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Monday, July 28, 2008

Tanya

And the winners are...

Thank you to all who submitted recipes for my contest. Here are the winners of the MOPS Cookbooks. Please email me your mailing address at peila [at] harbornet dot com

Congrats to:

kamewh said...
The Best-Ever Chicken Casserole
brandy said...
creamy tacos

Kimberly said...
We have no title for this, we just call it Lentils. It's our "go to" meal when we are in a hurry.

Mississippi Songbird said...
Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce Recipe

jceko77 said...
Bacon cheeseburger meatloaf

JenO said...
Holiday Punch

Just.Me said...
Picante Corn Recipe

Laura said...
Cajun Rice

anitaalderman said...
Cream cheese baisl stuffed chicken

aspritzofsis said...
CRABBY SPAGHETTI

Rockin' Mama said...
Spicy Spinach & Artichoke Dip


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Friday, July 25, 2008

Tanya

Super Market Savings?

I found this great article while reading the news online and wanted to share it with everyone. With the rising fuel prices I know I have seen a rise in local food prices as well. Are we headed for a depression? Are we already in one? Are we talking ourselves into one? I don't know the answer to any of those but think any way to save a few bucks if worth a try. Check out this article: http://lancaster.unl.edu/FOOD/ftm-j08.shtml

Alice Henneman, a registered dietitian and extension educator for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln put this article together for consumers.
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Thursday, July 24, 2008

Tanya

Pajama Drama

So Little Man INSISTS upon wearing "jammies" to bed. Even when it is 85 degrees in our house I have to BEG him to just wear a t-shirt and underwear to bed. So last night I had a meeting for the upcoming 24/7 MOMS conference (http://www.247momsconference.com/) and daddy was in charge of putting Little Man to bed. Well at the same time Little Man is currently living out of laundry baskets because he has managed to demolish his dresser by standing in the drawers. So this morning when I got up Little Man met me at the door to inform me, not only did daddy NOT read him a book, only sang him a song, BUT that he did not look for "jammies" in the laundry room. And there he stood devastated that he was subjected to wearing a t-shirt and underwear to bed. I had to laugh and tell him it was okay we would let daddy know where the "jammies" were for next time!
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Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Tanya

That was too quick!

Here is my funny Little Man story for the week, well there may always be more. This morning I went to get Little Man up at 7am, now he goes to be by 9pm, he opens his eyes slowly and states "That was too quick mommy, I want to go back to sleep!" That is the best sleep, not tossing and turning and waking up a hundred times, but to a 4-year old it is TOO QUICK! I do agree though I LOVE to sleep!
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Monday, July 21, 2008

Tanya

My passion!

I have shared this before on my BLOG but I have some new readers so I wanted to
share again with everyone my passion.

Several months ago my friend, Trisha, asked me to help her with a new organization for mom's called 24/7 MOMS that she wanted to start. Both of us being former MOPS ( mothers of preschoolers) moms I knew this was a great idea. Here is what is so unique about the 24/7 MOMS organization , we are open to MOMS with children of ALL ages. We are
currently an online group with the purpose to EQUIP, CONNECT, and INSPIRE
mothers. We have MOMS from all over the country in our group. Our website is
still under construction so we are using a Yahoo group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/247moms/ and a blog www.247moms.blogspot.com . We are also very pleased to announce our first ever MOMS Conference www.247momsconference.com coming this October 10-11 to the Wesley Inn in Gig Harbor, WA with Julie Barnhill and Trisha Novotny as our keynote speakers. There will also be workshops, chocolate extravaganza, and lots of late night fun including the first ever MOMS Favorite event ( Oprah style) . So I hope you all have time to stop by and check us out. If you are not a MOM let a MOM know. Hope to see you there!
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Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Tanya

Movies in Dacca Park

If you live near Tacoma, this summer the City of Fife is hosting Movies in the Park at Dacca Park in Fife. The first movie night is this Saturday, July 19th. Movie showing, "The Bee Movie". The movie starts at dusk and is shown on a 40' screen. Come to the park beforehand and enjoy the park and concessions. Bring blankets and chairs to sit on.

