Between the Lines: 7/11/10

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Open Discussion: Blogger vs. Wordpress

Today I am traveling to Maryland to to celebrate my youngest nephew's first birthday so I didn't have much time to write this morning. So today I thought we could try an open discussion topic. I would love to hear your opinion on the Blogger vs. Wordpress debate. Which do you prefer? Which do you feel is more reliable? Which is more user friendly? These are questions just to get us started. I would love to hear what everyone has to say. I have heard that many fellow bloggers are moving over to Wordpress and I was just wondering is the move worth the hassle? Keep the discussion going and I'll chime in when I get home this evening. Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Friday, July 16, 2010

Misikko Winner!

I am so excited to announce that with 553 entries, Jess is our lucky Misikko winner with comment number 84! Jess won with this comment: "Follow Misikko on Twitter." Congratulations Jess! I hope you enjoy your new flat iron! Jess has 48 hours to accept her prize before I randomly pick a new winner. Thanks to all that entered and thanks for reading Between the Lines!

Fabulous Food Friday With Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Mom

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 Jane from Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Mom. When you get a chance to swing by Jane's yummy blog, make sure to check out all her fantastic recipes. And I know this isn't really a signature recipe, but she just posted Panera's great Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad. So good!

Here's a bit from Jane herself:

I'm a mom, wife, 2nd grade teacher, blogger, and author of Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms. As a busy mom with sport schedules and very little time to cook after work, I have found make-ahead meals to be very helpful. I try to prepare our meals a day ahead or make extra meals on the weekend and freeze them. I always thought about having my own cookbook. So when I learned about self-publishing on-line a couple of years ago, I began turning my favorite recipes into make-ahead meals for my own cookbook. I figured if these tasty make-ahead recipes helped me...it would help other parents as well. My cookbook was published in September of 2009. Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms is available at Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com.

Now that we're into summer, I thought you might enjoy this cold pasta salad. It's my favorite! I usually make it a day ahead to save time.

Pasta and Pickle Salad

Ingredients

3 cups rotini or pasta ruffles pasta
2/3 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup dijon mustard
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 cup bread and butter pickles, chopped
1 cup celery, diced
1 carrot, grated
1/2 cup green onions, thinly sliced

Directions
1. Cook the pasta according to the directions. Drain the pasta in a colander and rinse under cold water. Drain well and place the pasta in a large serving bowl.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk the mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, and sugar. Pour this over the pasta and mix. Add the pickles, celery, carrot, and green onions; mix well. Refrigerate several hours before serving.

Serves 6

For more recipes and fun giveaways, check out my blog Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms. I have a Linky HERE where you can add your favorite salad recipe from your blog!

Thanks Kelly for having me participate in your Fabulous Food Friday!

You Love Me! You Really Love Me!

In the last few weeks, you all have made me feel so loved! I have won not one, not two, not three, but four awards! I am so glad that I have so many followers who love reading my blog since I love writing it! Family of 4 On the Move and Kelly from Mommy’s Kicking Cancer’s A$$ awarded me with the “Sunshine Award”. Yenta Mary from Food Floozie and Owen’s Mom from Adventure In All Things Food have been kind enough to award me with "The Versatile Blogger" award. Ladies, thank you for the fabulous awards and for reading my blog! Due to my busy schedule and preparing to teach summer camp, I’m going to roll these awards into one. Winners feel free to choose one or both awards to keep. You know you deserve them both!!

7 Things You May not Know About Me

1. I love gymnastics.
2. I play piano.
3. I love the sound of the ocean and would love to live in a oceanfront house one day.
4. I hate driving…I get car sick.
5. I always sleep with the fan on…even in the winter.
6. Flowers and flowery perfumes send me into fits of sneezes.
7. I’ve only worn heels once since my wedding about 9 years ago.

