Power Outage Where The Hell Is The Flashlight?

I usually try not to complain too much, but I have a  beef about the power in our neighborhood.  Yesterday, our power went out for the the nine millionth billionth time in the 7 years that we have lived here in this house which we had newly built.  The first  two years I panned it off as new construction etc.

Then as the years went on, we have been blessed by at least two good power outages a year, and that’s good.  I have lost 3 freezers full of food, and have gotten one flooded basement from it.  If you have no power in the rain, the sump pump doesn’t go off and wahlah, flooded basement.

I find this all irritating.  Saturday we were feeding the boys their dinner in the dark.  It was well passed their bedtime, but we had to leave the house, because no one was going to bed.  The house is too quiet in a power outage, and even rolling over in bed sounds like a freight train running through when the furnace isnt blowing, the air purifier isnt on….you get the picture.

Totally unprepared for the power going out, so we found ourselves tripping to find the flashlight.  Candles?  fresh out! I go through those like candy around here due to the freaking power going out when you sneeze.  And as if that isn’t enough to piss this mama off, the garage door doesn’t open, yeah you have to manually open it to get the car out to go to the store to buy the extra flashlight you needed for the outage cause you lost the other one somewhere.

Never go to the store with your husband, because you could very well stand in the flashlight aisle for 12 hours deciding on LED or regular and answering questions like…How many lumens is it? And just as soon as you get home, half excited to try the new 800 hr flashlight, the power is back on, and you wonder why you left.

Electric people…are you out there?  Can you please get it right?  I shouldn’t have to be shopping for a whole house generator, and having to buy 3000 flashlights and candles.  Where do these things go anyway?  I still can’t find a blessed one of them.

Eggciting Eggs Farm to Table Recap

Ever wonder where your eggs come from?  From a chicken right?  Well of course they come from chickens, but did you ever wonder how they arrive to your table?  I had the first hand opportunity to see the chicken who lays the egg, the machines that take them, clean them, magically snatch them up, and put them in the carton, and the people who make it happen.

Our first evening included a wonderful dinner with the talented Chef Jeffrey Saad, World’s Fastest Omelet Maker, Howard Helmer, Clint Hickman of Hickman Family Farms and his lovely wife, and the wonderful ladies from Edelman and American Egg Board.  The Mayor even stopped by!  The next morning we would be on our way to Hickman Egg Farm after sharing good food with new friends, with none other than scrumptious egg dishes for breakfast.

On the bus drive over, Clint gave us some background, pointed out some things along the way and how farmers really are struggling.  We even saw some dairy farms, now vacant as a result of bankruptcy…perfectly good farms but no way to keep up.

About Hickman Egg Farm

Hickman’s Family Farms has been family-owned and operated in Arizona since 1944. In its early days, Hickman’s entered the Arizona food service market by providing fresh, locally produced eggs direct to small independent restaurants, and directly to consumers. Every afternoon, one little refrigerated panel truck was sufficient to deliver the day’s production to coffee shops in Glendale and to Carnation Restaurant in the big city of Phoenix. Bill and Gertie Hickman displayed the entrepreneurial insight that has kept Hickman’s competitive for decades.

Going Green

Hickman’s Family Farms utilize stringent methods of conservation and recycling to remain as environmentally-friendly (“green”) as possible. Wash water is recycled and reused, and manure is dried, ground, and turned into high quality fertilizer. By the time we are through at even our largest facilities, we actually discard into dumpsters less waste than the average apartment building does in a day.

Ya know what they say….that from the manure, flowers grow!  Everything is put to good use at Hickman Egg Farm, right down to the egg shells that are used for compost.

Billy and Clint Hickman

Once we arrived, we put on our booties, our coats and fancy hats.  This is a precaution to protect the chickens from an form of contamination and or disease that may be carried in.  I don’t think I have ever seen so many chickens in one place or eggs for that matter.  I was in complete awe of the entire process.  We arrived right at their peak laying time, and boy were they chatty bunch!  You could barely hear what Clint and Billy were saying over chicken talk.  Billy, explained they even chickens get a nap time during the day and all you can hear is a low murmur, and then they also get a bed time like we do.  Egg laying is hard work people.

Don’t I Look Cute?  Just Agree!

