Make it Monday: Lemon Pork Stir-Fry

Ingredients:
2 Tbs. soy sauce
1 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. five-spice powder, or an equal mixture of cinnamon, ground cloves, ground fennel seed, ground ginger and chili pepper
1-1/4 Lbs. boneless pork tenderloin chops, partially frozen, thinly sliced across the grain into bite size pieces
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup lemon zest, cut into slivers
1 Tbs. cornstarch
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1 Tbs. vegetable oil
1 tsp. fresh ginger, grated

Cooking Directions:
Combine soy sauce, sugar and five-spice powder in a mixing bowl. Add pork to marinade. Toss to coat. Cover bowl and marinate in the refrigerator 30 minutes. Combine lemon juice, zest, honey, and cornstarch in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake vigorously. Heat a wok or heavy nonstick skillet over high heat. Add walnuts and stir constantly 1 minute until toasted. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. Add vegetable oil to wok. Stir in ginger and saute 30 seconds. (The next step may be done in batches.) Add pork and stir fry 3-4 minutes or until done. If working in batches, transfer pork to a platter. Return pork to wok when all meat is cooked. Stir in lemon juice and cornstarch until mixture begins to thicken and is bubbly. Remove from heat. Stir in walnuts and serve.

Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 5 min.
Cooking Time: 10 min.
Per Serving: calories 319, fat 12.2g, calories from fat 34%, protein 34.5g, cholesterol 89.6mg, dietary fiber 1.2g

[Recipe Source]

Get Organized with Microsoft Office Live

Halloween wasn't even over yet when I noticed decorations being put out at local stores for Thanksgiving and Christmas. IN OCTOBER. I made a mental note to myself that it was about time I started thinking and planning ahead for the upcoming holidays because I wanted to be organized this year. Unlike last year when I waited until the last minute to send out Christmas cards, and mail off those holiday packages to my family. It's stressful and with a full time job and two kids at home? I don't need it - Thank You Very Much.

So where was I? Being organized you say?

I think I've found the solution with Microsoft Office Live. Microsoft Office Live is a set of free, easy to use online tools that help those with busy lives stay better organized and on top of things. It also allows you to share important information, plans and dates with those that are important to you.

Office Live Workspace gives you a handy, online space to store, share, and remotely access your documents and files. When you log on to Office Live Workspace, you can create a workspace for a specific event or project, and choose among dozens of templates that can help get you started and stay on track along the way. For instance, if you volunteer to help with a holiday party at your child's school, you may need to create all kinds of documents to keep yourself on track; like a project plan, event agenda, or a parent sign-up sheet. There might even be a need where you'll want to share them with other volunteers. With Office Live Workspace, you can do that! All you have to do is upload your documents and allow others to access and update them, or post new versions to the workspace to ensure everyone stays on the same page.

Sounds fantastic doesn't it? Well I can tell you first hand that it is.

Microsoft Office Live is helpful as it stores all the templates and documents that you'll ever need online. Because of this nice feature you can update the document you started at work on your home computer, or vice versa. Microsoft Office Live is at your disposal and aids in managing extracurricular activities, work projects, travel schedules, and even job searches. You can also upload virtually any file type and you get 5GB of online storage for free. That's enough space to store THOUSANDS of documents!

And if that wasn't good enough, there is another Office Live service; Office Live Small Business which easily helps you create a simple but professional-looking website for a school event, sports team, or maybe that new business you've been thinking about launching. All you have to so is start with one of the Office Live Small Business website templates. Before you know it you will be quickly building a website. You don't even have to be an expert in HTML or web design. Plus, web hosting and design tools are all free.

I really liked Office Live Small Business as it was the encouragement I needed to push me into designing my very own photography website, something I've been thinking about doing but have been having a hard time with because I thought it was going to be difficult. Office Live Small Business made it simple and easy and now I'm one step further to living out my dream as a small business owner.

So what are you waiting for!? Get organized today with Microsoft Office Live.

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“I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Microsoft Office Live. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

Clorox Clean-Up: Power A Bright Future

A lot of kids these days are doing some sort of extra-curricular activity, whether it be music lessons, swim lessons, pee-wee football or hockey, it's healthy and fun and valuable to their growth. I mean that's at least how I look at it. I participated in lots of activities when I was a kid and I hope my kids have the desire to do the same, and enjoy it.

But how can they with the current state of the economy? I see it happening all around me; budget are cut, volunteers are harder and harder to find and even worse, the space required to host these various activities can no longer do it. It's a sad truth to admit but unfortunately extra-curricular activities are the first to suffer.

