My husband rocks the grill.  It’s not really a secret – he’s great at it and nobody minds eating his cooking.  Ever.

And, while my cooking skills are pretty good too, he definitely has me beat with the whole “grilling” thing.  Yeh, I don’t grill.  Something about little shooty-darty-flames and my attachment to my eyebrows.  Or, maybe it’s just because I recognize that I like catching marshmallows on FIRE for my s’mores so me cooking other food over an open fire might result in… flame throwers.

I digress.

Anyhow, he’s great at grilling.  And, I happen to know a few of his secrets:

Seasoned salt.  Worcestershire sauce.  And, a really bad-A apron.

Yep, that about covers it.

We really like Morton Season All Seasoned Salt… ESPECIALLY with THIS COUPON.  And, the rest basically goes like this:

SUPER AWESOME BURGERS

Mix 1 lb ground beef, 1 tsp Morton Season All Seasoned Salt, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, and 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper in a bowl.  Divide and pat out into patties.

Grill.

Serve.

Walk around like the awesomeness that you are as everyone inhales your burgers and wish they were you.

You can see more recipes for the Morton Salt Season-All Salt here.

And, if you’re really bored, you can see photos of our shopping trip for Season All Salt on Whrrl.

This was a compensated post for Collective Bias on behalf of Morton Salt. However, this is an honest and accurate depiction of what I think about this product and was not influenced by the compensation.

Welcome back!

It all began with a simple Facebook status update:

“Is seriously thinking about packing some bags and running away (kids included) for a couple of weeks.”

Which, suddenly became the beginning of a very impromptu road trip.

To Michigan.

With 5 kids between 2 mothers and all of our stuff crammed into one minivan.

For 12 hours straight.

In ONE day, we decided that not only would we go, but we would leave at 5:30 AM THE. NEXT. MORNING.

For the kids (all 5 and under), we packed toys, books, and snacks.

For us ( mothers)… I packed this:

–A boxed set of cards made specifically for ROAD TRIPS!  In each snazzy box are cards with thought provoking questions, trivia, and games to play while on the road.  So, after a few hours straight of catching up and talking, we were both ready to go through the box for a change of pace.

The Box Girls ingeniously designs this box (and others) to provide hours of fun, no matter where you are – and it definitely gave us a little something to do on our trek TO Michigan.  While our kids didn’t play along this time (because we had a hard enough time explaining that YES, WE ARE STILL GOING TO MICHIGAN BUT WE REALLY DO HAVE TO STOP REAL QUICK TO GET GAS/GO THROUGH TOLL BOOTHS/ETC), it’s a great deck to play with kids approximately ages 8 and up (although I know a few kids that are younger and would get the gist of the games and questions).

If you’d like to check it out for yourself (or are just curious as to what it’s all about and would like to see some sample cards), you can go HERE.
Pictures of trip to come

Here are some lovely things people have had to say about Simply Fun – A Collection Of Simply Fun Activities For 2-3 Year Olds (ebook):

You can buy your copy HERE.

“Thank you so much for sending it to me!  We printed it last night and I have already begun to mark activities I want to do with our 2 1/2 year old.  As a former kindergarten teacher (now SAHM) I love finding things that are educational and promote memory making with my kids.  It looks great!”   – Melissa

“I love the book its amazing. My family and I are enjoying the various activities. “  – Latanya

“Thank you so much for sending your Simply Fun Ebook.  Liv is a little young for the activities yet, but I enjoyed reading it and can’t wait until I can try out some of the fun idea.”  – Carrie

“Thank you so much for this ebook!  I love that the ideas are so easy and use everyday, inexpensive materials.”  – Charity

“Thanks so much for that Ashley. What a great collection of ideas you’ve put together. My little one is only 10 months old, but I’ve put it in my parenting folder for when she’s a bit older. It’s so great to get ideas from other mums, because so often I just come up blank!  Cheers!”   – Emma

I’ve been trying to pour my energy into something … productive.

SIMPLY FUN – A collection of simply fun activities for your 2-3 year old

LINK HERE.

And, with that said, I’m giving away FREE COPIES to the first 30 people anyone who responds to this by comment or email (today only).  (Although, if you don’t get in with the first 30, you can still buy your own copy for only $2!)

UPDATE:  Due to the GREAT and quick response, I will be giving away FREE copies of this ebook to anyone who responds today, by midnight CST.  (Although, please give me a bit to get it to you – like, between nap times and such – since I’m sending these out individually!)

