit Grill!
5. Keep a bucket of water nearby in case you need to put out the fire. Have a spray bottle full of water nearby your grill in cause of flare-ups.
6. Wash everything after handling raw meat, and don’t reuse the plate that you used for uncooked meat.
7. Experiment with different types of marinades, seasonings and rubs to give your food extra flavor. Marinade meat overnight for best results.
8. Use a spatula or tongs to move and flip your food. Keep high-heat resistant oven mitts or grilling gloves nearby to use if needed.
9. Before, in between and after cooking keep your grill grate clean with a long handled stiff wire brush.
10. Distinguish the fire when you are done with it. Use a small shovel to to stir/breakup the wood, coal and ash. Then sprinkle with water and continue to do this until no more steam rises and you hear no hissing steam. Let it sit for a good 10 minutes and "feel" (get close to the ash and coal, but not touching it) if there is any more heat coming from the fire with the back of your hand. If there is still some sprinkle with more water.

About the Camerons Open-Fire Pit Grill:

• Great for camping, beach parties, fire pits, open fires, camp fires, outdoor activities, etc.
• Extra-large 17 ¾” round non-stick grilling area with adjustable height. No tools required.
• Nonstick Stainless Steel grilling surface.
• Holds up to 12 lbs. of food and specially designed arm allows grate to stay firm when loaded.
• Product can easily swing away from the fire to load or unload food.
• Easy to clean, dishwasher safe.
• Easy to store, portable, and comes with a convenient carrying bag.
• MSRP: $39.99

Camerons Open-Fire Pit Grill used with a fire pit.

My Thoughts:
The Camerons Open-Fire Pit Grill is a very handy lightweight, portable grill. I love that it has a bag to carry it with the gear to a campsite and since it doesn't weigh much it is perfect for taking backpacking. The assemblage of the whole thing is very straightforward. The post/pole comes in two pieces and screws together. I love that is is so adjustable and swings away from the fire so you can build the fire or load and unload food easier.

We noticed a few different things when using the Camerons Open-Fire Pit Grill. It is made in China. We found that you will need a set of high-heat resistant oven mitts or grilling gloves to use because the screw mechanism to adjust it gets super hot sitting over the fire and you might need to adjust it more than once. You will also need some for swinging it away from the fire. Tongs also work great for this. The grill's post that is used to secure it in the ground will need pounded into the ground pointy end down by a good size rock or mallet. This post had a black coating that was flaking off when we received it. The grate does warp and get blackened a little while over the fire holding the food. The blackening is just smoke and will come off with a good washing. Since it does have only one post on one side of the grate, it does tend to shift and is not level when loaded with food to grill. Foods like corn on the cob or potatoes like to roll off if not positioned well on the grill surface.

I decided that I wanted to first use this on our farm over my fire pit to see how it performed before we took it camping. We made corn on the cob, bratwursts, and toast on it. If you have aluminum foil on hand you can also bake potatoes and fish, make S'mores, etc. It is super simple to clean even without a dishwasher and the nonstick grilling surface makes it wonderful to grill with without having food stuck to the grate; however we did try to grill a S'more straight on the grilling surface and it wouldn't come off until scraped with our grill brush, so better to use foil for some things, I guess. It did very well with most everything we grilled on it though and the smokey flavor was a wonderful departure from our traditional propane powered grill. 

BUY IT
This is an awesome portable grill for the 4th of July!



DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received these products for free to facilitate this review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

Nabisco belVita Soft Baked Breakfast Biscuit Review and Guest Post: Easing Stress During the Busy Back to School Season

I received these products for free to facilitate this review.

Nabisco belVita Soft Baked Breakfast Biscuits are a new tasty treat that is wonderful for a grab and go breakfast! They are also wonderful for an after school snack. These come in two flavors: Oats & Chocolate and Mixed Berry. They have 20% daily fiber, 11g whole grain per 50g serving, good source of B-vitamins which help convert food into energy, and only 7g of fat. These contain NO: high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils, or artificial flavors or sweeteners.

These soft baked biscuits are so yummy! I loved the Oats & Chocolate one the best myself, but the Mixed Berry one was very good too. These are extra crumbly so make sure to eat over a plate or napkin so you don't lose any morsel of goodness. I recommend these to anyone needing a quick easy breakfast!

Below I have included some great tips to help parents get ready for the Back to School Season from the Lifestyle Mom, Dana Hilmer...

