Articles, tips & deals

Meal Plan Monday (3/26)

by Alissa on March 26, 2012

Meal Plan Monday

via Morguefile

Monday: Slow-cooked BBQ chicken, potatoes and veggies
Tuesday: Leftovers
Wednesday: Chicken salad and avocado wraps (lettuce wraps for gluten-free) and salad
Thursday: Grilled salmon, quinoa and spinach
Friday: Date night

—–

What’s on your menu this week? I’m always looking for new ideas for meals and I’m now on the lookout for easy gluten-free meals!

I’m linking this meal plan up over at I’m an Organizing Junkie and at Musings of a Housewife’s Gluten Free Meal Plan.

Looking for another meal plan to try?

Check here for all our past Meal Plan Monday posts!

Tagged as: Meal plans, menu

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Face 2 Face with Therapon Skin Health

by Alissa on March 24, 2012

Photo credit: Jo-Lynne Shane, Musings of a Housewife

Over the years, I’ve had nothing but trouble with my skin, unfortunately. There were a few glorious months during each pregnancy that my skin completely cleared up and then the babies were born and right back to breaking out was I. Good times.

So when I received the invite to attend a relaxing afternoon with Therapon Skin Health, I was definitely interested in learning more about the skin care line.

Turns out, as I learned more about the company and their products… I think they may actually have an answer for me!

We each were treated to a facial, using Therapon’s own Theraderm skin renewal system. I especially loved the Fruit Acid Exfoliant, which really left my skin feeling smooth. And I’m excited to try the line they have that’s specially designed to fight breakouts – the Reversion Acne System.

Therapon’s entire product line was created by a board-certified plastic surgeon and chemist, who created the company’s first skin care products in response to his own patients’ needs.

Ulta was also there to give us all makeovers — and I found a few new makeup products there that are on my list to try, too. Add a manicure and massage from a local nail salon (Spring Nails) and I pretty much didn’t want the afternoon to end!

Refreshed and relaxed - Photo credit: Jo-Lynne Shane, Musings of a Housewife

As if that weren’t enough, we also received goody bags, including a canvas tote from Lands’ End (these are my absolute favorite bags, actually. We own two and they’re so durable that one has lasted nearly a decade already. One is our dedicated library bag and the other we use for pretty much everything else.). Inside the tote was a reusable snack bag from LunchSkins (yay!) and other goodies from Happy Baby, Bendables, Heartwork Organizing, Unforgettable Moments and Divalicious Chocolate.

And a huge thanks to Jo-Lynne Shane (Musings of a Housewife) who coordinated the event!

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Make a Difference Monday: Donors Choose linkup (3/19)

by Alissa on March 19, 2012

Donors Choose – Make a Difference Monday

donors choose

I’ve teamed up with my good friend at Surviving a Teacher’s Salary to bring you Make a Difference Monday, a weekly link-up featuring classroom projects at Donors Choose, in the hopes that together we can help some students out.

Sometimes these classes just need help with the basics. Sometimes they’re dreaming even bigger.

Each week we’ll feature a few current classroom projects on Donors Choose. Then we’ll offer the opportunity for you to share YOUR projects below so that everyone can see what your students are working on!

You don’t need to be a teacher to participate, either. Submit your own child’s classroom project or just one that inspires you.

And if you happen across one project that speaks to you more than others? Well, maybe we can get a project or two funded!

DonorsChoose.org - Give to public schools!

Here’s how Donors Choose works:

Public school teachers from every corner of America post classroom project requests on Donors Choose. Then you browse project requests and give any amount to the one that inspires you. Once a project reaches its funding goal, Donors Choose will deliver the materials to the school.

The Donors Choose projects

The More Movies You Make the More Memory You Need - Kansas City, KS – Only $55 to go!

From the description: While theater takes only an actor and a stage, a lack of technology stands in the way of students who want to make films. Performers take to the medium of digital film making quickly and adeptly. The limit to their creativity is only the storage it takes to create. With these 4 memory cards each class will have their own 16GB of storage and will be free to make their vision a reality

Friendship Through the Lens – Autism in General Education - New York, NY

From the description: We all want friends. Every child, no matter how young, wants to make friends. Children with Autism are no different. They just need help developing the skills to make friends, be a friend and stay a friend. I have found that when my kids use a camera to take pictures of classmates, teachers, school staff and favorite places in school, it seems to open that door for them. The other children are interested in what they are doing and start conversations about the project. Often it becomes a class project and everyone is taking pictures. One of my boys has the children make a poster to hold up in the picture that says his name, his age and what his favorite toy is. It’s a wonderful thing to watch! These books become a lifeline to friendship for my children.

