Book Review: The Happiest Baby Guide to Great Sleep

The job of being a mother is very rewarding but the sacrifices of such start early as we struggle to get a bit of sleep. This sweet sacrifice as we all will agree is well worth it but what if there was a different way to do it. What if, well there is a useful resource that may help mothers of the little ones to gain a bit of needed rest and keep the baby happy as well.

Doctor harvey Karp has written a book titled The Happiest Baby Guide To Great Sleep.  Now, in THE HAPPIEST BABY GUIDE TO GREAT SLEEP: Simple Solutions for Kids from Birth to 5 Years (William Morrow Paperback; On-Sale: March 19, 2013; $15.99; ISBN: 9780062113320), Dr. Karp stuns the world again by solving the #1 problem plaguing new parents: exhaustion. Dr. Karp's surprising insights include:

Training new babies to sleep better. Dr. karp shows how to safely boost baby sleep in just days by teaching them to sleep at least one extra hour from the first week of life.
White noise (low pitched and rumbling) has been found to be the key to good sleep Dr. Karp shares thoughts on what is the best white noise and which ones worsen sleep.
Perhaps you are like me and have always heard the saying of letting sleeping babies alone. Well Dr. Karp wants to offer the idea of why you should Always wake a sleeping baby. to allow babies to learn how to self soothe their selves back to sleep. This will help them learn to go back to sleep in the middle of the night
Swaddling has long been a beneficial tool to soothing a baby but many states have started to ban this practice because it is not done correctly. Dr. Karp will teach them how to do it properly and safely. 

Dr. Karp is the world's leading baby and toddler expert. Dr. Karp uses his experiences of over 30 years as a pediatrician, child development specialist and Assistant Professor of pediatrics at the USC school of medicine to teach readers techniques that will help all parents.

You can check out his website here: http://bit.ly/Yy14de or
learn more about this book at Harper Collins Publishers available for purchase at a sale price here at: http://bit.ly/ZUyHra
DISCLOSURE: “I am participating in a book review campaign with One2One Network. I received this book from Harper Collins for the purpose of reviewing it. I have not received compensation. My participation in the campaign enters me into a drawing for a gift card. All opinions about this book are my own.”

Little Heros Wanted

 

This little fellow is my nephew and his beautiful mama. He adores super hero's and pretends as if he has super powers. At the age of 5 this little guy has an awesome imagination. If the lessons he learns through pretend continues to help him in lessons of life that truly would be powerful. Currently there is  contest going on at Matchbox where true hero's are being sought. If you have a child in your life that is between the ages of three and ten that loves super heroes it is easy to enter this contest. Simply submit a picture of them dressed as their favorite real life icon with an explanation of why you feel they are a true Matchbox hero. Entries are accepted no through May 13, 2013. Each super hero submission will be featured on the Matchbox Heros Wanted facebook gallery as well as are entered to win the grand prize $60,000 college scholarship!!!! There will also be 60 prize pack giveaways that will be awarded weekly. Included in the prize packs will be a Matchbox branded gift box, a personalized photo frame thank you card and four heroic matchbox vehicles. To learn about the contest and read stories from the heroes that inspired Matchbox vehicles, you can check out www.Matchbox.com/Heroes 

 

 

 

* I received a product from Matchbox as part of a promotional program with MomSelect; however, all opinions expressed are 100% my own

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

This recipe is for my daddy who passed way to soon. He loved strawberries and always had a large strawberry patch when I was a kid as well as rhubarb that he grew himself. Because he preffered pie over cake mom would make him a pie like this for special occasions.

About 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
 About 3/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (3/8 lb.) butter or margarine
2 cups sliced strawberries (1/2 in. thick)
2 cups sliced rhubarb (1/2 in. thick; about 2/3 lb.)
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

In a food processor or a bowl, combine 2 cups flour, 1/4 cup sugar, and salt. Cut all but 2 teaspoons butter into small pieces and add to flour mixture. Whirl or rub in with your fingers until fine crumbs form. Add 1/4 cup water; whirl or stir with a fork just until dough holds together. Pat into a smooth 5-inch round. Wrap airtight and freeze until slightly firm, about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, in a bowl, gently mix strawberries, rhubarb, 1/2 cup sugar, 3 tablespoons flour, and cardamom. On a lightly floured board, roll dough into a 14-inch round. Slide onto a 14- by 17-inch baking sheet; if dough tears, press back together. Stir berry mixture; spoon evenly onto pastry, leaving a 3-inch border. Fold dough border over edges of fruit, tucking to incorporate excess pastry. Melt remaining 2 teaspoons butter in a microwave-safe bowl in a microwave oven at full power (100%), about 15 seconds. Brush pastry rim with butter and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar. Bake in a 375° regular or 350° convection oven until pastry is browned and fruit bubbling, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool at least 30 minutes. Slide a long metal spatula under pastry to release. Slide pie onto a platter. Serve warm or cool. Cut into wedges.