7 Great Blogs that are Deserving of an Award (or two)

1. Pumpkin Tart
2. Magical Schoolhouse
3. Mia Ma Miah’s Diaries
4. Mommy Moment
5. Personalized Sketches and Sentiments
6. Mommy Has to Work
7. Mama B

Tricky Trivia

Who was the first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time television?

Take a guess in the comments below!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Sleeping Habits

My kids have never had very good sleeping habits. Since they were born, sleep has never been their choice activity. By six months, they slept 6 hours a night and one 2 hour nap. By age one, they were down to 8 hours at night and about a 45 minute nap. By age 2, they were done with napping and had decided 5 am was a good hour to wake up. Bed at 7:45 pm and up at 5:00 am has been our routine for about four years. Occasionally we would miss bedtime, but they would still be up by 5 (even if they went to bed after 10 pm). This summer, however, our routine has changed. Although I don’t worry about the change too much, I am trying to discourage it because school will be starting up again in about 5 weeks. This summer we have let our girls share a room. They are best friends and love being together. The only problem with this, is it translates into a lot of talking and giggling all night long. If this went on for about an hour, it wouldn’t be a big deal, but they are usually up now until about 10 or 11 every night. That is too late for a 4 and 6 year old. Lucky for them, they have been sleeping in until 7:30 – 8:00 every morning now. And I might add that this is only because I have covered their windows with blankets so they don’t know when the sun “wakes” up. What interesting sleep habits do your kiddos have? Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Recipe Corner: Easy French Dip Sandwiches

My hubby and I love French dip sandwiches, especially ones made with Steak-ums. Steak-ums make a quick and easy dinner right out of the freezer. I hope you like it. 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 ) Enjoy!

Ingredients

- Steak-ums (3 steaks per sandwich)
- Cheese (Swiss or Provolone works great)
- Hoagie Rolls
- Worcestershire sauce
- Pepper
- Au Jus sauce

Directions

- Cook Steak-ums in skillet with Worcestershire sauce and pepper to taste.
- Meanwhile, start cooking your Au Jus sauce in small saucepan according to directions on packet.
- Layer Hoagies with cheese and steak and microwave for 45 seconds to melt cheese.
- Dip in sauce and enjoy!

Tricky Trivia

Ancient Egyptians slept on pillows made of ___________.

Take a guess in the comments below!

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

My Lip Stuff Review and Worldwide Giveaway

For those of you who know me or are veteran readers of Between the Lines, you know how much I love my lip glosses and lip balms. I have them in every room of the house, in my purse, in my diaper bag, and during the winter, in my car. Without lip balm, my lips would continuously crack and bleed. Therefore, I use it all the time. The most fun thing about lip balms are the many different flavors they come in. My Lip Stuff has more flavors than I have ever seen or heard of before. With over 500 flavors of natural lip balm, you will have no problem finding a few that suit you best.

Fun Label

“My Lip Stuff is Serious Skin Care With a Fun Flair.” The fun doesn’t stop at their flavors, although a Cosmo Lip balm sounds like a lot of fun to me. My Lip Stuff offers customized labels for their customers. You can personalize any lip balm with these fun labels. They make the perfect wedding or shower favor or even business promotional gift.

Lemon Drop Cookie

My Lip Stuff offers skin, earth, and animal friendly products. Their products are made from the finest ingredients and are all environmentally safe. They never use animal testing and even offer 100% vegan and natural lip balm choices. Their products are also not limited to lip balm. They offer body butter, bath salts, linen sprays, and so much more. I was lucky enough to have a chance to review three great lip balm flavors: Vanilla Ice Cream, Cinnamon Custard Swirl, and Lemon Drop Cookie. For those of you who visited my Recipe Corner yesterday, you know how much I love lemon cookies. And this lip balm was no exception. It went on smooth and left my lips feeling moist and silky. I cannot tell you how hard it was for me to not lick my lips. The scent that was coming off my lips made my stomach growl. So yummy! My girls and I enjoyed the other flavors too (I didn’t share my Lemon Drop cookie one!:) I had to actually limit their use because they kept licking it off. My Lip Stuff is definitely a keeper!

