I Thought I Was So Cool When.... #FTSF

   Usually I don't do the blog hop things where you write about a specific topic. But this one.... I just couldn't help myself. Today I am linking up @ Janine's Confessions of a Mommyaholic on her blog hop called Finish This Sentence Friday. I think everyone can relate to this sentence for sure.

I Thought I Was So Cool When...

   ...I went bike riding with my kids the other day. I got a new bike last week (after about 10 years of not riding one), with a pretty pink helmet (I must be safe... or at least to make sure my kids wear one too), and a cart hooked to the back that holds the baby. I was so excited to go bike riding every day, feeling the wind in my hair, getting some much needed exercise. 8 days straight I went out on the bike. I started feeling really good about myself, I felt as though I was loosing weight and looking good. I was feeling confident (which hasn't happened for a while). I thought I was so cool, riding around town on my pretty new bike with the baby in the back. Then it happened...

   My husband decided to take a picture of me on my bike. That ruined every bit of confidence that I had left. I've had three children which have each taken their turn to destroy my body entirely. I have also somehow become a huge dork. I looked so goofy with that bright pink helmet on that I didn't even shed a tear yesterday when I "accidentally" ran over it with the car. It really was an accident but I think it might have been a subconscious thing. =)

   So I am sharing the picture... or at least the best one out of the bunch. As you can see I will need to do a years worth of bike riding to get into shape. CJ loves the new bike so much that he decided to nap during our ride. I just love how we can think we are so cool. I don't care what people think of me, so I will continue to ride my pretty bike, and wear my pretty pink (semi-smashed) helmet, and I will ride into the sunset!

F is for Freshfoods™ Cook-n-Blend Baby Food Maker!

   Of course CJ loves just about any kind of baby food, that's the joy of not having the delicate tongue palette that we adults have. But, when I make my own baby food I rest assured that he is getting all of the good nutrients he needs without all the extra stuff like the artificial colors and sweeteners. So when Moms Meet contacted me to try the Freshfoods™ Cook-n-Blend Baby Food Maker, I couldn't resist!

   This thing is absolutely amazing! It lets you make your baby's meals in two simple steps. You can steam the food using the steam basket provided (which also comes with a second basket insert for separating the foods), and then you blend using the same container you just cooked the food in! No extra appliances needed, no cooking on the stove. 2 steps and your done. It's also dishwasher safe, so when your done you just pop it into the dishwasher. This all sounded too good to be true when I heard about it so I just had to try it myself and tell you all about it.

Great Recipes

 

   The Freshfoods™ Cook-n-Blend Baby Food Maker also comes with a book full of great recipes to try, not just for the baby, but for the whole family to enjoy (like their smoothie recipes). I tried the Apple and Pear Puree. It seemed quick and easy and I already had all the ingredients (apples and pears)! All I had to do was peel, core, and chop the apples and pears. Then I placed them in the steaming basket and added water to the steamer. Next I turned it on.... and waited....

 

   For this recipe (recipe cook time varies depending on water amount added) it had to cook for 17 minutes. I read my email, checked my facebook and wa la! It started beeping to tell me it was done, how smart is that? It really didn't seem to take long at all. Next I added the cooked apples and pears to the blender using the handy dandy spatula they included. Even though the apples and pears were piping hot, the spatula made it so my hands didn't get burnt in the process. Next I turned on the blend mode by turning the dial. You can choose from 2 different settings depending on how smooth you want the puree. I chose to really puree it since CJ isn't eating anything chunky yet.

   This made at least 2 servings of baby food for CJ! After I was done I started wishing that I had the Freshfoods™ Fill & Freeze Pops or the Freshfoods™ Stackable Cubes so that I could put this away and have a great way to serve CJ! You can check out the baby food maker and all of its accessories by visiting the NUK®/Freshfoods™ website. You can also get a $20 off coupon for this baby food maker or a $1 off coupon for any of the accessories by clicking here.

 

   So you know I had to taste it myself, just to make sure it was good enough for my little man! It was delicious! I do not like baby food generally, but this actually tasted wonderful. As for CJ's verdict...

 

   I'd say he gave it 2 thumbs up! Try it yourself today!

 

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from  the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms MeetSM blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinions on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.

 

 

 

E is for Elephants

 

   The image above is of CJ's first stuffed animal. His elephant. When I was about 8 months pregnant I started putting together the nursery. My first thought went to my other children and what their nursery themes were.

 

   When I was 3 months pregnant with Bryson, I found a teddy bear at the flea market. I fell in love with the bear and just knew that this bear would be perfect for the child I had growing inside of me. His nursery theme became Care Bears, to go along with the bear. Lo and behold this child is now 8 years old and to this day, sleeps with his "bear bear" every night.

 

   When I was pregnant with Avery, I had seen a jungle theme in a magazine. I knew immediately I had to have it. So everything in Averys nursery had a jungle theme or at least monkeys. On his first birthday, someone bought him a stuffed monkey that he dubbed "monk monk". So original I know. He is about to be 6 and still sleeps with this stuffed monkey every night.

 

   When I became pregnant with CJ, I knew I had to come up with something unique. Suddenly I started seeing elephants every where I went. I didn't even like elephants that much before, but now I was obsessed. We bought every baby item that had elephants on it. Onesies, outfits, the playpen, mobiles, blankets, bouncy seat, you name it we got it. I made it my mission to find a stuffed elephant for him to have throughout the years like his brothers. I searched in every store we went to with no luck. Then I found it. We were walking through the Mall one day. I was about 8 1/2 months pregnant at the time. We were walking past Macy's and I saw it right up front on a rack with baby clothes and baby books. It was not on my budget (I paid nearly 30$ for it) but I didn't care, it was too perfect. Its soft and plush, colorful and the perfect size. CJ loves his elephant and I hope he always will.

 

   Have you or your children ever had a special stuffed animal?