Browse >
Home / Archive: July 2009
Every parent is concerned about what is going into their child’s bellies and even more-so, the quality of what is going into their child’s bellies. That is precisely the reason why it has become the gospel to buy organic fruits and vegetables whenever possible. But while you can be sure to purchase organic where it counts and provide your family with nutritious and healthy meals, when it comes to snacks, we very often disregard the health factor and go with the flow of convenience. Luckily, there are a few reputable companies making delicious snacks that your kids will fall in love with, even if they’re the type to run away from you screaming when you take a piece of fruit out of a lunch box for them to munch on.
Peter Rabbit Organics is a small, privately-owned company who were inspired by their own families to create a delicious and healthy snack that kids love. Already a hit with British children, Peter Rabbit Organics’ healthy fruit puree in a pouch has been introduced in the United States within the past year and from my experience, it is sure to come as a breath of fresh air to parents who can’t get their children to snack on fresh fruits, or even for your significant other who still turn their nose up at an apple.
The Peter Rabbit Organics pouches are super convenient for busy parents who want to give the kids something to snack on while riding in the car without having to clean up a huge mess that has been sloshing around for the last twenty miles, packs perfectly in lunch boxes, diaper bags, and purses, and provides a little fun with their snack as they squeeze, squish, and slurp from the pouch. It also has a no-choke cap, specifically designed for little ones who like to experiment with putting everything in their mouths just to see what happens.
The Peter Rabbit Organics pouches come in three different flavors–strawberry and banana, mango, banana, and orange, and apple and grape. What’s great about these is that the words on the front of the pouch are the true ingredients; there is no artificial flavoring or an extensive list of chemicals to get the puree the color or taste it is; it is simply and delightfully organic fruit that is completely healthy. There isn’t even water or fillers, making it more nutritious and ensuring that you are getting all of the nutrients your body needs from it.
We definitely enjoyed this snack in my house. My first thought when trying it for the first time was that it really was fruit I was tasting–the real fruit you would pick up and bite into, but in a puree that I could slurp and because I have a dental condition that makes it so that I cannot bite into or chew extremely hard or chewy foods, eating fresh fruits that are generally hard, such as apples, is out of the question, so this was a great way for me to enjoy my fruit and not aggravate my teeth. And yes, I’m a grown woman, so Peter Rabbit Organics are not just for the kiddos. In fact, I was only able to enjoy one of the fruit puree pouches because within three days my partner had went through the six pouches we had. While I had been excited to make a sorta-kinda Italian ice with a few of the pouches, an idea I completely stole from one of my favorite blogs, Momspective, I didn’t have the time to do so because they were gone before I realized ‘Oh yeah, I can make an Italian ice treat!’
Needless to say, these pouches were a huge hit and a phenomenal source of fruit for the entire family.
Betty Crocker is in the process of putting together the Casseroles & Slow Cooker issue of their magazine and while it won’t be available until December 29th, we have some pretty intimate details about the issue and also a sneak peak at what could very well be the cover of the magazine.
The Casseroles & Slow Cooker issue of Betty Crocker Magazine will contain a whopping 120 new and delicious recipes, including 32 quick-prep casseroles and hearty slow cooker recipes that allow you to fix it and forget it, including Chili Mole, Easy Beef Short Rib Supper, and Beef and Barley Soup. It will also include some great tasting side dish casseroles like Roasted Cauliflower and Carrots with Asiago and Orange, as well as Brie Mashed Potatoes. But the part of the magazine that always gets my mouth watering are the desserts and you can expect to see recipes for sweets like Raspberry-Pear Granola Crisp, Caramel-Coffee Fondue (OMG yum!), and Ginger Orange Pound Cake.
I am so super excited about this issue because not only am I anticipating some wild and crazy baking in this house as soon as I get those recipes for the desserts, but also because my partner is a huge lover of comfort foods and one of his favorite dishes is chili. I would love to make him a chili that is a little different than what we normally have.
Betty Crocker is also deciding what cover to go with on this issue. The three covers that are up for deliberation are below. Which one is your favorite? Which goes better with the ‘Casseroles & Slow Cooker’ title of the issue?
My pick was for number one because of purely the dish the food is seen in. When I think of casseroles, I tend to think of just-out-of-the-oven, eat-it-in-your-pajamas kind of comfort food.
