2011
Smart Home: Morning Routine, Searching for Tips to Establish School Day Mornings
A morning routine. I love it. I get very type-A at times and like to have things scheduled out to the last minute. Enter 2 children into that dream and it essentially flies out the window. With my near 5 year old, Isabella, a routine is necessary, it’s just not as precisely followed as I […]
Smart Food: S’Mores, the Perfect Vacation Treat!
What about a S’more isn’t to like? Yummy graham cracker, soft sweet marshmallow and chocolate… mouth is watering now. When I think of S’mores I think of summer evenings growing up in Long Island. Weekends typically included at least one night of my parents grilling on the Weber. The very best part, and my fondest memory, […]
Smart Home: Dinner Gets Tough, Sharing tips with Ragú® Mom’s the Word
Dinnertime doesn’t always have to be disastrous. Finding ways to encourage a positive dining experience is pretty much every Smart Mama’s dream. If adding a seatbelt to your preschool/elementary aged child’s chair would be appropriate, I bet half of you would use it no time. Or if every child was so excited to try the new vegetable […]
Smart Home: The Mom-nook, by Guest Poster & Interior Decorator Joanne Palumbo
This week I’m honored to have Joanne, interior decorator extraordinare, as well as high school classmate, provide some great tips to you on creating a mom-nook, instead of the man-cave we dreadfully close our eyes to. I am so honored to be guest blogging on one of my favorite and most useful blogs! Thank […]
Smart Home: Table Manners, Do you or don’t you?
Elbows, elbows off the table; this is not a horses table! Ever hear that one? Ha. I can’t even count with all the fingers and toes in the world the times my mother recited that to me. Ok, so fast forward a few years and here I am, reciting the darn chant to my 4 […]
Smart Cause: Avon Walks for Breast Cancer
I’ll never forget the fall of 2009, it was the 1st time I witnessed the devastating effect breast cancer has on women of all ages. On September 15 of that year I learned that a high school classmate, Jennifer McHugh Evans, just 33 at the time, had lost her courageous battle to breast cancer. She […]
Smart Food: Food Safety, Temperature Reading is Crucial!
Whether you are cooking up some burgers, chicken breasts, or pork tenderloin, it is crucial that you adhere to the recommended guidelines for meat temperature. Carelessness with this could result in a health hazard to those who would be eating your wonderful cuisine. According to the USDA, “Color is not a reliable indicator of doneness. […]
Smart Product: CPSC Recall Roundup, YouTube Video Sharing Recent Recalls
There are many ways to stay on top of recent product recalls issued by the Consumer Protection Safety Commission (CPSC.) As a Smart Mama, it is your responsibility to be aware of products that are potentially dangerous in the home of your children. Easier said than done, when you’re a soccer mom with about a […]
Smart Home: Stay Organized in 10 Minutes with #10MinuteTackle
What can you do in ten minutes? I’m not necessarily suggesting the amount of times you can hop on one foot or juggle three balls with just your right hand. I’m thinking about in and around your house. If you suddenly lost Internet connection and your smart phone went dead (yes, I hear the gasp) […]
Hormel Chili with Beans Dip
My opportunity as a Hormel Extended Family Blogger is inspiring a little Iron Chef for Smarty Pants Mamas this week! Let’s try using an ingredient that is often a pantry staple. It’s used “as-is.” It’s used in appetizers, entrees and more. Think of ways you have or could use it. So, this week I put […]
Smart Product: MamaMemoirs.com, w/giveaway
We thought we would always remember the special moments of pregnancy. We’ve seen beautiful hardcover journals and more to document the daily happenings of our pregnancy. We swore we would take out the book, find a pen and write (in our best handwriting of course) our pregnancy happenings. I’ve tried to, but it never happens. We’ve called the […]
Smart Food: Lawhorn’s Signature Seasoning
Lawhorn’s Signature Seasoning This family owned and operated business (lawhorns.net) has put together a delicious seasoning blend perfect for chicken, steak, pork, seafood and pretty much anything else that would appreciate a great bold flavor! Believe me, we tried it! I began with 4 chicken legs placed in a 9×13 glass dish. I sprinkled the seasoning liberally over each […]
Smart Mama Diaper Deals, Best Prices this Week!
Diaper Deals of the Week Want to know the best price for diapers by size? I have analyzed the per diaper costs of Pampers and Huggies on Amazon Mom. If you aren’t aware, Amazon Mom is a fairly new program by Amazon to help moms keep up with diaper demand. Diapers, and other baby needs […]
Staying Safe in the Meat Case
Food safety is important from the minute you walk into the grocer. Got meat? I know you do! From lean beef to juicy pork tenderloin, our carts get filled with these excellent sources of protein each week at the grocery. Some of us buy small portions and others buy the large value packs. Regardless the […]
Smart Home: Elevate The Everyday™ Summer Dining Sweepstakes, Hormel Foods
Hitting the grill this summer? We love to grill! Burger, dogs, chicken, pork…you name it! Now through August 5th you can enter The Elevate The Everyday™ Summer Dining Sweepstakes by Hormel Foods to win one of 3 great prizes! 13 winners will be selected and you could be the Grand Prize winner, enjoying a $500 […]
Chilaquiles Recipe, Guest Post by Karen Boykin of La Cabeza Grande
I welcome Karen Boykin of www.lacabezagrande.com as a guest writer this week! You may remember her delicious sounding suggestion of making Chilaquiles when I asked readers to suggest ways to use leftover taco meat. Her idea is a perfect use of pantry staples, that’s nutritious too! Karen plans on devoting part of her blog to […]
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Smart Home: Put Safety First this 4th of July!
As we all head to backyard barbecues and the beach this weekend we must remember to put safety 1st. Fireworks, including sparklers, are dangerous items that can very easily injure. Please take a moment to view this video made by the Consumer Protection Safety Commission (CPSC) on the dangers of fireworks. Please share this post with friends […]
Smart Home: Babies for Yum Caption Contest, My Photo is Worth 1000 Words!
Thanks to Plum Organics for sponsoring my post about fun kid photos and the stories behind them. Enter Plum’s “Babies for Yum Caption Contest” on Facebook and you could win a $100 gift card or Plum goodies. Just this morning Isabella wanted Cecilia to come play in her room. Unfortunately, the 7 week old isn’t […]
Smart Food: 4th of July, Celebrating Independence and Menu ideas!
It’s nearly the 4th of July. I can’t believe it! What does the 4th of July mean to you? A reason to BBQ, head to the beach and enjoy a day off? That’s the answer for many of us. Let’s try to remember on this 4th, the reason we celebrate – our independence! The parties, […]
Smart Homa: Cozi, Your Family Organizer!
[ad#Google in Content] I recently read a great article about Cozi.com, an online calendar and more. I had never heard of it. Have you? Cozi’s co-founder and CEO Robbie Cape, described in a guest post on TechSavvyMama.com, how his product was essential for dads wanting to stay in the loop and organized with family affairs. […]
Not-so Smart Product: 3 CPSC Product Recalls, including Target Circo Sandals, Rugby Pain & Britax Stroller Fever Drops, and
These are the Consumer Protection Safety Commission (CPSC) recalls that have been issued recently. As a reminder: In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines (which were incorporated into an industry voluntary standard in 1997) to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled in the neck and waist drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets or […]
5 Habits to Support Summer Learning
[ad#Google in Content] It’s summer. No excuses now. It’s time to kick back and relax. True as that may be, it is also time to keep up the learning at home! I’m not suggesting textbook or formal classes, just ways to sneak in some educational skills in between swimming lessons and afternoon movies! Here are […]