Easing Stress during the Busy Back to School Season Soon families everywhere will be getting back in the school year routine.:

1. It’s important to schedule down time for you and your family. Before signing your kids up for this year’s after-school activities, think about your family’s priorities and the impact each activity will have on your schedules.
2. It’s just as important for you to have a tasty, healthy breakfast as it is for your kids. Perfect for eating on the go, belVita Soft Baked Breakfast Biscuits come in two varieties, Mixed Berry and Oats & Chocolate, grab a banana and a latte and you’re good to go with nutritious morning energy. 
3. Take a little time each night to get organized for the following morning. By making lunches and selecting outfits before bed each night, you’ll free time each morning for other things. 
4. Be sure to keep healthy snacks in the kitchen for after-school snacking. Nuts, crackers and fruit are great to give kids right when they walk in the door to keep them from grazing on unhealthy snacks, or spoiling their appetites for dinner. 
5. Moms often complain about not having enough time for themselves, but when life gets busy, it’s even more important to carve out that time. Treat “me time” as a priority. 
6. Start a to-do list with three sections: the priority of the day for yourself, the priority of the day for your family and the priority of the day for your work. Start with these items, and only move on to other less important items once they’re done. 
7. Use Sunday nights to plan your dinners each week. If you take a few minutes to think about how you can creatively use the leftovers from one night to the next, you can create a full week’s worth of healthy, tasty dinners that your family will enjoy. 
8. Give yourself the freedom to say no without guilt. Activities or commitments that may not be right for your family are okay to decline. Saying NO gives you the permission to say YES to things that are important to you. 
9. Back-to-school season is also cold and flu season. You can keep your entire family healthy with these simple habits: eating well, getting enough rest and washing hands regularly. 
10. Create a network of support for yourself. This network looks different for everyone. Consider asking your partner and kids for support. They can be a great help with tasks you feel comfortable handing over. 

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received product for free to facilitate my review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. The Guest Post was provided to me free to share by belVita. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review or posting this guest post.

All You Magazine Back To School Special Issue Review

We received a product free from Crowdtap and All You Magazine to facilitate this review.

All You Magazine has put out a special Back to School issue that you can find in the magazine stand at your local Walmart. I really have enjoyed reading this special issue of All You magazine. This issue is dedicated to getting the school year off to a great start. Its special focus is encouraging kids to read. The contents are organized into relevant categories that you can find things easier with. The categories include: Be prepared, Living healthy, Eating well, Learn together, and Also in the issue.

It has great tips and offers for back to school and home. The recipes for tasty lunches, after school treats, and easy 20-minute meals look yummy. I will certainly have to try the Mushroom Ragout with Polenta! I also love the section about kitchen gadgets and building a book nook.  If you have a new kindergartener, 7th grader or 9th grader going to public school then the article titled "Soothe your child's back-to-school worries is a great read. I loved "End Morning Madness" because really mastering the art of getting everyone out the door without any drama is a special skill that does require some advance planning and they have some good tips to do so. Kellogg's, Scholastic and Walmart has partnered up with All You to give readers the opportunity to get a free Scholastic book when you buy specially marked packages of Kellogg's products at Walmart. It also has valuable manufacturer coupons inside that are good til the end of October.

This magazine has so much great information inside! I enjoyed it from cover to cover. I highly recommend this magazine to other parents.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received product for free to facilitate this review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Frugal Dog/Pet Tips (Sponsored Post)

Our dog, Prince, with his rubber chicken.

This is a sponsored post and I will be getting product for posting. This post is in partnership with the dog bark collar store.

Owning a pet is a lot like having a child. It isn't cheap. People sometimes splurge on their pets out of love on luxuries that they really can't afford. After all, your pet is just as much part of the family as your kids or spouse. There is nothing wrong with spoiling your pooch or pet with frivolous things if you have the money. When it comes down to it though, all your pet really needs is regular interaction with you, exercise, a nutritious diet, and preventive care. Here are some frugal dog/pet tips to save some cash and still keep your pet healthy and happy.