It was fascinating to see the eggs roll out on to mini conveyor belts, get carried to where they are cleaned and sanitized then snatched up and packaged for market.   We stood amongst all these eggs in the warehouse and all those eggs must leave within a 36 hour time period or the eggs would be through the roof.  We are talking about millions of chickens that dont stop laying just because you have a warehouse full…that’s just how many eggs their were.

From Chicken, To Cleaning/Sanitizing, To Package

This is Billy and Clint’s Mom Gertie, she is a great lady with tremendous spunk!

There was an incredible amount of information to digest and it was an incredible experience to get a behind the scenes look into what it takes to get fresh eggs to our table and I have a new respect for our farmers, because they are feeding our country.  And as part of the Good Egg Project, egg farmers are donating up to 12 million eggs per year,  to food banks and charities.  We can also do our part by joining in and committing to live more healthfully and give back by pledging to “Eat good. Do good every day.”  For every person that makes the pledge, farmers will donate one egg to help feed America up to 1 million eggs.

After and eye opening tour of egg production at its finest, we heard from Mary Lee Chin a registered dietitian about the nutrition benefits of just one egg, and we were treated to some totally awesome cooking demonstrations by Jeffrey Saad and Howard Helmer.  We learned some easy egg recipes from Jeffrey and how to whip up an omelet in no time with Howard (world’s fastest omelet maker).  I was quite enthused to try the omelet making at home, since all of mine usually look like a scrambled mess.  But after learning the key to making omelets, I felt like a whiz in the kitchen when I rolled out three perfect and delicious omelets.

Mary Lee Chin Telling Us About The Nutritional Values Of The Egg

Egg Nutrition

Howard Helmer Showing Us How To Make a Perfect Omelet in Seconds!

Jeffrey Saad Shared Some Wonderful Egg Recipes and His Passion For Making Good Food

I also have to say that I especially enjoyed this experience.  The Hickmans, including Mom Gertie (thank you for all the wonderful stories and the golf balls too  LOL) were so welcoming and I felt right at home.  Jeffrey, Howard, Mary Lee, all the folks from Edelman and everyone in attendance were some of the warmest and nicest individuals.  Thank you so much for a great experience and new friends.  This is definitely something that I won’t forget.  Thank you to the Hickmans for opening your doors to Mom Bloggers to share what you do to make it possible for us to have food on our tables daily…it was a real pleasure!

**Thank you to Edelman Pr and the Good Egg Project for funding this trip and making it possible**

Getting My Ducks Or Chickens In A Row

Earlier this week, I had a phenomenal opportunity to join some fellow bloggers, in the first ever Farm to Table event. This  wonderful trip was all part of  the Good Egg Project.   I had an incredible chance to see the entire process of how eggs get to us as consumers, learn about the nutritional values that a single egg can provide, how to get creative in the kitchen, create some great egg recipes, and most importantly, ways in which we can help farmers join in the fight against hunger.

In the days to come, I will be sharing my wonderful experience with some really great people.  I think that you will be amazed at how little you may know about where our food comes from.  I was in awe of the entire process, and was reminded of just how much we take for granted as consumers.  For us we show up at the grocery store and pick up a carton of eggs and never actually get to see the behind the scenes of how they actually got there.  We know our eggs come from chickens…but the journey is incredible.  I will never look at an egg the same way.

Right now the kiddies are feeling under the weather again, so I have some mommy stuff to do, but keep an eye out in the days to come, while I get my ducks, or chickens rather in a row!  I am so eggcited to tell you all about it!

Is Your Toothbrush Making You Sick?

We just returned home from a wonderful trip from Disney, and we were all hit by yet another round of what I call kung foo goo or the sickies.  Apparently we weren’t the only ones who got the but from this trip.

I have always given my toothbrush the evil eye after I have been sick.  The other evening, as I got ready to brush the boys teeth as I always do, it dawned on me that this was and interesting question.  Do you change your toothbrush after you have been sick?  There are several answers that our out there, but the general consensus seems to be to change it after three months or after you have been sick.

Some say if you have had a virus, that you don’t have to change your toothbrush that your body builds up a specific immunity.  But most dentists and doctors say you should change your toothbrush because bacteria and fungus can live on your toothbrush well after you are up and running again and you can get sick again.

I have seen the new fangled UV toothbrush sanitizers, it looks pretty and all,  but I am a bit skeptical.  Either way, I change my toothbrush because all I have to do it think about brushing my mouth with germs and bacteria and that sort of takes care of it for me.

