American Idol 8..Kicks off in Phoenix

I am a huge American Idol fan.   My husband makes fun of me and he only likes to watch the auditions then he is done with the show.   I love to watch it from start to finish, and I actually go through a mourning when the show is over.   I savor every evening where I can sit and watch one of my favorite shows and then I can hardly wait for the next week.   When you become a parent, it’s the little things, like a television show, that make me happy, not a date, but quiet time with my favorite shows.

This year American Idol kicks off in Phoenix, Arizona, home of Jordan Sparks.   So far I think the season shows promise, but I won’t know who exactly I like, until I see more of the show.   I sometimes wonder about these people that show up that think they can sing.  The chic in the bikini was a little strange and she actually made it through, we will see what she has to offer with her clothes on.   I really like the guy who worked on the oil pumps for some reason, but only time will tell as the season moves forward as to who has what it takes.   I sometimes wonder if the judges are hearing the same thing I am, because some of the people that make it through are a bit on the iffy side.

Thankfully I have a Tivo hooked up with a dual tuner so I can record Biggest Loser and American Idol!  Anyway here’s to a new season of American Idol…I am in couch potato heaven!

Conversation Hearts….Ever wonder about them?

So I got the boys some conversation hearts the other day as I remember them from my childhood.   I got the standard Necco sweethearts which are my favorite and well I tried an off brand (they all tasted like toothpaste to me).  So here I was driving down the road pondering these cute little hearts with sweet little sayings on them, and wondered just how these came about.  So I did a little investigation of these sweet little gems that you can only find around Valentine’s Day.   I polished off the box by the time I hit the front door.

History

Daniel Chase, brother of the founder of NECCO Oliver Chase, began printing sayings on the candy in the 1860s. He designed a machine that was able to press on the candy similar to a stamp. The candy was often used for weddings since the candies had witty saying such as: “Married in pink, he will take a drink,” “Married in White, you have chosen right,” and “Married in Satin, Love will not be lasting.”

Sweethearts got their start in 1902. Back then, they were not only hearts but postcards, horseshoes, watches, and baseballs. Some of the sayings, such as “Be Mine,” “Kiss Me,” and “Be True,” are still in use. In 1997, the saying “The One I Love” was brought back in honor of NECCO’s 150th anniversary.

In the 1990s, NECCO vice president, Walter Marshall, wanted to update some of the sayings and retire others. NECCO receives hundreds of suggestions a year on new sayings. Including “Call me,” “Email me,” and “Fax me.”

NECCO still uses the same formula to produce the candies. The recipe includes battered sugar, corn syrup, gelatin, gums, colorings, and flavorings. The recipe is brought to a consistency of a dough, rolled out, imprinted with sayings, stamped into a heart shape, and then put through a 45 minute drying cycle for consistency.

NECCO produces the hearts from late February though mid January of the following year. Approximately 100,000 pounds of hearts are made per day, which sells out in about six weeks.

That is a lot of conversation hearts!   I still love them now.  How fun would it be to leave little sweet messages to your special someone, or you can just message yourself and get a nice sugar rush.  So there is a little tidbit for the day  😉

Whats for Dinner Monday

Here is week two of my Monday menu ideas.   Sorry, I forgot to take out my camera, but you get the idea.   This is a family favorite, and the boys simply love Beef Stroganoff as well as my husband.   The Broccoli Slaw has quickly become one of my favorites and Monkey calls any salad “fruit salad yummy yummy.”  He loves to eat salad of any kind which I guess is a good thing!   The meal was a big hit and the plates were cleaned. ENJOY!

Beef Stroganoff
2lbs of Top Round Steak Slices in thin strips
2 Tbs Butter
One medium Onion
1 can of condensed beef broth
2 Tbs Worcestershire Sauce
4oz can of sliced mushrooms
8 oz Sour Cream
1/4 cup of Flour
12 oz of wide egg noodles cooked

Melt Butter, and Brown beef and onion in a large skillet.   Add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and mushrooms and simmer until beef in tender about 45min-an hour (if you need to you can add a little water).
Stir together flour and sour cream and add to the beef mixture, stir till combined over low to med heat and it starts to thicken. Add cooked egg noodles and wahlah! I love to serve mine over butter bread.