• Rescue a pet. Finding the perfect pet is a daunting task sometimes. Ask a lot of questions and do your research. Look to rescuing a pet from a shelter or pound instead of buying a pet from a breeder. Usually doing so will save you money and give a pet in need a good home. Other places you could look are Craigslist and Freecycle. We found our dog using Petfinder and got our dog, Prince, at a shelter. We were looking for a dog that was great with kids and was part poodle because they are usually hypoallergenic. Prince is a large standard poodle/coon hound mix. We had a long drive to get him because the shelter that had him wasn't as local, but he was worth it.
• Spend time with your pet. Give your pet the much needed attention it deserves. Scratch it behind the ears or stroke its fur. Take your dog to the park, dog park, on a walk around the block, or play fetch. Interaction and exercise is a wonderful part of the equation to keeping your pet healthy and happy. This is cheaper than buying your pet lots of toys or taking it to the pet spa.
• Use alternatives to expensive treats. If you use praise or positive reinforcement verbally or with positive contact (or both) you might be able to cut down on the number of treats you give your pet. Alternatively there are fruits and veggies you can safely feed your pet for treats. You can also make your own pet treats as there are a number of recipes online using ingredients that you probably already have around the house.
• Give your pet a nutritious diet. Pick a pet food that your pet likes. If your pet doesn't like it, they won't eat it. Don't skimp on quality and get one without the fillers and extra ingredients you can't pronounce. Fillers usually cause gastric and bowel problems. Buy in bulk, it is usually cheaper in the long run. Use coupons or gift cards! Don't overfeed your pet. Overfeeding can lead to obesity and other health problems for your pet. There are also people foods that should be avoided for pets at all costs.
• Use preventative care. Know how to care for your pet and give your pet what they really need. Keep your pet's vaccines, medication, and veterinary checkups current and up to date. Keep their heartworm, flea and tick medication up to date. Practice good hygiene and exercise with your pet. You can bathe, brush teeth, groom and clip your pet's nails, etc. all yourself at home instead of taking them to an pricey groomer, spa, salon or boutique. With a pet clipper and practice you will become a pro. Also, spay or neuter your pet, as this also reduces potential medical expenses.
• Keep a pet savings account or buy insurance. It is cheaper than pet insurance. However; if you can afford insurance it would be wise to keep it for your pet just in case an emergency arises. Then you won't have to pay all that money for vet bills out of pocket all of a sudden. If you do get insurance know what you are paying for, read the fine print before signing up and shop around to find the best deal for the most benefits. Also make sure your current vet accepts the insurance you pick. Pet insurance is sometimes the more economical way to go.
• Reduce, reuse, recycle, repurpose. The best pet product doesn't have to be the most expensive one. Old holey socks tied in a knot or a good stick are great tug of war/fetch implements. Other things can be used or reused for a pet purpose instead of what they are currently being used or not being used for. Look around and think outside the box. Thrift store finds are great!
• Find a pet sitter. When you have to leave your pet at home for an extended amount of time finding a reliable, caring and affordable pet sitter close to you is key. Doggie Daycare might not be as cost-effective. If you have a friend or relative that can watch you pet for little to nothing and does a good job that is the best situation. If you don't have those options you can try DogVacay or a similar service. Also you could try finding one through the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters or Pet Sitters International. They might have affordable pet sitters that you can try in your area.
• Go on a pet included vacation. If your having trouble finding a good pet sitter maybe you could take your pet with you. Just make sure the places you book are pet friendly. There are a lot of pet friendly hotels: motels, rentals, attractions, restaurants, etc. out there that offer options. If you don't know, ask ahead! We went on a long road trip across the USA with our dog, Prince. It was a lot of fun and he enjoyed all the time he spent with us along the way. You can also purchase a Traveling with Your Pet guide by AAA to help you on your travels.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: This is a sponsored post. This post is in partnership with the dog bark collar store. I will be receiving a special engraved dog bowl that teaches my dog to eat slow and a $25 gift card to a store of my choice for free for posting these tips. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this post.

Shutterfly Family Photo Days and Photo Taking Tips

The holidays are just around the corner and with that comes family photos. Let's face it sometimes it is just so difficult to get the perfect memorable shot of the whole family looking their best. In an effort to inspire and educate you on ideas on getting that perfect family photo early so you can place it into a fantastic card online, Shutterfly is having "Family Photo Days" throughout November. On their “Family Photo Days” website you can use the creative ideas on the website, share and discuss more ideas with others, and then take those ideas and making them your own. So get going and create that spectacular moment on camera then come back to Shutterfly because they have some great personalized Holiday Cards that you can put that photo into.