 

 

 

recipe sourcce here

shared here and at
Friday Food Frenzy
Saturday Dishes

 

Grilling Weather

After Easter Use Up Those Boiled Eggs : Pimiento and Cheese Deviled Eggs

 

 

6 hard-cooked eggs

1/4 cup finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

4 teaspoons diced pimientos, divided

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

2 teaspoons finely chopped sweet onion

1 small garlic clove, minced

Dash each salt and pepper

Cut eggs in half lengthwise. Remove yolks; set whites aside. In a small bowl, mash yolks. Add the cheese, mayonnaise, 3 teaspoons pimientos, mustard, onion, garlic, salt and pepper; mix well. Stuff or pipe into egg whites. Garnish with remaining pimientos. Refrigerate until serving. Yield: 1 dozen.

Saving Rotten Bananas

When we were shopping the other day one of my children asked why bananas often had  a green tint to them. I told them that bananas will often ripen fast and often turn black before we realize it. Well here is a tip to help you save your bananas long enough to use

I learned this from my friend Vanessa. If you have some almost rotten bananas but no time to make banana bread with them, throw them in the freezer. Then when you got 3-4 to do something with them, pull em out of the ice box and go on with your banana business

Crockpot Tater Tot Casserole

Crockpot-Tater Tot Casserole

I love this delicious recipe it was my go to meal for a long time now love the idea of cooking it in the crockpot

 

 Ingredients:
1 lb lean ground beef
32 ounces tater tots
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
... 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 (10 1/2 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
1 tablespoon dried onions
1/4 cup skim milk

Now all you need to do is...

Brown ground beef and drain.
Line crock pot with tater tots.
Combine all other ingredients and pour mixture over the tater tots.
Cover. Cook on High 3 hours.
This takes about ten minutes to prep. Including the time it takes to cook, roughly about 3 1/2 hours total. This recipe makes about 8-12 servings.

Hint: Try adding some green peppers or chilis for a little kick!See More

Crispy Cheddar Chicken

Crispy Cheddar Chicken
This looks and sounds so yummy and easy the best type of recipes in my opinion So delicious

Chicken:
...
4 large chicken breasts
2 sleeves Ritz crackers
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup milk
3 cup cheddar cheese, grated
1 teaspoon dried parsley

Sauce:

1 (10 ounce) can cream of chicken soup
2 tablespoon sour cream
2 tablespoon butter

Cut each chicken breast into 3 large chunks. In a small food processor grind up the Ritz crackers.

Pour the milk, cheese and cracker crumbs into 3 separate small pans. Toss the 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper into the cracker crumbs and stir the mixture around to combine.

Dip each piece of chicken into the milk then the cheese. Press the cheese into the chicken with your fingers. Some of it will fall off when you add it to the cracker crumbs, don’t worry about it.

Press the cheesy chicken into the cracker crumbs and press it in. By the time you are coating the last piece of chicken, the dish you are using for the crumbs will be full of cheese. Don't let it get you down. Once the cheese melts in the oven it will adhere nicely to the crumbs and the crackers.

Spray a 9×13 pan with cooking spray and lay the chicken inside the pan. Sprinkle the dried parsley over the chicken.
Cover the pan with tin foil and bake at 400 degrees for 35 minutes. Remove the tin foil, bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the edges of the chicken are golden brown and crispy.

Into a medium sized sauce pan combine the cream of chicken soup, sour cream and butter with a whisk. Stir it over medium high heat until the sauce is nice and hot. Serve over the chicken. Enjoy!

Source: www.jamiecooksitup.net

Idea for A Hot Summer Night

How To Make Fairies In A Jar

 

 This is something everyone will love! Just imagine the look on your childs face when they see this.

