What do you think of when you hear the word "traditional?"
When it comes to food, traditional can be am excellent thing. It reminds me of old family recipes, memories, and food that has standed the test of time. However, with that said, change can be a good thing too, right?
To a lot of parents, spring is a season of change. The weather finally warming up in the Philadelphia suburbs and the kids are spending more time outside with friends. Parents everywhere will be rushing off to after school sports practices that, far too often, interfere with our sit down family dinners.
This season of change is what inspired me to create this new #tradish meal, Carbonara Stromboli with Ragú® Classic Alfredo.
Ragú has a delicious, simple recipe for Fettuccine Carbonara on their website. This recipe is fantastic just the way it is, but I wanted to come up with a way to incorporate a few of the same ingredients for a grab and go dinner. Ultimately, I was inspired to create Carbonara Stromboli with Ragú® Classic Alfredo and it was a awesome!
Here's what you need to make it:
1 tsp of Pesto or Fresh Basil
1 cup of Ragu® Cheesy Classic Alfredo Sauce
4 slices bacon, crisp-cooked and crumbled
2/3 cup cooked chicken (cut into small pieces)
1 cup shredded mozarella cheese
Pre-made pizza dough
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Roll out your pizza dough, and spread on 1 tsp of pesto sauce or basil. Then, sprinkle on your bacon, chicken and shredded mozzarella.
Fold dough over and pinch ends together. Then, cut 3 small holes on the top. You may also choose to brush a little bit of olive oil on top of the stromboli.
Cook in a preheated oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Slice into individual sections to serve.
When this stromboli came out of the oven it was oozing with Ragú's creamy Alfredo Sauce. Before my son even finished his meal, he told me how much he liked it and asked me to make it again. Ragú has the Authentic Italian taste American family’s love and a variety of great tasting, quick and easy to make family favorite recipes.
Try one of the great tasting Ragú® white sauces, such as Ragú® Classic Alfredo, if you’re in the mood for something delicious!
Visit www.RaguSweeps.com to enter the Ragú Better and Better Sweepstakes for a chance to win great Authentic Italian themed prizes and a grand prize trip to Venice for a family of four.
Remember the Wizard of Oz? Well, Dorothy and I have something in common.
There's no place like home.
As much as I love to travel and explore new places, there's something special about coming home to Philadelphia. It's also a great place for a weekend trip or a quick escape during the week with your family. Now, with the Visit Philly Overnight Hotel Package (stay any two consecutive nights and your car stays for free) it's even easier to plan your getaway.
There is so much to do for families in Philadelphia, that it can be a bit overwhelming planning an itinerary, so I wanted to share some of my favorite things to do with you. If I were create my perfect 3 day/2 night trip to Philadelphia, here are some of the places I would go with my family:
1) I've taken my kids to many children's museums, and the Please Touch Museum® is top notch! It includes two full floors of interactive exhibit zones, plus a fully restored 100-year-old carousel. Youngsters can play and pretend amid Alice’s Wonderland, River Adventures and other hands-on fun. And on Target First Wednesdays, the museum stay opens 4:00-7:00 p.m. with $2 admission. 4231 Avenue of the Republic, (215) 581-3181, pleasetouchmuseum.org
2) Philadelphia is full of history, and the Liberty 360 3D Show is a fun way to learn a little but about its roots. The show takes visitors on an immersive, 360° patriotic journey, led by none other than Benjamin Franklin, to discover our nation’s symbols of freedom—from the bald eagle to the Statue of Liberty. Inside the Historic Philadelphia Center’s customized, wrap-around PECO Theater, the 15-minute indoor show uses the most modern technology of its kind to spotlight the most treasured American value—liberty. 6th (215) 629-4026, historicphiladelphia.org
3) Going to the Adventure Aquarium is a must! It is the most family friendly aquarium I have ever been to and my kids love coming back time and time again! At Adventure Aquarium visitors can count on hands-on activities, animals, exhibits and unforgettable moments. You can walk through a suspended Shark Tunnel, get nose-to-nose with hippos and check out KidZone, a virtual playground under the sea. The 760,000-gallon Ocean Realm is home to sea turtles, stingrays, schooling fish and sharks, including the only great hammerheads on exhibit in the country. Adventurous types can roll up their sleeves to pet and feed stingrays, or touch shrimp, lobster, starfish, crabs and sharks. 1 Aquarium Drive, Camden, NJ, (856) 365-3300, adventureaquarium.com