What cover do your prefer? Do you have any personal casserole or slow cooker recipes you’d like to share? If so, feel free to contact me with the recipe (and also a picture, if you can!) of the dish and you just may see it in pop up in Woman Tribune’s recipe section!
And don’t forget to mark your calendars for December 29 when Betty Crocker’s Casseroles & Slow Cooker issue will be on sale!
Someone made the very grave mistake of telling Jon Gosselin that he could have a career of his own. Not only that, but someone put the idea in his head that he could even have his own reality show! A Gosselin insider recently divulged to E! News: “Jon has a lot of things going on now with his career. Of course his main concern is his children, but he is focusing on his private and professional life. He is looking into some major international endorsement deals and it looks like he is going to have his own show.”
TLC have no comment on Jon’s supposedly-upcoming new reality show, but if they’re smart they will stay as far away from this ticking time bomb as possible. Didn’t anyone ever clue Mr. Gosselin in on the fact that he’s only a celebrity because he has cute kids? Those eight children are the only reason why people even started watching Jon and Kate Plus 8 in the first place; well, that and because we as a population get some sort of sick thrill out of watching two adults try to survive in a house of eight children. The way Jon has been conducting himself lately (cue the fact that he had a hard-partying, 22-year-old girlfriend before the ink dried on his divorce papers) really doesn’t warrant Jon a solo reality show other than some washed up show plot that is reserved for has-beens of the entertainment industry. MTV or VH1 should have something in mind for him and after about three episodes it will be canceled because when you think Jon Gosselin, you think douche bag and while some people may be interested in seeing the trainwreck attempt to ride on the coattails of a successful family-friendly show, it won’t last.
During Friday night’s conversational panel at Comic-Con that featured celebrated filmmakers Peter Jackson and James Cameron, they revealed that they might be revisiting some older projects of theirs now that 3D technology is becoming more widely used in theaters.
With his experience with the new and much-anticipated 3D film Avatar, James Cameron said that working on the film prompted him to look back on another big-budget, special-effects project and give it a 3D makeover. The 1997 film that held the attention of countless audiences and became a movie that stayed in the hearts and minds of every person who saw it, Titanic, will be “dimensionalized.”
I, for one, am super excited to see if this pans out and will flock to the theaters to see the indestructible ship destruct right before my eyes!
Peter Jackson said he would also consider going 3D with his Lord of the Rings trilogy, but also said that due to the current economic climate, studios are viewing the cost of adapting films to 3D technology very skeptically. But for all you Lord of the Rings fans out there who would go crazy for a 3D view of the films, Cameron anticipates studios will change their minds about adapting films once Avatar arrives.
Would you go see Titanic in 3D? What scenes would you most like to see adapted to 3D?
It isn’t often that you find a toy that is not just a plush, cuddly companion, but also doubles as an interactive and hilariously fun plaything, but Smooshies has done exactly that and thanks to One2One Network, I was able to try Smooshies for myself!
From the first time I took my Smooshies out of the package I was impressed with it. I of course played around with it first before handing it off to my stepdaughters to play with (what, you thought I was going to let them have all the fun?) Even my partner took a turn with it, interchanging its parts and playing around with it; it was definitely fun for the whole family.
In my opinion, what makes Smooshies so appealing is the fact that it never has to remain the same plush toy you had before. Smooshies comes with interchangeable eyes, mouths, arms, legs, and even other attachments like wings and hair. All of these extra attachments are sold exclusively at JoAnn. Attachments are sold for $1.99 and Smooshies bodies are $5.99 so these toys are very affordable and very, very fun! The possibilities for your Smooshie and the fun you can have with it are endless.
It may feel like summer has just started, but school will be back in session before you know it and for all of those college-bound, this means gearing up for not just a school year, but for a new way of life. For many, this will be the first time you’re living away from home which can be exciting, scary, and most of all resonate the question “Where am I getting the money for everything I need?” in your head repeatedly not only while getting ready for campus life, but throughout your college stay.
Luckily, Sears CampusReady has you covered! Sears knows that dorm rooms must feel and function like home, because it is going to be your home for the next school year. They have put together a completely interactive website to get your head in the game and successfully (and don’t forget efficiently!) get all of your school and dorm room shopping done with as much ease as possible!
