Thursday, May 29, 2014

Apparoo App of the Week: Grandma's Kitchen

Apparoo App of the Week: Grandma's Kitchen

APP NAME:

Grandma's Kitchen

DESCRIPTION:

Grandma’s cooking up a storm in this fresh-baked app that stirs kindergarten and first grade skills into the batter. Kids can “bake” compound words, make and decorate a cake, tell time to see when the cake will be ready, and even help Grandma wash the dishes. Reading, math, and pattern-recognition are seamlessly integrated into eight fun mini-games, and live-action instructive cooking tips add to the deliciousness. Customize the games to choose which skills to activate. So hide the knives and step aside – your eensie-weensie Emeril or junior Julia Child will be whipping up dinner – with a side of reading and math! Download it here for only $0.99.

This looks like an adorable app for the kids to play with. My son is constantly downloading apps. He always wants something new, even if we have over 30 apps installed. I think this is great because it is fun and he is learning something at the same time. Plus it is on sale. It is normally $1.99 but now going for $0.99. That's a good price for an app. 

Screen shots of Grandma's Kitchen

Do you have a child who would love this app? If anyone has tried it, leave a comment.


  


Tuesday, May 27, 2014

POP: 50 Amazing Secrets to a Successful Labor & Delivery or C-Section Book Review

POP by Pamela Peery

*I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of a review. All thought and opinions are my own*


POP: 50 Amazing Secrets to a successful Labor & Delivery or C-Section by Pamela Peery is a collection of advice from new moms who just gave birth. These are stories of over 80 different women telling other women what they wish they had known earlier. 

These days I don't get to read entire books that often. I enjoyed this book during my little one's naps. Reading through this book made me realize how nice it is to know other women's experiences, that you weren't alone in what you went through. I have two children, both were natural births but very different experiences. I remember being pregnant with my son and reading through as many pregnancy books as possible. 

I would have enjoyed section 9 of this book. Advice and Encouragement- Women Not Getting an Epidural.
Tip #35 is make sure you practice relaxation techniques beforehand. Yes, I should have done that. I was lucky enough to have a doula, who was my friend by my side. Still the first time around was very hard. Apparently it didn't stop me from having #2. 
I just want to clarify that I am not a natural birth snob, it's just something that happened. 

At the end of the book there are a few funny stories, which I like. Sometimes you have to laugh instead of worry. I highly recommend this book for any pregnant moms out there. It is a wonderful handbook and has helpful advice inside. The book is slender enough to put in a pocketbook. Or even a diaper bag, if you another baby. 


Find More Info:

Check out the book's Facebook page here.

You can also go to the website Baby Almost Home for more information.

Where to Buy:

You can buy the book on Amazon



Do you have any pregnancy advice? Feel free to share any funny stories too.



Thursday, May 22, 2014

Food Should Taste Good Review

Food Should Taste Good Kimchi and Multigrain Chips

*I received complimentary products for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*


Food Should Taste Good makes their chips with real ingredients. All chip varieties are Gluten Free. They are in the process of having certain varieties be verified Non-GMO. They also donate to a good cause, Play for P.I.N.K.

I was sent four varieties. Kimchi, Multigrain, Sweet Potato, and Chocolate Tortilla Chips. We are a big snack family. We all enjoy snacking through out the day. I was excited to try the Kimchi Tortilla Chips. They have a good "kick" to them. Not too spicy, just right. 

The multigrain chips are very healthy tasting. They go great with some fresh salsa. These chips are made with Flax, sunflower and sesame seeds. They would also be a great snack to take with you while hiking or walking through the park.

Food Should Taste Good Chocolate Tortilla Chips

Chocolate Tortilla Chips! "What?" That's what I first thought. I never tasted one before, until now. I think they are great for the times you don't want something too sweet. They have a light chocolate taste with a light salt flavor. I love salt and chocolate together. 

Sweet Potato Chips

And last but not least, Original Sweet Potato Chips. These were my favorite out of all four chip varieties. I love sweet potatoes and again, sea salt. I might have had half a bag in one sitting. 

