Mom on the go in Holy Toledo

Brunch Play Date sampling Wholesome Sweeteners Organic Blue Agave

March 12, 2013momonthegoinholytoledo

A couple of weeks ago we hosted our first EVER Brunch play date. But it wasn’t just any play date Brunch. This play date Brunch was made extra special because we were sampling Wholesome Sweeteners Organic Blue Agave and all the amazing flavors of agave they offer, including, strawberry, vanilla, maple, and cinnamon!

I was a little apprehensive at first just because I have never hosted a Brunch play date; I mean what kind of toddler does brunch? Then, after contemplating the concept for a while I had a classic Oprah ‘aha moment’, every toddler loves brunch! I mean, let’s face it what do you typically eat at brunch? French toast, waffles, breakfast casseroles, eggs, etc. we’re talking about breakfast food that you can eat with your fingers, who wouldn’t like that?

So the night before our brunch I prepared the French toast bake and breakfast casserole. The kiddos and I sanitized the toys (vinegar, lemon, and water spray) and we cleaned out the couch, removed the cushions from the couch and vacuumed (I prefer to be traumatized by the random things located, lost, and growing under my cushions and not have my guest endure such a sight to memory). The morning of the play date we set up the tables, put the food in the oven, and then threw all the crap that I didn’t want anyone to see in the bedrooms and shut the doors (though a clever move, make certain you set the ground rules before doing this…there is nothing worse than just having received numerous complements on the neatness of your home only to have the children expose your dirty secret when they flood the rooms to play).

As our guests arrived the toddlers and kiddos played while the casserole and French toast bake cooled on the stove top. Then Brunch was served, or rather they served themselves but you get the gist. I had substituted the Wholesome organic blue agave in place of the sugar in the French toast bake so I was quite eager to bite into it and see if you can actually substitute agave in place of sugar.

In hindsight it probably would have been wise to test this method prior to the Brunch but I had so much faith in Wholesome sweeteners that I just knew it was going to be amazing, is what I would love to say but it is rubbish. Truth is I had no idea. So I did what any good host would do, I let my guest take a bite first and then carefully watched their reactions. There were no grim expressions on their faces, perhaps Wholesome sweeteners delivered on taste? But like any control freak I was going to be the judge of that one.

So I took a bite and booyah went the agave on my taste buds! It tasted just as good, no, better than with the regular sugar. I kid you not. Cooking with agave instead of sugar is easy, it taste as good, if not better, and is low on the glycemic index (it is slowly absorbed into the body thus reducing spikes in blood sugar). Onto the next test, the packets of flavored agave, which the children clearly loved based upon the packets left behind.

The maple that I drizzled over a waffle tasted just like maple syrup, the strawberry flavor was the perfect pairing with strawberries and Greek yogurt, and the cinnamon tasted superb over the breakfast casserole. Oh, and the best part, they came in little convenient packets that you can place in your car, purse, diaper bag, etc. I asked the other moms to share their thoughts and they also thought the flavors tasted delicious. The only thing myself and another mom detected was a slight after taste but that might just be because we added too much agave. Each individual’s taste buds are different so I suppose a case of trial and error is in order in order to receive the preferred amount of sweetness. Talking about sweet, isn’t he just the sweetest…he is clearly a fan.

Oh, and I almost forgot to tell you the best part, Wholesome sweetener organic blue agave is the World’s first Fairtrade agave! Wholesome sweeteners have helped bring clean water, health clinics, and schools to villages in Brazil, Mexico, and Africa. How awesome is that!

Just to review, Wholesome Sweeteners organic blue agave is awesome because:

Low on the glycemic index
Worlds’ first Fairtrade Agave
Convenient, especially in those individually wrapped packet, genius!
Can easily be substituted in place of sugar, and use less
Flavors taste amazing

But don’t let me be the judge, grab your purse, buy a bottle, and you be the judge! Or maybe you have tried it, what did you think? Got any great recipes to share?

I would like to send out a special thank you to all the moms that attended the Brunch as well as Moms Meet and Wholesome Sweeteners for allowing us to sample their products.

