Archive for April, 2010
Welcome to Friday Follow
Apr 30th
Happy Friday Everyone!
I have two giveaways running currently:
One ends TODAY! Low ENTRIES!
3 winners.
Review: Calorie Count Application For the iPhone
Apr 29th
The new Calorie Count app is a free, downloadable diet tool that allows users to track and manage weight, search and log nutritional data, popular exercises and healthy recipes all while on-the-go …a time when critical dieting decisions are often made. Essentially, the Calorie Count App serves as an all-in-one diet coach, nutritionist and workout trainer! The app has been developed in response to overwhelming requests from CalorieCount.com‘s site members (yes, it also serves as a social networking and support site consisting of two million).
The Calorie Count App can be used to quickly/easily search the foods you encounter while on-the-go and help you make better diet decisions (i.e. a mocha latte vs. an iced coffee). Did you know President Obama’s recently passed healthcare reform will require all restaurants with 20 or more chains to post calorie counts and nutritional information on their menus? In the meantime, we have the Calorie Count App!
The Calorie Count App is available at no cost for both existing and new users through the Apple App Store. An outline of the app’s key features are listed for you:
- An easy-to-use dashboard with graphics that allows users to navigate through the application while being able to quickly visualize their dieting progress.
- One of the most comprehensive nutritional analyses of food consumption – against daily targets – among calorie counting iPhone Apps.
- The ability to quickly search and easily log more than 100,000 food items.
- Tools to view current and past food, activity and weight logs including a graph of your weight history.
- More than 150 low-calorie recipes from About.com (www.about.com), selected by Calorie Count’s registered dietitian, Mary Hartley. This interface allows users to select recipes based on course, food group and dietary considerations.
- Access to Calorie Count’s daily blog (www.caloriecount.com/blog) to help users stay motivated and informed.
- The ability to record daily weight, and view charts and graphs to measure your body’s progress against weight-loss goals.
- Automatic updates of information logged on Calorie Count member accounts through a computer or the iPhone App.
- An offline mode that allows members to view recent logs, view and re-log favorites, and input their weight without an Internet connection.
My Review:
I just signed up on the caloriecount.com website and downloaded the iPhone application, and it provides recipes, and healthy eating tips. It even calculated how many calories I should be intaking daily. The website is great. I am pretty good about working out on a daily basis, but I am not so good about what I eat, so with the new application you can input your calories on the go–it will definitely hold me more accountable for what I eat. I am excited to start using this tool to help me stay in shape!
My Life List
Apr 28th
What is a “LIFE” list? it is a “wish list of all the goals you want to achieve, dreams you want to fulfill and life experiences you desire to experience before you die.”
I was watching the show on MTV called, “The Buried Life,” while running on the treadmill at the gym the other morning. The show has 4 guys who travel around the world and complete items off of their Bucket List. The premise is that this list is of 100 things they would like to accomplish before they die. And each week they try to accomplish something off the list. What is cool about the show is that they pay things forward. For everthing they complete off of their list, they help a stranger complete something off of theirs. Very cool concept.
Between the show the Buried Life, and reading the a book, Achieve Anything in Just One Year, and watching Mr. Toddler grow, I have been thinking about my LIFE list. I have just started and will continue to add as I think of ideas! And I am sure over my lifetime as my goals and dreams change, my list will change. The way I look at this list is, if it out there and written down–I will have to accomplish the items on the list. I don’t want to go through a lifetime of “what ifs, I should haves and I wish I coulds.” I want to look back on my life and say, “Look at what I have accomplished in this lifetime.”
I challenge you all to write a LIFE list, I know we all have goals and dreams. Here are some things to consider for your list:
Start writing down what comes to mind as you read these questions:
- What would you wish you could do before you die?
- What have you always wanted to accomplish?
- Where would you like to travel?
- What are your goals and dreams, money and time are not a factor?
- Are there any special moments you want to witness?
- What activities or skills would you like to learn?
- What are the most important things you can ever do?
- What would you like to say/do together with other people? People you love? Family? Friends?
