Keeping Digestion Running Smoothly with Probiotics #DigestiveHealth #CBias

I am all about good digestive health!  There are a few things that, if they don't work properly or are causing you pain, pretty much ruin your entire day.  One of them is your back. I learned this the hard way when I pulled a muscle while we were at Disney last year. The other is your digestive health. Whether things aren't coming out, are coming out too fast, or are exiting through the enter door (bet you never heard throwing up described like that before), when the system isn't working, you pretty much don't feel like doing anything!


Since I live with two people with mild digestive issues, I am always on the lookout for products that can help in that department.  Since we have had a Costco membership ever since they opened near us and love the high quality and low prices they offer, the chance to try a probiotic supplement they carry was a great match with our family.




I must confess that I had never even looked at the Costco.com website before but was loving the idea of shopping from home!  Knowing it was a Costco probiotic supplement, I felt confident it would be of good quality.

I logged onto Costco.com and began looking around the site. 

 It was super easy to navigate and I found some surprising items offered on the site that I have never seen in the store.  Check out my Google+ story to see what I am talking about.


I easily found the 4 X Probiotic product I was looking for and checked out quickly and easily.

  I really like the product for several reasons.  I love that the packaging indicates which pill is for which day.  Since I am so old busy, I sometimes forget if I have taken my vitamin yet and this is a great way to keep track of if I have missed it or not.

I also love that the pills are not ginormous. I have tried other supplements and have felt like they got stuck in my throat because they were so huge.

I also feel like I am seeing some benefit even though I have only been taking them for a few weeks.  During this time, I developed a really nasty ear infection.  It was bad enough that it threw my balance off and I was staggering around like a drunk person every time I was getting out of a chair.  As always, the cure was a mega dose of antibiotics.  They work quickly but unfortunately, not just on my ears, if-you-know-what-I-mean...


But this time I did not have that pesky little side effect. Now, I only have a unofficial medical degree from Google university, so I cannot offer any official connection between the 4X Pro-B supplement and my lack of side effects. But, hey, you do the math.


My only complaint about the supplement is that it must be swallowed whole, so is not a good solution for LJ.  I will have to spend some time hunting around Costco.com and see if there is a children's supplement offered.


Now, please don't think that a pill will solve all digestive issues and magically create good health all by itself.  I am also making a commitment to eat better (I've started juicing, but that's a whole other post) and move more.  I'll be updating you in a few weeks and let you know how it's going!


Learn more about Costco by checking out their Facebook page.


This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias 

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

What? You thought you were getting a post about great Mother's Day gift ideas? No - I'm looking for good Mother's Day gift ideas! Seriously!


Both of my parents pretty much qualify as people "who have everything".  Which makes shopping for them a bit tricky.  My dad likes biking and golf, so Father's Day is a bit less perplexing, but my mom? Super tough to shop for.


While I know that flowers are always an appropriate gift, having flowers delivered on a major floral holiday can get expensive.  You know what I mean - the price always shoots up on Valentines or Mother's Day, right?  So I try and get a little creative.

Last year, I taught myself (with the help of Google of course) how to make a fruit arrangement type gift.  It was a lot of work and had a hard time staying together.  I basically delivered it and then she had to take it apart to get it in a container so the fruit wouldn't spoil. But it was still a pretty good first attempt for someone who really isn't very crafty, right?


So this year, I'm looking to find another idea that is a bit original, not too hard, and will show my mom how special she is.  If you've got any ideas, I'd love to hear them!! 

Copyright Wisconsin Mommy Media, LLC

Office Organization with Brother P-Touch Labels

A few months ago, I was offered the chance to use a Brother P-Touch label printer to help get my home office in shape.  This really could NOT have come at a better time as my office had once been our guest bedroom and really needed a makeover in order to be the kind of space where I felt comfortable doing business.  The room still felt a bit like a bedroom and did not have the tools I needed to keep organized.


Luckily, this project came with a budget and I was thrilled to go shopping for some items to help me get more organized.  The first thing I did was hit the paint store!  The guest bedroom had been a lovely shade of yellow that worked as a guest room, but not so much as an office.  I picked out the shade "perfect greige", which was the perfect combination of gray and beige.

Next, I chose a lateral file cabinet that I thought was both useful and elegant.  I hate the look of typical file cabinets and thought that this one fit in perfectly with the look I was going for.

I also stopped by my local Walmart and grabbed some storage boxes since my desk has very limited storage in it.  I loved the idea of black accents against the "greige" walls and white furniture and trim.

