Mom on the go in Holy Toledo

Why Costco? (Giveaway $190 value!)

May 21, 2015June 10, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

Fact, my 4 year old jumps up & down at least 8x a day! She will pretty much start jumping for any reason, like seeing a bird, not wanting to go to bed, because it is Monday, etc.

Fact, I am an adult. Fact, I do not jump up & down 8x a day. Fact, I do jump up & down like my 4 year old daughter twice a month. There is only one thing in this world that makes this 35 year old woman jump up & down like a preschooler flaring limbs about, and that is, a trip to COSTCO!!!

I am getting excited just thinking about our next trip!! Why? Why would a grown woman be so excited to go to Costco? (In no particular order)

1. Samples- Um, hello! Who doesn’t love samples? I adore the fact that you can try it before you buy it especially when you have a picky eater at home. Thankfully my pickiest eater accompanies me so she can sample too! Another added bonus of the samples is it gives my 4 year old something to look forward to in-between isles & the food occupies her mouth for lapses of time so I can actually enjoy a moment of silent (so wrong, but, so true! Haha!)

2. Cost- Total disclosure, Costco is where I get half my wardrobe. I know it sounds silly but they have comfortable, modern, classy, even fashionable outfits & they cost WAY less than the department stores! They also have clothing for men too…great picks for Dads (wink, wink, Father’s Day is coming up!) and then there is the kids’ clothes, books, toys, etc. I buy all birthday & baby shower gifts there (jigs up on that one! haha!). And I also fill up the gas tank before I leave since it is always cheaper than the other stations (Costco is literally my one stop and shop for everything place!)

3. Quantity- I think this one is a no brainer!! Haha!

4. Quality- Sometimes people have this idea that if you buy more it somehow makes the quality less and that could not be further from the truth when it comes to Costco. The quality of their food is amazing. I am a huge fan of their produce. My favorites are the Organic Spinach (I often buy two…I am a spinach freak!), strawberries, melons, peppers, and I could go on and on. What I like most about Costco is if you do get home and realize you purchased say, a bad melon, they will happily exchange it. The customer service is amazing!

5. Selection/Variety- We recently made a HUGE change in our house, we stopped eating cereal and have cut way back on all breads/grains. I was afraid that maybe I wouldn’t be able to shop Costco anymore and Costco is this Kat’s meow (too much?). Thankfully what I found, once I stopped honing in on all the stuff we couldn’t get anymore, is that Costco offers a nice variety of foods for all diets and lifestyles. Checkout all the goodies I purchased at my last visit!

6. The people- Last but certainly not least, the people who work at Costco are the nicest!! They are always so sweet with my daughter…her second favorite part of Costco is the smiley face she receives on the back of our recipe. The cashiers are always so kind and friendly. In fact I have even befriended a few…maybe I spend too much time there? But they don’t talk back to me, they listen, it is like a mini vacation for moms. Lol!

There you have it folks, Costco is a mom’s mini-vacation destination! Haha! It will have you jumping up and down like a 4 year old in anticipation for your next trip! No joke!

And Guess What!!! I have some exciting news to share!! Costco will be giving birth to a new store in Perrysburg, OH June 11^th 2015!! As far as I know it is a drug free birth…hopefully it won’t be a water birth but if it is just bring your umbrella! 😉

Join today & receive Costco cash card!!

While they are managing their labor pains they are giving you a shower!! When you give birth to a store that’s how it works, they give you the shower, lol! They are showering one lucky follower with ALL these goodies valued at $190!!!