4) America's first zoo, the Philadelphia Zoo is also a family favorite. Home to nearly 1,300 animals— many rare and endangered. In addition to leading the way in conservation efforts, America’s first zoo features award-winning exhibits such as First Niagara Big Cat Falls, the McNeil Avian Center, the PECO Primate Reserve and seasonal family-friendly events. The new wildlife academy and interactive children’s zoo, KidZooU, enhances the zoo experi-ence for kids, from toddlers to tweens, with dynamic displays, hands-on learning and animals including unusual goats, sheep, chicken and ducks. 3400 W. Girard Avenue, (215) 243-1100, philadelphiazoo.org
5) Oh, how we love Linvilla Orchards! It's a scenic 300-acre family farm dedicated to agriculture, education and entertainment, families can explore the Garden Center, pick their own seasonal fruit, hop on a hay-ride and buy freshly baked pies to take home. 137 W. Knowlton Road, Media, (610) 876-7116, linvilla.com
6) Longwood Gardens is one of our favorite places to go year-round. My kids absolutely love this place and it's a feast for the senses, no matter how old you are! Each time we go to Longwood, we have a unique adventure. You don't want to miss the towering tree houses, the magnificent conservatory or the enchanting indoor children’s garden. Although this is not located in the city, I I'd say it's well worth the drive! U.S. Route 1, Kennett Square, (610) 388-1000, longwoodgardens.org
7) Riding The Ducks is such a fun way to see Philadelphia and learn about some of it's history. It is an amphibious vehicle that goes from land (Philadelphia Museum of Art to the Liberty Bell Center) to sea (Delaware River), can look forward to 90 minutes of entertainment, city history, fun facts and lots of kid-approved quacking. 6th (887) 887-8225, phillyducks.com
8) The Franklin Institute is a classic destination. I remember going here as a child and it's still incredibly popular today. As the region’s premier science museum, The Franklin Institute features a full city block of kid-friendly exhibitions, such as the walk-through Giant Heart (an old favorite!), Space Command, Sports Challenge, Electricity and Changing Earth. It’s also home to the Tuttleman IMAX Theater, the Fels Planetarium and a 3-D theater. 222 N. 20th Street, (215) 448-1200, fi.edu
9) I've heard great things about the Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse. It's one of the oldest playgrounds in America, dating back to 1899, and offers children (ages 10 and under) a free, safe place to play, jump, swing and climb. For children five and under, the Tot-Lot features more than 20 pieces of age-appropriate play equipment, and at the 16,000-square-foot Playhouse, kids run the show. 3500 Reservoir Drive (near 33rd (215) 765-4325, smithplayground.org
10) The Herr’s Snack Factory Tour is close to an hour from the city, but it's worth the drive! At the Herr's factory, you will learn about the History of the Herr's brand, get to see how the snacks are made, and get to taste freshly made potato chip! The tour is free, educational and fun, but be sure to reserve your spot online before going. Route 272 & Herr Drive, Nottingham, (610) 932-6400, herrs.com
Sounds like fun, right? These are my top 10 things for kids to do when visiting Philadelphia and this is just a small sampling of what the area has to offer. There is so much to see and do.
So, are you ready to #VisitPhilly?
Philadelphia is the perfect spot for a getaway! Stay for any two consecutive nights at one of twenty participating hotels and your car stays free! For more information and to book your room visitphilly.com/overnight.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Visit Philadelphia. The opinions and text are all mine.
Photo Credits: Linvilla & Adventure Aquarium by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia™ / GPTMC. - Please Touch by M. Edlow for Visit Philadelphia™
What are your favorite meals to cook? I love experimenting with new recipes, and this Ragu Hawaiian Upside Down Deep Dish Pizza Recipe is perfect for a quick, satisfying for the entire family. It was easy to prepare, tasted great and everyone loved it!