The second movie night is August23, showing "The Water Horse"

Hope to see you there!!
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Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Tanya

Birthday Party Help with Precious Moments

Are you planning a birthday?


Here is a website that has everything you need http://www.preciousmoms.com/ has a Precious Party Package where you can print Precious Moments invitations, your birthday checklist, thank you notes, planning tips, and a cupcake recipe that is WONDERFUL!


They also have a PRECIOUS figurine called Birthday Wishes with Hugs and Kisses and I have TWO of them to giveaway.


To enter and win one of these adorable Precious Moments Birthday Wishes with Hugs and Kisses figurine, please visit their site and then come back and comment on this post with your favorite figurine. Entries will be accepted through August 1st and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please. Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win! I will also list the winner on PRIZEYwinners so if you are a subscriber to PRIZEYwinners you do not need to leave your e-mail address.


To get extra credit:

For an extra entry: Bloggers - Blog about this contest and leave me the link on your comment, or add me to your sidebar and let me know its there.

Non Bloggers (or bloggers) subscribe to my mailing list/RSS feed and earn another entry!


Please post your extra credit in a separate post.This contest will end August 1st at midnight!
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Monday, July 14, 2008

Tanya

Shower Secrets

I HATE cleaning our shower and tub. I always seem to miss a spot. And I am so sore and tired afterwards. Normally I clean the tub first and don't always make it to the surround. Now I have found a new product from Johnson, called Scrubbing Bubbles Action Scrubber. First let me say I love everything with "Scrubbing Bubbles" in the title but this product makes cleaning the shower and bath SO much easier and quicker. I actually get to the WHOLE tub now!

Click here to get a coupon for $2.75 your very own, Scrubbing Bubbles Action Scrubber.
Did you know:

  • Elbow Grease. Woman associate their elbows with words and phrases like "dry" (34 percent), "wrinkly" (19 percent) and "elbow grease" (13 percent). It doesn't help that 43 percent of women at least somewhat agree that using elbow grease when scrubbing leaves them sorer than a typical workout.
  • Hide-and-seek. More than two in five women (44 percent) admit to having peeked around the bathroom when visiting someone else's home, most commonly looking inside the medicine cabinet or drawers (28 percent). About one in five women (19 percent) also admit to peeking behind the shower curtain.
  • Shower confessions. Most women (80 percent) admit they dislike cleaning the shower and bathtub, but they seem to be unwilling to sacrifice cleanliness. More than half of women (48 percent) clean heir shower or bathtub at least once a week, and more than one in ten (14 percent) do so at least once daily.
  • Behind the shower curtain. Ever wondered what quirky things women do while they are taking a shower or bath? Among the 67 percent of women who typically engage in other activities while bathing, 64 percent daydream, 43 percent sing, 30 percent clean the shower or bathtub, 34 percent talk to themselves, 17 percent brush their teeth, 11 percent dance and 3 percent clean a pet.
  • Would you rather...? Many women would rather participate in a variety of unpleasant activities like paying household bills (23 percent), writing thank you notes (11 percent), or sitting in traffic (11 percent ) than spend time and energy cleaning their bathtubs, they can't stand chapped hands and chipped nails (34 percent), how often it needs cleaned (38 percent) and muscle soreness (23 percent).
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Friday, July 11, 2008

Tanya

Popsicles!!!! Someone is a Genius!


Someone at the Popsicle company is a genius!. Have you ever heard of Slow Melt Popsicles? They are great and true to their name. Someone added gelatin to a Popsicle and Slow Melt is the result. If you have a "texture" sensitive child they may not like them as well, as they are fairly "slimy" I found but my husband and son LOVE them. I even let Little Man eat them in the house! So with the hot weather among us try them out. Right now Safe has them Buy ONE get ONE FREE.


Here is also some interesting Popsicle history for you:


The Popsicle® brand is an American Classic! Beloved by the young and young at heart, Popsicle® pops come in a variety of flavors, colors, and textures everyone can enjoy. In fact, the Popsicle® family includes more than 30 creative variations on the original Popsicle® product.


The Popsicle® ice pop was accidentally invented in 1905 by 11-year-old Frank Epperson. Epperson left a mixture of powdered soda and water and a stirring stick in a cup on his porch. That night San Francisco experienced record low temperatures, and Epperson awoke the next morning to find a frozen pop that would eventually become a favorite American treat.