So, whats in the bag? These amazing Kirkland Signature items:

Organic Maple Syrup
Variety Snack Nuts
Surface Wipes
Dried Blueberries
Almond Butter
Coconut Oil
Himalayan Pink Salt
Albacore Tuna (8pk)
Jelly Belly
Macadamia Nut Clusters
Paper Towels
Steak Strips
Unsalted Fancy Mixed Nuts
Organic Salsa
Peanut Butter Pretzels
Body Lotion
Chocolate Covered Almonds
Apple Sauce (24pk)
Microwave Popcorn (44pk)

To enter the giveaway:

1-Like Mom on the go in Holy Toledo on Facebook

2-Follow @mamaof3onthego on Twitter

3-Like Costco on Facebook

4-Comment stating when you’re taking your next trip to Costco

Giveaway is limited to individuals who live in Toledo and surrounding area (within 30 miles)

Winner will be randomly selected June 10th @11:59pm

Disclosure: I was given 3 sweet Kirkland products for my family and the BIG bag of goodies to giveaway! No additional compensations was received and all opinions expressed are my own.

10 Tips for Hosting a Slawesome Cookout!! (Contest Link included)

May 18, 2015May 18, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

Ever been to one of those cookouts where you are just bored out of your mind? You try to determine what is an adequate amount of time to stay without seeming to eager to leave? Ever come up with a carefully planned reason why you have to head out early? Ever had a special code word? Now imagine you were the poor hostess and your guest kept blurting out, kumquats, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, and other random weird words moments before making up a reason why they had to bolt! Don’t be that hostess!! Don’t forget the Slawsa!!

In case you missed the segment on WTOL Saturday morning here is a quick run down…we made some mouthwatering deviled eggs (click here for recipe) with my favorite condiment, SLAWSA!!! And we talked cookouts!!

What is Slawsa?

SLAWSA breaks the mold of modern condiments, boldly creating a whole new category of food, and standing alone in its realm of flavor. A delicious cross between a slaw and a salsa and far healthier than other toppers, more versatile and is a must-have for your pre-game tailgate, grilling at your backyard barbecue or to spice up your mid-week family dinners. We beg you, don’t serve your guests boring condiments.

Simply put, Slawsa is the Gourmet Topping for Everything without the gourmet price.

You can feel confident that Slawsa is:

all-natural
fat-free
cholesterol-free
gluten-free
very low in sodium
kosher
vegan

Source

Here are 10 tips to host a SLAWESOME cookout:

Keep it simple-no one likes a stressed out host. Go low budget on the decorations, use items from around the house, use napkins/bandanas as decorations, use real plates & utensils…not only is it cheaper but the planet will thank you!
Have guest bring a dish to pass- it means less for the host to have to provide & it gives everyone a special contribution…everyone wants to feel needed.
Have an Ice Tea bar- guests can add their own mint, fruit, alcohol, sugar, etc.
Background music is a must- Billy Holiday & Dean Martin are great choices for parties with multi-generations
Have all the must-haves handy for your guests- mosquito repellant, sunblock, hand sanitizer, wet wipes
Slawsa!! This sassy condiment will be the talk of the party…it is literally a symphony for your taste buds, AH-mazing!! (Available at Kroger & Meijer down the condiment isle, next to the relish…what, a girl can’t know her condiments? Haha!)
Photo Booth-this is a great way to get everyone involved in the fun! And as a bonus you will have pics to add to any future calendar, card, and/or photobook! Or if you are feeling really ambitious you could send out thank you photo cards to your guests.
Games/activities are a must! Bingo, bocce ball, croquet, hide items & have a scavenger hunt (have the older kids read the clues and younger once run and find them), have an art show- chalk on sidewalk or grab some fun crafts from Hobby Lobby and pass out awards to the artists
Have a plan B in case of rain-move the party inside, have a tent, umbrellas, etc.
Have to-go bags/containers for guest so they can easily take home food

Any tips you would add to the list? What do you worry about most when entertaining? Do you have Slawsa in your fridge? If not, why? What are you waiting for??

Interested in winning $50? Here is the link to the Photo Contest Slawsa is running now through the end of June! Get your Slawsa on!!! And good luck!!

Mother of 3, Blogger, & Cereal Killer!