My friends at Ragú asked me to put a unique twist on a recipe from Ragu.com. There were so many amazing recipes to choose from, but I was drawn to the recipe for the Upside Down Deep Dish Pizza. When I think of pizza, "Hawaiian" is one of our family favorites. So, I decided to add diced ham and pineapple to this recipe and it was even better than I imagined it to be.
As a mom who is always trying to get my family to eat more veggies, it's great to know that each jar of Ragú Old World Style Traditional Sauce is made with 11 juicy tomatoes making it Ragú's thickest, richest sauce.
Here are the ingredients for my Hawaiian Upside Down Deep Dish Pizza
1 lb. very lean Ground Beef (I used the kind that was 96% fat free) You could substitute Ground Turkey too.
1 jar (1 lb. 8 oz.) Ragú® Old World Style® Traditional Pasta Sauce
10 ounces of Pineapple Tidbits (very well drained)
4 ounces of cooked diced Ham
2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1 can (13.8 oz.) refrigerated pizza dough
Here's how to make it:
Preheat oven to 375°. Brown ground beef in large nonstick skillet and drain any excess fat.
Stir in Pasta Sauce and bring to a boil; turn into 2-quart deep dish pie plate or baking dish.
Top with pineapple tidbots and diced ham, then cheese. Place pizza dough over dish, sealing edges tightly.
Bake 20 minutes or until crust is golden. Let stand 10 minutes.
It's that easy!
To make it even simpler, the ground beef mixture can be even be cooked ahead of time and refrigerated in the baking dish until assembly time. Just heat it in the microwave until hot before topping and baking. Perfect for those busy nights when we're coming home from a sports practice around dinner time!
If you're family likes ham and pineapple pizza, I think they'll really like this recipe. It was hot, rich and very satisfying! Plus, it was so easy to make, that it didn't leave me with a mess in the kitchen - which I love too!
Visit Facebook.com/RaguSauce for more quick, easy and delicious recipe ideas.
Check out the Ragú Better and Better Sweepstakes for a chance to win Italian themed prizes and a trip to Venice, Italy, for a family of four! www.RaguSweeps.com
Any parent who has ever had a child play hockey knows that it can be a huge investment of time and money, so you really want to make sure your child is committed before signing up. A couple of years ago, my son begged us to play hockey. My husband and I let him give it a try, only to find out that it wasn't his cup of tea. Over time, he has found other sports which he loves, and now enjoys watching hockey games from the sidelines instead.
Does your son or daughter want to try playing hockey? Thanks to the Try Hockey for Free program, your kids across the U.S. can have a free hockey session before you take the leap to skating lessons or team sign ups.
As part of the NHL's Come Play Hockey Month, ice rinks across the U.S. will be hosting programs for kids to try hockey for FREE! This is a great opportunity for your child, between the ages of 4 to 9, to get on the ice and learn more about the sport.
These FREE hockey trial sessions will take place on Saturday, March 1, 2014.
To learn more and find a location near you, go to the Try Hockey for Free website. All locations have a limited amount of equipment available for use so you will need to register as soon as possible.
Do you remember watching the movie Cool Runnings when you were a kid? Both my husband and I fondly remember watching this movie and we were thought it was the perfect time to share it with our kids, since the Winter Olympics are about to begin.
My sons are 5 and 8 and they both loved this movie which is based on the true story of four Jamaica athletes and their their journey to the Winter Olympics. There a few words in the movie that may not be appropriate for small kids, but overall, this movie is really funny and entertaining. It's a positive story about athletes who face so much adversity, but never give up. It's definitely a winner in our house, and I have a feeling we will be watching Cool Runnings over and over again this winter.
Are you excited for the Olympics too? Here are 10 Movies, Books and Crafts based on Winter Sports and Olympics that should keep the kids busy.(Some of the following are affiliate links)
A few days ago, I told you how Chick-fil-A has partnered with the Barnum and Bailey Circus to promote their new Legends tour. We have gone to the show the past couple of years and the kids love it!
This year, the Circus will be in Philadelphia from February 12, 2013 through February 16, 2014 at the Wells Fargo Center and it's a great chance to get out of the house and do something different.
