Thanksgiving Recap

Thanksgiving has always been a simple affair in our house since we moved to Arizona.  The first year we lived here, we drove to Rocky Point, Mexico, camped on the beach and ate a wonderful seafood meal at a local restaurant.  It was my absolute favorite Thanksgiving ever.

Yesterday, we enjoyed Thanksgiving at home.  Bo brined, and then grilled a 13 lb turkey for our feast. He also roasted the fresh beets we purchased from Whole Foods last week.  While the texture is definitely different than canned beets, I have to say that the flavor is the same.  We won't be having them again, but I will say that the red beet definitely has a stronger flavor than the yellow beet.  It's a flavor that nobody in the house appreciates.

I made mashed potatoes following Bethany's recipe.  They were very rich, and tasted great.  I left the skins on, but will return to peeling the potatoes as most of us didn't like the texture with the peels.

I cooked up the Whole Foods organic cranberry stuffing and those who like stuffing enjoyed it and said the flavor was good.  It was a little wet for their taste, so in the future, I would cut the water a little bit.  It was ridiculously easy to make -- bring water & butter to a boil ( I used about 1/2 the butter suggested), add stuffing mix, remove from heat, stir and let sit for 5 minutes.

I made gravy from the drippings -- that nobody ate but me. 

I baked fresh rolls, which were soft and good -- but I think they would have been softer if I hand-mixed them instead of using the mixer.  I will make them again (for a crowd next time - the recipe I chose made almost 3 dozen) but without the mixer to see if they are softer.   Colin, who usually loves bread, refused to even try them.

I baked a pumpkin pie -- using Whole Foods pumpkin and that was delicious.  I made a crust I found in my Betty Crocker iPhone app that used flour, oil and water and did not require any rolling.  I pressed the dough into the pan before pouring in the filling.  It was an okay crust -- definitely faster than my traditional crust -- and worked with the pumpkin pie filling.  My traditional crust is much flakier, but I was surprised to note that this crust did have some flake.  My kids love pumpkin pie and this pie was inhaled last night.  Good thing I have more pumpkin and evaporated milk in the cupboard!

I made chocolate bourbon pecan pie -- using my traditional shortening, flour & water crust.  (I figured the only way to truly compare was to have both available)  The pie was delicious!

My sister joined us and we had a nice dinner.  Looking back, I realize that mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie are the only things that everyone enjoys.  Maybe next year we'll try a totally different kind of meal and make foods that everyone likes?  A meal of Thanksgiving of our favorite foods and dump tradition? I'm liking the idea -- come back next year to see if I follow through!

Tell Me Thursday - Visit

My Wordless Wednesday photo yesterday was of my 3 children, along with my Aunt Tess and her youngest daughter, Emma!  They were in town so that my Uncle could compete in the IronMan (which he completed -- and had a pretty good time considering it was his first effort and he had never competed in a triathlon before!)

My aunt and cousin stayed with us, and my boys were gracious enough to give up their rooms and bunk with their sister during their stay.  It was wonderful having them here as it's been far too long since I've seen them last (12 years!)  They live on the other side of the country, though, and travel with families is always difficult.

As much as we love living in Arizona, it is hard to live so far away from family.

If you played Wordless Wednesday, don't forget to tell your story with Tell Me Thursday!

Wordless Wednesday - Visit

I like playing Wordless Wednesday, but I always tell the story behind my pictures on Tell Me Thursday!

To Do Lists

Do you make to-do lists?  I know I accomplish more when I write to-do lists, but sometimes the thought of writing down everything I need (or want) to accomplish is so overwhelming that I skip the list and blunder on through.

I am on a list-making kick at the moment, though, and have broken my list out into different categories in the hope I wouldn't feel as overwhelmed. There are those things that have to happen no matter what in our home -- like laundry, and grocery shopping.  Then there are those things that have to happen for work -- like preparing for a new class, or reviewing the books for upcoming classes.  

That list with the things I should do, or want to do is the list I really need to pay attention to the most.  I will make sure I go to the grocery store and prepare for new classes, but I tend to let the "finish media kit", or "write query for that great article idea" linger too long on the list -- and sometimes they never get done.  I realize that ignoring those types of items won't help me move forward at all, and I have mentioned many times how I'm not content with staying still.