I have some great tips that I have found to be invaluable in taking the best family photos that I am going to share here with you now:

1. Plan ahead! Pick a day and time that isn't stressful for everyone. Make sure everyone can be available at the day and time picked and everything is set up and put together before the big day so no problems will arise. Children have their own times when they are at their best and happiest. Make sure to plug that into the equation too. Make sure clothing is set out the day before and haircuts are done a week before at least. Try to maintain your composure even if you are a little stressed because kids pick up on this easily and their reactions could derail the whole event. Arrive at the portrait shoot a little early with a clear, rested mind.

2. Lighting is very important. There are a lot of lighting techniques that professionals use. Shoot outdoor photos when the sun is low in the sky, either in the early morning or late afternoon so that the lighting isn't too bright or way too dark. If you are photographing in sunlight, try to position yourself so that the sun hits your subject from the side. You can also position your subject in front of the sun to give a great back-light effect, but don't let the sunlight flare in your lens because the contrast will be messed up. If shooting indoors use as much light as is available. The flash sometimes can make nasty shadows on the wall behind the subject. If this happens it is best to try to position the subject in from of a dark wall or getting them as far away from any walls as possible. No one person should stand out more than the others. You could also buy studio lighting for your own indoor setup or go to a studio that has one, but know that lighting is very important!!

3. If red eye or blemishes prevail, fix it with Photoshop or a paint program. Don't fret the small stuff. There are some awesome red eye removal and blemish editing techniques in a lot of photo software these days that quickly and painlessly get rid of unwanted red eye and blemishes.

4. Dress Code and feeling: Coordination, comfort, and simplicity is the name of the game. Too much print, pattern or color will take away from the faces in the photographs. Nice solid color shirts that match are the best and simplest way to go. Remember darker colors are slimming and generally more flattering. Comfortable clothing is better if the photo shoot is going to be a long one especially if there are young children involved. So go ahead and go casual! If; however, you do want to go fancier then try to get the pictures with the kids out of the way first so there isn't a lot of waiting in fancy uncomfortable dress. Know the feeling and theme you want to convey in the pictures ahead of time and make sure everyone participating knows and agrees.

5. Get creative with settings, props and backgrounds. There are some awesome scenic places that you could have as your background or setting, but sometimes getting everyone there is the hard part. Be creative and spontaneous. Sometimes the best photos could be set in your own backyard or home. A solid color sheet or large blanket could be used as a great backdrop. You could have your little one hug a favorite stuffed critter or ride a wooden pony or use a toy to get the child to look at you. Just think outside the box!

6. Take closeups and get close. Family is all about closeness :) So get everyone in the picture to squeeze together as close as comfortably possible. This makes the pictures seem more warm and inviting. Get closeups of individuals and couples too. It is all about capturing facial expression and the face is the greatest asset in your pictures! Sometimes blurring the background is a good thing because the main focus is on the subjects instead.

7. Make sure the subjects all have their eyes open, are smiling (unless you want serious, romantic, etc.), and look like they are having fun. Nobody likes a picture that someone: is squinting, looks like they are in a daze, looks like they are not having fun at all, or has their mouth wide open. We've all had pictures taken like this. Try to make the photos fun to dissolve boredom. Have the subjects jump in the air or tell them a funny joke to make them laugh. Don't be afraid to try something new to make it more fun. Make the subjects feel confident that they are having a positive experience. Don't tell them that it just isn't working, instead say, “Great, lets try a few more positions.”. Emanate positivity and it will be more enjoyable for all participating.

8. Take both formal and candid shots. Candid shots give more emotion, are more relaxed and usually can tell a story. Formal shots tend to be posed and manipulated more. Take both even if someone wants only one or the other.

I love the holidays! I love decorating, remembering the true meaning of Christmas, giving gifts like these neat Photo Gifts, sending out my yearly happenings newsletter, and personalizing cards with my family photos to send out to family and friends. This is truly one of my favorite seasons!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Because I am posting about Shutterfly's Holiday Cards I am getting 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this post.

Tips from The No-Cry Picky Eater Solution - Book Excerpts

These tips are excerpted from The No-Cry Picky Eater Solution (McGraw-Hill) by Elizabeth Pantley. Please enjoy and check out all her books at No Cry Solutions.

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"It can be hard - almost impossible sometimes -to change your child's rigidly held eating habits. Instead of trying to overhaul every meal and snack at once, begin by making a few small changes, one at a time, toward a more nutritious diet. Pick just a few items to start with. Once these become routine, then change another couple of items. If you follow this process, you'll find that within a year you will have improved your child's overall diet significantly; and likely affected his lifelong eating habits."

