5 helpful tips for holiday tech shopping

Black Friday has just whizzed by and quick at the heels to follow was Cyber Monday and honestly though we do need to shop for a new television (and I'd love to get a new camera), we weren't bold enough to rush our purchasing decisions over the weekend, brave the crowds and buy just because the prices were slashed. Hubby and I have kept a few things in mind for our future 'BIG BUYS' and here are 5 tips from our list that may help you with your holiday tech shopping ...

1. Do your homework: Don't just pick a sales flyer and decide to buy a product just because it falls into your budget. Make sure you research the pros and cons and see if the product really fits all that you want it to do. (Remember you don't have to buy the latest model or a particular brand just because everyone else is buying the same. Buy what suits YOUR need.)
2. Do a little research: Actually do a lot of research. The one setback with tech gadgets is that the return policies on the same are always very stringent. So even if you find that you have a problem with your product after slowly getting used to it a month later you will be stuck with the same for a good long while! Speak to friends who are 'in the know' and check reviews on sites like CNET (I love this site!)
3. Get store loyal: If you have narrowed down the store you plan to shop your tech gadgets from, it sometimes helps to get approved for a 'Store Loyalty Credit Card' as it will give you bigger discounts. Stores like Staples even have Staples Rewards Cards that help you accumulate points for rewards and even pull up rebate programs
4. Patience!: We've also discovered that you should wait for the big holidays or close to the end of the year when Stores are trying to clear out for the latest tech goodies. If you're looking for a gadget that serves your purpose but is not necessarily the latest hip set, then playing the waiting game will be worth your while
5. Coupons Rule: Sure you may not get a whopper coupon out there but I say every dollar saved, is a big deal. Scout around for coupons and keep your eyes open on sites like the Hot Coupon World and keep your 'Tweet' little eyes on Twitter. Believe me, there's a wealth of 'buckaroo saving' information out there that can save a pretty buck!

The golden rule in all this is not to rush while shopping and to NEVER (with a capital N) make any impulsive tech shopping trips!


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** EBMR Disclaimer: “I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Staples blogging program, making me eligible for a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.” **

Labels: Mommy Tips, Staples, Twitter Moms

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 8:47 PM 0 Comments

5 tips for editing digital photos for blog posts

Now since I author a review blog, there are many times I've had to take photographs involving my 2 little ones that feature there face profiles. Being the over-protective Mama Hen, I make sure my photographs feature the products being showcased but not my family.

I personally love working on my pictures on Picasa as it is, to put it simply, easy peasy! So here are 5 tips I have to help you edit your photographs (if you blog and are overprotective like me):

1. I think my favorite photo editing tool of all is the simple 'CROP' tool! I get to choose if I want to crop my photographs in a standard photograph size (in case I plan to print the photographs later) or a random size.



2. Now there are a few pictures that just look weird if I crop heads off, so the next best option is the 'Soft Focus' tool a.k.a. the 'Blur' tool.

Wow! I was huge with Bunny Boo at 38 weeks. So yes, my face just had to be there in this photograph to show you how big my baby bump was in proportion, thus the '"Blur, Blur, Blur away" need!


3. If you are the artistic sorts, like my sister is, play around with tools like 'Shadow', 'Color Temperature', 'Sharpen' and 'Film Grain' . You will be able to transform an ordinary photograph into a gorgeous piece like this.



4. If you're looking for something simple, just use the 'Focal Black and White' tool to highlight important parts in your photographs.


and if you are willing to get a little more adventurous, use the 'Focal Black and White' tool, with 'Soft Focus' and 'Film Grain' to get an effect like this....



5. Finally, do your little bit of protecting the beautiful photographs you take with a little help from Paint.Net.



I generally place my blog url on all my photographs. Now that doesn't guarantee that they won't be used on other sites/blogs but atleast I know my 'seal' is on the photograph.




Are you a pro with photo-editing? Do you have some simple tips to share with learning photo-editors like me? Draw up a blog post with your 5 tips for editing and creating beautiful digital photo projects and hop over to share them with other Twitter Moms.


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** EBMR Disclaimer: “I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Adobe Photoshop blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.” **

Labels: Adobe Photoshop, Mommy Tips, Twitter Moms

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 3:05 PM 0 Comments

10 tips for weaving the 'in' runway trends into your day-to-day looks

When you're a Mom, it's not always easy looking like you just walked off the front cover of a magazine. It always tickles Hubby to see how Bunny girl and Bunny Boo will be impeccably dressed for church on Sunday morning or to a 'fancy party' while I will be hurriedly slipping on the closest ironed 'appropriate for the day' outfit but still looking like the cat dragged me in!
My sister is always on my case and tells me it doesn't take much to get dressed 'Ooh la la' if only I attune my mind to putting in a little effort! So Sis, I've listened and this post (Okay Twitter Moms and Kenmore don't tell her this was a prompt) has my 10 tips for weaving the 'in' runway trends into your day-to-day looks...

1. Always, always, always have a black dress hidden in the closet. Black never goes out of style AND it can be dressed up or dressed down.
2. Scarves are a great way to add personality and flair to an otherwise dull outfit. Pashminas and Silk never go out of style (Plus here's a Mommy Tip-they're great to cover spit up!)
3. Check online for what the 'in' color for the season is and rummage through your closet to see if you have anything to flaunt for the season. If you aren't too enthusiastic to invest in clothes, stick to black and paint your nails with the 'in' color!
4. Invest in some colored (quality, not cheap imitation ones)handbags and pair them to dress up an otherwise mundane looking outfit.
   
