Cookbook: A Guide to Simply Good Eats

If you know me even a little bit, you know I don't cook. Blue Box mac and cheese needs a measuring cup if I'm cooking it (yes, I've messed it up several times).

So believe me when I say that this is an awesome and amazingly easy cookbook!

I made the Artichoke Chicken, Chicken Salad and Elyse's Artichoke Dip. Tonight I'm making the Roasted Red Pepper Poppers. Everything has been to die for!!!!

Here is a little peek at my favorite things so far if you want to try it at home...

Chicken Salad

If you’ve had one too many turkey or ham sandwiches and are in need of a change, this chicken salad will hit the spot. Also a great salad for any celebration, just double the recipe.

~ 4 boneless/skinless chicken breasts (fresh or frozen)
~ kosher Salt
~ olive Oil
~ ½ cup red grapes, chopped
~ ½ cup celery, chopped
~ ½ cup red, yellow or green onion, chopped
~ ¼ cup almonds, sliced (or any nut)
~ ½ cup mayo
~ ¼ tsp curry
~ Salt & pepper to taste

Heat oven to 350°F.

Place chicken in a greased baking dish, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt. Bake uncovered until fully cooked, about 30 minutes (45 mins if chicken is frozen).

In a large bowl, add all ingredients except mayo. Set aside until chicken is cooked.

Once chicken is cooked, chop in small cubes. (do not let chicken cool) Add chicken and mayo to bowl and mix well.

Let salad cool for at least 30 minutes.

Serve on your favorite bread with lettuce and or sprouts.

SOOOOO GOOD! My mother-in-law, a total foodie, is going to be making this for her next hosted event because she claims it is the best chicken salad she ever had!

There are also tons more of great recipe including some Low Carb Fried Chicken and Better Than Sex Cake!

You want one? Well the author is  offering five of them directly on here for only $25 each PLUS two free hair bows from her etsy shop, Tiny Toppings. Contact her at texdahls@yahoo.com. She accepts paypal. Free local delivery or $6.50 shipping. I will be buying one for my mother-in-law for mother's day (my mother thinks a cheeseburger is healthy because it has all the food groups and she "cooks" by cruising through the drive-thru)...done and done!

Preschool Backpacks!

So I have been looking for preschool backpacks for the kids for months now (I know, I'm obsessive)...at stores, online etc.

I FINALLY found the flipping cutest brand and ordered one for Bubbi (Boo was napping and I wanted him to pick his out...no, Bubbi didn't get to choose).

Drum roll please....STEPHEN JOSEPH!!! No, not getting paid (or even a discount) for this post. Just pure love.

Here is the one I got Bubbi...

Stephen Joseph Girls 2-6x Girl's Go-go Bag, Cupcake, One Size

Here is Bubbi with it in the car (its like her little lap dog or something...she doesn't put it down)...

And here she is modeling the backpack all "I just got arrested" style...and Boo with his old one couldn't miss out on the fun...

 

And here are the ones I'm giving Boo to choose from...

Stephen Joseph Boys 2-7 Boy's Go-go Bag, Guitar, One Size

Stephen Joseph Boys 2-7 Boy's Go-go Bag, Pirate Ship, One Size

Stephen Joseph Boys 2-7 Boy's Go-go Bag, Shark, One Size

And here are just some more cute ones and some matching items!! LOVE THEM!!

Stephen Joseph Girls 2-6x Gogo Ladybug Bag,Pink, Purple/Red,One Size

Stephen Joseph Girls Rule Go Go Backpack

Stephen Joseph Girls 2-6x Girl's Go-go Bag, Ballet, One Size

Stephen Joseph Boys 2-7 Boy's Go-go Bag, Monkey, One Size

Wallet, Robot

STEPHEN JOSEPH KIDS AIRPLANE TRI FOLD BILLFOLD WALLET

Stephen Joseph Square Lunch Box Race Car

Ok ok...I'll stop.

Mickey and Minnie Party: Candle Holders

As you know, I am busting my booty on planning my kids a fantastic Mickey and Minnie party for their second and third birthdays in May. However, I have champagne taste on a beer budget.