Your Donors Choose Projects

And now it’s your turn to share! Share a link to the Donors Choose projects that interest and inspire you. Include the project request, state and grade level.

Example: Solar Project Set – FL – 2nd Grade

*Right now, use Donors Choose code CHASE to double your donation (up to $50), if you decide to donate!

Tagged as: Donations, Make a Difference Monday

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Meal Plan Monday (3/19)

by Alissa on March 18, 2012

Meal Plan Monday

meal plan

via Morguefile

Monday: Whole slow cooker chicken, baked potatoes and veggies
Tuesday: Leftovers
Wednesday: Veggie lasagna, spinach and garlic bread
Thursday: Large catch-all salad (use leftover chicken, eggs, dried cranberries and more)
Friday: Pizza night

—–

What’s on your menu this week?

I’m linking this meal plan up over at I’m an Organizing Junkie.

meal plan

Looking for another meal plan to try?

Check here for all our past Meal Plan Monday posts!

Tagged as: Meal plans, menu

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Make a Difference Monday: Donors Choose linkup (3/12)

by Alissa on March 12, 2012

Donors Choose – Make a Difference Monday

I’ve teamed up with my good friend at Surviving a Teacher’s Salary to bring you Make a Difference Monday, a weekly link-up featuring classroom projects at Donors Choose, in the hopes that together we can help some students out.

Sometimes these classes just need help with the basics. Sometimes they’re dreaming even bigger.

Each week we’ll feature a few current classroom projects on Donors Choose. Then we’ll offer the opportunity for you to share YOUR projects below so that everyone can see what your students are working on!

You don’t need to be a teacher to participate, either. Submit your own child’s classroom project or just one that inspires you.

And if you happen across one project that speaks to you more than others? Well, maybe we can get a project or two funded!

DonorsChoose.org - Give to public schools!

Here’s how Donors Choose works:

Public school teachers from every corner of America post classroom project requests on Donors Choose. Then you browse project requests and give any amount to the one that inspires you. Once a project reaches its funding goal, Donors Choose will deliver the materials to the school.

The Donors Choose projects

If I Don’t Make Mistakes, I’m Not Working on Hard Problems – Fort Smith, AR

From the description: I am requesting individual chalkboards. During my class time, I like to ask the students questions to gauge their learning of the lesson. I have tried several methods to lessen the anxiety of speaking in front of the class and getting it wrong. I have found few methods that work and the individual chalkboards will be a huge boon in this area. I want to encourage them to take risks in guessing, but I don’t want to embarrass them should they be wrong. This method of instruction will allow for me to praise individually and correct privately at the same time! I think this method of instruction will build their confidence in themselves. I think that will correlate to higher grades, higher test scores, higher self-esteem, and the sky’s the limit from there!

We Need to Get to the Point! - Leesburg, FL

From the description: Due to budget cuts, I am unable to purchase a heavy duty pencil sharpener. By donating to this project my students will be able to be more independent and be able to get their work done more quickly with a sharpened pencil!

Listening Center for Literature – Los Angeles, CA

From the description: Your donation will help to expose students to good literature while practicing their Braille reading skills. It will also allow us to explore nursery rhymes and music while the children will be involved though the use of the musical instruments.

Your Donors Choose Projects

And now it’s your turn to share! Share a link to the Donors Choose projects that interest and inspire you. Include the project request, state and grade level.

Example: Solar Project Set – FL – 2nd Grade

Tagged as: Donations, Make a Difference Monday

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Meal Plan Monday (3/12)

by Alissa on March 11, 2012

meal plan

via Morguefile

Monday: Pork chops, scalloped potatoes, green beans (and apple crisp for dessert!)
Tuesday: Quesadillas with beans and rice
Wednesday: “Awesome Slow Cooker Pot Roast” (new recipe for us!) with roasted veggies and potatoes
Thursday: Make-your-own-pizzas and salads
Friday: Date night

—–

What’s on your menu this week?

I’m linking this up with I’m an Organizing Junkie.

meal plan

Tagged as: Meal plans, menu

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Product Recalls – Britax recalls certain Chaperone car seats

by Alissa on March 10, 2012

Britax is recalling certain Chaperone infant child restraint systems produced from Sept. 1, 2010 through April 30, 2011. The harness adjuster can detach from the seat shell.

