February 22, 2012 I don’t know about you, but I’m always looking for new recipes. And if they happen to be easy enough to have my kids help (and keep them busy) all the better! That’s why I’m extremely excited about cloroxrecipesforfun.com. Clorox® Clean-Up® Cleaner launched the site as a way for you and your kids to…
February 29, 2012 For peanut butter lovers around the nation tomorrow marks the biggest holiday of the year – National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day. Yes, there is a whole day dedicated to peanut butter and the lovers of this treat. I will admit I am a peanut butter lover. At any given moment you will…
March 7, 2012 Do you have any idea how much you own – or what all the electronics, furnishings, clothing, jewelry, and furniture pieces in your home are collectively worth? If you’re like most people, the answer is no. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, 48 percent of consumers do not have an…
April 4, 2012 Restaurant dining can be a great way to escape the kitchen, socialize with friends, discuss business transactions, or bond with your significant other on date night. But sometimes it is downright difficult to get good service. Whether it’s waiting for thirty minutes to get a table, a rushed server who barely has…
March 9, 2012 Each year we hold a St. Patrick’s Day celebration – with the entire event centered around a grand Irish dinner. There is no better way to celebrate an Irish festivity than by creating a feast any Irishman would be honored to sit down to. Irish food has a tendency to be a…
May 18, 2012 Since being diagnosed with Celiac Disease 2 years ago, I’ve had to adjust to a gluten-free diet. Luckily, there are many recipes available today that allow you to have your favorite foods, without the gluten. Pizza Dough One of the things I’ve missed most is good pizza. Sure there are many pizza…
March 19, 2012 Who doesn’t love dessert? I am a baker and am constantly looking for new ways to take my desserts over-the-top. I have found the key to turning an okay dessert into an exceptionally tasty treat: homemade whipped cream. Adding a dollop of homemade whipped cream to a dessert can make it all…
March 23, 2012 Cherries and almonds are both amazing foods, chock full of nutrients and benefits. So why not put these super foods together in a cookie recipe? Together cherries and almonds have a wealth of benefits: Good for the brain Good for blood pressure and cholesterol Good during pregnancy Prevent cancer Help fight heart disease…
March 22, 2012 I often say that we live on “Hysteria Lane” vs “Wisteria Lane” of TV’s Desperate Housewives fame because we’re tasked with having to balance so many things as moms and housewives. And, tops amongst them is doing our best to keep our home, family, and self taken care of – without breaking…
March 21, 2012 I don’t know about you, but I’m often in need of a good laugh. Thank goodness for Clorox and the The Clorox Lounge! Recognizing the toilet’s vital role in our routine, this online community hub was designed to be mom’s gotta go place for comedy. Hosted by comedian, actress and mom Sherri…
March 30, 2012 In a recent article we discussed the necessary ingredients for pulling together fun, creative spaces and playrooms for your child. We are going to go through each one in a new designing series, designing for kids. This first article shows how to pull together a book nook; a reading space for your…
April 12, 2012 Cooking is time consuming, but throw a career into the mix? It can seem next to impossible. On days where I’m working long hours, I use my trusty crock pot for all my cooking needs. Seriously, I use it every week. I plan week ahead to try a new recipe, buy the…
May 22, 2012 Making a grocery shopping list isn’t always easy, and sometimes can be a downright bore of a chore. But there are a few simple tips you can use to easily create your meal plan for the week – and save a little time and money in the process: Make a Master List…
May 3, 2012 Will you be celebrating Cinco de Mayo this year? Cinco de Mayo is not actually Mexican Independence Day. Cinco de Mayo is mostly celebrated in Puebla, Mexico – where the Battle of Puebla was fought. We also celebrate this holiday in the United States to celebrate Mexican pride and heritage. Independence Day…
