Sunscreen

Every summer I see people walking around and they are the same color as a lobster. Not only are they causing long term damage to their skin, but they are also spending the majority of their summer in pain. Of course, these are grown adults who are free to make their own choices. If they choose not to wear sunscreen and destroy their skin, that’s up to them. What bothers me the most is when I see children with the same bright colored skin. I know that the parent is not neglecting their child’s skin on purpose, but that doesn’t change the fact their child’s skin is burning. Children need sunscreen whenever they go outside, especially in the summer. Even if they are only going out to ride their bike, they still need sunscreen. If you have a hard time remembering the sunscreen, or even reapplying the sunscreen after swimming, talk to a friend who also has kids. Chances are, sunscreen is not the first thing on her mind either. Agree to remind each other when you are out together. If your friend is a big time offender, subtly offer the sunscreen after applying it to your own kids. My friends and I usually say, we’ll be out after we spray our kids. That helps us remind each other, especially when we are in a rush. Whatever helps you remember, do it! Do you use sunscreen on yourself as well as your kids? Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Tricky Trivia

How long is a giraffe's tongue?  (hint:  It is long enough to clean its own ears.)

Take a guess in the comments below.

Fabulous Food Friday with Finding Joy in My Kitchen

Welcome to Fabulous Food Friday! While exploring the blogosphere, I realized that there were many great recipes to share. So every Friday, I am going to try to feature an awesome blogger with their great recipe! Today’s feature blogger is SnoWhite from Finding Joy in My Kitchen. When you get a chance, swing by SnoWhite yummy blog. You are sure to find a recipe you love!




Here’s a little blurb from SnoWhite herself:


Hi, I'm SnoWhite and I have been blogging at Finding Joy in My Kitchen for about a year and a half!  My love for cooking from scratch was developed at an early age by my mom, but put to the test when I realized the severity of my allergic reaction to nuts!  Now, we pretty much make everything we eat from scratch, and through the process I've found joy in cooking for and feeding my family healthy, simple meals!
This recipe is for my grandmother's rhubarb cake -- a staple summer dessert at our house!



It's delicious.
Of course, I've adapted her original recipe to try to make it healthier -- and it still tastes great.

Rhubarb Cake - Grandma
1 1/4 C brown sugar
1/2 C butter {I do 1/4 C butter, 1/4 C applesauce}
1 egg
1 C milk + 1 T vinegar (allow to set for 5 minutes)
1 tsp. vanilla
1 C whole wheat flour
1 C white wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 C rhubarb, sliced
1/8 C sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Cream together brown sugar and butter/applesauce.  Add egg and mix well.  Then, add in the sour milk and vanilla.
Mix the flours, baking soda and salt together and add to the creamed mixture.
Stir in rhubarb.
Pour into a greased 9x13 glass baking dish.  Sprinkle the topping with cinnamon and sugar.
Bake at 350 for about 50 minutes until the center of the cake is set.
Enjoy!

Tricky Trivia

In America, the most common mental illness is ____________.

Take a guess in the comments below.

Blogmania Featured Shop: Cinnamon Creek Country Candles

 
It is time again for another sneak peak at an awesome Blogmania Sponsor. Cinnamon Creek Country Candles is a wonderful Etsy shop that makes “Truly Scrumptious Bakery Candles”! At Country Candles you will find a great variety of 100%, all natural soy candles. With so many fun designs and delicious scents, you will definitely find a candle to fall in love with.

 

The fantastic designer behind Country Candles has been making candles for over 10 years. Her candles have been sold in various stores, craft fairs, and online. Her designs are so beautiful that they are often imitated. All candles are made from the strongest undiluted premium quality fragrance. And since they are made in a smoke and pet free environment, there will be no hidden smells.

Country Candles’ hand poured creations are tested to make sure the containers provide an even burn. The wicks are also lead and zinc free . When you have a few minutes, swing by Cinnamon Creek Country Candles’ Etsy shop or online store and check out her delicious designs. They look so real, that you will have to remember not to eat them!

Open Discussion: Side Effects of Medicine

As I sit here typing this, my eyes are heavy and my head is pounding. Last night my allergies were acting up so bad that I couldn’t breathe. I searched the house for some Benadryl, but came up empty handed. I did, however, find some Pseudoephed. I decided that I would take one and that my friends, was a big mistake. The Psedoephed did do its job. My nose was clear within 45 minutes. The only minor problem was the major side effect. About 30 minutes after taking the Pseudoephed, my brain was wide awake. I could not stop thinking all night. Which of course means I couldn’t sleep all night. I guess with every medicine you take the question is, are the side effects worth it? In my case, definitely not. I would rather have trouble falling asleep with a stuffy nose than not sleep at all with a clear nose. I will not be taking Pseudoephed at night ever again. Have you ever had strange side effects with over-the-counter medicines? Were the side effects worth it? Grab a latte(I need two), put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Disclaimer: This is just my personal experience with the medicine.  I have no medical background and make no claims that these side effects would happen to anyone else.

