Monday, January 31, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
The Magic, The Memories and You! premiers at Disneyland
Thursday, January 20, 2011
What will you gain when you lose?
My days start very, very early (before the sun comes up). It's just one of those things I do as I struggle to find that work/life balance. This year I chose to make promises to myself instead of full blown resolutions. I just knew that with my life being as crazy as it is, that I needed to focus on lots of subtle little changes that when put together would equal bigger impacts on my life. For example, I made the commitment to myself to get at least three yoga sessions in each week. If I can get more in, great! If not, I know three is attainable. By sneaking in those yoga sessions, I'm multi-tasking again and getting more exercise and relaxation in addition to a little me time.
*Note: this is part of a compensated campaign. But 100% of the opinions expressed in this post are mine and I loved the products I wrote about long before I ever worked with Special K for this campaign.Special K challenge website (you can also find them on Facebook here) then check out some of the easy and supper yummy recipes, 2 week challenge plan and great social community to support you in your health goals. There is even a fun app you can download! Read more...
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
I Found a New Delicious Menu Item at Disneyland!
Monday, January 17, 2011
Have you made resolutions? Join us tomorrow!
Note: This is part of a compensated campaign, but as I'm sure you know, I'd never be involved in something I wasn't passionate about. Read more...
Monday, January 10, 2011
Sesame Street at the Discovery Cube and GIVEAWAY
1. How You Work – Whether you are exercising, playing, dancing or even sleeping, your body is always hard at work. In “How You Work,” kids can learn how the heart and different muscles work as they pump, row or run in “Rosita’s Locomotion” and boogie along with Grover in “Grover’s Dance Party,” a groovy disco.
2. Your Insides – “Your Insides” is an exploration of what goes on inside the body. Activities include the “Count’s Organ Organ,” which musically teaches kids about their internal organs’ locations and functions; “Digestion with Oscar,” a display that shows kids what happens to food when they eat it; and “Oscar’s Sneeze Machine,” where children pull a lever to irritate a big nose that actually sneezes on them!
3. Your Outsides – Children learn to identify different body parts, learn what they do, and explore the many ways they can put them to use. Exhibits include “Your Wonderful Hands,” featuring puzzles, sign language games, shadow puppets and more; “Your Legs and Feet,” an interactive exhibit that shows what happens when you put your legs in motion; and “Use Your Head”, a play-along question and answer game show about the parts of the head.
4. Staying Healthy – Learn how eating healthy foods, staying clean, and getting plenty of physical activity as well as sleep can help the body stay healthy. Ernie and Rubber Ducky get kids started in “Rub-A-Dub Tub,” a silly game that shows them just how much fun staying clean can be. Then it’s on to “Mr. Hooper’s Store,” where children scan groceries and learn specific messages about how different healthy meals are good for their bodies, and “Baby Bear’s Mini Mart,” a toddler-sized activity area where children can stock up on a variety of healthy foods.
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- Mention/link this giveaway in a blog post or tweet about it (1 extra entry each allowed once per day until the giveaway ends)
- Go comment on another post on OCMomActivities.com then come back and comment on this one saying you did it (this is an unlimited number of extra entries as long as you do the extra commenting!)
Friday, January 7, 2011
I think I failed my kids...
I've failed my kids. I had no idea it had gotten this out of control.
It's official, they are car snobs. I didn't even realize it until yesterday.
We bought a new car last week and yesterday we had to take it to the dealership to add something aftermarket. They gave us a rental car for the couple of days it would be in the shop. The rental car is economy, very economy. The boys got in to the car and immediately they were scrambling trying to figure out how to open the windows.
Next up was their inability to understand a car without power door locks. I actually had to show my kids how to lock the doors.
But the best part of the day was when my oldest asked the car rental agent if the car was equipped with a back-up camera. No kidding, the guy had stunned look on his face as he said, " Um... No..."
I found myself explaining to the boys for the rest of the ride home how cars "used" to be.
I have to hand it to my boys, after the initial shock (to put it gently) wore off, they have been great. They are seeing the positives in the rental car and counting the minutes until we get our car back.
I have a sneaking suspicion they will be very happy to get our new car back and it will be awhile before they take little luxuries for granted again.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
A Disney Wedding - Wordless Wednesday
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Delicious Slow Cooker Lasagna
I'm not the best cook in the world, but I have begun to accumulate a few delicious family friendly meals. For Christmas I got a new large slow cooker as a present (I know, the joys of being a Mom... these things are actually exciting!) that has inspired me to kick things up a notch.
Working full time presents a HUGE challenge when it comes to dinners. My job allows me to be with my kids in the afternoons (don't ask what time I get up every morning... you don't want to know), but by the time dinner rolls around I'm exhausted! The slow cooker has been the answer for me, because it allows me to get everything assembled the night before and get it started at the crack of dawn. Yes, I'm up well before sunrise on weekdays.
As promised... here is my recent super yummy creation:
Slow Cooker Lasagna
Ingredients:
(all these are approximate and can be increased or decreased to personal preference)
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion (chopped)
- Several cloves of crushed garlic (depending on your garlic preference)
- 1 large can of tomato sauce (29 ounces)
- 1 can of tomato paste (12 ounces)
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 12 ounces of Ricotta Cheese
- 16 ounces of shredded Mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 package of regular lasagna noodles
- 1 cup water
Cook the ground beef, onion and garlic until the meat is brown (this would also be a great place to add chopped carrots, peppers, spinach or other veggie you would want to "hide" in the meal). Mix in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, basil and oregano.
In a separate bowl, mix together the Ricotta cheese, (approximately) 12 ounces of Mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese.
Spread a layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of the slow cooker. Add two layers of the noodles (un-cooked). I broke the noodles up in to smaller pieces to allow for easier serving later. Spread another thin layer of the sauce over the top of the noodles (this gives them the moisture to cook in). Then spread a layer of the Ricotta mixture. Then sauce mixture. Then noodles. Then sauce. Then Ricotta. Repeat until you have used up the sauce and the Ricotta. Be sure not to fill it more than 3/4 of the way to the top (to allow for the expansion of the noodles). Use a layer of noodles as the top and carefully add the cup of water on the top (this gives the noodles enough liquid to cook). Cook for approximately 6 hours on low heat. About 1 hour before it is done, sprinkle the rest of the cheeses, a dash of the Oregano and basil.
This was a HUGE hit in our house and the above picture was actually from earlier tonight!
*Note: This also makes as a great main dish for your kids school lunch the next day, just put a small portion in a reusable container! Read more...