April 20, 2012 A few weeks ago one of my worst nightmares came true. As a parent of a child with food allergies (and having allergies myself) I always worry when we’re invited anywhere. Will there be anything we can eat? Will there be cross-contamination? Will the host be offended if I bring my own…
April 5, 2012 With Passover (April 6 & 7th) and Easter (April 8th) just around the corner, so are egg hunts, Seder dinners, and holiday entertaining. Here are a few tips and tricks to help save you time, money, and your mani when dealing with holiday preps and clean-ups. Easter Egg Dye: Lemon-Aid You’ve dyed…
March 25, 2012 Congratulations to Sophie’s World: the SocialMoms Blog of the Week! Sophie’s World is the digital home of Sophie Maletsky, renowned California Bay Area childrens entertainer and event planner. In Sophie’s World, every care provider can entertain and be entertained by their children through simple and usable crafts, games, learning tools, and activities suitable for…
April 6, 2012 Set aside some of those Easter eggs (or grab a fresh carton) for fun science experiments in the kitchen. You’ll make an eggshell disappear, hold a spinning egg contest, float and sink eggs, and dye them bright red using yellow onion peels. Make an Eggshell Disappear Check out the chalazae. You’ll need:…
April 13, 2012 Asparagus, the official veggie of spring time, is a perennial reminder that summer is on its way. A proud member of the lily family, asparagus was first cultivated 2,500 years ago by the ancient Greeks. Its tender shoots are brimming with vitamins A and K and are rich in folic acid. Low…
March 28, 2012 Breakfast would not be complete without a glass of refreshing orange juice. It’s sweet, it’s filling, and it brightens up any one’s day. We’ve teamed up with Tropicana to share the news about Tropicana Pure Premium 100% Pure Florida Orange Juice and tell the story about the Florida growers who provide the…
April 10, 2012 We love to dye eggs for Easter in our home. We dye dozens of them, but with three kids, we end up with an over-abundance of hard-boiled eggs after Easter is over. So what is a mom to do with all those left-over eggs? Here are a few of my favorite recipes…
April 16, 2012 I am a lover of all baked goods, but tarts are really something special to me. There is something elegant and almost magical about serving up a tart for dessert. Plum tarts are my absolute favorite. They are simple to make, look gorgeous, and when they’re fresh out of the oven you…
April 18, 2012 Spring has sprung. As the cold, winter days make way for April showers and flowers, take a moment to talk about the changing weather with your children. Weather is a good excuse to introduce some science basics in a down-to-earth way that even the youngest children can understand. Encourage your children to…
April 30, 2012 When we think of baby food, the first thing that usually comes to mind is green or orange puree inside a little glass jar. It’s what we see at the grocery store, and what many moms feed there babies. There is nothing wrong with baby food from a store shelf – but…
April 23, 2012 We love to eat fish and I am always creating new fish dishes at home. I cook with salmon frequently and have a kitchen full of baked salmon recipes. Once I find a recipe that I like, I take note of the flavor combinations. I have always been a fan of salmon…
April 30, 2012 Spring showers bring May flowers but they also bring a tasty treat with them: strawberries. Strawberries are great to eat on their own, but also make a great addition to some popular dessert recipes. But, first things first, what do you look for when choosing the perfect strawberry? Strawberries can be purchased…
June 15, 2021 Do you have a recipe that has been passed down through the family? We do and I’d love to share it with you. My grandmother used to make this huge pot of Cheesy Spaghetti just about every time we visited. And of course I was so excited when I was able to…
May 2, 2012 Bring your family together for a great fiesta. Cinco De Mayo is a festive time to bring the family and neighbors together for some fun mexican food, games and crafts. Games Games can simply be put together. Create an obstacle course for the kids to run through, kicking a ball through the…
May 4, 2012 Getting kids to try a new food can be a huge challenge. Choruses of “Ew!” or “That’s gross!” (or “Ookies!” from my toddler) seem to greet each kitchen innovation. But a diverse diet is essential to growing children, both to meet their nutritional needs and to help them develop a varied palate….