They have a completely interactive checklist so you can keep track of everything that you have bought and it also prints out so you can take it with you on in-store excursions and still keep track of everything you have and everything else you need. They are also making shopping easier by giving you a shop by need option, making it easy to point, click, and buy whatever you need for eating, sleeping, cleaning, and playing! They have also put together interactive photos of dorm rooms to give you ideas for decorating and the functionality of your own dorm room; and if you spot something in their examples that you just have to have, just click on the + image near the object and you can purchase it right from that page!
If you’re one of the many college-bound, or a parent of the college-bound, your mind may be racing trying to think of what can be done in order to have the money to purchase everything you’ll need for the school year. Sears is also one step ahead of you there. They have put together a page of tips and tricks on creating a budget–and sticking to it. It’s important to spend wisely, so consider what you’re spending your money on and if possible, look for good deals. Some words of advice Sears gives you is to hold potluck parties instead of going out and spending money on decadent dinners that will make your bank account sad. You can also buy books used instead of new; for the most part they are exactly the same and you’re most likely not going to use your school books after the class is over so why buy it new? For the same reason, find a student in need when you’re finished using the book and make sure it gets a good home; even the simplest of tasks can make Mother Nature happy. Instead of spending money on taxis or buses, rise your bike; it’s free and a great source of exercise. Sears also give college students great tips that will save their financial future as they get older; tips on how to protect your credit!
Sears has also come out with re-loadable gift cards; available in Sears and Kmart stores that are distributed to both the student and parent. The parent can load funds onto the card either in store or online to help their student financially.
Sears has also created CampusReady on Facebook that helps you get campus ready–Facebook style.
The Facebook application includes a Gift Center where funds can be loaded onto the Sears gift cards to help find the perfect products for college. There is also a dorm room designer that lets you completely design your own dorm room in 3D before you even step foot on campus. There’s also a fun treat called the Roommate Matchup that lets you see what you and your new roommate have in common…or what you don’t have in common!
Sears’ attention to detail ensures that each and every soon-to-be college student is campus ready for when they first step foot on campus and take in the new surroundings of their new home away from home.![]()
Joey Potter Katie Holmes appeared on So You Think You Can Dance? last night with a song-and-dance tribute to Judy Garland. While we can assume that she received the opportunity to perform on the show due to her failed attempt at theater, her performance was quite boring in my opinion.
While she sang and that was fine, I thought that a show dedicated to dancing and even has the word dance in the title would warrant some actual dancing on Katie Holmes’ part. However, being carried around a stage does not equal dancing.
What did you think of her performance?
As soon as I saw the picture for this cheesy vegetable risotto, my mouth started watering. It looks absolutely delicious and is sure to make a great meal, either for lunch, dinner, or a part of dinner, or a snack that you can heat up throughout the day.
You will need:
- 1 tablespoon butter or margarine
- 2 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil
- 1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
- 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
- 1 cup uncooked Arborio rice
- 1 carton (32 oz) reduced-sodium chicken broth (4 cups) warmed
- 1 bag (12 oz) frozen broccoli, carrots, cauliflower & cheese sauce
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse ground pepper
1. In 10-inch nonstick skillet, heat butter and oil over medium-high heat until butter is melted. Add onion and garlic; cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until onion is tender.
2. Stir in rice. Cook, stirring occasionally, until edges of kernels are translucent. Stir in 1/2 cup of the broth. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until broth is absorbed.
3. Reduce heat to medium. Stir in 1 1/2 cups of the broth; cook uncovered about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until broth is absorbed. Stir in another 1 cup of the broth; cook uncovered about 5 minutes longer, stirring frequently, until broth is absorbed.
4. Stir in remaining 1 cup broth. Cook about 8 minutes, stirring frequently, until rice is tender and mixture is creamy.
5. Meanwhile, cook frozen vegetables. Stir vegetables, Parmesan cheese, parsley and pepper in rice mixture.
This is a guest post by Bill Hardekopf, CEO of LowCards.com.
The arbitration clause, an important but often overlooked provision in credit card agreements, is now being legally challenged and could be banned by the proposed Consumer Protection Agency. How this is resolved could result in higher legal costs for credit card issuers and, likely, higher rates and fees for cardholders.