The Show Dates & Times Are: Wed, Feb 12 - 7:00PM Thu, Feb 13 - 10:30AM , 7:00PM Fri, Feb 14 - 10:30AM , 7:00PM Sat, Feb 15 - 11:00AM , 3:00PM , 7:00PM Sun, Feb 16 - 11:00AM , 3:00PM , 7:00PM
In another city? Check here to see if the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's circus is coming to your area.
Do you want to buy discounted tickets to thePhiladelphia show? Enter the promo code BLOG to save money on your purchase of tickets. Go here to purchase tickets to the circus.
Want to win tickets?
One of my lucky readers will win 4 tickets to the Philadelphia Barnum & Bailey® Legends show - Valid for either: Wednesday, Feb 12th at 7pm, Thursday, Feb. 13 at 10:30am or 3pm, or Friday February 14th at 10:30 am.
Looking for Valentine's Day Craft Ideas for Preschoolers and Kindergarteners? You've come to the right place! Here are 26 fun and easy Valentine crafts for kids from some of my favorite bloggers. There is one activity for each letter of the alphabet, so hopefully you'll find something you like.
B is for Bag - You've probably heard about 'Sensory Bins' before, but you have to check out this Valentine Sensory bag craft.
C is for Chocolate - This home-madeChocolate Slimelooks so much fun to play with!
D is for Doily - Learn how to use a pre-washed t-shirt, a doily, and some fabric paint to make an adorable t-shirt for your little girl with this DIY Valentine's shirt tutorial.
E is for Eyes - Recycle those old toilet paper rolls and make these adorable Heart Shaped Binoculars.
F is for Filter - If you want a completely unique Valentine for your kids to hand out at school, take a look at these Heart Coffee Filter Zipper Pulls. They are fun, fashionable and functional!
G is for Glitter - Grab your glitter, contact paper and construction paper to make this Glitter Window Heart Craft with your Preschooler!
H is for Holder - This Valentine Holder Craftis really easy to make, and it helps to keep all of those little cards organized.
J is for Mind Jar - You can make your own mind jar and then shake it up and sit and watch the glitter swirl around! Follow this Mind Jar Tutorial by Juggling with Kids.
K is for Krispie - As if Rice Krispie treats weren't good enough... when you put them on a stick, cover them in chocolate and add Valentine sprinkles they get even better! Continue here for Valentine Rice Krispie Pops.
M is for Memories - Make new memories by turning your child's thumb print into a 'Thumb body loves you' Valentine by Brown Paper Packages
N is for Nature - Upcycle toilet paper rolls into adorable Valentine Butterflies - via Kaboose
O is for Oh so fun! - Valentine's Day wouldn't be complete without some chocolate. Heidi's Recipes shares a Chocolate Play Dough Recipe that looks good enough to eat. Continue here for Heidi's recipe.
P is for Pastel - Buggy and Buddy created a gorgeous Chalk Stencil Heart Collage. This is a great craft for preschoolers.
Q is for Questions - Turn a simple 'Twenty Questions' game into Valentine fun via Baby Center
R is for Recyle - Take some fabric scraps and create a Rag Heart Wreath.
V is for Vintage - Have you ever seen the Graphics Fairy Website? I've been a fan of this site for years and it has a fantastic collection of vintage Valentine illustrations and clip art.
W for Wall - Learn how create an entire Valentine Wall from Balancing Home. It's complete with Valentine balloon topiaries, a wreath, framed art and a pennant.
Y is for Yummy - Get your kids in the kitchen and make these delicious heart shaped pastries for someone special.
Z is for Zebra - These I'm Wild for You Valentine's by Design Mom are a nice sweet-free alternative for Valentine's treats.
Did you find what you were looking for? If you want more Valentine Crafts for Preschool and Kindergarten age children, be sure to visit my Valentine Pinterest board.
Are you doing anything special to celebrate Valentine's Day this year?
What do DIY Juggling Balls have to do with Chick-fil-A and you?
Chick-fil-A has partnered with the Barnum and Bailey Circus to promote their new Legends tour and they may be stopping in your town soon. I had the chance to meet two very sweet clowns at Chick-fil-A in Lima, PA, and they certainly knew how to warm our spirits on such a bitter cold day!