Epperson originally named his creation the "Epsicle," and it quickly became popular with his school friends. It wasn't until 1923, however, while running a lemonade stand at an amusement park in Oakland, Cal., that he realized the commercial possibilities of his invention. Epperson changed the name of his treat to "Popsicle," after his children’s frequent requests for "Pop’s ’sicle," and applied for a patent. The patent for frozen ice on a stick was issued August 19, 1924. Around 1925, Epperson sold the rights to the brand name Popsicle® to the Joe Lowe Company in New York. By 1928, Epperson had earned royalties on more than 60 million Popsicle® ice pops.


The popularity of the Popsicle® brand continued to soar through the 1950s. Many families moved to the suburbs and could afford modern conveniences, like refrigerator/freezers. It was at this time that the Popsicle® multipack was introduced and sold in grocery stores.


In 1965, the Popsicle® brand became part of Consolidated Foods Corporation. At that time, the company offered 34 different flavors with new and exciting treats introduced continuously.


In 1986, the Gold Bond Ice Cream Company in Green Bay, Wis., purchased the U.S. operations of Popsicle Industries. Three years later, Gold Bond was purchased by Unilever, and in 1993 the name was changed to the Good Humor-Breyers® Ice Cream Company. Today, Popsicle® is the No. 1 kids’ novelty brand.
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Tanya

You're Invited to the 24/7 MOMS Conference!

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Monday, July 7, 2008

Tanya

Cookbook Giveaway

24/7 MOMS need your favorite recipes!
Lily on the Fly has teamed up with 247moms.com to create a limited edition set of Lily cards from the favorite recipes of all us 24/7 MOMS. The 247moms.com special edition set is timed to debut at 247moms.com conference to be held in Gig Harbor, WA, on October 10-11. See 247moms.com for details!
To enter and win this fabulous MOPS of St. Luke's Cookbook, please Submit your family favorite recipes as a comment on this post. 10 winning recipes that will be published in a special edition Lily on the Fly card set called '247moms.com Modern Mom Favorites'. Each of the 10 winners will ALSO receive a free set of the special edition cards after the conference date.
Entries will be accepted through July 27, 2008 and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are only eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please. Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win! I will also list the winner on PRIZEYwinners so if you are a subscriber to PRIZEYwinners you do not need to leave your e-mail address.
To get extra credit
Bloggers - Blog about this contest and leave me the link on your comment, or add me to your sidebar and let me know its there.
Non Bloggers (or bloggers) subscribe to my mailing list/RSS feed and earn another entry! One extra credit per person.
Please post your extra credit in a separate post.
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Tanya

Great Wolf Lodge, Grand Mound WA, REVIEW

So this weekend we went to the Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, WA for the weekend! First let me say prices may vary from lodge to lodge and may change at any time. I don't think this lodges website does it justice!

First let me tell you you can arrive your first day at 1pm to start using the water park even though you may not be able to get into your room until 4pm. AND you can stay until closing (10PM) on your check out day.

Second, BRING a beach towel. Yes they provide towels in the room and at the water park but they do not like the water park towels to leave the water park and they are not very big. That way you will have something to walk back to your room in that is big enough to wrap around you. They do sell them there for about $15.

I recommend packing food for breakfast and lunch if you can. It will save you some money. There are reasonably large fridges in your room, about 3 foot high. We ate dinner the two nights we were there at the Loose Moose Cottage. They have a dinner buffet for $17.95 for adults, $7.95 for children 4-not sure of the age, and three and under are free! They have a GREAT variety of food from seafood, salad, Chinese food, children friendly food, desserts galore, steaks, prime rib, and pork chops. This is a great price for such a selection, and your soft drinks, juice and milk are included.

As to the rooms, there are several to choose from. We stayed in the Kids Cabin. There were three beds, one bunk in the "children's" room, and a queen bed and a full pull out sofa. The kids have their own TV as well as do the adults. You can of course put parental controls on the kids TV. I do recommend bringing ear plugs. For some reasons the doors SLAM shut. It really only stops from about midnight to 8AM. There is a very convenient safe in your room that we used A LOT.

