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An Organized Handbag

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Cool It, Kids!

Outdoor play is essential to proper growth and development. We spend about two hours outside every day, even in the Texas summer. One of our favorite ways to stay cool when it's 100 degrees outside, is to play with a water table. It doesn't have to be a fancy one. You can fill a storage bin with water and add toys. Today we've been using our water animals set, plus funnels and scoops.

Safety is a huge issue with a water table. Children can drown in less than 2 inches of water, so never leave children alone near water. We empty the water table every time when we go inside. That keeps the birds and bugs out of the water, and waters the grass too!

Sometimes we'll add liquid detergent to make bubbles. Other times we'll add food coloring or a scent, like peppermint extract, to the water. The kids love to use the boat set too. We recently added a set of ducks, each one with a letter of the alphabet on the bottom. Other fun additions to water include aquarium rocks, moon sand, sponges, baby dolls, and dishes. What else might be fun in the water table?

Top Five Influences in a Child's Life

In the 1950s, this was the list of the top five influences in a child's life:

1. Parents/Home
2. Church
3. School
4. Friends
5. TV

Now, this is the list of the top five influences in a child's life:

1. Friends
2. TV
3. Parents/Home
4. School
5. Church

Comments?

Credit: Tony Zuniga, 2011

OMG Planet Weidknecht is on Twitter

Follow @Weidknecht

sigh, never say never, LOL

Friday Hops

Do You Spoil Your Pet?

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Cabo Chips

We eat a lot of tortilla chips in Texas. A lot. We eat them with salsa, guacamole, sour cream, queso (melted cheese), bean dip, you name it. We also use them in lots of recipes. I was thrilled to try Cabo Chips for a review. Finally, someone made a tortilla chip that is good for me. I was even more thrilled when I opened a whole case of them!

I put these chips to the daycare kid test, one of the most challenging tests of all. I opened a bag of the Original Flavor Cabo Chips, a white corn tortilla chip with just a hint of lime and soy sauce. Amazing, seven kids ate the entire bag of healthy, yummy chips in one sitting. Yes, even my picky kid.

They are crispy, fresh, and very delicious. The kids ate them without any type of dipping sauce and loved them. I loved them too. My picky kid even asked for more. Did I mention they are healthy?

 Later in the evening, I prepared a plate of the Blue Corn Cabo Chips with some salsa for dipping. The Blue Corn is flavored with sea salt and lime. I ate some without salsa to get a good taste of the tortilla chips and they are so good. I liked them even better than the White Corn Cabo Chips. 

My husband heard me snacking and appeared in the kitchen. He discovered leftover guacamole in the fridge and sat down to try them too. Suddenly, a teenage boy appeared from his dungeon, um bedroom, because he must have smelled food from upstairs. My husband and son proceeded to polish off the Blue Corn tortilla chips. They both gave me a thumbs-up for the taste while shoveling Cabo Chips in their mouths.

I snuck into the pantry and grabbed the Spicy Chipotle Cabo Chips, hoping I'd get to eat a few of those before I was discovered. They were very good, but don't really qualify as "spicy" chipotle. I expected a spicier taste. The Blue Corn is decidedly my favorite!

Disclosure: I was not paid for this post. I did receive product at no charge. Opinions within review are all true.

Strawberry Bread Recipe

Hello! This is Sheila from WELCOME TO MY KITCHEN. I started my blog in 2009. I am a passionate food blogger and I love to review food related products and services on my blog. I only recommend high quality products and services to my readers. I think it is important to bring families together for meal time. I hope my site can provide easy family friendly recipes the whole family will love. I hope you will stop by to grab a recipe, enter a giveaway or to just leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers. Hope you enjoy this recipe. Let me know what you think!

Today I will be sharing with you one of my favorite strawberry recipes...Strawberry Bread.

