Catch some Z's

BPA (not in your kids sippy cup but in your coffee?)

How many of 'us moms' drink coffee everyday? I know its a necessity to get me going in the morning…. 

Also, how many of you are concerned about BPA in your children's containers? 

Then take a moment to read this:
http://themommyilluminati.wordpress.com/2012/08/30/how-k-cups-might-damage-your-metabolism-reproductive-health-and-cause-cancer/

Although the doctor who wrote this article doesn't cite any scientific tests to backup his ideas, it is an interesting theory. 

I do not use disposable Kcups (except on rare occasion). I choose to use a reusable Keurig filter and use my own grounds. Much less expensive and more eco friendly! I hope that makes me a bit safer than the average person.

What are your thoughts on this?

Y is for YOUR dreams

I tend to think of other people a lot. Sometimes I think of them too much and forget to take care of myself. Recently I had an opportunity come up and I almost let it pass because I was thinking about caring for everyone else except myself. 

Here is to all you dreamers: 

X is for

W will make you smile!

V is for Vision

This is an old Japanese proverb and I think it works wonderfully for the letter V. 

 

Sneaky veggies....

I posted this on Pinterest before I had this blog so unthought I would share it here. This is a way I sneak a few extra veggies into my daughters favorite... Mac and Cheese.

U is for Unique

Celebrate the unique things in life!

T is for Thankful

Today i was reminded how thankful I am for amazing friends. So today's letter is dedicated to my friends! 

Spring Will Come!

S is for Spring. With the weather we've had in the Midwest this year it doesn't feel like it will ever be here but this phrase makes me smile a renews my assurance that Spring will come. 

R is for Rain

Because this is today's weather.....

Q is for Quinoa

Do you love Quinoa? Have you ever given it a try. I discovered it a few years ago after going gluten free. I was looking for an alternative to rice and was pleasantly surprised at how good Quinoa is and also the variety of flavors it offers. Plus, the nutritional value makes it well worth it!

History of Quinoa: Pronounced KEEN-wah, this seed has been called the "mother grain" and "the gold of the Incas." Cultivated in the Andes for over thousands of years, it is used in much the same way as other whole grains. White, red and black are the three types of quinoa most commonly found in grocery stores today.

Nutrition: Rich in iron, magnesium and fiber, quinoa is also unusually high in protein. One cup of cooked quinoa contains approximately eight grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per cup. Containing all nine essential amino acids needed by the body, it is considered to be a “complete” vegetarian protein. It has a pleasant, nutty taste that goes well in place of other healthy grains in recipes.

How to Cook Quinoa: Cooking Quinoa is much like cooking rice. Wash the seeds in a strainer to remove the seed’s outer coating and natural bitterness before cooking. Drain well.

Use 1 cup of dry quinoa and approximately 2 cups of water or broth. This will yield about 3 cups of cooked quinoa. Begin by heating a saucepan with a little olive oil. Add the quinoa and cook, stirring, for about 1 minute to toast the seeds, letting the water evaporate.

I love to add some chicken broth and or fresh spices like rosemary from my garden or add some other herbs for a little flavor. Add the water (or broth) and seasonings and bring to a full, rolling boil. Lower the heat to lowest setting, cover, and cook for about 15-20 minutes. Turn off cooktop, remove pot from heat and let stand five minutes. Fluff and serve!

Try this mango quinoa salad. It is phenomenal!

P is for Pinterest

Olympic Skier Craft

Yes, I am going to try to get all I can out of these Olympics. So here is another fun craft for you and some kiddos to do.

Olympic Skier Craft

Supplies: 

Reflected image of a skier

Crayons

Glue

Popsicle Stick

Heavy Stock Construction Paper

Scissors

I found this image on the web and just copied and flipped the image then printed it. You can do the same with any image you find. Print it and let your kid start to color while you do the next step.

Next, trifold a piece of paper then on the outer edges draw a diagonal line as shown below. 

Cut along the lines.

When you child is finished coloring fold the image so it is back to back. Glue the body together but leave the skis unglued. Fold the skis down to make a flat surface that can be glued onto the stick.

Add cotton balls along the folded lines to create your snow slope, but leave the center open so your skier can go down!

Fold the edges to raise your "hill".

I added a little scrap with a tab folded up on each side of the paper to strengthen the hill.

Now place your skier on top and let him or her slide down the hill and go for the gold! 

"O"

One of my favorite Dr. Suess books....

I've seen some very creative uses of this book. Specifically a parent having a school teacher from each year sign it with a message and present it to the child on their graduation day. To see more on this idea check out this website.

N is for Never Give Up.

M is for Mom

Watching my daughter grow up and learn new thongs each day is one of the best parts of pattering. One of her new skills is being able to write words. So she write today's word, Mom. 

Todays word us dedicated to all the moms who make life so great for their kids. 

L is for Love

Figure Skating Diorama

Find a clip art picture of an Olympic athlete. I just googled figure skater on google and let my daughter Pick the one she liked.

Gather supplies: shoe box, blue and white construction paper, printed image, markers, glue, cotton balls. 

Print your image about 1/2 or 2/3 the size of the height of the box.

Cut it out and leave a tab in the bottom .

Cut a rectangle of white for the back ground. I cut mine long enough so it could be rounded in the back instead if trying to glue into the corners. 

Add the "ice" on the bottom. 

Add cotton balls along the back and add snowflake stickers if desired. 

Fold the tab and add a spot of glue to hold her in place. 

Now you have your own gold medal figure skater!

   

P.S. Yes there are too many rings in the background here. My daughter hit z little excited when making the Olympic Rings. 😄

Kindness

Just because ....

Practicing one of the new chalkboard fonts that I found on Pinterest.

Going For the Gold!

I am the first to admit that I am an Olympic nerd. To honor of the fact that the Olympic Opening Ceremony is this weekend my Abc project for the letter G says:

 #goforthegold    #teamusa

So to honor the Olympics I also created  an Olympic themed craft.

Supplies:
Orange and yellow construction paper
Paper towel tube
Aluminum Foil

Find the width of the tube and then sketch a flame about 4 to 5 inches tall.

Cut and glue the flames together.

Place the tube in a 12 inch piece of foil and roll it up.

Tuck the bottom end into the tube. Leave the top end open.

Add the flame to the top. Tape or glue if you want to secure it.

Ready for the opening ceremonies!