5. The same goes with your shoes. Buy a few shoes in colors and save them for those days where you really need to dress up but at the nth moment don't have time to run to shop. Wear something from your wardrobe and contrast color it with complementing colored shoes and a matching handbag.
6. Fashion jewelry always helps to make a statement and if you love wearing it, you're good to go! (I'm old school with my standard pearl and gold inlay earrings and gold necklace) Accessorize to 'snazzy' up a look but check with the fashion gurus online to see if 'chunky jewelry' is in or if 'simple is much' is the trend for the season.
7. Now this is a tip my sister swears by..."Do your eyes". Now I don't do the 'eye shadow', 'mascara' bit but I do like accentuating my eyes with an eye liner. Boy what a difference it makes to one's overall look. Remember not to overdo it though because you don't want to kill the 'a la mode' look.
8. If you have long hair, well you've half the battle won! You can wear your hair in different styles to suit the occasion for the day. (Take a look at some of these stunning styles!)
   
9. It always helps to see things from an expert's perspective. One of the only TLC shows I've enjoyed watching is "What Not To Wear". You will be surprised to learn how many of the 'in' looks you thought were 'happening' are 'Gone With The Wind' and not at all appropriate to your overall look.
10. Finally this is a personal tip. Don't incorporate the latest fashion trends into your wardrobe just because they're 'in'. Always pick what suits you and wear what you are comfortable in.The way you project yourself will ultimately make your overall look the winner for the season!
    

(And before I hop away I have to admit that I DON'T follow the latest trends. I wear what I'm comfortable in, what suits me and what makes it easy for me to run around with Bunny Boo and Bunny girl. I call my style the Mom-ogue. It's in fashion all year through in my home!)

Do you have any tips to dress 'en vogue' every season? Why don't you write up a post and hop over to share the same with the other Twitter Moms here?


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** EBMR Disclaimer: “I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Kenmore blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.” **

Labels: Kenmore, Mommy Tips, sears, Twitter Moms

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 8:28 PM 0 Comments

14 ways to have a fresh and festive holiday

My all time favorite holiday in the year is Christmas. Our family loves celebrating the birth of Christ. We try to get our home ready for this beautiful season early and do our best in dilly dallying to delay putting away all the decorations in January. In celebration of all things Christmas (yes including the awesome Christmas Carnival of Giveaways and the 30 day giving Challenge), I thought it was apt to respond to the new Twitter Moms and Snuggle prompt to share 14 ways to get your home looking (and smelling!) fresh and festive this Christmas...

1. Get the home smelling 'Christmassy' with some Apple Cinnamon Scentsy bars or go natural...boil some water with a few slices of lemon( or orange), a few sticks of Cinnamon and a few Cloves in the same.
   
2. The other day while I was driving home after dropping Bunny girl to school, our local Christian radio station shared a great 'Christmas Scent' tip that I can't wait to try. Fill a quilted sleeve with some pot pourri and seal it up well. Then the next time you take a hot pan off the stove, place it on the sleeve and it will effuse warm fragrant scents through the home.
   
3. If you have young ones at home, who can use kid proof scissors, help them create snowflakes. Draw out a template and then fold the snowflake in half and let them cut little squares, circles or slithers. Open out the sheet and you will have some pretty snowflakes. You can stick these on the balcony doors, windows or just hang them on a ledge.
4. We love Crayola's Window Crayons. Last year our apartment windows were the rage! Bunny girl and I drew Christmas trees and mistletoes and our windows looked happy, festive and really special as they had a 3 year old's imprint all over!
5. The previous year we bought a whole bunch of maroon Christmas bows from Target at the 90% clearance sale after Christmas. You can be sure that we went to town with them. We hung bows on the door ledges, curtain frames, on every door, even on our kitchen cabinets. I honestly thought the overall look was very festive and we had friends compliment us on how happy our home looked.
6. Back home, during our honeymoon we'd picked up beautiful pine cones from the forest. A week before we put up our Christmas decorations, we spray painted a handful of them in silver and placed them in a coir bowl as a centerpiece for our table. We threw the unpainted ones under the tree to give an overall natural 'out in the woods' look.
7. You can also use the left over Christmas ornament balls and throw them into a wide open mouthed glass vase or a bowl and place them on the side tables with a tinsel placemat. These look really 'Christmassy'!
8. Get the little ones to help with the decorating. I love the Christmas Crafts Danielle's Place has. We're planning to make the felted gingerbread men to stick around Bunny girl's room and maybe a few areas around my kitchen. The work the little ones do may not be perfect but they will be treasured in the years to come!
9. Christmas is never complete without a Nativity Scene. Bunny girl generally pulls out her toys and re-creates the Nativity Scene near the tree. This always looks so precious especially as the stable animals sometimes look like giants in the scene.
10. Oh and Christmas always means you have to have tinsel on the tree. We love the reds and golds...always makes the tree look grand and reminds us of Christ's royal heritage and the birth of a King.
11. Our tree also has an angel on the tip of the tree. We generally get the oldest and the youngest member of the family, place the angel on the tip together. The angels remind us of that heavenly chorus that day in Bethlehem.
    
12. We also love placing a set of golden bells over one door's arch to symbolize the ringing in of Christ's birth
    
13. This year we can't wait to also place a star outside our home to remind us of the Star that led the Wise men and the Shepherds to the stable. (Last year we couldn't place one outside because it would've been stolen from outside the apartment.... Can you believe we even had a 5$ doormat stolen once?!)
    
14. And finally how could I ever forget about a Christmas wreath. The bigger the better...placed right outside your door. What a great way to invite your guests into your warm festive home.
    

Decorating one's home during Christmas is fun and it's even more meaningful if you can tie in elements of the Christmas story with Christ's birth to remind especially little ones that Jesus is the reason for this season.


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** EBMR Disclaimer: “I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Snuggle blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here” **

Labels: Christmas, Mommy Tips, Snuggle., Twitter Moms

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 7:25 PM 0 Comments

10 tips to keep a new baby safe.

It has been over 5 months since we brought Bunny Boo home from the hospital. Now I have to admit I'm not a clean freak or one of those sterilize, clean, wipe down the area thrice a day kind of Mommies. I am a careful Mommy but not an obsessively protective one.
Bringing Bunny girl home from the hospital was easier as we just had Hubby and self at home. With Bunny Boo, though, we have had to be a little more careful as big sister Bunny girl adores him to bits and we try to implement a few 'rules' to ensure he's kept safe health-wise, especially as she also goes to preschool.