Once I got all of my purchases into the office, it was time to put the label maker to work!  First, I started by labeling all of my new storage containers.  How nice to have everything in its place and out of sight.  The labels make it easy to find what I need without going through all of the boxes individually.  

I had fun playing with all of the different sizes, fonts, and features on the label maker!

Next I tackled my files.  They had really gotten out of control and looked like a crazy mess.  I had taken an organizing class at my local Park and Rec and learned that having one color files is better as it gives your eye less to comprehend while reading the labels.  I also found all of the hodgepodge of styles distracting, so I was thrilled to have uniform labels for my files.  Doesn't it look so much better? 

Before

After

My office isn't completely done. I still need to find a new ceiling light fixture and hang some pictures and things on the walls, but it already feels so much better then before.  Having my things organized and a new filing system saves me time every day.  And that's pretty much what I was hoping for!

  I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Brother P-Touch and received a product and gift card to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate. 

How to Find a Lawyer

Finding a good lawyer is something most people don't think of until they actually need one.  Unfortunately, most of the things that cause a person to seek out a personal attorney are not happy ones and the stress of trying to find a lawyer does not help the situation.  


Most people begin the search for an attorney when they are facing a divorce, an injury due to an accident at work, a car accident resulting in broken bones, whiplash or worse, or a suit filed against them.  Occasionally, folks may seek legal advice for happier occasions such as receiving an inheritance, setting up a trust or will, or even starting a business or filing a trademark, copyright, or patent.


No matter what the reason you are searching for a lawyer, finding a good one is important.  What are the best and worst ways to find yourself legal representation?  I asked a practicing lawyer friend of mine for a few tips, and here is what he told me:


Don't choose your lawyer based on TV commercials or big Yellow Pages ads.  Neither of these things have any bearing on how good an attorney is, only on how much they are willing to spend on advertising.  Also, be aware that many of the "big name" lawyers rarely work with clients - they have a team of lawyers under them that do most of the work.


Do ask around.  Ask your friends, your colleagues, your relatives who they have used and liked. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to find out about that local jem who doesn't even need to advertise.


Be sure to interview whoever you are considering and trust your gut feeling when you are meeting with him or her and notice the little details. Did s/he return your phone call promptly?  How easy was it to schedule an appointment?  Be sure to ask for a timeline of your issue, so you have an idea of how long to expect the process to take.  Ask how the lawyer likes clients to contact him/her and how quickly calls are returned.


Also, be sure to ask the lawyer if you really need to hire him/her to solve your problem.  Some issues are able to be resolved without involving a lawyer. A simple will may be easily set up using a purchased program and then just looked over by a lawyer for any prospective problems. Conversely, seemingly simple issues may be more involved than you realize.  A question such as "What can I claim?" after an accident, may seem simple but have many determining factors.  A good lawyer will give you a good idea of whether or not you really need legal council and how involved your issue is.  That should take place during the consultation and there shouldn't be a charge for that.


Hopefully, you will never face many of these issues. But if you do, you are now armed with a few tips to help you navigate the legal waters a little more smoothly.

Neosporin Essentials to the Rescue

My seven year old, LJ, has suffered with eczema since he was a toddler. After a fairly uneventful infancy where he was not sensitive to anything in particular, he broke out into red blotches suddenly when he was about 16 months old. (And right at Christmas picture time too!)


A quick trip to the pediatrician shed some light on what was going on. Eczema. 


We were prescribed some prescription steroid cream and given directions on how to deal with it and what precautions we could take (bathing less often, moisturizing like crazy, using gentle cleaners).  I wasn't thrilled with the idea of slathering my baby with a steroid and started getting as educated as I could about how to deal with his eczema.


Since then, we have been lucky enough to have gotten pretty good at managing his symptoms.  His flair ups seem to come primarily when the weather is changing and during the driest months of winter.  The severity has lessened considerably and we are able to manage them mostly with gentle soaps, moisturizer, and just spot treatment with steroid cream.

We are always on the lookout for products that can lessen LJ's symptoms even more.  When Neosporin (a brand that we have always loved) came out with a line of products geared specifically for skin with eczema, we were excited to try it.  We were sent the trial/travel size set to see how it would work for us.  (Be sure to check out their website as they have a $5 off coupon to try the set!) We used it for several weeks and...