Writing this post has let me procrastinate on my current list . . . which I really need to get back to working on!

Review: Power Ranger Racing Cycle

Last week, we reviewed the MegaZord!  Another fun toy we received from Bandai America was the Power Ranger RPM Racing Performance Cycle!  Nate (7yo) has had a wonderful time playing with this toy.  The Green Power Ranger has been part of many secret missions and exciting adventures in our home during the last few weeks.

Nate offered to record a video review, so here it is!



We think the Power Ranger RPM Racing Performance Cycle would make a great gift!

Disclosure: We received this toy from Bandai America in exchange for our honest review.  No additional compensation was provided.

Review: Whole Foods Market - Thanksgiving Ideas!

Last week, Bo, Lydia and I had the opportunity to visit a local Whole Foods Market in Tempe, AZ and enjoyed a tour with one of their chefs, Bethany and Theresa from Marketing. I don't usually shop at Whole Foods, but I've read about them and was very interested to learn more.

The first thing I noticed when walking in the store was how beautiful the produce section was!  The fresh vegetables and fruits were displayed in a way that made the color stand out and the store was bright and welcoming. We talked about Thanksgiving and Bethany offered to make some suggestions for our meal this week.

We started in the produce section and Bethany talked about her preference for organic foods. Whole Foods has a wide selection of organic produce and provides samples for many of their goods.  Bo & Lydia sampled some of the organic Gala apples and both declared them delicious.

Bethany asked if we have beets for Thanksgiving, and Bo & I looked at each other with a funny look.  When I think of beets, I think of canned beets -- which I have never enjoyed.

These were fresh beets, however, and Bethany assured us that they were delicious when roasted. They had both yellow and red beets and I purchased a few of each to roast on Thursday.  The recommended serving is about 1/4 lb raw beets per person -- less if you have a bunch of sides. The recipe she gave us for roasted beets is very simple!

• Roasted Beets
  

1. Wash and slightly scrub beets.  Peel with a grater and dice the beets
2. Toss lightly with olive oil, salt, pepper.  Top with chopped fresh herb (she suggested tarragon or ginger or basil)
3. Bake on cookie sheet for 45 minutes to an hour.
4. If roasting both red and yellow beets, use separate cookie sheets since the red color will bleed, but the flavor is the same.

Bethany suggested a very simple green bean almondine by sauteing green beans, then topping with toasted almonds.

Our next stop was potatoes.  I thought that Yukon Golds were best for mashed, and Bethany agreed.  I asked about adding cold milk vs. warm milk to the potatoes and she said that you always want to add hot to hot.

• Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
  

1. Boil potatoes until fork tender.  Bethany likes to leave the skin on, we usually peel most of the skin off, but may leave it on this year!
2. Drain the potatoes in a colander and let them steam in the colander for about 15 minutes to remove extra moisture.  Return to pan and mash.
3. Add warm cream and butter.  She suggested melting the butter and adding it to the cream to mix into the potatoes.
4. Grate a white cheddar (about 2 cups for 10lbs of potatoes) and mix in, along with salt, pepper and a sprinkle of fresh chopped chives on top.  Using a white cheddar keeps the potatoes creamy-white.
   

When we stopped at the wine and cheese department, a very helpful associate named Dave helped us choose a sharp white cheddar (Kerry Gold Kilaree).  We were able to sample it before purchasing, and it's been a struggle not to nibble on it before Thursday!

I will share how these recipes were received by the family after we enjoy them on Thanksgiving!  I have another post in the works about Whole Foods and my experience there, but I wanted to throw up those food tips before Thursday!  I had a great tour with Bethany and am eager to share more insights about that tour soon.

Before I close, I want to mention that Whole Foods has a wonderful selection of prepared foods that could either be your Thanksgiving meal, or round it out with additional sides.  We sampled the turkey, as well as some vegetables, and thought it all tasted delicious.  Here's a picture of Bethany (in the middle) with her team!  If you visit the Whole Foods in Tempe, be sure to say hello!