The Chick-fil-A, in Lima, set the scene by decorating the entire restaurant. There was a red and white canopy, lots of colorful balloons, crafts, contests, and red clown noses for everyone! The cow, outside of the restaurant, was even dressed up with a clown wig, red nose and sunglasses.
There was so much excitement in the air! While the kids waited for the arrival of the clowns, they kept busy by eating chicken and doing crafts, including these really cool DIY juggling balls.
If you want to make your own Juggling Balls, here's what you need:
Balloons
Plastic Baggies
Uncooked Rice
1) Fill up a baggie with about 1/3 cup of rice.
2) Use Scissors to cut off the ends of the balloons (as shown above.)
3) Smoosh up your baggie (filled with rice) into one balloon.
4) Then, take that balloon and squeeze it into a second balloon.
Those are the simple steps for making juggling balls at home!
Here's a video of the clowns performance at Chick-fil-A. Keep an eye out! Maybe they'll be coming to your town soon.
If you're in the Philadelphia area, the Barnum and Bailey circus is coming to the Wells Fargo Center from Feb 12 through the 16th. Use the promo code “BLOG” to get tickets at a discounted rate.
Thank you to Chick-fil-A in Lima, PA for giving all the local moms somewhere to take their kiddos on a chilly Thursday afternoon. My son and I loved it and are looking forward to future events!
As soon as I heard about the Disney Frozen sing along, I've been wondering what it would be like. Today, a Disney Rep sent me a clip of the new version and I am thrilled to share it with you. On-screen lyrics and a magical bouncing snowflake lead you through the song. Here is a sneak peek:
If you love the English version of Let It Go, keep watching the video to see the song in 25 different languages. It's absolutely beautiful!
Just a reminder that the sing along version of Disney's Frozen will hit more than 2,000 theaters nationwide beginning Friday, January 31st!
My kids and I watch PBS Kids all the time, so we're always singing along with SteveSongs!
SteveSongs, known and loved by millions as Mr. Steve from PBS KIDS preschool destination is coming to Philly! His signature songs are educational, entertaining, silly, but always seriously good music that both kids and parents can enjoy -- a full family experience. He has an exceptional ability to connect with and engage his audience – from the exuberant children flocking towards the stage, to the moms bouncing babies with the beat, to the parents and grandparents singing and grooving along.
Don't miss the show at the World Cafe Live on February 9. The doors will open at 11a and the show will begin at 11:30am. Tickets are $10 and available HERE.
Would you like to win a copy fo Steve's latest cd- Orangutan Van? Enter to win by using the Rafflecopter widget below.
I remember when my son was a toddler, and I spent 30 minutes getting him all dressed up in his snow gear, only for him to get outside, cry, and come right back in. Those days were tough. Now, a few years later, it's definitely much easier, but it's always good to read up on some tips for keeping your kids safe when they're playing on snow or ice.
Here Are 8 Winter Safety Tips You Need to Know From The American Academy of Pediatrics:
1) Warm layers are key. Dress infants and children warmly for outdoor activities. Several thin layers will keep them dry and warm. Don’t forget warm boots, gloves or mittens, and a hat.
2) Dress kids a little warmer than you would dress yourself. The rule of thumb for older babies and young children is to dress them in one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same conditions.
3) Don't forget the sunblock. The sun’s rays can still cause sunburn in the winter, especially when they reflect off snow. Make sure to cover your child’s exposed skin with sunscreen.
4) Be careful when sledding. Children should be supervised while sledding. Sledding feet first or sitting up, instead of lying down head-first, may prevent head injuries. Avoid sledding in crowded areas.
5) All skiers and snowboarders should wear helmets. Ski facilities should require helmet use, but if they do not, parents should enforce the requirement for their children.
6) Do not take children under age 6 on a snowmobile! The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under age 16 not operate snowmobiles and that children under age 6 never ride on snowmobiles.
7) Allow children to skate only on approved surfaces. Check for signs posted by local police or recreation departments, or call your local police department to find out which areas have been approved.
8) Be sure to set reasonable time limits on outdoor play to prevent hypothermia and frostbite. Have children come inside periodically to warm up.