If you're having a new baby soon and you have an older offspring (who is still a baby, preschooler or elementary school goer) who is excited about baby's arrival, the first six Lysol & Twitter Moms inspired tips are just for you. The last four tips are some 'baby musts we've observed with Bunny girl and now observe with Bunny Boo :

1. When Bunny Boo was born, Bunny girl was instructed to only kiss his arm or his leg and not his face.
2. As soon as Bunny girl comes in from preschool, I sit Bunny Boo in his bouncer in the bathroom and give Bunny girl a good 'sterilize away those preschool germs' bath. Till she finishes her bath she isn't allowed to hold his hand especially as he has begun to teethe and loves chewing on his fingers.
3. We make sure we wash Bunny girl and Bunny Boo's clothes separately in the washing machine. I know the wash cycles and washing detergents clean out any potential 'germ travels' but we'd rather play safe.
4. When we do go out as a family, I always ensure I carry a travel size hand santizer to keep both the children's hands and arm areas clean. (We don't just apply the sanitizer on the palms but also on the forearms.)
5. We then have those preschool events and parties where the Mommies sit in with the kids. On such occassions, I ensure I attend them with Bunny Boo in my Infant Carrier as it keeps him close to me, with less exposure to the excited little preschoolers who want to see Bunny girl's baby brother. Another big plus is it doesn't give room for any of the other Mommies to ask to carry him around. (Now ladies, I can assure you that this is NOT being obsessively protective...it's being careful!)
6. Since Bunny Boo has begun to try out some rice cereal, pureed carrots and rice, I have made sure I have a seperate set of feeding utensils set aside for him. We ensure we sterilize these in boiling water and also make sure that Bunny girl does not use any of the bowls or spoons for even a tiny snack.
7. Now I know using wet wipes are the easiest way to clean down a baby right after he/she has pooped. I admit that I do this any time Bunny Boo poops in the night but I would suggest that you wash your baby's bottom and anal area under running water during the day, especially after he/she loads a diaper with poop. I can assure you that you will see that he/she will never suffer from frequent diaper rashes. Both my babies are testament of that!
8. Make sure you clean areas your baby is around frequently. It may look like your baby's crib rails, baby essentials table top, bath tub etc look clean but you're really better off giving all of this a good scrub-scrub and wipe down even if it's just with a dust-cloth and on those non wood surfaces, with warm water and a teaspoonful of vinegar. (Try to stay as natural on your cleaning products as you can especially with a new baby at home.)
   
9. If you have toys that you use to entertain baby with or have toys that your infant plays with, ensure you wash and clean them frequently. A good wash in the machine with a teaspoon of vinegar would do the trick for cloth based toys while plastic rattles, toys etc can be soaked in warm water with a spot of Dettol or sprayed down with some Dapple Baby Toy Cleaning Products. To dry these out, nothing beats a good few hours in the sun to complete the disinfecting process.
10. Last but not the least, make sure you keep washing your hands throughout the day. Scrub them out with soap and make sure you clean them properly under warm (or hot) running water. (To make sure you've done it long enough, sing the Alphabet song as you wash your hands....that's what Bunny girl has been instructed to do! Sing it in your head if you're shy to do it out aloud!!)

Remember there's only so much you can do to keep your child safe, humanly. Psalms 91 says that when you make the LORD your everything, He will ensure that no sickness will come into your dwelling place.

⁹ Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
¹⁰ No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling
(Psalms 91: 9,10)


Trust God to oversee everything concerning your child.

Do you have any Mommy Tips to share with Mommies bring a new baby home? Well, me and the other Twitter Moms would love to read about them, so hop on over and link up your post, right here.


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** EBMR Disclaimer: ““I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Lysol® Wee Wisdom blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.” ” **

Labels: Lysol, Mommy Tips, Twitter Moms

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 3:14 PM 0 Comments

Vaseline How I Love Thee....Let Me Count 10 Ways!

Vaseline Petroleum Jelly is one product every Mom has heard about, used on their babies, on themselves or even around the house. As a child growing up, I remember my grandfather used it ever so generously on his hair as his 'hair gel' alternative. So, for a very long time, I thought Vaseline was 'hair gel'....till I became 'Mommy 101'!

Here are 10 tested and tried uses for Vaseline.....(That's right Grandpappy...it can be used more than just hair gel! )

1. When you're pregnant and your fingers get all swollen and those dainty rings you have on are cutting into your skin, apply a little Vaseline around the ring and ((swoosh)) you should have the rings slip right off.
2. When we had a sliding door that got jammed back home, we couldn't find any oil lying around the house but we did find a little container filled with Vaseline and it did a great job of getting that door to slide functionally again.
3. Oh and remember how annoying that creak in your child's closet door can get? Well till Handy Hubby finds the tools to fix that creak, grab some Vaseline and apply it generously over the hinges and Voila!...Peace again!
   
4. I've used Vaseline to pry open lids and bottle caps that have just been vacuum sealed in over time. Yes it is a little bit of a pain to wash off the Vaseline later but atleast the lid/cap is off the bottle or container!
   
5. I've also used Vaseline to moisturize areas on my face that dry up during the winter. Unlike moisturizing cream, Vaseline, I've noticed, leaves dry patches staying moist and fresh for a longer period of time. (This works great as long as you don't mind the oily feeling on portions of your face)
6. When the cold spell hits our city, I still make sure Bunny girl goes out with a thin layer of Vaseline on her lips to leave it moist and prevent chapping. I prefer using Vaseline over lip gloss any day and yes we let her pretend she's wearing grown up lipstick that way!
7. This is also great for diaper rash sores and cracked skin for babies especially as it doesn't sting raw skin.
8. A lady I know also uses Vaseline to soften one's nails prior to soaking them in hot water, just before doing a pedicure. I've always found this to be very relaxing for my feet and I guess having someone else do your nails is always such a nice treat!
9. The same lady also advised me to use a little Vaseline on my lips before running my lipstick over as it helps give your lipstick a slight sheen and last longer through the day.
   