Bundle Pack

Check out their store here and browse through the hundreds of different flavors. Most of them have very unique names, so make sure you click on them to find out the combo flavor they are. Buy a tube starting at $2.50 or buy multipacks to save. The generous people from My Lip Stuff have offered one lucky reader from Between the Lines a chance to win a Random 6 pack of lip balm!

Mandatory Entry: Visit My Lip Stuff and tell me which of their 500 flavors you would love to try!

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 me on Twitter (2)
~ Follow My Lip Stuff on Twitter (2)
~ Enter another one of my giveaways (2 each)
~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 My Lip Stuff (10)

This giveaway will end on July 30th @10p.m Eastern

*This giveaway is open Worldwide. 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 three complimentary lip balms 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.

Tricky Trivia

What is the single most studied artifact in human history?

Take a guess in the comments below!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Summer Learning Series: Children Museums

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!

Children Museums are great ways to encourage learning during the hot summer months. Not only are they a great break from the extreme heat, but they also encourage exploration and discovery. This past week the girls and I traveled to a discovery museum in West Virginia. Although, it isn’t as big as the ones in Richmond or Baltimore, it is an excellent place to set the kids loose and learn.

This particular discovery center is broken down into different themed rooms. The first room the kids explored was the air and water room. Here the kids learned about the water cycle, rivers, waterfalls, and the power of wind. I think they all had the most fun playing in the water, but they also enjoyed using air tubes to make music and ping pong balls fly.

The second room the kids discovered was all about sight. There were various rainbow activities to explore, optical illusions, and light activities. The girls particularly loved the light exhibit. In this exhibit the girls would stand in a dark room and strike a pose. Then a light would flash and their shadows would appear on the wall for them to see. Unfortunately, I couldn't take a picture of their fun shadow poses because of my flash.

The third room they explore was themed around space, gravity, and magnets. They had a lot to explore, but the girls spent the majority of the time dropping golf balls down a long winding ramp. So fun and so loud! They also enjoyed the exhibit where they could create their own constellations. My eldest daughter made a constellation that spelled her sister’s name.

The next room was a big hit. It was themed around plants and minerals. The kids were able to plant their own vegetable and flower garden. After harvesting their crop, they were able to take it into the playhouse and cut them up and serve them. The room also was full of “jewels” that they could explore with magnify glasses.

The fifth room was themed around animals. The kids explored the life cycle of a butterfly, the foot prints of many local animals, and the life of a honey bee. In this room, they had a “hive” of bees working to make honey. The girls enjoyed using the magnify glasses to get a close of view of the bees at work. They even found the queen bee!

The sixth room was dedicated to birds and the animals of the sea. There were various eggs to examine and sea creatures to explore. They enjoyed pretending to sit in the giant nest and listening to bird calls. My youngest found an eye spy tube and sat content for quite awhile.

The final room was filled with live animals. The girls had a chance to watch the caretaker feed the fish, turtles, and birds. They most enjoyed discovering the salt water animals. On the outside of the tank was a list of all the animals, and they turned it into an eye spy game.

If you live anywhere near Inwood, WV, I suggest you check out the Nature center at Jay Dees Fun Center. If not, look up children’s museum in your area. If you are lucky enough to live in an area close to several, they have a hopper membership that is good towards 100’s of museums all over the country. This summer, we already have plans to visit three more (Winchester, VA; Richmond, VA; Baltimore, MD). Pictures will of course follow! Have you discovered any great Children’s Museum’s? What was your child’s favorite part? Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Recipe Corner: Shortcut Lemon Cookies

I LOVE baked goods, but I LOVE lemon flavored baked goods even more. Sometimes you just don’t have time to bake an elaborate recipe. So that’s when these shortcut cookies come in to play. These lemon cookies are delicious and easy to make. I hope you give them a try. 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 ) Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package lemon cake mix
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon lemon extract
• 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar for decoration

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Pour cake mix into a large bowl. Stir in eggs, oil, and lemon extract until well blended. Drop teaspoonfuls of dough into a bowl of confectioners' sugar. Roll them around until they're lightly covered. Once sugared, put them on an ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake for 6 to 9 minutes in the preheated oven. The bottoms will be light brown, and the insides chewy.