Broccoli Cole Slaw
I buy the Manns broccoli Slaw
Mix with Marzettis Cole Slaw Dressing

French Bread with Garlic/Herb Butter

Green Beans
(well out of the can)

Grapes
(I always like to give the boys fresh fruit with their meals)

My Fruit Roll Ups…A Fun Way to Add a Personal Touch

I just recently had the opportunity to design my own personal fruit roll ups. Fruit Roll Ups have been around since I was a kid, so I was excited to try it out.   It is such a nifty idea, especially if you are looking to do something unique and out of the ordinary.  My Fruit Roll Ups can be used for party favors for your child’s birthday, or handed out on Valentine’s day, and for any occasion really.

The process was a snap and it didn’t take long at all.  They have a ton of different designs to choose from and uploading your picture is simple and quick.   I chose a Valentine’s Day theme to put a picture of the boys on to hand out as cute little personalized greeting to people.  Each box comes with 30 Fruit Roll Ups, so that you have enough to go around.  I wasn’t sure how the quality would be, but when I received them, I was pleasantly surprised, and the boys got a kick out of seeing their faces on something they were eating.  I hope we don’t eat the box before Valentine’s day gets here!

If you would like to have the chance to design you very own My Fruit Roll Ups, DoubleBugs would like to give its readers the chance to win a box of their own.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

Here’s all ya gotta do:

Visit My Fruit Roll Ups and let me know what design you might choose and what occasion you would use them for.

Leave me an Email so I have a way to contact you if you win

For extra entries choose one of the following:

• Blog about my contest on your site
• Grab my badge or Link to me
• Follow me on Twitter

The deadline is January 21st, 2009

Good Luck!!!

A Toddler’s Creative Way to Remedy a Stuffy Nose

So over the last week the boys had colds.  For Christmas, they got a workbench from Grandma and Grandpa, and a whole bunch of  tools.   This seems to be their new thing, and they use anything and everything as a tool to work on their cars and even mommy’s feet (I guess they think they need help).

I was cleaning up some dishes in the kitchen and bubs was quietly playing with his power screwdriver, when I peeked around the corner to see what he was doing.  When I looked, I instantly had to hold back my laughter and ran to get the camera!   I guess this is one way to relieve a stuffy nose!   Too Funny!

Truvia Sweet as Sugar but Easy on the Love Handles

I have never been a huge fan of artificial sweeteners in my diet.   I just feel like it is something unnatural that you are putting into your body.   You never know the long term effect that all these blah blah saccharin, and “ide” type chemicals have on your body.  When I was busy trying to conceive the boys, I switched to drinking things with Splenda in them as a more healthy resort because it tasted good and was derived from sugar so I thought why not?

It wasn’t until recently, that I learned of an even more natural way to sweeten things without adding pure refined sugar to my diet.  Let’s face it, a girl has to have her chocolate or something sweet.  Truvia natural  sweetener is a stevia-based sweetener.  Stevia  is actually a shrub in the chrysanthemum family, that is native to northeastern Paraguay. First discovered by the country’s natives, the plant has been grown, and used in South America to sweeten foods and beverages for more than 200 years.  Truvia rebiana, the main ingredient in Truvia natural sweetener, comes from the best tasting part of the stevia leaf and is a high purity sweetener.   Thanks to the folks at Cargill, you can now find Truvia at your local grocery store!