Strawberry Bread

• 3 cups sliced strawberries
• 4 eggs beaten
• 1 ¼ cups canola oil
• 3 ⅛ cups flour
• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 ¼ cups chopped pecans

In separate bowl combine dry ingredients together and set aside. Chop strawberries, add beaten eggs and canola oil. Combine dry ingredients with wet ingredients, mixing well. Add chopped pecans. Bake at 350 for one hour or until toothpick inserted into bread comes out clean. Enjoy!

For more recipes like this visit my blog Welcome to my Kitchen
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Review - Amy Adele Children's Stationery, Invitations and Announcements

As a daycare provider, communication with parents is a daily activity. We constantly communicate via email, phone, memos, and in person. Every once in a while, a formal invitation is necessary and I love to have personalized stationery for special occasions. When I was asked to review Amy Adele Children's Stationery, Invitations and Announcements, I really hoped they had something for teachers. I was so happy to see they had a whole category just for teachers! Look at these darling teacher cards I ordered.

These would make a perfect teacher gift, since they come in a dainty little cloth bag with a ribbon drawstring. The Amy Adele company is earth-friendly too, so all their paper products are 100% post consumer recycled, including the envelopes and labels. The high quality paper used for my teacher notes is a smooth and sturdy card-stock.

Their selection is huge and the artwork is beautiful. You can order baptism announcements, graduation announcements, birthday invitations for boys and girls, thank you notes for children and teens, birth announcements, calling cards, waterproof labels, holiday cards, t-shirts, and so much more.

The ordering process was simple and the Amy Adele website even allows you to preview the exact items you are ordering! Shipping was fast and the stationery I ordered was delivered in a box and wrapped in protective plastic. I'm thrilled with my teacher cards and am just waiting now for the next special occasion to use them.

Disclosure: I was not paid for this review. I did receive a product at no charge. My opinions are truly mine.

Review - Frigidaire’s Accessories Store

The Frigidaire brand surrounds my kitchen. My range/oven, dishwasher, microwave and fridge are all made by Frigidaire, so I'm a believer in their quality products. But I didn't know they had an online store. Their online store has more than just filters and parts for their appliances. The Frigidaire Cookware Catalog is full of wonderful kitchen items and they are currently running a Blowout Sale with free shipping on all catalog items!

I selected a set of Epicurean cutting boards to replace my old, scratched up, plastic ones. The set has three boards, 8"x6", 12"x9", and 15"x11" for any kitchen cutting job. They are made of a lightweight wood composite that is nonporous and dishwasher safe. Each one is embossed with the Epicurean logo and has a hole for hanging.

We often have salad with dinner and I've learned that each ingredient should be cut on its own board with its own clean knife, to avoid cross-contamination of foods. Having this beautiful set of three maintenance free, heat resistant cutting boards, is really going to come in handy.

While my husband made dinner last night, I followed him around with my camera. He really likes the new cutting boards, especially since they are made right here in the USA. I love the lightweight, sturdy texture of these boards. They are NSF approved so I can use them for daycare meals too.

The online store is full of wonderful items for your kitchen, from gourmet cookware to stainless steel cleaners. Ordering online was fast and easy, and my cutting boards were well-packaged and quickly delivered. I'm very pleased with the Frigidaire's Accessories Store and highly recommend their products. Make sure to check out their Select Recipes section too! It is an amazing resource for delicious meal ideas. Don't miss the sale with free shipping!
Disclosure: I received the cutting boards at no charge for this review. Opinions are truly my own.

And the Winners Are...

The winners have been selected by random.org for the 1000 Follower Giveaway Party!
Emails have been sent to all winners, so be sure to check your mailboxes!
Congratulations to all the lucky winners!

Bubbling Citrus Scrub from Natures Garden Therapies
Susan (smchester@...)

Beach Bath Towel Traditional Peshtemal from Beauty and Spa
Jenni (forcefamily2005@...)

Cadet Cap or Headband from TuTuHaute
Jennifer (gjohnjennifer@...)

Little Artist Cover Up Girl Version from LaDy LaDuke
Tina (tinakay9500@...)

Little Artist Cover Up Boy Version from LaDy LaDuke
Debra (cheyennesdesigns@...)

