Sunbutter.....OMG!

My son is allergic to peanut and tree nuts.  We found out one day when my picky little eater wanted to eat nuts that his Daddy was eating.  I said yes.  I was so happy he wanted to try something new and I was falsely secure that he had no food allergies.  No one in the family has food allergies.  I nursed him so I assumed he was immune to things I had eaten (guess I didn't eat enough nuts, lol).  We even had him tested at 9 months and he had no allergies. WELL!  5 minutes later we were in a mad dash for the hospital.  Thankfully, he didn't have any respiratory problems.  He just swelled up like a balloon.  Two years later and I wish I had a picture of how he looked to show family members so that they could even slightly understand the seriousness of it.  But, I'm glad that I wasn't a mom who stopped to take a picture of him while he was in such distress.  It was one of the most horrifying nights of my life.

I was feeling so sorry for him that he would never be able to taste that yummy creamy goodness that is peanut butter.  Peanut butter cookies, peanut butter icing on chocolate cake, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches....the list of comforting peanutty kids food (a.k.a. mommy and daddy guilty pleasures) is never ending.  My sister mentioned Sunbutter when we were at a parade one day and it was like a light bulb went on over my head.  How I had failed to think of it before is a mystery for me.  I shop mainly in the organic and natural foods section of my local grocery store and probably walked by it a hundred times.

I picked up a jar of it the next time I was grocery shopping but thinking it would taste weird I kept putting off using it.  One day I had some bananas that ripened a bit quick so I decided to make some banana cookies and found this great recipe for Nutella Banana cookies.  They looked pretty and sounded amazing but my dilemma was the Nutella.  So I did a quick search for Nutella substitute and within 2 seconds had a recipe for that!  Ding, ding, ding....it used Sunbutter!  I had that!  And away we went!

I opened up the jar of Sunbutter and was extremely surprised.  It looked like the natural peanut butter I buy my husband.  It smelled like the natural peanut butter I buy my husband.  And lo and behold it tasted like the natural peanut butter I buy my husband!!!!  I had no qualms in using it for baking.  It was just sweet enough and had a perfect texture.  If I had not known there were no peanuts in it I would never have guessed.  I am so happy that I found an allergy free substitute that is.....um, weird.  You know what I mean.  Sometimes the healthy stuff just isn't the same. In this case it is.  Go get you some!

Kid Friendly Digital Camera

I have been researching to see what digital camera would be great for a toddler.  My little guy is turning 3 in a few months and he is finally interested in having his picture taken and constantly tries to use our video camera so I thought it would be nice to get him one for his birthday.

My main goals were to find a camera that was:
         1. Easy to use
         2. Waterproof and Shockproof 
         3. Rechargeable
         4. Inexpensive
         5. Had Image Stabilization

There are alot of options out there.  Here are the models I found and why I decided against them:

         Panasonic Lumix TS20 - Out of my price range at $189; 16.1 MP with 4x optical zoom
         Nikon Coolpix S30 - Not rechargeable
         Polaroid IF 045 - Loved that it had dual screens but it was not rechargeable
         Olympus TG 320 - Too many buttons
         Kodak EasyShare Sport C123 - No Image Stabilization

There were a few others but these were the major contenders.  I narrowed it down to the Nikon Coolpix S31 - it had everything I wanted and a great price tag($116.95 on Amazon)! It was a bit more that I wanted to spend but the non-rechargeable version (Nikon coolpix S30) was around $100, as were many of the other models that were less than $100, so the bit extra was justified because I'd spend less on batteries.  The other option would have been to purchase a camera that used regular batteries and buy rechargeable batteries.  I do, honestly, need to do that but haven't gotten around to it yet(I still have 'free' batteries left from my stint of couponing).  We go through so many batteries in our house that I should look into it...but that will be saved for another post.

pictures courtesy of Nikon.com

 It is available a variety of colors as well - white, pink, yellow, blue and brown.