But wait, there is something positive to look forward to. Clorox Clean-Up, the only all purpose cleaner powered by Clorox Bleach will be teaming up with The Clorox Clean-Up team and will award five grants of $10,000 each to applicable kids programs in the hopes of enriching kids' lives across the country. Does that sound like something you are interested in? If so all you have to do is nominate programs for a chance to win a Power A Bright Future grant by submitting a photo and a short essay about the project for consideration. You have until November 29, 2009 and you can do so at the Clorox Clean-up Facebook page.

A panel of influential children's advocates will select finalists based on impact of the program on kids, the quality of the entry sent in, and most promise for the grant to help the program grow. Then, the public will have the chance to vote on Facebook between December 7th and January 17th, 2010. If you vote? You will receive a Clorox Clean-Up coupon as a thank-you.

Become a fan today and participate. You'll be helping out our youth in the process.

The Power of Parents: MADD

When I was a little girl I remember my sister had a red ribbon tied to the antenna of her car. It was for MADD; Mother's Against Drunk Driving. The mission of MADD is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking.

Did you know that underage drinking has emerged as the number one youth drug problem? You can help however by being an informed, caring parent. Your voice as a parent can strongly impact your teens decisions regarding alcohol, and underage drinking. Facts show that 74% of kids will turn to their parents for guidance on drinking, and research shows that as moms we are the number one influencers in dealing with this issue. For teens, alcohol is an illegal drug, and a zero tolerance policy is the best policy to have as a parent.

On October 27th, MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) will be launching The Power of Parents: It's Your Influence. This program has been designed to help provide us as parents with key tips, information, and tools to help us at home reach our teens and communicate the real life danger of underage alcohol use.

Use your available resources and learn more about MADD. Visit their blog, follow them on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook. Or maybe you'd like to take a safety quiz or a survey.

Do your part as a parent today and educate your kids. Remember, The Power of Parents is key.

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I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of MADD. A donation was made to MADD in my name to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

In Honor of Veteran's Day

Krispy Kreme wants to say Thank You to all the men and women who serve our country in the Armed Forces. If you are a veteran or are currently serving in the military, stop by any US Krispy Kreme for a free doughnut on November 11, 2009!

Check out Applebee's website and see how they too want to honor veterans and active duty military on Veteran's Day. HINT: You get a free entree on November 11, 2009!

Outback Steakhouse would also like to show their appreciation for all veteran's and active duty military by inviting them in for a free Bloomin' Onion appetizer and a drink. Stop in on November 11, 2009!

Golden Corral restaurants are hosting Military Appreciation Monday on November 16, 2009. The free dinner meal is a special "Thank You tribute" to any person who has ever served in the United States Military. If you are a veteran, retired, currently serving, in the National Guard or Reserves, you are invited to join them for Golden Corral's Military Appreciation Monday dinner. Visit their website for more information and participating locations.

Please feel free to leave a comment if you know of any other establishment that is honoring veteran's on Veteran's Day and we'll add them to the list. Help spread the word!

Make it Monday: Cannellini Bean, Scallion, and Prosciutto Dip

Ingredients
1 19-ounce can cannellini beans
1 small garlic clove
3 scallions (white and light green parts)
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 ounces prosciutto
1 medium baguette, cut into rounds

Directions
1.In a medium bowl, combine the beans, garlic, scallions, oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
2.Fold the prosciutto into the bean mixture and serve with the baguette.

Serves 6-8
Hands-On Time: 10m
Total Time: 10m

Recipe Source

GERBER® GRADUATES® SMART SIPS™

My youngest is on the small side, so unlike her older sister. At almost 4 years old, she is only 30 pounds and still in size 3T. She eats, but definitely doesn't have the appetite her sister has and doesn't drink milk as frequently as her sister does.

Enter in GERBER® GRADUATES® SMART SIPS™.

From the Gerber® site:
"Made with delicious and nutritious fat-free milk, SMART SIPS™ beverages are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fat for healthy growth and development. There’s no room for added sugar, preservatives, or artificial flavors. And of course, we use milk produced without the use of added growth hormones or antibiotics."

They come in plain, vanilla, and strawberry flavor. My youngest favored the vanilla flavor, and a playdate of hers that I shared the Smart Sips with liked the plain.