Disclosure: I was supplied with the package of items illustrated in the photo for sampling purposes. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

Bird themed activities for kids! (Free Printouts)

March 5, 2013March 9, 2014momonthegoinholytoledo

Last summer we had the pleasure of observing Robins make a nest in our backyard and the entire family found so much joy watching the baby birds. The location of the nest was perfect because the backdrop was white so we could see the babies little heads popping up when the momma would bring food. I was fascinated by how often she had to leave the nest to get food. And to think I thought my kiddos ate a lot, definitely not as much as those baby birds, thus the phrase eating like a bird is quite contradictory.

The children’s interest in birds has seemed to really increase since our family of Robins flew the nest. They seem to have a heightened awareness of the birds around them and they long to know more. Like little detectives they want to know what chirp belongs to which bird, where the birds are from, what they eat, etc.

So I did what any good mom would do, I Googled it! I Googled, birds indigenous to northwest Ohio, and came upon a fantastic site, Northwest Ohio Nature website. It has an alphabetical list of all birds indigenous to our area and includes a picture and the bird’s chirp/song. I decided to limit our research to five birds. We focused on the state bird, the Cardinal, the Robin, Black Capped Chickadee, Red Headed Woodpecker, and House Sparrow. I also visited the Audubon website and read more in-depth profiles on each bird with our 7-year-old. After the kiddos were introduced to each bird I printed off pictures of each for them to color.

Click here to print off a picture of the Cardinal.

Click here to print off the Black Capped Chickadee

Click here for an entire list of Bird coloring pages.

After identifying indigenous birds, reviewing pictures, hearing their songs, printing off pictures, and coloring the pictures we thought it might be fun to try to attract those birds and what better way to attract birds than a bird feeder!!

TP roll bird feeder

What you need:

Toilet paper roll
Peanut butter to spread on toilet paper roll
Bird feed
String or wire opptional…you can simply place roll right on a twig/branch depending on the size of the tree

Instructions:

Spread peanut butter on toilet paper roll

Roll toilet paper with peanut butter in the bird feed.

Milk Contain Bird Feeder

What you need:

Milk container (carton, gallon, you name it!)
Bird feed
Wire
knife

Instructions:

First drink all milk (might require baking brownies, cookies, etc.)

Clean out container and dry thoroughly.

Cut a hole in the container large enough for birds to enter to retrieve food.

Cut two small holes, one on each side of the container in order for it to hang, place wire through so that feeder can hang from branch of tree. (see image below)

Add bird feed

Hang bird feeders and enjoy!

Here are a few more great examples of ways to make feeders by recycling…(source: Wild Birds Unlimited children’s presentation)

If you don’t have time or an empty container/toilet paper roll on hand you can always take a field trip to your local park’s nature window. My kiddos find much joy at our local park’s window on wildlife. They like to sit, watch, and listen to the birds and other small critters scurry in front of the windows. But on those extremely cold days when a trip to the park is out of the question we stumbled upon a fun website that has web cams on various bird feeders…..

To view The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds, Feeder Watch Cam click here.

Here are a few more bird themed sites we have come across and enjoyed:

Chipper Woods Bird Observatory

Bird Jigsaw Puzzles for preschoolers (online)

Bird Sets, counting, numerical order, number
recognition, order by size, shapes, patterning, dot to dots, categorizing

Happy Bird Watching!

Avon Spa Night and Giveaway!!

March 1, 2013momonthegoinholytoledo

Last Friday night I had the most enjoyable and relaxing evening with friends and fellow moms, I hosted an Avon Spa Night!

The invites read….

As a mom you give, and give, and GIVE! You deserve a break!

You deserve time to unwind and relax, you deserve a Spa Night!

On the menu for the evening:

– Detox & Hydrate Bar: Help yourself to a variety of veggies, sushi, etc. and a few naughty treats at the bar.

– Hand treatments: Sugar scrub, Paraffin dip, and moisturizer lotion.

– Avon Representative Lilly will share some of the great products Avon has for you to enjoy your own personal Spa Nights at home. As well as, some great tips for looking great while under the influence of motherhood.

– Raffle!