Immediately went out and bought full sized versions of the products.  We were really pleased with the results we observed!  Just by switching to the Neosporin Essentials wash and moisturizer, we were able to completely skip any steroid spot treatments.  (Neosporin Essentials does offer an OTC 1% Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Cream as well.)


If you or someone in your family suffers from eczema, I encourage you to give the Neosporin Essentials line a try - it certainly has worked for us.


I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Neosporin Essentials and received a product sample to facilitate my review, and a promotional item to thank me for participating. The opinions and results I related are our own and not influenced by any compensation. Our results are anecdotal - please consult with your doctor about any concerning skin conditions. 

Clorox Clean Up Recipes for Fun

I feel a bit guilty saying anything negative about winter right now - we are having such a mild one. But the fact is that winter in Wisconsin is usually very much an indoor season, especially in February. Even though it's not freezing cold out, there's no snow to go sledding, the ponds aren't frozen enough to go ice skating, and there's still enough mud around to make the parks and yards a mess. And spending that much time indoors can make kids (and their moms) a bit stir crazy!


Luckily, Clorox has launched cloroxrecipesforfun.com where you can find tons of great ideas for science experiments, cooking recipes and arts and crafts projects. Be a detective and dust for fingerprints, make a chicken bone turn into a rubber-like bendy substance, or make your own bouncy ball out of an egg! I know these types of activities are right up our alley.  Just the other day, LJ and I built and attempted to launch a baking soda and vinegar rocket! (It was warm that day - colder days might call for the trusty volcano substitution.)


Got a budding chef on your hands?  You'll love the cooking recipes - apple crisp, cinnamon loaf, spaghetti pizza casserole...I'm getting hungry just looking at them!  Cooking with kids is great in so many ways. They are more likely to eat what they have helped create AND measuring help reinforce their math skills. (But don't tell LJ that - he just thinks it's fun!)


Spend your indoor time completing hands-on cooking and science projects and don't even think twice about the mess.


Why?


Because Clorox ALSO launched the Ultimate Mess Party Sweepstakes. You can clean up big time with a grand prize of $10,000 toward an Ultimate Mess Party.  Entering is super easy - just register on the site and you will be entered to win, not just the $10,000 party, but also one of the $100 gift cards given away daily.


Want more entries? (You know you do!) Submit your own recipe at gain an additional 10 entries - plus a nifty high value coupon for Clorox Clean-Up Cleaner.


Here's our recipe for fun (from back when we actually had some snow!)


Gather three or more small spray bottles, water, and food coloring.  Fill each spray bottle with water and add enough food coloring to make a vibrant color.  Take them outside and "spray paint" the snow! (We even set the nozzles to a stream and practiced writing spelling words.)

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Clorox Clean-Up Recipes for Fun blogging program, for 8,000 My SocialMoms Rewards Points. For more information on this program, click here and see the Terms link.

Dial™ NutriSkin™ Helps Fight Winter Dry Skin #DialNutriSkin #CBias

I suffer from seasonal dry skin every winter. Even though this winter has been much milder than most, the heat still kicks on pretty regularly and being in and out of schools all day, I wash my hands a LOT.  As a result, I often feel like I am wearing gloves two sizes too small due to dry skin.


When I learned that Dial™ had come out with a new line of hand and body lotion that promises to pamper your skin, I was anxious to try it out.  Luckily, one of our local Walmarts was holding in store demonstrations, so we got to try it before we bought it.  Jay and I have different requirements for lotion. Since I'm on the go a lot and always using my electronic devices or computer, I want something that will soak in quickly and not feel greasy.  Jay's only requirement is that he not smell like a girl!  Neither of us have especially sensitive skin, so that is not a concern.

We headed to Walmart to find the demonstration display. The gentleman running the display was super friendly and helpful!  Right away, he started telling Jay about the Dial™NutriSkin™ men's line and how great it smelled.  Jay was doubtful, but gave it a try.  We both agreed that the scent was very "manly".  Jay also liked that it absorbed quickly and didn't leave a greasy residue on his hands.

I tried the formulation for extra dry skin and noticed immediate improvement in my skin.  The scent was light and not at all perfume-y and it did soak in very quickly.  The gentleman provided us with a few $1 off coupons, which we appreciated.  We headed down the skin care aisle near the pharmacy to scope out the product on the shelf.


I found a smaller, more portable size (perfect for a purse or bag) for only $1.97.  With the coupon we had received, it was only .97 which is an absolute steal!