When I got my box of Truvia, I opened it immediately because I was excited to try it.   I am trying to shed a few extra pounds, and wanted something to take the place of regular sugar, so I could at least enjoy some things that were sweetened.   I tried it straight out of the package, and it is really good!   My true test though, was my husband.  He doesn’t do any sweeteners of any kind, so I let him try it, and he actually liked it!   This is a huge deal, if you knew my husband!   I love Truvia, and will continue to use it in my oatmeal, on my grapefruit, and wherever else I can substitute.  It is perfect if you want that something sweet, but you don’t want to blow your diet or add to your love handles!

My Weight Loss Coach..Gaming to a New You

So I was sitting here playing with my Nintendo DS and yes folks I do have one and it is pink.  I enjoy playing the Brain Age Games, and  well in the light of me wanting to lose some weight, I thought I would give the  “My Weight Loss Coach” game a try.  It is a lot of fun and it keeps all my information in one place so I can track my progress.  It even comes with a pedometer so I can use it when the weather is nice or just wear it around the house because it seems like I never sit down anyway.

My Weight Loss Coach

My Weight Loss Coach for Nintendo DS is a game for every adult, male and female, who considers reaching and maintaining their target weight a challenge. A program that fits your own objectives and respects your daily life constraints, My Weight Loss Coach supports you and tracks your progress and achievements by improving your energy balance. Developed in conjunction with a nutritionist, it helps you take control of your weight efficiently and feel better. Via an exclusive pedometer (included free with the game), you will be able to measure your real physical activity level and balance it, following the advice of a fitness coach. Your motivation will increase with coaching sessions, daily challenges, mini-games and quizzes – play for only 10 to 15 minutes per day and you will feel the difference!

Key Features

• Personal Profiles: Create your personal profile and evaluate your improvement potential, then set up your objectives following the recommendations based on your personal profile.
• Input Reward System: On a daily or weekly basis, overall, per input category, via a pedometer, physical activity and nutrition.
• The Pedometer: Free with the game and easily updated through your DS, it’s the best way to control your daily physical effort, challenge yourself and balance your food intake.
• Real-Life Landmark Checkpoints: As a reward, all physical activities you achieve and good nutrition habits you acquire are converted into distance. Didn’t you notice you’d already been traveling the distance equivalent to the Great Wall of China?
• Mini-Games:
  • 10 coaching sessions, with different themes like alimentation and physical activity, help define your profile and give you strategies
  • 300 to 500 fun challenges, depending on your profile and your needs
  • Four trivia games, featuring about 300 questions with learning and awareness objectives
  • More than 160 tips and hints within the game
• Real Experts: Developed in collaboration with a fitness coach and a nutritionist.

This is such a fun way to get in shape and it is almost like having your own personal trainer and motivation at your fingertips. The stick figure guy is so funny to watch! I received two of these games for the holiday so I thought I would share, by giving my readers a chance to win a copy of their own.

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED

Here’s what you gotta do:

Subscribe to my feed, and leave me one healthy lo cal snack or meal recipe that can help people in their quest to lose weight.

Leave me an email so I can contact you in you Win

You can have an extra entry if you put my button up on your blog or myspace, facebook pages.

That’s all ya gotta do!

Contest Starts January 7th, 2009 and Ends January 21,2009

Good Luck!!!!

Sharpen the Mind, Shape the Body with GameStop!

So somewhere in my brain I have decided to get in better shape this year.  I know that everyone sets this goal as their New Years resolution, but I don’t do resolutions.  I do aspire to become thinner, however long that may take.  With my days being consumed with house cleaning, chasing after two year old twin boys, one wild golden retriever, and maintaining the laundry trail, I don’t get too much time to myself these days.  Plus it is winter, and well me and cold don’t mix, so getting out to be active isn’t my most favorite option in the world.

Nowadays many Americans are finding a new way to get in shape that makes a fun alternative to the bike or the treadmill.  I know that doing the same thing can definitely lead to boredom, and a quick ending to your motivation.  Now there is a new way to get in shape, spend time with the family and have fun.  Playing popular video games like Wii Fit (which I love), My Fitness  Coach, or Dance Revolution can really make exercise fun.  GameStop stores offer these titles and more and have associates that can help you and your family find the titles that are right for you.