– Socializing time and table topics

– Massages: Massage Therapist will be bringing her table and setting up a tranquil retreat for private massages. (Massages are a $1 per minute, massages can vary from 10-45 minutes)

Please come dressed in comfortable lounging clothes. This is a moms only event, no kiddos, we want you to relax.

Added bonus: First 6 moms to RSVP will receive a prize!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Apparently a lot of moms agreed that a Spa Night was the perfect cure for the mommy mayhem because we filled the house with 10 Momma! (Please note, I and one mom are missing from the photo, she was enjoying her massage…just seemed wrong to interrupt a peaceful massage for a photo-op).

Each mom took her turn getting a massage while the remainder enjoyed learning and using a few of the many awesome products Avon offers. You truly can bring the Spa Experience home with Avon thus saving both time and money, and this party proved it. Here is just one example…

Mani-Pedi with paraffin wax dips at a Spa can cost an up worth of $80. And you also have to find a babysitter for your kiddos and then work around that sitter’s schedule, exhausting! So, what’s the next best option? Bring the Spa experience home and give yourself a Mani-Pedi with paraffin wax (which can take time to get out, heat up, and clean). And while you may not require a babysitter you will have to walk the fine line between the kiddos falling asleep and you falling asleep. There is nothing worse than red nail polish across the forehead in the morning as you walk your child into school. After you have explained to the umpteenth parent that no, you are not bleeding, it is nail polish, you almost wish your forehead was just bleeding (hypothetically speaking of course)! So what is a mom to do? Go through life with dry cracking hands and feet accompanied by naked nails! NOOO (hands on cheeks, and screaming in astonishment)!! Avon to the rescue!

Paraffin Moisture Treatment Mask! This stuff is A-Mazing! We used it on our hands, placed a warm towel over our hands, a few minutes later, and voila! Beautiful, soft, young-looking hands, like Magic! Talk about convenient and affordable, takes no time compared to getting out the paraffin kit and heating up the wax, and it only cost $6. Hello, I believe this is what they call a no-brainer! Oh, and that nail drying dilemma, solved!

Speed Dry nail polish! No more having to worry about a scarlet line across the forehead as you drop your kiddos off at school (again, totally hypothetical scenario). Not only did this party prove that it is much more convenient and practical to have an Avon Spa night at home as opposed to visiting the Spa but I also learned a few tidbits for my morning routine.

Such as, did you know that you should be doing your eye makeup first and then your foundation? I had no idea but it does make sense. I often get eye shadow powder on my cheeks and sometimes a speck of mascara under my eyes. It really stinks because I have to wipe it off and begins the process of trying to match the new foundation up with the prior coat. Now I do my eye makeup first and if I get anything on my cheeks I can wipe it clean with the handy makeup remover wipes that I received for hosting, in addition to eye makeup remover. We also had a chance to try out other Avon products.

As the night progressed we had a raffle and then in was finally time for my massage. After that massage I was a happy, refreshed, and distressed momma. It was such a great night! I only wish I could have invited all of you to the party, or at least have gotten everyone’s name into the raffle. What if there was a way? That’s right, giveaway!!

Lilly, the Avon Independent Sales Representative who shared all the amazing products Avon offers wants you to stress less, by saving time and money with the Avon Paraffin Moisture Treatment Mask and a Speed Drying nail polish (click here to see color options for nail polish). How awesome is she?

To Enter:

Like Lilly’s Avon Ind. Sls. Rep. facebook page (please like from your personal facebook page and not a business, for some reason only the personal pages are counting on facebook now)
Like Mom on the go in Holy Toledo facebook page (please like from your personal facebook page and not a business, for some reason only the personal pages are counting on facebook now)
Like Be Well Massage Therapy (please like from your personal facebook page and not a business, for some reason only the personal pages are counting on facebook now)
Once you have completed all three then post a comment stating you have done so.

Winner will be randomly selected March 8^th

Fish McBites Fix and Giveaway!

February 24, 2013February 25, 2013momonthegoinholytoledo

Picture it….Friday morning and I have accomplished the impossible. I have dropped off our 1^st grader at school, managed to complete all our grocery shopping for the next two weeks, with my little helpers no less. Translation, there were a few hurdles (potty visits, begs for obnoxious foods, visiting the fish aquariums, and cleanup isle 15) but I rocked it! If there was a motherhood grocery shopping Olympics I just won the Gold!

