Product Review - Munchkin Star Fountain and a Glow In The Dark Bath

With our July 4th Celebration at an end, I didn't want to just pitch my daughter's glow sticks in the trash.  Instead, I let her take them with her into the bath.  Such super, silly fun!  You should try it!

As a gift, my daughter was given this cute star bath toy that sprays water into the air!  The "nose" lights up and it's where the water comes from.  Battery operated, water is sucked in through little holes on the back/bottom and is forced up through the "nose" on the top.  The star floats nicely around the tub.  Only issue we've had is when a piece of fuzz got sucked up into the bottom holes - but we quickly removed it, and things worked just fine.  Amazon and Target carry them.   Price runs between $7 and $10.  (But being the cheapskate I am, I'd prefer if the price were under $4.  *BIG grin*)

via Amazon

It was a SHINING end to our Happy 4th of July.  

A GLOWING mommy and baby girl headed off to bed that night.

Creativity and fun doesn't have to end just 'cause it's time to go to sleep.  *smiles*

We're building a deck!

A previous post had deck ideas and inspiration.  And now we're building our own!  Instead of hiring a company, (and yes we got bids, outrageous bids!) my husband asked a group of friends to come help get things started!  With volunteer and paid friend help, we're gradually finishing up!

We're also putting up a fence, just a good-size play-yard for our little one.  Just over two acres of open space is marvelous, but a lose German Shepherd and then a Pit Bull kinda made me want a protected place for my daughter to play.  So excited to have things complete and then on to designing landscaping!  *smiles*

One trouble we ran into was the septic!  

The tanks are exactly beneath where we are putting the deck!

Posts had to be set in different places, etc.

And of course my baby girl got in on the action.  *grins*

                                           

More pics of the final product will come, soon I hope!

Healthy Summer Snack

Plate #1

Plate #2

Fresh.  Alive.  Clean.  Energy giving.  Home-grown.

(Tomato from our organic bucket garden, pickle grown and canned by my Grandma, cucumber grown in our neighbor's garden, organic baby carrots, avocado and raspberries, organic rice crackers with almond butter!)

While everything I feed my family isn't home-grown or organic, I try.  We're certainly not as "green" or "natural" as some, but we've made many choices in that direction.  Often, I say, "If only I ate like I feed my daughter, I'd be a size 2!"

Eating healthy summer snacks has it's advantages, for sure.  But one things I'd found is I feed my little one all the day long.  And I do mean all day long.

Today for breakfast, she had 2 eggs and a piece of Ezekiel cinnamon raisin toast.  AS SOON AS the last bite was gone she said, "Mommy, can I have a snack?"  Thus, a plate filled just like Plate #1.  

AS SOON AS plate #1 was finished I heard, "Mommy, can I have more snack?"  Bring on Plate #2!  

This was all in a 3 hour period.  Oh, and don't forget the 3 sippy cups that were also downed.  *smiles*

There are days I run out of "good stuff."  There are days I cave, and she has potato chips, or too much fruit or french fries.  But that's not the point.  My GOAL is to feed her well.  And sometimes life happens.

Trying to feed and fill-up an active child with healthy, well-balanced snacks can be difficult!  In the back of my head I can still hear my mid-wife, "Protein!  Protein!  Protein!"  *grins*

Having the time to actually plan snack-time is a dream, huh?  Usually I just grab what's handy.  The weeks I keep quality produce, snacks and meats on hand, she eats well, and I can see the difference in her behavior.  When I let chips and fast food slip in her diet *sigh* not only do I feel guilty, I don't eat as well either!

And what DO you feed a child when you're on the go and raising her gluten, dairy and sugar free?  Uh huh, thinkin' cap/creativity time!  *winks*

Do YOU  have any tips or favorite healthy summer snacks?

Electrolytes for Kids

Summer hit us fast and hard.  A few weeks ago my little one started throwing up.  So much that I had a call in to our doctor.  It was scary.  Then it clicked in my head.  No symptoms other than throwing up.  I did a quick internet search.  Perhaps she was dehydrated or over-heated.  She HAD played outside the evening before in the crazy heat.  I thought she'd had enough water once we got inside, but maybe not. 

She threw up everything I gave her...water, breast milk, etc.  Everything until I risked a home-made berry popscicle.  (Risked because, you know if it came up and landed on my carpet...yeah, yeah...)  As soon as the popscicle was gone, so was the vomiting.  We had a correct diagnosis! 

Now time for more research...what can I give my daughter as a natural electrolyte drink so this doesn't happen again?

Gatorade and Pedialyte.  Choice electrolyte replacement drinks for kids.  But what's wrong with those drinks, in my opinion? 

Here are the ingredients for the Pedialyte Apple drink directly from their site...
Water, Dextrose. Less than 2% of the Following: Citric Acid, Potassium Citrate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium, Zinc Gluconate, and Artificial Flavor.

And as for Gatorade...

So what is my complaint with these drinks?  For starters...

Dextrose, Sucralose, Artificial Flavor, Glucose-Frucose Syrup, Yellow 5, Brominated Vegetable Oils, Yellow 6, Red 40, Blue 1 and Caramel 1.

