5 Temmuz 2012 Perşembe

Fireworks Safety Tips

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The 4th of July is just around the corner & there are some safety issues that we, as parents, should think about. Here are just a few tips to help keep your Independence Day festivities fun and safe!


1. Remember to always read and follow the instructions on fireworks labels. 


2. Never allow small children to go near fireworks. 


3. Always make sure an adult is present. 


4. Make sure to keep water and sand nearby. 


5. Never light fireworks indoors. 


6. Don't lean over fireworks when lighting them. 


7. Light only 1 firework at a time.


8. Never point fireworks at other people.  


9. Dispose of fireworks properly by soaking them in water and then disposing of them in your trashcan.


Enjoy the show, have fun with your children, family & friends but above all--Stay safe!!  

SolarLightsPlusMore.com Review & Giveaway

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My family & I enjoy spending time outdoors in the yard. I like making the outside of our home as inviting as the inside. One way I like to do that is by adding garden decor lighting. Outdoor lighting, for me, adds a bit of charm and makes the yard look a little magical. 


SolarLightsPlusMore.com is a wonderful company that I was fortunate to find that carries a wide variety of garden decor lighting, landscape lighting, solar spot lights and much more! 
In case you aren't familiar with them, here is a little info from their website:

Solar Lights Plus More.com, TLJ Ventures, LLC is a home based website located in Northern Nevada, just 30 miles east of Reno in the town of Fernley, NV. We are here to bring quality products all relating to your Solar Lights Plus More for your outdoor needs with prices to fit any budget.  Solar lights are also a good way to save some money, time and energy while beautifying your home.


So, I was excited for the opportunity to review their Mosaic Gazing Ball Solar Stake Lights 2 Pack recently. 
The vibrantly colored mosaic glass ball looks very pretty during the day and even more spectacular at night. These are easy to assemble (even I could do it) and to place the stakes in the ground. I would suggest making sure to place them where they can get the most direct sunlight during the daytime. They come on automatically at dark and stay lit for hours(all depending upon how much sunlight the solar panels are able to collect during the day). They are quite lovely and create a relaxing atmosphere! 
These stake lights are very affordable at only $39.45 and come with a rechargeable Ni-Cd battery already included. 


Want to win your own? 
The generous folks at SolarLightsPlusMore.com have offered a Mosaic Gazing Ball Solar Stake Light 2 Pack for 1 lucky Mom Is Blessed reader. All you have to do to enter to win is follow the simple Rafflecopter instructions below. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents; 18+. Best of luck to all who enter. 


*I received the product mentioned above for review purposes only; I was in no other way compensated. The opinions stated within this post are entirely my own. 





a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Fairy Tale Books Review & Giveaway

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If you are like me you love to read stories to your children. I believe that story time can be a magical time for both parents and kids. I know I enjoyed sitting on my mom's lap as a child as she read to me before bedtime. I am passing on this tradition to my little girl. 


My Fairy Tale Books has an great way of making this experience even more magical. My Fairy Tale Books is a company that offers personalized books for children. There is a wide variety of book choices with customized details such as friend's names, hometowns, special dates and more. The ordering process is easy-peasy, just pick out the book you want and fill in the information need to create your special story( like: child's name, birthdate, etc.). 


I received a personalized My Tea Party for my little girl. 
As I opened the book, I was very impressed with the cute and colorful illustrations. My daughter's eyes began to light up and she got a huge smile on her face as I began to read the story and she heard her very own name. 
My little girl and I both enjoyed the very imaginative story. It was really fun to read and a unique experience. 


Want to buy your own? Just head on over to My Fairy Tale Books now and look at their selection, I'm sure you will find something that your kids will love!


You can connect with My Fairy Tale Books on Twitter & Facebook, too. 


Want to win one? The kind folks at My Fairy Tale Books have generously offered 1 personalized book to one lucky Mom Is Blessed reader as a giveaway prize. Just follow the simple Rafflecopter instructions below to enter to win. Best of luck. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents; 18+. 


* I received the book as mentioned above in order to write an honest review. I was not monetarily compensated. The opinions stated within this post are entirely my own. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fun Facts About Independence Day!!

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     H A P P Y    4th    OF     JULY !!!!!!!




I have scoured the web, looked high & low to find the most interesting and fun facts about Independence Day. Let's see how many of these that you already knew and what you may have never heard. 


Did You Know???


Independence Day was not always celebrated on the 4th of July; It was first celebrated in Philadelphia on July 8th, 1776. 


The first public 4th of July event at the White House happened in 1804. 


John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on Independence Day 1826. 


Benjamin Franklin actually wanted the turkey to be the national animal but was outvoted when Thomas Jefferson & John Adams chose the bald eagle. 


The words Under God were not added to the Pledge of Allegiance until 1954. 


The number of Americans who will spend the holiday at other peoples homes is approximately 41 million.


There are more than 30 towns throughout the nation that have the word "Liberty" in their names. 