Disclosure:  I received a selection of Whole Foods brand foods to help round out our Thanksgiving meal, as well as a gift card to help me purchase some of the items mentioned in this post.

Money Saving Monday #34 - Bakery Outlets

In our family of five, we can go through an entire loaf of bread during one lunch, especially if the boys have more than one sandwich.  I know it would be less expensive to make our bread from scratch, but my kids prefer store-bought bread for sandwiches.  (And I don't have the time to bake bread regularly.)

We have a bakery outlet near us, where we can purchase loaves of bread for around $1/loaf most days. They are the same breads in the grocery stores that cost $3 - 5/loaf, but they usually are close to their stale-date.  In my house, that's okay because it doesn't last long anyway!!

I like when my husband stops to pick up the bread, because I rarely make the time to shop at a store where I can only purchase one thing -- especially when I have the kids with me. I like to multi-task a bit more while shopping, but I do like the savings!!

Review: iGo Chargers

I have a new favorite gadget and if you use anything that needs charging, I think it will become your new favorite gadget as well!  iGo is a company based in Scottsdale, AZ (close to me!) and I had the chance to meet some of their staff recently.  They gave me an iGo Charge Anywhere charger and a few different tips to try out so I could share my thoughts with my readers.

iGo chargers have multiple tips that connect to the charger, so you can use only one charger instead of an entire drawer-full of chargers when you need to charge various devices.  It's much simpler to have a small pouch of tips for your gadgets and only one charger to use.

The Charge Anywhere has the added advantage of holding a charge in an internal battery when it's unplugged.  It can be used as a traditional charger, plugged in the wall, charging 2 different items at the same time.   Then, you can unplug it and carry it with you because the charger holds a charge!  You don't need to plug it in to an electrical outlet when your iPhone needs a charge after you've used it to surf the Internet all day at a conference!  Just plug in the cable and you can fully charge something without plugging it into the wall!


I attended an all-day conference and can't believe I forgot to bring this handy charger along because my iPhone was completely dead by the time I drove home.  That was the last time I forgot to bring it, though!  On my recent trip, I carried it and used it on the plane to charge my iPhone after Lydia drained it playing toddler games.  Then I used it to charge both my iPhone and iPod that night and during our visit.  Nate and Colin have used it to charge their Nintendos and their Zunes in the car. I've also used it to charge my Kindle.

The Charge Anywhere charges Apple, BlackBerry, Creative, Garmin, HP, HTC, Jabra, Jawbone, Kodak, Kyocera, LG, Magellan, Microsoft, Mio, Motorola, Navigon, Nikon, Nintendo, Nokia, Palm, Plantronics, Rio, Samsung, Sanyo, Siemens, Sony, Sony Ericsson, TomTom devices and MORE!

Tips are sold separately, but if you don't have the appropriate tip, you can always use the USB cable that came with your device to use the charger. They do sell a simple wallet to store your tips to keep them organized.

iGo has a wide variety of chargers available, for laptops and mobile devices.   They currently offer free shipping for orders over $25 and chargers can be ordered online, over the phone, and at some retail establishments. Visit the iGo site for more information.

If you're looking for a gift for anyone who uses mobile devices, I highly recommend the Charge Anywhere!

Disclosure: I received a Charge Anywhere charger, selection of tips and tip wallet from iGo to facilitate my complete and honest review.

Travel with a Toddler

Last week, my sister, daughter & I hopped a plane to visit my parents for a couple days.  My parents often head west in November, but since they weren't able to do so this year, I decided to go to them.  We flew in Sunday to celebrate my mom's birthday, then headed back to Arizona on Tuesday.

It was a very quick trip, but we all had a great time and Lydia (2 1/2) enjoyed herself completely. She was an angel on the trip, but I thought I'd share a few tips that made our trip with a toddler easier (and a couple things I should have done!)