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"Your attitude about food is critical to your child's developing outlook. It's no surprise that studies have found that parents who don't like vegetables have children who don't like vegetables. It's assumed that these parents don't serve many vegetables and treat them as villains when they do.

One study found that the more a child is lectured about the merits of eating vegetables, the more he assumes they will taste bad and the more he will resist even trying them -- children catch on quickly when parents are trying to sell a behavior they don't truly believe in or follow in their own lives. Conversely, several studies found that when parents eat more fruits and vegetables, their children do too.Once you realize that your actions are on display to your child as a prime tool for teaching lifetime beliefs, you can modify your own behavior to set the best example. The side benefit is that you'll be healthier too."

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"What's in your kitchen? A typical home contains plenty of healthy food, along with an assortment of snacks, desserts, and less healthy fare. An adult can sift through all this and decide what's best to eat, picking healthy options and judiciously choosing the right time for and amount of junk food and desserts.Children, however, will naturally be drawn to the tastiest option, with no guilt over the resulting choice. They will open the refrigerator or pantry and pick the most appetizing thing they see.

How can you help your child make better choices? The best way is to put the healthy foods where they can be seen easily and allow your child to choose between the nutritious options in view. Place desserts and junk foods on high shelves or in opaque containers. This way you can dole out the treats when and where you feel they're appropriate."

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"Health officials call soda liquid candy. It’s easy to see why: there is no nutritional value in soda and a twelve ounce can contains 9 to 12 teaspoons of sugar. A 20 ounce bottle contains 16 to 18 teaspoons of sugar! Having just one soft drink a day can increase a child’s risk for obesity by 60%."

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"Make family dinnertime a routine because your children who eat with their parents will eat healthier overall, have better social skills, be less likely to abuse alcohol and drugs later in life, and stay closer to you emotionally throughout childhood, and perhaps beyond. Family mealtime does not have to be formal, structured, or complicated to reap great rewards. A night when you eat sandwiches around the table while chatting about anything under the sun counts just as much as those more formal dinners.There are four things that shouldn't be brought to the dinner table: lectures, reprimands, rigid expectations, and demands for specific conversation.The key to success for the family dinner idea is regularity-four to five times a week or more. Families that make a practice of dining together in a relaxed, pleasant atmosphere reap the most benefits."

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“If your child is a picky eater, keep the correct goal in mind. The objective is NOT to make your child eat more food…but to be sure that food choices are healthy ones.”

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: By posting this information I am entered into the No-Cry Picky Eater BLOGGER Contest! My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Elizabeth Pantley of No Cry Solutions and vice versa. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this post.

Tips For Keeping Your Family Cold and Flu-Free

Cold and flu season is just around the corner and I wanted to share my tips that I do to keep my family Cold and Flu-Free this season. When it is cold outside it is easy to want to stay indoors where it is nice and warm, but sometimes that is where the germs are lingering. If I am stuck indoors where the germs are I like to eliminate them. If I am stuck outdoors then the best thing to do is dress for the weather and be prepared for weather changes too. What you don't want to do is get stuck somewhere and not have the proper attire to keep you warm.

1. Disinfect things. We use Lysol products, chlorine bleach, ultra-violet light, isopropyl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, tea tree oil, or vinegar to disinfect things in our home. Surface areas, knobs, handles and other most touched surfaces can cause someone to get germs easily from others who have them if touched by them. The best way to get rid of germs is to wipe them away with a disinfectant wipe.

2. Eat Healthy. Eating healthy well balanced meals will help in keeping your body strong. Yogurt has probiotics that are good for inhibiting pathogens and toxin producing bacteria. Camomile tea and/or supplement helps immunity to getting sick. Zinc syrup or lozenges are great for shortening affects of a cold or flu. Drink your orange juice! Vitamin C is great for helping the immune system. Get plenty of vitamin D from the sun, from food, or from a supplement. The best way to get vitamin D is from the sun and foods that are enriched with it. If you are stuck inside make sure you get your daily dose to maintain a good immune system and promote bone health along with calcium. Get plenty of fluids.

3. Get your sleep. Getting a good amount of sleep helps with keeping your body well rested and your immune system working well. The optimal amount of sleep varies from person to person. There really is no magic number to a perfect amount of sleep, but getting what is needed for your own body is mandatory in keeping healthy, happy and functioning well.