Chalk Mat from Childish Thoughts
Sherrie (cassidy.sherrie@...)

Personalized Calendar from Expressionables
Erin (erin.sidmore@...)

Embroidery Pattern and Owl Scissors from Sublime Stitching
Kelly (Princessa514@...)

Beaded Jewelry Set from Easy Sales Shop
Daniel (dvice12@...)

Handmade Wooden Fire Engine from Heirloom Wooden Toys
Laurie (lauriej170@...)

Handmade Bubble-print Bib and Burp Set from KidWares
Lottie (lcheinicke@...)

Domestic Goddess Survival Kit (baskets with products) from Texas Frugality
Crystletellerday (crystletellerday@...)

$10 Gift Certificate from Whachuneed Supply Co.
Melissa (honeybeez80@...)

$10 Gift Certificate from Wild Tiles
Nicole (nick0166@...)

Handmade Face Scrubbies from MelissaGHollis
Farrah (farrah_jo@...)

Barrette, Studs, and Ornament Heart from Trinkets by Dana
Beck Y (...@oomphhawaii.com)

$10 Amazaon Gift Card from NewDayNewDeals.com
Christine (daisy.cv@...)

$25 Pampered Chef Gift Certificate from Pampered Chef in Louisville
Ashley (ashleyhampton@...)

Many thanks to all who entered and to all the wonderful sponsors!

Review of Stoney River Natural Soaps

As I opened the mailbox, a woodsy scent drifted out. I had to open the package while I was standing there at the mailbox because I was so intrigued by the smell. Stoney River Natural Soaps sent me a bar of their handcrafted natural soap in the Patchouli-Orange scent to review for you. 

This soap lathered up so smooth and creamy, filling the bathroom with a warm, lasting, exotic aroma. My hands were soft and smooth from the essential oils in the Stoney River Natural Soap. I really love to use handmade soaps when guests come to visit because they are so much prettier sitting next to the bathroom sink than a regular bar of soap. Best of all, Stoney River soaps are affordable!

This Wisconsin-based company makes a wide variety of bath and body products, including lotions, bath salts, and even a healing salve. Check out their website for the full line of products!
Disclosure: Stoney River sent me a bar of soap at no charge to review for you. Opinions are truly mine.

I was in the Spotlight

Measuring Flower has me in the spotlight!

Go check it out HERE!

Nachomamatees Giveaway

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED TO ENTRIES.
Winner is Comment #1: jbsun40a  Congratulations!

Hooray! I have found the world's softest t-shirt! I took this out of the package and before I even put it on, I knew it would be a favorite. And since Facebook is one of my favorite landing spots, this t-shirt was simply made for me! I made my husband model it for you, but then I made him give it back to me.

Nachomamatees.com has lots of great t-shirts! I chose the Facebook add as friend shirt, which I found in the Best Sellers category. There are tons of choices, from Movie Tees to Vintage Tees. It was so hard to choose just one. There's even a $6.99 Daily Deal on the website! The customer service is quick to respond, the shipping department got my t-shirt right out to me, and the softness of the t-shirt is amazing.

Nachomamatees.com is sponsoring a giveaway right here on my blog. You can win a $15 Gift Card for the Nachomamatees shirt that YOU like best! I'll take entries until midnight on Friday, July 15, 2011, then let random.org pick the winner. The sponsor requests that winner cannot have won within the past 90 days from them, and the winner cannot be a review/giveaway blogger. Did I mention the softness of this t-shirt????

Mandatory Entry: Visit the Nachomamatees website, then comment below which one is your favorite.

Bonus Entries: Follow Planet Weidknecht via email, RSS, GFC, or Facebook (one entry each).

Thank you to Nachomamatees for sponsoring this giveaway and for sending me the softest tee ever!
Disclosure: I received a t-shirt at no charge for this review, but the opinions are truly my own.