Model names and numbers affected:

BRITAX / CHAPERONE E9L692J BLK/SILSEP 01, 2010 – APR 30, 2011
    BRITAX / CHAPERONE E9L692K (RED)SEP 01, 2010 – APR 30, 2011
    BRITAX / CHAPERONE E9L692L COWMOOFSEP 01, 2010 – APR 30, 2011
    BRITAX / CHAPERONE E9L692M GREENSEP 01, 2010 – APR 30, 2011

What to do:

Britax will notify owners and provide repair kits free of charge. The safety recall and mailing of the kits began on Feb. 7, 2012. Any seats on which the harness adjuster has detached will be replaced. Owners may contact Britax at 1-888-427-4829 or visit www.chaperonerecall.com.

Customers may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to www.safercar.gov.

Tagged as: Recalls

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FDA Recalls – Gerber voluntarily withdraws batch of Good Start formula

by Alissa on March 9, 2012

FDA Recalls: Gerber is proactively retrieving and offering a replacement to consumers who purchased Gerber® Good Start® Gentle powdered infant formula 23.2 ounce plastic package from batch GXP1684 expiration date of March 5, 2013.

The product poses no health or safety risk. However, this product might have an off-odor noticeable to some consumers. In some cases spit-up and other gastrointestinal complaints have been reported.

*Please note, this is limited to only one Gerber® Good Start® Gentle powder manufacturing code, and no other Gerber® or Gerber® Good Start® products are affected or involved.

FDA Recalls – What to do

Consumers who have the product with the batch code and expiration date above should contact the Gerber Parents Resource Center at 1-800-487-7763 for replacement. Additionally, Gerber is working with retailers to retrieve any remaining product from this batch.

Additional FDA Recalls

Check here for additional information on recent recalls.

Tagged as: FDA Recalls, Recalls

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Organize | Kick the Clutter: Our Room (After)

by Alissa on March 7, 2012

Organize | Kick the Clutter in the Bedroom

organize

So one of my resolutions this year is to get organized. Kick the Clutter is a weekly series I’ve started so that we can all organize together! Who’s with me?

We’ll go step-by-step around the house until we’ve reached every nook and cranny and there’s nothing left to straighten up, donate, organize or give away.

Kick the Clutter: Organize our Bedroom

I’ve been working hard to organize our own bedroom, which has been one of the last rooms left to tackle (aside from the attic and basement storage areas).

It’s not perfect, of course. But it’s such a huge improvement from the past few months. It’s so nice to wake up to a mainly clutter-free room. There sure is truth to the idea that less clutter offers less stress. Our room is relaxing again – and I love it.

The after photos…

organize

Well, this is it. I’m actually standing in the doorway as I took this photo. Yep, did I mention our room is small?

organize

These curtains are actually tablecloths hung from curtain rings. I fell in love with the pattern and they ended up costing me about $20 total, if I remember correctly.

organize

 My absolute favorite piece of furniture in the room. We found this at a consignment shop for a steal.

organize

And here’s the solution that probably helped the most to organize the bedroom. I had no good central place to store my jewelry. This was my Christmas gift from my husband – and it ended up being a gift to both of us… now I’m able to organize my jewelry, stowing it nicely away rather than all over the top of our dresser!

Next Week’s Plan to Organize

Next week, we’ll tackle our closet. It’s a tough one.

I’ll be honest here. The previous owners didn’t leave us much to work with here as far as organization (or even basic functionality, for that matter). I can work with the small size. That’s a given when you buy an older house and I’m OK with that. But to not have a functional hanging bar? That’s where I’m frustrated. I’d estimate that the clothes bar is about 2 feet wide. And that’s a strain on even the most minimalist of wardrobes (which mine, of course, is not). Even my hubby’s clothes have been banned to the next room. (And I’m not the diva-type who needs her own closet, either. There’s literally just not enough space to organize us both.)

So one thing I need to find are ways to really organize the closet. I’m looking for your suggestions!

Let’s keep track of our progress and share with others! It’s always easier when I get to hear what ideas are working for you and which aren’t. So please share your suggestions, thoughts and progress with us throughout this series!

Click here to catch up on the entire Organize (Kick the Clutter) series!

Tagged as: kick the clutter

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Meal Plan Monday (3/5)

by Alissa on March 5, 2012

via Morguefile

Monday: BBQ chicken sandwiches, mashed potatoes, green beans
Tuesday: Grilled ham, cheese & tomato sandwiches with soup
Wednesday: Chicken taco bar with salad
Thursday: Breakfast for dinner
Friday: Date night

—–

Make-ahead freezer cooking plan: Trying a large batch of pancakes for the freezer this week.

What’s on your menu this week?

I’m linking this up with I’m an Organizing Junkie.

Tagged as: Meal plans, menu

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