10. And finally in honor of my Grandpa, I just have to add this....YES! If you've forgotten to buy hair gel, you know what you can use as an alternative!!

Love it!

Every Mom has some 'Vaseline' tips up her sleeve. Do you have any I haven't listed? Well, me and the other Twitter Moms would love to read about them, so hurry and list your uses for Vaseline and link up your post, right here.


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** EBMR Disclaimer: “I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Vaseline blogging program, making me eligible to get a $25 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.” **

Labels: Mommy Tips, Twitter Moms, Vaseline

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 3:49 PM 0 Comments

10 Bunny girl tested tips to incorporate fun and play into daily activities

My Bunny girl is now 4 years and 7 months old. (Why does time fly by so fast?)
As my first child she has been my little guinea pig when it comes to trying out new things, games, food and what not.
As our first preschooler at home, I think it has been an adventure trying to incorporate fun and play into her daily activities and with the latest Twitter Moms prompt, courtesy of The Hub I figured I just had to share my 10 Bunny girl tested tips to incorporate fun and play into your preschooler's daily activities. I've segmented my tips into three parts, featuring three things Hubby and I believe are very important for our little one's overall growth and development. These are

• Eating healthy
• Reading books and
• Learning the Word of God (The Bible)

Eating Healthy...the fun way!

1. I've learned that I can get Bunny girl to eat veggies in food she loves. For instance, she loves pasta and she loves chicken soup, so I've concocted a 'Bunny girl's Wholesome Soup' recipe that includes celery (won't eat it plain because it has too much crunch in it!), spinach (too bleh!), carrots, ginger, chicken, pasta and tomatoes. She loves this and even asks if I can make it despite the fact that celery and spinach make their appearance in the same! The trick is to find a way to hide the 'traitors' in food your child loves and once they're sold on it, make the big reveal!!

2. It's always more fun to get your school lunch sandwiches in pretty shapes. Last year I'd have sandwiches come home with merely a nibble. Thankfully this year I discovered this cute butterfly sandwich cutter and now we have empty lunchboxes coming home! (I also really need to invest in cute cookie cutters to bring more variety into the mix.)

3. If your child has a 'thing' for fast food, you can do the healthy (and cheaper) version at home. Allow your child to order his/her 'Happy Meal' from the kitchen and then ask him/her to run off and play for about 20 minutes.
While he/she skips off, grill the chicken or meat pattie in the oven or a George Foreman Lean Mean grilling machine (I love my Lean Mean machine!) and bake your homemade potato strips or carrot sticks. Once you've assembled your sandwich with the lettuce et al and your 'chips' are ready, pack the same and put them into a brown paper bag. (You can decorate the bag with smiley faces or stickers as well) Then pop a book you've been saving for a special occasion into the bag as your child's special surprise and voila your child's 'Happy (Healthy) Meal' is ready

4. If you have a milk lover on your hands then downing those fruits becomes easy peasy. Make milkshakes! We've tried banana milkshakes, mango milkshakes (the best), banana and apple milkshakes and strawberry milkshakes. Try not to add any sugar. The sweetness in the fruits should sweeten the shake perfectly.


Reading Books....the fun way!

5. As a baby, we introduced Bunny girl to the world of books. We made it fun reading with funny voices and puppets. This helped her get interested and as she grew the love for books just naturally developed. Now as a preschooler, even though she is crazy about books I still feel it's important to fuel the interest in books through games. I read a story to her and she reads it back to me in her own words. Sometimes she even re-enacts it with her little character toys.

6. During the holidays we try to do 'Theme' days. For instance if our theme for the day is Princesses, I let her pick her book of choice about a Princess, do a craft around that story or maybe even do a coloring page. At times we even do a snack, which in this case would be a sandwich cut in the shape of a crown.

7. As your child hits the threes and fours, the love for rhyming will develop. Dr Seuss books are a recommended read at the time. After we read a Dr Seuss book, Bunny girl loves playing the 'Rhyming' game. I call out a word and she tries to think of as many words as she can (that make sense ofcourse) and rhyme with the word I've thrown out.
At times to challenge her, when we get a new rhyming book, I read out a line and then leave the second line hanging in the air for her to complete with a corresponding rhyming word that she deems fit to complete the sentence.


Learning the Word of God (The Bible)...the fun way!

8. I teach my little one her memory verses in the form of a song. At times it could be to the tune of a Nursery Rhyme or maybe a 'Rap' I'd just made up. Since the verse is set to music, she picks up the verse incredibly fast and even remembers it when asked several weeks later. There's nothing better than sowing the Word of God into a child's heart at a young age.
(Proverbs 22:6 -Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.)

9. One of Bunny girl's favorite games is something she has named 'Bible Actions' This is similar to 'Dumb Charades' where one of us mimes out a story from the Bible and the other person has to guess which story it is. This has sharpened not just my little one's memory for the tiny details in a story but ours as well!

10. During our family prayer time, we allow Bunny girl to share something she has learned from her Bible that day. This always makes her feel important and has encouraged her to be more attentive during her Bible storytime so that all the facts get included when she delivers 'her message' later in the night.


With a little imagination, the sky's the limit as to what you can do with your preschooler to make your home a fun filled learning environment. Do you have any fun ideas to share? Why don't you draw up a post, click here and share your wealth with the Blogosphere?


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** EBMR Disclaimer: “I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and The Hub blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.” **

Labels: Mommy Tips, The Hub, Twitter Moms

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 4:37 PM 0 Comments

10 ways of making our favorite foods.healthier

Growing up I remember always eating a well rounded meal. Now by a well rounded meal I mean we had a meat/seafood/poultry serving, veggies and almost always a serving of rice. I still remember waking up every morning before school and have my mother lead us to the dining table where we'd have fruit juices, a bowl of soaked almonds and an egg sandwich. I hated going through the routine as a child but years later I look back with gratitude and today I find myself doing everything my mother did to ensure Bunny girl eats healthy.