To read more Simple Tips from then American Academy of Pediatrics check out their Winter Saftey Tips here.
Do you love taking your kids out to play in the snow, or would you rather be inside with a hot drink? Leave me a comment below.
I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community #cbias. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser.
Is it just me, or do you feel like you're always grocery shopping for your family? No matter how much I stock up on pantry basics, I am always at the store to get a few more things. It's a good thing that I enjoy grocery shopping (sans kids, of course) and I get so excited when I find really good deals like this pizza deal at Walmart.
Walmart has just rolled back the price on DiGiorno pizza for just $4.50 each! If you buy frozen pizza, you know that that is a great price, and it's perfect timing to pair Digiorno with one of your favorite sports that are on t.v. right now!
In the summer, we grill a lot and we're always out-and-about. Now that the weather is bitter cold, we're definitely staying home more. I like having a few pizzas in the freezer because they are super quick to make, and I know everyone in my family will be satisfied.
Just this week, we got over 12 inches of snow, and it was so nice to be able to pop a pizza in the oven for a hot and tasty dinner while we watched soccer on t.v.
Knowing that I can just take the pizza out of my freezer and it will be ready in less than 25 minutes, is a great feeling. I'm usually cooking meals from scratch, but everyone needs a break every now and then.
I didn't need to go out in freezing 10 degree weather to pick anything up, work in the kitchen preparing food for an hour, or wash lots of pots and pans after dinner. Sometimes, simple is better.
So, while much of the America is buzzing about a big "football" game right now, we've been watching a different kind of football - a.k.a. soccer.
As we were watching a soccer game last night, I popped a DiGiorno Rising Crust Supreme into the oven. My husband and kids were anxiously awaiting the buzzer on my oven to go off, and when the pizza came out of the oven, we quickly demolished it.
It was convenient. It was affordable. Everyone in my house was happy!
Did I make you hungry? Hurry and go get some Digiorno Pizza's while they're still on sale at WalMart!
What is TogetherBox? It's Family Fun Delivered to your Door!
TogetherBox is a subscribtion service designed to make quality family time easier. After you sign up for a subscription, you will receive a different box every month filled with family oriented activities. I love this idea, because it encourages quality family time, and takes the stress out of planning everything and buying the materials yourself.
A TogetherBox subscription could be the perfect solution for someone who made a New Year's resolution to spend more quality time with their family. Or, what about a gift for Grandma who takes care your children often? Getting a TogetherBox delivered directly to her house takes the quesswork out of entertaining the kids.
Each box will come with 3-4 carefully crafted activities, experiments and games around a surprise theme. Above is a collage of some of the activities from their "Snow Box"
I've always wanted to make gigantic bubbles with my kids. TogetherBox created a "Bubble Box" so I could do just that. All activities are designed to appeal to a large age group so your whole family can enjoy their time together.
"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn."
- Benjamin Franklin
This is just one quote from Ben Franklin that I love. Not only was he one of America's founding fathers but he contributed so much to society that the more I learn about him, the more intrigued I become. Luckily, Philadelphia is an amazing place to learn more about Ben Franklin and the history that surrounds him.
At the Ben Franklin museum, families can explore Franklin’s life and accomplishments through interactive activities, artifacts, and video presentations. Outside of the museum, Philadelphia offers countess opportunities to learn about America's rich history including the Independence Visitors Center, Carpenter's Hall, the Fireman's Hall, the Liberty Bell and more!
We've been to many of the historical attractions in Center City Philadelphia, and, even though I've lived here all my life, I learn something new every time.
Even if you think you're familiar with Ben Franklin, here are a few facts that you may not know.
1) Even though Ben Franklin is known for his ties to the Philadelphia area, he was actually born in Boston, Massachusetts.
2) In 1752, Franklin organized the very first volunteer fire department in Philadelphia and he also served as a volunteer firefighter himself. If you have a volunteer fire department in your community, you can thank Mr. Ben Franklin for that!
3) The first cartoon appeared in Ben Franklin's newspaper, The Pennsylvania Gazette, on May 9, 1754.
4) You will find his picture on every $100 bill that has been minted since 1928. Can you imagine how much money that is in total?
