Groupon/Gap Give and Get

Today and today only...if you live in the Piedmont Triad of NC, Groupon is offering a coupon for Gap. When you buy the coupon for $25, you are actually getting $50 worth of merchandise. Total savings? %50! Go here to buy this coupon.

The best thing is...Gap's Give and Get is going on next weekend. This coupon can be used as many times as you'd like, so share it with your friends. It gets you %30 off any purchase made at Gap, Old Navy, or Banana Republic. Also, every purchase donates %5 to Teach For America.


So basically, if you buy the Groupon, you're saving %80 (for the first $50) AND helping donate money to a great cause! Does it get any better than this?

Happy shopping!

~A

Baby Wearing 101

I have just begun making/selling baby carriers called onbuhimos. An onbuhimo (onbu for short) is a Japanese baby carrier that allows the baby to be held belly to belly or belly to back with their parent, while allowing the parent to have their hands free to do other things. My next few blog entries will go over details of different types of baby carriers and which to use for each age group of babies. For now, though, I'd like to take the time to explain baby wearing, especially to those that are skeptic of baby wearing.

So often these days, parents have this false sense of what a baby "should" be like. Americans have come to believe that a "good" baby is a baby who sleeps through the night, is okay with being laid on the floor, shoved in a swing/bouncy seat, and/or put in a play pen for the majority of the day so that Momma can get things done, lays nicely in a stroller/grocery cart, etc. While floor/tummy time, swings, bouncy seats, play pens, strollers, and carts have their time and place, these type of environments/devices are not always the best method of caring for your child in a way that the child feels comfortable and safe. Children, especially babies, feel more at ease and relaxed when they are close to their parents. "Wearing" or carrying your child is a good way to help your child feel relaxed and comfortable, while also allowing the caregiver to get things done. 


1. What is baby wearing?

• Baby wearing is the process of carrying a baby in a sling, wrap or carrier that transports a baby, allows a baby to be close to his/her parent/guardian/caregiver, while allowing the wearer to have his/her hands free to do other things.

2. Who can be a baby wearer?

• Any adult/teen who is willing. Mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, older siblings (not recommended for age groups younger than teenagers), babysitters, aunts, uncles, etc. It isn't just for women. It isn't just for parents!

3. What are the benefits of baby wearing for the baby?

• Babies that are "worn" tend to be happy babies. On average, they cry less, are less high maintenance, and are more social than babies who are not "worn."
• Babies that are "worn" tend to have a faster rate of emotional development. They feel more secure with their caregivers at a younger age, which in turn helps them become more independent at an earlier age.
• Babies that are "worn" tend to learn at faster rates. They stay in the "alert" state when carried and are more involved in everyday activities.

4. What are the benefits of baby wearing for the caregiver?

• It allows your baby to be close to you while still allowing you to do things such as clean, shop, sew, knit, read, go for walks, play with/occupy an older child, etc.
• It allows the carrier to bond more quickly with the baby. (This is especially great for dads, since nursing mothers tend to bond more quickly with their babies than the babies' fathers do.)
• It allows nursing mothers to nurse their babies in public more discreetly. 
• It allows you to leave the bulky, heavy carriers, such as a portable car seat, behind. Slings/carriers roll up and fit well in a diaper bag.
• It allows the caregiver to hold the baby without their arms/back getting tired/sore.*

5. What are some of the oppositions to baby wearing?

• Many people who oppose baby wearing say things along the lines of "But you'll spoil the baby!" "He/she will want to be held all of the time!" Studies pertaining to these questions have been conducted and found that these accusations do not come to be true in children that are carried. Children who are carried, tend to be more independent due to the secure feelings and attachment to their parents. 
• Babies who are carried will have back problems, cannot breathe as easily, etc. This has been disproved time and time again. Carrying children actually is BENEFICIAL to their breathing/physical development. In some cases, it is known to actually prevent back issues in children that are predisposed to back development complications. Also, babies that are carried (upright or horizontally) actually have a better air flow and an easier time breathing than if laid in a stroller.
• It isn't safe to carry your baby "hands free". This simply isn't true...if done correctly. Baby carriers should NEVER carry a baby "hands free" if uncomfortable doing so. Until the carrier is comfortable, he/she should support the baby with one or both arms. However, when the carrier becomes comfortable with baby wearing, it is completely safe, BUT it is the carriers responsibility to ensure that the sling/carrier used to carry the baby is safe. (See below.)