Here are ten ways I make our food healthier:

1. We love egg and chicken rolls and while most people feel it's tastier to use a flour tortilla I beg to differ. Store bought wheat tortillas taste just as great. We don't use oil to cook our wheat tortillas, I just heat both sides on a pan till each side puffs up and voila hot wheat tortillas are ready to go!
2. My favorite gift is our 'George Foreman Lean Mean Grilling Machine'. This is a great alternative to having a fried chicken dinner. Marinate your chicken with store bought tandoori masala (if you like Indian tandoori chicken) or lemon pepper and throw your chicken strips on the 'Grill'. This machine pulls off the fat on the chicken and collects it in the tray and cooks the chicken strips in less than ten minutes, thereby ensuring you don't kill the chicken's nutrients by overcooking the same. Put the chicken strips in a wheat tortilla (Check #1) and add some shredded lettuce to make a sumptuous, healthy chicken roll
3. Bunny girl doesn't like spinach so I have learned to hide it in dishes that she loves. I shred the spinach fine and throw it into our pasta with meat sauce, into mince buns and I've even concocted by own spinach marinated chicken recipe. She wonders why the 'green strands' are there but gobbles up her food without a murmur as the meat/chicken flavors generally overpower that of the spinach!
   
4. Now I know most people don't like boiled vegetables but what if you hid them in spiced rice....yum-yum, is what my family would say! Boil 1-2 cups of basmati rice with 2 cardamoms, 2 cloves, 1 bay leaf and salt to taste. Once the rice is cooked, throw in your finely cubed boiled veggies seasoned with salt and pepper (I use carrots, beans, corn and even broccoli and cauliflower) and serve the rice up with some curry or eat it with some baked chicken/meat. Hubby took this to work once for a potluck and a few colleagues hesitated trying the rice at first but once they had a few spoons full, they were back for second and third servings!
5. Bunny girl loves chicken nuggets and fish fingers. Now I don't serve these up as regular fare but on the occasions I do, I make sure I bake the nuggets and fingers instead of frying them in oil. They get just as crispy and my little girl thinks they taste great!
6. Our family loves milk puddings and when Bunny girl was younger she didn't like carrots as much as she does right now so I'd make her a recipe my mother taught me where one boils the carrots, blends them and then adds them into the milk pudding mix. Strangely enough my mother's 'carrot kheer' has now become my family's favorite milk pudding of all time!
7. If your children love the little boxed juices, try introducing them to freshly blended fruit juices using the fruits that are in season. (Fruits that are in season tend to be sweeter so you don't need to add any sugar to the juice) Just last night we had some chilled watermelon juice that was not only refreshing but healthy as it was made from scratch without any sugar.
8. My husband loves beef and so does Bunny girl so when we do buy meat we make it a point to buy 96% lean meat which is a little more expensive but much healthier and we always cook our meat and chicken without the fat.
   
9. For our sandwiches we've now switched to multi grain wheat bread instead of white bread. It took a while getting used to the change but now it's the only bread Bunny girl likes to eat. I love whole grain sandwiches as I feel they're also more filling.
   
10. For snacks we try to make sure we opt to munch on oatmeal cookies, nuts and fruit and to keep us from being tempted with crispy chips and chocolates we've just stopped stocking our pantry with the same all together!

I have learned to experiment by substituting 'not so healthy' food with healthier alternatives and have even learned to throw in healthy veggies into dishes that would ordinarily not have veggies in them. The results have been encouraging as Hubby and Bunny girl love whatever is served to them and the 'Healthy Chef' in me grins a big ol' smile!

What do you do to eat healthy but tasty food? Do you find you're beginning to cook just like your Mommy did? Put your thoughts together in a post and link on up here.





** EBMR Disclaimer: “I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and WeightWatchers SmartOnes blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

Labels: Mommy Tips, Twitter Moms

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 4:34 PM 0 Comments

My 10 tips for a cleaner, greener home.

I have to be honest...the chemicals used in cleaning products in the US are terribly strong. I realized this after I noticed Bunny girl, then a toddler, getting the sniffles every time I'd clean our glass table with a popular name brand glass cleaner. Today I'm much wiser and to ensure Bunny girl and Bunny Boo's health is kept foremost in mind, my Hubby and I have taken tiny but significant steps to try and keep our home and the things we own/use clean with safer alternatives.

We're also trying to set an example to Bunny girl as she's a little sponge and we believe it's important she value the resources we have and do her part of trying to conserve the same.

Here are 10 tips from our family, that help keep our home cleaner and greener:

1. While washing the children's clothes we use the best natural disinfectant there is....vinegar. It beats using any other additional laundry disinfectant and if you hang your clothes out to dry in the sun...well that's just the best!
2. While washing dishes, we found using half a lime/lemon to scrub out caked residue on frying pans helps loosen the residue and clean the pan well, even if you don't using dish washing liquid.
3. We've also found that using baking soda on grimy kitchen counter tops helps clean off the crusted bits that stubbornly stay firm on the counter and even the stove top. (If the grime is really stubborn try a mix of baking soda and vinegar...should do the trick!)
   