Fish Oil Benefits

Instead of sugar, artificial and synthetic supplement drinks, why not try something a little closer to nature.  Coconut water!  Yes, coconut water.

It has fewer calories, less sodium, and more potassium than a sports drink. Ounce per ounce, most unflavored coconut water contains 5.45 calories, 1.3 grams sugar, 61 milligrams (mg) of potassium, and 5.45 mg of sodium compared to Gatorade, which has 6.25 calories, 1.75 grams of sugar, 3.75 mg of potassium, and 13.75 mg of sodium.

via Web MD

The balance of electrolytes in coconut water is nearly the same as that in the human blood -- so close, in fact, that coconut water is the only natural non-blood substance that can be safely injected into the human bloodstream. Ancient peoples knew this, and sometimes used it as an emergency intravenous fluid.

Most of the time there's no need to go to such lengths: just drink it, and you'll be rewarded with 15 times as much potassium as a typical sports drink, along with potent antioxidants. And unlike sugary sports drinks or coconut milk, coconut water is low in calories and fat free.

via Natural News

So coconut water is now our family's electrolyte replacement drink of choice!  I simply pour a small amount into my daughter's sippy cup, and she's off to play!  She likes it so much, that she'll ask for it sometimes during the day.

For the organic coconut water, it runs me $2 for an 11 oz. bottle.  It's more expensive than I'd like, but I can stretch it pretty far.  That flushed, hot from playing outside look quickly disappears from my daughter's face with just a few swigs of this stuff.  Plus, organic means a lot to me - the fewer the chemicals the better.

Have a happy and safe rest of your summer!  Stay cool.

85 Years, 85 Cupcakes

So my Grandma turned 85 earlier this month.  When I asked her what she wanted for her birthday she said,

"Well, I don't neeeed anything!  But I'd like it if someone made me 85 cupcakes.  I dunno why.  But I'd like to see 85 cupcakes representing my 85 years.  You know your Grandma, I have a sense of humor."

And of course, you can't pass up a request from your Grandma!  *smiles*

Only problem was, we had to DRIVE to the family get together.  A long drive.  So I'd have to bake at Grandma's house once we got there.  But 85 cupcakes in an evening!?  Hence, my cousin.  My Aunt and cousin pitched in and made 50.  I made 3 batches - cherry, lemon and chocolate -  which ended up being about 50.  (The chocolate were gluten free so I could participate too!)  The popcorn pictured was for snacking - to keep little fingers and teeth away from the cupcakes.

Read my Duncan Hines Frosting Creations Review

During our drive, I made 85 cupcake toppers.  Numbering 1-85.  *grins*  I used a 2 inch punch, glue stick and stickers.  Had to think a bit on how to make things in the car, during my little one's DVD and nap times!

The party took place at my Uncle's hunting cabin.  Rustic, yes.  But always functional and fun!  Tables were set up in the "The Shelter" which my cousin had decorated.

Food - which accidentally consisted primarily of desserts - was in "The Cabin."  The plywood walls are decorated guy style - snake skin, deer head, hunting calendar, etc. - so we females tried to cover some of that up with a table cloth backdrop!  Our entire set up is complete with hamburgers on the grill, an outhouse and no running water.  *BIG grin*

And so went the birthday party.  Grandma was adorned with this cute apron from IKEA, a bling bling tiara and badge - making her our "Cupcake Princess for a Day."

Happy Birthday, Grandma!  You are loved and appreciated.

I Won Shades Of Grey's Giveaway!

Thank you Shades Of Grey!  I won my first ever giveaway!  Totally stoked today.  *BIG grin*



LBH Creations offered the giveaway through Shades Of Grey.  Wonderful.  Excited to pick out a new outfit for my little one.

As I just heard Pooh Bear say, "Think, think, think..."  *winks*

Product Review - Duncan Hines Frosting Creations

Even amid the cupcake hype the last few years, we're not big cupcake people.  

Not that we don't like them, just I haven't gotten into making them.  

This was my daughter's first cupcake experience and I wanted to make it extra fun.  

So, I decided to try Duncan Hines new Frosting Creations in the Cotton Candy flavor!  (Also, I wanted blue frosting to match a color scheme (another post soon!)  and it was the only blue!  *smiles*)

Here's what it looks like when you pull of the foil seal.  White frosting.  

And what's it taste like?  Well, honestly, a hint of sweet Crisco.  *eek*

According to the package directions, 

we dug a big hole straight down the center of the frosting canister.

Next, my daughter poured the flavor pouch into the hole.  

**Warning, the blue color stained the white grout on my Grandma's table!**

Stir, stir, stir!  

Even though I whipped, and mixed, and squished and smashed, the frosting still had...

...little flecks of blue and black!

And the final analysis of the Cotton Candy flavor?  

Even sweeter Crisco, with basically no hint of Cotton Candy!

After this experiment, I give Duncan Hines Frosting Creations a huge...FAIL! 

If all you're looking for is another step in making cupcakes, something for your kids to do, a specific frosting color, then fine.  But as far as taste and quality - nope.   

Just a gimmick to get an extra buck out of their frostings.  

Sorry, Duncan Hines.  *cheesy grin*