Wrist bands are issued when you check-in. Be careful with these. First they are your room key. Secondly if you so choose they can also be used to CHARGE things in your room, pretty much EVERYTHING in the lodge but the vending machines. I heard a story of a lady whose son racked up a $600 bill in the arcade on a wrist band. Let me say it, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!

So what is there to do at the Great Wolf Lodge?

Let's start with the water park itself.

In the water park there are several pools as well as water slides. Howlin' Tornado, is the large "cone slide" you see from the out side has a requirement of 48" tall. Warning there is a 5'-6' "drop" in the middle of this slide, don't wear glasses. You use and inter tube for this slide but you don't have to carry them up the stairs and can ride up to four people at a time. There is also the some "smaller" slides under the Howlin' tornado that you only have to be 42" to go down and you have to carry our inter tube up the stairs to and can ride up to two people at a time.

There are two slides at Fort Mackenzie, and interactive tree house, Carson could not get enough of these slides. They are great and bigger kid friendly. Warning about the tree house, there is a large bucket on top that dumps over 1,000 gallons of water every so often, there is a bell that you will hear as a warning. Carson did not like this so I would just stand over him when it dumped if we were on the fort. You can also stand at the bottom of the fort and get the full dump but I do not recommend this for smaller children. No matter where you walk in this tree house more than likely there is someone above you going to dump a bucket of water or pull a rope that will drench you. I recommend pulling and dumping anything you can find!

A more toddler friendly pool would be the Bear Track Landing or as Carson called it the "walking" pool. There are a couple very small water slides in here and tons of water play toys.

There is a hot tub the goes indoors and outdoors.

There is also a nice sized wave pool. I recommend using an inter tube as the current is VERY strong.

There is also one other smaller pool, don't know the name that the kids can play basket ball in as well as float on creature in the water.

The lodge does provide life vests but we bought our own just in case there were not enough. They also provide lockers but we left the valuables in the safe in the room.

Okay so other things to do:

Cub Club is educational and crafts for the kids. We paid $10 for Little Man to hear a story about frogs. They also made a frig mask, a terrarium, an origami frog. They got frog tattoos, frog stampings, and frog rubbings. I thought $10 was great for 1-hour of educational play.

Elements Spa and Scoops Spa - We did not get to enjoy the spa this go round but wanted to let you know it is there and normally priced for a resort.

Northern Lights Arcade: I think we paid $1 for 5 tokens. The kids get tickets for the games and can exchange tickets for prizes. This can get spendy but is still fun.

The GREAT Clock tower; Shows daily at 8am, 10am 8pm and 9pm

GR8 Space Teen Center: This place is GREAT for tweens and teens. during the day it is a family tech center, Wii, playstation, movies, magazines, music, Internet, etc. All for just $10 for your entire stay. At night this room turns into a dance club for all those over the age of 12. It is like a middle school dance. The girls dance, the boys sit and the parents take pics from outside.

Magiquest: No matter how old you are you will enjoy this one. You have to purchase a wand for $15 (there are more expensive ones) and $10 for the game itself. It is like a scavenger/treasure hunt over 5 floors of the lodge. (Oh yeah because of this I would not recommend saying on the first 5 floors). When you buy you get your wand and a book explaining all the quests. The book URGES you to use the stairs so PREPARE to climb, and climb, and climb! But it is worth HOURS if not DAYS of fun. It took us three days and we still did not complete them all! Your wand can also make creatures come alive throughout the first 5 floors and in the Loose Moose Cottage.

So there you have it. Once I get the film developed I will post some pics. Speaking of pics remember you are near the WATER, and no matter how you "think" you cannot get wet from weather you are, believe me you can! I brought disposable waterproof cameras and suggest you do the same.

Was it worth it? YES! My husband and son thought it was better than Disneyland. (I still LOVE Disneyland better). But if you were caught in the rain this weekend, I wasn't. That was nice. It is only a 45 minute drive and we are already planning our next trip there!
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Friday, July 4, 2008

Tanya
MyHotComments.com

I just want to wish everyone a safe 4th of July!
I will be taking a short Blogcation (blog vacation) until the 7th. We are going to the Great Wolf Lodge Water Park in Grand Mound! I will let you know how it was!
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Thursday, July 3, 2008

Tanya

And the winner is...