Okay everybody time to go snack! Have you ever tried Food Should Taste Good chips before? If not, what flavor looks good to you?

Check out Food Should Taste Good website here

You can like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.



Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Ideas for a Memorial Day Weekend Picnic

Planning a Memorial Day Weekend Picnic

Picnics are great at a park or the beach.  This Memorial Day Weekend could be a nice time for a picnic with the family. I'm not sure what we will be doing yet.
Food to take:
-Cold Pasta Salad
-Sandwiches
-Fruits and Veggies
-Chips
-Cookies
-Cheese and Crackers
-Water, Juice, Wine/Beer (for adults)


Picnic Backpack

1261942523_260
This is one cute picnic backpack! I need to get one of these. This might even be nice for a date with the hubby.

Picnic Backpack - Anniversary Gift, Backpack - $99.00, 12.95 shipping - Available at RedEnvelope

Blanket Tote

1247655371_260
This would be perfect to throw into the backseat of either car so that we would always have it on hand. I don't mind sitting on sand at the beach but a blanket is much better.

Blanket Tote-Prints - $21.95, 5.99 shipping - Available at SwimOutlet.com

Umbrella

29123152_260
I must admit, we do not own an umbrella. I don't like sitting in the hot sun too long and neither does my husband. This will be a must on our summer buy list.

Umbrella Multi - $28.27, 8.25 shipping - Available at Amazon.com

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for Postpresso.

Monday, May 12, 2014

New York City Day Trip

View from High Line 

I haven't been to Manhattan in a really long time. The train ride is around an hour and fifty minutes to get in to the city from where I live. My friend and I decided to have a Mom's day out. We went the day before Mother's Day. 

It was my first time walking on the High Line. I think it's a much nicer walk then on the streets. There are flowers and pretty trees and fun things to take photos of.

View from the High Line

I love looking at all the interesting buildings in the city. You can see old and new architecture all through out Manhattan.

Inside Chelsea Market

We went to Chelsea Market for lunch. I've never been there before and must say I really enjoyed it. I liked the structure and decor on the inside of the building. There are many different places that offer food, coffee, and delicious bites to eat. 

Lunch at Chelsea Market

We had lunch at Friedman's. I should have taken a photo of my lunch. It was great. And so were the Peach Bellini's! I would definitely recommend Friedman's for lunch. 

We also hit Eataly, which was super busy. It offered a large Italian market, gelato, espresso, food, and wine.
Then we worked our way up to Times Square. I have to admit that Times Square is so busy that it gives me anxiety. If you have never been to NYC before, you need to go there for the experience. Next time around, I will be avoiding it. 

It was a lovely day out. You can never get enough city life. Do you live near a major city? Have you ever been to NYC? If so, what is one of your favorite things to do there?









Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Paycheck to Paycheck: Buying Fruits & Veggies

What have I learned living paycheck to paycheck. You have to be creative with budgeting. I'm not very good at budgeting. So I look for sales, coupons, and try new things.

When we are low on funds we can't always afford Organic fruits and veggies.  Of course, buy them Organic if you can afford it.

When fruits and veggies are in season you can get good deals. I get excited when I see an apple sale for 99 cents a pound.  That is a good price here in New York. It's also nice to see 2.99 for strawberries. Organic strawberries for around here are $5.99 per pound. 

We normally buy frozen veggies because they are a lot cheaper. I love fresh broccoli and asparagus. Look for Organic frozen fruits in your local grocery store. They would be great for making a smoothie.

Many people say buy in bulk or buy from your local farmer. When living paycheck to paycheck it can be hard to buy in bulk. We can't just drop a few hundred on co-ops. It helps to get a group of friends who might want to join with you. Believe me, I want to buy Organic veggies from my local farmer every week.


Dirty Dozen Reminder


Carrots are available year-round. Plus they can last up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. They aren't too expensive and can go with many different types of meals. You can roast, saute, and puree them. I love my carrots sweet with some butter and brown sugar. I know, that does not sound healthy but it is sure tasty. 

What are your favorite fruits and veggies? Do you have any money saving tips that you would like to share?