For our full shopping experience (and what else we bought), be sure to check out the rest of our shopping pictures!


For more information, be sure to check out the Dial™ NutriSkin™ wesite, follow Dial™ NutriSkin™ on Twitter, or connect on the Dial™ NutriSkin™ Facebook page.


This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias. As always, all opinions are my own.

Lands' End Friends and Family Sale!!

It's that time of year again.  Just in time to spruce up your spring and summer wardrobe....

It's the Lands' End Friends and Family Sale!!

The Lands’ End Family + Friends sale runs Tuesday, February 21 through Tuesday, February 28 and offers 25% off regular priced items on both the Lands' End and the Lands' End Canvas website, plus free shipping with no minimum purchase.

To apply for savings, use promo code: BUDDY and pin: 2140.

This post was sponsored by Lands' End.

Diversity On Demand (and a $25 gift card)

Do you have digital cable TV?  If you do, you most likely are familiar with On Demand programming.  We use it all the time here - to catch an episode of LJ's favorite show or to watch a movie at home on the couch.


For the month of February which is also Black History Month, On Demand is featuring multicultural programs and movies. Black History Month programming for Diversity On Demand includes:

Milestones in Black History:  A look at the history of the struggles and strife, the tragedies and the triumphs of African-Americans in the U.S., including programming on the Civil Rights era. Everyone in the family can get in on the learning with documentaries like “The Black List” examining some of the reasons for Black History Month. And kids young and old can take a trip back in time understanding the importance of historical events with “Seizing Justice: The Greensboro 4,” “On the Shoulders of Giants” and “Birds of a Feather: Tuskegee Airmen.”

Profiles in Courage: The biographies of influential African-Americans come to life with dramatic profiles and stories of acclaimed leaders and others who are not so well known—but perhaps should be, such as that of Lena Baker in “Hope & Redemption: The Lena Baker Story.”

Dramas:  Programs and movies like “Independence Day” showcasing award-worthy performances from notable African-American actors such as Will Smith. You can also explore and share real-life family relationship dramas like “Braxton Family Values.”

Hearth & Home:  Savor shows like “Down Home with the Neelys” that provide a look at food and other aspects of modern African-American society.

Of the People: Program content that exemplifies the contributions made by multicultural talent, shows written by, starring, directed or produced by African-Americans, like Morgan Freeman in “Million Dollar Baby.”

Powerful Portrayals:  Storytelling has always been an important part of African-American culture. Drama fans can enjoy Black cinema offerings, which chronicle the challenges of African-American protagonists in a variety of ways.

That’s Entertainment: Laugh along with comedy specials such as “Chris Rock: Bigger and Blacker,” while romantic comedies warm the heart. If music is your thing, there are shows and movies such as “Ray,” the remarkable story of one of America's true musical geniuses, Ray Charles, that look into the past, present music-making of African-American artists.

To keep up with updated programming options, be sure to "like" the official Diversity On Demand Facebook page.


WIN A $25 VISA GIFT CARD from Diversity On Demand: 



a Rafflecopter giveaway


This promotional sponsored post was made possible by Mom Spark Media. I was compensated for my time investment and work on this campaign. All prizing for MSM giveaways is handled by a third party unless otherwise noted. For this reason prize fulfillment can take up to 90 days after the winners information is received.

Chicago Auto Show #CAS

I was thrilled to be a guest of General Motors at Media Day of the Chicago Auto Show.  Spending the day in what a Facebook friend described as "a whole room of new car smell" was both entertaining and educational.


Before I go on about the Chicago Auto Show (CAS) itself, I need to give a great shout out to both the Peninsula Hotel and Gibson's Steakhouse who made the night before the show so much fun for all of us "out of town" guests.  Be sure to take a peak at my slideshow farther down in this post to see the Peninsula's luxurious rooms and Gibson's gargantuan desserts!  GM's social media guru, Connie Burke, planned an evening of fun and food for all of us and we certainly appreciated it.

 The auto show itself was amazing.  I was immediately impressed with the fact that the organizers of the CAS understood the power of social media and chose to utilize it to help get the word out about the event.  

Our day started with a breakfast attended by both social media influencers and Chevy Volt owners.  Hearing the personal accounts of how the Volt is working so well for folks who live in the city was really interesting for a suburban chick like myself.

We then moved onto the floor of the show where we learned about some of the new features of the different GM vehicles.  I personally fell in love with the tweaks that have been made to the 2013 Acadia that makes it just about perfect for families.  The Acadia's front middle airbag is an industry first and exemplifies GM's commitment to making the safest vehicles for your family.