• Pack light, but bring extra outfits.  I packed one extra outfit, which we needed before we got off the plane on Sunday (she spilled ginger ale all over herself!)  I should have packed 2 extra outfits, but thankfully we finished the trip without needing another extra outfit.
• Pack snacks.  I always always always do this . . . but I didn't this time.  I'm not sure why, but I left without my usual stash of snacks in my purse and figured I would buy the snack boxes. On our flight out, by the time the flight attendants reached row 12, they were out of food to purchase.  US Airways doesn't even give out pretzels with their drinks, but at least we did get a drink.  We were all pretty hungry by the time we reached Grandma's house, but she had plenty of food to fill us up.
• Bring an empty, re-usable water bottle.  Security doesn't allow you to bring liquids through, so I carry a re-usable bottle.  Vendors charge $2-4 for a single bottle of water, so this way I can fill up the bottle and use powdered drink packets to flavor it.  
  
• Take advantage of opportunities.  At some airports, travelers with small children are able to go through a shorter security line.  The Milwaukee airport had a children's play area, which Lydia enjoyed playing in while we waited for our flight home.  Some airlines allow you to pre-board if you have small children. Pre-boarding allows you a little more room to get settled, and there's room in the overhead bins for your carry-ons to be above your seat. 
  
• Bring an iPhone or iPod or other entertaining device. My iPhone is loaded with toddler games (99% of which were free) and my sister had an entire season of Animaniacs on her iPod. I brought a pair of headphones that fit Lydia and she spent a good portion of the trip playing games or watching videos.
• Fill a row (if possible.) The three of us filled one row, which made travel easier as Lydia sat between us and had the freedom to move a bit more than if a stranger were next to us. If you are traveling by yourself with a toddler, I suggest sitting your toddler next to a window so they can look out the window during the flight.
• Plan for frequent bathroom breaks.  Even though the bathrooms on planes are ridiculously small, walking the aisle and having a break from the seat is worth squeezing into the small room. For a recently toilet-trained toddler, it's also absolutely necessary! I think we averaged about one trip an hour during our 4 hour flight. 
• Enjoy yourself!  I realized that traveling with one child is much simpler than traveling with 2 or 3, but no matter how many children you may travel with do your best to leave stress behind and enjoy the experience. 

Lydia had a great time, but isn't ready to hop on another plane just yet.  On Wednesday, we headed to the airport to pick up family that is visiting, and she yelled "I don't want to get on an airplane!!!!" as we pulled up to the airport.  I'm sure she'll be ready the next time an opportunity comes up!

Review: Ultimate Cloth

On Monday, I talked about our efforts to decrease the amount of paper towels we use.  A couple weeks ago, I received an Ultimate Cloth to try out and review from Ultimate Cloth America.

This cloth is great!  It is sturdy and thick, and cleans up messes like a dream! I simply wet it, wring it out tightly, then use it to wipe down my stainless steel (no streaks!), the mirrors (no streaks!) and big messes on the counter top!  I was amazed at how sturdy it was, and how well it cleaned.

A week ago, Bo thought Lydia was with me, and I thought she was with him. I heard Bo yell out, and went into my bedroom to find her perched on our bathroom sink COVERED in toothpaste.  Not only was she covered in toothpaste, but she had liberally painted the sink, counter top and mirror with toothpaste.  Bo whisked her into the tub to clean her up, and I started scrubbing at the toothpaste.  I was constantly washing out the rag, and scrubbing hard to get the toothpaste up when I remembered the Ultimate Cloth.

I wet the cloth, rang it out, then started to scrub.  The toothpaste came up with one swipe! I did rinse it out once or twice, but it quickly cleaned the mess -- including the mirror -- with nothing more than water.  My mirror was not streaked at all!

When I first tried it on my stainless steel refrigerator, it left streaks.  I read a tip on the website that the cloth has to be well-wrung before use, and when I made sure to squeeze out the extra water I stopped having the streaking problem.

The Ultimate Cloth is the first cloth to receive a patent in over 25 years!  It helps clean without harsh chemicals and without the waste of paper towels. 

The cloths are only $6 each, but would you like a free ultimate cloth of your own?  If you follow them on Twitter or Facebook, you'll have the opportunity to get one of your very own!  They'll release the details through those two sites. I think you'll be as pleased as I am.

Disclosure: I received a free cloth in exchange for my honest review.  This tour was arranged for Ultimate Cloth America by MamaBuzz.