I personally love our Wii Fit and I find myself getting on the thing more and more.  Plus an even better advantage is that, I can do it in the warmth and privacy of my own home.   The games are a blast and so much fun, and  for the month of January GameStop is offering its customers a “Sharpen the Mind, Shape the Body” incentive to encourage active gaming.  They are offering to all shoppers that spend $35 or more on designated products, a free 12-month trial subscription to Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Redbook, Esquire, or Good Housekeeping.  This is perfect combination, have fun on your Wii Fit, then sit down and have a good read.

Visit GameStop today and get active!

What’s For Dinner Mondays

Ok so here’s the deal. I decided to try this out. I know that Mondays are hard because you are busy getting back into the swing of things. Being a stay at home mom means my husband goes back to work and I am again working solo in all things household. I figured that I would share my dinner with you, and maybe it will help give you some ideas. I know from experience that it is so easy to get in a rut when it comes to thinking of what to make for dinner, and for alot of families you need things that are fairly easy to make.

The meals I make aren’t foo foo either because being a mom of twins doen’t give me a whole lot of time to fancy things up. And, I don’t think toddlers care just as long as their bellies are full.

So here is today’s meal!
Chicken in the crock
I just toss in 4- 6 boneless chicken breasts
1 carton of chicken stock (usually use Swanson)
2 cans of Campbells Cream of Chicken and Mushroom Soup

Toss it in the crockpot and let it go on high for about 6-8 hours

Fresh Garden Salad (toss in whatever you want…I like to buy the bagged lettuce and wash it, add a tomato, cucumber, a few grapes, and some cheese…green goddess dressing is our fav)

Steamed Broccoli (The Birdseye Steamfresh broccoli is perfect! I just add a little butter, sprinkle with salt and garlic powder)

Au Gratin Potatoes (I use the Betty Crocker ones out of the box but if you are industrious you can make your own homemade ones)

Fresh Frozen Peaches (I buy the ones at whole foods, thaw them out just a little and sprinkle with a little brown sugar and cinnamon or just a little plain sugar…the boys love these!)

This is a fairly simple meal to make and the chicken is so good.  You can also serve the chicken over rice or noodles as an alternative.   Here is my meal in pictures!  It doesn’t look gourmet but the plates were cleaned!

Share your Monday Dinner Ideas!

Getting Organized in the New Year

I am always looking for ways to get organized. Since having children, it seems that my mind is busy trying to be in fifty places at one time.   I am planning what is for dinner, remembering where I need to go, doctor’s appointments, and what needs to be picked up at the grocery store, and errands to run.   With all these things swirling through my head, I almost always forget something.

I was recently introduced to Cozi, a FREE web service that helps busy families manage crazy schedules, track shopping and to do lists, organize household chores and stay in communication, all in one easy-to-use solution.  It gives you one central location to manage everything from family schedules, shopping lists, messaging tools, mobile messaging, and even a family journal.   One of the coolest features Cozi has , is that you can access your shopping lists or schedules from your mobile phone!   I cannot tell you how many times I have left the house without my shopping list or, I cannot remember if the boys appointment was at 10 or 10:30.  Simply call up Cozi using their toll free number and it can read it to you over the phone or text it to you!  In addition, Cozi now has a mobile version especially for the iPhone and Windows Mobile phones! Families can now sign-in and access their Cozi account using their mobile web browsers.   They can add and edit shopping lists and view and edit their family calendar using the mobile version of Cozi right from their iPhone.  This is a new feature! You can learn more about it here.

Cozi is such a cool site and it makes getting organized fun and makes forgetting even more fun!  I can’t wait to leave home without something just so I can try it out.  Plus, there will be no more tearing off the corner of the phone bill envelopes to scribble down my grocery lists (an I know you know what im talking about  lol).  Check out Cozi and save your sanity as well a few trees!

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