I loved that our tour included not just GM vehicles but other manufacturers as well.  The GMC tour guides spoke honestly and candidly about their competition, pointing out what other vehicles offered and what their strong points were.  I felt it spoke volumes that the GMC folks had such positive things to say about their competitors and did not feel the need to "bash" or talk badly about them.


Overall, the CAS was really a lot of fun. Jeep had a test track-type experience that felt more like a roller coaster ride than a test drive and Chevy offered the opportunity to test drive the Volt (which has all kinds of cool features to teach you to use your fuel most efficiently).


The 2012 Chicago Auto Show runs through Sunday, so be sure to pop over to www.ChicagoAutoShow.com and check out the upcoming events.

Procrastination

No words of wisdom from me this morning.  I'm finally tackling painting my home office, which I have been putting off for weeks.  


I love picking out colors and accessorizing once it's done, but hate the actual painting.  The last time I painted anything more than a small bathroom was just after we moved in to our house in 2002.  I just went from one room to another and was on a roll after the first one.  I had my technique down pretty well and all of the rooms (after that first one) came out looking really good.


Now, it's taking me some time to get back into it and I've been dreading tackling this office project. I've had the paint sitting in cans in the corner for a few weeks and finally decided it was now or never.


What project or chore do you put off?  Why?

Great Tasting Whole Wheat Pasta

We've been on a quest to find a healthier pasta that really tastes good. We understand the benefits of adding whole grains into our diet and have been trying out different whole grain pastas to replace what we had been using for years.  Some are pretty bad, tasting more like the cardboard box they came in than like pasta.  Others are pretty good, but we still wouldn't say we love them. We've found that the best tasting ones taste better because they're only partially made with whole wheat.

I had just about given up on finding a 100% whole wheat pasta that my family (and myself) would really enjoy.

Then I was offered some samples of Einkorn Pasta by Jovial Foods. *cue angels singing*

We absolutely fell in love with Einkorn.  Once I learned some more about it, I got even more excited.  Not only is Einkorn made with 100% organic whole wheat, it is made from the purest, most ancient species of wheat.  Unlike most other stains that have been hybrid or genetically altered, Einkorn is the very first species of wheat that dates back over 12,000 years ago.

Jovial says that this status also give Einkorn higher nutritional value. Einkorn has thiamin, protein, fiber, B vitamins,  and twice the antioxidants of regular pasta.  But what really sold my family was the taste. You'll have to try it yourself to see exactly what I mean.

So once I was completely sold on Einkorn, I set out to stock up on it and couldn't find it in any of my local stores.  Even Woodman's, which has the largest natural food's section around, didn't have it.  Luckily, it is really easy to get online.  You can order it directly from Jovial Foods (with free shipping) or from Amazon.com.

 I encourage you to Einkorn a try - I think you will be very pleasantly surprised!


I was provided with product samples to facilitate my review. As always, all opinions expressed are my own.

Why You Shouldn't Get an In-Store Credit Card

We've all had it happen. On our daily shopping adventures, we've walked in to our favorite big box or retail store only to be approached by an employee who asks us whether or not we would like a store card. If they don't catch you at the door, there is a good chance that the employee checking you out will ask you if you would like to open a store card, usually offering perks such as 15 percent off your total today and 5 percent off every in-store purchase there after.
While these cards may seem like a good idea, especially if you are in a particular store often, they aren't as beneficial as other credit cards. A few reasons why you should avoid opening a store credit card include:


They Can't Be Used Elsewhere
The point of owning a credit card is to build up your credit, and this is done by occasionally using your card on various purchases – usually necessities such as gas or groceries. In-store cards can only be used in-store, and the stores that offer them generally aren't filled with necessity items. So why have a card that can only be used in one location? You don't ever want to be stuck needing gas with a card that can't be used anywhere other than a department store so don't even open a line of credit that can only be used in one location.


The Benefits are Limited
While in-store cards are typically no annual fee credit cards, which is a must have for any credit card, they don't offer any other true benefit. While you may believe that you are getting cash back on credit cards that are single store bound in the form of 5 percent discounts or the occasional $5 off your next purchase, you really aren't getting great rewards.
A good credit card will offer a variety of cash back rewards on multiple purchases including restaurant, gas, and retail purchases – not only will you get more for every dollar spent, but you will be able to use those rewards as you see fit.


