Friday Favorites-Dawn's Thumb Guards

For the past 2 1/2 years we have been waging war against thumb sucking and losing miserably. When I say we've tried everything I mean it. Rewarding good behavior, making the girls wear gloves, taping socks to their hands, finger splints, bandaids, taping their thumb to their pointer finger, constant reminders and this DISGUSTING stuff you paint on their fingers, but alas NOTHING WORKED! I have never felt so defeated!!! 

At the girls last dentist appointment he sat them both down and had a heart-to-heart and told them they MUST stop sucking their thumbs. I always thought that the thumb sucking caused the teeth to stick out, which it does, but our dentist said long-term thumb sucking can also move the bone and when the bone is involved it can't be fixed. I don't know if it scared the girls, but it sure worked on me!!!

In a desperate Google search I found Dawn's Thumb Guards. I'll be honest, I wasn't sure how 2 scraps of fabric could stop my girls from sucking their thumbs when nail poish that tastes like paint thinner didn't slow them down one bit, but OMG IT'S WORKING!!!

(Oh my...she has been as feisty as ever this week and driving her Mama INSANE!)

The guards are custom made to fit your child and come in a variety of fabrics. They wrap around their wrists and attach with velcro. I let the girls pick their fabric. Lo chose horses (big surprise) and NoJo butterflies. They arrived in a few days and the girls were so excited to put them on! Our rule is that they stay on all the time. The only time they can come off is when they are bathing. I don't care if they get sticky with peanut butter or covered in glitter glue, they must stay one and yes, they even sleep with them on. We did end up ordering a second set so that we could have a back-up when one is in the wash .

The girl are really doing a great job keeping them on. We've had them for about 3 weeks and they still like to wear them. I thought they would be a little self-conscious when wearing them to camps and activities, but they're not. They see them as a fashion accessory and if someone asks what it is they happily tell them, "That's my thumb guard!"

I think there is a glimmer of light at the end of this long tunnel!

Keeping Basil Fresh

Fresh herbs in summer always make me smile! There's nothing better than picking them from your very own garden. They make any dish taste crisp, fresh and delicious!

One of my favorite herbs to grow is basil. It's so easy and it grows so well, almost too well sometimes! The thing with basil is that you have to "pinch" it before it flowers or the leaves will start to taste bitter. But what do you do if you need to pick your basil and you're not ready for it? Of course you can make some wonderful pesto, but I found a way to keep your picked basil "just picked fresh" for several days. 

All you need is a cooling rack and Tupperware bowl filled with water.

Sure you can put your stems in a glass, but the cooling rack keeps just the ends in the water. No soggy leaves here! The key is to have them in the water right after you pick them. If that's not possible just trim the ends again before you put them in the water.

Here's what my basil looks like 6 days after it was picked. The leaves are still perky and crisp and look and feel like the leaves still in the garden. As an added bonus, my kitchen smells wonderful!

I haven't tried it with store bought herbs, but I think I'm going to give it a try. I hate when I buy them and then they go bad a day or two later. So frustrating!

Do you have any tips or tricks you use to keep your herbs just-picked-fresh? Shout them out! We'd love to hear them!

Friday Favorites-The Run Home

If it wasn't so big and heavy, I'd be toting this baby around my neck EVERY day!

Lucky for me I found The Run Home. I'm in L-O-V-E, love with all their running bling! I came across this during my training and knew I HAD to have it!

If I can't wear my pretty, shiny race medal, this is the next best thing!

I'm a little superstitious so I waited until I completed the race before ordering it. I placed my order on Sunday and it arrived a few days later. I was so excited!!!

I love that it was all wrapped up. It was like opening a present FROM me TO me!

It even came with a polishing cloth so I can make sure it's always beautiful!

The length is adjustable so I can wear it with just about everything and you know I'll be wearing it ALL THE TIME! It went from the box to my neck in about 3 seconds!