Tricky Trivia

What is the smallest island with country status?

Take a guess in the comments below.

Tropical Tradtions Review

A few weeks back, the generous people from Tropical Traditions sent me a 32oz jar of Gold Label Standard Virgin Coconut Oil to review. I have never used coconut oil before so when it arrived and I looked in the jar, I thought there was something really wrong. Instead of a jar of oil, it looked like a jar of candle wax. Thankfully, after reading the label, I discovered that coconut oil will solidify under 76 degrees. To use it, all I needed to do was put the jar in a pan of warm water.

“Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is made from organic, fresh coconuts in rural areas of the Philippines. Only the highest quality organic coconuts are hand selected for use in our Gold Label brand, and the pure coconut water from inside the coconut is used to extract the coconut milk using traditional methods.” When you first open your jar of Virgin Coconut Oil, the aroma is mouthwatering. Thankfully, I didn’t eat! But Tropical Tradition has you covered. Their website is full of great recipes that you can use their oil with. You can even use the oil to grease your pans for baking. I’ve been doing that and it adds just a hint of coconut flavor that I love.

Tropical Traditions’ Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is full of healthy antioxidants. It is beneficial to your hair, skin, and your overral health. Besides the Virgin Coconut Oil, Tropical Traditions sells many other products including skin care, organic foods, household goods, and pet products. Check out their website here. It is full of information and recipes. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I received complimentary jar of coconut oil in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to write a review.  The opinions & thoughts expressed are my own. I received no other compensation for my review nor was I under any obligation to give a positive review

Recipe Corner: Honey Mustard Chicken

One of my favorite condiments is honey mustard. I use it with my chicken tenders, french fries, hamburgers, and I even put it on my salad. This Honey Mustard Chicken is so moist and delicious that you must try it! Enjoy! And don’t forget to contact me if you are interested in having your blog and your yummy recipe featured in a Fabulous Food Friday Post. Whether you bake it, sauté it, or just microwave it, send it in! Share your yummy food and you may find yourself with new visitors. Please email me directly if you are interested. (betweenthelines-kam@hotmail.com)

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon Country Bob’s All Purpose sauce (or any other steak sauce)
• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Directions

1. Preheat the grill for medium heat.
2. In a shallow bowl, mix the mustard, honey, mayonnaise, and steak sauce. Set aside a small amount of the honey mustard sauce for basting, and dip the chicken into the remaining sauce to coat.
3. Lightly oil the grill grate. Grill chicken over indirect heat for 18 to 20 minutes, turning occasionally, or until juices run clear. Baste occasionally with the reserved sauce during the last 10 minutes. Watch carefully to prevent burning!

Tricky Trivia

How many islands make up Indonesia?

Take a guess in the comments below.

Summer Learning Series with Money

Every child loves summer. Summer is a time for playing outside, swimming in the pool, and hanging out with your friends. Unfortunately, summer is also a time when kids lose a lot of what they learned during the previous year of school. As an elementary school teacher, it was frustrating to watch my students struggle at the beginning of each year with objectives that they had mastered the previous year. As a parent, I want to make sure that this doesn’t happen to my children. This summer, I will be setting aside a little time each day for some fun learning activities for my kids. Starting in June, check in each Tuesday if you are looking for some activities for your kids. I will be posting a few things we did the previous week to share. Also if you are interested in doing the same thing, I would love to link up with all you creative moms out there! Just shoot me an email and let me know you are interested. (betweenthelines-kam@hotmail.com)  Let’s work together to help our children have a fun, but educational summer!

Last week, my girls and I played a new game using bathroom cups and pretend money. It was our own personal version of Memory, but we’d love to share it with you all. Just like any version of Memory, make sure to adjust it to match your child’s learning level. First I will give you an overview of the version we played and then I’ll give you some ideas for alternate ways to play.

First start with about 12 bathroom cups. In each pair of cups, put an equal amount of coins. For example, if one cup has 5 pennies, then the second cup should have a nickel. If one cup has a dime, the other cup could have 2 nickels, 1nickel and 5 pennies, or even 10 pennies. You can make any combinations you like, just make sure they are even.

Next, turn the cups over and mix up the pairs. The kids will then take turns picking up two cups to see if they have a match. I made my kids identify the coins and their values before they could pick up their second cup. If the values under the two cups are equal, they made a match and get to keep their pair. The person with the most matches wins!

To make it easier, have only one coin under each cup. Play like you would any other memory game, but work on either identifying the coin or its value (or both). To make it harder, add more cups or make the winner the person with the most money at the end. By adding this element, the kids will have to strategize on which cups they want to uncover and will have to practice adding up all their money in the end.

Tricky Trivia

What is the hardest substance in the human body?

Take a guess in the comments below.