Tricky Trivia

Every Day more money is printed for _____________than the U.S. treasury.

Take a guess in the comments below.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Wild Texas Wear Review and $25 Giveaway

Although Wild Texas Wear is designed and created in the heart of Texas, it is made with a comfort that everyone would love. Their soft Texas inspired clothing is available for men, women, and children alike. Wild Texas wear has a fabulous selection of unique T-Shirts, Tank Tops, Tee Dresses, Loungewear, Jewelry, and Accessories. Don’t be fooled into thinking this clothing is for Texans alone. No one should miss the chance to wear their 100% premium cotton tees.

A few weeks back I introduced you all to this awesome company. Lucky Martha, won last week’s giveaway for the super soft, chic Ladies Rodeo Bucking Horse Tee. But today, Wild Texas Wear is giving you another chance! Wild Texas Wear has a great selection of clothes and accessories. They are not limited to women's tees. Since last time I reviewed something form the ladies department, today I’m going to let my hubby help me review something from the men’s department.

Brian, from Wild Texas Wear, was kind enough to help me choose the perfect tee for my husband. He chose the Men’s, “Come and Take It” tee shown above. This super soft tee sports a v-neck and small logo. And that’s about it. Just the way the men like it…Black, comfortable, and simple! This tailored tee is made from 100% ring spun cotton and was inspired from the famous “Come and Take It” battle of the Texas Revolution. The only problem that my husband has with this tee is that I often steal it to sleep in. It is obviously too big for me to wear out of the house, but it makes a great nightgown! Even after washing the shirt (inside out), it was as soft as ever. And since it is preshrunk, you don’t have to worry about it shrinking. It is also available in Navy and White.

Now I know you want to win the man in your life his very own “Come and Take It” tee….or maybe you don’t. Maybe you really had your eye on one of Wild Texas Wear’s other great products. Well this time it is up to you. The generous people from Wild Texas Wear are offering one lucky reader a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to use at Wild Texas Wear!

Mandatory Entry: Visit Wild Texas Wear and sign up for their Newsletter (at the bottom of the page). Come back and leave a comment saying you did so.

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)
~ Subscribe to Texas Clothing Blog in a Reader (2)
~Follow me on twitter (2)
~ Follow Wild Texas Wear on Twitter (2)
~ Explore Wild Texas Wear’s site and tell me which item you’d love to own (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 Wild Texas Wear (10)

This giveaway will end on July 24th @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 tee-shirt 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: Oreo Cookie Cake

Summer is the perfect time for cold frozen treats. It is also a good time to let the kids help cook/bake. If they get messy, you can just take them outside and hose them off! This yummy recipe is one that kids can easily help with because no stove or oven is needed. Our favorite store bought cookie is Oreo’s, but feel free to experiment with other types of cookies. 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 ) Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 package of Oreo cookies (you may have leftovers)
• 1/4 cup margarine, melted
• 1 cup hot fudge topping
• 2 quarts vanilla ice cream
• 1 cup whipped cream
• 12 cherries

Directions
1. Crush half the cookies (about 20) to make crumbs. Combine crumbs with melted margarine and press into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan or pie plate. Stand remaining cookies around edge of pan. Spread 3/4 cup fudge topping over crust. Freeze 15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, soften 1 quart of ice cream in microwave or on countertop. After crust has chilled, spread softened ice cream over fudge layer. Freeze 30 minutes.
3. Scoop remaining quart of ice cream into balls and arrange over spread ice cream layer. Freeze until firm, 4 hours or overnight. To serve, garnish with remainder of fudge topping, whipped cream and cherries.