6. What should you do to keep your child safe while baby wearing?

• The carrier should always, Always, ALWAYS inspect the carrier/sling for frayed edges, loose stitching, and abnormalities BEFORE using it to carry their child.
• If using a ring sling/carrier that requires rings, always be sure that the rings are strong/made for baby wearing. Rings from slingrings.com are tested specifically for baby carriers. If the carrier doesn't specify using rings from there, be sure to check out the standards of the rings used. Plastic rings should NEVER be used. Metal rings that are welded together can break. Nylon rings not tested for baby carrying may slip. The correct size of rings for the specific carrier is also crucial. 
• Always follow the weight/age guidelines. If it is made for a child who can hold up their head, do not use the sling/carrier with a newborn. If it specifies not using it with a child over 30 lbs, do not put your 40 lb toddler into the carrier/sling.
• Never bend from the waist.
• Never exercise (other than walking) while wearing your child.
• Always wear the slings/carrier as designed to be worn. Many slings/carriers are able to be worn in multiple ways, however, if intended to be worn as a sling that sits above your belly button, never wear it as a carrier, or below your belly button.
• Use common sense! This is your baby, not a sack of potatoes!
• Never wear a child around open flames or hot surfaces such as a stove. Baby carriers are flammable and your child can be burned or worse. 
• Always think about the needs/safety of your baby.

These are the basics of baby wearing. If you have further questions, please feel free to comment. I will answer your questions to the best of my ability! Within the next few days, I will be blogging about different types of baby carriers and the pros/cons of each that I am familiar with. :-) 

Information seen in this blog entry is a compilation of the following websites:

History and Stories About Wearing

The Baby Wearer

Unfounded Fear of Postural Damage By Carrying

Do Carried Babies Get Enough Air?

Fussy Babies

Baby Wearing

Remember, baby wearing is not for everyone. This post is not to guilt you into carrying your child, but simply presenting you with the benefits for both caregiver and baby involved in baby wearing.

~A

*Certain carriers are better for certain ages due to weight of the child. Some carriers, when used with older children, put more strain on the carrier than others. However, overall, baby wearing is less stressful on your arms and back.

Do You Know The Way To Santa Fe?

Every time I think about the song "Do You Know the Way to Santa Fe?" I think about My Best Friend's Wedding. Ya know...the Julia Roberts, Rupert Everett, Cameron Diaz movie? It's absolutely one of my favorite movies since it first came out! Anyway, the song is only sang in a swift moment of banter, but every time I make this dish, or think about it's name, I recall the scene in my head. Ridiculous? Maybe. Entertaining? Ohhhh yeah!


Now, this recipe isn't one I created. It's one I found on this lovely website called Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes. Don't fret. Don't despair. This isn't "diet" food. This is truly YUMMY food that isn't bad for you! It only has 171.9 calories and 1.6g per serving and the serving size is generous! (Extra calories for rice or anything used outside of this recipe.) So, whether you're looking to eat a little healthier, or just simply add some variety or "spice" to your diet, this recipe is sure to be a winner!


Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken
By: Gina's Weight Watchers Recipes
Ingredients Needed:

• 24 oz (1 1/2) lbs chicken breast
• 14.4 oz can diced tomatoes with mild green chilies
• 15 oz can black beans
• 8 oz frozen corn
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 14.4 oz can fat free chicken broth
• 3 scallions, chopped
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper (to taste)
• salt to taste

Directions:

1. Combine chicken broth, beans, corn, tomatoes, cilantro, scallions, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, cayenne pepper and salt in the crock pot. 

2. Season chicken breast with salt and lay on top. 

3. Cook on low for 10 hours or on high for 6 hours. 

4. Half hour before serving, remove chicken and shred. 

5. Return chicken to slow cooker and stir in. 

6. Adjust salt and seasoning. 

7. Serve over rice (extra pts/cals). 

I would like to mention that we never use scallions or cilantro in ours and it tastes amazing! We make white rice in my handy dandy Pampered Chef rice cooker during the half hour time after the chicken has been shredded and returned to the pot. As soon as the rice is done, the chicken is done as well. Ta da! Easy cooking!

Three Things I Like About This Recipe
1. It's easy!
2. It's delicious!
3. It's low in calories/fat!


Three Things I Don't Like About This Recipe
1. You have to smell it cooking all day long and resist the urge to taste it!
2. (Ok seriously...there isn't anything I don't like about this recipe...)