Here are the cutest candle holders ever that I wanted to buy, but couldn't see paying nearly $30 for two with shipping. They are from Hands 2 Design.

So I tried to make my own from Playdough. The turned out super cute (I know the photo quality sucks...camera phone, ok?).

However, they dried like this even though I followed instructions on how to dry playdough out without it cracking (totally B.S.)...

So I bought some awesome Crayola Model Magic Deluxe Variety Pack and tried again.

 I used cut toothpicks to hold the balls together and hot glued a hand-tied bow to an additional toothpick for Minnie's bow.

Playdough is much easier to work with and looked much better before it dried. The Model Magic was much harder to roll into smooth perfect balls and it got a bit smooshed when drying from its own weight. I think I like them....if I decide I don't like the new ones, I'll make playdough ones last minute and just use them wet! God knows Bubbi has eaten her share of playdough and lived to tell the tale!

Wordless Wednesday: Our visit with the Bunny (no, not the scary one)

We don't do big, scary costumes too well in this house.

Bubbi screaming Christmas 2010...

And Boo's turn Christmas 2010...

Last year's visit with the bunny was just Bubbi. Super cute. Boo finally got in the frame, but we had to bribe him by allowing him to hold a pen...looked like crap. Being the best mommy EVER, I can't find the pictures.

Here's my precious little lemurs 2011 Easter pic. Too cute, I know! I'm very pleased as they are both not screaming...they are smiling and looking in the right direction...a fluke? Probably, but I'll take it. They are sporting their cute outfits from Elle Dee (I just washed them and they still look new)!

And here's the unedited version (thank you Kim) showcasing Bubbi's hardcore bruises and the picture lady's hat that she loved (K. Walker Photography).

Coupon Code & Review: Tiny Toppings!

Check out this ADORABLE hat from Tiny Toppings Bubbi's modeling! Tiny Toppings is offering my readers

twenty percent off!!! Just use the coupon code BUBBIANDBOO20 when checking out of her etsy site. Hurry as it is only good for the month of April.

These are super cute for spring and cooler summer nights by the beach or bay (I don't live by one, but I hope we are going to Monterrey in August and spending a weekend in San Francisco in July - both get cold at night year round). Plus they make great newborn gifts as those little munchkins need a hat the first few weeks no matter how warm...and they make for cute pics! Also keep your eye out for girls clippies soon.

 She can custom make the size for any you see as well, so keep that in mind when your browsing her adorable goods. Be sure to like Tiny Toppings facebook page and tell her Bubbi and Boo sent you!

I hope to post some pictures of your little ones wearing her hats for Wordless Wednesday next month so be sure and submit them to me at ramonaselman@yahoo.com and put "tiny toppings" in the subject.

These are just a few pictures taken at home, but she'll be doing a professional shoot in the next few weeks.

And in case my links don't work (because I'm a stay at home mom, not a computer geek), here are the links to Tiny Topping on Facebook and Etsy.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TinyToppings

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Tiny-Toppings/101130963305669

Bubbi's Closet: Christmas Dress 2010

I have an addiction for clothes and shoes...always have and probably always will.

Now that Bubbi is around, I project my addiction on to her (while I sport last season's Target). This section, Bubbi's Closet, will showcase some of Bubbi's creme de la creme outfits that just need some ohs and ahs.

After scouring the net for weeks in late August, I finally found THE perfect Christmas dress for Bubbi (hey, I plan ahead).

It is a red pettidress sold by Tea Cups and Mudpies (http://www.teacupsandmudpies.com/). It is very well made and fit her perceftly! She was the Belle of the ball all season long (yes, she wore it more than once). Here are a few pictures of it...

...and yes, that is the beautiful satin bow from Pinkadot Tots (http://www.etsy.com/people/PinkadotTots) that she flushed down the toilet...

Must Have! FABULOUS Tooth Fairy Pillows and DISCOUNT!

The whole idea of teeth falling out icks me out to no end. I'm getting light headed as I sit here and type. NASTY!

That's not the point.