UPDATE 2:  This giveaway is now CLOSED.  If you would still like to receive a copy, they are available for purchase at only $2!  Those who purchase ebooks should receive them almost immediately.  If you are waiting on your free ebook from the giveaway, please be patient.  I’m sending them out in manageable clusters during my breaks and have sent out approximately 200 so far.  If you absolutely can’t wait, you can get your copy immediately for only $2

As I sit here, nestled into the corner of my porch swing with a glass of iced raspberry tea, I imagine what I hope my life to look like in the next few years as we scramble to “start over” in so many ways.

Images float through my consciousness to the tinkling of wind chimes in the background.  I imagine a charming white home, filled with unique little touches that would leave no need for a name plaque, because it would so obviously be ours.  I imagine a collection of acreage, gently rolling with lush shades of green and speckled with wildflowers, gently dancing in the breeze.  I imagine a handful of chickens, maybe a few goats, and a few other random “farm” animals.  I imagine a small garden, lush with color and a basket at the edge filled with pickings for that night’s dinner.  I imagine a swing hanging from a tree nearby, where the girls are laughing and giggling as we try our best to swing them “Higher, higher!”  I imagine a garden tub where I can escape to worlds of fantasy in my very own thoughts while Steven works on a website that’s been gnawing at his imagination.

I imagine.

But, then I pause and wonder if that’s all it is.  I wonder if I’ll have a place to call my own again, or if our chance has already come and gone.

Recently, while browsing a website, I came across a book titled Be Your Own House Contractor by Carl Heldmann.  They offered to send me a copy to review, and after pondering the idea for a moment, I took it.  I realized that while the book may not be anything I’d use in the near future (unless I can construct a house with a hot glue gun and some lace), it would definitely appeal to a wide range of readers.

I thumb through the pages again and again, and suddenly the dream of my own home doesn’t feel so far away any more.

According to this book, you can save 25% on the cost of a house without lifting a hammer.  (Okay, now you have my attention.  Have you SEEN my nail-driving attempts?  Not pretty.)

In Be Your Own House Contractor, Carl Heldmann takes you through the steps, step-by-step – From where to start to financing to finding your suppliers.  It makes me excited again.  It’s an easy read – no technicalities that non-construction folk wouldn’t understand.  And, while it doesn’t go into detail with house plans, it DOES offer diagrams and lists and other resources that would definitely come in handy.  I love that it offers advice, things to look for, when hiring subcontractors so you can avoid being hoodwinked.  It’s always good to have an idea of what’s going on, even when you don’t know EXACTLY what’s going on.

I’ve seen the books that promise to tell you how to build your own home on a dime.  And, for obvious reasons, I find myself being drawn to those books, but they loose me soon after the front page so often.  Many times, they are filled with information in a language that seems like if you can understand the language, you probably didn’t need the book in the first place!  This book, though, it doesn’t stress me out.

No, it makes me just want to kick my feet up and keep dreaming of the possibilities…

Recently, I received a great book, Raw Energy by Stephanie Tourles. As spring approaches, I find myself looking forward more and more to fresh fruits and vegetables and how we can incorporate them into our daily diet. Unfortunately, when it comes down to daily eating, I tend to come up blank with ideas. The thought of carrot sticks and peanut butter and celery with ranch tend to lose their luster after a week straight of snacking on them. My family is constantly looking for fun, new ideas for fresh foods.

In Tourles’ book, she admits that although she doesn’t incorporate a fully raw diet (think: meats), she does believe there is something great about consuming fresh snacks – fruits, vegetables, grains, etc. And, with full-color pictures, she demonstrates how to make 124 different snacks that are sure to quench any particular craving one might have.

The idea is that by cooking many of our nutrient-rich foods, we destroy many of the nutrients that make them so great. Tourles believes that while some heating (up to 120 degrees Farenheit) is okay, other should be avoided as much as possible (like, for snacking).

For me, my biggest weakness (when it comes to foods) are sweets. Actually, it’s the “dessert” section of the menu that I look at first when going out to eat!

So, I was incredibly excited that Stephanie Tourles included healthy raw desserts in her book. So far, my favorite “dessert” is a rich chocolate treat made with raw cocoa, agave nectar, raw pecans, and raw cashew butter. So yummy!

Other great recipes include smoothies and juices, cold soups, dehydrated goods, and other appetizers and desserts.