Vacation Mail Fun

Mail freebies!  Chewy Gooey Chips Ahoy sample pack and $1 off coupon. Cookies were delicious and didn't even melt in the Texas heat. Coupon for one free Suave Naturals body lotion. Sample of orange soda zipfizz and a BOGO coupon (haven't tried it yet). Six months of children's vitamins, won from SkinnyScoop.com. And a Florida tshirt from Siesta Key! I also received three items to review for you....coming soon!!

Paper Scissors Rock Night Light

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.
Winner is Comment #50, selected by random.org! Congratulations Melanie!

Paper Scissors Rock Night Light
Is your child scared of the dark? Do you hate to go downstairs at night? Is the bathroom creepy in the middle of the night? Look at this adorable night light by Paper Scissors Rock! The colors are so bright and the artwork is simply beautiful.

See the white shipping box? That's how it arrived here, no thanks to the post office. But Paper Scissors Rock had packaged it very well and it arrived unbroken, in spite of the mail-person who obviously tried to destroy it.

I plugged it in my kitchen wall and took two photos (one with flash and one without so you could see how much soft light it gives off). The light has a toggle switch so I can turn it off during the day to save energy. The artwork prints are done by Pamela Corwin in Washington, then sandwiched between two layers of acrylic; the 4 watt light bulb comes with the UL approved night light. I love it!

These night lights from Paper Scissors Rock are the newest item in their product line. They also have magnets, bookmarks, greeting cards, and over 70 different clocks! This gorgeous artwork will brighten up any room of your home.

Want to win the night light of your choice? Of course you do! I get to give one lucky reader his or her choice of any night light on the Paper Scissors Rock website.

To enter, please complete the mandatory entry first. After that, you can complete any or all of the bonus entries. Please leave a separate comment in the comments section below for each task you complete. Be sure you leave your contact information so I can tell you if you win!

Mandatory Entry:

• Visit the  Paper Scissors Rock website, then come back here and tell me which item is your favorite.

Eight Bonus Entries:

• Like Paper Scissors Rock on Facebook.
• Follow Paper Scissors Rock on Twitter.
• Follow Planet Weidknecht via GFC.
• Follow Planet Weidknecht via email.
• Follow Planet Weidknecht via RSS.
• Like Planet Weidknecht on Facebook.
• Share this giveaway on Facebook.
• Share this giveaway on Twitter.

Entries will be accepted until midnight on Friday, July 15, 2011. The winner will be selected via random.org, verified for eligibility, and contacted by email for shipping information. Many thanks to the talented artist Pamela Corwin at Paper Scissors Rock for sponsoring this giveaway!

Can't wait to win? Here's your special 20% discount code: BLOG.
Disclosure: I received a night light at no charge to review for you. My opinions are always honest.

 

Nevada Vacation 2011

I just spent several days in Nevada with my husband, visiting his parents and having an awesome time! They live near Death Valley, so we visited Scotty's Castle, which was just amazing.

I just love the mountains and would love to live out there. We also explored an old abandoned mine site just outside Death Valley. We drove right up to the back gate of the Nevada Nuclear Test Site, near Area 51, but didn't see any aliens.

We stayed in a casino hotel right on the border of Nevada and California. They have awesome biscuits and gravy!

The night of July 4th the fireworks were cancelled due to a storm that blew huge winds of sands across the area.

We spent a few hours in a casino in Las Vegas before boarding the plane to come home. We didn't win any grand amounts, but we're not broke either. We've learned to set aside a certain amount for entertainment money and when we gamble that away, we're done. My in-laws are wonderful people and I really love visiting them. We hope to visit them again soon!

Seeking Bloggers for Blogorama Bonanza '11

 

Bloggers - Click HERE for more information!

Chili's Free Chips and Queso

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1000 Follower Giveaway Party Sponsor Highlight

Pampered Chef in Louisville has generously donated a $25 Gift Certificate for YOU to win!

Please visit their website today!

Today is the very last day for you to enter for the 18 fabulous prizes in the 

1000 Follower Giveaway Party at Planet Weidknecht! 

Click HERE to enter!