I packed the groceries into the car and then gave myself a minute to bask in the success of my grocery shopping skills. Then it was on with the remaining errands. Thankfully this winter weather is good for something besides sledding, groceries can sit a few minutes longer in the car so momma can check off a few more items from her ‘to do’ list. I continue on to the gas station, bank, and I was on my way to drop off preschool tuition when I heard a little voice from the back seat say, “I am hungry”. As I glanced down at the clock I realize that there is clearly not enough time for me to complete my last errands, unload groceries, and then make lunch. It would be way too late and there wouldn’t be enough time for nap time/quiet time before having to pick up my 1^st grader and quiet time keeps momma sane so that was nonnegotiable. The solution? Drive-thru!

I don’t care what anyone has to say, when you are in the throes of a ‘to do’ list with a preschooler and toddler becoming restless in the backseat after just coming off of an intense grocery shopping spree eating in the car quickly becomes an embraceable solution. So I pulled into the nearest McDonald’s promising the kiddos Happy Meals since they were so good while I ran errands. Then I remembered, it is Lent. Shoot! How does a mom back pedal from that promise? While trying to determine how I was going to explain to the children that McDonald’s ran out of Happy Meals and consequently, in lying to my children added Confession to my ‘to do’ list. But as I came around the curb I saw it, it was beautiful, a sign that indicated that Fish McBites are in Happy Meals!

So the kiddos got to have their Happy Meals with fish McBites and I gave them a try too. To be honest I was pleasantly surprised by the crispy, tender, big flavor taste of the flaky Alaska Pollock bites! And after further research I also like the fact that the McBites fish, wild-caught Alaska Pollock, like all of McDonald’s fish, is from a Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified sustainable fishery http://www.msc.org/.

They were so yummy last Friday that I decided to get them again this Friday. McBites are this Mom on the go’s go to fish fix for Lent. There is nothing better than after a long week of running kiddos around, laundry, etc. than to get a break from meal prep, cooking, and clean-up, yep McDonald’s does the dishes. Score! Don’t you deserve a break today (kicking it old school…remember this slogan?)?

Cue the Giveaway…

Enter to win this awesome Fish McBites prize pack consisting of: Fish McBites branded items including, t-shirt, hat, koozie, and $10 arch card all in a drawstring bag!

To Enter:

Follow Mom on the go in Holy Toledo facebook page (please like from your personal facebook page and not a business, for some reason only the personal pages are counting on facebook now)
Follow Mamaof3onthego on Twitter
Follow McDonald’s on Twitter https://twitter.com/mcdonalds_NWOH
Once you have completed a numbers 1-3 please post a comment indicating you have done so

Winner will be randomly selected Wed. February 27^th.

Good luck!

Disclosure: I was given the Fish McBites Prize pack and coupons, no other compensation was received, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Red Lobster: Where Moms Vacation!

February 19, 2013February 20, 2013momonthegoinholytoledo

At 7:30am every morning like clockwork my 5 yrs. old son asks the same question, “What’s for dinner?” Seriously!?! And to think I was pretty impressed with the fact that I was able to come up with something for breakfast. Meal planning is exhausting. I added it up the other day and it turns out, between breakfasts, lunches, and dinners I prepare over 950 meals a year, give or take a few. I am sure many moms are feeling the same exhaustion and pressure. The pressure to prepare healthy meals that the entire family will enjoy and not get stuck in a meal rut is overwhelming. I am not getting paid enough for this gig! After all I am no Giada, Sara Snow, or Rachel Ray (by the way, that girl is a genius, who else could make money off a garbage bowl?).