Happy cooking!


~A

Momma Mia! Stuffed Shells

Last night, I made one of my and my husband's favorite Italian meals...stuffed shells! Almost every time I make them, I post pictures on Facebook. My FB friends go crazy over how yummy they look! So, I decided to share the recipe in a public forum. 

Momma Mia Stuffed Shells

By Angela Bailey

Ingredients Needed:

Jumbo Pasta Shells 

1 Jar (1 lb, 8 oz) of Spaghetti Sauce

Mozzarella Cheese (I used Kraft's part skim.)

Parmesan Cheese

10 oz of Frozen Spinach (thawed/drained)

8 oz Ricotta Cheese

Cooking Spray

Water


Optional Ingredients:
Salt
Pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

2. Fill a large pot 3/4 of the way full with water.

3. Add a couple dashes of salt to the water.

4. Boil the water.

5. While the water is boiling, spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray.

6. Pour half of the spaghetti sauce into the bottom of the 9x13 baking dish and spread evenly.

7. Add pasta shells to the boiling water. (Don't use the whole box. Only approx. 16-18 shells will actually be made. However, throw in a few extras in case a couple break.) 

8. Cook shells until al dente.

9. While shells are cooking, in a medium mixing bowl, mix ricotta, spinach, and 1/4 cup parmesan cheese until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed. (Optional: Add a little salt and pepper.)

10. Drain shells in a colander when done cooking.

11. Rinse shells with cold water until they are cool to the touch.

12. Using a heaping tablespoon of spinach/ricotta mixture, fill shells and place in the 9x13 baking dish, opening facing up.

13. Pour the remainder of the spaghetti sauce over the shells.

14. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese generously over sauce and shells. (I used two handfuls.)

15. Sprinkle parmesan cheese lightly over mozzarella.

16. Cover with tinfoil and put into the oven.

17. Cook for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted.

18 Enjoy!

This dish is very filling and super yummy! Vance and I are only able to eat about 4 shells each and we are stuffed! That just means there are leftovers! MMMM! I can't wait for lunch!

~A

Homemade Spicy Chicken Pasta

Last night, my husband, Vance, and I made dinner without following a recipe. We both have our fortes in the kitchen. While I usually stick to the baking side of creativity, tonight I decided to make some "homemade" sauce for our pasta dish, while Vance handled the chicken. Did I mention my husband went to culinary school? Yeah, I know! I'm sucha lucky gal! :-)


I posted a couple pics on Facebook last night as we were cooking and people commented on how yummy it looked, so I told them I would figure out the recipe and post it. So...bon appetite!


Homemade Spicy Chicken Pasta
Recipe by Vance and Angela Bailey


Ingredients Needed:
Spaghetti Noodles (we used whole wheat)
1 (14.5 oz) Can of Italian Tomatoes
1 (8 oz) Can of Tomato Sauce
Mushrooms (as few or as many as you'd like)
Minced Garlic
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
Salt
Pepper
Herbed Poultry Spice

Parsley
Extra Virgin Olive Oil


Suggested Ingredients:
Oregano
Italian Seasoning
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Basil
Cayenne Pepper


Noodles:
1. Boil water in a pot.
2. Add some salt when boiling.
3. Add spaghetti noodles.
4. Cook spaghetti until al dente.
5. Drain noodles.
6. Mix a dash of olive oil with the noodles in the colander to keep them from drying out, clumping, and sticking.


Sauce:
1. In a medium sauce pan, pour a thin layer of olive oil just enough to cover the bottom. Allow to heat for a minute or two.
2. Add mushrooms and minced garlic.
3. Stir mushrooms and garlic until mushrooms are darkened and soft.
4. Add tomatoes.
5. Heat and simmer on medium heat for 10-15 minutes.
6. Add tomato sauce.
7. Allow to warm thoroughly.
8. Add garlic powder, oregano, basil, italian seasoning, and onion powder to taste.


Chicken:
1. Cube chicken. (We're not exactly sure how much we used. Just estimate.)
2. Season with herbed poultry spice (or any other chicken flavoring you'd like), parsley, and salt and pepper. (Don't go too overboard, especially with the salt.)
3. Cover the bottom of a large pan with olive oil.
4. Allow to heat for a minute or two.
5. Add chicken.
6. Stir/flip chicken as it cooks to prevent sticking and thorough cooking.
7. Add cayenne pepper as you turn the chicken. (A little bit at a time is the best way to go about it.)
8. Cook chicken until completely cooked and tasting the way you want it to.