4. Get your exercise. Exercising helps combat health conditions and diseases along with maintaining well being, improving mood, controlling weight and boosting energy.

5. Have good hygiene and brush your teeth/tongue/gums regularly.

6. Cough into your sleeve (the bend of your elbow) or a tissue not your hands. Don't stifle a cough and don't sniff the mucous back into your lungs. Sneezing, blowing your nose, and coughing are a must when trying to expel germs from the body.

7. Let some fresh air in and don't over heat your house. Overheating and not ventilating properly will only make the air in your home stagnant, stale and dry. Lack of humidity causes our nose and tonsils to dry out so they cannot trap germs efficiently. When this happens it becomes difficult to sneeze and cough. Turning down the thermostat and turning on a room humidifier keeps virus-laden mucus flowing out of your body. As gross as it is you need to get it out of your system.

8. Teach children how to keep well. The most important times to clean hands include after sneezing, coughing or using the restroom, upon leaving "high-risk" places (recess, nap-time, play stations) and before meals or snacks. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer regularly. If you are a good example your children will follow. Stress the importance of not touching their eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Show your children how to cover their mouth and nose for every cough and sneeze. Better to be on the sleeve than in the hand. This simple maneuver has spectacular results in decreasing the spread of viruses and bacteria floating about the room, waiting to be inhaled.

9. Try to stay away from others who are sick and if you get sick try to stay home. Try not to spread germs to others.


Lysol Cold & Flu PreventionLysol Cold & Flu

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Lysol blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Fresh Baby So Easy Toddler Food Cookbook Review and Giveaway

I love cooking easy meals that are both healthy and filling. Since I have a three year old that likes to eat I have to watch that she also gets proper nutrition as well as balanced meals. The Fresh Baby So Easy Toddler Cookbook is a wonderful little cookbook of 48 pages that offers tips as well as yummy recipes that are family-friendly and make it easy to please even the most pickiest of eaters. I love this cookbook because all of the 35 recipes with photos have the USDA nutrition facts and menu pairing ideas. You can see just how good for you and your toddler the recipe is and what other items you can serve it with to make it more complete. I love the Mango Bagel recipe for breakfast because I think mangoes are super yummy! I also thought the Avocado & Orange Salad was interesting because I would have never thought to put avocados, mandarin oranges and cherry tomatoes together along with some other ingredients. All of these recipes are simple and promote healthy eating habits.

Healthy Eating Topics:

• Six Tips for Developing Healthy Eating Habits
• The 10 Times Rule for Toddlers
• Converting Picky Eaters
• DOs and DON’Ts to Avoid Food Battles
• Making the Most of Your Child’s Day

Recipe List:
Breakfasts

• Best Ever Granola
• Mango Bagel
• Banana Strawberry Smoothie
• Breakfast Burrito

Lunches

• Pineapple Kabobs
• Apple Kabobs
• Sunshine Wrap
• Lunchmeat Roll Ups
• Hard Boiled Eggs
• Egg Salad
• Stuffed Eggs
• White Bean & Cheddar Dip

Dinners

• Macaroni with Ham and Peas
• Quesadilla
• Shroomy Stroganoff
• Tuna Casserole
• Homemade Pizza

Salads

• Avocado & Orange Salad
• Creamy Cuke Salad
• Sweet Tomato Salad

Sides

• Broccoli & Rice Casserole
• Cinnamon Apple Slices
• Frosted Zucchini
• Green Bean Casserole
• Pink Potatoes
• Sand Castle Couscous
• Maple Carrots

Soups

• Black Bean Soup
• Creamy Cauliflower Soup
• Tropical Summer Soup
• Cream of Asparagus Soup

Desserts

• Banana Bread
• Berries N’ Banana Cream
• Orange Frosty
• Smooth & Creamy Popsicles
• Frozen Banana Pops

BUY IT:
The Fresh Baby So Easy Toddler Food Cookbook is $8.95 and even comes in Spanish!

WIN IT:
Nannette from Fresh Baby has generously offered another So Easy Toddler Food Cookbook for one of my readers to win.

Mandatory:
1. Go to the Fresh Baby website and tell me another product you would love and why.