4. Now that we've moved into our own home and FINALLY have a backyard, we're planning to start growing a few vegetables. Not only will they be pesticide free but we'll finally have vegetables that grow naturally (without any human interference to boost growth)
5. To help our vegetables grow, we'd use our own compost to act as a great fertilizing agent. The compost would be made of the food waste generated from our kitchen, which would ordinarily be trashed. (The food waste would be collected in a pit dug in our garden and be mixed with the cut lawn grass and left for a minimum of twenty days to become compost )
6. We've been trying to replace our light bulbs with energy saving bulbs. I've discovered Armorlite bulbs are great as they're bright, do not generate heat and help cut down our electricity costs.
7. We also make it a point to keep all footwear in the garage or in the closet (as we enter the house) as we strongly feel we prevent pesticides and other microbes from getting into the living areas especially as the floors are carpeted. This has helped keep the carpets relatively clean.
8. We use our Flings Bins as our 'recycle' bins. They're great reminders for all of us to place the waste plastic in one and waste paper in the other. It's also great that Hubby has recently found a recycling center near his work place. So twice in a week, our bins are emptied out and brought back home to collect new recyclable waste.
9. Bunny girl and Hubby carry their lunch to school and work in reusable lunch containers. We try our best to avoid using plastic sandwich bags and foil as far as possible.
10. We recently also invested in a high volume high efficiency washer to cut on electricity costs and be able to run large volumes in the wash. This ensures the washer is not run every other day and since we sun dry all our clothes (except when the weather is gloomy or wet) we ensure our electricity consumption is minimized.
    

I'm sure you have some 'green' tips you'd love to share. Hop over and add your wealth to the 'green' chest of knowledge here.



P.S I'd love to know if anyone has tried using Coke to clean out a dirty toilet. Heard it works but honestly I have my doubts about it!!


** EBMR Disclaimer: “I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Mrs. Meyers blogging program, making me eligible to get a $30 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

Labels: Mommy Tips, Twitter Moms

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 9:56 PM 0 Comments

Five things we do for Bunny girl to keep her smile healthy and bright

Getting little ones to brush their teeth is not an easy task. Harder yet is ensuring they brush their teeth the right way and for a good long time! Twitter Moms and Trident have teamed up to spread the awareness that it's important kids keep their smiles healthy and bright.

Here are five things we do for Bunny girl to keep her smile healthy and bright:

1. Hubby ensures he monitors the way she brushes her teeth especially in the night and if he feels she hasn't been able to give those pearly whites way at the back a good scrub, he helps her out with the brushing!
2. We encourage her to sing 'Happy Birthday' in her head to ensure she brushes each area well
3. When Bunny girl fell in love with the Disney Princesses we ensured we got her the Oral B Disney Princess toothpaste. That has always encouraged to skip to the bathroom, squeeze out the happy pink toothpaste onto her brush and brush away
4. Whenever she has a sticky rich dessert like chocolate frosted chocolate cake, we ask her to brush her chocolate smothered teeth to prevent any residues are left behind for the 'teeth eating bugs' to feast on
5. This never fails. Hubby and I have a few cavity filled teeth between us and whenever she decides she wants to have a tooth brushing holiday we show her the cavities and quick as a snap, she's off to brush her teeth after canceling that holiday! (Mean I know ...but it works!!)

Did you know that each year, more than 51 million school hours are lost as a result of problems related to tooth decay, the most common chronic childhood disease in America ? In fact, tooth decay affects approximately half of all second graders and nearly 80 percent of 17-year-olds. That’s why Trident® has partnered with Smiles Across America® to help underprivileged children get the dental care they need.

Here are some Trident 'Teeth' Tips:

Do you have any tips you'd like to share. Click on over to this link and add your posted tips.





** EBMR Disclaimer: “I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Trident blogging program, making me eligible to get a $25 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

Labels: Mommy Tips, teeth, Trident, Twitter Moms

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 4:44 PM 1 Comments

Flavorful Low Sodium Family Meal Recipe- Lemon Pepper Chicken Wraps

Twitter Moms latest prompt reminds me that it is a misconception that flavorful food is food that's doused in salt and generously cooked in oil. You CAN whip up a healthy meal and still bring flavor to the table if you hold back on the salt and use salt free seasonings like the sponsor, Mrs Dash' seasoning blends.

Our salads come onto the table without a speck of salt. Sure the lettuce and tomatoes need flavoring but a great alternative to use is a nice generous 'squeeze' of lemon, a sprinkle of freshly ground pepper and voila, your salad is good to go!

Our family is also crazy about barbecued chicken and fried chicken. While these are delicious to gobble down, they aren't always low on sodium but recently I watched a cooking show that featured grilling chicken breasts marinated simply with lemon pepper seasoning and nothing more. I honestly didn't think this would taste all that great but guess what, it was much more flavorful than I thought it would be and we were able to eat ours the healthier way, using our George Foreman Lean Mean Fat Reducing Grilling Machine (One of the best appliances ever!)

Here's my modified version for Lemon Pepper Chicken Wraps

1. Take a pound of cleaned chicken breast and cut them into strips. Now make superficial slits with a knife on each strip. (This helps the seasoning blend into the chicken)
   
2. Get a bottle of Mrs Dash's Lemon Pepper Seasoning blend and rub it onto the strips generously and leave the same in the refrigerator for atleast half an hour or so. (If you leave it in longer, the seasoning will seep into the chicken well)
   
3. When you're ready, grab your George Foreman Lean Mean Fat Reducing Grilling Machine and preheat the same before throwing those lemon pepper chicken strips onto the grill.
4. You can leave your chicken strips on the grill for about 10-15 minutes (dependent on how 'grilled' you want your strips to be.
5. Next take a hot cooked wheat tortilla, place a chicken strip in the same and garnish with shredded lettuce .....Voila your healthy, flavorful, low sodium lemon pepper chicken wraps are ready to be devoured!

(* You can also grill your chicken strips in the oven if you don't have a 'Lean Mean' grilling machine. Also if you prefer your chicken spicy, replace the lemon pepper seasoning with the Mrs Dash' Extra Spicy Seasoning Blend)

Do you have a great low sodium family meal recipe you'd like to share? Hop on over to this link and add your recipe post for all to enjoy!





** EBMR Disclaimer: “I wrote this blog post while participating in the Mrs. Dash and TwitterMoms blogging program for a chance to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here "

Labels: lemon pepper chicken wraps, Mommy Tips, recipes, Twitter Moms

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 4:08 PM 0 Comments

10 suggestions on how to save buckaroos during 'Back To School' season

In less than two weeks Bunny girl will be all set to go back to day school and I'm ready! True I don't have to buy all those necessities on the long lists schools provide but I know when I do get there I'll still be ready!