- What do you want to achieve in the different areas: Social, Love, Family, Career, Finance, Health (Your weight, Fitness level), Spiritual?
- What do you need to do to lead a life of the greatest meaning?
Here is the start of my LIST in no particular order:
1. Complete an Ironman Distance Triathlon
2. Run a marathon
3. Back pack or cycle parts of Europe
4. Learn how to surf
5. Start a business in fitness, become a triathlon coach
6. Travel to Australia
7. Own a home on the lakefront
8. Create and decorate my dream home
9. Have a wonderful relationship with my son, one that deepens as he gets older.
10. See my child graduate college.
11. See a grandchild being brought into this world
12. Have more children
So what is on YOUR LIFE LIST?
Review: Organically Grown Clothing
Apr 27th
Organically Grown Clothing Review
I was so lucky to be able to review an outfit from Organically Grown’s 2010 line of baby or toddler items. They have some very cute items for babies and toddler’s in their store, and are all reasonably priced. The size of their outfits ranges from newborns all the way to 4T for children. I received a super cute outfit for Mr. Toddler to wear. This is the outfit I was sent.
I was very pleased with this outfit, and noticed how soft it was as soon as I touched it. The cotton is thick and sturdy. Since Mr. Toddler has eczema, I am always looking for natural and soft products for him to wear. The design is adorable, and they have so many other adorable designs to choose from for boys and girls.
ABOUT ORGANICALLY GROWN:
“Driven by our positive spirit, and heartfelt commitment to a healthy planet, we founded the Organically Grown Group. We were raised to believe that we could make a difference, and affect real change in the world. As a young and innovative company, we believe in your right to affordable, safe, stylish, high-quality organic products from apparel and home décor, to personal care items.
Organically Grown has begun to play an active role in the organic revolution. Our apparel is made from organic cotton, which is grown by safe, pesticide-free methods from plants that are not genetically modified. We support the organic farming community and organizations worldwide that are committed to a green, sustainable environment.
There is a direct connection between what we wear and the effect it has on the earth. According to the Organic Exchange, an estimated 170 million pounds of pesticides, and 25% of the world’s insecticides are used in the production of conventional, non-organic cotton. 7 out of 10 of these pesticides are on the EPA’s “known” list of “likely” or “probable” carcinogens. These chemicals result in work-force illnesses, water contamination, and the devastation of farmland. All of the problems are eliminated though organic farming practices. Organically Grown is proud to be a part of the solution.
Organically Grown acts as an educational collective. We sponsor fund-raising events and through the media, we teach consumers about the benefits of living an organic lifestyle.
We are about balance and taking baby steps. We do the best we can today, knowing we will grow with innovation tomorrow. Together, we can make a difference by creating products we are proud of and you are proud to purchase. We hope this will be our green legacy.”
If you would like to check out Organically Grown click HERE and look around.
I was sent an outfit by Organically Grown for the purpose of reviewing it. I was not swayed in my opinion by receiving the free product.
Review: TweetDeck iphone Application
Apr 26th
TweetDeck for iphone
TweetDeck is a browser, allowing users to connect with Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and MySpace. The TweetDeck for iPhone allows you to see all your tweets, and your friends status updates facebook. It continually updates your twitter, facebook type accounts-in the form of little popups at the bottom of the iphone screen. TweetDeck is one of the best iphone Twitter applications for the amount of information it’s able to organize. It also can sync to your desktop version of TweetDeck. Better yet it is FREE.
I recently downloaded TweetDeck for my iphone, I wanted to find an application that could link my twitter and facebook accounts, and this did the job. Also as a new mommy blogger, I wanted the ability to see what my other mommy bloggers were up to, and this application is great for when I am on the go! It is a great iphone application, and definitely worth checking out.
You can download the application here
Welcome to Friday Follow
Apr 23rd
Happy Friday Follow! I cannot believe another week has flown on by and here we are at Friday!
If you are new to my site, Hello and please take a moment to look around.
I have some great giveaways going on so please ENTER for your chance to win!