May 11, 2015May 11, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

Growing up we were NEVER the “cool family”. We never had fun cereal, junk food, or cable! Looking back I have no idea how we survived! Thank goodness for our friends, because we wanted our MTV! At the time I just figured my parents hated us and didn’t want us to enjoy ANYTHING in life. Turns out they actually loved us and just wanted the best for us. And guess what, guess who doesn’t have cable or buys the “fun cereal”? This mom! And all this time I thought I was doing right by my children. I assumed fortified cereals were good for them, much better than the stuff with all the sugar and dyes, right!?! Wrong!

Our adventure began 8 weeks ago. The standard in our home has always been cereal for breakfast. They would eat their bowl of cereal, beg for more because they were still hungry, be exhausted a half hour after eating their cereal, and also a tad cranky. I had always assumed that was just the way kids were then one weekend I made eggs and bacon. The children were not hungry after they ate the eggs & bacon, they were not tired a half hour later, and they were a joy to be around. My first thought was, what was in those eggs? Haha! My second thought was that there might actually be a correlation between the cereal and the children’s behavior. So for the next few mornings I alternated the cereal with eggs and/or steel cut oatmeal. And my findings were spot on, each time the children had cereal they were still hungry, cranky, and tired but when they had eggs and/or the oatmeal they were pleasant and full. But how could this be since I only purchased the “good for you cereal”, the fortified cereal with fiber and less sugar? So I did some research online and came across a few interesting articles.

It’s fortified with nutrients my children need, right?!

“Millions of children are ingesting potentially unhealthy amounts” of vitamin A, niacin and zinc, and fortified cereals are the leading source, said a new report from the Environmental Working Group, a Washington -based health research and advocacy firm.

A variety of health issues are at stake for children who consume too much vitamin A, zinc and niacin, like liver damage, abnormal immune function and short-term issues like rashes and vomiting, the report says.

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/fortified-cereals-bad-kids-report-article-1.1842365

It is loaded with fiber that should help make them feel full longer, right?!

11 of the 13 most heavily sugared children’s cereals feature marketing claims like “Good Source of Fiber” that suggest misleadingly that the products are healthful.

http://www.ewg.org/research/childrens-cereals

It contain less sugar than in the past, right?!

The lack of progress on the sugar front is discouraging. After reexamining the 84 children’s cereals assessed in 2011, EWG found that while the sugar content of 11 cereals decreased slightly (in 10 cases, by just one gram; in one case by an underwhelming two grams), all other cereals remained unchanged (except Frosted Mini-Wheats Big Bite, which actually upped its sugar content by 20 percent).

The report also highlights some particularly terrible cereals in its “Hall of Shame,” which includes 12 cereals that contain more than 50 percent sugar by weight. (Lieber’s Cocoa Frosted Flakes took home the insanity prize, packing 50g of sugar per serving; the cereal is 88 percent sugar by weight, delivering a whopping 167 percent of the recommended daily sugar intake for children in a single serving).

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-hunt/cereal-offenders-ewg-expo_b_5330975.html

The more digging I did the more I found…..

GMOs: Most conventional cereals contain sugar and corn made from GMO products. Note that these same manufacturers create GMO free cereals for distribution overseas.

Annatto: This natural flavoring is now entering into controversy. According to WebMD, it can affect blood sugar levels so if your child has diabetes, please be aware of that. It also has been linked with allergies, and the Food Intolerance Network has gotten reports linking it to headaches and irritability. If you have a sensitive eater or a child prone to allergies, you may want to avoid this flavoring.

BHT is also a chemical additive and may be a possible ADHD trigger.

http://www.mamavation.com/2015/01/top-10-toxic-kid-cereals-to-avoid.html

I probably could have gone on for days researching all the ways marketing had fooled me into believing I was doing the best by my kids’ health. I had read enough and witnessed with my own eyes the effect cereal had on my children. So what’s the solution? Make breakfast every morning? Who has the time? At least cereal was convenient…but at such a huge cost! I don’t want my children becoming diabetics because I couldn’t get out of bed to make them breakfast…I don’t need that kind of mommy guilt lurking over me! The solution, cookies, bars, & cakes! Yep, you read right!

