WORDLESS WEDNESDAY- A BIKE BUILT FOR A GIANT

WINNERS OF THE SKOY CLOTH GIVEAWAY

I am sorry for the delay on picking the winners for the Skoy Cloth giveaway. It was a busy weekend and I am not even sure I turned on my computer!! The winners were picked using Random.org...and the winners are....

#35 Nancy said...
35
Tweet #4 http://twitter.com/njhhb/status/4123810243
September 20, 2009 10:04 AM

#29Mommy is Green said...
29
I subscribed to your feed!
September 19, 2009 9:31 PM

Congratulations to the two winners. I am in love with using the Skoy cloths throughout the house, I hope you enjoy yours as much as I do.

**Winners must contact me within 48 hrs with contact information or another winner will be chosen :)

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY- A WALK ON THE BEACH

MEATLESS MONDAY- VEGETARIAN CHILI

Today we did not end up doing a Muffin Tin Monday (I actually forgot it was Monday.)

For dinner I was searching for a good meatless recipe. I figured that I already had some organic kidney beans so, vegetarian chili sounded great. I came across a recipe for Vegetarian Chili with butternut squash. I had bought the butternut squash to make another recipe, but this one kind of intrigued me.

I did change a few things in the recipe. I added water instead of using vegetable stock. I added carrots and tomatoes from my garden. I also used kidney beans instead of the black beans. We it was all cooked, I served it over some whole wheat organic pasta. It actually was better than I thought it would be. My husband even liked it, but said that next time a little less butternut squash.I would definitely try this recipe again. It was a great meal to start off the Fall season!!!

SPOONING FOOD ACTIVITY

The Munchkin' Man has been working on his fine muscle control. Although he is able to use and spoon and feed himself, he still needs to work on his hand eye coordination. I set up a spooning activity tray for him and he loved it.

I set up the tray with two bowls and a tablespoon. As you can see in the above picture, one bowl is empty and the other one is full of beans ( I mixed three different types of beans that will be sorted another day.) He then used the spoon to transfer the beans from one bowl to the other.

This activity is suited for many different age and skill levels. For children that are just leaning how to use a spoon, you can use large Lima beans. For the MM, the next time we work on spooning, we will move onto something smaller, like rice, and use a smaller spoon also.

He was so proud of himself and had to show everyone when they came over his new activity. Although we do not follow the Montessori approach everyday, I am still trying to work in activities such as this one!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY- SELF PORTRAIT

This picture is from a house garden tour we went on in the beginning of the summer!

SKOY CLOTH REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

Have you been looking for an eco friendly alternative to using paper towels? I know I have!! Most people dry their hands with them and use them to wipe up spills. Have you ever noticed how many paper towels it takes to wipe up a cup of spilled milk? Since The Munchkin' Man has been potty training, we have been going through so many paper towels. Although I will continue to clean up his little "accidents "with them, I needed to find a product that I could use through out the house. Each and everyday I try to find ways that our family can be a little more green. While searching online for paper towel alternatives, I found Skoy . Skoy is a fantastic company that makes absorbent, biodegradable and natural multi-use cloths. I contacted Skoy cloth and they sent over four wonderful cloths for us to try.

As soon as they arrived and I opened the package, I was ready to give them a try. The company name comes from the Swedish word Skoj which means " just for fun." Looking at these adorable cloths, that is the perfect name. The Skoy cloths come in so many fun colors and have a flower and even inspirational sayings on them. I ran the Skoy cloth under the water and it was ready to go. I was shocked how much water the cloth actually held. I put one in the kitchen and one in the bathroom to wipe up the counter tops. The cloths worked great. I found myself using them for everything- from just drying my hands, cleaning small cups, and wiping the table down after dinner. The Munchkin' Man used them to wipe his place mat off and then had to use it as a hat also..lol

The features of the Skoy cloths that love the most are that they:

*have an absorption factor of 15x own weight

*can be used in so many other rooms in the house besides the kitchen

* 100% biodegradable (can be composted when done using)

*colorful and have fun designs

*can be washed in washer, dishwasher and sanitize in the microwave

*reusable unlike its paper towels that end up in the landfill

I love the Skoy cloths and have been telling everyone about them. I even gave my mother one to use, although I wanted to keep them all to myself.

Do you need an alternative to those wasteful paper towels and like what you read about the Skoy cloths? Do you want to try them yourself? Well, here is your chance. Skoy is generously sponsoring a giveaway for readers of my blog. There will be two winners and the prize will be a pack of FOUR Skoy cloths.!!!

Here is how you can enter...

Mandatory:
1. Visit Skoy Cloth and tell me what feature you like best for Skoy cloth
Additional Entries:

2. Become a Fan of Skoy Cloth on Facebook

3. Follow me on Twitter
4. Subscribe to my feeds
5. Tweet this giveaway for extra entries (5 entries per day)
** You must leave a comment when you do any of the additional entries!!!!**
***Make sure you put an email for contact if you are the winner ***

*** This giveaway will end on Friday, September 25, 2009***

WINNERS OF PETER RABBIT ORGANICS FRUIT POUCHES

The winners for the Peter Rabbit Organics Fruit Pouches have been chosen. The winners were picked using http://www.random.org/.

And the winners are.......