Book: Just Let Me Lie Down, Giveaway, 3 winners
Green Toys Recycle Truck Giveaway
Green Toys Review and Giveaway
Apr 23rd
CLOSED
Green Toys- Review and Giveaway
Since Earth Day was yesterday, I wanted to teach Mr. Toddler about going green. And the best way for Mr. Toddler to get the chance is with Green Toys. Green Toys brings you a great selection of fun and environmentally friendly toys. The Green Toys are made out of recycled plastic and other materials, which helps reduce fossil fuel use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These toys give the kids incentive to use their imagination.
The best part about Green Toys is that the main ingredient in creating the toys is no other than plastic milk jugs! To me that is just awesome, being able to use something that otherwise would just be in the trash and to make it into something that a kid can use , and have fun with is just great.
Green Toys are made in the US. And their products are tested by recognized independent labs and the Green Toys are Phthalates and BPA free and they are designed without any external coatings, eliminating the fear of lead paint in your kid’s toys.
Even the packaging is environmentally friendly, the box is a very simple corrugated box, with no plastic, cellophane or twist- ties and they are a 100% recyclable. So you just need to throw the packaging in your recycling bin after you open it. Not only is it packaged with safety in mind, but they are also very easy for the little ones to open and to get to their toys. No twist ties and plastic to cut off to get out the truck.
We received the recycle truck, and Mr. Toddler loves it. He has been putting everything inside of the truck and pushing it around the house.
WIN IT: Green Toys is giving one lucky winner a recycle truck of their own!
To enter this free giveaway visit: www.greentoys.com and tell me which other toy you would like. This is mandatory to participate.
Extra entries:
1 entry- Follow this blog.
1 entry- Follow me on Twitter @lifeofmodernmom
1 entry-Tweet about this giveaway (Can be done once daily)
2 entries- Grab my button, and tell me where you placed it
2 entries- Grab my button, and tell me where you placed it
2 entries- Follow me on Networked Blogs
5 entries – Blog about this free giveaway and post the link here.
Giveaway ends May 4th at midnight.
Open to US residents, no PO boxes. Will select a winner through Random.org.
Please contact me within 48 hours to be eligible for your prize.
WINNER
LARA, Random.org #22. Congrats LARA!!!
Recipe: Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps
Apr 21st
Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps
Adapted from Bon Appetit
Makes 4 servings
![[Turkey+Wraps.JPG]](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EZccKVZoBhg/Snh0VfcZKvI/AAAAAAAAAeY/TRoz_sEEgug/s1600/Turkey%2BWraps.JPG)
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 1/4 pounds lean ground turkey
1/2 cup purchased Asian peanut sauce
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce, plus additional soy sauce for dipping
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, chopped (about 1 1/4 cups)
12 large lettuce leaves
1 can water chestnuts chopped
Preparation:
1. Heat sesame oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic and sauté until beginning to brown, about 3 minutes.
2.Add turkey and sauté until brown and cooked through, breaking up with back of spoon, about 7 minutes.
3. Add peanut sauce, hoisin sauce, and 1 tablespoon soy sauce, and water chestnuts; heat through. (Can be made 8 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Reheat in microwave or skillet, adding water by tablespoonfuls to moisten if necessary, before continuing.) Stir in cucumber. Season with salt and pepper.
4.Transfer turkey mixture to medium bowl. Place lettuce leaves on platter. To make wraps, spoon turkey mixture onto lettuce leaf, fold in sides over filling, and roll up.
5. Pass additional soy sauce alongside wraps for dipping.
Review: I really enjoyed this meal. It is a great summer recipe, it is healthy and easy to make. We eat a lot of ground turkey, and I wanted to find something new to make with it. This is similar to the P.F. Chang’s Lettuce Wraps. You can serve alone, or add potstickers and brown rice for a complete meal.
10 Outdoor Toddler Activities
Apr 20th
Now that it is warmer outside, I am so excited to be getting out of the house a bit with Mr. Toddler. And I have been thinking of creative things to do with him outside. Here is a list of some fun outdoor activities.