Presentation:
1. Put pasta into an individual bowl.
2. Add desired amount of sauce.
3. Add chicken on top.
4. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese if desired.
5. Enjoy!

This recipe took us about a total of 30 minutes to prepare from start to finish. I cut up the mushrooms as Vance cubed the chicken. As the mushrooms browned, I opened the cans I needed, got all the spices I needed, and put water on to boil for the pasta. By the time the mushrooms were ready, everything was in order to finish the recipe. While my sauce simmered, I added the spaghetti noodles and allowed them to boil. Vance then cooked the chicken as the spaghetti noodles cooked and my sauce simmered. After adding tomato sauce to my sauce, we then drained the noodles, added cayenne pepper to the chicken and waited for everything to heat thoroughly.


Overall, this recipe is one that you can kind of play around with and change according to your taste. If you follow it "to recipe" then I guarantee that it is de-lish! I know we enjoyed it last night!


Let me know if you try it out and any adaptations you make!


Enjoy!


~A

Quick Draw McGraw

Ok. No. This post is not about the beloved cartoon character from my childhood, Quick Draw McGraw. I might, at a later date, post about such beloved cartoon characters as he, Huckleberry Hound, Yogi Bear, etc., but today is not that day. Today, I'd like to introduce you to the enchanting world of QuiBids.

QuiBids is a fast-paced, online auction site that requires users to have a very flexible, and fire-happy trigger finger. The person who has the last bid when time runs out is the winner. Sound like the typical auction website? Not quite. This site is like Ebay on steroids. 

Here's how it works. 

1. Register with a user name/password.

2. Buy bids. I know this sounds like a scam, but in order for this site to function the way it does, you must first buy bids. Each bid you place is worth $0.60.

3. Go to the home page and place a bid. 

4. Watch the time go down. (Every time someone places a bid it goes back to 00:20.)

5. Keep bidding until you win or decide to give up. (You have the option to "Buy It Now" but I'll get to that in a bit.)

If you are the winner, then congratulations! You just saved a LOT of money bidding on this site for your treasure instead of buying it for retail. However, if you don't win, then you are out the money for each bid you placed. However, if you put forth a great deal of money bidding on an item you did not win, you will receive the offer to Buy It Now. This option allows you to put the amount that you've already spent on bids toward the purchase of the product at retail price. 

So what's the point of spending money on bids if you don't win? Well...you COULD win! People win things like flat screen tvs, Macbooks, GPS systems, and other expensive gifts for mere pennies! You just have to know what you want and be willing to stick with it!

Three Things I Like About QuiBids

1. It's easy.

2. It allows you the opportunity to buy expensive items for much lower prices.

2. It has a wide array of items to bid on.

Two Things I Don't Like About QuiBids

1. Not everything up for auction is worth bidding on.

2. You spend money on bids that may never result in anything won.

Overall, I think QuiBids is a swell idea. However, unless you plan on spending a great deal of time, effort, and possibly money to win, you may just want to stick to Ebay. :-)

~A

How Is A Raven Like A Writing Desk?

Let books be your dining table,

And you shall be full of delights

Let them be your mattress

And you shall sleep restful nights.

~Author Unknown

Since I can remember, I have delighted in the world of books! My mother tells me that when I was still a toddler, I would sit and listen to her read for as long as she could read aloud to me without getting hoarse. One of my favorite books at that age was The Pokey Little Puppy's Counting Book. My mommy read that so many times, that, to this day, she still can recite it almost verbatim. It's quite impressive! She instilled in my tender, young heart, a passion for reading that followed me into adulthood. 

Now, if you know me, then you know I am a pretty thrifty gal. One of my biggest vices (my husband will attest to this) is buying books. I love books. I have boxes and boxes of books that won't fit on our shelves. There's nothing I enjoy more than buying a used/new book to devour. However, unless you have a used book store close by such as Edward McKay's, then you'll sometimes need to spend a pretty penny to get the book you're dying to read! (There's always the library, but if you're anything like me, it's painful to return the books you might want to re-read later.) This leads me to the main topic of today...free online books.

Read Print is a "free online books library for students, teachers, and the classic enthusiast." The website includes hundreds and hundreds of free books, plays, essays, poems, and short stories--fiction and non-fiction alike. It includes works from such favorites as Robert Frost, Jane Austen, Mark Twain, Edgar Allen Poe, Charlotte Bronte, and William Shakespeare. 