There are so many different charms to choose from so you can design the necklace that's perfect for you. In addition to running, biking, swimming, you'll find ones for yoga, inspiration and family too. Check out their Etsy shop {HERE} and like them on Facebook {HERE}...and then do a little shopping for yourself! 

You totally deserve it!

*All opinions are completely mine. I was not asked to write about The Run Home or compensated in any way. I just love my new bling and wanted you all to see it!*

Pin-tastic or Pin-trosity Fixin' My Make-up

A few weeks ago I made a purchase with Groupon Goods. It was a HUGE make-up kit for a very reasonable price. I'm not a big make-up-wearer, my main go-tos are concealer (I have 3 kids after all), a little bronzer, mascara and lipgloss. This kit had WAY more than I needed but the price was right and I have a few formal events coming up so I may need a little more fanciness. Besides, my girls will have a field day with all the different shades of eyeshadow!

I was so excited when it arrived yesterday! My bubble was instantly burst when I opened it and saw this:

There was bronzer EVERYWHERE. It was a huge powdery mess! I made a few quick emails to Groupon (whose customer service was FAB-U-LOUS) and was given a full return. Sadly because of limited stock, they couldn't replace the kit like I was hoping. I almost dumped out all the broken make-up, but then I remembered that I had seen {THIS} pin on how to fix broken powder make-up and I thought I'd give it a try!

All you need is rubbing alcohol. Apparently the higher the percentage the faster it dries so I bought the one with the highest percentage I could find.

I soaked a cotton ball with the rubbing alcohol and squeezed it into the area where the broken makeup was. The instructions say all you need is a "few" drops of the rubbing alcohol, but I found that if you used too little it didn't work. Instead of sticking to itself, it just stuck to my finger so make sure you use a decent amount.

After I switched from "drops" to "drenching" the process went very quickly. The broken eyeshadows were super easy. I put a little of the rubbing alcohol on them and gently patted them down. They dried very quickly too. 

The big bronzer took quite a bit of the rubbing alcohol, but once I had enough it smoothed out pretty nicely.

It took the longest to try, but in less than an hour it was ready for use. 

Sure it's not as pretty as it was when it was brand new, but it's in much better condition than when it arrived! So glad I "pinned" this little trick! I'm sure I'll be using it again!

I Just Want to Pee Alone

Like with most people I struggle to find balance. Balance to fit it all in. To be a mom, wife, individual. Balance to get all the daily duties in; work, laundry, meals, cleaning, homework, making sure everyone gets to where they need to be. Balance to fit in the things I enjoy; crafting, blogging, cooking, running, reading. Most days it's near impossible to get it all in. Between shuffling the older girls around and chasing after a crawling baby, I'm lucky to get half of my to-do list done! Yesterday I realized I had been in the same pajamas for TWO DAYS, seriously-two days! (We're moving bathing to the top of the to-do list immediately!) With all the miles that I've been putting in lately I've had to sacrifice some of my favorite activities, mainly the crafty and reading. Thankfully I've found a way to sneak in a little reading...

For Valentine's Day the hubby surprised me with my very own iPad (awesome right?!?!). I love having it and it's certainly great to have when the kids are getting a little restless, nothing is more motivating for my girls than earning some screen time! I recently downloaded my first iBook and I love it! Just look at the title, I Just Want To Pee Alone. What mom wouldn't be drawn to this book!!!

The mastermind behind this project is Jen from People I Want to Punch in the Throat. She went viral a few Christmases ago with her post on Over Achieving Elf on the Shelf Mommies and hasn't stopped making me laugh since. She writes about what's on her mind and isn't afraid to make fun of herself. Her book is a collection of essays from a group of hilarious mommy bloggers who don't take themselves to seriously. The titles alone will make you chuckle. Eat Poop, Laugh. No, I Didn't Forget a Comma is my favorite! I've been reading little bits here and there during nap time, between ballet classes and sitting in carlines. The essays are pretty short so you can get in a few laughs before it's time to schlep everyone  to the next activity. The perfect distraction to break up some of the monotony of your day!

So what are some of your favorite reads? What do you try to sneak in during your busy day? Shout 'em out we want to hear!!!