1. Blowing Bubbles: Mr. Toddler loves to have me blow bubbles and then he chases the bubbles and pops them.
2. Water Play: This can incorporate a sprinkler, hose, little pool. Or just get a bucket of water with some smaller cups and let them move the water around. Mr. Toddler loves to play in water, and this is always a big hit.
3. Sidewalk Chalk: Always a fun activity. Since Mr. Toddler is working on letters and numbers, I draw some and have him tell me what they are.
4. Watering the flowers: Toddler’s like to help with whatever you are doing. Get them a small watering can and let them water the flowers, grass etc…
5. Plant a flower: When you are gardening and pulling weeds, you can take an empty pot with a little dirt and let them pretend to plant the weed. They like to do what you are doing, and help you.
6. Garden Salad: Have them pick them some grass, weeds, etc…and put in a bowl and let them toss it.
7. Pick up Sticks: Walk around the yard and have them pick up as many sticks as they can find. Then count them together.
8. Sandbox/sensory play: Great outdoor activity, letting them build in a sandbox. You can also use a small outdoor table and let them learn different textures. Such as sand, dirt, beans, seeds, etc…plus then you don’t have any mess to clean up.
9. Playing with a ball: Helps them learn coordination, and Mr. Toddler loves to throw around a ball. We also have been working on kicking a ball.
10. Going for a walk: Get a little exercise and go for a walk. Encourage your toddler to point on things in the environment. Work on naming objects. Let them learn the textures of the grass, trees, flowers. Point out cars, birds, etc…
Book Review & Giveaway: Just Let Me Lie Down
Apr 19th
CLOSED
Just Let Me Lie Down: Necessary Terms For the Half-insane Working Mom by Kristin van Ogtrop
Kristin van Ogtrop is the editor of Real Simple magazine.
From the publisher, “Kristin van Ogtrop knows she’s lucky–fulfilling career, great husband, three healthy kids, and, depending on the hamster count, an impressive roster of pets. She also knows she is tired. Always.
Using stories and insights from her own life, she provides a lexicon for the half-insane working mom. Anyone who has left a meeting to race to the Halloween parade immediately understands van Ogtrop’s definition of “Kill the messenger”as”The action you must take in order to forget about the office for a time–that is, to remove your Blackberry/Treo/iPhone/whatever from your person and store it as far away as your neurotic self will allow.” Filled with essays, lists, and resonant observations, JUST LET ME LIE DOWN establishes van Ogtrop as the Erma Bombeck of the new millennium.”
MY REVIEW:
Just Let Me Lie Down is a story that looks into the untold side of being a mother. You can read from cover to cover or just snippits. The book chronicles her juggling act of work-home life balance in alphabetical order, and gives you series of short stories that interlace with one another, and it will have you laughing throughout. As a mother, and someone who does work part time out of the home, I found this book almost talking about my life. Who hasn’t had a day where you are trying to prepare dinner and your toddler has a meltdown on the kitchen floor, and the house is a MESS. Each of her stories, any mother could certainly relate too. One of my favorite quotes of the book, is when her mother tells her, “Having 2 kids is like having 1 1/2, but having 3 is like having 10″.
Really this book is a very easy read, it is a story of humor in terms of motherhood. It is funny and a great read! Any mother would love to read this book.
This book is available at major bookstores and Amazon.com for 16.49
YOU CAN WIN IT
I have not one, not two, but three copies of Kristin van Ogtrop’s Just Let Me Lie Down to giveaway
~GIVEAWAY RULES~
All entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on April 30th. Please include your email address in each entry. A winner will be chosen at random. I will notify the winner via email (please respond within 48 hours). If you do not respond within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen. Open to Canada and US.
Mandatory Entry
Just tell me why you like being a Mom
~ Extra ENTRIES~
1. Follow me on Networked Blogs (2 entries)
2. Follow me on GFC
3. Follow me on Twitter @lifeofmodernmom
4. Tweet about this giveaway (2 entries) May tweet daily.
5. Grab my Button (2 entries)
6. Vote for me on top mommy blogs
7. Blog about this giveaway (5 entries)
3 Winners on Random.org
#10 Lara
# 8 Brinkels
#2 Vicotoria