It isn't easy shopping when things are expensive, so to work around the 'milk the customer for what they're worth' store policies, here are ten suggestions on how you can save buckaroos during 'Back To School' season. (Thanks Twitter Moms for the prompt)

1. Keep an eye on 'Back to School' sales and stock up on necessities like crayons, rulers, notebooks etc when they're priced at 25 cents and lower.
2. Clip/print out coupons and use them on sales to get a larger margin of savings.
3. Buy clothes for the kids (if they're not in uniforms) off season and when on clearance. There's no greater joy than finding a great dress at 75% off the rack price!
4. Buy non perishable breakfast cereals and snacks when on sale and stock up!...Oh and don't forget those coupons for these too! (Cha-ching!)
   
5. If you're one of those creative Moms/Dads and your child loves your art. Buy fabric paints and get creative on their lunchbags/backpacks. What a treat to be the only kid in school sporting a one of a kind design! (Saves buying one of those expensive backpacks unless you jumped in on Staples free backpack sale 2 weeks ago!)
   
6. If you aren't picky about buying everything new for your kids, hit garage sales and the thrift stores to buy atleast a few things from your list
7. Another neat way to get some really neat 'Back to School' stuff is by entering giveaways around the Blogosphere and attending Twitter Parties. You really can win stuff on both....I'm testament of that!
8. Shop for Back to School when stores observe 'Tax Holiday' days.
9. Redeem rewards from your credit card to get gift cards to stores you know will shop at just before school breaks open
10. Also sign up for Staples Free Rewards Program. You will be thrilled with the savings if you sign up as a Rewards Member. Check out this week's ad to see what I'm talking about! (We're members and have saved big on Printer Paper especially!)
    

Staples Buzz

Staples makes going back-to-school easy for 2010:

Staples provides significant savings, a wide selection of quality products, and a one-stop shop and stress-free shopping experience.

* Staples is in-stock throughout the entire season and into the start of the school year.
* Staples kicks off the back-to-school season to provide customers with an official start date for back-to-school shopping and a clear roadmap for value throughout the season.
* Staples is the expert on back-to-school, with more than 20 years experience.
* Staples offers more ways to save from hot buys like penny and dollar deals to savings on technology to reduced low prices on hundreds of core items.

More info: http://www.staples.com


Staples Offerings

For four days only, Staples is offering a special discount to the TwitterMoms community and my followers and friends. Print out this coupon and bring it to any Staples to get 25% off their collection of Sustainable Earth by StaplesTM notebooks and writing pads. These eco-friendly notepads are made from 80% sugarcane so fewer trees are used! Click to Save!





** EBMR Disclaimer: “I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Staples blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, visit Twitter Moms.

Labels: Mommy Tips, School, Staples, Twitter Moms

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 2:33 PM 1 Comments

Ten Tips for Ensuring a Healthy, Safe and Successful School Year

Our kids will soon be getting ready for a new school year and Airwear is urging all Mommies and Daddies to get their kids eyes examined and to ensure safe, impact-resistant lenses made of polycarbonate are used if lenses are required to aid with the child's vision.

Here's a note from Airwear for all my readers...

Learning is visual, so eye care is critical! Twenty-five percent of kids struggle with vision problems that impact learning. Eighty percent of everything a child learns in his first 12 years comes through his eyes. If corrective lenses are needed, select lighter, stronger and safer lenses such as Airwear. Airwear lenses offer safe, durable lenses for children, those who like to play sports and those who push their lenses to the limit.

Now that's something to keep in mind!

Talking about the upcoming school year, Twitter Moms has sparked a new prompt that calls for me to list out my Ten Tips for Ensuring Bunny girl has a Healthy, Safe and Successful School Year. I hope these may help some of my Mommy readers too. Here they are in no particular order....

1. My mother has always taught me that breakfast is the most important meal for the day and I ensure Bunny girl has a good breakfast (cereal or an egg sandwich or waffles) with a glass of milk before heading off for her day at preschool. This keeps up her energy levels till snack/lunch time and studies have proven that this is that jump start to 'healthy' that every child needs!
2. We make sure Bunny girl has a detailed visit with her Pediatrician to ensure all looks good on the health front and this year we've had to also make sure that she was upto date with her 4 year milestone vaccines.
3. Using the school restroom is like inviting a little child into a germ chamber! At home we do our best to reinforce the importance to wipe well after using the restroom and washing ones hands with soap and scrubbing all the way to the wrists to avoid germs from breeding especially after a visit to the restroom
4. I know kids will be kids and there's only so much you can do to make sure they follow all the 'rules of hygiene' once they step out of the house. Knowing this, we make sure we give Bunny girl a good bath once she gets back from preschool and that I feel has helped prevent any infections from arising.
5. We also make sure that any cuts or 'owies' she gets while in school, get washed again, disinfected and re-dressed. It's always better to be safe than sorry especially since we don't know how well the wound was taken care of in our absence.
6. We also have a rule at home to leave our footwear in the garage or in the closet near the door. Shoes worn outside CANNOT travel around the home especially as some areas in the house are carpeted. This has helped keep the home considerably clean and potentially more germ free. (Which equals less sick kids at home...Yay!)
   
7. Fast food, soda and candy are not staples in our home. (Many people find it hard to believe that Bunny girl hates soda and doesn't have a 'thing' for candy. Hope Bunny Boo will be the same!) We make it a point to eat three wholesome and nutritious meals that are generously doused with fresh veggies, whole grains, lean meats, skinned chicken and pulses. I strongly believe healthy eating strongly affects a child's health, development and energy levels. Eating healthy=Being healthy!
8. The snacks Bunny girl takes to school try to follow the 'nutritious' and 'healthy' code. Her favorite lunchbox contents include roasted cashews, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and Quaker's granola bites.
9. At home we believe a child's emotional health strongly affects his/her physical health. We thus spend a lot of time with Bunny girl just 'swimming' in some 'TLC' with her, book reading or just relaxing, giggling and chatting.
10. Last but not the least, as parents we believe and trust in God's Protection to keep and watch over our children's physical and emotional health and well being. (One of my favorite passages in this regard is from Psalms 91:9-12

Psalm 91:
⁹ Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
¹⁰ No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
¹¹ For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
¹² In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.)