Wanna check out I Just Want to Pee Alone? 

It's available at Amazon.com {HERE} and iTunes {HERE}.

*This is an unpaid blog post. Sadly, Jen from PIWTPITT has no idea who I am. I just wanted to share a great book with you! And yes, I too, just want to pee alone!*

Some Like It Hot-3 Spicy and De-Lish New Recipes

I guess I've been on a little bit of a spicy kick lately because the last three meals I cooked made my eyes water and my nose run and they were absolutely DE-LISH! These are definitely not for the lovers of mild and bland. All three came from The Feed Zone Cookbook. They are quick and easy to make, full of good for you veggies in every color of the rainbow and low in fat...another cooking trifecta of goodness

Spicy Asian Noodle Soup

I seriously could have eaten the whole pot of this soup and it made our house smell wonderful. It would be a great dish for a large group because everyone can make it to their liking. Next time I make it, I may let the girls try it. The sausage wasn't spicy and they can add in their favorite veggies. They'll totally love being little chefs.

Ingredients

• 8oz rice noodles
• sesame or grapeseed oil
• 1lb Italian bulk sausage (spicy or not) or 1lb cubed firm tofu (I used sausage)
• 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth

Toppings (pick your favorites)

• chopped green onions
• chopped bell peppers
• shredded/chopped carrots and/or radishes
• shredded cabbage
• chopped fresh ginger, garlic and/or jalapeno
• fresh mint, Thai basil leaves, and cilantro
• soy sauce
• Sriracha sauce
• fresh limes

Look at those Be-U-Ti-FUL colors!!!

1. Bring a large stock pot filled with water to a boil. Cook the rice noodles as directed on the package. Drain water from noodles, tossing with a light sesame or grapeseed oil to prevent noodles from sticking. Set aside.
2. Brown the meat or tofu. Add a splash of oil once most of it is browned and then saute until crisp. Add soy sauce and continue to mix. If using tofu, add some salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
3. While the meat or tofu is browning, bring the broth to a simmer in a large pot. Add an equal amount or more of water, depending on how strong you want the flavors to be.
4. Divide noodles among four bowls, add broth to each, top with tofu or sausage. Mix in the veggies and toppings as desired. Have chopsticks and big spoons ready

The warm broth combined with the crispy veggies and fantastic sausage make a wonderful bowl of yumminess!

Just seeing that beautiful pictures makes me want to go out immediately and buy all the ingredients! Seriously, make this one, you won't be disappointed!

Orange Chicken

You certainly could make this without the chili sauce and jalapenos but I really think it is begging for both. Make the kids some chicken nuggets instead and enjoy your nice grown-up chicken!

Ingredients

• 2 cups uncooked calrose or medium-grain rice
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1lb boneless, skinless chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 cup rice flour
• 1/2c red cabbage
• 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 jalapeno, thinly sliced

Dressing (personally I don't think there was enough sauce, next time I would double the ingredients)

• 1/4 cup orange marmalade
• 1T soy sauce
• 1t chili sauce (or to taste)

Instructions 

1. Combine rice and water in a rice cooker.
2. While rice is cooking, dust chicken pieces with rice flour in a bowl or large ziplock bag
3. In a lightly oiled medium saute pan, cook the chicken until lightly browned, about 5 minutes
4. Add cabbage, onion and jalapeno and saute until all are softened, about 3-5 minutes. Removed pan from heat.
5. To make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together orange marmalade, soy sauce and chili sauce.
6. Pour dressing over chicken and vegetable mixture and stir well to incorporate. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve over rice.

It's the perfect combination of sweet and spicy. It makes enough for 4 servings and yes, the hubby and I ate them all!

Spanish Chicken and Tomato Stew

When I made this one, I made it REALLY spicy because I misread the ingredients and put in one POUND of chorizo instead of one CUP. Oh boy did my eyes water and I think I needed about 49 tissues, but it was still delicious and I ate two HUGE bowls! I made it in the slow cooker so it was super easy. I love that the veggies were still crispy and not mushy. I topped our stew with fresh avocado which added some wonderful creaminess and helped balanced some of the added spiciness.