Hope you have enjoyed these interesting facts! I wish everyone a safe and fun-filled 4th of July holiday. 













Small Concept Review & Giveaway

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I just found the coolest place to purchase clothing, toys and more for my little girl. Small Concept is a company that carries a huge variety of maternity, baby & children's clothing along with toys, decor and lots more. Just in case you are not familiar with Small Concept let me share with you a bit from their website: 


About Us
Small Concept was born of a love for children and an obsession for tiny tot style. Modern fashion. Cool Styles. Hip Graphics. Great quality – in everything for your little ones – kid’s apparel, nursery furniture, toys, maternity and more. We hope you enjoy!I was given the opportunity to review an item from their children's line & here is what I chose: The Knuckleheads Hula Mula Rozanne Dress Set
What an incredibly cute and cool outfit perfect for hot summer days. Made of cotton knit, this set feels really soft It is very well-made, the attention to detail is amazing The set fits true to size. My daughter absolutely loves wearing it and I think it makes her look adorable; what do you think: 
Buy It Now: just visit Small Concept today and browse their site today, I'm sure you will find something you love! You can also connect with Small Concept on Twitter & Facebook.The generous folks at Small Concept have kindly offered a $25 gift certificate as a giveaway prize for one Mom Is Blessed reader. Just follow the simple Rafflecopter instructions below to enter to win! Best of luck to all who enter. Giveaway open to U.S. residents; 18+. *I received the dress set mentioned above for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated. All opinions stated above are entirely my own. a Rafflecopter giveaway

4 Temmuz 2012 Çarşamba

Quick Homemade Pizza

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In this house, ordering a pizza is always a multi-step process. First, there's deciding to have take-out instead of cooking. I always feel badly about ordering dinner when there's perfectly cookable food in the refrigerator, so this first step tends to take a while as I go back and forth. Once my laziness has conquered my guilt, there's the matter of deciding where to order. Somehow, despite only having about five take-away places near our house, this is always a lengthy conversation. After we've decided on pizza, it's a fifteen minute wait for pick-up. Then another 15 minutes after that to get the pizza home.

This recipe is quicker than all that. I don't think we've ordered a pizza since I've discovered this handy way of making it at home. And it almost goes without saying that homemade pizza is healthier and cheaper.

What makes this recipe quick is that the pizza dough is not given time to rise before baking. That said, this dough is not dense, nor does it like a biscuit (all those crusts in a can taste like biscuit to me). I cut the dough in half, freezing the other half. This gives me a crispy, thin crust, which is how I prefer my pizza. And I get a second pizza out of the deal. The sauce is a simple no-cook sauce that can be prepared at the same time as the crust. Sprinkle on some cheese and toppings, and dinner is done!

This pizza would probably be fabulous baked on a pizza stone. However, I use a pizza pan with holes, which I find works pretty well.


QUICK HOMEMADE PIZZA

for the crust:
1 c warm water (about 110 degrees)
1 package yeast
1 tsp sugar
2 1/2 c bread flour
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt

for the sauce:
1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
salt and pepper to taste

1 (8 oz) bag shredded mozzarella cheese
toppings of choice

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

2. In the bowl for a stand mixer, dissolve the yeast and sugar in the warm water. Let it sit for about 10 minutes, or until the yeast foams. Add the flour, olive oil and salt to the yeast mixture. Using the bread hook, mix together ingredients on low speed. Once dough has come together, detach the bowl from your mixer, cover with a clean, dry towel and allow dough to rest for 5-10 minutes.

3. While the dough is resting, make the sauce. In a bowl, mix together tomato sauce, tomato paste, sugar, and seasonings. Taste and play around with the herbs and spices until it's at your liking.

4. Place dough ball on a lightly floured surface. Cut in half, and stick one half in a gallon freezer bag to freeze for later. Roll out to a size to fit your pizza pan or stone. Top with sauce, shredded mozzarella, and any desired toppings.

5. Bake for about 10 minutes.

Source: Allrecipes (crust) and Allrecipes (sauce)

This recipe is shared with Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Craft-O-Maniac, Made by You Monday, Tuesday Talent Show, Totally Tasty Tuesdays, This Chick Cooks, Full Plate Thursday, It's a Keeper, Foodie Friday

Resolutions

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Happy New Year!

I don't normally make resolutions. I'm not the best at sticking with things for the long term, so there's no doubt I'd give up on some fluffy resolution like "eat healthier" or "read more books" by mid-month. This year, I'm taking a different approach, with more focused goals. I think I might stand a chance. Here's what I'm shooting for in 2012:

I want to challenge myself with my baking. 

This will be the year I tackle puff pastry.

I want to blog better. More creative/interesting recipes. More original recipes (which I've neglected lately). Better writing.

Keep the house cleaner. (ha!)

Finish making my Grandmother's quilt.

Get back into drawing.

Get back into knitting and crocheting. I've been meaning to make Sundae some cat toys forever.

What are you planning to bake/do in 2012?