The point is that I found these fabulous Tooth Fairy Pillows!!! When I was oogling over them online Boo ran over (I get mommy online time when kids first wake up and get their timered one hour of TV a day) and told me which one he wanted.

He then proceeded to tell me which one we are getting Bubbi. She doesn't get an opinion yet. I know once she has one it will rule the roost, so I go with it. Plus he picked out the one I was going to get her anyways...hehe.

Here are the two we ordered from purchasing from Little Birdie's Boutique, http://www.etsy.com/shop/LittleBirdiesB.

And here are a few more!

AND if you email her by Friday the 18th, you will get 20% off AND free shipping!
LittleBirdiesBoutique@yahoo.com

You're wasting your money

We all do it...we waste our money even when we think we're being shopper savvy overall. Here are some of the top ways mommies burn the bank!

~ You buy name brand baby meds. We have always bought the Target brand (up and up) of infant ibprofen (think infant advil), infant tylenol and infant gas drops (think mylicon). Not only are they usually more than 50% cheaper, they don't seem to be recalled nearly as often! Since Boo was born in 2008, Mylicon has been recalled once and Infant's Tylenol twice...and you guessed it, Target's brand has not been even once!

~ You buy the larger size always assuming you're saving by buying in bulk. This is not always the case! I have found several times that the smaller size (especially if the smaller size is on sale and the larger size isn't) can be almost half the price! Most grocery stores state how much you are paying per piece or ounce right on the shelf price tag. Take a minute to read the fine print!

~ Buying in bulk and stocking up when the price is right. Check the expiration dates! I recently threw away two bottles of ketchup I had bought in a three pack because the price was great...ketchup doesn't last nearly as long as I thought and I actually lit a few bucks on fire and crowed my pantry with that "deal". If there is a to-die-for-deal, go in with a friend or family member if you don't have a chance of using the goods before they rot.

~ Think you're being savvy by consigning, garage selling or even handing down those clothes your kids don't fit anymore? Well wait just a minute!!! I made two stupid, jumping the gun mistakes on this topic. Boo was a chub of a baby and since I knew I was having a girl next well before most even think about baby number two, I was eager to clear the clutter and get rid of clothes he outgrew. Well, like any child he started walking...and when he started walking he thinned out and went down a size! Wouldn't have been such a big deal except for those smaller waisted clothes were long gone. Soooo back to the store to replace what I had and waste some hard earned cash. Same concept with potty training. Underwear are a lot smaller than diapers and Boo lost a full pant size when we made the switch...you guessed it, back to the store to burn some money on new pants we just got rid of!

~ Buying full sized sheet paper towels. Sure, select-a-size rolls may cost more per roll or square foot or whatever, but they last almost twice as long in my house than a regular large sheet roll. Try it...I swear it is a universal fact!

~ Paying full price plus shipping online. There is always a coupon code online for free shipping or a hefty percent off somewhere out there on the web. I LOVE retailmenot.com...or just google  "<store name> coupon code". There isn't? Wait a week and it will magically show up in your email. True story...wanted a $5 thing from disneystore.com, but I couldn't find a way to save on the price or get free shipping anywhere. Less than a week later I got an email from them with a code for free shipping! The trick? Sign in to the online store and put some items in your online cart, but don't buy them. Quite often you'll get an offer in your email (thus why you must sign in) to lure you back and finish your purchase!

~ Buying name brand vegetable/corn oil and cooking spray...instead of Mazola and Pam, but the Walmart brand! Again, you'll save nearly 50% on virtually the same product.

~ Don't buy new toys. Have toy swaps with friends or hit up garage sales, consignment stores and/or your local Goodwill. Ebay and craislist.org are great options as well. Not only are new toys a waste of money, they usually require a skilled professional to remove it from the packaging and an hour or more of skilled labor to assemble...or just figure out where the batteries go!

~ Buying children's vitamins isn't always neccessary. I buy the adult calcium chewable and cut them in half (the ones I buy are two in a serving). If you do the math (so for mine I divided the nutrition facts by four), it is almost exactly the same as one kids vitamin...and WAY cheaper.

~ Last but not least....don't buy a dishwasher safe cutting board that is too big for your dishwasher!!!