5) The public library system that we know today was developed based on an idea that Franklin came up with back in 1751.
Those are just 5 interesting facts about Ben Franklin. Once you dig into his life a little bit more, you'll be shocked at how much his life influenced the way we live today.
Ben Franklin is Philadelphia’s favorite founding father. To evoke Ben’s wit, wisdom and joy year-round, visit his longtime home of Philadelphia. Learn more at visitphilly.com/Ben
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Visit Philadelphia. The opinions and text are all mine.
Cooking, Culture and Cookies. Baker's Passport has it all!
Meg, from Baker's Passport, and I, have something in common. Just like me, she believes that "traveling and experiencing new cultures can open up worlds of imagination, especially in a child." That's one of the reasons she created Baker's Passport. Baker's passports gives children a chance to work in the kitchen, follow instructions, bake treats, and learn numbers, words, and phrases in new languages.
On a chilly Sunday afternoon, my son and I decided to use our passport to travel to Japan. It was the perfect indoor activity combining three of my favorite things: spending quality time with my son, cooking, and learning something new!
Baker's Passport currently has 3 different options: French, Spanish and Japanese. Since I studied Spanish for years, I thought the Spanish passport would be the most fun, but my 8-year-old son had a different plan. Without hesitation, he told me that he wanted to do the Japanese passport.
Off to Japan we went!
BAKE
I printed off the Japanese Baker's Passport and had my son look it over while he was eating lunch. As he was looking it over, I gathered up some of the ingredients for our cookies. I really liked the fact that the recipe used common ingredients that are staples in most households. Sometimes, it's just nice to stay home on a Sunday and I was happy that I didn't need to run to the store to buy anything for this recipe.
LEARN
I helped my son with the recipe, but he did most of the measuring, mixing and scooping all by himself. While we were making the cookies, we found out how to count to ten in Japanese, the names of colors in Japanese and some Japanese words for some common kitchen items.
My son was excited to see the cookie dough taking shape. At one point, I caught him with his nose up to the bowl. "This smells so good!" he said. He was even asking to make a second batch before we had even finished baking our first.
The Baker's Passport gave us an opportunity to have very special time in the kitchen together while learning about Japan. Although I try to get my kids in the kitchen often, this experience was one-of-a-kind, and it was really nice.
GIVE
Baker's Passport will donate $1 for each purchase to Action Against Hunger, a global humanitarian organization working to end world hunger. What a great cause!
The new year is here, and I know I'm not the only mom who is on a mission to lose a few pounds. So, in an effort to eat healthier, I've been making sure my kitchen is very well stocked with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. Not only am I eating healthier, but I'm getting my family on board too.
I'm pretty creative in the kitchen and I'm constantly thinking of easy ways to get myself and my family to eat more fruits and veggies throughout the day.
Here are some things that work for us, and might work for you too:
1) Frozen onions, peppers and spinach might not sound very appealing, but they are some of the easiest veggies to sneak into food. My kids absolutely love veggie and cheese omelets or breakfast burritos packed with spinach, onion, bell peppers and mushrooms.
2) I always have a variety of canned beans in the pantry. It's so easy to make your own Bean Salad by mixing up some canned beans and light Italian salad dressing. When my son was two years old this was one of his favorites.
3)Bake your own muffins or mid-morning snacks with healthy ingredients instead of grabbing the processed stuff.If you think you're too busy to do this, I assure you it can be done. My sister, who works full time and has an active toddler, bakes in bulk on the weekend, then, uses some of her muffins throughout the week, and freezes the rest in single portions. From my experience, your family will prefer your home-made goodies to the sugary store bought snacks
4) Dip, Dip, Dip! It's such an easy way to get kids eating raw veggies. I always make my kids their own little plate of veggies and dip in the late afternoon or before dinner if they're asking for a snack. Their favorite dip is ranch, but sometimes I make my own yogurt dip as a healthier alternative.
Homemade fruit smoothies, spinach dip with whole wheat pitas, and green salads with Ranch dressing are also really popular with kids too. I'm also looking forward to planting more cherry tomatoes this spring, because the kids will eat them straight from the garden.