They Will Make You Spend More
Similar to the psychology of couponing, getting a store card with the promise of 5 percent off every in-store purchase will actually be more likely to cause you to spend more than you normally would. That's because when we believe that we can get a discount, we tend to spend more because we feel that it will save us more money. This is absolutely wrong – spending more is still spending more. So to avoid breaking your monthly budget, avoid the in-store card.
A good credit card should not only give you excellent perks for using it, but will give you the perks that will actually maximize your spending. Aside from airline miles and actual cash back, some credit cards even allow a percentage of your purchases to go towards a child's college fund or your favorite charities. Don't settle with an in-store card with only one type of benefit that will actually force you to spend more. Unless the card comes with a Visa or Mastercard logo, skip the offer and stick to cards that can be used anywhere.

My, How Things Have Changed!

I remember getting my first camera as if it were yesterday.  I was probably about seven or eight and I was living in Connecticut.  We were heading up to New Hampshire for a vacation and I had picked out a snazzy Kodak Instamatic.  It took real rolls of film and had little four-use flash cubes that clipped on the top that made a quick pop and a strange smell when they went off.

This was the exact camera I had, right down to the blue label.

I loved that camera and went through multiple rolls of film on that trip alone.  I distinctly remember mailing the rolls of film off to some distant company and then checking the mail every day anxiously waiting for the thick envelope of snapshots to arrive.  I picked the four or five decent shots off of the roll of twenty-four and put them in my photo album to admire and show off.


While I no longer have the camera, I do still have the photos I took.  They are yellowed and faded and have some scars as a result of being stuck in a glue-filled album with plastic sheets over them.

I have to marvel at how much photography has changed in the years between my first Instamatic and my digital Canon Rebel.  No more rolls of film to load, no more wondering if you got the shot - you have instant feedback via the LCD panel showing your picture, no waiting to get the film developed, and no more sticky backed photo albums.  Many times, I don't even print out my pictures, I share them digitally via email or our digital picture frame.  They are backed up safely in several locations and if I want to show them off, I create fabulous photo books on acid free paper that won't fade over time.

I sound like one of those old ladies talking about the "good old days", but in this case it's really not all that long ago.  I try to imagine telling my seven year old self that one day we'd be able to take pictures on phones we carry in our pockets (no - it doesn't have to be wired to the wall!) and send them through the air on this magic thing called the internet.  Then I try to imagine what wild thing my now 7 year old will be able to do when he is my age!

Cooking With Kids and the Ben's Beginner Cooking Contest

I have never really loved cooking.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy making something special when I have lots of extra time and nothing else that I should be doing - but that's pretty much never.  I've found that the daily chore of making dinner is one of my less favorite ones on the list.


Now that LJ is a little older, he is not only able, but actually eager to help out in the kitchen.  That time together makes the chore of fixing dinner into a bonding time when I find out what's really going in his little head.  When he walks through the door after school and I ask how his day was, I get the standard first grade answer: "fine".  I ask what he did and get the "nothing" or "stuff" reply.  But when he is distracted by the challenge of cracking an egg into a bowl without getting any shell in it, the filter comes off and I hear all about who said what to whom and how things went down on the playground.

There are other added benefits to having LJ help me in the kitchen.  He is much more likely to eat something he helped cook and he is learning about what actually goes into his food.  His class has been learning about the food groups, so we can see how some foods have several food groups baked right in and others need a side to make them healthier.

One of my personal favorite sides is rice.  Jay got me a super fancy rice cooker for Christmas and it really does make the most incredible batch of rice you could imagine.  It was one of those appliances I just couldn't justify buying and storing in the already cramped cabinet, but now wish I had gotten one years ago!

Speaking of rice (and kids cooking in the kitchen), Uncle Ben's is holding the Ben's Beginners Contest to encourage kids aged 5 to 11 to get into the kitchen, create a rice based dish, and share it via an uploaded 2 - 3 minute video.  The winner will get $20,000 cash, an appearance on the Rachel Ray Show, and a $50,000 makeover for their school's cafeteria.  I can only imagine what $50,000 could do for LJ's cafeteria! 

The contest will run until February 26th, so you have lots of time to get in the kitchen, whip up something fantastic, and get it all on video!  Need some inspiration? Visit Uncle Ben's on Facebook, at www.UncleBens.com or go here for some recipe ideas.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Uncle Ben’s blogging program.. For more information on how you can participate, click here.