FAIRIES IN A JAR DIRECTIONS:
1. Cut a glow stick and shake the contents into a jar.
... 2. Add diamond glitter
3. Seal the top
4. Shake hard

This is something they will never forget so its worth a little work on this one

Popsicles All Natural

3 cups watermelon puree (seedless if possible)
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup chopped fresh strawberries
1 kiwi, peeled and sliced
... 1 peach or nectarine, diced small
handful fresh cherries, pitted and chopped

Cut the watermelon into chunks and then puree it in a blender until smooth. Set aside.

Set out about 1 dozen popsicle molds (amount needed will vary depending on size of molds). Fill each one with the chopped fresh fruit. Then pour in the watermelon puree until each mold is full to the top. Place a popsicle stick into each one. Place into your freezer and freeze for about 6 to 8 hours.

When ready to serve, run the popsicle molds under warm water for a few seconds and then pull each one out.

Strawberry Fluff

Strawberry Fluff

 

1 Large Box Vanilla Instant pudding
1 small Box Strawberry Jello
15oz can crushed pinapple
... 1/2 c shredded coconut
1 container cool whip or homemade whip topping (16oz Heavy Whipping Cream, 1/4 c sugar beat in mixer until stiff)

Dump the pudding and jello packets into large bowl, added the can of pinapple (DO NOT DRAIN) and mix well. Add in coconut and mix. Fold in the cool whip or homemade whip topping.
Refrigerate for 1 hour and then serve.
 

recipe source here

 

Autism Awareness

Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. The diagnostic criteria require that symptoms become apparent before a child is three years old.Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their synapses connect and organize; how this occurs is not well understood.It is one of three recognized disorders in the autism spectrum (ASDs), the other two being Asperger syndrome, which lacks delays in cognitive development and language, and pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified (commonly abbreviated as PDD-NOS), which is diagnosed when the full set of criteria for autism or Asperger syndrome are not met.Autism has a strong genetic basis, although the genetics of autism are complex and it is unclear whether ASD is explained more by rare mutations, or by rare combinations of common genetic variants.In rare cases, autism is strongly associated with agents that cause birth defects. Controversies surround other proposed environmental causes, such as heavy metals, pesticides or childhood vaccines;the vaccine hypotheses are biologically implausible and lack convincing scientific evidence.The prevalence of autism is about 1–2 per 1,000 people worldwide, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report 20 per 1,000 children in the United States are diagnosed with ASD as of 2012 (up from 11 per 1000 in 2008).The number of people diagnosed with autism has been increasing dramatically since the 1980s, partly due to changes in diagnostic practice and government-subsidized financial incentives for named diagnoses the question of whether actual prevalence has increased is unresolved. Parents usually notice signs in the first two years of their child's life. The signs usually develop gradually, but some autistic children first develop more normally and then regress. Early behavioral or cognitive intervention can help autistic children gain self-care, social, and communication skills. Although there is no known cure, there have been reported cases of children who recovered. Not many children with autism live independently after reaching adulthood, though some become successful. An autistic culture has developed, with some individuals seeking a cure and others believing autism should be accepted as a difference and not treated as a disorder.
resource here

Use Up Those Eggs Idea : Old Fashioned Egg Salad

Old-Fashioned Egg Salad Recipe

From Taste of Home:

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon dried minced onion
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 6 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
• 1/2 cup finely chopped celery

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the mayonnaise, lemon juice, onion, salt and pepper. Stir in eggs and celery. Cover and refrigerate. Yield: 3 servings.

Coleslaw Recipe

My daughter will celebrate her 21st birthday tommorow and I will be making one of her favorite dishes and using this simple to follow recipe I found here head over there and see awesome step by step pictures as well

 

 

John’s Coleslaw

 

3/4 c miracle whip
1/3 c sour cream
1/4 c sugar
... 3/4 tsp season salt
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/4 tsp celery salt
16 oz bag coleslaw mix (just green cabbage and carrots)

First, mix the miracle whip, sour cream, sugar, and all the seasonings together until they are well incorporated.
Next, mix in the coleslaw mix until it is fully dressed.

Million Dollar Casserole

Million Dollar Casserole

 

Cook l lb. elbow macaroni
Lay half in a 9x13 baking dish.