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10. Comment on any of my other posts or enter my other giveaways and let me know which post you commented on. (1 extra entry per post you comment on)

11. Fan Fresh Baby on Facebook. (1 extra entry)

12. Follow Fresh Baby on Twitter. (1 extra entry)

Make sure you leave me your email in all posts so that I can contact you. If you subscribed by email, blogged about this, listed it, commented on another post, or faved me on Momfaves leave 2 entries saying you did. This contest ends on Friday May 27, 2011 at midnight (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada). This Giveaway is open to all 18 years and over in the U.S. Only!!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com created by WebBizIdeas a Minneapolis SEO and Web Design firm. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

10 Tips For Saving Money During The Back-To-School Season

Staples is helping to get school supplies into the hands of those in need through the 3rd Annual Staples Do Something 101 School Supply Drive. The first two Do Something 101 school supply drives raised nearly $1 million for local charities to purchase back-to-school supplies for students who need them. In addition, Staples stores donated thousands of school supplies to its recipient organizations.

In honor of this program, Staples and TwitterMoms have teamed up with a blogging program to share 10 tips for saving money during the back-to-school season.

Here are my 10 Tips For Saving Money During The Back-To-School Season:

1. Go to Back-To-School Sales
2. Clip Coupons (the Sunday paper, circulars, coupon blogs, coupon websites, BOGO, follow places on Twitter and Facebook that might have sales or coupons, look for coupon codes, discount codes, price match, etc.)
3. Shop Online for sales (Usually you can compare shop easier this way.)
4. Reuse, Use Hand-me-downs or Used items again, and Recycle ( Freecycle is a great place to go to give & get stuff for free in your own town. Buy or get Reusable items and keep good stuff out of landfills! Craigslist, Ebay, Garage/Yard/Moving/Estate/Going Out of Business Sales, Thrift Stores, Flea Markets, and Dollar Stores are all great places to find good deals on used items.)
5. Make your own school supplies or get it handmade (homemade bags, backpacks, pencil cases, clothing, re-usable sandwich bags, etc. you can sometimes find on Etsy and other places for a great price or you can find a pattern online and make your own.)
6. Look for Rebates
7. Buy In Bulk and stock up when there is a deal!
8. Swap, Barter and Borrow from friends and family.
9. Grow Your Own Food and Pack a Lunch (Growing a garden will help with the cost of food for lunches you pack.)
10. Tax-Free Weekend (Some states offer this as an incentive to shop)

For four days only, Staples is offering a special discount to the TwitterMoms community and your followers and friends. Print out this coupon and bring it to any Staples to get 25% off their collection of Sustainable Earth by StaplesTM notebooks and writing pads. These eco-friendly notepads are made from 80% sugarcane so fewer trees are used! Click to Tweet an invitation to save!

Fan/Like Staples on Facebook. Follow Staples on Twitter.

DISCLOSURE: I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Staples blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. The first 50 qualified participants will get a $50 Staples gift card to help get your kids prepared for back-to-school! In addition, one lucky random winner will get a grand prize of a $150 Staples gift card! For more information on how you can participate, click here.


Back-to-School SavingsStaples Back-to-School

Getting Dinner Ready in a Flash Samsung Contest

TwitterMoms and Samsung is asking you what your 3 valid tips for getting dinner ready in a flash. Today is the last day to enter for your chance to win a Samsung Refrigerator (RFG297AARS).

With 4 children, a blog, and a husband I can get really busy sometimes. It is really easy for me to procrastinate and put dinner off until the very last minute. Sometimes prepackaged meals are the fastest dinner option at the time. Other times I find myself wanting to make a homemade meal for my family. To do this sometimes preparing a meal plan ahead of time needs to occur. I have to tell you that setting aside time to do a meal plan is one of the hardest things for me. Here are my 3 tips...

1. Pick a quick recipe 30 minutes or less including prep. time that you have all of the ingredients for. (Homemade soups, casseroles, or pastas are some of my favorites. One dish or one pot meals are the easiest.)

2. Use a crockpot. This is a lifesaver to getting dinner done fast. Just throw your ingredients in the night before or morning of and let it do the cooking. (Same goes for a rice cooker, bread maker, etc. These devices are supposed to make our lives easier.)

3. Use prepackaged, precut, preshredded, precooked ingredients in your cooking. (Stuff like pre-cut precooked frozen meats, preshredded cheese, precut veggies, boxed already seasoned grains...like couscous or rice, canned beans, etc. can really speed the cooking time.)