Nana’s Cookie Company Review and Giveaway

Everyone who knows me, or reads my blog, knows that I have a certain weakness for cookies. If I had extra time, I’d probably bake a fresh batch daily. With our busy lives, it is just easier to grab a box of cookies at the grocery store. But do you know what is in those cookies? More junk than you can imagine. This fact is what inspired Nana about a decade ago. She was determined to make a yummy cookie that was free from the refined sugars, dairy, eggs, hydrogenated oils,added salt, and other unnatural ingredients. All Nana’s Cookies are also vegan and kosher.

Nana’s Cookie Company provides their consumer with a delicious and guilt-free treat. With over 30 varieties, you are sure to find something you love. They are also the perfect addition to any lunch box, purse, or diaper bag. Each cookie is individually wrapped for your convenience. There is also a great variety available in a Gluten-Free version. I was lucky enough to have a chance to review three of Nana’s Gluten Free cookies. My favorite was the Lemon Dreams Cookie Bites. They were moist, flavorful, and so addicting. Good thing they were individually wrapped because it discouraged me from sitting and grazing on them.

I also had the chance to review the Gluten Free Ginger Spice cookie Bites. My eldest daughter and I loved these. They tasted just like soft gingerbread cookies with an extra kick. My youngest thought they were too spicy, but she devoured the Gluten Free Chocolate Munch Cookie Bars. She insisted on having a glass of milk with them. She said they were the perfect match! The best part was that after eating this scrumptious treat, there were no sugar sillies or sore bellies. What more can a mom ask for?

If you want to buy your own box or two of Nana’s Cookies, go here to look up to closest retailer. You can also purchase them online at Nana’s Website or at Amazon. Nana’s Cookie Company has kindly offered 3 boxes of Gluten Free cookie Bites/Bars to one lucky reader of Between the Lines!


Mandatory Entry: Visit Nana’s Cookie Company and Sign up for their VIP Coupons and Savings.

Extras: (Remember each entry must have a separate comment and an email address is needed to contact winner.)

~Follow Between the Lines (3)
~ Subscribe to my email (5)
~ Grab my button and leave a link of where it’s displayed (5)
~Add me to your Blogroll and leave a link (5)
~ Follow 2 Teach is 2 Touch Lives 4 Ever (2)
~Follow me on Twitter (2)
~ Follow Nana’s Cookies on Twitter (2)
~ Like Nana’s Cookies on Facebook (2)
~ Explore Nana’s site and tell me which cookie you would love to try (2)
~Tweet this giveaway leaving me your link. (3x a day not back to back) (1 entry each)
~Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link (10)
~Make a purchase from Nana’s Cookie Company (10)

This giveaway will end on July 7th @10p.m Eastern

*This giveaway is open to US only. Winner will be chosen randomly. An email notification will be sent to the email address provided by the winner. The winner must respond within 48 hours. Failure to do so will result in being disqualified and a new winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary cookie samples in exchange for my honest review. The opinions & thoughts expressed are my own. I received no other compensation for my review nor was I under any obligation to give a positive review.

Recipe Corner: Cream Cheese Brownie

Are you trying to lose a few pounds for the summer months? Then don’t try this absolutely delicious recipe. It is so good that you will not be able to eat just one. Enjoy! And don’t forget to contact me if you are interested in having your blog and your yummy recipe featured in a Fabulous Food Friday Post. Whether you bake it, sauté it, or just microwave it, send it in! Share your yummy food and you may find yourself with new visitors. Please email me directly if you are interested. (betweenthelines-kam@hotmail.com)

Ingredients

• 4 (1 ounce) squares German sweet chocolate
• 5 tablespoons butter
• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Melt chocolate with 3 tablespoons of the butter over very low heat. Stir constantly until smooth. Set aside to cool.
2. Cream remaining 2 tablespoons butter with cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add 1/4 cup sugar. Cream until light and fluffy. Blend into this 1 of the eggs, 1 tablespoon flour and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Set aside.
3. Now beat the remaining 2 eggs until light and fluffy. Gradually beat into them 3/4 cup sugar. Continue beating until thickened. Stir in the baking powder, salt and 1/2 cup flour. Add to this the cooled chocolate mixture. Blend well. Stir in 1/2 tsp vanilla.
4. Spread half of the chocolate batter into an 8x8 inch greased baking pan. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the top. Then drop the remaining chocolate batter by tablespoons over the top of the cream cheese mixture. Swirl through batter layers with a spatula for a marbled effect.
5. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven for 35 to 40 minutes. Cool in the pan. Cut into squares or bars.

Tricky Trivia

What is the world's tallest grass (when not cut)?

Take a guess in the comments below.

Silent Sunday

Kindergarten Beach Day Fun!

 

 

 

 

Simple Sunday Twitter Hop

Simple Sunday Twitter Hop 

Hosted by Survey Junkie & Between the Lines 

Grab a cup of coffee & join us every Sunday !!

How it Works

1. Add your Twitter url  ( not blog )
2. Follow the 2 Hosts ( we will follow back )
3. Then follow as many others as you would like 
4. & follow everyone back that follows you  :)

Link up every Sunday at 12:00 am est !!