# 34 Meredith said...

34
http://twitter.com/mmiller0912/statuses/3862511280
September 9, 2009 9:00 AM


#25 Tiffany said...
25
I like that they don't contain in added sugars... My kids are hyper enough.
September 8, 2009 10:14 AM

#148 Marin said...

148
http://twitter.com/MarinOBrien/status/4003849868
September 15, 2009 9:00 AM

Winners must forward their shipping information within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.

Thank you to Peter Rabbit Organics for supplying the wonderful fruit pouches for the Munchkin' Man to try and for sponsoring this giveaway. I hope the winners think the fruit pouches are as yummy as we think they are!

MUFFIN TIN MONDAY

I am still trying to figure out how to be a lot more creative when it comes to Muffin Tin Mondays, but it doesn't seem to be working.. :)

Here is today's

On the menu for today:

*Soy butter and jelly sandwich cut in the shape of a banana on homemade bread

*Homemade applesauce with cinnamon and a piece of organic fruit leather cut into a heart

*Peas ( this is what veggie my son wanted..lol)

I have been browsing many different blogs to find some ideas and hopefully in the upcoming weeks the Munchkin' Man will get some fun and entertaining - as well as healthy- lunches !

NEIGHBOR TROUBLE

So far on my blog, I have talked about the Munchkin' Man, showed pics and shared recipes. Today... I need to vent!

We are having a little trouble with the neighbor that is towards the back end of our property (we have almost an acre.) She told another person in the neighborhood that my husband is catching cats and either poisoning them or killing them in the shed!! WHAT!! We had another neighbor call and tell us that she had said this. This neighbor is upset that we put up a 6 foot fence on the property line. We had to cut a very old and dead tree down. She had to take her old chain link fence in order to so this. They were taking their time putting back up. They have a very large rottie that gets out and we caught her grandchildren playing on our playground. My husband had enough and put up the fence himself, just a larger more private one.

I am EXTREMELY disturbed at her comments. I do not want others in the neighborhood to think that is what type of person my husband is. He once caught a cat and asked everyone if it was their cat before taking it to a no-kill animal rescue. Now I am not sure what to do. Do I confront her? Do I let it blow over? What would you do??

If you have had any neighbor problems, please leave a comment on what you did!

Thank you for letting me vent... ahhhh... I feel better

**By the way- this is just a small part of the story- just gave the highlights..lol
One more thing- this is the neighbor that called me "Anti- Social" :)

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY- FIRST SIGNS OF FALL

PETER RABBIT ORGANICS REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY ****CLOSED***

I made the decision to go organic for the Munchkin' Man from the beginning. He rarely had food from a jar and if he did, it was organic. I made large batches of baby food and froze it. He loved it! From such an early age he was getting the true taste of green beans, rhutabega, peas, apples, and the list goes on. Then he started to eat more table food. I still try to make or buy as much organic food that our budget allows.

For me one big thing changed when he became a running, climbing, high energy toddler- I was not making all his food. I rely on a lot of easy to go premade foods. The only thing that keeps the Munchkin' Man content long enough, to go say food shopping, is giving him a snack. Since he has a peanut allergy, a lot of snacks are out the question. I still look for convenience.

I stumbled upon a company that makes the most wonderful portable snack pouches. Peter Rabbit Organics! Now the pouches I am talking about are not filled with cookies, but 100% organic fruit puree. I know what some of you may be thinking- that can be messy! I thought the same thing. I contacted Peter Rabbit Organics and they sent out a box of pouches for us to try. I sat The Munchkin' Man at the table twisted the no- choke cap off and handed it to him. He knew just what to do. He squeezed the Apple and Grape goodness into his mouth and smiled and said "Yum, this is good." No mess!!

Since the first time we tried them, I have been carrying them in my bag for those times that I need to give him a quick snack. I always had those little cups of applesauce, but I love the idea that you do not need a spoon. Since each pouch has a cap, if your child does not finish you just put the cap on and save for later- you can't do that with those little cups. I also thought the pouches would be good for traveling. I had the intention of using the fruit puree to make muffins, but they pouches did not stay long in this house :)

So why would we suggest Peter Rabbit Organics fruit puree pouches... Because they are:

* peanut allergy friendly - our first requirement

*made with 100% fruit- no trying to figure out how to pronounce the ingredients

*come in three fantastic flavors (Apple and Grape, Strawberry and Banana, and Mango, Banana, and Orange)

*have a reusable No -Choke cap (eat a little and save the rest for later)

*No mess

When asked " Why is Peter Rabbit on the pouch?" their answer was " He's energetic, cheeky, fun and a bit mischievous" I would have thought they were talking about The Munchkin' Man..lol

Do you want to try Peter Rabbit Organics fruit pouches? Well here is your chance. The wonderful people over at Peter Rabbit have offered a case to three lucky winners.

Mandatory:

1. Visit Peter Rabbit Organics and tell me what feature you like best for the fruit pouches

Additional Entries:

2. Follow Peter Rabbit Organics on Twitter

Become a Fan of Peter Rabbit Organics on Facebook

4. Follow me on Twitter

5. Subscribe to my feeds

6. Tweet this giveaway for unlimited entries

** You must leave a comment when you do any of the additional entries!!!!**

***Make sure you put an email or twitter address for contact if you are the winner ***

** Edit- the giveaway will end on Tuesday, September 15,2009***

The three winners will be chosen on Friday, September 11, 2009