Ingredients

• 1T olive oil
• 2lbs bonesless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into cubes
• 1 cup chorizo or Italian sausage 
• 1 cup carrots, chopped
• 1 cup tomatoes, diced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 mild green chile peppers, chopped, seeds left in
• 2-4 cups chicken stock or water (see note)

Optional Additions

• 1/2c apple cider vinegar
• 1T brown sugar
• 1c cooked white beans, rinsed 

1. Pour olive oil into a heavy pot and set over medium-high heat. While oil is heating, sprinkle salt and pepper over chicken.
2. Add sausage to pot and brown thoroughly. Add chicken and cook about 5-6 minutes, until browned.
3. Add vegetables and 2 cups chicken stock (including any desired optional ingredients-Add canned beans, if using, just before serving), cover pot with lid, and bring to a rolling boil. Reduce heat to medium and let simmer for 45 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with warm polenta or steamed rice.

NOTE: To prepare in a slow cooker, first cook the meat as instructed in steps 1 and 2, but simply sear the meat until it is lightly browned on each side. The meat will not be cooked through. Transfer the meat and all of the ingredients, along with an additional 2 cups of chicken stock, to the slow cooker and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours. 

So now you have three great recipes to warm you up on these ridiculously cold "spring" days! Happy eating! 

Friday Favorite-Better Oats

Oh what. A. Week! The hubby was in Boston this week for work and it seemed like the girls had a million and one activities! We ate Subway two nights in a row for dinner. That's pretty much unheard of around here. Needless to say, the girls were thrilled! At least it was somewhat healthy...

With all my training the same "healthy" meals week after week are getting a little boring. I've been searching for new ideas. Last week a had a coupon for Better Oats oatmeal and I thought I'd give it a try. 

I'll be honest, I was totally leery at first and if I didn't have a coupon I probably wouldn't have tried them. Steel cut oats make me gag and I was worried these would taste the same. 

Oh YUM! They were good! 

They are super easy to make, under 3 minutes on the stovetop or in the microwave, and come in a TON of (like 30) flavors! I picked Lavish Dark Chocolate and Abundance Apples and Cinnamon. They are full of whole grain oats and when you look at the ingredient list you recognize the ingredients as actual foods! The two I picked were under 200 calories per serving and under 3 grams of fat. For a big breakfast eater like me the serving size seemed puny, but it kept me full all morning! I can't wait to try some of the other flavors like Spiced Chai and Pomegranate! I found them at Meijer but I've seen them at Target too so I'm sure they're pretty much anywhere you can buy oatmeal! If you try them let me know what flavor you get! We can compare notes. I also think it would be fun to mix a few different flavors to make a totally new one! With 30 different kinds there are a TON of possibilities! 

*This is an unpaid shout-out for Better Oats. They don't know me, I just wanted to share some yummy goodness I found!*

Imy's Joy=My Joy

Our house is in a constant state of redecoration...I get bored looking at the same walls day after day. We've had a big blank way in our entry way for quite awhile now. It's right by a taller dresser so it needed something big for balance. As much as I don't like blank spaces I am a firm believer in waiting for the perfect piece. Inspiration will come...eventually. 

At the beginning of the month a great crafty destination opened in our town. Best of What's Around is crafty girls dream. It's full of repurposed, refurbished furniture, handmade clothes and tons of wall decorations and vintage knick-knacks. The best part? It's all LOCAL crafty gals and it's all handmade!!! My good friend Erin from Lois Pearl Designs has a wonderful corner of her goodies there (and you can even see my girls on the wall showing off their favorite Lois Pearl outfits). Seriously, it's an awesome place and if you're near Indy you need to check it out!!! You can find their address and hours {HERE}.