I really recommend this book to anyone who is considering a “healthy lifestyle.” This book is NOT a cookbook that includes any sort of raw meats – it’s mostly raw fruits, vegetables, grains, and nut butters. It’s a great way to get out of the “raw carrot and peanut butter” rut that many of us fall into and I look forward using it throughout the summer as more and more foods come into season.

*DISCLOSURE: As with all of my reviews, this review reflects my honest opinions and thoughts.  Review material was supplied by author/company in return for my honest review*

Congratulations to “Amy!”  – We have sent you an email with details on how to claim your prize!

Thank you to First Toddle and everyone who entered, it is such a great prize!

Because of the tremendous response we received, we want to show our appreciation to all the other Giveaway entrants and all Bosssanders.com followers by temporarily increasing the discount to 25% off!

We’re having a giveaway worth over $149.95!

What you can win:

An entire First – Toddle Set which includes (valued at $149.95):

• Primary Walker
• Play Floor Mat
• End Activity Table
• Net Mesh Tent/Crawl-Thru (Below)
• Sports Ball Set
• Mini-Basketball Backboard/Hoop/Net
• Mini-Soccer/Hockey Goal
• Mini-Hockey Stick/Golf Club
• Large Soccer/Hockey Net (Below)
• Carry-All Box
• Soft Stuffed Toys (2)
• Soft Velcro Straps (6) to Attach Other Toys
• The First Toddle^® Child Development Guide

The winner chooses whether they’d like the Boy or Girls set.

For more information, check out my review and what we thought:  HERE.

How To WIN:

Entering is easy!

To enter, simply leave a comment* on THIS post.

But, why stop there?  For more entries, simply do any (or all) of the following and coming back here to tell me you’ve done it:

• Tweet about this giveaway and include the link back to this post.  Be sure to use the hashtag #firsttoddle in your tweet.
• Facebook about this giveaway and include the link back to this post.
• Write a blog post about this giveaway and link back.
• Check out their website and answer this bit of trivia in a comment to this post:  Can you name ONE of the many awards First Toddle has received

Deadlines and other important information:

A winner will be RANDOMLY drawn April 4, 2010.  Although the drawing will be random, you can improve your chances (see How To Win).

**In your comments, please be sure I have a way to contact you (email, etc.)

There’s some new excitement in our home…

And, it’s something easily (and willingly) shared…

It lets us play indoors as we wait for the sun to shine a little brighter…

It takes many, many shapes – including a soccer goal, basketball goal, play tent, and jungle gym/walker.

Who needs the ball, really?  It’s so much fun without it!

“Mom, can we both me (g)oalies? Pwease?” – Lorelei (age 2)

We recently received a new “toy” on the market called FirstToddle.  Beyond hitting her sister upside the head with the doll she didn’t want to share, I wasn’t sure how well a toy – any toy – would span their ages and attention (without being used as a weapon).  FirstToddle EXCEEDED my expectations.

This “jungle gym” of sorts assembled easily and needed no tools, whatsoever.  It clicks into place, making setup a breeze.

Although the age range calls for 3 months to 3 + years, I really think it could even go beyond – infants would love to lay on the mat (with the overhead bars shortened) and the included dangling animals swaying overhead.  And, children will surely grow with a “fort” that transforms into  a “soccer goal” or “basketball goal” in the matter of seconds!  My 10 month old absolutely adored every possible configuration and broke out into a contagious grin every time we put it in the center of the room.  Lorelei, who will be 3 in a few weeks, had fun playing beside Aurora.  Every new position I arranged the pieces in was her “new favorite.”  They nursed their “babies” back to health in a “fort,” played basketball, played goalie, became gymnasts, and practiced walking.

As a mother, MY favorite thing about this toy is how simple it is to put together, but also that it’s limited ONLY by our imagination.  I also appreciated that everything I needed came INCLUDED!

Also, FirstToddle has a special mat, which is just genius!  The corners of the play center fit snugly into the mat, keeping the pieces from sliding around, which means that even the most unsteady 10 month old (mine) won’t slide head first as she reaches forward, trying to grasp the bar.

FirstToddle was not only entertaining for both of my children – but, it made my daughter (Aurora) feel secure enough to practice standing and “cruising,” and provided me with the relief that there were no sharp edges and everything was easy to hold on to and grasp, preventing so many falls!

If you ask us, this toy was a SLAM DUNK!