It was interesting to find out these do not need to be refrigerated, and once opened, they can last 48 hours in refrigeration. It can also be mixed with cereal and they have no added sugar, which is important in my house.

You can buy GERBER® GRADUATES® SMART SIPS™ where ever other Gerber® products are sold, like your local Target or Walmart stores.

So now I can get her to drink more vitamins without pushing the milk that she doesn't like to drink. And I feel great as this is another great product from GERBER®.

Dove Body Washes with Nutrium Moisture

There are some products in my house that I refuse to shop "generic" for. Toilet paper, paper towels, and soap. Yes, I exclusively use Dove soap in the shower. But now I am going to use their body wash as well.

I received some bottles of Dove Body Washes with Nutrium Moisture to try out and just in time - my normal "really expensive" body wash had just run out. Now, I don't normally have dry skin, but with all the running I have been doing, I am not only really, really smelly, but my skin is not happy. That, and I sometimes am taking 2 showers a day.

So I was excited to learn this about Dove Body Wash with NutriumMoisture™:

• Repairs and maintains skin’s protective layer during cleansing
• Unlike moisturizers in other body washes, Dove Body Wash with NutriumMoisture™ penetrates surface skin deep down to replenish and nourish
• Clinically proven to significantly reduce dryness and improve moisturization
• Available in Deep Moisture, Sensitive Skin and Gentle Exfoliating


The Deep Moisture was perfect. My skin is nice and soft (not greasy feeling like some moisturizing cleansers leave you feeling), and I feel clean after my shower! No breakouts and I really like the gentle smell. My husband kind of wondered about me smelling like trees or something a candle should smell like.

To learn more about Dove - check out their website here: http://www.dove.us/.

Make it Monday: Sweet Potato Salad with Lemony Buttermilk Dressing

From Good Housekeeping

Pick up your next picnic or barbecue with our gorgeous, tangy Sweet Potato Salad with Lemony Buttermilk Dressing.

Ingredients
3 pound(s) (3 large) sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
1 lemon
2/3 cup(s) buttermilk
1/4 cup(s) light mayonnaise
Salt and pepper
3 stalk(s) celery, thinly sliced
1/4 cup(s) red onion, minced
1/4 cup(s) loosely packed fresh parsley leaves, chopped

Directions
1.In 6-quart saucepot, place potatoes and enough water to cover; heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer 8 minutes or until potatoes are just tender.

2.Meanwhile, from lemon, grate 1 teaspoon peel and squeeze 1 tablespoon juice. In large bowl, whisk lemon peel and juice with buttermilk, mayonnaise, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper. Stir in celery, onion, and parsley.

3.Drain potatoes; cool 10 minutes. Add to dressing in bowl and gently stir until potatoes are well coated. Makes about 8 cups. Spoon potato salad into large container with tight-fitting lid. Can be refrigerated up to 1 day.

Recipe Source

JumpStart Escape from Adventure Island

In the midst of our flu-filled week last week, we were lucky enough to receive a copy of the new JumpStart game - Escape from Adventure Island. As with the other JumpStart games, my kids were excited to try it out, especially since we had been couped up in the house for days on end so as not to pass whatever flu we had to others.

The game is geared towards kids ages 5-9, grades K - 4. Some of the skills it covers? Spelling, rounding, addition, multiplication, measurement and much more (as in 150+ skills more!).

The game premise is that you are stranded on Adventure Island after making an emergency landing. The players race to collect pieces needed to repair their blimp.

The game was easy for my 6 year old to navigate, and honestly, my almost 4-year old had fun with it too! My oldest of course not only loved the skills she had to master (it is because of games like this one that she has learned multiplication way ahead of when she will learn it in school), but she liked the Jumpee Quick Change which let her change the way her character looked.
And between today and November 16th, you can enter to win one of these great prizes from the JumpStart Blog:

- 50 winners will receive a copy of JumpStart Escape From Adventure Island
- 3 GRAND PRIZE WINNERS will receive a family Escape Pack (over $1000 value)!
1 Nintendo Wii Console
1 copy of JumpStart Escape From Adventure Island
$250 in spa gift certificates
1 JumpStart branded flip camera
3 lifetime JumpStart memberships (1 for winner, 2 to share)
500 virtual coins for JumpStart.com
4 JumpStart pirate hats & 4 JumpStart kids T-shirts

To enter, just share how your family uses imagination to escape the everyday and turn life into an adventure. To enter, go here.

Good Luck! And just think, this game would make a great Christmas gift!

I received this game to try out for free from JumpStart.