I started by making these amazing cookies!! Here is the recipe I made them the night before and did not tell the children what was in them…for some reason the moment you say healthy kids won’t eat them! And they loved them! They even requested them for breakfast the next morning….then I let them in on my little secret. If the cookies could be this delicious what else was out there? Turns out A LOT!

Pancakes….Click here for the recipe

Bars……Click here for recipe (I did add a few chocolate chips)

Carrot Cake…..Click here for recipe

Breakfast burritos….we had leftovers from fajitas the night before so we simply added eggs and voila! Peppers, steak, mushrooms, guacamole, and eggs in homemade tortillas!

Before I knew it I had settled into a routine of cleaning up dinner, doing the dishes, and making breakfast. Because I know there is no way I can make these in the morning…but perhaps you are a better morning person than I and you like to just chill in the evenings…the key is to find what works best for you, no one knows you better than you!!

Added bonus…I put on a dress for Mother’s Day that was WAY to snug 2 months ago and guess what, IT FITS now! So apparently this eating healthier for breakfast is not only helping the kiddos but my waistline too. SCORE!! Bring on the cookies, cakes, and bars!

If this is the transformation for altering breakfast can you imagine the results if we altered lunch and dinner too? Baby steps! 😉

No Preservatives, Additives, or DRIPS!! (For $1!)

May 9, 2015May 9, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

It is hot outside and the kiddos have been playing for all of 10 minutes. They want a snack along with half the other kids from the neighborhood who are in your backyard. Hmmm….what to feed them?! Want to offer them something that isn’t processed? That has no additives or preservatives? That has no dyes? No corn syrup? Why not throw organic in the mix too!? How does an organic refreshing blueberry Popsicle sound? One you made? You are probably thinking, because I know I was, been there done that and the gosh darn bags/popsicle molds/didn’t work! I also almost gave up on the entire concept until I came across these gems at the Dollar Store! Yep, the DOLLAR STORE! (Amazon wanted $9.99!) One container makes 4 popsicles, so you might want to stock up! And guess what, they actually work! I like the fact that all drips are caught and can be slurped through the straw on the side. So there is less mess. I am lusting after these things! They are the hot commodity in our household right now…I am having a tough time keeping them stocked!

Ingredients:

2 cups frozen fruit (fills 6-8 popsicles)

Kiddos really enjoy blueberry, strawberry, mango, & pineapple and you can mix the fruit…have them come up with their own flavor and name it! My little one made Purple Princess Blueberry Blush…it is fun to hear the crazy names they come up with!

1 tablespoon Agave

¾ cup water

Popsicle container

Directions:

Place all ingredients in the food processor or blender and blend baby, blend!! Then pour contents into the containers. Best part is since the fruit is frozen it literally takes an hour for the popsicles to be ready. SCORE! And then enjoy!!

Moms & Dads can also enjoy these delicious treats…FYI-they also taste great in a cocktails

Simple Mango & Black Bean Salad with a little kick!

May 6, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

It is FINALLY that time of year!! I feel like we have been waiting forever! Time to live outdoors! Well, not entirely but at least during the day. Time to have family, friends, and the neighbors over for cookouts! Time to bring a dish to pass at the block party and lake! Time to ooh & aah all the ladies with your culinary skills! Time to stock up on the Dei Fratelli!!

This is one of my favorite recipes, it is literally like your taste buds are transporting you to the beaches of Cabo San Lucas…you can almost feel the sand between my toes (I have been there once and the food was unbelievable, fresh, authentic, mouthwatering delicious)

Mango & Black Bean Salad:

1 can black beans drained and rinsed

1 can of Dei Fratelli Chopped Mexican Tomatoes & Jalapenos (do NOT drain…the peppers, cilantro, onion, garlic, vinegar, and salt that is in the can will be the dressing…less work for you…thank you Dei Fratelli)

1-1/2 cups chopped Mangos (frozen or fresh)

2 Tablespoons Avocado oil

Optional: add 1 avocado sliced & mix with other ingredients

Serve with a small side dish of Greek Yogurt (taste just like sour cream) for guest to place on top

Directions:

Pour all contents into bowl and mix.