The site is easy to navigate. You can search by author or book title or you can simply choose one of the top authors or books to try out. Upon choosing a readable entree, you are escorted to the book's page where you see a table of contents. You may then read the chapter presented to you on the webpage and navigate to the next chapter via the buttons at the bottom of the page. However, if you choose to read your online book without all of the distraction of moving ads and the website's make-up, then you have the option to click the "Launch Reading Mode" button. This brings up the text of the chapter and creates a neutral (black) background, quieting the noisy distractions you see on the main website. To switch to the next chapter, simply click anywhere in the black abyss and choose the next chapter at the bottom of the chapter's original page.

Three Things I Like About This Site:

1. It's FREE!

2. It's books!

3. It's easy to navigate!

Three Things I Dislike:

1. You can't smell the books.

2. You can't turn the pages.

3. You can't put on your bookshelf to display.

Overall, this website offers the joy of reading for the low low price of NOTHING, while still allowing you to dive into another world of being. So, if you find yourself jonesing for a classic and just don't have the cash in pocket to dish out for a "new" book, head on over to Read Print and find your fill among the masses!

~A

So just how is a raven like a writing desk?

Answer: Poe wrote on both of them. :-)

(Props to anyone who can tell me in which book this question appears!)

Giveaway Overload!

So I think I have a problem.


Hi my name is Angela Bailey and I am addicted to blog giveaways!
This may be a good/bad thing.
Pros-- I could win free things, thus lowering the amount of spending I do.
Cons-- I could waste my time scouring the web for giveaways...and not win a darn thing.
Oh well...for now, I'm viewing it as a positive thing, and so should you since I'm compiling a list of giveaways from Minnesota Mama's Must Haves in one place! :-)


You're welcome.

Safety 1st Aerolite Travel System
An infant car seat and stroller combination that is easy to use. The car seat accommodates rear-facing infants from 4-35 lbs. The stroller has a good-sized storage basket underneath. The infant seat snaps in the stroller and then you're off!

Rinse Ace 2 in 1 Shower Head
This shower head allows you to attach a small hose to the included shower head in order to rinse those hard to reach spots, or to rinse off your soapy child who might be shower shy.

AMP Cloth Diapers
AMP makes cloth diapers that are not only eco-friendly and pocketbook friendly, but also completely adorable! They sell almost every type of cloth diaper out there including but not limited to AIO, pocket diaper, and pre-folds.

Shoo Shoos
Shoo Shoos are adorable shoes made specifically with infants and children up to approx. 2.5 years in mind. Although they may be priced a little above what you're willing to spend on a baby's set of shoes, the shoes are said to be made with the highest quality of leather and are 100% guaranteed. 

There are soooo many more giveaways listed on her blog, but quite honestly, I didn't want to post them ALL! I only posted the ones I entered. :-) Enjoy!

~A


(Please note that the links connect you to the giveaway pages, not the manufacturers websites.)

Bumbo Seat Giveaway

What? Two posts in one day again? I know right? It's AWESOME! Anyway, found another giveaway that you might want to be apart of! This time, it's for a Bumbo seat. Now, unless you have one of these critters, you might be confused. No, it has nothing to do with Dumbo. It also has nothing to do with bimbos. This nifty seat helps children learn to sit up, as well as offers them a "seat" for parental feedings, self-feedings, and playtime. (It also is a good seat to plop baby in when Momma needs a shower and the little one refuses to go in her swing or bouncy seat!)

The Bumbo seat comes in five different colors to suit your color-savvy needs. It comes in lime, blue, aqua, lilac, and pink. It can be purchased at many retail stores including Wal-Mart, and my favorite, Target!

Three Reasons Why I Like The Bumbo

1. It allows baby to see the world from a sitting point of view instead of just on her back or belly.

2. It's easy to clean.

3. It allows Mommy some hands-free time to do things she needs to get done.

Three Reasons I Don't Like The Bumbo

1. The tray (sold separately) comes off too easily.

2. Older babies can get out of it pretty easily.

3. Nothing I can think of!

Convinced that you need one? I thought so! Head on over to Minnesota Mama's Must Haves to enter the contest!

Contest ends August 12th at 11:59PM!




~A




UPDATED:
The Shopping Mama is also having a Bumbo Contest on her blog! Check it out!