Valerie!!!
Valerie you are the winner of the Save the Ta Tas gift pack!!!

valerie said...
anything to save the ta-ta's

MyHotComments.com
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Tanya

Newbaby.com


NewBaby.com is the online video resource for moms featuring thousands of mom generated videos, product Vcasts and Expert solutions segments. It's an online community where moms can learn, share and create videos in a safe, secure and Free environment. Come Vlog with us at NewBaby.com (www.NewBaby.com)!
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Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Tanya

Save up to 45% on your Beaches Vacation!


WonderFALL Celebration at Beaches Resorts, taking place during the off-peak season months of September and October. Not only do you get to enjoy everything Beaches offers year-round but you can SAVE up to 45% off** published rates and get 2 Nights Free**(on stays of 7 nights or more). And as part of this WonderFALL Celebration, Beaches has a great fall line up of special events and activities. From even more Caribbean Adventures with Sesame Street® that includes the premiere of a brand new stage show and a new activity with Abby Cadabby, exclusive Gordon and Elmo live performances and special parenting workshops hosted by Sesame educators, to Dive In Movies, "Baby You're A Star Photo Contest"( where your little one could win the chance to be featured in the next Beaches brochure) and even a celebration for Grandparents, it's all happening ONLY this FALL at Beaches family resorts.
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Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Tanya

Summer Tips

With Summer FINALLY here and the upcoming holiday weekend just ahead I just wanted to share with you some important summer tips and reminders! I found this great information on a new site I found called http://www.mommydocs.com/
  • Have a Sun Protection Strategy: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends sunscreen with a minimum Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15. Look for products that provide "broad spectrum" coverage to protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Use this sunscreen routine with your child--daily application 30 minutes before going outside and reapplication every 2 hours (or sooner if swimming, toweling off, or sweating). Creating a routine will establish good habits for the future. In addition, don't forget a wide brim hat, sunglasses with 99-100% UVA/UVB protection, and sun protective clothing.

  • Keep Pests off Your Little One: In the summer, many insects can bite or sting your child. For pesky mosquitoes and ticks, consider a DEET containing insect repellent. Apply sparingly to exposed skin (avoid backs of hands and around the eyes and mouth) and/or to clothing once a day. As the percentage of DEET goes up, the duration of action increases. To prevent unnecessary exposure, always use the lowest percentage that will last for the planned length of time spent outdoors. Never go above 30% or use on children under 2 months old.

  • Keep the Pool Cool and Clean: Small yard pools provide a great way for kids to have fun and cool down when the temperature rises, but they can also harbor germs, such as bacteria. To keep the pool free from unwanted "swimmers," after each use disinfect it with bleach by cleaning with a solution of ¾ cup regular bleach to one gallon of water, then rinse well and dry thoroughly. Safety must: Always supervise children regardless of age when they are around any water; whether it's a bucket, a small backyard plastic pool, or the local community pool.

  • High Heat Means Hydrate: Excessive heat exposure may cause your child to experience a heat-related illness such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or even heat stroke. How to prevent this: take breaks in the shade, avoid playing outside during peak sun exposure hours, and drink, drink, drink! Make sure your child is taking in plenty of fluids before he become thirsty.

  • Rid Rashes and Relieve Itchies: Running through the yard in bare feet, taking a nature walk on a trail, and picnicing in the park are some of the joys of warmer weather. But all of this outdoor activity can expose your child to a host of plants including those which cause poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac. If an allergic reaction occurs, ask the pediatrician about an oral antihistamine and/or a topical skin care product such as a steroid cream or calamine. If the rash is extensive, looks infected, or is not getting better, call your doctor right away.

Here is also a great article on the controversy of the SPF rating of sunscreen. Check it out, http://www.andelman.com/ARTICLES/sunscreen-bw1991.html

We are checking out the Great Wolf Lodge this Fourth of July Weekend, what are YOU doing?

Once again be safe, lather on the sun screen and drink plenty of that stuff I hate SO much WATER!!!

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