... In a bowl make a mixture of:
1/4 c. sour cream
8oz. cottage cheese
4 oz. cream cheese
1/3 c. chopped onion
1/2 c. Parmesan cheese
1 t. garlic salt
1 t. pepper

 Spread the above mixture evenly over the macaroni
Layer on the rest of the pasta.
Pour on 28 oz. spaghetti sauce (preferably homemade - with or without meat).
Sprinkle on any other veggies - mushrooms, green peppers, etc.
 Top with cheese.
Refrigerate overnight, then bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. 

 

recipe source here

This information was sent to me and I thought some of you may be interested as well.


CALLING ALL CUTE KIDS:

PARENTS MAGAZINE ANNOUNCES 2013 COVER CONTEST

Submit Images of Cute Kids from April 1 – June 22

on Facebook for a Chance to Win

New York, NY (April 1, 2013) – The search is on to find the cutest kid in America!Parents magazine launches its cute kid cover contest today. From8:00 a.m. EST on April 1 to 8:59 p.m. EST on June 22, proud moms and dads can submit photos of their kids for a chance to win $10,000 and a chance appear on November 2013 cover ofParents, on newsstands October 8.

Ten finalists, nine chosen by Parents editors and one picked by reader vote, will be brought to New York City for an all-expenses-paid professional photo shoot. The deadline for entries is Saturday, June 22, 2013.

To enter the 2013 Cover Contest, parents can upload adorable, non-professional photos of their child between the ages ofthree months to six years on the Parentsmagazine Facebook page. Once photos are submitted, participants are automatically entered to win a $10,000 sweepstakes.

Dana Points,Parents magazine Editor-in-Chief offers these tips for taking the perfect photo:

1. Make sure the child’s personality shines through during a happy, energetic moment in each photo you submit.

2. Take photos in front of a simple, natural background. A busy background is often distracting. Natural light and outdoor shots are great!

3. Dress appropriately. Stay away from complicated and intricate clothing, hats and peek-a-boo blankets.

4. Include background to make the photo interesting. We know your little one is the center of attention, but steer clear of extreme close-up shots.

5. Shoot, shoot, shoot. Take a lot of photos—you’ll have tons of cute images to choose from.

The following Monday after photos are uploaded, parents will receive an email notifying them that their child’s photo is available for Reader’s Choice voting. Parents, friends and family will then be able to vote daily for one week. The photo with the most votes each week will be deemed a Reader’s Choice semi-finalist and win a $250 gift card. On or around July 8, 2013, the twelve Reader’s Choice semi-finalists will be posted for final voting in order to determine the one Reader’s Choice winner. That winner will become one of the 10 finalists and receive an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City.

For more information and contest rules, check out the May 2013 issue ofParents on newsstands April 9 or visit parents.com/cover-rules. Enter a child in the contest on the Parents magazine Facebook page. For regular contest updates, follow Parents on Twitter @parentsmagazine or on Facebook atfacebook.com/parentsmagazine.

Parents was founded in 1926 and, along with American Baby, FamilyFun and Ser Padres, makes up The Meredith Parents Network portfolio of parenthood brands. Parents is the leading voice for a community of more than 15 million moms who are engaged and inspired by the brand’s trusted content. In turn, these moms enlighten and inspire others by joining ongoing conversations about parenthood via Parents.com as well through Parents’ robust presence on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr. Parents is dedicated to engaging and inspiring moms with the information they need, wherever they go.

Use Up Those Eggs :: Bacon Cheddar Deviled Eggs

12eggs

1/2 cupmayonnaise

4 slicesbacon

2 tablespoonsfinely shredded Cheddar cheese

1 tablespoonmustard

1. Place eggs in a saucepan, and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil and immediately remove from heat. Cover, and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from hot water, and cool. To cool more quickly, rinse eggs under cold running water.
2. Meanwhile, place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Alternatively, wrap bacon in paper towels and cook in the microwave for about 1 minute per slice. Crumble and set aside.
3. Peel the hard-cooked eggs, and cut in half lengthwise. Remove yolks to a small bowl. Mash egg yolks with mayonnaise, crumbled bacon and cheese. Stir in mustard. Fill egg white halves with the yolk mixture and refrigerate until serving.

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Easter Day : Praise His Name

But the Grave would not keep him. For it was written and all ready fortold that he would arise

He died for our sins so that those who believe will not be condemed to death as we are all sinners

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
- John 3:16