Refrigerate for a few hours before you serve, best if served cold. Don’t have a few hours? Then use frozen mangoes…I have a big bag of organic frozen mango slices for this very reason…well, they also taste amazing as a sorbet and/or smoothies)

And Enjoy!!

Cheers to many backyard gatherings this season!!

Mother’s Day Brunch (WTOL Segment)

May 2, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

What is the perfect treat for Mother’s Day brunch, that doesn’t require a long list of ingredients, slaving over the stove, or massive cleanup? Click on the video for the answer.

For more info be sure to checkout the website.

If you could eat anything on Mother’s Day what would it be? We are talking ANYTHNG!

Our Happily Ever after Home

April 29, 2015May 9, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

Huge thank you to Compass for inspiring me to write this post! Compass is a home search company that works mainly in Washington D.C. and New York City that helps pair people with neighborhoods and agents that best fit what they are looking for. They are running a series called Starter Stories so it inspired me to write this little gem.

It was 2004 and my husband and I had been searching for “the perfect” house for a year! And then one evening we met up with our extremely patient realtor and toured the house that would become the location and setting for our happily ever after. There was something familiar, comforting, something that said welcome home. It reminded me of the house I used to draw in pictures when I was a child. The only thing missing was the white picket fence.

The house had almost all my ‘must haves’ …the kitchen wasn’t the best but we would change that…and most importantly the location was unbeatable! It was close to interstates, church, the mall (hehe), school, we could walk to two bowling alleys, health food store, bars, park, etc. It was perfect!!

We took possession and within 9 months we pulled up carpeting, finished the hardwood floors, pulled off wallpaper, painted, carpeted, purchased dishwasher, garbage disposal, and had SO MANY more plans, like gutting the kitchen, and then in November 2005 we welcomed our first child. Talk about a transformation!! We left our house for the hospital and 2 days later we officially came HOME with our baby girl. Though the house didn’t structurally change it felt so different having a baby in it.

We enjoyed our little family, 2 adults, baby, cat, & dog but something was missing. We welcomed another addition in 2007, our son. And again the house didn’t change at all but it felt so different walking into our home as a family of 4. I would love to say we did a lot to the house but we were just so busy maintaining what we had already accomplished. We were scrubbing crayon off walls, trying to get scratches out of the hardwood, play-doh out of the carpeting, there was over a 1000 spills, and a couple crashes (those little boys, I tell ya, ha-ha! Our son earned the nickname Office Max after receiving staples & glue due to goofing off on the stairs & trying to fly). And just when we started to calm the chaos and contemplated gutting the kitchen (we even had a new kitchen layout printed and in our hands!) we found out we were expecting again!!

And I tell you what; this time was the most magical homecoming! I was home with the new baby and my husband went to get our older two kiddos from my parents. We decided we wanted to be surprised and didn’t find out the sex of the baby when I was pregnant. And since I was in and out of the hospital, (within 25 hours) the kiddos didn’t come up to see their new sibling, so they were going to be surprised big time! I can remember it like it was yesterday. I was sitting on the steps with the baby, 3^rd step from the living room floor to be exact. My husband opened the front door, kiddos walked in, and rushed over to me. Each eager to see if they had a sister or a brother! And then I pulled back the blanket to reveal the pink outfit, they had a baby sister!!

Four years later and we still haven’t gutted the kitchen, truth be told we really haven’t touched the kitchen. Minus our new puppy ripping up the floor. Haha! We did remove the pantry door a while back and am pleased with the outcome.

So maybe I don’t have granite countertops or glass tile backsplash but I do have the 3^rd step, and strangely that means more to me. You see years from now when we no longer live here the kitchen will be gutted; perhaps a half dozen times but that 3^rd step, that step isn’t going anywhere! And besides I was much busier working on this masterpiece….this is my favorite part of my kitchen!