June 11, 2012 Camping is a great activity for the whole family. With a little preparation, you can insure that your family has a safe and fun camping trip. Take the time to learn a few safety rules for camping and you will be able to prevent common problems that can occur and you’ll know…
May 14, 2012 If you are vegan, vegetarian, have nut allergies, or dairy allergies – I have the muffin recipe for you. I am not a vegan, but I do appreciate some vegan style recipes. This is for all those out there who think that vegan food is not tasty. First I’m providing the base…
May 11, 2012 Mother’s Day is a day to relax and relish in the fact that you a super woman among women. Raising a family is hard work, so here are a few easy recipes to indulge and give yourself a treat this Mother’s Day. An Indulgent Early Morning Pick-Me-Up If you are like most…
May 23, 2012 Even if the official start date of summer isn’t until June 20, Memorial Day weekend is an opportunity to relish all that the season has to offer – get-togethers with friends and family, warmer (hopefully) weather and most importantly the beginning of barbecue season. Whether you’re having an intimate get-together with a…
June 5, 2012 The big day for Moms has just passed, and now it’s time for us to honor the other half of the parental puzzle – Dads. Whether you want to give him an experience he won’t soon forget – or a keepsake to keep the family top of mind when he’s travelling for…
May 16, 2012 With summer fast approaching we are getting into one of my favorite times of year – barbecuing season. I love barbecuing – whether I’m grilling up some traditional pork ribs, grass-fed beef hot dogs, or grilling some eggplant, the grill is a staple in our backyard. However, grilling and barbecuing are not…
May 21, 2012 The Mulberry is one of the most overlooked and abundant berries of them all. Spring heralds in those ambitious blackberry and blueberry harvesters, but it is also a time to look out for the mulberries which will be in peak ripeness. Red Mulberry trees are the ones that you will most likely…
May 19, 2012 Memorial Day Weekend is almost here and for most of us that marks the unofficial kickoff of summer. So as we preen our outdoor oasis, clean off our grills and get ready to chill with friends and family, I wanted to share a few simple ways to entertain your summer guests and…
July 5, 2012 Making French crepes is the easiest thing in the world for me, so I was surprised when various people told me that they can never make them right. It is probably the same with me and cheesecake. I think I’m at war with cheesecakes, and none of my friends can understand why….
May 6, 2012 Spring is alive with holidays for the family, with Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and graduation dates abound. Our friends at OnStar are offering an amazing new savings for their OnStar FMV (For My Vehicle) mirror – available at a special reduced price for a limited time. Now you can add the safety…
May 21, 2012 Looking to enhance the look of your home, or hoping to get top dollar if you’re selling your house this spring? According to the National Association of Realtors, “Curb appeal sells 49 percent of all homes.” But how do you do that? It’s easy! TruGreen, the nation’s largest professional lawn care service provider, now…
May 5, 2012 Congratulations to Real Moms Love to Eat: the SocialMoms Blog of the Week! Let’s face it, you’re a Real Mom and like most moms, you love to eat. The problem is most of the time there is guilt and frustration surrounding our decisions to give in and eat the foods we enjoy, like weight…
May 28, 2012 Summer is almost here – and what better way to quench your thirst than with some iced tea? Here are a few of my favorite iced tea recipes just in time for the heat of the summer. Boston Iced Tea If you aren’t familiar with Boston Iced Tea, you’ve been missing out….
June 6, 2012 Sometimes it’s impossible to have a pet in your home. Perhaps someone in your family has allergies, or you are unable to have pets due to your lease agreement. This doesn’t mean you have to forego the love and taking care of animals. While I was sitting here recently working on my…
June 19, 2012 Summer is here and with it comes the stuff we love: warm weather and lazy days at the beach, pool or our backyard. Unfortunately it also comes with the stuff we don’t love: BUGS. From those pesty little ones we can hardly see that inspired the saying “don’t let the bed bugs…
June 16, 2021 With the summer upon us, it’s time to enjoy the great weather, the outdoors, and start grilling. There are so many options for upping the flavor while grilling your food. Spice up your BBQ recipes with a rub, marinade or some basting of your foods! Rubs Rubs are spices mixed together that…