So there you go...my ten tips for ensuring Bunny girl has a healthy, safe and successful school year. Do you have any tips you'd like to share. Hop on over to this link and add your post to the list.


Before I sign off, why don't you participate in Airwear's essay contest at www.LighterSaferGreener.com? Airwear and my fellow TwitterMom, Beth Aldrich, are sponsoring an essay contest for consumers, encouraging parents and care-givers to share how they plan to help their kids live a healthy, safe and successful school year. Families can submit their thoughts by visiting LighterSaferGreener.com. One grand prize winner will be awarded $1,000, while 10 first prize winners will receive vouchers for Airwear lenses valued up to $400.





** EBMR Disclaimer: “I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Airwear blogging program, making me eligible to get a $25 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, visit http://airwear.twittermoms.com/about” **

Labels: airwear, Blogosphere Giveaways, Mommy Tips, School, Twitter Moms

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 7:24 PM 1 Comments

Toyota Corolla...The last laugh (A Twitter Moms Post)

If you read my earlier Toyota Corolla post you'd know we love our car to bits. I know I can't vouch for all the Toyota Corolla's out there but I can definitely vouch for the one we own and yes our beautiful silver 2007 Toyota Corolla (Sports Edition) has been great so far!

I was not a very bold person when it came to getting behind the wheel. It took me over a year after moving here to actually push myself to apply for a driver's license. I finally took the test and passed it but that was not the big hurdle. The hurdle was to actually drive the car minus Hubby sitting next to me.

Today when I look back I thank God that the first car I sat in was our Toyota Corolla and now it's unofficially 'my' car (even though Hubby tries to stake his claim on it). The Corolla is easy to maneuver, easy to park and is compact yet spacious enough to meet my family's needs. I love that it has been easy to maintain and I absolutely love the fact that we don't have to keep making weekly visits to the gas station to fuel up. (The fuel economy is definitely a big plus for this baby!)

Talking about the fuel savings, Hubby still remembers having a hard time with a colleague who ridiculed his decision to buy the Corolla. He still remembers this colleague laughing(with a low guttural bass gurgle) and saying "Hey Man! You need to go in for a guy's truck.... not this!" Hubby didn't budge from his decision despite the 'jabs' and went ahead and bought the vehicle he had a peace about. This guy continued to mock his decision till some time last year when the economy hit rough waters. Fuel costs were rocketing and people were cringing while making that painful drive to the gas station. Hubby's colleague quiet and shame faced, eating humble pie, came over and told Hubby that he thought he'd made a smart decision on buying the Corolla and ....wait for it, wait for it!......he was considering making a move to get the same.

I can't say more than that!!
We stand by our 'silver' set of wheels and yes, you know who has the last laugh now!




** EBMR Disclaimer: “I wrote this blog post, as a Twitter Mom, while participating in a Toyota/Twitter Moms campaign for a chance to receive a $50 gift certificate. This post has not been monetarily compensated and is based on the views and opinions of my family and/or self. Please note that the opinions reflected in this post have not been influenced by the sponsor in any way. ” **

Labels: Reviews / Giveaways, Toyota, Toyota Corolla, Twitter Moms

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 6:50 PM 1 Comments

Toyota Corolla.....A ride our family counts on! (A Twitter Moms Post)

Some time ago, I was asked if our family was happy with the car we had and without any hesitation I know I replied, pat in a second, that we were more than just happy with our car....we loved it!

Mid June 2007 my husband researched the market for a car that would fit our budget, serve our family size (which meant just the 3 of us back then) and a guest or two, give us great mileage, be a safe traveling option for our family and look great...all in one package! He spoke to friends, family and a bunch of car experts and finally decided he had to rely on a brand that stood for dependability and efficiency.....Toyota.


I know what has happened in the past few months may not reflect the 'dependability and efficiency' cheer but honestly when it comes to our vehicle and the experience we've had with the same, we continue to stand by how well the Toyota Corolla 2007 Sports edition has served our family.


The two things we love about this car is the mileage we get in the city (We can go about 250 miles on a full tank) and on the expressway (Hubby has managed to go about 420 miles on a full tank, without breaks in the drive) and its 'You Can Count On Me' performance.

Since buying the car we have not had any major problems with the car, till date, by God's Grace. Thankfully we have a great local Toyota dealership that handles all the 'p's and 'q's involved with the car plus it has helped that we ensure that it goes in for its regular service checks and oil changes.

Last year when Bunny girl had to start preschool, Hubby decided we needed to buy ourselves a second car. We did hope to get ourselves a good second hand Toyota Corolla at a price we could afford but sadly we didn't come by anything we really liked. We finally settled on another brand that does serve us well but our Corolla continues to be our #1 ride! (Sounds silly but Hubby actually does try to worm his way into using 'My' Corolla on every opportunity he can when I don't need to use it for school drives or errands!)

Since Bunny Boo's arrival we have been contemplating on trading in one of our cars for a bigger vehicle. Hubby and I have weighed all the odds and yes, we know for sure, it will be our other vehicle that will go in for the trade....NOT our Corolla....Na-Uh! It's the ride our family counts on!



** EBMR Disclaimer: “I wrote this blog post, as a Twitter Mom, while participating in a Toyota/Twitter Moms campaign for a chance to receive a $50 gift certificate. This post has not been monetarily compensated and is based on the views and opinions of my family and/or self. Please note that the opinions reflected in this post have not been influenced by the sponsor in any way. ” **

Labels: Reviews / Giveaways, Toyota, Toyota Corolla, Twitter Moms

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 3:10 PM 3 Comments