So back to my blank wall....I found a few quick, rare alone shopping minutes and stopped by Best of What's Around and I found the most perfect item for my big blank wall. The magnetic board in the picture is from Imy's Joy. When I saw it I KNEW I had to have it!!! It was the perfect color and size (it's hard to tell in the picture but it's 29"x 23") for the spot! I also love that it gives me some flexibility. I can change what I hang on it daily or hourly if that's what I feel like!

Imy's Joy also has tons of other items too, lots of signs with inspirational quotes on them and pretty things to hang on your wall. There was a super cute chalkboard menu planner for the wall that I really liked too. It would be perfect for our kitchen and would definitely cut down on the "MOM! What's for dinner??!?!" shouts I get every night.

What's your favorite handmade crafty designer? Do you have a place like BWA where you are? Shout em' out! We want to support them too!

Have a great Tuesday and thanks for checking in!!!

What I Like On Wednesday-Broward Patch

I recently got some new bling for my Big Girl Camera...

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my new camera strap from Broward Patch! I was shopping in her Etsy shop looking for a bday gift for a friend and couldn't resist picking up this beauty for myself! It was listed as a plain strap without the flowers, but after a few quick conversations back and forth she had a SUPER QUICK custom order listed and ready for me to purchase!

I've already gotten several compliments on my new accessory and I totally agree! Did I mention I LOVE it?!??!

Go checkout her Esty shop {HERE}. There are lots of fun camera straps and key chains to choose from. If you don't see what you're looking for don't hesitate to contact her. She was SUPER helpful and friendly, and my order shipped the very next day! 

Grease Is The Word

I don't know if there really is anything more wonderful than bacon. It truly may be the most amazing thing in the world. Seriously, what doesn't taste better with bacon?!?! Um nothing, that's what...

Due to it's high status on the unhealthy list we don't have it very often around here and when we do it, doesn't last long. I have a few new recipes to try that require a little bit of cooked bacon so I indulged and bought two pound and got frying. Check in next week to see the new recipes. I'm really excited about them and REALLY hope they turn out as delicious as they sound. 

As you can imagine, two pounds of bacon lead to A LOT of bacon grease. I found this cool trick to dispose of the grease awhile back and wanted to share. It's one of those "why didn't I think of that" ideas and now I no longer have glass jars full of bacon grease sitting under my sink!

First take a small bowl or dish and line it with foil.

Carefully pour the hot grease into the foil. I recommend doing this over the sink.

Let it sit overnight until the grease solidifies.

Fold the foil into a ball (or swan if you're fancy)...

...and toss it into the garbage.

Easy. Peasy.

Yaktrax...a MUST for winter running!

We've had a weird winter here in Indy. One day we're getting tons of snow and the next it's melting because the sun is out and then it freezes and everything is icy. I can't keep up!

Two weeks ago we got a huge amount of snow and the temperature dropped to 2 degrees with the windchill (funny story...for my first two years living in Boston I thought it was called the "windshield factor" and NO ONE ever corrected me!). Of course it was a long run day and the roads and sidewalks were completely full of ice and snow. I had already slipped and fell on the ice the previous week (thinking that I broke my wrist at first) and I was determined not to have a repeat spill. I called our local running store, Blue Mile, and asked them if they had anything I could put on my shoes to prevent slipping on the ice and snow. They recommended Yaktax and they seriously are the best thing EVER!

They just slip over your running shoes (or any shoes for that matter) and you're good to go! I like that they are coiled. I feel like they won't wear down as much as spikes would. They have a few different "styles" to choose from. I went with the Pros. They also have ones made for running, but they said "they can be worn in temperatures as low as 41 degrees" and I'm going to be running in temps much colder than that!

So far I've run in them three times and haven't had any problems. I can tell they are there but they don't seem to effect my stride or pace. You do have to be careful on slick surfaces, like if you put them on inside where there's tile or on a slippery garage floor, but other than that they are AWE-SOME!

With all the miles ahead of me this winter I know I'm going to be so glad that I have them!

*These are just my thoughts and opinions. Yaktrax has never heard of me and didn't not pay or compensate me in anyway. I was just happy to find a great product and wanted to share!*