Credit card issuers use arbitration as a way to collect disputed debt from cardholders. According to Chase, they use arbitration when an account has been charged-off after six months of non-payment and when the customer has provided a written notice not to call them and wants to deal only with a third party representative. Chase says that accounts in arbitration represent 1.5% of its accounts in default.
When cardholders apply for a credit card, arbitration is mentioned, and can be easily lost in the fine print. Some issuers give cardholders 30 days to reject arbitration, but this is a point that is probably overlooked or forgotten by many applicants. As an example, here is Discover’s arbitration clause:
“The Cardmember Agreement provides that we may choose to resolve a claim relating to your account by binding arbitration, in which case, you will not have the right to have that claim resolved by a judge or jury and you will not have the right to participate in a class action in court or arbitration. You may reject the arbitration provision with respect to your new account within 30 days after receiving your card.”
The issuers want disputes handled by arbitration because it holds down their legal costs by settling out of court. The system also works in their favor. According to The National Arbitration Forum, in debt collection matters, the lender usually always prevails, almost 94% of the time in arbitration and 96% in court.
The arbitration clause has been part of the credit card contract for years. However, last week the Minnesota Attorney General filed a lawsuit alleging that the National Arbitration Forum (NAF) was too closely tied to creditors and showed a bias towards them in arbitration between consumers and credit card companies. The Consumer Protection Agency, proposed by the Obama Administration, is also considering a review and ban of mandatory arbitration clauses as part of its push for wider consumer protections.
As a result, two major firms, the American Arbitration Association and National Arbitration Forum, have withdrawn from arbitrating consumer credit disputes. Now, there is some uncertainty about how new disputes will be handled. Other companies could step in, but that will take time. It may also be difficult to fill the void left by the two large firms.
If arbitration is banned, the credit card issuer and cardholder will have to settle disputes in court. This could be costly for both sides and cause a number of lawsuits. The other possibility is a reformed arbitration system that will be more friendly towards consumers, allowing them to choose the location and forum and give them the opportunity to appeal.
“Legal disputes is another issue that could increase the cost of lending for issuers. As we have seen, when their costs and risks increase, issuers usually pass these on to cardholders in the form of higher rates and fees,” says Bill Hardekopf, CEO of LowCards.com and author of The Complete Credit Card Guidebook. “The good news is that it may help cardholders who have legitimate disputes with issuers.”
- – - – - – - – - -
LowCards.com simplifies the confusion of shopping for credit cards. It is a free, independent website that helps consumers easily compare credit cards in a variety of categories such as lowest rates, rewards, rebates, balance transfers and lowest introductory rates. It also gives an unbiased ranking and review for each card. The LowCards.com Complete Credit Card Index is the most objective and comprehensive resource on the Internet which allows consumers to compare rates for all 1260 credit cards offered in this country. Created by Hampton & Associates, the company has been analyzing the credit card industry and supplying objective websites on various consumer expenses for eight years.
Hope you don’t have any plans you can’t cancel for tomorrow because Kmart Bluelight Specials are back!
If you remember Kmart’s Bluelight Specials from the past, you know that there are unbelievable savings to be had–in fact, there will be over 40 great Bluelight Specials throughout the day in-store as well as other great offers that will be available online at Kmart.com.
Since we moved into our apartment (over a year ago!) my partner and I have been using our bedroom as more of a junk room than anything else. It is the neglected room of the place that has never been organized. The entire room consists of piles of junk that we have yet to put in a place and because we don’t have a washer/dryer hookup and never seem to make enough time to do laundry at a laundromat or a family member’s house, of course piles of clothes have stacked up around the room. All of that considered combined with the fact that our bed is just two stacked mattresses on the floor, and you can pretty much guess what I would be looking for during Kmart’s Bluelight Special sale.
I would love to get our bedroom cleaned up once and for all, maybe get some cute containers for knickknacks and other doodads that are taking up space in the bedroom, some bedside tables, and a sturdy (but cheap) bed frame would be nice. Kmart Bluelight Special prices are being put on virtually everything in the store from patio furniture, to grills, to jewelry, so hopefully they will have some things that will make cleaning up my bedroom and turning it into an actual bedroom a lot easier!
You are definitely not going to want to miss the Kmart Bluelight Special, so clear your schedule for tomorrow and save on things you need! Also be sure to follow Kmart on Twitter @kmartdealsnnews.
Next Page »