Do you change your toothbrush after you’ve been sick?  Or do you adhere to the 3 month change suggestion?

Wordless Wednesday

Last Night At Disney World

We are back!

I haven’t updated on my blog in awhile for very good reason.  We just returned from a very magical time in Orlando Florida for the Disney Social Media Moms Conference.  I will be posting more about our trip in the weeks to come, but wanted to stop in and let you all know that I am still amongst the living.

We got back today and we are all happily exhausted.  Disney World is something  right out of a fairytale and even though you have to go home at some point, you hate leaving.  It’s hard to have a bad day when you are in the Magical Kingdom!

I am looking forward to going back…we had such a wonderful time.

What’s a Superbowl?

Another conversation with one of my three year olds and their daddy.

Daddy:  Tomorrow is the Superbowl!

Bubby:  It is?

Daddy: Yes, do you know what the Superbowl is?

Bubby:  Well does the Superbowl have cereal in it?

They say the darndest things!  LOL…I will always remember this one, every time we watch a Superbowl.

Three Year Olds Have All The Answers

The conversation went something like this:

“Mommy is it Summer?”

Me:  “No honey it’s winter”

“Can we put the pool in the backyard?”

Me:  Well when it’s Summer and the sun is shining and it’s hot enough outside we can set up the pool, it is warm in Florida and we will be leaving to go there on an airplane soon”

“We can put the pool in the back of the car and take it to Florida Mommy”

It is so funny how simple their answers are.  Makes sense to me  LOL.  Let’s hope he doesn’t notice the pool isn’t coming with us!

Wordless Wednesday

In honor of our upcoming trip to Disney World, my husband and I decided to draw Mickey for you all.  We were actually sitting down drawing with he boys and got in a silent but understood competition.  Can you guess which one is which?  Ill get in trouble for this post  LOL.  But this is fun! And the boys added their touch.

I’m A Frigidaire Test Drive Mom!

I was recently given a wonderful opportunity by Mom Central and the folks at Frigidaire. I am giddy with excitement to tell you, that I am a Frigidaire Test Drive Mom.  I am a proud member of Team Fridge. What does this mean?  Next month a pretty, new stainless steel professional line fridge from Frigidaire will be showing up at our house and I couldn’t be more excited.  I cannot tell you how many times I have drooled over them in the stores and now  I can hardly wait!!!!  Being a stay at home mom, makes getting a new appliance, a major excitement, because it is something I use every single day.

As part of this wonderful opportunity, I will be testing this fancy schmancy new fridge and reporting back to my readers on my findings and writing about my love affair with my new fridge (it could be better than Twilight *maybe*).  I am particularly interested in how this fridge compares to our current one.  Our fridge is only 7 years old, but things are starting to fall off !  I will be looking at things like temperature control, easy of use, how easy it is to clean, and maximum storage capabilities (we all know how stuffed a freezer can get).  I already whine about my current freezer, because the less I have to run down to the basement to the other freezer the better.

I am very excited and will be giving this fridge a rigorous mommy workout!  I can’t wait to share my thoughts.  Take a look at how pretty it is! Oh, and I can so see my Ben and Jerry’s sitting in my new freezer!

About Frigidaire

In 2009 Frigidaire introduced more than 250 new appliances , all designed with the idea of creating more time for us Moms. Standing behind its claim, Frigidaire offers a “More Me-Time Guarantee.” Moms will save a minimum of eight hours a month or their money back!

In addition, Frigidaire announced a new partnership in September with actress and philanthropist, Jennifer Garner.  The pair teamed up to launch the new Frigidaire line and to kick off the “Make Time for Change” campaign to support Save the Children.

Thier newest campaign to support Save the Children, called Spin & Win. Started January 18th. Guests can go to www.maketimeforchange.com to play Spin & Win for their chance to win prizes including a new time-saving Frigidaire Affinity washer/dryer! Plus every day you take a spin, Frigidaire donates $1 to Save the Children as part of their $250,000 commitment.  I cannot think of a better way to support a wonderful cause and have fun doing it.

I am looking forward to sharing my experiences with all of you, so keep your eyes peeled for new posts about our new fridge from Frigidaire!

“I wrote this review while participating in a Test Drive Campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Frigidaire and received a Frigidaire Refrigerator to facilitate my review.”

Next Page »