I think this camera will be perfect for him to grow into and have fun with.  It is shockproof up to 3.9 feet and waterproof up to 16.4 ft.  It will record HD 720p video and takes 10.1 MP pictures.  It isn't a hugely robust camera but it's inexpensive enough and durable so that I feel secure giving it to him to 'play' with and still has great features so he can take great pictures.  I can't wait to give it to my little man!

Munchkin Click Lock Sippy Cup

I love the Munchkin Click Lock Sippy Cup!  I've used them exclusively because they don't leak (at all!), they are the perfect size to carry in a diaper bag and the closing straw makes them sanitary.  Unfortunately, my first set was looking a bit worn so I decided to replace them.  Good thing I didn't throw them away!  My originals are a 9 oz size which I couldn't find in Target (which is where I usually purchase them) or Toys R Us, so I resorted to buying which I assumed was Munchkin's newest version of them - same type of item but in a larger size.  Was I wrong!  These things just didn't close properly.  I would shut the straw and it would slowly open back up.

I notified Munchkin and after a few emails to make sure I inserted the straws correctly (after two years of doing so, I consider myself a pro) they sent me replacement straws.  It didn't correct the problem and I am using the new straws in the old cups.  I let it go and am still on the lookout for the perfect smaller version.

To sum it up - definitely try out the Munchkin Click Lock in the 9 oz size if you can find them and avoid the 12 oz!

New Year's Resolution?... A Bit Late.

I have decided today that I will organize all my photos, put them in albums and get some pictures on my walls!  (In addition to trying to blog more often, organize my recipes, plan parties, work and family time)  I realized the worst part was that I had multiple copies of each photo - some on my phone, my camera(s), my laptop, my work computer and 2 USB Drives! (I haven't even checked our desktop computer yet!  I did get an offer from an old friend to do tackle my picture fiasco for me and I'm very grateful for the offer but it's such a mess I feel I need to organize them first which is the hard part.  Maybe I will enlist her help with them once I get them down to one copy and a backup organized by year.

So phase 1 begins with consolidating all my photos onto one USB, backing it up, and then organizing it into years and any special occasion/holiday folders within that year. (started 1/29/2013, ended TBA)

Phase 2 will consist of going through all the photos to remove duplicates.

Phase 3 (this is the part where I may enlist help) - will be printing out all the photos that I wish to put in an album and copying the full folders to CD to keep a copy in the album.  I have one album from my childhood.  I'm hoping to be able to narrow it down to a few photos from each birthday and special event to display in an album so that each child will have their own album and we will have a large family album.

Phase 4 will be choosing photos to display on my planed picture wall at home and a few others to spread throughout the house.  I currently have no photos displayed in my house!  I have a large wall in the stairwell as you enter our home that I plan on covering in picture frames starting at the center with a picture of me and my husband and ranging out as the years go by.

Phase 5  Will be implementing a plan to keep up with my photos.  I think that tackling the previous year each January should do the trick.


WISH ME LUCK!!!!!

2012's flea market finds!

 I got this huge box of books for only $8!

 This Bell Helmet and sand box toys were only about $7!

T

This amazing wooded tree house was a steal at $20.  I was lucky to see it first.  About 3 people asked about it when I was paying.  It also came with tons of accessories like people, furniture and animals!

Martha Stewart Scoring Board

I love, love, love my Martha Stewart Scoring Board. 'Nuff said!

Fisher Price Imaginext Space Shuttle

So, December 23rd 2012, and I get told that Santa is bringing a Space Station and Rockets! I know they don't have to get everything they ask for but this is his first Christmas asking for anything and he only had one other request. I went to all the usual stores to find a space station and they had nothing which really surprised me. But the, score! I found the Fisher Price Imaginext Space Station online and it was perfect.

 

 Unfortunately, I couldn't find it at any of my local stores.  I ended up paying too much for it through Ebay but Tyler loves it! It came with two space men and an alien.  The space station has an elevator and a spot for the crane to set in.  The rocket makes great noises and lights up. Unfortunately the crane arm doesn't click into the space station correctly. I contacted Fisher Price and they immediately responded that they are sending a whole new toy! I got the new package about a week later. Great customer service!