So, what’s the solution? Go out to eat, of course! But, the cost to go out to eat can be just as overwhelming. It seems like a family of five practically has to apply for a loan in order to go out to a nice sit-down restaurant. And if you’re fortunate enough to be approved for that loan the thought of taking 3 young kiddos out to a restaurant is enough to bring even the most prepared mother into a full fledge panic attack. A mother’s mind floods with all the ‘what ifs’…what if the baby won’t stop crying…what if the toddler pees her pants, or worse, poops!…what if she throws a tantrum…what if your husband’s boss is sitting next to you…then upon witnessing the madness determines your husband clearly can’t oversee a firm if he can’t even control his own family, and fires him right on the spot… all because you wanted to go out to eat! Yep, as ridiculous as these ‘what ifs’ may sound these are the crazy questions and scenarios that run through my mind.

Okay so hypothetically speaking, let’s say you have bypassed the ‘what ifs’ and have been approved for that loan, next challenge, the menu? Why is it every restaurant, no matter what ethnicity assumes you want to feed your child fried chicken strips, French fries, pizza, or grilled imitation cheese sandwich!! Why must they fry everything? Shoot, at one restaurant we went to the children’s menu actually had fried mac & cheese. Perhaps the restaurants are in cahoots with the pharmaceutical drug manufacturers. Because at the rate they are frying everything there will be a need for a child’s Lipitor! Why can’t they have healthier options for children?

Pardon me as I step up onto my soap box….

I just want a break! I want someone else to plan, prepare, and cook the meal. I want someone else to serve, clean, and cater to my family’s needs so I can enjoy my meal while it is hot! I want affordable and healthy menu options! And lastly, if possible, maybe someone else could entertain the children. Are all these demands possible? I suppose if my husband took on another wife, but I am not down with the whole sister wives thing (the show is very entertaining this is true, but the lifestyle is not for me). Perhaps there is another option that can meet all these demands that doesn’t involve polygamy? Two words, Red Lobster!

I ~~vacationed~~ ate there last week and it was A-Mazing!

I was surprised to find that Red Lobster offers so many family friendly and affordable options. In fact, nearly 60% of the dishes on the new menu are under $15 – making Red Lobster a perfect destination for a family dinner out.

Additional menu highlights include:

•The $7.99 weekday lunch special – Weekdays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., certain lunch sandwiches, salads and soups are just $7.99. This offer includes four varieties of lunch entrees – like the new Spicy Shrimp Tacos and Wood-Grilled Burger – three types of salads and a soup & salad combo, all served with Red Lobster’s signature Cheddar Bay Biscuits. (Hello….can we say future mommy and me lunch date?)

•Also, 5 for $5 ‘til 6 – Guests can enjoy select appetizers for $5 from 3 to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Selections include new menu items like the Sweet Chili Shrimp and Southwest Chicken Pizza, and Spicy Buffalo Chicken Bites, among others. At select locations, $4 wines and $3 beers will also be available (void where prohibited by law). (Yep…putting that down as a Moms Night Out!! WooHoo!! And yes, our nights end very early)

•Seasonal specials, like the current 30 shrimp for $11.99 and the upcoming Lobsterfest. (More like Lentfest…am I right fellow Catholics?)

•As well as lighter menu options (under 500 calories) as part of there LightHouse menu. (For all you Mommas who have been sticking to your New Year’s resolutions)

And a kid’s menu that is beyond fish sticks. (Take that Lipitor!!)

Are you salivating yet? No!! Well then take this……and I got to eat them when they were all warm right out of the oven!

I ordered the Mahi Mahi with shrimp and Broccoli that wasn’t smothered in salt or butter, it was awesome! I did almost lose the Mahi Mahi to ketchup that my toddler so graciously wanted to share, but I caught it just in time!

Red Lobster met ALL my demands; even occupied the kiddos with the activities on the kids menu, score! The experience was so relaxing, the food was so delicious, and it was an all-around memorable family outing to which the only word that really does it justice is, vacation! So, think twice before you book your next Carnival Cruise, Red Lobster is definitely the way to go!!

Disclosure: Red Lobster provided me with a gift card to try out their new and improved menu. No additional compensation was received and all opinions expressed are my own.

Looking for a Career that Correlates with Motherhood?