Upcycled Birdbath

April 22, 2015April 22, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

My 4 year old and I had the pleasure of attending a Chess Tournament on Saturday. Her sister who is in 3^rd grade participated in the tournament while we kept ourselves busy for 7 hours! Thankfully it was a beautiful day so we strolled outside, played on the playground, and noticed these really cool plate & mug birdbath. She had asked if we could make one and I couldn’t think of a more fun project for Earth Day.

So we stopped by SAVERS this afternoon and she selected the mugs and plates she wanted to use. We then headed home to assemble the birdbath. We decided to have some fun with it….she put on some fun Disney tunes and we went to work!

She also wanted to add “decorations” as she put it. I have to be honest it didn’t seem like the best idea and I explained to her that the birds might be afraid of all her decorations. She then informed me that no one could be scared of Mickey Mouse and that none of the animals were real. So we added her decorations and voila!

We found a home for the birdbath and she added water.

And now we wait for the birds…..and wait…..

Minivans & Muffin tops Show (vlog) & Giveaway ($75 value)!!

April 20, 2015April 20, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

Giveaway time…..

To enter the giveaway:

1-Like Mom on the go in Holy Toledo on Facebook

2-Follow @mamaof3onthego on Twitter

3-Comment stating what you REALLY want for Mother’s Day

Winner will be randomly selected May 1st @11:59pm

Why I Make My Kids Cook Dinner

April 17, 2015April 17, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

Mealtime seems to be a stressor in most families and ours is no exception. Children’s homework needs to be double checked, spelling words gone through, the littlest is demanding attention in any way possible, be it painting the walls or herself, doorbell rings, dog barks, phone rings, and in the middle of all the chaos mom is supposed to cook a rockin meal!? And even if she does manage to cook said rockin meal there is no guarantee that the kiddos will eat it or appreciate the time put into making the meal. Ever have a child refuse to touch their food simply based upon the way it looks? Does your child eat around their vegetable? Has your child ever complained because they wanted something else for dinner? Does your child ever complain that they are starving and it is taking you way too long to make dinner? NO MORE!

The solution is to have your kiddos involved in not only the meal preparation but also the planning. Have your child plan a meal for the week. Have them include the protein, veggie, grain and/or fruit (I have to be honest; I try to encourage mine to pick two veggies. It they do pick a fruit it is usually melon or berries). Take this time to talk with your children about healthy eating. Here are some fun printables to help as visual aids.

Then on the day of their meal have them in the kitchen with you preparing the meal. More supervision might be necessary for the younger ones. Also, if the meal they planned on making on a certain day takes more time then you have on that day then have them help prepare it ahead of time. You’d be surprised at how well this teaches them to appreciate the food on their plate, and it is a great lesson in time management.

Here is one such meal, Naan Bread Pizza! YUM!!

Our little man (and yes, I will still be calling him that long after he towers over me, hehe!) decided on pizza as his meal. Initially I think he thought if he said that then he wouldn’t have to make anything that we would order it, wrong! I asked him to decide on the toppings based upon the food groups we had discussed and he chose, bacon, mushrooms, peppers, spinach, cheese, and as we say in our house, ‘the best sauce’ Dei Frantelli pizza sauce…so the kid has good taste, what can I say? Haha!

He helped with preparing the toppings, we played a Dean Martin CD in the background, and then he called everyone in to make their own pizzas.

They drizzled the oil over the bread, smoothed the sauce around the center and carefully placed their toppings just so.

And guess what happened? To everyone’s surprise and amazement, they had fun! What!? Fun preparing meals, is that allowed? Haha! You bet!

Actions clearly speak louder than words! You can explain all the hard work that goes into making dinner but until they are in the kitchen with you it really doesn’t sink in. And I have to admit that one-on-one time together in the kitchen has afforded us some amazing bonding time…it isn’t often that they get moms undivided attention. And I am really enjoying the time with them too!

EXTRA CREDIT: As an added learning experience and to further enhance their appreciation for all that mom does, have your children go with you to the grocery store. Give them a budget for their meal and then have them figure out what they can afford.