Welcome to Week 2 of our 'Best Blogs for Local Fun' feature. This week, I'm highlighting hyper-local blogs from Alaska, and, even if you're not from Alaska, these websites are still pretty fascinating.
AK on the Go is a popular travel blog that focuses on Alaskan destinations for families. Erin Kirkland launched the site in 2009 and is now also the author of: Alaska on the GO, Exploring the 49th State with Children. Her guidebook, published by University of Alaska Press, is due for release in March 2014. I have a feeling that her book is going to be thego-to resource for families travelling around Alaska and I can't wait to check it out!
Read more at traveling around Alaska with Kids at AK on the Go.
The next blog I want to tell you about is called Skedaddle. I love the way this blog is described on their about page. They say that Skedaddle is a "website is aimed at helping families get out of their comfortable houses and into the amazingly dirty, unpredictable and fabulous natural world." How cool is that?
I was also surprised to find this really neat tutorial on How To Make DIY Fire Starters on AKskedaddle.com. With the frigid weather we've been having across America, this could definitely come in handy!
Have you ever lived or vacationed in Alaska? If so, what websites or other resources did you use to get around?
Are you constantly trying to get more organized? I have always tried to be organized, but I still felt like there was just too much going on. Between the kid's activities, school, work and managing a household, it was a bit chaotic. I've always admired women I see who are uber-organized. Now that I'm following their lead, I finally feel like I'm getting things under control. Here's how I'm doing it.
How a Busy Mom Can Get Organized
Step 1: The first thing you need is a binder. I picked out this vibrant binder (above) because the design makes me happy and it's so colorful. Getting a really bright binder with a funky pattern also makes it easy to find if you're moving it from room to room around the house.
Step 2: Get a Few Other Supplies - Buy clear letter size sheet protectorsto place throughout the binder. You can put any pending bills, school forms or stamps right up front so that you don't forget about them. That way, your most important paperwork will be the first thing you'll see when you open your binder. This helps tremendously!
If you don't already have a 3 hole punch. you'll want to get one of those too. And, I personally LOVE having athermal laminatorso that I can laminate any papers that I'll be using often. This helps to keep them clean and easy to find in the binder. If you don't want to get a laminator, Scotch sells packs of self-sealing laminating sheets that are really easy to use without a laminating machine.
Step 3 - Insert a calendar into your binder. My husband and I like coordinating our schedules on a Google Calendar, but nothing beats a good old fashioned paper calendar to track your events and activities throughout the year. If you already have a paper calendar that you started for this year, you can easily punch holes in it and pop it in your binder, like I did above.
Step 4 - Get the Confident Mom Weekly Household Planner.Susan, a.k.a. The Confident Mom, has made an incredible household cleaning/organizing schedule for the entire year! This is a huge help to getting organized because she tells you exactly what you need to stay on track. Having reminders to change the sheets on the bed, clean out the microwave and even make "me time" can help you feel so organized. I like using her suggested taks, but you can also print off a blank copy if that suits you better.
Step 5- Make Your Binder Work For You. There is a tremendous amount of resources out there. You can make your binder as simple or detailed as you choose. I decided to add in a blank weekly planner so that I can keep track of our weekly finances and Money Saving Mom has a fantastic list of Resources to Help you Get Organized you can check out too.
For the first time in a long time, I feel quite organized and it feels wonderful! I'm sure there will be things that slip through the cracks, and I am definitely a work-in-progress, but at least I know I am doing everything I can to stay on track.
What do you do to find simplicity and harmony in a busy household? I'd love to know more tips!
. I picked out this vibrant binder (above) because the design makes me happy and it's so colorful. Getting a really bright binder with a funky pattern also makes it easy to find if you're moving it from room to room around the house. 
to place throughout the binder. You can put any pending bills, school forms or stamps right up front so that you don't forget about them. That way, your most important paperwork will be the first thing you'll see when you open your binder. This helps tremendously!
. you'll want to get one of those too. And, I personally LOVE having a 
so that I can laminate any papers that I'll be using often. This helps to keep them clean and easy to find in the binder. If you don't want to get a laminator, Scotch sells packs of 
that are really easy to use without a laminating machine.