February 15, 2013momonthegoinholytoledo

Let’s be totally honest, after you become a mom the entire world seems to change. You find yourself worrying about and questioning things you never even cared about before. Such as, I wonder if that could fit up a toddler’s nose….is that made of ceramic or plastic…will it bounce or shatter? Your wardrobe changes too. You now base your outfit on what will hide spit up more effectively. And you trade the stilettos for shoes that offer more solid grounding, for those days when you are balancing everything but the kitchen sink! Motherhood forces us to evolve, bend, and reevaluate our priorities, to metamorphose from our former non-mommy selves. So why is it that most moms think they must remain stagnant in their career or go back to school? After all if we can be the CEO of our families we can surely find a way to cultivate the perfect career around our existing talents, skills, and most importantly, our families, right? Yes we can!

But we could use a little help which is why I was so excited when I was given the opportunity to review Use What you Know: A Business Idea Guide for Moms, by Joyce Brewer, an Emmy-award winning TV journalist. It is, in one word, Brilliant! Joyce does a wonderful job of getting to the point, sharing great examples of other moms’ success, keeping your attention, and even walks you through the process. And no, you do not have to ship your kids to another house in order to complete the book. It is an easy, effective, captivating, and motivational guide that will have you thinking, why didn’t I do this sooner?

So, before you go back to school, apply for a loan, or start interviewing live-in babysitters you owe it to your pocket-book, your family, and yourself to read Use What you Know: A business Idea Guide for Moms. I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the answers you find in the book! I know I was!

Wordless Wednesday: Valentine’s Day Treats

February 13, 2013momonthegoinholytoledo

I realize everyone is very busy today with Valentine’s Day preparations, the beginning of Lent, and just the daily grind. So I am keeping the reading to a minimum and I am making this post toddler friendly, translation, lots of pictures!

Preschooler’s Valentine’s Day treats….

My little helper…

1st Grader’s Valentine’s Day treats….

Look who sneaked a cookie…first she stole my heart and now a cookie!

These are for my Valentines….fruit dipped in chocolate with flax-seed sprinkled on it, yum!

Can’t forget our 4-legged Valentines….aren’t these the cutest!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Krispy, Peanut Butter, & Chocolate No Bake Treat: Perfect Fat Tuesday Fix!

February 11, 2013momonthegoinholytoledo

No matter what you call it, Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, or Mardi Gras, in any language it is an excuse to eat all that good crap that is really REALLY bad for you!

A tradition in my family when I was a child was to indulge in the classic polish Paczki on Fat Tuesday. I am keeping that traditional alive in our household too, or at least attempting to. The Paczkis I purchased had an unfortunate accident.

See, I purchased them on Friday with the intent of sharing them with the family on Tuesday. But, well, there was an accident. They accidently ended up in my mouth. So, instead of breaking the tragic news to the kiddos I did what any self-respecting momma would do and I hit up my pantry for a replacement treat (Death of the Paczkis by means of mommy’s mouth was not a conversation I was ready for at their young, delicate, ages).

So, after raiding my pantry for what seemed like eternity (I got sidetracked and ended up cleaning it out. I tossed a lot of expired items, wiped down the shelves, etc. If it wasn’t for me eating all those Paczkis my pantry would be an ever-loving mess right now.) I did finally come across enough ingredients to produce the sugar spike in the kiddos systems that would hopefully be comparable to, if not better than, an actual Paczki. Here’s what I found…..

Ingredients:

1 bag large marshmallows
6 cups rice krispies
3 tablespoons of butter

Filling:

1-1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup smooth peanut butter
2 tablespoons butter at room temperature

Topping:

½ bag chocolate chip morsels melted in double boiler
½ cup smooth peanut butter melted

And here is what I did with all those ingredients….

Directions:

In mixer add powdered sugar, peanut butter, and butter. Mix thoroughly. Set aside.

Melt butter on range in large pot. Add bag of Marshmallows and stir continuously until melted. Slowly add cups of krispies cereal to melted marshmallows stirring continuously. Once all ingredients are thoroughly mixed remove from heat.

Pour half the krispies and marshmallow goodness into a bunt cake pan (THIS IS IMPORTANT: spray pan with cooking spray). Grab the peanut butter mixture and place over the krispies and marshmallow mix. Then place remaining krispies and marshmallow mix over the peanut butter mixture. Then place in the refrigerator for an hour or freezer for ½ hour.

Remove bunt from refrigerator or freezer, place upside-down on cake pedestal or plate, remove bunt pan, and voila! Now admire what a wonderful job you did! What an amazing mom you are.

Final steps! Melt the chocolate chip morels in a double boiler and drizzle over the cake/treat. Melt peanut butter and drizzle over the cake. Grab a napkin and remove the drool from your face. Place treat in refrigerator for a few minutes until the chocolate and peanut butter hardens.

Final step….and this is the most important….pour a cold glass of milk and cut off a slice of this…

The kiddos were pleasantly surprised by this delicious treat and their blood sugar seemed to spike nicely, similar to a Paczki. Perhaps next year’s Paczkis will have a similar fate?

What is your go to food/foods for a Fat Tuesday fix?

Moms’ Timeout Show: Valentine’s Day Treats & Crafts

February 3, 2013momonthegoinholytoledo

Here are a few more fun Valentine’s Day gift ideas that are 100% fat-free…..

A few years back I made this fun Lovopoly game for my main man and Valentine, my hubby. It is so cute because you customize the entire game to your life. The game I made includes where we first met, our children’s birthdays, where we honeymooned, etc. It is such a clever gift that is sure to surprise any Valentine. Click here to start making one today.

Here is a fun way to ensure that you and your hubby have set dates for the rest of the year. Click here for more info.

Customized books are a classic choice for the little Valentine’s in your life. Your kiddos will lose their minds when you start reading these books and they realize they are the main characters! My kiddos simply adore their books, click here to customize one to your little Valentine today!

Photo books are another great Valentine’s Day gift for all your Valentine’s, young and old. Why not make a special book for your hubby that includes pictures and events that were special for just the two of you? Make a fun book of special events that have happened over the years for your little Valentine’s. Make your own recipe book for a friend…the possibilities are endless, have fun and get creative. Make a book with photos of all your toddlers favorite things like, mommy, daddy, their toddler bed, favorite stuffed animal, etc. Have fun!

Trivia:

At the beginning of the show Alison is mimicking a scene from a movie, name that movie!

Tuesday’s Tip: Schedule time to serve your Community

January 29, 2013momonthegoinholytoledo

Like the little black dress (LBD) is the staple for any wardrobe, gratitude should be the staple attitude. In this day and age it seems like many would prefer to be self-serving as opposed to serve others. As parents it is important that we break this cycle. How do we break the cycle? As Ghandi said, “be the change that you want to see in the world”. Model the behavior you would like to instill in your children. In the book Raising Unselfish Children in a Self-Absorbed World the author Jill Rigby suggests a few ways in which unselfishness can be taught:

•Refusing to overindulge your kids by helping them develop patience and teaching them responsibility

•Teaching empathy and understanding

•Helping them understand the importance and necessity of forgiveness and how to ask for it and accept it

•Cultivating generosity

•Nurturing gratitude

•Spending time together as a family

•Helping out in your community

I realize that as parents we often have the best intentions of helping out in our community but sometimes it just doesn’t make it on the calendar. So, we need to make it a priority, just like we place the PTA meetings, soccer games, dance class, piano lessons, etc. on our calendars we need to also include serving the community. It need not be something to time-consuming, you could make brownies with your children and drop them off with a thank you note to your local fire station, have kiddos help you go through the pantry and fill up a bag to donate to a local food shelter, volunteer at a local Ronald McDonald house, etc. You could do something different each month or the same things every month but the key is to schedule it on your calendar as you would any other priority. Make community service and gratitude part of your family’s routine and it will become a part of your children’s life.

It can also be fun to get friends involved. This also increases your chances of following through with your plans, similar to having a workout buddy, have a family you volunteer with and chances are you will be more accountable.

This year we started, Sponsor Pizza and Movie Night with our playgroup. Every other month our playgroup donates and serves pizza, pop, juice, dessert, and donates a movie to our local Family Shelter. The experience has really taught my little ones the virtue of patience and service, to put others before themselves, to serve those residing in the shelter the food and dessert, to make sure others are provided for before themselves. It has also taught them to be thankful for what they have, their home, their bedroom, their toys, etc. It has been a positive experience and I look forward to serving many more meals.